Protector's pride
SUMMARY: Naruto Uzumaki fought to save his precious people from harm. But he took things seriously very late. This is what happens when the death of one of his precious persons instigate the change in him earlier. This will be an au but will follow cannon pretty closely.
I don't own the series. This story may have some similarities with other stories with same theme but occurrence of that is purely coincidental
TRAINING CONTINUES
CHUNIN EXAM ARC- DAYS TILL EXAM: SIX
Sasuke ducked under the rapid barrage of kicks and punches flying towards him, the sharingan in his eyes swirling rapidly; this was only the second day of his training and he was tired to bone. The training was more brutal than all that he ever experienced. Kakashi was driving him to the brink, his body was already badly bruised, sure sharingan could read the movements and thus predict what will happen but that is useless if you are too slow to react to the prediction.
As another high kick connected with his chest Sasuke was lifted of the surface before slamming down hard. The world seemed to blur for a moment as the pain kicked in. Coughing a bit of blood from his mouth the raven haired teen stood up once more, but as soon as he activated his sharingan again the world seemed explode in color, and all he could see was a rapidly coming punch from the left side too fast for him to dodge. Putting both of his forearms on the line of the punch Sasuke blocked the shot but still was pushed back a bit. He was panting badly now, his arms felt like lead while his body seemed too heavy to carry.
The condition of his student didn't elude Kakashi's eye, he knew anymore taijutsu training would be useless unless Sasuke is rested. "Enough taijutsu training for now," he ordered, before continuing, "you have improved quite a bit especially your reaction speed has but the power behind your attacks are lacking as is the speed." Sasuke crunched his teeth in frustration as the masked jounin continued to point out his mistakes. "but all of them can be remedied and once they are remedied you will be stronger and an all rounded ninja" Kakashi said, his keen eye had picked up the signs of frustration Sasuke was emitting, he knew that the boy had sensed the power in Roshi and longed to have it. 'Don't lust for power Sasuke, don't make the same mistake your ancestor did, people say your clan is cursed with the lust for power prove them wrong' Kakashi thought solemnly, he couldn't on good conscience tell this to Sasuke after all it was his life to live. Quickly deciding to switch the subject Kakashi focused on the aspect of sharingan that bought him his reputation
"Now Sasuke time to learn one of the most important functions of sharingan, copying opponents jutsus, while you must remember this ability doesn't extend up to the blood line jutsus but it doesn't mean with enough practice you can't master three or probably four elements. Something that even Itachi never managed to do." Kakashi said the last sentence simply as bait and to his satisfaction Sasuke took it. The boy stood up one more activating his eyes one tomoe in one eye and two in the other, the eyes had a lot of rooms to improve and Sasuke was determined to achieve it.
Kakashi decided to begin with a c-ranked fire jutsu, which he was sure Sasuke didn't know but could pick up easily. His hands blurred as he made the four required hand seals, 'tiger, ox, rabbit, and tiger' before putting his left hand on the ground, "fire style: ring of fire". Sasuke managed to see the first two hand seals but the last two evaded him and as the fire spread around him creating a perfect ring with waist high fire burning.
"Let me have One more try, sensei" he yelled as the fire jutsu cancelled and Kakashi came to view. Kakashi once again build up the chakra and started the hand seals. Sasuke was waiting for the moment to Kakashi start gathering his chakra, as soon as the process began he pumped chakra to his already active sharingan, and gradually the hands seemed to slow down for him. 'Tiger, ox, rabbit and finally tiger again, Ok I got it' Sasuke thought before he made the hand seals as well. Gathering the chakra in the palm of his hand as Kakashi did Sasuke slammed it on the earth before calling out, "fire style: ring of fire".
Kakashi clapped in approval as the fire circled him capturing him in a ring of fire. "You have managed to copy a c- ranked jutsu just in second try not bad at all." He said approvingly "but can you copy a jutsu from another element." Sasuke had no time to react as he saw once more chakra gather around his sensei this time both of his hands and he had to pump for chakra in his eyes as his sensei made two hand seals, 'snake and the seal of confrontation' in rapid succession as the hands got encased in rock.
