{A\N}
Surprise! Yeah, I'm back.
Sorry for being away so long. I was on vacation with the family. Another chapter after this one is coming either tomorrow or the day after.
Another thing. I want to know what pairings you guys actually want to see. A lot of people have requested NaruHina in my PM, as well as quite a few in the comment section, and I was admittedly leaning toward it for the hell of it, but a few do not want to see this version of Hinata paired with Naruto.
Depending on the comments, I may up a poll so that the issue of pairings is closed. I don't want to ignore the voices of those who have committed to the story only to disappoint, so pairing suggestions are open for discussion now.
Enjoy the chapter.
{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Naruto's residence}
August 9th
Line break.
Both Sasuke and Sakura were silent, having had everything broken down to them.
It was a lot to take in.
For starters, Naruto didn't hold back. He meant to tell them about the invasion, and that was it, but he felt they should know the whole truth about him. He revealed his parentage to them since they were going to find out the day after tomorrow anyway, as well as some of the events that led up to this. An example is the Mizuki incident, the kid who went missing, and how Naruto was connected to him. Most importantly, he explained who Gaara is, why he is dangerous, and what being a Jinchuuriki entails.
The only thing he didn't share with them was his status as a Jinchuuriki. That was the only thing he didn't touch upon.
Sakura's mind was racing a million miles an hour at this information.
Naruto is the son of the Fourth Hokage. This is a huge deal. But what was more pressing to her was that her home was about to be invaded, and by their allies no less. How is she supposed to feel about this aside from the fear welling in her chest?
She took a breath and calmed herself. 'I don't know what to think. We're being invaded, literal war is about to happen, and Naruto has to perform this task all on his own. Does Kakashi know?'
"Naruto?"
"Hm?" Naruto responded, looking at Sakuta.
"Does Kakashi know?"
Naruto shrugged. "He may know about the invasion. I don't think he knows about my mission."
"You should let him know ASAP," Sakura said while Sasuke looked to still be processing this information.
Sasuke was having a hard time wrapping his head around all of this. Naruto's origin made so much sense to him because it explained Naruto's talent and how he's managed to keep up with him in power even now. Surely, being the son of the fourth has some perks, like superior genes or something like that.
Jiraiya, his trainer, was a huge factor in why he'd been training so much. Having a rival whose mentor is the second strongest shinobi in the village will do that. The question of how Naruto could have gotten so lucky to have the man as a godfather was answered with this revelation as well. After all, the blonde held a blessing many young shinobi would kill for. But he let it go.
Now, it all made sense. The arguments about genetics and talent versus hard work and luck, the unreasonable abilities Naruto possessed, have now dawned on him. Just when he thought his father's words about a shinobi's power and where it comes from were false, it was reaffirmed by Naruto's parentage. After all, Naruto himself is a direct product of a masterful combination of two powerful shinobi.
Sasuke let out a sigh. He didn't have the time to get into a new debate with Naruto, nor view him as a hypocrite. He was asking for help with something that goes well beyond any of them. This wasn't a mission given to them by their sensei. This was a secret mission handed to him by someone of a higher rank. Jiraiya, and potentially the shinobi council as a whole.
Sasuke was never one to turn away from a challenge or a fight, but this was a matter that required strategy and finesse.
He crossed his arms and closed his eyes. "So. You need to get to Gaara before everything goes down. I appreciate you telling me this because this mission would have interfered with my chances to become chunin."
Sakura scowled and shook her head. "That title doesn't mean anything right now."
Sasuke waved her off and nodded. "I know. Listen, Naruto. Plan A is simple. You corner him with whatever the shinobi council has in store for him and be done with it. I think you can handle Gaara if you're as strong as I think you are. But if that fails, let me put the seal on him. No one will suspect me, not even our superiors, and I'm supposed to fight him anyway."
Naruto, who was pacing the room, glanced at Sasuke and contemplated this. "I already intended for that to be the case. My concern with that is that if someone suspects you, someone like their sensei or kami forbid, the Kazekage, they... might remotely release Shukaku onto the populace. Jiraiya told me that of all Jinchuuriki, Gaara's tailed beast is the weakest, so they may have far more control over this beast than we assume."
Sasuke scoffed. "Don't overreact, Uzumaki. I'm not stupid. I won't let my intentions known, and I won't hesitate. Just don't fail this mission of yours, and everything will be fine. Right?"
Naruto sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Yeah. Ok."
Sasuke stood up and walked over to the counter, moving the conversation back to the kitchen. "Now. I've been here for well over an hour and don't have the energy to cook my own food now. What do you have, Uzumaki?"
Sakura looked up from her musings, and to her relief, Naruto was bringing out an assortment of foods and ingredients that didn't involve ramen. Unfortunately, this didn't ease the pit in her stomach, nor did it give her an appetite.
"I'm good on food. I actually need to head home. My parents might be worried about me or something."
She got up and grabbed Naruto's hands, pulling him into a hug. "Please. Be careful, Naruto. This is a lot. I'll check up on you first thing in the morning."
Naruto sighed and hugged her back. "Yeah... Sure."
She pulled back and smiled before leaving the door. After that, there was silence between Naruto and Sasuke.
Sasuke understood Sakura's stress to an extent. Unlike them, she has a family to worry about.
Naruto leaned on the counter and scowled. "I should've been more... gentle when breaking things down," he said softly.
Sasuke shook his head. "No. You couldn't have anyway, given your pitiful mental state. It's best to break bad news quickly so that it's out of the way. Besides, she'll come around fast. She's gotten really tough."
Sasuke went back to his seat and leaned back, closing his eyes. "Now, fix me something delicious. something with tomatoes in it."
Naruto raised a brow at the request and sorted through his ingredients. "Coming right up," the boy sighed.
Line break.
{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Moonlit Haven Inn}
The Daimyo and his wife, Asami, were getting ready to settle in.
This hotel is one of the few places here in Konoha that can properly accommodate them, and the Daimyo wanted to be as comfortable as possible. He was a man of luxury, and while he didn't mind roughing it every once in a while, it was times like these when he needed to truly unwind.
Right now, he was sitting in a chair on the open patio overlooking Konohagakure. This spot was his favorite whenever he visited it with his father. At least when he was young, his views on this location had changed a bit, but it's still his go-to place to stay.
Asami walked out in her robe, fresh out of a bath to wash away the day. She walked to her husband and sat on his lap, kissing him deeply.
"Mmmmm. You smell lovely. I can't wait for bedtime." Said Hisaki.
Asami giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Indeed. He was still on top. After all, if he can successfully deal with the Hyuuga clan, Hiruzen, and The other lords waiting for his next move in the capital and keep a muzzle on his father without damaging their relationship, he's sure he's doing something right.
"I'm worried about Masuda," Asami whispered.
Hisaki nodded, already sensing that this conversation was going to take a turn. "I am, too. I know this marriage wasn't what we promised him, and I'm sorry for that. But-"
"It's fine. I already know," she said softly. "The Hyuga are a powerful family. Even if I don't like their methods, I understand why you made the decision. My own family is about to lose a lot of power, and there's little we can do about it. We can only adapt, and though this marriage was already being considered, I don't think either of us thought it would be this soon."
Hisaki leaned in and kissed her neck, making her moan softly. "I won't allow it to happen again. I promise. This will be the last time we compromise our children's happiness. Once this is over, I promise I'll find a way to reelevate your family."
She nodded, curling up into him. "I'm not worried about it. I trust you."
Hisaki smiled and nodded. He felt terrible for selling his son and only wished he could find the same happiness he had found in his own wife.
Hinata seems to be a well-trained and beautiful young heiress. But Masuda is young. At this stage, he will be overwhelmed by the girl and taken advantage of, as she was likely trained to do.
But, like he said to her, they have no choice. They must adapt to the circumstances.
'One thing at a time,'
Line break.
Meanwhile, Masuda was in his room, rolling around in his bed and unable to catch any kind of sleep. How could he? He couldn't stop thinking about his betrothed.
She made an impression he couldn't get out of his head, and she didn't lift a finger to do so. He was indeed captivated by her beauty.
He rolled onto his back and let out a groan, realizing sleep wasn't coming to him anytime soon. 'I wish we could just hurry things along already! I have to see her, even just once more! I have so many questions! How is she feeling? What is she thinking right now? Does she like me? I have to know!'
He started once again rolling around in his bed, giggling and grinning to himself at the thought of him marrying such a beauty.
