The next chapter of Son of The Serpent. Naruto and the others continue to battle in The Pit unaware of Itachi's presence.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto and the others found themselves not participating, but watching this time around as they were seated in the stands and looking on as another fight at The Pit was about to happen.

Things thus far had been going well as they had won their matches they had been in so far. It was almost time for the big tournament that would be taking place. If they won it they could figure out what Akatsuki is planning here.

"This place sickens me," Neji muttered his arms across his chest. "Most of them here aren't warriors, just street thugs and brawlers who would choke the other to death." He said disdainfully as he looked on. "And the fact that people would actually cheer them on."

Naruto looked on as the next bout was about to begin. He watched on as someone was already there waiting for his opponent

This was the first time he got to see him in action so he could witness his moves and fighting style and he was intent on learning every strength he had and how to exploit his weakness.

Looking on he watched as a man stepped forward, someone who he had his eyes for quite some time.

Minoru walked forward through the entrance making his way through the arena his head covered up with the towel he wore over it outfitted in the Hakama he wore. He made his way not paying any attention to the crowd who cheered on, ignoring them his eyes staring a hole into his opponent as he reached the arena. Naruto looked on at him recalling the meeting the two had when they first met. He could tell that Minoru would be dangerous when they thought one another.

Minoru reached to the towel and yanked it off revealing his head that he had shaved with markings on his head representing lines and written Kanji as well. The back of his hair it was spiked and gelled as he stood there stone faced in front of his opponent.

The fight began and Minoru simply stood there his arms to his side his opponent cautiously looking on. The man stood there not moving an inch, he didn't even seem to notice his opponent getting into a stance ready to deliver a move.

A hard kick was delivered to his shoulder, and followed by another blow as his opponent took the opening to attack, unleashing kicks and blows against his shoulder which would crack through the bones and break the arm from the force of it.

Minoru made zero move to defend himself or block the attacks. His face was still the same as if he wasn't even noticing what was going on. Despite it his opponent still delivered blows to him.

If Minoru felt any pain he didn't show it, in fact, it appeared as though he was enjoying the attempts as he stood there taking blow after blow

"What's he doing?" Tayuya muttered as they looked on at what was going on.

"He's just daring him to hit him as many times as he wants. Yet, he's not taking any damage whatsoever, he just absorbing the shots and letting him waste energy and strength." Naruto noted watching on as very little of those blows were doing any real damage. Years of taking hits and attacks on your body would render you immune to feeling hits with the way your skin hardened from it. Minoru's body was like iron from all he had gone through. Just what kind of battles had he gone through to turn his body like that?

Minoru dared his opponent to kick him again and he did but Minoru blocked it bringing his hand up to catch and struck him with his other hand with a open palm slap right aside the ear making his head ring. Faster than most could see he delivered multiple open palm thrusts to the sides of his face smacking him around relentlessly.

He grabbed him from behind in a choke hold his arms around his throat putting him in a sleeper, slowly cutting off the oxygen to his lungs and his brain. His opponent flailed about trying to fight him off but to no avail as he got weaker with each passing second Shifting his hips he threw him over onto the floor and on top of him and pulled back adding more pressure. His opponent had a far off look in his eyes as his face was changing colors due to not getting any air and looked ready to pass out when Minoru broke the hold releasing his grip around his neck but he wasn't done as he grabbed his right arm and pulled it up setting himself to the side in a squatting position.

Minoru grasped the arm by the wrist and lifted his head and his eyes fell directly on Naruto who watched on at him Although he didn't say anything Naruto heard the message loud and clear.

This would be him if they fought…

Minoru grabbed the fingers prying them apart and snapped then with his hands breaking the digit's a psycho smile on his face as he did, and then leaned his full body backwards falling back and pulling back on the arm pulling it out of its socket as he broke the arm as though it was a twig the other screaming in agonizing pain who surrendered. The bell was rung stopping the match but he refused to let go as he continued adding pressure intent on tearing it right off. "C'mon he's beaten!" Naruto said as he looked on at the merciless display before him as Minoru wouldn't remove it.

