Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Rubies & Sapphires ❯ Super Perverts, Bloodline Jutsus & Tournaments ( Chapter 4 )

 

Training Ground 19:

 

Kurenai was teaching both Chouji and Shikamaru some theory behind some Genjutsu or another when Naruto walked up to them. They greeted him and after some small chat, Naruto asked how things were going with their training. Shikamaru looked up at the clouds.

 

“It's troublesome, but I'm starting to learn a few Genjutsu as well as another Nara clan jutsu.”

 

Naruto nodded. Chouji smiled at Naruto.

 

“I'm really not that good with Genjutsu, but I'm learning the next Akimichi clan jutsu.”

 

Naruto nodded as Kureani looked at him.

 

“So, what have you learnt from Jiraiya, Naruto?”

 

Naruto smiled at her.

 

“The only area I had nothing in. Bloodline jutsus.”

 

All three of their eyes widened. Naruto explained.

 

“I've signed a summon contract that both Jiraiya and my dad signed, I've also learnt two jutsus that my dad created and another two Jiraiya created. Tomorrow, I'm to learn a jutsu that my earnt my dad his name as the 'Yellow Flash of Konoha'”

 

At the last part, their eyes widened conciderably.

 

“Hiraishin?”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“I won't have it ready in time for the exam though.”

 

Shikamaru sighed.

 

“Medokusei...”

 

“Despite the fact that in the upcoming exam we're opponents, I still think you're friends before that. I need to speak to Niisan though, so I'll catch you round.”

 

They waved goodbye to Naruto as he left the training field and headed to his appartment.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&a mp;&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&a mp;&

 

Naruto's Appartment:

 

Naruto got home to see Kakashi taking a snooze in the chair. When Kakashi heard the door open, he looked up.

 

“Hey Naruto. You're back early.”

 

Naruto shurgged.

 

“Jiraiya's not going to teach me anything until tomorrow.”

 

Kakashi nodded.

 

“So, want some help?”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“Is it possible for a person to sign more than one summoning contract?”

 

Kakashi raised an eyebrow.

 

“There's no strict rule against it, however, it's not common practice. I take it you signed the contract with the toads?”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“Well, I have no qualms about letting you sign the dog contract, however, it's up to the dogs to accept you.”

 

Naruto nodded as Kakashi led Naruto outside to the enclosed guarden of the apartments which was really nothing more than a square patch of lawn. Kakashi bit his thumb and formed the seals.

 

“Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”

 

The smoke cleared and a fairly large dog was there. He wore a navy blue Gi and wore sunglasses as well as a Konoha Hitai-ate. The dog dropped the scroll and Kakashi opened it. Naruto didn;t recognise any other names apart from Kakashi. Naruto bit his thumb and signed his name next to Kakashi's, ending in his finger prints. Naruto realised his problem. If he summoned the boss of the dogs here, he'd destroy several of the appartment complexes. So he looked to Kaakshi who smiled.

 

“Go summon him where there's a bit more space.”

 

Naruto nodded and walked off to a training ground that was usually empty. Today was no different so he went into the center and bit his thumb, molded a massive amount of chakra and slammed his palm onto the ground.

 

“Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”

 

After the smoke cleared, Naruto was looking into the eyes of a rather large wolf with grey fur that had a hint of blue in it. The wolf looked at him.

 

“Who're you? You better have a good explination as to why you're on my head, gaki.”

 

Naruto smiled in his lazy fashion.

 

“I summoned you.”

 

The wolf narrowed it's eyes. It grinned before letting lose a barking laugher.

 

“You summon me? Do you expect me to believe that?”

 

Naruto sweat dropped. Were all summon bosses like this? He decided to show this 'boss' just who he was dealing with.

 

“I'll prove I summoned you”

 

Naruto jumped off the wolf's head and bit his thumb, forming the seals.

 

“Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”

 

A huge cloud of smoke wrapped around the new figure, before revealing Gamabunta. The two summon bosses stared at each other. Naruto smiled at the wolf, however, he was almost completely exahusted of chakra. Summoning two summon bosses was not a feat to be sneezed at. The wolf looked at Gamabunta.

 

“Hisashiburi dana, Gamabunta.”

