Chapter 13: Return to the Light
Naruto was dead tired when he came at the tower. Immidiately he was taken to his team's quarters, while he was told why the ANBU was there for him. Apparently Sandaime had sensed Orochimaru's presence and sent ANBU to retrieve the gennin and bring them to the tower. The exam was sped up as well. All conscious and well gennin would be immidiately brought to the tower. It was too dangerous to let them continue. Unfortunately too few of them made it, even though not all of them died. It seemed Kabuto's squad did a 'clean sweep', taking out many foreign teams. They, coupled with Gaara's killing streak took out most of the competition. The surviving gennin were brought to the safety of the tower.
With their final member there, Team 8 sighed in relief, they were all safe. Well relatively. Hinata saw Naruto clutching his neck and went to help him before he raised a hand to stop her.
"No Hinata-chan, don't. I've got a reason. Shino get Anko and the others here a.s.a.p. now."
Shino sent out his allies to their allies and looked at Naruto, worried for his friend. It took the jounin and chuunin only a few moments to get there before placing themselves around Naruto demanding some answers. Kurenai was asking him what happened, Anko was asking if he got the mark, Haku was worried for his wounds and Zabuza... he was proud Naruto lived through Oro-teme's attack. He actually cheered Naruto. Crazy jounin...
"Alright one by one. Haku, I'm fine if fine is hurting more and more with every breath I take. Zabuza, the fight was the most intense one I've had yet. Anko and Kurenai-sensei... Things are not very good at the moment. Damn snake... He actually marked me as his future vessel. Motherfucking snake-sucking bastard. Hurts like a bitch too. I can't even allow myself the rest of sleep for now either."
Naruto withdrew his hand from his neck and revealed the marked area. There on it was a pulsating black tentacled thing, like a parasite feeding off Naruto, trying to spread further and further over Naruto's body. The smell of rotting flesh filled the room. Hinata raised her hand to her mouth, gasping in shock. Shino frowned and Haku gasped. Zabuza looked creeped (which is seriously hard to do) and Kurenai freaked out. The worst reaction though was Anko. She hugged Naruto, apologizing to him.
Naruto hugged his adopted older sister back, calming her down slowly.
"Don't ya worry nee-chan. I won't fail nor fall. I've beaten up the Kyubi remember? I promise I will not let that damnable seal take me over. It just hurts like a bitch and screws up my chakra. I can't sleep either. But I'll beat it Anko. I promise. I will beat it and overcome it, just like everything else. I won't let the same asshole that hurt you, gain any sort of control over me. I'll defeat it and then free you nee-chan."
"Naruto... please... don't go risking yourself for me... please..."
"No risks nee-chan. I don't have to fight him again. I already did. And he fled. Sure he did it after marking me, but if I don't sleep until I take it off, I'll have won. When that happens, I'll free you too Anko. I promised remember? It just came around faster than we predicted. But I'll do it. Besides the asshole didn't come after me because of you so don't think about it. He just heard of my abilities and wanted them for himself. Damn gay pedophile."
"What do you mean Naruto?" Asked an interested Shino.
"Anko here has been marked by the bastard too. Unlike me though she never had youkai, which is destroying my seal. So even though her mental strength is enough to keep the seal from messing with her mind, the seal still remains and messes her up as well as marking her as a possible 'mate' for Oro-teme. Noone can take this seal off but me and even then I have to defeat Orochimaru in single combat without killing him. When we fought, the pedophile fled. In other words, he gave up, meaning I won. However I must not sleep until the seal is off. Otherwise it will take roots into my subconscious and we all know how bad things are there."
Hinata hugged Naruto to comfort him, while Anko kept hugging Naruto, still worried about his safety.
Zabuza was getting annoyed by that time. Sure the mushy stuff is needed but don't these people have a limit? Besides, hugging right now isn't helping things at all.
"So wonder-brat, got any more ideas for your seals?" Zabuza didn't have any interest in the matter but taking everyone's minds away from Orochimaru was important and he knew Naruto's fascination with seals.
And so the team stopped talking about a certain snake user, instead directing their attention to other matters, such as the surviving teams, their possible opponents and Naruto's favourite discussion apart from Hinata, seals. In the end Anko calmed herself down, understand that all they could do now was wait and Naruto would come through. Just like he always did.
