Author's Note from Panda: What do you mean we the autocorrect says that wizard is spelled with two z's? That's stupid. Oh whatever. Happy MLK Day to all our American readers. Enjoy.
Chapter 2 – The Six Champions
"Naruto Uzumaki!" Dumbledore called out again, hoping he got the name right.
"Naruto. You were chosen. Get up there." Sakura hissed.
Naruto looked back at Sakura in disbelief. All his classmates looked at him with a mix of disbelief and envy. Sasuke just looked at Naruto like he would a dog that didn't use the backyard. Naruto turned away and quickly sat up. Thankfully the applause from the other schools was still ongoing, Naruto headed to the front of the hall without making a fool of himself.
"Make your way through that door over there, Mr. Uzumaki." Dumbledore ordered as he motioned to the door in question.
Naruto did just as he instructed. He was so nervous he couldn't even appreciate the unique European castle interior. The whole place felt like one long dungeon compared to the colorful paper and wood interiors from back home. He opened another door and in there he found Cedric, Videl, Fleur and Krum all standing around the trophy room's fireplace. The burning logs giving off a soothing crackle.
"So you're the last champion?" Videl asked.
"Huh? Oh...yeah, I don't know how. I never even put my name in the goblet." Naruto answered, getting out of his daze of shock.
"And yet you were chosen?" Cedric asked.
"Zat is very odd..." Fleur stated.
"You must have a really good friend who believes in you." Cedric said.
"I don't know..." Naruto paused when he realized the one person who could have done this. "Sakura-chan...it must've been her...but why?"
"Sakura-chan? Is that your girlfriend?" Videl asked.
"No... but I wish she was..." Naruto said sadly.
"Oh my God, zat is adorable." Fleur exclaimed, much to Naruto's embarrassment.
"Unrequited feelings I assume." Videl guessed, Naruto nodding softly.
"Oh dear..." Fleur gasped.
"That's rough...I know what it's like." Cedric said.
"Not me and I don't care. The last thing I need to worry about is love." Videl stated coldly.
Naruto was about to snap back until they heard the door open behind him.
It was that Hogwarts kid that Naruto had seen at the opening feast. The kid with the cool lightning shaped scar and the glasses. He looked rather nervous. Was he here to fetch them or something?
"Harry?" Cedric asked. "What are you doing here?"
"I-I... was chosen." Harry said nervously.
"What?! But that's not possible!" Videl exclaimed.
Naruto was ready to agree, but he didn't get the chance. At that moment, there was an argument breakout out in the hallway that grew louder and louder until the doors burst open and the man introduced as some retired and famous athlete from Britain came in.
"Extraordinary, absolutely extraordinary!" The smiling man beamed as he squeezed Harry's arm.
"Gentlemen . . . ladies," He added, approaching the fireside and addressing the other three. "May I introduce — incredible though it may seem — the sixth Quint-wizard champion?"
Viktor Krum straightened up. His surly face darkened as he surveyed Harry. Cedric looked nonplussed. He looked from Bagman to Harry and back again as though sure he must have misheard what Bagman had said. Fleur Delacour, however, tossed her hair, smiling, and said, "Oh, vairy funny joke, Meester Bagman."
"Joke?" Bagman repeated, bewildered. "No, no, not at all! Harry's name just came out of the Goblet of Fire!"
Krum's thick eyebrows contracted slightly. Cedric was still looking politely bewildered. Fleur frowned.
"But evidently zair 'as been a mistake," she said contemptuously to Bagman. "'E cannot compete. 'E is too young."
"Well . . . it is amazing," said Bagman, rubbing his smooth chin and smiling down at Harry. "But, as you know, the age restriction was only imposed this year as an extra safety measure. And as his name's come out of the goblet . . . I mean, I don't think there can be any ducking out at this stage... It's down in the rules, you're obliged . . . Harry will just have to do the best he —"
The door behind them opened again, and a large group of people came in: Professor Dumbledore, followed closely by Mr. Crouch, Professor Karkaroff, Madame Maxime, Lady Tsunade, Master Roshi, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Snape. Harry heard the buzzing of the hundreds of students on the other side of the wall, before Professor McGonagall closed the door.
