Zeroni's Naruto Collection of Unfinished Works

by Zeronibw

Unfinished works that I have abandoned, anyone can use them if you like. Send a pm if you do I'd like to see what you do with it.

1. Cursed

Orochimaru held the Nine-Tails brat steady as he prepared a Five-Pronged Seal to disrupt the chakra of the boy.

"Ku Ku... So the Nine-Tails brat is still alive.." The boy in question growled at him with beastly ferocity. The snake-snanin preformed the required hand seals, "Oh my... the seal is visible..." holding the boy's shirt up with his tong he finished the required hand seals. "When your emotions are heightened.. The power of the Nine-Tails overflows... very interesting..."

Orochimaru smirked at his prey's cry. "Five-Pronged Seal!" His seal implanted itself around the Kyuubi's cage.

The eldest shinobi held his prey out, "Naruto-kun and the Nine-Tails chakra are beginning to fuse... Twelve years since the seal..." He said aloud, the boys teammates were wide eyed as they stared at the now sleeping Naruto.

"But right now you are in the way..." The man like snake threw the boy over his shoulder not noticing he was still awake.

Uzumaki Naruto hit the tree feeling completely devoid of chakra, there was a thump and his falling stopped as he rested their for another minute. Looking over to his team he noted Sasuke had finally awoken and began fighting back, if he could laugh he would have.

He reached out and felt for his chakra, it was harder to control he realized as his hand slipped off the tree he tried clinging to, Naruto heard Sasuke's fire jutsu, and struggled harder before spinning his body and releasing the kunai keeping him up.

He fell to the forest floor landing hard but stood quickly he jumped into the tree behind Sasuke and Sakura.

He listened as the man introduced himself as Orochimaru he peaked out noticing the man now making weird hand seals, Naruto prepared his own technique at the last second as his teammates panicked forcing all of his available chakra into a single replacement jutsu.

Orochimaru eyes widened as he bit down and deployed his Juinjutsu into the Jinchūriki rather than Uchiha Sasuke. He quickly retracted his head the process complete, glaring at the boy as Sasuke returned to their side from behind the tree wide eyed.

"You stupid boy! You don't know what you've done!" The boy in question began screaming clutching at his neck as the seal implanted itself on the young boys chakra system. The seal in question glowed on his skin burning.

"Ku Ku... looks like he will die very painfully," Looking over at the boy now in Sakura's arms.

Sasuke ran over to them both looking down at his teammate and back up. "What did you do? What do you mean he's going to die?"

Orochimaru smiled back his long tong flicking out like the snake he was, "Naruto-kun is a Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails and of course my seal alters the chakra pathways to make way for my own, giving power to whomever uses it! This technique only has a ten percent survival chance and now his body is rejecting it! Which means he'll die... Ku ku... and the Kyuubi No Kitsune will be released upon this village once again..."

Both children were wide-eyed now looking at him as he began sinking into the tree itself, "I suggest you run as fast as you can Sasuke-kun because anything in his path will be annihilated." The Snake Sannin disappeared into the tree completely leaving them alone.

Sakura was beyond scared now, she couldn't believe what she was hearing, Orochimaru of all people in the Chūnin exams! And Naruto-kun was some sort of Jinchūriki for the Nine-Tailed Fox.

She slowly put the boy down, "Sasuke-kun," The boy in question looked over Naruto as he convulsed painfully. "What do we do? Should we run?"

"Hn, now who's the coward." He coldly responded, "We can't just let him die, there has to be something we can do?" He looked down to the seal on the boy's neck it was spreading at an alarming rate.

"He's burning up!" Sakura quickly unzipped the boy's jacket taking it off, she took out her canteen of drinking water and poured it out on to a cloth she had carried with her before finally putting it over the boys forehead.

"The seal, look!" Sasuke lifted Naruto's shirt up, bright markings covered half his body. "Shit! Isn't there anything we can do!"

Sakura looked down at her teammate just in time to notice his body beginning to seize. "He's having a seizure! We have to cool him down!"

Without asking she picked the boy up and jumped down to the lower branch before leaping into a nearby stream followed closely by Sasuke. Steam rose from the water as his body cooled and stopped moving.

"Is he okay?" Her teammate asked, she didn't know of course, their only chance was his survival so she hoped with all her heart. Thinking back to the academy first aid courses she remembered something, placing her fingers on Naruto's neck she felt for the vital vein to check the boy's heart rate.

"Nothing," She whispered tears building in her eyes. Sasuke-kun looked at her impatiently, "He doesn't have a pulse." Tears now freely falling into the water.

"Get him out of the water!" Sasuke-kun grabbed Naruto over the nearby beach before laying him down. "We need to restart his heart." He said looking over the boy, the seal Orochimaru had placed was still spreading and now completely covered Naruto's body.

"W-we need to start cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if you could start chest compressions while I deliver oxygen..." She gulped unsure of herself, and Sasuke nodded.

"Don't worry you can do this." Sasuke said looking her directly in the eyes. Sakura nodded again her resolve increasing.

After two minutes Naruto's heart began beating again. They both sighed.

Naruto opened his eyes again after and shot up looking around, 'Where's that freak!?' Looking around he instantly came to the conclusion that he was no longer in the forest. The only thing different in the pure white room was him and a tall man standing with his back to him.

