Chapter #3: Genin Exam – part I

The Number One, Low-Rank Ninja

So they all hid themselves, eh? I was actually positive that that whole Haruto-guy will stay and fight just like I did" Naruto thought to himself. "They all probably hiding in the forest surrounding the area, but I'll stay on the open space for now."

"Come on, you guys!" yelled the jonin after a little while, annoyed. "You do know time is running out!"

"Hey blondie!" Naruto heard a voice coming from behind. It was Haruto. "Don't wait for those scardy-cats, the number 1 ninja is here to take you out!"

"Well…" thought the Nine-Tails vessel, "He's not the sharpest knife…."

"Is this idiot insane" thought Emi, looking at the whole scene from her hideout, narrowing her eyes. "He'll get taken out no sweat!"

"Once a loser, always a loser" Takeru whispered to himself.

"It's reckless and totally idiotic, but at least I get to see how good sensei is…" figured Kumiko.

Daisuke just observed in silence.

"Ya know "top-notch ninja" don't leave themselves open to an attack…" announced Naruto, sweat dropping, "If your only plan is to fight me, then I'll tell you that there's no way you're gonna beat me…"

"Hey, I passed the graduation exam! Don't underestimate me, I'll take you out no sweat!"

"That puny exam?" Naruto chuckled a bit, "It's not even on the scale of what happens in real life. In the Academy you could easily concentrate but when it's the real deal, you have to be on the move all the time and observe your enemy—"

"Blah, blah, blah!" interrupted Haruto confidentially, getting into a fighting stance. "Let's get on with it already!"

"This kid really is a moron" thought the jonin, lowering his head. "Whatever kid…"

At this Haruto charged at Naruto. When reached a close enough, he jumped into the air and tried to kick his sensei with his right foot, but Naruto moved aside and gripped Haruto's foot.

Before his feet touched the ground, Haruto aimed his fist at Naruto's face and this time he used his right fist, attacking from the Naruto's left. His sensei bended over and avoided the attack.

When his feet on the surface, Haruto tried to hit the man on the head with his right hand again, before his opponent would be able to raise his head. Before Haruto noticed, Naruto used his left hand to spring up, and flip over Haruto.

"Dangit!" thought Haruto, pulling out kunai from his holster. He threw them at the location where he thought the older blond would be.

Eventually, one kunai reached Naruto, but Uzumaki grabbed it with his left hand.

Before Haruto realized, the jonin landed with both feet on the ground and threw the kunai he grabbed in the ground. Naruto then appeared behind Haruto, punched him a few feet away, and watched him glide across the dirt.

"Told you, you can't beat me" reminded the man with a shrug.

"Not half-bad…" thought Takeru with a smirk.

"Haruto's bad but he took him out without even trying! How in the world am I supposed to get a bell from him?!" Kumiko panicked.

"His moves are so flawless… and he knows your next move before you make! This whole Uzumaki-guy is someone I can't sneeze at" noticed Emi, narrowing her eyes.

Daisuke still just observed the whole scene in silence.

"What do you know?" yelled Haruto, visibly angry. "I'll get that bell, even if it kills me!" and with these word he jumped right to Naruto.

The jonin just moved aside and grabbed Haruto's right leg (with his left hand) when he was flying next to him. Without both feet to use for landing, the boy ended with his face on the ground.

"Arg! I'll beat you sensei! I can't lose here, I will become Hokage and prove to everyone I'm the strongest shinobi of all time!" Haruto said with his face in the dirt.

"Haruto…" whispered Daisuke and lower his sight.

"Believe it or not…" said Naruto, his voice still calm, "I used to be just like you…"

Haruto calmed down at hearing those words, looking at Naruto, as he continued:

"No one acknowledged me, and I craved attention. But I was able to make friends and earn respect. Wanna know how? Because every time I failed, I never gave up… I worked harder and harder. Talking big nor winning makes you the strongest. True strength is working hard to beat those who've beaten you and never giving up…"

Naruto loosened his grip, but Haruto kept laying on the ground.

"People make mistakes" announced the jonin without taking his eyes off the boy. "The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and be better the next time around."

Everyone observed the whole scene from their hideouts in silence.

"You failed to get the bells this time," Naruto stated finally with a stoic face. "But you still have time left. You should come at me again, but think before you attack" and with those words, he walked to the forest.

"What do you mean sensei?! How am I supposed to make a strategy all on my own!?" asked Haruto, stopping the man in his tracks.

"That's the point."

And with those words he disappeared between the trees. But Haruto kept sitting on the ground not moving even an inch.

"Finally…" thought Emi with a smirk, "Now I can get a bell…"

-one down!-

Okay, so the third chapter ends here.

Hope you've enjoyed it. Please tell me what you think.