Chapter 18 – Calm Before the Storm
One week had passed since the end of the second phase of the chunnin exams and everyone was busy training or gathering information on the adversaries. Naruto was training with his godfather Jiraya. The man was a pervert but Naruto had to admit the man was strong and keen.
Naruto didn't have much to prepare against his opponent Sasuke. He went to the academy with him and like most Uchihas Sasuke favored fire Jutsus and relied on his sharingan.
Hinata was training with Kurenai. Naruto didn't know much of what she was doing and for good reason. After all she will most likely end up facing him in the finals so she should have a few surprises in store for her blonde.
If you looked carefully you would notice that both Naruto and Hinata were facing 'clan members' so to speak. Naruto was facing Sasuke and both were sharingan wielders and Hinata was facing her cousin Neji and both were byakugan users.
Naruto remembered from the preliminaries all the details of the fights. A perk of the sharingan is that it grants de user photographic memory, that's the reason why the sharingan is able to copy jutsus. Neji and Hinata were mainly Taijutsu users with Hinata being a very good Suiton user. Fuu was a bug and Suiton user but also the Nanabi Jinchuuriki. Yugito was a fire user and very flexible at Taijutsu and also the Nibi jinchuuriki. Temari was a long range wind user so her Taijutsu should be low. Shikamaru the shadow user and, like Temari, was long range type so his Taijutsu should be his weak point. Kankuro was unknown since he didn't fight. And finally there is Gaara, the sand user and the Ichibi Jinchuuriki.
## Naruto & Hinata ##
Naruto and Hinata were lying on the couch with Hinata wrapped in Naruto's arms with her back to his chest. They were relaxing after a long day of training.
"How did training go?" - Naruto asked he asked as he caressed her hair gently.
"Good, I asked Asuma-sensei for some training on daggers and trench knifes taijutsu" - Hinata replied.
"Daggers uh. They suit you, beautiful and deadly" - Naruto said. She turned around to face him and lightly kissed him and placed her head on his chest.
"Flattery will get you nowhere" - she said and he chuckled.
"Oh come you now it's true, you are beautiful" - He said and she lightly blushed.
"By the way I need some pointers on lightning manipulation" - she said.
"Did you do the leaf exercise by making it crumble?" - Naruto asked and she nodded. "Now you need to be able to channel big amounts of raiton chakra. You can do the same with couple of rocks. Since it's harder to channel chakra through them, you need to increase the output amount until the rocks breaks" - he explained and she nodded.
"And how did your training with the pervert go?" – Hinata asked and he laughed. Naruto told her about his godfather and how he was the writer of the Icha Icha that Kakashi likes so much.
"As well as it can when you have an idiot of a godfather who is constantly distracted with his research" – Naruto said sighing. "He taught me a few Katon Jutsus it's the only nature we share." – Naruto explained.
Hinata snuggled deeper into Naruto chest. She was always amazed at the warmth he provided and she always felt safe in his presence. They rested for a few minutes until Naruto remembered something he talked about with Jiraya.
"Hey Hime?" – Naruto asked and she hummed in response. "Did you know that your mother was my godmother?" – he asked.
"Really?" – Hinata asked as she raised her head and locked eyes with him.
"According to Ero-sennin your parents were my parent's best friends. Go figure" – he said chuckling.
"I wonder what my father ever saw in Hiashi" - Naruto mused.
"You know, I think my father was never that bad." - Hinata said softly making Naruto raise an eyebrow. "I was three years old but I seem to remember him being kind to me. After my mother died he turned cold and the elders didn't help. Then I was kidnapped and the result of my abduction forced Neji's father to be killed and delivered to Kumo as payment. I think he blames me for that, if I had been stronger I wouldn't have been kidnapped." - she explained.
"It was my fault, if I had been stronger" - Hinata said tearing up. Naruto lifted her up and cleaned her tears with his hands. He hugged her and she snuggled into his chest.
