Chapter 4.5
The Winds of Change
"What a day it's been right Tom?"
"You know it Chet, and it isn't even halfway over yet. Our next match pits fan favorite Naruto Uzumaki vs Kazuama Shingami, the son of the Traveling Monk Toshiro."
"But before we get to the next match let's have a quick recap of our first three rounds. Round One placed Konoha Nin Shino Aburame versus the lovely Nami Yue. Nami led the fight with an aggressive display of hand to hand and stick combat. However, right at the end Shino outsmarted his opponent, sending Nami leaping out of bounds and netting Shino the victory."
"Our second round put Tsurichiro Hanabishi against Kanaho Tenshi. Kanaho was favored to win nearly one hundred to one odds but wound up on the floor from a lucky kick delivered by Tsurichiro as he attempted to run away. Who ever had the guts to place any money on Tsurichiro I am sure is making out like a bandit now.
"Finally, the third round found Hyouuryusha in battle against Hiro Tsubaru. What a stunning display of martial ability and technique as these two fought ferociously left the crowd dazzled. By the end both contestants were reduced to straight hand to hand combat and the audiences breath was held as these to slugged their way to victory. But Hyouuryusha slipped a strong kick to Hiro's gut followed by a strong uppercut gaining Hyouuryusha victory."
Naruto turned away from the TV and looked back at Jin. Jin just shook his head, a smile still on his face and reached down to his side, untying a small pouch. He tossed the pouch to Naruto who caught it and peered inside. "Marbles?" Naruto looked quizzically at Jin.
"You won them fair in square. I never should have bet on Hiro."
Naruto laughed as he tied the pouch to his side. "Always bet on the underdog." Jin laughed with the blonde as he got up and went to get a drink. Naruto returned his attention to the TV until he felt a pair of hands on his shoulders. He turned his head around and saw Tazuna looking at him.
"I'm really rooting for you out there Naruto. I think the whole damn town is actually. Don't go underestimating your opponents though. Some of these people have real talent."
"Don't worry about me Tazuna," Naruto said as he stood up and gave the old man a thumbs up, "I'm not going to lose." Tazuna smiled at the boy and laughed at his confident nature.
"Good to hear Naruto. You're up next, if you would follow Carol to your starting square we can begin." Naruto nodded and followed the female staffer indicated by Tazuna. Naruto followed the same path Shino had previously walked until he came to the red squares entrance. As he neared the stairs Carol put her hand on his shoulder.
"Hold on one second please. They need to announce you properly." Naruto cocked his head at Carol but waited for the sound of the announcer.
"Ladies and gentlemen. I ask you to put your hands together for our next two contestants. First, in the red square, you know, you love, you use his bridge, the one and only NARUTO UZUMAKI!!!" The crowd roar was almost deafening as Naruto leapt up the stairs into the light of the arena. Naruto ran around the outside of the ring as pictures flashed and his fans waved. After one circuit Naruto ran up the stairs to his starting square and quickly made a set of clones. The clones leapt from the arena and into the audiences seating area. The clones went around shaking hands, high fiving, and posing for pictures. After a minute Naruto dismissed his clones and allowed the crowd to finally calm down.
The announcer cleared his throat and continued, "And in the blue square, the son of the Traveling Monk Toshiro, The Speed Demon, The Wind Runner, Kazuama Shingami." The crowd cheered as Kazuama ascended the stairs, waving to the people in the crowd before coming to a stop in his starting square.
Kazuama lowered his hand and looked to Naruto who met his gaze. Kazuama placed both hands to his sides and bowed to Naruto, keeping his eyes on his opponent. Naruto returned the bow to Kazuama before the announcer spoke once more. "Now, do both the contestants remember the rules?" Naruto and Kazuama nodded. "Excellent. Naruto, are you ready?"
"Ready!" Naruto shouted and assumed his fighting stance.
"Kazuama, are you ready?" Kazuama merely nodded and readied his stance. "OK, BEGIN!"
Naruto and Kazuama immediately rushed towards each other and became a blur of kicks and punches. Naruto delivered a punch to Kazuama's cheek, but received a knee to his stomach in return. This exchange of blows continued for about a minute until the two contestants leapt away from each other. The two boys looked roughed up, but none showed any signs of having really been injured in the least.
