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Chapter 2: Battle of the (Not so much) Titans

'Teme,' Naruto thought as he went skidding across the ground. Uchiha Sasuke wore an amused smirk as he finally landed a blow against the hyperactive ninja. The two were currently in one of their spars that they developed soon after the discussion Naruto had with Iruka. They had gotten into a fight after the first full week of Naruto attending classes. However, they both enjoyed the match (though neither admitted to it), and they both decided to fight in a pure taijutsu match at least once a week. So far, they had been fighting like that for nearly a year. Every time Sasuke won, though it wasn't a true win.

Naruto was correct when he claimed that he perfected the Academy taijutsu. He moved flawlessly and each move was powerful in its own right. However Sasuke had a much more powerful taijutsu learned, though not mastered. Sasuke's was also powerful, fluid, and unbelievably fast. However, he never perfected it, only learned it to a satisfactory level. So, with both styles either mastered or adequately perfected they usually came to a draw or having Naruto eek out a supposed win... until Sasuke started using Ninjutsu.

Naruto was usually resigned to using Kawarimi to dodge the balls of fire launched at him until both boys called it a day. That day however, Naruto had enough.

"Dammit Sasuke-teme, this is supposed to be pure taijutsu," Naruto yelled.

Sasuke smirked, "If you can't handle the heat..." he trailed off as his red eyes leered at Naruto. Since the two boys battles were usually intense, Naruto had helped Sasuke unlock his clan's Kekkai Genkai, the Sharingan. Naruto didn't know it, but Sasuke had put himself into Naruto's debt that day.

"You're scared aren't you Sasuke-teme. Afraid of the Dobe, aren't you?" Naruto taunted.

"Fine," Sasuke replied, "but I won't hold back anymore so don't cry if I beat you too badly."

"Ah bull, Sasuke. You know you've been trying like hell to beat me these last couple of months." Naruto's only response was a smirk from Sasuke as he beckoned him to fight. Naruto just grunted as he charged the bastard. Naruto was mildly surprised as he sailed through the air as Sasuke had finished his combo, leaving Naruto sore. Apparently Sasuke was holding back, power wise. However Naruto had made his very first jutsu the other day for such an occasion. Naruto got up and dusted himself off as he tipped an imaginary hat towards Sasuke.

"Well, well," Naruto remarked, "seems you'll finally be a challenge, Teme." Sasuke just smirked, which disappeared just as fast when Naruto shot him his own smirk. Naruto's hands were in the familiar seal of Ram, when he shouted, "Wagomu Mau!"

"W-what did you just call that?" Sasuke asked while trying to keep his chuckles in. Naruto just frowned and gave the same beckoning motion Sasuke gave him earlier. Sasuke shook his head one more time before charging. However, the jutsu was extremely surprising. For no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't land a punch, kick, or any other strike on Naruto.

Sasuke started to get sloppy in his frustration. Naruto would bend in almost inhuman ways, like he was water or, more importantly thinking of the name, rubber. Naruto saw Sasuke's wavering attention and began landing his own blows on Sasuke now that he some how bent his way into Sasuke's guard. His strikes focused on Sasuke's trunk, open palms striking ribs and his stomach. They weren't over powering hits, but enough to wind Sasuke. Sasuke finally untangled himself from Naruto and flipped a safe distance away.

"You baka, you shouldn't call that jutsu that," Sasuke spat as he thought of the ridiculous name Naruto gave it.

For Naruto's part, he simply stuck his tongue out and said, "I made it up so I can call it whatever I want."

"Fool!" Sasuke said, but smirked after a thought came to him. "It doesn't matter, I copied the technique, I'll just call it what I want to now."

"Good luck Teme, but this technique is useless to you," Naruto said in a matter of fact tone.

"Naruto, I know you understand the basic concepts of the Sharingan. I copied the jutsu!" Sasuke said as if he were talking to a young child.

"Well, it's not really a jutsu," Naruto said. Sasuke got a dumbfound look on his face before Naruto began to reiterate himself. "It's more of an ability. I only used Charka to support some of the more difficult aspects of the jutsu. I got that ability by training my balance and flexibility to near inhuman limits.

"I have no doubt you copied my movements," Naruto said, "but putting those movements to use is useless to you. You'll just fall on your face or hurt yourself. Wait," Naruto said as an after thought, "do try that technique. I could do with a laugh."

Sasuke just glared. Going over the technique, he did remember the moves, but he thought the Charka manipulation could help him. However, he only copied Naruto channeling Charka, which he could do already. It didn't faze Sasuke though. He had his own trump card. Naruto saw Sasuke's newly place smirk and smartly readied his defense of Wagomu Mau.