The first day was painful for Naruto, but the second day was even worse. The seal refused to back off and leave him alone. Naruto had been constantly using his and Kyubi's chakra as a sort of constricting barrier against the thing. Meanwhile Kyubi had his hands full monitoring the changes in Naruto's body. The seal wasn't based on a human's power. It was based on something else entirely, quite possibly a hanyo or half demon surmised the ancient Bijuu. The pedophile was a scientifc genius though and managed to separate the DNA parts that made a hanyo, experimented on them and created the virus that in the end became the base of the seal.
So the days went on, Naruto being in constant motion so he wouldn't fall asleep, not that his aching body would let him. Finally the fifth day had come and the pain was worse than ever before. Everyone was worried until he explained them that it was natural. The more pain he felt the closer he was to removing the damn thing. That didn't mean Naruto had to enjoy it nor like it. In fact the pain was eating away at even Naruto's unbelievable pain tolerance.
It was the final day, all the possible chuunin had been gathered around the cetral stadium of the tower. The Third Hokage walked in the room, followed by all the previous examiners plus a new few new ones. The third began a long explanation as to how the Chuunin Exams have served as a substitute to war. Most of the gennin were looking bored with some notable exceptions. Hinata kept glancing at a wincing Naruto, Naruto tried to keep conscious and Uchiha Sasuke seemed ready to burn every weakling in the room. Sakura on his side tried in vain to calm him down, almost getting punched in the process, if Kiba hadn't stopped Sasuke telling him this wasn't the time or the place. Sure Kiba might not like the teme or his fangirl but if they had a problem they should take it outside.
And so the current proctor, an apparently sick man named Gekko Hayate, declared that there would be elimination rounds by skill in combat. More than a few complained, but the proctor shut them up saying that there would be many dignitaries from other lands. They could only present the best of the very best.
And so the loterry rolled. Uchiha Sasuke started it against Akado Yoroi, a Konoha Nin that had most of his body covered, wearing even Shino-like glasses. As the fight progressed, it became obvious that Sasuke was having trouble. The seal tempting him and his enemy draining his chakra was too much for the gennin aparently. Sasuke's seal began reacting to his hate and desire to not only win, but decimate his opponent. The room's jounin that knew about the seal's effects were worried, none more than Anko herself. She quickly tried to confront Kakashi on his gennin.
"Kakashi, withdraw him from the exams now. He's got Orochimaru's seal. Withdraw him and take him away now."
"Nonesense Anko. Yes he may have the cursed seal but I'm confident in Sasuke's ability to hold it off."
"Kakashi, you don't know the snake bastard as well as I do. Withdaw your student. The seal isn't a joke."
"Anko, if someone like you managed to hold the seal off for so long, an Uchiha like Sasuke would never have the slightest problem."
"Kakashi listen to me. My seal is a prototype, a faulty one at that. The snake bastard probably completed the seal and I'm betting everything its even harder to resist than mine!"
"Anko, you're rambling. Besides, Sasuke is MY subordinate, not yours. You were incapable of becoming a jounin for obvious reasons. You have no authority undestand?"
"Kakashi listen to reason damnit! You can't fool around with Orochimaru! At least seal it off with another seal."
"Anko, you're a mere tokubetsu jounin, and an interrogator at that, nowhere near being a leader. So just shut up and let me teach my gennin. Seriously I've had enough of you. So back off before I report you."
A voice behind Kakashi startled them both. "Report her to who, Kakashi?" It was the third Hokage.
"Hokage-sama, I wish to file a complaint. Mitarashi Anko here is constantly interfering with my teaching my gennin squad. She has almost threatened me."
"What? I never threatened you Kakashi! You damned liar!"
"Enough the both of you. Anko, calm down and go check on the perimeter. As for you Kakashi. You will use the best seal you know to seal off Orochimaru's Cursed Seal. While I trust your words, there is nothing wrong with being careful is there? Besides, left unchecked the seal will not only attack Uchiha Sasuke mentally, but also his chakra coils, damaging his control and reserves. Surely you don't want that."
Kakashi bowed to the Hokage and left. 'I will seal your mark Sasuke, I will seal it, but I won't cut it off completely. After all you're a prodigy like me, slightly misunderstood, but a prodigy nonetheless. Surely you won't fall to the darkness. No you will conquer it and become stronger and finally avenge your family and Obito. Then I will have repaid my debt.'
Jiraiya emerged from the shadows behind his sensei. "So that's how Kakashi has ended up huh... well gotta go take care of my godson now. I'll be keeping an eye out for Sasuke as well. I don't think Kakashi is being reasonable in this case."
