Naruto's POV (Contestant Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Naruto whistled with appreciation at the fight before him. It seemed even more so since Fuu was winning, anyway. It was too competitive of a match, to be sure. Naruto had taken a liking to the friendly lady and had never been that keen on Sasuke. He had to admit that the two had stolen the show so far. 'Shame I didn't get to fight either of them… I guess Gaara isn't the only threat.'
"Oh dear, I can't believe he will do this!" Hinata suddenly started with a gasp. "We have to get Kakashi to stop this!"
"Eh?" Shikamaru asked as he leaned against the railing beside her. "I agree it's a rough match, but it should be fine. Fuu has tanked everything Sasuke offers and doesn't seem like the killing type. Besides, Sasuke is a bit anti-social but not murderous."
"Sasuke isn't… normally," Hinata said with hesitation. "But I was there when he created that technique! Sensei banned it for use unless he's in a life-or-death situation. It's too powerful and destructive for a friendly battle."
"That bad, huh?" Naruto asked. "I still don't see the big deal. Fuu is crazy strong and is in control."
"It doesn't matter who wins!" Hinata replied angrily. "Someone may die!"
"I hate to say it, Hinata, but even if that is the case, it's technically within the rules of the exams." Shikamaru countered. "Besides, Kakashi is a living legend. If it was essential to interfere, he surely would."
"I suppose…" Hinata said nervously.
"Um," Naruto said. "Are you sure he even could?"
"What kind of question is that? He's a famous Jounin; of course, he can." Shikamaru replied.
"Well, look," Naruto replied bluntly. All three did so, and they were shocked by what they saw. What looked like a living, swirling storm of fire stood in the middle of the sandy portion of the field. Sasuke looked nothing like his usual self. Instead, his body was caked in flames, which raced off his body in flares. The sand around him was melting and forming into patches of glass. Fuu, who had tanked various fire jutsu, flames, and explosions alike, stood twenty feet away. Unlike the rest of the fight, Fuu seemed hesitant, unsure how to approach. A few pieces of shrubbery that had remained unburied around Sasuke seemed to wither before bursting into flames.
"I'm not sure anyone can touch him without being hurt." Naruto mused. "Though Kakashi does know some powerful water jutsu. Soooo… maybe?"
"What the fuck?!" Shikamaru said with a grimace. "This is no mere drag; no simple water technique will do anything. Do you know how hot something has to be to produce heat of that magnitude from that far away? It should be impossible to survive this technique even as a user! Yet alone maintain it!"
"It's something absurd. Something no one should attempt." Hinata explained. "Earnestly, I had little doubt my teammate would win. Not because of his power but because he will not lose until he achieves his goal. Even if it cost him his life." Hinata explained.
Naruto frowned at this before nodding respectfully at Sasuke. He was also prone to risk it all for his ideology. 'Nah, I must be going crazy; I am nothing like Sasuke Uchiha.'
Fuu / Kakashi's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Fuu stood a short distance away, eyeing the walking, fiery mast that Sasuke had become. She usually wouldn't bother with caution; most shinobi had been unable to hurt her in her career. Sasuke had managed more damage to her than anyone ever had. First, his lanterns had actually managed to pull her to a minor degree. Then his blade of fire hurt a lot. If not for Chomei healing her, Sasuke would have defeated her by now. But Fuu had been confident Sasuke had shown his best moves. And had nothing that could put her away. Now she thought the situation may be different; even from her distance, it was seriously hot! Fuu could only imagine how hot it would be up close. The guy didn't even look human anymore. Could he really survive in such a state?
Fuu's answer came when the walking infernal began its trek towards her. His gait was slow and focused as if it had taken an effort to move so slowly. As it walked, the flames that covered him seemed to be reacting. Suddenly, flaring or bursting from him. Each step led to the sand melting into glass and maintaining its molten form. The flames surrounding its head seemed to shrink before the glowing, twirling eyes of the Sharingan were present. "I try not to use this technique. In fact, Shisui told me never to do so unless it was a last resort. To me, my goal is worth risking my life. While immune to the flames and resistant to the heat, each second in this form is utter agony. This technique is a grim, masochistic pledge. To burn away all secrets, all conspiracy, all deceit. It's named after an old god who was worshiped. His very birth brought destruction. The technique is no different from its inspiration. Surrender now; I cannot guarantee you will survive the next sixty seconds if not. Someone as weak and naive as you cannot hope to better me. Not when you fight for nothing." Sasuke lectured, his voice raspy and pain-filled.
Fuu felt anger swell as a second and third set of wings sprouted from her back, and the Buji chakra's thin coat surrounding her thickened. She thought of the harsh and cold treatment of her homeland. The constant and unfair treatment. Everyone assumed she was either a monster or a tragedy. Fuu had spent her life being looked down on. Even though she was lucky to have Chomei, even though she was strong. Now, this guy was looking down on her for making the best of a bed situation? Even after doing her best and performing well, was she looked down upon? No, she was done with that.
