Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters
Chapter 21: Chuunin Exams Part 10: Realisation
The Hokage was an old man who worried a lot. As the leader of a large village, he had a lot of responsibilities, such as the dreaded paperwork, alas, that was not what he was concerned about. Naruto Uzumaki used to be a fun and out-going girl who never cared about much, but sadly that all changed in one night. One night. It was shocking that everything about one person could change in a matter of hours. What the Sarutobi saw in the arena below him almost gave him a heart attack. At first, he thought it was the Kyuubi's influence, but her eye wasn't red and he didn't sense any of the Tailed-Beast's chakra, and then he realised that the only other thing that could have affected her behaviour was the dreaded Cursed Mark on her neck. Orochimaru.
"Hokage-sama, Naruto Uzumaki is waiting for you in the Meeting Hall."
"Thank you, Anbu-san. If you will excuse me, Kazekage." the Hokage dismissed the Anbu ninja and proceeded to poof into the building behind the large arena, where he then continued to walk along a small corridor before finally reaching a metal door. Inside, the Jinchuriki was sitting on one of two comfortable armchairs. The Hokage sat down in the one next to her and waited for a few moments before finally asking a question.
"Are you alright Naruto-chan?"
"What do you think?"
"Well, from what I saw earlier, I would say that you are troubled."
"No shit Sherlock."
"Language."
"Hn..."
"Listen, I know that you must be feeling regret-"
"I don't regret anything." Well that was surprising.
"What?"
"I said I don't regret anything. The arrogant idiot deserved what he got, I just wish I was in control, I could have done much worse." What...?
"N-Naruto-chan? Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm just dandy."
The Hokage wasn't sure what he should do, should he let the girl continue? Or should he send her to the seal expert, Jiraiya? Her behaviour was tilting him towards the second option but all signs of the seal controlling her had disappeared, maybe her claim was just her, no influence necessary. Meanwhile, back at the arena, Temari and Shikamaru was battling with each other, Kankuro had forfeited so Shino was the winner by default.
"Listen to me, Naruto-chan, I can only help you if you let me."
"I don't need any help, why does everyone keep thinking that? I'm not a weak child anymore!"
"I'm not saying you are, it's just Orochimaru is very persuasive."
"You think I would willingly go to that treacherous snake?"
'To get power so you can get revenge on the village, yes'
"No, it's just that He might send some ninja after you." the old man lied, hoping to make the 13 year old feel better, but he wasn't getting anywhere. The Sarutobi sighed and stood up, he couldn't convince the Jinchuriki to trust him enough to tell him why she was feeling so negative these days. "Alright Naruto-chan, you can head back to the arena to watch your friends fight." Snorting at the word 'friend', the blonde exited the room and made her way back to the competitor's box where those who weren't fighting were resting. The girl made it just in time to see her sensei and male teammate appear in a cloud of smoke in the middle of the battlefield, Sasuke looking all professional with his new outfit.
Naruto's P.O.V
'Hn, look at Bastard #1 and Bastard #2, they think they're so cool that they were late but just in time to not be disqualified, if it was me who was late, they wouldn't have given me the extra time to appear, I would be out the competition before you could say Chuunin'
"Of course, the Uchihas always got special treatment."
'Son of a bitch'
Okay, okay, I admit it, I'm pretty jealous of Sasuke. Other than losing his whole clan to his brother, he's a had a pretty good life; he has been treated like a Prince, he has loads of fan-girls and he isn't resented because of something he couldn't control. Yes, I was treated like scum and he was treating like a blessing to Konoha. Another thing that pisses me off is the strong friendship he's taught himself to believe that we have, he actually thinks I want to be his friend, the arrogant prick just can't help himself. Gaara and Sasuke's fight started, neither of them had landed a hit on each other, I took note of how fast Sasuke-teme had gotten, he was almost as fast as Lee.
