Disclaimer: Refer to chapter 1.
AN: Chapter Title: The Final Stage Begins!
"Finally." The day of bloodshed had at last come. He had waited for a month and now his patience would be rewarded. Mother screeched every night, screamed for blood, and at last could satisfy her. It didn't matter who as long as the streets ran with blood. All that mattered was the blood of everyone in the village.
He would kill everyone and Mother would finally be happy.
His mind would quiet, be filled with silence.
He could at last rest.
"N-Neji." Hinata stopped him on his way out. He looked up from finishing wrapping his hand in bandages to the barely standing girl. Hina was nowhere in sight.
"You need to return to your room Hinata." He stepped forward but she didn't retreat. She grabbed hold of the doorframe to keep herself standing.
"I just wanted to wish you good luck." Her eyes remained on the floor. "I-I know you'll become a Chunin but…"
"Fate has decided the outcome of today already Hinata." Neji stopped in front of her, offering his arm. "You need to return to bed. The Clan will travel with you to the stadium later."
"I didn't want you to leave without having the chance to talk." She took his arm and he began walking her back to her room. "I-I know what you did to Yoroi during the Exams."
"I beat him." He looked into her eyes and saw the Byakugan. He came to a stop. "Hi-"
"I can do the same to you." She laid a hand on his chest. Neji searched for the familiar nervous and fearful Hinata but he couldn't find her. He found nothing that would let him see the Hinata before him was the same Hinata that had been pushed around by the clan. The hand she held to his heart was proof enough to that. "Don't hurt Naruto-kun."
She walked away from him and closed the door to her room. Neji stood frozen for a moment before he turned back towards the door.
'He's gotten into her head.' He was certain of it now. When he had gone to sleep the night before, he didn't know what he would be doing in his match with Naruto Uzumaki but now he knew. He no longer held any doubts to what needed to be done. He would kill Naruto Uzumaki for Hinata. No matter what she believed about herself, he could beat her if she tried to take retribution. 'You'll thank me for this one day Hinata.'
He was certain she would.
"Shino, wait a moment." Shibi stopped his son at the door. Four members of his Clan were at the door, set to accompany the boy to the arena in lieu of his father. "I have something I want to give you."
"If it's a gift it can wait until after the Chunin Exams father." Shino's stance was identical to his father save for the tilt of his head, he had to look up to look into his father's covered eyes. Both their hands were placed in the pockets of their jackets and both stood in a way that hid their anxiety.
"If that's what you want." Shibi moved forward regardless before crouching down and wrapping a single arm around the boy. "Good luck son. If all goes well today, I'll be able to attend the end of the Exams."
Shibi, along with several Aburame, were to head away from the village and create a sensor net under ANBU protection. It was mainly to clear the worry the aged Hokage felt of a possible invasion during the Exams. Most saw it was pointless because the odds of an invasion were slim to none with Konohagakure's Shinobi roster bolstered with some of its strongest at the moment. Jiraiya of the Sannin was among them at the moment even. An invasion would be suicide for anyone foolish enough to try to many.
Shibi had volunteered to quiet any objections to wasted manpower.
It was better to have wasted time than be surprised by an invasion.
"I'll see you then father." Shibi watched his son leave. He didn't notice the kikaichu his father had planted on him.
'Just in case, it is better to plan for the worst.' He turned to the other three Aburame Clan members that would be moving with him.
"Let's move out."
Four figures moved towards the gates at dizzying speeds to meet with their ANBU escort and five figures walked to the stadium the Chunin Exams would be held in.
Their ANBU escort made sure they never made it.
"I can't believe you're complaining about sleep now." Team Asuma walked to the arena together. Ino rolled her eyes as Shikamaru dragged his feet every step of the way, an almost visible trench dug by his sandals behind the four.
"It's too early to be up." Shikamaru rubbed at his eyes with one hand, the other hanging limp at his side. His entire form was slouched. "Why can't the finals happen later?"
