As Time Passed in The Leaf


Disclaimer: Naruto is not owned by me. This story is purely fictional Anime fanatics/other aspiring author like me create to fill our (and other anime fanatics) desire. Other unknown characters were just invented by me.

Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction. Please read and review my fiction. If you'd like you can be harsh with the review, I think I can live with it. Thank you everybody

I DON'T READ MY FICTIONS TWICE. THUS THE MISTAKES AND LOOPHOLES, BUT I MAKE SURE I DON'T COMMIT MUCH OF IT

Notes: (1) "talking" -means the character is speaking. (2) 'thinking' - means the character is thinking. (3) "talking" or 'thinking' - means important conversation/thoughts. (4) (words/phrase) - authors thoughts, notes or ideas.

Pairing: I still don't know but there is definitely gonna be one. You can tell me who you want to be paired up. Just keep away with the yaoi/shounen-ai for now.

Date Finished: September 26, 2004 01:28pm Philippine time

Date Uploaded: September 26, 2004 01:50pm Philippine time


CHAPTER 4

3RD ROUND

SASUKE VS. NARUTO

Naruto has never talked to Sasuke since the last time they fought. They've been together for months in the hidden wood village but they were never the same as before. They did talked for a bit, when its time to eat and everybody had no choice but talk to each other. Or when they meet on the streets where they would just nod to each other and go about their business again. This was when the genins were still taking the first and second part of the chuunin exams and even after the one-month allowance given to them for practice.

Now, he had to face him again. Feelings were all mixed up, he was feeling nauseous, excited and scared all at the same time. How will he fair up with this Uchiha now? He doesn't even know what happened within the past six months that he left the village. Has he gotten stronger? What about the seal, was it still there? He had too many questions in mind. He just did not have the heart to ask him. He was still in pain, everybody in his place would be. Imagine realizing that somebody considered you his special friend only to sacrifice you for his own gain. It was one of the many reasons why he did not stopped and looked back when he left six months ago.

Now, he was here facing him. The onlookers from Konoha were all excited for this match. Not only that, based on the previous performance of Sasuke against Gaara and Naruto against Sakura, they knew that this match is going to be very promising.

Sakura on the other hand was there looking at the match, she had just been defeated by Naruto but she was satisfied, she gave her best and Naruto fought her as a real ninja not as his friend. Now she was feeling very thrilled by the following match. She never knew how Naruto defeated Sasuke before, and she was stuck in her place because of the shock when Naruto said he was leaving. When Sasuke woke up, he never told him anything except the fact when he said that he was strong and he'd defeat him someday.

As the match was about to start, everybody was quiet except for the sound of the wind blowing past the two genins from Konoha. Both boys stood there silently, measuring each other, Naruto with the expression of a fox in danger, as if snarling at the boy. Sasuke on the other hand just stood there with the stoic expression in his face.

The two boys never talked, it's as if they have been in a mutual agreement to never talk to each other again. Then the host of the match raised his hand and declared "For the third set! Uzumaki Naruto vs. Uchiha Sasuke! Let's Begin!"

Another wind blew before Naruto's eyes slimmed then he formed a seal "Kagebunshin no jutsu!"

Ten Naruto popped up then instantly dashed off to Sasuke each throwing dozens of shurikens towards him "Shuriken Kagebunshin no jutsu!" Hundreds of shurikens were formed all of it aimed at Sasuke.

Sasuke jumped up in the air flipping him backwards balancing himself unto a tree with chakra. At the same time the shurikens hit the ground where Sasuke stood before it disappeared into a puff of smoke. He thought that was all it needed to finish all the shurikens. 'Hmph. Simple trick'

'Don't get yourself too puffed up Sasuke! I saved this technique just for you.' Naruto thought. He let his Clones attack Sasuke with taijutsu. Sasuke focused on the clones and fought them all together. He did not notice some of the shurikens still swirling in a static position.

Then as Naruto formed a new seal, the shurikens moved towards its target, as if the shurikens were locked on to Sasuke. Sasuke notice this and had time to dodge the shurikens, he thought that would finish it. But he was surprised when only two of the shurikens hit the ground and disappeared in a puff, the rest continued to pursue him.