"It wasn't your fault. You were six years old. No one could have expected you to defend yourself against a jonin" - Naruto explained easing her worries.
"But you managed to kill him" - she replied in a weak voice threatening to break.
"That was luck pure and simple. I had my sharingan and Kurama. Without both of those I would have been killed instantly. I think he didn't kill me because he wanted my bloodline too" - Naruto whispered to her and she slowly nodded. He continued hugging her for a few minutes and he felt her tension slowly easy up.
Hinata meant the world to him. People like Naruto, jinchuurikis, no matter where they live they grow in a world of pain, of suffering and hate. Living in a environment like this is never good much less when you are child growing up. To people like Naruto that are rarely showed any kindness or love it makes them very protective of that person since they gave them something they never had. This is the case of Naruto, Hinata was the first person to truly love him deeply and unconditionally so he is very protective of her and would anything to keep her happy and safe.
"Feeling better?" - Naruto asked while he cleaned her dried tears. She nodded and snuggled closer to him, she always found comfort and safety in him.
Suddenly there was a poof of smoke in the middle of the room where they were. After the smoke cleared it revealed to be a fox.
"Hey there Kyofu..." - Naruto said.
(FLASHBACK)
## Forest of Death ##
Team 8 just entered the gates of the forest of death getting ready to ace the exam.
"Guys wait up I want to do something" - Naruto said and flashed through hand seals. "Summoning Jutsu" - Naruto said and Kyofu appeared.
"What do you need?" - Kyofu asked.
"I need you to spy on Kabuto, something about him isn't right. His chakra levels are close to jonin and yet he flunked six times. Here..." - Naruto said and showed him a chakra card e secretly stole from Kabuto's deck. "Smell it and you will be able to find him" - Naruto said.
"I have it. I'll be going" - Kyofu said and Naruto nodded.
(END FLASHBACK)
"So what did you find out?" – Naruto asked.
"That Kabuto guy is working with Orochimaru. I found them talking in the forest of death" – Kyofu said.
"I told you he smelled of snakes" – Kurama yelled and Naruto mentally yelled.
"Figures, Kurama said he smelled like snakes." – Naruto said sighing. He would inform the hokage later. "Anything else?" – he asked.
"Yes I also heard Kabuto talking the sand jonin about some invasion during the finals" – Kyofu said and Naruto nodded. A few seconds later Naruto shot out of the couch and yelled "WHAT?"
"Keep it down" – Kyofusaid while nursing his sensitive hears.
"Are you sure you heard right?" – Naruto asked very seriously.
"Yeah I'm sure" – Kyofu said.
"What time is it?" – Naruto asked in a worry.
"It's 7 pm why?" – Hinata asked confused.
"The old man should still be in his office. We have to warn him" – Naruto said and Hinata nodded.
They both picked up their jackets and Kyofu jumped in Naruto shoulder as they left the apartment and headed towards the Hokage's Tower.
## Hokage's Tower ##
The hokage was in his office doing what he does best, paperwork. After Naruto told him the kage bushin trick the old man's life improved very much. Now he could take pleasure in what he liked to do which was drinking tea, smoking is pipe, reading his Icha Icha and walking through the village.
Suddenly the door was busted open so fast that even the hidden ANBU jumped in front of the hokage to protect him from the threat.
"For kami's sake stand down it's only Naruto-kun." – the hokage said and the ANBU retreated with shame they jumped into action without accessing the threat.
"Naruto is there a reason to why you entered my office like that?" – The hokage asked.
"Actually there is. The sand is going to invade during the finals" – Naruto quickly said.
"What?" – The hokage asked thinking he misheard Naruto.
"I said that the Sand Village will invade ours during the chunnin exam's finals" – Naruto said in a calmer tone.
"What makes you think that?" – the hokage asked with is full attention towards Naruto.
