The Hyuga advances and Naruto tries to concentrate his Chakra throughout his body, the superficial and transparent layer of his Chakra armor was on, completing the first step just in time just as Neji slammed the palm of his hand against Naruto's shoulder.
- "Chakra surged!" - Naruto thinks when he feels it, it was as if a drop of water had hit him in his pond or on a mattress, it still hurt, but it was mostly external.
Neji struck again, but this time at Naruto's stomach, she tried to back away to get some space, but Neji wouldn't let her, two fingers dug into her arms several times.
-Naruto -Sakura whispers seeing her teammate not even being able to face the Hyuga, but gets up when Naruto hits again.
- "Naruto is in a bad situation" -Shikamaru thinks from his place, he squints his eyes watching as Naruto tried to back away, tried to dodge…. –"his Chakra points… must already be completely blocked by this point" –
- "You can do it… Naruto kun" -Hinata squeezes her hands tightly watching each hit.
Then Naruto changed direction, turning on his heels, making a faster retreat than if he had gone backwards.
When he walked away he turned around again to see Neji face to face, his breathing was agitated by his heart, his head was down and he felt his muscles burning from the blows he had just received - I see that you are not even fulfilling well what you were supposed to demonstrate, look at you, you look pathetic breathing so agitated with barely five minutes of battle
Then Naruto took a deep breath and his blue eyes sharpened as he licked his dry lips – "I don't feel bad, none of my Chakra points have been affected and Neji doesn't seem to notice… it's just that his punches… are much faster and stronger than I expected" -
He felt a bit of his magic swirling around some of his muscles, trying to ease the pain as they healed.
So still without showing his new way of fighting, Naruto lunges forward trying to land a punch on the Hyuga's face only for his arm to be pushed away and he sees that arrogant smile before some fingers... he remembered it, the exact moment when Hinata began to vomit blood in droves, in which her body weakened.
I accumulate Chakra in my shoulder and wait for the impact that comes in a matter of seconds.
- Naruto, be careful, check your Chakra points! Remember?! - Sakura shouts standing up, watching nervously as Naruto is thrown to the ground.
Kiba grits his teeth, this wasn't right, if the fight continued like this Naruto... looks at Hinata and just quickly shakes his head...
All the rookies present were relieved when they saw that Naruto didn't seem affected by Neji, they thought he had dodged it.
- "Itaiii" -she exclaims in her mind, that blow had hit her Chakra point squarely, if it weren't for her rebound... she was sure she wouldn't have been able to retreat.
She quickly adjusts herself before getting up and just managing to dodge when the Hyuga was in front of her, throwing another open palm at her.
-This is unfair -Ino says -Neji seems to know what Naruto will do and also his way of fighting, he doesn't give Naruto a minute to rest or think-
Sakura can't help but shudder as Naruto barely manages to turn around, the bag he was carrying hanging drops something on the ground, it was just a toothpick that rolled away as Neji continued to attack and Naruto retreated.
-Don't you get tired of this nonsense? -Neji asks watching as the blonde's Chakra accumulates much more in his left arm - "you'll attack with that one... we'll see" - he pulls his palm to try to hit Naruto's arm only for Naruto to push it away as a pure coincidence.
-Nope, I'm not doing it- she says stepping back before the palm hits her chin, it still seemed like Neji was landing the hits because of the sudden movements Naruto made when stepping back, like when Neji tried to hit his shoulder, then Naruto pushed his shoulder back and the Hyuga's palm hit the air.
-Oto san - a little girl calls out to her father, the leader of the Hyuga clan who barely takes his eyes off the boy's impeccable movements, but still notices that Neji Hyuga is no longer landing his blows - he's no longer... landing his blows, right? -
-correct Hanabi -the girl looks at the blonde boy before realizing something.
I want to become a person as brave as Naruto kun…
It was her older sister who had said that, she had called the blond-haired boy brave… but, even if he was brave, her father had told her that Neji was much stronger than her and… much more than her sister so she knew that, even so, no matter if Hyuga won
- "Should I start counterattacking?" - Naruto thinks as he feels that he has already gotten used to the hectic pace as well…
Broken on her heels in a sharp movement as those Chakra-cursed fingers tried to strike her in the arm, the crescent-shaped bag dropped another stick.
- "Not yet" -she shakes her head as she moves, dropping another toothpick on the floor –"Besides" -… he looks upset…
It was instinct that told him that Neji was upset, his inner sensor was out for a while while he was using that Chakra armor.
-this is strange- Hinata suddenly comments to Kiba, who was too into the fight with his fists clenched and shaking with rage, when he sees Kiba -Naruto kun… not saying that he should… but he should have fallen already with the amount of hits he received a while ago and… now Neji ni san is not hitting him anymore- that surprises Kiba and he squints his eyes so that his vision clears and he notices it.
Naruto moves a second before the impact, Neji never hit him... His true friend now... was -surprising- Kiba exclaims with a fanged smile appearing on his face.
Shikamaru had come to a similar conclusion as Hinata a few minutes ago, Naruto is no longer being hit and it is not Neji's speed that is decreasing, Naruto's precision and speed were what was increasing.
Lin couldn't help but see her gaze shining at the fight, without the weight of a mask she saw Naruto clearly, she had truly become much stronger and... she doesn't even know how she did it -you can - she whispers before feeling a presence at her side.
The heaviness of his mask returns to his stoic face -hokage sama requires your presence turtle anbu -turtle sighed listening to one of Hyuga's characteristic blows collide with the air.
-Yeah… -
When Neji steps back, Naruto feels like nothing good is coming, especially with the weight he began to feel on his shoulders. "It's better that you know that you won't get out of this unscathed," Neji whispers, but Naruto can hear and swallows heavily.
His leg stretches so slowly and so does his arm.
-! - Anabí is surprised when he notices what Neji is about to do - Otou san, that technique… - the leader of the Hyuga clan nods.
-Neji's Byakugan can see around him almost 360 degrees and… he learned to do it himself - then he sees how the youngest Hyuga adjusts himself - the palm rotation, of eight trigrams –
-I thought only you could do it -Hanabi says, but sees that her father doesn't respond...
- "Naruto Uzumaki… I know who you are and not just because of what you contain, you once faced the elders of the Hyuga clan and… I can say that you are still alive… unfortunately this will be the end of your journey, but… I want to see how you respond to the attack of a Hyuga prodigy" –
Then the atmosphere changes and Naruto is sure it wasn't her magic that did it and in a second Neji was in front of her, his two hands pushing at her most vital Chakra points, his Chakra barely making it bounce - palm rotation, two palms! - that doesn't stop it from hurting, and Naruto tries to back away, panic invading her.
Take it easy
- Palm rotation, four palms! - Those fingers dug close to her heart and one was sure that he was trying to hit her lung, her feet moved hysterically as she tried to resist.
- Stop! - Sakura exclaims from her spot, but she had gotten up and ran to the railing and shouted - STOP! -
- "I-it hurts" -Naruto thinks his arms trembled as he tried to send one to block.
