ONE MONTH LATER
---
" Man, where is Naruto?" asked Kiba, looking around. He, Akamaru, and Hinata had gotten to the arena early so they could get good seats. The opening ceremonies were about to begin and neither Naruto or the old man that Asuma had gotten to teach him were to be seen. Sasuke was also not present.
" I hope he is okay." Hinata said worriedly.
" Ahh, he'll be fine." said Asuma, taking a seat by them. " He's against Sasuke in his first match. He wouldn't miss that if he was dead."
" I wonder what he's learned." said Kiba.
" Well, he probably caught up to you two in chakra control." Asuma said, lighting a cigarette. He had treated himself to his favorite expensive brand for the occasion. " Jiraiya is an incredible teacher, so he probably knew tricks I never would have thought of."
" Yeah, but I have way more chakra now." said Akamaru, now fully capable of human speech, though he preferred barking.
" Me too." agreed Kiba. " Naruto's still got more, but we've caught up a bit."
" My big question is if Jiraiya taught him any new techniques." Asuma said, taking a drag. " He'll want to show that off a bunch."
" Yeah, but Hinata's got the Heavenly Spin down now. There isn't anything that can match that." said Kiba, rubbing his still sore hand. He had broken it while he was helping Hinata practice.
" I have to agree. It's a legendary technique. But, Jiraiya is one of the legendary Sannin." replied Asuma.
" Sannin?" said Hinata, looking away from the arena, which she had been watching for Naruto.
" Yeah, my dad's only students. Probably the best ninja to ever come out of Kohona except for the Fourth." Asuma said, sounding bitter. " Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya."
" We ran into a ninja claiming to be Orochimaru in the Forest of Death." said Hinata, thinking back. Asuma laughed.
" No way." Asuma said with certainty. " Orochimaru is a Kage level individual. You'd have been dead before you felt any pain."
" Hey, it's starting!" said Kiba, pointing to the arena.
" The first match will be between Haruno Sakura and Temari of the Desert!" announced the final examiner, a man in a dark bandanna who had a needle hanging out of his mouth like a toothpick. Temari leapt onto her fan dramatically, floating into the arena. Sakura entered less impressively. The examiner signaled to begin.
Temari hefted her fan, opening it fully and swinging, sending a torrent of find towards. The crowd gasped as it struck her and blaster her apart into cherry petals. Sakura came walking though the entry corridor a few moments later.
" I saw your fight against my brother. You're a talented genjutsu user." said Temari, glancing around. " So I spent some time practicing breaking genjutsu." Sakura appeared behind Temari, rushing in for the kill with a kunai. Temari swung the fan backwards, forcing Sakura to dodge away to avoid the scything wind. She landed a safe distance away and took a ready position. Temari swung the fan again, sending the blast of air at Sakura, who didn't manage to dodge completely and was hurled into the wall, where she disappeared in a puff of smoke.
" What?" said Temari, looking at the place Sakura should have been.
" A shadow clone." said Kiba, leaning forward.
" She must have dropped the genjutsu on it to confuse Temari." said Hinata, looking around. " I wonder why she hasn't attacked yet."
" She's testing Temari. Sakura's combat skills are bad, but her genjutsu and planning abilities are good. She has to make sure that when she strikes it will be decisive." Asuma said, analyzing the situation.
" I'm glad I didn't have to fight her." said a voice behind them. Walking down the stairs was Kabuto. " I have trouble with genjutsu."
" Hey Kabuto." said Kiba, waving. " Here to watch?"
" Duh." said Akamaru, making Kiba sulk.
" Mind if I join you?" asked the genin, gesturing to a empty seat.
" Not at all." Asuma said. The silver haired ninja took a seat by them.
Down in the arena, Temari was cautiously looking around for signs of Sakura. Once again she swung the fan, but this time the wind that issued forth was far more intense. It began to circle around the arena, striking at random in an attempt to force Sakura out of her hiding place. The winds slowly died down, the attack unsuccessful.
" You can't keep this genjutsu up forever!" yelled Temari, swinging again. Gust after gust wracked the arena, cracking the ground and destroying all the available cover. Temari stopped, shutting the fan and holding it out like a club.
