DICLAIMER: I do not or will ever own Naruto...but I do own some of their merchandise...Romances ensues but Naruto must take action to control his destiny will he return to her? Will he find a true love, or will he return and a new love found?? FIND OUT by reading this epic saga...Thanks and Enjoy.
Travels and JourneysFlashes of that night flashed through my head, a few days after the incident and that kiss. I was lying down my eyes closed and the world around me as distant as the stars and myself. I ventured through my memories as best as I could, retracing what had happened. My arm reacted absent-mindedly as both were tucked beneath my head; my hand came to my lips and traced the bottom lip softly.
I growled and shook my head; I had to get her out of my head. For now at least, I couldn't go back now. I don't know when and if I could ever go back to her, I was at such a loss. We had ran for quite a distance, making sure that we weren't tailed and Jiraiya decided that it would be best for us to take rest before continuing on since we would need to travel hard and long to make sure we made it out of the lightning country and towards the next.
I didn't sleep too soundly that night I had left her standing there, her hand reaching out towards me as I ran in the opposite direction towards my hopes and dreams. I had finally passed out and not soon after Ero-sennin shook me awake. After a small morning exercise, we began our next tread to the next country. My journey continued.
After half a day passed us by of almost near silence, I finally broke it asking him about several of the different countries we hadn't been to yet. The nearest country was the country of the sand holding the village of the hidden sound Nin; unfortunately I didn't want to go there since that was way too close to our homeland and I wasn't ready to go back yet.
Two other countries that held no shinobi government separated the Sound and the Waterfall country. They held the village of the hidden waterfall Nin in their country, which again was also way too close to home that I just didn't want to mess around with yet.
The grass country would be the next one separated by another shinobi-free government. They had the village of the hidden grass Nin residing in their country; yet again I didn't want to be so close to my own country that I could almost feel the breath of the townspeople on the back of my neck.
The three countries I would want to pick from were: The Country of Rain, The Country of Earth, and The Country of Wind. Of course, the rain country had the village of the hidden rain. While the Country of Earth had the village of the hidden stone and the Country of the Wind had the village of the hidden sand.
Jiraiya had told me some interesting facts about each country and what had made them so special in their own way and how their attacks worked. The Rain Country would definitely be good if I was able to combine my jutsu from the Hidden Cloud but I doubted that some. As for the Nin of the Hidden Stone, it perked my interest more than the Rain Country had.
Now the Country of Wind really caught my attention, the moves and the jutsu they had committed themselves too really made me think. Perhaps there was a jutsu out there that helped increased your speed, or perhaps that would strengthen attacks or...or...that's all I had my mind on after that. The range of possibilities that learning from them had; but Jiraiya had told me that they were not the kind of people to teach outsiders.
I stopped dead in my tracks, which had naturally caused Jiraiya to; he looked back at me and raised an eyebrow in my general direction.
"What are you doing, Naruto? We don't have time for a break."
I growled lowly and glared at him.
"Break?? You know I'm not one to want to take breaks Ero-sennin!"
He chuckled lightly and waved a hand weakly at me, in a shooing fashion.
"Yeah, yeah. Now why are we stopping then?"
"You've been to the Wind Country right?"
"Well, yeah. What's that have to do with anything?"
"Describe it for me...in full detail. A really beautiful places but not one that really...umm populated."
He gave me a wry look and began describing a cliff that overlooked a large canyon, in the distance at sunset the sun would appear to look like a gigantic ruby in the sky. It did sound nice now that I was thinking about it; I closed my eyes and tried to fixate the image in my head.
As he finished, I heard him mumble a few things and begin talking again.
"Why did you want to know about that?"
I cracked my eye open and looked him straight in the eye.
"Come over here and hold my shoulder. I'm going to try something..."
He slowly walked over behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. I strained and focused my chakra to begin to flow around Jiraiya and myself, freely. I could feel the heat from the ethereal flames of chakra whip around the both of us. I held only one while the image seemed to solidify in my head.
I did an additional two seals.
"Michinori Tensou no Jutsu!"
I could feel the chakra suddenly disappear from around us, the warmth gone. I heard Jiraiya mumble something along the lines of 'what the hell' before I could begin to feel a slight tug on my body. I opened my eyes and turned to Ero-sennin who was looking at his hands in a frantic manner.
