XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Various POV's (Surrounding Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Rasa's POV
Rasa hovered over the barrier with a determined scowl. This ginormous dome was like someone had erected a monolith to his failures. A giant, unsightly reminder of a night he would give anything to change. Baki and Pakura hovered near him, both floating upon platforms of gold. Both had been present as guards the night of Gaara's birth. As such, they were wisely silent. Preparing themselves for their individual most potent techniques for what was next. Rasa had studied barrier ninjutsu after that night; it would've been foolish not to after his wife's untimely demise. As such, he knew it was theoretically possible to penetrate them with brute force. There were noted accounts in the olden, more bloody days of the past that showed such examples. However, they needed more specifics. Perhaps he should've sought council with one of the old goats-
'Can you hear me?' A male smooth voice sounded from within his head. Nerves snapped for an instant, but as a hesitant ally of the Leaf, he was familiar with this.
'Yes.' Rasa answered back simply.
'Good work, Inoichi. I had planned to ask you to set this up, but excellent work without my input,' Hiruzen answered as well.
'Ah, I've heard tale of this.' Mifune was apparently part of this as well. 'This is the unique jutsu of the Yamanaka, correct?'
'Indeed!' Inoichi sounded off. 'However, the reason I started the... A, can you hear me as well?'
'Been years since I been subjected to this.' A sounded off as well. 'Why was I even included?'
Rasa sighed mentally but was annoyed when such was somehow mentally audible.
'We merely figured a man of your stature would be insulted by the insulation that this mere barrier could bar your path?' Hiruzen saved them from a pointless argument with his blatant attempt at manipulation.
'HA! I see you as slippery as every you old fool!' A roared happily from within their heads. 'Fine, I will aid you pathetic lot just this once.'
'Jiraiya and I will as well.' Tsunade chimed in.
'Was gonna do a call entrance, but sure ruin it.' Jiraiya complained.
'The point of this.' Rasa cut to the chase. He could never stand how eccentric and powerful a shinobi tended to be. It was distasteful, to say the least.
'Right,' Hiruzen started. 'I have studied barrier ninjutsu for years; Inoichi runs my barrier department. My point is that I have the knowledge to give us the best chance to actually manage this.'
'Cowardly Leafs showing their true colors as always!' A taunted. 'My attack will breach this barrier with ease!'
'We shall see if your strike pierces true.' Mifune moved A along with a quick line. 'Continue Hiruzen.'
'If we all strike the barrier with various powerful jutsu simultaneously from our current position, we may just overwhelm the jutsu's chakra limit. Doing such should lead to the barrier collapsing, allowing us to end this farce,' Hiruzen explained.
'Wouldn't that risk the civilians?' Tsunade asked.
'Nah,' Jiraiya answered. 'That sexy explosive lady's attack was proof it absorbs chakra or at least energy. It's meant to keep it from being whittled away, but if we overwhelm it, it should keep the reactions to a minimum.'
'As good of a plan as any.' Rasa agreed. 'I shall give count.'
'Understood.' Mifune signed off.
'Will do, old bastard.' Tsunade agreed.
'We need to move quickly.' Jiraiya said his anxiety over his pupil being beaten was palpable from voice alone.
'I suppose I'll play along.' A hesitantly agreed.
'Excellent. On your mark, Rasa.' Hiruzen agreed.
Rasa's eyes had closed as he focused on the mental discussion. They now snapped open with intent. "Pakura and Baki, prepare to strike in tandem with me. Your best defensive bypassing attacks. Preferably ranged, as we do not know what contact with the barrier will entail. Likely a painful demise."
"Sir." Baki answered simply, as with a series of snaps, he wielded several blades of wind, each rotating around him.
"As you wish Kazekage-san." Pakura agreed. She began the same series of hand signs for the techniques she wielded earlier.
Rasa nodded as gold pooled above his head; it separated into large golden orbs, each floating in place as they started to swirl from within.
'1… 2… 3… Now!' Rasa mentally screamed as he began to bellow his next technique. Now was the time to redeem his past failure!
"Wind Style: Blades of Wind Revolving Wheel!" Baki called as he hurled the spinning blades of wind. Each buzzed as they zipped through the air.
"Scorch Style: Great Steaming Explosive Blast!" Pakura called a massive glowing orb of chakra, shooting off toward the barrier again.
