Only 6 contestants remained in the Skills Championship.
Naruto sat in his quarters, the space void of his teammates Sasuke and Sakura. He missed their presence. He missed Sakura yelling at him for being a nuisance and Sasuke calling him a moron.
The moon hung high in the sky as he sat at the window, watching the stars. He managed to fool Yamamoto and escape the fight due to some quick trickery, but he was expecting another attack soon.
All Naruto wanted to do was compete in friendly competition among his shinobi age group and of course his chakra had to get in the way…
He remembered what Kakashi Sensei said, his teacher's words providing some much needed relief.
He could win this thing, there were only a few competitors left.
It was near midnight when the intercom came to life again. The deep voice spoke clearly, "Dormitory Two competitors. Congratulations on reaching the tournament's final trial. Following this challenge, a victor will be chosen."
Naruto felt his heart beat faster.
The voice continued, "Competitors, assemble at the main arena for the final trial."
Naruto, Imada, Yamamoto, Nagata, Oka, and Haruto remained. Six competitors, each of them eyeing one another warily.
Except for a few jonin in the stands, the arena was empty of spectators unlike the Fearsome Fight. The moon hung high in the midnight sky, a cool wind blowing by them. Nobody spoke as a Competition moderator stood in the middle of the group.
"Congratulations to you remaining few," the moderator's face was shielded and she was dressed in a long, white tunic, "In this final trial, you will each possess a crystal like this."
In her palm, she held a blue crystal, slightly glowing with chakra.
"This crystal is unique in that it allows you to perform your own jutsus along with copying the jutsu of another. Therefore, you will briefly be able to wield the power of your opponent's ability to use to your advantage. The battle will last until the final competitor remains standing."
Naruto felt the slight breeze chill him to the bone. The mysterious moderator instructed each competitor to walk to a separate corner of the arena. Each corner had a blue crystal waiting there for them.
Naruto held it in his hands, eyeing it. How do I work this thing? How do I just perform a jutsu I've never practiced? I'll never be able to win this Championship!
He thought of Sasuke and Kakashi's Sharingan. Both of them could easily copy another's jutsus, surely he could do it too with the aid of this crystal?
Naruto shoved the crystal in his pocket, feeling it hum with energy. His eyes scanned the darkness for the other competitors. He just saw faint blue lights where they stood, but Naruto needed a strategy. He thought of Shikamaru and his ability to hatch elaborate game plans.
Naruto closed his eyes and thought hard. How could he win against six other opponents? He had to wait for the playing field to thin, that meant that he had to wait for some of the others to fight each other and quicken the elimination. That meant he had to stay unassuming and unnoticed, but Yamamoto was still hunting him down. Surely, he would pursue Naruto immediately.
A cold feeling of dread washed through him as the bell tolled to signal the battle's beginning.
He could charge to the center of the arena and take them all on, but that would be suicide. He'd be eliminated immediately and apprehended by Yamamoto.
Imada and Oka rushed to each other at the center and locked into immediate battle. At first, the opponents used their own jutsus, but then Oka removed the crystal from his pocket and wielded it tightly in his hand. Imada's Fiery Fist jutsu transferred to Oka.
Imada's face was blanched with shock as Oka narrowed his eyes in victory. His own fists glowed with Imada's jutsu and he knocked the former back with a hard punch to the chest. Imada flew to the dirt, unmoving.
Oka landed on two feet, admiring this new jutsu he temporarily acquired. But once Imada was unconscious, the jutsu faded and Oka's Fiery Fist doused.
Interesting, Naruto thought, as he studied and learned the mechanism of the crystal. He needed to know how to use it before he engaged in battle.
Imada was carted off towards the medical bay. Six competitors dwindled to five. Oka stood in the center of the arena, taunting the remaining opponents. None were foolish enough to step up save for Haruto.
Haruto circled Oka. If Naruto remembered correctly, Haruto had a shadow teleportation jutsu, allowing him to teleport to several locations if they were shrouded in shadows.