Minoru finally let go of the hold and stood up in the ring as the crowd ate it up chanting his name in unison as he decimated another opponent. A smile was on his face as he stood over his foe and to add insult deliberately stepped on his broken arm as he walked past him.

Naruto grimaced as he looked on at the brutal display. Knowing that Minoru would be no easy task to defeat as he didn't learn anything just now. "He is extremely dangerous in close combat." Lee noted looking on. "A match for Sensei perhaps." He said a grim tone in his words and Naruto didn't disagree.

######

"He is there? Are you absolutely certain?" The holographic image said to the Sharingan wielder the two meeting in a private room.

"Correct, The Nine Tailed Vessel is here." Itachi Uchiha said to Pein The Akatsuki Leader who was communicating with him. Itachi was in The Land of Bears as well unknown to Naruto and the others. The S Class ninja mere feet away from his target.

"Typical brash boy, first sign and he rushes off into it headfirst without any planning." Pein said dismissively. "I thought his traitorous father and The Toad would've managed to taught him better than that." He said to Itachi who was by himself in the small room.

"The Kyuubi Jinchuurki has infiltrated The Pit along with several other Sound and Leaf Shinobi as well and have taken part in it. This could prove quite beneficial to us." Itachi mentioned to him as they were talking. Itachi had been sent here by him for his task.

"Indeed," Pein noted "Keep both eyes on him and stay in the shadows. He is likely not alone despite the group he is with now. I believe its time we run a test with The Clone." He mentioned referring to Raidou Asakura. "I'll have it sent there once its training is completed and face the boy at last."

"What if Naruto defeats him?" Itachi asked.

"Then after it is defeated by him, enter the battle and defeat and capture the Jinchuurki." Pein ordered

"I see, with the capture of him, perhaps we would not need all nine, with those we have captured we could easily-"

"No," Pein interrupted him. "Until we have obtained each and every single one of The Jinchuurki our plan will not move onto to its final phase." He told Itachi who looked a bit surprised.

"Counting those that we have got, that is more than enough to-"

"My decision is final." Pein told him. "There are those who have suggested using the ones we have obtained now and unleashing them but only if all nine are gathered in the same place will it work what I have in store. All opposition will be wiped out at once ensuring that no one dares to stand in Akatsuki's path afterwards once they witness what happens." He told Itachi. "Your task is important, he must not know you are there or he will attempt to flee. Once The Clone has finished his training I will send it there to battle him."

"As you wish." Itachi said respectfully bowing his head to him and The Leader of Akatsuki faded from sight. Knowing his task he left the room to see for himself just how strong Naruto Uzumaki had gotten.

#####

Speaking of Naruto he was with Tayuya the two practicing in hand to hand combat as they sparred with one another. Since Taijutsu was never her strong point due to relying on Genjutsu and her Doki, he was helping her out since it and Ninjutsu were not allowed in the fights. While she'd never be a Master of it, she knew enough in how to brawl as well as fight dirty when it called for it.

Naruto blocked her strikes her fists slamming into his open palms, the redhead attacking with ferocity as the two practiced. "Don't throw everything you got in one go, keep them guessing where the next one is coming from." Naruto said to her as he blocked the punches and jabs she threw at him. Tayuya grunted and cursed as she attacked him. She coming here had been put in a disadvantage as it was her weakest area as she relied on Genjutsu and Long Range attacks to fight opponents. She threw a kick at him which he avoided and Naruto dodged her punch aimed for his face as she was showing fire when she attacked.

Tayuya attacked him aiming at his chest when he backed up dodging her blows. Tayuya continued moving on as she was backing him up. She swung and Naruto leaned his head back avoiding it and she attacked again and he shifted out of the way putting him behind her.

His open hand came across her backside and Tayuya's face turned as red as her hair at what he did and Naruto snickered as she growled at his daring actions rushed him swinging her fist but Naruto was betting on her doing that and sidestepped and caught the arm and twisted it putting him behind her grasping her arm as he held it against her back

"Gotcha," Naruto said telling her to yield.

Tayuya only smirked and leaning back kissed Naruto on the cheek, this surprised the black haired boy and enabled her to trip him up onto the ground and she got on top of him seated on his chest.

"I win." Tayuya said with a smirk

"Ahem," A voice said and they saw Zaku standing in the doorway.

