A/N: My apologies to those of you waiting patiently for the next Nature of the Savage Beast update. As I've broken the Chunin Exam Festival into multiple sections, I decided to work on this next chapter while the iron was still hot. Nature will get updated this weekend and I'll be back on track. Gomen.
Thank you for the recent influx of reviews. Good or bad I enjoy them all and I'd like to welcome the latest additions to the review pool that have not shared before (Lord Borhon, Elypsus). Welcome to the small club that is my fanfic world.
I give you now installment 2 of 3 covering the first day of matches in the Chunin Exam Festival. ~12K give or take, 12K more to go (give or take).
Enjoy as you will.
~Siva'a-tasi
~III~
Chapter 43: Dysfunctional Family Bonds
~III~
"Difficult doesn't mean impossible. It simply means that you have to work hard."
– Unknown
~III~
Despite the undesired setback at the Oak, Day two of the Festival was an equally busy affair as the streets filled with the crush of excited humanity. Naruto hadn't yelled at her during the walk home at all, which was-. No, that was pretty concerning actually as it threw off a lot of things needed to keep her family buffered should the Fire Daimyo get pissed over what was to come next.
A katana to the neck could ruin just about anyone's day.
She'd need to think about that a bit. Maybe talk with her dad a little to see what he thought but she needed to push that to the side for now since today was going to be busy enough all on its own.
Tomorrow was to be the first day of blood as Genin clawed and fought their way to a promotion. You could feel the tension in the air especially around the stall catering to the legalized gambling guild as their bookies continued to bark out the odds based on village favorites and known top Genin. Ino tried not to grimace at the incredibly low odds next to Naruto's name when she passed them on her way to the flower stand earlier that morning.
Ten to One against him surviving the first round.
Fifty to One against making it to and winning his first singles fight.
One Hundred to One that he made it to the finals and winning the whole thing was something astronomically huge.
It made her blood boil, but she had enough to worry about on her plate already, the previous night's runaway Uchiha party a painfully repeating loop in her mind.
A very bashful and apologetic Ino wanted to spend the entire evening before Naruto groveling at her loss of cool, but they had roles to play until the end of the first day of combat. So, she sat alone in her bedroom miserable for the rest of the night. Anko thought it was hilarious but had to rib her over her "piss poor choice in boyfriend material" since they were "supposedly" on opposite sides of the fence.
Kami she hated ever accepting that mission from a pair of dastardly advisors.
She couldn't even protest Tenten's very much unwanted presence at their table and ended up being hit on the rest of the night by the rabid Inuzuka since Hinata's hateful family wouldn't let her come to the party with Kumo anywhere inside Konoha's walls. From the looks of it, none of them would see the bashful heiress until the first actual day of competition and that meant Ino was stuck with the slobbering dog-nin who also couldn't take "no" for an answer.
No meant NO damnit!
Not even the sight of Sakura holding a bloody icepack to the Uchiha's swollen lip while he glared impotently in her direction before he eventually stormed out in a huff could make her feel better (A/N: I did promise there would be blood last time). Still, day two was shaping up to be a better start.
Helping her mother man the temporary flower stand, Ino let her mind wander over the last month in all its insanity occasionally letting her eyes sweep the gaily colored yukata of the bustling crowds. Her shop and nearly every other establishment had agreed to close for the week of the Festival under the premise of luring all of the new business into one area, kind of like how casinos are built to keep you distracted and stuck inside them in an effort to separate you from your money. Most of the civilians, still blissfully unaware of the invasion, accepted it under their greedy "economic collectivist" mantra and moved on blithely - better known as collective money-grubbing.
It wouldn't matter in the next forty-eight hours anyway since this area would turn into a killing field.
Shaking it off, Ino spent the entire day moving on automatic pilot, her hands staying busy despite the angry faces of her former frenemy stalking by to glare at her from a safe distance. Sakura walked away confused at the rampant snickering on Ino's face, the pinkette's confusion marking her rather-prominent forehead pucker with worry lines.
Ino snickered again knowing she'd get the joke if she ever succeeded in bagging the vaunted Uchiha savior of Konoha then managed to get him naked. Poor girl.
Before long, her father was sliding his arms around her mother's waist while shooing her away with a head nod. They'd had a serious conversation after the invitation was delivered, the event the agreed-upon signal for her to bring her parents in on the entire plan. She was hoping, at worst, they'd be disappointed in her after her illegal seduction mission had come to light but, after a good hour-long explanation as to her mutual confession between her and Naruto, she was not expecting the relieved tear fest from her mother as both parents hugged her while shouting, "Praise Kami!" over and over again.
What the-? In the end, she just went with it.
Needless to say, tensions were considerably lighter around the house. Well, as light as things could be with a pending invasion of your home village on the horizon. Still, the Yamanaka Clan Head and his family went about their public lives with great serenity and calm while their nights involved clandestine clan support of the Hokage and the rest of Konoha's forces, to which Ino got a front-row view of as the next heir. Kami knows she was spending hours after dinner traveling to and from their storefront to the separate clan estate as the mob of mind walkers fine-tuned their part of the village defense plan.
The nightly S-Class briefings with the village leadership - minus the ANBU initiate mask - was just as eye-opening even if her days were beginning to sorta run together.
She was looking forward to getting the night off to spend it romantically with her secret boyfriend. SQUEEEEE!
Stepping out of the shower after a thorough scrub and soak to soften her skin, Ino applied what used to be a laborious "Secret Sisterhood of the Sasuke-kun" bathing ritual for the one man she felt actually deserved that much effort. The only difference this time was that she could tone down the heavy powders and perfumes (his senses couldn't handle that much puffery) and present him with the natural silkiness of her Falna-blessed body.
Oh, she could just kiss the Istorian boob-monster right now.
Tonight was about careful preparation. Her light dusting of makeup was to help bring out the color of her eyes. Her silken hair was meticulously coiled up leaving the nape of her neck enticingly bare and both eyes exposed, her normally heavy bang replaced with two coiling tendrils kissing her right cheek. A single Ume flower was nestled above her left ear, its soft white petals framing gold-tipped stamen showing elegance, faithfulness, and purity of heart, all of it meant to enhance her glowing skin and classic lines.
Below it all, her sinfully curvy body was wrapped in a royal purple kimono cinched by a golden obi, the colors of her clan. Even the Shobu flower print pattern beginning at her left ankle before cascading up across the knees of her kimono to her right hip conveyed her hopes and aspirations - only another flower junkie would know that the flower symbolized glad tidings and loyalty, the former her wish and the second her solemn vow.
Heaving one last sigh into the full-length mirror of her room, she grabbed the matching wax-paper parasol and trudged downstairs to slip on her new geta purchased for this event only to meet with her cooing mother and teary-eyed father. They would spend another twenty minutes while her father snapped picture after picture, the last of which saw her mother's shaky hands taking out an ornate wooden case holding a perfect single strand of pearls used to complete her ensemble.
It's a good thing she wasn't wearing heavy makeup otherwise the two Yamanaka women would have ruined it right as three gentle, but firm knocks called from the front of their store.
Inoichi started but didn't feel the angry haze of chakra that stormed their home the last time this happened. With a nervous chuckle, Sumiko shooed him off to answer the door before another hail could sound as the two women stood nervously in the kitchen of their home holding hands.
"No matter what happens, Princess, I'm so very proud of the woman you've become."
Ino's surprise couldn't have been more evident, her nervous anticipation settling almost immediately as she stepped forward to embrace her sniffling mother. She really didn't understand the praise, but she'd figure it out after the entire invasion mess was over and done with.
