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Prompt M for Mechanical:MECHANICAL HEART   
Dystopian AU. In a time where mechanical modifications are a must and society’s crippling new addiction… The government has created the Shinobi Arena, where fighters fight for their chance at fame, to earn their modifications generally given by the government or to be punished for their illegal crimes or modifications given to them by parts off the black market.

Modifications only given to modified individuals by the Arena are recommended for the public to ensure public safety, comfort and give failsafes for the modified individual. In order to gain your own set of modifications, you can buy them yourself or enter the lottery for free!

Naruto knows this is bullshit. He’s been here for years fighting for his life because of a lottery he never signed up for. He’s been modified against his will and taken off the streets then forced into this twisted, corrupted game. But he’s determined to escape one way or another and to save everyone he can. Let’s hope he doesn’t get caught with one of the worst modifications known: Energy Replacement, which is punishable by not even the toughest, highest Arena fights or even death, but more so with what the government would call Energy Realteration and Memory Categorization.

Oh and turns out there’s more than just his Arena at stake…
 
Relationships: Sasuke/ Naruto, Kakashi/ Rin/ Obito, Shikamaru/Temari, Sai/ Ino, Konan/ Yahiko, Neji/ TenTen. Minor Hinata/ Naruto. Other side relationships.
 Chapter 1 
SOCIETY’S ADDICTION:
Society was in a great decline, divided by politics, famine, war and oversea issues. It took years, but society nearly crumbled until the Shinobi Arena was created by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura. These co-partners would set the basis for the new society, where people joined together for fights with well known and hated criminals of the world (at first) and later on when participating individuals could inflict their own type of revenge on a criminal that negatively impacted their life. The development created issues of wear and tear on the participating individuals not accused of crimes or wrongdoing, so the Shinobi Arena offered the first modifications to these individuals. These became the legacy of the Arena, where modifications shot off and sparked intrigue and pushed for joint efforts in society, including scientists and other future figure heads. People could either improve themselves, fight someone who hurt their family or just sit by and watch something other than their dreary, dark life. Next up was the civilians, who wanted to receive modifications and not fight. There were issues of money, although some money was flowing in from bets, illegal activities (such as drugs or Black Market Modifications, which started to develop around this time) and from income flooding in from nearby villages, who journeyed in to see the madness… Or rather the “next step in the new society.” Therefore, the famous Lottery was created. People could place their names into the lottery to gain proper modifications from the government. Some even could pay, although a generous amount of money, but some people could now afford modifications of their own. However, most of society was still struggling, so the Lottery for the Arena was a godsend. Life was looking up with minimal issues, or so everyone thought. They could not be more wrong with the behind the scenes.  
ARENA’S RULES AND MODIFICATION GUIDELINES:
The Shinobi Arena has adapted over time, and they have provided guidelines of the Lottery, the recommended modifications for modified individuals, the forbidden modifications that are punishable by law and how to report issues with modifications or Rogue Modified Personnel. Below are the guidelines for the Arena and Lottery:
If a family is RICH or has at least two siblings within the intermediate family, they are able to select a spot for an upcoming arena fight on any level of fights or the first to gain access to the newest modifications.
If a family POOR or they come from a BROKEN HOME or are an ORPHAN, then they can add their name into the lottery, if they wish to be selected for modifications or future arena fights.
If a lucky individual WINS THE LOTTERY, they can select one or two modifications on various modifications, for arena fights or everyday life.* You Can Be Randomly Selected in Our Lottery by SIGNING UP TODAY! *
If an individual LOSES THE LOTTERY, they can still choose one modification, based on lucky or extreme circumstances, such as potential death without a surgery. However, these individuals must earn the right to keep those modifications by using them in the arena to at least the middle fights, where they must go through Selection (their first fight) then their Team fight (located during a middle fight).They can earn more modifications with each fight or with crowd favoritism and gifts, as well as more fights within the middle circle. If they get past the middle fights/ team fights, they have a choice to go to the highest, most difficult but most fame-worthy fights: the Last Man Standing Fights.
Modifications are a part of the Shinobi Arena. Criminals, civilians and determined individuals can apply or change their life with a few, or a lot, modifications to their person. Modifications only given to modified individuals by the Lottery or Arena are recommended for the public to ensure public safety, comfort and give failsafes for the modified individual.Don’t forget: In order to gain your own set of modifications, you can buy them yourself or enter the lottery for free!The most common modifications and the pros and cons of them are as follows:
WITHIN THE SYSTEM MODIFICATIONS, LOTTERY OR ARENA: Are the BEST Modifications with FAILSAFES, SECURITY and MOST COMFORTABLE MODIFICATIONS to modified personnel.
Eye Modifications: Strongly DISAGREED UPON, unless for the legally blind or vision in an eye is completely impaired.
Arm Modifications: STRONGLY ENCOURAGED for the arena and to keep your strength up in everyday life.
Complete Arm Replacement: TYPICAL, especially after loss of limb(s). Replacements are also known as transplants in the medical field and Arena.
Leg Modifications: TYPICAL for surgeries, USUALLY TEMPORARY unless leg is fairly impaired.
Complete Leg Replacement: TYPICAL for ONLY CORPORATE ELITE FIGHTERS for the government or loss of limb(s). Remember: Replacements and Transplants are interchangeable.
Teeth Modification: Mainly for APPEARANCE.
Teeth Implants: For APPEARANCE and FIGHTING in the arena.
Chest or Heart Modifications: SURGERIES. These produce better lung/ heart operations. CAN CAUSE: Complications with change in air pressure.
Skull Transplant: SURGERY AFTER INJURY OR CANCER.
Forbidden or Punishable Modification Offenses will be carried out by the Arena, in any way they deem fit. If an individual with any of the following is known or discovered, contact the Arena immediately. BEWARE OF THESE MODIFICATIONS:
BLACK MARKET MODIFICATIONS: Are FAULTY and PUNISHABLE, depending on reasons for modifications.
Eye Implants: FORBIDDEN, PUNISHABLE BY DEATH or they survive the “Last Man Standing Fights – three times, no contest.”
Energy Replacement: HIGHLY FORBIDDEN AND DANGEROUS FOR USER. BANNED by the government and the black market. Produces UNFORESEEN COMPLICATIONS in the modified personnel. Generally displayed as a mark within the stomach or on the shoulder.TO STABILIZE USER: ENERGY REALTERATION and MEMORY CATEGORIZATION. Do NOT engage these individuals, REPORT IMMEDIATELY.
