Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters created by Kishimoto-sensei.
Sarutobi was very worried about what was to come. He knew that he would have a very small chance of changing the future that Naruto had told him about but he would certainly try his best. Ever since he'd been told by Naruto about his vision of the future and some of the events to come, he did everything in his power to try and turn some things for the better. So far things seemed to be progressing better but then he still did not know everything that Naruto had seen to pass.
The thing that worried him most was the possibility of losing Konoha to Orochimaru's forces. It was something that he'd done everything in his power to prevent and now it was up to fate to decide.
Sarutobi finally put on his Hokage's Robes over his black battle suit and set out to greet the Kazekage.
"Kazekage-dono," said Sarutobi with a friendly smile, "Welcome to Konoha. I am so pleased that you could join us this year. We've been most impressed with your children in this exam."
"Thank you Hokage-dono," said the Kazekage with a small nod of his head.
"Well, we should be seated, I believe they are about ready to begin," said the Hokage motioning to the two chairs.
With that both sat to await the signal from the judge to begin his speech.
BREAK
"Shit," hissed Naruto as he looked around the arena.
"What's wrong Naruto-kun?" asked Hinata.
"Uchiha-bastard is missing," said Naruto, "What the hell is Kakashi-sensei teaching that arrogant bastard?"
"I don't know Naruto-kun," said Hinata, "But don't worry. Everything will be alright."
Naruto squeezed Hinata's hand and smiled at her. He had to be careful now, especially with the village watching and more importantly her father watching.
"First match," said Hayate with a cough. Naruto was pleased to see the man was still alive. He couldn't help but notice that Baki was missing. "Hyuga Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji."
Naruto nodded once to Hinata, "Just like we practiced."
Hinata nodded and smiled confidently at Naruto. She was confident that she could face Neji and fight against him strong. However, she was not confident that she could win against him.
Naruto walked up to the waiting area with the others that were present.
"Will Hinata-san be able to win Naruto?" asked Gaara interestedly.
"I think she can. It all depends on her really. She has the ability but I don't know if she'll have the confidence yet," said Naruto.
"If anything, encourage her if the boy tries to break her spirit," said Gaara calmly.
"Gaara, why are you talking to him?" demanded the blonde girl.
"He is a true friend and kindred spirit," said Gaara calmly.
"Thanks Gaara," said Naruto, "Hey, I forgot to ask, what happened to Baki?"
"He caught Hayate-san spying on a meeting between him and Kabuto," said Gaara, "Hayate fought him and killed him. I cleaned up the body so no suspicion would arise."
"Nice," said Naruto, "Kyubi's Tail must be treating him really well then."
"He was brilliant," said Gaara, "I've never seen a blade that could cut through one of Baki's Kaze no Jutsu."
"It's not called Kyubi's Tail for nothing you know," said Naruto with a grin.
"Gaara, how could you?" demanded a stunned Temari, "You've told him everything haven't you?"
"He already knew," said Gaara, "Temari, you should know that father is already dead and the attack has been well prepared for."
"But he's sitting right there," she said pointing to the Kage seats.
"That's Orochimaru in disguise," said Naruto, "He's just using Suna as fodder for his plans to kill the Hokage and capture the Uchiha-Bastard."
"What?" demanded Temari, "That can't be. Father was the strongest . . ."
"He was not that strong if he feared me," said Gaara, "especially when I am not as strong as Naruto and Naruto is not as strong as the Hokage."
"Why?" she asked finally confused.
"Naruto is a true friend. He understood my pain and the torment that Shukaku put me through. It is thanks to him that Shukaku is now silent and unable to take control of me," explained Gaara to Temari, "You may not have noticed but I have been sleeping peacefully recently."
"How?" asked Temari.
"I've been studying sealing techniques for a long time. I had heard about Gaara a long time ago and the problems Shukaku inflicted on him. When he came here I knew I could help him," explained Naruto, "Besides, we had just the right seal for the problem."
Gaara then put his hands together, "Kai." Suddenly the hair on the back of his head vanished to reveal the small round black seal. "My mind is now impervious to invasion." He then did a short series of hand seals causing the illusion to reappear.
"Oh, Naruto-kun is such a kind and generous friend to help a stranger in need," shouted Lee who had been listening to everything along with Shikamaru.
"That looks like a Yamanaka seal," said Shikamaru, "But it's also very different."
"It's based off an old Yamanaka seal they once used to protect their minds from others of their clan. I had to alter it a bit to block the mental wave patterns of demons but it worked perfectly. Kakashi-sensei helped me with it," explained Naruto.
"I thought you might have had a bit of help," said Shikamaru knowingly with a slight nod towards him.
Naruto raised his eyebrow, "So you understand?"
"Of course," said Shikamaru, "I may be lazy but I am a genius. That and you have really thin walls so I just happened to overhear your explanation."
"I see," said Naruto trying to hide his worry.
