InuYasha Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Her Presence ❯ Introducing... ( Chapter 2 )

A thanks goes to what few reviewers I had, as they made me feel guilty enough to post a second chapter (I was contemplating discontinuing the little reviewed thing and then BOOM! I got reviews) so here's to all you who took time out of your precious schedule (more reading to do, I know) and a special thanks to Blue Tajiri you made me laugh, I needed that. Enjoy and I hope it meets the standard of my last chapter.

 

The Chunin first examination went rather well, he supposed. That Uzumaki kid turned out to be a rather interesting character.

Charisma-

That's what he had. Exactly like his father did. Exactly what the Hokage needed to have. A blind man could see that Uzumaki Naruto would be great, he just needed support.

-And Competition.

There was plenty of that in this Exam.

Ibiki sighed as his mind wandered to the contestants and his feet wandered through the aisles. Absently he constructed a profile on each genin for the test he picked up.

…The old contender from Konohagakure…still needed to study up on his basics.

…The loud genin from Hidden Night in front of the blonde, he needed work on his stealth. Any one could hear him breathing when he was nervous.

The profiles blended together before sorting themselves into the recesses of his mind. He would draw up the information for the Hokage when he left and cleared up. Yawning slightly he drew one hand back to rub his neck.

As he continued at his lethargic pace his mind drifted to contemplate the power shift he felt last night. He smiled wistfully and he glanced at the sheet he had just picked up…and stopped short.

`Heh- so He's the kind of person who thinks he can pass the exam…with a completely blank answer sheet.' An amused smile found its way onto his face as he closed his eyes in mirth. `Uzumaki Naruto…is a very intriguing young man.'

An abrupt shift in the energy beside him made him snap his eyes open. “I always have to wonder…what can bring a smile to a heart such as yours.” The soft voice spoke out from his side. Slowly he turned to face her; he didn't grow angry at her words, she spoke out of compassion and sympathy- she understood that there was pain in his heart, not that it was all the stoic ninja his life had created.

“You're back.” It was a question and a statement in one.

“I always return you of all should know this, Ibiki-kun.”

So Ibiki smiled and pointed out the interesting ones of the bunch.

-and he saved the best for last.

A sly look passed onto her face and she paused. “I know you… as you know me. Sometimes, I think we know each other too well. So I know that you know I love suspense, but I also know that you'll supposedly save the best for last for me. Let's end the suspense.”

Ibiki laughed as she drew out the test from the bottom of his prospect pile. Grinning as she looked into his face she glanced down at it. He smiled at her expressions as they passed: first shock and surprise, then curiosity and something-like-awe, and finally amusement.

“Wha-?”

“Uzumaki Naruto. I don't know if you were here for the procedure, but he is the container for Kyuubi.”

“Nine tails…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze drifted to the window.

Drawing himself up to his full height he cut her thoughts short. It was a courtesy they'd developed over the years, never let one think too long of the past.

“I'm sure you need to visit some others. I believe the whole of Konoha felt your coming, and certain individuals are expecting your arrival at their gate.”

She grinned and saluted Ibiki. Sighing softly as she brought herself into her usual semblance of calm, she softly tapped her fingers in a trail down the side of her face. “Oh you're no fun. The escorts, you know I hate.”

Ibiki grinned mischievously; “I enjoy watching you squirm under all those appreciating gazes.” She gave him a sour look in reply. “Besides, the Sandaime should be the first to see you and if you just appear beside him people will start having conniptions.”

Her sour look melted into one of thoughtful contemplation before she brought her hands above her head and made one seal. Ibiki didn't move. She released her fingers with a vague whisper of breath he couldn't make out and drew her hands down her face. He didn't move. The air around her flashed with her chakra- he still didn't move. Her appearance had changed - he took a step toward her in surprise.

“What did you do?!”

She smiled. “A few new things I've learned.” She shook her head and the dark and heavy hood of her cloak shivered in response. Her entire body was covered with a dark shimmering cloak, and all Ibiki could make out were her hands when she brought them forward and the ends of her pants with the tips of her shoes.

“Bu-”

“Shush. Elders little ones shouldn't tease. Stand out I did you said; now I stand out for other reasons.” She was back into her home dialect. “Besides, rather fond of this cloak I am.”

Ibiki sighed and laughed in one breath while shaking his head. “The world is a brighter place with you in it.”

She smiled gently. “Your praises are high to this undeserving one. But, thanks.” She clapped her hands together and closed her eyes. “Okay though. How did that courting with fair lady go?”

He growled playfully. “My wife and I are fine, just as we were the last time you were here. But I do see trouble on your horizon…”

“Oh?”

“Hokage felt your presence last night I'm sure…”

“Darling, the whole of earth felt my presence last night I'm sure.”

He shrugged her off. “I sense two Anbu guards coming to escort you.”

“Anbu! What is he thinking!?”