"This is Kyofu" – Naruto said pointing towards the fox in his shoulders "He' a spy fox. During the second round I summoned him to spy on Yakushi Kabuto because he had jonin level chakra reserves and yet claimed to have failed the exam six times. Kyofu found him talking to Orochimaru and yesterday found him talking to the Sand Jonin regarding the invasion that they are planning" – Naruto explained and Kyofu nodded.
"Are you sure Kyofu?" – the hokage asked in a serious tone.
"Yes Hokage-sama" – the fox replied.
"INU" – the hokage said and in front of him appeared an ANBU with the dog mask. "Summon Shikaku and Jiraya" – the hokage said.
"HAI" – the Anbu said and vanished.
"Now that you know I'll be going old man" – Naruto said and waved him off.
"No. Naruto, you and Hinata stay we may need to know anything else that Kyofu knows and you deserve to hear this since you discovered it" – the hokage said and they both nodded.
Not even 15 minutes later everyone was assembled in the hokage's office. Jiraya, Shikaku, Naruto and also Hinata.
"Welcome and sorry for calling you this quickly but the situation may be dire" – the hokage started "Naruto claims that the Sand Village will be invading during the exam's finals" – the hokage said and everyone stared eyed opened at Naruto who was feeling a bit insecure.
"That's a bold claim Naruto-san, even more since the Sand Village is our ally. What is your proof?" – Shikaku asked and Naruto explained is doubt of Kabuto and his talk with Orochimaru and Baki the sand jonin.
"Actually is plausible" – Jiraya started "According to my spy network the Wind Daimyo as been giving more missions to our country which will without doubt cripple the sand village. And if they are desperate enough they might try an invasion" – Jiraya concluded.
"What's the background on Kabuto?" – Jiraya asked.
"He's the adopted son of our chief medic. He was found in an empty battle ground a few years ago and the chief medic adopted him" – the hokage said.
"Should I capture him for interrogation?" – Jiraya asked.
"No, if he's found missing they might invade straight away without giving us time to prepare" – the hokage explained and noticed that Naruto wanted to say something but he found himself a little insecure. After all this was almost a war meeting.
"Anything you want to say Naruto-kun?" – the hokage asked and he nodded before beginning.
"Remember when I brought Rokusho Aoi?" – Naruto asked and the hokage nodded. "Well before I trapped him in the scroll I interrogated him and he said he belonged to the sound village and his Kage was Orochimaru. So isn't it possible that the Sound and Sand village formed an alliance to attack us?" – Naruto asked dropping the idea out loud.
"It's true. I've heard of a new village formed a few months ago and besides you had sound gennin competing" – Jiraya explained.
"Also, it's very strange to bring the Ichibi Jinchuuriki to participate in a chunnin exams when he's clearly mentally unstable unless you were intending to release Shukaku in the middle of the village" – Naruto said.
"Naruto is right. I've heard rumors of the sand brat. He's as unstable as it gets. It wouldn't need much for him to crack" – Jiraya said.
"So everyone agrees they will most likely invade?" – the hokage asked and everyone nodded. "Well then let's plan for it. I'll recall immediately most of our shinobi that are on missions." – the hokage said.
"What about our evacuation routes and shelters?" – the hokage asked.
"They are always prepared but we will stock some supplies just to make sure. Also we can't evacuate earlier otherwise they might suspect. Our best choice is a surprise counter-attack once they start the invasion" – Shikaku explained. "They will focus on the most important objectives like the Academy, Hospital, IT department and the ANBU station." – Shikaku continued but was interrupted by Naruto.
"I have a suggestion" – Naruto started. "I found a couple of barrier seals in my house that might serve our purpose. They can create a barrier dome around a building protecting it from damage. Also people inside can leave freely however for someone to enter, someone inside must open the barrier" – Naruto explained.
"Barrier seals?" – Jiraya asked.
