~Scroll 37~

Naruto watched Shikamaru return to his teammates, impressed by the Nara's obvious intelligence despite his general lazy attitude. The lanky teen used the environment to his advantage as well as using the shuriken attack as a distraction so that the Sound Kunoichi did not realize how dangerously close she was to the wall. And the truly frightening thing was that the lazy teen had probably only developed this plan after taking one look at his opponent.

"Next up will be…" Hayate called out as the message board flashed the names of the next opponents.

Naruto stilled as he saw his name emblazed on the board, and his opponent…

"Oh, yesss!" Inuzuka Kiba yelled, "Thank you! Thank you!

"We can take this guy, Akamaru!" The wild-haired teen cheered as he jumped to the arena floor.

Naruto, on the other hand, twitched his nose in annoyance at having to fight a dog… Blue eyes blinked in surprise at his thought before a soft smile graced his face.

Naruto? Shisui questioned once he saw the misplaced smile on the blonde's face.

Naruto just shook his head as he casually walked down to the arena. It was hard for him to explain, but the brief moment of annoyance towards Akamaru cheered the petite Genin because it was not he, who was annoyed but rather Ka'a… it meant that despite not being able to hear the fox spirit. Ka'a was still with him… kinda like having a loved one in another country… too far away but never too far from one's thoughts.

Naruto stood before his opponent and former classmate.

"The seventh round battle!" Hayate stated, "Uzumaki Naruto versus Inuzuka Kiba!"

"We lucked out, Akamaru!" Kiba cheered, "This fight is as good as won!"

Don't be so cocky! Shisui shouted at the other teen when Naruto just tilted his head to the side but said nothing to Kiba's taunts.

The brunette frowned at the lack of response from the blonde. I doubt he gained much skill and strength since he made rank… especially considering how he was back in school.

"Don't worry." Kiba continued his taunts, "I'll be kind… I'll finished you off fast instead of dragging it out."

Naruto just arched a brow.

"Well then…" Hayate coughed, "Begin!"

Kiba immediately dropped to a crouch, initiating his clan's Ninja Art of Beast Mimicry… the Shikyaku no Jutsu, Down on All Fours Technique!

"Here I come…" The wild-haired teen growled.

Naruto instinctively tensed but was surprised by his opponent's speed as the Inuzuka charged at the blonde.

NARUTO! Shisui shouted as the brunette just plowed through the petite blonde. He could not believe that the small Nin had just allowed his opponent to attack without putting up any sort of defense.

"He's down for the count already, sir!" Kiba gloated loudly over the stunned silence.

Hayate threw a quick glance at his colleague up in the balcony and was surprised to see Kakashi and his Kunoichi student were grinning, rather impishly.

"What…?!" Kiba's startled yelp caused the proctor to turn his attention back to the match.

Both opponent and proctor were surprised to see the petite blonde was back on his feet, and what truly surprised Hayate was the look in the smaller ninja's eyes.

The youth's eyes seemed to be glowing with an inner fire that Hayate had never seen before.

Those beautiful oceanic blues were like a pair of glowing Kashmir Sapphire gems.

"Don't…" Naruto's voice carried throughout the arena, commanding everyone's attention, "Underestimate me!"

"Go! Naruto!" Sakura's voice echoed, snapping everyone's stunned trance.

Kiba shook himself free from his odd daze then snarled.

"You talk pretty tough for someone who's bleeding all over the place. Would you just surrender already?!"

Naruto just wiped the blood from his face then crouched low into the First Form of Kitsune no Odori, the taijutsu Ka'a had been teaching the petite blonde.

Kiba felt a brow twitch at his opponent's silence and nonchalant attitude to the fight. It was as if the Dead Last believed that he, Inuzuka Kiba, was no match for him, Dead Last Naruto. Well, I'll show him! The brunette thought.

"You'll be sorry." Inuzuka growled then charged, "Get him, Akamaru!"

The little pup growled and followed his pack-mate.

CRAP! SMOKE SCREEN! Shisui shouted when he spotted a smoke pellet in the other teen's hand, giving Naruto enough warning to prepare.

Instantly the small Genin was engulfed in a cloud of grey smoke, blinding him from the pair's assault.

With one sense gone, the blonde focused on his hearing, listening for the pair's Heart Songs, pounding feet and slight panting.

With ease and grace, Naruto managed to block and avoid most of Kiba's attacks, but the blonde knew he could not keep up his defense for much longer since the brunette began putting more strength behind his attacks in frustration to Naruto's defenses.

Immediately the petite Shinobi dodged out of the smoke for a brief reprieve when suddenly…

NARUTO! Shisui cried out just in time for the teen to see Akamaru lunge at him.

Naruto brought his arm in time to protect his vulnerable throat from the Inu's bit.

As one, the pair tumbled back into the smoke.

Kiba crouched down, pleased with himself.

Suddenly the smoke cleared, revealing the crumbled form of Naruto and Akamaru sitting beside the blonde with his tail wagging.

"All right!" Kiba cheered, "I did it!

"Good one, Aka—"

The brunette barely kept a yelp of pain contained when his partner bit him in the arm.

His shock and confusion quickly melted away when Akamaru suddenly transformed into Naruto, who clamped down even harder on the teen's arm.

"Ah!" Kiba finally yelped, "What the hell?! Where's Akamaru?!"

"Over here!" Naruto's voice rang clear, drawing Kiba's attention away from the Naruto latched onto his arm.

The petite blonde held Akamaru high by the pup's scruff.

"I guess you've gotten stronger, eh…?" The brunette growled as he punched the Naruto latched onto his arm, de-spelling the blonde' shadow clone.

"One can only get stronger, Kiba." The petite Nin stated.

"Well, in that case, I'm not holding back!"