Chapter 03: The Village of Sound
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Disclaimer: We of British Outback Inc. do not own Naruto, which is the property of Kishimoto. Any songs that we use will be declared at the end of the chapter.
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"Misane! Take this to table three!" the chef yelled from the kitchen as a tray of tea and dango appeared on the counter. Sighing, the waitress picked it up and walked nervously towards the three men at table three. It was easy to tell that they were ninja from Konoha, from their armor and scars as well as the headbands marked with the leaf insignia. Carefully setting down the tray on the edge of the table, she quietly passed out the orders.
"Thank you miss," This surprised Misane as the large man smiled, "My name is Choza Akimichi, and these two are my teammates, Shikaku Nara and Inoichi Yamanaka."
She was even more surprised at the good natured waves the two gave, and began doubting them.
"Are you really Konoha shinobi? You don't act like it and I don't see the kanji for ROOT anywhere on you," she said as her eyes narrowed. The one called Shikaku chuckled at this. Turning her glare towards him he muttered under his breath.
"Troublesome kid."
"WHAT WAS THAT!" she screeched. Before she could bash him in the head with her tray the chef called out, "Misane! Are you harassing the customers again?"
"No Uncle!" she turned back to the group, "If you guys are spying on Konoha, you're doing a poor job."
Before Shikaku could mutter another word, Inoichi spoke up.
"It's not as it seems child. You see there are three factions within Konoha. The first faction is ROOT, the shinobi you seem to have the most interaction with. These shinobi are completely loyal to Lord Hokage to the point of fanaticism, and have no emotions. The second group is a couple clans and stronger shinobi such as the Inuzuka and Aburame clans that are loyal to the Village itself and despise the Hokage for his policies and warlike ways." Inoichi then gestured to his companions and himself, "Our clans, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka are more of the neutral group that tries to keep the peace along with several of the civilian guilds. We just try to keep the village going day to day and try to stave off civil war."
Misane looked down, red in the face she had assumed that they were spies and got gently told off for it. Realizing that they had been walking away from Konoha when they had come into the shop, she asked where they were heading.
"To Otogakure no Sato, the Village Hidden in the Sound."
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The three friends walked down the road at a leisurely pace after finishing their meal. While Choza patted his stomach contently, he wondered aloud, "Do either of you know why we were chosen for this mission?"
Inoichi shrugged as he turned to Shikaku, who in turn sighed, "I believe we were chosen because we are dealing with a village created by Orochimaru. Even though Danzo and Orochimaru are known enemies, Danzo can't risk sending someone loyal to him here and have them say the wrong thing, not when Oto is backed by Kumo and also have tentative agreements with Taki and Kusa."
"Then why not send Kakashi or Guy?" Inoichi asked, "They are not loyal to the Hokage, but to the village after all."
"Because that would be even worse. Remember the mission to Iwa to resign the Ceasefire Armistice that Lord Hokage had me and Kakashi accompany him on?" Choza and Inoichi nodded, "Well that's the reason Kakashi isn't sent on sensitive missions like this, and Guy believes it's a contest between the two of them."
"But I thought that the culprit wasn't caught and no one could be blamed," Choza said as he pulled a bag of chips out. Shikaku didn't reply as he though back to the disastrous day.
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Flashback, Border Town between the lands of Earth and Fire.
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"Lord Hokage, Oonoki-sama sent me to retrieve you for the signing." An Iwa jounin said. Danzo looked up from the desk in his hotel room to the open door. Nodding, he signaled Shikaku and Kakashi to follow. Before shutting the door, Kakashi made a shadow clone.
"Just in case someone tries to break in. There are important documents in here after all." Danzo shook his head, but allowed the paranoid jounin to leave the clone. As they left Kakashi turned to the clone, "You know what to do."
The clone sat down on the couch and flipped open a little orange book, "Of course."
The Iwa jounin lead them down the street, where the three Konoha nationals were openly stared at, as this to was considered Iwa territory. Several chuunin and jounin Iwa nin were milling around waiting for their teams to either finish a mission or stock up on supplies to start a longer mission. Several of the older ones openly glared at Kakashi and Danzo for the roles in the Third Shinobi War, but more glared at Kakashi for being the Fourth Hokage's student.
The group finally made it to the town hall and entered. There were several Iwa nin inside flanking the old Tsuchikage, but they were mere Chuunin. The negotiations were for once going rather well for both sides as they hashed out a new agreement for the armistice when screams of anger and outrage began to filter in to the room from outside. As everyone in the room tensed up ready for a fight, the roof exploded in a shower of splinters as a blond man wearing a white cloak landed on the table in the center of the room, a blue orb of chakra fading out of site from his hand. It was the Yellow Flash of Konoha.