If things went well, they'd have plenty of time to sort things out. She was only going to be fifteen this year but, deep down inside, she really hoped this was the turning point of her relationship with her parents, as frustrating as they made her sometimes.
"Your escort is here, Ino-hime."
Her father's subdued voice broke them apart, the confusion evident in the eyes of both mother and daughter. Once outside it all became clear as Ino saw a palanquin of rich woods carved to resemble creeping vines bedecked in flower petals. Four beefy porters in matching royal blue livery stood at the ready as a blonde attendant in a dark blue Hikizuri kimono with the sleeves and lower body crested by orange waves gracefully opened the door to the cream-colored interior of her transportation. Flanking her bearers for the evening were four massive figures wearing old-fashioned samurai armor armed with swords and pikes, their helmets and oni-faced masks obscuring their faces, as she tried not to trip and fall into the waiting compartment with her tiny steps.
Once the admittedly pretty girl assigned to help her removed her geta (apparently to carry them on her behalf) and closed the curtained door, the single-occupancy transport rose gently from the ground and her journey officially began.
The unhurried pace set the lightly scented compartment to a gentle rocking motion that nearly lulled her to sleep even with the dozens of questions bombarding her mind.
Has she dressed appropriately? Were the pearls too much making her seem haughty? Was her Furisode too conservative making her seem off-putting? Did she remember the invite? Oh, her mother had slipped it in her clutch. 'Sigh.' Did she even need to worry about competition if he wasn't part of Konoha's stupid CRA program? Oh, wait... Keina had mentioned that Uzu had something like that and that she'd probably not get her gorgeous single wedding after all.
The last thought that escaped her mind once her human-powered chariot set down was how in the sweet name of Kami was she supposed to sit on a cushion to eat in this getup?
Then, with the help of her smiling escort, she emerged from her cocoon, once again the beautiful butterfly bedecked in her new geta sandals, and into the warm night air dazzled by the off-white Chouchin lanterns leading up to the house, each bearing the Land of Whirlpools in simple black kanji and ringing the walkway leading up to the estate proper. A modest two-story home transformed by the soft lights of hundreds of smaller andon lanterns dotting the lawn like overgrown fireflies awaited her exploration and wonder.
She was so enchanted that she didn't frown right away when three other exquisitely dressed women stepped out of similarly appointed carriages assisted by what would be twin versions of the young blonde helping Ino, each visitor dressed in delicately arrayed kimonos of their own.
'So much for a quiet dinner with Naruto-kun,' she huffed internally trying to plaster an accommodating smile on her face. Trying to appear braver than she felt, she stepped forward to meet what very well may become her future sister-wives.
"Surprised to see you here, Barbie-gaki."
While the tone of her voice was much more subdued than Ino expected it ever could be, she almost didn't recognize the beautiful vision wearing a cream-colored Furisode, the heptagonal design dancing along the woman's left thigh and hip almost snake-like with its alternating soft greens and golds. Her makeup was both flawless and tastefully done, her usual spiky ponytail conspicuously absent behind a well-groomed combination hairstyle; Ino didn't think Anko had enough hair for any of the heavily waxed Mage styles still worn by Geisha but she pulled enough to the front to frame her oval face with a pair of bangs then tied up everything else in back similar to Ino's bee-hive-styled bun.
Suddenly Ino wasn't as confident in her chances to win her man with a mature Anko in the game but she'd be damned if she gave up without a fight.
"He knows a good thing when he sees it," she fired back without hesitation.
"Ino?! Why the hell are you here? I don't see a snobby Uchiha for at least a hundred meters."
She turned to see a competently dressed Tenten Higurashi sporting what she thought was a forest green Houmongi-styled kimono, at least she thought it was. It was hard to tell with the way the older girl shifted, twitched and tugged at it. A rapid-fire scanning of the garment showed that it faded into a dark blue the closer you got to the edges of the sleeves and Hadajuban, the lower portion of the kimono starting about halfway down her thighs. The formal Zori and Tabi for her feet were beige colored to match her fan, Obiage, and Obijime but, other than that, Tenten didn't strike her as the type to get all flowery over a boy. Even her long hair coiled up into a single, looping bun hanging at the nape of her neck seemed more functional towards combat.
Ino's practiced mind immediately classified her as "Low Threat" and promptly ignored her.
"I'm here the same as you." She reached into her small handbag and brandished her royal blue envelope. "I was invited."
"Tch." The weapons mistress' teeth sucking was like sweet wine to Ino.
"Not that it will do any of you a bit of good," a silky voice retorted drawing all three posturing women in their direction.
'Ah, the final competitor,' Ino opined.
When the fourth voice joined in, the three women currently trying to visually set fire to each other's hair and clothes all turned to unite against a common enemy sporting an unusual Iro-Tomosode kimono complete with both Nadeshiko and Uzumaki mon decorating the front and back of her garment. Surprisingly it was Anko that pointed out the bold move for the other two Konoha kunoichi going one step further and asking the foreign diplomat if she'd lost her mind.
Shizuka's laugh just bordered on condescending.
"This invitation is an opportunity to ratify the treaty Konoha penned with my country. According to the customs of my country, Naruto and I were betrothed the day he defeated me in ritual combat so, for all intents and purposes, we're already married and you three," they did not miss her emphasis, "will need to work harder to catch up."
"What the hell?!" Tenten's confusion was apparent but Ino countered giving the frazzled weapons mistress hope.
"Nice try, Princess, but you know why you won't be the only bride in this happy home." Ino almost took great pleasure in the woman's smug smile evaporating.
"Oh, that's right," Anko chimed in. "I almost forgot about that little Uzu prohibition on marrying someone from your rooty-poot patch of sand."
"Rule? What rule? There are rules?" Tenten's eyes were becoming frantic now.
"It seems the Nadeshikans are matrilineal for biological reasons and, according to the Uzumaki elders, if he marries her their genetics mean that his clan will literally die out. Any children they have will not only be female, but they'll be one hundred percent Nadeshiko, not Uzumaki. Her gene pool means that Naruto becomes the last of his royal line." Ino almost felt sorry for the hopelessly trapped woman as the words left her mouth.
"That's not an absolute," the now cross-faced ruler snapped.
Anko felt it appropriate to pile on. "Of course, it is. Didn't Naruto say Uzushio tried what, five times and got the same result each and every time?"
"They weren't royals!" It seemed the Flower kunoichi was losing her confidence. "I just need him to be willing to try it my way first and then-!"
"What a selfish bitch!" Tenten countered bringing a barking laugh from the oddly composed interrogator.
~o00o~
"Should we break it up before they come to blows, Naruto-sama?" Akimi was watching the verbal tussle below from the second floor of the modest estate with some concern represented in her cutely wrinkled brow.
The gentle voice snapped him out of his observation of the women below even though his response was less than immediate. "No, let them be." His eyes couldn't help but fall on the sole blonde. "What will be asked of them isn't such a simple matter. You can't expect four women to share what should rightfully belong to one of them and be happy about it."
The sigh he released after expressing his thoughts seemed heavy enough to carry its own weight.
"At some point, they'll have to work out their differences without my intervention. I can't be there with them all the time when things get rough even if they do agree to this."
All four kunoichi bowed before leaving him to his thoughts. They had a lavish dinner to put on for their new guests after all.
~o00o~
Shizuka's head whipped to face the stern-faced Tenten. "What?"
"You knew the risk to his family line, knew it all along, and yet you're still willing to force your choice on him?" Tenten's eyes narrowed further as she pressed on before Shizuka's open mouth could rally. "If you knew anything about Naruto and how he's had to grow up here you'd understand that bringing back his clan means the world to him and yet here you are willing to take that from him on a chance you've already been told won't work."
