Naruto met up with his team on Tuesday morning as usual. The events of the last few days' bearing down on them all Naruto figured the best way to get their minds off it would be with some back breaking training.
They arrived as one and despite himself Naruto couldn't help but smile at how different they looked.
Akari had dropped her trademark black shirt and pants for a similar light blue garb. It was tighter fitting than her black clothes, showing her ever growing feminine figure, while Azuko was wearing one of Naruto's old orange jackets.
Taki and Akari talked quietly while Azuko trailed behind the two a few feet, eyes down cast. Naruto sighed to himself when he saw his student like that. He couldn't imagine what being kicked out by one's parents felt like.
He waved to them as they approached. "Hey guys," He said.
"Sensei," His students replied.
"So what's on the roster for today?" Taki asked.
"Training," Naruto answered.
"What kind?" She asked.
"Every kind," Naruto grinned.
The three Genin gave each other worried glances as their Sensei's trademark grin appeared on his face, by now they all knew that that grin meant some incredibly harsh training lay ahead of them.
"Let's get to it then," Azuko said making for the training grounds. Naruto nodded and the team moved off to their usual training grounds.
They had been there for about an hour doing basic stretching and warm up exercises before someone walked onto the training grounds.
Naruto noticed them first and offered the woman a respectful bow. "Kurenai-Sensei, glade you could join us." Naruto said.
Kurenai offered the blond a friendly smile. "Well, you just wouldn't stop pleading, and I didn't much favour my chances of cutting your vocal cords out," She said, the bright smile never leaving her face.
The three Genin trembled slightly as Kurenai's comment seemed genuine, although the blond Jōnin Sensei seemed to ignore it completely.
As Naruto's attention came back to his Genin they formed up and offered Kurenai a respectful bow.
"Guy's this is Kurenai, She is a Jōnin Sensei like me, she's agreed to help your training along in a way I can't." Naruto began. The three Genin gave the two Jonin Sensei before them an odd look, wondering what Kurenai could do that Naruto couldn't.
"So what is she teaching us?" Azuko asked.
Naruto offered him a grin. "Today she will be helping us with Genjutsu." He told them. "I myself still suck whole heartedly at even the most basic Genjutsu." Naruto explained. "Kurenai however," He said gesturing to the red eyed Jōnin next to him, "Is an expert in Genjutsu and has probably forgotten more about it then I'll ever know."
"The answer to both those statements being; absolutely nothing," Kurenai said with a cheeky grin. The three Genin laughed while Naruto gave Kurenai a hurt expression.
"So how will she be helping us train?" Akari asked after she stopped laughing.
"Well first we'll start by teaching you techniques on how to break a Genjutsu," Naruto explained, "Both individually and in pairs. From there if any of you show any aptitudes for Genjutsu then Kurenai has agreed to teach the basics and help you develop from there." Naruto explained.
The three Genin nodded as they took a readied stance. Naruto gave Kurenai a nod and the red eyed Jōnin leapt into action.
The three Genin reeled under the sudden assault as Kurenai moved in again.
"How the hell is this related to Genjutsu training?" Akari shouted as she attacked. The world around her seemed to bend and distort and Akari stumbled as her footing became unstable and her vision warped.
The others suffered similar effects while Naruto and Kurenai watched them from afar stumbling about aimlessly.
Within the Genjutsu Kurenai began to play with their other senses making them feel and smell things, altering their vision and making sounds that weren't there.
Just as the three of them were about to panic it all ended, like a shattered mirror the Genjutsu fell and reality resumed. They stood there shell shocked for a moment before Kurenai got their attention.
"That was an example of a mid-level Genjutsu," She explained to them. The three Genin came closer to her as Kurenai began to explain the basics of Genjutsu and how they played off a person's five sense.
After a lengthy lecture and discussion about the fundamentals of Genjutsu Kurenai suddenly gave the young Shinobi a pop quiz on what she had just explained, any time they gave a wrong answer the person in question was set on by a very disorientating Genjutsu. If none of them answered, they all suffered as if they had answered wrong.
Eventually however Kurenai was pleased that they had at least retained the most basic information about Genjutsu's, how they worked and when best to implement them in any given scenario.
