Grim Reaper of Iwa
Chapter 20
Thought i could release this on the weekend, apparently i was wrong. I also don't have time to proof read this since i have to be at work in a few minutes, so please tell me if there are a lot of mistakes.
"OH COME ON!"
Mifune was on his knees in shock. The arena floor was destroyed yet again. While last time the arena floor was destroyed in a way of a freaking punch and other such jutsu that it was somewhat easy to fix. Just smooth it out and you were good to go. Now it was a giant freaking spiral crater.
How the hell do you fix that?!
The Kage of each hidden village gave him a look of pity, they were not sure how to fix that either and luckily, none of them had to.
Mifune calmed himself with a deep breath and said, "Well, it seems we have a winner for out Chunin Exams this year. Naruto Uzumaki!"
The crowds roared once more in approval.
Mifune put on a small smile and said. "This marks the end of the third time we have hosted the Chunin Exams and like all other times, we have seen great potential and great prowess displayed. Like the first time when Hiruzen Sarutobi entered, fighting against the odds with his own powerful adversaries, one of them is a follow Kage like himself, Onoki of Both Scales.
Both Kages gave a sidelong glance at one another before smirking. Now that was a great battle. It was the first time they ever did combat with one another, but it sure was not the last. Each time they fought, they noticed how powerful they were getting. Sure there might have been a rivalry between Sarutobi and Danzo, but that was for the position of Hokage.
This rivalry was something true. A rivalry that was tested many times in the heat of war. A rivalry that gained respect for the other and at times, a strained friendship.
Mifune stared down at the crowds, marveling at how such young people could be so strong. He was younger when the second exam happened and he was the second in command that time. That time, everyone had power as well.
"Now, it is time to say farewell to each other and return home. Good luck to you all!"
XXX
"So Misa, how are you going to get to Iwa?" Naruto asked curiously as he and the other Iwa Ninja stood at the gates out of Iron Country.
Misa smiled sweetly before kissing the blond on the lips. "I am coming with you of course!"
"Huh? Won't Mifune filet me alive if you did that?" Naruto nervously asked.
"You won't have to worry about that boy!" Onoki said as he came up to them with Mifune at his side. "We have agreed on a temporary alliance until we can iron out a few things. The main thing has already happened with you and Misa being together."
"Oh?"
"Yes." Mifune started as he towered over the blond. "You have interested me greatly since we first met and I feel that if you ever made Kage, you would be a good ruler of your ninja. And with this alliance, I will do my best to aid you. However, I am saying this as a father, if you hurt my daughter in anyway, I will kill you, alliance be damned."
The blond gulped. "Got it."
"Good." Mifune stated as he backed up, his towering form and oppressive atmosphere dying off with a small smile.
"Yeah, that scared even me." Haku nervously stated.
"That was obviously the intention." Guren whispered.
"I guess we better be going then." Kurotsuchi announced.
"Not yet, we are waiting for someone else to join us." Onoki replied.
"Who?" Suzumebachi and Akatsuchi asked at the same time.
"Why me of course!" Fu voices as she ran up to them, shocking all the young ninja.
"I thought you had to go back to the Village Hidden in the Waterfall." Naruto said.
Fu smiled sadly as she shook her head. "No, Shibuki thought it would be best that I remain with you and sent my team to the Chunin Exams as a front. You see, we found out one of the Akatsuki members was someone from our village and it scared the shit out of everyone because by now he should be dead. So they sent me to you knowing that you could protect me."
Onoki rose an eyebrow at that statement. To be honest, there weren't many shinobi from Waterfall that were famous, let alone strong. There could only be one person that matched that description. "Kakuzu." He stated.
Fu nodded solemnly.
Onoki sighed at that. That man was a dangerous one, word was that he even fought the First Hokage and lived. To have survived this long, it was scary testament to how strong he is. The old Kage eyed his student, who gave a subtle nod. Onoki sighed again. "Very wello, you can come with us, but you will have to be one of my ninja or part of Naruto's group I am having him make."
