((This story is pure fan-fiction. The characters and locations are the sole property of Shonen Jump and the series's creator, Masashi Kishimoto. Nor do I own any rights to Flame of Recca, published by Viz media and created by Nobuyuki Anzai nor Hercules: The Legendary Journeys which was produced by Sam Raimi and created by Christian Williams. At no time is this fiction an intent to infringe upon their rights nor properties.))

A slight breeze flowed over the training ground as Naruto stretched slowly to loosen up his muscles. Mentally he knew this wasn't going to be an easy fight. Emotionally, however; he was excited for the same reason. While the spars had gotten intense and heated, it had no comparison to true battle and he knew it. Spars and training have rules and restrictions. Battle doesn't. This will be a true test of how well I have learned...And its a chance to let myself loose. he thought as he awaited the arrival of the Hokage, the judges, and lastly his opponent.

"Remember brother...he's not unskilled. He has experience using the skills you have only just recently been learning and practicing. That is his edge, experience. Do not take him lightly."Kurama said from within Naruto's mind cautiously. Like his host, he was eager for the battle to come. They had already discussed whether or not to use his more potent Chakra and the Bijuu agreed with the decision of it being a last resort. Kurama settled back against a tree and closed his eyes, allowing his senses to merge with Naruto's. Allowing him to experience the fight from a first person perspective. A slow vulpine smile formed as he saw the approaching figures. "They arrive, brother. Your mother, Leader, and those who will judge your efforts."

"I see them, brother. My thanks." Naruto replied mentally as he straightened from his stretches and gave a small bow of welcome. His head turned slightly towards the treeline and he chuckled, "Word passed quickly it seems. The trees are full of spectators." he said calmly yet loud enough to be heard.

Kushina smirked and nodded, "Indeed." she walked to her son and looked him over carefully. "Sealed away your armor? Why would you?" she asked curious to his mindset.

"He challenged my skill and power, saying it was because of my armor and shield. I will show him that true power comes from the warrior. I know he will use shuriken and kunai, so I keep my sword." Naruto answered honestly as he adjusted the bracers on his forearms. He looked over to the small group that had openly gathered. "Who are they?"

Glancing over her shoulder as she calmly reached up and removed the clasp of his chiton. "Jiraiya you know. Tsunade is here for obvious reasons. She will referee. The others are your evaluators. Kakashi you recognize. With him is Shikaku, head of the Nara Clan and the Hokage's Chief Strategist. Inoichi, head of the Yamanaka Clan as well as the Torture and Interrogation Department. The one in green is Maito Gai. He is the village's taijutsu master specialist. They are all Elite Jouunin and those four are to watch and judge how you handle this. They will report their findings to the Hokage. We will be present as well when they do." she said as she folded the long crimson cloak.

Standing by Tsunade, Jiraiya whistled softly. He caught the questioning look from his "Hime" and he answered quietly, though he noted every judge was listening intently. "The Chiton he wears. He is declaring his status openly. The red shows he is of Sparta. The white design at the neck, sleeve cuff and waist hem denotes his status as a free Greek. If it was gold, he'd be a noble. Gold with a purple center denotes royalty. The fact the design is like waves and not a box or square design means the family he represents is one that deals not only in war like all Spartans, but it is also a seafaring family. Appropriate too since where his mother comes from. " he mused with a new chuckle as Tsume arrived and joined them with Hana in tow. He quirked an eyebrow, "No nin-ken?"

Tsume shook her head. "No...Naruto has earned the respect our companions. They would charge in before we could stop them. Even Kuromaru." she explained as she chuckled, "Damn if the boy doesn't look even better than before. You better mark him soon, Hana. If you don't I may make a try for him."

"Kaa-san!" Hana blushed beet red before she snarled at her own mother, "Don't even joke, Kaa-san. It's not funny." she said lowly as she rubbed her arms, "I've already had to beat up more than a few other Inuzuka Kunoichi over him." she muttered fiercely as her eyes locked on her boyfriend.