"If you two are done with your version of wrestling, apparently that Kyosuke bastard wants us all to meet. Apparently there's a meeting goin' on over whatever the hell it is we're fighting for." He told them and left.

The two got up and went to see what it was they had to see.

"You've done well so far," Kyosuke their sponsor told the two groups as he fanned himself. "Keep this up and the riches will start pouring in." He said with a greedy laugh envisioning the wealth he would obtain.

"Just what is it that we are fighting for?" Naruto asked him as they still didn't know what it was they were competing for. It was supposedly some priceless artifact but Akatsuki would not be here just for a piece of gold "So who is it that we've gotta bash their skulls in before you tell us?"

Kyosuke scoffed at him. "The tournament is starting soon, their having a preliminary fight and I expect you all to win it. Only the strongest are put in." He told them ignoring the question. Naruto frowned at him for dodging them and could tell the others were getting upset at well with the looks on their faces.

"Look sleazebag, why don't we go hang out here and count the piles of money, while you go get pummeled!" Tayuya told him and he glared at her.

"We're not doing anymore fighting for you until you tell us why Akatsuki is here and how they are involved with this." Naruto said as well

"I should've had you all shoulders broken!" He said in fury at them all. "All I know is, that there's a deal being made between someone of high power of a Ninja Village and those who run The Pit. They have kept it from being shut down from legal authorities, and in exchange The Pit operates and gives them men to use as soldiers for their Village."

"So it's their way of getting men, no doubt for an army as they only want the best fighters." Neji noted. "But that deal can't last long, most here with the exception of a few are not proper warriors."

"Well, whoever's in charge is wanting more men, and those who run The Pit are falling out of favor." Kyosuke told them. "They need them backing them in order to keep operating, or else The Pit would be shut down as they are the only thing that's keeping Daimyo and other Authorities from interfering and closing it down, "

"We'll fight and win this tournament that you want so much." Naruto spoke up to him. "And, we're taking the artifact that's going to be rewarded to the winners after we do." He told them and Kyosuke bristled in fury but had no chance to protest as the group walked out of the room.

"We should probably just abandon this and go home," Neji said voicing his opinion. "No doubt many here are viewing us as a threat as new faces often bring in unwanted attention in their eyes." He told the group.

"Can't leave just now." Naruto told him shaking his head. "We gotta figure out what's going on. They maybe supplying Akatsuki with new soldiers but we have no idea who comes for them or who scouts them or what it is they are truly after here. The note mentioned it was something they wanted that could possibly help them achieve domination."

"That creep back there though will likely sell us out first chance he gets." TenTen stated with a frown.

"The bastard won't do anything, he's a coward." Tayuya said to them. "A Coward like him never does anything out of fear of what could happen to them. And judging from what we heard he's not very well liked by his colleagues in this place either."

The group went on and soon came to a large room where multiple people and participant was at. The room was crowded and chattering was heard. Looking on, Naruto noticed that most wear ragged clothing and knew that many were either bought into slavery and forced to fight for their lives, or they had no other option it seemed like.

(Man when falling into pits of despair will do anything, no matter what to try and pull themselves up kid.) Kyuubi's voice was heard in his mind as he looked on. He saw those who were his age or even younger. Just how had life been for them that they would put themselves here? (Not everyone has the benefits of living in a prosperous country like you have.) Kyuubi's voice said again and Naruto looked on.

The group of six looked on at what was going on, Naruto spotted Minoru his head covered back up standing there with others. Several wealthy looking men were at the center of the room seated in chairs while everyone else was standing, Kyosuke they saw was amongst them and he slipped an envelope into a box with others and took his seat. They were the ones who controlled The Pit, having become vastly wealthy through they underhanded means as many of them were like The late Gato.

A small chest was brought forward into the room and placed before them all. A key was brought forward and put in the lock.

"So we beat these guys and we win whatever's in it? Sounds simple as hell." Tayuya muttered as they watched on as the key was carefully put in.

The group looked on as the chest was opened and they saw resting in it a jeweled ornament plated with silver. It was taken out of the chest and hoisted into the air for all to see. The prize gleamed as it shined catching the eyes of the onlookers and as it was shown to all who murmured as they looked on at it.

