A/N:
Hey everyone. A long wait for an unfortunately not beta'ed chapter. Why? You might ask because life hits all of us. Writers, Beta Readers… you name it. So I decided to put this one out in its current state. To all you native speakers… I am sorry. I am looking for a new beta reader. I have around 20 Chapters waiting to be released and would love to share them with all of you and get your thoughts about them. So If you would like to help get those chapters out and help correct some spelling and stuff. I would like to read your pm.
As long as I have no beta reader I am not so fond of putting out chapters tbh. I won't be on a schedule or something. Maybe once a month I will put out a chapter that's not betaed. We will see. Hope some of you are interested in helping me out though…
Last Time in Of Scrolls and Chains Naruto was preparing for the Chunin Exams. He met Gaara the One-Tailed Jinchuriki as started on his quest to maybe help the Kurama Clan with their Heiress. He also finished with his chakra blade. Everything looked like he was ready for the battles before him.
Naruto leaned on the wall in the room where they would have to sit their exams in the next few minutes. He witnessed as Sasuke had pushed Lee in their spar but in the end, had Guy not intervened Naruto had already known who would have won. Sasuke still had that stupid problem of being a useless brick sometimes. You had to ask yourself how so much self-centeredness could fit in one person. Naruto had hoped he had made progress somewhat as they had returned from their last mission with good results, teamwork, and all of it but now, with the prospect of a promotion, strong enemies, and all that Sasuke had a relapse of the pompous Uchiha Syndrome. It sucked, Naruto had so many objectives for the Chunin exams. First of all, getting that promotion. Saving his cousin without raising suspicion and clarifying what had the Uzumaki spy network buzzing like an anthill. He had not found out why some of his contacts were not reporting in. Hatsumi-Chan was in the process of looking into that, but with all of their little projects even with Kage Bunshin, she was stretched thin. With a hand, he brushed through the bangs of his hair, adjusting his headband for the last time before he witnessed some ruckus. As the Genin from Otogakure was in progress to punch this silver-haired kid with glasses. Only to be stopped by Sasuke who had a smirk on his face. Naruto sensed the chakra built up for a Ninjutsu right at the same time as the Proctors appeared in front of the main desk. He had to give it to Ibiki Morino, one of the Heads of the I&T department, to disrupt the fight by simply entering a room, Impressive.
After he had his spiel about the test they would have to take, the penalties, and everything Naruto had to smile as he sat down next to Hinata and Karin. Giving both Girls a short smile and unseen pushing a Fuuda to Karin, who looked at it and stuck it inside her pockets seemingly without alerting someone by covering it up in sliding her entry form to Naruto who stacked them and delivered them to the front desk like they were told. Everything was cursed with this stupid paperwork, even the Shinobi world. Sometimes Naruto had to chuckle thinking that the true masters were the bureaucrats and not the Daimyo, or Kage as the only group who loved this tedious task.
The Chunin Hopefuls nearly as one person flipped their test pages, some of them paled after the first seconds of flying over the question. Only a very small group just started writing down answers. Most of them started cheating. Some were ridiculously obvious, getting eliminated quite fast and others were more refined staying in the game. Naruto had a very different interpretation of the exams. He knew all the answers or so he thought, most were out of the Chunin Teacher qualification exams, while the ninth question even was out of the Jonin Qualification Test. The Test the more academically inclined one could take to qualify for the promotion. Not get it of course but recommend himself and get the superior's notice of oneself. Naruto had a completely different approach. Closing his eyes for some seconds, opening them only to write some things on his paper repeating the whole process for the complete time till Ibiki spoke up for the last question.
"Listen up you maggots, time for the tenth question. That will also include a slight change of rules so listen very closely. You can choose to either take the question or resign from the exam." The Bandana-wearing Proctor focussed some of his killing intent on the assembled examinees. He gave it some time before he continued with an evil smirk. "But if you take the question and fail to answer correctly you will be banned from taking the exams ever again and will be one of those eternal Gening guys. So, what will your answer be take it or leave it!"