"Any later and it'll be night and you'll try to say they happen too late." Asuma dropped his burned down cigarette to the ground. "The Exams start later in the day anyway, the Hokage just wants all the participants there early."
"This is such a drag."
"And you're a literal one!"
"Tenten!" Lee raced forward, a hand from Gai hardly stopping him from barreling into the wheelchair bound bun haired Genin.
"Easy Lee, your youthful passion is commendable but Tenten's doctor was very clear." Gai dropped his hand back to the handles and moved Tenten forward at a slow pace. "She can attend the Finals but-"
"We both heard the doctor Gai-sensei." Tenten rolled her eyes from where she sat before she smiled at Lee. "It's not like he could stop me even if he tried from cheering you on Lee."
"I am incredibly grateful for such a thing Tenten!" Lee bowed to his teammate. When he rose up, his eyes held an unreadable thing within. "I promise you this Tenten, Gaara will pay for what he did to you with the spilling of his own blood and his broken body."
"That's so sweet of you Lee."
"Temari, Kankuro." The voice of their father stopped the two from leaving. The two turned and saw Baki standing behind his shoulder like he usually was in the village. He held the Kazekage's hat in his hands and eyes like his son's froze them in place. There was nothing in them. "Remember your mission."
"Of course Father." Both bowed to him.
"You're dismissed." He turned away and placed the hat on his head. "Take the weapon with you when you leave. I made sure It's already outside."
"Of course Father." Neither let their fear show when they rose.
"Caesar." As usual for the past month, the Legate awaited him outside his quarters. "Shall we depart to the stadium?"
"Yes." Naruto adjusted his sword at his side and his helmet laid under his arm on the opposite side. "We have a Chunin Exams to win Legate."
"I look forward to meeting you in battle in the Finals, Caesar."
"I as well Legate."
The two left the Uchiha district with only the other for company. No Praetorians accompanied Naruto. None were even in the Uchiha district. A host comparable to a skeleton crew kept the center of his burgeoning Empire under watch.
"Hokage-sama." A dozen ANBU stood in front of the aged Hokage, arranged in two rows. "The participants of the Chunin Exams have arrived. The Kazekage is set to arrive soon as well."
"Rasa-san will arrive early no doubt." He turned and walked out the door, his shadow growing as he was followed. Other shadows spread down his path, watched for others and found none. There was nothing beyond their shadows.
It worried them.
They waited for an attack, for an irregularity, and found nothing. The walk to the stadium went perfectly. Nothing happened.
'It's too peaceful.' It was the unanimous thoughts of them all.
Now they simply had to wait for the other shoe to drop. They just had to hope they were ready.
The Hokage was correct. In a few short minutes, the Kazekage arrived. He was roughly half an hour ahead of schedule. His own guard spread across the room, took up their discussed positions and did nothing else. They hardly seemed to even be breathing but that was to expected from Suna Shinobi. They were disciplined. Many believed they would turn their blades on themselves if their Kazekage ordered it.
"Hiruzen-san. It is an honor to meet you." Rasa came to a stop before the Hokage and before their seats for the Chunin Exams.
"The same to you Rasa-san." Hiruzen turned to where the participants had gathered. "The gathered potential here is incredible as always."
"I have no doubt with so many Konoha Genin advancing through the Second Stage and the preliminaries I heard you hosted." Rasa joined him. His eyes focused on one above the others.
'So that's the boy I've heard so much about. I can see why.' Rasa focused on the boy and would not deny what he felt. 'This must be what it feels like to see a Kage in the making.' The boy stood like a leader, stood like one who was destined to stand above all others. He was everything one could hope for in a successor to the title of Kage. 'He is just as dangerous as I feared.' The reports underestimated him, downplayed his danger, and the authors would be punished. They were fools who allowed the 'Self' to come before the 'Whole'. Their personal pride did not matter when it came to the village itself. 'He needs to die.'
His decision made, Rasa focused on the Hokage.
