The Finals

Sakura stood in line next to Haru looking around for any signs of Naruto. He and Kakashi had left two weeks ago, Kakashi said they'd be back in time for the finals but it was starting in twenty minutes. She looked worriedly at Haru who looked back with any equally worried look.

"What do you think?" asked Haru "You think they'll get back in time?"

"I don't know," said Sakura "Kakashi said they'd be back, but there's no sign of them." She was about to say something else when the crowd around them exploded in cheers. She glanced around and finally looked at the entrance. Walking into the gates was Kakashi and Naruto. Naruto had changed, his hair was even longer and even more shaggy. It reminded her of of something, of someone. She slowly recalled a picture she'd once seen. A young man in his early twenties, with long shaggy blonde hair wearing a white coat. Naruto looked exactly like the Fourth Hokage. In addition to his hair, Naruto's clothes had changed. He was now wearing white pants and sky blue shirt his black thong style sandals where the same and the blue hand band on his face was the same too.

"Hey Naruto!" said Sakura as he walked up next to them.

"Hey guys," he replied giving them a small smile "Sorry I'm late.

"That's alright, you had us worried though," said Haru. Kakashi walked up to his students.

"Hey guys, sorry I didn't stick around for your training," he said.

"That's alright," said Haru "I found a master in earth style ninjutsu, I've picked up quite a few new tricks. Just watch me Kakashi-sensei, I'll show you how much I've learned."

"Good," said Kakashi "I know you'll all make me proud." Naruto wore a smug smirk as he watched his teacher walk away.

"Alright listen up," said the proctor. It wasn't the same proctor they'd had last time. "Here," he held up a bracket board. "Study it quickly." Haru was fighting Neji, Shikamaru was next fighting Temari, then it was Naruto against the monster Gaara. Sakura was after that fighting Lee and the last fight was Kankuro verses Shino.

"Oh no, Naruto," said Sakura.

"I'll be fine," he said "I was hoping for this. Besides we all have new tricks we want to show Kakashi. Haru I know you'll do your best." Haru steeled his face.

"Right," he said. While Haru and his opponent remained in the grounds, Naruto, Sakura and the rest of the finalists went into the stands to watch the fight. Naruto and Sakura sat with the rest of the Nine rookies. Sakura leaning against him and his arm around her.

Naruto hadn't realized how much he'd misses her until the moment he laid his eyes on her walking into the arena.

Haru stood across the Arena glaring at Neji. This boy had tried to kill a comrade. Haru wasn't going to stand for that.

"Begin!" said the proctor. Haru pulled the Demon-wind off his back and flipped it open. The two ninja charged each other. Naruto pulled his hand band from his Sharingan. He watched as each of Neji's chakra enhanced blows barely missed Haru or were blocked by the large shuriken in his hand. Haru flipped backwards as a strike passed over him by inches.

"He's ok," said Naruto. "Neji hasn't hit him yet." Sakura let out a sigh of relief as the two fought up and down the Arena.

"He's gotten a lot better," pointed out Sakura.

"He has," said Naruto "But all he can do right now is dodge, with Neji's ability to drive chakra into his body, if Haru take one direct hit, he's finished." Haru spun under a open palm strike for Neji and passed the shuriken in his hand across Neji's leg. Neji stumbled but.

"I'm impressed," he said "It's been a long time since I was cut." Haru said nothing as he drew back his arm and hurled the shuriken and flashed through hand signs. Neji dodged the shuriken easily and came up changing.

"Earth style: Stone Shuriken!" yelled Haru. Thousands of square floating rocks rose into the air surrounding Neji.

"It's over," said Naruto. The first shuriken hit Neji, and stopped dead.

"What!" exclaimed Naruto. Neji began to spin at a high speed surrounding himself in a dome of chakra. "What was that?" he asked.

"Rotation," said Tenten to his left. "Normally ninja can send bursts of chakra from certain point in their body. Their hands feet mostly. Neji however can expel charka from all over his body. Then he spins at a high speed, making any attack launched against him rendered completely useless."

"Haru's going to have a tough time getting through that," said Sakura.

"Remember what Kakashi-sensei says," said Naruto "Even though we're not on the battle field with him, our teamwork will make him stronger. Have faith in each other and we will grow stronger as a team and as individuals."