"Okay now that the theory is done with; let's get onto the practical element." Kurenai said. The three Genin nodded in appreciation as they waited for something to happen.
"So how do you break a Genjutsu?" Azuko asked after a long pause.
Kurenai gave the boy a quick glance, "Well there are four ways to do it." Kurenai told them. "The most effective forms are when you have allies with you that aren't within the Genjutsu. If that is the case they can either feed their Chakra into your body though physical contact or they can beat you out of it." She told them.
"Beat us out of it?" Akari asked not liking where Kurenai was going with this. "As in literally beat us out of it?"
Kurenai nodded. "Yes, that's it exactly." She confirmed. "You see while there are four ways to break free of a Genjutsu there are only two methods that can be employed." She told them. The three Genin listened eagerly as Kurenai went on. "Seeing as a Genjutsu works on disrupting your Chakra to cause hallucinations the only two ways to get out is to either disrupt your own Chakra to break the effect, or, you can cause yourself physical pain to forcibly break the illusion." Kurenai told them. "As for the methods, two can be applied if you have a team mate to do the work for you, either hurting you a little or feeding their Chakra into you to break the illusion. If you are by yourself however then you either have to cause yourself some amount of physical pain to break the illusion or you disrupt your own Chakra flow."
"And how do you do that?' Taki asked.
"To put it simply," Naruto cut in. "You supress your own Chakra as much as you can before you push it to the absolute limit, the sudden change from nothing to all you've got should break most Genjutsu, but if the Genjutsu is strong enough this method still might not work." He told them.
"Kurenai if you will." Naruto prompted.
She nodded and went through a series of hand signs, before the others could react both Kurenai and Naruto vanished like dust to the wind.
"A Genjutsu," Akari growled.
"Yep," Naruto said, his voice came from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, throwing off the young Ninja's sense of orientation.
The world didn't seem right, it seemed to buckle and shift in the very fringes of their vision, something so finite it was impossible to pin down yet still set them on edge.
After a few seconds of meandering about they finally but it together that they were supposed to break the Genjutsu using a method that they had just been taught.
They stumbled together and grabbed each other by the shoulders before feeding their Chakra into each other to break the hold.
Nothing happened.
They tried again.
Nothing.
"It's not working." Taki said mildly panicked.
"Of course it's not," Kurenai said, she just seemed to flow in on the wind, like she was made of it. Her body trailed in the wind like wisps of smoke as she glided in between the three uninhibited by physical objects. "Within a Genjutsu the caster can activate any of the five senses; tough, taste, sight, sound and smell."
She raised a ghostly hand to Akari and the girl felt icy cold fingers graze her cheek, "Within this Genjutsu I can make you see things, make you feel things that just aren't." She explained. "So how do you know that those are your team mates you're touching.
The world went black as Akari and the others felt themselves falling. The wind rushed passed her ears as Kurenai's smoky form surrounded her, "There's only one way to get out." She whispered seductively into her ear.
Akari hissed at the woman before she drew a Kunai from her leg holster. "To true," She said as she stabbed the kunai into her hand.
The pain flooded though her body as warm blood rushed down her arm. And just like that Akari was standing on the training ground again. She winced slightly as she pulled the Kunai out of her hand and looked at the others. They held their hands together and for a moment stood completely still before they brought their Chakra to the boiling point.
The wind rustled slightly as they broke free of the Genjutsu. Naruto nodded approvingly as she gave a sideways glance to Kurenai.
"How'd they do?" He asked.
"Good," Kurenai said as she relaxed her hands. "They performed quite well; I honestly wasn't expecting to break it so soon or so effortlessly."
Akari dropped her Kunai as she pulled out a healing salve and some bandages, going over the most basic first aid.
Taki and Azuko looked at her with quizzical expressions.
"Why did you stab yourself Akari?" Taki asked as she moved to help the other girl. Akari shrugged as she let Taki help with the bandaging. "Well they said pain helped break the hold of a Genjutsu and being stabbed is pretty damn painful." The girl offered her excuse blandly as Taki tied the bandage tight.
"You could have always just done the Chakra burst-y-thing," Taki told her.
