AN: Nothing to see here, on with the fic.

Iruka brought his hand to his forehead with a tired sigh as he waited for the cheering to die down. Honestly, when he had suggested that the Genin work on developing trump cards, it had been with the purpose of perhaps giving them just a little bit of extra motivation, maybe get them started on strategic thinking. He had just watched Sakura Haruno, one of the most mild mannered and nice students he had ever taught, fire herself out of a cannon only shortly after utilizing what could only be called weaponised self-destruction. Iruka had a feeling he had created a monster.

"It's been such a long morning." He mumbled, dragging his hand down his face, to the crowd he said, in a much louder, clearer voice. "Next fight, Naruto Namikaze versus Haku Yuki."

Naruto:

The blonde boy glanced over at the pale ninja with a grin. "You okay with this?" he asked. "Fighting me?"

Haku returned the grin, a slight glint in her eye. "I guess we finally get to see who wins in an all out fight, don't we?"

The two young ninja walked down to the arena together side by side, moving to stand across from one another as Iruka positioned himself between them.

Haku glanced across at the proctor, who grinned, taking a few steps backwards before he continued, raising his hand in the ready stance, before dropping it down. "Ready… fight."

Haku lunged, launching herself towards Naruto with blinding speed and sending out a flurry of needles ahead of herself. Naruto was ready for it. His hand went to one of the fans at his waist, flipping it open and swiping it across himself to send out a gust of air that knocked the needles to the ground. Haku leaped to the side, evading the gust easily and continuing her advance, hand to hand then. Naruto dropped the fan, grinning as he fell into a practiced combat stance.

Haku closed the distance in a few long strides, hands already loaded out with more needles. The blonde boy aimed a punch at Haku's gut and, before the blow had a chance to connect, felt a needle sliding into his shoulder, working its way between muscles and arteries with supernatural ease. Naruto felt the sharp jab of pain as the needle connected. The blow had probably been intended to stop his attack short, but Naruto had known this would happen, had seen Haku fight enough times now to predict her plan. Naruto ignored the pain, restraining the impulse to flinch away with relative ease, and continued forwards to punch Haku in the gut, hard. As it turned out, countering Haku's style was relatively easy, the girl used her needles and her incredible speed to prevent attacks from landing by forcing foes to flinch mid strike. The problem was that Naruto had built up his pain tolerance training with Sasuke. It took a lot more than a needle to make him flinch like that. The dark haired girl doubled over, wheezing. With a sly grin, Naruto stepped forwards, raising his uninjured arm to bring his elbow down on Haku's back.

As Naruto brought his arm down, the pale ninja stepped nimbly to the side, smiling. Stomach punch seemingly forgotten, she jabbed another needle into Naruto's elbow, sliding it between bones. Naruto grunted, that would be problematic, it looked like Haku had already altered her strategy, using the needles to impede motion now rather than simply cause momentary pain. Haku followed up with a series of blindingly fast strikes to Naruto's other arm, his left arm, embedding no less than three needles into the limb before Naruto had a chance to react with a powerful upward kick. Haku evaded the blow, stepping back out of reach for a moment and arming herself with yet more needles. Naruto tried to move his left arm, no use. Muscles and bone tried to move as they normally would, but found themselves impeded by the slim metal rods, straining against them painfully. The right arm was only slightly better, the needle in his elbow stopped him from bending the limb much, but at least he could fix that. The blonde boy lifted the joint to his mouth, grasping the tip of the needle in his teeth and yanking it out. Haku moved forwards again, aiming to do even more damage before Naruto had finished recovering from the first wave. Naruto had to get himself some time. The blonde boy charged chakra into his feet, leaping high into the air, drawing his remaining fan as he did so. Haku reacted quickly, launching her needles on a path to intersect with Naruto in mid-air. The boy brought his fan forwards, blasting the needles aside. Moving quickly, Naruto began removing the needles from his arm, allowing the fan to hang in the air beside him as he began to fall. Haku launched another salvo of needles and Naruto had to twist in mid-air to avoid them, most of them at least. His left arm free to move once more, Naruto caught the fan as it fell beside him, launching another gust at Haku to keep the girl off balance and give himself time to land safely.

