Chapter 9: Bitterness and Paranoia

Konohagakure no Sato, the Hokage's Rock

The night has long fallen, but Naruto stayed on his favorite spot in the village, the stone faces of the previous, and the current Hokage. Four days have passed since his fight with Sabiru, but Naruto did not know or cared about him now.

Laying on the rough ground above it, he stared at the stars, thinking about how careless and free they were floating on the sky above him.

Free as he could not ever be. The burden of the name he carries, the blood that flows in him, the tenant he keeps locked from the world. All those things will forever haunt him. His father might have intended for the Kyūbi to be a gift, but Naruto always felt it was a curse.

The conversation he had with the old man previous day still flashed in front of his eyes, while the sentences filled his ears, over and over again. And the curse of being a Jinchūriki showed its first level.

==Flashback==

He walked towards the Hokage's office within the tower. The secretary let him pass through as she most likely already knew about the invitation by the Hokage. There were many more ANBU's hidden in the shadows around the tower that day, while he saw many other shinobis he never met before.

Soon he reached the office and was let through to enter inside of it by the guards. Inside the office the Sandaime Hokage sat in his chair, a stern mask of his face he looked through the window towards the village. But once Naruto entered inside, Hiruzen turned towards him, and he allowed a small smile to grace his face.

On the other side of the room stood Jiraiya, his hands crossed in a contemplative manner as he leaned onto the wall. But instead of his usual jolly face or even stern one which the old man had before he entered the room – his face was morphed into a bitter frown, with his eyes being full of regret. An unusual contrast to his every-day persona, or the one he saw just yesterday.

"Naruto-kun." The old man greeted him kindly. "Thank you for coming in such a short notice."

"No problem." Naruto said in kind, proceeding to sit in the chair that stood in front of the desk, specifically reserved for the various guests that would come to the Hokage whenever such occasion occurred.

Sarutobi was silent for a moment, allowing only the noises from the outside the office to be heard, and those within the village, but the occasional sound of breathing could be heard, as the air flared through the nostrils of both the old man and his godfather as half-sighing action took place.

Naruto could only deduce that they either had some bad argument between themselves, or just received some unpleasant news.

"I think you should read this first, before we jump into the further conversation." Hiruzen said, handing him a few sheets of paper to read.

Naruto took them into his hands, but before he started reading them, the Hokage spoke once more. "Before you begin, I must inform you that the money from the Demon Brothers your team has captured during the Wave has been deposited on your account, just like it did for your other teammates."

Naruto slowly nodded, followed by a question. "Do these have something to do with it?" He motioned at the papers in his hand.

"No, not at all." Hiruzen said, holding his pipe in the right hand. "That is the report from the Torture and Interrogation Unit that they had extracted from the rogue Amegakure kunoichi you had captured on your last mission. Specifically the part regarding the Akatsuki."

Naruto ears perked up at the last words spoken, and the excitement built up in him before he began reading it.

Inside the papers, there was the name of the case typed at the top.

'The_Akatsuki_case:_file_#14'

Just the general introduction to the case, the background of the source of the information, and stuff like that. He quickly scanned through the first page and went for the second.

On the next page there were more information, but the picture of one of his hunters as well. For a moment Naruto wondered how they got the picture of one of the members, but he quickly realized they must have had one of the mind-readers simply transform into the target once they saw it.

'Konan' The name was written next to the supposed name 'The Angel'. And under it, there was a picture glued on the paper itself. A picture of a blue-haired woman in the Akatsuki robes.

His mind drifted onto the name, as if he heard it somewhere before.

"How did you get the name?" It was obvious that the Interrogation Unit did not get it in the first place. So the source must be something else.

As soon as he asked the question, his godfather Jiraiya spoke up, approaching him in turn, and pulling something from his pockets. His face was still full of bitterness and regret as he did so.

"Because." He showed him a picture of himself and the three Ame orphans he took care of in the past. One of the orphans he instantly recognized as the woman in the files – Konan. "Of this." Jiraiya finished.

Naruto took the picture into his hand and placed it below the one in the files. Various things passed through his mind, but the one that stuck by was the notion that this Konan was close to Nagato, the one with Rinnegan.

"You said they were dead, how did that come to be?" Naruto addressed Jiraiya. Not an accusation, yet, a simple statement of facts for now.

Jiraiya released a sigh that he looked he was containing for a long time. "I used to think so." He paused for a moment, probably thinking back of the three orphans he trained, and the criminals he created in the long run. "After we split our ways, I did not hear from them at all, all until the time I got the message from one of my informants near the border that they were killed. Tough, the circumstances of their death always remained unknown to me."

Naruto wanted to shout and rage from the inside, but he banished those thoughts as soon as they came to his mind.

"You should have got rid of them when you had the chance. The other two are probably members of the Akatsuki as well." He said with a scowl, but Jiraiya did not budge, opting to stare at the picture of three orphans, that was laying under the picture of the present-day Konan, in silence. As if to try and understand their actions.

Their sentimentality will be their undoing one day.

"Instead. The Rinnegan user is probably the leader of this Akatsuki organization, and if not, then the real leader is probably even stronger than him." It made him angry, but he did not shout. Yet. Only occasionally his voice rose above his usual tone. But for the most part, only the venom was dripping from his mouth with each word he spoke.

Jiraiya gently took the picture and placed it into his pocket, speaking the following in a voice that considered his previous points as a simple childish remark. "Orochimaru said the same when my team met them the first time..."

Naruto's eyes narrowed down, but he said nothing. Though, he was not happy with being, for an even a smallest of cases compared to the traitorous Sannin.

"Would you have done it?" Naruto looked up at his godfather who looked at him with absolute seriousness when he asked a question. "Would you kill the three orphans begging for food because you think they could be a threat to you in any way one day?"

Naruto did not dare to dwell on those thoughts. A picture of dismembered bodies instantly appeared in front of him, and his thoughts were defined at that moment. "I wouldn't... I would never do something like that..."

Jiraiya smiled sadly at him. "I know you wouldn't, but-"

Naruto interrupted his reply, shaking his head. "But I wouldn't dare to train outsiders without further supervision either. Why didn't you bring them to Konoha with you? It would have been much safer and productive instead of leaving them in an open world."

Who knows what could have been if Konoha had a Rinnegan user at the time of his birth. His parents might still be alive in that case.

"I did not want them to become weapons of war, especially Nagato. My goal was to make them the agents of peace, so another war would never take place again." Naruto heard the old Hokage give a slight half-growl, half-sigh at Jiraiya's words. No doubt he was familiar with the Toad Sage's pacifistic ideology, but did not agree with it, as it went to the borders of fanaticism sometimes.

"I will make it up to you for this, don't worry kid. And even if they really are the leaders of the Akatsuki, then you don't need to worry about them all that much. I know all three of them, and they won't pose that much threat to you. I can promise you that. I'm not called a Toad Sage for nothing after all." Jiraiya gave out a large grin in the end, alongside of a thumbs up pointed towards himself in a goofy manner.

It calmed him down a bit, but not fully.

"Yeah. I'll keep you to those words. Just don't die while you're at it." Naruto said in the end, sighing.

Jiraiya ruffled his hair a bit, giving him a sad smile. "Don't worry kid. I don't plan on dying any time soon."

He continued reading the rest of the report, but it wasn't saying much. Only that the possibility of the Akatsuki controlling the Village Hidden in the Rain was probable and that the shinobis of that village should be apprehended if one ever came to conflict with them.

The Sandaime who was silent up until then, gave a cough to get their attention. "As much as it pains me to know that even your students could go, rogue, Jiraiya, we have other pressing matters to attend at the moment."

That got both Naruto's and Jiraiya's attention.

"Huh? What're you talking about sensei? What is more important than the Akatsuki?" He asked that question with a raised eyebrow. Naruto wondered the same.

"The case of our old acquaintance stirring trouble as he walks." When Naruto looked up at him, he saw that Jiraiya supposedly understood it right away, and went to his professional mode.

"Naruto-kun, that would be all for now. You may go." Sarutobi said to him.

"See you later then." He stood up and went to the door, but before he left, Jiraiya called out to him.

"Naruto, I promise I'll make it up to you for this."

"Yes, yes." Naruto waved it off, and then left. Keeping promises one wasn't sure he could keep was a dangerous thing. And Naruto doubted that his godfather could kill the three orphans he raised previously. It wasn't in his character to do so.

==Flashback ends==

After leaving the office, he went to the Ichiraku Ramen, and bought seven bowls of ramen to eat, bringing them to the place where he was at the moment, the Hokage's Rock. Still looking at the stars as he recalled the conversation from yesterday, as the stars slowly began fading away as the new dawn was rising. The seven cups of ramen laid in a trashy manner next to him.

For the first time since Jiraiya told him about the Rinnegan user, Naruto began thinking more about him as well. From the picture he saw, at first glance, one could assume he was an Uzumaki. But there were countless more redheads around the world, making it a simple coincidence. Still... the possibility of Nagato being one should not be discarded, just as he should not be too hopeful as well. If anything, he would have preferred it if he was dead, just as Jiraiya previously thought. Family, even if distant, or not.

