Chapter 8: The Finals at Last.
Disclaimer: This story contains characters and material owned by Masashi Kishimoto, VIZ Media, DC Comics, and Geoff Johns the current owners of the rights to Naruto and the Green Lantern respectively, this story itself is of my property.
Three more weeks had passed and Naruto had become more proficient with the use of his ring thanks to Saint Walker and under Jiriaya, his ninja skills had increased exponentially not to mention that his power ring helped explain some of the basics of certain styles to him. However two things were on Naruto's mind at the moment.
Flashback
Naruto had been at the administration building one afternoon when he overheard Jiriaya, Sarutobi, and Saint Walker discussing some info that Jiriaya had come across and he eventually found out that Orochimaru was planning an invasion of the Leaf using the Sand as his scapegoat force so to speak. When he found out he flew off as fast as he could to where he assumed Lee was training. Soon enough he found his fellow lantern.
"Lee, we need to talk." Naruto said as he stopped Lee from beating a post.
"What's up Naruto?" Lee asked.
"I just overheard something grave. The Sound village is planning an invasion using the Sand village as their attack force." Naruto said.
"OH HOW UNYOUTHFUL FOR OUR ALLIES TO STAB US IN THE BACK!" Lee screamed with tears flowing down his cheeks until Naruto smacked him in the head.
"Lee focus!" Naruto said.
"Oh right sorry about that Naruto, anyway what should we do?" Lee asked.
"For now keep training so we'll be ready for when the attack commences." Naruto said as Lee nodded his head while Naruto went off to find Sakura.
Later Naruto found Sakura talking to Ino at the flower shop when Naruto tapped on the window, Sakura and Ino looked at him until Naruto made the motion of charging a power ring that Sakura understood what kind of business he needed to talk to her about.
"Excuse me for a moment please Ino I'll be right back." Sakura said as she headed out the door.
"Sure Sakura no problem." Ino asked scratching her head confused as to what Naruto wanted to talk to her about.
Meanwhile in an alley just outside the flower shop, Sakura and Naruto discussed what Naruto had overheard in the administration building. "Are you sure that you're not over exaggerating this Naruto?" The Star Sapphire asked.
"Sakura I know what I heard and if the Hokage said it himself then it should be taken into consideration, however I will not let this sort of thing get me down, Walker-sensei told me to fight the enemy no matter how many you may face, but as long as you don't lose hope all will be well." Naruto said while he looked at Sakura with a serious glow in his eyes.
Sakura saw the glow of the ring and the glow of his eyes and while she thought it was the ring talking to her through him, she saw that it was all him on the inside. 'Naruto, I can't believe how much you've grown.' She said to herself as she watched him take off into the sky.
End Flashback
Now it was the night before the finals, he had been sitting on his bed thinking about what Jiriaya and the 3rd Hokage had told him in regards to his family.
Flashback
Naruto had met with Jiriaya at one of the training grounds several days later and surprisingly he saw Sarutobi there as well discussing something until Naruto showed up. "Hey old man, Pervy Sage you wanted to tell me something?" Naruto asked as both me turned to him.
"Actually yes Naruto, Jiriaya and I believe that it's about time we told you about your parents and why the 4th sealed the nine-tailed fox into you." Hiruzen said as Naruto sat down on the ground. "Before I leave you to train with Jiriaya Naruto, there's something important I should've told you when you became a ninja." Sarutobi said.
"What's that?" Naruto asked
"Naruto you know what your childhood was like because of what happened thirteen years ago." Sarutobi said.
"Yes." Naruto nodded feeling there was more to it.
"Well there was a very good reason why the Yondaime chose you to become the vessel for Kurama." Sarutobi began to explain before Naruto cut him off.
"What was so special about me that I had to become the village pariah?" Naruto asked wanting them to spit it out already.
"Look Naruto the reason why the Yondaime used you for a sacrifice because he couldn't ask anyone else's' child if he didn't have one of his own!" Jiriaya spat it out.
Naruto froze when heard that took of his Blue Lantern ring, stuck it in his pocket and asked, "Could you repeat that?"
Sarutobi sighed, "What Jiriaya said was true Naruto. Minato Namikaze the Yondaime chose you because you were his son and couldn't ask any one else to give up their child." Sarutobi said with a sigh of guilt in his voice.
"The 4th Hokage's my… Oh thank Kami and I thought it was just me!" Naruto sighed in relief surprising the old men.
"You knew?" Sarutobi asked curiously.
"Not right away actually, at first I thought it was because we looked so very similar. I mean I've seen his face in the history books, blonde hair, blue eyes, he looks like an older version of me and vice versa I look like a younger him except for these marks." He said as he felt the whisker marks on his face.
"Well yes Naruto the Yondaime was your father, and as Hokage he couldn't simply ask for any family to offer their own child as a sacrifice." Sarutobi explained..
Naruto frowned but sighed, "Well that would make him selfish, but still does he have any idea what horrors his act has put me through?" He asked the two old men.
"Minato would be very sorry for what he's burdened you with Naruto, and even more so disappointed in the village for their treatment on you." Jiriaya said.
Naruto took all of this in, "Well I still feel bitter about what dad did, but I realize that sacrifices is part of the shinobi life. But if you guys know my father, what about my mother, who was she?"
Jiriaya fielded this one, "Well Naruto your mother was Kushina Uzumaki, and in a way she was a lot like you."
"Like me?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh yeah, she was mischievous little rascal always getting into trouble," he chuckled, "But what can you expect from a tomboy who didn't take crap from anyone, anyone who tried getting on her bad side would get smashed. That's how she earned her nickname the Red Hot Habanero. But man did she grow up to be a beauty." Jiriaya explained to his charge.
