I have, at long last, returned with a new chapter for Reign In Blood... Not really much to comment on, as far as reviews go, so let's just get on with it.
It was time for the Chunin Exams to begin; Naruto waited outside of Konoha's academy, where the first of their trials-well, trials for those who were actually Genin-was to be held. Many teams passed by him, deciding that he was beneath their notice; a handful seemed interested in him, and one or two individual ninja even managed to suspect him of something.
Of course, he couldn't fall prey to boredom; such a thing was unbecoming of a shinobi, particularly one of "Naruto's" caliber. To prevent such a thing from happening, he began to make a mental list of facts, observations, and thoughts. Each was based on something about his surroundings, an attempt to ensure that he stayed entirely aware of what was happening around him.
Fact: There are five hundred teams competing in this year's Chunin Exams.
Observation: Most of these teams are from minor villages.
Thought: Most of them will die.
Fact: Most of these teams are not paying attention to me.
Observation: They seem very weak in terms of age and power.
Thought: They will be the first ones to fail and die.
Fact: Both of my "teammates" are late.
Observation: I am being spied upon.
Thought: It must be strange to spy on a team that is missing two-thirds of itself.
Fact: That Kusagakure kunoichi is looking at me.
Observation: It's very creepy.
Thought: She will try to kill me at some point.
Fact: One of the Sunagakure Genin entering these exams is their Jinchuriki.
Observation: He's entirely unstable.
Thought: He'll try to kill me at some point.
Fact: The Raikage's nephew and the Mizukage's daughter are participating in these exams.
Observation: They seem to lead their apparently sub-par teammates, likely due to their upbringings.
Thought: They will try to kill one another, or me, at some point.
He waited, sitting and meditating, for half an hour; that was when Sakura showed up. She had been running, but was only slightly winded upon arrival-a major feat, considering her abilities from before the mission to Nami no Kuni. Her long hair had been cut, now going to a point that was slightly beneath her ears, but it was still the same embarrassingly bright shade of neon pink that would give her away on any stealth mission...she looked at him quizzically, as he didn't have his mask on, and he shook his head; now wasn't the time to discuss that.
Sasuke showed up just a few minutes later, looking very pale and quite possibly afraid. He had seen the spirit of the Uchiha, the white-haired woman of age and power that defied all understanding...he had seen her, and knew why Itachi had left her untouched in his massacre: she was beyond him. She would outshine his brother any day of the week, he knew, and for that he was afraid; he had not spoken to her, only viewing her terrifying visage of a smile before bolting from the room as quickly as he could, and he hadn't looked back.
"Well, now that we're all here..." Naruto grinned, motioning the two of them to get close to him. "...don't look now, but we're being spied on. Also, since I'm not wearing my mask, just call me Naruto; otherwise, I am Kitsune. The first test, as far as I know-from what I managed to get out of some old friends that are still in Anbu-is one that tests intellect or problem-solving; that's your strength, Sakura, so I'll let you handle it unless you need my help. The second test is going to be one that emphasizes team survival...as long as you stay close to me, we should be fine. The final test is either team or individual combat, which is why you should let me handle whatever comes in the second exam-that way, you save your chakra for a time when you'll actually need it..."
"Alright." Sasuke agreed, the color returning to his face with his confidence.
"Let's do it!" Sakura cheered, pumping a fist in the air.
"No, not yet." Naruto laughed. "You two go on ahead, though...I just have a trio of gnats to deal with."
The two ran off, towards the growing line that slowly moved inside of the building, leaving Naruto behind. He slowly turned around, releasing the genjutsu on his eyes so that they reverted to their demonic coloration. A grin split his face, teeth turning into blade-like fangs as he opened his mouth; when his voice resounded, it was as though he used the voice-distorter from his Kitsune mask.
"Now then, let's see just how good you three are. Also, I'd like to thank you in advance for your help-itadakimasu!"
Naruto found his two teammates to still be waiting outside of the Academy, and the irony struck him that their exams were going to start inside of a school.
"You have, uh, a little something on your lips."
"I know." He gave a toothy grin, laughing. "But, since you seem so concerned, I'll remove it."
Remove it he did...by licking his lips and tasting the not-quite-dried blood that rested on them; it was the girl's, he noted, as it tasted like iron instead of the coppery taste of the two Otogakure boys.
"The path is being blocked by Izumo and Kotetsu, the gate guards." Sasuke notified him.
"Always remember that there's more than one way to skin a cat, children..." Naruto's retort came quickly. "...particularly when the cat's name isn't Tora, or when it's dead, or when it isn't really a cat at all."
With that having been said, Naruto walked to the back of the building before he began to walk up the side. It was a short walk for him, as he had been trained to use this technique with glass; this allowed for him to move faster and with less energy loss. Sakura was the next to reach the window he had opened-or, rather, made-and Sasuke was barely behind her. They entered into a room that wasn't yet filled, and surprised the proctors with their arrival.
"We're here a little early, I guess, but that can't be helped."
The proctors, who were all recognizable to Naruto as members of the Torture and Interrogation branch of Konoha's intelligence-gathering division, vanished; the trio were left to wait for more people to arrive...soon enough, Chunin hopefuls began to enter. Eventually, even the newly-minted rookies of the most recent graduation period-those of Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's class-showed up. As the rookies all celebrated their arrival, Team Seven made certain to distance themselves from the group.
