The Hunter in the Leaves

Hey guys! Amaterasu_Blazing here with the next chapter of The Hunter.

Spark681, Lazymanjones96, Zero Fullbuster, thanks for your comments, I hope you guys continue to read my stories.

So normal disclaimer. I own NOTHING! Enjoy the chapter.

Talking: "Hello."

Thinking: 'I wonder…'

Flashback: "Hello"

Jutsu/techniques: Transformation Jutsu/8 centred whirlpool

Bijuu: "Stupid human."

multiple personality (e.g. Inner Sakura): "Eliminate him."

Point of view/ location switch: Naruto point of view

Reading: (Zabuza Momochi)

Chapter 5: Survival Test! Tricks of the hunters.

Naruto jumped across the trees, his black coat splayed out behind him as he raced towards the training ground for the test, closely followed by Fu as they raced towards the training ground. Breaking into the clearing the two hunters landed near Sakura and Sasuke, jogging to a stop in front of the two.

"Your Late!" Screamed Sakura, her face contorted a visage of rage. Naruto shook his head, his masked face conveying nothing to the others as he pulled a set of ear plugs from his ears.

"I need to get a better pair if I can still hear you through these." Muttered Naruto, his face contorted beneath the fox mask, a frown marring it as he spoke, this time to the other two genin. "Also, I'm quite sure we're still considered early as Kakashi-san is not hear yet." Noted Naruto, turning towards the trees as he again spoke.

"Are you going to join us sensei or are you going to watch from the shadows a little longer?" Questioned the blood manipulator, a questioning tone mixed with hints of amusement in his voice. Sasuke and Sakura were about to say something until they saw Kakashi walking out of the shadows were Naruto had been looking.

Kakashi smiled at his team, his eye, somehow, forming a u shape as he did. "Ma, ma Naruto, did you really have to point me out?" questioned the jonin, somehow knowing that Naruto was sending him a deadpan stair from beneath the Mask.

As Sakura was about to scream at the jonin string shot from Fus' hand, keeping it closed for the moment. Pointing at Sakura, Fu spoke "You, shut up. So, sensei, what's the test going to be?" Questioned the mint haired girl, her white cloak swaying as she rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet.

The cyclopean jonin smiled, reaching into his kunai bag and pulling out a set of three silver bells, tying them to his belt as he spoke. "Your test is to try and grab a bell each from me before this timer hits noon!" Instructed the jonin, his tone jovial as he spoke.

Sakura, having freed her mouth from the makeshift string gag, questioned the jonin. "But there are only three bells and four of us?" Questioned the girl, getting eye rolls from the two hunters and a sarcastic comment from Kakashi.

"Oh! Your very observant, aren't you? The person who doesn't get a bell will go back to the Academy for a year and then placed into the reserve core." Explained Kakashi, a smile on his face, continuing to speak he said, "So I suggest you come at me with the intent to kill. Your time starts now!"

The four genin disappeared into the surrounding forest, splitting into three separate groups, the hunter duo together and Sakura and Sasuke by themselves. Reaching into his kunai pouch he pulled out his little orange book, flipping to his current page, giggling as he did. "Oh Miko-chan, you naughty, naughty girl!"

Fu point of view

Fu stood next to Naruto, discussing a plan of attack. "Naruto, I'll catch him off guard after he's finished with Sasuke, so you can hit him hard and grab the bells." Explained Fu, unsealing the short swords that made up her bowblade trick weapon and connecting the hilts together and stringing the bow.

Naruto nodded in acceptance of the plan, unsealing two weapons from his armoury. The first was a 4-foot katana, strapped to his waist, a new trick weapon designed by him with help from Gehrman and Ludwig. The second was his threaded cane, the item clutched tightly in his gloved hand.

The two split up, with Fu heading across the trees towards Sasuke and Kakashi's fight. Just as she reached the branches bordering the small clearing in which Kakashi had buried Sasuke. Glancing towards the shadows behind Kakashi she caught a glimpse of her Hoshoku, signalling to her that he was ready.

Slowing her breathing she knocked an arrow to her bow, dusting the tip with glittering dust. Slowly drawing the bow back, she aimed towards the jonins' belt, attempting to sever the bells from the jonin. Finally, ready, she loosed the shot, muttering under her breath as she did. "Ninja art: Flashbang shot"

Naruto point of view

The arrow rocketed forward, sadly missing its target as Kakashi sensed the arrow coming and so dodged accordingly. Just as the arrow hit the ground a bright flash went out, forcing Kakashi to cover his eyes.

