Slaves of the Maelstrom

Sakura frowned as she walked through the streets. It’d been over a week since Sasuke and Kakashi had vanished, and just as long since Naruto had gone off to train for his match against Neji.



It was hard for her to admit it...but she missed the orange ball of energy.



*I hope their both alright,* the pink haired girl thought as she walked down the street. *They’ve both got such strong opponents in the finals…I don’t see how either can win against them.*



“Oi, thanks Ino!” a familiar voice rang out, causing Sakura to look up. Her green eyes widened as Naruto came trotting out of the Yamanaka flowershop, a small vase of violets in his hands. “Hinata-chan will really like these I’m sure! They match her hair, dattebayo!”



“Just be quiet when you deliver them, baka!” Ino’s voice rang out from the shop, “It is a hospital you know!”



“Got it!” the blond boy called back, running off towards the hospital.



“He got Hinata…flowers?” Sakura muttered to herself, staring at the small dust trail left behind by her energetic teammate. She stumbled forward, towards Ino, her mind still reeling from the idea that Naruto would do something so…thoughtful.



She was almost afraid for the Hyuuga girl…the idea of her ‘secret crush’ bringing her flowers would likely send her into a coma.



Ino smirked as she saw Sakura walk in front of the store. “Oh, Forehead-girl,” she called out, “I’m surprised to see you. I would’ve thought you’d be out training with Sasuke-kun.”



Sakura shook her head, frowning at the nickname. “No, he and Kakashi-sensei have disappeared,” she replied, “I guess sensei needed to get him ready for that Suna kid. Naruto’s been absent a lot lately too. I just saw him for the first time in over a week, headed towards the hospital.”



“Well, he came in to get some flowers for Hinata-san,” Ino said, “Some violets actually…I’m surprised he knew that was her favorite flower.”



“Huh, he probably didn’t,” Sakura replied, “But he always had an eye for hair color…he probably remembered that Hinata’s hair is a kind of purplish black.”



Ino nodded. “He told me he’s been getting some training for his match next month,” she said, “Wouldn’t tell me with who though. Still, he’s probably only fooling himself.”



Sakura frowned. “What do you mean?” she asked.



“He’s up against Hyuuga Neji,” the blonde kunoichi replied, “Last years rookie of the year, and I’ve heard him called the strongest Hyuuga genin the clan’s ever produced. I know Naruto’s gotten a lot better since the academy, but nothing could get him ready for that cold fish.”



The pink haired genin shook her head. “You might think that, but I’ve learned better,” she said, “Naruto just doesn’t know when to give up. When we were learning tree walking, he kept on going when even Sasuke had to take a break. He’s got so much chakra…I think that’s why he kept screwing up the Bunshin no jutsu.”



Ino frowned. “Well, remember that jyuken that the Hyuuga clan practices,” she said, “Neji’s the worst possible match for Naruto…the baka needs to use his chakra, and Neji can shut it down just like he did to Hinata. If Naruto were facing someone like Chouji or maybe that Suna guy who uses puppets, he might have a chance, but Neji? It’ll be over in just a few minutes.”



Sakura frowned. “Didn’t you hear what Naruto said when they took Hinata to the infirmary?” she asked.



Ino rolled her eyes. “Yeah, we all heard it,” she replied. “‘I vow to win!’ Against Neji, words like that won’t matter.”



“It wasn’t just words, Ino-pig,” Sakura replied, her fists clenching at her sides.



“It was a promise…and he always keeps his promises.”



Ino shrugged. “Maybe he does,” she said, “Still, I’m betting on Neji to win. Guy may be a cold fish, but he’s got the skills.” She looked at her pink haired ‘friend’. “So, what’s your sensei doing for your training this month?” she asked. “Asuma-sensei taught me water walking yesterday. He says he wants me to build up my control so he can have Kurenai-sensei teach me some genjutsu.”



Sakura frowned. “Kakashi-sensei disappeared along with Sasuke-kun,” she replied, “He didn’t leave any instructions for me. I don’t even know what Naruto’s doing for training.”



Ino frowned. “Well, you should do some training, Fore-head girl,” she said, “You don’t want to fall behind Naruto of all people, do you?”



Sakura sighed. “I think I’ve been behind him from day one,” she replied. She walked towards the door. “I’m…gonna go to the library. Maybe I can find some training manuals or something.”



Ino sighed. “Well, good luck Sakura,” she replied as the pinkette walked out. “You’re gonna need it.”



oOoOoOo



“Are you going to shout again?” the nurse at the station asked as she eyed the orange clad boy holding the vase of violets. “The patients here need peace and quiet.”



“I promise not to shout,” Naruto replied, “I was just worried about my teammate, and I wasn’t happy when Kakashi-sensei just waved me off.” He held up the vase. “I just want to give these to Hinata-chan…she was nice to me during those matches, and she didn’t deserve what that jerk Neji did to her. I thought these might make her feel better.”



The nurse sighed. She was well aware of just who and what Naruto was, though her ire towards him was not for that reason. She just didn’t like his noise he tended to make when running about town.



She chose this job for the quiet after all.



“Okay,” she said, reaching over and pulling a file from a stack resting next to her. “One loud shout though and I’ll personally toss you out one your ear…from the fifth floor!”



Naruto gulped. He was sure it was his imagination, but he could have sworn he saw flames dancing around the woman as she spoke. “okay,” he whispered, slightly scared.



“Good,” she smiled, opening the folder, “Now, according to the charts, Hinata-sama is in room 212. She seems to be doing fine now, though it was touch and go for a while.” The stern woman looked up into Naruto’s eyes. “Try and keep her calm. She’s going to have to spend some time recovering before she can be an active shinobi again, and her heart won’t take too much shock.”



Naruto frowned, but nodded. “That Neji bastard is going to pay for what he did,” he muttered, walking towards the elevator.



When he arrived on the second floor, he was surprised to see another familiar face walking about.



Rock Lee was limping around the halls, his arm and leg still encased in bandages as sweat poured down his face. He was making blocking motions with his good arm, even as he tried to maintain his balance on the wooden crutch held by his side.



Naruto couldn’t help but be impressed by the bowl-cut haired genin’s tenacity. Even after the extreme damage he had taken during his match with the psychotic Gaara. *He’s incredible,* he thought as the enthusiastic boy continued his trek, *He can’t heal as fast as the rest of us genin since he can’t use chakra, but he won’t let it stop him…man, he’d be such a cooler teammate than Sasuke!* He gasped as Lee seemed to stumble, and he shot forward, helping to hold the sweaty boy up.



“Huh?…Naruto…san?” Lee asked, panting from his exertions. “Ano…why…are you…here?”



“Well, I came to see Hinata-chan,” Naruto said, “I’m just glad I spotted you before you took a tumble Bushy-brows!” He helped the boy to a seat, even as some nurses came to check on the two.



“Lee-san! You should be resting!” one nurse said, “You need to give yourself time to recover before you train again! If you go too far you’ll only injure yourself more!”



“But I cannot let myself be idle!” Lee replied, “I…will not allow myself to fall behind the other genin!”



“Hey, you don’t have to hurt yourself to keep from falling behind!” Naruto said, “Try studying stuff like tactics and trap making! Exercise your mind while your body heals!”



Lee and the nurses gaped at the blond boy. “That’s…remarkably wise, Naruto-san,” Lee’s doctor, Yakushi Shiro muttered, “Who taught you that?”



“My new sensei, Ibiki-san,” Naruto said, “He’s helping me prepare for my match with Neji! I’m already a lot stronger!”



Lee smiled, even as he felt a small part of his heart break at the news. *You…will defeat Neji before I, Naruto-san,* he thought, *I have seen your drive, your youthful fire…it is stronger than mine.* “I look forward to your match, Naruto-san,” he said, “I was not pleased with my rivals actions toward Hinata-sama, and neither was Gai-sensei. When you made your promise at the arena…we both knew you would keep it.”



Naruto smiled, rubbing the back of his head. “Well, it’s not gonna be easy, even with my new training,” the blond boy replied, “But I never go back on my word! I’ll make him see that people can change, even if I gotta smack him silly to do it!”



The nurses smiled, as did Doctor Yakushi. “Well, I hope you do, Naruto-san,” the grey haired man said, “I was one of the doctor’s who looked after Hinata-sama. That boy certainly did a number on the girl…” The man paused as he spied the vase of violets by the orange clad boy’s side. “Are those for Hinata-sama, Naruto-san?” he asked, smiling at the boy’s affirmative nod. “Well, why don’t you go and give them to her then? I think it’ll help her feel a lot better.”



Naruto nodded, standing and picking up the vase. “Hey, Lee-san?” he asked, causing the black haired boy to look up. “When you get better, how about we spar sometimes? You’re incredible at taijutsu, and Kami-sama knows I need the practice. Maybe we can help each other out.”



Lee smiled brightly at the request. “Yosh! It would be my honor, Naruto-san!” he replied, giving the boy a thumbs up. “I will heal even faster with that goal in mind!”



Naruto returned the thumbs up, before walking off.



“Now, Lee-san,” Yakushi said, placing a hold on the boy’s shoulder. “Let’s get you to bed…its almost lunch time, and I heard the kitchen is making ‘Mystery Mounds’ today…maybe the mystery will be actual meat!”



Lee turned the same shade of his spandex suit at the thought.



oOoOoOo



Hinata sighed as she stared out the window of her room. It’d been almost a week since her match with her estranged cousin, and it continued to weigh heavily on her mind.



Contrary to Neji’s, and even the clan’s belief, her Byakugan was fairly well developed. While she could not perceive the tenketsu like her father or Neji could, she was fairly adept at reading emotions.



Her cousin’s eyes may have been like white stones in a pond, but she could see beyond their surface to the depths of frustration and despair. She knew what he felt, since such feelings were within her own heart as well.



*I want to help him,* she thought, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill from her own lavender dusted eyes, *I want the kind Neji back.*



A knock on the door shook her from her reverie, and she hurriedly wiped the few errant tears that had escaped her eyes from her pale cheeks. “Ano…w-who is it?” she asked, looking over to the door.



“It’s Nurse Chiaki, Hinata-sama,” her personal nurse spoke from behind the wooden barrier, “You have a visitor. Is it alright for him to enter?”



*Him?* the pale eyed girl thought, a small hope welling in her chest. “Ummm, who is it?” she asked.



“Uzumaki Naruto-san, Hinata-sama,” the kindly woman’s voice came.



*He…he came to see me,* Hinata thought, her cheeks staining red at the idea her ‘secret crush’ had actually come.



“Hinata-sama?” her nurse’s voice came again, “Are you alright?”



“Oh! Y-yes, Chiaki-san!” the girl stuttered, “Please, s-send him i-in! N-Naruto-kun is a-always welcome!”



The door opened, and her orange clad crush walked in, smiling that dazzling smile of his and warming her heart. She had to suppress a gasp at seeing the small vase of violets in his hands, knowing that they were meant for her, yet hardly able to believe that he had done so.



“Hey, Hinata-chan!” he said, walking over to her bedside, setting the vase on the small lamp table next to her head. “They told me you were feeling better, but I thought some flowers might help you along.” He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “I…I didn’t know what your favorite kind was, so I got you violets. They match your hair!”



