Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter, things are gonna be heating up real soon- as usual don't blame Sasuke for being a bit standoffish. He's a traumatized teen and he's embarrassed about the stuff he told Naruto.
Also guys, I've noticed that I'm getting less views and reviews than before, I hope everyone's still enjoying it.
Once Temari was healed the group decided to make their way back into the balcony to wait for Gaara's match-and they made their way back one at a time, subtly replacing the clone look alikes as to not cause any suspicion, though most of the people around them were watching Shikamaru and Shino's match-it was an interesting one to say the least, Shikamaru was all about the strategy-and normally Naruto would have been fascinated by it, but none of the five who were in the know could focus on it, Naruto and Sakura pressed close together as they exchanged looks and occasional whispers, while Gaara, Temari and Kankuro were gathered in the corner of the balcony, silent and tense.
It didn't help that Shikamaru and Shino's match was taking ages-clearly they were both taking their time and thinking through their actions which was good, but given what would soon be happening Naruto could hardly be blamed for feeling somewhat anxious and impatient.
So of course when Sasuke arrived with Kakashi Naruto nearly jumped out of her seat- her head snapping to the side, eyes zeroing in on the Uchiha, who looked rather annoyed, and Kakashi who slipped into the seat next to Naruto, dragging Sasuke down on his other side. "Sorry we're late Naruto-chan." he whispered, "I had to finish Sasuke's training."
"If we were much later I'd have missed my match." Sasuke hissed back, looking annoyed-and Naruto couldn't help but notice that he wasn't looking at her at all. Or Sakura really but mostly her.
"We made it didn't we? With time to spare, it's Gaara-sans match after this before yours."
"Hn." Sasuke looked away, and Naruto swallowed hard, "Listen... Kakashi-sensei... this is gonna sound weird but you need to trust me... just.. be ready."
"Be ready?" Kakashi stared intently at her for a moment before he nodded, "Fine, I'll be ready."
"What's going on?" Sasuke was craning his head around Kakashi to look at Naruto- curiosity outweighing his desire to not so much as acknowledge her existence.
"Be ready." Naruto simply whispered, "I know it sounds strange but be ready okay?"
"I.. fine." Sasuke didn't look impressed, and he turned his gaze back to the arena, where Shikamaru and Shino were still fighting-Naruto had to admit they were both good. Shino's use of his bugs was fascinating if kinda gross, and Shikamaru had the brains to be a chunin easy if he could be motivated.
She did wonder why he'd made a flashy entrance-and she did wonder what Sakura and Temari had meant, but it wasn't important really.
And soon enough the match was over and Shikamaru had won-Naruto hadn't paid enough attention to know how-she just couldn't her mind was racing and it was all she could do to remain seated while the fight happened.
But sure enough Shikamaru was soon heading back up to the balcony while Shino received medical treatment, and Gaara and Dosu were called down to the arena, Dosu went down the steps but Gaara floated down on a platform of sand, and Hayate spoke, as he did before every match, except this time when he asked if there were any objections Gaara held up a hand to silence him, his gaze focusing on the Kage box.
"I do have an objection. Though it is not exactly due to the match-"
"What do you mean?" Hayate's eyes narrowed, "What's-"
"Protor-san let me speak."
"Oh come on." Dosu growled the words, "Don't waste time." he was moving, pulling a kunai out, but Naruto moved fast, leaping down between Dosu and Gaara, causing a ripple of shock to go through the crowds when she smashed her fist into the boys face sending him sprawling to the ground.
Then she was whirling and moving so that she was stood beside Gaara, and as if it had been arranged-though none of them had planned to join Gaara for this part, Temari, Kankuro and Sakura leapt down from the participants balcony, Temari and Kankuro standing to Gaara's left while Naruto and Sakura stood to his right as Orochimaru posing as Rasa lurched to his feet.
"What do you think you're doing boy?"
"What is right." Gaara's voice was firm. "You are not my father you are an imposter. My father is probably dead, killed by you so that you could pose as him and order an attack against Konoha to get your own petty revenge-"
"Lies-"
"Are they lies?" Naruto spoke up loudly, "Orochimaru?" there were gasps of shock at that, "Don't try and deny it we know it's you." and the Sandaime looked stunned as he lurched to his feet, the Mizukage standing also as loud shocked babble filled the stadium. "See I have a cousin who's a sensor and she recognized your Chakra from the forest."
And then, just like that all hell broke loose, Oto shinobi started attacking-Suna shinobi were torn, not sure what to do, and Konoha shinobi fought back, as Gaara's sand moved and he launched himself into the fray to deal with the Oto attackers, Temari, Sakura and Kankuro following his lead while Naruto focused on Hiruzen and Orochimaru-and Orochimaru was lunging, grabbing Hiruzen by the neck, pressing a kunai against his throat and taking off, and Naruto cursed loudly as she followed them up onto a rooftop-and as she did she was in time to see the Anbu trying to get to the Hokage, but Orochimaru had thought ahead. He'd gotten some of his followers to use a barrier jutsu-no one would be able to get in or out.
Well, almost no one.
She paused to take a breath and one of the Anbu spotted her.
"Kid, get out of here. Things are going to get bad fast-"
"Yeah believe me I'm more aware of that than you." Naruto shot back, "You can't get in top help him. I can."
"What?"
And Naruto smirked, a sly little thing, "Honestly, aren't you guys supposed to be the best. You'd think you'd be able to see the resemblance." then she was moving her hands and in a flash she was suddenly gone from where she was stood before, and she was inside of the barrier just behind Hiruzen and Orochimaru.
To his credit Orochimaru reacted fast, managing to spin so that he was facing her, still holding Hiruzen tightly, the old mans expression grim.
