CHAPTER FOUR
Kakashi sat by the dinner table calmly watching the civilian-clothed blonde also calmly eating by the other side, or rather Naruto in his civilian clothing. It had actually been a surprise to them when Naruto appeared at the gate in civilian clothing, no any kind Shinobi gear. Kakashi could just not understand the type of person Naruto was.
"Why didn't you assist when Zabuza and his accomplice attacked?" Kakashi finally asked the question that has been bugging him since they reached wave.
"I saw no reason to," Naruto replied not looking up from his dish, His white shirt and plain shorts spotless. How he managed to think of only white outfit on a Ninja escort mission was above Kakashi
"What if your teammates were injured? That could jeopardize our mission," Kakashi said as he had now finished his dish.
"That will not happen," Naruto just continued eating. Sakura and Sasuke had left to go and keep watch on the house. The dining room was empty save for Kakashi and Naruto
Kakashi just gathered his plates and got up. He should really get some training in; He was not like Naruto that apparently does not train. Naruto was the first of its type Kakashi would ever come across, even the legendary Madara do train sometimes. When asked how he could keep his body in shape if he doesn't train, he would say, "he had a way around it."
It was a complete lie, ever since Naruto activated what he would like to called divine blessing, living life as a Ninja got a new definition in his dictionary. All he had to do was study, and to know the operational detail and mechanism behind a Jutsu, same thing for fighting styles. He devised a special use for the three quarrelling chakra in him. To this day, the three chakras had still not completely blended, such large amount of chakra was never meant to be stored in human. The tiny bit of the Shinigami's chakra, being the stronger one present in the mixture has been altering the two others for the past twelve years. Naruto estimated the final transformation to be in five months time. Even with the current level, he could still direct his chakra to modify his body to a preferable condition. What he lacks in training, he made up for it with reading.
"Do what you have to, we will be engaging them tomorrow" with that Kakashi exited the building.
The team arrived the next day to see the bridge covered in mist, dead bodies littering the ground.
"Well! Well! Well! What do we have here? Sharingan no Kakashi and his coward student, we meet again!" Zabuza spoke as the mist diminish a little to show the missing-nin and the fake hunter-nin standing by him.
"It is most unfortunate that we have to meet again so soon, but I assure you won't be leaving here on your own ground," said Kakashi.
"Just hand over the bridge builder and we will both go our merry way"
"That is not going happen" Kakashi replied pulling up his headband.
"Kirigakure no jutsu" Zabuza muttered holding up his favorite hand seal. Once again, the bridge was covered in mist.
"I'm sorry to say Kakashi but your Sharingan is not going to work this time, my accomplice has disclose some important details to me after our last fight." Killing intent flooded the fight scene yet again. Probably to disrupt their sensory ability, considering how they managed to get by his last one.
The team had wisely chosen to keep quiet, seeing as they had a better chance of winning if there positions weren't blatantly disclosed. "Though I'm still wondering what you are doing here with that civilian kid. He couldn't even raise a finger the other day," Zabuza continued projecting his voice from all direction. This was to his recollection of the last fight when the blonde kid just stood by the sideline watching the fight like a statue. He had still yet to know the caster that black wall. It could not be the kid; the boy wasn't even paying attention to him when he appeared behind the kid. He looks more suited to be a playboy. "Take care of the rest Haku. The other two shouldn't be a problem." He spoke especially loud so he could instill fear in them.
"Do you think you could hide from me?" Zabuza spoke menacingly from behind Sakura, his sword poised high for a decapacitating strike. Only the timely intervention of Kakashi saved Sakura once again from Zabuza. "You showed your face at last," Zabuza said excitedly. Both jounin disappeared into the mist leaving Sakura a trembling mess. Sakura would leave her whole life fearing Missing-nins.
"….kura! Sakura! Sakura! Will you pay attention?" Sasuke spat venomously. Sakura came to, to see another Zabuza already in front of her, Sasuke at her front struggling to deflect the big Zanbato. The Zabuza suddenly burst into water when a Kunai was embedded in his chest. She could almost scoff, now mere water constructs were recognizing her as a weak target.