" She realized Sakura's plan." said Kabuto, leaning forward.
" Plan?" asked Kiba.
" Sakura hid like this to force Temari to use her techniques to try and flush her out, giving Sakura knowledge of her abilities and depleting her chakra." Kabuto explained.
" Woah." said Kiba, looking back down.
" Come out and fight!" said Temari, walking forward and brandishing the closed fan. From nowhere a kunai with a explosive tag on it landed in front of her. Temari flipped backwards out of the blast, barely avoiding the flames. Temari and the crowd looked up instinctively and spotted Sakura sitting on the ledge of the arena, high above everything.
" Ha!" said Temari, swinging the fan and sending a scythe of wind towards Sakura. At the attack hit there was the telltale puff of smoke, signaling it had been a shadow clone. An instant later Sakura appeared behind Temari, lunging with a kunai. She connected, stabbing into Temari's back. In a well practiced counterattack Temari leaned over, whirling the fan like a saw, destroying another clone.
" What?" shouted Temari as the crowd startled.
" That's four clones plus the genjutsu." said Kiba, counting on his fingers. " She can't have much chakra left.
" Three." correct Hinata. " Three clones." Kiba looked at her aggravated.
Temari pulled the kunai out, but the wound was on her back and hard to reach, so she would not be able to tend to it. She stood readied with her fan.
" Well, looks like I lose!" said Sakura, appearing in the stands. There was uproar from the crowd.
" What is the meaning of this?" yelled a judge.
" Well, my focus is on genjutsu." Sakura explained smugly. " My combat skills are poor, so I focus on hiding my presence. Before the match started I made a shadow clone in the corridor where no one could see me. It came out, hid with the genjutsu, and made a few more copies. I figured that the one with the explosive tag had a good shot at beating her and the one with the kunai would be a sure hit."
" But you never entered the arena!" said the judge irately.
" Yeah. If I had, she would have won." said Sakura, pointing to Temari, who was applying pressure to her wound. " She knew I used genjutsu and had really strong attacks. This way, I hurt her with no risk to myself. If my teammates had been in the fight they could finish her off easily. I'm out of chakra though, so I have to quit."
The crowd looked quite surprised. The judges began to talk amongst themselves as Sakura found a seat by Ino and Temari returned to the contestants box.
" But if you think that was good, just wait for Sasuke-kun!" Sakura squealed.
" That is the finalist people are here to see." said Kabuto, adjusting his glasses.
" Really? Why?" asked Akamaru.
" Well, he is the last living Uchiha." explained Asuma. " There is no clan more famous in the ninja world than the Uchiha."
" As well, Kakashi, the Copy Ninja, is one of the greatest masters of the Sharingan." added Kabuto. " He's one of Kohona's most famous ninja. The fact that all three of his apprentices are in this chunnin exam and are in the first three matches is well known as well."
" Aburmae Shino and Nara Shikamaru!" announced the examiner. The two genin began to walk towards the arena.
" Well, I hope these two take a long time." said Asuma, leaning back. " If Naruto and Sasuke aren't here soon, their gonna miss their match."
The examiner began the match. The two genin face each other, bugs beginning to rise from Shino. Shikamaru looked up towards the clouds as his shadow shot forward, catching the unmoving Shino.
" Interesting." said Shino is his bland voice. " I was not aware the Shadow Possession would also effect my bugs."
" You let yourself get hit, did you?" asked Shikamaru, still staring upwards. " How troublesome. That means you were testing my technique, weren't you?"
" I was." agreed Shino.
Shino and Shikamaru took off at a run, racing towards the side of the arena, their shadows still connected. In unison they leapt onto the wall, breaking the shadows connection. Shikamaru flipped backwards with practiced precision, Shino landing more heavily. The bug user leapt away, putting distance between himself and Shikamaru. Shikamaru leaned against the wall lazily, staring back at the clouds.
" With the Shadow Possession you can nullify any opponent." Shino said, taking to himself. " But you cannot win with it. It forces a stalemate. It will be aggravating to face you."
" What is this?" said a man in the crowd by where Asuma and his group were sitting. " Are they going to think or fight?"