The Konan woman, joined the criminal organization because her loved ones were dead. There were countless examples of shinobis becoming missing-nins because of that. A traitor from a few days ago, Sabiru, was the first one to come to mind.

As more he thought about it, the more it made sense to him. Given the overall prestige, and the legendary power of the Rinnegan – for all intents and purposes, Naruto should have been caught by now.

Either Nagato really was dead, or the Rinnegan wasn't as strong as it was previously believed?

Thinking about that pathway eased his mind a bit, but a distant shadowy figure with deep purple eyes followed him when he was not looking. His inner musings were, however, soon interrupted by a familiar, yet, uninvited presence.

Just like the one with the Sharingan eye...

"There is nothing more satisfying than viewing a rising sun above the village with one of it's most prodigious young minds." The gruff voice of the supposed one-eyed cripple spoke from behind.

Naruto turned his head around to see the Shimura Danzō walking towards him, with the two ANBU bodyguards behind him.

Speaking of the Sharingan eye...

"Danzō-sama." He stood up and gave a slight bow to the man that approached him, who in turn gave a slight nod to him in acknowledgment.

"Thought, it's a shame that he does not respect the nature of his home. Perhaps he's not as diligent as I previously believed." A slight poke to the trashed cups of ramen on the ground.

"Sorry for that..." He quickly gathered them to the bag, and went to make a shadow clone to throw them to the closest trashcan.

"But it can be forgiven, as the young minds find out that the international terrorist organization is after him. And that the members of that organization are the former students of his godfather." Danzō spoke in an even voice, waver not even for a second. His body's chakra was calm as the lake at midnight.

The day after he first talked with him, three weeks ago – Naruto read some of his father's notes regarding the man. Describing him as far more dangerous than any of the other Kages of the time, though if not as physically strong as them. Thus giving him a grudging respect even with the philosophies on how the village should be ran differed more than they did during the first term of the Sandaime.

Naruto reevaluated his previous opinion on the man. The public opinion of a half-blind cripple was that of the veteran shinobi who sustained all those injuries while fighting to defend the village during the wars. Underneath all those bandages, on the other hand, it was the cover of the half-blind cripple who kept the village safe with his private army, loyal only to him. It was both frightening, but fascinating at the same time. Even with his public image, he still emanated authority and respect wherever he went. Though, he was not a Hokage, he's still stood near the top on the hierarchy.

"Something like that..." Naruto replied in the end, realizing what the man meant, but not falling for his bait fully.

Danzō proceeded to sit on the ground, turned towards the village, and Naruto followed. The two guards remained motionless in the back. Their chakra was as calm as Danzō's.

"Hiruzen trained good students, and in turn, some of them trained others as well. Such a shame those who mattered have never had a true mind of a shinobi." Danzō spoke first.

Naruto sighed, understanding what he meant. His godfather, though initially thought of a failure, became the strongest of the Sarutobi's students. "Perhaps..." But in the end, it was known among the higher circles in the village's administration that Jiraiya was a pacifist. Though it gained him an endorsement from many to become a Hokage, particularly those from the civilian side. It gained him an ire from the significant few. And those few mattered the most. Danzō being chief among them.

"Though, I admit Hiruzen's decision for Kosuke to raise you turned out to be one of his better ideas."

Naruto doubted that the man was fully content with that. A training one, while he was young, would give one plenty of advantages. But the 'problem' is that the ideological perspective was not implemented as one would might want.

Both Kosuke and the Sandaime, later on with Jiraiya, attempted to instill some of their own views on him. The thing that most influenced Naruto were the writings of his great-grandfather.

Initially, he was skeptical of them. But the Wave changed everything.

"He once told me you wanted to train me as well." Naruto said to him. While the notion of training under one of Konoha's greatest Wind users was a tempting one. Naruto did not have a wish to become a mindless drone.

"I did." Danzō gave a slow nod. "And I still want to do it, if you're interested."

The man's sudden bluntness threw Naruto off-guard, and he promptly turned his head towards him, asking a question. "Why?"

"Why?" Danzō repeated his question, tilted his head towards him. "Why not? I have always had a special interest in those with a vast potential, and developing it for the good of the village."

"Forgive my bluntness, Danzō-sama, but I have no wish to become someone's puppet." Naruto told him directly. He shouldn't dwell too deep with the man with a reputation as his.

Danzō snorted through his nostrils for a brief second, his lips turning slightly upwards in a smiling manner. "I have no wish to make a puppet out of you. Just a diligent shinobi of this village. Though you are one already. But even with that, there is always a room for improvement, Naruto-san."

Naruto wanted to ask him about the famous shinobis he trained, as he did not know any. But a sudden burst of memory how the old man explained to him the origins of an ANBU's member Tiger and his Wood Release. About how Danzō was the one who cultivated his potential. And that was without turning him into a complete mindless drone.

"So now you're interested in developing my potential as I am officially a shinobi of this village and am thus free to choose if someone else within the village can help me or not..." Naruto stated as a matter-of-fact, getting no reaction from Shimura. "But how can you trust me so easily? I mean... The people who raised me are not of the same ideological mindset as you."

Again, Danzō's lips move slightly upwards in what looked like his satisfactory smile, as he looked at him once more, the brow on his only visible eye was set in a sharp line. "I wouldn't trust you if you gave me your answer now. Come to me once you become a Chūnin or even a Jōnin. If you accepted my offer right here and now, I would never trust you with my knowledge. It's simple as that."

He already started testing him. And he was right. If Naruto actually wanted to be trained sometimes by him, he would have to earn his trust first.

Something personal he experienced must have shaped his view on trust.

What is his goal regarding me? Naruto wondered, but he did not try to gouge out the reaction or answer from the man.

Some things... were better left unanswered. For now.

They sat there in silence as the sun rose more and moreover the land before Danzō then stood up to leave, and Naruto watched him do it in silence. As he rose up from the ground, a small wind flew over the lower parts of his body, clearing any dirt from the ground that was stuck on it, causing Naruto's eyes to widen for a brief moment at the display of masterful wind manipulation. Danzō acted as if nothing happened at all.

As Naruto watched him begin to leave, he asked one more question regarding his offer that did not sit well with him. "But how will you know to trust me even when I become a Chūnin or a Jōnin?"

Danzō stopped in his movements, turning his head slightly to the left, but not the full turn around as he spoke the following words as if they were the absolute truth in the world. "You said it yourself. Hiruzen, Kosuke, and Jiraiya raised you. When you come to me for training or anything else, I will know you're not following their mindset of a shinobi, but the one that is imprinted in your blood."

I wouldn't come to you otherwise. But if I did, you'd knew if I was genuine in accepting your offer.

Naruto's eyes narrowed at his words. The words that were spoken with sheer firmness that he did not dare to argue, or even attempt to deny them. He wouldn't describe himself as a follower of either side, for he believed that the balance was necessary. Yet Danzō's words were spoken as if everything he said would come true, and Naruto's gut was telling him the same.

"I see..." Naruto only said, before bidding the elder goodbye. "I appreciate the conversation Danzō-sama, I hope we have another in the near future."

The Shimura elder still stood at the place where he stopped, and his head was still turned leftwards. He gave a slight nod along with simple confirmation with the word 'Likewise', beginning to walk again and speaking the following in his wake. "I wish you good luck in your first Chūnin Exams, Naruto-san. I'm sure you'll make our village proud of you."

And he disappeared soon after, leaving Naruto to watch at the direction he left, as the morning sun shone brightly on him. "I sure will, Danzō-sama. I sure will..."

A simple wish of luck. It was another thing he did not expect from him.

As the morning came, Naruto decided against going to the bed. The training with his team was scheduled for the day, and at least he would have to vex the frustrations that have gathered in him from the previous day in a spar with either Sasuke or uncle Kosuke.

Konohagakure no Sato, 26th September

"Mind telling me why are you so sure that the other contestants will arrive today?" Shikamaru asked him while laying on one of the benches at the roof of one of the buildings that were located close to the main gate of the village.

As Naruto walked from the weapon store, he met Shikamaru roaming the streets bored as ever. Figuring he did not have anything better to do, Naruto asked him to hang out for a time, which Shikamaru accepted. And now they were on the roof, talking about various things that happened in the past weeks since they last saw each other.

"A little toad told me a while ago." Naruto said with a smile, cryptically, while he stood close to the edge of the roof, overlooking the gate not far from there.

A little toad was in fact a simple seal that could detect a more significant chakra movement on the road towards the village. A seal that his clone placed it there a week ago, while returning to the village with his team from a C-rank escort mission. It was located about five miles far from the village's main gate, on the main road. The fact he overheard some Jōnins talking about the arrival of foreign Genins today made him watch over the gate in hopes to see some of the contestants.

"Speaking of toads..." Shikamaru said seriously, rising up and changing into a sitting position on the bench. "When did you plan to tell me about your real identity?"

Naruto leaned back from the edge, and then looked at Shikamaru with an apologetic smile. "So you heard about that, huh?"

"Heard and somewhat figured it out before as well, though I wasn't entirely sure..." As Naruto looked at him with a raised eyebrow, Shikamaru continued, but not before releasing a sigh. "You were always more attentive when it came to the Senju history in classes, and have known far more about the history of that clan than it was taught in the Academy. The recent rumors confirmed my theory."