 

“Indeed it has, Fenrir. Almost 200 years. Let me guess, Naruto summoned me to prove he summoned you.”

 

Fenrir smiled in that feral manner that all canines did.

 

“I know who summoned me, I just wanted to see if the gaki was worthy of summoning me.”

 

At that point, Naruto fell to his knees, panting and sweating. Fenrir looked at Naruto.

 

“I'm amazed a human his age can summon two summon bosses at all, let alone not dying from complete chakra exhaustion. Listen Naruto, canines pride themselves on their loyalty. Remember that. As you humans say, 'scratch my back and I'll scratch yours'. I'll let you summon my pack for now, but until you prove your loyalty, you may not summon me, are we clear? If you do, your signature of the canine contract is void.”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“Sure thing.”

 

Fenrir poofed out of existance, leaving Naruto with Gamabunta. Gamabunta looked up at Naruto.

 

“I'm getting out of here. The kids are waiting for me back home.”

 

Naruto nodded and jumped down as Gamabunta raised a webbed hand.

 

“Ja.”

 

Gamabunta dissapeared as Naruto collapsed, panting. Little did Naruto know that there was a very livid Uchiha staring at him from the edge of the training field.

 

'Where does Naruto get so much power?'

 

Naruto lay there, recovering his chakra for the better part of the day. At about nightfall, Naruto got up and headed home. He really needed to prove his loyaty to the canines. He didn't know when he might need Fenrir's help. Naruto opened the door to see Kakashi smiling at him.

 

“I'm sure most of the Jounins of Konoha felt that Naruto. No wonder you look like that. I suggest taking it easy for a while.”

 

Naruto nodded as he made himself a cup of instant ramen, to tired to make anything fancy. Once he'd eaten it with Kakashi eating his miso soup, Naruto excused himself and took a shower before throwing his clothes into the laundry basked in his room and hit the sack.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&a mp;&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

Three Weeks & Four Days Later:

 

It was the day of the Chuunin main matches. There was a few clouds in the sky, apart from that, it was a perfect day. Everyone was living the hype usually associated with such a big tournament. People were specifically wanting to see how both year's top rookies would do, namely Hyuuga Neji and Uzumaki Naruto. People still had some reservations about Naruto, but they would see what he was capeable of before passing their final judgement. The examinees walked in through the large gate at ground level and stood facing the stands of people which were packed to capacity. Everyone's favorite senbon chewing Jounin, Shiranui Genma stood facing the examinees.

 

“You guys are the reason everyone has gathered. Like with the preliminaries, the rules are the same, even if the terrain is diffrerent. You will fight each other until one gives up, is unable to fight or dies. Remember, if I decide to stop the match, you will listen to me.”

 

They nodded as the Hokage welcomed the crowd.

 

“Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the first biannual Chuunin Exam finals. We will now begin the main matches between the finalists. Please enjoy the show.”

 

Genma turned back to the Chuunin hopefulls.

 

“First match is between Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba. The rest of you, go up to the waiting room until it's your turn.”

 

The other six left the arena for the waiting room. Kiba smiled at Naruto.

 

“It's been a while since we went against each other in anything but a friendly spar, eh Naruto?”

 

Naruto smiled.

 

“Yup.”

 

Genma made the announcement.

 

“Then, first match; Hajime!”

 

The croud roared their approval as the two competitors stood stone still, gauging each other's reactions. After a full minute of tension filled silence, Kiba smirked and hurled four kunais at Naruto who dodged to the left, letting them impact the wall. Kiba formed a ram seal and used one of his clan jutsus.

 

“Gijuu Ninpou: Shikyku no Jutsu!”

 

Kiba's fingernails extended as his chakra morphed his body. Kiba dissapeared in a blur of speed and reappeared next to Naruto, engaging in a ferocious Taijutsu match. Naruto noticed Kiba's speed had improved dramatically, and Naruto was having to block about half the punches and kicks while he dodged the rest. The croud was captivated as Naruto danced through the air avoiding Kiba's blows and blocking the ones he couldn't. Kiba knew that by himself, he wasn't going to get anywhere with this so he dissapeared and reappeared next to Akamaru.

 

“Akamaru!”

 

The dog barked and jumped onto Kiba's back before transforming into a clone of Kiba.

