Haven't had any internet connection for the past 5 months, but I'll be updating a few chapters tonight.
This is an Older Naruto fic. It is not a crossover, but some aspects of Mortal Kombat and Daredevil are involved. The prologue should give you an idea as to why
I write to develop my penmanship, so any tips are helpful
I don't own Naruto
Trading Destiny
Chapter 8
"Next match is between Uzumaki Kira and Inuzuka Kiba." Hayate announced. Kira took a deep breath as Kiba and Akamaru got in their fighting position.
"Hmph, this is going to be a good match." Kiba intoned as he smirked. He threw Akamaru a pill and watched as the small dog's fur turned red, before transforming into another Kiba.
"Begin" Hayate announced, jumping a safe distance away.
"Fang over Fang." Kiba announced as both he and Akamaru turned into parallel tornadoes descending on Kira. They both hit with the full ferocity of their attack. Just as they hit, however, an explosion occurred and Kiba and Akamaru got sent in opposite directions. Akamaru was out cold, whilst Kiba slowly stood, trying his hardest to stop his ears from ringing and his head from aching.
"Gwib wub." Kiba heard from behind him. Turning slowly he stood facing Kira, she was pointing her twin weapons at him, waiting for his next move.
"You really did get strong Natsuko." Kiba stated before falling to the concrete and passing out.
He didn't see it, but Kira's face changed from surprised to pissed in a matter of seconds. Her mood had gone from fine to completely agitated. Everyone could sense the change and gave her a wide berth when she left the arena floor.
She stopped right in front of her brother, hands still on weapons, anger showing clearly on her face.
She whispered three words before walking passed him. Only Naruto heard what she said, and his heart ached more than it ever had. He hadn't felt this down since the death of his parents. Though at the time, he had his Sensei and older brother figure to provide support. His sister had no one.
Where were you? The whisper came again. He had asked Kakashi about her upbringing and life. He didn't like what he heard.
Where were you? Her voice asked once more. He heard the pain, the anger, the sorrow, the sadness the fear all in that tone.
Naruto had zoned out and was in his own world until Sakura gently tapped him on the shoulder. "Naruto you okay?" She asked, voice filled with concern.
He snapped out of his thoughts and smiled his grandest smile, rubbing his head slightly as if he were ashamed by his action. "Yes I'm fine, just spaced out for a second." He stated before realising why Sakura asked if he were okay. "I'm up I guess." He continued, before jumping down to the arena floor.
All eyes were on him and each of the participants wanted to see what he was capable of.
"Next match Uzumaki Naruto versus Akamichi Chouji." Hayate announced. "Begin."
"Akamichi-San." Naruto stated, looking in the general direction of Chouji. "If you won this match, do you believe that you could beat your next opponent, or even make Chunin at your current skill level?" Naruto asked, gaining the attention of Chouji and the rest of the personal in the arena.
"Won't know till we try." Chouji stated, getting ready to battle against Naruto.
"I only ask, because I want an honest opinion of yourself." Naruto continued. "Are you Chunin material?" The question left Chouji more confused than ever. Naruto recognised this and decided to elaborate. "At your current skill level, and witnessing the winners of the previous matches, would you say you could defeat any of them? Furthermore, do you believe that you are Chunin material?" Naruto asked, ensuring that he was clear with the question he asked.
Chouji looked around at his team and then at the other participants, looking more at those that won their match. "I, I don't know." He stated.
"Is your own ineptitude the cause or are the others genuinely stronger than you?" Naruto asked.
"Don't listen to him Chouji, you can take him." Ino shouted from the railings, much to the annoyance of Shikamaru.
"I would forfeit here and now, if you honestly believe you can make Chunin." Naruto stated, causing whispers to rise out of the gathered participants.
"Clever bastard, using psychological mind games." Anko stated more to herself than anyone else. Her blood thirsty smirk was evident on her face. Only Naruto heard what she said, the wind delivering it to his ears.
"I don't think I'm strong enough to defeat you, considering who your Sensei is, but that doesn't mean I'm willing to get a free pass either." Chouji responded, before his body shifted into a ball and his head, feet and arms disappeared into the sphere. He rolled towards Naruto at full speed, hoping to squash him beneath his mass.
"I see." Naruto stated before lifting his left hand. At that moment, Chouji could feel his momentum get slower and slower, as if he was going headlong into high wind. He stopped directly in front of Naruto. "I'm sorry Akamichi-San, but thank you for your honesty." Naruto stated before punching the ball and sending it flying towards the wall.
Chouji hit the wall hard and was knocked out cold instantly. His Jutsu dissipated as his original form landed hard on the ground. Naruto bowed at his opponent before making his way up to the railings, leaving the Medical Nins to complete their job.
