Rise of the Jinchūriki
By: bigo4190
Disclaimer: I do not own this, Masashi Kishimoto does. All original characters and locations are mine, with the exception of Kagegakure no Sato, its ninjas, and Koneko Sora, which belong to Araknia the Storyspinner.
Speaking: "Blah"
Thinking: 'Blah'
Jutsu: Blah
Demon Speaking: BLAH
Demon Thinking: BLAH
Empowered Humans (Demon-influenced, Curse Seal, etc.): "Blah"
Chapter 5
The Forest outside Konoha – Two weeks after the Bell Test
"This is Naruto, arrived at point A."
"…This is Sasuke, arrived at point B."
"…This is Sakura, arrived at point C."
"You're early Naruto, and Sakura, you were late. Alright Squad 7…" There was a rustle in the bush, "The target is on the move, after it." The genin quickly dash through the woods, arriving at new locations as the target stops. "Distance to target…?"
"Five meters." The three respond immediately.
"Good. Go!"
The three genin begin to move, and lunge out at the target, Naruto manages to get a hold of…the cat. "I got you!!"
"Confirm: there is a ribbon on left ear, is this our target, Tora?"
"Hai." Sasuke responds, ignore Naruto shouts of pain and death threats as the cat continues to attempt to maul him.
"Good. Mission: Rescue Lost Pet, Tora; Complete."
"ISN'T THERE ANY OTHER, MORE EXCITING MISSION WE CAN TAKE. THIS STUPID CAT WON'T QUIT MAULLING ME!!!" Naruto's voice nearly overloads the radio in Kakashi's ear, as well as temporarily deafening him.
Ten Minutes Later – Hokage Tower, Mission Assignment Room
"Oh, my precious little Tora-chan!!" The Fire Daimyo's Wife, Lady Shijimi, has been reunited with her pet.
'Take that you stupid fur-ball! You deserve it for what you did to me.'
'No wonder the cat runs away so much.'
'Hn.'
"Now, Squad 7 under Kakashi, your next mission is: …Babysitting Elder Yojyu-sama's boy, Grocery shopping in the neighboring town, helping dig up potatoes,…"
"NO, TORA-CHAN!!!"
"…or catching the Fire Daimyo's wife's cat again."
"NO!! No thanks to any of those! I want a more exciting, important mission."
'I agree, even if he is a dobe.'
'Annoying baka.'
'I knew this might happen soon.'
"Bakamono, you're just a rookie genin! Everyone starts with easy missions to gain experience." Iruka, who is sitting next to the Hokage gets up and yells at Naruto.
"But we only get the boring missions." Naruto begins yelling right back, but is suddenly cut off.
"Cut it out." Kakashi has gotten tired of Naruto's yelling and pounded him on the head.
The Hokage clears his throat, "Naruto! It seems I must explain what these duties are about. Every day, the village receives many mission requests, ranging from babysitting…to assassination. These requests are written down, and organized into A-, B-, C-, and D-rank depending on difficulty. Likewise the ninja of the village are divided by their skills. I, as the Hokage am at the top, under me are the Jōnin, like Kakashi, under that are Chūnin, like Iruka, then Genin, like you and your teammates, and finally the Academy Students. We in the upper rank then sort the missions and assign them to those most suited for them. A-rank mission go to the Jōnin, B-ranks to the experienced Chūnin, C-ranks to the newly-promoted Chūnin and experienced Genin, and D-ranks to the rookie Genin. And, if the ninja that receives the mission completes it successfully, the happy client pays a fee. As you three are newly instated to the Genin rank, D-rank missions are best suited for you…"
"Yeah, so since I had pork ramen yesterday, I think I'll have miso ramen today."
"Listen!!"
Kakashi turns from naruto, rubbing he back of his head sheepishly, "Sorry, Hogake-sama…"
"All you ever do is lecture me jiisan, But I'm not the annoying brat who always pulled pranks anymore." Naruto, stands back up from were he had been sitting after Kakashi punched him. He crosses his arms in front of his chest, but then remains unmoving, his gaze fixed upon the Hokage and Iruka.
'I'm probably going to be yelled at later…' Kakashi is watching the display, knowing his fate, but also, rather surprised that his student, who was still the loudmouth he had appeared to be at their first meeting, was able to appear so calm.
'Well Naruto, you are growing. Not so long ago you could only express yourself through pranks. Let us see how far you have truly come.' "I understand that now Naruto, and so I agree to assign Squad 7 a C-rank mission, the protection of a certain individual."
"Really? Who? Who?" Naruto suddenly seems to calm as he realizes something. "If this is still a low-rank mission, it can't be anyone that important can it?" 'It definitely won't be a feudal lord or princess.'
"Good, you aren't being too hasty. I'll introduce him now. You may come in now." With the last line the Hokage raises his voice and rises from his chair. Squad 7 turns to face the entrance behind them and the door is slowly pulled open revealing…a drunken old man holding a sake bottle.
"What is this, there just a bunch of annoying brats, especially that short blond one, he looks like a super bakemono, is he even a ninja."