Take it easy
- Eight palms! - Neji sped up his fingers digging faster and harder, the air felt like it was part of Naruto's enemy, because they seemed to be on the Hyuga's side pushing him closer to the boy - sixteen palms! -
Take it easy
- That's evil people! Enough - Kiba exclaims, the fight doesn't matter anymore, nothing else matters.
Shikamaru grips the railing from where he sees, What would he do? No... he himself could never defeat a prodigy like Neji.
- Thirty-two palms! - Then Naruto felt it, his Chakra… his armor wanted to break and his mind wasn't cooperating, it was in cahoots with the air, with Neji, telling him that it was better, that the pain of losing his Chakra was less than maintaining a physical pain as deadly as the one he felt when trying to bounce the Chakra away from his most vulnerable points and… maybe it was for the best, maybe she…
- Calm down - Naruto feels his mind getting a little cloudy, but that makes his heart pump slower and he feels that the fog was actually a moment of lucidity, then he hears the last stick fall to the ground and takes a deep breath.
- "Move like you're in a transfer… I know I can do it… Come on, I've caused explosions with magic more powerful than this, you can do it, come on, come on, come on!" -She closes her eyes and feels it…
- sixty and...! - Neji stumbles, he can't believe it when his sight stops seeing the Chakra cables and the points to press and instead there is only the combat arena... Naruto Uzumaki had disappeared leaving only some leaves defending and grass that had also done the same.
- "Naruto chan" -the hokage can't help but curse when his granddaughter disappeared with that strange absorber ability that he had seen her do only when she was leaving Konoha to go to that academy, he thought they had agreed not to use magic... besides, doesn't this count as doing it? Does this mean Naruto will be expelled?
At the Ministry of Magic and Wizardry
An apparition spell was detected there, but… where, was a mystery, when… so was… who… who knows, the detector seemed to have gone crazy, confusing the wizards who were supposed to send out a notice of the unlicensed apparition spell…
We return to Konoha.
Both Sakura, Ino and Shikamaru instantly recognized it, noticing that it was the same thing Naruto had done in the Forest of Death before losing consciousness again.
- Where are you Naruto? - Sakura tries to look for her partner without locating him.
Neji had his Byakugan, it was a matter of seconds before he found the blond…
Naruto wanted to let out a scream of pain, hiding behind a rock on the battlefield, she saw her arm, the orange cloth was turning red and was torn and she saw a clean and tearing cut… she didn't understand when she cut herself like that, but she did, - "okay, I have to act fast" -she thinks to herself breathing as softly as she can - "it's time to start plan H" -
Naruto was no longer very happy about breaking the rules of the magical world, but... - "Here I go" - reaching into her bag she feels her wand and takes it out...
Naruto's eyes widen like very blue saucers -noo, Mione chan will expel me for this idea! - he sees what she's holding and feels his stomach turn, but Hermione raises a hand, a finger.
-No, everything is calculated, you are fighting, a battle of life or death, the law makes it very clear that magic with minors is only justified in those cases precisely, so… you have to gain time during the fight, as much as you can and then we will create decoys, they don't need to be big, maybe small pieces of wood would work well –
-We could put my Chakra in it and create fake Chakra cables with thread and rings! - Hermione nods quickly.
- That's a great idea! –
-But... How will we make them move and attack? Could I be the sticks? -Hermione thinks about it, using Naruto's logic he was literally talking about being them and... that confused her even more, creating real copies of herself and turning into sticks? -Well a genjutsu would never fool Neji -then Hermione denies.
-I'm not really sure what genjutsu is... it has to do with illusions, right? -Naruto nods -and you're saying it won't work then... -a light bulb seemed to go on in Hermione's head, she takes the book she was reading and looks for a specific page.
-That... is a very complicated spell!... I... - Naruto no longer wanted to doubt, but what Hermione was asking him was extremely complicated, even for a student like Cedric and he was great in Naruto's words.
Then Hermione smiles more softly - I think you'll get it! You just need to practice it and then... -
-You can do it - Naruto whispers, waving his wand to activate all the chopsticks he can and spreads his Chakra everywhere before saying - Piertotum locomotor -
Neji was no fool, he had sensed the Chakra and saw the Chakra wires behind a huge rock - are you hiding? What... What? - then the sticks rose into the air each one having Chakra wires and specific points.
- Fly like a tornado - Naruto whispered before standing up, watching as the wound on his arm healed quickly.
Then to everyone's surprise all the chopsticks began to flutter around Neji, quickly forming a very fast tornado.
The Hyuga boy had to squint his eyes as there was too much Chakra invading his vision, he could no longer… see the rock or even the blonde boy behind it.
- What... is happening? -Ino asks trying to understand what she was seeing in her eyes, what kind of Jutsu was that? Despite standing hidden, she looked at the whirlpool very carefully, precisely at Neji's eyes .
Neji knew that at this moment having his Byakugan activated was wasting his time and tiring his eyes, but he was stubborn and proud enough to deactivate it.
But the pride faded when one hit his cheek and blood flowed out of it, he took out his Byakugan and could clearly see the chopsticks, they were tied to small threads that were certainly not ninja.
- Now! - Naruto exclaims when he sees the veins disappear, he jumps on the rock and shouts - Stop, let me pass! -
Neji couldn't help but be amazed for the second the chopsticks stopped in mid-air before realizing, too late
The chopsticks were pushed aside and Neji could see nothing but knuckles as he was punched in the face.
- Neji! - Tenten exclaims, she didn't expect it, nobody expected it, everything was surprising and unexpected.
- That's Naruto! - Sakura didn't care, the method, the way or anything, Naruto was the most unpredictable person in the world and she would never doubt that.
-how "how did you come up with that" -Hanabi thinks, she knows what happened before, the Chakra kept surrounding him, that must have been painful to watch.
Shikamaru can't help but think... and think, about what Naruto would do now, what his next move, strategy would be .
It doesn't take long for Neji to regain his balance and looks at the chopsticks that were arranged pointing at the Hyuga, he denied everything, but the battle was lasting longer than he thought it would, the blond was making him angry - Why? Why do you focus so much on going against your destiny? Why do you want to fight me so much? -
-because… you hurt Hinata chan… I promised to win… and… I refuse to give up ttebayo -Neji frowns deeper and is almost showing his teeth.
-You have no right to stick your nose into this, this only concerns the main family and me, what makes you have the right to do so? - Naruto turns his head and looks towards the seats before noticing Hinata coughing, her eyes focused on the anbu surprising her, the more Hinata coughed the sharper but brighter the blonde's gaze became.
