Section 3: Open Your Eyes, Konoha

Hajime and Kimie stood silent as Naruto growled hideously in Hajime's root prison.

"You... bastards!" Red chakra began to pour out of Naruto's body, seeping through the cracks of the roots wrapped around him.

Hajime's arms began to quiver at the intensity given off by Naruto's rage, "What the hell is this... what's going on...? Why is he this strong?!"

Kimie dropped Sakura's head and curled up in fear, "Hajime... what's happening to him! Stop him!"

Hajime squeezed tightly with his roots trying to kill Naruto while he still could, "Shut the hell up! I'm trying Kimie! Shit!" Naruto's body suddenly cracked and snapped as the roots around him tightened significantly.

Naruto's head dropped limply, and his expression was covered by his hair as his chakra faded away. He drew silent, as Hajime looked up, grinning. "That was a close one..."

Sakura looked up, as her eyes widened and filled with tears when she noticed what happened. She froze up as she watched with tears rolling down her cheeks, "...Naruto...NARUTO!" Sakura slammed her head down to the flower bed, sobbing uncontrollably, "...I...I couldn't save him... I let him die... Just... kill me please..."

Kimie looked down at her, "...What?...why would you want to die...? Are you really that stupid?"

"You... you killed Naruto! I can't let you get away...! Even if I have to die stopping you..."

Kimie stood up tall, and looked over despondently at Naruto's frail body, "...He's...dead?" Her eyes rippled when she saw, "Hajime..." Kimie's eyes filling with tears, "I was serious!"

He looked over to her while still holding Naruto tightly, "...Shut up you stupid bimbo..." She jerked back in shock, "...he didn't like you anyways. No one ever does."

Kimie looked crushed, as her eyes remained locked onto Hajime's heartless expression. "That's.... not true...!"

Hajime looked away from her in disrespect, and huffed arrogantly. "You stupid girl..." Suddenly, he looked forward in shock as his white pupils dilated. A red glow let up in front of his frightened expression, as he got lashed back by a burst of red chakra. He opened his eyes after being shoved down to the ground, and looked at his hands, which had severed roots protruding from them. He looked back up in horror at Naruto, who was still hanging his head down; except he had Hajime's severed roots in his hands.

"Sakura-chan... never say that ever again... never give up... remember..." Sakura looked over to him from the ground crying tears of joy. "...and you..." Naruto raised his head up slowly exposing the red eyes once again, "You make me sick... leave that girl alone..."

Kimie looked over towards Naruto with tears in her eyes, "...why is he defending me..."

Hajime laid on his back with his damaged arm held up defensively, "...What happened?! He cut right through my roots... with just chakra... What are you?"

Naruto squeezed the roots in his hands tightly, crushing them within his palms, "...As you called me before... I'm the Nine Tails' boy..."

Sakura looked up, widening her eyes with a sudden realization, "...Naruto... that isn't Naruto!"

Naruto's nails grew sharp in both his hands and feet, and his teeth lengthened out of his mouth, "I detest people like you..." He closed his eyes temporarily, and clinched his teeth painfully. He opened them once again, sounding completely different "...I should kill you right now..."

Sakura, Kimie, and Hajime looked up in pure fear at the new figure of Naruto. Sakura rose up to her hands and knees in a struggle, "...Naruto..." She forced herself up to her knees, "...What happened to you..."

Naruto looked over to her smiling wickedly, "...I've never felt better. Right now... I'm great." He flung his arms back with his fingers in a claw while snarling towards the still broken Hajime, "But I'm not finished with you...!"

Naruto jumped high into the air, throwing the killed roots of Hajime to his sides. He descended down quickly with his palm and claws aimed down to the helpless Grass ninja, as he looked up in terror being unable to gather himself to move, "No...! He'll kill me, no doubt!" Naruto glared down growling, as the image of the Nine Tails' fox flashed in front of him in Hajime's eyes. "NOO!" Hajime screamed, holding his arms up in a terrified fashion upon seeing the image of the Nine Tails', "Leave me alone! I'M SORRY!"

