Switched Fox

by grayfox11738

For all my unnatural life I've been forced on a path against my will with a destiny I never wanted, but now I find myself free from that with my death only to wake up once more. I wake up with a world full of opportunities and a life to live anew. I'm Naruto Uzumaki now and never again will I submit. Grey Naruto. Naruto harem.

4. Third Step: Test the Limit

Chapter Four: Third Step: Test the Limit

The rest of the time sped by before my eyes. I was in the center of the arena before all the contestants and fighters surrounding me in their corners. The looks of murder, malice, and general sick sadistic intent towards me made me shiver. Not from fear but more... anticipation. They saw me as a kid. They see me as "easy prey." No offense to the old Naruto but I'm not a gullible weakling squandering his potential. If I'm going to be dragon I'm prey to nothing and I'll prove that today. If they think just because I'm young and noticeably short they are facing they are right but sorely mistake. I'm a being with inept knowledge of the human body and how to push it past its limits even before that body is ready for the release of its energies and stress inflicted upon the muscles. I almost can't wait to face my first prey.

Almost.

I need to ensure that I don't push my body to the point that it collapses upon itself. It's one thing go past your human threshold but to do so in a body without the proper training or Jäger enhancements will only damage your body to the point that it becomes completely vulnerable. It's to the point that anyone, even a child with a knife, can kill you. I can punch a wall and crack it if I put my full force into it but at the cost of breaking the bones in my arm and shattering the bones in my fingers. You can't push a body when it's not ready and this one isn't ready. Using Ki before against that Fire Guardian to kick the air and weaken the muscles in his arm nearly broke my ankle.

I don't wish to result to chakra. Chakra is life energy and if I needed life energy in the past, like any Jäger, I contained demons and spirits of different vices and virtues to supply me the needed Od to save my body the strain thus saving me from The Fallout that takes the lives of others before me. I've used chakra for my clones as well as the sealing arts but it's a small amount that barely fazes me. I produced over twenty clones to attack me at once whenever Kakashi-sensei got lazy, or was an ass and taught Sasuke-teme a new move without me, and showing favoritism at its finest like freaking a prig, I was forced to train myself. If I can spam clones on others I thought to myself "I need to know how to fight overwhelming odds like the old man did and my hero, the fourth" and so I fought for hours against them again and again.

Thinking on it now that was probably not the best training tool I could have used. My reasons and the direction I took with my own training was a bit pathetic. Living so long on my own having to rely on only myself has some to do with this. I was always ignored. The old man ignored my plight and my sensei did the same as well. Maybe it's just me against the world. Maybe that's just how it's going to me. Them or me. I don't plan on it being Me any time soon so it's going to be them.

I really wish I had some Hijik right now. I could use it to help quicken the adaption process of my body and grow one to five years in under a month. It's useful when you're doing an extremely strenuous training routine and need to improve as quickly as possible. It's dangerous but sometimes required for this long missions when sleep is rare, food is scarce, or the environment is too much for the body to handle. It's one reason why I was able to walk in a desert in all black and not sweat or walk in the frozen northern mountains in my under clothes this one time. Not one of my best moments.

The point of these memories is that I need blood to properly enhance my body but none of the men I've seen so far make the cut. I can't harvest with sanguisuga without felicitous subjects to use it on. Can I even use Jäger techniques now. I rose my hand and focused on the palm of my hand. I reached into the sea of my soul but all I found there was the void. No demons, no blood, just the nothingness of a cleansed soul. I sighed and ripped my hand back down. No reddish aura or screeching of the coming drive. Such a shame but such is the life of a kid without death on his soul. Something tells me that this will change sooner rather than later. Dragons don't know peace without blood.

We happy few that remained were released to our corners but I myself didn't have a corner. I had more of a waiting room for the first champion to be crowned to challenge me. I can't stay still for long so I wandered out the room the see a few of the fights that are going on. Before I knew it I was hugged by a girl and ran straight into my chest and knocked me back into a walll. A pair of arms wrapped around my neck and I felt myself rise to the tips of my toes. Then I was dragged away quietly following her down a hall. That girl was Yuuki and I followed her silently down the hall to the contestants' room where the daimyo and his family reside. Just a hug and a walk. I guess she's not much for conversation right now. I suppose I can't blame here. I chose the hardest route you can possibly take. I chose it. They didn't force this on me. They said that the judges examined our bouts in all our brackets and I was the one chosen as qualified to represent power personified.

I chose to do this when I very well could have refused and possibly placed in another corner. That's wishful thinking though. There were 25 of us in that clearing and one of us had to become the dragon. I'm sure someone else would have been chosen and I would have took my raffle accordingly and became a tiger instead. I could have... but didn't. Strangely enough I'm not angry. This feels right. I've lived through too many hardships just to take the easy route.

"The power to devour all that stands in your way." That old man said it all in so few letters. If how things are going I'm sure after the small tourney between the different corners I'll be facing the toad first. The toad and then and hawk. After that is the snake and finally I'll face off against the tiger. The infinite dance between the dragon and the tiger. Push and pull. Ocean and moon. Purity and impurity. It's always been an eternal battle to keep the balance so why wouldn't I face the tiger last. I'm not sure how this will work but I'm sure this will be quite an interesting experience.

"I'm sorry," she snort and refused to look at me. Now she talks to me. The entire time we have been walking rough this palace she's been shivering and sobbing softly to herself. While I'm not that proficient with comforting girls and what I still will keep my end of the bargain. I just have to defeat three opponents consecutively as they come up. Right now I'm at the top of the hill and I need to keep it that way. As long as I don't lose and hold on to the title I'm the winner.

All the money and the precious prize after this game awaits and I won't be denied my dues. I wonder what I'm going to spend it all on. Maybe buy out my apartment building and renovate it. I'm basically one of the only people living in it after all, who wasn't to live in the same building as the demon brat. They can barely stomach me being in sight let alone living in the same vicinity. I can use this to my advantaged. Seeing that I'm going to have the money to do it I can set up a really good BO (Base of Operations) to take note of all my activities while in the village and out. I need a journal as well to put down my findings. My mental codex is fragmented and of no use for me until it's fixed and that will take a minute. Memories like what I have seen in the red are locked away for a reason. Lucky for me I've seen worse. And worse has happened to me.

I could buy myself a pet as well like my salamander from when I was an adolescent. He could bend lightning to his will and discharge it out his body electrocuting armored knights much more effectively than I could. I'm not sure how a desert beast like that could evolve in such a way but it happened regardless. I miss Riggs. He didn't deserve to go out like he did. Even if I did avenge him my friend was worth more than that life of that man, his queen, his princess, and 23 of his subjects. They kept on getting in the way and I was forced to assassinate my way to him. Luckily for me there was a mark on his head so I received a health sum of gold for it. Kings are usually worth something to someone.

Speaking of which, from what I can remember Kakashi-sensei let's us go after team building exercises at around 3 in the afternoon at the latest. With that time I can personally accept D-rank missions from the general masses across the village like we've been doing for a month now. Raking leaves, delivering mail, and gathering flowers aren't bad tasks and can benefit if given that gentle touch. It lets me meet people, spy on them, find out their secrets, and finally exploit them accordingly. It's not evil of me but more like taking back what I lost bit by bit.

"I'm worried Naruto," she whispered solemnly.

"Why?"

"Because," she cried. "Even though you are fighting them one at a time you're still fighting the champions of the other four corners with little rest. You're fighting the best of the corners one after the other!"

I didn't see where her urgency stemmed from. From what I've gathered the champions have to be proclaimed first. That means they have to turn six entries into a single one. By the time the champion is marked they will be sore from their previous exploits. That's a chance if I ever saw one if you asked me. Even if I have to fight then consecutively it won't be too much for me to incapacitate a couple weakened humans.

"And there are no rules. That means you could die Naruto!"

That both complicates and simplifies things. I won't have to hold back unless I see fit not to kill my opponent. I'm a firm believer in overkill. If I have a crossbow and shot you in the head I'd include the neck and the heart just encase you might have a relapse or something like that. I've hunted enough banshee to know that just because it doesn't move isn't an indicator that it's dead. You need to cut off the head, the hands, the feet, and then stab it at least nine times in the heart with a blessed blade. I don't have a crossbow or a blessed blade but I doubt there are any banshee or Yokai here. I'm sure I would have sensed them.

"And…and it will all be my fault. Maybe you should run while you have the chance. The dragon never lives through its defeat."

So the dragon dies at the end whether he wants to or not. That's even more of a motivator to keep myself alive because last I checked, I'm 13, and I'm not dying anytime soon. I have way too much to do before I die to go out now. I'll win, get the money, and ride out on a shining steed back to the village to face my possible jail time. That's the plan and I'll stick with it. Whatever happens to the princess after I win is up to her. In my opinion she's only prolonging the inevitable. She will either be married off or assassinated in due time. It's a shame but such is life.

