A/N: I don't own Naruto; Masashi Kishimoto does.
Naruto: The Greatest Hero
Chapter Ten: Victory and Defeat
Naruto leaned against a wall, waiting for Hayate to announce the next pair of fighters. His win against Neji had made almost everyone in the group of genins come to a very accurate conclusion that this boy was not one that you would want to cross. Naruto had his facemask pulled back up and was waiting for the next match to begin.
'Man, this is really tense; that guy Gaara is making me all the more nervous.'
Naruto turned to his friend that had spoken up; Kiba, he was shifting against the wall with Akamaru. Shikamaru was sitting cross-legged, watching the names.
'Dosu Kinuta versus Tenten.' Hayate announced to his audience.
Tenten walked down the stairs nervously; this was obviously a first for her. Her opponent, Dosu Kinuta, meanwhile, was radiating an aura of bloodlust.
The two stood before each other; neither one moving until the match was to start.
'Begin.' Hayate announced to the two fighters.
Tenten drew several kunais and threw them to Dosu, who did a flip to dodge them. Tenten followed up with a barrage of shurikens that again, Dosu dodged easily.
'You're so weak. Let me show you what it takes to be strong.' Dosu said.
Without warning, Tenten saw before her eyes a blur, before turning around and saw that Dosu was there, trying to land a hit on her. She dodged it, running several feet away from her opponent and took out several more projectiles. Dosu was in her sights. She smirked as she threw four kunais to the Sound ninja.
'You are a Weapons Specialist, aren't you?' Dosu said in a tone that scared Tenten.
He dodged the weapons with a great effort, as Naruto had observed. A shuriken cut his left shoulder, but he paid no heed to it; it was just a scratch to him.
'A Weapons Specialist that could not even control her own weapons.' Dosu said.
Lee and Gai watched Tenten grit her teeth in frustration.
'What could you possibly have left with you to defeat me; Dosu.'
'This is really bad; he keeps dodging anything I throw at him…' Tenten whispered to herself and then looking to the wrapped up ninja, 'I'll have to get up close, then.'
Tenten out her hands together and Dosu frowned at the move.
'Bunshin no Jutsu!' Tenten called out as several replicas of her appeared.
There were seven Tentens on the field and Lee let out a cry of joy.
'Yes, Tenten! Show them your Youthful Spirit!' Gai called out to his student.
'You're so foolish; I can never be fooled by such a technique.' Dosu said.
All of the seven females that were preparing to do their things stopped.
'Heh, you're just lying; you can't tell which one is the real me.' one said.
'That's right; you're just saying that to scare me; it won't work.' another one said.
Dosu was heard laughing in the arena and that sent chills down the spines of a few of the genins that were watching the fight. Naruto frowned at the sound of laughter.
'So you don't believe that I know which one of you is the real one?'
Dosu then charged at one of the girls as she just jumped to dodge the strike.
How could he have found out about my Bunshin no Jutsu? Tenten questioned.
'Because you made a sound; no Replication can make that.'
Tenten's eyes widened in realisation as she saw Dosu right behind her. The Sound ninja registered a blow to her back; allowing him to transfer his Soundwaves.
The kunoichi fell to the ground, unconscious and dizzy at the same time.
Hayate went to check on Tenten before making it clear who was the winner.
'Victor; Dosu Kinuta.' Hayate announced as Dosu walked away.
Gai went over the rail and to the arena to check on her student; he breathed in a sigh of relief when he found out that Tenten was just unconscious.
He brought her up above and set her against a wall
Kiba looked to the board to see if his name came up for the next match or not.
'Hyuga Hinata versus Yamanaka Ino; will the two genins please proceed.'
Hinata walked down to the arena with a look of determination; she had Asuma to be there and encourage her when she finally became a genin, she had changed slightly. Ino jumped in joy at her name being called out. Kakashi wished her luck as she went down to the arena and face Hinata. Hinata had the same look on Ino's face. Both of them wanted to win this match no matter what; Kakashi could sense it.
'Begin.' Hayate announced to the two kunoichis.
Hinata did several handseals and revealed her Byakugan to Ino.
'Alright, Hinata; let's go all out on this!' Ino said, taking out several kunais.
'Yes, Ino-san.' Hinata got into her Jyuuken stance, 'Let's go!'