Naruto did not know wheater to laugh or shout, but he opted for a former, though it was a mild laugh. "So why didn't you ask anything? I figured you would want to confirm something that you weren't completely sure."

Shikamaru rubbed his ear with his pinky finger and spoke at the same time. "I thought you would say it yourself, though you never did. So I just discarded that assumption for a while. But your resemblance to the Yondaime always kept me curious."

Naruto shook his head, still smiling. "And for all this time I thought I was going mad, thinking you stared at me more than it was normal."

"Does anyone else from our generation knows about it?" Naruto asked.

"Ino and Chōji do. The others have probably heard as well. You know Ino... She overheard it somewhere on the streets and ran to tell my team. Though I found out from the Iwa's Bingo Book that was in my old man's office back home."

That brought a temporary cold to Naruto's body for a mere second, as he realized what that truly meant. "I never took for a curious type, Shikamaru." He said with a smile, trying to gouge out what his friend really knew. While the rumors of his real identity are already known. Many adults knew better than to talk about the Kyūbi in public. Iwagakure's Bingo Book was another thing. And another source for gossips to spread around.

"Well, curiosity got better than me this time. I went to look for some scroll to improve my clan techniques, and it all went down from there on."

Naruto approached the bench where Shikamaru sat, and proceeded to sit beside him. "I guess you know about the rest as well?" He asked with a distant look in his eyes as he stared at the roof-floor underneath him. The time when the rest of the village would know about his burden has approached. Those who did not know about it before will soon know. And the law that the old man has made when he was born would not be able to prevent it from being public forever.

Yet he was hoping his friends would not discover so early. Or ever. But the latter was just a dream.

Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah. And I'm not judging you or anything before you jump on any conclusions. I mean... I kind of get it why kept everything hidden and all..."

Naruto took a deep breath and then sighed. "I was hoping to keep at least that part of myself hidden as much as possible."

Shikamaru placed a hand on his shoulders and gave a supporting smirk of his. "I haven't told anyone else about it, and I'm not planning on doing it. But even if the others find out, I'm sure they'll understand."

Naruto released a short laugh. "Yeah, I guess. The older villagers already knew about it, and have come to accept me to some degree. So much so that the other day, a plump middle-aged waitress has given me a heart-shaped steak at the Yakiniku Q."

He began avoiding the public places as much as he could, lately. The acknowledgment he carved for was there in some way. Though, he couldn't help but avoid it. The stares from the others of being a Jinchūriki before and the ones who are aware of him being the Yondaime's son and a Senju weren't much different. The stares were the stares, and you were still different from the others. No honesty existed in either of those cases.

"Well, you'll have to learn to live with that burden now. Ino has begun questioning her loyalty to Sasuke once she heard about who you really are."

"Lucky me." Naruto smirked. And right after that, his sensory ability warned him of a familiar presence approaching the gate. One that was not from Konoha. But he remembered it very well. He promptly stood up and walked over to the edge of the roof without saying a word.

"What is it?" Shikamaru asked as he walked beside him.

Both of them stood up there, looking down at the gate where a group of around twenty foreign shinobis was gathered.

From what they could see from their position, those were the Kumogakure Genins and their Jōnin supervisors checking them in at the entrance. Aside from them, there was a group of Konoha's own shinobis standing there in line, preparing to escort them to their residence and the Hokage's Tower to be officially signed in for the exams.

Naruto looked at the group of his future opponents in the upcoming exams. The familiar presence was the Raikage's niece, Mabui. On the other hand, there was a similar one as well.

"Well, would you look at that, Nibi has her own jailor as well." The Kyūbi said in his mindscape with a hint of amusement.

"She's got a bijū as well?" Naruto questioned him.

"Indeed." Kyūbi said before continuing again. "Looks like Nibi sensed me as well."

The Kumo's Jinchūriki turned her head around and looked at the place where he and Shikamaru stood. She was of short stature and long blonde hair.

"Huh?" Shikamaru exclaimed as he noticed her staring at them as well. The others in her group did not saw them, continuing to talk in-between themselves. "It seems you've got a fan from another village already." He added with a sly smile as he looked at the girl staring at their position.

Naruto snorted at that. "Not really. She's looking at us because she probably sensed the fox in me."

"I didn't know a sensor could detect a sealed bijū." Shikamaru commented as his smile turned into a frown.

"It can happen, but she didn't. At best she could only sense something strange within me, like another chakra." Naruto spoke as Shikamaru listened to him. Before he said the next sentence, Naruto turned to his friend with a serious expression on his face. "Her own bijū told her of me."

"Wait, so you mean to say she's a jinchūriki like you?" Shikamaru asked, surprised.

"I do." Naruto said with a nod, still looking at the said girl. In turn, she stared at him intensely with her eyes, though he could see her exact reaction from the distance, he was sure she knew exactly who he was and what he contained. He wouldn't discard the notion of the Yondaime Raikage warning his Genins of him.

"Man... Now I'm really glad Asuma-sensei decided not to sign in my team this year." He said as he went back to sit on the bench.

Naruto turned around and gave him a look of surprise. "So your team won't participate either? Seems like Sasuke and me will be the only rookies this year." He spoke as he sat near him, away from the eyes of his fellow Jinchūriki that stared at them from the entrance gate. "I heard Kiba complaining on the streets the other day about not joining up. I mean... I get why Team 8 won't be there, but not you. Did Ino complain about that treatment?"

"She did, the first day. But on the second it was as if the option to participate was never presented."

It seems you can never get bored with Ino around. Though, Shikamaru had a different take on the fun people around him.

"Maybe it is for the best." Naruto admitted. "Who knows who the other villages might send... Best not risk any unnecessary losses."

"I just hope the next year won't have any hot-shot targets to kill the rest of us in the crossfire..."

"Only if Sasuke or I don't pass this year." Naruto smiled from the side. It was true. Both he and Sasuke were the prime targets of an assassination in these exams. Sasuke knew that as well. Hence why the security in the village was on the highest levels possible.

It wasn't as if either of them were scared of that. Naruto at least wasn't. But still... The Fūin tattoo on his wrists, hidden by the bandages he always wore on his arms around the village was there – ready to lend him a weapon if it ever came to the situation when the Sword of the Thunder God was unavailable. Or when the standard weaponry he would 'have' was useless in the situation.

"Better not get any ideas. I'd loath to fight with you in a pointless fight." Shikamaru muttered with a hint of laughter in his eyes.

"Too troublesome?"

"Too troublesome."

Konohagakure no Sato, 1st October, The Academy Room 301, 09:00 AM

The next few days leading to the exams have passed quickly. Naruto had spent time training with his team and talking with Kosuke about the preliminary rounds before the final one.

Apparently, a written test was usually the first part of the exams. While the second round of survival was held in a few specially designated areas – usually the Forest of Death. At least for the one that was held in Konoha. The other villages had their own system of eliminations. And because of that, the Genins of the host village consisted of the largest percentage of those who would pass to the final round.

He wondered how deep would the collaboration be between the higher-ups of the village and the Genins. Would the Genins of the host village know more about their opponents then it was supposed to be known?

Maybe I'm getting too paranoid over nothing...

Aside from a few of his closest friends and acquaintances, and Danzō, who wished him good luck – he did not get any sort of outside help regarding the exams that would place him in front of the other Genins.

The Genins of the other nations probably knew of their own terrain as much as he knew about his.

The knowledge of the opponents was something that he gathered by himself. And not much to say the least. Aside from the observation of the occasional older Konoha Genin who talked about the exams on the streets and having Naruto overhear them – he couldn't gather much, barring their chakra reserves.

And now, they were at one of the Academy's larger rooms, where the first round of the exams was scheduled to be.

Naruto and his team came early. In fact, they were the first team to arrive at the designated room. But before long, the others started arriving as well.

They sat on the chairs that were positioned near the windows as other contestants began filling the room.

The reason they came early was to see their reactions on either him or Sasuke. And he was gifted with the plenty of them. All the while Sasuke sat on his chair, leaning onto the palm of his hand with his eyes closed – ignoring them, while uncle Kosuke polished his sword with a smile on his face.

The Chūnin-hopefuls from Konoha came with their own teams, and were generally carefree – contrary to those from the other villages who came in joint groups. Particularly those who came from the Village Hidden in the Rain.

He counted twenty-one Genin from Ame when they entered. All of them were older than him, and were wearing their equipment and clothes in a rather similar fashion – though he could deduce who was in which team. Chains and umbrellas were the most common weapons, but Naruto could see at least two of them having Kusarigama on either their belts or hips. But their clothes were not the only thing that caught his attention. It was the look they sent towards him.

It was like a predator preparing to catch his prey – or so they wanted it to look that way.

Naruto had already fought three missing-nins from Ame, and while he beat them – he was more familiar with their attitude than skill. Proud, vain, and cruel.

"Seems like Shikamaru was right when he said there are hot-shot targets at this year's exam." Naruto muttered, leaning back to the chair and crossing his arms in a displeased manner.

"It seems they're more targeting you than me." Sasuke said to him, still leaning onto his palm and having his eyes closed. For a guy who came from a clan that worshiped a special type of eyes, he loved hiding his onyx glare from the world.