Thanks for following the Arena’s guidelines and taking precautions. Our people are most important to us, and we want to keep everyone safe and modified for a wonderful life. Bet against the famous names, buy your own modifications or sign up for the lottery for a free chance to get modified.Happy Modification Day is every Tuesday, so sign up for the lottery FOR FREE before then to get selected for the following week! Signed,Yours Truly,The Shinobi Arena and its ANBU Constituents   
A BOY CALLED NARUTO:
“MODIFY YOURSELF TO BE THE GREATEST YOU TODAY, SIGN UP FOR FREE!”The usual blaring ad flashed across all available screens and blasted a vague voice across the loudspeaker overhead.It was the same thing over and over again.Buy yourself some modifications! Enter the lottery FOR FREE! Change your life today!Join us willingly.Fight only once.Lucky Winner.It’s an easy way to get modified and have some fun!Get some revenge on a past lover, on a murderer, on someone who wronged you!Become famous. Naruto knows this is bullshit. He’s been here for years fighting for his life because of a lottery he never signed up for. He’s been modified against his will and taken off the streets then forced into this twisted, corrupted game. He couldn’t escape, even if he tried. And believe him, he has tried, since he was 10, but the audience loves to watch him. In turn, the Arena refuses to let him go, even when he’s tried to tell anyone that would listen that he wasn’t even supposed to be there. No one cared when he was younger, and no one cares currently, especially not the creators of the Arena. That old man probably died years ago, since no one has seen him since Naruto has been in the Arena, and that creepy, evil incarnate guy just stared at him and threw him into his first fight, at the middle stages, where these so-called team fights happened to be teams until one or all of them wanted the fame or to live more than everyone else. Basically, team was team until it was a free for all, or in Naruto’s case, three or four against him that first time. Naruto was 8 at the time. He was lucky to survive honestly. He was small enough to cram himself into tight places and use his environment to his advantage. However, the first fight was never the end for Naruto. It was a brand new start, and when he survived and technically won, he was ushered out back. He thought he was going to be sent home. He never was. Next thing he knew he was waking up, arm refusing to cooperate and body lead, riddled with continuous pain. They had forced him to modify his arm after that fight. Then they threw him back into the fray. Over and over again, changing things on his arm each and every time. He barely felt the pain anymore, and he liked when the fights knocked him unconscious, even with the resulting migraine when he finally came to. At least when he passed out, he couldn’t feel or see anything around him. The worst was when the fights did not drain him enough that they had to physically make him unconscious, which more than half the time, he woke up during the procedures. Some procedures he caught glimpses and bits and pieces of himself taken apart. But when he awoke, it was as if nothing happened. The pain and getting used to himself again, even simple things like sitting up or breathing, were the only reminders. Of course the ANBU, the Arena’s security not a partnership the Arena portrayed it as to the rest of society, would say that it was the cause of the fights, nothing more. Bullshit. Naruto knew what he saw, what he felt… what he heard… He heard the screaming in his cell of a room they sent him to after each fight or procedure. He never saw much of the modified individuals, but he heard it all. He heard the whispers of ANBU, their laughter. Naruto knew nothing was what the watchers knew or saw. For one, most of the people inside the Arena and these walls were not criminals. They were taken off the streets, like Naruto was, where no one would notice their disappearance. They were given to the Arena as payment for someone else’s modifications, where the other person was free of fights, free of other charges like money and free of any Arena handling. Some were also people that wanted fame or other family members fought years before, so they had to prove themselves. The latter was more of a rich family thing though. Either way, most people in the Arena weren’t there by choice. Society needed some sort of entertainment from the shitty lives they lived in and from what the Arena was hiding under their noses. The Arena would take whoever they wanted, especially those that spoke up about the injustices of the fights or some that got too close to realizing something was fishy. Naruto only knew that his parents died because of one of those reasons, or something concerning the Arena or modifications. He barely remembers them now, from injuries in the fights making him forget and the years at the Arena taking even the memory of their faces from him. He barely remembered that life was not supposed to be this. Yet, he vaguely remembers. And yet, he wants to get out. One way or another, Naruto was getting out of this hell. ~ ~ ~ Right now, however, was not the time. Instead, he was being pushed down the crowded hallway, hands cuffed behind his back, head forced down by a rough hand in his hair. He grunted, stumbling to try and keep pace with the ANBU guards shoving him down toward the Arena. He could follow this hallway blindfolded by now. He had been here for almost 10 years by now, if his marks on the walls were correct. Years and years of these fights, and this torture. And these forced modifications. He knew for certain both his arms had been modified without his input or consent, and he knew his legs had been altered, his right had a new modification for its knee joint from a fight or two ago. He could feel the heft of it, and it no longer protested when he fell from the top rafters anymore. Then he knew that his left leg was modified from the knee down; he could almost see wires hidden beneath his skin under the fluorescent lights. That was new, so he was not certain how it changed. But it would make sense why he was stumbling as much as he was. As for other modifications, he knew for certain that his entire right arm was a complete arm replacement. With those, no one could hide the wires and machine parts. He didn’t remember much from the fight that earned him that, but he remembered his arm splintering apart after a guy’s punch met his, and the other guy had a complete arm replacement, giving him enough power to destroy what was left of Naruto’s flesh and bone in that arm, which most likely was less than 30 percent. It was his dominant arm, and he always used it. He started to use both arms when he was younger, especially since the Arena threw him into middle fights and some Last Man Standing Fights. Of course, Naruto never got a choice of which fight or which fighter, like the Arena claimed. It was all under the guise that Naruto wanted to be there, and that the people being entertained would stay interested. It was all about the people watching, hence why Naruto’s teeth were modified, a few of them were even transplanted. He learned that the hard way when as a last resort, he bit down on a woman’s neck and ripped it clean off. His top canines were sharp enough to crunch bones and tear tendons with ease, not typical for a simple appearance or health modification. He tasted her blood and felt chunks in his teeth for days and felt sick each time. He hated it. He hated the Arena. He hated how he was forced to fight. If he didn’t, worse things were to come to him. The Arena started to grab unwilling participants and strap them in front of the audience. The audience threw out what they wanted to happen: death, a limb ripped off, worse things… Naruto couldn’t believe what monsters people could be. Sometimes when he was particularly combative, the Arena had him watch the spectacle from the walls. He wouldn’t be allowed to turn away either. The things he saw… The way a young girl screamed as everyone from the audience took turns with her; the way the man was choking on his own blood, begging for mercy, another chance then to eventually just die. The way Naruto was forced to watch the life drain from some of the people he tried to fight for and not fight directly. One girl was from a well-known family, the Hyugas. They were known for legal Eye Modifications, especially since the family was known for early stages of blindness. Yet, the girl had stared into his eyes when he first saw her, before the Arena fully gripped her and turned her inside out. He hated to see her tied up, eyes somehow finding him behind the walls. Naruto guessed they were a sort of Eye Implant by then. She had tears in her eyes and apologized to him in a whisper. Naruto had refused to fight or kill her, even protected her in the Arena, but it cost them both. Naruto watched her get slaughtered, and he nearly went ballistic when those beautiful eyes went dull, and her bloody body dropped. His heart had died a little more that day, his stomach settling with crippling guilt and a hot boiling anger. The applause from her death barely reached his ears before the ANBU punched him until he collapsed and stopped throwing punches at them. People cheered for her death, and they didn’t even know her name. They just cared for the madness, the sickness of the games of the Arena. The Arena would always say the most outlandish things to get everyone to turn on the fighters or modified individuals. The trapped individuals, more like. They were all trapped, all forced into this, even if they chose to join the Arena at first. The Arena made you stay one way or another. Or you got out by dying. Naruto heard the rumors that fighters were blackmailed with death of family members, their own pasts, and sometimes Naruto heard the ANBU talk about developments in physically controlling or tracking fighters. The trackers were for the audience, so no one could fear that someone would escape and kill everyone within a mile radius. The trackers were for the government actually, which was the Arena at this point… And Danzo. And controlling people? Naruto had seen firsthand when he was waiting for some of the upper fights. Some fighters would draw back a punch then scream in seemingly rage. Naruto only noticed after that they appeared confused and bawling out apologies on the way to their cells, gripping their heads. The Skull Transplants looked more and more to blame, especially when he saw a few people that had been a “Lucky” cancer patient to win the lottery. The lottery was not random though, Naruto was certain. And those