Dialing up the KI with the last sentence two times Ibiki watched with a deep satisfaction as more and more quitted. Piercing some of the hopefuls with his eyes even helped more. Inwardly he had to clap himself on his shoulders, it seemed he had not lost his edge over time. What surprised him a bit was that all the rookie Genin of Konoha looked as if they were not even impacted by his Killing Intent. Giving the room his last statement and a ten-second time window to decide he stretched his sensing. Only to land on a smirking blonde. He was protecting some of them from his KI with his own. Interesting.
Stretching the ten-seconds to thirteen he paused before exclaiming.
"Good, now for the tenth question." adding a dramatically long pause for further effect he let off of the KI and continued. "You all pass."
A collective "EEEEEEHHHHHHH" was rumbling through the room before one random Genin questioned what all this drama with the tenth question was about when no tenth question was asked. But before the Proctor could form his answer one bored sigh was heard above all other sounds. Shortly after a cold voice could be heard, it was laced with a small margin of KI. "You know, if you are to dump to understand that the tenth question was asked at the moment the proctor asked if we want to accept the risk to move forward or drop out your skills in looking underneath the underneath are not Chunin worthy." Ibiki had to give it to the Uzumaki he could have not said it better but the little Troublemaker of Kakashi's Team was not finished. "Seriously, a Jonin Proctor of Konoha making such a declaration with like like four or more foreign nations included in this exam. One of them being a neutral village, the other a completely new one? Good thing Konoha seems to still have the reputation that we could force the other nations that they are not allowed to promote their soldiers because one of our Jonin said so. Simply hilarious. HaHa."
Naruto ended with a sarcastic laugh paired with a slow clap. He nearly could feel how he had riled up all those who had not really understood, he mentally noted those signatures down by their fluctuating chakra alone though. They would make good targets for the next parts of the exam. At some point, they would have to allow to fight against each other. And he wanted to conserve some chakra so he would leave Gaara's brother alone for the moment. The others though, especially one of the ninjas out of Karin's team are fair game. He could feel his blood pressure rising and his tenant stirring. While Naruto pondered about the rules of engagement he wanted to use, Ibiki's confirmation of Naruto's words was interrupted by a little explosion. As the smoke cleared beside Ibiki stood a Woman with purple hair in a high ponytail. Most of the Konoha nin recognized her but they had to blink once. Gone were the Mesh Bodysuit and mini skirt and coat she had known here for. In their place was leathern clothing that had a sort of shine on it. The patterns on the clothing had a strong resemblance to scales and overall the overbust corset and skirt in a midnight green paired with the high-heeled boots looked like she came straight out of a dungeon. Her voice though was something most of the male Genin would not forget for many years if they would live them. The seductive tone, paired with a challenge and unspoken promises for what she was able to do.
"Ara Ara, Biki-Chan. You left so many toys for me to play with. Not getting soft on your Anko-Chan do you?" Before Ibiki could answer her she had pushed him away. With a sideways push with her hip. She looked at the Genin, Ibiki who was still shocked about the change in her appearance and could not even bring out a word, as Anko smiled again biting on her lower lip. "So many cute Genin. A shame that only half of you will be able to play after I am finished with you. Will you scream for me before you are out of it?" It was a bit disturbing for some of them to see this sadistic smile paired with the bite. It was like she would enjoy it even more. Leading to two more teams leaving the room. Anko changed her whole behavior seconds after that. "Ahh, I love it." Her voice was a bit more normal still playful but without the sexual tension in it it was much more pleasant. "You are far too young to play with little old me, and most of you would beg for mercy in seconds. Nonetheless, my name is Anko Mitarashi. Proctor of the second part of the Chunin Exams. You will meet me at training ground 44 in exactly two hours. Early is okay, Late means you are disqualified. The way is signposted. If you miss it you are unworthy. Have to get to my date now, See ya later you cute playthings." Her words said she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
Exactly at the same time, a silver-haired Jonin vanished unseen out of the lounge where the Jonin-Sensei had watched their teams while his colleagues still looked at the screens gaping at Anko's display.
