Chapter Summary: Naruto finally gets to face Neji, Yugito and Gaara get into a sibling fight and the invasion has started.
Hello guys! Thank you so much for reading the story, please do not forget English is not my mother tongue so I apologise about the grammar, spelling and funny mistakes.
Chapter 9
Temptation and invasion Part 1
The dust around them settled slowly, blue eyes soon found grey ones glaring with intensity at the blond. The kunai in their hands created sparks as they clashed against each other; Naruto felt the painful grasp on his fist, Neji had stopped his punch without much difficulty.
Both Genin stood in the midst of a fight of strength, Neji never thought the blond would be this strong or fast. For the Hyuuga it was quite evident all the rumours he heard about Naruto were either exaggerate or lies. Pursing his lips, Neji pressed forth just as Naruto their bodies founding one another until they bounced back taking a fighting stance.
The blond was grinning, which only infuriated Neji. "I didn't think you would be able to stop my kunai and my fist. You must really be the genius I heard about."
Neji scoffed but said nothing.
The air around them seemed rather tense, the sounds of cheering coming from the stands was not actually reaching out to them. Neji stared down at Naruto, he gathered enough of his chakra until his kekke genkai was activated. Exaggeration or lies, lowlifes like Uzumaki Naruto were destined to lose. Of that Neji had no doubts. And now, Hyuuga Neji was ready to teach him that lesson.
Once again, Naruto and Neji found themselves face to face, this time around it was Neji's kunai pressing against Naruto's one. For a moment it seemed as if everything was going to end the same way, but Naruto was caught of guard by a smirking Neji.
Taking hold of Naruto's fist, Neji positioned his legs, linking them to Naruto's to make the blond lose his balance. As predicted, the blond staggered forward and Neji took the opportunity to knee him in the stomach before letting go of Naruto's fist and proceeding to hit him. Naruto evaded the fist by mere centimetres; he could have sworn Neji's fist brushed against his arm.
The blond stood up, breathing slowly, and holding his stomach. Neji had taken a fighting stance the blond recognized as the one he had used in his fight against Hinata. Neji's face was calm and had a tinge of smugness at the fact he had hurt the blond in more ways than one. As long as Naruto didn't understand the Hyuuga's abilities Neji knew the fight was his.
The silence that fell between them was only broken by the screams of enthusiasm coming from the stands. Naruto looked at his stomach and then at Neji. Tilting his head, he let his blue eyes travel around the arena before locking them on Neji.
Neji frowned slightly, wondering what the blond might be thinking. Neji decided to not lose any more time and finish the fight when Naruto made his signature hand seal.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Five clones appeared beside him and almost immediately went to the attack.
Yugao had taken her time to explain the real usage of the clones, Naruto had been pleasantly surprised when he realized of the full potential this jutsu could actually have in the midst of a dangerous mission. Or, in this case, in such an important fight.
The five clones didn't waste any time. Two of them were right on ahead, the dark-haired teen smirked his eyes finding the pattern's on his opponent. Without any effort, the gently fists touch each clone making it disappeared with a puff. This happened several times, Naruto had created five more clones, then another five, and Neji was starting to get tired of the same process over and over.
'Doesn't he understand that this fight is already mine? These clones are not going to make any difference.'
Naruto for his part was watching as Hyuuga Neji didn't even move from his spot but merely let the clones near him. The blond wondered when he would realize more and more clones kept appearing; but at the same time, he noticed Neji's movements.
The Hyuuga had some strange veins around his eyes, and if Yugao and Kakahsi's information was right, that was the Hyuuga's kekke genkai. The Byakugan. Naruto had to admit, though, he didn't know what the Byakugan did exactly.
The speed and the well-aimed hits Neji used seemed to have been more due to his training and his own ability than to his bloodline. His clones were fighting in raw manner, not a specific aim in mind. And yet, even with the wild and strong attacks Neji seem to conserve his calm.
His hits weren't that strong either. Absentmindedly, Naruto touched his stomach and frowned. Neji did hit hard, but according to the info his clones were passing to him the Hyuuga merely touched them before they disappeared in a white cloud.
Why did it happen?
Naruto's attention focused once again on Neji, who had started spinning around in a blue sphere, sending Naruto's clones into oblivion.
"Wow! I didn't know you could do that!" said Naruto, scratching the back of his head. "This fight is going to be really difficult. Good!"
"Hn, you still think you have an opportunity to win against me? To even fight on equal ground with me?" said Neji, coldness and disdain obvious in his voice. "The moment I was chosen to be your opponent you were destined to lose, Uzumaki."
