Chapter 9: Release

The sheer number of people in the stadium awed Naruto. He, along with the others that made to the Chunnin exam finals, stood in the middle of the stadium's arena. Apparently some guy named Genma was going to be the proctor for this part of the exam.

Naruto absent-mindedly looked around as he waited for the matches to start and to see if anyone would notice him wearing his darker clothes. He wondered where Sasuke could be; but then he remembered that he was with that hypocrite Kakashi. Naruto looked at Neji and saw him standing there with his holier than thou attitude.

He was definitely looking forward to wiping the floor with him.

"All right guys…and lady," Genma added when he saw Temari's annoyed look. "The rules are the same as they were in the preliminaries. Remember, you're the stars here. So make sure to give the crowd what they came here for and show the judges that you're worthy of the chunnin title. Now, will all of the competitors except for Naruto and Neji please go up to the competitors box."

While everyone was moving to the competitors box, Neji started to taunt Naruto as they themselves got ready.

"I'm surprised a loser like you had the guts to show up. You can't change the fact that fate has already decided to give the victory to me."

"Neji, just shut the frell up. I don't care what you say I'm going to make you pay for what you did to Hinata," Naruto said showing his distaste for the Hyuuga prodigy.

Genma saw that everyone was out of the way and the two competitors were ready to tear each other apart. He began the match and leapt to a safe distance very far away.

Neither Naruto nor Neji moved, each one waiting for the other to move first. Neji sat there, he had expected Naruto to come rushing in as soon as the match started. So, the young prodigy sat there analyzing his opponent. Naruto was full of confidence and had no doubts. This just served to make Neji look forward to rubbing it into the blondes face after the match that he would remain weak just as fate decided.

"Wow, who would have thought that the great Neji would be afraid of a dead last," Naruto said trying to provoke Neji into attacking.

It worked like a charm. Neji's pride wouldn't allow the insult to slide. He activated his Byakugan and charged. Seeing Neji's charge, Naruto slid into a defensive stance. Naruto almost made it look easy as he dodged and redirected Neji's strikes away from himself. This only served to infuriate Neji. He picked up his attack speed and power. Neji smirked when he managed to make it passed Naruto's guard and get a clean hit on Naruto's chest.

It came as a bit of a shock when Naruto disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Neji instantly tensed and began scanning for his opponent.

"Not bad, Neji. But I'm afraid you're going to have to do better if you want to beat me," Naruto said as he jumped down from on of the trees on the arena.

Neji turned to face Naruto just as Naruto unleashed a horde of Kage Bunshins upon Neji. This time Neji held nothing back as he began to attack the clones. One by one the clones disappeared.

"I have already seen through your strategy. You're afraid of my attacks. That means that you're there," Neji stated as he charged a Naruto that was staying away from the fight.

Neji once again smirked when he hit Naruto. That smirk quickly became a scowl when that Naruto also disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Some genius you are," a Naruto mocked. "I've been sitting here attacking head on the whole time."

Neji turned to see the real Naruto standing there looking very smug. Neji, with the aid of his Byakugan, he saw three Naruto's attacking him from behind.

"No time to doge. I guess I'll have to use it," Neji thought. The blondes were almost upon him when he began to spin and release chakra. The clones hit the spinning chakra and were thrown back before the dispelled.

"Oh, so you have a defense do you," Naruto asked sounding almost as if he was expecting Neji to do that. In fact, he was. Naruto had gone over all of the Hyuuga clans techniques with Hinata during his training. When Hinata had asked him why he was doing it Naruto simply stated, "If he is as big of a genius as everyone thinks he is, I want to know all of the techniques he could possibly have heard about and mastered on his own".

"Not just any defense. This is a true ultimate defense without flaws," Neji stated as arrogant as ever.

"Well how about we test that theory," Naruto shot back as he activated a launcher in his sleeve and out came a rod about twice the size of a short sword handle.

