Chapter 3.
Forest of Death. Chunin Exams, round 2.
Everything was going well. Well up until this point. So why was he in a heap up against a tree, kind of ass over tea kettle. Well he could ask the guy that kicked him in the head sending him flying, into this less than stellar landing. Matter of fact that guy was about ten yards away from him waiting.
“Come on Namikaze. I didn’t hit you that hard.” His opponent told him.
“Your right. I have been hit harder by my teammate.” Naruto flips up to his feet and checks to make sure everything is in working order. “Suppose you are here to finish me off or something?”
Keeping him talking might get him some information.
“Na. The guy I work for just wanted you and pinky out of the way. He has plans for the Uchiha.” He told him as he readied to fight.
“So that is the play.” Naruto thought to himself.
“I suppose we had better get this started then. Wouldn’t want you to not earn your pay.” Naruto told him, pulling out his Kodachi.
“Ya. But that is nothing compared to what I will get when I present your head to the higher ups. The coin and power will be flowing then.” The Iwa nin sneered.
Naruto took his stance. “Welcome to try. But remember it's kind of hard to spend the Ryo when you're dead.” With that two clones appeared next to him. “Leaf Style! Moon Dance!”
Naruto’s speed was a bit much for his opponent. He managed to get the two clones, The real one made it through. He batted the enemies blade away, a slash from shoulder to hip and the battle was over. He flicked blood off his balde, sheathing it.
“I know you're there Cat. You are going to have to hide your chakra better than that to get by me.” He said, as he searched his fallen foe.
“Killing isn’t always the option you know.” The cat masked Anbu told him as she landed next to him.
“I know. Didn’t give me much choice though.” He told her.
“Besides, these tests are to simulate war, and you heard him he was going to turn in my head to his bosses.” Cat couldn’t argue that point.
“Better find my team. Laters.” He body flickered away
It didn’t take him long to find Sakura. She was a small natural disaster when she fought. The female Iwa nin she was engaged with was staying one step ahead of her until she had her back to a tree. A loud “CHA!” was heard right before the sound of bones breaking and wood cracking under the presser of the blow. The landscape around them looked like a small army had battled here. He landed beside her.
“That had to hurt.” He said as she quickly turned round to land a punch. She stopped when she saw who it was. “ I see granny's been teaching you more than med nin stuff.” He quickly searched the body for a scroll.
“Well ya. What did you think that you and Susake were the only ones getting stronger?” She asked with that look that told him to think carefully.
“Not at all Sakura.” He found what he was looking for. “Well, let’s find the teme and get to the tower.” They both left heading towards their teammate.
This time they would arrive too late. They saw the head of Sasuke’s attacker retract back to its body, a smug, satisfied smile on the attacker's face. He turned to look at the newcomers.
“Ah. I see you survived my little distractions. With you here I assume they are dead, thank you for saving me the trouble.” His hand reached up to his face and removed the false face.Naruto knew who they were dealing with. The traitor Orchimaru.
“Sakura, grab Sasuke. We need to leave now.” Naruto was very much on edge. Sakura moved to check over then move their fallen teammate.
“Tell your father that I would be most disappointed if the exams stopped. I look forward to seeing more of young Sasuke’s abilities. Run along little mice, we will play later.” With that he was gone.
At the Tower.
Kakashi, Anko, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade and Jiraiya Listened to Naruto’s and Sakura’s report on what had happened. Kushina was checking over her son. Minato was deep in thought, Tsunade and Jiraiya were tending to Sasuke, and checking the curse mark he had been given. Anko was fit to be tried.
“Stupid Uchiha! Why would genin think they can take on a Sannin!” She fumed some more. “If he survives that thing he will have to be watched.”
“We could place a restriction seal on it to keep it in check. I am sure between Me, Naruto, Minato and Kushina it shouldn’t be a problem.” Jiraiya said.
“Ya, but we don’t have that kind of time. We could do a stop gap until we have more time, but it would have to work off his own will to keep it in check. He is a prideful bastard, if he slips even once it could be bad.” Naruto told his Godfather.
“We would have to hope it holds until we have the time to make a proper seal for it.” He added.
“Ok, Naruto and Kakashi will work on the restricting seal, Anko needs to check with Anbu to make sure things continue smoothly.” Minato ordered. “Tsunade, take Sakura and make sure any of the teams that come in are at least not in critical condition. We need to keep things as normal as possible. We know he is here, but he may not know how much we know about his plans.” He dismissed them to their assigned duties, he left to check on something with Jiraiya.
Kushina looked at her son. “I heard from Cat what happened out there. You ok?” He sighed.
“Didn’t have a choice. He was planning to make a trophy out for fame and glory. I take no pleasure in it.” He told her, redding the seal to keep his teammate curse seal in check.
“I know. You still need time to process what happened.” She added.
He let out a breath. “I will, but I need to get this seal ready before he wakes up. It will be easier to place if he isn’t fighting me.” Naruto continued making the restriction seal to be placed on his teammate.
