Chapter Nine:
The Battle between Brothers… The Beginning!
Naruto lay resting on the floor of his apartment. The time was eight in the morning; Kurenai's team had already left for their first mission as a team. An uneasy feeling caused Naruto to stir, earlier than usual. After a couple attempts at trying to return to sleep, Naruto gave up and went on with his normal routine. Jiraiya's team was due to meet soon. Naruto woke Hinata and after several minutes, the two started off toward the usual meeting place. Naruto however, couldn't seem to shake the uneasy feeling. Lucky for him, he wasn't alone, for his tenant, the mighty demon had also felt uneasy.
"Hey brat!" the demon called out to the boy.
"What? What do you want?" Naruto asked the fox trying hard not to alert Hinata, who was walking beside him, that he was having a conversation with the demon fox.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Kyuubi asked.
"If you mean this unsettling feeling, then yeah, I do. What is it?" Naruto asked.
"I believe it is coming from the place where you and the Uchiha boy had your battle. I sense an evil presence. I also sense that some of your friends are heading that way." The demon told his host.
"What? How can you sense things so far away?" Naruto questioned.
"Even sealed within you, I am a demon. My senses haven't been lost being trapped inside you." Kyuubi replied.
"W-What kind of evil do you sense?" Naruto asked with a worried expression on his face.
"I believe it's the presence of the one who put a seal on you during the exam, in the forest." The demon told the boy.
"Orochimaru! Damn it!" Naruto replied.
"You'd better hurry if you plan on catching up before it's too late!" Kyuubi told Naruto.
"Hinata-chan," Naruto stopped, his face started to sweat.
"W-What is it Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked the blond.
"C-Can you go ahead of me? I-I got to take care of something?" Naruto said not waiting for an answer as he took off running at top speed.
"N-Naruto-kun..." Hinata watched the boy run away. "Something's wrong. Naruto-kun looked really nervous about something," Hinata thought to herself as she headed toward the training ground.
Hinata arrived and she was quickly greeted by Ino. The two waited for several minutes until Jiraiya showed up.
"Hinata, where's Naruto?" Jiraiya looked at the girl with curiosity.
"H-He said he had to take care of something, and then he ran off," Hinata answered. "But sensei, I'm worried. N-Naruto-kun, he looked really nervous about something,"
"It couldn't be," Jiraiya said to himself. "Say Hinata, what direction was Naruto heading off to?" Jiraiya asked the girl. "Please don't say north gate, please not the north gate. That's where the fight was, I've also been feeling an uneasy presence coming from that direction,"
"Naruto-kun, headed for the north gate," Hinata answered.
"Damn, I was afraid of that," Jiraiya thought as he turned to his students. "No, training today, I-I got to go!" Jiraiya said taking off in a hurry toward the north gate.
"Jiraiya-sensei is headed the same way Naruto-kun went, w-what if Naruto-kun's in danger?" Hinata thought to herself.
"Hey Hinata-chan," Ino interrupted. "Want to follow? Something interesting seems to be happening," Ino asked the shy girl. Hinata merely replied with a nod as the two now began to head off in the same direction that Naruto and Jiraiya went.
Meanwhile, Kurenai's team is just coming out of the forest; they've arrived in the Valley of the End.
"So, this is the place where Naruto and the Uchiha fought," Neji said aloud.
"Huh? You mean Naruto and the traitor fought here?" Kiba asked curiously as he began to survey the damaged area. "Damn, must have been one hell of a fight,"
"Sasuke-kun... Naruto..." Sakura thought to herself. Her thoughts were interrupted as a barrage of kunai came racing at the team. The team dodged the attacks and looked up to see three figures standing several feet away from them.
"Hello there, Kurenai-san," The tall, older ninja said with an evil grin.
"W-Who are you?" Kurenai asked, but then suddenly saw the man's face. "No, O-Orochimaru," Kurenai said in shock, fear starting to creep up on her face.