Naruto capitalised on this moment of weakness as he rushed forward, whipping his arm forward, causing the cane began to extend, each segment flipping outwards to become blades along the extending whip. The whip slashed across the jonins' chest, ripping through the jonin jacket and armour underneath. Sadly, Kakashi was too far away for the whip to cut his skin.

Naruto continued towards his sensei, waiting for the cane to retract as he did. In this time Kakashi had been able to regain his bearings. The jonin was ready as the black clad hunted engaged him. The blond swung the cane at him handle first as Kakashi jumped back. Unfortunately for the jonin the handle caught on the rip in his vest, allowing Naruto to rip him forward directly into a haymaker aimed at his face.

Kakashi bent backwards, avoiding the fist and grabbing the now over-extended arm. Twisting his body, he threw the genin over him. As Naruto sailed over him he whipped the cane downward, slashing the ground Kakashi had stood seconds before, whilst racing through a set of one-handed seals.

Slashing his palm as he landed he swiped it across his body, speaking as he did "Blood release: Blood Shards!" Shouted the blond. His palm left a thick line of blood that quickly crystallised, shooting forward as a large arc of crimson shrapnel.

Kakashi carefully avoided the barrage of shards, a few pieces ripping through his armour, leaving behind a lattice of small cuts. "Nicely done Naruto! You've pushed me further than the other two did, but where is Fu? After all, that arrow wasn't your doing, was it?" Questioned the jonin, tilting his head to the side.

Just as he asked that question, a second arrow shot from the trees, this one much faster, larger and stronger. The jonin barely dodged to the side, watching as the arrow easily punching through the trees behind him. Glancing back at Naruto he saw him just finishing a string of seals, a smirk on his face as he spoke. "Well, does that answer your question?"

"Sound release: Beast Roar" cried Naruto, the sound coming out as a shockwave that ripped up the ground before him, impacting into the jonin and sending him into the trees behind him. "Dammit, now I need to find him!" growled Naruto

Fu point of view

Fu looked jumped across the treetops, her second bow trick weapon in its close combat form, a large black double-sided spear at 6' long, a fair bit taller than she was. "So, this is where you are!" Exclaimed a voice to her side. Fu jumped in the opposite direction, unsheathing her weapon and slashing at the person who spoke.

Kakashi leaned back to avoid the blade cutting out his uncovered eye. Righting himself he looked at the genin across from him. Fu stood in between two trees, standing on two branches as she waited, one of the spear heads facing towards her. "So, you managed to take out Naruto? I don't believe that." Questioned Fu, snorting at the unlikeliness of that situation.

Naruto was strong, not strong enough to defeat a jonin, but enough to make a chunin have to go all out against him to win, and a jonin take him seriously in a fight. So, for Kakashi to beat him so swiftly was beyond unlikely. "Your right, I just decided to irritate him a little by switching targets!" Exclaimed Kakashi, eye smiling at his student.

Fu smile back, finding Kakashi's idea funny. Shaking her head, she barely dodged backwards as Kakashi attacked her, using the staff section of her spear to parry his kunai attacks. She whipped the bottom side of her spear upwards, slashing across Kakashi's chest and forcing him to jump back.

'It seems I'll have to bring out all the stops to have a chance at hose bells.' Deciding this Fu began to focus chakra to her eyes, causing them to turn black, her amber irises turning pure white. Kakashi reeled back in surprise, eyes widening. 'She has a dojutsu? But how!' mentally questioned the jonin.

"Crushing Tentacles of the Abyss" Intoned Fu, her eyes flashing as the shadows seemed to extend, strange black tentacles reaching out of the shadows to wrap around Kakashi, attempting to crush him in their grasp. Kakashi attempted to break the genjutsu but was unsuccessful, so began to cut through them.

Fu quickly strung the bow and knocked an arrow, aiming at Kakashi, heavy beads of sweat rolling down her face, unleashing the arrow it burst forward, ripping through tentacles and into Kakashi's' left forearm. "Dammit, I missed" muttered Sariah, no longer able to keep up the technique. Fainting her eyes returned to normal, the jutsu coming undone. The last thoughts that crossed her mind before falling into unconsciousness, 'Good luck Naruto'

Naruto point of view

Naruto sighed as he raced across the trees, the only weapon on him being the katana, now fastened at his side. Finally, he came across Kakashi and Fu's fight, arriving just in time to see Fu feinting from keeping up the two jutsu.

