Hey everyone, I meant to have this chapter in a couple days ago, but school kinda had me by neck, so I couldn't write all I wanted to. But Thanks to everyone who bothered to view it, favorite it, follow it, and everything in between! You guys rock!
As always, any form of reviews and feedback are much appreciated, so don't be afraid to speak up!
Also thanks to Rose Tiger for the format tip, and NinjaHero26 for the praise! You guys are great!
text=text
Thoughts='Thoughts'
Anyway, without further ado, here it is: Path of a Champion
*SLAM*. "Damnit…" Naruto grunted.
"That's what those animals in the cage'll do to ya if you don't pull your head outta your ass!" Jiraiya barked.
"I mean, I get it that Wrestling is great and all, and I love it, but do I really have to wrestle chouji?! I mean for kami's sake, he's almost 100 pounds bigger than I am!" Chouji let out a deep chuckle.
"Wrestle me then." Jiraiya said. Naruto laughed. "you…you can't be serious sensei! You're nearly 45!" He guffawed.
"Then it should be no problem for 'the pound for pound king' then, should it?" Jiraiya gave him a sly grin as he walked over. And stood in front of Naruto. Naruto grinned. Granted he had wrestled Ero-sennin a one time since he'd started training at Sage Smasher's gym, but that had been nearly 5 years ago. Back when Naruto was 14 and Jiraiya was only 39. Besides, Naruto always heard his sensei rambling on about how 'Father time hadn't been kind to him' or 'How his age was starting to catch up with him. When Naruto looked at it, he had wrestled Jiraiya back when he was inexperienced and a hell of a lot smaller. Now, time and strength were on his side.
"Sorry sensei, but you better be ready for a bea-" Naruto was stopped short as he was hip tossed flat on his back.
"Wha….what the hell was that?!" he sputtered, picking himself up. "Never underestimate your opponent baka!" Jiraiya barked with a laugh.
"I wasn't even ready!" Naruto yelped. "Well now you are, so if you think you've got a better shot this time, let's dance" Jiraiya retorted with a smirk.
As Naruto rushed in for a double leg take down, Jiraiya sprawled slighty, shifting hs weight to the lower middle of Naruto's back, causing his knees to give just a little. Seeing his cue, Jiraiya put his arms over Naruto's back, wrapping them around his hips from behind. Naruto grunted, trying to buckle his sensei's legs at the back of his knees, when he was suddenly flipped upwards, his thighs landing on Jiraiya's shoulders. "What the-!" He was interrupted once more as Jiraiya power-bombed him into the mat.
Jiraiya stood up, letting the dazed youth to his feet. "How the….what?" Naruto stuttered, both from the awe at his sensei's abilities, and slightly from the huge slam he just endured.
"Like I said kid, don't underestimate your opponent!" Jiraiya called as he walked back to his office. "Wait! Ero-sennin you've gotta teach me that move!" Naruto yelled after him. "All in due time kiddo, all in due time". Naruto scoffed in dissatisfaction, then turned back to chouji grinning. "Alright big man, let's get back to work!" "You positive Naruto? I still won't go soft, even after a slam like that…" Chouji shuddered at the thought of a slam that big. Naruto answered by tying up and trying to snap Chouji to the mat. Chouji laughed as he tied up with Naruto.
"Alright Sensei, I'm headed home, take it easy!" Naruto called as he packed his gear.
"Alright kid, see ya around, and next time, try not to be so distracted, Jiraiya said with a wink. Naruto looked at him quizzically.
"What're you talking about?" he asked suspiciously.
"Oh come on kid, I can see it in your eyes plain as day! You've got a girl on the brain" he chuckled.
Naruto immediately dropped the glove he was about to put away, blushing furiously. "I…um…I…uhh…Idunnowhatyou'retalkingabout" he garbled quickly, trying to pack his bags as fast as he could.
"Oh man I didn't think it was THAT bad" His sensei guffawed. "Shut the hell up you perv, what would you know anyway?!" Naruto bellowed.
