Demons in the Dark: The Hell Gate

Ch. 2 – The Way of Fear

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"The Chuunin Exams? Are you sure we're ready for that Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura had been uncomfortable with her team since the mission to Nami no Kuni, specifically with the mysterious power that Naruto had demonstrated during the last battle of the mission. A week after they returned her mother had taken her home from a D-rank mission to tell her about a law that had recently been repealed, like many others her age being informed of Naruto's burden.

He was the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, a Jinchuuriki being a human prison. This meant that he held the most powerful of the Tailed Demon Beasts that roamed the world within a seal on his stomach, one placed there upon his birth by the Yondaime Hokage. Having been told that the Yondaime was the one to seal it, Sakura still trusted that Naruto was Naruto, it was just that she no longer trusted that Naruto was a safe person himself. While he HAD thought Sasuke was dead at the time, he slaughtered over fifty people using a mysterious demonic power. And to top off, all Kakashi could positively confirm was that it wasn't the Kyuubi's own power.

"I'm certain that we're ready, I don't know what she's talking about." Sasuke had taken the news of Naruto's burden far more graciously, having perhaps gained a newfound respect for the blond. He remembered the words that Naruto spoke to him, and coming from one who'd suffered perhaps worse than he did, it meant a lot to be called the strongest. It was at Naruto's insistence that Sasuke became Naruto's training partner, finding delight in how far the blond could be pushed before he needed a break from the fighting. "We've been training rigorously to perfect our skills. We're nowhere near perfect yet, but I'm sure Kakashi-sensei agrees we're far above average."

Sakura looked to the ground, not willing to protest her fears in argument to Sasuke's wishes. Naruto, however, spoke as a voice of reason between them. "Yeah, WE have. If we want to do this, and we do, then we've gotta make sure Sakura can hold her own. Don't you agree Kakashi-sensei?"

Their leader nodded from behind his little orange book, Naruto sighing at his openly lecherous behavior. Sakura, however, reacted a bit more loudly. "Kakashi-sensei! How come you're always reading that disgusting smut in front of us! It's unseemly for a Jounin, especially a Team-leader!" Sasuke had relaxed into their team dynamic, quietly laughing at Sakura's futile attempts to right their teacher as Naruto simply waited for a real answer to his question.

"Seriously Sensei, I'm taking that exam and I don't want to be responsible what happens if we're not ready for it. Can't you help us spar a little bit just so we know?" Naruto asked, Kakashi raising a finger and wagging no at them.

"I am thoroughly convinced that you three can all handle it, but if any among you should have second thoughts then I recommend you just don't show up. If you think you'll drag one another back, sit this exam out. But I think you're ready. Now," Kakashi turned and began walking away, "you'd best start filling those out if you hope to have any daylight left for training. Or were you boys going to act normal for once?"

"We're shinobi; Training every day IS normal." Naruto responded immediately, nodding his head at Sasuke. "HE, however, has some business to take care of if I remember right. Or was that last week?" Sasuke shook his head, walking after Kakashi.

"You remember correctly. I need to handle some errands if I'm going to keep everything in the Uchiha name on the compound's property. We'll catch up for a warm-up an hour before the exam, alright?" Sasuke asked, not even turning around.

"Agreed. Later." Naruto said, putting his arms behind his head and walking off into town toward Ichiraku's Ramen Stand. It had always been his favorite, even if Sasuke would kick his ass for eating so poorly the day before an exam. He had gotten into his happy place so quickly that he didn't notice Sakura chase after him until she shouted.

"ARE YOU EVEN PAYING ATTENTION?!" Sakura shouted, Naruto shaking his head as he cleared his thoughts.

"Sorry, what?" Naruto caught a punch that sent him flying into a fence, breaking clear through it. He coughed a bit, walking out unscathed and dusting off his jumpsuit. "Shit Sakura, you can hit like that and you're worried about Chuunin exams? Why didn't you ever do that in training?"

Sakura was a little surprised that he wasn't upset about the hit, but a bit confused about the topic. "I only get strong like that when I'm really angry, it's not effective in combat." She said Naruto laughing a bit.

"Well of course not, that's why you need to practice it! You could've just talked to Kakashi-sensei about that, he could check whatever your instincts are doing with his Sharingan and help you do it on purpose." Naruto said, Sakura blushing at her own lack of fore-thought. "Hey chill, Kakashi-sensei had to give me the idea first. It's not like I'm smarter."

Naruto held his trademarked grin, his own joy and positive attitude spreading to Sakura. "Hey Naruto… would it be alright if you guys help me train next chance we have?" Sakura was blushing again, embarrassed by all the things she used to say to him. As they rounded the corner, they found themselves watching a child that had befriended Naruto before the secret came out.