"You should feel honored, Neji, you are the first person that I have used this against in combat," Naruto said as he activated his bloodline.

But instead of the Kubikiri Houcho, it was what looked like a short sword. The handle split about halfway up and came down to make the hilt guard of the sword. Naruto then charged Neji fast enough as to not give him time to dodge. Neji, being a Hyuuga, knew that he didn't have the skill to use a Kunai against Naruto's sword, the chakra he saw going through the blade didn't help either. Neji was slightly surprised when Naruto jumped into the air and come done down headfirst pointing his sword at him. Nonetheless, Neji waited for Naruto to get closer before he started his defense.

The two attacks met and exploded. The wind from the blast caused dust to envelope the entire arena.


Scene change no jutsu

Up in the stands there were several surprised faces. Hyuuga Hiashi and his daughter Hyuuga Hinabi couldn't believe that Neji knew the Kaiten, a main branch technique.

Ino and Sakura were sitting together and having there own conversation.

"Wow, Naruto has really gotten strong hasn't he," Ino asked Sakura.

"He still won't beat Sasuke-kun. I mean, Sasuke-kun trains hard everyday and all Naruto does is go around laughing and playing. Naruto never takes any thing seriously and was always goofing off in the academy. It's no wonder why he's the dead last," Sakura stated sure of her facts.

Ino on the other hand was pissed.

"Sakura, I don't want to hear you say anything bad about Naruto until you can tell me you actually know him and what his life is like," Ino told Sakura with the same glare she gave to Shikamaru and the others three months ago in the hospital.

"Please, he's a loud mouth ramen loving idiot that's the very definition of the baka. I should know after all, he is on my team," Sakura countered with a deadpan look.

"If he's on your team, then what has he been doing the last three months," Ino asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well…um…ah…" Sakura started to mumble.

"That's exactly my point, Sakura, he's been on your team for the past six months and the last three you have no clue as to what he was actually doing. Before that you only saw him during team activities and even then you ignored him to fawn over Sasuke," Ino stated calmly.

"Why do you care, Ino? And for that matter why are you defending him," Sakura tried to counter.

"Because, Sakura, I used to think like you and then I actually got to know him. He's a lot different than you think and I have just begun to really get to know him over the last three months. So don't you dare sit there and tell me you know him. I would also think long and hard about why you like Sasuke," Ino said looking Sakura in the eye.

Meanwhile, the dust had cleared down in the stadium to reveal a slightly panting Naruto and a bleeding Neji. Neji had a shallow cut a few inches long down the back of his right shoulder blade.

It was then that Ino and Sakura overheard two chunnin talking about the match.

"Impressive," one stated. "He has been countering the Hyuuga move for move the entire match. If he can continue to do that than he will most definitely make Chunnin."

"Indeed. Although what I want to know is how did that kid break through the Kaiten," the second one replied.

Those exact same thoughts were running through the mind of all those who knew of the Kaiten. Though, a few Hyuuga elders in the audience were furious that the demon spawn was making a mockery of the Hyuuga fighting style and techniques.


Scene change no jutsu

"What's the matter, Neji, scared," Naruto asked mocking Neji.

"And why should I be scared," Neji asked about ten feet away from Naruto. On the inside however, he was extremely confused.

The Kaiten was supposed to be unbreakable but that is exactly what Naruto had done, broken the Kaiten.

"It is time for me to show you why you will always be a loser. You are in my field of divination! Hakke Rokuju Yonsho (Eight Trigrams sixty-four strikes)," Neji called out.

Neji rushed Naruto and began his attack.

Two strikes!

Four strikes!

Eight strikes!

Sixteen strikes!

Thirty-two strikes!

Sixty-four strikes!

Naruto went flying back after Neji's last hit.

"Examiner, it's over he won't be getting up. I have closed all of his Tenketsu," Neji said arrogantly as he straitened himself.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Neji," Naruto said as he too got up. Although, he got up slowly and with a lot of pain.

