I've had the idea for this chapter in my head for quite awhile now but just now managed to work up the motivation to actually put it into words. I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed creating it.
Chapter 10
When the Fox's Away, the Demons Will Play
It has been about two weeks since Team 8 returned from their mission to Thunderclap village and everything has gone back to normal. CRASH! Like I said normal.
"Naruto! You leave Kiba-kun alone," Hinata mentally cried as she chased Naruto who had once again managed to slip away during a mission to harass Team 7, or more specifically, Kiba.
"Oh man," Naruto whined mentally in response, "I was just getting warmed up." But nonetheless, he released the wire that had Kiba suspended off the ground by his leg and dashed off to reunite with his Hime.
"You need to stop sneaking off like that all the time Naruto-kun," Hinata chastised him mentally as he leapt into her arms where he purred contently.
"I can't help it if he's an easy target," Naruto replied with a foxy grin.
"What am I going to do with you," Hinata said with a sigh.
Putting Naruto's obsession with tormenting Kiba aside, other than Hinata knowing about Naruto's demonic nature, things were relatively the same. Naruto managed to convince Hinata that she should treat him the same as before she found out that he was a demon. He also managed to set up a mental link with her so that they could communicate without having to speak with one another, something that proved invaluable on various missions.
Well, enough about that, let's get back to the story shall we?
Team 8 was meeting at their usual spot at training ground 9, where they were waiting for Kurenai to show up.
"…ARRGH," Naoko cried out in frustration as she jumped up from her spot by the training posts, "Where is Kurenai-Sensei?! She's late!"
Her sudden outburst startled Hinata and Naruto who were sitting nearby, and Shino… well Shino was Shino.
"Your frustration is illogical," Shino said in his usual monotone voice, "Kurenai would not be late for our gathering unless she had sufficient reason."
"Shino's right Naoko," Hinata added in as she stood up, "Kurenai-Sensei will surely arrive soon."
Almost as soon as the words left her mouth, Kurenai appeared in a puff of smoke. "Sorry I'm late Team. I have both good news and bad news. Which would you like to here first?"
"Oh just give us the bad news first Mirage, just to get it over with," Naruto said as he stifled a yawn.
"Ok," Kurenai replied as she crossed her arms, "well the bad news is that we won't be going on any missions for awhile."
"WHAT" Naoko exclaimed, "No missions?! What's the deal Kurenai-Sensei? Haven't we proven ourselves good enough to handle tougher missions?"
"If by proving yourself you mean me having to save your sorry hide," Naruto started to say.
"Oh shut it fleabag," retorted Naoko.
"Tomboy."
"Fur ball."
"Blondie!"
"FOOTRAG!"
"ENOUGH," Kurenai finally cried out as the insults started to escalate between the two, "Anyways, to answer your question Naoko, the reason why you won't be doing missions for awhile is because I have nominated you three for the Chunin exams."
Naoko looked at her with wide eyes and mouth spread out in a huge grin, "Really? You're the best Kurenai-Sensei!"
"You really think we're ready," Hinata asked.
Kurenai smiled kindly and replied, "Of course. You three have proven to me that you are more than ready to at least try out for the exam. Not to mention considering how well you all did during the mission. Truth be told, if it wasn't for that little incident with the demon."
"Oni," Naruto corrected sounding a little insulted.
"Right, sorry, if it wasn't for the incident with the Oni, you four would have handled that mission flawlessly. So of course I think the four of you are more than ready."
"Umm, quick question," Naruto said hesitantly as he raised one paw, "What do you mean by 'four of you'?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like Naruto," Kurenai said, "you will be helping Team 8 with the Chunin Exams next week."
"Next week," Naruto exclaimed as he jumped from Hinata's arms, "What do you mean by next week?!"
"Usually next week means 7 days, or 1 week after the person saying," Shino began to say before Naruto cut him off, "I know what next week means, thank you very much Beetle, what I meant to say is that I can't participate because the demon festival, which is held only once every ten years is this week and I won't be here for it?!"
"What" Hinata practically cried out as the words left his mouth, "But Naruto, I need you here to help me-I mean us."
