When Orochimaru had felt his connection to Naruto's cursed seal was severed he flew into a rage, destroying everything in sight and even killing a few of his own shinobi from sound in the process. Losing his only leverage on the blonde was a huge blow on both his pride and his plans.
Right now he was forced to push down his own rage so he can try and fool the other kages, make them believe that he really was Rasa was of the utmost importance if the invasion was to be a success. 'If I'm going to get that kyuubi brat on my side I need to make Konoha look as weak as possible.'
When Naruto beat the Hyuga boy he was too distracted to notice the silent communication between Hiruzen and the other kage.
(With Naruto)
As soon as Naruto had returned he heard the proctor announce the next fight. "Now that the arena is prepped will Shikamaru Nara of Konoha and Temari of Suna please come down."
The blonde avenger watched as the Suna kunoichi manipulated her wind chakra to float down on her battle fan. "Impressive, she has such precise skill with wind chakra and yet she uses that large fan to do large scale ninjutsu like an amateur. She could be trying to hide her real skill or she could have been taught to just throw those jutsu around because of where she is from."
Shikamaru nodded and yawned. "True, this seems like it will be too troublesome. I'm going to…"
Before he could finish his sentence Naruto spartan kicked him into the arena. "Oh no you don't! You're going to fight like a real Konoha ninja!"
Landing on his back unceremoniously with a groan. As he stood the Nara heir rubbed the back of his head. "Troublesome blonde."
Turning to his opponent the boy began his quick analysis that his clan was known for.
(In the contestants box)
Naruto grinned as he watched the two get ready for the fight. Choji moved over to his fellow genins side and spoke. "Why do you want him to fight so badly that you kicked him out of the contestants box?"
The blonde looked over to the Akimichi heir with complete seriousness. "We may need all of the information we can get on her style of fighting very soon along with anyone else from sand and sound."
The 'big boned' genin snickered a little. "Are you suggesting that our longest lasting alliance is going to be broken soon? That the shinobi from the sand village are going to invade us with the weakest of the hidden villages aid?"
Naruto's facial expression didn't change as he spoke. "Just be prepared for anything and pray to whatever god or gods you believe in that I'm wrong."
Watching the fight the young Uzumaki learned a few things, Temari was a primarily long range fighter with her fairly large arsenal of wind jutsu and a few calculated shuriken thrown in every now and then, she was quick on her feet both physically and mentally, and she was quite proficient with using her battle fan as a club when an opponent gets too close. In the end Shikamaru caught Temari in his shadow puppet jutsu and forced her to hit her head against the wall hard enough to knock herself out.
As the Nara left the arena he was named the winner. Next the proctor called on both Choji and Yugito. Looking to the blonde right beside him Choji spoke. "Should I know anything about her?"
Naruto thought about it. "Well she's a close range fighter like you but she's centered around speed and agility over strength, due to her size you have a good chance of being able to hold her down but that's if you're even able to catch her. You're best chance is to go for the first hit with a partial expansion jutsu on the arm and fist."
The young Akimichi heir nodded and left for the arena. Naruto watched as the two genin stood in front of each other ready with determined looks in their eyes. This is where Kurama speaks up. "Your friend is doomed to fail this fight."
Naruto was shocked that the fox would so easily say this until he looks at Yugito closely and could see trace amounts of Biju chakra in her own chakra. "She's a jinchuuriki? But of which one?"
The fox grins. "My dear little sister Matatabi or as she's more commonly known the two tailed hellcat. If she taught her jinchuuriki like she usually does then this girl will have access to many Biju fire jutsu, have insane amounts of flexibility and agility, and be very horny all the time."
The blonde almost choked on his saliva at the last part. "WHAT THE HELL KURAMA! Why did you have to bring up that information?!"
The fox grinned again. "Well you are the sole surviving male of the Uzumaki clan so you have a duty to your clan to revive it, bring more Uzumaki into this world and decide whether you should make them an official clan of Konoha or rebuild Uzushiogakure. I of course vote for rebuilding, it is your ancestral home after all."
Naruto thought about it but he decided to put this on hold for now seeing as he had other things to worry about for now.
Looking down at the fight he saw the moment that the proctor brought his hand down in the chopping motion that signals the start of the fight. Choji followed Naruto's advice and partially expanded his right arm and fist mid swing and landed his punch.
As the blonde female jinchuuriki flew back the Akimichi boy tried to catch up to her for a follow-up strike but the girl twisted mid air and hit the wall feet first where she kicked off of it and made claws of blue fire.
"Biju fire style: claws of incineration, this is Matatabis signature jutsu like the Uchiha with their grand fireball jutsu that they boasted about so much and how they taught it to six year olds. This move won't cut your friend at all but it will burn him and if enough chakra is used could, as the name suggests incinerate him. Don't worry though she's only using enough for minor burns here and there."
