Chapter 42

"You and I have been playing this game for years." He said. "We've done this...over and over and over again ever since I took on my responsibilities. It has to end already. This is unhealthy and one of us will end up killing the other if it doesn't stop. So how about a truce?"

"Uh...Onoki-sama?" Someone called.

The diminutive Kage turned, glaring at the chuunin at the door. "What?"

The young man blinked. "Who are you talking to? And why are you standing on your desk?"

The Kage looked down at his feet standing on polished mahogany, directly across from him was a stack of paperwork that, even with him standing at the same level, was still taller than him.

He narrowed his eyes menacingly at it.

He reached up, picked up a chunk of it and plopped it down on the desk, leaving the main stack at just below his chin.

Nodding to himself in satisfaction he turned back to the chuunin.

"Nevermind that." He dismissed. "What've you got for me?"

The man fully opened the door revealing more paperwork in a cart. "Chuunin application forms, border entry requests and a few other-"

The Tsuchikage slapped his forehead dragging his hand down his face as he droned him out. He turned to glare at the stacks he already ha-

He blinked when he realized that the main stack was...taller than him.

They're Breeding!

Somehow he had a feeling that this was going to be a long day.

-0-

For the group of children, especially Ryoko, the novelty of riding a horse vanished rather quickly.

Horses sucked!

They stunk, they bounced, they chafed, left you sore for three days after you got off and they stole your ramen!

That last part held true only for one of them but the point still stood!

Horse riding was not faring well with them.

Given the fact however that they needed to travel with the Daimyo, they couldn't run at ninja speed and walking would just slow everyone down so they were stuck with this.

They were on the last leg of their trip, only a few hours from Iwagakure after nearly four hours ride already.

"Mylord." One of the samurai said, riding alongside the Daimyo. "We should rest the horses here for now. We've ridden them hard today."

"How long do you think?" The man asked, patting his beast affectionately.

"Until noon at least." The Samurai responded.

"Alright then." He seemed ready to dismount when a ghostly pale rider marched up beside him.

"That wouldn't be wise." Orochimaru commented. We're already here, every second we delay is a second longer for word to reach Onoki, or more likely the Anbu and chuunin patrols that can converge around our position for a swift attack. We should get through this as quick as possible to reach the neutrality of an official chuunin exam invitation."

"Hmm." The Daimyo considered. "Alright then." He looked at the Samurai. "Its noon now. Lets keep moving."

The man blinked evidently not getting the joke. "Its not noon mylor-"

"I am Koutou! When I say its noon, its noon! Now lets move!"

The horses trotted forward.

The teenagers groaned miserably.

"I'm never getting on another horse again." Kyofu growled.

"I'm never leaving the village again." Ryoko offered.

"I'm going to eat them." Naruto promised. "Chop them up, put em in ramen and eat them."

The two girls tossed him a look.

Evidently Naruto could get violent if you stole his ramen.

They rode through the woodlands. Where Konoha's forest was dense with oaks and other such trees, the colder climates of Iwagakure's mountains in the north were thick with prickly pine trees who's heavy scent was like a heady mist in the air.

"There here already." Orochimaru hissed towards the Daimyo and Naruto's ears twitched two horses behind. Turning his eyes towards the trees he searched finding nothing but the rustling of leaves in the wind to indicate a Shinobi.

He spread out his nature enhanced senses, feeling the chakra signatures around him. His teammates first, Orochi's stronger presence second, the strongest here.

In the trees though, he found six others.

Very close.

He trailed his eyes straight upwards. He still couldn't see anything.

Jounin then. Jounin or Anbu.

They rode on through the day, and more and more ninja, all in various states of fatigue or lack-thereof gathered around the column as it progressed all staying out of sight though some less experienced members slipped and let themselves be seen by him.

The men could actually feel the pounding of their horses hearts and their winded breaths against their shins by the time the walls of the village came into view

By that time Naruto could count twenty two at their backs.

And a hundred more infront...

-0-

"Come on! Hurry up!" She demanded, pulling on his arm to help him get a grip and then running to the other side to help haul up the leg he was trying to hook up over the edge.

"We're-cutting class Kuro-chan!" The boy huffed and puffed, struggling to climb over the edge of the roof that was connected to the walls.

"Come on! What would you rather do? Sit and listen to Mebuki-sensei talking about Shodaime, or see what's coming this way that has everyone in such a fuss."

"We'll get in trouble." Akatsuchi grunted finally pulling himself up and over the edge.

"Not if you hurry up! Come on!"

-0-

"No! Get out! I refuse!"

"Sir you can't refuse. You're the Tsuchikage." Was the secretaries' droll response, carting in yet another load of forms.

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