Morino Ibiki grinned cattishly. “No doubt thinking that with Anbu you won't get sidetracked so easily.” She had the grace to blush. “He does enjoy talking to one such as your infinite wisdom.”

“Morino I am having a talk with your wife later. Whose side she takes we'll see.” She blew her bangs out of her face and concentrated on her next words. “I think I am going to have a nice long chat with that man.” Ibiki smiled genially and studied her accent. When she traveled she fell into the ways that she grew up in, it made for oddly flowing sentences, but when she tried to speak as the locals did a sing-song accent appeared in her words.

Rather neat, really.

“How long do you think it will take you to get back into the swing of things?”

She whistled lowly and flicked at an imagined speck of dust on her shoulder. “I've been away for about six years, and then that was only a two day visit….The time before that was a whole two years but that was about seventeen years ago before the Battle at Kikyou's Pass.” She trailed off as she tapped her fingers to her chin; she was still moving her lips with silent phrases as she contemplated.

He grinned and waved his hands in submission. “Not that it really matters.” He took hold of her hands and rubbed his thumbs across the backs. “You're back in town and I do believe you'll be staying for a while.”

“Is that so?”

“Oh yes, we'll just have to see who's side my wife takes on this!”

She laughed and lowered her raised eyebrow. Her laughter stopped and she sighed as they both turned to the entrance doors.

It was only a moment later when two masked Anbu entered the room and bowed curtly. Ibiki reflexively scrutinized them, there had been too many traitors reported in the ranks over the years for him to not…and it was ingrained into his very person.

These two Anbu had a pretty good reputation if he recalled correctly. The crane and the tortoise are the masks they had graduated into because of their high level of skill. `Plain romantic notions if you asked me.'

He sighed, but no one did. He gave the female a slight wave and grinned. “I'll tell my wife you're here visiting, then you'd better come over for a meal sometime.”

The anbu didn't show it, but Ibiki could tell they were shocked. `Heh, it's not every day little upstarts realize that the infamous cold Morino actually had a life.'

Oh how the sky is falling.

He watched her leave, the overall flow of her body undistinguishable beneath her dark cloak. But he knew; she was walking in that indefinable graceful movement where all her body seemed to flow as water.

She had this weird way of moving, no not weird exactly, just ethereal. It was always fun to watch people watch her, but now the cloak covered her form and the Anbu didn't know what to make of her. He guessed they probably thought she looked like she was floating, certainly not the predatory lope of any normally trained ninja.

Yes, things were going to get interesting in Konoha.

~.^.~

It was time for the second test, and they were walking to their destination now following the odd lady Anko. Chouji sighed as they walked away from the test building, he'd have thought he'd never have to return to the school. It always made him feel weak and vulnerable.

Not that he could help it really.

In school, until Shikamaru became his friend, he had been the underdog. It was hard to shake off that feeling when you associated it so well with a certain place.

His shivering went unnoticed, thankfully. Everyone already thought that he was a coward; it wouldn't be good if they thought he was still a coward after they'd been through the danger.

God that man was scary.

He came back to reality to scan the crowd that was slowly trickling out of the building. He and Shikamaru had paused to wait for Ino; she'd claimed that she needed to fix her makeup before they left.

Sighing he watched as most of the other Konoha rookies emerged in one scattered group. Ino emerged with them, and by coincidence all the rookies from their town converged upon the sidewalk in relative peace.

Chouji stuffed his face as he scanned the comrades slowly making their way through the streets. All ninja families lived in one general area- The outskirts.

This wasn't some type of shunning- although Chouji had realized that those people shunned by society or overly secretive were usually in one certain area of the outskirts- and the outskirts were rather well kept and beautiful- Especially in the fall.

It was actually a strategic maneuver by the founders. If all the ninja were living in homes that surrounded the village- who in their right mind would start a siege when all the willing and able were the closest to stop the conflict.

Still it made for a long walk to the epicenter of the village, where everything important and sacred was kept between the ninja and the hokage.

There was a slight scuffle that had him looking up from his bag of chips to see Kiba-san and his dog on the ground.

There was a cloaked figure standing, and Chouji could feel the surprise radiating off the figure. Then a feminine voice cut through the air and a females hand reached down to help up the ninja. “Oh, are you alright?”

Perhaps because he was knocked over by the small woman, perhaps because he was just in a foul mood, Kiba-san lashed out. “I'm just fine you old biddy.” He growled out.

Chouji noticed his dog was just sitting and staring at the woman.

He could feel her displeasure now. “I was under the impression that the rookie nin of this village were exceedingly polite and courteous.” He could see the hood fall to one side; her head had tilted on the neck he imagined to be as thin and graceful as her sole hand. “Maybe that includes only the customers?”

Kiba snarled at her and stood up to charge.

Two anbu materialized at her sides.

Kiba stopped and her hand rose to stop the anbus rapid arming.

The group had come to a standstill, and the previously angered females that had been ready to beat Kiba for his lack of manners were staring slack jawed at the obviously powerful person.