Akari only shrugged again. "Eh, could-a, should-a, would-a," She said dryly.
"Alright, well, you seem to have the basics down, so how about we move on?" Naruto suggested. Kurenai nodded as she began to teach them all the basics of Genjutsu.
Not to any ones surprised Taki was the only one with any real aptitude for Genjutsu. With a nod Kurenai took Taki over to one side of the clearing as she began to teach her some of the most basic Genjutsu's.
Meanwhile Naruto took Azuko and Akari and started combat drills. He was both impressed as saddened by the results.
Akari seemed to have more of a motive now from the mission in the Land of Planes and so took her training more importantly, while Azuko seemed consumed by it. Like the only thing he could focus on was training, improving himself, becoming stronger.
The day eventually came to a close and Naruto thanked Kurenai for helping him with the training.
"Don't worry about it." Kurenai said as they packed up. "I'm happy to help."
The three Genin bowed respectfully to her as she left, leaving a few Genjutsu scrolls with Taki for her to study.
The rest of the week carried out in the same way as Taki developed her Genjutsu abilities and Azuko and Akari developed both their Ninjutsu and Taijutsu. It was midday of the Friday when Naruto saw the signal bird. He let out a deep breath and popped his neck.
"Alright guys pack it in," He told them. The three of them gave him a quizzical look and Naruto shrugged. "I've got a meeting to get to so the day's yours." He told them.
They nodded still a little confused before Naruto left the training fields.
"Well how about we get some lunch?" Taki suggested after a short paused.
Akari shrugged, "Sounds good, you?" She asked, directing the last part of it towards Azuko. He looked a way for a while before shaking his head, "I'm going to train some more," He said walking deeper into the training fields.
"Azuko you shouldn't push yourself." Taki began, "Rest and relaxation are just as important as training-,"
"Look you can slack off if you want but I won't!" Azuko snapped angrily at her, causing the girl to recoil slightly from the suddenness of his outburst. Before anything else could be said the boy left.
"Azuko!" Taki shouted after him but a firm hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Akari what are you-?" She began.
"Just leave him be," She said gently. "He's hurt and angry right now. So to take his mind off it he's doing the only thing he can do. If you go after him now than he's only going to retreat further. For now all we can do it hope that he can take the first step out by himself." She said.
Taki looked at her feet and she tried to say something. Akari gave her a warm hug to reassure her. "Don't worry about it." She said. "It might take some time, but he'll come round. He's got us and Naruto-Sensei; we'll get him back soon enough."
Taki nodded accepting the Answer before the two of them went to grab some lunch.
As Akari though, Azuko didn't return until a little after midnight, his footsteps were heavy and weak and she wasn't sure if he made it to his bed before passing out.
Naruto gathered in a meeting room of the Hokage's tower with nearly thirty other Jōnin Sensei including Kiba, Hinata and Choji.
After every one had assembled Tsunade and Shizune came in and took their seat at the front of the room. "Thank you for arriving so promptly." Tsunade said as she pulled out a set of scrolls and ink.
"As you have undoubtedly heard by now the Chūnin selection examinations is being held in Konoha at the beginning of next month." She told them.
There was a General murmur of agreement through the crowd before Tsunade continued.
"Starting with the latest teams to pass the Academy I will begin taking down team applications for the exam." She said.
Without needing to be told Naruto, Kiba, Choji and Hinata walked to the front of the room to stand in front of Tsunade.
With a look from Tsunade Hinata began. "Lady Hokage," She said respectfully. "I, Hinata Hyūga, leader of Squad 2, consisting of Yaji Tofu, Nori Boa and Tenshi Akai, will not be putting my team forward for this year's exam." She said. Tsunade nodded and turned to look at Choji.
With another respectful bow Choji, spoke. "Likewise Lady Hokage I, Akimichi Choji leader of squad 5 consisting of Temuno Nakinarito, Tefuda Yumi and Wakini Sakaki, will not be putting my team forward for the Chunin Exams." He said.
Unlike the others Kiba seemed to ponder the question now that it was right in front of him. Luckily for him he gave his answer before Tsunade got fed up with waiting. "Lady Hokage, much like my colleges I, Inuzuka Kiba, leader of squad 6, consisting of, Daki Tetsuno, Mori Ko and Kajin Une, will not be putting my team forward at his time." He said.
