Chapter Fifteen: The Scrolls to Survival
*POOF*
Naruto stood up tall and looked around, "How the hell did they plan this?" Naruto muttered as he looked around.
He was looking around the forest surrounding him, 'They teleported me somehow. Did they do this to the others?' he thought.
*BZZZT*
Naruto looked down at a basic walkie talkie and a scroll, "Ninja, you are to protect this scroll and capture the two complementary scrolls. You have the Middle Scroll, you need to collect the Inner Scroll and the Outer Scroll to have a full set. You have three nights. Begin!"
*SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEE*
Naruto looked up and scanned the surroundings for what the hell was making the noise, but it suddenly stopped.
The walkie talkie buzzed to life again, "Ninja, take me and the scroll. Get going. You will get updates every ten minutes exactly." It said before shutting off.
Naruto picked up the two items and patted down his clothes, "No pockets, great." He mumbled, he clipped the walkie talkie onto the back of his pants and found three little pieces of material that made loops across his chest.
Naruto placed his scroll in the center loop and stood tall, 'How am I supposed to know who to look for?' he thought.
"Within one kilometre, there are three ninjas." The walkie talkie buzzed.
Naruto smirked, "I get it." he said before leaping up into the trees, and eventually up to the top of the tallest tree. He looked around and whistled, "Now this is a weird place." He muttered.
Naruto could see he was in a large forested area, there were three more areas nearby, one a desert, one a stony range and the other a plain with lots of rivers running through it.
He smirked as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, ' The first thing I'll need to survive is a well defendable base,' Naruto thought as he felt the material covering his face, 'Well, since no one can see that it's me…' he thought.
His eyes opened, his face now covered in the red marks of the Wood Style: Sage Mode.
Naruto felt out with his nature chakra before placing a hand on the tree underneath his feet, 'That's a good spot.' Naruto thought with a grin.
His wood chakra reached down through the tree and into the roots, making contact with other trees through the earth and letting Naruto 'see' from the trees with his chakra, 'That tree is near a great spot, right between a large cliffside and the desert section.' Naruto thought before focusing his adamantine power.
Naruto leapt up into the air as high as he could go before channelling his chakra into the globes on his…'Damn, different outfit. I don't have my camouflage.' He thought as he activated his wind funnels, flying high into the air while channelling chakra to his sight enhancement seal…which wasn't even there.
Naruto scowled, 'Damn, and I'm not even that attached to my things, I can't imagine how ninjas who rely on ninja tools feel.' He thought as he flew over to the area he thought was right.
Naruto looked down with a frown, 'I can't see shit from this high.' He thought as he flew along the border before dropping down, landing lightly on the sand.
He reached out with his sage chakra, 'No chakra signatures nearby, good.' Naruto thought as he walked up to the Cliffside.
Naruto held a seal as his cheeks bulged, "EARTH STYLE: MUD WALL!" he yelled as he launched his jutsu at the Cliffside.
From the cliff grew a large alcove. So Naruto jumped up on top of his little cover and knelt, placing his hand on the earth.
"WOOD STYLE: NATURAL HABITAT!"
Vines began to overgrow from the top of the cliff, falling over the alcove and creating a small cover of nature in which Naruto stood under.
Looking around, Naruto nodded to himself, 'Shelter, check. Now I need supplies and those scrolls.' He thought.
"Within one kilometre, there is one other ninja."
Naruto glanced down at his walkie talkie, 'Yeah, thanks.' He thought as he left the shelter and flipped up on top of it, before leaping up into the sky with his adamantine power.
Once more he reached out with his sage chakra again, feeling someone else's chakra signature rub against his nature chakra.
Naruto felt the ninja was tree hopping towards the water area, so he pulsed once in that direction with his wind chakra before letting himself free fall.
Squinting as he fell, Naruto caught a glimpse of someone dressed in exactly the same clothes as him, 'Damn, it could be one of my comrades. I can't kill them.' he thought as he evened out his weight and his skin turned grey underneath the clothes.
His arms stretched forward as he fell past the treetops, wrapping around a thick branch and letting him flip free, falling within two meters of the ninja as he dropped underneath him unnoticed.
Naruto landed heavily as he looked up, the ninja heard and began turning as Naruto leapt forward, kneeing the ninja in the face while reaching over his shoulder and pulling his sword into an attack stance.
The other ninja flipped and landed as they began forming seals, "FIRE STYLE: GRAND FIREBALL JUTSU!"
Naruto cut through the technique with his sword before pausing in a defensive stance, 'Only Sasuke is as strong with fire chakra to that level, so now that this person sees Samehada, he'll stop…' Naruto thought.
The other ninja leapt at Naruto as chains fell from his sleeves, showing Naruto that they were cuffed to his wrists and causing him to frown, 'Okay, maybe it's not Sasuke.' Naruto thought as he swung his sword.
The other ninja ducked under the sword before leaping over Naruto, who leant back to dodge the kick. Only to be hooked under the jaw by the chains.
Naruto's jaw was dislocated as he was pulled back into the air before being kicked in the stomach, pushing him towards the ground.
Naruto flipped around, landing on his feet as he placed a green hand on his jaw, 'What the hell?! This guy is fast!' Naruto thought.