Naruto's plan formed. He needed to get close to Haruto, he needed the crystal to copy his shadow teleportation jutsu.
Naruto clenched his fist tightly around the crystal and sprinted forward. Oka and Haruto were engaged in battle, not aware of Naruto rushing towards them. Oka delivered another nasty punch to Haruto, but Haruto easily dodged it using his shadow teleportation. At this time of the early morning, there were plenty of shadows streaking the arena floor.
Perfect, just what I need!
Naruto locked Haruto in his line of sight. He held the crystal in front of him. Just as Haruto was about to shadow teleport, Naruto dove at the ninja. He latched onto Haruto's arm and shadow teleported with him just as he disappeared.
Naruto opened his eyes to find himself 15 feet from where he just stood, clinging onto Haruto's arm for dear life. Haruto's eyes glared down at him in disbelief and anger.
"What are you doing?!"
Naruto quickly jumped off, just as his opponent struck at him. He scurried to the shadows, hoping Haruto wasn't following him. Thankfully, Oka recovered and was engaging with Haruto once more.
Naruto retreated to the safety of the edge of the arena, covered in shadows. His blue crystal was now vibrating with energy, charged with Haruto's shadow teleportation jutsu. He needed to utilize it before Haruto potentially was defeated by Oka in their battle.
Five opponents left, two of them fighting in the arena center. That left three of them scattered throughout the shadows of the arena, one of them being Yamamoto who was hunting him down at that moment.
Naruto scanned the arena, looking for another opponent. Nagata's blue crystal barely illuminated the streaky features of her face just a few hundred yards away. She was watching Oka and Haruto from the shadows, hoping to hide her way into being final participant standing. Naruto gripped the crystal hard and concentrated on the spot just behind her. He closed his eyes and willed for himself to teleport. There was a slight gust of wind and a whooshing noise, but when Naruto opened his eyes he was just several feet behind Nagata. She turned around with wide eyes, but recovered fast. Her features turned menacing as she growled and lunged towards Naruto. He dodged and delivered a kick to her side. She tumbled in the dirt and clawed at his face. The sting from her nails burned his cheeks, but he disregarded the pain and threw a pile of dirt into her eyes. Nagata howled and clammered backwards. Naruto delivered a final kick and she fell to the floor, unconscious.
Four participants left.
Oka and Haruto were continuing their battle, meaning Naruto could still use his shadow teleportation. Yet, Haruto was weakening. Naruto watched as Oka delivered blow after blow and Haruto struggled to stand after each one. After one final punch, Haruto lay unconscious in the dirt. Naruto felt his crystal's slight vibration in his hand diminish slightly as the crystal's power to absorb Haruto's shadow teleportation evaporated with Haruto's knockout.
Naruto needed to locate a new participant to copy a jutsu off of. Oka won the battle, meaning three participants were left: Oka, Naruto, and Yamamoto. A shiver went through Naruto's spine. He hadn't seen Yamamoto since the start of the final trial, he was biding his time.
Yamamoto utilized lightning energy, Naruto had his shadow clone jutsu, and Oka's power was known for wind arrows. He could summon a gust of wind and localize it into an arrowhead that was lethal enough to kill if targeted correctly.
Oka created four wind arrows in front of him, preparing to launch them at the next attacker as defense.
"Come out, come out," Oka taunted as he circled the center of the arena, "Yamamoto and Naruto, I know you're out there."
Naruto didn't dare move. Fear fluttered in his chest as uncertainty of his next actions weighed down on him.
Oka's head snapped towards a sound to his left. He shot one arrow towards it. It sailed through the air like a bullet and pierced the arena wall so hard it splintered wood. Nothing was there, just a sound.
Naruto had a bad feeling Yamamoto was behind it. Though Oka was circling the arena proudly, it seemed like Yamamoto was toying with his prey.
Naruto kept hidden.
Oka's step faltered slightly. Fear started to overtake him and his confidence subsided. He shot another two arrows to his right. They didn't meet a target, the arrows disintegrating against the arena walls.
He had one arrow left. A bead of sweat formed on Oka's forehead.
