A/N: So, before we begin, I'd like to address something. Every single person that favorites, watches, or reviews is special to me. But today I got a very special review from a guy. It was positive on the idea front, but he said I stuck too much to canon, and that it felt like Naruto wasn't really gaining much from having Eggman, Zabuza, Haku, and an army of robots on his side.
To that person...I want to thank them. Publically. As much as I love praise on my works, it's even more important that I hear criticism so I can improve. Things will start ramping up at this point in the story, diverging from canon, as I felt that if I went too over the top with Sonic elements too soon, people would complain. Fun fact, Naruto was originally going to discover a Lake of Rings in The Forest of Death. I hope you'll stick around for more pal, because from here on out, things are gonna get crazier!
And so without further ado, let's get started with Chapter 11! Oh, and see if you can spot the obscure reference here!
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
The time had come. The Chuunin Exam finals had arrived. Important people from all over the Countries had come to Konoha to watch the most promising set of ninja in a long time. Most whispers included Sasuke Uchiha, whom was rumored to have encountered a missing-nin in the Forest of Death and lived. But the dominating topic for several of the visitors, including the Daimyo of the Land of Waves and merchants from the same land, was the young man who had helped them all; Naruto Uzumaki was competing, and while the majority of natives to Konoha had little hope of the blonde making it past the first round with the Hyuuga prodigy Neji, but the dignitaries from Wave knew that the blonde could be...surprising.
As the stadium filled up, the genin filed into the arena. Neji was early, of course, standing tall and with pride. Slowly, Kankurou, Temari, and Gaara showed their faces, looking ice cold, shortly followed by Shino, and then finally Shikamaru. Naruto and Sasuke still hadn't shown up when the proctor, one Genma Shiranui, stepped forward, senbon in his mouth like a toothpick.
"Alright!" He called as the stadium filled up. "I am the proctor for the final exam!" he called, and everyone (except Shikamaru) stood up a little straighter. "The first match is, Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuuga." Genma sighed. "Where is Uzumaki?"
Neji was about to smirk arrogantly and say something snide, when music began to pour into the stadium, causing everyone to look around wildly, even the ninja. (Please play E.G.G.M.A.N. From Sonic Adventure 2 here)
Naruto strode into the arena, glasses shining in the sunlight as he tightened his gloves, a massive, almost maniacal grin on his face as he strode into the semi-circle of genin, crossing his arms behind his back and bouncing on the balls of his feet.
"Naruto Uzumaki Robotnik here. Ready for my match, as per usual." He said with a tilt of the head. Up in the audience, Hinata couldn't help but smile as her worry dissipated. Elsewhere, Hiashi Hyuuga glared at the blonde with barely restrained malice.
"Well then, since we got the first two competitors here, everyone else go up to the examinee's box." He pointed to the staircase, where the ninja obediently filed away. "Now, the rules are the same as the preliminaries. Fight until one of you is unable to or in the event of a forfeit. Now...BEGIN!" The crowd roared as the finals were, at long last, underway.
Neji and Naruto stared each other down, Neji's face one of casual disdain, and Naruto never losing that grin or posture.
"You should forfeit." Neji sneered. "A failure will always be a failure. You will never be able to surpass a genius like me. This battle was already decided by fate."
Naruto chuckled at that, then began to laugh out loud as he tried to contain his hilarity, grabbing his belly as Neji looked on confused.
"Oh my, you're actually serious?" Naruto asked with another chuckle. He straightened up as his grin disappeared, replaced with a snarl of barely-contained rage. "No, Neji. If you thought your stupid little tactic of getting me to quit by talking of all things was going to work, you must be even more dumb than you look." He extended a fist, the same fist that had touched Hinata's blood in the preliminaries. "I made a promise to stomp you into the dirt and I intend to keep it. So cut the un-ninja-like posturing and actually fight me, you coward!"
Neji bristled slightly at the insult as Naruto made a few Shadow Clones and charged for Neji, chakra blades bursting to life as Neji activated his Byakugan. In one fell movement, he grabbed both lunging Narutos by the wrist and threw them away, making them dissipate as Naruto simply watched, making more as he watched Neji dismantle them one by one, only adjusting his glasses as the Narutos attempted to throw kunai at the Hyuuga, who caught them flawlessly.