The reaction to this was almost instantaneous, as the Tsuchikage face went from disbelief to anger before he attacked.
"NAMIKAZE!" he roared as a three dimensional cube of chakra was shot forward from his hands atomizing the table, the armistice, and a good portion of the floor as the Fourth leapt to avoid the attack. Danzo was furious. "Shikaku! Capture the imposter!"
"Hai, Hai," stretching his shadow as fast as he could, but the man jumped through the window, with the Tsuchikage giving chase. Soon it came down to every Iwa nin in the town throwing around highly catastrophic and damaging jutsu as the civilians fled to the edge of town. When the Fourth was finally cornered by several jounin and the Tsuchikage in an alley, he only chuckled.
"And what is so funny Namikaze?" Oonoki asked preparing for a counter attack.
"You've been chasing me all afternoon right?" Oonoki slowly nodded. Suddenly the blond bastard smirked at him and dispersed in a cloud of smoke!
"A shadow clone. Kakashi, you wouldn't happen to know anything about this would you?" Danzo asked as he looked back at the Copy-nin. Kakashi looked up from his book, "I'm sorry, Lord Hokage, did you say something?"
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Flashback end
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"The reason that Danzo suspected Kakashi is because Kakashi had left a shadow clone at the inn, but the clone was there when we returned. That entire event set back negotiations for weeks and left everyone frustrated," Shikaku sighed. Looking at the sun's position in the sky he did a quick calculation, "Come on, if we continue at this pace we should reach Oto's South Gate in an hour."
The three made decent time to the village talking about their children and other missions they have done recently, glad to work as a team once more. On the horizon loomed a solitary mountain that housed Oto, faint music drifting over the plains of the country. It was a natural sound, the sounds of water running, the wind blowing through the mountain's nooks and crags, Insects humming, animals calling out. The sounds of nature intermingled with those of man as well. A farmer rhythmically chopping wood, children helping their parents in the garden, and then those who practiced instruments, it didn't matter if they ninja or civilian. The overall effect was a natural smooth tone that left an easy feeling inside each of them.
"I see you have discovered the reason our village was named so." a large man with a Mohawk said as they passed, causing them to stop and look at him, "My Name is Jirobo, Jounin of Oto and one of the personal bodyguards of Lord Orochimaru. If I may, are you the contingent from Konoha to interview our Chuunin hopefuls?"
"Yes, Jirobo-san. I am Shikaku Nara, and my companions are Inoichi Yamanaka and Choose Akimichi, each of use Jounin of Konoha. Are you our escort for our stay?"
The large man stood up and motioned them to follow. Leading them through the gates, they immediately noticed that the village design was similar to Konoha, but the architecture was closer to Kusa and Kumo. The atmosphere that they had felt outside the village had changed almost to a festive beat, as though the village was in constant celebration. Choza smiled as he watch several Genin playing with children teaching them the basics of stealth with the well-known game of ninja. Two of the Genin had gotten into a mock Taijutsu fight acting as jounin squad leaders when one held out an arm and sent the other one flying with a low level Fuuton jutsu. The other boy crashed into Jirobo, but the large man barely felt a thing.
"Sorry about that Jirobo-san," the first boy said, running his hand through his spiky black hair, "You alright Sai?"
The second boy, Sai, put on a creepy fake smile, "Of course Zaku, after all, my team won."
Zaku quickly turned around to see the academy students that were on his team hogtied on the ground as the three Sai lead where letting out shouts of victory when several water balloons exploded around them as a third team stood on the roof behind them being led by a white haired boy.
"Give it up you two! I'm the top dog here!"
"So you do hump dogs, interesting." Everyone turned to stare at Sai, who asked "Did I say something wrong?"
"Sai, Zaku, Suigetsu. Find your teams and report to the Otokage chambers. These three men are conducting the evaluation for those who wish to enter the Chuunin Exams in Konoha."
The three Genin looked at the Konoha symbol on Inoichi's headband, before Zaku asked, "What about…."
"Nanashi, Ami, and Tobio know better than to let their feelings about Konoha get the better of them. Now hurry. Nanashi and his team are already waiting with Lord Orochimaru."