"This is earth release: rock fist technique." Kakashi explained the jutsu to his student, "if you can successfully use it in your taijutsu, it will give heavy damage to opponents. Now your turn, make me proud." Sasuke was feeling a bit nervous after all earth was not his element but as he heard his sensei speak the same words as his father once did a raw confidence spread through his veins. He pumped chakra to his fist and quickly made the required hand seals before calling out the jutsu. A thin layer of rock encased his fists before shattering; he tried again only to have the same result. "Fuck" Sasuke cursed out loud as his tenth attempt also ended in vain. He had been so close but in the end he only let Kakashi down just like he let down his parents all those years ago.
"That was a decent try but however it seems earth chakra is not your strong forte." Kakashi said thoughtfully, "maybe you should try this." He made no hand seal this time just projected his chakra out wards and slowly a humming noise was heard and a ball of lightning formed on the palm of his hand. Sasuke's sharingan was already in over drive analyzing the chakra manipulation. He held out his hand pumping chakra at the same time manipulating it to resemble the ball he had seen by his sharingan. And he failed once, twice until the third time a ball of lightning formed on the palm.
'Lightning element huh! Finally someone to pass my heritage to' Kakashi thought enthusiastically, lightning was one of the rarest element in leaf only the Hatake family and his late sensei could use it to such an extent. For more than a decade he was the last one left but finally he had someone to pass his baton on.
WITH NARUTO
Naruto stood opposite Roshi, his body once more covered in Kyuubi's shroud. "Brat, you waste too much time in calling upon nine tail's chakra, while that shall do fine against rookie jounins experienced ones will kill you about a dozen times in that space. But we currently don't have time to continue that exercise, if I am not wrong then the next thing I am going to show you will eat up the remaining days." Roshi commented critically eying the now shrouded Naruto who gave a feral grin in response. Popping the joints of his body Roshi quickly summoned his own chakra shroud.
Naruto watched in amazement as several chakra arms shot from the shroud that covered his sensei. The arms could extend up to a great length and the number was quite high as well, but best part was perhaps the speed they could move in appearing nothing more than blur as Roshi demonstrated the various things these arms allowed him to do. "Awesome, you mean to tell me that I can do it as well." Naruto was already jumping on the balls of his feet; his chakra shroud had receded back to the seal. "Yes! I know that you can, using chakra arms is a move that every jinchuriki can do." Roshi's vocal tone was now a bit distorted as if two voices were speaking at once. He dispelled the chakra and sat down again.
"While every jinchuriki can use chakra arms, the process is not simple, and it will take time to reach a point where you can summon so many and yet fight flawlessly. The chakra arms must be controlled consciously otherwise they will just become hindrance." He explained while Naruto listened attentively, he was still impulsive at times but unlike some months ago he could also stay calm for a prolonged amount of time as well. Once Roshi signaled for Naruto to begin, the boy closed his eyes, consciously trying to draw the chakra sealed within him. One or two minutes later the familiar feeling of burning chakra covering his flesh returned. "Ok I am ready, now what?" he asked excitement bubbling inside him. "Imagine the chakra form a claw and then push it out. The more you concentrate the faster you will gain hang of this." Roshi said offhandedly.
"All right sensei" Naruto called out before he tried to visualize the claw that Roshi had summoned earlier. But the chakra seemed to rebel against his commands. First time he created nothing, simply the cloak consumed too much for Naruto to handle any longer. "Not enough concentration, try again after a short brake." Roshi said from his position. And a burning orange shroud covered his student once more this time much faster than before
Time skip five days, midnight before the chunin exams
A dim light bulb was the only thing preventing the total darkness in a small rundown apartment of konoha. This apartment located just across the hokage monument belonged to none other than Naruto Uzumaki. It had been six days of his training with the four tailed jinchuriki and these six days brought about massive change in him. He had learned more about the nine tailed fox and now seriously he had to rethink the concept of monsters.