"Hello Naruto," He turned around revealing the Forth Hokage, "It's been a long time, son." Naruto continued to stare at the man not registering any words being spoken to him. Namikaze Minato flicked his son's forehead quite hard breaking him out of the trance he had been in, "Are you done?"

Naruto sighed, "Ah man I died." Looking down at the floor, 'shit I messed up big time.'

"Well you did die for two minutes but your friends managed to revive you thankfully." Minato smiled down at his son, putting his hand on his head he ruffled the boys hair. "You'll be alright after a good rest."

"Really?" Naruto asked before he stood, "Are you really the Forth Hokage or am I just dreaming this?" Looking up to his hero, the man smiled.

"Ah I'm kind of like a Kage Bunshin implanted into the seal when your mother and I were forced to bind the Kyuubi to you. But I am real enough..." he paused thinking, "I don't have a lot of time and I want to talk to my son a little before I pass."

Naruto finally registered the fact that the Forth Hokage was acknowledging him as his son, he walked up to the taller man and kicked him right in the balls. The Jinchūriki was openly crying now, "Why would you seal the Nine-Tails inside of your own son?! Do you have any idea what I've been through?! All the adults look at me with contempt and hatred and I couldn't make any friends!"

It took a minute for the pain to subside before Minato could stand back up and look into his son's tear struck eyes. "I knew I could count on you to be the hero I knew you would grow up to be." One eye closed he smiled at his son through his pain, "I couldn't ask anyone else to give up their own child, to sacrifice their son or daughter. Do you understand?"

Naruto just nodded, tears still coming strong from his eyes. Suddenly arms embraced him, he looked up into his fathers eyes, they brought him strength to push through the pain, loneliness that his life had forced upon him. "I'm sorry for kicking you." He looked back down ashamed.

Minato lifted his son's head back up, "I did deserve that one," he smiled again. They both laughed.

"Tou-san, what was my mother's name?" Hearing this question shocked Minato, he had expected the Third to suppress information about his own name but he had always kept his relationship with the beautiful Kushina a secret as much as possible.

"Uzumaki Kushina," he thought for a second, "Your both very similar, almost the exact same personality which is quite remarkable considering you've never met either of us. Kushina was a wonderful person who loved both of us more than anything else in the world, we both wanted you and loved you since the day we found out."

They both talked for another couple of minutes as Naruto told him his current life story and Minato told Naruto about people who he could contact to find out more about his parents. "Kakashi was student but he didn't learn any of my jutsu, rather he preferred to use his 'Chidori,' on the other hand my guard, Raidō Namiashi, Genma Shiranui and Iwashi Tatami know my Flying Thunder God Technique and the Rasangan. Or at least they should know the Rasangan by now, it had taken me three years to create it." He stopped when Naruto looked confused. Minato sighed, "The Third really didn't tell you anything did he?"

"Not really but I was a snot-nosed brat back then," The younger man smiled.

Minato laughed, "Your still a brat, but your my brat remember that okay?" Naruto nodded. "Were about out of time, before I go I need to explain what I did when you died. The seal is designed to take the Kyuubi with you as you die but Orochimaru's seal disrupted everything and it destabilized." Naruto looked shocked, "Which is why I'm here remember? Once it destabilized I took action against the seal Orochimaru placed on you before, by removing the Five-Prong Seal and then containing his Juinjutsu inside the new Hakke no Fūin Shiki along with the part of him that he implanted into you."

"Ew... Why would he do that?" Naruto asked his father curiously.

Minato nodded in understanding, "I agree it's quite a disgusting thought, having that person within you but he had his reasons. For now lets just leave it at that because the Kyuubi is currently chewing on his soul." He smirked, "I've adjusted the seal with the help of your mother and with what little time we had I've been able to readjust his Juinjutsu for you to use as a weapon."

"Whoa! You can do all that?" Naruto shouted excitedly.

"We'll you were asleep for over six hours so it's really no problem." He snapped his fingers and the Hakke no Fūin Shiki appeared behind him in the air, "This was the original Hakke no Fūin Shiki that held the Kyuubi." Four tomoe formed around each side of the seal. "And this is the new and improved seal with Orochimaru's additions."

"That's so cool! But how did you turn this into a weapon Tou-san?" Naruto said looking over the seal.

"Naruto," The boy in question looked over to him. "All Jinchūriki have abilities, they are in fact weapons for their village, but we didn't mean to turn you into a Jinchūriki at all or leave you alone." The young Jinchūriki nodded in understanding. "Normally the previously Jinchūriki or someone close to him teaches his or her predecessor how to control the powers of the Tailed Beasts but since your mother passed we were unable to pass on this knowledge."

"That's Okay Tou-san! I don't really want to use it's power anyway, I'll become strong on my own!" Minato hadn't looked away from his boy and remained focused.

"Naruto we sealed the Nine-Tails into you for a couple of reasons, I knew if I couldn't be their for you when you needed me the most at least you would have this power to protect yourself when you needed it. Do you understand?" Naruto nodded. "Orochimaru did you a favor when he 'gifted' you this seal, you see it allows you to transform using a special enzyme that strengthens your body against certain types of chakra including the demonic chakra produced by the Kyuubi."

Naruto was confused beyond any shadow of a doubt but he thought his father was saying it was okay to use this power as long as he could control it. "I think I understand."

Minato sighed sensing his time was almost up, 'I must have had more chakra than I thought, it's been over eight hours,' he thought.

