Konoha Crush [1]

"Thank you everyone! It's the best day ever! Nnhh…"

Naruto had tears in his eyes as he looked at everyone around him, and then at the two big cakes in front of him with his face design on it, and the other had Tsuyu's face on them. 

Sakura snorted, seeing Naruto was in tears.

"Naruto, since when are you so dramatic?"

"Give him a break Sakura" Ino was actually nice to Naruto and understood how it meant for him.

Nnh… Naruto wiped his tears. He could never ask for more.

"Blow the candle already!" Kiba nudged.

Naruto made a silent wish in his heart that he would always have people around him like today. As he blew the candle, he realised that his true wish was never to become the Hokage… but instead…

Naruto looked at everyone, feeling overwhelmed by how they were celebrating his day.

"Tsuyu. You too…" Hinata whispered to Tsuyu, who had just been looking at Naruto with a hint of something. Tsuyu just felt that 'this' was what Naruto needed, and she felt a sense of accomplishment seeing Naruto was fulfilled - although she couldn't find the word to fully describe it.

Tsuyu just smiled slightly. She never believed blowing a mere candle would grant your wishes. Might as well consider this candle as 'God' since you were praying uselessly to it; she thought in sarcasm. Even so, she made a silent wish that she would eventually reach the top and could have such a leisurely day like this sometimes, with no constant threat to her life. She blew the candle, and everyone blew their confetti.

"O-tanjoubi omedetou! Tsuyu, Naruto!"

Pop! Pop!

The colourful strips of paper falling down accompanied Naruto's gleeful chuckle. He wiped his tears that were constantly falling, feeling too happy.

Sasuke noticed the look on Naruto's expression. And how everyone seemed to accept him as their friends. A part of him felt a little jealous and longing, remembering the times when he had his family celebrating his birthday. But, a part of him in a way could feel happy for Naruto too.

***

The days have passed by since then. Tsuyu noticed Naruto seemed very tame compared to normal. Though he was still his goofy self. Just the other day Naruto tried to use Sexy Jutsu on Sasuke out of all people and got beaten by him - and Sakura too.

Tsuyu noticed Naruto was always leaning towards moving closer to work out near Sasuke whenever they were on the field now. And Sasuke stopped moving away from him.

"Sasuke! Watch me closely!" Naruto made hand seals and make 5 other shadow clones.

Sasuke snorted as usual. "Make as many clones as you want" He activated his sharingan. But Sasuke would never expect what was about to come-

"Let's go everyone!" "Yea!" Naruto and the 5 other clones made hand seals at the same time. Sasuke widened his eyes, not believing Naruto actually had other jutsu.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough! x5

"What th-"

Sasuke felt saw a blast of wind blew dirt and grasses apart - and in the next second the invincible blast carrying dust and small pebbles reached him and lifted him off the ground!

Sasuke felt himself losing his footing as the force pressed his entire body backward and upward. He was unprepared and was sent flying meters away before falling with a loud thud on his back.

"Yosha!!!" Naruto and the clones screamed in excitement that Sasuke was defeated by the jutsu. Tsuyu nodded, thinking to herself Naruto did very well given the time he trained. Although, his Shadow Clones could do some work. The jutsu was in barely a multiple of 2 because of Naruto unable to fully supercharge the shadow clones with the chakra. Naruto was like having a bucket and using a spoon compared to Tsuyu, who was much better in this aspect as she could utilise a big ladle from her bucket.

Sasuke rubbed his back, feeling a little pain. But overall the jutsu was just blowing him and he didn't exactly receive much damage. It's more because Naruto hasn't been able to completely compress and sharpen the wind, which required more training on wind nature transformation.

Sasuke stood and still had his high ego, even if he was slightly impressed inside.

"Hmph. I don't even feel a thing."

"Heh! Then I will use more chakra-ttebayo!"

Sasuke smirked. Already planned how to handle Naruto.