"So you are jealous I'm stealing your base of worship." Naruto said dryly, but the next thing he spoke in a whisper. "We'll need to make a plan for the second round." Sasuke turned his attention to him from his right, while uncle Kosuke did the same from his left side.

"The Amegakure Genins will most likely target us when they get the chance."

"True, they do not seem to be a pleasant type of company." Kosuke whispered with a frown. "The second round in the Forest of Death is the safest place for them to try anything that their village has told them to do."

"Assassination." Sasuke stated lowly, his eyes opening and gaze darkening.

"Probably, but most likely not." Naruto simply said. When Sasuke gave him a questioning look he continued. "I'll explain it to you some other time, but trust me when I tell you they aren't targeting us for a simple assassination."

If the revelations about his godfather's former students did not reach him – he would have thought they were here for an assassination.

"If you say so..." Sasuke replied with a hint of skepticism, turning his attention towards the door where a new group of Genins entered through the door.

Suna-nins.

There were more of them than the Ame-nins, but what truly set them aside was the fact that the three Genins entered separately, later, than the main group. And just like with the Kumogakure's Jinchūriki – he got a similar feeling that was radiating from the red-haired kid with a large gourd on his back. But he did not need Kyūbi's help to know who he was.

Gaara of the Sand. The youngest child of the Yondaime Kazekage and a Jinchūriki of the Ichibi. He was told long ago about him, long ago when he was still a kid in the Academy, with a fear of carrying a massive demon of destruction in his belly. The old man told him of the unstable son of the Yondaime Kazekage, who was the same age as him. It did not calm him much back then, but he understood that he was not the only 'noble' who was a pariah of society. There were others like him as well.

One might think that being born in a prestigious clan can give you an easy life if you go the right way. But if your destiny was sealed on the day of your birth, nothing can be changed. And unlike the civilians who idolized his clan, among many others, he was not spared of the burden he carried like they were.

His fellow Jinchūriki must have recognized him as well, because as soon as he entered, he looked at him with a maniacal eyes.

So much about finding a common ground...

"He has unpleasant eyes." Sasuke stated lowly, as he watched at Gaara looking at them.

Naruto nodded. "We should avoid him in the next round if we can." He said in a low tone. Again, Sasuke gave him a questioning look, but did not disagree. "He's like me. If it came for the two of us to fight, it is better if we do that with supervision."

Countless problems could arise if either of them killed each other. The death of a Jinchūriki could cause it's bijū to be released and cause even more havoc. Maybe not at that exact moment, but in a few years – when no-one expects it.

He knew, better said – he hoped, that the Kyūbi would not cause havoc if he were to be released. A risky move, and as the fox was smart – he would not risk himself be imprisoned again.

"Someone might need to fight him in the finals anyway." Sasuke muttered.

It would be best if it was me who'll fight him.

Kumogakure's Genin teams entered next – jointly. Followed by those of Kusagakure and Takigakure entering separately, each team of its own.

While walking towards the seats, the blonde Kumogakure's Jinchūriki exchanged the minor eye-contact with him. As they stared at each other for a brief moment, the curiosity was something he could gouge out from her eyes for the most part. But in the end, she walked over to her seat, not turning back to look at his direction for even the briefest of moments.

The general entrance of each village's teams showed the way on how they would play out in the future.

The Leaf Genins showed themselves as a naive side, as did those of Takigakure and Kusagakure. The Amegakure and Kumogakure would work well between themselves.

What struck him the most about the Kusagakure Genins was a timid red-haired girl with glasses that entered the last with her team. Walking with her head slightly bowed – an action that made Naruto lean forward, leaning onto his folded hands and with his eyebrows furrowed in a displeasure.

Many people are naturally nervous and shy as the hour of the first round approached, but her chakra was in some way very similar to his own. And it made him think she could be an Uzumaki survivor perhaps. Her red-hair just reinforced his observation.

Sasuke noticed his discomfort and the reason for it. "Something interesting about that girl?"

"Maybe." Naruto said, his eyes were still furrowed together.

"An Uzumaki?" Sasuke asked, propelling Naruto to turn around and see that his teammate was staring at his potential relative as well, who by now has sat with her boisterous teammates on some free seats. She was still having her head slightly bowed, and a look of sadness from what he could see. But for a mere second as she walked towards her seat some moment before – Naruto could see a flicker of resentment towards as well.

"She could be one, yes." Naruto answered him. "We will check it out later if she passes to the second round. And if not... Then I'll inform Kakashi-sensei to investigate it before it's too late."

Sasuke gave him a nod of understanding. "Sure." He said as he crossed his arms and legs, leaning back on his chair, and Naruto followed. "Do you have anyone on the list we should avoid for the time being?"

"Yes." Naruto said in a low tone to him. "The Suna's Jinchūriki's team and the one from Kumogakure, though I doubt they'll engage us in the next round. Aside from them, no-"

As he spoke to Sasuke, a cloud of smoke erupted at the front part of the room, and dozens of Konoha shinobi appeared in it. He recognized the few from the streets, but not he did not know their names.

"Alright you maggots, keep it down and shut up!" A scarred man with a bandana and Konoha's forehead protector, said the moment the smoke from their arrival dispersed.

The entire room went silent, only the sounds of heavy breathing could be heard.

"My name is Morino Ibiki and I'll be your supervisor for the first round of the exam. Be as calm as you can and approach the front desk to take the number of the seat you'll sit and be quiet."

Once he took his number he went over the seat at the upper left corner of the seats. Left of him a Chūnin already took a seat on the chair by the window. It was Hagane Kotetsu, one of the usual guards of the main gate.

He had an easy smile on his face as he looked at him, and a sheet of paper on a writing pad. Ticking his pen on it as he waited, along with everyone else to finally sit down.

"Now that you're all settled, it is time for me to explain to you the rules regarding your conduct at these exams. Remember that the moment you accepted to participate in these exams you accepted to represent your home village as well. And that means!" His shout startled a few of the contestants.

Naruto took a chance to take a look at where uncle Kosuke and Sasuke were seated. Both on the other parts of the room. Uncle Kosuke in the front row, just as him, while Sasuke was somewhere in the middle.

Next to Naruto an Ame Genin with black hair, pair of glasses, and an earring that had an Amegakure symbol hanging down. From the outside perspective for a moment as it rotated around in the air, it looked as it was crossed over as a horizontal line held the four vertical ones standing firm.

He was listening to Ibiki speak, but he must have sensed Naruto's eyes boring into him. He promptly turned his head around and gave him a confident smirk in return. One that Naruto didn't pay attention to as he turned his attention to Ibiki, who was about to continue.

Ibiki held himself satisfied by instilling the fear into some of the Genins with his shout, from what Naruto could tell.

"And that means..." He repeated himself once again. "Is that you are not allowed to fight in the first round. You are not allowed to attack the other contestants, because the first round is a simple written test. Breaking this rule will get you immediately disqualified, along with your team."

That much was obvious.

Ibiki went on to explain the grading system of the test and the rules regarding cheating – which made Naruto curious as to why would they allow you to cheat five times.

"Bear in mind that if you are caught cheating and losing all your initial ten points, you will have your team disqualified as well. The proctor will watch over that you respect... this rule." Ibiki said, saying the word 'respect' a bit longer than usual.

Naruto noticed that the Amegakure Genin beside him flinched for a moment, and that made him smile.

No matter what kind of questions would be on the test – he was sure that both uncle Kosuke with his decades-old experience and Sasuke who was highly intelligent would be able to answer them.

"Now..." Ibiki made a ram hand sign and the papers in front of every contestant appeared from the seal that was placed on the table. "You may open up your tests and begin. You have exactly one hour. Starting... Now!"

Naruto opened the paper in front of him and took a good look at all of the questions. The further he went the harder the questions seemed.

Or not. If he wasn't able to answer these how would Sasuke or uncle Kosuke be able to? Not to mention nearly all of the other contestants here.

Judging by the lack of sound of a pencil touching the desk through paper – he was right. These questions were made for an experienced shinobi.

Plenty of them here are experienced, to say the least. The older Genins surely had more experience than him, but he doubted that even half of the Chūnins here could answer these. Cryptography was a specialization of the Analysis Team.

He started with that question, going one by one. He did notice that there was a tenth question, reserved to be given near the end. He ignored it for now.

But as he thought about the correct answer he realized he did not have a single hunch as to how to break the code. Nothing.

That's just perfect. Naruto thought cynically, but then a sound of a quick writing filled the room and another, and another one. The three Genins must have know the answer to these.

He focused on his sensory ability to pinpoint their exact location within the room.

The closest guy to him was three rows behind.

Like I'll be able to cheat from him.

He realized how much he thought about cheating, and on the first question at that. He looked over at the letters below the question again. The words he gathered weren't hard to see. The closest sentence he could form was 'Consider his endgame among them'. And that was once he excluded the other words he saw.

'Consider his endgame among them'. He thought about what that could mean. He still had forty-five minutes to answer the other eight after this one. The Amegakure Genin that sat next to him did not write even his name on the paper yet, constantly fidgeting at his seat.

He heard a sound of a kunai hitting the wood.

"Number forty-eight, you are disqualified." Ibiki said from the place where he stood.