"The Speed Demon huh? If all my enemies punched as slow as you I'd never have to worry about getting hit."
Kazuama bristled at the comment. "Oh really?"
"Yeah, even Konohamaru moves faster than you." Naruto suddenly felt a fist jammed into his torso as Kazuama crossed the distance between the two in the blink of an eye.
"Wind technique: Air Blast." Naruto found himself suddenly flying through the air as a huge burst of wind erupted from Kazuama's fist. Naruto landed on his head and skidded several feet before coming to a stop.
"What the hell was that?" Naruto asked as he quickly regained his feet. Naruto looked at Kazuama and saw the boy's hair blowing in a gentle breeze that had suddenly appeared.
"I am Kazuama Shingami, the speed demon. But, as the announcer said, I have a second name, The Wind Runner. My chakra's element is aligned to that of wind. I have spent the last years of my life learning to control it. You are lucky, if I were allowed to bring my full power to bear you would be killed in an instant. No power is greater than wind. It is the ultimate combat element and I will be the ultimate wind master." Naruto watched as the wind picked up in intensity for a fraction of a second as Kazuama rushed towards Naruto. Naruto barely had enough to raise his hands to block the punch aimed for his face. Naruto felt Kazuama run just past his left before feeling Kazuama's elbow jabbed into his back followed by a kick to his rear. Naruto turned to face his attacker but found Kazuama standing on the edge of the arena, several meters away.
"Grr, you're starting to piss me off." Naruto formed the sign of the Ram and created a set of six clones. "Let's get him!" All seven of the Narutos charged at Kazuama.
Kazuama tapped his toe against the ground once and bared his teeth. Naruto felt the breeze again as Kazuama ran directly for one of the Narutos and smashed his fist into the clones face and continued to run through the smoke of the clone's disintegration. Kazuama slammed his foot into the ground and pivoted on the heel of his foot before coming to a stop facing the backs of the Narutos.
"Wind technique: Air Blast times two." Naruto turned around just in time to be swept up in the blast of air along with two of his clones. This time the air carried Naruto much farther, taking him clear past the edge of the arena. Naruto looked behind him and saw the faces of several audience members getting larger, causing him to panic slightly. The two clones accompanying Naruto reacted quickly, grabbing his clothes and throwing him back to the arena before crashing into now vacated seats and disappearing.
Naruto landed roughly back in the ring just as the last of his clones were dispatched by several well-placed hits from Kazuama. Naruto stood up but found himself under assault immediately. Kazuama smashed his fist into Naruto's face, delivered a knee to his stomach, and then slammed his elbow into the back of the blonde's head. Naruto gritted his teeth and reached out his hand, grabbing a part of Kazuama's shirt. Naruto pulled the shirt down and brought his head up, slamming into the boys chin, smashing Kazuama's teeth together. Kazuama stumbled backwards, semi dazed from the blow. Naruto quickly performed the Shadow Clone Technique and made a set of clones. The clones rapidly advanced on Kazuama and leapt upon the boy. Kazuama yelped as the Naruto clones piled onto him. After a minute Naruto called his clones off but discovered that Kazuama had disappeared.
Naruto and his clones began to search frantically for Kazuama but none could figure out where he was. One clone ran up to Naruto and pointed to the side, drawing Naruto's attention to that direction. The next thing Naruto knew he was down on the ground after receiving a strong blow to his temple, forcing him to see stars. As Naruto looked up he saw his clone laughing at him before disappearing in a puff of smoke revealing Kazuama.
"Give it up Naruto. You and your pathetic clones can never hope to defeat me."
"I'll never give up. The Hokage would never give up and neither will I" Kazuama scoffed at the boy and zoomed past Naruto and his clones, striking two of the clones into none existence as he went. Kazuama halted his charge, turned around and sped again towards more of Naruto's clones, eliminating them in his pass. Suddenly Naruto saw the flaw to Kazuama's technique.
Naruto carefully watched as Kazuama sped towards the remainder of clones, easily punching and kicking them into nothingness. Kazuama turned to face Naruto, his teeth bared in a wicked smile as he began his charge to Naruto. Naruto quickly stepped to his left, narrowly dodging Kazuama's strike. Kazuama stopped, quickly spun and rushed the blonde again. Naruto jumped right, again evading the attack made by Kazuama.