"Basically I'm telling you it's okay to use the seal Orochimaru gave you because Tou-san fixed it to work with your body and the Kyuubi." A look of understanding came over the boy.

"That's totally awesome!" He ran up to up his father and passed right through him. "Tou-san?"

"It's time for me to leave, remember to find Jiraiya and my old guard, they can teach you all my Ninjutsu." They were both openly crying now, "I love you and you'll see your mother like this once you attempt to master the Kyuubi's powers."

"I'll miss you Tou-san! Thank you for everything and I promise to take care of myself!" Tears streaming down his face he stood now alone in the room which faded a minute later.

Just as the fake woman said Sound Ninja had attacked them sometime during the night as he slept, Sakura had taken turns with Sasuke to protect the camp while their teammate was indisposed. They both agreed if he didn't wake by morning they would be forced to carry him to the tower.

Thus Sakura awoke to her teammate shouting at him at around five in the morning.

"She won't be able to help you! Lets begin the battle for our lives!" Said Zaku charging Sasuke, while the bandaged wearing one shot forward to aid his teammate against Sasuke. "He's mine first Dosu!"

Normally he wouldn't care but Orochimaru had given them orders not to hold back against Sasuke, "We'll end him together or I'll finish you first before I kill him." Zaku glared back at him, giving time for Sasuke to activate traps set around the area trapping all three of them in ninja wire.

"Fools, you should thinking about not dying rather on who should attack first. I'm not your prey, your mine." Sasuke tightened the wire using his arm brace hidden under his clothes.

"Shit!" Zaku said through gritted teeth, "This trap, when did you have time!"

"Hn... I've known you were here since you found us." The girl struggled against the wire and Sasuke pulled hard on that wire. The unknown girls neck began to pour blood by the pint as her carotid artery was severed. He released that wire as the girl fell lifelessly to the ground, his first kill not affecting him in the slightest. "One down."

"Fine! We give up!" Dosu said, the wire cutting harshly into his arm and neck.

"Your master killed our teammate with that seal he placed on him, tell me what his plans are for me and why he attempted to kill us." Neither boy moved in fear of what the wire user would do.

'Orochimaru placed a seal on the boy?' Dosu looked over the boy and noticed nothing, he looked over to other fallen boy who was stirring. "We were merely ordered to kill your team Uchiha-san, we know nothing of that mans plans. Now that you've removed our teammate and your teammates are back to normal we have no chance against you. If you let us go in peace we wont come back."

Sasuke stared at the boys for a moment, "Sakura find their scroll. Which one of you has it? Don't try anything." He tightened the wire around each of there necks, a trickle of blood escaped Dosu's.

Dosu panicked, "I-it's on me!" Sakura standing next to Naruto and Sasuke walked over to the boy wrapped in wire, "It's in the left pouch." Sakura threw a kunai at the pouch cutting it open, a lit explosive note fell to the ground.

Sasuke panicked and over tightened the wire as Sakura jumped away from the small explosion, both of the sound ninja fell to the ground dead. Eyes wide he released the rest of the wires before rushing over to the fallen Sakura, "Sakura!"

"I'm okay, ouch..." She held her head, the concussion from the blast giving her a slight headache. She looked up to the fallen sound ninja who's left leg and head poured blood as he took his final gasp of air.

"Here," Sasuke held out his hand to the fallen girl to lift her from the dirt. She hugged him, "We're not alone, another team is nearby." He whispered.

Sakura looked back over to the resting Naruto who was attempting to get up, "Naruto!" She rushed over to him Sasuke took a moment to go through the Sound Ninja's gear finding the scroll. "Lay back down! You've been through a cardiopulmonary arrest, you died for over two minutes!"

Naruto gently laid back down as Sakura approached him he was crying as he gazed up at the morning sky. He reached up and wiped away his tears as Sakura checked his temperature with her hand and Sasuke stood to his side.

Sakura frowned as her teammate wiped away the tears, "Are you in a lot of pain?" Naruto shook his head negatively, "They must be happy tears then." She smiled down at him and he nodded.

"Tou-san..." he whispered, "I met him when I was passed out."

Sakura and Sasuke exchanged looks and the boy nodded, "That man," Sasuke said looking down at Naruto, "said you were the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails." It came out as more of a statement, but it had the desired affect. "He said we should have ran away from you because that seal," he pointed down at Naruto's neck, "would kill you and release the Kyuubi from it's prison."

Naruto stared at his teammates half expecting them to run away from him leaving him alone.

The girl of the group looked between the two noticing the obvious tension, "We couldn't run, no we wouldn't run, if we had abandoned you I don't think either of us would have been able to live with it. We've talked and neither of us care about the Kyuubi being inside you." At the end of her speech they heard a gasp from the nearby bushes.

Sasuke whirled around and yelled, "Come out! Or I'll burn you all alive!" The effect was immediate as Ino, Choji and Shikamaru came running out before stopping in front of the group.

"Pig..." Sakura growled out at her former best friend and now rival. Said girl growled back a 'Forehead...'

Naruto looked over to the three that came out of the bushes, "Help me up please Sakura-chan." She gently slid Naruto up and back against a nearby tree.

"Cats out of the bag now eh? Everyone..." They all looked at him. "Thirteen years ago the Kyuubi escaped from my Kaa-chan as she gave birth because of a certain man, my Tou-san was able to defeat the Kyuubi by sealing it into me."