"Very well. Go Jiraiya-kun and watch over Naruto. Though I'd suggest being careful approaching him. He didn't take it nicely when you left him here. He's worse than Minato, Kushina and Tsunade put in one. I'd suggest getting on the good side of his crush, Hyuga Hinata. She's the only one capable of stopping him."
"Heh so young, yet whiped huh? Then its gonna be easy. I doubt the brat could do much against me anyway." With that the toad sennin left to watch the fights.
The aged Hokage chuckled darkly when Jiraiya left, a chuckle only Orochimaru out of his three students had mastered. 'Should I tell him that Hinata is overprotective of Naruto? Or that he's Anko's adopted little brother? Ku,ku,ku, maybe I should bring a camera for when the beating begins.'
Back in the stadium, the crowd was left awing at Haruno Sakura and Yamanaka Ino. No they were not being awed by their skills or intellect, nor their beauty or grace. They stared at the stupid catfight over who liked Sasuke more and why they broke up their friendship over a crush. Naruto turned to the rest of the rookies.
"I believe I speak for us all to say that I am ashamed they are Konoha shinobi. Kakashi, Asuma, are you two for real? I mean I expect Kakashi's Sakura to remain a fangirl since you taught them nothing at all, but sheesh Asuma I had such high expectations, both from Jiji and Kurenai-sensei. I am seriously ashamed of you two being jounin."
Kurenai glared at Asuma and Kakashi before giving them a piece of her mind, in a lengthy tirade of how much they failed as teachers.
The next few matches didn't redeem the teachers as neither Chouji's fight with the Oto gennin with the melody arm, nor Shikamaru's fight with the Oto kunoichi, showed any improvement. As Kurenai repeatedly stated, Asuma just took them as they were in the Academy and just tossed them into the Chuunin Exams unprepared. When Kakashi commented that Asuma wasn't 'going to get some tonight', he was quickly made to shut up by Team 8's weapons being stategically placed over various parts of his anatomy. All three students had a weapon at Kakashi's genitals, with other placed over Kakashi's Sharingan eye,his jugular and spinal cord.
Naruto warned Kakashi to shut up, or the team would take measures he'd be late. Permanently. With the weapons being on his skin, ready to shed blood on barely a twitch, Kakashi reconsidered his words and actions.
After Kakashi apologized properly, Naruto withdrew from everyone and hid in a corner. He may not have given any sign but the pain was getting unbearable. He made a mental note to thank Anko for her help with conquering pain. In his mind Kyubi was finalizing the preparations, the ancient being having spent all this time breaking down that annoying seal. Warning Naruto that the time to break it was coming any minute now, he withdrew to focus on getting the damn thing off without adverse effects.
Naruto prayed that his turn wouldn't come now, but alas it was not to be. The names rolled and he would have to fight the Suna kunoichi, Sabaku no Temari. Grinding his teeth to block some of the pain, he limped down the stairs as the kunoichi preferred to leap down. The kunoichi stared down at him, arrogantly.
"My fan has three stars. No matter what you do, by the time you see the third, you will loose. Normally you'd at least make me work out a bit, but you're wounded, so you'd better give up before you get too hurt, chibi."
"Normally, you be safe Temari... Also normally I'd be able to fight with restraint. But the damn hickey I got from hebi-teme kinda prevents that." Naruto panted in pain. "No matter. I will defeat you. However I must warn you. If it seems I'm about to loose it, give up or I will kill you."
"Hmph as if. I'm at top shape and you can barely walk. Proctor, start the match."
The proctor indeed began the match. Up in the viewer's area, Anko ran to the jounin. "Be ready to interfere at any moment. Naruto's in a lot of pain and he might loose control."
Kakashi answered dismissively. "So he's gonna use the demon's chakra right? As expected of a Jinchuuriki. I'll ready a seal to cut it off, just be ready to save the little brat."
Anko seemed more worried every second. "Its not Naruto I'm worried and neither is he going to use its chakra. I'm worried about the Suna girl..."
"Oh and why is that Anko-san? I'm sure she's good." Gai answered, calm for once, since, to see worry on Anko's face warranted a lot of care.
"Because Gai... in order to help Naruto deal with physical pain, I've helped him master Pain's Acceptance..."
Gai's eyes widened as he took a ready stance, seemingly ready to bolt out of the place. "That... that is impressive that he has mastered it but what's the real problem Anko?"
