So, here is the next chapter.
Now, I wanted to finish the exams this chapter so we could move on, but I know how much you wanted to see Naruto's fight so I decided one more chapter, or possibly two would be so bad.
The chapter will conclude the exams and the one after their trip back to Konoha.
There will be some Gaara and Naruto interaction in the chapter after next, quite a bit of it if all goes to plan. especially seeing as not long after they meet things really go to shit for Gaara.
Now, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, so tell me what you think.
Chūnin Arc.
Uzu no Musume.
Chapter 12: Tournaments: Chūnin Exams Part VI.
It was rare that you got strength and speed in the same package, but Kyo was unfortunately one of those few who did.
Naruto learned this the hard way within the first few minutes. While their speed was about equal, Naruto herself being just barely faster than the boy, Kyo was much stronger and with his longer limbs had farther reach than her.
"Ahhg," Naruto groaned as she collided with the arena ground, and skidded across it in a tumbling mess of limbs.
The last punch had really connected, and the pain from her torso led her to believe it would leave a nasty bruise. Her vision corrected as she blinked only to gasp, and roll to the side to avoid the Iwa-nin's foot which had been aimed at her neck.
It occurred to her once more this boy was truly trying to kill her.
This wasn't about becoming chūnin for him, this was about vengeance. Jumping to her feet, Naruto began to take the defense from the dark boys attacks, and his taijutsu she would admit was better than hers in many ways.
It was only through her agility, flexibility, speed and luck she was able to avoid them so well.
He was so quick she was unable to find an opening to even think of striking any of his pressure points and had slowly fallen into a mix of her family styles. Flowing and weaving, spinning and jumping like some sort of twisted ballet dance.
"You can't dodge forever," Kyo snarled.
She barely saw it coming as his leg connected with her left arm, slowing her down enough that his knee was able to slam into her gut, and then almost too fast for her to see in her daze, slam into her face.
Her head snapped back and she flew back to hit the ground once more.
This was not going well, she had underestimated the guys will and skill. If she didn't get it together soon she would loose.
Than there was the fact of experience – he undoubtedly had years of training and experience more than she did.
"Naruto! Don't give up, you can do this!" she heard Kasumi yell, and she looked over to where her teammates were standing on the competitors balcony.
WOOF! She heard Mizumaru bark and in this case, she took that as to mean "Kick his ass!".
Though she had no idea if that was what the ninkin meant or not. Only Kasumi could tell, and from her laugh she figured she was close.
Mikoto-sensei stood behind them, leaning against a wall and even from where she was getting back to her feet she could see the woman was concerned for her.
Koji looked like he was about to charge down into the arena himself and Kasumi was of course trying to reassure her, but Naruto could see the worry on her and Mizumaru despite there earlier proclamations.
"You're not what I expected," Kyo snarked, smirking as he fell back into a stance, a kunai in hand. "I expected more from a Hokage's daughter. A Murders."
Naruto's blue eyes narrowed as she hissed, falling into one of the stances for her blended taijutsu style – the Raijū Kitsune.
Lowering her left hand to her hip pouch she pulled out a scroll and was quick to unseal it, releasing a beautiful katana. It had a blood red and ivory hilt with a black ribbon.
The blade was much darker than a normal blade, almost black in color with gold kanji for 'Hitokiri' on it, and a small area of the blade was serrated. Over all it was a very elegant yet unique katana.
"My father was a hero, a ninja," she spat, her grip tightening on her katana which was pointed at such an angle that it was partially towards the ground and behind her at the same time.
The stance itself was not perfect, there were weak points to it, but for someone just learning all there was about Kenjutsu and blending it with a still in progress taijutsu style, it was very well pulled off.
Kyo snorted.
"You're a fool," he said. "Your father was the worse of the worse. Nearly my whole clan was killed off by him, I am now the last with my father having died on a mission as I grew up, and my mother too frail and depressed to do much. Now I shall avenge them, by killing you."
"That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard," she said, glaring. "We're ninja, that was a war. Were you expecting him to lay down and die?"
With a growl Kyo sprang forward, restarting the fight. Hitokiri flashed through the air as she met him halfway and sparks flew when the kunai and katana met.
It was rather impressive that he could keep the larger blade back with just a kunai.
"He's strong," Koji said, seemingly clam but underneath those that knew him could tell he was angry and concerned.
The fight had been going on for over five minutes now, and for the first few he'd been forced to watch as Naruto struggled to keep from being hit by her opponent.
Though she was able to evade most of it, a fair few hits had struck her, all of which had not looked pleasant.
It hadn't come as a surprise when she'd pulled out Hitokiri, though it did concern them all some.