The two kunoichis prepared their battle plans in their heads. Ino threw her kunais at Hinata dodged them by bending herself backwards and then dashed to Ino in an attempt to hit her. Ino jumped upwards and took out more kunais and threw them to Hinata, who used her Jyuuken to block the weapons. She then went in for the kill.
Hinata registered a hit to Ino and thought that she had won, but Ino immediately turned into a log; Hinata's eyes widened as she saw, with her Byakugan, that Ino was behind her with another attempt at hitting her with her kunais. Hinata did some stunning acrobatics as she dodged the onslaught of blades.
'My turn, Ino-san.' Hinata jabbed a point on Ino's shoulder with her two fingers.
Ino was slightly shocked to see Hinata go on the offensive, but she spun around to avoid more blows by her opponent. Hinata also backed away from Ino.
'Well, Hinata, you certainly have gotten stronger.' Ino said, grinning as she clutched her shoulder, 'But remember, we're not going to hold back anymore!'
Ino took out a shuriken as Hinata did the same; both of them threw their projectiles at one another but the two shurikens did not hit their targets; instead, they collided with each other. Hinata went at Ino again, neither one of the girls looked like they were going to pull their punches. Hinata thrust her palm to Ino's chest once more, but Ino blocked it with a kunai that she was now using as a guard. Ino and Hinata then backed off from each other, not wanting to open their defences to the opponent.
I can't go close to Hinata at all; she's a close-combat kunoichi, Ino thought.
Ino-san is really a good kunoichi; all my moves were read perfectly, Hinata thought.
A moment of silence passed as the genins and their instructors watched the two girls; both of them did not show any advanced moves, but their determination was incredible. Neither one of them were going to back down.
'Interesting match; low-level moves, but two very serious kunoichi.' Asuma said.
'What are you saying, Asuma-sensei? Don't you know about Hinata's abilities?' Chouji turned to his muscular teacher with a confused expression.
'Chouji, Hinata has a problem with her confidence; I knew that from the first time that I saw her join Team Ten. But, when it comes to a fight, Hinata can battle it out just as good as any other kunoichi. Then again, so can Ino.' Asuma went on.
Hinata and Ino got into their stances, and Naruto knew that this would decide the fight for real. The audience grew tense at the silence that passed all over again.
They dashed at each full throttle, neither one holding back their strength.
Hinata had hit Ino's chest, sending her flying backwards, while Ino's kunai had found a place in Hinata's right shoulder. The winner had been decided.
Ino spat out some blood and fell to the ground, unconscious as Hinata grabbed her right shoulder, slightly in pain from the wound. Hayate looked from one to the other.
'Victor; Hyuga Hinata!' Hayate called out as Team Ten cheered.
Hinata walked back up to her teammates as Ino was carried away by a stretcher and some medic-nins. When Hinata had reached her teammates, she was her shy and stuttering self once again. Naruto leaned against the railing as he watched Chouji congratulate his teammate. Shikamaru then approached him with a serious look.
'What's up, Shikamaru?' Naruto asked, grinning under his facemask.
'I'm worried for Kiba; chances are that he's going to get into a fight with that Gaara.' Shikamaru looked over to Gaara, a bead of sweat flowing down his face.
'We don't know who he'll fight, but he's not the guy who'd give up.' Naruto said.
'That's the truth, alright.' Shikamaru said, casting another look to Gaara.
The screen started scrolling through names once again and after a moment, it stopped. Kiba's lips turned into a grimace; Gaara remained stoic.
'And we were just talking about it.' Naruto said, looking to the screen.
'Gaara versus Inuzuka Kiba; will the two ninjas please come down to the arena.'
Kiba gave Naruto and Shikamaru a grin of confidence, but both the lazy genin and Naruto knew that it was a fake one. He was most likely scared to Death.
Kiba walked down to the arena as Gaara just appeared in a whirl of sand.
Hayate stood between the two genins. He looked over to Gaara out of the corner of his eye, sensing a very powerful killing intent. Even he was slightly scared.
'Gaara versus Inuzuka Kiba; begin!' Hayate declared, moving away.
Gaara and Kiba stood opposite each other, unmoving. Kiba could smell a powerful murderous intent coiling around him, almost strangling him. He backed a step.
'What's wrong, are you scared?' Gaara said, unemotionally, radiating even more murderous intent from his body, 'That's good; your screams will be more enjoyable.'