Naruto merely shrugged his shoulders, making the same hand seal as before, "We'll see about it. Kage bunshin no jutsu!"
Neji snorted amusedly at the new attempt from the blond, "Very well, it seems I have to beat reality into you."
This time, however, Neji noticed neither of the clones attacked at first but rather started running without any apparent destination or aim. Neji positioned himself once again, Byakugan activated, and proceeded to attack the only clone that wasn't moving.
As soon as Neji moved Naruto's clones did as well. It was an all-out attack, with at least eight clones on Neji's back, jumping at him from either side while two others were getting ready to attack Neji from behind.
Once again, the big blue sphere appeared and Naruto's clones were exterminated. But it was all the real Naruto needed; a moment of distraction and Naruto was in front of Neji. Replacing one of the clones that were about to attack from behind, Naruto was above Neji, ready to let his right leg fall on Neji's head. Neji had a second to evade the leg; his eyes were wide open in surprise. But the young Hyuuga didn't have the time to ponder or even stand there awestruck for Naruto went immediately towards him with the same speed as before.
Neji, once again, evaded a hit directly to his face and started attacking. A punch drew blood from Naruto's lower lip. A side kick made Neji stagger. Another punch blocked by an arm while Neji sent his palm directly to Naruto's chest.
Dodge!
Naruto didn't need to be told twice. He turned around and dodged Neji's palm by mere centimetres. But it wasn't enough. Suddenly Neji was attacking with a determination and fierceness Naruto didn't think was possible to come from him.
The screams coming from the audience fell onto deaf ears; Naruto and Neji's attention was focused on the other.
Neji swung a roundhouse punch and Naruto could see the frustration in his face. Without losing any more time, Naruto dodged, making his fist connect directly with Neji's stomach, taking all breathing abilities from Neji and sending him directly to the wall under one of the stands.
Some people in the audience, those who knew who Naruto was, were dumbstruck at the blonds abilities, while the other part of the audience was cheering on the blond.
Neji stood up and wiped at the mix of blood and saliva that was falling from his mouth. This fighting wasn't turning the way he had predicted, the way destiny had foretold. Neji obliged himself to calm down, he was letting frustration and surprise at the blonds' abilities take over his good judgement.
'Yes, there is something different about you Uzumaki. But whatever you have done this last month is not enough to defeat me. After all, I was trained by the Taijutsu specialist and he and Lee taught me something about speed and strength. I am a member of the Hyuuga clan; I have learned the arts of the Byakugan that are forbidden to me…and you, you are a nobody.'
Naruto stared at Neji while the boy stood up and cleaned himself off. Neji then turned his eyes, cold and defiant, to the blond.
"I have to admit, I've been underestimating you, Uzumaki. But as I said before, I am destined to win this fight and you are destined to lose." Neji shook his head, taking a step forward to Naruto. He was almost at the range he would need to use the Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms to end the fight once and for all.
Naruto smirked cockily at Neji, "You shouldn't let your guard down, Neji. Destiny wouldn't like that!"
Neji' eyes opened wide at those words, he turned around and cursed loudly when two more clones appeared out of nowhere ready to attack. Neji barely dodged one of the Narutos while sending a high kick to the other one, before using the gentle fist to dispose of the second one.
"Raiton: Kangehika!" A bolt of electricity came from Naruto directly to Neji who couldn't evade the attack on time. The clones had obviously been another distraction.
Neji fell to the ground, breathing hard and moaning from pain and clenching his teeth, angry from the humiliation. Why had he fallen in such a stupid trap? What was he doing? This wasn't the way a Hyuuga fought.
He thought he had made enough damage to Naruto's chakra system, but apparently he was wrong. He would need to act immediately, without giving the blond another opportunity, another opening.
"You're lucky," said Naruto, still watching the fallen form of Neji. "I had to learn that technique using water as a catalyser…which is more painful than this."
Neji shot Naruto a heated glare; he stood up and clenched his fists, sending murderous intent Naruto's way. Naruto glared back but didn't say anything else.
"You…you are a failure," Neji said through gritted teeth. Naruto opened his eyes, surprised. "You don't have any opportunity against me! Not now that I'm finally close to you!"
"Eh? What are you talking about?" Naruto was confused and Neji allowed himself a smirk full of painful retribution from the humiliation he had just received.
"You are within my range of divination; now you will know my real power."
