Karin POV:
Karin had to admit that how she ended the second stage of the exam did not go how she would have expected. Iada had broken his leg against another team who stumbled on them while she was hurrying to Naruto's aid. The leg was broken so badly that he had to withdraw from the Third round, or the preliminary of the third round as they found out.
The first match between Sasuke and Yoroi was interesting, particularly the fact that Sasuke was able to suppress that evil chakra by his sheer will alone. She had to admit she liked that a lot. She had better control over herself than Naruto, but like Naruto she never asked for the betrothal and she couldn't help it if she thought Sasuke was kind of cute and chakra wasn't as bright and warm as Naruto's but felt nice in its own way.
The following few matches were interesting in their own right as well. The Aburame kid was a tough opponent but her water style should be enough to keep the insects at bay and a long range strategic fighter like that tends to be weaker in close combat. Aishi's fight against puppet users from the Sand was interesting as well. Disappointing that Aishi lost after the poison took effect, but it revealed quite a bit of the abilities of the puppet, which would be vital if she faced him in the finals. Despite Sakura's exhaustion and body still not fully recovered from the improper use of a breathing technique, she managed to fight the Yamanaka girl to a draw. Very impressive for someone who wasn't from a prominent ninja clan. The second match against the Sand proved to be completely one sided. She hadn't been close to Tenten when they were in the academy, but it was painful to see how badly she lost and the level of disrespect her opponent showed. The Nara's match against the Sound kunoichi was impressive, he completely played her. Hayate sensei had already explained to her the qualities that were being looked for in a chunin and the Nara heir certainly had the strategic and tactical mindset that the judge would be looking out for.
The board finally finished sorting through the names. It was her against someone called Misumi Tsurugi. Looked he was on the same team as the Yoroi guy from the first match. As she walked down to the arena, she could hear Hayate sensei and Naruto cheering for her and wishing her best of luck. Naruto cheered so loudly that he almost drowned out Hayate sensei. She smiled, he may be an annoyance and idiot sometimes, but he did have some good qualities she wouldn't mind in a husband.
The proctor said, "Karin Uzumaki. Misumi Tsurugi. Are you ready to begin"?
They both nodded, then the proctor yelled, "Alright the, if you're ready. Let the seventh match begin"! Leaping back towards where the other proctors and Lord Third were.
She barely managed to get a single hand seal before Misumi attacked with a backhanded chop, which she easily blocked. But then his body morphed, wrapping around her arm and then her entire body. Misumi put her in a tight hold. She had no ability to move her limbs and he was choking her too.
Misumi started gloating and blabbering about how his jutsu worked. As if she was too dumb to infer how such a technique worked.
He said, "Give up now, or I'll kill you".
She said, "You know, I don't need my hands to use my jutsu".
She was hoping to save her chains for the finals, but she had no choice but to use it. She was certainly blessed to have inherited the ability to suppress chakra with her chains.
She said, "Adamantine Sealing Chain: Divine Imprisonment".
The chains shot out from her body wrapping around Misumi over a dozen times before anchoring themselves into the floor around them. His grip on her almost instantly started loosening.
She smirked as she said, "Oh what's wrong? You can't take what you dish out"?
His grip loosened enough for her to begin freeing herself completely. He was groaning with exertion trying to force his chakra and body to maintain their flexibility and hold on to her. But it was a useless endeavor. She hadn't tested it on Naruto, but her chains were supposed to be able to completely suppress the power of the Nine Tailed Fox. So a common ninja had no hope of overpowering her chains. She mentally commanded the chains to adjust their tightness on him to make it easier for her to get free of him while ensuring she kept him in constant contact with the chains.
As soon as she was freed from him, she tightened the chains and performed the ram seal as she said, "Adamantine Chain Constriction".
The pressure soon ramped up and Misumi let out a cry of pain. Then he passed out, mostly from having his chakra completely suppressed.
The proctor said, "Because Misumi Tsurugi is unable to continue, I declare Karin Uzumaki, the victor of the seventh match".
Naruto and Hayate sensei let out whoops of victory and continued to cheer her as she returned to the viewing stands. Both offered their congratulations loudly.
She told Naruto, "Don't lose, I can't have you discrediting my fine work as an Uzumaki".
Naruto replied, "Like I would ever lose, you know. I am the man who will become Hokage, believe it"!
She smiled at him as she leaned onto the railing. Naruto really was a loveable goofball.
Naruto POV:
He was so happy for Karin, easily winning her match against that bendy guy. He wished he had chains like her, but all he had was the sensory skills.
The screen soon began randomizing names again. Lee and him started shouting eagerly wanting to be next on the screen so they could advance. The screen then settled on a pair of names. Looks like it was his time to shine.