The Genin had filtered out of the room Naruto had to chuckle a bit, Anko looked more confident than he remembered. Seems like Kakashi was good for her in some ways.
One Hiruzen Sarutobi was attended by a nurse after passing out from significant blood loss.
At the same time, a Chunin came to Ibiki with one paper in his hand.
"Ibiki-San, You really should look at this. The Answers to the questions are interesting in their own right but there is a coded message on the paper that piqued my interest."
Ibiki looked at the Chunin, an intern in his department, so he was sure that his opinion was well grounded he looked at the answers first. Cheeky Gaki had written down where to find the answers. But what was very interesting were the coded words at the end and the Fuijnjutsu formula right under it. He translated the standard Konoha Code on the spot.
"Collected information to all significant competitors can be found by unsealing it with the modified secret unsealing seal known by Sandaime-Sama. I have to assume that there is more behind some participants than it seems. The tree could be in danger."
As Ibiki read the last code sentence he shunshined straight to the office of the Hokage. After a short wait, he was admitted and looked at his leader.
"Yes Ibiki, how can I help you?"
"Hokage-Sama, Participant Uzumaki used a Class A Codephrase after a reconnaissance mission." Hiruzen frowned activating the privacy seals and letting Ibiki hand him the paper. Scanning through the test answers he had to smile that unfortunately had to go as fast as it appeared he landed at the mentioned coded sentence. Quickly unsealing the information he began to read.
"The following participants are far off the charts for Chunin Applicants.
Starting with Konoha's own Yakushi Kabuto, Chakra is strongly suppressed and feels like around Jonin Levels, a self-proclaimed seven-time competitor. Also, he had information on some competitors that most of the time not privy to Genin. I would say he is a spy. Inside or Outside Force is unknown. But his Chakra tastes like that of the next entry on my list.
Unknown Kusa Kunoichi. Also suppressed chakra, similar overall feeling to Yakushi-San. I got some information on Kusa thanks to our last mission the chakra levels of the Shinobi of that village are slightly under our average so an applicant with a highly suppressed rings bells. Maybe hidden Jinchurikii, but Kusa, to my knowledge has no Biju under their watch. So intruder or maybe even the superior to Yakushi-San.
Gaara of the Sand, as already spoken about Jinchuriki, is unstable and without further intervention a risk to our village. [...]"
A list of the competitors followed listed after their chakra capacity and the technique they used to spy on the others, handing it back to Ibiki with a smile and the unspoken question for his opinion.
Who read the uncoded message and got wide eyes looking at the clock he cursed.
"The second exam will start in the next few seconds. I have to hand it to Uzumaki-San he has surprised that is first-class material. Even if it is troubling what it could imply."
"That it is Ibiki. I hope Naruto-Kun is wrong in his assumptions but he most of the time is not. Would you say you would recommend him for Chunin after the first task?"
Hiruzen was the epitome of calm. Like a stone in the middle of the sea unmoving and unimpressed even if his mind started bringing up scenarios of destruction.
Ibiki nodded. "When his information is verified I would recommend him for the Hunters. The rank depends on his combat prowess but yeah Chunin would be the least."
Hiruzen nodded shortly and spoke again. "Thank you Ibiki, that would be all." The Hokage waited till his Jonin was out to summon one of his personal Anbu.
"Dragon, I want a full Anbu Squad monitoring the task. Put in some Sensors will you? If something happens I want to be informed immediately!"
The Hokage received a nod before the Anbu vanished again. Hiruzen sighed, he was getting too old for the Hat. He took out some paper and penned two short letters to his two still loyal students with orders to return as soon as possible. Giving it to a messenger monkey the Hokage lit up his pipe but at the same time was steeling himself for a possible confrontation.