"Was mom the only Uzumaki in the village even before me?" Naruto asked curiously
"Well Naruto Kushina wasn't always a Konoha ninja, she and her family the Uzumaki once lived in a land known as Uzushiogakure (Village Hidden in the Whirling Tides). A village that was most famous for their knowledge of sealing jutsu and longevity. Our village and Uzushiogakure had close ties considering Uzushio's spiral symbol is imprinted on the back of Konoha jackets. In fact our Shodaime Hokage was in fact married to an Uzushio kunoichi named Mito Uzumaki, and who was in fact a previous Jinchuriki to Kurama as you call him." Sarutobi explained.
"She what?" Naruto asked shocked.
"Yes and when she grew too old to bear the Kyuubi inside of her another Uzumaki was brought to the village as the next vessel."
"Don't tell me…" Naruto said knowing where the third and Jiriaya were going with this.
"Yes Naruto your mother was the next in line to carry Kurama inside her."
"Hold on you said the Uzumaki came from another land, but what happened to it?" the blonde asked.
"Rivaling nations grew feared of Uzushio's reputation and destroyed it. Very few surviving members fled to safety and it's unknown to determine how many are still alive to this day." The Hokage explained.
"I see. Something's still bothering me, Kurama invaded the village thirteen years ago but how could he if he was imprisoned inside my mom?" Naruto wondered.
"We don't know the full details, but we do know that someone had removed Kurama from Kushina and brainwashed him into attacking the village." The Hokage continued.
"Hmm, that qualifies for looking into." Naruto pondered.
"And how are you with all you've just been told?" Sarutobi worried.
"Well surprised, confused, and somewhat disappointed. But to be the son of a hero and a kunoichi from a legendary clan makes me happy that not only did they really love me but gave their lives to protect me. And I won't let their sacrifice be in vain." Naruto smiled.
Jiriaya and Sarutobi sighed in relief that he didn't go on a rampage, "Well Naruto I'm glad to see you're taking this so well. I'm just sorry I had to keep this secret from you. But you must understand it was to protect you from Minato's enemies or worse enemies." Sarutobi explained.
"I see, even though it sounds like an excuse used countless times, I'm willing to let is slide since I get where you're coming from. After all ever since dad's mission involving Iwa ninja from there would probably be after me, or even Kumo ninja." Naruto said to them.
Jiriaya smiled, "Well Naruto, guess we better start your training now." He said
"Agreed, I leave him in your care Jiriaya." Sarutobi said vanishing in a swirl of leaves.
Finally the day of the finals for the Chunin Exams came, Naruto woke up and put his ring on and charged it up with his oath. When he took care of everything he tied his headband around his forehead and stood outside his apartment, "Time to go." He teleported to the Chunin exams stadium and went in to join his competition.
At the stadium people were filling the stands eager to watch the matches and were already placing their bets. Most people were betting on Neji to win in the opening match hearing that he was the Hyuga prodigy. Others were also focused on the match that would take place between Sasuke and Gaara, because of their reputations with Gaara being untouchable, and Sasuke being the pride of the Uchiha clan. Up in the royal box was Sarutobi and approaching was the Kazekage which Sarutobi could tell was Orochimaru in disguise.
"Ah welcome Kazekage-dono, so glad you could make it," The old Kage began, "You must be tired after such a long travel." He joked.
"Yes it was rather long, but better than to have you travel all the way to Suna with your old age, this is for the best." The Kazekage attempted to crack a joke.
The Hokage just let out a chuckle, "Well don't put me in the coffin just yet, I still have a life to live."
Meanwhile in the stands were Kiba and Hinata sitting next to Hiashi and Hinata's little sister Hanabi, while Sakura sat with Ino and Chouji who was carrying a duffel bag filled with chips sitting beside her.
"I can't wait to see how this turns out." Ino said in excitement.
"Yeah." Sakura agreed looking down at the crowd seeing Naruto but no sign of her second teammate.
Soon Naruto, Shino, Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, Neji, and Shikamaru stood in the arena. 'Where the hell is that teme?' Naruto thought seeing no Sasuke as the proctor started talking.
"Alright listen up, I am Genma Shiranui; proctor for stage three of the Chunin Exams," He began, "Before we begin I must show you all once again the final match ups as a reminder." He said pulling out the tournament bracket.
Match 1: Naruto vs Neji
Match 2: Gaara vs Sasuke
Match 3: Shino vs Kankuro
Match 4: Temari vs Shikamaru
Shikamaru gasped, 'What Dosu was dropped, what happened to him?' he thought unaware of Gaara smirking at the change in the match ups.
Naruto glanced to Neji feeling eager to fight him until Genma continued, "Now listen up the contestants for the first match must remain down here, the rest of you are to wait in the balcony above until your names are called. During the matches you are free to use whatever weapons you have, you can fight until you're opponent is defeated or forfeits the match, however I am allowed to step in and call the match as it sees fit if the match itself gets out of hand." Genma said.
"And should one challenger fail to make it to the arena when their name is called?" Naruto asked.
"Then that challenger forfeits the match to his/her opponent." Genma replied making Sakura and other shinobi concerned. "If all's said and done the contestants for match one stay here in the stadium, the rest of you go up to the balcony and wait." Genma instructs.
So the other contestants minus Naruto and Neji left for the balcony. Naruto and Neji stood on opposite ends as Genma stood between them, "The first match of the Chunin Exam Finals Naruto Uzumaki vs Neji Hyuga." He announced which got the crowds roaring with excitement.
"Have you any words before this fated match commences?" Neji asked his opponent.
"Only this… You're going down!" Naruto declared.
"Hajime!" Genma called.
Naruto started rushing for Neji while the Hyuga thought, "that baka rushing right in without thinking how pathetic.' He thought but suddenly saw Naruto jump over Neji and as he landed behind him he did a spin while still in the air throwing a punch right for the prodigy who managed to block it and the two pushed each other back.
Neji grunted, "You should've quit before the match began." He boasted.
"Now why would I do a stupid thing like that?" Naruto asked rhetorically.
"Because I was declared victor the minute we were made opponents as fate predicted." Neji replied.
