[Naruto] "Never Ever" 06/15
Title: Never Ever (06/15)
Rating: PG (OOC, AU, Language)
Archived @ Master List
Summary: What if Naruto had sided with the Sand in the Konoha invasion?
Chapter 06: The Third Test
The Sandaime Hokage-sama had not changed in all those years. He was still that old man from eight years ago and he was the only face that Naruto recognized among the crowd of Jounin instructors other than Baki-sensei, Kazeno-sensei, and Orochimaru.
Only eight teams out of the original 21 passed. Most of them were Leaf's rookie Genin too.
"Listen up carefully," Anko said, "Hokage-sama will now explain the third test."
The Sandaime then went on to explain the reason for the Chuunin Exam. About how it was a replacement for wars between countries.
'Not so.' Naruto thought. 'There's a war coming soon, Sandaime Hokage-SAMA. How pitiful it is that you have no idea.'
When Sandaime was finished with his speech, and just when he was about to start on the rules for the third exam, a Jounin appeared in a puff of smoke and asked to be the one who explained the third exam.
"I'm Gekkou Hayate." He said once he was given permission. "Before the third exam takes place, there's something I'd like you to do, and that is to participate in a preliminary for the third test."
'What's wrong with that guy?' Sick looking face, circles under his eyes, constant coughing, and a bit of blue tinge on his face all signaled that he had some sort of chronic disease.
"We have a bit too many people remaining." He said. "The fights could take too long and we're limited on time. So anyone who doesn't wish to take the exam, please come forward. We're starting the preliminaries immediately..."
"What? Right now?" asked dog-boy.
"Yes. Right now."
---
Naruto nodded at the two of his teammates.
"We're going." They said, raising their hands.
"You're Kurosaki and Nubou from the Sand, right?" Hayate coughed. "You may leave now."
---
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. This was simply too unusual. Those two Sand Nins were leaving even though they looked perfectly healthy. That blonde boy, Naruto was it? He was acting way too calm about this. Two of his teammates were leaving and he didn't seem to care.
'What kind of shinobi does the Sand village create that could be so heartless?'
Kabuto was the next and last one to resign from the test after that. It was expected. After all, he had voluntarily quit from the exams six times before. One more wouldn't matter.
"Umm... there will be no more retiring right?" Hayate asked. "Since there is an odd number of people here, we will have ten matches and the extra one will advance automatically to the finals. There are no rules. The fight will end only when someone is dead, knocked out, or surrenders. The electronic scoreboard will be the one that decides your opponent. Now, will everyone please clear the floor? The first match will begin in five minutes."
---
"Hey. You three got through it just fine." Naruto said, heading toward the staircase on the right along with all the other non-Leaf Genins.
"No thanks to you." Kankurou replied jokingly. Then, he lowered his voice. "Everything's going to plan."
"Yea. Just be careful in your fights, all of you."
The scoreboard suddenly came to life, spinning a bunch of names before settling on two:
"Haku and Akamichi Chouji. Please come forward."
The former Mist Nin made his way back down to the floor. The self-dubbed- big-boned boy had to be 'convinced' forcibly by his two teammates, and only willingly went down after being promised an all-you-can-eat barbecue.
"GET HIM CHOUJI! YOU OLD FATASS!"
Immediately upon hearing those words from Ino's mouth, Chouji's eyes burst into flames. "I'M NOT FAT. I'M JUST BIG-BONED." He shouted angrily, silently swearing to kill Ino once he took care of the girly-looking guy in front of him.
"NINPOU! BAIKA NO JUTSU [Multi-size technique]" He shouted, inflating into a human balloon. "He stuck his legs, arms, and head into his clothing like a turtle and it's shell and began rolling.
'Useless.' Sakura thought. 'That kind of speed won't get you anywhere near Haku-san. His speed is even more impressive than Sasuke-kun.'
Sure enough, all Haku had to do was dodge from the rolling meatball. And if he ever got cornered, he simply jumped, landed a step on the rolling Chouji, and escape to the other side of the room. He didn't even get a chance to use his needles yet.
Shikamaru slapped his forehead. This match took a bit of brains to win and Chouji's lack of brainpower would be what cost him this match.
