Hey guys! I am happy to bring another chapter of Lord of Foxes. Sadly I didn't get this one out as fast as possible but I have set a goal to have a new chapter out every other week if not every three weeks. We'll see how it goes but I should be able to hit my deadlines. This chapter feels like a filler for me and, again, the Chunin Exams weren't the most fun things to write for me, but I hope you all enjoy it!
Like always please feel free to leave a review and tell me what you think. Any mistakes you see or your thoughts on how I portrayed characters and specifically their character development which is something I tend to struggle with. Tell you what you think, I love feedback.
Now sit back, relax and enjoy!
Chapter 21
Dosu walked slowly to the middle of the arena all the while keeping his eyes on the door that the unconscious Uchiha had been seen vanishing into. Anger began to boil just underneath his skin as he thought of his master. What purpose does it have if we are to fight and kill the bastard when he puts that blessing on him? He has not dared to gift the mark on myself, so what makes the Uchiha so special? Those eyes? Are we just mere puppets? Dosu's anger hit a tipping point as he turned his eyes to his opponent as Lee finally spoke.
"It seems like you cannot escape our clash after all," Lee said with a smile. He stood straight with his left hand forward and his right hand in a fist behind his back. He was slightly turned from his adversary, but everyone could see he was prepared despite his lax form. "I will finish what I intended to start during the second exam."
Dosu chuckled as he pulled his right sleeve up to reveal a metal gauntlet with holes on the forearm piece. "By all means, show me what the 'Handsome Devil of Konoha' is all about." I will show Orochimaru-sama that I am no pawn in this little game of his. He has sorely underestimated me.
"I will gladly fight and show you the fire of my youth," Lee boasted proudly.
"And I will show you why you shouldn't mess with other people's business," Dosu said calmly with venom laced in his voice.
•••••
The trio of Oto Genin looked on as the blond vanished into the canopy above, his footsteps quickly dissipating into the sounds of the forest around them. "Good riddance if you ask me," Zaku muttered as his eyes returned to the shaking form of the pinked haired kunoichi in front of them. "With him gone this job will be much easier."
"Why are you doing this? Why attack a defenseless enemy? We don't even have a scroll," Sakura shouted with tears threatening to come from her eyes. She was terrified, never before (even in Nami) had she felt so defenseless. She was alone, her teammates were unconscious and Naruto, who had been her only backup, had been whisked away leaving her on an island.
The trio began to slowly approach, still wary of any possible traps set by Naruto. "That is quite simple," Dosu said slowly. "We are here to prove that technology has finally surpassed the Kekkei Genkai of a by gone era. And what better way to do that than by eliminating the infamous Sharingan that Konoha holds so dear?"
Sakura reached for a kunai. She pulled out the one that had been given to her earlier and cursed herself as it shook in her grasp in front of her. "I won't let that happen." The statement only made the trio laugh. There was no power in her words, no confidence, only trepidation and hesitation.
"Then if you won't let us complete our simple mission, you will die too," Dosu shouted as the trio leapt forward. Suddenly the three shinobi each felt a devastating kick as they shot off in different directions.
Sakura looked up with wide eyes as a Genin clad in green with a red hitai-ate wrapped around his waist and bandages on his arms stood in front of her. He radiated confidence and a self-assurance that only comes from hard work.
"I am sorry but I cannot allow three enemy ninja to hurt such a beautiful maiden," he said before turning his head and giving the shocked Sakura a wink. Sakura sat there stunned with a blush, as she became a stuttering mess. "It is alright you do not have to thank me right now. Maybe later over a dinner." The shinobi turned from her, with a smile on his face, back to the three Oto shinobi who were beginning to get up, all be it very slowly.
Sakura looked on with shock before her inner voice finally realized what he had just said. Wait like a date? Like I would ever date a guy with that type of fashion sense!
"What's your name?" an annoyed Dosu asked.
"I am the Handsome Devil of Konoha, Rock Lee," Lee said with a smile.