"I'm so fricken lucky."
Line break.
{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Mubuki Haruno's residence}
It was midnight, the moon was high in the sky, and most residents in this luxurious neighborhood were fast asleep and experiencing the peace of the night. However, there was one household that wasn't.
This was Mubuki Haruno's resident, the uncle of Haruno Sakura.
His office was a total mess, with things thrown about, drawers pulled out of the desk, and the chair broken. This was a result of Mubuki's mental breakdown when taking home a file the Chancellor gave to just about every member of the civilian council. But unlike them, who were simply losing landed titles, he was about to lose that and his shares in the third most prosperous business in all of Fire Country.
His wife, Ririko, came rushing in, horrified at what she saw. "Mubuki! What in the world is going on here?!"
The man was sweating bullets, his eyes bloodshot. "T-That fucking brat! He's taking everything from us! EVERYTHING!"
Ririko stumbled back, shock and a bit of fear from the way her husband was reacting now. He'd just had this office renovated recently. What could he have him so upset that he's completely ransacked everything in sight? She'd never once seen him lose his composure.
"M-Mubuki-kun! Just tell me what's wrong!"
Mubuki looked at her and then dropped a paper on the ground, a document that held the new seal of Uzumaki Naruto.
"Read it! READ IT!" screamed the man.
She jumped in fear and took it carefully as he brushed past her, the man leaving the office while swearing up a storm.
It took a minute. After all, she wasn't as educated as he was.
When it finally hit her, she was left stunned. She couldn't believe what she'd just read. The village pariah happens to be the son of Namikaze Minato, the hero of the Third Shinobi World War. M-Mubuki-kun! What do we do?"
Mubuki glared at his cup of wine. "We're going to go see our lawyer for one. Then I'll need to speak to my brother. His daughter... My niece is on the same team as the... Virmen. After that... I'll need to appeal to the Merchant Council with my colleagues."
She obviously didn't understand the last bit, likely not realizing that he was about to lose what made them so wealthy, to begin with, but it didn't matter. She can't offer counsel; she's just a pretty face that he married, the girl of his dreams who came crawling back to him after he finally made it big.
'But it's better than nothing. She has the right body, and she's loyal.'
He finished off his drink and left the kitchen to pace the living room. What else could he do? Even with the plan to meet with his lawyer, the only thing that comes to mind is sabotage. They need to get their hands on the old copy of the bylaws and have them altered. This would require bribery and knowing the right people.
'This would also mean confronting that piece of shit, Murata,' thought Mubiki bitterly.
He'd have to play nice with someone he despised and fought so hard to surpass. This week will truly test him and his patience.
'One thing at a time. A petition, my lawyer, the merchants, my brother, one thing at a time, Mubuki.'
Line break.
{Land of Fire: Konohagakure: Hidden Leaf Village Hotel}
At the same time, Baki sat in meditation in his room, trying to keep calm after the recent events involving the Anbu and Gaara.
He knew this mission would be a major issue with Gaara involved. The boy can't be trusted or controlled in tense situations, and with the encounter with the anbu, the possibilities of the mission being compromised are high.
He took a breath and closed his eyes, trying to find that inner peace he'd been searching for since this mission started to begin with.
'Just two more days, and we can get this over with.'
He looked at the time, and it was getting close to midnight. He knew that it would be his watch next to keep an eye on the little monster. Since the boy doesn't sleep, they have to take turns watching him, even at night, especially now.
He opened his eyes and was about to stand up when he saw him. A masked figure was sitting in the corner of the room.
Baki was frozen, not moving an inch and not believing this person could've snuck past him so easily to get in. He was meditating, sure, but his guard wasn't lowered.
"You can relax," the anbu said calmly. "I'm a friend."
Baki's eyes narrowed at the voice. "Kabuto."
"That's right. I'm here to give you a warning. They are watching you guys extremely closely, so don't bother leaving this room tomorrow. Lay low until your Kage arrives. I can do anything that needs to be done outside of this hotel if it's important to our cause."
Baki raised a brow. "How?"
"Just trust me. Keep the Jinchuuriki on a leash, too. I was there when he almost got caught trying something. I can tell that the commander was looking for a reason to lock the boy up. He wanted the boy to do something stupid so he could have an excuse to take him away from you."
Baki was silent at that, so Kabuto stood up and made his way out. "Just a little longer, and you'll be present for the most impactful moment in history. The fall of Konohagakure. So please, don't slip up."
"Get lost already," growled Baki.
Kabuto shuckled and vanished into the night.
'How the hell did he sneak past me?' Baki thought warily. 'I underestimated you, Kabuto.'
Line break.
The next day.
Rasa POV.
One day. Only one day before he can finally elevate his village to something worthy of respect among the five great nations.
Rasa had just met with the Wind Daimyo, catering to that man's greed and pride with false promises and lies about how well Suna was and how honored he was to have him accompany him to the Chunin exams. This was blasphemy.
His carriage is riding right behind the Daimyos, a large caravan of troops assigned to protect the man.
He was meditating in his tent, trying to keep calm as they passed through Konoha's main entrance.
He hated this place. Not because he felt anything close to envy, but like most kage who visit this place, there was a disdain for the first shinobi village. Not because of the land it sits on, nor anything to do with them boasting the title of the first and strongest. No. It's the people.
His first visit was... daunting, to say the least. The people were all happy, the common folk going about their day as they would in any other village; they weren't the issue. It was the elite. There was something insidious about them that rubbed him the wrong way. The way they talked and moved. He didn't like it one bit.
He wouldn't be thinking about it coming here if it weren't for the fact that these very elites had infected the mind of his foolish Daimyo. They were the ones who suggested Konoha as a better solution to his problems, and after a few missions from this village, the Daimyo decided he didn't need the village he was supposed to be ruling over. No. He chose what he called in his court, the superior shinobi village.
Konohagakure was not better than Sunagakure in any way, shape, or form. They are in no way superior, and to prove that, Rasa would show the world this place for what it really was. Fraudulent.
And speak of the devil, the entire caravan stopped to let his Daimyo and family out to get comfortable in their new living arrangements. They were met with the very faces that convinced him to abandon Suna in favor of advertising Konoha.
He closed his eyes and shook his head. This treaty was a setup and a good one at that. Economy without borders? What was he thinking? Signing something that would allow these politicians to infect the Wind country government like the parasitic pests they were? It was absurd!
He stepped out as the Wind Daimyo shook hands with many of his business partners and a few Konoha civilians.
His eyes drifted to the side to see the Prime minister of Wind Country making his way to him.
"Now, hold on. This is just a brief visit. We'll be on the move soon, Rasa-san. If you could, please wait here before we-"
He didn't let him finish, Rasa and his shinobi vanishing in both wind and golden dust.
The Prime minister sputtered in shock and looked around frantically, his eyes falling on the Daimyo, who simply scowled and shook his head, walking into his hotel with his family to drop them off and to say hi to an old friend.
Line break.
Rasa, meanwhile, made his way through the village, landing in front of the Hokage tower.
He walked in and was greeted by a few people in the lobby, including the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Lord Rasa, welcome."
"Ah. Lord Sarutobi. Good to be here."
Hiruzen motioned down the hall. "You arrived far earlier than expected. I planned a welcoming party specifically for when you arrived."
Rasa shook his head, walking beside the older Kage. "No need. I caught up with my Daimyo and was forced to endure a meeting with the nobility of my country. I don't need anything fancy; leave that to the people who feel entitled to it. I'm just here to represent my village. Nothing more."
"Straight to the point as ever. That's why I like you." Hiruzen chuckled.
Rasa shrugged and entered the council room, which consisted of Danzo, Hamura, and Koharu. Only the essentials.
"Now. Shall we?"
Rasa nodded and took a seat. "Let's get this over with."
Hiruzen made his way over to his chair and sat with a smile, his hands folded in front of him.
However, many insults were being thrown at the Kazekage in his head. Naturally, he kept his composure. Sitting in front of the man who plans to destroy your home isn't hard, but hiding your animosity for them is. He needed to keep his composure no matter how spooked he was.
Why would he be spooked? Because the man sitting in front of him wasn't Orochimaru as he'd surprisingly hoped. It's really happening. Suna is going to betray them.
Line break.
A few hours later, Rasa was able to leave the meeting relatively quickly. A quick overview of how things had been set up and very few security measures later, and he was on his way.
