Authors Note: Finally back! Didn't mean to be away so long. But life tends to get in the way sometimes. I hope to keep updating this story far more regularly now. Hope you all enjoy this because I know that you have been waiting a long time.
Chapter 10 Genin Showdown: Naruto's Secret Technique
The announcement of preliminary rounds to the third round of the Chunin Exam was the last thing Naruto wanted to hear. After spending nearly a week suffering in the Forest of Death he now was expected to face off in a one-on-one fight with a random Genin. He had been given a chance to give up but that was not an option for him. To come as far as he had to only give up would make everything he endured pointless. The loss of the Fox would have been that much more painful.
Without any breaks the preliminaries began. The first fight had been between Sasuke and a member of Kabuto's team. During the fight Sasuke had used some new moves and in the end was able to beat his opponent. Quickly after the fight Kakashi had taken him away for special medical treatment. Naruto suspected it had to do with the strange marks on Sasuke's body that he thought he saw during the fight. But when he asked Sakura about them she said she had seen nothing. Naruto simply dismissed it as his own senses being faulty from the trauma of the past week. Something else he had to worry about.
Gaara's brother Kankuro fought the other member of Kabuto's team. It had looked as if Kankuro had been killed but it was just a fake out. It turned out that he was a puppet master and used the one he kept strapped to his back to break the other ninja. An impressive move but one to be expected from Gaara's brother. His sister Temari also seemed to have any easy time of it. Without any effort she took out Tenten.
The more names that were called the closer Naruto go to his match. He really didn't care too much about the others who were fighting. He hung back against the wall trying to rest as best he could. The lack of sleep and his injuries from the various fights took their toll on his body. Closing his eye he retreated into his mind. No matter how many time he tried or how may ways he came at it he could not get into the place where the Fox resided. Every path was blocked by a new door that had an unfamiliar seal on it.
Naruto gave up on trying reaching the Fox and concentrated on his own chakra. The never ending fire still burned but seemed to be far duller then before. It flared when he used his chakra he knew so for the pain being lessened meant his chakra was low. That was no big surprise. The time spent inside the Forest of Death was draining and he had never gotten a chance to rest. He had not even slept for the past three days. Naruto took the time he had before his fight to get his head straight. The emotional rollercoaster was as devastating on him as the physical one.
"Ok Naruto," He thought to himself. "Lets see if I can't make sense of what's going on." He sat down and leaned against the wall. The current fight between Shino and one of the Sound ninja did not interest him. "If I know what's happening then maybe I can control it. Like Sakura says, you need to start with what I know and work from there when attacking a problem."
There was an explosion down on the area floor. People gasped and cheered but Naruto didn't care. "That Grass ninja messed me up pretty bad. No doubt there are some internal injuries I am dealing with. At the same time the Fox was flooding my body with power both to keep me fighting and to heal me." Naruto let out a slow breath as he thought some more. "Demon energy is destructive to a human body, even mine. Even though I have been exposed to it a little bit each day since I was born too much at once still can destroy me. Then that ninja did something to me and the Fox and I were cut off from each other."
There was another eruption of surprised gasps and cheering from the spectators of the current fight. "I wish they would keep it down so I can think." He took another drawn out breath. "Ok, I have the pieces to the puzzle so I just need to put them together now. Demon energy. Where did it all go? Normally any unused power returns to the Fox but that couldn't happen this time. Then I was knocked out so I could not get rid of the excess power myself. That much uncontrolled power should have killed me. She gave me too much because she was both healing me and trying to keep me in the fight. So where did . . . it . . . all . . . go . . . shit." Naruto suddenly realized the answer to his own question.
Naruto retreated into himself again but this time deeper. He experimented and molded his chakra some. The more it moved the more it hurt. Before now he didn't have time to look closely at his power. There was something different about it. Something that he couldn't see before.
"It's stronger now. My chakra is more powerful now, it's bigger then before. My own reserves are larger and it's more potent. That's where her power went. I absorbed it, all of it. Oh shit."
