BSNW CH 078 Team 8

Kimimaro and Bahamut led their teams to their respective places beside the teams they were assigned to accompany. Bahamut led Karin and Haku to sit behind Hinata, Shino and Naruto.

They didn't have to wait long however, as the Team leader for Team 8 arrived soon enough. She was a fair-skinned beauty with long messy dark curls. Her red disk-like eyes scanned Bahamut and his team with an analytical glare.

Her glare told Bahamut more than he needed to know. The Hokage had been playing games behind their back. He definitely had painted Uzu in a bad light to his Jonin.

'Alright Old Man,' Bahamut though 'You are on! I didn't want to play political games, but if you want to turn the Adults against us, then I will turn the kids against you!' Bahamut thought menacingly.

"I am Kurenai Yuhi" the dark haired beauty said "Follow me!"

All six of them followed Kurenai, Team 8 giving curiously glances to the 3 additional members following them. Soon Kurenai led team to an older section of the academy, to a old training room.

Turning to them, she folded her arms in front of her chest. This made her soft mounds squish and become more prominent, whether she realized it or not.

'This woman sure is very proud of her figure' Karin growled in her mind 'But I will surpass this in future, just you see Bahamut. At that time I will make you grovel for a date before rejecting, just like you rejected my date a year ago.'

Oblivious that she had made Karin make her body a goal, Kurenai introduced herself "I am Kurenai Yuhi, Jonin of Konoha. I have accomplished over 67 B rank missions, and 34 A rank missions. I have been assigned to lead Team 8" She said before glancing at Uzu Team "while also guiding Team 1 from Uzu for two months."

Naruto suddenly raised his hand to ask a question. When Kurenai gestured to go ahead, he asked "Sensei, what is Uzu?"

Bahamut, or more accurately Jun, felt like slapping his head for his stupidity. Naruto had definitely kept his training up, thanks to Ino, but he had completely forgotten about theory and general knowledge.

"Uzu stands for Uzushiogakure, a village that was our ally at the time of First and Second Hokage. It fell due to unknown reasons sometime during the time of The Third's Hokage period." Kurenai said. Bahamut and Karin gave soft snort of derision at that, making Kurenai give a momentary glare at their direction.

"Anyway, Uzu was recently re-formed and rebelled against Leaf. Hokage pardoned them though and -" Karin interrupted Kurenai at this point.

"Let me stop you there Kurenai-san," Karin said "It is one thing to be deluded and it is a whole different thing to fill future shinobi of the Leaf with lies. Anymore false accusations will count as insult and deliberate discrimination towards Uzu. If you want to go ahead be declared as traitors then be my guest."

Kurenai glared at Karin, but held her mouth. Karin smirked, then turned to Naruto and others, "Let me instruct you in some hidden history. Kurenai san was only right up to the part Uzu being Leaf's ally at the time of First and Second Hokage."

"What she didn't tell, or is ignorant about, is that at the time of the Third, Leaf allowed a secret force to exist under the command of power-hungry maniac. This man was also the best friend of the Third Hokage at that time, Danzo Shimura."

"Danzo was very distrustful of all the powerful Shinobi Clans, while also coveting their individual powers. While Hokage ruled from the light and managed the village, this man used Hokage's support to plot in the Darkness. He first caused the downfall of Senju, then he turned his greedy eyes towards the Uzumaki, who were the main founders of Uzushiogakure."

Naruto's eyes widened partially at that, noticed by Kurenai and Karin. Kurenai could only look on helplessly while Karin was triumphant.

"Leaving that aside, During Third Shinobi War, Uzu fell to the assault of Kumo, Iwa and Kiri. But that was only the surface f the matter. The main reason Uzu fell, was because they were betrayed. Their greatest Allies, the Leaf, never arrived to defend them."

"Not only that, the secret force of Danzo Shimura, the Root, infiltrated Uzu in the excuse of helping and deactivated all barriers protecting Uzu and sealed all the secret exits that they knew about."

