Thanks San Child of The Wolves for editing this as well! You rock! Seriously!


Naruto's Next Generation

Chapter 4
Hopes

(Marrow POV)

Pitiful. Just Pitiful. I can't feel any of the bones in my body. Actually, I don't know why I'm not dead yet. This kid...he was something special. After taking that pill he destroyed me. Broke my defenses and he broke my ribs. Was this how it was supposed to be? Me sprawled out on the forest floors of enemy territory. It was supposed to be a simple abduction mission but somehow we got spotted. By a bunch of kids, no less. They put up a fight better than those chunnin proctors.

The kid muttered something as he took his final punch, smashing me into the ground in the process. He collapsed right next to me. I turned my head over to face him, the only thing I could do at the time. He looked at me with his green eyes. They were full of something I couldn't place my finger on, something my eyes lacked. He was saying something but I was too dazed to hear. I read his lips.

"Hey...hey you..."

What is with this kid?

"I-I almost lost to you...but you helped me win..."

Did he just say what I thought he just said that I helped him win? No way.

"You pushed me to my limit... so that I had to use my trump card..."

That blue pill I'm guessing.

"I just would like to say... thanks...for this battle and experience..."

The kid's eyelids closed and the sound of three ninja's voices filled my ears.

"Ryou! Are you okay?"

"Dude, look at you. You're crazy!"

"I'll get the enemy." one of them said. A snake appeared and wrapped around my lifeless body.

I suddenly knew what was in that kid's eyes. All that kid's friends and family, all his previous battles, all his past experiences, everyone's wishes, hopes and promises.

(End Pov)


"Ryou! Hurry up or you'll be late for orientation!" a woman called. Ryou looked in the mirror, smiling. He wore a red t-Shirt, black pants, blue sandals, brown leather gloves, and his headband that covered his forehead. His small pink bangs hung loose as he ran his fingers through them. "Today's the day." he said to himself.

"Ryou!"

"I'm coming mom! Gosh...still treating me like a little kid…"

XMX

Ryou walked down the street of Konoha. It seemed to be a bright day. The kids were playing hide-and-seek, the cats were running around, the workers were happily doing their job, and nothing seemed wrong.

Inoyu was making out with a girl, their bodies pressed up against each other. Ryou raised an eyebrow. "PDA!" he yelled. Inoyu and the girl broke the kiss. The girl whispered something to Inoyu before leaving. Inoyu turned to greet the pink haired boy.

"Hey Ryou." the blonde said walking side by side with the Haruno. He wore a light blue shirt, dark blue jeans, and black sandals. He had a dark yellow bang covering his right side of his blue eyes while the rest of his hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail.

"Hey, who was that?" Ryou asked looking at the girl as she walked away.

"Oh umm I think it was...Kimiko." Inoyu said casually looking up at the sky.

"You think?" Ryou asked. He shook his head, laughing to himself. Inoyu looked back at Ryou amused.

"What? Who are you dating?"

"No one at the moment."

"Wha! I'm shocked Mr. Haruno doesn't have a girl!" the blonde teased. Ryou laughed and punched the kid in his shoulder.

"Shut up."


"Ryou! Ryou! Can you hear me? Ryou!" Nina called. Ryou slowly opened his eyes only to meet a pair of brown followed by a pair a lips. His eyes widened as he recalled what was happening. Nina was kissing him! Nina parted.

"Don't ever do that again!" she yelled as Ryou slowly sat up.

"Welcome back." Isamu said. He was sitting in a chair writing in his joke journal.

In the bed on his left side was a sleeping Minato. On his right side was Saki reading a book. Inoyu and Koukata walked into the room.

"Good to see you're finally awake." Koukata said. He tossed Ryou a bag of sweets. "Thats for kicking some ass!"

"Next time don't test out experiments like that!" Inoyu scolded. "I almost got my head chewed off by my mom." Ryou smiled.

A woman walked in the room. She had long teal hair and eyes to match. She wore an off-the-shoulders garment that extended to halfway down her thighs with fishnet that covered her shoulders, arms, and legs.

"Hey Kaede-Sensei." Nina, Isamu, and Ryou said.

"Hello. I've heard of your small adventure." the woman said in a soothing tone.

Ryou sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "It doesn't feel small." he grumbled.

"It's not her fault you ran into the forest without us!" Nina backfired.

"Are you still mad at me?!"

