The Third Round

After training for the month with the pervert, I had started feeling good about the invasion. My information on the future was relayed through Jiraiya as 'overheard the sand siblings with my sensitive ears'.

So he knew that they would try to erect a barrier around the Hokage, and Orochimaru would summon 'strong' people from the grave. Along with Gaara being the jinchuuriki and summoning the beast inside the walls.

We didn't know if I could truly fight him with his collar around my neck, but I would try. If I could, I would place a seal over his own to disrupt the chakra. Unfortunately he is always covered by sand, which is filled with chakra, covering his seal…

In the end it was decided I would just try to do what I can against him, and if he gets out of control, it will have to be handled later by Jiraiya or Jiji-Sama. But since I had the chakra, and sealing skills, I was to place a few Chi-Bunshin around the village. They would have the chakra to do large scale skills easily, while being sturdy enough not to pop from a simple non-lethal attack. And if the situation calls for it, kamikaze.

They would specifically target summons. There would be several large snakes running through, and I had specially developed a large seal to both add gravity and resistance to a large body of mass - in this case the snakes. So they would have a multitude of force laying down on them, while at the same time another force being applied against their own motions.

I had also developed a small scale version of the same seal of course, ready to be slapped onto any opposing shinobi. Non-Lethal was my motto for now. Especially if Suna was to re-ally with us afterwards. And captives would make a pretty good bargaining chip.

Nevertheless, that meant that I, or a clone, had to get close enough and actually apply the seals. Having a few hundred running around doing evacuations would be a big help as well. They were currently henged as various beings situated at key strategic points throughout the village.

There was one last seal I had given to Jiraiya. It being a space/time seal. Special in its existence and a one-time, one person use. It was actually a similar setup to a personal barrier I have. It was compressed into a small paper he would slap onto any barrier. It would redirect any counter or damage applied to the paper back from where it came, spread away from itself. Then it would open up a 'gateway' through the wall. Rather it was more like going in one mirror and outside another that appears on the opposite side of the barrier, a few centimeters in. This would let him fight with Jiji if he doesn't get inside. Though I only told him to slap it on a barrier to go through it, rather than specifics.

The one thing I stressed was that Kabuto was just as much of a threat. He hides his skills, and could easily take Orochimaru's place when the man dies, already having the skills and tools at his disposal. Kakashi would aim for him, at Jiraiya's behest - the one-eyed ninja was roped into the loop.

Trusted ninja would be counting fake ANBU and assessing the situation in the arena, Hyuuga would be specifying targets, marking them somehow. There were many factors going on, more so than I know. I was only kept in the loop because I had a direct influence. Something I was truly grateful for.

I couldn't help but think about all of this while I was making my way into the arena. The people around me staying slightly away in fear of my sight - which still made me sad, their emotions did hurt. It wasn't until I walked out into the open field that I saw him. The boy I had felt a while ago, screaming for death in his emotions. The one that for all intents and purposes could control me - at least if he wanted to. Truly a frightening visage.

Walking into the field I shivered. I could tell he felt me coming - my collar was slowly tightening as I approached, almost painfully, but not enough to affect me. My animalistic features drooped, ears to the sides, tail flowing between my legs and around one of them. My obedience a built-in tendency at his presence, and enforced by the band around my neck.

His emotions were changing from bloodlust to greed, happiness, expectations, thrill, and so much more. The deaths by his hands at the invasion pushed aside by his want for me. Again I shivered at the thought, missing Hinata's worried looks of concern. It was frightening the power he exerted over me, just by a simple piece of metal. My body was heating up a little, whether in fear or some other emotion, I couldn't tell. I could feel a little wetness between my legs, and I hoped it wasn't me peeing in fright.

Eventually I came to stand in line, away from him. However a quick glance to my side showed he was smirking at me. Quite evilly in fact. His excitement rose, and I couldn't help but shiver again, though my emotions started copying his. My excitement rising in tandem, my head lowered in obedience as I felt the collar slightly move against my skin. The slight wetness between my legs increasing. The plants weren't absorbing it fast enough. Slowly my fear was being pushed away, and I couldn't understand what was going on. The only thing I did know what that I HATED my instincts at this moment. That and my own helplessness.

Eventually Hayate gave us the signal to move up to the watcher's box, while the first match went underway. I couldn't feel much of anything at this moment, but Gaara. My mind was closed off to everything around me aside from his emotions. They weren't the normal hate or uncaring ones I received. Nor were they the love filled ones I normally felt from those who truly cared for me. No, they were lustful excitement, among other lesser emotions. And it was aimed towards me.

My face was reddening, and my body warming. It had to be nervousness, right? I was scared, and yet I was excited? Are my emotions working off my worry for the invasion? Honestly, I just couldn't imagine what was going on. Not with so many serious problems occurring around me.

Hinata was going against Lee, and doing well. Though the spandex-clad male hadn't taken off his weight, so it was only a matter of time. And there he got the okay from Gai… it won't take long now.