Anko looked carefully at him and said five words that terrified the Jounin. "He never mastered Pain's Embrace."
Gai looked terrified, drawing looks of confusion from everyone. Quickly he explained. "Pain's Acceptance is a taijutsu meditation where one uses the pain he is in to ignore said pain. In theory, no matter how much pain one is in, he wouldn't be slowed down in the slightest. Only death would manage to stop someone who has mastered Pain's Acceptance. However, there is a second level to this meditation. When in too much pain and in a combat situation, the user can enter a deeper state that is called Pain's Embrace. Instead of simply accepting the pain felt as a facet of life... the user draws strength from it. The more pain the user is in, the stronger he can become, easily rivaling my Eight Celestial Gates. The problem is that unless mastered... the user enters a berserk state where everything is an enemy. Coupled with the Kyubi's bloodlust, I'm betting Naruto-san is doing his best not going on a maddened rampage and killing everyone here. If Naruto is in enough pain to actually use Pain's Embrace... he can possibly fight on par with Hokage-sama. Kurenai, I'm sorry but your genjutsu would also be useless. The pain he's constantly in would cancel them out immidiately."
The Sandaime came up to Anko, looking at her terrified face. "I warned you not to teach it to him Anko! Now he'll probably fail the exams, IF he doesn't kill the Kunoichi, which just happens to be the Kazekage's daughter!"
"Hokage-sama, I had no choice. He had been in enough physical pain already that he had already started using it subconsciously. If I hadn't taught that to him... He'd already have lost it a long time ago. At least now there are enough jounin here to make sure he doesn't kill anyone until he calms down."
The aged Kage sighed and told everyone to be ready to charge in on his signal.
Meanwhile in the Arena, Naruto tried to delay the fight as much as possible, knowing full well what would happen if he lost control. Unfortunately his opponent wouldn't give him that time.
When the proctor began the match, Naruto half-assedly charged Temari, the mark's pain limiting his motions, since he couldn't exert his left arm at all. Temari easily blocked his kicks, retaliating with her folded-up fan, using it as a club to hit Naruto on the stomach.
Naruto skidded back and grunted. This was making maintaining self-control very hard.
Then Temari proceeded to make the worst mistake possible. She opened her fan to the first star, swung it towards Naruto, unleashing a torrent of wind blades on Naruto.
"Ninpou: Kamaitachi! (Ninja art:Scything Winds)"
Naruto couldn't dodge it in time, getting hit by the full force of the technique. Even in one third efficiency, it was still very dangerous for most gennin. The Suna kunoichi gloated over her obvious victory.
"Hah see? We Suna shinobi are very different from pathetic Konoha shinobi like you! To have kunoichi like the previous two? Hah, they'd have died in the desert a long time ago! You're no better though, being unable to dodge a little fuuton jutsu like... this?"
Temari was shaken out of her gloating by something very very bad. It seemed Naruto, though he was hit by the technique, didn't fall. Instead now minor cuts covered his body. They were shallow, Temari noticed, they shouldn't be that shallow. However they hurt a lot, which had one unfortunate result.
Naruto drew upon his pain, embraced it, made it his own, accepted it.
"You bitch..." A raspy voice came from Naruto's mouth. "You dare gloat over defeating me? When I fought Orochimaru not five days ago? You think you're so strong huh? Well let me prove you wrong bitch, 'cause I'm going to KILL YOU!"
Fury, cold fury ran through Naruto's veins, wrapped around him, soothed him. Naruto's will withdrew into the deepest corners of his mind to face and defeat Orochimaru's seal once and for all. He had let it go on for far too long. On the outside though, Naruto's nails grew to claws and his teeth became fangs. His eyes turned slitted and red, glaring a hole through Temari. It was the calm before the storm and a violent storm it would be.
Temari suddenly found herself dodging an angered Naruto, attacks coming every direction imaginable. His spine bending in unimaginable degrees, she was being pushed back to the wall. Using her fan she managed to send a downwards Kamaitachi after a jump over him, managing to wound him a bit. However that didn't prove to be a good idea as Naruto in fact increased his speed. Not to mention the first wounds she had given him had almost completely healed by that time. Temari could only gulp in fear seeing the pissed off gennin that would apparently claim her life close in. Regaining her bearings by remembering her time with Gaara, she managed to didge in time with a it didn't seem to work that well on the crazed boy attacking her. Temari focused on dodging, seeing as one of Naruto stray punches went right through a wall, hoping the boy would tire at some point.