"If you weren't our client, I would hurt you for that." Naruto is visible angered, and Kakashi is hovering right behind him, ready to hold him back should he change his mind.
"I am the super bridge-builder, Tazuna. I am paying for you to provide me with super protection on my way back to Nami no Kuni, where I can complete my super bridge."
Several Hours Later – Gates of Konohagakure no Sato
"Let's Go!!!"
"Why are you so excited, dobe?"
"I've never left the village before. Otouto has told some things he can remember, but being out for myself is so different!"
"Hey! Am I really going to be safe with this super gaki?"
"Don't worry, I am a Jōnin, an elite, but also don't underestimate Naruto, he has some tricks up his sleeve, some of which I probably haven't even seen yet."
'He, you have that one right Kakashi-sensei. I may have used most of them in the test, but you didn't even see all of the ones I used then either.' "Kakashi-sensei is right. I do have more tricks then I'm showing, and one day I will become Hokage!"
"Hn. This Hokage is your village's strongest ninja isn't he? I doubt a super gaki like you could ever become a super ninja like that, even if you are better than I think you are.
"It's the people like you that make we dream of becoming Hokage, with your cold eyes, not even acknowledging my existence. If, no, WHEN I become Hokage, you will all respect me."
"Not me kid, even if you do become Hokage."
Naruto bristles, ready to attack, but stops himself, even as Kakashi grabs the back of his shirt. "Calm down." With Kakashi distracted, no one notices the two dark figure watching from the treetops.
A Few Days Later – Still on the Road
"Tazuna-san you said you were from Nami no Kuni. That is one of the non-shinobi countries right."
"If yopu mean we don't have ninjas, then yeah, but if you want anymore detail ask your sensei."
"Yes, Sakura, Nami no Kuni has no ninjas, though many other countries do. No matter how different the culture and customs, most countries have develop ninja forces, except those of small size, or having other factors against it, such as the divided nature of the islands in Nami no Kuni. In these lands where ninjas do exist, their number represents the military might of their nations and five have risen above the rest as the superpowers, recognized by all others as the Ookii Go Kokka no Shinobi. These are the Kaze no Kuni in the deserts of the West, Tsuchi no Kuni in the mountains of the Northwest,…"
"Kaminari no Kuni in the Mountains of the Northeast, Mizu no Kuni on the Largest Island of the East, and finally our own Hi no Kuni, in the forests and plains at the center and east of the continent."
"Very good Naruto, did you actually pay attention in class, or did you pick that up somewhere else?"
"Otouto told me about the first two, he was born in Kaminari no Kuni, and lived in Mizu no Kuni for awhile, and then he came to Konoha, and that one we should all know right?"
"Right. But there is one thing you should remember, the Shinobi villages do not rule over the country they reside in, but neither does it rule them, they are considered equal, though good relations should be maintained so internal strife does not allow for the forces of other countries and villages to interfere in the course of government. Now, the five major villages, the one in these countries are Sunagakure no Sato, Iwagakure no Sato, Kumogakure no Sato, Kirigakure no Sato, and finally our own Konohagakure no Sato. As these are the largest and most powerful villages, only their leaders receive the title Kage. These leaders, the Kazekage, Tsuchikage, Raikage, Mizukage, and Hokage control the vast majority of the ninja in the world. But don't worry, in a simple C-rank mission like this we won't encounter enemy ninja, maybe a bandit or to, but those could be beaten up by a gifted academy student."
"Yes, of course, why should you worry about ninja on this mission, that is super silly. HAHA!" 'I hope they don't realize what is actually going on.'
The Next Day – The Same Road
As Squad 7 and Tazuna are walking along the road, they pass a small puddle, Sasuke and Sakura don't notice anything unusual, and Naruto doesn't seem to, but on the inside, 'It hasn't rained in weeks, and were far enough away from the stream that I don't think its groundwater seeping up. Maybe it's ninja's doing something, however they are they can't be that good, even I'm smart enough not to set so obvious a trap, unless I want it sprung. Well since Kakashi-sensei isn't reacting I guess we wait and see what happens.'
As they fully pass the puddle, a pair of figure rise up from its depths behind them, and then in a flurry of motion, they ensnare Kakashi in the chain that connects their gauntlets and pull, reducing Kakshi to a bloody mess. "One down." With that they suddenly spring towards Naruto, "Two Down."
'Ninja, and they took out Kakashi-sensei. Geuss I should hit them with something they aren't expecting, Fire's no good, and without otouto we have no lightning, so Wind it is.' Naruto begins a series of fūin, finishing with Uma, releasing a large blast of sickle sharp winds with a shout of "Kaze Yogore!" The attack causes some damage, stripping a few pieces of armor off the two, however, even as it blows them back, they manage to scratch Naruto's outstretched hand. Sasuke then also jumps into action, throwing a shuriken which catches the chain and pins it to a tree, followed by a kunai, imbedding itself in the center opening of the shuriken, locking it in place.
The two ninja struggle against the chain for a second before, "It won't budge." "Then detach." And with that the two suddenly release the chain from their gauntlets and circle around the genin towards Tazuna.