"Fuu, this is unnecessary." Chomei chimed in, sounding concerned. "The heat alone would be a test of our healing factor. And I doubt the ability is simply a burn-based one. Another Lucky Instance or Bombardier Beetle Blast would be the best move."
'I'll bet this bastard hasn't lost much speed. So bombing him won't work. It wasn't only because he was confident we didn't know his location. It worked the first time. Lucky Instance won't win the match here unless I'm careful. I must force a close combat situation that Lucky Instance can pull in my favor.' Fuu thought. Her anger had always focused on her in ways she usually couldn't.
"I may not have some grand reason to be here," Fuu said sharply, frowning earnestly for the first time in the exams. "But that doesn't make me less; you have no idea what I've been through. Maybe you have some grand purpose." Fuu said as she lowered her stance. "But I don't need any specific reason to wanna kick your ass."
"You'll wish you took the out when I offered!" Sasuke roared as he suddenly flashed forward. There was a boom as he used the Ash Step in tandem with a burst of flames propelling him forward, flames flying from his body and coating the surroundings. Sasuke had become even faster with his body switch. Despite what all logic would say, and doubtless what the shinobi in the audience balked at, Fuu didn't flinch. Fueled by rageful spite, she raced forward, her speed slightly slower than Sasuke's. They both ran forward and, without preamble, slugged each other with their right hands. The boom of Sasuke's explosive punch burned and bruised Fuu's face, but she held her ground.
Meanwhile, Sasuke would've gone flying if not for multiple flares from his back that kept him standing. But the moment allowed a rage-filled Fuu to unleash a vicious body blow. The Iron Arena was filled with the hiss of chakra as Fuu's body cloak and Sasuke's flames met. Fuu attempted to grab the airborne Sasuke, braving the firestorm between the two. But she screamed in pain as it momentarily overwhelmed her. The brief moment allowed the Uchiha to spin in the air, flames jetting off to maneuver him and add momentum. This allowed Sasuke to spin through the air, unleashing a kick to the head that, as it impacted, cracked the ground below. Fuu went through it a second later. Sasuke stomped on the down Fuu an instant later, embedding her further on the ground. He raised both fiery palms to finish her off before suddenly Fuu reared up and, placing both feet on Sasuke, screamed as she launched him into the air. A storm of flames followed Sasuke as he flew into the air. The orange glow from the fire lit the arena around them as they did.
Fuu stumbled for a moment as Sasuke flew through the air. 'These damn flames, my whole body feels burnt. I can barely breathe… but I'm gonna prove my point!' She glanced at her tan skin, noticing it changing color as it was burnt even through her chakra cloak. 'He seems to able to take my hits now and even offer them back. He even got faster! No! It doesn't matter! I'm lucky, and I'm not worthless!' Fuu decided as she took off with a loud boom.
She smashed into the airborne Uchiha, gritting her teeth as she did. She unleashed several powerful jabs on his body, stunning him as the pain threatened to overwhelm her at any moment. Fuu growled as she grabbed Sasuke using nothing more than willpower. To her surprise, the flames around Sasuke's face parted, allowing the Uchiha to look her in the eye.
"I was wrong about you," Sasuke said simply as he glared at her. "But my will is still stronger than yours." He concluded as suddenly the flames intensified. Fuu cried out in pain at this but didn't let go. She lifted them higher, moving noticeably slower. "Smart decision to keep me in the air. Limits my options. Unfortunately, it's been 45 seconds, and I predicted you'd do this! Fire Style: Fallen Comet!" The flames around them suddenly surged into the two, making both screams in pain. Before much else could happen, the fire exploded, sending a fiery ball containing both careening to the ground.
X-X
Kakashi's POV
Kakashi and a litany of Anbu guards appeared below, forming a loose ring around the arena and soon-to-be crash site. Each signaled purposely as they cooperated and began a technique. "Collaboration Jutsu: Great Dome of Earth!" They roared in unison. The Courtyard was soon enclosed with a large dome with a hole at the top. This cut the audience off from seeing anything, but only for a short time.
The so-called comet flew through the hole and crashed into the arena with a massive boom. The thick dome of earth surrounding the arena cracked and collapsed from the force of the blast, showing a wrecked field covered in flames and smoke. Kakashi walked forward as the Anbu stayed back to protect the stands from any more backfire. As he did, he observed the burning and leveled Courtyard. The forest was gone, trees uprooted and fragmented, strewn around the space chaotically and slowly burning to ash. The top layer of the sand portion had ultimately become charred and molten glass. The entire stone section was charred and covered in ash. The river in the center was noticeably lowered, a good portion of it seemingly having evaporated.