A figure flashed in between them in a blink of an eye, as the echoing of a woman's voice rang through the air, "(Wind Element: Wind Slash Barrage Technique) Huton: Kaze Kai Renda no Jitsu!"

Naruto didn't have any time to react, and was pounded by a series of white wind blasts, knocking him back farther with every blow. The final blast broke his defenses and sent him back in throbbing in pain, as he slammed back first into the ground.

Hajime looked up at the figure in front of him, and saw the back of his jounin's green robe, as she stood in front of him holding out the final seal of her technique, while breathing heavily. She calmly spoke out to Hajime without turning, "...I told you to avoid this boy at all costs... you are neither the level, nor brave enough to combat the Nine Tails' at this time..."

Hajime rose up with his head hung low, "I... I didn't..."

"Know...? You almost died, Hajime... and I used all of my chakra to stop that boy's attack. We were lucky this time..." She turned quietly, showing her green hair, coming out of her open hood. "But don't foul up again... next time I wont be there to help you."

Hajime looked down in shame, "...Yes Otsu-sensei..."

Otsu shifted turning towards both Hajime and Kimie, "...You two, lets go now... Before that boy wakes." Hajime nods in compliance, and crosses his arms with his eyes closed shut. Otsu lifts her arm, and drops a small smoke bomb in between her and Hajime. The smoke erupts enclosing them both, as the two retreated swiftly.

Kimie remained, still standing over Sakura, looking over towards Naruto with guilt in her eyes, "...I'm sorry... cutie..." She threw down a smoke bomb of her own, and departed as well with her team.

Sakura remained on her knees, struggling to build up the strength to stand. She forced herself to her feet, and looked in the direction of Naruto with left over tears at the base of her eyes. "...Naruto..." She stumbled and staggered over to the significantly battered Naruto, dropping to her knees by his side. Sakura pulled all Naruto's collar trying to get his attention, "Naruto! Wake up!" She noticed that his head was limply moving around as she pulled, and she began to sob, "Naruto, please...!"

"...don't... cry... Sakura-chan..." She looked up to his face quickly, and spotted his eyes. His eyes were partially opened, and a glassy blue, as he rolled then into Sakura's direction. "...Did... did I win...? Did I... save you...?"

Sakura looked down, and smiled as she began to cry happily, "Of course you did..." She dove down at him, holding him as she cried.

Naruto just looked straight up to the sky, "...I'm glad."

------

Tsunade slammed her fist down to the counter top, "What do you mean they attacked you?!"

Sakura pulled back in fear, with her scratches from the fight earlier still visible, "They... came out of no where and started fighting Naruto... going off about the Nine Tails' or something..."

Tsunade lashed back upon hearing about what Sakura had to tell her, "...Naruto... the Nine Tails'? What the hell is going on now...?" Tsunade walked around the counter and bent down to Sakura, "...We need to keep this to ourselves Sakura."

She looked back up in surprise, "What...Why?"

Tsunade looked back with all seriousness, "I don't want to draw a panic around here... I want the people to continue on with the festival."

Sakura understood, and nodded in affirmation. Tsunade leaned forward in appreciation, and turned to leave her office to continue her public duties. Sakura, without turning back to the departing Tsunade uttered in a concerned tone, "...They almost killed him... they said he got in the way of their plans..."

Tsunade halted, and turned back slightly, "I know how worried you are, Sakura... but don't worry... Naruto won't go that easily... he's a fighter."

Sakura looked down to the ground thinking about what she'd do if he ever got hurt. Tsunade left the room, looking back at Sakura with concern and guilt. She left through the doorway, and leaned against the wall right outside, sighing sadly. "She's worrying like I used to whenever Dan went out on his missions. That poor girl... I understand how she feels..." She punched her fist determinedly, "...but I need to know what's going on... right now..."

-----

Naruto was sitting up in his bed, eating a large bowl of Ramen that Kakashi brought him during his visit. Naruto was happy and goofy as usual, with band aids suck around his face and arms. When he finished the bowl, he placed the bowl and chopsticks on the nightstand next to him, and smiled heartily, "Thank you Kakashi-sensei!"

