The Beginning Of The End
Kurama talking/ other bijū
sounds
'thoughts'
I have to say first that the Incident with Hayate dying won't be happening in this series as the murder couldn't take place with all the different Naruto clones running around the village. Just in case any of you were wondering why he was alive.
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Hey everyone this was the only question I got from the 200 that read the last chapter. So I'm staying true and this is the "Special" even though for me it doesn't feel that way.
Rin Okurimura chapter 14 . Jul 10
How many chapters are you intending to make the story cuz I really enjoy reading it.
Thanks for the question Rin and to be honest I was either going to stop the series after this arc or the Tsunade retrieval arc. You can choose.
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The day had finally arrived the final rounds for the Chūnin exams had came. People from all the nations came to see and the owners of the hotels and stores were loving it, after all it's always good business when they come round.
The newly built stadium had been finished the week before and the grounds below had a verity of different area's, a small tree area was on the east side nothing massive just big enough for cover, on the west was a sandy pit that seemed to be moving while the rest of the arena seemed to bee completely barren of all life meaning only one thing.
That was the killing area so to say.
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Sakura and Ino couldn't contain their excitement when they saw each other, over the past month the pair had only ever caught glimpses of each other while they were returning home from their training. They both ran and hugged each other tightly before giggling to each other.
"I can't believe it's finally here!" Ino said barely trying to keep the excitement from being blatantly oblivious.
"I know, it feels like a dream in a way!" Sakura responded in the same manner as her childhood friend.
They both made their way inside the stadium only to be greeted by their sensei Asuma. "Hey girls are you ready for this? I haven't seen you at all over the past month or Naruto for that matter." Asuma seemed to be as happy his students seeing them bound towards him with such vigour it reminded himself of his time at the Chūnin exams.
"Yeah I know I am sensei!" Ino chanted while flicking her hair behind her.
"Sakura what about you?" Asuma asked in a serious tone though he was still smiling.
Sakura stretched the black fingerless gloves on her hands before casting a glance up at him and cracking a smile "You really don't have to worry about me sensei it's my opponent you'll need to worry about." confidence ringing clear in her voice.
Asuma smiled and placed a hand on both of the girls shoulders and smiled at them then nodded at them. "Then follow me." Asuma turned and walked down a set of stairs. Sakura and Ino looked at each other then nodded and began to follow Asuma down the stairs towards the arena floor.
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The arena was near deafening with the cheers from the crowd the contestants stood in the centre waiting for the proctor to arrive. Sakura and Ino both noticed that Naruto wasn't in fact here and neither was the red head from Sunagakure.
Before Sakura could ask she heard a coughing sound coming from behind her. In fact all the contestants heard it and turned to face the sound. Hayate stood with his arms folded with large bags under his eyes as if he hadn't been asleep for a while.
"Okay listen up to day you will be fighting for the chance to become Chūnin. Now it will be a one on one fight just like the preliminaries," Hayate boomed out loud. "The first match will be Haruno Sakura against Sabaku no Kankurō now everyone who is not competing go to your stands so you can watch the fight."
-In the Kage booth-
"It's your son that is begin the fights today Kazekage." Hiruzen said to the man in the green hat that was sitting on his left.
"It's quite an honour for all of your children to reach the finals Kazekage." the new Mizukage said in turn.
"That it is Mizukage, I only hope that they do not disappoint me." came a dry emotionless voice from the Kazekage.
"I hope the young kunoichi will do all the women proud." Mizukage said with a smile to the ageing Hokage.
"You need not worry about young Sakura their she has been in very capable hands from before she even became a Genin along with her team mate Yamanaka, Mei-san." Hiruzen said with glee.
"Then I best give her sensei a congratulatory meeting if they do well." Mei replied as she looked out of the booth and down to the kunoichi below them.
"It wasn't their sensei that helped them out it was our resident Jinchūriki that had helped them out of a 'rut' that they were in. Shame he wasn't there or else I would have pointed him out." Hiruzen said in response to Mei before all of them turned to watch the fight below.
In the arena-
"If both contestants are ready you may, cough, begin." Hayate announced before vanishing.
Kankurō instantly dashed towards Sakura and cocked his arm back to punch Sakura. The instant before his fist connected with Sakura's face he noticed that her eyes weren't even open. 'Bitch must be really scared to not even see the punch coming,' as his fist connected it actually kept going through her and he fell to the ground in a pile before instantly getting back up and spinning around to face the girl.