-I don't have the right to get involved in this. What gives you the right to decide and say what my destiny is? What do you know about destiny? What do you know about the future? -
-I think you still don't understand, the Hyuga clan has a heritage of hate, the main family, a ninjutsu known as "the caged bird seal" - Naruto can't help but tense when he hears the word "seal" it was instinctive, his hand shot to his abdomen, while the chopsticks trembled, Naruto focused and they stopped, Neji took off his hita ate and Naruto could see it, first hand, what always brought him problems and trapped turtle, a seal... - Hiashi sama and my father were twin brothers, a thing that doesn't happen very often but in my clan only meant that Hiashi sama only for a few minutes became the oldest... and my father and I were left like... Won with the rest of the people… but the seal doesn't only serve for that, it's a way to keep us under fear… under the pressure of the heir of the clan, my destiny was decided a while ago and yours was sealed when it was your turn to fight against me, no matter how much artillery of those things you use, I don't need my Byakugan to know where I have to press –
Naruto doesn't move when he finishes listening, but he finally looks at Neji, his eyes shining with understanding -believe me, if there's one person who knows what it feels like to be trapped and undervalued, it's me, but... that doesn't mean I believe in destiny, that I believe you can't change your destiny... -Neji frowns and puts on his hita ate, Naruto lets his Chakra flow freely now in a stronger armor now that Neji could no longer see what he was doing.
- Why did I waste my voice, on a guy like you? - Naruto can't help but shudder at the words.
-! - Naruto steps back when he feels Neji trying to stab a hand in the center of his chest, and repeats rotating and throwing his fingers towards Naruto's shoulder - defend! - she exclaims and the chopsticks move in front of Neji's hand causing the blow to be stopped by them - defend, defend, defend! - Naruto exclaims every chance he gets, every little chopstick is being shattered
Then she feels a pull, it was as if the spell weighed her down... it was hard for her to maintain it - Naruto, be careful! - Sakura exclaims and Naruto gasps when Neji's palm finally hits where her heart is, luckily it only hits her armor, Naruto steps back knowing he has to get used to the new speed and pattern soon or else... he'll be in serious trouble.
-This fight is taking much longer- Shino speaks Shikamaru doesn't even jump, his eyes actively following every movement in the battle, not wanting to miss the moment when Naruto starts to really dodge like what happened a while ago.
Then Naruto finally dodges, getting ahead of Neji - you're the one who's going to understand what it feels like to be marked! - Neji suddenly shouts, his frustration filling him when he sees that his attacks don't reach the annoying blonde and every so often he has to stop those chopsticks.
Loneliness was ironically one of Naruto's great companions, it was always with him while he was growing up, but if it wasn't her, hatred came to keep him company.
People looked at her as if she was nothing… as if she was worthless .
-If there's someone who understands that... -Naruto steps back and finally raises his arm grabbing Neji by the wrist -it 's me -he whispers, the pain in those eyes as well as anger and shame -I know it's easy to blame someone else for what happens to you, I'm not saying it's your fault, just that you can't just blame your destiny for everything bad that's happened to you in life, since you're just trying to cover the sun with a finger, in the end you're just hiding -then Neji can't help it, his eyes fill with rage and he activates his Byakugan, he gasps at what he saw, Naruto's Chakra was everywhere... like a powerful armor.
- "All the time…" - then Neji understood why none of his blows managed to block the blonde's Chakra.
Then Naruto takes advantage of the shock and pulls Neji, with his free arm he throws him and hits a punch in his face.
Neji steps back and settles, seeing that there were only two chopsticks left fluttering next to the mass of Chakra called Naruto -you said yourself that you can't fight against your destiny and if your destiny was to serve Hinata chan then... you want to escape too, no matter what you say- Naruto settles down, his right leg stretched out and one arm in front of his face, a totally different pose from the taijutsu he used at the beginning of the fight.
He increases the amount of Chakra throughout his body, feeling it pumping like blood, before feeling it... kyubi, without a doubt that was his Chakra, the Chakra of the nine-tailed fox began to swirl in his abdomen.
Neji saw all of that happen in a matter of seconds, the Chakra creating even more layers of protection and that reddish Chakra appearing.
Then Naruto lunges forward it was his turn now.
His fist is blocked by Neji's palm, but the impact, although it hurt him, he did not retreat, he turned on his feet and threw a kick, the Hyuga tried to retreat without success, Naruto's foot hit Neji's shoulder.
Quickly recovering Neji tries to attack by spinning in the sixty-four movements, but he didn't stand a chance when Naruto dodged the first two palms and grabbed his arm throwing him away from her, the reddish Chakra had advanced even further accumulating in his arms, the previous cut was healing twice as fast now.
She jumps up and searches through her bag before throwing another chopstick to the ground, Neji refused to let that cheap tactic work on him again, but Naruto didn't give her time as he threw an aerial kick at her, using the sixty-four palms again, trying to push Naruto away, but no matter, it was strong and powerful nothing could stop the kick as it crashed into her face.
-Naruto's fighting style changed -Ino comments, before Naruto was losing, but now... he seemed to be able to face Neji.
- You can do it Naruto! - Sakura shouts as loud and strong as she can.
Kiba reacts to the scream by taking his eyes off Hinata for a second and sees just as Naruto dodges a good blow, stands up and exclaims - finish him! –…
Neji roughly pushes his palm trying to get Naruto to back off, but that has a different effect, Naruto grabs onto her arm and as if she were a Hyuga herself she slams her palm into the center of Neji's chest with Chakra, the boy just gasps as he is pushed back, it was painful, as if a bull had run over him, how was it possible for this annoying boy to be so flexible with his fighting style? Changing his fist for a clean palm was not easy.
Neji pushes himself forward, Naruto does so, each step he took felt heavy, he was exhausted from using so much Chakra, from maintaining the Kyubi's, it hurt, it burned, but he wasn't going to stop, he never would, his feet stomped hard on the ground, as his fist shot towards the Hyuga's face, only to see the palm of Neji's hand near his face...
There was too much dust for people to see anything, but they could hear someone's labored breathing… but whose?
- "Where are you?" - Sakura wonders searching without seeing the blonde anywhere until the dust descended leaving Neji in sight, he was breathing heavily and wiping his mouth seeing the blood on his knuckles, then she saw him, Naruto was on the ground with a wooden stick in his hand, Sakura gasps when she sees him... there was a lot of silence now.
-This just proves my point- Neji mentions and then sees how a slight smile appears on the blonde's face, he opens his eyes wide, when deep and powerful blue eyes collide with Neji's eye from the corner of his eyes.
-I-I… win - Naruto shakes his wand a little and whispers
Then Neji senses it with his Chakra, the stick that he hadn't been able to destroy because Naruto was heading too fast, was different from the rest and then Neji knew when the Uzumaki on the ground disappears in a cloud of smoke and the stick proves to be Naruto Uzumaki.
Without enough time to respond, Naruto's fist slams into Neji's face.
Tenten couldn't believe it, not when her teammate went flying, not when he fell to the ground and never got up again.