" Think." said Hinata to the man. " Shikamaru is one of the most intelligent genin in Kohona and a dangerous tactician. Shino is also highly intelligent and fights to end a battle in several quick strokes. When the combat happens, it will be impressive." The man looked at Hinata for a moment, then returned to watching.
Shikamaru was lost in the cloud gazing and Shino was pacing. Shino stopped and faced Shikamaru, holding up one arm and releasing a small cloud of insects. The crowd gasped in disgust as they flew outwards towards Shikamaru. Shikamaru look out a kunai with a explosive note attached and threw it lazily towards the swarm, scattering them with the blast.
" As I suspected." said Shino, talking to himself and pacing again. " You have prepared for that." Shino began walking calmly towards Shikamaru, who walked away from the wall. About five meters from each other they stopped as Shikamaru's shadow caught Shino's.
" I know your bugs aren't really effected by the Shadow Possession." Shikamaru said. " You were just looking for a way to win without showing that off. I surrender." The genin began walking towards the entry corridor while the crowd began to complain and throw things.
" He just gave up? Where's this strategy?" said the man to Hinata.
" Are you really giving up like that?" asked the examiner.
" Yeah." Shikamaru said. " It's a bad matchup. My only technique is the Shadow Possession, and his techniques aren't effected by that. That's rare and I don't have any practice against that problem. I planned out a few hundred taijutsu attacks, but I always ended up getting my chakra drained and losing."
Suddenly, there was a whirl of leaves, Sasuke and Kakashi appearing in the arena.
" He's actually on time." said Asuma, surprised.
" It's the Uchiha!" cheered one of the lords. The crowd forgot about the previous fight instantly and began to cheer. " Who's he fighting?" called someone else.
" Uzamaki Naruto." called the examiner.
" Who?" asked someone near Hinata loudly.
" The Clone Ninja!" said a foreign lord excitedly. " I heard he can make an entire army!"
" I'll believe that when I see it!" someone shot back.
" Believe it!" said Kiba, standing up. " He's on my team!" He basked in the attention he received.
" Well, where is he?" someone shouted. " Wait, what's that?"
Down in the arena, a small red toad came hopping out of the entrance corridor. It stopped near Kakashi and opened its mouth. Slowly a hand emerged from it, then a large man with wild white hair shot out, landing impressively.
" It's Jiraiya." said one of the lords. A hush had fallen over the crowd. " What's he doing here?"
" He's teaching Naruto." Asuma said, taking a drag of the cigarette.
" I hope we aren't too late." said Jiraiya to Kakashi.
" Nope. We only got here a moment before you did." replied Kakashi, walking towards the entrance corridor.
" Uzamaki Naruto!" called the examiner. " Show yourself!"
" Up here!" yelled a voice from above. Sasuke looked up stoicaly. Naruto was standing proudly on the rim of the arena. The examiner walked away, shaking his head.
" Ready to lose, dead last?" taunted Sasuke, smiling. Naruto leapt into the air, forming a score of shadow clones as he fell. They landed and the fight began.
The clones rushed towards Sasuke in their typical charge. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and lunged towards them, scattering them with a series of fast combinations. Passing though the clones, he raced towards the real Naruto. Naruto formed a wall of clones which raced forwards, beginning to bog Sasuke down. He then preformed the explosive clone technique, sending them into the melee and blasting it apart. The crowd was dumbfounded as they explosions rocked the arena and Sasuke dodged backwards to safety.
" The exploding one's are a new trick, but your still the same Naruto who lost to me." Sasuke said confidently. " I've gotten way stronger."
Naruto smiled viciously as he formed a new jutsu. From below Sasuke a mud clone formed, grabbing his ankles and hefting him into the air. Sasuke was thrown helplessly towards the real Naruto as twenty more clones formed, attacking Sasuke in the air. Sasuke began to scatter the clones before the mud clone tackled him, knocking him to the ground. The other clones began to pile on. Sasuke suddenly appeared a short distance away.
" Replacement Technique, Naruto." he said tauntingly.
" Wow. You really showed me." said one of the clones, standing back up.
" Hey everyone, isn't his academy level jutsu impressive?" Naruto called to the crowd. Sasuke grit his teeth and took a stance. " Anyways, Sasuke, those were tests."
