Chapter Seven
Eighteen teams besides team seven. Nineteens ninja teams signed up for the Chunin exams, and only seven teams have made it past the first two stages. But because too many people had passed the second stage, preliminaries were held. Luckily, against his fight against Kiba, Naruto won in an unusual way. Moving onto the finals are; Sasuke, Shino, Kankuro, Temari, Shikamaru, Neji, Gaara, and Dosu an Otogakure ninja. The ninjas are given a month before the finals to recuperate and prepare for their battles, and Naruto is more than happy about that.
Although, he wasn’t happy that Kakashi decided to take Sasuke in as his student. So, while the team seven leader was teaching the Uchiha, Naruto thought he could just practice by himself, and by himself, he meant with Kurama. The blonde ninja was very eager to learn more moves from the fox. And he was even happier when the Third had a special secret training room for him. Normal people would probably be a bit mad that they had to practice in secret. But Naruto knew why Jiji wanted him to do this.
If word got out about his tenseigans he would most likely be targeted by every power-hungry creep in the world. And right now, Naruto should be focusing on making the tenseigan chakra mode last longer, but he was more focused on what had happened during the second stage of the exam.
{Flash Back}
“Sasuke move!” Naruto screamed as he tackled the raven-haired boy out of the way of a kunai. Orochimaru stood a few feet away from team seven, with his twisted smile. The snake-like bastard bit the young Uchiha, and for some reason, it made Sasuke freeze in fear. Naruto looked over, seeing Sakura knocked out against a tree. Orochimaru first knocked her out when he appeared. Naruto slowly stood up and glared at the legendary Sannin.
“Hmm, Naruto Uzumaki. How great to meet you finally,” Orochimaru hissed with glee slowly stalking towards the boy.
“Take another step towards me and you will regret it,” Naruto growled loudly as his tenseigan eyes flashed for a second. Orochimaru froze staring at the boy when he saw the eyes.
“Oh, so you’re why he came here hmm?” The Sannin spoke quietly before tossing an earth scroll to the blond’s feet. “Hmm, take the scroll, get out of this forest,” Orochimaru smirked as he slithered away into the darkness.
{End Flash Back}
“Kit are you even listening to me?!” Kurama’s voice boomed through Naruto’s head causing the blond ninja to jump.
“What? Yeah, you stupid fox. I’m listening.” Naruto said rubbing the back of his head. Without saying anything else to Kurama, Naruto activated his tenseigans. As he did, he entered tenseigan chakra mode.
“Good, much easier transition. You’re getting better at controlling it. Now, take one of those black orbs you see and, with your mind, shape it into a weapon. Can be anything, but the more complicated it is, the less amount of time you will have to stay in this form,” Kurama told the boy. Naruto smirked as his hand hovered under one of the orbs. Leading it out from his back and in front of him. The Third Hokage was watching in amazement, with Hiashi next to him writing down everything they say in great detail.
The Hokage didn’t want Hiashi writing any of it down, in fear that if the notes fell into the wrong hands, that they’d know who to target. But Hiashi swore to leave Naruto’s name out of the writing. They had to have knowledge of what the tenseigan’s were and what their powers were. Especially in the case that maniac ever came back and did manage to steal the child’s eyes.
“Shadow clone jutsu!” Naruto shouted creating three other perfect clones. The three clones went to the opposite end of the room while the real Naruto stayed where he was. In his hand, the black orb shifted into a bo staff.
“Keeping it simple I see,” Kurama spoke rather unimpressed. Hearing that tone from the fox made a tick on Naruto’s head appear. “If you rather I use more detail than please tell me! Otherwise, shut it!” The blonde shouted mentally to the fox. Without warning, the three clones charged at the original. Naruto acted quickly slamming his bo staff into one of the clones ankles knocking them down. The blond then quickly threw his staff up into the air, turning it back into the black orb. He ducked down sliding his feet across the floor.
“He moves with such speed and elegance.” The Third spoke quietly watching Naruto’s movements. Naruto pulled a kunai out of his back pouch stabbing the second clone letting it disappear in a puff of smoke just like the first one. The blond then spun around getting punched by his last clone. Naruto flew across the room crashing into the wall. The blond jumped out from the hole in the wall making one of the orbs transform into a small kunai. His hand was extended behind his back before throwing it forward and the kunai stabbed the last clone in the gut causing it to disappear.
Naruto landed down next to Hiashi and the Hokage deactivating the tenseigan chakra mode. “Great job Naruto. You really are improving your moves-” The Hokage commended the ninja before they were cut off by Kakashi entering the room.
“Sorry for barging in like this sir. But you will not believe who turned himself in,” Kakashi spoke bowing to the Hokage. Not saying anything, the Hokage signaled for Kakashi to lead the way.
