Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 11
AN: in spite of last chapter. there have been concerns regarding Sakura telling Kakashi everything. I just want to point out that the character may fall out of character but I will do my best to keep them in character. And for me I felt that Sakura trusts Kakashi enough to tell him everything (minus the itachi business cuz that's sasuke's issue) and as for the reason why I dragged out the fight between Sakura and Ino is that even though Sakura could have pummelled ino in 2 seconds, I felt that if Sakura had defeated ino that easily it would of definitely a blow to Ino's ego, and i don't think Sakura would do that considering Ino is her friend.
Also i'm sorry for the late update, but I'm starting school soon and may not be able to update as frequently but please bare with me! Sorry. I will update any chance i get.
The three days went by too quickly in Naruto's opinion. It was as if he blinked and the days were gone. He had hoped to learn some really cool techniques, like maybe something similar to Sasuke's glowing hand thing, or Sakura's insane punches, or maybe even walking on air.
But...he learnt no such things. In fact all he learned was a summoning jutsu. Don't get him wrong though, he was thankful for being taught the jutsu, hell he was even pushed off a freaking cliff to learn it, but he just had no idea what to do with it. Was he suppose to crush Neji with a toad?
Well...judging from the size of Gamabunta, that wasn't a bad idea.
Giving a lazy stretch, Naruto trudged to the bridge where he was meeting up with his team, and as usual he was the first one to arrive.
Leaning against the red railing, he stared down at the small stream that ran underneath it. The clear, shallow water sparkled like diamonds under the sun, and small koi fishes swam jovially after each other.
He gave a loud yawn, as he continued to stare at the fishes while waiting for his teammates.
As usual, Sasuke and Sakura were on the opposite spectrum of things. These three days may have gone quickly for Naruto, but trudged on like a snail for them.
For three days non stop they trained with Kakashi, who surprising showed up on time everyday. They fought individually against him with everything they got, yet neither of them managed to defeat him. Guess he wasn't considered ANBU for no reason.
During these arduously long three days that drained both ninjas out physically and mentally, they did however improve. Sakura had managed to boost up her speed, while Sasuke learned how to read his opponents better.
So... all in all it wasn't so bad.
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"...So then I went to Naruto's place to get him for our mission, and my god was his room messy. I swear the boy has cockroaches crawling in his apartment." Sakura recounted the story of how Naruto's underwear landed on her head to the stoic boy beside her as they walked to the bridge. The silence between them was just to deafening, and clearly Sasuke wasn't going to be one to start a conversation, so the task fell on Sakura. Not completely sure what to talk about with Sasuke, she decided to go with a humorous story. "I completely freaked, then I next thing I knew I stepped into an empty ramen bowl on the ground, and fell backwards into a stack of boxes."
"Hn." Sasuke grunted as he stared at the girl, wondering why was she even telling him this. He was perfectly fine with the silence before.
"And when I pulled the material off my head, it was his underwear." She waved her arms around her head in an exaggerated manner. "I mean who puts their underwear on top of boxes?"
"…"
"Seriously, I don't understand that boy sometimes."
"You and Naruto seem close."
"Huh?" Sakura stared at the boy with a shocked slash confused expression. She didn't expect Sasuke to be actually listening to her story.
"I recall you could barely stand to breath the same air as the dobe during one point in your life."
A look of regret crossed her face, as she stared at the approaching red bridge. "I was childish and stupid, but after you left he became the only pillar of support in my life, so I guess all those annoying quirks just grows on you eventually."
"…" He continued to stare at the girl, his gaze eventually softened. Guilt. That was one way to describe what he was feeling at the moment.
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"Naruto!" Sakura shouted as they approached the bridge. The said boy, turned away from the small stream and a large smile appeared on his whiskered face.
"Sakura-chan! Teme!" Naruto greeted, as he pushed himself away from the railing of the bridge and ran towards his two teammates. Draping his arms around the shoulders of his two teammates, he pulled them closer to him. "Let's go kick the final exam in the ass."
It was nearly ten in the morning when they arrived at the large dome arena located behind the Hokage tower. Rows of seats circulated themselves around the large battlefield. Unlike the preliminary round this arena was outside. It's field covered with a thin layer of grass and several trees were planted around the arena.
Civilians and shinobi's alike from all nations were gathered today to witness the finale of the 6th chuunin exam hosted by Konoha. Loud clamors filled the vast stadium.
Situated above all these civilians and shinobi's, on the highest level of the stadium sat the Hokage and the Kazekage. Behind them stood several ANBUs, and on the level just below them were several senior jounins.
"ALL PARTICIPANTS OF THE EXAM PLEASE PROCEED TO THE STANDS. THERE ARE SPECIFIC SEATS RESERVED FOR YOU." A loud voice rang from the over head speakers.
True enough, a portion of the first level of seatings were sectored off from the rest of the stadium, and several of the genins were already seated. There faces emotionless as they solely focused on how to win their respective battles.
Dragging his two teammates behind him, Naruto clambered up the stoney steps and to their seats. Wedging himself between Sasuke and Sakura, he was bouncing in his seat awaiting for the start of the exam.