Haku launched yet more needles as Naruto landed in a crouch, deflecting them just in time with another gust of wind. One of these needles was different though, white, just like the sword Haku had given him, it moved through the gust unhindered and struck his fan with a small sound, tearing through the material with ease and rendering the weapon useless. Naruto sighed, dropping the now redundant weapon to the ground and reaching up to draw his longsword. It figured that Haku would keep a supply of chakra weaponry.

For her part, Haku seemed to be done with needles, perhaps she had finally exhausted her supply. Instead, the pale girl drew from her sleeve a short tanto blade of that same pearly white alabaster material.

The two ninja faced one another, their respective chakra weapons held at the ready, channeling wind energy in preparation for the next skirmish. "Stop!" a voice called out from the side lines, both combatants looked across at Iruka, curious. "Sorry, but a full out fight with chakra blades is too dangerous. One of you could die far too easily and unfortunately, you're both too fast for us to stop in time, so no chakra blade stand offs. Whoever wins can use theirs in the next round, but not now."

Naruto sighed and looked over at Haku with a grin. "Well, you heard him." He slid the longsword back into its sheath at his back.

Haku rolled her eyes and sheathed her tanto. The two ninja stood across from one another awkwardly, feeling a slight sense of disappointment. Haku broke the silence first. "Well, I'm out of needles, so without that blade, a taijutsu fight is pretty one sided. You're strong enough and fast enough to deal with me in that regard."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully, conceding the point. "Yeah, I'd win in an unarmed fight, but it's kind of unfair for me to capitalize on that because I'm pretty sure you'd win in a fight with chakra blades. Soo… ninjutsu fight?"

Haku nodded amicably. "Sure, Ninjutsu fight."

Nearby, Iruka gave the boys a strange look. "You're being oddly civil here. In a real fight, Naruto would hold the advantage, why give that up so easily?"

Naruto shot him an irritated look. "Because in a real fight, you wouldn't have stepped in to stop us. This is the only way to maintain battlefield conditions."

"By the way, you should clear the field," Haku interjected. "Crossfire, remember?"

Iruka took a few more steps back, but did not leave the arena. He gave Haku an annoyed look. "I hardly think-"

"Ice style: Permafrost stampede!"

Haku raised her hand towards Naruto as a growing sheet of ice began to flow from her palm with tremendous speed, covering a good tenth of the field in a block of solid ice that forced both Naruto and Iruka to launch themselves out of the way. Naruto landed in a crouch. Iruka, slightly less graceful, took the landing in a roll, coming to his feet just in time for Naruto's rebuke.

"Wind style: Great Breakthrough!"

The blast of air rushed towards Haku, larger and more forceful than any Haku had seen from the blonde boy before. It clipped Iruka in passing, knocking him off his feet. Haku raised her hands and brought up a massive sheet of ice between herself and the blast. It impacted with a crunch, sending chunks of ice raining around the field. Iruka scrambled on his knees to avoid the falling pieces, some as large as his head. He rose to his feet, panting. Haku swept an arm across her body, using her other hand to maintain a continuous stream of hand signs. Naruto groaned, he had to learn how to do hand signs one handed. As Haku swept her hand towards the other boy, a number of large, jagged chunks of ice rocketed from it towards Naruto, each one as large as he was and jutting forwards into a ragged point. Naruto said a small prayer to himself as he readied the first of the jutsu the ninetails had taught him, the lesson supposedly learned from his father. The boy leaped to the side to avoid the first chunk, focusing on stabilizing the palm sized orb of swirling energy. As the second came forwards, he brought the tiny ball up to meet it, allowing the great boulder to splinter and crack against his palm with a sound like nails on chalkboard. He parried each of the boulders in turn in this fashion, grinding them apart with his new jutsu. A few splinters slashed across his cheek, drawing blood. "Rasengan," the boy said under his breath.

Up in the stands, more than a few people were staring, eyes wide and mouths hanging open. Sarutobi Hiruzen turned to his apprentice and asked. "Did you teach him that?" The larger ninja shook his head, stunned.

