A/N: So, if you've seen the anime or watched the manga the next chapter or two may seem a bit boring because of how much they'll most likely resemble the original storyline. There will be some changes though, and I hope you like them!

Also, thanks to Ms. Lokita1, BeArOcKpRiNxEsS, kitoriko, and xxxwallflowerxxx for their wonderful reviews. As soon as I get a free moment that isn't taken up by work or writing this story, I shall do my best to answer your reviews!

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, most of the girls would die horrible deaths and yaoi would dominate over hentai! Mwahahahahaha!

Warnings: None

Rating: PG

~~~~~o~~~~~ Scene change, time break, etc…

"Talking"

Thoughts

'Naruto speaking to Kyuubi mentally'

Kyuubi

Chapter 3: Kongo

~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~

"I, Haruno Sakura, will give—"

"No! Sakura!"

Ino directed Sakura's eyes, glancing up at a screaming blond.

Lee and Kakashi started, turning quickly. Naruto ignored them as he concentrated on Sakura.

"Don't give up! You're stronger than this! And one day, you'll be one of the strongest kunoichi and medic-nin in history! So stop chasing our backs! Show us! Show us all how strong you've become! Don't disgrace yourself by losing to this Sasuke-obsessed freak!" Naruto yelled.

"Baka. It's useless telling me that. Sakura's too weak to defeat me, little less become as strong as you say—"

Ino froze as a chill went through her mind.

"What…is this?"

Naruto watched as Ino brought Sakura's hands up to clutch her head.

Come on…Say it…Say her name.

"Sakura! This can't be…!"

And Naruto knew he'd succeeded. He knew how it would end now. And with this, Sakura would begin to walk a path to rival one of the great Sannin, just like Sasuke and him.

~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~

Naruto ruffled Sakura's hair, smiling tenderly at her and Ino's sleeping figures.

"Good job. You both fought well. I can't wait to see the splendid shinobi you two will become," he said softly.

Kakashi watched Naruto closely. In ways he couldn't understand, this new Naruto disturbed him. He seemed older…wiser. Now more than ever, the boy reminded Kakashi of his sensei.

And the girl from earlier…She'd had that older look in her eyes too.

Who is she really and what does she have to do with Naruto…?

As Sakura's eyes began to open, Naruto turned to watch the next match, giving Sakura and Ino some privacy to talk. As he turned, he caught Kakashi's eye. Its searching look made him look away quickly. He didn't want Kakashi to know. He didn't want anyone to know. It was too painful and it was better if they never knew this pain. It was better if only he ever knew this pain.

"Ganbatte, TenTen! Use your power of youth!" Lee yelled, backed up enthusiastically by Gai.

"Gomen Lee, but there's no way TenTen could beat Temari…" Naruto said under his breath as the match began.

After only one attack, the winner was clear to any with the perception to see it.

"How unsightly. Suna wins again…" Shikamaru complained.

"Mmm-hmm…" Naruto murmured, nodding his head.

Shikamaru raised an eyebrow at Naruto's strange response. If anything, he would've expected the blond to protest or ask him to explain, not agree with him.

Perhaps the idiot's just trying to look smarter…But it doesn't seem like that. The way he's watching the match, how his eyes seem to take in every detail…It's like he really can see it. Man, mendokusai…

Naruto watched as each of TenTen's attacks failed until, finally, all three moons of Temari's fan were revealed and she disappeared.

"It's over," he said as Temari reappeared, riding on her fan.

"Ninpou kamaitachi!" Temari attacked and it was all over.

"Lee."

"Huh? What, Naruto-kun?"
"Catch," Naruto said simply, staring at TenTen's prone form on Temari's fan.

"Nani…?" Lee said in confusion, turning just in time to see Temari smirk and tense her body. "Oh no!"

And with that, he disappeared as TenTen's body flew through the air.

"And now he will fight with everything he has…" Naruto said.

"Don't lose to them, Naruto."

