I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I had fun writing it. It is my Happy new years for you guys enjoy.
Disclaimer: I am just a fan. I do not own Naruto.
Chapter 12: Test Time: Bring IT, I'll Show You!
Naruto and Jiraiya reached Konoha at predawn. The guards at the gates informed Naruto that the Hokage wished to meet him in three hours at the third training field and Naruto headed home to prepare himself for the encounter but not before Jiraiya was able to bequeath to him some soldier pills to boost his energy.
"It would appear that I am not the only one eager to see just how much you have grown. Eh, Naruto. Take these soldier pills they will help you out seeing as you haven't slept much these last few days."
"I guess I better not disappoint. Janna Jiraiya-sama."
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Tsunade was standing at the training ground accompanied by Jiraiya, Shizune, Sakura, Homaru, and Koharu who somehow were able to ferret out that she would be testing Naruto, infuriating Tsunade tremendously; if she ever found out how the old farts were getting their intelligence she would make sure that person or those persons paid dearly for their transgression.
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Naruto was running late; he fell asleep and awoke to find he had ten minutes to reach the training ground for Tsunade's test. Upon his arrival Naruto was greeted by a not to happy Tsunade.
"I hope you don't consider this your idea of being capable."
"Forgive me Hokage-sama I meant no disrespect."
Tsunade still found it hard to believe that the person before her was Naruto. It was the hardest thing for her to see the brash loud mouth so quiet and excepting of her chastisement. She worried that his mind had been irrevocably damaged in some fashion unknown to her, even though she had heard the accounts of his strategic and fighting abilities and reviewed the files of team seven's mission countless times. She needed to see him in action herself before she could believe that he was well. The unwarranted thought was enough to calm her disgruntled nature.
"Well see to it that it does not become a habit" she barked. "Now for the first part of your test you must make your way to the tower at the center of the forest of death and relieve the guards I have posted of the items they were told to protect. Depending on how you do will determine if you proceed to the next level of the test or if you fail. Understood?"
Naruto steered into the angry façade of Tsunade and could see the worry held within her eyes and attempted to comfort her with a grandiose display of bravado."
"I won't fail so have the next test ready." Naruto said exuding a confidence which bordered on cocky as he shun shined in the direction of the forest of death leaving the small crowd of onlookers behind.
Naruto entered the forest and began his journey to the center where his mission lied; his chosen route mirrored the memories of an excited young team seven, and all the misadventures which befell them in the eerie forest during their first Chuunin exams so long ago. By midday, Naruto had traveled to the spot where a young Sakura defended Sasuke against sound ninja seeking to take his life before feeling the fatigue he had been ignoring. Knowing it would do him no good to rush into the unknown fatigued, he decided to take a quick rest.
Naruto had a small bite to eat before creating a small group of shadow clones to help him set perimeter traps. Afterward, he divided them into to small groups. One group patrolled the perimeter of his small makeshift camp while another performed reconnaissance as he lied down and took a much needed rest. The soldier pills given to him by Jiraiya he pocketed just in case there where more difficult task ahead. Naruto was so tired he fell into a deep sleep within minutes of closing his eyes. His dreams were for the most part uneventful until he found himself standing before a shadow with piercing red eyes
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"Itachi no not him someone else" Naruto thought as he wondered where he was.
"You will obey beast whether of your own volition or through the use of force. I will leave the decision up to you, but I would rather you followed me willingly. It is not like I am asking you to do anything outside of your nature." said the mysterious figure with the red eyes.
"Insolent little nothing to whom do you think you speak? You couldn't even begin to fathom my true nature let alone at the enormity of my power! You are a tasty morsel to be devoured not obeyed!" Naruto found himself saying.
"I thought that might be the way you felt." The mysterious man said bored as if he had rehearsed a thousand times for the scenario which was unfolding.
Naruto was confused by the whole situation and before he knew it he lunged clawing and tearing at the mysterious figure, who drifted away like a feather unharmed while forming hand seals.
"For a demon that has lived millennium you are foolish to think I would be so easily dispatched, or perhaps it is arrogance. As your new Master I will teach you what it means to be humble and strip you of that arrogance."The shadow figure said completing his hand seals.