As the three ran off to find their teams, Jirobo shooed the children off towards the park. Continuing to their destination, Shikaku voice a couple of questions, "Who were those children you mentioned? And where are your shinobi geared shops and buildings, all I see are civilian stores."
"The answer for your second question is simple. The shinobi area is in the inner circle of the village at the base of the mountain where most civilians aren't allowed, while our more vital parts such as the Otokage Chambers and Academy are either a part of or built into the mountain itself. And for your first question, well…" the large man shifted uncomfortably, "They are children of Lord Orochimaru's former scientists from Konoha. Their parents were killed for assisting Lord Orochimaru, leaving them orphaned at a young age."
Choza bowed his head, tears coming to his eyes. Some of the children had escaped after all. Shikaku patted his friend on the shoulder as Inoichi explained, "Choza had witnessed some of the more enraged citizens kill one of those families, the children were not spared. I think that's the only time he's ever lost control like he did. Children are sacred to our clans as our numbers have never reached high enough for us to be considered major clans like the Hyuuga, Uchiha, or Aburame."
Jirobo smiled at this, knowing that the bastard Danzo had made sure to choose wisely enough to make sure that he did not force a conflict. He motioned them once more to follow as they entered through a second gate manned by a pair of grey haired twins.
"Sakon, Ukon. Lord Orochimaru wishes to speak with you after you get off of duty." Sakon, the one wearing the prayer beads nodded while his brother Ukon moved to open the gate. The trio looked around and saw the militaristic side of Oto, and once again, the music in the air seemed to have changed again to match the surroundings. It was still calming, but it also put them in alert like they would receive orders at any time. Chuckling at the subtle shift in his charge's attitudes, Jirobo motioned towards a large man-made cavern entrance.
"Enter through here and continue straight down the hall to the Otokage Chambers. Lord Orochimaru wishes to speak to you before the interviews are to begin." Shikaku nodded as he took the lead heading down the tunnel. The trio soon came upon a large ornate door with two paths branching out to either side. Knocking twice, Shikaku let himself and his team in when the familiar voice of the Snake Sannin asked them to enter.
Looking up from his desk, Orochimaru smiled at the three familiar faces that entered, "Well it seems that Danzo isn't as foolish as I though. If he had sent his ROOT shinobi, I would have refused to enter our genin into this exam."
"He said he wanted the best of all the countries to enter as the clan heirs have all been entered by their sensei's this year. He wishes for a true show of strength in the finals to impress everyone."
Orochimaru nodded before slipping into his role as the leader of Otogakure, "When you interview my genin, you will not ask them about village secrets or clan secrets. Sooner or later most of these children will be building up their sparse clans and I do not want their secrets to be laid bare beforehand. There are three rooms we will use to conduct the interviews. We will bring in one team and you will each take one team member and talk with them, rotating through them until you have seen each of them. My three best jounin will be sitting in with you, they as well as I have Genin teams that will be interviewed before this is over. There are ten teams that have been assembled, and waiting for you to start. Are we clear on the specifications?"
Shikaku mulled over the conditions of the interviews, and Danzo's orders. They were ordered to bring at least two Oto teams into the exams, by anyway possible. The terms that were laid out before them weren't as bad as he thought they would be, so he stood up and agreed, "Of course Otokage-sama."
Orochimaru shook his head as he said, "Don't call me that, I'm not an official Kage no matter what my shinobi wish for."
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Choza, Inoichi, And Shikaku sat at the large table in the quarters provide by their host, the so-called Traitor Sannin. After many long hours of intensive questioning and cross referencing the Genin of Oto, The three where comparing notes and results based on each of their thoughts for the Genin.
"So are there any of these Genin that stood out to you guys?" Inoichi asked, flipping through his notepad, "Our guide, Jirobo, his team seemed almost normal compared to the others. Other than that Kidomaru kid having three sets of arms at least."
"The team leader, Ami, was open about her past in Konoha. Also open about her hatred of the civilians." Shikaku sighed, looking over Choza's notes about the team.
"They're good enough to get in. Now Orochimaru's pet project, what about them?"
"Just because they're the village leader's personal students doesn't mean that they have the strength that's required to give Hokage-sama the competition that he wants to showcase for the clientele."
Choza picked something out from between his teeth with the bone he just finished with, "That Juugo kid, his reserves where massive, though his chakra seemed twisted and tainted…"
All three shivered at the memory. The tall boy had walked into the room and began mumbling to himself before the kid with the hooded mask laid his hand on his shoulder, causing Juugo to straighten up.