Inside Naruto's mind, Kyubi was using what little youkai he could safely employ to keep the damnable seal off. Naruto opened his eyes, to see Kyubi's power restraining another 'version' of himself. This version was dressed in black and white, with sickening yellow eyes, much like the snake Sannin Orochimaru. The figure looked at Naruto.
"Ah Naruto-kun, how nice of you to come here. Please tell Kitsune-kun here to let me go. After all I can help you so much, you know that don't you? Strength, chakra, power, jutsu, I can give them all to you. The power to make your dreams come true, the power to make others respect you."
"You mean force others to respect me right? The power to kill, maim, mutilate my enemies, drown the waves of hate in blood and gore. "The sickening copy reacted as if it saw a being of pure beauty before it.
"Yes! Yes Naruto-kun! This power can be yours if you just accept me! Accept me and gain all the power you ever desired! All will follow the lead of Uzumaki Naruto!"
Naruto lowered his head, his hair covering his face.
"Heh that sounds real nice... The power to be free of all bonds, to make others accept me... The power to make all bow before Uzumaki Naruto! Kyubi... release him."
Kyubi turned to his jailor/host/friend. "What are you talking about kit! He's lieing! Don't fall for that obvious lie!"
"Fox. Set him free. Now." Kyubi complied, knowing he had no choice in the matter. Naruto spoke again as Orochimaru-Naruto approached him. "Yes I can see it all now. Konoha, no the world bowing before me! But... there is a small problem..."
"And what would that be Naruto-kun?"
"I don't want to be free of my bonds, for they keep me humane. I don't want to kill, maim and mutilate, for I want to guard my prescious people. I don't want others to bow before Uzumaki Naruto, for I am Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto! And you piece of shit are standing in the way of my dreams! I shall not accept you snake bastard! I shall not kneel before you! I ordered Kyubi here to let you go for one reason only. So I can kick your ass PERSONALLY!"
Naruto raised his head while speaking, power emanating from every inch of his body and charged the fake him. The copy had barely the time to look surprised before being run through by Naruto's entire arm. It screeched in defiance but failed to hold together and fell to Naruto.
"Heh atta boy. I'd have rid myself of his presence but I couldn't safely channel more power. Still nice to see the little annoyance gone. He was getting repetitive. Now go, your future mate calls." Naruto bowed before the great Kitsune and left his mindscape.
Outside, Temari had a hard job dodging Naruto's furious slashes, being cornered more and more as each second passed. Suddenly it happened, her back hit a corner. Temari had barely the time to curse, as exhausted as she was and prepared herself to die as an honorable kunoichi. Of couse saying you'd die proudly is easier said than done, when confronted with a pissed off Naruto. The wall-destroying punch came closer and closer as if in slow motion, teasing her, and Temari gave in to the fear. She screamed and closed her eyes.
"NARUTO-KUN! YAMETE! (Stop)" Hinata shouted out, desperately, hoping to prevent Naruto from killing an innocent person.
Against all belief, Naruto DID stop. Those that could notice it saw something most intriguing; he seemed to be fighting with himself, muscles tensing to release that punch and destroy that impudent kunoichi that had the audacity to hurt him, while another part listened to Hinata's, his angel's, plea to stop. The pain-controlled Naruto roared, knocking everything away as he stumbled back. His hands went to his head as he screamed in pain, the bandages that held Orochimaru's mark hidden blown off, revealing the parasite's glowing form.
Dark, deep purple chakra exploded off the mark,swirling like a roaring flame around Naruto, obscuring his form. Orochimaru chuckled darkly, yes the boy was finally his!
Then to everyone's surprise another flame erupted within the cursed chakra. This fire was blue and glowed with more power than most could imagine, sending everyone scrambling in fear of the sheer power and emotion it contained. The dark fire resisted for only a second before it was blown away and destroyed. Naruto screamed as his body convulsed and mutated again.
Bone plates started erupting, tearing his clothes to shreds, covering his body, leaving his face for last. Drops of blood spurted to the ground by the force of the transformation. In mere seconds, where Naruto's form stood, now was a humanoid shaped being, covered in a matt black carapace, leaving the face uncovered. With a final tearing sound, a face-plate descended from the top of the forehead, covering it.
The being then laughed, a deep, dark sounding, full of mirth and glee laugh.