Hiruzen shrugged. "Then I suppose Kakashi must have-"

Kakashi Hatake arrived before them, having moved at speed from his position in the stands. "Did you teach him that?" He asked Jiraiya, panting slightly.

Jiraiya gazed at the younger man. "No… we kinda thought you did."

As one, the Hokage and the only two men in the world who knew how to create a rasengan turned to stare at the pitch. "How the F*#k can he do that?" asked Jiraiya of no one in particular.

Nearby, unnoticed by any of them, Orochimaru grinned.

Iruka gaped at Naruto in amazement, he recognized the technique as one he had seen the fourth Hokage demonstrate once in his youth. "Naruto… how-"

"Could you clear a space?" Naruto asked, looking at Iruka pointedly. "I can't speak for Haku, but I'm getting a little tired of holding back to avoid hurting you."

"He's got a point." Haku called from where she stood some distance away.

Numbly, Iruka stood, walking a good twenty meters or so before turning to the two combatants. "How's this?" he asked.

"Little more," Naruto replied, grinning.

Obligingly, Iruka took another few steps, looking back questioningly.

"Little more," Naruto said again, trying not to laugh and failing.

Haku put a hand to her face, irritated. "Please, could you just clear the field, proctor?" she asked.

Iruka scowled at the girl. "I need to be close enough to provide assistance if necessary, just tell me the maximum range of your jutsu and I'll stand outsi-"

"Crystal Ice mirrors," Haku said with a sigh. All along the walls of the pitch, panes of ice began to from, each as tall as a grown man and reflective as a glass mirror. "My maximum range is the whole field, proctor," she said, irritated. "Please go stand outside it now."

Iruka stared at the girl helplessly. He couldn't believe this, just how powerful were these kids? He glanced across at Naruto, the boy still looking at him pointedly, he was being stared down by a couple of adolescents. As he pondered what to do, Iruka had the decision taken from him. A blue robed figure landed beside Iruka, head covered by a wide brimmed hat and facial mask. "It's alright Iruka Umino," said the fourth Kazekage. "I can take over from here, being from the sand village, I no longer have a horse in this race, I can assure you that I am more than fast enough to proctor this fight while remaining close enough to provide necessary aid."

"B-but sir…" Iruka protested weakly, before he could think of anything to say, the Kazekage leaned in and whispered in his ear.

"Please do not force me to say out loud that these Genin have surpassed your skill level. Just go."

Somewhat shell-shocked, Iruka made his way off the field. Almost casually, Haku reached a hand out to the glacier that had formed beside her at the beginning of the fight. The great block splintered and broke, clearing the field of obstructions. Naruto glanced at the mirrors lining the walls. Haku had told him about them but he had never seen them before. Naruto knew he had to stop Haku before she got to them.

Deep inside Naruto, the beast stirred, Naruto… the fox spoke, its tone a warning.

What? The boy asked, irritated, I thought I said I wanted to do the exam on my own, I don't want to rely on your powers Kurama.

I know, the spirit replied, unabashed. I don't plan to interfere. It's the Kazekage, I sense something from him. His emotions, they're hungry, the same thing I felt from Orochimaru in the forest.

Naruto felt himself grow cold, that wasn't good. The boy swallowed, then spoke. "K-Kazekage? Can I ask you something?"

The masked man turned to face Naruto. "Yes boy? What is it?"

Naruto took a few steps forward to whisper in the older ninja's ear. "What the hell are you doing here, Orochimaru?"

For a few moments, there was silence, before the response came as a low chuckle. "One day my dear boy, you simply must tell me how you just did that, but for the moment, I am just watching. Rest assured that I mean no harm, but if you make a scene, I will kill both you and your little girlfriend before the rest of the leaf village gets to me.

Naruto considered his options. This man was dangerous, more so than anyone he had encountered, and quite extraordinarily powerful. Orochimaru had offered to teach him, Sasuke and Sakura, to help them become stronger than Itachi, but since Itachi was no longer his goal, that held no sway over him. As for whether he and Haku could survive against the Sannin until help arrived? That depended on whether the fox was willing to help in a fight, even then, it would be risky. Kurama? He asked. I wanna punch this guy, are we strong enough to survive if I do?