" For what?" Sasuke asked.
" This." Naruto said. " Mass Shadow Clone!"
Hinata blinked as several hundred clones appeared, filling the combat arena.
" Woah." said Kiba. " He's never made that many before. Wait, his seal!" he said, remembering times when Naruto had drawn massive chakra like that.
" It doesn't look like he's hurt." said Asuma. " Jiraiya probably helped him with that."
Sasuke spun, delivering a kick to the first clone that charged. The mass began to bear down on him, but the raven haired boy leapt into the air, forming a jutsu. He blasted a massive fireball downwards, clearing an area and creating a smoking crater. As he landed he pulled out several shuriken threw them. They seemed to split apart in midair and increase in number, striking the clones that had leapt up in aerial kicks. However, the mass began to press in on him again.
Using his Sharingan, Sasuke intercepted and avoided a number of blows, striking back valiantly. The mass of clones was too great, though, and Sasuke was drug down.
" Naruto got him!" cheered Hinata, but a second later several kunai shot though the pile of clones, wires dangling behind. A roaring jets of flames followed, incinerating clones and freeing Sasuke. The beleaguered Sasuke dodged away from the mass, cutting a path though the clones at lighting speed. They quickly circled him again, keeping a safe distance away.
" Incredible." said one of the dumbstruck spectators.
" They are both impressive combatants." Kabuto said, leaning forward. " But I feel we have still not seen their true power."
" Naruto's got an army down there and Sasuke's untouchable." Kiba said in disbelief. " If that's not their true power, I'm completely screwed."
Sasuke formed two shadow clones of his own which took sides by him, facing out towards Naruto's clones.
" Naruto, did you know the Sharingan lets me see the color of chakra? I can tell which of you is real." said Sasuke, smirking. Suddenly, he and his clones dashed towards the Naruto clones, leaping in. The three Uchiha's became whirling death, cutting thought the endless clones with fists and fire. But no matter how many they defeated as they pressed on, more clones filed in to fight. Explosive clones entered the fray, blasting holes in the melee, which the Uchiha were only able to avoid narrowly. Mud clones rose from the ground if they stood in one place too long, trying to dray them down.
Finally, an explosive clone destroyed one of Sasuke's copies. The other clone was quickly mobbed and beaten, disappearing as well. The real Sasuke was left on his own against the clones.
" I got you, Sasuke!" yelled a clone, rushing and punching. Sasuke deflected his arm and threw him into another clone, destroying both.
" Wrong." said Sasuke, a evil look crossing his face. He began to grab his forearm rapidly, crackling chakra coming from his hand.
" He didn't." Asuma said, wide eyed. " There's no way Kakashi taught him…"
Before Kiba could ask what, Sasuke lunged forward, the lightning attack slicking though dozens of clones with a single leap. Emerging from the mass Sasuke lunged forward, grabbing onto the real Naruto and locking their vision. Naruto pushed him off, but it was too late.
" He hit Naruto with a genjutsu." said Asuma, sounding amazed. Naruto stumbled back, then looked around in a panic. He attacked a clone, destroying it. Sasuke dodged behind Naruto as the blonde genin began to fight his own clones.
" What was that attack, sensei?" asked Hinata.
" That was the Chidori, Kakashi's only original attack. It's a lighting blade that can cut anything. It's incredibly dangerous, so I'm surprised that…" Asuma trailed off as a ANBU ninja tapped on his shoulder and motioned for him to follow, leaving the genin and Kabuto behind.
" Were putting everyone on alert." said the ANBU after they had gotten out of earshot. " The Hokage believes something's up."
Before Asuma could ask what was happening, a roar came from the arena. Naruto was standing, a swirling red chakra leaking from his body. The clones near him also appeared to be undergoing some transformation.
" Bad news, Sasuke." said Naruto, eyes gone red. The new chakra swirled around him violently. " I can break genjutsu now."
Before Sasuke could react, Naruto threw his hands together and began to strain. The new chakra seemed to concentrate for a moment, then blaster outwards, shattering the genjutsu and incinerating a number of clones. Naruto came flying out of the energy field as fast as Lee moved without weights, catching Sasuke in a vicious uppercut and knocking him high into the air. Not slowing a bit, Naruto leapt after him as the black marks of the cursed seal spread over Sasuke's skin.
