Disclaimer: I don't own or have any legal or intellectual rights over the Naruto universe or characters. Those belong to Mashashi Kimishimoto, Namco Bandai and Shounen Jump.
Japanese Word Glossary:
Konoha – Leaf
Ame – Rain
Taki – Waterfall
Suna – Sand
Kusa – Grass
Konohagakure – Hidden Leaf
Sunagakure – Hidden Sand
Amegakure - Hidden Rain
Sandaime – The Third
Yondaime – The Fourth
Saru – Monkey
Boujutsu – Staff Technique/s
Kongoubuin – Diamond Staff
Seijun – Purity
Jinchuuriki – 'Power of Living Sacrifice' – the nickname give containers of the tailed beasts.
Tooboe no Arashi – Howling Storm
Gobi no Okami - Five tailed Wolf
Tsuchi no Kuni - Earth Country
Bijuu - Tailed Beast/s
(Konohagakure no Sato, six days later, Morning, one day before of the Chuunin Exams)
Sarutobi Hiruzen exhaled heavily as he glanced over the document in his hands for the umpteenth time. He rubbed his slightly reddish eyes, yawning softly as he popped his aching bones. The former 'God of Ninja' put the files down, giving himself a moment of reprise and glanced into the space of his dimly illuminated office.
The teams from Konohagakure's allied and neighboring (non-aggressive) countries would arrive in the morning participate in the chuunin selection exams starting tomorrow. He had faith in his ninja and village, but his instincts warned him bad tidings were about to visit him.
None the less, he was the leader of the great tree of Konoha and he could not bow to the whimsical whims of his pupil Jiraiya or his fanatical rival, Danzou. The last several weeks gave the aging Hokage time to reflect over many things and as he felt his thread of life grow shorter remorse and regret plagued him.
That is why when someone knocked on the door his weary countenance shifted to a somewhat serene one. He smoothed his beard lightly as he watched his son's face pass threshold the threshold. The chain-smoking jounin held the door half open as he peeked inside.
"I need to talk to you in private." The wind manipulator nodded, his expression confused and grim as he stepped into the room and shut the door gently behind him. He sat down in front of his father's desk after the 'professor' inclined him to do so. "What's this about, dad? You look more morose than usual?"
The professor folded his hands together bowed his head slightly. "I have had quite the time to think over the last couple of months, Asuma. I have recently come to realize that I have...made many mistakes...in how I've treated you."
The fall of a hairpin would've rang audibly in the silence left by Hiruzen's statement. His son gazed at him, his eyes slightly wide and mouth gaping. He had waited to hear such an exclaim for many years and now that it became reality he didn't know quite how to digest it.
The jounin shut his eyes and licked his lips briefly, trying to formulate a proper comeback to the bombshell that his father had just dropped on him. "I...I don't know what to say...father. Wh-what brought this up? You've never shown any regrets before..."
The Sandaime Hokage sighed heavily and covered his face with his hands for a while. He then locked eyes with his son, gazing up at him. "I won't lie to you, Asuma. I'm old and I don't know how long I have left. So I don't want to die with any regrets on my conscience and I will never rest in peace as long as I know my own son hates me..."
Asuma sputtered, blinking rapidly at the blunt statement .He lifted his hands and his voice trembled and pitched slightly."H-hey, don't be stupid, old man! I-I don't hate you! Sure you piss me the hell off with your aloofness and condescending attitude, but that doesn't mean I..."
Hiruzen lifted his hand "Spare me, Asuma. I know I've been too hard on you and pushed you away. I tried to educate you, to mold you into something you are not. So I don't blame you for your bitterness. I have only recently realized that you were born into an age of relative peace. The lessons I have tried to teach you and the manner I chose to convey them in were the relics of an obsolete age that is better left forgotten..."
The ancient ninja exhaled long and hard before he reached for the pipe in his drawer. He brought it to his mouth before smoking it lightly, the rush of tobacco invigorating his stiff body. "I can only hope in what time we have left we can at least be on amicable terms, my son. "
The chain-smoking elite inhaled deeply himself and nodded his head slightly, somewhat overwhelmed by his father's revelation. "S-sure, dad. I'd like that...it's been too long since we've...just been father and son...and not Kage and subordinate."
Hiruzen smiled widely, the age and weariness seeming to melt off his slightly pale face. Both Sarutobi men maintained a pleasant smile, each thinking of how important this moment was. The joy was cut sharply by abrupt appearance of hacking, violent coughs that shook the old man's entire body.
Asuma's eyes narrowed a fraction and his lips pursed. He took a step towards his father outstretching one of his arms only to have the older ninja lift his hand. "I'll...I'll be fine, Asuma. More importantly, I have a very important task for you, not as your kage, but as your father."