Tsunade nodded again before she looked at Naruto nodded politely and raised his hand, first two fingers extended. "Lady Hokage, I Uzumaki Naruto, leader of squad nine consisting of, Moshibi Taki, Nagashi Azuko and Soji Akari, believe that all three are ready for the Chūnin selection exams." He said confidently.
There was a quiet buzz around the room as a few of the other Jōnin Sensei professed surprise at Naruto's declaration, after all his Genin team had only been a team for three months. Naruto however paid it no mind as he kept his gaze squarely on Tsunade. His pseudo-grandmother gave the blond a smile, "Are you sure they can handle it?" She asked, more so to tranquilize the more competitive Jōnin than to question Naruto's judgment.
Naruto shrugged. "If I didn't think they could I wouldn't have suggested them." He said in a matter-of-fact voice. Tsunade nodded and dismissed the four of them as she called up the next group of Jōnin Sensei.
"You really think they can handle it?" Kiba asked Naruto as they moved to the back of the room.
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly at the Inuzuka; he was getting rather tired of people questioning his judgment. "As I said to Tsunade, yes, and as I said to you the other week, I don't expect them to pass, this is simply a wakeup call for them." He said in a very direct tone.
Sensing his irritation Kiba backed down, holding his hands up in a gesture of defeat. "Okay, okay, sorry," He said. "It your squad and you'd know their limitations better than anyone." While the line was painfully textbook diplomacy Naruto new that the Inuzuka was sincere, over the next twenty odd minutes Naruto and the other hung at the back of the room as each year's Jonin Sensei recommended their students for this year's Chunin exams. All in all only Kiba, Choji and Hinata hadn't put their teams forward. Naruto couldn't help but smile as he took the three Chūnin consent forms from Shizune, it was going to be interesting to say the least, to see how well his team would do and what – if anything – they would take away from it.
Yorugakure was a small hidden Village nestled deep within a canyon in the Land of Night. While the land itself wasn't continuously dark the Village itself constantly lay under heavy and dark cloud cover preventing daylight from reaching the small Village.
Still those that called the Village their home had little problem with the cloud cover, years of living in the constant darkness had given even the civilian populace terrific night vision. On the training fields above the canyon Ikino gathered his squad together with another five Genin squads from Yorugakure.
In attendance also was the Village leader the Yorukage. He walked across the front of the six assembled squads assessing each and every one of them.
"As you already know." He said, "The 18 of you gathered here have been chosen to represent our village in the Chūnin exams held in Konoha this year. Do your best and bring honour to the name Yorugakure." He said before turning to leave.
"Yes, Lord Yorukage." All 18 students and 6 Jōnin Sensei chorused.
As the teams consolidated into their cells and separated from the others Yin shared a happy grin with Hina and Makabi. They were the youngest team from Yorugakure and the only ones to pass the incredibly harsh exam conditions imposed on them by the Yorukage that year. Ikino smiled at them as they made their own way to the Village. They descended past the cold cloud cover of the Village and to their usual meeting spot. "I wanted to congratulate you three." Ikino said to them. "You have surpassed every expectation placed upon you and met every challenge given to you with everything you have. I am proud to call you three my students and Chūnin of Yorugakure." He said with a smile.
"Wait, Chūnin?" Hina burst out. "We haven't even attempted the test's yet."
Ikino turned his smile to her and nodded. "True, but the Yorukage personally selects the squads that represent the Village in the joint Chūnin exams, and because of that he only sends those squads he already deems to be at the Chūnin level in both skill and maturity. Representing the village at the exams is merely to display the skill and prowess of Yorugakure's Shinobi. So when we get to Konoha I want you to show them how strong we of Yorugakure are." He told them. He reached into the folds of his jacket and pulled out a scroll, from there he produced three sets of Yorugakure Chūnin combat gear. A long coat, vest complete with arm and shin guards. The three newly promoted Chūnin bowed respectfully to him as they accepted their attire and put it on.