"Oy! Imma sho dizshy!" Chouji mumbled incoherently, swaying from side to side before falling on the ground. Haku didn't even get a chance to use his senbon acupuncture needles.
"Um... Akamichi Chouji is unable to battle. Winner, Haku."
---
"Ugh." Ino said, bringing her hand up to her face. "Chouji, you were so close."
"At least he didn't get hurt." Shikamaru said as Asuma hauled Chouji up the stairs. "He just fell asleep out of dizziness. Sheesh. His opponent wasn't even trying."
---
"Haku..." Naruto thought. "His clothing is odd. It's not from the Leaf. It looks like something the Mist shinobi wore that time. I wonder…"
---
"Next match, Akado Yoroi and Hyuuga Neji. Please come down."
The next two contenders faced each other. "Umm... You may begin."
They immediately dashed forward, Neji with his Byakugan activated and Yoroi with his hands outstretched. Neji managed to land one blow on him before Yoroi grabbed his wrists. Then, Neji felt the odd sensation of chakra being drained by his opponent.
'What the...?' He managed to break away from Yoroi who looked extremely pleased with himself. 'He can absorb chakra?' Neji thought, rubbing his wrist lightly. 'Well then...'
He dashed forward, intent on another close-contact round. Yoroi, try as he may, couldn't get close enough to get a grasp on him so he settled for exchanging punches. The problem was that Yoroi knew that Neji's punches were hurting him a lot more than his was hurting Neji.
Finally, he saw an opportunity. Neji had finally left his head unprotected, a big mistake. He immediately made a grab for Neji's forehead. Once his hand touched the headband, he said confidently, "You're mine."
He waited for a moment, but felt no rush of power. He looked down and his hands were still around Neji's forehead. Why couldn't he feel any power? WHY?
"I've closed the tenketsus in your hand." Neji said from underneath him. "You can't release nor can you absorb chakra."
'WHAT?'
"And now," Neji said, "you will lose this match, just as you were intended to from the start."
Without his chakra draining ability, Yoroi was just another shinobi. And since he was at a disadvantage against the Hyuuga genius, you can easily guess how the match turns out.
"Winner, Neji." Hayate said, motioning quickly for medic Nins. The Hyuuga had shown absolutely no mercy. He had attacked the internal organs with precision and didn't hold back, even just a little bit. Yoroi wouldn't be able to use his arms or legs for a long time.
---
"Hyuuga Neji. The Hyuuga family clan is the oldest and most noble one in Konoha. That's what Kazekage's scrolls said,” said Naruto. "They're also a pain in the ass on the battlefield unless you're fighting with them."
"Hyuuga... Neji." Next to him, Gaara gave a small, sardonic laugh. "Another opponent worth fighting."
Naruto looked surprised. Then, he smiled in the same terrifying manner as Gaara. "Yea."
---
The scoreboard came back to life and started zipping through names again, one by one. Finally it settled on two.
Gaara of the Sand and Abumi Zaku of the Sound.
'How boring.' Naruto thought. 'This match is already decided before it even begins.'
Zaku gritted his teeth. He had heard of this Gaara. He had been told by Orochimaru-sama to stay out of his way. But he had also been told to get to the third exam by any means necessary.
He glanced down at his arm. It was still injured from when that Sasuke bastard dislocated them. 'Damn.' He thought. 'This is bad.'
He raised his good arm and sent a blast of air towards the moody looking Gaara. His blast never connected. The Sand deflected it completely.
"Is that all?" Gaara asked apathetically. "Too bad."
The sand that had protected Gaara suddenly began spiraling towards Zaku, traveling on the airwaves. Zaku quickly stopped the windblasts only to have the sand fall on the floor and begin making it's way toward him.
He jumped back several feet until the sand finally retracted, once again orbiting around his opponent protectively.
Zaku muttered words unprintable under his breath. This guy was probably better at close-range combat than long range.
"Take this," he yelled, raising both hands and concentrating his power to maximum.