Both of our bodies began to skew, visible lines etching through us allowing anyone else to see to the other side. This effect only lasted nearly five seconds before our bodies entire phased from the area. There was a blinding light, I squinted through the light and saw the clouds fly through us. An intense feeling came over me as I could feel my adrenaline begin to rush.
Within another moment I felt my body stop all of a sudden, no real pain just a stop as if I had stopped from walking a little too fast. I looked around, the trees that were giving us proper shelter from the drizzle that was raining down on us was now gone, as well as the rain.
The only shade within a few hundred feet was the shadows created by our own bodies as the sun setting in the distance could be seen. I smiled and looked at what we were standing on; it was flat and looked like red hard clay. I could see the sand in between the cracks. I closed my eyes and took in a small breath before looking at the captivating view before me.
It was just as Jiraiya had explained it, the beauty of the sunset was very stunning in fact and it did look like a ruby if you looked at in a different way. I looked back at him; his jaw was very much slack and he only stared out at the view before him.
"Who's going to be Hokage?"
I held a hand up to my ear and leaned forward slightly with a large smile on my face. He instantly smiled back at me and shook his head putting his hands on his hips. I nodded my head several times.
"Yeah, that's me. I'm the best and you better damn well know it."
I turned and looked back out at the view of the sunset, here we were. In the Wind Country, and according to Jiraiya only a day's travel away; this was going to be great.
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I had opened my eyes and here I was, lying down in sand. Probably not the wisest thing to do since that knows what evil little creatures called the sand their home. I didn't care though, I was happy that the skill was a success. This was a truly legendary power that could be unmatched in ways that I couldn't even fathom. Suddenly a shadow appeared over me and Ero-sennin leaned over and looked at me, eye-to eye.
"What the hell are you doing just laying there, we're just about there. We don't have much longer."
We didn't have much longer? What the hell did he mean by that? I would have to definitely ask him about that later, I doubt he'd tell me but it was worth a shot. I walked along side him for nearly another hour before we finally came up to the village. Yet another genjutsu created a mirage around the entire village making it appear to look like a mirage of a dried up spring.
A mirage of a mirage, now that was irony if I hadn't ever seen it so plainly before; Jiraiya walked a couple of steps ahead of me when suddenly a gust of wind and sand whipped around us and two nins stood nearly 10 feet from us.
The one on the left had his entire face covered with what appeared to be a turban like material, his forehead-protector wrapped in front over his forehead. His green eyes struck me as dead though, but I just went onto the next one. This was definitely a woman; the shapes in her body definitely answered that question. She ripped the cloth concealing her face and looked over at Ero-sennin.
A faint but long scar lined the right side of her face; it didn't disfigure her face in the least. Her fiery red hair and topaz eyes accented one another as she wore a firm smirk on her face.
"What do we have here?"
I could hear Ero-sennin gulp from here, inwardly all I could say really was, 'Ah shit.' She looked the older man over and then took a quick peek at me. Her hands were planted firmly on each hip.
"If it isn't the hentai-shinobi. Jiraiya."
He sweatdropped and smiled faintly.
"It's good to see you too, Bara-san."
"That's Ibara-san to you, hentai! Why do you disgrace our land with your presence?"
He lightly scratched the underside of his chin and continued to wear the same goofy smile as he had before.
"I've actually come here to talk to Kazekage. If that's alright with you."
"Actually it's not. So I'm guessing you'll have to leave now. Good bye."
She turned and took one step when Jiraiya took several after her, which somehow caused the other sand Nin to snap into battle by tossing a single kunai at him. He caught the kunai and tossed it away, continuing on after her. I took several steps forward and glared at the Nin with a small flame in my eyes.
"You want to try that with me?"
I said in a mocking tone, I could feel my adrenaline spike again. I wanted to fight so badly, I hadn't been able to really fight in a long time and it was proceeding to drive me crazy. This guy had definitely and inadvertently pressed the wrong ones. I could tell that he hiked his eyebrow up slightly and slowly lowered his hand towards his kunai pack.