With that said the Hokage bit his lip and made some rapid hand seals. He slapped his hand on his desk and a massive cloud of smoke filled the room. When the white veil parted the a mid-sized gorilla with a pipe in its mouth was revealed.
The simian was sitting in a lotus position, it's muscular form covered by a loose fitting, gray obi robe. A massive scroll was strapped to its back and its dark body contrasted with the white hair which belied its age. "What is this, Sarutobi? Why did you interrupt my nap...and I was having such a nice dream too..."
The elite jounin watched eyebrows rose a fraction as his body tensed. What was his father up to? As he continued to try and decipher that question he observed Hiruzen converse with the primate softly. His heartbeat raced, adrenaline thundering through him as his teeth grit slightly.
"HAHAHA! You want what?! What kind of joke is this, Saru?" The familiar leaped to its feet and turned towards Asuma. Its ageless brown eyes scrutinized the chain smoker critically, a crooked sneered spreading over its dark lips. "Oh...I remember him now. So why should I let this brat sign our contact now? Enma-sama didn't approve him back then and I doubt he'd approve of him right now..."
Asuma blinked and if anything his countenance became darker as he remembered the humiliating experience of failing the monkey king's test and being deemed 'unworthy' of his father's legacy. He shifted his gaze away and before he could speak the harsh reply on the tip of his tongue the 'god of ninja' intervened.
"Gokumo-sama, before you remind me how his frame isn't nimble or flexible enough for the Saru taijutsu style or that his isn't swift enough to execute the full abilities of the Kongoubuin Bojutsu style. I don't expect you to allow him to sign for himself. All I ask of you, as a personal favor to me, is that you let him sign it so he can protect this scroll until my grandson Konohamaru is ready for it..."
The wind manipulator quirked a curious brow at that remark. What his father proposed made sense and the fact he actually trusted him was a pleasant surprise that made him feel fuzzy and lightheaded to a degree. Holding onto the contract and making sure Konohamaru was ready to assume the role of the Monkey summoner was no small feat and he was determined to do it to the best of his ability and more.
The ancient summon rubbed its chin, its eyes distant and unfocused for a moment. It then shrugged its powerful shoulders and grinned, revealing its cracked and slightly yellowish teeth. "Very well, Saru, I can live with that. What about you, kid?"
"I can live with it too, I'll keep an eye on my nephew, don't worry, pops," Asuma mused flippantly. He shot his father a half smirk that the old man mirrored. As they shared a father-son moment of silence the elder monkey unfurled the scroll and instructed the younger Sarutobi on how to sign it.
Hiruzen shut his eyes and allowed himself a soft sigh of relief as he leaned back into his chair. In the wake of his recent arguments with Jiraiya, his declining health and secret apprehension of a possible conflict just past the horizon, he was glad he could mark off two regrets off his long list.
(Meanwhile, Elsewhere, Hidden Tunnels beneath Konohagakure no Sato)
The form of Danzou was seated comfortably on a cushion in the center of a semi-illuminated room. The aging surrounded by candles. The shadows danced as the candlelight shifted back and forth and bounced off his form. His single visible eye narrowed in concentration as he reviewed the contents of a scroll.
The air shifted beside him, prompting the manipulative elder ninja to roll up the scroll and turn his gaze slightly. "You're late, that isn't like you."
"My apologies, Danzou-sama," a young voice retorted softly, a figure sliding out of the gloom and moving to kneel in front of him. The masked figure could not be older than thirteen, clad in ANBU armor and covered by a dark black cloak.
The one-eyed elder ignored the apology and shifted his gaze over the youth. "How are Thirteen and Sixty one? Are their parts concluded and is the plan proceeding on schedule?"
The youth's emotionless, dark brown eyes peered from behind the eye slits in his porcelain mask. "Operation 'Seijun' is prepared for execution. All that is required is your approval and it shall be done."
The Hokage-aspirant's lips twitched faintly and his single hand rose to rub the scar on his chin. He shifted the conversation, having heard all he needed on the subject. "What of you own objective?"
"I have mapped the target's routine, habits and capabilities. Whenever your command me, the deed shall be done, master." The human weapon did not move a muscle as another presence approached them. However, he disappeared promptly when Danzou waved his hand dismissively, smoke the only thing left in his wake.
"Your stealth leaves little to be desired, Sakura," the master of Roots intoned tonelessly as his crimson-haired pawn stepped into the room.
"With all due respect, Danzou-sama. You would've detected me anyway, so what's the point?" the emerald eyed sociopath asked in a smooth manner. Her inner persona held less restrain as she screamed in Sakura's mind. "That Smug Sonuvabitch! He just enjoying fucking with us?!"
