Chapter 16: A Short Break
You know I think the Anko Minato family thing will work out very well.
Sorry for this being so late I haven't been able to write because I was not allowed. Anyway I tried to make this long and well done to make up for the two week late. Please Read and Review.
Naruto rolled out of his bed and landed on the floor. He groaned still sleepy and pushed himself up. There remained five days before the chuunin exams and after the exam, Naruto was going back to Tea country for another stay at the mansion.
The blonde wearily began getting dressed. He was not a morning person and after getting ready he hurried down the stairs to the kitchen where Anko was already busying herself destroying her breakfast.
"Hey Anko," Naruto said sitting at the counter. "Hey nee-san," Anko greeted him pushing a plate of food toward him. The food remained unknown because it was of Anko's creation and food made by Anko half the time tended to be poisoned.
Because of her nature to poison food at random Minato had taught Naruto how to check for poison, but either way the food did not look good. Sighing he began to eat, his older sister as she liked him to call her, made food which was filled with all nutrients bodies needed to maintain health and was not for taste.
He ate quickly to suffer for as short a time as possible before putting his plate in the dishwasher and heading back upstairs to brush his teeth.
Today is going to be tough. He told himself. It was nearing the anniversary of Itachi's betrayal and he knew Sasuke would be more vulnerable than usual so he was going to spend the next few days with his friend. Also according to his father there was a rumor that Orochimaru might show up at the chuunin exam. He clenched his fist, he had had trouble with Anko at first, she was tough, demanding and had only two moods, sweet and loving, and vicious and blood thirsty.
Anko became very serious and aggressive every time Orochimaru's name was mentioned and Naruto still felt sorry for the last guy making a comment about him in her presence. She had pinned the man to the wall and threatened to neuter him unless he told her where the snake sannin was hiding.
He shuddered if Anko was content she was his sister if she was unhappy she was the death god. He would kill Orochimaru for Anko.
Naruto grabbed his fan with one arm and put it in it's holder. He was considerably stronger having carried around his fan everywhere than most chuunin, a strength Jiraiya pointed out time and time again. The blonde was out to see Yamoto and Kakashi, today they were going to work with him on chakra affinity and manipulation. Jiraiya had told him he had skipped over some steps in his learning and they would sort his problems out. Naruto also had an appointment to meet with Ibiki who had to tell him something incredibly important about his fan. Today would be nothing short of hell.
Naruto sped out and ran to the training ground where Kakashi and Yamoto were waiting. Naruto had met Yamoto a few times and like him a lot. He knew of the experiment he was used in and how he had the first's blood and decided he would kill Orochimaru for him as well.
Kakashi, however, was much more well known than Yamoto and Naruto saw him several times a week. Kakashi always came around the house to see if he could help Minato with anything. The masked man would do anything that his Hokage asked of him and more. Naruto liked him but his devotion to his duty and teacher seemed the only things the man liked and Naruto could not relate well to him in much.
Naruto was very hard working and though he had talent he could not get by relying on talent alone. He concentrated his chakra and used shunshin jutsu to speed up his pace arriving quickly at the training ground.
Sliding to a halt the blonde stood before the two jounin and greeted them formally. "Hey Naruto." The two men said greeting the boy who was now twelve.
"Now," Kakashi began, "We're here today to work on chakra manipulation and in specific improving control of your chakra affinity which we have been informed is wind but just to be sure we'll test you again."
Kakashi handed Naruto a piece of paper. "This paper comes from trees fed with chakra. I believe you have done this before so just do what you did last time."
Naruto remembered clearly over two years ago he had gone through the same process. In fact he had done the test five times. Unbeknownst to Naruto, Minato believed that the Kyuubi would interrupt his chakra affinity, and give him affinity to fire as well. So far nothing had happened but he still wished to continue to check up on his son.
Kakashi waited patiently as the boy pumped chakra into the paper and to his amazement it exploded. Kakashi felt his heart stop. Naruto had an affinity for at least four elements. It wasn't possible. "Naruto how... How can you have affinity for more than one element?
Naruto grinned, Jiraiya sure knows every trick there is if this impresses Kakashi. "I have trained with all elements under Jiraiya's training." The blonde simple answer caused the jounin to rethink his teaching method he would not be able to compete with the sanin.
