Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the related characters, I just am borrowing them for my own delusions.
Chapter 13
"The Forest of Death as its called." Lu Yan said after taking a swig from his booze gourd.
Naruto kept a partial ear on the directions and the gripping from many of the other Genin, including the Konoha ones.
Weak. Didn't their sensei's warn them in advance? Glad kaa-san, Ero-pop and Uncle told us what to expect. Actually, glad I'm not part of Konoha, they sound like as Tayuya-chan said a bunch of fucking whiners.
Naruto thought about one of his Uncle's personal guard. He could sense Kimimaro nearby and knew the man was watching over him.
He shared a look with Kin and Gaara. Kin used her eyes and he followed the look to where the Uchiha was standing surrounded by his fangirls and fellow Konoha nin, the haughty look on the idiots face made him realize that the mission would be easy with how sloppy they all stood.
No discipline. Hell even when goofing off… shaking his head he snorted. Gaara nodded while Kin signed the forms, forging his and Gaara's name like she'd done before.
The three entered the tent and took the scroll. Lu Yan eyeing them. "Now be careful in there." The drunken master said with a happy grin.
"We will." Naruto pulled a flask out and tossed it to the man. "Some of Rice's finest."
The man caught it, his eyes focusing on the beverage container than looked at Naruto, there was a clarity there. "We'll share a drink sometime."
Naruto nodded. "But of course…" he looked around smiled. "Later sensei." He whispered and followed Gaara and Kin towards their gate.
Yu smiled as the blond left. You've grown a lot over the last few years Naruto. Be safe.
The next team came in and the drunk sloppily handed them a scroll and accepted the consent forms.
XX
"You are looking well Naruto."
The blond frowned as Sub-Zero and Scorpion stood on either side of the third figure.
"Natas?"
"Stay out of our way during the exam Naruto, I am not here for you this time." The skull masked Natas said.
"Who are you…The Uchiha." He said.
"Very observant Naruto. How is Kyuubi?"
"Sleeping and nearly absorbed." Naruto said. "Ero-pop adjusted the seal. So your nearly out of luck."
Natas's eyes behind the mask narrowed.
"You six. No fighting before the exam." A chunin called out.
"Good luck Naruto." Natas said leading his team away. Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"Eat shit and die soon bastard."
Gaara chuckled at this while Kin pouted. "You've really been around Tayuya too much Naruto-kun." She said.
Gaara looked at her and for some reason the comment bubbled up, "And you wish it was you he was close to?"
The flute user scowled at Gaara. "What do you know sandboy?"
Gaara couldn't help it, he blamed it on the fact he was able to sleep and his best friend Naruto was rubbing off on him. "I know you and nearly every girl our age wants to have Naruto bed them and make them his, my sister included."
Naruto got a look on his face when he heard that. "She slipped into my window, I had nothing to do with that Gaara."
"That is the only reason you lived." The red head said. "That and your sister had a long talk with me after I buried you under a sand hill."
Naruto patted his friends shoulder. He and Temari were the only ones allowed touch him without his sand flaring up.
"Sorry about that. Anko-nee-chan gets overprotective."
Kin snorted as she recalled her own 'discussion' with the Snake Jonin and shuddered. It was taking her and Haku to fight her off and Kin wasn't liking the idea of having to share with anyone.
"Here's our gate." Gaara said. They looked at their watches and saw they had a good forty minutes left before the exam would start and the other teams reached their gates.
"Wonder where the others are going to be starting from?" Naruto sat down. Gaara smiled. "Got a map?"
The three shared a smile.
XX
Sarutobi sighed as he got the reports. Outside forces are here. If what Tsunade and the others have said, this Natas is a very dangerous man. What's more is that Cloud, Rain and Grass are showing signs of attacking as well. He puffed on his pipe and cursed the day that the Sannin had abandoned Konoha.
Their breaking ties with Konoha weakened us greatly. Oto has flourished over the years, they have acquired many strong ninja and the young ones are even stronger. They acquired the children of the Kazekage, one of whom holds another demon.
Sarutobi sighed as he recalled the council demanding that he grab 'The Kyuubi Brat' and make him a personal weapon of Konoha.
Sarutobi snorted. The person to do that will have to deal with Tsunade, that's if they survive Jiraiya and Orochimaru, and from what my former pupil told me, the Sound village loves Naruto and would go to war for him.
Sarutobi recalled the earlier meeting with Orochimaru who told him how Naruto would find strays and bring them to the village, how he would help them open up and heal their hearts and souls.
