naruto ch 03

Chapter 03

 

 

Naruto sighed as he entered training ground seven munching on a field ration bar, he was on edge, barely keeping control of his temper from having to eat the field rations instead of the wonderful meals his parents had prepared for him. He had been saving those meals for special occasions and had planned to make a feast of all his mother’s favorite foods for a successful escape and start to a new life, but certain interfering old coots messed up his plans.

“NARUTO WHAT ARE YOU DOING…KAKASHI-SENSEI TOLD US NOT TO EAT,” Sakura was furious as she noticed dead last walk into the clearing eating a ration bar several hours late. Narrowing her eyes in anger, Naruto had been not only cold and vengeful during the introductions he had been downright rude on top of it. Winding up her arm to punch his lights out she screamed, “SHUT IT BAKA!!”

Casually reaching up and capturing her hand, Naruto inwardly smirked at Sasake’s surprised expression before letting out a lot of the past few days’ worth of frustration as he squeezed her wrist painfully. Satisfied with her wince of pain he pulled her towards him and growled out, “NO MORE, I will not allow you to attack me anymore. This is you last and only warning, if you attack me you best make sure I am truly dead or I will find you and slit your throat, most likely while you are sleeping.” Releasing her wrist Naruto glared hatefully at the bitch before finishing his breakfast; if you could call it that he looked at the end of the bar in disgust.

Sasuke’s eyes widened in wonder and worry as he watched the Dobe deal with the screaming fan-girl as if he was swatting a fly. ‘Just how powerful are you Naruto?’ he thought as he tried to come to terms with this new Naruto.

Appearing in a puff of smoke Kakashi grinned at his team, noticing the tense atmosphere he narrowed his eyes as he watched the blond pop the last of a ration bar in his mouth, “I thought I told you not to eat anything so you don’t puke Naruto.”

“Whatever,” Naruto waved a hand lazily without looking at him.

Frowning in annoyance Kakashi took in the team dynamics with a trained eye. Noticing the pink haired girl, Sakura wincing and rubbing her wrist and the constant alert side glances from the Uchiha towards the third member of his team he had to wonder what happened, at this rate someone was going to die if things did not get any better. “Yo…”

Eyes widening slightly when he didn’t even get acknowledged Kakashi held up the two bells by their strings. “You have two hours to each take one of the bells from me. If you don’t come at me with the intent of killing me you will fail. If after two hours you don’t get a bell you will fail. If you fail you will be sent back to the Academy for another year.”

“B…But Sensei,” Sakura mumbled as she looked at the two bells, “there are only two bells and three of us.”

Nodding his head as he watched Naruto’s face, “Which means one of you is going to fail and end up back at the Academy.” Seeing the gleeful smirk on the blonds face Kakashi stiffened, it seems Hokage-sama was right, Naruto planned to fail. “GO…”

Narrowing his eyes in anger as he watched Naruto refuse to move as his other teammates jumped back into the trees, “NARUTO…Just why are you sitting there like that?” You really do want to fail don’t you Naruto, Kakashi frowned.

“Heh,” Naruto rubbed the back of his neck and grinned, “That’s okay Kakashi Sensei you can give the other two the bells. I don’t mind going back to the academy so they can be Shinobi of the Leaf.”

Groaning as he let the bells slip from his fingers Kakashi felt like slapping his face, Sandaime was right, Naruto wanted to fail. The real question was why, maybe he could get something out of the blond, “So you are willing to live up to the name of dead last. You’re willing to fail without even trying…your parents would be ashamed of you.” Got you Kakashi smirked as he felt the killing intent roll of the blond.

“So you think my parents would be ashamed of me Baka-Sensei,” Naruto growled out before as he controlled his temper, after all he did not want to fight the Jonin, he wanted to fail the test. “Shows how much you truly knew my parents then…Idiot.” Standing up and brushing the dirt off of his hideous jumpsuit Naruto glanced at the three training posts and smirked when he saw they were in a triangle pattern. Ignoring the Jonin he made his way to the posts, pulling three small scrolls out of his pouch as he went. A quick glance over his shoulder to see if he was being followed Naruto grinned as he stuck the scrolls to the posts before activating the sealing technique inscribed on them. Sitting down he took out the letter he had received late last night from Shugo, he didn’t have a chance to read it yet but since he had nothing to do for a couple of hours he could take the time to read it and form a reply.

Kakashi was floored; he had never been totally ignored like he had just been. It was if Naruto did not consider him significant in anyway shape or form. Sensing movement he ducked under several shuriken seems Sasuke was getting impatient. Might as well not keep him waiting any longer, with that thought he leapt towards the tree’s with most of his mind trying to figure out what was up with Naruto.

