Master Of Puppets

Team Enma makes their way towards the Academy to register for the Chunnin Exams. As they reach the second floor they stop at the top of the stairs and observe the large crowd of Genin being barred by two other ‘Genin’ from entering a room with the numbers 301 hanging over the door. Naruto looks at each of his teammates and after receiving nods from them continues on to the third floor without a word.

As they enter the correct classroom they are astonished at the sight that greets them. Numerous teams from several villages are represented and none of them appear to be anywhere near friendly. Naruto signals for his team to move away from the door and without so much as a sound they walk towards a dark corner in the back of the room to observe the rest of the competition.

A few minutes later they see Team Kunoichi enter the room and send Akamaru to escort their friends over. The three girls arrive a few moments later before the puppy jumps up into its master’s coat, poking its head over the top of the zipper to watch the teens interact. “It’s been awhile,” Naruto greets the girls. “How have you three been?”

“We’ve been good,” Ino answers for her teammates. “I heard your last mission got up-graded from a C-Rank to an A-Rank.”

“Yeah,” Kiba replies in a subdued tone. “I’m still getting over the nightmares.”

“Me too,” Choji agrees handing his half eaten bag of chips to the girls, who look at them with growing concern.

“Forgive them,” Naruto tells the girls. “They’re still getting over their first kills,” he explains shocking the girls.

“K-Kiba-kun,” Hinata gasps softly covering her mouth.

“Choji-kun,” Ino exclaims as she hugs her childhood friend before she even has time to think about what she’s doing.

“How troublesome,” a lazy voice says from behind the girls causing them to turn around in time to see Team Genius walking up towards them. “Of all the things to keep to ourselves,” Shikamaru says shaking his head. “You know you three could have come to any of us if you needed someone to talk to.”

“Save it Shika,” Sasuke says as Ino and Sakura both blush at the sight of their crush. “The dobes are too dense to admit when they need help.”

“That’s rich coming for you teme,” Naruto retorts. “Or have they finally managed to yank that damn stick out of your ass?”

“Unlike you baka,” Sasuke begins, “I know when I’m in over my head and how to ask for help.” As much as hated to admit it he had learned the importance of teamwork since Graduating from the Academy. While he still desired to avenge his clan and kill Itachi he knew that until he was strong enough to do so he would need to work with his teammates until he obtained the power he craved. Not that he enjoyed it but he was just smart enough to know his own limitations and patient enough to bide his time, at least for now.

“That’s the difference between us teme,” Naruto tells him. “I’m never stupid enough to get myself in over my head to begin with.” Before their little “pissing contest” could continue any further they are interrupted by an older by with silver hair wearing glasses.

“You guys really should be quieter,” the boy tells them, “You nine are Rookies just out of the Academy right? This isn’t a picnic and drawing so much attention to yourselves will only end up getting you killed.”

“And you are you?” Ino asks moving away from Choji, who she had stopped hugging when the others arrived.

“I’m Kabuto,” the boy answers. “But instead of worrying about me you should look around yourselves to see what I mean.” The three Teams turn to look at the other Genin taking the exam and notice that every one of them is staring straight at them. “Everyone is nervous about the Exam so quiet down before you cause a scene.”

Naruto gives him an evil smirk as he steps away from the others and stands in front of them facing the rest of the Genin taking the exam. “If that’s the case then I think I should probably lighten the mood a little,” he says looking back at his teammates. “What do you guys think?”

“Ah crap,” Kiba says covering his eyes as Choji does the same. “Shika, Shino, Sasuke,” he says addressing the other team, “Cover your eyes.” The others look at them like they’re crazy and turn to see what Naruto’s doing. Without looking back at them he creates a wall of Shadow Clones between his friends and the other Genin before transforming both himself and his Clones, “Ultimate Harem Jutsu,” he calls out as they all transform into completely naked females without the usual smoke to cover their most private of parts.

In a matter of seconds the exam room resembles a battlefield as both blood and bodies litter the floor from the resulting nosebleeds caused by so much naked female flesh having been presented all at once. Naruto dispels his Jutsus and can’t help but laugh at the carnage his “prank” caused. “Damn that was way too easy,” he comments returning to his previous spot between his teammates. “I swear if the competition is this easy we’ll have no problems passing the Exam.”

“WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED?” a voice calls out behind them. They all look over to see that the Proctors have arrived to discover the results of Naruto’s latest prank.

All the Kunoichi point right at Naruto who just shrugs taking out a stick of Pocky, “What?” he asks taking a bite. “I was bored,” he says. “It’s not my fault they couldn’t control their hormones.”

All of the Chunnin Examiners chuckle at the boy‘s reply as Ibiki merely shakes his head “Whatever,” the ANBU Interrogator says. “Just wake them up so we can begin the Exams.” ‘I‘ll give him this,’ the man thinks to himself, ‘The boy’s got balls pulling a prank like that during the Exams.’

Naruto grumbles before pulling out a small scroll from one of his pouches and holding one end throws it into the air over the unconscious males in the room. As the scroll opens a shower of icy cold water rains down on everyone waking the males up instantly.