"Orochimaru!" Sakura said turning her head in shock. Suddenly, the team was surprised as the three figures became two. The shortest of the three ninjas had just disappeared. But they wouldn't have to wait long to find the missing ninja. The ninja appeared before the group of genin. The ninja landed a spin kick to both Neji and Kiba knocking them both backward. Then the ninja landed a single blow to Sakura's gut, the punch threw her back, and she hit the ground. The ninja then pulled out and fired kunai at Sakura. Sakura who was still holding her gut in pain looked up to see the kunai racing in at her. She knew she couldn't dodge and simply closed her eyes expecting the end to come. But suddenly clangs of metal could be heard. The pink haired genin opened her eyes to see that the kunai get deflected and an orange blur passed her by and delivered a single kick to the enemy ninja's head. The kick threw the ninja back knocking the mask he was wearing right off. The boy regained his ground and turned his head slightly to regain his composure as well. The Konoha ninjas stood in shock at the sudden arrival.
"Who's there?" Kurenai managed to ask when they looked over and realized that a certain hyperactive, blond had appeared.
"Yo! You guys alright?" Naruto asked turning his head to face the others.
"Naruto!" Sakura only managed to say still shocked. The gazes immediately went back onto the enemy ninja when he started laughing.
"Naruto," the ninja turned his head and then faced the group revealing an evil grin and a pair of Sharingan eyes. "So you came,"
"S-Sasuke," Naruto stuttered.
"So, the Kyuubi brat arrives," Orochimaru said appearing beside Sasuke. "Good, you saved us the trouble. You see we were coming to kill you. But you saved us the trouble of having to go all the way to Konoha. I'm grateful," Orochimaru said smiling wickedly.
"Orochimaru!" Naruto yelled.
"Die Kyuubi brat!" Orochimaru yelled, as he was about to charge. But before he could, Sasuke grabbed him by the arm forcefully, still wearing his evil grin.
"Orochimaru! He is mine to kill," Sasuke said the Snake-Sennin.
"Ah, my apprentice is eager. Very well, you may have the honors," Orochimaru said as he walked back over to where the silent medical ninja, Kabuto stood.
"Naruto, I've come to kill you. So, shall we pick up where we left off last time?" Sasuke said to the blond.
"No, let's start all over. This is a new fight, and you won't beat me Sasuke," Naruto said with confidence.
"Then let's go Naruto!" Sasuke yelled as the two ninjas charged each other. They both pulled out a kunai. The two collided, metal against metal. The two then circled around and fired the kunai at each other at a great speed. The kunai clanged and flew off in different directions as the two former teammates charged in at each other again. The two began with a series of punch-kick combos. The two exchanged punches and kicks, each move landing its mark, connecting with force. The groups of ninja looked on.
"Damn, that Naruto, he and Sasuke are just beating the crap out of each other," Kiba commented on the fight as the two exchanged blows again. The two jumped back away from each other. Sasuke began to perform several quick seals; Naruto was already readying a technique of his own.
"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as seven clones appeared and charged in. Sasuke in the mean time finished his seals.
"Katon: Housenka No Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled firing several fireballs, all of which struck the clones causing them to disappear. Naruto emerged through the smoke and tried to deliver a punch to Sasuke's face. Sasuke however dodged swiftly and then landed a spin kick, the force of the kick sent Naruto flying. Naruto however regained his composure and put on the breaks as he came to a skidding stop. Sasuke took this time to charge up his new signature move as chakra filled his right hand.
"Chidori!" Sasuke said as he charged at Naruto. Naruto however, expected this and already had his move prepared.
"Rasengan!" Naruto said as the blue ball of chakra filled his hand and he charged at Sasuke. The two attacks collided; the force threw the two in opposite directions. They flew back out of control; Orochimaru caught his apprentice and sat him down so he could regain his ground. Meanwhile, familiar hands then caught Naruto as a cloud of smoke filled the area.
"Hey Naruto, don't get careless," the person said dropping Naruto on his butt.