For once, Ino approved of and agreed with the angry tomboy.
"I'm willing to bet that, if not for this ritual you used to trap him, he wouldn't have invited you if he didn't feel obligated in some way." Her lips pursed as if weighing the girl's past deeds. "I'm also willing to bet you'd never give him the chance to come back here once you got your claws into him whether your plan worked or not."
"Nadeshiko is not without honor!" Despite Shizuka's heated retort, Tenten seemed unfazed.
"I wasn't talking about Nadeshiko." Her implications left the Flower Princess gaping in shock and frustration.
Tenten turned her back on the royal and followed the pretty lanterns inside, she in turn followed by two snickering kunoichis and one extremely frustrated princess.
Ino's first shock once inside was being met by someone that looked astonishingly like Hinata's sensei. In fact, she looked so much like the woman that a very confused Anko spent the three minutes needed to walk from the pristine entry to the formal dining hall asking her how she got an invite and why she wasn't answering her questions.
"She's not answering because she's not Kurenai Yuhi," an amused Naruto Uzumaki offered.
Anko's calm went right out the window along with her decorum.
"Bullshit! I don't know how you got her to play along but you can't tell me I don't know my best friend!" When Naruto's eerily amused smirk didn't calm her down, he nodded his head over her shoulder in way that indicated she should turn around. When she did, she was only further confused by what appeared to be an equally-kimonoed Yūgao offering to take their purses, clutches and various odds and ends with a polite smile.
This time Anko noticed right away the differences in the nearly identical woman forcing her to spin around and take another hard look at "Kurenai." She could see this time the much harder to spot variations in a stranger that could easily pass for her best gal. That realization ballooned her eyes and forced the now suspicious woman to whirl on their Cheshire-like host.
"What the fuck is this, gaki?"
Naruto couldn't miss the simmering anger in her tone. "This is going to take a minute to explain. Please sit so that my Sirens can serve the cha-kaiseki and I can explain as we dine."
Sit they did and he started his explanation as a befuddled Ino was served tea by her former Root twin, her mind noticing the obvious differences in their bodies. He explained about the kidnap attempts that Ino was somewhat familiar with. He explained what he knew about Danzō's use of illegal body manipulation Jutsu to disguise them in order to gain his confidence and how doctors had proven the technique was irreversible leaving them stuck as they were. He explained about the long-running plot involving Akimi, who served the Mukōzuke course to an equally baffled Tenten, and how her kidnapping was planned in advance by the same evil bastard.
By the time the meal reached the Suimono course, Anko was ready to call it quits and move straight on to dango and sake.
"Each of you is special to me in your own way. Any single one of you would make me the happiest man alive."
"Even the clan killer?" Tenten interjected producing tea-snorting guffaws from the other two Konoha women.
"Yes, even the clan killer," Naruto clarified, his comment producing a blush on Shizuka and silencing the snickering of the other two.
"But you all need to be aware of what you're signing up for." He paused to take in each worried stare sent his way. "Being party to polygamy isn't something easy to accept, even if it's not illegal in a shinobi society. On top of that, there are people out there that still want me either dead, under their thumb, or out of the way."
"Out of the way of what, gaki?"
"I don't know, Anko-hime. All I know is I need to be prepared and that means any woman crazy enough to marry me needs to be prepared as well."
"Are you trying to scare us off?" Ino's question was blunt and to the point as usual but Naruto didn't seem flustered.
"Just trying to help you make an informed decision. Even if the five of us got along perfectly, something I would hope could become a reality in our family-to-be, we'll be set upon by enemies that want us to fail. I'm not looking for a clan hierarchy with first, second, third and fourth wives because all that does is promote backstabbing and hatred." Their four hostesses placed four different colored envelopes on the table, each envelope corresponding to the color of their kimonos.
"I want to rebuild my clan with women that I love and respect, but I won't force anyone into something like this. I can see that you don't trust each other and without trust none of what I want for us is possible. That's why I want you to consider what I've shared tonight and what that means to each of you. If you're ready to continue the discussion of a big family after sleeping on what you've heard tonight, I want you to respond with the envelope you've been provided with."
"And what if we can't get behind this idea of one big happy dysfunctional clan?" Tenten cautiously asked.
"There will be no hard feelings since, like I said, it's not a normal situation to ask a woman to share her spouse with another woman. All it means is that, if you're still willing to consider me husband material after tonight, I need to make a choice and try to sweet talk an incredibly strong-willed kunoichi into being stuck with me for the rest of her life." He was pleased to hear three of them chuckle at that.
"Then what?" Shizuka, who'd been eerily silent thus far asked.
"Then we'll see what happens next. We still need to get to know one another and that will involve multiple dates and conversations. Even after all that, you may find that I'm not the man for you and I'll be starting all over again. No matter what happens, I hope that we can remain comrades at a minimum and that you understand that I'd do anything in my power to help you regardless of our relationship."
In the end, it was a very peculiar ending to an extremely unusual night as four women replayed the entire evening's conversation an hour later in their palanquin escort's gently swaying embrace. It was a very much sedated Ino Yamanaka that tried to explain the night's happenings to her parents once she finally got home.
It wasn't the news they'd been hoping for but at least it answered the Hokage's question to Inoichi about where the four women sent to kidnap Naruto had gone.
He most certainly wasn't looking forward to that conversation tomorrow.
~o00o~
"Was it wise to tell them so much, Naruto-sama?" the red-eyed brunette asked.
The Genin being addressed jerked from his daze as he watched the four palanquins sway down the front path of his second? third? third home and beyond the gate as they diverged to their individual destinations.
"I don't think it will be a problem for either Shizuka, due to her outstanding debt of honor, or Ino, as she'd already accepted the Konoha CRA. Tenten and Anko will be the holdouts I'm guessing."
Once the last armor-clad clone cleared the slowly closing gate, he turned away from the porch and calmly strolled into and through the house to the small training yard located in the back yard, all four Sirens padding silently behind him.
He needed to start preparing for tomorrow and there was no better time than the present.
Stopping on the finely-polished boards of his rear porch, his feet placed so that his toes wiggled freely over the edge, he cleared his mind with several, deep exhales followed by a total relaxation of his body starting with his shoulders. Placing his hands in the Ram seal, Naruto closed his eyes to center himself as his chakra pulsed and flexed like a living beast. He dug deep feeling for that broiling warmth that eluded him more often than not, the very air flexing around him distorting the space like a circular fishbowl. Gnashing his teeth as his brow beaded up with sweat, Naruto exhaled forcefully, his final burst compressing his diaphragm as he smashed the pulsing bubble of chakra forcing the distortion to withdraw back into his body after two more compressions. Still, he squeezed it forcing the now heated mass of chakra into a tighter sphere, tighter… tighter.
When he could squeeze it no further, when he could hold it no longer, his fingers began the methodical chain of seals necessary to release his first jutsu…
~III~
The next morning promised to be a bright and shiny day. From the top of the Yondaime's spiky head, Naruto looked up into the cloudless sky and couldn't help thinking it was a perfect day for an invasion if you were a defender. It would definitely make it harder for an attacking force to close on the gates with the hundred or so meters of open ground between the treeline and Konoha's outer defense perimeter. The village's outer wall, allegedly created in part by the Shodaime himself, was both sturdy and reinforced by the sacred Uzumaki art of defensive sealing even if its strength had been eroded over the years by shinobi ingenuity.
Oh, well. Not like it was his problem to deal with directly and only the Naozumi family knew he was heavy into advanced sealing through his clan's secret texts, a secret he had no intention to share with Konoha. No, he had other literature on the brain at the moment.