"Sasuke-kun!"
Of course, a ditzy blonde could ruin the greatest of plans.
"Dammit."
Now that they were being forced into the group, they did their best to remain as silent as they could; it didn't help that they were repeatedly either on the receiving ends of jokes, in Naruto and Sakura's cases, or being fawned over by Ino...they did their absolute best to passively let their anger and discomfort show, and none more than Naruto. Around this time, an elder Konoha ninja walked up to them; he had wide, circular glasses, gray-white hair, and mostly dressed in purple.
"You may want to keep it down...people are starting to stare."
"Oh?" Kiba asked, smirking confidently. "Who are you?"
"My name is Yakushi Kabuto. As you can see, I'm a fellow servant of the Leaf..."
That's an interesting way to turn a phrase, Naruto thought,particularly when it's neither a lie nor a truth. He serves when it's convenient, he'll act when it's asked of him, but he is a ninja to the core.
"And I also happen to deal in the realm of information."
Utter bullshit. He's not an informant, he's a spy-a damn good one, at that-and a medic. If he's going to lie like that, he should at least make it...
Kabuto whipped out a stack of cards. "These are my notes on the current Chunin Exams, ranging from participating ninja to the proctors and beyond. Ask away, my young friends!"
...convincing.
"Alright, now we're talking! Show me the six people you'd rate as the most dangerous competition here." Kiba practically demanded the information, but Kabuto merely smiled and played the part of the good sempai.
"Well, since you didn't ask for an order, I'll just go as I find them. First up is Sabaku no Gaara, of Sunagakure, youngest child of the Yondaime Kazekage. Teammates are his elder siblings. Superior ninjutsu, other capabilities unknown, has completed one hundred A-rank missions and come back...entirely unharmed. He specializes in Sunaton elemental techniques.
"Next is Hyuga Neji, of Konohagakure; member of the Hyuga clan, teammates are Higurashi Tenten and Rock Lee. Taijutsu is Jonin-level, chakra control is likely at Anbu-level, and he specializes in the Jyuken Taijutsu techniques of his clan.
"Third is Yotsuki Yamato, of Kumogakure, nephew of the Raikage. Teammates are Daigen Fujiwara and Kyomei Feitsimi. Taijutsu is approximately Jonin-level, ninjutsu is also Jonin-level, kenjutsu is Chunin-level. Knows Raiton and Doton elemental jutsu.
"Fourth is Terumi Mangetami, of Kirigakure, daughter of the Mizukage. Teammates are Tetsuo Ryu and her cousin Hozuki Suigetsu. Jonin-level Ninjutsu, Chunin-level genjutsu, Chunin-level taijutsu, Jonin-level Kenjutsu. Has been trained by her mother in Yoton, Futton, Suiton, Katon, and Doton techniques.
"Fifth is Uzumaki Naruto, of Konohagakure. Orphan, teammates are Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke. Knowledgeable in several elemental jutsu styles.
"Oh, what do you know? The last person you asked for is me!"
Kabuto leapt away, smirking, just as the proctors arrived.
"Alright, you brats, shut up! My name is Morino Ibiki, and I am the proctor for the first of the Chunin Exams; the most important thing for you to know is that this exam has three separate parts-one for each team member-and that failing any one of them will eliminate your entire team from continuing on through the exams!"
Team Seven looked at one another, remembering what Naruto had said earlier about the first exam being an information-gathering exercise. What could Ibiki be planning by doing this sort of thing, and wasn't splitting them apart tantamount to making it about the individual rather than the team?
"The first part is that of a written test. Draw straws, if you must, but send someone up here from your team who will take it!"
Both boys looked to Sakura, who was already moving up to the front of the room; written tests were her absolute element, the greatest possible thing that could have happened to her, and so she would do it. Once all of those who went to take the test had been moved from the room, Ibiki spoke once more:
"The second portion is that of puzzle-solving, so decide who goes up for this one!"
Sasuke and Naruto quietly decided that the latter was much better-equipped to handle unknown situations, and so the Uchiha moved up and was escorted out with the rest of those in his group.
"Now, for those of you who are left in this room, I will personally escort you to your test...the final piece of the First Exam: interrogation."
"Sir, we've received reports of three corpses. They were identified as Abumi Zaku, Kinuta Dosu and Tsuchi Kin, all from Otogakure. The strange thing is, sir, that all three of them were drained entirely of their blood-not a single drop was found, whether it was in them or in the area surrounding them."
The Hokage's eyes widened, his pipe nearly falling from his mouth; he knew of only one person who killed that way, but he had to be certain. "Where, exactly, were their wounds? Surely there was some manner of puncturing?"
"That's just it, sir; their throats were all punctured at the jugular. Why did you ask?"
"No reason at all, Shika-san. You may return to your duties."
Only one person, in all of the history of the Elemental Nations, had ever been known to kill by vampirism. They had been a mere child, cried out against as a demon and a vicious murderer; such accusations seemed more than relevant, given the fact that the deceased were drained of all blood and were left as white as ghosts. And, unfortunately, a political scandal was just waiting to happen...
...he'd sent that person right into the middle of the Chunin Exams.