He looked at the ninja's face as he turned to face Naruto again before feeling a Genjutsu affect him, Naruto took in a deep breath, letting the nature chakra flux through him to dispel the technique.
Naruto's sword clashed with the chains, causing the two to clash in a display of sparks as Naruto pushed the ninja aside.
The ninja landed opposite Naruto and the two walked in a circle, 'That guy put me in a Genjutsu with a single glance…his fire jutsu was as strong as Sasuke's…' his eyes widened in realisation, 'No way…'
"Uchiha?" Naruto asked quietly.
The ninja opposite him paused, "Uzumaki." The person said in a low dark voice.
Naruto stepped back, "Wha-what?!" he asked.
The person ran forward at Naruto, who pulled his two swords apart as he slashed with Kubikiri, following up with a sweep from Samehada.
The other ninja chuckled as he watched Kubikiri Bocho approach him.
Naruto eyes flashed in realisation, 'TOBI?!'
Naruto's first sword fazed through Tobi before it was caught by the chains and Tobi stepped over Naruto's second sword's swipe, kicking at Naruto's face once more.
Naruto learned from last time that he probably couldn't dodge, so he pushed with Kubikiri, stretching Tobi's chains to their maximum and forcing Tobi's body back. Naruto lifted his own foot, "AIR STOMP!"
The wind ripple moved straight through Tobi, doing no damage, but that wasn't its purpose.
Naruto was launched back from the burst of chakra, and he flipped safely onto his feet before taking a defensive stance as he looked over Tobi's stance.
Naruto's eyes locked on to Tobi's chest, 'He has the Inner Scroll…but I'm not sure how to even hit this guy.' Naruto thought before realising that Tobi was merely standing there waiting.
Naruto stood taller, "Why are you here?" Naruto demanded.
The other ninja tilted his head before his whole demeanour seemed to change, "Leader-sama wants us to catch the Eight Tailed guy! This is the easiest way to get in to lightning, so here we are! Pretty smart huh?" Tobi said in a childish voice while linking his fingers behind his head.
Naruto tilted his head as well, "So…you have no quarrel with me." Naruto said.
Tobi shrugged, "I think leader-sama wanted to have a go at you so I don't really want to fight…" Tobi said, trailing off.
Naruto smirked, "That's why you never attack, you only defend and counter." Naruto said.
Tobi just stood still, not replying in any matter until his arms dropped back to his sides, "I have orders not to attack you or anyone who will get attention. But if you attack me, I'm obviously going to defend myself." He said back in his dark voice.
Naruto stood and fused his swords back together, "You're already in the village Tobi," he said holding his now free hand forward, "You don't need to pass this, give me your scroll." He said.
Tobi and Naruto stood still for a moment, holding a stare off as both of them waited for the other to move.
""Within Ten meters, there are three other ninja.""
Tobi and Naruto span in unison, Naruto cutting through a water jutsu with his blade while Tobi let the two kunai fly through him, stabbing Naruto in the back.
*CLANG! CLANG!*
The two kunai bounced off of Naruto's bone armour harmlessly and the two ninjas leapt back to back, facing their new enemies head on.
Tobi's dark voice spoke quietly to Naruto, "We are being watched. If anyone works together they will be reverse summoned out of here. But they cannot hear us." he said as he loosened his chains in front of him.
Naruto smirked, "Then it's a good thing that my target is the guy in front of you. You just happen to be in the way." Naruto said.
Tobi nodded, "We are in agreement then."
The two new ninjas charged forward, one at Tobi and one at Naruto, focussing on killing their single opponent.
Which is why they were caught off guard so easily.
Naruto and Tobi waited until the very last moment before moving. Naruto turned to Tobi and pushed his hand forward, shoving it through Tobi's chest and aiming it at the oncoming ninja.
Tobi spun and stepped forward, letting Naruto push through his chest with his arm before moulding around Naruto easily.
Naruto's hand landed on one ninja's chest.
Tobi's hand landed on the other's head.
"DECAPITATING AIRWAVES!"
"DIMENSIONAL SHUNT!"
Naruto's ninja had their chest cut right out from their body just as the other ninja's head seemingly disappeared, leaving the two corpses to fall to the ground.
Tobi turned to Naruto to talk again but realised the blonde ninja was gone. He sighed as he turned back to the ninja in front of him as he looked down.
'A Middle Scroll. Just what I need.' Tobi thought as he knelt down and lifted the scroll, he went to place it next to his first scroll before gasping.
Tobi's scroll was gone, 'But how?' he thought before his eyes widened in realisation, 'Then!'
Naruto pushed his hand through Tobi's chest, aiming his palm at the oncoming ninja.
But in that movement, he used his outstretched hand to push the scroll on Tobi's chest through Tobi as well, slamming it into the attacking ninja before launching him off.
Tobi sighed and turned, 'Well done, Naruto Uzumaki.'
##########
Naruto found the chest of his target and smirked, his wind attack had embedded both the ninjas' scroll and Tobi's scroll into the sternum.
A few hard tugs and snapping of dead bones later, Naruto had a Middle Scroll and two Inner Scrolls. The blonde stood, 'Now to get out of here and find myself some supplies. Tomorrow I will find my final scroll.' He thought as he began walking towards the desert district.
"Within one hundred meters, there are five ninjas."