Yamamoto struck like a panther in the night. He ran right towards Oka. Oka, caught off guard, stumbled backwards and shot his last arrow towards Yamamoto. Yamamoto shot a bolt of lightning at the arrowhead speeding his way. It met the wind arrow head on and the arrow stopped mid flight. It shook and crackled as the lightning coiled around the arrowhead, bending to Yamamoto's will. It encased the wind arrow in a mask of crackling blue electricity and started to change its direction. The arrow turned around and faced Oka now. Yamamoto shot it back at his adversary. Panicked now, Oka tried scrambling backwards and retreating from the wind arrow he lost control of. The arrow didn't relent and it pierced his arm. He twitched and spasmed from the lightning shock and dropped to the floor.
Two participants left, just Naruto and Yamamoto.
"Come on out, Naruto, there's no use in hiding from me."
Naruto clenched his fists. Yamamoto was right. If he was going to face him, he wouldn't be remembered as a coward.
Naruto stepped into the center of the arena. Yamamoto smiled at him.
"Are you prepared to meet your fate?"
Naruto looked at him darkly, "The chakra inside of me is not yours. It doesn't belong to you. I can barely control it, what makes you think you and your masters can?"
"Your power is otherworldly. My masters are very skilled, they have taught me well. I can wield your chakra better than you ever could. It's a waste on you!"
"You don't know anything about me," Naruto growled, feeling his anger rise, "and you'll never take me!"
Yamamoto prepared by getting into a battle stance.
"My skills outweigh yours any day. You just said you can't control your own power, while I have mastery over my own! Poor Oka didn't even stand a chance and he had his crystal in hand!" Yamamoto laughed evilly, "I have no need for mine. I can show you that my jutsus alone can rival your immense, uncontrollable chakra!"
Yamamoto threw his blue crystal into the dirt. It dimmed slightly.
Naruto's eyes locked on it as he started to form a plan.
Yamamoto opened his palms and a bolt of lightning crackled above him. The clouds brewed angrily overhead, the rising sun blotted by black sky. The wind howled in his ears and rain pounded all around him. Yamamoto was summoning an intense storm. Naruto could barely see in the conditions. He was struggling to focus on Yamamoto standing across from him in the arena, shielding his face from the biting wind and stinging drops pelting down on him.
He had to act fast.
While Yamamoto was distracted, Naruto summoned the shadow clone jutsu. One hundred of his clones appeared in the storm, waiting for him for guidance.
"Get Yamamoto's crystal!" Naruto shouted. His clones understood, nodding fiercely and all sprinting for the blue crystal.
Yamamoto started summoning bolts of lightning at his clones, disintegrating them. Naruto tried to dodge the bolts, knowing that if he was hit then he'd be out of the Championship for good. Several of clones tried rushing Yamamoto, distracting his concentration as he disintegrated them with lightning bolts.
Other clones tried attacking him from behind to throw him off further. He summoned a hail volley and wiped them out.
Four clones encased the real Naruto in a protective shield as they ran alongside him on his way to Yamamoto's crystal.
He doved through the wind and rain, his fingers barely gripping around the precious stone. His four bodyguard clones were electroctued and disintegrated before his eyes. Naruto was exposed and Yamamoto's eyes were on him with deadly accuracy.
"Stealing my crystal!" Yamamoto shouted above the storm, "It'll be no use! My storm is too powerful, you'll never get close to me!"
Naruto knew he was right. He could if he had the power of the Nine Tailed Fox, but he didn't want to unleash the chakra in front of his opponent. Yamamoto was right, he had no control over the Fox and its power. If he unleashed the demon, it would engulf him and he'd be in a frenzy. Yamamoto's cleverness would easily defeat him.
Naruto needed to do this, without the aid of his powerful chakra.
Kakashi Sensei's words rung in his ears. All of his teacher's wisdom and advice came to him in that moment. He dared think of Sakura and Sasuke. His friends, his teammates. He let them down before, but he would not lose now! Not when it mattered the most!
