Chapter 7
He had finally arrived. Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin had returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. Its been almost 12 years since the last time he walked through that enormous gate, and he couldn't help but feel it was still too soon. Jiraiya loved his village, his home, but the village's walls just held too many bad memories. The betrayal of his closest friend, the rejection of the love of his life, the reminders of all his failures haunted him whenever he walked through those gates.
But here he was again, his village in need and the legendary shinobi answering its call. Sometimes, he feared that need would go on forever, that his village would never be free from the threat of war, that the world would always be filled with far too much hatred. In those times, he would remember his student, Minato, his 'child of prophecy'. Minato had been everything that Jiraiya had ever wanted in a student. No, he had been more than that. He learned quickly, passionately, and took all his teaching to heart. His heart had been pure gold, incorruptible, and had given Jiraiya the family he had always dreamed of.
He looked up, staring at his student's memorial, the large stone face on the mountain side. He walked through the village, listening to the bustling of the streets as its villagers went about their day. He took a deep breath, smelling the familiar air that brought memories of his younger days. He looked at some of the restaurants and stores, thinking back to when they had first been built and opened. He sighed, making his way to the Hokage tower to visit Sarutobi sensei. The first part of the Chunin Exams had started a little less than a week ago. There was no doubt in his mind that Sarutobi would want him to introduce himself to his Godson.
That was a meeting he was worried about. He didn't know what to do or say to the boy, hoping that his usual antics and charm would win the boy over and make this easy for him. He didn't even know what to teach him. Jiraiya had a lot of knowledge about the ninja arts, but for all the things he knew he was terrible at teaching them. He had always relied on his own guts and stubbornness to learn and master techniques, making it difficult for him to teach them to others. Minato had been special, a genius ninja that could learn all he needed with just a few simple demonstrations. Show him something a few times and he could tell you more about how it worked than Jiraiya could.
So, he had two options. One, he could bluff his way through it all, telling his sensei that he would go and meet the boy only to later tell him that he forgot or was busy. Or two, he could go and introduce himself to the boy, praying to god that the meeting would go well and not question why someone like Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin, would take him on as an apprentice…Yeah, fat chance. Naruto would have to be a complete idiot not to question that.
Jiraiya sighed when he had made it to the base of the tower. Looking up, he spotted the old mans window and jumped. Quickly opening it, he walked through the window and said hello to his sensei for the first time in 12 years.
"Hey there, sensei."
He looked up from his paperwork, his pipe in his mouth. It was a bit startling, seeing how old he had gotten. His skin seemed to sag a bit more than before, paler than usual too. His hands seemed thinner as well, losing the fat and muscle that they used to have after decades of forming hand seals. Looking at them, they seemed to shake slightly too. His eyes seemed tired, something that did not surprise the Toad Sage. Yes, the God of Shinobi had gotten old, something that a younger Jiraiya couldn't even imagine. His current self easily accepted the grim reality.
"Jiraiya, your late."
His voice was harsh, ragged almost, no doubt a result of old age and years of smoking his pipe. There was only so much wind chakra could accomplish. Putting his worries aside, Jiraiya let out a boisterous laugh, replying to the now grumpy old man.
"Gah haha! You should know better than anyone that the hero is always late to arrive!"
The Hokage was not amused. Sarutobi frowned slightly, returning to his paperwork for a moment, probably so he didn't lose his train of thought. Jiraiya waited patiently, preparing his words. He would tell his sensei that he would meet Naruto in a few days on his own schedule. This would give him time to study Naruto's files and observe the boy from afar, letting him come up with something to teach him. He would probably start with the Summoning Jutsu and make him sign a contract with the Toads. It would make sense, providing him with a powerful trump card that was easy to cast, the only requirement being enormous amounts of chakra. As the Nine Tails Jinchuuriki, he was sure that Naruto had plenty of chakra. It would also let him do a bit of research while he was here.
The Hokage signed a section of the document, putting it aside and on top of a small pile of paper. Jiraiya opened his mouth, preparing to tell the old man his plan but was beat to the punch, Sarutobi spoke first.
"You had better hurry along then, Naruto is set to meet you at the hot springs in about an hour."
Jiraiya blinked, digesting the old man's words for a moment before blinking again.
"Whaaaaat?!", he replied elegantly.
The Hokage took a large puff from his pipe, ignoring the Sannin who was having a small breakdown in front of him. He blew smoke into the air, watching it for a moment before speaking again.
"I'm not a fool, Jiraiya. You ran away from your responsibilities 12 years ago and Naruto was the one who had to suffer for them. I won't let you do that again, Naruto deserves better. He's a very talented shinobi, just like his parents."
Jiraiya's face calmed, then. He thought about his words, thinking of something to say.
"Does…does he know."
"Does he know what, Jiraiya?"
He flinched as Sarutobi snapped at him. The old man was clearly irritated, and he couldn't blame him.
"Any of it. His parent's identity, the fact that I'm his Godfather, the Nine Tails. What all does he know?"
Sarutobi glared at him, face set in a fierce frown.
"I feel like I should let you discover that for yourself, but I am not that cruel. I never told the boy about his parents, no. Naruto is a very practical boy, he wouldn't see the value of having that knowledge, so I saw no reason to give it to him and he never asked. Knowing him, he probably figured it out on his own, god knows how no one else has. I suspect he already knows about the Nine Tails and possibly communicates with him. As for knowledge of you, I chose to give you that job."
Jiraiya nodded at him, taking in the information. Naruto would need to learn how to control the Nine Tailed Fox, its power was too great to simply ignore. Against the group known as the Akatsuki, he would need every advantage he could get.
He walked toward the window, sensing that their conversation was over. He opened it, preparing to jump out when something stopped him.
"Jiraiya."
He turned around, looking at the old man. He was smiling slightly, a nervous look on his face.
"Good luck."
Jiraiya smirked. Nodding, he jumped out the window and headed to the hot springs. That old coot really was too soft, putting on that angry front just to drop it at the last minute. He jumped from rooftop to rooftop, his long white hair swaying in the wind. He began to think of scenarios, the different ways he could greet his Godson. He was nervous, but he decided that going for his usual dramatic and gallant introduction would be best. That would surely amaze the boy and be the perfect way to start their meeting.
It didn't take long for him to arrive, having several minutes to spare. He looked around but didn't see Naruto, not finding that signature golden hair. He considered taking the time to do some research but decided against it. Naruto would be here soon, and he didn't want to miss him. Instead, he leaned against the wall that housed the women's bath, trying to use the sound and vibrations of the water to visualize their bodies. It didn't work very well.
The minutes went by, eventually passing the meeting time that Sarutobi had told him. Naruto was late, but that didn't bother the Sage that much. If anything, it amused him, thinking back to the words he said to the Hokage. Then, he saw him. Short, spikey golden hair emerging from behind the bridge.