"Well Naruto I'm impressed. Few children have an affinity for more than one type of element and those who do are born with the gift but you seemed to have worked your way to multiple affinites. That's very impressive. Acquiring a second affinity by itself is astounding working at it is something done by jounin and you have done it, not even a chuunin. That shows incredible talent." I wonder if water being his mother's affinity played any part in him gaining the affinity as well.
Naruto shook his head. "Hard work is different from talent Kakashi-sensei. I've trained hard and long with every type of jutsu. Jiraiya laughed at my first attempts he nicknamed me the 'talentless slave'."
Kakashi nodded tentatively, "Well now, let's move on. Your training will consist of cutting a leaf into two with just chakra. This usually takes months to learn but Jiraiya has told me of your huge chakra reserves and I have come up with an idea to help your training move along."
Naruto rubbed the back of his head thoughtfully. "What is it Kakashi-sensei?"
"Well Naruto you know how clones take in experience and transfer it back to you after the fight? In this training you will use hundreds of clones to train and speed up your training."
Naruto's eyes widened. I had no idea shadow clones had so many uses. This can be useful in other types of training as well. "All right let's start." The blonde formed the hand sign and created a few hundred clones to train.
Naruto had nearly cut the leaf and it had been less than an hour. Finally Kakashi ordered him to dispel his clones and try with his new knowledge. He did as he was told and right away was able to cut the leaf.
"Amazing!" Yamato exclaimed in disbelief. "It usually takes half a year to learn how to cut the leaf."
Kakashi smiled, "I told you this type of training would work." Naruto though panting heavily managed to give his two sensei's a thumbs up.
"Great work, now for the second part of the training. Yamato you're up.
The special jounin formed hand seals in rapid succession. "Doton: Flowing earth ramp!" Then continuing on as a huge mound of earth rose up pushing up as well he formed a second jutsu. "Suiton: Waterfall basin technique!"
Naruto looked at Yamoto in amazement and then at the giant waterfall which he stood atop of. "Now Naruto you have to cut through the waterfall. This will require instantaneous chakra manipulation."
Naruto looked up at the waterfall and then back to Kakashi. "Tajuu kage bunshin!"
Naruto grinned sheepishly at Yamato as a thousand clones got ready to go. "You think you could make it a bit bigger?" Naruto asked nodding to the waterfall and platform.
Kakashi looked nervously at his friend. "Don't strain yourself Yamato."
Yamato nodded and stretched out his palm pushing more chakra into the jutsu and making the waterfall big enough for all of Naruto's clones.
It took over an hour and Naruto had fainted from both chakra exhaustion and mental fatigue but he had mastered wind chakra manipulation.
The blonde lay unconscious beneath a tree Yamato had created to lay under for shade due to the overwhelming heat of the sun. The two jounin sat on either side of the blonde taking in what they had observed.
"His chakra reserves are easily three times as big as mine and he has a talent for handling pain."
Yamato nodded at Kakashi statement. "And on top of that he knows a lot of jutsu and is very strong and talented with taijutsu." The wood element user nodded his head in thought. "Yes he'll easily pass the chuunin exam. The question is will he be able to defend his friends. You can tell Naruto is the type of guy to go out of his way to make sure his friends stay ok."
Both ninja knew the Naruto would take the chuunin exam by himself and both also knew that his father was deeply worried about him.
Kakashi grabbed Naruto and threw the boy over his shoulder. "Let's go get some food. Naruto will be hungry when he wakes up." The white haired jounin paused, "You know he's pretty heavy for a twelve year old. He's all muscle"
Yamato laughed quietly and began to follow his long time ANBU captain. "So anyway Kakashi I heard you took a team and left behind your ANBU days."
The masked man sighed, letting his pace slow so Yamato could come in to stride with him. "You know you'll be taking over my squad?" Kakashi asked, not sure if Yamato had been informed.
"I don't want to be a captain, Kakashi, you know that."
"It wasn't my decision. Lord Hokage said he needs you to take this position." A silence set in as only their foot steps could be heard walking slowly forward to the main part of the village where their talk would have to be given up among the noise of the streets. "You certainly are the most qualified for the position. You never let anything get in the way of the mission and you always protect your teammates, everyone respects and trusts your orders. You have all the qualities of a captain."
Yamato shook his head reluctant to continue the conversation. The two men and Naruto finally nearing their destination silenced their talk. Even the strongest of ANBU operatives were wary to let on who they were lest they or their family be attacked.