Kakashi stood up tall, arching his eyebrows up happily, "It's no problem Naruto, just get better as soon as possible so you can enjoy the fair, alright?"

Naruto flung his wounded arm out giving thumbs up without thinking, "Yup!" His face quickly jolted flat again, when he realized he moved his wounded arm, "AHHH!" He flew up screaming, "...Damn it! That hurts!"

Kakashi shook his head in comical distress, as Sasuke sat in the back corner in a large armchair, staring towards the flailing Naruto. "What an idiot..." Sasuke shot his head over towards the door of Naruto's room, where a banging began to bellow from it.

Kakashi looked over as well, and walked over to answer the door. He opened the door to see who was there, "Oh, Sakura-chan! Come to see Naruto?" Sasuke heard who it was and arched his eyebrows downward slowly as he grunted to himself.

Sakura walked through, and looked at the energetic Naruto with her hands curled up happily while blushing with a smile on her face. "He's happy again... he's back to his old self..."

"Hey! Sakura-chan, I feel better already, thanks to you!" He sat up in his bed laughing cheerfully, like nothing had gone wrong earlier that day. Sakura walked over silently, and sat down at his bed. She then grabbed his head and kissed him tenderly, interrupting his laughter.

Kakashi's eyebrow rose up in surprise, as Sasuke still sat in the back corner. He clinched his hand tightly, and narrowed his eyes with spite. "Damn it..."

Kakashi began to chuckle, "Aren't you two quite the couple... eh?" Naruto and Sakura parted and both looked up to Kakashi, blushing nervously. Naruto rubbed the back of his head as usual, as Sakura just avoided eye contact with everyone by staring down at the ground.

------

The festival continued as if nothing had happened, and the genin who were suspected of attacks were back to being ordinary festival goers.

Tsunade went to the Konoha prison ward underneath the village in the sewer systems, where she was going to question the sound ninja from the fight earlier with Naizen and Benjiro.

When Tsunade came into the room, she blasted the door to his interrogation room down with her savage strength, with a piercing look of intimidation in her eyes. The sound ninja looked back in terror, slightly apprehensive about speaking with Tsunade.

She slowly sat down in the chair across the tabled from him, and crossed her legs with her eyes still locked onto the ninja with intimidation. She sat there motionless with an unchanging expression, while the ninja looked around all fidgety-like. She took a deep breath, "...Why did you come here... who sent you... and why..."

The ninja sat angrily, and unwisely failed to answer her question, "None of you're business old lady! Why should I tell you anything, you can kiss my ASS!"

Tsunade didn't move from her position, as she continued to stare emotionlessly. The ninja was still leaned forward from his comments, so he pulled back and crossed his arms stubbornly. She inched forward slowly in her chair, then suddenly smashed her fist down, blasting through the table. The sound ninja lashed back in shock, before Tsunade lashed her arm forward, yanking him close to her fuming face. "You listen here... you either tell me what I want to know... or your back and this table will have something in common..."

The sound ninja stared back in fear, "...O... ok... I will..." he said with sweat running down his face.

After she was finished, the jounin took him out to put him back into his cell. Tsunade came out hanging her head down, and turned her head to the departing ninja prisoner. "This is bad... a sound ninja... who knew my age even with my technique. Something must be happening in those other countries... I've got to find out what exactly... I must see Orochimaru"

------

Sakura cheerfully walked down the side street during the second day of the festival, despite the rough start yesterday. She held a small box in one hand, and a small daffodil in the other. While walking down past many stands, she spotted the same cart she stopped by with Naruto. Sakura stepped up to the counter, and peered over to the stuffed frogs on the back of the display. She remembered the frog that Naruto had worked so hard to win and smiled happily, before she was interrupted from behind.

Ino shoved Shikamaru into the counter chest first, giggling, "Shikamaru! Win one for me pleassssseee?!"

Shikamaru stood up straight rubbing his chest, "Alright, alright... man..." He reached into his pocket and put some money onto the counter, "...could I have a shot at this?"

The vendor smiled, holding his hand out to the platform next to him, "Right here my boy!"

