Kiba landed on his hands and feet. Akamaru landed on his side a few feet away.

The last rain ninja panted, lowering his umbrella. The other rain ninja was lying in a crater created by Kiba.

"You're finished!" Dosu yelled. He appeared behind the rain ninja, grabbing his head.

Dosu's amplifier activated.

The rain ninja screamed, dropping his umbrella. Blood spilled from his ears.

Dosu shoved the ninja to the ground and laughed.

"The match is decided!" Asuma yelled.

Dosu laughed and dusted himself off.

"Not bad, dog boy," He spat.

"Eat shit, bastard," Kiba shot back. He picked up Akamaru who barked happily.

"Kiba and Dosu win!" Raikage yelled as the participants cleared out. "What a boring fight."

Hiruzen laughed, tapping his armrest.

"Why don't we have some fun with this, then, Raikage?" Hiruzen lowered his voice.

"What are you suggesting?" Raikage asked, flipping through his papers.

"A wager," Hiruzen said. "On the next match."

Raikage gave Hiruzen a long look. His expression hardened for a moment before he smirked.

"I might enjoy this more than I expected."

"Call the match, then," Hiruzen said.

"Hm…" Raikage narrowed his eyes at the paper. "Naruto and Kabuto!" He flipped through the pages. "Versus Choji and Yoroi!"

Hiruzen slapped his armrest.

"I bet a strike on Naruto and Kabuto!" He declared.

Raikage raised an eyebrow.

"A strike?" He asked. "What the hell is that?"

"Oh, you don't know what a strike is, Raikage?" Hiruzen leaned over in his seat. "How long has such a fool led the cloud village?"

Raikage gripped his armrest, snapping the wood.

"You dare insult me?"

Hiruzen laughed.

"A strike is an attack, you dumb oaf," Hiruzen said. "The winner gets to hit the loser."

"I see," Raikage grinned. He tossed his broken armrest aside, nearly hitting Shukaku. "Let's have our wager then. Don't start a war when I crush your ribs!"

Hiruzen laughed again. A loud brittle cackle.

"I'll bet a strike on Choji and Yoroi!" Raikage snapped.

"Hey!" Kabuto called out from the arena below.

Hiruzen and Raikage both looked down at him.

Naruto, Kabuto, Choji, and Yoroi had taken their places.

Yoroi was a tall tanned man. His forehead protector was attached to a bandana. He wore a purple shirt and pants.

"What do you want?" Raikage growled.

"I want to surrender," Kabuto said.

"What?" Naruto yelled. "You're abandoning me?"

"Sorry, Naruto was it?" Kabuto said. "I wasn't as prepared for this as I thought I was." He chuckled softly.

"What a coward!" Raikage laughed. "Fine, you lose!" Kabuto left the arena.

"Hey!" Someone shouted from the audience. It was Sasuke. "I'll replace him! Let me fight!"

"Sasuke!" Naruto jumped up and down. "Yeah! Let him help me!"

"No!" Raikage yelled. He glanced at Hiruzen in the corner of his eye. "The match has been decided!"

"That's not fair!" Sasuke yelled.

"Hokage!" It was Asuma who shouted. "I won't stand for this!"

"Stay silent!" Hiruzen rose from his seat.

Asuma glared up at him.

"The fight will begin!" Hiruzen ordered.

Naruto looked at Hiruzen, then to Asuma, then to Sasuke. His face was full of panic.

"Sorry, Naruto," Choji said. "I need to win this. Ino and Shikamaru are counting on me."

Naruto wiped his cheek and adjusted his headband.

Choji glanced at Asuma. The man was gritting his teeth, eyes set on Hiruzen.

"Let's get started, already!" Yoroi yelled. "Proctor!"

Asuma turned his glare to Yoroi.

"Begin."

Yoroi immediately dashed for Naruto.

"Oh crap!" Naruto threw a kunai at Yoroi.

Yoroi caught the kunai and kicked Naruto in the face.

"What do you think now, hokage?" Raikage asked. "You gonna back out of that wager?"

Hiruzen didn't respond. He sat down with a sigh.

"Youre naïve, Raikage," It was Rasa, the kazekage who spoke up.

"What?" Raikage perked up as if he'd forgotten the kazekage was there.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, hokage," Rasa said. "That wouldn't happen to be the jinchuriki would it?"

Hiruzen's smile grew.

"The nine-tailed fox?" Raikage turned to the arena.

Yoroi grabbed Naruto's head and flung him across the battlefield.

Naruto landed and rolled, kicking up dust.

"What about that wager, Raikage?" Hiruzen asked. Raikage glared at him.

"Fight back, Naruto!" Sasuke shouted from the stands. "Don't let him do that!"

Sakura and Shikamaru appeared at Sasuke's side.

"Wow," Shikamaru said, scratching his head. "Naruto's gonna lose."

"At least Choji's gonna win," Ino said, walking up behind Shikamaru.

"That's not fair though!" Sakura snapped. Ino shrugged.

"Damn it!" Sasuke hit the railing.

"Somethings wrong with Naruto," Shikamaru said, watching closely. Everyone watched together.

Naruto panted, struggling to get up. His limbs were heavy, his vision was blurred. He got to his feet, searching the battlefield.

"Right here!" Yoroi appeared, charging Naruto.

"Look out!" Sasuke yelled.

Naruto narrowly dodged Yoroi's kunai. He didn't dodge the punch and was knocked back to the ground.

Naruto groaned on the ground. A wave of nausea washed over him. He got a glimpse of Choji watching nearby.

"Damn it, why am I so weak?" Yoroi stepped on Naruto. "Is that what you're thinking right now?" Yoroi said.

"Are you done, Naruto?" Asuma called out. "Naruto!"

"He's not done!" Hiruzen yelled. "The match isn't over!"

Asuma shot a look at the hokage.

"Get off me!" Naruto grumbled. "You dumb shit."

"You better not insult me again," Yoroi warned. "I'll make it worse."

Yoroi reached down, grabbing a handful of Naruto's hair. His hand started glowing blue.

The nausea intensified. Naruto's stomach flipped. He grabbed Yoroi's wrist.

"Get off me!" Naruto screamed. Yoroi gripped his head tighter. Naruto's grip loosened. Yoroi's hand started glowing orange.

"Oh, I thought you were going empty," Yoroi remarked. "There's a whole different well in here!" He placed his other hand on Naruto's head. The orange glow brightened.

"Yoroi!" Asuma warned. "Naruto, are you done, just surrender!"

"Naruto!" Sasuke shouted. "Fight back!"

Naruto blinked. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. The rising and falling of Yoroi's chest. The grip of his fingers against Naruto's temple.

Asuma moving closer.

Choji nearby, just watching.

Naruto's stomach burned.

Naruto was in a puddle. A large empty room. He was surrounded by darkness. He got to his hands and knees.

A large gate materialized in front of Naruto. A seal was placed in the center of it. It felt familiar.

An eye opened behind the gate. A growl echoed through the space.

"Oh." A deep voice came from beyond the gate. "You're finally here."