Naruto grinned, "Well, not for long." He muttered with a chuckle. Suddenly, something that Tobi said earlier clicked in his mind, 'They can see us constantly?! Shit! So they now know that I'm..'
##########
"The Final Flash of Konoha." the Raikage said with a wide grin as he watched the little orb in front of him.
'Well, Naruto Uzumaki, it seems we have some things to discuss.' A thought to himself with a smirk before turning the orb to the next Chunnin-elect.
##########
Naruto scowled as he looked up to the sky, "Well shit." He muttered with a sigh before raising and arm.
He flipped off whoever was watching him before forming a single seal, drowning the area he stood at in a heavy mist. Naruto began a slow walk forward into the desert as he sent his mist further east into the forest, hoping to lose the watching eyes.
Unfortunately, the viewing focussed on the place where the Walkie Talkie was situated, but of course Naruto had no way to know this.
Naruto placed his right hand on the ground of the desert, "DECAPITATING ARIWAVES!"
In a huge plume of sand, Naruto kicked up the beginning of a sandstorm before holding his hands above his head as he focussed his wind chakra, "WIND STYLE: AIR MISSILE!" he yelled as he threw the massive jutsu forward, turning the whole desert area into a sandstorm within moments.
Naruto grinned, 'Now that has gotta get some attention.' He thought before flying high up into the air to take a good view of the-
*ZZZZZZTT*
Naruto was electrocuted a he hit an airborne-dome shaped barrier, he fell down to the ground in near unconsciousness.
Naruto tiredly opened his eyes, 'Ah damn.' He thought as he slowly formed hand seals as he approached the sand.
"SUMMONING JUTSU!"
*POOF*
Naruto landed safely and slid down one of the snake's two heads, coming to a safe but painful stop at it's tail.
The snake heads turned around, "Hsssss?"
Naruto smiled softly, "Just some protection would be nice, I think I screwed up." He muttered weakly.
One head moved down and swallowed Naruto whole, before the whole snake turned forward.
"Damn that's a big snake."
The snake looked down at the ninja that was holding a bo staff, ""Hssss."" The two snake heads said as they reeled back while opening their mouths.
""SNAKE STYLE: ELECTRICAL SURGE!""
The ninja's eyes widened as one snake spat out a spume of water chakra, while the other head launched a strike of lightning. The two techniques joined and took the form of a large aquatic snake that barrelled towards the ninja who was forming seals.
"EARTH STYLE: RISING EARTH!"
The sand shot up and formed a weak barrier, but it was just enough to stop the snake from hitting him. The sand and the snake exploded against each other, causing the ninja to leap back for room.
He gasped as the twin headed snake burst through the falling elements, diving at the ninja with one of its mouths while the other held back.
The ninja dodged with a substitution before forming more seals, "SHUNSHIN!"
The ninja disappeared in a burst of speed and the snake relaxed, "Hssssss?"
"Yep." Naruto's muffled voice said.
One snake head opened its mouth, and out came Naruto, holding the last seal of a sequence as his skin became less fried.
Naruto rolled from the mouth and landed on his feet heavily before looking up at his snake, "Thanks a ton, hey can you do the 'Stone form' thing that Banadochi can do?" Naruto asked.
One snake head nodded and the other shook it's head, they looked at each other before glancing down at Naruto and blinking.
Naruto sighed, "Still learning then?" he asked.
Both heads nodded, Naruto smiled, "Awesome, why don't you guys practice over there?" he asked as he pointed towards the forested area.
One head looked while the other looked down at Naruto, "Hsss?"
Naruto grinned, "Because my base is there, and what ninja would approach a big two headed snake that was phasing between stone and not stone?" he asked with a chuckle.
The snakes nodded before asking Naruto something else. The blonde nodded and formed hand seals, "SUMMONING JUTSU!"
In another plume of smoke, Naruto summoned a large white snake that had an oddly feminine aura about it. The two snakes hissed at each other in a friendly matter before slithering off towards Naruto's homemade hideaway.
Naruto smirked as he looked over the desert area, 'The sand storm hasn't died down yet.' He thought as he formed a few more hand signs.
His cheeks bulged at the same time he pushed his hands out to the sides, "WIND STYLE: WIND CIRCULATION ZONE!" he yelled as he sent out a huge plume of wind across the desert.
His arms pulled in air through his wind funnels, creating two wide spread tornados that fed off themselves, thus making a sandstorm that would last at least twenty four hours.
Naruto grinned as he closed his eyes and walked steadily forward.
"Within one hundred metres, there are six ninjas."
Naruto chuckled as he let his Silent Killing instincts take over, "Well, not for long Talkie." Naruto said in reply to his walkie talkie.
##########
"EARTH STYLE: STONE CRUNCHER!" the enemy said as he swung a large club made of rock at Naruto.
Naruto stuck one hand out to the side while he ran directly at the ninja, "RASENGAN BARRAGE!"
The club was destroyed by one Rasengan, while Naruto plunged his other Rasengan into the ninja's stomach.
Naruto shouted in effort as the ninja was flung away, he then stood straight and grinned.
"Nice one moron, now he has a chance to hide before you can grab his scroll."
Naruto's eyes widened before he sprinted forward, arriving at the end of the attack area only to find a log that the ninja substituted with, "Aww dammit!" Naruto yelled in frustration.