Where were you? Kira's voice played once more on his mind, he noticed that his sister was looking at him. 'I'm here now. Whenever you need. Whatever you need' He whispered, ensuring that only she could hear.
She had masked it really well, but Naruto felt the tension in her being break. Her anger was still there, but it wasn't as prevalent as before.
"Next match is between Hyuuga Hinata and Hyuuga Neji." Hayate announced, before losing his breathe and going into a coughing fit.
Both contestants made their way to the arena. Naruto noticed the slight cold shivers running through Hinata's being. He knew the outcome before the match would begin.
"Hinata-Sama." Neji stated in a formal acknowledgement.
"Neji Ni-San." She responded, nodding her head slightly.
"You cannot hope to win this match." Neji continued. "Please forfeit." He exclaimed, much to the chagrin of Hinata's Sensei.
Hinata thought for a moment, looking down at the ground all the while.
"You are of the Main Branch, but you will not defeat me, and you know it. Make it easy on yourself and forfeit. You don't stand a chance." Neji continued.
Naruto was observing this in silence. He knew the history behind all the clans in the village. His Sensei ensuring that he understood. H knew that these scars ran deeper than any.
"I, I forfeit." Hinata exclaimed, dropping her head and trying not to let tears fall from her eyes.
Naruto picked it, the girl had zero confidence. Her Sensei was supposed to help in that area, but it seems she hadn't been doing her job.
"Winner by forfeit, Hyuuga Neji." Hayate announced, as both contestants made their way to their teams.
Kurenai went over to the Kunoichi and whispered a few words.
'Weaklings don't last long in this world' Naruto whispered. His words carried to Kurenai who looked around in stunned astonishment.
She heard those words as clear as day, but didn't know whom they came from.
"Next match, Gaara verses Rock Lee." Hayate announced, after the screen stopped on their names.
Gaara was already on the floor, waiting for his opponent. Lee was ecstatic, he had been waiting for his match with little patience.
"Finally, my chance to shine." Lee exclaimed, hopping over the railings and landing across from his opponent.
"The kids dead." Temari exclaimed from her position. Her brother nodded in consent, believing it to be so as well.
"Begin." Hayate shouted before jumping a safe distance away.
Lee stood in his Taijutsu stance, with one hand in front, whilst the other behind his back. He took off in a blink of an eye and closed the distance as quickly as he could, trying to get to his opponent.
Lee's attacks were blocked by the sand coming out of his opponent gourd. His speed was impressive, but the sand was just as quick, if not quicker.
Gaara was trying to capture Lee with his sand. Slowing him enough to get the finishing blow was at the forefront of his mind.
Lee evaded the sand once more before landing on top of the statue, overhanging the arena. "That sand is annoying." He spoke to himself more than anything else.
"Lee." His Sensei, Gai, called out. "Take them off." He continued, following up with a thumbs up pose.
"Hai Sensei." Lee exclaimed, before reaching into his leggings and pulling out some ankle weights.
"Dropping a few pounds isn't going to make a difference." Temari exclaimed with a smirk on her face.
As the weights hit the ground, large twin explosions occurred, causing the smirk to fall from Temari's face. Even Kankuro looked slightly intimidated.
"That feels better." Lee exclaimed, before disappearing and reappearing in front of his opponent. Gaara was not expecting the exponential increase in speed, and was surprised when he felt a fist hit his face, followed by a kick to his mid-section.
Lee had the upper hand for a few seconds before he disappeared from Gaara's sight completely. At that moment, Gaara felt his chin get hit and he was sent into the sky. Lee continued hitting him trying to get him higher and higher. At his peak, Lee disappeared from Gaara's view and reappeared beneath him.
At that moment, Lee vanished then appeared floating, parallel, behind Gaara. Wrapping his bandages over his opponent, Lee descended quickly to the floor head first. He jumped away at the last second, leaving Gaara buried in a shallow hole on the ground.
The participants looked on in stunned silence. Temari and Kankuro had looks of complete shock. They had never seen Gaara bested, not even once.
Lee looked into the hole, only to find a clone made of sand. Gaara reappeared at that moment and gave Lee a thorough beating.
"That it?" Gaara asked as he continued to toy with his opponent.
"What's he doing. Can't he use any Jutsu?" Sakura asked, looking at, she assumed, Lee's Sensei standing next to her.
"Lee doesn't have any Ninjutsu or Genjutsu. His strength is his Taijutsu, he could only use that as his weapon." Gai concluded, keeping an eye on his student getting thrashed. "But the Lotus of Konoha blooms twice." He continued, much to the confusion of Sakura and Shiho.
