(The epic Chunin Exam Arc is underway! In the Thirty Ninth Chapter of the arc, the fighting is over but Kuroda is not yet done making mischief in the Hidden Stone Village. What will happen in the aftermath of his win? The Chunin Exams continue! What will be the outcome? I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
Kuroda exits his room around noon the next day. He takes his time eating his breakfast of oatmeal and hard-boiled eggs, seemingly in no hurry at all to start the day. When he finally, lazily, makes his way outside he starts off towards the hospital. Even though he is acting nonchalantly, his senses are on full alert and he immediately notices something.
"So, I am still being followed, I see," he thinks, "Well, I can't have any of that, now can I? I guess it is time for another game of follow the leader."
After leading the Rock Village ANBU on another pointless chase he makes sure they have lost his trail before he heads to the hospital. He gets directions to Ichimaru's room from a receptionist at the desk and slowly makes his way there, passing up a certain Rain Ninja's room. "I should stop by and say hi to him, but I have more important things to tend to first," thinks Kuroda. He heads up the stairs and when he reaches the top, a man comes out of the first room and bumps into him.
"Well, if it isn't Kuroda Taishi of the Leaf Village," says Mazuma Shiranui.
"It is polite to say 'excuse me' when you bump into someone," responds Kuroda. He tries to walk away, but Mazuma steps in his way and blocks his path.
"You're not going anywhere, Leaf Ninja, I have business with you," states Mazuma.
Kuroda asks, "What possible business could you have with me?"
"Well, for one thing there is our previous encounter in the Land of Grass, and also the fact that you just completely humiliated and nearly killed my student," answers Mazuma.
Kuroda replies, "Being Hara's Sensei I understand why you might feel protective of your student, but taking revenge on behalf of him would be foolish. If you killed me then Hara would never forgive you and would never become a great ninja. A ninja needs reasons to be strong; he needs a purpose for living. There are many different reasons to become stronger such as protecting friends, a home, or a way of life. But one of the best reasons is so that a person can defeat someone who has defeated them. Now that I have shown Hara that he can be defeated, he will strive to get better and become stronger so that one day he will be able to defeat me. But if you stepped in and killed me it would crush Hara. He would resent you for stepping in and doing something that he could not. He would lose his reason for getting stronger and he would never be able to achieve the level that he has the potential to."
"As for the other matter," Kuroda explains, "I was simply on a mission and I had no personal reason for being in the Grass Country. Besides, the mission wasn't even the Hidden Leaf Village's idea; we only participated on it because the Hidden Mist Village requested their help."
"The Hidden Mist requested it?" questions Mazuma, surprised by the information.
"Now, if we're done here I didn't come here to speak with you, I have other business to attend to," says Kuroda, "Ohh, and don't let anyone know I told you about the Hidden Mist. It would put a lot of people in a difficult situation."
Mazuma lets Kuroda pass and then steps back into the room he came out of and shuts the door. Kuro Bandou and Mari Matsumoto are sitting beside Hara's bed. "I thought you were going to get some food, Sensei?" asks Kuro.
"I was," explains Mazuma, "But then I received some very interesting information from Hara's new rival."
"My new rival?" questions Hara, "Are you talking about Kuroda Taishi?"
"That's the one," answers Mazuma.
"What did he say?" asks Mari, perking up.
Kuroda climbs up another flight of stairs and finally finds Ichimaru's room. When Kuroda walks in, Ichimaru is writing intensely in a scroll. Kuroda asks, "What are you doing?"
A bit startled Ichimaru replies, "Oh hi. I'm just working on the strategy for my team's next mission."
"Your next mission?" Kuroda says, "You have changed a lot, Ichimaru. You never used to work this hard; you were always a lazy goof-off."
Ichimaru sighs, "Yeah, I guess, but it would be a real drag if I didn't start it. Besides, you should take a look at yourself."
"I often look in the mirror; every wise ninja does to make sure they approve of what they become," Kuroda reflects.
Ichimaru glances up and smirks. Kuroda inquires, "How are your injuries healing?"