"Don't worry," I assured the sobbing princess. I pulled my bandana from my pocket and wiped her eyes. She got black makeup falling from her eyes that Hikari did for her and it made her look a little less desirable. I hate to see a girl cry, especially one so pretty. I adore her crimson eyes that remind me of the sensei that Hinata-chan has. She doesn't remember the favor I did for her but that's fine. It's just another forgotten memory for a reason. I don't want to see despair in red eyes ever again and if I have to kill four people to see this through then I will. I can't relive it a second time.

"You will never have to cry again because I'm going to win this. I don't care who stands in my way, because I will win. You just have to believe in me. That's all I ask."

"Naruto," she snort and I wiped the edge of her eyes once more. I gave her a reassuring smile and winked at her. I don't wish for her to be sad or distressed.

"Don't cry princess. A strong princess never cries and believes wholeheartedly in their knight so dry your eyes and just watch. Trust me when I say this, I will win and free you."

"Y-you promise."

I winced. Oh no, I don't like making promises. My word is my bond and if I make a promise I have to go through with it fully. I don't wish to give her false hope. While I'm confident in my ability to beat my four opponents in single combat I'm not so sure my, this body will sustain what I'm about to do to it. At the age I'm at my body can barely hold me, I can feel it, and I'm afraid of what might happen if pushed too far too fast. Should I promise her or evade this question? I looked into her eyes and saw hope in them. I saw hope that I can save her when no one else could, fear for what might happen if I lost and claim by the winner as theirs, worry for my life which I may lose in this game, and nervous on the chance I might reject her promise. I have no way to escape this. She wants me to say it and the longer I looked into those eyes I felt my rationality wane and lead way to impulse.

I gulped and took a breath while looked down at the ground.

"I-I'm sorry Naru…"

"I promise." My words sealed my fate. I looked back up and smiled dejectedly at her. "I promise Princess Yuuki of the Hi no Kuni that I, Naruto Uzumaki, will fight for you and win for you no matter who stands in my way of this. This is a…" I strained to get these last words out as memories clouded my mind. Ones I could make sense of. I heard a phase repeating again and again in my head but this voice... it's not mine. This force wants me to say it. I don't know what but I'd does.

"Promise of a lifetime," I finished with my foxy grin to the point that I had to squint my eyes a bit.

The princess breathed in roughly and embraced me in a hug. Her arms wrapped around my neck and forced me close to her with my chin resting on her shoulder. This felt nice. I'm not used to being hugged by anyone. This warmth is…soothing.

"I believe in you Naruto," the princess whispered in my ear. I felt my eyes closed and rose my hands up slowly to return the hug. Before I never liked to be touched by anyone but this time around, I don't mind. It's sort of... nice.

I stopped my hands and clenched them into fists. 'Snap out of it. This isn't the time for this. You barely know this girl and these emotions you feel are not yours. So. Snap OUT OF IT!' I heard the beast roar from within. I was about to make a mistake but it caught me before it was too late. I let my hands fall back down and rose them up. "I've promised you so there's no need to worry, okay?" I pushed her way at arm's length by her shoulders. "I will win so just watch me because I'm a dragon. I'm not cursed serpent."

She didn't respond. She just nodded and I turned to leave. My waiting room awaits its dragon. Thankfully in all of Yuuki's panicking she led me to the right room for me to wait in.

I pushed open the door that had a large dragon in the center. I walked in and noticed that a fair amount of men and a few women resided in the room before me. Actually, looking at them all, it's the six from every single corner but at their own entrance to their arena. I can see four archways with an animal etched into the tile above the entrance.

All eyes wandered over to me which left me a bit surprised. How did they notice me right away like this? Some of them were probably staring at this entrance the entire time which meant they expected me to appear from this entrance. I looked back to the large door I walked though and saw a dragon etched into the tiles. Do I not have an arena of my own? That's an Interesting concept if this is going the way I think it is. The doors behind me closed because of a few men that acted as door men and bowed to me when they finished. I nodded to them and continued further with the fountain at my destination.

It seems a couple of the players of this game here still aren't taking me seriously but I don't mind. Underestimate me and die. If I meet that one man that decides not to underestimate me I might be in a bit of trouble.

Once I sat down the other players began to make their way to their arenas leaving me alone to my own thoughts, finally. I closed my eyes and basked in the silence of the room.

"Excuse me."

It seems I thought too soon. I opened my eyes and looked up to the woman, by the voice I heard, who stood with her hands behind her back and bowed respectfully before me. That's a new one as well. No one has even bowed to me before. Usually that's reserved for predominant figures like the old man Hokage but I guess I qualify now.

"Yes," I said to the woman with my arms crossed together and leaned forward in my thighs. This woman happened to beat Ran girl from before. Brown hair that fell down to her waist, dark brown eyes, skinny under that worker outfit of hers, and a little too humbling if you asked me.

"Dragon sir, I am here to escort you to the auditorium for lunch." I blinked. It was about that time wasn't it? I nodded and stood back up to my feet and waved for her to lead the way. Most people say that eating before a fight is terrible for you and I would tell those people to leave before I do it for them. I could use some food. All that exercise and stress has me hungry enough to eat a stable's full of horses. "I'm also to explain to you how your position will be challenged by the coming challengers."

That's good, I'm tired of leaving everything to my amateurish deductions and assumptions. I'm not a detective and hate being ignorant of my position. If this woman can help me then I'll appreciate it.

"The separate contestants of the other corners all have their own separate region that they govern. The same can be said about the beast they represent. The Toad will begin its Grind until a champion is proclaimed. The next corner will begin after that and so on so forth until there's a champion for each corner."

So the Grind is probably a Free-for-all between the six until one remains starting with the Toad. I doubt it because why else would they call it a "Grind" out of anything? Once a champ it found the next corner will kick it off. This will continue until all four have champions. Makes me wonder what they decide to do if I win against one but lost to the other. Maybe another Grind until one is on top. It's not that hard to figure out.

"The daimyo believed it would help promote revenue and the adaptability of the fighters if they can fight in different habitats especially in that of the Dragon. You have to be able to go anywhere and devour any prey that stands before you. The Toad will be you first prey to devour Dragon."

I relished the thought of destroying my prey and crushing the Toad into dust. I felt a shiver running down my spine and smirked. I just made someone somewhere a bit nervous man. I'm sure my thoughts of taking off a toads legs and frying them for dinner has nothing to do with it either.

"Their domain will be within a great forest rich with indigenous plant life. Many of which that can be used for poultices among other things."

That means poisons. Depending on the plant life I could easily make darts, a dart gun, and poison for the darts on the toad. This sounds to be a very good hunting ground if I've ever heard one. Taking me to a forest, that's more of an advantage than they should be giving me. I've treaded through the forests outside the villages, hunting and fishing and that like, for year now. That's just the Naruto portion of my life. I personally lived in a forest for five years alone from my child years to one before I hit adolescence. This might be fun as long at The Beast doesn't get its way.

"Once you conquer the forest and the Toad that resides within then you move on to the Hawk. From there is more of a mixture of trees and rocky terrain to simulate mountains."

I know for a fact that there are no mountains here at the palace or more than likely they brought in a man that knows Earth Jutsu to make a couple large walks and spikes to simulate mountains and ridges. In the mountains I'll have a fair amount of solid cover but not much concealment compared to the forest. The limited amount of space to move as well be make things difficult, especially if I take an aerial attack or terrestrial one. But what are the odds of facing a man that attacks from above or below?

I shivered.

I think I just jinx myself.

"From there you enter the plains to conquer the snake. He will be awaiting you atop a small hill in a simulation of grasslands like in the Land of Grass."

Talk about a snake in the grass. I never liked fighting in a grass land. No cover, no concealment, and no time to make a proper suit to camouflage myself. The fight will be direct and head on compared to the other regions.

"Lastly, if you make it that far, is the Tiger. Unlike with the rest of the habitats his will be the most direct. It's a flat rock with little vegetation with only you against him. To be honest very few Dragons got to the Tiger and if they did the spectacle was always quite harrowing."

That doesn't bode well.

"You will have to face the Tiger on even ground with nowhere to run and hide."

If I thought the snake was direct that has nothing on the tiger. Sometimes you have to face the Tiger even though it might eat you. The note I made on what she brought up about previous Dragons stroked my curiosity.

"How many Dragons won in this Tournament?"

"Three, Dragon sir," Ran answered smoothly.

So the odds are against me? Nice, that's good. If I know tournaments like this you always have smug bastards that take pleasure out of putting money down on who will win. If the odds of the Dragon winning is so minuscule that must mean that the odds are a million to one probably. I have a good amount of money left from when I almost ran that casino out of business and I could always use some more. I can put money on myself to win, all of it, win and get even more money to put into my dreams and savings. I need money for my children. If I have children. If I live that long.

"After I eat can you lead me to the betting offices?"

