Chapter 27: New Chuunin
While Sakura waited outside the medic rooms she heard someone walk up to her. She spun around to see Kakashi standing there "yo," he said.
"Kakashi-sensei, why are you here?" Sakura asked.
"I'm Naruto's team leader. When he goes back out to hear the results I am the only one allowed to go with him," Kakashi said.
"No one went with us the past times," Sakura said.
"I'm going to be helping Naruto stand. After all the beatings he took, I think he may need the hand," Kakashi said.
Sakura nodded and turned back to the door. After a few minutes it opened, the medic ninjas walked out Sakura and Kakashi walked in. Vin was sitting on a bed, his torso bandaged up and his forehead protector temporarily on his forehead. His katana was still in the arena. Sakura and Kakashi walked past him without a word and headed to Naruto.
They got there and looked at him, more bandages. Mainly at the exit and entry wounds of the sword. He was pale from the loss of blood.
"Hm, he may not be able to go out there for the results," Kakashi said.
Naruto groaned, "Sakura, why didn't you tell me blood pills tasted so bad?" he asked putting a hand on his stomach.
Sakura laughed, "sorry, I never thought you'd have to take one. How you feeling?" Sakura asked.
"I lost," Naruto said.
"Knowing when you can no longer fight is a good quality for a chuunin. I'm really surprised you managed to even fight in the last two," Kakashi said.
"No, I had soldier pills," Naruto said, then he looked at Sakura with a slight grin, "and I only took two," he told her.
"Thanks. Do you feel the side effects of them yet?" Sakura asked.
"Probably, but mixed in with the other pain, I can't distinguish it," Naruto said.
"You think you're able to go out there for the results?" Kakashi asked.
"I don't know if I can walk," Naruto said pulling himself into a sitting position.
"I'm allowed to help you walk if you need it," Kakashi said.
Naruto nodded and started to get to his feet, Kakashi and Sakura helping him.
x-X-x
"Dozez slow down!" Link yelled trying to catch up with her teammate.
Dozez stopped and spun around, "what the hell is it?" he asked.
"I need to talk to you," Link said catching up with him.
"What about?" Dozez asked.
"The plan…" Link said.
"That ain't my duty," Dozez said turning again, "bring it up with-"
"NO!" Link yelled grabbing Dozez's arm and spinning him back around, "this is outside of what he wants," Link said looking into Dozez's eye.
Dozez pulled his arm from Link's grasp, "you got until we get called to the arena," he said crossing his arms.
x-X-x
Naruto and Kakashi walked into the arena and towards the temporary stage that had been put back up. Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon were already there, as were Soel and Coe. As Naruto and Kakashi got onto the stage Vin came over holding his katana. Shortly after that Isis showed up from the trees holding Link's chain.
The stands were rather empty in the intermission when the call for the competitors was made. Dozez and Link came running into the arena from the medic area. When they got to the stage Isis gave Link her chain, which she wrapped around herself. The stands were packed again by the time Neji, Gaara, Tsunade and the Raikage made their way to the stage.
The four stood facing the genin and the crowd. Tsunade in the center with Gaara on her right, the Raikage on her left, and Neji of to the right side.
"If I call your name you either have, or may become a chuunin. Some more deliberation may be needed in particular cases," Tsunade said.
The ten genin nodded their understanding, Kakashi standing a little bit behind Naruto, allowing him to stand on his own.
"Okay then. First congratulations to Vin, on becoming a chuunin," Tsunade said.
The crowd erupted with cheers and applause and the Raikage clapped loudly.
"Second, Isis, may become a chuunin," Tsunade said.
Another eruption of cheers from the crowd, though not as loud as for Vin.
"And finally, the last chuunin of the event, Naruto," Tsunade said.
Despite all injury, all pain and loss of blood, Naruto still managed to jump in the air with his fists raised, "YES! I made it!" he yelled as he jumped. But his yells were nearly drowned out by the yells and cheers of the crowd, louder than their cheers for Vin.
x-X-x
Tsunade Gaara and the Raikage were in Tsunade's office, Vin and Naruto walked in and stood before Tsunade's desk. Both were back in their normal attire, with the bandages underneath it all.
"Congratulations again on becoming chuunin. The paperwork will be finalized in about a week. By that time the decision on Isis should be made too, so we'll know if it's two or three chuunin advancing," Tsunade said.
Vin and Naruto both bowed, "was there anything in particular you wanted from us?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, firstly to Vin, you are welcome to stay here until the paperwork is finalized. If your team would rather leave sooner though, then we'll send the documents by messenger when they are completed," Tsunade said.
"Thank you. The decision of staying is up to my team leader though," Vin said.
Tsunade nodded, "and Naruto, I want you to go straight to the hospital from here. And I want you there for at least the rest of the day, if not longer," Tsunade said.
"WHAT? But I'm fine, I can walk on my own and all," Naruto said.
