Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Never did, never will. Masashi Kishimoto does.
"A Sand-nin capable of Earth type Jutsus so far," speculated Kakashi as he rubbed his mask covered chin thoughtfully.
Sasuke was brainstorming every possible Jutsus he could use to counter the monstrosity that towered before him. Naruto hadn't made a move, just like when he finished throwing off the shurikens. This kept Sasuke on the edge, making him think every single possibility was going on along with what Jutsus he could use at the same time.
"He's challenging Sasuke," stated Tsunade in a serious manner. "Indirectly in a way."
Shizune hesitantly moved around to get a better look of the Godaime Hokage. The only time she was this serious was when she had some major paperwork, life threatening surgeries that needed her personal treatment, or meetings with the Council.
"What do you mean, Tsunade-sensei?" asked Sakura.
"One would say that he's not rushing into a fight, observing and predicting his opponent's every move. In this case, Sasuke over there." Said Tsunade. "But from the looks of it, it's clear that he's not. He's challenging Sasuke to do better, to out best him in every way. He already pointed out he's by far faster than Sasuke. Sasuke now moved on to Ninjutsu…."
"But Sasuke-kun's Sharingan has copied a lot of Ninjutsus. Even if this guy has his own reserve of Ninjutsu tricks, I bet Sasuke-kun has a whole lot more. Sasuke-kun is definitely going to beat him this time!" pointed out Sakura with confidence.
"That and the fact he was trained by a Sannin far back. A treacherous and evil one, but a Sannin no doubt." added an ANBU member.
Tsunade didn't seem convinced. She had seen and learned a lot in life. "True. But sometimes, it's not the number of cards you've got. It's how you play them."
Kisame and Asami really had to agree with Naruto on this one: the old lady was really fit to become the Hokage. Kabuto already knew that long before he met Kisame and Asami. Even if that a nothing more but a comment, few shinobis in the world would realize that fact. Most of them, including some Sannin by the name of Orochimaru, were the ones that never or just plain ignorant to realize this.
'You have no idea,' thought up Asami. 'Even if he shows some Konoha trademark techniques, there's no way they would even suspect the captain of an elite ANBU squad is Naruto. '
"You think you're all that, don't you?" asked Sasuke, still trying to get a grip on things.
He wanted to buy some time as much as possible. "Tell you what, let's bring this spar up a notch. The first shinobi to lay a wound on the other wins. A simple cut on the skin or a heavy wound, whatever. We have three of the best medic-nins around."
Kisame elbowed Kabuto playfully after Sasuke said the words 'best medic-nin'. Kabuto just elbowed back, much harder than Kisame's own. Asami just rolled her eyes behind the mask, and gave both of them each an elbow to the ribs.
The other spectators turned their attention towards the two Sand ANBU whom were crouched down on the knees. Each grasping the side of their rib with huge sweat drops of regret.
After several seconds of brainstorming, he finally found one Jutsu that was just as good.
It was one of the strongest water techniques that Kakashi had taught him; he should have done this one from the start. The set of seals needed to perform this Jutsu was indeed long, but Naruto didn't seem to mind. Uchiha Sasuke pointed out the last hand seal towards the towering earth dragon and shouted out loud,
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu (Water Element: Great Waterfall Technique)!"
The water from the near by river spiraled its way like a vortex towards Naruto's earth Jutsu. With the force enough to uproot away trees off the ground, it began to tear the bits of chakra held earth. It was slowly engulfing the serpentine structure and slowly, but surely destroying it. Kisame was slightly impressed upon the Uchiha's performance on a B Level technique of the Hidden Mist. The earth was washed away as showers of mud fell onto the training ground that was of Team 7. Puddles slowly formed everywhere as it slightly rained from the clash of earth dragon and vortex of water.