Kankurō's eyes widened when he saw that Sakura wasn't there, looking around she wasn't anywhere. 'Fuck I thought this was going to be an easy fight I should have swapped out with crow. Tree's need to get to the tree's.' Kankurō began to run to the tree's before out of nowhere he was face down in the dirt.
"Stop this and give up," Sakura said as she had a knee on the back of his neck with a kunai to his throat. "I will do it if you won't give in." Sakura whispered into his ear, sending shivers down his spine.
Closing his eyes he couldn't believe he was beaten so easily "I give!" shouted Kankurō with a raspy voice and as he opened his he saw to his horror that he was standing and Hayate was still there, Sakura standing before him. "Wh-what just."
"The winner of the first round is Haruno Sakura!" Hayate announced.
Sakura was smirking as she looked over to a sweating Kankurō. "That Genjutsu felt rather real didn't it Kankurō?" Sakura called back to her sweating opponent as she made her way to the stairs.
Everyone was very puzzled at what had just happened why was Kankurō now freaking out and looking paranoid.
Hokage booth-
"That was very unexpected beating your opponent without lifting a finger is something very little shinobi can do. I'd say she deserves a promotion for that performance alone." Mei stated only to gain a nod from the Hokage and silence from the Kazekage.
Arena floor-
"The next match will be Aburame Shino against Nara Shikamaru, contestants come down quickly you have two minutes to prepare yourself." Hayate announced before breaking into a coughing fit that caused him to double over. Taking his hand away he could see blood in his palm before he knew an ANBU was beside him supporting him before putting one arm around him and taking one of his own around their neck. Hayate cast a glance over to the ANBU that was helping him. He instantly recognised the mask, Cat. Hayate didn't argue when she took him away only after he saw Genma walking out of a tunnel twisting a senbon between his finger.
A moment had passed and Genma now stood in the centre of the arena looking to his left he saw the Aburame heir and on his right the Nara heir. Nodding to each of them they nodded back. "I want as clean a fight as you can give me, no deaths please. Now are both of you ready?" both heirs nodded, "Then you can begin!"
Both boys stood staring at each other neither moving a muscle. The sun was slowly rising and that was when Shino made the first move. Dashing to the right Shino threw a kunai at Shikamaru who caught it and quickly tossed it away and when he did it exploded creating a mass of flames in the surrounding area where the kunai had landed. Ceasing this opportunity Shikamaru put his hands together into his families hand sign and said quietly "Shadow Possession Jutsu." and due to the large pillar of flame beside him his shadow stretched further than normal and flew towards Shino.
Seeing this Shino jumped back just in time and to be just out of range of Shikamaru's shadow. With a slight frown on Shikamaru's face he squatted down and closed his eyes. Seeing this as a chance Shino began to release some of his bugs out onto the field in a small number thus keeping them from being unseen. It took some time but due to Shikamaru not moving he was surrounded and Shino started to back away slowly.
Shikamaru's eyes burst open and he launched himself forward with high jump only to feel a nip on his ankles glancing back he could see the bugs on his ankles and he could already feel them sucking the chakra from him, 'It's do or die now' with a smile he sped up pushing and willing himself to go faster than before and jumping up high he slammed his hands together and yelled "Shadow Possession Jutsu!"
Shino froze where he stood and cast his eyes downward to the ground. Shikamaru had done it he connected them with his shadow. When Shikamaru landed he quickly dug into his kunai pouch and drew one placing it against is own neck to see Shino mirror all his actions. Both boys were panting Shikamaru from the strain of the bugs while Shino with the presence of the kunai at his throat and the lack of chakra he had left.
Both boys looked deep at each other and Shikamaru raised his unarmed hand, Shino done the same, simultaneously both boys called out "I forfeit!" Genma walked over and nodded.
"This fight is a tie it will go to the Kage to decide who should proceed onwards." Genma called out while still twirling his senbon.
Kage booth-
"I vote for the hooded boy!" the Kazekage shouted down.
"I vote for the shadow user!" Mei shouted.
"I remain impartial as they're from my village!" came the booming voice of the Hokage.