Several things happened when they collided.
The force of their strikes upon each other sent a shockwave out, buffeting the entire arena and knocking most the spectators over. Shouts of alarm came from outside of the arena, indicating the village was under attack. Gaara leapt forward into the arena, grinning psychotically, no longer able to contain himself. And finally, the Kazekage leapt from his seat, putting a kunai to the Hokage's throat.
---
Naruto and Sasuke pushed apart, dodging a pillar of sand that swung at them. They landed, facing Gaara. Above, they could see a number of Kohona ninja and foreign ninja began to battle.
" These two are strong, mother." Gaara said, sand flowing from the gourd on his back. " But I promised to kill them for you, so I will."
" He threatened to kill you as well, Naruto?" said Sasuke, grinning widely.
" He did. Want to kick his ass?" asked Naruto, putting his hangs into position to form more explosive clones.
Sasuke leapt backwards, grasping at his forearm, while the explosive clones charged Gaara, detonating around him. The sand shielded him, however, saving him from the damage.
---
" What the hell?" cried Kiba, leaping to his feet as a number of the spectators threw off their disguises. There were Stone, Sand, and Sound ninja suddenly facing them. Asuma, Kakashi, Guy, and Kurenai were already in combat, and outside it sounded like war had broken out. " Akamaru!" The dog barked and jumped onto Kiba's back, and an instant later the Beast Clone was complete.
" Ha!" yelled Kiba as he leapt into the air, coming down in a kick to a Stone ninja. Hinata deflected a kunai and activated he Byakugan. There was a loud crunch as a snake, far larger then the one they had fought in the Forest of Death, crashed into the side of the arena before continuing down the street of Kohona.
" Go stop that thing!" ordered Asuma, landing by them for a second. Kiba and Akamaru raced off though the hole the snake had made, chasing the monster down the street. Hinata was about to follow when Kabuto blocked her path, swinging a chakra laden hand at her. She barely rolled out of the way.
" I'm sorry, Hinata. I can't let you go further." said Kabuto, still smiling politely. He had switched his headband to a Sound village one.
" Traitor." hissed Hinata though her teeth. She raced forward, aiming a Jyuuken strike at Kabuto, who dodged away gracefully. She attacked several more times, but he was faster than she was and got away each time. However, Lee appeared from nowhere, landing a kick to Kabuto's face and knocking him through several rows of bleachers.
" What is going on?" Hinata yelled as she dodged a small explosion.
" Guy-sensei say's we are under attack and that several villages have declared war on us!" Lee said, delivering a uppercut to a Sand ninja. Hinata hit the man with a Jyuuken strike and he fell to the floor motionless. " We need to clear the arena first! I have been outside, and most of the enemy ninja are being help at the village wall, though there are several breaches."
" Right." said Hinata as Kabuto leap to his feet.
---
" Man, that things huge!" barked Akamaru as the gigantic snake crashed into a building, sending it toppling to the ground. Kiba bit his thumb and pressed it to the ground. Seven ninja dogs appeared, barking eagerly.
" Lets get it!" Kiba said, leaping into the air for the Piercing Fang attack. Akamaru and the dogs followed, the scything tornados striking the snake's scaly flesh and tearing it apart. The snake collapsed to the ground, splintering the stone street.
" Theres another!" barked one of the dogs. Kiba and Akamaru turned, seeing another of the giant snakes crashing through the village wall near them, scattering the defenders. They raced in the direction, arriving just as the snake slithers out of the way, letting the attackers though. The ninja dogs attacked the snake, shredding it, before joining Kiba and Akamaru in scattering the surprised attackers. Dozens of Sound ninja were cut to shreds, the others retreating. As the sections defenders recovered,, Akamaru barked, having spotted another of the snakes. The pack howled as they ran towards the next snake.
---
Naruto dodged another spiraling arm of sand. Gaara had shielded himself in some sort of sand ball, completely protecting himself from harm.
" He's focusing his chakra somehow!" Sasuke said, flipping over a pillar of sand. " I need to hit him now!"
