Start Chapter 10
Well what could have been a huge disaster turned out to be nothing more than a small bump in the road. Naruto handled it extremely well and the Hokage couldn't help, but feel proud of him. For now we can take a break, but we still have a lot of work to do if we want to be ready for the impending attack. Hopefully Naruto is able to handle this Gaara character because I have a feeling they will meet in battle.
At the Mission Hall
The Third Hokage looks at Naruto and Iruka before saying, "No missions for you two until the end of the Chuunin Exams. I want you to train, so you're ready in case any trouble arises." Naruto sighs feeling slightly let down, but knows it necessary. After the Hokage waves them off, the two leave the mission hall for the training ground.
Walking through the city the two notice an increased presence of ninja on the rooftops, "I guess this Chuunin Exam is going to be a big deal."
Iruka nods at his student, "Yeah, it should be a sight to see when the finals come up. It's always a huge ordeal with all the dignitaries and other ninja spectators. Maybe you'll see some of your old classmates at it?" Naruto shrugs his shoulders as they approach the base of the training ground.
Not thinking, the blonde walks right into a black-garbed ninja with purple war paint on his face. Naruto realizes his blunder and says, "Sorry about that I should've been paying close attention." He looks to see a blonde girl with a fan strapped across her back and the same redhead from the Sand Village, "You guys must be here for the Chuunin Exam right?" They nod and Naruto continues, "Well good luck." The trio nods and the two groups continue on their ways to their destinations. Once Naruto and Iruka reach the training ground the blonde Genin asks, "So what's today's special? Sparring, chakra control, maybe a little Shougi?"
The Jounin shakes his head, "No ninjutsu, specifically water-styles and fire-styles." Iruka continues, "I'm going to try and teach you one of each for the next few days, in addition to regular training. First up we're going to a defensive technique for water style, it's called Water-Style: Water Wall." Naruto and Iruka go over the basics of the jutsu before heading over to the waterfall for a practical demonstration, "Now I'm going to do it, watch closely." The brown-haired man slowly makes the hand seals before calling out, "Water-Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" A decent sized barrier of water encircles the Jounin and after a few seconds it falls down, "Now give it a try."
The blonde sighs and walks atop the water before making the hand seals slowly and gathering his chakra, "Water-Style: Water Wall Jutsu!" On his first try he manages to get the water to come up to about ankle level at different areas around him, "Not too bad, but at least part of my ankles will be safe." Chuckling dryly he gets back to work on practicing the technique. As time goes on he is able to get the water to encircle him completely and rise up above his head, "Is there any way to thicken the wall so things can't pass through it?"
Iruka nods, "Yes and no, it's no entirely impenetrable, but you can make it stronger by increasing the thickness of the circle by drawing on more water. You kind of have to picture it in your head while adding more chakra at first, and then it will become second nature." Naruto looks at his mentor before taking another stab at the jutsu this time trying to add some thickness to it. After a while, Iruka says, "I think that's enough for today as far as that goes, let's work on that fire ninjutsu. It's called Fire-Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu. It was known as a signature jutsu of the Uchiha Clan while they were still around. However, eventually it slipped out into the mainstream." Making hand seals and taking a deep breath Iruka creates a large ball of flames from his mouth that happens over the water, "Now I want you to practice it like this, and remember it's just like that sparks jutsu I showed you as far as breathing goes."
They go over the technique and Naruto gives it a go screaming in his head, "Fire-Style: Grand Fireball Jutsu!" Blowing out a small kickball sized sphere of flames Naruto feels like that's a good start, "Well I can't wait until the burns finally set it." Laughing it off he goes back to practicing the new ninjutsu for a little while. Eventually the blonde Genin gets that jutsu down pat and they move onto some combat training like last time.
That Night
Naruto gargles cold water in his throat before swallowing it to ease his singed esophagus. Looking in his bathroom mirror the blonde notices his lips are still slightly red and he sighs, "Fire ninjutsu are a fucking bitch to practice. Hopefully I can get them down quickly as that one today." Wiping off his mouth he heads to his room and pulls out a book on ninja history. Turning to the chapter he left off on the Genin sees a picture of the Fourth Hokage and looks a little sad, "Am I making you proud dad?" He takes a look out of the window to the full moon before turning the page and starting to read for a little while.