'Well, the hero is always late to arrive'
He took a good long look at his Godson. His first thoughts were that he was a weird kid. Everything from his clothes to his sunglasses to that goofy smile of his. That was okay though, every strong ninja was weird in some way, except himself of course. He was just amazing after all. He quickly closed his eyes, trying to look cool as he leaned up against the wall. He sensed the boy walk closer to him, crossing the small bridge and stopping in front of him. Jiraiya opened his eyes, grinning as he walked up to the boy and began his introduction.
"Well, took you long enough, you shouldn't keep your teachers waiting, you know. Now, allow me to introduce myself."
Naruto hadn't responded, simply looking at him. Jiraiya took that as his cue. He began to hop back in forth on one of his legs, beginning the introduction that had swayed the hearts of so many and showed them that they were in the presence of a truly awesome man.
"I am the man who has no enemies in the North, South, East or West; not even the Heavens! I am one of the Legendary Sannin; the Great Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku! I am the great, the powerful, the gallant- "
"Jiraiya."
Naruto interrupted him, saying his name before he could. He stood there for a moment, shocked as his thoughts raced. He looked down at Naruto that smile on his face had widened but it looked different to Jiraiya, menacing almost. He gulped slightly and let out a nervous smile. Realizing that he was still on one leg, he quickly stood up normally, cringing slightly as his sandals clacked loudly against the ground.
"A-ah, I-I see you have already heard of me! Then you should know that you are quite lucky to be taught by one as powerful as I!", he said dramatically, trying to still his rapid heart.
The boy began to laugh, his smile relaxing a bit as he did.
"Heh heh heh. Yes, I've heard… many things about you. So, Master Jiraiya, what will you be teaching me first?"
Jiraiya could help but feel a tingle go down his spine when Naruto said his name. Something about the way he said it didn't bode well.
'Did sensei lie to me? Or, did he somehow figure out that we were related? Oh well, it doesn't matter right now. First, I got to impress the boy and take that first step into the boy's life.'
Jiraiya laughed loudly, confidence filling his voice.
"Very well! Behold, the power of Jiraiya the Toad Sage!"
He raised his outstretched hand, leaned down and slammed his palm to the ground. A sealing matrix unraveled from his palm and unfolded onto the cobbled road. A large plume of smoke appeared and Jiraiya felt the ground shift slightly, his feet now resting on the head of the large toad simply known as Gama. He grinned as the smoke dispersed, looking down at his future student.
Naruto looked at the toad for a moment, his grin began to grow smaller and smaller, becoming a small frown. He looked up, staring at Jiraiya. He did not seem amused.
'HE'S NOT IMPRESSED, OH GOD HE ISN'T IMPRESSED IN THE SLIGHTEST!'
A cold sweat appeared on his forehead, desperately thinking of a technique or something to show the boy. The entire time Naruto just stared at him, unnerving him as he waited for something more. A jutsu appeared in his mind, one that would be easy to demonstrate and not cause any destruction.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"
Jiraiya's hair lengthened, his usual spikey hair became more pronounced as they hardened to the same durability as steel. His hair wrapped around him, forming a protective barrier of needle like hair. It was a powerful technique that could be used in multiple situations and had many variations. He could whip his hair at his enemies to impale them or launch his hair as senbon for more long-range combat. It was a very resourceful technique, but Naruto didn't seem to think much of it.
Naruto's face never changed, looking at the technique with that same frown on his face. The two stood there for a moment, silent as Jiraiya prayed that it would be enough to interest the boy. He could show him the Rasengan but he wasn't sure that he was ready for it yet, having no indication of his current skill level. To Jaraiya's panic, Naruto turned around, his hands in his pockets as he began to walk away. Screw it. He formed the Rasengan in his palm, holding it up for the world to see.
"H-hey, what about this huh?! I could teach you this too!"
Naruto didn't turn around, didn't even acknowledge him. Jiraiya was panicking. He didn't want this. He didn't want to just be forgotten by his student's son like this. He didn't want to be cast aside by someone he knew was important in his life. He felt shame at that admission, knowing that he had done to Naruto what Naruto was doing right now. Abandoning him. It was at that moment, that realization at just how much he had messed up, that Jiraiya tore all of it down. He didn't do it consciously though, looking back, he would see it as instinct more than anything else.
"I-I…I can tell you about your parents!"
Naruto stopped, now at the highest point of the bridge that he was walking across. Jiraiya's heart was pounding, waiting to see his reaction. He cursed himself. This wasn't how this was supposed to go, where the hell did everything go wrong? He gulped, watching as Naruto looked behind him.
"Oh? And tell me, just how would you know who my parents are?" Naruto began to smile. It was a small thing really, and it didn't spell sincerity or happiness. No, it promised pain. "I'm curious."
Jiraiya's heart fell. He braced himself, preparing to hear Naruto's painful words about his past, how alone he was. He didn't expect this. When he walked into the Hidden Leaf today, never did he imagine himself standing here in front of Naruto, revealing everything that the boy deserved to know. He took a breath, a sad look took over, showing a tired man of many regrets. He spoke.
"Because I'm your Godfath- "
He barely got his hands up in time. He watched as Naruto's legs repeatedly kicked at the surface of the bridge, practically snapping it in half as the boy's form rushed toward him, a kick aimed at his face. The kick was heavy and Jiraiya hadn't expected the attack, especially one so strong. He didn't get the chance to reinforce his body with chakra nor grip the ground with it. He felt his feet rise into the air as he was thrown back, crashing through the wall of the bathhouse. He heard woman screaming and running at the interruption. He impacted the edge of the hot spring, stopping in the water. Opening his eyes, he watched as Naruto repeated that strange technique. Expecting it now, he tracked his actions as Naruto stopped in front of him, kneeling slightly as he leaned over him, his feet standing upon the water with a small frown on his face.
"All right old man, you have my attention. So, here's what's going to happen. You're going to teach me what I want to know, as much as I want to know. After that, I'm going to decide what happens between us, got it?"
Jiraiya thought about retaliating, about showing Naruto that he wasn't the strongest. That attack had surprised him, but he had dealt with worse. But, looking at the boy, realizing how much he owed the boy, he didn't have the heart to deny him, he simply nodded. Naruto grinned afterward.
"Good."
"Shadow Strangle Jutsu!"
A hand of shadow had begun to climb up his father's foot, slowly rising and coiling around his leg. Shikamaru could feel his chakra drain dramatically from the advanced technique, beads of sweat dripping down his face. Seeing the arm completely wrap around his father's leg, he nodded, giving him the signal. The chakra pull increased immediately, his father now flexing against his technique, trying to break it. Shikamaru clenched his teeth, desperately trying to hold out as long as he could. He only lasted a few seconds, the arm quickly uncoiling and snapping back to merge with his shadow. As soon as it did, Shikamaru fell back, his eyes closed and panting.
"You did better that time, lasted a whole two seconds even."