The clone collapsed to reveal Kakashi behind it. Mere seconds later, Kakashi also crumbled. The two Jounins took their game of hide and seek to somewhere on the bridge. Just about the same time, Haku was already giving Sasuke the ass whipping of his life. Haku could not believer his eyes, wasn't Naruto there teammate, why was he just standing there. He already tried to involve the boy but he had very little success. No matter, he prepared to finish raven-haired kid trapped in his ice-cube; he pulled a handful of Senbon. "I'm sorry I have to do this, you should have left when I allowed you to." Haku said raining the Senbon on him from all direction. Then right of Haku's eyes, Sasuke, if what he heard from the team was correct, started dodging every single one of his needles.
"What!" Haku expressed his surprise. What suddenly changed when he could not dodge them in the first place. He threw a brief glance the Blondie's way, he wasn't comfortable with the blond hawk-like eye keeping constant surveillance on his every move. When the Sasuke kid raised his head, the answer revealed itself in the form of red-dotted eyes.
"What is that? Some kind of bloodline" Haku asked, pausing in his onslaught.
Sasuke happy that he could finally boast his bloodline quickly replied. He was hoping to use this as a trump card against Naruto. He never thought he would reveal it so soon. "This is the Sharingan, you should feel honored I'm showing this to you. Only worthy opponents get to see it" Sasuke activated the eyes long time ago during one of his intense trainings he took up when he realized that he was lacking.
Naruto stood calmly watching the little banter between Sasuke and the ice kid. Sasuke was faring much better than he thought. But the kid, the kid was another interesting candidate, he couldn't pass up this chance, He never thought he could still find one after they were all killed by the Mizukage.
"That is not going to make a difference," Haku said retreating into one of the ice crystals. Haku held up a hand seal with one hand, the other withdrew a handful of Senbon. The dome suddenly got bigger, more ice mirrors filling up the freed space. Haku rained Never-ending ice Senbon on Sasuke. He managed to dodge the first few but was quickly overwhelmed. Minutes later, Sasuke was a living memo of the legendary pincushion. The last batch of senbons that would decide Sasuke's fate were mysteriously plucked out of the air.
"What!" Haku exclaimed. That was impossible, he quickly threw another round but they all met the same fate. He could hear clanks in the distance. Looking to the direction, he saw all his Senbons in a bundle behind the blonde. Naruto started taking slow measured steps towards the ice dome. Haku wanting to know what happened to his Senbons quickly attempted another attack, this time he himself going to deliver the blow. This round also was not exempted as he was plucked out of air rather violently, making him meet the ground with a hard smack. He quickly made to get to his feet but his movements were restricted. He carefully examined his body to see his hands and feet tied by black ropes. They feel strangely like rubber.
"What are you doing?" Sasuke whimpered struggling to stay upright. "I don't need your help Naruto, I can take care of him myself"
Haku was already berating himself mentally. He should have been watching Naruto. Now he would not be a useful tool to Zabuza-sama.
"You have a very beautiful bloodline," Naruto said walking casually up to the restrained kid. "You know I fought one of your kinds some time back. So I know about your one-handed seal," Naruto said when Haku finally realized his fingers were rigid. "Kill me then, I have no more use to my master" Haku said, resigning to his fate, it was his fault for letting his guard down.
"I will, after I take what I need from you"
Then right in front of Haku's eye, Naruto palm turned into a dark abyss of swirling vacuum. Sasuke had long fallen unconscious.
"What will you do with that?" Haku asked, although he wanted to die he would rather do it without feeling much pain.
"Nothing" Naruto replied, placing the palm beside Haku's left eye.
"What did you do?" asked a normal Haku, from the look of that Jutsu he was expecting to feel excruciating pain. Naruto pulled his palm back, the swirling hole gradually turning frosty.
"You can still save your master, he's about to be killed" Naruto said picking up Sasuke taking him to the black cone that covered both Sakura and the old man.
Haku got up suspiciously; he did not feel any different. Moreover, he also could not find any trace of those strange ropes, he could not deduce their texture from the feel alone.