'Mental note: work on improving speed'
"I can help you with that, I think I have a few training weights stored somewhere in here."
'Great, thanks Kurama-chan'
Well that solves that. Taking a glance at two certain girls in the crowd, I noticed that they looked worried for the Uchiha, of course they would be, even if they did like me more, they still haven't gotten rid of their caring behaviour towards him.
About 5 Minutes into the Battle
Huh, I kind of feel... really sleepy. I stumbled backwards and hit my back against a wall, slouching to the ground instantly. The last thing I saw was feathers falling and ninja going into full panic mode.
Darkness...
Sakura's P.O.V
I dispelled the jutsu as soon as it started, I then turned to Ino who had fallen asleep, it seems she hadn't noticed the genjutsu until it was too late. I was about to release her from her sleepy prison but my sensei said that Sasuke had gone after Gaara (who had escaped with his siblings) and that Shikamaru, Naruto-chan and I had to go after him. I quickly ran over to Naruto-chan, released her and gave her a brief description of what has been happening before continuing over to Shikamaru, who, of course, was just pretending to sleep so he wouldn't have to get caught up in the battle.
'Lazy Nara...'
'Cha! One day I'm gonna punch him so hard that his jaw breaks!'
"Hello." Wait, what? I looked down, as did Naruto-chan and Shikamaru, just to see a small brown dog with ninja gear. "My name is Pakkun, I'm one of Kakashi's Summons here to help you go after the Uchiha boy."
Sometime Later
I'm really worried about Naruto-chan, she's been really quiet, even though we just had to leave Shikamaru behind, he wanted us to go on without him so he could slow down the nine Otogakure ninja that were after us. Pakkun had said that the ninja had stopped, meaning Shikamaru actually did it, I just pray that he's alright. I looked to my right to see Naruto-chan just glaring ahead, so I took the risk and asked what was wrong, which of course she said nothing was the matter.
"Naruto-chan, I-"
"Shut up."
"W-what?"
"I said, shut up, I'm in no mood for any petty conversations," there was so much anger in her eye when she looked at me, "especially from you." Naruto-chan... why are you like this? It's to do with that mask, I know it is, and some day I will find out what happened and I will get my best friend back.
...
Normal P.O.V
'I can't move my body...' Yes, Sasuke Uchiha was in a very vulnerable position. He lay on a thick branch with Suna's Jinchuriki jumping at him with one of his grotesque arms aiming for the kill...
CRUNCH
Smashing into the tree behind him, Gaara was shocked to find that Naruto Uzumaki, the one his 'Mother' was going on and on about, was the person who owned the black ninja shoe that hit his face. What was worse was that she had brought along that annoying pink-haired one and a stupid dog who had immediately went to their male teammate to check on him. Once again, Konoha's Jinchuriki leapt and her opponent and tried to kick him again, only for the red-haired boy to hit her into a tree with his tail. Having enough of her, he attempted to kill the Uchiha by extending his arm however Sakura got in his way with a kunai raised, resulting in her being pinned to a tree.
"Sakura!"
"Heheheh... that's why having bonds makes you weak, Uzumaki..."
"Shut the fuck up you creep."
"You can't talk, after all, we're just alike, except you hold people close to you. Only one can remain undefeated, and only they will taste true victory, forget your friends and fight only for your existence to remain on this world."
"You're insane..."
"Your friendship and loyalty clouds your focus."
"Friendship? I have no friends, that shows that you know nothing about me," Naruto stated like it was obvious, only for the boy opposite her to laugh.
"I'm insane? I've seen the way you look at them, what was their names? Ino and Sakura? The blonde bimbo and the pink pest here?" he gestured to the unconscious Genin, "They have a place in your hearts, I can see it, I also noticed your little twitch at my nicknames for them, you can't hide your feelings anymore and you'll die!"