 

“Juujin Bunshin!”

 

Both of them charged in, reappearing in front of and behind Naruto. Naruto saw his predicament. Blocking one Kib'as blows was hard enough. Two would be impossible. Before either of them could land a punch, Naruto formed a single hand seal.

 

“Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!”

 

A lot of the croud's eyes widened as a perfect copy of Naruto appeared beside him and took on Akamaru while the real Naruto took on Kiba. Naruto was trying to slowly separate the pair, as together, they were a force to be reckoned with. The four fighters on the field continued to exchange blows until Akamaru got lucky and punched the clone in the stomach through a hole in the clone's defenses, dispelling it. Akamaru went back to help his master with the real Naruto. Naruto saw his predicament and just as they were about to land a blow on him, he turned into a flash of yellow light and just vanished. Both Kiba and Akamaru stumbled before gaining their footing to see Naruto reappear with the same yellow flash at the other end of the field. Everyone just stared. Murmurs of 'Hiraishin' and 'Yellow Flash' could be heard through out the audience. Kiba looked at Naruto with wide eyes.

 

“Wha... What was that?”

 

Naruto smiled at Kiba.

 

“A modified version of the Shushin no Jutsu unique to Konoha.”

 

Kiba tried to regain his senses as both he and Akamaru took out eight shuriken each. He hurled them at Naruto to prepare for the next attack.

 

“Every time I see you, you just get faster, Naruto. Akamaru! Let's go! GATSUUGA!”

 

Naruto dodged the shuriken as both Kiba and Akamaru turned into grey cyclones as they crisscrossed the field, ripping up the ground as they tried to confuse Naruto where they would attack from. After a few seconds, they broke off and tried to hit Naruto from two different directons. Naruto jumped out of the way only to see both of them come at him again while he was still in mid air unable to block.

 

“I see a weak spot!”

 

Both cyclones slammed into Naruto and then broke out as Naruto fell to the ground, not moving.

 

“Gotacha.”

 

Naruto poofed into a log that had one of the larger variaties of explosive notes attached to it and Kiba's eyes widened as the note fizzled down to it's last part and exploded, sending Kiba and Akamaru flying back into the stadium wall. The impact dispelled Akamaru's Henge and they both looked at Naruto who had reappeared in the middle of the stadium. Kiba grit his teeth from the pain when he decided to use his last resort.

 

“Akamaru, we're going to use 'it'. Let's go.”

 

Akamaru got up and Kiba charged at Naruto and grabbed onto his arm before Naruto had the chance to move.

 

“Now, Akamaru!”

 

Akamaru jumped into the air and span, urinating all over the area as Naruto narrowed his eyes. Dogs urinated on things to mark them. Naruto used another Kawrimi to replace himself with a log, but still got hit with a small amount of the urine.

 

“Dynamic marking. Seiko. Now Akamaru! Jinju Konbi Henge: Sotoro!”

 

Both Akamaru and Kiba were surrounded by a cloud of smoke which cleared to reveal a massive white wolf with two heads. The wolf had crimon eyes and was salavating like mad. Both heads looked at Naruto and let the hint of a smile touch their lips. Naruto smiled as he did the two hand seals for a jutsu.

 

“We won't let you!”

 

Naruto slammed his palms onto the ground as the white wolf ran at Naruto.

 

“Doton: Yomi Noma!”

 

The ground of the entire stadium turned into a see of ochre red liquid which was like glue. It stopped the double headed wolf in it's tracks as it began sinking.

 

“Gah, what is this?”

 

Naruto stood up.

 

“It's a Doton Jutsu. This swamp is about one hundred meters deep. The more you struggle, the faster you sink.”

 

The wolf smiled.

 

“Like quicksand, huh? But did you count on this? Garoga!”

 

The wolf began spinning and sending the red liquid everywhere as it turned into a white and blue tornado. Nartuo narrowed his eyes, realising there was only one option left. He muttered 'kai', returning the ground to it's original state and bit his thumb and formed the seals.

 

“Kuchiyose no Jutsu!”

 

The smoke cleared to reveal a mainly grey frog with and orange back slightly larger than the wolf that wore a green Gi and had a very long katana strapped to it's back. The frog saw the danger as it pulled the blade off it's back and met the attack. The tornado kept going, pushing the frog towards the wall. The wolf jumped back and prepared for another go. If the frog hit the wall, it was over, so Naruto looked at the frog when an idea struck him.

