Author Note:
Hi!
Hope you guys are doing well.
My Medical School Admission Exam is going to be held soon (precisely within 3 months.) This 300 number exam is too...difficult to pass.
I got to study. But hopefully, I'll update my stories regularly.
Which stories do you want to be updated as priorities? Just drop a review on those particular story: "Update"
Anyways, the cover photo for "Synthetic Shinobi" is pretty cool, right? What do you think? Actually, this is Naruto after the time-skip.
Hope you enjoy this chapter.
A Rock VS An Android
The arena was thick with tension, the air buzzing with anticipation as Naruto faced off against Rock Lee. The crowd, the shinobi gathered, even the proctors—all of them were glued to the match, wondering just how this peculiar battle would unfold.
'Bitch?' Naruto's inner voice trembled slightly, her confidence waning as she looked at the taijutsu specialist standing opposite her, his eyes shining with determination.
-Yes? The voice within her replied, almost nonchalant.
'Please help me.' Naruto's mental plea was filled with a mix of desperation and irritation. She'd never imagined needing help like this in a simple bout.
-Denied. The response was swift and brutal. No room for negotiation.
'Why? I can't win without your help against him.' Her frustration was evident now, a crack in her usual bravado. 'He's too strong.'
-Harming a fellow Leaf Shinobi— The voice began its stern lecture, but Naruto wasn't having it.
'Then don't stop me from attacking him,'
-Agreed. There is no way you can harm him on your own anyway.
'Please go to hell,'
-Denied.
Naruto's jaw clenched, and a new resolve flickered in her eyes. Losing wasn't an option. But as she took a defensive stance, she couldn't shake the gnawing fear—how could she win without the powers she'd relied on?
Rock Lee, ever the embodiment of exuberant spirit and awkward charm, suddenly flashed her a dazzling smile. "Naruto-chan, I'll make you fall in love with me during this fight! Prepare yourself for my youthful passion!"
Naruto shuddered visibly, almost losing her balance at his declaration. "Please don't," she muttered, more to herself than to him, the idea of Rock Lee's affections being as terrifying as his fists.
Without warning, Lee charged, his movements a blur. Despite his usual high energy, he was holding back—his strikes were precise but restrained. This wasn't about defeating her outright; it was about showing off, impressing her in some twisted, overly enthusiastic way. But even with Lee's "gentleness," Naruto struggled to keep up. His blows were fast, precise, and relentless. She barely managed to block, and each impact sent shudders through her arms, the force behind them far greater than his sunny demeanor suggested.
Naruto's frustration grew with every second. She was quick, she was strong, but against Lee's relentless onslaught, she felt like she was barely managing to survive. Deciding she needed a different approach, Naruto made a quick decision. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" she yelled, forming the hand seals with practiced ease.
Fifty identical copies of her appeared in an instant, all of them rushing at Lee with the same fervor. The arena became a chaotic mess of white-headed clones, all attacking from every angle, fists flying. But Lee, in his usual flair, merely smiled.
With a series of graceful flips and spins, Lee dodged the clones with ease, each movement fluid and impossibly fast. One by one, the clones were dispelled, each disappearing in a puff of smoke as Lee systematically dismantled Naruto's army.
Naruto watched in growing horror as her clones fell like dominoes. It hit her then—how helpless she really was without the borrowed power she'd come to rely on. 'I… I know no useful Jutsu…' Her thoughts were frantic, her confidence rapidly eroding.
Before she could react, Lee was on her, faster than she could blink. His foot connected with her midsection, and she was sent hurtling across the arena, the force of the kick leaving her winded and dazed. She crashed into the ground, skidding to a halt in a cloud of dust. The crowd winced in unison, the impact echoing in the now silent stadium.
'All this time… I've been bragging about how great I am…' Naruto thought bitterly as she struggled to her feet, her body aching. But before she could regain her bearings, Lee was there again, moving with that same relentless speed. He didn't give her a moment to recover, his fist slamming into her with a precision that was as frightening as it was impressive.
'I am useless…' The realization was crushing, but what stung even more was the blow to her pride. Naruto, who had always been so full of herself, who had always talked big, was now realizing the bitter truth. Yet, even as Lee's punches connected, leaving her bruised and battered, her body—crafted from Hashirama's Sage wood—remained mostly unscathed. The same couldn't be said for her ego, which was now in tatters.
