The second Nine-tail fox

by mflash1512th

Sealing the nine-tail fox was supposed to make there child they sacrifice a hero. So how could it have gone so wrong? Now Kushina and Minato watch how wrong they were to believe in those who betrayed and Abuse their child. They want something... They want payback and who rather than a Uzumaki?

5. Welcome to Konoha part 3

Alright, here chapter 5 and I hope you like it.

Thanks once again for reading my story. I hope you could see what I am trying to do since I have a view where I am taking this so I hope you like it.

Well anyway you see what I am trying to say.

Okay I don't own Naruto.

I not making any money from this and it's owned by

Masashi Kishimoto.

If I owned Naruto I would give my guy Kakashi a waifu.

4 days later,

In the dim shadows of the fifth day of the exam, Naruto stood with a chilling detachment between the bruised and battered remnants of Team Seven and Team Ten. His eyes flickered over them, taking in their exhaustion and injuries with an almost amused indifference. Sasuke, with his hand clutched around his neck, bore the fresh imprint of a curse mark that Naruto suspected was Orochimaru's handiwork. Sakura, pale and wavering on her feet, managed to shoot him a glare full of spite and frustration. "Wow, I am so well-rested and I'm full from breakfast," Naruto taunted, his voice dripping with feigned sympathy. The provocation hit its mark as Sakura's stomach betrayed her with a loud, involuntary growl, causing her to turn away, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and defeat.

Team Ten was no better off. Each member cast wary, almost fearful glances towards Naruto. Shikamaru, trying to cloak his dread under a veil of stoic calm, could not suppress the occasional shiver that coursed through him. This visible display of vulnerability from such a renowned strategist only widened Naruto's smirk, deepening the dark amusement in his eyes.

Kushina and Minato, observing from a distance with the other Jonin's, couldn't help but shake their heads at their son's antics, though a hint of pride tinged their expressions, especially as they noted the clan heads glaring at Naruto.

Anko's voice cut through the thick air, her words amplified by her microphone, "Congratulations to you all… on passing the second exam!" Her eyes roamed the crowd of battered genin, finally settling on Naruto, who stood cool and detached, seemingly unfazed by the palpable hostility directed at him.

'Well, at least more than half the teams were cut off,' she mused silently, her annoyance momentarily flaring towards Kakashi, who stood nonchalantly next to the Third Hokage. 'The bastard didn't even get me the total amount of dango I wanted for the switch,' she grumbled internally, her frustration evident even behind her professional facade.

The Third Hokage, his gaze intensely fixed on Naruto, felt a mix of concern and irritation. Naruto's smug smile, that all-too-familiar defiant gleam in his ocean-blue eyes, so reminiscent of Minato, was particularly irksome today. He managed to restrain himself from glaring outright at the young ninja, forcing a smirk instead as he contemplated the upcoming matches. The draws had been subtly manipulated—rigged, really—to put Naruto at a disadvantage, a necessary measure in the Hokage's eyes to curb the young man's unsettling influence.

"Let's see how you handle what comes next," the Hokage thought darkly, his mind already running through the potential outcomes of the matches, hoping against hope that the set-up would humble Naruto, or better yet, knock some sense into him.

Anko's announcement refocused everyone's attention. "Now," she said, turning back to the assembly with a dramatic flourish, "Lord Hokage himself will explain the third exam. Listen up and take every word he says to heart! They are all yours, my lord."

"Very well," the Third Hokage replied, stepping forward with a dignified air. He surveyed the teams that had made it through the second exam, his eyes lingering momentarily on Naruto. His voice, when he spoke, carried a mix of authority and a concealed undercurrent of concern. He was fully aware of the delicate balance he needed to maintain—between testing the genin's capabilities and managing the complex political implications these exams held.

"The third exam is set to commence," the Hokage began, his tone becoming grave as he delved into the purpose behind the Chunin Exams. "Before detailing its procedures, it's crucial to understand the underlying reasons for this examination, jointly conducted by all nations within our mutual alliance."

The Third Hokage paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in. "These exams are not merely tests of strength or skill; they are a demonstration of our village's commitment to peace and stability within the shinobi world. It's a chance for young ninjas to show not only their abilities but their readiness to take on responsibilities that extend beyond mere combat—responsibilities towards peace and cooperation among the villages."

As he continued, outlining the logistical details and the high stakes involved, Naruto's attention drifted. Despite the seriousness of the Hokage's speech, Naruto found his mind wandering. 'Glad Mom and Dad clued me in on what this really is,' he mused, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he tuned out the Hokage's ongoing explanations.

Naruto was ostensibly indifferent to the Third Hokage's speech, his mind seemingly elsewhere, but his keen senses picked up a distinct feeling of being watched intensely. Glancing around, he noted that both Team Seven and Team Ten were engrossed in the Hokage's words. His eyes then drifted past them, locking with another set of eyes that held a starkly different expression. It was Hinata Hyuga, and her gaze bore into him not with admiration or concern, but with a coldness that suggested she saw him merely as a tool, much like the Third Hokage and his advisors might.

Naruto's expression hardened as he shook his head, a flicker of irritation crossing his features as he remembered a recent encounter with Hinata. During the second day of the exam, they had a conversation that had left a sour taste in his mouth due to her unexpectedly harsh demeanor.

Flashback: Second Day in the Tower Inside the Forest of Death

Naruto awoke to the warm embrace of his mother, Kushina. Since their release from the seal, both Kushina and Minato had taken to sleeping beside him every night, savoring each moment with their son that the cruel twist of fate had stolen from them. These nights were filled with whispered stories, quiet laughter, and the warmth of family that Naruto had longed for all his life.

On this particular morning, their conversation drifted from lighthearted teasing to more poignant reflections. Minato and Kushina, aware of the years they missed, often asked Naruto to transform into his younger self. To an outsider, the request might seem unusual or even whimsical, but for them, it was a heartfelt attempt to recapture some of the countless moments they had lost. It was their way of healing, of knitting together the fractured narrative of their family life.

This intimate ritual was their way of telling Naruto, and perhaps themselves, that the past could be acknowledged and embraced, even if it couldn't be changed. They weren't concerned with how the world viewed this; they were focused on mending the deep wounds of separation and isolation that had marked their son's early years.

"Morning," Kushina whispered gently, her breath stirring the soft tufts of Naruto's fox-like ears that peeked through his hair.

"Morning, Mom," Naruto murmured back, his voice warm with affection as he tightened his embrace. They savored the quiet comfort of their close contact, a peaceful pause in the early morning.

This serene moment, however, was abruptly disturbed when Kushina's keen senses detected a presence at the door. Knowing it wasn't Minato, who was currently occupied with breakfast preparations, she tensed slightly.

Kushina quickly transitioned into her Anbu mode, her movements swift and efficient as she slipped into her gear. Naruto, feeling the shift in atmosphere, followed suit and donned his usual outfit, ready for whatever lay ahead.

As Kushina opened the door, she was met by the sight of Hinata Hyuga standing outside, her Byakugan activated—an unusual and aggressive approach that hinted at underlying tension. Hinata's stance was confrontational, her eyes cold.

"How can I help you?" Kushina's tone was measured and cool, a stark contrast to the warmth she had just shared with her son.

"Where is the loser?" Hinata demanded brusquely, making a move to bypass Kushina and enter the room.

Kushina's tolerance reached its limit; her response was swift and decisive. With a quick movement, she thrust Hinata back, pinning her against the wall with a firm thud that echoed slightly in the quiet hallway. "Little girl, your title as Hyuga heiress means nothing here. In the wider world, they'd strip you of your eyes or use you merely for breeding—just to exploit your clan's abilities."

Hinata's eyes flared with anger, her voice thick with venom. "Do you know what my clan could do to you, bitch!?" she retorted, her fists clenching.

"Nothing. They'd just fume because they can't touch me. I imagine Hitomi would be quite disappointed to see what you've become—a reflection of your clan's arrogance," Kushina responded sharply, her voice cold and cutting.

"You fucking bitch! I will fucking kill you!" Hinata screamed, her restraint snapping. She lunged at Kushina, her gentle fist technique poised to strike.

Kushina remained unmoved, her expression one of disdain. This girl, so much like her father, was quick to anger and too slow to realize her attacks were futile against a seasoned warrior like Kushina. With a sigh of mild annoyance, Kushina prepared to deflect the impending strikes, ready to neutralize Hinata without effort.

Before Hinata's attack could connect, a sudden surge of chakra erupted behind Naruto. Massive, spectral chains, glowing with a fierce energy, unfurled from his back, forming a barrier that stopped Hinata's advance cold. The chains clattered menacingly as they halted her momentum, then retracted seamlessly into his body without a sound. Naruto's expression remained stoic, his eyes cold and detached.

"What do you want, spoiled princess?" he asked dismissively, his voice dripping with disdain.