Naruto absorbs a small portion of the Foxes demon chakra every day. It slowly mixes and merges with his power making him stronger. One day he will have taken all of her power becoming something neither human nor demon. But this is a slow merger so that his body can adjust and protect its self form the greater demon power. This time things were different. To protect its self his body absorbed all of the excesses demon energy at one time. His chakra network was now being forced to deal with more power then it was ready for.
"It's like forcing two gallons of water through a pipe that can only handle one gallon," He thought to himself. "I understand now. Until my chakra network can adapt to the new power using my chakra causes damage to my body. Add on the existing injuries from fighting and my weakened healing abilities and I'm royally fucked. How am I going to get through these stupid prelims?"
The pervious fight on the arena floor had ended. Shino had won. Naruto looked up at the monitor on the wall. The next fight was being announced. It still was not his turn but the names on the screen did interest him. It was Sakura's turn and she had to face off against Ino. It was going to be an interesting fight to be sure.
Naruto stood up and walked over to Sakura. She looked a little nervous. Naruto knew this would not be any easy fight for her. Ino and she had a long history. They still may not be close friends but that would not make the fight any easier. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You got this Sakura. I know you can do it." He flashed a smile to reinforce his point.
"Thanks Naruto. With you cheering me on I know I can do it."
Both Sakura and Ino took up positions facing off on the area floor. Without any delays the proctor began the fight. The two of them charged each other and attacked with a series of punches and kicks. There was no energy in their attacks. There was no real desire to win put behind any of their moves. It simply looked as if they were sparing. This continued on for a while until Ino had an opening. She had a clear shot at Sakura and looked as if she was going to take it. At the last second she opened her fist up and simply slapped her.
It was then that the fighting on the floor stopped. The two of them continued to stare each other down. But they did not see each other, more like they saw past each other. They saw the little girls they once were and the friendship that they once shared. From where he was Naruto could see into Sakura's eyes. She had the same look that he had sometimes. When his mind was lost in the past. The look he got when he was coming to grips with something inside of him. She too now struggled to reconcile the past with the present. It didn't take long to find her fighting spirit.
"Ok Ino," Sakura began to say. "Listen up. I'm not going to fight with you over Sasuke."
"What did you say," Ino shot back more of a statement then a question.
"I'm not the weak needy girl I use to be." A fire could now be heard in her voice. "Your not even on my radar and your not Sasuke's type, Ino . . .PIG!"
"Sakura you had better watch your step. Do you have any idea who you are mouthing off to? Don't press your luck with me little Billboard Brow!"
The two of them continued to face off. Starting each other down as they did an outside observer could almost see the fire building. They were both getting worked up and ready to truly start the fight. Sakura, as a sign of her commitment to a real fight, removed her headband and placed it over her forehead. A move no one had seen before. She was ready to prove she had become a true shinobi and nothing was going to hold her back.
Ino did the same taking a moment to place her forehead protector on her head. It was an unspoken signal to the two of them. It was time for the real fight to begin. So once more they rushed each other but with fire in their eyes and power behind their fists. Standing as far away as he was Naruto could now feel the power coming of these two. It made him smile. At long last she was showing that she had what it took to fight and that she had what it took to survive.
The two of them clashed for what seemed like an eternity. Neither one backing down and even after taking sever blows they both still stood. Naruto watched and studied Sakura's moves. In his own mind he was watching for her weakness and watching for her strengths. After the exams were all over he wanted to continue his private training with her.
Ino then took a break from the fighting to have what appeared to be a mental break. She began screaming and yelling at Sakura. Then in one quick movement she cut off the bulk of her hair. It was a similar move that Sakura had performed in her fight with the Sound ninja. Ino then threw the hair in Sakura's direction but is simply fell harmlessly to the floor between the two fighters. Then she began to prepare to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Sakura. It's a move that is not used in combat but for espionage.
Sakura being the smart kunoichi that she is knew that all she had to do was dodge the move and Ino would be helpless. When Ino launched the attack that is exactly what she did. She ran a few steps to her right and out of the way of Ino's attack. That's when she fell into the trap. It all had been a ruse from the start. Ino had used her hair as a medium to snake her charka along and snag Sakura's feet. Sakura was helpless to move, pined to the ground, and in Ino's sights.