Lee stepped back slightly, offering her a hand. "Naruto, you've fought well. But it's time to give up. There's no shame in it."
Sighing deeply, Naruto pushed herself up, wobbling slightly as she stood. Her sapphire eyes glinted with defiance, even through the haze of pain. "Never," she spat out, her voice hoarse but unwavering.
With a sigh, she weaved a hand seal, far too familiar to anyone who had known her long enough. "Sexy Jutsu!"
A thick cloud of smoke engulfed the arena, and when it cleared, there stood Naruto—or rather, a much more provocatively dressed version of herself. The crowd gasped, and Lee—poor, sweet, naive Lee—staggered back, his eyes going wide as saucers, blood threatening to gush from his nose. He looked as though he might faint then and there.
But Lee, in a rare show of willpower, quickly slapped his hands over his eyes, turning beet red. "I-I must not lose focus! Y-Youthful passion—no! I mean, the power of youth cannot be distracted!" His voice wavered as he fought to regain his composure.
Seeing an opening, Naruto rushed forward, but Lee was faster. He ducked low, his hands moving in a blur as he spun her into the air with a powerful kick. "Primary Lotus!" he yelled, his voice filled with determination.
Naruto barely had time to register what was happening before she was being spun around, the ground rushing up to meet her. The impact was deafening, the arena floor cracking beneath the force of the blow. Dust and debris were kicked up, shrouding the arena in a thick, suffocating cloud.
Silence. The crowd held its breath, the tension unbearable.
"Did he win?" A voice from the stands broke the stillness, but no one dared to answer.
"Naruto…" Sakura's voice trembled, a mix of fear and concern.
The dust began to settle, and there in the center of a massive crater, lay Naruto, her frilly black dress tattered, her white hair splayed out like a fallen angel. She didn't move, her body eerily still. For a moment, it seemed like the match was over—that Lee had secured his victory.
But then, something shifted. A dark, ominous aura began to rise from the crater, a suffocating red chakra that crackled with raw, malevolent energy. It spread like wildfire, the heat of it palpable even to those in the stands.
Then, a booming voice echoed in Naruto's mindscape, shaking her to her very core. 'Pathetic brat, consider this my rent. I want to see some carnage.' The voice was deep, ancient, filled with a rage that wasn't her own.
-Initiating Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 12%.
'You think you can suppress me, Bitch?'
-Indeed. I can restrain up to 69% of your power.
The voice chuckled. 'You think it's all the amount of chakra, right? My father taught us something a long time ago: Humans are too greedy for their own good and their willpower is stronger than anything.'
-I do not understand—
'Listen brat, do you want to stay weak?' The Kyuubi interrupted.
Naruto's eyes were closed as she was floating in the sewer, her form convulsing.
-Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 20%
'Without my power, you are a weakling.' The Kyuubi smirked at the AI's foolishness. She was restraining his chakra from leaking into the brat's. But if the girl wants, she can draw his power. However, then, he can influence her mind… 'Did you hear me? You are weak.'
Naruto paused.
'If you use my power, there will be no restraints.'
Back in the arena, suddenly, Naruto's eyes snapped open, now glowing with an unnatural red light. With a feral snarl, she shot up from the crater, her body moving with a speed and power that hadn't been there before. She lashed out, her foot connecting with Lee's chest in a bone-rattling kick, sending him flying across the arena.
The crowd gasped in unison, the sheer force of the attack leaving them stunned. Naruto stood at the center of the crater, her body now enveloped in the Kyuubi's sinister chakra. Her once robotic expression was completey gone, replaced with a look of pure, unbridled fury. Her glowing sapphire eyes were now tinged with pure crimson, a clear sign that the Kyuubi's influence was taking hold.
Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke watched in horror, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Naruto, calm and stoic, was now a terrifying force of nature. The sight of her displaying such raw emotion was more unsettling than the power she now wielded.
-Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 30%
'Shuuut up—!' Naruto yelled inwardly.
Realizing the danger his student was in, Gai yelled out, his voice desperate. "Lee! Take them off! Now!"
Lee, who had barely managed to get back to his feet, blinked in confusion before a grin spread across his face. Without hesitation, he reached down and unfastened the heavy weights strapped to his legs. The moment they hit the ground, the arena floor cracked and buckled under the sheer weight, the sound of it like thunder echoing through the stands.