'I never would have imagined my life would turn this way, the lonely orphan to the protector of leaf. Life really is a strange thing.' He thought gazing at the array of stars blinking in distance when he was younger he would believe his parents were up there but now he knew better death didn't make people change into stars, death only brought pain.
'BOY YOU DON'T HONESTLY BELIEVE IT, DO YOU? YOU ARE A WEAPON FOR YOUR VILLAGE, THAT'S ALL THERE IS, YOU ARE A MEAN TO HARBOR MY POWER JUST AS THE OTHERS ARE AS THEY HAVE BEEN FOR YEARS, EVEN THAT MONKEY WHO TAUGHT ALL THE PHILOSOPHY HAS SLAUGHTERED COUNTLESS PEOPLE IN THE BIDDING OF ITS JAILOR'S VILLAGE.' The mighty nine tailed beast cut in to his train of thoughts. "Shut up fur ball" Naruto growled, "we have been through this, what happened in the past is different, I am not a weapon. I have friends; I have people who care about me."
"BOY DON'T SHOW FAKE BRAVADO TO ME, I HAVE KNOWN YOU LONGER THAN EVERY ONE ELSE. YOU HAVE NO FRIENDS, THERE IS NO ONE WHO KNOWS THE REAL HIDE BEHIND A MASK AND TRY TO LOVE THEM BUT INSIDE YOU HATE THEM JUST AS MUCH I DO, NOW YOU SEE WHY THIS WORLD MUST BURN?"
"You are lying," Naruto all but shouted, "I have friends. Ino, Sasuke, Kakashi sensei and old man hokage all of them care about me. Teuchi and Ayame are like my family hell Iruka sensei called me his brother. AND I CARE FOR THEM AS WELL." His frustration was growing; while he wore a mask of happiness to the outside it didn't mean he didn't have issues in fact may be he had more than a common people. 'Stupid fox always ruining the mood' Naruto cursed in his mind, but he lacked the venom for deep in his heart he knew he would have become like that as well if the sole reason of his existence would have been to serve others in war.
"Someday I will release you from the dark hatred in your heart, this is a promise nine tails and Naruto Uzumaki never goes back on his promises." Naruto said out loud his frustration slowly evaporating away. But he was restless and was feeling a feeling a terrible urge to visit the hokage monument.
In the dark and damped sewer a large eye opened as the promise reached his ears. In all his life only two people had earned his respect, the blonde immature boy was the second one. He didn't expect the boy to succeed, the world was dark enough to extinguish even the brightest of light, but the important point was after millenniums someone wanted to restore his faith.
PAGE BREAK
Ino had trouble sleeping, she was sore from the tough exercise her dad made her do earlier and yet sleep was eluding her. Thoughts jumbled her mind, some good while some simply horrific, sighing she sat up on the bed. The moon light was flooding her room painting everything silver, but her mind was too busy to think about the view. Memories flooded down as she remembered her childhood though she was barely a teen the bloodshed had toughened her, it burned away her innocence and golden dreams until a dark reality replaced them. Now her squabble with Sakura seemed childish her dieting her fairly tale dreams it all seemed childish every time she closed her eyes she would remember the scene on the bridge the bloodied body of Zabuza and his partner. She wanted to hate them but Kakashi told her not to, he told her this world has only two colors one is gray and another is dark red the color of blood.
Tomorrow she would have to enter the chunin exams and she felt scared. Whether she would admit it or not, she knew deep down that she was the weak link of their team. The romantic in her still hoped that Sasuke would feel attracted to her but that hope was dying every day. For one thing she was certain about her crush that Sasuke will never be attracted to someone weak.
