Chapter: 43

Eiji? You ok?" Ino asked worriedly when I just stood there looking at the two names.

"Yeah… Yeah, I'm fine," I replied slowly. I could feel the blood leaving my face. I had prepared, I had studied and I had planned for a situation like this. But… actually being in it made me feel like I hadn't done nearly enough to feel safe.

"Kiddo?" Anko asked with a raised eyebrow. "If he is too dangerous, you can just give up. Nobody wants you dead and you can take this exam another time," She reassured but I wasn't really listening.

I had to fight this guy, after all. I had received lots of support while I prepared for this. All in the name of showing off the might of the Leaf. And while I probably could give up without consequences, it would mean giving up on that support too. And that was something I couldn't do. I needed that to continue growing stronger for the future.

"I'm fine," I repeated, this time with more conviction in my voice, even if it was slightly forced.

With a deep breath in, I looked down at my boots, to make sure they were tied well enough. Palmed the pockets of my cargo pants, to check that my kunai and shuriken were indeed placed in the specially made spaces. Then, my left hand went to my pouch, hanging from the left side of the belt I wore. It was filled alright. With a weak chuckle, I finished my self-inspection adjusting the white bandages I had wrapped around my arms and hands, going all the way up to under my short-sleeved red shirt.

My mind was only half-paying attention to that though. Instead, I mentally pulled up screens in front of me. Checking Skills, Perks and, most importantly, Titles. 'Genin of Konoha and Shadow of the Shinobi might work here, worth checking at least,' I considered. 'After all, I am here with the official mission of passing and the unofficial mission of showing off… It's worth trying that, at least.'

Everything was in place. I was as ready as I could be.

"Wish me luck, guys," I said with a small grin as I nodded to my friends. 'I'll probably need it,' I added in my head.

"Kiddo," Anko called again and I stopped mit-turn. "You can use the sword, if you need to… And also… you know what. But only-"

"If I need to, I get it," I interrupted her quick addition, feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. Nuibari would solve all my problems when it came to getting past Gaara's defense. 'Wielder of Nuibari will come in great if I need to use it,' I noted too. And the Cursed Seal would be an ace up my sleeve in case I found that I needed to be more… drastic, in my assault. My grin regained some of its normal confidence then.

'I got this,' I thought to myself. As I walked down the stairs, I saw the Suna Jinchuuriki already standing in the middle of the arena, arms crossed and eyes glaring straight at me. My grin widened at the prospect of fighting someone so strong while having all my cards playable. 'I feel like I'm turning into a bit of a battle maniac.'

"Are both of you ready?" Gekko asked, looking between the two of us.

"I'm ready," Gaara replied curtly, looking ready to go.

"I'm ready," I mimicked after turning off the weight seals on me.

"Begin."

"You didn't let me prove my existence," Gaara said, a scowl growing on his face. "And for that, I'll use yourblood instead."

"Well, that's not creepy at all, is it?" I asked, tilting my head with a grin. Inside, I felt my fear creep back around my heart. Not much though. I wasn't scared of him. I was scared of changes. I had seen many changes since I had appeared in this world, several of them completely unrelated to me and my actions, like the electives at the Academy. 'What if he is stronger here?'

"Prove my existence," Gaara demanded, ignoring my question.

"Yeah," I muttered as the cork came off his gourd and sand started coming out from it. "I don't think so, buddy."

"Die," Was his next word, and a light brown mass spread in the air before coming down on me.

'Running, Free Running, Intermediate Taijutsu, Intermediate Kenjutsu,' I thought, before all but vanishing from where I had been standing. Running around, faster than he could react, I charged from his side. With a spinning kick, I hit the side of his head, my attack barely stopped by a handful of sand.

I didn't stop there though, continuing my assault just like Lee had tried in canon. Sending kicks and punches from all around while the Sand boy tried and failed to keep up with my movement. I knew it was probably a useless effort, but I wanted to try and see where I stood compared to Lee, compared to Gaara. Still, I kept my Flicker readily in my metaphorical hand in case I needed to get out of a dangerous situation.

