AFF Fiction Portal

Master Of Puppets

By: RavenShantor
folder Naruto › General
Rating: Adult ++
Chapters: 6
Views: 3,811
Reviews: 21
Recommended: 0
Currently Reading: 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
arrow_back Previous Next arrow_forward

The Chunnin Exams Are Here

A/N: I know you have all been paitently awating this chapter so here you are. I hope you all enjoy it and have a fun and happy Halloween.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Naruto was sitting at his dinning/work table working on his newest Battle Puppet while Haku was sitting on the couch reading over one of the medical scrolls that he had given her to study. They have been back in Konoha for just over a week and already Haku had begun to adjust to life in the village. She was still on probation for another three weeks and was staying with Naruto in his apartment/workshop until she could find work and save up enough money to get a place of her own.

Haku, for her part, already possessed an intimate knowledge of the human anatomy and medicinal plants and herbs as well as incredible chakra control and a high intelligence making it far easier for her to learn what Naruto wished to teach her. Given her medical training and bloodline limit Naruto had given her every Healing, Water and Ice scroll that Sasori had left him and had her spending all of her free time studying and learning from them.

The remainder of Naruto’s time was split between training with his team and teaching Haku the finer points of Puppetry. Asuma had given Team Enma the two weeks leading up to the Exams off to rest and prepare and they had utilized this time to develop not only new personal Jutsus but also several new team formations and attack plans involving their new Jutsus.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Three days before the Exams are due to begin, Naruto is returning from Team training when he hears a disturbance around the corner from where he’s heading and quickly makes his way towards the sound. When he arrives he notices Konohamaru being held off the ground by a boy no more then a year or two older then he is while a blonde haired girl simply stands beside him watching. Naruto takes a quick glance around the area and sees that Konohamaru’s scared friends are being comforted by Hinata while Sakura and Ino try to reason with the boy.

“I don’t know what’s going on and frankly I could care less,” he finally says making his presence known to the others, “But unless you want to start a war between Konoha and Suna I suggest you let the Hokage’s Grandson go now.”

“Fine whatever,” the boy says dropping Konohamaru on his rear. “But I’m still bored so I’ll just beat on you for awhile,” he says removing a bundled object from his back and placing it on the ground beside him.

“You’re a Puppet User,” Naruto observes before rolling up the sleeve of his left arm to the elbow revealing his tattoos to the others, “I’m a Puppeteer myself.” Biting his right thumb he draws a small amount of blood and before smearing it across three of the five tattoos on the inside of the arm. In a puff of smoke Kyuubi and Kitsune stand between the two boys while Raven circles over head.

The boy’s eyes widen slightly at Naruto’s abilities. While he can control his puppet with one hand Naruto is able to control all three puppets single handed. What amazes him even further isn’t just the fact that they had been sealed in his tattoos, although that was also impressive, but that they are all designs that he has never even seen before. “I don’t recognize your designs,” the boy states, “Hell I didn’t even know Konoha had its own Puppet Brigade.”

“It doesn’t,” Naruto replies honestly, “I am the only Puppeteer in Konoha and my Creations are of my own designs.” Naruto can’t help but chuckle slightly at the older boy’s expression at hearing this bit of information. “According to Sensei, Suna’s Puppet Brigade,” he says showing his distain for, what he sees as, the group’s lack of creative imagination when it comes to his chosen art form, “Is so pathetic that instead of developing their own Creations they continually rely on designs that Sensei himself abandoned over two decades ago.”

The boy is all but fuming at this point as he unravels his Puppet in preparation of his attack. “Who is this Sensei of yours,” he demands as his Puppet comes to life, “Some second rate Shinobi who knows nothing of the true strength of Suna’s Puppet Brigade?” Naruto’s growing laughter only serves to irritate the boy even further. “Answer the damn question before I end your life right here.” Naruto’s laughter only grows louder as he flicks his wrist.

In an instant Kyuubi’s mouth is opened and its flamethrower reduces the boy’s Puppet to ash in seconds while Kitsune’s Tail wraps itself around the boy with its poisoned tip pressed lightly against the boy’s throat. “Who will end whose life?” Naruto asks simply. “To answer your question my Sensei was the one who originally designed the Puppet I just destroyed.”

The other boy’s eyes widened beyond imagination at Naruto’s revelation, for he had looked up to Sasori No Akasuna and here a boy who had defeated his idols creation so easily claiming to have been personally taught by the late Suna nuke-nin. “You… you were taught by Sasori No Akasuna?”

“Hai,” Naruto answers as he recalls his Puppets. “I suggest you find yourself another Puppet before the Chunnin exams and then afterwards work on improving your own skills.” He turns to walk away but pauses before leaving. “Oh, just one more thing,” he says without turning around, “Those are my three weakest Puppets.”

Naruto begins to walk, ushering the others as he does, leaving the Sand Siblings to contemplate his words. ‘If those were his weakest, then just how powerful is this guy,’ the boy wonders.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

The Third Hokage looks out over the gathered Jounin and Chunnin in the meeting room. “First order of business,” he begins, “Will the Jounin instructors for the Rookie Genin please step forward.”