Kakashi sat Naruto down on a stool and began to discuss the chuunin exams with Yamato.
Sniff, sniff. "Ohhh, I smell something good." Naruto mumbled, groggily the scent of food waking him up. The blonde quickly rubbed his eyes and looked around hungrily.
"Ready to eat, Naruto?" Kakashi asked, already knowing the answer from the boy's look of satisfaction.
Naruto quickly ordered and began inhaling his food. After consuming his fourth bowl of ramen the boy turned back to his teachers and gave them a prideful look. "So I did pretty well, didn't I?" Naruto asked, a smile giving away his happiness.
"You sure did. Now you have to meet with Ibiki don't you Naruto?" Kakashi asked. "Your father said he needs to talk to you about your fan."
Naruto nodded. "Yeah do you know what Ibiki looks like?" The blonde asked scratching the back of his head not having a clue how or where to find the head of interrogation.
"Yeah he looks like him." Kakashi nodded behind Naruto who turned to see a large man covered in scars standing erect and looking down on him.
Ibiki gave Kakashi a skeptical look. He rarely saw the Hokage. He and the Hokage both respected each other greatly but were not on friendly terms. The Hokage hated torture and thought Ibiki sick for his occupation but acknowledged no one did a better job or was as qualified as he. In return Ibiki was disgusted by the Hokage's merciful attitude but respected the power and cleverness which he used to allow him to be merciful.
Since Ibiki and the Hokage stayed away from each other much of the time this was only the second time Ibiki had seen Naruto- the first was ten years before- and the first time Naruto had met him.
Ibiki's eyes squinted menacingly as he cast the young boy a cynical glance. "You're the child prodigy I heard about? Not as dark and introverted as they usually come."
Naruto struggled to come up with a retort and finally deciding silence was his best choice, "…".
"Hehe, afraid are we boy? Well you wouldn't be the first, now you need to follow me." Ibiki laughed as the boy easily picked up the fan that was the topic of their meeting casually put it on his back and mumble something about being fearless.
Ibiki led Naruto to an abandoned street. The questioning was not top secret but it was important.
"Naruto I have gathered from many horror stories the truth about the fan you possess."
Naruto sent the scarred man a confused look. It was obvious that Naruto had no idea where this was going. "What do you mean horror stories?"
Ibiki stood unmoving unlike other ninja he would not succumb to emotion. "Naruto the fan you own is possessed by a lesser demonic spirit. It gives the fan and the blades strange and incredible powers. BUT there is a side affect and that is that the spirit gradually will take over the body of whoever owns it. Did you sign a paper of some kind to acquire the weapon?"
Naruto paled. Special abilities? Slowly taking over me? "What do you mean Ibiki-sama?"
Ibiki held back a chuckle enjoying the fear that was overwhelming the boy's conscious. "Don't worry kid. The spirit will not take you over you have immunity I already checked with your father. However, I learned that the fan will only give powers to the one who signed the ownership paper. The man who gave the fan to you was very powerful but was beginning to lose himself to the spirit." I really hope he doesn't ask about why he's immune. I don't know how to avoid this. Why the hell Minato have you not told Naruto about him being the container?
"Yes, I signed a paper in blood." Naruto said quietly he remembered the day clearly, the blistering sun, the dry heat which caused the sandy ground to blur in a haze. The blonde boy paused taking in the information, "What do you mean the man was beginning to lose himself?"
"The spirit takes over slowly in your case it can not so only the basic power of the fan and blades are there but eventually the rest will come. Now…" The scarred man paused, he could not understand why but it irked him to give this child the task which was his.
"You will enter the chuunin exams by yourself and look for an intruder, find the intruder and report who he or she is."
Naruto waited knowing this was important. He had heard none of this before. So I'm going in alone? Damn, I'm so awesome!
"Your father says you are experienced enough to tell how good a shinobi is from a few simple movements. One of the gennin will not really be a gennin but actually an agent of Orochimaru's."
Naruto face hardened with an expression of anger and seriousness. "Why aren't you sending a jounin in? An agent of Orochimaru's must be good at least jounin level."
Ibiki nodded, he had suspected the question might arise. "The truth is we can't let Orochimaru know we're on to him. Besides sending jounin in would completely destroy the point of the exam, gennin would feel more restricted in what they can do with high level ninja all over the place. Killing is legal you know. The exam is to make the gennin understand it's like the real world your enemies will not show mercy and you will get none."
