Chapter 2
- six years later -
Tsunade did not want to become Godaime Hokage. She had refused, many many times. And then she got a message from Sarutobi six years ago that let her blood run cold and her mind get sober in seconds. Naruto Uzumaki went missing.
She should have stayed, blamed herself for what happened. He asked again, Sarutobi once more wanting her to become Hokage. And she had declined.
Until a new message had reached her. Two month after the boy went missing. He was declared dead by the council of Konoha. At that time Danzo proclaimed they had found his corps. She didn’t believed him, but she came back.
Even went to the funeral, it was held without the body. “Danzo has his reasoning.” Sarutobi had said. There was no way she believed him. But she still mourned over the loss, together with so few at an empty grave.
Grief and guild following her every step. Sarutobi asked her again. So she became Hokage.
It was her way of making it up to the boy she neglected. Even if it was to late.
So when she went through the applications for the chunin-exams this year her eyes stopped at a particular name. Team 3 of Uzushio, a village that has been rebuilding for some time but still kept itself hidden mostly. They applied the first time in the chunin-exams, with a single team. No other hidden village had any kind of information about Uzushio, so this was an opportunity for both sides to show and evaluate strength.
What Tsunade did not expected was who represented Uzushio.
First Member: Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto.
“What the Fuck?”
Next to her Shizune was visible startled at her sudden exclaim.
“Tsunade-Hime, is everything alright?”
“Did that sounded like it is?”
She snapped. A pause.
“Not really.”
“Exactly. We got some really interesting Genin this year.” She went through the rest of the team. “Did the first Test already started?”
“It will in a few minutes.”
“Then this has to wait a little longer I suppose.”
‘Not that after thirteen years it would make a difference.’
Her head rested on her hand.
“I guess I need a drink.”
----
“Come on Karin, this will be fun.”
The blond boy exclaimed. He had his hair grown out a bit longer like his fathers, so he could braid some of it back into a short ponytail. The Uzushio Hitai-ate hanging around his neck and above the black sleeveless turtle-neck. He wore simple black Shinobi pants and shoes and to complement the outfit a burnt orange kimono that seemed a tad bit to big on him. The kimono was mostly open, pulled together around his waist and did a good job at concealing most of his weapon pouches and seals all hidden across his body. The only visible pouch being around his leg for a few useful throwing weapons.
“Your impression of fun is dangerously variable. Also, it’s this asshole that won’t pick up his speed.”
Narutos teammate Karin violently shoved the third member towards the blond. She herself was in Ninja gear. Her Hitai-ate was used to pull her long red hair back into a messy bun. Her glasses had stayed the same red as the first time Naruto encountered her four years ago, but became a bit rounder after she needed to switch them out for new ones. It looked better on her in his opinion, complimented her equally scarlet eyes. She still liked to wear a purple kimono, closed and tighter than his. She finally switched to actual Shinobi pants after Naruto and his Mother worked on convincing her that it was much safer.
“For Fucks sake, do you wanna die?”
Their third member and last next to their sensei, who they would meet at the test-building, complained. Well it would be rare to not hear him swearing. His hair was burnt orange, like Narutos kimono, wild and longer than Karins. Eyes shining dangerously red. He was the only one with tanned skin. Wearing a loose black shirt but no jacked. His Hitai-ate was used as a belt for his wide black pants. He refused to wear weapon pouches as much as shoes.
“Oh come on Kurama, try to be a bit nicer.”
Naruto called him out, not missing the way his friend already relaxed again, just playing agitated. “I hate being human, I hate being here why did you talked me into this shit again?” Stomping over towards Naruto who was walking backwards he and Karin caught up to him. “Because we needed to fill the team, no other Genin in Uzushio would be ready yet and you would have to be here anyway.” Naruto explained again with a wide grin, this not being the first time Kurama asked.
The building that was assigned for the first test came into view. “Also don’t treat your human form like its shit, I put so much work and effort into it.” Naruto sniffled in pretend. The Biju didn’t replied.