"Hokage-sama, Danzo-sama is here," the secretary said from outside the door.
"Let him in" Hiruzen replied sitting upright.
"Anything worth knowing?" Hiruzen asked activating the silencing jutsu. They only see each other when they had something to discuss about Naruto. That was their unspoken agreement.
"About my former Anbu"
"What are you talking about?" Hiruzen feigned innocence. Although they now agreed on most things, he still could not confide everything in Danzo.
"You think I can't sense my former ninja, I knew Tenzo was in there"
"So what are you implying" Hiruzen had a vague idea, but he really did not want to involve Danzo.
"I don't know if you noticed but Naruto didn't seem to notice him unlike others in the room.
"So?"
"None of my Ninjas were able to evade his sense"
"Danzo get to the point"
"Okay I think because of his nature chakra, he's best suited to watch Naruto during the chunin exams."
Hiruzen stayed silent for a few minute. "You are well aware of what happened the last time". Hiruzen was talking about the day they summoned Naruto to the council chambers after his fight with Kakashi. They had tried to force information out of him but the result left the chamber in a mess. They rained attacks on him, but all he did was wait it out until they exhausted their arsenal. Even Jiraiya was around when it happened. That iron dome of his was sturdy.
"What he doesn't know won't be a problem, Danzo equally reasoned."
"This conversation is over" Hiruzen dismissed him.
It wasn't even ten minute after the team enter Konoha gates that they heared someone say, "That is him"
"Are you sure? That boy kind of looks like the Yondaime"
"He's nothing like the Yondaime, that's just a heartless demon. Let's go"
"Um... Are you sure that is a good idea? It's in the middle of the street"
"Shut up and lets go, unless you don't want to get paid" the woman barked angrily already stomping towards the team.
"Seems like we have company," Kakashi said stopping the team. He wanted to know the level of hostility between Naruto and the villagers.
"You!" the woman shouted coming to stand behind team seven. Naruto turned around while Kakashi ushered his teammates to the sideline. The woman smirk a little, seeing as his team could also readily abandon him; she did not think she would have any success if the copy ninja was on his side.
Naruto considered every detail about them. He quickly labeled the woman as insignificant. She was short and chubby-looking. The three children behind her, judging by their looks, they were newly minted Chunins, also insignificant.
"I may not be a ninja but I know a bit of your techniques. You can fool everybody else in the village but not me. You think can deceive me with a simple Henge." The woman ranted looking up at Naruto. Naruto was a good foot taller than she was. "Show your true face"
"Huh?" Naruto decided to get a little bit interactive.
"You think you can fool me? Gather around everybody, come and see the face of the devil," the woman shouted calling for the attention of the casual observers. "This boy here has been fooling you all, he goes around carrying the image of our beloved Yondaime proudly. When in reality he is the Kyuubi. Everybody, this is Naruto!" she exclaimed, proud that she was the one that uncovered Naruto's most guarded secret.
Every body wore a deadpanned expression, save for maybe strangers. "Uh... we know" Someone said.
"Oh! ... great then, I brought assistance"
Just by that word, most of the gathered spectators had started dispersing. There was a vicious rumor surrounding one handicapped man, who now begs for alms in the street, something about him attacking Naruto sometime back.
"You?" Naruto asked. If she wants it, she will get it.
"Yes" she replied.
"What if I refuse?" this was too much fun to pass up.
"Then I will make you" she continued failing to notice that she was alone in her quest.
"You, and what army?" it was fun to actually meet people like this once in while. He actually did miss this kind of confrontations. His most dominant personality could never allow for such useless things.
The woman turned around to look for her bodyguards and supporters but found empty space. Apparently, they all had better brains.
Naruto chuckled aloud for added effect, some villager seeing the closest to a smile they would ever see on Naruto's face. "Come back when you have an army to back you up" Naruto said turning around, "that way, I'll have so much fun killing you all"
How-the-hell did everything backfired so rapidly, she had everything planned out. Confront him. Seek help from the people if things were not looking good. Now, now, she did not know whether to feel fear for what Naruto said, or feel betrayed that nobody supported her, wasn't it this same Naruto that killed their loved ones all those years ago.