Today was the day he becomes a chuunin.
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Few minutes ticked by as more people filed into the stadium. Some carried popcorn and pop as they shoved through the masses of people to find a seat. Parents and teammates of the genins who passed the preliminary rounds offered their encouragements as they passed.
Another few minutes passed.
Finally at ten thirty did the exams officially started. Genma stepped out into the field, looking even more tired than he did during the preliminary rounds. With one hand stuffed in his pockets and another mindlessly twirling the senbon, he waited for silence to fall across the stadium.
"Welcome to the 6th annual chuunin exam hosted by Konoha. As of now the final exam starts. Genins prepare yourselves for battle." The participating genins sat up straighter. "This exam has no time limit. You will fight till one you is no longer able to do so." Giving a couple of coughs, he rummaged through his pocket for a piece of paper, once he found the item he continued. "First match of the day. Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji."
Immediately as Naruto's name was mentioned hushed whispered exploded from the civilians in the stadiums. Many did not believe this demon child had actually manage to become a ninja, let along make it to the final round of the chuunin exam.
"...It's that demon child isn't?"
"That blond one, with the whiskers."
"...It baffles me that Konoha would keep such a wild animal lose on the streets, let alone become a ninja and participate in such an event."
Neji brushed past Naruto, who remained rooted in his seat. His fist clenched by his sides, and his eyes glared down at his knees. Pain was so clearly evident on his face.
A smaller hand was gently placed on top his own clenched ones. He slowly raised his head to stare at the own of that said hand. Pained blue eyes met with worried green ones.
"Ignore them. Win this battle and show them who the great Uzumaki Naruto truly is." Sakura gave him a small encouraging smile.
"Sakura-chan…" The corner of the blond's mouth curved upward.
"There no need to take what stupid people say to heart, dobe." Sasuke smirked, as shoved Naruto up from his seat.
Listening to his teammates, Naruto brushed aside the rude comments from some of the civilians and gave his team his infamous good guy pose. "I KNOW THAT, TEME!" He gave a joking glare at the raven haired male, before jumping over the railing and down into the battle arena.
Once both ninjas arrived on the field, Genma gave another cough. Pulling out a small starting gun from his ninja pouch, he lifted it to the air and shot.
"Begin match" Genma coughed again as he disappeared from the battle area.
"How long before the invasion." A stern looking sand shinobi, asked the pale snake like man beside him
"Soon… very soon"
"You are fated to lose." Neji spoke out in a monotonous voice. His body lowered into the hakke position.
"SHUT UP!" Naruto glared right back at the stoic Hyuuga, before placing his hand into the familiar seal. Loud popping sounds filled the arena as twenty or so Narutos appeared. Giving a loud battle cry, all the Narutos charged towards the Hyuuga.
"Hakkesho Kaiten." The blue whirlwind of chakra surround Neji, as he spun around the field destroying all the Naruto clones.
A cloud of white filled the arena.
Neji squinted his eyes through the smoke as he tried to catch a glimpse of Naruto's chakra. 'There'
The smoke before him slightly wavered as a fierce looking Naruto ran out from it. With his arm cocked back, he slammed his fist down at Neji, who blocked the attack with his arms.
Sliding slightly backwards, Neji glared at the blond. Naruto wasn't suppose to be this strong. It was like the same thing with Hinata all over again.
Creating another clone, Naruto and it charge at Neji who deflected both attacks with Kaiten. The force of his spin send Naruto and his clone flying backwards.
'What was that? My attack was suppose to land.' Naruto thought with a confused expression etched onto his face, as he pushed himself up.
"It's over." Said Neji, as he lowered one hand and raised the other. "Hakke Rokujuyon sho."
With this said, Neji disappeared from view. Before Naruto could even register what was happening, he felt two sharp hits one to the back of his neck and the other to his stomach. "Two."
"Four"
Another four jabs were landed into Naruto's torso
"Eight."
This time he felt the hits on his legs, and arms
"Sixteen."
Torso, face and neck
"Thirty-two"
Chest, back, and arms
"Sixty-four"
Chest, abdomen, face, arm and legs.
He felt his body lurch backwards as he watched Neji's movements stop. His back landed harshly on the ground, as the momentum forced him into doing a few cartwheels backward before completely halting to a stop. His face buried in the ground, as he struggled to breathe. He could feel the sharp, stinging pain from Neji's hits radiating in every part of his being.
"I have hit all sixty-four points on your body, so you can no longer stand." Neji watched as Naruto shake and groan on the ground. "Just stay on the ground before a power you can not change and think about your own worthlessness. Just give up."
Through one good eye, Naruto gave his best withering glare at the Hyuuga. It wasn't suppose to end like this. Damn it. The determined faces of Lee after his fight with Gaara, and Hinata drifted into in head. They never gave up despite the odds. Naruto grounded his teeth. He wasn't going down, not here, not ever. Ignoring the pain that screamed out from every inch of his body, he forced himself to stand up.
"I'm not good at giving up." Naruto panted out harshly, as he continued to glare at the paled eyed boy through his good eye.
"Just give up, I have you grudge against you." Neji spoke.