Naruto looked down at Yamamoto's crystal in his palms. His clones were disintegrating one by one because of the lightning bolts from his opponent's storm. Naruto summoned more with his shadow clone jutsu as his plan formed.
He needed to be fast if he was going to pull this off.
Naruto created a barrier of clones around him as he sprinted towards Yamamoto. Yamamoto began striking at his shield of clones, but Naruto kept summoning more. They clamored over each other. Once one disintegrated, another took its place. Yamamoto's focus was on tearing down Naruto's defenses. He was distracted, he didn't catch on to Naruto's plan.
Suddenly, the shield of clones broke apart with a powerful flurry of lightning blasts from Yamamoto. His opponent was panting from the concentration it was taking to maintain a storm of this caliber and to deliver 100 bolts at once.
The clone barrier collapsed, just as Yamamoto hoped. Yet, Naruto was not inside the clone barrier.
"What!?" Yamamoto gasped, staring at the empty space which the clones were seemingly protecting. Naruto utilized his clones as a decoy, tricking Yamamoto into thinking he was hiding behind his clone barrier when he actually snuck away and snuck up on Yamamoto from behind.
With Yamamoto's concentration so focused on the clones and his storm, he barely heard Naruto coming. Holding Yamamoto's crystal in hand, Naruto quickly gripped his opponent's arm. The crystal vibrated and glowed brighter, charged with Yamamoto's elemental chakra.
Yamamoto gasped and spun around, but Naruto disappeared behind his clones again, lost in the chaos of the storm.
"Come out!" he screamed, his voice faltering slightly. Now, Naruto had his crystal and his chakra! "Face me! Don't cower behind your clones!"
He was yelling into empty wind and rain. The clones stood at the edges of his storm, none of the attacking. They were all just staring at him.
Yamamoto felt his exhaustion taking hold. He couldn't summon a bolt even if he wanted to, he could only maintain his strong wind and rain. The last of his energy needed to be saved for Naruto's final blow. Whoever won that last strike would emerge victorious in the Skills Championship.
If Naruto won, he would also violate Yamamoto's plans of seizing the chakra of the Nine Tailed Fox!
"I'm waiting!" he taunted further.
A rumbling started at the edge of the arena. Naruto's clones were still unnmoving.
Yamamoto narrowed his eyes, trying to see what they were doing.
Nothing! They were just standing there!
"Why aren't you attacking?!" he screamed, confused.
The clones suddenly began move their hands in a swirling motion above their heads. Dark clouds formed above each of them.
"No….oh no…," Yamamoto's jaw dropped, "This-this isn't possible!"
The clones were each summoning their own storms. Lightning crackled around them, rain and wind howled in their ears.
All of Naruto's clones were able to obtain his elemental chakra because Naruto absorbed his powers through his own crystal. And because these clones were shadow projections of Naruto, they could temporarily utilize the abilities he possessed.
Yamamoto was outnumbered and outmatched. The clones closed in, bolts of lightning aimed at him. The electricity hummed and crackled mere inches from his face, and he was at the mercy of Naruto.
The real Naruto emerged from the back of the group. He took proud steps forward as Yamamoto sank to his knees. He was exhausted from his own defenses and submitted to his defeat in front of the blonde haired ninja. He stared at the dirt begrudgingly, in resigned acceptance. This silly young boy was able to outsmart him using his own tools because of his pride and ego. Even without his powerful chakra from within. All of Yamamoto's power, control, planning, cleverness, and skilled training from his masters were for not. Naruto beat him.
The blonde ninja held Yamamoto's crystal in one hand and held a lightning bolt in mid air with the other as he approached his opponent.
"Unlike you, I won't strike you as you did with my teammates, Sasuke and Sakura."
Yamamoto stared at the mud, quiet.
"Do you surrender the Championship?"
He was silent still.
Naruto inched the bolt closer and his clones did the same.
"Do you?"
Yamamoto held his head up and his gaze was fire, "Yes. I surrender the Skills Championship to you. Naruto Uzumaki, you are victor."