"Anyway, it's no big deal really. We should watch the match, they are about to start," said Shikamaru pointing towards the field.
BREAK
"Begin," said Hayate jumping clear of the center of the ring.
"You should quit now Hinata-sama," said Neji coldly.
"Neji-san, I know you resent me, but really it is you who should quit," said Hinata surprised by her own confidence.
That just seemed to make Neji angrier, "What would you know of resentment? You are the reason I have no father. You are the reason that I bare this retched seal. You main house members are arrogant and foolish and yet it is my fate to protect you."
"I know more than you might think Neji-san. My father resents me. He too blames me for your father's death. He resents that I was born a woman and not a man. He resents that I am weaker than a branch house member and my younger sister. I hate that seal as much as you do because it is likely that someday I too shall be branded by it once my sister is officially made the heir of the clan. I know all of this and yet still I try to change myself and the clan. There is no such thing as fate or destiny Neji-san. Those are words cowards use as an excuse for why their life is as it is," said Hinata cautiously yet clearly.
"You know nothing of the fate you have doomed me to. It is my fate to be the strongest of the Hyuga and yet I am to forever serve. It is my fate."
"If that is your fate then why do you fight me now? Admit it, you're fighting me because you are trying to fight against your fate," said Hinata dropping into a fighting stance knowing that would have pushed Neji over the edge.
Neji just screamed in frustration and anger before charging at Hinata.
Hinata was surprised when he did charge. She wasn't surprised that he did, but simply surprised to find his movements to be so sluggish. The moves were all clean they were just really slow moving to her eyes and she'd not even activated her Byakugan eyes.
Neji's Byakugan was flaring with anger as he struck again and again only to hit the air and she'd not even activated her own Byakugan yet. How was it possible for her to be so much faster than he was? How could she so easily dodge everything he threw? Finally, he backed off breathing heavily, but then so was she. Hinata may have been much faster but she was still lacking in stamina.
Hinata closed her eyes and when she opened them again she'd finally activated her Byakugan. She knew that if she was going to fight him now she couldn't hold back or she'd be caught within his field of divination. Hinata made three quick hand seals causing both of her hands to glow blue. She knew it would drain chakra quickly but in reality she only needed to make a few quick blocks.
Hinata lowered her stance extending one hand towards Neji before beckoning him forward to attack.
Neji was enraged she was actually taunting him into attacking, "Referee, I intend to kill her."
The look on Hayate's face told him in no uncertain terms 'Yeah right'.
Neji charged in again going straight for the kill shot but before his hand got there it was block rather painfully by Hinata's hand. She then hit the same arm three more times and suddenly his entire arm was unable to move and in the most incredible pain he'd ever felt.
Hinata put distance between them again to give Neji a chance to understand. No matter how dangerous the situation she would never be cruel enough to act as he would.
"What did you do to me?" demand Neji as he examined his limp arm that was in such pain, "You didn't close my tenketsu so what did you do?"
"I have cut the four major ligaments in your arm. If you do no get medical treatment soon it will be months before you can use that arm again and even then you might never be a shinobi again," she explained, "You've lost this match now Neji-san. Quit and get your arm fixed."
"I cannot lose to you," said Neji as he charged again this time intending to attack with his other arm only to be struck again in the same places by Hinata causing his other arm to go limp.
"Neji stop this now before you do something worse," said Hinata this time not backing away.
Neji smirked before he emitted chakra from all of his tenketsu before he began to spin.
Hinata formed two quick seals and vanished from sight once Neji began to spin.
Neji came out of his spin and did not see Hinata anywhere, he assumed that his Kaiten would have thrown her from the ring and dropped his guard. It was then he felt someone grab his ankles. When he looked he saw two hands sticking out of the ground. Suddenly his ankles would not longer support him and he collapsed to his knees.
From the ground where the hands were Hinata seemed to grow right up out of the dirt breathing heavily, "You've lost Neji. It looks like there is no such thing as fate after all, especially since you can no longer call yourself the strongest Hyuga."
"No, this cannot be," said Neji desperately trying to stand only to find that he couldn't move his feet or arms anymore.
"Judge, Neji is no longer able to fight," said Hinata looking to the judge.
Hayate then walked over to check Neji, "You are correct, winner Hyuga Hinata."
The crowd was simply stunned with the exception of Naruto who was cheering madly. Hyuga Hinata, the weakest of the Hyuga clan and the 'dead-last' from the academy had just beaten the Hyuga prodigy, Neji. But most stunning of all was that she didn't fight using the Gentle Fist but instead outside Jutsu that were never used by the Hyuga clan.
In the stands Hyuga Hanabi was stunned. She simply couldn't believe it. Her weak sister just beat the person her father had praised so strongly as having the strongest Hyuga blood ever.
"How could this have happened Father?" demanded Hanabi without taking her eyes from Hinata. He didn't answer so she asked again but this time she looked at him. However, this time she only got half the words out when she noticed the look in her father's eyes. It was pride. Hanabi had often received looks of pride from the elders and her father because she always excelled but this look went beyond that. This was the pride of a father for his daughter, not the look of the Hyuga head being proud of another Hyuga clansman.