"I don't mind!" Fu replied happily.
"Very well. Let's go." Onoki replied with an air of finality. However, before they could make one step out of the gate, a wall of sand blocked their exit.
"Not even going to say good bye?" Gaara's gravel like voice asked with some amusement.
Naruto chuckled. "Didn't know if you had left already or not."
"Nope." Kankuro replied with a slight smirk.
"You are not getting off that easily." Temari stated as she walked up to her fellow blond. A smile crept on her lips and she said, "I want to say good bye for now, but once this alliance is concrete, I will be your way shortly." She finished with a kiss of his lips.
When Temari broke off, she glared at Kurotsuchi. "That is when we will have a rematch."
Kurotsuchi glared back and sparks could be seen between them. "I'll gladly put you in your place again."
"We'll see." Temari replied.
"Should I be worried." Naruto voiced, not really expecting anyone to answer.
"You have no idea." Kitsuchi stated with a small chuckle. He didn't really like this kid all that much, especially with the fact that he was with HIS daughter, but whatever, he could deal with it. Like messing with the kid in times like these.
"Can we go now?" Onoki asked, a little annoyed. His back with hurting him more than usual and he wanted to get home. Now.
"Right behind you old man." Naruto replied with a smirk, which caused said old man to grumble.
XXX
Onoki sighed in relief as he finally sat back down in his therapeutic chair. Still, the state of his back was troubling. The pain was starting to become unbearable at certain points and he knew that if he started a battle, it would affect him and that would make him uncertain of he could win a high level Kage battle.
That was part of the reason he was going to make Naruto the Tsuchikage soon….other than the fact that Kurotsuchi was right about him being old. The job of being in charge of all these people, ninja and civilian a like, was exhausting. And he's been doing it since he was 20, just like Sarutobi! Which was another surprising thing. How the hell did that old coot do it?
Oh well, best not to dwell on it. After all, he had things to do. Like decide the new rank for Naruto and his team. In all honesty, he could not make them Chunin after all that he had seen. No, Chunin was not enough. Naruto was a jinchuriki and was trained by him and the now deceased Zabuza.
With a nod to himself, he addressed the 6 genin in his office. "Akatsuchi, Suzumebachi, and Guren. You three did very well with the odds against you three. Akatsuchi, you fought Gaara, the Jinchuriki of the one tail and lost because of his use of the sand. Still, you did well." Akatsuchi gave a small smile at that. "Suzumebachi, you made it to the final rounds, but after seeing what you had to fight, you wisely backed off. That is not bad. One has to use their brain after all. So, you two will be made Chunin, congrats." He threw them their flak jackets, the brown jackets that all high level Iwa wear.
Onoki turned to Guren and smile. "Your team will need a leader and from what I have seen of your fighting prowess so far, you are perfect for them, Jonin Guren" Guren smiled brightly as she too took her flak jacket, her two teammates giving her high fives.
Onoki turned to his newest ninja from Hidden Waterfall. Another jinchuriki, which made four in his village now. "Fu. Since you are strong in your own right and with the power of a Tailed Beast on your side, I shall make you a Jonin as well. However, you are without a team, therefore, I am pairing you with Han and Roshi, Iwa's Jinchurikis of the five and four tails respectively. You will be Team Jinchuriki, with Naruto helping out occasionally."
"Awesome." Fu replied with a smile
Finally, Onoki turned to Naruto's team. "Haku, despite the bunder that was your prelim fight, I cannot in good faith let you simply be a Chunin. After all, you are my student as well. So I am making you a Jonin." Haku nodded, a bit shocked by that info. He didn't even think he would make it to Chunin this time. "Kurotsuchi, you creativity of the use of both Lava and Explosion release is remarkable and I have decided to make you Jonin as well."