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Following the explanation of the rules Naruto watches the others from his vantage point in the last row and grins as he spots Akamaru yipping out answers to Kiba from atop the Inuzuka's head. Using his Puppetry abilities he attaches Chakra strings to each of his teammates and using them to both copy the answers from Kiba and to relay them to Choji.

Forty-five minutes into the Exam Ibiki Gives them the rules for the Tenth question and Naruto can’t help but chuckle to himself at how obvious the man is being about messing with their heads. ‘Skip the question and fail but try again next time or take the test fail and remain Genin forever,’ he thinks to himself. ‘Take the mission and possibly die or refuse the mission and be labeled a coward.’

As he watches he just smirks at the number of Genin chickening out until his eyes widen in shock at the small pale hand of a pink haired Kunoichi slowly coming up off her desk. ‘Damn it Sakura don’t you dare buy this bullshit.’ His fingers fan out under his desk as he sends his chakra strings towards the girl only two rows in front of him.

The strings connect and the girl feels her arm refusing to obey her mind’s commands. As her arm drops back down to her side she looks around and finds Naruto glaring daggers at her shaking his head at her cowardice. ‘Naruto-kun,’ she thinks looking away ashamed of her momentary weakness. ‘Thank you.’

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Naruto and the rest of the Rookie Nine gather under a tree as they await their turn to hand in their forms so they can begin the Second portion of the Exams. “Okay so here’s the plan,” Naruto tells them. “The girls will go about half a kilometer into the Forest from their gate and wait for the rest of us to join up. From there we move as a team to collect the scrolls before continuing on to the tower.”

“Agreed,” Shino answers for the others before they leave to hand in their forms before moving into position to wait for the second exam to begin.

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Naruto mentally curses himself for allowing his friends to end up in their current position as he and his Shadow Clones race through the Forest towards the tower and hopefully towards help for the eight other preteens they‘re carrying. ‘Goddamn Snake-Teme,’ he growls as he and the clones redouble their efforts.

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The nine rookies had just met up and were going over possible hunting strategies when a Grass-nin appeared before them holding up an Earth Scroll that they needed. “I’ll let you kiddies have my scroll if you let me have a kiss from that one,” the stranger said pointing to Sasuke.

Naruto’s eyes widened in horror as he not only sensed the enormous power that the Grass Shinobi was suppressing but caught the over powering smell of snake. “I think we’ll pass… Orochimaru,” he told the disguised Snake Sannin. The others gasped in shock at the revelation of the shinobi’s identity as the S-Class criminal merely laughs at the boy’s deductive skills.

“EVERYONE RUN,” Naruto yelled out as two dozen Narutos leap out of the shadows and instantly begin attacking the former Konoha Shinobi. They had only managed to make it about a hundred yards before the nuke-nin caught up to them and began to attack, that was when all Hell broke loose.

Team Enma engaged Orochimaru while the others ran the battle had actually been going well for them until the Snake Summoner stopped playing around and began to take them seriously. After finishing with Team Enma Orochimaru moved on to the others who didn’t fair as well as Combat Unit had and fell quickly to the traitor.

As he had been about to bite the last Uchiha and give the raven-haired avenger the curse seal he had been tackled from behind. He quickly regained his bearings and found himself facing four of Suna’s Hunter-Nins as six Narutos picked up the Genin he had just fought and carried them over to the original carrying the Inuzuka and his dog standing beside another Clone with the Akamichi.

“Enjoy my Puppets,” the Kyuubi container tells him before he and his clones take off as quickly as their legs will allow them leaving two Poison Clones to control the Human Puppets to combat the Sannin while they made their escape.

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Naruto shakes himself as he fights off a bout of drowsiness threatening to consume him. He has no time for rest as he needs to get his friends medical attention and quickly. He curses again as he feels his Poison Clones destruction and he knows that his diversion failed. “I’ve got no other choice,” he says to himself as he and his clones reach deep into his reserves and tap into the Kyuubi’s chakra to reinforce their legs increasing their speed beyond anything they could have obtained otherwise.

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Naruto nearly collapses as he and his Clones reach their destination. He has the Clones set his friends down before dispelling them as he tries to catch his breath. A grin crosses his face as he senses a lone figure approaching his current location. Looking up he holds out his hand as a Shadow Clone steps out of the forest and hands him four scrolls before being dispelled by it’s creator.

After setting three of the scrolls down in front of him he puts the fourth scroll away and takes out three more scrolls and sets them beside the three that the Clone had given him. Arranging the six scrolls into three sets of two he unrolls them and isn’t disappointed at what happens. As the smoke from the scrolls clears Naruto finds the Jounin Instructors for the three teams standing before him. “Good,” he tells them with a tired grin. “You can get the medics while I take a nap,” he says before he falls over joining the other Genin in Dreamland.

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A/N: And there you have it the first two Parts of the Chunnin Exams are now complete and the paramilitaries will begin shortly. I apologize for pretty much glossing over the events of the exam as well as the encounter with Orochimaru but honestly it would have made the chapter WAY too long.

Well that’s it for now so as always please remember to Read and Review.

~Later~
Raven