The female laughed demurely. “They are still children, Anbu-san.” Kiba and several others flushed hotly.

“I'll show you a child!” Kiba growled out.

Hinata stammered into their attentive gazes: “He doesn't mean that Lady.”

Sakura stepped forward her voice cutting into the tension and intensifying it like an old wound. “Are you a visitor in this village for the examination?” The curtness in her tone was unmistakable. If Chouji remembered correctly Haruno Sakura was always priding herself on her adult like intelligence and maturity.

They could tell she had turned to face her, and even without seeing her eyes they recoiled slightly at the force of her gaze. It would seem that Haruno-san had angered her. “Uhn. I really have to talk to Hokage-sama. If you are through wasting my time with your petty…inquiries, I will take my leave.”

If Chouji knew one thing about the rookies, it was that they were an interesting if insecure bunch; and Uchiha Sasuke was one that hated to be brushed aside as an inconsequential.

He took several angry steps forward with a fist outstretched. The female shifted her whole body to face him and the rookies waited with bated breath to see what the Uchiha would do.

Oddly enough, it was Uzumaki Naruto that stopped him.

His hand was holding the Uchihas wrist in a strong grip, Chouji could see his knuckles tuning white with the effort he was exerting. But his body remained strangely relaxed, and even when the Uchiha snapped a furious gaze to Naruto his eyes stayed their course on the woman.

Chouji wasn't actually surprised. Naruto may have been stupid…no he seemed stupid, but that was for the unimportant things. He understood the important things- to protect and to listen. Chouji remembered days long past when he would feel lonely- back before Shikamaru. Naruto would always approach him with that idiotic grin on his face and inquire as to his day.

He never told.

Naruto was his secret keeper. Who better to tell secrets to than a ninja who honored his word to the point of sanctity?

Naruto had this sense, he always knew when he needed someone to talk to and he always knew when he just needed the quiet reassurance of a presence that wouldn't condemn.

He guessed he understood the shunned….

But his instincts were good, and it only made sense that they extended to every day situations. If his teammates were glaring at him for stopping THE Uchiha then they hadn't taken the time to learn about the mysterious Uzumaki now had they?

If Naruto stopped someone from doing something, it usually meant he had good reason.

“Can't you feel it?”

His question gave them all pause, and Chouji could see Shikamaru narrowing his eyes at Naruto first and then the female.

She laughed.

Her hand came up and she pulled her hood down, revealing a pair of powerful eyes. Her hair and mouth was covered by a piece of cloth, the almost black material highlighted by the faint silver pattern of spider webs.

Her eyes were dancing.

“Powerful, you can hear them, can't you? They call to your blood and your power.” Her eyes crinkled at the corners in a smile that reminded him strongly of his mother. She closed those orbs and tilted her head in admission to her own question. “I will enjoy getting to know such fine young adults as you.”

She turned and beckoned to the two silent Anbu guards, and Chouji repressed a shiver as she walked away. Her voice called back on the wind; “Good Luck.” …She was powerful.

As their forms disappeared the silent group erupted with the cries of the few indignant. The silent ones, these were the ones who were listening, these were the ones who were watching.

Hyuuga Neji, with his ever-watchful eyes, stalked the long gone trio with his unwavering gaze. He had kept silent and made no move to interfere during the meeting, and Chouji had to wonder what he thought of it all.

Sakura-san turned on Naruto. “What were you thinking!?!” Her harsh cry didn't faze the blonde. Instead his gaze had turned inward, and the cloudy haze of his eyes stared back at the group and into nothing. “Naruto!” She got up in his face. “Sasuke was going to fight! You shouldn't have interfered!”

His eyes didn't focus. His body turned to head towards the considerably far-ahead group of genins, his feet absently leading him where he should be as his gaze remained nowhere. “Can't you feel it?” His whisper came as he walked away.

They watched him incredulously, wondering at his sanity he bet. He looked at his bag of chips, maybe he wouldn't bet; the only thing he had left was his food. He shrugged and happily munched, watching the drama unfold before him with a bemused expression on his usually lax features.

Shikamaru leaned back against his raised arms, gazing coolly out at the now walking genin. Chouji could picture exactly what he was thinking, with a snicker he mumbled around a mouthful of chips with a grin, “How troublesome.”

Shikamaru gave him an amused glance before turning and assessing every reaction. It would seem that Shikamaru had noticed something odd; heaven only knows what he could pull out of his head when they needed it.

He was crazy like that.

Chouji nodded decisively and let his mind drift. Naruto was acting strange…well, not strange for him but acting like something was off about that woman.

The only thing he could tell that set her apart from the rest was her bearing, she carried herself like nobility. And her age, her eyes spoke of age.

He wondered how old she really was.

`She could be hiding her body because she's old and decrepit. Silly woman and their insecurities.'

He for one found age and injuries beautiful, reminding him that life is continuous and flowing no matter what happens to you.

Huh, we'll see what the test brings. If she's an important figure the Hokage will be escorting her around the examinations.