"WELL I DO!" Naruto shouted. This time he voice came out stronger.
"What?" Neji gave the boy a confused look.
Standing up straighter, Naruto took a step forward. The angry look never leaving his face. "To call Hinata-chan pathetic after she had tried so hard to prove herself." Panting harshly he continued. "I don't know what happened between the main house and branch house, but for a piece of shit like you to call others pathetic, I WILL NEVER FORGIVE!"
A scowl appeared on Neji's face. "Fine if you're so determined I'll tell you the Hyuuga's destiny of hatred."
"!"
"The main family has a jutsu that is passed down...a curse jutsu seal." The look of anger left Naruto's face and instead it was replaced by one of confusion. "The curse is call 'the caged bird' it is a symbol of being tied down to an inescapable destiny."
Neji paused in his speech as he loosened his hitai-ate. With one swift motion he took off the protector. A green almost swastika looking seal was inked onto his forehead."I received this seal when I was four...when Hinata-sama turned three. It was at that moment I became the bird in the cage through this curse, as a branch member." His gaze turned to silent audience.
"So what, that mark differentiated you from the main family member?"
Neji's gaze hardened as he turned to face Naruto. "No, it's a mark that the main family uses to control those in the branch family. To make sure they remain loyal. With a secret hand seal, a main family member can easily destroy a branch member's mind. Death is the only way to be freed from this curse."
"WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH YOUR TREATMENT OF HINATA?" Naruto was starting to get frustrated, as Neji continued to beat around the bush.
The look of anger on Neji's face twisted into a sneer. "The main branch killed my father."
"Huh?"
"All to avoid the possibility of a war breaking out, the main branch made a deal with the cloud alliance, and my father was that sacrificial piece. He was killed in the place of his twin brother, Hyuuga Haishi, Hinata-sama's father." The look on Neji's face got more ominous. "It was his destiny, just like how it's your destiny to lose." With that said, Neji charged towards Naruto and thrusted his palm into the blond's stomach, sending Naruto back down to the ground. "It's over."
"No." Naruto shakily forced himself up, again. Blood dripping down from his mouth. "From what I heard, you're the one that is pathetic, not Hinata-chan. You said it's your duty to protect the main family, yet by doing that to Hinata-chan...in truth you're trying your hardest to disobey destiny." Coughing up more blood, Naruto hastily wiped his mouth. A smirk on his face. "I would never lose to a person who does nothing but whine about destiny."
"Are the preparations ready?" A masked Sand shinobi asked, as he looked down at the bustling village.
"They're all in place." The snake like man replied. A maniacal smile on his face.
"You can't do anything. I've sealed all your chakra points." Neji glared. "You're destiny is set."
Ignoring the boy, Naruto squatted down. Bringing to fingers to his face, he closed his eyes in concentration. 'Lend me chakra you stupid fox.' He felt movement stir within him. The familiar rush of the fox's chakra flooded through his chakra channels.
Neji's byakugan widened, when he saw chakra slowly restore itself within Naruto. "Impossible." Scanning the boy's body, he realized the chakra was different from it's usual state. It was more ominous and deadly. 'He can't be'
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The spectators watched in awe as the blond boy somehow managed to regain his chakra. Only a selective few shinobi's felt the truth presence behind this chakra.
For starters Gaara looked just as shocked as both kages, while Sakura wanted to bash her head into a wall.
Seriously what the hell was Naruto thinking using the kyuubi's powers especially when he has yet to learn how to control the beast. He could very easily lose control and go berserk.
'That stupid idiot'
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With the fox's chakra surrounding the blond, Naruto charged towards Neji.
'His speed...it increased?' Neji thought, as he blocked a kick delivered by Naruto.
"IF YOU DON'T WANT TO PROTECT THE MAIN BRANCH THAN DON'T, BECAUSE WHEN I BECOME HOKAGE I'LL CHANGE THE HYUUGA" Naruto shouted, as he propelled his body forward and punched Neji in the face. The ferocity behind the hit, sent Neji sprawling to the ground. Panting he leaned over the fallen Hyuuga, a large grin adorned his face as he offered his hand out in a sign of camaraderie.
A distinct poof-ing sounded behind the sand ninja, and a masked man appeared.
"It's ready." The masked man took off the mask and pushed up his glasses. Nodding, the Sand ninja performed a series of hand signs and a chain of explosions went off.
Neji stared up at Naruto. Who exactly was this kid? How could he so easily defy destiny? With a sigh, he reached up to shake Naruto's hand.
"Winner: Uzu-" Genma was cut off by a scream in the audience. All attention turned towards a hysterical girl as she clutched what seemed like her brother or boyfriend's dead body.
More screams were heard, as loved one were falling over, dead.
"SMOKE!" Once of the bystanders in the audience shouted as he pointed towards the corner of the village.
"AND THERE!" Another person shouted.
Eyes widened as the citizens and shinobi's of Konoha watched black smoke rise from the four corners of the village.
The sound of explosions mixed with screams were heard in the distance.
They were under attack, and the Sand shinobi's were no where in sight.
Finished!
Just want to point out that even though sasuke and Sakura are here to change the future, some things they can't change.
as always please review!