talking: Ya' know
thinking: Ya' know
jutsu: Flying Raijin Jutsu
Tailed Beast talking: Damn you 4th Hokage
Tailed Beast thinking: Damn you 4th Hokage
I don't own Naruto or any other manga/anime in any way shape or form. (sorry for not disclaiming in the last chapter.)
story has some slight x-overs.
Chapter 5: The Second Stage
It's been ten minutes since the gates to Training Ground 44 opened, and Team Shuffle were currently in the middle of a clearing.
"Excuse me. But may ask why we are in the middle of a clearing, during such a dangerous exam?" Sai asked, with his fake smile.
"Sai actually has a good point, Hinata." Said Konohamaru, agreeing with Sai.
Giving off a genuine smile of her own, Hinata replied. "For one, not many would dare go against us. This is due to the fact that we're older than most other competitors. Second, only the ones closest to mine and Sai's age will believe that the have a chance against us. Third, there are those who are younger, possibly around your age Konohamaru, that will be arrogant and try and take us out. With me so far?"
"Yea, so far." Konohamaru answered, still not knowing where she's getting at.
"As for the latter two reasons, we have the advantage with experience. That and everyone will think that you're the weak link in this team, when that could be quite the opposite. Also, I have the Byakugan. So no one can possible sneak up on us. So if anyone thinks they can, they'll be sorely mistaken." Hinata finished.
"Oh. Fair enough, I guess." Said Konohamaru.
"And if you're wrong, Hinata?" Sai asked, never losing his smile.
Hinata just looked at him with her own smile. "Hnhn. Trust me, I'm not. You should know that. And if you don't, then that just means you're not as good as you claim to be." Hinata replied, with an insult toward Sai's abilities.
Sai just kept his smile, which irked Hinata. Although, Hinata didn't show it. Yet, Konohamaru could sense it. "Yea. These two don't like each other. Well, at least that's the case with Hinata. With Sai, I can't sense anything coming from him. He's weird." Konohamaru thought.
"Are you going to use your Byakugan, or do you prefer to die by the enemies hand?" Sai asked.
"Tsk. I'm already aware that there are others nearby. Like I said, everyone will think that Konohamaru is the weak link on this team. Not to mention, I noticed that we have some Sand Ninja around our age that were on either side of us. So, we'll have to take care of them before we can move on to the next stage." Hinata answered, before activating her Byakugan.
Indeed, she was right. There were two teams of Sand Ninja. Out of the six, four were male and the other two female. Everyone of them wore the same form fitting outfit. Brownish shirts and pants, with turban like head gear. Veils concealed their faces, to where only their eyes were visible. They wore their headbands on their left arm, and each had a separate kanji representing one of the five elements on their turbans. The sixth one however had a kanji for sword. She was the only one with a sword strapped to her back.
"Six Sand Ninja. Four male, two female. All of their faces are covered, this should be tricky. I suggest we take them on as a team, otherwise we're at an even bigger disadvantage." Said Hinata, informing her teammates on their situation.
"It seems you're the one who's not as good as you claim to be. I can handle some of them quite easily on my own." Said Sai, returning Hinata's earlier jab.
"Then handle all of them if you can. But I'm sure you'll be conquered easier than you think. And I could defeat them on my own, but what point is it if Konohamaru doesn't gain any experience working with others who he's not used to teaming up with. Now, either shut the hell up and work with us as a team. Or we'll let you get beaten, so that you learn your lesson." Hinata replied, getting even more annoyed with Sai.
Before anyone could say anything else, Hinata warned them to look out as a kunai with an attached paper bomb. The maneuver did as it was intended to. It separated the three Leaf Shinobi. Hinata and Konohamaru ended up on one side of the clearing, while Sai ended up on the other. The six Sand Ninja then took their position in the center under the guise of the explosion.
Once the smoke dissipated, the Sand Ninja stood between them. Three facing each side. "Heh. This team must've been thrown together, judging by how these two were arguing." Said the girl, with the kanji for 'Fire'.
"Don't be silly, Kaiya. They're more like a bickering couple. Haha." Said a large muscular boy, with the kanji for 'Earth'.
The comment earned a laugh from the others. "You might be right about that, Daisuke!" Yelled a small skinny boy, with the kanji for 'Lightning'.
"Can it, Yamaguchi!" Yelled the girl, with the kanji for 'Sword'.