Kaede smilled. "I have to be going now, later!" Koukata said leaving the room.

"Yeah me too. Get better soon." Inoyu said exiting the room.

Once the two had left, the room had become tense in silence.

"I have some serious business to discuss." Kaede said in her serious-shut-up-and-listen-because-this-is-important voice.

Nina, Ryou, Isamu, and a curious Saki turned their heads to the Jonin.

"You may not be able to participate in the Chunnin Exams."

"WHAT!" Ryou, Nina, and Isamu yelled in shock, while Saki's book fell from her hands and fell to the floor.


Inoyu and Koukata were walking in the park talking about the past recent experiences.

"Dude, I still can't believe Ryou took down that guy by himself!" Inoyu said.

"I can't believe I missed a fight, again!" Koukata shouted.

The two walked over to Shikachi and Choju sitting on a bench.

Shikachi jumped up. "It took you guys long enough! We've been waiting for HOURS!"

"Don't exaggerate Shika!" Inoyu said.

"Whatever, So how is Ryou doing?"

"He's...he's taken it… badly. But he'll be okay." Koukata replied. Suddenly Shikachi started laughing.

"Ahahaha! Ahh-I-ahahaha can't stop l-ahahahah laughing!" the girl giggled as she doubled over and rolled on the ground. "Oh gosh. I can't breathe. I-ahahahaha can't breathe!"

Inoyu looked around and noticed a faint glow in the bushes. He slowly pulled a kunai from his pouch and threw it.

"Ouch!" a voice yelled.

Shikachi stopped laughing and slowly got up. "What the..."

"Come out!" Koukata barked.

A caramel skinned kid walked out of the bushes, holding his hand to his cheek where the kunai had grazed him. His had black cornrows, wore a maroon jumpsuit with Columbia blue stripes on both sides, Columbia blue sandals and a Columbia blue hitie-ate. On it was the Waterfall symbol.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Shikachi growled pulling out a kunai.

"Heh...heh...oh boy." the stranger said.


"He's been killed and captured, Sir." Snake said. He was in the Hokage's office.

"I see...who killed him?"

Snake hesitated. "I-it was...actually Ryou Haruno."

Both Naruto and Sakura froze.

"WHAT!" the both shouted in unison. "Where is he now?" Naruto asked.

"In the hospital recovering, he has suffered from multiple attacks."

"Hmmm... Does he know anything?"

"No sir."

"Good. I attend to keep it that way. Keep an eye on him and the rest of the Konoha 9."

"Yes sir."

"Oh and Snake..."

"Yes sir."

Your father wants to see you."

"Yes Sir."

"He's on the roof. Dismissed."

Snake disappeared.

"Hopefully the enemy won't make any more attacks before the Chunnin exams are over." Naruto said in deep thought. He stood up from his deck. "Sakura, prepare the captured prisoner."

"Yes but didn't Snake say he was dead?" Sakura asked.

"Not that one. The one Hinata and Neji captured. I plan on making a little visit."

"Right away, sir." Sakura said scampering off.


Snake appeared on tops of the building where his father waited reading a book. He took his mask off and approached the white haired man.

"You called?"

"Oh, yes." Kakashi said smiling. He waved. "Your mother and I will be going on a mission for the Hokage. It's S-Rank."

"Then why are you telling me?"

"Because you need to tell your sister. We'll be gone for a long time and I wanted you to know."

"Alright. When do you leave?"

"Tomorrow."

"Why can't you tell her then?!"

"Good point, we will tell her, but you have to keep an eye on her while we're gone."


"WHO ARE YOU?" the Nara yelled.

"Oh, I'm Daisuke Yanagi!" the ninja said standing up, dusting off his pants. "Nice to meet you."

Koukata raised an eyebrow. "How the hell were you making Shikachi laugh then?"

"Oh you mean like this?" Daisuke asked as his eyes glowed pink. Shikachi started laughing again.

"Ahahaha Stop it! Ahahaha STOP IT!" she yelled. Daisuke stopped.

"How'd you do that?" Inoyu asked.

"It's one of my special tricks!" Daisuke gloated. "By making my eyes glow pink, this happens."

Shikachi started laughing again. She threw her kunai at Daisuke who narrowly dodged it. The tickling stopped. The Nara stood up with another kunai in hand.

"I'll kill you, you Arcrophile!" she yelled as she started running towards the kid. Daisuke turned around and tried to run from the girl but bumped into Choju, causing the Akimichi to drop his favorite bag of chips to the ground. The world seemed to freeze as the chips spilled out onto the pavement.