He told them exactly what his father had said to him about that night. "That night the Sandaime retook his office and declared this subject to be an S-Class secret and everything about that night was sealed away, along with any mention of my parents. Do you understand?"

They were all staring at him like he had a second head.

The Nara was of course the first to respond as he processed the information, "Troublesome... We understand don't we Ino... Choji?" They both nodded. "We also understand your hurt Naruto and Sasuke's traps have been used up."

"Sasuke-kun! Please give us your Earth scroll!" Ino smiled forming a hand sign.

Sasuke didn't even move, he just looked through the three before him, "You losers think you can challenge us... After what we've been through." He activated his Sharingan, two blood red tomoe stared into each of their eyes slowly.

"It's three versus two Sasuke-kun, please we heard about what happened to Naruto," Ino said, she would have continued but something in Naruto changed in front of her in that instant. His body glowed with marks, blood red in color, as they engulfed his entire body and he stood up.

Naruto began focusing his chakra into the seal like his father had said. It was power incarnate, the rush his chakra flowed through his entire body and then he projected it outwards. A wave of his chakra flowed into everyone nearby, his intent leaking through promising a lot pain.

Everyone gulped as the boy smiled before standing, Shikamaru saw this and quickly jumped farther back his teammates following his actions. "Fine! Were leaving, lets go Ino, Choji." Ino said, Naruto vanished, everyone lost sight of him for a second.

When Naruto reappeared behind his fellow rookie Genin he didn't move aggressively, but held out his hand. "You guys could travel with us, I'm sure we'll encounter another Earth scroll on the way to the tower, considering how much time is left." The three in front of him looked scared, "Oh this is the seal Orochimaru-teme left on me, pretty neat isn't it?"

They nodded Naruto's chakra rolled off him in powerful waves. "Apparently I have access to the Kyuubi's Chakra in this state? I wonder if you'd like to help me test it." They quickly shook there heads and Naruto sighed releasing the seal.

Everyone sighed as he released it. Ino and Shikamaru exchanged glances, "N-no thanks we'll be fine on our own." Ino seemed to be the 'leader' as she expressed what her teammates were thinking. "We won't say anything about this! We promise." The other two nodded their heads. Just like that Team Nine left the field.

A branch snapped as a blond haired boy used it to propel him to the next tree, and then finally to the next. The large structure loomed in front of the three as they passed onto the flat land before them.

"We've made good time," Sasuke said, looking up he noticed the time of day being around noon. His teammates followed him into the building as they passed through the sealed doors into a room with a sign on the wall and two passage ways overhead.

"Without... Heaven..." Naruto looked up at the sign. "What hell does this mean?"

"Looks like it's missing words there."

Sakura nodded, "This is probably about the scrolls.. I think they are telling us to open up the scrolls..." Sasuke and Naruto both took out the scrolls looking at them then at each other.

At the same time they each peeled the scroll open, Sasuke's eyes widened as he thought, 'This is.. A summoning type jutsu!' he threw away the scroll and yelled. "Naruto! Let go of the scroll!"

The scrolls landed on top of each other and a cloud of smoke exploded out as they're teacher from the academy revealed himself. They all looked confused for a second, "A summoning jutsu..." Sasuke said evenly.

"Iruka-sensei!"

"Why was Iruka-sensei summoned?" Said Naruto to the rest of the room in a confused manner.

Iruka cleared his throat for a moment, "I was allowed to come and greet you at the end of the second exam."

"Greet us?" Iruka nodded to his former students.

"Looks like you guys made it in a day early! All three of you pass, Congratulations!" He paused for second, closing his eyes he continued, "To celebrate your successful completion of the second test I'd like to buy you a round of Ramen but.."

Naruto slammed into him yelling, "We did it!We did it!We did it!"

Sasuke walked up to the man and student, "We need to talk to the Hokage if we have time before the next round."

Iruka blinked at him. "Is it that important." Tilting his head to the side.

"It came out in the second part that Naruto is the Jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails and among other things I've been targeted by Orochimaru of the Sannin. Also he placed a seal on Naruto which killed him for over two minutes." Iruka was instantly serious and he put Naruto down.

"Aw Sasuke why'd you have to ruin the moment." Naruto said looking down. "I'm fine now, my Tou-san helped repair and contain that snake freaks seal."

"Tou-san...?" Iruka looked confused, Sasuke and Sakura looked confused also, he hadn't said who his 'Tou-san' was in the forest.

"He said it was a big secret and I shouldn't be going around telling people but your my family now so.." he said looking over to his team and Iruka. "The Forth put a bit of chakra inside the Kyuubi's seal to help me in case it was 'destabilized' just in case you know?" They all looked at him confoundedly.

"Hn... Your saying the Forth Hokage was your father...? I can't see it..."

"Hey! He said I had my Kaa-chan's personality."

Iruka looked at him and slapped himself in the forehead, 'of course he's that man's son.' Looking back up he grabbed Naruto by the arm. "Come on I'm taking you all to the examiners meeting room."

They reached a locked door after passing several Chūnin and even a couple of masked Black Ops members. Iruka knocked on the door and someone let them into the room. "Iruka they're not supposed to be back here!" A Chūnin said to their former instructor, he waved them off.

"Anko-san," The lady in fishnets holding her collar looked up to him, "Sasuke-kun informs me a certain Snake is targeting him and his team." She nodded, looking over Sasuke.

"Your lucky you survived his mark." She winced in pain.

