Chapter 32: Prepare for the Exams Part 2!

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Naruto's POV (Hyuga Clan Estate)

"Hirat! Now die, peasant!" Hirat called as he charged forward. Neji, still grounded, flinched as he witnessed Naruto effortlessly slam a knee into the older man's face. Ino seemingly decides to back the blonde up. Following up with a power roundhouse to the large man's face. The man flew back and Hanabi charged forward towards Ino. The two briefly traded attacks before Ino threw the smaller women into a wall. Roars sounded as two more main house members flew in hearing the commotion. Met quickly by a squad of Shadow Clones. Naruto roared angrily as Hirat snuck in a jab to his ribs. Naruto having lowered his guard while summoning clones. He takes this, smashing him back with a hard elbow. The two engage in a flurry of counters and dodges. Ino dodges a flurry of palm thrusts from Hanabi before she aims a finger at Hinabi. This somehow makes the young girl stumble low to the ground, allowing a knee to smash into her face. She flew back from the blow. Ino's original jutsu was a scary one. With its speed and lack of hand signs. It was liable to catch most off guard. He needed to break this up! Neji crawled to his feet testing his muscles. The two Main Housers just about dived into the fray. Having finally bested the clones summoned. Before Neji appeared in the center of the room spinning silently.

"Kaiten." The technique had grown twice as large. Filling the room and separating the combatants painfully. They all rose and glared at each other. "Enough to behave yourselves like adults." He chided.

"Bold of you to chide those you serve." A voice cut through the noise. Hiashi Hyuga, the leader of the Hyuga, walked in calmly. "Perhaps you need a lesson?" He walked into the room. Neji and he could've been twins. Yet his father had died for this man.

"Now that would be bold of you best friend." Kakashi interjected somehow behind the clan head, having an arm around Hiashi. "After all, I'm known to kill people who hurt my cute little Genin."

"Cute isn't the word I would use for these brutes." Hiashi countered, spinning to face the man. The room grew silent as the two influential men faced off.

"Interesting, when your men were attempting to gang up on Genin suggest you are. The fact that my cute little Genin gave them a run for their money suggests you aren't very good brutes." Kakashi countered with a false friendly tone.

"It seems to me that our Neji overstepped. I can appreciate you all not understanding the relationship. But Neji belongs to the Hyuga to serve our whims. For him to disrespect my daughter is shameful." Hiashi said calmly as he stepped closer to Kakashi. The two met mere inches away from each other. Their subordinates were silent as they faced off. At some unseen sign, the two started to release an intense killer intent. Making the room of shinobi flinch at the powerful aura of the two Jounin.

"One mistake there, Hiashi-san. He is, above all, a soldier of the Leaf. Which the Hyuga are in service of. All to say, that we have the final say. I am his higher up and we are equal in rank. I need him for a meeting, if you have a complaint you can file it." Kakashi said simply as he gently shoved Neji towards Naruto and Ino.

"Ya screw you, bastards! If I catch you doing that again I'll kick your ass!" Naruto roared.

"Ya, who the hell do you think you are?" Ino added defiantly.

"Tell your Genin to hold their tongue Kakashi." Hiashi stated as his Byakugan activated with a scowl. Kakashi exposed his Sharingan.

"I told you how this is going. You have no legal right to deny it. You know full well you want this over with. You can't afford the attention. Too fearful of the barbaric seal you use being outlawed once someone looks closely at the cruelty. Last thing you need is someone with my sway as an enemy. You'll live to regret it if you do." Kakashi said as if offering the man candy.

"You truly intend to make an enemy of the Hyuga?"

"If I gotta!" Kakashi said happily. Hiashi glares for a second longer before holding up his hand and signaling his men to fall back for now. They all fell in line behind him, Hanabi stood at his side seemingly ready for more combat.

"Take him and remove yourselves from this premises. I will warn you once stay out of Hyuga affairs." Hiashi silently warned.

"You wretched shinobi were fortunate to escape Hiashi-san wrat-" Hirat didn't finish as Hiashi casually shoved his hand towards him, somehow sending him through the wall.

"I will remember this Kakashi Hatake." He vowed as he and his men left. Leaving the unconscious body of Hirat behind. Kakashi waited until he was certain they were in the clear.

"Let's go have our meeting shall we?" He asked merrily. The three all sighed. Kakashi had proven himself to be quite the sensei. But he was still an oddball.

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???'s POV (???)

In a large, dark, and eerie cave stood three people calmly. Each is garbed in the cloaks of the fearsome Akatsuki. The one in the middle was the tallest of the three, He had short, spiky, orange hair. Brown eyes that seemed to gaze confidently into the void. To his left stood a nervous-looking man with shoulder-length red hair. A large bang covered half his face. He had purple eyes with rings throughout that seemed to almost glow. And to the man's right stood a woman with purple hair reaching to her shoulders, a purple paper flow pinned in it. She had serious orange eyes that scanned the area studiously. The three were the leaders of the Akatsuki. Yahiko, the Kage of the Village Hidden in the Rain. Known for his fiery passion he had overthrown Hanzo. Defeating him in one on one combat. Konan is an advisor to Yahiko and often the voice of reason for the group. Finally came Nagato, the right-hand man of Yahiko and the rumored muscle of three. Using his powerful Rinnegan he seemed unbeatable. Together they had brought the Rain out of the wartorn state they had been in. But now Yahiko had been preparing a plan. A plan with global consequences.

