Growing Up…
Torn Between Love and Life! Hinata Must Face Her Love!
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We will now begin the final semifinal match-up of the Chuunin Exams! Will the final four please report to the battlefield. Uzumaki Naruto and Harunama Kazuki vs. Hyuuga Hinata and Shitaru Keisuke,"
Hinata bottom lip quivered lightly as she stared to the ground. Her hands fumbling with one another as she stepped through the stone entry way. Shaving in fear of both the man standing beside her, her partner for the day Keisuke and for Naruto, her opponent and enemy for the day. Keisuke stood at Hinata's side, dark cold eyes wandered over the battlefield. This would be the last time that so much blood would be spilled upon the ground of Konoha stadium.
Kankurou, Mamimi, Sakura, Lee, and so many others had fought, fallen, and could have died in this ring. Unfortunately, Kankurou did die as a result of this tournament. The 'civilized wars" between Konoha and the other countries. To see one another's power, Kankurou paid with his life. Sakura paid with her flesh, Mamimi, with her blood. Lee, with his hopes of love.
As Naruto stepped out into the battlefield, an uneasy silence filled the stadium. His eyes a deep blue, they seemed to burn wickedly as his eyes met Keisuke's from across the battlefield. The one who over through the power of the Kyubii itself. The boy Shitaru Keisuke with the more than monstrous chakra.
"Will Harunama Kazuki please enter the battlefield!" Tsunade sighed as she rested her cheek on her hand, watching the jounin official make the announcement and plea for Kazuki to make his appearance. She shook her head lightly, looking to both sides of the Kage Booth, she realized finally that both Mizukage and Kazekage had long left the tournament.
Mizukage no longer had reason to stay. Baki, Temari and Gaara left late in the night, gathering Kankurou's body to return home and give him a proper funeral. Gaara nearly emotionless that night as usual, though his face paler then normal, as if still in shock from the death of his elder brother. All this tournament had left was the decision of who was to become a Chuunin.
"Will Harunama Kazuki, please report to the battlefield," The official repeated as Naruto lifted his gaze to the Kage's box. His eyes meeting Tsunade's as his fist balled slowly.
Naruto took a single step forward before parting his lips to speak.
"Hokage-sama, Kazuki isn't coming it seems. I'll fight alone,"
Tsunade smiled lightly, shaking her head slowly as she stood from her chair, stepping to the railing, she looked over the crowd.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, since we can't seem to find Kazuki-kun, I have decided, this match will now be a Three Way Battle. Naruto, Keisuke, Hinata.. Start when you wish!" Raising her hand above her head for a moment, she would drop it quickly, signaling the official beginning of the battle. Keisuke smiled lightly as he rose his hand, pulling the heavy furs off his shoulders, letting them fall to the ground.
"Heh, come then! Uzumaki Naruto!"
A puff of smoke took Keisuke's place, in an instant, he reappeared before Naruto. Pulling his fist back, he drove it into Naruto's face. Naruto's head being forced back by the impact of the punch as blood filled and seeped from his nostril. His body remained motionless.
A whizzing sound filled the stadium as a burning red fire rose from Naruto's feet. The power of the Kyubii rose around Naruto's body as his lips curled up, growling softly. Forcing Keisuke's had back, as his head tilted back forward, the burning red eyes of the Kyubii stared to him silently.
With a roar of power Naruto screaming, the chakra exploding from his body as Keisuke flew from his feet, falling and rolling along the ground with coughs and grunts of pain. The crowd was silent as Naruto fell to hands and knees. The red chakra formed the body of a fox around Naruto's body. A single tail whipping behind Naruto.
Hinata quivered with fear as she pushed herself to the inner wall of the arena. Biting her bottom lip tightly as her love, Naruto, changed so instantaneously. From the loud mouthed, friendly, ever playful Naruto. To this, the dark being sealed within him, the Kyubii was free, for now. Tsunade's eyes widened as she watched in excitement, anticipation, and even fear. Naruto did what was never thought possible. He learned to control Kyubii's power on command. When? How? There was all one answer, Sasuke.
"Shitaru Keisuke… you think your better then me? Do you?" Naruto's voice deep and full of hatred, dark and raspy as the Kyubii spoke through him. Roaring once more, Naruto swiped his arm out at Keisuke's fallen body. Grunting lightly, Keisuke kicked himself up, leaping away from the red chakra claws as they crashed into the ground.
Panting softly, Keisuke took a defensive position, a single arm in front of his body. "W-What are you?"
"You think your stronger then me! Don't you! Just like Yondaime… you'll pay for your slander of my power!" Roaring, on all fours, Naruto ran at Keisuke, clawed fingers turned outwards, driving deep into the ground, kicking up stones and roots. Slowly a second tail took form, joining the first in it's obedient wave behind Naruto's form.
Suddenly, blood fell from Naruto's lip as he fell to his side. Rolling along the ground for half a second before pulling himself back to all fours, he looked to Keisuke. His arms risen over his body in fear, Hinata stood before him. Watching Naruto closely, her foot was slowly placed back onto the ground, Naruto's blood on her toes.