"Not as smart as you thought you were Sakura," Ino said in a mocking tone. She was very pleased with herself. Pleased that she had outsmarted Sakura and pleased that she could now really use the Mind Transfer technique and end this fight with little effort. "Now let's see you try and dodge this."
Sakura didn't say a word. She stood frozen to the ground unable to move an inch. All she could do was watch as Ino took aim and fired her Jutsu. The two of them both slumped to their knees. After a few moments Sakura was the first to start moving. She stood back up and began to laugh.
Naruto knew right away that the person down on the arena floor laughing was not Sakura. The sound of her voice was wrong, the tone was wrong, and her chakra suddenly smelled a little off. Ino had invaded Sakura's soul and taken control of her body. A damn cheap trick in Naruto's opinion.
"Poor Sakura," the body of Sakura said. "She never really had a chance. She was always too weak. Now it's time to end this. I, Sakura Haruno, withdraw from . . ."
"YOU SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!" Naruto yelled out across the arena.
Fury and venom spilled from his voice. Ino had said that Sakura was weak. Sakura had saved his life. She had done so much for him, for Sasuke, for the sake of the team. No one was going to call her weak.
"Sakura, are you going to let her get away with this? Are you going to let her say these things about you? You are better then she is. You are stronger then she is. After everything you did, after everything we have been through are you going to let this blond bitch get the better of you? I believe in you Sakura. I believe that you are stronger then you even know. Strong enough to beat her, and one day strong enough to stop me!"
That last statement confused most in the attendance. A select few of them were more alarmed by it. Even Gaara took notice. His mind raced back to the night on the mountain. The raw power and hatred he encountered shook him to his core. And now Naruto was openly threatening everything and everyone. But, at the same time was reaching out for help. Something had changed in Naruto but Gaara couldn't tell what exactly.
Naruto's words had a different effect on Sakura. Somewhere deep inside herself she heard everything he said. With Ino inside her she had been pushed aside. She fought her tooth and nail. Far more then Ino had ever been fought before. Before Naruto spoke Ino was already having trouble keeping her hold on Sakura. Naruto's words were the final push she needed to break free. If Naruto believed in her then she was not going to let him down.
On the arena floor Sakura's body suddenly reacted violently. She began shaking and grabbing her head. A few moments passed as Sakura started to scream at herself. It didn't make any sense. Then as quickly as it started Sakura collapsed to the ground again. A minute passed and she began to stir then stand. Ino too also stood, albeit very weakly.
"So sorry Ino," Sakura began to say after regaining her composer. "But you are going to have to do much better then that. You underestimated me and the people who believe in me." She looked up at Naruto and smiled.
"Alright!" Naruto cheered. "Now wipe the floor with her Sakura!"
"Oh just keep your big mouth shut!" Ino screamed back at Naruto.
"Hey piggy," Sakura taunted. "Your fight is with me. So let's finish this. Right now."
"Fine with me."
The two of them faced off. Both gazing deep into the others eyes. Trying to read the others thoughts. Then in a flash they charged. They both drew their fists back and placed all their energy into the next punch. This was the final attack. Everything would be decided here. Just as the two of them were about to collide Ino threw her punch right at Sakura's head. In the last instant before it connected Sakura ducked and drove her elbow with all her might into Ino's gut. The force of the blow threw them both off balance and they tumbled across the floor.
At first neither of them moved. They just lay on the floor in a heap. Then Sakura began to stir. After some effort she finally stood up, stumbled, and then stood up again maintaining her balance. She looked down at Ino who lay unconscious. Sakura thought that she would feel better about this moment. But all she could feel was sad. Sad that they let something as stupid as some a boy gets between them. That even to this day she was fighting for him. It was time to move on and grow up a little. There are more important things apply her energy to.
"Winner, Sakura Haruno," the proctor casually said.
Sakura picked up Ino's unconscious body. She looked down at her old friend. She secretly hoped that they could be that again one day. Friends. She walked over to the waiting medical ninjas. They gave Ino a once over and were satisfied she was not seriously hurt. She would be out for a while but would recover in a day or so with some rest.
Asuma came down. "I will take her Sakura. You did a great job out there."
