I Do Not Own Naruto
A/N The reference is at the end of the chapter. The story is being updated. I replace the reference chapter with the update and move it down. I update nearly everyday, because I'm in college working part-time and currently on summer break. I personally find keeping the chapter at the end a little better because then it doesn't confuse people just getting into the story.
"Thoughts"
"Haohmaru, It, Unknown"
"Jutsu"
"Speaking"
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Naruto stood at attention with the other Genin who had won their matches as Hayate spoke, "All of you have one month to prepare cough for your final matches. All of you must come forward and cough pick a number out of this box to cough determine your first match. Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto stepped forward and picked a slip of paper from a small box on in Hayate's hand, "One," Naruto said with a grin.
The other proctors wrote Naruto's name in the "1" slot.
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Sakura watched the proceedings quietly, going over the matches in her mind. After Naruto had been Sasuke-kun's match. With that strange seal active, he was forced to rely entirely on Taijutsu. It had been a close match, but Sasuke-kun had made out in the end.
The next match had been a kid named Lee who had fought with that redhead from sand, "If you talk out of line again, I'll kill you," she remembered what he had said with a quiet whimper. While Lee had held his own for awhile, in the end the redhead had crushed his leg and arm with the sand, more than likely eliminating any chance of a Shinobi career.
Next had been the other boy from sand, the one with the kabuki paint. Almost the entire match had been deception. He had used puppets, of all things, to kill his opponent.
The blond girl from sand had fought with Tenten and one. Tenten was phenomenal with her ability with weapons, but all ranged attacks became useless as the blond specialized in wind jutsu. The blond won by knock-out.
Shikamaru, while lazy, had caught his opponent with the shadow jutsu that made the Nara famous, and knocked him out by forcing his opponent to slam his head repeatedly into the wall.
Neji and Hinata. That was not a fight at all. After a few well-placed jibes at Hinata's already low self-esteem, Hinata had forfeited her match.
"What could I have done?" Sakura thought quietly to herself, "Even Naruto had a trump that even he didn't know about," Sakura thought quietly getting more depressed, "There's only one thing I can do."
Nobody saw the new determined look that had taken over Sakura's face.
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The Ranking looked like this:
Uzumaki Naruto \
Hyuuga Neji /Winner\Winner v. Winner of match 4
Uchiha Sasuke \Winner/
Sabaku no Gaara /
Nara Shikamaru \
Sabaku no Temari /
Sabaku no Kankuro v. Winner of match 3
All of the Genin left the building and Naruto took a stroll towards the hospital. He was going to pay Kiba and Ino a visit.
He mostly wanted to visit Ino to apologize about what had happened inside his mind. He didn't even know he had such dark people in his mind, and he wanted to make sure that there was no permanent damage done to either of them.
Naruto had a lot on his mind, and giving somebody a handicap, especially a comrade, was the absolute last possible thing he wanted to do to anybody.
He strolled along, humming tunelessly to himself, ignoring the odd looks he was given as he made to stop by his apartment. It was time for a long overdue shower.
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As the water fell down Naruto's back in crimson torrents, he noticed that there seemed to be an emptiness inside his head, as if something was missing.
He also had the distinct impression that a snake was coiled to strike, and it made him nervous.
Naruto turned off the water, and grabbed a black shirt with the leaf symbol on it and the pants he had stolen. He was off to the hospital to check up on his friends.
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"Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto's voice barely held firm, "I have been unable to procure documents that pertain to Uzumaki Naruto's mental condition, though he has been reported talking to apparently no one."
"That will have to do," Orochimaru's voice was cold, "I only rest easy that the Kyuubi brat doesn't understand it's newfound power yet."
Kabuto nodded quickly, "Your orders?"
"Proceed as planned, Kabuto-kun," Orochimaru smirked, "At this time in one month, Konoha will be nothing but ash."
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Naruto was confused as he neared the hospital. He could see black tendrils flowing off of him and going somewhere, though he didn't know where.
The seemed to originate from his left hand, and they flowed almost like water. He could actually see that these tendrils worked both ways, some coming to him, and he was sending some out. Going against his better judgment, Naruto followed them.
Following the strange energy up several flights of stairs, Naruto eventually found his way barred by a large man with dirty blond hair, "You bastard!" Naruto felt a fist connect to his stomach, "What did you do to my daughter, Demon?"
Naruto jumped further back, not wanting to hurt the man, "Please, I just want to see some of my friends. I want to make sure that they're all right after our battles!" Naruto franticly called to the man.
"My daughter is not your friend, Bastard!" the man took a long sweep at Naruto, drawing shuriken in the process, "I'll get you for what you did to her!"
The man made to throw the shuriken when a voice called out, "Father, Stop!"
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Ino was in a strange place. It was quiet and peaceful. It was completely devoid of any kind of life or objects, but it felt alive. She looked around and saw a couple black tendrils flowing around the area.
"Where?" Ino started quietly.
"This is many places, Ino-chan," Naruto's voice called to her.
"Naruto?" Ino called.
"Close, but not quite. This is unexpected, isn't it pretty lady?" the voice called out.
"Who are you?" Ino called out, trying to find the source of the voice.
"You know," the voice quietly said, "The boss asked me the same thing when we first met, but I didn't have a name yet."
"What is your name?" Ino cried in frustration.
"Oh, that hurts, Ino-chan," the voice called out, "The boss called my name when he told me to help you."
Ino thought to herself, remembering the scene, "Haohmaru! Get Ino-chan out of here!"
"Bingo!" the voice called gleefully.
"Haohmaru?" Ino said uncertainly.
"Yep!" the voice obviously proud of itself, "Interesting here though. This place is calmer. There is no snoring to wake me up here."
"Haohmaru?" Ino called out again.
"Yeah?"
"What are you doing here?" Ino asked with a small voice.
"Well," Haohmaru sounded nervous, "I'm not really sure. I can still feel the boss, but I'm unable to go back."
Ino developed a tick, "What do you mean you can't go back?!" Ino screamed out.
"I don't know, all right!" Haohmaru spoke again, "So I guess," Haohmaru began slowly, "that I'm stuck here until I can figure out how to go back."
Ino thought that Haohmaru sounded a little too hopeful, "What do you think-"
"Boss Lady has to wake up now 'cause boss is in trouble!" Haohmaru interrupted Ino as she saw the world around her dissolve as she saw her own father draw shuriken and was about read to throw them at Naruto.
"Father, Stop!"
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The man stopped and looked directly at Ino, "But Ino-chan, this bastard came back to finish the job!"
"DAD!" Ino screamed at her father, "Naruto saved me! He's get mental issues that had manifested when I tried to take over!"
The man relaxed slightly, "He does?" he turned back to Naruto who had his face down, "I let this slide for now, boy," the man dipped dangerously, "Say your apologies and get out of here brat!"
Naruto just grinned sheepishly at Ino, "Hey, Ino-chan."
Naruto was knocked to the ground as the man pounded him in the head, "Never talk to my daughter in such a familiar fashion. Got me brat?"