"I've heard it is customary for the hosting village's Kage to give a speech to the prospective Chunin." Rasa swung one arm out to the Genin. "Do you believe now is the time, Hiruzen-san?" Now was the time. His movement, any movement from a Kage truly, drew the attention of the gathered participants onto the two of them.
"I believe it is the perfect time." Hiruzen stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"It is a tremendous honor for me to welcome all of you participants to the end of the Chunin Exams. The Third and Final Stage is set to begin within mere hours and all of your futures shall be known before the day is over with. The promotion to the rank of Chunin is a rigorous and difficult process you all have nearly completed and have thus shown that you are deserving of the rank. You have shown the ability to gather intelligence, travel through hostile lands under threat, and display combat skills above your rank. All of you have the ability to become Chunin and thus you're performance in the Final Stage will be judged in full. From the moment you've entered this arena to the moment the judges come to a decision, you are under observation. Those who showcase the traits and skills of a Chunin and those who do not will be judged accordingly. I wish you all the best of luck today and in your future as Shinobi of both Konohagakure and Sunagakure."
His rather short speech finished, the Hokage turned to his seat and sat down. He gestured to the one next to him.
"There is some time before the Exams are to begin, let us sit for the moment Rasa-san."
The two Kage sat together and spoke on things that bore no meaning whatsoever.
"Hmm." Naruto turned his eyes away from where the two Kage sat. "Legate, what are the matches?" His voice was loud intentionally of course. The other Genin looked to him, some made it less noticeable than others, and the Uchiha seemed to think for a moment.
"Forgive me for any inaccuracies Caesar, I have not looked upon this list in some time with my other duties taking precedent." Sasuke's Sharingan snapped to Ino and she couldn't completely control herself. She flinched before steeling her gaze. "The Third Stage is to begin with the match between myself and Ino Yamanaka. From there, Rock lee and Kankuro of the Sand are to meet in the arena. Temari of the Sand and Shikamaru Nara are to follow them. You yourself are to then battle Neji Hyuga in what shall no doubt be a one-sided contest from there. Shino Aburame and Gaara of the Sand should conclude the first round of the contest. The second round will no doubt include ourselves but I do not know of the others." Sasuke suddenly held up his hand, four of his fingers together and one apart from the others. "Out of the five contestants to triumph in the first round, one of them will automatically proceed to the third round. The third round will involve two bouts and then the finals shall be held with the winners of those two matches."
"I see the Chunin Exams will be boring then." Naruto looked out to the arena. "I expect some entertainment in your match Legate. It will tide me over until I can face the Hyuga in the arena."
"Of course Caesar." Sasuke bowed his head and brought his fist over his armored heart with a clang. "I shall do as you command."
'I still can't believe I ever had that crush on him. Especially with how bad it was by the end of it.' Whatever affection Ino Yamanaka once felt for Sasuke Uchiha had been gone for nearly a month. Asuma Sarutobi didn't need to involve himself in getting rid of it either. Seeing everything he did, the way he blindly followed a lunatic, and his own sadism was enough for her to get over a stupid schoolyard crush. 'I'm going to kick your ass when we fight.'
Her training with Asuma Sarutobi had been beyond anything she was used to and had been borderline ruthless more often than not. He had drilled her endlessly day in and day out as the month drew to a close and refused to let her come to the fight with less than four different plans. It had taken nearly a week to create them with the harshness he had gone through the dozens of others she created. While making sure her Taijutsu was up to par in addition to her other skills while she recited them to him.
Poor plans made him go at her harder, his blows came faster, his weapons were more accurate, and she found herself collapsed by the end of it. Good plans made the training slightly easier. She could at least keep herself on her own two feet at the end.
It had been proper motivation for her to learn to think rather quickly on her feet.
'All that training was nothing but painful, the worst experience in my life, but it'll all be worth it when I bring you down Sasuke.' Ino didn't look away from the Uchiha. She wanted nothing more than to attack him now but a hand taking hold of her wrist stopped her from acting on any impulse.