Hinata was certain her face could not possibly get any redder at the indirect compliment, or the fact that he had inadvertently gotten her the same type of flower her mother had first shown her how to press. “A-ano…they’re…they’re v-very p-pretty, Naruto-kun,” she whispered, giving the boy a bright smile of her own. “I-I…really like them! Thank you so much!”



Naruto was surprised at how cute the girl looked, smiling up at him from her bed. He found that, unlike Neji’s cold white eyes, Hinata’s had some genuine warmth in their pearly depths. “I’m glad you like’em!” he said, “I know that hospitals can be pretty boring places…they don’t have a lot of color. I keep telling the doctors some orange or purple would really help liven the place up, but most of them just snort and ignore me.”



Hinata couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of her crush making a case for some brightly colored rooms. She actually agreed that some light colors might help make the rooms a bit more soothing…though she thought orange was pushing it.



It looked good on her crush, but it wouldn’t look good as wall paper.



“Hey, mind if I sit down?” Naruto asked, looking at the girl, “You look like you could use some company, and I got a few hours before I’m supposed to meet with Ero-sennin for my training.”



Hinata felt her face heat up again, but she nodded. “P-please,” she said, “I-I’d love…to t-talk for a while.”



Naruto smiled, pulling a chair from the wall and setting it next to the pale-eyed girl’s bed. “Cool,” he said, “I’d like to get to know you better…we never really talked much at the academy, and I think that’s kinda sad. You seem like a really nice person.”



“A-ano…thank you, Naruto-kun,” Hinata replied, gripping her sheets tightly. This was a dream come true for her - he was talking with her! “I…I w-wanted to…talk t-to you at the academy too.”



“Really?” the blond boy asked, leaning forward, “Why didn’t you?”



Hinata blushed. “I…I w-was really…shy,” she said, “You were…always s-so loud and outgoing. I…I admired th-that about you.”



Naruto grinned a little at that. “Eh, I do love to make noise,” he said. He frowned a little. “How come you’re so shy, Hinata-chan? You come from a big family, I heard. I thought shy people were usually the types who don’t have a lot of brother’s or sisters to get along with.”



Hinata sighed, leaning back against her pillows. Naruto couldn’t help but notice how her hospital gown conformed to her body as she leaned back. *She’s…got big boobs,* he noted, *They’re even a little bigger than Kin-chan’s!*



“My…c-clan isn’t all that great,” the dark haired girl said, looking up at the ceiling. “You…you saw h-how Neji-nisan was during the m-match, right?”



Naruto nodded, frowning at the thought. “Kakashi-sensei and Gai-sensei mentioned something about how you were in the ‘Main’ family and Neji was in the ‘Branch’,” he replied, “They said there’s been some…bad feelings between the two houses.”



Hinata nodded, a tear tracing down her cheek as she recalled Neji’s anger at the division. “Neji-nisan…h-he’s stronger than I am,” she said, causing Naruto to frown at her, “B-but because he’s in the Branch family, h-he has to…serve me.” She let a few more tears escape, causing Naruto to blanch, thinking he had made her cry. “I don’t like the division,” she whispered tightly, “We’re ONE clan, not two! I want us to be a family again! I want my ‘brother’ back!”



Naruto wasn’t sure what to do as he saw the cute girl start to cry, so he stood up and grabbed her, pulling her into a hug and cooing lightly into her ear. He didn’t know why he did it, or even how he knew it would help her…he just knew she needed it.



Hinata couldn’t help but let the tears flow, even as she buried her head into her crush’s orange jacket. In another time and place this would have been a gift from the kami to her - to be able to hug the boy who inspired her to grow as a kunoichi.



“Neji doesn’t deserve this fate!” she sobbed into Naruto’s jacket, “That ugly seal…its horrible to put that on a family member!”



Naruto frowned as he heard the word seal. *Another one?* he thought, *And here I thought seals were supposed to be good things…I mean, sure, the slave seal on Kin-chan isn’t ‘good’ per se, but it did help to save her life…*



“What seal, Hinata-chan?” he asked, rubbing his hands up and down her back, trying to calm the poor girl. He was privately glad that her gown had a back to it…he was sure she’d clobber him if he had been rubbing her bare skin.



Hinata sighed, the tears finally stopping as she absorbed the warmth that her crush was giving her. She looked up into his blue eyes - by the Kami, she loved that shade of blue - and sighed.



“There’s a special seal that the main family uses to control the branch,” she explained. “It’s meant to prevent out kekkei genkai from being stolen…when a branch family member dies, it locks away all the powers and secrets of the Byakugan.”



“That doesn’t sound so bad,” Naruto said, “It protects a secret of the village…”



“But it’s also a means of control,” Hinata interrupted, gripping her sheets again, “There’s a special hand seal that main family members are taught when we turn ten. If we use it in the presence of a branch family member, and channel chakra through it…it can cause that person intense pain. It’s like burning them from the inside out…”



Naruto couldn’t help but gasp. “That’s…that’s sick!” he growled.



Hinata nodded, more tears leaking from her eyes. “I’ve only seen it used once…on my Uncle Hizashi when I was three,” she muttered, “I l-loved my uncle…he too hated the division, and what it was going to do to Neji-nisan.” The pale eyed girl sighed, leaning away from her crush to look out the window. “My father used it on him…he was glaring at my lack of skill with the jyuken, and father took offense.”



“Wait, he used it on his own brother?” Naruto asked, frowning at Hinata’s nod. “Why? Just because he wasn’t happy at how you were doing?”



“Father would never explain it to me,” she said, “Not too long after that, Uncle Hizashi died…Neji changed after that. He threw himself into training, growing stronger and stronger.” She sighed. “Before Uncle Hizashi dies, Neji and I were close. He liked it when I called him brother…now, he’s so cold.”



Naruto frowned. He thought back at how Neji had complained about how all the jounins had jumped in to protect Hinata. *He thinks it was special treatment, and that nobody would jump in to protect him in the same situation,* he realized. He smirked. *I got you now.*



“Hinata-chan,” he spoke up, causing the girl to once again look into his blue eyes. “I told Neji that I would win our match. I always keep my word - its my nindo!” He smiled as she nodded. “I’m gonna make you a promise now too…before that match is over, you WILL have your brother back! I’ll make him see the truth!”



Hinata saw the absolute sincerity in his blue orbs, and she found herself drawn into their depths. *Naruto-kun…you…you really will,* she thought, blushing as she realized Naruto had just given her the greatest gift of all.



He was going to give her back her family.



“Ano…I…I b-believe you will!” she said, smiling at him.



Naruto nodded, glancing at his watch. “I gotta go meet with Ero-sennin,” he said, standing up, “My other sensei said I have the day off though…I’ll come visit after I’m done.” He smiled. “I’ll bring you some ramen too…hospital food really sucks!”



Hinata tried to fight of the blush she felt brewing. She frowned slightly as the boy started walking off. “Ano…Naruto-kun?” she asked, causing the boy to turn around. “Who…who is ‘Ero-sennin’?” She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of some ‘perverted hermit’ training her crush.



“Oh, that’s what I call him,” Naruto replied, “He’s a pervert, but he’s also one of the Sannin…Jiraiya, the guy who taught the Yondaime!”



Hinata couldn’t help but gasp at that. “The Yondaime’s sensei…” she whispered.



“Y’know, you should smile more, Hinata-chan,” Naruto said, giving her a thumbs up, “You’re pretty cute as it is, but your smile really brings it out!” He walked out before he could here the startled ‘meep’ from the furiously blushing girl.



oOoOoOo



Anko smirked as she sat on the ledge just outside of the girl’s room, having heard the entire conversation. “So, the princess loves the pauper, huh?” she chuckled, “And now that pauper’s going to be a ‘knight in shining armor’…man, it feels like some cheezy romance novel.” She grinned. “Of course, with that slave-girl Naruto-kun has, it might just turn into a book worth reading.”



She watched as the Hyuuga girl got out of bed, headed towards her bathroom. “I think a little ‘Anko-style Matchmaking’ is in order,” she muttered.



She quickly picked the lock on the window, sliding into the room silently and sitting in the chair Naruto had just occupied. “If Ibiki can have an apprentice, why can’t I?” she thought, “Kurenai-chan won’t mind too much…and Naruto will like the results I’m sure.” She grinned evilly. “Come out, come out little girl. It’s time to play.”



Hinata gasped as she saw the wild kunoichi from the second exam sitting next to her bed. “Ano…Mitarashi-sensei,” she whispered, shuddering at the strange look the fishnet clad woman was giving her.



“I heard you’re little sob session with Naruto-kun,” the lavender haired woman said, “I think I can help you out too…and get the gaki really into you.” She grinned lavisously. “In the way that really counts too!”



Hinata felt her face flush at the idea. “Ano…w-what…I-I…w-well…”



“We’ll work on the stutter later,” Anko said. “When are the doc’s gonna let you out, kid?”



“Ummm, Y-Yakushi-sensei s-said he’d re-release me in two days,” she said, “W-why?”



“Because when you get out, I’m going to take over your training,” the woman replied, standing up and walking over to the timid girl. She cupped her chin, grinning at the shuddering girl. “I’m gonna break you, and build you back up. By the time I’m done, Naruto-kun will be head over heals for you…and you’ll be one deadly little girl.”



Hinata shuddered, causing Anko to grin.



“Oh yeah…you and I are gonna have a lot of fun while I train you,” she said, “Welcome to my world…welcome to ANBU Interrogation and Torture.”



oOoOoOo



Kin sighed as she slipped on the pants and shirt her master had given her. While she certainly didn’t mind being naked for him, she was happy that she was finally being allowed to leave the dingy cell she’d been confined to for the two weeks.



Her master stood by the door, talking with Anko as she dressed. She focused her hearing so she could listen in on the conversation.



“So, we’re going to have the roof of the stadium lined with seals,” Anko said, “We know that my old ‘sensei’ will be there…he might have denied it in the forest, but I know he’s gonna want to kill Hokage-sama. I don’t know how he plans on getting in though.”



“He’ll probably impersonate some big shot or sneak in underground,” Naruto replied, “Kin-chan said that Suna was in on this…they’re sending a few important people right?”



Anko nodded. “Yep, and we’re ready for them,” she replied, “Your pretty little pet helped us out big time. We’ve got enough traps laid out to make those traitors cry for their mommies.”



Kin finished dressing, and walked over to the pair. “Master,” she said, “I know Ibiki-sama already knows this, but have you all planned for the Sound Four?”



“Those body guards you mentioned?” Anko said, “Yeah, we’re ready for them. We’ve got four squads of ANBU dedicated to taking them out. Orochimaru might think he’s gonna get Sarutobi-sama trapped and outnumbered, but he’s gonna be in for one hell of a surprise.”



Kin nodded, turning to her master. “Master, are you ready?” she asked. “I know you’ve trained hard…”



Naruto smiled, reaching around to pinch Kin’s ass, drawing an embarrassed squeak from the girl and a laugh from Anko. “I’m ready, Kin-chan,” he said, rubbing the cheek he had abused fondly, making the doe eyed girl blush prettily. “Hinata-chan gave me the tools I need…Neji’s not gonna know what hit him.”



Anko smiled. *She’s turned out to be a good student too,* the snake mistress thought, *I wonder how she’ll handle breaking a prisoner…we’re bound to get a few during the fighting.* “Well, don’t get over-confident gaki!” she spoke aloud, “Be prepared for anything. This won’t be an easy match!”



