The Little Senju (Little Senju Series Book One): A Naruto Fanfiction

The Little Senju Enters the Arena

Izumi's POV

I peeled my eyes open and pulled the blanket farther over my face, "I guess I have to get up soon unless I want to be late..." I sighed as I glanced at the alarm clock next to my bed and my eyes widened, "So late already?!?" I gasped ripping away the covers and stepping onto the freezing wood floor. A shiver coursed through me as I grabbed a piece of toast and pulled on my sandals as I rushed to the stadium where the final exam was to be taking place. The sun sat high in the sky as I made my way, "It's so hot..." I wiped my forehead with the back of my hand. My feet skidded in the dirt as I stood in front of the stadium, "Here I go!" I clenched my fists as I walked inside and noticed the other contestants excluding Naruto, Sasuke and Dosu were lined up near the field's center as my heart leapt into my throat, I didn't realize there would be this many people...! My breaths came ragged and without pattern as I joined the others, Where are Naruto and Sasuke?!? I wondered nervously shifting my weight between my feet as a familiar blond ran into the stadium causing a small amount of my nervousness to float away, "Geez... Cutting it close?" I mumbled smacking the back of his head lightly, "Heard anything from Sasuke?"

"I had um... A little distraction..." he muttered scratching the back of his head, "Wait, where is Sasuke?!?"

"You're right he's missing..." Shikamaru looked at the other contestants, "I'm fighting Dosu, but he's not here either..."

"Shush you two...!" I placed a finger to my lips as I looked at the two males, "We're going to get in trouble if you keep talking!"

"Hey, Knock it off!" the proctor grumbled looking down on us causing me to shrivel behind Naruto, "Quit your fidgeting and stand up straight! Present yourself proudly to the spectators!" our eyes wandered up to the stands where both the Hokage and the Kazekage were seated, "You guys are the heroes of the final competition."

"Welcome all!" the hokage stated warmly as everyone is the stadium fell silent, "We thank you all for coming here to the village hidden in the leaves for this year's chunin selection! We have come to the final competition between the candidates that made it through the preliminary exam. We ask that no one leaves until all the matches have been completed. Now everyone enjoy!" there was cheering as the hokage finished his speech.

The proctor was now facing us as he spoke, "There's one more thing!" he began as he pulled a paper from his flak jacket, "Look this over before we begin!" the paper showed a bracket for the order of the matches, which was apparently different from what it had looked like originally. It was missing a candidate and there was a person by the name of Hayato Yoshida written in next to my name.

"Question! Question!" Naruto stated raising his hand, "I was just wondering what'll happen to Sasuke... I mean if he doesn't show up..."

"If a candidate is not here in the arena at the time his name is called... he forfeits the match!" the proctor said simply causing both Naruto and I to swallow hard and turn toward the entrance of the stadium. Where was that pompous bastard? " Alright, listen up! The terrain's different, but the rules are the same as before. That is that there are no rules. The match continues until one candidate admits defeat or dies. That being said if I determine that a match is over I can step in and stop it at any time and no arguments permitted, Understood?" we all nodded, "These are the opponents for the first match! Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga!"

"Good luck!" I whispered into the blond's ear, "Now don't lose to that pompous bastard!" he nodded as the rest of us walked toward the stands.

Sakura's POV

"Sakura, long time no see!" Izumi greeted me with a small wave, "Mind if I sit next to you?" she looked rather uncomfortable with the sheer number of people packed into the stadium. I wonder if she knows anything about Sauske...? "Sorry, I don't know anything about Uchiha..."

Her eyes locked forward onto Naruto and Neji as the two prepared for their match and she played with the tips of her hair, "I understand..." I mumbled a depressed  look coming across my face and Izumi's expression wasn't much better.

"Sakura..." Ino turned to face me, "I know that you're worried about Sasuke, but come on don't be such a lump! Aren't you at least going to cheer Naruto on?" I looked up as a smile appeared on my face and nodded timidly, "That's better! Not that the poor boy has a hope in hell against Neji..."

"He's not that bad...!"

"Are you kidding me?" the blonde girl laughed, "Not that bad... Is that the best you can do?"

"I'm not sure if you're right about that idiot..." Izumi smirked leaning back in her seat, "Do remember that I was training with him for this past month and honestly... I'm convinced he's stronger than I am..."

Izumi's POV

The two boys on the arena glared at each for an unbearably long period of time exchanging words and insults before Neji activated his byakugan. I could feel my own blood boil as the hyuga spoke. All this talk about failures... It was a major pain that Naruto has had to face all his life. The proctor called for the first match to start and the people around me erupted into cheers causing me to cover my ears. Why do people have to be such loud creatures?

. . .

My fists clenched at my sides as the smoke cleared leaving two bodies laid out on the field. My knuckles turned white as I saw Neji stride toward Naruto's motionless form. Could Naruto really have lost even after all of his training? I didn't even dare to blink as the Hyuga spoke to the silent blond boy. As he did so the ground around his feet shattered inwards as Naruto sent an uppercut directly into the Hyuga's chin.

"The winner is Naruto Uzumaki!" the proctor announced and the crowd was loud again.

"Nicely done..." I mumbled giving the blond a high-five, "I knew you could do it..."

"The next match will be between Izumi Senju and Hayato Yoshida!"

I swallowed loudly as I marched down the stadium steps. It was me now and unlike the others I had no idea what kind of jutsu my opponent was to use. I could feel myself shaking from my head to my toes. How was I supposed to perform well it front of such a large crowd...? Where is my opponent...? I wondered staring up at the cheering people as a familiar figure entered the arena and stood opposite me. He smirked stuffing his hands into his pockets as if he was the most clever person in the world. In truth my opponent was...