"Madame Maxime!" said Fleur at once, striding over to her headmistress. "Zey are saying zat zis little boy is to compete also!"
"Yeah, what the heck, Master? I thought only one champion per school was allowed." Videl exclaimed.
"It is true. The Goblet of Fire was meant to ensure just that would happen. So it should be impossible for Hogwarts to be granted a second champion." Roshi said.
"But I didn't put my name in though!" Harry spoke up.
"Hmm...then perhaps someone else put your name in the cup." Roshi mused.
"I'm sure, like one of the boy's professors." Professor Karkaroff said accusingly.
"Then how do you explain me? I didn't put my name in the cup." Naruto countered.
"Naruto, hush." Tsunade ordered. "We have more pressing matters to deal with."
"I don't like your tone." Professor McGonagall snapped at Karkaroff. "Are you insinuating that Hogwarts cheated somehow?"
"You have to admit that it doesn't look good on your end." Lady Tsunade said. "Hogwarts now has two champions. If this is Hogwarts' attempt to cheat, it's very obvious and in poor taste."
"I agree. It's too obvious." Roshi added.
"Vhat are you two going on about?" Madame Maxime spoke. "Obviously zis is just Hogwarts trying to ensure two pieces of ze pie."
"Something doesn't add up." Videl mused, her detective side leaking out. "Harry, you didn't put your name in the goblet. It was impossible for you to do so. Naruto said he didn't put his name in the cup, yet he was chosen as well. However, I did witness him putting in a name."
"Zo you two are conspiring togethzer." Fleur deduced.
"What? No, I didn't put his name in. I've never even met the guy!" Naruto defended.
"Then who's name did you put in?" Tsunade demanded.
"What does it matter?" Naruto said embarrassed, this was Sakura's personal mentor he was talking to.
"Forget it, we can discuss this later." Lady Tsunade sighed.
"Potter obviously put his own name in." Karkaroff said
"Not possible. Dumbledore put an age restriction barrier around the goblet." Roshi interjected.
"Zhen 'is charm obviously failed." Madame Maxime said.
"It is entirely possible." Dumbledore humbly offered.
"No, it is not." Professor McGonagall snapped. "I don't know how Mr. Potter got his name into the Goblet, but no one under 17 could have done it."
"It matters not how it happened." Barty started. "The goblet has chosen him. Despite his age, he is a tournament champion. As is stated in the binding contract of the Goblet of Fire."
"This is completely unfair." Karkaroff complained.
"The rules are absolute. Potter is to compete." Barty stated firmly, leaving no room for further argument.
All eyes turned on Harry. Naruto didn't know what to make of this. A second Hogwarts champion? And he himself was chosen as well. He didn't put his name in. He was half sure that he didn't even want to be his school's champion. Was someone putting people's names into the Goblet as a prank?
"With that being said, you champions are entitled to some information regarding the 1st challenge." Barty Crouch said.
The six champions leaned forward.
"The first task will be on November 24th. Prepare for anything." Crouch said.
"That's it?" Naruto asked.
"That is all I am allowed to give you. Good luck, Champions." Barty said.
"What? So, this could be a pie eating contest for all we know?" Videl exclaimed.
"It's far more dangerous than a simple pie eating contest. But if it were, the aliens Goku and Gohan would perform perfectly." Barty stated simply.
"Aliens?" Harry asked.
"H-how...did you know...?" Videl stammered in shock.
"My dear, even the secrets of ninjas do not get passed the Ministry of Magic." Barty scoffed.
Lady Tsunade smirked behind Barty's back.
"In any case. Just know that whatever the task may be, it will not be for the faint of heart. The Tri- sorry, Quint-wizard tasks are designed to test your wit and your ability to adapt to anything."
"So what now?" Cedric asked.
"Now you may return to your beds and tomorrow, you begin preparing for the 1st exam. Remember, you six stand alone. No teachers may assist you in preparing for the trials." Bagman said.
"Um, what happens if we fail one of the trials?" Naruto asked.
"The only way you fail is if one of you dies." Barty said, making Harry gulp.