Naruto yelled, "Alright! I'm next"!
He heard Kiba say to Akamaru, "Alright we got the shrimp".
That pissed Naruto off, he was going to wipe the floor with Kiba now.
As they walked down to the arena he could hear Sakura, Karin, Lee, and Hayate cheer for him.
The proctor said, "Naruto Uzumaki. Kiba Inuzuka. Are you ready to begin"?
Naruto said, "You bet I am, you know"!
Kiba said, "You stole my line, you little shrimp".
The proctor said, "Alright, let the eighth match begin"!
Kiba put Akamaru down and said, "I'm going to take you down in one shot".
Naruto smirked and said, "Talking is easy, now don't go crying when I kick your ass".
Kiba grunted as he said, "Damn you, you little squirt", he turned to Akamaru and said, "Akamaru stay right here, I got this".
Kiba knelt as he performed a hand seal and said, "Ninja Art: Beast Mimicry; All fours Jutsu".
Naruto sensed the chakra surging within Kiba and knew Kiba would make his attack soon. He was right. Kiba launched a feral charge at Naruto. Naruto saw it coming though, and quickly moved to counter grabbing Kiba's extended arm.
Naruto said, "Wind Breathing: Defensive Taijutsu; Spiraling gale throw".
He turned into Kiba's attack and used both his and Kiba's momentum to turn Kiba's feral charge into a powerful shoulder throw.
Kiba landed with a loud thud, cracking the floor a bit.
Naruto could hear gasps from the viewing stands. Looks like his classmates weren't expecting that either. Sakura, Karin, and Hayate let out a loud cheer. Naruto saw an opportunity to end this quick. He stomped on Kiba's chest, knocking even more air out of him. Naruto then started performing a series of hand seals. If he could trap Kiba within a capture bind seal, he would win the match fast like Karin. He began thinking if that would earn him a kiss from both Sakura and Karin.
He wasn't paying attention when Akamaru attacked him and bit him on his butt. The damn dog actually bit through his pants and Naruto's concentration was broken and seal was disrupted, Naruto began running around the arena trying to shake off Akamaru. He made three laps around before deciding one last gambit. He jumped up a few feet and made sure to land right on Akamaru.
Akamaru yipped in pain, releasing Naruto. Naruto bounced up after hitting the ground and used that to get away from the damn mutt.
Kiba was finally up and said, "Not bad, you damn squirt. But don't think that will win you the match. The Inzuka always comes out on top, we're the Alphas of the pack"!
Naruto was fed up with Kiba calling him short and his stupid cocky attitude.
Naruto yelled, "Oh really? Then why did I hear your sister screaming at night that she needs an Uzumaki to show her who is the Alpha"!
Kiba just blanked out completely, caught off guard by Naruto's comeback.
Suddenly a loud voice called out, "DAMN YOU NARUTO! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU, I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE BIG SIS KUSHINA'S SON! I AM GOING TO KILL YOU FOR THAT"!
Naruto turned towards the viewing stands. It was Hayate being held back by Karin and Lee, Naruto knew he had been seeing Kiba's older sister for almost a year now, but he didn't know it was a secret.
Another loud voice shot out, "YOU DAMN RED HAIRED BASTARD, YOU TOLD ME YOU COULDN'T DATE UNLESS THE CLAN ELDERS APPROVED IT"!
It was the proctor who threw the kunai that cut his face, Anko Mitarashi. He didn't know why she was pissed at Hayate.
Hayate yelled, "Oh Shit"!
Before breaking out of Karin and Lee's hold Hayate quickly disappeared in a puff of smoke using the body flicker technique.
Anko furiously called out, "I will catch you, you damn coward"!
Naruto said, "I don't know what that was about but now it's time to kick your ass" , he performed the shadow clone jutsu's hand seal, "Shadow Clone Jutsu"!
A dozen shadow clones soon appeared, ready to fight.
Kiba was finally out of his daze and said, "Impressive, looks like it's time to get serious".
Kiba then tossed a small object that looked like a treat at Akamaru who quickly caught it in his mouth and swallowed it. Akamaru suddenly turned red, and Naruto could sense Akamaru's chakra surge. Kiba soon took something too and his chakra surged. Akamaru soon ran to Kiba's side and jumped on Kiba's back after Kiba went down into a stance. Naruto sensed chakra surge even more.
Kiba then yelled, "Ninja Art: Man Beast Clone"!
Kiba yelled again, "Let's finish this! Secret Taijutsu: Fang over Fang"!