"We both did," Sakura said smiling.
A hand was placed on her shoulder. "I'm very proud of you Sakura." Kakashi smiled down at her. They both walked up the stairs to where Naruto was waiting.
"Awesome job Sakura," Naruto beamed with pride.
"I couldn't have done it with out you Naruto. I heard everything you said."
"Nah, I just gave you that push you needed. But now you have really put the pressure on me."
"What do you mean?"
"I can't be the only one on our team to not win their fight. Sasuke would never let me hear the end of it."
As if on cue the proctor began to speak again. "The next fight will begin in a minute. The next fighters will be decided now." Everyone looked up at the screen that was now showing the names of the next two combatants. "The next fight will be Naruto Uzumaki vs. Kiba Inuzuka.
"So I'm up against dog boy," Naruto thought. "Could be worse, but it looks as if I have hit the lottery."
Naruto began to walk down towards the arena floor. He passed by Hinata and just gave her a smile. She looked worried. Naruto knew that it must be hard for her right now. He had to fight against her teammate, so her loyalties were somewhat divided.
"Naruto," Hinata said as he walked past. "Our team has been here since the end of the first day."
The severity of what she had just said hit Naruto like a boulder. Her team had been here, resting, since the end of day one. While he had been suffering in that forsaken jungle since all the way till this morning. Naruto's confidence in this fight quickly drained away. On the arena floor the two of them faced each other. Naruto stood staring at Kiba and his dog Akamaru. He kept his expression cold and emotionless. He had a plan.
"You may begin," the proctor announced.
"This won't take any time at all," Kiba taunted. "Right Akamaru." The dog simply barked. "We got lucky to get parried off with this wimp. This will be too easy."
When he stopped talking the arena was filled with a clinking sound. Naruto stood there gently clinking the three headbands he took off the ninja he killed. His face now twisted into a sinister evil smile. He didn't say anything at first. He just kept rapping the blood stained headbands together. He wanted the meaning of what he was doing to sink in.
"I bet these three thought the same thing," Naruto said referring to the Rain ninja that he jumped. "They died screaming and begging for mercy. You're lucky that you're from the village. I will just make you submit to me. Do so now and I won't have to humiliate you. Just tuck your tail and run away while you still can little doggy."
"Yeah right. Like I'm going to forfeit just because you talk big. You forget we went to the academy together and you never could do anything like that. You're just bluffing. Probably pulled the headbands off three dead ninja you came across."
The people watching mostly agreed with Kiba. Whispers could be heard. Saying how Kiba had this easy. There was no way for Naruto to win. He was easily outclassed. Hinata knew differently. Her mind flashed back to something that she was not supposed to know. A secret she kept that ate her up inside. Sakura also knows better. She had seen what Naruto had done in the Forest of Death. She knew he had killed those ninja. She almost felt sorry of Kiba.
"Ok," Naruto thought. "That didn't go liked I would have liked. Guess it takes time to build up a rep. Going to have to do this the hard way."
"You know what," Kiba started. "Just to prove how much of a difference there is in our power I'm going to end this quickly. I'm just going to blow you out of the water." He then pulled out two pills from his pocket. Giving one to Akamaru and eating one himself. Akamaru's fur turned red and there was an immediate change in Kiba as well. "Ninja art of Beast Mimicry! Jujin Bunshin! Man-Beast Doppelgangers!"
Akamaru transformed into a clone of Kiba. Kiba then became more animal like. Naruto would have laughed at the sight had he not known he was about to get stomped on. While Kiba pretends to be an animal, Naruto really is one. But unfortunately all his strength and power are nearly gone. Then the two of them charged.
"Shikyaku No Jutsu! Down on all fours technique!"
They both charged and slammed the ground where Naruto had stood only a split second before. He managed to evade but not entirely. His left arm had a new gash in it. There was another swipe at his head and ducked just in time. He saw stands of his blond hair fall to the ground. Another relentless strike at his legs came and once more barely dodged it. But in doing so he was thrown off balance and off guard.
"Now's our chance," Kiba said to Akamaru. "Take this! Man-Beast Ultimate Taijutsu!" The two of them started to spin around like demonic tornadoes. "Gatsuuga! Fang Over Fang!"