"Golden Dust Manipulation: Golden Geyser Volley!" Rasa yelled in rage as each of his orbs shot their mass out in a beam of solid gold.
The combined blast of techniques rockets toward the dome. The audience gasps at the powerful techniques racing toward the center of the arena. Rasa watches as civilians scramble to escape. Informed samurai and shinobi rush to calm and contain them. But they will only settle once they are confident they will not be torn asunder.
Hiruzen's POV
Hiruzen, in many ways, felt as if he had failed Naruto Uzumaki. The boy's father had been Hiruzen's pride and assurance in many ways. Hiruzen retired quickly, knowing that such a capable and passionate young man would take his place. He certainly had been old enough for it.
Yet the man had fallen in combat as every Hokage had before him. Leaving a son and wife behind. Hiruzen had also lost people that day, and being forced back into his abounded post had been weary and unfocused. Kushina had always been independent and private. As such, Hiruzen had not worried much for Naruto Uzumaki. He had figured the boy would become someone he would treasure. But trusted it to happen without his interference.
The exams showed that despite the coldness of the decision, it worked out primarily for the best. Naruto was a mix of his mother and father and seemed to Hiruzen to be the following legend of the Leaf.
But his decision was clearly flawed… Naruto was now fighting a perfect jinchuriki. Hiruzen had battled the beast, and even jinchuriki ordered many to combat them. Usually an experienced Anbu squad, preferably, one with Fuijutsu knowledge. But this mere Genin was battling something that awfully resembled.
Hiruzen had made the mistake of allowing an asset to be risked. Now, he has rectified this mistake.
He allowed his chakra to flow in earnest. His power made the very ground creak. His mind, a weathered but efficient machine, whirled as it considered the best attack. Barriers were tricky; some were weaker to physical attacks, some more energy-based. Perhaps a mix?
He was called the Professor of Shinobi for a reason. It was time to do his duty and show these younger shinobi how the veterans do it.
'1… 2… 3… Now!' Rasa roared in his mind.
"Self Collaboration Technique:" Hiruzen bellowed as he began his hand sign sequence. He was the only ninja capable, well alive and known anyway, able to use two different elemental jutsu at once. It was… useful. "Fire Style: Great Dragon Flame and Earth Style: Mud Dragon's Roar!"
Two giant dragons burst to live behind Hiruzen. One was made of liquid, moving earth. It lazily moved as it gazed upon the barrier. The other was surging fire. It roared before it glared at the barrier. Both spat their terrible breath, one a mix of stone and mud, the other pure flames. The streams combined, creating a slurry of flaming mud and stone that raced toward the barrier.
Tsunade's POV
It was surreal standing in an arena like this. It had been a different one when she had been trying for Chunin. In fact, she was sure it hadn't even looked like this, certainly hadn't gone like this, yet it reminded her of the past all the same. Perhaps that was why she felt so motivated.
Naruto was a complicated pain for her. Tsunade was loathe to admit it, but Naruto was a remarkable young man. He had proved to be much more of a shinobi than she would've ever believed. But that was not what caught her attention.
Naruto was proud and determined like Nawaki had been. Naive to a lesser extent but with a will that made her sure they would persist regardless of the difficulty. Tsunade had always found this admirable and something she had once sworn to protect. It made Tsunade both yearn to speak to the blonde and want to avoid him—a conundrum.
Yet Tsunade could not be bothered by merely that. Somehow, the blonde also reminded her of… Dan. His high sense of morality, the open passion he had moved with, and the caring that made it so endearing, even his odd and, at times, masochistic sense of honor. It was nice to remember him, but like Dan and Nawaki, it seemed Naruto had bitten off more than he could chew.
Tsunade flinched as Naruto coughed up blood. As Gaara drew closer, he snapped up and managed to pick up and slam Gaara through a tree in an impressive show of strength. Though based on the laughter, it had merely bought him time.
Perhaps she was simply feeling her actual age. But Tsunade did not intend to let history repeat itself.
"I knew it!" Jiraiya cheered. "You like the brat too!"
"What of it?!" Tsunade asked haughtily. "He's… familiar."
Jiraiya frowned at such. "I figured he might be…" Jiraiya had always been respectful of Dan despite the fact he had won the woman he loved. It was one of the few reasons Tsunade put up with the man. "We gotta help him, Princess."
"Use your Odama Rasengan." Tsunade ordered.