Naruto gritted his teeth in anger at the Sand-nin. Kiba backed another step; Akamaru was shivering in Kiba's jacket. Naruto sensed even more murderous intent fill the arena, not once letting up. Naruto looked to his teammate; he had to snap him out of his fear. This situation was going to make Gaara in control.
'KIBA, WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? DON'T LET THAT STUPID PANDA SCARE YOU; BEAT HIM UP!' Naruto commanded, basically.
Kurenai giggled at Naruto's words about those lines around Gaara's eyes.
Kiba snapped out of his fear and so did Akamaru. Both looked up to the other members of Team Seven; Naruto's eyes were practically demanding that Kiba go on with the fight. Shikamaru was looking to his teammate with eyes that literally told him not to give up. Kurenai did not give him any looks or gestures, but when he looked to her, she gave him a nod to go on with the fight.
'Akamaru, we're fighting.' Kiba said to the dog that was in his jacket.
The dog looked nervously to its master before jumping out of its perch.
'Let's get this show on the road, panda!' Kiba said to Gaara.
Gaara remained stoic as Kiba observed him. Suddenly, he took out several kunai out from his weapons pouch and threw them in Gaara's direction.
Immediately, a wall of sand came up to protect him. The kunais dropped to the floor. Akamaru looked nervously to its master once again and Kiba looked back.
'He uses sand as a weapon; and I bet that it's not just to protect him.' Kiba said.
Kiba then charged at Gaara, who did not turn his head to him. A wall of sand came up to protect Gaara once more. Kiba was pushed back by the force of the blow that he had registered; it had rebounded on him. He flipped several feet backwards.
'It looks like we really have to get serious with this; Akamaru!'
Akamaru came to the hooded boy and jumped onto Kiba's crouched body.
'Let's do this; Juujin Bunshin no Jutsu!' Kiba said, doing several handseals.
There was a puff of smoke and suddenly there were two Kiba's; both of them had a crazed-like look on their faces. The two Kibas looked to their target, Gaara, and charged at him with extremely fast speed. But the walls were still there, and they were doing a successful job in holding the animalistic genin and the dog off, if just barely.
Damn it, even with the speed of that I've gained, I still can't break it down…
Kiba panted out of frustration and fatigue; he might have learnt the Kage Senpuu Taijutsu Style from Naruto, but for the Taijutsu Style to work, he had to get up close and personal with the Sand-nin. He and the transformed Akamaru stood away from Gaara as they pondere over several techniques to hit Gaara with.
'Is that all that you have to offer?' Gaara suddenly said to his opponents, 'Then let me show you what it's like when you die.'
Kiba's eyes widened as did his dog's. The gourd was letting out more sand. Gaara looked to his opponent once more and motioned his hand in a claw-like shape to Kiba.
Suddenly, a whip of sand came out and tried to capture Akamaru; the dog, having transformed into a second Kiba, leapt away from the whip. Another whip then came out from the gourd of sand and tried to capture Kiba; Kiba did the same as Akamaru did. He observed the whip of sand as it went back a little.
It then came at him again; Gaara had found out that he was the real one. Kiba leapt one side and rolled to another to avoid the whip of sand; guessing what would happen if he was caught by it. He leapt upwards and did a stunning acrobatic flip to avoid it, but the whip had registered a cut to his back; it was not a bad hit, but it did hurt.
Kiba backed off for a while; the whip stood in mid-air, unmoving.
Damn it, that thing is too fast; I have to get close enough to perform an attack on him, but that stupid sand always gets in my way, Kiba thought.
Kiba looked to the sand and then to his dog, Akamaru. He looked back to the sand.
Wait a minute; the sand that he's using is just limited to the ones in the gourd…
Kiba observed his opponent from a distance before taking out a kunai.
He threw it to Gaara and a wall of sand came out and blocked it as Akamaru looked on confusedly at his Master. Kiba smirked at his discovery before taking out another kunai as Gaara remained emotionless with his arms crossed and eyes half open.
Kiba suddenly dashed at the wall as a surprised Akamaru and audience looked on. A wall of sand came up to protect Gaara, as he expected. He took out another kunai and slashed at the wall before leaping back and taking out another weapon.
'An Explosive Note? Smart plan, Kiba.' Naruto looked on, amused.
He wrapped the Explosive Note around the handle of his kunai and threw it to the wall of sand. Gaara was completely oblivious to the new weapon Kiba had introduced; Shikamaru and Naruto were impressed with Kiba's enginuity.