Even as I watched, I couldn't help my thoughts. The boy was a maniac right now, the Bijuu basically deciding his actions. His want for me, staring me in the back. Feeling his stare, my tail tightened around my leg, and I shivered again. His emotions just kept rising. He wasn't just a rollercoaster of emotions, he was a rocket. They were just taking off and never coming down until they disappear completely.

Reaching up to rub the back of my head to get the feeling off, my ears twitched away. Rather than the back, I scratched the back of my ears, through all of my furry long hair. It was an odd motion, one that begot pleasure. This was a motion I hadn't expected to do consciously or unconsciously. Not that I even thought about it, or what it meant, but kept repeating regardless.

Even watching the match finish, Lee using a quick kick to my friends side to finish, my thoughts just kept moving back to the tanuki-eyed boy. I had practically ignored everyone around me, even as the next match was forfeited by Kankuro, much to Sasuke's ire.

"I FORFEIT!" Immediately the crowd booed in unsettling yells.

My violet slitted eyes blinked at the second forfeit. 'Oh yea, Shika would have forfeited if Naruto hadn't pushed him out of the box… Crap I'm up!'

I actually hadn't expected the double forfeit. So lost in my thoughts I completely ignored the actual likeliness of Shikamaru's forfeit. I gave him a dirty glance as I walked past, headed down to the stadium - ignoring his mutter of 'troublesome...'.

Walked out to the field, sleeves still up, showing my hands, hair slightly billowing in the wind being blown from Temari's fan as she glided down, I prepared myself a bit. Eventually she settled on the ground with a small smirk at me.

"Contestants ready…?"

We both gave a nod.

"HAJIME!"

I summoned two white senfa, even as Temari spoke, while pulling her fan into position.

"So, how do you enjoy being my brothers little pet? He was talking about taking you home with us you know." She said, smirk widening.

My slitted eyes narrowed. I ignored her provocation, and decided to use my best element, the same she uses, against her, for it. She may have better control, but I had more chakra, and if I dim the wind manipulation it might turn out safer. Despite the much smaller surface of my hand-sized fans, they should produce plenty of force. After all, I was trying NOT to kill people, and if she can counter it, she won't get killed with my attacks. 'at least I hope not...'

Immediately I twirled in a circle, fans weaving in and out from my body, producing small waves of wind, constantly increasing as both my chakra output increase, and the infusion of elements started being applied faster and denser, more precise.

Her eyes widened at my use of a little of her abilities. Immediately she waved her own fan towards me, easily reversing my wind flow, and cancelling my wind blades.

However, my moves continued. My continued assault, twisting, twirling, encircling, waving, dancing my body in my new unique style, tail weaving around at just the right angles to keep my balance as I moved, hair following in symmetry, with senfa flowing in its beauty.

My continuous flow slowly built up a stronger wind, even as she kept trying to reverse it. Slowly, but surely, my assault reached her with a small paper-thin slice on an arm. My dance continuing, building a rhythm, my violet eyes dancing with my body as I watched her struggling to overpower a constantly increasing storm front.

The little slices continued, and she started a quicker succession of breaths. Her chakra obviously decreasing as she pushed herself to try and force more and more chakra into our exchanges. My steady flow, slowly getting faster as it kept increasing against her in our battle of wind. She was definitely more powerful in the manipulation. Far more powerful. I was forcing chakra to increase mine, and she was still battling almost evenly.

Eventually my wind got too fast for her to swing properly, and my dance of wind started picking up faster and faster, blowing her off her feet before she could retaliate. Several slices started appearing on her body. They were thin, but getting thicker.

She was blown into the wall. I kept my dance flowing though. Obviously I couldn't put enough manipulation into the attack to truly harm her so I continued on, keeping her from moving while slowly adding damage.

It was actually an ingenious strategy now that I thought about it. So long as I didn't force a full manipulation of all the chakra I pumped into my winds, the slices would be minimal, but the wind speed would still pick up. Truly this little trick could be done with Jiraiya level chakra. And I REALLY didn't want to face her summons attack… I didn't know if I could escape it, let alone block it. And I really didn't want to test it against myself - I doubted getting cut in half would be pleasant…

But obviously applying wind nature into a Rasengan versus a control technique is completely different, I just didn't have her control to add the wind nature and force it to flow as well as she does. I was lucky that I could even apply as much directional force as I did.

"I-I FORFEEET!" Was Temari's forced screaming reply through the winds.

Honestly, I didn't expect her to forfeit before passing out. But I stopped the onslaught of my dance. Slowly the wind died down, but the little needle thin wind slices stopped quickly. She fell to the ground almost breathless. Immediately medics rushed up to help her and bandage her up.

"Winner: Uzumaki Naruna!" There was a cheer, and a wave of emotions I had never felt before aimed at me - excitement, joy, guilt, pleasure, and just pure happiness. Apparently, despite my appearance and who I am, they truly enjoyed my display, my dance.

I couldn't help but reflect their emotions. As such, I cheered with them! It was truly something I had never felt before. Something that I just couldn't help but love. That sensation of being accepted, even if there were a few obvious emotions of hatred, the majority just overjoyed my being.