It surprised him. Konoha was being so lax with another Kage walking around their village. There weren't even that many Anbu keeping watch save for the ones that were ordered to monitor his movements from a distance.
'Are they underestimating the threat we should pose? Is this arrogance? or is this trust?' He thought to himself.
Planning the destruction of a village and then being in person for it is an extreme he's never had to put up with for reasons like this. The children running across the streets only to be scolded by parents, the vendors offering others their wares, and the overall friendly atmosphere of this place made him remember that at its core, the Hidden Leaf village is the same as any other village—just luckier.
This didn't deter him even a little bit, though. It only confirmed something in him.
These people can enjoy life without worry while their own struggle, thanks to the foolishness of their Daimyo. These people are spoiled, while they are hardened through famine and poverty.
And if he had his way, that would change very soon.
He made his way over to the hotel where his children and Jonin commander were staying, his guards following behind him. The place isn't big. A lot of nobles from all over the world have been invited, as well as the Daimyo of the other great nations, so the one he's staying in will be infested. Staying here and roughing it is preferred.
A check-in at the front desk later, and he was knocking on the front door of room 134.
The door opened, and it happened to be Temari.
"Fath-I mean, Lord Kazekage!" The girl corrected, bowing and opening the door all the way.
Rasa looked her up and down for a moment and nodded. "Where's Baki?"
"In here," called a voice further into the room.
Rasa narrowed his eyes and walked in, his two guards following close behind.
Kankuro was seated in a respectable manner on a couch while Baki stared out the window for just a moment before walking up and giving a deep bow. "My apologies for not greeting you at the front gate as planned. There's been an incident that has... Paralyzed us."
Rasa's brow raised, and a sharp glare turned towards the room he sensed him in.
"What happened," Rasa growled.
"Gaara got loose. He was trying to quench his thirst for blood and went into an alley to do it. Anbu almost caught him in the act, and as a result, Konoha may know he's a Jinchuuriki," said Baki.
Rasa was silent for a long moment, and it was times like this that Kankuro wanted to disappear.
"Who was in charge of him?" asked Rasa.
Baki's gaze fell on Kankuro for a moment, but he was about to speak and take the fall. However, he was beaten to it.
"It was me," spoke Temari.
Rasa turned around to see his daughter looking him directly in the eye, her gaze not wavering at all.
"I was supposed to keep an eye on him, but I got distracted and-"
"Stop it. Forget it. I don't care. No one should've had to watch the little shit. He's a shinobi and should be able to think for himself." Said Rasa.
He turned to Baki and crossed his arms. " debrief me on everything that has happened since coming here."
Baki and the siblings gathered, sitting down as Rasa's guards took position at the door, and began the long process of laying down the foundation for the invasion.
Line break.
Rasa listened to everything, and by the end, he was nervous—not by the Anbu, not by Jiraiya, and not by their ally's strange behavior. No. He was afraid of Uzumaki Naruto.
"You mean to tell me there is an actual Uzumaki under Konoha's control? And one who can use the one thing a tailed beast can't defend against?"
Baki nodded. "I'd been eager to eliminate him, but given the circumstances, we can only play it safe and take care of it when-"
"No. He is our main priority now. Even if Gaara becomes Shukaku, there's a high chance the Uzumaki will respond accordingly under the orders of his village. This weapon of theirs brought the strongest Bijuu to heel."
They all looked at one another, unsure how to go about things, and Rasa gave a glare to each one. "We act before they do. Naruto is to be eliminated before Gaara's fight with the Uchiha. Baki, your job will be to defend our asset. I'll have Kabuto take care of the Uzumaki. If not him, then Pakura."
"Sir, if I may, Kabuto-"
"You may not, Baki! That is that! Leave it!" bellowed Rasa.
Baki knelt. "Yes, Sir. I'm sorry, Sir."
Rasa glared down at Baki and motioned for him to stand. "You have your orders. Inform Kabuto of our concerns, and do it now."
Baki bowed and left out the window in a flash.
Line break.
{Land of Fire: Outskirts of Konohagakure}
{Sound Four POV}
The Land of Fire is hot. Really hot.
Instead of being allowed in the shade or the forested area where the rest of the troops were setting up from behind them, they were on the very edge of the forest itself, where the fields were, far ahead of the troops stationed.
She remained silent as Jirobo complained about the heat for the thousandth time. "Jirobo, I can't hear myself think. shut up."
Jirobo looked at her and scowled. "Are you not bothered that we are forced to stand out here like some bunch of fodder shinobi rather than being at master's side? I feel like garbage out here!"
"And you stink like it, too. Step away, please." She said as she polished her flute.
Jirobo glared, and Kidomaru shrugged. "I'm enjoying the sun."
Jirobo rolled his head, adjusting his neck. "of course, you are, Kidomaru. You're always in the trees anyway. It's not like this is anything new for you."
"Just stop complaining already. Master will be here any minute now." Said Sukon/Ukon.
"I'd rather complain than suffer in silence. And besides, you said that an hour ago! I don't know why we don't just walk into the forest already! I need shade!"
"If you do that, you'll jeopardize our mission," Orochimaru said from behind them, walking out of the forest.
Jirobo tensed, and his team quickly gave a deep bow, their eyes not meeting the man's gaze.
"M-Master! Forgive me! I am not disobeying orders, I just-"
"Silence, Jirobo. I'm here to explain why I had you all standing here. Konohagakure has a security that every village dreams of having. The ability to detect foreign shinobi within the walls of the village is something the other Shinobi villages have yet to achieve. Would you like to know how this is done?"
They all nodded, and Orochimaru smirked. "They have three barriers that cover three territorial markers. One would be the village itself. This barrier is the strongest as it doesn't sacrifice accuracy for range. The second covers the agricultural districts outside of Konoha, just outside of the second outpost tower. This barrier can detect chakras but not much else unless you have a strong chakra. And the last barrier can only detect movement."
They nodded, and Kidomaru knew why they were outside of the barrier now. "We'd be hard-pressed to get close without detection, let alone trying to place an army behind the village to take them by surprise."
Orochimaru nodded. "That is correct. This is why I have the four of you here. We are going to plant a counter barrier over Konoha."
Tayuya's eyes widened in shock. "Huh? You mean a barrier that will encompass the whole village?!"
Orochimaru chuckled, and this was enough to send a chill down the spines of his students.
"No. Don't think like that. This will be easy. The barrier we are planting is designed to muffle the signatures of those coming through. This will need to be timed. We are simply drawing up the proper formula. It will need to be done in blood."
The four of them looked at each other as Orochimaru threw out a massive parchment scroll. He unraveled it, and it revealed an intricate seal, one that had complex formulas and lines crossing one another.
"The seal in the middle is designed to take in those who will act as a battery for it. The outside just needs finishing. It will be the same as your four-prong barrier technique, just in brush form and using blood." Said Orochimaru.
The four didn't hesitate, getting to work on it. They started, and it was a slow process, but the end result was worth it.
It took about an hour, and they were afraid Orochimaru would grow impatient with them.
He didn't.
The man was actually waiting on someone else, that someone arriving right as they finished.
When they saw the masked figure show up, they nearly pounced. It was only Orochimaru putting his hand up that kept them at bay.
"I'd appreciate a more announced arrival next time, Kabuto," said the man.
Kabuto nodded. "Of course. I apologize. I've come with some gifts."
Kabuto knelt and rolled out a large sealing scroll, unsealing four bodies.
"These are the sleeper-nin from various villages. They won't be missed since I helped the Anbu peak them out, and don't worry—they're still alive," said Kabuto.
Orochimaru nodded. "Good. Iwa and Takigakure huh? How naughty."
Kabuto looked up, surprised. "How did you know that?"
Orochimaru didn't bother answering. He simply snapped his finger and pointed at the bodies.
The sound four knew their orders. They placed the bodies at the center of the parchment, tying them up.
"They'll act as the perfect source of energy for this little project. Now then, Tayuya. Jirobo. Inform our captain that they aren't to move until the exams begin. The Sand Shinobi will give the order, Pakura," Orochimaru ordered.
Tayuya and Jirobo nodded, leaving swiftly.
"And the two of you. I will have you accompany Kabuto for a bit. He'll give you the proper attire for when it's time to act as the Kazekage's bodyguards."
Kabuto sighed and motioned them over, the three of them vanishing into the forest.