An un-kindled flame ignited in Choju's eyes as he started chasing the caramel skinned to. Koukata and Inoyu followed behind.


"What do you mean we can't participate!?" Isamu yelled, causing Minato to stir in his sleep. The Hyuga mumbled something.

"...Fall..."

"Yeah! That's not fair! We've worked far too hard just to miss our big chance!" Nina said.

"There has to be a way for us to compete!" Ryou added.

"I'm sorry but there's a chance you won't be able to." Kaede said. "With Ryou's condition and the first part of the exams only a few days away, you might not be fully recovered in time. Plus, you need a team of three to compete."

"But… It's only a test! You don't need your physical strength up to par! All we do is answer a bunch of stupid questions!" Isamu said.

"We'll see." the woman said before disappearing.

Minato twisted and turned in his bed. Sweat dripped down his face and onto the pillow case and bed sheets.

"I...won't...forgive...you..."

"Is he sleep talking?" Isamu asked.

"Just leave him." Nina said.

*FLASHBACK*

"Minato dear! It's time to come in now. It's getting late!" Hinata called from in the house.

A small Minato stepped out of the sandbox. "Okay mommy! Here I come!" the little boy started running towards the house, his favorite toy Goku in hand. A man blocked the boy's way. He had a downwards arrow on his headband.

"Excuse me mister. I have to go in now." Minato said.

"Sorry but you're coming with me!"

"Minato! Minato! I said it's time to come in..." Hinata started but paused noticing the empty back yard. Panic started to rise in her chest as she searched the yard for her son, she didn't find him… All she found was a note. She picked up a note off the ground and read it: I have you son. If you ever want to see him again then bring all the forbidden scrolls you can. Bring them to the Valley of the End. If you do not bring any forbidden scrolls I will throw your child over the waterfall.

Hinata screamed. "NARUTO!"

XMX

Minato shivered. It was cold and the sun was setting and he didn't know where his parents were or where he was either.

"Where are my mum and dad?" Minato asked.

"Don't worry…" the man said in a slightly soothing tone as he spoke again, "They will come or else..."

The rest Minato didn't hear but somehow he knew it wasn't good.

"I wanna go home!" he yelled.

"You will go home, once your father brings the scrolls." the man grumbled.

"I don't care! I want my mommy!" Minato shouted.

"I said once I get my scrolls! Now shut up!"

Minato kicked the man in the shin and ran… or at least he attempted to.

"You little brat!" the man screamed, grabbing the boy by the collar of his shirt and held him up close to his face, glaring at him.

Minato bit down on the guy's arm causing the man to drop the brat. The child fell to the ground, quickly got to his feet and started running again. The man yelled in rage and disappeared and reappeared in front of the boy. The man picked up the boy and threw him into a
wall. Minato yelled in pain as his head hit the rocky wall. Blood trailed down his forehead onto the rocky terrain where he sat.

"Look whatcha gone and did now!" the man shouted. Minato held his head and started crying.

"Minato!" A voice shouted. Naruto appeared next to his son. "Minato are you okay? I'm so sorry!" Naruto said.

The man grumbled. "Hey! Where are my scrolls?"

"Up your ass if you think I'd actually give scum like you anything!" Naruto said. He held at his palms as the air swirled around, creating a sphere. "Rasegan!" Naruto yelled, shoving it into the man's stomach. The man flew back of the cliff screaming in pain.

Naruto cradled his son and disappeared in a flash.


Two girls watched the scene unfold. Four ninja were chasing one knucklehead.

"Mai, shouldn't we help him out?" a girl said. She wore a scarlet red long-sleeved blouse with a black Chinese dragon printed on the back, black pants, and a red hitae-ate on her forehead with the waterfall symbol. Her long scarlet hair blew in the wind uncovering her red eyes. Her face was fair with almost a reddish tint.

The other girl sat on a tree branch. "You can help him out if you want, Sora." Mai replied. She wore black tight leather clothes that showed off her figure, a black hitae-ate around her waist, and had her hip-length white hair in a high-ponytail.

"Don't be like that Mai! He is our teammate." Sora said.

"Fine…" Mai replied rolling her eyes as she jumped down from the tree. "You owe me" the girl said as the two disappeared.