Naruto stood there, confused as to what Neji meant. While Naruto was trying to understand, Neji took the same strange fighting stance he had taken in his fight against Hinata. He stretched out his arms and positioned his legs in a way that made movement easy. Naruto stood defensively, waiting for Neji's next attack.
Up in the stands the rest of the audience were holding their breath. Some of them knowing what Hyuuga Neji meant when taking that stance, others merely surprised that Naruto seemed to be fighting on equal grounds with Neji.
"Byakugan! Eight trigrams Sixty-four palms!" Up in the stands several gasps were heard. And Hyuuga Hanabi and Hyuuga Hinata seemed the most shocked of them all. For his part, Hyuuga Hiashi looked with amazement and certain melancholy at his nephew.
Naruto didn't have time to react. The first strike hit him without any warning and Naruto could do nothing. The force of the hit sent him staggering backwards. Before he could even recover another set of strikes hit him in different parts of his body.
Chest, abdomen legs, arms, there wasn't any part Neji didn't hit and every time he did something inside Naruto felt weak, as if something vital was slipping away from him. Each strike sent Naruto backwards and drew more blood and pain from the blond who could do nothing but receive the hits. Neji was vicious with his attacks and only when he reached the last part of his technique (a set of another thirty-two strikes along with another six) did he stop.
The last part sent Naruto against the wall contrary to the stadium. He hit the hard wall and fell to the ground. His breathing was laboured, his face was sweating and he had blood coming from his mouth and nose.
Naruto? Naruto, are you all right? Naruto allowed himself a tiny smile at the worried tone in Raikaze's voice.
'Yes, I am.'
Liar! Don't lie to me, Master! Why didn't you let me fight? Why didn't you use me?
'Because I have to do it on my own,' said Naruto as if that was the most obvious thing in the world. Raikaze growled but said nothing else.
Naruto stood up with difficulty, Neji was standing in front of him with an expressionless face. Naruto wiped his mouth and cracked a smile.
"This is…this is all you have, Hyuuga Neji?" Naruto could almost hear and visualize the smiles in his friend's faces. He knew he was being daring and a little cocky. But like Sasuke and Yugao had said to him once that was one of his specialities, making his opponent mad with rage.
Neji's eyebrow twitched slightly at Naruto's words, "What do you mean, Uzumaki? I have done far more than you know."
Naruto snorted and formed a hand seal. Neji could only smirk when Naruto's smile turned into a frown, and finally he seemed confused and a little panicked. The blond tried several times to form clones and tried some of the other jutsus Yugao had taught him, but without any success.
"What's happening? Why can't I make any clones? Or gather my chakra?" asked Naruto more to himself and Raikaze than Neji. Nevertheless, it was Neji who answered his questions.
"That is one of my specialities, or more accurately, one of the Byakugan's specialities." Then with a sneer he added, "Something only meant for the main branch of the Hyuuga family, but I've been able to master it."
"What do you mean? What did you do?" said Naruto. who was still trying to gather his chakra without any success.
"Simple, I close all your tenketsu making you unable to use your chakra," Neji explained. "Now you don't have clones or jutsus to fight against me. Only your ability in Taijutsu. And that, compared with mine, is nothing."
Naruto stood there trying to digest the news about his chakra being sealed. He didn't have access to his chakra; he could not use his jutsus. For a moment there was a heavy silence around him, then without any warning he started laughing.
This guy is an idiot.
'You think so?' Naruto replied feeling the same mirth coming from Raikaze. 'You think we should give him a taste of what Yoruichi-chan taught us?'
I think it's the perfect time, Master. Let's show him, them what we're made of.
Naruto's laugh was so merry and amused that Neji couldn't help but feel perplexed and confused. Did he go crazy? No, someone that had gone crazy wouldn't laugh like that.
Naruto kept laughing for a good moment before grabbing his stomach and looking directly at Neji. "S-Sorry it's just…well, you sealed all my chakra."
"Yes, I did," said Neji annoyed. "I don't see why this is so funny. I have showed you, once again, that you are destined to lose. That you are merely a loser."
"Oh, sorry it's just…I don't care," Naruto said shrugging, this time cutting off his chuckles. "I'm going to keep fighting you and I'm going to show you I'm not a loser and destiny isn't all there is for one to win a fight."
"So…is this all you have?" added Naruto with a smile and sparkling blue eyes. The blond could feel the excitement coming from Raikaze inside of him; the sword knew his time had finally come. "I don't remember this when you fought Hinata."