Jiraiya, used to working with his temperamental teammate, did as she asked, raising it above his head. "I thought he said ranged attacks?"
"He did, and it will be… FOR ME!" Tsunade roared, barely able to contain the excitement in her voice.
"What does that-"
Tsunade didn't bother listening to the rest. Instead, she bent low, distracting Jiraiya from his dog-like tendencies. Leaving him defenseless as Tsunade suddenly grabbed an ankle and ripped Jiraiya from his feet as if uprooting a weed. Jiraiya screamed and barely managed to stop the Odama Rasengan from contacting them and killing them both. He was reliable like that; Tsunade threw the man savagely at the barrier.
Whoever said violence never solved anything obviously hadn't tried throwing them harder.
Mifune's POV
It had been a rough few days for the old samurai. Truthfully, Mifune felt each of his years as if they were weights tied to his back. The heaviest of which was undoubtedly the unavenged murder of Reizo. But the most recent two were just as shameful, leaving Mifune nearly shaking from rage.
The first several Leaf Genin disappeared during the exams. All of which were on the grounds of the Iron Arena. As all hosts do, Mifune had ensured, within reason, the safety of his colleague's men while on his land. Yet several had disappeared, all of which seemed to violently do so. It weighed heavily on Mifune to disappoint Hiruzen. Of the Five Kage, he always seemed the most reasonable. He is selfish for his land and manipulative as any politician. But the man acted with honor and had always been true to his word. Mifune could respect such and worked tirelessly to find his Genin.
Only for Hiruzen's arguably most valuable Genin to now be in peril and, despite their efforts, may perish. If Naruto Uzumaki were to die now, it would shame not only Mifune but the Land of Iron as a whole. Mifune could not allow such.
Gaara had seen fit to erect a barrier in the path of a samurai. While Mifune and samurai were intelligent creatures, they had never taken well to limits or been shamed. As Mifune lowered himself to the ground, he allowed his chakra to flow like it hadn't in years. His sheath vibrated with energy as he prepared his slash.
He would hold nothing back. A samurai did not allow obstacles to stand in his path unaddled. 'Let my blade strike true…'
"Severe Execution: Absolute Bisection!" Mifune roared as he drew his blade. A massive line of chakra raced through the ground in front of him. Surging toward the barrier in a brilliant showing of lights.
A's POV
A was not blind to Hiruzen's attempt to play him to get his aide. And as much as it made his blood boil, it did not make his words any less accurate. How could A, the greatest Raikage of the most extraordinary village, allow a mere upstart to impede him? Hiruzen had been right; it was a show of arrogance from Gaara. And as a senior shinobi, A would educate him on his folly. And if the little freak was killed in the process, all the well.
A allowed his chakra to flow into his left arm. It became coated in lightning so fierce that it made the room glow white.
Furthermore, it would lead them to believe A compliant. It was annoying to think these lessers thought they could never be on the same level but acceptable to further their goals. Besides, letting them go on was free PR for his enemies.
A could not let such stand.
A marched toward the platform outside the Kage box. He had no need for hand signs or any significant build-up. Such was beneath a man of his caliber. A would use a mere fraction of his power with only one hand and smash through this barrier and the jinchuriki inside. He would excused.
After all…
He was only trying to help…
A flicked his wrist, unleashing a massive storm of lightning that outshined even Gaara's.
Narrator
Civilians wildly slammed into the equally panicked samurai. Only the veteran shinobi among them held together the fragile morale. Even then, it barely managed to keep the crowd from stampeding. Even those among the audience who kept their cool flinched at the massive display of power being shown both within and outside the dome.
Anbu hastily formed their own barrier ninjutsu in case of significant splashback. But even some among them were stunned by the display before them.
The Chunin hopefuls watched in shock at the events before them. Some cheered at the chaos, others prayed for Naruto, and others even prayed for Gaara. Sasuke, the proud man, felt inferior watching the battle below. The two could even match his speed with raw speed!
Even Shikaku and Kurama watched from within their host. Both are interested in what will happen that day.
Each powerful attack collided with the barrier at the same time as expected. Unexpectedly, however, they were all into it. The dome glowed with latent energy, heating the air around it and evaporating whatever water was present. It looked as if, for the moment, the Kage's gambit had paid off. The dome did flicker, but it returned with the same glow.
The attempt had failed.
Even the Kage looked on in shock.