Danzo Hokage

Sasuke Uchiha vs Naruto Uzumaki Namikaz

Chapter 13: Sasuke Uchiha vs Naruto Uzumaki Namikaz

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AN: This chapter was one of the easier ones I have ever made. So I was able to do it in one go which is not at all how this goes most of the time. The fight was mostly to show off how strong Naruto is after four weeks in Root but also to push Sasuke in his character development.

AN2: Ino will train so she'll be on par with OTL Sakura by the time she turns 19, she is 16 at this point in the story.
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Chunin Exams Battle Arena.
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Today was the day. The seats were slowly being filled in the arena and Sasuke was feeling every last set of eyes on him. He knew that his father was expecting great things from his youngest son and try as he may he couldn't help but feel the need to show that he was just as good as any of the other would-be Chunin. He and Sakura-chan had trained hard and while she was still by far the weakest of them all she was by no means a pushover any longer, at least to them. However, both of them knew that for as hard as they trained Naruto likely trained that much harder. So when the seats were finally filled and the first set of fights had ended they grew increasingly worried that their sunkissed of a teammate would miss out on his chance to be promoted to the rank of Chunin. Kakashi, however, didn't seem at all worried about that much to the pairs annoyance.

"I wouldn't worry about him Sasuke-kun. When his name is called I'm sure he'll show himself". Kakashi said as he watched the fight down below. The fight was about as predictable as one could get. Alot of punches and kicks but little of substance. It was less a fight and more a demonstration that luck would sometimes win out in the end. The loud boos from the crowd only made it all the more clear. It was a slug to watch and when it finally ended nearly ten minutes later the cheers of relief were nearly deafening. The two participants not realizing it all that the cheers were not for their fighting skills but for the end of their match bowed deeply. The pair were soon removed and the next set of names were shown to them all. Once it was the crowd made their last set of cheers pale in comparison to their loudness.

"Sasuke Uchiha vs Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze".

Sasuke slowly made his way down the stone stairs and waited for his teammate to appear in the center of the arena. Seconds passed and he was nowhere to be seen. Looking at the proctor he asked.

"So do we wait for him or do I win this match by default"? Sasuke asked the man to his utter confusion.

"You fight your match just like everybody else kid". The man said before jumping away. No sooner did he do that Sasuke was sent flying by an impressively strong kick on the base of his spine. Righting himself in midair he soon pulled out a set of kunai and fired. Naruto blocked each one with no effort at all.

"Your far too predictable Sasuke-kun". Naruto said before just as fast jumping away. Sasuke in response to the boys taunting unleashed a powerful firebase jutsu.

"Fire Style: Giant Fire Dragon jutsu". Sasuke called out before a dragon formed and flew high into the sky.

"Know the power of the great Uchiha clan"! Sasuke said before the massive dragon shot forward at such speed that the many civilians could only see long streaks of orange and red. Naruto meanwhile only watched as the dragon flew downwards with seemingly no clue at all. At the last possible second, he ran through a long set of hand signs before calling out.

Root Style: Torrential Downpour". Naruto said as the area was flooded to ankle height. Jumping safely away from the dragon it missed and soon threw up copious amounts of steam making it next to impossible to see anything past one's own nose. Sasuke watched as around a dozen shadows appeared before him. Firing at each one he watched as one by one they poofed into nothing signifying they were nothing but shadow clones.

"Show yourself. Face me like a man, Naruto"! Sasuke yelled into the thick white fog of mist. Naruto didn't reply verbally but instead by sending even more shadow clones forcing the boy to dig inside his ninja pouch and fire off even more of his kunai blades.

"Shit his making me use up my tools. I need to clear out this damn fog before I use them all up". Sasuke thought before rushing at the nearest wall and climbing above the fog. There standing on the wall like it was nothing at all stood none other than Naruto himself looking only a bit tired from the match thus far.

"Not bad, Sasuke-kun now we can start round two". Naruto said before blowing the mist away and dropping down onto the arena floor. Sasuke following him soon thereafter.

"I hope you have a few waterbased jutsus Sasuke-kun because otherwise, this is going to hurt real bad". Naruto said as he began going through a new set of hand-signs. Sasuke not far behind him. The pair finalizing their attacks more or less at the same time. However, Naruto's own attack was just that little bit stronger and was pushing Sasuke backward at a noticeable pace.
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Hokage Observation Balcony.
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Minato eyed the match with no small amount of pride on his face at his son's display of raw ability. Sasuke was by no means an easy foe to face even as a Genin but his son was simply on another level.

"He has grown strong in Root. Very strong indeed. Why he may be the youngest to be inducted into the organization at this rate". Danzo said as he watched the pair battle down below. The Uchiha boy was also showing his skills but he doubted the boy would ever be on the level of Naruto, at least for a while.

"20,000 yen on Naruto winning". Danzo said. His hand already going to his bag to show off the coin.

25,000 yen if he wins in three minutes". Minato said as he also put down the coin for the bet. A fair few of the ANBU made their own bets and before long it was nearing a half a million yen.
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Chunin Exams Genin Balcony.
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Ino watched as Naruto kicked Sasuke sending him flying into a wall before three of his clones started kicking him in the chest. Her father watched the fight with rapt attention. A fact that made her wonder as to why. He had never seemed all that fascinated by the boy before so why was he now she wondered.

"Odd. Why is he holding back? He could've won ages ago but he keeps toying with the kid". Her father said making her eyes grew wide at the statement.

"Holding back...Naruto-kun wouldn't do that. He's not like that daddy...not at all". Ino said making her father give her a sideways glance.

"So why has he not won yet"? Inoichi asked waiting to see what she would say.

"Sasuke-kun is a strong fighter maybe he hasn't had an opening to end it yet". Ino said but even when she was saying it she could feel right away that it felt wrong.

"But why would he do that daddy"? She asked.

"To show him the gap between the two of them. Sasuke is a prideful boy so odds are Naruto is using this match to break him by showing him he is no longer a match for him. He may not have done this before but this is the Chunin Exams. He knows he has millions of eyes on him and his using it to raise his stock in the eyes of the many lord's and ladies watching today. The Chunin Exams are much more than fighting and killing my dear and it seems Naruto understands that fact". Inoichi said as Naruto ended the match with a punishing uppercut to the chin.

"By the sage, if that doesn't see him wearing a vest I'll put in a resolution myself to see that he is promoted". Inoichi said as the boy walked back up and took a seat next to Sakura who at once got to work healing him or at least refilling his seemingly neverending supply of chakra.

"You can do that daddy"? Ino asked.

"I can but odds are I will have no need. Lord Danzo seemed pleased by the showing. He'll be promoted I'm sure of it". Inoichi said before awaiting the next match. Ino for her part could only eye Naruto quizzically. What the hell had changed in the four weeks since the second phase of the exams? How had he grown so much in so little time? She didn't know any of the answers but by sage, she would train even harder to catch Naruto's eye. She would prove to him she was worthy to be his wife.