"Hmm, Konan, when will the others be calling in?" Yahiko asked patiently.

"It'll be soon. I will warn you before they arrive." She replied.

"I still don't understand why we brought them on. Most of them are despicable people." Nagato said worriedly.

"No doubt about that but it isn't something I'd worry about. I have a plan to change everything." Yahiko declares happily.

"You intend us to do something about the world as a whole? Is this about the peace Jiraiya had taught us about?" Konan asked.

"A bit, but peace requires sacrifice. Jiraiya intends to achieve peace simply through good intentions. We shall achieve it by paying the necessary cost. But first we require power." Yahiko retorted.

"I'm assuming this is why you had my order Juzo and Kisame on that mission? It is risky to potentially make an enemy of the Leaf. We know better than most just how murderous they can be." Nagato said with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course, we warned them to not take any significant risk. Even if the Leaf classifies us as marked men they have no clue of our location in Ame. Besides, it may prove necessary for what I have in mind." Yahiko explained.

"They will be arriving soon Yahiko. It is time to leave, unless you intend to expose yourself as the leader?" Konan asked.

"No, as a Kage there can be no trail leading to The Village Hidden in the Rain and the Akatsuki. Have them garner funds, at least for now. Our next move will come soon. First I need to prepare some things." Yahiko stated as he body flickered away.

"Remember Nagato, you can't afford to show your vulnerable side. You are arguably the strongest shinobi in the world. Act above it all, these types only respect power." Konan offered. As she finished various forms beamed in. All prepared to listen to the man who had defeated them all before.

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Kakashi's POV (Training Ground of Team Seven)

Naruto, Ino, and Neji sat against trees as Kakashi stared them down. They all knew their sensei was a unique man. Often having his thought process and quirks. Truthfully the three were not sure what to expect but knew to be on guard.

"Well, the time has come… it's time to decide if you'll join the Chunin Exams…" Kakashi started happily. Ignoring the excited cheers of the three at the news. He had intended to ask them. But it seemed all three were keen on testing themselves and growing stronger. He was not surprised they seemed so instantly keen. It seems Team Seven would make their introduction to the world as rookies.

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Jiraiya was often a busy man. It had always been the case. While some preferred to kick back, Jiraiya preferred to get things done… and kick back! See some dreaded the cruel, hot, desert. For good reason too, Jiraiya knew plenty who have perished in the sun. If only they knew what he knew. The Hidden Sand was full of beautiful women! He supposed technically he was heading to enemy turf. The Village Hidden in the Sand we're allies of the Leaf. But his sources here whispered of unrest due to the Leaf "scalping customers". But in the shinobi business, you didn't go off words. Underneath the underneath as it were. Truthfully it was merely the nature of the Sand to struggle a fair bit. Throughout his years they always had. But the struggle had formed a hardy people. Known for their powerful wind jutsu, dangerous poisons, and unique puppet users. Jiraiya watched as he walked through the village, noticing but ignoring the two squads of Sand Anbu that were trailing him. Earnestly he thought them arrogant to only send two. But it mattered little since he was here for diplomacy. His guide led him into Raza's office. The two stared at each other intently as the guide quietly excuses himself. Jiraiya subtly took a deep breath smoothing his nerves. Rasa was an intelligent and shrewd man. He respected formality and loyalty. Neither of which Jiraiya could offer the man. He would to do a bit of balancing act to convince him to solidify the alliance. A bit of the carrot and stick.

"Rasa! My old buddy!" He roared as if across the room. He saw the man subtly sigh. Right so far.

"Jiraiya, I must admit it is shocking to see a legend like yourself conduct yourself like a fool."

"I know when to play it straight Kazekage. I just prefer to start things lightly."

"You arrive in my village unannounced. You realize you are a walking security risk? Do not waste my time here Sage."

"So you're worried about me?" Jiraiya asked with some mirth. By the quick scowl Rasa showed he was going in the wrong direction. "Alright my bad Kazekage-sama. I'm here to offer you a new contract for our alliance."

"Why should we update our alliance? We are still foreign entities to each other and we would gain relatively little." Rasa countered.

"Well we certainly are two separate nations. But we have years of cooperation under our belt at this point. Furthermore, don't you think it could be valuable to gain a little show muscle for upcoming events?" Jiraiya asked.

"You are hosting them, it would be only for the Leaf's gain." Rasa retorted his voice showing his impatience. Before he suddenly grew a smile of his own. "Unless of course you knew something I didn't. Otherwise why even offer. You're well aware of my attitude and would know I wouldn't bite on that."

Jiraiya mentally flinched. Rasa caught on quickly. "Correct you are! They are discuss holding it in the Land of Iron."

"Samurai…" Rasa said quietly. "They won't tolerate nonsense and are quite formidable themselves. With the other villages there and all forced to behave subtle threats like an alliance is ideal. Especially since it would put pressure on the others to join it."

"So do you accept?" Jiraiya asked.

"Fine I will accept, little risk and decent benefits. I'm assuming he'll send a draft?" Rasa asked. Jiraiya tossed him an envelope. "Leaf shinobi, always too confident for their own good. I will resend the agreement with any changes I need. Remove yourself from my village now Jiraiya. My Anbu are on edge. Also remember," The room filled with golden blades surrounding the Sannin. "Warn us next time you wish to visit please."

"Sure thing, just had to ask." Jiraiya said with a smile. Body flickering away confidently.

"I hate that man."