"Hn, you should keep your mouth closed, Uzumaki," Neji smirked slightly. "You are different, I admit it. But you're not good enough to defeat me. I am a Hyuuga and you…you are a nobody."
"Why don't you say that when you hit me and knock me unconscious," Naruto asked, wiping away the blood and the sweat from his face. "Say it when you have defeated me and I can't even stand, because only then I will stop fighting!"
"Very well, then," said Neji taking his former stance. "I shall show you who is going to be the true winner of this fight."
Neji thought the fight was already won.
He kept his smile until Naruto evaded his first attack, then the second, then the third.
Suddenly, the blond seemed faster than before and his movements less clumsy and straightforward. Neji followed the blond and tried once, twice to make his strikes hit him flat in the chest, but every time Naruto would dodge or block. It was as if he was reading Neji's movements.
Neji had long ago activated his Byakugan and he could see Naruto's chakra was effectively closed. He could not perform any ninja technique, and yet…there was something off about the blond. Something different and almost suffocating coming from him.
This time when Neji launched another strike directly to Naruto's face, the blonde's fist collided with Neji's face and both of them were sent backwards by the force of the punches.
Neji and Naruto staggered but didn't fall; however, Neji's Hitai-ate fell to the ground, broken in a half. Naruto's eyes went from the Hitai-ate to the green symbol in Neji's forehead.
Naruto narrowed his eyes and tried to place the symbol on Neji's forehead without any success. Neji seemed rather angry and he turned his head, trying to prevent Naruto from watching the seal.
"Why? Why do you keep fighting?" asked Neji after a moment. He was confused at the blond's determination even though it was obvious he wasn't fit to keep fighting. After all, who would keep fighting after having their tenketsu sealed?
Naruto sighed and looked up to the stands, looking with his eyes to the figure of Hinata. The girl was beside Sakura and Ino, the three of them looking back at the blond. He then turned his gaze to Yugao and the black cat in her arms. Naruto smiled softly and returned his blue eyes to Neji.
"It's easy. I'm going to keep fighting you because you said I couldn't defeat you," said Naruto.
"That's nonsense! You're ready to die only because of pride and arrogance?" Neji asked pointing with his finger to Naruto.
"Die? Who said anything about dying?" Naruto was taken aback by such a comment.
"That's what you're going to do if you keep fighting against your fate!"
Naruto rolled his eyes at the brown-haired boy, "Tsch, you keep saying fate this, destiny that…you really believe in that rubbish?"
Neji frowned and glared at Naruto. "It is not rubbish, it is a fact," said Neji, and for the first time Naruto could hear a tinge of bitterness in his voice.
"A fact?"
"Yes, destiny is what controls us. It decides what is going to happen to each of us…destiny was the one to decide that you, a nobody without a last name or a family, would be defeated by me." Neji ignored the flinch and hurt look in Naruto's eyes at the mention of his family and kept talking.
"It is destiny who decided I should be a genius, but always be under the shadow of a loser!" Neji's words were but a whisper; he picked up his Hitai-ate and tried to put it back on his forehead.
The screams and whistles coming from the stands were getting louder but Naruto could only see the boy in front of him. He was bitter and angry, though Naruto didn't know if he was angry at himself for letting out so much information or with Naruto.
"There is not such a thing as destiny…and if there is, then I'm meant to win this fight, Neji," It was the flat tone used by the blond what caught Neji's attention.
Neji looked at the blond and saw Naruto lifting his clothes and showing his stomach.
"You're not the only one marked," Naruto whispered. "I don't know what yours is capable of doing, but mine…is like a curse."
Silence. Neji's grey eyes drew to the outlines of Naruto's seal before he turned them to Naruto's blue eyes.
"But it's not only that. If what you said about destiny is true…I am about to win this fight because I am something you could never understand," said Naruto. "I'm glad I got to fight you, Neji. Now, let's give people a show, shall we?"
Neji blinked for the first time, like he was a kid trying to understand a very complicated concept. Naruto's words were still echoing inside his head, but the sound of the people asking for the fight finally reached him and he nodded. They had to finish their fight, and Neji felt, for the first time, a little sadness at the fact he had to defeat the blond who had fought against him so much, and in the end had done a good job.
But, whether Naruto wanted to accept it or not, only those with a worthy blood line were meant to succeed in the ninja life.
"Very well," said Neji. "Then let's finish this fight."
Naruto smiled while his hand went directly to the hilt of the sword attached to his back. Neji narrowed his eyes and took his hand directly to the kunai holder taking one out, his eyes fixated on Naruto's.
