Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or The DC Universe. They belong to their respective owners.
"Biju Talking in mind/AI."
'Biju Thinking or talking to one another"
'Normal thinking'
"Normal Talking"
Powers and Techniques
(Scene Break/Time Skip)
"Super hearing"
(Last day of the second stage of the Chunin exams – Hidden Rain Village)
"Have we heard anything back from Deidara?" Pain asked
"No, it seems almost like he fell off the face of the earth." Konan answered
"I can't feel his ring either, which is very troublesome." Pain commented
"Have you heard from Zetsu about the rumor of what happened in the Land of Waves?" Konan asked
"If you are talking about the second Sage of Six Paths rumor, yes. This is very troubling because there is another rinnegan wielder out there who can summon the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path." Pain answered
"Do we know who the wielder is?" Konan asked
"If I recall correctly, Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf Village. Konoha possesses the Nine and Three Tails, so we must go for them last." Pain answered
(Meanwhile - Center Tower of the Forest of Death - Arena)
"Naruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf Village. Konoha possesses the Nine and Three Tails, so we must go for them last." Naruto heard someone say
'Looks like the Akatsuki will be coming for us last. So Konoha is now in their crosshairs if they don't try and lure me out.' Naruto thought
"I think it's safe to say that the only threat they pose is the tailed beasts they have already acquired. Given that your Rinnegan's abilities are far more enhanced than a typical Rinnegan's. On top of your Kryptonian lineage." Kurama commented, "And even then, you have the three of us to back you up."
'Thanks for the words of encouragement Kurama.' Naruto thought
"First Match Uchiha Sasuke vs Akado Yoroi." Genma announced, "Everyone else, please move up to the upper gallery now."
Everyone but Genma, Sasuke, and Yoroi quickly moved up to the balcony, each joining their respective sensei.
"All right…" Genma said, "Please begin!" he said before stepping away
Yoroi immediately pulled out several shurikens and threw them at Sasuke. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and countered by pulling out a kunai and deflecting them back at Yoroi before he went on the offensive. Sasuke rushed Yoroi, Sharingan activated, and Kunai was in hand as Yoroi backpedaled to dodge the shurikens. Sasuke weaved through several hand seals, ending on the Tiger seal.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu." Sasuke called out before taking a big breath and exhaling through his fingers.
A moderate-sized fireball was expelled through his fingers, heading straight for Yoroi, blocking his line of sight of Sasuke. Yoroi barely manages to dodge away, only getting slightly singed on his arm. He looks up only to find Sasuke not where he last saw him.
'Where the hell did he go?!' Yoroi thought before he was sent flying from behind, courtesy of Sasuke
'How can he do ninjutsu without provoking the Curse Mark?' Orochimaru, in disguise, thought, 'He shouldn't be able to mold chakra without the Curse Mark acting up.' before he spotted Naruto with Obito, Sakura, and Akira, 'That brat must have done something with his rinnegan. I'll have to wait till Sasuke is alone to inspect his seal.' Before he redirected his attention back to the arena to see a toasted and unconscious Yoroi.
"Winner Uchiha Sasuke." Genma announced as medical ninjas came and got Yoroi with a stretcher as the electronic board determining the matches began rolling.
(Timeskip – Akira Senju vs Kiba Inuzuka's match)
"Next match Senju Akira vs Inuzuka Kiba." Genma announced
'Finally, now's my chance to show Hinata that I am the better choice over the prince of Konoha.' Kiba thought
"Don't beat him too bad, Akira. You know he still has a crush on Hinata, so he will be fired up for this fight." Naruto said
"You'd think he would have gotten over it by now and accepted that Hinata and I will marry eventually." Akira commented before he jumped over the railing with Kiba and Akamaru following his lead. Both walked up to Genma, each taking a side.