"Well then, the day is yours." He told them. "We leaved for Konoha at dawn tomorrow, don't be late or I'll leave without you." He said.
They all nodded before Ikino vanished. No sooner had the Jōnin vanished Hina let out an ear splitting squeal of joy before tackle-hugging both of her team mates.
"We did it!" She shouted happily.
Yin and Makabi smiled at each other as they each patted Hina on the back.
"You make it sound like we would never have done it." Yin said teasingly. Hina shot the boy a half glare as she let her team mates go. "Shut up," She said, not able to keep the smile on her face. "I didn't think we'd make Chūnin so soon though." She said.
Yin and Makabi nodded, they too could not believe that they had been elevated to Chūnin so quickly.
"Don't get so cocky." A voice said from behind them. The trio grimaced as they turned to look at the speaker.
He like his two companions as well as Yin and the others sported newly acquired Chūnin gear.
"What do you want Toriko?" Yin asked, not bothering to keep the contempt out of his voice. Toriko gave the three of them a wicked grin as he and his two team mates advanced. "Oh nothing much," He said slyly. "Just passing on some useful advice."
"And that is?" Makabi asked.
Toriko levelled his eyes at the three and dropped his grin, his dark eyes shining dangerously in the dim street light of the village.
"Just because you made Chūnin doesn't mean you're guaranteed to survive the Chūnin exams." He told them. "They're a cut throat affair, not to mention that most teams there are also on par or above the level of Chūnin, and plenty of people still die during the exam." He said.
"Thanks for the advice," Yin said coldly before turning away.
"Damn that guy's a pain in the ass." Hina said after they had gotten far enough away not to be heard.
Makabi nodded, "You said it, though I don't know why he's so fixated on trying to torment us."
"It's cause we're so young." Yin said.
The others looked at him quizzically and Yin elaborated. "Well think about it. It took him five tries to actually graduate and become a Genin, whereas the three of us all passed on our first try." He said. "Not to mention he's been a Genin for three years now, and only just got the promotion, and again, we got promoted within six months. He's just jealous and angry." He said.
The other's nodded as they walked through the dark city streets.
"I just hope he doesn't try anything during the exams." Hina said.
Yin shrugged, "Knowing him, he will if he can, Roku and Gou do anything he tells them so it's not like they're going to object to it if he does try anything using the exam as a guise."
The group walked on for a few more minutes before they reached Makabi's home. "Anyway, see you guys at dawn." He said with a half-smile.
Yin and Hina both nodded. "See you then." They said. The two of them walked back to Yin's place in silence.
Without a word between them they entered Yin's apartment and the boy took his shirt off, taking a seat on the floor as Hina sat down on the couch behind him.
Yin focused his Chakra; forcing an intricate seal to show across his back and arms. Hina pulled out a scroll and began tracing parts of the seal taking notes on it and its function, occasionally asking questions about it, to which Yin answered to the best of his abilities.
"does it still bother you?" She asked after she put her scroll away.
Yin shook his head as he put his shirt back on. "Not anymore." He said. "I'm getting more and more use to it. The seal's main function is to mesh out Chakras together and at first it was a bit hard to adjust to it, but it's been getting better; now I can't feel it at all." He told her.
Hina nodded happily. "That's good." She said. "Judging from my notes and what you've told me we shouldn't have to alter the seal anymore, seems like we've finally got it down pact." She said.
Yin smiled along with her. "Well that's something at least."
As instructed the group met at dawn the following day at the gates of the Village. "We best be off." Ikino said. "It will take us six days to reach Konoha from hear, five if we hurry."
"When do the exams start?" Hina asked.
"Seven days from now." Ikino responded. "So let's go."
Sup Friendlies?
Another Chapter down and another 'X' to go before we've finished it all. The Exmas will 'start' next chapter and when I say start I mean they get to the waiting room thing. As far as the first exam goes, I've been trying to think of something new, but it's still a lot like the one from the manga so meh, I tried to make it different but it just wouldn't work the way I wanted it to if I didn't keep it mostly the same.
All in all I do so hope you enjoyed this Chapter, don't forget to review if you have any queries or comments.
Until next time I wish you all the best.
Yours truly.
Nicolai Grey.