Training ground 44, Forrest of death, one minute after the second task started
Naruto and his team were standing a short jump behind the again closed entry gate. Naruto had summoned a hardened clone who would stay with his team. "Okay as discussed earlier. My clone will stay with you while I will go hunting for food and maybe even scrolls. Stay safe we meet at sunset okay?"
The team was in something they would call their mission mode. Naruto had established his position as the team leader some time ago. Even Sasuke in his Uchiha pride state accepted that thanks to some spars and conversations. He had acknowledged him and even called him his friend one time. In this state team seven was arguably the best Genin team Konoha had at the moment. Team Seven with Clone Naruto shunshined into the north at the tower while the real Naruto started his hunt. What better time to reclaim a long-lost part of the clan than the Chunin Exams survival part, where maybe people can disappear without anyone more the wiser?
Naruto had no real problems zeroing in on the tracking seal he gave to Karin. The only problem was he would have to cross some ground through the forest. Picking up some speed he vanished a blur jumping from tree to tree. He still had his thoughts on the moment before the exam started. The Rookie Nine had come together and he had warned them to not go after Gaara's team. He hoped they would listen. He had trained with Hinata and Ino in the past. Both had listened to him in training and he had high hopes that they would reign in their teams to head his words. Without much trouble only incapacitating one Suna team with his leeching chains he landed in a clearing. Looking at Karin who rushed at him and tried to hug his stuffing out.
"Mah Mah. Karin-Chan. Need to breathe." The redhead let go but blushed deeply. Naruto had time to look at the surrounding area. Karin's Teammates were bound at a tree spreadeagle-style with ninja wire and looked like they had her thigh-high socks pushed into their mouths as a gag. Karin looked at him expectantly and Naruto had to chuckle.
"Well, Karin-Chan nice work. But why the spreadeagle?"
Karin smirked and goes to one of them only to kick him straight between the legs. Shaking and wailing the only sound Naruto was able to hear through the socks was grumbling
"Because I can show them how much I like them like this." Kicking her other teammate in the same spot.
Naruto cringed a bit. Even if he knew that her teammates were straight-up assholes and earned every kick they got, that just hurt by watching it. "I see Karin-Chan. If you want to show them some more of your love I can wait and start with the barrier."
"Oh, that would be nice of you Naruto-kun." She swooned a bit, cracking her knuckles and looking at the two teammates. While Naruto set up the Barrier she punished them. Like all female Uzumakis, she could be equally loving and hating with passion so it was no surprise that she let her fists speak for one or two minutes. Before she took a break and one of them was able to spit out the worn sock she had put in.
"What are you doing you BITCH?! Get us off that damn tree!" he shouted with some difficulty thanks to his broken or cracked jaw. Only for him to be silenced by a golden chain around his neck that squeezed him for a bit before he was about to pass out Karin stopped and stepped directly in front of her old teammates. "You dare to ask. Well, let me tell you. Our stupid village nearly killed my mother and me if not for my family. Because you are greedy bastards. You treated me like trash and finally, I can turn the page and leave that all behind."
Naruto rejoined her and looked at the beat-up Kusa Genin. "Damn Karin-Chan, you got them good, did you?" On Karin's silent nod, she looked at him expectantly.
"Well we have to make it believable that you were killed with them did you have the thing the agents brought to you?"
Unsealing a replica of her denture complete inside of a human-looking skull she nodded. "I did, scary as I got them but I understand why. Where I should put them?"
He pointed at the tree and shortly after everything was a blur as Naruto just killed the two teammates, while Karin cut to bleed some of her blood around the clearing before She put down some seals. With a quick nod to Naruto a blazing Inferno came out of the seals and consumed the bodies and tree and leaving only ashes behind. Karin put the seal on her belly and Naruto looked at her hair as the red changed to a common brunette-like color. "Good, everything worked out. Next up your extraction route." He summoned a clone that picked her up bridal style. Only for her to blush a bit and giggle.