Gaara was actually surprised by the force of the waves. It forced him off his feet and slammed him into the wall, and would have done him major damage if he did not have his gourd. It acted as a cushion and softened the impact while Gaara concentrated on sending a trail of sand to crawl up Zaku's legs and plug the two holes in his hand at the right time.
Zaku, concentrating on the airblasts, didn't notice the sand. But once he stopped his attack, he sure became aware of it. Before he could react, however, the sand forced its way inside both his arms and remained plugged in there. He froze. The sensations of sand crawling up deeper inside his arms paralyzing him.
"S-stop." He said voice shaking slightly. "STOP. I surrender." He fell to his knees as the sand began slowly sifting from his arms and Hayate proclaimed Gaara the winner.
'I didn't even do anything.' Gaara thought disdainfully, bending over to pick up his cork as the last bit of sand made its' way back in the gourd. 'Wimp.'
"Welcome back Gaara." Temari said as her little brother 'teleported' beside her. He gave her a small nod before turning his attention back to the arena below.
---
"Me next, me next, ME NEXT!" Lee prayed aloud.
"Lee next, Lee next, LEE NEXT!" Gai prayed aloud. It finally settled on two names. Haruno Sakura VS Nara Shikamaru
---
"IKEEI!!!!! SHIKAMARU!!" Ino cheered from the stands above. "BLOW HER AWAY WITH YOUR SIXTEEN HIT COMBO!!!"
'Stupid woman.' Shikamaru thought, annoyed. 'I don't even HAVE a sixteen hit combo..." He looked at the pink haired girl. 'Didn't she and Ino use to be really good friends?' he wondered briefly before his thoughts shifted to the fight.
'Man. Why do I always have to be the one stuck with a girl?'
'Shikamaru fights using a shadow-binding technique.' Sakura thought. 'What could possibly counter that?' The only idea that came to mind that she would be able to do was...
Both of them began to form seals and both began running toward their opponent. 'It's a one-hit all-or-nothing battle.' Sakura thought. 'I hope this works.'
She finished her jutsu just as Shikamaru's shadow began to expand toward hers. 'NOW!'
"Ninpou, Kagemane no Jutsu."
Shikamaru's shadow was about to capture hers when Sakura disappeared in a technique Shikamaru affirmed as the Kawarimi no Jutsu. The replacement Sakura had decided to settle on was-
"AGHHHHH!!!"
Ino.
Sakura appeared behind Shikamaru and was about to stab him with her kunai when she felt her body come to a stop.
'No way!' she thought, mind racing. 'How did he...'
"I can extend two shadows from my body at the same time." Shikamaru said, turning around, releasing Ino. "And now," he said, making her drop the kunai in her right hand. "You have no weapon."
He raised his hand, which held a kunai and a shuriken.
"I really don't want to be the first one here who kills someone." Shikamaru said, switching them from his left hand to his right hand. "So could you just give up?"
Sakura glared at him. She would rather get a face full of metal than surrender. But luckily, it never came to that. Hayate stopped the match and declared a winner before anything drastic could happen.
---
Kakashi glanced down at Sasuke. His hands were clamped onto where the curse seal was and it was obviously paining him no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
He bent down next to the boy's ear. "If you don't go within the next two rounds." He whispered. "I'm withdrawing you from the tournament and sealing 'it' up."
Sasuke spun around. "No." He said firmly even as a new wave of pain shot through him "I'm not withdrawing."
"You sound like I'm actually giving you a choice."
"I'm not-"
"Enough." Kakashi broke in. "I'm tired of your selfishness. Two more, and if you don't go, then you're leaving the exam."
Sasuke fell silent and turned his glare on the scoreboard. The next two names better include his.
---
"I wanna go next." Kiba said, throwing his arms up in frustration. "C'MON you unwieldy machine. MY NAME NEXT, MY NAME NEXT!!! If I don't go soon all the strong guys will be gone and I'll be stuck with the weak ones."
"Kiba-kun, you shouldn't say that." Hinata said, hands raised. "You'll offend..."
She trailed off, noticing that he wasn't paying attention to her. He was looking at the electronic board with a dazed expression on his face.
Hinata turned around and saw that the machine had settled on two names.