Everyone stared in disbelief. Those were no ordinary training weights—no, these were something else entirely. The ground shook from the impact, and the realization dawned on the audience. Lee had been holding back this entire time.
Naruto, her body thrumming with the Kyuubi's power, sneered, her voice now a distorted blend of her own and the beast within. "I'll defeat you here and now…"
Lee was a blur of green, his movements almost too fast for the eye to follow. But Naruto, with her glowing red eyes and flowing white hair, was faster. Much faster. The frilly black dress she wore fluttered wildly as she moved, a stark contrast to the sheer brutality she was unleashing on her opponent.
-Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 30%
But it had no effect.
Naruto was like a predator, each of her strikes precise and devastating. She closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye, her black-gloved fist colliding with Lee's chest, sending him skidding back across the arena floor. Before he could regain his footing, she was on him again, her high heels clicking sharply against the ground as she launched a flurry of kicks and punches that left Lee struggling to keep up. The sound of their clashes echoed through the arena, a rhythmic beat of bone against flesh, flesh against bone.
"Whoa…" Kiba breathed, eyes wide as he watched Naruto thrash Lee around the arena like a ragdoll. "She's like some kinda demon!"
Hinata, biting her lip, could barely watch, her heart pounding in her chest. "N-Naruto…"
Ino leaned forward, her gaze locked on Naruto's fierce expression. "Is this really Naruto? How is she moving like that?"
The spectators were silent, too stunned to do much more than watch in awe as Naruto continued her relentless assault. Even Orochimaru, disguised as a Jounin from the Sound Village, narrowed his eyes in interest. This was no ordinary child.
Tobirama Senju had thought that he would entrust 2B to one of his trustworthy people. However—
There was a reason why he considered it a failure.
He couldn't completely suppress the user's will. And if the body of 2B had jailed a Tailed-Beast, then this might not be good for Konoha.
Right now, Naruto is proving this.
Willpower can suppress 2B's protocols.
Through the chaos, Gai stood tall, his eyes burning with pride. He raised a thumbs up toward his pupil. "Lee, you've done well, but now… it's time."
Lee, breathing heavily and sporting more than a few bruises, looked down at his hands, his fingers trembling from the strain of keeping up with Naruto. His eyes flicked back to Gai, his resolve hardening as he nodded. "All right, Sensei." His voice was quiet, but there was no hesitation. "First Gate: Gate of Opening… Open!"
In an instant, the air around Lee seemed to shift. His skin flushed, veins bulging at his temples as the power of the first gate flooded his system. He moved, and this time, he wasn't just fast—he was as fast as Naruto. The ground beneath their feet cracked as they traded blows, their movements a blur to those watching.
Kakashi's single visible eye widened in horror as he turned to Gai. "Gai… you taught him that?"
Gai's eyes were narrowed, focused intently on the battle. "Indeed, Kakashi. Lee is the only one who deserves this power. He has worked harder than anyone."
Sasuke, who had been watching in stunned silence, couldn't help but ask, "Why is he only using taijutsu? If he can open those gates, why not use ninjutsu?"
Gai's voice was firm, filled with the pride he held for his student. "Lee can't use ninjutsu or genjutsu, but that has never stopped him. He's trained his body and spirit to become the greatest taijutsu master, and with taijutsu alone, he will achieve his dreams."
As the battle raged on, Naruto began to adapt, her movements growing faster, more precise, like a tigress honing in on her prey. Each strike from Lee was met with equal force, but Naruto's unrelenting pace was taking its toll. Lee was panting, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but his spirit refused to break.
"Second Gate: Gate of Healing…open!" the noise, his aura flaring as he activates the next gate. His speed and strength increased dramatically, and with a powerful kick, he sent Naruto flying across the arena like a ragdoll. She hit the ground hard, skidding along the cracked earth, but she completely disregarded the pain. Before Lee could even catch his breath, Naruto was back on her feet, her expression enraged as she charged at him once more.
-Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 50%
Useless. What's the point of closing a dam when the water has already flooded the area? Unfortunately, Bitch could only restrain the Tailed-Beast's chakra from leaking.
Lee was having trouble keeping up now. Every time he thought he had an opening, Naruto was there, her fists and feet moving in perfect synchronization, each blow heavier than the last. Sweat poured down Lee's face, but he pushed on, his determination unwavering.