 

“Can you give me a short burst of oil?”

 

The frog nodded and his cheeks puffed up and Naruto formed two hand seals.

 

“Katon: Kyuukyoku Goukakyu no Jutsu!”

 

Naruto's fireball hit the oil and the arena exploded into flames as the croud winced at the massive amount of heat the fireball generated, even from their seats. The fireball lasted all of 3 seconds as it washed over the wolf, doing just enough damage to dispell the Henge and leave both of them on the ground, suffering from exhaustion, but only minor burns that were easily treatable. Naruto thanked the toad as it left. Naruto walked up to Kiba, who smirked at Naruto.

 

“That was clever. I didn't expect you to use any of those jutsus, especially not that last one. So, how do I rate?”

 

Nartuo smiled.

 

“Kiba, that was a great match. You forced me to reveal three new jutsus in the first match. I didn't make the fireball last long enough to permanently damage you, as I know when I have to use terminal force. And a match with a close friend, not matter how serious it is, is not the time to use that sort of power. I expect your family to be proud of you. I am. Good work... my friend.”

 

Kiba smiled at the recognition as he passed out. Genma smirked.

 

“Shousha, Uzumaki Naruto.”

 

The croud went wild as Nartuo walked up to the contestants box, where he got pats on the back from Chouji and Shikamaru, a nod from Shino and Neji and an 'explosion of youth' comment from Lee. Naruto noticed Gaara had a rather manic expression on his face, one of a person who was just restraining himself from lashing out. The Rookies and their Jounin instructors were not only amazed at Nartuo's power, but also in his sense of judgement he showed when dealing with Kiba's very damaging attack. Kurenai was most impressed with Naruto.

 

'Naruto... You're growing up so fast... So mature at such a young age... You really are something else...'

 

When the croud settled down, Genma announced the next match.

 

“Second match contestants come down.”

 

Shikamaru and Chouji went down to the arena and looked at each other. Chouji smiled warmly at his teammate.

 

“Come on, Shikamaru. Ganbatte.”

 

“Same to you, Chouji.”

 

“Second match is between Nara Shikamaru and Akamitchi Chouji. Hajime.”

 

Chouji started off as he formed a seal and used a trademark family jutsu.

 

“Baika no Jutsu!”

 

Chouji pulled his limbs and head in, letting out plumes of chakra as he announced the next part of the combo.

 

“Nikudan Sensha!”

 

Chouji flew up into the air and began spinning. Shikamaru looked scared as Chouji came rolling at him with his favorite mantra.

 

“Roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll!”

 

Shikamaru lept out of the way and into the trees nearby as Chouji rolled past him, clearly enjoying himself. Shikamaru sighed.

 

“Medokusei...”

 

Chouji came straight back at the tree and Shikamaru dodged as Chouji snapped the tree like a twig. Shikamaru saw his chance as he landed.

 

“Kagemane no Jutsu!”

 

Shikamaru's shadow stretched out and caught Chouji who stopped spinning. Shikamaru smirked.

 

“Knowing you, Chouji, you wouldn't let me catch you like that unless you had a reason.”

 

Chouji smirked as he returned to normal size. Chouji had found that the Nara's Kagemane no Jutsu may stop your body's movements, but it did not stop you from channeling chakra. Chouji was surrounded by a wave of chakra which concerntraited around his arm as he announced his jutsu.

 

“Bubun Baika no Jutsu Combi!”

 

Shikamaru lost control of his Kagemane from the rather large aura of power coming off Chouji while his right arm and hand grew to a disproportionate size, bringing the appendage around in a fast sweap of the area.

 

“Ude!”

 

Shikamaru jumped above the sweep and Chouji returned his arm to normal while he started the next part the combo.

 

“Hagi!”

