Ohayo! Not much to say here except enjoy and thanks for the reviews!
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-Chapter 7: It Begins-
Dawn broke over the green trees of Konoha, flooding the room of three quietly sleeping Gennin, well...two quiet gennin.
"FINALLY!" cried Naruto, "It's about ti-OOF!" he was cut off by a pillow to the face
"SHUT UP!" yelled Zaiaku from under his remaining pillow
Gaara simply groaned and opened his eyes, "First thing I'm doing is getting my own apartment."
Naruto pouted, "You guys whine too much," both boys turned disbelieving looks on him, "What?"
An hour later all three were heading to the room for the first exam, upon entering the building all three teens noticed a green clad gennin standing in the hallway and fixing them with an intense gaze, "I, Rock Lee, challenge you Aka-san!" he cried suddenly.
Naruto sighed and looked to his teammates who only shrugged, "We don't have time for this," stated Gaara.
"Sorry," he started, but then noticed team seven enter the hallway, "Why don't you fight the Uchiha, he has enough ego and pride for all of us." With that they left an over exhuberant Lee to harass Sasuke.
Zaiaku broke the silence they had fell into on their walk, "We'll have to decide what to do about him."
"Kill him?" questioned Gaara.
'Pleeeeease?' begged Shukaku
Naruto shook his head, "We'll leave him to his own devices."
Kyuubi chuckled darkly, 'How very cruel of you kit. Killing him flat out would be more merciful.'
"We could stop a large amount of anguish by just killing him," stated Zaiaku
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Naruto responded, "too many things in this place are different, and besides, at this point Sakura-chan still 'loves' him. Killing him would cause her to hate you for a lifetime."
The white haired teen sighed, "So I need to wait till he breaks her heart, her dreams, and her self-esteem?" When he recieved no response he narrowed his eyes, "fine."
Entering the first exam room all eyes were on them, sizing them up, and trying to see their home village. After a moment everyone returned to thier original positions. "Wow I was waiting for you to yell something completely idiotic to piss everyone off," whispered Zaiaku, Naruto only shrugged.
"I see, Kabuto is digging his fangs in already. I also see the sound team about to pounce on him. We'll have to decide to do with that maggot as well." stated Gaara, as if on cue the sound nin charged and dropped Kabuto. After some muttering he looked around and noticed the rookie nine mingling quite well with the Suna team, "I've noticed that Konoha is on friendly terms with Suna."
Naruto nodded, "Definately a lot less strained..." something caught his eye, "Zai- I mean Aoi, look." he pointed to something, no, someone.
Zaiaku followed his finger and went wide-eyed, "A snow country forhead protector?..." he paused, "I'll be right back." He walked over to one of the three snow shinobi and tapped him on the shoulder, "I have a question for you," he stated.
The female of the group chimed in, "and that would be?"
"I was under the impression that Count Dousu integrated Hyoukagure into the military," he replied.
The gennin that he had originally addressed answered, "Dousu? He's been dead for almost three years, killed by a group of leaf shinobi when they returned our daimyo."
'Ok, but wasn't Hyoukagure integrated before that?' thought Zaiaku
'It seems, little one, that politics in this world are DRASTICALLY different in snow country,' replied Shiva.
"Yea, after that she allowed the shinobi to return to the village," added the third man
"Who is the Hyoukage? If I may ask?" pressed the teen.
All three snow shinobi grimaced, "Well after his fight with Sharigan no Kakashi he was put on trial," replied the female, "after quite a long debate, our lord, re-instated him into Hyoukagure. She said he was only doing what he was assigned to do, and granted him mercy." Taking on a scowl she finished, "the fools on the shinobi council saw his ability to destroy a countries former ruler as an amazing feat instead of an act of a traitorous fool and voted him Hyoukage."
"His name is-" started the taller of the three.
He was cut off by Zaiaku, "Rouga Nadare" he growled. "Arigato," he nodded and headed back to Gaara and Naruto.
"Well?" questioned Naruto.
"It seems," replied Zaiaku, "that the copy ninja failed to finish the job, yet, again." then he turned to his companions, "Rouga is the Hyoukage there."
Naruto went wide-eyed, "Then that means-!"
"I'm well aware of the implications!" yelled Zaiaku. Turning his head after his outburst he noticed the three snow shinobi glancing at him, "Although it doesn't sound like they're too fond of him."
"ATTENTION PLEASE!" came a loud voice from the front of the room, "Please follow Kakashi-san to the first examination room!" In a poof Kakashi appeared holding his signature book and gestured for everyone to follow. Without a thought several teams were up and out the door.