Hinata, taken aback but quickly regaining her composure, managed a smug smirk. "I have a proposition for you—one you won't be able to refuse," she declared, her confidence unshaken.

"And what might that be? I doubt you have anything I desire," Naruto replied, his arms crossed, his gaze piercing her with skepticism.

Her smirk widened as she leaned in closer, her voice low and conspiratorial. "Become my slave, and together we can overthrow my father and the elder members of the Hyuga clan. In return, I'll bear your children and grant you access to any Hyuga woman you desire. Wasn't it your dream to have a large family?" she offered, believing her proposal to be the key to his ambitions.

Naruto stared at her blankly for a moment before shaking his head. "I'm going to have to decline, Hinata. You're not my type, and I'm nobody's slave," he stated flatly, dismissing her offer.

Kushina, hidden behind her mask, barely suppressed a smirk. The thought of this young woman believing such an offer would tempt Naruto was ludicrous to her. She'd throttle him herself before allowing such a thing.

Hinata's confident smile faltered, turning into a scowl. "What do you mean I'm not your type? I'm considered the most beautiful girl in the village, and I'm offering you a harem," she retorted, her pride wounded.

"Hinata, while you may be attractive, it's your inner beauty that's lacking. I'd prefer someone kind and genuine, regardless of their social status. And how can I accept such an offer from someone whose family has tormented me? You must be delusional to think I'd agree to this," Naruto responded, his tone firm but not unkind.

With that, he shut the door in her stunned face.

"Can you believe that girl?" Naruto muttered to Kushina as Hinata's outraged voice echoed from the hallway, threatening revenge. "You've ruined your last chance! Next time, I'll make you regret this! The next time I will beat you down and force you to be my slave and do whatever I tell you!"

Kushina couldn't help but chuckle at the absurdity of the situation. "Some people never learn," she murmured as they walked away from the door, ready to focus on more pressing matters.

Flashback ending, Naruto's attention snapped back to the present. He coolly disregarded Hinata and shifted his focus to the Third Hokage, who continued his lengthy discourse on the responsibilities and expectations of a Chunin. Naruto's disdain for what he deemed irrelevant platitudes from "the old piece of crap that holds the title of the Third Hokage" was barely concealed.

Kiba, ever impulsive and straightforward, couldn't hold back his frustration. "That's so stupid! I thought this whole thing was meant to pick Chunin!" he blurted out. The remark was so on the nose that Naruto couldn't help but facepalm, a gesture that mirrored the sentiment of his parents, Minato and Kushina, observing from a distance. They exchanged a look that mixed amusement and disbelief at the naivety of Tsume's son, while Tsume herself, standing on the second-floor balcony, continued to glare down at Naruto with a harsh expression.

Naruto shook his head, exasperated not only by the Third Hokage's droning but also by the simplistic interruptions. His impatience grew, visibly evident to those around him. Just then, Kiba, unable to contain his irritation any further, challenged Naruto directly, his voice carrying across the room. "If you think you know better, then tell us what's the real point of all this!" His challenge, bold and loud, turned all eyes towards Naruto, causing a brief hush to fall over the crowd.

Several Jonin and clan heads smirked, skeptical that Naruto could provide any insight that would justify his attitude or the disturbances he often caused.

Naruto stood, his posture relaxed yet commanding, his eyes scanning the room filled with curious and doubting faces. With a calm that belied the sharpness of his mind, he spoke clearly, his voice carrying to every corner of the room. "The real point of the Chunin Exams isn't just to select Chunin. It's a multi-layered test designed to evaluate our decision-making under pressure, our leadership capabilities, and our ability to think strategically in politically complex situations."

"Basically, the Hokage is saying this exam parades the newest generation and their skills to our enemies. It's like we're guard dogs showing our fangs to give them second thoughts about messing with us. It also showcases our abilities so potential clients are more likely to hire ninjas from the village boasting the most talented individuals. If I have to put it in simple terms, especially for Kiba, think of us as show ponies for the old fogies. There are too many of us for the main event, so they need to weed out some of the weaklings."

Kushina struggled to contain her laughter at the bewildered expressions on some of the faces, especially Tsume's, who looked as confounded as the Third Hokage.

As the Third Hokage lowered his hat to shield his eyes, his glare subtly targeted Naruto. Despite his reluctance, he nodded, implicitly acknowledging Naruto's blunt explanation. The room fell into a tense silence, with Kiba's jaw dropping in shock.

Breaking the tension, a Jonin swiftly appeared before the Third Hokage, kneeling with deference. "Forgive my interruption, Lord Hokage, but if you don't mind, I'll take over the proceedings from here. I am Gekko Hayate, the proctor for the third exam," he announced respectfully.

"Proceed," the Third Hokage responded curtly, his eyes briefly darting towards Naruto with a flash of irritation.

"Good to meet everyone. I'm Hayate," the proctor continued, slightly coughing before he spoke. "Before we begin this exam, I must inform you that due to the high number of participants, we need to conduct a preliminary round to halve our numbers."

Sakura, seemingly confused, questioned, "Why a preliminary? Can't we all just move on to the final exam?"

Naruto silently critiqued her, amused by her lack of insight despite her reputation for intelligence. He thought, *She's seen the finals at the stadium and still doesn't get it?*

Hayate explained patiently, "While the first two exams were challenging, we still have too many contenders. According to traditional rules, we must conduct a preliminary test to reduce the number of participants who will advance to the finals. This is also because a number of honored guests will be observing the third exam."

As Hayate's words trailed off, Naruto's attention momentarily drifted, already familiar with the process. His focus snapped back when he noticed Kabuto quietly exiting the scene. *Definitely a spy* Naruto confirmed in his mind.

Suddenly, the atmosphere charged with anticipation as Hayate activated a screen that began spinning names. The crowd watched intently until it halted, announcing the first matchup.

"The first fight: Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze versus Sakura Haruno. Please remain here while the other examinees proceed to the second-floor balcony," Hayate instructed.

Whispers erupted among the sand shinobi as Temari exclaimed in disbelief, "He's the child of the Fourth Hokage?"

"No fucking way," Kankuro added, astonished.

Gaara, fixating on Naruto with a chilling gaze, murmured ominously, "Yes, his blood will do," before he turned to follow the crowd.

Ino's approach was deliberate as she squared off with Sakura, her expression stern and her voice carrying clearly across the room. "Sakura, give up this match. Naruto is out of your league, and he will break you," she warned, locking eyes with Sakura, her gaze intent and unwavering.

Sakura responded with a dismissive scoff, her green eyes flashing defiantly. "Nice try, Ino-pig, but I'm not going to fall for your tricks just to show off to Sasuke. This demon is weak; he wouldn't even dare lay a finger on me," she retorted, her voice dripping with mockery. Sakura's confidence stemmed from a belief, perhaps outdated, that Naruto still harbored an old crush on her, which she assumed would prevent him from truly challenging her.

"Sakura, Ino isn't lying. Naruto is—" Shikamaru began, attempting to convey the seriousness of the situation based on his own recent experiences and the formidable growth he had witnessed in Naruto.

However, Sakura sharply cut him off, not ready to entertain any thoughts that contradicted her preconceived notions. Her glare silenced Shikamaru mid-sentence, her impatience with what she perceived as unnecessary caution clear.

"Sakura, you need to listen—" Shikamaru tried again, only to be met with an even firmer interruption.

"I know what I'm doing, Shikamaru!" Sakura snapped, her voice tinged with frustration. She turned back to face Ino, her stance resolute. "I don't need anyone telling me how to handle a match, especially not from you, Ino. Naruto's nothing more than the dam dead last."

Her yelling was drawing nods of agreement from several Jonin and Chunin who believed Naruto had advanced this far only by sheer luck. Meanwhile, the sound and sand ninjas looked on in confusion, having heard rumors of Naruto's lineage and puzzled by the derogatory term "demon" used against him.

"That kid is the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails Fox," one of their Jonin sensei informed them, believing the rumors that the Uchiha had killed him were false. Orochimaru, observing from the sidelines, eyed Naruto with keen interest, his plans possibly shifting as he absorbed updated information about the boy's abilities from Kabuto's reports.

Naruto, shaking his head, began smirking and tapping his chin—a gesture that sent a shiver down Team Ten's spine as they recognized the prelude to the psychological torment he had unleashed on them in the forest.

"Ino, if she's not going to listen to reason, just let her learn the hard way like we did," Shikamaru muttered, his voice tinged with apprehension, recalling the eerie skill with which Naruto had manipulated their perceptions.

"Do you think he will traumatize her like he did to us?" Ino asked, her voice trembling, unwilling to meet Naruto's gaze.

"Most likely, or worse," Choji added grimly, already heading towards the stairs, his thoughts heavy with the potential horrors that awaited Sakura in the upcoming battle. As Team Ten reached the second-floor balcony, Asuma, their sensei, gave them a puzzled look.

"What was all that about?" he inquired as his students gathered around him, visibly shaken.