"Begin!" Genma said
"Are you still not over that Hinata and I are in an arranged marriage?" Akira asked, "You know it's out of both of our control." He added
"Guess I'll just have to show her dad that he is making a mistake." Kiba snarled, causing Akamaru to bark at Akira, cracking his knuckles, his eyes burning with rivalry and personal grievance, "Let's show him what we're made of, Akamaru." He said before he tossed a soldier pill into Akamaru's mouth, causing his fur to turn a crimson-red
"Let's keep this about skill, not personal issues, Kiba." Akira said before they both rushed him
"Fang Over Fang!" Kiba shouted as they both started spinning rapidly before taking off through the air for Akira
Akira swiftly sidestepped their attack and quickly countered, throwing a series of shuriken to disrupt their next attack. Kiba rolled away, dust and debris clouding the air around him. As the dust settled, he and Akamaru split up, trying to flank Akira from both sides in an attempt to pinch him.
Kiba launched a series of fierce strikes as Akamaru leaped from behind, attempting to catch Akira off guard. Akira agily and swiftly kicked Akamaru, sending him into the wall.
"Sorry, Akamaru, you got caught up in this feud." Akira apologized before turning his attention back to Kiba, who was now even more agitated.
"Don't underestimate me!" Kiba snarled
Kiba launched himself into the air with a howl, his claws aimed directly at Akira. Akira swiftly closed the distance in a burst of speed, dodging Kiba's swipe, and executed a perfect Judo throw, using Kiba's momentum to send him crashing into the ground. Kiba grunted, pushing himself up, but the continuous dodging and retaliatory strikes by Kiba were beginning to take their toll.
Kiba stood up, wiping blood from his lip. "I'm not done yet!"
As Kiba rushed forward again, Akira adopted a defensive stance as he did not want to hurt Kiba more than necessary.
"Kiba, this isn't the way to prove your point." Akira commented, sidestepping another aggressive attack. "All you are doing is showing Hinata and the Hyuga that you can't control your anger or temper." He said Kiba's excessive anger made his attacks predictable, and Akira took advantage of that.
He applied a series of non-lethal but incapacitating joint locks, pinning Kiba to the ground. "It's over, Kiba. While yes, you are a strong ninja, this fight isn't about Hinata. It's about proving who is prepared to be a Chunin."
"You are lucky you had time to recuperate since you finished a few days earlier. I didn't get that luxury." Kiba spat, his anger dissolving into exhaustion, "But maybe you are worthy of her."
"Winner Akira Senju." Genma announced before Akira left Kiba and returned to where his team and Naruto were watching before everyone's attention was again drawn to the matching board. They spun to reveal the names Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Neji.
"Next match Hyuga Hinata vs Hyuga Neji." Genma announced before Hinata and Neji dropped down to the arena and took opposite sides of Genma.
"I never would have dreamed we'd find ourselves fighting each other…Lady Hinata." Neji commented
"Neji…" was all that Hinata said
"Before we begin…" Neji said, "There's something I must point out to Lady Hinata." He said, getting her attention
"What Neji?" Hinata asked
"You're not cut out to be a shinobi." Neji answered, "Withdraw from the match!" He demanded, "You're all sweetness and light, a peacemaker, not a troublemaker. You're easily led, not a leader. And you have no self-confidence. You've got a world-class inferiority complex, so I know you'd have been more comfortable and content staying at Genin level. But applicants for the higher-level chunin exam must compete as a trio."
"You couldn't bear to let your teammates down." Neji said, "The truth is your participation has been reluctant from the start…hasn't it?"
"No. You're wrong. I really wanted to change that about myself. So, of my own volition." Hinata answered
"Lady Hinata…you're the sheltered little baby of the main branch, aren't you?" Neji asked
"Neji, leave personal matters out of this; this is not the time or the place to dig those up." Akira commented, causing Neji to look up at Akira
"Of course, the prince of Konoha would try to play mediator." Neji shot back, "A Leopard doesn't change its spots. A failure always fails. And a weak personality won't become strong. I've seen through many things with my byakugan so I know this courage you're displaying is just a bluff. In the truest, deepest part of your heart, you're desperate to run away from here right now."