people were not lucky. The lucky ones were people far far away. Naruto was just glad that he had been at the Arena long enough that a Skull Transplant would be too noticeable, even the one beneath the skin and jaw. It was told to change some personalities. Naruto was too known in the public eye for no one to see something off with him. Plus it took too long to recover, and Naruto was a regular every week, sometimes more than a couple nights a week. The Arena made sure he was present, no matter what. Guess there were some positives in being brought up, practically raised, in the Arena. Not many came to mind though. The sirens of the Arena blared, snapping him back to reality and alerting the audience that the show was about to start again. They would always announce the most important or the regular fighters a few minutes after the sirens. Then the ANBU would leave, everything would shutter and close off then all hell broke loose when the chain walls between the fighters lifted. Naruto just mindlessly followed where he was led, where he was shoved to his knees roughly. There were some oh’s and ah’s at the fighters around him, and they most likely knew that when the ANBU gave Naruto rough treatment, it was a staple of a crazy night. Naruto had attacked the ANBU when they first came in to collect him. He just wanted out. He was desperate, and the nightmares were constant throughout the night. He knew it would bite him in the ass, but at the time, the fight let out some of his aggression. At least the ANBU deserved it. These fighters with him probably did not. He started getting more proficient at easier, quicker kills for the others. Then he’d make a show out of their death. So the fighters did not have to see anything or feel it. He hoped when he went, if he never escaped this place… He hoped it went quickly like that. Some people dragged it out, too insane from everything to care or still thinking they had a chance to actually escape the Arena if they showed off their kills. The Arena would never let you go. You could only escape from the elusive three time win with the Last Man Standing Fights, meaning you go through all the middle and upper fights to get to the very last round of modified individuals, sometimes ANBU, mostly other fighters and sometimes a Team that actually got through somehow. Then there is only one winner, “no contest,” where only one person was alive, all others dead and no draws were found. Naruto never won. He purposely caused a draw each time. Also the ANBU in the Arena played sneaky, and they refused to let anyone truly win this shitty game. No one has ever won a Last Man Standing Fight, from the beginning up. Most times people are too exhausted to do anything. Some people, like Naruto, refused to kill someone that was only there to survive. And others, also like Naruto, got shafted by the undercover ANBU, who beat the shit out of him until he was a big bruise, but not dead enough to be considered dead. Naruto fucking hated the politics of the Arena. Naruto hated the Arena and everyone involved to be more precise. Every time, he would ask himself: Why would anyone think the Arena was a good idea in the first place? Why did it have to get to this point? Every time, he would have no answer, other than the fact that society was obsessed – monsters addicted to danger, destruction and death. It made Naruto’s stomach feel blindingly hot every time, much like earlier. It felt like something was swirling in his lower abdomen, a heavy weight of anger, disgust and something else that he could not place at the moment. He was much too pissed off to figure it out. Plus the fight was about to start. And he didn’t want to die after all of this. So he breathed out, shifting onto his feet slowly and lifting his head. “Over here is our famous Nine Tailed Fox! Will he survive tonight, or will he be ripped apart? Will someone pierce his chest, grip his heart and tear it out for us to see? Or will we have to make an example out of him ourselves? Time will tell for our Fox.” The crackle overhead laughed, sounding evil and threatening to Naruto, but the audience laughed and cheered, only detecting a playful, crazed sort of tone of the announcer. Naruto stared past the lights, at the audience. Then he glared. It was all because of them… and the Arena. The fight he was in again, the potential of him being the spectacle later and all their hellish ideas. His stomach churned, anger fuming below the surface. Naruto’s eyes flickered to the chains that separated him from the other fighters and the rest of the Arena. The voice continued to announce the others overhead and either hype them up or verbally tear them to shreds. Naruto never paid attention to these anymore. No one lived long enough to become friends or acquainted anymore. And the audience never remembered them once they died. They didn’t know their real names or even the names the Arena forced on them. The Nine Tailed Fox is what Naruto’s gimmick was, starting when he was 11 for various reasons. However, the only reason the audience knew who the fox was because on Naruto’s left cheek, there was a tattoo of a fox with nine tails, red against the whisker scars he had on both of his cheeks. The Arena did not just modify bodies, organs or bones with mechanical parts or electronics. They permanently marked the fighters as their property and showcased the fighters’ “names” on their cheeks with tattoos. Naruto shouldn’t get angry anymore. But it was always what the Arena wanted. Naruto had no choice. No one did. Naruto clenched his hands, nails digging into his palms, eyes locked onto the chains. 
Come on… Let’s get this over with…
 Naruto was sick of it. The sirens blasted, the lights dimming. Then a yellow caution light swirled off in the corner, letting the fighters know that the chains were lifting. It was now or never. His eyes snapped to the bottom of the chains, where some fighters took the easy shot at the inexperienced fighters. They thought they could attack right as the chains lifted and get an easy kill from an unsuspecting target. Looked like Naruto was in a middle fight, since no one attempted the easy shot, but that didn’t mean people would not go for the cheap shots or sneak behind him. Naruto shifted, snapping his wrists apart as the handcuffs beeped and released him. They always restrained him longer than anyone else. A regular needed something to inconvenience him, for the suspense apparently. The handcuffs dropped to the floor, and he took off. He ran toward the chains that were halfway up the room, and he suddenly stopped, planting both feet on the ground, his left leg out front a bit more than his other. 
Show me what they did to you this time, leg!
 He hoped it gave him some extra power, and it did. It crumbled the ground with its force and launched him up to the rapidly opening chains. His fingers barely grabbed the last rung, and he swung himself up into the air, flipping forward to land on the third highest platform. He kept running, sliding behind cover just as a blade whizzed through the air where his head had been. It was much too quick for a human arm, so there had to be modifications or an entire transplant from one of the current fighters. He rolled his right shoulder, eyes narrowed and ears strained. He was being observed, and someone had eyes on him. He had to be quick. His Arm Replacement seemed perfectly fine, kink free, and Naruto was glad. Some procedures fucked his arm for an entire night, while others were perfect until the next week. He hoped it didn’t just stop working like it did in the past. The Arena blamed damage through usage during the fights, but it felt one hundred percent then just shut down. Naruto felt the mechanical parts stutter and seize. He wondered if the Arena’s parts were the faulty ones, not the Black Market modifications. Honestly, Naruto would not put it past the Arena to be doing something dicey with their modifications. Naruto would just have to work with what he got. As per usual. Naruto pressed his back to the wall, holding his right arm out against his side. He counted to three, hearing a distinct click behind the wall at his back. His eyes widened, and he dove into the open, but his right hand whirled and the air over his palm began to swirl into what looked like an air whirlpool. He struck outward, where the click had sounded, just as a fighter smashed her fist into the wall, tree branches exploding from the impact, sharp needle like branches shattering holes where Naruto had been hidden. Naruto did not give her time to turn to him, right hand connecting with her stomach, the impact a loud thud and a scream, as she hurtled toward the ground, clothes ripped where he struck her. Naruto jumped after her, grabbing her wrist when she went to stab him with a jagged piece of metal. She was using her environment and using some powerful modifications, so she was most likely not new or inexperienced. He never met her before, but it was not uncommon. Different nights, different fighters, different levels of fighting. Sometimes Naruto did not meet everyone, and sometimes he would never meet some of the fighters. Too many people trapped in the Arena. Naruto almost felt bad that he didn’t know her name or what the tattoo on her cheek represented. He just knew he could not die tonight. The fire in his stomach pushed him forward, and he bared his teeth, snapping his free arm down, enough that it dislocated the girl’s arm. The girl screamed again, kicking out at Naruto during the free fall. Naruto shoved her away with the wrist he held, far enough that she could not touch or injure him. “Don’t even think about it!” The girl’s one eye clenched closed, and she fumbled with her mobile hand. Naruto’s left hand sparked, and he outstretched it, inches from her face. “Should have protected that arm, you know.” He could tell the arm he dislocated was the only modified arm she had. The modified arm was useless unless she popped it back into place, but she would never get a chance. Naruto had to make sure. He did feel bad though, so he looked at her. “I’m sorry, just so you know…” The ground was approaching fast. He had to end her and take cover, and he had to hope his legs could take the fall. The girl’s lips quivered, but she closed her eyes, smoke and sparks highlighting her face, making it pink where it touched and faintly burned her. Maybe Naruto didn’t have to end her like this, but he tried this before. The Arena would do something horrible to the person he saved or the person he spared would stab him in the back. He almost died from that. He could not take the chance. Naruto focused his energy into his palm, feeling it build up. It was a few seconds, and he felt it release just as something struck the girl from the left and exploded on contact, sending her away and sending Naruto flying through the air into the second landing. He rolled onto his feet, right arm behind him to stop himself from slamming into the metal of the Arena’s walls. If anyone broke the walls too much, the walls would shock then stun the person. Not good during a fight. Not at all. Naruto stopped himself with his fingertips, groaning when he pulled them away, arm twitching at the pressure.  