Kiba leapt away from his opponent and smirked; so did Akamaru.
Suddenly, an explosion occurred. The dust had not settled yet; Kiba took his chance.
Now is the time to show-off the Kage Senpuu and Juujin Bunshin Combo!
He dashed into the cloud of dust as did Akamaru; they both mentally knew what the other was thinking. Gaara was slightly shaken from the explosion.
Who would have thought that he'd use such a tactic?
Suddenly, there was a kick that sent Gaara flying to the air. Kiba had finally seen the weakness in the sand's defence; Gaara had to see his opponent to create a wall.
Kiba and Akamaru leapt into the air to finish their opponent off.
'Akamaru, take care of that gourd!' Kiba called out to his partner.
Akamaru, in Kiba's form, did so by grabbing onto the gourd and ripping it off from Gaara, tearing the cloth that held it to the boys back. A kick was registered to Gaara's jaw and Naruto smirked at the move; Kiba's modified Kage Senpuu had begun.
'Kage Senpuu and Tsuuga Combination Move: Inuzuka Senpuu Tsuuga!'
Shikamaru almost groaned at the "originality" of the move. Naruto looked on.
'First Move!' Kiba shouted, spinning and delivering a powerful uppercut to Gaara's jaw, sending him even higher toward the ceiling, where Akamaru was.
After disposing of the gourd, the transformed dog had taken to the ceiling, waiting for the command of its Master. Claws drawn in its transformed form, it delivered a series of lightning fast slashes with them. But Gaara's body was too, covered in sand.
'Second Move!' a spinning Kiba banged the body of Gaara towards the ground.
Naruto noticed that the sand was trying to break the fall by gathering to protect him.
Does that sand have a mind of its own? Naruto questioned.
Kiba and Akamaru were dashing to the ground alongside Gaara, trying to smash him into the ground as hard as possible for a victory. They lifted their elbows.
'Third Move!' Kiba shouted, smashing the elbow into Gaara's ribs along with Akamaru , and both of them spun around and delivered a final heel drop.
Gaara was literally pounded into the ground. The impact created a miniature crater in the middle of the arena. Naruto watched as Kiba and Akamaru leapt away from their opponent, Gaara and take their positions opposite each other.
Kiba was exhausted from the power he had used to do his techniques.
If that doesn't get him, I don't know what will, Kiba thought, gritting his teeth.
Then, the watchers of the match had their eyes widen in shock, for Gaara was standing, shaking on his legs, his eyes almost red with anger. Kiba backed a step.
'Die.'
The sand on the arena floor leapt up from its position to grab the transformed Akamaru and Kiba. Kiba rolled to his left to avoid the sand and was successful, but the substance had managed to grab the transformed Akamaru in a powerful grip.
'Sabaku Kyuu.' Gaara motioned with his hand to grip the dog tighter.
'AKAMARU!' Kiba called out, reaching for his companion with his hand, he turned to Gaara, a pleading look in his eyes, 'I give up! Release him!'
Akamaru transformed back into its normal animal form, but the sand just gripped tighter on the little puppy. Gaara was heard snickering by Kiba.
'So you care for this little dog?' Gaara said, a maniacal look in his eyes, 'Sabaku-'
Suddenly, a kunai flew at what looked like was an arm made of sand holding Akamaru. Attached to the kunai was an Explosive Note. The explosion that ensued ensured Akamaru's release from the sand that held him. Kiba went to his companion, checking the puppy's body for vital signs and was relieved to find Akamaru fine.
Then, out of the smoke and dust created by the Explosive Note, came more sand.
Oh no! Kiba panicked as the manifestation of sand came at him.
But it never reached him. Naruto was there, blocking his teammate from the attack by Gaara's sand, along with Kurenai. The smoke cleared and Gaara was there, his eyes had lost their maniacal touch, but still wreaked of killing intent.
'That's enough; you heard Kiba, he gave up.' Naruto said, boring into Gaara's eyes.
Gaara still stood there, arms crossed, as he and Naruto glared at each other.
Naruto was about to motion for his weapons when Gaara walked back up the railing as Hayate announced the Sand ninja as the winner of the match.
'Can you stand, Kiba?' Kurenai bent down to her student, who was on the floor.
'Yes, I can, Kurenai-sensei.' Kiba replied, holding Akamaru as if the cream-white canine was the most important thing in the world, 'I'm sorry that I lost.'
