Disclaimer:  I don’t own Naruto or any of the characters; this is purely for enjoyment, so deal with it already

Chuunin 2nd Stage Exams

It appeared as though Rock Lee was winning.  He’d land one hit after another on Gaara of the Sand.  And they were powerful hits.  Each impact seemed to actually hurt Gaara and break further through his sand skin.

Both fighters were in the air, Gaara was not moving.  Lee made ready to deliver his final blow.  He moved lightning fast as his foot impact the stomach and his fist with Gaara’s face.

That final attack seemed to finish him off.  But it had hurt Lee very badly as well.  Lee landed a good distance from Gaara, however he was on his knees and definitely injured.

His sand, it appeared, had caught Gaara.  The look of disbelief on Gaara’s face was something else to behold.  Then he raised his arm and sent the sand after Lee.

Lee saw the sand coming and tried to run, but he was too exhausted or too injured to run.  The sand had caught his arm and leg.  A deafening crunch rang through the arena, as the sand had crushed the bones in his arm and leg.

More sand then began to move to finish the job but had been interrupted by Gai’s swift movement.

The fight had ended, Lee could no longer fight, it was obvious and Judge agreed.  “Victory, Gaara.”

From the balcony overlooking the fights, Naruto moved first to go to Lee.  He’d become a fast friend with Lee.  It seemed only right that he check on his friend.

He ran down the stairs quickly.

Gaara was walking toward him back to the other balcony where his sister waited for him.

Then suddenly as they passed each other they both froze.

They looked into each other’s eyes and instant recognition passed between them.

“You!” an unearthly voice rang from Gaara’s mouth.

Naruto and Gaara jumped apart from each other.

Suddenly the entire arena was focus on the two of them.

“Shukaku, you filth, you have the audacity to enter into my domain,” another unearthly voice came, this time issued from Naruto’s mouth.

“So, the great and might Kyubi is alive after all, and here I heard you were destroyed by that great and powerful fourth Hokage,” the other voice retorted snidely.

“He was a great leader, especially to have been able to seal me within this boy,” replied Kyubi, it seemed to give a bit of respect.

“And yet I sense that you don’t have full control as I have gained from this vessel, I must say, it is nice to be able to hide so easily,” Shukaku replied.

“Bastard, you were sealed within a far to weak vessel,” Kyubi began, “This vessel is far stronger than I am.  I am honored to give it my powers, for it is worthy.”

“Coward, hiding behind a boy,” replied Shukaku.  Though one could hear a bit of surprise at this statement.

“Ah, if I were a coward of would have ended my existence the moment I knew I could not control this body.”

“I could arrange that,” offered Shukaku.

“No, you couldn’t, this body could tear you apart even with out me.  That damn, honorable Fourth Hokage, he couldn’t just use any damn brat in the village, no, he just had to use his own damn son.  Smart bastard.” boasted the Kyubi.  It seemed some of Naruto’s personality was still present.

A slight look of fear entered the face of Shukaku’s vessel.

They looked deeply into each other’s demon eyes, Kyubi’s orange slit eyes and Shukaku’s golden star eyes.  Shukaku knew this to be true from the look in the Kyubi’s eyes.  The boy could indeed do what he threatened.

“So what then?” asked Shukaku.

“I can destroy you now or I can destroy you later,” offered Kyubi.  Red Chakra began to flow around Naruto’s body ever more increasingly bright.

Shukaku took a step backward.

“Gai, clear the floor now!” ordered Kyubi.

Gai blinked once and then grabbed Lee and vaulted to the balcony.  He was as careful with Lee as possible.

Golden yellow chakra began to form around Shukaku.

Both demons approached the center of the ring again.

The judge stood there, he was unsure of what to do.

Kyubi snapped his fingers, the announcer’s board changed to read Kyubi vs. Shukaku.

The Judge looked to the Third Hokage who had watched the events unfold with great interest.

The Third nodded to the Judge allowing him to begin the match.

“Hajime!” (Begin)

* * *

Kakashi was about to make his move to stop Naruto from going down the balcony when Sakura was about to do the same exact thing.

“Sakura, I think its best none of us goes down there.  Its too dangerous,” chided Kakashi.

“But Naruto is going down there?” complain Sakura.

“I know and I’m about to stop him,” Kakashi had barely finished saying when he felt an enormous surge of Chakra coming from both Naruto and Gaara.

“Too late,” said Kakashi to himself.  Moved his hand to his forehead protector and moved the side covering his eye up revealing his Shiringan.

“Sensei, what’s happening?” Sakura asked as she saw his movement.

“I’m not sure, let’s just watch for a few minutes,” said Kakashi. He knew he should stop this now but his curiosity got the better of him.

The conversation that unfolded between the two boys shocked everyone in the room.

“Sensei, is this true?” asked Sakura in shocked disbelief.

“The Kyubi part is, but I had no idea about Naruto being the Fourth’s son.  That was even hidden from me.”

Kakashi looked to his left and right as a series of murmurs spread quickly amongst the Genin watching.  He even saw a bit of surprise on Kurenai and Asuma’s faces.

The Third Hokage sat calmly as the two boys began what was sure to be an enlightening conversation.

He listened patiently.  He was honored by the fact that the Kyubi had acknowledged Naruto as being a stronger entity.

When the two approached the center ring to engage in combat.  He only thought on it for a moment, either he could let them fight and have a bit of control.  Or he could say no, in which case they’d probably fight anyway but with out any control.

