The Golden Jinchurikki

Chapter 4: The Test

The sun's rays were just beginning to filter into Naruto's bedroom as he yawned, stretching slightly to relieve the tension in his arms and legs. It had been quite the flight away from Hinata's room. Apparently, he truly was in need of proper shinobi training. He had tripped another two wires, alerted three guards, and had had his pants ripped by a dog daemon with extremely large teeth. All in all, less than adequate on his days to remember.

Next to him, he could feel the warmth of Kyuubi's shallow breathing, creating a pocket of moisture against his arm. It felt comfortable, the feeling of another body next to him. Kyuubi and he were always close like that. Of course, daemon's and their human partners could never be separated. If either of the pair got away from the other, the mental strain of carrying a psychic link that far would be too great, and they would be obliterated, or, at least have a massive migraine for the trouble.

Attempting to move without waking his daemon, Naruto quietly arched his back, popping one leg from underneath the blanket,and then the other. Slowly, he righted himself, standing up and smiling. He was beginning to think that he could be a better shinobi than he used to be. In fact, the more he thought about it, he was becoming a better shinobi than even that ass, Sasuke. That's right! Uzumaki Naruto, the next Hokage, and superior to the Uchiha bastard that makes fun of him, calls him names, and just makes life a living hell!

"If that was supposed to be quiet, you need more training," Kyuubi stated, eying him suspiciously with one eye. His mouth opened in a yawn as Naruto froze, turning slightly, his face giving away the shock that he felt. He could have sworn that he had been more sneaky and cautious than ever. Apparently...he really did need training, especially if his daemon could sense him leaving his bed when Kyuubi was supposedly asleep.

Naruto smiled, rubbing the back of his head apologetically and dipping slightly. "Oh...sorry Kyub. I tried not to wake you. You needed sleep, and..."

"Forget it, Naruto-kun. I'll manage." Yawning once more, the nine-tailed fox daemon arched its own back, mouth stretched wide in a feral grin as it released its own tension with a cacophony of pops and tweaks. "So, what are we going to do?"

"We're gonna eat! That's what!" Naruto stated bluntly. Turning to his kitchen, he went to the nearest drawer, opening it and rummaging about for breakfast. Kyuubi, meanwhile, busied itself by licking a paw and running it through his head-fur. "Ah ha! Perfect!" Naruto had found himself a bowl of instant ramen, smiling as he opened the package and took an appreciatory sniff.

Kyuubi merely rolled his eyes, taking another moment to lick its paw. "Ramen, as if I'm surprised by that." A few more moments and the small animal was seemingly satisfied with his work, hopping from the bed to the floor and shaking itself down. "So, what am I to eat? You know that I don't eat that vile concoction of noodles and vegetable bits."

Naruto stopped, his hand already pressing the button on the microwave. "Um. Gee, Kyuubi. I forgot about you."

"Of course you did, Naruto-kun. Thank you very much for the consideration of your thought," Kyuubi stated back, growling in his throat for emphasis. It wasn't that Naruto was thoughtless. More the contrary. However, when ramen was involved, there was hardly any room for other thoughts in the blond head of his. Kyuubi actually remembered one time that Naruto had actually forgotten him. Of course, it was for ramen. Ramen at Ichiraku's, to be precise. Naruto had forgotten that he, Kyuubi himself was still asleep, had hopped out of bed, and rushed through the door before he had gotten fully awake. After running about two city-blocks down the street, both of them went into convulsions. One of the side-effects of going too far from your daemon.

Turning away, Kyuubi sniffed to itself, feigning hunger to the maximum. "Oh me, to have such a worthless human partner that he would forget that I need food to. Oh, what a pitiful daemon I am. Oh woe...oh woe is me!"

"Ok, Kyub. I get it, geez." Naruto shook his head, rolling his eyes as he pushed the button and his microwave beeped back, slowly revolving for the time span of three minutes. "Let me see if I can find you something in here," he said, pointing at the refrigerator with a half-cocked thumb.

Kyuubi smiled toothily, turning back. "How very kind of you, Naruto-kun. Thank you for your consideration. I take back all the mean things I've never said about you...but am thinking about doing so now."

