Chapter 11: The Fifth Champion

Pumpkins glowing eerily out of the faces carved into them floated lazily over the tables. Bats circled just beneath the ceiling, and all sorts of Halloween decorations adorned the dining tables as the Great Hall filled up with students, guests, and ninja. As she practically forced a recalcitrant Sasuke to sit down, Sakura scanned the ranks of her fellow Shinobi seated at the table.

"Where's Tenten?"

"She is in the hospital, with Neji," Lee replied. "She has not left his side since the attack."

Kiba snorted, "Well, I suppose that guy must be at his most bearable when he's unconscious, huh?"

Having the demure, quiet Hinata on his team as opposed to one of the more 'assertive' of the Konoha Kunoichi, Kiba Inuzuka had no understanding of what it was like to be castigated for every display of tactless insensitivity. As they pummelled his head into the table Sakura and Ino combined to remedy that gap in his knowledge.

"How can you be such a moron?" Ino demanded. "Tenten's being really romantic and all you can do is make stupid jokes! You are the dumbest boy I know!"

"Tell me about it, not even Naruto would say something like that," Sakura said.

Akamaru barked.

"I hear you buddy, low blow," Kiba said. "The guy's unconscious, what's the big deal about sitting by his bedside. He doesn't even know she's there."

"You idiot, its not about what he knows its about her putting everything on hold to be there for him, and she'll be the first thing he sees when he wakes up and it'll be so sweet." Ino's voice went up an octave. Contrary to how it might sometimes have seemed, she did not begrudge other people happiness as long as it did not impinge upon her own, "If someone I cared about got hurt they'd have to drag me away from his bedside."

Akamaru barked.

Kiba laughed, "I think she'd try, but I'm not sure Sakura's got the strength to pull Ino's weight."

"What was that about weight?" Ino snarled.

"Uh, nothing," Kiba said. "How do you guys put up with her?"

"Knowing when to keep our mouths shut," said Shikamaru.

Naruto was shaking with barely restrained anger, "This is a load of crap! Sitting here like nothing happened, like that jerk didn't just show up and take Neji down, and try to take Sakura and Sasuke too. What are we sitting here for? We oughtta go out there and hunt him down once and for all."

"Naruto! You can't just go running off just like that," Sakura said. "Itachi's an S-Ranked criminal whose eluded the ANBU black ops for years now, even Kakashi sensei couldn't beat him."

"She's right," Sasuke said, "my brother could use Sharingan by the time he was eight, by the age when we graduated from the academy he was already a jonin, he was a member of the ANBU when he was thirteen. You really think a knucklehead like you could take him down?"

"Damn right I could! What do you think Pervy Sage taught me the Rasengan for?"

"Can you shut up for three sodding seconds?" Ron shouted. "We can't hear ourselves think for you shouting, just put a sock in it all right?"

"Who are you telling to-" Sakura grabbed Naruto around the throat before he could make the situation worse, and held him until he calmed down.

"Honestly, doesn't he give you a headache?" Ron said. "I don't see how even his own lot put up with him."

"Hmm, this talk about a criminal on the loose is worry though," Hermione said. "I mean if-"

"Look, even one of these ninja people isn't going to be able to get past Dumbledore is he?" Ron said. "Relax, let's just enjoy the first night of the Tournament."

"And don't forget, last time we had a dangerous criminal on the loose he turned out to be one of the best blokes I've ever met." Harry said, thinking fondly of Sirius and hoping that he wouldn't be too rash in his determination to come north again and return to Hogwarts.

Dumbledore stood up and raised his arms, "Silence please, all of you! Thank you. Now as you are all well aware, we are gathered here tonight to witness the selection of the three Champions, who will each represent their school in the Triwizard Tournament. Now to compete for the honour and dignity of the school is no small matter, and so the Goblet of Fire will judge all applicants on their courage, integrity, intelligence and tenacity. Whoever they decide, you may be sure that the best man, or woman, won and we are guaranteed to have a most rousing and exciting tournament. And here, to oversee that nothing is done that is not in strict accordance with the rules, I have the great pleasure to introduce Mr Bartemius Crouch of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, and Mr Ludo Bagman of the Department of Magical Games and Sports."

There was thunderous applause as the two Ministry wizards were introduced, rather more for Bagman as he waved enthusiastically for the crowd, than for the cold and aloof Crouch who seemed oblivious to appreciation.

Dumbledore joined in the applause politely for a moment before he raised his arms again and said, "And now, ladies and gentlemen, let us hear the Goblet speak."

Flames crackled in the wooden goblet, and a piece of paper was spat out of it and landed in Dumbledore's hand.

"The Beauxbatons Champion, is Fleur Delacour!" he announced.

The Beauxbatons boys cheered loud and hard, while the girls looked more than a little jealous as by far the prettiest among them got up, curtsied in an almost flirtatious way to the crowd, and was then led by a beaming Madam Maxine away into the back room where the Champions where to wait.

The Goblet of Fire crackled again, sparks flying from its rim as a second piece of paper flew from its recesses into the waiting hands of Professor Dumbledore.

"The Durmstrang Champion, is Viktor Krum."

"There was never much doubt of that was there," Ron said as Krum made his way sullenly into the back. "I mean who was better than he was?"

"This isn't a Quidditch tournament you know," Hermione said.

"Course not," Ron said. "But you see my point."

By this time, Dumbledore had the third piece of paper in his hands as he announced, "The Hogwarts Champion will be Cedric Diggory."

The bishonen of Hufflepuff rose to the thunderous applause of his own house, breaking over the Great Hall like unstoppable waves breaking upon the beach. He shook Dumbledore's hand, looking very earnest the whole time, and then retired into the back to join his competitors and his new rivals.