Silence reigned for what seemed like the end of the battle, the examiner of this test couldn't help but see in retrospect all of Naruto's movements - "was it... planned from the beginning?" - he looked at one of the chopsticks lying on the floor, before seeing the blond breathing heavily as he looked at Neji with half-closed eyes, gripping a wooden stick he had in his hand tightly - "you never let me catch you or intimidate you, how did you come up with all this? How did you do that? You're scheming Naruto Uzumaki" -
If anyone had his mind working, it was Neji Hyuga, his body could no longer move, he felt heavy in more than the physical sense, his pride was on the ground, he narrowed his eyes and spoke -kage bunshin, I should have paid more attention to that... it's your specialty and your irrational act-
Naruto's breathing stabilizes, but his heart couldn't beat any harder, he felt nervous, anxious, excited and scared, but instead of writhing or running away he took a step forward looking the Hyuga in the eyes -I was never strong or fast, nor the smartest, I had never managed to perform a normal bunshin before, I was defeated and defeated many times... I was so humiliated, as much or more than you can imagine, if it were up to fate I would have already died, it is not going against destiny, it is creating it yourself... I may be a failure but I am a failure who wanted to face you, one who... even here and now does not believe that you are a failure-
Neji couldn't feel more wrong in his life about something... about someone, he thought the blond was an annoying and mannerless child, that there was no way in hell he would ever learn anything from him, but he was wrong and Naruto proved it to him, not with simple words, it was with actions, he had defeated him and now for Neji, Naruto was not a failure, those blue eyes couldn't have looked brighter, more powerful as he looked at him before walking away, leaving him with his eyes on the sky...
The examiner couldn't help but smile as he raised his arm - the first match has ended, Naruto Uzumaki won -…
- You did it Naruto! - Sakura shouts loudly, as she heard the applause of the crowd, Ino smiled beside her.
Kotetsu and Izumo couldn't exclaim for the victory of the girl they cared for, they didn't expect it, nobody expected it, Naruto had given them a great fight and there was the possibility that Naruto would become a chunnin now becoming his partner formally, they knew it and that only made them even more proud.
Shikamaru couldn't help but glance over Neji's body lying on the ground, the boy... no, his friend had won, he couldn't really feel surprised anymore, Naruto himself was a box full of surprises, unpredictable as he was - what are you thinking about? - Shino who was standing next to Shikamaru with his hands in his pockets asks seeing the blonde looking at the ground.
-I thought Naruto was like me… I don't think I can beat him now -Shikamaru sighs and turns his gaze to his friend -how troublesome…-
To say that Naruto jumped when he heard the loud cheering the people were giving was an understatement, his eyes shot towards the ground.
She knew that this attention wasn't bad, it was just that it seemed like the rest of her didn't differentiate between the insults they gave her before and the whistles and applause they gave her now, no, she didn't...
-The day after tomorrow, Naruto Uzumaki will stand up and perform in the finals, people will be angry and surprised to see her, they never expected to see her here! But well, it was luck, they will think, then you will kick the Hyuga's ass, raise your fist and look at all those people who once doubted you, tomorrow will be the day you can show who you really are, something you are looking forward to, right? -
Then she finally takes a deep breath and shakily raises her hand in the air, letting it out she shouts - I WIN! - she clenches her fist, that excites the crowd who cheers louder… - I win - she whispers at the end, the small smile invading her face…
As Naruto walked away and went up to where the rest of the participants were, she saw Shikamaru looking at her out of the corner of his eye, jumping a little on his feet he came to be by her side - great fight, Naruto - Shikamaru says his hand gently hitting Naruto's back, making the blonde only smile even more, too bright and powerful, Shikamaru never believed he would see pride in those kind and honest blue eyes and now more powerful than they had ever been before.
-Good fight Naruto san - Naruto turns his head a little, he was excited, but without any stress Naruto could distinguish Shino's Chakra nearby.
She blinked a few times before the words filtered through Naruto and then she was shocked, she didn't expect Shino to congratulate her, because the boy hadn't even cheered for his own team that much - mmh? - she turns her head a little trying to see the emotions behind those dark glasses, was he mocking her? It could be, but she didn't believe it...
Neji never thought he would see the leader of his clan bowing his head before him, much less kneeling, someone like him, who is simply a being that was only useful to the main family.
Now he knew his father's sacrifice was not for the clan, it was for his brother, for his family...
Naruto had left his happy mood turning into a worried one when his teammate didn't arrive -perhaps deciding to be cautious- she hears Shino's last words and can't help but frown as she looks at him.
-He will come, I know he will - she says with even more confidence than her cry of victory, Naruto knew it, Sasuke would not retreat... much less now that he was so weird...
Still trusting that Sasuke will come Naruto looks over to where the hokage is, he knew that if Sasuke delayed any longer the third hokage was going to take out Sasuke and... no, he can't do that can he? Sasuke is the main event no matter what, plus everything has been so weird, she leans forward against the railing and looks at the battlefield, watching a ninja talking to the examiner before he spoke -Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara of Sunagakure's match has been postponed, now Shino Aburame and Kankuro, get down now! - Naruto turns around to see the kids in the arena only to see Kankuro biting his lip before yelling.
- I'M QUITTING! - that confused Naruto, that bad feeling was filling her even more.
- Why? -Shikamaru asked in a murmur. Naruto looked at him, he also had his intelligent and sharp gaze on Kankuro before resting on Naruto's, clashing between black and blue.
-something strange - Naruto does not finish his thought that had turned into a whisper when he saw the girl Temari fly away with her fan, one of Naruto's short, fluffy locks ends up on his face due to the strong current of air.
-fighting a girl… that's a pain - Naruto can't help but roll his eyes and puff out his cheeks, that's maybe because he only has two female figures nearby (Naruto doesn't count for obvious reasons) and they are always bossing him around, in his own words, then Shikamaru looks at her, Naruto turns his head like a confused kitten -yeah… too much trouble… well I think I'm going to… - Naruto knows what he's doing, he knows that maybe it's a little wrong to send his partner like that… and maybe if Shikamaru knew that Naruto was a girl his thinking about girls would increase but.
- Go and fight already! - She pushes him forward forcefully and returns to her state of puffed cheeks in anger.
Shikamaru looks at the sky and then straightens up a little and can see Naruto puffing out his cheeks and crossing his arms – "whatever you say, after all I am the festival trick monkey… that nobody wants right now" –
-Naruto san, weren't you angry a few seconds ago?... then why... are you smiling - Shino sees Naruto, his elbow leaning against the railing, his chin against the palm of his hand, while smiling with his eyes half-closed.
-Don't bother me, I know what Shika is like and who I support to win this fight... is him... ah! Don't believe much of what Shikamaru says about the girls, okay? -Shino adjusts his glasses and turns his gaze forward when Shikamaru had moved away, hidden.
Naruto can't help but laugh as he hears Ino even from where she's rudely cheering for Shikamaru, before he sees someone sitting next to her - Chouji! - he hadn't seen him since the day they met to play, the chubby boy seems to have spotted that yellow dot, his friend shook his hand a little before going back to the fight…
A loud bang slammed against the door, the kneazle, to be exact, Brave jumped and jumped against the window trying to see who it was, only to see no one -you're looking for someone, flea-ridden cat- Brave jumped and hissed turning around to see his attacker, it was strange... it's the suspicious boy he met in the forest when he went to look for Naruto, maybe he was wearing a mask, but that smell of snakes and strong medicines didn't go away so easily.
The creature's claws dug into the wood as the monster lunged forward, it wasn't scared, it had already faced some ninjas before in the forest and had...