Kyuubi chuckled, "Are you going to pray for this one as well?" Kyuubi asked to Naruto.
Naruto smiled and bowed to the log, 'Of course I will, but I will have to do it tonight when I return to my cavern.' He thought back to the fox.
"Well then get hunting, you still need to get sustenance." The fox replied.
Naruto hummed, 'I guess so.' He thought before frowning, 'Hey Kurama, how come you won't teach me like the Eight Tails did for Killer B?' he asked.
Naruto heard a growl, "Shut up brat, you can figure that out by now. Go get to work or that guy behind is gonna kill ya."
Naruto span around while slashing his blade through the air.
*CLANG*
Naruto raised a brow at the small spear that he knocked to the ground, 'That's not a common ninja weapon.' He thought.
He scanned in front of him but couldn't sense any chakra, 'That's weird, what the hell is going on?' he thought in confusion.
"Yeah, I felt another being there, definitely human."
Naruto looked around, only for his eyes to widen as he saw the spear become black before it dissolved, 'Darkness? But only Shikamaru can use darkness.' He thought.
There was a moment of silence before Kyuubi spoke, "Shikamaru formed a weak attack from behind to see how you would react. Since you used Samehada like that, he knows it's you. Therefore, he won't attack you."
Naruto blinked before nodding, "Then I guess it's-"
"Within one hundred meters, there is one other ninja."
Naruto smirked, "Thanks Talkie, if that ninja is Shikamaru, I have free reign to hunt." He spoke out loud while resting Samehada Bocho on his back and closing his eyes.
"SNAKE STYLE: SAGE MODE!" he said, reaching out to feel the life forms in the area.
##########
It was late afternoon on the first day, the sun was just beginning to descend. Naruto lifted the vines out of his face as he walked in to his little cavern.
"Hsssss."
"Naruto-sssama?"
Naruto placed his sword on the ground, whose 'teeth' held ten fish. He then turned and walked back out to his two snakes, "Yeah guys, it's me. You want something to eat? I only got fish."
The two headed snake reared back in disgust while the white snake sighed, "Sorry Naruto, but in all honesty fish is icky." The snake said.
"Hssss?" the twin head snake asked.
Naruto laughed, "Really? I didn't know that, guess next time I'll get you guys some…rats?" he asked with a grin.
The two snakes turned to each other with something similar to a grin, ""Yesss.""
Naruto chuckled again as he nodded, "Alright I'll remember next time, you guys can head off if you want." He said.
The two snakes nodded, *POOF*
Naruto coughed as he waved the large amount of smoke from his face as he ran back into his cavern, 'Shit! How many ninjas are gonna see that?!' he thought as he looked up out at the huge smoke plume.
Naruto began forming hand signs, "Samehada! Come!" he yelled.
Samehada's 'teeth' retracted, dropping the fish to the ground as it became alive and slithered towards Naruto, it wrapped around his arms and stabbed into them, forcing a chunk of the chakra it had collected directly into his arm funnels.
Naruto winced in a little pain as the funnels were overloaded with chakra, "WIND STYLE: EXECUTING AIRWAVES!" he yelled as his palms began to glow slightly blue at the pent up chakra.
*BWOOOOOOOOOOOM*
His decapitating airwaves shot out from his palms, only they were at least twenty times larger and much sharper.
Naruto blasted the smoke at its base, causing a vacuum that sucked the large smoke cloud down before it was dragged forward, directly along the line between the desert and forest districts.
Samehada let go of Naruto and fell limply, Naruto caught the sword and carried her over to the little pit under his shelter. He placed the sword down and placed a hand on it, channelling large amounts of chakra into the blade to make it stronger.
Samehada purred before rolling over and softly biting Naruto's calf, sucking the chakra by itself.
Naruto smiled softly and petted the sword, "Take your time, relax. I also need you to feel around for approaching chakra just in case someone saw the smoke cloud before I got rid of it, alright?" he asked.
Samehada vibrated, "Gigigigi!" it replied.
Naruto nodded with a smile, "Thanks a ton, now I'm gonna start on some food." He said as he placed a hand on the ground, creating a long but strong stick from the grass underneath him.
Naruto stabbed through the first three fish and set them over the flame to cook, he sighed with a smirk before lying down on his back.
"Within Five hundred meters, there is no other ninjas."
Naruto's smirk grew, "Thanks Talkie."
##########
Two Days Later
##########
The Water Zone was near empty since there were minimal hiding places or safe spots. Which was exactly what Naruto was counting on.
Naruto was kneeling at a halfway point on the river, watching at the fish swam down the river towards the center of the four zones.
Naruto suddenly made a hand seal and the top layer of water became mist, covering the immediate area as a kunai flew into the mist.
*BOOM*
Naruto scowled as a portion of river was destroyed in the blast, 'Damn, now I have to find another source of food.' He thought as he stood perfectly still in the blindingly thick mist, his eyes closed calmly as he felt the area around him.
Naruto took a deep breath in through his nose, smelling the ninja that had attacked him, 'Someone who smells very dry. Probably spent too long in the desert section and needs some water. But not a scent that I know, that's for certain.' He thought as he slowly reached back and pulled Samehada off of his back while his skin began to become white and scaly.