 

Chouji brought his right leg up and it grew in size as he brought it down on Shikamaru's prone airborne form. Shikamaru's eyes widened as he realised he was about to be flattened. Since he wasn't on the ground, Shikamaru couldn't use his clan jutsus so he performed a Kawrimi with a branch from the tree Chouji had destroyed. The thick branch was shattered to splinters as Chouji withdrew his leg. Chouji jumped out of the way as he felt Shikamaru's shadow racing up behind him. Chouji hopped and skipped with agility that belied his size as the shadow tendril chased after him. Chouji noticed that Shikamaru wouldn't be able to extend his shadow much further and after one last jump, the tendril stopped. Shikamaru sighed as he withdrew his shadow and put his hands together in his 'thinking' pose. Chouji used this time to pull out a scroll and procure a bag of chips, which he hurridly ate to regain his chakra and pulled out a special Akimichi food pill, increasing his chakra capacity temporarily. Shikamaru finished his thinking and gave Chouji his 'Shougi face'. Chouji smiled.

 

“Are we going to get serious now, Shikamaru?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Chouji smiled as he prepared his new jutsu by releasing a massive wave of chakra that surrounded him in a blue shell and anounced his jutsu.

 

“Chou Baika no Jutsu!”

 

Shikamaru sweat dropped as did the majority of the audience as Chouji grew absurdly huge and pulled out a scroll that was not one Naruto had given him, procurring a rather large wooden pole from it. Chouji flipped the scoll back up and put it away before he proceeded to use the pole to slam it onto the ground when Shikamaru was. Shikamaru had not expected this and he hurried to amend his plans. Shikamaru continued dodging Chouji's attacks before he had an idea. Shikamaru dodged the latest attack and jumped onto the pole before using chakra to make sure he stuck to it. Chouji's eyes widened in suprise as he tried to shake Shikamaru off it, which he alsmost succeded in doing as Shikamaru slapped a number of expolsive notes to it and jumped clear as Chouji brought the weapon around for a final swing. During this time, Chouji was aware that Shikamaru had placed something on his ankles and looked down to see several explosive notes and stopped the pole above his head. Shikamaru chuckled.

 

“My clan jutsus are useless against you in this state. However, in exchange for size and power, you sacrifice a great deal of agility. This is what allowed me to destoy the weapon and while you got rid of it, it gave me several seconds to attach explosive notes to your ankles. You would have killed me and I would have killed you. Good match, Chouji.”

 

Chouji smiled as he returned to regular size and Shikamaru diffused the notes. Genma smiled.

 

“This match has ended in a tie, no one progressed to round two from this match.”

 

The group cheered and applauded the pair as they left the battle field. Up in the stands, Kakashi turned to Kurenai.

 

“All your students are progressing rapidly. It's not suprising they made it this far.”

 

Kurenai nodded in acknowledgement as they exchanged a few more words before Genma announced the next match.

 

“Next matches contestants, get down here.”

 

Both Shino and Neji came down and faced off. Both of them calm, cool and collected. Shino with his hands in his pockets while Neji had his hands at his sides. This was one of the two fights the majority of people had come to see. Gemna looked at each of them, seeing they were ready, he started the match.

 

“Third match is between Hyuugan Neji and Aburame Shino. Hajime.”

 

Both of them remained still. Everyone in the croud held their breath before Neji smirked.

 

“Naruto has a lot of confidence in your abilites, from what he has told me of you. I wish to see why.”

 

Shino didn't move a muscle as he spoke.

 

“Naruto also speaks quite highly of you.”

 

Neji smiled as he got into his Jyuken stance but Shino did not get into any stance. Neji activated his Bykugan and charged Shino, leaving afterimages behind him. Shino raised hands to let his bugs free, but he could not do so in time as Neji struck his heart with his extended hand. Shino collapsed to the floor and burst into bugs, making Neji jump back. Neji saw Shino behind him sending a wave of bugs at him. Neji knew from his research that these bugs ate a person's chakra, so he decided to test the theory in the most exstreme circumstances. He got down and released chakra from all his Tenketsu spinning like a top.

 

“Hakkeshou Kaiten!”

 

The bugs collided with the spinning wall of chakra and consumed a small amount of it before they were shredded to pieces. Eventually, both parties stopped their assault/defense to minimise their losses. Neji knew that these bugs lived on chakra, and with his Byakugan could see that the bugs were eating Shino's chakra as well, leaving him with minimal chakra to use for jutsus. Neji saw a weakness in the Aburame method. As long as the bugs could not feed on chakra, they would not listen to him. So, Neji prepared for his clan's ultimate jutsu. He got into a stance which the Hyuuga's in the audience recognised immediately.