Neji silently activated his Byakugan to stare ahead at the prize, trying to decipher what it was. But when he looked at it, he felt something and the veins in his face disappeared as his eyes returned to normal. "Huh?" He said in confusion.

"What's wrong?" TenTen asked looking over at him.

"Nothing." He muttered and reactivated his Kekkai Genkai and did it again thinking he must've lost focus. But when he looked at it, the same thing that had occurred happened again to him as his Byakugan deactivated by itself. He wasn't able to use it as any attempt to do so it went off on its own.

"Neji?" Lee said in confusion.

"It's nothing important." Neji said ignoring the confused glances he was being given and turned away. Why was his Byakugan not working? He had done it earlier just fine, but now. Now it would not work as his Clan's special ability was not working right now. It confused him, and frightened him a bit that it was paralyzed and he was unable to do anything with it right now as this had never happen before to him.

"So that's what we going to be fighting for." Naruto said looking on at the jeweled ornament before them. Despite the way it looked, there seemed to be something about it that made it much more than it seemed. It wasn't just any ordinary piece of jewelry that was for certain.

#####

"It seems not a day goes by where we don't have a disagreement." Pein said annoyance in his voice as he communicated with The Swordsman who appeared before him in a hologram.

"You know as well as I that The Land is ripe for the picking," Muta Daidouji said as he was at a base communicating with him via his ring. Having been put there and ordered to spy on Mist which had been quiet as of late. Behind him was a man who looked on disgust at his attitude as he had a feverish devotion to The Leader of Akatsuki.

"Perhaps, but only when its ready to fall from the tree should it be taken. You yourself saw firsthand what had happened in The Fourth Shinobi War. The Jashinists were eliminated and you yourself had your body broken by The Kyuubi vessel. If not for me, your body would have been pecked clean by Vultures." He told him and Muta narrowed his eyes remembering what had happened at Sekigahara.

"I had him beaten, if not for his wench I would have had him dead for rights!" He claimed remembering his fight with Naruto. If not for that accursed girl distracting him for a second, Naruto would've died there.

"And yet you did not." Pein replied calmly.

"At Konoha itself I cut him down!"

"And yet he recovered and lived." Pein responded not impressed. "And is your victory true considering you struck him from behind when he was worn out and distracted instead of in open battle? A hollow victory it was." He told him reminding of his failures. "He is beyond you, you can never defeat him." He told him and Muta glared at him.

"If he is beyond me, than is he beyond a God like yourself as well?" He asked and Pein raised an eyebrow in amusement. Behind Muta the ninja glared furiously at his remarks. "You claim that you are a God, but if you truly was a being of divine origin like you claim, The Land would already be yours."

Muta shook his head. "Look around you, the ninja world is weak, heroes no longer exist anymore. These so called alliances that have been made have the density of glass, ready to break at the hint of force pressed against it. Our time to strike is now, instead of cowering on your throne believing that Fairy Tales will win battles for you we should launch an assault and take the land by might." Muta told him. "The Taira didn't wait for the land to be given to them on a platter, they took the land because they could and mounted the heads of their foes on the walls of their castles for those who opposed them to see. They had no Kekkai Genkai, no Vessels, not even Summoning contracts. Yet they took and won the land by sheer force because they could, Akatsuki must do the same."

"There are those who believe that sticking your hand into the lion's den will get it torn off." Pein told him.

"And there are those who believe that cautious is another word for cowardice." Muta responded and the man behind him snarled in fury and stomped forward

"You insolent bastard!" He yelled at him storming right behind him. "You will show proper respect to him and listen when he speaks to you and speak only when he grants you permission!" Those were his last words, as without even looking to gaze at him Muta backhanded him with a hard chakra enforced fist that snapped his neck killing him as he fell to the ground dead. Not even registering the corpse Pein looked on at him

"Does the word bastard hold some meaning to you?" Pein asked with feigned curiosity.

"A title given to those who had no choice or desire to hold it." Muta replied to him.

"Maybe so, but in end; Bastard, Daimyo, Clansmen, Commoner, Jinchuurki, it does not matter. Death is the one thing that each will experience." Pein told him. "And many shall witness death firsthand once all nine have been gathered if they choose to oppose and stand before me."