Naruto smirked as he felt the surrounding area with his sage chakra, 'SNAKE STYLE: SAGE MODE.' He thought as his chakra rubbed around the signature of the other ninja, who just took a slow step forward.
He held his sword to the side as a wood clone grew from the ground, taking the sword before disappearing into the mist.
Naruto let his sage mode fall as he let out his demonic intent, "I'M COMING FOR YOU!" Naruto yelled. He heard the ninja's foot kick against the wet ground nearby as they moved, turning to face Naruto's position head on.
*SHLINK*
Naruto smirked as the mist lifted, 'The Silent Killing is too handy in this type of situation, no wonder Zabuza avoided those hunter ninjas for so long.' Naruto thought as he walked in the ninja's direction.
Naruto came to a stop in front of his clone, who then passed him Samehada and the ninja's two scrolls before dispersing into wood chakra and wood itself.
Naruto smirked, "Finally! I got all three!" Naruto said with a smile as he knelt, checking over the scrolls he currently held in his possession.
It was the third day of the test, and Naruto had three of the Inner Scrolls and two Middle Scrolls, and now he had Two Outer Scrolls.
"Within this sector, there are two other ninjas."
Naruto smirked down at his walkie talkie, "Thanks Talkie." He looked over at the corpse which suddenly faded from existence.
Naruto discovered after his third kill that soon after his opponent 'died', there body would fade away as if they never existed. He had some theories on how it was happening but he decided he would figure it out later.
Naruto looked up at the sky and grinned as it appeared to be nearing the end of the test, he decided to head back to camp.
Naruto used the transformation jutsu to make the illusion of a large eagle before he flew up into the air, noticing in the distance a not so large Phoenix circling the Rock Zone. Naruto looked over to the Desert Zone seeing another sand storm kick through the area before it caught on fire, dissipating into a flaming storm in a few seconds before disappearing completely, 'Well someone's definitely fighting.' He thought with a smirk as he crossed the border into the Desert Zone, sticking to the border to avoid any more battles.
After twenty minutes of flying, Naruto lowered to the ground, using a quick head-hunter jutsu to fall through the roof and into his little cave.
Naruto landed and quickly knelt by his hidden fire, grabbing his last stick of fish from it before chowing down, looking out through his wall of vines at the border of the Desert Zone, 'I'm ninety-nine percent sure that's Aniki. But the phoenix is definitely Nee-chan's.' Naruto thought.
Time seemed to slow as Naruto's animal instinct kicked in, he leapt over his fire and rolled forward out of his shelter as he heard the flapping of large wings get closer.
*BOOOM*
Naruto span while breathing in excess sage chakra, turning his skin a dark grey while letting his bone armour protect his organs as the debris slammed into him and around him, covering him and supposedly crushing him under it all.
"PISTON PUNCH!"
Naruto exploded everything from him and launched the rocks away from the area before jumping up out of the crash site.
Naruto flipped around, landing on the top of the cliff he built his base at and looked up as his eyes slitted, 'Deidara!' Naruto thought as he glared at the airborne ninja who attacked him. Naruto looked up at the ninja who was standing on a large clay bird, looking down at him with his arms folded.
The two ninjas stared at each other through their covered masks, before Naruto pulled his hood off. The bomber paused before laughing while his bird began to fly up into the air, "SEE YOU LATER UZUMAKI!" he yelled as he flew off.
Naruto scowled, "Fuckin bastard terrorist." He muttered as he walked over to his destroyed base, thinking on the possible reason Deidara would retreat.
"Within this sector, there is one…no other ninjas."
Naruto sighed, "Thanks Talkie." Naruto mumbled before his eyes squinted in thought.
'He doesn't need me yet, the Akatsuki is after Killer B, not me.' Naruto thought to himself before sitting against the cliff side.
Naruto folded his hands in front of him as he tried to think, 'Why would Tobi tell me that? This gives me a chance to interfere…unless…' Naruto thought as he looked up in the sky.
Naruto smirked as he stood, 'Guess we're gonna find out.' Naruto thought as the sun began to set.
Naruto waited for a few minutes until his walkie talkie spoke, "Within the mental arena, there are twelve ninjas. Time is up."
Naruto smirked, 'So, the final twelve is revealed.' Naruto thought before his vision was completely whited out.
##########
Naruto opened his eyes to find himself in the weird seal-room, his original clothing and belongings sitting on the floor in front of him.
Naruto grinned, 'I wonder if the other guys made it?' he asked himself as he got changed.
"I can see the shadow user passing, but we didn't hear hide nor hair from your…larger friend." The Kyuubi's voice rang out.
Naruto frowned as he pulled his hood up, 'That's not fair, Choji is very capable.' Naruto thought as he sheathed his sword.
He stood tall as he clipped the sheath onto his lower back, "Yeah, but you know I've never seen that kid without food. And I doubt that he picked a chip factory as his single item to bring into the arena."
Naruto's eyebrow twitched and he sighed, "Okay…maybe you're not too wrong."He mumbled as he stepped onto the plate, it glowed before rising up, lifting him up too Killer B's room for the final time.
Killer B grinned, "Hey hey Naruto! Them exams, how'd you go?" he rap-asked.
Naruto grinned, "Pretty well if I do say so myself, did I miss anything up here over the past few days octo-pops?" he asked as B stood.