Having nothing to do, she wrapped the night cloak about her before leaving her room. Careful enough not to disturb her parents, Ino opened the door before exiting her building to visit the garden she had built by herself. But her goal was disrupted as her gaze fall on the lone figure sitting on the top yondaime's head. 'Naruto, so you can't sleep either' she thought before moving towards the mountain. While she had fully planned to chat with her whiskered friend, she had to stop herself as she saw Naruto sitting there. Unlike many she had seen various shades of the lonely boy, she had seen him vulnerable, angry or simply his true smile but never before had she seen so peaceful. 'The moon light makes him look so mature and cute' the thought came unbidden to her mind causing her to blush lightly. She stood there for a while simply watching her friend before turning back to her home.
Early morning next day
The first light of morning woke Naruto from the peaceful dream he was having. He had fallen asleep on the Hokage Mountain but it wasn't a first time for him. He groaned loudly as he stretched, his tired muscles protesting against the task. 'One benefit from having the fur ball, my muscles will be back to normal in no time.' He thought even as he dashed for his apartment.
It was after two and half hours a fully refreshed and energized Naruto stood in front of the grave of his beloved teacher. "Hey Iruka sensei guess what, I am taking the chunin exams. You bet I shall crack them in the first try, and then one more step closer to that fancy hat." He announced brightly before his mood grew somber, "I miss you Iruka sensei, I miss you really very much. My life had been good these days and I am friends with the brooding bastard. Who would have thought? But still you know, maybe I was wrong about him, losing you had taught me so much and now I think maybe in his shoes I wouldn't have been so different. I bet you are happy now watching me all matured and grown up huh! It sure feels good but still I wish you were here to watch me grow, I have never known my parents but I wish they were like you big brother, I got to go now but I will come again."
As he walked away from the grave a spiky mane of white hair caught his eye but he passed on without glancing back at the tall man with waist length hair and a red vest standing in front of the least visited grave. By the time Naruto reached the academy, his team mates were already there waiting. Both of them were looking determined. 'Well looks like all three of us are fired up for the exam, Chunin rank here we come.' Naruto thought with an amused grin. "Stop grinning like an idiot and let's go." Sasuke kept his voice composed but a bit of excitement only made Naruto grin wider.
Together they entered the building, the form clenched in their fist. They had only reached the second floor when a large crowd caught Ino's eye. "Why is a crowd forming there? The form says to go to room 301 and this is second floor." She asked Sasuke who had taken the mantle of leadership for the time.
Naruto had already taken a step forward when Sasuke's hand clasped tightly on his shoulder, "whatever you do, don't draw unnecessary attention to our team." Naruto grinned as he stepped forward clearing a bit of crowd before facing a door with the number 301 plastered on it. "What the… how is this even possible?" he asked bewildered, he clearly remembered being in the second floor so no way he could have missed an entire floor.
Then his eyes fell on perhaps the oddest looking boy he had seen with the absolute worst dress sense ever. With the oddest bowl cut and huge eye brows the green spandex wearing boy was simply too taxing for his sensory organs. However his distaste soon transferred into pure fury as he saw two older boys in leaf insignia literally throw the boy back. Even without realizing Naruto took a forward step placing himself between the downed boy and the two bullies, "what the fuck you think you are doing?" he screamed at the two. But the older boys simply flashed their teeth before one of them bent down to poke on Naruto's forehead every word was followed by a poke, "I (poke) am (poke) doing (poke) you (poke) a (poke) bloody favor (poke). So I think you should…gumph." However unfortunately for the boy his little speech got cut off as a fist lodged itself in his belly with considerable force behind it, the boy stumbled backwards before crouching down on his knees, the punch successfully knocked his wind out.
Naruto's jaw was tightly clenched, he hated being looked down upon it was the sole reason he wanted to be hokage once. Although his reason changed long ago, his mentality about this fact didn't and the evidence lodged itself in the older boy's stomach. He had already noticed the incoming punch the older boy's friend sent at him, his right leg had also went up for a snap kick but surprising him another arm clenched around his leg freezing it in the mid air, the same occurred with the older boy's punch. The bushy browed boy was on his feet and in a blink of an eye has managed to come between Naruto and the bully stalling both attacks at the same time. 'Damn, the boy isn't someone to be messed with; I didn't even see him moving.' Naruto thought before he brought his feet down leaving the centre area to meet up with his irate team mates.