"So Kakashi, let's get this over with" Exclaimed Naruto his hands racing through seals as he again spoke. "Wind release: Shredding Air" shouted Naruto, clapping his hands and thrusting the palms forward. A huge gust of air ripped forward to hit the currently one armed nin, causing cuts and rips in the trees in its path.

Kakashi jumped off the branch he stood on, dropping to the forest floor, left arm hanging by his side, arrow still stuck through his forearm. Naruto followed closely, taking the sword sheath from his side, and taking out the blade in its initial form, a small one-foot tanto made of a thin, gleaming mettle.

Naruto charged towards the jonin, using the sheath to parry attacks from his right arm, whilst attacking expertly with his tanto. Kakashi expertly dodged every attack, avoiding the blade of the weapon as if his life depended on it, as knowing Narutos' trick weapons like he did, it probably did.

This carried on for a couple minutes, leaving Naruto panting and Kakashi breathing slightly heavily. "I must say you and Fu definitely pushed me more than any other genin team, hell Fu managed to actually incapacitate my left arm." Exclaimed Kakashi, pride creeping into his voice as he spoke.

Naruto smiled beneath his mask, sheathing his tanto as he spoke. "Thanks sensei, but we don't have much time left do we, so it's all or nothing now, eh?" Questioned the genin, taking a step forward as he spoke.

Kakashi stood ready for Naruto but knew that he was going to need to get much closer to hit him. Naruto moved his hand to the hilt of its sword, carefully pushing it in further till a silent click was heard. Taking a deep breath, he tightened his grip on the sword, widening his stance as he did.

Finally, Naruto charged, unsheathing his sword as he did. Kakashi knew he could not hit him with his short blade and Naruto had not changed his weaponry but leaned back anyway. The first foot of Narutos' blade exited the sheath, and Kakashi's eyes widened as more continued to exit the scabbard.

The four-foot blade flashed forward, slicing across Kakashis' arm as it did. Kakashi suddenly stiffened as Narutos' voice echoed in his ears. "Blood release: Human Marionet" whispered Naruto, dropping his sword, his action causing Kakashis' right hand to open stiffly, slowly, and shakily.

Naruto turned to the jonin, body moving stiffly, as if his own muscles were working against him. He know faced his sensei. Painfully slowly, Naruto moved his hand to where the bells were located on Kakashi's body, causing him to shakily do the same. Grabbing them, he moved to take them from Kakashi just as the timer went. "Dammit" Muttered Naruto as he dropped the jutsu.

Kakashi's body relaxed, coming back under control as he placed the bells back on his belt and going off to retrieve Sakura and Sasuke whilst Naruto carried the unconscious Fu back to where they had started.

Naruto arrived shortly before Kakashi, taking that time to unseal some smelling salts and holding them under the amber eyed girls' nose, causing her eyes to flutter open as she woke up. Fu groaned as she sat up, rubbing her head as Naruto spoke. "So, you still can't hold it up for long, huh?" Questioned Naruto, getting a groan and a slight nod from the greenet.

Looking to her partner she noticed his eyes were slightly bloodshot, a small frown on his face. Sighing Fu asked to confirm her thought process. "You used Marionet, but we still ran out of time didn't we." Questioned the girl, although the lack of a questioning tone in her voice conveyed the fact she already knew the answer.

Naruto nonetheless nodded to confirm her words, watching as Kakashi walked out of the foliage, Sakura trailing behind him and Sasuke tied up and flung over his shoulder. The pinket was obviously complaining to Kakashi about his treatment of the Uchia as they walked over.

Kakashi tied the Uchia to one of the polls on the field, turning to the genin once he was finished and began to speak. "Sakura, that was disappointing, you couldn't even break out of my genjutsu. Sasuke, whilst you were able to keep my busy you were overconfident in your abilities and that lead to your downfall." Admonished Kakashi, glancing at the genin in turn as he did.

Continuing Kakashi turned to the hunter duo, eye smiling at the two as he did. "Fu and Naruto, nice work together, you were able to catch me off guard and you definitely did the best out of the genin here, but I want to talk to you after this." Instructed the jonin before beginning to speak to the group as a whole.

"Since you failed to get the bells from me, Sakura and Sasuke will get a second shot after lunch, since Fu and Naruto figured out the aim of the test, they don't need to take the retest. There is also one rule, neither Naruto, nor Fu can't help Sasuke and Sakura out, if they do, you all fail." Instructed the jonin, causing Sasuke to glare at the white and black clad hunters.