#####

"Sima Zun, just what is this?" Mitsunari Chono asked as he and others looked on in the courtyard of The Palace. The Strategist had called him The Princess and many others here to see just what he had set up.

"Something I've had been working on. Before I left Iwagakure my former home, I took blueprints and designs with me. This is one of the weapons I have decided to show you." He told them as they looked on at the weapon before them. It was similar to a Ballista in shape but multiple bolts were attached to it and there was a crank that would be turned.

"How it works is simple, just turn the crank. A child could operate it. Try it for yourself your majesty." He told The Princess who looked on at it skeptically.

"Weapons such as these aren't uncommon." Princess Koyuki told him. "The Land of Sky possessed them as well but they were noted for their inaccuracy and deemed unreliable." The Movie Star turned Ruler told him.

"Yes, but modifications have been made to them, increasing their accuracy and rate of fire, observe." Sima Zun noted and walking up turned the crank. As he did multiple arrows came out of The Ballista in a constant stream of fire. The firing continued on and they looked on as the setup targets were hit by them. He continued on turning the crank and letting loose with them, he paused and turned the weapon and continued firing.

After several minutes had passed he stopped as he had ran out of ammo. "I believe the demonstration is done here," He told them all and smiled as they looked on.

Koyuki looked on as the bolts and arrows had hit the setup targets, filling them up and hitting vital organs as well. Sima Zun smirked as many were stunned at the accuracy and devastation as all of the targets if they were alive would be dead now with the hits they had taken.

"With just one of these you could easily take out a squadron, five a platoon. Ten? An entire army." He told her and the rest in attendance. "With these, no sieging army could penetrate the walls without taking massive losses in return, and put them on the plains in clear view of the rushing enemy and it'll be total annihilation for anyone in their path." He told them all. "This is a game changer in battle your Highness,"

"You sound as though you are preparing for war." Mitsunari stated to him but even he had been impressed with what he had saw.

"Only for defense, I assure you I have no intentions of bringing War back upon Spring after what has happened over the years." Sima Zun told them all. "With times the way they are now, it'd be wise to see to it that The Land of Spring will be able to defend itself should something happen." He told them all but there were those who were unsure.

Princess Koyuki looked on at him wondering what his true purpose for this was.

#####

Sakura Haruno was on her lunch break after working at The Hospital and helping Shizune. She munched on her meal as she sat outside on a bench a peaceful look in her eyes as she looked around.

"There you are!" A voice said and she lifted her head up and saw a blonde in purple. "Been wondering if I'd be able to find you." Ino said as she walked over to her and sat on the bench.

"Ino, surprised you're back from your mission so early." Sakura said as she and her team had gone to Suna a few days ago to check up on Gaara's status and The Village's recovery from the attack.

"Yeah, a week of torture, I don't know how the heck they can live in such a place. I was tempted to cut off all my hair and shave my head bald since there was so much Sand." Ino said shuddering recalling being there and it being in her hair.

Sakura snickered as she figured she wouldn't like such a place. But Sunagakure had its own charm and beauty that it possessed she'd admit. "Is it true that you met your betrothed?" Ino asked suddenly.

"Yeah, I met him."

"So…"

"So?" Sakura repeated and Ino looked at her with distraught and reaching over flicked her on the forehead. "Hey!"

"So…c'mon give me the goods!" Ino chatted eagerly wanting to know every last juicy detail. "What's he like? Does he like you? What are his hobbies? Does he have a Brother? If he's not into you are blondes more his type?"

"Ino!" Sakura said and rolled her eyes at her best friends' behavior. "I just got to meet Kimimaro for the first real time the other day and get to know him." She told her.

"That's plenty of time for you to make an impression on him, unless you fall and landed on that billboard of a forehead of yours when you met him."

Sakura frowned at her teasing and let out a long sigh. "In a way; Kimimaro, he's kinda similar to Sasuke." She told her who listened in intently. "He's rather stoic and calm as its hard to get a good read on him. He's Orochimaru's bodyguard that I already knew about. He's rather handsome I'd admit now that I got the chance to be up close with him. But unlike Sasuke, his eyes show more."