Before Naruto even managed to open his mouth a fist bonked him on the head lightly. "Idiot, Sasuke Kun told you to not reveal your ability and there you go jump in a fight." Ino scolded the blonde boy while Sasuke's eyes were locked on to a single object. "Let's go to the correct room, this one is fake, hidden under a genjutsu." he said without even taking his eyes off the green wearing boy, 'so this is the team of a Hyuuga no wonder they are strong, the girl looks weak but I doubt it.'
Team seven had just reached the third floor when a loud boisterous voice from behind interrupted them. Turning back they came face to face with the spandex wearing boy but this time he had his team with it. To Naruto's amusement all of them looked odd, the girl had twin buns on her head making her look like a panda and then the other boy had longer hair than both Ino and Sakura. Forcefully stifling the snicker that was threatening to break out Naruto calmed his features before he focused on the boy who stopped them. "I here challenge you Uchiha, I will prove that my hard work can beat your talent." The boy said with fiery passion in his voice and Naruto caught in his thoughts had missed the first of the challenge. Feeling a bit confused he quickly stood between the two, "hold on a moment folks what just happened here?"
"Rock lee challenged Sasuke kun" Ino replied pointing at the bushy browed boy, she was also freaked out by the sheer size of that brow.
Before Naruto could say any other thing Sasuke strode forward shoving him aside. "I accept the challenge." He announced, his common sense told him this was a bad idea the boy was strong but his Uchiha pride didn't allow him to back off a challenge.
Both combatants dropped into their stances, Sasuke had his sharingan activated. 'His stance favors heavy movement from the leg, so attacks will be mainly in form of kicks' Sasuke analyzed Rock lee's stance critically. He had already seen the agility the boy possessed and combined with the stance, he became a very strong competitor. Rock lee attacked first with a high kick with his left leg, Sasuke had predicted the movement but he had no time to duck, he hastily put his forearm in the way blocking the shot. Mentally wincing at the impact, Sasuke sent a quick jab at the boy who readily blocked and retaliated with a strong kick to chest. Sasuke was pushed a few steps back from that kick and his attention distracted for a moment. This proved to be a very costly mistake as rapid kicks barraged him faster than he had expected, even though his eye managed to predict most of the attacks his speed was too slow compared to the attacks.
'He is too strong for me to beat in straight taijutsu, let's see how he handles a genjutsu.' Sasuke thought while his hands slipped into a seal and his chakra focusing in his sharingan, 'now it's the waiting game.' For a few seconds Sasuke tried to block lee's attack until he caught his opponent's eye. A moment was all that it took as the foreign chakra influenced Lee's brain. Sasuke grinned as the next kick missed him by a mile, his grin widened as his punch hit his mark and the boy crumpled down. But before Sasuke could deliver any more attacks a large turtle popped out startling him.
Naruto had to slap his cheek a few times just to accept what he was seeing, a turtle that big and another person just like Rock lee appearing out of nowhere freaked him out. Thankfully Sasuke had the presence of mind to usher his team away, having spotted Kakashi standing in front of the room 301. "I am here to wish you best of luck guys, remember very few manage to get promoted in the first try so it doesn't matter if you fail and work as a team that will save you where others will fail" Kakashi spoke without even bothering to look away from his book but his voice belied his disinterested look. "Heh, we will do it in the first try, believe it sensei" Naruto announced speaking for all three of them. Kakashi's eye turned into a u shape as he ruffled Naruto's hair affectionately, "make me proud team."