"No, I really want to." Hinata replied
"Are you just going to talk her to death, Neji? Or are you going to actually fight her?" Akira asked
"Your fiance likes to butt in where he doesn't belong, doesn't he? So are you going to withdraw or not, Lady Hinata?" Neji asked, 'He's very annoying too.'
"No, I am not. I am determined to improve myself." Hinata answered
"Then I won't be responsible for what happens here." Neji stated
"I don't want to run anymore!" Hinata exclaimed, activating her Byakugan and getting into a gentle fist stance. "Let's fight, Neji."
"Okay then." Neji said before he dropped into the gentle fist stance and activated his byakugan
"Begin!" Genma exclaimed before jumping back
"You got this Babe!" Akira called out before Neji rushed Hinata, engaging her in a fierce taijutsu fight.
It lasted for about a minute before Neji hit Hinata with a palm thrust in the chest, causing her to cough up blood before he struck her shoulder with his palm, sending her flying.
"Lady Hinata…this is the unalterable difference in strength…the distinction that separates the elite from the failure. This is the unchangeable reality. When you said you wouldn't run, your defeat was inevitable. The only possible outcome was your present despair." Neji explained, "Withdraw!" He exclaimed before Hinata got to her feet
"I withdraw." Hinata said before she collapsed
"Winner Hyuga Neji." Genma announced before medical ninjas rushed over to her and carried her away on a stretcher
"I'm going to make you regret doing that Neji." Akira said in a deathly, severe, and cold tone before everyone's attention was again drawn to the matching board. They spun to reveal the names Gaara and Rock Lee.
"Next match Gaara vs Rock Lee." Genma announced
Gaara appeared in a swirl of sand in the arena while Lee jumped over the railing. Each took opposite sides of Genma.
"Facing you so soon makes me very happy!" Lee exclaimed, only getting a grunt in response from Gaara
"Begin!" Genma said, and with that, Gaara's sand flew at Lee, who narrowly dodged.
After about 30 seconds of Lee trying to get past Gaara's sand defense, he jumped onto the ram statue in the arena.
"Lee, take them off!" Guy said
"But Master Guy! You said never to do that unless I was defending the lives of people who are precious to me!" Lee said confused
"That's all right! I'll allow it!" Guy responded
Lee then sat down on the statue and rolled up his leg warmers, revealing weights. Lee quickly took them off and held them at his sides.
"Ah, the good old fashion way of training!" Obito commented
'How dumb!' Kankuro thought
'Hmph, there's no way dropping a few weights will let him keep up with Gaara's sand.' Temari thought before Lee dropped the weights
When they hit the ground, dust and debris were kicked up from the crater, shocking everyone except Neji and Tenten.
"Go! Lee!" Guy ordered
"Yes, sir!" Lee said before he disappeared. The Jonin, Hokage, and Naruto were the only ones able to keep up with him.
'He's so fast' Everyone except for Sakura and Obito thought
After several seconds of attempting to get past Gaara's sand defense, Lee finally got a hit in as a blow to Gaara's head from above. Temari, Baki, and Kankuro just stood there watching in shock.
'Unbelievable. He managed to hit Gaara!' The three of them thought
"Well, here we go!" Lee exclaimed
"Lee! Now explode!" Guy ordered
"Yes, sir!" Lee said before disappearing. A few moments later, Gaara was sent flying, only to be caught by a shield of his own sand before Lee reappeared a few feet away.
When Gaara got up to everyone but Temari, Kankuro, and Baki's surprise, it looked like a piece of sand porcelain had fallen off his face.
"This is bad. Lee will only be toyed with and then killed." Kankuro said before Lee looked up to Guy, who only nodded before Lee began unwrapping the bandages on his arms before he disappeared and started running in circles around Gaara
"Come on, hurry up!" Gaara taunted
"As you wish." Lee said before the next moment, Lee had uppercut him with his leg, "And that's not all!" He said
When they reached the apex of the kick path, Lee began wrapping Gaara to him with his bandages.