His eyes opened, looking up at his father's stern face as he stood over him. Taking a minute to catch his breath, he sat up, his hand rubbing the back of his head.
"Yeah, that's just great. How's two seconds going to help me in something like the Chunin Exams?"
His father, Shikaku, chuckled slightly at him, reaching an arm down to pull him back up to his feet.
"Trust me, in some battles, two seconds is all it takes."
Shikamaru looked up to his father for a moment before taking his hand, pulling himself to his feet.
"Man, what a drag. Maybe I'll just forfeit and be done with the whole thing."
"Well, you certainly could. I don't think your mother would take that too well though."
Shikamaru paled at the thought, just imaging his irate mother chasing him around the house, a pan in her hand. Yeah, better to just compete and die a hero's death. He began to stretch, thinking about what he should do next. There was still a lot of time before the chunin exams but to Shikamaru it was much too short. He wasn't looking forward to them, not even mentioning the fact that his first fight was with a girl. It was all just a truly troublesome experience and he couldn't wait for it all to be over with. He moved into the house, his father following him as they sat down at the nearby shogi board.
"So, do you wanna go first?", his father said, obviously eager to play. Shikamaru shrugged.
"Sure."
He moved one of the pieces, thinking about his opponent, Sakura. During her fight with Ino, he could tell a lot has changed. She had gotten stronger, her attacks fiercer and meant to take her opponent down. A change like that wasn't something that could be attained by training alone. No, there was an entire personality shift there and he knew just who was responsible for it: Naruto Uzumaki. The blond genin was strong, smart and a dangerous opponent. He remembered watching as he manipulated that Sand ninja, Kankuro's, puppet. He used that puppet like an expert, needing only seconds to quickly determine how to control and move the puppet, something that should not normally be possible according to the look on both Konkuro and their sensei's faces.
Naruto Uzumaki was definitely someone he wouldn't want to face in battle, but he was glad the blonde was on his side. There was something satisfying about watching the way he unnerved his opponents, proud that a Leaf ninja their age had become so strong. He had wanted to get to know the boy a bit better, especially after their shogi match so long ago, but he always pushed it off, choosing instead to watch the clouds. But, after fighting in the forest of death, fighting and killing enemy ninja, he realized that he was being naive. He couldn't always be the lazy genius, simply getting by on the barest minimum. No, he had a village to protect, and to do that he had to get to know the rest of the Rookie 12.
The match continued, piece after piece was moved as the two Nara's were deep in concentration. It didn't take long for the match to be decided, he had lost again. That wasn't a surprise. He stood up, moving back into the yard and preparing to cast the Shadow Strangle Jutsu again. His father joined him, watching as his shadow extended, once again wrapping around his leg, locking it in place. The strain was already getting to him, but Shikamaru refused to stop there. The arm continued, slowly beginning to wrap around Shikaku's torso. Sweat was visibly dripping down his face as he gave the signal.
5 seconds. He lasted 5 seconds before he collapsed. His father walked back over to him, smiling.
"Y'know Shikamaru, we should probably take a break. The suns beginning to set and I'm sure your mom is worried."
Shikamaru nodded while on the ground, his heavy breathing not letting him answer. After he regained his breath, his father offered his arm, Shikamaru taking it and pulling himself up. He would train for the next few days, then, he would start by seeing what was wrong with Ino.
Hinata sat on a small bench, watching as Neji practiced his Gentle Fist in the Hyuga Clan's training ground. His palms were a blur, his body moving with perfect precision and elegance as he performed the Eight Trigrams: 64 Palms technique. Hinata watched on, not sure how to feel. What Neji had done to her all those years ago, defeating her and casting her into the branch family, had traumatized her. She hated Neji Hyuga, she couldn't forgive him. Becoming Neji's ward made it worse, having to constantly be at his beck and call, like a slave. She knew that Neji had satisfaction in watching her serve him like that at first. Eventually, the satisfaction stopped, and she faded in the background, no longer something of interest in the great eyes of Neji Hyuga. To him, she had become just another branch member. That thought confused her. When had she gone from wanting to be ignored by him to wanting to be noticed? Maybe she had just become that lonely.
Then, one day, Neji had looked upon the seal on her forehead. She watched as he looked in regret, whispering words of apology. She didn't believe it. She spent the time before the chunin exams training, preparing and hoping to fight her cousin once again and prove that she was strong. It didn't work out that way. Instead, she fought Gaara, a monster of sand and bloodlust and she was defeated, she was almost killed. But Neji saved her.
Neji, the one who had branded her with the curse mark and unknowingly enslaved her to him had saved her life. He had called her 'Lady' Hinata, like those days when she was a part of the main branch. That had made her realize that all the pain and suffering she had felt at being thrown out of the main branch, was the same pain he felt too. They were the same, both abandoned and thrown into the branch family for not being good enough. Neji, simply because his father was born second. Her, simply because she was too weak. Yes, Hinata and Neji Hyuga were very alike.
So, watching him perform one of the Main Branch's Secret Techniques filled her with pride and envy. She was proud of Neji, proud that he was proving that the branch family could be just as good as the Main. She was envious, too, wishing that she could do the same. Neji stopped, slumping forward and leaning on his knees as his breathing grew heavy. He was tired. Hinata quickly went over to him, carrying a small glass of water to him.
"Here you go, Neji."
Neji looked up, smiling at her. He took the glass with shaking hands.
"T-thank you, Lady Hinata."
There it was again. He would always call her that and Hinata couldn't help but feel embarrassed, unworthy almost. Neji was the one struggling here. All the grief that she had gone through, Neji had already experienced. Even then, he still kept going, pushing forward to prove the Main Branch wrong. Hinata Hyuga used to hate Neji Hyuga. Now, she couldn't help but admire him. Neji brought the glass to his lips, trying to drink but his shaking hands were causing the water to spill onto his face. Quickly, she took the glass with her hands.
"H-here, let me do it."
Taking the glass, she slowly raised it, carefully allowing him to drink. After the water was gone, she pulled back, watching as he caught his breath. He looked toward her again.
"Thank you. Are you sure there isn't anything else you wanted to do? There's no need for you to help me, Lady Hinata."
Hinata shook her head, a smile on her face.
"N-no, this is just fine. I know I m-might not be much help, but, I-I want to help you pass the chunin exams. So, I'll do whatever I can."
Neji shook his head, smiling and chuckling all the while.
"Very well, but I need to take a break for now. Would you care to go get some lunch?"
Hinata nodded eagerly.
"Y-yeah, sure!"
The two walked out, Neji left to go change his clothes as Hinata waited by the main gate. She didn't know who was responsible for the change in Neji, heck, it might have just been brain damage from that flight of stairs. Whoever or whatever it was, she wanted to one day thank them. She was happier than she had been in years. Neji walked out, wearing a cleaner version of the same clothes.
"Are you ready to go, Lady Hinata?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, let's get going."
