Return to The Past : Naruto Fic

23

Chapter 22 – Chunnin Exams Prelude

Bright and early in the morning, Naruto was sitting on a comfortable lounge chair sipping a cup of hot chocolate. In front of the chair was a large round table. Around the table were other chairs, all of which were occupied. Directly on his left was Kirabi and on his right was Zabuza. Across from him was Ē. On Ē's right was Yugito and on Ē's left was Samui, who looked a bit uncomfortable.

After what felt like hours, Naruto finally finished his cup of hot chocolate and placed the cup on the table with a soft clang. Samui jumped at the noise. "The first thing I wish to discuss is the threat of Akatsuki."

Ē looked confused while Bee and Yugito tensed at the statement. "What do you mean Naruto-dono? I thought that Akatsuki was just a mercenary organization formed by S-Rank Nukenin from various villages. They don't possess any significant threat to any of the major villages."

"Then you are woefully misinformed. In fact, all the villages are misinformed. I have come across an interesting titbit of intelligence on them and their primary goals." Natuto said as Yugito growled while Bee had a dark look on his face. Ē looked at the two with a wary expression as he realized that Naruto had already informed them the moment they met. Before he could comment, Naruto continued, "Their goals are far from benign. I can understand gathering together into a group as a survival tactic, but their main goal is to capture the nine bijū and then seal them into the Gedō Mazō, the husk of the Jūbi."

"What is this Jūbi, Naruto-dono?" Ē asked taking a shaking breath.

"I am sure that you know about the Rikudō Sennin…" Ē nodded as Naruto continued, "The Jūbi is the demonic godlike entity that the Rikudō Sennin and his brother Hamura defeated. Hagoromo-sempai sealed the beast into himself, becoming the first Jinchūriki. On his death bed, Hagoromo-sempai used his immense powers to separate the Jūbi into nine entities. We know them as the Bijū."

Samui, Zabuza and Ē gasped at the revelation before Ē commented, "How do you know so much about the Rikudō Sennin and his history? Nearly all of it is lost to time."

Naruto chuckled, "You forget that my Senjutsu Sensei also taught Hagoromo-sempai and was present during the battle with the Jūbi and at the creation of the Bijū. Gamamaru-sensei is, in fact the eldest living being in existence."

Ē nodded dumbly before saying, "Anyway, back to the matter with the Akatsuki. I can understand that they are targeting the Bijū, but I doubt they have the guts, or the power to attack one of the major villages."

Naruto just shook his head before saying, "One of them has the Rinnegan. Another is Uchiha Itachi. Then there is another Uchiha who goes by the name of Madara and was the one involved with the Kyūbi attack thirteen years ago at Konoha. Then there are Hoshigaki Kisame, Mad Bomber Deidara, Kakuzu of the Jiongu and Akasuna no Sasori. Orochimaru was a former member as well."

Everyone was gaping at the information, even Kirabi, who had survived Akastuki's attempts to capture him. "You say they don't have the guts to attack one of the major villages, I call bullshit! They have already done it. Besides the one calling himself Madara had Yagura under a powerful sharingan genjutsu as well, and was controlling Kiri during all of Yagura reign. The one with the Rinnegan, though haven't really moved yet, but he was the one who defeated Hanzo the Salamander, singlehandedly as well. It is my belief and that of Gamamaru-sensei that Uzumaki Nagato can singlehandedly destroy any of the villages without even trying. The threat of Akatsuki is far more real than you think. If it comes to a fight between me and Akatsuki, I am unsure that I would be able to defeat all of them before the collateral damage becomes too much."