Shit, gotta be careful now. His right arm was compromised now but beat the alternative. And luckily it wasn’t too bad, just a little tense, a little slower than normal. Out of nowhere, a man dropped down, slamming into Naruto, who bodily smashed into the wall this time. Naruto groaned and sent his left arm out, getting a good punch to the man’s face and giving himself a few inches to move, which was more than enough. The man grinned, sharp Teeth Implants gleaming in the dull lights along his entire mouth, and then he bit down right onto the fleshy bits of Naruto’s left arm. Naruto couldn’t help the cry bubble up from his throat, blood escaping from the puncture wounds in his left arm. Naruto reacted quickly, shoving his right hand into the man’s mouth alongside his left, forcing the mouth open enough to pull his left free, some skin tearing but ultimately fine. The man’s teeth chomped down on his right instead, but Naruto did not hesitate to headbutt him as hard as he could, which forced the fighter to release him so he could cuss Naruto out. But the fighter took a step back too, and Naruto kicked off the Arena’s walls with all his might, using his right leg, so he didn’t break through the metal, and used his left to kick the man in the back of the head, all his strength in his new leg easily taking the guy down, making him eat through the floor. “Serves you right! Don’t bite people, you bastard!” Naruto darted out of the alcove, turning back to run backwards, expecting the man to rush after him, a tooth or two broke. Which was exactly what happened too. Naruto placed his hands together, hands burning hot, air whipping around him. “Come on!” Naruto’s eyes glanced around him, noticing other threats fighting someone else, but none of them were close enough to reach him with any attacks. The man’s arms did not look like a transplant, but the shift to them when one raised up made Naruto tense up. It reminded him strongly of a complete transplant or heavily modified arm. “Bet you can’t withstand this!” The man yelled, teeth smirking wide, purple eyes crazy, white hair shooting in all directions. The man’s fingers started to pop out of their knuckles in odd directions, as water bubbles started to form. “Drown, Fox!” Naruto could do nothing besides clench his fists together and take the hit. He focused on the air between his hands and took a deep breath, the water erupting out of the other fighter’s hand expanded and surrounded him. It left him suspended for a millisecond before it launched him into the ground, covering the ground with a tsunami of water and surrounding Naruto and holding him down below the surface. The man watched casually before he turned around, counting on his fingers slowly. For the audience, he grinned. “Four… Five… Six… How long do you think he can hold his breath?” He laughed, sending out a wink to the crowd, and everyone roared. No one expected for the ground to shake and the explosion of water to shoot up and everywhere. The man could only turn his head slightly before Naruto’s fist connected with his teeth, shattering them as his fist stopped almost down his throat. “Showboat,” Naruto muttered, teeth gritted, eyes burning into the man’s, and Naruto instantly knew this guy liked being in the Arena. This guy liked the killing and slaughter of the Arena. Naruto’s stomach boiled beneath his skin, and even though the man panicked, clawing at Naruto’s arm, Naruto could only see the joy the man had earlier for killing. Naruto tilted his palm up, hand still partly in the man’s mouth. Naruto could feel the air get sucked from around them and from within the man’s lungs briefly. “This won’t hurt.” Even if the man enjoyed the killing, Naruto would give him mercy. Just in case this was the Arena’s doing. The man said something muffled and frantic around his hand, but Naruto suddenly snapped, the air dissipating from the man completely. The man suddenly slumped, all his weight onto Naruto’s arm, chest stopping as quick as Naruto snapped. Naruto gently placed the dead fighter on the ground, frowning slightly. It was deadly silent. Then the sirens picked up, the audience screaming and ringing in Naruto’s ears. Naruto hissed, closing his hands over his ears, the noises of everything just increasing inside his head.  How can they not hear that? Naruto slumped to his knees, swallowing his screams, eyes clenched closed, but tearing up from the pain. He felt lightheaded, entire body shaking. He tried to squint his eyes open, pulling his hands away from his ears to see blood. Another of the Arena’s tricks to end a fight then? Naruto must have won, and he didn’t know. With a slow glance at the Arena, Naruto could tell why. The area was covered in water, bodies floating. The other fighters must have drowned. Naruto hummed. Guy has some crazy modifications to that arm… It was not even a new arm, so it was crazy for Naruto. The modifications are getting more complex and less noticeable. Naruto did not like that at all. With that last sinking thought, Naruto’s eyes rolled back into his head and he collapsed onto the ground. He awoke in his cell in a matter of what felt like minutes. He was groggy and immediately started coughing. He was still soaking wet. He hated the dampness of his cell even more now. He pulled his arms up to his chest, shivering. His stomach had a dull ache, a soft warmth to it, but the anger was dissolving. He felt hollow and a little bit defeated. He had no idea what the Arena was going to become now. New modifications, new fighters that actually wanted to take people’s lives and have fun doing it? Naruto thought it couldn’t get worse, but he was wrong. Speaking of worse, he heard footsteps hurrying to his cell, and the door banged open against the wall. “Get up, Fox,” one of the ANBU commanded, five others flanking him. “And no problems, or you won’t like it.” Naruto’s gaze snapped up, and he scowled at them. “Why? I just finished a fight. Least you can do is let me dry off, assholes.” The ANBU’s arm flipped completely inside out at the elbow, showcasing a stake that sparked blue, riddled with metal and gears, crackling like a taser. “I said: get up.” Then the guy smirked. “But guess it’s the hard way.” Naruto glared at the ANBU’s arm, brushed his hands together to briefly warm his fingers up. “Fine, let’s make it the hard way!” Then he attacked. Needless to say, they all pounced on him, and even though his wounds were partially bandaged up and semi-treated, he was still wet and exhausted from the previous fight. The ANBU’s arm shocked him so hard that he started to seize; it was actually a taser of sorts. They just laughed, and even when Naruto just stood down, glaring at them from the ground, they started to kick and hit him with legs that were surely completely mechanical. Each hit echoed, and each connection sent pain rippling from the hit to the rest of his body. Naruto let out only one scream before he bit his tongue. After they finally stopped their assault, Naruto’s big mouth stuttered out, a cocky tilt to it. “Th-that all you got?” Another final kick to his head had him blacking out for a few minutes, but don’t worry, they were dragging Naruto’s body down that hallway again anyway, like they were late. Naruto struggled a little, tried to drag his feet and attempted to throw them off, but he was too drained, too injured, and there were too many ANBU with their grips tight and painful. The ANBU’s voice from before flooded into his ears from somewhere, Naruto was uncertain where though. “Looks like you're a fan favorite tonight. Nice job with sending that water everywhere. Too bad you survived.” The ANBU laughed. “Maybe you’ll die this time. Hopefully. I have a bet placed against you.” The others laughed along with him, and then they threw Naruto into the Arena, the door slamming closed behind him. Naruto groaned, getting into a fetal position. He stayed there, barely registering the noises and the announcer. Naruto was done with the Arena, and he honestly barely had the strength to breathe. Anything in the Arena took it out of him. They never once threw him back in or kicked his ass prior to going in, unless he was really bad but even then it was usually after. Naruto shifted, so he could open an eye to survey his surroundings. Arena, but this location was more trees, little houses and vines. There was a little swamp area too; Naruto could smell it. A potential hideaway for pacifist fighters just trying to survive. It could be a Selection fight. Not many people had to die to make it through. They just had to knock the other opponents unconscious to progress to the actual fights. It could be a higher level too. He had to be safe. Or it could even be a team fight (a middle fight). Everything was fair game to the Arena, including sending him in fresh off a fight and a beating. At least they covered some of his wounds. His joints and mechanics were stiff though, so they probably didn’t check those out and just sent him to his bed. Sometimes they gave him a night’s rest before taking him in for his procedures. Didn’t happen often but did occasionally, based on how dire his injuries were… And based on if he had another fight that same night apparently. Naruto closed his eyes, the lights and flashes of the audience giving him a migraine. He could just lay here, wait for someone to come by. He was feeling it. Not much else to do. It was the same thing over and over, and it was just getting worse. He really just lost to the Arena. His mind filtered through memories, of past fights, of extremely close calls, of some cases his heart stopped momentarily, how many times he witnessed someone die that didn’t deserve it. It was so much… Too much… But Naruto didn’t want to just let it all go to waste. It had been years of this, and he promised himself, young little Naruto, that he would escape and that he would save as many as he could. First things first, he needed to get his ass up to survive. Then he could escape, and then he could take the Arena down and save the trapped fighters. Easier said than done, but Naruto just couldn’t give up. He refused! 