"Thank you Naruto-Kun, for everything. I don't know what I had done without you. I maybe would have no mother and be chained even harder to some evil person. I will see you later I think?" Karin softly answered his unspoken question in the arms of his clone. He gave her a short nod before he picked up something and gave his clone a signal who vanished in an instant. Naruto had to sigh in relief knowing that his family member was safe before he rushed to the disturbance he felt.
Somewhere in Hi no Kuni
A beautiful blonde woman accompanied by a black-haired one holding a pig was seen running from a horde of thugs. This woman was Tsunade of the Sannin with her apprentice Shizune and their faithful companion Ton-Ton. Why would one of the Sannin run from thugs you could ask? Just and simply because she was dodging not the thugs but the summons of her teacher at the moment.
Not so far away a man with long silver hair was enjoying the woman on his lap as a monkey appeared in front of him. "Sorry Honey that looks like it is important for me." He placed the giggling woman to the side and quickly read through the scroll before incinerating it with a small Katon Jutsu. With a sad expression, he looked at the gorgeous brunette he had on his lap seconds ago. "It is as I thought someone needs the help of Jiraiya the Galant. But fear not my dear I will be back to get back to what we started." He slapped her on the ass before handing over some Ryu and jumped out of the establishment that looked suspiciously unsuspicious. Making his way to Konoha.
Inside the Forest of Death, with Team 8
Hinata had her Dojutsu activated and halted her team with a short sign.
"What is it Hinata?" Kiba landed beside her in a kneeling position shortly followed by Shino who had his stoic nothingness on and commented nothing waiting for his teammate to explain.
The Hyuuga Heiress looked at them and pointed through some trees and there they could see two teams fighting. There in the distance were six persons to see, three of them were fighting for their lives at the moment. Dodging waves of sand, while the person responsible stood on a branch of a tree directing the sand like a conductor. the two remaining team members of the Suna team just stood at the side watching. Team eight had to watch as the master of the sand slowly corned the team before he used it to press the life out of the other team.
Akamaru whimpered, Kiba was sucking in air. Hinata had her hand on his mouth while from Shino only the furious sounds of his insects could be heard. But before her team could say something Hinata let her eyes wander. "We have to move. Quick now." She pointed in the direction that was in the opposite direction of the Suna team. Her Byakugan still looked in the direction of the Suna team. It was like she looked at the eyes of a monster as Gaara seemed to look directly at her for a second before he smiled.
Team Eight rushed away from the spot only for Hinata to see that Gaara and his team rushed in the other direction. It looked like they dodged that bullet and Hinata made a mental note to talk with Naruto again after the exams about how to fight someone like Gaara.
With Team 7
Sasuke and Sakura and Nartuos Clone looked at their loot. They had overwhelmed and beaten three teams and had one pair of scrolls at the ready. Sasuke looked at Sakura who had unsealed their camping equipment and rations handing them out to them.
"I have to give it to you, Naruto. You may be a nuisance most of the time but the idea to scout with your clones and lead us to some easy unexpecting teams was a good one. Now we can catch our breath before ending the second task in style as we should with me as an elite Uchiha on the team."
Narutos Clone sighed. "Just shut up Teme! Thanks, Sakura but I am a clone I don't need one" He said at the same time handing the ration back to her. She blushed a bit getting reminded and put on the spot like that. While the two others ate the Clone began to plan the short-term defenses starting with active sensing. Just at that moment, he had to open his eyes in shock yelling. "Hit the floor, QUICK!" His two teammates could only watch as a strong gust of wind took hold of the blonde clone pushing and throwing him into the deep forest.
"NARUTOOO!" Sakura screamed before Sasuke put a hand over her mouth glaring at her wide eyes.