"Calm down, Mao. It doesn't hurt to have a little fun before taking down our enemy." Said a middle sized boy, with the kanji for 'Wind'.
"Don't tell me what to do, Kiyoshi!" Yelled the girl now known as Mao.
"Calm down please, Mao." Said the final boy, with the kanji for 'Water'.
"Fine, Noritaka." Mao replied, with a blush hidden under her veil.
"Thank you. Now, everyone. We should focus on our attention on our opponents, not their possible relationships." Said Noritaka, getting a nod from the others.
"Right." The others replied.
"Good. Let's go." Noritaka ordered. From that moment Noritaka, Mao and Kiyoshi went after Sai. While Kaiya, Daisuke and Yamaguchi went after Hinata and Konohamaru.
-With Hinata and Konohamaru-
Hinata and Konohamaru stood back to back, as they were surrounded by their three opponents. "Heheh. So, a little brat and a weak Hyuga girl." Said Yamaguchi.
"Hnhn. I wouldn't call me weak. After all, my master is quite the shinobi. I'm sure you've heard of Jiraiya." Hinata said, earning wide eyes from the Sand Ninja.
"Jiraiya? Of the Sannin? Why would someone like him train you!?" Asked Kaiya, as she yelled out her question.
"That would be because of my boyfriend. And thank goodness it's not that idiot your comrades are going after." Hinata replied, smirking at them.
"I don't care who your boyfriend is, you're going down and so is that brat behind you." Kaiya replied.
"Well, you should. Because her boyfriend practically saved your Kazekage single-handedly!" Said Konohamaru.
"Saved Lord Kazekage? You can't possibly mean Naruto Uzumaki? Why would he date someone from a village that threw him out?" Daisuke asked.
*Sigh* "Our village never threw him out. As for specifics, that's over your head." Said Hinata.
"Yea, whatever! They're probably pulling wool over our eyes! Let's just finish them off!" Yelled Kaiya.
With that, they began their attack.
-With Sai-
Sai just stood there, waiting for his opponents to make the first move. Once they did, he'd use a 'Substitution Jutsu!'. Of course, he knew they'd expect it. But he had already prepared a counter attack.
"Not going to attack?" Noritaka asked.
"It wouldn't make much sense for someone who's outnumbered to make the first move, now would it?" Said asked, answering a question with one of his own.
"Heh. I thought you wouldn't be this smart. Considering your age." Noritaka replied.
"To be honest, this is the first time I've stepped foot in these exams. Not like you weaklings." Sai replied, causing two of them to get angry.
"Like you're one to talk! You must be so weak, you had to beg to be put in these exams!" Yelled Mao.
"Calm down, Mao. That's his strategy. The angrier we get, the easier a fight he has. And from the looks of it, he's been trained to keep his emotions in check. So the same tactic won't work on him." Said Noritaka. "Am I right?" Noritaka asked Sai, already having a good idea of what the answer is.
"It seems one of you actually has a brain. Although, for the Hidden Sand's 'Six Paths Squad' I'd have to say that you don't look as strong as I've heard you are." Said Sai, surprising them with the knowledge that he knows who they are.
"How do you know about us?" Kiyoshi asked, as he narrowed his eyes at Sai.
"I cant' say. For it's not any of your business. It's best if you don't know. Although, I believe that the sixth path is the 'Yin-Yang Style'. Not Kenjutsu." Said Sai, referring to Mao.
"Shut up, asshole!" Mao yelled, as she drew her sword and charged. Completely ignoring Noritaka's yells of not to.
Sai simply let Mao slice right through him, as he disappeared in a *poof* of smoke.
"Damn it!" Mao yelled, in frustration.
Before anyone could react to the situation, they suddenly couldn't move. Looking down, they saw that they were wrapped by strange black snakes. Before any of them could call out for help, another black snake covered their mouth. Preventing them from making a sound. Sai then proceeded to knock them each out with a chop to the backs of their necks.
Luckily he managed this, because an explosion just went off. The force of which, would've disrupted Sai's jutsu.
-With Hinata and Konohamaru-
Just like with Sai, Hinata and Konohamaru waited for them to make the first move. Which wouldn't be difficult. Hinata could tell that Mao was a hot-head. And having a former hot-head for a boyfriend, she knew how she could possibly get to her. "What's wrong, Kaiya? Jealous that I have an amazing boyfriend, instead of being lonely?" Hinata asked.