There was silence within Naruto for a very long moment. …Probably, The fox responded. Provided help arrives within… five seconds.

Naruto decided on a plan of action, readying himself to move. On my mark, he said to the fox. Go!

Immediately, Naruto's entire body began to glow with a pale golden light, flickering oddly with bursts of flame like chakra. Naruto moved faster than he ever had in his life, enhanced by every second of training he had ever spent and the immeasurable chakra of the tailed beast, he swung his arm around, catching Orochimaru by the waist and not hitting him, but instead throwing him bodily towards the stands. Specifically, he threw Orochimaru at the Hokage's viewing platform where he knew some of the strongest ninja in the leaf were gathered. In the same instant, Naruto screamed at the top of his lungs. "Orochimaru!"

The Sannin was ready for it. Instead of impacting against the wall below the Hokage's platform, Orochimaru stretched out a hand, serpents flashing forth and embedding their fangs into the ground, anchoring him to the spot. With his free hand, the Sannin pointed at Haku, more serpents firing themselves forwards. Haku barely managed to react in time, the whole thing having happened in the blink of an eye. The girl threw herself towards the wall at top speed, a speed that to Naruto almost seemed clumsy and slow now. Nonetheless, the snakes missed the pale girl by inches as she collided with the mirror and, instead of bouncing off it, sank into the glass like surface. Orochimaru was fast, faster even than Naruto in this form. The Sannin moved like a flash, firing another volley of snakes at Haku, aiming to shatter the mirror that held the girl. Naruto lunged, his mouth opening to scream, too late. The delicate crystal shattered under the impact. What happened next was unexpected to say the least, Orochimaru let out a small grunt of pain, glancing down at the small shards of ice that had lodged themselves in his shoulder. Naruto felt his annoyance and, some distance away, another emotion. It felt… determined, Naruto glanced at the source. It was a mirror, positioned on a nearby part of the pitch, Haku's reflection floated within it, unscathed. Naruto felt a sense of incredible relief, Haku was alive. He wasn't sure how, but he was alive. Orochimaru turned, facing Naruto's charge head on, Naruto lacked the time to stop or change direction. The Sannin's fist impacted against his sternum with blinding speed, there was a sickening crack of bone breaking and Naruto saw lights flashing before his eyes. The boy fell to the ground, gasping for air. The snake ninja stood over him, bringing his fist down in a blinding speed that even Naruto, enhanced as he was, barely managed to track. The boy felt a tug as the fox attempted to take control. He allowed it, too stunned to resist. Kurama caught Orochimaru's fist in Naruto's own, the Sannin hissing in pain as the boy's fingers dug into his hand, refusing to release him. Orochimaru raised a second fist to strike, before finding his attention momentarily caught by a spike of bone spearing towards him through the air like a javelin. Had he been in a position to feel anything, Naruto would have been relieved, he had lasted less than three seconds against Orochimaru on his own, not long enough for the Hokage and his guards to make it down in time, but the other Genin here closer to them than the Hokage had been. Orochimaru batted the spear with the back of his hand, the shaft of bone exploding, fragments of it cutting the false Kazekage's mask to ribbons.

He turned his attention towards Kimimaro, the look of rage on his face matched only by that on Kimimaro's own. "You attacked Haku." Kimimaro said quietly. "You die now."

In response, the Sannin only hissed.

Before Kimimaro had any chance to act, Kosuke appeared between the two of them, making hand signs with incredible speed before throwing a shuriken at the serpent ninja. Orochimaru stepped out of the way with almost contemptuous ease, caught somewhat off guard when the shuriken multiplied in mid-air, thousands of blades swarming towards him. Orochimaru leaped back, opening his mouth and emitting a great gust of air, blasting the shuriken to the floor. Naruto slowly pulled himself to his feet, the pain in his chest reducing slowly to a dull throb. To the side, Naruto saw Sasuke fire a gargantuan fireball towards the snake ninja, Orochimaru held up a hand and the great flame dissipated as though it had never even been there. The serpent turned to respond, raising his hand and firing yet more snakes at the Uchiha boy. Naruto tried to move to his brother, save him somehow, but was again far too slow. It didn't matter, Kakashi intercepted the snakes as they flew towards the boy, slicing them into clean pieces, his hand once again covered by that same glowing electrical power Sasuke had used. The severed snake heads fell to the floor, their stumps charred and smoking. For the first time, Orochimaru's expression shifted from anger, to trepidation, rightly so, as Jiraiya's fist slammed into his cheek, forcing him into the ground hard enough to leave an impression of himself in the soft earth.