Ichimaru explains, "Well, all those damn leaves Hara threw at me gave me a bunch of cuts and bruises, but nothing too serious. I should be able to make it to the ceremony tomorrow. But it won't make much of a difference if I am there or not. I seriously doubt I am going to be promoted to Chunin. But at least one Leaf Ninja did well and will be promoted."
Kuroda retorts, "Nothing is guaranteed, my friend. Many people don't want me to become a Chunin, including the Hokage."
Ichimaru comments, "What reason would the Hokage have to hold you back? And even if she did it wouldn't be practical. Now that you won the tournament outright many Feudal Lords, Kings, and other people will be requesting you for missions, and they will expect you to hold the title of Chunin. So, even if the Hokage doesn't want it, it is not really up to her anymore."
Kuroda responds, "I still have my doubts, but I agree with your assessment of the situation."
Then Ichimaru asks, "Kuroda, how did you become so strong?"
Kuroda answers, "I have always been strong, but I never had a reason to show my strength or improve it. I was content with just having fun and goofing around with you. But then I found a reason, something that made me need to become stronger. I now have a goal, and I cannot attain it unless I am the strongest I can be."
Ichimaru inquires, "So what is this goal of yours then?"
Kuroda just says, "One day when the time is right I will ask you to join me and help me fulfill my goal and on that day I won't have to explain my goal, because you will understand it."
"You didn't exactly answer my question, but I guess you have your reasons," comments Ichimaru.
Kuroda looks out the window, "It is getting late and I have another stop to make."
"It is barely even past noon," points out Ichimaru.
"Yeah, but I have an appointment that I can't be late for," explains Kuroda, "See you tomorrow then." He leaves Ichimaru to ponder on the talk they just had.
Kuroda makes his way to the top floor and sees that there are a large number of guards around. Kuroda figures, "This must be the right place." He easily slips by them and into a hidden corridor.
"Well, isn't that convenient. I wonder why she is here," he thinks as he sees Tatsuki Asakura standing guard outside the only room on this level.
Tatsuki gets an uncomfortable chill down her back, "This feeling, but how? There is no way." When she takes a look around, she sees Kuroda walking towards her.
"How did you get up here? This is a private wing; no one is aloud without permission from the Tsuchikage," yells Tatsuki as she reaches towards her weapons pack.
Kuroda replies, "I could probably lie to you and say that I do have permission, but I don't think you would believe me, Miss Asakura. And even if you did you could always take a step inside that room and ask the Tsuchikage."
"How did he know the Tsuchikage is in there?" wonders Tatsuki. She takes out a kunai and points it towards him saying, "If you don't leave immediately I will be forced to remove you."
Kuroda replies calmly, "Relax, Miss Asakura, I'm not there to cause trouble. I just want to see how Hoshi is doing."
Tatsuki is surprised and asks, "Why do you care about someone who isn't even from your village?"
Kuroda responds, "Just because I am from another village doesn't mean I can't be concerned for her welfare."
Tatsuki tells him, "Even if your intentions are good-natured, you are a security risk and you cannot see her."
Kuroda offers, "How about we compromise. You can accompany me into the room to make sure nothing happens." Just when Tatsuki is about to say something the Tsuchikage exits Hoshi's room.
He glances at Kuroda and then walks over to Tatsuki and whispers, "How did he get up here and what does he want?"
She replies, "I'm not sure how he got past the guards; they didn't report anything to me about an intruder. As for his intentions, he claims to want to see how your daughter is doing."
The Tsuchikage walks over to Kuroda and says, "Thank you for your concern. I can see that you are obviously trying to keep up good relations between our two villages. Did your Hokage ask you to do this?"
"No, I came of my own free will," answers Kuroda.
The Tsuchikage thinks about it for a minute and then he tells him, "You may see her."
Tatsuki objects, "But, Lord Tsuchikage!"