"What does…"
"Watch." Naruto stated before Sakura could complete her question. Sakura turned back to the arena and witnessed Lee getting dominated by his opponent. It looked like Gaara was toying with him.
"Lee now." Lee looked at his sensei expectantly about to ask something when the sand smashed him against the wall.
At that moment Lee started to glow. He crossed his arms in front of him and everyone could see power emanating from him.
Naruto looked in the direction of Gai. Gai felt his 'stare' and looked at Naruto. Naruto looked back at the fight, observing what was going on.
Lee opened five inner gates before smashing Gaara like a ping pong ball, all around the arena.
At the last instant, Lee smashed Gaara into the ground, causing a large explosion in the arena. The participants looked on in shock, witnessing the destructive power of Lee.
Gaara was still alive, though he had taken a beating.
"His gourd is made out of sand as well?" Sakura asked more than stated. She was completely stunned by how strong Lee actually was. He looked and acted like an idiot, but his power was undeniable.
Lee had cracked most of Gaara's sand armour, and the Genin could see Gaara had a psychotic and mad grin stretched out across his face.
Gaara's sand crept towards the exhausted Lee. Lee's foot and arm got caught. "Sand Coffin." Gaara stated, crushing Lee's arm and leg. The sand kept covering Lee slowly, but suddenly stopped when Gai interfered.
Gaara's sand shield covered him at that moment as he stood up and looked squarely at Gai. "What are you doing?" He asked, anger filling his voice.
"Gaara is the winner by way of interference." Hayate stated
The sand collected around Gaara, as his gourd appeared back in place. "Enough Gaara, you won." Baki stated, looking at his 'student'. Gaara looked at Baki, before disappearing in a sand storm and reappearing next to his team.
The Med Nins came in and took Lee in their care, Gai following hot on their trail.
"Final match. Yakushi Kabuto versus Kinuta Dosu." Hayate announced.
Kabuto looked at his Sensei, whom returned his look with a smirk. "Don't go all out now Kabuto." He stated. Naruto heard the words from his position, but didn't react to them. He knew that there was something off with this particular Konoha Team.
"Hai Sensei." Kabuto responded, smirking slightly.
Dosu and Kabuto lined up against each other. "Begin." Hayate stated, before jumping back a few paces.
The match was pretty ordinary, with Dosu winning by way of knockout. Kabuto used some type of Medical Jutsu. He didn't get a hit on Dosu, and fell away when he got hit by Dosu's arm. Naruto had flinched at the sound, not liking it at all.
"Winner by way of knockout, Kinuta Dosu." Hayate exclaimed. "Could the winners please assemble down on the arena floor below Hokage-Sama." He continued
Everyone stood at the bottom waiting for the Hokage to speak.
"Congratulations on passing the preliminary portion of the second test. The final exam will take place in a months' time." The Hokage exclaimed. He saw the faces on some of the Genin look on in confusion.
"Why do we have to wait?" Naruto asked, looking at the Hokage. He was deliberately being disrespectful, and the Hokage recognised it.
Naruto also wanted to see what his next assignment was, considering he should have been promoted to something higher than Genin. The Hokage sure did pull a fast one, again.
"It allows time for the dignitaries of the other nations to arrive. Future employers would also be in attendance to see which team and furthermore, which Village they should turn to, in order to complete their missions. This would provide them the best opportunity to gauge how strong each Genin is. This would further demonstrate the strength of each Hidden Village." The Hokage stated, sounding somewhat wise in his statement.
"But we're only Genin. Surely 'our' strength wouldn't sway our employers to choose our village for their services?" Naruto asked, a telling smirk on his face.
"Our Genin are our foundation, our will to show the Villages strength openly for everyone to see. The strength of such demonstrate the strength of the Village." The Hokage stated, smiling at Naruto.
"Furthermore, it will give each person time to train. Each of you have demonstrated some of your abilities today, so your opponent will know your strengths and weaknesses." The Hokage continued.
As he was speaking, Ibiki was walking around with a small sack. In the sack were balls with numbers on them and each Genin had to pick one.
"Please tell us what number you got." Ibiki stated, before getting his pen and pad and taking note. Each gave their number and Ibiki showed them the list and what position they would be fighting.
"Here is the list, take a close look." Ibiki stated. "The matches are as follows." He continued. "First match is Naruto versus Neji. The second match is Kira versus Sai. Third match is Shiho versus Dosu. Fourth match is Sasuke versus Gaara. Fifth match is Kankuro versus Shino and lastly Temari versus Shikamaru. Any questions." Ibiki finished, looking at the Genin present.
"We shall see you all in a months' time." The Hokage concluded.