"Stay back mister." Sakura shouts as the two close in from either side. Quickly Naruto and Sasuke leap after them , but are too slow. Just as it seems they will strike down Sakura and Tazuna, Kakashi reappears and blocks both ninja.
"Yo."
'Kakashi-sensei, he's alive.'
'Hn. Show-off.'
'Kawarimi no Jutsu? Why didn't we notice, and why didn't he come back sooner.'
"Ne, Naruto, Sorry you got hurt. That was a good move, but I thought you would move faster. Great job Sasuke, Sakura too.
'Even after all I've trained to do, I was still too slow, and Sasuke, it's his first real combat experience too, and he looks like nothing just happened, he doesn't even have a speck of dust on him. Why is he so skilled.'
"Hn. Alright there dobe, I thought for a second you might do something half-decent, but you managed to screw that up too."
Even as Naruto reacts to yet another jab from Sasuke, Kakashi calls him down. "Naruto! Those claws were soaked in poison, don't move around too much or it will spread. We already have to abandon the mission to go back and have you treated. And Tazuna-san…I need to speak with you. These are the Oni no Kyoudai, Kiri Chūnin known to never stop fighting."
"How did you figure us out."
"After the recent weather, and on a sunny day like this, there would not be a puddle in the sunniest part of the road."
"But if you knew they were their, why did you let the gakis fight."
"Simple Tazuna. I could take these two out instantly, but I had to know who they were after, one of us…or you. We have not heard of you being targeted by ninjas, and we were hired to protect you from bandits. This is now at least a B-rank mission, since it was only supposed to be simple protection while you completed the bridge, now however it is more dangerous, and had we known this it would have been classified as the more expensive B-rank mission. I can see you had your reasons, but it complicates thing when you lie in your mission request. My squad is not ready for this mission."
"Sensei, you said it your self, this is out of our league, and we need medicine to treat Naruto. Let's quit and go back to the village."
Before any more can be said, Naruto pulls out a kunai, and stabs it into the wound on the back of his hand. "Why…Why am I so…Why is always me…?"
"Naruto, what are you doing, bakemono?"
Naruto continues as if he didn't hear. "Kuso! I should be stronger, we have completed lots of missions, I train everbay, I practive new jutsu and improve the ones I know. I will not need saving again. I will not lose to Sasuke. By the pain in my left hand, with this kunai, I swear I will protect the old man." Here he turns back around, blood still running freely from his hand. "This mission is still on!"
"Naruto, it's great that you took the poisoned blood so spiritedly and all, but you'll die from blood loss if any more come out. It's not good if you don't stop it right away, seriously. Give me your hand." Kakashi looks down, and even through his mask you can detect his serious expression. 'The wound is already starting to heal.'
"Ano, Kakashi-sensei, you have a really serious look on your face, am I going to be alright."
"Huh, oh, you should be fine." Kakashi begins to wrap Naruto's hand to stem the bleeding, and hide the sight. 'This must be the Kyuubi's power.' "That should do it. Get ready to continue if that is what you want to do, I'll send a message to Konoha requesting any possible reinforcements.
Translations:
Genin – Beginner Ninja
Hokage – Fire Shadow, the ruler of the Leaf Village
-sama – Ending denoting respect
Bakamono – Idiot
Jōnin – Elite Ninja
Chūnin – Journeyman Ninja
Jiisan – Grandfather, common, and considered insulting by some
Nami no Kuni – The land of Waves, a small island nation with no ninja forces
Konohagakure no Sato – The Village Hidden by Leaves, Ninja village of the Land of Fire
Gaki – Brat
Otouto – Little Brother
-sensei – Teacher
-san – Ending denoting minor respect, used with strangers when unsure of their station
Ookii Go Kokka no Shinobi – Five Great Shinobi Nations
Kaze no Kuni – Land of Wind
Tsuchi no Kuni – Land of Earth
Kaminari no Kuni – Land of Lightning
Mizu no Kuni – Land of Water
Hi no Kuni – Land of Fire
Sunagakure no Sato – The Village Hidden by Sand
Iwagakure no Sato – The Village Hidden by Stone
Kumogakure no Sato – The Village Hidden by Clouds
Kirigakure no Sato – The Village Hidden by Mist
Kage – Shadow, in this case the ruler of the great villages
Kazekage – Wind Shadow, ruler of the Sand Village
Tsuchikage – Earth Shadow, ruler of the Stone Village
Raikage – Lightning Shadow, ruler of the Cloud Village
Mizukage – Water Shadow, ruler of the Mist Village
Uma – Horse, the Hand-sign of Wind Techniques
Kaze Yogore – Wind Spear, a technique that releases a blast a chakra sharpened wind, effectively a weakened version of the Kamaitachi no Jutsu that requires no device to perform.
Kawarimi no Jutsu – Repalcement technique, switches the user with another object.
Oni no Kyoudai – Demon Brothers
Kyuubi – Nine-tails, the Strongest of the demons, a powerful fox.