He seemed unimpressed with her insolence, "If you are done wasting your breathe on hollow retorts, I have a mission for you." He watched bemusedly as Sakura's whole body stiffened as she seemed to struggle with something.
"It's now or never, Sakura-chan! We have to know if what that Kabuto character said was right or not...Ask him!" The main persona was too fearful to speak, their shared body's fists tightening. "No! It's suicide! He's upset as it is...don't say anything!"
"Stop being such a cowardly bitch! We don't have a choice...if we are to trust that shady geek, we need something to work with so if you're going to chicken out, I'll do it!" With that declared the main personality receded reluctantly, conceding to the logic behind the exclaim but too afraid to act on it, unlike 'Inner-Sakura'.
Danzou's eyebrow quirked as his slave's chakra signature changed subtly and the gleam in her bright eyes shifted to a colder, slightly more violent gleam. "I want proof of life first!"
"You 'want' what? It seems regardless to how much I discipline you, you fail to remember your place, Sakura. I am very disappointed in you." His lone eye narrowed a fraction "So she knows. She wouldn't have dared defy me otherwise. It seems my initial calculations were correct, as expected."
"I...I..." she stammered and bowed her head. When she looked back up at him, the defiance had melted away along with the semi darkness and violence. The meek, somewhat uncertain gleam he was accustomed to returned – how amusing. "Her split personality syndrome is getting worse...I will proceed with my plans, and if all fails, 22 is ready to clean up the mess..."
"In every chuunin exams, there comes a moment when one of the missions requires teams of genin to compete in a battle simulation scenario. Tomorrow, when you begin your exam, I want you to kill off as many foreign ninja as possible. Do not engage Uzumaki Naruto or other Konoha genin."
Sakura gaped at him, her mind racing to contemplate how to achieve such a mission. Killing the enemy genin didn't bother her. Their existence was forfeit, ally or non-aggressor alike; she cared little for them or their lives. The question was how to manipulate her teammates into such a bloodthirsty endeavor.
As she was dismissed by her 'benefactor' she wondered just what she would do. Her mother was dead, there was no denying it now that Danzou had so carelessly dismissed her logical request. It would seem Kabuto was right, Konoha was no longer safe for her. The real questions were, could she trust him and once she escaped, where would she go?
(Later that night, Hokage mountain)
The moon was half full, partial beams of silver pierced the canopy. Perched serenely on a branch the legendary Densetsu no Jiraiya waited. The toad summoner rubbed his chin idly as he pondered over the recent intelligence he received from his various contacts.
It was hours before the chuunin exams were scheduled to begin and Jiraiya's earlier concerns had only become more prominent since his spat with his sensei. His contacts within Hanzou's forces had maintained radio silence considering the Salamander's recent paranoid tendencies.
Rumors arose of inquisition like raids where ninja and civilians alike were arrested indiscriminately by ANBU and carted off to unknown locations under the cover of night. His only form of intelligence in the 'Land of Eternal Tears' was the reports from various merchant guilds that spoke of massive shipments of iron, ink, paper, wood and coal being transported to the capital.
And the ironic part was there was nothing Jiraiya, Danzou, ANBU or anyone in Konoha proper could do about it. Hiruzen was adamant about keeping Konoha's word to the various Daimyo and preserving the non-aggression pacts and forbade all espionage probes or attempts.
But the Salamander's war efforts paled in comparison to his other concerns. The silver-haired, bespectacled young man whom he learned was named Yakushi Kabuto had stopped following Naruto and that meant one of two possible things: One, he had somehow learned Jiraiya was on to him or two, he had gotten all the information he needed.
Both outcomes left little to be desired but he felt his direct intervention might do more harm than good. As long as that silver haired spy lurked about Konoha, he could pinpoint his associates and perhaps implicate other spies or traitors. Therefore, he refrained from 'stepping on anyone's toes' and disturb whomever was pulling this Kabuto character's strings.
He didn't seem like one of Danzou's human tools. He was too normal, whereas if you looked close enough you could always see the subtle signs of their indoctrination and emotional rebooting in the elder's pawns. Nor did he seem like someone Orochimaru would employ. He was too young, was a genin and wasn't in any position of power that would allow him to gather anything of true substance. So who the hell was his operator?
If that wasn't bad enough, his sensei, Hiruzen, was still being as stubborn as his age belied. The Sandaime had denied his requested audiences with him three times in the last two weeks. Apparently the old codger had decided to punish Jiraiya for 'undermining' him by ignoring him, publicly, forbidding consultation with him and even worse, he had put an anti-pervert warnings regarding him in the hot springs!