"Why do you continue to fight win you know that fate has already said that I will win," Neji asked looking at Naruto like he was trash.

"Neji, let me ask you this; has fate ever talked to you, written to you, or let you look through its crystal ball," Naruto asked.

"No," Neji responded slightly confused at what Naruto was getting at.

"Then how can you say that fate has said that you will win," Naruto asked.

"You have no idea what it's like to be marked by something you will never be rid of. I will tell you about the Hyuuga fate of hatred," Neji said starting to get angry.

He was planning on continuing but Naruto's laughter cut him off.

"Save it," Naruto said going from laughing to dead serious. "I know all about that supposed fate of hatred and don't you dare tell me that I will never know what it's like to be marked by something you will never be rid of!"

"Hey, Fox, give some of your chakra," Naruto thought.

"Only if you use it to wipe the floor and the smirk off this kids face," Kyuubi replied.

"Deal," was Naruto's on word reply.

Almost instantly red chakra began to flow through Naruto reopening his closed Tenketsu. The chakra poured out of Naruto's body and for a brief moment people thought they saw the head of a giant fox. But as soon as it appeared it was gone. The only remnants of the chakra were Naruto's blood red eyes and longer fingernails.

Naruto didn't waste ay time. Naruto deactivated his blood line and put the handle back in its launcher. He then reached into his back pouch and grabbed a handful of shuriken and threw them at Neji. Neji blocked them using the Kaiten. Neji stopped spinning and grabbed the shuriken out of the air. He grabbed some of his own and then threw them all at Naruto. Naruto seemed to vanish right before the shuriken would have hit him.

Neji saw Naruto's movements with his Byakugan and looked up to follow Naruto as he came down from the air at an angle. Neji waited for Naruto to get close before doing his Kaiten But when tried to spin he couldn't move his feet. Looking down he saw that two pairs of hands were holding his feet. By the time he realized this it was already too late for him to mount a proper defense.

Naruto punched Neji square in the face, forcing Neji to fall straight back due to the hands holding his feet and before he could recover his senses a giant sword was placed at his throat.

"Give up Neji or do I have to kill you," Naruto asked looking dead serious.

"That won't be necessary," Genma interrupted. "Winner, Uzamaki Naruto!"

Slowly the cheers started and then it steadily grew louder until everyone in the entire stadium was cheering. As Naruto made his way back to the competitors box, he couldn't help but think the cheers were only superficial and the glares would be back before the day was done.

"Uzamaki-san, if I could speak to alone for a moment," Shino asked in his usual tone when Naruto reached the competitors box.

Naruto shrugged and followed Shino to a back corner of the box, but not before making sure that Shikamaru made it to his match by pushing him over the railing.

"What do want to talk to me about and if it's about my new clothes, my sensei convinced me to get new ones," Naruto said wondering why the silent bug user would want to talk to him.

"It is about what happened in the forest just over three months ago," Shino stated.

"Huh," Naruto asked clueless.

"Between you and Hinata-san," Shino said readjusting his glasses.

Naruto's face instantly went white as a sheet.

"H-h-how do y-you know about that," Naruto stuttered out.

"First you can put your fears to rest. I, along with Shikamaru and Chouji, do not think like a majority of the villagers. In fact, we have spoken of your unfair treatment to your clans. As to why we know, a bug I keep on my teammates for safety reasons told me and Shikamaru and Chouji were in the clearing when you told Hinata-san." Shino finished his speech and then went back to prepare him for his match.

He still didn't know why he had to be the one to tell Naruto that the three of them knew of the Kyuubi. Naruto for his part, sat there in a state of compete shock. Not only did three people he considered at least passing friends know of the Kyuubi but they still accepted him. They even went as far as talking to there respective clans about his treatment. He stood there thinking not caring about the exams anymore.

