Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or the related characters, I just am borrowing them for my own delusions.
Chapter 20
The month passed quickly. Konoha's council continued to try and force Oto to give them Naruto for their sacrifice of getting Sasuke back. Oto threatened war and the Third Hokage agreed with them.
Haku had been dragged away from Naruto upon their return by three very unhappy kunoichi.
After a lot of yelling, Naruto was left to train with Jiraiya and his mother while Anko split her time between torturing…TRAINING the others and visiting Kabuto who with his regeneration ability was getting better slowly due to the amount of damage.
Naruto when he wasn't being driven to train managed to take each of the girls out on a date, which ended with him getting a kiss and the girl being dragged off by the other three.
Gaara and Hinata spent time working together, they also had their first official date while the others watched on, Temari squeezing the life out of Naruto from a rooftop across the way as they watched a very nervous Gaara treat Hinata like princess.
Tsunade and Shizune had combed the village looking for anyone that was loyal, sadly the civilians were useless in their opinion and most of the ninja were set in their own ways.
They found Hana Inuzuka, Kurenai Yuhi and Iruka Umino to be the only ones that they could get to.
"Well Anbu are well secluded and loyal to the Hokage." Tsunade had said after they returned to their hotel room.
Shizune paused seeing Naruto unconscious at the table surrounded by scrolls.
"What happened to him?"
A snort from the side drew their attention where Jiraiya was sipping tea. "Brat burned through everything I had planned to show him." The Toad sage said proudly. "We raided the Konoha library and he's been copying everything he hasn't seen or the old man didn't give us when we first left."
Tsunade knelt next to the young man she considered her son and brushed his bangs aside, he was exhausted to the point where he didn't even twitch.
"Has Orochi been back yet?" the slug sannin asked.
"For a moment. The fools on the Konoha council are trying to push him. I think Sarutobi sensei is ready to katon them all if Orochi-teme doesn't." Jiraiya said as he watched his blond teammate fuss over the sleeping blond. "Hime, leave him alone, he's fine."
"I've barely seen him in a month." Tsunade said as she picked him up and carried him to his room. "He's put on some weight."
"Muscle mass." Jiraiya said. He looked at Shizune. "Any luck?"
"Three." The apprentice said softly.
"Three? Out of a village of nearly six hundred thousand?" Jiraiya sighed again. "Minato gave his life for them, and only three and the old man respect his wishes."
He pulled out a scroll and after scribbling on it he called out. "Sakon…Ukon."
The twins appeared, kneeling before the sannin.
"Take this to Orochimaru. Let none but him read it."
"As you…" Sukon began.
"Wish." Ukon finished and they shushined away.
"Where's Anko?" Shizune asked.
"She took the girls out for…training. Kabuto is in his room asleep thanks to the medications. Kimimaro is on the roof with Kidomaru. Gaara and Hinata went out for dinner, Jirobo is watching over them." He said before she could say anything about them being alone.
Jiraiya sipped his tea. "Natas has been quiet since his demand."
"He's letting Konoha do his work." The dark haired girl said. "Master Jiraiya, what are we going to do?"
"Naruto is going to compete, and should Natas and his…thugs try anything we'll handle it. I admit the first time we met, they caught us all off guard. We're prepared now that we know their out there."
Shizune remembered that time long ago. Orochimaru and Jiraiya had been caught easily, that had stung the both of them. Lady Tsunade and herself had acted rashly and moved without thinking.
Naruto and Anko had managed to delay Natas and his followers long enough that the Sannin had recovered and Natas had fled after some strange words between him and Naruto.
"Get some sleep Shizune. The finals are tomorrow and we'll all need to be well rested." Jiraiya said. "I'll wait for word from Orochi and then head to bed myself."
Shizune nodded and as she passed Naruto's room she paused seeing Tsunade sitting on the edge of the bed watching the blond sleep.
XX
Naruto woke with the sun hitting him in the face and he groaned as he rolled over. It was then that his eyes snapped open as he didn't remember going to bed last night.
Sitting up in a rush he paused seeing his mom curled up at the end of his bed in a position he knew wouldn't be good for the spine. He studied her face. In sleep she was carefree, nothing concerning her. Reaching out he mirrored her moves from the previous night as he brushed her bangs out of her face.
"Kaa-san." He said softly. Her eyes blinked open and she yawned stretching like a cat.
"Morning Naru-kun." She said and pulled him into a hug down next to her like a teddy bear.
"Did you sleep well?" she asked.
"Yeah. Did you?"
"I slept. Are you ready for what happens today?"
"No, but I will be." He said as she let him go. He looked around and noticed that Gaara was gone already.
"He slept in Jiraiya's room." She said.
Naruto nodded and gathered his belongings for the day as he went to shower. Tsunade waited till he was gone.