Hinata noticed the look in her eyes when Kiyoshi spoke earlier. They were the same eyes she would look at Naruto with, back when they were in the Academy and even after. She knew it was a look of longing after a boy who didn't know of her feelings.
Kaiya yelled out in rage and attempted to swing a fist at Hinata. Her teammates rushed in to back her up, just in case her opponent used a counter-attack. They almost completely converged on Hinata and Konohamaru at the same time. Once they did, Hinata and Konohamaru jumped up into the trees.
During their jump, Konohamaru started a set of hand-signs. Which he finished by the time they landed on their own branch. "Fire Style: Burning Ash!" Konohamaru said, before he exhaled grey smoke. Said smoke was headed toward the three Sand Ninja.
Kaiya almost immediately noticed the jutsu. But she still managed to warn her teammates. "Watch out! It's going to explode!" She yelled. She and her teammates got out of immediate danger. Unfortunately, the shockwave blasted them away. The two males were a little slower, and got blown into a separate trees. Kaiya however only got blown to the other side of the clearing.
Hinata quickly reacted and got behind Kaiya and hit her with a jutsu of her own. "Eight Trigrams: 32 Palms!" Said Hinata, as she struck her opponent said number of time. The attack sent Kaiya back, effectively keeping her down, yet conscious.
"Ugh. Y..you bitch. That was a cheap trick." Said Kaiya, as she stared up at Hinata.
"We're ninja. We use whatever trick we have to, in order to win. But, to be honest. I didn't mean what I said." Said Hinata
"Wh..what're you talking about?"
"You look at Kiyoshi, the same way I used to look at Naruto. Never acknowledged by the one you have feelings for. It was the same for me too. Luckily, he returned my feelings. Even though I was too shy to ever tell him how I feel. But you. You're confident in your own abilities, while I wasn't. You have the courage to tell him how you feel, despite the fear you have. Don't let that fear control you. Otherwise, you'll possibly miss your chance to be with him forever." Hinata replied, shock showing on the other girl's face.
Kaiya's mind was a blank. She didn't know what to think. Here was a girl, just a year or so older than herself, telling her own back story in her love life. Yet, in some weird way, in was inspiring her to do as she said. "Is she right? Should I tell Kiyoshi how I feel, despite being afraid of being turned down? Hmm. Maybe I should." Kaiya thought, as some thoughts finally came around.
Hinata turned around to her teammates. "We should grab the scroll, and get going." Said Hinata. As she was saying this, she saw Konohamaru already going through the unconscious members of the Sand Ninja Teams. Sai on the other hand was just standing there, staring at her intently. "Is there a problem, Sai?" Hinata asked.
Sai just smiled his fake smile, as he replied. "No. Nothings wrong. Why would there be?"
"Don't know. But you keep staring at me almost like you hit the jackpot on something." Said Hinata, as she cautiously walked toward him.
"Are you implying that I'm happy? I'm sorry, but I don't really feel any kind of emotions."
"I know. That's why you won't feel guilty when you're ordered to do anything. That's why I'm warning you. Try anything, to either myself, my family or Naruto and his village, and I will beat you into the ground, and beat the fear of death into you." Said Hinata, activating her Byakugan to emphasize her point before she walked off toward Konohamaru.
Konohamaru was watching the ordeal between his teammates go down as soon as he found the needed scroll. He couldn't really hear anything once Hinata got closer to Sai. But he could tell that Hinata was angry at Sai, and it seemed she was threatening him when she activated her Byakugan. "What is going on here? I know they don't like each other. But why?" Konohamaru asked himself.
Hinata walked to the edge of the clearing. "Let's go." She ordered, just before she jumped into the trees. Konohamaru took a quick glance at Sai, before following.
Sai then followed shortly after. It didn't take long for him to catch up to Hinata and Konohamaru. After a few minutes of silence, Sai broke the silence hoping to get some more information on Naruto and the Hidden Whirlpool Village.
"I heard your conversation with those Sand Ninja back there. I heard that Naruto is your boyfriend. Present tense. Which means you've still had a secret relationship with him this entire time."
"How did you hear? From what I could tell, you were having your own conversation with those Sand Ninja. So how could you hear my conversation?" Hinata asked.
"I placed my ink mice around the area to detect oncoming threats. As well as to gain some information about their abilities, just in case you couldn't take them." Sai replied.
Hinata came to a sudden stop. Causing Konohamaru and Sai to over jump and land on the next branches. Konohamaru landed on the next one, while Sai landed on one further.