Naruto frowned, "You know what, your talk of fate and destiny is really starting to get old!" Neji frowned at his claim, "Those words may have worked on Hinata but they're not going to work on me!" Naruto declared.
Naruto summoned some shadow clones and they all fought Neji head one using their martial arts skill while Neji kept blocking or dodging. While up in the crowds Tenten watched in amazement, "That Naruto's sure got skills, maybe more than Lee, but let's see how they match against Neji." Tenten said to herself.
Meanwhile by the Hyugas and Kiba, they were also watching in amazement while Kiba thought, 'Try and save some energy Naruto you'll need it.'
'Neji is fighting just like the prodigy he is, but Naruto I've never seen fighting moves like that before.' Hiashi thought to himself.
Naruto and Neji were still going at it until Neji extended channeled chakra through his body and thrusted his palm forward, "Hakke Kuushou (Eight Divination Signs Air Palm)!" he shouted destroying the clones while Naruto was forced back but flipped backwards onto his feet.
"Not bad Neji but I still got a lot more fight in me." Naruto smirked.
"This battle is pointless, why don't you just surrender?" Neji asked.
"And what let you walk away as the winner because you think you're unbeatable? Dude you got serious mental issues." Naruto replied.
"Don't you get it no matter how hard you strike at me nothing will change you were not meant to win this fight!" Neji continued accusing him while he remained unaffected by the claims.
"You're such a pathetic whiny child." Naruto answered with a frown.
"What did you say?" Neji gasped as he was burning with anger on the inside and everyone was surprised at Naruto's claim.
"Look at yourself acting like a spoiled baby over spilled milk," Naruto continued, "And before you even start bitching about what I could possibly know about you? Well let me tell you I know everything. I did my research on you and your clan Neji and found out all about your family crisis, so you lost your father and feel you're being suppressed by the main house, Boo-Frickin-Who!" he did a mock sob, "Why don't you do your family a favor and grow up!" He once again went at it with Neji in close combat dealing blow after blow while Neji continued to dodge or block.
"Hiyah!" Naruto jumped up delivering a flying kick at Neji knocking him onto the ground as Naruto continued to lecture him, "You think it wasn't fair to you that your dad lost his life? I found out life isn't always fair, but that's no excuse to take it out on everyone around you that had nothing to do with it! You had a family your whole life while I had none! You weren't hated, beaten, and scorned for something you had no control over. I was! You think you know what suffering is, but the truth is you don't even know what a fraction of what suffering is! You were never beaten up on your birthday since the day you were born by village mobs, or had shop owners overcharge you for over expired foods and clothing! The only one who knows of real suffering is me!" Naruto screamed.
This got cries and gasps from everyone in the stadium as Naruto continued, "And let me tell you something even more painful about my life. Thirteen years ago the Yondaime Hokage sacrificed himself to bring down a beast that threatened our village, the Kyuubi no Kitsune!" he shouted, Neji was shocked having heard of this tale, but why it had such an affect on Naruto he didn't know. "Everyone says he sacrificed himself to kill the creature. But let me tell you this, those who survived the fight left out one minor detail about the battle, a minor detail that affected the course of history here in the village! The Yondaime didn't kill the fox. Think about it, ninja of all times have attempted to destroy a demon, you seriously think the one man could do the thing ancient shinobi have tried before, highly unlikely!" the genin in the crowds got shocked and concerned.
'Naruto.' Sakura and Ino thought while Shikamaru, Kiba, and Chouji were confused.
"He did the only think he could do, seal the Kyuubi away in a human body," He answered.
"But an adult's body wouldn't be able to take the pressure of the sealing, so he sealed it inside the body of a newborn baby that was just born that night. And you know who that baby was…" he trailed off hoping he and everyone else would get the picture, "IT WAS ME!" He screamed.
Neji and the genin gasped at that outburst. "And you know what sucked about him giving up his life to seal a demon inside his own flesh and blood to save the village he ruled over?" Naruto asked Neji and the crowd rhetorically.
"Flesh and blood?" Neji asked.
"Yeah that's right Minato Namikaze the Yondaime Hokage is my father! I'm really Naruto Namikaze! And you know what else that sucked, my old man expected me to be seen as a hero for keeping such a creature at bay. But every frickin day of my life nearly everyone in this village attempted to kill me thinking I was the demon itself in human form, with no sense of differentiating between jail and jailor!" Naruto screamed.
Neji was actually shaking while the other shinobi around were in shock that he would publicly announce it. "And now Neji, I'll show you fate and destiny do not determine our lives!" he called as Kyuubi's chakra encased him in a protective layer as he dashed for Neji tackling him sending him flying back but before he could even hit the wall Naruto dashed further ahead appearing behind him and launched a punch at him sending him flying back the way he was coming. "Now for the final blow!" Naruto said as he delivered a tornado kicking nailing Neji and he was sent rolling across the ground looking dazed.
Neji tried to get up but was too worn out from taking so many blows. "There Neji maybe now you'll realize that fate and destiny don't determine a person, but rather we make it for ourselves. Because if you keep this up the way you are now you're only going to tear yourself apart and you'll be alone with no one to help you." He finished.
Seeing as how Neji was getting up Genma called out, "Winner of the first match of the Chunin Exams is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze!" Genma announced.
It was silent for a moment until Sakura cried out, "YOU DID IT NARUTO!"
And with that the whole stadium roared with applause and cheers. Naruto smiled looking all around seeing he was finally starting to get accepted. While by the Hyuga's Hinata smiled and thought, "Congratulations Naruto.'
"Oh yeah that's what I'm talking about!" Kiba ranted as Akamaru barked on his head.
At the stadium after Neji was taken away by medics Naruto got back to the stands where the other challengers were waiting. "Well guys what'd ya think?" Naruto asked Shikamaru and Shino.
Shikamaru sighed, "You're just too troublesome Naruto you know that?"