"So youthful!" I heard someone shout from the balcony, although I didn't recognize who. Didn't really matter since it could have been one of two people only.

When the sand started surrounding Gaara entirely too much for my liking, I jumped back a good deal to put some distance between us. With that, all the diminutive rocks fell to the ground, as if they hadn't been moving by themselves a second before. A grin threatened to split my face as I gazed upon the Jinchuriki.

"You are smiling," He pointed out, a confused frown on his face. "Why?"

"You are strong," I replied with a chuckle that turned into a laugh as I fully relaxed. "Really strong," 'But not too strong,' I added in my head. 'I can take you, Gaara.'"You'll do just fine."

"What are you talking about?" He asked this time, his annoyance growing as the sand started lifting, agitated just like its wielder.

"You said something about me proving your existence," I answered, crouching and taking a deep breath in. "I don't know what that was all about, really," I continued, the words of the act coming to me with now familiar ease. "You, though, you'll prove my strength," With that said, I turned off my Energy skills and decided to try a different approach this time.

Gaara's eyes widened at those words. The shock didn't help him at all with keeping up with my movement, especially since I moved even faster this time. The crackle of lightning followed me as I dashed to a side and charged back at him. My kick, this time, pushed right through his hastily drawn sand guard and hit him right on his jaw. He hadn't even had time to recover from it as a second kick hit his back.

I could feel it, the layer of sand that covered his whole body, the last defense. My attack didn't pass through it, but he was bound to feel it at the very least. And I continued, just like that.

And then a punch connected with his side.

Then my foot met his thigh.

And then a punch.

And a kick.

And a punch.

Kick.

Kick.

Punch.

Kick.

Punch.

Punch.

Each hit felt like glory. I was overwhelming Gaara of all people. The poor bastard didn't even have time to react to any of my attacks. I was doing it. I was going to defeat him. No struggle, no tricks nor advantages like I had with the Grinning Man. This was all me.

"Stop!" He snarled and the sand exploded, gathering around him in a small dome. "You… are an annoyance," He growled as his face appeared from a crack on the half-sphere that protected him. I stood some distance away from him, still grinning and ready to go again, my hand twitching to pull out Nuibari and pierce through his shield even if I knew I shouldn't use it. Not yet. Not unless I had to.

"Come at me, Gaara," I probably looked like I had lost it to all my friends and my sensei. But this was my chance. My chance to see if all my effort, all my training, all that I had done since that day that I woke up in the Academy. If my second life's time had amounted to anything.

Gaara was, after all, a very strong opponent. And as such he was a very good bar to measure against. Orochimaru had wiped the floor with me in the Forest. But he was one of the Sanin, it was somewhat expected for me to lose there. However… it didn't mean I hadn't felt that loss.

This though, this fight could mean so much. It would tell me, if I could really make a difference. If I could reach the heights that I needed to survive and to protect my friends.

My progress wasn't slowing down. On the contrary, it was better than ever, what with the Prodigy titles, never mind the Apprentice one. My skills and stats had never slowed down. If I was already past Gaara's level at this point, I could be more than a mere side character with enough time. And that wasn't even considering the fact that I could even get some new Perks and Titles along the way.

I could be powerful enough.

"Kill me, Gaara," I mocked with a lazy 'come here' gesture. "If you can."

[}-o-{]

Naruto's PoV

"He lost it," Ino muttered with a worried expression.

"No," Shikamaru denied, his lazy expression long gone as his sharp gaze locked onto the two Genin at the arena. "He is doing just what he said. His fear," Both Ino and I felt our backs straighten at those words. "He is checking if he can actually fight his fear."

"And he'll win," I added with a grin. "He'll kick its ass so hard he won't ever be worried again. And that guy's too, while he is at it."

"That would be nice, yeah," The Nara nodded with a diminutive smile of his own. "He's relaxed as of late but..."