Asuma Sarutobi was flipping through the report, curiosity picking at his mind. The one known as Naruto Uzumaki was proving himself to be a strange boy, and he wasn't talking about his clothes. No, looking at these academy reports, Asuma realized that Naruto Uzumaki was far too advanced. According to this, everything about Naruto was nearly perfect. His grades and his fighting technique had always received top marks, even during his first year at the academy. This wasn't unheard of, there have been a few ninja that have shown this level of talent and skill. Kakashi Hatake and Itachi Uchiha being the prime examples. There was a difference though, Kakashi and Itachi had received training from their family, Naruto Uzumaki was an orphan.
How was it that an orphaned boy with no prior training was somehow able to defeat Sasuke Uchiha the first week of the academy. Sasuke would have gotten accelerated training from his clan, something that should have put him far ahead of the blond. No, something wasn't right here. He closed the report, heading to his father's office to talk to him directly. There were just too many things odd about Naruto Uzumaki, and he wouldn't put it down with out bringing it up at least once with his old man. He walked up the stairs of the tower, quickly approaching his door and knocking gently.
"Enter."
His father's voice came from the other side and Asuma obeyed, walking into the room. He approached the desk, watching as his father looked up from his work and smiled slightly.
"Asuma, was there something you needed? It's been a long time since you've come for a social call."
Asuma reeled a bit at his words, looking around the room for a moment. When was the last time he came here just to visit? Most of the time, he came just to deliver mission reports or to pick up Konohamaru if he needed to. He looked at his dad, watching as the wrinkles on his face seemed to stand out suddenly. He remembered, as a kid, thinking his father was unbeatable. To a point, he really was, having been named 'God of Shinobi' for his skill and ability in all five of the main elements and the intelligence to master over one thousand techniques. Looking at him now, he realized that his father had gotten old, frail almost. Don't get him wrong, he still wouldn't wish to get in a serious fight with the aging Hokage. He fully believed that Hiruzen Sarutobi was more than capable of still kicking his ass. Still, just how much time did Asuma Sarutobi have to spend with his father?
He shook the thoughts from his head, remembering the reason he came here. He placed the files on his desk.
"Hm? What's this?"
He opened up the files, quickly reading through them.
"That is the reports taken at the academy on Naruto's progress through the years."
His father looked up, his eyes narrowed slightly.
"And how did you come about these documents? I don't remember signing these off to you."
He grinned at his father.
"I got them from Kakashi, he only glanced through them anyways."
The Third sighed as he set the report on his desk, looking up at him.
"So? What is the problem than? I assume it has something to do with Naruto?"
He nodded, lighting a cigarette and placing it in his mouth.
"Yeah, I have some concerns about his progress and rate of development."
Hiruzen raised an eyebrow, curious at his reasoning.
"Oh? And what seems to be concerning you?"
Asuma briefly flipped through the pages of the report, going all the way back to his first fight with Sasuke.
"Well, let's start here. Don't you find it odd that a clan child like Sasuke Uchiha was defeated by an orphan? Or here...", he said, flipping to a new part of the report.
"This says that Naruto was already well experienced in controlling chakra before they even had their first chakra control class."
He watched as his father read the report, then looked up toward him.
"What exactly are you suggesting here, Asuma?"
Asuma took a breath, bracing himself to reveal his theory.
"I think that Naruto has had a hidden teacher, someone has been teaching him how to fight and use his chakra. I believe that teacher is the Nine Tailed Fox."
He waited with bated breath as his father stared at him, no doubt spinning the theory around in his head. After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke.
"I will have Jiraiya examine the seal. Afterward, we will not speak of this again. This conversation does not leave this room, understood?"
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
"Good, now see your way out, I still have a lot of work to do."
Asuma nodded, walking out of the room and closing the door behind him. He sighed, not sure what to think of Naruto. If it turned out to be true, if the Nine Tails really was manipulating him, what would his father do? He walked out of the tower, heading back home.
Ino walked over to Sakura's house, nervous. She was trying to amp herself up, getting ready to reveal the truth to her former best friend. She sighed, thinking that this wasn't going to end well. She had no idea how to even word this conversation, let alone how to deal with the after effects. Continuing to walk to her house, she was met with surprise at seeing Sakura already walking in her direction. Putting a smile on her face, she waved at the pink haired girl, running to meet her.
"Hey, Sakura!"
She reached her, taking a look at her former best friend. She had multiple bruises on her, no doubt due to the training over the last few days, preparing for the exam. She still couldn't believe that she had made it to the finals and hoped she would be okay after seeing all the people she would be up against.
"Huh? Ino, what did you want?"
Luckily, there was curiosity in her voice and not contempt or anger. Feeling more encouraged she continued the conversation.
"Oh, I just wanted to know if I could talk to you for a bit."
Sakura tilted her head cutely, making Ino giggle at her.
"Well, I suppose you could. I'm just heading to one of the training grounds to meet with Kurenai sensei."
Ino walked beside her, following as they headed toward their destination.
"That's fine, it won't take too long hopefully."
They were silent for a bit, Ino trying to think of something normal to talk about first like Kurenai's training or how she liked her team. Sakura decided the topic for her.
"So, is this about Sasuke?"
Damn it! She wanted to wait a little bit to talk about that but too late now. Sighing, she nodded to her.
"Y-yeah, listen, I know the two of us have been fighting for years over Sasuke. I know how important Sasuke is to you too, but there's something I have to tell you."
Sakura looked over to her, curiosity in her eyes.
"The truth is, I-I've…. I've never really liked Sasuke like you do. I just wanted to start a little competition between us, get some confidence and fight in you and it went way too far…I'm sorry."
At least, that's what she wanted to say. Instead, her words had jumbled together and what came out was:
"The truth is, I-I've…. I've never really liked Sasuke like I like you. I just wanted to start something between us and get some confidence and fight for you and it went way too far…I'm sorry."
Sakura stopped, her eyes widening as her face turned red. Ino was confused until she replayed her words in her head.
"W-wait! I didn't mean- "
Sakura began to sprint away.
"Eh! Sakura, no! Come back, that's not what I meant!"
She ran after the pink haired girl, desperately trying to catch up to her.
'Damn! When did she get so fast!'
Soon enough, Sakura was out of sight. Ino's face was red in anger and exertion. She was huffing as she heard a voice to her right.
"Hey! Ino! I was just looking for you."
Turning around, she saw Shikamaru there, waving at her.
"Hey, I just wanted to talk to you-, wait, w-what are you doing?!"
Ino approached the talking punching bag, rolling up her white arm warmers as she prepared to vent some frustration.
"Hey, no- ow, damn it, you troublesome woman- Gah! That hurts damn it! Stop!"
"Chidori!"