He leapt upon Naruto and struck him with his palm; rays of light shot all around Naruto immobilizing him as the shadow figure performed a back flip and landed in front him. The mysterious man's eyes began to dance as his gaze fell upon Naruto.
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Naruto found himself standing before the gates which imprisoned his guest once again.
"What just happened" Naruto questioned his guest confused. "That dream, who was the figure with red eyes?"
"What?!" growled the Kyuubi. Shocked, he filled his voice with as much menace as possible.
"The weird dream I was having before I came here that was a memory of your past was it not; so who was the man with the red eyes, and what did he want you to do?"
"I did not request your company boy. Leave before I…." the Kyuubi began annoyed, but Naruto cut him off angry and tired of the Kyuubi's usual arrogance and disrespect.
"BEFORE YOU WHAT?!"
"Have you forgotten our last encounter boy?!"
"I remember it well. I think it is you that has forgotten." Naruto quipped enraging the beast even further.
The Kyuubi exploding with anger roared shaking the fabric of Naruto's mindscape. Naruto closed his eyes and concentrated on picturing the beast as something other than the imposing figure which raged before him. When he opened his eyes he no longer saw a monstrous Kyuubi but instead he saw a fox cub angry and scared. Regaining his composure, Naruto attempted to assuage the demons anger.
"I am sorry I lost my temper. I didn't mean to upset you; please calm down. I am just trying to understand."
The Kyuubi's anger would not subside; he attempted to break the seal which imprisoned him by slamming himself into the gate repeatedly and releasing the full might of his chakra to consume Naruto. Naruto stood firm and allowed the demonic chakra to wash over him closing his eyes he focused all his concentration on remaining calm. For the first time in his life he acknowledged the Kyuubi not as a prisoner which he housed unwillingly, but as someone he would need to learn to live with. He thought of the words of his Master "Naruto, in life you can't always choose the path you walk, sometimes the only choice you have is how you choose to walk the path you are on." The sly old man had known all along what he was and gave him the chance to prove himself, excepting him for who he was and not what people made him to be.
The Kyuubi seeing this began to laugh and the chakra which consumed Naruto slowly subsided returning to its master. Naruto fell to the floor breathing heavily.
"HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA it would appear that you are even more interesting now then when we first met boy. Perhaps I shall allow you to live awhile longer."
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Naruto awoke to the night time sounds of the forest and recalled his clones to gather the intelligence they acquired while he rested. He found that he was less than half a day away from the tower which held his objective with three men roving the outside perimeter at uneven intervals and who knew how many more guards inside. He recalled one of his clones observing a giant white tiger and a plan began to formulate in his mind. One that would require a little risk, but if all went well he would be on his way back to the training ground, leaving his adversaries none the wiser at his arrival or departure within a couple of hours. Forming some Kage Bunshin, Naruto quickly erased any trace of his presence and raced in the direction of the white tigers last known location. The success of his plan relied partially on night time concealment giving him about ten hours to complete his mission.
Locating the white tiger Naruto had a Kage Bunshin lure the beast to the tower. Once there, the Kage Bunshin dispersed before any guards could spot him leaving them the privilege of dealing with the great beast. The outer guards preoccupied with their unruly intruder allowed Naruto to scale the building and enter unnoticed through a second floor window.
Naruto formed four Kage Bunshin sending each down separate sections of the tower in search of the prize he must lute. Sticking to the shadows, Naruto avoided the few remaining guards left in the tower, which had surprisingly less resistance then he had expected. One of the shadow clones spotting a door guarded by two ninja whose ranks were unknown dispersed relaying his intelligence to Naruto.
Naruto reached the corridor where the door was guarded pulled out a spherical little ball from one of his hidden pouches and rolled it down the hall towards the door. Hearing the sphere one of the guards look down spotted it and bent down to picked it up for a closer examination. Naruto brought his pointer and middle finger up to his lips and whispered Kai (release). The sphere released a cloud of smoke rendering the guards unconscious. Naruto swooped in and searched the guards. Liberating a set of keys from them, he quickly rifled through them until he found the correct key to unlock the door.