That just wouldn't do, he did nothing to deserve such treatment. Sure, he bent the rules here and there considering Naruto's training and had taken some liberty in ordering some of the elite Jounin about to help them prepare their teams. But that didn't mean he was undermining the old man! It wasn't his fault Hiruzen was so damn complacent and borderline apathetic these days.
He had already consulted several of the clan heads and sent word to the Fire Daimyo. If Hiruzen was going to make himself a liability, then it truly was time for him to finally get his wish: Retirement. Sure, he loved the old man, but if he was going to be boxed out, ignored and ridiculed like a traitor, he might as well do something to live up to the reputation the Hokage was so determined to label him with.
The old man was sick, complacent and his judgment was clouded by his regrets, guilt and weariness of the office. In other words, he had to go or Konoha would wilt and suffer from his impassivity when the villages all around them decided to exploit his policies.
He sighed and rubbed his eyes, his heart heavy over his decision. He knew Sarutobi would be crushed once he found out, especially since it would be done behind his back. But there were few alternatives when he refused to correspond with him or listen to reason anymore.
"Mah Mah, don't be so blue, Jiraiya. I've only been gone for three days!" a nasally voice croaked from beside him. The sannin smirked as a green and brown toad the size of his fist leaped onto his shoulder.
The sannin quirked his brow at the amphibian. "Gamaki? Since you're here I take it she's left the forest of death?"
"Yup! That snake lady's scary, Jiraiya! She almost ATE ME! She thought I was a normal toad...luckily I managed to escape her...just barely." The familiar croaked audibly in a slightly shuddering manner. It glared heatedly at the toad sannin, "If I knew I was up against something like that I would've charged you triple the amount of sweets! Geez!"
"Stop being such a drama queen, Gamaki. You're a recon toad, you're used to sticky situations." Jiraiya chided the small toad with a shake of his head. "Now...tell me, what's she been up to?"
The toad looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well...I had to hide from her snakes most of the time. But what I did see was that she's mostly been sparring with herself and the wildlife...damn she's crazy. Then she started using all kind of freaky snake-oriented jutsu with acid, poison and snake things. Oh she has some...scary and sickening looking snake substitution technique. I almost lost my lunch...and that was a tasty butterfly too!"
The legendary ninja sighed and bowed his head at that. "I don't know if I should be relieved or worried that Orochimaru's reject experiment is getting stronger. Her reports show got potential and despite slight psychological scars she's overcoming there isn't anything wrong with her. But somehow, I can't help but feel that bastard isn't done with her. I can only hope sensei's gamble doesn't mimick one of Tsunade's and I'm wrong, though I fear I'm not."
Jiraiya squeezed his fist tightly and shut his eyes. He made a silent vow to protect his godson and keep an eye on him before turning his gaze up to the moon. "No matter what happens, unlike thirteen years ago, I'll see it to the end this time. I won't let anyone or anything destroy Naruto's home, Minato's home, MY home...not this time!"
(Day of the Chuunin Exams, Mid morning, Konohagakure mercantile district)
Uzumaki Naruto whistled pleasantly as he strolled through the street, his hands were folded behind his head. The Jinchuuriki observed the lazy early morning street through half-lidded blue eyes. He chest hurt slightly and his heart was thumping hard, a restless form of nervousness sinking into his bones.
His lips parted, his smile widening as he caught sight of someone he hadn't seen in quite a while. "Hey, Iruka-sensei!" he called out and waved his hands, trying to catch his former teacher's attention.
The scarred chuunin perked up at the sound of his voice and turned towards the Uzumaki. "Oh? Naruto! Long time no see." Iruka stopped his stride and waited for the blonde to join him before resuming his walk. "So how have you been? Are you ready for the exam?"
Naruto shrugged his shoulders and exhaled through pursed lips "Busy...training hard, ya know how it is. Anyway...I dunno, I guess I'm ready. I know I'm stronger than I'm way stronger than I used to be, but..."
His first precious person smiled faintly and quirked his brow. "Oh? But what? Don't tell me you're nervous? I thought future Hokage don't get nervous."
"Ma, I'm not a little kid anymore, Iruka-sensei! I've got a team counting on me now, I can't afford to screw up." He shut one eye and made a small sound of protest as Iruka latched onto him with one arm and shook him slightly.
The chuunin laughed softly squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "A wise man once told me that trust is a two way street. Don't stress so much, just as they're counting on you, you can count on them."
"I know that! But...but what if I screw up again! Last time I...last time someone counted on me when it mattered..."
Iruka frowned and shook his head slightly. "You won't, you know why?" The blonde looked up, shaking his head somewhat meekly. "Because you're not just stronger, you're smarter and more mature too. I've always had faith in you, Naruto, but when I look at you now, you know what I see...?"