This left Orochimaru alone to ponder how he'd go about destroying his sensei. Making the former Hokage destroy their own village is the plan, but he wants something more personal. Unfortunately, this is as personal as it gets.
' My revenge is so close, yet I don't feel the excitement that I should. Disappointing.'
Line break.
{Land of Fire: Konohagakure}
As promised, Sakura did, in fact, check up on Naruto. The two went out to eat to talk about their concerns.
Naruto was nervous because he hadn't been summoned yet. He was expecting to have to report to the Hokage or the council about his secret mission, but thinking about it, it might be that Jiraiya didn't tell anyone about the mission to thwart Suna's plot to destroy Konoha.
With all the guests and high-profile individuals coming through, the council might wait until nightfall, when things calm down, to summon him, which makes the most sense.
This meant he had a full day to relax.
'Relax? It doesn't matter if I'm on a mission or not. There is no relaxation for me when the village is in grave danger. I can't even sag my damn shoulders!' Naruto yelled in his head, a scowl on his features.
Sakura noticed the look and pouted. "Naruto, you're about to give yourself a migraine. Just breathe. You're fine." She spoke softly, making sure not to be loud due to them being in a rather public space.
Naruto shook his head. "How can you say that when you know what's happening tomorrow? When you know that the lives of everyone here are on my shoulders? All it'll take is one fuck up and-"
"Have you already forgotten that Sasuke agreed to share the burden, too?" Interrupted Sakura.
Naruto's scowl deepened. Of course, he didn't forget; how could he?
It's not that he doesn't trust Sasuke to take down Gaara; it's that if something happens in the ring and Gaara changes somehow, it would be bad for everyone, and Sasuke could be killed. He'd never forgive himself for sharing the burden of such an important mission.
"I didn't forget. I can't help but be worried. If something goes wrong, it'll be because I couldn't do my job right. I'm in charge of dispatching Gaara before our enemies can put him to work,"
Sakura nodded. "Trust me, I know. I appreciate that you are taking something like this seriously because, truthfully, I'm scared, too. People are going to die tomorrow regardless of whether you stop Gaara or not. What you need is faith in yourself and those who support you."
Naruto stopped in his tracks.
She's right about that. He shouldn't be stressing himself out. He just needs to believe that everything will be fine and that he won't let Konoha down.
He looked down and sighed. "Thank you, Sakura. I appreciate you going out of your way to help me out. I'm just... I can't Imagine losing my friends due to my own failures."
Sakura took his hand and smiled. "You won't because you won't fail. Now, what do you say we get some lunch and relax? If the Hokage needs you, he'll call you."
He nodded, and she took his hand, continuing their walk to his favorite place. Ichiraku.
She made the boy sit down and order for him, sitting beside him so she could make sure he ate.
Naruto sighed and accepted the offer, a spontaneous smile itching itself onto his features upon seeing Teuchi.
"Hey, kiddo! Long time no see. What'll you have?" The man asked.
"My usual, please," said Naruto.
Teuchi looked at Sakura and smiled. "I'll have my usual too. Make them both large and extra filling. Naruto hasn't eaten yet today, and I think he could use a big meal."
The boy blushed and leaned on his hand, Teuchi laughing and getting to work.
"Thanks again, Sakura," Naruto whispered.
Sakura sighed, smiled, and shook her head. "It's fine. Just eat."
Line break.
A few hours later.
{Konohamaru POV}
He'd done it this time. What started as a friendly prank evolved into a deadly chase.
Konohamaru had the bright idea of pranking Hanabi in front of her sister. This led to a series of events that ended with him being chased through the streets of Konoha by Hanabi, the girl having a look of rage in her eyes as she threw a barrage of shurikens at him.
Konohamaru was good, and he could've easily lost her in the crowd. But that wasn't the case with someone possessing the Byakugan.
It was actually his first successful prank on her. The girl was always ready for his antics, but this time, she wasn't prepared.
So as a result, Konohamaru was running from a soaking-wet girl as she screamed profanities and promises of death at him.
This was a new high for him.
"Come on, Hanabi-chan! It was just a prank! It's just water!" the boy yelled in laughter as he leaped onto the tops of various caravan stands to get over the marketplace.
"You stupid mongrel! I'm going to skin you alive!" Hanabi screamed back.
"I can't believe you're so pissed over something like this! Take a chill pill, you spoiled brat!" Konohamaru yelled, throwing a smoke bomb down and leaping onto a roof.
'Seriously! I've never seen her this angry before!' thought the boy. Usually, it's a mild annoyance or an eye roll, but this?
What he didn't understand was that this was done in front of her sister, the person she looked up to the most. To lose face like that in front of the older girl is shameful.
'That stupid monkey! Why is he so agile?! Since when did he learn to climb on surfaces so fast?!' thought the Hanabi, the girl having witnessed the useless smoke bomb trick. She saw through it with her dojutsu and witnessed him run up the wall to get away from her.
It wasn't something she was incapable of, but the way he did it was something she'd never seen before.
She ran across the stalls, leaping off one of the tarps to overtake the marketplace, and landed on top of the roof of a nearby building to find the boy racing towards a blonde-haired genin.
Naruto, who'd long since parted ways with Sakura and only just finished talking to Kakashi, was finally starting to enjoy his day when Konohamaru ran behind him and clutched his shirt, gripping it while hiding behind him. "Naruto-Nee! I need help!"
Naruto grimaced with surprise, not amused with the boy's antics. "Konohamaru! I told you I-"
"I know, I know! It's not that! It's-"
"Konohamaru! You piece of garbage!" yelled Hanabi as she jumped into the air, coming down on both boys with a jyuken strike ready.
Naruto deadpanned and easily caught the girl's wrist, catching her like she was a bag of flour. His other hand grabbed Konohamaru by the collar of his shirt, preventing the boy from getting away or being struck by the girl.
'Seriously. This is not the time for this crap.' he thought to himself as he tried to subdue the two struggling kids.
"That's enough, you two," said an annoyed Naruto.
Hanabi struggled, thrashing around. "Let go of me, you mongrel! Do you know who-"
Hanabi's eyes widened when he glared down at her, a touch of ki being pressed down on her to get his point across.
"Listen. Whatever this is about, I don't care. So just take a breather and stop making a scene, you brat."
Hanabi blushed and immediately stopped struggling, her heart beating a little faster and her body tingling.
He set the girl down and took note of her appearance. "Konohamaru, What did you do?"
"It was a harmless prank-"
"It was not harmless!" yelled Hanabi. "You embarrassed me in front of my sister, you piece of garbage! That's why I'm pissed!"
Naruto shook his head and turned the boy around to face her, looking between them. "Apologize and be done with it."
Hanabi crossed her arms and gave a huff. "Konohamaru, I'm waiting."
Konohamaru's eye twitched. "I'm sorry you can't take a-Gah!" Konohaaru grunted as Naruto elbowed the boy's head.
"Ok! I'm sorry! There!"
Naruto nodded and let out a breath. "Ok, now, scram. Both of you."
Both of them ran off, and Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose.
"This is what I get for entertaining this kid. These brats are going to be the end of me; I swear it. Can't even take a stroll without being harassed," he grumbled.
"Well, they are young. I'd hate to be the one to tell you this, but you were just as bad."
Naruto looked over his shoulder, and there was Iruka. He walked up and ruffled his hair.
"So, how's life, Naruto? I was looking for you yesterday. You look stressed."
Naruto gave a big smile and brushed the man's hand off. "Iruka-sensei. It's been a while. I'm fine. Just got some things on my mind. And sorry for not visiting. I meant to, but I got a bit busy."
Iruka nodded, and he noticed something off.
"You've changed," he said softly. "More so than before."
Naruto was silent, pondering something before he sighed. "Iruka, do you have time?"
"For you? Of course," said Iruka.
Naruto smiled. "Good. I'd like to spend the rest of the day with you. I... could use some advice."
Iruka smiled at that and nodded. "Then lead the way, Naruto."
Line break.
{Haruno residence}
Kizashi Haruno opened his eyes, a slightly annoyed glint in them from being woken up at the sound of a knock on the front door.
The man sat up from the couch, having made himself comfortable, and just as he was about to roll off, the sound of quick patter of feet running down the stairs and to the door stopped him.
"I got it!"
It was Sakura, the girl rushing to the door and opening it.
He smiled at that and leaned back, closing his eyes to sleep.
"Uh, dad? It's for you."