"Sakura. Daijobu-ka?" Naruto asked, quickly and efficiently assessing her body for any injuries with his eyes. As he concentrated on Sakura, he didn't notice Kakashi concentrating on his every move and word.

Kit, you need to be more careful.

'Kyuubi! Where have you been?'

Oh, I just thought I'd take a small vacation in Suna. Where do you think I've been? I'm trapped in your body, baka.

'You know that's not what I meant. And don't call me a baka!'

Whatever. Like I said, you need to be more careful. That one-eyed pervert is watching you too closely. You're not acting or even speaking like you used to at that age and you're talking about things you're not supposed to know yet! I know you're a better actor than this.

'I'm so tired of acting like somebody I'm not! I can't keep it up anymore. Not like I used to. Don't worry, I won't act too differently. I just don't think…I can hide as much of me as before,' Naruto told Kyuubi

I know Kit, I know. Just do your best. And pay attention. The crazy pinkette is talking to you.

'She's not crazy!' Naruto mentally chided Kyuubi before turning his attention back to Sakura.

"Don't worry about me, worry about yourself!" she was saying.

Naruto smiled at Sakura's concern. This was the moment their relationship had really began to change. This was the moment she'd started becoming someone he loved and protected, his little sister.

"Don't worry, I won't lose," he said seriously, surprising Sakura.

"Well, you better not! If you lose here, you'll be a disgrace. You won't be able to face Sasuke-kun."

"I know. And thank you, Sakura-chan."

"Eh? What for?" she asked, taken aback.

"For believing in me," Naruto said, giving her a true smile.

Naruto's never smiled like that before. It almost makes him look…handsome. But not as handsome as Sasuke-kun of course!"

"I should be thanking you," Sakura said, flustered. "If I hadn't had your support…I might have lost to Ino easily."

"All I did was tell you the truth. You're the one who broke free. You finally showed us your strength. Now, the three of us can walk beside each other. You don't have to watch our backs anymore, Sakura-chan…" Naruto said gently.

Sakura could feel tears forming.

How? How did he know what I've been thinking for so long? How does he know exactly what to say?

"B-Baka! What makes you think I ever thought such a thing! I've never thought I was weaker than you guys, you…baka!" Sakura said, turning away and stomping over to the railing as she tried to stop the tears from falling.

"You're right…I was such a baka back then," Naruto whispered before moving up next to her to watch as Shikamaru was picked.

"Finally, a victory for Konoha!" Naruto said, cheering as he grinned down at the arena.

"What do you mean? Shikamaru's too lazy to fight seriously!" Sakura said.

"Yeah, but he's smart and he's too proud to lose to a girl weaker and less intelligent than him. Just watch, you'll see what I mean," Naruto stated, surprising everyone around him.

~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~

"Wow, Naruto was right!" Sakura exclaimed.

"My turn!" Naruto exclaimed as the board began shuffling through the names.

Sakura laughed. Naruto was so eager to fight, just like always. "You might be wrong, you know."

"No. I know I'm right! It's definitely my turn!"

And with that, the board froze.

Naruto Uzumaki

Vs.

Kiba Inuzuka

~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~o~~~~~

Translations:

Kongo — From Now On

Baka — Idiot

Shinobi — Ninja

Sensei — Teacher

Ganbatte — Do your best

Gomen — Sorry (more informal than gomennasai)

Suna — Sand (I really hope you already knew this though)

Mendokusai — Troublesome (Shikamaru says this about everything, doesn't he? I think it's kinda cute, in a lazy way. ^_^)

Ninpou Kamaitachi — Whirlwind Attack

Nani? — What?

A/N: So…What do you think? Different enough to be a little interesting? I definitely updated a lot quicker than usual! I know it's short though, but I want to take my time with the fight between Kiba and Naruto. Honestly, I'm not very confident about writing a fight scene. I might ended up trying to find someone else to help me out with it. Either way, I'll try to update as soon as I can! Please review!

Ja ne!

~MikoAmaya