Tsunade's eyes were again wide with surprise not because he could do the shuriken Kagebunshin but the fact that he made it pursue Sasuke as if it were really alive and thinking. 'What control and precision... '

Sasuke knew that he'd be trapped on both sides, by the Shuriken clones and six of Naruto's clones, if he won't do something soon. Sasuke focused his chakra on his feet tripling his speed and increasing his distance from the shurikens. He jumped up to the wall of the stadium affixing his self with chakra and activating his Sharingan. Then with one swift hand seals "Karyuu Endan!!!"

All the kage-shurikens were completely gone in an instant. Except for the real ones which continued to pursue Sasuke. He easily dodged it using his Sharingan. Then with one swift move he ran towards Naruto while creating Chidori in one hand. He just knew Naruto would do the same.

"Chidori!!!"

He wasn't wrong, as Naruto saw him coming with the Chidori, he also met him with equal speed forming his own Rasengan in his right hand without the his Kagebunshin or his left hand.

"Rasengan!!" 'Eat this Sasuke! I'll make sure you'll get beaten by this!'

Sasuke could see Naruto's next move with his Sharingan. He saw his movements two seconds in advance. He saw Naruto reach him, and with precision he slanted his body back. Thinking of deflecting his attack and use it to his advantage.

Naruto was definitely thinking of breaking Sasuke's jaws by forcing his Rasengan to Sasuke but he jumped up to the air instinctively during the last second. He was right, as he saw Sasuke bend backward as if trying to deflect his attack in advance.

Sasuke was startled to see Naruto jump. He saw his movements again in two second advance but could not react to it so soon. Naruto's Rasengan met his abdomen squarely. His eyes almost bulged. He still knew he could manage to get his own chidori to Naruto. He ignored the pain creeping in his body and with one swift move, he slammed the Chidori on Naruto's side.

Naruto squirmed in pain as he felt his body being electrocuted by surging amount of electricity. He stretched out his left hand and two fingers, and pressed it in a point somewhere in his ribcage. This hardened his cellular muscles five times. Taking less damage from the Chidori. Then with one final push, he ended his attack on Sasuke.

Sasuke was left lying in a loop on the ground. He coughed up some blood and was breathing very heavily. He forced himself to stand up and as he opened his eyes, the ordinary Sharingan was gone and was replace with the Mangenkyo Sharingan. He looked at Naruto with a smirk on his face, ignoring the fact that he was just been beaten him.

He activated his Mangenkyo Sharingan and used the Illusion technique to Naruto. Naruto was sucked into the world that looked more like a nightmare with red background. Right then and there, he knew that he's in another kind of genjutsu... A special one, since he can't get out of it. He knows how to detect an illusion technique quite easily. He's been trained by a ninja about that and countering genjutsu as a parting gift after his month's stay in his place.

"Oh great I get to get trapped in two genjutsu in one day! What an exam!" Naruto looked around the place. All he saw was barren crimson land and ten copies of him hanging on a rope in his neck. "Not to mention this one again! Fuck it! I hate this Mangenkyo!"

He then saw Sasuke in front of him... "It's been a long time Naruto... How have you been?"

"Goddammit, as you can see I'm not fine hanging here under your genjutsu again!"

"And since when did you learn how to identify genjutsu?"

"Since I left the village for your information. And I'm not the same as before, that's for sure!"

"How different?"

"Far different! I'll show you once I get out of here! Unfortunately you just caught me off guard."

"I'll be looking forward to it then, dobe!"

This silenced Naruto... Dobe, he heard it again... "Don't call me that! BASTARD!"

Sasuke smirked,... somehow, they again understood each other clearly as if reading each other's mind. Were they friends again? They didn't even knew... but surely things are starting to get better.

"Dobe, I won't let you out, not after three days of torture in my world. I'll make you loose your will. Unless you give up." With it, Sasuke started to torture Naruto hanging him again and again, killing and reviving him many times.