Naruto nodded. “I’m fully prepared to lose,” he said, “But I plan to win!” He pinched Kin’s ass again, drawing another squeak from his slave. At her glare, he smiled. “One for luck?” he offered, pulling her down into a quick kiss.



Anko laughed. “A regular Casanova,” she muttered. “Okay, you need to get going gaki! I’ll take your pet here to the shelter, and then I’ll meet you at the arena. Ibiki’s stationed at the outer wall, so Cat is in charge.”



Naruto nodded. “How’s Hayate-sempai by the way?” he asked, “I heard that Suna-jounin did a number on him.”



Anko frowned. “Well, he’s done for as a shinobi,” she said, “He was pretty sickly though anyway…Sarutobi-sama will probably put him into a teaching position at the academy. Still, I don’t think his fiancée will mind too much. It just means more time together.”



Naruto nodded. “Those Suna-nins are scary,” he muttered, “Watch out for that Gaara kid…those other two are strong, sure…but he’s a monster.”



Kin wrapped her arms around her master’s shoulders. “Be careful, Naruto-sama,” she said, “I don’t want to lose you…”



“You won’t Kin-chan,” he said, returning the hug. “Anko-sempai? Make sure no one bothers Kin-chan please. She’s no enemy now.”



Anko smiled. “Eagle will be there to guard the civilians,” she said, “He’ll watch her for you.”



Naruto nodded, giving his slave another quick kiss. “I think three hours tonight,” he whispered into her ear, causing her to blush. He made a quick hand seal, vanishing in a swirl of leaves.



Anko smirked. “He really loves that shunshin no jutsu,” she muttered. She looked at the girl. “Let’s get you to the barracks girl. Your master won’t want you to get cut up…he likes your skin just the way it is.”



Kin blushed. “He certainly does,” she muttered. “He spent last night licking me up and down…from my ears to my toes.”



Anko smiled. “Ooh, that sounds fun,” she said, “I’ll have to tell Iruka-kun about that after this is all done…”



Kin laughed.



oOoOoOo



Neji frowned as he stared at the blond boy standing across the field from him. The boy wore a confident smirk, as if he knew he was going to win this fight.



*Loser,* he thought, *I’m going to enjoy tearing that confidence of your’s to pieces.*



“Tell me why you insist on fighting your fate,” he said, sliding into a loose jyuken stance, “It’s inevitable that you’ll lose to me, so why bother trying?”



Naruto smirked. *Ibiki-sensei, I think you’d like this prank,* he thought. “Let me ask you a question first,” he said, pulling out a coin from his pocket. “I marked this coin with kanji for your name and mine on each side. You say I’m destined to lose right? Well, lets let the coin decide!”



Neji and the audience all gaped at the blond. “What?!” the pale boy asked, his Byakugan activating and glaring hard at the boy. “Are you trying to make a mockery of this test?”



“Well, answer the question and we’ll see first,” Naruto replied, “My name or your’s Neji? Which will show up once I toss the coin? You say fate is on your side, right? So call it!”



Neji frowned, even as the audience began laughing at Naruto’s antics. “You really are a fool,” the dark haired Hyuuga muttered. “It’s total chance! It proves nothing!”



“Then you’ve just answered your own question, Neji!” Naruto shouted back. “We don’t know who would win in a fight between us any more than we know which side will show when I toss the coin. You say fate predetermines everything? Well, you’re wrong!” Naruto pocketed the coin. “We’re all destined for death, but our journey to that fate isn’t set in stone…we make it ourselves, one step at a time!”



Neji frowned. “Enough, you speak drivel,” he said. Naruto sighed, his hands coming together in his favorite hand seal.



“Fine, then I’ll just have to beat the sense into you,” he replied, “I don’t want to be here all day though, and I really want to face Sasuke soon.”



“TAJUU KAGE BUNSHIN NO JUTSU!”



oOoOoOo



Temari felt her eyes widen in shock as the field below literally FILLED with orange clad blond ninja’s, covering almost every open space she could see.



The real one was standing in the same spot, a smirk gracing his whisker marked face. *He…he doesn’t even look winded!* she thought, her grip on the railing tightening as she saw the mass of clones engage the pale eyed Neji. “That’s…that can’t be possible!” she muttered, “It’s gotta be some kind of genjutsu!” Her brother Kankuro was openly gaping in shock, and could offer no comment.



Shikamaru and Shino stood off to the side, both as surprised as the Suna kunoichi, but for different reasons.



“He played with Neji’s head there,” Shikamaru muttered, “It may have sounded pointless, but he cut right into Neji’s beliefs.”



Shino nodded. “Naruto-san has always been unpredictable,” he replied in his usual monotone way, “I have noticed that he has an exceptional ability to ‘think on his feet’. While planning is not his strong suit, he is able to adapt to virtually any situation.”



“That might be true,” Shikamaru replied, “But his playing with Neji’s head and then overwhelming him with those Kage Bunshin? That means he planned this out.”



Shino nodded again. “He has grown quite a bit since the preliminaries,” he muttered, “I am curious as to just how much.”



Off to the side, the final Suna nin, Gaara, remained impassive. Yet, deep within his teal eyes, a fire was burning.



*He…could be interesting,* the crazed boy thought, *Mother…would you like his blood? I think you would…*



oOoOoOo



Sarutobi eyed the blue garbed man beside him, and the two body guards who stood at his sides. *Rather obvious, my old student,* the aged Kage thought, *You never were very good at Shogi…your lack of strategy skills were a part of why Minato surpassed you.*



“That Uzumaki boy…he seems to have a grasp of psychology,” the ‘Kazekage’ muttered, “He played off the Hyuuga boy’s own beliefs and used them against him…”



Sarutobi smirked. “Well, Naruto-kun is one of our most unique genin,” he replied, “I dare say he’d be a handful for some jounin to match against. What he might lack in experience he more than makes up for in sheer determination.”



The pair watched as the Hyuuga boy created a rotating dome of chakra, hurling many of the Kage Bunshin’s away and into others, causing them to disperse and cover the field in smoke.



“Ah, and now a second facet of Naruto’s strategy comes out,” Sarutobi muttered, “He learned about the Byakugan’s perceptive abilities, so he’s making it harder for Neji to use it by covering the field. While such a plan won’t work as well against the Byakugan as it would the Sharingan, it is somewhat effective none the less.”



The blue garbed man merely grunted in acknowledgement, his eyes scanning the crowds. *There are more ANBU here than we expected,* he thought, his eyes seeking out the Mouse mask his second, Kabuto, was supposed to be wearing. He spied the boy near the eastern stands, sitting behind a group of civilians. *Still, with the forces in place, no amount of ANBU will be enough to prevent our victory.*



“Hmm, it seems Naruto’s about to talk again,” Sarutobi muttered, causing his companion to look down into the arena.



oOoOoOo



Neji stood there, panting and sweating as his opponent wiped some blood from his mouth. The boy had surprised him by joining in the attacks with his Kage Bunshins. He had expected him to hang back, letting the clones do the work.



The boy was…irritating.



Naruto smirked as he noticed the anger showing in Neji’s pearly eyes. *That’s it, you jerk,* he thought, *Get mad…you’ll get sloppy, and I’ll really hit you then.*



“Y’know, I just remembered something,” Naruto called over to the dark haired boy. “I actually spent some time with Hinata-chan this last month. I got to know her, and I became her friend.”



Neji frowned. “What’s your point, loser?” he growled. “I’m getting tired of this!”



“The point is…she told me about that seal on your head,” the blond replied. Neji’s eyes widened in shock, before narrowing in rage.



“So…you know about our clan’s burden of hatred,” he muttered, “Did you know that…”



“Your father died to save Hinata’s?” Naruto replied. “Yeah, she told me about that. She told me she misses her uncle…and you.”



Neji’s eyes widened. “Wha…”



“She remembers when you used to play with her,” Naruto replied, “And how you used to help her with her jyuken. She misses her ‘brother’, and she wants you back. She cried when she told me about it.” The blond stood straight, and pointed at him. “I promised you that I’d win this fight…and I also promised her that I’d give her her brother back. That means I absolutely can’t lose here!”



Neji frowned, sliding into another jyuken stance. “You can’t win,” he said, “You’re Kage Bunshin is impressive, but even if I can’t find the ‘real’ you, I can still take your clones out. Your jutsu must use an insane amount of chakra…my jyuken barely uses any. I can outlast you.”



“Y’know, you kept saying that Hinata-chan’s fate was to lose against you in that prelim,” Naruto replied, ignoring Neji’s declaration. “Tell me, did you know she knows how to use that other aspect of your seal?”



Neji’s eyes widened in shock, and he turned to look at where the timid girl was sitting in the stands.



“She told me she felt dirty after being taught how to use it,” Naruto replied, “She want’s to ban it’s being taught to the main house members. She wants the entire clan to be sealed so the Byakugan is protected. Do you get what I’m saying, Neji!?!” The boy shouted. “She wants the families to be equal! And she needs your help to do that!”



Neji frowned. “She’ll never succeed,” he replied, “The elders…”



“Will have to back down once she’s clan head, if she has the support of the branch head and the Hokage!” the blond boy replied, “And since I WILL be Hokage, she’s already two thirds of the way there!”



Neji snorted. “You can never become Hokage!” he replied, “Only those who are born for the role ascend to that position! Their fates are decided just like yours and mine!”



Naruto groaned. “Oh, there you go again, with ‘fate’, and ‘destiny’, and ‘birth’…” he shouted. “Fine, then lets finish this with a fate toss!” He pulled the coin out again. “I’ll let you choose Neji! Which side? Fate is on your side right?”



Neji growled. “Fine, be pathetic!” he growled out. “Even if it lands on the opposite side that I choose, I’ll still defeat you!”



Naruto smirked. “Okay,” he said, “Since you say you’ll beat me if it lands on either side, then you can have both! My name or yours…I’ll forfeit if either shows up!”



Everyone in the audience gaped at the blond, while a certain fishnet clad woman started chuckling.



*Oh, this is gonna be good!* she thought.



Neji stared at the boy. “What are you doing?” he said, “You’ll forfeit if either name shows up? If you’re going to do that, then why even fight in the first place?”



“Because sometimes you have to fight, no matter what,” Naruto replied, “But when those times are…you get to choose. I chose to fight you today so I could wake you up! I did it so Hinata-chan could have her brother back!” He readied the coin. “So we’re clear, if either name shows up, I forfeit!”



The proctor, Shiranui Genma, had finally caught on by this point. *Is he really…* the man thought.



Naruto smirked. “Here we go!” he flipped the coin, the golden color flashing as the sunlight struck its rotating surface, tumbling end over end as it fell towards the ground.



*Why is he so confident?* the pale eyed boy wondered as the coin plummeted. *He’s fated to lose now…no matter what side it lands on he said he’ll…*



The crowd gaped, and the blond burst out laughing as the coin landed…



…on its ‘edge’.



Neji stared, dumbfounded at the laughing blond. “What…you mean…”



“It’s a trick coin Neji!” Naruto shouted, “It’ll always land on its edge. That is what I mean with you talking about ‘fate’…you say you know it, but the truth is, it can always be changed! The gods don’t rule us Neji! We are the ones who live here! We shape the courses of our lives! WE CHOOSE TO BE WHAT WE ARE!”



Neji frowned as he heard a rumbling beneath him, and he looked down in shock as a second Naruto burst from the earth, his fist raised to strike a crushing blow to the Hyuuga prodigies chin.