'It's alright Kiba. As long as you're alright.' Kurenai said, helping him up.
The three of them went up to where Shikamaru was and stood there, waiting for the next match to begin. There were only two genins left; Chouji and Kabuto's teammate.
'Tsurugi Misumi versus Akimichi Chouji; please proceed down to the arena.'
Chouji and Misumi went down to the middle of the arena, where genins had fallen and emerged victorious. It was almost destroyed with craters here and there.
'Begin.' Hayate announced to the two genins, who immediately got into stances.
'Baika no Jutsu!' Chouji shouted, engorging into a large ball, 'Meat Tank!'
The ball that was also known as Chouji came rolling towards Misumi at a very high speed. Misumi cursed as he barely dodged the Akimichi's attack. From the railings, Chouji's teammate, Hinata, was cheering him on internally as was Asuma.
Misumi took out several kunai and threw them at Chouji, who immediately transformed back into his normal form and bent into a ninety-degree angle and dodged the kunais that flew past him. But because of his imbalance, he fell on his back. Misumi took this as the opportunity to administer more blows.
He went as Chouji with a heeldrop, which the Akimichi rolled to one side to avoid.
'You're quite slick for a round one.' Misumi said quietly; Chouji did not hear him.
'Bubun Baika no Jutsu!' Chouji called out, his leg stretching out to hit Misumi.
Misumi dodged the move by sidestepping. Chouji took out several kunais.
He threw them and Misumi countered with a throw of his own projectiles.
'Bubun Baika no Jutsu!' Chouji called out once more, this time his hand reached out and grew fifteen times in size before attempting to smack Misumi.
'You really are weak.' Misumi said, flipping away from the attack.
'You should not look down on your opponent in a fight!' Chouji warned.
Misumi smirked under his mask, looking to the ginger-haired genin. He took out several shurikens as Chouji did the same. Chouji threw four of them at Misumi, while the masked genin threw five. The shurikens flew past each other and were to pierce their targets but both Naruto and Misumi dodged the weapons, bending to the ground.
'Bubun Baika no Jutsu!' a hand stretched out and knocked Misumi aside.
Misumi cursed under his breath and drew out a kunai for a counterattack.
'Take this!' Misumi threw the projectile at Chouji, and smirked.
Chouji was hit by the kunai, but immediately turned into a log. Misumi's eyes widened at the realization. The audience looked to mid-air, where Chouji was.
'Baika no Jutsu!' Chouji turned several times his size and landed on Misumi.
At that moment, Naruto decided he was glad that they were not in Misumi's shoes.
'I… give up…' Misumi said weakly, unable to stand anymore of Chouji's weight.
Chouji turned back to his normal size as Hayate announced him as the victor. He ran up the railing, where his team was, and was greeted by several cheers.
'You did good, Chouji.' Shikamaru had come up to Team Ten.
Chouji turned to his lazy genin of a friend and shook his hand, smiling.
'Will the genins that have won their matches some down to the middle of the arena.' Hayate announced to the ones up in the railings, 'The rest may leave.'
Kiba turned to Naruto and Shikamaru and gave them a thumbs-up as he left with Kurenai, the other Jounin Instructors, and the genins who weren't the winners of their matches. Naruto and Shikamaru walked down the railing with seven other genins to where Hayate was, and he was now joined by the Sandaime Hokage and a whiteboard. Naruto wondered what the whiteboard was there for.
'Congratulations on winning your matches; all of you.' the Hokage said, looking to the nine genins before him, 'This, so far, has proven that you are the best. I look forward to seeing all of you in the Third Round. Hayate, if you may.'
'Yes, Hokage-sama.' Hayate was holding a wooden box with a hole in it, 'Reach your hand in and pull out only one piece of paper. Only one.'
Gaara went first, reaching his hand into the small wooden box.
This was followed by Sasuke, and then Hinata, and went over to Naruto.
The blonde genin put his hand in the box and pulled a piece of paper.
The number one? What's this for, I wonder? Naruto thought, looking at the paper.
After the rest of the genins pulled out pieces of paper out of the box, the Hokage told them to reveal their numbers to them, which they did.
'Four.' Gaara.
'Two.' Sasuke.
'Seven.' Hinata.
'One.' Naruto.
'Five.' Shikamaru
'Three.' Lee.
'Nine.' Dosu.
'Eight.' Temari.