"Can't you see it's hopeless?" Neji growled, not even breathing hard. "I am a genius, while you are nothing but a failure. Fate branded us from the day we were-" His monologue was interrupted by a much faster punch from Naruto, grazing him and sending him back.
"Yeah yeah, fate, blah blah, battle decided. I'm tired of hearing you talk, Neji." Naruto cracked his neck. As another dozen blonde heads appeared around Neji in a circle. "Why don't you keep fighting?" And with that, the blondes charged, blades ready to strike. Neji simply smirked and began to spin.
"Eight Triagrams: Rotation!" he called out as a wave of chakra quickly became a massive orb surrounding the Hyuuga, making sparks fly from the blades aimed for him before knocking him away.
"Hm...A very high-class Hyuuga technique." Naruto said casually, his mind still working as he stepped closer, into the small crater Neji had made. "You know, for someone so focused on fate, you seem to be fighting it tooth and nail. Born into the branch family, learning techniques meant for the main family..."
Neji snarled. "There is nothing but fate! It decides everything from the moment we are born! And you are a failure, as shown when you stepped within my field of divination." The Hyuuga in the crowd immediately went to the front of their seat as Neji lunged, hands a blur as he struck Naruto. "Eight Triagrams, Sixty Four Palms!" A strike, and Naruto was driven back, but Neji wasn't done. "Two Palms!" Another two strikes. "Four Palms!" Four this time, doubling every time. "Eight palms! Sixteen Palms! Thirty two palms! EIGHT TRIAGRAMS SIXTY FOUR PALMS!" A barrage of strikes to the chakra network, and Naruto collapsed.
"Call the match, proctor. He won't be getting up." Genma raised an eyebrow as he raised his hand to call the match, when Naruto disappeared. "What?"
"Surprise, you thick-headed fool!" Naruto shouted as he jumped from a tree and decked Neji in the face, knocking him to his rear. "Fooled by a simple Shadow Clone." Neji growled and shot up, trying to hit Naruto with Jyuuken strike, which Naruto simply dodged.
"You're faster than before...what's happening!?" Neji asked incredulously as Naruto effortlessly smacked his hand away before kneeing him in the chest.
"Simple, my dear Neji. I'm no longer holding back. The time for holding back is over for me." He swung his chakra blades, and Neji was forced to perform another Rotation in order to keep the sharp implements from cutting him. Naruto grinned as he examined the jutsu again.
"Impossible! You cannot fight fate!" Neji snarled with uncharacteristic rage as he tore off his headband, a strange seal stamped on his forehead. "Because my father was born after his brother, he was sorted into the branch house while my uncle was made into the head of the clan!" Naruto sighed as Neji threw the headband to the ground. "Do you know what this seal is, Uzumaki? It is the sign of subservience of the branch house. At any moment, a main family member can use a simple handsign to cause us great pain or even kill us. And if we are to die, the seal will also seal our eyes so they won't be stolen by the enemy."
"Is there a point to this story?" Naruto said obliquely, looking bored. "Because all it shows me is that Hinata is far braver than you, or anyone else, give her credit for, since she could've used the seal on you during the preliminaries, but didn't."
Neji scowled harder at Naruto brushing off his story. "My fate, as well as my father's was decided the moment he was born. One day, an emmisary from the Village of the Clouds, Kumogakure, came to our village on Hinata-sama's third birthday. He was supposed to be a diplomat, advocating peace, but his true mission was to kidnap Hinata-Sama and take her back to Kumo." Those from the cloud village squirmed slightly at this as the other villages' ninja looked at them, as well as the civilians in attendance. "My Uncle Hiashi-sama struck him down with a single blow, and like that, the villages were on the brink of war. Kumo wanted my uncle's corpse for their diplomat's life, but the main family couldn't allow the Byakugan to fall into the hands of our enemies, so the main family decided to sacrifice my father instead! All because he was of the branch family! Born into it! Born into a fate he could not avoid!" Neji was now breathing heavily, as Naruto yawned.
