Sweat dripped from Naruto's body as he leaned against the logs at the training grounds. Naruto put his hands behind head and looked up at the clouds. It was noon in Konohagakure. Since leaving Yugao's apartment, he ran quickly to his own apartment and changed into black shorts and a white tank-top. He had on his jounin vest he recieved a year ago. Afterwards, he went straight to the training his control over the Rasengan. Although he could do a perfect Rasengan, he had to have a Kage Bushin gather and control the chakra. Naruto wanted to do it with just one hand, but it was alot harder than he thought.
"Concentrate. Concentrate." Naruto adviced himself as stood up and began to swirl chakra in his right hand. "Almost there. Come on. Just a little more," The chakra tightened into a small blue ball. "YES I GO-" As Naruto was celebrating, the Rasengan became unstable and exploded. The waves of chakra expanded outward. Small cuts formed on Naruto's face and arms.
"What am I messing up? Ero-sennin can the Rasengan with one hand. Why can't I?" Naruto wondered. He leaned back against the log, taking a little break. He closed his eyes and tried to come up with answer. "Maybe the less ch-"
Rumble
"Shut up, stomach. I'm trying to concentrate."
Rumble
"I'm not going to go until I figure this out.
RUMBLE RUMBLE
Pissed off at himself, Naruto got up and slowly walked towards his favorite place to eat.
-----------------------
"Urgent message for Mai and Tai from Hokage-sama."
No answer.
Saying his signature phrase," How troublesome," Shikamaru knocked again," Urgent message for Mai and Tai from Hokage-sama.
This time, the door slowly swung open, revealing a very sleep Mai. She wore a pink shirt with black short shorts. She rubbed her left eyes and
"Who? What?" Mai yawned.
"Message from the Hokage. I need both of you to get dressed and come with me." Shikamaru muttered.
"Tsunade-sama? What does she want?" Mai asked wearily.
Shikamaru sighed," I can't tell you. Orders from the Hokage herself. Please get dressed. She is not one to get angry with."
Mai looked back inside room. "Give us 10 min, ok? I have to wake up Tai real fast." Mai said as she closed the door. Shikamaru scowled.
"What a drag. First, Tsunade-sama sent me on this riduculous errand. I had to wait for 15 minutes for them to open the door. And now I have to wait even more." Shikamaru layed against the ground and looked at the clouds.
"TAI! GET YOUR LAZY BUTT UP AND DRESSED." Mai screamed.
"And now I'm stuck with the crazy ones," Shikamaru grunted.
-----------------------
"Another order of the miso please, Ayame-chan." Naruto asked.
"One order of miso ramen, got it." She smiling handing the ramen-obsessed ninja another bowl.
"Thanks Ayame-chan. I can't wait," Naruto cried in joy. Nearly jumping out of his seat, he graciously took the bowl of ramen and began to devour it like there was no tomorrow. Ayame looked his amusement at Naruto, laughing when he nearly swallowed his fork. Naruto looked up at her in puzzlement.
"What's so funny, Ayame-chan?" Naruto cocked his head to the side.
Ayame put both hands on her mouth trying to contain her laughter, but was unsuccessful. Ayame howled in laughter and pointed to his face,"Your face," She giggled even more," Look at your face Naruto."
Naruto watched her break up in front of her. He looked at her like she was crazy. "...ok Ayame-chan. I'll look at my face." She handed Naruto a small mirror and waited to see his reaction. Naruto slowly brought the mirror to his face and laughed.
"Why didn't you tell me Ayame-chan that my face is completely covered with ramen?" He joked.
"I tried...I tried," She said, gaining back her composure," But it was so funny. I'm sorry Naruto.
"Ah don't say that. It was funny. I would've probably laughed too if I was you." He grinned. Ayame looked passed him and stared across the street.
"Ummm Naruto. Who's that guy with the white hair on the roof across the street. He's been staring at me for a while now. He's starting to freak me out," She whispered in his ear.