The woman known as Bara Ibara instantly twisted herself around and shouted at the shinobi in front of me.
"Stop! We are not attacking out of spite, now proceed back to post and watch for other 'guests' while I escort these two to the Kazekage."
The Nin before me didn't speak another word but vanished in another ring of wind mixed with sand. I cracked my knuckles and the bones in my neck as I ran to catch up with the two. I gave her a small glance before fixating my vision on the road before us.
It seemed as if we traveled along one red-bricked pathway forever until Jiraiya broke the silence amongst the group.
"Thank you for allowing us to speak with Kazekage."
"Hmph, I do not need your thanks. If Kazekage demanded me, I'd kill you on the spot right now."
Jiraiya smiled weakly and chuckled.
"That's umm good to know that you're faithful to your leader."
After another few minutes we finally came upon a large palace that looked to belong in an Arabian fairy tale. We walked up the large staircase and entered the palace, a cool breeze swept through as we entered. Walking up yet another flight of stairs the three of us were greeted by a shinobi leaning against the side of the doorway.
He exchanged a short glance with Bara and allowed the three of us to pass. I'm not sure why, but I felt a chill run up my spine as I passed this guy. He just felt creepy, I watched him as we passed. His eyes snapped open and he returned the gesture by watching me as I entered in behind the other two. Kazekage sat down upon what looked like a throne at the end of the chamber. He wore the traditional Kage hat and mask, his eyes seemingly washed over Jiraiya and myself.
I watched as he whispered something to the Nin next to him, the man nodded and jumped to the window ledge and out the carved window. I looked back over at the Kage of the Village of the Hidden Sand. Why did they all have to wear the god damned masks and stuff, what did they have to hide?
Ibara-san stepped forward and knelt down to one knee, bowing her head to the floor.
"Kazekage, these two have come a great distance to speak with you."
"...About?"
His voice danced the line between something you'd heard out of a creepy horror story or perhaps a mystery but all the same it wasn't the friendliest sounding voice. She paused, I knew she didn't know what to say, she hadn't bothered to ask us. It was her fault, I would have definitely told her. Yet I didn't really know what to say either, I definitely wasn't a person good with words.
She looked back at Jiraiya who took a step forward himself and took to one knee and bowed his head.
"I would like to seek knowledge from you concerning my traveling companion here."
The Kazekage turned his eyes towards me, locking with mine own. I felt somehow under some sort of pressure that I couldn't really describe until relief washed over me as he turned his attention back to Ero-sennin.
"What is it that you are seeking?"
"I'm wishing for a favor that you would allow Naruto to train with some of other genin Nins..."
There was no way this could work; I mean, Ero-sennin even said it himself. This place definitely wasn't a place where it welcomed other shinobi with open arms so lovingly. I just hoped to god this wouldn't get us killed or anything going along the lines of death and unwanted pain.
Kazekage turned for a moment; he placed his hands behind his back and slowly walked over towards the beautifully carved window that gave the room a perfect accent of Arabian architecture. After what felt like an eternity but was actually only near three minutes of unbearable silence Kazekage turned back around and nodded.
"He may become an 'honorary' genin amongst the hidden sand...as long as he can prove himself against three shinobi of my choice."
A wave of fear washed over me but quickly subsided as any real wave would, the excitement began to coarse through me like a wildfire in my veins. I clenched my hand and balled it into a tight fist. I pumped my first into the air at an angle towards the Kazekage.
"I accept!"
He stared at me wide-eyed for a moment and I'm not sure, but I could have sworn he smiled underneath his disguise. He gave me a nod and walked towards his desk and began scribbling something on a long but thin sheet of paper.
"Bara, collect the shinobi on this list and have them meet in the main court."
She stood and raced over to the desk as he quickly finished up, she nodded and flashed out the window. His arms were again tucked behind his back as he walked past me and towards the doorway that lead downstairs. He stopped as he reached the doorway and gave Ero-sennin and myself a stare.
"Coming?"
I shook my head, clearing the random memories that hit home with this scene. I nodded and raced after the Kage, Jiraiya put his hand to the underside of his chin and stroked it thoughtfully. He shook his head as I waved my hand to motion him to follow us, his face was terribly serious and I knew something was definitely wrong.
