CHAPTER 23(The Tower)

Read auxiliary chapter World Info before starting the story.

Please read the author's notes. (Examples and explanation of moves and changes etc)

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CHAPTER START---

Stepping into the tower at the center of the forest of death, team Kurenai immediately went to their sensei to discuss their performance thus far.

Sitting in a small room around a coffee table they discussed the next part of the exam.

"You've got 2 days, or until the next team arrives at the tower, none of you seem hurt which is good, how has the exam been so far?" Kurenai questioned, a hint of concern in her voice.

"It's been pretty easy, haven't had any real fights yet." Jin quickly replies as he takes out a scroll from his pouch.

"How about you two, Shino, Hinata?"

"We haven't had to do much," Was all Shino said.

"Mhm, Jin is really strong," The shy girl added.

"Hmm, well alright, I'm going to see the other Jounin team leaders, hopefully, the leaf didn't suffer much during this exam."

As Kurenai leaves the room, an awkward silence befalls the team.

"Are you guys ready for the combat portion?" Jin calmly asks as he opens the storage scroll.

"We should mostly be fighting our friends, that's safer than enemy nin" Shino replies.

"Mhm"

"I'm gonna do some training, I've got a surprise jutsu I wanna perfect, just in case."

As Jin speaks he places his palm on the scroll. In a puff of smoke a box of rubber balls appears.

"If anyone needs me I'll be on the roof practicing." He says before quickly leaving his team.

---Elsewhere in the tower, Team 10 rest area...

"So you're saying he just, gave you a scroll and a free escort to the tower?"

"Yeah pretty much, Ino's flirting looks like it was finally useful for once," Shikamaru says.

"HEY!"

Hearing their breakdown of what happened Asuma was completely surprised by what happened. He expected his team to take their time in the exam and set traps for weaker teams, but their friend just handed them a free pass and made sure they used it. 'He really does care for his friends, just as I'd expect, but this is a bit much.'

"You won't be able to have his help from here, the team portion of the exam is over and the next step is duels. Doesn't matter how strong your friends are if they can't help you. Get some rest and be ready for the next stage."

Leaving the room, the genin team looked at each other for a moment before anyone spoke.

"Soo, anyone else feeling a little outmatched?" Choji quickly asks.

"Yeah, a bunch of monsters. What a drag."

"Yeah definitely, but, I can't give up. Then I lose the bet and Sakura would surpass me!" Ino suddenly says with a burst of energy.

"Bet?" Choji asks.

"Uh... don't worry about it" The girl puts up a fragile defense as a blush dominates her face.

---Hokage's Office...

Sitting across from each other, Anko, Kakashi, and Hiruzen can be seen reading through multiple files as they discuss how to proceed.

"His scroll said Orochimaru did something to Sasuke, the curse mark like he promised the Kunikage. How would a genin know this?" Kakashi asked, genuinely intrigued by the intel from the scroll Sakura delivered.

"Hmm, when he... infiltrated, Kunigakure. The files he delivered detailed that the entire village was already serving Orochimaru, this is why he destroyed them. He appeared to of already read through all the information before handing it over to me, but after that, we followed up on some of the locations marked in Kuni, a few of Orochimaru's hideouts were destroyed." The Hokage calmly responded.

"So my old sensei is in the exams somewhere then, no he likely already left. He wouldn't try anything if the third is present. At least not alone."

"He destroyed an entire village and you simply let him go, what are you playing at lord third?" Kakashi finally speaks up on suspicions that many Jounin have been thinking.

"The boy hides his true strength, he's a tremendous fighter. But dare I say a terrible spy. His ABILITIES, whatever they are, are never used in the presence of anyone who survives. He must have used them against you from what Asuma explained. The only thing we figured out is whatever it is makes his skin difficult to pierce and gives him absurdly concentrated and vast chakra as well as perfect control and even more terrifying talent to master Jutsu. My Anbu saw him training his water Jutsu, Kurenai's reports claimed he can sense chakra within hundreds of meters so he simply didn't care that we knew. A sign of arrogance or confidence. As long as he fights for the leaf he is allowed to keep his secrets. Besides, it would break Naruto's heart to lose his friend."

"Hmm, I see", 'So he kept him in the academy for Naruto' Kakashi realizes.

"I've had Kurenai make a personal report of his actions after every mission, nothing short of exemplar, but his style tends to leave a trail. Unfit for the Anbu which is why he hasn't been promoted already. Having him work in the open is much better." The Hokage leans back in his seat and puffs his pipe as he looks to the jounin before him for their thoughts.

"Hmm, if not for Sharingan. He sounds like exactly what sensei would want" Anko quickly says, "I didn't know he was such a monster, everyone just assumed that he used bombs of some kind to destroy Kuni but it sounds like frontal assault is his style, a man I can respect."

"Settle down, he's 12" Kakashi deadpans at her.

"So why even have him in my exam then, sounds like jounin material to me," Anko says as she eats a Dango.

"He's unknowingly acting as a guard of sorts. His friends are all clan heirs. If any of the other villages decide to say, attack a clan or go after a kekkei Genkai he shouldn't hesitate to protect them." The Hokage calmly explained, a small grin on his face.

"Unless it's Sasuke, Jin really doesn't like Sasuke." Kakashi quietly says.

"Mmm, the Hyuga princes is in his care which is good enough. His promotion to jounin is guaranteed but having him separate from them before or during the exams will leave the Byakugan up for grabs, and the Hyuga clan may find fault with the decision putting their princess at a disadvantage."

"Hmm, the kid is smart, but nobody has the foresight you do lord third," Anko says.

"Hmm, they don't call me the professor for nothing. Hmm, let's set up a match for THOSE TWO during the preliminaries. I don't want the guests from other villages seeing what they can do first hand so it's best to remove one of them from the matches. Rig the final match of the preliminaries Anko."

"Yes lord Hokage"

As their meeting concludes, Anko leaves to relay the Hokages' orders while Kakashi stays behind just a bit longer.

"That seal you placed, it should hold but only as long as he wants it to, the boy is desperate for power. Keep an eye on him Kakashi." The Hokage says, recalling the seal placed on Sasuke's curse mark.

"Hmm, we'll have to deal with that if Orochimaru shows up Lord Third."

END CHAPTER---