As he was working on that, Team Ten had made it to the tower and had just gained interray. Ino went off to find out if Naruto and his team had made it yet. She also ran into Tayuya, who had been looking for her father.
“Little worried there, blondie.” Tayuya asked as they walked through the hallways looking for the only two males in the Namikaze family.
“Ya. I know he can handle himself and he has his team with him. I just, you know.” And Tayuya did. She worried about her little brother as well.
Ino looked behind her. There was a boy about her age walking quietly behind them. “So who is this?” She motioned with her head to the boy behind them.
“Oh. This is Haku. Picked him up on the last mission my team was on.” Tayuya and her team had been sent to escort a bridge builder back home. The mission had gone a bit sideways when the client had lied about what was going on. Of Course her team made it through with only minor injuries. Her sensei thought it best to take Haku to the Hokage as soon as they got back, and sense Tayuya was his daughter and near Jonin level she could handle taking him there. About that time Ino spotted Naruto coming out of a room just ahead. Needless to say she took off on a dead run for him.
Naruto had exited the room, where he had just put a restriction seal on his teammate’s curse seal. It had been draining to say the least. The next thing he knows he is almost bowled over by a blond missile. A pair of lips crashed into his. He was wide eyed for a moment until he released who it was, then he returned the feelings he was getting.
“Oh god you two get a room.” Tayuya said to the two. The response she got back from Ino made her laugh.
“Na blondie. My little brother might not like it if I steal his girlfriend.” She responded back.
About that time, Minato came walking up with Inoichi. “Ino if you could tear yourself away from my son, I need to ask him something.” Inoichi was not really all that shocked at the display.
Ino climbed off her boyfriend, and stood next to him. Minato just shook his head. A grin on his face.
“I can assume, sense you are out here that the seal is in place?” He asked his son.
“Ya. It was tiring, but it is in place.” He answered.
Minato nodded, and then turned to his daughter. “Now for our new friend here.”
Haku seemed a little nervous, but Tayuya looked back at him, smiling. She nodded, telling him that everything would be fine.
Everything up to the final round went fine. The attack happened as the enemy planned, but Konoha and Suna were ready. The damage was contained to the parts closer to the gates and the stadium itself.
Orochimaru had barely made it out with his skin intact. Most of the Iwa and Oto forces had been wiped out. Iwa lost its Jinchuriki. Han of the steam armor was defeated by Naruto and Gaara, Jiraiya had managed to contain and prevent him from releasing the tailed beast he contained.
The only thing that was a win for the enemy was Sasuke turning on his village. He left with the remaining Oto forces to gain the power he wanted. Naruto, with the help of a few others of his class, had tried to stop him, but Sasuke had backed up from the Sound Four. They left Naruto, Kiba, Neji, Choji hospitalized while Shikamaru was left with minor injuries. Needless to say Tsunade and Shizune had their hands full.
That leads to now. Minato, Kushina, Tayuya and Ino all wait for the sixteen year old redhead to wake. He had been brought in by Minato’s old team. Obito was beyond pissed at how his cousin had left his teammate and adopted nephew. Kakashi was beating himself up over what had happened. The wound on Naruto was caused by a chidori. Kakashi had taught it to Sasuke thinking that he could turn the Uchiha away from the destructive path he was following. Rin was pissed, but far too tried to do anything about it. She had spent most of her chakra keeping Naruto alive until they could get him to Tsunade.
Minato’s arm was still broken from his fight with Orochimaru and the poison he had used against him was still affecting him a little. The two elders had been by to give their opinions on what they referred to as Naruto’s failure to bring the last loyal Uchiha back to the village and that Naruto should have been turned over to Danzo’s training. Needless to say they both left in a hurry when the Hokage had threatened them, and told them no one would find what was left of them when his wife, daughter and him were finished with them.
Sakura had come by. She was nervous around Ino and the Namikazes. Ino had been there when Sakura had all but begged Naruto to bring Sasuke back. Ino never understood how Sakura could be so blind to what he was, dangerous and unstable.
Sakura looked at Ino. She could tell she was scared and worried.
“I am sorry Ino. I didn't think things would turn out like this.”
Ino still had injuries from her battle with Temari and the Iwa and Oto attack. She had a limp from the invasion.
“How did you think things were going to turn out, Sakura? Sasuke has always been about to snap. All he has ever wanted was power.” Ino glances back at the room that her now fiance was recovering in. They had moved out into the hallway.
Sakura was starting to wring her hands. Ino knew it was a nerves tick she has from when she was younger.
“Look, Sakura. I know you feel guilty about what happened between Naruto and Sasuke. But there are lots of other things to worry about now. Two people that are important to me are in here recovering from their last mission. Half the village is being rebuilt, and the hospital has more patients then ever. You are better at the medical stuff then I am, and I am sure Lady Tsunade and Shizune could use all the help they could get. I am also pretty sure Naruto would like it if you helped them out.” She placed a hand on her friend's shoulder.
Sakura nodded. “Thank you Ino.” With that Sakura left to see were she could help.