"Kid, they don't call me 'Ero-sennin' for no reason.,but my name and status aside, , have you told her how you feel yet?"
Naruto tried to find his words as he thought of Hinata. "Oh man….Oh god….dude….no….I can't do it. I was going to tell her but I can't do it. Unless we're training, being close to her, oh man. Sensei she makes my hands shake, my knees unsteady, I sweat even MORE than I do when I fucking train, I stutter like crazy. Everytime I see her my heart skips a beat, I feel like I might puke from all the butterflies going crazy in my gut. Every damn cheesy love song I've ever heard all play at the same time! I-I-I can't do it!" Naruto's words tumbled out one after another so fast Jiraiya could barely understand him.
"Naruto, relax buddy." Jiraiya said calmly with a chuckle. He sat in thought for a minute, trying to put together an analogy for his blonde knuckle-headed pupil.
"Remember Takanoji Yukihama, that former rumble on the waves champion? The man you thought was gonna tear you apart? The man who you demolished in less than 5 minutes?" Jiraiya asked slowly with a smile. "Er, yeah? But what does that have to do with Hinata-chan?"
"Think of it like this. With the Yukihama fight, in the midst of unyielding adversity, you showed the resolve of a man possessed. Even though you may have been nervous, scared, or whatever negative emotions were plaguing you, you focused on what you needed to do, and you succeeded with flying colors!" Jiraiya exclaimed with a grin, just to receive a blank stare from the blonde headed fighter. "Good god how dense are you?!" Jiraiya groaned.
"What do you mean?! You're the one comparing Hinata-chan to that ass-clown of a champion I beat! What the hell are you trying to get at anyway?" Naruto yelled.
"Okay look. When you really set your mind to something, you can do it. Is that a simple enough lesson for you?" Jiraiya inquired flatly.
"You don't get it sensei, this girl is different! I-I-I mean, I've had a few girlfriends here and there, nothing really serious, and I'm POSITIVE that I've never felt like this about another girl!" Naruto stammered. Jiraiya let out a light chuckle. "What's so damn funny?!" Naruto yelped.
"I remember the first time I was in your position kid." Jiraiya paused with a smile, grabbing Naruto by the shoulder. "You'll get her kid, don't worry" Jiraiya gave his shoulder a squeeze then walked back to his office, leaving Naruto to think over the conversation while he packed up his equipment.
Walking to his car, Naruto continued to mull over Jiraiya's words. 'Maybe he's right, maybe if I just try a little harder, my courage'll come out some more! I mean how hard can it be? Walk in, find Hinata, her dark brunette hair, her heart-melting smile, her gorgeous lavender eyes…Who the fuck am I kidding?! I can't do that!' Naruto's knees began shaking at the thought of asking Hinata out. In the midst of his mental anguish, he realized he nearly had walked past his car. Shaking his head, he hopped in and cranked the ignition. As he drove to Killer B's gym, or "Rapper's Delight Gym" as it was called He did his best to shake of the emotional hurricane raging in his head. Laughing as he saw the sign come into view, he pulled in the parking lot, grabbed his gear, and headed in.
As Naruto entered the gym, he immediately caught sight of a figure that made his blood boil.
Kiba Inuzuka. 5'10", 187 pounds, disciplines: Tae-Kwon-Do, Sambo, and copoeira. Record:12-2-2.
Naruto immediately headed to Killer B, who was busy working pads with another fighter.
"K.B sensei, can we talk for a sec?" Naruto hissed.
"Naruto I'm kinda busy right now bro, catcha in a few, okie doke?" Killer B nodded to him curtly, but stopped when he saw the look he was getting from Naruto.
"Alright Shinji, take a breather, good work by the bro, you're starting to get those slick lighting moves like Silva!" Killer B joked. Shinji gave a smile before wandering off.
"So what's the problem may main man?" Killer B asked. eyeing him warily.
"Tell me what the hell that twinkle-toed bastard Kiba fucking Inuzuka is doing in here." Naruto spat, coating each word with as much venom as he could muster. All he earned from Killer B was a sigh. "Well? What is it?!" Naruto growled. Killer B looked down, rubbing his forehead with his fingers.