"Well if it isn't little Naruto-chan." Orochimaru hissed. "I was just talking with my sensei. Did no one ever tell you it's rude to interrupt? You seen to have a habit of doing so."
"What can I say, I'm an interrupter."
"Naruto-chan." Hiruzen's voice was sharp, "Run-"
"Sorry Sandaime-sama but that's not happening. The others should get things under control quickly."
"You knew." It wasn't a question but a statement, and Orochimaru's voice was furious. "Gaara."
"What can I say-I helped fix his shitty seal and became his first friend so yeah, he told me, and we put a plan into motion-"
"Naruto-chan." Hiruzen's voice was angry, "You knew-"
"I also knew if you were told none of the courses you could take would end well." Naruto said quickly, "But if you didn't know we could handle this."
"Ah yes, handle it." Orochimaru laughed, "You're children-"
"We're Shinobi." Naruto cut over him, "And Gaara's got half of Suna terrified of him, they'll handle the attack and the old man and I can handle you."
"You seem to not be acknowledging the fact that I have a kunai to his throat."
"Or maybe I'm that confident that I could stop you from slitting his throat."
She wasn't, but he didn't need to know that after all.
"You really are very much your parents daughter aren't you?" he said it triumphantly, "Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto-"
"D-do you think that I don't know? Or that you knowing would scare me?" Naruto asked incredulously, raising an eyebrow, "Please say no, I don't like the idea that anyone could see me as that pathetic."
"I admit I didn't anticipate you when I came here... I thought you died a long time ago. But I saw you in the forest and I was almost certain... almost. But not entirely... but now... now looking at you, seeing you use your fathers Hirashin I have no doubt. The question is will you live up to their legacy Naruto-chan? Can you save my sensei?"
"I doubt he'll need saving." Naruto shrugged, "But I'm more than willing to help him give you the beat down you so thoroughly deserve."
"We shall see." it was at this point that Hiruzen moved-and he was surprisingly fast for such an old man, knocking Orochimaru's hand and the kunai away from his throat and pulling himself free, leaping so that he was stood by Naruto's side, giving her a somewhat disapproving look.
"You should have told me Naruto-chan."
"This seemed like the better idea." Naruto defended, waving a hand dismissively, "C'mon old man together we can kick his ass."
"Your mother and father would kill me if they were alive today and I agreed to this-"
"Well they're not and I've already fought him once. You need back up."
"Fine." Hiruzen nodded, "You can help Naruto-chan."
"Are you done?" Orochimaru looked rather annoyed.
"Are you that eager to get your ass kicked?" Naruto raised an eyebrow before smirking, "Well, it'll be our pleasure to provide." and the blonde lunged, aiming rapid fire blows at his face and chest, while Hiruzen moved behind Orochimaru and attacked, the two of them teaming up-and even Orochimaru would have to admit that it was difficult to take them both on at once-especially when Hiruzen used a flamethrower style jutsu and Naruto leapt in and took advantage of the attack, using a wind one to strengthen the power behind the fire-though she grimaced as the flames licked at the mans skin and the face of Rasa melted away to reveal Orochimaru as he narrowly managed to get back away from Naruto and Hiruzen.
Then he was moving-it seemed it was Orochimaru's turn to be on the attack-and he targetted Naruto-logical really she was the weaker of the two opponents.
She dove to the side to avoid the balls of fire that shot towards her-only to have them stop midair and persue her-Hiruzen reacted quickly of course, and the fireballs were extinguished with a water jutsu before Naruto was pulling kunai out from the seal on her arm, tossing them around as quickly as she could, aiming one or two directly at Orochimaru though he managed to dodge them-until a Hirashin kunai landed by his foot and she flashed there so that she was right next to him, a paralysis seal suddenly in one hand and a kunai in the other.
Orochimaru was smart enough to jerk away from the seal even if that meant that she sliced across his cheek with her Kunai before a blow to the chest sent her flying backwards-though she caught herself midair and managed to land in a crouch, which she lept up from and was moving instantly, rushing him, already forming a Rasengan.
"Naruto!" Hiruzen yelled her name, worry in his voice even as she narrowly missed Orochimaru, who moved to the side quickly to dodge-and wasn't that annoying as hell, especially when she was almost hit by another fire jutsu-she managed to Hirashin away mere seconds before it would have hit her, moving so that she was beside Hiruzen-who gave her a warning look.
"Be careful."
The Snake Sannin did not look happy as he glared at them-and then he was smirking slightly-in a way that was very off putting, and he started to chuckle-and he was doing something though Naruto wasn't quite sure what it was.
Hiruzen was moving quickly, creating shuriken shadow clones and sending them flying through the air towards Orochimaru.
They didn't hit him. A wooden box with the kanji for one had rose out of the roof and blocked them-and it was followed closely by a second with blocked the rest of the shuriken-a third rose half way out of the roof before stopping, and she heard Hiruzen mutter.
"What are they?" as she moved to stand by the old man's side.
"It seems the third didn't quite work." Orochimaru's voice was disappointed, "That's a shame, it would be been most entertaining to watch."
"What have you done Orochimaru?" there suspicion was thick in Hiruzen's voice.
"They-" Naruto shook her head, "What are they?"
And then the lids of the boxes fell off onto the ground in front of them-and Naruto let out a shocked, horrified gasp and Hiruzen tensed besides her.
"Orochimaru you haven't."
"Are they-" Naruto's voice was hesitant, uncertain, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing-which honestly was true enough. Because she knew who
the two men were, had seen their faces on the monument often enough.
The first two Hokage, the Senju brothers.
And suddenly Naruto realized, that perhaps there was a chance that she and Hiruzen wouldn't win this fight.
