Bang…
Kaito slams in a nearby tree and falls.
Augh…
He spits out some saliva as he angrily stares at Naruto.
"You bastard… I won't let this slide."
Kaito uses his fan to support himself.
"Here."
He takes out the Heaven and Earth scroll and throws them towards Naruto.
"You want this, right? You can have them."
Naruto catches the scrolls and throws them towards Sasuke. He grabs Kaito's collar and questions him.
"Why did you try to kill them? It is just an exam. Why would treat them like a dog and then let them escape only to attack their back even though you had the upper hand? Tell me why?"
Fwish…
Kaito swipes away Naruto's hand as he stares him in the eyes.
"Shut up, you fool. It's not your matter whether they live or die."
Kaito slowly stands up as he struggles to balance himself.
"No… it is my matter. How could you attack them from back?"
Naruto stops Kaito.
"I said SHUT THE FUCK UP," Kaito yells at Naruto.
He turns towards him.
"You don't understand the way of shinobi. The shinobi world is a place meant only for powerful people. The weak and feeble people have no right to share the same land as the strong ones. This chunnin exam is a test of the same. It tests your strength and survival skills. Weak people are nothing but fodder for the strong."
"WHY YOU?..."
Naruto clutches his fists tightly.
"Even so... You don't have any right to attack their back. You could easily finish them upfront; why would you attack their back?"
Naruto yells at Kaito.
"Shut up… you know nothing. These Kiri bastards backstabed my sister when she went to Kiri for the peace treaty. Back then I swore to myself, I will take revenge for her. I won't allow any Kiri shinobi who crosses my path to live anymore. I will bring justice to my sister."
He pushes away Naruto and walks away.
Crunch… crunch… crunch…
Kaito crushes gravel under his footsteps as he ignores Naruto.
"Why? Why would you do so? Doing such a thing won't bring your sister back. If your justice is exacting vengeance on Kiri, then your justice will only bring more vengeance. It will only create a never-ending cycle of hatred."
Crunch…
Kaito stops in his footsteps and remarks.
"You talk too much. Peace was never an option. It was those same preachers of the peace who killed my sister. Tell me, do you think they won't do the same to others? Tell me, what if someday one of your loved ones dies in the same exact manner; would you exact revenge for them?"
"I… I…" Naruto stutters as he is lost for an answer.
"You can't tell, right? So, stop bothering me… I will do whatever I see fit."
Kaito holds his teammates and ambles away.
"It's alright, Naruto." Sasuke pats Naruto's shoulder.
"But… but…" Naruto tries to argue.
'Naruto… this is the life of a shinobi. This is the harsh cold truth of the world.'
Shisui stares at Naruto as he remarks to himself.
'Nii-san told me that Naruto has plot armor. He will always pull through everything. I don't know what it means, but I trust Nii-san and I trust Naruto's capabilities. I have trained him for nothing. He will be fine.'
"Anyway… Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun. We got the scrolls."
Sakura inspects the scroll.
"Now what?" Naruto turns towards Sasuke.
"Now we would have to just reach the center of the Forest of Death and that's it." Sasuke enters deeper into the forest.
"Wait for me." Naruto and Sakura follow him.
Whoosh… Whoosh…
They move through the forest for an hour as a giant tower appears in their vision. There are several chunnins guarding the tower.
"We have made it there. It took us four hours to reach this place." Sasuke looks around.
"Now what? We somehow made it here." Naruto asks him.
This means we cleared the second stage. Let's return to the village." Sasuke nods his head.
"Hold up… I want to see what's in these scrolls." Naruto waves the scrolls at Sasuke.
"Go ahead. I am also curious to know what is written in these scrolls." Sasuke and Sakura curiously stare at scrolls.
Whoosh…
Naruto unfurls both of the scrolls and lays them on the ground.
Swoosh… swoosh…
A fuinjutsu seal appears in the scroll as the seal spreads on the scrolls.
Poof…
A white puff of smoke appears on top of the seal.
"A Summoning Formula."
Sasuke stares at the white smoke.
"What would it summon?" Naruto questions.
"Congratulations! You have passed the second stage of the chunnin exam."
The smoke disperses to reveal Kakashi.
"Huh!" Sasuke's, Naruto's and Sakura's eyes widen in surprise.