 

An hour and forty five minutes later Kakashi finally had enough, walking towards the posts with the unconscious Sakura in his arms he reached out towards one of the posts only to pull back his hand as a purple glow appeared boxing Naruto in. Eyebrow rising as he put his burden down on the ground before reaching towards the posts again, this time he did not stop at the warning glow, only to jump back as a burst of lightening jumped between the posts and brushed past his hand.

Naruto looked up from sealing his response to his friend, smiling at the shocked look on the Jonin’s face. Securing his writing supplies in his pouch he sat back to enjoy the show.

Kakashi frowned as he looked at the grinning blond Genin, lifting the corner of his Hitate revealing the Sharingan.  Seeing small pulses fly back and forth between the seals he reached down and pulled a Shuriken out of his pouch and let it fly towards the post, only to be surprised to see a flash as one of the small dots on the seal activated and another bolt of lightning was released hitting his Shuriken. Examining the half melted Shuriken he raised both eyebrows in wonder as he hid his eye by pulling the corner of his Hitate back down, “Naruto…What in the world is this?”

Grinning Naruto stood up and stretched as Sasuke came stumbling out of the forest, not wanting to get into a long explanation while the stuck up bastard was around he shrugged as he deactivated the defense and started to roll of the scrolls. “Just a simple intruder alarm, nothing special.”

Kakashi stared at the blond for several moments as Sasuke stumbled to the group and fell down next to Sakura who was just waking up. “Pitiful…the bunch of you were abysmal in your performance.” Glancing at the young pink haired girl, “Sakura not only fell into one of the simplest Genjutsu that could be used before passing out, she came across her trapped teammate and once again became useless instead of freeing her trapped teammate she fainted. If this was a mission she would have ended up dead, twice.”

Glaring at the cringing young Shinobi he turned his attention to the brooding wonder, “Let’s not mention the overconfidence of mister I come from a powerful clan so I have to do everything by myself.” Gazing up at the sky as he sighed, Kakashi wanted this over with, he had information the Hokage really needed to know about. “If it was not for the fact that Naruto selflessly told me in the beginning to give both of you the bells, thus failing the test himself so the two of you would pass I would fail all three of you and send you back to the Academy. As it is all three of you pass…Meet me at the Hokage tower at eight tomorrow morning for your first mission.”

Before he had a chance to puff out in a cloud of smoke Kakashi he was shocked when he felt wind whip past his head and heard a thunk coming from the post behind him. Ignoring the blond walking away cussing up a storm he looked over his shoulder to see a Kunai embedded all the way to the ring in the post.

 

 

Two weeks later team seven approached the Hokage tower to get another D-Rank mission when Naruto blew up causing his teammates to step back in fear, “ENOUGH…I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!” slamming his hands down on the table he glared at the old man, the Third Hokage of village hidden in the leaf. “NO MORE, I am tired of stupid D-Rank missions. I want a C-Rank or we’re leaving.”

Iruka was stunned then livid, “How dare you…Naruto…” taking a deep breath he calmed down, “D-Rank missions are the life blood of young Genin teams, designed to promote teamwork in the safety of the village walls until your Jonin Sensei  feels your ready.” Looking at Naruto who had not stopped staring directly into the Thirds eyes he decided to make a dig, ‘Surely you didn’t sleep through that lecture too!”

Eyes ensnared with Naruto’s Sarutobi sighed as he sat back in his chair, tilting his head so his hat hid his face, “Very well Naruto.” Reaching over into the stack of scrolls he pulled one out and handed it over, “Your mission is to escort Tazuna the bridge builder back to his home in wave so he can finish off the bridge he is building. After you return we shall talk and if you are honest with me I shall allow what you wish to happen without a fight.”

“Hokage-sama,” Iruka jumped to his feet to protest, “You…You can’t mean to let them bypass…”

Waving the man silent Sandaime Hokage slumped in his chair in defeat, he had failed Minato and now there was nothing left to do but hope in time Naruto would one day want to come back and learn of his family, “You have your mission, I will see you in two weeks.”

Once they were gone Iruka rounded on the Hokage, “It’s not my place to question your judgment…but what just happened?”

Sighing as his eyes followed the foursome as they went towards the customer lounge, “Naruto for some odd reason was planning on failing the Genin exam for the third time. Something has happened to make him want to leave the place of his birth as soon as possible and when that Root Anbu threatened him he showed his true strength for the first time.” Shuddering at the image of the headless torso with a large hole in the chest he turned to face the flabbergasted teacher, “And I would rather let him leave without a fight than have him decide that he truly hates all of us and fights his way out of the village.” Mumbling as he took his viewing globe out of the desk drawer and focused it on team seven he mumbled out, “I had hoped his yearning for knowing his family would override the villagers hatred, but it seems I was wrong.”