"He's still afraid," Ino finished, still looking worried about Eiji's words just now.

"You worry too much, kids," The three of us jumped when we heard Eiji's sensei speak right behind us. "Everyone is afraid of something."

"Yeah but… he was..." I struggled for a moment, not quite getting the words I wanted to describe how frightened my brother was.

"I know," She said, a semblance of an understanding smile on her face. "But he's much better now. And this fight… The lazy bum isn't wrong. This fight is to prove it to himself, that he is strong enough for the dangers out there. Just like he said," She explained. "Doesn't surprise me that he sees it like that. That other kid… is something else."

"None of us would stand a chance," Shikamaru nodded. "Eiji is the only one that can, at least from our two teams... I think," He corrected with his eyes moving towards Sasuke. I wanted to roll my eyes at that. Everyone knew that the Uchiha was… touchy when it came to admitting weakness.

"You are not wrong..." The words coming out of said bastard surprised everyone. The boy himself though, was staring intently at Eiji. "But I'll get just as strong as him, eventually. I won't be left behind."

"Got that right," Chouji commented, speaking for the first time himself.

The five of us grinned, turning towards the fight just in time to see the defensive dome turning into a wave of sand going Eiji's way. We should have been worried. By all means, such an attack would kill any of us. Eiji though…

"That's it, come at me you creepy bastard!"

"He spends too much time with you, Naruto," Ino grumbled.

"I know, right?" I asked back quite proudly.

[}-o-{]

Eiji's PoV

I was, maybe, too pleased as I dodged Gaara's attack and noticed that his whole body was covered in cracks all over his skin shield. 'Why was I afraid of this battle again?' I thought to myself with a grin.

I knew why though. It was because I was afraid of any and all named characters that were in one way or another enemies. Lika Gaara was right now. Yes, he turned into an ally later on, but that was after Naruto's Talk no Jutsu. So, for the moment, the Suna Jinchuriki was in the enemies' list.

And as such, he was a danger to me and those I cared about. I also knew that he was crazy strong, at least in terms of plot before the timeskip. With that said…

I was kicking his ass, like Naruto would say. Absolutely dominating the fight, just like Lee with the Gates opened had, and I could go on like this for a good while compared to the Taijutsu specialist. I felt so very proud of myself at that point. Like all my work had been validated at that moment. I felt, at that moment, like I might stand a chance in the crazy world I had been thrown in. For once, I could forget the sword that had been hanging over my head ever since I woke up that fateful day.

An angry growl turned my attention towards my opponent once more, who seemed to be very annoyed at his useless efforts to trap me with his sand.

"Well, this was fun," Another growl followed my statement. "But it's time I actually try and finish this up."

"You can't get past my armor," Gaara muttered. "You can't win."

"Just because I haven't done so until now doesn't mean I can't," I countered with a grin. Cracking my neck as I prepared to jump into it again. I had been ready to pull out Nuibari at this point and get it over with. But his defense was crumbling without even needing it. So, it could remain a hidden trump card. He could form that perfect defense shell that he had and also leave sand to attack me, after all. That meant that I would get an opening if he wanted to try and kill me, which he obviously did.

'I really need more offensive Jutsu,' I thought with a grimace. I could win this, but it was only by wearing down Gaara's defense, not by breaking it or piercing it. My attacks must have felt like I was hitting him with a pillow in between. Still hits, but barely doing anything. 'I know what I'll be creating next time,' decided mentally while sighing.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I charged, lightning sparkling under my feet.

'It sucks that Sand isn't a better electrical conduit,' I complained, not even for the first time since I had researched that for this particular battle. With it, the guy basically countered all my strongest techniques. And fire wouldn't do much either.

"Eiji!" I heard someone call but didn't turn. It was Anko, I didn't need to take my eyes off the crazy murderhappy Jinchuuriki to check on that. I wasn't that stupid. "Stop playing around and skewer that boy already."