Naruto sighed and looked down, his ears drooping, "I'm sorry Hime, but there is nothing I can do. You see, my father is a very influential figure in demon society and as his son it is imperative that I be there."
"I see," Hinata replied sadly, "I understand Naruto, but promise me that you will come back as soon as possible."
Naruto looked up at her and with a grin he says, "As fast as my demon legs will carry me Hime."
The Next day
"Ok I'll be off now Hime," Naruto says in his human form as he sneaks out the back door of the Hyuuga house.
"Be careful Naruto," Hime replies as she waves goodbye to him.
As Naruto turns to leave he stops suddenly, says, "Oh before I forget," and pulls a scroll from his pocket and hands it to Hinata. "If ever you need me, just unroll that scroll and focus your chakra into it. It will act as a beacon and I promise to coming running as fast as I can."
"Thank you Naruto," Hinata stammers as she takes the scroll.
"See ya soon Hime," Naruto says with a salute and a quick nod of his head, and with that, he was gone.
Unbeknownst to the two, a third figure watched the exchange silently, and as soon as the figure saw that Naruto was gone the figure said with a slight malice in his voice, "finally, that blasted fox is gone. Now my revenge will be all that much easier to exact."
Later that same day
Naoko is skipping down a path, whistling a happy tune when she comes upon a rather strange sight, a 1-foot tall brick wall.
"Really, a brick wall," she says in disappointment, "you're going to have to do better than that otouto."
The 1 foot tall brick wall was eerily silent. "Ok enough fooling around Rikuto, I know you're under there," Naoko says in frustration and kicks the wall, knocking it over, only to reveal that it was empty inside, "What the?!"
"BANZAI," cried out four voices and suddenly Naoko found herself face first in the dirt, "I told you it would work, now pay up?"
"Whatever, here's your stinkin' 50 ryo."
Naoko picked herself up off the ground and turned to see her brother receiving money from three other kids, and if her memory is correct their names are Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon.
"What the heck was that for," Naoko yelled as she grabbed Rikuto by the collar.
"Hey, you're the one who promised to play ninja with us and never came through," he replied calmly, although a rather smug smile was plastered on his face.
"What type of ninja plays ninja?"
Naoko released her brother and turned around to see Sakura walking towards them with a rather angry expression on her face.
"Sasuke turn you down again, eh Sakura," Naoko asked with a grin.
"Oh shut up Namikaze! Sasuke will come around soon enough."
At this point Rikuto decided to add his two cents by saying, "Sasuke huh? You mean Sasuke Uchiha? If that's who you're referring to then good luck with wooing that guy Billboard Bro-"
Naoko swiftly clamped his mouth shut but unfortunately she was a little slow on the draw. "WHAT DID YOU SAY SHRIMP?!"
"Run for it guys," Naoko cried out as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her in the opposite direction. Rikuto and friends didn't need to be told twice as they quickly made a hasty retreat, Sakura in hot pursuit. As the chase went on, Konohamaru pulled ahead of the others a little just as they were rounding a bend, only to bump into a guy wearing a black cat suit and a wrapped bundle strapped to his back. "Ouch! Hey watch where you're going you little punk!"
Naoko and Sakura screeched to a halt before him as Moegi and Udon hid behind Rikuto in fear. "Hey you jerk, put him down," Rikuto said as he pointed angrily at the cat suit wearing teen.
"Nah, I don't think I will. Little punks like you have got to learn respect early, so I think I'll be the one to teach this little jerk about respecting his elders."
"Kankuro," cried a feminine voice from further down the path, "You put that kid down right now before he catches you."
The teenager, now Identified as Kankuro turned his head to see a girl, about a year older than him, with sandy blond hair pulled up in four pigtails and replied, "Oh common Temari, he isn't anywhere around here. And besides, this runt nearly knocked me down."
Temari sighed and turned away saying, "Fine but I don't want any part in this."
Naoko and Sakura were just about to spring into action to help Konohamaru when a rock flew out of a nearby tree and hit Kankuro in the wrist, causing him to drop his captive. Konohamaru quickly backed away from the enraged teen who was now frantically looking for the person who threw the rock, only for the perpetrator to say, "What are Suna Shinobi doing in Konoha?"