Hiashi actually smiled, "It has finally happened."
"What father? What's finally happened?" asked Hanabi.
"A Hyuga main family member has finally broken from the clan traditions and become something more powerful than a regular Hyuga could ever be," said Hiashi. "The elders will be furious," he said with a chuckle.
"Then why are you laughing?" asked Hanabi not understanding her father's most unusual behavior.
"Because we can do nothing to her," said Hiashi, "Her body would not accept the Bunke Fuuin and the consequences of trying would be dyer for the clan. I can finally make you the heir to the clan and know that Hinata is safe."
"I don't understand father," said Hanabi, "Why not?"
"Because she had broken free of the clan in a public display of exception skills that exist outside the Hyuga clan. Long ago, when Sandaime began his reign as Hokage he tried very hard to change the laws and make the Bunke Fuuin illegal. He failed as most of the village council and the Hyuga elders voted against it. However, he was not one to give up on it. Instead, he challenged the Hyuga clan's beliefs before the council. In a very rash decision, my father, took the bait and agreed to the terms he set forth, a bet if you will. It was signed and ratified overwhelmingly by the clan and the council," explained Hiashi with a smile.
"What father? What?" asked Hanabi confused.
"It was rather simple. That if any Hyuga main family member where to fight a branch member in a public forum and that the Hyuga main family member was to resort to using non-Hyuga techniques to beat them then the seal would be made illegal and the separation of the houses would be ended. Hinata has just put that document into force," said Hiashi. He had never been prouder of his daughter in all his life.
"But why hasn't someone done this before?" asked Hanabi.
"The document was made secret, only to be known by the head of the clan and the elder council as well as the Hokage and the village council. If I had before I became clan head I would have challenge my brother a long time ago and done exactly as Hinata did," said Hiashi, "You may not realize this Hanabi, but our clan has many dark secrets that are appalling to me and the public that know of them. I have always done as I was told but with the death of your Uncle, my brother, I began to question our ways. I am pleased to see Hinata free to choose her fate."
"Father, what about those that already have the seal?" asked Hanabi.
"It is to be removed," said Hiashi feeling very pleased with the outcome.
BREAK
Neji couldn't believe it. The judge had just declared him the loser. He lost. He lost to his weakling cousin and now he actually had to be taken out of the stadium on a stretcher.
"You're very lucky young man," said the medic, "She made very clean surgical cuts of your tendons. They'll be healed rather easily."
Neji soon felt all of the horrid pain just fade away rapidly and the use of his limbs return rather quickly.
"Neji," said a voice from the door that he recognized instantly.
"Hiashi-sama," said Neji not moving even though he could have now that his injuries were healed.
"Neji, you have no idea how happy watching you and Hinata fight made me today," said Hiashi.
Neji was very confused by that statement. In all of his life, he'd never seen or heard Hiashi act so kindly to anyone.
"You may not realize this but Hinata has broken the curse of the Hyuga clan. You are to be freed of the Bunke Fuuin and given the same rights as the main house member," said Hiashi with a smile.
"I don't understand," said Neji.
Hiashi then explained everything to Neji about the secret law and then he explained the truth of everything that had happened to his father. Eventually Hiashi had finished explaining and left Neji to his own thoughts.
"Hinata-sama really was able to change the clan," said Neji in disbelief.
BREAK
"That was brilliant Hinata-chan," said Naruto giving her a hug once she entered the waiting area.
"Thank you Naruto-kun," said Hinata with a slight blush, "I still can't believe I just beat him."
"You were so good Hinata-chan," shouted Lee at the top of his voice, "The beautiful flower of Konoha's youth shines brightly before us all."
"Right Lee," said Naruto patting his back, "That's nice but you should watch this match."
Lee's attention was instantly diverted to watching Shikamaru and Temari battle.
"You were amazing Hinata-chan," said Naruto once again, "You were so fast too."
"I know, Neji almost seemed slow to me," said Hinata, "It was strange."
"It's the gravity seal," said Naruto, "It always makes your muscles work harder no matter how much stronger you get. Between that and working at the forge you were bound to get a lot faster and stronger."
"Thank you Naruto-kun . . . for everything," said Hinata with a bit of a blush and stutter. No matter how comfortable she got around Naruto her old self would sometimes make a small comeback.
Naruto actually blushed pretty badly after that, "Nah, you don't have to thank me Hinata-chan. I should be the one thanking you."
"I will never understand how it is that boys and girls both turn to mush when they are in love," said Gaara slightly perturbed with the excess sweetness. That more than anything caused them both to blush horribly red.
Naruto though was never one to blush for long, especially when there was revenge to be served up cold, "And just think, after today you'll be on our team and get to deal with this kind of mush every day and on every mission."