Naruto sighed. It was going to be a long, long day with an obstinate daemon. How many times had his daemon reprimanded him for not eating and training too much? Finally eating, and now his daemon decided that he was being stingy.

Walking over to the cold box, Naruto opened it, glancing inside for something to appease his daemon with. It wasn't long before he smiled, taking out a box and placing it on the counter. "Here we go! Just the thing!"

"What is it, Naruto-kun?" Kyuubi asked. He couldn't see from the floor, and though he could just hop onto the counter, he didn't want to.

Naruto smiled, taking a bowl from the cupboard, along with a glass. "Milk, Kyub! I know you like milk!"

Kyuubi did perk up slightly, his nine-tails waving behind him in anticipation. "I do, Naruto-kun! It's one of the things that we both like, since I have never seen you eating anything of the insect variety."

Naruto chuckled, pouring a generous bowl for Kyuubi, and a large glass for himself. Raising his glass to his mouth, he took a swallow, feeling the liquid course down his throat. "Ah! That's good. Here Kyub." Taking the bowl down from the counter, he placed it on the ground, sliding it across to the daemon as he finished his own glass. Just at that moment, the microwave beeped, and Naruto hurriedly went to it, opening the door and taking the contents out. "This takes far too long. I wish that ramen had an instant button or something. One on each box and bowl! That way, you could just press it, and bam! Done!"

Taking his food to the table, he sat down, producing a pair of chopsticks before smiling once more. "Itadkimasu!" Then he went in with a gusto that belied his small stature.

It amazed Kyuubi to watch his boy eating. No matter how hungry, and no matter how sloppy he seemed to be, he never really spilled anything he was eating. Especially ramen. It was quite the show, watching the boy shovel food into his mouth, swallowing almost as fast as he could, just to fill his maw once again.

"Naruto-kun, you should slow down. The ramen isn't going to get up and walk out the door if you don't eat it right away," Kyuubi stated. Seeing that his statement made little impact upon the boy, Kyuubi sighed, wrenching his sight away and walking over to the bowl, eying the milk. It was true, he did enjoy a bowl of milk once in a while. Milk helped his coat remain glossy, and his eyes seemed to sparkle after enjoying a helping of the white liquid. Licking his lips, the daemon bent down, taking a whiff of the substance in its container.

He wasn't ready for the appalling way his eyes stung after the fact, nor the way he wished he could detach his nose. Recoiling away from the bowl, he snorted. Glancing up at his boy, who was just finishing his meal, he glared. "Naruto-kun, what are you trying to do? Kill me?"

Naruto let out a long sigh, placing his empty bowl on the table as he glanced down. "Huh? What do you mean, Kyuubi? Oh, you didn't drink your milk?"

Kyuubi scoffed right back. "Of course I didn't, you buffoon! It's sour! It probably has more micro-organisms in it than a toilet! How could you try to feed me that, hm?"

Naruto blinked, standing up and walking over to the bowl. Eying it for a moment, he leaned down, picking it up and giving it a sniff. After a moment, he merely shrugged, emptying the bowl in a few gulps as Kyuubi stood by, incredulous. Licking his lips, the boy shrugged again. "I dunno, Kyub. It tastes fine to me."

"That's because you have no taste, Naruto-kun." Sighing to himself, Kyuubi's ears lowered, his nine-tails dragging on the ground and kicking up small trails of dust. "I like milk. I cannot believe you allowed it to spoil like that."

Rolling his eyes at his obstinate daemon, Naruto placed the bowl in the sink. "Whatever, Kyub. Like I said, the milk was perfectly fine. I don't know what you're talking about. Anyways, come on! We have a test to get to, remember?"

All that he received was a dejected nod from his daemon as the small creature began to limp towards the door. Pity wasn't something that Naruto usually felt, unless it was for himself, which was most of the time. So, trying to fix matters, Naruto went to one knee, taking the daemon up and giving it a pat on the head. "Tell you what, Kyuubi. We'll stop at the store, and I'll buy you some fresh milk. How about that?" The little daemon's head picked up as he glanced at Naruto's face.

"Re-really Naruto-kun? But...we don't have any money."

Naruto smiled, letting the daemon back down as he reached into his pocket, coming back out with a small purse. "Ta-da! I've saved up a little bit. I have enough for some milk, I think. Come on, though. We have to hurry if we want to get it before the test."