"Hn... Naruto got his mark... not me." he said looking over to Naruto. Her eyes instantly widened. "And he didn't survive... he died for over two minutes and we were able to restart his heart and cool his temperature down enough that there wasn't anymore negative affects."

He stopped talking when Anko stood and approached Naruto, she roughly grabbed him, Naruto yelled out as she pulled back his shirt to look over his neck. "There's nothing here. Why are you lying to us? Are you trying to get information on the next exam?" She released him.

"Naruto can you show her what your dad did to contain the seal?" Naruto nodded and he closed his eyes, marks spread from his naval and covered his entire body.

"Stop this! Stop using HIS seal!" Anko yelled at the blond boy.

"Anko calm down!"

Naruto took a second to calm down, "Sasuke already told you it was contained but that's just part of it examiner lady, my father turned Orochimaru's seal into a weapon for me to use with the Kyuubi's chakra." Anko looked over to his teammates at the casual mention of the S-Ranked secret. "They already know everything about me."

She sat back down looking down. "Fine sit down the Third is already on his way." They all nodded.

"Could we get something to eat and a place to bathe? It's been like three days for some of us..." She pointed at the door to her right.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into the examiners room expecting to find Anko waiting for him, he would help suppress Orochimaru's vile chakra and ease her pain. What he did not expect to find was three Genin playing poker with the same person he was intent on helping.

He cleared his throat, "Anko-chan... What is the meaning of this." He sat down in a chair his subordinate acquired for him expecting a story. Anko complied with the subtle order conveying their story which had been told once again from start to finish as they three children continued to play they game of poker while gauging the reaction of their leader. Hiruzen preformed the necessary treatment to force back the seal on his subordinate's neck while thinking everything over.

"Naruto-kun... Come here." He stood and approached, "Lift your shirt and channel some chakra, do not activate that mans seal." He did as he was asked without question. "Hm... and you say your father spoke to you after he repaired the failing seal." Naruto nodded. "I hope you understand why I wasn't able to tell you about him or her."

"It's okay old man! He told me about all his battles with Stone and Lightning and I don't want to get on their radar yet so I understand." He was smiling, "It was still nice to know I was wanted you know?" The Third Hokage nodded his head in understanding not visibly wincing at the implication that Naruto thought he wasn't wanted by someone.

"It's very interesting that Minato-kun was able to do this in such a short time..."

Sasuke finally spoke up again, "Naruto was unconscious for around ten hours after that man bit him instead of me."

Hiruzen nodded in understanding, 'it's possible but from what Naruto was describing the entire seal destabilized within a short time after he 'died.'' "Does the curse still hurt?"

"No, Thank you, it's much better now." Anko snapped her fingers and another examiner came over, "Take them over to the barracks, and keep an eye on them." The man nodded to his boss.

Iruka whom looked out of place nodded to, "I'll stay with them also since that man might still be in the area."

"If he does show up, focus on getting out alive, do not attempt to fight him." Anko said, the Third nodded hearing sound advice.

"Black Ops will follow you three around for now, also Kakashi-kun is waiting outside, late of course." Their sensei poked his head through the door with an Eye-smile.

"I heard my students were down here with you."

Team seven exited the room with there sensei and the two Chūnin.

"First off, for the second test, congratulations on passing! Hokage-sama will now explain the third test so listen up!"

The Third Hokage stepped forward, and began to speak through his own microphone. "Before I explain the third test, there is something I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for this exam." Everyone was paying attention as the Third Hokage spoke.

"Why do we have all the allied countries taking the exam together? To promote friendship among the countries, to raise the level of shinobi. I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning."

He paused for affect everyone taking his words in; "This exam is a replacement for war among the allied countries. If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage these countries chose for battle...that is the origins of the Chūnin selection exam."

"Why the hell do we have to do that crap? Isn't this to decide who becomes a Chūnin?" Naruto said to his leader quite rudely.

"It's a fact that this exam decides which Shinobi have what it takes to become a Chūnin. But on the other hand, this exam has another side. Where each country's Shinobi risk their own life to protect their land's prestige. Watching this third exam will be leaders and influential individuals from many countries who make up the clients of the shinobi. And the leaders of the countries will also be there to watch each of your battles. If the strength of a country is clear, they will receive more clients. Conversely, if seen as weak, they will lose more clients. This will signal to potential enemy countries that 'our village has this much power.' So it will send a political message to outsiders."

"Yeah, but why?!" Kiba yelled. "Why do we have to risk our lives in battle?"

"The strength of the country is the strength of the village. The strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi. And the true strength of the shinobi is... born only through life-risking battle. This exam is a place to see each country's strength and to show off your own strength. It only has meaning because lives are at risk. And that's why those that have come before you have fought in the Chūnin exam for this dream that is meaningful."

"But then why do you say stuff about it being for friendship?" Tenten's brow wrinkled with confusion as she waited for the Hokage's answer.

"I said in the beginning I don't want you to confuse the purpose of this. By losing life and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the shinobi world."

"Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test. This is a life risking battle with your dreams and your country's prestige on the lines."

"I get it..." Naruto said.

"I'd like to explain the third test now, but-"

"Actually." Cough. "I apologize, Hokage-sama... From here on, as the referee, will you please allow me, Gekkou Hayate."

The Third Hokage bowed slightly allowing the examiner to do his job, "By all means.."

The sickly man reintroduced himself. Hayate explained the reason for preliminary fights and why they had reduce to the number of participants for the final part of the exams.