He had given me that pathetic fake smile that he always shows when he knows something is wrong but just doesn't quite know what it is yet. Unfortunately he was like that a lot but he usually had a good sense for that sort of thing. I knew I should probably stay on my toes.
Kazekage had made it down to the main court before us, a shinobi at each side of him; the one on the left was Ibara-san.
I walked around him and stood in front of him about 10 feet away. Jiraiya stood on the other side of Ibara-san and gave her a quick look; she only glared without turning her head. He averted his gaze and smiled lightly. Dammit, why did that old man always have to send mixed signals??
A boy with dusty brown haircut into a bowel style suddenly appeared next to me, barely kicking up any sand as he arrived. His hair color could only be described as if the actual sand around us, sewn into hair. The red eyes he had bored into mine, only if the look that we exchanged only lasted about two seconds. His forehead-protector was cocked ever so slightly but it still rested on his forehead. His outfit was as normal as the any Nin really could except the fact that it was almost all a tan color with black here and there. I found out later, that his name was Hayai-Sabure.
The next one to enter was a female; her dirty blonde hair was put up into four points on her head. Two on the top, two on the bottom and they spiked on the ends. She had a haughty smile on her face as she large tessen, folded up was strapped to her back. She wore her hitae-ate around her neck rather loosely. Her blue outfit contrasted with gray top that covered the outside of her other clothing. She wore netting on her upper right thigh and more on her other leg ranging from the calf down. She placed her hands on her hips and gave me a quick look over before looking back to Kazekage. I later found out her name was Temari.
From the back somewhere, a young man that looked a few years older than myself walked in and stood next to Temari. He had cold black hair that stood out like a sore thumb; his cold pale blue eyes matched them well. His hitae-ate was worn around his bicep on his left arm. His clothing was completely black except for some outlines were in a darker brown. He hadn't even bothered to look at me; hell he didn't even look like he was looking at the Kazekage. I later found out his name was Kanetsu.
As we all stood there, Kazekage looked over all of us and brought his arms forward as if he were going to give us all a great big hug. I really doubted that, but I didn't want a hug either.
"I gather you three here today, to spare with someone out of the ordinary...you will individually fight him, if he wins two of the three matches, he will be allowed to train with us until the Chuunin exam."
I stopped, Chuunin exam? What the hell, when did that start up? When was it? Where was it? Dammit, why was I always left out of the loop? I was definitely going to have Ero-sennin's ass for this one.
"Do your best..."
For one reason or another, I didn't really feel comfortable with his last words before Temari and Kanetsu walked to the other side of the square. They sounded more like, 'if you don't whoop his ass, you're not going to like what happens.' I swallowed hard and stretched out as best as I could. Here I was, about to fight Hayai-Sabure. I knew what his name meant in the back of my mind, but ever since I knew of the oncoming battle there was no winning back my intelligence until I was satisfied.
Ibara-san was going to be referee, hmm? I had to prove myself, to everyone, and to myself. I'd show Jiraiya just how powerful I have gotten. I took a deep breath and exhaled all I could before re-opening my eyes.
"Remember, avoid death, I will do my best to stop the battle before it goes that far. Go!"
Hayai quickly jumped back and began forming a string of seals. I watched with a unique curiosity as he stopped and yelled something that I couldn't quite understand. The sand surrounded him kicked back several feet and dropped to the ground. That was odd, I thought.
Suddenly I felt a punch to my stomach, I dropped to one knee and before I could even react I felt my face smash against his knee at full force. My teeth gyrated violently as the force shock-waved through my body. I stood up slowly, wiping the blood from my lip and glared over in his direction. The smirk on his face was enough to infuriate me even further.
I had to focus now, these guys were definitely not Genins; that was for damn sure. I saw his first movement but the sand where he stood kick up and another kicked up where he had somehow 'blinked' into a different location. It had to be a powerful jutsu, if I couldn't see the attacks and the speed of it. I began silently and quickly calculating the kind of chakra he was pumping out and he would have to give eventually. I'm guessing though that if he got close enough he wouldn't want to waste the chakra and just end it.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes putting my hand in the traditional fighting stance that Taifuu-sama had taught me. I heard his feet snap to attention and speed ahead, I readied myself and heard the sand kick up into two different spots. I knew which direction he had been coming from so I immediately attacked the other sound.