Closing what had become his father's greatest gift, Naruto sealed away his "Ninja for Dummies" book with a chuckle. 'I hope I made you proud this time around, dad.'
It was still early. If his reading of the morning sky was accurate, he knew he had two hours before he needed to be at the stadium. There was plenty of time to do what he needed to do between now and then. Plenty of time.
As he watched the aggravated ant's nest in the main thoroughfare below work themselves into a tizzy, his mind ran through the late-night brief – the final briefing – of Konoha's brain trust. Decked out in his loaner ANBU gear, gear Lynx reminded him he'd have to return once the invasion was over now that he was an Uzu Daimyo, he listened attentively as his role in the invasion boiled down to two basic parts.
For the first, he'd been assured that -provided he reached the final round- he was pegged to fight Gaara should the boy opt to stay in the competition. His role was containment and subdual; under no circumstances was the Ichibi container to release the bijū in Konoha. If Naruto could not subdue or capture it, Tora would step in under contingency orders to eliminate the container with extreme prejudice, the threat of war be damned.
Naruto swore to himself not to let that happen.
He didn't even have to make his request to battle the Kiri swordsman as a condition of Uzu's continued assistance as Hiruzen informed him of the Mizukage's request that, should Suigetsu reach the final round tomorrow, that he be allowed to challenge Naruto over some perceived insult to Kiri's Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. Naruto felt the thirty seconds he stalled while "considering" the offer was unnecessary, but he needed to not seem overly excited over it. Considering how important it was to get the missing Fang back, this was a promise Konoha could not go back on.
Now all he needed was a shot at Iwa's Kurotsuchi and it would be a perfect trifecta for the underdog Uzumaki Clan, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. No one was that lucky.
For the second part, he crossed his hands in an all-too-familiar seal and, just like he did the night before, molded and compressed his chakra to a point where it was a rock-hard sphere of energy capable of distorting the air around him. This time, however, eight copies of himself shimmered into existence without extra smoke or noise. Releasing a steady breath, he spun about slowly to lock eyes with his ring of doppelgangers nodding solemnly to each one.
"You know the rules. No Oto prisoners tomorrow." All eight responded with a guttural, "Ossu!"
"Die well," his hissed out, his clones vanishing both literally and figuratively as they streaked off in groups of twos.
He felt the chakra drain, his shoulders rising and falling as his breathing regulated itself. His natural ability to generate chakra would ease the burn, in time, perhaps even by the time the first match began he'd be near half without chakra pills or other aid, but he wasn't worried. For one, half chakra for him was still far and above what his opponents were packing short of Gaara. For another, he could feel the burn as Kyūbi's youki flooded the seal, the army of conversion arrays blending and merging fresh chakra for his use like a shinobi sweatshop.
He'd be near full by the end of the hour and that brought a smile to his face as he fell forward to begin his free fall to the ground below, his body angled just enough to float him back towards the cliff face where his feet made intermittent contact allowing the chakra pouring from the souls of his sandals to let him stick. Peddling his feet with gradually-increasing resistance, his rapid free-fall ended in a casual stroll by the time his left foot struck the soft earth.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Naruto began his leisurely stroll out to the main street and Konoha's grand coliseum. He had one small thing he needed to take care of before the day could "officially" begin.
~III~
Hiruzen shifted in his box seat, his face twisting up as the pain in his hips flared briefly. Ugh, getting old was such an inevitable bother.
Today, however, his eyes were filled with a gleam long since missed. Despite his protesting bones, the longest served Hokage felt fifty-two once more. Considering he was closer to eighty than seventy, it meant the day was a remarkably good one. Months of revitalizing his chakra network had done wonders for the rest of his seventy-six-year-old body masking his discomforted age behind a soothing wall of warm life-giving energy.
Sweeping his eyes down from the covered Kage box, the wizened Fire Shadow watched the mob of excited faces pour into the stadium easily picking out the "honest faces" of his concealed shinobi vice the more subdued disguises of enemy Oto and Suna shinobi. There was a twinge in his heart at the risks they were taking but, for the greater good, it had to be done.
He couldn't let the snake escape and earn a third chance to harm the Great Tree. One way, or another, it would all end tomorrow even if he had to ask a boon of his departed peers. He'd need them to lend him the strength needed to see his own Will of Fire flourish. Too much counted on him winning one last battle.
'Please lend me your strength today and guide me through this rat's nest of deception.' His eyes flickered off the high wall of the stadium's northwest skyline to the faces staring down upon the stage of today's meager contest of wills, none more judging than his own face.
Down below the gaily chattering voices continued to mingle giving rise to the pleasant cacophony of humanity flooding row upon row of concrete bleachers every bit as uncomfortable as his molded throne. The back of his mind vaguely remembered how much he hated the thing, the original being Tobirama-sensei's idea as part of the "imagery" associated with his position. He'd give almost anything for-.
"Hokage-sama," Neko-chan's dulcet voice caught his attention as he turned to spy the most wonderous sight – a golden tasseled seat cushion covered in the softest looking apple-red velour embroidered with the kanji for "Fire Shadow."
He was so thankful that he shamefully brushed aside his paternal concern for her still wounded heart and almost kissed her face mask for the timely present. Instead, he eagerly accepted the gift relocating it immediately beneath his bruised posterior with an appreciative sigh as his hips and spine realigned.
"Perhaps it's time for you to give up that hat, old man."
Hiruzen didn't need to turn in order to see the condescending sneer adorning the face of his Iwa rival so he let his words defend his age to an equally aged Kage.
"If you do not possess the foresight and wisdom to plan for all contingencies, perhaps it is you who should consider retiring, old friend." Hiruzen enjoyed the Fence Sitter's snarl even as A's barking laughter announced both his presence and approval of the repartee.
It was the half-veiled face of the Kazekage that caught his attention, however, as he trailed in behind the lovely Mizukage to take his seat of honor, as afforded of a long-standing ally, on Hiruzen's immediate right.
~o00o~
"Where is he?" Ino was starting to grow anxious. Here it was ten minutes until official announcements were to begin, and all of the Genin teams – even that crazed redhead from Suna – were present and arrayed in neat little lines near the western wall of the stadium (presumably so the Kage box could see them all). They were the only ones missing a team member.
Act or not, she wanted to kill him.
"Trou-."
"We get that it's troublesome for you, Shika, but if you spout that nonsense word one more time this morning, I'm giving you a kunai enema."
Shikamaru twitched violently but kept silent; Ino had become dangerously proficient with bukijutsu.
"I hope your cowardly teammate shows. I'd be horrible if his fear of real competition caused you all to forfeit before I could kill him."
Both Shika and Ino turned to face the sneering Iwa kunoichi to their immediate left hinting that their teammate was a coward at heart and, despite the outwardly presented romantic disfunction, Ino rose to the bait.
"I doubt fear is his issue since Iwa, and anyone from it, hasn't been a real threat – by themselves - since what? The Third Great War?"
The great hissing, spitting, and sucking intake of air from all three Iwa Genin was proof of her win in that small contest. She still wheeled on Shika before his mouth could open all the way to complain, the considerably smarter boy taking that as his invitation to "shut the hell up" as Ino had more than once stipulated.
"Still, he needs to get here before the talking begins or you guys will be in a serious bind." Tenten may not be a fan of the blonde former fangirl but she didn't want to see her favorite shinobi get the boot because of some delay. She flat out refused to believe he'd be late on purpose especially after she literally dragged her teammates to line up next to their "youthful comrades." She could tolerate his rants if it meant being next to her man-FRIEND! Yeah, that's it. He was a very, very important friend and she wanted him to do well.