Naruto exhaled deeply he understood. The task was his and his alone to bare. "Thank you very much Ibiki-sama."
"Good-bye, Naruto. I'll see you again at the exam… And by the way I recommend you spend some time training. You won't be the only chuunin level ninja and you're by yourself."
Naruto knew that Ibiki was right. He would have to train. I should consider meeting Jiraiya later. The blonde turned to go he was scheduled to meet with his father and Anko for dinner and it was getting late.
He sped off in a black blur toward his home.
Naruto jumped through the window to his room and rolled to a halt in front of his bed. Taking off his black training clothes, he put on his relaxing clothes loose black pants and an orange jacket covering the black tee shirt which his friends claimed he always wore.
He walked down stairs and looked for his father. Naruto knew he was a little early, but it was never bad to be early where Anko was concerned- she hated late arrivers. Naruto sat on a stool waiting for his father and Anko and gradually began to amuse himself by trying to control and manipulate the air around his hand with chakra practicing an exercise he had been instructed to by Yamato.
"HEY LITTLE BRO!" Anko yelled barging through the front door and causing Naruto to panic and loose control of the spinning circle of wind which had been moving.
"So Naruto, how did your talk with Ibiki go? He has been known to act strangely toward children." Anko spoke fluently, at ease, as if something was making her happy.
"So why are you so smiley?" Naruto asked still reminiscing over Ibiki's words and thinking about chakra manipulation. Though deep in thought Naruto had to ask the question, a smiling Anko especially when it wasn't a sadistic smile was always interesting.
"We are going out tonight and also… I've been selected to head one of the stages of the chuunin exam!"
Naruto gaped at the thought. "Seriously? You'll be there watching the fights?"
"I sure will and the best part is I can make sure you don't do anything stupid and end up dead." Anko laughed, "You have been known to get cocky and in the chuunin exams if you let your guard down you will die."
Naruto though agitated at the remark shrugged it off. She's not completely messing with me, three other people in the last two days have said I could die and they know my strength level.
Naruto felt himself let go of his tension as his father stepped through the door. "Hey buddy!" Minato exclaimed walking over and ruffling his son's hair. "This will be the last time I see you for the next few days so let's make it a good night!"
Naruto's smile faded, "What do you mean you won't see me? The chuunin exam isn't for five more days."
Minato sighed, "Well Jiraiya is going to take you over tomorrow to the ground where the exam will take place and you'll stay there for the next few days to train and get ready for the second stage of the exam."
"Dad isn't that sort of cheap? Letting me get to see the area before my opponents?"
Minato grinned at his son's nature of fairness, an attribute not valued in the ninja world. "Naruto you will have no teammates to help you if you want to get through you will need to go with Jiraiya… Now let's go."
The three arrived at the restaurant to find the place deserted and only the Hokage knew why. Naruto walked into the casual restaurant and looked around suspiciously tempted to take out a kunai for defense in case it was an assassination attempt. Though he had only seen a few he knew that people wanted his father killed and would try any means necessary to do it.
Anko immediately began to realize what was going on and sent Minato a playful look. Two long tables were set up extending across the entire room.
"Naruto the other parents and I of Konoha chuunin hopefuls rented out the restaurant for tonight. We decided to give you a relaxing night before the chuunin exam and tonight is the last night that all the children would be able to come."
Naruto overwhelmed by the gesture hugged his father before heading to the door as Ino entered with her father.
Ten minutes later
Naruto sat at a table with nine other Konoha ninjas all of whom would participate in the exam coming up.
"So Sasuke are you okay?" Naruto asked his friend, both of whom were standing outside for the sake of being alone.
Sasuke took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "I'll grow stronger and then get him back. The chuunin exam is just a road block in my path to get him back."
Naruto smiled. "Good you won't have time to be upset during the exam. There will be groups strong enough to kill me with little effort or so I've been told."
Sasuke opened his eyes and gave Naruto a questioning look. Kakashi had told him nothing about the exam itself besides it had three parts. "There will be ninja from every village."
"Of course and all the teams will have strengths and teamwork that make them better." Naruto had felt annoyed and scared at first upon hearing these words, now he felt excited. He would get a challenge from his peers not adults something he had been looking forward to after months apart from Heiri and Gaara.