"And now-" Dumbledore began, before the Goblet did the most unexpected thing and spat again, shooting a fourth scrap of paper into the Headmaster's hand. "Harry Potter?"

All eyes turned to Harry, who paled and looked as though he would like nothing better than to sink into the floor.

"Harry Potter?" Dumbledore repeated, and Harry got up and began to make the painful walk to the Champion's assembly point, under the accusing gaze of the whole school every step of the way.

"Harry, I want to ask you-" Dumbledore had barely gotten the words out when a fifth name was shot out of the goblet.

"Oh god, not again." Snape muttered, as Dumbledore caught it one handed, and his bright blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Naruto Uzumaki."

Kakashi was on his feet in an instant, "That's impossible!"

"I quite agree," Snape said. "To let their sort compete in a wizards tournament it would be quite unthinkable."

"Indeed," Madame Maxine purred, "you have never explained who zese clowns are Dumbly-dorr?"

"Bartemius," Dumbledore said, distracted. "Is there any way that he could withdraw from the tournament?"

"Withdraw? Clowns?" Naruto was on his feet in an instant. "Listen lady, and you too old man, my name is Naruto Uzumaki, the number one ninja of the Village Hidden in the Leaves; remember my name because I'm going to be the Hokage some day and everyone will look up to me. And until then I'll never run away and I'll never quit because that's my nindo, my way of the Shinobi. So bring on your stupid tournament, I'll enter and I won't loose to any of you!"

"N-naruto," Hinata said breathlessly. "You're, you're, you're very brave," she concluded lamely.

Naruto grinned, something which made Hinata go bright red though he didn't realise it.

"Headmaster," Snape said. "Perhaps Potter and," his lips turned into a sneer. "Uzumaki had better go into the office until we sort all of this out."

"Quite so, Severus," Dumbledore agreed. "Harry, Naruto, please come with me."

Despite Naruto's sudden intervention- willing or not- into proceedings, most of the eyes of the Hogwarts wizards were still firmly fixed on Harry. About the only person who wasn't staring at him was Ron, who was looking away with a rather sour look on his face, and Harry himself looked as if he was hoping the floor would open up and swallow him…any minute now.

Naruto, however, just beamed and chuckled as he clapped Harry on the back, "Come on Harry, I guess now you and I are rivals."

Harry gave Naruto a look that managed to mix consternation, anger and disdain in equal measure, "You idiot, don't you realise that we aren't supposed to be in this all? Do you realise that as of this moment half the school probably hates my guts?"

"Come on, they don't hate you," Naruto said.

"We do," shouted Ernie Macmillan from the Hufflepuff table.

"You see?" Harry said.

"So what? Lots of people disrespect me back in the leaf village, but you don't see me crying about it, now come on!" Naruto began to drag Harry off through the hall.

"That's the spirit Naruto!" Guy yelled from the staff table. "Press that handful of courage against your heart and with its help survive another day! Show them all the burning flame of youth that blazes within you!"

"Uh, Guy," Kakashi said. "With all due respect, Naruto's my student so I'd appreciate it if you'd let me handle this. Naruto, follow me."

Harry tried to take advantage of this distraction to slip away.

"Not so fast, Potter," Moody snapped. "We haven't forgotten about you, not by a long way."

Naruto and Harry were conducted into the back room, followed closely by Kakashi, Dumbledore, Crouch, Bagman, Karkaroff, Maxine and the senior Hogwarts professors. Cedric, Fleur and Krum were all waiting for them, and Cedric stood up as the others entered the room.

"Professor Dumbledore?" he said, his eyes reflecting puzzlement. "We heard a lot of noise outside, is everything all right?"

"No everyzing is not all right!" Madame Maxine snapped, "'Ogwarts gets two bites of ze apple and zese, zese things get to send one of zeir own to compete in ze tournament."

"I know this will be difficult for you," Kakashi whispered in Naruto's ear. "But if we could avoid a repeat of what happened at the Chuunin exams that would be great."

"It appears," Dumbledore said. "That the Triwizard tournament will have five champions competing this year."

"That is ridiculous!" Karkaroff said. "Such a thing cannot be legal."

"Your name comes out the goblet you're in the tournament," Moody said. "Least as far as Potter's concerned, not so sure about the ninja though."

"Aw, come on, I wanna do it."

"The Goblet of Fire constitutes a binding magical contract," Crouch said. "Once entered, a champion cannot be withdrawn under any circumstances."

Moody frowned a little at this, but said nothing.

"Harry, Naruto," Dumbledore said intently. "I want you to answer me in all honesty, did you put your names in the Goblet?"

Both of them shook their heads.

"Didn't think so," Moody said, almost casually. "It would need a powerful confundus charm to make the Goblet forget the Triwizard tournament is only open to three entrants. My guess, they made it think their were five schools, and entered Harry and Naruto as the only contestants in each category."

"Akatsuki," Kakashi murmured.

Moody stared at him intently, "What did you say?"

"What? Oh, nothing at all," Kakashi said dismissively.

"If you're hiding something that I need to know," Moody began.

"I'm not. Really. This is our business, Shinobi only I'm afraid," Kakashi said. "And now, if that's everything, I think I'd better get Naruto back to the tower."

"Quite right," Dumbledore said. "Harry, Cedric, I am sure that Gryffindor are waiting to celebrate with you, so off you go as well."

As everyone was leaving Fleur nudged Krum gently in the ribs, "Do you reelly theenk they deedn't put their names in ze Goblet?"

Krum snorted, "Of course they put their names in. They just don't vant to say how they did it becoss they ve vould know vhat they are capable off. Better for them if we think they are stupid."

"I think the leetle blonde one reely is stupide." Fleur said.

Krum shrugged, "He iss good actor."