"What do you mean?" Ino asked curiously.

"You've noticed how Sasuke's are now right? Cold and uncaring and mostly unfeeling it seems? Well Kimimaro's eyes show me more than Sasuke's do. I can see warmness in them and care, as well as pain as well I saw in them. But life is in them."

"Well what else is there about Kimimaro?" Ino asked her.

"He's quite skilled and knowledgeable, you wouldn't think him but he's quite intelligent plus he knows his way around horses as we rode on one together."

"Oh, just like something out of a romantic novel!" Ino said cupping her hands together to her cheek stars in her eyes at the description she had been given. Despite being older the romanticist fantasy girl was still in there. "Did he ride on it bare chest?" She asked hopefully

"Ino!" Sakura snapped at her. "Seriously you'll never change." She said shaking her head. "I don't know if this thing will work out as they might call it off this minute as far as I know."

"But what if you do get married to him?" Ino asked her.

Sakura let out a sigh, "Then I guess I'll just have to make the best of it, I still got a lot of my life before me as this is just so sudden." She mused and Ino comforted her friend with a hug which she appreciated. "If I do get married to Kimimaro, will they expect me to bare his children automatically? There's so much I want to do, do I want to have a family? Sure, but not now. I wanted to at least wait till I'm much older."

"You can tell them you don't want to do it you know." Ino said to her. "Godaime-sama will understand I'm sure and Kimimaro from what you said won't force you to marry him the way he sounds." She told her assuringly. "But if you do get married I'm the bridesmaid you hear?" She said and the two burst out giggling and laughing lightening the mood between them.

"Thanks, I needed that." Sakura told her.

"I'll see you later Sakura." Ino told her and got up and left. As she left, she began to sing a song to herself.

Although she was singing under her breath Sakura caught what the words were to it.

"Here comes the bride, all fat and wide."

"I'm gonna kill you Pig!" Sakura shouted lunging at Ino planning on ripping her head off.

"EEEKKK!"

#####

Rock Lee wiped sweat off of his brow as he was done working out. The Taijutsu specialist looked on as he put his gear away.

"Mmm, I could use a snack right now." He said as his stomach growled. "But nothing too heavy, I don't want it to disturb my flow of youthful energy!" He said with a smile as he prepared to go get a bite to eat.

As he walked on he suddenly saw people standing before him blocking him from going on.

"Excuse me, I'd like to pass." He said to them and the one in front he recognized as Minoru.

With the man, was several others, his entourage it seemed like. Lee looked on at him putting himself in a defensive position just in case they proved to be unfriendly. But Minoru held them back as it was just the two of them talking.

"I've seen your fight, you and your friends." Minoru said to him.

"Oh really?" Lee asked with a smile. "Maybe we can spar some time?" He offered and Minoru scoffed at him

"And why would I associate myself with you?" He said surprising Lee at his tone.

"You're a traitor to your very own." Minoru said disgust in his voice looking on at him. "You think following behind them makes you one of them?" He told Lee mockingly. "They let you follow them around like a lost puppy only because they find your pathetic antics to be like them amusing, that's all. That's the only reason they keep you around." He said to the Student of Might Gai. "You should be with us instead."

Lee gritted his teeth at him at his words. "You know nothing about what you are talking about. My friends accept me for who I am and what I can do. There are…things I can't do I'll admit but I have more than made up for it with my training and what I am able to do instead proving my youthfulness to them."

"I know what you can do, and what you can't do." Minoru replied to him. "I know full well of what you can't do no matter how hard you try to blend in with them. You think you can soar amongst the Eagles, when in reality, you're nothing more but a Jackdaw." He said and some of those with him snickered. "Keep flapping your wings as hard and as long as you can, it won't do you any good." He told Lee and motioned to his right. "Tosi and Benza will make sure to remind you of what you really are soon. You're certainly no Eagle." He said and turned and left.

Rock Lee glared at him as he left the room his words in his mind.

#####

The roar of the crowd was heard as many were seen cheering and placing bets on the fight. The crowd in attendance looking on at what was happening.