Sasuke slammed his lightning incased fist into the boulder, creating a large hole. He had finally done it, successfully used the technique Kakashi had been trying to teach him for the last few days. It was a powerful but draining technique, incasing the users hand in condensed lightning chakra, allowing them to pierce virtually anything. It was powerful, yes, but that power took up almost half his chakra. It was something he would have to use sparingly but it was a great technique to add to his arsenal. He looked toward Kakashi who was standing behind him.
"Good job. I would guess that you can use that technique about twice a day, pretty impressive actually. We're going to be working on your physical speed and strength now, something you'll need to get past Neji."
Sasuke glared slightly at the older ninja.
"Why don't you just show me more ninjutsu. I can just copy it with my Sharingan and have a long-range weapon to use against Neji. His Gentle Fist is too dangerous to fight one on one."
Kakashi tapped a finger on his chin, as if in thought.
"Hmm, that is true but if you use all your chakra trying to beat Neji, you won't be able to do much against the other contestants. You'll need more than powerful ninjutsu to get past Neji Hyuga. If you don't believe me, Guy told me that his student Lee was able to beat him in taijutsu."
Sasuke froze with the mention of Lee, remembering their fight. That fight had brought back bad memories. That moment was so similar, Lee showing just how much stronger he was, then sparing him while showing he could end him if he truly wished. Rock Lee was a dangerous person and he could already see how useful his new technique would be against him. He wouldn't lose to Lee again. Sasuke nodded to his sensei.
"Fine, let's get started."
The training was grueling, with them having to climb up and down the cliffs of a far-off canyon. Sometimes there would be other challenges to go with it, only one hand or no legs. He would only get to rest while he slept, never stopping to take a break for as long as he could take it. He could feel himself getting stronger, but he couldn't help but compare himself to Naruto and Lee. Somehow, their physical abilities were ridiculous, their skin like steel and their strength unyielding. He had never tried to follow Naruto around and see how he trained but now he was considering it. No matter how hard he trained he couldn't imagine having abilities like that.
The training continued, and he could feel himself getting stronger. They had moved on from strength exercises to speed, Kakashi attaching weights to his legs and having him run as he dodged senbon. Sasuke now knew that he was strong, the veil of weakness that Naruto had created had been lifted in the forest. He still remembered the way he knocked out Zaku, never imagining himself doing such a thing to Naru-, Sasuke shook his head, erasing his thoughts. Why was he doing this? Why was he constantly comparing everyone to the blond? Maybe it was because he was the strongest person he knew that was his age. More likely, it was because he couldn't help but be envious of that power.
Their physical exercises were done. His speed and strength had greatly increased thanks to Kakashi's guidance. The man knew just how Sasuke would have to move and for how long they would have to train to maximize his results. They were now sparring, letting him get used to his new speed and strength. He knew that this training had worked, but he couldn't help but feel like he was wasting time, as if Naruto could teach him far more.
Temari sat in her room, reviewing the plan. Sand and Sound ninja had already infiltrated several areas of the village and were simply waiting for the invasion to start. Meanwhile, the Sound would be summoning several large creatures near the village walls, distracting the majority of the Leafs ninja. Temari and Kankuro would be guarding their brother, Gaara, as he transformed into the Shukaku, the One Tailed Racoon. From there, Gaara would destroy the village as the rest of the ninja took out the Leaf's defenders, simple.
Temari couldn't help but release a nervous breath at the very thought. She had a bad feeling about this entire thing. There was always the possibility that the Leaf knew of their plan and had already made several preparations to stop them. Furthermore, there was no guarantee that this would solve the Sand's problems. After this, they would no longer have a powerful ally and no Hidden Village would trust them for generations to come. Either way, this invasion had no happy ending and Temari couldn't help but feel as if she was being dragged along.
She thought about her brother, Gaara. She wondered how he felt about all this. Was he angry about being used like this, sad maybe? He probably didn't care, just happy to spill more blood for his 'mother'. She got up, wanting to leave the small hotel room and get some fresh air.
She walked outside and stretched, enjoying the sun beating down on her and the gentle breeze running through the village, carrying the wonderful scent of flowers. She liked it here, it was so different to the Hidden Sand. Where the Sand was desolate, dry and dull, the Leaf was a pleasant, and vibrant place, full of life. It was a strange dynamic and Temari couldn't help but see the irony at how two villages so different would become allies.
She began to walk, no destination in mind, simply trying to pass the time and clear her head. There were only two weeks until the exams started. She wasn't nervous, after all, they didn't really matter. The invasion would be started soon into Gaara's match, the Kazakage giving him the signal to transform.
Her thoughts were interrupted as she saw two people who were very familiar in front of her. Naruto, the blond kid that had defeated Kankuro was there, laughing at something that the other said but she couldn't quite hear. The other figure was just as bewildering. He was a fairly short man, only a bit taller than Naruto in fact. He had on white robes and a diamond shaped hat, the Hokage. Standing still in shock, she was caught of guard when they soon stopped in front of her, Naruto speaking first.
"Heh? Hey there, Temari right?"
Temari nodded at the question as the Hokage looked over at the boy.
"Oh? Is this a special friend of yours Naruto?"
Temari's face reddened a little at the suggestion while Naruto just laughed.
"Heh heh heh! You wish you pervy old man! She's one of the chunin exam contestants. Maybe if you dusted off that old brain of yours you would remember."
She watched in bewilderment as the Hokage grew a confused expression.
"Hmm, Chunin Exams? That sounds familiar, but I can't quite remember why…. Well, would you care to join us on our walk, young lady?"
Temari still a little shocked at seeing the Hokage joke and act so casual, replied, a little flustered.
"U-um, sure, Lord Hokage."
She walked over to the Hokages other side as the three simply walked through the village, The Hokage telling stories of his and a younger Naruto's adventures.
"You know, believe it or not, Naruto used to be quite clumsy as a child, often tripping over his own feet when his steps stretched too far. I remember it was right here when he fell one day, accidentally ramming his head against a small fruit stand so hard that it fell apart."
Naruto would reply, defending his childhood actions.
"Bah, no one liked that stand anyways. The way I see it, I was doing a village a favor, Heh heh heh!"
"That may be true, but you weren't the one who had to pay for thirteen dozen apples."
"Yeah but look at you now old man. You've never looked healthier!"
Temari would often just listen to their stories, they had quite a few and must be quite close. They eventually passed a small toy shop, the Hokage reminiscing once again.
"Ah, I remember buying Naruto a toy from here once, a stuffed monkey in the shape of Enma, my summoning animal. I remember coming back a couple weeks later to find the thing in tatters. You know, you never did tell me why you didn't like that monkey, Naruto."
Naruto looked to the side, his grin dropping as a look of annoyance appeared.
"Tch, I don't like to talk about it, old man. Besides, it was a crappy toy anyways, you should have gotten me something cool like a race car or a stack of explosive notes."
The Hokage laughed while ruffling his head.
"I feel like if I gave you either of those there would have been trouble in the village somewhere."
After that, their conversations turned to her, the Hokage speaking first.