"Yes, I can Dragon sir," she answered just as smoothly as before with a poised face. Goddess of the moon, sun, and seas it's like talking a Hyūga and I don't like the Hyūga that much. Hinata-chan isn't bad, just weird. And she's technically a princess. Or at least a clan heiress. Maybe I could… I shook my head of my scheming and followed behind Ran. The woman led me through a set of double doors to a small room with a circular table in the center. On top of the table was a good amount of food and the like. I smiled and went inside to sit down. I pulled back on the buckle on my chest to take the bloody blade off of my back and rested him to the side next to me. I don't really have the room and the desire to use him right now so I hope I don't get attacked while eating. This meal reminds me of the food from earlier only I have an entire pig all to myself.

I took one whiff of the food and almost instantly I felt my hunger wane. I lost my appetite and my aggravation began to boil. I picked up a chicken leg and whiffed it. Spiked. I picked up a piece of bread and a bit of whitish powder fell off. Drugged. I dropped both and picked up a small bowl of soul and whiffed it. It smelled fine. I dipped my finger in it and rolled them together and my fingers slipped. Lack of proper friction, spiked.

Son of a bitch!

Are you fucking kidding me? Are they so worried that I'd win that they have to bribe the chefs to spike my food? By the goddess, I'm flattered but this is a waste of food. You don't waste food. This is why I hate rich people. They don't understand, no, they can't even fathom a moment without food in their fat ass stomachs let alone starving for days at a time. They can't understand just how many families this moderate amount of food could feed and for how long. So this is one reason why Dragons don't make it because I recognize the scent of a few of these concoctions, and they come into effect after two to three hours or so. Plenty of time for me to get to the Snake most likely, and die if I reach the Tiger IF I devour the Snake by some stroke of luck.

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. I took a breath and drew my eyes to Ran. I saw red for a moment and pushed myself off my chair. Ran remained composed but the eyes said enough. I reached for my short sword on my belt and sent it flying into the center of the door right by her neck.

"Ah!" The woman struggled to cover but the yelp still came out regardless. I walked up to her and stopped right in front of her. I pointed downward telling her to come down to my level and waited. The woman hesitated but relented and leaned over and bent her knees down so not to get too much closer to me. I reached up and grasp her shoulder and glared into her eyes, into her soul. Some Jäger abilities may be lost to me but my assassin's glare isn't one of them. It's a simple. You just have to impose your will and desire to murder a man or woman in such an intense manner that the victim sees exactly what you have planned.

"Can you tell me why my food is spiked Ms. Ran? I'd be…deathly appreciative if you can."

"I…. Dragon sir I'm sorry for the inconvenience," she apologized quickly. I guess she didn't appreciate the fact that I slit open her neck with the sword above her and then stabbed her in the heart leaving her to die in about two minutes of excruciating pain. That's a really bad way to go. I nodded and gave her the go ahead to continue. "At times we are given a sum of money to sabotage contestants. This is only the second time that anyone resulted to drugs for Dragons. I'd assume your earlier exploits caught attention you didn't want." The girl spoke quickly with some good bearing.

I thought on what she meant by "earlier exploits" because I don't think I did anything generally noticeable. I fought in about twenty matches and beat all of them. Even this one ronin swordsman who was pretty good and wanted me to draw my sword. Too bad for him I play my own game and no one else's. I walked up to him while he was in a basic Iai stance for a QuickDraw. I had an temporary ally that did the same to his foes and cut them down in one fell swoop. It was impressive until I got the timing down. All I had to do was hop up as fast as he drew and kick him in the cheek right under his senses. A choke hold later and I was the win.

Huh? I guess if I witnessed a kid accomplish feats of superb reflexive locomotion with near average speed I have then I'd put a target on his back too.

"I see," I sighed and let her shoulder go. I reached up with the same hand and pulled my blade down and replace it to the scabbard at my waist and pushed it behind me once more. "Nevermind the meal then," I breathed out. "Just take me to the betting offices please."

"Yes Dragon-sama," she responded noiselessly.

Whoa, that's new, again. I didn't see that coming, but then again I put the fear of the Uzumaki in her so I shouldn't be surprised. Best I rectify this before she begins to spread rumors about me. "Sorry if I frightened you Ms. Ran. I don't appreciate anyone trying to poison me and I took my anger out on you." I guess I have a lot of pent up aggression. I've been poisoned more times than I wish to count. With my mind slowly repairing itself I'm seeing and remembering things including when I family, acting all I've and polite, invited me into their house to eat. Ten minutes later I remember puking out blood. I don't remember the faces but I will. And when I do I will get mine.

"Two questions: who are the Dragons before me that won? How long as it been since there was a dragon?"

"The Last Dragons? It was around 13 maybe 14 years ago. The one before that over forty years between the first and second ninja wars. The first was during the founding of the Hi no Kuni, I believe." So only three dragons before me like she said but no names. I'll be the fourth. One during the founding, one between the first and second war, and one around the time I was born. These games have going on for so many years and yet this is the 13th arrangement games. Maybe they changed the name depending on the premise of the games. This one is about Yuuki's hand in marriage, status and possible nobility, and riches that can last you a lifetime. They must have tried to poison the dragon before me and not the ones long past. There's no point during a time of war to do this.

I gripped the door handles and yanked them back and opened the door. "Betting office please."

The woman bowed and walked out with me right behind her. If only I knew how to bend elements like I used to. I'd set the room on fire.

The woman lead me to a busy area with a ton of people crowding around a couple booths. All of this is near the front entrance to the parlance being one huge door. This door would need an troll or maybe seven fully bulked men to open and close. So many people everywhere. I wasn't sure if I could make it to a booth in this much clutter.

I picked the shortest line and waited behind a set of giggling women in silky kimono. They had those strange Japanese head ornaments and hair styles, powered faces and make up, and fans blocking their lips when they smiled or giggled. I shook my head and crossed my arms over my chest as I waited.

"Oh my," I heard one of them whisper loudly enough for me to hear. I was about to ignore her until I heard, "isn't that the Dragon child?"

Two of the women glanced back so unnoticeably that I didn't even catch their eyes in me for the next minute. "I can't see her face. Why does she wear that hood anyway?"

She? They think I'm female? I rolled my eyes and said nothing in my defense.

"Maybe she's ugly," one whispered.

"Ugly or not she's quite strong to overcome all those nasty men. I couldn't stop watching her the entire time," the woman to my left muttered.

"How do you know that they're just not a young man?"

"The nose," a woman to my right pointed to her nose. "I know that smell of designer hair cream and perfume anywhere."

Thinking back on it Hikari and Yuuki did cut and fashion my hair but since they didn't have mannish lotions they used other means. I smell like a girl then? The old Naruto would probably drop his pants to show his "manhood" but more than likely scream at the women for misgendering him. I don't care because I know who and what I am more than them.

"Well she's doing an outstanding job showing this boys how it's done. I hope she wins. I'm putting money on her." The woman smiled and glanced my way.

"Oh, my. Isn't you husband betting on the Toad. That girl was pretty good."

The Toad is a female. This makes this so much easier then. Most females I've faced can be twice as deadly as their male counterparts and I was tortured for three years under my female master after my joining. I've been tortured by girls and abused by them for most of my life on top of this in the village. Those smiles hide evil intent behind them. Men came out right and tried to kill me but they used their charms and smiles to lure me in. I'm one of the worst guys that you can put against a woman. I have a lot pent up aggression to release as I mentioned before.

"That girl is a hunter though. Did you see the way she trapped all those boys that tried to get her. That bow contraption as well pinned that one man to a tree."

Now I'm interested. A bow but also a contraption. Maybe a crossbow or compound bow. Metal pulleys, levers, switches, and wires all mixed together to make a single bow that can fire an arrow twice as fast and 50% further. I possessed a crossbow I could break down and holster behind me on top of having three sets of wings for the bolts. It could pierce through steel and most armor with the ease of a hot knife through butter.

"Her traps are impressive and... wait!" One woman glared at the one to my right who kept looking my way. I caught on what she was doing long ago. The information she's conveyed to her fellows, that I happened to hear, will improve my chances. I smiled at the woman and nodded softly and a saw a twinkle in her eye.

"What about the Hawk right now? He uses those weird explosives figurines and birds to help him."

Great. Explosions plus rock and gravel equals shrapnel. I'll have to be careful with the hawk then. The Toad is ready to challenge me then and is probably setting up her field for me. The hawk will need to keep me at a distance without a proper projectile weapon to suppress him with but the Toad could help me with that. I need to hurry and put my money in.

"Tatiyana, your saying all this because the Dragon is here!" The smart one of the group finally remarked on and this Tatiyana woman just smiled behind her fan.

"My dearest Kiko, I would never." I chuckled a bit. I like this woman. "But enough of this. The Dragon looks to be in a hurry and they're the VIP who rates to skip ahead," Tatiyana giggled and moved out the way for me and gestured for her friends to do the same. I bowed to the woman and walked past her. I stopped and looked back to the woman.