The pale eyed boy cried out as he was launched backwards, landing hard on the ground. His vision blurred as the pain shook through his body, and he gazed in shock as the Naruto he’d been speaking to disappeared in a puff of smoke. “When…did you…”



“During that ‘Kaiten’ thing you did,” the real Naruto explained, dirt still falling from his dirty form. “I’d planned on this from the beginning of the fight. I wanted to get you shaken up…it was the only way to get through to you.”



“Your…Kage Bunshin…I should…have…expected…” the boy groaned out.



“Got a news flash for you,” Naruto spoke up, “I failed the academy graduation exam three times because I sucked at plain old Bunshin no jutsu.” He smiled at the shocked look on Neji’s face. “It seems like fate was saying that I was never going to be a shinobi…yet here I am. You know why?”



Neji frowned. “Because…you refused to…accept your fate…” he whispered.



“And Hinata refuses to accept yours,” the boy nodded. “She wants you back. She’s hurting too y’know. You can help her, and together you’ll both grow stronger.”



Genma walked over to the boys. “Looks like those lessons with Ibiki-san have paid off, Naruto-san,” he muttered, “That was one hell of a mind game.”



Naruto smiled. “You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” he said, looking down at Neji. “We’re not limited by fate…only our perceptions of it.”



The senbon chewing man smirked. “Shousha: Uzumaki Naruto!” he called out, causing the crowd to roar in approval.



Naruto smiled, before looking up at the Hokage. *Now we just have to make it through the rest of the day,* he thought.



oOoOoOo



Hinata smiled as Anko sat next to her. “Anko-sensei,” she greeted the wild kunoichi warmly, “Naruto-kun…he was amazing.”



“Yep,” the scantily clad woman replied, “With a well thought out plan like that, he’s pretty much locked in for chuunin now. Ibiki will make his appointment to the division permanent after the promotions are over.” She smirked. “He’ll have his work cut out for him too.”



Hinata frowned, looking around the arena. Next to her, Kiba was also counting the number of ANBU amongst the spectators. “When?” the pale eyed girl asked.



“Probably during the Uchiha’s fight,” Anko replied. “Keep your guards up, and be ready to get any civilians out of the cross fire.” She looked over at the Inuzuka, who was staring at her strangely. “Keep your eye on those Suna genin…we’re concerned about that Gaara kid. If worst comes to worst, get out of the stadium if he acts up. Leave him to the ANBU.”



Hinata nodded. “And his teammates?” she asked.



“Capture if you can, kill if need be,” Anko replied, “Preferably the former though. Once this little parties over, those three would make great bargaining chips with the Wind Daimyo.” She looked down at her new ‘apprentice’. “You been studying those ideas Naruto-kun came up with?”



Hinata nodded, blushing. “Naruto-kun is…very devious,” she muttered. “I can see how his pranks worked so well.” She turned to her new teacher. “Ano, Anko-sensei…will I have to…”



“If we get one, I’ll want you to help at least,” the lavender haired woman replied. She stood up then, looking down at her new charge. “Keep frosty, my little friend. Things are gonna get hot soon.”



oOoOoOo



It didn’t surprise Naruto that the black garbed Suna-nin forfeited. With the intelligence that Kin-chan had provided about the joint invaison force, it was perfectly understandable that he’d want to avoid fighting and conserve his chakra.



He was kind of surprised that his female teammate leapt out into the arena (though he had to admit, the floating on the fan thing was VERY cool), and he smiled as he realized something. *This…could work out well for us,* he thought.



“Oh man, why do I have to fight girls all the time,” Shikamaru groaned, resting his head against the metal railing. “I don’t even really care if I get promoted. Maybe I should…”



“Don’t even think about it!” Naruto growled, pulling the lazy Nara up and glaring into his dark brown eyes. “You go out there and take her down! Show some pride as a Konoha shinobi!” He brought his face close to the now slightly panicked boy. “Take her down, and do it quickly! I want to get to the next round!”



With a quick shove, he sent the lazy genin tumbling over the railing, the boy landing on his back at the base of the wall.



*Y’know…I think I hate that Naruto,* was all he could think.



Shino merely shook his head as he watched the events transpire. “A little…unsubtle, Naruto-san,” he muttered, “I’m sure Shikamaru-san would have…”



Naruto gave the Aburame heir a pointed look. He then pointed to the object of discussion, who was still lying down at the base of the wall. Many members of the crowd were beginning to make catcalls to rouse the boy and get the fight started.



“I see your point,” the stoic boy replied, leaning against one of the walls.



oOoOoOo



Shikamaru was no fool.



He had known something was up the moment he saw the three Suna-nin enter the arena. While that red-head, Gaara, looked as coldly psychotic as ever, the other two were far more nervous than usual.



It was harder to see on the kunoichi’s face than the black garbed boy, but he could tell something was on her mind, and it was distracting her from the competition.



*Dad was talking about some kind of big thing going down,* he thought as he hid behind some of the trees, avoiding Temari’s fuuton attacks. *And there were a lot of ANBU about today too.* He shrugged his jacket off, tying the sleeves and bottom edges together. He was certain his plan was going to work, but he needed a little more time to get it right. *I just hope that jutsu Dad showed me works…*



Temari meanwhile was growing very frustrated. *Damn it, what is he waiting for!?!* she thought as she focused more chakra into her Dai Tessan. A quick swipe of her arms send another batch of ‘wind blades’ towards her foe’s position, forcing him to run and duck behind a rock as his previous shield was turned into instant fire-place logs. *I’m using too much chakra here…I already knew his jutsu from the prelims, and he hasn’t shown anything new! This kid’s a one trick pony, yet he’s STILL holding me off!*



“TEMARI! ABOVE YOU!” she heard Kankuro cry out, causing her to look up. Her eyes widened as she saw the makeshift parachute drifting overhead, and she shot a glare at the Nara boy as he formed the Nezumi seal for his jutsu. She leapt back, even as the shadows shot toward her, curving with her path and forcing her to leap around.



“You won’t get me that easily, asshole!” she shouted, landing just beyond Shikamaru’s range. She planted her fan down to act as a shield while she formed her own strategy.



“You lose,” she heard him call out, “You fell right into my trap.”



Temari fought down the urge to laugh. “And how do figure that?” she shouted back. “I’m beyond your shadow’s range! I’m safe here, and soon enough I’ll have you cornered for one last Kazeitachi!”



Shikamaru smirked. “Are you really?” he asked, holding the seal as he stood up straight.



Temari gasped in shock as her own body stood. “Wha-what!?!” she cried out. “But…your shadow…I’m outside…” Shikamaru moved his head, forcing her to look behind her. She cried out in dismay as she saw a tendril of darkness seeping out of the hole the other boy, Naruto, had made when he clobbered the Hyuuga boy. “No…way…”



“A ninja is both a master of himself and his environment,” the lazy genius said, his hands flashing threw a quick three seal sequence. “O-ushi, inu, nezumi. Ninpou: Kage Kubi Shibari no jutsu!”



Temari gasped as a pair of shadow tendrils started moving up her body, coming to a stop at her neck and forming ‘hands’ around her throat. She felt them tighten around her neck, stopping her from taking a breath. “W-w-wa…it…” she gasped out, her vision already darkening along the edges.



“You guys are planning something against my home,” Shikamaru whispered, even as he pumped more chakra into his jutsu. “I won’t let you hurt my village, so I’m taking you out of the picture.”



Temari struggled for a few more moments, before collapsing to the ground. Shikamaru cancelled his jutsu, looking over at Genma, panting from his using so much chakra.



“Shousha, Nara Shikamaru,” the man said, pointing to the exhausted boy. The crowd cheered, causing the lazy genius to smile slightly.



“Proctor,” he said, “I used up too much chakra there…it’ll take me at least a day to build myself back up. I’m not gonna be any match for my next opponent, so I’m withdrawing here.”



The crowd started murmuring at his choice, and he heard Naruto shouting at him for taking the coward’s way out, but he shook his head. *Deception is something you might be good at doing yourself, Naruto,* he thought, *But you still have a hard time recognizing it in others…man, your so troublesome.*



“Well, if that’s your wish, Shikamaru-san,” Genma replied, “Still, you showed some real skill out here today. You should be proud of yourself.”



Shikamaru smirked. “Thanks, sensei,” he replied, walking back to the waiting area. He idly noticed the unconscious Temari being carried off by the medical support crew, and he frowned when he saw Naruto paying close attention to it. *What would you care about that, Naruto?* he wondered.



oOoOoOo



Sakura smiled when she finally found her blond teammate. The boy was sharpening his favorite kunai, drawing it with slow, firm strokes against a well-worn whetstone. “Hey, Naruto,” she said, standing a few feet away from him. The blond looked up in surprise, smiling brightly as he saw her.



“Hey, Sakura-chan!” he greeted, pocketing his whetstone and holstering his kunai. “I missed you this month! I got so much I want to tell you, and I got a whole bunch of new jutsu’s to show you too!” He grinned deviously. “I even learned the Shunshin no jutsu finally! Now Kakashi-sensei can’t act so cool with the vanishing in smoke thing!”



Sakura sighed - slightly in relief - at her teammates antics. *Like a kid with a new toy,* she thought, *At least Naruto hasn’t changed too much.* “I’m happy for you, Naruto,” she said, “All I really got to do this month was study genjutsu scrolls and get Ino to show me water walking. I haven’t seen Kakashi-sensei or Sasuke-kun at all.”



Naruto frowned. “Oh, Ibiki-sensei isn’t going to be happy about that,” he muttered.



Sakura frowned. “Wait, why wouldn’t Ibiki-sensei be happy about it?” she asked, looking at the blond in curiosity.



“Well, you see,” Naruto started, “I went to go and get Kakashi-sensei to train me for the finals, and on my way there I ran into Ibiki-sensei. He took me to the hospital because he needed to get something, and he overheard my request.” Naruto frowned then. “Kakashi-sensei said he couldn’t train me though…he said he needed to focus on Sasuke-teme.”



“What?” Sakura asked, somewhat upset that her sensei had just chosen to ignore both her and Naruto. She knew Sasuke needed special training for his Sharingan, sure…but that didn’t mean that Kakashi had to ignore them.



“Anyway, Ibiki-sensei ripped into him big for that, and then he said that he’d take over my training!” The blond grinned. “I’ve been learning all about psychology and mind games with him…that’s how I beat Neji!”



Sakura nodded, still dumbfounded at this revelation. “You did really good too,” she said, genuinely proud of her teammate. “Still…why would he…”



“Oh, he told Kakashi-sensei that he didn’t want to hear about him ignoring you during this month,” the blond explained. “Seems like he didn’t listen though.”



Sakura nodded, now somewhat upset at her ‘sensei’. “No…it doesn’t look like he did,” she muttered.



Naruto frowned, walking forward and patting Sakura on the shoulder. “Well, you went and got stronger on your own,” he said, “I know you’re good at genjutsu, I remember how well you did on it at the academy! I bet you know a bunch more now!”



Sakura actually blushed a little. “Well, I know the theories,” she said, “I haven’t actually used them yet…”



*You’ll probably get your chance today,* the boy thought eyeing the crowds as they started to get restless. *Where are Kakashi and the bastard anyway? Their times almost up!*



At that moment, a large explosion shook the arena, and Naruto cursed.



