Naruto and the guys were now outside the ARASHI Arena with about 11,000 other anxious fans. They heard talk of rushing the ticket checkers to. This is common occurrence, especially at rock shows. Kiba was happy in doing it this way although, Lee was a bit aprenshive. They had to be reminded by both Neji and Shikamaru that it would not be the most wise of choices but, who is going to stop eleven thousand angry people?
The sun had fully set and the moon was just starting to shine it's light on the city. A small breeze slowing moving through the metropolis, though, not enough for extra clothing. Naruto started a conversation with another fan, discussing their favorite past albums from ANBU. Shika and Kiba talked about their band. Neji, however, called his friend up, who was a roadie for ANBU and also worked in the arena when not on the road. Neji and his friend turned to walk towards the back of the large building where the arena staff were, away from the building crowd. Shikamaru did notice but chose not to think too much about it.
"You all should go in a little late" said Shikamaru. Naruto ran up to Shikamaru and demanded to be told why he should do something as stupid as that. Shikamaru let out a sigh, annoyed at Naruto's animated reaction."Because, you guys are going to be jumping and pushing during those heavy songs. I'm gonna be either in the front or of to the side." he explained. Naruto thought for a second.
"But the fun is gone Shikamaru!" whining a little. Shikamaru sighed once more at his friend. The blue-eyed teen couldn't understand who would go to an ANBU show and not want to jump around? That's the fun of these concerts, he thought. "I am not the 'jump around' type as you can see. I want to actually LISTEN to the music," Naruto just shrugged at what Shikamaru said. "Well, have it your way, your highness."
It's eight o'clock now, which means the doors will open at any second. Extra security were behind the glass doors. A "Let Us In" chant begin to build in mass outside. The Arena workers decided to obey and opened the doors which pleased the crowd. Naruto and the rest of the guys moved in first. Naruto squeezed through the doors, got his ticket ready, stamped, and moved on. They all walked in, looking around at the giant, open halls. They were following yellow signs along the walls leading them to where the stage was. The group passed the merchandising stands and ended at a short passageway. They crossed through a heavy curtain. Naruto was first and was in awe at the place. It was a simple set up, medium sized stage. There was a barrier ten feet from the stage, where guys in yellow jackets that had SECURITY in black letters on the back. Naruto and Kiba hung back and allowed other concertgoers to head to the front.
Away from most of it, Shikamaru was about to head to the stands when he saw someone motion for him.
It was Neji.
He followed him and started asking questions such as where he went and where they were going. Neji answered all, unaffected by the large number of people who were bumping into him and Shikamru. They started the walk in a brightly lit hallway, with pattern tiles on the walls, presumably for the general public. They went through a double door and now the hallways had turned to open concrete.
"I know you don't wanna be in the middle of all that. I don't either. That's why I contacted an acquaintance to let us in here. He said that only two can go. Minus me, was one left. So I picked you," Neji explained without looking at Shikamaru, who didn't seem to mind. "So where exactly are we gonna watch it at?" he asked. Neji walked up three small metal stairs and moved a curtain and let him see. A small smile spread on the usually scowled face of Neji, he was pleased at Shikamaru's shocked expression. They were on the stage.
Shikamaru was looking over the instruments on the stage. They weren't ANBU rigs, he suspected, they belonged to an opener band. The elevated volume of the talking behind him broke his thoughts and turned around. It was more then the usual chatter of the arena. He looked and was shocked as four people, around his age walked past him. The last, he knew, all too well. They walked on the stage, which had the curtain covering it. The other band members were getting hooked up to their amps with help from the staff. Shikamaru felt anger and frustration boil inside him and hurried across the stage. He stood in front of the singer.
"Sasuke, what the hell are you doing here?" he said in with a pitch slighty below a shout. But Sasuke's expression hadn't changed. "This is my band" he answered rather lowly. This obvious answer angered Shikamaru even more.
"No shit, Uchiha. Who did you hoe yourself out to, to get to open for ANBU?" Sasuke's scowl didn't change. "It's called talent. Something the lames in your band does not possess. We're the best in Konoha. My family knows Kakashi, not like we needed to but I sent our demo tape to him and they liked it, and they said we can have a thirty minute set before them. They even might give the demo to their label. Now if you excuse me, I have important things to do," Shikamaru decided to leave as he might have been taken out the concert if he'd punch Sasuke, which he definitely wanted to do. He wondered how Naruto would feel about this. He was in the audience, by the way.
Neji pulled him off stage as Sasuke and his band did a brief instrument sound check. They stood silently and watched.