"But not to worry." Bagman smiled. "Every safety protocol has been made and experienced wizards will step in if it is determined that you cannot complete the task."
"So there's a threat of death but you don't want us to worry about it, right?" Videl guessed.
"Pretty much, yes." Bagman nodded.
"Yup...nothing out of the ordinary." Videl said as she cracked her neck.
"Very well. Have a pleasant night. And we shall see you bright and early on the morning of the 24th of November." Bagman smiled.
Just like that. The champions split up. Harry and Cedric stayed behind. Madame Maxime and Fluer headed back to their carriage speaking in rapid French. Professor Karkaroff and Krum returned to their ship in silence. Leaving Master Roshi, Videl, Lady Tsunade, and Naruto to head back for the woods in relative silence.
"You look rather young for a headmistress." Roshi commented to Tsunade, trying to strike up conversation.
"Don't be fooled. She's using a jutsu to hide her appearance." Naruto said before getting smacked upside the head.
"Don't be saying unnecessary things, brat." Tsunade lectured.
"Wait...it's a farce?" Videl asked in awe.
Tsunade sighed. "No, it's a ninjutsu technique."
"So how old are you really? And... how did you get boobs that big? Don't they hurt your back?" Videl asked.
A tick began to form on Tsunade's forehead next to her diamond seal. "It's not polite to ask a lady her age, you know."
"Hey, in case you weren't aware, I'm a woman too." Videl pointed out.
"That doesn't make it any less rude. And there are two men walking besides us." Tsunade said. "I expected better manners from you Chinese."
"I was just curious is all." Videl said before hearing Roshi chuckle.
"What? Is something amusing to you, old man?" Tsunade snapped.
"You youngins are so quick to anger these days. You need to learn how to relax once in a while." Roshi said.
"I'll relax once I'm back at camp with some warm sake in my belly. This whole Potter fiasco threw a monkey wrench into everything."
"So, it would seem...but I suspect a darker force at work here." Roshi mused.
"So, you're not one bit suspicious of this doofus putting a name in the goblet?" Videl asked.
"Hey! If you must know, I put Sakura-chan's name on that paper!" Naruto snapped without thinking.
The trio looked at the embarrassed blond. Tsunade had another smirk on her lips that Naruto couldn't see. Roshi was a little confused as he didn't know who this Sakura-chan was.
"Man, you're hopeless." Videl said.
"Hey, it's not like that!" Naruto cried.
"Regardless. Someone one must like you better than you think." Tsunade smirked. "My money is on Tenten."
"Well then it certainly isn't Tenten." Naruto muttered.
"What was that?" Tsunade growled.
Naruto gulped. "N-nothing..."
Tsunade scoffed before looking to Roshi. "Just how old are you anyway, old man?"
Roshi chuckled. "389 years old."
Naruto had to do a double take while Tsunade looked mildly unimpressed. "You don't look a day over 250."
"The techniques my master taught me gave me exceptionally long life. This will also be passed down to my students as well by simply pushing themselves beyond normal human limits. Videl here has excelled greatly in my teachings. I wouldn't be surprised if she outlives me." Roshi chuckled at the end.
Now Videl did a double take. "Woah, hold on. Older than you?"
"Yup. One day you will look as good as me. Hehe." Roshi laughed.
"Why didn't you ever say anything?!" Videl exclaimed.
"You never asked." Roshi shrugged.
"We'll see how well your longevity helps you in the first task. Naruto will wipe the floor with Videl." Tsunade said, patting Naruto on the back.
That pissed Videl off. "What did you just say old lady?!"
A chill in the wind blew past them.
"Well...nice knowing you." Naruto sighed slowly edging up against the wall away from the killing field.
Just the way Naruto said that made Videl raise her guard. She had a feeling the old headmistress was going to pound her for that.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" Tsunade screamed as she launched her fist at the brat who dared call her old.
Videl was quick on her feet and counter attacked. She dodged Tsunade's fist, latched onto her arm and slammed her into the ground with great force.
"Do not underestimate my master's teachings." Videl warned before continuing on.
"Wow...she's good." Naruto commented as Tsunade stood up and brushed herself off.