"I see a nervous 'chuunin in all but formality' that needs to get his ass moving of he'll get clobbered by his female teammate for getting her late for their own exam. Now stop moping and go make me proud!" The Uzumaki's eyes widened at that.
"Ye-yeah! You're right, thanks Iruka-sensei!" He laughed nervously at that and rubbed the back of his neck. He felt a little better and at ease and knew Iruka had a point, he had to man up and stop living in the shadow of Sasuke's death. He had goals of his own, dreams and ambitions and he had to step forward and make his own destiny, and it started now!
More importantly, Iruka was certainly right about one thing that he had forgotten in his distracted state of mind: Ino would beat the shit out of him if he was any later than he already was. He saluted to his former sensei whom smiled and turned to leave himself. With that done, the Jinchuuriki took off, running a short distance before turning his head and thus he failed to notice a group of people standing in his path.
The Uzumaki in his fear of 'death via Yamanaka' failed to sense said individuals and thus barely had by a moment to stop his sprint. He was assisted by a firm grip by massive mountain of a man, that stood in front of three others smaller individuals. The man and three teens he led were all garbed in a camouflage colored garments of various shades of green, gray and brown; the giant seemingly a jounin according to his flak jacket.
They all hailed from Amegakure from their headbands and the fact they all wore the trademark breathing apparatuses that looked like gas masks that covered their lower faces. The three teens all ranged from his age to fifteen if Naruto had to hazard a guess to their age, two were male and one was female.
The Jinchuuriki suddenly felt a bizarre vibe or chill running down his spine, as he looked into the eyes of the titan-sized ninja. Their nearly golden color seemed to almost glow with hidden power. The fact they narrowed and the skin around them tightened as the gargantuan man took a good look at the leaf genin's only made his eeriness worse.
"You should watch were you're going, leaf-nin. I don't know how customs are in Konohagakure, but in Ame we make it our business to apologize for trampling over people," A crisp, whipping exclaim came from his right, the muffled, feminine tone catching the genin by surprise.
"Whoa...she's either fast or silent, I didn't see or feel her move at all. Though I suppose being sized up by that huge dude didn't help much..." Naruto commented inwardly and though he sported a calm and slightly goofy facade, his heartbeat raced slightly as he started inwardly.
He turned his gaze and glanced into twin orbs of icy emerald that clashed violently with slightly tanned skin and long almond hair. The Jinchuuriki blinked and smiled somewhat sheepishly, wondering why said, arguably attractive by her figure and what he could tell about her face; yet scary femme suddenly gasped softly as she got a good, hard look at him.
He didn't like the vibe he caught off the Ame genin and jounin, they seemed somewhat hostile and so he decided to make his exit. He noticed that the other two male genin didn't seem as attached or concerned with him. It was odd that they seemed somewhat detached and uncomfortable with their own comrades, but Ame was a slightly unorthodox country. "Y-you're right, I'm sorry, I'm simply in a hurry and didn't watch where I was going."
Before he could turn to leave he felt someone fist a hand in his sleeve and hold in him in place. Blue eyes shifted to gaze in green once more. One of his brow rising questioningly as the kunoichi didn't seem embarrassed or uncomfortable by her abrupt action. She did let go of him a moment later when she seemed confident he stopped his stride. "Wait, what did you say your name was?"
"I didn't," Naruto commented neutrally a reply to her inquiry was on the tip of his tongue before he snapped his mouth shut. He remembered one of his godfather's points of criticism: "Knowledge is power, Naruto. So you can't just it give away so easily, it may come back to bite you in the ass later. Shut that big mouth of yours from time to time, ok?" "Though I'm pretty sure you'll find out soon enough. Sorry, but I gotta go, now."
This time he was not impeded though a stealthy look over his shoulder revealed the green-eye rain kunoichi was glaring at his back and he could feel her chakra spike. However nothing happened, as said female was held back physically by her sensei's hand on her shoulder. "Serves that freaky bitch! Looks like Kakashi-sensei wasn't kidding when he said rain-nin were notoriously crazy and rude. Guess I'll have to watch out for that one...looks like she has a bone to pick with me for some reason."
(Meanwhile, South-Eastern Borders of Tsuchi no Kuni)
"Damn, I hate this heat..." the man murmured to himself. His long traveling cloak, a thin piece of cloth that covered him from top to bottom had two purposes: Protect him from the blistering heat and keep him incognito.
He walked the rocky plateau known as the 'Grave of the Godless' tiredly. His middle aged body struggled with the broken, cracked earth. The area was an unnatural crevice in the earth created nearly 90 years earlier in a mythical battle between the nomadic Senju clan and the cult of the 'Tooboe no Arashi'. It was there that the followers of the Gobi no Okami where massacred and their Bijuu master was subjugated.
