Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the related characters, I just am borrowing them for my own delusions.
Chapter 16
"Pardon the intrusion Lord Orochimaru. The Hokage requests your presence." A chunin said after opening the door.
"Tell the Sandaime I will be there shortly." Orochimaru said.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Naruto muttered.
"Stow it gaki." Jiraiya said. "Everything is fine."
"No its not Ero-pop. Kabuto and the others should have made it back by now." Naruto said.
"Anko, stay with your brother and the others. Dobe, come with me." Orochimaru said.
"What about me?" Tsunade asked.
"Protect them hime." Orochimaru whispered to her. "Naruto's right, something feels off."
She nodded as she pulled out a deck of cards. "Anyone for poker?"
XX
Orochimaru lookeid at the escort he and Jiraiya picked up. His personal guard, along with nearly twenty ANBU.
"Something is wrong here." He hissed.
Jiraiya said nothing, but Orochimaru noted the serious look in his friends eyes. "Trap?" the Toad sage asked.
"Not from Sarutobi-sensei." Orochimaru said.
"Danzo?"
The Otokage snorted. "That old warhorse is on the run. I doubt he'd mess with us now."
"The council then?" Jiraiya suggested.
"And start a war?"
Orochimaru signaled Jirobo. "Make sure Kimimaro stays close to Naruto." He hissed.
"Already done milord. Sakon and Ukon want to know if we should kill any of the ANBU?"
Orochimaru shook his head. "Not right now. Their just watching. I'm sure the Hokage has an explanation for this."
The powerhouse of the Sound Four fell back. They reached the tower and entered, ignoring the secretary they entered the Hokage's office.
"Orochi, Jiraiya, come in, come in."
Once they were and seated the Third sighed as he took his own seat. "I have some disturbing news. Several Genin teams were killed in the Forest by an outside force."
"We were made aware of them by our Genin teams who managed to avoid them." Orochimaru said.
"Not all of them I'm afraid."
"What? What do you…" Jiraiya paused. "Kankuro? Kabuto? Dosu?"
"I'm afraid two of them are dead and third is in critical condition. The man who did this called himself Natas…"
Orochimaru closed his eyes. "Which one survived?"
"Kabuto Yakushi, and that's due to a bloodline he's got for rapid healing." The Third said. "Natas and his team arrived in the tower, but there were other witnesses. A Genin team saw what happened. They witnessed the death of two Konoha genin and a kidnapping of a third."
"We're sorry to hear this, but what does this have to do with us Sarutobi. We need to check on our Genin…"
"A scroll was left with the survivor." The Hokage said holding up a bloodstained scroll.
"It was addressed to Naruto Uzumaki, but the Genin that found them opened it. He believes that Naruto is responsible for what happened."
"Figures, the gaki's not even there and Konoha blames him."
"Natas left a message. He wants Naruto to participate in the Chunin exams, no pulling him out. He wants to see how strong he is, and if Naruto can win, he will return our stolen Genin to us unharmed."
"He lies." Orochimaru said.
"We have no choice but to believe him. You must keep Naruto in the tournament and not pull your Genin out."
"Unacceptable. I am not risking my son, for a Genin of Konoha because some psychopath wants to play games."
"The genin in question is Sasuke Uchiha. If you don't aid us, the Council will see this as collaboration…"
"We have no treaty with Konoha, so why should we care what those bastards who if I remember correctly ordered assassination missions on our son." Orochimaru said cutting him off.
"Really sensei, you think we don't know what's going on around here? The under the table missions by the council, the back room dealings for kidnappings." Jiraiya said.
"Your former teammates are still in contact with Danzo and they influence the civilian council, even though they were stripped of their titles the last time we were here." Orochimaru continued.
"We will mention this to Naruto and allow him to make an informed decision." Orochimaru said.
Jiraiya stood. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a genin to check on. I'll let Tsunade and the others know." Jiraiya stood and left.