"Yeah yeah, keep telling yourself that, because I'm about to shut you up once and for all!" the girl activated her Kekkei Genkai and summoned the same sword she used to beat Neji and for the third time that day, she sailed through the air after the Suna ninja merely batted her away like an insect, making her land in front of her male teammate.
'Agh! Mother, stop!' clutching his head in pain, the boy relived a memory, the night when he accidently killed the only person that loved him, Yashimaru. "Love is the heart's desire to serve someone precious to you, to watch over them, to care for them... that's why these emotions need to be destroyed! You're weak because you love, you're weak because you have people who are precious to you, you're weak because you can't let them go!"
"Shut up! Shut up or so help me, I'll kill you! Agh!" the butter blonde clutched her neck as black marks slowly started to spread across her neck and jaw. Falling to her knees, the marks never stopped until their covered half of her face and the left side of her torso. "No... stop it..."
"What's wrong?! Aren't you going to attack?! Don't you want to save her?!" said girl whimpered as the claw around her tightened.
"S-Sakura... let her go!"
"Stop worrying about her and fight me, or I'll kill her right now!"
"Naruto-chan, I've got this, just focus on this bastard and I'll stabilise this Hickey of Doom."
'Thank you, Kurama-chan'
Feeling the marks slowly fade, Naruto stood back up and thought for a moment, what could she do? There wasn't much she could think of, her fire jutsu won't work due to his impressive wind jutsu she knows he's got, and close combat isn't an option... unless... she summoned four clones and grinned. "Get ready, Gaara," she blurred out of existence, but appeared above her opponent with her clones. The Suna Jinchuriki smirked and shot his hand out towards the clones, catching three, only for the fourth one to throw the real one behind Gaara. "Again!" summoning another clone, it threw her above the tail that was about to hit her but two things were different, she had her Kekkei Genkai activated again with black gauntlets on her arms.
'Please let this work...'
Fire swirled around her right gauntlet while lighting was around her left, and just like her failed training, she rotated her left hand around her right arm, slowly applying the lightning. She was so close, a little more and it would work.
"I can feel your chakra going crazy, you have to hit him before you lose your concentration!"
Once again, a clone appeared beside her and kicked her feet which resulted in her diving rapidly at the red-haired Genin. "Take this!" slamming her fist into his back, there was an explosion shortly after and a smoke covered Naruto went sailing towards a tree, however Sasuke caught her.
Once the smoke cleared, Gaara was still standing, although a portion of the sand on his back was crumbling away. "All that work, and you only scored one blow?"
"Ah, put a sock in it, teme!" that was when the boy noticed something, the around the blow was... glass? Of course! When fire is added to sand, it turns into glass!
"Naruto, I want you to free Sakura and go-"
"I thought I told you to put a sock in it."
"Huh?"
"I'm not letting this guy fall to you, he's mine."
"But-"
"Get lost!" surprising everyone in the area, she grabbed her teammate by the collar and tossed him towards their other teammate, "How many time do I have to repeat myself, this guy's mine!"
"What makes you so sure?!" turning back to her opponent, Naruto was shocked to find only a huge cloud of smoke, she could only make out a fount outline of a giant creature. 'So this is it, this is the beast inside of him...'
Naruto's P.O.V
The next thing I knew, sand was swirling around me. I faintly heard the cry of Sasuke calling my name, the stupid teme couldn't move anymore because he overdid it earlier. Baka. I used up the last of my chakra on my previous move... fuck. I was about to give up when a thought struck me.
Sakura!
I can't let her die, not today! Wiping away the blood that was trailing down my chin, I went through a few hand seals just as the sand was closing in and shouted out the name of the jutsu. Once the smoke cleared I noticed that I was level with this creature in front of me because the thing keeping me up was the Chief Toad himself, Gamabunta. Thank Kami for Kurama-chan's chakra.
"What the? Not you again! What is it?" Boss Toad looked forward and smiled when he realised what we were up against. I was smirking when I asked him if he was ready to fight, his response, however...
"Take a hike."