"Third Gate: Gate of Life… Open!" Lee's voice trembled as he activated the third gate, the power surging through him. His speed was blinding now, each of his punches and kicks hitting Naruto with such force that even her wooden body began to show signs of wear. But the red chakra surrounding Naruto grew denser, more suffocating, and with each passing second, she hit back harder.
The crowd could barely keep up with the rapid exchange of blows. The arena floor cracked and buckled under the force of their attacks, shockwaves radiating outward with every impact.
"He's pushing himself too far," Asuma muttered under his breath, concern lacing his voice as he watched Lee struggle against Naruto's overwhelming power.
Hiruzen narrowed his eyes. "This… this isn't a match anymore. It's a test of survival."
And still, Lee refused to give up. "Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain… Open!" His voice was hoarse, his body trembling from the strain. But with this new surge of power, Lee charged forward, his movements so fast that they left afterimages. Naruto was thrown back again and again, her body hitting the ground with sickening thuds, but each time, she rose, undeterred.
Naruto's strikes became more vicious, more brutal. Her fists hit Lee with such force that the sound of his bones breaking echoed through the arena. Yet, even as pain wracked his body, Lee's spirit didn't waver.
Seeing no other option, Lee gritted his teeth, his voice strained as he called out, "Fifth Healing: Gate of Limit… Open!"
The air around Lee seemed to ignite, a fiery aura enveloping him as the power of the fifth gate coursed through his veins. His speed and strength were beyond anything the spectators had ever seen. Naruto was completely overwhelmed, her movements sluggish in comparison to Lee's newfound power. He landed a powerful strike on her, his fist connecting with her abdomen with such force that the ground beneath them shattered, sending a shockwave through the arena. Naruto was launched into the air, helpless against the onslaught.
"Primary Lotus!" Lee's voice rang out as he leaped into the air after her, spinning rapidly as he wrapped Naruto in a crushing embrace. The two of them hurtled toward the ground, the force of their descent growing with each passing second.
The impact was catastrophic. The ground caved in, forming a massive crater where they landed. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the view as the crowd watched in stunned silence.
When the dust finally settled, Naruto lay motionless at the bottom of the crater, the red chakra that had surrounded her fading into nothingness. The arena was silent, everyone holding their breath.
Sakura gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Could it be… did he win?"
But before anyone could celebrate, the red chakra flared up once more, more intense and violent than before. It swirled around Naruto like a hurricane, the sheer force of it making it difficult for the spectators to remain standing.
Lee, panting heavily, was almost thrown back by the sheer power of it. He could barely keep his footing as the ground beneath him cracked and shifted.
-Tailed-Beast restraints. Power level: 70%
In Naruto's mindscape, the Kyuubi's voice boomed, filled with malevolent glee. 'Kill him,' it commanded, the words echoing through her mind, consuming her thoughts.
Naruto's eyes snapped open, now slitted and glowing a terrifying crimson. Her wooden body was cracked, her face splintered like a damaged doll, but she disregarded it entirely. With a menacing step forward, the step shattered the ground. She advanced on Lee, her expression one of pure rage.
"Naruto…" Hiruzen's voice was low, filled with concern as he watched the young shinobi. This was not the child he had watched grow up. This was something far more dangerous.
As Naruto closed in on Lee, her hands clenched into fists.
'Yes! Embrace it! You are a monster!'
Iruka's voice suddenly echoed in her mind. 'Naruto is not a monster! He is a shinobi of the Village Hidden In The Leaves!'
Naruto blinked, her steps faltering. The words cut through the rage, piercing the dark fog that had clouded her mind. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head as she let out a scream so loud and piercing that it reverberated through the arena, causing the glass windows to shatter into pieces.
'No! No! Don't give up, brat!'
Gaara, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. "She's like me," he whispered, the realization sending a chill down his spine.
'Brat—'
'I won't listen to you…furball.'
The red chakra began to fade, the feral intensity in Naruto's eyes slowly dimming. Her body still cracked and broken, she forced herself to stand, her breathing ragged. She looked at Lee, determination shining in her eyes despite her battered state. "I am not a monster," she declared, her voice resolute. "I am Naruto Uzumaki."