"Huh!"
Kakashi also stares at the group in disbelief.
"Huh!"
All four of them tilt their head in confusion.
"Oh shit! I almost forgot about that." Shisui stares at the group from a distance.
"You three?... what are you doing here?" Kakashi angrily questions them.
"This area is off-limits for genins, even chunnins need permission to enter this area. What are you bunch doing out here? With the chunnin exams summoning scrolls no less."
Kakashi taps his foot on the ground as he glares at the group.
"We… we…" The group is at a loss for words.
"I won't hear any excuses. Just give me an honest answer." Kakashi riles up his chakra to pressure the group.
"Kakashi Sensei… we were just training nearby." Naruto scratches his head and smiles.
"That terrible of an excuse won't work on me, Naruto. This is a serious affair. The chunnin exams are no joke. Several other nations are involved in this matter." Kakashi twists Naruto's ear.
Ouch… ouch…
"Sorry, Kakashi-Sensei. We were just bored with all the D-rank missions; there was nothing better to do. So, we just thought about taking a peek at the chunnin exam." Naruto discloses everything.
"Just a peek... you say, when you almost cleared the second stage. I will deal with you later. Also…"
Kakashi raises his head and stares at a tree.
"How long are you going to hide and watch this drama unfold? I have questions for you too."
Whoosh…
Shisui flickers in front of Kakashi and scratches his forehead.
"You found me out."
"Of course, I was the former leader of your Anbu team. I might have left the anbu, but the skills are still there?" Kakashi remarks.
"So… what's this all about? Why didn't you stop them? I want to hear the truth." Kakashi folds his hands.
"Well… it was Izuna Nii-san's plan. Earlier, he noticed Sasuke and the group snooping around the academy, eavesdropping on the location of the second phase of the chunnin exam. Nii-san figured out their intention and sent me to follow them. If these bunches were to behave recklessly and create some problem, I would have to step in to stop them." Shisui reveals everything.
"So… Nii-san found us out?" Sasuke hangs his head.
"Of course, he would. He is the best anbu member of all time. Also, he is a sensor Ninja; his perception is very high. Do you guys honestly thought you could go unnoticed from his eyes?" Kakashi rebukes them.
"All matter aside, I will still punish you for breaking the rules. You three would be grounded for the next month. No more missions for anyone of you." Kakashi harshly chides them.
"But… but… Kakashi sensei…" Naruto complains.
"No buts. Any more words and the duration would be extended."
"…"
Naruto immediately shuts his mouth.
"Shisui… lead them out of the Forest and inform Hokage-sama about this. The exam must continue."
"Yes." Shisui nods his head.
Poof…
Kakashi disappears in a puff of smoke.
"Shisui Nii-san!" Naruto stares at Shisui with puppy eyes.
"No…" Shisui drags Naruto away as Sasuke and Sakura follow him.
"Still… you guys did very well. I am impressed by your skills." Shisui praises them.
"Of course, we have trained hard under you and Izuna Nii-san. This little bit of exam is not a problem." Naruto smugly pinches his nose.
"Naruto… you might have the skills of a Ninja but you still don't have the mindset of one," Shisui instructs Naruto.
"The world is too vast and everyone has their ideals. It is good to guide people towards the correct path but don't try to enforce your ideals on others. Every person has their own path to choose from. All of us have to make choices at one point or another. What you did today may be correct from a moral viewpoint, but as a shinobi, it can turn into a weakness that your opponents might take advantage of?
Listen, Naruto… by sparing your enemies, you might save a life, but you are jeopardizing the safety of your friends and family. Today's situation might not be an ideal example, but it is still a lesson you need to learn as a shinobi."
Sasuke and Naruto listen silently as Naruto clutches his fists.
"But what he did today was not correct?"
"Yes… it might not be correct, but it is a fact that only strength rules over everything. Konoha is strong, and it is because of this factor that other nations fear us and hesitate to invade us despite our resources. There is no such thing as true peace."
Shisui and the group flicker through the Forest.
"If there is such a thing as true peace, then I will find it. Dattebyo!"
Naruto has a serious expression on his face as he clutches his fists with firm resolution.
A ray of sunlight seeps through the darkness of the Forest of Death and brightly shines on Naruto.
Shisui stares at Naruto with wide-eyes as a smile appears on his face.