"Sensei... Naruto has changed," Choji murmured, his hand bypassing the usual reach for a bag of chips, his gaze averted from Naruto.

"Huh? What do you mean by that? That brat is weak and only got here by luck," Asuma commented dismissively, echoing the sentiments of other Jonin and Genin nearby, while clan heads listened intently.

"Sensei, you weren't there," Ino interjected, her voice trembling as she clutched herself, teetering on the brink of tears. Inoichi, her father, approached to comfort her.

"Princess—" he began, only to be stopped by a sharp smack to his hand from Ino, who glared back fiercely.

"Don't call me princess," she hissed, tears breaking free. Inoichi recoiled in shock, asking, "Ino, what's wrong with you? Why don't you want me to call you your nickname?"

In her mind, Ino heard Naruto's chilling voice, "What do you think demons like me do to princesses like you?" causing her to shudder.

"Please, just don't," she pleaded, leaving her father deeply concerned as he turned to her teammates for answers.

"Naruto... found us within the first half hour, and he showed us how different he is," Choji added, his own voice quaking with fear.

"What did that demon do to you?" Choza growled at his son.

"He did what your clans did to him in his past," Choji retorted bitterly, recalling Naruto's haunting words about how clan members had tried to slit his throat. "So much blood," he muttered.

All eyes then turned to Shikamaru, who was glaring at his father with raw contempt. "He showed us how pathetic we are... He could have killed us within seconds, and everything I thought of was broken within moments. He outplayed me by not just ten, but twenty steps ahead, and it's your fault," he hissed at the adults.

"Shikamaru, you can't be serious. He's literally the dumbest person alive," Choza attempted to lighten the mood, but Shikamaru's glare only intensified.

"Try saying that when he forces me to kill Choji and Ino over and over again by my own hands. Goddamn, I nearly killed myself thinking I had actually killed Choji and Ino because of my stupidity in underestimating him," Shikamaru snapped, his words slicing through the dismissive atmosphere, leaving a chilling silence in their wake. In the viewing stands, tension simmered as the spectators voiced their concerns and placed bets.

"You need to stop this fight; he's going to kill her or seriously hurt her," Ino implored, her eyes scanning the team seven's sensei, Yamato, who dismissively shook his head.

"Ino, I assure you, that demon isn't going to lay a finger on Sakura-san. Remember, he's in love with her," Yamato said, brushing off her concerns.

Sasuke, overhearing the conversation, scoffed with arrogance. "Hmph, you guys were just too weak to keep up with that demon. Next time we fight, I will finish him off with the power of the Uchiha clan."

"That's not what happened before the exam, dickless. Or did you forget how he outplayed you?" Sai interjected, his smile plastered fakely across his face, which only made Sasuke growl and glare back at him.

The tension in the air was palpable, a thick undercurrent of anticipation that wound its way through the crowd as a betting pool quickly formed. Amid the calculated guesses and whispered wagers, Kushina, still disguised, held up a substantial bag of ryo with a serious expression. "100,000 ryo says Naruto breaks the Haruno," she declared, her voice low but carrying a steely confidence.

Tsume, standing opposite, responded with equal determination, her own bag of money in hand. "I'll match that the Haruno beats him," she countered firmly, her eyes locked on Kushina with a challenging glare.

Kurenai, not to be outdone, added her voice to the mix, "25,000 that Haruno beats him with a single punch," her tone suggesting she believed in Sakura's capability more than most.

Asuma, leaning against a wall with a thoughtful look, threw in his own prediction. "40,000 ryo that kid gives up the match," he speculated, stroking his beard contemplatively.

Sasuke, ever confident and slightly disdainful, sneered as he joined the betting. "20,000 the dobe gives up; he's not going to hurt the fangirl he likes," he said, his voice dripping with certainty.

Minato, who was handling the bets, remained silent, his expression unreadable. He took note of each bet with a practiced ease, but inside, he was acutely aware of what Naruto was truly capable of, and this knowledge kept him from making any outward predictions.

Kiba and Kankuro, caught up in the excitement, also placed their bets, each rooting for their favorite to showcase their prowess. Kiba bet on Sakura since he and everyone knew that Naruto was the dead last. While Kankuro bet on Naruto since he heard that Naruto is the fourth Hokage son and was being trained by Anbu.

Back in the arena, Sakura misread Naruto's intense gaze as a sign of interest. "What do you think you are doing, Baka? All this is only for Sasuke-kun," she snapped irritably, assuming Naruto was ogling her.

Naruto's laugh was low and mocking, filled with a biting sarcasm that cut through the tension between them. "Nah, I wasn't checking you out. What is there to check out, anyway? The only thing I see is a flat chest and a flat ass. You basically look like a guy," he taunted sharply, his words harsh and unforgiving, provoking a glare that could kill from Sakura.

"Ready?" Hayate interjected, noticing Sakura's growing impatience and her fingers twitching towards her kunai pouch.

"Hurry up, I need to be by my Sasuke-kun's side," Sakura snapped at him, barely containing her irritation.

Hayate gave Naruto a questioning look, who simply nodded, his expression cold and distant. He was clearly not there to play games or exchange idle banter; his focus was entirely on the impending fight.

"Begin!" Hayate announced, swiftly stepping back to give them space as the match officially started.

As Sakura charged forward, splitting into three with a basic clone jutsu, each clone wore a smug grin, convinced they had outsmarted Naruto. "Take this!" Sakura yelled, her clones attempting to hit Naruto's face, but they phased right through, revealing their illusory nature. Meanwhile, the real Sakura followed through, her fist connecting solidly with Naruto's jaw.

"Is that it?" Naruto's voice came through, unharmed and smirking back at her. Confusion flickered across Sakura's face—she had always managed to floor him with a single punch during their academy days and training under Kakashi. Without warning, Naruto snapped his head forward, headbutting Sakura with sudden and brutal force. The sound of the impact, a harsh "Crack!" echoed ominously through the arena as Sakura was sent skidding across the ground, dust billowing around her.

A heavy silence enveloped the room as Sakura staggered to her feet, visibly shaken, her eyes wide with disbelief as she stared back at Naruto. She could feel blood dripping down from her forehead. The shock of the encounter left her reeling, her mind scrambling to reconcile this new, formidable version of Naruto with the teammate she remembered.

"What? Is that all you can do? After training with the great copycat Kakashi, this is all he's taught you in six months?" Naruto taunted, his voice laced with scorn. His brief glance towards Kakashi carried a weight of challenge and mockery, putting the Jonin on the spot before the silent crowd.

Kakashi, who returned a glare, embarrassed by his student's poor performance.

Kakashi gave Sakura a subtle nod, urging her to continue. Fueled by a mix of encouragement and desperation, Sakura yelled back, "He did teach me something, you demon! He told me how you lied about getting beaten by villagers and shinobi—just to draw attention away from Sasuke-kun, who has had a far more painful life than you could ever imagine!"

At her words, a pall fell over Minato and Kushina's faces. Kushina murmured grimly, "Well, she's fucked." Minato, shaking his head, added, "Looks like only Kankuro and you won," glancing at Kushina with a resigned look.

The air was thick with tension, the arena crackling with the eerie sense that something terrible was about to unfold, propelled by Naruto's chilling calm and Sakura's inflamed accusations. The crowd, on edge, could only watch as the confrontation spiraled into an inevitable clash. Silence smothered the arena, punctuated only by a faint, unsettling giggle that gradually swelled into audible chuckling. The sound intensified, morphing into loud, disturbing laughter that resonated with a psychotic edge. Naruto, clutching his stomach, threw his head back, cackling wildly as though he had just heard the funniest joke of his life. His laughter echoed eerily through the stadium, sending shivers down the spines of Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji, who covered their ears to muffle the haunting sound.

As Naruto's laughter crescendoed, the siblings from the Sand- Kankuro and Temari —exchanged uneasy glances, recognizing the madness in Naruto's laughter as akin to Gaara's own when pushed to the brink. Gaara himself couldn't help but smile, a twisted grin spreading across his face, sensing a kinship in that dark mirth.

Amid the chaos, Naruto's eyes fixed on Sakura, gleaming with a sinister light. "Wow, I knew you were a dumb bitch, but I guess it runs in your family," he taunted with a cruel sneer.

Before Sakura could muster a response, Naruto's attack blindsided her. It felt as though a truck had smashed into her stomach, knocking the wind out of her with a force that sent blood and saliva flying. The Jonin and even the Hokage gasped at the sheer speed and ferocity of the blow. Just as Sakura was about to be flung backward by the impact, Naruto cruelly grabbed her by the hair, arresting her motion with brutal finality. Her scream was cut short as Naruto drove a knee into her jaw, silencing her agonized cries.

Clutching her neck with a vice-like grip, Naruto brought her quivering form close to his face, his expression one of dark delight. The arena watched in stunned silence, the air thick with tension and fear, as Naruto dominated the match with terrifying intensity.