A Month or so Later
The blonde Genin stands in front of the Chuunin stadium with his Jounin mentor looking confident, "Well today's the big day." They nod at each other knowing what's really meant by that and head into the stadium making their way to spectator seating.
Approaching their seats they see some of Iruka's fellow Jounin ready to watch their students in action. Naruto recognizes one of them as Kakashi Hatake, a student of his father's, but decides to stay quiet. The pair sits down and as the opening ceremony ends they see Neji Hyuuga and a Sound Genin ready to square off. Once they've been given the signal to go Neji immediately settles into a Hyuuga specific stance before saying, "You're in range of my divination… Eight Trigrams: Sixty Four Palms." The Hyuuga takes a breath as the Sound Genin is paralyzed where he stands. Neji begins showering him with finger taps that seal off his chakra points. Naruto watches in amazement and sees the Sound Genin spit up blood before passing out.
The proctor checks the Sound contestant before saying, "Neji Hyuuga is the winner!" The crowd roars and the genius walks off as his opponent is carried off in a stretcher, "Now for Kankuro and Shino." The dark robed boy from the other week calls out a forfeit and the proctor nods, "Alright then, will Gaara of the Sand and Sasuke Uchiha please step into the arena." Naruto's old rival steps into the battle ground in black clothing and lined up from him is the one-tail's container, "Alright you know the rules, begin!"
Sasuke quickly throws several kunai, but a wall of sand stops the projectiles defending Gaara. In the blink of an eye Sasuke launches towards the Sand Genin trying to engage him with taijutsu. However, Gaara doesn't even bat an eye as his ultimate defense protects him automatically. Jumping back Sasuke makes several hand seals that Naruto recognizes, "Fire-Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" Multiple balls of fire launch at the redhead and sand erupts from his gourd to stop it, but the shuriken hidden in the flames nearly make contact. Gaara grows impatient and soon a ball of sand begins encasing him; Sasuke sees this and makes his way towards his opponent. He hits a spinning kick that is stopped cold by an iron like barrier spikes of sand erupt from it and one of them manages to graze Sasuke. Clicking his teeth he back flips to the wall and goes up about midway before making a series of hand seals. A loud chirping sound echoes through the arena as a ball of what appears to be lightning forms in his hand, "Chidori!" He cries out and he jets towards the ball of sand leaving destruction in his wake. With his Sharingan blazing his jab of lightning pierces the dome and a shriek of pain erupts from within. The ball of hard sand falls and a different, almost demonic-looking Gaara comes out panting. Blood pours from his shoulder that he clutches before something happens.
Naruto feels tired suddenly and recognizes this as a Genjutsu, "Release!" He says and the feeling of drowsiness disappears. Looking up to the Hokage box he sees the Third and the Kazekage staring each other down from within a purple barrier. The blonde clicks his teeth and looks to the wall to see Gaara and his two siblings on top before jumping down into the forest. Deciding to chase them while they're weak Naruto heads out into the forest from the nearest entrance. He channels a little chakra to his nose to enhance his sense of smell to pick up on blood. Catching a large whiff of it moving further away he heads in that general direction.
A Little While Later in the Heart of the Forest
The blonde Genin catches up to the Sand Trio before quietly speeding up and knocking out Gaara's siblings from behind. The redhead jumps to a nearby branch before turning around, "You, I've seen you before."
Naruto smiles, "Good to see you have a decent memory, let's cut to the chase shall we?" Drawing a kunai Naruto prepares to engage the one-tailed container. Jetting towards the Sand ninja he aims several blows that are easily blocked by the ultimate defense. It goes to grab him, but the blonde is able to get away. Settling back on a branch and thinking quickly Naruto decides to make things a little easier on him, "I feel heavy; maybe I should lose some weight." Clicking the weights under his black top and pants he lets them drop to the ground. They make a memorable impact as they create craters in the earth under them, "Now I can move freely!" In a blur Naruto hits Gaara with a spinning kick to the head before landing a haymaker that sends the redhead careening back into a tree.