All of them saw as Naruto jumped out of the twister of water, totally unaffected by the strong current of the water Jutsu. The serpentine structure began to change its shape as it collapsed down on to the ground. It was now nothing more but a huge pile of mud. Naruto's clothes were once again soaking wet, as water dripped down from the sides of his Sand cape. Bits of mud splashed onto his cloak, pants, and shinobi boots. (Are they sandals or boots?) The fact how he managed to keep his Oni mask and hood on was a wonder to the Leaf-nins. Sasuke rushed in for a close, one to one, Taijutsu match now with a faster speed than before. He was confident, with his third leveled Sharingan activated. He could see body movements better, as though they were moving a slow motion. Even the rest of Team 7 looked confident as the same idea dawned upon their minds. Of course they knew Sasuke had to be careful, the ground was now slippery all over thanks to the mud and puddles.
The ANBU leaf-nins kept their eyes on the fight, trying not to blink their eyes as much as possible. The Hokage and Kazekage seemed to be enjoying themselves, Shizune by Tsunade's side while Kankurou by Gaara's side.
Sasuke sent a quick punch with his right hand for the chest, and he could already Naruto dodging it with a turn. Sasuke smirked happily, a punch using the left hand making its way to where Naruto's body would be in a second later. One would see that the captain was moving his body into the path of the Uchiha's punch. The punch was moving, the spectators' had their eyes opened wide. Baki and his students knew what was coming, they all had seen it happen it the preliminaries of the Jounin exam.
Direct hit.
With another confused face, Sasuke violently tumbled and rolled away through the wet earth away from the Jinchuuriki. None of them could believe their eyes, well excluding Gaara and his three ANBU. With Naruto holding out his right arm in an open from under the cloak, Tsunade and the others could already figure out what just happened. Uchiha Sasuke had just been roughly pushed away. He finally skidded and stopped after a few more roles on thw wet grass.
Sasuke coughed a little , after having the air pushed out of his lungs, and slowly got up from the ground. He was totally confused, the Sharingan didn't register any movement coming from under the cloak. He should've seen it coming, but he just didn't. Sasuke turned around to see Kakashi. The Copy Ninja and Sakura looked worried, well Sai just tried to remain passive as possible. Things were looking bad, such thing had never happened before. Even in a Taijutsu match between instructor and student, both Sasuke and Kakashi could at least see the body movements. Dodging it or going on another attack, it was up to the Sharingan wielder's capabilities.
Sakura nervously glanced at her Jounin instructor, "Uhmmmm…Sasuke-kun's going to win. Right Kakashi-sensei?"
"May be," answered Kakashi. He could sense the fear and nervousness of his pink haired kunoichi. "Sasuke will think of something, don't worry. He always does."
"He's probably a genius of the Sand," quoted Sai.
"Where did you find this guy?" asked Shizune as she directed the question towards Kankurou.
However it was his brother, the Kazekage that answered, "From the pits of hell where he was thrown twice into."
Tsunade and the rest of the leaf-nins were wondering what that answer meant.
'Perhaps he had been forced to endure the Sand ANBU training twice as difficult?'
Asami, Kisame, and Kabuto didn't mind the weird remark, as they continued looking at their comrade, friend, and leader.
Naruto's right hand slowly retreated back into the wet cloak, now he wasn't the only ninja soaking wet and covered in patches of mud. Sasuke stood up, also wet and covered in mud. Now determined more than ever to bring who ever this Sand captain down. Itachi's brother moved in for another attempt, now throwing blows of punches and kick much how Lee would decimate a tree log. Naruto was dodging, by twist of turns, jumps, or simply bowing down. Frustration slowly grew in Sasuke, as he decided to play dirty.
"Hei, it's like some mud wrestling." Joked Hirami. "Except they're guys."
Practically everyone turned their heads towards Hirami, some with their eyebrows scrunched in disbelief. Even Sasuke and Naruto looked at her disbelievingly.
"What? It was just a joke." Defended Hirami.
Baki didn't look pleased at his student, and looked at Kakashi.
"Your pervert personality isn't by any chance contagious, is it?"
Nobody had asked Hatake Kakashi that question before, but he answered, "No…"
Sasuke brought another kick, while as Naruto further jumped away from the reaches of Sasuke's leg. The leg turned in mid air, and stomped down hard on the mud. Whether it was mud or water, it didn't matter. It had done its job; it had made its way into the eyeholes of the ANBU mask.