"You're placing your money in the right place because I'll win."

Tatiyana just smiled behind her fan. I walked past her through the rest of the line.

"Hey kid what the…" I flashed my dragon mark at the people I past and reached the front of the line of the betting booths. The man inside leaned over to look at me and smirked at me.

"The dragon is a pipsqueak like you?"

"And a bookie like you has never had sex before and is a 35 year old virgin. I'm more ahead of the game than an old man like you." I wallowed at the look of horror that crossed his face. A couple girls and guys around me began to snort and struggled to cover their mouths so not to laugh. It wasn't hard to see. If I learned anything from the many courtesans I've had dealings with it was to spot purity a mile off. Sadly I don't have mine, I can feel it, but this man does and that's embarrassing that's for sure.

"Should've kept your words to yourself sir," I said in a deadpanned and nodded at the man before turning away and went to the booth next to his. The bookie behind it grinned nervously and took out a box and ticket. I have a very sharp tongue and I think he knows this now.

"Please fill the ticket out Dragon-sama, place your mark or signature at the bottom, and fill out the amount you wish to place."

I picked up and ticket and grabbed a marker on top the booth's table top. I filled out my name, affiliation, address, status, and the amount will put down, whois basically everything I have. "What are the odds against me sir?"

"Uh," he answered dumbly before his mind caught up with my question. "It's currently," he looked behind him to a bulletin board with numbers one rolling wheels that changed one at a time. I saw the word for Tiger, Hawk, and the others including mine. Only thirty two people bet on me and the rest bet on the others. Most on the Snake and the Tiger. The top number reached up to 138,234 for the tiger and was growing fast.

"The odds are severely against you Dragon-sama."

"I can see that," I spoke deeply. The man shivered and stepped back away from me for some reason. I must have sounded a bit disturbing to him. Whatever. I checked the box for Dragon and filled in the amount I have currently. I reached for the scroll on the loops of my chest and opened it to the seal on top. Everyone watched me read over the seal and unlock the door. Bags of those gold coins dropped on top of the scroll and I waved for the man to take them.

"Someone's confident," I heard behind me. How can I not me confident. I either win or die so might as well go all-in with the hand I got.

The bookie blinked and waved for a couple maids. They picked up the bags and placed them on a cart for transport. I turned in the man with my ticket up and he took it. He looked at the number and snort.

"If you win Dragon your leaving a very rich… ahh?" The bookie stared at my jaw nervously.

"Man," I finished for him.

"Right," the man flushed. "You'll leave a rich man." I made a Jäger goodbye by opening my palm and hovering over my forehead. Then I faced it towards him three inches from my face and waved from one side to next. I closed my hand and walked away back to Ran, who was waiting for me anxiously.

"Your first prey is ready Dragon-sama. You've given them a fair amount of preparation time."

I shrugged and waved for her to lead me to the center chamber once more. We reached the large waiting room with a could men being lead out from the Toad corner by stretcher. Looking at their wounds I can tell they where caused by either wooden stakes or blunt force. One man was being nursed with a bolt sticking out his shoulder. It pierced bone that's for sure. This hunter amphibian took pleasure out of torturing her prey but she's never met a Jäger like me before.

I walked past the injured men for the arena.

"You're dead Dragon," the man with a bolt in his shoulder said seriously.

I scoffed, "you have more to worry about than me."

With that, I past him and walking down the slightly darkened hallway to the first hunting grounds with my prey awaiting me in her territory. I stepped out to a strange looking arena that must belong to the toad. The green and brown coloration as well as the giant toad banner above said it all. This must be the arena the toad champion resides in then.

I wondered who she might be like if she's uncaring of those men enough to Spear one with a spike trip. One had a deformed leg and arm. I'd deduce that a lot dropped on top of him. If she's this brutal with men then maybe I should return the favor. A woman with androphobia is dangerous when they express that fear with violent intent. Best I take her out and fast so not to lose a limb or two. That would hurt.

I wondered next why I can't fight in a regular arena like before but then I remembered Ran's words. I have to be capable of fighting in any climate and place and devour my prey at their strongest. This one happened to be at her stronger in a first. A forest of cider and pine trees all grown in a way that permits maybe five or so feet of room from the next tree. They must take pride in their trees to grow them in such a way.

I looked up I can see that the audience from above meaning they could see everything that was going on at well. It wasn't via stands though. It's like some sort of reflective ceiling or jutsu up above. I could see them all clearly. The stands are full of people, packed even, and yet I can't see the forest at all from where I'm standing. Maybe that's the point. I can't use the reflective ceiling jutsu above to see my foe. I have to rely on other ways to track her down.

Too bad for my opponent my best and worst moments took place in the forest. This place is my home as well as my hell. I can already see the memories of those days long past reel past. I can see the red eyes through the shadows of the trees. I could feel the anxiety as if I'm being watched. I can feel the monsters lurking and slowly surrounding me as I stand in the midst of their territory. I can slowly feel the cold shiver rise up my spine straight to my brain.

I can't hold it back.

I don't wish to hold it back.

Whoever is trapped in this hell with me they will suffer because of what's about to happen to me. I can't stop my body's natural reaction to inhabiting a hostile environment from my memories. A forest, a castle throne room, an oasis in the desert, and the peak of a mountain. These areas are the places I can barely contain it, especially in this body. In this body that I can't control it. In this body that has suffered and contains more spite and remorse than humanly possible I have no choice but initiating the Falling.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Dragon has arrive for his first match up against the Four Wild Beasts. All the champions have entered the arena!" I heard from above from the announcer. "The champion of the Toad corner as well as the champion of the fabled Dragon corner will now begin the quadruple quell in which the dragon will face off against the champions of every corner in their separate arenas and separate areas."

I really wish this man would stop talking. It's annoying.

Four consecutive fights to the finish. So much fun, I guess. Of course I'm very much disgruntled right now. It hurts to hold this in but I need to be aware of more than my surroundings for now.

"Can the Cursed Serpent rise up from the dirt and become the Dragon it was meant to be? By the bets… I will say no!"

Really? They all bet against me winning? I could have never guessed that. What a shocker.

Well there're be a lot of men and women that leave a little less richer before this day's end. I'm not one of them though.

I suddenly heard a loud up roar. A woman's battle cry and projected through the forest aimed right at me. I felt my heart skip a beat and gulp. Wow, that woman's got some lungs.

"It seems everyone is eager to see this battle begin. Contestants!" I looked down from the sky towards the red eyes in the shadows. "Both of you are ready and steady?" I nodded.

"The dragon confirmed he is ready."

A couple moments later, "The toad pronounced she is ready."

I really am fighting a woman? I let out a long breath and closed my eyes. "Fighters..." He dragged on to make this sound more intense than it really is. "You may begin."

And I opened my eyes.

---

Contact.

The trees lost their green and brown coloration so a more neutral on. I mended with the closest tree and swiftly shot to the top of it into the canopy above. My target moved expeditiously through the brush. I could see here aura from my position moving in a very random but well planned pattern. My target traced over its steps. I could hear the sound of metal against bark. This one is smart. I could hear it next to sounds of strained wood and rope. It is setting traps. It seems my target finds this place home. It will soon call it the underworld.

Five clones appeared in the tree with me and fanned out while I surveyed the area. This was a rich forest and I found the ingredients I need for a very potent concoction. A couple mushrooms, a frog by a pond, a few weeds, and one small snake. I sat down in a bush as I pat the snake down with a small vial in hand. I placed a small cloth over the vial and forced the snake to bare its fangs. I placed them into the cloth and watched as its venom leaked out into the vial.

I let the snake go a moment later and it rushed away from me. Next I took the frog I found and gathered as much slime as I could and mix with the venom from the snake. With a couple mushroom juices and some weeds mixed evenly together I add them to the vial and pounded it down into a paste. This won't kill it but it will be in intense nerve burning pain to the point that it can barely think. If only I had some nightshade and some hemlock mixed with a bit of cobra venom. That would be interesting to watch the effects unfold.

I found a banana tree and snagged a large leaf and sat down in a tree and waited. I waited patiently in my spot as my recon team dispersed and found or set off the traps around them. Some are smart enough not the fall into a spike pit and have a log slam into him from above after being suspended in the air like an idiot. I remember when I fell for that during the genie test with Kakashi-sensei. I feel a bit of shame not but it faded in seconds.

Sling, spike, bait, and lance based traps. Those are what I saw as my clones dispersed. All of which set in such a fashion that one may very well spring the next one. This target set it's traps with a keen ingenuity that's overly predictable.

This hunt will be very easy.

I jumped down from my tree and made my way to my targets zone. I shifted the traps I found around and made a couple adjustments to some. The target currently is camping in the northeast. I made my way through the brush over the traps I could see and around the ones my instinct felt. I stopped and drew my short sword. A bolt from a crossbow slammed into the metal of my sword and deflected off to the right. Ranged combat and traps to keep me disorientated and at a distance.