"What do I know of fate?" He said slowly, adjusting his glasses. "From the moment I was born, I was hated. Cursed, you could say. Bright orange was the only thing I could wear because the populace thought it would get me assassinated through sheer visibility. But I overcame their petty hatred." Naruto blasted forward, knocked Neji's defending hands away, and punched him in the jaw. He followed up with a powerful kick upwards as Naruto summoned a few shadow clones, which continued the onslaught of punches and kicks, which Neji was now hard-pressed to defend against. Any time one shadow clone fell, another would take it's place. "I carry within me a great secret! And I say, no more secrets! No more hiding my birthright. I am Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze Robotnik! Son of the Fourth Hokage! I took their hatred and made it my strength! I took their stares and I swore to turn them into admiration." The Shadow clones suddenly dispersed on their own, leaving Neji bruised, but still standing.
The crowd was in an uproar at this point, the ninja from Iwa staring at the blonde with renewed interest, if not outright fear. Other villages were in awe that the legendary Fourth Hokage had a son, and that he could be hated as the boy himself said. And Konoha? Well, many of the native spectators were trying to look as small as possible.
Neji spat at the ground, noticing the distance between he and Naruto with a smirk. "What is your point?"
"You say I was born to be a failure. So did everyone else who looked at me with hate in their eyes. But I would not back down. If fate chose me to be a failure, then I would KILL fate, and make my own destiny." Naruto yelled. "I will be more than what fate has decided for me. There is no fate but what we make. If you choose to stay in the path that is chosen for you, than you choose to wear fate's leash. I do as I choose, and I answer to no one! And when I beat fate and become Hokage, I will repair the Hyuuga clan!"
Neji simply snorted in derision. "If you want to fight fate, then you will die. I will prove it to you!" He charged at Naruto, the EggFox simply scowling and dodging the strike smoothly. Neji transitioned to a palm strike aimed at Naruto's heart, but Naruto simply activated his burst shield, knocking Neji back. The two separated, huffing and puffing. The blonde slowly took off his gloves, revealing a...device, attached to his hand and covered in seals, a red light on it coming to life.
"This has been fun, Neji. But it's time to end this." The light turned to blue as Naruto concentrated, chakra swirling into the device. Neji took a step back as the sheer amount of it burned in his Byakugan. "EggFox Style: DEVASTATION LASER!" The chakra blasted forward as a blue beam of destruction, Neji quickly going into a Rotation to try to divert the attack. The two chakra structures collided, wind kicking up as the attacks collided. The rotation kept the laser at bay, but Naruto grinned through gritted teeth as the chakra laser suddenly came to life, twisting and turning until it became a spiral, spinning and spinning and spinning until, like a drill, it crashed through the obstruction, and straight into the arrogant Hyuuga, sending him spinning into the wall, and then the ground.
Neji tried to stand, but only collapsed, coughing. "Go ahead...You promised her, right? Finish it."
"No." Neji blinked and looked up at the stern face of the EggFox. "Believe me, I would like nothing more than to stomp you into the dirt some more, but you're beaten. Hinata still cares about you. She still calls you Neji-niisan, despite what you did. And as much as I would love to laser a hole in your head, that wouldn't go over well."
"H-Hinata-sama...I don't understand..." His eyes travelled to Hinata in the stands, and then back to the blonde. "How did you do it? How did you...fight fate?"
"Because I don't follow anyone's path but my own. If fate chooses a path I don't like, then I carve my own with my bare hands. You can do it too you know. Because unlike me, you weren't fated to be a failure. Show me your genius in the future, Neji. If you still want to fight in the future, I'll be waiting." Naruto walked away with a swish of the tails on his jacket and Neji fell unconscious.
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki..." Naruto threw a glare in Genma's direction. After a second or two, Genma coughed. "Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze Robotnik!" The response from the crowd was mixed. Those from Iwa or Kumo booed and hissed at him, while those from other countries cheered for him raucously, especially those from Wave. The home crowd was torn, with the younger ones in the audience looking down at Naruto questioningly, while the adults either looked sad or incredibly guilty. Either way, Naruto made his way up to the box where the other contestants stood. The Sand Siblings stared at him in horror, Gaara looked...eager if nothing else. Shino had no expression, but Naruto could feel his eyes boring into him. Shikamaru didn't even bother looking in his direction. Naruto simply leaned on the railing to wait for the next match.
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
The Hokage rubbed his forehead as the match ended. Naruto's bravado had revealed his true heritage practically to the entire world, which would surely increase some tensions, notably with Iwa. Genma called the next match, but Sasuke hadn't shown up yet. The crowd was getting antsy.