"Thank you grandpa." Kurotsuchi replied with a smile, which Onoki mirrored.
"Now, finally we have Naruto. To make my plan of getting the Uzumaki Clan back up and running in this village, you will be the Clan Head of it as well as Jonin, which is required. Now, as you are all aware of by now. Naruto will replace me as Tsuchikage soon." Kitsuchi twitched at this, making Onoki inwardly groan about forgetting to tell him. "However, like last time, I have a final test."
Kitsuchi cringed. He knew that test. It was what Deidara had to do before he went nuts.
"Like Deidara, who made the Explosion Corp., I want you, Naruto, to create a group that will help the village grow strong. Have you thought about it?"
Naruto nodded as he took a step forward. "Yes. Knowing that I am from Konoha, I will take something from them. You see, Konoha has the ROOT, run by Danzo, however, he uses his men as pure tools and does not even see them as human."
Onoki nodded, having seen this before.
"Here, we will have the CORE. While the Roots of Konoha's Tree have rotted, the Core of the Earth is still burning strongly." Naruto declared. "My group will have the strongest of the village protecting said village. We are protectors of the village. If people need help with getting stronger, we will help them. If the village is in trouble, we will protect it!"
Onoki stared at the boy with an emotionless look before a smile crept its way to his face. A group made to solely protect their home in any way possible. He liked it. After all, Kumo had Killer Bee as their main protector, his village will have a whole group of people. Brilliant.
"I love it." Onoki stated. "Who will be part of this group?"
"Anyone." Naruto stated. "The strongest of this village will kick up their own training to be in this group and then provide that training to anyone who needs it. To start off, my team, Team Reaper will be in it. Team Earth Hive, which consists of Guren, Akatsuki, and Suzumebachi. And Team Jinchuriki will be the starting people."
"We are going to need more than that." Haku stated.
"True. I volunteer." Kitsuchi replied
"Sweet!" Kurotsuchi chirped.
"Hmm, my brothers might be willing to help out." Suzumebachi offered.
"And that would be another team." Kitsuchi replied, nodding to himself.
"Now who else?" Naruto asked.
Onoki put on a thoughtful look on his face before he smiled. "How about I announce the group to the village and they decide who wants to join up. However, not everyone will be able or willing to join after what happened with Deidara and his Explosion Corps. That being said, do you have anyone you have in mind?"
Naruto thought about it for a while before he remembered his time in the desert. Orochimaru was dead and there had been rumors of him creating a village of his own. Looking to the old dwarf of a Kage, Naruto relayed this info to him, making Onoki's eyes widen.
"Boy, you should have told me this sooner. There has been odd things going on in Rice Country and now this confirms it. Without a leader like Orochimaru, that place is tearing itself apart!" Onoki replied. "After we are doing announcing your position to the village, I am assigning your team to check out what the statues of that place is and if you can recruit anybody. This will be the Core's first mission."
Naruto noticed that everyone gave Onoki their full attention on this and knew that he had picked right. They were all powerful and loyal, something he needed to help him protect this village, his new home.
XXX
Onoki stared at the gathered village in front of Iwa's Kage tower, which was a giant mountain in the center of the village with the other buildings were built into the rock of the uprising earth and in the canyon like crevices throughout the village.
He had ruled this great village for a long time and none dared to oppose him. He was the strongest ninja they had. They followed him this long and they prospered for it. Now they would know that he had chosen a successor, this time someone stable.
"People of Iwa, I come before you to tell you that I have chosen a successor, but unlike Deidara, he is stable!" Onoki shouted to his people. "But just like Deidara, he will make his own group of powerful agents in this village."
There was a murmuring in the crowd, many unsure how this would play out, others wondering who the successor was, and others just plain doubtful. They were a stubborn people, hardened by the earth they lived in. They would not be easily swayed by this successor whom they wanted to prove to them that they could handle the position of Tsuchikage.
Some had an idea as to who this person was. Some had already accepted him while others were more realistic.