Naruto was in great pain, every time he was hanged, he was getting tired of loosing his breath and dying and reviving. This went on for a day...

Naruto was just there standing, everybody was wondering what happened. Sakura knew he was under a genjutsu, but wondered why he was having a hard time coming off it. She didn't know about Sasuke's special Illusion technique.

"Naruto... what are you doing?" She said almost like talking to herself. Then she saw Naruto's ragged breathing pattern, then she knew something was now medically wrong with him. "Naruto..."

What ever he was experiencing in there, it was something not good. She knew only that much. Kakashi on the other hand, also saw Naruto's ragged breathing 'How are you gonna get out of there now?'

"One more day" Naruto said. "ahh!!!!!!(huffing for air)"

"Your stamina never fail to amuse me Naruto."

"Heh, same as your bastardness...AHHH!!!!" Another death and revival...

"(huffing again)...never failed to amuse me too!" Naruto continued...Then, with another torturing death he gasped in pain again "One last day,... AHHHH!!!!... huff...huff... you'd better prepare for my counter-attack Sasuke! DAMMIT! AHHH!!!"

"Hmp, your still the same loud-mouthed brat I know." Sasuke stopped as he was dsiturbed by another gasp of pain by his opponent... "By the way, Thanks for what you did before."

"Heh, No problem!" Naruto for the first time smiled at him after a month of cold treatment. "But you'll still pay for this Bastard." Then another shout echoed in the place.

"If you can beat me this time..."

"I didn't trained to get beaten by you....AHHH!!!!.... I've beaten you once, I can do it again!"

"Hah!!! Same here, dobe!"

"You'll pay for a year's supply of ramen, once I beat you again! AHHH!!!"

"Its a deal then. Try it if you can"

Then with one last shout of pain from Naruto, the illusion ended as it reached the third day.

Naruto fell on the ground huffing and gasping for air. Cold sweat dripping down his pale face, as fatigue overtook his body. He was on all four in the ground. Sasuke waited for a while until he saw that Naruto was back in his self a little. He smirked, and somehow managed to tug a tiny smile in his features to Sakura's surprise.

It was the first smile she saw him give in front of Naruto for the entire month. What surprised her more was when Naruto looked at him after catching his breath. He grinned!!! It was like returning back eight months ago when everything was fine... Her heart fluttered... She never thought she'd see this happen in front of her eyes. She was glad. Just plain glad.

As Naruto grinned he stood up and spoke "As I promised, I'll defeat you! Bastard!"

"Try it dobe."

It was the first conversation they had since the start of the month that even Sakura who was watching smiled.

Then Naruto started to close his eyes and concentrated on his blue chakra until it became visible. After the chakra was stabilized a little, he then pushed the red chakra out of his body creating heated airwaves as it gushed out of his body. It reacted violently with the blue chakra creating tiny swirls around his body and it almost looked like he was going to explode.

Sasuke's eyes widened, he's seen him use this in his fight with Tsukiko but only to some parts of his body. He also knew it took up a lot of stamina in the first place and won't last for so long. He observed it quietly with his special Sharingan. His Sharingan saw how it is made, and it's future movements 3 seconds earlier but he could not imitate it. He could imitate any kinds of jutsu and chakra but this chakra was different... 'I guess I have no choice but to rely on it.'

"Oi Sasuke, let's finish this soon! I could only last for 30 minutes maximum under perfect condition but now, I could only last for 10 minutes. "

"Hmmph!" and with that, both genins rushed towards each other. Sasuke started forming seals "Karyuu Endan!" he opened his mouth and fireballs came out from it targeting Naruto but as it reached 2 feets away from Naruto. The chakra in Naruto's left hand began to take shape and formed three thick whips. It covered every piece of the fireballs and the fire balls were reduced into vapors.

Naruto then formed five more whips in his right arms. It flowed out of the pores and encircled his arms. He directed it to go and warp around Sasuke. He was planning to pin him firmly to give his final blow. 'Shimatta! Where!???'