Ino bounced up slapping her hands together in excitement, "C'mon Shikamaru! You can do it sweetie!"

Shikamaru looked away from her, rolling his eyes with the mallet over his shoulder, "Bah... with the cutsie nick-names again..." He positioned himself, and looked down at the platform peculiarly. Shikamaru stood back and clubbed the platform, sending the pin upward, but short of the bell up top. He put down the mallet, and turned around shrugging his shoulders, "Oh well... off to the next stand."

Ino looked back palely, "...You stink Shikamaru..."

Sakura sat up confidently, and smirked boldly with her eyes shut, "...Naruto won one of those for me..." Ino froze up, and turned very slowly. Now that Sakura had her attention, she cruelly smiled, "He's the BEST kare ever..."

Ino shot up waving her fist at Sakura angrily. She then shot around pointing at Shikamaru spastically, "You're going to win me one of those!"

Shikamaru counted his money, and looked up reluctantly, "But I don't have too much money left, and I don't want to use it to..."

"NOW!" she screamed waving her fist violently.

Shikamaru curled back in fear, looking at the money clinched in his hand. He sighed sadly, closing his eyes and sliding the money he had in his hand across the counter. "...This blows..."

Sakura giggled and turned away from the game stand, "Good luck Shikamaru!" She looked down at the small box and flower, and smiled brightly, "I still have to get this to Naruto!"

Shikamaru heard her, and retrieved his money from the table. He turned back to Ino with his eyes shut and had an edgy smile, "Heh! Maybe we should go with her to see Naruto?!" Shikamaru laughed nervously, and walked by her with his hands behind his head.

Ino stomped on the ground and whined, "Whatever! Let's go then you jerk!" Ino crossed her arms and huffed with disappointment, following Shikamaru and Sakura towards Naruto's place.

------

Rock Lee and Tenten decided they should go through the festival together for the day. Tenten insisted that they drag Neji along too, though. The three walked through the village center, with Tenten affectionately attached to Lee's arm, and Neji veered off, separately to the side.

Neji had his arms crossed, looking at everything with a livid pair of white eyes, "This is so stupid... I don't even want to be here." He glanced over to Lee and Tenten, who were acting like a cheesy couple, all holding each other and whatnot. Neji glared while frowning, "especially with these two..."

Tenten looked over smiling, "Oh c'mon Neji, cheer up!" She nudged him in the shoulder, "...Let's do something around here, you and me!" She left Rock Lee's side, as he looked in surprise, and grabbed Neji's hand, dragging him along with her.

Tenten stopped in front of a huge Ferris wheel the Jounin built for the festival, and pointed up to it, "Let's go on this thing!"

Neji turned his head back towards her, with his eyes shut, "I don't go on rides."

Tenten dropped her arms and sighed, then starting moping around, "Oh... ok, its fine, we can do something else."

Neji opened his eyes, and saw how bummed out Tenten was, and rolled his eyes, "...Fine.... I'll go on this stupid thing."

Tenten shot up in excitement, and ripped Neji towards the ride, "Thank you Neji! Let's go!" Neji just stumbled in shock as she dragged him to the counter of the ride. Rock lee stood in the background, crossing his arms skeptically.

Tenten runs up to one of the booths, and jumps in enthusiastically, as Neji snails in lacking interest. The wheel moves forward to the next empty booth, triggering Rock Lee to do a ninja roll right in front of it. He slips into the empty booth surreptitiously, and peaks over the edge of the front to get a good view of Neji and Tenten, "...What are they doing?"

Neji leaned against the panel on his side propping his head up with his forearm, looking away from Tenten, "...This is dull... Why'd we do this again?"

Tenten looked down sadly, "I don't know... I wanted to cheer you up somehow..."

"...and this was supposed to help me... how?"

Tenten leaned forward, clinching her hands together, "...Why are you so mean to me anyways..." Neji twitches in shock, and turns back slowly to the despondent Tenten. "I try to help you with your training all the time... I cheer you on while you fight... I try to make you happy... and you're always treating me the same always." She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "...do you really hate me that much?"