Behind Naruto, Kakashi wore a proud smile. There was hope for Naruto yet.

Haru's breath was heavy, he'd poured a lot of Chakra into that jutsu. It was his second best technique, he was sure he had Neji. Neji's smirk widened.

"Did you seriously think it would be that easy?" he taunted. Haru snatched the Demon-wind out of the air as it returned, collapsed it and sheathed it. He glared into Neji's eyes the veins surrounding them engorged do to the massive amounts of chakra being pumped through them.

"Face it," said Neji "Your fate has already been decided, it was your destiny to lose today, it was decided the very moment I became your opponent."

"I for one believe we make our own destiny," said Haru.

"Just except it," said Neji "You're a failure. You always have been, and you always will be."

"You're wrong," said Haru.

"Enough," said Neji "this ends now!" Neji raced at Haru a buried an open-palmed strike right into the middle of Haru's chest. Haru hit the ground hard, he lay there for a minute before climbing back to his feet.

"Still think you can change your destiny?" said Neji "Fine I'll show you exactly what happens to those who go against Fate." Neji crouched in a low stance. "Gentle Fist Art: Eight Trigrams: Sixty-four palms!" he charged Haru and stuck him with two sharp strikes with his index and middle fingers. "Two palms!" he hit his with two more "Four palms! Eight palms! Sixteen palms! Thirty-two palms! Sixty-four palms!" each strike hit Haru directly. Haru stumbled back clutching his chest.

"I have struck every single one of your charka points," said Neji "this match is over." This time it was Haru's turn to smirk.

He started flashing through hand signs.

"IT'S USELESS!" yelled Neji as he charged.

"EARTH STYLE: SIX STONE PILLARS!" shouted Haru. Six pillars of earth rose from the ground surrounding Neji tightly he could barely move, then walls of stone extended out of them attaching to the pillar next to it. Neji looked up to see Haru standing on one of the pillars his arms crossed over his chest.

"But how?" he asked "I blocked off your chakra." Earth began to fall from Haru's body.

"He encased himself in a layer of earth," said Sakura amazed.

"You see," said Haru "you were so caught up in your preachings of destiny and focusing on my chakra points, you failed to notice that the last time I hit the ground I covered myself in a thin shell of earth. I knew it couldn't be too thick or those eye of your would see it. But it was thick enough to guard against your attack, I know all about the Huuga and their ability to stop the flow of chakra. This is my best technique." stone spikes from each pillar and wall. "I can put a ceiling on this thing too. You so much as move a muscle, these spikes will impale you from twelve different angels. Admit it, you've lost."

Neji searched his surroundings looking for any possible means of escape, he quickly found that there was no means and Haru was right. He'd lost.

"I yield," he said in a down cast voice.

"The winner, is: Haru Muri," said the Proctor. The crowd erupted. Naruto and Sakura clapped as well. The pillars and walls sank in to the ground leaving Haru standing in front of Neji. Neji looked tired and ashamed.

"I guess it wasn't your destiny to lose here," said Neji "But mine." Haru clapped him on the shoulder.

"Neji," said causing the older to to look at him "Four months ago I never would have had even a prayer of beating you. I was weak and had no confidence in myself. But I learned, we can do anything we set our mind to, if we just believe. Naruto taught me that. Hey and you should have an easier time of it than me." He let go and began to walk away as Neji stared confusedly ay his back.

"After all, unlike me," he said and looked over his shoulder "You're not a failure." With that Haru left the Arena to join his team.

"Good job," said Sakura pulling Haru into a hug.

"Yes, well done," said Naruto clapping him on the shoulder. Haru wore a goofy grin/

"That jutsu was mighty impressive," said Kakahsi from behind him "I'm extremely proud of you Haru."

"The next match is Shikamaru Nara and Temari!" yelled the proctor "Will the combatants please come down. There was a whirl of wind a Temari came down from somewhere riding her fan. Moments later Shikamaru walked into the Arena his hand tuck lazily into his pockets. The two opponent faced each other.

"Begin!" said Genma. Temari was of to the races, charging right at Shikamaru. She leaped into the air and brought fan down towards Shikamaru's head. When the dust cleared, Shikamaru was no where to be seen.