However, it was of no help. Sasuke was now moving incredibly fast. Naruto could barely track him with his eyes and couldn't even move his body out of the way of the strikes. Sasuke was able to land five hits on Naruto before Naruto could even feel the first. It wasn't soon after that that Naruto was panting on the ground and Sasuke stood feet away, smirking. He felt his ego was safely inflated that day and decided to call it quits. "See ya, Dobe" Sasuke grinned at Naruto's slumped over, panting body as he strutted out of their forest clearing training ground. Naruto merely held up his middle finger to Sasuke's retreating form.

Iruka had found Naruto in nearly the same position a half-hour later, though to Naruto's credit, he did flip himself onto his back. "Well, Naruto, it looks like you had one hell of a training session."

"Shut it Iruka," Naruto grounded out. "What are you doing here anyways? I haven't missed one of your little classes in months and today's the start of the weekend." Naruto was right as well. Ever since he and Iruka made the bet a year ago, Naruto had attended the classes, if only to fall asleep listening to Iruka drone on and on. He even slept through a couple of the tests, resulting in him nearly failing out of the Academy. The only reason he didn't was because Naruto had to be enrolled until at least the bet was over, one way or another. For only one who is enrolled in the Academy could be placed into the shinobi ranks.

"You've forgotten already? Great, that means I can watch you make a fool of yourself in front of the counsel and save my money for more important things than buying you ramen!" Iruka chuckled darkly, rubbing his hands in anticipation.

Naruto had finally been able to sit up, but was still confused. "Iruka-sensei, what are you talking about?" He asked again, mirroring his previous statement.

"Don't you remember our bet?" Iruka asked. He watched as Naruto rested his chin on his hand as he could almost see Naruto sifting through his thoughts looking for some type of bet he made with Iruka.

Nearly a half-minute later, Naruto grinned and snapped his fingers as he yelled out, "Hell yeah I remember it. How could I forget something as important as that," which caused Iruka to give Naruto a dumbfound expression as Naruto began to laugh and, the only thing that came to Iruka's mind to describe the way he was walking, march in the direction of his apartment.

"Where are you going Naruto?" Iruka yelled at him as he jogged to catch up to the short blond.

"To my apartment. I got to get my notes. After that, you'll have no choice but to promote me to Genin," Naruto bellowed, seemingly forgetting the thrashing the Uchiha heir gave him over a half-hour ago.

"Naruto, I don't promote you," Iruka stated causing Naruto to stop in his tracks.

"Then who will promote me?" Naruto questioned.

"Well, the Hokage and his advisors will hear a proceeding led by you to convince them of why you should be promoted," Iruka explained in his normal teacher voice.

"You said that if I convinced you that you would promote me!" Naruto whined.

"I don't have that authority," Iruka began to explain. "However, I have made an appointment with the Hokage and his advisors the day after our bet, ensuring my part that you would have the chance to argue your case."

"Iruka-sensei," Naruto whined again, "the Hokage's advisors hate me. It's not going to be fair!"

"Nonsense, Naruto," Iruka reprimanded. He knew of the advisor's hostility to Naruto, but they haven't been forced to talk to him before. Iruka was sure Naruto could convince them. However, he decided to give the blond a bit more confidence. "No matter what, if you present an air tight case, they will have no choice but to promote you. Especially since you got the Hokage on your side."

Naruto visibly brightened when hearing that. They finally arrived at Naruto's apartment and Iruka watched as Naruto shifted through his organized chaos with paper everywhere. It didn't look like Naruto was looking at the paper when he snatched it up and added it to his pile of notes. Iruka couldn't tell if Naruto was grabbing the right papers or not since Naruto snapped his concentration away from snooping.

"So, what will I have to do to convince them I'm Genin material?" He asked.

Iruka pondered for a second before specking more of the obvious inquiries the Hokage's advisors might ask Naruto, especially the ones that might trip him up. "Well, I assume they'll ask about your specialization," which Naruto nodded, telling Iruka to go on, "next I assume they'll ask why you shouldn't be placed on a team, then why you should be a Genin in the first place. After that, they just might ask questions along that vein to try and trip you up."

"Are you going to be there?" Naruto asked, straightening up and looking Iruka square in the eye.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world," Iruka said with pride as he looked towards his (in his mind) surrogate son. Naruto smiled before it turned into his fox-grin.

"Then what are we waiting for, LET'S GO!"

Jutsu: Wagomu Mau: Rubberband Dance. Not really a jutsu. It just let's Naruto bend around his opponents strikes, if he can see them.