Slowly, a true smile crept on his face. Things were definitely looking up for a change. Naruto walked back to the box's railing. Shino turned to him and Naruto gave him a slight nod of the head as a thank you, no words were necessary. He looked down into the arena just in time to see Sasuke appear for his match in a swirl of leaves along with Kakashi.

That's when Naruto realized just how badly he had spaced out. he asked Shino what he had missed. Shino told him that Shikamaru created an elaborate plan to catch Temari but ended up forfeiting and that Kankuro forfeited against him before the match began.

Naruto really didn't care for Sasuke's fight. He absentmindedly noted that Sasuke had trained in speed using Bushy Brow's taijutsu style. What really caught Naruto's attention was the sand ability that Gaara was using. He found it similar to the Iron Sand that he read about the Sandaime Kazekage using. Kyuubi on the other hand, was cursing his luck.


Scene change no jutsu

Kakashi had just made his way into the stands and already he was regretting the spot he picked.

"Ah, my eternal rival what have you done to young Naruto's flames of youth to make them burn so bright," Gai asked in his indoor voice.

"Did you say something, Gai," Kakashi asked in his usual lazy drawl.

"Ah, once again your hip ways have managed to out do me, Kakashi," Gai said with tears streaming down his face. "But seriously what did you do? He made a fool of Neji and it didn't even look like he was trying," Gai asked turning serious.

The seriousness that Gai asked that question with caught Kakashi off guard. Gai never spoke to him to him like that unless it was life or death or something very important.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Gai. I wasn't even aware that Naruto made it to the finals," Kakashi said surprised. "Besides your probably just exaggerating anyway."

"Kakashi, I don't think breaking a Hyuuga Kaiten and countering Neji's every move is exaggerating," Gai said still very serious.

Kakashi was glad that he wasn't holding his orange book when Gai told him that. If he was, he was sure he would have dropped it.

"Then again," Gai continued. "He did promise to do to Neji what he did to his cousin Hinata."

"What did he promise to do, Gai," Kakashi asked still in a slight state of shock.

"Ah, that's right you weren't there were you. He promised to do to him what he did to Hinata. Looking back at that fight Neji did make everything Hinata did against him useless," Gai finished nodding.


Scene change no jutsu

"Kit, I need you to listen very carefully to what I'm about to tell you," Kyuubi said getting Naruto's full attention. "That kid down there is the vessel for the one-tailed tanuki, Shukaku, and from the looks of it he either has a faulty seal holding him, possessed or possibly both. If you fight him I need you to perform the following hand seals within five feet of him."

Naruto made sure to listen to all of the hand seals and a few other details about the jutsu that Kyuubi was telling him but as soon as that was done Naruto had a few questions of his own, "Hey, Kyuubi, I thought you said you didn't know any jutsus and what is this supposed to do anyway," Naruto asked.

"This jutsu will force any alien beings out of him and destroy them," Kyuubi stated.

"But won't that kill Shukaku at the same time then," Naruto asked interrupting Kyuubi.

"Will you let me finish," Kyuubi snapped. "Shukaku will be fine because even if the seal on Gaara is faulty the seal will still keep Shukaku safe from the jutsu's effect. Look at it like this, it would be like forcibly removing an Yamanaka form your mind. You can do that because there isn't anything truly anchoring them to the mind."

"And what if he's crazy from a faulty seal and not possessed," Naruto asked fearing for his health.

"Then I suggest you either run far, far away or beat him to within 0.5986 inches of his life and then fix his seal," Kyuubi replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Thanks, I feel much better now, Kyuubi," Naruto said being sarcastic.

"You're welcome," Kyuubi replied being dead serious.

It was about this time that Gaara let out a blood curdling scream from within his sphere of sand. It was also about this time that Naruto noticed feathers beginning to fall throughout the stadium. He immediately recognized it as a genjutsu and formed the proper hand signs dispelling it. Then Naruto heard several loud explosions go off throughout Konaha and one word rang through Naruto's mind, invasion.