I blinked at that. To use Nuibari? I thought that was to be kept a secret. With a frown, I dashed to the side with a simple, short use of Running and Free Running and avoiding the sand attack that an impatient Gaara tried to send my way. I had stopped right beneath the balcony where everyone was.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to do that, sensei," I voiced, raising my voice just enough for them to hear me.

"Change of plans…," She replied, she sounded annoyed and… scared too. 'What?'

'Is something going on? Did someone order for me to use Nuibari here? There's no Kage here watching is there? Why not reveal it on the actual Third Test? Why would they-?' My mind stopped working and my eyes widened as I focused on my opponent. Or, more appropriately, his eyes.

His right eye's sclera had turned black and his iris yellow.

'This is bad… really bad,' I thought while gulping. In a split second, I pulled out a scroll from the pouch on my hips and immediately opened it.

"You are going to Prove my eXistencE," I grimaced at the Suna nin's words, the sound coming out of his mouth almost distorting midway towards an animalistic growl at the end. A puff of smoke came out of the scroll in my hand and a second later I was already with the Needle Sword in my right hand and the thread that was connected to it passed behind me towards my left hand.

"Yeah," I voiced, my voice shaking the smallest bit. Mentally, I switched Genin of Konoha title for Wielder of Nuibari. "I don't know what you are doing, buddy," Once I finished saying that, I disappeared, using a normal Flicker to move behind him. "But I don't like it," 'Intermediate Taijutsu, Intermediate Kenjutsu,' I activated, instantly snapping my arm forward and throwing the Legendary Sword.

The weapon flew and passed right through Gaara's shoulder before he could even react. The boy looked down at the wound, now bleeding and with a metallic cord threaded through it. The Jinchuuriki then raised his other, shaking hand towards his shoulder and I could hear him whimpering.

"Blood," The boy muttered and I stared dispassionately. "My blood..."

"Nighty night, sandboy," I called out as electricity traveled between me and him through Nuibari's wire. Stunning Thread was still useful even here. 'And they taught me this shit at the Academy,' I thought, slightly amused. A normal one wouldn't work here. I needed more power.

'Cursed Seal: First Stage,' I activated, and immediately I felt everything burn. It was like my shoulder had a white hot spear buried right through it. But I also felt the cursed chakra flow through me. It was powerful, yes, but it also made my skin crawl.

I ignored all that though, instead focusing on pouring every last bit of energy I had into the Lightning technique.

My efforts proved fruitful soon enough when the auburn-haired boy tensed and screamed as the shock continued going through him. I kept at it, since I knew the Bijuu in him surely increased his resistance even if he himself probably wasn't used to either pain or electricity. I needed him to be unconscious before he unleashed Shukaku right there and then. 'Good thing I coated Nuibari and my other weapons in poison and good thing I didn't use anything deadly,' I patted myself on the back for good planning. I could only imagine the kind of fallout Konoha would be hit with if I killed the Kazekage's son, not to mention their Jinchuuriki.

Eventually, Gaara's body fell limp, the illusion of him still standing kept by the thread on his shoulder. Immediately, I deactivated all my skills, first of all the Mark. My hands remained trembling, but I could soldier through the lingering pain. With a quick pull, Nuibari disembedded itself from the wall on the other side, the thread went slack and so did the Suna nin, falling to the ground like a puppet with its string cut. In silence, I picked up my sword and started pulling on the wire.

'It feels… anticlimactic, for the fight to end like that… or maybe it's having to do this afterwards? Stories rarely show how everyone picks up their weapons at the end of a fight,' I thought wryly. I had absolutely zero problems with that though. I would take an easy win everyday if I could. I certainly didn't want to deal with Shukaku of all things, least of all without having the time to train the Cursed Seal or even anything at all that could actually stand a chance against such a literal force of nature.