 

“This is it. You are within range of my Divination.”

 

Shino raised an eyebrow at this claim as Neji prepared for the jutsu.

 

“Jyuukenhou: Hakke Rokujyuuyonshou!”

 

Neji charged in and delived the first two strikes with blinding precision and speed.

 

“Hakke: Nishou!”

 

Shino stumbled back as Neji danced acrobatically, delivering the next two.

 

“Yonshou!”

 

Shino continued to stumble back as Neji pounded him with the next wave.

 

“Hashou!”

 

“Juurokushou!”

 

“Sanjuunishou!”

 

“Rokujuuyonshou!”

 

Neji pumped a lot of chakra into the combo and sent Shino flying back as he smirked. However, Neji was suddenly aware that his chakra was declining far more rappidly than it should. He looked at his hands and arms to see them covered in bugs. He also saw that from his legs came a trail of bugs that led to a small mound in the arena. Neji gasped.

 

“When did you...”

 

Shino got to his hands and knees, obviously in a lot of pain as he answered.

 

“Each time you sealed a tenketsu, I placed a large number of bugs onto your fingers. My clan not only have control over the bugs within us, but also bugs in the area that we have communicated with before. I came here for the past month almost every day to communicate and form a treaty with the nest of Kikai bugs living here. As long as they have some chakra to eat, whether it is my own or my opponents, they will do as I ask them. Both of our clan techniques are ill suited for each other. We both rely on chakra. Both of our clans concerntraite on stopping the opponents chakra flow. The best we could have hoped for was a tie, which is what happened.”

 

Neji fell to his knees as his chakra dropped to dangerously low levels. Shino continued panting as they both dropped to the ground, unconcious. Genma observed them before announcing the result.

 

“Neither opponent is able to fight. No one progresses from this round.”

 

Despite the result, the audience was content. Gemna called the last contestants of the first round forward.

 

Gaara used Suna Shushin to get to the arena while Rock Lee jumped over the railing. Rock Lee got into his Gouken style while Gaara stood motionless. Genma started it off.

 

“Fourth and final match of round one between Rock Lee and Sabakyu no Gaara. Hajime.”

 

Lee's eyes widened as he caught the cork of Gaara's gourd which Gaara had flung projected at him very discretely.

 

“Please don't be too hasty.”

 

Lee crused the cork and dropped it to the ground as he charged forward and launched into a Taijutsu assault. Gaara's sand rose to protect him and Gaara never moved. After several more kicks and punxhes, Lee lept into the air and launched seveal shuriken at Gaara, who's sand caught it and turned into a Suna Bunshin. The Suna Bunshin threw them back at Lee and Lee threw two more to cancel the attacks out. Lee ran in and tried several more attacks before he confimed his suspicions. He would not be able to land a hit at this speed. Lee looked up into the croud and saw Gai, who nodded. Lee smiled and jumped backwards before reaching into his orange leg warmers and pulled out weights. Naruto smiled. The looks on everyone's faces would be priceless. Lee held the weights up, displaying each weight had the Kanji for 'Guts' on it.

 

“Yosh! I can move much eaiser now!”

 

Lee dropped the weights and the section of the arena around Lee was surrounded in a cloud of smoke as the weights hit the ground. Naruto saw everyones expression and laughed. He only wished he had his camera here with him. Naruto stopped his laughter and mentally groaned when he hear Gai shout out to his student.

 

“Ike! LEE!”

 

“OSSU!”

 

Lee charged at Gaara with blinding speed that shocked everyone. Lee punched at Gaara's Suna no Tate, breaking through it and dissaperaing, leaving a whistling noise in the air from the speed he was moving. He proceeded to smash the sand shield in places, leaving Gaara wide eyed and looking frantically for Lee. Finally, Lee aimed a straight punch and smashed Gaara in the face, sending him spawling. When he got back up, Gai could be heard with another one of his cheesy lines with matching Genjutsu that even Kurenai couldn't make sense of, making everyone in the general vicinity rather afraid of the man.

 

“SAYSHOUHA! HATSUBAKADA!”

 

“OSSU!”