"Here I come! Wind Release-."

Sasuke quickly threw Shurikens right at Naruto and his clones. But Naruto who had trained and undergo daily baptism with Tsuyu couldn't possibly be that bad to not expect such a basic maneuver to falter on his hand seals.

Naruto and clones all dodged swiftly while their hands never stopped weaving - Wind Release - Great Breakthrough!

The blast of wind arrived at Sasuke once more. But this time Sasuke had already laid the trap. He opened up his arms and pulled back - the sunlight reflected and revealed the steel wire in his hands!

The wires that were silently placed beneath Naruto's feet moved and strangled all of them together without Naruto realising!

WHOOOSHHHH!

Sasuke was blown into the air - but he strung along Naruto! It wasn't over yet. Sasuke had already anchored himself with a wire onto a tree; and while Sasuke managed to stop himself, Naruto couldn't!

"AAAA!!!" Naruto and his clones being tied up couldn't do a thing as they were blasted by their own jutsu and crashed into the ground. The clones all poofed as they plunged.

Sasuke smirked seeing how miserable Naruto looked.

"Is that all you got, dobe?"

Sasuke tried to act tough, but in fact his arms were hurting even if he had enhanced his arms with chakra to withstand the pressure from the wires.

"Grr… damn you! I am not over yet!" Naruto stood with fighting spirit, not wanting to lose.

"Hmph. Show me then."

***

The days were almost too peaceful. Tsuyu completed another mission not worth mentioning in the meantime. On her free days, she just practiced and trained.

The Chunin exam this year eventually came to the finals; everyone in the village could buy tickets to watch. Tsuyu thought Naruto could gain something from watching how most Genin fight, and how those who passed as Chunin did. Naruto was more than happy to watch. It sounded so fun!

The Leaf Stadium was crowded with many people, even travellers and visitors from other smaller shinobi villages in the Land of Fire. It seemed a newly acknowledged Shinobi village called Otogakure was also here for the first time to take part in the Chunin exam.

Hiruzen was sitting at the higher spot, overlooking the crowd and those who had passed into the final stage. Tsuyu took Naruto's popcorn, stuffing them into her mouth - her eyes looking at the Otogakure's squad specifically. Because she felt that woman who keep licking her lips seemed to always give glances at her. Or was it her imagination?

***

Just then, an ANBU member flickered on Hiruzen's side.

"Sandaime-sama. It's urgent. The barrier team detected massive chakra signature… in the sky."

"Hm? In the sky?"

At the same time, Danzo received the same report.

"... Have Sai investigate." The Root member disappeared.

Danzo felt an awful premonition that Orochimaru might have planned something far more than just killing Hiruzen. Nevertheless, most of his Root forces were in Konoha just in case.

Just then… Danzo added to the Root member that was about to leave.

"Order Tsuyu to hide underground… no, also her brother."

In a matter of minutes, Tsuyu noticed an insect landed on her hand. She frowned, seeing it was an insect of the Aburame clan. Her mind instantly went to Ayame who was a part of her squad.

She noticed the discrete movements here and there. The ANBU was moving. Something was happening. She immediately stood. Although she wasn't on duty, the bug in her hand was a signal.

Lord Third also seemed to be anxious from her observation. She went to a secluded corner of the stadium where no one would notice. Ayame appeared in front of her.

"Tsuyu. Lord Danzo ordered for you and Naruto to hide underground."

"... Understood."

Tsuyu didn't ask much. But she felt something was happening and she would rather not take chances on her and Naruto's survival. Since Danzo ordered her to hide, that was good and she had no complaint.

As for Naruto, it seemed she had to knock him unconscious. Root HQ was a secret, after all.

"Nii-san, follow me. It's urgent."

"Eh? But the next match is starting-ttebayo!"

"... It's an order." Tsuyu's voice turned cold and commanding.