Kiba and Akamaru launched a vicious attack that Naruto was barely able to keep ahead of. He had to rely heavily on his sensory abilities to predict their attacks. Even then he took some solid hits from them which left him bleeding and on the ground after all his clones had been destroyed.
Naruto got back up and said, "Is that all you got? I can keep doing this all day". He then grabbed a smoke bomb from his pouch and threw it against the ground causing a massive explosion of smoke. He heard Kiba launching another attack and Naruto quickly planned his counterattack.
Kiba's fang over fang jutsu would dissipate the smoke, but that worked perfectly for Naruto's plan. Naruto quickly performed the transformation jutsu. As the smoke dissipated, his plan worked perfectly as Kiba and Akamaru stopped their attack.
Kiba said, "I'll admit you got better at the transformation jutsu, so you got me for a second. But you can't fool me. You want to know why? Because I got your scent"!
Kiba punched him with a solid right hook, but this worked in Naruto's favor as well. As Naruto landed on the ground he switched the transformation into Akamaru.
Kiba yelled, "What?! Akamaru"!
He then punched the real Akamaru, sending Akamaru flying, and dissipating the man beast clone.
Naruto released his transformation Jutsu and charged Kiba. With a flying kick, he sent Kiba flying and sliding against the floor of the arena.
Naruto smirked, "A true shinobi is careful how he uses his jutsu. Otherwise it is liable to come and bite him in the but"!
Kiba got up and calmed himself by biting his hand. Kiba then grabbed shuriken and threw them at Naruto. Naruto was easily able to dodge but it left him open for another feral attack. This time knocking the wind out of him.
Naruto thought, dammit I need to start breathing. After using the technique, Naruto was able to re energize his body, briefly. He took a slash from Kiba but turned it back into another shoulder throw. Sending Kiba into the floor of the arena. Though without the force of the enhanced taijutsu.
Sakura, Lee, and Karin cheered him on telling him that he has this. Kiba got back up and got ready to charge.
Naruto said, "Alright time to use my new ultimate jutsu!"
Kiba launched his attack against, but this time instead of charging straight towards him, he went around him and kept low to the ground.
As Kiba was right behind him, a loud fart erupted from Naruto.
Kiba screamed, "Oh my god! That's nasty"!
Everyone else in the crowd had surprised looks. Naruto didn't plan it, but he wasn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth".
He then performed the shadow clone jutsu's seal and said, "I didn't plan this, but that won't stop me! Shadow Clone Jutsu"!
A dozen clones appeared around Naruto and they launched their attack.
As he and the clones attacked, they yelled, "NA-RU-TO! UZUMAKI BARRAGE"!
The barrage sent Kiba flying before kicking him head first into the floor of the arena.
Naruto was breathing heavily, he dispelled the clones as the proctor approached and examined Kiba.
The proctor said, "As Kiba Inuzuka is unable to continue. I declare Naruto Uzumaki the winner of the seventh match".
Lee, Karin, and Sakura let out a loud cheer of congratulations. Naruto just smiled and started letting out his own victory cheers.
He did it, he made it to the finals of the Chunin exams! He made it back to the stands after taking some healing anointment from Hinata per Hinata's sensei's prodding.
Karin smiled at him as he made it back to his spot and said, "Not bad Naruto, though I think Hayate sensei is furious at you".
Naruto said, "I didn't know it was some secret. Why did he blow up so badly"?
Karin answered, "Because he has been trying to dodge Anko Mitrarashi and her demands that he goes out with her. You know how he feels about snakes, and she uses snakes in her ninjutsu. Not to mention who knows how Hanna will react, most women don't like having their intimate moments be exposed for the public".
Naruto said, "Oh I get it now. I am in big trouble aren't I"?
Karin smiled and gave Naruto a quick peck on his cheek, "You are, but beyond torturing you in training it shouldn't be too bad. Nice job in your match though".
Naruto blushed as he placed his hand on the cheek where Karin kissed him and asked, "Why did you kiss me"?
Karin said, "I told you I would grow my hair out if became a chunin, but I decided to give you a little reward for your hard work and win especially as while I don't know what's wrong your chakra flow is still messed up from whatever happened to you before I found your team".
Naruto said, "I don't know what to say".
Karin said, "It doesn't need a response. We'll figure it out later".
Naruto smiled and said, "You got it. We're going to become Chunin together, you know"!
Author's Note: I will try and elaborate more on the relationships in future chapters, I just needed to work on seasoning them a bit. Hanna isn't going to be Hayate's main pairing. I just thought it would be funny to have a bit where Naruto exposes their relationship and having Hayate trying to avoid Anko. Don't worry, Anko isn't the stereotypical way fandom often writes her. Next will be a bit of a training arc and a bit of information revealed.