"He comes from a great clan that we, in our fear, destroyed in old wars. His clan will be rebuilt here and help protect us. His name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
As Naruto walked up to the Kage and stood next to him. He wanted as the crowd was a mix of reactions. Some were ok with it and some were not. He needed to reassure them somehow and he knew that showing force was not going to win them over. He needed something powerful to do that and he would use one of the most powerful weapons around. Words.
So the blond put a hand on his mentor's shoulder to let him know he would convince them himself. Onoki stared at the boy for a moment before backing off. Naruto stared at the crowd of unruly people until they quieted down.
"My Name is Naruto Uzumaki. It is true that I am from the Uzumaki Clan. One of the Last. But that does not mean I am the weakest. Some of you already know this, but my father is someone you all know of and fear. While he used his power in the last war to kill you off in a flash of yellow, I will use the Core of the Earth to protect you all!"
That statement got two reactions. Many were starting to be moved by the blond's words and were going to his side, while others remembered the last war and their expression's darkened. Not sure or unwilling to be swayed so easily by the Son of the Yellow Flash. But one question was on everyone's mind. What did he mean by Core of the Earth?
Naruto knew he needed to say something to them all on his side and soon. He struggled to find something before his mind wandered to what Sarutobi would have done. That made him wonder why he thought of the old man but it still gave him the needed motivation. The Will of Fire.
Nodding to himself he addressed the populace once more. "You all know I am from Konoha, but now I am here, this is where my loyalties lie! The Core. That is the group I am making. A group made for one purpose. To protect this place and all those residing here! You are the EARTH! WE ARE THE CORE!" he paused, seeing he had their full attention now. "Konoha has the Will of Fire, but so far, I have heard NOTHING of what you all believe in. Let me give you want you need to believe in!"
The crowd was roaring now, shouting at him reveal it.
"Core of the Earth is surrounded in superheated rock that is called Lava or Magma, whatever! That is what the volcanoes spew to create more Earth! So believe in that! The Heat of the Core! With that, we will show the world that can be just as strong or even far stronger than Konoha! With lava in our veins, we will show the world the HEAT OF THE CORE!"
Onoki watched with wide eyes as the people of Iwa rallied under Naruto's words, showing that they believed in him and that he had truly given them something to believe in, something that he himself never managed to do.
With a smile, the old man turned from his position to head back into the tower. "You'll do just fine boy."
XXX
Naruto, Kurotsuchi, Misa, and Haku stood by the gates out of Iwa, awaiting their last member that was joining them on their mission to Rice Country. Soon they saw him.
"Alright, everything in set. Tsuchikage-sama has given us our own building to operate in. Jibachi is in charge while we are away and signing in those that wish to join us." Kitsuchi replied. "I gotta say kid, I didn't think you could pull it off. I am glad you proved me wrong. You might make a great leader yet."
"Thank you." Naruto replied with a smile.
"Yes, that speech was well worth it." Haku said with a smile as he patted Naruto on the back.
"I'll say!" Kurotsuchi said. "I never saw the village like that before."
"Indeed." Kitsuchi stated. "So, are we ready to head out?"
"Yep!" All four new jonin chirped.
"Good, let's roll." Kitsuchi ordered before they rushed out of the village and to Rice Country.
XXX
"Hinata, you did will in the prelims. Your quick thinking and leadership skills with unknown teammates was pretty good, considering that one of them was from Kumo." Hiruzen Sarutobi stated as he addressed the young girl before him. Her and Sasuke where the only ones to catch his attention for the rank of Chunin.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama." Hinata replied politely.
"Therefore, like Sasuke, I am making you chunin. Congrats." He said as he threw the two genin turned chunin their flak jackets. "I expect great things from you two. Dismissed." The two bowed and left. The rest is up to you Hiashi, time for you to clear things up with your family.