"Wha-what? Why? What did I do?" The Genin in question asked frightened.

"I have personally seen you cheat five times. And a pathetic five times those were. Number seventeen. Number fifty-six. Leave the room as well."

The last thing Naruto heard was the sound of a door being closed.

Caught cheating five times... Why would he even allow us to cheat and continue if he caught us the first time? Cheat.

'Consider his endgame among them.' c – h – e – a – t. Naruto formed another word from the first letter of each word.

He smirked and thought inwardly. I see... So he wants us to cheat in the first place. Perfect.

Except he didn't have any particular technique that could help him in this situation. Only the fact he now knew the answer for the first question, and a way to find the answer to the rest of them. The shurikenjutsu question, he could answer without cheating, but the rest of them... Hardly. If he had another six hours to think about them – maybe he could.

Now to cheat... And how to cheat...

Only one technique could be used for this type of situation. Naruto remembered. But the use of it was risky, and could easily expose him.

Fortune favors the bold. And fortune was rare in a shinobi life. He waited for another fifteen minutes to pass for those who knew the answers to finish writing them. In the meantime, Naruto wrote the answer to the three more questions which answers he knew.

Let's just get it over with. Naruto thought as he moved his hands under the desk and placing them into a sign that would make a shadow clone. He focused on making a shadow clone that would appear beside Ibiki. Not far from him to be discovered right away for what he was about to do.

A cloud of smoke appeared next to Ibiki, covering Naruto's shadow clone for a brief second for anyone else to see who hid underneath it. But for that brief second, his shadow clone transformed into a copy of Ibiki himself.

The room went perplexed at the show in front of them. Though Ibiki said nothing as he stood there next to Naruto's clone.

He only gave a short snort, while his stern face morphed into a smirk. "Go on then. Do what you wanted."

Naruto watched his clone-transformed-Ibiki walk over one of the Genins he had sensed was writing the answers previously. Once the clone approached it, he took a paper from the man and took a good look into it. The rest of the room was silent. Once he memorized the answers from the paper, the clone dispelled and his memories returned to Naruto.

Ibiki decided to speak at that moment. "The next one who decides to use that, or anything like that, will be disqualified. Now stop looking around like a bunch of retards. Eyes on your tests!"

Naruto wanted to release a sigh he was holding the whole time. He was happy to know that the four questions he answered were correct. Hard to think that another man would think the same as him.

After another five minutes, he started writing the rest of them in.

"Number seven. You are disqualified." Ibiki shouted.

"How? Why?" It was the Amegakure Genin that sat next to him.

Ibiki replied to him. "Did you really think I would not notice you peeking to see what the Senju wrote?"

Naruto did notice the Ame-nin's eyes occasionally looking over at his paper and writing down the same answers as he did.

"If only you were as creative as him in that regard." Naruto's blood froze at Ibiki's words. And the man now wore a proud smirk as he looked at him. "Number eighteen. Number sixty-seven. Leave the room as well."

"Son of a bitch..." Naruto heard the Ame Genin mutter as he left the room.

Once the door closed again, Ibiki spoke. "You may continue."

For the remaining time, Naruto sat calmly at his seat. He answered the rest of the questions and was content to wait now. Ibiki called out more and more Genins to leave the room as they were caught cheating. Two had to be physically removed from the room as they continuously denied that they were cheating.

But Ibiki never disqualified him. Even though he saw through his disguise somehow.

Of course he would see through it. I just wonder how...

"Alright. It's time for the final question." Ibiki spoke, some ten minutes before the time was supposed to run out. But before he continued the door opened. Naruto turned around and saw one of Suna's Jinchūriki's teammates enter through them.

Ibiki spoke in an even tone. "If you're done playing with your dolls, sit down to hear the final question." At the flinch of the Suna boy, Ibiki smirked and continued. "Don't worry about it. Just take your seat."

He probably knows about the way everyone cheated, but decided to eliminate only those that were too obvious. This entire test must have been both a psychological and practical elimination. Naruto allowed a smirk to appear on his face, while he rested his head on his hand and listened to Ibiki speak further.

"But in order to hear this question at all, you will have to choose whether you'll take it or not." At the puzzled expressions of the other contestants, he continued once again. "But if you decide to take it, and get it wrong – you will lose all of your points and you will have your team disqualified. In addition to that, you will be forbidden from ever taking the Chūnin Exams ever again!" His previously even, but stern voice got to the borders of a shout.

"What!?" A female screeching voice from behind him shouted. "What kind of fucking rule is that?"

Naruto turned his head around and saw that it was a dark-skinned girl with red hair from Kumogakure. Though not even before he turned around, he saw that the girl was voluntarily subdued and frightened by the aura Ibiki released.

"A rule that I make as the head supervisor of the first round. Now shut up and don't interrupt me again." He said in a stern voice.

No-one else dared asking questions or raising their voice in protest.

"You have five minutes to decide, and you will have another five to answer that question."

Naruto could feel the nervousness of the others in the room. Somewhat understandable nervousness, but pointless as well. Not every Chūnin was promoted through the exams. The field promotion was much more common. But that fact did not calm down many of the contestants, as they started raising hands one by one and leaving the room, followed by their disappointed and bitter teammates. And a snide remarks from the smirking proctors from the side.

Naruto could see in Ibiki's face that he was satisfied with this development, as more and more contestants emptied the room. Leaving only a fraction of those that originally came.

"Well. Good choice you made I must say." Ibiki said. He waited for a few more moments before he spoke again, this time with a small smile. "Those of you who remained... Congratulation on passing to the next round."

And a chorus of 'What?!' could be heard by from many corners of the room, but Naruto did not pay heed to them. He only smiled, satisfied that he and his team passed to the second round.

The Hokage's Office, at the same time

From his crystal ball, Hiruzen watched as the first round took place. In the room, the present was Kakashi, who watched his students cheat with him.

"Ibiki was right, he did creatively use the shadow clone." Kakashi commented, proudly.

"Indeed he did." Hiruzen nodded. "Seventy-two have passed onto the second round."

"I'm surprised with the amount of the Amegakure Genins that have passed." Kakashi said, a frown appearing on his only visible eye.

Indeed... "It probably means that this generation of theirs is more promising than the previous ones." Hiruzen said, ambiguously.

"Only that?" Kakashi questioned.

"For now." Hiruzen gave him the look. One that left no room for further questions. He still hadn't revealed information about the Akatsuki and their involvement with the Amegakure and possibility of a coup there, but. Perhaps he should.

All at the right time.

"I have placed seven ANBU teams near the Forest of Death, Kakashi. Just in case there is no foreign involvement with some of our Genins."

Kakashi understood that. "Naruto and Sasuke."

Hiruzen nodded.

"How many parties would be involved?"

"If I'm being honest with you? I have no idea myself..." Kakashi said nothing, but his raised eyebrow signified that he expected some sort of clue. "Whatever the actual number is... No-one can interrupt this round, at any cost."

"Who are the prime suspects?" Kakashi queried. When it comes to his students, the man could get serious and sat aside his slothfulness for a greater good.

"At first... The Genins of the Sound village supposed to be our top priority for surveillance. Unfortunately, my former student did not send them here. The incident Naruto-kun had with one of his spies has born fruit in countering some of his actions against Konoha."

"But you don't think Orochimaru will just sit and do nothing?"

Sarutobi released a cloud of smoke from his mouth and snorted, followed by another cloud of smoke. "Heh. I know he is still intending on causing a ruckus. I have Jiraiya supervising the area with his toad as well. The only question is... It's how sure of himself he is to actually come here alone?"

What are you thinking now, my former student...

Kakashi walked over to the window, looking at the village. "I will be near the Forest of Death as well. Just to be sure."

Sarutobi nodded. "It's why I called you here in the first place. You should go straight to the tower before the round begins. If you notice anything suspicious. Act right away. Keep an eye on the team with the Suna's Jinchūriki in it. They are the second behind Orochimaru, who are a threat. Jiraiya is in the tower by the way. And he will remain there for the duration of the second round."

He would have to include Kakashi into a more detailed investigation of the Akatsuki, separated from the one that he would reveal to his Jōnin's. Itachi hasn't reported to Jiraiya in months. And Hiruzen did not know even know if he was alive or not. Much worse was, when not even Danzō knew it. And that man was supposed to know everything.

"So our alliance means nothing and they are to be treated as potential enemies..." Kakashi said with a sigh. "And to think how complicated the negotiations were..."

Hiruzen brought both of his hands together, resting his chin on them. "I won't risk anything that could endanger our village, Kakashi. Rasa has showed his true colors the moment he sent his unstable son to our village. Without even cautioning us of his condition in the first place. Even Kumogakure reported that one of their Genins, Nii Yugito, is a Jinchūriki. But Rasa said nothing. If it weren't for Jiraiya's spy network in this case. We might not even know about it, initially. The Allies we may be, but Suna has always kept hidden about their internal affairs. Or at least – they tried."

"But the affair regarding his son is not everything that is making you wary of him? Am I correct?"

Hiruzen said nothing for a few seconds, before giving Kakashi a curt nod. "We will discuss it at the meeting in a week. Right after the end of the second round."