"Hokage-dono..." The Kazekage said beside him. "Many spectators came to see the match between the Uchiha heir and my son. Perhaps we could...delay the match? Give it a little more time?"
"You know as well as I how frowned upon that is, Kazekage-dono..." Sarutobi scowled. "Give one ninja special treatment, and he'll abuse it..."
"Yes, I know, but this could seriously affect mission flow for the both of us, Hokage-dono." The Kazekage said smoothly. "Because it is so important we showcase our best and brightest ninja, I'd recommend postponing it...Just to give the crowd what they want."
The Hokage sighed as he whispered into one of his bodyguards' ear, who nodded and disappeared down into the arena to whisper in Genma's ear.
"Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara's match will be delayed until the end of the round. Shino Aburame and Kankurou, come down."
"WHAT!?" Naruto roared as he stomped on the rail. "If it was any other one of us we wouldn't get this treatment!" The segment of the crowd composed of Konoha Ninja especially seemed to agree, causing quite a ruckus.
"Enough! This is the Hokage's decision. Shino Aburame and Kankurou, come down." Genma pointed to the ground with a sigh. He didn't quite like it either.
Shino looked ready to go, while Kankurou anxiously looked back and forth before raising his hand.
"I forfeit!" He called. The crowd's boos only seemed to increase in volume as Shino looked surprised for the first time since Naruto had known him.
Genma sighed. "Shikamaru Nara and Temari, come down for your match!"
Shikamaru sighed. "Jeez, I really don't wanna fight today...Maybe I'll forfeit too."
"You forfeit and I'll shove your pineapple hair up your rear end." Naruto threatened, glasses shining. At the threat, Shikamaru simply sighed again. "How troublesome...Why do I always gotta fight the girls?" He wondered as he simply jumped to the arena, Temari following much more gracefully by gliding on her fan. As the proctor called for the match to begin, Naruto's mind was racing.
'Why did Kankurou forfeit? He seemed eager to fight in the prelims...Maybe he was afraid of fighting Shino? Nah, with his indirect method of fighting, I doubt he would be afraid of him. Maybe he's afraid of facing Gaara in the finals? No...if that were true he'd simply wait for the match with his sibling before forfeiting...No...The only reason I can think of that he would quit is if he were trying to save his energy for something...And what that likely is...is an attack. Shadow Clones, disperse!' Instantly, a flood of information was fed into the blonde's mind, as a network of Shadow Clones poofed out of existence all around the village, sending a massive amount of information to the genuine article. He frantically tried to sort through it all, in an attempt to prove his hypothesis wrong. Unfortunately, now was not that time. 'Dammit...There's too much going on in the village! Too much tourism, too many people, I can't get a good read on the crowds.' He grumbled to himself as he heard the roar of Temari's winds. 'Whatever. If someone starts something we'll just have to kick off the festivities...early.'
"Winner: Temari!" Genma called, alerting Naruto that he should probably pay attention. The crowd was confused at this, but awkwardly cheered. Naruto's mind snapped back to the battle. It appeared that Shikamaru had given up while he was distracted, even when he had Temari at his mercy.
"Next match: Gaara of the Sand vs. Sasuke Uchiha! Both fighters, get down here!" Gaara appeared slowly, his expression a bit more active than before. And judging from the slight pink tint to his gourd, some poor fool had decided to threaten him.
"Sasuke Uchiha!" Genma called, as if willing the genin to appear. The crowd was in an outright uproar at this, throwing trash into the ring. "Last call! Sasuke Uchiha get in the ring now, or be disqualified!" Silence. "Sasuke Uchiha has been proven absent. Thus, he is-" He was interrupted by a swirl of wind and leaves, and in the middle of it stood Kakashi and Sasuke, back to back. Sasuke was wearing some odd set of bandages and belts on his arm, and looked his usual arrogant self.
"'Sup." Kakashi greeted nonchalantly. "Are we late?" He was answered by Naruto extending his forearm from the competitor's box.
"EggFox Style: Devastation Laser!" The blast of chakra hit where Kakashi was a second ago. "You're damn right you're late! Your match was just after mine, and not only do you fail to show up for it, thus displaying your favoritism even further! But you have the gall to show up right when Sasuke would be disqualified, thus almost denying HIM the chance to fight after you spent the entire MONTH training him and him alone! You are...a HORRIBLE shinobi!" Naruto swore. And then he rallied at Sasuke, pointing an accusing finger. "And YOU. Teme, I don't know if Kakashi had this idea or you did, but if it was you, you're a real idiot, and just as bad a ninja as he is!"