"Yes, but you can't train, and the only way I know you won't be training is if you're in the hospital," Tsunade said.
Naruto was about to answer when the doors burst open. The three Grave ninja walked in, Isis and Link shutting the doors behind them.
"What the hell is going on?" demanded Tsunade rising to her feet.
"We have something important to tell you," Dozez said.
"I'm in the middle of a meeting! Why did the guards let you in?" Tsunade yelled.
"They're unconscious," Isis said.
"Then this is an attack! An act of war!" the Raikage yelled.
"No, this is an act of preventing a war. If you don't listen, things could go bad very fast," Link said.
Tsunade sat down slowly, "What exactly is going on?" she asked.
The three Grave ninja looked at each other, "we have to show her, it'd be better if we do it now," Link said and Isis nodded.
"Your bandages might come off," Dozez said.
In response Isis put his hands in the rat seal. Link did the same and Dozez copied with a sigh. Then at the same time they all yelled "end!"
A white poof of smoke covered the three and when it was gone each had changed. They were all taller now, most certainly in their late teens. They were dressed the same, and the bandages on Isis' face had come off, though the rest remained.
Link immediately started reapplying the bandages to Isis' face While Dozez turned to the others in the room, "we've been deceiving you," he said.
"What the hell jutsu is that? Is that what you really look like?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes, these are our true forms. Me and Dozez are 18, Link here's 17," Isis said.
"I don't know the jutsu, an ally used it on us, he only showed us how to end it," Dozez said.
"Ally? You're from the Alliance!" Naruto yelled pointing at the three Grave ninja.
"Yes. We were sent here to check how well you were prepared against an attack. We are the distraction while Gaze checks out the village," Dozez said.
"Who the hell is Gaze? What the hell is he doing?" Tsunade asked rising to her feet again.
"He's the one who came here as our team leader. He's just scoping out the village, not doing any damage," Link said.
"So I'm guessing you're going against him by telling us," Gaara said.
"Yeah. That, and the Grave doesn't really know of us. We're considered dead there," Isis said.
"What rank are you? What is Gaze?" Tsunade asked.
"We're Kids. Gaze is a Head," Dozez said.
"You're full members! You could really help us out! giving us all the information you know," Tsunade said.
"Sure, but first we have to take care of Gaze. He's the second strongest of the Heads," Link said.
"Is Roken the strongest?" Naruto asked.
"No, he's third, Vox it the top one," Isis said.
"We can get into that later, now we have to take care of Gaze," Tsunade said.
"Where is he?" Naruto asked.
"He should be at the western section of town," Dozez said.
"Let's go!" Naruto said running from the room, the Grave ninjas and Vin on his heels.
Naruto led the way to the west side of town. All eyes were open, looking for Gaze. Dozez was the only one who knew what they were getting into. Isis and Link also knew how strong Gaze was, but didn't realize the situation. All five of them were wounded, and even if they weren't Gaze would be a challenge.
"There!" Naruto yelled pointing out the distant figure of Gaze.
"Right, let's surround him," Isis said, as he, and the other foreign ninja jumped off the path, Naruto continuing straight.
Gaze saw Naruto coming and threw a kunai at him. Naruto barely got out of the way. Even a few hours after the final exam he was to beaten to keep fighting. Gaze took a step towards Naruto when and earth hand reached out from the ground to grab him. Gaze sidestepped the hand and shattered it with a kick. Vin dove at him from a rooftop and Gaze dodged. He grabbed Vin's hair and brought Vin's face into his swinging knee.
Gaze dropped Vin and was hit in the back by a bolt from Isis. He turned to face Isis and got a chain through his abdomen. The chain went through Gaze and into a wall behind him. another earth hand came up and pushed him back against the wall, the chain still through him.
Dozez and Isis dropped down next to Link and looked at Gaze, "We're out. we already told them about the attack. We're done with the Alliance and we'll stop you if you come," Link said.
"You don't understand the magnitude behinds the words you speak," Gaze said.
"We know full well. Go tell the others you got no chance in hell of bringing them back," Dozez.
"The scroll currently lies in our possession. If you wished to leave you should have chosen a time when your threats would be less empty," Gaze said.
Naruto slowly walked up to Vin whose face was bleeding rather heavily. He pulled Vin to his feet and started over to the three Grave ninjas, "Come on Vin, they may need a hand," Naruto said as he helped Vin walk.
"You still won't make it. Too many are gone, too many well hidden," Isis said.
Gaze pulled out a small vile of blood, "we now have five," he said tilting it to the side.
"It'll take you far to long to get the rest," Link said.
"More time to prepare for the arrival," Gaze said.
Dozez and Isis looked at each other. Gaze grabbed the chain, and started pulling it out of the building and him. Dozez stated flying through his hand seals and Isis started to pull back a bolt, but Gaze was free and vanished before either could attack.
"Damnit, he got away," Isis said.
"Come on, we still gotta tell the Kages," Vin said.