*Correction, their times WAY PAST UP!*



oOoOoOo



“NINPOU: SHISHIENJIN!” four grey garbed ninja shouted, purple flames shooting out from their positions and creating a box around the now revealed Orochimaru and the now battle garbed Sarutobi.



“Well, Sarutobi-sensei,” Orochimaru snickered, slicing his palm with a kunai. “It seems we’ll be able to have out chat uninterrupted now.” He smeared the blood from his palm over his other hand, preparing to activate his new prized jutsu. “I am curious as to how you knew it was me though? I could tell you knew the whole time we were sitting there.”



Sarutobi smiled, even as he saw a few plant roots start to form underneath the kunoichi in Orochimaru’s little group. “You never did learn just how useful Shogi is as a teaching tool, my foolish student,” he said, “Every time you played against Tsunade or Jiraiya you always lost…and it was always for the same reason, each time. Do you remember what that reason was?”



Orochimaru frowned. “I don’t,” he said, “Such useless drivel is beneath us both, Sarutobi-sensei.”



“It’s hardly useless,” the aged Kage replied, looking over to the kunoichi as the roots continued to weaken the roof beneath her feet. “The reason was that you kept underestimating the value of your pawns. Like so many foolish shinobi, you failed to value your subordinates. Surely you must have noticed how one of your genin from the exams has been missing all this time?”



“What did you do to Kin, you old cock-sucker!?!” the red-headed kunoichi shouted, glaring at the old man.



“Tayuya! Focus on the barrier!” one of the males shouted, a thin young man with an odd bundle upon his back.



Orochimaru meanwhile was livid. “So, you broke her and got her to spill about the invaison,” he muttered. “I wondered why I had to find another sacrifice…”



“Sacrifi…” Sarutobi’s eyes narrowed. “That sick jutsu…even you would not dare!”



“Wouldn’t I?” the snake sannin grinned. “I think it’d be kind of poetic really…I’m the former pupil, here to slay my old master. It seems only fitting that I use the powers of my master’s masters to do so, don’t you?”



Sarutobi scowled. “I really did make a mistake sparing you back then,” he said, “I remember the missive I received from Hanzo after your fight with him back then too…he said you would turn to darkness, even with all the power and training you were given to hold it off. I should have listened to him.”



Orochimaru grinned. “Well, it hardly matters,” he replied, “He’s dead now too, sensei. You can debate the merits of it with him in the afterlife!”



Sarutobi smiled. “Or you can, my foolish student,” he said, “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t be prepared for you to try and trap me? I knew you’d choose this spot as well…you’d want me to see Konoha burning even as we fought.”



Orochimaru smirked. “It would be a lovely sight,” he said, looking over as his three serpents smashed through the outer walls. “Still, I’m not sure why you’re smiling old man. I have you dead to rights…”



“And I have you trapped in a fools gambit!” Sarutobi shouted. “NOW TENZO!”



“MOKUTON HIJUTSU: SHICHURO NO JUTSU!“ a deep voice sounded out, causing the snake sannin to gape in shock as Tayuya was suddenly trapped in side a wooden case, her arms separated by a wooden beam. The flaming barrier, now disrupted, collapsed around the group, allowing the ANBU waiting on the outside to surge forward. The remaining three ninja attempted to put up a fight, but were quickly felled with a few quick swings of ninjato.



Orochimaru grimaced in anger as Sarutobi was surrounded by five ANBU, even as a sixth rose from underneath the roof next to the captured Tayuya. “Damn you old man,” he growled.



“Give up, Orochimaru,” Sarutobi growled. “We knew all about your plan to use Sabaku no Gaara to incite fear in the village. Even as we speak our allies from Takigakure and Kusagakure are containing your invaison force. You’re outnumbered three to one, and when word gets out that you assassinated the Kazegake it will swiftly become four to one.”



Orochimaru growled. “This is far from over, Sarutobi!” he spat, his hands flying through a quick seal sequence, purple flames encircling his slender form. “I will make you pay for this humilation!”



“STOP!” Sarutobi shouted, his hands rushing through his own seal sequence. “KATON: KARYUU ENDAN!” He spat the stream of flames at his vanishing pupil, hoping to catch him before he could flee. The ANBU followed suit, each launching a Goukakyu at the retreating sannin, but to no avail.



Sarutobi sighed, even as he saw a giant frog crush the three rampaging snakes. He watched as the various Oto-nins still inside the stands started fleeing, while the Suna-nins continued to gape at the site of their Kage’s tattered robes lying on the roof next to him. He turned to Tenzo, who stood next to the caged kunoichi. “Signal the tower to relay the message,” he said, “Tell the Suna-nins that if they surrender, we will spare their lives. They are only guilty of being duped. Any Oto-nin is to be captured or executed on site.”



“And this one?” the badger masked ANBU asked, pointing to the cursing girl still struggling in her cage.



“Orochimaru wouldn’t have chosen her as a body guard unless she had some special talent,” the wizened leader said, “Knock her out and give her to Ibiki. Tell him to take his time with this one.”



“YOU FUCKERS! I’LL FUCKING ROAST YOUR ASSES ON A SPIT WITH ACID SAUCE!” the foul mouth girl screamed.



“Oh, shut up,” Tenzo muttered, reaching in to pinch a nerve on the girl’s neck, causing her to go limp.



Ibiki landed on the roof, frowning at the lack of ‘snake-carcass’. He looked at his leader. “Kakashi and Sasuke were found outside the village,” he said, “Apparently, they saw that Gaara kid and his big brother headed out, and went in pursuit. Kakashi’s summon, Pakkun, reported it to me.”



Sarutobi nodded, frowning at Kakashi’s tardiness. “Well, he has cost his student a promotion,” he muttered, pulling his pipe from his battle robes. “Did you send them back-up?”



Ibiki smirked. “Naruto went off as soon as he heard,” he said, “He took the Aburame boy and Haruno girl with him, and Pakkun to act as a guide.” Ibiki frowned then. “I over heard them talking in the hall, Sarutobi-sama…Kakashi ignored my warning.”



The elderly man sighed. “And it will be addressed, after we take care of this,” he muttered. He turned to Tenzo. “Go after them. I want those two boys taken alive if possible…but if worst comes to worst, you and Naruto may be the only one’s who could stop the Gaara boy.”



Tenzo nodded, leaping off the roof, and headed after the pursuing genin.



Ibiki walked over to the unconscious girl still held in the wooden restrains. “I’ll have Naruto ask his slave about this one,” he said, “He mentioned her talking about some girl called ‘Tayuya’ during their…play-time.” The ANBU present all chuckled at that. “He’ll probably want to do the interrogation himself…if only so he can tell his girl that he tried to save her.”



Sarutobi nodded. “Anko tells me she’s taken on an apprentice of her own,” he muttered, “She didn’t tell me who, though.”



Ibiki smirked. “I think she’s trying to play matchmaker for Naruto,” he said, “She’s kinda taken him on as a little brother…her apprentice is that Hyuuga girl.”



Sarutobi frowned. “Hyuuga Hinata?” he muttered, “She’s hardly one I’d expect to fit in with Interrogation and Torture.”



Ibiki shrugged. “Anko thinks she’ll do well,” he said, “She’s had her studying Naruto’s ideas on using irony as torture. She told me she wants to have Hinata break one of the prisoners.”



Sarutobi sighed. “I’m too old for this shit,” he muttered, “I just want to rest. Tell her to go ahead, but I want full reports after each session! That girl is heiress to one of our most prestigious clans…I will not have her being wrecked because Anko likes to ‘play’.”



Ibiki nodded. “I’ll tell her.”



oOoOoOo



Naruto panted hard as he lay on the ground, his opponent, Gaara, lying in a heap a few yards away. Sasuke lay against a tree, a trickle of blood seeping from his lip as Sakura tended to him. Kakashi was speaking to the ANBU who had shown up, their tones muted, yet the discussion obviously heated.



Shino was nursing a small gash in his side, the stoic boy glaring at the unconscious black garbed ninja before him, the remains of his puppet lying off to the side.



“Hey…Shino,” the exhausted blond called over, “How…are…your bugs?”



Shino sighed, kneeling next to his blond companion and letting out an uncharacteristic hiss as the pain shot through his body. “I…lost one…of my queens,” he said, a tear leaking from his eye as his bugs relayed their sorrow to him. “The other two…are fine…though they seem…a…bit annoyed…with that Suna boy.”



Naruto chuckled weakly, even as he struggled to sit up. He was surprised when a slim pair of arms helped him into a sitting position, and he looked up into Sakura’s concerned jade orbs. “Sakura…chan,” he groaned out, “How…is…”



“He’ll be fine, after some rest,” she said, “That curse seal seems to have receded. That ANBU guy and Kakashi-sensei are trying to decide what to do with these two.” She nodded at the unconscious Kankuro and the seemingly catatonic Gaara.



Naruto frowned. “Help…me up, please?” he asked. The girl frowned, trying to tell him to rest, but he gave her a serious look. “I…need to…talk to them. Please, Sakura-chan.”



The pink haired girl sighed. “You are just too stubborn,” she said, “But if you’re going to be Hokage one day, I guess you’ll have to be.” She hoisted the tired blond to his feet, leaving Shino to watch over the ‘prisoners’, and helped him to limp over to the adults.



“Hokage-sama ordered us to secure them alive if possible!” Tenzo said, “We have them alive, and we can keep them controlled.”



“I can agree in the case of the puppet user,” Kakashi snapped back, “But that Gaara boy is far different! He’s practically the total opposite of Naruto! Naruto can control ‘it’, but this kid is controlled BY it. We cannot take that…”



“We take him back,” Naruto growled out, reaching out to lean against a tree and relieve Sakura of the burden of holding him up. “Jiji said he wanted them both, so we give him both. Simple as that.”



Kakashi frowned at his ‘wild’ student, his visible eye narrowing at the insubordination. “This isn’t something for you…”



“I’m more involved than you realize, Kakashi-sensei,” the blond replied, “Or did you forget who trained me this month?” Kakashi’s eye narrowed even further, and he let out an annoyed sigh.



“The risk…”



“Isn’t as bad as you think,” Naruto replied, “He won’t attack us. He’s confused…he was fighting just for himself. He wants to know why I won…he can’t find that out if he tries to kill us.”



Tenzo smiled beneath his mask, nodding at the boy’s passion.



“He’s like me, sensei,” the blond continued, “He knows what loneliness is like…give him a chance to find out that there’s more.”



Kakashi sighed. *Maybe Ibiki was right about you,* the silver haired jounin thought. *Maybe you really are the strongest of the pair.* His eye shot towards his unconscious student, and over the concerned visage of his female student. *I…I really am a lousy teacher.*



“Alright, Naruto,” he said, “We’ll play it your way…but if he does anything…”



“I know,” the blue eyed boy smirked, giving his sensei a thumbs up. “He won’t though…I guarantee it!”



The group quickly picked up the three unconscious boys, taking to the trees. Naruto took to carrying Gaara, a soldier pill bolstering his strength.



“Why…” the red headed boy rasped.



Naruto smirked as the group leapt back towards the village. “Because…I think you might turn out to be a good person,” he said, balancing the boy’s weight on his back, “And I know that feeling you have…I used to feel it too.” He glanced over his should to and into the teal eyed boy’s face. “If I can overcome it…so can you. You’re strong, Gaara. I know it.”