"Yeah, but then again what would this world be if there wasn't anything troublesome?" Naruto joked back.
"Peaceful." Shikamaru answered.
"I was going to say boring." Naruto replied and the two chuckled.
They looked down with Genma ready to call the next competitors; sadly one of them was still a no show. "Will Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara please come down here?" Genma called until a Konoha Jonin appeared at his side, whispered something to him, and vanished. "Due to conditions Sasuke's and Gaara's match will be postponed until further notice, until then the match ups will continue following the next match."
"But that means my match will be even closer." Shikamaru groaned.
"Will Shino and Kankuro please come down?" Genma called.
"Um, I forfeit the match." Kankuro called which got everyone confused.
"Well then since Kankuro forfeits the match goes to Shino Aburame." Genma called.
"I'm stuck with the worst case of luck!" Shikamaru complained.
"Since the third match has been decided will our next competitors Shikamaru and Temari please come down?" Genma called.
'Maybe I should drop out to; no way I can do this.' Shikamaru thought.
Naruto could tell what Shikamaru was planning and he couldn't let this happen, 'Sorry Shikamaru but I have to do this.' Naruto thought before whacking Shikamaru in the back making him fall off the railing and into the stadium.
"Naruto, if you weren't so strong I'd hit you!" Shikamaru cursed to himself.
"Yeah go for it Shikamaru!" Ino cheered.
Shikamaru sighed taking his position on the field with Temari knowing as long as he's down in the arena he might as well do something.
"If both competitors are ready you may begin!" Genma calls.
So the match got underway and throughout it Shikamaru had been trying to avoid Temari's wind abilities while getting enough concentration to catch her with his Shadow Possessing Jutsu. Soon enough caught Temari with his jutsu.
"He got her!" Chouji gasped.
"Alright!" Ino cheered as well for her teammate.
Shikamaru and Temari raise their hands like mirror images as the lazy ninja announced, "I forfeit the match." Shikamaru called and everyone was outraged.
"Due to forfeiting this match goes to Temari!" Genma announced.
"That baka!" Ino groaned.
"Not too surprising, this is Shikamaru after all." Chouji reminded her as he took a bit out of another potato chip.
Shikamaru soon left the stadium and joined the others, 'I don't think they can keep prolonging Sasuke's match like this.' Naruto thought until he and the crowds looked down at the stadium as a breeze blew and in a swirl of leaves stood two people back to back, one was Kakashi, and the other was Sasuke wearing a black shirt with his family emblem on back, black shorts, and the bangs in his hair grew past his chin.
"And you are?" Genma asked the genin.
Sasuke looked up, "I'm Sasuke Uchiha." He said smugly.
The crowds started cheering while up with the group, Guy and Lee finally made it to the stands.
"Guy-sensei, Lee." Sakura gasped.
"Hey Sakura sorry we're late, what'd we miss?" Guy asked.
"Well Sasuke's about to fight that Suna ninja Gaara, while you just missed Naruto beating Neji in the opening match." Chouji explained.
Lee and Guy were left in shock; Guy was mostly shocked about Naruto and Neji, while Lee was shocked about both fights.
'Sasuke's fighting that Suna ninja Gaara, whom I stood no chance against,' Lee began thinking, 'And Naruto defeated Neji, the one person whom I've trained long and hard to try and best.' He thought sadly.
Naruto sighed as he watched, "Sasuke just can't resist making an entrance."
"Sorry we're late, you wouldn't believe the traffic," Kakashi eye smiled. "I sure hope we're not too late." Kakashi said.
"Well we had to extend Sasuke's battle twice, so no he's not out." Genma replied.
"Oh good then there's no problem." Kakashi said.
Gaara seeing his opponent shunshined down in sand as Kakashi left the arena to join the other ninja. Soon Genma called the match and Sasuke went at it in blinding speed able to get past Gaara's sand shields, but what was shocking Lee and Guy was some of Sasuke's moves were all Lee's, moves he worked long and hard on, while Sasuke used it because of his bloodline.
"Kakashi, did you keep your Sharingan opened during Lee's match only to copy his moves so you could give them to Sasuke?" Guy asked in disbelief.
"Only to help him with the move I taught him." Kakashi replied.
"What'd you teach him sensei?" Sakura asked.
"You'll see," Kakashi answered.
Gaara suddenly started encasing himself in a cocoon of sand which shocked Temari, "Oh no, Gaara's planning on unleashing the sand spirit's power." She said with terror in her voice.
Naruto thought, 'It's almost time for the invasion to kick off.' Naruto noticed what Sasuke did next.
Sasuke performed a few hand seals and struck his hand on the ground where he appeared to be charging up some static electrical force. "It looks like Kakashi sensei's Raikiri, but not as powerful." Naruto noticed.
Sasuke with his jutsu charged rushed to the sand sphere tearing up the ground with his move before thrusting his fist forward, "CHIDORI!" he shouted punching into the sphere.
"No!" Temari gasped.
"He didn't!" Kankuro gasped.
"He, he broke Gaara's sand sphere." Baki was equally shocked.
Inside the barrier Gaara felt Sasuke's hand at his shoulder and could feel something dripping onto his finger. "What's this, so warm?" Gaara wondered until he saw it was something red, Gaara realized what had just happened to him… "AHHHHHH, BLOOD! IT'S MY BLOOD!" He screamed at the top of his lungs.
In the audience everyone was freaking out until Baki saw this as a sign as a cloaked Anbu formed a hand sign, "Nehan Shouja no Jutsu (Temple of Nirvana technique)!" he called and feathers began flying all around causing people to fall asleep while most Jonin, Naruto, and his fellow genin used the release sign to not be affected by it. Baki then threw a smoke bomb onto the field shrouding it, "Kankuro, Temari go!" Baki commanded. So the two genin jumped to the arena, grabbed their little brother and hurried off.