Or maybe to feel embarrassed for getting hands down by this same kid she drove out of the academy about eight years ago. She stood rooted to the same spot for a few more minutes, before dragging herself away.
Omoi was just coming back from the market place. It had only been three days since they arrived in Konaha, they still hadn't seen anything to make them suspicious of the village. However, what he saw today, he could not keep it to himself. "Samui, I saw something in the market today." Omoi exclaimed, shoving the door open. "Our presence in the village must have angered the dead, because I saw a dead man today. I saw that dead blonde walking in the street." Omoi explained.
Samui kept quiet while Karui answered, "What blonde? It's just your dumb brain conjuring up image that are not real, I told to stop licking that thing." She replied rather loudly.
"Shut up flat chest," Omoi returned heatedly. "I'm telling you I saw their dead Hokage"
"Omoi, there's no way a dead person can be alive, sensei said so himself. Moreover, we don't have time for such things. We have an exam tomorrow, you shouldn't be snooping around" Samui spoke for the first time. "It's not cool"
"I'm not snooping; I was walking in the market pla…"
"Shut up Omoi!"
Naruto arrived back home after their debriefing at the Hokage tower to find the room unorganized. It was not looking out of order, but still he knew how he left it. And it seem the person responsible was still hanging around. This one was better at it than the others, but still the same, no one could evade his sense, as long as they breathe. The man could be another interesting candidate. There was only one person he remembered that could blend with wood. Deciding to let the Ninja keep watch for some time, Naruto contemplated the impulsive announcement of the Chunin exams. It was expected, but it came too soon. He had little gain from his time with team seven, he just could not understand why the Nidaime Hokage would want to create a cell comprising of Genin, even the work they do were not Ninja-related. The only worthy thing that came out of his stay with team-7 was Haku's bloodline he got to add to his collection. Soon everything would solve itself out. He would soon start his own quest for power. The village could never provide enough power that would sate his desire. He was going to follow in the path of those that came before him; you do not live with so many memories-of-a-lifetime of alike Ninjas in you without going on your own search for power. The Chunin exams would decide his remaining time in the village.
Team 7 arrived at the academy the next day to see thousand of hopeful candidates, every one of them having that atmosphere accompanying them. They passed right by a commotion on their way to the exam room.
Of the people they passed by on their way, some spared them a glance, others not caring. Someone decided to speak up, "Hey you!" Both Sasuke and Sakura turned round to see who it was, while continued walking, he already knew who it was.
"Hello! My name is rock…" was the last thing Naruto heard before walking through the door.
According to Naruto, the other side of the door could be called a bunch of a good fortune. Each one of them would receive a special visit from him, that much was sure. If they got no bloodline, well he never did really take only DNA before, for what use will a bloodline be if you have to start relearning its uses from the beginning. He could read and let his chakra do the rest, but now even that was getting too troublesome for him to do. This was the first time he would actually have to repress a smile, why couldn't Konoha have this exams like three times in a year. So many candidates.
The shout of "Naruto!" disrupted his blissful thoughts. The voice belonged to Ino, 'Did she know me from somewhere?.' Before a conversation could ensue between them, Sasuke and Sakura walked in. "Sasuke!" Ino shouted again, her attention diverted. Any further fuss was disregarded when the booming voice of a bandana wearing man who appeared in front of the classroom resounded in the room.
He went on to explain the rules and regulations guiding the exams. Some people forfeited others that decided to push on later forfeited also when the pressure got too much. It was not long after they were done with the first part of the exam that a woman took them to the second exam ground (A.k.a) forest of death.
"Everybody ready?' Anko asked after going through the various procedures necessary before they would be allowed into the forest. Some answered while some ignored her. "Alright go kill yourself bitches!" she shouted maniacally. "I only want to see one quarter of you after this exams"
When Tenzo was assigned to watch Naruto, he thought what could be so dangerous about him that they actually had to call especially for him. But from what he was debriefed of, he could see the intellect applied. In addition, it turned out to be the best decision they had to offer. He still was not sure if he could suppress Naruto if he decided to unleash the Kyuubi. He couldn't find any trace of the Kyuubi chakra in Naruto. For now, he would remain hidden, this was the part where his stealth was required the most.