"The masked kid, Nanashi. The name sounds more like a title that was given to him." Inoichi sighed, flipping to the boy's page, "Both he and his teammate, Tayuya, had those instruments."
"They have to be more than just simple instruments. The two of them where too possessive of them. Perhaps they have techniques that require them?" Choza wondered, reaching for Shikaku's untouched food, only for his hand withdraw as Shikaku lazily stabbed at it.
"Seems to be the logical conclusion. They're in. How about the Kaguya's team, the one with the seven swordsman wannabe? Suigetsu and Sai, the two playing with the academy students, seem to be polar opposites."
"I noticed that, but the girl, Isaribi, balanced the two of them out. They seemed to have a tighter knit team than most of the others."
"She does seem as if she is the binding element for the team. We really didn't get much on their fighting styles other than the boys had swords."
Shikaku mumbled something about swordsman wannabes, "What do you guys say, pass or accept?"
"Let's let them in, at least the two boys should provide some entertainment."Choza said, once again reaching for Shikaku's plate. It continued this way, accepting two more of the evaluated teams while passing over several others. Finally reaching the last team, Inoichi shuddered.
"It's Orochimaru's right hand, Kabuto Yakushi. These kids have bounties like some of the others do, but for being high C-ranks, the bounties are highly disproportional."
"It's the Tobio kid, right? He and the girl make up the tag team medical assassins."
"Name: Tobio, AKA: The Doctor. Rank: High C. Posted Bounty: 6,900 Ryo. Name: Kin Tsuchi, AKA: The Nurse. Rank: Mid to High C. Posted Bounty: 6,100 Ryo. Notice: these two have completed many assassinations posing as medical personnel to take down their targets. Both are known to be very proficient with poisons." Shikaku read from the Bingo Book that the Hokage had issued to each shinobi chuunin and up, "Like the others, their first bounties where because of who their sensei is, but they built on it themselves. It also seems as if that Zaku kid from earlier was almost place on the team as a spot filler."
"Based on reputation alone this team is ready for the exams. I vote for their entry."Choza said.
"But our children and our friend's children are or may be participating. Do you want them to die?" Inoichi argued, knowing for a fact that his daughter's captain was recommending all three of their kids for the exams.
"It would be no different than when we took the exams ourselves. There are rules and proctors to keep things from getting to out of hand. Two to one, Inoichi, the team is in." Shikaku said as he separated the six accepted teams from the others, "Now let's get some rest and turn these over to Orochimaru in the morning. Lord Danzo would like to know the number of teams the day after tomorrow, and we have a long way to go."
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"Choza Akimichi, Shikaku Nara, and Inoichi Yamanaka, reporting in from The Chuunin Exam Oto applicant interviews."Choza announced to the two guards standing at either side of the Hokage's office. Both ROOT operatives flew through several hand signs before releasing a strong pulse of chakra. This was Danzo's paranoid attempt to keep attackers from sneaking into his office under Genjutsu or henge, but the trio suffered through it to hand in their report.
"Clear, you may proceed." One of the ROOT said, pushing open the door.
"Ah, here you are, on time and prompt." Danzo said, looking up from his paperwork, "Report."
Shikaku stepped forward, handing the aged Hokage the summary report of the teams.
"Lord Fifth, we have selected six of the teams presented to us by the leader of the village, Orochimaru. The teams are listed within the report."
"Please give me a brief overview of the teams, who their jounin captains are, and their perceived roles as a team."
Shikaku sighed, not liking the fact that he was being interrogated for information on Orochimaru's shinobi.
"The first team is led by Orochimaru himself, and the Genin members are Nanashi, Tayuya of the North Gate, and Juugo of the Forsaken. Primary Role: Demolition team. The second team is led by Orochimaru's right hand, Kabuto. The Genin members are Tobio 'The Doctor', Kin Tsuchi 'The Nurse', and Zaku Abumi. Primary Role: Medical Team. The third teams, under Jirobo of the South Gate, are the Genin Kidomaru of the East Gate, Ami, and Dosu Kinuta. Primary Role: Tracker Team."
Inoichi took over, "The next team is led by Kimimaro Kaguya. The Genin are Suigetsu Hozuki, Isaribi, and Sai. Primary Role: Support Team. The fifth team is led by Ryuku 'The Shinigami'. Genin members are Raito Yagami, Misa Amane, and Teru Mikami. Primary Role: Intelligence Team. The final team is led by Fausuto Hassei 'Faust VIII'. Genin members are Horokeu Usui 'Horohoro', Yoh Asakura, and Ryunosuke Uremia 'Wooden Sword Ryu'. Primary Role: Combat Team."