Naruto replaced the guards with two Kage Bunshin hengen to look like them. He placed the real guards bound and gagged inside the room. Locating two scrolls at the center, he reached into his shirt and removed two unused scrolls performed a henge jutsu and replaced the originals with near perfect replicas. Finished retrieving his prize, Naruto retraced his path and exited the way he came.
The two guards on watch at the door would be out for hours while the two Kage Bunshin and replica scrolls would give Naruto enough of a head start that any pursuit would be meaningless. Naruto consumed one of the three soldier pills Jiraiya had given him and poured on the speed not wanting to take any chances. He ran through the three hours left before daybreak and half of the new day to reach the third training ground where an eager crowd awaited him. The only report Tsunade would receive before Naruto's return was one involving a white tiger. A beaming Naruto handed Tsunade the two scrolls before she received the reports of there theft shortly after. The small crowd silently awed over the swift return as well as its flawless execution. It had only taken two days for Naruto to complete his mission.
"It is clear that you have more than adequately passed this test, but I would not rejoice just yet. There is still another test which you have yet to face, are you prepared." Tsunade spoke up authoritatively breaking the silence and Naruto's smile of victory.
"Bring it!" Naruto shot back confidently.
Tsunade inwardly smiled at the familiar fire that sparked in his eyes with his words; her worries over some unknown traumatic injury to his person were gone. "very well!"
Tsunade tossed the scrolls into the center of the field and they rolled open releasing a massive amount of smoke which dissipated to reveal the figure of one Maito Gai.
"You will have until sundown to capture a bell from Gai sensei."
"I have been looking forward to this since hearing the accounts of your battle with Itachi from my eternal rival. Now Uzumaki, Naruto let loose all the wondrous glory of the SPRINGTIME of YOUTH!"
The wind moved across dancing blades of grass as Tsunade yelled "HAJIME!"
Naruto exploded in a burst of blinding speed kicking up as much dust as he could while closing the gap between him and Gai in a spiral pattern. Gai stood relaxed in defensive posture waiting wanting to see what Naruto's opening move would be. Naruto deliberately brought his hand forward and yelled Tajuu Kage Bunshin forming twenty five shadow clones who quickly leapt into the air yelling Shihouhappou Shuriken (All Direction Shuriken) drawing Gai sensei's attention to the incoming shuriken.
Naruto continued to form more hand signs and quietly called forth one Kage Bunshin Nioi no jutsu and a few Kage Bunshin Maka no jutsu. The tagging clones made a direct B line for Gai sensei while the stinky clone awaited a signal to join the fray.
Naruto continued his spiral pattern kicking up as much dust as possible as he moved steadily and slowly inward toward Gai sensei.
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Gai jumped back into the dust storm created by Naruto avoiding the shuriken barrage and then shot forward dispersing Naruto's tagger clones with a series of punches and kicks before leaping into the air and dispatching ten of the twenty-five regular clones. Naruto gave his stink clone the signal he was waiting for and it took off sprinting to join the conflict.
Gai landed in a defensive posture encircled by sixteen clones. Five leapt forward each chose a limb and attacked it. Gai slammed his fist into the ground created a small tremor causing his five attackers to lose their balance before dispatching them. In a burst of speed and amazing skill Gai quickly defeated the rest of Naruto's clone in the blink of an eye. The last clone received a roundhouse to the side bursting into a huge cloud of noxious smoke. Naruto used the distraction created by the stinky clone to quickly form hand signs creating his Senbon Ryoushi which were attached to wire he had been laying down under the cover of the dust he kicked up.
Gai seeing the conception of the smoke inhaled some of its unpleasant smell. Suffering minor discomfort, Gai held his breathe and performed a Konoha Senpu creating a whirlwind which gathered the noxious gas allowing him to avoid further harm by standing in its eye.
Gai leapt high into the air to escape the noxious gas only to be greeted by Naruto's senbon ryoushi. Naruto guided the senbon which were attached to wire and formed a net around Gai pinning him to the earth and shun shinned to a trapped Gai to claim his prize.
Gai was able to retrieve a kunai and used it to cut himself free before being completely pinned to the earth by the wire net performing a series of flips and leaps, he maneuvered away from Naruto but not before Naruto was able to obtain a bell. The exchange was so swift that Gai did not notice the bells removal, and rushed forward to engage Naruto only to be greeted by an outstretched hand with a jingling bell.