Gaara actually paled slightly at that thought, "Is it too late to change my mind?"
"Yep, way too late," said Naruto with a grin at the confused look on Hinata's face.
"What do you mean Naruto-kun?" she asked.
"Well, Uchiha is going to be promoted to Chuunin and moved into the Hunter-nin division. That means we'll be a team member short. A spot that Gaara was only to happy to fill. That is of course once his defection is official," said Naruto with a broad smile.
"No more Uchiha-bastard?" asked Hinata almost hopeful.
"Yep," said Naruto. It was obvious that he couldn't hide the glee at having him out of his team.
The first time around Naruto really did look at Sasuke as something of a brother. But all of that was thrown away when Sasuke tried to kill him. Once he had a real chance to step back and look closely at who Sasuke was exactly he could not find anything worthwhile in the bastard. He was obnoxious, self-center, obsessive-compulsive, untrustworthy, and worst of all, he didn't like Ramen. Naruto honestly could not bring himself to even consider risking all of the pain Sasuke had caused him and all those around him again. He knew that Sasuke was better of hating Naruto and visa versa. Nothing Naruto could have said or done would have saved Sasuke from himself and he knew that only too well. This way was just less painful if Sasuke did disappoint him again. Hopefully though, this time Sasuke will have a better chance to have everything he's ever wanted without Naruto's interference.
"But why?" asked Hinata, "The test isn't even over yet."
"The Hokage wants him to kill Itachi quickly. Rushing him into advanced training will help him develop the power to do that," said Naruto. He knew there were other reasons but Hinata didn't need to know that. Naruto thought the decision to be a bit hasty but with his mental state it was the only plausible option.
"But you're stronger than him," said Hinata confused.
Naruto blushed slightly at her compliment, "The Hokage knows that but he isn't rushed for me to develop any faster than I already am. The Uchiha-Bastard is a tool for the village. You, me, Gaara, we're the future of the village. He wants us to be stronger than Uchiha could ever become."
"It doesn't make sense," said Hinata with a small pout like she'd seen Naruto do hundreds of times.
"Hinata," said Naruto, "I promise it is okay. We can talk about this more later but right now Gaara and I have to have a little fight because Uchiha-bastard is late."
"Let's go," said Gaara as they both vanished in a whirl of sand only to appear down on the field.
"Naruto, Gaara," said Hayate with a nod to both of them.
"Hayate-san," said Naruto with a smile, "I hear Kyubi's Tail has been good to you."
"It really is a fine blade. You really should consider making more," said Hayate, "Have you even made a weapon for yourself yet?"
"Nah, I don't know what I want and for now my gloves suit me just fine," said Naruto as he put a glove on each hand.
"Well how about you Gaara?" asked Hayate, "You planning to make Shukaku style weapons?"
"Maybe, it depends on whether or not he takes me to meet the man who trained him," said Gaara, "Before now, I did not know he made weapons, but now that I know . . ."
"Don't worry Gaara, I'll take you to meet Ikugachi-sensei later," said Naruto, "But right now I believe we have a fight to get to."
"Indeed we do," said Gaara, "I hope you're ready."
Naruto smiled at his now very talkative friend. "I was born ready."
Naruto was never very patient so he made the first move attacking with Taijutsu to see how far Gaara had come in his month of training. He was very surprised when the sand around him never moved much and then he saw the thin layer that seemed to be constantly moving across the surface of his skin. Gaara blocked the first strike rather easily but then Naruto wasn't moving full speed or using much power.
The tenth strike though hurt Naruto quite a bit. He tried to round-house kick Gaara in the head, which Gaara blocked with his forearm. The problem was that the sand on his forearm formed spikes which impaled Naruto's shin.
"Ow! Damn it," yelled Naruto angrily hopping on his good leg.
Gaara just smiled, "Like my new defense?"
"No!" yelled Naruto, "I suppose I should take this seriously?" The wound on his shin had already healed.
"Why do you think I did that?" asked Gaara.
"Fine," said Naruto with a sigh, "But don't say I never warned you." Naruto then formed a single hand seal, "Kai". He released the Gravity seal. Then he formed two more quick seals, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." Thirty clones were now spread out around the arena.
Gaara raised a questioning eyebrow towards Naruto.
"Don't worry, you'll see . . . right about . . . . Now!" shouted Naruto from the ground below Gaara one Naruto shot out kicking him under the chin. Soon six other Narutos kicked Gaara successively under the chin sending him higher with each kick. Then eight others from above did a flipping heal kick simultaneously hitting him in the head sending him into the ground hard only to be caught by his sand.
"That hurt," whined Gaara.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," said Naruto with a grin.
"Neither have you," said Gaara with a grin to match.
With that they both started to attack each other with Taijutsu rapidly. While Gaara wasn't as fast as Naruto, his sand more than made up for the speed difference. And yet, neither of them had begun to tap into their second Chakra. As a matter of fact they were both saving that for when the attack to began.