Everyone looked up into the tree to find Sasuke holding several rocks in his hand. "Man, another runt," Kankuro grumbled as he nursed his bruised wrist.
"I asked you a question," Sasuke said as he crushed the rocks to dust, something that made Sakura and Moegi squeal and cry, "So cool," but ignoring them Sasuke jumped down and faced the two foreign ninja and asked again, "What are Shinobi from Suna doing here."
Kankuro glared at him for a few seconds before he suddenly grins evilly and pulls the bundle off his back only for Temari to mutter excitedly, "Kankuro, no! You can't use Karasu here. We don't want to attract any attention."
"You know you really should listen to your oneesan little Kanky," murmured an eerie voice from behind the two.
Temari and Kankuro spun around and came eye to eye with a green haired boy no older than them, but with a rather eerie aura about. Maybe it had something to do with the way his tongue darted in and out like a reptile sampling the air. Or how he was hunched over slightly and was fingering a kunai. His clothes which appeared to consist of pieces of green samurai armor and chain mail added to his rather bizarre appearance, a headband with and X on it strapped tightly to his right arm. Either way, after getting a good look at the new comer, both Sand Ninja broke into a cold sweat. "And just who are you," Sasuke asked, clearly not reading the mood.
The green haired teen diverted his attention away from the sweating duo before him only for him to lock eyes with Sasuke. His eyes widened then he quickly walked around them and made a beeline for Sasuke only to stop short two feet away, then proceeded to sniff the air. After getting a good whiff of whatever it was that he was trying to smell, the creepy teen said hungrily, "You have the scent of flame about you. Not only that, but a rather delectable flame. Tell me little Konoha nin, are you a fire weilder?"
"And if I am," Sasuke replied defiantly.
"HA HA HA! My, my, my, sounds to me like you got a bit of fire in your soul as well as in your blood little Konoha nin, tell me, what is your name?"
"Give me your name and I will give you mine."
Throwing his head back the teen let out another hearty laugh and then replied, "Very well, you may call me Draco (1), Shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Void. Everyone does, now it's your turn."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
Draco nodded his head when suddenly his ear started to twitch. He turns his head and says to himself, "Oh is it really that time already," then says to Sasuke, "Well it was nice to meet you Sasuke Uchiha, but I really must be going. Owakare (2)." And with that he vanished in a puff of smoke.
"… what the heck was that all about," Sakura asked, shaking her head in confusion. Nobody noticed that the two sand ninja had snuck away during the conversation.
At Team 10's Favorite Barbeque Shop
"Chouji quit eating so much. I swear if you keep this up you'll probably get sick or something," Ino said irritably to the more round of her two team mates.
"Give it up Ino, you know that once he gets started it's too troublesome to get him to stop," Shikamaru said from his face down position on the other side of the table.
"Don't worry about you two," Asuma said with a grin as he lit up a new cigarette, "I say he can eat as much as he wants today. After all, we are celebrating your acceptance into the Chunin exams. Now you three finish your food while I go pay." He then stands up and walks away.
Ino merely sighed and continued to pick at the small salad she had ordered when a voice called out from the table next to them, "Hey waitress! Can I get another order of the Pork and Beef Combo Deluxe?"
Team Ten turned towards the voice to see a busty, amber haired girl with a headband tied loosely around her neck, pack away another plate of meat like it was nothing.
"My god," Ino says in disgust, "How can she eat like that. I tell you, some women have no self control."
Unfortunately for her, the girl stopped eating at this remark and turned angrily towards her.
"I mean, common, no one eats that much besides Chouji here unless they are actually trying to gain weight."
The girl stands up.
"And would you look at those clothes. I mean, she looks like some sort of barbarian with all those furs."
The girl walks towards their table.
"Uh, Ino," Shikamaru tries to warn her.
"And what's with the short skirt and low neckline. Is she trying to look like some sort of hooker?"
"Actually," the girl replies with barely suppressed rage, "My clothes' are designed for maximum mobility, while providing as much protection from the elements as possible. As for me eating so much, I really wouldn't be talking Blondie. I mean, what are you trying to do, starve yourself to death?"