Naruto's mouth fell open as he saw the large auditorium like room filled to brim with people; he couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling that suddenly festered in his body. "We are the youngest here." Ino commented her voice trembling slightly, eyes searching to spot her friends. "Yes, usually jounin senseis don't allow genin to take the test without at least a year worth experience; you could say we are the unlucky bunch." A new voice drawled lazily from the sides. "You mean the lucky bunch don't you Shika?" Naruto asked happy to spot Naara Shikamaru and his team. "That actually is a matter of opinions. This exam is very dangerous, previously contestants have died during the exam, so logic state there is a very good probability of us not making out of it unscathed." Spoke the boy standing beside Shikamaru his eyes covered by sunglass and wearing a large hooded overcoat; he was Shino Aburame heir of the clan Aburame.
"You didn't change a bit Shino, still creepy as ever and you too Chouji." Naruto commented cheerfully, while the other boy nodded still munching on from his chips. His nervousness faded as he interacted with his friends. Before long he heard one more voice he was familiar with, as usual Sakura launched herself at Sasuke only to be rebuffed by Ino. "Hello, Sakura chan how are you?" Naruto called out cheerfully only to be neglected, while he didn't really react outwardly he was tired of being brushed outside in favor of Sasuke. 'I wish Haku chan was here' he thought forlornly, while not like Iruka he did miss Haku very much and Sakura's behavior only enhanced his loneliness. He greeted both Kiba and Hinata normally. Traded insults with Kiba while the girl blushed red. But the impromptu reunion was brought to halt when a silver haired older boy with leaf insignia approached them. "You guys better tone the noise down, being first timers you guys are already targets for older teams." The boy said pushing his glasses a bit higher, "this exam is not a picnic so treat it with seriousness."
Naruto frowned as the silver haired boy delivered his warning, he didn't really like the boy warning them when he was in the competition as well. "Thanks for your advice but who are you?" Sasuke questioned for all nine of the rookies. The boy chuckled as he saw the suspicious glares sent his way, "easy there kids, we are on the same side my name is Kabuto and I thought I should help you guys out seeing as it's your first time on the exam." His easy going attitude had pleased all of the rookies and also attracted the attention of Rock lee and his team. As the older team moved closer the second male on the team shot a venomous glare at the shy Hyuuga heiress and Hinata quickly back pedaled a feat that caught Naruto's eye. However before he could open his mouth the male Hyuuga faced Kabuto. "You offer help but how do you propose to do it?" the hyuuga's voice was calm but Naruto didn't fail to notice the underlying confidence and power in it, this boy was strong and he knew it.
Kabuto had predicted the question so he grinned widely before pulling out a number of cards from his pocket before showing them proudly. "A just question as expected of the genius of Hyuuga clan won't you agree Neji Hyuuga. These cards have all the available information about the participants tell me their names or point them at me I will tell you what I have about them." He announced rather smugly.
'Information so that was what the help was. Can be very helpful indeed if I manage to garner information about the right opponent, I don't need info on the competitors from my village and I don't know any foreign shinobi well let just have a look around' Naruto thought before critically scouting the foreign competitors almost all of them were older than him and held themselves with confidence but nothing he felt bothered about after facing Haku in battle until his eyes locked on with a pair of green eyes. Naruto had to take a step back just from the sheer hostility present in those eyes, a boy no taller than he with flaming red hair and a strange looking jug on his back, a tattoo of kanji love on his left temple. "Who is that boy?"Naruto stammered still unsettled from the look.
Kabuto hid an inward smirk as the blonde boy picked the one he knew he would pick, "that is Gaara of the desert, he is the youngest son of yondaime Kazekage. Well to put it bluntly his mission record is fucking unbelievable here see it yourself." He said before giving one card that presently held information about the boy, "seven b-ranked and two a- ranked but never even scratched how is that even possible?" Ino asked the question that had been plaguing all the rookie genins present. Well everyone except Naruto, his eyes were still locked into Gaara's eyes as he saw scenes of total carnage flash through his mind. 'SNAP OUT OF IT FLESHLING, THAT KID IS THE VESSEL OF ICHIBI AND I BELIEVE HE HAS FALLEN PREY TO THE POWER OF ONE TAILS JUST LIKE YOU WILL FALL ONE DAY.' A booming voice echoed in his mind freeing him from the shock induced trance he was in. but even then he failed to pay attention as others checked information about others, he was stunned at the contrast between himself and another vessel of his age, 'is this what I could have become a vessel of hostile wills but Roshi sensei is nothing like this, he seems to be in control.'