Zaku scoffed as he brought his hands into a seal. "The 'Village Idiot' sounds like a better name for you. We'll blow you away fas-" he stopped when Dosu put his hand up in front of him. "What? Why are you stopping me? We should blow his head off!"
"Because he has backup coming," Dosu answered calmly. "That explosion from the blond punk is bound to bring teams from around the forest looking for an easy scroll. It is easier for us to just cut our losses and move on. After all there is more in these exams to come." Zaku and Kin gritted their teeth before finally agreeing to the suggestion.
"It is not very youthful to run from a fight when you yourself are so willing to fight an unarmed and outmanned opponent," Lee commented before the trio could vanish into the forest.
Dosu turned back to look Lee in the eyes. "When it comes time to fight, you had better be prepared to die." No more words were issued before the team vanished into the trees above.
"Awww I was looking forward to that fight!" Sakura looked up to see a girl with her brown hair in a pair of buns sitting on a tree branch with a kunai twirling in her hands. Standing next to her was a teen with long brown hair held back by his hitai-ate. He looked over the clearing with white, emotionless eyes.
"As reckless as ever Lee," he said while looking at the pair in the clearing. "If you had only waited for a few more seconds then we could have engaged them and gotten the scroll we needed."
"And leave such a youthful maiden on her own?" Lee asked in shock.
Neji took a harsh look at the girl before scoffing. "If she could not defend herself then she does not belong in these exams. It is not our place to play hero. We are here to pass, nothing more and nothing less. We are wasting daylight. We need to get moving and find the scroll we need."
"But-" Lee had no time to counter as the brown haired teen responded harshly.
"We have gone far beyond any responsibility we have for their safety. They are gone and it looks like they will not be returning. Our job here is done," Neji spoke with finality. He gave the girl next to him a nod before jumping into the trees above. Lee sighed before following suit.
•••••
Dosu crouched down and waited for the signal to begin. As soon as Hayate had given the word he shot forward. He brought his arm that held his gauntlet back and prepared to take a swing before his adversary vanished from view. In the next instant he was sent flying as a kick connected with his chest.
"Leaf Hurricane," Lee shouted as he stopped his spinning and took his stance one more time.
Naruto was stunned. He had never seen someone move so fast before in his life. He thought he had been paying attention but was taken completely by surprise as the Oto-nin began to get up off the ground.
Dosu chuckled as he gripped his chest. "Well that will bruise tomorrow. And here I thought you just got the drop on us during the second exam."
"You will be wise to not underestimate my youthful fighting," Lee stated with a confident smile on his face.
"Don't worry that is the last time you will be hitting that hard again," Dosu claimed as he began to inch forward, the gauntlet still ready to attack. He jumped back as Lee was on him again. He moved his head left to avoid a punch before bringing his gauntlet up to block another devastating kick from the Genin.
A shockwave resonated from the impact. Lee winced in pain as his head throbbed. He went to throw a punch at his opponent's chest but stumbled. He could barely register the lunging figure of Dosu in time to block a haymaker. Using both arms he blocked the attack before suddenly falling on the ground and grabbing his head.
Anko's eyes shot from the skirmish to her apprentice who was mirroring Lee below. Naruto was howling in pain as he brought his hands to his ears attempting to stop the sudden ringing that seem to immobilize him. The first shockwave had given him a headache and made his legs wobble, but this sudden high-pitched tone had been debilitating. Above the ringing he could faintly make out the agonizing screams of Kiba and Akumaru.
He had been warned by Twilight and Shadow about the possible damage that could come from continually pumping chakra into his ears, but it had become so natural that he had forgotten he was doing it anymore. Kiba was suffering the same fate; the Inuzuka's reputation for enhanced hearing and smell that mirrored their ninken was resulting in his own pain.