Yes, that was it. She'd win him from the traitorous bitches trying to take his heart from her later.
"You should not worry. He is here," the monotonous voice of the gourd-wielding Suna nin just past Lee offered between mild fits of crunching his way through a box of Pocky snacks while a floating hand of sand smacked away his elder brother's reaching attempts to steal a Pocky stick.
The Iwa kunoichi, Kurotsuchi Ino thought her name was, snorted in contempt but the chance to ask him to explain what he meant was lost a moment later.
"Well, looks like it's almost time to start." Half-muttered around the senbon clamped between his teeth, the brown eyes of Genma Shiranui were focused not at them but up into the gathering mass of clouds swirling into a dark roiling storm head above them. He wasn't the only one to have noticed as one by one the Genin waiting patiently in line joined the already stilling crowd as lightning flashed and thunder roared through the dark blue nimbus just large enough to shade the stadium.
Calmly, almost lazily, Genma strode forward until he was standing directly in front of Shikamaru (a fact that made the Genin tsk loudly as he tried to look around the larger nin) doing an about-face so that he could observe the Kages, each one except for the Sandaime, now rising to their feet, their allotted pairs of bodyguards rushing forward to stand protectively before their charges with weapons drawn. When the entire stadium stilled, when the energy in the air was beginning to make the hair on people's forearms stand stiff with static electricity, the dark mass of clouds flashed once, twice, then pulsed with an enormous crack of thunder as the very heavens split in a blinding surge of energy.
The Kage guards raised weapons to defend their leaders though several had to close their eyes not to be blinded by the energy strafing directly to the ground where Genma once stood. The senbon-chewing Jounin merely raised a hand to shield his eyes, meaning he only needed a few seconds to blink away the lingering after glare. Others were not so fortunate as evident by the many temporary cries about being blinded.
Ino and Shikamaru, having ducked instinctively along with most of the Chunin hopefuls turned back to the most extraordinary sight.
The ground where the bolt of raw power struck the earth had been scorched a dark black. The resulting pattern along the smoking earth wasn't anything they expected as the tendrils of raw Raiton hadn't shot out in direct lines but in curved arcs forming a spiral of charred soil. Kneeling in the center was a figure very similar to the Komodo Squad shinobi Ino had become increasingly familiar with over the last week of clandestine messages being delivered by the quiet one called Nisshoku-chan and her mouth went dry as realization began to dawn on her.
On one knee, the knuckles of one gloved fist pressed to the ground, was a hooded figure swathed in greys and blacks. High-crested boots the color of fresh ink stopped just below his knees; the armor-plated type meant to hurt when they kicked you. Black ANBU style pants with extra cargo pockets placed closer to the knees disappeared into the tops of the boots but they could only see the pockets due to the heavy flaps of scaled leather from his hooded shirt splayed out to the sides with his body so close to the ground. With that brief window of opportunity, Ino noted that he didn't carry his normal combat pouches strapped to his thighs although she noted a thick band of leather strapped where a holster would usually be placed. It vanished as he slowly rose to his feet, unfortunately.
Now on his feet, she could tell that the heavy flaps stopping just above his knees covered three sides of his body vice four, the two on either side starting from the front of his body splitting the further down they went allowing unrestricted movement of his legs. There were no sleeves but the dark mesh stopping halfway down densely muscled arms easily drew the eyes of every hot-blooded female with a clear line of sight. She couldn't see the front of his getup, but the back showed a pair of familiar punch knives sheathed at the base of his spine. His shins and forearms were covered by his favorite armor plates and battle gauntlets, some black tape peeking up underneath the metal and running up to his elbows.
If only she could see his hair and face from behind. Grrr!
~o00o~
The Kazekage was outwardly less than pleased.
"Hiruzen, I am disappointed that you place such an obvious ringer in the competition to improve your village's image." Inside Orochimaru was ecstatic at the raw display of power, waves upon waves of delicious power he could feel through tingling skin from his position in the Kage Box.
"I will not dignify that crass remark from someone that brought an unregistered jinchuuriki into another country's Chunin Exam unannounced."
That simple statement garnered the attention of every other Kage in the box despite none of them voicing their clear objection. Hiruzen knew that each one would have done the same thing were they able. He also knew that they'd petition the international community for reparations should their villages suffer due to an overwhelming performance caused through such an underhanded tactic; the agreed-upon rules stated that each village would be at least notified thirty days in advance of the first exam stage so that they could properly adjust their strategy, failure of which to do so resulting in heavy penalties levied on the offender.
Orochimaru neither cared for the rules, of which he was most definitely aware, nor for the penalties that they were all sure a badly suffering Suna would be unable to pay. It's not like he was planning on there being either a Konoha or Suna around after this week anyway.
In lieu of responding to the rebuttal, he gave his best Rasa-style grunt and focused on the promising Genin below.
"Despite the Kazekage's punishable violation of the rules, I'm inclined to agree with his concerns, Hokage-dono." Everyone could see the Fence-Sitter's plotting gleam.
"Your program pamphlet has short bios on all of the competitors in accordance with the approved information release format of the exams as well as their shinobi registration number and dates of rank." Hiruzen's eyes never left the now bowing Uzu Daimyo that he still loved like a grandson. "Young Naruto has been a Genin for just over a year."
Both the Raikage and Mizukage, whose eyes had yet to leave the masked face of the hooded shinobi bulged briefly in surprise. Even if that was a genjutsu, of which the Mizukage was sure it was – it had to be - the boy was clearly powerful. A, as attuned as he was to Raiton energy, kept silent knowing the truth deep in his sympathetic chakra network even if he still felt the need to stir the pot a little.
"That could be anyone under that mask, Hokage-dono," A boldly challenged.
"So true, Raikage-dono." The elderly Kage nodded and tapped his cheek once, the body standing patiently in the center of the scarred arena floor calmly reaching up to lower his hood and remove the black-lined ceramic mask held to his face by chakra anchors, the dark cloth interlocking carefully placed pieces of sculpted ceramic covering his mouth, cheeks, nose, and eyes to resemble a serpentine skull.
The golden crown of spikes, ocean blue eyes, and faint whisker marks of Naruto Uzumaki stared back without flinching before sending a head nod to the Hokage, spinning on a heel, then taking his place in line with his team much to their relieved appreciation.
"Nice entrance, gaki," Genma whispered as he brushed by the grinning Genin and retook his place in the center of the arena.
With a cordial head nod, he hoisted his hood back in place, his face disappearing once more beneath the hybrid mask. Despite having his face hidden, both Ino and Tenten couldn't resist the troublesome blushes exploding on their faces; his muscled body, dangerous appearance, and overpowering aura showed Naruto had graduated from powerful shinobi to bonified badass that they both approved of very much.
The competitive glare the kunoichi shared with each other said everything they needed to say once he passed by and their eyes met.
~o00o~
Karin accepted one of the drinks Haku was passing out to the people lounging about in the living room of her master's home, most of them related or tied to him in some way.
"I still don't get why we can't go to the stadium. I mean," the girl's face was twisted into a minor pout, "he's a royal. They'd make room for us in one of the clan booths, wouldn't they?"
Keina nodded even as she spoke. "Of course, they would but that also exposes us unnecessarily." The growing bunch of Naruto's family, servants, and Guardians turned briefly from the incredibly large high-definition TV mounted to the wall currently playing a live feed from the Stadium.
"Today is the team challenge and we need to keep a low profile before the singles matches tomorrow. Poseidus has already set up a way for you guys to watch once you get there and the rest of us will be in the stadium to support Sochi during the invasion."
"Ugh! I can help!" the frustrated redhead crowed, her eyes crinkling nearly closed behind her glasses.