"Winner, Eiji Satou," Gekko called out, sounding somewhat surprised, although it could have been for several reasons. I imagined there were more than one reason to be after what had gone on. Maybe he was surprised by my level? That was a bit arrogant of me to think, but it was a possibility still. There was also the Jinchuuriki that almost lost control to his Bijuu, that certainly would shake anyone and Gekko was only a Tokubetsu Jounin himself. Hell, maybe he didn't know that I had a Legendary Sword in my possession. I wasn't really aware of just who knew about it. Not that it mattered, everyone would know now.

Speaking of...

"You shouldn't have that sword," Were the first words I received from Haku's and Choujurou's unknown teammate. The previously mentioned two stood a little further back looking rather indifferent about the whole thing even if their comrade was very obviously angry. I took a good look at unfamiliar Genin (if that was even what he was), just to make sure I didn't actually remember him from my notes on the series.

He had short spiky black hair and the lower half of his face was covered with a white scarf. He also wore a black, form fitting t-shirt and black pants with grey sandals. The boy also had a greatsword on his back that…

"Oh god, Zabuza had a kid?" I asked out loud, disturbed.

"Fuck no," Another voice spoke from behind the trio and I turned to see Zabuza Momochi in all his murderous glory. The guy still gave me the chills even if I knew we were sort of allies and he couldn't do much right there in the tower. "The brat is a fanboy."

"Zabuza-sama!" The fanboy himself whined pitifully, clearly upset that his attempt at intimidation was foiled. "Doesn't matter," He recovered quickly, at least. He turned to me, his expression dead serious. "I'm Saito and I'll take that sword from you."

"That's nice," I nodded walking past him.

"W-What?" I heard Saito ask confusedly.

"You can try, that's for sure," Zabuza snorted next to me as I passed by him too.

"You should leave the sword out, kid," I stopped as I heard the other Legendary Sword wielder speak. "You don't have to follow our traditions, of course. But it would certainly help with people like fanboy over there."

"I kept it hidden because it was supposed to be a secret. I guess I can follow that tradition from now on," I shrugged.

"Ha," The man barked a laugh. "easy-going, are you?"

"I'm just riding the high of that battle. It was… something."

"It was something alright," Zabuza nodded, his head turning to look at the medics taking away the still unconscious Gaara. "Also, I hope you know how to use that sword for more than just throwing it like an oversized senbon."

"I'm no expert, but yes, I've been training with it a lot."

"You better. The Mist will try to take it from you, kid," He informed me and I could almost hear the amused grin on his bandage-covered face. "Eventually, they will. Not everybody is as accepting of a foreign ninja having one of our national treasures, even with the Swordsmen tradition and the pseudo-alliance. You should be ready when it happens."

"They should be coming for it now," I shot back with a grin. "They'll never take it from me if they wait too long."

The ex-Missing Nin only laughed at that and I heard the boy, Saito, go to shout something, but Choujurou put a hand over his mouth.

"We are coming for it now," The blue-haired boy said instead. It was a weird scene though, since he didn't have any of the steel one would expect in such a statement. Instead, he was looking away from me and slouching forward, as if embarrassed by his own words.

"Then you better pass these preliminaries," I said as I continued my way towards my group. I had just beaten fucking Gaara. As if I would be worried about these guys. And if Zabuza was acting as their teacher, then they couldn't have a Legendary sword since none of them had it out in the open like Momochi himself. And that was the only way I could think of for them to actually worry me at all.

And even that couldn't bring me down from the high I was riding after what had just happened.

"Couldn't wait, Naruto?" I asked with a smirk as my brother in all but blood walked up to me.

"That was a great fight, Eiji," He said, pulling me on a tight hug. "But I'm next now, cheer for me, will you?"

"Sure thing," I replied with a smile, a little bummed that I couldn't talk to him more after my fight. My eyes then moved to see who his opponent would be and then I paused. 'I hadn't even realized that was a possibility,' I mused at the two names. 'This should be an interesting fight.' "Good luck, Naruto," I said, patting his arm and my eyes darted to look again, as if expecting the names to change.

Naruto vs Haku.