To my pleasure, my double palmed attacked caught the enemy off guard, sending him back in the nearby wall. I heard it crack slightly as I heard him fall to the ground. He must have been flying at incredible speeds for me to be able to reciprocate his power into an attack against him.
I heard him dash at me again, the sand kicked up again into two spots. Of course I attacked the other sound and was rewarded with my opponent's body running at full force and unprotected. He flew away and I didn't hear anything crash until I heard a small crash in the distance. I opened my eyes to see Temari clasping her back to the edge of the giant doorway to the square of the palace.
She looked over at me wide-eyed to see Hayai flown that far out. I peered in the distant and saw him slowly rise from the small wreckage he had created by running through several pillars. I closed my eyes again just in time to hear something kick behind me. I tried spinning myself into a roundhouse kick. However, the sand beneath my feet didn't allow the traction I needed and I spun helpless for a second more than I wanted.
Hayai instantly took the opening and attacked in a flurry of movement that I was both unable to block or stop. The hits felt like he was hitting me with boxing gloves filled with either bricks or horseshoes or perhaps both. I was somehow able to muster up enough thought to try to leg sweep him, causing him to leap backwards and halt on his attack.
I slowly opened my eyes, my vision was definitely blurred and my head spun in a crazy daze. I shook my head free of the nausea but unfortunately I took too long and I was attacked again. The attack lasted another minute and sent me flying back into the wall. My body began to ache; I could already feel bruises begin to form underneath my clothing. I slowly stood up and looked at Jiraiya who gave me a nod. I grinned and quickly unzipped my jacket and threw it to the side.
The shinobi watched me; I could only guess that he was wondering what the hell I was doing. I took off my weighted sandals and took off the large weight belt. It all felt into a crumbled pile against the broken brick that it had landed on. I smiled and spun both of my arms at the same time while jumping on each foot as a boxer would at the beginning of a new bout.
"Now let's see you hit me again."
He frowned and clenched both of his fists; I saw the evil glare in his eyes before he had vanished from my sight. I snapped my eyes closed and instantly snapped my arms out to push him back hard into the nearby wall. It quaked and cracked severely; he stood up again and went at it again. This went on for nearly five minutes and by then he was panting heavily.
I could hear Tatsumaki's words echo in my head, overlapping the whisk of his fist stabbing through the air. I merely passed his attacks with my palm to the side; I could hear a low disgruntled groan seethe through the noise of the attacks. An unexpected kick came from nowhere from below me, I strained and was barely able to dodge the attack when I could suddenly feel his chakra grow around him. It was cold as a late autumn breeze but this was running through the mid-desert.
His attacks hastened and I could tell since I was beginning to feel myself begin to push my normal boundaries and having to dig within for that extra strength. In the back of my head, I pushed out the possibility of even thinking about using Kyubi's power. I gritted my teeth and pushed into an attack. I could feel him struggle back, trying to force away by blows, but the mere impact was enough to send him back a foot or two each time.
I felt myself gaining ground, listening to the ambient sounds around me fill my senses easily. I was using up precious chakra now and if I had continued at this rate I would definitely strain in the next ensuing battle, I didn't want to fight three fights neither. I had to win both and this fight had to end now.
I spun myself 360 and lowered myself as low to the ground as possible. I felt my muscles tense as I readied myself for my final attack, the Hisame Dageki combo. I pushed forward; I placed my hands open palm forward; each wrist laid on one another. Everything around me seemed to slow to almost a pause and I brought my hands back to each side and balled them tightly. I dashed forward to his slow motion like body being pushed backwards even still.
I brought myself upright and began smacking my closed fists against his body in rhythm like you would smack a table or wall, with the bottom of the hand. I struck him three times in the chest and spun rapidly in a complete circle, my left hand came around and struck him in the side of the chest while my other hand connected with the side of his head. While he was still in motion, I moved fluidly through the next string of attacks.