Hitokiri was a katana named and forged for the purpose of going in for the kill, or to severely wound. At least, that was how the history of the blade went. It had been one of the seven blades of the Uzumaki clan – blades with a similar reputation of the Seven Swordsman of the Mist.
Toyotama-Hime and Hitokiri were the ones most well known, and the only two that had disappeared with Konoha's Red Hot-Blooded Habanero or Red Chained Death (Aka no rensa-shi) as she was listed in the Bingo books.
Shikigami. Kogitsune, Amatsukitsune, Shikyō, and Tenken. The other five swords of the Uzumaki clan, created at unknown times by unknown weapon smiths.
Few things were known; all were unique, said to be unbreakable, and made from chakra metal.
Toyotama-Hime and Hitokiri were made for the main families heir, while the others were gifts to the most gifted of Kenjutsu users in the Uzumaki clan.
Koji himself only knew this because Naruto knew and it wasn't exactly some big clan secret either. It was in any book about the Uzumaki clan, though there were not many in Konoha or in existence any longer.
The remaining blades had disapeared when Uzushio was destroyed.
The point was, if she was using Hitokiri, the 'man-slayer', than she was serious.
"It'll be a tough fight for her," Mikoto-sensei said, wincing as she watched her youngest student and the Iwa-nin fight below.
Kyo had just finished breaking through Naruto's defense and blood had sprayed out of the rather deep looking wound he'd given her on her left forearm.
Naruto seemed to hiss and kick towards the boys knees only for him to jump over the graceful arc of her leg.
In a show of skill and agility Naruto spun around just as Kyo was. Hitokiri flashed through the air, and a spray of blood was seen as Naruto moved with percice speed to a few feet away from where Kyo had landed.
A few seconds later Kyo sank to one knee, holding his stomach. Standing slowly and turning everyone could see the cut through his clothes and the deep gash she'd inflicted on him, from his left side up his torso to just under the area of his heart.
Blood dripped slowly from Hitokiri's blade as she turned back around to face Kyo, Hitokiri flicked out to her right side, the blood flicking off and falling onto the ground in an almost morbid grace.
"She's getting better everyday with her swords," Kasumi said, smiling.
Miktoto chuckled.
"She takes after her mother," she said. "Both of her parents really."
"Mikoto-sensei," Kasumi began, biting her lip. "Naruto, everyone will know now about her father, won't they?"
Mikoto-sensei sighed.
"It's unfortunately, not avoidable at this point. It's sure to be spread around the countries that the Yondaime's legacy lives," she said. "Naruto will just have to claim her inheritance publicly sooner than she might have otherwise. If she takes the Namikaze name is up to her, but even if she keeps her mothers name she's still the last heir to the clan."
Naruto breathed deeply as she stood, staring at her opponent.
"You're better than I thought," Kyo said, his teeth grinding together in anger and pain. "I wouldn't expect anything less from his daughter."
Naruto rolled her eyes. She was getting so tired of everyone bringing up her father, especially the Iwa ninja's.
"Anyone ever tell you that you talk too much?" she asked, and began running at Kyo, Hitokiri in a stabbing position for the moment but it looked as if she would only need a moment to rearrange it's position if she desired.
"Doton: Dochuu Eigyo (Earth Release: Underground Fish Projection)!"
Naruto's eyes widened as Kyo sunk underground and she slowed down to a near stop before she heard faint yells from Koji and Kasumi.
It took her a moment too long before she caught him reappearing behind her, Kunai already descending to plunge into her back or chest, depending if she turned in time or not.
The kunai was coming at her in such a way Hitokiri could not be used to counter it, at least not with the skill level she had with it.
With a burst of speed and a flick of her wrist she sent Hitokiri into the air above them as she let the kunai sink into her right arm so far it nearly came out the other-side of it.
She grunted in a loud sound of pain and jumped back, ripping the kunai out as she did.
It wasn't exactly her best idea, as blood splattered around her and on her from the action. Hitokiri began spinning in the air as it descended and with a glare she began quick hand seals, despite her wounds.
"Futon: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!)!"
The winds headed at Kyo, who made a seal and gather chakra into his feet, obviously trying to keep him grounded. It seemed to be working, and she figured it was because the boy probably had a earth affinity.
She'd never seen anyone use the underground fish projection so easily and quickly before, unless they had one.
Hitokiri flashed as it was caught and shot towards the boy, who had seen the glint of the near black blade as the wind caught it and propelled it with such a quickness he could not move – not that he could without undoing his chakra and unsticking himself.
And the winds hadn't quite died down enough to chance that.
Going through hand seals once more, her wounds already beginning to heal, she gathered a fair amount of chakra and used one of the very first jutsu's she had worked about a year to create and perfect.
It had been started by her mother, but her mother didn't have a lightning affinity so it had been very hard for her to attempt to finish.