Naruto released his grip on Sakura, allowing her a momentary respite, only to launch a barrage of punches. Each strike was a blur, targeting the most vulnerable points on her body, causing waves of excruciating pain. His final punch to her nose was so forceful it broke, causing her eyes to roll back as she started to collapse.

The arena echoed with Naruto's deranged laughter, punctuating each hit with a chilling cadence. In a horrifying flourish, he drew a senbon needle and stabbed it between her ribs, eliciting a scream so piercing it seemed to reach the outskirts of the village. He delivered a crushing punch to her chest, propelling her toward the wall, then sneered, "I learned this trick from the Uchiha military police who liked to torture me after academy classes since I was five."

As Sakura hurtled toward the wall, Naruto appeared behind her, kicking her back across the arena. He grabbed her face, smashing it into the ground with enough force to create a crater. "You should have heard me screaming for help," he snarled, lifting her by the jaw and flinging her toward the ceiling. "But no one came, not even those who promised to protect me if my parents died."

With a vicious cycle of assault, Naruto appeared at the ceiling just as Sakura reached it, driving his foot into her stomach and sending her plummeting to the ground with devastating force. He landed gracefully, positioning himself to catch her with his knee. The sound of her spine cracking echoed through the stunned silence of the arena.

"And if it weren't for Itachi, I'd still be dealing with them," Naruto mused, stepping away from Sakura's motionless body. "Might've even gone full Nine-Tails on the village."

The horror of the scene left many Genin nauseated from the sheer brutality of the display. Only Sai, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino remained composed, having shielded themselves from the worst of it. Sai, conditioned by Danzo's harsh training, observed impassively, while Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino had turned away, ears covered, sparing themselves the sight of Sakura's destruction at Naruto's hands. Naruto stared down at Hayate, whose expression conveyed shock and horror at the violence that had just unfolded. "Well? Are you going to declare my win?" he said and Hayate didn't say anything. Naruto took out a kunai from out of nowhere and was going to throw it on the back of Sakura's head killing her.

Before Hayate could respond, a powerful kick aimed at Naruto interrupted the tense moment. Rock Lee, his face contorted with anger, had launched the attack, only for Naruto to effortlessly catch his leg and hurl him to the ground. As Lee tried to regain his footing, chakra chains sprang from Naruto's back, snaring his limbs and pulling taut.

"That was a decent attempt, Lee. But really, just a baby tap," Naruto taunted, the chains tightening further. Lee's groans of pain filled the air, drawing a shout of protest from his sensei, Might Guy.

"Stop this, Naruto!" Guy demanded, stepping forward with a severe look.

Naruto tilted his head, his smile fading into a mock-serious expression. "If you didn't want him hurt, you should've stopped him earlier. But since you didn't, I suppose it's on him."

"I will discipline Lee after the preliminaries," Guy assured, eyes locked on Naruto, who casually released Lee from the chakra chains. As Lee collapsed to the ground, he made a move to charge at Naruto again, only to be halted by a firm command from Guy.

"Lee, stop. That's an order!" Guy's voice was stern, and Lee froze, confusion and frustration etched on his face.

"But Guy-sensei, he almost killed Sakura-chan!" Lee protested, unable to comprehend his sensei's order.

Guy sighed, his expression softening slightly. "It's her fault, Lee. She was repeatedly warned by her peers about the dangers of confronting Naruto and she ignored them. Moreover, it's the responsibility of her sensei to intervene in such situations," Guy said, glancing pointedly at Kakashi and Yamato, who stood by passively.

The arena was filled with a tense silence, punctuated only by the ragged breaths of the combatants and the murmured discussions among the shocked spectators. Naruto's chilling laughter had set a sinister tone, leaving everyone unsettled by the display of brutality and the cold detachment with which he executed his assault.

As Hayate declared Naruto the winner of the match, he immediately called for medical assistance for Sakura, who lay motionless yet alive on the arena floor. Naruto started to walk away when Rock Lee's voice stopped him. "You better be ready, Demon. Next time, it'll be you lying defeated on the ground," Lee shouted defiantly.

Naruto paused, turning back with a chilling smile. "You can try, Lee. But just remember, it won't be as easy as you think. Next time, one of us might end up dead, and I assure you, it won't be me," he responded with a cold, unsettling certainty.

Might Guy intervened, his tone serious. "Naruto," he called out, capturing Naruto's attention. "Don't ever underestimate Lee. He's much stronger than you think."

Naruto's smile didn't waver. "Oh, I'm not underestimating him. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I acknowledge his strength—possibly surpassing that of the Hyuga on your team," he said, glancing briefly at Neji, who responded with a narrowed gaze.

Continuing his unnerving speech, Naruto turned his attention to the Jonin senseis around him. "I respect the training you've put into Lee. You're actually one of the few good senseis here in Konoha. You genuinely improve your students, unlike others who coddle theirs," he said, casting a pointed look at Kurenai.

"Or those too lazy to find a way to reach them," he added, glancing at Asuma, who appeared uncomfortable under the scrutiny.

"Or maybe they weren't cut out to be senseis at all, focusing only on one while neglecting the others. That, Kakashi, makes you a failure. You can't even uphold the motto you borrowed from the teams you've let down," Naruto finished, his words dripping with contempt. His remarks hung heavy in the air, casting a dark shadow over the arena.

Kakashi, surrounded by a palpable aura of anger, seemed on the verge of lashing out, struggling to contain his rage at Naruto's provocative taunts. The tension in the arena was palpable, with everyone bracing for what might come next. Up in the stands, Kushina, obscured by her Daimyo Anbu mask, called out impatiently, "Oi! Naruto, get up here. You've wasted enough time down there. Let's see what the next match has to offer."

"On my way," Naruto replied, his voice echoing slightly as he ascended the stairs. He passed Ino, Choji, and Shikamaru, who avoided his gaze, their heads bowed, clearly shaken by his earlier display of ferocity. As Naruto strode past, Choza, Inoichi, and Shikaku eyed him warily, their bodies tensed, ready to protect their children from any sudden moves.

Naruto's smile never wavered as he walked past Kiba, Shino, and Hinata, who was shielded by a glaring Kurenai. "Got a problem?" he quipped, meeting her glare with a mocking smile. "Like I said, you coddle your Genin as if they're children. That's why they won't grow. Oh, are you doing that since you got your first student killed by your foolishness and following orders?" he taunted, hitting a nerve. Kurenai's surprise was evident, her expression betraying her shock at his knowledge of her past.

Reaching the balcony where his parents were, Naruto was greeted by Kushina's inquisitive look. "You good?" she asked, scrutinizing his emotional state.

"Yeah," he replied, his voice firm. "She just triggered me a bit, and I wanted to show them I'm not the fool they forced me to be," he explained, referencing Sakura and the harsh treatment he had endured.

Kushina chuckled, a hint of pride in her voice. "You made me a lot of money today," she commented, referring to the bets she and Kankuro had won.

Naruto rolled his eyes as he caught Sasuke's intense gaze. "Can you stop staring at me? I like females and don't swing that way," he shot back, irritation lacing his voice.

"Give me that power, dobe," Sasuke demanded, his voice thick with envy.

Naruto scoffed, "It's called training, you spoiled Uchiha."

"Bullshit! There's no way you got that strong without some extra power," Sasuke insisted, half right in his accusation, hinting at Naruto's Jinchuriki status.

Naruto smirked, leaning closer. "I actually got better by training. Maybe I was always this good, but the people who spoiled you tried to keep me weaker," he taunted.

"I bet it's the Nine-Tails' power inside you. Hand it over; it belongs to the Uchiha clan," Sasuke persisted, his voice carrying a sense of entitlement.

Naruto laughed loudly, the sound echoing around the silent stadium. "Wow, you really are an idiot. Did you ever stop to think why I was chosen as the Jinchuriki? It wasn't because my dad thought, 'Yeah, my son will be a badass with that power,'" he said, his laughter subsiding into a dark grin that held a hint of menace, his words punctuated by Sasuke's glaring frustration. "Spare me the fantasy, if that power had been granted to an Uchiha like me, controlling it would have been effortless," Sasuke retorted, his voice thick with arrogance.

Kushina chuckled, her laughter echoing through the stands, drawing a furious glare from Sasuke. "Oh, you spoiled Uchiha," she taunted. "If the Fourth Hokage had sealed it within you, you would've been obliterated by the sheer force of the chakra. Let me fill you in on a little secret that the village kept from your generation: only Uzumaki clan members can contain the Nine-Tails because of their vast chakra reserves. Not Uchiha, not Hyuga, not even Senju could handle it. That's why the Fourth chose him, not your overinflated clan."

Sasuke's face contorted with rage, but before he could respond, Hayate's voice cut through the tension. "Can I have Sasuke Uchiha and Ino Yamanaka come down here for the next match?" he announced.

Sasuke's smirk returned as he prepared to depart. "Watch closely. This is how an Uchiha elite demonstrates true skill," he boasted, striding away.