He felt a needle in his neck and his body fell to the ground with a thud, his legs shaking as he tried to respond. "Orochimaru sama would surely love to see a creature like you." He pulled Brave's neck, slowly pulling the needle out. "It's a shame you couldn't say goodbye to Naruto, don't you think?" Brave's jaw trembled as a fragile roar escaped his throat before he lost consciousness.
Naruto was not a genius nor did he even consider himself an intelligent person but it just didn't occur to him (just like the others) when Shikamaru retired.
-You know -Shikamaru speaks in a low voice- I'm not really interested in this competition, but I will be interested if something happens to the people I care about, be careful Temari-
- Why?! - Naruto finally exclaims, he had tried to find an answer to why Shikamaru gave up, but he couldn't find one, so he jumps to the attack with the question on the tip of his tongue when he approaches Shikamaru, but... there wasn't much anger behind the question he had already thrown into the air before - Why? -
- Why?... I'm exhausted, I couldn't continue –
-But... you could have still done it, I know you could - Shikamaru can't help but look into Naruto's eyes and feel the weight of Naruto's trust in him, almost as if he had bet everything that he would win.
When Lee arrives at the stadium gates he didn't expect that Neji and Naruto's fight had already ended - What happened to Neji and Naruto kun?! -
-Hyuga was defeated Naruto Uzumaki won! -That news had shocked Guy, but Lee only remembers
-I will beat Neji –Lee noticed the trembling in Naruto's shoulders, but she also noticed the determined look in the shine of his eyes
-The battle of effort versus prodigy that you wanted... I will do it - his gaze moved to the hands of the boy with whiskers, seeing that they had some scratches and other wounds.
Lee didn't think there would be anyone better to represent hard work for him than Naruto at that very moment, who, despite being nervous, stood in front of Lee to tell him that he would beat Neji.
Lee smiles and nods to himself before looking past the guards –"congratulations Naruto kun"-….
-No matter how many laps you do around Naruto Field, Sasuke won't appear with that - that doesn't stop the blonde who moves nervously and looks at the examiner who was checking a pocket watch.
- "Where are you Sasuke?" - she wonders, but doesn't stay still until she feels the tree branch next to her break, realizing that she had just accidentally done magic, she shakes her head and tries not to worry so much, but she runs around again, until the examiner moves and starts talking.
-The ten minutes of waiting have already passed, with this - Naruto feels it, it was Sasuke's Chakra, but... it was strange, even though he was his partner , he didn't feel that strange extra throbbing when the Uchiha boy was near instead he just turned his head slightly and saw him, dark jet black eyes, they were supposed to be the same as always, but... Naruto couldn't stop thinking that they were so different from the ones he saw before the chunnin exams, in the Sasuke he knew, depressed, but... kind to her.
-Very well, now that Sasuke Uchiha has arrived we will start the fight - the people exclaim loudly.
Naruto feels Shikamaru beside him, but still jumps when he approaches -we have to go before the fight starts- he mentions and Naruto just looks at Sasuke one last time... a look not returned, a connection lost.
- Kakashi sensei! - Sakura exclaims as Kakashi appears behind Guy and Lee.
Putting two of two in front of her forehead she greets -yoh- Ino looks nervously at the pink-haired girl, she knew that her sensei's relaxed manner was bothering her, she had been worried about Sasuke.
-S-Sasuke… no… the mark on his neck! -Sakura tried to explain quickly before seeing her sensei just nod.
-That's what you were worried about... Sasuke is fine... at least for now - the pink-haired girl's expression relaxes and she lets a soft smile appear on her face.
-You missed it- Sakura then continues, Kakashi raises an eyebrow when he sees how suddenly the previously worried girl smiles with all her teeth.
- miss what? –
- Naruto-kun won the fight! - Lee exclaims almost as if he had been here to see it.
Kakashi can't blink a little in disbelief towards the battlefield seeing both his student and Asuma come out, he stared at those wavy and fluffy, yet messy locks before closing his only visible eye and giving a proud eye smile to his student.
Naruto felt a sudden anxiety gnawing at his chest as he walked up the stairs with Shikamaru - is something wrong Naruto? - Shikamaru asked with his hands in his pockets, before he came to a complete stop when his blond companion stopped and in just a few seconds, Naruto had moved to one of the corners where the stairs would lead, he stood on his tiptoes and watched intently….
Shikamaru doesn't say anything when he hears screams... they were heartbreaking, full of pain and when he saw, in the darkness a liquid slowly sliding down while they heard the bones crunching when they ended up on the ground, the sound of falling sand was almost completely similar to the hiss of a snake... a bloodthirsty one.
Both were paralyzed by the scene before their eyes, Naruto felt the slight tremors in his shoulders – "... why? That boy is like me, but..." - Naruto thinks before both Shikamaru and Naruto heard the footsteps, slow and calm almost as if he hadn't committed a massacre a few seconds ago.
Naruto's heart was choking with the blood pumping as he watched Gaara walk down past him, it was one look... the only thing the boy gave him, one that promised that she was next after Sasuke...
Shikamaru knew the fight had started, but… that didn't mean he felt the urge to move, he sat on the edge of his seat and tried to calm himself down first in the best way he knows how, think , try to figure out why that boy from the arena would kill people who have nothing to do with it, why Kankuro withdrew from the competition, what happened to team seven in the forest of death? He felt it, he knew that each of those things were connected, but… in what?, How?, Where?
- "…he is a jinchuriki, one of a being of sand Chakra" -Naruto's thoughts cloud when he hears a voice in the background.
- ichibi –
- " ichibi "- Naruto repeats in his mind before realizing it – "the one-tailed one and Gaara is completely unstable, it seems that besides simply killing out of madness he does it for something… for someone… but knowing that it is not right to send him to another village in that state then why would Sunagakure send its jinchuriki? What did he hope to achieve with…" - her eyes open wide in horror as she looks at Shikamaru - WE HAVE TO GO WITH KAKASHI SENSEI! - she shouts loudly, startling the Nara who jumps up, seeing the blond boy turn on his heels - Sasuke can't keep fighting… it's not too late yet! - she said, she was no longer shouting, but the last words were more of a wish than an affirmation.
-Sunagakure -Shikamaru starts talking as he runs with Naruto down the hall jumping over corpses-… wants to invade Konoha -then Naruto's own pieces fit together with the Nara boy's -I understand that you don't want your partner to fight that guy, you think he wouldn't be able to stand up to him but, Sasuke was one of the best, maybe if he could weaken that madman Konoha would have a better chance of solving everything and -Naruto shakes his head angrily, looks at Shikamaru out of the corner of his eye as they turn and climb more stairs.
- That's what they're looking for! -Naruto exclaims -Gaara is... like you said, crazy, they expect him to lose control and destroy everything in his path , it's better for Sasuke to lose and retreat than to give Gaara a real fight... that will only raise his anger... believe me, it is -
Then Naruto's Angle stood before Nara's eyes, the simple thought that the already unhinged and bloodthirsty sand boy was becoming even more so gave Shikamaru goosebumps.