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The four ninjas walked down a dark, cold, and creepy hall. To Naruto, it looked like a prison. Naruto tilted his head as seeing a tall and well-built man in adulthood with fair skin. He had waist-length, spiky white hair tied back into a ponytail, with two shoulder-length bangs framing his face. There were red lines under his eyes which extended further down his face, going all the way to the bottom of his face. The man was standing in front of a door that would lead to cells.
“I came as soon as I heard he turned himself in. Is the kid with you?” The man spoke looking to the Hokage. The Third nodded softly and stepped to the side to show him Naruto. “Hello, Naruto. My name is Jiraiya. I knew your father, I was his sensei.” The man told the kid who smiled at him.
“Do we know why Orochimaru turned himself in? Has he said anything?” Hiashi questioned wanting to get down to business. He was concerned as to why the traitor of Konoha wanted Naruto to come to meet him.
“No, he hasn’t said anything to us besides wanting to speak with you and Naruto,” Jiraiya responded as the door opened. Upon stepping through, the group heard a chuckle from the second cage to the entrance. When Naruto got a good view of who was in the cell, his eyes widened.
Standing dead center of the cell, smiling the creepiest smile he could, was Orochimaru. “You again?! You stupid snake creep! What the hell do you want?” Naruto shouted immediately being grabbed by Hiashi.
“Naruto, you’ve seen him before?” Kakashi questioned looking as shocked as the others.
“Yeah, this creep showed up in the forest of death during our second stage. He bit Sasuke and hurt Sakura.” Naruto growled lowly at the snake-like man in the cell.
“Sasuke? You mean the surviving Uchiha of the massacre Sasuke Uchiha?” Jiraiya asked seeing the Hokage nod ever so slightly.
“I didn’t do anything to the boy except merely help him unlock the second tomoe of his Sharingan.” Orochimaru shrugged slightly smirking at the group. “As for the reason, I turned myself in. It’s actually quite simple. I want to help.” The traitor spoke still keeping his smirk. “The three sand siblings are planning an invasion on Konoha during the finals. And not to mention the man who is out for Naruto’s eyes will be making a special appearance as well.”
“How do you know about his eyes?” Hiashi snapped demanding to know. Naruto slumped his shoulders slightly. He was going to be in so much trouble now.
“How do you think I know any of this? I have my ways. I am merely here to offer my help. I can help train Sasuke. Make him strong enough to reach his goal to kill his brother, without having him abandon the village. I can tell you where to find Tsunade to have her return. With the three great legendary Sannin, Toneri won’t have a chance to get Naruto’s eyes.”
“And what’s in it for you? Why decide to return now?” The Third Hokage question not showing any emotion on his face.
“Well, it’s quite simple. With Naruto’s help, when he’s older and more experienced, I want to be immortal. In my own body. I do not wish to keep slithering from body to body.” Orochimaru stated simply getting a shocked reaction from Jiraiya and Naruto.
As the group was debating over whether or not they should take the deal, a low rumbling in the ground could be felt. Only, no one but Naruto and Orochimaru felt it. As Naruto looked around, he saw the Konoha’s traitor’s eyes widen in fear. The legendary sannin knew what was happening, and it wasn’t the three sand siblings. Naruto looked out the small window of the prison area. By the time Jiraiya felt the rumbling, it was too late and Naruto was gone.
“Listen, you have just run out of time to decide what you will do! You either let me out of this cell and let me help or you will sentence Naruto to death!” Orochimaru shouted no longer finding any of this funny. He was truly worried, he may not admit it, but he cares for Konoha and it’s resident knucklehead ninja. He didn’t know why maybe it was because of how he acted. Always speaking his mind.
“You betray us or make one wrong move and I will end your life,” Jiraiya spoke in a low, threatening voice. As the Hokage made the jailor unlock the cell. As they made their way outside, the ground began to shake violently, it felt like an earth-quake hit them. Kakashi squinted his eye seeing in the distance a large sand monster rising in the forest.
“The one-tailed beast must have thought it’d be a fun idea to come out now,” Orochimaru told the others looking around. “Sensei,” Orochimaru began but stopped feeling how weird it felt to be calling the Hokage his sensei again. “I have a way to stop the tailed-beast, but I’ll need some help,” Orochimaru spoke and the Hokage looked to Jiraiya and Kakashi and Hiashi.
“Go and hold off the beast, and keep Naruto safe. And keep the hidden leaf safe no matter the sacrifice.” The Third Hokage told the three. Before any of them could protest, the two were gone in a puff of smoke.