Meanwhile up in the stand the Rookie Genin sat together watching the fight.
"Holy shit," said Kiba emphatically, "What the hell are they? Are they even human?"
"How can they keep standing after all of that?" asked Ino.
"They just keep pounding on each other," said Sakura.
"They aren't using many skills either," said Choji between eat chip he stuffed into his mouth.
"They are just playing around," said Shino.
"That is not playing," said Kiba looking to the bug user.
"It is for them. You can tell because there is no killing intent and they are both smiling," said Ino who was now looking closer.
"Holy shit, you're right," said Kiba, "But why aren't they taking this seriously?"
"They are friends," said Shikamaru who had just joined them after forfeiting his match with Temari.
"Are they really?" asked Sakura.
"Yes, from what I can tell," said Shikamaru.
"I knew that Naruto was strong but this is crazy," said Sakura, "I'm starting to wonder if Sasuke-kun is this strong."
"He isn't," said Shino, "He never was."
"Don't say that about my Sasuke-kun," yelled Sakura at Shino, "I'll bet that Sasuke-kun's month of training made him stronger than all of us put together."
"Who are you kidding?" asked Ino in disbelief of her best friend's ignorance.
"But Sasuke-kun was rookie of the year," said Sakura.
"Only because he beat me and Naruto in the book tests which we purposely did poorly in the hopes of ending up on more well balanced team," said Shino, "Unfortunately for Naruto, he got screwed over being stuck with Sasuke. Fortunately, Hinata-san turned out to be a rare gem of a Kunoichi."
"Is Hinata really that much better now?" asked Kiba.
"She beat Neji without being hit once," said Shino, "Neji is considered a genius and he was last year's Rookie of the Year, and add to that his year of experience more than the others. So yes, she was much better."
"Wow," said Ino.
"Yeah, did you see how easily she beat me?" asked Choji, "To hit me so perfectly with timing like that is nearly impossible for anyone, let alone a Genin. Out of all of us, she has probably improved the most since we first became Genin."
"I need to train more," said Ino with a sigh.
"Me too," said Sakura.
"Anyway, Naruto and Gaara are just dragging it out," said Shino, "at least until Uchiha shows up."
"And don't forget your assigned duties," said Shikamaru, "To organize a counter offensive this large on such short notice and still maintaining secrecy is amazing enough. Stay by your teams and whatever you do, don't get in Gaara's way if he goes on a rampage."
"Why Gaara?" asked Ino.
"He has a sand demon sealed inside of him," said Shikamaru. Gaara's demon was public knowledge and yet the Genin did not know it. He was trying to see how they would react first before he ever even hinted about Naruto.
"He's a demon?" asked Kiba in shock, "Is that why he beat me so easily?"
"He's not demon idiot," said Shikamaru, "He has a demon sealed inside of him."
"Oh, but the demon affects him obviously," said Sakura, "How else could he do that?" She pointed to the field that was now obscured by a small sandstorm.
"Nah," said Shikamaru, "He can use the demon's powers but he's really separate from it thanks to Naruto and Kakashi-san. I guess they gave him a new seal that protects his mind completely from the demon."
"What?" asked Ino, "What kind of seal?"
"Your clan's forbidden seal. The one that just about wiped all of you out," said Shikamaru, "But Kakashi and Naruto were able to alter it just enough to protect Gaara's mind from the demon without that nasty little side effect."
"So, Gaara is safe then?" asked Kiba.
"As safe as any other shinobi," said Shino coolly.
"Why is Gaara helping though?" asked Sakura.
"He's defecting from Sand as a thank you to Naruto," said Shikamaru. They all knew that Suna and Oto were going to be attacking during Sasuke's match.
Back down on the field, obscured by the miniature sand storm Naruto and Gaara sat in the middle of the field each baring a very concentrated look on their faces.
"Got any . . ." began Naruto, "Threes?"
"Go fish," said Gaara with a smirk.
"Damn," said Naruto as he took a card, "Yatta!" He the laid down four three's.
"Kuso," cursed Gaara, "That's three in a row. You're not cheating are you?"
"Are you accusing me of cheating?" demand Naruto putting his foot up on the small table of sand and glaring at Gaara.
Gaara stood up and put on the sand table as well, "Yes, I am accusing you of cheating."
Naruto growled and then screamed as he was suddenly being thrown across the arena by a hand of sand that had taken hold of his foot. With that Gaara let the sand storm dissipate just so the other could watch as Naruto was slammed into the wall of the arena. The only problem with that is he forgot to pick-up the cards first.
Hayate noticed the cards in the dirt now that he could see what was happening again. "Hold!"
The hand of sand stopped about an inch from slamming Naruto into the wall.
"Oh thank you," said Naruto. Then the sand let him go and he drop a dozen feet to the hard ground below.
"Uzumaki Naruto and Sabaku no Gaara are disqualified," shouted out Hayate with a slightly annoyed expression on his face as he showed the playing cards to the Hokage and the audience.