Naruto shook his head, exchanging a knowing look with Minato. "He's just like his father. Charging headlong into danger without thinking," Minato remarked, recalling Fugaku's similar demeanor.

"That's the price of being coddled," Kushina added, her tone laced with disapproval. "It's disappointing. Mikoto let Fugaku's doctrines shape Sasuke too much. No wonder Itachi ended up making such a drastic decision; probably to save the family from further embarrassment. If Sasuke ends up killed outside the village or falls under Orochimaru's influence, I can't say I'd be surprised" she said to Minato and Naruto to only hear.

As Sasuke walked past Ino towards the arena, her father Inoichi voiced his concerns quietly. "You know you don't have to fight him, right? You could always just wait until you've trained more," he suggested, knowing full well the disparity in their abilities.

"No, I have to do this now. I need to see how well I can do... Plus, I don't want Sasuke-kun to think I'm weak," Ino replied determinedly, stepping down to the stage.

On the balcony, Shino turned to Shikamaru, curiosity in his voice. "What kind of jutsu did Naruto use on you to leave such a mark?"

"It was just a Genjutsu," Naruto interjected from across the room, his reply drawing sharp looks from the clan heads.

"Really? You have to be joking," Kiba laughed, dismissing the idea. "That dobe couldn't pull off a Genjutsu if his life depended on it—"

Kushina cut him off, her voice firm. "Actually, Naruto's problem with Genjutsu wasn't about skill—it was about control. Given that Uzumaki have large chakra reserves, subtlety in Genjutsu doesn't come easily. Just like the Second Hokage, he had to adapt, creating more potent illusions."

Minato chimed in, adding weight to her statement, "If I had to rank his Genjutsu, I'd say it's at least A-rank."

Kurenai scoffed at this, clearly skeptical, but Naruto didn't miss a beat, "Believe what you want, but frankly, I couldn't care less about your doubts."

If only she knew that fox genjutsu would be much more powerful than anything she would ever create in her entire life.

Back in the arena, Hayate addressed the competitors. "Are you both ready?" he asked, noting Sasuke's confident smirk and Ino's nervous nod.

"Begin!" Hayate commanded.

As soon as the match was signaled to start, Sasuke charged at Ino with a flurry of swift, precise movements. He unleashed a combo of strikes aimed at her face, each blow forceful and calculated. Ino, struggling under the barrage, managed to block with her arms, wincing as the force of each hit reverberated through her.

Not relenting, Sasuke followed up with a powerful kick that sent Ino sprawling across the arena floor. As she tumbled and rolled, quickly trying to regain her footing, Sasuke watched her with a smug expression, clearly not bothered by the intensity of his own attacks.

"What's wrong princess?" Sasuke taunted, his voice dripping with disdain. He knew Ino hated that nickname, especially in her current state of frustration and vulnerability.

Ino's eyes flashed dangerously at the provocation. For a moment, her vision blurred, and in her heightened emotional state, she imagined Naruto standing where Sasuke was, mocking her. "Don't call me that!" she snapped back, her voice sharp and louder than she intended. This uncharacteristic response caught Sasuke off guard—his usual fangirl had never spoken to him like this, and it irked him deeply.

"Hn, I am going to make you learn why you don't speak to a Uchiha elite like that. Princess," Sasuke sneered, adding emphasis to the insult as he dashed forward, intent on punishing her further.

As Sasuke approached, time seemed to slow for Ino. She saw his fist coming straight for her nose and, in a split-second decision, ducked down, dodging his punch. Seizing the opportunity, she countered with a strong uppercut to his jaw.

The impact was solid, and to the surprise of everyone watching—including the seasoned ninjas around the arena—Sasuke's eyes rolled back as he stumbled and fell unconscious from the single, well-placed punch. The arena erupted into a mixture of shock and murmurs.

From the sidelines, Naruto burst out laughing, his laughter ringing across the silent arena. "Sasuke Uchiha, the so-called elite ninja, taken out with one punch!" he called out, unable to contain his amusement at the unexpected turn of events.

Laughter erupted from Naruto, breaking the stunned silence. His amusement drew dark looks from Kakashi and Yamato, signaling a shift in the atmosphere as the fight took an unexpected turn. Ino stared in disbelief at her fist, the one that had just connected solidly with Sasuke's face. A murmur of surprise rippled through the crowd.

"Is that all the Elite Uchiha has?" Kankuro jeered from the stands, his voice laden with sarcasm.

"I thought the Uchiha was supposed to be the rookie of the year… guess the rumors were wrong," Temari chimed in, her tone dripping with disappointment.

Gaara observed Sasuke's crumpled form with a dismissive shake of his head.

Hidden in the guise of a Sound Jonin, Orochimaru pondered quietly, *'The curse seal has drained him more than I anticipated.'* He noted Sasuke's failure to rise, confirming his suspicions.

The Third Hokage, his face obscured by his hat, struggled internally not to direct his frustration towards Kakashi or Naruto. Kakashi's assurances about Sasuke's readiness, despite the curse seal, now seemed hollow. Naruto's mocking laughter echoed, exacerbating the Hokage's irritation, highlighting his misjudgment in what he considered a safe bet.

Hayate, the proctor, appeared visibly confused by the turn of events. Sasuke's defeat was unexpected, disrupting what was supposed to be a straightforward match.

"I think the Uchiha is done. Aren't you going to call it?" Minato asked, pressing for a decision as Sasuke lay unconscious.

Kushina's voice carried clearly, "So, I guess we'll need to inform the Daimyo about this favoritism." Her comment sent a wave of anxiety through the clan heads, knowing well the repercussions this could have for the village.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Third Hokage weighed his options. Delaying the decision could invite scrutiny from the Sand and Sound representatives, potentially jeopardizing Konoha's ability to host future exams and affecting village finances. Alternatively, declaring Ino the winner could incite the villagers' wrath for the apparent downfall of a promising Uchiha.

Resigned, he signaled Hayate, who understood the gravity of the decision. "Winner of the second match… Ino Yamanaka," Hayate announced, his voice cutting through the tense silence.

The crowd was hesitant, unsure whether to applaud or react differently. Naruto, ever the provocateur, began to clap loudly, his clapping filled with mock enthusiasm as he snored theatrically. His parents joined in, their applause sincere yet filled with an undercurrent of amusement.

Ino walked off the stage, her steps unsteady as she processed the reality that she had just defeated Sasuke, someone she had once considered invincible. Meanwhile, Kushina and Minato shared a knowing look, a silent acknowledgment of the poetic justice unfolding. "Ah, karma is such a bitch," they thought, a smirk hidden beneath their masks as Sasuke was carried off for medical attention.

The tournament progressed, and the arena buzzed with excitement and tension after each bout. After witnessing Shino Aburame's tactical victory over Zaku Abumi, where he cunningly sealed Zaku's palm vents causing a devastating build-up of pressure that exploded his arms, the crowd was on edge. This was followed by the peculiar and swift match between Misumi Tsurugi and Kankuro. Misumi, with his ability to dislocate his bones, nearly defeated Kankuro by wrapping around him, threatening to break his neck. However, Kankuro revealed that it was merely a puppet he was using as a decoy, and the real Kankuro, hidden as the backpack he carried, incapacitated Misumi by snapping his spine with a puppet's grasp.

The atmosphere shifted as Hayate announced the next match: "Can I have Choji Akimichi vs Shikamaru Nara." Before any action could commence, both contenders simultaneously declared, "I quit," "I surrender," refusing to meet anyone's gaze. The resignation was swift, leaving both sets of parents glaring at Naruto, blaming him for their children's traumatized state. Inoichi seemed poised to intervene and provide his psychological expertise.

Hayate, slightly flustered, continued, "Okay…" He then awaited the next names on the monitor.

As the monitor spun and selected the next contestants, Sai preemptively bowed out, citing a lack of chakra. "I surrender, I don't have enough chakra to fight, and I was hoping to regain some, but it's not enough," he explained resignedly.

"Okay, winner Yoroi Akadō," Hayate announced, noting the Third Hokage's growing displeasure. The lack of combat was turning the exams tepid, and after the visceral intensity of Naruto's match with Sakura, expectations had been skewed.

Once more, the monitor flickered to life, selecting the next pair. "Hinata Hyuga vs Neji Hyuga," Hayate declared. Both combatants smirked as they stepped forward, their expressions masking different motivations and intense personal stakes.

The tension in the arena was palpable as Neji and Hinata faced off, their shared heritage marking not just a physical battle, but a clash of ideologies within the Hyuga clan. Lee and Tenten cheered for Neji, their gestures full of support and confidence. However, Gai's expression held a trace of concern, his instincts alert to the undercurrents of this fight. He understood that Hinata was no longer the timid girl she once was; her ambition and the main branch's disdain for defeat could turn this match into something dark.