"What? Who's that?" Naruto wondered.
"Orochimaru, I thought I smelled the presence of a snake this morning!" The person yelled.
"Who's speaking?" Orochimaru wondered looking over to the group of Konoha ninjas. "Oh, it's you, Jiraiya," Orochimaru said realizing it was his former teammate as the smoke cleared.
"Ero-Sennin, what are doing here?" Naruto asked looking at his sensei, when suddenly Ino and Hinata dropped down beside Naruto.
"Sorry, Naruto-kun, I told Jiraiya-sensei about what happened and he immediately headed this way," Hinata answered.
"It's alright, Hinata-chan," Naruto told the shy girl.
"Hinata-sama, what are you doing here?" Neji asked his cousin.
"M-Me and Ino followed Jiraiya-sensei when he went after Naruto-kun," Hinata answered.
"Well be careful, Naruto is battling with the Uchiha now," Neji told the arriving ninjas.
"Huh? Sasuke-kun's here?" Ino asked.
"I-Ino..." Sakura weakly said to the blond getting her attention.
"Sakura, what happened?" Ino asked rushing to her friend's side.
"That bastard Sasuke attacked us," Kiba answered.
"S-Sasuke-kun did this?" Ino asked looking at Sakura, who managed to nod.
"Jiraiya, don't interrupt Sasuke-kun's fight!" Orochimaru yelled interrupting the genin.
"Don't you worry; I won't interfere, because I'll have my hands full fighting you," Jiraiya replied.
"Sorry, Jiraiya-sama, but Orochimaru-sama, won't be your opponent," the silver haired sound ninja interrupted. "I will be your opponent,"
"I see, Orochimaru you're still getting others to fight your own fights," Jiraiya added.
"Tools are meant to be used," Orochimaru answered with a smile. Suddenly, the group is interrupted again, by the arrival of another familiar face.
"Yo!" The silver haired Konoha ninja said appearing before the group.
"Kakashi, what are you doing here?" Kurenai asked the arriving ninja.
"I was on my way back from my last mission and I sort of sensed what was going on, I had no idea you were all having this little party," Kakashi answered. "Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi started turning to face the older ninja. "Kabuto, he's mine. You'll get to face Orochimaru after all," Kakashi told the Toad Hermit.
"You hear that?" Jiraiya yelled. "You get to join in the fun after all!" Jiraiya told his former teammate. As all this was going on Naruto and Sasuke had already resumed the fight by landing several more punches to each others body. As this is happening Jiraiya and Orochimaru headed away to begin their fight. Kabuto and Kakashi ran into the forest to begin their fight as well. Kurenai and her team, as well as Hinata and Ino stayed to view Naruto and Sasuke's fight however.
"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as six clones appeared and charged. Sasuke wasted no time destroying them, swiftly and effectively.
"Come on Naruto, this won't work. You already know that," Sasuke told the blond.
"Try this!" Naruto yelled. "Tajuu Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as the area filled with over one hundred clones, they all surrounded and attacked Sasuke. Sasuke quickly jumped into the air and performed several seals.
"Naruto, witness what Orochimaru has taught me!" Sasuke yelled completing his seals. "Katon: Karyu Endan!" Sasuke yelled as he fired down below onto Naruto's clones with an extremely powerful flame blast. All the clones are instantly destroyed and Naruto himself fled from out of the flames, his arms covered his head to avoid taking any of the damage. But as Sasuke landed on his feet, he quickly performed hand seals and prepared yet another attack as Naruto started to recover from the last attack.
"Katon: Goukakyuu No Jutsu!" Sasuke yelled as he fired at Naruto. The flames approached Naruto quickly and began to engulf him, but Naruto was quick to perform some seals of his own.
"Suiton: Suijinheki!" Naruto yelled as a three hundred and sixty degree barrier of water surrounded Naruto and put out the flames. This temporarily threw off Sasuke, allowing Naruto to charge in and try and land another punch. Sasuke was quick to regain his composure and moved, avoiding the punch, and with an evil grin he spun underneath Naruto and kicked him high into the air, and then quickly jumped up after Naruto as he began to mimic a certain taijutsu specialist.