"So Temari, tell me, what do you think of the village so far? Are you enjoying your stay here?"
Temari remembered her earlier thoughts about the village and nodded to the short Kage.
"Yeah, it's a lot different from the Hidden Sand Village. Where surrounded by desert so everything there always seems to be bleak and dry. Here is different though, vibrant and full of life."
The Hokage nodded at her words.
"Yes, it is like that isn't it. Still, I'm sure the Sand Village makes you appreciate what you have a bit more than the Leaf would."
Temari gave the Hokage a confused look.
"What do you mean, Lord Hokage."
"Hmm, well, you say that the Sand is bleak and dry, yet you and your ancestors have always chosen to stay there. Not because you enjoy living there but because it's your home, where everything important to you lives. In the Leaf, it is quite easy to forget those that are important to you, with life always feeling so vibrant, you lose sight of what makes it matter."
Naruto leaned over, talking to her.
"Incase you couldn't tell, he's a bit senile so don't worry if his words don't make much sense. Heh heh -ow!"
The Hokage gently knocked a fist into his head, a smile on his face, as he stopped walking.
"Well, I suppose I've relaxed long enough. I need to get back to work." He turned to Naruto. "I'll keep everything you told me in mind, Naruto." Then, he turned toward her. "And I wish you luck in the coming exam."
Temari quickly bowed, toward the aging Hokage.
"Thank you, sir, have a good night."
"Heh heh! Don't pull your back on the way there, old man."
The Hokage gave a light wave before disappearing in a small poof of smoke, leaving the two alone. Naruto turned toward her, a question leaving his lips.
"Do you want me to walk ya home or something?"
Temari blinked, not expecting the question. Thinking about it, she saw no harm in it and nodded her head.
"Sure, we're staying in a hotel down this way."
They began to walk, Temari thinking about the interaction. It was very strange for such a figure like the Hokage to become so close to someone they had no relation to. The more she thought about it, the more she didn't like it. She looked at him, seep in thought. Naruto was very strong, his fight with Kankuro had been proof of that, the way Gaara seemed obsessed about him confirmed it. There was a mystery here, one that she had already solved halfway through their trip back to her hotel. The main people that were always close to a villages Kage were family, apprentices and finally Jinchuuriki. It didn't take long after that, Gaara's words about 'killing the fox' coming to mind.
Naruto Uzumaki was the Nine Tailed Fox' Jinchuuriki.
She almost couldn't believe it, someone as strong as Naruto having access to the power of a Tailed Beast? The powers and abilities of the Nine Tailed Fox were a complete mystery, who knew how strong Naruto really was. She worried about her brother, beginning to doubt even further that he would be okay after all this, that he could beat Naruto Uzumaki. She thought about the Sand Councils desperation and panic, doubting they would give up the invasion if she revealed Naruto's identity. She looked at Naruto again, knowing that he was strong and influential in the village. The Hokages words rang through her head. If home was where everything important to her lived, then she would make sure that her loved ones would live somewhere they could actually be happy, this village with the Jinchuuriki that just seemed to draw in everyone around him.
She took a breath as they reached her hotel building, she made a choice she never thought she would make. She turned to Naruto and told him everything.
Doffy held the leaf in his hand, concentrating his chakra once again. It had been two weeks since he reunited with his Godfather. He was sitting in the forest, concentrating as his fool of a sensei peeped on some woman in a nearby river, giggling madly. He knew just what he wanted to learn from the old pervert, something that he knew he would need back if he was going to fight people like Orochimaru. Yes, Naruto had visited with the Hokage the other day, telling him of his encounter with the strange man and his suspicions of the genin known as Kabuto. The old man informed that the man was named Orochimaru, a former student of his, funny enough.
The small walk that the two had taken afterward led him to Temari and everything she had told him. The Sand was betraying the Leaf village and the Sound village was helping them. She begged him to help her, to save her brother Gaara from himself and from the tyranny of her father, Rasa the Kazekage. She wanted the two of them, and hopefully Kankuro if he agreed, to join the Leaf Village, something that Doffy couldn't believe until he saw the desperation in her eyes. She truly was worried for her brother, Gaara, and wanted him to act as their ward. He agreed, surprisingly eager to add to his family of misfits, promptly telling the Hokage who seemed to already have an idea of the invasion, the sly old man.
The leaf in front of him began to smolder, making Naruto's concentrated frown, bend up wards slightly. He had told the pervert to teach him how to use Fire Chakra, prompting him to pull out a slip of paper. It was apparently called chakra paper and revealed his nature affinity when he poured his chakra into it. His was wind. He ignored that detail though, not changing his mind and ignoring Jiraiya's arguments that it would be easier to start with his natural affinity. He was Donquixote Doflamingo, everything came easy to him.
The leaf finally turning into ash, he grabbed a nearby rock, launching it at the pervert's head.
"Gah! What the- "
"I'm done. What's next?"
Jiraiya stared at him, his mouth open in shock.
"Your done? What do you mean your done? It can take years to do this kind of training- "
"I don't care how long it took you, I'm telling you I'm done so I'm ready for the next step."
Jiraiya shook his head, grumbling about blond geniuses.
"All right then kid, listen up. The first step was to simply grow your connection to your nature and strengthen it until you can properly create it. Now that you've done that, you'll need to practice creating the large amounts of fire chakra needed for fire ninjutsu."
"All right. How do I practice that then.", Doffy said, quite tired of the explanation.
"The easiest way is the Uchiha clan's Fireball jutsu. Observe."
Jiraiya turned away from him, doing hand signs slowly to let Doffy memorize them.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A large gout of flame erupted from his lips, singeing the nearby trees. Jiraiya stopped, turning back toward him, just as he completed the hand signs.
"Any question- "
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Unfortunately, Jiraiya was able to dodge his flames.
Sasuke arrived at the stadium, wearing the new clothes that Kakashi had bought him. It was time, the Chunin Exams were starting and Sasuke would be there to win. He had been training heavily with Kakashi in the final two weeks, doing nothing but sparing. He never won any of those spars, but he had gained a lot of experience against fighting the Hyuga's Gentle Fist, Kakashi using his Sharingan to emulate their attacks. His Gentle Fist wasn't effective at all, requiring the Byakugan to work properly, but it had gotten Sasuke used to the movements.
He walked through the gate, entering the large arena and walking toward the group of genin standing in front of Hayate, the proctor. Looking around, it seemed that everyone had made it and were anxious to begin. The crowd in the arena was cheering and demanding for the matches to start, when Hayate began to speak.
"All right everyone, the rules are the same as the preliminaries, and we'll be starting immediately now that everyone is here. Sasuke and Neji will stay here while everyone else, please head to the stands and await your match."
Sasuke waited as everyone entered the stands, standing across from his opponent, Neji. He got into his stance, waiting for Hayate to start the match. Neji took the stance he was familiar with, hands laid out in front of him. The crowd hushed as the match began. When the last voice had quieted down, they begun.