"Arigato yo Orochimaru, thanks to ya I got this power. Sharpen your Kusanagi blade, Orochimaru, for next time I WILL KILL YOU!"
Naruto turned to the scared-beyond-belief Temari. "I don't suppose you still want to fight me do you? You're exhausted while I am fresh and your little wind will not even scratch this armor of mine. Go, it is not shameful to admit defeat before a stronger opponent if you use it to train harder. It is instead foolish to continue an unimportant fight such as this."
Temari gulped before raising her hand and giving up. This guy was far too much for her. Naruto put his hand around her shoulder, holding her up before jumping upwards. Now that wasn't so impressive, but the fact he did it without pushing any chakra to his feet, and the fact that he wore what seemed like a 1-ton heavy armor, which was proven by the resounding booming sound and spider cracks on the viewers area when he landed, left many gaping at Naruto's raw strength. Most made a mental note to never piss off the blonde powerhouse. Lee and Gaara of course made no such notes.
After the awe-inspiring fight, it was time to continue the roll. The next fight was Kiba against Tenten.
The two duked it off with respect, neither giving an inch. Tenten unloading weapon after weapon while Kiba and Akamaru dodged and dashed at her, only for her to evade at the last moment. In the end it was Tenten's foresight that won the fight. She had used ninja wire to bind most of her weapons, using some to bind both contestants with a surprise attack before placing a Katana at Kiba's neck. Kiba submitted honorably, but swore that next time he wouldn't go down that easy. Tenten smiled before accepting the challenge and helping her two fellow shinobi, or well shinobi and pet, off the ground. The aged Hokage made a mental note to watch these two as they seemed to have a very good understanding of what Konoha was all about.
After that Konoha vs Konoha fight, it was time for a very nasty fight. It was Rock Lee vs Gaara. The sand-user grinned like a maniac before using a sand version of shunshin to appear at the arena, followed by Lee jumping off the rail, shouting about the flames of youth.
The fight left many gaping at the skills both contestants possessed, especially when Lee removed his weights and opened the gates. In the end though the green clad speed demon lost, his arms and legs encased by Gaara's sand. Gaara smirked demonically, ready to crush Lee's limbs when suddenly...
"KAZE SETSUDANKI!"
A blade of wind blew off the sand. A deep voice resounded, a feeling of oppresiveness looming over Gaara, making him respect the person saying this. Looking up he saw Naruto glowing with barely hidden power.
"Restrain yourself First. Your foolish and brash actions give us Nine a bad name. Control yourself fool. Do not kill anyone until the final stage and I shall give you little tanuki a fight to remember. But if you kill anyone and I mean anyone, I will DESTROY YOU! You might be strong First but you're NOTHING before the NINTH. Now walk away and in the end we shall have our fight."
Amazingly enough Gaara heard him. Was it because of Naruto's sheer presence, or Shukaku suddenly shutting up, noone knew. Only a few of the jounin knew what Naruto had made with his declaration. Lee went up to Naruto looking somewhere between angry, sad and thankful.
"Naruto-kun, while I do appreciate your actions, you should not have interferred with my fight. After all I was showing the power of the springtime of youth and..."
"Lee, it is not I didn't want to see you fight, or that I underestimated you. However, if you had continued on, Gaara would have crushed your bones, preventing you from continuing on as a shinobi, something that would kill you, wouldn't it? Besides I did it for an additional reason." Lee looked questioningly. "Lee you can never be a ninja because you can't use ninjutsu." Lee's shocked face had barely time to register itself before Naruto continued. "However, you can become a great shinobi. A ninja uses ninjutsu and your inability to use them prevents you from becoming one. However, a shinobi is someone with the guts to go on no matter what. A shinobi is someone that never gives up or gives in. Therefore, you can become a shinobi. In fact, in my eyes you already are one, if you can keep going with all that shit against you." Naruto placed a comforting hand on Lee's shoulder. "There are so few of us left these days Lee. That's why I can't afford to see anyone loose to such a farce. Besides, the only gennin that could fight that teme on equal ground... is me. Everyone else here is cannon fodder. Maa don't worry, it doesn't mean you or anyone else is weak. Just that he has a different kind of power. That and he's insane. I'll just have to set him straight next round."
After Naruto explained some things to Lee, they both turned to the final fight of the exams. It was then that Naruto realized who would be fighting. It was Hyuga Hinata against Hyuga Neji. Naruto turned to Hinata, placing a hand on her shoulder before giving her a hug. He whispered to her. "No matter what happens I love you. But if that teme hurts you, not even Kami herself will save his sorry behind."