"What?!"
"You expect me to go out of my way to mess with a guy like him?"
"But I need your help! That guy won't let Sakura go until he's defeated, and he's crushing her!"
"I don't care."
"Please Boss, just this once, help me! I... I rarely say this anymore, and I might not ever again, but Sakura is one of those people who I... who I truly..."
"I get it, I've heard it all from Jiraiya, these two girls like you, right?"
"Y-yeah..."
"Fine, I'll help but just this once."
"Really?"
"Yes so don't push it." Boss eyed Gaara and unsheathed his weapon. He then jumped into the air and attacked Gaara... well Demon Gaara.
"You're doing good so far, but can you move a bit before you squash Sasuke and Sakura?"
"Alright, alright. Hey kid, you see that? That's the Jinchuriki sticking out of that Sand Demon."
"Gaara?"
"Yeah, we need to wake him up." Okay, how can I do that without getting squished by a bug? Looking at the beast, I noticed Gaara falling asleep and the Demon went a bit crazy. It's okay Naruto, you can do this... you can do this...
...
Normal P.O.V
About two minutes later and the fight was still going on. The giant toad then thought of something, if he could get close enough, the blonde could jump off and onto the Sand Demon and wake up Suna's Jinchuriki. Sounds easy enough, right? Wrong. The toad didn't have any claws, so he asked Naruto to transform him into something with claws, the Jinchuriki did the first thing that came to mind, she transformed them into the Kyuubi. It worked well enough as the Chief Toad was able to latch onto the Demon long enough for the small girl to cancel the Henge and punch Gaara, but that meant that the Suna ninja was in control of the demon. Naruto ran at him again, with the intent to finish it once and for all.
"I won't let you win, I won't cease to exist!" he locked his hands into a hand seal when the girl was just in front of him so sand wrapped around her wrists and legs.
"I've had it with you!" true to her word, the Uzumaki slammed her head against Gaara's and blood trickled down both of their faces, pieces of her mask crackled fell apart and her whole face was revealed. The great Sand Demon then cracked and crumbled away, the Chief Toad disappeared and the two Genin tumbled through the air, branches slowing their descent until they finally reached the bottom. Both lay still for a while, that is until Naruto sat up, still worn out from her fight.
"I won't disappear, I-"
"Shut up, just... shut up and listen. You and I are so alike, but at the same time, we're so different. Unlike you, I found people who cared about me and I found a reason to live, of course I still had the majority of the village that hated me but that still never put me down, I just got back up and made myself believe that someday, I would get revenge," she opened her left eye and looked at the boy she wanted to destroy, "They did this to me, they attacked me almost every day but they went too far, and that day was my birthday. I'll forget the man that did this, and my hatred has made me the way I am today, so maybe you're right about having bonds makes you weak, but maybe you're wrong, I'll never know."
"You... you truly do know my pain."
"Yeah, I understand it but if the Kyuubi was never sealed inside me, I never would have met a great friend, I never would have met the friend that was always with me."
"Do you mean that?"
'Yes, yes I do'
"Naruto," said girl looked up and for once, was happy to see Sasuke Uchiha.
5 Minutes Ago
'Fire added to sand makes glass' the Uchiha prodigy thought as he stared intently at the giant hand that pinned his pink-haired teammate to the tree. He never paid any attention to the fight going on above him as he tried to come up with an idea to free Sakura. He seemed lost until his face lit up lit up like a light, if used his weakest fire jutsu, then he could turn the sand into glass and smash it. Going through some hand seals, he used up the last bit of chakra he had and little fireballs hit the sand hand, turning it into the substance he desired. Pulling out a kunai, the raven-haired boy hacked away at the glass and eventually his teammate was at last free, now to find his other troublesome female friend.
A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait, but it's finally here! Before you bite my head off, I will come back and fix it up a bit because I did rush it about half-way through. Again, please review and I will answer any and all questions asked.