Naruto walked through the poorly lit fire tunnels. He stopped at the stone door before slowly pushing it open. He walked into the room. Tied to a chair was a ninja who wore all black. He was unconscious.

"Feline, Rose, how is he holding up?" Naruto asked.

Feline, the silver haired one, bowed. "Sir, we have made little progress. Rose can only dig through so much information. This guy has a great shield."

Naruto sighed. "Find out what you can and report back to me. Use any means necessary even if it means torture. Just don't let him die." Naruto ordered leaving the room. His punched the wall cracking it. "Damn it!"


Daisuke kept running until he tripped over a rock. Shikachi and Choju glared him down. Koukata and Inoyu were laughing in the background. "Can't we just put this behind us, guys?" Daisuke asked holding his hands up in front of him as he slowly stood up. Choju growled. Shikachi smirked. "I don't know. Those were Choju's favorite chips and the last time someone made him drop them, they were sent to the hospital and were left handicapped."

Daisuke started laughing causing Choju to get angrier. "You mean, this fatty? What's he gonna do-eat me?!"

Shikachi, Inoyu, and Koukata's eyes widened.

"Did he just..." Koukata whispered to his best friend.

"Oh no..."

Shikachi slowly stepped backwards. "NO you didn't..."

Daisuke stood up. "What?" Is it because I called him fat? Either me or the world."

Choju's face was emotionless.

"Come on! We were all thinking it!"

Shikachi shook her head and walked behind the tree where to two other ninja were hiding.

"One word of advice...run!"

Choju slowly brought his hands together, forming the Ram and another hand sign. "Expansion Jutsu!" he yelled. He grew until he was round as a ball. He stuck his head, feet, and hands inside the giant ball. Daisuke started running.

"Where do you think you're going? Human Bullet Tank!" Choju yelled. He started spinning, getting faster and faster before launching himself at the Acrophile.

Daisuke ran for his life as the boulder sized boy got closer and closer.

"Mini Fireball jutsu!" a feminine voice called.

About 20 small balls of fire were pushing Choju back. He deactivated the jutsu as he fell to the ground with a scream. "Ahhh!"

"Choju!" Shikachi yelled. She and Inoyu ran forward to stand at Choju's side. Koukata watched from the background ready to attack at any given moment.

Sora and Mai appeared by Daisuke's side. Daisuke's face lit up with a huge grin as he hugged Sora. "Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love you!"

Sora blushed, turning the color of a tomato. She quickly shook her head. "What are friends for?"

"What's the big idea?" Shikachi yelled as she strengthened her grip on her kunai.

"What do you mean?" Sora asked as she pulled out a kunai as well.

"Who have you the right to attack our teammate?"

"Who gave you the right to chase ours?"

"He assaulted me! And because of that, he needs to pay!" the Nara growled.

"What!" Daisuke yelled. "Can't we just work this out? Can't we just be friends?"

"You should've thought about that before you started causing trouble." Inoyu said.

"Look, Daisuke's a little weird and he has flaws but can't we just put this behind us?"

"Of-"

"No!" Choju interrupted. "He will pay"

"Fine then. If this is how you want it, then lets go." Sora said before she paused and turned to her other teammate. "Mai?" she asked.

"I'm not fighting in a pointless battle." The redhead responded walking away and sitting on a bench.

"Fine then! More for me!" Daisuke yelled.

"Inoyu, you sit the one out." Shikachi said. "Choju and I will handle this"

Inoyu shrugged and walked over to the bench Mai was on. "Sup?" Mai rolled her eyes.

"I warned you." Sora said.

Shikachi smirked. "I'll be happy to show you to our hospital."

The two girls ran at each other with a kunai in hand. Choju took to his expansion jutsu once again and rolled at Daisuke.


Meanwhile in Yukigakure:

A long district that was home to one clan within the walls of the snow village, this clan was known as the Oki Clan and in one house you will find one genin of the snow village. The house looked normal but while the outside looked normal the inside of the house was far from normal. The entire inside of the house was nothing but ice. Ice covered everything, the floors, the ceiling, the wall, even the furniture was made out of ice, as it was for all of the Oki Clan members who resided in the houses except for perhaps a very small, rare few.