Neji bowed slightly, his voice even, "Hinata-sama," acknowledging her status within the clan. Hinata's response dripped with disdain, "Hello, my foolish side branch cousin," her smirk sharp and mocking. This was not just a personal challenge but a battle for respect and recognition.

Hayate signaled the start of the match, and instantly, Neji's movements were a blur, closing the distance between them with precision honed by years of rigorous training. But Hinata was prepared, her smirk never wavering. As Neji lunged, she formed a single hand seal and shouted, "Seal!" A visible pain shot through Neji's veins, contorting his face as he stumbled, his Byakugan straining against the sudden intrusion.

"Neji!" Lee and Tenten's voices echoed in the arena, filled with alarm. Gai's worst fears seemed to materialize; he knew Hinata's potential for ruthlessness but had hoped it would not come to this.

With a cold, mocking grace, Hinata approached Neji, kicking him viciously in the side. "Don't you dare ever try to raise your hand against your betters, you slave," she hissed, her foot crashing down onto his chest, silencing his pained cries. Her foot shifted to his head, pinning him down with a terrifying calmness. With a swift movement, she released the seal, and Neji gasped for air, his body wracked with agony.

Hayate began to declare Hinata the winner, but Neji, with a sudden burst of resolve, slapped her foot away and aimed a desperate strike at her chest. Hinata's agility saved her from a direct hit, but the force grazed her shoulder, eliciting a stifled scream of pain.

Glaring furiously, Hinata countered swiftly, her strike landing squarely on Neji's chest. Blood spurted from his mouth as he froze, the life draining from his face. "I hope you are happy now, Neji," Hinata sneered, poised to deliver another blow. "I was only going to hurt you a little, but you are a stupid boy, and now you are going to die—"

Her words were cut short as Neji, with his last ounce of strength, punched her in the nose, breaking it with a sickening crack. Hinata staggered back, clutching her bleeding nose, while Neji collapsed, smiling faintly, accepting his fate with a sense of grim satisfaction.

The arena fell into a stunned silence, the gravity of the match leaving spectators and shinobi alike in a state of shock. As the announcement echoed through the arena, confirming Hinata Hyuga as the winner, Gai solemnly approached Neji's motionless form. Despite the outcome, a faint smile lingered on Neji's face, reflecting a sense of peace or perhaps a final silent defiance. Gai gently closed his student's eyes, offering a silent prayer for his soul, while the grief-stricken sobs of Lee and Tenten filled the air, marking the loss of their teammate.

Later, the arena shifted focus as Tenten faced off against Temari. The match was short-lived; Temari's mastery of wind chakra effortlessly countered Tenten's barrage of thrown weapons, sweeping her away with brutal efficiency. Another pupil of Gai's was dispatched to the hospital, leaving Lee as the last of his team standing, his resolve hardened by the falls of his comrades.

The subsequent match between Kin Tsuchi and Dosu Kinuta lacked the intensity of the previous bouts. Naruto watched disinterestedly as Kin, visibly shaken, faced Dosu. When Dosu's punch connected, a trickle of blood emerged from Kin's ear—a clear sign of the damaging sound waves emitted from Dosu's arm gear.

Naruto's attention drifted to the upcoming matches, musing aloud about the dynamics of the next fights. "Looks like it's going to be a three-way fight," he commented, his thoughts on the last few competitors: Kiba, Lee, and Gaara.

Minato, catching only parts of the conversation, looked puzzled. "What are you talking about, Naruto?"

Kushina, overhearing, chimed in with a slight tease. "You weren't listening when Hayate-san explained, were you?" she asked, half-amused.

Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Minato said "Someone is fighting twice," he told his son, recalling the rules. "It could be someone who lost getting another chance, or someone who won risking their spot."

The anticipation built as the monitor flickered, randomly selecting the next matchup. Hayate's voice rang out, crisp and clear, "Can I have Kiba Inuzuka vs Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze."

Kiba's excitement was palpable as he pumped his fist in the air. "Looks like we are fighting the dobe," he exclaimed, brimming with overconfidence.

Shikamaru, observing from the sidelines, shook his head in disbelief. "Didn't he learn from the first time that Naruto isn't the same?" he muttered, aware that Kiba's eagerness might just be leading him into a swift defeat. Kiba boasted confidently, dismissing Shikamaru's concerns. "What are you talking about, Shika? The dobe only won because Sakura was the weakest of all of us. I'd have beaten him easily in her place."

Kushina, overhearing the conversation, saw an opportunity. "Oh, is that a bet?" she challenged, drawing Tsume's attention.

Tsume, not one to back down, responded with a sneer. "Hell yeah, my pup is going to beat that demon student of yours."

"How much are you willing to bet on that?" Kushina probed, a spark in her eye.

Tsume, caught up in the moment, declared boldly, "If Kiba wins, you become my son's bitch." The air chilled as Naruto and Minato's expressions turned icy at her words.

Kushina replied coolly, shaking Tsume's hand firmly. "Fine. But if Naruto wins, you have to kill your ninja partner, Kuromaru."

Tsume's confidence wavered, her grip tightening. "What? Are you that unsure of your son's skills? You're basically wanting me to become your son's plaything, and I'm only asking you to make an equivalent sacrifice. Do we have a bet?" Kushina's counteroffer was calculated, knowing the weight of what she proposed.

Tsume growled but finally agreed, "Bet," sealing the dangerous wager.

As Tsume sternly reminded Kiba of the stakes with a meaningful look, Kiba smirked back confidently. "Don't worry, mom, this match is in the bag. Hope you're ready to be my bitch, Anbu , 'cause you'll be bearing my children soon," he taunted crudely.

Minato, overhearing Tsume son, gave Naruto a firm directive. "Destroy him, no holding back," he stated coldly.

Naruto nodded, stripping off his wrist and ankle bands, handing them to Minato. With an explosive burst of speed that left only an afterimage, Naruto reappeared beside Hayate, shocking Tsume with his raw velocity—her confidence in her son's victory faltering for a moment.

Kiba, oblivious to Naruto's display, continued confidently toward the arena, while Ino commented from the sidelines, "Kiba's going to lose."

"You don't know that," her father interjected, still hopeful.

Ino shook her head, her faith in Naruto solidified by what she had witnessed in the forest. "You haven't seen what I've seen," she replied, certain of the outcome. The arena was tense as Shikamaru voiced his frustration to the disbelieving adults. "I can't believe you guys still think he's the same as when he was one of Konoha's ninjas. Naruto is going to beat him," Shikamaru asserted, his anger palpable due to their dismissal of Naruto's evident growth.

Asuma responded, unconvinced by Shikamaru's urgency. "Kiba-san had a point, Shikamaru. The Haruno girl was nothing more than a fangirl. That's why that demon beat her. It's as simple as that."

"Ease up, son. We're not saying the demon isn't strong, but Kiba is a good match for him," Shikamaru's father tried to calm him, though it did little to quench Shikamaru's frustration.

"Whatever," Shikamaru muttered, resigned to the adults' set opinions. He had tried his best to sway them, but it was clear they wouldn't listen.

The Third Hokage watched Naruto intently, seeing a battle-ready seriousness that reminded him so much of Minato on the battlefield. 'Ah, Minato. I hope you can make your son understand that your plan was to make him this village's weapon, all to protect it,' he thought, silently praying his words would somehow reach the man everyone thought was dead.

Meanwhile, Kiba sauntered into the arena, cockiness in his stride, with his partner Akamaru by his side. "You ready to lose, dobe? Because I already know I've won this, and I'll be bedding that Anbu bitch who is your sensei," he taunted, ignorance and arrogance lacing his words.

Naruto's eyes briefly flashed from blue to red with a slit, a sign of his inner turmoil, before returning to normal. 'Calm down. If I get any angrier, I might lose control and reveal my fox features,' he thought to himself, regaining his composure.

"No, I'm just waiting to see your mother break down once she realizes she'll have to kill her partner. I knew you Inuzuka were stupid, but this just confirms it. Can't wait to see her face when she has to kill Kuromaru," Naruto retorted coldly, meeting Kiba's glare with a chilling calm.

"Are you two ready?" Hayate finally interjected, seeking to start the match amidst the rising tension.

Both nodded, their faces set in determination.

"Begin!" Hayate commanded, signaling the start of a match that promised to be anything but ordinary. As the match continued, the arena's tension was palpable. Naruto, with a serene expression, casually extended his arms, his fingers poised with precision. A swift motion later, a razor-sharp crescent of wind sliced through the air towards Kiba. Unprepared, Kiba instinctively substituted himself with a nearby rock, which was subsequently cleaved neatly, leaving a gaping hole in the stone wall behind him. The sudden shift in momentum caused Akamaru, his trusted canine partner, to be thrown harshly against the wall, eliciting a pained yelp that echoed through the arena.

Tsume, observing from the stands, her nerves frayed by the stakes of her bet, shouted in frustration, "Kiba! What are you doing just standing there! Do something!" Her voice was laced with desperation, aware that her own fate was precariously tied to the outcome of this fight.