"I… okay." Naruto pouted but still followed Tsuyu out of the stadium and then followed her into a dark corner in the streets. Naruto was quite confused though.

"Tsu-chan. What are we doing here? It's so dirty."

"Naruto. See there?" Tsuyu turned her gaze to behind Naruto.

"Hm? Wha-" Naruto turned his head. He didn't even manage to react before he lost consciousness from a chop on his neck. It's that easy to trick Naruto.

Tsuyu carried Naruto into a dark alley and entered Root HQ underground through the secret entrance in an abandoned building.

As she entered the main hall, most of Root operatives were there in formations, seemingly prepared for battle already. Danzo was also there, seemingly waiting.

"Tsuyu, good that you are here." Danzo looked over at Naruto who was already unconscious. Danzo was satisfied that Tsuyu didn't show mercy to her brother either, and still knew the secrecy of the Root was still utmost.

"Prepare yourselves. A storm would pass the village. And only when the time is ripe would we act."

Tsuyu nodded and went to the barrack to prepare her tools. Naruto was kept in a secure room with an attendant meanwhile.

***

"Sandaime-sama. Here's the intel."

Hiruzen took the report. Using a flying bird summon, a Hyuga member was carried as high as possible and what he saw was… a flying fortress powered by a powerful chakra source - almost close to that of a bijuu. And there were multiple chakra signatures of shinobi on them.

Hiruzen frowned. His brain instantly recalled the Land of the Sky that had once challenged Konoha during the Second Great Ninja War. His eyes widened as he realised the seriousness of this matter. But before he could make any other arrangements, the 1st phase of the attack had begun.

On Ancor Vantian, the Shinobi of the Sky wore their gears and machineries. Their goal was to cause as much destruction as possible towards Konoha. For their revenge!

The company comprised hundreds of Shinobi of Land of the Sky geared up and jump down the sky fortress. As they fell, the wings opened from their backs - chakra guide them as they dived right straight to village below!

Hiruzen received the report that they are actually sending shinobi to attack right at this moment! Hiruzen stood and quickly cancelled the Chunin exam, and asked every Shinobi around to protect all the civilians.

"WE ARE UNDER ATTACK! EVACUATE TO THE SHELTER! QUICKLY SOUND THE ALARM! Assemble all ANBU units!"

In seconds, the alarm sounded. And just as they did, explosives were dropped from the sky.

The company of Sky Shinobis came in formation and in waves, each of them dropping bombs, using devastating machinery that shoots projectiles with chakra propulsions as fuels.

The sound of chakra guns shooting blade projectile non-stop, the screams of panic and fear, the smell of gunpowder and iron, the smokes and dust covering the sky. Blood spilled as civilians and shinobi defending fell in the assault.

An Akimichi used his Expansion Jutsu - turning into a giant. With his massive hands, he swatted a few of the Sky Shinobi in fury, sending a few of them crashing to the ground like flies. But being bigger also made him an easier target.

He was shot in a barrage from multiple angles.

"Ahh!" The Akimichi received shots after shots, and explosives after explosives - he body turned mangle and bloodied eventually fell with a loud boom, even causing a building to collapse under his weight.

Konoha Defense Team took out their own machineries, Kunai turrets kept shooting, trying to take down the Sky Shinobi.

Chaos and explosions spread all over Konoha. Every Konoha citizen was running in panic, trying to reach the nearest shelter and begging anyone to save them. While the shinobi tried their best to defend their village and protect the civilians. 

Cries and fear were spreading. Death of loved ones, destruction, the smell of blood and powder. Amist all of this... Shino stood on top of a building, laughing in madness and anticipation as he felt the surging dark energy going inside of him and feeding into Reibi and towards Ancor Vantian above.

"HAHAHAHAH! JUST A LITTLE MORE!" Shino can feel the chakra of Reibi growing rapidly under the negative emotions due to destruction that happened. And in few minutes, the Destruction Cannon would be ready! HAHAHAHA!

***