"I understand, Hokage-sama." Said Kakashi. "I will take my leave to get ready and move to the tower. With your permission."

"Permission granted." Hiruzen grunted, after which Kakashi began to walk to the door. But Hiruzen called him out before he left. "Kakashi."

Kakashi turned around. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"

"Orochimaru. Sunagakure, Kumogakure, Amegakure. Our enemies, and the potential ones are many, while we are all alone. Just as I said to Jiraiya and the ANBU's. Act only if you deem it necessary to do so. The rules state that we are not allowed to jump in unless there is an emergency. In the current case, only if Orochimaru gets involved, or one of the Jinchūriki becomes unstable. Once you meet Jiraiya, he will explain everything to you, and how to act in case something goes wrong to the point the village and the civilians could be endangered."

Kakashi bowed slightly. "Understood, Hokage-sama."

"You may go now."

When Kakashi left, Hiruzen stood up and walked over to the window.

For many years he tried to keep the peace in the village – but the peace was never an option apparently.

For many years he tried to keep the peace in the village – so the clans would not fight among themselves. In doing so. The two most powerful clans were reduced to two members each. A thing that made him ashamed of his reign the most. He wondered if Danzō would have done a better job with them from day one?

Turning behind once again, Hiruzen face the picture of sensei and predecessor, hanging on the wall. Would Tobirama-sensei be proud of him and his decisions? Or would he scorn him for allowing everything that came to this present day?

His emotions on his picture were unreadable as always. Sometimes he could see the pride and sometimes a scorn. He realized that both of those emotions on the face of his sensei could describe his entire reign.

There were moments where he was proud of himself, and where he believed that the people would remember fondly of him. But there were moments where he scorned himself, just as the picture of Tobirama-sensei would periodically do it.

He failed to stop Orochimaru from leaving. His student, Jiraiya, failed to stop his own orphaned students from becoming international criminals.

Now Orochimaru's snake-like eyes loomed over the village, threatening to extinguish the Will of Fire. And the flame of one of it's most important clans.

While the Akatsuki threatened to cut the tree of Senju's, a lifeforce that created the village he vowed to protect.

Hiruzen traced his fingers over the cristal ball that shone a clean darkness when inactive. He threw a look at the papers that were billed up on the table as well.

Sarutobi released a sigh. Some other time...

For now, he would watch the second round through his crystal ball. As time passed he watched Naruto and his team standing near the gates of the Forest of Death. All the other Genins were there as well, though, all separated into their own groups.

Anko wore her usual clothes as she explained the rules of the second round, giving the papers the contestants would have to sign that Konoha would not be responsible for their deaths, if it came to it.

He hoped there wouldn't be many deaths in the second round. Especially among the Genins from Konoha. Though, by looking at the attitude of some of Ame-nins, his hopes would remain just that. Wishful thinking.

They did not hide their interest in Naruto, which made Hiruzen wonder on how his surrogate grandson would deal with them. Only a small part of him was worried, for he knew that Naruto could very well deal with them. Especially with Kosuke and Sasuke at his side.

On the other hand, a showcase of the open animosity towards Naruto from Amegakure shinobi confused him. Would the Akatsuki leadership of their village act openly and so brazenly against Naruto? The last report from Itachi to Jiraiya said that they are years behind their goal of capturing every single tailed beast. And while back then, Itachi never mentioned why are they waiting so long, Hiruzen could deduce it was because of Yagura's death, and time it takes for a bijū to restore his physical manifestation.

"They probably want to test him for future reference." He muttered to himself.

The hour of waiting passed. And soon, he noticed that Anko announced the beginning of the second round.

Whatever the Amegakure Genins mean to do with Naruto, they would hit an unbreakable wall.

The Forest of Death

"Mind telling me why are you donning your armor?" Sasuke asked, kneeling on the ground and checking his equipment before they embarked deeper into the forest.

Naruto decided he would wear some sort of shinobi battle armor. Similar to the one his ancestor had. It was made of some sort of grey iron, with his clan's symbol inscribed on its chest.

They have finished the written test, and were readying themselves to finish the second round. They only had to find an 'Earth' scroll to complete it. With a sensor in their team, it would be easy to find another team and see if they had what they needed.

"Copying your ancestor?" Sasuke added.

"Look who's talking about copying." Naruto said to him with a snort, all the while connecting some sort of white fur on his shoulders. And Kosuke helping him.

"I'm born with the potential to awake the Sharingan. I did not choose to have it." Is that a wolf's fur? Sasuke asked inwardly. "And what's with a fur anyway?"

"I never saw you complain about having it." Naruto replied to him.

"And as for the fur... The fur is here..." Naruto began, making a ram seal. "to do this." In an instant, the white fur got bigger and covered his blonde teammate from hair to his feet. "Touch it."

"I see..." Sasuke muttered, knocking his fingers onto the white fur as it was some sort of door. Although, not a wooden door. This was a hard material. Like the iron that was used to make a kunai. "But why do you need it anyway? I think we can deal with any opposition without you wearing it."

"True." Naruto said, pausing to strengthen the armbands. "We could. But I'd rather not risk it. Especially as we are to have some company soon."

"Are you sure, Naruto-kun?" Kosuke asked him, placing his hand to his sword. Naruto gave him a nod. "We should make an ambush in that case. Do you know who is coming by the way?"

Again, Naruto nodded. "It's best if we don't waste any time here. We are too close to the gates. And if it is possible, I want to check something first when it comes to the fight."

"So where we're going then?" Sasuke asked him. "It's obvious by now that you want to be on the front."

"You really know me." Naruto said with a smile, but Sasuke thought it was not one of his usual, genuine smiles. There was no satisfaction in his eyes. Pure ice remained.

"Lead the way then." He said. If they were to make an ambush, it was better if they did not waste any time.

And they jumped deep into the forest, a tree by tree, and a branch by branch. As they jumped further, Sasuke, who was behind Naruto, and behind him, Kosuke, noticed something that was stuck by his blonde teammate's sandal. It was very little, but noticeable, as it was a contrast to Naruto's black sandals, with its pinkish color.

"You have something stuck on your sandal." Sasuke said to his teammate, who continued jumping and ignoring his words.

He only gave a simple. "I know." And continued jumping further.

They soon reached a small clearing somewhere within the forest, by the river that flew towards the north.

"This should be good enough." Naruto said, looking around at the trees and nodding to himself once again. He then made around ten clones who scattered in various directions, while the real Naruto remained there with him and Kosuke.

"So we need to find an Earth scroll in order to pass."

"Indeed." Naruto nodded.

He motioned for them to get closer, as the all three knelt to the ground and formed a triangular circle.

"It seems that the fifteen of them are after us. The Amegakure Genins." Naruto said, whilst closing his eyes and placing a finger onto the ground, sensing the range around them, the best of his ability.

"Are you sure they're after us?" Sasuke has asked him, a bit skeptical on the whole affair. He did not know why the Amegakure group would join together and go after them.

"It is more that they're after me." Naruto admitted, looking at neither him or Kosuke for that matter. Only at the trees behind them and the river that separated this part of the forest from the other one.

"Because of the Kyūbi?" Sasuke asked bluntly. That was the only reason why someone would be after his teammate if it went over the boundaries of the clans. He saw Kosuke frown at his question while Naruto remained silent for a moment, before giving him a short nod. But Sasuke felt as if there was something more than just that.

"If they truly are after the Kyūbi, then I doubt they would show so much animosity back when they entered the room in the Academy. Or before the beginning of the second round barely half-an-hour ago. Moreover, it would be hard for them to even capture the Kyūbi and take it out of the village. I believe there is more to this than that." Kosuke stated, looking at Naruto.

"That is true as well, uncle." Naruto nodded once again. "That's why I would like to question a few of them after the battle."

"Have your clones set up the traps?" Kosuke asked.

"They did. Also-" Naruto began, but changed his wording right away. "It seems they are here as well." He turned around and stood up, looking at the upper part of the large trees that were located behind him.

Sasuke lifted his head and looked up at the trees as well. He counted right away fifteen people present. Just as Naruto has said there would be.

"So they've finally arrived." Kosuke drew his sword and stood in a battle position, a feet behind Naruto on his left side. Sasuke followed, and drew eight kunai from his holster, taking a hold of them between his fingers. Only Naruto remained unarmed. And unperturbed as well.

A rather tall girl jumped down to the ground, followed by two males. She had long raven hair and pale skin that was covered with a revealing black clothes. On the upper part, only something akin to a bra could be seen, hiding nothing that could make the boys lose their head over. On the lower just a regular shinobi pants. All black. Her face, or better said, the left eye had a long black tattoo over it the form of a thick black line.

The males wore black clothes as well, though, more military-looking ones. The Amegakure headband shone brightly as the glimmer of light from the sun sneaked into the dark forest. One had kusarigama in his hands, while the other held shinobigatana.

The other twelve remained standing scattered on the trees. One could easily guess who belonged to which team. Same pattern just like of those three on the ground. But different colors.

Kosuke kept an eye on the six shinobis that were directly in front of him. Some forty feet away. Sasuke did the same. But he listened the following conversation in any case, and taking a quick look at the spectators on the ground in front of him.

The girl who first jumped to the ground spoke up. "I'm surprised how easy it was to find you, Senju. I expected it would be more difficult from the stories we have heard."

