Chapter 43: Classifying Legends
Hours later, after noon in fact, a large group of people left Tsunade's office. Among them were Wiseman, Dragoon, and Nomad. The rest of the group was the elders who demanded to be present when the three told Tsunade what happened outside the village gates.
"The explanation could have been much quicker if the elders weren't here," Dragoon said.
"Yea, it seamed like everything we said was impossible or something," Nomad said.
"I think they just use any chance they can get to contradict each other," Wiseman said.
"So he can live up to his name," Dragoon said with a smile.
"Shut up Dragoon," Wiseman said successfully suppressing his laughter.
"Why? What's so dignifying about right now?" Dragoon asked.
"We're still surrounded by the elders," Nomad said.
"If they could hear us, they wound have spoken up at what we said before," Dragoon said.
"Dragoon, shut up. We can talk about all this later with the others. We still have to tell them about what the Hokage wants us all to do," Wiseman said.
The three were silent for a while, a long enough period to be out of earshot from the elders. They were nearly back at the hotel they were staying at when Dragoon spoke again.
"When are we going to drop the fake names?" he asked.
"I thought you liked Dragoon," Wiseman said.
"I did, when everyone knew what it was. I wonder if these people know what a knight is, let alone a dragon knight," Dragoon said.
"Plus, we don't all have positive names like Sage and Wiseman. Look at Sin," Nomad said.
"I know. We got the codes so we wouldn't be recognized, but no one here knows who the real us are. There might not be a reason to keep the fake names," Wiseman said.
"And the verdict is?" Dragoon asked.
"On hold till everyone has their say," Wiseman said before the three entered the hotel.
x-X-x
"Really? Those idiots got themselves killed? Vox is gunna love this," Red said, nearly laughing.
"Who tells him?" Black asked.
"Let's send the Errand in. If he survives, good for him, if not, no lose," Red said.
"N-no, please, I don't want to," a young man was saying.
Black grabbed his upper arm, "you brought it to us, so carry it to the top," Black said.
"But, please," the young man said trying to pull his arm free.
"Consider it an order, if you don't, you're a traitor and I kill you now," Blue said from the other side of the room.
At Blue's words the young man stopped resisting and walked out of the room and deeper into the hideout. Red followed silently behind, eager to know what happens. He followed the young man through the hallways, and stopped suddenly when Vox appeared coming from the other direction.
Red quickly hid in the shadows, lucky Vox didn't see him. he listened as the young man told Vox that Isis and Dozez were dead, and Link was either dead or captured by Konoha. Red didn't see what happened, it was too fast, he just heard Vox yell in anger then the sound of tearing flesh.
Vox walked away his hands red with blood and Red walked up to the young man. Blood stained the walls and floor, body parts were scattered, "yeah, glad we sent an Errand. I better get some others to clean this up before Mulow finds it," Red said before walking away.
x-X-x
Three days had passed since Dozez and Isis were killed. Link was still in the hospital and was still not allowing anyone to see her. The twelve had gone through the tests that Tsunade asked them to take.
The tests would say what rank each one was. Something the elders demanded to know and something the twelve were also curious about. How well did they compare to the current people.
Two days had passed since the twelve had taken the tests. They had gotten a better understanding of the world they were now in, learning what some of the new terms and items were, things were no longer as confusing to them.
The twelve were sitting in one of their hotel rooms, having just finished eating lunch when a knock came on the door. It opened and in walked Naruto carrying a small sack.
"Kid, what is it?" Dragoon asked.
"Granny wants me to give you guys this," Naruto held out the sack, "I got no idea what's in it," he said as Strag took it.
Strag opened the sack and looked inside. He blinked a few times and passed it to Dragoon who sat next to him. Dragoon looked in the sack and was still for a moment before dumping its contents onto the table.
Twelve forehead protectors fell out, half with blue cloth, one with white, and the rest with black. Tied to one end of each cloth was a piece of paper with one if the twelve's names on it. There was also an envelope among the forehead protectors.
"What's the letter say?" Lax asked as Wiseman took it.
"'I hope you twelve accept these forehead protectors as our way of welcoming you into our village. You're having them signals that you are able to do ninja arts, making you official ninja. It is not necessary to where them if you don't wish to, but I would ask that at least for the meeting you do.' And its signed Tsunade with a crest next to it," Wiseman said.
"That's the Hokage seal," Naruto said leaning over Wiseman's shoulder.
"So we were just made ninja? Now?" Dragoon asked.
"We're soldiers, not ninja," Wiseman said tossing the letter on top of the forehead protectors.
"She wants us to do so for a meeting, what meeting?" Lax asked.
"Yeah, I'm supposed to take you to a meeting with Granny and the elders," Naruto said scratching the back of his head.
"Who's Granny?" Wiseman asked.
"Oh, Granny Tsunade," Naruto said grinning.
"Why do you call her Granny?" Grim asked.