I walked towards the target and deflected a couple more bolts with my short sword. I walked over "it's traps" to confuse my target. Make it overthink or misjudge it's own work. My approach makes it slightly panicked. I can see it.

I rose up the bolts I have and infuse them with chakra. I pulled back and threw my makeshift darts. Ki infused darts travel a little slower when sent sailing with your hands but I wanted the effect of Ki to hit my target not the dart itself. When I noticed the tree she hid next to shiver I knew exactly what she might be feeling. I purposely missed. Trying to hunt me, a Jäger, with such little trick.

How insulting.

My target changed position swiftly and moved around me. I moved out the way of a bolt and blocked a second. I heard a trap spring but nothing came out of it.

I followed after it then heard a sound in the distance. A tune. A hum. I can hear humming. I can hear humming because I'm humming. The nervousness, I can smell grows the closer I get to my target. My song gets louder and louder the closer I get. Little by little I'm getting closer to you. You can't escape

This game of cat and mouse between us is amusing but it's time to end this. I completed my mission for the boss so know it's all up to him.

I sighed as I stopped in the middle of a trap and smiled at the target An explosion engulfed my body. I felt the heat from around me burn my clothing and singe my skin. The pain was quiet stifling. Suddenly I felt like my body no longer existed. I was energy being transferred to the source.

I opened my eyes and fell off of the tree I sat in. My clones have all fell in traps or battle. Time to end this.

I lifted up my face mask over my nose as I wandered around the tree I camped in. I stopped at the edge of a bush next to it and noticed a brownish red coloration in my sight below me. Luring the target to my original body wasn't too difficult.

I reached for my large two handed sword still in his sheath and brought it straight down on the target's head. The target fell straight down, face first, into the dirt. The target shot up in a hand stand with its crossbow aimed right at my hand. By that point I used my sword as a pole and slammed my foot into its stomach forcing it back into the dirt. The target coughed and rolled to its feet with its crossbow up and aimed at me.

I placed my sword near the tree and faced towards it.

A small sliver of blood fell down from its forehead. Its brain is rattled. The target slammed its hands to the ground and I felt it tremble. I stepped to the left as spikes of earth flew out the ground towards me. I drew a few darts from a prickled bush I found and pulled a large leaf I rolled up and placed my belt out. I leaned out the way if a bolt as it soared past me and jumped over spikes until I'm was nearly upside down. The target used this time to turn away and run back away frm me. It actually turned its back to me. Big mistake.

I moved the spikes from the edges of my mouth into the leaf and breathed in as time appeared to slow for me. With chakra in my lungs and Ki infused with the darts I blew three of them at it one after the other before landing on my back and rolling onto my feet.

"Ahh!" The target stutter stepped and nearly tripped forward to the ground. I got it in the back of it's left leg right behind the knee cap with Ki supplementing it and yet it's still running. Good. The venom will only spread faster.

So my prey runs while stooping as low as using pathetic guerrilla tactics, amusing. Run little lamb. Run as fast as you can because I'm not trapped in this forest with you. You're trapped in this forest with me.

I walked back to pick up my sword but stopped. He will get in the way for now and I can't seal him away. "I'll come back for you. Stay put, okay." I said to the sword before turning and walking in my target's general direction. I smiled when I saw a large tree ahead of me in the direction the target ran rattle. It tripped one of its traps I moved around my position. I gave chase will humming softly to myself.

"Hm, hn, hm, hmm." The tone got softer and longer. The target stopped above me in a tree and remained still within it. I looked around the ground for tracks and grunted acting as if I lost it and couldn't find it. I squeezed my blow dart leaf in hand and moved the second to last spike from the edge of my lips to the center. The brownish paste I made rested on the tip. I walked past the tree and moved out of sight behind another tree and shot up with my leaf up and I blew the dart at it. It yelp and fell out the tree with the dart sticking out its arm.

It was sweating profusely as it struggled to its feet panting as if choking on air. With the wooden stoke of the crossbow resting on its shoulder pointed at me. It rose a free hand to grasp a vial from the pouch on its side and rose it to its mouth. I could pick up the scent of that drink and coughed. An anti-vemon, the poor unfortunate target may come to regret using that. I didn't voice this and just let it drink the contents before drawing a tantō of all things from its back sheath. It rested the cross bow on the arm holding the tantō with it pointed toward me just like its crossbows. Like a makeshift bayonet. Then it reached over and bit the needle out its shoulder and spat it to the side.

"You stupid man! I won't lose here!"

"We'll see." I tossed the leaf in my hand away. I'm sure it noticed that we are completely surrounded with its own traps and a few of mine. It can't run anymore and neither can I. This ends here.

I shift forward with my hands at my sides and jumped up over a bolt it shot at me. The target moved in kind to circle me and fired again. I felt pressure at my side and landed with a bolt sticking out my side. I clicked my tongue and pulled it out off of my body and through armor it hit then tossed it away. That thing went through my metal reinforcement with ease and the tips are slightly barbed. I don't wish to be hit by that thing again for the tips are poisoned as well. I can feel the burning sensation encase my side but then fade away once I started to breath and spread Ki throughout my body.

"Haaa!" I twisted around and grasp the target's wrist when its swipe missed and traced around with my hand in its shoulder. The target rolled forward to its feet in a couch and leaned forward throwing me off balance. I rolled as well and hit the ground on my back right back up to my feet. I rolled back and caught the target's tantō with my knife and ducked under its crossbow bolt once more.

How is it reloading this fast? A full two handed crossbow requires two hands to load and yet I have yet seen it reload a bolt. It pulled the trigger and then again and two bolts fly. One for every pull. Maybe it has magazines. That crossbow appears quite sophisticated. Like a lot of time and money went into its creation. I noticed a symbol on the stock as well. A pink flower. I would pay a fortune to have that.

I leaned to the right and took the dart out of my mouth and held it against the grip of my knife with both hands to keep it still. I stabbed down with my knife but the target blocked it with its crossbow and held me up with ease. It's strong… too strong. It grinned at me with its knife ready to cut open my stomach. I rose my leg up and stopped the target with my shin stopping its wrist. Though that tantō didn't stop it from cutting into my thigh through the leather at the sides.

I felt little pain from the attack but it did push me to the right a bit. I slammed my hand down with the dart in hand and stabbed down into the target's wrist before nearly falling over.

"Ahg…!"

As I fell I jumped back and dropped kicked the target in the chest away from me with my only grounded leg and fell the rest of the way down. I rolled to my stomach and shot up to my feet in a crouch. I took a breath and slowly climbed up to my feet.

The target's tantō fell to the ground and it stepped back with a pain contorted expression on its face. I guess the poison is starting to take effect. That anti-venom it drank will stop the snake venom well enough. I expected a forest hunter to have salves and poultices for poison and the like. The paste I made wasn't meant to kill it because I knew it had contingency plans for such. The venom was to help the spread it and that's it. The rest was to make its nerves flare up, induce muscles spasms, and force it to lose control over its sweat pores. It fell to a knee and roared as it fought off the effects.

"What have you... done to me?" The target demanded in a haggard roar

"Just a little poison of my own making with a mixture of about ten different ingredients I found in this forest," I answered it. Its fighting prowess is at about 50% and declining. The target reached for something behind it but I moved the moment I saw it twitch. I rose up hand and took two throwing knives and let them sail. The target evaded one, barely, bit the second hit its mark in the target's collarbone. The target didn't cry out surprisingly. Still, its right arm is hanging loosely at its side. The crossbow it held, which appeared to be made of mostly metal, fell to the ground.

"You're pretty good and you made this hunt fun. Thank you for that." I meant this as well. While we are both ninja I happened to have shadow clones and it didn't. The target's earth jutsu were defense based and its strength is above my own but that's what poison helps to manage. Overall I had fun and this hunt took maybe thirty or fourth minutes of time.

"I don't need… your words you… stupid man!" The target roared at me and suddenly shot up to its feet. With speed that made me blink it tackled me in the chest. I felt something pierce into my side. It would have gotten deeper in if not for my instincts kicking in at the last moment. I stopped the knife by gripping the knife blade but still pierced into me. My hand stopped it at the guard of the knife which was lucky of me, but it still pushed me until my back slammed against a tree.

"I am a proud Kunoichi from Nadeshiko," the target growled at me. With the hand I stabbed my dart into the target stabbed me in the side with the knife from its collarbone. The target from this unfamiliar place lifted its hand and bit out the dart from its hand, then leaned in swiftly piercing into my shoulder with it. I grunted at the discomfort and it grinned at me.

"And I won't lose too…!"

I slammed my knee into the target's stomach forcing it back with a grunt. I twisted and kicked the target in the collar where my knife pierce into it forcing it back once more. I had to jump a bit because the target was a couple inches taller than me. Once the target looked dazed I dropped and sweeping kicked its left leg forcing the knee to buckle downward. I gripped the grass and lifted that same leg up and kicked up at the target's chin with Ki infused at point impact. It wasn't enough Ki to make a seismic impact. My body can't produce enough Ki and I'm reaching the safe limit. No matter, It fell to the ground regardless.