B chuckled, "Maaan, it was only nine hours bro. That is the amazing thing about our village, we got Genjutsu that can go right through you!" he said as the two of them left the booth into the hall.
Naruto whistled in appreciation, "That's gotta be lightning powered yeah? Another cross technique of the Raikage?" Naruto asked as they walked through the exam hall, towards a desk where the Raikage and his two assistants sat.
Killer B grinned, "You got it my man, go to your team, my bro's got a plan!" he said with a gesture to the gathering ninjas.
Naruto glanced to his sides and smirked, 'Oh yeah, Konoha ninjas rock!' He thought as he stepped up to the remaining Konoha ninjas, leaving Killer B to walk over to the desks.
Sakura squeezed Naruto's shoulder with a smile as he stood next to her, Sasuke and Shikamaru. They faced the Raikage from the middle of the group of remaining twelve ninjas.
A stood, "So! You all survived the survival test, good work! Now, who managed to pass the mission as well?" A asked with a grin.
All but two of the contestants proudly held up their three scrolls in the air above their heads, the Raikage laughed, "Well sorry rain ninjas! Guess you're out for the count!" he said with another bellowing laugh.
The two rain ninjas looked down dejectedly while the third that managed to get the scrolls merely folded his arms, causing Naruto to scowl as he watched them, 'One of those three is Deidara, another is Tobi, so who is the third guy? And which one of them passed?' Naruto thought in worry.
The Raikage waved his hand, "Well get out you two, as a prize you can keep the scrolls you got. They got reward vouchers in them for different places in the land of Lightning," he said with a grin before looking over the stunned faces of the remaining contestants, "Don't worry, you get to keep yours too! Hahahahaha!" he finished with a huge laugh.
The ninjas watched as those two who didn't get the scrolls left without a fuss before turning back to the Raikage and his two advisors, just as the large black man sat down, "Cee, take it from here yeah?" he ordered as he relaxed.
Cee clicked a button on the desk before gesturing to the hall's back wall, which suddenly revealed itself to be a large screen, "You get this weekend off, use it to relax, train, whatever. But on Monday be ready, because you will all be taking place in the Jonin exams tournament." Cee said.
Shikamaru raised his arm, "Since we passed every portion of the previous tests, aren't we automatically given Jonin status?" he asked.
Darui yawned, "Yeah, but really that just proved you guys have the credentials to be Jonin. So realistically you are only guaranteed the Tokubetsu status. Your kages decide what the final result is at the end of the tournament." He said with a shrug.
Cee took over again as the screen lit up, "With help from the lovely Mabui here," Cee said with a gesture to the blushing woman who stepped forward, holding a large box, "You will decide who you fight, but don't worry it's kind of rigged." Cee said, causing the ninjas to mutter in confusion.
Sakura frowned, "What does he mean rigged? If we don't get a choice then what's the point in choosing?" she whispered to Sasuke.
The Uchiha shrugged, "Only one way to find out." He muttered.
Naruto was about to ask what that way was when Shikamaru interrupted, "Just wait for them to explain it." he said, looking bored out of his mind.
Mabui began talking, "Umm, the thing is that you can only pick ninjas from another village. This is too ensure that there will be no holding back. But you guys aren't allowed to kill your enemy, you just have to 'beat' them." she said with a smile.
A spoke up once more, "My Cloud ninjas! Up first!" he ordered.
The three cloud ninjas stepped forward, "Samui! Karui! Omoi! Good work for making it this far!" A yelled.
Samui stepped forward and reached into the box, lifting out a piece of paper, "Number One." she said with a smirk.
Karui reached in, "Number Five." Karui said with a small smile.
Omoi reached in while chewing his lip, "Number Nine." He said with a sigh of relief.
Cee spoke up, "Cloud ninjas, step to the side. Leaf ninjas up next!" he said as the cloud ninjas' names turned up n the board.
The Konoha ninjas let Naruto step forward first, "Number Two." Naruto said with a grin.
Sakura put her hand in, "I'm Ten." She said while holding up her number.
Sasuke was next, "Number Six." He said with a smirk.
Shikamaru reached in, "Number Eight." He said with a frown.
The Raikage spoke once more, "Rock Ninjas!"
The two rock ninjas stepped up, "Number Three." The first said, "Number Seven." The second finished.
Darui spoke next, "And finally, Fang of the hidden rain." He said.
The masked ninja walked forward and spoke without reaching in, "So I am Number Four ." he said with an oddly familiar chuckle.
Cee nodded and gestured to the screen, "These are the final tallies guys," he said with a smile before turning to the Raikage, "A-sama." He said.
The Raikage stood as he began talking, "The tournament will start Monday at Ten in the morning for the first five matches. The next day will be the same with the rest of the matches." He said before stretching, "Your Kages will be invited tonight, they should be here on Sunday afternoon." The Raikage finished as he left the hall calmly.
Sasuke glanced across the Konoha ninjas, "Let's get going. I'm guessing Choji didn't make it?" he asked.
The foursome left the hall to find Choji and Ino sitting outside, they looked up as they heard the four passing ninjas exit, "Hey guys! You all passed right?" Choji asked.