Kyuubi sniffed, nodding. "Hai, Naruto-kun!" So saying, the two turned from the room, Naruto grabbing his backpack from off the ground before slamming the door. Turning the key in the lock, Naruto smiled, pointing dramatically towards their destination.

"Let's go, Kyuubi! Today, we're shinobi!"

Mentally running through a checklist of her equipment, Hinata stood at her own doorway, glancing about the small room. "Let's see...um...I have my shuriken...um...a kunai...my clothes...what else? What else?"

"Hinata-san." Mophy crawled from beneath the bed, holding a kunai in her mouth. "You forgot one."

Hinata gave a sharp intake of breath, reaching down and taking the stranded weapon from her daemon. "Oh...th-thank you, Mophy. I should've...should've been more careful."

Mophy merely nodded, licking a paw and grazing her face with it. "Hai, Hinata-san. But...that kunai doesn't smell like you. It smells more like Naruto-kun."

"Na-na-naruto-kun?" Hinata gave the weapon another glance. True, the brand was off. Her family bought their weapons from a private smith in another town. His work was said to be the best in the Fire Country. This was nothing but a mere kunai, elegant perhaps, but crudely made. Not more than a few yen at most. "You-you're right, Mophy-san. It is...is Naruto-kun's. We'd be-better give it ba-back to him."

Her daemon nodded, walking forward to stand nearby. "Hai, Hinata-san. Now, let's be off. Remember, Naruto-kun told us to eat before we leave. So, we should probably do that."

The girl nodded, pearl-colored eyes reflecting the sunlight pouring in from her open window. "Hai, Mophy-san. Something...something quick and easy. I wouldn't like to...to keep everyone waiting."

As Hinata entered the hallway, walking up the passage to the kitchen, she went over the night's events in her mind. From the time when Naruto had broken into her room, to when she had hurriedly thrown him out, the fear that her father would find him closest in her mind. She couldn't help but blush slightly from the way he had been so thoughtful. No one had ever done that before. Hopefully, it was a good sign.

Entering the kitchen, the girl glanced hesitantly about the kitchen. "Hm...what to eat? What is here that is quick?"

"Hinata-san?" At the sound of her father's voice, the girl peeped, turning her attention to the small table at the edge of the room. Her father and mother were sipping small cups of tea, her father's a bit stronger, or so she would assume. Her father was, at the moment, giving her a questioning glance. "Hinata-san, are you alright?"

"O-o-oh! O-o-o-of course, fa-fa-father." She bowed, and his eyebrow rose higher.

"Tell me, Hinata-san. What are you doing? Do you not have a test to get to?"

Hinata gulped. Her father was always looking down on her. It wouldn't do to have him mad at her at this point, or to think that she would be late. "Oh...h-h-hai! I was...ju-ju-just loo-loo-loo-looking for something to-to-to eat."

Her father sighed, turning back to his tea and closing his eyes. "Very well, Hinata-san. Please, continue. I did not mean to make you worry."

Hinata nodded from her bowing position, straightening and going to a drawer once more. Opening it, she began taking this and that from it, searching for something that would be easy to concoct, yet filling.

Her father took another sip, giving her another momentary glance until beginning a conversation with her mother. Every few moments, he would glance her direction, taking in the multitudes of food and ingredients piling up on the table.

"Ah!" Reaching into the very back, Hinata came up with a box of breakfast bars. "Well...th-th-they aren't very filling...but they are fa-fa-fast." Ripping open the box, she took three, just in case, closing the box and stowing it safely back from whence it came.

A few moments more, and the rest of the items were safely back in the drawer, her bars stuck in her pocket, one hanging from her mouth. Smiling, she waved goodbye to her parents as Mophy hopped outside onto the veranda porch. Hinata followed lead, running after her on their way to the training grounds.

Hyuuga Hiashi glanced up from his tea once more, smirking as he took another sip. "Well well, I'll be."

"What's that, dear?"

"The Genin test. I remember when I took it. They told us not to eat in the morning, or we'd lose our breakfast. But...Hinata-san seems to not take the warning. It could be...that she is growing more than I thought. It is a good sign."