There were more than a few gasps and cheers as Naruto removed his chiton and handed it over to his mother, revealing the thickly muscled chest, the six-going-on-eight-pack abs and obliques. He still wore the shinobi pants that seemed more like tights as it molded to his muscles. His feet were shod in the usual Shinobi sandals and his greaves protected his shins. He reached up with both hands and brushed back his long golden hair and gave it a shake. He smirked as a few squeals could be heard. He chuckled as his mother muttered something about "showoffs" and "fangirls." All pretense of amusement disappeared the moment the Uchiha arrived and Naruto cracked his knuckles and walked forward. Following the advice of his teachers, He set his face into one of inexpression and his gaze hardened.

Sasuke strode forward with the swagger of a conqueror and he had this whole thing in the bag. He smirked and ate up the acclaim he was showered with and he lifted his hands out and spun in a slow circle before making his way to the center. His eyes narrowed as he took in the blonde's build and he adjusted his strategy. All muscle, no brains...this is going to be easy. He doesn't stand a chance against the might of an Uchiha...

Tsunade strode forward until she stood between the two and her eyes moved left to right slowly. Noting the tension and intensity of Naruto's face and fists then comparing to the arrogant smirk on Sasuke who had taken up what many would call the sloppiest stance they had ever seen. If I didn't know the boy trained incessantly in between missions I'd swear he was that stupid. she thought as she put her left hand in between them with fingers extended. "No killing. That's the only rule of this." she dropped her hand saying "Hajime!" and with it echoing in the stillness she leapt back.

Naruto didn't move other than to ever so slowly bring his left hand up to its position between top of the sternum and adam's apple, the fingers curling into a tight fist. His right hand partially extended with fingers spreading in a grasping motion. Naruto bent slightly at the knees and slowly spread his feet just under shoulder width apart. His expression was one of disinterest belied by the way his eyes hardened even more and were in constant motion.

Sasuke's smirk grew as he began a circular stepping as he mocked, "What kind of stance do you call that? This is too easy." he said as he jumped back, launching a few shuriken. Laughing as they hit. His laugh ended abruptly when the figure evaporated with a poofing sound as the sudden vacuum was filled. "What the hell?" he said, turning quickly and drawing a kunai simultaneously as a boulder transformed into Naruto. He stabbed and slashed, his temper increasing as the blonde nimbly dodged his attacks. "Fight me you coward! Or are you just going to dodge all day?" Then he reversed his grip and brought the tip down in a stabbing motion as Naruto slid into a low crouch for a leg sweep. He grunted when his attack was stopped and the Uchiha struggled in fighting against the iron grip the blond had on his wrist as well as bearing down on him.

That's when Naruto looked at him and smirked before disappearing.

Completely off balance, Sasuke fell forward and his arms came up to protect his eyes as he hit the ground. His humiliation grew as did his rage when he heard Naruto's voice.

"Wasn't it going to be me eating dirt?" Naruto taunted as he appeared,walking in from the smoke created by the second Shadow Clone. Then his expression returned to that one of inexpression and he assumed the same ready stance the first clone had adopted earlier.

Kakashi leaned towards Gai whispering as the green clad taijutsu expert begun writing furiously on a notepad. "What is it Gai?"

Thick eyebrows rose almost to the edge of the black bowl cut as he fought his natural impulse to yell, "I'm taking notes on his fighting style. I have never seen such a stance in my life. I look forward to seeing what he does as his fires of youth are inspiring!" he said, volume starting to rise.

Kakashi sighed and shook his head, "You never change old friend. But wouldn't it be better if he actually did something first?" his attention back on the fight, he thought privately, Okay Naruto...play time is over. I know why you're holding back, but finish it already.

Shikaku watched with his hands folded behind his head, a bored expression on his face. "THe Uchiha has lost already. Worse part...he doesn't even know it. Completely troublesome."

Inoichi hadn't taken his eyes off as the event began and he muttered, "You got that right. The blonde has the attitude and mannerism of a seasoned veteran. Sasuke is toast."

Sasuke got to his feet and stared at his opponent with rage filled eyes. "That's it...laugh it up. You're nothing but a loser with nothing to you but jokes and cowardly attacks. Face me head on like a man." he taunted as he adopted the Uchiha Clan's taijutsu style and he activated his Sharingan. "I'm going to beat you so badly, you'll wish you had never come to Konoha." he said as he rushed in a fist cocked back.