Kizashi's eyes opened once again, the annoyed glint returning. He sat up and looked at Sakura, the girl frowning. " You're gonna want to take this one."
She stepped away, and Kizashi groaned, getting up and walking to the door.
When he got there, he knew why his daughter wasn't engaging. It was his brother, Mubuki.
"Hey there, big bro, long time no see," the auburn-haired man said with a smile.
Kizashi looked the man up and down. He's well dressed like he left from some kind of fancy party, his suit still on and his hair still slicked back.
"What is it, Mubuki?" asked Kizashi in a tired tone. By this point, Sakura was going up the stairs, not interested in anything her uncle had to say.
The man raised a brow. "That's it? Just what is it? We haven't spoken in a year since Mom passed. I would think you'd have something more to say to me."
"I know you want something, so spit it out," Kizashi growled.
Mubuki rolled his eyes. "I need to ask a favor. It's more than a little important. The family business is in jeopardy."
Kizashi's eyes widened in surprise. "What? How?"
Kizashi stepped aside and let Mubuki in, understanding that he wasn't leaving anytime soon.
The two went to the kitchen table and sat down.
"As you know, roughly thirteen years ago, we managed to expand our trading company's influence by a lot through the shares left behind by those who perished in the ninetails attack. They were up for grabs after all," said Mubuki.
Kizashi cringed at the way his brother put it. The laws back then were still primitive, and there was little security when it came to the theft of shares or the usurpation of lands. It was easy to get ahead if you could afford it.
"Yeah, I remember. Dad was... proud of your achievement. What's wrong?" asked Kizashi.
"It's all being undone. Take a look at this. It explains everything," said Mubuki as he slid a document over to his older brother.
Kizashi took it and read it over. he did so once, twice, thrice, and four times before he stood up and paced the room, reading it repeatedly, thinking he was going insane.
"W-what is this? This can't be... right. I... I don't understand how... What is this?!"
Mubuki nodded, understanding his brother's confusion. "The village Pariah holds a legacy that we cultivated for years. If you couldn't tell from my way of dress, I just got back from talking to my lawyer."
"What did he say?" asked Kizashi, handing the document back to his brother.
"That I need to..." The man stops speaking and grits his teeth in anger, his fists clenching. "Negotiate with the little monster and see if I can come up with a compromise. I can't get the bylaws to refute his claim to the company. It's in the hands of someone untouchable. This means I need to lay nice and appeal to this brat."
Kizashi's eyes widened, and he understood why his brother was actually here. "Sakura, you want my daughter to get in contact with him?"
"I want her to help me appeal to him. He'll see that he's affecting his teammate's family and will back off," said Mubuki.
Kizashi thought about it and shook his head. "Sakura... She's changed. I won't... More like I can't make her do something like this by force, nor would I ever make an attempt. She's taking her ninja career seriously, and she isn't in the mental state of dealing with something as complicated as this. She's gonna be participating in the exams tomorrow."
Mubuki groaned and leaned back. "Fucks sake, man... Let me talk to her. She's gonna be affected in the long run, and if she can help me stop this shit show, then we'll all be better for it. If we wait and do nothing, the Namikkaze clan will gobble up our company like a ravenous wolf, and there'll be nothing we can do about it!"
"except maybe talking to the boy yourself." Said Kizashi.
Mubuki shot him a look. "That brat is as unpredictable as he is untrustworthy. I don't know anything about him except for him being a huge troublemaker."
Kizashi sighed, and before he could respond, the sound of Sayuri coming down the stairs and greeting them caught their attention.
"Mubuki? Is that you?"
Mubuki resisted the urge to scowl. He hates this lady. However, she could be his ticket to getting his brother to cooperate. 'Ok, time for plan B.'
Line break.
Things didn't go exactly as planned. Telling Sayuri seemed like a good idea at first. She grasped the nature of their family business better than his own wife and understood the importance of mutual prosperity. However, her siding with him led to an argument between Sayuri and his brother, something he had little patience for.
It fell apart when Sayuri called her daughter to the argument and demanded she bring Naruto to the house to talk.
Obviously, this backfired in the worst way. Kizashi sided with Sakura because he wanted her to make her own choice, and Sakura was in no mood to entertain them and their schemes.
In the end, Mubuki had to leave. He was running out of time. He needs to meet with the merchant council to negotiate with them. After all, they are to be affected by all of this as well.
He can only hope that the merchant and politician factions can get along for once. There is bad blood between the two groups because politicians bend the rules in their own favor to conduct business and cheat the merchants out of deals that could be profitable thanks to their noble status. This isn't the case here. They will all be affected. This is the time to unite, and he plans on being the voice of the people.
Unfortunately, he would have to wait until after the exams. They aren't going to be in one place when there's money to be made.
Line break.
{Silver Brook Cafe}
{Naruto POV}
The sun was finally starting to set after a long day of trying to relax for tomorrow.
Naruto was enjoying tea for the first time, a suggestion made by Iruka. It helped.
The man had been giving Naruto pointers on how to deal with mounting stress and good habits to have when under pressure. He didn't want Naruto to be one of those Jonin who resorted to smoking or drinking to calm down.
The two sat in silence, Iruka enjoying the boy's company as he himself started to mentally prepare for the next day.
People in the cafe were staring at the blond since he came in, something the blonde hadn't noticed. But who wouldn't? It wasn't noticeable before, but with him like this, with calm features on his face and his eyes low in relaxation, he is very easy to admire. He looked like the Fourth Hokage. So much so... That it was eerily uncanny.
"I appreciate you bringing me here. It really helped," Naruto whispered, a sigh of relief escaping his lips.
Iruka gave him a warm smile. "Of course. I can see you're nervous about tomorrow. Don't be. You are going to make so many people proud, including me. You have a good head on your shoulders, much better than myself when I was your age.
Naruto chuckled, and Iruka shook his head. "I mean it. Look. When I first met you, admittedly, I was like everyone else. I regret that to this day, and I'm glad I came to truly know you better because even up to that point, I didn't have someone to call family."
Naruto's eyes widened at this, and Iruka continued. "The potential I saw in you is being manifested before my very eyes. I ask about you all the time, and I'm told how you'll surpass me and your other senseis in due time. In truth, I think you may have already surpassed me, actually."
"I... I don't know about that... but-"
"I really think you have. Don't doubt your abilities. Keep your head held high where it belongs. Don't let the thoughts of what the people of this village think about you affect your future. I see it. I've always seen it, and now everyone else will, too."
Naruto didn't know what to say, but his lips curled up in a warm smile. "I needed this."
Iruka nodded. "I know."
Line break.
{Hokage Tower: Council chambers}
"You what?!" yelled Danzo, slamming his cane on the floor. "You don't have the authority to hand out missions and confidential information over to a genin, Lord Jiraiya! The boy is not ready for something like this. He was to be used as a counter to Suna's attack!"
"This is a counter, you old windbag. His knowledge over fuinjutsu makes him the perfect solution to taking out Gaara," said Jiraiya.
Koharu shook her head, a look of immense disapproval on her features. "Jiraiya, this is... It's ridiculous. He should have been-"
"Enough of what should and shouldn't have been done. I think we're past the point of having pointless arguments. What's done is done. All we can do is adapt to this unique situation and move from there." Said Koharu.
Hiruzen was glad that, for once, one of the three elders was getting the bigger picture.
"Naruto can't be debriefed as of now, but he can tomorrow. His mission is to take Gaara out before he can be allowed to fight. We'll send an available unit to assist him in this operation," Hiruzen explained.
Koharu's eyes widened. "Are we seriously going for this? We need to be more organized than this! Allowing this... Nevermind. " Koharu said, resting his head on his palm. "If he drops the ball, it'll be on You, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya nodded. "This is an alternative to letting that demon kid turn into One Tails."
Hiruzen folded his hands and gave a nod of approval. "Very well then. He's your responsibility. You'll need to deliver the news of this secret mission to Inoichi, Anko, and the Jonin commander. They'll be able to help the boy the most in this operation."
Jiraiya nodded.
"Good. Now, let's move to our next matter: the aftermath of this invasion attempt," said Hiruzen. I am taking Danzo's side on creating a penal formation around the village. We'll create a web to damage any retreating shinobi trying to leave Fire Country. We won't let them escape. "
Koharu nodded. "Agreed. With how many may be coming, we can't have them just running amok."