I’ll never give up! Can’t let these assholes take me down!
 They had done that enough. Naruto wasn’t going to let it stand when he could do something about it. Naruto forced himself to get up, practically crawling to his feet and lifting himself by pure spite and determination. He gritted his teeth, turning his head to the side and practically snarling at the surprised audience, the captivated audience now. You can’t win that easily. He looked to where the ANBU most likely were standing to watch. He grinned, some blood in his teeth but he wasn’t phased. He flipped off the unseen ANBU and placed a hand over his right arm’s wrist.  You want a show, bastards. I’ll give you a show. Fan favorite, for sure. He flicked the air above his wrist, a kunai dislodging itself from its hidden compartment, floating up to his other hand easily. The sirens screeched, the warning light flared and the chains started to ascend. Naruto closed his eyes, listening with his ears. 
There.
 A twig snapped at the bottom of the chains. So most luckily going for the cheap shot or it was actually an easier fight. “Hey, you better watch out because here I come!” Less stealth and more action packed thrills always sent the audience into a blitz of chaos. Besides, Naruto was giving the fighter a warning, and he honestly had a feeling he was at a lower level. No one attacked him before this, and he didn’t see anyone moving around elsewhere in the shadows yet either. And also Naruto had a feeling they (the arena itself or any person in charge) didn’t want him to die just yet. He was the fan favorite tonight, whatever that meant, but he was sure they didn’t want to trash him tonight. Maybe later on in the week or tomorrow, but hopefully not tonight. With that thought in mind, he wasn’t too worried about sudden doom. He was worried when his right leg modification popped when he leaped forward, but he just made a mental note and charged on. Work with what you got, Naruto could do that and would do that. From his left and right, he saw the shadows of his attackers. So they had a mini team formed, so definitely an inexperienced group or a younger group. Naruto felt a little better at his chances of not dying, at least. Naruto propelled himself forward, using his left hand to push him into the air. It was more unsafe, but slightly more showy to the crowd. The shadows rushed him, which he anticipated, sending out the kunai towards one and swiftly kicking the other one. Both gave a yelp or noise of complaint, so easy hits but not deadly, just like Naruto wanted. His feet hit the ground again, and the two were on him, attacking from both sides. Good idea, if they were more powered up. Naruto merely ducked low, grabbing one by the arm and throwing them across the floor. Then for the other, he kicked the blade out of their hand and into the air. He caught it and smacked the top of their head with the handle to stun them. He grinned. Easy and inexperienced. His gaze caught the first shadow getting to their feet. It was too dark to see anything else. “I think you dropped this,” Naruto offered the blade handle of the weapon to its fighter, trying not to get too cocky. The person tried to reach for it, so Naruto took their hand and whipped them at their friend, both sending out collective groans as they collided and fell. Naruto shrugged and embedded the blade into the ground. The audience was in hysterics. Naruto was merely playing it up, hoping the theatrics would save him from another fight. He was beyond exhausted. That one finisher took so much out of him every time, and the confrontations with the ANBU left him pretty hurt too. So he had to end this quickly, but unfortunately a little showy. Naruto took off, keeping those two in mind, while he searched for other fighters. Selection fights could range from 4 to 10 fighters sometimes. At the very most and on special occasions, Selection matches could reach 12, but that was very uncommon. He slowed to a walk a ways away, close to where there were a few platforms. He placed his arms behind his head, and he glanced around subtly. He didn’t get far like that before someone screamed and dropped down from above. “Don’t hurt my friends, you jerk!” The voice sounded high pitched, but not female, more so younger. At least the punch was much too slow, so Naruto easily jumped out of range. Naruto rolled his body backwards, placing his hand on the ground to send himself into the air when his attacker tried for another too eager punch, telltale modifications clicking with not enough usage. The fighter must have been recently modified then. So extremely new to the Arena. “Stop running and fight me!” Honestly this fighter reminded him of himself… just a little. At least when he was younger. Naruto cocked back his fist, still in the air above the fighter. “You asked for it!” Then the lights flickered, and the Arena got slightly lighter. Naruto’s eyes barely adjusted, but then he changed tactics, simply landing on the attacker below, knocking him to the ground. He placed his foot on the fighter's back, shocked. This was a literal kid . Naruto looked at the other fighters, eyes wide. They were all kids. 
What the hell?