He was startled Sasuke just disappeared and he already spent at least five minutes in this state and his body could barely hold the powerful chakra. He knew he had to hit that Uchiha soon before he passed out!

Suddenly, he felt his chakra being sucked out of his body an into something... He looked above him to where the sucking thing came from. Then he saw Sasuke, falling lightly right above him. Both his arms were stretched and created a big black sphere. The sphere was sucking Naruto's chakra "Shadow element! Shadow Sphere Technique!"

Kakashi and the other jounins who was watching were surprised at the shadow jutsu Sasuke just used. That jutsu was a forbidden one. Since a person can only gain access to it IF he came from the dead. This startled even the hokage. Her gaze went to Kakashi accusingly. Thinking that Kakashi kept it as a secret. They had no more problems with the cursed seal since it was resealed with a more powerful seal by the Hokage herself and will not manifest itself for another ten years. Nobody thought that the Uchiha brat had hidden some information to them.

Naruto knew that he's going to be in big trouble and time was ticking fast! He ran at the end of the stadium making sure he was out of Sasuke's reach. He stretched out both his hands and created two element balls in each hand, on his left was the Rasengan and on the right was the fireball he named after the kyuubi, Kyuugan.

On the other hand, Sasuke also created a chidori on his left hand, while his right hand maintained the shadow sphere. The chidori was different. Instead of the ordinary white with blue outlines like real lightning it was made out of the shadow element and had a white outline.

Then, with both their ace jutsus at hand, both confronted each other the third time in the match. But as Naruto ran, he stretched his left hand to the right side of his body. He forced both of his hands closed to his side combining the two powerful jutsu. Both elemental balls reacted violently like it did earlier when he combined both red and blue chakra in his body. Then, on its center, instead of creating a new kind of ball, it created a flat swirling violet thing between stretched hands that basically looked like a flat whirlpool.

With Chakra covering the other parts of his body, his speed doubled and in his back, he created another moving chakra. Trying to distract Sasuke's attention but even before it reached him, the chakra was easily sucked into the shadow sphere.

Then with a loud crashing noise, Naruto's almost enclosed hands reached Sasuke's chidori. The shadow sphere found its way to Naruto's side and sucked in his chakra. Then with one swift move of his left leg, he kicked Sasuke's left arms pushing the shadow sphere away from his body. Then both hands pushed through with such determination. His need to defeat Sasuke was his driving force. He forced their hands inwards until he could see an outline of Sasuke's side. Then, he released the whirlpool from his hands but it continued to attack Sasuke, giving him cuts all over his arms as it cuts through the black chudori itself.

Sasuke had no time to react to what Naruto did although he could see it clearly. The spinning whirlpool had too much intensity that his entire focus was directed to it. He just watched as the blond boy spun around in full circle with his left feet raised. The violet-chakra-filled feet came in contact with his back. It pushed him forwards and the intense pain from it only distracted his attention to the spinning whirlpool. It was a double attack. As the whirlpool came into contact with his body, deep cuts were placed in his body and Sasuke fell unconscious.

The violet chakra was dispersed. Naruto was breathing heavily and his body could no longer move. He's almost falling unconscious but kept himself up. Then as the host of the match inspected Sasuke and saw that the kid was already unconscious he declared "The winner for this match! Uzumaki Naruto!"

The crowds cheered and Sakura just smiled. She was happy about the match but was too worried to care who was the winner. She could see Sasuke being carried by the medic ninjas to the back stage and saw how Naruto fell unconscious after the winner was declared. She was so worried about the two. She ran to the back room alone to see how the two were doing.

When she entered the room, she saw Naruto and Sasuke in two separate bed just beside each other and she saw an anbu from Konoha beside Sasuke. "What are you doing here? Why are you guarding Sasuke? I don't remember him doing anything wrong during the match!"

The anbu looked at her and talked "The Hokage had some concerns about the shadow jutsu he had just used and wants Sasuke guarded for safety purposes."

"What? Did you think Sasuke is planning to escape again?"

"No Miss, but somebody could be after him just because of that jutsu."

