Shattered Sun

Deal with the Devil

Naruto had to distant himself emotionally when he stood before Hinata. It was the Chuunin exam and he knew he won't be able to avoid her. Hell, he sat right next to her during the first phase. His hands shook but he forced himself to calm down. This really wasn't the time for trauma or PTSD. He's on a mission.

Gaara's looking at him in confusion. Shukaku seemed to understand but didn't do anything due to the pressure of his chakra that can be felt by the Bijuu. It seemed that he had warned Gaara to stay away. After all, all Bijuu knew how easily an Otsutsuki can overwhelm them. Though in terms of raw power, Toneri can be considered the weakest Otsutsuki but it still didn't change the fact that when mixed with Naruto's healthier chakra and Kurama's chakra, he can overpower them easily.

Naruto has been training his chakra tirelessly counting the day till the Chuunin exam. He planned to capture Orochimaru. The man's vital for what he had planned for Zetsu. It was his research into the untainted Zetsu clone, remnants from the Fourth Shinobi War, and Tsunade's medical knowledge that almost succeeded in creating the strain that could have ended the war.

He knew that in the end Orochimaru's a selfish man. Everything he did was in the pursuit of the ultimate knowledge. He wanted to surpass Sarutobi Hiruzen, the man he admired the most but unlike Hiruzen who knew when to stop, Orochimaru's greedy. Even if the food is poisonous, he will eat it. It was why he has no qualm in studying the forbidden.

It was why he has no qualm to trample of moral value of society.

Naruto knew some secrets of the world, the origin of chakra and more Ninjutsu than the common Shinobi would know. He's not immortal but he can spam Kage Bunshin and their ability to transfer experiences like a never ending spring. It was how he managed to fight back the Horde for as long as he did. But as more and more Shinobi fell, they sought his clones out and taught him their secrets. Perhaps a part of them simply wanted something of their own to survive through him.

Naruto will never know.

They kept coming to him during every lull in battle, every resting hours earned, to share their secrets. He mourned their death, becoming a vessel of their legacies. He tried to pass down their secrets to the new generations but even that dwindled and trickled until he was the only one left. Even Orochimaru had taken one clone aside and taught him all that he knew.

Naruto was the only man capable to learning all of it despite his busy schedules.

He was their vessel of legacies.

He blinked, realizing that the first phase had ended and looked over his shoulder just in time to see Sakura about to raise her hand. He quickly slammed his fist and blinked when the table cracked.

He sheepishly rubbed his neck, "Sorry but I'm not going to give up. There're missions our there that's all about do or die. If I can't handle this mysterious question of yours then I might as quit being Shinobi altogether. So," He grinned at Ibiki, "Proctor, hit me with that question!"

Ibiki blinked and noticed that Naruto had succeeded in breaking through the fog of terror clouding the remaining examinee's minds. He grinned.

Naruto sighed and flinched as Hinata moved. He pressed his eyes closed. He needed to focus and finally noticed his paper. It seemed that he had moved on auto-pilot. Unlike his previous paper, this time he had answered every single question. Well, he was trained by Hokage and even some of the friendlier foreign Kage. When the border had fallen and everyone started working together to just survive, he had been fed as much information and secret to help with the effort as possible. Some willingly, some grudgingly.

But in the end, Naruto knew more secrets about the other Hidden Villages than even Jiraiya's spy network. And considering who gave him the knowledge, he knew it was all true.