"Oh." Naruto exclaimed, crossing his arms. Sasuke couldn't see his full face, though he suspected there was a smirk out there. A genuine one, unlike the smile from before. "And what could make you so interested in me? There are other fishes to be sought by a worm bait. Other 'royal' children who are the same as me. And even others who are not as royal, but are as important."

All the while he talked, the scowl at the face of the girl deepened. Her eyes looking murderous. While her more composed teammates had a simple frown out there. Controlled – because the girl looked like she was about to explode in fury.

"Talking about worms like that, huh? One still led us to you." She said, smirking.

"You mean this one?" Naruto asked, acting innocently as he took the worm that stuck on the fabric beneath his sandal, into his right hand. "You weren't very subtle. If you wished to have an element of a surprise – you should have chosen a bit more appropriate weather to do it. It hadn't rained for seven days by now, in Konoha. And it doesn't look like it's gonna rain anytime soon either. If you left your rainy homeland more often, you would know that, Ohama-san." (1)

Naruto's words angered her, but she still did not attack. "So you know I'm from Ohama clan... It's not like it matters anyway... As both you and your teammates are going to die here today."

Sasuke worked his brain for a second, remembering a lesson from the Academy about the foreign clans. Ohama clan of the Land of Rain, specialization in worms, and a use of them. Similarly to the Aburame clan and their bugs. But with worms. One of the founding clans of the Village Hidden in the Rain, alongside of the Hattori.

"I don't think animals can share the same chakra signature with humans. The only cases I'm familiar with are the bugs of the Aburame clan, and a few other clans from other nations who specialize in similar techniques. So when a skinny worm crawled up to my boot while Anko-san was reciting the rules, I recalled one clan from the Amegakure who is known to use worms for various purposes." Naruto said without pausing for a moment. Sasuke could detect even a hint of amusement in his voice as he spoke. But it still went unanswered on why he did nothing to prevent the Amegakure group tracking them.

"Why didn't you remove the worm then? Are you brave or just stupid?" The girl said with narrowed eyes. But Sasuke started seeing hints of fear, as her voice cracked for a moment.

"Same can be said about you lot." Naruto replied. The previous amusement was gone, and indifference took its place. Probably another mask as well. Sasuke thought.

Then another Genin, the one in a yellow jumpsuit with spiky brown hair, and some sort of underwater breathing mask – jumped down and spoke to the Ohama girl, followed by the other two who dressed in a similar fashion.

"Control your emotions, Otsuya. Remember the mission your uncle Hamachi gave us. It's no use if you play into his game."

So they had a mission regarding Naruto... Sasuke thought inwardly. He noticed Naruto moving both of his hands behind his back, and moving the right one into his holster – pretending to dig something from it.

He is baiting them again... It was the strategy he took a liking to in the period after the catastrophe in the Wave. Against bandits, since they fought them for the most part. It was hard for Sasuke to imagine that his rival in who would be the more gloomy in the Academy could change in that way.

Naruto's movements alarmed the Ame-nins and they stood in the battle position.

Regardless of the mission they had, the fear is still there.

While his right hand explored the holster, he sent them a message with his left one.

Don't – take – your – eyes – off – the enemy. Was the most important one.

So it begins. While he had his own taste of blood, by killing some highway robbers on one of their missions. This was a completely different thing.

This would be his actual first taste of real combat. The death was a common theme in his dreams. Whether it was him killing someone, or witnessing someone being killed.

The people he would be fighting were about to die. Him dying was not an option. If he died here, it would be as if he never lived in the first place. His clan would die out with him – unavenged.

Right behind you, Naruto.

Those six to uncle Kosuke, those three in a yellow jumpsuit to Sasuke. And the other six to me.

Naruto considered his strategy carefully. The enemy did not attack, even if they came to them first. It seems that the tall Ohama girl was their leader. And that his comments stopped her resolve and advance.

Let's see if this will work...

He made another hand signal to Kosuke and Sasuke on who should they fight, but he did not turn around to see if they understood it.

However, the voice of his surrogate uncle affirmed his line of sight. "You can count on us, Naruto-kun."

And that of Sasuke as well. "Whenever you're ready."

He removed his hand from his holster, and the Ame-nins tensed. But instead of drawing a weapon he simply rubbed his nose for a second, while his eyes were set on his targets.

He wanted to capture some of them at least. For he doubted a minor village, like Amegakure, the one that Konoha didn't wage war against in twenty years would decide that he was a threat to them on a whim.

With the knowledge that Akatsuki might control that village. A simple assassination of him would be a foolish mission. Especially considering what they wanted from him. But he also doubted that these Genins knew what Akatsuki actually was.

And that the Akatsuki would send a bunch of Genins to try and 'eliminate' him.

They won't learn anything about me today.

After all. Not leaving your homeland too often can result in ignorance regarding your own clan special animals. Or she simply thought a foreigner wouldn't know something like that. Whatever the reason was – he will make sure these people never repeat their mistakes again.

...

Naruto decided to act first. He quickly activated the seals that were hidden among the leaves in the trees. But not those where his opponents were located. He did not have 'traps' placed in there. Many shinobis could sense them easily if they were very close to them. But that was the reason he placed them there in the first place. A diversion.

The explosion enveloped the upper part of the clearing in a smoke that cut the line of sight for the Ame-nins at the top.

Naruto quickly jumped at the smoke as fast as he could. The gravity seals were turned off the moment he entered the Forest of Death.

As he exited the smoke, he already had a kunai in his hand ready to be used. The sword of his ancestor was a liability in this situation. Too shinny and too easy to be noticed.

One of the Ame Genins he decided he would fight was caught by surprise and was easily killed by him by a slice of a kunai over his throat. He did not look into his eyes. It was not the time to think about those at the end of his blade.

"Not so fast, you Senju bastard!" The Ohama girl shouted from behind him, holding a kunai of her own in her hand.

Naruto quickly replaced himself with a Genin he just killed. "Didn't I just admonished you about an element of a surprise down there?"

She did not say a word, only giving him a smirk in return while her kunai was dug into the heart of his fallen opponent.

He noticed a spiky chain surround him from above, and sensed one of her teammates coming from behind ready to stab him in the back.

And so, for the second time in twenty seconds, Naruto used a substitution again. This time with a piece of wood from the tree.

The chain encircled the log which appeared in the air, while Naruto stood behind the man that attacked him.

The moment he appeared behind his enemy, Naruto infused the Wind chakra from his mouth into his kunai, strengthening it and prolonging its line of attack.

Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!

The man was caught by a surprise, just as he was cut by the blade a second later.

Two deaths, in not even a minute. But he did not dwell on it as the battle continued.

The two remaining Amegakure shinobi that stood at the top of the tree initially, now flanked him from both sides – intending on killing him. But before their blades were stuck into him – the fur of the wolf that hung on his shoulders enlarged itself with the chakra he has sent into it moments before, surrounding his body in its entirety.

Needle Jizō!

A sound of kunai clashing with his hardened fur filled the air.

A small section around his face was left open, allowing him to see the other two enemies not far from him. The fur that surrounded him left the space inside of the protection for him to move his hands. Naruto brought his two fingers up and focused on his chakra.

Needle Hell!

A rain of needles was sent flying into all directions around him.

"I hope I did not hit those two with this attack."

He sensed the two-man that flanked him still alive, however, but wounded, as their chakra was getting lower and lower, while they were falling on the ground. Sasuke and Kosuke were still alive, and they did not seem to be too exhausted, or at all for that matter.

As the last two attackers fell on the ground, Naruto began to retract his fur back to its normal size. At the same time, the Ohama girl appeared on the same gigantic branch of a tree where she was previously standing.

Her last remaining teammate suddenly appeared from beneath the large branch, in an attempt to put him down with his blade. But a simple jump from Naruto prevented him from doing it.

As he jumped into the air, Naruto gathered the chakra into his hand in the form of a ball, while he took one flip in the air before sending his father's technique into his enemy.

Rasengan!

He struck the man straight into his head. The power of the Rasengan completely destroyed his skull as its remnants flew into different directions. His blood left its trail on Naruto's face, even closing near to his eyes. The sweat from his forehead dripped down his nose, mixing with the blood that was splattered all over his face and creating an even bigger mess.

The smell of blood that just came from the body always stank, but mixing with a sweat it was even more disgusting.

Not waiting at all for him to recuperate, Ohama girl attacking him, and they engaged in a taijutsu battle.

He had to admit that she was better than her comrades, but still failing to get a direct hit. As he punched her few feet back – she went through few hand signs.

"Ninja Art: Earthworm Hand!" (2)

Her right hand took a shape of one worm and with the speed, he did not know she had, the large worm-hand grabbed him by the neck. It both tried to suffocate him to death, but he also felt pieces of his chakra getting drained as the lower part of the said worm glued onto his skin. Luckily he managed to put his left hand under to his own neck, so he could push it back eventually. But the pressure was too strong.

"Maybe I don't really need an element of a surprise, Senju?" She grinned, while holding the hand from which the worm was coming out with the other one.

"Actually..." He groaned while he tried to push the worm away from him. "You still do."