" Right!" said Naruto, forming a group of clones. Sasuke leapt into the air and was caught by the clones as they formed a chain. They whipped him forward, throwing him with such force that he looking like a bold of lightning. He struck the sand ball hard, the Chidori cutting deep into it, but not far enough. He quickly pulled his arm out and retreated as a wave of sand enveloped the spot he had been a moment before. He landed by Naruto as the corpse of a Leaf ninja landed by them.
" Naruto, I have to try Chidori again! You need to make as many clones as you can and go help the village!" Sasuke shouted. " This guy's just stalling us!"
" Right!" shouted Naruto. He leapt into the air with insane force, propelling himself onto the top of the arena. It was one of the tallest buildings in Kohona, so he had a good view.
Half the city seemed to be on fire and everywhere he looked, the Leaf defenders were being overrun. He winced in anticipation as he jammed the jutsu together and forced all of the demon fox's chakra in.
---
Lee gasped in pain as Kabuto's attack grazed his shoulder, making a deep gash. He dodged back, putting some distance between himself and the highly dangerous ninja. Neji landed near them, racing over.
" Hinata-sama, we need to see to the manor's defenses!" he yelled. " Most of the clan's warriors will be at the walls, and those that remain will be unable to defend themselves!"
" We can handle this guy." said Choji as he, Ino, and Shikamaru ran up. Lee had pulled a arm bandage off and began to treat his wound.
A primal, deafening scream came from above and everyone in the arena looked up. Naruto stood high above them, a flaming chakra radiating from his body. Suddenly, the sky filled with orange as thousands of clones began to appear, falling from the sky in legion. The enemy ninja began to flee the arena.
" Hinata-sama!" said Neji pleadingly. Hinata turned to him a nodded, and they sped away as the other genin began to fight Kabuto.
The manor was not far, thankfully. On the way they could see Naruto, clones still forming around him, pouring down the arena sides and though the streets of Kohona like a wave. They arrived at the manor and found a small perimeter of the clan's elderly around it.
" Hinata-sama!" cried one of the aged Hyuuga as she approached.
" G-get inside and get all the children safe!" Hinata ordered. " Neji and I will keep guard!" The old Hyuuga raced insides and Hinata and Neji took positions on the roof where they could see the entire manor. A giant snake came slithering by, only to be cut apart by Kiba and the ninja dogs.
" Eleven!" yelled Kiba as they came to a halt.
" There is another by the lake!" said Hinata, focusing her Byakugan. Kiba nodded and raced off with his allies.
" Hinata-sama!" said Neji, pointing to a nearby street. Ten individuals in featureless grey cloaks were walking towards the manor calmly. Hinata could see that they had stone blades like the woman she had fought and realized that they were the remaining Eleven Masters.
" And here are the Hyuuga." said one as they walked towards where Neji and Hinata stood. " And how fortunate! The one who disgraced us and her lesser cousin. We will avenge that insult today."
" That is unlikely." said Neji as he and Hinata leapt down to meet them. " The Hyuuga clan is the strongest."
" Your servant speaks for you!" said one of the grey cloaked ninjas as they drew the stone blades.
" He is not my servant." Hinata said. The ninja had them surrounded and she found herself back to back with Neji. " Neji, I can use the Heavenly Spin now, so I will be safe. I will make a opening for you to escape."
" I can use it as well." Neji replied. " I will stay and fight, Hinata-sama."
Two of the ninja leapt at them, stabbing forward. In unison Hinata and Neji activated the Divine Sixty Four Strikes, slowing the Stone ninja's movements to a crawl. Neither aimed for chakra points, simply deflecting the stone blades and delivering lethal strikes to internal organs. The ninja fell to the ground motionless. The others charged as the jutsu failed, only to be repulsed by the blue wave of chakra as the Heavenly Spin formed.
---
" Thirteen!" cheered Kiba as Akamaru and the remaining two ninja dogs tore though another snake. He was exhausted, but felt driven on by pure adrenaline. Near him a platoon of Naruto clones had relieved the defenders of a breach in the wall, giving them time to treat their wounds and regroup. Despite the mustered forces of three villages outside the walls, the tide of clones had sealed the wall completely. The battle inside the city had been reduced to Kiba and the snakes, and whatever it was going on at the arena. As another snake ripped though the wall Kiba jammed chakra into his legs and sped onward. He had nearly reached it when another roar, the loudest yet, ripped though the village making even the snake stop in its tracks.