"Very good. Be sure to avenge me if the first task turns out to be one on one combat." Tsunade said good natured-ly while brushing a beetle off of her shoulder.
"You're taking this rather well." Naruto pointed out.
"I have to. I have international cooperation to think about." Tsunade said. "Let's go. I'm sure your friends will want to celebrate your selection."
"Somehow I don't see that happening..."
"Lighten up. You want the competition to think that we're all a bunch of sad-sacks?"
The two teacher and student pairs split up. Videl and Roshi headed for a camp of half dome houses that had cropped up out in the fields of the castle, next to the Quidditch arena, while Naruto and Tsunade headed deep into the Forbidden Forest to their camp. Instead of which, they found a four-story wooden Japanese style castle.
'Here we go, I guess.' Naruto thought as they stepped through the door. The room was completely black and as silent as a crypt. Which was weird. Naruto's classmates should have been back by now...
"Where the Hell are they?" Naruto asked. "Any why is it so dark?"
There was a shuffle and then a dozen candles flickered to life at once. Confetti was fired into the air and someone was blowing a party horn.
"SURPRISE!" The Konoha 16 shouted in unison. Neatly knocking Naruto flat on his butt, covered in confetti.
"WAAAH!" Naruto cried in surprise.
"Congrats, Naruto!" Sakura cheered as she ran up and hugged him.
The blond was surprised by the hug, but not as much as he was surprised by the looks of cheer on everyone's faces. Ino, Kiba, Choji, Rock Lee, Tenten, Hinata, even Sai and Shikamaru were cracking smiles. The only ones not smiling were Shino, Neji, Sasuke and his merry trio.
"But...I don't even know how I was chosen." Naruto stated.
"Oh, don't worry about that." Sakura waved off.
"Uh, you got your names pulled out of the Goblet. Duh." Kiba said.
"But I didn't put my name in." Naruto clarified. But no one listened to him. Instead someone turned on music and another got the idea to hoist Naruto up by his arms and legs and lift him over everyone's heads. He spent the next few minutes crowd surfing while Choji threw BBQ on the communal fireplace.
"I don't get it. Why are you guys throwing me a party?" Naruto asked.
Everyone was sitting around now, passing around drinks while the meat was cooking.
"Isn't it obvious?" Sakura asked.
"I guess, but I didn't put my name in. I don't know how I got picked." Naruto whispered to Sakura so that no one else could hear.
"But I watched you put in a name." Sakura pointed out.
"It wasn't my name. I don't know how my name got in there. Did you put it in?"
Sakura paused. She was the one who put his name in there, but she couldn't tell him that...or could she? Would he be mad at her? Or will he be accepting of it? There were too many variables to take a risk telling him the truth.
"No, I didn't. But who's name did you put in?" Sakura asked, hoping he bought her lie.
"Uh...no one." Naruto said, too embarrassed to admit he put Sakura's name in, but only to spite Sasuke.
"What do you mean no one?" Sakura asked in confusion.
"I just...um...scribbled a nonsense name on my paper... I chickened out from entering." Naruto lied.
Sakura gave him a look showing him she wasn't convinced. "Just tell me. I won't say anything."
Naruto sighed. "Yours, okay? I figured that I would give you an edge."
Sakura gasped in shock. He put her name in there? Why? She had so many questions that she wanted answers. "You...put my name in...?"
"Yeah. It's no big deal." Naruto shrugged.
"But...why me? Why me out of the others?" Sakura asked.
"You're my best friend, aren't you? Who else would I pick?"
Sakura shrugged. "Fair point, but you really thought I could do it?"
"Of course, I could. Why? Did you not think you could do it?"
"I-ah… didn't want that kind of attention. That's why I didn't put my name in."
"But we came all this way just to compete. You told me you wanted to compete." Naruto said.
"I did at first...but after thinking about it, I started to second guess myself and...well..."
"Well what?" Naruto asked.
Sakura sighed. "I lied to you earlier, Naruto...I put your name in the goblet instead of my own..." She said shamefully.
"You did?" Naruto asked.
"Yes...I knew if anyone could do it, it would be you. That and it would shut the naysayers up."
"Naysayers?"