He coughed once more, "Umm... So anyway those who are not feeling well... those who feel like quitting after these explanations please come forward now. Since we will be starting the preliminaries immediately..."

"What? Right now?!" Yelled Kiba next to Naruto.

Kabuto looked over to his 'Master' Orochimaru who merely shrugged before he opted out.

"Anyone else wish to quit seeing as it's an odd number. You may raise your hand without worry to your teammates." Said the proctor of the preliminaries. No one else quit.

"Please pay attention to the board that will randomly select your opponent." Everyone looked up, Yoroi Akadō vs Choji Akimichi. "Would everyone else please proceed to the upper levels."

After everyone cleared out Hayate explained the rules and that if he said stop they would stop or be disqualified.

Yoroi Akadō vs Choji Akimichi

Yoroi held his hand out activating his jutsu as the other boy prepared his assault, he knew from experience that the Akimichi clan used body adjustment Ninjutsu which meant chakra. He smirked for a moment before Choji expanded into a fat ball before beginning his roll towards the elder Genin.

Yoroi quickly threw several kunai and a set of shuriken hoping to slow the boys speed, it didn't work as he was forced to jump away, in that instant Choji nearly implanted himself into a wall but barely stopped his jutsu throwing out his hands which expanded and slapped Yoroi into a wall harshly. He tried to get up but another fist impacted his stomach knocking him out.

Winner: Chōji Akimichi

Shino Aburame vs Kankurō

Shino brought out his hands commanding his swarm to do his bidding, hundreds of insects swarmed around him. Kankurō released his wrapped package and placed it down preparing to begin battle.

The insect user lazily tossed kunai into his opponent not aiming for critical points but they were easily dodged by the sand shinobi. Shino would have smiled if he possessed emotions as the female kikaichū landed on the other boy. He shifted his weight as Kankurō attacked him with his left hand but missing. The left hand of the sand shinobi cracked open and split at the elbow revealing a hole.

Poison gas irrupted from the hole as both Shino and the proctor had to jump away from the cloud of smoke coughing.

"You've both inhaled a powerful poison, I give you two minutes before you pass out. If you quit I'll give you the antidote." Shino looked at the proctor who looked fine for now, but Shino couldn't take the chance if the boy had used such a powerful poison gas.

"I concede the match."

Hayate nodded calling the match to Kankurō of the Sand. Kankurō's other arm opened and he released two vials of the antidote and threw it to them, they both nodded they're thanks.

Winner: Kankurō of the Sand

Kiba Inuzuka vs Rock Lee

"Yosh! Lee it's your turn! Burn brightly!"

"Yes Gai-Sensei!" Both Konoha ninja jumped over the railing and the proctor started the match when they entered the arena.

Lee quicker than most could follow closed in on Kiba's guard and kicked him in the chest sending the boy back clutching in pain from the force of the blow. His dog barked and Kiba took out a pill before throwing it to the dog, only for Lee to catch it before Akamaru.

"I'm sorry but this fight will be a one on one Kiba-san, I don't wish to hurt your dog." Kiba growled at the other boy before launching himself from the ground into a tornado spinning attack.

Lee saw the slow attack coming at him and let it hit, or at least that's what would have happened had he not shot his fist out and slammed it into the head of the spinning boy. Kiba landed nearby unconscious.

Hayate checked Kiba's pulse before calling the match to Rock Lee.

Winner: Rock Lee

Sakura Haruno vs Temari

After a quick warning and encouragements from her teammates Sakura landed on the main stage making her way to the middle of the arena.

"You should quit now I don't hold back against children." The other girl glared at the shorter pink-haired girl.

"I need to at least try." Sakura said with some conviction.

Hayate began the match.

'I won't even need my fan for this match." Temari jumped forward but quickly dodged several kunai thrown by the younger girl. One landed near her hissing as she cursed her stupidity for a second before unleashing her fan towards the kunai.

Sakura smirked, 'That extra time paid off,' She wrapped three notes before she leaped back avoiding her own explosion eyes wide. She skidded to a halt looking for the older girl, who took the time to get around Sakura and planted a foot into the pink-haired girls back.

Sakura cried out for a moment before the other girl roughly grabbed her by the hair and forced the younger girl down to her knees. Several strategies played out quickly in her mind but they all started the same. She took out her sharpest kunai and slashed her own hair off in one slice before rolling forward and throwing out a kunai, she nicked the older girls cheek causing blood to flow.

Temari felt the blood flow and her rage boiled over before she unleashed all of her fan upon the smaller pink-haired girl slamming her into a nearby wall, she readied another attack at the downed girl when her enemy fell to the ground unconscious Hayate called the match in her favor.

Winner: Temari

Misumi Tsurugi vs Ino Yamanaka

Ino ended up using her clan jutsu on Misumi before he could move and called the match as quickly as it ended. Misumi enraged attempted to hurt the younger girl only to be put down by the Hayate.

Winner: Ino Yamanaka

Garaa vs Shikamaru Nara

As soon as Shikamaru saw his name a feeling of dread came over him as he looked at his opponent. Killing intent, pure and simple forced his defeat and nobody in the room would blame him.

He gulped before raising his hand and shouting his decision.

Winner: Garaa

Sasuke Uchiha vs Tenten

Sasuke walked into the arena after checking his tools and confidently smiled at his adversary, she didn't return it.