Naruto didn't reply to the taunt as his right came out and slapped the incoming wrist hard, deflecting the blow to his left and then his fist slammed into Sasuke's stomach with the power of a sledgehammer. From there, he began the lesson. Left uppercut, right hook, left hook his fists flew in successfully keeping the Uchiha off balance and unable to retaliate. Inside punches to the ribs, stomach, and liver landed with hard sounds. A leg sweep knocked the Uchiha off his footing and with a hopping step as he came out of the sweep he came down hard, planting an elbow right to the sternum of the arrogant gnat that challenged him. Staring down at the boy, he grunted and backed away as Tsunade rushed forward.

Jiraiya was watching intently, a smile growing on his face matched only by the proud one worn by Kushina as they then shared a look. He's gonna go far...they thought in unison before their attention snapped back to the fight.

Tsunade looked down and jumped back as there was a split log in the partial crater formed by the last blow.

Momentarily confused, his mind kicked into gear as Sasuke appeared above him with a kunai drawn and he angled his body to bring it down towards his head. Naruto spun and partially evaded the blade and he back flipped a few times and brought his hand up to his cheek where he felt wetness. Pulling back his hand, he saw his blood. His tongue came out and he licked the side of his mouth and tasted copper. His head cracked once to the left and then the right as his inexpression broke and a dark smile grew on his face. Still not saying a word, he altered his stance in terms of blading his body and adjusting his footing.

Sasuke saw the change and smirked, "First blood is mine,fool! Now I take the win!" he said as he charged in, throwing shuriken to strike if he dodged in any way. He didn't blink as he saw his opponent stayed immobile as he drew close, thusly avoiding the shuriken altogether and he diverted his charge suddenly as he was assaulted by an intense and nearly palpable KI.

Naruto looked at him and laughed. It wasn't a friendly nor jovial sort of laugh. It was a dark laughter that comes when someone finds themselves facing an opponent they consider beneath them. It mocked and taunted and humiliated all at the same time. "Win? Win?! Fool, this is battle, not some spar!" Naruto knew the wounds were already healed as the sting of the cuts had quickly abated. Launching forward, he sent a twisting front kick into Sasuke's sternum that impacted with a loud sound and sent the black haired boy into a backwards head over heels tumble.

The impact was like he had been hit by a building and Sasuke gasped and clutched his chest in pain. He fought to regain his breathing and he shakily got to his feet. His hands came up and he quickly went through hand seals before crying out, "Katon:Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" right before a huge fireball, the size of a house, flew towards the mocking blonde.

He grinned as he applied Chakra to his leg muscles as well as his feet. Using an explosive surge at the last possible moment to propel him well over the fireball that impacted the ground where he had been standing. Twisting in midair, he saw Sasuke was too focused on the jutsu to see he had evaded the technique, he rotated fully as he came down behind the Uchiha and as he fell, his hand grabbed the collar of Sasuke's jacket and his sandaled foot acted as a stabilizer when he used his body weight to jerk Sasuke off his feet and onto his back. Upon impacting the ground, Naruto continued the roll and flung the arrogant ass well, on his ass. He rolled onto an all fours position and took off at a rising run, the applied Chakra making him even faster.

Kushina smirked to herself as she saw her son flip the Uchiha over and over using a basic flip throw technique that was common to the Academy style as well as his own beloved Pankration. But she had to focus when he took off from the roll. He's easily High Chuunin level fast with just a touch of Chakra to his legs. A glance to the judges and she smirked as she watched Gai scribbling furiously while the others were turning their heads in time with the action.

Rushing forward before any other jutsu could be utilized, Naruto pounded on Sasuke with a vicious efficiency, adding basic moves and some intermediate Academy actions just to keep him guessing. Apparently it was working because bit by bit, he getting past the other's guard more and more often. His knack for unpredictability was confusing the predicting ability of the Sharingan.

Kakashi turned to Shikaku and whispered, "Is he really doing what I think he is doing?"