"Is he hiding?" asked Haru to no one in particular.

"I dunno," said Sakura looking around the Arena. A dark thing went skirting across the ground. A shadow. Temari rapidly retreated, just as it was about to reach her it stopped.

"Looks like that's the extent of his range," said Naruto. Temari smirked at him and drew a line in the dirt with her fan. She looked at him, it was then she noticed there was something different about him. His jacket was missing. She saw some thing starting to form on the ground, another shadow. She looked into the air. He'd made a parachute out of his jacket, headband and a kunai. She ran to her left, passed the proctor. His shadow stopped and began to retreat. Just as she turned, to face him she froze.

"He got her," said Naruto. Temari looked around trying to figure out where she went wrong. She saw her mistake. He'd extended his shadow with the jacket and followed her as she fled past the proctor, he'd then used the proctor shadow as a stepping stone, and caught her.

Shikamaru walked them to the center of the Arena. He rose his hand.

"To hell with it," he said "I give up." All Naruto;s entire team could do was blink in disbelief.

"What, just happened?" asked Haru.

"I'm, not sure," replied Naruto. The crowd began booing.

"The winner is: Temari," the boos intensified getting louder and louder. Shikamaru walked out of the Arena and into the stands.

"Well then," said Gemna, "Let's begin the next match, Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara of the Sand." Naruto stood from his place in the stands and began to head for the Arena. He stopped when something hit him in the back. It was Sakura, hugging him from behind.

"Be careful," she whispered "Please be careful and come back to me safe."

"I will," said Naruto.

"Promise?" she asked.

"Promise," confirmed Naruto and reluctantly she let him go. Naruto left the stands and walked into the Arena. Gaara was already wait for him.

"I have to say, I've been looking forward to this," said Naruto.

"I feel the same," said Gaara.

"When you're ready, begin!" said Genma. Sand began to pour from the gourd driving its way into the ground.

"I see," thought Naruto "He's using the Sand to create more sand for the earth itself." Naruto pulled his headband from his eye, the Sharingan locked in on Gaara, watching his every move. Soon Gaara was surrounded by a cloud of the sand from the earth, his own chakra infused sand slipped back into the gourd. "perfect" Naruto flashed through a familiar set of hand signs.

"Fire style: Fire ball jutsu," the jet of fire erupted from his mouth, engulfing the sand. As it died down the crystallized sand crashed to the ground.

"Ah, ingenious," said Lee in Naruto's abandoned spot "He turned the sand to glass with fire." Naruto raced at Gaara, the sand poured from the gourd and attacked Naruto. Naruto dodged through the clouds of shifting sand and and delivered a hard right side kick to Gaara's chest. The boy stumbled, it should have knocked him off his feet, but he seemed weighed down by something. Naruto flipped backwards and did a series of back hand springs to avoid the sand that was bearing down on him. He came a sliding stop and flashed through more hand signs.

"Fire style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" the twenty fiery missiles raced at Gaara and crashed into his sand defenses. This sand however did not turn to glass.

"As I thought, that sand has so much of his chakra infused in it, that it can't be turned to glass," He stood and ran at Gaara hurling eight shuriken at him before vanishing from view. He reappeared behind Gaara. The Sand took can of the shuriken, Gaara turned to face Naruto. Naruto delivered eight punches in quick succession, each strike driving Gaara a bit further in the air. He ended the melee with a hard leaping spin kick that should have knocked him unconscious. Gaara hit the ground and was left back to his feet by his sand. When he looked back at Naruto, bit off his face seemed to be falling away. It was sand.

"I understand now," Naruto looked down at both his fists, his knuckles were bleeding "He encases himself in sand, like Haru did with the earth. That's why he seems so heavy, he got sand armor." Gaara went of the offensive. Clouds of sand streaked towards Naruto, thanks to the Sharingan Naruto was able to read and anticipate each attack. However he was so busy dodging he couldn't attack. He crossed his fingers.