The lantern trio soon looked around the stadium for Sasuke and Gaara but couldn't find them. "Ring locate Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara of the Desert." Sakura said to her ring as it displayed a map of Konoha, and four dots indicating Sasuke and the Sand siblings.
"Subjects located, distance 45km west by southwest." The Star Sapphire ring said.
"Well you heard the ring let's get going guys." Naruto said as he, Lee, and Sakura looked for a more private spot to change into their lantern uniforms which much to Sakura's dismay were the bathrooms of the stadium but hey you can't get anymore privacy in public than in there right? The three then placed their rings in their respective lanterns and said their oaths.
"In fearful day/In Brightest day/for those whose hearts are full of fright
In Raging night/In Blackest Night/for those alone in Blackest Night
With strong hearts full our souls ignite/No evil shall escape my sight/ Accept our ring
When all seems lost in the war of light/Let those who worship Evil's might/and join our fight.
Look to the stars/Beware my power/love conquers all
For hope burns bright/Green Lantern's light/with violet light!" The three Genin turned Lanterns said as their stalls shined their appropriate colors and with that they headed out of the stadium and towards the forest.
"Hey Naruto do think we'll get there in time to help Sasuke?" Sakura asked as she looked at Naruto.
"I'm sure we will Sakura, there is always hope for those lost in their rage and despair." Naruto said getting a confused look from Lee and Sakura.
"Sorry it's something that Walker-sensei usually says." Naruto explained.
"Naruto I've been meaning to ask but who is this Walker-sensei you've been talking about when you go off to train with your lantern abilities?" Lee asked.
"Would you guys believe me if I said that he's a space alien?" Naruto asked his friends as they looked at him oddly. "I guess not but right now we've got a job to do." Naruto said as his two comrades nodded.
Meanwhile Sasuke was jumping from tree to tree trying to catch up with Gaara and his sibs determined to finish the match with his opponent. When he finally halted them Gaara shook his sibs off, "If you desire to bleed over this forest, I'll be happy to oblige!" Gaara called as sand started swarming around him and he was taking on a miniature raccoon dog demon form. As Gaara attacked mercilessly Sasuke was trying to get more chakra flowing in his system to go on the attack, unfortunately he found himself getting weaker from using so much chakra and was about to pass out at Half Demon Gaara pinned him to a tree with a large claw extending from his arm.
"Now you die!" Gaara called until a green blast cut his claw reducing it to sand freeing Sasuke, "WHAT?!"
The sibs looked seeing the Blue Lantern, Star Sapphire, and Green Lantern jump over, "Sorry ugly, but we have low tolerance for letting our shinobi get killed." He went to Sasuke who was nearly unconscious, "Sakura get Sasuke to safety." He told her, she nodded and placed Sasuke in a crystalline casing.
"I'm on it." She said as she flew Sasuke and herself somewhere safe.
Blue Lantern got into a stance as Gaara stared him and Lee down, "Who are the two of you?" he asked.
"I'm the Blue Lantern protector of Konoha and all that is good in the world." Naruto said.
"I am the Green Lantern champion of willpower." Lee said
"Let's see how you protect yourself from this!" Gaara launched sand shuriken from his claw at the lanterns who dodged and used their rings to create shields to deflect them.
"Not bad, but here's something from us!" Naruto said both lanterns flew around the trees before landing a kick onto Gaara knocking him onto a lower branch.
The Suna ninja held out his arms launching the claws at both lanterns that used their rings to create whips to swat them away before they crossed their rings together and sent a blast from them at Gaara knocking him further down the trees before landing on the ground.
"That's game." The Blue Lantern said until he saw Gaara get up with most of the sand crumbling off him.
"I will not be erased from this world!" he shouted while sand continued piling onto him giving him a new form.
Meanwhile prior to what was happening with Naruto, in the village citizens were being evacuated to safer locations as Sound and Sand ninja were causing chaos. But fighting back against them was some of the Anbu, Jonin and Sakura was still in her Star Sapphire uniform.
Sakura was fighting three Sound ninja, and when a Suna ninja tried attacking from behind she caught her attacker with a noose made from the violet energy and then she threw him into a pile of crates from a shop. "Remember guys don't hurt any Suna ninja." She told her fellow rookies.
"Hai!" they agreed as they were each taking on Suna or sound ninja.
Chouji formed hand signs and surprisingly was able to use his expansion jutsu and bowled some ninja over, while Kiba and Akamaru were using their Piercing Fang technique together on more Sound ninja.
Suddenly the earth started rumbling, "Earthquake?" Kiba asked until they look out into the forest area and saw in the distance a giant Raccoon Dog, "Ok not an earthquake." Kiba said with a sweat drop going down his head.
"What is that?" Ino asked.
"I don't know, but I don't like it." Shikamaru answered.
While back with Naruto he looked up seeing before him a 100ft tall Shukaku, "So that's the size of a demon." He said freaked out.
"Oh no, Kankuro we gotta get out of here!" Temari said as she took off.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Kankuro said as he also made a run for it as well.
Naruto stood his ground staring up at the giant creature, "Now Blue Lantern, and Green Lantern…" Gaara's voice said coming from the giant Shukaku, "I shall show you true power!" he shouted sending sand at him but both lanterns flew away.
"Against him like this alone I don't stand a chance, guess it's time I brought him out of his slumber, Lee stay out of this I think things are gonna get very messy around here soon." he said to Lee as he held his ring. Lee nodded and headed back towards the village while Naruto used his ring as sort of a back door option for his beast and projected an image his demon Kurama the nine tailed demon fox. However his fur was blue instead of red letting out some roars Kurama slapped the Shukaku's face with his right paw, and swung one of his tails at the giant demon forcing it backwards. "You amuse me Blue Lantern, but you will fall at the hands of Shukaku!" Gaara's voice said as more sand shuriken were launched at Kurama forcing him backwards.