"Hm...that's nice, dear."

"Yes. Yes it is. How is your tea, my lovely?"

"Lovely...like this morning."

"...Hai..."

It was Naruto who was beginning to lag slightly as Kyuubi bounded ahead of him, their destination already set. A lone tree, all by itself, yet stately in its loneliness, stood in the middle of a large expanse of reeds. That was their destination...training grounds 45B. It was said to be a perfect training ground for those who practiced Genjutsu, simply for the fact that there were so many different kinds of ground within one field. On the North edge, a large swamp encompassed the land. On the Southern tip, tree lines and bushes. The Eastern side was protected by a large lake, composed of reeds, sticks, logs, and daichou, a deadly fish that was concocted by a mysterious shinobi and released as a pet project into the tranquil waters. More like piranha than anything, the swarming schools of daichou would feed on anything that happened to fall into the abyss, snapping up animals with razor sharp teeth and vicious appetites.

Gulping as Naruto eyed the waters...and felt his stomach heave, the boy set his pack down next to the tree, feeling its bark with his hands. "This tree is enormous Kyuubi."

The daemon nodded in answer, settling down near Naruto's backpack and closing his eyes. "Hai, Naruto-kun. Funny, though. I almost feel like I've seen this tree before. Only...it was much younger. Oh well...perhaps I am just exaggerating things. Maybe I have never seen this tree before. Only a passing fancy, hm?"

Naruto nodded, still taking in the broad-leaf structure of the tree's flowing branches, and the light dancing in-between. "Hai, Kyuubi. Hai."

For a moment, neither one said a word, allowing the wind to brush through their hair and wisp away their worries. Then, Kyuubi suddenly popped an eye open, staring up at his boy. "Oy, Naruto-kun! Can I have some of that milk that you bought? I'm starving."

Naruto blinked, coming out of the momentary lull to glance down at his daemon. "Oh? Sure, Kyub. Why not." Bending over and retrieving his pack, he carefully took out a bowl and the milk that they had secured from the market. Thankfully, the market opened early. Pouring out a generous helping, Naruto lay the bowl on the ground, indicating that Kyuubi should drink.

The nine-tailed fox daemon did so with a flourish, lapping up the liquid without a moment's hesitation. As Naruto watched, his own stomach gurgled again. Cringing slightly and holding a hand to it, he sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't have had that ramen. Maybe Kurenai-sensei was right, Kyub."

"Oh yes, Naruto-kun. Perhaps it was the ramen, and not the spoiled, chunky milk that is to blame. Of course, the ramen, that you eat every day. Brilliant!" Was his only reply.

A wave of nausea swept over him, and Naruto turned his head, belching behind his back. His fox daemon cringed slightly, taking another small lap of his own breakfast before walking over. "Naruto-kun...I didn't...didn't mean..."

"Ugh...I don't feel good..."

"Naruto-kun..."

"Na-na-na-Naruto-kun!" The female voice punctuated the still morning air as Hinata and Mophy idled up the hill. Mophy came to settle near Kyuubi, who immediately shut his eyes and feigned tired boredom. Meanwhile, Hinata herself was intently watching Naruto, who had turned a slight shade of green. "Um...um...ar-ar-ar-ar-are you o-o-o-ok...Na-na-na-Naruto-ku-ku-kun?"

Naruto smiled, nodding slightly as another wave of nausea wracked his lithe frame. "Yea-ye-ye-yeah, Hinata-chan! Per-per-perfect!" His teeth chattered involuntarily, and he smiled wider...though all he wanted to do was find a bathroom.

"Hey guys!" Last to arrive, Kiba walked into their midst, dropping his own pack on the ground and stubbing his toe. "Boy, I'm glad I didn't eat today. I heard from my sister that this test is really, really tough! She said that someone on her team ate, and that they blew chunks EVERYWHERE! She said it was really gross, but that the kid got himself hurt really bad. I don't know about you guys, but I didn't even eat dinner last night. But, I'm totally ready for this test! You can bet yourself a billion yen on that! Right Akamaru!?"

The dog daemon barked in response, panting down at Kyuubi, who nodded in acknowledgment.