I turned slightly and struck him thrice in the stomach, his body very slowly began to tumble forward. I struck his right elbow with my left hand and followed up with another strike to his other elbow with my right fist. I could feel his bones bend underneath the attacks and the velocity that came along with the speed. I turned my back towards him and got onto one knee and bent forward slightly, I swung back my left arm first; my fist connected with his knee and caused it to buckle to the right almost unnoticeably.
I did the same with my other arm, my right first connecting with his right knee; his other knee withstood the attack but I could feel the vibrations after my fist left its mark. Things began to speed up again, I was almost through anyway; I arose and spun back around to face him while in motion I connected my left fist to the left side of his neck. Hayai cocked his head to the left; his face contorted began to contort in pain until I brought my right fist down upon the top of his head, right above the forehead.
Time had seemed to finally struggle free and everything resumed in normal time, his head bobbled several times before he fell back into an unconscious heap in the floor. Dust kicked up momentarily and settled moments later. The Nin hadn't bothered to move, his arms laid outright from his body and his legs close together. I wiped my thumb underneath my nose and turned towards the Kazekage and the three other audience members.
He had a wide-eyed look on his face; he looked at me for a moment. I knew I wore a smile as I gestured in my normal fashion. He quickly straightened his face while three medical Nins entered from a side opening and quickly carted the boy off to an unknown destination.
"Naruto wins the first round."
She said in a monotone voice, I looked over towards Ero-sennin who merely watched me with his arms folded in front of him. I stretched to each side and rotated my arms in a clock-wise fashion then leaned as back as I could. I heard several satisfying pops and I just wiggled myself free. Much better, Kazekage glanced over at Temari who had been watching with an open mouth during some of the time of the fight. She took one step forward but quickly backed down.
I shot a glance over towards the Kazekage to see him venture his gaze towards the next candidate for fighting. I wouldn't say that Kanetsu freaked me out, but he just seemed, okay yeah he gave me the willies. I wasn't about to let it force me out of fighting; I have never and will never back out of a fight. He stepped into line and stared blankly at the Kazekage, which didn't really seem to faze him at all.
"Kanetsu, you're turn is up. Do well."
I watched his eyes narrow slightly, Kanetsu nodded to the unseen gesture as if to understand and looked towards me. He took a deep breath and stood in a normal looking taijutsu stance. I did the same and went into my newly favorite stance and held my open palms out, facing up to the sky. He smirked something wicked and I suddenly felt an extreme heat wave blast my body. It wasn't an attack per say but I could definitely feel myself begin to sweat profusely already.
This wasn't looking good already. The lines of heat were apparent, as they seemed to ripple from his body. He dashed forward before I was really able to react and began his attacks with opened palms. I dodged them without too much effort, but I could feel my body begin to warm up extremely and my breathing became very labored way too fast.
I managed to score a kick off his mid-section and flipped back nearly 15 feet. I grabbed my chest, I was heaving already. Why couldn't I catch my breath? There was something going on, he must have some genjutsu or perhaps some ninjutsu around him maybe. I didn't really have time to think as he dashed forward again flinging kicks around freely and trying his hand at attacking me open-palmed again.
I closed my eyes, since my eyes were beginning to burn since no matter how fast I blinked; they were almost instantly dried up. Now, try to listen I told myself. Yet I felt like I could hear the rippling of a flame nearby. Unfortunately the sound of the rippling flame covered a general area of about 10 feet. That didn't bode well in my favor and I knew it.
I couldn't hear his attacks nor his movements without total certainty. I didn't really want to look like a fool or give an attack of opportunity. Things didn't go well for a while after I realized I was basically screwed on the whole sound thing when he landed several attacks on my chest throwing me back several feet. My hand flew to my chest; I felt a burning sensation all over my chest. I touched it and winced, I was burnt and singed not too badly but it burnt like hell. I opened my eyes; I had to keep them open.
If he landed more and more shots like that on me, I wouldn't be able to continue fighting because my skin would likely be baked right off my body. I gritted my teeth and stood up, I instantly took several back flips away from the oncoming Kanetsu. I dodged to the best of my ability but again I could feel the oxygen almost evaporate from inside me. My lungs strained to find air, which wasn't abundant due to the extreme heat surrounding us.