The wind around them started blowing in a rather uncontrolled way, the sound of a growl reached Neji's ears and the ears of anyone watching the fight with a crescendo. Naruto's smiled only grew.
"You said you sealed away my tenketsu, right?" Neji nodded. "Well…this is the part you would never understand Neji. This is going to be your downfall!"
Neji felt something strong and overwhelming hit him with violence. His eyes opened wide in shock, Byakugan forming almost instantly to try and decipher what was causing such a feeling and the waves of orange coming from Naruto.
It only took Neji one blink and the next moment Naruto was behind him; if it hadn't been for his Byakugan he would probably have received more damage. And even like that he felt the direct hit from one of Naruto's punches.
He wasn't the same boy he had fought a few minutes ago.
Neji stood up and decided to give it a try with his gentle fist once again, this time trying to use more force so as to not only cut the chakra but also the muscle. But his eyes didn't lie, and the path of Naruto's chakra was sealed. So, what was this…this energy?
Neji saw another attack and decided to spin to prevent Naruto from getting too close. Naruto launched to the side and Neji was safe. This went for two more times until Naruto merely tilted his head. The defence was impenetrable by brute force or speed. Neji had noticed this and decided to near Naruto using his fast spinning and the blue sphere made of chakra.
Naruto decided he would need to do something else. Stretching his hand while moving around, he started mumbling, "Sprinkled on the bones of the beast!"
Up in the stand Arashi and his companions gasped at the familiar words. On the other side of the stands Yugao felt the cat in her arms tense up.
"Sharp tower, red crystal, steel ring. Move and become the wind, stop and become the calm."
People didn't understand what was happening, why the sky had suddenly changed. Down in the arena Neji was ready to spin like never before at the sudden feeling of doom he felt go through his body. The rest of the contestants and the Kages in the special balcony where just as expectant and as tensed as the rest of the shinobi population.
"The sound of warning spears fills the empty castle! Hadō number 63. Raikōhō!" was Naruto's final scream; his eyes were shining with a different kind of blue and from his hand appeared a yellowish lightning.
There was a loud roar in the sky and the massive wave of yellow went directly from Naruto's hand to Neji, who realized he couldn't block whatever Naruto had sent his way. He spun rather fast but it was unable to block the attack. It hit him, making the sphere of chakra explode and send him to the side, barely escaping the last blast of whatever Naruto had done. Part of the wall from the stadium had disappeared under the explosion, provoked by Naruto's technique.
Neji thought he had escaped, until he turned around to see Naruto holding a sword with a red blade. He felt them more than saw them. The cuts made by an invisible blade and then the hits of something hard against his face and head.
Neji fell, moaning in pain when his back unceremoniously touched the ground. Naruto neared him and put the blade of his sword against Neji's neck. Naruto's expression, however, was soft and he was smiling in a friendly way at Neji.
"I told you, didn't I?" Naruto didn't sound tired, and his tone was calm and open.
"Wh-what did you…"Neji couldn't talk, he felt every bone, muscle and nerve in his body cry out in pain.
"Mmm, can't say but…you really are a great opponent Neji! I didn't think I would have to use this so early," said Naruto, scratching his chin. "Guess I still need to learn some more and not let victory go to my head."
Neji blinked while looking at the smiling blond, he didn't understand how Naruto could be so…friendly, so kind…and easy-going. Neji found himself returning the blonde's smile, of course only a little.
"We should repeat this fight again, eh?" Neji wanted to snort at Naruto's comment, but it would be really painful.
"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto!" announced Genma who's eyes were still on the destroyed wall.
There was a moment of silence before a familiar scream broke it, "Go Naruto!"
Naruto turned around with surprise when he recognized Yamanaka Ino standing up with a smile, beside her Sakura and Kiba stood up as well and cheered with the same enthusiasm for Naruto. Soon after the entire stadium was doing the same and Naruto felt overwhelmed by the gesture.
Arashi felt something strange in his chest, a feeling he had only felt back when his brother was still a faithful Shinigami. Pride. He was proud of his nephew, the way he had handled the fight, his fast thinking, and the strength in his spiritual force.
It was the first time he saw him fight, but he would make sure it wasn't the last. Beside Arashi, Kyouraku Shunsui smiled, satisfied, at Naruto's progress, though he didn't remember if Nanao taught him the last Kidou spell.