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Naruto jumped from branch to branch, tree-to-tree, before landing on the ground looking around. He knew the rumbling was coming from this area. But now all he heard was the water. Naruto looked around, taking in the sight of the Valley of the End. “Kit, keep your guard up. I can sense Toneri is close.” Kurama told the blond ninja. Before he could look any further, Naruto spun around pulling a kunai out.
“Easy with that thing,” Sasuke spat out as he grabbed Naruto’s hand as it was inches from his neck. Naruto pulled his arm back as Sasuke stood there.
“Sasuke? What are you doing here?” The blond asked keeping his hand tightly gripping the kunai.
“I felt the rumbling, and I was going to shrug it off, but when I saw you running towards it, I figured I’d follow you. So, what caused it?” Sasuke asked as he walked towards the edge of the cliff looking down.
“He did,” Naruto growled loudly seeing Toneri standing on the opposite side of the Valley. But he looked different. He was in a tenseigan chakra mode. “I don’t like this Kurama, how does he have the tenseigan? And why did he give me them if he was going to get them another way?” Naruto asked mentally as Sasuke stood by the blond’s side.
“He must want to double the power of the tenseigan. But like I said, if he removes your eyes, they revert back to the byakugan… unless, oh no. Kit do not battle him! This was his plan. He gave you the tenseigan because of me. Your eyes have absorbed some of my chakra, which means they’ll stay in the tenseigan mode long enough for him to absorb them.” Kurama warned the blond whose eyes widened.
“Sasuke, how confident do you feel right now?” Naruto asked as the blond ninja gained his cool composer back.
“In winning a fight against someone who has the same abilities as you? Pretty confident. You aren’t that strong.” Sasuke chuckled as he activated his Sharingan.
“Alright, Kurama! Time to put in overtime and do your job!” Naruto shouted as he activated his tenseigan chakra mode. Toneri smirked slightly cracking his neck. The Ōtsutsuki clan member grinned before racing at the two ninjas at lightning speed. Naruto and Sasuke both did the same, racing at Toneri.
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Orochimaru and The third Hokage both appeared in front of two tombstones. The Third smiled seeing the names on the tombstones. “We do not need to use your life Sensei. We can find someone else willing to sacrifice themselves.” Orochimaru spoke looking at him.
“No, I can not ask someone to do this if I myself am not willing to do it. Besides, I have lived long enough, and I am the only one who can be swapped for two souls.” Sarutobi told his former student. Orochimaru looked to the ground and took a deep breath. Sure he was used to killing others, but this was different. This was Hiruzen Sarutobi, his sensei, his mentor. “Before you do this,” Sarutobi spoke quietly. “I forgive you for your past mistakes.” And with that last confirmation, Sarutobi thrust a kunai into his own stomach.
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Kakashi jumped into the air dodging an air swipe from the monstrous sand creature. The three nin’s couldn’t even get close to this thing without a shot of sand spewing out hitting them. They were forced to use long-range weapons and Jutsu’s. All of which seems to not work either. “Is it me or is nothing affecting this thing!?” Hiashi shouted jumping to a different branch as the sand creature smashed the tree he was just on.
“We need to come up with a plan. We’re just wasting our energy and time fighting this thing.” Jiraiya told the other two as they grouped back up together.
“Sounds like I made just in time then huh?” A familiar voice to the three men spoke up. It was familiar, but they haven’t heard this voice for years. Since the nine-tailed fox invasion. When they turned to see who was speaking, they were all shocked. The man looked remarkably like Naruto. He had blue eyes and spiky, blonde hair that had jaw-length bangs framing either side of his face. His attire consisted of a standard Konoha uniform with two bands on both of his sleeves, a green flak jacket, a blue forehead protector, and blue sandals and wearing a short-sleeved long white haori over his attire. The haori was decorated by red flame-like motifs on the edges, with the kanji for "Fourth Hokage" written vertically down the back.
And that wasn’t the only thing that had them shocked. Standing next to the Fourth Hokage was a woman who was well known for her beauty. She had a slender, but feminine build, fair skin, violet eyes, and the common Uzumaki red hair. It reached her waist with shoulder-length strands that framed both sides of her face. She wore a blue forehead protector with her hair tied up in a high ponytail and strands at the sides of her face. Her attire consisted of a standard Konoha flak jacket over a black short-sleeved shirt and black form-fitting pants that reached her calves.
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As the smoke cleared from when Sasuke, Naruto, and Toneri clashed together. The Ōtsutsuki member was on top of the blond child. His eyes were wide and he was sporting a psychotic smirk. “You thought you and your little friend stood a chance against me? I am an Ōtsutsuki! And I want my eyes back!” He shouted as he reached his hands down to Naruto’s eyes.