Kiba's face contorted in rage as he watched Naruto, who appeared utterly unbothered and merely bored by the proceedings. "You damn demon! I am going to kill you!" Kiba roared, his voice echoing off the walls as he bit into a soldier pill, boosting his chakra levels. With renewed vigor, he charged at Naruto, unleashing a barrage of ferocious slashes.

From the balcony, Choza watched with a smug smile, misreading the situation. "You see, Kiba has him on the ropes," he chuckled, convinced of Naruto's impending defeat.

"It's only a matter of time before he messes up and gets seriously hurt," Inoichi added, his confidence in Kiba's victory clear.

Tsume taunted Kushina amidst the crowd's murmurs, "Hope you're ready, bitch, because once he messes up, you'll be my son's sex slave."

Kushina remained silent, a slight smirk playing on her lips. She knew something they didn't—Naruto was not struggling. He was deliberately drawing Kiba in, letting him think he had the upper hand. Each of Kiba's attacks, though aggressive, was systematically dodged by Naruto with minimal effort—each sidestep and backstep calculated to wear Kiba down and bait him into overextending.

On the battlefield, Naruto's eyes gleamed with an icy determination as he continued to evade Kiba's increasingly reckless attacks.

As Naruto and Kiba's clash intensified, the stands buzzed with commentary from those who recognized the true dynamics of the fight. Gai and Lee, veterans in their own right, nodded to each other, appreciating the strategic depth Naruto exhibited.

"He's toying with him," Kankuro remarked, watching as Naruto effortlessly evaded each of Kiba's increasingly desperate attacks. Beside him, Temari added thoughtfully, "So he's a wind nature user, like me. That's quite rare for someone from the Fire Country."

On the field, a subtle misstep by Naruto seemed to give Kiba the upper hand. "Got you, demon!" Kiba exclaimed as his blade seemingly connected with Naruto's face. However, his triumph was short-lived. His claw hand, suddenly felt intense pain as it passed through Naruto, which turned into swirling wind—slashing his arm with countless tiny wind blades.

"Ahhh! My arm! What the hell was that!" Kiba screamed, clutching his bleeding limb.

From the balcony, a voice clarified the confusion. "Wind Clone," Kushina stated simply, catching the attention of Asuma, who was visibly shocked.

"Wait! How is that possible? There's no known Wind Clone technique," Asuma protested, aware that even Suna had no record of such a jutsu.

Minato, overhearing the exchange, couldn't hide his pride. "What can I say? Naruto has a powerful wind nature, and he developed it himself. It even surprised us when we first saw it."

The Third Hokage turned to Kakashi with a questioning look. "Did you copy any of his jutsu?"

Kakashi, frustration evident on his face, responded tersely, "No, I can't see his chakra at all. It seems he's made a seal to block anyone from copying his jutsu. That damned demon, he should be grateful that his talents could help Konoha with techniques it doesn't know."

Kakashi's comment stirred a mix of reactions in the stands, with some ninjas nodding in agreement while others looked on disapprovingl since they don't need anything from the dam demon.

"This is bad," the Third Hokage thought grimly. "I need Jiraiya to try everything to get that brat into our hands."

Meanwhile, back in the arena, Naruto's smile widened as he prepared his next move, his eyes glinting with unspoken challenge and amusement, ready to end the match on his terms. The arena was thick with tension as Naruto, with a wry smirk, toyed with Kiba, who was clearly struggling to keep up. "That doesn't look good for you," Naruto taunted, watching as Kiba called desperately to Akamaru.

Kiba tossed a pill towards his canine partner, aiming to enhance Akamaru's abilities, but before it could reach its target, a sharp blade of wind sliced through the air, pulverizing the pill. Kiba's eyes widened in shock, his frustration mounting. Around Naruto, several small wind-formed kunai whirled menacingly.

"What? Never seen a Wind Jutsu before?" Naruto mocked, flicking his wrist and sending the wind kunai spiraling towards Kiba. With a desperate swipe of his kunai, Kiba managed to deflect one, but it exploded upon impact, sending sharp shrapnel into his side. He grimaced in pain, quickly replacing his position with a nearby log as a diversionary tactic. Akamaru wasn't so fortunate, receiving a glancing cut.

Ignoring his wounds, Kiba dashed to Akamaru's side, knowing their combined strength was their best chance against Naruto. Everyone's attention was riveted on Naruto as he formed hand seals, preparing another jutsu. Kakashi, frustrated, cursed under his breath—unable to copy the technique due to his inability to see Naruto's chakra flow.

Naruto silently invoked "Wind Style: Tornado Fang." A massive, horizontal tornado surged from his palms, roaring towards Kiba who barely managed to dodge. His jacket was shredded by the ferocious wind, revealing his mesh shirt underneath, and the tornado gouged a path through the arena wall, revealing a hallway beyond.

In the stands, Kushina glanced at Tsume, who was nervously biting her nails. Unaware of Kushina's true identity behind her Fire Daimyo Anbu mask, Tsume looked anxiously towards the field.

"What happened, Inuzuka-san? You aren't that confident anymore?" Kushina teased, earning a glare from Tsume.

"That brat is just lucky he isn't letting Kiba get close to his partner. Once that happens, he knows he's done for since my clan's jutsu are among the strongest," Tsume retorted, her voice laced with desperation.

"Is that so?" Kushina murmured underneath her mask, then called out to Naruto, "Let that brat get to his dog."

Naruto paused his assault, standing still and watching as Kiba reached Akamaru. The crowd murmured, puzzled by Kushina's apparent advice for Naruto to give up his advantage. Tsume, meanwhile, held onto a sliver of hope that Kiba and Akamaru's combined strength could turn the tide of the battle. As Kiba reveled in the power boost provided by the chakra pill, transforming Akamaru into a larger, fiercer version of himself, he shouted triumphantly, "Now that I have Akamaru by my side, I've got this match!"

Kurenai, observing from the sidelines, confidently declared, "That demon just lost this. This is Kiba's most powerful Jutsu."

Kiba, brimming with renewed vigor, launched a smoke bomb, enveloping the battlefield in a thick, obscuring haze. "Man-Beast Ultimate Taijutsu: Fang Over Fang!" he roared as he and Akamaru, now identical in appearance, spun furiously, aiming a series of rapid, drilling attacks at Naruto.

From the spectator stands, Minato watched, unfazed. He knew Naruto had faced worse.

Within the smoky veil, Naruto effortlessly dodged the high-speed attacks. His enhanced senses allowed him to evade each drill with precision. Leaping and sidestepping with ease, Naruto prepared his counterattack. With a swift series of hand seals, he unleashed "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough," clearing the smoke with a powerful gust.

Kiba's and Akamaru's attacks, seemingly successful, hit their mark—or so it appeared. Tsume cheered, thinking the match was decided. However, Kushina merely chuckled, "I don't think so."

Suddenly, screams of pain echoed through the arena. Lightning surged around the figures of Kiba and Akamaru, revealing that they had struck a Lightning Clone. The real Naruto stepped out from the shadows, unscathed.

"Was that it? Because I've got to say, I am very disappointed," Naruto said calmly, his voice laced with a chilling undertone. "I was attacked by this Jutsu a lot during the fox hunts on my birthdays, so I already knew how they work," he explained, sending a mocking kiss towards Tsume. "Thank you for helping me learn your Jutsu."

Naruto approached Kiba and the whimpering Akamaru, both barely able to stand. "You quit?" he asked, his tone hinting at a darker alternative if Kiba dared refuse. The crowd held its breath, anticipating Kiba's response, while the implications of Naruto's dominance began to settle in among the onlookers, shifting the atmosphere from confident jeers to uneasy murmurs. Kiba's defiance burned bright even in defeat. "Fuck off! I'd rather die than let you win!" he snapped back at Naruto, whose grin only widened in response.

"That's fine. I was hoping you'd say that," Naruto retorted coolly. In one fluid motion, he seized Akamaru by the head and flung the dog to the ground below. Kiba, powerless to intervene, could only watch in horror.

"What are you doing?" Kiba gasped, his voice tinged with panic.

"Water Style: Sea God's Hammer," Naruto announced clearly, conjuring a colossal water hammer the size of a large bear. It crashed down onto Akamaru with brutal force, splattering blood and flesh onto Kiba's face. As the jutsu dispersed, all that remained of Akamaru was a gruesome mix of bloodied fur and flesh.

Kiba's tears flowed freely as he witnessed the cruel fate of his partner. "Yo, are you going to end this match, or do you want me to finish Kiba off?" Naruto called out nonchalantly to Hayate, who appeared pale and unsettled.

As Hayate began to declare the winner, his announcement was abruptly cut off by Kiba's roar of fury. "I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU!" he bellowed, his voice echoing with uncontrollable rage. In a frantic motion, he grabbed a handful of food pills and swallowed them all at once.