"Oh this is a joke right?" questioned Naruto, "What kind of idiots just follow an unknown shinobi out of a room to an undisclosed location."
"Apparently," came a jovial voice behind him, "those idiots." Others including the rookie nine, team gai, and team suna followed team oni's example and stayed put. Kakashi glanced around especially pleased that none of the leaf teams fell for the obvious trap, "Very good. Always be suspicious of your surroundings in unknown territory. You all pass." With a wave he was gone in another cloud of smoke.
Immediately after his departure the door reopened to reveal one Momochi Zabuza and Mitarashi Anko, "We!" exclaimed Anko as she draped an arm over Zabuza, "are your two next examiners. I'm Mitarashi Anko and this is-!"
"Momochi Zabuza," growled a mist gennin, "We'd heard you defected to the leaf village but we didn't think you'd go so soft. BASTARD TRAITOR!"
Before Zabuza could respond a cold voice came from the back of the room, "That, is our sensei," stated Zaiaku, his eyes begining to glow
"If you EVER disrespect him," added Gaara, crossing his arms
Then Naruto took a manic gleam in his eye and held up a clawed hand as his other gripped Kubikiri, "we'll rip your heads off," he finished as his eyes flashed red.
Everyone was speechless, for the leaf nins it was the most anyone has heard them say. For everyone else it was a shock to their system that three leaf shinobi seemed to have no problem tearing them apart. Anko cocked an eyebrow at Zabuza, "cute kids, Zabuza-kun."
Zabuza rolled his eyes, "sometimes they scare the crap outta me too." Then he turned to the remaining Gennin, "Alright! we will take you to the next examination area. No, this is not another test." turning to the door he looked over his shoulder, "please follow us."
Fifteen minutes later the gennin were all gathered at a gate to a very large forest, "THIS!" exclaimed Anko, "is the forest of death. Now, if you'll please take a form and fill it out, these prevent Konoha for being blamed if you die." Several of the gathered gulped, "you will then turn in your forms at the desk and recieve either a heaven or earth scroll." Taking a bite of dango she gestured to Zabuza.
'Damn woman eats too much,' Rolling his eyes he continued, "The object is to get to the tower in the center of the forest in forty eight hours, with BOTH a heaven and earth scroll." Turning his eyes to his team he grinned, "Get the opposite scroll anyway you see fit."
Sakura raised her hand, "What if something happens and we need to exit the forest in an emergency."
Anko choked down another bite and chimed in, "just open the scroll," she stated simply. "it'll take you back to your numbered gate, but you will be failed immediately."
"If there are no more questions please fill out your forms and recieve your scroll," added Zabuza.
The rookie nine and team Gai along with the suna team were conversing, seeing this Naruto grinned, "Let's go mingle."
Zaiaku cocked an eyebrow, "What?"
"You know, make friends?" replied the blonde mockingly
"Why?" questioned Gaara
Naruto shrugged, "We're going to need them if and when the time comes. They need to at least know we have no ill will."
"One conversation isn't going to do that." retorted Zaiaku. Seeing Naruto already walking over he sighed, "Wait up!"
"-exactly I don't think...uh...crap," Kiba cut himself off when he noticed the three members of Team Oni coming towards them.
Wondering why the normally loudmouthed dog boy went quiet everyone followed his gaze and gulped, "H-h.." clearing her throat Sakura stood up straight, "Hi."
"Hello," said Naruto grinning under his mask, "You guys ready?"
Zaiaku noticed that everyone wasn't really sure how to respond, "We're not coming after you," he stated. "There are enough teams here without attacking people from our own village."
Gaara cocked an eyebrow at their continued scepticism, "We can engage you if you'd prefer though."
"Why wouldn't you? Sure you're leaf shinobi, but you've only just arrived," questioned Shikamaru, "You have no loyalties."
Naruto sighed and pulled out five tags, "Here," he handed one to Shikamaru, Hinata, Sakura, Neji, and Temari.
"What do we do with this?" questioned Sakura.
"If a situation gets out of hand spread a little of your blood across the seal," replied Zaiaku, "We'll come help."
Neji cocked an eyebrow, "How do we know it's not a trap?"
"You don't," deadpanned Gaara, "We've already said it, we're all on the same team, you can chose whether to trust us or not."
Nodding the five teams looked at the tags, "I guess we should turn in our forms," stated Temari
Without a word team oni turned and headed towards the table
"I don't trust them," said Sasuke, "They are underestimating us, like we're children that need to be coddled."
Hinata scrunched up her face, "I don't think they're here to hurt us." Then she looked at her tag and activated her bloodlimit, "I don't see anything wrong with them."
