Chapter 33.Awakening

Saruto was eating at his favourite restaurant. That's when Sarutobi Asuma arrived with Gai(I am using "Gai" from now on). "Captain Saruto, a youth like you should be training!"

"Hey Gai, you call me captain and youth at the same time. Isn't that weird?"

"You always look young, captain! Is it because Monkeys age slower?" Gai's eyebrows frowned as he acted like he said something serious. Saruto slammed his fists on the table and yelled, "Hey, I am not an actual monkey!"

Asuma intervened and said, "Saruto-san, don't mind him! We are here to talk to you about something important!" Saruto just realised Asuma was there too. He didn't see him because of Gai's comments. "What's the matter oji…sorry you look a lot like your old man!"

"Yeah, I look like him but I am no way near his strength"

"Well, he was the Hokage after all!"

"Yes, I am going off subject. Can you be the jonin leader for Kuranei's team?"

"Kuranei's team? What's wrong with Kuranei sensei?"

"The thing is I am expecting a child with Kuranei and the chunin exams are coming. My team and Kuranei's team need their Jonin leader. So, we thought you could replace Kuranei. Kakashi agreed to replace me."

'So, Mirai is coming early to this world or it could be someone else. But should I lead a genin team?'

"Come on captain Saruto, it's like the old time! You, me, Kakashi, Itachi and Shi…", Gai felt sad as he remembered that Shisui was no longer with them. Saruto wanted to tell him the truth but for the sake of his plan, he couldn't. "Gai, you should be cheerful. That's what makes you unique. And Asuma…san, I got it correct this time, congratulations on the pregnancy news! Unfortunately, I don't lead genin squads! I am not suited for that kind of responsibility. Genins are too much for me! I can only lead a squad with a higher rank like chunin or jonin"

"Stop bullshitting? I know why you want to stay and I don't want to say it publicly! You should come, captain!" Itachi arrived with Kakashi. "You too!", said Saruto. Itachi looked at Gai who had his face tilted down. He approached the jonins and said, "My team will be participating too. It will be fun!"

"You are leading a genin squad?", asked Saruto. Itachi scratched his jaw line said while looking away, "I have had some experience with some genin."

"Hey, are you making fun of me?" Gai got his smile back after seeing the bickering between his former colleagues.

"Come on captain let's go!" Gai and Itachi placed their hands on Saruto's shoulder and smiled at him with their eyes closed. "Hey, what are you doing?" They dragged him by his shoulders and they were leaving the restaurant. "Noooo! My last chicken leg!" Saruto's plate disappeared behind the curtain as he was dragged to the Hokage's bureau leaving Kakashi and Asuma behind. Asuma was still looking at the curtain. "Is something bothering you Asuma sensei?", Kakashi asked. "I heard a brief story about this Saruto from Gai. It was the first time I am meeting him but the way he talks reminds me of someone!"

"To be honest, the captain has always been a mystery to me!"

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Meanwhile, at Mount Myoboku Naruto was still training to achieve the sage mode. He was still young at that time so he took longer to the mode. Jiraiya was also training because Fukasaku scolded him that his sage mode wasn't perfect. Naruto opened his eyes with a little bit of toad transformation on his face but Jiraiya achieved perfect sage mode. After seeing his master's will, Naruto was determined to achieve his goal. He closed his eyes and went back to his training.

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Sasuke was fighting against some ninjas of Takigakure with the help of Kimimaro. They were caught snooping in the village. Sasuke was doing non-stop missions so he was weaker than his usual state. Kimimaro knew it so he was protecting Sasuke. "Stop protecting me I can take care of myself!", Sasuke yelled at Kimimaro. "No, I can't let you die! You are more important." Kimimaro jumped, as Sasuke used,

Lighting sparks spread through the ground, shocking their opponents. Kimimaro landed on the ground. "Seriously, you are worried that your master would lose his precious body!" Kimimaro sighed and said, "No, I am worried that I could lose my partner!" It surprised Sasuke. Kimimaro considered Sasuke as his friend.

He used all his chakra in the last attack and left some to use his Sharingan. He couldn't sense the incoming attack from behind as he was slow. Bones cracked from the ground as Kimimaro made a bone cage that covered Sasuke. Sasuke tried to break the bones to escape so that he can fight. His weakened punches weren't effective against Kimimaro's bones. He knew now that Kimimaro was going to fight alone. "Kimimaro! Let me out of here, you bastard! You can't fight alone!"

Kimimaro was holding the enemy from approaching Sasuke. Sasuke watched everything through the gaps of the cage. "You idiot, the device won't handle this much. You'll die if you overdo it! Let me out!" His Sharingan deactivated itself as Sasuke tried to break the bones.

The enemy pulled away the device on Kimimaro's back. Kimimaro was surprised. It was like the enemy knew how to get the device out of him. Kimimaro, unable to breathe correctly muttered "Y…you?" He was weakened and dying. The enemy stabbed Kimimaro with a sword while hiding his face from Sasuke. He flicked his tongue as he whispered, "Your purpose has been fulfilled." Kimimaro's bones started cracking. He dropped to the ground and muttered, "You…betra…" Before he could finish he was already gone. Sasuke screamed from the bone cage, "KIMIMARO!!!" The pattern on his pupil turned into a Sharingan and then changed its pattern as he awakened Mangekyo Sharingan. The awakening drained his chakra as he dropped to the ground. The enemy removed his face skin revealing his pale skin. "All you need to do is defeat Itachi and then you're mine!"

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The participants of the next chunin exams arrived in Konoha for the first round. The second and third were planned to be held at Suna. At the entrance of the village, Izumo and Kotetsu were checking the entering participants. Saruto was observing them from a tower. He saw Nanabi's jinchuriki entering with her colleagues. Then as a surprise, Shinobis from Kumo entered. He was expecting Kiri shinobis this time because of their peace treaty with Konoha but Kumo was a surprise. Saruto descended to the ground and went to the entrance. Kakashi was there too.

"Hey Kakashi, aren't you happy to see your favourite captain?"

"For the record, Yondaime is my favourite leader"

"Ouch! That hurts! Hey, tell me! I see some Shinobis from Kumogakure!"

"You didn't know? It appears that the Kazekage Gaara has made a peace treaty with the Raikage"

That's when Saruto got a glimpse of a beautiful blonde entering with her team. Her fine structure attracted Saruto as he stepped forward before being stopped by Kakashi. "Captain, keep it to yourself! You're acting strange!"

"That must be Nii Yugito!", Saruto said. "Did you say my name!" Yugito heard it as she approached Saruto. "I've never seen you before. How did you know my name?"

"Hey, I know a lot about you! Wanna hear?"

Saruto leaned his mouth to her ear and whispered something. While he was whispering Yugito's face reddened. She backed down embarrassed and walked away with her genin squad.

'How did he know my size? Am I revealing too much?'

"Yugito sensei, are you alright? You seem a bit off!"

"Nothing, just move!"

Saruto was checking her back as she was walking away. Kakashi asked, "Do you know her, Captain?"

"I've heard about her!" He then whispered, "Nibi's jinchuriki Nii Yugito"

"Should we be worried?"

"No, she's cool…and hot!"

"Please stop it! We're in public!"

"Says the guy who reads Make-out paradise in public!" They laughed it out as they started talking about leading new genin squads. Saruto was thinking while speaking with Kakashi, 'Two jinchurikis here and if they succeed in the first round, it will be three at Suna. If the Akatsuki makes a move I'll have to deal with them. To quote Shikamaru, it's will be a drag'