"Naruto, that is enough!" The third yelled. He was surprised when Naruto turned to glare at him as well, before turning to the rest of the crowd.
"No." He refused simply. "Because this exam is supposed to be a test to see if you are WORTHY of being a chuunin. A chuunin is a leader, someone who follows orders, and someone who sticks to a damn TIMETABLE." Naruto turned toward the crowd. "Sasuke-teme may be strong, but both his and his sensei's lack of punctuality is a MAJOR downside. Tell me, people of the crowd; What has Sasuke Uchiha done to deserve your cheers? Your admiration, and in some cases, lust? I'll tell you what he's done...NOTHING!" Naruto screamed the word in Sasuke's face. "In fact, he's done LESS than nothing! He and Kakashi have chosen to insult everyone in this stadium in the worst possible way. What would you say, people of the crowd, what would you do if your family died because the shinobi you hired to protect them didn't show up on time!? Would you trust the village that dared promote such unworthy shinobi to Chuunin?I sure as hell wouldn't! A ninja is never late, nor is he early. He arrives exactly when he needs to. And furthermore, what worth is an Uchiha, as a ninja, or even as a spectacle? We all know what Uchiha do."
Kakashi looked somewhere between enraged and horrified and Sasuke just plain looked furious. "We all know what they do, copy whatever their opponents do. Like overly-arrogant monkeys, a mockery of those that work for what they have." Sasuke bristled and had to be physically restrained by Kakashi. "It's not much of a skill, and quite frankly, it's boring to watch." Naruto snorted. "In this stadium alone, we have ninja and kunoichi who can perform feats that, while Sasuke could copy, as he no doubt has under Kakashi's instruction, he could never hope to perform on his own, or even as proficiently as they. Even Neji learned the most sacred techniques of the Hyuuga clan, despite being a branch member, despite likely not having access to the intricacies of the moves on a scroll. He WORKED for them. Lee is the most accomplished taijutsu opponent I've ever seen from a genin. He can open FIVE of the Eight Gates for crying out loud!" He flourished his jacket again, giving a thumbs up to said genin in the audience, Lee actually looking surprised.
"So ask yourselves, dear people in the crowd. Who would you rather see? A shinobi of actual skill, who has clawed their way from nothing to show you just what a ninja is? Or a perpetually late monkey-boy with more arrogance than sense? Who would you trust your life to? Who would you trust your children's lives too? Your call." And then he swished his coattails and walked away calmly, leaving a red-faced Sasuke and a very guilty and ashamed Kakashi.
The crowd looked ready to murder the blonde fox, when Sarutobi Hiruzen stood. "Enough." It was not a yell. It was not a scream, it was simple, stern speaking, but the sheer force behind it forced the stadium into silence. "Sasuke Uchiha has disrespected this entire stadium and the station of Chuunin itself with his attitude. He is disqualified, and will not be promoted. However, as a service to those who traveled so far, he will be allowed to have his matches." His aged eyes then turned to Kakashi. "And as for you, Kakashi...I would've expected you to know when NOT to be late. As a Jonin, you will be receiving a dock in pay, and psychiatric evaluation by the Yamanaka. A demotion to Chuunin will be pending the results of said evaluation." Kakashi paled and quickly headed into the crowd. Unforunately for him, he ran smack into the stern, disapproving face of Might Guy.
Sasuke, meanwhile, looked furiously up at Naruto, but before he could say a word, he felt immense bloodlust coming from Gaara, who was still standing there, his sand uncorked and swirling around him.
"Gaara of the Sand vs. Sasuke Uchiha!" Called Genma, jumping back to a safe distance. He had heard what had happened during Gaara and Lee's match. Sasuke prepared for a strike from the sand, but Gaara simply grabbed his head and moaned quietly to himself. Mumbling, his eyes focused on the Uchiha with barely restrained bloodlust.