"Now is not the time, you know that he is a clone. Naruto is fine whatever made that wind though wants something from us and it wants that Naruto is no part of it. We should make haste to the tower as we discussed before the task if something like that happened. " he whispered. Sakura gave a scared nod of her head before she tried to swallow down her fear. The two ninjas broke down the camp in haste before they rushed in the direction of the tower. They had traveled for just half of a mile before a wave of skull-crushing hatred froze them in their spot.
"KuKuKu, the prey flees in the eyes of a predator how fitting."
A kunoichi with the Kusa Headband stood on a giant snake and looked at Sakura who stood just behind Sasuke who had his Sharingan activated.
With the Naruto Clone
While he flared his chakra to inform the boss, he just shunshined at the right moment before the maw of a gigantic snake bit down the place where the clone was just a second ago. quickly taking out his sword he infused it with Futon chakra. "You are not one of Anko's aren't you?"
The clone tried his attempt at small talk only for the big snake to hiss and charge at him again.
"Rude." He rumbled dodging a tail swipe that crushed some trees before swiping at it with his chakra blade. The snake could dodge, nimble and agile that it was despite its size. The clone clenched his teeth before pumping more chakra into the blade extending the size of the Futon blade four times before slashing again against the big snake. This time the snake was hit and a deep gash was in one of its sides. Now, the furious snake was hissing in pain and anger. The Clone danced around a bit.
"Yatta! Take this you big snake, that's for trying to bite me, dattebayo!"
While the clone danced around he forget to check his backside as the still-angered snake wanted to take a chunk out of the clone with it before it dispelled. The silent hunter had no problem sneaking up on him and swallowing the dancing clone.
Inside the snake, the clone had a depressed face, to be hit like that in the middle of his victory dance was insulting.
"Well, fuck that. Sorry Boss" He gave a short flare of chakra before with a big clone explosion jutsu the clone erupted in a mass of fire, taking out the snake with him. Unknowingly already back in the Ryuchi caves, the explosion took down not only the snake who had fought him dead but also some of the tunnels with it.
With Team 7
Sasuke was struggling to stand, looking at the now-revealed Orochimaru of the legendary three that had Sakura who had blood running down the side of her head in a one-handed chokehold. They had tried to outrun, outmaneuver, everything they knew. Sakuras and his Genjutsu were literally pointless and now Sasuke had to admit that both of them were completely outclassed. The Sanin had played with them. He had them have some small victories for them to get a glimpse of hope before he crushed it with his fists and kicks. Only using Taijutsu and Mudclones while two-thirds of Team 7 used the whole arsenal they had trained for, only resulting in this situation. Sakura was barely holding on and was seconds away from passing out. Sasuke had to give it to his pink-haired teammate she was not completely useless anymore. She had taken some hits and combined her attacks in nearly perfect synch with his but both of them laced one crucial thing, speed. The speed to react in time to dodge or attack. Now Orochimaru of the Sannin was about to kill his teammate and again like against his brother he was too weak to do something against it.
"KuKuKu Sasuke-kun. I had hoped you would give me a better challenge, I mean you're brother would have but it looks like you are not the one who is destined to beat him at the moment. Not really surprising, Konoha is lacking, but I can help you there."
Sakura whimpered powerless while Sasuke was about to attack again, the hand in his pouch to pop the emergency soldier pill all of them had packed thanks to Naruto insisting on it. He was holding back though. What would be the point? He could not beat the snake Nuke-nin. Naruto's Clone was not even back so what would happen next? Why was he still so weak? He looked at the snake really considering how he would answer. Opening his mouth he could only blink as a yellow blur appeared in his field of vision before Sakura was splattered with some of Orochimaru's blood as the hand was cut off from the arm. Before she could fall to the ground she was catched by her blonde teammate. With a smile, the pinkette was unconscious as Naruto looked over his shoulder to Sasuke. His voice was clear to hear but with some kind of a warning in it.
"You had not thought about taking him up on his offer did you not?"