At the arena a giant creature looking like a badger made out of sand had appeared.
---
Naruto nearly fell from the arena wall as the gigantic monster appeared. Sasuke landed near him, avoiding being crushed by the creatures formation.
" What the hell is that?" said Naruto, his jaw dropping.
" I don't know. That thing Gaara was in suddenly formed into this. I can see Gaara under it, but I don't have enough chakra for another Chidori." said Sasuke, standing up.
" I'm almost out too." said Naruto. Sasuke looked over at him, eyes wide.
" Naruto, I need your chakra. I have a technique that can drain it." said Sasuke, performing a series of hand signs. " But I need you to try throwing me again."
" Right!" said Naruto as Sasuke grabbed his arm. He felt the last of the demon foxes chakra drain. Sasuke suddenly convulsed, the cursed seal marks glowing red. He fell over heavily, shaking as the seal spred over his entire body.
" Are you all right?" asked Naruto as Sasuke stood up. His body had transformed, Sharingan going yellow and black and his skin becoming pale white.
" I am." he said, moving unsteadily.
" Hey! You guys up here!" Naruto shouted to a crowd of clones that was running from a giant snake. As Kiba and Akamaru cut though it with the Piercing Fang, the clones leapt up to the wall, quickly forming a chain and grabbing onto Sasuke. With red chakra driven strength they hurled him at the giant badger as it finished forming.
" Finally, after all this time, I'm out!" cried the monster, a second before a black bolt of light night pierced through, obliterating it completely. His chakra spent Sasuke reverted and fell helplessly to the ground, being saved by a team of clones.
---
" Did you see that?" yelled one of the four remaining Masters. " The Sand's monster went down!"
" These brat's are pretty tough too! We should pull back!" agreed one of the others. Before he could carry out the plan, however, Hinata leapt over him and activated the Heavenly Spin, grinding him to death on the ground. She landed and while she recovered another ninja charged, the stone blade oozing this chakra. However, Neji blocked, blasting back the ninja before he could strike.
Together, Neji and Hinata had worked in perfect tandem. They were able to perfectly cover each other, allowing no openings for their attackers. The Eleven Masters were close quarters fighters, which was the worst match up against the Hyuuga techniques, and one by one they had fallen.
The remaining three ninja turned to flee, but ran into a crowd of Naruto clones. In the moments it took them to hack though Neji and Hinata had slain two more, landing and flanking the last one.
" It doesn't matter if we die here. The losses Kohona will have taken will be too severe, and your village won't survive." said the ninja, sword held ready.
" We will survive." said Hinata with determination.
" Hinata-sama is correct. We will. You village, however, may not." said Neji, leaping in for a strike. Rather than defending the last Master forced chakra into his sword, detonating it. Neji protected himself with the Heavenly Spin and landed by Hinata.
" And do not think you have actually beaten us here." came a weak voice from the rubble. " After the loss of one of our number the Tsuchikage changed the way we were used. These were mere puppets, controlled from afar by the real Eleven Masters. Your victory means nothing."
" I believe it does." said Neji, walking over and looking the dying man in the eyes. " You were all defeated by two genin. I do not imagine that the Tsuchikage will be pleased with you." Neji charged chakra to his palm and slammed it down into the man, killing him.
---
" Finally, no more snakes!" said Kiba to Akamaru as he looked around. " We can fight someone real now!" Akamaru barked. Nearby there was a crash as Choji was knocked into the side of a building. Kabuto came running out of an alley, dodging Shikamaru's shadow. As the strange purple energy covering the top of the arena vanished, Kabuto leapt onto the rooftop and began running towards the arena.
" Help us!" yelled Ino as the three genin gave chase. Kiba and Akamaru bounded after her.
" Is this guy tough?" asked Akamaru as they ran.