Sakura could not reply she just looked down with sadness written on her face. She took a chair and sat in between the two. Looking at each one simultaneously, then the door opened and Kakashi came in. A small smile crept on her face. "Hello Kakashi-Sensei!"

Kakashi stopped walking for a while as Sakura smiled at him. For the first time after Naruto left, he saw Sakura TRULY and genuinely smile. It was the sweetest smile he had seen in her face for a long time.

For Sakura, it was as if everything belonged to where it should be again. Her teacher watching the three of them, and her in between the two boys. This was what she dreamt of ever since Naruto left.

"Well Sakura, how are they doing?"

"The Anbu said that they were fine and only needed to rest." She looked down again and watched Naruto's breathing. This was the first time that she have observed Naruto. Even before she was too focused at Sasuke that she entirely forgot about the blond. Now, she was here watching the two peacefully sleeping as if nothing happened.

She never noticed that Naruto looked so innocent while sleeping. Sasuke was too, but the blond far surpasses that. Then her gaze focused on the three whisker-like scar on his cheeks. She had noticed it before but she never bothered asking. Now, just looking at the blond made her realize that she was neglecting Naruto far too much. 'I'll make it up to you Naruto... I promise...'

"Nee, Kakashi-sensei, will Naruto leave again after the chuunin exam?"

"Yes, I heard from Jiraiya-sama that they are going as soon as they heard the result of the chuunin." Kakashi watched Sakura's face sadden again by the news. Then watch her look back to Naruto.

"So, when will he come back again?"

"Three years, Five years... honestly I don't even know. All I know is that they'll be gone for a long time..."

Sakura's eyes went blurry as tears filled the green orb. The tears never fell but she was really in pain. She did thought the three of them will be together again like old time. 'It was my fault I assumed too much'

Then, the door opened again and the genins came into view with their respective teachers. Ino and Hinata was the first ones to enter the room. They looked at the two forms lying besides Sakura and to the anbu on the other side of Sasuke.

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata whispered.

"Hey Sakura, how are they?" Ino asked.

"They're fine Ino they just need some rest. So what are you all doing here?"

"We just wanted to see how they're doing. Is that bad forehead-girl?"

"Not now Ino... Come on, don't you all just stand there close the door and find a seat." Sakura told them. Ino was surprised at Sakura's reply and knew that she might have heard some bad news. 'oh well...'

"By the way, the match was postponed for an hour. To give Naruto time to recuperate but if he doesn't wake up he'll forfeit the match." Kurenai-sensei informed them.

"Tse, How troublesome." Shikamaru said. He had been watching the entire match and was really pissed with the decision. "Nobody could wake up within an hour after such troublesome match"

"Hai!!! That's right! I really want to fight Naruto! They can't do this to me!" Rock Lee's voice echoed throughout the room. His eyes as big as every with his hands curled like a ball as if contemplating on the Kages' decisions.

"Don't worry Lee-san, Naruto will definitely wake up. So you'd better prepare already."

"Sakura-san, you really are so kind to uplift my lost soul!" Rock Lee said. Hearts forming in his eyes.

"Go on, leave now, you might disturb their sleep you know." Kakashi butted in after being ignored in the whole scene.

"Hai!!!!" They all chorused.

They went out one by one but when it was Ino's turn to go out, she remembered something important. "Hey Sakura, I just remembered, didn't Naruto gave some potion that helped you regenerate fast? Why don't you try looking for it and make him drink it? It might help you know."

"Huh???" Sakura thought for a second, then her eyes grew wide "Your brilliant Ino! Thanks!"

"No Problem!"


A/N!!!! again I'm really sorry for updating one month after. BUT THE FINAL TERM IS REALLY TAKING A TOLL ON ME THAT I CAN'T EVEN HAVE A GOOD SLEEP. Sembreak will be on the 3rd week on October so I'll make it up to you readers by then. I promise! Thank you for keeping up with me!!!

9 PAGES without the notes! Just for all of us! 1 page for the hated parts! A/N DISCLAIMERS ETC!!!


To my Reviewers, Thank you very much! Minna Daisuki-desu!!!