Orochimaru began to stand, pulling himself from the floor and looking severely disheveled, when a sturdy looking combat pole struck him from above, where the Hokage was falling towards him, apparently Hiruzen had grown tired waiting for gravity to pull him down to his former student and had taken the situation into his own hands. Orochimaru seemed to shrug off the blow with surprising ease, swaying slightly as the pole passed him, his focus remained on Jiraiya, deflecting a blow his former teammate launched towards him, then another, before the pole sprouted an arm from where it lay embedded by its tip in the ground from the sheer force of the Hokage's throw. The arm took hold of Orochimaru's elbow in its huge, apelike hand, restraining him as Jiraiya threw a fourth strike. Knocking Orochimaru to the ground. The Hokage landed a short distance away, already making more hand signs. Naruto became acutely aware of just how much Sarutobi had been holding back by letting the boy punch him.

"Everyone below Jonin level get back." Jiraiya said calmly as the Hokage spat what seemed to be pellets of mud at Orochimaru from his mouth. "Kosuke, defend the children."

Heeding his words, the Genin made their way towards Kosuke, who stood with a tanto blade at the ready, shielding them. Naruto limped slowly towards the group. The haggard figure of Orochimaru gazed at Naruto with venom, slamming a hand to the ground. The earth itself seemed to ripple, flowing out from him in a wave. Those who tried to jump away found their feet stuck to the ground, it passed beneath the assembled ninja, throwing them off balance, Orochimaru used this opportunity to make one last attempt at Naruto, running forwards at somewhat less than his earlier speed. Naruto may have been able to dodge it were he not so badly hurt. Haku landed on Orochimaru's back, having fired herself at the Sannin from her mirror like a shot from a cannon, the girl had her alabaster tanto blade drawn. With a furious yell, Haku jammed the small knife into Orochimaru's spine, kicking off from him before the serpent had time to retaliate. It was then that Rock Lee arrived, his face contorted in pain and his movements slightly stiffer than they had been before. He had activated his inner gates, up to the third, it seemed. The boy kicked the stumbling Sannin hard in the face and there was a crunch of breaking bone. From the agonized yelp and the emotional connection Naruto held with everyone present, Naruto could tell the crunching sound was Lee's leg shattering. Orochimaru was knocked back very slightly, the force of the kick seemingly giving him pause. This was enough to save Naruto. Before Orochimaru took another step, Jiraiya, having regained his footing, pressed a rasengan hard into his former comrade's side. Orochimaru let out a small huff of air, his eyes going wide in surprise, before he crumpled to the ground with a thump.

The whole fight had lasted all of fifteen seconds.

Panting, Jiraiya turned to Naruto, his eyes focused on the boy. "First up," he said between heavy breaths. "How did you know it was Orochimaru? Second-" he held up the still spinning orb of energy in his hand. "How the hell did you learn the rasengan? Third, why in the name of the sage of the six paths are you glowing like that?"

AN: Okay, so I've said before that I don't really have much of a solid plan in mind for what happens in this story beyond the framework of basic plot points. This is why, it allows me to adjust for things that otherwise wouldn't make sense. I originally planned for the tournament to go uninterrupted, but then realized that Kurama would totally sense Orochimaru pretending to be the Kazekage, this whole thing changed as a result of that. By the way, I tried to make it totally clear that none of the Genin are actually managing to fight Orochimaru, even with their strongest attacks, they are really just taking turns momentarily distracting him, none of them, even Naruto, are even close to strong enough to fight him yet.

Thanks for reading, feel free to review because it helps alleviate my crushing lack of self worth.