Elsewhere in the forest
"We are going after team seven" Neji said, "We are closer to them than any other team"
"No, we are not" Lee said with enough weight. Both his teammate turned their heads, when did lee get so serious. Even his voice sounded different, "Why?" that was Tenten. She didn't see why they couldn't go after the team, they looked kind of vulnerable. They were too skinny to be ninjas.
"I spent two weeks in the hospital because of the blondie" lee explained.
"That was your fault for being a loser." Neji reprimanded him
"Whatever" Lee replied, he didn't feel like defending himself.
Elsewhere
"What the hell is he? He's been shouldering everything we threw at him," a girl shouted terrified, she never thought there could be people like this in the exams.
"Why the hell are you after us if you don't want the scroll?" another shouted. Why did they even decide to take the exam in Konoha. His mother was right; being a ninja is a terribly bad idea.
"That's not something for you to know" the blonde replied continuing his onslaught.
Similar episodes were happening to almost all of the aspirants that were in the forest.
"He's everywhere," Gaara said for the thousandth time. "Mother wants his blood" he kept repeating the same line as he continued wrecking his own havocs.
His two siblings maintained their distance, even if Gaara was not known to show mercy, today showed that to be greatly underestimated. They didn't even have to take part, all their opponents were decimated before they could even notice any threat.
"Kukukuku" a creeping laugh resonated in thick forest. The person responsible for it bit his finger, drawing enough blood to summon a creature.
Orochimaru watched patiently, waiting for the snake to burst out under the blonde, he only needed to test Sasuke, not any nuisance. The ground trembled for a few minute before everything went quiet. Both Sasuke and Sakura looked disorganized while Naruto did not look any different, he never once look surprised, nothing ever met him unforeseen.
Orochimaru looked astonished, he couldn't feel the presence of his summon anymore. It couldn't have dispelled itself, only Manda could go against his command. Orochimaru jumped from his position, several leaves blocking his vision, he would take care of the Jinchuuriki nuisance himself.
The Snake Sannin landed softly to meet only two genins remaining out of the three, was that brief obstruction of his view enough for the blonde to get away, or did he really take that long getting to the ground. He would worry about that later, he had something to do now.
"Who are you?" Sasuke asked rudely, as if that was important in this forest.
"Ohoho! That mouth! I only need your scroll" Orochimaru decide to play with them a little.
"We don't have one" Sasuke replied, he was going to have to take charge again. Naruto ran away as he always does. He was starting to think all the power Naruto showed during his fight with Kakashi sensei was a one-time thing. What stupid Ninja doesn't train? Beside, He needed to play it smoothly; the person opposite them has that aura surrounding him.
"Then I will have to take something else" Orochimaru said, his hands a blur of sequential seals. "futon:Daitoppa" a huge gust of sped towards the two genins.
Tenzo watched the two kids fend off attacks from the strange Ninja from his position on a tree; he could no longer trace Naruto. This was the first time it would happen. Since he was assigned to watch Naruto, he never had too much trouble tracking Naruto. Choosing to observe the fight he could see, instead of going after Naruto he could not see. Maybe they may be in need his help.
Not ten minutes after tenzo made up his mind, he started a furious analyzing in his mind. What was a missing-nin doing in the exam? He could leave his position and be discovered or he could stay and watch patiently, Orochimaru would have killed them if he wanted to. Maybe someone will come along.
"I will give you a gift," Orochimaru said, his pale skin now visible to the moonlit night. He held a hand seal, his neck stretching disgustingly towards the battered and weak looking Sasuke.
Tenzo prepared to interfere before a voice that strangely sounds similar to that of Naruto say "You have been watching me since yesterday." Tenzo turned to see Naruto sitting on the same branch as him. He quickly flew downward, thankfully Orochimaru left already. Even after he landed, Naruto was there, not ten feet from him.