Hiruzen nodded. "Konoha is taking an enormous risk. The plan to assassinate Gaara before he enters the ring must succeed. He can't be allowed to transformed."
The others nodded, and after discussing the subject more deeply, the session ended with Jiraiya leaving to deliver his new orders.
Line break.
It didn't take him long to deliver the orders to the Anbu commander, and as soon as he left the Interrogation department, he was surprised to see Kakashi waiting outside for him.
"I was going to tell you next," Jiraiya said, and Kakashi nodded.
"I know. I'm not worried about that. I just want to know what plan B is. If Naruto gets caught and the invasion starts, we need an evacuation plan for the civilians if the enemy Jinchuuriki is unleashed in the middle of the stadium," said Kakashi.
Jiraiya nodded. "Trust me, I have it covered. Follow me to the arena. I'm gonna need help with something."
Kakashi did just that. The two jumped up and took to the rooftops, disappearing into the night and toward the arena to make some last-second preparations for what was to come.
Line break.
The sky had only just turned a deep Indigo, but shops were already opening, and caravans were planting themselves outside the arena, which was also already filled by staff and ready to be opened when the exams officially began at 12 p.m.
It was only six AM, and things were kicking off.
To some, it was unusual that it would start this way, but the day needed to start early for some people. Hiruzen wants the arena ready early on for obvious reasons, and it only made sense for Naruto to be present.
The boy was enjoying the morning air, standing outside and leaning on the balcony, when he sensed the Anbu agent nearby.
"No need for that, Anbu-san. Let me get dressed, and I'll be there ASAP," Naruto said with a slightly raspy voice.
The agent made himself known by appearing just above him, sitting on the roof. This was Yugao.
"Of course, Namikaze-sama. Just be sure to report at the arena rather than the office. The Hokage is busy with other affairs, so it will be Jiraiya and Inoichi Yamanaka who you will be assigned to today," the woman said softly.
Naruto looked up at her with a confused expression. "Who told you my name?"
"Are you surprised? Don't be, young lord. All personnel of a certain class are to be aware of your status before the announcement. If you want, I can call you Uzumaki instead."
Naruto shook his head. "Do as you please. Thank you for getting me. I'll be dressed in a moment."
The boy walked back into his apartment and changed out of his sleepwear into his uniform. He stared at his jacket. Yesterday, he and Iruka went shopping for it. It's nice—black and orange. He still preferred it if it were more orange than black, but so long as his favorite color was still on him, he was happy.
After he dressed, he came outside and was met with a few Anbu waiting on him.
"OK, guys. Before we head off, there's a stop I need to make."
Yugao looked at her partner, and he shrugged. " Don't take long."
Naruto nodded, and they went off, jumping across the roofs and heading toward the Ichiraku ramen stand.
When they got there, Teuchi was already up and about, putting things out for the day. He looked surprised when he noticed Naruto approaching the counter, and the Anbu agents followed after him.
"Ah. You're early. I suppose following my gut was the right move," said the older man as he reached over and set a well-packaged bowl of ramen in front of Naruto, as well as a pair of chopsticks. "There you go, kiddo. Enjoy."
Naruto looked down at it with a smile. "Thank you, Teuchi. I appreciate this."
"Ah, it's not a problem. Just do your best out there, kid; I'm rooting for ya," the man said with a smile.
Naruto took the box of ramen and left the stand.
When the curtain closed, he stared off, remembering their first meeting. It was coming down pretty hard that day, and the poor boy was soaking wet and hungry. Such innocent eyes.
'He grows up to look just like my favorite two customers every day. It hurts to think what happened to them. May Kami rest their souls,' thought the man.
When Teuchi looked away from the curtain, Ayame had finally come down to help him set up.
She was still half asleep and had no idea Naruto had come through. "Why do we have to do this so early?" she said, still groggy from sleep.
Teuchi sighed and smiled at her. "It's the biggest event of the year aside from the festival. The whole village will be coming for their lunch."
She rolled her eyes and started setting out their cooking supplies. After that was done, she noticed Teuchi still had a smile on his face.
"What has you smiling like that?" she asked.
He chuckled and shook his head. "It was the kid. He came by early."
"Oh?" said Ayame. "Please tell me you fed him."
"Naturally," The man said in a jovial tone. "He is our number one customer, after all."
Line break.
By the time Naruto made it to the arena, the sun was just beginning to rise. It was atmospheric in a way. The streets of Konoha were beginning to be lit by the morning glow of the rising star, and it gave a sense of peace that wouldn't be there by the end of the day.
Naruto followed behind Yugao and her partner, walking through the large entrance that the staff was tending to. Skipping all the security checkpoints, they made their way up the VIP stands to where Inoichi and the Anbu Commander were sitting.
The two Anbu who brought him nodded and disappeared, leaving Naruto with Inoichi, an Anbu commander, and a few random Anbu captains.
"I'd love to introduce myself, but we need to cut this short. Jiraiya met with us yesterday and gave us the game plan. Isolate Gaara and seal off his access to his tailed beast. We'll secure the entranceway he'll have to split off to in order to get into the field. That's where you'll ambush him. Anko will assist you in this." Said Inoichi.
Naruto was given a map of the stadium and nodded. "I'll set a trap for him right here. I just can't be interrupted when things go down. One question, though. Are we going to be on the attack?"
Inoichi nodded. "They have an army here, so us attacking will be justified. We know where they are and what they are attempting. This is to ensure a swift victory with few casualties. If you want to save the people of this village and protect the young, you must be prepared to get your hands dirty and put an end to the threat well before they can strike. This hinges on you taking Gaara out."
"So then, at first, we were on the defense? I understand. I can handle it, no problem," said Naruto. "Do what you need to do."
Inoichi gave the boy a stern look. "You are also of the generation I wish to protect. Personally, I think this is a bad Idea, but I'm hellbent on making sure it works. I don't want you in the fighting once Gaara is taken care of. Your job after that is to either help evacuate the civilians or to help your peers get to safety. Don't go trying to be a hero."
"I know my job," Naruto said sternly, getting into his zone.
"Good," Inoichi said, getting up and looking off to the village below. "I can see the light in the sky. It's now or never. Start rigging the place with your traps, but be sure to set a couple near your target's escape route. I'll Make sure that we have units at the entranceway ready for him in case something goes wrong."
Naruto nodded and stood up. "Ok. I won't let you down."
Inoichi turned to look at him with a soft smile. "I would hope not."
Line break.
There were three places Naruto thought to plant his tags: the entrance to the field, the waiting area in case he decided to act out around the other genin, and a few places where he felt Gaara would be skulking around while waiting.
These seals were silencer seals and barrier tags.
Once he was finished concealing his seals, the sun was finally showing itself over the horizon, and he returned to the stands.
Inoichi acknowledged him as he came through, and the boy sat back down in a seat.
"I suppose I should find something to do since I'm here already. I'm gonna go eat my food. If something goes wrong, don't be afraid to use your radio."
Inoichi nodded and went back to looking through a few papers in his hands. "Do as you will."
The boy left after that, leaving Inoichi and the Anbu in the room.
Line break.
3 hours later.
It was ten o'clock, and just outside the stadium, people were beginning to flood the streets, lining the blocks. The caravans and shop owners were taking full advantage of the situation, with food and clothing stalls lining the streets and a few vendors with the most popular and well-made merchandise lining the sides.
The mood was ecstatic, with many in line discussing wagers and various bets regarding their favorites to win and the various genin that could advance and become the champion.
It wouldn't be long before they were allowed in, but of course, the VIPs were the most important, so protocol demanded that they be allowed in first.
A lane was parted for both the Fire Daimyo and the Wind Daimyo. They rode their palanquins through the crowd and into the VIP area of the stadium, with Hiruzen greeting them just outside.
Hiruzen gave both a bow and greeted them. "Gentlemen. Welcome to the chunin exams. Right this way, your seats await you. If you'll please follow me," he said, ushering them to follow after him as a couple of anbu guards were close by. They didn't need them since the Fire Lord had his guardian shinobi and the Wind Daimyo his own version, but the more security, the better.
Hisaki looked up at the high ceiling, noting the architectural changes made to the Tenka stadium.
"Amazing work, Lord Hokage," he said with an amazed tone.
"Thank you. I'm sure you know, but the exam is not just for my people. This is the biggest event for any of our ally nations to prove themselves. And so, I would like for this to be a day where we all can be civil to one another," Hiruzen said.