"Huh? What's wrong, Hinata?" Konohamaru asked.
"More like you hoping to get information on my fighting skills, or more likely, information on the Hidden Whirlpool's security. Am I right?" Hinata asked, completely ignoring Konohamaru.
"What!?" Konohamaru yelled, glaring at Sai with an angry, but also a slightly confused, look.
Sai just looked at her blankly, with his usual fake smile.
Konohamaru was confused about the situation, was looking between his two teammates. He had no idea what was going on, but he was going to find out now. "Ok. What's going on? You obviously don't like Sai for some reason, Hinata? And now you're saying he's trying to get information on Naruto and his village? Why would he do that? They're now our allies." Said Konohamaru.
Hinata kept staring at Sai, Byakugan flaring, making sure he doesn't try anything. But, she didn't hesitate to respond. "He's under orders from a man named Danzo Shimura to gather information on Naruto through me. Danzo is no longer in political power because of Naruto, because he's been sending assassins after Naruto for years. And has failed again and again. Danzo also believes that the Hidden Whirlpool is a threat to our village." Hinata explained, still not taking her eyes off of Sai while keeping track of their surroundings.
Konohamaru whipped his head towards Sai. He knew about Danzo, he often heard his deceased grandfather curse the man. He knew that this Danzo was a shady character. But ne never thought that he'd try to kill Naruto. Staring at Sai, Konohamaru asked. "Why? Why would Danzo think Naruto is a threat? Or the Hidden Whirlpool for that matter?"
Sai didn't respond. He just kept standing there with his 'smile'. It was Hinata who finally responded. "It's more about Naruto than it is about the Hidden Whirlpool. Naruto has what Danzo wants. Other than political power. Danzo wants this thing for military power. He's also jealous that Naruto had managed be get in charge of his own village, while Danzo is still hiding in the shadows. Danzo is nothing more than a self-righteous and self-pitying coward!"
"Wh...what is this thing that would give Danzo military power?" Konohamaru asked, looking toward Hinata now.
Hinata hesitated. "I..it's nothing you need to worry about, Konohamaru."
Konohamaru looked confused at this. "What's going on? Is there something about Naruto that I don't know? And if so, then what is it?" Konohamaru thought. "You can't just say something like that, and not say anything. So, what's going on!?" Konohamaru asked.
"She can't say. If she were to tell you, she'd be breaking a law your grandfather made sixteen years ago." Said Sai, causing Konohamaru to look at him again.
"Huh? What law?" Konohamaru asked.
"Unfortunately, he's right. If I reveal it to you, I'll be punished. But, so will he. But, let's just say that it has something to do with why Naruto left the village in the first place. And though I can't tell you about that. But, I can tell you why Naruto left." Hinata answered.
Looking back at Hinata, Konohamaru asked a silent, yet obvious, question.
Hinata answered. "After the councilors removed Naruto from the Ninja Roster, Danzo approached Naruto later that night. He offered Naruto an opportunity to be a ninja again. But in order to do so, Naruto had to fake his death. And leave everyone he cared about behind. That includes you, me, Lady Tsunade and all of Naruto's other friends."
During Hinata's explanation, Konohamaru's eyes narrowed from confusion, to shock and then to anger. He then glared at Sai, having already pieced together that he works for Danzo. "So, Naruto leaving was all because of your damn Boss!? What kind of psycho is this Danzo guy!?" Konohamaru yelled.
"Danzo doesn't concern you. What he does, doesn't concern you. He does what he must to protect the Leaf Village. Even if that means he has to eliminate traitors, such as Naruto Uzumaki." Said Sai, causing Hinata to become quite angry.
"DON'T YOU DARE CALL NARUTO A TRAITOR! IT WAS BECAUSE OF YOUR COWARDLY BOSS THAT HE LEFT! Naruto refused to be Danzo's pawn. A choice that wasn't even offered to you. So it's possible that deep, deep down, that you're jealous of that. And despite leaving, Naruto could've gone to war with us. But he chose to align our villages instead. DESPITE THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS MADE BY THAT BASTARD, DANZO!" Hinata yelled, having calmed herself down, only to start yelling again.
"Yet, that could be a ruse to plan an attack on our village. And due to your relationship with him, even during his three year disappearance, makes you a traitor and a possible spy." Sai replied, not letting Hinata's yell effect him.