"No problem, but you better be serious. I'm free right after I get my lunch." Naruto seemed completely carefree, having learned how little the village's opinions really mattered. For the first month he was more brutally ostracized. After he shrugged off the fourth angry mob, the villager's stopped wasting their time trying to kill him and simply avoided crossing him. That is, the non-ninjas did. He gained miles of respect from the veteran ninjas for his willingness to accept the situation for what it was. However, the fear-factor on someone who just won't die made a big difference.

"I mean it… because I'm doing the exam tomorrow too." Sakura said, Naruto nodding as his young friend and his classmates ran off around the corner. That is, they tried, but Naruto's friend Konohamaru bounced off of someone around the corner. Naruto would've laughed, except a guy with a man-sized bundle on his back stepped forward and lifted him by the scarf he liked to wear. Sakura was about to run off to him when Naruto grabbed her wrist, making her look back with a look of disbelief in her eyes.

"Leave it to me, he's MY friend after all. I've got this, promise." Naruto said, his smile gone and replaced with an almost bored look. They came up on them rather quickly, both noting the Sunagakure forehead protector on the boy's hood.

"Well you should watch where you're going, shouldn't ya little brat?" The Suna ninja wasn't alone, implying he was a genin. Naruto looked around, seeing only the blond girl at his left side looking at her teammate with disdain.

"Why the hell are you being such an idiot, Kankuro? We're guests here, you're gonna get us in trouble!" She said, noticing the headbands on Naruto and Sakura. She didn't mention, however, and Naruto decided to be a bigger jerk than the Suna-nin. He unzipped and pulled off his jacket, throwing it into the boy's face. He stood there for a second, his teammate laughing at him. The boy dropped Konohamaru, the younger boy and his friends running and hiding behind Sakura.

"Who the hell's got a death wish here?" Kankuro asked, throwing the jacket to the ground as Naruto scoffed.

"Hey, come on man. First you screw with my little pal here; next you throw my favorite jacket in the dirt. Haven't you got any respect?" Naruto asked, standing with his hands on his hips. Kankuro walked a little closer to show he was taller, a smirk resting on his lips.

"Respect, huh? Last I checked it wasn't respectful for little kids to go throwing stuff and knocking into their superiors." Kankuro said, finding Naruto's heel connecting with his chin and sending him a meter into the air before landing flat on his rear.

"Equal rank, moron. At least if your squad of three here is any indication. Kankuro, was it?" Naruto asked, walking over to the Suna-nin and lifting him by his collar and above his head to let him know what it was like. "You made two mistakes. First, you decided to get all bitchy with the Hokage's grandson. Second, you had the gall to try and pick a fight with Team Seven."

"Did you say Team Seven?" The girl asked, before she registered what Naruto had said and looked around for their teammate.

"Temari, shut up." The girl, Temari, found her answer in the tree behind her where a boy of similar age with red hair, light teal eyes and a red tattoo on the left side of his forehead. "Kankuro, you're a disgrace to our village. Get back to the hotel, now." Naruto was satisfied with that, turning to walk away. As he did, Kankuro rushed him from behind.

"Naruto, look out!" Sakura said, Naruto smiling at her with a wink. The next thing that happened was a rock flying out and striking the middle of Kankuro's back. The boy fell to the ground with a shameful yelp, all eyes but Naruto's turning to the tree parallel the red-head's perch. There sat Sasuke, tossing another rock up and down in his hand while he awaited another response. "Sasuke-kun!"

"Remember what she said, idiot. You're guests in this village, don't make us apprehend you." Sasuke said, doing his best not to smirk. Sasuke hopped down to Naruto's side, who met his gaze and nodded with a grin.

"Took you long enough. Here I thought I'd be the only one getting a workout." Naruto said, Sasuke letting his smirk slip with a chuckle.

"Unnecessary." The red-head now stood before his teammates, looking at Team Seven with a blank expression. His voice was rough, as though he were actively holding back his own aggression. "I apologize for my siblings' behavior, they were meant to meet our Sensei and I to register for the Chuunin exams."

"Not a problem, just as long as you aren't screwing with any other innocent kids." Naruto said, turning around with his grin in place. "Gonna take the exams, huh? Us too. Hope to get a fun fight outta you three when the law's not in our way." Naruto sensed something familiar in the red-head, and had decided to try and confirm his hunch.

He got his wish as the 'law in our way' statement elicited a dark smile. The red-head turned around, walking off. The other two were looking at Team Seven like they were insane, before scrambling to follow their brother. "Hold it a second." Sasuke said, waiting for the red-head to turn and look back at them. "What's your name?"

"Sabaku no Gaara. What are your names?" Gaara responded, his smile having become a devilish grin.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto." Naruto said, grabbing his jacket off of the ground. He pointed his thumb to Sasuke a second before he proceeded to pull his jacket back on.

"I'm Uchiha Sasuke." Sasuke said, turning and walking off to handle his errands for real this time. Sakura was about to introduce herself, but the Suna trio walked off before she could. As Konohamaru ran out to praise Naruto's actions, Sakura thought to the whole exchange. In doing so, she reaffirmed her decision to bring her training to Naruto and Sasuke's level. She couldn't be so far behind… not anymore.