"Cheap trick," commented Chiro, Baki's Chuunin student.
Temporarily blinded, Sasuke took the opportunity by mustering his energy into delivering a strong uppercut. His fist made contact with the chin of the Oni mask, and the Jinchuuriki (vessel) was violently sent in mid air. Naruto landed hard on his back, now even dirtier as he lay there in a puddle of mud. Sasuke was breathing heavily; he'd given his best in the Taijutsu. He finally chuckled as the ANBU captain, now with his Oni mask cracked, lay around not moving at all.
"Heh, knocked you damn hard. Didn't I?"
Splash!
The Sand ANBU captain dissolved into water as it splashed into the puddle of water. Sasuke and Kakashi's Sharingan opened wide in disbelief, it was nothing more than clone.
"Mizu Bunshin…..(Water clone)" stuttered Kakashi.
"Ahahahahahaha!" laughed Kisame out loud in content as Naruto had played out his trick using Kisame's own water type Jutsus. In fact, all the water type Jutsus he had ever learned came from Kisame. Well, Kisame didn't teach Naruto every single water type Jutsu he knew, he still kept a lot of them all to himself. But Kisame was wondering if his ANBU captain would show off the other things he learned off under Kisame's teachings.
"He can also perform Water type Jutsu then," Sai stated the obvious.
'Well, duh! Thanks for sharing us the obvious, Brush boy.' as Asami decided to control Kisame a little with a tug on the cloak.
"No way! Sasuke-kun and your Sharingan should have been seen right through it. Right?" demanded Sakura. "You could have known it was a Bunshin straight away!"
"That's what really confusing Sasuke and me at the moment," stated Kakashi seriously. "If it was a Mizu Bunshin, the Sharingan should have been able to see it as a clear water figure molded and controlled by continuous flowing of chakra."
"But both of you didn't." continued Sai.
Kakashi replied, "No. That's what really confusing. It's like that Bunshin was a Kage Bunshin before it finally dispelled. It was totally made by flesh, bones, and blood like a Kage Bunshin, then it just turned into a Water clone."
Things were definitely starting to bother the Leaf-nins. As for Baki's students, they were just beginning to understand how strong their ANBU forces were. Sasuke was looking around, searching the whereabouts of his sparring partner. His third leveled Sharingan detected chakra signature coming from the mound of earth that was once a dragon. Naruto slowly rose from the heap of mud like a zombie from a damp graveyard. (I leave the description to your imaginations for that)
"So he never left the dragon's head, he'd sent out the water clone right from Sasuke's very own Water Jutsu. Clever indeed" complimented Tsunade.
Sasuke's anger and frustration grew more and more, because the famous Uchiha was being toyed around like a kid. He cursed in thought, 'Damn it!'
As Naruto rose, the water from the heap of mud slowly separated from the particles of dirt and earth. Chakra had filtered away the bits of earth and dirt from the water, and began molding the clear water once more.
"He's leaking chakra into the earth from his feet," pointed out the ANBU with the Byakugan.
Several more Mizu Bunshins rose along side of Naruto, a dozen as Sasuke and the audience finished counting all Sand ANBU captains there stood up straight. Naruto glanced down at the heap of dirt that was now dry. He had practically used every drop of water from the heap.
'Now let's not put this thing to waste, shall we?' asked Kyuubi in Naruto's head.
Naruto answered back 'You know how I don't like wasting.'
Sasuke and the rest of the Leaf-nins were startled when several pair of hands burst out from the heap of dirt. It was like some sick movie of zombies rising from the dead Both Kabuto and Kisame smiled, remembering the zombie movie they just watched on T.V right after the snake movie back in the inn.
Under the moonlight, Sakura and the others noticed something peculiar about the other Sand ANBU clones that made their way out of dirt. Their colors. It was a mix of brown and black, including the ANBU masks. All of them came to a conclusion.
"Suna Bunshin (Sand clone)" voiced out Gaara like he could read the Leaf-nins' mind with telepathy. "They're not perfect Suna Bunshin though, there isn't much sand around in the ground. So he's compensating them with the earth and soil."