Knowing the last was not really meant for him Iruka sit back and tried to piece together er more pieces of the puzzle, at least this time the pieces were the right shape.

 

 

Sasuke walked next to Sakura in front of their client Tazuna, Naruto was taking the point with Kakashi-sensei bringing up the rear. He was lost in thought trying to figure out the enigma that was Naruto, so far he had decided that he was not who or what he seemed to be. In fact he was almost positive if he went up against the dead last he would be the one that would lose. Pitting Naruto against Itachi in his mind he was positive even his older brother would lose, that thought more than any at this point rankled him. The anger he was feeling over that admission left him glaring at the blonds back as they walked along the path. So much so he did not notice Naruto stare at the puddle along the side of the path before walking past it.

Several steps later he turned in surprise when he heard metal moving against metal from behind him, turning around in time he was in time to see the chain that had captured their Sensei rip him to shreds before he heard the two yell out in unison, “That’s one.”

Unfreezing Sasuke threw his Kunai intercepting the chain and lodging it into one of the tree’s behind the charging duo. Reaching for another Kunai he got ready to defend himself when all of a sudden both Shinobi went face first into the dirt with Naruto standing calmly behind them holding something small and thin in his hand.

Appearing in a puff of smoke Kakashi sighed, he should have expected Naruto to jump in head first, the problem was he did not do as expected, but the results were the same he had no idea who their target was. Sighing as he pulled some wire out of his pouch so he could tie the two up his mind finally finished reviewing the fight and he realized Naruto move almost like his old Sensei. Hesitating for a moment as that thought sunk in he dragged the two over to one of the trees and tied them securely, the question now was how to find out what he needed to know and if it involved their mission. Gaze locked with the nervous bridge builder he had an inkling that the two demon brothers were not after him or one of his team, they must have been after the bridge builder. Moving away from the two to go confront Tazuna he missed Naruto kneeling down next to the two and pulling a small rolled up pouch from his pocket.

 

Naruto was annoyed; those two were at least Chunin level and he needed answers. Spotting one of the attacks coming around he smirked as he pulled out one of the drugged Senbon needles and tilted the head of the other one, needle hovering above the nerve junction in the one ninja’s neck. Once the Shinobi opened his eyes fully and focused on Naruto he shoved the Senbon into the nerve junction, letting the drug do its work suppressing the missing-nin’s chakra. “Well that went as smoothly as the first time I did it, I must have the skill down to an adequate level. Now you are going to tell me who your target was and who hired you.”

Kakashi turned and froze as he watched Naruto jab the Senbon needle into the missing-nin’s neck, shivers traveled up and down his spine as he saw strange exploding tags be pulled out of the pouch along with a coil of wire. “Naruto leave them for our roving patrol to pick up, they’re not going to be going anywhere.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” Naruto glanced over his shoulder as he slapped four of his reactive tags equally around the missing-nin’s head before cutting a large hole in his shirt. “They have information we need to complete our mission. And I am going to get it.” Attaching the wires to a small bead with a seal on it Naruto calmly looked over at the angry ninja, “I have yet to try this type of reactive tag. After all the first time I used a set of these showed more than I could possibly hoped for, I spent a long time in creating these from the prototype and am looking forward to tying out this second type of advanced reactive tag.”

Sitting back on his heals as he eyed up his work with a nod of satisfaction, “If I were you I would start talking…Oh before I forget you might want to start repressing your chakra, once I put the reactive tag on your chest and hook you up to your partner that is the only thing that will keep the tags from firing.”

“BASTARD…” the missing-nin yelled out as he tried to fight the wire tying him to the tree before finding he was well and truly caught. Spitting at Naruto he tried to fight some more as he felt the Kunai rip through his shirt exposing his chest. “hurt my brother and I will kill you slowly….when I get out of here I’m going to track you down and kill all of you.” Spitting towards Kakashi he grinned when he saw the fear in the young girl’s eyes, “I’ll enjoy tasting your flesh and delights before splitting your throat pinkie.”

“Actually my parents were married,” looking over his shoulder at the trembling Sakura he ignored her as he slapped the tag onto the prisoners skin before hooking the wire up to it and snapping the other end into the small seal with the rest of the wires. Brushing off his pouch as he rolled it up tightly before slipping it into his thigh pocket Naruto stood up and looked at his handiwork before channeling some Chakra into the seal. “Well it’s up to you now. You can either tell me what I want to know or you can take the chance that you can keep your Chakra suppressed until someone rescues you.”