"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha defeated by the Springtime of Youth!"
"Your taijutsu skills are amazing Gai sensei. I don't know what I would have done if I failed to retrieve the bell." Naruto said bowing. "Thank you for your restraint."
"It was not restraint that won you the bell, but an excellent strategy Naruto. Although I must admit I was hoping to see some of the taijutsu skill you used on Itachi."
"Forgive me sensei."
"Ha, ha, ha there is no need for apologies Naruto. I truly enjoyed myself this day, but perhaps you will consider spending some time training with me and Lee someday."
"I would be honored Gai sensei."
"Yosh"!
All present are stunned at the decisive victory. Shizune and Sakura stood with their mouths agape making no attempt to hide their surprise. Homaru and Koharu hid their stunned surprise under a stone visage while Tsunade and Jiraiya could not help but to smile.
"I think this proves that he is more than capable of handling this mission, wouldn't you Tsunade-sama?" Jiraiya said rousing her from the discomfort of her thoughts over the old geezers.
"I do, unless you are having second thoughts Sakura." Tsunade said turning to face her trusted and gifted pupil.
"No Tsunade-sama, no second thoughts."
"Then it is agreed, Naruto may join team Kakashi for the mission."
"If I may Hokage-sama" Homaru spoke up drastically altering Tsunade's mood for the worse. "This test is no gauge as to how he will hold up during a real mission, and we all know that Akatsuki will stop at nothing to get their hands on the Bijuu imprisoned within him. H e should remain in the village under lock and key."
"Homaru is correct Hokage-sama this test does not gauge how he will be in a real mission no matter how well he did. He cannot be allowed to join the mission. The danger to the village is to great." Koharu said backing Homaru further enraging Tsunade.
"Your objections have been noted" Tsunade said curtly. "But my decision still stands. Naruto goes!"
"I think it prudent that you reconsider your decision for the sake of the village. It is obvious your judgment is impaired when it comes to Naruto." Koharu continued undeterred.
"My decisions have always been for the sake of the village!" Tsunade spat enraged unable to quell her anger any further "There is nothing you can do to deter Akatsuki from coming for Naruto! Its better that he is allowed to resume missions it will make it harder for Akatsuki to pin him down. What you suggest would definitely bring the village into danger; all Akatsuki would need to do was send one spy into the village to learn Naruto's whereabouts and then they would come charging in here killing ninja and villagers alike just to acquire him. My way keeps them guessing. Like it or not my decision is final, unless either of you would care to take the position of Hokage which both of you seem to want so badly!"
"And if you are wrong" Homaru asked calmly undisturbed by Tsunade's anger.
"If I am wrong than I will defend the village with my life as I promised when I took up the mantle of Hokage!"
Seeing no further point in continuing, Homaru and Koharu respectfully took their leave.
Naruto observing Homaru and Koharu's discussion with Tsunade-sama could not help but notice the discomfort of her visage and thought to distract her from that horrible discomfort.
"What is my next obstacle Obaasan?"
Tsunade hearing the familiar name of granny given to her by Naruto so long ago replaced the strain of her encounter of Homaru and Koharu aside and adopted a wry smile in its stead. Naruto's verbal distraction had succeeded in distracting Tsunade from the irritation she felt when she was around the two elders.
"How many times must I tell you I am no granny" Tsunade said her voice adopting a stern tone. "As punishment for your lapse in judgment your final test shall be exceptionally difficult; it takes place the day after tomorrow. You will pack your bags and join team seven who are leaving for Heaven and Earth Bridge. You are to rendezvous with former Akatsuki member Sasori's spy capture him alive and retrieve any and all intelligence he contains on Orochimaru and the whereabouts of Sasuke. Failure is not an option. Am I understood?"
"Understood obaasan" Naruto said smiling.
Naruto left training ground three behind in order to rest and prepare for tomorrows departure, but not before being introduced to their substitute team Captain Yamato who would be covering for Kakashi until he recovered enough to resume his former duty as Team Seven's Captain.
Next Time: Chapter 13: Heaven and Earth Bridge: Spies, Lies, and Sannin Oh My!