They watched as Naruto's opponent was moved by some shinobi dressed in white. Kyouraku thought they may be doctors. Naruto was now out sight from them and on the arena were now two different people. One was a boy with red hair and a big gourd on his back and the other was a girl with blond hair.
"This seems to be another promising fight, doesn't it?" The Captain of the Eight division commented, his lips curling up in an easy smile.
Naruto was going upstairs to stand beside the rest of the contestants when he found Gaara and Yugito. Gaara stared at the blond with a calm smirk, uncharacteristic of the red head, before going ahead.
"Naruto! Your fight was just…" started Yugito, putting a hand on Naruto's shoulder and leaning closer to the blond. "Fantastic! You were fantastic, yeah."
Naruto blushed slightly and scratched his cheek. Then putting on a serious face he also put a hand on Yugito's shoulder. "Listen, I know we are…like enemies and such, but be careful. This Gaara guy is not… he doesn't care if he has to hurt or even kill."
"I know," Yugito mumbled. She glanced at Gaara then back at Naruto. "Don't worry, this isn't the first time I fought one of our kin."
"Our kin?" mumbled Naruto, frowning.
"You know…Jinchuuriki?" Yugito smirked, Naruto nodded in understanding at Yugito's words. "But maybe a good luck kiss wouldn't be such a bad idea, eh?"
"Ah…a-a what?" said Naruto blushing even more and taking a step backwards while Yugito leaned closer with a cat-like smile.
"You know? A good luck kiss." And with that she brushed her lips against Naruto's cheek before disappearing and leaving a stuttering and confused Naruto behind.
Sasuke turned to see Naruto with a hand and a tinge of red on his cheeks. He also had a dreamy expression and was acting a little strange for someone who had just jumped up and down screaming the words 'I win' all over the arena.
"Took you long enough, eh? The fight is about to start," Sasuke gave the blonde a quick glance before returning his attention to the arena. "What the hell happen to you?"
Naruto blinked and looked over at Sasuke with confused eyes. "I'm not sure…"
Sasuke rolled his eyes before offering Naruto his hand, "Great fight, by the way. I especially like the part in which you kicked the Hyuuga's ass."
"Yeah, I also like that part." Sasuke chuckled while Naruto laughed openly. "But he wasn't that bad…I guess…you could say he's just like you. With something up his ass that needs to be removed by a good fight."
Naruto lowered his head in time to prevent Sasuke's slap on his head. He was about to make a snarky comment when Genma announced the beginning of the fight.
"This fight is going to be interesting," Sasuke crossed his eyes pointing to Gaara. "I still don't like the red-head; you should have seen him when he was here."
"He was restless and too troublesome to even be near him," Shikamaru drawled nearing the duo. Naruto turned to Shikamaru and then to Gaara, his frown deepening.
"But the girl was just as restless as him," another voice joined the conversation. This time Shino had neared them and was watching the fight really close. "She also seemed kind of…odd. Anxious even."
Naruto saw Shino's dark glasses lingering on him more than necessary before he turned to look at Yugito and Gaara's fight. Ryuujin stirred inside the blond, and even the Kyuubi seemed rather restless as if they could sense something was wrong. The blond imitated Sasuke, crossing his arms he decided to watch the fight closely.
The stadium was buzzing excitedly as everyone got ready for the next fight.
This time around the Genin on the arena were members of different villages, but if the show the new generation was presenting was anything to go by, this fight would also be quite exciting. Up in the stands, the Kazekage leaned excitedly, his eyes falling upon the figure of his son.
"He is your youngest one, isn't he, Kazekage-sama?" Sarutobi inquired conversationally.
"He is, quite the rebel, if I may add." The Kazekage chuckled tilting his head, "much like the Uzumaki boy, I believe he will give us quite the spectacle."
Sarutobi glanced at his peer out of the corner of his eyes, for some reason he shivered at the mention of Naruto. But of course, Sarutobi could be imagined things, he knew the Gaara was the Jinchuuriki of Shukaku, but it was less known who the Jinchuuriki of the Nine-tails was, wasn't it? Either way, Jiraiya's intel regarding the boy while worrisome were not that surprising. If something were to happen, he knew the Kazekage had ways to control his child.
"Well, then we will see how he performs in this fight," Sarutobi replied gently.
"We will, yes." The Kazekage nodded towards the arena, "they're starting, care for a little wager, Hokage-sama?"
Sarutobi chuckled shaking his head, "I think not, I am afraid my luck in gambling is not that good."
"It can't be that bad," the Kazekage observed the older man sitting beside him, "You are not Tsunade-sama, and your Genin this year are quite remarkable."