"Shadow clone jutsu!" another Naruto popped into existence and continued to dodge will the real Naruto vanished from sight. The sand finally pierced 'Naruto' and the clone disappeared, Gaara let out a gasp of surprise. However it was cut short when a hard kick collided with the side of his head. Gaara was knocked to the ground again. This time when the sand rose him in the air it began to encase him. Soon the sand formed a cocoon around him. Naruto looked and the cocoon for a minute. Then he charged, spears of sand came from the cocoon, stopping Naruto short. He leaped away as the crashed into the ground. He landed on the spears and began to run up them. He drew his two kunai and stabbed the cocoon, it was hard as rock.

"Only one way around this," he thought and leaped off the cocoon as more spears came from directly underneath him. He raced away from the cocoon and sprinted up the wall, near the top he skidded to a halt. Three hand signs, Ox, Rabbit, Monkey.

Haru looked back at his sensei.

"Kakashi-sensei," he said "What is Naruto doing?" Kakashi gave him his one eyed smile.

"Just watch," said Kakashi "But don't blink."

Flashback

"Ok, Naruto this technique I'm going to teach you will be your most powerful attack, for now any way," explained Kakashi. "As we're covered so far you learned, to channel chakra, use mass amounts of chakra, not waste extra chakra, plus we've built up your speed to an almost inhuman level. This technique requires all that, plus something else."

"Something else?" asked Naruto.

"Correct, focus," said Kakashi "The ability to focus all the chakra of the attack into a single point of impact. Watch." Kakashi blazed through the Ox, Rabbit, Monkey signs and ended up holding his right wrist palm up. For a second nothing happened, then chakra began to actually become visible. It looked like lightening.

"The Lightening Blade," explained Kakashi. He turned to a large boulder behind him and slammed his hand into it. The Chakra tore a massive crater into the boulder.

"Woh," Said Naruto.

"Now start by gathering a large amount of chakra in your hand," said Kakashi. Naruto did as he was instructed and poured almost half his chakra reserves into his hand.

"Now the signs," said Kakashi again Naruto obeyed. He held his right wrist but unlike Kakashi, his palm was down. He felt a jolt of electricity arc between his thumb and middle finger, then the unexpected happened. The chakra that was just starting to take shape, exploded. Naruto was knocked onto his back.

"Not enough focus," said Kakashi "again." Naruto climbed to his feet, flashed through the signs and built up his chakra.

"More focus!" said Kakashi "Concentrate."

"I am concen-" Naruto was cut off by another explosion. Again he wound you on his back. "Damn it!" he exclaimed jumping to his feet. Kakashi opened his mouth to say something, but the look on Naruto's face told him, Naruto was in grind stone mode. He would be out here for four day straight if that's what it took. Heaving a sigh Kakashi settled against the boulder behind him to read, the sound of explosions and curses his only company.

Naruto wiped the dripping sweat from his brow, he'd been at this four three days now, only sleeping when it was absolutely necessary. He did the Ox, Rabbit, Monkey hands signs and built up his chakra in his hand. The electricity arced across his fingers, he focused on the center on his palm. Slow the lightening grew and grew up until his covered his whole hand.

"Yes!" he said and spun around and smashed his hand into the boulder next to the crater Kakashi had made three and a half days earlier. The Lightening dissipated, no crater, no nothing it was like it had never been there in the first place.

"What the?" he stared at his hand confused.

"Looks like you've got the first step down," said Kakashi as he walked up the hill towards Naruto. "But remember what I said? 'Focus at the point of impact." he placed his hand on the boulder this is the point of impact, you have to transfer the energy in you hand to the face of the boulder; and do it without letting the lightening lose any potency or force."

"Right," said Naruto. He formed the seals and built the lightening in his hand. Then turned to the boulder and drove his hand at it. Half way there the lightening fissiled out and Naruto hit the boulder with a curled fingered palm strike, and it didn't feel good.

"Keep the flow going and at the last minute add an extra burst of chakra and drive all the energy into the boulder," said Kakashi. Naruto nodded and tried again. The lightening hit the rock and made a tiny little nick.

"Damn it!" yelled Naruto.

"That was closer," said Kakashi "Well you seem to have the general idea, dinner is at seven if you're hungry," and with that the copy-ninja walked back down the hill toward the little inn he and his student were staying in.