-! -Guy was shocked as he saw Kakashi's student lunge forward with that screeching sound, those electric sparks hitting the air before he impacted deeply
Lee clenches his fists as he watches the boy… Sasuke making it through the arena… even though Naruto had represented him against Neji in the effort versus prodigy fight he couldn't help but feel trapped and unable to move forward… and now he knew he would have to try harder… he refused to give up and let the medical ninjas' words be true.
- KAKASHI SENSEI! - It was a very loud shout, it caught everyone's attention, including the one who was searching.
- Naruto kun! -Lee exclaims with a smile, hoping to talk to him, he wanted to know the details of his battle…
- You have to stop the battle, now! - she exclaims excitedly and terribly tense when she sees Sasuke take his arm out of Gaara's sand, she had seen while she was looking for her sensei the new attack of her partner and she knew that he would succeed, he would pass the sand dome - Gaara is not... i-it's not normal! This is all a plan! - she keeps trying to fit each word - a-me - then Shikamaru after having recovered the air gets up.
-Don't shout it, Naruto -Shikamaru says in a low voice, but he sees those pupils contract seeing something behind Kakashi, it was a big growl -Sunagakure is planning to invade Konoha, they want this kid that Sasuke is facing to lose control -Shikamaru says as fast and low as he can, but… he knows it was too late.
Then Naruto looks towards the ground only to jump at the shadow that was seen before his eyes, it was too big to be hers, but there was no time for her to scream, her mouth was quickly covered and she felt an arm wrap around her chest before she was taken out of the stadium…
-!- Kakashi barely turned around when he knew that Naruto was no longer there.
-Kakashi san… you shouldn't worry about Uzumaki -an anbu spoke clearly- because now here, the real battle will begin-
-n-Naruto - Sakura turned just a little and tried to look everywhere for Naruto, only to not find him at all…
Naruto stretches his arms and pries at the hand covering her mouth until it is released, still moving he sees that she is taken to just a rooftop away from the stadium where he manages to discern more anbu - Wolf, why are you dragging me like that?! - She is finally released, she stumbles a little on her feet and looks at the anbu who speaks loudly.
Naruto feels the tremors under his feet, and turns to look at the stadium, he sees Sasuke jumping chasing three more people... who Naruto assumes are Kankuro, Temari and Gaara, he swallows heavily, his feet moving restlessly, he had to go, he couldn't be here... Why did they even bring her with more anbu? She wasn't one.
Wolf raises his hands and Naruto in automatic mode looks as attentively as the other anbu - most of the anbu is helping hokage sama in the stadium, the rest of us must buy time for the jounin, chunnin and jounin on duty to evacuate the people, we must not allow them to pass over us, understood? - the rest of the anbu nodded and began to disperse in squads when Naruto does not do so and approaches wolf.
- Why did you bring me here? -
- You could have been a little more patient for me to explain it to you - Naruto pouts a little, but nods - Your duty is to be the Anbu reinforcement, you must accompany each squad and help get civilians and wounded ninjas out of any danger, while the rest of your companions will take care of the threat -.
Naruto never thought she really belonged anywhere, much less was considered enough in the Anbu, but, wolf in the signs if she had seen well, she called the rest of the squad your companions and reinforcement , then something confused her - be with each squad, how? -
- I think you know it yourself, even if you think you don't - Naruto turns his head confused in a "moh" and sees how Wolf leads one of the squads.
-Let's see... be... stupid Naruto -this time she says it because of how late she realized what to do.
Her hands shoot out in the corresponding signs of her most characteristic technique - kage bunshin! - she exclaims and three clones for seven squads appear - you know what you have to do, support the anbu and help the people... now everyone GO! - she exclaims stretching her arms receiving several affirmations.
She stands still for a few seconds before seeing Sakura and Shikamaru running in the direction where Sasuke went a few minutes ago, both of them were accompanied and led by a… dog?, shaking his head Naruto jumps off the rooftop and quickens his pace, this was no time to be questioning…
Naruto one quickly found himself with the wolf anbu -that was fast- wolf answers making the blonde with whiskers puff out her cheeks a little.
-It wasn't very difficult ttebayo - she says before she felt fear invade her when she saw it, it was a big snake, she thought it was undoubtedly as big as Gamabunta, even between the fear and the snake destroying everything Naruto thought that maybe Harry could understand what the snake was hissing so much.
The Anbu positioned themselves surrounding the snake before starting to attack with everything they had.
Naruto completely avoided the enemy ninjas, that was the anbu's job and if he wanted to have a long life as a clone he had to avoid getting hit.
He heard screams from the collapse of the buildings, he moved quickly and saw who they were from.
A woman, a civilian, was trying to lift the heavy rock with all her strength - "Help please, m-my h-husband, I HELP!" - she screamed again loudly.
The woman looked at Naruto when he arrived, her eyes flashed with contained rage, Naruto grabbed the heavy rock as he felt the heavy gaze.
- It's your fault, y-you again, you damn demon! -Naruto then moved his gloved hands away from the rock and looked at the woman with a frown and narrowed eyes.
- You may think it's my fault, blaming someone is better than being angry at nothing, but I am a ninja of this village, whether you want my help or not, my mission is to help ttebayo, so please - Naruto for the first time in his life let go - shut up - the woman closed her mouth dry seeing that furious blue in those childish features, before Naruto pulled the rock and saw the man, carefully he pulls gently until he knows he is out, he drops the rock creating a large speck of dust - medical team here! - Naruto exclaims before moving - stay safe, wait for someone to come take you to a safe place - then Naruto thought about jumping, but.
-Hey- the woman calls Naruto doesn't look at her -Thanks- that freezes Naruto for a second before shaking his head and walking away quickly…
- Shikamaru, Sakura! - Naruto exclaims when he finally manages to get close enough.
- Naruto! - Sakura exclaims feeling a small relief fill her, she had been worried when her annoying teammate was no longer there.
-… and who are you? - Naruto asks the little dog in front of her.
- Pakkun -he answers watching as the blonde opens her eyes a little in surprise -and you must be Naruto, under other circumstances maybe I'll let you pet my pads -that makes Naruto turn his head like a confused kitten, before his ears pricked up at the footsteps that were undoubtedly not from any of them -we better hurry, they're following us -Naruto knew this as he extended his Chakra to feel and could easily tell by the control of the ninjas that they were jounin or older, undoubtedly adults with longer legs that would catch up to them sooner or later -unless any of you want to die-
Sakura visibly tenses at the dog's last words and looks sideways, turning her head, trying to locate the ninjas who were chasing them without success. "Then... I don't think we should just keep running away," Naruto says, stopping on the ground. The others barely do so, not wanting to get stuck. "If they were going to catch us, why don't we do it first?"
- An ambush?... that could actually work - Sakura mentions nodding, but both Pakkun and Shikamaru seem to refuse the idea
-He won't do it and you know it, even if they managed to create a perfect ambush, the people following us are Orochimaru's henchmen, all of the caliber of a jounin - Naruto knew that, frowning, no one says anything.
-I could… create decoys with my clones - Naruto explains raising a hand as if he were in class.