Naruto and Kiba were close to the front of the crowd. It wasn't too crazy yet. They heard instruments being played. Then a male announcer, who reminded Naruto of the crazy radio host from LFLV Hard Rock, spoke over the sound system. "Opening for ANBU tonight, local band, "BORDERLINE!".
Then the curtain spread and Naruto's face was stricken with anger. His fist clenched and he cursed Sasuke loudly enough for Shikamaru and Neji to hear from where they were.
Forty-five minutes passed. Naruto and Kiba were in the thick of the crowd. They were still angered at the surprise from earlier. Fifteen minutes passed since Borderline left the stage and the crowd was now getting restless. Then the lights dimmed which made the crowd roar. They heard the low chords of the bass being played. A rhythm started and then the rest of ANBU came in and played one of their newer, high tempo songs.
This brought the crowd into a frenzy. Kiba shouted into the air, to no one in particular, "THEY'RE PLAYING 'GLADITATOR'!" and started jumping up and down to the song.
The third song came on, which happened to be Naruto, Kiba, AND Lee's favorite, called "The Swordsman". It had a musical breakdown in the middle which meant the crowd participated. The guitars lowered a bit into a tribal rhythm of sorts. The floor spread into several large circles that were outlined by people circling it. As the breakdown edged closer, Naruto, Kiba, Lee and Choji decided to "commandeer" the circle around them and began to control the speed of the people around them. Then the guitars sharply rose and the circles slammed. Fans shoving and pushing each other.
Definitely not for Shikamaru.
Around fifty minutes passed and the music stopped and the lead singer spoke into the microphone, "What we're gonna do now, is have a contest. Who can defeat Kakashi in a guitar battle?!" The crowd started pushing towards to front. "We will only allow three challengers and you can't fuck up! All you gotta do is play exactly what Kakashi plays or better,"
It was kind of a trick as Kakashi was a master shredder. He already won 6 awards for his guitar playing in the past. The singer started pointing at people to go on stage. The first challenger failed immediately. The second made it further, able to keep up to a "level three". Naruto turned to Kiba.
"Dude, go up there!" he had to shout for Kiba to hear. "I would if I can move!" he shouted back. "Just follow me" Naruto said and starting pushing his way to the front, Kiba close behind. Choji and Lee cheered for them, actually working together for once. They got to the barricade, the land of sweaty men who were booing the challengers. The second guy failed and the singer was looking in Kiba's direction. He pointed. To someone besides Kiba.
The new challenger went up and lasted to "level 3" before failing. The singer was pretending to be disappointed and spoke into the microphone again. "Well it seems Konoha doesn't have any great guitar players! It's okay. Because we'll do one more song for you!"
Kiba gritted his teeth at that. "Screw that!" he screamed and started to try and jump the barricade but security held him back. He must have caught the bands attention because Kakashi stopped playing. He talked into his microphone. "Hang on. Let that guy through," he said sheepishly. The crowd cheered and the security guys reluctantly allowed him through. Kiba jumped onto the stage without any help.
He was blinded by the lights as they focused on him. He saw some cameras behind the barrier which he thought was being filmed for a Live DVD. He was amazed that he was on the same stage as ANBU! He grabbed the guitar and turned to the crowd. His smile was as bright as the lights that were beaming on him. The crowd was rooting for him and he turned and saw Shikamaru and Neji on the side of the stage. This was a dream of his, this very moment. Except there was a thing he had forgotten about.
He forgot he had the terrible phenomenon that was stage fright.
The shock surged through him like electricity. 'Oh shit. My stage fright!' he frantically thought to himself. Naruto stopped cheering, "Oh shit. He's got stage fright!". Neji turned to Shikamaru to ask what was wrong with him.
Shikamaru let out the biggest sigh of the night, "He must have forgot that he gets stage fright."
Kakashi played "level 1". Kiba was still shocked until he realized what he was up there for. He hesitated but played it. Kakashi went up to "level 3". Kiba played it. Kakashi grew happy and played "level 6" and to his and Kiba's surprise, he played it. Then Kakashi stopped playing. He appeared to be waiting for something. Kiba couldn't understand what Kakashi wanted. So they stood in silence as the crowd followed suit. Kiba heavily breathed, and started freestyle playing. Playing different chords and riffs and grew lost in his music. Forgetting he was on stage in front of 11,000 people playing and for his favorite band in the world.
He went at it for a full three minutes and abruptly stopped. He motioned for Kakashi to follow. The silver haired man dropped the pick from his hand and walked over to his microphone. He grabbed the microphone. "Will you look at that. This teenage challenger defeated me". 11,000 people went crazy. The great and legendary Kakashi has been beaten at his own game.
Naruto stood there in the crowd and finally knew what he wanted to sing about.