* * *

“You are going to be destroyed and that boy will be free of his burden, this fight is only between us demons.  Naruto will not help me and I very much doubt that boy wants to help you.  As I am certain he is listening very carefully to our little discussion,” began Kyubi.

“Oh, and don’t even try to hurt the audience, Naruto has already established a barrier with his own Chakra thanks to a little of my tutelage,” finished Kyubi.

The lights in the arena suddenly dimmed as the two demons began to take shape.  Kyubi had gathered his chakra much faster.  First forming his nines tails made of pure chakra and then his body followed quickly after.  Naruto could still be seen but he was sitting calmly on the floor not moving.

Shukaku also began to summon his chakra though not as quickly as Kyubi.  Within his chakra he pulled as much sand from the room as he could muster.  Thus giving him form.  Gaara could also be seen sitting calmly on the floor.

Being inside of a building limited both of the Demon spirits size limitations.

Both demons approached cautiously, and then circled the arena slowly as they tried to size each other up.  The Kyubi was clearly faster and more agile.  He also held a slight advantage in strength.  The Shukaku had more abilities and techniques available to it with all of the sand it had gathered.  They were matched almost evenly all things considered.

Kyubi moved first, striking quickly with two of his tails separating both of Shukaku’s sand arms.  This would only slow Shukaku for moment as it instantly reformed its arms.  Kyubi could not do and truly sufficient physical damage, however he could possibly win a war of attrition against the demon before him.

He knew he’d have to move fast, very fast.  For each time he removed an arm or leg it would regenerate the limb but would use up Chakra.  He also knew that Shukaku would not stand by while he did this.

He stuck with one of his tails again to find that the sand had formed into spikes and pierced the tail.  The tail began to bleed red chakra but quickly stopped, his powerful healing taking effect.

* * *

Sakura stood on the balcony and watched with amazement as the Kyubi and Shukaku fought on and on for what seemed like hours.

Each attack continued to increase in viciousness, as did the amount of damage each received.

“Kakashi-sensei, is there anything we can do to help Naruto?” she asked, her voice dripped with concern.

“Well, we can’t approach them, they’ve put up a powerful barrier preventing it,” explained Kakashi.

“So there is nothing we can do?”

“Well there is one thing we can do, but it would mean making a sacrifice of sorts,” explained Kakashi.

Sakura visibly gulped for nervousness, “what kind of sacrifice are we talking about?”

“The worst kind,” said Kakashi.

“I’ll do what I can,” said Sakura nervously.

“First gather all the Genin here now,” instructed Kakashi.

Sakura did as she was instructed to do.  A minute later all the genin and their Juonen instructors had joined them.

“So what the plan Kakashi-sensei?” a very nervous Sakura asked.

“Everybody, just follow my lead,” said Kakashi very seriously.

They all nodded seriously.

“COME ON YOU STUPID FOX, HURRY UP AND KICK HIS ASS!” cheered Kakashi.

Almost all of the Genin face vaulted upon hearing this.

Sakura joined in though, if the fox was anything like Naruto this would really piss him off and a pissed off Naruto was a powerful Naruto.

“HEY YOU STUPID FOX, IF YOU KICK HIS ASS FAST I’LL GIVE YOU A KISS,” Sakura shouted at the top of her lungs.

The Kyubi heard this loud and clear as he gave the girl a quick glance of astonishment and then increased his effort tenfold.

* * *

The Kyubi was surprised to say the least when the crowd started cheering for him.  But then Sakura had made an offer he most definitely could not refuse.  He hadn’t had any action in close to a thousand or so years.

The Kyubi knew what he needed to do now.  He needed to end it and end it fast.  He wanted that damn kiss too.

The Kyubi jumped away from Shukaku, breathing heavily.

“Giving up already?” taunted Shukaku.

Kyubi close his eyes for a moment to focus his chakra, if this missed he would be destroyed.  If it didn’t the battle would be over.

“Nine-Tail Chakra siphon no Jutsu,” howled Kyubi.

Suddenly nine great brilliant blue spikes jutted up from the ground into Shukaku.

Shukaku had a very pained look on his face.

The Kyubi now had one other problem, he need somewhere to put the chakra.  His body couldn’t absorb it nor could Naruto’s.  Then an idea struck him, this original vessel.  It could hold it, his body had in the past he thought.

“Siphon Chosen no Jutsu.”  Nine new brilliant gold chakra spikes jutted from the ground into the body of Gaara.

A gasp of shock called through the assembled Shinobi.

Shukaku began to vanish slowly at first and then the sand started falling apart.  And the golden Chakra that was Shukaku disappeared completely.  The spike in both Gaara and Shukaku disappeared.

“Don’t forget you owe us a kiss,” Kyubi called up to a surprised Sakura.

The Kyubi then re-entered Naruto’s body in a bright red the flash.  The lighting in the arena then returned to normal and both boys slumped over.

Several Shinobi moved quickly to the two boys and several Medic-nin approached quickly.

Tamari moved very fast to her brother’s side for fear that he was dead.  Kankuro approached a bit more slowly.  He was always nervous of Gaara’s power.

She was relieved to see that he was only sleeping and more than that, the seal that was on his forehead was now gone.

* * *

Sakura and Kakashi also moved quickly to Naruto.  He seemed to be asleep as well.

“Mmmm, raaaammeeeennn,” he said in his sleep a bit of drool hanging off his mouth.

Sakura want to kick him right then for all the trouble he’d caused.

Kakashi instead looked to the judge.

The judge seemed surprise by Kakashi’s look.  “Victory, Kyubi.”