Gaara found himself believing the strange blond’s words. *Mother…is…he right?* he thought, his heart in turmoil as his beliefs continued to shatter. *What…should I…do?*



oOoOoOo



Anko smiled as she looked over the file that Eagle had handed her. “Fifteen years old, fairly strong willed, intelligent,” she muttered, looking over the data, “This one will be perfect for my cute little student’s first session.”



Eagle frowned beneath his mask. “Ibiki-taicho said Hokage-sama nearly pitched a fit when he found out you took on the Hyuuga heiress as your new ‘project,” he said, “I gotta say, Anko-sempai, I’m a bit concerned about this too. Naruto-kun was pushing it as it was, but the Hyuuga heiress?” He shook his head. “You won’t even be able to take her on as a formal apprentice until she gets promoted to chuunin.”



Anko chuckled. “So the rules say,” she replied, “But rank doesn’t really mean much to me. I know things some jounins would love to learn, but I won’t teach them. You know why?” When Eagle shrugged, she smirked. “Because they’d want to do it their way, not mine. Hinata-chan is a blank slate practically. I can train her into a deadly kunoichi, yet I can also give her what my ‘sensei’ never really gave me…strength of the heart.”



The fishnet clad woman stood up. “Hinata-chan needs to know she can be powerful when she puts her mind to it,” she said, “She’s not a frontline fighter, her own psych-profile proves that. However, she scored very well on analytical and observational tests. With the right training, she could become either a powerful scout, or a master-level interrogator.” The wild kunoichi grinned. “So, with both Kurenai-chan and myself working on her…”



Eagle sighed. “Aren’t you worried that you’ll over-load the poor girl?” he asked. “I read her file too…she’s almost terminally shy.”



Anko smirked. “Trust me…by the time she’s finished with this prisoner, that will NEVER be a problem again,” she laughed.



oOoOoOo



Hinata stood in Anko’s office, trying not to blush at the many…unique…decorations Anko had scattered about the room. “Ano…Anko-sensei,” she said, “Are y-you sure I’m…ready for this?” She looked down at the folder in her hands. “This…I mean, how can I…”



Her new teacher smirked, walking behind her and rubbing the girl’s shoulders, trying to calm her down. “Hinata-chan, I know you can,” she said, “You have strength deep inside you. Maybe you’re not the strongest Hyuuga in the village, but you can be one of the strongest kunoichi around. You can find that by getting over your own fears, and doing something that you’d never even thing of doing before.” She motioned to the folder. “Show your strength by doing this.”



Hinata gulped. “Ano…but…she’s…well I mean…”



Anko sighed. “Listen, you know Naruto-kun did this too,” she said, “He was just as afraid and unsure as you, yet he got over it. You want to be like him? You have to do the same thing!”



The pale girl sighed, but nodded. “I’ll…I’ll do it, Anko-sensei,” she said, “But…will you…?”



Anko smiled, patting the girl’s slim shoulders. “I wouldn’t make you do this completely solo girl,” she said. “I’ll be in the room too, and I’ll handle the harder parts if it comes to that. Still, I think you can do it just fine…just follow Naruto’s example. Use irony on the prisoner, and you should succeed.”



Hinata nodded, looking down at the picture in the file, noting the statistics of the kunoichi listed within.



She noted that Naruto’s blond locks were much brighter than the Suna-kunoichi’s own…she liked them better.



oOoOoOo



Temari groaned as she came too, her throat dry and her body feeling very sticky. She tried to open her eyes, only to see more darkness.



*Blindfold?* she wondered, *But…why?*



“She’s awake now, sensei,” she heard a soft, feminine voice penetrate the darkness. “She’s trying to see where she is.”



*What the…how did she…* the blond girl wondered, Even as she felt someone untying the knot that held the black cloth to her eyes. She hissed slightly as the light suddenly burst forth, but she forced herself to adjust, staring in surprise as two figures faded into existence before her. She recognized the insane kunoichi examiner from the second test, though she was more surprised at the timid looking girl next to her.



“Where…what is going on?” she rasped out, staring at the two. She tried to move her limbs, only to find them, along with her head, restrained by some device. There were hot lamps positioned right above her, bathing her in a reddish, slightly suffocating glow.



“What’s going on is your village’s little invasion plan? Yeah, it went kaput,” the jounin said, smirking at the girl. “Turns out your Kazekage’s been dead for some time. We knew all about your alliance with Otogakure, and we trapped your little force with a three on one snare.”



Temari frowned. “My…brothers…” she whispered.



“Well, from what I understand they’re both fine,” Anko replied, “We’re having Jiraiya-sama fix your baby brother’s seal so he won’t be as psychotic, and your other brother was appointed acting ambassador to try and hash out a new treaty. The Wind Lord was pissed off too…he says the loss of the Kazekage is no great burden, but he was not pleased that he was caught up in an invasion…he said something about his granddaughter being here.”



Temari tried to swallow some spit to moisten her mouth. “I…agree with him,” she replied, “My…father…was a bastard. What he did to Gaara…”



Anko smirked. “Well, that’s all well and good,” she replied, “But the fact is, you guys were in league with Orochimaru. We need to know whatever you might know about his operations, and your village will need to make reparations to our village.”



The timid girl, whose pale eyes were almost shining in the darkness, stepped forward. “We also…want to know…what else…Sunagakure might be planning,” she said, “Please…tell us.”



Temari frowned. “Oh, so its torture if I don’t,” she growled out. “I get the hot lamp thing now. I can’t move my head, so I can’t look down. I bet I’m naked, right?”



Anko smirked. “Actually no,” she said, “We decided to leave your clothes on for the moment. We figured you might be more willing to talk first. As for the lamps, well they’re the only kind I have in here. I’m a snake person, so I like it hot.” She walked forward, sliding her hand up the bound girl’s left thigh and causing her to shudder. “Besides, you’re from the desert…heat can’t really bother you much.” She smiled at the girl’s distress at being touched so intimately. “You’ve got nice skin for a sand rat,” she chuckled, looking over at her apprentice. “Hinata-chan, come here.”



The pale eyed girl gulped, but quietly shuffled forward, her eyes locked on Anko’s hand as she caressed the Suna girl’s thigh. She squeaked slightly as her scantily clad Sensei grabbed her hand, placing it on the restrained girl’s skin.



Temari shuddered as the smaller girl rubbed her thigh. Her skin was quite cool to the touch, and it provided a strange contrast to the hot lamps baring down on her. “Stop…groping me, little girl,” she growled out, trying to look intimidating despite her restrained state.



Hinata frowned, looking up into Temari’s pale jade orbs. “I…am not…a little girl,” she muttered, reaching back and slapping the inside of Temari’s thigh, causing the blond to gasp in pain even as Anko’s eyebrows rose in surprise.



*She’s starting to get that fire brewing,* the snake mistress thought, *Now, to get her to really open up that hidden door…* “Okay, Hinata-chan,” she said, getting both girls’ attentions. “This is your show. It’s your job to get our little desert flower to talk…how do you want to go about it?”



Hinata gulped, stepping back from the restrained girl, and pressing her fingers together in thought. Anko smirked at the cute gesture - if she wasn’t trying to get the girl with Naruto she might be tempted to take a taste for herself.



The pale eyed girl stood up straight after a few minutes, a look of focused determination on her aristocratic features. Her fists were clenched at her sides, and when she spoke, there was no trace of stutter.



“Anko-sensei…you said most interrogations are done with the prisoner nude,” she said, “I think we should follow the standard rules.” Temari growled at the idea, but Hinata ignored the blonde’s protests.



Anko shrugged, pulling a kunai from her pouch. “Okay, I’ll just start cutting away…”



“No!” Hinata said, causing both of them to look at her. “I like her outfit, and I can tell she does to.” She looked at the angered girl, noting the fact that there was a bit of relief in her pale green eyes. “That kimono…it’s important to you, isn’t it?” she asked.



Temari scowled. “Yeah,” she admitted, “It…it was my mother’s. She died when Gaara was born…”



Hinata nodded. “I lost my mother when my little sister was born,” she said, “So we have something in common. We both have things we treasure of our mother’s…and I’m not so cruel to destroy something you cherish so much.”



Anko wondered where her student was going with this. “Hinata-chan?” she asked, “If you don’t want me to cut her clothes off, then what do you want?”



The small girl blushed slightly, but she stood tall. “Let her down from the restraints, Anko-sensei,” she said, turning her gaze to the now shocked blonde. “You know if you try anything, Anko-sensei will take you down. After that, it’ll be Ibiki-sensei who takes over your interrogation…which would likely be far worse than what I could dream of doing.”



Temari suddenly went cold inside. She didn’t want to believe the idea, but she somehow knew what the shorter girl was going to say next.



“Anko-sensei will let you down,” the girl continued, “But once you’re free…you will strip.”



Anko’s eyes widened, and she chuckled loudly. “Oh, very nice,” she muttered, as she started loosening the straps to Temari’s restraints. “You want to protect your dress? You have to humiliate yourself. If you don’t, you lose the dress, and you still get humiliated. Which will it be, Sandy-girl?”



Temari gaped at the smaller girl, ignoring the other woman’s taunts. Her pride and her desire to protect her mother’s keepsake warred within her, and she couldn’t find an answer. *My dress…but if I strip I’m saying their stronger…but I’ll still wind up naked anyway…*



“I’ll give you one minute to decide,” Hinata said, breaking into the conflicted girl’s thoughts. “You don’t decide, then I’ll have Anko-sensei strip you anyway, and then we’ll go to work.”



Temari shuddered. “Okay!” she shouted back. “I’ll…I’ll do it. Just…just please…”



“Nothing will happen to it,” Hinata promised. She pointed to the center of the room, where a set of chains hung from the ceiling, a spreader bar attached to its length.



Temari scowled, before walking over to the area, Anko and Hinata following. The girl noticed her Dai Tessan resting against one of the walls. “My weapon…” she muttered.



“Konoha’s weapon now,” Anko said, “You’re a prisoner now girl. Anything you own officially belongs to us, even your mother’s dress. Hinata-chan’s being much nicer than I would be, giving you the option to strip. I’d have just cut your clothes off and put you on my ‘lip-loosener’ already.” She pointed to a gynecologist’s chair, and a machine that held a disk with several leather straps attached to it. “Course, you could still wind up on it, if you don’t want to talk.”



Temari shuddered. “You’re a sick woman,” she muttered, “Don’t you have any pride in our gender?”



Anko laughed. “Course I do,” she said, “But I have more pride as a kunoichi. And you, are my enemy right now.” The lavender haired woman then leveled a flat glare at the blond. “Now, I believe Hinata-chan told you to strip.”



The pale eyed girl nodded. “Completely,” she said, “And take the hair bands off. Until we say so you don’t deserve clothes.”



The blond scowled, before pulling the four black ties out of her hair, allowing her short blond locks to fall down against her neck. The effect softened her look a bit, drawing more attention to her pale green eyes. The girl then untied the stiff bow at her back, letting it fall to the ground, before undoing the ties that held the upper part of her kimono together. The blue-grey garment fell to the ground, allowing both Hinata and Anko to view her wrapped chest for the first time.



She wasn’t ‘stacked’, like the two of them were, but she did possess a healthy pair of breasts in about the high B to low C cup range, Anko figured. Hinata found herself surprisingly envious of the girl’s trim figure, however…she herself leanded more towards the ‘voluptuous’ side, and she often worried that Naruto wasn’t attracted to that type - Sakura was almost rail thin, yet Naruto was constantly after her.