Masuda looked around in complete awe. It's the first time the boy has ever been to a stadium of this size and grandeur, so naturally, it's all new and fascinating. "How do the exams work exactly?" He asked.
"I'll tell you all about it when we get to our seats, kiddo," responded Hisaki.
The Wind Lord crossed his arms, trying not to be as impressed with the design of Konoha's stadium. It is only the entrance, after all.
After they arrived at the VIP area, they sat at a booth that oversaw the arena below. The view was incredible. The stadium itself was surrounded by various booths that could seat about ten people.
Each of them had an individual shinobi guard at the door, with Hiruzen himself taking it upon himself to make sure his guests were watched over.
They were in the most important booth, so certain luxuries were there to be enjoyed by them, with their booth having a cooler full of expensive liquor as well as some other choice foods that are for the VIP guests to enjoy.
"It will be a couple of hours before the event begins, so just let me know if there is anything you require," Hiruzen said to the two daimyos.
Both men gave him an approving nod.
"We are well, Lord Hokage. But do we really need such excessive security?"
Hiruzen chuckled. "I don't mean to smother you. It's the first time we'll be having this many people in one spot. It's a new record for Konoha, so I want to make sure everything runs smoothly and that nothing is amiss. "
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Hokage, but we will be just fine." Said the Wind Daimyo.
Hisaki shrugged and sat by his wife and son. "Thank you, Hiruzen. We'll talk later."
The older man gave a bow and exited the room.
Once he was out, he let out a tired breath. Pampering these lords is his job, but it can be tiring. At the very least, his Fire Lord is being reasonable in his treatment, but there is no doubt that after this event, there will be issues to deal with between them.
Just as he turned to leave, his Anbu Commander appeared before him in a kneeling position. "We've done a thorough sweep of the stadium, the outer parameter of the stadium, and the commercial district as a whole. There are traces of enemy shinobi amongst the civilians. They are disguised."
Hiruzen nodded and ushered him to walk with him. "Did you report this to Inoichi-san?"
"Yes. He calculated how many abnormal civilians we had in the village, and he counted between five hundred and eight hundred. We also discovered evidence that some kind of gimmick is being used just outside of Konoha's periphery barrier, which interferes with our main sensory grid. The interference has been growing in strength since last night. Whatever is going on out there, it isn't natural."
Hiruzen's eye twitched, and he pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
'So. This is their strategy for sneaking enemy shinobi into my village. Clever little snake. But not clever enough.' though Hiruzen before he fully addressed his Commander.
"Send word to Inoichi. Tell him to do a raw scan using only the water-sensing barrier. Tell him to send me the results in code since I'll be sitting with our attackers soon."
The Commander bowed and left.
'If the sand shinobi really think I didn't plan for their little tricks, they are mistaken.' the man thought before heading to the lobby to entertain the remaining lords of their neighboring countries. It hadn't even started, yet it was already starting to become a really long day for him.
Line break.
11 a.m.
{Naruto POV
Naruto enjoyed snooping around, mapping out the stadium, and trying to memorize where each of his traps was placed. The genin were starting to gather, so he was just hanging around the lower parts of the stadium where he wouldn't be bothered by anyone. He didn't need them, knowing he was here early. There was one more thing he needed to do.
'This reminds me of my earlier childhood. Sneaking around the Hokage tower and planting traps around. That was the life.' thought Naruto, reminiscing on how it was so much simpler in those days.
He looked over the entrances, making sure the Anbu he sensed nearby knew his intention.
He didn't need to. For any trap he set would disappear, thanks to their assistance in concealing it using seals and ninjutsu he himself had yet to learn.
Naruto gave the concealed Anbu a thumbs-up before he jumped down to a lower platform. Like clockwork, a member of the security squad would give it a once-over to see if it needed tweaking.
"He's getting better at hiding them." one of them said.
The other nodded and performed a basic concealing technique that would help the seal he'd just applied from being noticed. It was already hidden, but they didn't want some clever enemy to undo any of these traps.
By the time Naruto had successfully rigged every possible exit on the lower floors of the stadium, the sound of the crowd above him grew more prominent and lively. It was nearly noon, and the event was about to start.
Naruto sighed. 'All this time worried about the invasion, and I never acknowledged my opponent. I'll be fighting Lee. I won't be able to give him the time of day. I'll need to end it in a flash."
It was when he sensed Sakura and Sasuke enter the stadium that he decided to make himself known.
Line break
Hiruzen sighed as he concealed his battle armor under his Hokage robes. It's do or die today.
'It's been a while since I've worn this armor. I think the last time I did it was on that fateful night. Was it more recent than that? I can't remember.'
"Lord Hokage," the female voice said as the door opened, and Yugao kneeled in her reinforced Anbu armor. "Everyone is in position. The Commander awaits further instructions."
"Tell him to hang tight until the exams start. Depending on who's present with me, things will shift, and we'll either act first or react. Tell me. Is Anko here yet?"
Yugao nodded." understood. She is with Jiraiya. Should we bring her closer?
"Yes. Send her to Assist Naruto. The time is nigh."
Yugao bowed once again, and Hiruzen dismissed her.
'let's see what you have in store for me, you snake,' he thought as he looked out the window.
Line break.
When Naruto walked into the competitor's box, all eyes were on him. Given his level of power, his presence was easy to feel.
The sand siblings eyed him down, each with varied reactions: subtle interest mixed with wariness from Temari, hostility from Gaara, and pure wariness from Kankuro.
Naruto scanned the room, ignoring the siblings so as not to raise any tension, and his gaze fell on Neji.
The Hyuga stared back with a gaze that showed he wasn't at all impressed with Naruto and was more than ready to face him down when the time came.
It went to Hinata, and she had her arms crossed a look similar to Neji's, with a hint of excitement in her eyes. No doubt she's grown stronger in her free time.
His gaze went to Lee, and of course, he had a fire in his eyes that Naruto knew couldn't be put out no matter what came his way.
Sakura and Sasuke seemed to be the only ones not bothering with his entrance; their gaze focused on the crowd outside of the box.
Naruto walked up and planted a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, the raven-haired boy smirking as his gaze remained focused.
"Don't do that, loser. I could've taken your hand off had I been off guard," Sasuke said with a smug smirk.
"Have you been drinking or something? You're too slow for that, Uchiha," Naruto said in amusement.
Sasuke raised a brow, excitement in his eyes. "Far from it."
Sakura enjoyed the exchange but then noticed the mood shift instantly when Naruto's eyes became cold. "I've already begun preparing for Gaara. But, as we discussed, there's a small chance I won't be able to take him out. So if that happens, and I can't find an opportunity, You need to place this on him."
Naruto held out two fingers and gabbed Sasuke's palm. He then burrowed them into the center, and Sasuke felt the strange sensation of ink climbing up his arm.
"The seal isn't numerical, so don't worry about where you place it. Just slap it on him, and you'll have saved the village from destruction," The blonde whispered.
Sasuke nodded, keeping his smug expression the same so as not to alert anyone. "I've got this in the bag."
Sakura clenched her fist at everything that was happening before her. An invasion is about to happen, and her parents are piling more stress onto her. On top of that, they want her to convince Naruto to spare her uncle when it comes to claiming some kind of business stock thing she has no understanding of.
She shook her head. At the very least, she convinced her father in private that something bad was going to happen. He is, after all, a shinobi as well. Just the precinct type, aka, police force.
'All this stress over the invasion, and I've completely forgotten my match against Suna chick. Man, this is the worst.'
Line break.
In the stands, Ino, Choji, Tenten, and Kiba took their seats as their Jonin sensei sat nearby in the stands.
The arena became increasingly packed as time went on, and they could feel the excitement in the air.
"Man, this is going to be awesome!" yelled Choji as he set his sliding table out and decorated it with all kinds of foods. "We have Naruto fighting Lee! Sasuke fighting Gaara, and the two Hyuga prodigies going at it! Honestly! This has to be one of the most exciting events in Konoha's history! "
Ino rolled her eyes. She was in agreement, but Choji's excitement stemmed from the food he had in front of him to enjoy while watching.
"Yeah... Choji, the event has an hour before it kicks off. You should've waited before-"
"Absolutely not!" yelled Choji, interrupting Ino." Do you know how fast these rare and expensive Steam Country exclusive dumpling dishes go?! This is all I could find when I came by this morning! This is a limited-edition flavor! I will not let it go to waste! Besides, I brought my steam pot, so there's no need to worry about things going cold. Thank you very much."