“Keep in mind though that I am the only one who has ever seen this type of tag before, and the only one that knows how to deactivate the setup I used on the two of you.” Naruto looked at him calmly, Shinobi mask firmly in place, “It really makes no difference to me in the long run, you either cooperate and I tell you more about the tags in the hopes I might tell you how to disarm the system, or you get angry or lose control of your chakra suppression and your brother loses his head and heart. Of course the fact the tag over your heart will take you out three seconds later will not be much comfort,” Naruto shrugged his shoulders, “But in the end you both will end up dead. You going long enough after your brother to know deep down you caused his death, he died by your hand alone.” Stepping back as the nuke-nin started to sweet freely he glanced sideways watching the expression on Tazuna’s face, ‘he knows more than he is telling us’.

Sakura tried to wrap her mind around the Naruto in front of her and the Naruto she had spent the past five years in school with, this one was nothing like the one she knew, “How can you be so cold hearted.” Taking a big breath she glared at him, “What you are doing is WRONG.”

“Wrong?” Naruto cocked his head to the side as he stepped towards her, “I thought you went through the same classes as I did. You know a Shinobi…A ninja is a cold calculating killer.”

“No…”shaking her head Sakura denied it, “No your wrong.”

“Really,” Naruto grinned, “Then you must have missed that part of the class then, maybe because you were daydreaming about things that belong in the bedroom.”

“I…” looking around frantically at Sasuke-kun and Kakashi-sensei she slumped in defeat when she saw both were not denying Naruto’s harsh words. “Why? Why are you being like this?”

Naruto looked at her in surprise before glaring at her, like one would a child that spilt milk and denied it was them even with the container in their hands, “Surely you were not as clueless as the rest of the moron’s in class. You do know a Shinobi is supposed to keep secrets, too don an aura totally opposite of what they truly are so your enemy will underestimate or come to the wrong conclusions about you.”

“Is that what we are Naruto? Are we…Has the village become your enemy then,” Kakashi asked saddened by the young blonds war weary attitude.

“Not yet,” Naruto glanced at Kakashi with a neutral expression on his face, “Even though the assassination attempts are down so far this year, only thirty seven so far. I am smart enough to know when it is time to leave before the contempt I feel turns to hate.” Turning to face the prisoners who were struggling as the one tried to also listen in, “the worst part of the whole thing is the assassination attempts have and are being done by the very villagers I as a Shinobi of the leaf is supposed to protect with my life if need be.”

“What are you talking about? What assassination attempts Dobe?” Sasuke scowled as he stared at dead last.

Not bothering to look at him Kakashi snapped out, “Be quiet Sasuke, he is right, well if I was in his place I probably would consider them assassination attempts to. So where do we go from here Naruto?”

“From here?” Naruto looked at their client, “Well, since the only way I can resign being a Shinobi of the leaf is to complete one C-Level mission I think Tazuna owes us an explanation of why two missing-nin tried to kill him, and maybe the name of the person behind the whole thing.”

Ashamed and staring at the ground Tazuna felt like a heel, “His name is Gato, he is the multi-millionaire business man that is slowly turning my country into slaves. Everyone that does not bow down to him ends up dead.” Looking up at Naruto as he had proved he was the one in charge here, “My country is on their last legs, we could only scrape enough money together to pay for a C-Class mission…So I lied so we could get help.” standing up straight he looked into Naruto’s eyes without flinching, “I am prepared to pay for my deceit, as long as the bridge gets completed freeing my country I will gladly pay whatever price you deem necessary for lying to you.”

“I see…” Naruto closed his eyes as he walked towards the group, “Why did you not pay for what you could now and the rest later after your country got back on its feet. I know the Fourth put in place a law allowing it on missions of mercy.”

Stunned, Tazuna took several steps back, “What do you mean? The council informed us that all payment for missions had to be made up front…NO exceptions.”

Rubbing his face Naruto glared at the ground, “You see Kakashi, the council subverts the laws the Hokage put in place. So tell me do you still think I am wrong to leave?”

“Of course you are,” Sakura screamed out as she stepped back suddenly when Naruto snapped his head around to glare at her. “Even if I believed you about the attempts on your life, this is your home and you are worse than trash to abandon your friends and teammates.”

Kakashi winced in pain as he glanced at Naruto who started to walk away, even he knew better than to voice that comment.

“You know nothing about me Sakura. All you know is the mask I showed the world. After all if the village knew what I was truly capable of the pitiful attacks might have been more planned out and stronger. To the point they might have even created a mission for a missing-nin or another village.” Naruto pointed towards their client, “Walk with me and explain everything, we’ve spent enough time standing around.”