"Who sent you?" Naruto asked, not caring if the person had an older appearance. With his current Knowledge, the three hokage combined could not say they were older than he was.
Tenzo was thankful of one thing, he didn't have his Konoha hitai-ate. This could really backfire.
"I asked a question"
"No one" Tenzo replied, a small kid would not speak down on him.
"So you did it on your own. You shouldn't have" Naruto answered back.
Tenzo prepared to defend himself, but soon found it to be useless when he instantly felt a cut running down his left arm, before he could scream a devastating blow launched him back. Tenzo quickly recovered his bearing to see Naruto standing in his own previous spot, a shiny sword in his hands. What was he anyway, must he be able to use everything. However, it was something he should have expect, it was said that he could use a kunai effortlessly, maybe that included all kinds of weapon.
He speedily completed a chain of seals, "Suiton:Mizurapa" Tenzo blew out a compressed gazer leaking steam toward Naruto when he noticed the beginning of a step.
Instead of dodging, Naruto stood his ground. "Ninpo" A huge wall of dirt sprang up in front of Naruto, which maintained the position to protect Naruto from the heating water. The upshot left abundance of mud on the ground. "Ninpo" Naruto said again, thousands of moderate spike flying out of the mud with unforeseen speed.
Tenzo quickly braced himself with a wooden dome
"I suspect as much," Naruto said. "Ninpo" A violent wind picked up in front of him that continue to gain more power as it sped towards the lone standing dome, ending with the decimation of about thirty feet behind where the dome was once was.
"Although I normally wouldn't ask such things, I'm interested in knowing how you managed to get your hands on it" Naruto conversed, his hands not waiting for any answer as it continue to show aggression. The sword was long discarded, kunais now in its place. Naruto stood rooted to his position, his hands becoming a blur of thousand aims.
Tenzo continued changing locations on impulse, how the hell can a Kunai pierce five threes without changing its path. He survived that evil hurricane by mere luck, even if he could use earth. This attacks came at too little interval. Another Kunai blew a hole through the three he was about to take cover behind.
"You should answer me" he heard Naruto say before another hurricane tore through his last spot.
"Wait" Tenzo finally shouted when he could not get breathing space, his was running out of chakra fast. Everything went silent as tenzo moved cautiously back to the clearing. There Naruto was, waiting calmly as if he did not just wreck destruction to the peaceful forest around him.
"I will tell you who I am working for" Tenzo continued, treading slowly towards Naruto. Naruto might end up hurting his teammates even if he had mysteriously avoided them seconds ago.
"I'm working for, I'm working for… Mokuton,"Tenzo quickly shouted when he saw that he was within reasonable distance to Naruto.
Wood tentacles burst forth around Naruto, each with a complexity of seals coating it. Before Naruto could think to move, they were all wrapped tightly over his body. Though if Tenzo would have looked carefully, he would see Naruto was not making to escape.
He prepared to breath a sigh of relief, that jutsu was his most secretive technique, there was no way Naruto would escape from that. He could worry about releasing him late…
"You shouldn't have" Naruto said from right in front of him. Before eh could raise his head to look at the blonde, an immense force pummeled him into the ground. From his position on the ground, Tenzo's eyes were lined with his wooden creation, another Naruto sinking it into a ripple. The sentence "I should keep it, might prove useful in the future" reaching his ears. Strange how Naruto's voice could always reach you no matter the disturbance.
A hand demonstrating much strength picked him from the ground, which continued to demonstrate demonic Taijutsu expertise on him. Tenzo could not even fall down, blows and kicks kept him upright even with no more strength in his body. From his awkward position on the floor, he saw Naruto's palm turned to a swirling abyss before the sentence "I will know either way" escorted him to a blissful and painless unconsciousness.
Naruto walked back to where his two teammates were laying unconscious, the ghost of a smile on his face. Today just keeps getting better with each passing seconds. He briefly debated the idea of taking them to the tower at the center of the forest, but he needed to see what that seal could do, he interrupted Tenzo mainly for this reason. Orochimaru would also want to see the result of his handwork. If then, a campfire was in order. They may not be able to generate enough body heat.