"Good Luck." She nodded at him, Sasuke knew luck was on his side or at least he thought it was. Hayate began the match and Sasuke activated his Sharingan, instantly kunai and shuriken slowed down, he blocked them all with ease

Tenten was on guard as Sasuke started forming hand-seals, he stopped and let loose a massive ball of flame, she had to tuck and roll to avoid being burned alive. The older girl unsealed a deadly blow dart gun before firing higher velocity shots towards to younger boy.

At the same time Sasuke unseal his two Fuma Shuriken, 'She wants to play with weapons,' he smirked attaching wire around the centers before launching it towards her in a direction that would encircle the girl. He winced as a painful but similar feeling of a dart striking his lower body, he quickly pulled it out.

Tenten noticed to odd direction of each of his shuriken but didn't see the wire, each wire wrapped around her once before she used a replacement jutsu to escape his wire landing her five meters away from the boy. She threw the blow dart gun away to avoid his next attack.

Sasuke hit his wire release and jumped forward intending on getting into Taijutsu range, but quickly stopped as the girl released a large scroll from her back and jumped into the air.

Weapons rained down on him before he could do anything, a kunai and several senbon pierced his leg and arm caused him to wince before he pulled each one out while putting distance between him and her.

"You should just give up I can do this all day, weapons are my specialty." Tenten said to the younger boy as he panted from exertion and blood lose.

Sasuke shook his head ignoring his teammates cries in the background, "Hn, Don't take me lightly this isn't enough to stop me." Wrapping his headband over his leg wound he took his stance.

He darted towards her with all his strength, "Fool!" She yelled tossing kunai at him, he narrowly avoided her strikes, his Sharingan evolving mid fight allowed him to predict out she would move to an extent. Sasuke closed in and he crouched in low and kicked her upwards blood flowed from her mouth as she was lifted from the surface of the arena.

He jumped up and aligned himself with her before flipping around and preforming a drop kick to the chest in mid air, she blocked the first blow but the second cracked her ribs.

"You thief." She growled out in pain as she fell.

Sasuke implanted a foot directly into her stomach on the way down causing her to pass out.

Hayate called the match in his favor as he grabbed the younger girl preventing a head wound.

Winner: Uchiha Sasuke

Naruto Uzumaki vs Neji Hyūga

"Finally! It's my turn!" Naruto fist punched the air stepping on the ledge.

"Naruto." He stopped to look over to his sensei, "Don't kill your comrade, but I want to see a good fight." Naruto nodded and jumped down to the arena.

Gai looked over to his eternal rival smirking, "Kakashi, I'm sorry but he doesn't stand a chance against Neji."

"Hm... Did you say something Gai?"

With Naruto and Neji in the arena words were exchanged and each boy stood waiting for the proctor to start the match.

"Begin!"

Neji shot forward faster than Naruto could currently move and started his basic Gentle Fist technique to quickly end the match. He seal Naruto's main pathways that allowed his arms and legs to channel chakra before putting his palm into the younger boy's lower stomach.

Naruto collapsed in pain his body hurt. "Eh I should of known you would have been too much in this state." He said from the ground. "It's a good thing I had that extra day to work on this technique, controlling my killing intent was a problem."

Neji stared at the boy as the words left his mouth, "Quit bluffing loser, stand up and fight."

Naruto did stand but as he stood his body changed black markings flew across his body and covered him completely. The markings faded on his skin leaving his entire body changed, his skin dark dark red with white markings where his bones would be and his hair changed from the yellow it was to a lighter red with yellow highlights. The most defining thing of the change was the fox ears and the single tail swishing behind him as he smiled at the boy his canines incisors lengthened.

Naruto ignored the gasps from the audience as he underwent the first stage of his cursed seals transformation. He released a wave a chakra from inside him to unblock the tenketsu he could feel blocked.

Neji's eyes were wide as he watched a seal on the boys stomach explode across his body, he didn't understand what it was at all and voiced it. "What are you?" he said quietly.

Naruto tilted his head to the side at the question looking over to the Hokage who passively chatted with three Jōnin around him. "I am Konoha's ultimate sword and shield. I will protect everyone from what was sealed inside me thirteen years ago." Neji didn't understand exactly what was being said, and neither did some of crowd.

"What does that mean?" Neji took his stance again.

"Thirteen years ago, the Kyuubi No Kitsune was sealed into me by the Forth Hokage to protect Konoha."

Hayate coughed, they looked over to the man, "If you could stop airing S-class secrets and continue with the fight. Or do either of you wish to quit now?"

Instead of answering Neji activated his Byakugan and darted forward intent on attacking Naruto while he was off balance only to find him missing. Naruto vanished from the spot he stood on as soon as he saw the older boy move and reappeared behind him, he twisted his body and shoved his leg into Neji's side.

Neji tried blocking in that instance but Naruto's speed had increased to match his own causing him to take the hit. He slid across the floor holding his side painfully, 'Broken rib..' He stood straight up and forced the pain down.

He dropped into his Eight Trigrams stance before moving on Naruto, "Two Palms," Naruto took these but noticed the older boy's intention. "Four Palms," The tail blocked his path before it slashed out at Neji, "Gah!"

Naruto put a fist into the other boys stomach ending the match. Neji fell to the ground his breath taken from him and the pain of his rib coming back in full force.

Neji would have stood if his entire body didn't hurt, "One kick, what monstrous strength." Naruto just stared at him as the medics came over. "I suppose you were fated to win. You who have held back more hatred then anyone else in the room."