"Not now." Shikamaru's dark eyes focused on her, helped her calm down. She breathed in and out twice before she gave him a sharp nod.
"I'm not going to let either him or Naruto get away with what they've done to Sakura." Shikamaru wasn't arguing with her. He only nodded with her words even if it came with a sigh.
"You can do what you want to the Uchiha, me and him never got along. But…" He couldn't finish. He caught sight of the look in her eyes and trailed off.
"Shikamaru." She spoke his name with warning. She knew where this was going. She was almost certain she knew where this was going.
"I know you don't like Naruto but leave him to me…maybe I can talk him out of all this insanity before it gets any worse." Shikamaru didn't meet Ino's disbelieving stare. His mind was working overtime at the moment and he didn't need her to leave any doubts. "Just let me give it a shot Ino. He's one of my oldest friends next to Choji. Him and Kiba hung out with us when we ditched classes back in the Academy. I know him better than most people. I can get through to him."
"Shikamaru…" Ino was the one holding him now, squeezing his hand with hers. She pitied him and he couldn't stand to look into those eyes.
He wished he could look at the clouds.
"Just let me try. If this was different, if Sakura was the one who went mental like this, you would be telling me and everyone else to let you try before anything else, right?" She didn't let go of his hand. He couldn't stand to look at anything but the ground. "I can fix this with the right plan. Trust me, I can get through to him if I get the chance to try."
He could. He just needed to think.
"Don't strain that brain of yours Shikamaru, I know you don't use it anywhere near enough." She let him go. She was smiling but it wasn't comforting. She was just pitying him. He knew it. She wanted to tell him how stupid he was but couldn't.
He needed to beli-He knew that Naruto, the Naruto he knew, was still in there somewhere. Someone just needed to talk to him, get past the Caesar and Empire nonsense, and get to the boy underneath it all. He could do it. He just needed the right plan.
"Just you wait Shikamaru, you're looking at a future Hokage!"
"Yeah, and I'll be your right hand."
"Awesome! I thought I was going to have to give the job to Kiba!"
"Hey! You wanna say that again Naruto!"
He didn't let his memories blind him. The old Naruto was gone for now. He needed to deal with the new Naruto. He needed to know exactly who he was dealing with. The blonde from the past, one of his best friends, was no more. At least for now.
All that was left was the boy who thought he was some kind of king.
"Graze upon the Praetor of a Legion and the Caesar of an Empire and know you will be squashed like ants before my might!"
Those words echoed now. The days of the past, simple days when he could just watch the clouds with three friends at his sides, were gone. They would remain gone forever if he didn't get through to the blonde that had replaced one dream with another.
'If I can't do it…' He couldn't let thoughts like that get into his head. If he did, he would start thinking about all the outcomes, all the possibilities. Then he would have to start thinking with logic. He would have to deal with thoughts he didn't want and didn't need. Logic would tell him not to risk so much just because he used to call Naruto Uzumaki his friend. Logic would tell him to forget about any friendship because it was dead now. Logic would tell him to do what needed to be done.
Logic would tell him to kill him before he brought the world into another war.
"Dammit." He rested a hand on his face. "I'm not used to this kind of stuff." He drew it away, looked into his wet palm. "I'm already sweating."
"Attention all in attendance…" He must have drifted off. The stadium around them was packed. The Hokage was up and giving another speech he couldn't listen to even if he tried. It was only about alliances, virtues of a Chunin, the Daimyo having their piece of it all with praise and gratitude from the village with the expected standing and applause from the crowd, and so much more the Nara could decipher from the first few sentences, from just the way the Hokage stood even.
He only listened for names in the end.
"…with all that said, it is time to begin!" The Hokage's words were met with cheers. "Ino Yamanaka vs. Sasuke Uchiha is the first match!" The cheers were louder.
"Wish me luck Shikamaru." Ino headed for the stairs. Sasuke took the ones opposite them.
His eyes drifted to Naruto.
'I've got to talk to him. I can fix this.'
AN: Nothing. Yet.