Below Dosu could only scoff as the screams came from the three-downed shinobi. "It seems my jutsu casted a wider net than intended." He looked back with bloodlust at his opponent. "Oh well it got the job done." He unceremoniously kicked Lee in the ribs and set him rolling across the floor of the arena.
Lee coughed up blood as he tried to put shaky hands on the ground and attempted to force himself up. Blood could be seen trickling out of one of his ears. He barely managed to stand up before throwing his body to the side to dodge a wild punch from the Oto-nin but was still sent flying by an unseen force.
"My, my, your taijutsu is certainly commendable if you are still able to stand let alone dodge a punch," Dosu mocked. "For you to do that under your current circumstances you must have true mastery over your body, but your outdated taijutsu cannot dodge technology."
Naruto could feel his equilibrium return while his head stopped ringing. Deep inside he could feel the mutterings of his tenant. The Kyubi mentioned something about damned ears before returning to his slumber. Naruto coughed as his eyes traveled from his concerned sensei who was leaning over him to the fight below. What was that?
"Wh-what was that?" Lee mirrored Naruto's own question. He stood on shaky legs and could feel his head swim. He felt his head was moving in all different directions even as the rest of his body stayed still. The disoriented shinobi could barely piece together a coherent thought. Why won't my body respond?
"Amazing what happens when your eardrum shatters isn't it? What you are experiencing is a case of vertigo caused by the rupture of the eardrum and the disruption of the inner ear fluids that aid in the equilibrium of the body." Dosu raised his gauntlet up in the air to reveal the numerous holes in the piece of metal. "This tool creates vibrations in the air that I can control using my chakra and direct them anywhere I want, even magnifying them beyond anything the human ear is built to withstand."
"S-so? That will not stop me. I have come too far to quit now," Lee stumbled over his words. His balance was improving slowly but it was still a struggle to stay standing.
"Without your sense of balance you cannot possibly use your beloved taijutsu," Dosu pointed out with a hint of victory in his voice. "Which means this fight is over."
Might Gai looked down with a cool head. If he was worried for his pupil then he hid it well. While it is true that this impairs Lee's ability to preform taijutsu there are always avenues around walls such as these. Lee's been doing that his entire life. This wall is just one more he has to overcome.
"Why doesn't he just use a wind jutsu?"
Anko could only looked down at her student while she helped him up off the ground. With one hand wrapped around his sensei Naruto was now able to get off the ground. "What was that gaki?"
"I asked why he doesn't just use a wind jutsu or even a lightning jutsu? Wind chakra creates vibrations as well, if strong enough they could be used to counteract the vibrations he is controlling," Naruto explained. "Even a lightning jutsu could possibly change the vibrations in a way that could throw off his chakra by increasing the frequency of the waves."
"That would be a good idea if wasn't for the fact he can't use ninjutsu." Anko and Naruto's eyes widened at the revelation brought along by their viewing companion.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked. "How can he not be able to use ninjutsu?"
"A rare medical condition," Ibiki explained.
"And how do you know this Ibiki?" Anko questioned.
"I have had the . . . privilege of hearing Gai's rants about his 'most youthful' students before. The boy's condition came up," Ibiki explained as if it was nothing. "While the boy has chakra flowing through him he cannot release it like a normal shinobi. A shinobi releases chakra through specific spots on the body known as tenketsu. Normally the spots on the body where these are most . . . passable are the feet, hand, mouth and in some cases eyes. However, in very rare cases, these tenketsu can become more rigid and will not allow chakra to be released through the points in order to create jutsu."
"Then how can he use the chakra he has?" Naruto asked in wonderment.
"The boy's genius lies in his ability to divert his chakra into his muscles. While he cannot externalize his chakra he can still internalize it making him faster and stronger, enhancing his taijutsu far beyond those that have been practicing the art twice as long as he has," Ibiki explained before a sad smile appeared on his face. "Still for all that genius the kid seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place if he can't use his strengths and really his only skill."