Naruto had no chance of dodging. They both hit him with vicious blows and sent him smashing into the ground. The ground buckled and cracked with his impact and blood spat from his mouth. Remarkably Naruto began trying to stand back up.
"That the best you can do, dog breath?" Naruto taunted as tried to stand.
"Still playing the tough guy. Give it up. You can't even stand. Tell you what, run away now and I will let you keep some of your dignity. Only the people here will know how WEAK you are."
"Oh no," Hinata thought. "Kiba is going to get it now." Somehow she knew what was going to happen. Knew that when cornered a wild animal fights the hardest.
"Naruto!" Sakura yelled. "Get up! Beat his ass into the ground!"
Naruto stood. His legs were steady and his stance was firm. He spit some more blood from his mouth. "Weak hu? We'll see who the weak one is once I make you whimper like a whipped dog."
Both Kiba and Akamaru charged again. This time Naruto didn't wait for them. He ran at them. Sifting out what one was Akamaru from the smell of his chakra. Before they could begin their attack Naruto lunged at Akamaru and took hold of him. He made the dog transform back into his normal self and with all his might hurled Akamaru at the nearest wall. The dog hit the wall hard and fell to the ground. He was not dead but was knocked out cold.
Kiba was shocked to say the least. He forgot about Naruto was immediately started to run to Akamaru. Naruto wouldn't let him. In a flash he was in from of Kiba. Smiling and taunting him. What Naruto was about to do next was going to hurt him a great deal but he needed to make a point now. No one talks down to him anymore.
"Where do you think you are going?" He said mocking Kiba. "You and I are not finished. I was saving this for later but no time like the present to try out my new technique." He started to make hand signs. His chakra began growing and moving through his body. It burned and hurt as much as it ever had. But Naruto would not be stopped. Fighting through the pain is something he simply had to do. "Shadow Clone Jutsu! Dance of Shadows!"
In an instant dozens of Naruto clones surrounded Kiba. Every way he turned he was trapped. Without any warning they attacked. Two charged him and as he was about to block they passed through his body. Nothing but illusions. Two more came and did the same. Then three attacked and two of them passed through his body but the third hit him. It was a clone. More kept charging from all sides. Some were clones some just illusions. They randomly hit at him from all sides and Kiba had no way to tell them apart. They kept him off balance with a constant barrage of attacks and fake outs.
"Naruto, you are truly amazing," Kakashi said out loud not carrying who heard, but at the same time looking for an excuse to brag.
"What have you been teaching him Kakashi?" Kurenai turned to him and asked.
He turned with a smile on his face clearly visible under his mask. "Don't look at me. He came up with this all on his own. Naruto is a master of deception, after all."
"Master of deception? What do you mean?"
"All his life he has been hiding his true skills and talent. Never wanted to stand out. Can't blame him, seeing how he grew up. This has also transferred over to his fighting style. He is always disguising his moves and true intent. He likes to be unpredictable. Striking from trees or bushes or even from underwater if it suits him. And when he does hit, he hits hard. But here, he is at a disadvantage."
"Here he is in open combat on a flat arena, unable to hide behind anything."
"Exactly. So what does he do? He creates his own hiding spots. He is keeping Kiba so off balance that there is no time for him to think or even counter attack. Now Naruto has created a playing field that is more suited to his style. He changed the environment to suit his needs. It's quite brilliant really. For that matter this may not even be his true attack plan. Just another fake out while he gets ready for his real attack."
"I see. Seems there is far more to Naruto then anyone ever thought. Kiba has certainly bitten off more then he can chew this time."
Back on the arena floor the barrage of attacks kept coming. Then they suddenly changed. Naruto was making his final move. He had Kiba softened up and now it was time to end it. Four of the shadow clones, with a few simple illusions tossed in for good measure, charged Kiba all kicking him at once. He was launched straight into the air. At the height of his climb the real Naruto was waiting for him. Waiting with a solid kick to the face. It sent him rocketing back to the ground with a solid sickening impact with the ground. He hit and bounced then didn't move. Once Naruto had landed on the ground safely all the other Naruto's disappeared. He fell to one knee breathing hard but soon stood back up triumphant.