"Time to counterattack." Blue Lantern said as a red orb appeared in Kurama's mouth, he swallowed it and then launched at the full Shukaku form knocking it off balance. "Alright!" Blue Lantern cheered until he saw Gaara emerge from the forehead of the sand creature.
"Tanukineiri no Jutsu (Feigning sleep technique)!" Gaara muttered before closing his eyes and fell limp.
"Oh no." Naruto gasped as the eyes in the Shukaku turned yellow.
"WHOO-HOO, I'm finally free, now for some action!" Shukaku screamed.
"So that's the true Shukaku spirit." Blue Lantern said to himself while Kurama thought to him.
'I forget what a nut job he was.' The fox said.
Shukaku looked seeing the blue version of his demon brother. "I hope you're ready Blue Lantern because I'm gonna do what I'm here to do!"
"Kurama!" Blue Lantern called as Shukaku took a deep breath, "Futon; Renkuudan (Drilling Air Projectile)!" he shouted slamming his claw on his stomach releasing a blast of air from his mouth. The huge blast of wind pushed the Blue Kurama construct off the ground sending him flying backwards and rolled across the land.
"No!" Blue Lantern called.
Meanwhile with the other Genin who had been helping the other ninja defend the village had witnessed the battle going on between the two giants, "This is not good Blue Lantern's getting pummeled." Sakura worried.
"I've got to go help him, you continue helping the others Sakura," Lee said ordered as flew back to Naruto's location, "Naruto you alright?"
"I've been better." He replied.
"So what're we up against?" Lee asked.
"That thing's Shukaku the Ichibi bijuu." Blue Lantern explained
"So you both wish to die, very well I'm more than happy to oblige!" Shukaku called firing sand shuriken at both forcing them to dodge until Lee created a giant construct of Gai-sensei and used it to kick Shukaku back.
"Good move Lee!" Naruto called.
"Thanks Naruto now if you don't mind let's take him down." Lee forming a pair of nunchaku in his giant Gai-sensei's hands.
"I'm all over it!" Naruto then formed another sword from his ring tail and swung it destroying Shukaku's one arm. He thought to Kurama, 'Kurama we can't keep this up forever what can we do to stop him?' He asked the fox.
'Shukaku's power is at its peak so long as Gaara remains asleep wake him up and you put Shukaku back.' Kurama answered
"Lee I've got an idea, try and get Shukaku to hold still!" Naruto ordered.
"I'll try." Lee answered as he dissipated his Gai-sensei construct and conjured up a green straitjacket from his ring to keep Shukaku contained but he struggled to keep a hold on Shukaku as Naruto jumped up into the air and flew down onto Shukaku heading towards Gaara still in the forehead asleep. Suddenly sand was coming around trying to keep Naruto from reaching Gaara, but the Blue Lantern used Kurama's chakra to destroy the incoming sand. Finally he reached the sand Jinchuriki and threw his arm back, "Time for a wake up call!" he cried as he slugged Gaara in the face causing him to groan.
"No I just got out!" Shukaku whined as he vanished back into Gaara.
Gaara's eyes opened, "You disrupted the Jutsu!" he shouted until he saw the Blue Lantern glowing with red chakra.
"And now I'm going to disrupt you!" Naruto screamed throwing a Kurama enhanced punch to slug Gaara's head.
The impact caused the giant Shukaku to crumble into sand and Gaara and Naruto fell to the earth with Gaara crashing, but Naruto managed to grab hold of a tree branch and swung down safely to the ground.
Gaara lay on the ground covered in bruises, cuts, and some of his blood, 'How could I have lost?' he thought until he turned to see the Blue Lantern approaching him. "No, stay away!" Gaara panicked.
He then stopped a few feet away from him, "You know something Gaara, you and I have a lot in common," Naruto began, "I know what it's like, being hated, treated harshly, wishing you could just die. But I never accepted what others thought about me, because I found friends, and mentors. Their love and kindness fueled me, and kept me going for so many years." Naruto explained.
'Love, is this what makes him stronger than myself?' Gaara pondered.
"Because it's obvious you've never had stuff like that to begin with I can only give you pity, and advice," Naruto continued, "Find someone worth fighting for and just maybe you'll find a purpose in life instead of killing," He approached Gaara more and stuck his hand out, "To start it off, I would like you to be my newest friend."
"A friend?" Gaara asked and for the first time a tear of happiness fell out of his eye, "I'd like that Blue Lantern." He took his hand and was helped to his feet.
"Please call me by my real name," The Blue Lantern said as he removed his ring revealing himself, "Naruto Uzumaki."
"Naruto Uzumaki." Gaara repeated.
Landing behind the two were Kankuro and Temari, "Hey it's you!" Kankuro recognized Naruto.
"You're the one in blue?" Temari gasped.
"Let's get him." Kankuro was ready until Gaara held out his arms.
"No, Kankuro, Temari, we're done let's go." Gaara said and the two gasped not only from hearing those words but seeing him completely beaten up.
Naruto watched and smiled as Gaara left with his siblings he looked up at the Green Lantern, "Good job Lee!" Naruto said
"It's what we do." Lee reminded him as he flew down to the ground and bumped fists with his lantern brother.
"But we're not done yet," Naruto said as he put his ring back on and jumped up into the air, "Back to the stadium hurry!" Naruto ordered.
So the two lanterns made their way through the forest and found themselves back at the stadium where numerous Sound and Suna ninja were running in fright as many violet crystalline constructs kept taking them out. Naruto looked down seeing a barrier was set up on one of the roofs of the stadium sections.
"Orochimaru's doing," Naruto frowned beneath his mask and hood, "So I guess we'll just have to break it Lee, I'm going to need a power boost here!" He said as Lee pointed his ring at Naruto and fired a beam of energy at him when Naruto was ready he leapt into the air then he flew down and formed a drill construct and brought it down on the top of the dome drilling through it sending sparks everywhere. Suddenly the barrier shattered giving Naruto a chance to see what was up jumped down from his construct landing onto the roof.
