A/N: Author's Note: I'm glad that people seemed to enjoy Chapter Four.
Disclaimer: I do not, nor have I ever, owned anything relating to Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto series.
Legend:
A Human being is talking."
'A Human being is thinking.'
"A Tailed Beast or Summon talking."
'A Tailed Beast or Summon thinking.'
"A Jutsu is being performed."
Chapter Five:
-The Village Hidden in the Leaves: Hokage's Residence-
As the Third Hokage, an old man known as Hiruzen Sarutobi, waited for the last of his Jonin to arrive, he looked over at the assemblage of ninja scattered throughout his office. Two of his newly-promoted Jonin were annoyed at the absence of Kakashi Hakate while the others were in mild states of boredom, already used to Kakashi's chronic tardiness.
It was at that moment that a column of swirling leaves appeared in the middle of the Third Hokage's office. The assembled ninja tensed, some reaching for their hip-pouches, as they sought to see who had appeared.
Kakashi Hakate, sensing danger, removed his eyes from page 186 of Icha Icha Paradise and looked at the tensed ninja around him.
"Sorry I'm late, I'm afraid that I got lost on the path of life." The silver-haired Jonin said, his greeting causing several people to sigh.
Hiruzen cleared his throat and was instantly rewarded by the attention of every ninja within his office.
"Now that we are all present and accounted for I would like to begin this meeting," The Third Hokage said. "Those of you that passed your Genin Squads, please step forward."
As soon as Hiruzen finished speaking, three of the nine Jonin stepped towards his desk. He motioned for Kakashi to speak first.
"I, Kakashi Hakate, hereby declare that Squad Seven's Sasuke Uchiha, Ino Yamanaka, and Kiba Inuzuka have passed my test." The black-eyed ninja said.
As Kakashi spoke, varying degrees of shock and surprise started to appear on the other ninjas faces; Kakashi Hakate had been assigned numerous Genin Squads in the past but none of them had ever passed his exam. They wondered exactly how Squad Seven had managed to pass the aloof Jonin's test when all the others had failed. The gathered Jonin were soon interrupted from their thoughts by the voice of Anko Mitarashi.
"I, Anko Mitarashi, hereby declare that Squad Eight's Naruto Uzumaki, Hinata Hyuga, and Shino Aburame have passed my test." Anko announced.
After Anko had finished her announcement, she returned to her former spot near the window, passing people with mixed emotions. Some of the ninja were glad that a Genin Squad had passed a test made by Ibiki Morino's apprentice. Others were surprised that the Jinchūriki of the Nine-tailed Demon-Fox had managed to pass Anko's test; wasn't Naruto one of the Ninja Academy's Dead-lasts? As the Jonin were broken out of their thoughts by Anko's voice, they were broken out of their thoughts by Asuma Sarutobi's voice.
"I, Asuma Sarutobi, hereby declare that Choji Akimichi, Sakura Haruno, and Shikamaru Nara have passed." Asuma said.
There wasn't that much of a reaction to Asuma's announcement as most of the Jonin knew of his laid-back demeanor and simple test. The black-haired Jonin walked towards his girlfriend, Kurenai Yuhi, as he received smiles and words of congratulation.
Hiruzen smiled as he watched a grin spread across his son's face before he schooled his features and called for attention.
"Very good," The Third Hokage said, "Tomorrow you will take your Genin Squads to receive their first D-rank mission. Your teams will not be able to ask for a C-rank mission until they have completed a minimum of 50 D-rank missions and they have shown significant improvement since their time in the academy. Be sure to use this time to turn your charges into strong, respectable Genin that we all can be proud of… You are dismissed."
With his permission to leave, the gathered Jonin quickly departed from the Third Hokage's office to go home for the night. Hiruzen had expected for all of his Jonin to leave for their homes and was honestly puzzled on why Anko chose to stay.
The violet-haired woman turned her head to look at the Third Hokage with a serious expression on her face. She walked up to Hiruzen's desk before removing a folder from her trench coat and placed it on the desk.
"… I have discovered something that you should be aware of." Anko said.