It was easier for Naruto, since her second affinity was lightning – even if it was a lesser affinity to her wind element.
Just as Hitokiri sank into Kyo's right shoulder with a sickening thuck and spray of blood, she launched her technique.
"Raiton: Raikou Kitsunes (Lightning Release: Lightning Foxes)!"
Three foxes, of medium size appeared and with a roaring lightning sound, almost like thunder, they took off at lightning speeds, seeming like flashes of blue-white chakra in the shape of a fox.
Two attacked Kyo's legs, bitting in and the other latched itself to the boys chest.
The lightning lit up Hitokiri and there was a sound almost like lightning striking something but not very loudly. When the small light show obscuring the vew of Kyo disappeared the Iwa-nin was on his knees, breathing heavily, his eyes unfocused.
"I never did anything to Iwa. I had nothing to do with the Third Shinobi War, I hadn't even been born," she said, breathing slightly heavy as she reached for another scroll from her pouch and unsealed Toyotama-Hime.
Spinning it in her right hand once she smirked.
"I won't say I'm sorry, it was a war, and we are ninja. We have to be prepared to die for our villages," she said and broke into a fast jog.
Kyo grunted when the girls foot slammed into his chest, sending him onto his back. He couldn't withhold a scream as she grabbed Hitokiri sticking from his left shoulder and pulled it out as he was forced onto his back.
Staring up he was faced with cold blue eyes which made him want to shiver, they were much to old and passive for a girl no older than nine.
Hitokiri, slicked with his blood was at his heart and the other blade, which he'd seen the name Toyotama-Hime on the blade itself as she'd been approaching was lower, at his groin to his embarrassment and fear.
"I suggest you forfeit," she said, "unless you don't want to continue your clan in the future."
Gulping he nodded shortly. Even if he took the chance, he was never one to have a lot of chakra, his reserves were actually rather small for his age and gender.
What he lacked there he made up for in taijutsu and chakra control. There was also the fact he'd been injured, and had lost a lot of blood and was still loosing blood.
"I forfeit," he said, and the blonde removed her blades and stepped back.
"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto!" the proctor called, and then added as if as an afterthought. "Oh, and uh, get a medic."
Cheering broke out.
Gaara was wide eyed – rather unusual for a boy who rarely showed any form of emotion such at shock – as he watched Naruto's fight end.
He had known she must be good if she was already a genin at nearly nine years old. He himself was trained as a ninja, though not exactly in the Academy in Suna.
His father took care of his training, and it wasn't always very pleasant. He supposed no one trusted him enough to attend the academy.
But he would be the first to admit, without his sand, he probably wouldn't last much longer than ten minutes – if that – against her. But than, he was nine, in a few years he'd have a better chance.
'Blood!Blood!I like this human!'
Gaara winced as his 'Mother' roared in his head. It wasn't often the Tanuki roared like that, unless blood was involved, and it was never exactly like this. It wasn't roaring for Naruto's blood, it was approving of her methods of fighting the other ninja.
A part of him worried over that, the other part – a much larger part – was struck by curiosity.
"She is powerful," his father said, nodding in a approving yet appraising manner.
"Yes," Yashamaru agreed. "I wasn't expecting her to win, honestly. Despite being the Yondaime Hokage's daughter, she is still only eight, going on nine."
The Kazekage turned, slightly startled, and raised an eyebrow.
"So she is around Gaara's age then. Hmm... I wonder?" he muttered.
Yashamaru was not the only one to wonder what the Kazekage had stumbled upon, or was thinking about.
"Pardon my curiosity, Kazekage-sama," The Wind Daimyo began, rather politely for a ruler of a country, "but what is it you wonder? I assume it's about the girl, Uzumaki-Hime isn't it?"
"Hn, oh nothing," Kazekage replied. "I just pondering on how powerful she'd become one day. That Raiton jutsu she used, it must be one of her own creations – as surprising as it is that someone her age could create a jutsu at all – as I've never seen or heard of it before."
That was not a complete lie.
He had been very impressed by the girls battle, and if she made past her next fight into the finals then he was seriously contemplating her promotion – along with her teammate, the Uchiha boy.
He was rather interested in seeing how their last teammate fared.
But, what he had been contemplating was the coincidence of how the girls father died. It was said the Yondaime Hokage died killing the Kyuubi no Kitsune.
Many may believe this, but the Kages, or he at least, was not stupid enough to believe it was possible to kill a Bijū.
If it were Shukaku would not have been imprisoned to begin with and simply killed. He found it curious that she was the almost nine, the same amount of years since the Kyuubi attack and her father's death.
He also knew Namikaze was a seals master, and his wife was as good as him in Fuuinjutsu if not better.