"How dare you accuse me of such a thing. Yes. I've been in a relationship with him this entire time. But, that doesn't make me a spy. I never divulged any of my Clan's secret, nor any secret that I may have had knowledge of the village's security. The only knowledge he's received about the Leaf Village, is what he already knew. And what my mother told him about Danzo. But that's all." Said Hinata, refraining from yelling despite her anger rising.
"So, he knows how Lord Danzo operates. That's a problem for the village. Danzo takes care of the things that the late Third Hokage, and the current Fifth Hokage, are too weak to do. Danzo does what is necessary to protect the Leaf Village." Sai retorted, as he thought. "This truly is a problem. It seems Hinata and her mother need to be taken out. I'll have to take her out now. And I'll have to take out the Third's grandson as well. It would jeopardize Lord Danzo to leave a witness."
Hinata had enough of Sai. She leapt forward, intent on beating Sai into the ground. "He can stay out until we get to the tower. No one ever said he conscious when we make inside the tower, so long as we can wake him up. So, I won't beat him down too badly." Hinata thought, as she threw a chakra laced palm strike toward Sai's heart.
Sai simply dodged out of the way at the last second, by stepping to his left and jumping upward. Hinata quickly followed after him. Sai pulled out an unraveling scroll with an opening for his ink on one end, and pulled out a brush from the other. Quickly drawing some lions on the scroll, Sai activated them and sent them after Hinata. "Ninja Art: Super Beast Scroll!"
Hinata saw the lions coming with ease, and quickly destroyed them with a quick series of palm strikes and kicks. Upon the ink beasts destruction, Hinata had to place her feet against the tree trunk due to the lost momentum.
Sai took advantage of that, pulling out his ninjato he jumped toward Hinata in an attempt to kill her.
Hinata saw his attack, and counter by quickly rotating. Unfortunately for Sai, he couldn't stop his descent in time. So he couldn't do anything to falling right into Hinata's 'Rotation'.
Upon impact, Sai flew out of the trees and into the clearing. Landing with a loud *splat*? As Hinata landed by the dispersed 'Ink Clone', the tree they were previously in began to collapse from where she used her Clan's defensive jutsu.
Looking around with her Byakugan, Hinata surveyed her surroundings for the real Sai. Which was quite easy despite the ten or so 'Ink Clones' around the area. "Konohamaru, watch out. Sai has numerous clones around us, he could use you to get to me." Hinata warned, knowing that this was most likely Sai's plan now.
Quickly jumping down to the forest floor, Konohamaru stood back to back with Hinata. "Right!" Konohamaru said.
Hinata then, as discretely as possible, told Konohamaru all the clone's positions. As well as Sai's own position. Both knew better than to just head straight for Sai. He was stronger and smarter than he looked, so it wouldn't be easy to get to him. Not only that, but going after him would also leave them open to the clone's attack. It also didn't help that they were lower on numbers.
Hinata, Konohamaru and Sai, w/ clones, were at a standstill. Every time Sai or his clones moved, Hinata would inform Konohamaru. Suddenly, after just a few minutes of their standstill, Hinata began smiling. "Looks like the odd are now going to be in our favor. You might as well give up now, Sai." Said Hinata.
"Uh, Hinata? You wanna fill me in on what's going on?" Konohamaru asked.
Hinata didn't reply, she just continued smiling as a few of Sai's clones were taken out. And three newcomers arrived, standing back to back to back in their fighting stances. "Hey, Hinata! Need a hand?!" Said a young girl, with brunette hair.
Her hair went down to the small of her back. She also wore an ocean blue karate gee with a black belt, with matching sandals. The boy next to her had black hair, wore a light blue sweater with a green hood. He also wore ninja pants that was the same shade of blue as his sweater, with matching sandals. The final member of the Whirlpool trio was another girl. She also had brown hair, but she only had it down to her shoulders. She also wore an ocean blue karate gee, but with a red belt instead of black. She also wore matching sandals. All three of them wore a Whirlpool headband on their foreheads.
"That would be nice, Ran." Hinata replied.
"It's been a while huh, Hinata?" Asked the other girl.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we have more important business at hand girls." Said the lone boy on the team.
"Shinichi is right, Honoka." Said Hinata.
"Right. So, what's the deal here?" Asked Honoka.
"Some sort of disagreement between Hinata and the kid that's our age with their teammate. That about right, Hinata?" Shinichi asked, after giving his take on the situation.
"Shut up, you smart-ass!" Honoka yelled.