Naruto immediately dropped his weights and begin dispatching foes as fast as he could. It wasn't long before Naruto met up with Kakashi in the Participants box of the stadium.

"Naruto, I need you to wake Shikamaru up and go after Sasuke. Sasuke took off after that sand nin, Gaara. I'm not sure why but he seems important to our enemies invasion plans," Kakashi said as he summoned one of his dogs.

"I have no doubt that a jinchuriki would be a big part of someone's invasion plans," Naruto said sarcastically. "Hey, Shikamaru, get up already will you!"

"Pakkun, I need you to guide Naruto and Shikamaru to Sasuke," Kakashi said giving his summon orders.

"Naruto I'm going with you," Sakura screamed. She apparently overheard Kakashi giving Naruto the order to go help Sasuke.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru mumbled under his breath. "Naruto, I was hoping to just pretend to sleep through the whole invasion."

"You guys don't have time to talk, Sasuke-kun needs our help," Sakura screeched as she turned toward the hole that Sasuke used to get out of the stadium.

But before she could go very far a sound nin managed to get behind her and knock her out. Naruto was quick to deal with the enemy nin before he could do any more to Sakura. Naruto then moved her over to a group of Konaha nins that were protecting a group of civilians.

With Sakura taken care of, Naruto and Shikamaru made their way to go after Sasuke. Naruto decided to break the silence between him and Shikamaru as they made their way through the forest.

"Pakkun, if you tell Kakashi any of this I will personally make you an "IT". Understand," Naruto said looking directly at the small pug. Pakkun only nodded wishing to keep that part of his anatomy. Besides, Pakkun doubted that Kakashi would be interested in anything the boys would discuss.

"So, Shikamaru, you really have no problem with me being the vessel of Kyuubi," Naruto asked.

Shikamaru didn't miss the hopeful look that Naruto had before he replied, "Yeah, I don't have any problems with you. The village is a different matter. Besides, it would be for to troublesome for me to hate you," Shikamaru drawled.

"Thanks, Shikamaru," Naruto said gratefully.

"I hate to interrupt your conversation but were being followed by six enemy nins. There all at least chunnin," the pug stated.

"Naruto," Shikamaru said cutting Naruto off. "I know that you would stay behind but if Gaara really is a jinchuriki like you said then you're the only of us that stands a chance against him. So I'm going to stay behind and delay them. I'd rather not but if he's able to get back to Konaha then there will be a lot more than just one death."

During the conversation the duo stopped on one of the larger branches. After Shikamaru finished, Naruto proceeded to do hand seals. With a large puff of smoke a humanoid looking dragon about the size of a grizzly bear appeared.

"Shikamaru, I don't have time to explain how I got the dragon contract but he should be able to make sure you live through this," Naruto said before resuming his mission of helping Sasuke.

"Man, Naruto your way to troublesome for your own good," Shikamaru said as watched Naruto move on.

Naruto rushed through the trees toward Sasuke and Gaara. He racked his brain for a way to try and help Gaara. The main problem Naruto had was he didn't know the root cause of Gaara's instability. Naruto arrived just in time to see Sasuke hit a tree and slump down unconscious. Naruto immediately jumped after Gaara and hit him with all the power he could before Gaara was able to reach Sasuke.

"Why? Why do you interfere," Gaara demanded as turned toward Naruto in his half Shukaku form.

"Because it's my duty as both a shinobi of Konahagakure and as a friend," Naruto replied.

"Why does mother scream so loud for your blood," Gaara asked as he clutched his hand and transformed into a miniature tanuki.

"That is not your mother, nor is it the voice of Shukaku for that matter," Naruto yelled.

The voice in Gaara's head was silent for a moment and then it started screaming at Gaara to kill the blonde kid louder and more maniacal then it had for anyone else. Unknown to the pair of combatants, Temari had just overheard what Naruto told Gaara.