'Six.' Chouji.
Sarutobi turned to Hayate, who nodded in understanding. He took out a marker and started scribbling the names of the genin on the whiteboard.
'You have just drawn the number that will determine the turn in which you are fighting in for the Chuunin Exam's Main Matches.' Hayaet said; several genins were shocked at what they had heard, Hayate gestured to the whiteboard, 'Look.'
Sasuke smirked at what was written on the board, as did Shikamaru.
So I finally get to face you, Naruto, Sasuke thought, still smirking.
Match One: Uzumaki Naruto versus Uchiha Sasuke
Match Two: Rock Lee versus Gaara
Match Three: Nara Shikamaru versus Akimichi Chouji
Match Four: Hyuga Hinata versus Temari
Match Five: Dosu Kinuta versus Victor of Match Four
'You have one month to know your enemy and develop your weaknesses.' Sarutobi said, looking to the nine genin before him, 'You are all dismissed.'
It was midnight, but one room of an apartment was still as bright as day.
Naruto was in his, Zabuza's and Haku's apartment, reading a scroll that contained several techniques that the Uchiha's specialized in before the clan was wiped out. Zabuza was out on patrol and Haku was at the hospital, as he specialized in Healing Techniques; he would not be back anytime soon. Naruto had read that the Uchiha specialized in combining their wire techniques with fire, which also resulted in the creation of their greatest Fire Element Technique: Ryuuka no Jutsu.
Sasuke's a genius, alright, Naruto thought, and was slightly nervous about his battle in a month with the lone survivor of the Uchiha Clan.
Naruto did not know, for the life of him, who had wiped out the Clan, and the real cause of it being destroyed in the first place. All Kakashi had told him was that it was done by a single person. Naruto felt quite sad for Sasuke in the first place, but that was before he started to act like he was superior to everyone else.
He remembered the feeling of how he would turn out if Kakashi was not there to care for him. He would most probably act like Sasuke, minus the high and mighty.
I hope that Kakashi-niichan really trains Sasuke; I would hate for him to fight me at only half his strength, Naruto thought, reading the scroll some more.
Kakashi was Naruto's adopted brother, but after that, he was Team Eight's Jounin Instructor, and he had a hard time trying to figure out who to train. Naruto had pushed him in Sasuke's direction, saying that he had the last twelve years of his life with him.
Naruto wanted a good fight out of Sasuke, even if he lost.
The blonde had his facemask off and was eating several cookies that Kurenai had made him and Shikamaru for their victories in the preliminary round.
He read the scroll carefully, analysing the techniques that were used most often by the Uchiha and their styles of fighting. So far, he only knew the Fire Element Techniques that were used by them, but there was nothing about their weaknesses.
Naruto wrapped up the scroll and switched off his reading light and then his apartment lights before exiting his home, wanting to get some midnight training.
It always did make him calm his nerves down and put him at ease.
Naruto walked down the stairs of his apartment and down the streets of Konoha, where the place looked as if it was a ghost town. It was midnight, so nobody but several jounins and chuunin on patrol duty would be out. Naruto went of to the nearest training area, which was nothing but a patch of bush and tree.
He got into his Kage Senpuu fighting stance and began to execute several moves in quick succession. If there was anything that Naruto did not doubt, it was his Taijutsu, after all, he had beaten Kakashi in an only Taijutsu duel before.
Naruto tried to increase his speed and blow rate; it was quite troublesome to have the opponent see a window of opportunity to land a hit on you.
He spun around and started to modify his Kage Senpuu by making them fit several positions so that he could execute his counterattacks with the Kage Senpuu. It was a fighting style built only for offense, so Naruto had decided to make it fit the description of a smooth and flowing fighting style.
Suddenly, a kunai came his way; Naruto dodged it by spinning diagonally to his left. Another kunai came at him, but Naruto caught it by the handle and threw it down to the ground and started to do lightning-fast handseals, ending with the Tiger Seal.
'Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!' Naruto breathed out a fireball.
The newcomer, who had thrown the kunais, leapt out of the way to reveal himself.
'Hey, Zabuza-san, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?'
'Nothing. I'm on patrol duty and saw you come this way.' Zabuza said.
'So, why did you follow me again?' Naruto asked lazily.
'I don't know, I just did.' Zabuza said simply before smiling under his facemask to the blonde boy, 'Congratulations on getting to the finals of the Chuunin Exam.'