He managed to grab a hold of Nidaime's sword, and turned it on – moving it to slice the worm in half. But the moment before he did it, she released it from her hand.

The body of her strangling weapon dropped to the branch, proceeding to fall further down to the ground below.

His enemy did not waste any time. She jumped onto him, with an intent to hit him with her leg – but he simply leaned backward and stopped her attempt by grabbing the hold of her ankle.

"Wha-"

Naruto circled her in the air once before sending her to fly away towards one of the trees. But she managed to land on the tree. The chakra on her feet helped her hold onto the tree behind her.

As he was about to give her a final knock out, he sensed a foreign chakra invading his body. Naruto took a look at his feet, dozens of large worms started crawling up, on his body. Getting all the way to his knees.

Cute. Naruto flared his chakra through his entire body, and the worm illusion dispersed into nothingness.

She tried to land a kick on his head again from her position as she jumped towards him. Her right feet ready to strike him. But as he saw her attack, Naruto took one step back and let her fly past him. But the moment she passed by, so did the kunai she held in her hand, hidden in her long hair.

She attempted to cut his face with it, but just as he grabbed her feet moments ago, he grabbed her by the joint of her hand, immediately cracking it and getting only a scream in pain from her.

Still holding her by her broken hand, Naruto sent her flying towards the giant tree, where she hit the surface area of it, and began falling down to the ground.

I don't need her dead just yet. Naruto thought as he jumped forward to catch her, and land her safely to the ground.

"Wh- Why... did you... saved me?" She asked in between frantic breaths once they landed. "You wretched bastard."

He knelt down and whispered gently, moving a strand of her hair that fell on her eyes. "So I could do this." And sent another punch to her face, knocking her unconscious, and perhaps even breaking her nose. As the drops of blood started leaking from it. But he felt no pity or guilt for doing it. Just as he felt nothing for killing her comrades. A relief was a feeling that would be better to describe his current state of mind.

That is for that filthy worm you tried to strangle me with. Naruto thought while he rubbed the places around his neck where she grabbed him with it.

He stood up and noticed Kosuke approaching him. "Uncle. I assume your part went without much trouble?" Naruto asked with a smile.

His surrogate uncle did not smile, however. "Indeed it did. Though it is unfortunate that four of them had died, with only two of them I managed to capture." He truly did not enjoy taking a life.

Neither do I. But these weren't innocent. Naruto said to himself.

"Better than nothing at least."

Sasuke approached them next. Naruto could see pieces of flames in the distance among the woods. "How did your part went by?"

"It wasn't too hard, they pretty much killed themselves by allowing me to return a fire to them." Sasuke said unimpressed.

"So they're dead?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke did not reply with words. He only gave a short nod and cocked his head towards the direction where his battle took place. He also held a scroll in his arm.

Unfortunately. It was another heaven scroll, as Sasuke would tell him.

"Do you want to interrogate them now, Naruto-kun?" Kosuke asked.

Naruto, who by now sat on the ground contemplated a bit. His answer was clear. "We'll take them, prisoner."

Sasuke did not say anything, but Kosuke had something to say. "Naruto-kun..." He spoke in a quiet tone, akin to a whisper. "It is one thing to extract information from them, but if the word gets out we took them into custody, Konoha could face problems from the other villages. You know it well that the others are always looking for an excuse to stir up trouble against us."

"I know it's forbidden to do it, but I have no choice." Naruto pressed on. He had a group of missing-nins after him, and clues on where they could be. Simply letting the three surviving Ame-nins go was an invitation for trouble. Whatever their actual mission regarding him was – he was sure it had something to do with the Kyūbi. No other reason why Amegakure Genins would go after him.

"Look." He began once more as the tense silence stretched all around them. "They've signed the consent form that Konoha would not be responsible for whatever happens to them. This forest has plenty of dangerous beasts that could very well eat their dead bodies. If it comes to that, that is. In any other case, their bodies could be destroyed once the necessary information from them was extracted. And Ame, or anyone else for that matter, would have no proof that we had anything to do with their disappearance." Finished Naruto.

Kosuke sighed, but gave him a somewhat of a sad smile nonetheless. "I see there is no changing your mind then. Very well, but we should first take the scrolls that they had."

"Right." He summoned three scrolls from the seal on his arm and placed them on the ground. "Can you perhaps do the rest? I have to clean the blood from my face." The two of them had a less bloody fight, as Naruto saw no traces of the enemy blood, like the one that was visible on his face.

I allowed those Ame-nins to get to close to me.

He stood up and went towards the nearby river, but after the few steps he took, a hand of Kosuke was found on his shoulder.

He did not address him directly, only giving him a few wise lines. "Hiruzen told me about what you discovered about the Akatsuki. I don't know why you did not tell me about it. But know that I will always have your back. No matter what. You don't need to carry everything within yourself. Remember that."

He said nothing for a moment, but in the end, he returned a sincere smile to the man that raised him. "I just didn't want to trouble others with more of my problems. That was the only reason." Aside from Jiraiya, Sandaime and Danzō, no-one else knew that it troubled him to know about the potential location of his hunter's lair, and not being able to do anything about it. The old man apparently decided to tell Kosuke about it. A small part of Naruto was angry at himself for not talking to the man about it earlier. But alas. Nothing could be done now.

"The pursuit of the truth is a noble cause, Naruto-kun. But don't let yourself away from the path of the light. Away from the path of truth." Kosuke said to him, kindly.

"Yeah..." Naruto chuckled. "It would be way too dark for me then."

"Go on and clean yourself, my boy. Me and Sasuke-san will take care of the rest."

Naruto nodded and went on his way. In silence.

As he approached the river, he began splashing water onto his face. Cleaning away the blood from his enemy. As he washed away, a reflection of his bloodied face remained in his head.

But the reflection itself wasn't the reason why his entire body and mind felt troubled by something.

He breathed deeply a few times, before looking at the flowing water again.

The feeling of anxiety was because he felt no guilt at all for killing his enemy this time. And the fact that his anxiety was slowly washed away that he was safer with them either dead or captured.

Maybe he was getting too paranoid after all. So many enemies. So many potential enemies. So many hidden enemies. But he tried to go on as if he was all alone.

"When you come to me for training or anything else, I will know you're not following their mindset of a shinobi, but the one that is imprinted in your blood."

Those were the words that Danzō said to him the last time they've met. And for the first time since then, Naruto found himself realizing what he truly meant with that. Even if there was resistance within him to that realization.

From Danzō he already learned that having pacifistic ideals will lead to nothing but more troubles whose seed would grow stronger each time than the last.

The sheer merciful attitude throughout the history of his village brought every problem he had now, on his shoulder. A heavy stone on top of his heart. And a heavy knowledge on that he could never rest easy for the rest of his life. If the Akatsuki was defeated, the other villages will continue trying to eliminate him. If the other villages are destroyed, any survivor is bound to seek a vengeance on him.

And if not him, then any children he might have someday will inherit his burden. Until nothing is left from either him or his clan.

And it all came from those who were closest to him. In either blood or bond.

...

Danzō was right. Naruto said inwardly.

His great-granduncle continuously spared Uchiha Madara, and because of that allowed him to ruin his life on the day of his birth. Senju Hashirama distributed the tailed beasts to the other villages in hopes it would create an ever-lasting peace.

It just created more wars.

It killed countless more innocents.

It placed a burden on him.

And at that moment, Naruto had come to realize why the Kyūbi hated him so much, initially. And why he held deep distrust towards him the entire time.

His godfather tried looked at beyond the boundaries of the nations, but it was all in vain. For even from the most noblest of the ideas, a monster can be born.

He splashed the water over his face one more time. The blood that marked him was gone. And with it, any trace of thought that the conflict can be resolved peacefully, and without bloodshed. Because at the end of the day, the blood of the others could be washed away. His, would forever be lost if it was spilled.

...

But what kind of blood did he mean anyway? Naruto remembered Danzō saying, mentioning it by the end of their last conversation.

Author's note:

(1) The Ohama clan is just something made-up by me here. There is no such clan in canon or the anime. I have something in mind regarding the Amegakure and the Akatsuki plot in a much earlier timeframe than the one in canon. Starting with some OC characters that will never be seen again.

(2) It's pretty much a version of a Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, but with worms. As I said in note #1, it's just a small piece for a future note.

Now. That would be it for this chapter, thank you for reading it!

This chapter I actually split in two. I believe the ending was fitting. As I did not want to jump into a new plotline and have the next chapter be a "half-prelude for the finals, and a half, the actual finals". And I didn't want to have this chapter way too large either. It's already 16.000 words. I have a large part of the next chapter already written, and I'll see to upload it in the following week, once some things are added, and the ones already written – rewritten or corrected.

As for the delay of this chapter. I was deleting many things and writing it again and again. I hope it turned out well.

And as for the first part, where the identity of Konan is already known... I have already intended it two chapters back. But the direct action won't be taken just yet. For that, I included something with the Amegakure Genins that I think would present the general attitude of the ninjas from there. One task they were given, but did they tried fulfilling it?

I have also changed the character tags. I think it would be fitting to have Danzō be one of the key characters in regard to his relations to Naruto. He'll still have an occasional presence, but I'll increase it later on.

~HyperboreanRealist