At this Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma step out of the crowd and stand before their Leader, “Kakashi-san, Kurenai-san and Asuma-san are there any Genin on your teams that you wish to in this Chunnin Selection Exam?” he asks them. “I do not need to remind you but after a Genin has successfully completed at least eight missions they may take the exam if nominated by their Sensei,” he tells them, “Of course completing more missions then that is the norm. We’ll start with you Kakashi.”

Kakashi holds his right hand up in front of himself with his index and middle fingers extended as he speaks. “I Kakashi Hatake Jounin Instructor for Team Seven, consisting of Sasuke Uchiha, Shikamaru Nara and Shino Aburame, nominate all three of my Genin for the Chunnin Selection Exam.”

Kurenai mirrors Kakashi’s action as she speaks, “I Kurenai Yuuhi Jounin Instructor for Team Eight, consisting of Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno and Hinata Hyuuga, nominate all three of my Genin for the Chunnin Selection Exam.”

Once Kurenai has finished speaking Asuma takes his turn mirroring his fellow Jounin. “I Asuma Sarutobi Jounin Instructor for Team Ten, consisting of Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi and Naruto Uzumaki, nominate all three of my Genin for the Chunnin Selection Exam.”

“All of them…” the Hokage says, “This is indeed rare.”

“Hold on a second,” Iruka says interrupting the proceedings. “Hokage-sama please let me have a word?” At the Hokage’s nod he continues, “I may be speaking out of place but all of the Nine Genin just nominated were my students at the Academy. Of course they are all very talented but it is too early for them to take the exam. They need more experience. I can’t understand the Jounin’s reasoning for nominating them all so soon.”

“With all do respect Iruka-san,” Kakashi tells the Chunnin, “They are no longer your students but our subordinates. I can not speak for Kurenai or Asuma’s Teams but my Team has proven themselves to be more then ready for the Exams.”

“My Team has also come along way since the Academy and they are all prepared to handle the hardships that come with the Exams,” Kurenai adds in defense of her Genin.

“I feel sorry for any team unlucky enough to come up against mine,” Asuma says adding his two cents to the conversation. “Between Naruto’s tactical mind, Choji’s strength and Kiba’s speed there’s not many teams that can hope to beat them when they work together.”

“I still can’t believe that you would all be willing to subject your students to something like this so callously.”

“That’s enough Iruka-san,” the Hokage tells him. “If you feel so strongly about this then I propose a preliminary test. You can test the nine rookies and determine for yourself whether or not they’re ready for the exams.”

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

After the others leave Asuma finds himself standing in the Hokage’s office looking across the desk at his father. “I want to hear your assessment of Naruto’s abilities,” the old man tells the Jounin

“First off if you are really going to allow Iruka to test Naruto you better tell the kid not to add any new Puppets to his Collection until the exams actually start,” he tells his father.

“I have already spoken to him about that,” the Hokage laughs, “He has assured me that he will not collect any Konoha Shinobi with the exception of Missing-Nin. Did you know that he already asked if he could add me to his collection after I’m dead?”

“Sounds like him,” Asuma replies chuckling at the information.

“How many Puppets does he have now?” the Hokage asks.

“That he made himself,” Asuma begins, “Ten so far, although, as you know, he inherited two hundred and ninety-eight from Sasori after his death.”

“Hai,” his father replies. “How many is he able to control at a time?”

“Currently, Naruto himself can control up to ten normal or three Kage puppets at a single time and he is still working on being able to control all five Kages at once while each of his clones is capable of controlling two normal or one Kage Puppet. Also he is capable of creating enough clones to manage his entire collection.”

“How powerful would you say he is,” the Hokage asks.

“Honestly I have no idea,” Asuma admits. “His chakra control is so perfect that he is capable of producing the maximum effect of each of his Jutsus with minimal effort.” The Hokage only nods as he listens intently to his son’s report. “The thing is that I’ve never seen him even use any offensive Jutsus so I really have no reference to even begin to gauge his full power. All he has ever demonstrated to me and the others are low to midlevel Genjutsu and supplementary Ninjutsu skills and all of those he can perform without hand seals and with barely a word whispered.”

“That is very impressive indeed,” the Hokage says. “If you had to guess what would you estimate his abilities to be?”

“Without his Puppets and based just on his skills and tactical abilities I’d say he’s easily a very high Chunnin if not a Special Jounin already,” Asuma answers.

“And with his Puppets,” the Hokage asks his curiosity now peeked.

“With his puppets…” Asuma thinks, “I doubt anyone other then a Sannin or a Kage would even stand a chance against him, even without using his Kage Puppets.” The Hokage nods at the newest information on the young Genin before dismissing his son to contemplate on what he has learned about the child thus far.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

A/N: This seems like a good stopping point for now. Haku’s training won’t really begin to play any type of major roll until later in the story and the scene with Kankuro was done more to demonstrate the difference between the level of training that Suna Puppet Users receive and what Naruto went through during his time with Sasori.

While I’m going to ignore Iruka’s “test” I needed the scene to set up Asuma and the Hokage’s little chat about Naruto’s abilities. I know… I know… Naruto seems too powerful but the conversation explained his strength lies in his skill, chakra control, intelligence and his Puppets and not in his Power level.

Anyways the set up is now complete and the Chunnin Exams will officially begin next Chapter. I hope you all enjoy it and I’ll see you again next time. As always please remember to Read and Review.

~Later~

Raven
arrow_back Previous Next arrow_forward