"You...You're going to die here." He growled, Sasuke looking nonplussed. His sand formed pillars, from which projectiles began to fly. "Sand Shuriken..." Gaara snarled as Sasuke dodged the attack, rushing for Gaara as the suna-nin created a sand clone, which Sasuke destroyed without much effort. Running past the patch of sand left behind, he rushed for Gaara and punched, only to be stopped by a wall of sand. Sasuke smirked, and disappeared, reappearing behind Gaara, and throwing a very well-practiced punch, sending the jinchuriki to the other side of the arena.
"Thanks for proving my point, teme!" Naruto laughed. "That speed, the only speed that can match Gaara's sand, belong to Rock Lee!" The blonde proclaimed. "And this monkey has stolen it and claimed it as his own. How disgraceful." Sasuke twitched angrily, but put his arrogant smirk back on as he waggled his fingers.
In the audience, Sakura tried to get Naruto's words out of her head, but she couldn't help but think about them. When he had learned Kakashi had left them both to train Sasuke, and a jonin by the name of Ebisu had come to her home to train her by private request, she had at first assumed Sasuke had done it. But Ebisu had explained that Naruto practically had to threaten Kakashi into sending him, and she had been furious. After the incident in the Forest of Death, she didn't want to be weak anymore. Sasuke and Naruto were improving so fast and she was getting left in the dust. So, she took to Ebisu's training as much as she could. And now, Sasuke was copying Lee's moves...It made her angry, but also very confused.
Down below, Sasuke charged Gaara again, weaving through his sand defenses and delivering a stern kick to the gut. Gaara snarled and raised his defenses consciously this time, only for Sasuke to run circles around him, and then, while Gaara was disoriented by Sasuke's maneuver, the Uchiha rushed in and decked the sand-nin again. Sasuke smirked and reattained his fighting stance, Lee's fighting stance, which Gaara only snarled at.
"You're a much lesser fight than that green one was." He said simply, which made Sasuke falter as Gaara made a handsign and a dome of sand formed around him. Silence reigned in the arena as an eye of sand formed over the dome, keeping an eye on Sasuke. The Uchiha charged, his fist managing to connect with the orb of sand, but a barrage of spikes formed around him, preventing him from moving anywhere but back to a safe distance. Sasuke frowned but charged again, landing multiple hits on the dome, but the sand was too dense, and no strike could dent it.
"Is that all you've got, teme?" Naruto jeered. "Even Lee had something to make him better than you. Show us something that proves you're not just a worthless monkey." Surprisingly, many Konoha ninja agreed.
Sasuke scoffed and backflipped up to the wall of the stadium, forming handsigns, he began to concentrate his chakra. In a moment, a spark of electricity erupted in his hands and he took off at blazing speeds. As everyone else in the arena gasped in shock, Naruto shook his head.
"And you had him copy your move too, Kakashi. For shame. Now neither of you have anything original." He muttered as Sasuke rocketed forward, dodging the spikes of the sand shield, and slamming his hand in, the force of it penetrating the sand.
"CHIDORI!" Sasuke called out as he felt his hand grab something. And then he felt something grab him, followed by an earth-shattering scream.
"MY BLOOD! IT'S MY BLOOD!" Sasuke flinched at the scream and lightning flared again in his palm as he struggled to yank his limb out of the dome, only to pull something else back. A massive arm, brown like sand but tinged with blue in the 'finger' tips and running along the arm like veins, it slowly retreated as it lost it's grip on the Uchiha. The hole the arm had left suddenly showed an eye in Sasuke's vision, producing an untold amount of wild killing intent before fading away along with the dome, leaving only Gaara clutching his shoulder and breathing heavily.
Naruto chuckled. "This is quite interesting!" Before blinking as he noticed feathers in his vision. Grumbling he made the handsign. "Kai." Instantly, the feathers burst away from him as he noticed people falling asleep left and right. And all of a sudden, a smoke bomb went off on the Kage's balcony, the alarms for the village gates had gone off, and in a massive puff of smoke, a gigantic two-headed snake was bearing down on Konoha's walls.
"Naruto! Go get Sasuke!" Kakashi yelled from the nearby seats.
Naruto, on the other hand, stomped the ground, not even listening to his sensei. "I will NOT have my rising ruined by something as PETTY as an INVASION!" He roared as he made several more handseals. "EggFox Style! MASSIVE KAI!" in an instant, a wave of chakra poured over the stadium, awakening all the civilians. As they began to panic, Naruto grinned and touched a button on his jacket.