"He's right. Not only that, he was placed on my team so I could participate in these exams. But he had an alternative mission. To gather information on Naruto and the Hidden Whirlpool. Now, he's trying to kill me as well as Konohamaru in order to prevent any witnesses." Said Hinata, preventing an argument from happening between the three.
Shinichi is Yusaku Kudo's son. He's talented in Genjutsu, and is almost as perceptive as his father. He also has some Taijutsu skill from his mother's teachings. Ran came from a civilian family, but excelled in Taijutsu and some Ninjutsu. Honoka was Natsu Chikara's daughter, therefore she had quite the Taijutsu potential. Without her Clan's teachings put her almost at Ran's level, but with them she far outclassed Ran.
Ran and Shinichi had secret feelings for one another, but it was obvious to Honoka. Honoka couldn't stand Shinichi due to his smart and perceptive nature. To her, every time Shinichi spoke of the perceptions he made, it seemed he was always bragging. Mostly to impress Ran. But to her, it was just annoying and unnecessary.
"Then we just have to deal with those weird clones, while Hinata takes care of Danzo's dog!" Ran called out, as she prepared to leap forward to attack.
"Those clones aren't normal. We should be careful." Said Shinichi.
"No kidding." Honoka replied, in a deadpan like voice.
"Anyway, Hinata's the only one who could take on Sai. But we should still watch out for his clones." Said Konohamaru, as he prepared to make his own move.
"Alright, let's go." Hinata ordered. After Hinata gave away the clone's positions, they all leapt into the trees to deal with the issues as hand.
Sai and his clones were prepared for the oncoming attack. Although his enemies knew his and his clone's location, he still had the numbers advantage. Not only that, but his 'Ink Clones' didn't require a lot of chakra. So, he could easily replace any that he lost. Which he did. Every time a clone fell, he created another two in it's place.
This strategy forced Hinata to help the others. Hinata was taking on three clones, dodging and parrying all their strikes. It was taking almost all she had to keep them at bay. Eventually, she managed to get out of reach from the clones. She took that opportunity to get behind a tree, where she jumped up into the leaves. It didn't take long for the clones to come around the tree, and figure out she had hidden herself above clones then quickly followed, and were once again on top of her. Mercilessly attacking her with their Ninjatos, trying to cut her up.
Sai was watching everything from his perch in the trees. He had also lost track of Hinata when she went behind the tree. But it didn't long for his clones to catch up with her. Thanks to the mental link between him and his clones, he could see and here what they did and vice versa. He however didn't realize what Hinata was truly capable of.
"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four Palms!" Hinata called out, in such a cold voice it actually sent a slight shiver down Sai's spine. She then quickly struck Sai, causing him to fall out of his hiding place and his clones to disperse.
Once Sai landed with a loud *thud*, Sai looked up at her and said. "I see. You must've created a 'Shadow-Clone' when you hid yourself in the tree. While the clone fought mine, you circled around me in order to launch your attack."
"That's right. It's too bad you were too confident in your own abilities. That's why you didn't see the me use my justu. A jutsu that Naruto taught me, after he started rebuilding the Hidden Whirlpool. So despite not being a part of our village anymore, he still made this stronger. Even if only slightly." Said Hinata.
"Yet, as far as Lord Danzo is concerned Naruto is still a traitor." Sai replied.
"That man is nothing more than a coward. He sends his dogs to do the dirty work, while he hides in the shadows of his home and office." Said Honoka, as she and all the others landed in the clearing.
All of them seemed to be a little out of breathe. Easy to understand considering their odds were only getting worse as time passed.
"Doesn't matter anyway. Once Lord Uzumaki hears of this, Danzo is as good as dead." Said Shinichi.
"No one will get to Lord Danzo. Naruto not once had touched him, so it's impossible for him to get close without causing a scene." Sai countered.
"Not if the Uzumaki's 'Seal Transfer Seal' is working properly." Said Ran, as she held her left finger to her cheek.
Shinichi and Honoka quickly covered Ran's mouth as Honoka harshly whispered in the latter's ear. "Are you nuts, Ran!? You can't divulge such techniques to the enemy! Leaf and Whirlpool are allies, but the Foundation's ROOT aren't! Telling him that, only helps Danzo!"
"Omfs. Phorry." Apologized Ran, with her mouth still covered.
"'Seal Transfer Seal'? What is that?" Sai asked, wanting an answer.
"Let's just say, you'll find out after Danzo's gone. For now, worry about yourself." Said Hinata, as she hoisted Sai up. "Anyone want to help me beat some sense into him?" Hinata asked.