Despite the pain, despite the broken body and the humiliation, Naruto managed to strike a pose, albeit clumsily. "Dattebayo," she added with a hint of her usual defiant spirit.
Lee, exhausted and struggling to stay on his feet, didn't even have time to react before Naruto summoned a whole battalion of shadow clones. In an instant, the arena was filled with dozens of identical Narutos, however, before they could move even an inch,
Seeing Lee in a poor condition, Bitch tried to freeze Naruto. -Harming a fellow—
'Fuck you!' Naruto gritted her teeth as she felt she couldn't move. But…
-Harming…harm..ha…haa..ha
Naruto blinked. 'You okay?'
-Ha…ha…ha…ha…
Unbeknownst to Naruto, even Hashirama's sage wood couldn't withstand the combined assault of Lee's attacks and Kyuubi's power, which resulted in the AI getting damaged. The body of 2B will heal and will restore back in time, sure. But the 'poor' Bitch still would require external help to repair itself. However… It also means Naruto might not be able to use the powers of 2B fully.
The clones unfroze. all of them charging at Lee with the same unyielding determination.
Lee tried to defend himself, but the sheer number of clones overwhelmed him. It was like being caught in a relentless storm, each clone delivering a flurry of punches and kicks with the same ferocity as the original Naruto. Lee's vision blurred as he desperately tried to fend them off, but it was no use. His strength was waning, and every movement sent jolts of pain through his body.
The clones swarmed him, their attacks coming from every direction. Lee, despite his iron will, could only do so much against such a barrage. His defenses crumbled, and within moments, he was out cold, his body hitting the ground with a heavy thud.
The entire arena fell into a stunned silence. Everyone, from the spectators to the shinobi standing on the sidelines, watched in disbelief. No one could have anticipated such a brutal and decisive end to the match.
Naruto, standing amidst the sea of her dispelled clones, looked at Hayate, who was too dumbfounded to declare her the winner.
She sighed, the irritated undertone in her voice adding a strange, almost eerie quality to her words. "The winner is: Future Hokage Naruto Uzumaki." She made a victory sign with her fingers, her face, despite the cracks and damage, displaying an unreadable expression. "Dattebayo."
There was a moment of silence before the spectators finally erupted into a mixture of cheers, gasps, and shocked murmurs.
"Unbelievable…" Neji whispered, still in disbelief. "She actually won…"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he observed Naruto closely. This wasn't just a victory; it was a revelation. There was more to Naruto than any of them had ever imagined.
Gai, though proud of Lee, couldn't help but be impressed. "Naruto… You have a spirit that burns as brightly as Lee's. But this… this power… It's dangerous."
Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, watched with a heavy heart. He had always known that Naruto carried a great burden, but seeing it manifest like this was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
Even Orochimaru, hidden among the crowd, couldn't suppress a sinister grin. "How fascinating… The Kyuubi's power is truly something to behold. But Naruto Uzumaki…you are quite unique too."
But Naruto wasn't concerned with the spectators or their opinions. She stood tall, or as tall as she could with her wooden body showing signs of wear and tear. The fight had pushed her to her limits, but she had won. She had proven, if only to herself, that she wasn't just a vessel for the Kyuubi, or a puppet controlled by some wierd power. She was Naruto Uzumaki, and she had dreams and a future worth fighting for.
Lee was quickly attended to by the medical team, his battered body a testament to the ferocity of the battle. As he was carried away on a stretcher, he managed to open his eyes, looking up at Naruto with a mixture of admiration and determination. "Naruto… You're strong… But I'll get stronger too. I'll never give up… you'll be my bride one day!"
Naruto nodded, acknowledging most of his words. There was no animosity, only a mutual respect that had been forged in the heat of battle.
As she turned to leave the arena, her steps unsteady, Naruto couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Victory was sweet, but the cost… The cracks in her body, the dark whispers of the Kyuubi… They were reminders that power came with a price. She was back to where she was months ago.
'I cannot access any of my 2B powers… Bitch isn't responding too…'
But for now, she pushed those thoughts aside. There would be time to worry later. Right now, she was the victor, and for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself a small, genuine smile.
"Dattebayo,"
Ū~Ū
The air in the arena was thick with tension, the kind that makes your skin prickle and your heart beat just a little faster. The preliminaries had concluded, and Naruto's mind was still reeling from the earlier events. The white-haired, wooden girl had witnessed something that stirred an uncomfortable mix of emotions in her heart.