The Nara glanced over and replied, "If you mean moving faster than Sasuke's current Sharingan can translate as well as his reflexes can accommodate, then the answer is...yes."

Knowing nothing of what the judges were saying, Naruto kept up the pressure until Sasuke managed to break away and get some distance. He came to a halt and said simply, "This is over. Yield now before you get seriously injured." He pointed to Tsunade and added, "You are outclassed and overpowered. Don't make this worse than it already is."

Sasuke was panting now, his body aching in so many places it was unreal. His red with two tomoe eyes spun rapidly with his anger as he saw his opponent was barely scathed if at all and breathing evenly. "What the hell are you? We've been going at it for almost ten minutes and you aren't even winded."

Naruto shook his head, "Correction: I've been beating on you for almost ten minutes. And I had worse training with Hana-chan. Without her nin-ken included." he replied as he kept his guard up despite them holding a mild discourse in the middle of combat. "This is the only chance I am giving you. From this point on, I go all out. Yield now." Naruto said in a serious tone as he shifted his stance lower, implementing his combined taijutsu form. "And for the record...I'm a Spartan!"

Sasuke glanced over at the watching group and spoke loudly and with his usual arrogance, "The Inuzuka? When this is over, I'm going to make her my bitch and rebuild my clan. I'll kill her dogs and then maybe I'll let you have her back once I get her to have a few of my children..." he grinned darkly after making that promise.

Kakashi hissed and palmed his face as he heard that, giving the masked head a shake, You idiot...you just signed and sealed your death. He glanced over and saw the furious expression on Hana's face as well as the incredulous look Gai was sending. Though Gai is prone to recklessness, even he doesn't make stupid threats.

Hana had to be restrained by her mother and Jiraiya together as she snarled and lunged with her hands curled, the nails elongated into thicker claws. Trying harder to get free, she didn't hear her mother's calming words as she struggled. Then she went suddenly limp and hit the ground hard as a massive Killing Intent began to flood the clearing, filled with such anger and negative emotion it made even those Jouunin present gulp nervously.

Everything went quiet, even the crowds in the trees as Naruto lowered his head and dropped his guarded stance. He breathed slowly and deeply as he radiated the Killing Intent. He never saw Sasuke take a few steps back due to his loose hair falling over his eyes. Nor did he see how everyone else in the clearing tensed, even Tsunade. He even ignored Kurama, as his brother tried to stem the flow of demonic Chakra and get him to calm down. He felt his lips pull back and his canine grow longer until the tips just passed his lower lip, his nails grew thick and dug into his palms through the tight tape. He lifted his head and saw everyone there gasp in shock and horror. Then he spoke, "You are truly pathetic, Uchiha Sasuke. To let your emotions overrule you. You will pay for your arrogance as well as threatening..." he charged forward with a burst of Chakra, "MY woman!"

Thinking he had finally managed to break through that apathetic expression, Sasuke smirked until his opponent spoke and he felt as though the Shinigami had placed a hand on his shoulder. He reacted instinctively and performed a basic side kick, swiveling his hips into it to give it more power. He felt his shin and foot make contact and winced since it felt like he had tried to kick a steel post. Then suddenly, he couldn't move his leg. He glanced down and saw that his leg was now trapped in the crook of the blonde's left arm. His eyes rose and he felt that coldness in his soul yet again as piercing blue eyes with vertical slits bored into his gaze without flinching.

Naruto held his prey's eyes even as his right fist slammed up and into the inside of the knee with a loud snapping sound. Then using a pankration take down, he shifted forward, grabbed a firm grip on the Uchiha's top( at the back), he then hefted the boy in close before lifting him off the ground and performing a spinning side slam that made the black haired boy's right shoulder and head impact the ground with authority. Releasing his captive just before impact, he forward rolled and straddled his downed opponent's chest, pinning his shoulders to the ground with his weight as he began a severe ground and pound, his taped fists meeting the jaw and head with stunning strength and speed as he spoke.

"YOU"

punch- a crack as the nose was broken and blood flowed over Sasuke's lips.

"WILL"

punch- the jaw slanted as the left hinge joint was dislocated.