"Naruto, stating facts here, I'm renowned as one of the best trainers muay-thai in Japan. It's not hard to wonder why a contender like Kiba would seek me out to train, ya know? And before you ask, yes I'm aware of the history between the two of you, very good fights by the way, some of my favorites!" Killer B smiled as he tried to ease out of the subject, only to be stopped short by Naruto's vehement gaze. Killer B frowned at the reaction he recieved. "Look, I can't just turn him away Naruto, you know why I can't! I mean, it takes money to run this place! And what kind of goddamn trainer would I look like turning away a fighter simply because someone I train has a problem with them, even if they are proclaimed "rivals". Just look at the bullshit that messed up that Greg Jackson guyover in the U.S! Two of the best light heavyweights in the world! One straight up left, and the other hasn't had a stable relationship with his relationship since! All that stemmed from a stupid rivalry problem between the two of them with same trainer!." Killer B exasperated.
Naruto looked lost in thought, soaking up the details from Killer B's rant. "I really wanna don't wanna lose either one of you man. Come on bro! Just give him a chance! who knows, the two of you could turn into great friends and sparring partners one day! But that aside, we'll figure things out as we go, can you deal with that?" Killer B's voice had a pleading tone to it.
"Whatever" Naruto grunted towards him as he went to gear up.
Killer B sighed as he grabbed the pads. 'I've got a bad feeling my arms are gonna be at the breaking point after this'.
Across town, Hinata was running through katas with her karate instructor. "Hinata are you sure you're okay?" Kurenai Yuhi asked her.
"What? Oh! Y-Yes of course! Why wouldn't I b-be?" Hinata asked nervously, smiling at her sensei.
Kurenai found it harder and harder to read the girl orphaned girl she looked onto as a daughter. She still hadn't figured what brought the beautiful woman that stood before her out of her timid, little girl shell. 'Hinata's beginning to mask her emotions with happiness, much like another person she kn-' Then it hit her. Naruto Uzumaki. A small smile came forth on Kurenai's lips. "Oh, you just seem a little…distracted, I guess we could say." Hinata froze. Kurenai allowed her smile an inch more of leeway as her suspicions were confirmed.
"W-what? What do you mean? I'm fine!" Hinata chirped happily, smiling for extra measure.
"Hinata, you know you can't fool me, I know there's something on your mind, why don't you just tell me?" Kurenai asked.
"Was it really that obvious?" Hinata asked glumly as she sat cross-legged on the mat.
"Not exactly, it took me a little while to finally figure out what was wrong. But what can you expect, I've known you since you were little." Kurenai smiled, sitting opposite of Hinata. "So? What is it?" Kurenai asked gently.
"Well…i-it's kind of embarrassing…" Hinata mumbled in response.
"Oh come on now, it can't be that bad, just come out with it." Kurenai coaxed. She knew what it was that was bothering, but she wanted to see how Hinata would say it.
"Um…there's this…guy…and…um…he kinda comes to the gym to train…" Hinata trailed off quietly.
"Naruto, I presume?" Kurenai smirked when she Hinata's head jerk up, blushing madly.
"um…..well….yeah…" Hinata muttered, looking away again.
"I can see well why you like him!" Kurenai said quickly. "He's an extremely successful martial artist, a very nice person, and he's pretty sexy if you ask me!" Kurenai grinned with a wink.
Hinata couldn't help but grin back, all fears of her sensei's disapproval fading away. "Seriously! I've only seen him shirtless a few times, but I swear I hear the angels blow their trumpets Every. Single. Time. Those ocean blue eyes just melt me! And his smile, oh god his gorgeous smile! And he's so strong, just….oh my god…." Hinata gushed dreamily, staring off into space, clearly in a Naruto-induced daydream. Kurenai couldn't help but laugh.