He landed beside the Sandaime Hokage who was wearing battle armor, "Old man are you ok?" He asked him.
"Better now, but Orochimaru's still breathing." Sarutobi said frowning at his former student.
"You again!" Blue Lantern said noticed the rogue ninja.
"I knew we'd meet again Blue Lantern, now I shall crush you and my former sensei." Orochimaru smirked.
"You're wrong Orochimaru, because I'm not alone!" Blue Lantern answered as Lee and Sakura dropped down beside him.
"So there are more of you?" Orochimaru gasped.
"That's right, we're the Blue, Green, and Violet lanterns and we're stopping you here and now!" Sakura called.
"Let him have it!" Naruto called as he and the two whipped out their rings and fired a combined blast at Orochimaru knocking him off his feet rolling onto the ground.
"Now let's put them together!" Naruto called as they created a weapon forged out of the will to protect their home, the hope for a brighter tomorrow, and the love the three of them shared not just for the village but for each other and then they fired their shot "Fire!" the Naruto called firing a blast nailing Orochimaru who screamed in agony before falling back down again.
"Alright!" the Lanterns cheered feeling they had won until multiple snakes flew from where Orochimaru was latching on Naruto.
"Hey let go!" Naruto struggled.
Orochimaru got back up looked weakened, "I will take you to death with me!" He seethed.
"No you won't!" Sakura called aiming her ring at the snakes and trapping them in crystal that started to spread and travelled back to Orochimaru who started screaming in agonizing pain as his arms started turning to crystal.
"What's happening to him?" Lee asked.
"It's absorbing his life force." Sarutobi answered.
Soon the snakes on Naruto shattered freeing him, "My arms. It's like they're on fire!" Orochimaru screamed as Naruto formed a fist with his ring and shattered Orochimaru's arms.
"And now Orochimaru you're finished." Naruto said he readied to hit the snake again until the fake Anbu ninja threw a smoke bomb enabling him to escape with Orochimaru and any forces he had left.
"It's over?" Sakura asked.
"Yes it's over for now anyway." Lee answered.
"Arigato everyone, now I can rest." Sarutobi panted as Naruto helped him up, "Take it easy old man, help should arrive shortly and all will be well." Naruto said and soon enough the Jonin and Anbu arrived to take the Hokage to rest until Ibiki called to the Lanterns, "Hold on, who are you three and why have you decided to help us?" He asked
"We're lanterns, and our mission is to ensure the safety of Konoha." Naruto answered.
"Is this true?" Ibiki asked the Hokage who smiled.
"Yes Ibiki, they are our allies to the very end." Sarutobi replied.
"Now if you'll excuse us we have other places to be." Naruto answered as the three flew away appearing in an alley outside the stadium, "Alright guys we better head back to our teams." Naruto ordered as they changed back to their civilian attires.
"Guys we actually did it!" Sakura cheered.
"We saved the village!" Lee cheered as well.
Naruto spoke into his ring, "Walker-sensei, we've defeated Gaara, and Orochimaru failed with his invasion." He reported.
"You've done an excellent job young lanterns." Said Saint Walker as he observed from the sky.
"Come on we better go meet back up with our senseis and see how everyone else is." Naruto ordered and they all headed off.
Within the course of the day after everyone had returned from their battle Naruto had talked to Jiriaya into working on Gaara's seal making it stronger which allowed him to sleep and become less hostile. When that was done Kankuro and Temari were surprised at the change in their brother and felt like they could finally get to love their brother like a real sibling.
Soon all of the Suna shinobi along with Gaara and his siblings returned back to their village and discovered that they were being played by Orochimaru when they found their Kazekage's deceased corpse. With that Suna had completely surrendered to Konoha and offered whatever they could in helping rebuild their home. Naruto also decided now would be a good time to reveal who trained him in terms of being a lantern.
Flashback
Naruto had asked Lee and Sakura to meet him at training ground 7. Naruto looked at his watch and soon enough he saw Lee and Sakura and waved them over to him.
"Hey guys there's someone I would like you to meet." Naruto said as he turned his head towards a tree. When his fellow lanterns looked they saw a man or what could pass as one with a grey crescent shaped head wearing an the colors of the Blue Lantern corps.
"Greetings young Star Sapphire and young Green Lantern, I am Saint Bro'dee Walker of Astonia and Blue Lantern of galactic sector 0001." The alien said with a friendly smile on his face.
"Wow Naruto when you said he was an alien you weren't kidding." Sakura said in shock.
"There is no need to be afraid of me young ones the duty of a Blue lantern is to value the sacredness of life. Under no circumstance is a Blue lantern permitted to take the life of another." Walker said as Sakura and Lee sighed in relief.
"Excuse me Saint Walker-san? Is their any chance of a member of either mine or Sakura corps finding us and training us in the ways of the Lantern corps we represent?" Lee asked.
Walker smiled at Lee's question placed a hand on his shoulder and said. "There is no need to worry about that brother, as long as you have hope then maybe one day one of Green Lanterns will come." Walker said, as he left the lantern trio.
The day after the invasion it was a gloomy day and was lightly raining as Naruto, his team, fellow rangers, and everyone in the village gathered at the administration building where Sarutobi and his two teammates stood giving a ceremonial farewell to the various shinobi that lost their lives in the invasion.
'I can't believe these ninja actually lost their lives.' Naruto thought as he and several others placed a white rose on the table with the fallen ninjas pictures. He then felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up seeing Kakashi.
"First experience with war never is," Kakashi explained, "But it's these hard times that push ninja forward making them become stronger. All ninja can learn from war and will be better prepared for future wars." Kakashi said as unknown to anyone yet another ring was looking for a host but this one unlike the previous three was looking for one of two things this ring would either find someone that had a great deal of compassion in their soul or a psychopathic killer that needed to pacified and by pacified it meant sticking a ring on said killer and have it drain them of every emotion until they were an overly compassionate shell of their former self, a fate that to some would be considered even worse than death unless you had a mental constitution strong enough to resist that part of the ring's design. This was the ring of the Indigo Lantern corps or as they preferred to call themselves the Indigo tribe.