"Yeah, thanks a lot," muttered Naruto. He tried again and again but even time he tried he failed. One time the nick would get bigger, then the next time, it wouldn't work at all. For five days he tried.

Naruto sat on the ground gasping for breath, he was exhausted, more than exhausted. Sweat poured off his body, pooling on the ground.

"I need a bigger burst of Chakra," he said aloud "That's all I need."

He leaped to his feet, Ox, Rabbit, Monkey. The lightening built up in his hand, he raced at the boulder and drove his hand at it, a split second before his hand hit the boulder hie pictured a blot of lightening shooting down his arm and out his palm. The jutsu hit the boulder, the rock resisted for a second and exploded.

"Yes!" Exclaimed Naruto.

"Good now lets keep working on it," said Kakashi."

End flashback

He gripped his wrist, palm down. Nothing happened for a second, then the lightening began arcing, the chirping ensued.

"WOW!" said Haru "he's never done that before."

"It's amazing, his chakra is visible" said Sakura "But what is it and what is the weird noise?"

"Its a jab," said Gai from next to Kakashi, "but this jab is unlike any other."

Naruto held his right arm out to his side and sprinted down the wall.

"It's the only weapon in Kakashi's arsenal he didn't copy from some one else," said Gai.

Naruto hit the ground running, racing at Gaara's cocoon.

"It's a technique solely bases on the user speed and ability to focus his chakra at the point of impact," explained Gai "When these two components, speed and focus, reach a certain level the chakra becomes visible and give off the distinct noise you hear, like birds chirping."

Naruto dodged through the sand spears, bringing his arm up in a cocked like position.

"It is this sound that give the technique it's name," said Gai.

Naruto's hand hit the sand and drove through it, he hit something soft driving partially through it.

"CHIDORI!" said Gai, "One thousand birds, also know as Lightening Blade,"

"Lightening Blade?" questioned Haru "Why's that?"

"Its got that name because Kakashi once used it to cut a bolt of lightening in half before it could touch the ground." answered Gai. The Genin were speechless.

Naruto gripped what he now knew was Gaara's shoulder, the sand began to pour away, revealing Gaara his left shoulder torn to shreds.

"Damn," thought Naruto "I missed."He left go and leaped away when he saw the crazed look in Gaara's eye. Gaara's right hand gripped his left shoulder and he pulled it away looking at it in bewilderment.

"What is this?" he mumbled, then realization seamed to hit him "BLOOD! IT'S MY BLOOD!" he screamed. Naruto readied himself for an attack but faltered when he heard an explosion. He looked to his left where he knew the Hokage and Kazekage sat. The balcony was covered in smoke. Gaara's siblings and sensei joined him on the ground.

"Get Gaara out of here," said their Sensei. The two obeyed immediately. Naruto faltered unsure of what to do. He was joined by his own teacher and teammates, with Genma as well.

"Naruto, Haru, Sakura," said Kakashi "Go after those three, stop them, kill them if you have to."

"But how?" asked Haru "We have no way of know which way they went." Kakashi pressed his kunai to his thumb.

"Summoning Jutsu!" he pulled his hand from the ground and their sat a pug-like dog. "Pokun here will lead you."

"Right," said Naruto, "Lead the way Pokun!"

"You got it," replied the dog and leaped off the three Genin hot on his heels.

"So you Sand ninja broke the treaty," said Kakashi addressing the Sand sensei, "But I can't see the Sand doing this on their own, Who's helping you? Or are you doing the helping?"

"Don't know," said the Sand sensei "and don't care, I already killed one of you. Figured i'd finish off the rest."

"So you're the one who killed Hayate," said Kakashi, the former proctor's body had been found the night before on a roof top in the eastern edge of the village.

"The punk you coughed all the time?" asked the Sand ninja "Yeah that was me."

"Then I think it's only fair," said Kakashi forming the Ox hand sign "I return the favor."

0000

And that's that.

I know, a bit confusing but you have to understand this story is being told from team Kakashi (mainly Naruto's) view point and they had no idea the attack was coming unlike all of us when we read the book or watch the show. Just a heads up, the next chapter may take awhile (Not along as last time). As stated earlier, I am getting marrying so I will have very little if any time to work on this for the next week or so.