 

Lee's eyes caught fire as he charged in again and procceded to land several more hits on Gaara before Lee noticed that his attacks were having little effect, possibly because of the fact that Gaara had sand covering his face. Gaara's face twisted into a grin that can only be associated with serial killers and madmen. The sand replaced itsel and Gaara looked at Lee.

 

“Come.”

 

Lee knew his only option left to get rid of that sand was to apply high damage from above the sand, so he undid the medical tape around his hands and prepared for his move.

 

“Prepare yourself!”

 

Lee charged in and created a ring of dirt around Gaara from running as fast as he was. Gaara was wary.

 

“Hurry up and come.”

 

“As you wish!”

 

Lee broke out of the ring and gave Gaara a savage kick to the chin, but Gaara would not float.

 

“I'm not done yet!”

 

Lee pushed himself off the ground with his hands and proceeded to give Gaara a sickening combo of kicks that resounded through out the stadium. The sand tried futilly to catch up to it's master as Lee continued high into the sky. After the last one, Lee froze from the pain and shut his eyes before regaining his resolve, wrapping the bandaged around Gaara, grabbing hold of him and began spinning until they were a blur.

 

“Take this! Omote Renge!”

 

The pair crashed into the ground, making it shatter under the impact, kicking up a huge cloud of dust and throwing rocks everywhere. Lee landed beside the crater, breathing heavily.

 

“That should have hurt...”

 

Lee noticed that part of Gaara's face crack and fall in, revealing nothing but an empty shell of sand. The whole body lost it's colour and disintergrated, much to everyone's chargrin.

 

“N... Nani?”

 

Lee turned around to see Gaara raise from the ground and smirk at him, laughing manically. Gaara formed a ram seal and smirked as the sand shot upwards before slamming into Lee, making him scream out in pain. Naruto knew that after opeining the first gate like that, Lee was in no position to dodge from the pain it inflicted to his body. Naruto was forced to watch Gaara for the next fifteen minutes toy with Lee before Lee looked up into the croud and let a tear shed from his eye. Naruto could tell without looking that Gai was smiling at him. If this was any indication, this was bad. Very bad. Lee regained his speed, much to everyone's amazement. Lee stared at Gaara.

 

“Gai-Sensei is smiling for me. That alone is enough to make me stronger. Far stronger.”

 

Naruto's eyes buldged. He was going to use his most powerful move! In what to others was extremly uncharacteristic, Naruto yelled out to Lee.

 

“LEE! DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT MOVE! YOU'LL DIE!”

 

Everyone stared at Naruto. Those close to him felt the waves of fear rolling off him and knew what he was saying was true.

 

“I'm sorry, Naruto-Kun, but I have to. The condition to use it has been met.”

 

Lee focussed himself and was surrounded by a column of chakra infused wind. Gaara was unfazed.

 

“I don't know what you're doing, but this is the end for you.”

 

“True. Either way, this move will decide everything.”

 

Gaara straightened and his hair began to russle from the manount of wind Lee's chakra was displacing.

 

“ Naruto-Kun... I cannot be the only one who loses here... Gai-Sensei... Please acknowledge this... Now is the time...'”

 

The rocks on the ground began lifting into the air and breaking as Lee concentraited further. Naruto saw that Lee's body was undergoing the transformation of the second gate, the Energy Gate. His body was turning red. Chakra began surging off Lee uncontrollably as he revealed himself in all his glory. Pupiless white eyes, hair standing on end and red skin.

 

“'TO ABIDE BY, AND PROTECT MY WAY OF THE NINJA'! The third gate, the Life Gate... KAI!”

 

Lee began growling as his body was covered by a green aura and the chakra wind surrounded him turned blood red, while regular blue chakra surrounded him in a double helix shape. Lee squatted as he opened the next gate.

 

“Now, for the fourth gate, the Wound Gate! KAI!”

 

Lee was now screaming an unearthly scream as his body pulsed with power. He ducked and then charged at Gaara, ripping the ground up from under him as he kicked Gaara and the stadium was covered in dust which cleared to reveal Gaara flying up into the air with Lee no where to be seen. Naruto focused chakra to his eyes to assist them in seeing Lee's movements as a lot of Chuunins and Jounins in the audience were doing.