Mei looked over at the Kazekage and held out her hand in a fist. He stared at it then at her. "Janken." she said with seriousness throughout the word. The Kazekage nodded and matched her in stance. "Ro Sham Bo!" both said with eyes concentrating on the others. Mei had rock while the Kazekage had scissors.
"It's been decided Shikamaru has passed onto the next round." Hiruzen called down to the group below before sighing and sitting back down in his seat.
Below-
Genma, Shino and Shikamaru couldn't believe what had just happened. They played Janken to decide who would pass. Sighing Shino and Shikamaru headed back to their respective stands.
"Ermmm well the next match will be Yamanaka Ino against Sabaku no Temari." Ino tensed slightly only to feel a hand on her shoulder turning slightly she saw Sakura smiling at her. Ino took a calming breath and walked out towards the stairs.
Kage booth-
"There have been some very entertaining fights so far." came a unknown voice in the booth all the Kage quickly rose to their feet as someone walked out of the shadows. The figure was about 5 foot 9 inches tall with a cream trench coat with a newly added cream hood which had the same purple trim that matched the rest of it.
The Kage guards instantly rushed the intruder only to see him disappear and to see him reappear kneeling before the Hokage.
"How are you Naruto? You've gotten taller." Hiruzen said calmly as he sat down.
"A bit tired Jiji but we both know I can mop the floor with them." Naruto said with a yawn as he stood up catching one of the guards swords with his hand and melting it near instantaneously.
Mei and the Kazekage stood in shock at what they had seen. Someone got in to the heavily guarded Kage booth and melted an attackers sword.
"You must be the new Mizukage," Naruto said as he turned to Mei "I apologise for my entrance style but I though Jiji here would have told you about that." Naruto said pointing towards Hiruzen. "Well I'm Naruto Uzumaki, Jinchūriki to the Kyuubi and son of the yellow flash and red death. Pleasure to meet you." after saying that Naruto bowed and waited a while before rising.
"Why do you hide your face Naruto?" Mei asked which made all the others look as well because the way the hood was shaped Naruto's face was actually completely hidden from view.
"Ah well I forgot I had it up." and with that Naruto flicked back his hood to show his cerulean blue eyes, his slender face adorned with a scar up his left cheek which stretched over his eye, his prominent whiskers but what drew everyone's attention, especially the Hokage's was the shimmering blood red hair that was slicked back in a small pony tail.
"Naruto why's your hair red?" Hiruzen asked cautiously unsure if he'd like the answer.
"Oh that's the effect of training with Kurama so much on something very interesting." Naruto said with a massive smile. He cast a glance down to the field below to see Ino and Temari fighting.
The current fight-
'Shit I cant get near her with those wind jutsu of hers' Ino cursed as she ran back from her attempt at a frontal assault which proved quite handy. Now she knew that Temari could use her fan as a club type weapon and not just for her jutsu. A plan began formulating in her mind thanks to being under attack from Shikamaru and Chōji over the past month. Dashing towards the tree's Ino kept an eye on Temari at all times. Only when Ino was very close to the tree's did Temari begin to walk towards her.
Hiding in the tree's was easy and letting her mind go for a bit after creating a Shadow Clone was what she needed. The memories of the Clone had came back to her after a few minutes and Temari was near so a second Clone was made and lured Temari to the outskirts of the tree line.
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"Where the fuck is she?" the Clone said aloud while running through the tree's only to narrowly dodge a wind blade that could cleave her in half. "Shit that's were she is." in one fluid motion Ino charged at Temari and landed one the ground and pressed her hands together "Earth style: earthen Armour!" the ground quickly rose and surrounded her.
Temari kept her distance until she felt the ground shake below her, jumping back to avoid what ever it was she landed but it only seemed to follow her so she unfolded her fan and let loose a few wind blades into the ground around her.
Ino quickly burst out of the ground behind Temari and grabbed her head and tossed her out of the tree's. Smiling she dispelled.
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The memories of the clone came back and Ino began to run along the tree branch and she jumped off of the end to see Temari burst out of the tree's right below her. Temari's eyes widened at the sight of Ino above her with her feet quickly coming down towards. When Ino's feet connected with Temari's face she was driven down into the ground below only to receive another blow to her gut this time.
At the moment of impact Temari spat out some blood and weakly looked down to see Ino with a kunai pointed at her throat.