The fight between Neji Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga had been less of a physical brawl and more of a verbal war. Hinata, with her soft-spoken demeanor and unyielding determination, had tried her best to stand tall against her cousin. But Neji… oh, that smug bastard had verbally eviscerated her before nearly doing so physically. It wasn't just the fight that had made Naruto's heart creak with unease, but the sheer cruelty in Neji's words. He didn't just want to win; he wanted to crush her spirit, to remind her of her so-called "fate" in the harshest way possible.
Hinata had lost, and lost badly. But she hadn't given up until the very end, which was something Naruto respected deeply. Still, seeing her lying there, battered and bruised, barely clinging to consciousness… it was enough to make even a stone's eyes flicker with something akin to anger.
Naruto, not one to keep her thoughts to herself—especially when fueled by righteous indignation—had given Neji the talking-to of a lifetime. Her voice had rung out in the arena, echoing off the walls as she stood there, her sapphire eyes glowing with a furious light.
"You think you're so hot—eh, in a bad way, huh, Neji?" Naruto had said, her voice carrying an edge that was impossible to ignore. "You might be strong, but that doesn't give you the right to treat people like trash! Fate? Destiny? Dattebayo, I'll show you that none of that crap matters. I'll knock that smug look right off your face, you jerk."
Neji had merely looked at her with those cold, calculating eyes of his and scoffed. "You talk big, but you're just another weakling," he had said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Someone like you could never defeat someone like me."
Before Naruto could launch into another tirade, Neji had struck with a speed that even she hadn't anticipated. The blow was swift and precise, sending her sprawling to the ground, her body clattering noisily as she hit the stone floor. As she lay there, her limbs temporarily unresponsive from the impact, Neji had stood over her, his expression as impassive as ever.
"You're strong, but you're no match for me," he had stated flatly, before walking away as if she were nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
Naruto's brain buzzed with irritation and something else… something that felt suspiciously like humiliation. But that wasn't the worst of it. The worst part was the promise she had made, her voice devoid of its usual 'roboticness'. "I swear, Neji Hyuga," she had said, her voice echoing through the arena, "I'm going to make you eat those words."
After the preliminaries, the atmosphere had shifted. The remaining participants had gathered to receive their tournament matchups, each one feeling the weight of the next month pressing down on them. This wasn't just about survival anymore; this was about proving themselves, about showing the world what they were made of.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had congratulated them all, his voice warm and full of pride. "You've all done well to come this far," he had said, his eyes sweeping over the young shinobi who had fought so hard. "But the real challenge lies ahead. You have one month to prepare. Use it wisely."
Then came the moment they'd all been waiting for—the announcement of the tournament brackets. Naruto's heart might have skipped a beat if it weren't, well, mechanical.
The names and matchups appeared on the screen, each one filling the room with a fresh wave of anticipation:
—Sasuke Uchiha (Konohagakure) vs. Neji Hyuga (Konohagakure)—
—Shino Aburame (Konohagakure) vs. Kin Tsuchi (Otogakure)—
—Gaara of the Desert (Sunagakure) vs. Naruto Uzumaki (Konohagakure)—
—Temari of the Sand (Sunagakure) vs. Dosu Kinuta (Otogakure)—
The room was abuzz with murmurs and whispered speculations, but Naruto's attention was laser-focused on one name— 'Gaara of the Desert.' She had heard things about him, disturbing things. The guy was supposed to be a total monster, and judging by the looks of him—pale skin, dark-rimmed eyes, and an aura that practically screamed "don't mess with me"—he was every bit as dangerous as people said. But Naruto wasn't one to back down from a challenge, especially not one as terrifyingly ominous as Gaara. She would face him head-on, no matter what. 'Dattebayo.'
With the tournament list in hand, the young shinobi were dismissed, each one left to their own thoughts, their own plans, and their own fears. They had one month to prepare, and that time would pass faster than any of them could imagine. For Naruto, though, there was only one thought on her mind as she walked away from the arena, her heels clicking against the stone floor in a rhythm that matched the determination in her heart:
'I'm going to show them all. And it starts with Gaara.'
TBC
Author Note: I hope you liked this chapter.
Look forward to the next chapter. Drop your thoughts in the review section.
Till next time!