Sasuke offered a "Hn," and turned to the table, "Throw that away Sakura, we don't need their help," then he turned his eyes to his other teammate, "Let's go Ryo."
"Yea sure." replied the boy
Sakura eyed the tag and didn't notice Naruto approach, stopping momentarily he looked at all five teams, "I know trust isn't easily given, but please believe us when we say we're willing to help if you just ask. Please don't think that we wouldn't ask for your help if we thought we'd need it." That said he continued to Zaiaku and Gaara at gate fifteen.
Pondering for a moment Sakura placed the tag in her pocket, the other teams mimiced her actions.
"I convinced them to keep the tags," said Naruto
Gaara nodded, "We can't ask for much more." he looked up and noticed Zaiaku staring off into space, "You have a lot on your mind."
"Hm," said the white haired teen as he nodded, "a whole lot of information in only twenty-four hours will do that to you."
Ten minutes later Zabuza and Anko perched themselves upon the gate numbered one, "ALRIGHT! You will begin in..."
"3"
Zaiaku released his chakra, freezing the ground around his feet and crouched.
"2"
Gaara's sand began to swirl as he closed his eyes.
"1"
Naruto released a pulse of his chakra causing his pupils to become slitted and mimiced Zaiaku, crouching.
"HAJIME!"
All three boys vanished in a blink uprooting the ground slightly and leaving the rest of the gennin teams in a stunned revere at the power that just came from team oni.
"Holy..." started Kiba.
"...Shit" finished Kankuro.
"You've got that tag, right Shika?" questioned a gaping Ino
"Y-yea," he stammered.
"I SAID HAJIME!" yelled Anko, breaking all the teams out of their stunned states. Then she rounded on Zabuza, "and YOU!" she exclamed with a grin, "want to buy me a drink!"
Zabuza cocked an eyebrow, "Uh, sure?"
Naruto, Gaara, and Zaiaku were moving through the forest soundlessly, "Which team?" questioned Gaara as his eye of sand scanned the area ahead of them.
"Which ever one we find first that isn't leaf," replied Naruto non-chalantly
Half an hour later Gaara signaled for them to stop and gestured to the north, "It's that mist team from earlier."
"That's perfect," replied Zaiaku.
Without another word the three split off and surrounded the mist team in a triangle formation. Silence washed over the mist gennin as they scanned the area for potential targets, seeing nothing they were preparing to move out when one signaled to hold, "I saw something," a cold chill ran down his spine.
"You saw what we wanted you to see," stated Gaara. Immediately he sent his sand forward and called out "Sabaku Kyuu! (Desert Coffin), Where is your scroll?" he questioned as his sand tightened.
"I have it," said another as he tossed out a water bottle and began sealing, "Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!" (Water Type: Water Dragon Blast Technique) he smiled in grim satisfaction as the water dragon closed in on Gaara.
"Pathetic," said another voice as Zaiaku appeared in front of his companion and finished his own set of seals, "Hyouton: Haryuu no Jutsu!" (Ice Style: Piercing Dragon Technique) The ice dragon charged the blast of water, causing it to freeze on impact, and continued through to the gennin that had originally launched it. Violently slamming into the mist nin and sending him into a tree as well as unconciousness.
Seeing an opening the final mist gennin charged, "He lied!" he exclaimed pulling a kunai and launching himself at Gaara and Zaiku.
A red and black blur dropped in from the trees above. Reaching to his back Naruto released the clasp holding Kubikiri Houcho and stepped into a stance, holding the weapon like a baseball bat. Before the ninja could stop himself the blonde had slapped an exploding tag onto the tip blade and was in mid-swing. On contact the tag went off, it didn't budge Naruto nor scar Kubikiri. It did, however, manage to send the attacking nin through two trees. "I hate liars," stated Naruto grinning, reaching down he searched the unconcious gennin. "Got it!" he exclaimed.
Zaiaku stepped up beside him, "Well, now what?" he questioned.
Gaara shrugged and disappeared in a swirl of sand, reappearing behind the still concious and captured nin. With a quick knife hand to the back of the neck the redhead incapacitated the mist shinobi.
Naruto began to feel a familiar chakra signature, pulling out his tag list he went wide-eyed, "It's team seven's tag!"
"It's happening then?" questioned Gaara.
"What are we waiting for?" yelled Zaiaku, Gaara and Naruto nodded and all three teens vanished.
On the other side of the forest Sakura was craddling the head of an unconcious Sasuke and sitting next to a blood soaked Ryo. "Please help," she whispered as her blood ran down the tag.
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End Chapter 7
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