'Naruto… Nii-san believes in you. I will also put my belief in you.'
Shisui shakes his head and speeds up.
"Let's go. We have yet to decide a punishment for you all.'
"…"
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A/N:- Sorry for being a bit late today. I had an exam today; so I took some time off to prepare.
--------------
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
The day of the final phase of the chunnin exam neared in.
At the border of Land of Fire,
Rasa moves together with his subordinates. This is the place marked by Orochimaru.
Rasa patiently waits for Orochimaru's arrival.
"Kazekage-sama… is this your final decision?" Baki questions him.
"What needs to be done has to be done! We have no choice. This is the only way for Suna to survive." Rasa resolutely clenches his fists.
"Your wish is my order, Kazekage-sama." Baki nods his head.
"But we can't trust Orochimaru. He is a sly snake who can backstab us any moment." Baki warns him.
"I know. I have made necessary arrangements in case that happens." Rasa nods his head.
Rustle… rustle…
The sound of footsteps crushing gravel and sand falls in their ear.
Rasa and the group turn towards the sound and notice Orochimaru walking towards them.
Rustle… Rustle…
Orochimaru stops in front of Rasa.
"So… Lord Kazekage… are your preparations ready?"
"We are all set on our side. How are the preparations on your side?" Rasa nods his head.
"My spy has already infiltrated Konoha. With just a signal of mine; everything will be set in motion." Orochimaru licks his lips.
"I cannot enter Konoha without being detected, but that doesn't mean I won't lend a hand. Once the attack starts, I will deploy my summons to assist you in the battle. Till then, I will wait outside Konoha, ready for your signal."
"Very well… you can join my forces hiding outside Konoha," Rasa explains to Orochimaru.
"Lord Kazekage, I am impressed by your resourcefulness. Being able to spread false rumors and distract the border forces of Konoha to sneakily traffic your own man. That's such an impressive feat."
Orochimaru curiously stares at Rasa.
"I just happen to know the right person who could do the job for me." Rasa shrugs his shoulder.
"Very well… we will take our leave then."
Rasa nods his head and prepares to retreat.
"Oh! I almost forgot about it." Orochimaru stops Rasa.
Rasa turns around and stares in confusion.
Orochimaru points towards the cloaked figure.
"He is the person whom we talked about."
"Who?"
Rasa notices the man cloaked in black beside Orochimaru.
'Strange… I can't even feel his presence at all. It is almost like he isn't even here.'
He scrutinizes the cloaked figure. Rasa tries to peer through the figure to see his appearance, but fails to do so.
"It is a pleasure to meet you."
Rasa extends his hand towards the figure as he secretly uses his gold dust to coat his hand.
"Don't bother yourself with such childish tricks. I have made a deal with Orochimaru. I will help you deal with whoever you want."
The figure slaps Rasa's hand away, dispersing all the gold dust.
Rasa feels a numbing sensation in his hand as it gets paralyzed.
'What kind of jutsu is this?' His eyes widen in surprise.
"Lord Kazekage… he will act as your retainer and bodyguard to infiltrate Konoha. I hope you are fine with it." Orochimaru proposes a plan.
"Ah… yes… yes. There is no problem." Rasa shakes his head.
"Then… we will meet later."
Orochimaru turns around and leaves as he slowly disappears from their vision.
"Let's go," Rasa orders his subordinates.
"Yes… Kazekage-sama."
The group follows after him with the cloaked figure closely walking beside Rasa.
------------------
Outside Konoha,
Izuna is resting against the wall as he waits for Kazekage's arrival.
Shisui, Itachi, Guy, and Kakashi are standing beside him.
"Are you guys ready for the contingency plan?" Izuna questions them.
"Yes, Leader… we are ready." All of them nods their head.
Sigh…
"You don't have to call me that in open. Your alternate identities are a secret."
Izuna shakes his head.
"Just address me how you usually would?"
"Nii-san… do you think that snake Orochimaru is still alive and will attack Konoha?" Itachi asks him.
"Yes, I do. That snake is like a cockroach. No matter how many times you crush him, he will just stand up and walk away like nobody's business." Izuna chuckles.
"Shisui, Itachi… both of you will engage with the anbu members of the Suna village and neutralize them as quickly as possible. You will later provide support to others."