"This better work." She said. "Or I will castrate me a pervert and get some snakeskin boots."
XX
Naruto found out the others had gone ahead to the arena while he was getting ready leaving him with Kimimaro and Jiraiya.
"Nervous kid?" the toad sannin asked.
"A bit. Its not about the exam, but Natas and his freaks." Naruto admitted as they walked the nearly deserted streets as all of Konoha was turning out to see the finals.
"You worry about the exam Naruto-sama." Kimimaro said, he had a pair of bone swords strapped to his back. "The Five will make sure nothing happens to you."
"And my family." The blond said.
"Nor your family."
Naruto was quiet for a bit. "You know, you and the others are considered part of the family, Kimimaro."
The leader of the Sound Five paused and looked at him. "We are tools. You and your family…"
"You are part of the family. You and the others have become family over the years, don't say otherwise."
Jiraiya smirked. "Give up on that Kimimaro. Naruto's made his decision a long time ago."
"I…" the bone user bowed. "Thank you Naruto-sama." He said.
"You think Konoha will try something during the exam?" Naruto asked his adoptive father figure.
"They do and the Sandaime will have heads." The Toad sannin said. "And if he doesn't, your mother will."
Naruto laughed at that. "Kaa-san does have a temper." He agreed.
They stopped finding their way blocked by several men wearing tan and black armor.
"Oh look Ero-pop, pretenders." Naruto said.
"They think that by wearing the Suna headband we'll believe that they are from Suna." The sannin said.
"Allow me milords." Kimimaro said and he was in motion before the fake Suna nin could state their business.
Several spurts of blood and six bodies hit the ground dead before they fell, bone spikes in their throats.
"Impressive Kimimaro." Jiraiya said. "You no longer need hand signs for those."
The white haired ninja bowed. "It is thanks to Naruto-sama. With him and Lady Tsunade removing the disease from me, they freed my bloodline and thus I can create weapons upon will alone."
Naruto pulled the mask down on one of the dead nin. "I recognize this one. He's one of Konoha's."
Jiraiya sighed and pulled out a scroll. He sealed the bodies and pulled out a watch. "We need to go. The finals are about to start."
Naruto yelped and started to run. Jiraiya looked at Kimimaro. "Go, I'll catch up in a bit."
Once the leader of the Oto five was gone Jiraiya sighed and looked to the shadows. "Well Natas, you have something to say?"
The skull mask wearing Natas stepped from the shadows. "Yes, I think we need to have some words Sannin."
XX
Naruto skidded into the arena after vaulting over the Chunin that were guarding the entrance that tried to stop him. He smirked as he gave them each the finger as he didn't slow his pace and he stopped as the proctor gave the last of his speech.
"You were nearly late Uzumaki."
"Sorry, the guys at the door tried to deny me entrance."
In the Kage's box, Sarutobi scowled as he looked at where the council was sitting, none of them would meet his eyes.
Next to him Orochimaru sighed. Kimimaro appeared at his side. "Was it true?"
"Yes milord. Naruto didn't hurt them, but gave them an indication what he thought of them."
Orochimaru smirked at this. He could see Tsunade with the other Genin of Oto and she was speaking to them each. Haku was hidden amidst the crowd, along with the members of the Sound Five, each of them dressed as a civilian of Konoha or a merchant.
"Where's Jiraiya?" he asked softly.
"Dealing with some clean up." Kimimaro said. He leaned in further. "Natas was hanging around in the shadows after I dealt with six Konoha nin that tried to bar our path."
Orochimaru sighed. I want to get out of here. Konoha stinks of deceit and corruption on so many levels.
He looked over and saw the Kazekage taking his seat. "Hello old friend." Sarutobi said to the fourth Kazekage of Suna.
"Sasuke, Orochimaru." The man said. "How is…Gaara doing in Oto?" he asked, his veil covered face turning momentarily towards the Oto contingent.
"He's flourishing in Oto my friend. He's got friends and he's got a betrothal to Lady Hyuga."
The Kazekage's head snapped around to face Orochimaru. "WHAT?"
"Well I needed an alliance with Hiashi, and Gaara volunteered." Orochimaru said and smirked as he watched Gaara talking with Naruto.
"Your nephew has worked wonders. Perhaps I was wrong in letting Gaara go." The man said.
"You were, but I'm not eager to return one of my best Genin now, and he wouldn't leave his friends."
Sarutobi spoke up. "I am sorry about the loss of your oldest boy, Kankuro…"
"Another failure. Well, perhaps my new bride can give me a strong heir where my first wife failed with her three brats." The Kazekage said.
"Looks like we're starting." Orochimaru said as the proctor called out the names.
AN: Sorry about the long delay. Was in the hospital and they had to do surgery, and it took me time to recover. Here is the chapter, next time we actually begin the vaunted third round and Natas and Jiraiya have words.