 Naruto saw the two shadows from before, a girl and a boy, huddling close together in fear and debating on rushing in to save the boy under Naruto’s foot. Meanwhile the boy beneath Naruto started to squirm and kick to escape. “Get off me!!” The two shadows began to rush over the longer Naruto stared and their friend struggled. Naruto released the boy and stepped back. “All right, all right. Easy,” he tried to calm the boy, arms up as he stepped back, so that the modified limb of the boy’s didn’t touch him. The boy instantly scrambled to his feet, cheeks a deep, embarrassed pink. “You can’t just do that! Do you know who I am? I’m Konohamaru Sarutobi!” The boy — Konohamaru Sarutobi — balled his fists, his small group by his side now. Naruto couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sarutobi, huh?” Like that old man who co-founded the Arena? Naruto gave the kid a once over. He looked healthy, only modified by the slight jerkiness of his right arm, a small family insignia tattoo on his cheek in a line of green, but much too young to be here. “Yes! Just for that, I should kick your butt!” Naruto narrowed his eyes and jumped forward, scaring the shit out of the three of them, and then he just jumped back out of reach. “You really think you can?” He grinned widely, canines glittering in the dull light. “I-I know so! We can do it,” the Sarutobi stumbled back into a stance. The others flanked him, all of them looking out of place. The others seemed to lack modifications, except the girl’s one leg (her right) looked a bit unsteady, and the boy’s left wrist was cocked to the side too much. Either they were only lightly modified or just awkward. Naruto hummed, shifting into a ready stance as easy as his next inhale. “Come on then. Show me who’s boss, little man.” He grinned, more human, gesturing them forward. He was not going to annihilate them, but what about some actual fun? He knew he needed it, and he doubted the kids would get it anytime soon again. Sarutobi glared. “We’ll show you!” They all jumped forward, and Naruto played the defensive, easily deflecting jabs and sharp knees. He deflected their kicks with his legs, used his palms to send the kids to the ground and he even started to coach them through it. “Don’t turn your back to your opponent! Keep your arms up to cover your face. Good, now you two follow up with an attack together! Hell yeah, that’s perfect!” It was actually pretty fun, almost felt like they were playfully fighting or training. The kids even seemed to get less defensive, taking his suggestions and carrying them through. They got a few harsh licks in, but Naruto did not mind. Anything to help them in their future fights. They seemed like sweet kids. He hoped they survived long enough in the Arena. It was about ten minutes of fighting, and Naruto glanced at the audience. They were getting bored and aggravated at the lack of death or maiming. Naruto rolled his eyes. It was time to wrap up the fight. Naruto easily sideswiped the girl down, grabbing her by the back of her shirt, so she didn’t smack her head. Then he threw her into the second boy, toppling them over, so it was only Sarutobi and him. “Sorry guys, but gotta end this. It was fun, time to rest up, yeah?” Naruto suggested, hoping they got what he was saying. Sarutobi blinked up and glanced around, a frown to his face for a fraction of a second. Then a look of pure determination came to his face. “Right! We still have to win!” Naruto smiled, just a bit. “Yeah you do.” Sarutobi’s group nodded, rushing to join him. While all four of them got into their stances, Sarutobi cut Naruto’s thoughts off, made them stop, with the boy’s question. “Wait, what’s your name?” Naruto’s brows drew in, and he pointed to his cheek. “No! Your real name, dumby!” Naruto blinked. He hadn’t said his real name in ages. His brain short circuited for a few seconds, and he was afraid he forgot his real name. Naruto swallowed down a lump at the boy’s genuinely curious expression. “Uh,” Naruto cleared his throat, brain finally rebooting, eyes threatening to water but he never cried anymore, so no tears came out. “Nar-Naruto Uzumaki.” “Really?” “Yeah. Naruto, you best believe it!” The boy looked at him, suspicious, but then nodded. “This is Udon and Moegi.” Sarutobi — No, Konohamaru — said, gesturing to the group, who in turn nodded back and gave their version of a hello. Naruto was starting to think maybe they knew each other before the Arena. He wondered if the team fights in the future would actually consist of teams. It would be more betrayal and the fights would be more strategic and crazier with actual teamwork. Naruto shook his head. Now was not the time to think of the Arena. Naruto leaned in, ruffling Konohamaru’s hair with a tight smile. “It was really nice to meet you, Konohamaru. And you too, Udon, Moegi. Best fighters I’ve seen in a while.” He winked at them, stepping back. “But it’s time to end this.” He really hoped he could see the kids in the future again and hoped that they survived. Konohamaru huffed and tried to fix his hair, grinning a little before covering the grin with a pout. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. Let’s beat Naruto’s butt!” Then they charged him. Naruto was not on the defensive, so he charged forward as well, grabbing two of them by their hair and smacking the three’s heads together, quick and efficiently. They crumpled together in a heap on the ground. They probably each had a concussion, but better than dragging it out and causing the audience to want a chance to choose things to do with the fighters. Naruto looked around at the audience, sensing their bated breath, their eagerness for even the children’s deaths. He really hated the Arena and its people. Naruto sighed, looking at the kids. He didn’t want the Arena to think he sided with them either. That would also spell certain death, for most likely them. He took a few steps back, debating on what to do. Then he raised his head, glancing at the audience. So many eyes, so much staring. Naruto turned away, left hand coming out to his side. He was not about to use his right on these kids. His right arm had a strong affinity for air and wind, so it could easily snuff out the oxygen or shred them apart. They’d be over before they even knew it. His left palm sparked faintly as he focused on the modified parts within. He raised his left arm, aiming his palm at the trio, gut sinking and the boiling hot rage starting to form again. He knew what he had to do, show that he “tried” to kill the kids. He hated it every time. He closed his eyes, glanced away then turned to look at them again. “Time to stop wasting everyone’s time with these so-called fighters,” Naruto said aloud, just for the audience to pick up on it. His voice was sure, certain and held no room for objection. Naruto forced a smirk, baring his teeth which sent the audience into a roar. It was all about presentation and showing off the modifications for them. It was almost scary how obsessed they were with them. Actually, it was scary. Naruto flexed his right arm, placing it next to his left, which started to smoke and send sparks flying. “This is where they end!” He shouted, releasing the built up power in his left and pretending to amplify it with his right. This could easily kill three unsuspecting kids, but at the last second, just as he released it, his right hand closed over his left. It hurt like a bitch, and he could smell his right arm melting . And he felt the shockwave of his hands meeting together, only to send him flying and covering the Arena in smoke as everything seemingly exploded. Which it kind of did; Naruto did at least. He could bet his right arm was destroyed again, and that his left would need some minor modifications. But it was worth it. The kids were still breathing, and he was more or less going to be okay. And the audience was going wild. Naruto was just glad it looked like a simple modification malfunction. A safe cover and a silent middle finger to the Arena’s “safe, non-faulty and comfortable modifications.” Naruto could have laughed, but he merely just coughed, the smoke clogging his lungs and his eyes burning from the fumes. Hopefully he woke up in his cell and got a few days to himself. He really needed it. His eyes fluttered closed, body unable to even stay awake anymore. The smoke still clouded the area and reached into the stands, and Naruto hoped the audience and the ANBU choked on it. ~ ~ ~ Naruto tried to snap to attention, waking in a cold sweat, but his neck was the only thing that snapped forward. The rest of his body felt like concrete, and he was covered in bandages, head to toe. He might have overdone the amount of power behind that blast, and he hoped it didn’t injure him enough for any new implants or transplants. He was sick of them already. He turned to press his head into his pillow, groaning at the pain. He didn’t know what was from the fights or from the Arena playing around inside his body. He tried to test his mobility, but nothing moved, except maybe his fingers on his left hand, his mouth and his neck. He let himself lay there instead, knowing he was not moving for some time. Hopefully not until next week for another fight. He doubted he could do another fight this week. If he did, he doubted he could survive. Naruto closed his eyes briefly, but then his entire cell shook, dust raining down from the ceiling. He sighed, eyes exposing themselves, and he gazed at the ceiling. One of the fights at the Arena was getting epic then. Someone or something big exploded, he was sure. That was what probably woke him up then. The room shook again, walls groaning, and Naruto heard whispers and chattering of nearby modified fighters in their own cells. They could never see each other, and they could barely hear one another, but sometimes there were signs of life. Naruto managed to finally roll himself off the bed, crawling slowly on his hands and knees to his door. He needed to know what was going on. His curiosity was always something getting the better of him, so he pressed his face against the bars, peering out. Someone was screaming down the hall, bloody and awful, a gurgled mess. Either it was a modified individual being brought back for fixing or someone was dying right in their cell. It had happened many times before. Or sometimes fighters attacked the ANBU and died because of their actions, which was rare, but happened. Not many tried to fight the ANBU anymore though. Naruto’s right arm slipped when he tried to pull himself up against the bars more, so his head smacked against the steel. He rubbed his head, one eye clenched closed. “Ow,” he muttered, voice hoarse, and he started coughing. He wiped his mouth, red streaking his dirty and ripped orange clothes. He really was injured then. The screaming eventually died off; the person was dead, no doubt. The ANBU were cheering down the hall. And they were getting closer.  