His body makes a resounding thump and he realizes his sand cannot keep up with the blonde's insane speed. Knowing that he's wounded and outclassed he decides to do what he came here for, "Shukaku I need you!"
Naruto looks over and is soon engulfed in a cloud of smoke before backing out of it. He sees a large shadow within in it and knows that Gaara has let out the beast within him, "Oh shit, I have nothing to defend against him." A rumble from within tells him otherwise, "Nine-tails I may need some of your chakra if we're going to live." The beast says fine and begins trickling some chakra into Naruto's system, "I need to wake him up somehow if he's used that forced sleep technique Iruka was talking about." Feeling the great rush of energy Naruto capitalizes on the opportunity before him and makes his way up the side of the demon. Keeping away from the sand attacking him and trying to move faster than it can make him sink he arrives at the summit atop the one-tail's head. Seeing Gaara atop of it clearly unconscious he jets towards the red head avoiding the sand coming at him. He head-butts Gaara hard drawing blood and the beast stops before crumbling beneath them. Naruto realizes what's going on and grabs Gaara while the beast still has a form to make his way down safely. With not a second to spare Naruto reaches a treetop before the entire creature collapses into a pile of sand. Breathing a sigh of relief Naruto makes his way down laying Gaara with his siblings, "You rest here and if you ever even get the notion of trying to attack the leaf village remember the name Naruto Uzumaki." Gaara nods weakly out of fear and Naruto turns around to see the village seemingly at peace.
Near the Gates of the Leaf Village
Naruto is making his way back and once he's at the gates he sees the Hokage Mountain. A crack is running along the nose of the Third Hokage, "Oh no… Old Man Hokage!" Going into an all-out sprint to the Chuunin stadium Naruto sees a crowd gathered at the rooftop, "No!" He joins to crowd and makes his way to the front to see the elderly leader pale, but with a contented smile on his face. A figure that looks a lot like Orochimaru lies next to him clearly also stripped of his life, but with a shocked expression. Something hits Naruto hard in his heart as he sees the student and teacher pair laying side by side in death. Naruto looks up at Iruka who has joined the crowd of ninja, "The Old Man wanted to die here with Orochimaru didn't he?" Iruka nods solemnly, "I stopped Gaara from reaching the village in his fully released form, and I don't think he's coming back anytime soon."
Looking at his student in surprise the Jounin says, "You were the one that stopped the Shukaku?"
Naruto feels confused, "Um, yeah and I managed to knock out his siblings too why?"
Iruka sighs, "Kakashi sent Sasuke and Sakura after him with a few others and they haven't returned yet." Looking over he sees the group returning without a scratch, "Never mind they're back safe and sound, so we can rest easy for the time being. Naruto I want you to take a few days off, I think we'll both need it to deal with our feelings." Looking at the Hokage they share a collective moment of silence with the other ninja present.
After the Funeral
Naruto is leaving the area of the funeral as he is approached by a large man he recognizes as, "Jiraiya of the Sannin, I'm guessing you're here to pay your respects as well?"
The large Toad Sage nods, "Yes, but I also come bearing news. You're being summoned by the council for a meeting." Naruto nods in understanding before heading towards the Hokage building.
Inside of the Hokage's Office
Naruto stays seated in a comfortable chair as he listens to the councilwoman's words, "You are being promoted to Chuunin for your actions during the invasion. We saw the report and your file and we are fully convinced that you are worthy of this new rank." Pausing she motions for Naruto to get up and the blonde kneels with his head bowed, "Naruto Uzumaki do you accept the rank of Chuunin as a ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village and the responsibilities that come with this title?"
The blonde smiles, "I do accept the rank."
Looking down at the now Chuunin the Councilwoman says, "Then I hereby pronounce you Naruto Uzumaki as a Chuunin of the Hidden Leaf Village." Pausing for a second to think she continues, "We expect great things from you Naruto; show us what you're capable of. You can leave now."
Naruto gets up and bows before taking his exit through the door. He sees Iruka standing there smiling in pride, "Good job Naruto, how about some Ichiraku to celebrate?" Naruto glows at that idea and the two head towards the eatery for a celebratory meal…
End Chapter 10 and the Course to Chuunin Arc