"The winner of this match is Yamanaka Ino!" came a booming voice above the girls. Ino looked up to see Genma with his hand on her shoulder and then he nodded at her, Ino withdrew her weapon and got off Temari only to bring out a senbon and throw it into Temari's chest.
"Don't worry it's nothing bad it will just slow the beat of her heart while you treat her for the internal bleeding that she has." Temari began coughing and more blood began coming out of her mouth. Medic nin quickly arrived and took her away.
Kage booth-
Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder and he turned to see that it was the new Mizukage, Terumī Mei. "Yes Mizukage-sama what can I do for you." Naruto said quickly.
'Gaki gives her respect and not me tch' Hiruzen thought to himself.
"I heard from your Hokage that you had taught that girl and also the pink haired one. Is that correct?" Mei asked as a smile grew on her face.
Naruto simply nodded "Yeah I got them out of a childish fantasy and got them on the road to becoming wonderful kunoichi like you Mizukage-sama."
In Mei's mind all she really picked up on were ' wonderful kunoichi like you Mizukage-sama' and a blush came to her face. One of her bodyguards noticed that and lent forward and whispered "Why are you blushing lady Mizukage?" and once again Mei's mind picked up on 'lady' then made a link to old.
"Shut up or I'll kill you." Mei said quietly to Ao and he quickly backed off.
"You have done well in training the girls are you the girls assistant sensei?" Mei asked seriously.
"No I'm not, well not really, I'm their team mate." Naruto said as he looked down to see the girls jumping up and down in their stand while Asuma was laughing and smoking off to the side.
Genma-
Sighing Genma dug out the bit of paper he had been given and read off the next two names "Can Hyūga Neji and Sabaku no Gaara come down to the field now!" with that he stuffed the bit of paper back into his pocket and walked back over to a seat where he picked up his book and began flicking through the pages. 'Same old faces in here' he thought to himself as he flicked through the pages of his bingo book, only stopping to flick back to the previous page and re-reading it.
Orochimaru, Legendary Sannin
Thought to now be working out of what was rice country as they now have a reasonable shinobi force and have been renamed to sound country.
He stopped there and tried to remember if there was in fact sound ninja here he wasn't sure, so he folded the page in half and made a note of telling the Hokage after this was done.
Looking up he saw that Neji was standing patiently while nobody else was there. Sighing he stood up and walked forward towards Neji.
"Since Sabaku no Gaara has not shown up the winner is Hyūga Neji." he called out. And just heard Neji say something about fate.
Hokage booth-
"Hey Jiji could I fight Neji?" Naruto asked not looking away, he still remembered what he had done to Hinata during the preliminaries.
"Well I don't see the harm in it you would be fighting him now anyway, how are you on the matter of letting Naruto fight his opponent early Mizukage and Kazekage?" Hiruzen asked.
"I wish to see their strengths." came the cold voice of the Kazekage. 'KuKuKu let them tire themselves out before the invasion all the better for my forces'
"Yes I also wish to see their fighting abilities so I will allow it." Mei said with a nod and a smile.
"Then you may do the honours Mizukage." Hiruzen said as he pointed to the mic at the front of the booth.
Nodding she walked up to it and turned it on and tapped it twice making sure it was on. "There has been a slight change in the fight list Hyūga Neji will now fight Uzumaki Naruto." and with that she let out a calming breath.
Naruto walked up beside her "Thanks." Naruto said with a smile before leaping down to the field below shocking both the Mizukage and Kazekage while the Hokage was sure Naruto was now just showing off.
In the stands-
When Anko heard Naruto's name being called she couldn't contain herself with joy, for the first time a month she would see her boyfriend and see what he had been up to for the past month. However at the same time she was completely furious at him for not letting her know what he was doing or how he was doing so she was stuck at an impasse on one hand she wanted to tackle him to the ground and kiss him till they couldn't breath any more and on the other she really wanted to kick the living shit out of him for keeping her in the dark.
She nodded when she decided what she would do judging on how well he does in the fighs.
The arena floor-
Naruto walked to the centre and stood before Neji towering over him while he saw eye to eye with Genma and he nodded to him. Genma nodded back and began to twirl the senbon that was in his mouth.
"It's fate that you are to fight me Uzumaki and by fate you will lose." Neji said as he looked at him with blank eyes.