Most of the smoke originated at the center of the arena, the site of ground zero. As the smoke cleared, Kakashi approached, waving away smoke and floating ashes as he did. The smoke fully dissipated, revealing quite the scene.
Sasuke was kneeling, covered in burns, bruises, and blood. His hand was buried in the ground upon first inspection. But with further scrutiny, Kakashi realized he was holding something. Fuu had been driven headfirst into the ground for the clash; the upper half of her was partially buried. Kakashi prepared to race in to check on the surely dead girl before she jerked. With a janky pull of her legs, she ripped herself free from the weak grasp of Sasuke and the hold of the earth. She stumbled as she stood, looking confused and shell-shocked. Fuu glanced at the stunned Sasuke, who hadn't moved and looked utterly perplexed she was even standing. Kakashi winced as he eyed her. Similar to Sasuke, she was bruised and bloodied from head to toe. But unlike the Uchiha, who was only burnt in patches, she seemed even coated in blistered and pink burns. Even for a jinchuriki, it was a wonder she was standing.
"U-used… Lucky Instance… it…" Fuu said in between pants. "Saved my life…" As the woman said this, she fell backward, completely splayed out and spent. "Guess I'm lucky. You win this one, emo." Fuu concluded with a chuckle.
"H-how the hell… are you laughing?" Sasuke asked, struggling to breathe while he questioned his foe.
"I- had fun," Fuu replied with a chuckle. "Plus, I might not have won, but I kicked ass. A win in my book. Good fight!"
Sasuke was stunned by this before he, too, laughed. "Fuu of the Waterfall, I won't be forgetting you anytime soon. Y-your right, it was… fun." He decided as he painfully stood up. Kakashi offered a hand, but it was shrugged off. Sasuke marched over to the down Fuu and offered his hand. Fuu snorted at this but took it all the same. Sasuke helped her sit up and shook her hand with a nod. "Thank you." Fuu seemed confused by this but had no chance to question it as he marched forward and weaved hand signs. Kakashi watched with curiosity as he spat a fireball into the air, silencing the crowd and getting everyone's attention.
'Using a jutsu while that battered and exhausted? Is this guy even human?' Kakashi wondered. He knew better than most the cost of pushing yourself like this. The pain must've been unbearable.
"MY NAME IS SASUKE UCHIHA! I WILL BE THE VICTOR OF THESE EXAMS AND DEDICATE SUCH TO MY CLAN. I AM THE ASHES OF THE UCHIHA CLAN! WE WILL RECLAIM OUR FORMER GLORY!" Sasuke roared; his beaten and charred state made it only more compelling. Unlike the first time, the crowd applauded, and Sasuke smirked at it openly. Before, it had been held back somewhat due to his association with his defamed clan. But after such a show-stopper, the crowd seemed fully won over. Roaring in approval of the performance. Sasuke faced the Kage Box and acknowledged them with a mocking bow. With this done, he offered a nod to Fuu and Kakashi before he marched off the field.
'Looks like the crowd has found their favorite. Unsurprisingly, those two have no business being in these exams. And Sasuke somehow managed to beat a jinchuriki. The scariest part,' Kakashi's eye wandered over to Gaara, who still sat on the roof of the competitor's section. 'is that my gut is saying he's the worst one here. Gaara of the Sand is no mere Genin. Be careful, Naruto, this is the most dangerous exam I've ever seen.'
"Hmm," Kakashi thought as he gazed around the destroyed Courtyard. Freeing his mind to focus on his duties as the proctor. With a shrug, he stomped his foot, raising the earth beneath him to rise above the chaos that had become the Courtyard and get the crowd's attention.
"Well, that was quite the match. That will conclude the first day of the exams." His voice was amplified with chakra as he spoke. "We will take the rest of the day to repair the stadium for obvious reasons. Allow medical staff to ensure the victors are ready for tomorrow and celebrate victory or heal from defeat. In the capital of the great Land of Iron, we will hold a fare, a mere meager journey from here in mere hours. The Land of Iron will graciously hold this fare, with food, games, and drink aplenty. We encourage you to return tomorrow to continue the exams and wish you enjoy the fare and future matches. Before we go through ~!" Kakashi finished by pointing to the screen above the Kage Box. On it scrolled were the names of the six competitors who were randomly paired. It continued to flash possibilities before it settled on the configuration of the next day.
"Seems we have quite the matches to look forward to ~!" Kakashi cheered as everyone took in the following matches:
First Match
Hinata Hyuga VS Gaara of the Sand
Second Match
Sasuke Uchiha VS Shikamaru Nara
Third Match
Naruto Uzumaki VS Samui of the Cloud