As Kakashi turned to leave, Sasuke called out to him, anger heavy in his voice as he did. "Hey, at least untie me so I can eat! And how come the dobe and Fu-baka don't have to redo the test!"

Shouted the Uchia, rage in his voice. Kakashi turned back to them, eye smiling at the Uchia as he did. "Sorry, you're going to have to untie yourself. And I told you why they don't have to do it, they figured it out, while you didn't." Exclaimed Kakashi as he body flickered away.

Minutes passed, with Sakura trying and failing to undo the knots, nor cut through the ropes as they had a steel wire core to strengthen them. Naruto sighed, pulling out the tanto form of his weapon from his sheath and going behind the poll and preparing to slash through the ropes.

Sakura called out to him, stopping him as she did. "What are you doing Naruto-baka!? Kakashi-sensei said that if you helped us we all fail!" screamed the pink haired banshee, glaring at the masked blond.

Ignoring the girl, he continued what he was doing. Twisting the handle of his blade, a clear liquid began to run across the blades surface, the droplets that hit the ground burned straight through the grass, sizzling as they continued to destroy the earth once they hit the ground.

Slashing downwards the blade cut through the ropes easily, wire core and all. The ropes fell to the ground, the ends seemingly melting as the mysterious liquid continued to eat through the material. Again, twisting the handle, the flow stopped, the blond wiping the blade on the pile of ropes, cleaning off the excess liquid and speeding up the ropes destruction as the liquid rapidly ate through them.

Sheathing the blade Naruto offered his hand to the sitting Sasuke, his tone polite as he spoke, "Need a hand?" questioned the blond, giving the distinct feeling he was smiling beneath his mask. Sasuke glared at the masked hunter, knocking away his hand as he got to his feet.

Before the Uchia could respond to the blond Kakashi reappeared, enraged and wide eyed as he spoke. "I told you that you weren't allowed to help them! What do you have to say for yourselves?" Questioned the cyclopean nin, his voice sharp and heavy with rage.

Naruto was not intimidated though, speaking clearly and confidently as he did. "You'd need to put me in chains to stop me from helping my teammates. We are a team, we work together and help each other, or we don't function at all!" stated the jinchuriki, a cocktail of confidence and steely determination in his voice as he spoke.

Kakashi glared at the blond, his eyes hard and cold. He began to speak, his voice frigid as he did. "Well then, you disobeyed my orders. So that means you all… pass!" exclaimed the jonin, his voice instantly changing from frigid cold to warm and jovial and his face shifting into an eye smile.

Sakura, who had been paralysed by Kakashi's angry state, blinked in shock, confusion evident on her face as she spoke. "Wait. What?" Questioned the pinket, seemingly speaking for the team sans Naruto.

Kakashi smiled as he looked at the genin before him, beginning to speak as he did. "You see in the ninja world, those who break the rules are trash, but those would abandon their friends are lower than trash. Your willingness to disobey my order to assist Sasuke prove that you understand this, so I'm letting the team pass." Explained Kakashi.

Clapping his hands Kakashi smiled at them as he spoke. "So, you guys can leave, meet at the bridge at seven tomorrow. Naruto, Fu stay behind, I want to talk to you." Instructed the jonin, allowing Sasuke and Sakura to leave before turning to the remaining genin.

Sighing he sat down, followed closely by Naruto as he spoke. "So, what do you want to talk to us about sensei?" questioned Naruto, sealing away his blade as he did. Kakashi pulled out two files from his vest as he began to speak.

"We all know that you two were holding back in the academy, so we had the anbu look on your training a bit to get some of your real skill level, but you still showed some abilities that we don't have any knowledge about, so I want to know everything you can do. I don't want any surprises on missions." Explained the jonin, his voice serious.

The duo nodded, accepting his reasoning as Naruto went first. "Well, as you know I've got access to my unique Blood and Sound release. Sound release jutsu are mainly offensive or utility as they revolve around sonic blast waves or sound that disorientate a person. An example is my Frequency technique, which uses sound to disorientate people, and put them off guard." Explained Naruto, seeing Kakashi add some things to the file.

Continuing Naruto spoke "Blood release is an all-round style, as I'm able to use it defend myself, attack or for special utility moves like my Human Marionet technique that I used on you." Explained Naruto, noticing Kakashi stop and give him a questioning look.