Hinata hugged Naruto as well, before getting comforted by the rest of her team. Slowly she walked down the stairs. Neji was already waiting for her, believing she would be as weak as before. When she did come down, he looked at her in pure contempt, sneering at her before starting his monologue on fate.
"Give up cousin, you are weak. Spare us all the shame of looking you fight and just give up. You just can't win, regardless of being from the Main branch. You're just a dead-last failure that-"
"Will you shut up about fate alread cousin? It is really grating on my nerves."
Neji, and quite frankly most of Konoha's 12 were stunned by her words. Neji sputtered indignatly for a second before seeing her drop in the traditional Jyuken fighting stance. He smirked.
"Your stance is full of openings and weak. You will be taken down in mere seconds if you go against me. Not even the fabled Main House will save you this time you foolish child. Your destiny was decided from-"
"I said shut up didn't I? Yeah I know I'm going to loose. Do you know why dear cousin? No of course not, after all your eyes only see pain and death, you have shut them close to everything else, afraid of getting hurt. Yes I know I'm going to loose. After all I'm fighting as a Hyuga aren't I? I will give you that joy nii-san. But. This is the last time I fight as a Hyuga. After this fight is ended, either by me knocked out or giving up, I shall never fight as a Hyuga ever again. So enjoy this time Neji, because next time I will pummel you to the ground if I have to and force your eyes open to the truth of this world. Now come my cowardly cousin, do not shy away from your... destiny."
Neji charged, without waiting for the proctor to start the match, hands flaring with chakra. He dashed with amazing speed, aweing everyone looking at the display of raw skill he showed. Hinata tried to defend and managed to knock most blows of course, while the rest barely managed to wound her. However it was obvious to everyone that she held back. As well as that continuing on this path, would make her loose.
Neji stopped after a few seconds. "You now see you cannot win cousin. I have been targeting your tenketsu from the beginnning. Soo you will be unable to fight back and fall to your destiny."
"Yeah I know. I can see tenketsu as well Neji. Or did you think it was all luck? Foolish little cousin, so entrenched in hate, your eyes are blind. Now come, vent your fury on me, hurt me and punish me for something I never had control over foolish cousin. After all it is all my fault isn't it? Everything is my fault, just like you and my entire thrice-bedamned family told me righ? Answer me FOOLISH COUSIN! Blame me! Hate me! Fight me! I can only wonder what your father would have said blind fool!"
Neji had enough, with a warcry he charged at her, harder than before. However this time Hinata fought back. A dodge here, a weave there, a parry the next second, none of Neji's blows ever landed. Seemingly out of luck, she barely dodged everything he threw at her. Soon he was panting from the exertion. Why couldn't he hit her? Every time he was close, she would draw back, just barely avoiding him. Then his world turned upside down.
Hinata fought back, unleashing a tempest of blows. All according to the book, but the speed... the speed was far faster than anything he had anticipated. Quickly Neji was being forced back by his weak and meek little cousin. Oh the irony. Hinata then did the unthinkable in a Jyuken match, she used a grapple. Quickly pinning Neji's hands behind his back, she kicked him behind the knees and forced him to kneel.
"The fight is over niisan... I give it to you." With that she flipped off Neji and began walking away.
Neji was confused... He had lost? How? When? What went wrong? How... how dare she... how dare that bitch that never experienced pain defeat him! This wasn't his fate! This was a travesty of his fate!
With a roar of anger Neji charged his cousin, even as the proctor had claimed Neji had won. Faster and faster Neji ran, closer and closer to his hated enemy, his hated cousin, the mockery of Fate incarnate. He rushed with a Jyuken to the heart.
Hinata never turned off her Byakugan. She saw Neji charge her. Quick as lightning she drew her tonfa. Her right tonfa went and threw Neji's hand to the side unbalancing him, then she spun like a dancer, lashing out with her other arm knocking Neji to the floor. With an infinitesimal burst of chakra, the Tonfa's hidden blades came forth, resting lightly on Neji. One poised to slit his throat and the other ready to rip out his insides. Hinata smiled semi-innocently at the proctor. "Gomen-nasai, my instincts kind of took over."