But the Tsuchikage quickly cuts her off, "What do you think he is going to do, Tatsuki? If he wanted to kill her he could have easily done it during their match and would have had a valid excuse. Besides this hospital is filled with Rock Ninja not to mention we are in the Village Hidden in the Rocks, there is no way the boy would do anything to harm my daughter."
"As you wish, Lord Tsuchikage," says Tatsuki begrudgingly.
"Thank you, Lord Tsuchikage. I appreciate your faith in my pure intentions," says Kuroda.
"Yes, well, just don't stay too long, she needs her rest so she can make it to the ceremony tomorrow," says the Tsuchikage. He leaves while Kuroda heads into Hoshi's room closing the door behind him.
When Kuroda enters the room he sees Hoshi sitting up in her bed. She is frightened by his appearance and asks, "How… how did you get in here?"
He smiles and explains, "Your father was kind enough to grant me permission to see you."
She asks, "Why would my father let an enemy in to see his own daughter?"
"First of all, our two villages are supposed to be allies. Second, the Tsuchikage is wise enough to know I would not attempt to hurt you even if I wanted to," explains Kuroda.
Hoshi gets angry and yells, "You have already hurt me so much, why is a little more going to make a difference?"
Kuroda calmly explains, "During our first encounter in the Forest of Lost Souls it was necessary for me to show you my true powers in order to get you to sign the blood contract. The second situation was unavoidable because it would have been suspicious if either of us forfeited the match."
Then Kuroda kindly asks, "How well are your injuries healing?"
Hoshi avoids answering and demands to know, "Just what is this contract about?"
"As you know, by signing the contract, you have put your life in my hands and must follow any order I give. If you try to resist that torturous pain will encompass your body until you obey my order," explains Kuroda, "There are some other rules, such as you cannot try to attack me or kill yourself. Plus there are many benefits for you as well."
"Benefits, like what?" asks Hoshi.
"You will find out when the time is right," answers Kuroda.
"Just what do you plan to do with me? Why did you choose me? What is my purpose now? Are you going to make me betray my village?" asks Hoshi.
Kuroda explains, "I won't force you to help destroy your own village, but I will ask you to do things that are generally considered treason."
"Like what?" she asks.
"For starters, I need your help," he says, "I want to learn that defensive barrier technique that you used in your battle with Dantoluxo. Normally I would have you teach it to me on your own, but since I will be leaving tomorrow that won't work."
Hoshi asks, "Why do you need to learn that Jutsu? You already have that ice shield Jutsu."
Kuroda explains, "In actuality I probably don't need any defensive Jutsu at all, but since I don't want anybody outside of my control knowing about my secret technique I have to have other techniques I can use in battle. And yes, I do have that shield Jutsu, but you are only partially correct in your assessment of it. It is a powerful shield indeed, but it loses its true power when the weather is warm or when I am not near a water source."
"I see, the cold atmosphere combined with your chakra and a water source allows you to form and sustain a shield, but when it is to warm outside the shield becomes weak and will break after a few hits," surmises Hoshi.
"Precisely," says Kuroda, "I knew I chose well, you have a very advanced understanding of chakra for your age."
"For my age? But aren't you only a few years older than me?" she inquires.
Kuroda smiles, "It may appear that way, but I won't be telling you the real truth until much later. Now, you are to bring me a scroll containing instructions on how to perform your barrier Jutsu."
"What makes you think there is a scroll detailing how to do it?" questions Hoshi.
"Come now, you are an intelligent young woman," says Kuroda, "Don't make comments that make you seem foolish. You will pass the scroll to me tomorrow at the ceremony. Good luck, I know you won't disappoint me." He leaves the room satisfied that he accomplished everything he wanted to.
"Goodbye, Miss Asakura," he comments as he walks by the 3rd stage proctor, "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow." Tatsuki shudders at the thought and tries to contain herself until he leaves her presence. Once outside the hospital he senses another squad of ANBU prepared to tail him, so he sets off to lose them and then heads to his next appointment.
(That is the end of the chapter, what did you think? Kuroda has already given Hoshi a mission, will she be able to complete it before the Leaf Shinobi leave? As usual, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)