Konoha’s
Guardians : Book I : Awaken
Chapter 03 – Chuunin Exam
Naruto watched the ground in front of his feet as he ambled along the village street towards his home. The Chunnin exam… It’s going to be tough, Naruto thought, but then smirked as he lifted his head, But fun.
“You better train all the harder before hand though. There was something odd about the red-haired boy with the gourd,” Kyuubi stated. Naruto frowned. He hadn’t been impressed. The redhead named Gaara from the Sand hadn’t even been interested in him, only Sasuke. Naruto was getting sick and tired of always being looked over, sick of being counted out, and sick of watching Sauske getting all the attention.
“Come now, its not that bad. It gives you a major advantage as everyone
is underestimating you. You’ll have the upper hand in a fight as they won’t
be expecting what you are really capable of.”
Naruto snorted. “Yeah right, they’ll act like I’m not worth their time and I’ll spend half the fight working to make them face me seriously before I get a decent match,” Naruto mumbled as he fiddled with his keys, finally managing to get the door unlocked. No sooner had he opened the door a few inches then a red-orange blur zipped in past him. Naruto blinked, then slipped in and closed the door behind him.
He stared in shock as he watched the familiar fox kit dash around his home sniffing here there, knocking a few scrolls over and sending them rolling in the process.
“Zurui-chan— what are you doing here?” Naruto finally asked, as the kit seemed to finish up his initial exploration. Zurui turned and yipped at him, his tail swishing back and forth in excitement.
"He
says that he was curious since you didn't show up like normal today."
Kyuubi interpreted. “Impressive…”
“What's impressive?”
“Zurui
tracked you by scent, quite the accomplishment for one so young through such
a populated village as Konoha. Especially considering you never leave clear
trails.”
Naruto grinned, “So you missed me that much, eh Zurui-chan?”
Zurui barked and then pounced on the boy, seizing a tuft of his blond hair and tugging. Soon the pair was busy rough-housing, oblivious to the world around them.
Kyuubi watched the pair with amusement through Naruto's own eyes.
He was impressed with the boy’s abilities. Naruto's capacity for handling
his power had grown incredibly in the last few weeks, and now they were presented
with a chance to test that skill. He had no misconceptions about the difficulty
of the test that they would be facing, and he had no intention of intruding
on Naruto's thoughts and actions during the test unless it became life threatening.
Yet what really had his attention was that Naruto had already attracted one
of the clan. It was no mistake that Zurui had stumbled upon them and then
continued to appear. Those bound to a clan leader often attracted the lesser
to their side as well, but never so soon.
Kyuubi was sure that Zurui would become a permanent member of Naruto's
private and eventually group training sessions. It would require a little
time, the kit had to grow up after all, but he would not remain living in
the forest for long. For Kyuubi knew what kit and boy did not, Zurui had followed
more then just his nose to arrive at Naruto's side.
**********
Sakura sighed deeply as she watched the bright blue of the
sky melt into violet, pink, orange, red, and yellow. The clouds drifted by
taking on the rosy warm colors as they went by. They had always looked like
they had been kissed by flames to her; even when she hadn’t known what clouds
really were, other then big fluffy things in the sky that is. Her mind drifted
back to the strange events from earlier that day. Who had tried to test her
with Genjutsu? She’d been then thinking about it ever since, and the best
reasoning she’d come up with was it was either to test her and see if she
was really ready for the trials of the Chunnin exam, or to scare her away
from them.
She wanted to take the exam, but… she was afraid of holding
Sasuke and Naruto back. Ever since their mission in the wave country she had
noticed something grow between them. At first appearances, an intense rivalry,
but by now she knew both boys better then that. True friendship lay buried
underneath all their insults and competition, and she’d been a bit hard pressed
to keep up with them. And there was one thing that Sakura wanted the very
least, to be left behind by her teammates. She may not be improving as fast
or much as they were, but she was still improving. I’ll do it. I’ll
take the exam, and I’ll do my best. That’s all that counts. Sakura told herself standing, her hands forming determined
fists. I will not be left behind!
Deep
in her heart, a tiny flickering flame grew. Her will to fight and protect
those precious to her had strengthened and her inner fighting spirit had responded.
**********
Sasuke’s mind wandered as he stood in front of the Ninja
Academy waiting for both Naruto and Sakura to arrive. Today they would be
starting the Chuunin Exam; their next step in becoming strong Shinobi. His
next step in building his strength—his next step on his way to killing his
brother…but what about after—what would he do once he’d actually reached that
goal? Return to Konoha with nothing to live for? These were questions that
had been plaguing him more and more ever since he’d first become part of team
seven.
He knew that he more then cared for his teammates, and even
Kakashi-sensei… but they had no part in his quest for revenge. He couldn’t
let them hold him back, but were they? If he was to be completely honest with
himself, they were actually pushing him closer to his goal much faster then
if he’d still been on his own. It had amazed him how fast Naruto grew in strength
and ability, and he had been forced to step up his own training in order to
keep ahead of the blond haired hyperactive ninja. Not to mention Sakura’s
own encouragement, and ease with precise chakara control. Perhaps the Dragon
had been right…
Sasuke’s vision faded to black, the last clear image in his mind being of Naruto’s pain filled blue eyes. He was dying. He’d lost his fight with Haku in order to save Naruto, but Naruto now knew the truth. Naruto knew of his ambition to take revenge for his clan, suddenly the blackness burned blue. A blue so intense and brilliant he could not look away.
“I will not let you, my chosen partner die so easily as that.” A deep rumbling voice told him.
“Who’s there? Who are you?”
Sauske demanded searching the endless expanse of blue surrounding him.
“I am Ryukai, leader to the mythical clan Dragons. You are my chosen partner, and you will not die before you have had the opportunity to make your choice. Our bond is formed, yet it will remain dormant until you decide to live for not only revenge and hatred. These may give you reason to live until you have accomplished your ambition, but they will not sustain you afterwards. You must learn to live for something else, only then will our bond truly awaken and will my power become your power,” The voice told him and the form of a majestic and powerful dragon appeared in the expanse of the blue.
“I don’t understand…”
“You will when the time is right. Until then live and grow stronger, you have taken your first step in our bond this day by saving you friend and risking your own life. Take this lesson to heart and we will speak again. I wait until that time, when we will become true partners. Human and Animal Spirit, boy and dragon, Sasuke and Ryukai.”
That
intense blue was always present now at the edges of his mind. Taunting and
teasing him, the ever present feeling and color never left, but never came
forward to let him access or study it either.
“Hey!
Sasuke! You in there?!”
Sasuke
blinked and then quickly took a step backwards away from the intense stare
of blue eyes framed in a boyish face bearing whisker marks and topped with
a mop of blond hair.
“Na...Naruto!”
Then Sasuke frowned, Kuso, He caught me zoned out. “Dobe, get out of my face.”
Naruto
smirked but took a few steps away to stand just a few feet away his hands
resting behind his head. “The Chuunin exam…”
Sasuke
smirked, but didn’t look up, instead watching his hyperactive teammate from
the corner of his eye. “Baka.”
Naruto
responded with his fox-like grin and then turned his attention down the path
and to the pink-haired girl walking towards them. “Sakura-chan!! You’re late!”
The
pink haired girl waved as she hurried the last few steps to meet up with them.
“Sorry Naruto— Sasuke-kun.”
“Ah.”
Something’s on her mind… Sasuke thought
but let go. “Well lets get going.”
“Yeah!” Naruto cheered as they then fell in on either side of Sasuke and entered the academy.