"Gotcha!" Lee shouted before they started rapidly spinning as they descended toward the floor, "Forward Lotus!" He shouted before they crashed into the floor, leaving a decent-sized crater
Lee quickly jumped out of the crater, landing a few feet away to find Gaara with several cracks in his sand armor. Several seconds later, 'Gaara' dissolved, revealing that Gaara had escaped, shocking everyone. Suddenly, Gaara appeared behind Lee, surprising him before he was attacked by his sand, sending him flying into Gaara's opposite wall, with the sand quickly following after him to continue the assault, slamming Lee further into the wall before it was blasted away, and Lee escaped.
"For you, it ends here." Gaara said his sand armor slightly cracked
"Well, one way or another, the next move will be the last." Lee agreed
"Master Guy, is he about to do what I think he will do?" Naruto asked, only getting a nod from Guy, "I thought it was well established that my body was the only one capable of handling the stress of that technique without serious repercussions."
"That may be so, but that doesn't mean other people can't use it." Guy countered
"He's already used the forward lotus. That alone put an immense amount of strain on his body. This is pushing it to its breaking point." Naruto commented
"Gate of Life: Release! Gate of Pain: Release!" Lee shouted before his skin turned red and veins appeared on his face before he disappeared
"Guy, if he pushes himself any further, I'm going to step in before he risks his shinobi career." Naruto warned as they watched Gaara get bounced around by Lee's hits
"This is the end!" Lee said before he kicked Gaara toward the ground. Just when he was about to hit the ground, Lee threw one of his bandages out at Gaara, wrapping it around him and then pulling Gaara to him. "Reverse Lotus!"
Gaara was sent rocketing toward the ground while Lee fell to the ground. Gaara immediately sent his sand to Lee when he could see him after the dust and debris had cleared. Naruto was down there in an instant.
"Almighty Push." Naruto said with his hand extended, sending the sand flying back to Gaara, "Call the match. It's over. Guy, come get your student."
"Winner Gaara." Genma said before Guy came down and got Lee as everyone's attention was drawn to the matchboard, revealing the names Omoi and Daichi
(After Omoi and Daichi's match)
Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, Omoi, Sakura, Sasuke, Akira, Dosu, Shino, Shikamaru, Neji, and Karui were gathered on the bottom floor of the arena facing Ibiki, Anko, Genma, and behind them, Takeshi.
"To those of you who won your bouts and qualified for the finals of the third stage of the chunin exams, Congratulations!" Genma exclaimed, "Well, Lord Hokage, they're all yours." He said before he stepped aside
"Yes, well then, starting now, I shall begin explaining the finals." Takeshi announced, "It's a period that allows us to relay the results of the preliminaries to the rulers and shinobi leader of each land and summon them to the finals, and it also serves as a preparation for you applicants."
"You must prepare to understand your enemy and yourself. During this period, you can analyze the intelligence you have gathered on your foes during the preliminaries and use it to increase your chances of victory. Even though, up to this point, all the battles have been real, they were conducted on the premise that you were fighting an 'Unknown Enemy'." Takeshi continued
"However, the finals are a different story. Some of you probably ended up exposing everything you've got in front of your rivals, and some of you may have gone up against comparatively strong opponents and found yourselves badly injured." Takeshi continued
"We give you this month to make the finals fair and just. Each of you must embrace the opportunity to practice hard, learn new tricks, and get some rest!" Takeshi finished, "You will each be handed a random number determining your slot in the tournament that is stage 3." He said before Anko came around with a box, everyone grabbed a number until the box was empty
"State your numbers." Takeshi ordered
"1." Akira stated
"2." Neji stated
'Now you will pay for what you did to Hinata, Neji.' Akira thought
"3." Kankuro stated
"4." Shino stated
"5." Temari stated
"6." Shikamaru stated
"7." Omoi stated
"8." Dosu stated
"9." Sakura stated
"10." Karui stated
"11." Gaara stated
"12." Sasuke stated
"The match order for the tournament-style finals will now be revealed." Anko stated before Ibiki turned around a clipboard with paper on it.