"Scanning for potential candidates" The ring said as it flew around looking for someone to wield it.
"Candidate located, approaching coordinates." It said as it found a young blue haired, pale eyed girl who had been helping some of her clan rebuild the compound but she still wasn't up for the strain it would cause her.
"Lady Hinata are you alright?" Her cousin Neji asked as he thought back to what lead to this change in attitude towards the main family of the clan.
Flashback
After Neji had lost to Naruto, Neji had gone over the events of the fight in his head during his stay in the infirmary when unexpectedly Neji's uncle and Hinata's father Hiashi decided to come clean with the truth about the death of Neji's father and his twin brother, he handed Neji a letter that revealed that Hizashi actually suggested that he take Hiashi's place that night nine years ago not out of duty to the clan but of his own free will and the love he had for his older brother. Neji was in tears at this point, he thanked his uncle for revealing this to him, Hiashi nodded and left the infirmary while Neji lay back down in his bed and shut his eyes. "I guess Uzumaki was right all will be well." Neji said to himself.
Back to present day, "I'm fine Neji I just need some time to rest." Hinata said as she sat down. Neji nodded and headed back to help the other members of the clan. Hinata had begun to think about the change in Naruto over the past month or so in terms of his attitude, on one hand she thought that he was changing for the better and this was one of his usual methods of hiding his pain, but on the other hand she had heard of the exploits of the three lanterns from Kiba and when he described them to her she was shocked that not only was Naruto was the Blue Lantern but that Sakura was the one in violet, while it was obvious to deduce that her cousin's own teammate was the one in green since he went around wearing the color everyday, she didn't understand why Sakura was now showing interest in Naruto when she never had at all before, but regardless she decided that it would be best not to dwell on those thoughts and as long as Naruto was happy to her that was all that mattered.
"I really wish I could have told you how much I loved you Naruto, but I guess now that chance will never come. You've beaten me Sakura he's all yours." Hinata said to herself as a stray tear dropped from her eye until she heard a voice.
"Hinata Hyugaa of Sector 2814 you have great compassion towards your fellow beings." The voice said as Hinata looked around using her Byakugan to find the source of the voice to reveal it to be a ring that nearly matched her hair color with a circle and two arrows one pointing up and the other pointing down on the face, it slipped on to her right ring finger and then she was swallowed by the indigo light. Hinata then noticed something different with this ring, instead of a lantern like the previous three; this ring came with a staff made of a strange stone like material. "Welcome to the Indigo tribe." The ring said as Hinata's clothing changed into a lightweight animal hide coat, an equally lightweight hide shirt and pair of pants and a tattoo on her hands of the Indigo Tribe insignia.
"Nok." She said as she then sat in a meditative position and said her oath which was said in an rather unusual dialect.
"Tor lorek san, bor nakka mur,
Natromo faan tornek wot ur,
Ter lantern ker lo Abin Sur,
Taan lek lek nok - Formorrow Sur!" She said as she floated down to the ground she looked at the ring she thought to herself. "I may not be able to have Naruto but that doesn't mean that he may need my help down the line." She thought to herself as her staff vanished into thin air.
Meanwhile, Sakura had decided to visit Naruto's apartment as now she figured would be a good time to get something off her chest, something she had felt for him before and since she got her power ring. "Well here we go." She said to herself as she took a deep breath and knocked on his door.
"Who is it?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto it's me Sakura may I come in?" Sakura asked him.
"Sure just give me a few minutes to clean up." Naruto said he had been using his ring to clean his apartment for the past half hour he then opened the door and let her in.
"So Sakura what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?" Naruto asked her.
Sakura took a deep breath and sighed as she looked Naruto in the eye. "Naruto ever since I got this ring no even before that, I've been feeling something strange whenever I'm around you." Sakura explained which caused Naruto to look at her with his usual not getting it face. Sakura sighed and decided to cut to the chase by grabbing the back of Naruto's head and putting Naruto in a firm lip lock, shocked at the sudden forwardness of Sakura's actions, Naruto broke the kiss and gave Sakura a look that conveyed his confusion as to what Sakura was doing.
"Whoa hold up Sakura, is this really you or is this your ring taking control of you?" Naruto asked. Sakura had guessed that this question would come up sooner or later so she decided to tell him what had happened the night she got her ring.
"Naruto what happened that night was that I was pulled into my mind by the ring and forced to make a choice as to whose love I wanted the most." Sakura tried to explain.
"How does that work at all? I mean I know that the rings are advanced technology but I never thought they could do that." Naruto said before Sakura gave him a glare that usually meant shut up. "You were saying?" Naruto asked.
"Anyway, the ring showed me that if I chose a life by what my mind wanted in living with Sasuke and it felt empty like there was no love felt at all between us, but when it showed me what my heart wanted it showed me one with true love, joy, and happiness for me and the one I was with…" Sakura said before Naruto cut her off.
"Well who was it you saw in your heart Sakura who?" Naruto asked before Sakura looked at him with her eyes full of tenderness as she gave him her answer.
"It was you Naruto." She replied which caused Naruto's brain to shut down and he collapsed in heap on the floor from the shock. Sakura found his reaction rather funny so since it was getting late, Sakura put the young Blue Lantern into his bed, tucked him in, and just he like he did to her, kissed his forehead and then she left shutting the door quietly before heading home.
Damn I didn't think I would post a chapter this long, say Vegeta what's the scouter say about the word count for this chapter?
Vegeta from DBZ: IT'S OVER 9000!
Yes I know it's a cheap cliché but come on I had to do that one, anyway next time the hunt for the slug is on. Read and review until then.