Living Out A Prophecy

Chapter 17

Just like that, tournament day was here. People gathered from all over to come see the chunnin exam, even a certain black- and red-haired girl's father, Tanashi, who was none too happy finding out his daughter was missing. Currently the noirette was in counsel with the Hokage and elders before the tournament could begin, though it was a mere hour before it would start.

Daichi and Futoshi were both in the room along with a few extra guards, standing in the background, all worried about the princess.

"So, you're telling me that my daughter went missing, and no one noticed until two weeks had passed?!" he yelled at the elder people.

He was fuming, face red in anger and infuriation. Tanashi was normally a very understanding man, care-free and kind, but when it came to his children, he was mama and papa bear rolled into one. He was just a father after all.

"Please Lord Tanashi, calm down," Hiruzen implored, him angry at himself for what had happened. "I'm just as angry as you are that she has been taken, and we have a theory. But it'll have to wait until the tournament is underway."

Tanashi couldn't believe what he was hearing. A possible theory, that could end up being completely wrong, and he'd have to wait hours more.

"I have to wait longer?!" he asked incredulously. "What's the point of the treaty if things like this are going to happen?!"

Hiruzen sighed and pulled his hat down slightly, hiding his less than happy expression. Of all the things to happen, this was the most unexpected and possibly the worst thing possible. He was sure of his theory though, and if he was as confident in Nao's abilities as he thought, she'd already be on her way back. It was just a waiting game.

Tanashi took a deep breath to settle himself and looked around at the faces that surrounded him. He knew Hiruzen wouldn't lie to him, but it didn't make him worry any less.

"Fine," he said finally causing Hiruzen to look up with a smile. "One last chance, but if she doesn't show up before the day is done, we are done."

Hiruzen nodded. He didn't expect anything less. "Understood."

♪

Everyone was ready for the tournament and talking about the contestants with glee. It wasn't every day that you could see an Uchiha compete against a monster after all. Of course, no one liked that the first match was postponed to the end of the tournament. Everyone was in an uproar, but of course that all dissipated once the first round started, prodigy against a nobody.

Of course, everyone was crazy about the Hyuuga candidate. A prodigy against a no one shinobi was bound to be a quick fight, not to mention a quick few bucks made if you gambled. No one could guess the outcome of the match though.

Naruto won the match, to the astonishment of the viewers, and the dismay of all those betting against him.

It was at this time Nao was making her way quickly through the trees of the fire countries forests, as she had just crossed the border into the fire country. It was amazing she hadn't run into any patrol parties yet, though she assumed the exams were still going on, and the village needed all the shinobi it could get for such a rowdy crowd. Extra shinobi were just a precaution anyway.

It would be a few hours still before they'd get to the village. A couple hours in and Nao suddenly felt a surge of chakra fill her body. She stopped and marveled in the feeling before testing out her new chakra by climbing up a tree, amazing Toniko as he stopped in curiosity. New chakra felt amazing thrumming through her system.

"You're chakra is back!" he said incredulously.

Nao looked where the seal was to find nothing and that's when an extremely loud thud was heard and the ground started shaking. Quickly finding the nearest, tallest tree, the two bolted up it to find two massive monstrosities, a frog and a racoon dog, the ichibi also known as Shukaku, the demon inside Gaara.