The two walked back inside to Sakura yelling at her teammate Negara. Naruto had met him at the beginning of the party and liked him a lot. The boy was honest, straight forward, and friendly. Though in Naruto's mind, the boy did not have the attributes of a good ninja.
"Negara how are we supposed to do well in the chuunin exams if all you do is try to flirt with girls?"
"Well Sasuke-kun will get us through," the boy said in a mocking tone.
"That's right! Now don't flirt with me, I like Sasuke!" The girl blushed at her statement and Negara rolled his eyes.
Ino grabbed Naruto's arm and hung on tightly. "They're cute aren't they?" Ino asked.
Naruto laughed not knowing what to say. He had experienced a lot of new things at the party. He had met Shino for the first time and most of the children's parents. For Shikamaru and his team consisting of Ino and Chouji each had their father there and for Sasuke's group of Sakura and Negara each had a mother. Shino's father was there an introverted man with a wise expression. Kiba's mother was there already having chugged seven cups of sake. Finally, Hinata was sitting in the seat beside Naruto. Her father wass there glancing over menacingly in her direction every now and then while sitting beside the Hokage politely maintaining his stature as clan head by guarding the Hokage as customary.
Dinner was long drawn out and while Naruto and Chouji had eating contests and talked about food with the rest of the children laughing, the adults laughed about their younger days.
"So Chouji I guess we're tied." Naruto said rubbing his over stuffed stomach. Chouji laughed and rubbed his own.
Ino shook her head, "Being able to eat that much food is kind of gross."
Negara snickered. "Ino you're just mad that Naruto can eat as much food as he want and not gain a pound." All the guys began to laugh while the girls just turned their heads in defiance.
"I'm just saying it's not healthy. That's all." Ino said, beginning to pout sullenly.
Naruto laughed. Having a fast metabolism is not the best thing in the world, it also means when there is no food we're the first to feel the effects of starvation.
Everyone sent him a bewildered look. Did he really have to bring up such a dark topic?
Naruto looked around fearfully hiding behind Hinata when a Jiraiya dived through a window and then somersaulted to his feet. "NARUTO IT'S TIME TO GO!"
The sannin grabbed the blonde's arm and pulled him from his position behind Hinata. Throwing Naruto into an unbroken window he followed the twelve year old and began leading the way to the training ground where Naruto would train, no provisions at his disposal.
Naruto followed his teacher, he was nervous he would be in a highly dangerous training zone for three days with nothing but his fan, which he was sort of afraid of. Naruto bit his pointer finger on his right hand controlling himself and his emotions.
"So Naruto, are you ready? I'm going to have shadow clones around the forest in the shape of enemy ninja. Here catch this." Jiraiya threw a scroll of jutsu to Naruto.
"What's this?" Naruto asked.
"A scroll it contains some wind jutsu which you can now learn since you've mastered wind manipulation. My clones will try to knock you out and take that from you, don't let them." Jiraiya stopped running. "The training ground is right there." He pointed toward the forest which gave off an evil presence. "Keep your wits about you and good luck. I'll give you an hour before I send my clones in after you. Use your time wisely."
Naruto looked at Jiraiya nervously and then began to sprint to the forest. I have to learn the jutsus before I get the scroll taken. Naruto began to grind his teeth. He may be extremely strong for a twelve year old but he was no match for a sannin nor his clones so he had to do what was best and avoid confrontation and learn the jutsus.
Jiraiya grinned as his student ran off into the enveloping night. This will be fun.
Back at the Party
"What the hell just happened?" Anko asked a smile being held down on her face.
"No idea." Minato replied. In truth he knew but he was still shocked from Jiraiya's plan. So he decided to get Naruto at the party? Clever to be sure, but I am not paying for those windows!
"Na-Naruto?" Hinata whispered, fearfully having no idea what just happened. Sasuke, Shikamaru, Chouji, and Negara broke into laughter while Kiba fell to the ground clutching his sides in pain, tears in his eyes from the hysterical incident. Shino and the girls just sat in awkward silence.
Ino hesitated before saying anything. "Um, did Jiraiya-sama just kidnap Naruto?"
"Um, I…I think so." Sakura said, latching onto Sasuke who groaned and shuffled out of her grip.
Anko chuckled, "The pervy bastard can be alright sometimes."