The pale eyed girl felt a strange warmth seep into her thighs as the blond undid a wrapping around her legs, letting the white cloth fall to the ground, and exposing a tiny pair of panties with bow-ties on the sides. “Stop!” she said, her mouth surprisingly dry as she gazed upon the blond’s practically bare body. “Turn around,” she ordered, causing the other girl to blush slightly, and her sensei to smirk. The blond clenched her fists, before turning around to show her rear to the now blushing heiress.



Turned out the panties were a micro-thong, a small white cord bisecting the girl’s backside before disappearing between her well formed rear. Anko let out a small wolf-whistle, causing Hinata to blush.



“Nice undies, Sandy-girl,” the wild kunoichi chuckled. “If I wore them myself those might just be the kind I’d get!”



Hinata had to take a few deep breaths to calm herself. She told the girl to continue, trying not to gulp as Temari unwrapped her chest, exposing a small rose tattoo just under her left tit. “A tattoo?” Hinata asked, trying to shake the girl up.



Temari refused to speak, despite the humiliation she was feeling at having to take her clothes off in front of a girl who was younger than she was. She simply continued to undress, undoing one of the ties to her thong, allowing it to peal away and reveal the small triangle of golden curls that rested just above her woman hood.



Hinata walked forward, holding out her hand. “Give me your panties,” she said, causing the other two women to gape at her. The pale eyed girl tried to look intimidating, despite her small stature. “If you talk, I’ll give them back,” she explained. “But you’ll have to ask me for them.”



Temari frowned, but handed the flimsy garment to the smaller girl. “You better pray you never wind up on the other side of this deal,” she growled out, trying to make the girl flinch, “If I ever get you into this position…I swear, you’ll be begging for death!” She smirked. “Of course, I might just decide to kill you in front of that blond kid from the exams…you like him right?” Hinata glared at the girl, and she knew she’d struck a nerve. “Maybe after I take you out, I could get to know him better…he is cute, and if he really make that many Kage Bunshins? Well, the mind bogggles…maybe he‘d make a good ‘pet’.”



Hinata scowled, before turning to Anko. “Sensei…I want to use the ‘Drip’ idea,” she said.



Anko frowned. “That’s…going pretty far, isn’t it, Hinata-chan?” she asked, “It’s only the first day.”



The pale eyed girl shook her head. “No, I want this!” she said, “I…I need to see if I’ve got the strength to do it!”



Temari tried to figure out what the girl was talking about. “What are you planning?” she shouted at the small girl, not noticing the blue glow forming around the girl’s left hand. “What ever you think you’ve got planned you perverted little freak, you’ll nevUURK!”



Hinata glared at the blond, her pale eyes surrounded by the engorged veins of her families Kekkei Genkai, her palm planted against the girl‘s taut belly.



“I’m going to make you beg,” Hinata said, as the blond collapsed, “Nobody…threatens Naruto-kun.”



oOoOoOo



Naruto watched the feed on one of the monitors, his eyebrows practically reaching into his hairline. “Hinata-chan…she’s so angry!” he muttered, even as his slave rubbed his shoulders.



Kin nodded, her eyes wide as she saw the pale girl strap the Suna kunoichi’s legs to the spreader bar chain, using leather straps to bind her ankles to her hips, before using a second bar to separate her hands, and attaching them to a hook on the floor. “Master…is she really…” the dark haired girl asked, watching in shock as the formerly timid girl and her sensei hoisted the naked girl up, leaving her suspended in the air upside down, her breasts hanging down and taking a more conical shape as opposed to the rounded mounds she had before.



Naruto nodded. “She did,” he said, “I never knew Hinata-chan was so…I mean, to go so far…”



Kin smiled as she leaned forward, planting a quick kiss to her master’s cheek and breaking him out of his rambling. “She…cares about you deeply master,” she said, “I can see that even if this is the first time I’ve actually seen her. You told me about how she always blushed and stammered around you before…I think it’s because she was crushing on you.”



The blond boy gaped in surprise, looking at the monitor as Hinata and Anko set up some strange device. “But…why would she like me?” he asked, “She’s practically a princess…me? I’m a gutter kid.”



Kin smiled. “You’re also a kind person, and you told me how she liked how you are so ‘loud’,” she said, tilting her master’s eyes up to her own. “You’re practically her polar opposite. She’s attracted to you because you are everything she’s not, but wants to be.” Kin grinned at the blonde boy. “Besides, she was very accepting when you introduced me…if she can accept that I’m your slave, then she must really care for you.” Give her a chance master…” she grinned saucily. “Besides, I thought it was every guys’ dream to do it with two girls.”



Naruto’s eyes widened, and a trickle of blood flowed down his nose at the image. He looked at his slave. “Pants…off,” he said, his fingers undoing the catch to his pants and sliding his pants down. “One hour of licking, and then I’m fucking your brains out.”



Kin giggled, even as she slid her pants down, baring her hairless mound to her masters eyes. She couldn’t help but marvel at his surprise to Hinata’s attraction to him. Her master was a nice person, but she forgot that he was still a novice about women and sex.



Even if he was a god with his tongue…she moaned as she eyed the clock. Fifty-nine minutes, fourty-nine seconds to go…



oOoOoOo



Temari jerked awake, as her nose was filled with a foul odor. She immediately felt her head start to pound, and she quickly overcame the disorientation of being hung upside down.



She noticed that at some point a ring gag had been inserted in her mouth, leaving her able to vocalize her protests, but also leaving her free to get cotton-mouthed from the heat in the room.



She saw the other two kunoichi standing off to the side, and she started cursing them out, drawing their attention. The white eyed girl, Hinata, frowned at her garbled insults, kneeling in front of her face.



“I can stand being insulted,” she said, glaring at the naked girl, “But when you said you’d make Naruto-kun your ‘pet’? That…was going too far.”



The girl stood up, pulling a mirror from her pocket, and holding it above her at an angle. “Take a look, Temari,” she said. The gagged girl did, her eyes widening in shock at what she saw.



The outer lips of her pussy had been spread open, and her clit was encircled with a small clamp, holding the hood back and leaving the main cluster of nerves bare. Several metal ‘prods’ hung down from a metallic circle hovering just above her folds. The circle had several wires leading to something behind her. Above that was a bottle of water, with a small tube and a clothes pin holding the liquid back.



“This is Anko-sensei’s design,” Hinata said, “The water will drop onto the metal ring, and then slide down the prongs onto your…pussy.” The short girl couldn’t help but blush slightly, even as her sensei chuckled. “The ring’s attached to a small battery. It’ll spark as the water drops on it, and you’ll get a small shock as the water drips onto your pussy from the prongs.” She knelt down in front of the now shivering blond. “I’m going to let you experience this for ten minutes to start. The shocks won’t be painful, according to Anko-sensei, but they will be…irritating. If you talk after the first session, I’ll give you back your panties and we’ll be done for the day. If you don’t, I’ll add another twist to this session.”



“FCKKK OOOH!” the blond shouted.



“Suit yourself,” Hinata replied, standing up and pulling off the clothespin.



Temari strained her neck, trying to look up at the strange torture device, morbidly curious at what it would really do. She shuddered as the first water drop hit the circle, a small blue white spark jumping from the metal as the water slid down one of the prongs. She let out a squeak as the drop hit the space just between her pussy and anus, a small shock surging through her lower regions and causing her to twitch in her bonds.



Another shock soon followed, this time on the left side of her pussy, causing her to groan in protest. She felt another drop land against the same spot, causing her to let out a louder groan, even as another drop landed right against her anus.



Her eyes widened in shock, as she realized just what type of torture this was; a variation on Water Torture.



Anko smirked as the realization dawned in the naked girl’s eyes, even as a drop finally fell against her exposed clit, causing her to let out a loud squeal as her body seemed to lock up in some strange sensation. “The idea is mine, but using it against a desert girl like you?” she said, as the first tears started making their way down the blonde’s face. “Hinata-chan came up with the idea. You see, she’s not an official member of the ANBU Torture and Interrogation department, but that kid you were talking about? Naruto-kun? He IS!”



Temari’s eyes widened in shock, even as another drop fell on her clit while a second hit the bottom portion of her pussy, just before the space between her rear hole and her womanhood. The double shock left her gasping as Hinata pulled something from a nearby shelf.



“Naruto-kun said…that irony is the best torture,” the dark haired girl explained, even as Temari jumped when another drop hit her clit. The tormented blonde’s eyes widened as she saw the small girl hold a small towel up to her face. “The problem with this torture? You’d eventually get some water in your mouth as it drips down…” The blonde’s eyes widened as the girl started wiping off the droplets that were making their way down her body. “So it requires constant attention. You can go for a while without drinking I think…since you’re from Suna, you’d have to be able to.”



“YUUU BEETH!” the girl growled, only to let out a loud squeal when a large drop landed right in her pussy, her inner walls twitching in protest to the shock.



“Agree to tell us what we want, and this will stop,” Hinata said, “I don’t like hurting people…I think I’d rather be a medical ninja than a combat one. You’re a fighter though, so you should know a hopeless fight when you see one.”



Anko nodded, reaching out to grope the twitching girl’s buttocks and drawing a groan of protest from the now sweating girl. A new drop hit the girl’s anus, causing her to moan at the sharp sensation.



Hinata looked at the clock on the wall, pulling the clothes pin from her pocket and clipping the straw shut. Temari looked at her in surprise, her body shuddering and her breasts heaving at the torment she’d just gone through.



The small girl pulled the ring gag from her mouth, allowing her to work her now aching jaws and try and whet her dry mouth with her tongue. “Why…did you…stop?” she groaned out, her voice taking on a hoarse tone.



“I told you it’d only be for ten minutes to start,” she said, reaching down to cup the girl’s cheek, “I’m a kind person, and I always keep my word. Just like Naruto-kun.”



Temari frowned. “I can’t…I won’t betray my home!” she growled out, causing the dark haired girl to shake her head. “I’m a kunoichi of Suna…I have my pride!”



“Pride goeth before a fall, Temari-chan,” Anko replied, giving the girl’s ass a quick slap and causing her to moan. “If you don’t talk, Hinata-chan will have to let you have another ‘drip’ session.”



“And this one will last for an hour,” the Hyuuga girl said, “But before that, I’ll have to switch out the battery for a bigger one…so the shock will be stronger.” Temari’s eyes widened in fear at that. “It still won’t ‘hurt’…but I imagine the frustration will really get to you.”



Temari shook her head, her mouth making sounds of denial. Hinata sighed, before slipping the gag back in. Anko nodded, pulling the small battery off the wires and attaching a larger one to it. The jounin created a Tsuchi Bunshin, telling the clone to wipe the water off the naked girl when it got too close to her mouth. Hinata refilled the water bottle, looking down at the girl.



“We’re going to go get some food,” she said, ignoring Temari’s mewls of protest as she reached for the clothes pin. “Like I said…we’ll be back in an hour.”



She pulled the pin off.



oOoOoOo



Naruto smiled as he held the form in his hands. Ibiki and Jiraiya stood by his sides as Sarutobi grinned at the blond boy.



“Once you sign the form, Naruto-kun, you will officially be a chuunin and a member of the ANBU I.T. division,” the aged leader said. “Obviously, this means a big pay raise, and new training for you. However, it also comes with more dangerous missions, and harder tasks for you to complete. It’s not something to accept lightly.”