"In retaliation, Uzu forces annihilated the Root members who had infiltrated, before fighting against the joint forces of Iwa, Kumo and Kiri. Uzu managed to annihilate most of the Joint forces, but finally fell in the end, because of the trump cards of the joint force. All the while, not a single reinforcement of Leaf arrived, despite the battle going on for over three days."

"The Leaf had its own battle against Suna at the time" Kurenai shouted angrily at Karin, trying to intimidate her "We were helpless!"

"Ya right!" Karin snorted derisively "Let me ask you this then. What was Leaf doing when Iwa, Kumo and Kiri prepared their forces in plain sight for over a week? A week of preparation and travel, along with three days of battle. Ten days in total for Leaf to send reinforcement, but we saw nothing, not even a single Genin Squad. Only the Root came, right at the beginning of the Assault, only to betray us."

"So this means only one of two things, Either the Hokage was really so inefficient and incompetent at that time that he didn't know about gathering of such a big army for over ten days, despite Danzo knowing about it and sending Root. Or Hokage deliberately betrayed Uzu with the excuse of fighting against Suna, which by the way could barely even be called a skirmish."

Karin then glared back at Kurenai "So don't go on about Leaf being innocent in this. Leaf had blood of Uzu on its hands for a long time. Yet, you took advantage of our downfall to proclaim to the world that you mourn us and claimed, or more accurately, looted all our legacies."

"You even kept our Princess unaware of these facts, ultimately leading to her death, at the hands of those affiliated with Leaf even. You are even keeping her son prisoner in this village, treating him as a demon child. And yet you have the gall to stand in front of us and blame us?"

"Also, you said we rebelled against the Leaf? The re-formed Uzu was never in alliance with Leaf, Leaf lost that when they betrayed the previous Uzu. And to correct your misunderstanding, even this time too it was Leaf attacking us first, for not giving in to their demands. It was even led by Danzo Shimura himself."

"It was only when we massacred your forces and made Danzo crawl back to your village that Hokage came forward with compromise. Danzo had all his powers sealed before being banished as a civilian. And a new treaty was made, in which Uzu and Leaf are equals, unlike previous Unequal treaty. Be very careful about insulting Uzu again Kurenai san, because according to the treaty not even clan heirs are spared from the consequences." Karin warned.

Silence reigned in the training room after Karin's tirade. Bahamut patted Karin's head to calm her down, while Haku just looked on like a cool icy statue. Hinata was shocked, Naruto was lost in thought while Shino was silent. Kurenai's face flashed various emotions, before she gave a sigh of resignation.

"I am sorry for any unintentional insult I may have done towards Uzu" Kurenai said with genuine apologetic tone, surprising Bahamut, Karin and Haku. After recovering from the surprise, Bahamut nodded to Kurenai to indicate all is fine.

Kurenai then clapped her hands to to get the attention of Naruto and others "Alright, we were side-tacked, but lets continue the introductions. I have already said my name and qualifications. As for my likes and dislikes, I like practicing and perfecting Genjutsu and I dislike those who don't work hard to achieve their dreams. Now, why don't all of you introduce yourselves."

She pointed at Shino, who straightened up "Name is Shino, of the Aburame Clan. Genin of this year, assigned to Team 8. Likes are Bugs and gathering knowledge about new bug species. Hate those who hurt bugs unnecessarily, they are also living beings! Goal is to create largest collection of the strongest and rarest bugs." Shino said before sitting down.

Hinata went next. She was better than her earlier stuttering persona that Jun remembered, but still shy "Um, I am Hinata Hyuga, from the Hyuga Clan's Main Branch. Um, I like …." she paused and mumbled something very softly and blushing, but she recovered soon and continued "I hate the unjustified slavery the branch members of Hyuga clan are put through. My goal is that I want to one day completely remove the existence of the Caged Birds and free them."

Naruto went after that, recovering from his thoughts "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, believe it!!" he shouted before hesitatingly turning to Karin "I don't know if I am a real Uzumaki though, since I was an orphan since birth."

