Alright! 17th Chapter!
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I haven't been very dilligent, partially because of Finals, partially because I was being a slacker, but that's over with. Thanks for the reviews, now...ON WITH THE SHOW!
Disclaimer! I don't own Naruto or Elric, but I do decide whether or not I keep them around. I also own stuff I think up, but just ask if you want to use it. The price isn't too high, just your soul...
"Blah"-person speaking...'Blah'-person thinking..."Blah"-Demon speaking...'Blah'-Demon thinking..."Blah"-Memory speaking(they don't think)...'Blah'-Pyron speaking through mental pathways.
Leaves of Steel, Chapter 17
Naruto's Mindscape
"How is the attack on the castle going?" Stormbringer's voice resonated through the chamber.
"All is going well, my lord. I am getting the keys to the gate." a small cloaked figure answered.
"Good. I want you to place the final shard in the mental repository...for everything to go smashingly. When you let them in, you will be rewarded." the god spoke to the small figure again.
"My faith in you is unwavering, master. I will now poison the Yondaime's food, so as to steal the keys. He might be on to me though, so give me a few days. All I ask is for life when you finish with the boy." the figure requested, shifting its paws around on the orb.
"Aye, and you shall have that. Go now." Stormbringer demanded.
And with that the figure took its paws off of the orb and covered it, before lowering the hood it wore. Long ears sprang out, and the fuzzy face was revealed, slowly turning from a scowl into an adorable smile.
The bunny rubbed his paws together, "It shall be done."
Forest tower: 3:35PM
As Naruto proceeded into the waiting room, he felt two things; one was being stared at by a kid with a huge gourd, and the other was Tenten's arms wrapped around his neck.
"Naruto-kun!" squealed the girl, caressing his head.
Naruto smiled and turned around to capture Tenten's lips in a kiss, pinning her against the nearest wall while his hands held her wrists in a pinion above her head.
Neji was staring at the two, but decided to look away when he saw everyone else looking the same direction. Garra was staring, thinking if it would be best to kill them together or separately. Sakura was gawking at the pair, while Yonshu smirked at his master's success. Pyron was nibbling on a thigh from his backpack apathetically, while Lee was shouting about the flames of youth. Sasuke was asleep while Temari blushed at the sight of the two love-birds.
Kankuro was working on Karasu secretively, just eyeing the distraction momentarily before returning to work.
The Necromancer pulled away from Tenten, leaving a small bridge of saliva, "Hello Tenten-chan, I take it you are happy to see me?" he asked in an innocent tone, to which the girl nodded and reconnected their mouths.
The door opened yet again to reveal Kabuto and his team entering, giving Naruto's Team a wave, before calmly sitting on one of the couches. before the door closed, an exhausted sound team held it open as they wheezed their way past the group to the medical ward. That team's female member glanced at the two on the wall, before walking away blushing.
Tenten wriggled out of Naruto's grasp and jumped onto the couch with Naruto in tow. She forced him into a sitting position as she curled up next to him, attempting to sleep on his shoulder, but sliding down to his stomach as she dragged him down with her.
Just as this happened, the door slammed open again to reveal team 8, bleeding just a little. Naruto began to draw a mass healing seal, which drew the attention of his pale-eyed stalker.
'N-naru...It's her...I have to...I have to...KILL HER!' Hinata screamed in her mind, as she felt a tingling sensation her wounds.
Kiba and Shino were aware of the wounds healing over by means of a foreign energy, but relaxed when thy saw it was Naruto. Hinata used to have large gash on her right leg, but it vanished near instantly. Tenten smiled at her boyfriend, ruffling his hair for a reward.
Hinata glared and blushed at the same time, before running off, grabbing Neji by the arm.
Competition arena: 3:43PM
"Screwdriver." Hinata called out.
"Screwdriver." replied Neji, handing the heiress the piece of metal and plastic.
"Conduit wiring." asked the girl, returning the screwdriver, before seeing Neji looking around furiously, "In the YELLOW box, dimwit."
Neji felt like crying on the inside, but relented the wiring to the girl, "Conduit wiring." he stated.
"Welding torch." Hinata asked hastily.
"Welding torch." Neji said bluntly, before asking, "Should we be doing this to the board? Isn't this cheating?"
"It isn't cheating if you don't try to squeal, Neji." the heiress said, firing up the torch, "All I did was re-arrange the matches, nothing bad."
Neji paled at the power his cousin had in her hands at the moment, "W-who did you pair Naruto against?" he asked, crossing his fingers it would not be him.
"...Sakura." Hinata stated with a smile, "I think we all know who is going to win that match."
Neji smiled a bit, "Who is Tenten against? Also, who's up against that gourd kid?" he asked nervously.
"Tenten is up against Choji, if he gets here, and if he doesn't she's up against Kiba. Garra-san is against Kabuto-san. You, by the way, are going against Shino. I am going against Temari, and will be screwing up her fan. I didn't care about the other matches." Hinata said non-chalantly.
Neji sighed in relief and left the room. Hinata placed the board back in place and went to her room.