"Clones huh?" finalized Sasuke. "Sorry, but to me, they're pathetic. Kind of reminds me of some dope I'm waiting to come back. Let's finish this."
Sasuke jumped away a few feet back, making space between him and the clones. Things weren't adding up, both water clones and sand clones were registered as solid flesh and bones in his Sharingan. Hatake Kakashi didn't like how these clones play out at all. Sasuke had a hard time to even lay a touch on a clone.
"Senei Jashuu (Shadow Snake Hand)!" called out Sasuke as over a dozen snakes altogether lashed out from both the Uchiha's sleeves. The snakes were just too long to be compared with the real ones, like garden hoses with their own minds. The cold blooded reptiles either whipped their way on the clones, wrapped some of them hard, while others finally resorted to sink their venomous fangs in the clones. Those clones that were Mizu Bunshin that had been severely lashed would splash away while others would remain stuck in the sand clones.
Naruto, Kisame, Kabuto, Asami, and the rest of the Leaf-nins took note this was Orochimaru's teaching back when he joined Otogakure.
The Sand-nins didn't feel threaten at all as some of the clones just reverted back to their original shape. The Suna Bunshin took out their own kunais and cut off the snakes' head that were still embedded in parts of their bodies.
The real Naruto just played along as one snake had wrapped itself tightly around him. Of course, under the midst of the clones, few would notice the snake's head had been cut off.
"Told you that you won't even lay a finger on him." teased Takagi and Chiro together.
Sasuke shoved away the reminder, and found a Jutsu compatible in taking out a large number of enemies. He'd used the technique numerous times before. Sakura, Sai, and Kakashi recognized the all too familiar chain of seals. Kakashi would now best the moment he saw the first hand seal.
"Chidori (Thousand birds)!" mustered Sasuke as his right hand crackled with chakra. The sound when heard carefully, would remind anyone the chirping and flying of flocks of birds in the sky. The dark sky lightened in a blue as the Chidori gave out electric blue light. Either this was chakra or electric energy converted chakra, the leaf-nins didn't know. What that know is, the Chidori could pierce through anything.
'Like I haven't seen you use that thing before,' teased Kisame and Kabuto silently in their own mind.
Kisame saw the Chidori back when Sasuke attempted to thrust it at Itachi. It was during their mission of retrieving Naruto right after the Chuunin exams. Well Kabuto had just seen it a lot of times while Sasuke trained under Orochimaru.
'Come on, Sasuke-teme. Three whole years, and the only thing new that you've shown me so far is an Earth type Jutsu and one of the snake bastard's techniques?' challenged Naruto in his head.
Sasuke run at his fastest speed possible, and rammed the Chidori through the clones like they were simple, transparent Bunshin clones. Of course, the parts of the clones that were attacked were nothing lethal. He had struck near the shoulders, waist, thighs, and hands of the clones. The wounded clones would drop on the ground, and retreat back to their original forms. Turning into small piles of soil or leaving into nothing more but puddles on the ground.
"Don't worry if I accidentally ram this thing at the real you. Wherever you are hiding behind all of these clones." Played Sasuke as he seemed satisfied that the Jutsu was working perfectly as he expected. "Like I said before, we have the best medic-nins around."
Sasuke didn't hear any protests or warnings coming from either Kage of the elemental countries or from his Jounin instructor. So it didn't really matter to Sasuke that he was using the Chidori. After several more runs, Sasuke was narrowed them down into only three Sand ANBU captains. Just before the Uchiha prodigy continued another step, the clones on the left and right dispelled back under commands. The original Naruto decided that playing such tricks was just getting too lame.
"We're not done yet," said Sasuke in anger. Tsunade, Gaara, and the rest of the ninja could barely what Sasuke had said from a far. The Chidori crackled even louder as more chakra was concentrated into Sasuke's right hand. In half a second, there was a small flicker of purple chakra in the Chidori. Unnoticed to the other shinobis, it managed to catch the attention of all four Sand ANBU, Kakashi, and Tsunade. They all knew what it meant.