“I made the choice, jiji,” the whiskered boy replied, glancing over his shoulder to where his slave knelt, smiling at her as she grinned back. “It’s more than just the money to take care of Kin-chan, or the fact that I’m now one step closer to my dream…it’s the fact that I’ve grown as a person. I’m stronger now because I stepped into this role. I have to see it to the end.”



Sarutobi nodded, watching as Naruto signed the slip of paper, before applying his hanko. The Hokage then applied the seal of his office, before nodding to Izumo, who walked forward with the green flak-jacket that would mark the blond boy as a chuunin of Konoha.



“Do you accept both the privileges and responsibilities of your new rank, Uzumaki Naruto?” Izumo said, acting out the formal ceremony of promotion.



“I swear by the Will of Fire, and by the honor of the Uzumaki Clan,” he replied, “I stand ready to accept the task of defending Konoha and Hi no Kuni.”



“Then accept this badge of office, and the responsibilities to it,” Sarutobi finished, Izumo holding it out. The boy nodded, sliding his arms through the holes, and turning to his sensei’s and ‘grandfather’. “As of this moment, you are chuunin, Uzumaki Naruto.”



Naruto smiled, before letting out a loud WHOOP of delight! “OH YEAH! CHUUNIN! CHUUNIN! I’M A CHUUNIN!”



Kin blushed at her master’s antics, even as the adults chuckled. She gasped as her master hauled her to her feet, picking her up bridal style. “Master?!” she squeaked.



“Celebration time!” he said, “Ramen, soda, and you for desert!” The men in the room all developed nosebleeds, even as Kin flushed as red as a tomato. The pair vanished in a swirl of leaves, leaving the men chuckling.



“He sure picked the Shunshin up fast,” Izumo chuckled, walking out.



Sarutobi smiled. “He will do it,” he said, standing and stretching his old bones. He looked at his white haired student. “Any word on her yet?”



“Last my contacts said, she was headed for Tanzaku-Gai,” Jiraiya said, “I’d like to take Naruto with me when I go to get her. I got something I think he’s ready to learn.”



Ibiki nodded. “What about that other Oto-kunoichi?” he asked, “Should I go ahead and break her, or should I let Naruto handle it? He probably knows enough about her to get her talking in a matter of days.”



Sarutobi frowned. “Considering his natural talent at this, as well as what you say, it’d probably be best to have him break the girl…Tayuya, wasn’t it?” At his master interrogator’s nod, he continued. “Jiraiya, you can take Naruto with you. We’ll hold the girl in the ANBU barracks till you get back.” He looked over at Ibiki. “Danzo is already making noises about killing her so they can dissect the curse seal. I’m stopping that, but I wouldn’t put it past him to try something. Keep her isolated, and only have Eagle or Falcon tend to her needs.”



Ibiki nodded. He then walked out, leaving the two old men to talk.



“Are you certain about this operation that Taishir is planning?” Sarutobi asked, eyeing his student.”



“Positive,” Jiraiya replied, “Ever since that incident with his brother, the Raikage has been practically foaming at the mouth. With the switch the council pulled with Hizashi, he’s been just waiting for an opportunity to get back at us.”



“But to send that one…why take the risk?”



“Probably because he’ll have figured our losses would force us to let her in?” Jiraiya replied, “Why take the risk of her unleashing that power in the village? Better to let her in and take what they want than to risk a massive panic.”



Sarutobi sighed. “I had hoped that with the death of Gashir and his father, that Taishir would be more reasonable,” the aged leader sighed. “When do you think they’ll go through with it?”



“Within the next month,” his white haired student replied. “They know security will be extra tight for the next few weeks after this assault. They’ll try it for ‘just after the dust settles’. My informant will keep tabs on her for the next few days…after that, its up to the toads I’ve got in place along the paths.”



Sarutobi nodded. “I’ll inform Hiashi and ask him to assign some more of the branch family to support the outer wall sentries,” he said, “When do you plan to leave with Naruto?”



“Day after tomorrow,” Jiraiya replied. “Let him have his party time with his pet and friends. Besides, I think he wants to see how the little wall-flower handles her first breaking case.”



Sarutobi sighed. “I’m still not happy about this,” he said, “She’s too…nice…for that type of work.”



Jiraiya grinned. “Well, with Anko training her, the little flower will develop some thorns I’m sure,” he said, “I’m sure Naruto wouldn’t mind her being a bit…”



“If you make that joke, I swear I will ban you from the hot springs for the rest of the year,” Sarutobi growled.



oOoOoOo



Temari moaned as she was finally released from the suspension, her pussy and ass glowing a pale red from the constant shocking. She sobbed slightly as Hinata applied a cold cream to her sore lower body, sighing as she felt relief flowing through her hyper-stimulated nerves. She gasped lightly as Hinata’s nimble fingers traced over her clit, sending a wave of pleasure through her.



She’d been surprised at the fact that, despite her hours under the ‘drip’ torture, she continued to remain sensitive to each shock-droplet. Her tormenters had left her there for almost three hours after this last session, and she had - to her shame - actually came several times under the assault.



The blond girl moaned as Hinata used her Byakugan to spy the knots in her muscles from hanging there for so long, massaging the aches away and helping the blood to flow back into her limbs.



Anko pulled the ring gag from the girl’s mouth, holding a small cup of water to her lips. “Sip slowly, Temari-chan,” she said, “Too fast and you’ll hurl it up.” The blond nodded, her eyes bleary as she sipped the cold liquid. She shuddered as Hinata’s fingers slipped inside her still twitching folds, soothing a particularly sore spot on her inner lips.



The pale eyed girl then pulled the naked blond to her feet, pulling her over to a table and laying her across it, her legs hanging over the side and leaving her smooth rear in the air. Anko helped her to secure the still shuddering blond to the metal table, her arms raised above her head and her waste strapped to the edge. Hinata secured her feet to the floor with a pair of heavy iron manacles, running her hands up the girl’s legs to try and sooth the girl’s still aching knees.



“Wh-what…are…you…” Temari moaned out, moaning as Anko reached between her legs to rub her sensitive mound.



“We figured we’d take the irony to a new level,” Anko said, “Ever been spanked, Temari-chan?”



Temari’s eyes widened, and she glanced over to where her Dai Tessan had been resting. It was no longer there.



“No…” she moaned out, even as a sharp crack rang out through the chamber, and her ass suddenly felt like a wave of fire had licked across it. A second crack soon followed, and the girl cried out in despair.



They were spanking her with her own weapon! HER WEAPON!



Hinata watched as Anko’s Tsuchi Bunshin continued to abuse the blonde’s ass, her eyes glued to the red glow Temari’s fleshy globes had started to develop. She didn’t even realize it, but her hands had made their way down the front of her own black capris, rubbing at her own furred mound.



Anko smirked as she watched her charge unconsciously frig herself, walking up behind her. “Go around the front, Hinata-chan,” she whispered into the panting girl’s ear, “Let Temari see how hot you are…you might like the result.”



Hinata was slightly out of it, but she followed the suggestion, walking around to Temari’s face. The blond was crying out with each slap of the giant fan, tears leaking out of her eyes. Hinata’s eyes widened as the girl stuck her tongue out, towards her crotch.



“She…she’s trying…” the pale eyed girl muttered.



“She’s trying to lick your pussy, Hinata-chan,” Anko said, making a motion for her clone to stop the spanking. She fishnet clad woman walked forward, reaching between the panting blonde’s legs and rubbing the soft folds between. She then walked forward, holding her newly soaked digits in front of Hinata’s face. “She’s enjoying some of this,” the crazed kunoichi whispered, smiling as Hinata eyed her glistening fingers in fascination. “Taste it, Hinata-chan,” she whispered, causing the girl to stick out her tongue.



Hinata gasped at the taste. It was good; like honey with a sent of desert roses. While she preferred the sent of violets, she absolutely loved roses as well.



Anko smiled, sneaking her hand inside Hinata’s pants and re-wetting her fingers with Hinata’s juices, this time holding them to Temari’s tongue. The blonde girl moaned as the taste hit her taste buds, and she let out a cry.



“Please…more….” she moaned, causing Anko to smirk.



“No,” she said, smiling at the distressed look in the blonde’s green eyes. “Ask Hinata-chan for your panties back…say you’ll talk, and we’ll give you more. Or, we could always go back to the spanking…”



Temari sobbed. “Please…I’ll do…anything,” she cried, “Just…please…”



Anko smirked deviously. *This will help you relate to him more, Hinata-chan,* she thought, turning to the dazed Hyuuga girl. “Ask her to give herself to you,” she whispered in the girl’s ear, “If she asks to be yours, she becomes your slave…you’ll have another thing in common with your dream-boy. He has a slave-girl…you’d have a slave-girl…you could trade notes.”



Hinata smiled at the image in her mind…the pair of them, Naruto at her side, sitting beside a tree while their slaves served the tea and cookies. His bare chest as his slave dried him off while Temari bathed her…



“Give yourself to me, Temari-chan,” she whispered, her mind still focused on the mental images rather than her words, even as she looked down into the blonde’s jade eyes. “Say you’ll be my slave…that you’ll belong to me.”



“Anything,” the blond breathed, “Anything…you want…just…please…help me…”



Anko smiled, pulling Hinata’s pants down and helping the girl out of her blue sandals. She smirked at the spiral design the girl had trimmed her pubis into. *She really IS into the gaki,* the snake mistress thought.



“Anko-sensei,” the pale eyed girl muttered, “Wha…”



“Sample your goods, Hinata-chan,” Anko said, hoisting the girl up and setting her wet mound before her new slaves mouth. “Temari-chan here is yours now, as soon as the paper work gets filed. We can get the information on Suna’s activities later…for now, you should have some fun.” She performed an overlay henge on her Tsuchi Bunshin, transforming it into a copy of the surprised Hyuuga heiress, and ordering it to take care of Temari’s south side. “I’m going to go get the papers ready,” the crazed Kunoichi chuckled, Hinata starting to moan as Temari’s tongue started to massage her folds, the blond moaning as the clone started to finger her own hot mound. “I should be back in…oh, and hour or two. Plenty of time for mistress and slave to get to know each other.” She grinned as Hinata reached up to cup her tits, moaning as Temari tried to trace every nook and cranny of her pussy.



Anko chuckled. *Oh yeah…Naruto-kun is SO going to love the person Hinata’s going to become!* she thought, walking out of the room.



Hinata moaned, looking down at Temari’s blissful face as she licked away at her pale mound. “Temari…chan…” she sighed, gasping as the girl’s tongue burrowed deep into her tunnel.



“Mis…tress,” the blonde moaned. The girl let out a passionate cry as the Tsuchi Bunshin fingered a particularly sensitive spot in her pussy.



“Are…you…oh kami…are you sure!?!” Hinata cried out, as the pressure in her loins built up to a peak, sending her into a realm of thick, creamy delight.



“Yes,” the bound blonde moaned, crying out in joy as the clone brought her to climax, causing her to scream into her new mistress’s mound and bringing the dark haired girl to a second orgasm. “I’ll…do…anything…”



Hinata smiled, even as Temari’s tongue continued to lap away at her. *Will…Naruto-kun…help me…be a good…mistress?* she wondered.



*Oh, I hope so!*







End Chapter Three.