Match 1: Akira vs Neji.
Match 2: Kankuro vs Shino.
Match 3: Temari vs Shikamaru.
Match 4: Omoi vs Dosu
Match 5: Sakura vs Karui.
Match 6: Sasuke vs Gaara.
"Now then, it is time to plan your strategies, rest up, or whatever you please. We are all finished here unless any of you have questions." Takeshi said
(Sometime later – Hokage's Office)
Naruto, Takeshi, Jiraya, and Obito are discussing things in the Hokage's office.
"So you captured the Akatsuki member working with the rogue ninja and the rogue ninja that was coercing the village?" Takeshi asked
"Yes. Both are currently sitting in one of my pocket dimensions, which I use to store things. They should both be in 'stasis' until I pull them out." Naruto answered, "I also know what the Akatsuki are after." He said, getting Takeshi, Jiraya, and Obito's attention
"What are they after, and how do you know?" Jiraya asked
"They wish to reunite the tailed beasts and return to what they originally were before the creation of the tailed beasts. The 10 tails whose power rivals even all the tailed beast's power combined. What they intend to use it for, I can only guess, is an ultimate weapon to scare the other villages into peace through fear of being destroyed. As for how I know this, I am the first reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths. He would have chosen my father, but due to him not being native to this universe, he was unable to do so until I was born." Naruto explained, "I do not want them getting access to the 10 tails, so now it's a race between Akatsuki and me to get the tailed beasts."
Takeshi, Obito, and Jiraya stood in shock, taking in what they had just heard.
'That matches up with the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.' Jiraya thought, "I believe you. It matches the prophecy that the Great Toad Sage gave me."
"Considering your lineage, it's not really that farfetched." Obito commented
"How far ahead of the Akatsuki are you?" Takeshi and Jiraya asked
"Currently, I have Kurama the nine tails, Isobu the three tails, and Chomei the seven tails. I have no idea how many Akatsuki has." Naruto answered, "According to Gyuki, the eight tails, and Matatabi, the two tails, both in Kumo's possession right now, and Shukaku, the one tail, currently in Suna's possession. Suna, Sound, and Kumo plan to join forces to take Konoha down as they see us as a threat. Orochimaru also wants revenge for being passed up as the fourth Hokage."
"When do they plan on attacking?" Takeshi asked, "And how did you get the seven tails?"
"After Gaara and Sasuke's match, they plan on releasing Shukaku in the middle of the village to wreak havoc." Naruto answered, "As for how I got the seven tails, I kinda kidnapped Chomei's jinchuriki from inside the Hidden Waterfall Village when you gave me that solo mission at our border and transferred them into my seal."
"I'm going to assume that means that the Raikage is going to bring their jinchuriki with him as bodyguards, seeing as two of his ninjas made it to the final stage." Takeshi said, "That puts six-tailed beasts in Konoha all at once. It is a great opportunity for the Akatsuki to swoop in and get six at once during all the chaos."
"I can take the jinchuriki out of the equation easily. So we don't need to worry about them." Naruto stated, "All we would have to worry about is Suna, Sound, and Kumo's forces."
"I'm pretty sure that Tsunade and I can handle any of Orochimaru's summons. That leaves Suna, Sound, and Kumo's forces to handle. And given that we have a heads up, we can plan accordingly." Jiraya said
"So when do we want to interrogate the Akatsuki member I managed to kidnap?" Naruto asked, "Probably want to do it in an isolated pocket dimension of mine."
"Jiraya, I'll leave that to you and Naruto." Takeshi said before Obito turned to Naruto
"Are you going to want to oversee Sakura's training for the next month?" Obito asked, "I feel you have something special planned for her."
"Yeah, I plan on giving her the same thing I have, seeing as she is going up against a Kenjutsu user. I would do it eventually, but this gives me a perfect excuse to do so now." Naruto answered before he turned to Takeshi, "I'm going to assume that you are going to oversee Akira's training for the month."