Dosu rushed forward again and swung his gauntlet-carrying hand. He stumbled forward when his wild swing missed everything he turned to see Lee with a hand on his head trying to lessen the aching pain. He was panting a little and swallowed a lump of vile that threatened to escape.
"My, my to dodge that strike with such ease, and at such speeds in your condition is truly impressive. Too bad you hadn't gotten a better match-up, you may have won," Dosu chided his opponent.
Lee gave an indignant grunt as he bent down on a knee. To most he looked like he was preparing to puke but Naruto could hear the unmistakable click of a contraption being unhooked. "I am too fast for your punches," Lee stammered back.
Dosu scoffed before bringing a kunai up to his gauntlet. "Maybe but the speed of my sound makes you seem like your standing in mud kid." Dosu clanged the kunai on his kunai but was suddenly sent back and careening in the wall of the stadium.
Gai looked down with a proud smile. "Yosh you show him Lee! Show him the youth that burns bright in the Leaf!" He chuckled as he looked down on his protégé with a newfound hope in his eyes.
Kakashi looked at his rival with mild surprise in his lone eyes. Where Lee had been now rested two loose leg weights and a small indent in the ground now resided. "You always liked your weights, aye Gai?" he asked with an amused ring in his voice.
"Weights?" Kurenai's eyes widened when she heard the copycat ninja. "You mean to tell me the kid has been fighting the whole time with weights? Gai why would you let your student willingly disadvantage himself in such a way?"
Gai merely shook his head. "It is not to stunt his growth or his performance. It is to act as a trump card. While normal shinobi have ninjutsu and genjutsu to fight with, Lee has none. No aptitude for two of the three basic ninja arts leaving only taijutsu."
"Then that puts him at an even bigger disadvantage," Kurenai argued.
"Ninjutsu and genjutsu are used to gain a leg up in battle," Gai went on and ignored the genjutsu mistress. "If Lee were to not have a back up, something to improve his skills, like the weights do when they are taken off, then he is fighting with his hand showing. While ninjas hold their cards close to their chest Lee has his visible for the world to see, this just gives him one card they cannot view. This is Lee's response to the advantages others find in ninjutsu and genjutsu."
The Genin were left in shock, even the Jonin were surprised by this explanation. The conversation died down as a moan came from the floor below. Dous held his shoulder before thrusting a fist into the shoulder resulting in a cracking sound as the shoulder was relocated properly. He tried to move it and grimaced as he did. He looked too see the weights and the small dent in the ground in the middle of the weights.
How could he dodge my attack? There is no way he could travel faster than my sound. His eyes turned back to the boy who stood there with a confident smirk on his face in the same stance he had started the match with. Just who is this guy?
"I have finally figured out how to beat your jutsu," Lee stated triumphantly.
"Oh and pray tell, what trick is that?" Dosu was seething on the inside. There was no way someone could possibly beat his jutsu. He had the technological advantage, there is no way an ordinary Genin could beat his gauntlet.
"Simple. While your sound may travel at speeds far greater than I could ever move, your eyes cannot." Lee's smile stretched from ear to ear as he explained. "You have to be able to locate your target and project your sound in such a direction to be effective, if you cannot see your target then the speed of your sound is of no use."
Anko slapped her forward when she heard the explanation. "That was his great plan? To run around so he can't be targeted? Hell that is how all jutsu work. I thought you said this kid was a genius Ibiki."
Ibiki shrugged his shoulders as he chuckled at the kunoichi's response. "Genius doesn't mean it has to always be the most intricate. Occam's Razor, Anko. The kid doesn't have to have the most innovative answer to win the fight."
Dosu growled at the way the green-cladded ninja brushed off his jutsu like it was nothing. It was what made him a shinobi. He had been a poor boy, living a life in rags, not unlike most of Oto's Genin. With no family to rely on, no hiden to be taught, his dreams of growing strong and making a name for himself sank away. But that is when his master came by and gave him a chance, the technology, to become more than he could ever dream. It was his own hiden, his own way to carve out his destiny. He would not lose to simple taijutsu.