 

“The armour of sand again? Then how about this?”

 

Lee used a modified version of Shushin unique to him and Gai to reappear in front of Gaara and smashed him towards the ground, releasing a visable shockwave before using the Shushin to get behind Gaara and smashed him again up into the air again. This procees repeated for well over three minutes until Lee got above him and prepared for the final attack.

 

“This is the end! Fifth gate, the Forest Gate... KAI!”

 

Lee was surrounded by a faint blue glow for a second before he charged at Gaara. Gaara tried to block but Lee used the Shushin one more time to get under Gaara's guard and punch him in the stomach sending him to the ground, but caught him from the bandages he had wrapped around his waist to pull him back up.

 

“Take this! URA RENGE!”

 

Lee slammed his right fist and foot into Gaara with all the strength he had left, watching him as he plumetted to earth, letting off cloud of dust and rock that again covered the stadium and Naruto saw Lee roll out of the cloud and come to a complete stop. When the cloud of dust dissapated, everyone saw Gaara surrounded by a small shield of sand that had protected him just enough to save his life. He was breathing heavily as he raised his hand shakily at Lee and sent a wave of sand at him while Lee tried pittifully to get out of the way. He couldn't even get out of the way with his muscles ripped and the sand closed in on Lee when it exploded outwards. When it cleared, everyone saw Naruto there, glaring at Gaara. Gaara looked at him.

 

“Why? Why did you save him?”

 

“Because, unlike you, I know when to stop a fight. Lee's muscles have been completely ripped to pieces. He is incapeable of defending himself and you try and kill him. To me, Lee is an important friend I am willing to die for. If that means killing you to ensure he'll live, so be it.”

 

Gaara stiffened as he clutched his head and moaned in pain. Nartuo stared at Gaara as he shakily got up, the gourd reforming on his back. Gaara started walking off as Gemna announced the winner.

 

“Shousha-”

 

Everyone gasped as Naruto turned around to see Lee standing, his knees shaking, standing in his Gouken Style. Naruto ran to Lee.

 

“Lee, Yamero! You've done enough-”

 

Naruto gasped as his eyes began water before he saw what had really happened.

 

“Lee... Lee, you're still trying even after you've lost conciousness? I don't believe it... Lee... You're stronger than I could ever be...”

 

“Shousha: Gaara.”

 

Gai appeared on the field and hugged Lee gently as he lay him on the ground. Naruto saw the medics rushing onto the field as they began checking Lee. After about thirty seconds, they made their analysis.

 

“Gai-San, Lee's injuries are severe. It's amazing he's still alive. If Naruto-San had not stopped that attack, this boy would most likely be dead now. With these injuries, it will take several months to heal with all of our current specialists working on him.”

 

Gai nodded solemnly as they carted Lee off to the medical facilities of the stadium to stabalise him before moving him to the hospital to receive emergency treatment. Genma turned back to the croud.

 

“Ladies and Gentlemen, as with all Chuunin Exam finals, we will now have a one hour recess between the rounds.”

 

Slowly, people started getting up and leaving the stands to go to the bathroom, buy food and drink and stretch their muscles. All talk was of Naruto and Lee. Naruto left to check up on Lee when he got there, the medics saw him and one came over to him.

 

“Naruto-San, thank you for stepping in for Lee. If he had been hit with that sand, he would never have been able to be a shinobi again.”

 

Naruto nodded solemnly.

 

“Can I see him?”

 

The medic nodded and led Naruto into the room where Neji, Tenten and Gai were watching the medics working on Lee. They turned to Naruto. Gai began crying as he hugged Naruto, who stiffened.

 

“Naruto-Kun! You are the epitome of youth! Thank you for saving Lee!”

 

Naruto nodded.

 

“No problem, Gai-Sensei...”

 

“Is there anything I can do for you to repay you for such a glorious display of youthfullness?”

 

Naruto could think of one thing and only one thing.

 

“Um... How about letting go of... me? It's kinda hard to breathe...”

 

Gai let go of Naruto and he gasped for air. Gai smiled at Naruto.

 

“My appologies, Naruto-Kun!”

 

They chatted for a bit longer before Naruto decided to go see the others.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&a mp;&&&&&&&&&&&&&&