'Is it possible Konoha made a Jinchuuriki as well?' he thought to himself as he watched the girl as she stood with her teammates.
'I suppose we won't know unless she shows some form of demonic chakra. If so though... is she going to be a problem with Gaara? He seems to be growing fond of her, which is worrying in itself.'
The Kazekage dismissed his thoughts. He would leave it alone, she wouldn't be staying in Suna for long and she might not ever see his youngest son again.
If she did, well, she was powerful, and he doubted she was treated too terribly different from Gaara by Konoha.
If nothing else she may end up helping his son.
"You did great out there, Naru-chan," Mikoto-sensei said, after Kasumi had finished helping her injuries finish healing.
Most were already healed, perks of being a Jinchuuriki, but Kasumi had insisted on healing her, to quicken the process. But Naruto, being the youngest, was used to Kasumi being a bit protective like that. Ever since their first C-Rank... well the dynamic of Team Seven was one of the best Mikoto had seen.
Usually, she thought glumly to herself, that was how all team sevens began.
It had been nearly three years though, she was confident they would defeat the curse of team seven.
Though they might not completely defeat the curse of the love triangle or hexagon – despite being from such a prestigious clan as the Uchiha, Mikoto would admit she wasn't too good with math, and placing a name with a shape correctly had always annoyed her to no end.
She digressed though.
The point was she knew of Kasumi's romantic interest in Koji, had for two years now.
She also knew Koji had begun developing feelings for Kasumi, but was conflicted because of standing feelings for Naruto that were still confusing him.
She also knew Naruto had a similar problem, though she claimed it was platonic.
Mikoto wasn't really sure, at times it seemed to be platonic... on both of their parts. But on other times... well it was the most confusing situation she'd ever seen.
She wasn't sure Naruto was even old enough or had been introduced to the concept of crushes or love in the right way to understand the difference between platonic love and romantic love.
"Thanks!" Naruto said cheerfully, looking up from where she'd been looking disdainfully at the blood on her clothes and body.
"For a minute I really thought you were going to make Kyo less male," Kasumi snickered and Koji couldn't withhold a slight shiver.
Being male, he could definitely sympathize for the Iwa-nin, at least a little, the boy had tried to kill Naruto.
"I'm not that mean, dattebane," Naruto said, smirking in slight amusement.
"Hey, the fights are continuing," Koji said, suddenly and they all turned to watch as the next pair was called.
Kasumi grumbled.
"Damn," she said, "I wanted to fight."
Mikoto-sensei chuckled.
"You're turn will come, Kasumi," she placated, and they turned to watch the fight.
The next fight was between Yoko of Iwa (which cause Naruto to roll her eyes, she'd seriously had enough of Iwa nin's to last her a lifetime) and Yamanaka Jin.
It was a fight to see, and it only made Team Mikoto realize why Team 2 had been the only other team to pass the true genin exam given by the jōnin sensei's of their graduation class.
Yoko was good, just as good as Kyo, who they had seen the black haired girl hovering over in concern, and figured that she must be a close friend or teammate.
Yoko, was good with a blade, better than Naruto – though given how long the Yoko had been training with Kenjutsu compared to Naruto who had just recently (in the last nine months) gotten into it it might not say all that much in a few years.
Jin on the other hand was good with ninjutsu it seemed, and what he lacked in taijutsu and strength he made up for in pure speed.
He wasn't as fast Kyo, but he was faster than Naruto – but she blamed that on longer limbs the boys had and probably having more training and experience.
It was also easy to tell he was a strategist, and trying to back Yoko into a corner, so to say, in order to use his clans techniques to basically posses Yoko.
Unfortunately, before he could – nearly fifteen minutes into the fight, not as long as Kyo and Naruto's battle but close – Yoko had knocked him out with the butt of her sword after activating a genjutsu.
Apparently the girl wasn't only adapt in kenjutsu.
"Iwa sure has strong ninja," Naruto said, looking rather starry eyed at the way Yoko had wielded her wakizashi.
Mikoto nodded.
"They always have really." She sighed, sweeping her bangs out of her face – her hair having been placed in a high pony-tail. "It's the reason we took so long to end the Third Shinobi War. If not for the Yondaime and his Hiraishin... we probably wouldn't have for another half-decade, if we survived."
The three genin looked at their sensei in shock, and awe.
They had known the Third war had been a large event, especially seeing as their most closely allied village had been attacked and destroyed (Uzushio) but they hadn't realized just how big.
But they hadn't even been born then, so no one could truly blame them. Those who hadn't lived through war, never truly realized how much of an effect it had on those who had.
"Kasumi-chan," Koji suddenly said, drawing all their attention. "You're up."
Looking up towards the electric board they realized he was right.
Inuzuka Kasumi Vs Daichi of Suna.