Before he could move Lee was already in front of him. A silent cry of pain escaped from Dosu's lips as he was sent careening back only for him to feel a force painfully connect with his back and sending him hurling across the arena.
Everyone in the stadium looked on with shock as the Oto Genin was being tossed around like a rag doll. The beating was brutal, unrelenting, and an undeniable show of force. Naruto eyes couldn't even follow the action while his mind went crazy. I-I can't compete with that speed. He gritted his teeth as the onslaught continued. Right now I couldn't hope to beat him. My shadow clones wouldn't last a second and I wouldn't be able to land a jutsu. How far am I behind him?
Dosu's mind could barely register a coherent thought as his body began to slowly break. He could feel the cracked ribs, the broken bones. If this continued he could be done for. He could hear the faint whistling of his gauntlet as his mind tried to form a plan. If he stops and stays in one spot I can win. Suddenly he was sent in the air by a kick to the chin. His body soared through the air until he was parallel to the ground.
"I will finally beat you," Lee said as he appeared underneath the disoriented teen. He went to grab his opponent before freezing. His head rocked with a piercing sound that sent his world into a whirlpool. With his head spinning he could no longer move, feeling paralyzed in mid air.
"Gotcha," Dosu whispered victoriously. Dosu seemed to turn around in mid-air, wind seemingly warping around his gauntlet. He screamed as he punched the Genin with such force that the impact created dust that kicked up around the entire arena. Dosu, however, could not stop his own fall. He collided with the ground and stayed motionless.
"A double knockout?" Anko asked as she looked down at the prone figures on the ground. "That was anticlimactic."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Ibiki responded with amusement ringing in his voice. Both figures moved but it was clear the Oto-nin was more aware of his surroundings. Lee could barely manage to sit up without wobbling.
"How could he take that punch?" Naruto asked in shock. "That had to have caused serious injury."
"Training with Might Gai the kid has probably taken his fair share of beating," Ibiki answered while looking back down there. "Still he should know when enough is enough. All that blood coming out of his ears, it's clear that there is major damage. If he continues this then he could lose his hearing or worse his sense of balance."
Dosu staggered up as he heard a crack. He looked down to see his gauntlet sporting a major crack that ran up the tool nearly breaking it. "It is amazing you are still standing," Dosu managed to say as he coughed and held his ribs. "I pushed as many sounds waves as I could into those last two attacks. Your ears should be shattered, it will be a miracle if you aren't deaf for the rest of your life." He looked over and could see his opponent still struggling to get up before looking at the proctor. Hayate had no intention of stopping this fight. Lee still showed a willingness to fight and he was conscious. "Very well then I will be sure to end it here. You've gained my respect Konoha scum but today you die."
Dosu rushed forward as wind raced around his gauntlet, which was beginning to crack even more. Lee gazed up but couldn't hear anything. He saw Dosu rush forward. No I can't lose. I can't let Gai-sensei down. Lee planted a hand on the ground. He screamed with all his might. "The Gate of Opening: Open." As he did that a burst of chakra rushed through the arena.
With his dizziness momentarily decreased he was able to think and move his body. He pumped as much chakra into his left hand that was planted on the ground and into his right leg as he possibly could. Lee pushed himself up onto his left arm and spun bringing his leg up just as Dosu reached him. His kick landed on the side of the Genin's head. A loud boomed echoed through the room as Dosu was sent crashing into the wall of the building headfirst.
The dust settled to reveal Dosu lying in a pool of his own blood, a crack visible on his head from the impact. Medics rushed in with carts to both competitors as Lee was throwing up and shaking. Both Jonin senseis were at their student's sides but one was far more worried than the other.
The medic looking over Dosu looked up to the man in an Oto Jonin vest with a sad expression, he hesitated a bit before barking orders. "There is extensive damage to the spinal cord. Take the team checking on Akimichi-san and have them prepare for immediate surgery. There are also cracks along the skull. Prepare a blood transfusion, he has lost a lot as it is."