"Father, are we ready!?" He asked.
"At your command, O Mighty Egg Fox!" Came the reply.
Naruto grinned rather widely as he witnessed Kankuro and Temari take their brother and flee, Sasuke following. "Good! We're moving ahead of schedule. It's time, Egg-Jiji! Rise!"
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
(Just so you know, I'd heartily recommend The Death Egg Robot battle music from Sonic Generations for this.)
Inside the Egg Dome, several robots, including Orbot and Cubot, were going to work as fast as they can.
"It's time to shake things up a bit!" Eggman declared. "Oooohohohohohoho! Orbot, Cubot! Commence launching sequence!" The two small robots obeyed and began to press a myriad of buttons. "I've waited a long time for this!" He yelled as the countdown began. "Zabuza, Haku, report!"
"Uhhh..." Zabuza muttered, looking at the readings obliviously. "Says here...all systems are online?"
"The monitor says that the engines are currently at 100% power, Eggman-Sama." Haku added from her own terminal.
"Excellent! Begin the countdown!" Orbot and Cubot slammed their hands down onto the big red button, and the process began.
"Launching in 5...4...3...2...1. Launch Sequence Initiated." Chimed the computer. "Deploying Nasal Sensor Array." A massive grinding noise heralded this option. "Ocular shutters opening. Ventral engines beginning preliminary burn." The land around Konoha shook as a monstrous noise took hold, drowning out everything else, even the sound of ninja locked in combat. "Launching..." Dr. Eggman's laughter rang throughout the Egg Dome as it rose, uprooting the earth as it continued to climb, ninja of all countries staring at the thing in awe as it lifted itself into the sky. As it reached an altitude high above the sky, it turned towards Konoha, revealing two massive golden eyes, a moustache, and a nose.
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto laughed maniacally as he witnessed the rise of his beautiful flying fortress. Just as Egg-Jiji promised, it was beautiful. "Egg-Jiji! Get me on the microphones, then go help the old man! Zabuza, Haku, I want you on clean-up duty. I want the Sand-Nin detained!"
"...Only captured?" Came Zabuza's voice. "You know that's not my thing, kid."
"Bah! Only capture them if you can. If pressed, lethal force is authorized. As for the Sound-Nin, kill them, but if you happen to find one alive, I have a very...PUBLIC punishment for daring to attack my home. Egg-Jiji, am I on?"
"In 3...2...1..."
Naruto cleared his throat as a voice, his voice, boomed out of the massive egg-shaped flying...thing.
"Citizens of Konoha! Honored travelers, and stupid attackers alike!" Naruto yelled, the Death Egg's broadcast making every ninja stop fighting and hear these words. "Lend me your ears and listen to me very carefully. My name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze Robotnik. You can just call me the Egg Fox. I am the apprentice to the world's greatest scientific mind, heir to the most powerful empire in all the world, and soon I will be it's greatest leader." He sneered as some of the sound actually stopped attacking long enough for Kakashi and Guy to incapacitate them. "For those of you who have just woken up from a genjutsu or were out of the stadium, allow me to clarify that I mean you no harm, and as long as you stay within Konoha's walls, my troops and I will make sure that you stay safe. As for those of you who would DARE attack my home, you have three options. Surrender before me and become part of my army, fight my army and die foolishly, or flee. Those are your options, Sand, Sound. I hope you consider them carefully. Oh, and just so you know, any attack on me, my generals, my army or my Death Egg will be met with derisive laughter and then brutal violence. Not necessarily in that order, mind."
"So rejoice, Konoha! For my ultimate flying battleship The Death Egg, is your savior this day! And tremble, enemies! For my army shall show no mercy!" The microphone cut out as Naruto continued his maniacal cackling. "Release the Badnik Horde!" From the massive machine dropped several large pods, each releasing small, orange, egg-shaped robots armed with energy pistols. A few more dropped much larger purple variants wielding hammers, and several broke in midair to release green and blue ones with wings and guns on their undersides. "Hmmm...Not exactly enough. Release Team Metal!" Just as in Wave Country, four different-colored blurs raced from the Death Egg, jets blazing as Metal Sonic, Metal Knuckles, Metal Tails, and Metal Amy moved as a well-practiced machine and tore through several squads of invaders. Naruto hmm'd as he pressed a button on his coat, summoning an Egg Mobile to his side. Climbing in, he noticed Shikamaru approaching. "Sup, lazybones?" He greeted. "Going my way?" He joked.