"We know that, but you're also supposed to be dead, remember?" Karin blushed having completely forgotten she was free of her village so long as they believed her dead, at least until her adoption into the clan was final.
"That feed is being piped to the homes of the other four major Daimyo so they can feed it to their people, something about drumming up community excitement for the Chunin Exam Festival concept Konoha came up with. Money is a greater incentive among the Daimyo, and they control their hidden villages which are huge targets for espionage among the smaller ones," the elder Uzumaki lectured. "You can believe spies from your former village are in at least one of them and whose face do you think they'll pick out in a sea of blonds and brunettes common to Konoha?"
Karin knew her bright red hair would stand out like a beacon in any Konoha crowd making her pout return full-bore.
"Hnh, a pound of honey vice a pound of vinegar makes the disaster easier to watch," the auburn-haired Siren mumbled out loud enough to be understood.
"True. Now shush! The fighting is about to begin." Everyone else in the room sweatdropped at Keina's bloodthirst, that is until Haku recognized something, or someone, on the screen.
"So, that's what happened to Shiroi-chan."
The collective "Who?" from the entire room drew a slight pink to the Yuki's cheek.
~o00o~
"Pfft! He's not all that impressive. My Sasuke-kun won't lose to him, right Sasuke-kun?" (A/N: Three guesses who this is.)
Sasuke grunted out his own feelings of superiority since he'd been training hard and wasn't one to be intimidated by cheap light shows – even if her constant fangirling annoyed him. It was a tragic shame that he couldn't ignore the outraged, and sometimes open-mouthed, glares of disbelief from every other Genin within earshot that heard the shrieking praise of his most hated fangirl. Since they were on the far side of the Iwa team, and knowing how much their kunoichi despised "the blond Konoha filth" that was their Dobe, her matching stare combining disbelief with disgust was enough to nearly make him transition from full pout to partial shame. Nearly.
He was an Uchiha elite after all. He had some self-control.
"Alright, you brats." Genma's voice broke up their public condemnation of the pink-haired ninja wanna-be. Apparently, they'd completely ignored the opening speech by the Hokage welcoming everyone to the Chunin Exam Festival. "I need everyone except Kiri Genin Team Five and Team Kabuto to head on up to the observation area set aside for you."
He clapped his hands before making shooing motions with them as the Kunoichi from the Kiri team stepped up to whisper something in his ear, something he nodded amenably to. "Got it," he answered just loud enough for her to hear before turning his now jutsu-amplified voice out to the audience. "It's time to get this show started!"
The stadium roared its approval and just like that, the festivities got underway.
~o00o~
As the students separated to prepare for the first team battle, a red-faced Ōnoki turned on the still smirking Sandaime Hokage with a full head of righteous fury.
"You CANNOT tell me that is a Genin!" His finger angrily jabbed the air in the direction of the hooded figure calmly headed to the observation gallery with the other hopefuls.
Hiruzen laughed in his face. It was not a timid chuckle or spirited snort – it was a deep-bellied laugh that made the Iwa midget's whole head turn an unhealthy shade of red.
"That is exactly what I'm telling you and you have the proof in your hands to validate my claim." Hiruzen's satisfied smirk rotated away to observe the fight about to happen between Kiri and Orochimaru's favorite spy.
"Listen here-gurrk!"
There was a sickening crunch as the Tsuchikage leaped up from his sitting position to present what he assumed would be a fully standing and powerfully intimidating position on the same chair he'd been given to gloat upon. Perhaps he thought it would give him the proper height allowing him to (finally) tower over the seated Hokage.
"Men your age should be careful not to get too excited, Tsuchikage-dono." The Mizukage's sweet voice only seemed the further enrage the already livid rock chewer as he froze in his hunched over position, his hand no longer pointing at Hiruzen as it flew to his lower lumbar region.
"…ack, my back!"
~o00o~
"The rules are simple. Death waivers from Phase II remain in effect so don't count on someone jumping in to save your butts." Genma waited a moment to make sure all six competitors were paying attention to him as the entire stadium listened in rapt attention. "Victory comes through submission, unconsciousness of your opponents, or death. Last Genin standing determines victory for their team and, if you're not looking to die today, you'd better have the Kami-given sense to know when to surrender." His eyes rose above their heads to take in the observation deck holding the remaining contestants.
"Those of you in the stands should take note of these rules as I will not repeat them. If I do step in because a competitor is clearly unable to continue, you will obey my commands. If you ignore them, not only will you forfeit the match, I will forcibly remove you from the bout and the remainder of the Chunin Exams making you ineligible for promotion at a minimum, no exceptions." His eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Pay close attention to the screen across from you as it will announce the next match. Miss your call up and you will be disqualified from the tournament, no exceptions."
"Remember also that your waivers allow proctors to use lethal force, if required, to enforce the internationally accepted rules of the Chunin Exam, so don't push us." His eyes came back to the six immediately before him.
"Got it?"
Six heads nodded north-to-south.
"Good. Ready to begin then? Hajime!"
Genma leaped back high enough to take to the stadium wall with chakra flowing from his sandals watching with interest as the two sword wielders charged the larger Genin in Kabuto's team. It was the female standing calmly behind them as she focused on the stationary Iryonin, however, that held his fascination.
~o00o~
Up in the observation deck, Naruto focused on the male carrying Zabuza's stolen weapon until his attention was partially pulled away.
"How did you pull off that stunt, Dobe?!" The Uchiha's petulant whine caught the attention of the observation deck filled with Genin competitors and their attending Jounin sensei.
Naruto didn't even turn around to address the spoiled Uchiha.
"Hey! I'm talking to you loser!"
"Pipe down so we can hear!" someone behind the ranting Uchiha complained. Sasuke pointedly ignored the angry voice as he continued to pester his former classmate.
There was a heavy grunt from below as the glasses-wearing Kiri shinobi hefted over his head a two-handed twin-handled sword-slash-hammer almost as big as his body right before cratering the stadium ground where a now frantic Misumi Tsurugi once stood.
"Shhhh!" Naruto's finger pressed to the lips of his partially-turned face actually made the arrogant Genin and his resident harpy blink in pause. "I'm trying to pay attention to the fights and you're just filling the air with senseless garbage."
Sasuke's face blistered to a near purple shade at the soft chuckles at his back.
Sakura bristled of course. "You should be lucky that Sasuke-kun would deign to take an interest in your pitiful technique!"
The sheer number of Genin in the stands rubbing abused eardrums should have been a hint that she should use her inside voice. One can never underestimate the sheer cranial density of the rabid fangirl unfortunately and Sakura was the prime example of rabid fan fetishism.
Down below, Kabuto was trying to reach either of his teammates who were both hemorrhaging profusely while dodging what appeared to be jagged icicles being sent his way by the score from the Kiri kunoichi. At best with his speed limited to mid-Chunin levels all he could do was dodge, most of it being in the rearward direction and away from either of his teammates being herded away by their aggressive opponents. Say what you wanted about them being mentally unstable, but the Kiri squad had excellent teamwork.
Back in the stands, Naruto never took his eyes from the fight as he attentively studied the form of the Genin wielding a sword he never earned.
"If I'm such the failure, then why hasn't he figured it out on his own already?" His eyebrow rose questioningly though his eyes behind the intricate mask never left the brawling melee below while Sakura sputtered reaching for a snippy response. From what he could tell as the youth pummeled the taller Yoroi Akadō with the flat of his blade, Suigetsu had some skill in swordplay suffering some loss of finesse through forcing extra chakra to his sword arm, which grossly distended it, so that he could swing the monstrous weapon one-handed.