Naruto nodded as he watched the girl strike at Choji with the flame claws in an X shape to his chest. The young Konoha genin hadn't been injured due to his padded clothes taking the hit and went in for another hit but Yugito dodged to the left and kicked off of the ground towards her large opponent.
The fight went on for another ten minutes and for the whole thing Yugito was so obviously leading it the entire time, she danced around all of Choji's attacks like they were nothing, struck him in weak points with lightning quick punches and kicks before pulling back, and more. She slowly and methodically tore down each and every defense he put up and completely obliterated his offense. At the end of the fight she stood over a slumped over and gasping Choji. "Why do you continue to fight? I have easily defeated you multiple times already, many would have given up after the second or third defeat in a row so why are you so persistent on continuing to struggle when I have so soundly beaten you?"
Choji stood on wobbly legs with cuts, bruises, and burns all over, his left eye swollen shut, blood dripping from his broken nose and busted lip, and his right arm limp. "Because I am a true Konoha Shinobi with the full force of the will of fire burning within my very soul. When I am beaten I will not stop standing back up north will I quit trying, even if I lose to you today, tommorow, and on for the next year I will continue to train and continue to grow stronger and smarter and wiser until I can beat you and continue to do the same thing until I breath my last breath, until I no longer have even a single drop of blood in my veins, until I no longer feel my heart beating!"
A roar of approval came from all of the Konoha Shinobi in the crowd and if one were to look they could find Choji's father Choza in the crowd as well and if one were to listen they'd hear him cheering. "THAT'S MY BOY! I'M SO FUCKING PROUD!"
Choji smiled as he got back Into his stance. "Now, let's continue from where we left off."
At first Yugito just raised an eyebrow then she had a split second laps in concentration before smirking. This smirk was neither cocky nor was it dark, this smirk was one of someone who has gained a respect for another person. The blonde female jinchuuriki got in her own stance and nodded. "Fine, let's end our fight here and now."
Naruto would love to say that Choji's resolve and pure will to win brought him to a decisive victory, that he had fought hard and it payed off but this wasn't a fairy tale, pure will and determination doesn't give you a power boost at the very last second. Choji had been bloody and bruised with burns all over, one of his arms was completely useless, and the constant use of his clans jutsu to gain the upper hand even after his element of surprise was gone had drained him severally while Yugito had no real wounds or physical injuries besides the bruise from the initial attack, had barely used any chakra, and had a two tailed Biju sealed in her that helped her gain back the little bit of chakra she did use. The match was over within seconds, they both charged, Choji went for a right hook, she twirled to the left and hit him in the back of the neck with a quick chop, and he was out like a light.
As the field medics carried the boy away Yugito was declared the winner. The proctor decided to speak. "We will have a quick intermission for our earth style specialists to prepare the area for our next match up, we have concession stands for anyone who wishes to get something before the next match starts."
All of the civilians went to the concession stands while both Shikamaru and Ino stood to go see their teammate. Shikamaru was already at the door when he noticed Ino wasn't behind him, when he turned around he saw her beside Naruto. "Hey, are you coming with us? I bet Choji would appreciate it if you went to talk with him."
The blonde clenched his fists. "I failed him, I told him to try using the partial expansion jutsu from the get go and I didn't use my chakra sensory to find out if she had anything else other than her speed and agility. I'm a failure as a ninja and as a friend, because of my poor judgement he's hurt."
The Yamanaka heiress grabbed her fellow blonde by both sides of his face gently and guided him to look her in the eyes. "That's not true, we all make mistakes and he's plenty old enough to decide if he should give up or not. You heard him out there, the will of fire burns bright within him like I know it does within you so pick your head up and learn from this like he will."
Naruto smiled kindly to the girl. "Thank you, what would I do without you and your encouragement?"
In smiled. "Wallow in self pity and hatred. I can't have that though now can I?"
The blonde avenger chuckled. "Nope, not at all."
As the three walked off they didn't see Jiraiya watching them with a smile. 'Despite everything going on around him, all of the people who hate him and all of the weight he has put on his own shoulders your son will be just fine. After all he has such a caring girl looking after him and he has such loyal friends supporting him to the very end. You have nothing to worry about… Minato.'
XXXAN: hello and welcome back to another chapter of one difference changes all.As you can see I'm working on progressing Naruto's relationship with Ino. She's definitely got her work cut out for her with him having the baggage that he carries around but if anyone could do it she can.Now I have gotten multiple requests for Temari to be in this harem so that is set in stone, all I need is one more lady and the harem will be set.Also for those of you who have certain Jutsu that you have created yourselves that you want in the story send me a PM. The requirements are the name, a detailed description, and who should know it, if you have an OC that you want in here the requirements are name, detailed description, rank, and the village they come from.And as always MCL homies.