It was Orochimaru's Curse Seal.
Even after layers upon layers of seals placed to suppress the effects of the Curse Seal, it some how managed to penetrate through all that. Anger and thirst for power fueled the Seal as if it was a parasite. Even Mitarashi Anko, Orochimaru's ex-student, didn't need all those numerous seals placed on her. But Sasuke had taken Orochimaru's pill and brought the Curse Seal all the way to level two. Things just had to be done; they just didn't know what to do about the Seal.
Tsunade noticed the slight interest that all four Sand ANBU upon the recent event.
She pondered, 'Why the sudden interest?'
"His emotions are getting in the way," stated Sai.
"Huh? Oh, yeah." Agreed Kakashi as he took note of his student's words.
"To be baited by the frustration of being played around," continued Sai, "Anger, jealousy, frustration…Emotions are mostly useless."
"Shut up Sai! I won't have you bad mouth Sasuke like that!" warned Sakura as she cracked her fingers. "One more word about Sasuke, I'll punch you."
Sai looked at Kakashi, "See what I mean?"
Everyone could hear the pink kunoichi's voice, even the two ninjas that were sparring off at the moment.
'Same old arrogant bastard Sasuke, same old hot headed Sakura.' Commented Naruto.
'Yet you've drastically changed, eh brat?' asked Kyuubi 'Not the same old loud mouth brat you used to be. Leaving this shit hole was the best advice I've ever given to you.'
'Whatever' replied back Naruto though he could help feeling happy, smirking under that Oni mask of his.
Sasuke once again sprinted off, with a fully charged Chidori in his hand. Naruto didn't even move or try to perform a Jutsu as Sasuke move closer and closer. The Chidori was aimed right at Naruto's right shoulder, both sparring opponents knew. Naruto left hand shot out from under the cloak, and quickly grasped tightly on the upper wrist of Sasuke.
The Chidori merely crackled a few centimeters from Naruto's shoulder as it had been stopped. It directly died down when Naruto tighten his grip even harder.
Kakashi sighed heavily; the Chidori still had a major flaw even with the addition of the Sharingan. Predicting body movements in dodging the Thousand Birds, the Sharingan would easily solve the flaw. The Fourth Hokage had already pointed the major flaw right on the first glance. If someone could even move faster than the Sharingan could predict, the Sharingan was just as useless. Chakra was heavily concentrated at the hands, yet someone could just grab the hands and render the Chidori useless. That's why neither Tsunade, Kakashi himself, nor the ANBU leaf-nins had interfered or even said a word.
Sakura already knew that when Kakashi had stopped both Naruto and Sasuke when they battled it out on the hospital. By grasping both wrists, the two rivals had been thrown off to a water tank reserve. Back to field, Naruto delivered a hard blow on Sasuke's gut with his other hand, setting the Uchiha down on his knees. Saliva made their way out into the air from Sasuke's mouth as he opened his jaw wide open. Again, he had the air knocked out of him. Naruto had let go of his grip on Sasuke's right hand.
Chiro and Hirami winced a little, imagining how the pain would feel.
"Ouch, that has got to hurt."
Just when everyone thought it was all over, Naruto grabbed a hold on Sasuke's neck. He lifted him up high and threw the Uchiha a few feet away.
"That's enough!" shouted Sakura angrily. She couldn't bear watching her precious Sasuke-kun like that anymore.
The ANBU captain paid no attention as he walked closer towards the sprawled Sasuke.
Even the Sand-nins didn't pay any attention, as they seemed eager what was going to happen next.
"No," simply voiced out Naruto coldly.
Gaara, Kisame, and Kabuto thought that Naruto was getting to excited in the sparring match. Losing him temporarily, every time he was fighting a well good match. An influence of the Kyuubi, the thrill and excitement of a fight. However Asami didn't think such idea, Naruto must have other reasons for such acts.
Besides, he'd promised. Uzumaki Naruto always had kept all his promises.
"I thought I heard Uchiha Sasuke said it's not over till someone gets a wound from the other." Said Kankurou towards Sakura.