Dark eyes peaked through his hood, gazing upon the flat, shapeless buildings of the border town of Tsuno. Sweat drizzled down his face, the rickety town somewhat blurry as his eyes stung. He wiped his face, harsh exhales escaping him as he dragged himself ever onward.
By the time he reached the town's inn his lungs burned and his throat was parched. He stumbled slightly as he took a seat at the bar, leaning heavily against the wood.
"Howdy, Stranger, you look tired? What can I get you?" A sultry feminine voice cooed at him.
He felt the table creak slightly as another body leaned against it and shifted. "Water..." he croaked barely and peaked at the busty, bronze skinned, brown-haired young lady that run the inn. His eyes wandered unconsciously over her plentiful cleavage and hourglass figure, unable to help it as her body was quite poorly concealed by her loose fitting silk clothes, her curly mane spilling down her back.
"Look but don't touch, eh? Since that'll cost you far more than ya can afford, old timer" the woman taunted cheekily as she brought him a skin full of water.
His lips split into a slightly feral grin, his piercing brown eyes locking deeply with her hazel. He leaned close and murmured so softly, she could barely feel his breathes as they caressed her face. "My name's Kenji, and I think you should reconsider, some things are far more valuable than gold, isn't that right? Hakana Chizuru-san?"
The flirtatious smile never left her face, a tinkling little laugh escaping her as she blushed and looked away in apparent shyness. The two shared a glance and a nod before Chizuru shrieked slightly and wore a scandalized expression. "My, Kenji-san! You dirty old man! I'm not that kind of girl!"
"Why don't you back away, old timer!" a hard voice full of bravado interjected, someone grabbing Kenji and pushing him against the bar. The aged spy and messenger smirked inwardly, his left arm dangling behind him.
A scroll slipped from his sleeve, right into the eager hands of the barmaid that 'sought cover' when the scuffle began. The spy mistress didn't remain to see Kenji kick the man off him. The bronze-skinned femme could hear chairs breaking, fists flying and grunts of combat as she slipped into a side room.
She examined the scroll and gaped slightly at the amount of precautionary seals and defensive construct and combination. She turned it in every angle and direction until she found what she was looking for, a small imprint of a snake biting its tail. "Hmm...this looks important. I wonder what Orochimaru could want with the master? They aren't exactly on friendly terms, but that matters not, breaking this will take us our fair time as it is...we'll see what that bastard wants soon enough..."
(Meanwhile, Undisclosed underground cavern, Land of the Hidden Hot Springs)
A man stood in front of a twisted altar. His robes were raven in color, a pattern of a skeleton sewn over the black cloth in an eerie manner that mimicked the bearer's own. His bony body swam within the heavy garment. His aging, wrinkly skin was pale and the black tattoos of esoteric symbols branded on his head and cheeks clashed with his complexion. "Brother Hidan, It's been a while since we've been graced by your presence."
The alter was a twisted circle of tormented people, looking away from a maw full of razor sharp teeth. The dark stone reeked of dried blood and gore. They cavern it was situated was a crevice shaped in a Gothic architecture; its roof swallowed by shadows in the poorly illuminated candlelight.
The zealous cultist bowed so low his head touched the floor. His upper body was uncovered, his scarred, damaged skin naked in the eyes of his lord Jashin. "Grandmaster Doro, I apologize for disturbing your excellency, but I seek your guidance."
The elder cultist turned halfway, gazing over his shoulder at his humble servant and his lips twitched. "I sense you are troubled, child. Tell me, what obstacle has stopped my most prodigal student's holy quest to punish the living in Jashin-sama's name?"
The silver haired sociopath grit his teeth, his voice tight and body trembling. "I don't have enough power, excellency. Twice now Heathen Blasphemers have humiliated and defeated me because my abilities are limited."
"Jashin-sama has bestowed upon you the gift of immortal life and you dare question it?" The harsh reply was accented by the old man spinning around and glaring at his disciple with slightly glowing eyes. An aura of oppressive power slammed into Hidan, the younger man grunting and falling forward as the elder's presence slammed into him.
The squirming juggernaut cried out pleadingly. "Great one, it isn't my fault! My enemies...are too strong. One of the weaker ones turned out to be the great slayer!"
The elder's eyes narrowed further and for a while there was a tense silence. It ended when the pressure left Hidan and the grand priest walked into an adjacent room carved into the stone. "I see...I did not expect you to ever falter, Hidan. But the great enemies of Jashin-sama are known to be resourceful so I will assist you despite your insolence, Hidan."