Naruto turned his head and looked at the roof. He saw the culprit and sighed under his breath. "Damn, Ero-sennin." He turned back to Ayame-chan and handed her some ryo. "There should be enough there to pay off everything. I'll go take care of THAT guy." He gestured to peeper.
"Don't hurt him, Naruto. He looks pretty old." She stated.
He laughed," I won't. I promise." As he turned around and ran out the door.
-------------------
"She's a good looking woman. This is going to be good research for my next book." Jiraiya muttered to himself.
"I"M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU PERVERT!"
Jiraiya jumped around and saw his latest pupil runnin towards him. "Shit! Naruto! He's going to kill me! I better play it cool." "Hey Naruto. It not the way you are thinking. I wasn't looking at her...I was looking at the ramen. Looks good from up here. Yum!" Jiraiya prayed that it worked.
"LIAR. YOU WERE USING AYAME-CHAN FOR YOUR RESEARCH, WEREN'T YOU?!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs. He shot a death glare at Jiraiya.
"I just said I was looking at the ramen. Geez. You don't ever listen," Jiraiya said sincerily.
Calming himself down, he turned away," Just don't do it again. I swear the next time Ayame-chan tell me that your peeping again. There will be one less Sannin in the world."
Jiraiya gulped and nodded.
"By the way, what are you doing here anyways? Is the contest done already?" Naruto whispered to his sensei.
"Yep. Finished just last night. It's the best one yet. I have some pictures if you want to see them," Jiraiya grinned.
Naruto's cheeks turned a bright red. "Hell yes, Ero-sennin. You know how bad I wanted to go." He ran towards Jiraiya and jumped up and down like an academy student becoming a genin.
"Not now. You have buisness to attend to, my pupil. Tsunade sent me here to relay a message. She wants you to go to the Chuunin Stadium at 1 sharp. Don't be late either. She seemed really cranky this morning.
"What am I supposed to do over there?" Naruto wondered
"Beats the hell out of me. Just go over there already," Jiraiya said with a fake grin. I wish I could tell you. But Tsunade made me promise...more like threaten my life to not to tell you. Just hope your rested."
Naruto stood there for a second, then it hit him," I know. Ero-sennin. She wants to pronounce me the next hokage of Konohagakure. I better get going." Naruto began to run in the opposite direction, but stopped suddenly. "Oh yeah, I have a question to ask you. How are you able to do the Rasengan with just one hand?"
Jiraiya's face turned serious. "It takes alot of chakra control to do that. I had many years to perfect it. You right now don't have enough control over your chakra to do it without a Kage Bushin," He noticed Naruto look away," But...you should know that you're ahead of where Yondaime Hokage was. And he was the best ninja I had ever seen.
Naruto's face reverted back to his usual happy self. "That's why I'm going to become the next Hokage, Ero-sennin," He smiled and jumped his way to Chuunin Stadium.
Jiraiya just laughed at Naruto until he was out of sight. After he couldn't see him, he pulled his telescope and grinned pervertedly. "Where was I..."
-------------------------
"Where are we going?" Tai asked angrily. She hated to wake up so early. In her eyes, 12 was still pretty early.
"Hokage-sama asked me to get you both and escort you to the Chuunin Stadium. There you will have your test." Shikamaur simply stated.
"Oh crap, Tai. The test. I wonder whats its going to be about. Wait a minute. Should Kai be with us?" She asked Shikamaru.
"What a drag. Kai or whatever his name is already took his test earlier this morning. He is now a jounin of the village. He seems to made good friends with Kakashi Hatake."
"Perverts!" Mai and Tai said in unison.
Troublesome," He thought," First these two. And aparently this Kai guy is a pervert like Kakashi. This village gets wierder and wierder every day."
"We're here ladies. Follow me and we can see Tsunade-sama." Shikamaru said with one last sigh.
--------------------------
"A 5000 ryo thats he's going to be late again, Kakashi," She grinned.
"I'll take that bet, Tsunade-sama." The copy ninja said, closing his Icha Icha Paradise book.