"He's right, Sakura…" finished Sasuke as he groggily tried to stand up. "This is far from over. I should've remember."
He had remembered it all. How Itachi had easily blocked Sasuke's Chidori, and beaten him up down to a wall. The memories were crystal clear: he'd remember anything that involved his brother. The last time he'd met his brother, back when he saw Itachi and the swordsman of the Mist, Hoshigaki Kisame came to Konohagakure to take Naruto. Itachi had grabbed Sasuke's right hand with his own, directed the Chidori at the corridor walls of the hotel. How his brother tightened his grasp just once, and sent him kneeling down on the floor. The pain didn't stop there. His brother sent his off to a wall with a kick, and delivered another blow to his gut using his left hand. An elbow to his back, followed by a knee to his chin, and one last blow with his left hand. Uchiha Itachi finally finished him off with a grasp on the neck, and a glimpse of the Magenkyou Sharingan.
"I should've known it was you, Onii-san (brother)" continued Sasuke as he spit on the ground.
"Huh? Your brother?" asked Sakura in curiosity.
Shock rippled through the Leaf-nins as realization dawned on the Leaf-nins' memories. The Leaf ANBU guards took out and unsheathed their katanas. Takagi tried to remember just what was the name of Sasuke's brother. The other three Sand ANBU guards didn't even bother to do a thing.
"Who? The infamous Uchiha Itachi?" asked Baki in confirmation, "That's who you think he is?"
His students and Kankurou tried their best to stifle their laughter. Kankurou finally spoke after regaining his composure.
"Aw man…..that was a good one. Uchiha Itachi…" chuckled the puppet master, "Believe me Hokage-sama, that guy over there is no Uchiha Itachi."
The Godaime Hokage turned her eyes on Gaara, as if waiting for him to have a say in the whole matter.
"What my brother just said is true, Hokage-dono." stated Gaara. "Though even if he was, I'd have to say there's nothing you can do about it."
Tsunade stood quiet, not liking the words she just heard coming from the Kazekage. True, there really was nothing Konoha or any of the leaf-nins could do about it. They couldn't risk breaking the treaty and waging war simply because of one man. The lives that could be lost idly of one man. Yet, this one man was responsible for the deaths of entire clan from Konoha.
"I don't care what they say," spat Sasuke, "I know who my brother is. Your moves, the killing intents, everything…."
'Then it's obvious that you don't know your own brother,' thought up Naruto.
Kyuubi decided to join in the fun, 'Most of humans are just plain dumb, I have no idea why these humans here even call him a genius. That just makes them the stupider ones around here.'
"That's it! I'm not holding back!" exclaimed Sasuke as loud as voice box would allow him. "Screw the Jounin exams, I can always take it next time! But you!"
Kakashi suddenly poofed behind him, "Sasuke, calm down."
It wasn't a plea or an advice. It was an order. A direct order. All those times both Kakashi and Sakura had tried to help him deal with his life's agenda such as all those counseling sessions, rehabilitations, and all their time together for the past year and a half. It was all coming to this.
--Begin Flashback--
"Tell me Sasuke-kun, why is it your life's ambition, to kill your brother?" wondered Sakura even after she already knew what the answer would be, as she sat next to him on a tree branch.
"Because he betrayed me, broke the clan's trust, killed my parents and all the other Uchiha. You should know, the Uchiha massacre." answered Sasuke coldly as relieved all those memories.
"So it was is him, huh?" asked Sakura. "Did he tell you to kill him?"
"Yes," answered Sasuke, "Even if he didn't. I would have wanted to myself."
"So in a way, you're just following the words of the man that killed your family and clan?" asked Sakura again.
Sasuke turned o look at Sakura. Surprised by such remark, Kakashi never talked back like this. It was always revenge is not worth it or there will be nothing left for you.
"Pretty stupid if you ask me," added Sakura, "Let me guess, he even told you to detest him your whole life, live a detested life, and become just like him."
The Uchiha couldn't say a word in return, but just kept hearing what his pink haired teammate had o say.