"What is that kid talking about," Temari screamed in her head. "If the voice in Gaara's head isn't the sand demon Shukaku then who's is it?"

"I'll kill you," Gaara screamed as he lunged at Naruto.

Naruto was surprised by the speed that Gaara's transformed state had despite it's size. He was barely able to avoid the first of Gaara's wild swipes but was unable to avoid the backhand that Gaara followed up with. Naruto hit the tree hard. Naruto knew he would be in trouble if he got hit with many more attacks like the last one.

Opting for a different tactic Naruto created Kage Bunshins. The clearing was effectively covered in Naruto clones as a result. Naruto had some of the clones kick Gaara up into the air and have the rest attack Gaara while he was still suspended in the air. Gaara landed with a thud on a tree branch but Naruto knew it would take a lot more to beat the transformed jinchuriki. That was why he had each of the clones attach a exploding note to Gaara during their assault. Naruto barely made it to Sasuke and behind cover before the notes went off.

Naruto was cautious as he made his way back into the clearing. He didn't know to what degree that Gaara's sand was able to protect him from the blast and when dealing with a crazed person that possessed a Bijuu who, incidentally, was sealed inside an unstable redhead, underestimating him would get yourself killed.

"Yes, Uzamaki, I will kill you, I must kill you to prove my existence," came Gaara's semi-demonic voice.

"Why," Naruto asked. "Why do you have to kill me in order to prove your existence?"

"Because I live only for myself and to love only myself," Gaara responded.

"Who's the one that taught you that twisted logic," Naruto asked raiding an eyebrow.

"It is what I have come to find for myself," Gaara started. "My father has sent assassins after me since I was six. My whole village hates and despises me. That is how I found out that everyone else exists for me to kill and as long as I keep killing I have a reason to exist. Now die!!!"

It was at this point that the sand around Gaara exploded outward and then began to take shape. The sand finally stopped shifting in the form a tanuki as big as Gamabunta. Naruto immediately got chakra from Kyuubi and preformed the hand signs for Kuchiyose no jutsu.

"Oy, who summoned me at a time like this," Gamabunta questioned.

"Sorry, Boss, but I need you to help me restrain a possessed jinchuriki," Naruto responded.

"I see. Well, as long as the medium doesn't fall asleep we shouldn't have any problems," Gamabunta stated as he drew his dagger.

It was at this time that Gaara emerged from between Shukaku's eyes and used a jutsu to force himself into dreamland. The tanuki's eyes widened for half a second before he took in a big breath of air and proceeded to shoot out air bullets at Naruto and Gamabunta. Gamabunta responded by jumping over the projectiles and charging at Shukaku. The frog boss managed to take off one of the tanuki's legs at the cost of his dagger but was shocked to see the sand starting to reshape effectively re-growing the lost limb.

"Kid, if we're going to have any chance at beating this thing than we need to wake the medium up. Unfortunately I don't have anything to hold Shukaku down while you go and wake the kid up," Gamabunta yelled right before he countered another batch of air bullets with water bullets of his own.

"Gotcha, Boss," Naruto shouted back. "Kyuubi I need you to give a little more chakra."

"Just be careful. You're already near your body's limit," Kyuubi responded

Naruto once again preformed the Kuchiyose no jutsu as he jumped off of Gamabunta's back. This time he summoned Bahamut.

"Bahamut, I need you to help Gamabunta hold down Shukaku while a wake up his container," Naruto yelled to his summon.

"Alright," Bahamut replied. "Let's go, Gamabunta."

Shukaku was soon unable to move with the two summons holding him down. Naruto jumped down from Bahamut's head onto Shukaku's head. Naruto hit the sand running and started to perform hand seals. He figured now would be as good a time to see if Gaara had any other tenants aside from Shukaku as he woke him up. With Naruto's hands busy with the jutsu and his legs getting tangled in Shukaku's attempt to keep him from waking Gaara, Naruto head-butted Gaara and yelled at him to wake up as he finished his jutsu.