The Jonin hummed before walking away. "It the risk taken during the Chunin Exams." His voice sent chills up the medic's spine. It was dark and twisted, holding no remorse for his charge. "He knew what he was doing and the chance he was taking."
Gai, for himself, was trying to calm Lee down. The young man was beginning to shake uncontrollably. He was pushed aside as the lead medic took in the situation. "He is going into shock. We need to get him into surgery. Somebody bring a gas mask and increase the flow of blood. Begin repairing his ear the best you can. We need to stop the bleeding and any damaged caused to the brain." Gai watched as Lee vanished through the doors that lead to the infirmary feeling helpless.
"Was it wise for Gai to teach an ability like that?" Asuma question as he watched the chaos below. "For a Genin to have such an ability is reckless don't you think? Opening a gate when your body is already in a dismal state can only cause more damage."
"Well isn't that how Gai is?" Kurenai commented. "To go at things 100%? It seems to fit the Gai I know."
"But such a technique in the hands of someone so young is reckless. His body isn't fully mature enough at thirteen or fourteen to use that, let alone the weights he trains with," Asuma rebutted.
"You are both forgetting one thing." They turned to see Kakashi watching his old rival with a sad expression on his usually stoic face. It was rare to see him show such an emotion, especially to Gai who he usually acted with indifference towards. While it was true the two were close friends, not many actually witness Kakashi worry about Gai. "Gai, while he can use genjutsu and ninjutsu, isn't proficient at it. Some say for a Jonin his lack of depth in those areas is embarrassing, but he still moves forward. He probably sees a lot of himself in Lee probably even views him as a son. After all he has never been romantically involved with anyone in years and will probably never have a family of his own, something I know saddens him."
Kurenai and Asuma looked back at the normally high-energy Jonin to see his somber face as he walked back up the stairs. "He views him as a son and wants to pass on his legacy to him. The Eight Gates, no matter how destructive to his body they may be, are a part of his legacy. Yes, it was reckless and foolish, but it was someone looking to help a boy he viewed as a son."
Naruto looked down at the scene and could feel vile begin to rise up, images from his fight with the Iwa squad raced through his mind, including the look of fear in the eyes of man he had choked. He viewed the applicants to see their response. Most of the Konoha Genin were pale white or turned away from the scene. The only ones that didn't were Lee's two teammates, the girl asking her sensei about her teammate and the other who had a cold, indifferent look on his face. His eyes moved to the Oto group. The girl looked shaken while the boy was scowling. Finally his eyes moved to Suna. He was not surprised to see Kankuro and Temari still standing composed but his blood pressure spiked when his eyes roamed to Gaara.
The young man had a wild look in his eyes and his body was tense as if he was the one battling below. Naruto could feel the bloodlust rolling off the redhead in waves and it made him uneasy. But there was something else there that felt familiar, a presence that wasn't the same as when he met Sabaku no Gaara in Konoha earlier in the week. And he could tell his tenant was getting antsy as well.
"Oi furball what the fuck is going on here?" Naruto questioned the tailed-beast that stirring inside his mindscape.
"It does not concern you, Kit. Just avoid him," the Kyubi answered back.
"Like hell it does!" Naruto nearly shouted out loud. "You aren't telling me something. That kid has two different aura's about him. It almost feels like two dif-" Naruto's eyes went wide when he began to put the pieces together. "Kyubi there are more tailed-beasts, aren't there?"
"Yes Kit."
"And there are more people like me? More Jinchuriki, aren't there?"
"Yes."
"He's one of them."
"As perceptive as ever Kit."
Naruto could now see the look in his eyes he thought had recognized earlier. The same loneliness, the same anger, fear, and even a bit of self-hatred. He could see it all in the redhead's eyes. Past the bloodlust and the crazed look, past the mask, he could see himself reflected in the Suna jinchuriki. "He's exactly like me."