"I feel good about this one, Shizune. He's always late. I can't lose," Tsunade laughed.
"I don't know. I guess your right Hokage-sama," Shizune sighed.
Kakashi smiled underneath his mask. "Good timing Naruto,"
Naruto Uzumake jumped from the top of the stadium into the Hokage box. "Hey, Kakashi-sensei, Shizune-san, Baa-chan."
Tsunade jumped out of her seat and clobbered Naruto on his head. "You little punk! I just lost 5000 Ryo. Why did you come on time?"
Naruto sat on the ground, rubbing his head. "Ero-sennin said to come early so I wouldn't get in trouble."
Tsunade scowled," Damn Jiraiya." She gathered chakra in her hand and ran it through Naruto's hair. In a couple of seconds, Naruto felt no pain.
"Thanks Baa-chan," he muttered," What do you want me for?"
Taking her seat again, Tsunade put her hand underneath her head," You are going to give a test to some new ninja."
"What new ninja?"
Tsunade laughed inside her head. Dense as ever Naruto" She closed her eyes. "That doesn't matter. You are going to fight them and see what they're skills are. From then, we'll place them where we see fit."
Naruto just blinked," Ordinary rules apply?" This question was directed towards Kakashi.
"Attack with the intent to kill," He stated.
"Gotcha." Naruto grinned, cracking his knuckles. "Who's my opponent?"
"You'll see," She said as she noticed Shikamaru walk in with Mai and Tai in tow.
"Here's the two ladies, Hokage-sama," Shikamaru sighed.
"Naruto. You're going to face...Mai and Tai. 2 vs. 1.
"WHAT?!" All three yelled at the exact same time.
Kakashi sighed. He closed his book, and returned it to his shuriken holster. "It will be test of their skills and your own, Naruto."
"I can't fight them, Kakashi-sensei. I just can't." Naruto blurted out.
"Oh are you scared, Naruto-kun? It's ok if you don't want to be beat my a couple of girls. We understand," Mai laughed.
Naruto faced Mai and pointed," I'm not scared. The next Hokage never backs down from a challenge and I'll be damned if I start now," Naruto yelled.
"Now since that is settled, get down there and fight," Tsunade smirked," Naruto you go ahead. Mai, Tai I need to speak to you real quick."
Without wasting a second, Naruto jumped off the Hokage box and landed on the stadium floor. He started to stretch for his upcoming bout with the two kunoichi. Mai and Tai made their way closer to Tsunade.
"What did you need to tell us, Hokage-sama?" Tai asked.
Tsunade leaned closer, just enough so where she could talk to them in privacy. "Girls, don't let your friendship with Naruto get in the way of your fight. This is very important because it will decide where you will be placed in the village. Also, attack with the intent to kill. Anything less than that against that man over there will be futile. He is very strong, so do your best."
"What if accidently hurt Naruto-kun?" Mai asked worringly.
Godaime Hokage just laughed. "Trust me girls, you won't hurt his guy. The only thing that will hurt him is losing. Nothing else. Now get down there and give us a good fight."
"Yes, Ma'am," Both cried as the jumped off the balconey.
------------------------------
Naruto, Mai and Tai stood in the middle of the stadium preparing for their fight. Naruto made sure he had enough shuriken and kunais. The girls did the same. After making enough preparations, they were ready to rumble.
Running his hand through his blonde hair, Naruto finally said something," Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"You just worry about yourself Naruto-kun," Mai replied.
Naruto took a fighting stance very similar to Lee's. Mai and Tai got into their fighting stances as well. No dared moved until they heard the go ahead.
"Naruto Uzumaki! Are you ready?" Naruto nodded. "Mai and Tai! Are your ready? Mai gave a thumbs up. "Alright, then BEGIN!!"
Immediately Naruto took at several junai and threw Mai. Shuriken intercepted the kunai, knocking them off their projected path. Seeing that using weapons would be nearly impossible with two opponents, Naruto decided to use his signature jutsu to even up the odds.