- That's a good plan, Naruto's clones will be able to fool the ninjas and! - Sakura starts, but sees that look in the Nara's eyes, one that was staring intently at his blonde teammate.
-Seriously... do you think that will work? - Naruto freezes for a second and lets his mind work.
-No... really -the hand falls and limits itself to listening and feeling the Chakra of the enemy at a distance- they will not fall easily with clones and even if they do when they discover what we did nothing will be solved, they will come to look for the real ttebayo -
Shikamaru sighs almost in a growl as he scratches the back of his head -what a problem, we won't have many options if we don't decide something soon and the best option is… that one of us stays behind to try to stop the enemy and give the others more time… that's better than all of us just dying- Sakura trembles at the words, sacrifice herself? She couldn't just…
- I'll do it! - Naruto exclaims quickly raising a hand, he looked almost childish as he smiled at the two remaining genin and Pakkun - I'm a good punching bag, I'll hold on and give them time -
-Naruto… -Sakura murmurs before shaking her head vigorously- no, you can't sacrifice yourself!... I-I… -the words didn't come out as those bright blue eyes looked directly at her, so brave, Sakura never denied that Naruto was a brave boy.
Shikamaru could see the determination in Naruto's eyes when he said that someone had to be the bait, he knew Naruto was scared by the way his shoulders were shaking but that only gave more value to that smile, that bright and energetic look or the changing atmosphere that he demonstrated as if everything was on fire, at that moment this boy who had been considered trash was willing to give his life to save them, he was willing to give up his dream at this very moment... And Shikamaru was no longer sure why Naruto would give so much for him... for all the others who once ignored him or treated him badly.
At that moment his mouth moved on its own -I'll do it- he saw Naruto's terrified eyes and although he himself was just as terrified of what he was about to do, knowing that those eyes would still be alive, relieved the Nara's heart...
-No... just no - Naruto fiercely denies his messy locks getting worse with the force of his denial, the atmosphere changes and twists into a cold and trembling one... one afraid of what might happen.
Shikamaru found it quite comical how the atmosphere before, despite also feeling heavy, still maintained that bravery... Naruto felt more scared than if he were... himself.
-You guys have to go and help Sasuke, I'll stay, even if you decide to stay that won't change my mind - Naruto clenched his fists, holding back the urge to scream, but his magic didn't do it.
It was almost like a whisper in Shikamaru's ear, maybe he imagined it, but he heard a " you have to survive" -Sakura- Naruto says his teammate's name and uses everything he has to not look at Shikamaru, to... believe that the boy... no, his lazy friend will survive, it was Shikamaru after all.
Naruto two couldn't believe the disaster that was being created a few meters away from her, until she saw him - Jii san! - she exclaimed loudly when she saw the old man, he wasn't using his cloak like an old and worn out hokage, he was now standing facing Naruto on the roof of the stadium, she looked around for reinforcements, for the people who were helping her grandfather, but she didn't see anyone, where were the anbu ?!
He looked down and saw them, he didn't understand what they were doing with that pile of papers scattered around -commander- a young anbu clears his throat when Naruto sees boar, the man looks at Naruto - we are under your orders! - the anbu kneel down waiting for the order, but Naruto doesn't do it causing boar to look at her, Naruto stops looking at him and his eyes return to the confrontation in the stadium, watching how little by little everything turned to dust.
- Boar commander, why? - Naruto stops his hands, the commander didn't need him to tell him anything else.
- Don't you notice? - Naruto frowns and quickly approaches.
Gato tries to stop her, but he doesn't succeed and when Naruto reached a point and put a hand in front of him she felt like she was being electrocuted hard, being a clone it was difficult to maintain her form so she threw herself backwards falling on her butt - what is that! - she asks, but it was more of an exclamation, she knew this was a barrier.
-The sealing team is working as fast as they can to help our Hokage, but these efforts have been almost completely useless, Orochimaru's sealing level is superior - those words spoken by the commander had left Naruto frozen...
No matter how many secrets Hiruzen had kept from him, no matter what he did or didn't do, Naruto knew that in some part of his heart, the person facing that man... Orochimaru, was his grandfather, his hokage Jii-chan.
-No... is there anyone able to open it? -Boar was going to say that no one here could, but Naruto quickly corrects the question -Not here, anyone... -
-Well... that person could be Jiraiya sama -Naruto opens his eyes in surprise at the name of the perverted sensei before the "sama" in his name -but we haven't located him yet, for all we know he could be helping somewhere else... But no matter what, we have to wait for Hokage sama to win this battle -Boar finishes and Naruto clenches his fists, there wasn't much else he could do now.
"There is no way" Naruto heard the sealing team speak in low voices, "it is too complex"
Boar didn't have many options from the sealing team, most of them stayed outside trying to prevent the enemy ninjas from getting through as much as they could and those left here, as requested by the hokage were the youngest, he would recognize those faces in those files with the ages of between eighteen and twenty years old, age didn't matter in this regard, what it did entail was everything that being a sealer entailed for these ninjas, two of them chose it because they were good at it and it seemed like the easiest way to not have to give their lives and the remaining three, it was because they wanted to be able to create their own bomb seals... boar still didn't understand his hokage's motivation for wanting some kids of that caliber to be here, now he wasn't even trying to figure out what to do.
Then the blonde with whiskers wrinkles her nose in annoyance when she sees that now the sealing team was not working now, they just raised their heads and watched with clenched fists the fight that was happening - hey! - Naruto advances towards them, the five ninjas looked with frowns and eyes full of repudiation towards the blonde - if you have so much time to look at me with hatred, you have enough time to find out how to break the ttebayo barrier! You are supposed to be the first ones who should act in these circumstances, the first to prevent Konoha from being locked up and the first to activate protection seals, you are the only ones who can try to do something about it and ... are you just going to stay there to watch your hokage fight ?! -Naruto clenches his fists tighter, his blood boiling as he watches those gazes change, maybe it wasn't appreciation, but they were listening to her... they were looking at her and not at what it contained -try hard not to have regrets later, to protect Konoha-
-We are sealers, we don't fight in the front and -Naruto interrupts.
-To be a sealer you first had to be a ninja and knowing that you became one, means that you knew that you would be sacrificing everything you have to save others, I don't care if you are a sealer, an interrogator or whatever ttebayo, the hokage would sacrifice his life for you and even if he didn't expect you to do the same, keep trying, strike every blow, check more, until you can find some answer then -…
Boar noticed that change, the way people's eyes lit up when Naruto started talking, back straight and eyes fixed on the blonde, without hate... with respect - if you're going to do it, do it! - Naruto exclaims and all the young adults stand up and exclaim a "hai!" back.
Naruto calms down with a deep breath, turns on his heels and now looks at the boar-masked face -I'm the reinforcement, I'm going to help evacuate the people... please... no- Naruto looks towards the loud noise inside the barrier and finally runs out to help.
-Naruto san… it's incredible - the anbu bear mentions, being new to the base he had seen the blonde a few times, but he always thought she was a child… very small… adorable, but without the strength to face people…
Naruto three weren't quite sure what to do when a ninja dragged her into one of the tunnels and now she found herself in the shinobi daycare shelter, seeing six crying babies and three little boys asking to see their mothers.