“Isn’t it weird for you to be back in Konoha, Naruto? After all this time?” Karin walked next to him now, locking their arms together. He shrugged.
“Not really, a lot of time has passed. I have a home and village to return to. I got you two and Ka-san and the others back in Uzu. It just feels weird that no one recognises me, the Hitai-ate and that we’re ninjas, sure. But the demeanour is different, not as hostile as before. They don’t know that they feared me for the guy walking right next to me now.” The urge to laugh at that bubbled in Narutos throat. The irony was awesome.
They reached the building, the academy Naruto went to for at least a year, entering along a few other teams from different nations. There was a commotion between a few Konoha Genin, two who Naruto felt distinctly like he new them. But they passed them without further notice, not really in the mood to get in between what ever their problem was.
“Shouldn’t Sensei be around here somewhere?” Karin asked the two boys.
Her question was answered after reaching the hidden entrance to the test-room. With Kurama hating Genjutsu and Karin being a sensor they found out immediately that the first floor was a trap.
“Hey there, so you made it without any problems? I just got your applications signed in.” Kumori-Sensei greeted them. Well it was really just Kushina in disguise, having used a seal to switch her gender and tied her hair in a tight bun. She presented as Narutos long lost Uncle, to make sure that Konoha didn’t want the Uzukage to stay in the village out of obligation.
‘It’s probably also not a good idea to have a village leader and her son roaming around freely’
‘You don’t say’
Came Kuramas answer inside their shared head space. Naruto would never get used to hearing him inside his mind while he was standing right next to him.
‘You know it’s just a portion of my chakra, deal with it.’
“Naruto, Karin, Kurama.” Their Sensei addressed each of them. “I wish you good luck, even if I don’t think you’ll need it.” She pulled Karin and Naruto into a hug, knowing fully well the Biju would never allow that. After she let go she and Kurama fist bummed. “Watch my children for me, old fox.” She said with affection that Narutos friend still had a hard time getting used to. They had resolved their issues three or four years ago, Naruto befriending him faster than any would have though and Kushina following shortly after, having her son persuade her more than one time to do so.
“I’ll be waiting at the place assigned to the teams Senseis, we’ll see each other after the first few test I would suspect. Have fun, don’t murder anyone.” Kushina Shunshined. Right the moment after she left a silver haired guy and three Genin rounded the corner towards the same door Narutos team was standing at.
Naruto recognised him, of course he did, after his mum had tolled so much about him. Hatake Kakashi was one of the few people she was always conflicted about leaving. The blond was glad Kushina went before the Ninja showed up. Kurama next to him tensed up.
‘Two of them got Sharingan, I don’t like it.”
So one of them was an Uchiha. Probably the raven haired boy, with the horrendous duck butt hairstyle. Seems like Karin figured that detail out too.
“Why is his hair formed like a duck ass?” She asked. With the volume she always possessed.
Now their attention was on them.
The Genin looked them once over, next to duck ass was a girl that misused every part of the pink colour spectrum and on her other side was an emotionless locking monochrome boy to balance her out. All of them starring at Narutos Team.
“Who are you, don’t you have any manners?” The pink girl screeched. But Karin was unbothered. “No, not really.” She deadpanned. Naruto would have followed the rest of their conversation, but he could feel Kakashi starring at him.
He met his eyes, new what recognition looked like.
“We are Team 3 from Uzushio. Nice to meet you.” Naruto interrupted Karin before she could make the situation worse. “Hatake.” He bowed slightly, then signalling his friends to go inside. Leaving the copy-nin dumbfounded.
The Konoha Genin quickly followed them, leaving their Sensei outside like everyone else. At least Naruto didn’t need to deal with him then. “Uzushio? How did you know Kakashi-Sensei then?” Pinky asked, some memory flickered in the back of his mind while she approached.
With a hand gesture he stopped Karin, who was normally the voice of their team. The room was filled with Genin from different countries and he did not needed her to start a commotion right now. “My Oka-san was a friend of his.”
The girl seemed confused, but dropped it.