Hinata rose again, letting Neji get up. When he moved again, she turned around, her right tonfa letting sparks fly off the business end. Before anyone had the time to comment, her weapon struck poor Neji on the thorax, electrocuting him. He screamed before falling down again.
Gai sighed, Neji should learn to keep calm, when he lost it he became sloppy. Not that he didn't deserve the beating.
Hinata went back to her team as the Hokage announced the next round. Neji was put against Naruto, Shino against Kankuro, Tenten against Shikamaru and Sasuke against Gaara.
When everyone filed out of the room, Naruto gathered Kiba, Tenten and Lee to the side with this team.
"Kiba, Lee, Tenten, I would like to extend an invitation to you. In the next month me and my team will be training heavily. Come with us and we'll all grow strong. Besides I have some things to share with all of you, seeing as you have the greatest potential I saw today. Not to mention you have started taping on it. Join us and we'll all train together. When the final stage is here, we'll all give them a show to remember for the rest of their lives."
Kiba agreed, seeing as Kakashi wouldn't train him with the Uchiha passing on the next round. Lee slowly agreed, especially after seeing Naruto's strength. The training regime Naruto must begoing through must be at the height of the springtime of youth. Tenten was a bit apprehencive, as she would fight each other in the third round, but Hinata and Lee pretty much guilted her over to coming. Especially when Hinata showed off her tonfa's seals. They could barely understand how a serious kunoichi like Tenten could squeal that high when they remembered Hinata and cinnamon buns... It had been... scary.
Naruto and his team went off to change clothes when someone walked out of a side corridor. It was an old man, with white long hair, ridiculous clothes and geta. On his back was a huge scroll. He raised a hand in greeting.
"Yo Naruto! I'm the great toad sage Jiraiya-sama! Here to oversee your training and teach you how to become great." Naruto looked at the man before unleashing his, rather impressive, killer intent on the man.
"Your also my damned godfather aren't you? Well I got you a gift, godfather. SENNEN GOROSHI! YAIBA STYLE!" Then Naruto proceeded to perform a Sennen Goroshi with his arm blades. Jiraiya wisely ran off before hiding behind Hinata, in the hopes she'd restrain Naruto. A hope in vain it was...
Hinata spun on her heels before unsheathing her blades, stabbing the toad sage with her chakra-imbued, lightning-charged tonfa on the chest. The pervert was thrown in a wall, leaving a dent. Naruto grabbed him with his arm, before readying his bladed arm for a punshiment long overdue.
"You're not getting away from me you bastard. You abandoned me to rot in here, left me to die, never checking about me, never caring. And now you come to me to train me? Well fuck you bitch, you're gonna pay. And I am going to enjoy every second of it."
Jiraiya learned a lot that night. Interesting things, like how many poisons his body could withstand, how many volts could course through his body without loosing consciousness or the favourite place of chakra draining for a kikai bug... He cursed his luck when he realized why Sandaime said Naruto was a mixture of Kushina, Minato and Tsunade... Then he cursed even more as Anko, Kurenai and Zabuza walked in the torture chamber, with none to pleasing smiles on their faces...
A/N: I'm so sorry it took me so long to publish the next chapter! My Lady Inspiration ran off, probably due to the closing winter D:
Had to get my hands on some very nice spirits to get back on track. Ah well I'm not complaining. As always, review and let me know if you don't like something alright?
If the fic seems torn apart a bit don't blame me so much. It took me 3 weeks or so to write so I had to restart it every 2-3days. Really messed up consistency there... Sorry...
By the way, the two meditations, Pain's Acceptance and Pain's Embrace, I know them from real life. Learned them on my own too and can vouch for their effectiveness. Keep in mind that they are not masochism, you do not enjoy or feel pleasure or high. You feel pain and anger, focusing on one thing and one thing only, taking down your enemy. Especially Pain's Embrace, is a very dangerous state of mind, one that if not mastered, would easily cause you to kill a close friend. Luckily it takes a LOT of pain to enter that state. Do not try to learn these meditations, they are not pleasant or fun. Even Pain's Acceptance, doesn't send the pain away, instead it lets you accept it, make it part of you. So instead of your body instinctively pulling back from whatever harms it, instead it follows conscious commands, enabling someone to keep on fighting no matter the injury or threat.
Today, on this 9/6/2012, I, Soulblazer87, do hereby leave this site, possibly forever.
I shall not update this, or any other story.
I shall leave them on, however. Should you desire to follow my stories, do so in my new site of residence: www dot yourfanfiction dot com.