Hanabi, took a slow breath and bowed once before exiting.
The two branch members holding Hinata spared the girls sympathetic glances as they practically dragged her out.
When they got out they stood infront of the door to bar her path. She sneered at them. "Get out of my way!" She practically spat.
The two branch members hated the fact that they had to do this, especially since she could kill them with a single handsign but they still blocked her. "Hinata-sama, we are sorry, but we cannot let you pass."
Hinata yelled in frustration before turning, finally noticing that her sister was nowhere in sight.
She walked down the hall towards her sisters room, hearing the faint sounds of her crying. Hinata's eyes softened as she opened the door and silently walked behind her sister. Her shoulders were shaking with repressed sobs. Hinata slowly wrapped her eyes around her younger sisters and whispered soothing words of comfort in her ear. "Shhhhh, it'll be okay…I promise, I'll find a way out of this." She promised.
Neither girl really noticed, a certain Hyuuga branch member had heard the whole thing.
Naruto allowed his eyes to scan over the stands over the coliseum where the final rounds of the chuunin exam were to be held.
He let his eyes travel to the Kage booth, raising his head a little higher than normal to look from underneath his hood and cloak. Jiraiya had given it to him, imbuing the cloth with some seals for storing items and such, allowing him to carry more equipment within easy reach. And because it red just suits you. He'd added, along with some gauntlets. They were almost of Anbu design, the metal was thin, the fingers tipped and pointed so as to claw out someone's face.
It hadn't been his idea but he wasn't wholly opposed it it either. It would make him hit harder, much harder.
The stands were beginning to fill up with people.
He noticed however…that his opponent…Hyuuga Neji was missing. As was Hinata now that he looked around. He knew she was out of the hospital. How did he know? Well when an Anbu went to the hospital and demanded that reports of her state be delivered to his estate weekly, the Hospital staff tended to comply, allowing him to keep track of things.
She should be here, Few people in the village ever missed the spectacle that was a chuunin exam.
Still, it was of no consequence weather or not she or her cousin arrived. Neji would lose the match regardless.
Soon the referee called them down. "Will Naruto Uzumaki and Hyuuga Neji please come down to the arena." Many kept speaking, but many and more stopped entirely, startled. His name was not one to be forgotten lightly. And too many of those had believed the child dead as did most of the chuunin ranked ninja in the crowd
After three minutes or so Hayate spoke up again. "If Hyuuga Neji does not arrive within the next two minutes then he will forfeit the match."
A few minutes later the referee called the match.
Will Sabaku no Temari and Nara Shikamaru please come down to the arena.
The match, though…'slow' was not boring, Naruto saw that the Nara boy had much potential as a Shinobi strategist, perhaps even more so than his own father.
The next match was called between Sabaku no Kankuro and Aburame Shino, with the puppet user surrendering.
Then it came to the fight between Sasuke and the other Jinchuuriki Gaara.
Except, Sasuke too was nowhere to be found.
Up in the Kage booth the 'Kazekage' turned to Sarutobi. "Hokage-sama, I am quite interested in seeing how my son Gaara measures up to the last Uchiha."
Sarutobi resisted the urge to smirk, his foolish student was so transparent. He held it back and turned to the 'Kazekage' "Kazekage-sama, I will not dishonor this exam by showing such blatant favoritism. Sasuke will be treated in this exam like any other."
The Kazekage's eyes narrowed by a fraction. "I see…" He paused. "Then this charade is unnecessary!" He said, appearing behind the Hokage with a kunai to the old man's throat, as his two Anbu bodyguards morphed and vanished, revealing four individuals that quickly killed his two chuunin guards and rushed to the four corners of the building and formed a strange purple shield or force field all around it.
The Kazekage then leapt up, taking the Hokage with him to the roof.
Sarutobi replaced himself with a roof tile and stood across from the Kazekage. "I see you are now making your move Orochimaru!"
The Kazekage smirked and tore off his face revealing the pale 'young' looking face of his former student.
The profesor's lips curled at the sight. "I see that you perfected that twisted, disgusting jutsu for your immortality." Sarutobi said disdainfully.
Orochimaru smirked. "That I have sensei…" He drawled. "And now I will kill you and end the leaf village." He looked to the side. "Especially since your pet…can no longer assist you." He said with a wicked smirk.
Sarutobi shifted his eyes to the side and saw Naruto, using his two blades covered in wind chakra furiously swiping at the barrier between them.
Sarutobi then saw, through the confusion, Gaara, Suna's weapon leaving the battle and going into Konoha's forest. He couldn't allow them to leave. "Naruto!" He called, catching the boys attention. "Go after the Suna ninja, Gaara! Stop him! I will deal with this."
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