An awkward silence ensued as everyone looked at him with slight pity, but only Karin and Jun were seething on the inside. A proud member of Uzumaki Clan, a clan heir no less, being reduced to this state was hurtful to watch.

Naruto then continued "I Love Ramen, especially Ichiraku, but cup instant ramen are also good, ya know! I really hate the two minute time it takes to get the ramen ready, and the times I don't have money to eat enough to fill my stomach in Ichiraku Ramen. My goal is to become the greatest Hokage the world has sen, and now also to find out about my parents and my history."

Karin just wanted to hug and tell him that he was her cousin and that he was a true Uzumaki, but she could not do that in front of Kurenai and other Leaf shinobi. Kurenai then turned towards the Uzu team.

"Would you all like to go ahead and introduce yourself?"

"Sure why not," Bahamut said as he stepped forward, his usual gravity defying two-toned hair had been tamed and tied down into a sleek ponytail "the name is Bahamut, Leader of Team 1 from Uzu. I like challenges and fighting. I hate those who plot against me or my loved ones. My goal is to become strong enough that I can live comfortable life without worries."

Haku stepped forward after that "My name is Haku. I like my friends. I hate those who threaten them. My goal is to always protect my friends."

Karin came forward finally "I am Karin Uzumaki, daughter of the Fourth Uzukage, who is also the current one. I like my friends and Fuinjutsu. I hate enemies of Uzu and of the Uzumaki clan. My goal is to one day unite all the remaining members of Uzumaki clan together and complete the village reformed by my mother."

Kurenai nodded at the introductions before turning to Team 8 "The introductions were good and all of ou have nice goals. But there is one final hurdle. I want you guys to assemble at Training Ground 4 in early morning tomorrow." she then turned to Uzu team "You can join us too."

"Why sensei? What hurdle?" Naruto asked.

"Well, before a Genin Team can be ready for getting a mission, their assigned Team Leader can propose a Survival Training for a Hidden Assessment. If failed, the Genin Team could be made to repeat the Year. So be sure to give it your all tomorrow!" Kurenai said before flashing away with Shun-shin.

"Naruto-kun, a word in private please" Karin approached Naruto after Kurenai had left. Naruto was puzzled before nodding and moving some distance away with Karin.

"Naruto, I know you have started doubting and guessing about yourself and your history and want to ask us something. So go ahead, I promise I will be truthful."

Naruto looked in her eyes, as if judging something, before he nodded "Um, then can you tell me if you knew my parents?"

"Not personally, no" Karin said "I am the same age as you after all. But neither did my mother for that matter. But we knew of them, all Uzumaki of their time did. Only Leaf hid their existence for some stupid reason known only to them."

"Can you tell me who are they then?" Naruto asked excitedly.

"I can tell about your mother Naruto, but not your father" Karin said apologetically "some information has been made into S-class secrets that can be revealed only by Hokage. Since the knowledge of your father is completely a Leaf secret without involving us, I cant reveal that."

"Then what about my mother? Is she not a secret?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"Oh she is," Karin said "but unlike your father, her existence involves us too. Therefore Leaf doesn't have sole authority over that secret. In fact, you have already started guessing haven't you?"

"My mother was an Uzumaki" Naruto said with conviction. Karin nodded to him in approval.

"Yes, she was. And not just any Uzumaki, she was one of the clan heirs from the family of Third Uzukage. She was the beloved Princess of Uzumaki, Kushina-hime. Hokage had demanded her to be sent to Leaf as 'Reinforcement of the Alliance', since Mito Uzumaki, the wife of First Hokage and daughter of First Uzukage, was almost at her deathbed."

"If my mother was so great, then why am I treated like this? Why does everyone discriminate against me and try to even kill me when going to extreme? What have I done to deserve this ever since my birth?" Naruto asked in anguish.

"I can't tell you that right now Naruto" Karin said sadly "A lot of things bar me from it. But I will make you a promise. Become a Chunin or visit Uzushiogakure one day. I will personally inform you all you want to know, and more, when you become strong enough to accomplish that."