Shisui and Itachi nod their head.
"Kakashi, Guy… you will take care of the jounins in the arena. Both of your skills are a cut above the rest of the jounins."
"I will show my YOUTH to those Suna bastards." Guy clutches his fist.
"…"
The group ignores him as Itachi raises a question.
"Nii-san, what about you? All of us are occupied with an enemy or other; who will you fight against?"
Shisui and Kakashi also curiously stare at him.
"Izuna is unarguably the strongest Ninja of our village. Even father, Jiraiya-san and Lord Third agree with it. So, who can possibly occupy Izuna and prevent him from dealing with the forces of Suna?" Kakashi states the fact.
"That's true. I am also curious to know who would be my opponent. Who can bank the confidence of Suna?" Izuna wonders.
'I have a person in my mind.'
The incident of Nine-tails freshens up in his memory as the appearance of a purple figure comes into his mind.
'No… that guy is gone for good. It can't be him, right? If it's him, then I would have to use my trump card to deal with him. I hope that won't be the case.'
Izuna shakes his head to discard such thoughts.
Hmm…
He senses multiple chakra signatures quickly approaching the village.
"They are here." Izuna signals them.
Whoosh… whoosh…
Multiple Ninjas dressed in Suna shinobi outfit stops in front of Konoha's entrance.
Izuna walks towards them as a fake smile appears on his face.
"Welcome Kazekage-sama… it is our pleasure to have you in Konoha."
Izuna politely greets him.
Kakashi, Guy, Shisui, and Itachi control their laughter as they stare at Izuna.
'This guy is such a good actor.'
Izuna notices the group as his lips twitch slightly. He ignores them and turns towards the Kazekage.
"The final exam will start tomorrow, so there is still time to relax and enjoy yourself in Konoha. We have arranged a small tour for the group. I am sure you will like the hospitality of Konoha."
"Alright! We will take you on that offer." Rasa nods his head.
Izuna leads them towards their lodgings as he secretly inspects them.
'There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with this group of shinobis. I can handle them easily.'
His vision stops on the cloaked figure as a strange feeling well within him.
'What? I wasn't able to sense this person at all.'
He tries to sense the chakra signature of the cloaked figure and fails.
'How could it be? It is almost like this person is not even present here. What kind of technique is he using to mask his presence? Let me see his guise with my Sharingan."
He secretly activates his Sharingan and inspects the cloaked figure.
"What?"
Izuna's eyes widen in surprise as he is unable to see through the cloaked figure.
'Somehow he can evade my perception.'
Izuna's expression turns tense.
"Hmm… did you say something?"
Rasa questions him.
Ahem…
Izuna clears his throat and points towards the cloaked figure.
"He is?"
"Oh! He… he is one of my bodyguards. There is nothing to worry about it. Now, I can't visit another village without some security, can I?" Rasa laughs and dodges the question.
'So, he is the person who is meant to be my opponent? I have a bad feeling about it, but at the same time, I am excited to fight and go all out. It has been a while since I last went all out. I am ready to dance.'
Izuna has mixed feelings about the cloaked figure.
The cloaked figure feels a gaze. He raises his head and notices Izuna's stare. He notices an illusion around Izuna's eyes as his eyes pierce through the illusion.
'Interesting…'
The figure murmurs to itself before completely ignoring Izuna.
Grrr….
Inside the Sin Grimoire,
Kurama growls as he stares at the cloaked figure.
"This person is bad news. I can feel it."
"What?"
Minato turns to Kurama.
"I can't sense the depth of his power, but I can feel a mix of conflicting emotions from that guy. I had never felt so much agony, pain, and suffering in one person.
On the other hand, I can feel some sinister emotions lurking in his heart."
Kurama explains to Minato.
"I just can't wrap my head around it."
"Will Izuna-kun will be alright?"
Kushina asks in worry.
"I don't know." Kurama shakes his head.
"Can you ask Sin about it?"
Kushina asks him.
"No… I can't. Sin has been in a dormant state after Izuna visited Ryuchi cave. It won't respond to me."
Tch…
Kushina bites her lips in worry.
"Izuna-kun will be alright. I am sure he is prepared for it. We have to trust in his abilities since we can't help him. Nonetheless, we must warn him about that man."
Minato assures Kushina.
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