"Yes. The people who don't believe in you. As in the people back home. If you can win this, you would gain all of their respect."
"You'd do that for me?" Naruto asked.
"Of course, I would...I'd do anything for you. You know that."
"Because we're best friends?"
"Exactly."
Naruto smiled, the fact that Sakura would go so far for him... He could always count on her.
Meanwhile, at the Kame camp. Videl was receiving a warm reception as well as some jealous jabs from her best friend.
"Sorry, Erasa. It's just the luck of the draw." Videl smirked.
"You're right. I guess we all have to use the gifts God gave us. You have your luck of the draw and I have my superior looks." Erasa teased.
"Oh please..." Videl scoffed.
"What, don't believe me?" Erasa asked as she flicked her hair like she was in a shampoo commercial.
Videl rolled her eyes. "I could do that too if I felt like it. That doesn't make me look like a model."
"Videl, you could do that if you used some conditioner." Erasa sassed.
"I do use conditioner. I just choose to have my hair tied up like this so it doesn't get in the way."
"Then you aren't using the right conditioner."
"Screw you."
"To be honest, I've never seen you with your hair down, Videl." Alyx commented.
"Yeah, neither have I come to think of it." Angela added.
"Well there are times I do when I feel like it. Now is not one of those times." Videl answered.
"You mean right after you've been selected as the Champion? Cause this seems like the perfect time to celebrate." Erasa said.
Videl sighed. "If it's to get you all to shut up." She undid her hair ties that held her pigtails in place and let her hair flowing in the air, running her hand through it a few times to make sure there wasn't any knots before letting it rest on her shoulders. "Satisfied?"
"Immeasurably." Erasa smirked.
"You look beautiful, Videl...you should leave your hair like that." Alyx complimented.
"Hell no. I need to train and fight." Videl said.
"Somehow, I don't think we'll be doing much of that here." Angela stated.
"What else would we do?"
"Well, what I'm going to do is check out this school some more. See what makes it tick. Besides, we were offered to attend the regularly scheduled classes as guests." Angela stated.
"I don't see the point. We don't even use wands." Videl said.
"Oh come on, it could be fun." Erasa smirked. "I hear that wizards are known for their love potions. Perhaps we could crash a Potions class and pick up a thing or two?"
"What for? I don't love anyone here." Videl pointed out.
"Exactly. I'm going to give you the potion so that you'll stop being such a prune." Erasa threatened.
"Like hell you will. I don't want love right now. That is the last thing on my mind."
"Well the rest of us don't have the tournament to worry about anymore. We've got to find something to occupy our time and I'm thinking that our host school has a few dapper boys they could spare." Erasa said with a devilish grin on her lips.
"Oh my God, I know, right? Did you see that Hogwarts champion? The blond one?" Angela gushed.
"Then you 3 have at it. I want nothing to do with it." Videl firmly said.
"Not even anyone in our class?" Alyx asked.
"Are you kidding me? Dave is an emo dick, Pen is a pussy, Sharpner is an asshole and Gohan is a mommy's boy nerd." Videl reminded.
"Yeah, our own pickings are pretty slim." Angela said as she looked over to the other side of the room where their male classmates were trying to balance party cups on their noses and just ended up spilling them on each other.
"You gotta admit that Gohan is hot." Erasa pointed out.
"Pfft...if you say so. I don't see it." Videl scoffed.
"What happened between you two? You two used to be such good friends." Erasa demanded.
"He turned out to be a dweeb." Videl scoffed.
"Oh don't give me that. You two were standing side by side to deliver the finishing blow to Cell all those years ago. You liked him then and he was just as much of a nerd then as he is now. So, I'm not buying that excuse."
"Well then you'll have to go without one." Videl said, shutting down the conversation and storming off. Erasa yelled some profanities at her, but Videl didn't care. She refused to bring up this conversation again. Each time drew closer and closer to her admitting the truth. That she felt so betrayed by Gohan back when the two of them fought together to defeat Cell. Years spent training together, countless late night talks up on the roof of Kame Temple, and he couldn't even trust her with his most important secret. How else was she supposed to react when she learned off-handedly that her best friend was half alien?