"Huh? What was that gaki?" Anko looked at Naruto who just shook his head to try and clear his thoughts.
"It-It's nothing." Naruto tried to compose himself.
Anko just shrugged her shoulder before looking back to see the last two competitors vanish into the depths of the tower. "Well I don't know about you guys but that may be the best fight I have seen in the prelims in a while. That Lee kid is something else."
Ibiki and Naruto both nodded. Their eyes traveled to see two names being revealed. Naruto could feel his breath catch in his throat when one specific name pop up. Abumi Zaku vs. Sabaku no Gaara shown in bright green lights. The sound of swirling sand could be heard before Gaara stepped out of the swirling particles and onto the floor below.
Zaku just grunted before walking down calmly with a smirk on his face. "Dosu may not have been able to win but he was always too cocky. I won't go light," he muttered to himself.
Hayate looked at the two combatants on either side of him, one with a chilling calm about him and the next with a smirk plastered on his face. He began and the match and jumped back.
Zaku immediately ducked followed by the sound of a large crash echo through the room. Imbedded in the wall directly behind where his head was, Zaku could see a plug begin to turn to dust in a small crater. He turned back to see sand begin to leak out of the gourd on the redhead's back. The sand didn't just pour out of the container but danced along the ground around the Suna Genin.
Gaara just stood there with his arms folded in front of him. He could feel the sand dance around him, swirling and moving to his desire. The last fight had sparked a need deep inside of him, the voice that egged him on to prove his worth of living. To see his opponents bleed and die made Gaara feel alive and affirm his existence.
Zaku shook off his brief awe struck feeling. He jumped to his feet. "Huh some fancy sand you got there but let's see if it can survive my sound." He ran through hand seals before pointed both his hands at his opponent. "Ninja Art: Supersonic Slicing Wave Jutsu," he shouted before two large and powerful torrents of air were unleashed. The two tunnels of wind and sound cascaded toward his opponents before colliding with his target. The subsequent explosion sent dust and wind racing through the room. Anko had to cover her eyes from the debris while her trench coat shook violently and flew behind her. The rest of the audience also turned to protect their eyes from the collateral damage of the blast.
Zaku stood up with a victorious smirk on his face. "Sand has nothing against sound." He laughed after thinking he had won before suddenly feeling something crawling at his feet. He looked down to see a sea of sand. He scoffed before kicking the sand away. "Pathetic. Eh guess I hit him so hard his sand got everywhere," he said before laughing again. He went to kick the sand again before the small particles suddenly jumped on the young man.
Zaku was too shocked to scream as the sand twist and turn around him before completely constricting him in to the point only his head could be seen from the body casket of sand he found himself in. "Wha-What is going on?" he asked through harsh breaths as the sand was crushing his lungs.
When the dust finally settled the spectators could see a slowly crumbling wall of sand standing in front the unscathed Suna Genin. "How did you survive my jutsu?" The sand tightened around him cutting off any other thoughts.
The shell around Gaara dissipated. "You talk to much," Gaara muttered. "You are merely an annoying gnat that needs to be squashed." Gaara brought a hand up in front of him with all the digits bent.
"No, no please have mercy!" Zaku shouted. "PLEASE!"
"Silence," Gaara's voiced echoed with finality. "You will be proof of my existence." Gaara pushed his arm forward. "Sand Burial." Zaku's screams were cut shorts and the sand had crushed him. Blood burst from the sand. Red sand was smeared across the floor of the stadium and the walls.
There was an eerie silence that settled around the room that was only filled with the unnerving sound of Gaara's sand returning to his gourd. The sand had dissipated to reveal Zaku's lifeless and mangled body. Team Eight stood frozen, their feet unmoving while their minds raced to find a way to get out of the tower. The only thing keeping them from fleeing was the fact Gaara was staring elsewhere.