"We don't need to know," Sage said. All eyes were instantly on him, but all he did was grab the white forehead protector. It was his name at the end of it, "I'll go put this on. We should at least do this for the meeting, like she asked," Sage said getting up and leaving the room.
"Why do you have to take us to the Hokage's office? We know the way," Dragoon said as he sifted through the pile for his forehead protector.
"It's not at Granny's office, it's at the elder's meeting hall. There's enough seats for everyone there," Naruto said.
When Sage had returned the forehead protector was over his eyes. The other eleven had also found their forehead protectors and the place to wear them. Wiseman's was black and on his forehead. Sin's was blue and on his left arm. Dragoon's was black and on his right arm. Nomad's was blue and on his forehead. Grim's was black and at his belt. Frost's was blue and on his forehead. Stone's was black and at his belt. Strag's was blue and on his forehead. Lax's was blue and on his forehead. Dea's was blue and around his neck. Edge's was black and on his forehead.
"Alright Kid, take us to this meeting," Wiseman said.
Naruto nodded and left the room, the twelve following him. They walked through the village and to a large building near the center. They walked in and through the entrance hall and into the next room. This next room was enormous; an entire fleet of men could easily fit inside.
Tables went around three of the walls of the room, Tsunade sitting in the center and the elders filling in the rest of the chairs. Naruto led the twelve to stand before the half box shape tables and went to leave the room.
"No Naruto, you can stay," Tsunade said.
Naruto stopped at the door and turned around and leaned against it. There were several murmurs passing through the elders because of how the twelve were dressed. No ninja dressed like that, it was impractical.
"I see they have forehead protectors," one elder said.
"Yes, they received them today for this meeting, whether they wear them again is their choice," Tsunade said.
"So the results of their tests are in?" another elder asked.
"Yes," Tsunade said nodding to the elder that just spoke, then she turned to the twelve, "I wish to congratulate you all on passing the tests. They showed that you have ninja skill and can now be officially called ninja," Tsunade said.
"How does that affect us?" Dragoon asked.
"It could lower the amounts of fights you get in, non ninja won't be hasty to fight ninja," one elder said.
"Oh, just what I wanted, an excuse to run from a fight," Dragoon said.
"Dragoon," Stone said warningly.
"The other part of the test was to see where you would rank. We know you're above genin, but not how far. Now we know," Tsunade said.
"And?" Strag asked.
"Do you want the group score or an individual one?" Tsunade asked pulling out a sheet of paper.
The twelve looked at each other a moment before Dea spoke, "yeah, go individual," he said and Dragoon grinned widely.
"Alright Dea, Sage, Frost and Strag, you're all Kage level. Edge, Lax, Grim and Nomad are S class, just above Kage. Wiseman, Dragoon, Sin and Stone are SS class, just above S class," Tsunade said.
"Can you tell us the order of our power form lowest to highest?" Dragoon.
"No, we can only give your rankings," Tsunade said.
"Okay, what do we compare this all with?" Strag asked.
"The entire Alliance is Kage or above. I'm on the low end of Kage, as is Jiraiya, but the weakest among you are at the high end of Kage," Tsunade said.
"Well, now you know where we stand," Wiseman said.
"Yes, with the Leaf," and elder said.
"Not necessarily. We haven't made that choice yet," Wiseman said.
"But the forehead protectors," another elder said.
"We were asked to. Nothing really beyond that," Wiseman said shrugging.
"Is this all you have for us?" Strag asked.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Tsunade said.
"Wait, are you all saying you may turn against us?" and elder asked standing up.
"No. we will stay to help with the Alliance, we have something against them as well. But after that, we may leave, we may stay," Wiseman said then he and the other eleven left, ignoring the yells of the elders behind them.
"You! Boy! Go after them! Get them back here!" An elder yelled pointing at Naruto.
"No! Naruto don't bring them back. That's all we needed them for, you can go Naruto," Tsunade yelled over the voices of the elders.
Her words enraged all the elders for undermining them and they all immediately forgot about the twelve and turned on Tsunade, Naruto chose that point to slip through the door. Naruto caught the twelve as they headed back to the hotel, all of them but Nomad and Sage had removed their forehead protectors.
"How likely are you to leave?" Naruto asked as he got into stride next to Wiseman.
"The decision is individual, Nomad has already decided to stay. The rest of us appear to want to wait until the Alliance is taken care of before we vocalize our decisions," Wiseman said.
"That wasn't an answer," Naruto said.
"Yes it was, just not to the question you asked. You'll find out with the rest of the village," Wiseman said.
Naruto stopped walking, letting the twelve pass him by, Edge patting his shoulder as he passed. 'This village needs you, it needs strong protectors. People who could stop a war just by the fear they give off. One Terror isn't as scary as Twelve Terrors…' Naruto thought as he watched the twelve walk away.
x-X-x
AN: okay, I don't think I mentioned what and Errand is in the Alliance. Errands are the rank below Kids and aren't considered real members. Fraya was an Errand. They're named Errand because they do want ever the members need them to, so that the members don't get unnecessarily hurt.