"To me, he's just jealous of you. He's the one suffering. He decided to spare your life and let you suffer just as he is. He could have killed you, but he didn't." explained Sakura. "You're just playing his games. Beat him at it with your own. Besides, you want to show just how strong you really are. You don't need to go lust for power like some lunatic. He grew strong here in Konoha. Sometimes I wonder why you even left, going to Orochimaru…."
Sasuke wondered everything she just said himself, may be he would do just that. He was startled when Kakashi poofed right beside him.
"Besides, who would want to help you in rebuilding your clan if you become some power ravaging shinobi like Orochimaru." Teased Kakashi with an Icha Icha book chronicles in his hand. "In the end, if you did kill him. It would be you that had killed the entire Uchiha clan. There would be no one to continue your legacy."
--End flashback--
"Don't worry, Kakashi-sensei" assured Sasuke after linking several times and realized his mistake. It wasn't always that Sasuke would call him with the suffix –sensei, "I'm not going to kill him. I'm going to beat him. I'm through playing with his games."
Uchiha Sasuke tried to get rid the sore in his joints as he cracked his fingers on both hands. He was stretching a bit, moving his neck here and there. He was surprised when he felt all the aching go away. He turned to see Sakura behind him, smiling at him as she used her own medical Jutsu to heal him a little. Kakashi was just plain happy for him as he stood between the two sparring partners.
"You don't mind, do you?" asked Kakashi. "Just take it was a resting session between rounds."
"I always wondered why do boys always try so hard?" asked Sakura as her hand glowed in green chakra at Sasuke gut. "You, Lee-san, Neji, and Naruto…. Can't wait to see what he's capable of after following Jiraiya-sama."
"May be the dobe will be more of a pervert than he already is," suggested Sasuke. "Reading off the every first edition of any Icha Icha chronicles before they even get to be published."
Sakura giggled in thought.
"Now, now. Sasuke." corrected Kakashi as he patted Sasuke on the shoulders.
Naruto remained silent for a while, and bowed down a little. Kakashi didn't know what to make of that. Heck, even the spectators didn't know what this meant. Kabuto, Asami, and Kisame tried to move from their positions but Naruto stopped them with a raise of a hand. Tsunade could sense a change in the air, and somehow she felt relieved. Shizune just smiled at her, sharing the feeling with her Hokage.
Gaara just watched Naruto as he walked his way to the tree where he was hung twice onto during Kakashi's bell test. He just rested his back on the tree, and tapped the bark with the back of his head thrice. The sound of the river flowing and the numerous stars shining up in the sky like specks of diamonds just made him thought of a new trick. Kyuubi's laughter echoed again in his hand, after managing to hear his thoughts. To Naruto, it was just unfair sometimes. The Kyuubi was able to gain access to his memories, but Naruto couldn't access Kyuubi's. Unless Kyuubi decided to share some memories to him, that is.
Meanwhile, a battle strategy struck the Uchiha's mind as he saw Naruto leaning himself to the tree. He was going for it, no matter what. He'd bet that his brother would survive through the technique he's going to pull later on. It was just going to hurt, not kill him.
The pain, well…let's just say he'll be remembering it for the rest of his life.
Kakashi went back to his place, in between Shizune and Sai. Sakura was just finishing up on Sasuke as she gave a few words, "Just go beat him and come back, will you?"
Naruto heard every word clearly as though he was standing right beside her. Both Naruto and Sasuke took their places once again.
"Let's finish this. Once and for all." stated Sasuke as he unbuttoned an up side down pocket. A small scroll, the size of a fist dropped down upon his waiting hand as the law of gravity made its role. Sasuke activated his Sharingan once more, as he neared the scroll to his mouth, and bite it.
"Heh. Round Two." called out Kankurou happily. "And it's only 9.05 p.m. Temari is going to go mad when we tell that she missed one heck of a match."
PLEASE RATE AND REVIEW! They are heavily appreciated and motivate me to write more for all you readers. Trust me, the more reviews, the faster I update. Hehehehehe. You people must really hate me for putting you guys in another cliffhanger.
Sorry about this.