"Begin!"
Neji struck first, swiftly appearing in front of him with palms lashing out. He quickly dodged the first two while pulling out a kunai, slashing at his stomach. Neji jumped back, dodging the kunai and Sasuke rushed to meet him. He slashed again, watching as Neji jumped back. When he reached the apex of his small jump, Sasuke's quickly threw the kunai at his chest, beginning a set of hand seals. Neji smacked the kunai out of the air, running as soon as he touched the ground.
"Fire style: Fireball Jutsu!"
The ball of flames streaked right past Neji as he dodged. Kakashi was right, Neji was quick on his feet and difficult to pin down. He had to slow his movements. Neji was running toward him now, not seeing any more hand seals. Multiple palms struck out, Sasuke barely able to dodge them. Using his Sharingan, he predicted one of the strikes, already seeing the consequences but knew it had to be done. He grabbed Neji's wrist from the air, halting his movements as he sent a kick at his knees. The kick landed, he didn't feel anything break but he knew Neji would be limping. Neji's other hand didn't slow down as it struck him multiple times, Sasuke jumping back and once again performing seals.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
He focused on covering more ground with this one, trying to ensure that Neji wouldn't be able to escape the flames. With his wounded leg, his speed would be reduced but the strikes he landed were already taking affect. The fireball was smaller than he expected. He tried to pump more chakra into the technique but found he couldn't. The Gentle Fist truly was dangerous, but it didn't matter, it was over.
"Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation!"
A massive spinning sphere of chakra appeared, redirecting his flames and keeping Neji safe. He watched as Neji's spinning slowed down, stumbling slightly as he leaned to heavily on his injured leg.
'That's a powerful defense but it has a few flaws. It probably takes a large amount of chakra and the user must recover from the rotation he's making. But, the Byakugan probably protects him from that recovery, allowing him to see any attack coming. This is going to be difficult.'
He sprinted toward Neji, upping his speed at the last moment and lashing out with a devasting kick. His only way out of this was to simply deal large amounts of damage to him as quickly as possible, not giving his leg the chance to recover. That injury was his only advantage now.
Neji, unable to move, put up his guard and blocked the kick, the force of it sent him flying, but Sasuke could feel multiple strikes on his leg.
'Damn. Even while defending, he's still able to use his Gentle Fist. This is turning into a battle of attrition. My taijutsu versus his own.'
Sasuke moved quickly while Neji was in the air, flipping upwards and appearing above Neji, another kick thundering down into him. Neji blocked once again, smashing into the ground, once again striking at his chakra points.
'Now's my chance! If I can use my fireball technique, Neji won't be able to use that rotation technique.'
Sasuke tried to jump away from the downed boy, but couldn't, his hand firmly gripping his ankle. His Sharingan saw the attack coming. Acting quickly, he ducked down closer to the boy, tying some ninja wire to his injured leg and then attempted to jump away again. Neji's grip broke but the attack hit him anyways.
"Eight Trigrams Air Palm!"
A bullet of wind struck him in the chest, sending him back. He maintained consciousness, his hand still holding the other end of the wire he had ties to Neji. He hit the ground and immediately began trying to channel lightning chakra.
'C-c'mon! Work damn it!'
He strained against the chakra points that Neji's attack had closed, finally able to produce the necessary chakra.
"Chidori!"
Lighting appeared in his hand, traveling down the wire and toward Neji. Sasuke smirked, he had done it. The electricity continued down the wire, stopping halfway.
'What?'
Looking closer with his Sharingan, he could see Neji's chakra running through the wire as well, acting as an insulator and barrier. Neji was beginning to stand up. Sasuke waited, sweat pouring as he continued to sustain the chidori with his blocked chakra points. As soon as Neji was halfway standing, Sasuke pulled the wire, ripping his leg out from under him and making him fall. He leapt toward him, pulling back his chidori covered fist and landed on top of the boy.
His chidori stopped just before striking Neji's heart, he felt a hand hovering over his own. The two stopped, staring at each other for a moment before Hayate spoke up.
"That's enough. The match is over."
His chidori fluttered out as he stood up straight. Offering a hand downward, he lifted Neji to his feet.
"Neji, your attack would have caused critical damage to Sasuke heart if it struck, however it was more than possible that he could have survived, his chidori however would have made yours disappear. Therefore, the winner of this match is Sasuke Uchiha!"
The crowd began to roar at the announcement, making Sasuke smile a bit. He untied the wire on Neji's leg and helped him back to the stands. Neji spoke to him on their way there.
"That was very impressive, Sasuke. You're a talented fighter."
Sasuke smirked at him.
"Yeah, I am pretty impressive."
Neji snorted slightly, while Sasuke reeled, not expecting it from the regal boy.
"Yeah, now if only you could get a decent haircut."
"Don't make me drop you."
Temari watched as the two boys returned, thoughts of the upcoming event weighing on her mind. After telling Naruto about the sand invasion, he had told her that Lee would protect her during it and to convince her brother, Kankuro while she could. She had to wait until the invasion started though. She couldn't afford the chance of Baki overhearing or Kankuro not agreeing with her, Gaara couldn't afford it. She looked toward Lee, who nodded, and she nodded back. When Hayate called her name to appear in the ring, she spoke up.
"I forfeit!"
Sakura jumped into the arena, a little nervous but ready to prove herself in front of everyone in the stadium. She was a bit startled, not expecting her match to happen so soon or for Temari to give up like that. Oh well, it didn't matter. She walked toward Hayate, remembering all the training Kurenai had put her through. She had gotten much stronger and was pretty good at genjutsu according to her sensei. She had mastered her first genjutsu the day Ino came to talk to her. Thinking about that, made her cringe slightly. She knew that Ino didn't mean what she said before, probably just too nervous to say what she really meant. Still, Sakura didn't want to hear what she said, not yet anyways. The exams were too important for her to get distracted, so she had been avoiding Ino until they were over. She would approach her herself when they were over.
She stood across from Shikamaru, who was yawning loudly. She didn't let herself get angry at how he brushed her off, instead thinking about how to the fight the shadow user. His shadows were a problem. They were fast, flexible, and doomed you the moment they touched. The only advantage she had was that Shikamaru was not a close combat fighter and his shadows took a lot of chakra.
"Begin!"
Sakura immediately jumped back throwing several kunai with senbon mixed in. the Nara ducked while taking out a kunai, deflecting them all.
"You threw kunai with senbon, hoping the kunai would distract me from the smaller projectiles. Clever, but you'll have to do better than that."
His shadow stretched rapidly, speeding toward her as she took off into a sprint. The shadow chased her, stopping and retreating when she had gotten enough distance away from him. The shadow had a limited range, but she had no long-range attacks. Seeing no other choice, she sprinted at the lazy boy, watching as he performed hand seals and his shadow ran toward her again. Just before it reached her, she dropped a small flash bomb and closed her eyes. It worked, the brightness getting rid of Shikamaru's shadow and giving her the time to close in.