XXXXXXX
-The Village Hidden in the Leaves: Hokage's Residence-
As Anko told him of her "discovery", Hiruzen began to rub the temples of his forehead in an attempt to relieve him of his growing migraine. The cause of his migraine was one of the violet-haired Jonin's three students, the troublesome blond Genin known as Naruto Uzumaki.
"Did he reveal any information on how he managed to acquire those two objects Anko?" The Third Hokage questioned.
"No, Anko said. "But… He did mention that one of his hobbies was to practice with that sword…"
Hiruzen sighed at that inconsequential information before he lowered his head and folded his hands. He was quiet for five minutes as he thought about the situation and what he could do about it. The gray-haired man finally lifted his head and stared at Anko.
"I want you to continue observing Naruto as discreetly as you can… Inform me about any information that you find important." Hiruzen said.
Anko nodded at the Third Hokage's order before she bowed to him. She then used the Body Flicker technique to disappear within a column of swirling leaves.
'What else could you be hiding Naruto? How did you manage to acquire those two items?' Hiruzen thought.
XXXXXXX
-Land of Sound: The Village Hidden within the Sound-
"Lord Orochimaru," A bowing teenager with silver-colored hair said, "One of our spies within the Hidden Leaf Village was captured last night. He was apprehended by a team of A.N.B.U. when he tried to steal the Forbidden Scroll of Seals from the Hokage's Residence."
As soon as he has finished his report, the silver-haired teenager slowly lifted his head to view Orochimaru's reaction to his news.
Sitting on a throne directly in front of the silver-haired teenager was a 50 year-old man with skin the color of milk, waist-length black-colored hair, and snake-like amber-colored eyes. He was wearing long white-colored robes with purple lining that was embroidered with black tomoe markings and tied with a purple ribbon. The black-haired man had on white leggings and black open-toed shoes with a fishnet mesh that had purple lining under it. To complete this outfit, Orochimaru wore a pair of blue tomoe-shaped earrings in his ears.
"Who was the unfortunate spy that was captured Kabuto?" Orochimaru questioned his face completely free of any emotion.
"Mizuki Touji was the one captured my Lord," the silver-haired teenager answered, "The Special Jonin-level ninja you had placed within the Hidden Leaf Village's Ninja Academy."
A small frown appeared on Orochimaru's face as he accepted Kabuto's information and thought about the possible repercussions that Mizuki's capture might cause. After three minutes of absolute silence, the Snake Sannin turned to address his most faithful servant.
"While his capture is most regrettable, the man had almost no knowledge of my operations either within or outside of the Leaf… However, when you return to the village I want you to inform my other spies to be on their guard… to watch their backs." Orochimaru ordered.
"As you wish, Lord Orochimaru." Kabuto responded with a bow.
After the silver-haired teenager had finished his bow, he used the Body Flicker technique to vanish within a cloud of black smoke.
'Even with this minor setback my plans will still go ahead as scheduled,' The black-haired man thought, 'After the final round of the Chunin Exams, the Hidden Leaf Village will be nothing more than a pile of rubble and distant memories.'
XXXXXXX
-Land of Rain: The Village Hidden in the Rain-
"Tobi thinks that Mr. Deidara is pretty strong; He has to be to have beat Mr. Itachi!" Tobi said excitedly, "Tobi thinks that we should get Mr. Deidara to join Akatsuki."
"Unfortunately it isn't possible to recruit him anymore Tobi," An orange-haired man replied, "After he managed to beat Itachi in battle, Deidara used an Earth-based jutsu to escape before Sasori could captured him… Zetsu had also reported that he is travelling on one of his clay birds to towards the Village Hidden in the Rocks. None of the members of Akatsuki can get to him right now."
"But why would Mr. Deidara be heading to that village Pain?" The masked ninja questioned. "Mr. Deidara is a S-ranked Rouge-ninja of that village!"
"I wish I knew the answer to that question Tobi," The orange-haired man said, "We will have to wait and find out his reasons…"
A/N: Author's Note:
That is the end of Chapter Five. So how did you guys enjoy it. Please let me know in your reviews and messages.
Can you guys guess how Deidara managed to beat Itachi? Can you figure out why he is heading towards the Village Hidden in the Rocks?