Uzumaki Naruto VS Hyuuga Hinata
T . B . C
Rating: PG (OOC, AU, Language)
Archived @ Master List
Summary: What if Naruto had sided with the Sand in the Konoha invasion?
Chapter 06: The Third Test
The Sandaime Hokage-sama had not changed in all those years. He was still that old man from eight years ago and he was the only face that Naruto recognized among the crowd of Jounin instructors other than Baki-sensei, Kazeno-sensei, and Orochimaru.
Only eight teams out of the original 21 passed. Most of them were Leaf's rookie Genin too.
"Listen up carefully," Anko said, "Hokage-sama will now explain the third test."
The Sandaime then went on to explain the reason for the Chuunin Exam. About how it was a replacement for wars between countries.
'Not so.' Naruto thought. 'There's a war coming soon, Sandaime Hokage-SAMA. How pitiful it is that you have no idea.'
When Sandaime was finished with his speech, and just when he was about to start on the rules for the third exam, a Jounin appeared in a puff of smoke and asked to be the one who explained the third exam.
"I'm Gekkou Hayate." He said once he was given permission. "Before the third exam takes place, there's something I'd like you to do, and that is to participate in a preliminary for the third test."
'What's wrong with that guy?' Sick looking face, circles under his eyes, constant coughing, and a bit of blue tinge on his face all signaled that he had some sort of chronic disease.
"We have a bit too many people remaining." He said. "The fights could take too long and we're limited on time. So anyone who doesn't wish to take the exam, please come forward. We're starting the preliminaries immediately..."
"What? Right now?" asked dog-boy.
"Yes. Right now."
---
Naruto nodded at the two of his teammates.
"We're going." They said, raising their hands.
"You're Kurosaki and Nubou from the Sand, right?" Hayate coughed. "You may leave now."
---
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. This was simply too unusual. Those two Sand Nins were leaving even though they looked perfectly healthy. That blonde boy, Naruto was it? He was acting way too calm about this. Two of his teammates were leaving and he didn't seem to care.
'What kind of shinobi does the Sand village create that could be so heartless?'
Kabuto was the next and last one to resign from the test after that. It was expected. After all, he had voluntarily quit from the exams six times before. One more wouldn't matter.
"Umm... there will be no more retiring right?" Hayate asked. "Since there is an odd number of people here, we will have ten matches and the extra one will advance automatically to the finals. There are no rules. The fight will end only when someone is dead, knocked out, or surrenders. The electronic scoreboard will be the one that decides your opponent. Now, will everyone please clear the floor? The first match will begin in five minutes."
---
"Hey. You three got through it just fine." Naruto said, heading toward the staircase on the right along with all the other non-Leaf Genins.
"No thanks to you." Kankurou replied jokingly. Then, he lowered his voice. "Everything's going to plan."
"Yea. Just be careful in your fights, all of you."
The scoreboard suddenly came to life, spinning a bunch of names before settling on two:
"Haku and Akamichi Chouji. Please come forward."
The former Mist Nin made his way back down to the floor. The self-dubbed- big-boned boy had to be 'convinced' forcibly by his two teammates, and only willingly went down after being promised an all-you-can-eat barbecue.
"GET HIM CHOUJI! YOU OLD FATASS!"
Immediately upon hearing those words from Ino's mouth, Chouji's eyes burst into flames. "I'M NOT FAT. I'M JUST BIG-BONED." He shouted angrily, silently swearing to kill Ino once he took care of the girly-looking guy in front of him.
"NINPOU! BAIKA NO JUTSU [Multi-size technique]" He shouted, inflating into a human balloon. "He stuck his legs, arms, and head into his clothing like a turtle and it's shell and began rolling.
'Useless.' Sakura thought. 'That kind of speed won't get you anywhere near Haku-san. His speed is even more impressive than Sasuke-kun.'
Sure enough, all Haku had to do was dodge from the rolling meatball. And if he ever got cornered, he simply jumped, landed a step on the rolling Chouji, and escape to the other side of the room. He didn't even get a chance to use his needles yet.
Shikamaru slapped his forehead. This match took a bit of brains to win and Chouji's lack of brainpower would be what cost him this match.