"I'll probably have Kakashi do so, as I will be busy arranging stuff to counter the upcoming invasion." Takeshi answered
"Alright then, Jiraya, why don't we interrogate that Akatsuki member." Naruto said before he walked over to Jiraya, and they both vanished into thin air, being sucked in by a swirling vortex
(One of Naruto's many personal pocket dimensions)
Naruto and Jiraya were spit out in an endless desert.
"Alright, be on guard 'cause I have no clue what this one is capable of." Naruto warned, only getting a nod before a swirling vortex appeared. The swirling vortex spat out a young man considerably shorter than them, "You make any hostile moves, and we do this the hard way with me permanently draining your chakra, effectively ending your career as a rogue ninja."
The man looked at Naruto, specifically his eyes and surroundings, and knew he was vastly outmatched. "Alright, I'll behave."
"Go ahead, Jiraya, have at em." Naruto said before his arm morphed into a plasma cannon, humming slightly and emitting a blue hue
"What's your name?" Jiraya asked
"Deidara, rogue stone ninja." The now-named Deidara answered
"Who is your leader?" Jiraya asked with his arms folded
"He goes by the name of Pain. I don't know his real name, but he is a rogue Ame ninja with orange hair, rinnegan eyes, and many black piercings." Deidara answered
"Everything except for the rinnegan eyes and black piercings matches up with Yahiko, one of three ame orphans I trained back during the second shinobi war." Jiraya commented before he turned to Naruto, "One of the other two had the rinnegan. His name is Nagato."
"How many tailed beasts does the Akatsuki have already?" Jiraya asked
"We have two, the five and six tails." Deidara answered, "We almost had the four tails but ended up killing it's Jinchuriki, so now we have to wait until it reforms."
"That means their targets, not including the three I have, are Shukaku, Matatabi, Gyuki, and Son Goku. Three of those four will all be in Konoha at once. Once word gets back to them about this, they will likely attack Konoha during the Chunin exams along with Suna, Sound, and Kumo." Naruto explained
"That means they will have to wait as it will take at least four years for Son Goku to reform so they can seal him." Kurama commented
'That confirms that they will likely attack during the Chunin exams. It's too good of an opportunity for them to pass up.' Naruto thought
"Does the Akatsuki have a base in the Hidden Rain Village?" Naruto asked
"Yes, that is where Pain and Konan stay." Deidara answered
"That means that Nagato is alive as well. No other way that Yahiko would have the rinnegan." Jiraya commented
"That means that we can either wait for Akatsuki to likely attack during the Chunin exams or take the fight to them beforehand." Naruto responded
"I want to go to Ame and confirm that Nagato is still alive. If you wish to accompany me, I'd be okay with that." Jiraya said
"Sure. I'm game." Naruto responded, "Guess that means we got all we need from you." He said before his plasma cannon morphed back into his hand
"So, are you going to let me go?" Deidara asked, hope dripping from his voice
"Once Akatsuki is taken care of, yes. Don't want more trouble if I can help it." Naruto answered before Deidara was sucked into a swirling vortex
Author's Notes:
I have inserted Cloud Shinobi because I have a plan, and due to the graduation age being increased, the timeline for the entire manga/anime has also been sped up. I never intended for this to be a long fic. This fic served two purposes, one, it required that I reread the manga to make changes accordingly. Two, Naruto and Sakura's relationship, dynamics, and abilities and their past are established for readers since I never intended to use canon Naruto and Sakura for my other preexisting fics. I don't plan on making this any more than 7-10 chapters max
I also apologize for the fight scenes, for not making new ones, following canon, or skipping them. I am not good at writing fight scenes and trying to get through this fic to return to my other ones.
My PM/DMs are always open. If you have questions, feel free to message me. I respond the fastest to DM/PM on Discord. My discord username is digitallyadmiringhumanity. I also have a Discord server on my profile that you can join.