The fight was over. All that was left was for the proctor to say it. Naruto turned away from the moaning form of Kiba. Naruto didn't want to kill him so he didn't poor all his strength into the kick. He made his way to the stairs to where his team was waiting. Kiba in his infinite stupidity stopped Naruto in his tracks.
"What sor . . . sort of monster are . . . are you?" Kiba said all the while cough and spitting up blood. He tried to get up but too many bones were broken.
Monster. The very word is burned into Naruto's soul. He had been called one all his life. Chased and insulted and threatened all his life. Monster is what they always called him.
Turning in place Naruto charge Kiba. With a swift kick he launched him into the air and then grabbed him around his throat. Still moving forward Naruto slammed Kiba in the wall, pinning him in place.
"Monster!" Naruto yelled while slowly choking Kiba to death. "You want to know what sort of monster I am. I'm the monster that this village has created!" With one hand he then pointed at everyone around the arena. "I'M ONLY WHAT YOU ALL HAVE MADE ME INTO!" His eyes were wild showing no emotion. Only a look of death. "All my life you have all looked down on me! You have all hated me, spitting on me, calling me names, even trying to kill me! And now look at me. You all pass judgment on ME?"
The majority of the people watching looked on in horror and fear. Naruto had the look of a mad man. They feared he may really kill Kiba. The Jonin in attendance all tensed. They knew what Naruto was and feared that the worst may happen. Even Kakashi had the face the possibility of needing to take Naruto down.
"Are you going to really do this?" a voice sounding much like his own spoke to him from inside his own head. "Are you going to prove them all right?"
"Shut up!" Naruto screamed out loud. The people watching were confused by this new outburst. "I'm tired of listening to you. I'm going to make them pay, starting with him." He turned his attention back to Kiba and began to squeeze harder.
"Fine, don't listen to me. Just listen to her."
A pair of arms embraced Naruto from behind. They were strong and firm, yet still gentle. He felt a body pressed against his back. There was no mistaking who it was. In his rage he never even sensed her approach.
"I'm sorry Naruto," Hinata spoke gently to him. "I'm sorry for everything that has happened. I know you are angry and have every right to be. I'm sorry, please forgive me."
"Forgive her?" Naruto thought. The words echoed in his mind. "What do I have to forgive her for? She has never done anything to hurt me. She has always been there for me." Then it dawned on him. There are others who had been there for him. Who looked up to him and admired him. She was not asking forgiveness for herself. She was asking it for the entirety of the village.
"You are too good for this village, Hinata," he said out loud but in a soft voice. "They don't deserve your kindness." Naruto's grip on Kiba loosened and then he let go. Kiba fell to the floor choking for air. The medical ninja rushed to him. Naruto turned and looked deeply into Hinata's beautiful pearl eyes. No more words needed to be spoken. The rage left him and the fatigue of the fight took its place. Hinata took his hand and they walked out of the arena.
"Are you ok Naruto?" Kakashi asked as they walked by.
Naruto looked at him. "No." He turned and looked at Hinata. "But maybe one day I will be."
Sakura ran up to him and gave him a hug. A hug that said more then congratulations. "You were awesome out there. I'm proud of you." Sakura seemed willing to look past the final part of the fight. She was not sure what it had all been about but she had ideas.
"Like I said, I couldn't be the only one on our team to loose."
Naruto and Hinata stood there, still holding hands, enjoying the moment. For just a moment Naruto let himself think that things were going to be all right. That things may even get better.
"Well then," the proctor said with a few coughs in between. "The next match will be," all heads turned to the monitor on the wall. They all waited for the names to be shown. They were. "Hinata Hyuga vs. Neji Hyuga."
Hinata's grip on Naruto's hand became like a vice. Her hands suddenly became cold and clammy. Something was very wrong all of a sudden. Naruto could see the fear in her eyes. He then looked to Neji and saw the smile on his face. The same smile Naruto would get when he was about to go in for the kill. Something was very wrong indeed. This next fight was going to be more then two Genin facing off for a place in the finals. This was a fight years in the making. This may even be a fight to the death.