"You idiot Gaara," yelled Naruto, "Why didn't you pick up the cards first?"
"They're your damn cards," said Gaara equally loud. Two months ago Gaara would have probably tried to kill him with his sand for yelling at him but now he actually found enjoyment in it. It was fun to argue about silly things with your best friend.
"So, you're the one that decided to throw me into the side of the stadium and you're the one that wanted to show it off to the audience and dropped the sand storm. You should have picked them up first," yelled Naruto back.
"It's not like weren't both going to quit soon anyway," said Gaara crossing his arms sourly.
"Fine," said Naruto crossing his arms with an equally sour expression.
"Idiots," said Hayate, Sarutobi, Sakura, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Ino, Temari, Lee, Sasuke, and Kakashi at the same exact time.
"Uchiha-Bastard," said Naruto "I see you've finally decided to grace us with your presence."
Sasuke just sneered in response.
"Good luck Sasuke," said Kakashi before he jumped up into the stands to his assigned quadrant.
Lee was shouting with glee before he jumped from the private competitors' balcony down to the arena floor, "At long last the power of youth will prevail this day in combat to prove my nindo!"
Naruto and Gaara both sweat dropped before they went to find Hinata for the attack to begin.
Hayate stood in the center between the two combatants who were both extremely tense, "Rock Lee vs. Uchiha Sasuke . . . ready . . . begin."
BOOM!
Hayate had no more than said begin when explosions rocked the stadium signaling the start of the battle.
Unfortunately for Lee one of the explosions went off where he was standing and he was sent across the stadium through the only to hit the wall and be knocked unconscious. Only a brief 'NO!' was heard from him before he hit.
"Uchiha, you have your assignment," said Hayate calmly before he leapt off to take up his position.
Sasuke leapt up into the stands landing next to Kakashi.
"I didn't even get to fight," whined Sasuke.
"Don't worry Sasuke, there are plenty of opponents for you to fight now," said Kakashi as he quickly dispatched another Oto-nin.
Naruto, Hinata, and Gaara all left through the tunnels of the stadium and into the sewers. Their job was to cut off any more Oto and Suna-nin from entering the stadium. They exited the sewers right in front of the main entrance. Gaara quickly put up a wall of sand to seal off the doors and began using his sandstorm again but this time to surround the entire stadium, for this he was tapping heavily into Shukaku's chakra.
That left Naruto and Hinata to fight off most of the incoming shinobi.
"They just keep coming," said Hinata as she took out another ninja.
"This isn't getting us anywhere," said Naruto, "They can't get in the stadium."
"I'll enter the storm, they won't see me and I can maintain the storm for some time," said Gaara.
"But then you won't know when the fight is over," said Hinata, "You could waste all of your chakra and die in there."
"I know, but . . ."
"No time for that Gaara," said Naruto as he looked at the newcomer, "Forget the sandstorm completely. I'm going to need your help with this guy."
"Gaara-kun, I am very disappointed," said a silky voice, "You were supposed to have eliminated Naruto-kun by now."
"That's why this is called a double-cross," said Gaara with a manic grin, it was then he decided to don his new forehead protector from his gourd and cut off the old Suna forehead protector.
"I suppose it was bound to happen," said the man, "I suppose demons like you two will always look out for each other."
"Damn right we do," said Naruto.
"Tell me, did you know Hinata-chan?" asked the man.
"Kabuto, if you call her that again . . ." said Naruto leaving the threat hanging.
"Call her what? Hinata-chan?" asked Kabuto with a twisted grin at seeing Naruto getting so worked up.
Naruto looked at the ground, "That was a mistake." Naruto suddenly locked eyes with Kabuto.
Kabuto locked eyes and this over-powering fear filled every one of his cells. He desperately wanted to run away as fast as he could and the feeling only intensified as the evil red chakra began to pour out of Naruto and wrap around his body. His finger-nails suddenly tore through the tips of his gloves and the whisker marks on his face grew thicker and darker.
"You've made a big mistake," came Naruto's voice much deeper than usual.
Kabuto was paralyzed with an immense fear. This was a thousand times worse than Orochimaru's Kanashibari no Jutsu, a Jutsu he'd experience many times. If only he'd had an info card on Naruto he may have been able to avoid this technique but now he was trapped and he knew it.
Gaara was stunned, almost fearful. Naruto had told him he had a demon within him and indeed he'd felt some the demonic chakra before from Naruto but it was nothing compared to what he felt coming from Naruto now.
Hinata had felt this from Naruto before and so she was able to contain her fear pretty well, especially since she knew that Naruto would never hurt her. Even still, this feeling was so much more intense than anything she'd felt before coming from Naruto.
"Gaara," said Naruto a bit more in control of himself, "Deal with him, I have something else to see to."
Gaara suddenly snapped out of his reverie and realized what Naruto told him to do, "I will Naruto-sama."