There was something behind those words that made Sarutobi shivered, he creased his brows but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the sounds of excited audience. The fight had just started.
Gaara crossed his arms, those aquamarine eyes had on a strange glint as they took in the girl in front of him. The demon inside of him stirred restlessly whispering to him what he already knew.
She is the one…She will be your chance to face him…
Yugito stretched out, her fingers twitching restlessly at her sides. This was the fight she and Nibi had been preparing for; the young woman knew part of her mission was to get a hold of Naruto. That was it, she could have taken the whole month to try and convince the blond to join her and leave the village if it wasn't for the last-minute mission.
She was to get a hold of the other Jinchuuriki as well. Yugito had not been happy, more so due to the crazy nature of the red head, but orders were orders and there was just something in the urgency in which Kirābī wrote to her that made Yugito accepted the mission without further questioning. The world had been changing as of late, and they needed to be together for whatever was approaching.
He won't come without a fight.
'And yet, we need to convince him. Not here, though, but to show him we are serious I'm afraid we may need to defeat him.'
Nibi stirred inside her host, Yugito could sense more than see the smirk on her demon,
Then, let's tame this beast.
The proctor announced the beginning of the fight and Yugito spurred into action. The young woman sprinted towards the red head, her hand holding a kunai while her eyes changed slightly.
Gaara sneered at the woman, the sand around him drifted slowly until it came down on Yugito in the form of rivers and waves of sand. The woman sidestepped the hammers of sand, dodge the daggers send her way while she tried to get close to the inmoving Gaara.
The sand had a life of its own, wherever Yugito went the sand followed close behind. It was simply another extension of Gaara coming out slowly but surely from the gourd on his back, the red head smirked calmly observing with mocking peacefulness as the woman tried to come closer to him.
Yugito jumped high in the air to evade yet another wave of sand when still another came from behind her, hitting her hard on the back and sending her towards the closest wall.
The screams coming from the people up in the stands echoed in her ears, her vision became blurry and her back hurt like hell. Wiping the trail of blood falling from her forehead, Yugito stood up, breathing hard and displaying a murderous glare that only made Gaara smirk in satisfaction.
"Is that all you have…sister?" The red head dragged the words dripping sarcasm, his eyes gleam amusedly. "Was this everything you learn and everything you were taught?"
Yugito narrowed her eyes at the sudden change in the atmosphere.
What the hell are you doing Yugito? Let me out!
'No, I can't risk people in Konoha knowing…everyone knows about the Jinchuuriki from Sand! No one has ever heard from one coming from Kirigakure!'
I don't care! I don't want to be humiliated by Shukaku and his jailor…and let's face it; you're not fighting as you should!
Yugito bit her lower lip, unsure as to how to proceed. Nibi did have a point, she wasn't fighting with all she had and was letting Gaara and his sand make a fool out of her.
"What's the matter? Is that all? Are you really this weak?" Gaara inquired while takin a step forward. "Is this the great Nibi? Is this…"
Gaara opened his eyes in shock at seeing the girl in front of him, past his barrier of sand. The girl was looking at him with cat-like eyes, her face a mask of amusement and annoyance.
"You were saying…brother." That said her fist made painful contact with Gaara's stomach, sending the boy backwards several meters from her.
Up in the balcony with the rest of the contestants Kankuro and Temari were dumbstruck at what had just happened and what was happening down in the arena.
No one, absolutely no one, had ever hit or… hurt Gaara in such a way. They knew the moment they arrived to Konoha something strange happened to their little brother. He was more restless than ever, and his bloodlust had increased. And they had noticed how that bloodlust increased tenfold whenever Gaara was near the blond-haired girl and the boy Naruto.
Temari looked at Naruto and saw he was frowning. His hands were gripping the rail tightly. She turned to see the girl moving at a speed she had not shown before and was using to her advantage.
Gaara had never trained his body in more than basic Taijutsu. His strength and, to boot, main weakness was his sand, he depended on it way too much and thus he wasn't completely prepared to guard against the attacks coming from Yugito.
His sand was able to protect him from some of the attacks but not all of them, and Yugito made sure he couldn't stop the ones meant for his face.
Yugito smirked as soon as her fist found the soft texture of Gaara's cheek; her punch made the red-head's head turn violently to the side, drawing blood from his mouth. But Yugito was not finished. With the same speed she had used to outsmart Gaara's sand, she turned to the side giving Gaara a kick in his stomach, then a series of various punches to his face and chest, to finally finish him off with her knee in his stomach. The force of the final hit sent Gaara against one of the trees in the arena, making him bounce and fall to the ground moaning in pain.