Ino facepalmed and let out a defeated breath.
Tenten and Kiba chuckled at her expense and got comfortable.
Kiba glanced over to see the Hyuga arrive in the distance, some going through to the VIP section.
He narrowed his eyes at Hiashi as he disappeared behind the entranceway.
Tenten followed his gaze and wondered what was on his mind. She had a nasty opinion of the man thanks to Neji, so she didn't feel out of place in hating the clan head.
"What's up, Kiba?" Tenten asked, Kiba's eyes snapping back to Tenten.
"Just thinking." Said Kiba.
Akamaru barked in his lap, and he gave a dirty look. He was thankful he was the only one around who could understand him.
Naturally, the reason for his anger toward the man was due to their first meeting. He'd given a hint at wanting to court Hinata, and the man was quick to dismiss it. He can't help but dislike the guy.
"So, who do you guys think will win?" Asuma asked from behind, deciding to join his kids in their discussion.
Ino stared off. She wanted to say Sasuke, but at the same time, Naruto's showing against Kiba was something else. Then there were Gaara and the Hyuga prodigies. She wasn't sure at all. There were so many factors.
"Hinata for sure." Kiba said.
"Ahem, simp," teased Choji, only for him to earn a glare from Kiba.
Tenten sighed, leaning back into her seat. "I'm with Neji on this one. He can't be stopped. I've seen him."
"I feel like Naruto's going to crush everyone here like a grape," said Choji, surprising his peers.
"What? I'm just saying! He's crazy strong! I think Shikamaru could think of a way to take him down, but-"
"There's the best friend bias." teased Kiba.
"But! But! You didn't let me finish! But Naruto has too much firepower and would need assistance! Geez," yelled Choji.
"Naruto is strong." Said Asuma, all of them going quiet as he continued. "He's easily one of the stronger combatants here, but remember, strength isn't everything. I think in the long run, Naruto may win if he plays his cards right. But Lee's shown himself to be skilled, too. They will be the first to fight, so we'll see."
Kurenai nodded and crossed her arms. Like Asuma, she was now aware that Naruto may be the son of the fourth Hokage. They had a debate about it when Asuma came to her about his theory, and after some back and forth, she reluctantly accepted that it could be true.
The more they talked about it, the more sense it made. Not that it matters in the long run since it's just a theory and nothing more.
Kakashi and Gai made their way down the steps not long after the exchange between the genin and fellow Jonin, Gai standing behind Tenten and smirking. "Alrighty! Let's get this show on the road!"
Tenten nodded, eager to see Lee fight this battle.
Line break.
{Hiruzen POV}
Hiruzen was seated in his chair overlooking the crowd. It was marvelous. He wanted to be happy with the size and scale of the event, but it only put him on edge. It was a shame these exams wouldn't be celebrated for what they managed to achieve in the long run, but it's still good to see what could've been.
His guards could feel their Kage's tense state and knew to remain alert.
Raido and Irashi stood behind him, two very trusted and experienced shinobi who guarded him on some of the most dangerous missions and even attempted assassination attempts in their time as Tokubetsu Jonin. They knew what was to come, and they were ready for anything—literally.
Moments later, the Fourth Kazekage made his way to them, his own guard following close behind.
"Ah. Lord Kazekage! So glad you could make it!" Hiruzen said in a jovial tone.
Rasa gave a stiff bow, a scowl etched onto his face. "Apologies for making you wait. I had to once again deal with the Wind Lord before making my way here. Hopefully, I haven't caused any delay."
Hiruzen chuckled and waved his hand in dismissal. "Nonsense. Trust me, I understand having to deal with a lord who imposes their will to ensure you act in a way that pleases them."
Rasa's eye twitched unnoticeably as he tilted his hat down and sat in the chair beside the Hokge. "Indeed. Let us get things started. I'm sure everyone has grown tired of waiting."
Hiruzen nodded. "Indeed. Let's."
This was the moment Hiruzen dreaded, but the sooner it's dealt with, the better.
He leaned over and waved at a staff member in the distance, signaling the beginning of the Finales.
Line break.
"All participants, gather onto the stage so that we may commence the Finales!" Genma announced.
At his words, the crowd went wild, and one by one, the genin filed out of the participant stands and onto the stage.
In the crowd, the genin of the leaf looked for their teammates and waved and cheered them on from the crowd, Ino being the loudest as usual.
But then she stopped and leaned forward.
"What the hell?!" she exclaimed.
Asuma, who was making a comment to Kurenai, sputtered in surprise. "L-Language Ino!"
"Look! Do you see what I see?" she exclaimed, and both Kiba and Tenten got up from their seats to get a closer look. Choji was not bothering him because of the food on his table.
"What?!" wined Kiba, not understanding the blonde's sudden outburst.
"Look at Naruto! He looks so different!"
Kiba scoffed at this and sat back down, whereas Tenten stared, understanding Ino's surprise.
"Well, now. He does look good." Tenten admitted, sitting back down.
Ino shook her head and smirked. "He was alright before, but he has a chance at getting a girlfriend with-"
"Oh, sit down already!" Choji yelled, yanking her back down onto her seat.
Line break
Genma crossed his arms and checked to make sure everyone was present, and he was relieved that there were no complications.
"Ok. Present yourselves before the crowd so we may begin." The proctor said.
Some of the Genin looked confused, but Hinata, Sasuke, Neji, and Lee understood the assignment and walked forward, bowing before the crowd and waving, the crowd responding well.
Shikamaru sighed and lazily waved his hand. 'Man, I wish we could just get on with this. I hate being in the spotlight.'
After they acknowledged the crowd, the Hokage gave his speech, and Naruto looked around the arena, getting a full picture of just how many people were present today. It wasn't a very good feeling.
'Holy shit.' he thought to himself.
"Nervous, Uzumaki?" Hinata said beside him, giving him an amused gaze.
"No. I uh... Just realizing that... This is actually happening."
The girl looked around as well and gave him a nod. "Yeah... This is where you want to be. Everyone will see what you're truly made of, so don't drop the ball."
He nervously chuckled at her words. "Are you attacking me psychologically? Or are you actually wishing me luck?"
"I can assure you, Uzumaki, that she's trying to rattle you." Said Neji from his side.
Hinata rolled her eyes. "I was wishing him luck."
"Really? I couldn't tell given your-"
"Neji, please. Not here." Lee scolded, not wanting this glorious occasion to be ruined by any unnecessary arguing.
Sasuke looked over at Gaara with a stoic expression. He was calm, but deep down, he was just as nervous as Naruto. Looking over to Sakura, she did a good job of looking indifferent, but her twitchy behavior gave away that she wasn't as composed as she looked.
Sasuke sighed, realizing that everyone was just as nervous as he was. It would only make sense that this is the big leagues now. However, unlike anyone not from Suna or Team Seven, they were nervous for the wrong reason.
'Ignorance really is bliss.' Thought the Uchiha.
The crowd roared in excitement at the end of Hiruzen's speech, and Genma spoke up.
"Alright, everyone except for Naruto and Lee are to clear out," Genma said, and the other genin walked back into the waiting area and out of the way.
Lee stood in front of Naruto, a look of determination and excitement on his face. "Let's do this! May the best shinobi win!"
Naruto smirked. "Let's see who comes out on top, Bushy brow."
Lee's smirk increased, and a sweat went down his temple. 'I'm already getting tensed up. Relax, Lee.' he thought to himself as he started stretching, loosening his limbs for use.
Line break.
Genma let out a breath and looked down at the sheet, grimacing. He looked up at the Kage's spectator box, and with a stern look and nod from Hiruzen, Gemma was given the go-ahead. 'Here goes nothing.'
He then turned to Naruto and gave him the secret hand signal Inoichi told him about. His mission begins now.
Naruto's eyes grew cold and focused at that moment, and his gaze moved to Lee's form. 'Sorry, Lee. I'm gonna make you work for this victory. I can't play around, nor can I afford to take damage in this fight.'
Genma then cleared his throat and announced that he would shake the village. "The First match shall commence! Rock Lee Versus Namikaze Naruto!"
Line break.
End chapter.
{A/N}
Sorry for the cliffhanger, but initially, the chapter was 20k long. It wouldn't make sense to post everything at once.
Thank you for reading.