"Wait! Kiba—" Tsume shouted, alarmed by her son's reckless actions, but it was too late. Kiba's body began to redden alarmingly, his muscles bulging as they were pushed beyond their natural limits. His eyes whitened, losing all semblance of reason as his body shook violently from the overdose of stimulants.

Laughing maniacally, Kiba taunted, "Hahaha, I can finally catch you up. You demon! I will rip you apart!" He charged at Naruto with a frenzied speed that was unnatural and dangerous.

Naruto crossed his arms defensively, his body swaying back slightly from the force of Kiba's punch, but he remained largely unphased. He understood that under normal circumstances, if he couldn't see or move quickly, he might have succumbed to such attacks during his mother's rigorous training sessions.

Kiba, driven by a blind rage, swung wildly with his clawed hand. Naruto observed the scene with a cold detachment, noting that Tsume, his opponent's mother, was still distracted by the betting, seemingly indifferent to her son's life-threatening state.

'If she doesn't care about her son's life, then I guess I'll make a point,' Naruto thought with a chilling lack of concern. Deciding to end this quickly and decisively, he unsheathed his katana and adopted the Iaido stance—a technique famously used by Kushina for lethal, finishing moves.

Both the Third Hokage and Kakashi recognized the stance immediately and understood the grim intent behind it. Hayate, sensing the impending violence, moved to intervene.

But he was too late. In a blur, Naruto vanished from sight only to reappear behind Kiba, who froze in place, his body going rigid with shock and fear. Naruto sheathed his katana with a definitive "Click!" that resonated ominously in the silent room.

In that dreadful moment, Kiba's upper body toppled backward as if severed by an unseen force, while his lower body remained upright for a horrifying few seconds before collapsing. Blood spurted into the air in a gruesome spectacle, and the upper half of Kiba's body thudded heavily onto the arena floor.

Hayate, with a heavy sigh, finally declared amidst the stunned silence, "The winner of the match is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze."

As Naruto walked across the arena, his steps were unhurried and deliberate, each footfall pressing into the carnage left behind in his wake. The remnants of Akamaru, bloodied and broken, marred the ground, a stark testament to the brutal nature of the conflict. His sandals left dark, red imprints as he ascended the stairs to the second floor, passing by the disturbed and silent onlookers.

Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji stood aside, their expressions taut with a mix of shock and condemnation. They had ignored their warnings, and now, they were firsthand witnesses to the consequences of underestimating Naruto's resolve and ruthlessness. Naruto's smirk was unwavering, his eyes briefly meeting theirs with a cold dismissiveness as he passed by without a word.

Approaching Kurenai, who was still reeling from the shock of the violent spectacle, Naruto's voice carried a chilling edge. "Yeah, I was going to lose to that jutsu," he taunted, his words dripping with sarcasm. His tone mocked her earlier confidence in Kiba's abilities, adding insult to injury as Kurenai watched medical-nin hurriedly pick up her fallen student.

Reaching his parents, Naruto was met with a nod of approval from Minato, who observed the scene with a strategist's eye. Kushina, ever the supportive mother, affectionately ruffled his hair, her actions not just a show of maternal affection but a public affirmation of her belief in his path, no matter how dark it turned.

They all looked down to see Tsume walking alongside the medical-nin, her face etched with a hollow, defeated expression. Kushina would have felt bad for her ex-friend since her youngest child was killed by her own. But that ended when she had to watch the fox hunt ever since he got killed out at the orphanage At the age of four years old. In it was Tsume who created the fox hunt during Naruto's birthday and Kushina had to watch year after year seeing how Tsume's clan made it a game to hunt her son without feeling bad for him and betraying her. So to her, this whole thing is Karma, and doesn't feel sad.

Later

The match between Gaara and Lee had been a brutal display of raw power versus honed skill. Naruto, observing from the sidelines, acknowledged Lee's strength with a nod of respect. However, the odds had been stacked against Lee from the start, given Gaara's fearsome abilities as a Jinchuriki—similar to what Naruto had once been. Gai's intervention to save Lee from a potentially fatal assault by Gaara was a moment that even Naruto respected for its sheer necessity.

The spectacle was intense, underscoring Lee's formidable prowess, perhaps even suggesting he might have surpassed Neji, had the latter not met his grim fate at Hinata's hands. Speaking of Hinata, her gaze upon Naruto was unsettling, laden with a dark intent that went beyond mere competition. It wasn't love but an eerie fascination, viewing him not as a person but as an object to demonstrate her dominance and control over what she perceived as a powerful force. This twisted perception made even Kushina uneasy, her maternal instincts flaring defensively at the thought of her son being reduced to a mere trophy in Hinata's distorted ambitions.

As the victors of the matches congregated in the ruined arena, Hayate handed over the proceedings to the Third Hokage with a gesture of deference. The winners from Konoha included Yoroi, Hinata, Shino, and Ino, a mix that left much to be desired in the Hokage's eyes. Internally, he cursed the failure of Sasuke, whom he had hoped would advance further. The presence of the formidable Sand siblings and Dosu from the Sound Village, along with Naruto, whose smirk seemed to taunt him from across the field, only intensified his frustration.

The Third Hokage stood, overlooking the finalists with a heavy heart and an even heavier burden of unspoken thoughts. 'These winners… Why did Sasuke have to be so ineffectual? Itachi should have just killed him and left Mikoto alive. If she were alive, they could have used her lineage to breed strong Sharingan wielders instead of being stuck with this disappointment,' he mused darkly, his gaze tinged with a bitterness that belied his usually composed exterior.

And then there was Naruto, that damn brat, whose smirk seemed to mock him, as if the young ninja could indeed read the tumultuous thoughts swirling in his head. 'Soon enough, I'll put him in his place—a tool for the village, nothing more,' the Hokage planned silently, his mind weaving through the intricate tapestry of political and militaristic strategies laid before him.

The Third Hokage's voice carried a gravitas that filled the arena, a stern reminder of the stakes involved. "As I mentioned, the final rounds of battles will be public, allowing each of you to represent the strength of your respective lands. These battles are not just tests of skill but exhibitions for important spectators. Therefore, the finals will commence one month from now."

Ino shifted uncomfortably, her proximity to Naruto making her uneasy. "Why do we wait so long?" she questioned.

"We call this the requisite period," the Hokage explained. "It's a time to notify important clients and lords to attend the finals. It's also a crucial period for you to train and adapt, knowing what your opponents are capable of."

Anko interrupted with a practical tone, distributing a box for the draw. "Time to pick your numbers, kids," she said. Each participant drew a slip; Naruto pulled out his and noted silently, Number one.

Anko gathered the numbers. Temari announced "Seven," Shino "Six," Hinata "Two," Kankuro "Five," Dosu "Four," Gaara "Three," Ino "Eight," Yoroi "9" and Naruto "One."

The matchups were set, and Hinata couldn't suppress a smile, her gaze fixed on Naruto with unsettling intensity, her lips parting slightly as if savoring a victory yet to come.

Later, as Naruto was leaving, Shikamaru called out to him with a grim determination. "Naruto," he said, his voice low, "next time we face off, we will kill you."

Naruto stopped, turned, and met his gaze evenly. "Next time, it won't just be a Genjutsu. Be ready to put lives on the line," he replied calmly before walking away with Kushina and Minato.

Shikamaru exhaled slowly. "Troublesome, isn't it? To think it might be that simple," he mused, feeling Choji's supportive grip on his shoulder. "Next time, we can't afford to be unprepared."

Ino, overhearing, shivered. "I might face him in a month, Shika."

"That means you need to start training seriously, Ino. You're up against that girl from Suna with a formidable wind nature," Shikamaru replied, his tone a mix of encouragement and warning.

Meanwhile, the parents discussed darker possibilities. Choza suggested, "We could always hire someone to kill him."

Inoichi responded thoughtfully, "But they'd have to get past those two with him, and they don't seem to take their duties lightly."

Shikaku added, "Unless something happens to both of them… We aren't the only ones unhappy with the demon. The Hokage, Kakashi, they're not pleased either. Maybe Jiraiya could be persuaded to intervene."

Author notes

I guess your kinda surprised with the fight of Ino and Sasuke's fight turn out right? Well, Naruto wasn't with Sakura and Sasuke when dealing with the rain team. Naruto from Cannon was the main reason they deal with the Rain Team clones. Sai is the same since he would have to figure out who's the real clone since he would have been hurt from the Orochimaru fight.

If you heard the conversation between Kurenai and Naruto. Yakumo is most likely dead… or is she?

Well I don't know about paring from Elemental nations but I wanted to ask what kind of pairs you want from my hero academia? I have at least two but I am still not that sure since I don't want Naruto to have a huge ass harem like from some fanfiction I have read. But just give some suggestions who should be in it and why?

Well, that's it.

Guess I'll see you in the next chapter, well I hope you have an amazing day you sexy people.