"Yes, they belonged to the Uzumaki Clan. I've studied them and a chunnin can power the shield for a day. Their strength is directly related to the chakra that is powering them so a chunnin can create a barrier that will hold anything below S-Rank techniques" – Naruto explained and everyone had their jaw on the ground. The whirlpool village was the home of the Uzumaki Clan the most renowned fuuinjutsu user in the world. It took the combined effort of three villages to bring a single clan.
"Looks like there is more than meets the eye with Naruto here. Troublesome blondes" – Shikaku said.
"Very well. Jiraya I want you and Naruto to prepare the seals around our major buildings during these weeks. Be discreet" – The hokage explained and both nodded.
"Now that the evacuation plans are set what about the Shukaku?" – The hokage explained.
"I can take care of him" – Naruto said and everyone turned to stare at him.
"Come again?" – the hokage asked.
"During the finals we will face in combat. I'll defeat Sasuke no doubt about it, Gaara will definitely win against his brother. During the second round we will face each other and I can seal Shukaku tight enough so he won't be a problem" – Naruto explained.
"That is a very serious claim you are making Naruto. Are you sure you can do it?" – the hokage asked. He had no doubt that Naruto was strong and skilled but to take on a bijuu it a different matter.
"Absolutely" – Naruto said and stared at everyone in the room with his EMS glowing in its full power and gave shivers to everyone in the room. They could feel the power behind those eyes, the true power of the sharingan, the power of Uchiha Madara.
"Troublesome blondes" – Shukaku muttered. He would have asked but it would to troublesome to know.
"Since when do you have a mangekyo?" – Jiraya asked completely shocked with his godchild. He knew very well the powers behind eyes like those.
"I have it since I became gennin but I'll tell you later" – Naruto said.
"That is a very high risk you are taking" – the hokage said and thought for a moment. "I'll trust you but I will have Jiraya on standby if necessary" – the hokage explained and Naruto nodded.
"Don't worry old man. Have I ever let you down?" – Naruto asked.
"No but don't forget this is a bijuu" – the hokage said.
"So? Mine as eight more tails" – Naruto said smirking.
"Very well the early arrangements are prepared. Summon the rest of the clan heads to inform them and be discreet always." – the hokage said and Naruto and Hinata left the room. It was an interesting night.
## Kumogakure – Raikage's Office ##
The Raikage was in his office trying his best against the number one Kage enemy, paperwork. He is a tall dark-skinned man with a large muscular build, with his white hair combed back, a small moustache and beard. His face is very distinguished with pronounced cheekbones and tear troughs under his eyes, and a prominent crease across his forehead. He has pointed canines and his top lip also has a darker hue than the bottom one. The Raikage was called A and he was the son of the third Raikage who was demoted after the Hyuuga affair.
"Curse you father for leaving this paperwork nightmare for me" – A cursed in thought as he signed another mission report when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
"Enter" – the Raikage said. The door opened and a woman entered his office. Mabui was a dark-skinned young woman with green eyes. She wore very formal attire consisting of a long-sleeved, high-collared dress shirt and skirt, along with a pair of long earrings and sandals. She wore her light grey hair pulled back into a bun with two bangs that fall on either side of her face. Mabui was the Raikage's assistant in dealing with paperwork.
"Raikage-sama it appears that Yugito-san has made the finals during Konoha's Chunnin Exams" – Mabui explained.
"Excellent. Please send a letter informing the Hokage that I will attend the finals" – the Raikage said.
"Yes Raikage-sama" – Mabui replied.
"Darui, C" – the Raikage called out and in front of him dropped two shinobis.