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The next morning, the three found the Exam center to be the Ninja academy. School was out of session for the summer months, leaving the grounds completely open. In Sakura's mind it made sense, but Naruto and Sasuke were a bit disappointed that there wasn't a more impressive testing area. Especially since they knew a portion of the exam involved the arena off the west-side of the village. "Everyone caught their breath?" Naruto asked, feeling comfortably prepared to get going.

Sakura was a little nervous, but Naruto gave her a confident smile that once again seemed to spread some of his optimism over to her. It was no wonder Sasuke was becoming talkative, even sociable. He spent more time than anyone exposed to that once-inane optimism. As the other two nodded with their own smiles, the three walked in side-by-side.

They recognized no one, but it made sense given that the exam was in room 302. They walked down the first hallway off their left, remembering that this stair-case was the closest to the room they wanted. However, the security gate remained down and they weren't in the mood to risk breaking rules they didn't yet know of. Following after Sasuke, they proceeded to head to the stairs at the end of the hallway directly beneath the room they wanted. As they went past room 102, however, there was a pair of Chuunin holding people out of the room for some reason. They normally would've been tempted to call them on it, but they'd agreed that they wouldn't do anything to call additional attention to themselves since they'd already picked a fight with the Suna trio.

As they walked right past, the boy the Chuunin were keeping out looked at them as they walked off. His own teammates walked back up to him, the three following after Team Seven. As they passed other Konoha teams, Sasuke and Sakura noticed the way they looked at Naruto. Those that weren't terrified were seething with rage, a few teams even having to hold their teammates back physically. They entered a more open area that sat just before the next stair-case, the boy calling out to them. "Konoha Team Seven, hold it right there!"

They did as stated, stopping where they stood and turning around. All three immediately analyzed the one who spoke along with his teammates. They had determined that as the academically smartest, Sakura was allowed to offer info if she had any. "Konoha Team Ten, Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee and Tenten under Maito Gai. I don't know the skills beyond Neji, though."

"Tenten's hands grip out of habit, Neji is obvious and I'd wager my sword those bandages mean Lee takes after Gai." Naruto said, Lee walking forward and pointing at Sasuke challengingly.

"You are Uchiha Sasuke, correct?" Lee said, Sasuke smirking and nodding. "I would wish to fight you. Please, prepare yourself."

"You're a rude one, grasshopper." Naruto said. "Not only did you ignore our lovely teammate, you went and challenged him to a fight without even offering your own name." Lee bowed deeply, seeming extremely proper.

"My apologies, but I can read lips and noticed you already know my name as well as ascertained my fighting style. This makes me all the more eager to test myself against you, a member of the prestigious Uchiha Clan." Lee said, spreading his legs and lifting his left hand with his right in a fist behind his back.

"Remember, their style is way more refined than my brawling. You're still going in blind if you take it." Naruto said, Sakura keeping a calm face while her worry grew.

"It's just a spar. Besides, what's a good fight with no mystery?" Sasuke responded, Lee donning a pleased smirk as Sasuke took a common Uchiha stance; Left side forward with fisted arm bent in, right arm fisted and held up and back, a stance called Interceptor. "Show me what you've got, Rock Lee. Let's see the merit behind these rumors of your Sensei's."

"They are no rumors, I assure you." Lee said, running swiftly at Sasuke and performing a roundhouse kick. Naruto had once tried this as a trick, and Sasuke watched Lee's waist while he ducked the blow and prepared for either an axe-kick or the other leg. However, he was almost caught in the face by the back-hand punch that Lee involved in his kick after Sasuke ducked. Sasuke took a step back, Naruto smirking as Lee moved quickly enough to almost vanish. Training against Naruto's new skills, almost was far too slow to catch Sasuke. Lee's kick for Sasuke's chin landed Lee on his hands and knees before the green-wearing boy could tell what had happened. As he looked up, all he saw was Sasuke standing in his Interceptor stance once again.

"Have you had enough of a try? Or do you feel like tipping your hand this early in the exam?" Sasuke asked, wearing a grin meant to goad him into fighting more. Having Neji as a teammate, however, Lee knew when it was time to step back and re-plan; especially since Neji absolutely loved to grin like that at him.

"That's plenty for me. Thank you for letting me get a feel for your skills, I'm confident that this will be an excellent exam." Lee said, walking back to his team. Tenten began berating him for showing ANY of his skills yet, but Team Seven walked up the stairs before they could hear that continue any further.

"So, decent warm-up?" Naruto asked, Sasuke nodding with a satisfied smirk. "Good job sticking to your textbook moves, I feel like we have a few advantages." Naruto said, being careful not to let his strength go to his head; and more importantly, careful not to say anything that might imply too much about their skills.