'Tch. Not even close to Zabuza's level.'
TAAAANNNNNNGGGGG! Despite Naruto's harsh opinion of his skill with a blade Suigetsu was apparently good enough to render the larger Yoroi unconscious once the flat of his weapon struck the larger nin's head. From there it was a quick two-on-one when he moved to help corner the nimble Misumi.
"Are all Konoha's shinobi this arrogant?" The nearby Taki kunoichi asking the question had a horribly disgusted look on her face that did more for curtailing Sakura's belligerent behavior than any comment coming from Naruto.
"I would hope not," her fellow shinobi responded, "but I wouldn't blame the guy from Uzu for smacking either of them. They sound like they could both use a good beating or five."
The increasingly hostile mumbling from the rest of the observation deck was turning decidedly against Team Seven and it forced the angry Uchiha to back down, for the moment.
He figured if the Dobe wouldn't willingly give him what he wanted, then he'd just take whatever he desired once the matches started. He was an elite after all, and his vengeance was more important than the Dobe's right to keep his techniques a secret.
Diverting his eyes from the blond mess of spiky hair, he caught the tail end of the first match just as Genma announced Kiri the winners. Noting that both of Kabuto's teammates were being carried away, he realized his focused pestering of the blond orphan had cost him the opportunity to add some new sword techniques to his collection of thievery in addition to missing a handy ninjutsu technique or two from the long-ranged Kiri kunoichi.
"Winner, Team Yuki!"
Sasuke cursed silently at his loss of focus as Genma announced the next match with a five-minute breather while crews repaired the stadium floor.
As money began to change betting hands in the settling dust of defeat, all eyes turned immediately to the flickering names on the jumbotron screen except for the ones staring at the Mizukage (in the Kage booth) and the ones staring at a faintly smiling Haku (in Naruto's home). The unruly mob was, if anything, consistent in their constant desire for entertainment.
~o00o~
Mei's grin was anything but innocent as images of a blond powerhouse returning home with her danced merrily through her head. He'd been absent from the Kage / Daimyo meal the night before but there'd be another shot at the celebratory feast in two days. While she mourned the loss of Zabuza, she hoped to be able to tempt him to her side with another Yuki to help rebuild his clan having heard about the pretty Haku tied to his hip earlier in the week. Thank Kami for Chōjurō's sharp eyes.
~o00o~
Naruto's attention perked up at Genma's announcement of the first match's winner. 'Hnh, need to ask Haku about this second Yuki. I thought she was the last?' Thinking back on his own situation, he realized that couldn't be the truth as he knew of at least three Uzumakis thought to be extinct.
~o00o~
"What the hell, Haku!" Yup, Karin's outburst, despite Haku's unconcerned shrug of her slim shoulders, about summed it up.
~o00o~
Konoha Team Gai vs. Taki Team Hisano
Naruto's attention got snagged by a blushing Tenten as she followed her teammates to the stadium floor (the whole time trying to ignore an exuberant Lee shouting about his burning youth much to Konoha's collective embarrassment).
"Keep an eye on me, Naruto-kun," she called out before squeaking and hurrying along behind her team before the incredulous stares could get worse.
"Did… did Tenten just fangirl on the Uzumaki Dead Last?" Kiba's look of unmitigated shock did little to muzzle his free-flowing mouth.
Naruto snorted. "The only reason you outscored me was that I had too much chakra to cast a regular bunshin, mutt." Several pairs of eyes were glancing back and forth between the two, most of them shocked at his chakra problem and automatically categorizing the speaker as a ninjutsu threat.
"If I remember correctly, ALL of my test scores were higher than yours, so I'd be careful with that 'Dead Last' moniker you keep throwing around so freely."
It didn't matter that he just barely outscored the Inuzuka heir trying not to draw attention to himself. His scores were higher, so it was, in essence, the truth (the fact that he had to hide his intelligence and that Kiba never let him live it down was a nightmarish reality all its own).
At least this time Sasuke left him alone as the clan pouter was busy trying to steal techniques from both teams currently squaring off in the arena, his interest on the taijutsu monster that flattened him before the first stage of the exam and the all-kunoichi squad from one of their supposed allies.
~o00o~
"Feeling any better, Tsuchikage-dono? Or should I summon Tsunade-chan to take a look at your back?" Hiruzen tried not to chuckle too much at his clear discomfort, the aged Kage listing heavily to one side as he leaned on his left arm with a pained wince.
"Gack!" the diminutive shinobi grunted in obvious pain, "I don't need your stinking tree magic! I'll be… urrk!... just fine in a few minutes." His face was flushed a deeper red than his nose. "For all I know, gnh!... you might try to have me killed with your… ngh!... tree voodoo!"
Despite the many insults in the pained tirade, Hiruzen laughed them all away in a show of benevolence. It really didn't matter to him if the stubborn fool suffered.
Instead, his eyes focused on the teams below as the three Taki kunoichi leaped backwards at the start of the match flowing through three quick hand seals in well-practiced synchronization right before clapping their hands together, his practiced eyes seeing the three shuriken they'd launch as soon as they jumped into the air. With widening eyes, he watched as three turned into thirty.
'Did Taki steal our Shuriken Shadow Clune Technique? Noooo… that is something else.'
Whatever it was, Team Gai scattered in three separate bursts of chakra-empowered motion, the ground beneath the exuberant one in green spandex cratering as he vanished from sight.
'Impressive,' the benevolent Hokage considered, 'even if suffocatingly one dimensional.' It pained him to admit the taijutsu prodigy would most likely never advance past Tokubetsu in rank but it was the hard truth.
~o00o~
Sasuke grunted in disappointment as the technique used by the three Taki females slipped from his mental grasp, his furiously spinning eyes sliding past their glowing chakra forms. It was unfortunate that the Sharingan had difficulty copying collaboration jutsus, his eyes instead turning to the bowl-haired melee fighter screaming "Konoha Senpū!" at the top of his lungs.
~o00o~
Naruto turned away from the scrambling match below, the Taki kunoichi trying desperately to stay together while Gai's Genin expertly herded them about trying to cull a weak one from the pack. He did note Lee's speed and the relentless way he cratered everything in his path as the enthusiastic Genin gave chase to whichever one popped up for his attention.
'With so many teams, each one will have to fight twice and then we'll probably fight two or three times individually just to get through everything.' He released a slightly heavier breath. 'I hope Orochi-bastard can hold out until I get a shot to deal with Suigetsu.'
His eyes took in the scowling Kurotsuchi, who had been glaring at him since the matches started, and he smirked at her. 'Yeah, yeah, you'll get your shot as well I'm guessing.'
He turned back to the match in time to catch the tail end of a fire collaboration jutsu being cast by the Taki Trio get interrupted once Lee plowed through one of the kunoichi from behind, his foot rendering her blissfully unconscious before her body cratered the rock-hard stadium floor as she bounced out of the new indention to roll to an unmoving stop.
Without their ability to conserve chakra through collaboration techniques, the fight ended relatively soon afterward in what he considered to be a very predictable outcome.
"Winner, Team Gai."
Genma grumbled about needing to resurface the stadium as snack vendors began making the rounds through the stands to keep the crowd distracted.
~o00o~
Several more matches passed without issue. Team Kurenai obliterated another Ame team despite the frustrating clone jutsu particular to that village, Naruto noting how difficult it was hiding from an entire team of sensors. Kurotsuchi's squad won their first match with little trouble using brute strength to mow them down, the kunoichi's sadistic enjoyment of the pain her Lava Release unleashed on a nearly defeated River nin noted by more than one observer, including her embarrassed Kage.