"Shishi Rendan!" Sasuke yelled as his leg drove down into Naruto's chest. Sasuke spun and stopped beside Naruto, breathing heavily trying to regain himself from that last move. He was shocked when Naruto started to laugh and then the word Naruto mutters managed to confuse him further.
"Boom!" Naruto said as he suddenly exploded catching Sasuke in the blast and throwing him wildly, causing him to crash hard into the ground.
"What the hell was that?" Sasuke yelled as he came to a stop and then started to stand slightly holding his left arm, which seemed to receive most of the blast.
Naruto then appeared behind Sasuke and landed a punch that rocked Sasuke allowing Naruto to perform his old signature move.
"Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!" Naruto yelled as six clones appeared and charged at Sasuke each one surrounding him.
"N-Naruto, this move won't work. You're just copying me," Sasuke said to the blond.
"Baka! What move are you thinking of?" Naruto replied.
"What?" Sasuke yelled wide-eyed.
"Kage Bunshin Daibakuha!" Naruto screamed, shocking the raven-haired boy as the clones one by one began to explode throwing Sasuke back and forth, causing him to scream in pain. Sasuke landed on the ground but he immediately staggered to his feet, but once again he was surprised as five Naruto's emerged from out of the ground, exactly the same way, Naruto beat Neji. The five Naruto's then began to attack Sasuke. "U-ZU-MA-KI!" The clones yelled all disappearing after their attacks. Sasuke looked up to see Naruto in the air above him coming down to finish the attack. "Naruto Rendan!" Naruto yelled striking Sasuke with a kick to the head, sending Sasuke down to the ground. But as Sasuke was about to land, he braced himself with his hands and then after hitting the ground he immediately pushed off awkwardly causing him to spin, allowing him to quickly get back on his feet as Naruto landed. The two charged in again, but this time they both landed crushing blows to each others faces. The punches threw the two in opposite directions. This time however, nobody was there to stop them as they both crashed to the ground. The two lay there for several minutes. Finally the two began to rise to their feet breathing heavily, returning to their original stances, and giving each other an intense stare.
"You see Naruto! This is our fight! But this isn't enough! You know what we must do now!" Sasuke yelled at the blond. "You see I know your secret!" Sasuke continued. "Come Naruto! Let's see it! Prove your strength to me!" Sasuke yelled as he activated his curse seal, his body now being surrounded in the eerie, evil, purple aura, as those strange marks appeared all over Sasuke's body.
"I see…." Naruto said as he unzipped his orange jacket and pulled it off. Naruto then took off his Konoha head protector and bundled it with his jacket and tossed it in the direction of his comrades. "Fine if that's how you want it Sasuke!" Naruto shouted as he began to be surrounded by the red chakra. "Keep it together, don't lose control this time," Naruto thought as the blazing, fire like chakra wrapped around his body. The force of the chakra totally obliterated the black shirt Naruto was wearing, leaving his chest bare, his seal fully visible on his navel. Naruto than reached into his pocket and tied another Konoha head protector around his head. But this one, was a little different, it had a scratch in it. Upon seeing it, the raven-haired boy immediately recognized it.
"T-That's my..." Sasuke started.
"Yeah that's right!" Naruto interrupted shouting at his former comrade.
"Are you ready Naruto?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes!" Naruto replied. "Let's see whose strength is real! Sasuke, I will win!" Naruto yelled.
"Come Naruto!" Sasuke yelled as the two ready themselves to strike once again.
Jutsu List
Katon: Housenka No Jutsu - Fire Style: Mythical Fire Phoenix Jutsu
Chidori – One Thousand Birds
Tajuu Kage Bunshin No Jutsu – Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu
Katon: Karyu Endan - Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet
Shishi Rendan – Lion Combo