'Thanks, it wasn't as easy as I expected, though.' Naruto said.
'Kakashi told me that you are facing his student in the Finals.'
'That I am, and him being a genius and all, I expect a good match.'
'I'm still confident that you will win, though, Naruto. So,' Zabuza 'Do your best.'
Suddenly, they heard a rustling in the bushes and Naruto and Zabuza took out t kunai and threw them in the direction of the noise.
'Watch where you throw those things!' a male voice came.
A man with long and spiky white hair came through the bushes, a large scroll on his back, clad in a fishnet shirt and an odd ensemble of red and white clothes. On his face were weird markings coming down his cheeks and his forehead protector had the word "Luck" on it. In his hand were the two kunais that Naruto and Zabuza threw.
'You… You are…' Zabuza's eyes widened at the person before him and Naruto.
'What is it with you people! I can't get a good peep like this!'
'Do you know who he is, Zabuza-san?' Naruto asked the jounin.
'What? You're saying that you don't know who I am, little boy?'
'Naruto, he is the one that all men from the Five Shinobi Countries look to as the saviour and pride of men just being men; Jiraiya-sama!' Zabuza quickly drew out a book that was extremely familiar to Naruto, 'Can I have your autograph, please?'
'Jiraiya? Wait; you are the author of "Make-Out Paradise"?' Nauto questioned.
'Yes, I am the author of the infamous books that make men feel like men!'
'I think that you should fire your editor.' Naruto said to his face.
'What! Boy, you are not old enough to drink sake yet and you're already giving me advice on my books? Don't make me laugh.' Jiraiya said.
Naruto sighed before walking over to Jiraiya and gesturing over to him to come down to his height so he could talk into his ear. Jiraiya grew annoyed but followed Naruto's words; he bent down to Naruto's height and Naruto whispered.
This was followed by a giggle and a blush form on the white-haired man's face.
'Alright, boy. Thanks for the inspiration.' Jiraiya said, still giggling.
'No problem, so you'd be on your way with the next book then?'
Zabuza was speechless; Naruto had made the Jiraiya blush.
'Also, I know that you know, kid, but I sense a very powerful source of chakra with you.' Jiraiya was eyeing Naruto, a dark look in his eyes, 'You're not a normal genin.'
Zabuza knew that tone Jiraiya was using; it was the same one that people used whenever they were looking for a fight. Zabuza felt for his blade.
'So you want to fight?' Naruto said lazily, looking directly into Jiraiya's eyes.
'No, of course not, but your chakra intrigues me.' Jiraiya said.
'I intrigue a lot of people, but I prefer if they would really stop with it.'
Jiraiya took an immediate liking to the boy because of what he reminded him of.
'What's your name, kid?' Jiraiya asked Naruto, slightly smirking.
'Uzumaki Naruto.' Naruto replied; Jiraiya was slightly surprised.
So it's him; the vessel of Kyuubi, interesting kid, Jiraiya thought.
Zabuza looked from one ninja to the other, not knowing anything.
'How would you like to be learn from one of the Legendary Sannin?'
Naruto raised an eyebrow at this, but gave a slight grin under his facemask.
'Where can I find one of them?' Naruto said, hands in his pockets.
'You idiot boy; I am one of the Legendary Sannin, Jiraiya-sama!'
'Really? You look more like an ero-sennin to me.' Naruto smarted.
'Look, I'm offering you the chance of a lifetime! Do you want to learn or not?'
'Learn what? Other than more dirty knowledge?' Naruto continued.
'How would you like to learn how to summon Toads?'
Naruto was at the top of the Hokage Monument, sitting on the Shodaime's stone head, waiting for Jiraiya to arrive. Truth be told, Naruto did not want to learn to summon Mountain Toads, but who could miss a chance to learn from one of the greatest shinobi Konohagakure had produced? Naruto could not, to say the least.
'Where is that ero-sennin; he was supposed to be here an hour ago.'
Suddenly, there was a rustling in the bushes and out came the infamous Jiraiya, covered in bruises and cuts and a bleeding gum. Naruto raised an eyebrow.
'Damn women, always hitting you when you do the smallest mistakes.'
'Peeping?' Naruto questioned to the white-haired and battered Sannin.
'Researching.' Jiraiya corrected the facemask wearing genin and took out a scroll.
'What's that?' Naruto asked, looking at the palm-sized scroll in his hands.