Yugito stood up with a satisfied smile on her face. The sand that had been trying to get her and hurt her was now defeated on the ground, and Gaara's moans of pain were enough indication that she had hurt him.
Gaara laid face down with his eyes wide opened, still shocked as to what had just happened. The metallic taste of blood still fresh and tasty in his mouth, his inner voice was crying out in outrage; it was demanding more blood, but not his. Rather, it wanted the blood of the one who had hurt him.
Useless…that's why no one loves you, a monster…a useless monster…
The emotions he thought buried deep inside him cracked at that remark, desperation and rage bubbled up inside his mind as Gaara extended his hand speeding up the movements of his sand. His chest was hurting, and the deep black void of his mind grew as he tried to get to Yugito.
Once again the blond-haired girl took off in a serious of jumps before getting her fist and leg ready for another set of punches and kicks. She was about to hit the mark, when the sand surrounded her, grabbing her by the ankles and wrists.
Yugito started struggling against the sand only to realize it was starting to cover her completely.
Gaara, breathing hard and eyes completely changed, leant closer, "Now, you die."
"No," said Yugito lifting her face, her eyes completely dark with only a white slit in the middle. She smirked and Gaara was surprised by her sudden confidence. "Now, you'll learn real pain…Shukaku."
"Temari…" said Kankuro with warning in his voice. Temari turned to her brother and saw the same worry and apprehension there. Gaara was starting to leak the usual power he did moments before he started releasing Shukaku. They had to do something before…
There was an earth-shattering scream coming from the arena.
Kankuro and Temari turned just in time to see their little brother screaming in agony, the girl's hand had gone through his shoulder, making blood and sand cover the red-head and the ground.
"Impossible…" mumbled Temari, who knew the moment Baki stood behind her, the invasion was about to start. No one who had hurt Gaara had seen the light of the day ever again…and this kind of wound deserved the appearance of his demon.
Nii Yugito saw with horror the scene in front of her; she knew she had allowed it; she had agreed to it but… seeing Gaara cry and look at her with changing eyes made her feel pity for the boy.
It was more than physical pain.
It was loneliness, betrayal.
Gaara screamed again when Yugito pulled her hand out. He looked at her and saw with terror and hatred how she was looking at him. He put his hand to his wound and was surprised at how wet it was, how painful it felt.
Am I…bleeding? Is this my blood? He moved his hand to his eyes. It was covered in red. Blood. His blood.
They hurt you, Gaara. They must pay!
Gaara didn't need to hear anything else. "You hurt me… you made me bleed… Mother and I will punish you…"
Yugito gasped when she saw the sand coming from his face and gathering around it, forming a half mask on his face.
"What the hell?" was all she was able to say before she sensed danger and backed away.
"You, dear sister," he spat the word with hatred and rage, his voice deep and shallow, "are going to pay for what you have done to me…"
The air around her became dense and the drift of sand formed around the boy, who was looking at her with yellowish eyes and a half mask covering his face. He started breathing hard while standing up himself; sand was starting to move restlessly around him and a thin layer of reddish sand started forming on one side of his face.
His breathing was laboured and when he turned his eyes to Yugito, the young girl knew everyone present was in trouble.
Sarutobi was frowning, leaning forward to see the child losing control of the fight and his Bijuu. He was about to face the Kazekage when something inside his mind clicked in understanding.
He sat back; his fist clenched before his head turned to the left.
"So, Kazekage-sama," Sarutobi transformed completely, he left behind the form of the old man and his eyes were sharp and cold.
The Kazekage chuckled shrugging, "what can I say? The brat is impatient, and we never thought you have people capable of hurting him in these exams."
"I see, so our alliance…" Sarutobi continued, he slid his left hand to the side making a hand sign to his personal guard.
Once again the Kazekage chuckled before speaking.
"Oh, well. This has been fun and all, but there is no point in prolonging this," the man stood up taking off the hat and the veil covering his face, soon Sarutobi found himself in front of a man he hadn't seen in a very long time.
"Orochimaru."
"You're getting softer and slower in your old age, Sarutobi-sensei," said Orochimaru, catching the old Hokage from behind and taking the Hokage with him.
And then, an explosion was heard.
All around the stadium was chaos, while some of Orochimaru's men released the genjutsu, signalling the beginning of the invasion.