"Kage Bushin no Jutsu!" A Naruto clone appeared next to him. Both Narutos charged Mai and Tai. He successfully divided them up. "This is more like it," The real Naruto said to himself," I can take on Mai while my clone takes on Tai."
Mai noticed that she and Tai were seprated, but she couldn't do anything about it. Then then thought of an idea.
"Suiton: Suishouha no Jutsu!" The stadium started to flood with water appearing out of nowhere. It got higher and higher until it was about 5ft high. Naruto flowed chakra through his feet, allowing him to stand on top of the water.
"They are very good with water, Tsunade." Kakashi stated.
"Very," Tsunade only said.
----------
"Damn, water. I don't have any good water jutsu to use. They have the advantage," Naruto growled.
Tai taking advantage of the distraction Mai set up made handsigns. "Suiton: Suikoudan no Jutsu (Water Shark Jutsu). A column of water twisted itself into a large shark-like form and raced toward Naruto. Thinking quickly on his feet, the Naruto clone countered. "Katon:Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Naruto clone inhaled deeply and blow out a giant ball of fire. They connected in the middle of the stadium. It seemed to be an even match until the shark went right through the fireball and engulfed the clone making him disappear in a poof.
"Damn," Naruto muttered," Katon: Karyuu Endan no Jutsu! ( Fire Dragon) It caught Tai off guard as she didn't see it coming fast enough. It covered her entire body. Her body turned to liquid, leaving Naruto shocked. "When did she use a water clone? She is fast."
"When did she use a water clone, Kakashi? I didn't see it," Tsunade asked.
"She used it immediately after the water shark. Her handsigns were fast. I had to use this." He motioned at his left eyes. The Sharigan fully activated stared at the battlefield. Tsunade thought, "She must be good if Kakashi had to use the Sharingan."
----------
"Katon: Karyuu Endan no Jutsu" Naruto directed this one toward Mai. Mai made no defense, but she smiled. Just as the dragon was about to reach her, a wall of water emerged, and blocked the fire attack. Tai arose from underneath the water, and stood next to Mai. Both grinned.
"Tired yet, Naruto-kun?" Tai asked mockingly.
"Because if you are, we can quit," Mai chimed in.
These remarks pissed Naruto off. "I won't give up. You will have to kill me first!"
Mai looked at Tai and smiled. "Ok Naruto-kun. Let's finish this Tai."
Mai bit her thumb and smeared it on Tai right arm. Tai bit her thumb and smeared the blood on Mai left arm. Both then proceeded to make a long string of handsigns.
"Summoning Jutsu!" Both screamed, slamming their hands against the water. A large poof of smoke covered the stadium. After everything cleaned, Mai and Tai were standing upon a large shark.
---------
"A Summoning Jutsu?!" Kakashi and Tsunade blurted out at the same time. Kakashi was the first to break the silence," I heard of a shark summoning, but I never seen it before. These girls are not ordinary shinobi. They are very powerful indeed. Easily Jounin level. Naruto better not mess around."
"You're underestimating my pupil, Kakashi."
Tsunade closed her eyes and muttered," Jiraiya?"
Kakashi turned around and saw the Sannin leaning against the wall, grinning. "Just watch."
---------
Naruto's mind was racing. "WHAT?! A summon. I really can't take this guy on like this. It's a freakin shark in water. Naruto gathered his chakra and bit thumb also.
"Summoning no Jutsu" A giant toad appeared out of nowhere. Naruto stood on top of his head. "Yo Gamakichi."
"What did you summon me for? You know just to call Pops when you need to fight."
"Boss Toad is too big for this place. Your just the right size. I need your help."
"Just call Pops. I'm bu-"
"Suiton: Teppoudama (Water Bullet)!" The shark shot out a large spherical ball of water at Naruto and Gamakichi.
"Hurry up Gamakichi. DO SOMETHING!" Naruto yelled.