I somehow found the strength and was able to fling myself head over heels and the back of my naked heel connected with the back of his head. He buckled forward but caught himself and with a fluid motion flipped forward and continued with his attack. Backing up on my hands and feet as a crab would, I miraculously missed a few of his attacks while a kick to my side sent my spiraling in which I had managed to land on all fours.
I used all my strength to send myself into another flip that landed me on my feet. I put my hands in a cross seal.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"
There was now eight of me, counting me. The seven pushed forward and tried connecting with hits and failed utterly, the first one disappeared quickly. The next two each landed a hit, one on the left side of his face and the other in his right of his midsection. He snapped his fists forward, a chakra flame billowing off each fist. He struck them and their faces were lit with an ethereal flame that caused them to scream in agony.
I winced, I was thankful that wasn't me fighting him. I began forming several seals and placed my arms forward, my right hands' fingers interlacing from atop my left hand with my left fingers. I watched the onslaught before me, while mentally I had delved within myself and began sifting through the webs of memories and the mist of doubt coming upon a large set of doors with a mediocre pedestal wrapped in several chains stood a few feet from the large golden doors of metal. There were thousands of intricate designs and symbols etched all over the doors.
I walked up to the pedestal and looked at the key lodged into the pedestal, the chains were wrapped around the thick metal ring that protruded out of it in which the key was protruding. I took deep breath and looked up at the doors. I had sealed them not too long ago, promising myself I would not allow myself to unlock the doors that would allow his influence to slowly seep out. This had to be done though, I had already used the needed chakra for what I had planned and the flames that Kanetsu was producing were eating up my chakra.
I shook my head, I was right. I knew it, this had to be done; I thought to myself trying my best to reassure myself. I turned the key and pulled it out placing it back into my imaginary pocket. The thick metal ring slowly lowered into the pedestal and the chains whipped around violently and returning to eight separate holes, four on each side of each door. The doors gradually began to open, creaking loudly as they did so. Only a few moments as they had begun opening they faded out of view and only large thick metal bars stood where the doors once stood.
A large eye opened, its yellow glow was eerie sent a shockwave of fear and doubt in releasing the chains. It looked around for a moment, its slit scanning its dark surroundings. It eventually moved its gaze towards me, suddenly another eye revealed itself. I heard a low cackle; I swallowed hard and took a step forward. I pointed my hand at the beast behind the bars in a demanding manner.
"Stupid Fox, I need your power!"
It narrowed its eyes down at me.
"Really boy? Why should I grant power to you that keeps me captive?"
"Don't ask questions, I shall keep the doors open if you grant me this power."
I shouted back at him. A silence promptly followed my statement, it seemed to stretch into forever and I knew time was running out while I was focusing so deeply into myself. Without warning, the Kyubi's voice boomed around me.
"So be it."
That's all I could remember as I was instantly brought out of my focus, pain flared violently in my stomach as I was thrown back. My shirt was completely burnt through, struggling to rise back to my feet; I ripped the remains of the shirt from my body and threw it to the ground. I shook my head to release my sight from the haze that was threatening to completely consume my eyesight. I gritted my teeth and completed several more seals before bringing my hands back into the cross seal.
My opponent began to venture towards me, his hands flaming wildly. I looked down to see the horrible burns on my stomach begin to fade and sizzle away. I smiled as the seal upon my stomach lit up bright red as if heated with hot coals. I yelled fiercely as chakra began to ripple from within my body and coarse around me. It flickered and waved violently around me, spreading rapidly until it reached out and nearly touched Kanetsu.
Within me, I could fill the fire burn freely and the cackle of Kyubi echoed softly in my head. I shook my head and the open chakra flame quickly vacuumed back towards my body and rippled slightly above my skin and clothing. I cracked my knuckles and my neck in the usual manner that always seemed to anger my opponents.
"It ends."
He charged forward and tried to connect with his attacks as they did nothing to me, I could breath freely as the chakra around me sealed the heat on the outside of the flames. I jumped backwards and began to levitate a few inches above the ground. He stared at me wide-eyed then narrowed his eyes. He did several seals and put both of his hands to his mouth.
"Ryuusui no Kasai!"