Ino looks up surprised and falls back at seeing just how close the amber haired girl actually was to her. "Sorry," Ino says shakily as she holds her hands up as a sort of gesture meaning that she surrenders.
"You really ought to learn to take your own advice, miss 'some girls have no self control,'" the girl says with a huff and turns to leave but stops when she spots Chouji who had just finished another plate of pork, "Why hello there cutey, what's your name?"
Chouji and Ino look at her in surprise while Shikamaru mutters 'Troublesome,' and puts his head back onto the table.
"Who me/him," Chouji and Ino ask simultaneously.
The girl laughs and replies, "Yes you, who else would I be talking to handsome?"
Ino quickly stands up and proclaims, "You mean you actually find him Chouji attractive?"
Chouji hangs his head sadly while the girl rounds on her, her brown eyes full of rage, and practically yells, "Shut up and sit down Blondie, this aint' your conversation!"
Ino sits down without another word while the girl turns back to Chouji and says sweetly, "so your names Chouji eh? Well it's nice to meet you Chouji, my names Ursa (3). It's nice to see that this village has at least one man who knows how to hold his own with a fork and knife."
Suddenly her ears start to twitch and she turns towards the exit and starts to leave, but stops and looks back Team ten and says with a wink, "See ya later Handsome. If only you weren't a Konoha Shinobi I'd make you mine." The she walks out the door.
Chouji just sits there, his mouth open, then after a minute he asks no one in particular, "What just happened?"
Team Gai's Training Ground
"Did you here," a boy with a bowl cut hair style says while he stretches, Rock Lee, "For the first time in 5 years, rookies are going to participate in the Chunin Exam."
"No way," replies a girl with her hair tied up in buns, juggling a kunai in one hand, Tenten, "It's probably some stubborn Jounin's trying to boost their ego or something…"
"No," says lee as he stands up, "the story is that three of them are Kakashi's student's."
"That sounds interesting," says a second boy with long hair and pale eyes, Neji, "But what I want to know is what you are doing here."
Tenten and lee look at him in confusion when a boy with brown hair with dark blue highlights walks out from behind a nearby tree. The boy was wearing what appeared to be ceremonial robes, tailored for use in combat, and also sported a pair of dark sunglasses. And finally, he had a headband tied around his head. "Impressive," says the boy calmly, his arms crossed, "I hid my presence almost perfectly but you still knew that I was here."
"That's right," Neji replies as he stands up, "Now why don't you tell me what you are doing here, while my team and I are trying to have a private conversation."
"All in good time… Neji Hyuuga," the boy says as he straightens his glasses, and vanishes in an instant.
"Who the heck was that," Lee asked, scratching his head in confusion, "And how did he know your name Neji?"
"I have no idea," Neji responds as he walks away, "But I have a feeling that the Chunin Exams are going to be very interesting this time around."
Location Unknown
The boy appears in a puff of smoke, and standing before him were Draco and Ursa.
"So," Draco says, a slight hiss in his voice, "How did the scouting go leader?"
"Good," the boy responds simply.
"Did you find who you were looking for," Ursa asked, a big grin plastered across her face.
"Yes," the boys replies.
"So what now, Falkner?"
Author Note
Sorry it took so long for me to update guys. Since I will be going back to school soon I may or may not be updating again in the near future.
The good news however is, that majority rule, I will no longer be doing Extra Sections, unless it has to deal with something important, like describing OC's.
Speaking of OC's I would like to tell everyone that I am having a contest where you can have your very own Demon OC playing a key role in my story. If you are interested then check out my Author page for the Submission form, and please follow the rules closely.
I will only be able to have three OC's in my story however so if your OC does not get picked then I apologize in advance.
The OC's that I have picked will be introduced in the next chapter of Son of Kyuubi so please get your entries sent in as soon as possible.
And as always, thanks so much for reading, and reviewing, "Son of Kyuubi"
(1) Draco / Latin for Dragon
(2) Owakare / Farwell
(3) Ursa / As in the Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, the constellations.
(4) Falkner / Variation of Falco which is Latin for Falcon