"Oy! Imma sho dizshy!" Chouji mumbled incoherently, swaying from side to side before falling on the ground. Haku didn't even get a chance to use his senbon acupuncture needles.
"Um... Akamichi Chouji is unable to battle. Winner, Haku."
---
"Ugh." Ino said, bringing her hand up to her face. "Chouji, you were so close."
"At least he didn't get hurt." Shikamaru said as Asuma hauled Chouji up the stairs. "He just fell asleep out of dizziness. Sheesh. His opponent wasn't even trying."
---
"Haku..." Naruto thought. "His clothing is odd. It's not from the Leaf. It looks like something the Mist shinobi wore that time. I wonder…"
---
"Next match, Akado Yoroi and Hyuuga Neji. Please come down."
The next two contenders faced each other. "Umm... You may begin."
They immediately dashed forward, Neji with his Byakugan activated and Yoroi with his hands outstretched. Neji managed to land one blow on him before Yoroi grabbed his wrists. Then, Neji felt the odd sensation of chakra being drained by his opponent.
'What the...?' He managed to break away from Yoroi who looked extremely pleased with himself. 'He can absorb chakra?' Neji thought, rubbing his wrist lightly. 'Well then...'
He dashed forward, intent on another close-contact round. Yoroi, try as he may, couldn't get close enough to get a grasp on him so he settled for exchanging punches. The problem was that Yoroi knew that Neji's punches were hurting him a lot more than his was hurting Neji.
Finally, he saw an opportunity. Neji had finally left his head unprotected, a big mistake. He immediately made a grab for Neji's forehead. Once his hand touched the headband, he said confidently, "You're mine."
He waited for a moment, but felt no rush of power. He looked down and his hands were still around Neji's forehead. Why couldn't he feel any power? WHY?
"I've closed the tenketsus in your hand." Neji said from underneath him. "You can't release nor can you absorb chakra."
'WHAT?'
"And now," Neji said, "you will lose this match, just as you were intended to from the start."
Without his chakra draining ability, Yoroi was just another shinobi. And since he was at a disadvantage against the Hyuuga genius, you can easily guess how the match turns out.
"Winner, Neji." Hayate said, motioning quickly for medic Nins. The Hyuuga had shown absolutely no mercy. He had attacked the internal organs with precision and didn't hold back, even just a little bit. Yoroi wouldn't be able to use his arms or legs for a long time.
---
"Hyuuga Neji. The Hyuuga family clan is the oldest and most noble one in Konoha. That's what Kazekage's scrolls said,” said Naruto. "They're also a pain in the ass on the battlefield unless you're fighting with them."
"Hyuuga... Neji." Next to him, Gaara gave a small, sardonic laugh. "Another opponent worth fighting."
Naruto looked surprised. Then, he smiled in the same terrifying manner as Gaara. "Yea."
---
The scoreboard came back to life and started zipping through names again, one by one. Finally it settled on two.
Gaara of the Sand and Abumi Zaku of the Sound.
'How boring.' Naruto thought. 'This match is already decided before it even begins.'
Zaku gritted his teeth. He had heard of this Gaara. He had been told by Orochimaru-sama to stay out of his way. But he had also been told to get to the third exam by any means necessary.
He glanced down at his arm. It was still injured from when that Sasuke bastard dislocated them. 'Damn.' He thought. 'This is bad.'
He raised his good arm and sent a blast of air towards the moody looking Gaara. His blast never connected. The Sand deflected it completely.
"Is that all?" Gaara asked apathetically. "Too bad."
The sand that had protected Gaara suddenly began spiraling towards Zaku, traveling on the airwaves. Zaku quickly stopped the windblasts only to have the sand fall on the floor and begin making it's way toward him.
He jumped back several feet until the sand finally retracted, once again orbiting around his opponent protectively.
Zaku muttered words unprintable under his breath. This guy was probably better at close-range combat than long range.
"Take this," he yelled, raising both hands and concentrating his power to maximum.
Gaara was actually surprised by the force of the waves. It forced him off his feet and slammed him into the wall, and would have done him major damage if he did not have his gourd. It acted as a cushion and softened the impact while Gaara concentrated on sending a trail of sand to crawl up Zaku's legs and plug the two holes in his hand at the right time.