The two kage's looked across the desk at one another. "Orochi…"
"Save it Sarutobi-sensei. I will not endanger my people, not for Konoha. The Uchiha is your problem."
He stood. "Be careful of Natas and his freaks. They are as strong as any of the Sannin."
Sarutobi paled. "All of them?"
"In their own ways. Each of them has powers that put the kekkei genkai of Konoha to shame."
"Explain…please."
"One of his lieutenants is called Sub-Zero. The most we've been able to gather on him is he's a cryomancer. He controls ice like none before. His co-lieutenant is called Scorpion. He's got some sort of symbiotic spear, he also seems to manipulate fire and can't be killed."
"What?"
"I saw members of the Akatsuki attack him. The first to die were the immortals Hidan and Zetsu. They fell to one man, if that's what we can call him. Naruto at the start of the exams sent word back that they were de-aged."
"I'm getting too old for this shit." Sarutobi muttered.
XX
The Oto nin filled the hospital after Jiraiya told them of the death of Kankuro and Dosu and the critical condition of Kabuto.
Gaara's sand swirled around him angrily. "They will pay." He kept repeating.
Temari was holding onto Naruto sobbing at the loss of her sibling.
Kin and Haku were with Anko, trying to keep her from going out alone and hunting.
Tsunade and Shizune were in the room with Kabuto now while Jiraiya had left after seeing his student. The look on his face was rage.
Kimimaro stood near Naruto, his eyes in motion as he looked for a threat.
"We should never have let them go alone." Naruto said as Temari's sobs lessened. "Its my fault."
"No." Temari said looking up at him.
"Temari, I was in overall field command." Naruto said. He looked at the others. "We're going to do this. But we'll do this smart." He said.
"I don't think this is a good idea." Ryu said.
"Noted. Kaa-san said there is a preliminary before the third round. If you feel you can't do this, withdraw now. There will be nothing said."
"What are you going to do?" Haku asked from next to Anko.
"I will continue on. I need to see what Natas has planed." Naruto informed them.
The others wasted no time in stating their intentions to continue on as well.
"Bro?" Anko said, her voice cold, nearly emotionless now.
"What?"
"If you meet up with any of his freaks…kill them…kill them all."
XX
The last day came and went and the last teams entered the tower. Hayate gave the speech, and two of the Konoha Genin teams gave up, they saw what happened in the forest, and with Sub-Zero and Scorpion standing there, they didn't think they could pass.
Neji Hyuga, TenTen and Rock Lee stayed in it for Konoha. For Oto, Naruto, Temari, Gaara, and Ryu stayed in. Kin and Haku pulled out after a look from Tsunade.
Natas pulled out as well surprising everyone. Scorpion and Sub-Zero remained.
"Well since we are down to nine, we shall then move on to the final round without the need of preliminary round." Hayate said seeing what was left.
"You will have one month to prepare. In times past this used to be a one on one tournament, but this year we are going to do something different." Hayate coughed several times before speaking again.
"In one months time we shall have a come as you are battle royal until the last two remain where they will battle to declare the winner."
"So will there only be one Chunin?" one of the Konoha Genin asked from the back.
"No. this is an evaluation of abilities and skills." Hayate said.
"I wish you all well, and we shall reconvene in one month's time."
As they were leaving, many of the Konoha Genin were giving those that had remained in a wide berth.
Naruto smirked as he passed the Hyuga girl and gave her a wink, which caused her to gasp and turn red.
"Hinata? What's wrong?" her teammate with the dog asked.
Naruto chuckled and kept walking. Kin, Haku and Temari all glared at the girl as they passed her by.
The message to her was clear.
Stay away from my/our Naruto-kun bitch!
Natas watched with a smirk. Good. Good. Soon you shall come to me Naruto. Konoha will sacrifice you to me to get their Uchiha back. I am quite afraid that he won't survive however.
He laughed as he faded into the shadows, his laugh echoing off the arena's walls.
AN: Next time we do some training, and Naruto gets a date. Next time on Little Sannin.