"She has plenty of power but it's not her power that's the problem," a disappointed Mizukage pointed out. The other four sharing the booth understood clearly that Kurotsuchi would not be receiving Mei's vote unless she displayed something akin to emotional control in her following matches. Ōnoki's displeased glare swept out to the side of their lofty perch noting the overly-pleased smile on Gekido's face and hardened.
He'd need to deal with the old man after this entire mess was over as this was just a step too far even for the hardened war veteran. Her behavior reflected poorly upon Iwa despite his many clearly-stated cautions to the old fool's enabling of his granddaughter. Despite Iwa's hardened attitude to warfare, a leader unable to control themselves in combat never kept the support of the military and Kuro-chan's sadistic hissy fits were being broadcast in high-definition back to Iwagakure steadily chipping away at his ability to eventually nominate her for the post.
Enough was enough.
~o00o~
Konoha Team Asuma vs. Tani Team Suiko
Lady luck could only hold out for so long and, before Team Asuma knew it, it was time for them to take to the ring against an excited Genin squad from Takumi Village in the Land of Rivers. Even as Naruto rose from his bench seat to follow his team to the stadium, his mind reeled at the memories tied to the slowly dying village of weapons artisans, his eyes flicking briefly to the happily munching face of his fellow vessel.
Though their competition rose as well, he could not help how things could end up if Takumi's part in the timeline remains unchanged. Shaking off the trio of long-haired Genin slathered in newish appearing armor, his mind briefly relived the violent encounter he shared with Gaara as the sand nin crushed the single-minded Jounin-sensei of their team with a [Spear of Shukaku].
Sometimes being unable to change course when Destiny provides you with an unassailable roadblock can only end in one way.
As Team Ten took their positions across from three heavily-armored Genin all sporting the same purple and blue armor and long-haired dreadlock "do" of their sensei, a saddened jinchuuriki understood that his match could only end once all three were kissing dirt; Suiko didn't know how to back down so it stood to reason that his Genin would be the same way.
"Okay, the rules have not changed. Are there any questions?" Genma's voice snapped Naruto out of his depressing train of thought as he shook his head negatively while sliding his right foot backwards a bit more than shoulder-width apart. The Tani shinobi, all males, parroted his motion.
"Ready Konoha?" Shikamaru gave an affirmative nod.
"Ready Tani?" The Genin back and to Naruto's left side barked out a quick 'Hai!'
"Right then, Hajime!" Genma receded from Naruto's view as the blond dropped into an intermediate Hakage defensive stance, chakra flooding his skin in the first level of his [Iron Kimono] defense. Sparing a quick glance to the matching chest plates his opponents wore bearing a tiger's face, his eyes flowed toward their ninjato as a kunai flashed into each of his palms.
'Hnh, more Mugen Kōgai no doubt.' He engaged the first Genin charging his team and crossed blades glad that their swords didn't appear to drain chakra. 'So long as I don't strike the chestplate I should be okay.'
Suiko's armor could suck the chakra right out of weapons and limbs if you struck anywhere near the embossed tiger face near the center of his body. While not as powerful as the tech from the Land of Spring, it could be just as frustrating for close-range combatants.
Naruto grinned as he saw Ino slip past him to distract the next shinobi from their village with her own kunai even as he felt the chilling embrace of Shikamaru's Kage technique once it piggybacked from his shadow to his opponent's. Once his body unlocked, his knuckles, reinforced by the kunai handle gripped firmly in his hand, rushed upwards in a punishing uppercut to their taijutsu expert's jaw, the boy's eyes rolling up into his skull as he rose up on his toes briefly only to collapse to the ground.
Shika's timing was a touch off earning Naruto a hissed "troublesome" as the Nara's body jerked upwards along with his trapped opponent. He didn't have time to admire their plan's effectiveness as he immediately pushed forward passing close by Ino as she trapped her opponent with an arm extending armlock keeping him bent over at the waist long enough for Naruto to punt him in the ribs; despite the boy's well-crafted armor soaking up most of the chakra in Naruto's leg, the boy's feet still left the ground completely with the force of the blow. As Shika darted forward to engage the remaining nin still confused by the flurry of Konoha activity and teamwork, Ino finished off her gasping-groaning victim with the ring of her own kunai firmly impressed to the back of the boy's skull.
Once he dropped like a stone, she dropped her kunai lifting her hands up into a familiar seal as Shikamaru and Naruto flanked the remaining Tani Genin keeping his focus squarely on him as they boxed him in.
"You may want to surrender," Naruto chided with a soft chuckle already suspecting what the answer would be.
"NEV-," blink, blink. The Genin snapped one hand in the air before yelling out, "Tani surrenders!"
Shikamaru and Naruto turned to walk away in order to join their formerly-prone-but-now-standing kunoichi as a shocked and blinking former opponent stood there wondering what the hell just happened.
The entire match had taken less than forty seconds and, much to the teeth-gritting displeasure of one Sasuke Uchiha, he'd gained nothing useful out of it. The Tani team relied on their weaponry to win making them painfully one-dimensional against a more agile squad. Adding insult to injury, whatever the Dobe was doing with his chakra kept forcing his immature Sharingan to slide off of his form, which was another whole sort of problem even if all he used was the basic Academy fighting style Sasuke had zero desire to learn.
He was so wrapped up in his own frustration Sasuke nearly jumped out of his skin when his one-eyed sensei clapped a heavy palm on his shoulder drawing his attention away from the stadium floor.
"Sasuke, you wouldn't be trying to steal techniques from your fellow Leaf shinobi without their permission, are you?"
Even the Last Uchiha gulped at the annoyed tone of his teacher.
"Because I'd hate to have to pull you from the Exam if you were." Suddenly an overpowering aura washed over him as Kakashi's face seemed to glow with an unearthly light.
Having forgotten that his Sharingan was still active, Sasuke wisely let the chakra dwindle from his eyes along with the angry red of his greedy orbs.
"Wise decision, Sasuke." With that, the perverted instructor went back to reading his smut even as the next group prepared to try and kill each other.
~o00o~
For the next two hours matches came and went, Naruto paying attention to a handful of them as his apprehension grew; with only six teams remaining to duke it out a second time, Teams Eight, Nine, Ten, and Iwa were all among them. His excitement peaked once an overpowered Gaara of Team Baki easily captured every member of a frantically-dodging Ame's Team Shigure, the last of three Amegakure squads to make it to the finals.
Naruto was equally surprised that all three Genin walked away from the match once they surrendered.
As the smiling Gaara shoved a fresh biscuit in his mouth as a celebratory treat on the way out, Naruto's grin grew to match the equally unpleasant one spreading across Kurotsuchi's face; she'd be getting her chance, after all, it would seem.
Having been told by Tenten about Kakashi's threat to the greedy Uchiha bastard, Naruto figured he could cut loose just a bit this one time.
~o00o~
To Be Continued: Konoha Team Ten vs. Iwa Team Kurotsuchi
~III~
A/N: You'd be surprised how much content is left just to get through this day. For those of you that tune in next time for the exciting matchup, you'll be pleasantly surprised (I hope).
Ja Ne!
~III~
[Jutsu Used In this Story]
[B-Rank] Gen'ei Tajū Shuriken (Multiple Phantom Shuriken): This Taki collaboration technique is very similar in both execution and result to the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. It is a cooperation ninjutsu where three users, after throwing shuriken at their target and forming the necessary hand seals, can create corporeal replicas of the shuriken — turning a small amount of shuriken to a large amount in an instant with which to bombard the enemy. Unlike the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, however, this technique makes no use of the Shadow Clone Technique. Hand seals are Dog Rabbit Monkey Clap Hands.
~III~