Naruto was broken out of his train of thoughts as he saw one of the sound shinobi rushing at Kabuto with his fist cocked, Kabuto by all appearances seemed to dodge the attack but somehow he was knocked back his glasses fell on the ground while he vomited. "That should teach you bloody tree hugger we sound shinobi are worth ten of you." The mummy styled boy who attacked boasted proudly, "my name is Dosu Kinuta remember my words Konoha shinobis."
Kiba was the first one of the rookies to lash out, "you mummified bastard, I don't care what you think of your selves but I swear I will pay you for the insult." The matter seemed to be escalating until a loud gruff voice interrupted the brawl. "Anymore fighting will result in immediate disqualification so if any of you shrimps wants to fight it out be my guest. But if you want to pass then sit on the benches and wait for further instruction." The tall man in long over coat who seemed to be the examiner barked out loud.
Naruto had met many strong ninja in his relatively short career but this examiner dude had a scary aura far worse than them. He silently gulped before he took his seat near the middle of the class. Once the class had all settled down some chunins entered the class carrying a lot of what seemed to be the exam sheets and started distributing them among the genins. Naruto was already banging his head on the table when the examiner handed him a sheet with questions, despite all his training he had totally ignored the bookish part of being a shinobi and he really hoped the questions will be easy. But one look at the paper and his hopes were tossed out of the window straight in to the dustbin.
The scarred head examiner guy looked around the panic was starting to buildup in the chunin hopefuls and he enjoyed the feeling of helplessness present in them. He savored the feelings for a moment more then he cleared his throat, "listen to the rules carefully maggots I will not repeat them again. Every student starts with ten points the paper in your hand has nine questions for every wrong answer you will lose a point a piece, if any of you are caught cheating then three points will be deducted and any person caught three times a row will be disqualified along with his team. You will be given the tenth question ten minutes before the finishing time, you have one hour, so use it and your time starts now." Morino Ibiki head of Konoha's torture and interrogation department relished in the nervousness of his victims, one of leaf's greatest psychology experts of all time Ibiki turned the minds of his victims against them and slowly breaking them apart, being the proctor of the first examination for chunin exams he could not help but smirk as he saw the frantic attempts of cheating breaking around the room. Even before first ten minutes passed three teams had been disqualified, true if Ibiki wanted he could have disqualified them all but that never were the target.
Naruto tried to concentrate on the paper but his efforts were futile, he had no damn idea how to calculate the range of a kunai thrown from the ground level in ten degree angle which in turn collides with a kunai thrown from the opposite side with 60 km per hour velocity in twelve degree angle from the ground. The following questions were all same; he had no idea about dampening effect that a three pointed seal will cause on a four pointed one. Hell he wasn't even aware of the terms used; only option was to cheat but if caught thrice then his entire team would be disqualified and that he couldn't risk. 'I have to do the tenth answer correctly only then I can pass' he thought with a sigh. Minutes passed in a blur as more and more teams were disqualified. He knew perhaps he was the worst possible candidate for an exam like this but his sheer stubbornness didn't allow him to break down, he even rejected the help Hinata wanted to give after all it wouldn't be too good for her to be disqualified because of his incompetence.
Ibiki grinned as the crowd thinned out and more and more competitors were thrown out, he could see all of them cheating some with bloodlines and some with really creative styles but he kept silent and enjoyed the show cause in the end these won't even matter. The alarm sounded beside him to let him know his time for the main course has come. "All right you little snots time for the last question, for this we have a special rule in play; you can choose whether you wish to take the question or not. However if you back off then you and your team will be disqualified and if you take it and then answer wrongly then you can't take chunin exams ever again." He spoke loudly while mentally counting the seconds for the incredulous cries to break out. "You cannot do it many have taken the exams more than once" some genin shouted from the back while the others also agreed. Grinning inwardly Ibiki let loose a bit of killer intent quickly stifling the cries of protestations, "I don't care what you brats may think but in this exam my words are law and if you want to challenge them then by all means proceed who am I to care?"