Shikamaru crouched next to the two, "Yeah we did," he said before turning to Team Seven, "You guys get going, we'll see you back at the hotel." He said with a nod to Naruto.
Naruto nodded in return, 'Looks like he's truly loyal, guess the drugs worked.' Naruto thought as he and Sakura followed after Sasuke.
The trio left the area and Sasuke led them to a small café, the three of them tiredly fell into three chairs that surrounded a small table.
Sasuke spoke first, "So, anything interesting guys?" he asked as he waved for the waiter.
Sakura shook her head, "I literally didn't have a single battle that went for more than ten seconds, but I did want to ask, do you guys know anything about the clan Deidara of the Akatsuki comes from?" She said just as the waiter began walking over.
Naruto was frowning as he replied, "It was Deidara of the Akatsuki. There was also Tobi in there." Naruto said.
The waiter stepped up, "What can I get you three?" he asked.
Sakura was in slight shock at the revelation as was Sasuke, so Naruto spoke for them, "Three waters for now, and three of the toasted sandwiches." Naruto said with a polite smile.
The waiter nodded as he wrote down their order, "Sure thing, that'll be ready in five." He said before walking off.
The second the waiter was out of earshot, Sasuke spoke, "Do we know who they were disguised as?" he asked.
Naruto looked up in thought, "Honestly, I think that they were the rain team." He said.
Sakura bit her lower lip in worry, "Why's that? Don't you think they would've easily passed? Also, we should report this to the Raikage right? They might be after you Naruto, or maybe B-san." she replied quickly, her voice shaking with fear for her brother.
Sasuke grasped her hand, "Calm down Sakura-chan," he said before turning to Naruto, "What do you think Naruto?"
Naruto ran his tongue along the front of his teeth as he thought, "I guess….Deidara is probably that 'Boom' guy from the rain village, do you remember how he passed the strength test Aniki?" Naruto asked as he looked back as Sasuke.
The Uchiha nodded, "His punch seemed to cause an explosion upon impact, thus destroying the bottom portion of his slab of cement." Sasuke said.
Naruto nodded, "So that leaves Tobi to be either 'Vine' or 'Fang'." He said.
Sakura spoke up, "I don't think he's Fang." She said.
Naruto and Sasuke both raised a brow, "Why not?" Sasuke asked.
She seemed to concentrate as she recalled her run in with him, "When you guys went to get the Genie's Diamond, I went back to the hall. The Fang guy was there and he was fighting like, I dunno…water." She said, raising her voice so the sentence sounded like a question.
Sasuke's head twitched as something he observed came to his attention, "I think I fought that guy, he just seemed to slip and slide around every attack of mine and he used the same jutsu that you learnt from Orochimaru to grab my scrolls before he left. Luckily, I got more." He said with a bragging smirk.
Naruto stared at Sasuke with wide eyes, "Aniki…which jutsu?" he asked with a horrified look on his face.
Sasuke raised a brow, "Your muscle elongation thing, his neck stretched and head butted me off balance so he could snatch the scrolls." He explained with a confused tone.
Naruto seemed to go pale as he looked down at the table, his mind racing at a million miles per hour. Sakura appeared worried, "What's wrong Nii-san?" she asked.
Naruto was silent for a few moments before speaking quietly, "That jutsu, I learnt it from Orochimaru because I absorbed his soul fragment. It's not just a snake technique though, its his own creation, something only he knows how to do." Naruto said as he looked up, swallowing deeply.
Sasuke was wide eyed as well, "So, even Orochimaru is in these exams?" he asked.
Naruto nodded, "And even worse, he's working with the Akatsuki!" Naruto exclaimed.
The three ninjas sat in stunned silence as they thought of the situation, which is when the waiter arrived with their waters, "Sorry for the delay, your food will be another few minutes. Is that okay?" he asked.
Sakura nodded, "Yeah, that's fine." She said with a forced smile.
The waiter didn't notice her forcing it, "Alright, just call me if you need anything." He said as he left.
The trio sat in silence for a minute until they heard the fourth chair at their table be pulled out, they looked up to see a smiling Neji, "Hey guys, tell me how it went." He said as he sat down while calling the waiter back again.
He glanced at the team who he realised was dead silent, he raised a brow at their confused faces, "Guys?" he asked.
The waiter arrived, "Hey there, what can I do for you?"
Neji frowned, "Just water thanks." He said before facing the team full on and folding his hands below his chin.
The waiter walked off with a frown at Neji's 'rude behaviour' while the Byakugan user spoke, "Report. Now." He ordered.
##########
"What do we do?" Sakura asked from her place on Sasuke's lap.
The four of them were now back in the hotel, sitting around the coffee table in Naruto and Sasuke's room.
Neji had his arms folded, "The only thing we can really." he said before standing up and taking a few steps to the side, gaining the attention of his squad.
Neji was looking out the window as he spoke, "I was completely confident in you three, so I sent the letter early, Tsunade-sama will be here tomorrow in the afternoon and at that point we tell her. But before that, I think we need to push this from our minds." Neji said seriously.
Naruto's brow shot up, "Huh?! You mean just ignore it?!" he asked in disbelief.
Neji turned to the team and nodded while throwing down an envelope, "We have been invited to a breakfast tomorrow with the Raikage. He apparently knows your bingo book alias' and is pretty much positive it's you three." Neji said while a scowl.