Neji cringed, as he looked over the edge of the booth noticing they were nowhere close to the end of the ride, "Damn it... I can't get out of here." He looked up to her, "It's not that... It's just..."

"Just what?! What should I change... so that you'd like me...?"

Neji looked back at her with guilt in his eyes, so he looked away at the floor of the booth, "...Don't change anything about yourself... Sometimes... you shouldn't care if someone likes you or not."

Tenten pulled back with a pained look in her face. She jerked her face away from him to hide her tears, while he watched her unemotionally. He turned away from her, and peered over the edge sighing heavily.

Suddenly the ride halted to a stop, startling everyone on the ride, including Tenten, Neji, and Rock Lee hiding in the previous booth. Neji flung himself hanging over the edge to inspect what was wrong, and saw that everyone on the road beneath them was running around frantically, screaming.

Tenten turned to Neji frightened grabbing his arm, "What's going on...?!"

Neji continued to look over all the edges, trying to find a good view point, "I don't know..."

Rock Lee leaped over to the booth Tenten and Neji were in, from his and crouched at the edge of it with a look of gravity, "Neji... this is bad..." He looked down from his perch to the road below, "You feel that right?"

Neji stared up at him, unleashing his Byakugan, "...Of course I do..."

Tenten sat in her seat, switching from Lee to Neji in confusion and apprehension, "What!? Tell me, what is it!"

Neji continues looking around using his Byakugan to track someone, "...There is an enemy in town... they're down below..."

Tenten pulled back, "Enemy...? Now?!"

Neji's eyes suddenly widened and he twitched his head up, "Lee! Tenten! Let's go!"

Lee nodded towards Neji, and the two flipped off the edge, and out of the booth. Tenten flung herself over in pursuit, "Wait!"

The three descended to the ground from the top of the Ferris wheel, as the wind blustered through their clothes. When the reached the ground, they all landed in a crouch looking around cautiously as they rose up from the ground with their backs to each other.

Tenten gasped suddenly as she looked over to the entrance to the Ferris wheel. She ran over and bent down to the seemingly badly injured vendor. "Sir! Are you ok?" She lifted her hands after touching his body trying to help him, and saw her hands were covered in blood. Her pupils grew thin, as she looked down and saw the five kunai jetting out of his back. "Neji! Lee!" She pushed herself back in horror at the sight of the dead vendor. She curled up against the gate and started flowing with tears, "...Why..."

Lee and Neji both ran up and recoiled when they saw the deceased man laying there before her. Lee looked down in panic, "This... this is bad..."

Neji looked left and right trying to pick up any people nearby. He looked around baffled, "...Where the hell did everyone go?"

Lee opened the gate and screamed as he fell back in a stumble, "They... They..." Neji jerked around and ran into view of the doorway with Tenten close behind him, and dropped his mouth open at what he saw. "...They're all dead!"

The road was covered with the bodies of villagers who had been slaughtered. Neji looked around clinching his teeth, "What the hell... they were all fine before we jumped down... who could kill everyone so quickly... who is this monster...?" Neji lashed around pointing at Tenten, who was still in shock from the slaughtered villagers, "Tenten... you need to help the people on the ride still get down... and take them out around the back..."

Tenten looked back in a terrified fashion, "O... o...ok." She walked over slowly to the Ferris wheel's chain mechanism, and threw the handle with her hand shaking, to continue the ride, so the people could get off.

Neji turned to Lee, pointing to him, "You... you come with me and find these people..."

Rock Lee looked back unenthusiastically, "Alright..." He looked out at all the dead villagers, noticing some children who had made their final cling to their parent's arm before dying themselves, which enraged him. He flew up and pumped his fist angrily, "Let's find this monster, Neji..."

Neji nodded to him, smirking at Lee's new incentive to fight, "Let's..." The two walked out in slow motion through the road strewn with victims, looking around disgusted, desiring to meet the culprits of these crimes.

Lee looked forward, swallowing deeply at the sights around him, "The fun is over now... Someone has broken the peace we had here once again... and now... the fight begins."