Forest tower: 10:47PM
During the night, after the Genin had retired to their rooms, Team 10 popped on in, and went to their rooms. Hinata was awake, and smiled that everything was working out.
Naruto was lying on his bed, staring at the celing, unable to sleep, "Yonshu..." he began, to which the swordsman turned, "You smell like a dead person, go outside or something. I can't sleep with you smelling like that." the blond shinobi, pointing towards the door.
Yonshu left to join Pyron outside, and stare up at the stars. Pyron was munching happily on a torso, humming to himself.
"Is that...one of..." the scared boy asked.
Pyron nodded, "Yes. Want some?"the cute dragon asked.
Yonshu looked around, before noticing the flesh dripping with blood. He stared at it, entranced by the history behind the torso.
He began to forget about his team mate, "...what was the kid's name again..." he wondered, before staring at the flesh again.
Pyron noticed the eyes, "To be undead, you have to let go of your humanity. To be undead, you have to realize that Naruto-sama can't heal all of your wounds. To be undead, you have to take your personal safety into your own hands. Try some." Pyron urged Yonshu.
Yonshu felt himself grow wild, and he rushed at the meat, tearing it from the dragon's grip. He sank his teeth into the human meat, tearing and swallowing as if his life depended upon it. With each bite he swallowed, the wound on his forehead healed a bit. With each crunch of the bones, he felt his own grow stronger. With each drop of blood that let loose from the chest, he felt his heart beat come back slowly, now that it had blood to pump.
When he finished, not even an organ was left over. Pyron smirked as Yonshu sat next to him, panting.
"Damn. I just ate someone." Yonshu stated, "But I feel so...right..." he added as an after-note.
"Undead. I now declare you a real undead. Although I'm not giving you any more of my kills. you'll have to get those for your own." Pyron stated, clutching his human-skin pack, "You may have noticed that your chakra increased when you ate the person. you absorbed their physical energy and converted it. Furthermore, your chakra system has moved inside of your bones, and, if you want, you could eat yourself for even more power."
"But then I'd have no muscle! I'd be useless!" the boy wailed.
"Not so. The more chakra you have, the stronger your 'magical muscles' are. These are what you now use, and have no more use for the standard ones, as the magical ones are stronger. I say, Indulge in a little self-cannablism!" the dragon chirped.
Yonshu looked hungrily at his arm, and his jaw opened.
Back where people AREN'T eating themselves: 7:45AM
Naruto woke up, after another dreamless night, to a warmth on his body. Tenten had snuck into his room at night, and was now draped over him, snuggling his arm.
The girl was mumbling, so Naruto scooted closer, to which she readily grappled on to more of him, "...Naruto-kun..." she mumbled, "You smell like oranges..."
Naruto was only slightly shocked, but then rubbed up against Tenten to wake her, "Tenten-chan..." he started, as he was cut off by her lips.
The girl was still asleep, and giggling softly into his mouth, "mgngmn".
Her eyes opened, and she decided she like the situation, so she stayed there. Eventually she pulled away, and jumped on the bed, shaking him on to the floor.
"Rise and shine, Naruto!" she giggled.
Naruto rubbed his head in mock pain, "At least I'm awake." he noted to himself.
As they were in their respective locations, the door opened to reveal a Leaf Chunin, "I'm Hayate, and you two are in trouble..." he said, ending by wagging his finger.
Naruto reached into his backpack for his book of seals, and thumbed to one with a question-mark seal, which he drew, casting it on the Chunin, who suddenly seemed to forget what had just transpired.
"I'm Hayate," he introduced himself again, "and I'd like to know...where I am..." he asked with a confused look on his face.
Tenten giggled, while Naruto devised a plan, "You were just talking to us, after you asked Tenten to join in the discussion. We were talking about Genma, and what is up with that freakin' Senbon."
Tenten giggled again, and Hayate snickered, "Yeah, it IS pretty stupid..." he commented, before turning to leave, "Oh, come on down to the...fighting...place...where we are all meeting for...the...thing...yeah..." he reminded them in a ditzy manner.
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, and put the book away. Tenten kissed him again, and dragged him to his feet.
"Let's go, Naruto-kun." she proclaimed, dragging Naruto to the Competition arena.
Competition arena: 7:55AM
The Sandaime Hokage stood in front of the crowd, "Attention Genin! Since we are about to start, is there anyone who feels they are going to be unprepared for the third trial should leave now. You may also forfeit a match if you like, AFTER you have been informed of you are to fight. We have too many contenders, so a elimination round will be held, cutting the number of participants in half."
Nobody gave up yet. The Sandaime explained the rules, as he was feeling chipper.
"Try not to kill, and don't attack the spectators!" he shouted, and then retreated to an observation booth.
Hayate stepped forward and pressed a floor tile, causing a large television to come out from the wall. Hinata smirked, and the first two participants were named.
Uzumaki Naruto vs. Haruno Sakura
Sakura was distraught, but ready to wail on Naruto. Naruto showed no emotion, and was really thinking if he should let Pyron eat her.
End of Leaves of Steel, Chapter 17
Skeleton time! WHEEE!
-Johnhamsta