Hinata shivered slightly, glancing down half-heartedly at Mophy. Di-di-did you he-he-hear that? We should-n't ha-ha-ha-have eaten...

Mophy glanced up, smiling a toothy, cat-like grin. Don't worry, Hinata-chan. I believe in Naruto-kun. He is probably right in this matter. Besides, Kyuubi wouldn't let him do anything stupid. He is a smart daemon. He knows what to do.

"OH MAN! I'M GONNA BE SICK!" Turning on his heels, Naruto took off, raising a small dustcloud on his way to the line of trees that dotted the landscape immediately to their left. The others watched him go, Kyuubi attempting to keep up with him.

"Naruto-kun! I can't be left behind! You know the rules of nature! Come back!"

Kiba watched all with an upraised brow, smiling slyly. "Hn. Well, that punk sure does show his true colors. The test hasn't even started yet and he's already running for home. Oh well, more test for me." Turning away from the distasteful scene, Kiba eyed Hinata. "So...you ready?"

The girl gulped, nodding as she took another breakfast bar out of her pack and unwrapping it deftly. Eating kept her mind off of the task at hand, and filled her stomach. The bar was about half-way to her mouth before it was snatched away. Kiba stood, eying the thing with disdain as he glared at her. "What the hell were you thinking? You heard Kurenai-sensei. She said 'don't eat anything.' Are you stupid in the head or something?"

Hinata gasped, her hand quivering. "Bu-bu-bu-bu...I...I...I was..."

"You were just going to blow it for us. What the hell gave you this idea, huh?"

Hinata blinked at her teammates open question. Slowly, her eyes darted to the right for help from her other partner, but of course, he was little use, bent over a bush in the middle of the forest. "Na-na-naruto-kun said to...to...to eat...before..."

"Ha! Naruto? Told you to eat? Well, he probably did, and look where it got him, right? He's puking and crapping in the middle of the woods right now! Hn, probably ate a hundred pounds of ramen before coming here, like a stupid moron." Flicking the bar away, Kiba smiled. "Don't worry, Hinata-chan. I'll take care of you. Just do what I say, and things will be alright."

The velvet-eyed girl nodded, managing a small smile. Next to her, her daemon purred. I suppose that we shouldn't tell him that you ate two of those bars already, huh?

Hinata nodded, something that Kiba mistook for motivation. Smiling his most devilish, he nodded at the tree. "This will be home-base, Hinata. Just remember that."

"H-h-h-hai, Kiba-kun!"

Five minutes later, an extremely pleased Naruto sauntered back, Kyuubi still holding his breath. "You guys, I would suggest not going over there for at least ten or twenty minutes. You wouldn't like it."

Kyuubi didn't draw breath or talk, just nodded in response and attempted to calm his own stomach down.

"Ah! Good of you all to show up so briskly!" None of the trio had noticed Kurenai's sudden appearance in the tree, smiling down at them all as her frog-daemon croaked from a low-lying branch. Kyuubi growled at it as it smiled down, hopping off the tree limb and onto the ground.

"Welcome, welcome. Now, before we get to the test, we have to cover the ground rules."

"Ground rules? What ground rules? This is a test, right?" Naruto said, sitting on the ground and splaying his legs in an effort to relieve the pain emanating from his rear end.

The woman merely smiled as she hopped down from the tree, landing gracefully on her feet in a crouching position. Standing with a flip of her hair, her gaze landed on the blond. "Naruto-kun, this test is to prove more than just a few things. But, we'll get to that later. For now, the test is this." Her right hand dipped down into a pocket, six pairs of eyes following. The tinkling of a pair of bells resounded through the still air, and the small jewels dangled in the woman's hand. "You're tasked with taking these bells from me. Sounds simple, right?"

"Hell yeah! Simple as anything!" Naruto yelled, hopping to his feet and smiling.

Kurenai chuckled low under her breath, giving herself a moment with her daemon for a split chat on the functions of the boy before continuing. "Yes, well. The object is to take these bells, and as I said, it's rather simple. Take them however you can. Trick me, steal them, bash me over the head and nab them. However you think you can do it. Just do it."

It could have been the sly smile that graced her lips, or the fact that Naruto's stomach was still queasy, but the boy couldn't get those words out of his head. Hey, Kyuubi. What do you suppose that Kurenai-sensei meant by bash her over the head?