Zaku, concentrating on the airblasts, didn't notice the sand. But once he stopped his attack, he sure became aware of it. Before he could react, however, the sand forced its way inside both his arms and remained plugged in there. He froze. The sensations of sand crawling up deeper inside his arms paralyzing him.
"S-stop." He said voice shaking slightly. "STOP. I surrender." He fell to his knees as the sand began slowly sifting from his arms and Hayate proclaimed Gaara the winner.
'I didn't even do anything.' Gaara thought disdainfully, bending over to pick up his cork as the last bit of sand made its' way back in the gourd. 'Wimp.'
"Welcome back Gaara." Temari said as her little brother 'teleported' beside her. He gave her a small nod before turning his attention back to the arena below.
---
"Me next, me next, ME NEXT!" Lee prayed aloud.
"Lee next, Lee next, LEE NEXT!" Gai prayed aloud. It finally settled on two names. Haruno Sakura VS Nara Shikamaru
---
"IKEEI!!!!! SHIKAMARU!!" Ino cheered from the stands above. "BLOW HER AWAY WITH YOUR SIXTEEN HIT COMBO!!!"
'Stupid woman.' Shikamaru thought, annoyed. 'I don't even HAVE a sixteen hit combo..." He looked at the pink haired girl. 'Didn't she and Ino use to be really good friends?' he wondered briefly before his thoughts shifted to the fight.
'Man. Why do I always have to be the one stuck with a girl?'
'Shikamaru fights using a shadow-binding technique.' Sakura thought. 'What could possibly counter that?' The only idea that came to mind that she would be able to do was...
Both of them began to form seals and both began running toward their opponent. 'It's a one-hit all-or-nothing battle.' Sakura thought. 'I hope this works.'
She finished her jutsu just as Shikamaru's shadow began to expand toward hers. 'NOW!'
"Ninpou, Kagemane no Jutsu."
Shikamaru's shadow was about to capture hers when Sakura disappeared in a technique Shikamaru affirmed as the Kawarimi no Jutsu. The replacement Sakura had decided to settle on was-
"AGHHHHH!!!"
Ino.
Sakura appeared behind Shikamaru and was about to stab him with her kunai when she felt her body come to a stop.
'No way!' she thought, mind racing. 'How did he...'
"I can extend two shadows from my body at the same time." Shikamaru said, turning around, releasing Ino. "And now," he said, making her drop the kunai in her right hand. "You have no weapon."
He raised his hand, which held a kunai and a shuriken.
"I really don't want to be the first one here who kills someone." Shikamaru said, switching them from his left hand to his right hand. "So could you just give up?"
Sakura glared at him. She would rather get a face full of metal than surrender. But luckily, it never came to that. Hayate stopped the match and declared a winner before anything drastic could happen.
---
Kakashi glanced down at Sasuke. His hands were clamped onto where the curse seal was and it was obviously paining him no matter how hard he tried to hide it.
He bent down next to the boy's ear. "If you don't go within the next two rounds." He whispered. "I'm withdrawing you from the tournament and sealing 'it' up."
Sasuke spun around. "No." He said firmly even as a new wave of pain shot through him "I'm not withdrawing."
"You sound like I'm actually giving you a choice."
"I'm not-"
"Enough." Kakashi broke in. "I'm tired of your selfishness. Two more, and if you don't go, then you're leaving the exam."
Sasuke fell silent and turned his glare on the scoreboard. The next two names better include his.
---
"I wanna go next." Kiba said, throwing his arms up in frustration. "C'MON you unwieldy machine. MY NAME NEXT, MY NAME NEXT!!! If I don't go soon all the strong guys will be gone and I'll be stuck with the weak ones."
"Kiba-kun, you shouldn't say that." Hinata said, hands raised. "You'll offend..."
She trailed off, noticing that he wasn't paying attention to her. He was looking at the electronic board with a dazed expression on his face.
Hinata turned around and saw that the machine had settled on two names.
Uzumaki Naruto VS Hyuuga Hinata
T . B . C