"Kyubii-sama…" Her eyes filled with tears as her eyebrows furrowed together in anger. Fists tightening, as she took a short step towards Naruto. "Why won't you just leave Naruto-kun alone! He doesn't need you or your stupid power!"
Her foot rose again, it was almost as if she had disappeared for half a moment before she stood over Naruto. Her knee rose, cracking along his chin as her force caused Naruto's body to lift from the ground, back-flipping in the air before crashing to the dirt.
As Naruto's head slowly rose, his eyes were wide, shaking with what was either fear, anger, surprise or a combination of all three. Two tails of Kyubii waved behind Naruto, the tails, the source of the Kyubii's abilities. As this mortal girl could bring him to his knees. How? Flinging his body up to his knees, Naruto's fingers gripped his head tightly as Kyubii roared.
"Damn you Yondaime! You let her do that!"
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The bright red chakra burned brightly from behind Kyubii's cage. His eyes glowing such a brightly and fiery as his power flowed from his cage. Yondaime stood before the cage, placing his hand lightly on the golden bars separating them. He smiled lightly as he was surrounded by Kyubii's power. As his flesh made contact with the bars, a heavy rush of wind came from within Kyubii's cage, his cape flapping heavily and harshly .
"Kyubii-sempai, calm yourself… please. This girl is right, Naruto-kun doesn't need your power. This fight is not that important. You will kill this boy Keisuke-kun if you cannot control yourself,"
Kyubii roared once more as it's eye grew wider with anger.
"I want blood Yondaime! You hear me!"
"You won't have it, not yet,"
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Naruto screamed, as his own fingers clawed into his flesh. With another sudden burst of raw power, flinging Hinata back and into the arms of Keisuke. The red chakra form of the Kyubii was gone, Naruto panted softly as his eyes fell to a woozy gaze over the two. His eyes shone a bright blue quickly though as he stood up.
"Hinata-chan…"
"Naruto-kun?" She whispered softly as she stepped out of Keisuke's arms. Standing between the two, Naruto's arm slowly rose. Claws sinking back into his fingers, normal thin fingers returning as his hand was placed softly on Hinata's shoulder.
"Hinata-chan…"
She shook softly, she was so confused… the power of the Kyubii, the constant mentioning of the Fourth's name Yondaime, Naruto screaming, yelling and clawing at himself. She was scared, more so then ever in her life. She finally realized the dangers of Naruto himself.
Closing his eyes slowly, his other arm rose, wrapping around Hinata's waist as he pressed his forehead to hers, kissing her lightly on the bridge of her nose. The hand on her shoulder rose slowly, fingers slipping through her hair gentle as she leant into Naruto's chest,
"What's going on?" Kiba's mouth fell open slowly as he rose from his seat slowly. Shino sat beside him, motionless as always it seemed. Ino slowly stood as well as a warm blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Hinata and Naruto?" Ino giggled lightly as she gripped the railing before her tightly, staring down into the arena, ponytail hanging over her shoulder.
"Hinata-chan! Don't touch him! Get away from him, Hinata-baka! He is your opponent," Kiba slammed his finger in anger and jealous as Naruto held Hinata, there in the middle of the battlefield.
"Kiba-kun… sit down. Let her be with her lover in peace," Shino finally spoke up, crossing his arms slowly before his chest as he stared down to the battlefield in utter silence. Keisuke watched with fear and confusion. Smiling quickly to himself, he began hitting various seals.
"Naruto-kun.. I lov-"
Naruto blinked suddenly, his eyes shining as his hand tightened its grip on Hinata's head. Pulling her tightly by her hair, he through her behind his body, shielding her as he hand drove itself into his pocket, fumbling nervously.
"Too late, Naruto! Hinata is my opponent as well, I will take you both out at the same time, since your busy with this tender moment," Keisuke grinned as he hit the Tiger seal, inhaling deeply as his chest swelled chakra, lifting his hand to a circle as if holding a glass blowers tool. "Katon! Ultimate Fire Ball!"
As Keisuke's lips burst apart, his mouth widening, flames bellowed and poured from his mouth, consuming both Naruto and Hinata in the crackling and seaming flames of the Katon. A confident smile on Keisuke's face as the flames surrounded the two.
"Seal!" Blue chakra leapt out from the center of the fireball that bellowed from Keisuke's lungs. Engulfing and quickly over taking the flames, they were sucked in rapidly and hungrily by the blue chakra. As the flames fell, Naruto panted softly, still holding Hinata tightly to himself, gripping her hair roughly.
In his hand a nearly staff sized paintbrush rest in his fingers. Holding it nearly as tightly as he held Hinata, sweat drooled down Naruto's face. Shaking his head lightly, a few burnt hairs fell from Naruto's head. Hinata, pressing herself into Naruto's shoulder didn't even feel the heat of the flames before the blue chakra over took it.
"Heh, Jiraiya-sensei… it finally worked,"
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As always, sorry for a short chapter.
Next Chapter: A Different Kind Of Demon!