A flame poured from the opening his hands created, the flames were intense enough for me to feel it through the chakra. I smirked and shot forward through the wicked flames, I could see through my peripheral vision that the sand around us had melted and was slowly transforming into glass. I yelled loudly and brought my to strike Kanetsu in the right side of the face. The flames immediately diminished and disappeared completely as he spun fast and away from me. I shot forward again and connected with a kick into his back, he was flung at high speeds into the air. I dashed skyward and met up with him about were the very top of the palace was.
I could see him strain to look at me in the eyes, I smiled evilly and clasped my hands together into a large fist and smashed it in the middle of his chest. I could have sworn I heard several bones crack as he plummeted back to the ground like a rocket. Dust erupted from below as well as much debris from the underlying stone that was hidden beneath the sand.
I slowly settled back to the ground, I heaved a sigh and allowed myself to touch the ground with my bare feet. The ground was still hot but bearable. The dust finally settled after several moments and inside a small crater about six feet wide and nearly ten feet down, an unconscious and heavy breathing Kanetsu was lying in a crumpled mess. His right arm was contorted in a way I had never wished to see again. His left leg had a bone protruding from the side. I turned my head and looked towards the Kazekage.
"Did I pass your damned test?"
Kazekage motioned the Nin beside him and he quickly left through one of the back exits. Half a dozen medical Nins reappeared from the opening near the front of the palace and leaped down into the hole and began working on the unconscious shinobi.
I walked over towards Jiraiya and Kazekage; Ibara-san had come to Kazekage's left side. I stared at the elder of the village in the eye, his locked with mine. Several uncomfortable moments followed accompanied by silence other than the medical shinobi. He gave the female shinobi next to him a nod and she took a step forward, her face holding a serious façade.
"Naruto is the winner of both bouts, leaving the third unneeded. By Kazekage's decree, you are hereby allowed to train with a three-person genin group designated by Kazekage. Do you agree with those terms?"
"Damn right I do, I didn't do all that work for nothing!"
She fought back a smile and nodded, she turned and began walking towards the back exit. Kazekage exchanged only last glance with Jiraiya and myself before exiting with Ibara-san. A moment after the Kage left the Nin that was accompanying him earlier arrived with a scroll in hand. He tossed it towards Jiraiya and flashed back through the exit.
I sighed and finally allowed myself to slouch, I looked over at Jiraiya and smiled weakly.
"So, how'd I do?"
He smiled while he read through the scroll.
"You did great kid. I see that you used the Kyubi's power."
I nodded, my smile diminishing somewhat."Yeah, I had to though. That guy had some really killer fire chakra. I couldn't take it anymore, I thought I was going to lose just because I couldn't breath."
"Alright, alright. Let's go ahead and grab your things and go the address on this scroll. It's an apartment that isn't being used at the moment. So we'll be allowed to stay there for now until other arrangements are found. You deserve the rest anyways."
"Damn right I do, I'm tired as hell."
He smiled and gave away a chuckle before slapping me on the back. I picked up my weighted jacket and placed my sandals back upon my feet. When I suddenly remembered something rather important that a certain 'someone' had neglected to tell me.
"Ero-sennin...what's this about a Chuunin exam?"
He sweatdropped and slowly looked back at me, a weak smile smeared unpleasantly across his face.
"Well you see, it happened like this..."
Without taking skipping a beat, he bolted out the front gate and out into the main part of the village. I dashed after him as fast as I could manage at the time with a large smile on my face.
"Ero-sennin!!"
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END OF CHAPTER 4
((Author's Note's: For those who don't know...Hitae-ate is their forehead protector I thought to add that at the end thanks to Blaboy-san for his contribution ; What did ya think about the chapter? Hopefully good, I put a lot of thought into the battle. I hoped it didn't seem to lame and I hope you could see it as well as I could in my mind. Next chapter will be up in a couple of days...give a day for to get it up. ; Thanks and don't forget to REVIEW!
DEFINITION TIME!!
Michinori = Distance and away
Tensou = Teleport
Kanetsu = Heat, superheating, overheating
Hayai = Quick
Sabure = Sand
Hisame = Hail
Dageki = Strike, damage, hit
Kasai = Fire
Ryuusui = Stream