The jutsu created an almost transparent field of chakra that extended outwards. As soon as the field touched Gaara the Shukaku beneath Gaara let out a deafening scream that Naruto knew would be heard in Konaha. As the sand Shukaku disappeared so did Naruto's summons now that there role in the battle was over.

Naruto and Gaara fell to the ground. Naruto was only able to land slightly better than Gaara. Naruto felt exhausted but he knew that Gaara probably felt worse.

"Why? Why can't I kill you," sounded Gaara's stoic voice but it still carried an undertone of exhaustion and fear.

"Because, Gaara, unlike you I have found those that are precious to me and I would rather die than see one of them get hurt," Naruto responded his voice full of determination. "I know your pain all to well. In fact, I almost became just like you."

"How do you know my pain," Gaara asked as he got up.

"Because I too house one of the Bijuu and if you look around you will see that there are people that wish to help you," Naruto said with a sad look in his eyes.

"Who? Who would be willing to help a monster like me," Gaara asked his voice almost sounding desperate.

"For one you are not a monster and from what I can tell your sister would be willing to help you. So would I for that matter," Naruto said pointing to a spot behind Gaara while smiling.

Against his better judgment turned around to see a worried looking Temari half way hiding behind a tree not to far away.

"And how can you help me," Gaara asked as he turned back to Naruto.

"I should be able to fix the seal for Shukaku and if I can't I can bring you to the person who can," Naruto replied.

Gaara nodded in understanding and pulled the top of his shirt off exposing his left shoulder blade. Naruto walked up to Gaara and examined the seal. Naruto mentally cursed whoever put the seal in place. The seal was so poor that even if Shukaku wasn't possessed he would most likely go mad from the stress of the seal. Luckily, Naruto knew how to fix the seal so Shukaku and Gaara could both keep their sanity.

"This is going to hurt," Naruto said right before he did hand signs and then slammed a glowing hand on top of Shukaku's current one.

Gaara shouted out in pain and then fell unconscious. Temari immediately ran out from where she was hiding and caught Gaara.

"He should be fine in a couple of days. His body will need to rest not only from the strain of me changing the seal but from his forced insomnia as well. Now, I suggest you get out of here before any other Leaf shinobi get here," Naruto said when Temari looked at him with her eyes full of concern for her brother.

Right after Naruto finished speaking, Kankuro jumped down next to Temari ready to fight.

"Kankuro, stop. It's over we're leaving," Temari stated as she picked up Gaara and then leapt away.

Shortly after the Suna sibs left, Naruto's world started to spin.

"Fixing that kid's seal put you over the edge. You'll probably be out for awhile," Kyuubi stated.

Naruto managed to give the equivalent of a mental nod before his world went black and he fell to the ground unconscious.


Scene change no jutsu

"I guess this is goodbye then, Sarutobi," said Enma, the boss of the Sandaime Hokage's ape summons.

The ape boss had tried everything he could to save his old friend but even if he had managed to stop Orochimaru's Kusanagi from stabbing and poisoning his summoner then Sarutobi summoning the Shinigami would have killed him anyway.

"It would appear so, Enma," the third replied softly.

The two old friends were startled when they heard a deep laugh. The pair looked toward the sound to see the Shinigami standing there laughing.

"No, I will not be taking your soul for any reason, Sarutobi. You have made mistakes in your life but you have done certain things to curry favor with those higher than me," the Shinigami stated.

Sarutobi and Enma could not believe what they had just heard. Apparently, Sarutobi was not going to die and what's more he had managed to impress some powerful figures. The pair was broken out of their thoughts when they heard a deafening scream.

"Besides, it looks like I am needed elsewhere right now. But before I go, you will indeed live but you will need someone to wake you up from the coma that the poison will put you in," and with that the Shinigami faded from existence.

Almost immediately the Sandaime lost consciousness and Enma left in a puff of smoke.


FIN