Gamakichi opened his mouth,"Suiton: Teppoudama!" Gamakichi blocked the attack with his own water bullet. Naruto sighed in relief. That couldn've been bad"
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? WERE YOU TRYING TO GET ME HURT?!" The toad yelled at Naruto.
Naruto stomped his foot," Enough. I have an idea. Gamakichi, the oil!" Following his orders, oil jetted out of the toads mouth. Naruto wasted no time,"Katon: Endan!" Fire came out of Naruto's mouth. It connected with the oil and made a gigantic fireball that completely covered shark. It cried in pain and disappeared. Just from the heat of the flame, most of the water evaporated, returning the field to what it was before. However, Mai managed to dodge the attack somehow, Tai was nowhere to be seen.
"I'm gone kid. Don't call me back again you hear." Gamakichi roared as he left in a puff of smoke.
"Whatev-"
"Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!" Naruto didn't have time to react as he was hit by tremendous force of water hit, completely enveloping him. The pressure of the water caused Naruto to crash into the wall, leaving a large crater.
---------
"Ouch, that had to hurt," Jiraiya said out loud.
"Is Naruto-san ok," Shizune asked.
Tsunade didn't know what to say. Such a powerful attack hit Naruto head on. Who knows what damage that caused. "Maybe...Maybe I should stop the fight?" She started to stand up, but she felt Jiraiya put his hand on her shoulder, stopping her movements.
"Let them keep going. Naruto isn't out just yet."
--------------
"I think you over did it, Tai," Mai told her best friend.
"I thought he would put up some-sort of defense. It hit him directly. I feel so bad," Tai said with tears beginning to form in her eyes.
"Poor Naruto-kun..." Mai muttered.
"I'm not done yet...I won't give up!" A voice coughed.
Everyone, besides Jiraiya, stared in disbelief as Naruto slowly pushed himself off the ground. His clothes were tattered and ripped. His face covered with scratches and scrapes. His left arm was bent awkwardly. "I told you. You will have to kill me before I give up." He gathered what was left of his chakra in his right hand. A small blue ball swirled tightly, until a perfect Rasengan formed.
"Naruto-kun..." Tai muttered underneath her breath.
Mai just glared at the shinobi. She couldn't move a muscle. "Tai hit him directly with that jutsu. He shouldn't even be concious right now. Who...what is this guy?"
"DON"T JUST STAND THERE! ATTACK ME! ATTACK ME!" Naruto screamed at Mai and Tai.
Without thinking, Mai performed the indentical handsigns Tai did just a few moments before," I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. Suiton: Daibakufu no Jutsu!" A vortex of water surged to the battle-torn Naruto. Bracing himself with whatever strength he had, he launched the Rasengan directly at the swirling water. Both attacks created a huge typhoon of water that rose high into the sky. Everyone was in complete awe in what they were seeing. It rages for what seemed like an eternity, but soon dissolved. Everyone searched frantically for any signs of movement.
"Over there," Kakashi pointed," It looks like Mai and Tai!"
Both girls were exausted. The pressurre of the water drained most of their chakra. Mai was on her knees, coughing up water that she had accidently swallowed. Tai stood weakly over the field. She had no strength whatsoever. She tried to move, but she was too weak. She ended up falling next to Mai. Across from them, stood Naruto. He had his head down. He didn't move for anything. Red chakra became visible and Naruto lifted his head up. His blue eyes were replaced with blood red. Simultaniously 3 chakra tails emerged from his body. He let out a deafening primal scream and charged Mai and Tai.
"FUCK. HE SKIPPED RIGHT TO 3 TAILS," Jiraiya screamed. He jumped off the balcony. He landed in front of Naruto and placed a seal on his head. Instantly, the red chakra dissappeared just as fast as it appeared. Naruto's limp body fell foward, only to be caught by Jiraiya. He took off the seal and returned in back into his holster.
"Tsunade, get some medical attention down here. Naruto is unconcious. And Mai and Tai don't look in good shape."
Jiraiya lastly turned to the girls. "Look's like we have 2 more jounin in Konohagakure."