"Don't be like that," said Naruto, "I'm just your friend, not your master."
Gaara smiled and nodded to his friend.
Naruto suddenly vanished.
Kabuto could suddenly move again but he was still shaking with fear. That feeling was worse than anything he'd ever thought possible.
Gaara thought on what Naruto did and how he pulled Kyubi's chakra and some of his physical features out. Any time Gaara had done that in the past it never had quite the same terrifying effect but now that he had control of his mind perhaps he could create a similar effect.
Gaara began to call out Shukaku's chakra and let it wrap around him in a similar manner. He could feel the demonic chakra flowing through him as it did Naruto. His vision suddenly sharpened and he knew something was happening. Gaara looked up and locked eyes with Kabuto.
Kabuto had just about stopped his shaking when suddenly he was getting the same intense feeling from Gaara, though not nearly as grand. He made the grave mistake of locking eyes with him. That same paralyzing feeling was back, even if it was weaker, it was still enough to make him nearly lose bowel control.
"I'm going to kill you," said Gaara letting his sand come to life. It began to wrap around Kabuto while he was paralyzed and could do nothing about it, "Sabaku Kyuu, Sabaku Sousou." The sand crushed Kabuto within it, the sand then retreated letting the mangled body drop to the ground.
"Gaara-san, we should go, there is more to do and Naruto-kun may need help," said Hinata trying not to look at the body.
"Just Gaara," he said, "We're teammates and friends aren't we?"
"Of course Gaara," said Hinata with a smile at her new demonic ally.
Gaara and Hinata decided that going back inside the arena would be the best place to start. Unknown to either of them though, Kabuto's body was regenerating and healing itself rapidly.
BREAK
Naruto only had one goal, to do everything in his power to help the old man survive. He just had to hope the old man didn't start his self sacrificing Jutsu yet.
Naruto landed outside the force field on the opposite side of the ANBU.
"Hey, Kyubi, any tips for getting me through this force field?" Naruto asked in his mind.
"That energy ball of yours should open a small door for you but it won't last very long," replied Kyubi calmly. He was more focused on keeping the chakra he was supplying the brat flowing steadily and evenly so that neither of them ended up in a frenzy and got themselves killed by ANBU.
"Thanks," said Naruto out loud as he began creating the Rasengan with only one hand, something he'd spent two years perfecting. Once the technique was set he drove the energy ball into the shield causing the whole thing to flicker and then thin on his side soon creating a small whole just big enough for him to leap through and leap he did. He still lost part of his shoe in the process. He was very lucky he'd curled his toes in or he may have lost them too.
"Don't let me be too late," said Naruto as he rushed through the forest. He arrived to see the old man holding strong onto Orochimaru while a sword was fighting to run him through completely. "Shit," he cursed angrily.
He saw a giant ape with one hand on the blade fighting to hold the blade back so that was going to be his first objective, getting rid of that sword.
Naruto ran through the various roots and broken tiles to help the ape. Naruto grabbed the blade handle and it burned horrible but that didn't stop him from pulling it out with the Ape's help.
"Thank you Naruto," said the old man, "But don't let go of that sword."
"I'll take the sword kid," said the ape letting Naruto know that it was a summoned creature.
"Naruto," said Sandaime with a cough of blood, "I want to tell you," he paused to cough again, "I want to tell you about your parents."
"Fight him and tell me later," said Naruto.
"There won't be a later brat," said Orochimaru as he tried to pull the blade back closer again.
Naruto fought to bring the blade closer to Enma so the ape could get a firm grip on it.
"Naruto, you're parents loved you very much," said Sandaime, "That's why your father," he paused again to cough more blood, "Your father he loved you, but you have to understand . . . he couldn't ask another parent to give their child . . . especially for something so risky. Your mother died and your father was devastated but he loved this village so much that he could not forsake them . . . he knew his duty to the village and to you . . . he didn't want to use you but he couldn't ask another parent," Sarutobi was starting to ramble now.
"What did my father do?" asked Naruto as he continued to fight the blade.
"He didn't want to seal Kyubi in you, but he couldn't . . . couldn't ask another family for their child. He loved you so much Naruto-kun. You look just like him," said Sarutobi coughing a bit more blood.
"My father sealed Kyubi but I thought . . ."
Sarutobi laughed, "Your father Naruto, he was the Yondaime. You are his legacy. But you must understand he didn't want to leave you like he did but if he didn't not only would Kyubi have killed you but he would have killed the entire village."
Naruto was stunned but somewhere deep inside he'd always believed that Yondaime had chosen him for a special reason. And now he knew, he was chosen because he couldn't bear to ask another parent to do something he was unwilling to do himself. His father was the greatest shinobi in the village and now Naruto had a lot to live up to, even more so than before.
"Become a good man Naruto-kun, just like your father before you. Ask Kakashi and Jiraiya, they can tell you about him," said Sarutobi coughing up a bit more blood. The color was quickly fading from his face and the life was leaving his eyes quickly. "In my office, you'll find a scroll with your name. Find it and read it. It's for you from him."