Eventually the cheers died down and Hayate was able to continue, "Would Sabaku no Gaara please enter the field."

My slitted eyes widened in realization of what was about to come. My breathing quickened in anticipation, excitement, fear, nervousness, and any multitude of reasons. My face slightly reddening, not that I noticed, I looked towards the doors where he walked from.

The dampness in between my legs was still there, and I knew something was wrong with me. But there was no way to realize what was going on when all you can think about is how terrible the current situation is, and how calm the opponent looks when they're supposed to be blood-crazed…

He walked up to face me, and without cause my ears lowered slightly towards the sides. There was too much going on to completely focus on the tanuki boy in front of me though. 'The invasion is about to happen. I don't know when it will be, during the fight or after, but I need to place that seal on Gaara before he can act!"

The announcer spoke, "ready?"

We nodded a little. Mine was a bit shaky, but I was calming down. I needed to fight this boy, not submit to him like I'm in heat. '... wow that is an odd thought!' Honestly it was a bit scary too. It was slightly registering what my body was starting to do when I submitted, and I was naturally inclined to deny it.

"HAJIME!"

Immediately I bit my thumb and produced four blood clones. Two would hide out of his view, while two would help me take him down. I let them take the lead as he threw sand towards me. They quickly went to either side of him, even as I produced a chakra hand, and swatted the sound out of the way, careful not to get any one me this time.

I rushed forward, covering my other hand in a chakra claw. My two clones producing a Rasengan in each of their hands, while the other two extended chakra chains to surround Gaara and hold him still. They attempted to get in to destroy his sand body, around his chest where I could see the biggest concentration of chakra.

His sand quickly and automatically came up and shoved the chains away, forcing them off direction, all of them, and easily. He formed another sand barrier, forcing my clones to shove each rasengan into it in an attempt to blow through.

However, it failed, with his continually adding sand, and my clones were whipped back with sand. I continued forward determined. My claws dug into another barrier in front defending Gaara, however mine pierced and dug through his sand, shoving it out of the way. Immediately I saw spikes extending out from in front of me, and I activated a barrier seal on my left arm.

The spike extending from in front of me pierced through me… rather, the barrier allowed it to pierce, right through it, and around my body. The spike extended right through my abdomen and out my back, with no sand in between. My barrier effectively shifted all matter that tried to go through it on the exact opposite side of the field around my body. No blood on the sand at all.

Gaara's eyes widened considerably, even as I continued forward, nonetheless he made no motion to attack again. He pulled the spike back through the field, obviously testing its properties. I let the field down, and proceeded to form a Rasengan. Throwing it at him this close in an attempt to clear the dirt off his body, he still reacted and protected himself though. The ball sent a shockwave of air around him, and pushing me slightly with force, my fur billowing behind me, as it disintegrated into a sand wall.

'This is ridiculous. I can see why they call it the ultimate defense though...' Honestly, in all the time training, I couldn't think of a quick way to go around his sand body. I nodded to a blood clone, signaling it's attack. Hopefully it would be able to do enough.

Running back in, I followed the clone from behind, hiding in its shadow. Gaara's sand went back up in a defensive shield in front of us as I extended a claw. Enlarging the claw quite a bit, I swung it in front of my clone to clear out the way, allowing her to slip in. She threw a punch that was blocked by his sand close to his face.

My speed was impressive and he was forced to use his hands to defend himself. But she still wasn't quick enough. But that was enough. I activated my field again even as she blew up. The damage flowing around and through my body. Honestly this particular seal was amazing. Despite not being even close to the same level, or working in the same way, my field was practically a copy of Obito's Kamui jutsu.

Once the flames died down, I could see pieces of his skin through the smoke. It had worked, but it wasn't enough, so I charged another two near instant Rasengan and released my barrier. Unfortunately a sand barrier caught them, and kept adding more even as I dug through it. I was being forced away. His body was being recovered its sand defense.

Truly this was one of the greatest defensive abilities in the world - to take a full blown explosion in the face and not even be troubled… 'I'm kind of jealous. Though I did kinda just do the same thing, hehe. But I can't attack and defend with mine.'

"Enough." My ears instinctively lowered in fear, my fur standing on end. It was a simple word. A statement. An order… One I couldn't fight against, and was forced to immediately obey, as he constricted my collar around my neck to insane levels.

My throat was tight. Reaching up with my gloved hands, I tried pulling it away out of instinct, but it was too form-fitted. I couldn't breathe. There was no reprieve from the band around my neck, declining my brain of oxygen.

I was panicking, my brain went into overdrive trying to figure a way to release myself. Nothing came to mind though. For the last month, nothing had been done because nothing could be done. And that wasn't going to change in this instance.

Looking up and around I could see the crowds starting to fall asleep. 'THE INVASION!' They had started! My explosion was probably the trigger! They wanted him in top shape, and if I could actually get that close to hurting him, they would pull him out.

My mind was slowing, and my vision dimming. A body of chakra, but in the form of living cells. I may have the essence of a Bijuu now, but my body was that of a human. I couldn't fight forever. Eventually my mind gave out, and everything went black...