Naruto couldn't really trust his ears without taking the question he will cause his team to fail but he answered wrongly then he would doom his team. 'I don't get it even after all these training, I fail like a loser. I am still being the dead last from the academy.' His thoughts surged out drowning his comprehension as one by one the teams left the room unable to risk their career. The defeated look in their eyes triggered something deep in his heart a flame so bright that could rival a sun. He knew every second that passes the decision will only be tougher for him and his team. When situations push a man to the brink of breaking down he becomes capable of things thought to be unbelievable and that was same thing that happened to the young Uzumaki.
Arms clenched tightly into fist Naruto slammed it down on the desk in front of him cracking it, "I don't care if I can't take the exams anymore; I will become hokage straight from genin and write it down scar face Uzumaki Naruto never backs down." He roared, his passion burning in his voice, immediately cleansing the remaining genins of their fear.
Ibiki cursed silently in his mind as a single boy destroyed the game he had set up carefully, "very well Uzumaki Naruto, those who remain pass this test." He finally said, while thinking inward 'I will watch over you Naruto Uzumaki, the strangest jinchuriki ever.'
AUTHOR'S NOTE: HI GUYS MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. WITH THIS CHAPTER MY CHUNIN ARC BEGIN BUT I HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS WHICH I NEED THE ANSWERS FROM YOU GUYS. 1. WOULD YOU GUYS PREFER A FIGHT BETWEEN ROSHI AND KIMIMARO OR GAI AND KAKASHI VS. KIMIMARO?
2. FIGHT BETWEEN SANDAIME AND OROCHIMARU AS IN THE CANNON OR FIGHT BETWEEN JIRIAYA AND OROCHIMARU WHILE SANDAIME DEALS WITH THE EDO TENSAI.
NOW ONTO THE RESULT OF THE POLL ABOUT SECOND ELEMENT THIS POLL IS STILL OPEN AND WILL REMAIN SO UNTIL THE END OF THE FIRST PART
WATER: 1+1+1+1+1+1+1=7
EARTH: 1+1+1+1+1=5
LIGHTNING: 1+1+1=3
FIRE: 0
STILL RFDN,THE OFFSPRING FF HAVE BOTH GIVEN VERY GOOD LOGIC FOR CHOOSING EARTH WHILE LORD ORION SALAZAR AND RED HAVE GIVEN GOOD LOGIC TO CHOOSE WATER SO ITS STILL A TIE BETWEEN THESE TWO PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS WANT AND ANY THING YOU THINK OF MY STORY BE IT GOOD OR BAD. SO READ AND REVIEW, MY THANKS TO EVERY ONE WHO HAS TAKEN TIME TO REVIEW OR FAVORITE OR FOLLOW.
NOW ON DIFFERENT ISSUE I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY MOKUTON IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO CONTROL JUUBI AND HOW JUUBI CAN USE MOKUTON.
THIS IS MY THEORY FOR IT: SHARINGAN IS ULTIMATE FORM OF SPIRITUAL POWER AS KISHIMOTO HAVE SHOWN US THEN IS MOKUTON THE ULTIMATE FORM OF PHYSICAL CHAKRA IF THAT SO THEN WHY IS EARTH AND WATER NEEDED. AND IF MOKUTON SUPPRESSES A TAILED BEAST'S CHAKRA THEN WHY DID THE ZETSU CLONES REACT LIKE THAT TO A KYUUBI MODE NARUTO. IT IS BECOMING MORE CONFUSING AS MORE CHAPTERS COME OUT ANYWAY I LOVED THE WAY NEJI FELL IT WAS A HERO'S DEATH. RIP NEJI HYUUGA.