"NEVER"

punch- a cracking sound echoed as the right jaw hinge was broken.

"TOUCH"

punch- the left eye was bleeding even as it began to swell shut.

"HER!"

punch- a sickening crunch as the right temple was impacted.

His right hand pulled back high as he extended his fingers and angled it, his intention clear as chakra formed in a sky blue color before it flared brightly around his forearm, hand, and fingers. His arm surged forward his eyes darkened with bloodlust and a savage glee over destroying an enemy.

Hana watched in awe and felt her body burning up with every punch and crack of bone. She was pretty tame and calm when compared to her fellow Inuzuka Kunoichi. However, now...now she felt her heat rising in her loins and heart as she watched Naruto pound the Uchiha into the ground. Her Clan's feralness coming to the fore as she wanted nothing more than to have the blonde claim her and take her someplace private. To feel his sweaty skin against hers as he asserted his alpha standing and took her over and over again.

Tsume herself, felt her own heat rising as she tried not to cheer on the display of brute strength and complete physical dominance. She looked down and saw her daughter's expression. Oh yeah...grandpups here we come! I wonder if Hana would share?

Tsunade's eyes had narrowed as he pounded on the Uchiha's unprotected head so viciously but as his arm pulled back, she raced forward. She managed to loop her own arm under his and she jerked forward hard as she dropped to a knee to negate the power and she winced as she felt the power Naruto had collected. Kami...he is strong! And fast! And where the hell did he learn to concentrate Chakra like that? That looked like the Chakra no Mesu Jutsu! Now struggling to hold her position, she spoke quickly and with as much authority as she could muster, "Naruto! Enough! It's over!"

Everyone watched in utter silence as the Killing Intent faded bit by bit and Naruto seemingly relaxed. Once he was released by the Hokage, he slowly stood up, turning to offer a hand to the blonde woman. He helped her to her feet without a show of strain and looked over the judges and visible spectators. Then he looked down at the thoroughly beaten adversary and with a backwards scuff-step of his sandals, he marked the downed body with dirt. Much like a dog would when leaving a neutralized threat. A move that smacked of humiliation for the loser and superiority for the victor. Striding forward with what could only be described as a predatory swagger, he approached Hana and stared at her silently as she scrambled back to her feet. Once she was standing, his slitted eyes travelled over her body, noting from the flushed cheeks and dilated eyes to her heavy breathing, almost a pant, to how her thighs rubbed together unconsciously. A glance to Tsume showed her having a similar, if muted, reaction. He lifted an eyebrow and spoke calmly, yet with a primal undertone that sent shivers of anticipation down the spines of the Inuzukas yet fear down the others, "I will come to the Compound tomorrow. Fight me with everything you have Inuzuka Hana...otherwise I will not claim you once I defeat you." he turned and walked away before either could respond.

Tsume was initially left speechless at the bold demand, but before she could find her voice, she saw her daughter straighten and meet his gaze. She knew Hana wouldn't disappoint. Not now. He had nearly killed that whelp and showed neither regret nor remorse over his actions. She watched as he walked away and saw Tsunade stabilizing the Uchiha as Medics appeared and prepared a stretcher. Turning, she nodded to Kushina as the redhead approached, "While I kinda understand...I don't." the Matriarch said.

Still holding the folded crimson chiton her son had been wearing, she replied in an off handed tone, "It's sort of a nod to our customs while also adhering to the Spartan way of claiming a woman. His forewarning you both, that is..." her tone and expression hardened slightly, "Spartans ambush the woman they want as wife then physically subdue her before tying her up and taking her to his mother for approval. From then on, if the mother approves, the pair are considered betrothed until such time as the male turns thirty."

Hana's eyes bulged, "You mean I have to wait thirteen years before he and I can..."

Kushina laughed softly and shook her head, "Technically it would fourteen years. But that is until you can be wed." then she blushed, "However, as betrothed, intercourse is not only allowed but encouraged..."

Whatever the response to that was going to be, it was never voiced as the Hokage arrived and spoke in a cold tone, "Kushina. You and Jiraiya. My Office. Now." her tone speaking volumes now. She wasn't asking. She was telling them.