"1! 2! 3! Come on man, again! 1!2!3! Again! 1! 2! 3!" Killer B called out vigorously. With each call, Naruto smashed out an elbow double knee combination. Killer B alternated combinations, threw in swipes, feints, everything he could to work Naruto. He could tell the whole Kiba thing was still bugging him. It was times like this that Killer B remembered how much of a double-edged sword Naruto's unparalleled endurance could be. Yes he could fight for an hour straight if he had to, but when it came to training, he'd work himself into the ground without even realizing it. "Alright my man, let's call it a break" Killer B breathed, exasperated at how he was worked out. 'I'm the trainer, and I'M the one getting worked out?' He chuckled at the thought.
"Alright" Naruto responded flatly.
"Come on Naruto, don't let this thing get to you, please?" Killer B pleaded.
"K.B sensei, you know I'm at least a relatively decent person, and I don't have a problem with ANYONE. Yes there are people I kinda don't like to be around, but I don't have some huge problem or grudge with them." Naruto's voice took an ominous tone as he continued "Kiba's different. He goes out of his way to insult me, make fun of the fact that I'm an orphan, make fun of my trainers, and my standing as an athlete." He met Killer B's gaze as he said his next words, "I've never met anyone as disrespectful as Kiba Inuzuka, and I've met a lot of assholes in my career so far. That's why I'm 'Letting this thing get to me', get it?" Naruto spat.
Killer B was slightly taken aback. Yes, he'd seen Naruto before, but nothing like this. Then he realized something that almost made him explode with excitement. Still taking on a saddened expression, he decided to throw his spur of the moment plan into action. "Naruto, I'm not sure if this is the right time, but when was your last fight?"
Naruto looked at him quizzically, but didn't think much of it. "3 months ago, why?"
"I just figured you could use something to help take your mind off of things, that's all." Killer B responded carefully, not wanting to give things away just yet.
"Well what do you have in mind?" Naruto asked, curiosity prevalent in his voice.
"Oh no one, really." Killer B said casually. "I got word a few days ago from the Rumble on the Waves organization, and they haven't been able to put together a main card yet, didn't know if you were interested?" Killer B smirked.
"A Main event for Rumble on the Waves? Of course I'd be interested!" Naruto exclaimed. "Wait, who's my opponent?" Naruto asked suspiciously.
"No one really, just Kiba." Killer B smiled.
Naruto froze, a look of shock on his face, quickly replaced by a grin. He chuckled. "When's the fight?" He asked with a dark smile.
Exiting Killer B's gym, Naruto was in an extremely good mood. He was going to get the chance to finally settle the score with Kiba, and on the main event for one of the most prominent bush leagues in Japan. It just kept getting better too. The fight was being scouted by various prominent fighting organizations. Everyone from King of Pancrase, to K-1 kickboxing, and there was even supposed to be a few PRIDE and UFC scouts there as well. Oh, and the winner got 20,000 ryo. Naruto grinned maniacally. To get paid twenty grand just to beat the shit outta Kiba, and even possibly get a contract with a premier fighting organization, was just too good of a deal.
He shook his head quickly however, not underestimating the situation in the slightest, Kiba was the only person to go the distance with Naruto, as well as draw him. Twice. Naruto thought of Kiba as nothing more than a couple stains on his otherwise perfect record. 10-0-2. It angered Naruto just to think of the last number on his record. He smiled once more, 'All that's gonna change soon' He thought determinedly. As he tossed his gear into his car, he decided to keep his momentum going. As he headed toward's Hyuga jiu-jitsu, a smile crossed his face as he remembered his talk with Jiraiya. 'Jiraiya's right, I can do this. It's simple, walk in, find her, look at her, throw up form nervousness cause she's an angel set to earth and I don't deserve to even be near her, ask her out, leave in disappointment cause she rejected me!' Naruto grimaced as he thought.
As Hinata's gym came into view, Naruto did his best to get his nerves under wraps and muster the courage to walk inside. 'No better time than now I guess', he said to himself as he walked to the front doors of the gym. Breathing in deeply, both to release the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding, and also in a pathetic attempt to calm his nerves, he walked inside.
Fairly good cliffhanger if I do say so myself :D.