Mission Report & Slowly Mutating

Having stepped into the village after weeks away, Naruko grinned as she and her team moved through the bustling crowd. Making their way toward the Hokage Tower, once they got past the worst of it she began to explain. "They're preparing for what's called the Chunin Exams. Usually in wartime, they're an event held only for each individual nation's shinobi, but this time the Hokage has decided to gracefully invite our allies and certain neutral nations. As such, all of these people who are usually stationed elsewhere, doing business in other villages, towns, or cities, or even just outright never have done business in Konoha are coming here. All so that they can make a profit or for the Shinobi side - increase the security, but also our reputation."

"What are these Chunin Exams?" Sasuke seemed interested as his eyes gleamed.

Naruko chuckled, "It's exactly as you think - exams to become Chunin. I personally think the entire thing is a tad bit stupid. But what can you do."

"Will we be invited?" There was an unnerving ferocity in his eyes, with his fists clenching and unclenching as if he was preparing to lay a beat down on someone.

Alas, she crushed his dreams. "No. You need more C-Rank missions, alongside the fact that as strong as you and Sakura are, you're lacking in teamwork and leadership skills."

Sasuke deflated, and Sakura spoke up, "Ano... But it seems like an exam can't be the only way people are promoted to Chunin, right?"

Naruko nodded smiling proudly at Sakura. "Correct! Sai here got a field promotion after consistent reports of his capabilities, teamwork, and leadership. There was also a recommendation from a Jonin. Or, more specifically - a Hokage Advisor. Just because Sai has... interesting nicknames, doesn't mean that he can't lead a mission."

Sasuke was still very slightly slumped over at the fact he wasn't going to be joining the Chunin Exams, but he seemed to have mostly gotten over it. Yet, the curiosity in Sakura's eyes didn't go away, "So what villages exactly are coming here?" 

Naruko would glance to the sky thinking, before finally saying, "Suna representing the Land of Wind, Taki representing the Land of Jungles, Oto representing the Land of Rice Fields, and Ame representing the Land of Sto- ah screw it. Let's be honest, all of these villages rule their nations secretly." An abrupt burst of laughter escaped Sai caused Narukos grin to get a bit wider. 

Looking startled, Sakura and Sasuke looked between the two of them before it was Sakura who ended up asking, "Wait - Sensei are you saying that...?"

"Am I saying that the super-powered people that could kill every single civilian in a city silently within a few hours, without anyone knowing, secretly rule their countries? Yeah, I am. Just don't go spreading that around, I only said it because all of the civilians you still see around us are actually ninjas in disguise." She got multiple funny looks, and a few people sighed.

"Damn Jonin, why do they always gotta point out the little guys..." A giggle escaped from Naruko as she continued walking towards the Hokage Tower.

"Ignore them. They know they aren't hiding that well yet. They'll step it up when it gets closer to the time of the Chunin Exams." With that said, the conversation died off as they soon ended up in front of the Hokage Tower. "Right, now remember - quick succinct, but leaving in important details."

-Twenty minutes later-

Leaning against the wall, she tracked her students as they left the office, before when the door finally closed she pushed herself off the wall and sauntering forward towards Gramps desk. "As the only one who actually knows what happened, can you tell me what really happened?"

Naruko's lips quirked up and after a movement, she nodded before plopping down into a chair. "You talking about me passing out and having nerve damage, Tsunade's report on my cells changing, or how I managed to create ten clones that all could use Rasenshuriken without tapping into Kyu-chan's chakra?"

"Yes."

Sighing at the short response she leaned back and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before groaning. "Alright, from the top of it. That Yuki clan member's chakra was obvious as all hell, but what wasn't obvious was that I sensed a familiar feeling from it - something I've only felt when practicing Hirashin for brief moments. I suspected from that moment that the Yuki clan member was some kind of teleporter, or in the opposite vein - had some kind of time manipulation. I'm still not sure what those Ice Mirrors do, but it's not both. So, the second I sensed that - I knew I had to take the fight seriously, but I had made a deal to not use Kyu-chan's chakra unless against another Jinchuriki or certain people.

So - I went with the nuclear option. My clones formed the Rasengan, and I stabilized each individual one before adding the wind chakra. But while doing so, I used a scroll twice that contained the entirety of my reserves, effectively temporarily tripling my chakra capacity - but at the cost of well, rapidly shoving more chakra into even my pinky, than most people have in their entire body. But that wasn't enough - after all, what if the teleporter had somehow blocked it? So, I pulled in chakra from, well - Dad's scroll said not to tell anyone from where. But needless to say, it was like a bastardized Senjutsu, except - really fucking painful. As for my cells rapidly mutating..." she shrugged. "I honestly couldn't tell you what exactly is happening, besides the fact that my chakra reserves seem to be steadily increasing, and my body feels a bit itchy."

Gramps leaned back into his chair and stared at her for a long while before eventually the shadows in the room began to bubble, and out of nowhere came Danzo Shimura, scarred-chin, black hair, and one hand wrapped in bandages like always. "The only time she lied was when she mentioned it was Minato's scroll that said not to mention it. Impressive, if she lied any other time I couldn't catch it." His tone was dry, bland, and uncaring. 'Shit. How does he keep avoiding my senses?!?' "Do you need anything else Hiruzen?"

Still keeping his eyes on her he'd shake his head. "No, you're good to leave old friend." Danzo let out a huff before sinking into the shadows again. "I'll trust your explanation. Next time you're to use the Kyuubi's chakra instead of risking potentially permanent bodily harm, am I understood?" Naruko nodded silently in response. "Good, now get ready because you're the third proctor for the Chunin Exams, dismissed."

Getting up woodenly, she left the office. 'Damn, he's really pissed off. I get it, yeesh. But I made a promise to not use Kura-chan's chakra damn it! Now everyone including Kura-chan is making me break that promise.' Letting out a sigh she descended the stairs of the Hokage Tower.

-Training Ground, an unspecified amount of days later-

Stood in the middle of the training ground eyes closed, Naruko calmly breathed in and out. Her Mind's Eye of Kagura was closed, and yet... 'I sense you!' Blue eyes snapped open and in a singular movement she stepped forward ducking beneath a flying kick, grabbing the leg of her clone, and slamming her into the ground.

Twirling on the foot she stepped forward raising up her elbow, so that it directly hit the face of another clone. 'It's so easy.' Her eyes began to slightly glow as she fought off each of her clones with a sickening ease. 'Slow. Weak. Predictable.' 

A Rasengan instantly formed in her hand that she then slammed into the stomach of a clone, with a POP! Smoke filled the area. 'The speed of my Rasengan forming is so much faster as well. It truly is working! Just like I thought, constantly sharing blood and chakra will make the both of us slowly awaken our ancient DNA, much like the Otsutsuki using the Chakra Fruit to optimize their own. Me being Kurama's Jinchuriki, my chakra regenerating faster, and having titanically larger reserves is just making it far more obvious than Sasuke.'

She didn't even look, her fist just instinctively lashed out, clotheslining the final oncoming clone. 'Every day I naturally get ever-so-slightly stronger, faster, and have more chakra. But the question is... when will this change stop?'