As they two were leaving the room, a man hobbled past them with a stare that made them both shiver. It was no the man himself or a simple stare that made them act like that. It was the way he stared at them. Like tools or pieces of meat that were expendable, that made them shiver.
However, it didn't last long as they quickly made their way past him and the door slammed shut, cutting them off from the Hokage and the dark mystery man. Shaking it off, the two nodded to each other before walking off to their team and family respectively.
Sarutobi sighed as the watched Danzo scare his new chunin as he walked in. He knew that this was coming. Danzo was probably here to confront him about Sai. "Danzo."
"Sarutobi." Danzo replied curtly.
"To what do I owe this meeting for?"
"You know."
"I suppose I do, but I don't see why you care. After all, you said that he was just an orphan." Sarutobi stated calmly.
Danzo ground his teeth. "I know what I said! I said that to him because I needed a loyal emotionless soldier, not a son! My ninja are nothing but tools to be used! He was no different!"
Sarutobi shook his head. "Is that what you told your wife before you killed her? Danzo, you are deluding yourself with this. You have lost yourself in your own madness and cannot escape. I am afraid that this is it for you." He said as he motioned for his hidden ANBU to take care of Danzo.
As they were upon the seemingly crippled man, Danzo lost his temper. "NO!" he shouted as his ROOT agents appeared and killed Sarutobi's men with deadly force, making the Hokage's eyes widen. "No, Sarutobi. It is the other way around. I will end you myself!" Danzo roared as he kicked his rival out of the window and onto the streets below.
Sarutobi landed on his feet and looked up to see Danzo already closing in. "Are you really that power hungry, Danzo?!"
"No! I am just tired of waiting for you to make the right choices!" Danzo shouted as he threw a kick to Sarutobi's chest, which the old monkey caught. "You have made all the wrong choices! Not killing Orochimaru when you had the chance. Not making Kushin our weapon when the time was right and making the same mistake with Naruto, who is now with Iwa, our enemy!" Danzo threw a punch, which Sarutobi had to let go of Danzo's leg to block.
"I don't care who his parents were! It is time to make right choices and make Konoha a true ninja village! I love this village more than you and I am taking it by force!" Danzo shouted as his root agents appeared all around him before shooting off to kill of civilians and ninja alike who he thought were just useless to his village.
Sarutobi's eye widened at this as he ninja fought Danzo's in broad day light and in the streets like they had just a few moments ago. "Danzo, this is madness!"
"No, the madness is how long I have waited for this." Danzo replied clamly, once again in control of his own emotions. He then ripped off the case around his 'useless' arm, showing the world what he had done to it. He also ripped off the bandages around his hidden Sharingan eye. "Victory, at any cost."
Sarutobi closed his eyes in pain at what his old friend had become before snapping them open to show his battle hardened eyes. "So, this is the end then."
"Indeed." Danzo replied before they charged at one another.
XXX
Pein, also known as Nagato, stared down at the village of Konoha in apathy as the village burned. He watched as jutsu flew from one person to the other. Sometimes creating a shower of blood, while at other times destroy the village around them.
Konan looked on as well. "Do we attack now?"
The Deva Path shook his head. "No. Let them battle for a little while. Then we shall show them true pein as their battle was for nothing." The deve path turn to the young Uchiha next to him. "Itachi, can you attake your old village."
Itachi stayed silent for a few moments. His face emotionless while his mind a maelstrom of emotion. Disbelief and sadness among the top few emotions. It hurt him to see that Konoha was like this and he also knew that now there was no hope for them. "Yes, but I must be the one to kill my brother."
"Very well." Pein replied as he stared back down at the burning village.
The Battle for Konoha had began.
And it would not end on a happy note.
XXXXX
And there we go. A good filler chapter leading into the Fate of Konoha. What will happen? Who will survive? Only time will tell.
Oh, I just notice that Root had the Ne symbol on their masks, what should be Naruto's Core symbol?
Review!