Sasuke's eyes widened as Sakura leant forward, picking up the paper, "If that is so then why has he not attacked us or sent people to capture us?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura looked up from the letter, "It appears as though he wants to discuss our relationships with the other villages in the Triad Alliance and about the Kyuubi, it doesn't mention anything about us being in the bingo book other than the fact that he addresses us as our titles." She said with a frown as she looked over their names; Burning Speed, Reaping Hunter and Final Flash/Rebirth of Hokages.
Neji nodded, "Exactly, this may be the chance to do one of two things." He said as he turned back to glance out the window.
Sasuke nodded, "Either the Raikage wants to join the alliance."
Naruto looked up with a frown, "Or he wants to capture us."
Sakura gasped at the implications of their words while Neji glanced over his shoulder, "This is how the meeting will go. You will be polite, Naruto will talk with Killer B as much as he can, Sasuke and I will do our best to keep the Raikage focussed on us and Sakura will do the best she can to seem carefree and happy." Neji said.
Sasuke and Naruto nodded while Sakura frowned, "Wait, so Naruto will be near their Jinchuuriki for obvious reasons, Sasuke and you will be ready to defend yourselves from the Raikage and possibly fight back, and I'm gonna eat and get drunk?" she asked.
Neji slipped out of his seriousness to facepalm, "Sakura, I swear you are the dumbest smart person I know." He said with a sigh.
Sakura looked at Sasuke in confusion, "Neji-sempai wants you to be your real self, he wants you to act like a woman." Sasuke said with a frown.
Sakura blushed, "You mean, flirt? I have to flirt with the Raikage?" she asked.
Neji sighed once more while Naruto cut in, "You have to get on his good side, this is the easiest way. Although honestly I'm not sure you're his type." Naruto said with a straight face.
Sakura blushed but frowned, "What?! You think I'm not pretty enough?!" she yelled as she stood.
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Nee-chan, his scent is all over his assistant Mabui and hers is all over him. They've had sex on multiple occasions, and recently." Naruto said without skipping a beat.
Neji frowned as Sakura lost her anger, "Oh…" she mumbled.
Neji spoke up, "If they are that close then she will probably be at this dinner as well. Sakura, get on her good side." Neji ordered.
The three Chunnin nodded as Neji spoke one final time for the night, "Go to bed. Rest up. And be ready." Neji said with absolute seriousness as he left the room, Sakura following soon behind him.
##########
Squad Seven had gone to bed a few hours ago when Naruto shot up in bed, shaking and sweating, 'Wha-what in the name of log was that?' he thought, not realising he was being listened in on.
"I don't think that was a nightmare, I think that was a memory." The Kyuubi said.
Naruto shook his head and turned, setting his feet on the ground as he looked down, realising he had been subconsciously morphing parts of his body in his sleep, 'That was not my memory, so which soul was it from? And what the hell was with that guy's eyes?' Naruto thought as he stood.
Naruto walked towards the bathroom as Kurama talked, "I'd guess either Orochimaru or Kisame Hoshigaki is responsible. The ninja in you saw in your dream was wearing an Akatsuki cloak, and…" the Kyuubi trailed off, not finishing his sentence.
Naruto raised a brow as he turned on the light, looking at himself in the mirror, 'And what Kurama?' Naruto asked.
He heard the big fox sigh, "Those eyes, they've only been in one place before. The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths."
Naruto's eyes widened, 'Wh-what? How can that be?' Naruto asked in shock.
"I have no idea, but one thing I think we can both agree on." The Kyuubi started.
Naruto nodded, 'This guy, he's probably the leader of the Akatsuki!' Naruto thought as he blew out a heavy breath.
He felt the Kyuubi's agreement, "And he's coming for you while these three here are coming for the Eight tails."
Naruto swallowed as he nodded before a slightly crazed smirk began to grow on his face, it was silent as he began chuckling he quickly moved forward and closed the bathroom door before falling against it back first, letting his laughter free as he looked up at the moonlight entering through the window.
It was nearly two full minutes before Naruto was back in control and listening for Kurama again, "What the hell is so funny brat?"
Naruto still giggled a little as he moved back over to the sink, looking into his own eyes as they began to become slitted, "Someone with the legendary doujutsu is coming to me?" he asked himself quietly as he began giggling again, "Finally…a soul that's worth it." He said with a large dark grin.
Naruto heard the Kyuubi chuckle, "Brat, if you get the Rinnegan you will be literally unstoppable." The Kyuubi said happily.
Naruto nodded as one eye became red, giving Kyuubi direct sight in one eye as the other stayed Naruto's.
Naruto heard Kurama's gasp and he stared into the reflection of the fox's eye, "And once I have that, your next fox." Naruto said with a grin.
"Hmhmhm, you may become unstoppable by human standards, but I'm no human." The Kyuubi said with a feral challenging grin.
##########
Chapter end.
Hey guys, sorry I didn't post the latest chapter last week, I just wasn't happy with it so I went back to fix it up.
Anyways, I'm kind of losing my motivation. I'm sure it'll come back soon but I'm just really busy with tafe/work/friends/all-the-other-shit-that-life-thr ows-at-you.
Please R&R! give me some inspirational suggestions if you can!
Alky out.