" Really tough. We fought him with Lee, Shino, and Sakura, but he was still beating us. Shino drained most of his chakra so he can't used any jutsu, but he's really fast." shouted Shikamru back. " He's the most troublesome opponent I have ever fought. He even regenerates."
" Damn." swore Kiba as they bounded into the arena. Kabuto ran towards several ninja in white robes with purple rope belts that were helping a man up. Nearby the Third lay motionless. Kiba recognized the man they were helping.
" That's Orochimaru!" said Kiba, skidding to a halt. " Everyone, stop!" The other genin halted.
" A good move." said Kabuto, a taunting smile on his face. " These four are way beyond you, and Lord Orochimaru could kill you with ease."
" Not likely. I think the Third nearly killed him." said Anko, landing nearby. Guy, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma appeared, surrounding the Sound ninja.
" The Sand's retreating." said Kakashi. " The Stone country has been fought back as well. All that's left is the few pathetic Sound ninja that have survived. Speaking of which…" he said as Dosu appeared.
" Dosu, your presence is fortunate." said Orochimaru, struggling to his feet. His arms hung at his sides uselessly. " You tip the balance in our favor."
" Thank you, Orochimaru-sama." said Dosu, staring at the jounin. " I am glad I was given the chance to defend you."
Without warning, he raised his arm, revealing the metal, flute-like section, and smashing it. There was a humming sound and the four ninja guarding Orochimaru collapsed. Before Kabuto could react Dosu had jammed a kunai into his throat, and the silver haired genin fell to the ground, drowning in his own blood.
" What?" cried Orochimaru at this betrayal.
" You sent us here to kill Uchiha Sasuke to test him after you gave him a cursed seal. We were no more than experiments for you." said Dosu, advancing on the weakened Snake Sannin. " We could have been content with this role. But then, when he failed, you sacrificed my friend Zaku for your summon technique. We showed you absolute loyalty and you betrayed us, and now you will die." Dosu raised the kunai again, but before he struck Orochimaru's neck extended towards the Sound genin, attempting to bit him. However, Asuma moved quicker, slicing though Orochimaru's neck. The pale, lifeless corpse fell to the ground.
" Sorry, but he killed my father." said Asuma. " I think that trumps killing a friend."
---
The battle ended soon after Orochimaru's defeat. The Sound ninja surrendered, Dosu assuming charged and negating the terms. The Sand country quickly sued for peace, claiming they had been tricked into participating, while the Stone village simply retreated. Kohona had suffered moderate losses, but nothing compared to what could have been suffered.
The Uzamaki Brigades, as they were now called, had assisted the villagers in putting out the fires. The damage to Kohona was heavy, but had Sasuke not stopped Shukaku. The word of the Eleven Masters complete defeated by the Hyuuga had spread, as well as Kiba and Akamaru's elimination of all of the snakes that had attacked the village.
As night fell a peaceful quiet covered the village. Everyone massed at the arena to see the Third's body bourn away. A large, aged looking monkey in armor was speaking with Jiraiya. Naruto and Sasuke came hobbling out of the arena, supporting each other as they were too tired to stand. They were greeted by a hero's welcome, and despite himself Sasuke joined Naruto in a smile.
" Hey, Pervy Sage!" said Naruto waving to Jiraiya. " Did you see how many clones I made? I didn't get burnt at all!"
" Good job, Naruto!" replied Jiraiya, not caring that Naruto had used the hated nickname.
" Hey, Jiraiya," said Asuma, walking over as the crowd bourn of Naruto and Sasuke. " I found the bodies of the First and the Second Hokage up there."
" Dosu mentioned Orochimaru sacrificing his underlings for a summons. To return someone from the dead, it would take such a evil deed." Jiraiya said, stroking his chin. " It's unfortunate the Third had to kill them. After Orochimaru was killed they would have regained control of themselves, and with the way they were summoned, they would have live for quite a few years."
" I can't belive he's gone." said Asuma, the realization that his father was dead beginning to sweep over him. " Other that you, we don't have anyone to replace him." Asuma said, looking to Jiraiya. He noticed Jiraiya's face had gone pale and was staring past him. Asuma turned and dropped his jaw, despite himself. The attention of every one of the assembled shifted as well.
The Fourth Hokage was walking down the stairs of the arena.