I gripped the dart in my shoulder and threw it away. I placed my knife back into the sheath at my shoulder and sighed. I could feel the poison burning my insides but shrugged it off. This isn't the first time a poison like this was used against me and certainly won't be the last.

I lifted my attention back to the target to it trying to get back up with its good arm. It needs to stay down now.

Before it could stand up I stomped the target in the back between the shoulder blades until it's face went back into the dirt. I climbed on top and rose my foot up. With no remorse I then proceeded to stomp the target's head in. I continued stomping down any part it tried to move to stop it from escaping. Ignoring its cries for me to stop, not that this target cries would fool me for I can sense its unrelenting spirit, I continued with this until it stopped moving. Until it's body and spirit broke before me.

Still conscious but very much broken I kicked the target over to its back. Its eyes struggled to look up to my face. I reached down and it braced for some reason. It looked away from me while blood coughed past its lips. Does it think I plan to touch or rape it? Foolish.

I picked up its bag of remaining bolts and stood back up with the quiver slung over my shoulder. I retrieved my knife from the tree it pieced into when it dodged. I stopped at its crossbow and picked that up as well. To the victor goes the spoils. The crossbow is quite impressive. By the looks of it has a magazine of sorts underneath but I can't make out where to take it out. No release. I pulled it up and looked into it and blinked. You load the bolts from the top and by the locks of it pull back a charging handle to the left before the wire to load. This is fascinating and needs a bit more examination later.

"To add…insult in injury… you steal from me," the target coughed and wheezed. I think I may have broken a couple ribs with my own form of brutality. "Have you…no honor?"

"I don't need honor when I make a promise to save a life," I spoke evenly. "And if I have to take spoils from my hunts to survive too complete it then I will." I turned started to walk away. "That was fun by the way. Have to do that again sometime."

"I'll find you… and defeat you… man."

"I'll be waiting."

Hunt complete. Prey incapacitated. Acquired one crossbow made from metal and wood and seventeen bolts.

Contact Relieved.

"We have a winner!"

I sighed as my Contact faded away. If the rest of my fights will be like this then I have nothing to worry about. On a high point at least I fixed my range weapon problem. A forest hunter believing she could make me her prey and use one of the most comfortable weapons I've ever utilized against me. Foolish. Very foolish.

"The Dragon stands victorious over the toad with quite literally a smashing victory." I watched as the toad banner from above was taken down and a red dragon replaced it. This territory now belongs to me now huh? I rolled my eyes and walked back to the dragon's green room from before not at all listening to the announcer.

When I reached my room once more they even took down the banner with the Toad on it and replaced it with the dragon as well. That's awesome to see. One down and three more to go and by the looks of it my next fight is in another couple seconds. I saw five singed bodies at the end entrance of the Hawk's arean entrance. Two of the three men is dead and two of them are in some much pain that I'm sure they will die in due time. Actually, one just died right now. Like, this instance. Poor man. No one should have to die in that way.

From what I remember being mentioned by that one woman she said the Hawk used bombs against his foes. It shows with the state these bodies are in. If this man is a bomber this shouldn't take too long compared to the Nadeshiko girl or whatever she said she came from. Never heard of it before so I'm sure it's not that important. I doubt I'll ever see that woman ever again or anyone from that place the breeds "Proud kunoichi" and want not.

I rubbed my shoulder where that woman got me with one of my own darts and sighed. The poison is more of a nuisance than anything. I can feel it burn under my skin and through my body but that's about it. I'm sure my body is long immune to a poison like the one I created long ago. This burning feeling made me recall a couple memories which I'll sort through later. It's time for me to fight the next champion.

I wonder how they decide the champions in this Grind Ran mentioned. My money is on a free-for-all with one winner if those brutalized men from the Toad corner say anything. If this is this how it works then I have to be careful with these men.

As I walked through the tunnel and through the bright entryway first thing I saw across from me was the audience. Instead of the reflective sky from before I could see that I'm in very large arena of sorts. I don't remember this place being in the city because the palace grounds can't be that big. Then again the palace is on the border of the city limits so they might be using the country side for all of this.

The daimyo looked above from his box at the end of the field along with his family. Yuuki spotted me and made a light wave. One that I returned before examining the field around me which turned out to be an actual field and not an arena with boundaries like the previous place. It reminds me of the field in the Coliseum with the occasional spot of grass but mostly dirt and gravel. I assumed that this arena would be mountainous but this doesn't seem to be the case.

Looking around the ground now I can see that this was rocky until it was scorched and carpet bombed by the hawk. I can see signs of intense heat and pressure around me. This bomber blew everything down to the point that the largest bit of cover I had left was only waist level for me. I quickly pulled back the charging handle on the crossbow on my hip and loaded five bolts into the magazine well. I pulled the charging handle back and a bolt loaded and locked ready to be fired. The springs at the front of the crossbow will send the wire back and reload the next bolt for me. This is like a rifle almost and I like it.

"And the Dragon appears to face his second opponent!" The crowd went crazy with their applauding as I made my appearance before the Hawk. "The Hawk awaits patiently for his foe and the Dragon stands courageous and unfazed."

I saw that Hawk on the other side of the stadium with his arms crossed over his body but at waist level and his palms facing out towards the ground. The man wore a grey body suit and black robe over his body. The man has blonde hair much like my own but long and tied back in a ponytail.

"You ready brat, cause I am, ah yeah!" The Hawk taunted. "Cause I'm bout to blow you to kingdom come kid, yeah!" The man brought his hands up and crossed them with his palms pointed upward to the sky. "But don't worry kid. When I'm finished with you, you'll just be another piece of my art."

Someone's eager to get going. This guy is probably the impulsive type and if so I just need to respond in kind. If he has explosives as well then I best use mine against him as well. This guy is a bit of pretty boy, I almost mistaken him for a girl at first but hearing him talk about explosions and such crushed that notion. I noticed he is a renegade from Iwa, by the head band on his forehead. This man is also completely insane as well. By the wide grin on his face his face I believe that he is a sadist so this might be fun.

"But goin against a kid hm. Man that is not cool." I rose an eyebrow at that verbal ticks he had and for calling me a kid. I may be young in body but he should try me in mind. He's about to find out quickly that there is a difference between him and myself. "Nice weapons too. I see you're decked out ready to slice and dice hm kid?" Okay, he can't be all that bad if he's willing to compliment my weapons. I did take a bit of time to choose them so it's nice to be give props for that.

I shrugged and focused on his hand for that is where most of his energy was going to. That and the knapsack on his body as well that holds some sort of charka mold, or clay, or something like that. I might have to use it. I really don't wish too but I might have to.

"The silent type huh, don't worry after I'll livin you up then I'll take the money."

"Not if I do first." I faced my opponent now with my hands at my sides. Nobody takes my money and lives to tell the tale. If I killed a man for breaking a vase imagine what I'd do to them for stealing from me. I best save this man from that fate by beating him in this fight.

"Ah ha, now he speaks." This guy acted sort of immature for someone who easily blew up five men and killed four of them already, but something was telling me not to underestimate this man. I was getting a bad feeling from him and when I get a bad feeling that means if I don't aim to kill I might end up dead instead.

"It seems they are ready father." I heard from the other daughter that the daimyo has that greatly mirrors her mother.

"Indeed." The man stood up and rose his hand. I wonder if the older one is married as well. If so I pity the man that has to mate with that beached whale.

"You ready kid, yeah!" The hawk shouted at me.

I nodded but remained in the same standing position.

"The second match of these Arrangement game is about to begin," the announcer broadcasted pointing every which way with his finger. "Young man in the Legendary Red Dragon corner, are you ready?" I nodded. "The man in the Yellow Hawk corner are you ready." The man nodded as well with his hands in his pouch. "Then you may begin."

I lifted my hands up and crossed my fingers. I'm going to have to do something about this habit of mine. This isn't even a hand seal. It's more a calling card, a Naruto original to show this technique as mine. I've mastered the shadow clone jutsu in a way that I don't need to us this modified hand seal though using it helps me concentrate. Maybe I'll dampen my usual of it but not abolish it completely among other things.

Ten clones spawned around and stood at the ready to rush my foe. My foe just smirked and waited for me to make my first move. If he's offering I might as well take the initiative.

"Attack." I ordered and like a disastrous mess of random moving and jumping hooded cannon fodder they engaged the man.

His hands left his pouch and he shifted them past his body like he was throwing something. I saw some sort of glob hit three of my clones causing them to explode in a show of fire and bright lights. What was that? I watched, felt, heard, and tasted everything to near perfect clarity. I don't really like using Kage bunshin all that much now but it helps to get a perspective from multiple angles.