(Flashback)
"The one you'll really need to look out for is Kimimaro. Tsunade and Naruto saved his body, but it was Naruto who healed his heart and soul." Orochimaru said sipping his tea.
"What do you mean Orochi?"
"Kimimaro had a rare disease, his clan had been betrayed and he's all that's left. He was prepared to die, he took an assassination mission to come to Oto and kill me." Orochimaru smiled as he looked at Kidomaru and Jirobo. "He ran into Naruto, and his disease kicked in hard, he coughed up a lot of blood and passed out."
Sarutobi listened as Orochimaru told him about the surgery and the removing of toxins from the man's body. How Naruto spent days with the recovering man, just talking with him.
When he'd healed, he'd come to Orochimaru to kill him. Naruto had been there.
"I won't say what happened between them, it was special, but from that day Kimimaro swore his life, his blood and his future clan to Naruto and Tsu-hime." Orochimaru looked over his teacup. "And let me just say, if your council tries anything, Kimimaro will lay waste to Konoha."
"Us too." Jirobo said from the door with his arms crossed.
Orochimaru smiled "Yes, all of Oto loves that boy." He looked at Sarutobi. "Konoha made their intentions clear all those years ago Sarutobi-sensei. He is our child, and to take him would be all out war. We have allies, some are yours, but push comes to shove…" Orochimaru gave a gaelic shrug.
(End Flashback)
Sarutobi looked at the monument. Minato, you may have saved this village, but we damned your child and it will come back and bite us on the ass, and this time, I don't think we deserve saving.
XX
Naruto was leaning against the tree while Kin was laying with her head in his lap. He was playing with her regular flute and she hummed along with him. "You really are talented Naruto-kun." Kin said as he paused.
"Thanks Kin-chan." He said. Both looked to see a figure approaching.
"Uchiha." Gaara said. He had his eyes closed and was using his sand to watch the other teams with his floating eyes.
"Oto-dobe." Sasuke said.
"So Kin, do you and Haku-chan think you can handle Anko?" Naruto asked ignoring the dark haired Konoha teen.
Kin's eyes widened as she looked up at Naruto who smirked at her then winked.
OOOOOOOOH! She thought as her heart sped up as he leaned down and gave her a peck on the forehead.
"DON'T IGNORE ME!" Sasuke yelled. He moved to attack, but a Chunin appeared. "Move along Uchiha, report to your gate, your team is waiting for you."
Sasuke seethed. "This isn't over."
"You say something duck ass?" Naruto said as he adjusted the flute and played a little ditty that seemed to match the stomps as Sasuke stormed away.
"Flirt later." Gaara said as he stood. He rolled up the map and stood. "Its nearly time."
Kin scowled as she sat up. Naruto stood with the ease of a cat. Or a really hot fox. Kin thought looking him over she jumped when he pulled her to her feet. "Day dream later Kin-chan. I'm sure I can fulfill whatever your dreaming of."
Gaara sighed as the girl was blown back with a fountain nosebleed.
"(sigh) You just had to push her buttons now."
Naruto shrugged. "What can I say. Ero-pop told me to have fun during the exam."
"You do know they are going to claim you one of these days. You can't keep the clueless façade up forever." Gaara said. "I've heard Temari plan to tie you down and in her words make a man out of you all night long."
Naruto paused from helping Kin and looked at his friend. "And your going to kill me?"
Gaara paused and looked at him. "No. I'd like you as a brother in-law."
Naruto watched his teammate gather the scroll up. He looked at Kin and wiped the blood from her upper lip and nose.
"Wake up Kin-chan." He said softly.
"No, I want to dream more of Naru-kun." The girl said taking his hand and clamping her hands around it and holding it against her chest.
Naruto swallowed several times and looked around, thanking Kami that Anko wasn't here, nor his mom.
Kami, they'd kill her and lecture me. He thought as he shook her again. "Come on Kin-chan, Anko will kill you otherwise."
The girl was on her feet looking about wildly. Naruto smiled and put her spare flute in her hands. "Come on, its time." He said.
She watched him walk away, her eyes going from the flute to the blond and then she recalled what he'd said and she made a "SQUEEEEEEEE!" sound just as the buzzer sounded and the second task of the Chunin Exam began with the teams leaping deep into the forest.
AN: And CUT! Next up the forest. Oto gets their chance. We see what Natas and his team in action, and Konoha finds out not all is as it seems around them. Also…well, I'll save that. But a kunoichi battle royal for Naruto was an idea.