"Holy shit you do rattle on about fate don't you. And no it wasn't fate I asked for it so shut it." Naruto retorted and looked over at Genma and nodded at him.
"Are you ready Neji?" Genma asked him, Neji nodded back. "Okay boys you can start."
"Byakugan." Neji said quietly and charged at Naruto with his hands covered in chakra. Naruto stood still with his hands in his pockets while a smile crept onto his face.
Neji began his assault on Naruto's chakra system closing all his chakra points. Only to jump back when he saw something terrifying. The chakra points wouldn't close, well they would but they'd open again after a second. Neji glared at him and charged again.
Naruto's smile soon disappeared when Neji came at him again, taking one hand out Naruto dropped into a fighting stance and began to parry all of Neji's strikes with relative ease.
'He's making me look like a fool' Neji though and glared even harder at Naruto.
Naruto swatted Neji away with one clean hit to his jaw. "I want to check something out do you know Kaiten ?" Naruto asked to his surprise Neji nodded. "Good I want to see if the ultimate defence is ultimate. If it is I give, deal?"
Neji thought about it and nodded there was no way that the ultimate technique for defence could be beaten he had won. "I accept." Neji said with a smirk.
But it was Naruto's turn to smirk as his trench coat vanished and a massive sword replaced it.
Kage booth-
Mei and Ao shot forward at the sight of the sword, Kubikiribōchō the sword used by Zabuza the demon of the mist.
Mei turned to Hiruzen after seeing that it was the real blade "How does he have that sword?" Mei demanded.
"There was a mission to wave to protect a bridge builder who went by the name of Tazuna, Naruto fought against Zabuza a few times but Zabuza was betrayed by his employer, Gatō." Hiruzen told her.
"Gatō, as in Gatō shipping?" Mei asked.
"The same one. Apparently he liked to take over nations using desperate and violent methods. Well Naruto had taken the blade from Zabuza after he said that he could have it and he slaughtered those that killed him as well as Gatō himself. They had also brought back Zabuza's apprentice Haku." Hiruzen concluded.
The fight-
Naruto slowly drew Kubikiribōchō and concentrated flame slowly crept around Kubikiribōchō but something was off it seemed to bend the air around it. The flame slowly became white and covered the length of the blade entirely. When Naruto lowered the blade towards the ground the ground itself burst into flames. "Better get ready Neji. This could kill you." and with that Naruto began to run towards Neji.
Neji quickly activated his Kaiten and was smiling at the face that the attack would never penetrate it.
Oh how wrong he was. As Naruto ran towards Neji the heat was starting to burn him quite badly so he planted is back foot down hard and used his momentum to thrust the blade into the Kaiten and it did pierce it and it shot a blast of fire out the other side.
Neji was breathing heavily at the fact that he had just dodged such a attack and that it had just pierced the Hyūga's ultimate defence. "What was that about fate?" Naruto called over to Neji who fell to his knee's from the damage he took to his side from simply being near to the attack.
"This means nothing I can still-" Neji was cut short by the display before him Naruto had cancelled the jutsu and had placed the blade back on his back, but he was squatting down on the ground and the ground itself was covering him and when it did it began to glow red in parts and the rock began to move about.
"Lava Style : Burning Boulder!" Naruto yelled and the lava that covered him expanded to the side of a boulder and began to rotate very quickly.
Neji was in shock it was like it was spinning up to squash him. And then the boulder came barrelling towards him. "I forfeit!" Neji yelled out then he clasped a hand over his own mouth as if shocked by his own action.
"Good choice." Naruto said as he began to walk away. Genma walked over to Neji then looked at Naruto and sighed.
"The winner is Uzumaki-" Genma was cut short when there was an ungodly explosion everyone turned to the direction where it came from and some were terrified at what they saw.
A collection of huge snakes and A massive raccoon that looked to be made of sand.
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And there's your chapter this was a great one for writing loved doing. This chapter goes out to Rin Okurimura for being the only one to ask me something for the special.
The new additions to the story are as follows: Miss Womack, TheBloodySisters, Cassius Moriarty, Valeera, kittykat9628, Mae Ride, Rouge Soul 98, DarkVampireNeji, Namikaze Uzumaki Aika. A big welcome to those who are new. Hope you stick around.
As usual Have a good day/ night... whenever you're reading this.
Ja mata ne