Kazuama growled as he turned around to stare at the blonde. "Stand still you pest."
"What's the matter Kazuama? Can't touch me?"
"I won't miss again. You just got lucky."
"Bring it on Kazuama. I've figured out the trick to your little technique."
"RAAAHHH" Kazuama screamed as he ran full speed at Naruto, frustration evident as the blonde leapt out of range again. Kazuama braked, turned and rushed again, but found that Naruto had once again leapt out of his path.
"It's a good technique Kazuama, but you can only run forward, no way to adjust your aim." Kazuama ignored the boy and continued to stop, turn, and rush the blonde, his frustration mounting higher as the blonde continued to mock him with every miss.
"Nyeh, Nyeh, can't touch me. You can't get me."
"SHUT UP!!" Kazuama yelled and Naruto felt the air ripple around the arena. He felt the wind begin to pull in towards Kazuama. Kazuama's hands became a blur of motion when suddenly he shouted, "Wind Technique: Hurricane Hammer." Naruto watched as the wind seemed to coalesce into a shape roughly like that of a mallet. Kazuama lifted the "hammer" up and slammed it into the ground, Naruto barely dodging the strike. The ground cracked into multiple pieces beneath the effect of the hammer causing chunks of the arena floor to fly up. Naruto began to run at Kazuama but found himself propelled to the side as the hammer exploded into a powerful burst of wind, sending the boy tumbling and sliding on the ground.
Naruto reached into his pouch and pulled out a kunai, digging it into the ground until it caught in a small crack, holding the boy in place as the wind continued to blow. After several seconds the wind finally died, leaving the arena littered with dust and rocks from the attack. Naruto began to stand when he heard Kazuama call his next attack, "Wind Technique: Debris Vacuum."
Naruto felt the wind begin to draw in on Kazuama, getting stronger and stronger, picking up the little rocks and pebbles formed by the Hurricane Hammer. As the wind continued to pick up larger pieces of the arena floor cracked loose and were pulled towards the large pile now centered around Kazuama. Naruto struggled to stay upright as the wind pulled at him, forcing him to kneel or be drawn in also.
The winds died down and an odd moment of silence echoed in the stadium before Kazuama called out, "Wind Technique: Debris Cannon." Suddenly the wall of rock and dirt burst from around Kazuama flying straight for Naruto. Naruto tried to shield his head as several of the larger rocks flew straight for his head. He could hear and feel the power behind the attack as the rocks gouged into his clothes, tearing his orange jumpsuit in several pieces and scraping the skin on his exposed flesh. Naruto moved his arm to the side to try and get a view of Kazuama just as the largest rock yet struck his face right between his eyes. Naruto crumpled to the ground, the blowing sending him into a daze as stars danced in front of his face.
Naruto fell to the ground and the audience gasped as they saw their hero fall down. In the back of Naruto's mind he could hear the crowd shouting for him to get back up and the count of the announcer. "5…6…7…" The crowd's volume increased as the count got closer and closer to ten. Suddenly a voice cut through the din of the crowd.
"NARUTO-KUN, YOUR RAMEN IS READY!!" Naruto automatically sat up and looked around the arena. The crowd cheered as Naruto unsteadily regained his feet.
"Damn it, just stay down." Kazuama fumed, his breath coming in deep gasps. Naruto looked his way and Kazuama could see the glaze in his eyes slipping away each second.
"Hehe, is that the best you got?"
"What?"
"I've felt a stronger wind when Iruka-sensei yells at me."
Kazuama's face contorted with rage at Naruto's jibe. "Debris Vacuum." Kazuama began to collect the rocks, pebbles and dust about himself once more, the wind even stronger it seemed to Naruto. Naruto knelt down and pulled several pieces of paper out from his pouch and allowed them to be sucked up by the technique until they became buried underneath and between the rocks.
"Debris Cann----" A large explosion erupted from the pile of rocks as Naruto's explosive tags sent the rocks flying in all direction. Naruto quickly dove to the ground and avoided most of the rocks with only a few strays landing on him. Dust filled the arena. As Naruto stood back up to survey the damage he heard the sound of something ripping followed by the sound of many small glass balls clattered to the ground. Naruto looked down as saw that the bag of marbles he had received from Jin had torn and were now scattered on the ground around him.