I bit my lip as one clone who engaged in close quarters combat with the man was lost in an explosion as well. Memories of the glob or dough like material hitting my face came to mind. Then the concussion shook my entire body blowing me back and sucking me back in only to be engulfed in fire and die from shock. That explosion may have been small but it's very deadly. If that hits me in the head and goes off I'm dead. If that sticks to my limbs I will lose function in that limb at the point of impact down. If I'm near rock when it explodes I can look forward to shards of rock piercing into my body.

That was a fast draw as well. Faster than even I could see and that's impressive. I feel that if I came to blows in a fist fight against this man he'd punch me with pinpoint accuracy to very precise areas of my body. I can imagine him gouging out my eye in one swift swipe. I like my eyes where they are so best to keep him at a certain range. I can't be too close or too far so not to catch his hands or those synthetic explosives of his in the pouch.

I winced as the memory of another death flashed before me. Seeing this from my position and from the first person perspective of my clones has be struggling to cross reference the two of them. From what I've seen and experienced those fast hands of his took my clone by the shoulder but my clone broke the hold and brought his arm down at the elbow. I think my clone almost broke it. The man grunted and rolled something behind the clone and in a swift turn around swept my clones legs out from under him. The man jumped back and so did my clone right onto the explosive clay, I think that's what it ease. I've seen him mold it like clay so I'll go with this for now.

The clay that blew my clone away picking away at his body, burning and scorching his skin. I can catch him off guard. By I can tell he's experienced with fighting against overwhelming odds. Spamming clones and throwing them at him won't get me anywhere. He may not be used to up close and personal battles, but still he adapted in a way to still kill me with ease.

If I get caught in explosion what my clone felt before his death will be my own fate. His attacks are based on explosions by the looks of it, using some sort of clay from his knapsack and molding it for an attack. The fact that the man's hands has mouths might have something to do with his ability. Those have to go first.

The man smirked and looked up to me with a gleam in his eyes. "You're a crafty one aren't ya?" A bloody slit appeared on his cheek above is grin. My clone the moment he fell back used the volcanic knife on the left and drew it attempting to cut his neck open but the man is slippery. This man is the fast one and this body is sluggish. His body is much faster, stronger, and more familiar to him than my own. I'm not sure if I can win against him in the body I am in now unless I did something extreme. I need to save my energy for the next two so my last ditch efforts need to be put on hold for now. I don't need IT yet.

If only I had my other body…If I could transform into my other body I could end this… I am so stupid. Sakura was right, I'm just a stupid idiot that can't plan ahead well, or realized I could have used the tools I already have to make the mission easier until the end of it. The answer is right there.

Transformation. The henge that I can use actually recreates a physical body instead of an illusion like I learned barely learned in the academy. I was given the wrong lessons to the point that I was taught an actual forbidden jutsu that allows me to turn into an actual living, breathing, physical manifestation of another. My sexy jutsu can be felt up, I remember it happening this one time. I shivered at the memory as if past through my eyes. I could put stop this personally blocked memory from slide-showing past me.

This one man was messing with a girl like a perverted monkey so I used the jutsu to get him to do that bloody nose thing all the others did. I underestimated his lechery and a second later the twins on my chest, thought the smoke even, were in his grasp. He was publicly molesting me. I screamed pervert and uppercut him with my powerful left into the air away from me. I'm not sure where that came from but automatically filed it away as one of those female things to do. I learned that day that women's breasts are sensitive and should be handled gently, or until told otherwise. I learned as well that I could be touched for it wasn't an illusion, so I can touch back.

I smiled under my mask and placed my hands together.

"Transform," I whispered bursting into smoke.

I felt my body most literally transform as the jutsu took effect. I used this for the Sexy jutsu all the time whenever I wanted to get a perverted man away from me and I have always known that I took a physical shape instead of an illusion for I never had that chakra control to do it right so I made this instead. I can't believe I forgot, idiot. I felt a bit dizzy and higher off the ground that before. I rose my hand but could barely make out my own hand. This smoke is clearing too slowly so I took a step out with my real feet in front.

My brown leather boots. My garbs from my blouse to the robe like top. My hood came up showing nothing except maybe My dark brown empty eyes. I still had the previous swords in my real body form but in this transformed state I could feel the difference in seconds. It was so familiar to be in my other form but strange at the same time. I rose my hand and felt my soul respond in a way that they began to glow faintly. Amazing, to think I could have… no I can't hold this for too long. It was costing me chakra with each second. I may be in my old form but it's costing chakra from my reserves to maintain it. To be expected but I feel I can improve this drain though. All of this is showing me that the chakra control level I'm at currently is still terrible.

I rolled my neck standing about five feet and eleven inches with my stone skin slowly activating. It's not that my skin changes a different color, it just becomes tougher and harder to pierce like dragon scales. I was a dragon before and if I'm going to be a dragon now I have to train until I get to this point once more. My skin becomes so fortified that blades bounce off it.

"Whoa." The man looked different. My old sight is back and my new one gone. My seventh sense spread out as my target glowed gold even when the area around him faded way to neutral colors yet again. "What the…What happened to you kid? That some illusion or something?" I propped my feet with my right hand on my knife in the back. I don't talk to my targets; I kill them.

I reached down for my crossbow and took a stance with the bow aimed right at his head. I don't plan to try and hit his head but best make him believe I wish to go for the kill.

My eyes turned red and I rushed forward crossing the boundary between us in a speed that left the man baffled. I prided myself on my speed. In short bursts I can kick with so much Ki in a single burst of speed from that of a human to that of a cheetah at full speed.

I drew my knife and slashed at his chest connecting and digging into it his chest about a centimeter at the most. The Hawk leaned back at the last moment to escape serious injury which wasn't bad. I kicked out but the man shifted left with his hands. I can finally see those mouths on this hands myself. How is that possible? I left this question for later and focused on my opponent for now. I jumped back with my crossbow trained on his hand and fired.

"Ahh! No, not the hand!"

Got his left hand with my bolt. I shifted around him with my eyes flowing from one clay figurine to the next. Spider molds that moved to my previous position. I aimed for one and shot it as well only for the spider to get stuck instead of explode. I'm going to have to forces it to blow.

The man threw what appeared to be birds at me. I rose my crossbow and fired hitting five or six at a time from the flock he sent at me.

"Not gonna work brat!"

He was right. I'm hitting a decent amount of them but they are still coming. I shot to the right and circled around him jumping over rocks and boulders and rushing over the rough terrain.

"Katsu!" He yelled and the bomb all around me began to detonate. I rolled over to the ground between blasts and ducked under more of those bird things that came from above. Reloading a crossbow like this will moving isn't easy and I've already used up most of my remaining bolts. I was able hold him off with a couple shots but those didn't work as well as I wanted.

I pulled the bows of the crossbow back in and placed it in the leather sheath on my back. I took cover before doing this and pulled out my two knives. They are a bit small in my hands but will do.

"Hahahaha, I have you now!"

I looked up and saw spiders falling down upon me. I rolled out of the way. "Katsu!" the series of explosions sent me back but I land on my feet. Those explosives of his are getting annoy. Time to fix that. I can see all the little moving bits of this clay and moved towards him. I used ki and shot right in front of him. He tried to get distance but in three more kicks I was behind him with both knives in hand.

I kicked his leg and found it much easier to move than the woman's from before. His foot came up and threw him off balanced. I whirled in and slashed upward at the man's hand once more. He protected it by raising up his arm so I cut his forearm instead. The moment my foot hit the ground I dropped evading a high kick to my head right into a sweep kick at his heels knocking him over to his back. I rolled up to my feet and rose my blades up to stab down onto him. He lifted up his feet to his hand as I brought my blades down and flipped back up.

He grinned and rose his hands up again. I wondered why until I saw a spider on my knives. Both of them. "Katsu."

I tossed the knives away behind me but felt the blunt of the explosion still rolling with the man rolling along with me. I caught him with my hands on his shoulder and grabbed hold of his arm. I turned away and shoulder threw him up and over into the ground. I rolled over on top of him and felt a second explosion behind me which blew me away from him into the dirt.

My ears are ringing now and my head is thumping. I can hear my heartbeat even. He did this while he was only a couple feet away from me. Does he not care if he's caught in his own explosions? While I was circling around him I got close a couple times and still he detonated his clay with him only ten feet away. I hate suicidal men so much.

I coughed and felt my transformation fade. My body shrank down and my eye sight faded to normal colors. Brown rock below me and those white spiders and more surrounding me. I looked around including behind me and saw them everywhere. They climbed out of the cracks and over rocks around me. I couldn't hold it any longer.

"Heheh, what's wrong kid?" The man stood looking mockingly into my eyes. "You lost your toys."

I breathed hard. Those blasts took their toll on my body. It feels as if I was battered with a hundred hammers everywhere. I know this was the concussion blasts that did this and will fade away in minutes once I calm down but I don't have minutes. Too bad from him he doesn't have minutes either. More like seconds.