The small, nine-tailed fox glanced up briefly, yawning. I do not know, Naruto-kun. Perhaps it means that we are going to have to fight her for them.

Fight her for them? Why would we do that, Kyuubi?

Who knows, Naruto-kun. Perhaps it's part of the test?

Maybe. Should I ask?

Can't hurt.

Gulping, the blond's hand rose. The woman's eyebrow rose as she glanced over. "Yes, Naruto-kun?"

Another gulp, and another bead of sweat dripped from his nose. "Um...yeah...you mean...we...have to fight...you?"

The woman smiled again, as if mulling the question over. Naruto took that as a good sign, smiling himself. Then, she laughed, and the fact that she was laughing began to get to the blond, and he laughed as well. Then, she outright guffawed, her mirth eventually catching up to the three students. Kiba smirked, glancing down at Akamaru, who gave him a tongue-in-cheek-smile. Naruto himself was convulsed in mirth, Kyuubi allowing himself a chuckle next to him. Even Hinata chuckled slightly, Mophy glancing up at her. Hinata-chan?

Oh...so-so-sorry Mophy-san. It's just...just...thinking that...that we'd have to fi-fi-fight Kurenai-sensei. It's ri-ri-ridiculous, isn't it?

Hn. Yes, it is. She's a Jounin teacher. She couldn't possibly fight three Genin. You three would be annihilated. It's so silly...The cat daemon began to smile to herself, even allowing herself a purr of contentment over the joke.

Kurenai's side's ached, and she attempted to quell her mirth as fast as possible, shielding her eyes from the three genin in front of her. "Oh ho ho...Naruto-kun." The boy glanced up, wiping a tear from his eyes. "Of course you'll have to fight me. In fact, you should try to kill me. That's the only way you'll take these bells. I'll also be trying to kill you."

The stillness in the air was deafening. In fact, the only noise was Naruto's gurgling stomach as the air got hot and angry. A hyperventilating Hinata next to him told Naruto that this wasn't a joke anymore. "Bu-bu-bu..."

"And..." Now, Uzu stepped forward, bowing. "If you cannot get the bells by noon, you'll go without lunch, and you'll fail this portion of the test. If you fail...well, let's just say that you shouldn't, right?" Winking across at Kyuubi, who's arched back and bared fangs were a semblance of a some medieval creature. Giving the fox daemon another wink, the green frog glanced up at his partner. "Ready, Kurenai-chan?"

"Tee-hee. Ready, Uzu."

"Shall we...you know?"

"I suppose now is as good a time as any."

"Right."

"Right."

"Let's go."

"Certainly." The woman's hands weaved up her middle, stopping in front of her. "Ready children? The test begins now. Oh, and by the way...I hope you can swim. KAI!" In a wave of light, the woman suddenly disappeared, along with her daemon. The background swirled, and the ground beneath their feet began to mush together. Then, Hinata fell through the ground, and then Kiba, leaving Naruto standing nervously on swaying grass.

"Kyub...wha..." Then, he fell through the ground as well, straight into a hell of icy water. Having not been expecting it, Naruto spluttered to the surface, surveying where they were. Somehow, the three had found themselves in the middle of the lake, grass reeds pulling on their feet.

"Na-na-naruto-kun!" His gaze turned to the right, where Hinata was floundering. "Naruto-kun!"

"Hinata!" However, it was at this point that Naruto made a shockingly horrible discovery. They were in the middle of the lake, up to their necks in cold, freezing water, and grass was threatening to consume them.

But those things were the easy parts. It was at that point that Naruto realized the frightening truth. Hundreds of sharp, pointy fins were cruising through the water, heading on a direct course for the three children and their daemons. Hundreds of daichou, all with one aim.

Children were on the menu.

Daemons were merely an appetizer.

Next time: Can Naruto overcome the deadly daichou and beat Kurenai-sensei, the genjutsu master of Konoha? Or will the task be too much for him? Perhaps a little help from his teammates, or a lot of help, is in order.

Symbol meanings for chapter 3: Madonna : Motherhood, Dolphin : Playfulness, Gluttony : Wild Man.

Did you get the meanings? If you did, than you are the winner!