Naruto shifted his head to dodge his opponents' attempt to grasp him and threw a kick at his opponent who was a specialist in grappling. He wasn't listening to the yelling of the crowds as he was only focused at his opponent. He knew to win he had to make him fight his way instead of the other way around.

Naruto and his opponent circled one another as this was a preliminary fight. Naruto needed to win to advance. Naruto looked on at him eyes not moving off him.

He ran at him and went to trip him up with a sweep but his opponent dodged it and ran at him and slid locking his legs with his own and tripped Naruto up making him fall to the ground. He then got on top of Naruto and went to attack him with open palm strikes but Naruto covered himself up blocking them with his hands and arms. Timing it he grabbed him around the head when he went to hit him and squeezed on the neck. He got up to a standing position and applied more pressure looking to cut off the blood flowing to his brain.

His opponent dropped to his knees and it looked like Naruto was going to win, but he then wrapped his arms around Naruto's legs and pulled him off his feet making Naruto break his hold on him. He then began kicking at the downed Naruto who curled up to protect himself against the attacks. Naruto rolled over to get away from him and got up but didn't see him anywhere. His eyes widened when he realized that he could only be one place.

A pair of arms wrapped around his head and throat and he fell to the ground on top of his opponent who knew what Naruto was going to do and before he had rolled out of the positioned himself to be behind him as that was his strategy. He applied the rear naked chokehold on Naruto who fought against it.

He wrapped his legs around him to prevent him from squirming loose. Naruto struggled against it but found he had locked his legs tightly keeping him on his back and unable to roll over. The man clamped the hold around his neck tightly looking to suffocate him. Naruto fought against it to get loose but found he couldn't break the hold with just his strength.

When all else fails…fight dirty!

Naruto bit down on his arm sinking his teeth into it making him cry out and loosen his grip so Naruto could get loose and pulled the legs apart and got himself up off the ground.

Naruto charged him and stretched out his knee and rammed it into their face smashing into it and knocking a tooth out from the force of it. The man crumbled to the ground unconscious as he was defeated.

Naruto stood over him looking on at him rubbing his throat as he had won as he wasn't getting back up when the crowd began to suddenly to yell and clamor with some of them yelling for him to finish him. The crowd continued yelling and shouting at him to end his life. Naruto raised his head and looked on at them and disgust entered his eyes as he saw them, screaming like animals with the way they were wanting to see a person die. Die for their amusement,

"Forget it, I ain't doing it." Naruto said and turned and walked away. The crowd which before had cheered him began to boo in fury at him and some demanded that he come back.

"I'm a lot of things, but killer ain't one of them. Claim that title yourself if you want it." He said as he walked out as he wasn't going to take part in this.

"What a disappointment," Minoru said having watched on from the stands looking down. "Apparently he decided to keep his conscience around." The man said as he looked on.

"Different from his father that he is," A voice said and he turned his head to look at who spoke and smirked.

"And are you really any different from him considering what you did to your Clan, The Uchiha?" He asked Itachi who sat there drinking a cup of sake having watched the fight. "Way I see it, you're just as much as a wild beast some claim I am." He told him amused. Itachi didn't say anything as he took another sip. "Tell me, those fancy eyes of yours, you ever turn them off?" He asked him referring to his Sharingan eyes

"Whenever I go to sleep but only then." Itachi replied and Minoru chuckled in amusement. "Tell me regarding your unique fighting style, you ever think about what could have been?"

"No, the thought never enters my mind. There's only two things to enjoy in this world that I have been put in I've discovered. One, breaking the body part of an opponent who wants to defeat you, and Two, watching his face twist and contort in pain when you do it.

"Oh?" Itachi responded to him. "That's what you think is what life is about enjoying?"

"It's all I know." Minoru responded to him. "So when do I fight him and the others?"

"Not now, only later if he's still around will you be allowed too. Perhaps in the finals of this tournament." Itachi answered. "Akatsuki has much in store for him. Deal with the others if you must, but he needs to be alive and unspoiled."

"No killing eh? Fine then, though I can't say the same about the other fighters here." Minoru replied.

Itachi stood up and turned and quietly walked away. As The Red Cloud hovered over and covered The Pit waiting for the right moment to strike.

A/N: That's it for this chapter, review please.