I decided to adopt the same hand sign as him and felt the chakra I could use extend out connect with my tag. "Katsu," I said as well.

The Hawk scoffed at me and lifted up his hand with a large bird floating in the middle of it. "What are you…?"

WYISSSHH.

The sound of something igniting hissed. The man looked back to both of his packs. The packs full of that explosive clay he seemed so proud of.

"FUCK!" The man undid the belt he had and tossed the pouches off and away dropping everything then running way.

"Katsu," I said again. The spot in front of him blew sending him back towards his pack. While I was circling around the Hawk I may have laid down a couple of my experiment explosive tags that might have the capabilities of leveling a house. That shoulder throw and roll over his body gave me the opening I needed to slap my tags on his pouches at his sides. I had to cancel my transformation so I could produce enough Chakra to ignite the tags.

When the Hawk hit the ground I followed suit, dropping to the ground in a ball. I ducked down and braced for impact as the tags I set explode along with the clay in that bag, my tags that was mixed in along with the bomb mold figures, the spiders around me, and the birds above to the point that I was picked up and sent flying through the rock and gravel despite my low profile position. I didn't expect this explosion to be this devastating. My ears rang, my body shook, and my insides turned to mush. I don't know when I landed when I went airborne but I know I stayed huddled down until I was sure it was clear.

I opened my eyes and groaned. "Ow," I cried and gripped my shoulder. I landed hard on top of a boulder of all things. I sighed as I climbed up to my feet with my shoulder tight in my hand. With a quick pull my shoulder cracked and reset in place. "Ow, damn it!" I rolled my shoulder and tested it to make sure that was all that got dislocated in the fall. By the sheer amount of pain I feel in my side I'd say I was lifted up into the air maybe ten or so stories. It could have been worse though so o got pretty lucky.

Looking at the aftermath, being a large crater, I'm sure that man is dead. A force like that without the heat could liquefy a man's insides if it was point blank. I was dug a couple feet into the dirt but for the most part okay. The blast rattled my ears but I will admit that blast was amazing. It was simply amazing. I love blowing things up.

I crawled out from the hole and stopped at the edge of the crater. I sighed and fell down to my back and sprawled on the rock in the most comfortable uncomfortable position I've ever been in using a rock as my pillow. I laid on my back when the lightheaded feeling in the back of my head set in. I won at the loss of my knife and dagger but he lost his clay and his life. An eye for an eye.

"Ooohhhh!" I opened my eyes and saw something above me.

"What the… UHHHGG!" I coughed and roared as 160 pounds of weight dropped right on top of me then bounced off landing on the ground next to me. I bit my teeth and left my head fall.

Oh come on, what was that?

My answer came in the form of a charred robed wearing man with black soot covering his face and hands I could see them I lifted my head. Whatever it was the thing was breath and coughing like a human would.

"Heheheh," the man crackled with a mixture of coughs.

"You're still alive?" I groaned and dropped my head once more.

"D-damn right I am," he said in a raspy voice.

"How?" I need to know. How did he survive the blast. That should have killed him. He should be dead. I should angry that I failed to kill him but… I don't. I feel almost relieved.

"That piece I had before… used to dampen the blast," the man struggled to say and finish.

So he used that bird he hand in hand to counter the blast enough to survive. I assume he blasted upward and by the looks of his robe he might have glided downward so not to die on impact. I'm sure landing on top of me softened his landing well enough. The man was in the same position as me with his hands spread out by the end of it.

"Damn…That was an awesome blast," he chuckled.

I looked up and listened more to his laughter. "He…hehehe haha." I couldn't help but follow along with his insane and insensible laughter. "That was an awesome blast!" I agreed with him.

The man grinned laughing louder along with me following close behind in a sick mixture of chuckles and choking wheezing.

"Man, I should have seen that coming. You blowing up my clay for your toys."

"You be right. You blew up my weapons so something for something."

"HAHAHa yeah!" The man leaned up biting his teeth. He had a burn blast wound bleeding on his stomach. "Ha ha oww, it hurts to laugh."

I leaned up as well for the most part okay. My stomach hurt from him landing on me but I'm not going to complain when he's in worse shape than me. "That was cool explosion but why do you focus on just explosions though."

"Why?" He questioned as if I asked him a stupid question. "Isn't it obvious?" I shook my head making the man sigh.

"Because..." The Hawk took a heavy breath. "Art IS A BLAST!" I watched him glow in power at his words resounded around me reminding me of a certain green taijutsu using guy I've seen handstand running around the village sometimes and his screaming. Now that I think of it I stumbled upon the man once but I don't remember what came out of it. I do know I visited a mind specialist that same day for an emergency mind breaking. I wonder what I saw with that man involved in it. I can't recall.

"So you're an artist?"

"Yeah and that is my art. Beautiful isn't it."

I nodded making his grin grow. "The colors of red and orange as they engulf their intended target? What about it isn't beautiful?"

"Ha, I knew I liked you for a reason kid."

If this man is this easy to get talking I might as well gather what I can now. "By the way, why are you here anyway in this place? The money?"

"Yes… and no. It's about some recruitment crap no one cares about."

Now that is interesting. "To be a fire guard or something?" I asked as I climbed all the way up to my feet. I wiped off my clothes and tested limbs again.

"Fuuuck no!" The man strongly hissed. "I'd blow this place sky high in a blast that would plaster my art all over the city if I could." Like a terrorist or something. A mad bomber. Any organization that's into large amounts of capital damage could use a man like this. If there's one such organization scouting for potential a little game like this would be a good place to find decent players. This man could be being scouted out but by who I wonder.

"I needed that money too," the man shook his head. "It doesn't matter anymore, I failed and you are the one left standing. I guess I will have to show my Art somewhere else to get the funds I need." The man looked up to me at my nearing five foot tall height.

"By the way kid, just what the hell are you hm? Who the hell are you?"

"Depends, why do you keep calling me kid when your what, four to five years older than me?"

The man smiled. "See what I've seen and then you'd understand."

I pulled my hood down and looked into his eyes with my naked ones. "See what I saw and you'd realize you'd never understand."

The man stared into my eyes and blinked. "Maybe… whatever you are."

Now he's wonder what I am. Best I give him the most appropriate answer to this question without giving myself away. "I'm a guy that can respect your art. I like your explosions as well. The color. The devastation is quite amazing. If you could I'd like if we could partner together sometime."

The man smiled. "I like ya kid. My names Deidara yeah." This Deidara rose his hand up and I took it.

"Naruto." I pulled the man up and helped him to his feet. He grunted as I let him leaned on me.

"Thanks Naruko."

"Its Naruto!" That's the second time I swear.

"Though after what happened not sure if I can do that really," he continued one ignoring what I said.

"Being a missing ninja must be a hard life," I noted. I know his name. I saw it in my bingo book He's wanted in Iwa for a hefty sum of Ryo.

"Yeah sometimes it is."

"Then best not make it worse by saying my name wrong, okay?" I smiled at Deidara sweetly. The guy cringed and nodded his head. I helped Deidara through the fog of the blast and sat him down on a rock. Before the audience I stood before them with my opponent unable to fight anymore.

"The winner is the Red dragon," the announcer spoke out.

I rolled my eyes at the man and helped Deidara through the double doors just as they tore down the Hawk banner and started to replace it. I helped the man back to the center room. The medics appeared a second later and took him from me. I have two more to go and I'm raring for the next opponent. I won't have much chakra to use in the next one but maybe I won't need it. By the looks of the wounds of the two men that came out of the Snake way they have mostly slash marks from a sword. I'll be facing a swordsman next huh?

"You know kid," Deidara yawned from his seat with maids wrapping his burns with bandages. "I am surprised you stayed here with me."

During this standby time I could have been prepping for the next fight or getting something to eat but instead I lingered for a bit to see if he would survive. "I like you now and was hoping to learn how to make explosions like you do, and when I leave today after I win I wanted you to come with me." I know my old man well enough and he might let him stay if I take responsibility. If not, I can use a guy like this to work with in a long distance partnership.

Deidara chuckled. "Hm, I will think on it kid. I can imagine all the trouble we'd get in."

"That's all I ask."

---

A/N: Done, thank the goddess for this. I wasn't going to write in both of these Champions at first but decided to say "Eh what the hell" and do it anyway. Did I really write in a 15 year old Deidara into the story? That answer is Hell yeah! He's one of my favorite terrorists in the world. While my MC may seem a bit savage or excessive with force in the first fight mind you that woman is from a village of Amazon ninja. Yeah, I'm not playing with that but I wonder, is this the last the MC will see of this woman? Only one way to find out.

The Steps Arc is just about finished. I think I have about two or three more chapters until I get back to the Leaf Village. That's when the fun really starts.

For anyone that likes Claymore and read the manga I've made one of those as well. Give it a read if you're willing. Thanks for reading and please review.