Danzo mentally reviewed the teams in his head as well as the intelligence that had been gathered on the village beforehand. The fact that Orochimaru and so many of his high leveled jounin took teams was no surprise, as the village was still had a smaller shinobi force, despite the number of civilians estimated within the walls.
"Very well, you may go. Your next assignments will be waiting for you tomorrow at the mission's desk."
The three men offered curt bows to their leader before heading home.
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"Dad! Your back!" A roundish boy shouted out from the training fields beside Choza's home.
"Hey, Choji." Choza patted his son on the back, "hey, you want to help me grill up a few ribs?"
Choji nodded, the time he and his dad spent barbequing food was often informative and how he had learned the theory behind his clan techniques, or listened to tales about missions that his dad had been on. As he went to retrieve two racks of ribs for their afternoon energy boost, Choza fired up the barbeque and laid out the required utensils on the table nearby. As Choji came back with the meat, he picked out the special barbeque sauce that he and Choji had created together when the boy was still a small child.
As Choji fiddled with the ribs, getting them into the perfect position, Choza started the conversation.
"Has Asuma nominated your team for the exams?"
"Yes Dad, he said we are more than ready for them."
"How do you feel about that assessment? Do you feel ready for the exams?"
Choji thought over the question for a moment, "Shikamaru is, and I believe I am, but Ino hasn't improved as much as the two of us have, I'm worried that she'll be hurt because of that."
"And it's right for you to worry about your teammates. It shows that you truly care about them, almost like one of the Oto teams we interviewed on my last mission."
Choza chuckled as Choji perked up at this, "Really? What's that team like?"
"The two boys where complete opposites, one of them was brash, loud and boisterous, while the other one has a limited understanding of common sayings and phrases, often putting them at odds, and the girl was so soft spoken that she seemed to fade into the background. But even with all that going on, I could see the camaraderie that they shared, willing to lay down their lives to allow the others to escape, but also to not leave anyone behind."
"Like you and your friends, right Dad?"
"Yes Choji, exactly like that. Now, how's that technique I showed you coming along?"
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Shikaku sat on the floor of his living room across from his son, a shogi board in between them. Neither said much, and with his wife out, Shikaku took the opportunity to test his son in the realms of strategy. The boy had improved since the last time they had sat down for a match, but he still had room for improvement.
"Be careful in the exams boy."
Clack.
"The teams you interviewed that strong?"
Clack.
Shikaku grunted as he bypassed his son's defense, putting his son's king in jeopardy.
"Tch. What a drag."
Clack.
Shikaku surveyed the board before moving his piece, "Shikamaru, promise me, if you or your team are in danger, use that technique to escape and quit the exams. There is always next time."
"I wouldn't have even of agreed if there wasn't a chance for him to… show up."
Shikaku watched his son's face. One of Shikamaru's friends had disappeared in the Summons's Raid all those years ago, and it drove him to improve, his goal to find the boy.
Smiling, Shikaku replied, "I know, otherwise you would deem it a waste of time that could be use slacking, right?"
With a grand gesture, Shikaku moved one final piece, "Checkmate."
"Tch, troublesome old man."
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Inoichi stood at the kitchen counter, dicing vegetables for his wife to use in stir-fry. His wife seemed concerned about the mood he had come home in, almost as if he was worried about something big.
"Inoichi dear, what's wrong? You haven't been in a good mood since you came home."
Inoichi sighed, setting the knife down. Turning to his wife he gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"The Oto Genin we interviewed, most of them are in the Bingo Book. Two of them are… extremely deadly."
"What do you mean, aren't all shinobi like that?"
"No honey. These two are different. They're the same age as our daughter, but the two of them have a known kill tally of hundreds. Most of them influential politicians and shinobi from nearby settlements and villages."
They both jumped as a new voice entered the conversation, "Are there really people like that entering the exams?"
'Shit, I shouldn't have said anything,' Inoichi thought before turning to his daughter, "I'm sorry to say so but yes Ino, there are people like that in the exams."
"Who are they?"
"I can't tell you that. Now get washed up for dinner, I want to show you a new jutsu after dinner."
Ino huffed, but did as she was told. She would find out one way or another, or she wasn't a Yamanaka.
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Author's Note: the first half of the old second chapter turned into the new third chapter! And cyber cookies to those who recognized the last two teams! Chapter four to be posted soon.