C is a young man with short, blond hair and dark eyes. He wears a sleeveless black shirt with a one-strap-over-one-shoulder white flak jacket, forehead protector, characteristic black, elbow-length arm-guards, and the red and white Kumogakure shin-guards along with a pair of sandal
Darui is a fairly tall, dark-skinned man with a slightly bulbous nose, a lazy look in his eyes and shaggy, white hair which covers his left eye. He wears a high-collared, sleeveless uniform with loose fitting pants, bandages on his wrists and the one-strap-over-one-shoulder Flak Jacket of a Kumogakure shinobi. Darui also has stylized characters for water and lightning tattooed on his right and left shoulders respectively, denoting his chakra's nature affinities, Water Release and Lightning Release, as well as the fact that he has a kekkei genkai, the Storm Release. The tattoo on his left arm also signifies that he has inherited the Third Raikage's black lightning. These two shinobis were the Raikage's main body guards.
"We leave for the leaf village at once" – The Raikage said and jumped through the window breaking the glass during the process.
"Another window" – Mabui sighed and walked out.
"Let's go Darui" – said C as he prepared to jump through the broken window.
"This is so dull. I'll take the door and catch up to you" – Darui said and walked out.
## Konoha – Next Day ##
Jiraya was walking through the village heading towards his intending destination. If someone watched him they would see Jiraya walking calmly however inside his head Jiraya was taking every precaution to make sure he wasnt followed.
Why was he taking precaution you might ask. The answer is rather simple, the destination was none other than the Namikaze Compound. He agreed to meet Naruto there and prepare the barrier seal to place around some buildings.
After all no one has used the Namikaze Compound since the Yondaime had died 14 years ago defeating the Kyuubi and seeing even Jiraya at the entrance of the compound would raise far too many questions.
Jiraya arrived at the gates at the compound and rang the bell. Naruto showed a few minutes later and unlocked the gate and added his chakra signature to the seals protecting the compound.
Jiraya entered and when he spotted Naruto he looked at him and shivered.
"What's wrong?" - Naruto asked clearly confused to why would Jiraya shiver like that when he saw him.
"Nothing really. Can you do me favor and activate your sharingan" - Jiraya said as he stared intently at Naruto.
Naruto was confused by his statement but shrugged it off. He activated his sharingan and noticed as Jiraya shivered once more. "What's wrong with you?" - Naruto asked.
"You remind me too much of Madara with your hair like that and when you activated your sharingan it became even worse. I remembered when I met saw him for the first time. I was only five years old." - Jiraya explained and Naruto rose an eyebrow. Naruto hair's had drastically changed. His hair was still spiky but now was to waist-length with shoulder-length bangs framing the sides of his face, covering most of his right eye. Basically his hair was like Madara's. He only needed hair black and be wearing senju armor and he would like Madara himself minus the whiskers.
"I found a jutsu the lengthened my hair. You said I should grow it out to use those jutsus you taught me. Besides Hinata-chan likes it better this way and I kinda like it also" - Naruto said grinning and activated his ems making poor Jiraya feel a shiver running through his spine once again.
"Come inside and let's get the seals ready." - Naruto said and both walked inside. Jiraya felt nostalgic as he remembered being inside with Minato. He was walking with Naruto when he suddenly remembered one particular scene when he his living room.
(FLASHBACK)
"It's an amazing book" - Minato said as he finished reading the first book his sensei Jiraya released. The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi. "That's why I want to name our son Naruto. I want him to become a great and brave shinobi like your main character" - Minato said.
"Are you serious? That name came to me while I was eating ramen" - Jiraya replied.
"Naruto. It's a beautiful name" - Kushina said as she came from the kitchen to join them in the living room.
(END FLASHBACK)
"What are you thinking about?" - Naruto asked as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"Nothing, just remembering a few memories from this place" - Jiraya said as he sighed.
Naruto nodded and proceeded to guide Jiraya towards his library. The library at the Namikaze house was located in the basement and was protected by multi laired seals to prevent any unautorized person access.
Naruto placed his hand in the seal. The seal seemed to recognize his chakra signature and blood and automatically slightly glowed before the door opened.
"These are the seals" - Naruto picked them up and showed them to Jiraya. He placed them on the table and started analyzing them.