"Sure!"
"No thanks."
"You bet! No one should attack their comrade like that!"
"I'll pass. Maybe next time." Said Ran, Shinichi, Honoka and Konohamaru, respectively.
"Alright, have it your way." Hinata replied, as she kicked things off.
Hinata, Ran and Honoka then proceeded to beat a defenseless Sai to where he looked black and blue where ever any exposed skin was.
-The next day-
Hinata's team and the team from the Hidden Whirlpool made it to the tower in the middle. The Hidden Whirlpool team had already captured a scroll of their own by shortly before they met up, and assisted, Hinata and Konohamaru.
Upon entering the tower, Hinata and Konohamaru unraveled the Heaven and Earth scrolls. Tossing the scrolls away, they waited for someone to appear via 'Summoning Jutsu'.
With a *poof*, came the appearance of an all too familiar Jounin. "Kakashi sensei. It's good to see you." Greeted Hinata.
"It's good to see you as well, Hinata. Hello there Konohamaru." Kakashi replied.
"Hi." Said Konohamaru.
"Hm. It seems your teammate is a little tied up. Care to explain."
"Of course, Kakashi sensei. I'm sure you know about Sai, correct?" Hinata asked, receiving a nod from Kakashi. "Well, his mission was to gather information on Naruto and the Hidden Whirlpool through me. Unfortunately, he managed to determine that I'm a traitor. Since Naruto and I have been secretly dating during my journey with Lord Jiraiya. So, he decided to try and eliminate myself and Konohamaru. Both to achieve the elimination of a threat and a witness, respectively." Hinata explained, earning a single wide eye from Kakashi.
"I..I see. I admit, your continued relationship with Naruto is a surprise. Which I'm sure Lord Jiraiya was aware of this?" Kakashi asked, earning a nod from Hinata in return. "Well then, no harm no foul. As for the rules of the Second Phase of these exams, your entire team needs to make it to the tower. Since Sai isn't incapacitated, you all pass. Although, you're going to have to release the seal that's keeping him bound like this."
"I'm aware of that, Kakashi sensei. That's why Shinichi will release the seal, once this phase is over." Hinata replied.
"All right. Well, have fun you three. Oh, and don't go too overboard." Said Kakashi, referring to Sai's heavily bruised body.
-The next day (Danzo's home)-
Danzo was in his home office, wondering why he hasn't received any reports from Sai for three days. "It's unlike him to go so long without sending a report. Especially since he and his team should've completed the Second Phase long before now. Something must've happened."
"Sealing Jutsu: Body and Chakra Binding Jutsu!" Said Naruto, quickly. Just like with Sasori, Danzo was surrounded by a black vortex with red markings all over. Once the vortex disappeared, Naruto walked in front of the desk and sat down facing Danzo.
"How did you get in here?" Danzo asked, as that was all he could do because of the seal.
"I never touched you, but the scroll I gave you did. The seal on it had a second, hidden, seal on it. The 'Seal transfer seal'. It's a Sealing Jutsu that secretly transfers a second preprogrammed seal to someone else upon contact. In other words, once you touched that scroll, you became marked by a certain seal. I'm sure you don't need me to tell you which." Naruto explained, earning a look of complete shock from Danzo.
"Y..you can't mean..." Danzo began, when he suddenly stopped at Naruto's nod and wide smile.
"That's right. Just so you know, you violated your village's agreement with mine. You can't have any shinobi under your command, yet you snuck in this Sai character. He's already tried, and failed, to kill Hinata and Konohamaru. So, before the Second Phase ends, your life will also end." Said Naruto, having Danzo's eye widen further in shock. Naruto wasn't sure how that was possible.
Calming himself down after a few moments, Danzo took a deep breath. "Get it over with then." Said Danzo, accepting his fate.
"Heheh. Don't worry. I won't end you here. I'm going to give you a fighting chance. But, you'll have to fight alone. I've already picked out a battle field too. It'll be a one-on-one Ninja battle. And I'm not going to underestimate you." Said Naruto, as he grabbed ahold of a surprised Danzo and disappearing in an orange flash.
And that's chapter 5. As I said after my latest Elemental Sage chapter, I was going to take a break after this one. But, I took the break earlier. I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please Review!
P.s. I'm sure I don't have to tell you to what to expect in the next chapter. I hope you'll enjoy it. Btw, please review!