"NARUTO!" Naruto looked up in time to see Kazuama charging in, his fist aimed at his head when suddenly Kazuama disappeared. Naruto looked up and saw Kazuama up in the air, sent aloft by stepping on the marbles on the ground. He watched as Kazuama landed roughly on his back, the back of his head slamming into the arena floor.
Naruto leapt to Kazuama's side and checked to see if the boy was still alive. He watched as Kazuama's chest continued to expand and shrink, his lungs still working. Soon the final count of from the announcer echoed from the speakers. "…and ten. The match is over with Naruto Uzumaki as the victor." The crowd cheered wildly but Naruto stayed knelt next to Kazuama until the medics arrive with a stretcher and carried the boy off.
Naruto stood straight and tall and smiled and waved to the crowd as he began to walk back to his exit. The next thing Naruto knew he was on his back staring at the sky. He groaned as he sat up and looked around himself. 'Doh, I forgot to pick up the marbles.' Naruto formed a set of clones and sent them to gathering the marbles from the floor, he didn't want to lose them now. Naruto left his clones to their chore and leapt up into the stands and landed next to his friends. Shikamaru just smiled at the blonde and Neji nodded at him.
"Way to go Naruto. I'm proud of you." Sakura patted him on the back and smiled at the blonde.
"Thanks Sakura-chan. I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't shouted about the ramen."
"Actaully, that wasn't me."
"Nani?"
"It was actually Hinata. Seems she knows you just about as well as I do, hehe." Naruto turned to regard the quiet purple haired girl sitting near him.
Hinata's gaze was cast towards the ground, her fingers pressing against each other as the blonde turned to regard her. "I-it was really n-nothing, Naruto-kun. Everyone knows h-how much you love your r-ramen."
"Yeah, but you are the one that yelled it out and got me back up. Thanks Hinata." Naruto turned around as one of his clones returned with the marbles now in a new sacks. Naruto took the sack from his clone and handed the bag of marbles to her. "Here, these saved my butt, and so did you. Their yours."
Hinata looked from the bag to Naruto and back to the bag and tentatively took it from his hand. "Th-thank you Naruto-kun." Naruto pulled the bag close to her chest and held it tight. 'My first gift from Naruto.'
"Excuse, Uzumaki-san, but your presence is requested in the participants lounge."
"Well, looks like I have to go. I'll see you after the rest of the matches are done. Bye." Naruto smiled and waved as he left his friends, Hinata shyly waving back. Naruto leapt down from the stands and headed down the stairs and back to the fighters area. As soon as Naruto opened the door his friends were there to greet him. Lee immediately went into a speech about Naruto's flames of youth that Naruto merely nodded along with.
"Naruto, could I speak with you for a moment?" Tazuna called out from the free weights area, away from any of the other contestants. Naruto disengaged himself from his friends and joined Tazuna sitting on the bench.
"What do you need Tazuna?"
"I just want to congratulate you, my boy. You fault splendidly. You also gave us a few more things to think about in our restrictions next year. Explosive tags? Really?"
"Well, I knew he wouldn't get seriously hurt by them, they were the small charge. I just wanted to disrupt his technique and stun him a bit."
"Haha, I'm not faulting you for it. It was a brilliant plan and it worked. I'm proud of you. The whole town is really hoping to see you win. Already we have seen several contestants we would like to talk to about starting our own hidden village. That Nami girl seemed to have real potential, Kazuama as well if he could control his temper."
"I'm glad your plan is working out. Hopefully you will find some more people. When is the next round anyway?"
"Well, you and Kazuama did a number on the ring. We are taking an hour break to repair it, then back to business."
"Great, is it OK if I leave for a little bit then?"
"I don't see why not, but where do you want to go?"
"Well, you see, I really need a cup of Ramen. Ever since Hinata shouted out that there was one ready my stomach has been growling for it." Tazuna laughed and dismissed the boy after patting his shoulder.
"Remember Naruto, one hour. Don't be late. Your friends will welcome your support I am sure."
"I won't be late Tazuna. Bye!" Naruto quickly burst through the exit and began his search for a hot bowl of ramen.
And so end the second half of the fourth Chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as my editor did. Please R&R. I hoep to have the next chapter up in about 2-3 weeks, then it will be hopefully, if my time table is right, about a month for the one after that. Thank you and good night.