'He lied to me. He played me for a fool and made me look weak...' Videl thought sourly, just the thoughts leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. She should have known he was different when she noticed him soaking up all the learning material like a sponge and became top of the class in everything. She struggled to learn all she could and master it while he had it all down pat in a few days. He always left her in the dust, but at the time, she felt that it was just because his father was helping him. Her own father thought this was just a school of tricksters so he never even supported her, let alone help her.
When the Cell Games rolled around, she watched in horror as her father was brushed aside like a fly. But not her. She held her own and quite well against the Cell Jr's. But when Gohan transformed before her, that's when she knew he wasn't normal. She could only watch from there as Gohan was nearly killed. And only then did anyone bother to tell her that he was a Saiyan. She didn't have to ask too many questions about what a Sayian was. Because she lived through the harrowing events that took place when Vegeta and Nappa destroyed what is now Satan City. Despite the fact that Goku was nothing like the Saiyan's who attacked East City, she wasn't any less afraid of them. That moment in her childhood scarred her for life. The events with Cell was no different. If anything, she was even more afraid of them.
'I wish they would just go back to where they came from.' Videl thought. Unfortunately, her wish was nothing more than a pipe dream. Where they came from no longer exists. Their planet was destroyed by an alien tyrant several decades ago. She didn't want them dead, but at the same time, she didn't want them around her or her friends.
'I'll show them...I'll show them just how powerful a Human can be.' Videl thought with absolute certainty.
As she thought that, from across the room, another Saiyan was having a little chat with their headmaster.
"So Goku, sad that your son didn't get in?"
"No, not really." Goku waved off with a grin. "You always want to see your own kids win these things, but Videl would be my second choice. She smart, powerful, and determined."
"I agree. I can't believe how far she has come. She's the strongest human alive and she's almost as strong as Gohan."
"Well, Gohan in his base form." Goku said.
"Indeed. I have wondered a few times if she had Saiyan blood in her. But the bloodlust for fighting isn't there and both of her parents were Human." Roshi mused.
"She's just very determined." Goku nodded.
"I've gotten to the point where there is very little I can teach her now. Same with most of the others. I think this is their last year with me. After that, their teachings fall to you." Roshi stated.
"Hey, don't say that. You sound like one of those death flags in Gohan's books." Goku said.
"Goku...I'm nearly 400 years old. I can't keep up with these youngins anymore. I have decided to retire after their graduation...I'm too old to be teaching new dogs old tricks. My masters training has been passed on to others. So long as they can train future generations, then Mutaito's dream will be complete."
"I see." Goku nodded. "I will be honored to take your place."
Roshi nodded. "Also, be mindful of Videl. She seems to have a disliking for Saiyans."
"I know. Although my wife has commented that it has more to do with her shock of finding out that Gohan was a Saiyan and never telling her." Goku said. "But I can't imagine why."
"When Vegeta and Nappa arrived on Earth, she was living in East City when they destroyed it." Roshi explained. "That day she was severely traumatized mentally. She's afraid of Saiyan's."
"That's just what my wife told me." Goku raised his hands.
"So that's why. And yes, she feels betrayed that Gohan kept that a secret from her."
"Should we intervene?"
"No. Youth will learn better from experiences than lectures from their elders. That's the way it's always been." Roshi chuckled.
"I say that you keep doing what you're doing. She will come around eventually."
"I hope so." Goku said as he took a sip of his punch. "So what about this Harry Potter kid? You said that someone put his name in the Goblet of Fire? Why?"
"I don't know why. But I read his mind. He never put his name in and he didn't ask anyone to put it in for him."
"And you don't think it was just to give Hogwarts an edge in the tournament?" Goku asked, even if he already knew what his own answer would be.
"I sensed no deception form the headmaster or the staff. They were just as confused as he was."
"So, then who? Who else but Harry benefits from him entering the tournament?" Goku asked.
"I don't know for sure..." Roshi mused.
"You don't have any ideas?"
"None that are worth sharing until I know more." Roshi said, taking a deep drink from his punch glass. "I shall speak with Dumbledore in the morning and let you know if we need to concern ourselves."