Fuck. Naruto didn’t even have time or energy to make it back to his bed. The ANBU hated when people lurked and peeked into anything outside the cells. They would hate how much listening Naruto had done, how much dirt he knew on them and the Arena. They would kill him personally, if they did. Naruto merely looked up as the ANBU approached, fixing them with a glare, a feisty, ready for a fight gaze so heated that if he had the Eye Implants that caused heat vision, he’d burn straight through them all. Instead, he had his blue eyes blazing in anger. A female ANBU looked at him behind a mask, scoffing in disgust. “Stop looking at us, you little runt!” Naruto shifted to lean against the bars, eyes half-lidded now in his exhaustion, but he still laughed, giving the air a sniff. “Looks like you all have a little blood on you. Mouth say something your hands couldn’t cash, assholes?” That was all it took for the ANBU to come in and beat his ass again. He might have been severely injured, but he got a few good hits in. Only a few, but that was enough for him. Besides, he made it back into his bed and slept like a baby. For only a day and a half, he was alone. Then he was knocked out and wheeled away for fixes to his modifications and more adjustments. He would love the operation of his right arm again. It didn’t take too long, for Naruto, since he only woke up once during whatever they changed or added into him. He will admit that he felt worse coming out though. His limbs creaked occasionally, bursts of pain coming from each joint they must have touched. His eyes ached, the light too bright and making his head pound. His jaw and teeth throbbed, and he knew it was not a skull transplant because he could feel how sharp all of his canines were with his tongue. They messed with his teeth again. Either way, despite the pain and the unnecessary modifications, he was glad for the (eventual) new gear and his arm again. But mainly his arm. Unfortunately, that following morning, he was forced up super early, changed into similar clothes and then blindfolded and handcuffed. He was getting sent back into the Arena already. Naruto’s stomach clenched, and he attempted to argue that it hadn’t been a week, but as it turned out, he just fought late last week. So technically it was a new week. Naruto wanted to throw up. They really wanted to kill him at this point. Or tire himself out enough to do something worse than they already had… Or to completely break him, physically, mentally. They hadn’t done that completely yet, but they had been trying. Naruto didn’t even fight this time. He barely had enough energy to walk. He would need it in the Arena. He just slumped and let them shoulder his weight. They could groan and complain all they want. Naruto didn’t hear it anyways. Naruto’s mind was going through all the possibilities and what was the best thing for him to survive this time. His body was not what it should be, modifications too recent and damaged from the previous week. He would have to be extremely considerate of his modifications. He might need to hide and wait it out. He hated doing that, but he could not give 110 percent when he barely had 5. So he would find a place to camp out and fight when necessary. It might put him in a spectacle or force him into another fight, but he could really die this time. And he didn’t know how the new modifications would react to him. Sometimes the body rejected the modification; sometimes the modification broke mid-fight; and some modifications caused the opposite effect of what a fighter wanted or needed. As an example, a modification could be for latching onto the ground, instead of thrusting a fighter up. It made for a funny thing for the audience, but could cost a fighter, even the most experienced ones, their life. And Naruto was probably at least one of the most experienced, if not the most experienced fighter in the Arena. He could just get unlucky, and that would end it all. Naruto didn’t want to go out like that. He didn’t want to go out in the Arena, period. But here he was, thrown onto the ground, so hard his jaw cracked off a stone and rattled his new teeth. “Assholes,” he muttered under his breath, shuffling his way up to his knees. He couldn’t see anything, the blindfold securely on him, and he couldn’t remove it, since the handcuffs were still tightly around his wrists. The only thing he could figure out was the dirt and grass beneath his face when he hit the ground, so it was varying terrain. His ears twitched and picked up something dripping to his right, so either they had some water formation or it was leaky pipes. Usually the Arena liked the pipes, since they were jagged and the fighters could fling each other into them and pin them down that way. Sounded like a higher up fighting area. The odds were stacked against him at this rate. Naruto made his way to his feet, hearing the drone of the announcer saying names that sounded familiar but did not click with him. Naruto was slowly shuffling his way to the furthest wall from the chains. It would give him more time to come up with a plan since he had to wait for the cuffs to release him. Then he would have to remove the blindfold, all the while not getting impaled or attacked. He was getting anxious just thinking about it, and he was getting more worried when he didn’t find the wall after the first few steps. He hoped he was going the right way, or at least away from the chains holding off the rest of the fighters. “Come on, come on,” Naruto pleaded, fingers clenching into his palms in his distress. “Where the fuck is it?” He grinded his teeth together, two sets of sharp canines nicking his lips briefly. He didn’t even notice it in his haste to get somewhere safer. He had a matter of less than five seconds now. He needed to find that wall or he was done for.  Finally! His back finally touched a cold wall, and he subtly relaxed. The nerves subsided only some, but enough that he could breath and relax. He was going to be okay. Just needed to get the handcuffs off and blindfold. Then he was in the clear. Naruto heard the excited screams of the audience, and then the sirens went off, followed by the rattling of the chains. A few more seconds and the cuffs would beep. Naruto waited, holding his breath to listen to his surroundings. It was too long of a wait, and the cuffs remained stubbornly on him. “You gotta be kidding me.” Naruto pushed his head against the wall in an attempt to remove the blindfold. He managed to get half of it off, revealing only one eye. The warning light was still on, red blinking lights all around the Arena blinding him temporarily. He blinked the black spots from his vision, twisting to see the handcuffs behind his back. They were still locked. Naruto tried to pull them apart instead, desperately watching the chains slowly rise to the ceiling. There was no give to the cuffs. Naruto couldn’t help the snarl in his throat. Sneaky bastards! Naruto was down his hands and his eyes, on top of being unrested and recently modified. His eye caught movement by the chains, and he froze. Then Naruto immediately crouched down, back pressed against the wall again, going silent. He mentally kept an eye out for the obvious fighter nearby, while he slowly started to creep along the wall. The Arena was pretty dark, except for the random lights throughout the area. His eye surveyed the area swiftly. High and lower ground, so there might be people beneath his feet too. The dripping was pipes, jagged and crusted with old blood and oil from modifications. He saw shadows of people in the distance, some already fighting in the higher levels. Above that, Naruto spied the rafters, a tight spot, especially for him, but if he could get there, it would be one of the safest spots to hide. It was also the hardest spot to escape, hence most refused to venture up there. Naruto needed that spot. He also needed to get out of these cuffs. The chains were halfway up by now, and he was still stuck with his hands behind his back and with half his sight. Naruto’s fingers skimmed over the lower part of the wall, trying to find a rough piece that he could try to break the cuffs off or could use with the fighter, who he just saw a flash of again, getting closer to his