"Your wrong, I won because of this seal," Naruto released the curse seal, "I would have been outmatched if not for that. I hope we can have a rematch later when I get strong enough to fight without it." Neji nodded.

"To all of you who won the rights to compete in the final stage of the exam.. Congratulations too you all!" Hayate informed them and paused for a moment. "Well then, Hokage-sama if you would please..."

"Yes... Well now I'd like to start explaining the main test. One month from now a tournament will be held, the rules of which are exactly the same as the preliminaries that we just conducted. Use this time to train your bodies and your minds, remember all that you've gone through and I'm sure each one of you has a chance to pass this exam and become Chūnin. Your Jōnin commanders will inform you of the location and details for the final test... Now does anyone have any questions. "

Shikamaru raised his hand and the Hokage nodded to him, "Does that mean they all have a chance to become Chūnin and not just the winner of the tournament?" Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded in confirmation.

"And finally I need to remind everyone here that the secret spoken about Naruto's condition is considered an S-ranked secret and must not be spoken about, although I cannot stop other villages from learning about this now I fully expect Naruto-kun to handle himself if another village attempts anything." He finished coldly looking at Baki, the Sand's Jōnin sensei.

Baki understood the man and the words unspoken. Naruto was probably a stronger weapon than Garaa and he wouldn't hesitate to defend himself against Garaa or anyone from their village. He nodded to the older Kage, but the Kazekage needed to know this information at all costs, they game had changed.

"Very well, if the Rookie teams could remain behind minus the wounded then everyone else is free to leave." A couple minutes passed as the remaining rookies and the contingent of Jōnin waited for the room to empty.

Naruto talked with a couple of people and they offered him congratulations and support, the support was greatly appreciated by the younger boy. His team never left his side during the entire encounter.

"Very well..." Hiruzen Sarutobi started but stopped when a sound of clapping form behind the children started. "Everyone behind me, now!"

Orochimaru walked slowly, the clapping ended as he was surrounded, his sensei motioned for them to wait. "Very good job Naruto-kun! You are by far the most powerful holder of the cursed seal now." He narrowed his eyes at the boy not taking his eyes off Naruto.

"Orochimaru what do you want?"

The Snake Sannin grinned, "I want Sasuke-kun, plain and simple." There was a sharp intake of breath from most of the people the crowd and the other Genin glared harder. "In exchanged I will forgo all of my plans to level this village to the ground and pass you information you need."

"Orochimaru you know we can't just give you the boy, and I'm sure he doesn't have a death wish." Ibiki said to the older man. The caused the Sannin to laugh deeply.

"I have no wish to kill the boy please..."

"Liar! You tried to kill us all in the forest." Naruto yelled out.

"If I wanted to kill you all I would have done it Naruto-kun, no what I wanted all along was to test your resolve. I needed to know if he possessed the strength to over come even my killing intent and save himself and his comrades. The only thing I want to give to Sasuke-kun is the power he needs to kill his brother." Orochimaru was now looking directly into the Sharingan eyes of Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun! Don't listen to his lies!" cried out Ino from the side, a burst of killing intent from the Snake in the room silenced her.

Orochimaru glared at everyone slowly but blinked his snake like eyes at the boy, "In exchange for training you to kill Itachi I will take his eyes and you will return to wherever you wish after the deed is done."

Everyone was looking at Sasuke for a reaction and he knew it, "If I refuse?"

"I will take your eyes sometime between now and the third task and leave you blind and rotting within this village." Sarutobi walked in front of the boy in a protective gesture.

As the Kage stood between them, Orochimaru knew the answer, he knew his sensei.

"Hn Fine, I'll agree..." Everyone shouted at Sasuke to stop. "I understand, don't underestimate me this village can't protect me forever and at least this way he will promise to back off the village." The Hokage now stood facing Sasuke his face blank staring into the eyes of the boy.

"Not now, he will wait until after the third exam as completed before coming to you. This will be a measure to ensure you do not betray us again." Sarutobi said to his former pupil, "You cannot be trusted, and you have zero chance of taking him here and now."

"So you noticed..."

"Kage Bunshin."

Orochimaru smirked at his former sensei. "Clone Great Explosion... If I pop half of my Chakra capacity will go up in flames." The Jōnin stepped back a step. "Fine, I'll agree to those terms, I will be watching the finals Sasuke-kun."

"And the information?"

"Hanzo is dead, Jiraiya's kids in rain are the new leaders and they've teamed up with nine other people all as strong as myself or stronger." Sarutobi glared at him, "They seek a 'peace' with the destruction of the shinobi villages with the power of the nine Tailed Beasts. I was a former member before Itachi decided to kill me."

"Too bad he didn't." Anko said, she was being held back. Orochimaru smirked at her knowingly.

"Anything else." Sarutobi said to Orochimaru.

"Danzō Shimura... He wants you dead." Orochimaru released his technique without exploding the clone.

"Kakashi." He instantly stood beside his Kage. "Take whatever you need and train all three of your brats into the ground." He looked over to them, Sakura looked scared but quickly regained her composer but sent glances at Sasuke, Sasuke looked excited, a dark fire burning in his eyes, and Naruto was frowning at the ground. Kakashi nodded at his Hokage. "I'll send Jiraiya-kun to you as soon as possible."

"I'm very proud of you all for getting this far in the exams despite the losses today."

They all vanished from the room.