Inside the house of our destination, a lone thirteen year old sat on a chair by his desk, both of which were made entirely out of ice, like every other piece of furniture that was in the boy's room and the rest of the house. The boy had long silvery-blue hair which was down to his mid back, with bandages covering his eyes and very pale skin with odd blue lips and purple fingernails and toenails. He was wearing a simple white sleeveless t-shirt along with a pair of white shorts; in his hands was a letter which was unfolded in his hands. The boy's index finger was coated in chakra pressing against the paper and running across a line of text. The words themselves were also coated in chakra thanks to the boy who had poured chakra into the words on the letter. He did this several times until every single letter on the letter was coated in chakra. Only then did the boy begin to read the letter.

"Dear Aisu Oki, I am pleased to congratulate you and your team in coming so far. Your sensei and I, the Kage, have recommended your squad to participate in the Leaf Village's Chunnin exams. Your sensei will tell you more when you all meet later today."

The boy, known as Aisu frowned slightly and re-read the letter just to make sure that he hadn't misread it, he hadn't. A smile tugged at the boy's lips as he recalled why he knew that little trick to reading letters that weren't in braille.

*Flashback*

Aisu has been separated from his teammates and sensei during a blizzard. Not that he was worried. The cold had no effect on the Oki Clan because of their already below freezing body temperatures. His grip had tightened on his metal bostaff the four sharp ridges digging into his skin giving him some comfort. He couldn't find his way back, the blizzard had muddled his chakra sense and since the blizzard was snow and snow had the barest hints of chakra in it, left him unable to track his own teammates and sensei.

The genin continued to trudge his way through the blizzard as the snow crunched under his feet having no effect on his slightly bare feet. His hitae-ate was wrapped around his eyes which were covered by bandages. "How much longer until I find something productive?" the thirteen year old asked the wind that merely howled in response.

At least until he smacked into something with enough force to send him stumbling back for the force of the blow. The only reason he hadn't fallen down to his ass was because he had smashed his bostaff into the ground and managed to keep himself upright.

"Hold on, hold on!" A voice shouted from inside the whatever-it-was that he had ran into.

Inside? Where exactly was he? What had run into?

He heard the sound of a lock sliding back from its place and heard a door open.

"Hello, what can I do for you?"

An old man's voice… just where the hell was he anyway?! "Uhh…" came Aisu's unintelligent reply, he had no idea what to say.

Before the young genin could even think of what to say he felt the front of his shirt grabbed and he was dragged inside with surprising force and found himself shoved onto something soft. A couch? A chair? He couldn't be sure.

"A Yukigakure ninja? This isn't a first that a ninja from that village had stumbled across my home."

Aisu's grip on his bostaff tightened as he tried to make his tongue work. "Um, yes I am. Who are you, sir?"

"Me? I'm Ran Naoshi, nice to meet you."

"Aisu Oki…" the genin muttered. "Where am I?"

"In my cabin of course."

Aisu sighed. "I meant where are we? I know that we're in your house."

"Oh. My cabin is located outside the village of snow. Lots of Yukigakure ninja come through this way either going to or returning from their missions."

"I see."

"Aisu… are you blind?"

"…"

"I'll take your silence as a yes." Ran responded with a grin. "Don't be ashamed of your disability Aisu. You'll find that there are several people with the same difficulties as you."

Aisu tilted his head to the side slightly. "You're blind as well?"

"Yep and proud of it." Ran said.

Aisu chuckled. "Interesting…"

"Let me teach you something."

"…Alright?"

"Come-on. I'll teach you something useful." The man said in response to Aisu's skepticism. "This technique although useless for a ninja will help you in day to day life. I will teach you a trick to read without the use of braille."

Aisu snorted. "Is that even possible?"

"It is possible! I learned it and I will teach it to you to prove that it can be done."

"Alright, Naoshi-san. I'll take you up on that bet."

"Call me Ran. Naoshi-san is too polite. Now if I'm right whippersnapper… you owe me 10000 yen!"

"Alright. You have yourself a deal, Ran."

It had taken Aisu hours to learn the technique but he had and had also owed Ran Naoshi 10000 yen to boot.

However on a plus not it wasn't long until after he had learned the technique that his teammates and sensei had shown up at Ran Naoshi's cabin, much to Aisu's shock and slight annoyance.

*End of Flashback*

"Thanks for taking the time to teach me, Ran." He said aloud a smile on his lips.


Heh heh! I think that's it for this chapter. Did you like it? I did! That last part was my awesome beta San Child Of the Wolves!

I need some more characters for the Chunnin Exams if you want it to be EPIC! Please help out and check out my profile for opening. PM ME! Check out my poll too! I have the templates for all your needs. Later!