"Thank you oyaji," said Naruto with tears in his eyes and then with one last heavy pull he brought the blade close enough to the ape to properly grip.
"He's lying to you brat," said Orochimaru, "You're just a false body created to seal the demon. You have no parents."
"Shut up," screamed Naruto knowing the fowl snake was lying and yet it also told Naruto that Orochimaru knew that Yondaime Hokage was really his father. It was just Orochimaru's grudge against such a great man that made him want to hurt Naruto.
"If I can't take you with me, then I will at least take your Jutsu," said Sarutobi before Naruto could get close enough to help him.
Naruto watched in horror as Orochimaru's arms turned sickly black and the old man fell dead. His last words, "Idiot Apprentice."
Naruto saw red and began to attack Orochimaru who was screaming in rage and didn't notice him. He did however notice when a large gash was slice into his throat by the boy's claws.
Orochimaru couldn't even raise a hand to stop the bleeding, not that the cut was very deep anyway.
Unfortunately for Naruto, he didn't notice the Ape vanishing or the sword flying back to its owner slicing the side of his neck on the way until it was too late.
"There's a lot of poison kit. You'll pass out soon so make the time you've got left count," ordered Kyubi.
Naruto did the only thing he could think of and created a Rasengan orb in his palm. The world around him was fading fast but he did see the look of terror in Orochimaru's eyes when he saw the attack. Naruto began to fall forward and just let himself hoping to drive the attack into the man's chest. He missed horribly but still managed to hit Orochimaru's knee completely destroying the limb entirely. That was the last thing that Naruto saw.
Outside the enclosed Area the ANBU were waiting patiently and hoping for the best inside. They didn't know that Naruto had found a way inside but they did hear the unmistakable sound of Orochimaru screaming in extreme agony right before the shield dropped. The four men that created the field were seen leaping away from the forested area carrying a mangled body. Both arms of the body looked dead and one of the legs was missing leaving only a mangle stump instead. There was no mistaking it that the body was Orochimaru's.
Kakashi was the first to hurry inside the field only to find Sandaime dead and Naruto unconscious not far from the body. One of Naruto's hands was gripping a severed leg that no doubt belonged to Orochimaru.
"What is he doing hear?" asked one of the ANBU that just arrived.
"It looks like he fought Orochimaru with Sandaime-sama," said Kakashi, "I think he may have been the one to take of Orochimaru's leg after Sandaime fell." Kakashi was a former ANBU and he was excellent at analyzing battle scenes from what he'd seen Naruto had arrived after it was already too late to save Sandaime, especially after looking at the seal on the old man's abdomen. "Sandaime tried to seal Orochimaru but it looks like he didn't have enough Chakra to finish him. The sword wound looks like it was very poisonous, probably 'The Grasscutter'. Naruto's hand are burned which means that he was trying to stop the blade with Enma's help. And then his neck was cut by the sword but not before he took Orochimaru's leg." Kakashi then checked to make sure Naruto was still alive, "He's alive and the wound has already healed but it looks like he's still fighting the poison off."
"Amazing," said the ANBU as he read the same analysis, "I concur with your assessment but I want to know what technique he used to take Orochimaru's leg. I've never seen a wound like that. It looks like it was ripped off but by what?"
Kakashi thought the wound looked very familiar to him but for Naruto to know that technique was impossible unless Jiraiya taught it to him. "Rasengan."
All of the ANBU gasped. They had heard of the legendary technique but they never thought they would ever see it used by anyone but Jiraiya.
"Are you certain that boy used it?" asked the ANBU captain.
"Certain," said Kakashi, "Does anyone know if Jiraiya has been in town?"
"Yes, he was training the boy, but could he have possibly learned that technique so quickly?"
"An incomplete Rasengan could have done this just as well as a completed one could. Naruto very well could have developed a weak Rasengan capable of this," said Kakashi though he knew it was unlike but if it satisfied the ANBU and protected his student then he was okay with that. However, it did open a whole new can of worms.
"How did he get in?" another ANBU.
"Probably by using his Rasengan," said Kakashi calmly. He knew that if that was how Naruto got in then he more than likely did know a complete version of the Rasengan but it was nearly impossible for that to be true and yet it just might. With all of the other things that Naruto has done, why couldn't he have done this too?
"Shouldn't we take him to the hospital?" asked another ANBU.
"Let his team take him, we've more work to do," said Kakashi motioning towards Gaara and Hinata who were rushing over. "You two take him home. Hinata, cleanse the poison from his system. The Kyubi should be helping with that so you won't have to do much."
"Sandaime-sama," gasped Hinata looking to the old man.
"He's already gone Hinata but Naruto isn't, now go!" said Kakashi a bit too harshly.
Hinata and Gaara gather up Naruto and left as ordered although they felt very saddened by the loss of the old man.