"How did you do that anyway?" Questioned Kakashi. Naruto sighed, but explained anyway.

"When I cut you with the second form of Viper Fang there was a fair bit of my blood on the blade. Once it was inside you I used it to control your body from the inside, kind of like the Nara shadow possession technique but a lot less refined. Don't worry about any bad effects, my Kekkai Genkai causes my blood to act like O- and AB+, I can take any type of blood and put mine in anyone without danger." Explained the blond.

Fu went next, sighing as she spoke. "I have a dojutsu that I gained when I began to train with Naruto called the Blacksky eye. It allows me to change any genjutsu cast in sight to be reality. The problem is that I can't choose which genjutsu are affected so enemy illusions also become reality. My problem is that I currently can't keep it active for more than a couple seconds, nor can I layer the illusions." Explained Fu.

Looking to Naruto, who nodded she sighed, holding her right hand forward as she did. "I also have an ability I call Executioners Hand, which allows me to… Actually, it would be better to show you." Sighed the greenet.

Grabbing a small snake that had been slithering through the grass with her left hand she channelled chakra into her right arm, causing while lines to spread across the skin on her arm and her hand to glow white, seemingly forming claws. Grabbing the snakes head she pulled, causing a while spirit version of the snake to get pulled out of the body.

The body in her hand stopped thrashing as she put it down. The spirit in her right hand began to thrash as well, struggling to get out of her hand. Kakashi stared on in shock at the display, reaching out to touch the spirit and having his hand pass straight through it. Fu began to explain as she placed the snake spirit back into its body, causing it to start moving again and slither away.

"I have the ability to push a spirit out of its body and absorb it, retaining the ability to resummon it later. I can only interact with it using my right hand unless I'm pushing chakra into it." Explained Fu stopping the flow of chakra to her right hand, causing the glow to stop.

Nodding Kakashi sighed, closing the files as he stood up, speaking as he did. "I'll give these to Hokage-sama, but I would look out for a summons by the council if I was you." Stated Kakashi before body flickering away.

Naruto and Fu stood up, heading back to their home as Fu spoke. "Are you sure it was a good idea telling him everything?" Questioned the white clad girl, staring questioningly at her masked companion.

Naruto sighed, shaking his head as he did. "I don't know, but I do know that the council would find out eventually. Rather have to deal with it now rather than later." Said Naruto, changing direction to head to Ichirakus'.

Fu followed him, a frown on her face as she did. 'I hope your right Hoshoku, I hope your right.' Thought the girl.

Jutsu List:

Ninja Art:

Flashbang Shot: The user coats a projectile in flash powder, which, on contact with a solid surface, would release a large flash of light, disorientating anyone not using eye protection. D rank

Blood release:

Blood Shards: The user releases a salvo of crystallised blood at the opponent, easily cutting through most things due to their size and trajectory. C rank

Human Marionet: The user inputs some of his own blood into an opponent, allowing to control them, the more blood, the more stable the connection. If the user also has lower chakra reserves than the opponent the can break free and the greater the difference in reserves the worse or better ones control, depending if the difference is negative or positive. A rank

Genjutsu:

Crushing Tentacles of the Abyss: The user creates illusions of black tentacles reaching out of the shadows in an area and attempting to crush the opponent. C rank

Wind release:

Shredding Air: The user pushes forward a wave of violent air that is shifting at high speeds, causing cuts to anything in its' path. C rank

Trick Weapons:

Rating System

Low = C

Mid = B

High = A

Indeterminable: S

Viper Fang: The Viper Fang is a melee type weapon; the first form is a one-foot long tanto. It is extremely thin and sharp but durable, and so not likely to snap. It also is able to withstand the acid located in the hilt of the weapon, allowing the user to utilise it to strengthen attacks. The second form is a four-foot blade that is much thicker and has a duller edge, sharp enough to cut through most things, but not everything like the tanto. It is not durable enough to use the acid.

First form: Element: Acid; Reach: C; Edge: A

Second form: Element: None; Reach: B; Edge: B

Archer's Spear: The Archer's Spear is a melee weapon in its first form and a ranged weapon in its second form. The first form of this trick weapon is a large six-foot, double headed spear, utilised much like a bo staff in a fight. The second form is a large longbow that has superior range to the bowblade and power but is difficult to utilise in a close range due to the long-time taken to draw it.

First form: Range: A; Speed: A

Second Form: Range: S; Speed: C

And that is finished! I'm happy that all of you enjoy this story! Goodbye guys!