'Nothing; just wait a moment.' Jiraiya said, performing several handseals and slamming both of his hands onto the scroll on the ground; it vanished.
Jiraiya brushed himself off and turned to Naruto, slightly smiling.
'Why do you put that facemask on, you're not that ugly are you?'
'No. This is a gift from Kakashi-niichan when I became a genin.'
So you're the one that took the kid in, Kakashi, Jiraiya thought.
Naruto walked up to the man and looked up to him.
'Hey, ero-sennin, why are we here again?' Naruto questioned.
'Don't call me ero-sennin, kid.' Jiraiya warned the blonde, 'There's a big patch of wood on the other side of Hokage Monument; I used to train the Yondaime there.'
'So you're going to overlook my training; that's sweet…'
'Who said that I was going to train you?'
'You did.' Naruto said, slightly frowning.
'I said that if you wanted to learn from a Sannin, you could come with me. But if you want me to train you, Naruto. We'll do this the old fashioned way.'
'The old fashioned way?' Naruto questioned; the man was not making any sense.
Jiraiya smirked to Naruto before cracking his knuckles. Naruto's eyes widened.
'Put a dent in my forehead and I will train you.'
A kunai flew in Jiraiya's direction, which the man caught.
'Let's settle this in ten minutes.' Naruto said, drawing out another kunai.
Jiraiya literally dived into the bushes; Naruto followed him, performing sveral handseals as he did so. Jiraiya's eyes widened at the technique.
'Raiton: Raitoradan no Jutsu!' Naruto thrusted his palm forward, calling forth a tiger made from pure lightning out of his palm.
Interesting, he already learned a Raiton at his age, Jiraiya thought.
Jiraiya jumped upwards to avoid the damage to be dealt to him.
'Take this!' Naruto had appeared behind him with a kunai.
Jiraiya turned into a log; Naruto's eyes widened at this. Below him was the Sannin, performing several handseals for an attack on him. Naruto tried cataching up with Jiraiya's speed. The both breathed in air and threw their heads forward.
'Katon: Karyuu Endan!' Jiraiya called out as he let loose fire.
'Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!' Naruto shouted, breathing out a giant fireball.
The fire let loose by Jiraiya easily overcame Naruto's, but the genin dodged the powerful flames, jumping onto a tree branch to organize another attack.
'Doton: Doryuudan no Jutsu!' Jiraiya called out a dragon made of earth.
A barrage of missiles made from mud came at Naruto, all of them hitting him dead on his chest; the attack came too fast for Naruto to counter.
Naruto began to do several handseals to attack Jiraiya, but he had disappeared.
'Behind you, kid.' Jiraiya kicked Naruto's back, sending him crashing into a tree.
Damn, ero-sennin really is tough, I can't keep up at all, Naruto thought.
He looked to his left and saw a stream of water and a small waterfall; it was what he needed to use his Water Element Techniques. Naruto made a dash for the stream.
'Running away, are you, Naruto?' Jiraiya teased as he ran from several feet away.
Before Naruto could reach the stream, there was a barrage of shurikens heading his way. Naruto flipped into the air to avoid them, but he was unprepared for the next attack by Jiraiya; a breath of fire.
'Katon: Karyuu Endan!' Jiraiya shouted, breathing out the powerful flames once more as Naruto performed several handseals for another technique.
Naruto immediately turned into a log and Jiraiya rushed to the small waterfall to catch up with him. He saw that Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
Damn, where is that kid? Jiraiya thought, looking around.
He focused the chakra to his feet and walked upon the water to scout for Naruto, it looked like he was gone, but Jiraiya knew that the boy was still around here.
Suddenly, Jiraiya whirled around, feeling a surge of chakra. And before him was the biggest dragon made of water he had ever seen. Naruto was hiding underneath the waterfall! Jiraiya was still in shock from the dragon.
'Suiton: Suiryuudan no Jutsu!' Naruto shouted; the dragon came charging.
Jiraiya got struck by the gigantic water draon and was thrown upon the nearby pebbles that were along the shore, the impact of the water still upon him.
After a few moments, the blast dispersed and Naruto walked up to him. Jiraiya was coughing from the water in his lungs and looked up to the boy, who fainted.
Using Suiryuudan no Jutsu with a limited water supply is truly exhausting, Jiraiya thought, smirking.
The man took off his forehead protector and put a dent in it.
You will be a great ninja…