When Hidan looked up at his gradmaster he noticed he was holding a rectangular box in his hands. The wooden case was covered with seals and strange symbols that glowed in various shades of blue, red and violet. "I bestow upon you the ultimate tool, wield it well and serve our lord proudly."
Hidan reverently took it and bowed deeply. His lips twisted into a feral grin as he smoothed his hand over the cool wood. "I'll show you Kakuzu! I will prove to you and all of your sinful kind the true power of Jashin-sama! Then, soon enough, when the time is right, you will know his wrath and he will show you no mercy and give you no quarter!"
(Back in Konohagakure, Outside the Exam building)
"Geez, Naruto! Of all the days you have to be late! What the hell?!" Ino chided Naruto in a high-pitched tone as the Uzumaki walked towards her and Shikamaru.
Said shadow user's lips twitched faintly as stood up, leaving his place against the tree he was leaning against. "Give it a break, woman. We've got plenty of time, and we're right here, outside of the building."
"It doesn't matter! It's the principle!" The Yamanaka insisted, lifting his chin slightly and huffing.
"Ma, Ino-chan, gimme a break, I got held back by the team from Ame, really freaky shit, believe me!" The Jinchuuriki whined when he was ignored and inhaled deeply. He spread his hands out in a placating manner. "Look, I'm sorry, but...if we keep on stalling we really will be late, ya know?"
"I know that!" she snapped and exhaled heavily. "Fine fine, but you better shape up during the exam, baka!"
The Nara heir shot Naruto a consoling look and rolled his eyes as they followed hurricane Yamanaka. They stepped into the designated building and found Asuma waiting there along with Kakashi, the two Jounin seeming somewhat bored, though one could never tell with the naturally aloof and worry-free pair.
"Geez, your apprentice seems to have caught on your tardiness, Kakashi," Asuma commented with a snort, though his smile belied he was not upset and rather amused by that.
"I dunno, they aren't THAT late yet." the dog summoner played along as he looked at the clock on the wall. His eye crinkled happily despite his sarcasm and the two sensei took the forms from their students.
"We won't keep you three, you guys are late as it is. So just know that the gathering before the exams is in room 301. Good luck, team. See you after the second exam," Asuma greeted and winked at his team before walking off.
Kakashi lagged behind and asked to speak with Naruto in private. Ino and Shikamaru complied to the Jounin's command and walked off, waiting for their blonde teammate near the staircase.
Kakashi leaned forward and whispered very quietly. "Naruto, this is important. I need you to listen and not repeat what I'm going to tell you." When his apprentice nodded dutifully he continued. "Keep your eyes pealed and watch your back. We've received reports Iwagakure have sent assassins after you and we fear Kumogakure might also try to apprehend you since they know what you carry."
The Jinchuuriki's eyes narrowed, his lips pursed tightly. He was about to leave, bowing his head when Kakashi grabbed onto his shoulder. "If push comes to shove in an 'unsupervised' situation that isn't public and you and your team are in danger that you feel is beyond the scope of your regular abilities...don't hesitate to use the fox to protect yourself and your team. Your control has grown, your stronger and more mature and I trust you to use its abilities responsibly."
The Uzumaki smiled thinly at first, but then grinned when Kakashi ruffled his hair slightly. "Now, go get your vest, Naruto. You have mine and Jiraiya's blessing." With that Student and master parted, each going on their respective paths.
Team ten then climbed the stairway, they climbed to the second floor before pausing. They crossed some teams that climbed up and down to said floor.
"What gives?" Ino murmured to Shikamaru and Naruto. They decided to investigate and when they reached the second floor looked up at the room numbers and noticed they all started with the number three. The saw one or two genin who stood alone without a team and seemed far too amused for their own good.
The genin cell then analyzed the situation further and saw some genin teams seeming to struggle to look for the designated room as the only rooms available started from 302. There was nobody blocking and thus nobody seemed the wiser on the 'plants' sending them astray.
Given their path to the third floor wasn't blocked and they didn't notice any of their comrades from Konoha or graduating class there they silently agreed according to Shikamaru's advice to be cautious and sneak ahead to the real third floor and bypass the subtle genjutsu cast on the room numbers altogether.
They reached the real room 301 in no time and entered through the double doors. "Damn it, look at how many teams are here. This is crazy." Ino whispered in a slightly dazed tone. Their eyes caught sight of multiple teams from Kusa, Suna, Ame, the new village Oto and Konoha of course.
The glaring change from previous exams was the complete lack of any Taki nin, their entire ninja force having been cleansed by unknown perpetrators. Naruto grinned widely and elbowed his girlfriend slightly, "Hey hey, no moping or second guessing, Ino-chan. We've got your back and nobody's gonna get in our way, you just wait!"