“So, what are your names? I am Huaruno Sakura and this are Uchiha Sasuke and Sai.” She pointed to duck ass and then to the black and white picture, before watching the Uzushio ninjas expectantly. Naruto sighted, Kurama grunted next to him looking as disinterested as possible and the blond gave up. Leaning with one arm on Karin he waited for her to explain.
“Well, I am Uzumaki Karin.” Something changed in Sasukes and Sakuras eyes, Naruto remembered their names as well. They had been in his academy class, back then, before he left Konoha. “The grumpy carrot is Kurama.” A muffled “One day I will kill her.” Was audible from Narutos right. “And this pretty boy is Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto.” She finished.
“Namikaze? Like the Yondaime?” It was the first time Sasuke said something.
“Dunno. Maybe.” Naruto shrugged leaving his place on Karins side to push Kurama towards the desks. He was proud about his name and who it belonged to, but he really didn’t wished to go through the trouble of revealing it right now. A voice interrupting them, again.
“Hello, my name is Kabuto. If you want to know more about any ninja in this room, I have every information in this cards.”
Suspicion rising, the young Jinchuriki and the Biju watched a Genin lay out several white cards before him. He had something unsettling about him.
“Your names were Kurama, Naruto Uzumaki and Karin Uzumaki, right? Let’s see.”
He pulled up a card infusing it with a bit of chakra, but seemed confused afterwards.
“Is Kurama a false name?” He then questioned.
Kurama, still in close proximity to Naruto just chuckled roughly. His grin was feral.
“It is my name, your just not worth knowing shit about me.”
Angry, Kabuto picked another card.
“Uzumaki Naruto was proclaimed…” He looked up to Naruto in shock, looked back down to the card. “You are…” But before he could finish that sentence a seal was stuck on his forehead. He lost consciousness, dropping forward. Naruto picked the cards out of his hands standing now next to Kabuto. With a swift move he threw the deck towards Kurama, who let the hole deck ignite. Ash falling to the ground a moment later.
“Did you see him move?” Sakuras quite voice questioned. Naruto looked over towards them. Sasukes Sharingan was activated. He could feel Kuramas anger at the Kekkei Genkei.
“No.” The Uchiha grumbled, obviously frustrated at not being able to see the blond move so fast. ‘Well he had gotten faster the past few years of actual training.’
‘The understatement of the year.’
Again, Naruto tried to sit down and again he was stopped.
“Fight me.” The Uchiha demanded. Rolling his eyes, he could hear Karin laugh at him, he pushed Sasukes arm off of his shoulder. “No thanks, why should I?”
That cough duck ass by surprise. Seems like not many declined his request normally.
“Don’t you know who I am?” Not mentioning that his teammate literally forced an introduction on them not a minute ago, he ignored the Uchiha.
And another group entered the room.
‘Will this never stop?’ Now he could hear Kurama laugh at him as well, inside and outside his mind. Another Konoha team entered. He really just wanted to get this over with. Sakura and the blond girl that entered started bickering the moment they saw each other. The two boys not really paying attention.
‘Our chance to get away from this idiots.’
He grabbed Kurama and Karin dragging them along till they found their seats.
He stayed with Karin before the test began, the Biju on the other side of the room snarled at everyone that came to close to him.
“Kami, what is wrong with these people? No boundaries whatsoever.” Complaining to his cousin made his life a bit easier.
“Its fun don’t you think?”
She grinned, he glared at her.
“Let’s get this over with, get Uzushio a good reputation, beat their asses and than finally go back home. If I need to interact with duck ass one more time I might as well let Kurama eat him.” Now Karin really laughed drawing the attention from the Genin around them.
“Sounds like the best plan I ever heard.”
‘I approve.’
Finally the instructor appeared, his face presenting two scares and the eyes of someone dangerous. “I made you wait.” He stated. ‘Well obviously.’ Naruto went towards his seat.
His hand formed a quick seal, undoing what he left on Kabuto. The peace of paper crumbled to pieces, leaving no evidence.
“I am the instructor for the first exam, my name is Morino Ibiki.”
With that the chunin-exams began.