“What about them?” Sakura pointed to the tied up ninja, “Are you going to undo your trap?”

About that time one of the demon brothers lost his fight to suppress his chakra and a loud humming followed by a thunder crack filled the clearing.

Smiling in anticipation of scaring Sakura who looked horrified and more than a little green, even Sasuke looked pale, “There is no need now. After all they were the enemy.”

Staring at the grisly remains Kakashi was reminded of the Root Anbu that had a run in with Naruto, snapping his fingers to get the two’s attention and pointing towards the road he started to walk behind Naruto, listening in as their client explained what was going on in Wave Country.

Sasuke was not sure what to make of Naruto. For so long his world was perfect. All he needed to know was that he was the strongest and well on the road to fulfilling his destiny of avenging his clan. Now though as the jealous feelings coursed through him, he had no idea. He had to wonder how many others of his classmates were doing the same as Naruto, hiding their true strengths. He was an Uchiha, so that meant he was the best of the best…right.

Finally an hour later he still was unsettled, “Hey, Naruto…how could a no name orphan like you be so strong?”

Kakashi winced as he slapped his face, could the fool be so stupid as to antagonize someone that had to be Anbu level at least if not higher.

Coming out of his half meditative state that he was using to keep his Shinobi mask firmly in place Naruto shook his head at the idiot, and they called him a Baka. “Point one; I do have a name and clan. If you are so stupid as to not research things then it’s not my place to fill in the gaps so you are not as ignorant. And point two,” he looked over his shoulder blue eyes turning icy. “You allow your arrogance to blind you to the truth around you. Instead of being at the top of the class in strength and power you are near the middle.”

Chuckling Sasuke shook his head, “Dream on Dobe. There is and never has been a Clan in Konoha by the name of Uzumaki. So stop deluding yourself.”

Glancing at Kakashi with a questioning look Naruto shook his head, “He really is an idiot isn’t he.” Stopping so he could face the idiot he snorted, “I don’t believe I sais my clan was ever part of Konoha, now did I.” seeing the slightest bit of confusion in Sasuke's eyes he grinned, “Have you ever spent time in the Shinobi library, back in the history stacks where no one ever goes?”

Confused Sasuke glared with a huff as he crossed his arms, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“If you had like I did when I was younger, you would have found clan history’s of most of the Shinobi clans  of the elemental nations and surrounding countries,” Naruto grinned, “there was even scrolls with histories of how the clans in Konoha found their way here and all about their bloodlines.” Turning away and walking along the path he grinned evilly, this was going to be fun he thought.

“Wait a minute,” Sasuke ran to catch up so he could walk in front of Naruto backwards so he could watch his face, “What do you mean there are scrolls from my family in the Shinobi Library?”

“Was…” Naruto grinned, “I said there were scrolls there covering all the clans of the elemental nations and those that moved to Konoha.” Tapping his chin as if in thought he grinned, “They are not there anymore, I did leave a few general history ones on all the clans including mine. But the real treasure trove was the secret vault that had each of the clans and bloodlines abilities and weaknesses spelled out.”

“WHAT??” Sasuke glared in surprise and anger.

“Don’t worry about it,” Naruto smiled, “I removed all those scrolls to a safer spot year’s ago, after all I did not want any speculation on my family’s bloodline to ever get out.”

Kakashi blinked as he filed that away, Naruto was being very forthcoming, in fact he had learned more in the half day of traveling than he had in six years, “Naruto, as far as I knew your father did not have a bloodline, nor did you mother.”

Grinning as they found a spot to stop for the night, “Well I am willing to tell you about my father’s bloodline, it’s not like I could erase all record of it. My father’s bloodline involved rapid healing; in fact an almost instinctual cellular healing is what his letter said. And after a lot of practice I am able to push my chakra towards the injury to speed up the healing to a fantastic rate.” Setting his bedroll off to one side, between several tree’s along the side of the path, “As far as my mother’s bloodline, well that secret will never get out to those I don’t implicitly trust, it’s too dangerous.”

“What a stupid bloodline,” Sasuke scoffed only to go silent at the glare he received from Naruto and Kakashi, he was hard pressed to decide which intimidated him more.

“Not all bloodlines are flashy and all about battle,” Naruto glared at the idiot boy. “I would rather have the healing ability from my family than those flashy eyes that can copy what they can see. After all if I can heal injuries that would take a normal person out of a fight in minutes and still be able to battle I would be more useful than using my chakra reserves to copy Jutsu or moves and stay injured.”