XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto's POV (Southern Swamps of Irminsul - Terra)
'Just my luck, a Genjutsu and Taijutsu specialist are jumping me. I'm still lousy at Genjutsu, and knowing Yuno, removing it wouldn't be easy anyway. Worse yet, they're both so damn fast; they are on an entirely different level than I saw at the exams. Gonna have to take them seriously.' Naruto's eyes seemed to shine as he suddenly stomped out with his feet, the impact of his fall-shattering bark as he managed to stand on the trunk horizontally.
Naruto did not think, it would be a waste here. Instead, trusting some sort of inner instinct, he lashed out blindly with his fist, smiling as he heard Kiba's pained grunt. He raised his arms into a guard stance as Yuno suddenly appeared, a diving double kick from her drove Naruto into the swamp water below. Both disappeared as they chuckled at such a thing.
However, Naruto merely waited patiently under the murky water's surface. He had hoped for this to happened. To create some space, preferably with water. It would surely allow him too… THERE! Two separate random ripples of water had formed. It must be them!
Naruto activated his trap as they landed. Suddenly, two chains of Naruto burst from the muddy depths, both links ended in a crowd of Naruto's blindly reaching out in all directions. The odd human chains blinded grabbed at the ripples, a shocked gasp from both ripples made it clear his plan had worked. Another ten surrounded the submerged Blonde, and all of them called out with defiance. "KAI!"
Naruto blinked and smiled as he saw his clones now grappling both Kiba and Yuno. He was free from the Genjutsu! He then grabbed the bottom-most clones of the chains from underwater and, with a grunt of effort, lifted both with a hand each and shook both chains as hard as he could. This resulted in the chains of blond writhing through the air, the momentum flowing through the chain of Naruto's sending each up and then violently down. Slamming both Kiba and Yuno deep into the water below. Naruto smirked as he kicked himself up to breach the water, landing on it with focused eyes.
The two of them breached gasping for air. However, Naruto appeared before Kiba first and smacked him back into the water with a double handed smash. Naruto then drew Riptide and deflected a desperate knife lunge from Yuno, the force of his deflect sending her sprawling onto the surface of the water partially sinking and struggling to her feet, before she could however Naruto stepped over her and thrust Riptide at her.
Naruto stopped shy of plunging his blade into her throat. Both were frozen as they stared into each other's eyes. While Naruto tried to find any awareness in her, Yuno's mind whirled from within. Seemingly being awoken from the similar situation she found herself in.
Yuno's POV
Yuno stopped inwardly screaming as her body froze, finally stopping its attack on her own friend. Yuno also froze inwardly, the scene before her taking her back to a vivid memory of hers.
But instead of Naruto with a blade to her throat, it had been Sasuke. Shortly after the failed coup of their Clan, the two of them were introduced. Before, they had been distant cousins and a large and varied family; now, they were two of the last remaining loyal Uchiha. The two of them would represent the newest generation of Uchiha and decide how the clan would be perceived in the future. It only made sense for them to be friends in her mind.
So Yuno, stubborn and determined as ever, decided to befriend the equally stubborn and likely newly traumatized Sasuke. Yuno missed their clan but hadn't been all that close to them. She was only half Uchiha and as such they were not even within the main grounds. So her mother and her had never truly minded. Sasuke however had seemed broken from the ordeal. But the male Uchiha had proven steadfast and focused on his goal, so much so that he seemed somewhat unhappy about it. Yuno often worried he would never be, and she was determined to break through to him both for him and herself.
The only method that was successful for her was training with him. It cooled Sasuke's temper and earned his respect, two things necessary to becoming close to him. Though often, their spars ended the same way.
Sasuke was often described as a once-in-a-lifetime genius, one that nearly rivaled his older brother. Yuno was skilled in her own right but not nearly on the same level. Nor did she intend to other be a prodigy. As such, often, Yuno ended their spars at the end of a practice blade from Sasuke, a position Naruto now held. It was odd that Naruto reminded her of him, but all the same the vivid reminder of who she was punched through her cloudy, smoke-filled mind.
Yuno gasped as she realized she was free. However, a vile feeling slowly encompassed her. They were regaining control! She needed to punch through it somehow and quickly! If only she could reprogram herself…
"NARUTO!" Yuno cried desperately. "A MIRROR OR SOMETHING NOW!"
Naruto certainly did not understand, but he quickly removed and held out his headband. Freshly polished as usual, it reflected the light from the sun. Allowing Yuno to see her own reflection, Sharingan's spinning wildly and looking scared.
Yuno offered no thanks, merely glaring her Sharingan eyes into the reflection as she activated a Sharingan Genjutsu on herself. Her chakra flooded into her system and combated itself. Yuno felt pain from all over; it was blinding. She was certain she was screaming but couldn't hear or even think.
The darkness that weighed on her body and mind was quickly fading. It seemed her ploy worked, and she had freed herself… she was tired…
She needed to help Naruto with Kiba as well… but first, she'd get some sleep…
Naruto's POV
Naruto watched, utterly perplexed, as Yuno slumped over. Seemingly unconscious, he caught her and stared befuddled at the unconscious woman. 'Alright, that happened… convenient, but not sure why or how. Need to wrap this up quickly, see what I can do for her…' Before Naruto could ponder it, he heard a splash, and a roaring Kiba breached the water and shook access water from himself as he stood on the surface. 'Well, still got him to worry about.' Naruto thought grimly as he summoned a clone to carry Yuno off to a more giant branch nearby and turned to face Kiba.
"One down, one to go," Naruto called with a smile. Trusting this Kiba would still be as hot headed as he remembered his friend being.
"It's better this way anyway. I wanted something personal! Let's settle it! Let's see which of us are truly stronger!?" Kira ranted as he crouched low.
"I really don't care which of us is stronger," Naruto replied. "But I didn't come here merely to let you kick my ass. We're going home. Regardless of the new personality."
"Yes, to the master home, we shall. Besides, I'm tired of being second string; it's time to be the alpha I always have been." Kiba taunted as he and Naruto rushed in to begin their fight in earnest.