She sent a punch impacting with Shikamaru's face before he could recover from the bomb. Shikamaru took the energy from the punch and leaned backward into a backflip, kicking at her face while he did so. She jumped back, dodging the kick and going through hand seals.
'Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Jutsu.'
"Earth Style: Mud Wall!"
She made the illusion of an earth wall appearing behind Shikamaru, the 'shadow' of the wall enveloping them both as she continued to approach. Shikamaru smirked.
"Heh, big mistake Sakura. Now I don't even have to extend my shadow, you're already in it."
She watched as Shikamaru's shadow didn't extend, then she smirked, she had him. She saw the shock on his face as his technique didn't work, her strongest punch yet hurtling toward his face. It stopped just before it struck.
'What?'
Shikamaru smirked again.
"Man, I was worried it wasn't going to make it in time. Here, I'll let you turn around and take a look."
Shikamaru turned, Sakura forced to do the same, as her face was pointed upwards. She saw something in the air. Looking closer, she saw a kunai flying threw the air, arcing as it headed back down with something toed to the end of it. Was that his headband?
"After that first punch, and during that back flip, I tied my head band to a kunai, throwing it into the air. When you ran toward me, the kunai started to fall, the headband giving its shadow just enough length to connect our shadows together."
Sakura was listening in, not believing what she was hearing.
"You're telling me you were able to predict everything I was about to do, that quickly?"
Shikamaru turned back around, a bored expression on his face.
"Eh, not really, just seemed like something you were gonna do. I had a few back up plans in case I was wrong, but it looks like they aren't necessary. Now, I suggest you forfeit."
Sakura sighed, before chuckling.
"All right, you win Shikamaru. I forfeit."
Hayate spoke then, addressing the crowd
"The winner is Shikamaru Nara!"
Sakura felt control return to her body, stretching slightly as she began to walk back to the stands. She lost, but that was ok. Looking back, she couldn't see her past self do anywhere near as well. She had gotten much stronger. She returned to the stands, ready to watch Naruto's match.
Doffy jumped down as his name was called, watching as Gaara appeared in the arena in a swirl of sand. He prepared himself for this fight and everything after it, relying on Lee to protect Temari and thinking of how to stop Gaara. The kid was strong, his abilities unique and he couldn't kill him. He would have to convince Gaara to give up during the invasion. He stood in front of Hayate now, looking at Gaara's manic grin. With one word, it began.
"Begin!"
Sand erupted from Gaara's gourd, rushing toward him. Doffy jumped into the air, dodging the sand. He couldn't afford to be subtle in this fight. With that thought, he swiped his hand, sending multiple strings at Gaara. His strings dug into the earth, Gaara's sand rising to protect him from the near invisible attack. He kept going, his strings not relenting as they cut into Gaara's sand. They never got through.
'That's an impressive defense, those strings can cut through rock and stone. I didn't think that his sand would be an issue... I'll need something a bit more to break through it. Time to take off the kid gloves.'
Jumping off of the air, Doffy went around the sand chasing him and went straight toward Gaara. He watched as sand rose, forming a protective shell in front of him, predicting his attack. Doffy raised a knee, slamming it into the sand wall as his leg took on a metallic sheen. He burst through the wall, his momentum allowing him to strike Gaara's stomach. He pushed his knee forward, sending Gaara flying backward as he landed on the ground, his Armament Haki dispersing. Gaara continued to fly until his gourd seemed to crumble, becoming a cloud of sand and stopping his momentum. Doffy watched with curiosity as Gaara's body seemed to form cracks, watching as pieces of himself fell off, revealing a suit of sand armour.
'Impressive, he really is more creative than that Crocodile'
Gaara looked up, his eye's gleaming with madness.
"Yes! You will be the one! The one to prove my existence!"
Doffy raised an eyebrow at the words, watching as a wave of sand began to rise behind Gaara.
"Now, make me feel alive!"
The sand flew through the air in multiple directions, coming toward him. He grinned, taking to the air and jumping between the sand tendrils. He weaved through them, once again reappearing before Gaara. Gaara was ready this time, his sand gathered around his arm to create a large fist. He threw the fist while Doffy's Haki clad leg clashed with it, releasing a powerful shockwave. The sand fist quickly began to crumble, but Doffy saw the sand begin to creep onto his leg. Using his other leg, he kicked off the air once again, circling around to Gaara's back with a blackened knee aimed toward his back. Sand rose to block the strike, but he tore through it, thundering into Gaara's spine and launching forward. Gaara twisted in the air, facing toward him with his sand arm raised.
"Sand Shuriken!"
Multiple globs of sand rushed toward him, Doffy swiping his hand to send strings to meet them. His strings cut the projectiles in half, making them go around him. Gaara landed on his feet. Doffy was impressed, despite the boy's small stature his durability was amazing. He hadn't met another genin capable of taking his normal attacks, let alone strikes enhanced with Armament Haki. Time for him to step it up another notch.
Gathering his chakra, he ran toward Gaara once again. Gaara's sand begun to spread along the ground around him, completely covering the floor. Doffy took to the air, dodging the sand spikes that were erupting from the ground. Getting in close be grabbed Gaara's collar, using his Haki to burst through the sand shield, and threw him into the air, Gaara's sand trying to keep up. Pointed his fingers at the airborne redhead, he launched his next Haki infused attack.
"Bullet String!"
The piercing bullets pummeled into Gaara's form, his sand armor barley protecting him. Doffy could see him coughing blood from his mouth as he landed on the ground. He waited for a moment, wanting to see Gaara's next move. He got up, rage evident on his face. The surrounding sand gathered around him, forming a large, dense sphere around him. Doffy raised an eyebrow, finding the action a bit odd. Either way, he had to break through that shell. Doffy raised a palm, thinking as he adjusted the power of his next attack. It was one of his strongest and he didn't want to kill Gaara or damage the leaf. After estimating the needed strength, he attacked.
"Overheat!"
A laser of molten strings erupted from his palm, instantly reaching Gaara's defense and sheering through it. The sand around the initial impact had superheated, becoming glass. Doffy waited, hoping that he didn't accidentally kill the boy. A mixture of relief and something ominous answered him.
"IT BURNS!"
A pained scream came from the sand sphere a large sand arm bursting from within. Gaara was there, his body transformed, almost as if it were becoming the sand he controlled. He was bigger as well, his upper body swelling as it changed.
"Naruto…FIGHT ME!"
Doffy looked up, staring at the feathers falling from the sky as an explosion sounded in the distance. The invasion had begun. He looked back at Gaara, ready to defeat the enraged boy. He jumped above the boy, coming down like a meteor with a leg extended, a string attached to his heel and his thigh. Seeing what Gaara was becoming, he couldn't hold back.
"Fret Saw!"