"If it's going towards Sasuke, yes." the lazy genin replied. "Kakashi's making me go with you...And after you did THIS..." Shikamaru gestured to the massive amounts of destruction as the badnik horde tore through the enemy ninja. "I have to consider you the most troublesome person I've ever met. Right next to Ino and my mom."
Naruto laughed at that. "Well then, hop in! We've got an arrogant monkey to find!" Shikamaru hesitantly climbed in, and they were off in a blast of the jets in the Egg Mobile's engines.
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
Sarutobi and Orochimaru were evenly matched so far. After the Snake Sage had disguised himself as the Kazekage, he and the Third Hokage traded jutsu. Orochimaru's Fire Dragon was dispersed by Sarutobi's Water Wave. A massive Water Dragon from Orochimaru matched by an Earth Wall.
"This has been amusing...but it's time to get serious...and I don't want anyone interrupting my entertainment." Four ninja each appeared on the roof the two had begun their battle on, each forming a handsign.
"Four Violet Flames Formation!" They all called out at once, a gigantic barrier of purple surrounded the six, before four small triangles protected each of the four Sound-Nin.
"Now that that's all settled..." They were interrupted as something was coming towards the barrier. A large, egg-shaped rocket holding a similarly large, egg-shaped person. Or rather, machine.
Sarutobi and Orochimaru were quiet as this odd figure stepped out of his EggMobile. The machine was about a foot taller than they and had a tall, ovoid appearance. It's head was small, but flesh-toned and had a massive rust-orange moustache going almost a foot off the thing's face in either direction. The body was styled like the coat Sarutobi and Orochimaru had seen Naruto wearing, but it was red instead, with no other identifying features. The legs were thin and black, becoming twice as thick at the ankle with a massive bulk on it's feet. The arms ended in yellow bands adorned with silver steel studs, and the hands were a set of fine, dextrous fingers ending in massive claws. One of them was holding-
"The Raijin?" Sarutobi exclaimed incredulously. "That was stolen long ago!"
"Oh, I know." Came a voice Sarutobi recognized as the blade activated, a grin of pearly white teeth appearing on the head, behind shining glasses. "I've repurposed it for my own needs. Like so..." The figure suddenly stabbed the shining electric blade of the Raijin into the barrier, surprising Orochimaru as, slowly, but surely, the blade cut a large hole in the shield, which the figure walked through leisurely just as it sealed itself away. "I think this gives us an unfair advantage, don't you?" The thing suddenly began to laugh, a deep, rumbling belly laugh that actually made Orochimaru nervous.
"Who are you?" he hissed. "How dare you interrupt me in my moment of triumph!?" he declared.
"More like your greatest mistake, you nasty little wallet." The figure replied. "As for me? My name is simple, and it coincides with the name of the forces currently annihilating your ninja." Orochimaru turned only to see the sleek blue figure of Metal Sonic holding up the head of a sound-nin before blasting off again. "Speaking of, I would expect them to be more durable. Oh well." A massive explosion below didn't even cause the figure to flinch. "My name, is Doctor Ivo Robotnik. But you can simply call me Dr. Eggman. Current Regent of the EggFox Empire, current mentor to the EggFox Emperor Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze Robotnik, and the world's greatest scientific genius." His grin increased as he swung Raijin experimentally before assuming a fencing stance. "I'm also your executioner for the day." He laughed again, and Orochimaru actually felt worried as his forces were quickly becoming overwhelmed by the machines deployed from that massive flying fortress.
THEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISESTHEEMPIRERISES
SO WE FINALLY RISE! Was the debut of the Death Egg awesome enough? Let me know! But now Naruto's on the hunt for Sasuke and Gaara, and Dr. Eggman's broken into the Barrier to fight Orochimaru along with the Third Hokage! Things sure are ramping up in the land of the EggFox, aren't they?
Oh, and I know some will see Naruto's outburst as 'OOC' and stuff, so allow me to attempt to justify it next chapter before you all go nuts, ok? I have a reason for framing the things I wrote the way I did ok? Just be patient!
So tune in next time for: "The Will of Fire! The EggFox Empire takes the Stage!"