"These are some high quality seals. As expected from the Uzumaki Clan" - Jiraya said after a few minutes.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu" - Naruto said and appeared 100 clones. "I want each one of you to replicate that barrier seal" - Naruto ordered and every single clone picked a small piece of paper and started writing the seal. Not even five minutes have passed and Naruto already possessed one hundred copies of the barrier seal.
"That's is some manufacturing speed" - Jiraya said and Naruto chuckled. After all once Naruto learned sealing he never once again needed to buy explosive tags or sealing scroll since he could easily do them.
"Let's go ero-sennin" - Naruto said.
Jiraya's eye twitched. "Stop calling me that" - Jiraya yelled.
Naruto and Jiraya shunshined towards the Academy and arrived at their front gates. Naruto immediately picked four seals and placed one in each wall. They remained until Naruto channeled a bit o chakra and they disappeared into the wall.
They proceeded to apply these seals in all major locations around Konoha. The academy, hospital, IT department, prison, ANBU department and decided to place them around the shelters as well.
"It's done" - Naruto said after placing the last of the seals around the shelters which the civilian will be lead to once the invasion begins.
"I'll talk to the sensei about the arrangements to activate the barriers" - Jiraya said and left to the hokages office.
Naruto looked at the sky and saw the sun to check the time. It was around 3 pm so it was still early.
"I might as well go visit him" - Naruto thought as he activated the shunshin.
## Konoha's Hospital ##
Naruto arrived the hospital entrance. He never really liked hospitals, the feeling of death he got from it was made him shiver. He entered through the main doors and calmly made his way towards the woman that was standing behind the desk.
"Good afternoon. Which room is Rock Lee in?" - Naruto politely asked.
The woman raised her head to look at the person that was standing in front of her. The moment her eyes locked with him Naruto could see the disgusted look in her face. "You aren't allowed to visit him. Now leave" - the woman sneered at Naruto.
Naruto was getting tired of this. The treatment he received. The glares and names he simply discarded them but not allowing to do something that he had every right to do wasn't going to roll with him anymore. Naruto flared a bit of the kyuubi's chakra, enough to change his eyes and affect his voice.
"Care to say that again?" - Naruto asked as his voice took a deeper tone. He watched the woman winced at the tone and watched her look at him and quickly shift her eyes away.
"S-sorry a-ab-about that sir. Rock Lee is in room 201" - she quickly said trying to get him to leave as it was getting hard to breathe and stand for that fact.
## Room 201 ##
Naruto quickly made his way towards room 201 to visit Lee. Even though it was a fight during a tournament he still felt a little upset for causing him that much damage and pain. He walked to the room and saw him the bed. Sitting in a chair besides him was Tenten.
"Hey Lee" - Naruto said as he walked through the door. Both Tenten and Lee turned to face him and smiled.
"YOSH MY ETERNAL RIVAL CAME TO PAY ME A VISIT. I PROMISE NEXT TIME I WON'T LOSE" - Lee yelled making Tenten bonk in the head at all this yelling.
"I see you are feeling better, that' s good" - Naruto replied.
"He's feeling better alright. Before I came here I found him on the ground doing pushups with his working arm" - Tenten said sighing and Naruto laughed at his enthusiasm.
"You need to rest Lee otherwise you are going to miss me kicking butt at the finals" - Naruto said grinning and Tenten simply face palmed. To someone so strong he could still act like a kid.
"I WILL DO MY BEST TO RECOVER IN TIME. IF I CAN'T I SHALL DO 1000 LAPS AROUND KONOHA" - Lee yelled yet again and Tenten just decided to shrug it off.
"Why can't I have normal person on my team." - she said sighing "By the way I like you new hair style, it suits you" - Tenten said.
"Thanks, I like it too" - Naruto replied rubbing the back of his head.
"It's good you are recovering Lee. I will see you in the finals" - Naruto said and left the room and went to train. He still had about three weeks before the finals started.