"O-Ofcourse, I know that, Baka!" she sputtered and blushed faintly.
"They're at it again, are they? Don't they ever stop, Shikamaru?" a cool voice interjected from their right. The modified team eight converged with them, the Hyuuga genius eying Ino and Naruto exchange harsh whispers bemusedly.
The Hyuuga prodigy in light of his long conversations and long since overdue reconciliation with Hiashi and Hinata had seemed to lose the burden of his grief and hatred. With the constant sense of helplessness, failure and bitterness mostly removed Neji started seeing things differently and while he found socializing and being civil had their perks on occasion.
Shikamaru and Neji got along, the two geniuses level headed, calm and cool in their personalities. And their Shoji matches were the stuff of legends, or so the two attested when asked over the subject.
The shadow manipulator smirked faintly himself and shook his head. "Nope. Those two are crazy, I swear, but in a good way despite how troublesome they are."
After the original alterations between the teams, and in light of Neji's recent 'de-assholing' as Naruto put it in the last couple of weeks in the few joint training sessions they shared due to their mutual sensei's insistence.
Teams ten and eight got along rather well, even Neji and Kiba bridged over their differences. The only glaring exception was that of Shino and Naruto that cooperated professionally, but were not on speaking teams outside of that scope. It was mostly due to Shino's own stubbornness to let go of his suspicion and caution.
"Cool it off, love birds." Kiba commented humorously, his familiar mimicking his notion with an audible bark. The two blondes paused and shot him a mutual, dangerous glare, one which made the dog ninja pale slightly.
The Uzumaki suddenly stood upright, his eyes widening slightly. The same resonating chill ran down his spine, like it did earlier with the team of rain nin. He shifted his gaze to his right and locked eyes with a pair of lifeless jade eyes.
The sounds around him seemed to fade as he locked eyes with a red hair youth from Sand. The boy was short than the Yondaime's legacy, his desert garment a mix of red, black and brown, a massive gourd strapped to his back. But the most chilling feature was the utter nothingness in his eyes, the look of living death.
He felt an odd sense of vertigo and connection to the other boy that he couldn't explain and it made him uncomfortable. Said Sand nin tilted his head slightly and his lips twisted into a wide, eager grin that only made Naruto's caution grow "What the hell? First that crazy looking Rain chick and her Monstrous sensei and now this guy, what is it with me attracting bloodthirsty people?"
"You shouldn't daydream, Uzumaki. It might get you killed." A familiar voice ripped him away from his glaring contest with the boy known in Sunagakure as 'Sabaku no Gaara'. His face twisted into a dark expression and he shifted his gaze over her shoulder but said nothing.
The atmosphere amongst the genin tensed visibly at her appearance. Even Ino seemed somewhat apprehensive from her best friend. Whom sported a calm and cold expression and as exchanged cool glances with Neji, Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba.
Her alter ego cackled in her mind. "Isn't this a happy little reunion. Sakura-chan. hehehe...I wonder how many of these losers will live to see the end of the exams. I sincerely hope the monster does...It would be a shame for another to claim 'crimson-eyes' instead of us!"
The jade eyed psychopath watched with silent amusement as Lee walked over to Neji and declared to him with bravado, in a firm tone that by the time the exam ended he would prove to him, his eternal rival, once and for all that he was worthy of his title and was not a loser.
The Heir of the Byakugan shrugged his shoulders and shifted his silver eyes to Tenten. The bun-haired female seemed conflicted and shot him a small, helpless smile which he mirrored before tuning out the soon to come speech on Lee's behalf.
"Interesting...Looks like there is something to exploit with Tenten-san; perhaps a romantic connection? And Lee's gullibility and one-track mind regarding Neji and crimson-eyes will make things much easier for me...for us...sorry." the main persona planned gleefully.
Her eyes widened a fraction when she caught the silhouette of Kabuto peering at her from behind his rounded glasses. His expression was bemused, his face twisted into a wide smirk as he observed her and apparently Naruto as well. Danzou's crimson-haired puppet started as he motioned her to be silent before vanishing into the crowd. "What the fuck, he's a genin?! A genin is supposed to save me?!"
She was about to comment when the door in the back of the room snapped opened. "Hm, troublesome children...quiet down, quiet down!" a firm, cool voice commanded. It belonged to the tall and lanky form of Nara Shikaku, his scarred face blank.
To his right was the imposing Akimichi Chouza and to his left the respectable Yamanaka Inoichi. "Welcome to the chuunin selection exam. My name is Nara Shikaku, these are Akimichi Chouza and Yamanaka Inoichi; we will be your proctors for the first exam, follow us."