She was just doing her job, she had helped some civilians get out of their homes so someone could take them to safety before being taken away.
-I need you to help me get them out- the kunoichi exclaims and Naruto doesn't understand why, this was a shelter in itself, until he raised his head, there was a big crack, this place wasn't going to hold out much longer at this rate.
The dust of the ground fell slowly as Naruto carried a baby as best he could, without much experience apart from having carried Konohamaru when he was a baby, but it was totally different, back then Naruto carried him sitting with constant surveillance, now he was standing and the baby he was carrying was crying loudly and shaking roughly. Seeing how the other ninjas tried to evacuate the others Naruto felt relieved to see that she would only have to carry one, sighing she took a step before stopping abruptly.
I hear someone sniffling loudly, soft squeals escaping from their throat.
Naruto felt that little Chakra right in the crib, but there was no one on top of it so he slowly bent down to his knees and gently peeked his head out and saw a child who couldn't be more than three years old, he was crying totally scared -oh... hello- Naruto says while the baby was writhing in his arms he tries to give the little boy a smile but it comes out as a grimace, the little boy clenched his fists and looked at Naruto suspiciously.
- Hurry up, he won't last long! - a ninja shouts, startling Naruto and the baby, who had calmed down a bit, shouts again and the little boy moans and backs away, his small shoulders shaking.
Naruto had to blink many times when dust landed in his eyes -come... let's go to a safe place- Naruto settled the baby in his arms, maybe if this wasn't an emergency they would scold her for the way she held him, but now she had a free arm, one that she stretched towards the little one under the bed, scared he backed away again.
The earth shakes and more specks of dust fall, Naruto feels the stress building up more and more as he hears people running away, she herself is scared, more than because this shelter is collapsing it is because of the simple and plain fact of failing... she is scared.
- Is the boar afraid? -
Naruto asks, his voice wavering even more than usual due to his lack of experience speaking to the new Anbu commander, he used to and preferred sign language, but…
- afraid of what? -
-Of losing-
Naruto answers slowly, his fingers twisting in his shirt in thought.
-No-
That surprised the blonde with little whiskers who jumped and in a shrill sound repeated
- No?! -
That was simply impossible for Naruto, not to be afraid... that was nothing more than a dream, one from which he would never wake up.
-When you are afraid, the people around you are also afraid and no one is able to think properly-
Then Naruto lowers his head a little and nervously raises his hands and starts signing - but I have never seen Hokage Jii chan scared in front of me, he never lost control -
-He protects you from being scared as much as he can and -then the anbu was called, but he didn't leave the words in the air.
-Someday you will be the one who must protect people from your own fear -
Naruto hummed softly and smiled sweetly at the small boy under the bed before taking a deep breath "you're scared aren't you? You must have been so scared when they brought you here... you must want to go see your parents right?" The boy looks at Naruto as he feels warmth emanating from him even though when they brought him here, this place was cold "I want to take you, I can do this, so you can see your mom and dad again" He knew Naruto shouldn't have said that but... he felt like it was for the best when another blow caused a small rock to fall on the back of his neck, he stretched out his hand and remained as calm as he could allow himself until he felt that small hand hold two of his fingers tightly.
She slowly got out of bed sniffling, she had hazel eyes and black hair pulling in a bluish tone, she looked at Naruto with those big innocent eyes and at that moment she no longer cared about anything other than leaving this little one in a safe place, what did it matter if everything fell apart, what did it matter that she was scared, she wouldn't regret anything no matter what, she ran her hand through the soft hair of the two year old baby before the child clung to her neck as best he could, even though Naruto was carrying an even smaller baby in his arms, Naruto pushed him away for a second before turning around - I'll take you - she says softly and the little boy recognizes the gesture, he approaches and gently wraps his arms around Naruto's neck before she with her free arm held him under the little one's legs.
He left the nursery shelter as fast as his small burdens and his own small legs would allow him to run…
When both Naruto and Sakura heard an explosion they couldn't help but worry, the blonde put a hand where her heart undoubtedly was and looked ahead she knew that Sasuke must already be facing one of the Sunagakure boys and that only made her clench her fists even tighter.
-That smell- that startled them, when Pakkun seemed to smell something, he turned his head and looked at Sakura.
- What is it?! - the pink-haired girl exclaims - i-it's s-Sasuke? - she trembles and the three members of this team stop.
-No... you use the same shampoo as me - that makes Naruto let out a nervous squeal and glance sideways at the pink-haired girl who looked so devastated by that fact - although I don't know why yours looks less pretty than mine - then she turns to Naruto and sniffs - you smell like dirt - that doesn't surprise the blonde who can't help but laugh.
-Yes… I fought someone a while ago, the smell of earth is inevitable –
-But underneath all that… normal soap? -That confused the blonde… shouldn't they continue? Why was Pakkun talking about shampoo? -It's so strange -the dog says pronouncing a low "mmh" before they moved again…
The blonde murmured softly in concern, she was scared, but… she wasn't sure what exactly scared her the most.
It was that Sasuke was fighting alone, that was a thought that tormented her even though she felt like she had lost a part of the strange connection with the Uchiha boy, the part that still refused to let go still beat inside her, in a flurry of worry and questions, was Sasuke okay? What if she was too late? Would Gaara kill him? That final question made her shudder.
either…
Maybe he is afraid that he is going straight into the fight, of meeting those eyes of the boy from the sand... eyes filled with ironic emptiness and the smile of a person who seemed to live only to kill and kill to live... who enjoyed it , a person who in itself had his life from what he knows, full of fear and often loneliness, that brought two thoughts to Naruto.
The first was that maybe she was scared by the simple thought that maybe she could be like Gaara once was, lost and out of control, bloodthirsty and only killing to live... a monster .
But… the second one was different wondering, what would have happened if Naruto and Gaara had met when they were little? Naruto the day he discovered he had magic, it was the most bittersweet moment of his life, he had discovered that there were more people with his same power and a new world opened before his eyes, but at the same time she had finally revealed everything she had done while growing up, she had hurt people, but when she raised her head and looked into Albus's eyes and told him it wasn't his fault and that she basically understood, it wasn't a lie, unlike the third hokage's words of "I understand you", he didn't understand what it was like to be hated, he didn't understand what it felt like to be a monster or not have control over yourself but Albus seemed to understand the feeling of being a monster, of being… a bad person , Naruto saw that sincerity in those old eyes but he didn't understand why Albus understood so well how he felt, confusing Naruto more since, she never thought even now that the older man was a bad person, just a person who knew many things and had overcome very difficult things.
- I smell something! - Pakkun says making both girls look at the dog, Sakura was frowning slightly thinking that maybe he would say that he also uses the same perfume - it's Sasuke - that makes Naruto release some of his Chakra and listen carefully, he could hear what seemed to be a battle quite far away still, but, they were already well on their way - he's with someone else - Pakkun clarifies while his nose moves trying to capture some other smell - and further ahead of them there are two more -…