Gaara's gaze stayed trained onto Naruto, his sand still dancing about as it was slowly filling his gourd. He wanted nothing more than to fight the young blond, the beast raging inside of him urging him forward, but the Zaku's blood had been enough to satiate this plea.
Naruto could feel himself begin to pull on the chakra of the Kyubi, the Kyubi itself seemed to almost will it into happening. Naruto groaned as he grabbed his head, his vision flicking between being clouded with red and the blackening of passing out. He had to calm down, but the image before him was startling. It was like staring into a mirror, the pain barely concealed in the Ichibi Jinchuriki's eyes were far too clear to Naruto. While Gaara might not have covered it with cold indifference, Naruto still had his own masks, those fake smiles he'd wear to piss off the people around him that cursed his very existence, it was the same. Even the bloody act below him was similar. He had pranked people to get attention, to affirm his own existence.
"Kyubi what was that?" Naruto asked the creature that was unsettling his already fragile mind. He could feel the Kyubi pacing along the bars.
"That was Shukaku, the One-tail. He is known as the Spirit of the Desert. He, and his Jinchuriki, can control sand and bend it to their will using their chakra. That boy used the sand as a defense, blocking the jutsu, it is likely that he has grown so accustomed to it that it happens on its own accord," the Kyubi responded.
I've got to calm down, I can't keep drawing on the Kyubi's chakra. Naruto nearly shouted. He could feel his heart rate increase, adrenaline running through his veins. His breathing was beginning to increase and he was beginning to panic.
"It is natural for a Jinchuriki to draw upon their tenant's chakra when they feel extreme emotion or fear," the Kyubi snickered. "Do you fear him Kit?"
Naruto's answer was immediate. "No."
"Do not fool yourself Kit," the Kyubi chided. "You may deny it but your body doesn't. Increased adrenaline, shortness of breath, the feeling of your legs turning to jello readying themselves to flee. Face it Kit, you feel fear."
Naruto could not respond as he felt the Kyubi slip back into the far reaches of his mind. The threat seemed to be over, the Suna Genin satiated, but Naruto still felt sick. He didn't even notice Anko trying to shake him when she felt the small amount of chakra begin to leak out from him. It was small, very small, but it could start something that no one wanted.
"Come on gaki we still got paperwork to do," Anko tried to make up an excuse. "Let's go and do some over some ramen huh? On me!"
Naruto shook his head and took a deep breath. "No, no I want to stay and watch. I'm fine, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," he said with an ear-to-ear smile.
Anko sighed internally, something happened in that last match that unsettled her blond apprentice, enough to the point of pulling on the Kyubi's chakra. Her eyes made a quick flash to Ibiki who gave her a sideways glance. It told her to think about the risks, he had felt it too. While Anko may have worried about him losing control and having to bring him down to stop him, Ibiki worried more about the ramifications it would have on his social life. He could always recover from an ass kicking but if his fellow Genin, shinobi who knew nothing about the Kyubi, were to see what he carried, then any chance of him being accepted by the peers of his age group would fly out the window.
Anko bit the inside of her cheek before finally giving in. "Fine, but if anything happens we're leaving." Naruto nodded his head in agreement.
Naruto's eyes went up to the board to see the next to names. A real smile came on his face as one name jumped out to him. "Alright you show them Hinata," he yelled out before being hit on the head by his instructor.
"Baka," Anko muttered. Well so much for not showing favoritism.
•••••
Hinata's eyes widened. She brought her hands to her mouth. She could feel herself begin to shake. "No not him," she whispered. "Anybody but him." Staring at her the name Hyuga Neji in neon green letters. All hope of passing faded before a voice broke her out of her thoughts.
"Alright you show them Hinata." The words rang in her mind, resonating through her.
I-I can do this. If Na-Naruto-kun believes I can do it, th-then so do I. She repeated that in her head as she walked down the stairs but they did little to comfort her because watching her were the trained eyes of her own cousin, the genius of the clan: Hyuga Neji.