position, despite him hiding the best he could. The fighter was skilled in stealth, and they knew to look in the darkest spots, so Naruto was definitely in a higher up fight. Naruto’s stomach plummeted, swirling in his distress and his panic slowly rising up again. He fought to control his breath, being much too loud in doing so, but it was that or having a panic attack mid-fight. Naruto was so screwed, if he didn’t find a way out of these cuffs. And he needed to do that now. He brushed along the wall, quietly and as fast as he could, and he inhaled, nearly shouting in joy when he found a jagged piece of wall, metal mangled and sharp even to his modified right arm. He angled the cuffs against it, sticking his tongue out in concentration and scraping against it. The scrape was loud to his ears, so he pressed harder, hoping it would break them apart. After a minute, Naruto heard a noise off to his right, along the Arena’s wall. It sounded like metal against metal dragging along the wall and heading toward him. Experienced, yet showboating. This fighter knew Naruto was a sitting duck, and this fighter knew to play to the audience. Naruto grunted, having to abandon the wall to head the opposite way. He thought for a moment before he lifted his leg up and moved his body so he could step over the cuffs, one leg at a time. His right shoulder popped, disliking the treatment and signifying to Naruto that the arm was still damaged or unsettled. Yet another thing against him tonight. Naruto was just about to take off along the wall when his eye caught the reflection of red off a piece of metal. Naruto gasped, serving to the side, barely escaping the jagged pipe aimed to slice him straight down the middle. Naruto hit the ground, knees first, and he brought up his hands as the fighter attacked again. Naruto shoved the cuffs into the attack, the pipe striking them so hard that it sparked, lighting up a truly crazed, unsetting smile. This fighter had been here too long, and the Arena had taken over. The fighter had Skull Transplants, two complete arm replacements, one partial leg replacement and obvious leg modifications to the other. He was more robot than human at this point, and it was even above the guy’s skin. Naruto almost asked what they did to him, but he stopped himself in time. The guy panted, teeth sharp, smirk still crazed and eyes hollow. “Fox,” his voice was deep, breathy. “I finally found you.” It was unnerving how much pleasure it sounded like the guy was in. Naruto grunted, struggling to stay on his feet and to keep the pipe from going through him. “Yeah? Now what?” The fighter laughed, something wicked. “I kill you.” “Well, get in line, buddy!” Naruto dove into the fighter’s legs, knowing it would hurt Naruto, but it would knock the man off balance enough. The man’s grip on the pipe loosened, and Naruto swung the cuffs into where the fighter tried to grab ahold of it again, effectively knocking the pipe away. The man roared, and the audience joined in. Naruto pulled the blindfold down to hang loosely around his neck, backtracking as the fighter rushed him at incredible speeds. Naruto blocked a punch with the handcuffs, sending the man to overcorrect from the momentum and giving Naruto enough time to get to his side. Naruto jumped up, wrapping his arms around the man, handcuffs securely underneath the fighter’s jaw. The man hollered, and Naruto knew it was only a matter of time before other fighters joined them. Naruto tightened his arms and pulled back with all his might, his right arm screamed in pain, whirring loudly in strain. He forced his left hand to open up, and he could feel the heat from where he was against the flailing man’s back. Naruto grunted, the fighter still getting hits on him, but the bulk of the modifications limited his movements, so he could not fully grab Naruto, luckily enough. The man was shouting at Naruto, but it took all Naruto’s strength and focus to make his left hand spark then push against the cuffs. The scrapes and the holes from the pole grew hot and melted into the fighter’s neck, but ultimately the cuffs fell off Naruto. Naruto rolled backwards, watching the man scream in pain, throat a striking red, even in the darkness, bits and pieces of metal sticking out. Naruto drew back his right fist, just as the man turned, fuming. The machinery creaked, but Naruto felt the air get pulled into his fist. Naruto let the man run at him, and he waited long enough that the man could not dodge him. He threw his fist into the man’s chest, piercing through his chest before air exploded out of him, blood and ribs coating the ground behind him. It was a gruesome, more painful death, but Naruto had limited options. The fighter’s eyes blinked, watching the hole in his chest and probably feeling everything missing. Naruto pulled back, stumbling to his knees, right arm coated in the man’s blood up to his elbow. He winced then looked up. “It’s nothing personal, but you did find me. If you can catch me after that, then you deserve to kill me.” Naruto let out a wheeze of a laugh. “Sorry.” The man then dropped to the ground, anger written on his face, but he was bleeding out, almost instantly, which was good for him. Naruto’s head throbbed again, and he heard a noise nearby. He whipped his head around, searching. There. There were three forms nearby. He couldn’t take one more, let alone three, so he took off, picking at the pieces of the cuffs on his way and shaking the blood off his arm. He sprinted, pushing his legs as hard as they could. He needed to get to the rafters, but he also needed to escape his tails. He skidded to a stop then jumped into the hole to his side. Underground was a labyrinth, easy to get lost in or cornered with tons of dead ends and only three possible escape routes. He knew one way out that would get him to the other side of the Arena, so he took that one. He heard people follow him in, but he was not sure how many. Didn’t matter. He just had to lose them, so he ran, taking a few extra turns before heading to the exit. He was nearing it, and there were no signs of his following, so he hopped up, not bothering to take precaution with it. People could easily ambush him at the hole, but he needed to be out to fend them off. He refused to be trapped underground. Of course, as soon as he escaped, someone smashed a fist into his side, right under his ribcage. He screamed, falling to the ground, left hand gripping where he had been struck. He could barely breathe again, and he could not move his side right away. He caught a glimpse of long dark hair and a family insignia on the fighter’s cheek, an insignia that looked so terribly familiar. The fighter’s arm was still outstretched, fingers straight. It was almost like a jab winded Naruto. That was insane . However, luckily for Naruto, another fighter dropped down, katana in hand and efficiently pushing the other away from Naruto. Unfortunately, it was not to save Naruto because the katana fighter’s voice growled out low. “He’s mine to finish.” Naruto met with the katana inches from his nose. Naruto shook a little. He was in big trouble. “Get up and fight me,” the katana fighter ordered, while the other fighter strayed to the side. They might have been a team, or they knew what exactly Naruto was capable of and wanted to try separately. Sometimes the fighters had these little games among themselves. They also wanted the fame to their names too, the only thing that mattered in the Arena. Naruto groaned, but made it shakily to his feet, glaring at the katana man. He slowly shifted into a stance, mirroring the katana fighter, minus the blade nearly at his neck. “Last guy didn’t put up much of a fight, so hope you’re better,” Naruto snarked, right arm silently taking in the air around them, ready to land a quick, painful punch at the first opening. Katana just glared at him. “I’m even better than you .” Naruto hopped from foot to foot, only to keep his leg modifications ready and to look eager to the audience. “Prove it.” Naruto’s eyes narrowed, teeth bared only slightly. Katana darted forward, no playfulness or showboating, straight to the katana point. Naruto could only brace his right arm into the blade, preventing it from lodging itself in his shoulder. The air in his fist puffed out at the impact. Katana looked like he was expecting the block, so his other hand whipped out, faster than Naruto could even see, glowing a pale blue, fingers straight, and the hairs on Naruto’s arm stood up, almost like it was electrified. Katana’s hand dove toward Naruto’s stomach, the hand with the katana shifting so it slid off Naruto’s arm and the blade swiped down. Naruto jumped back. Katana’s hand slicing through his shirt and across his stomach like it was butter, but at least it didn’t pierce through his stomach or his chest, like it seemed to be going for. However, Naruto was distracted enough that Katana’s blade easily sliced down his leg, opening it up. Naruto stumbled back, recently injured leg flowing with blood from the wound. “Jeez, watch it!” Naruto shouted. “That’s brand new!” He felt like an idiot, but he had to say something, to focus on something other than how fucking fast this guy was. “Fucking idiot,” muttered Katana. Guess he agreed with Naruto. Katana attacked again, sending normal punches, ones that were quick yet strong. Naruto couldn’t see exactly what type of modifications he had, but none that seemed too visible, only the partial arm replacement with his (previously) glowy, electric hand, which was only the hand and wrist of his right hand. “I know what you are, but what am I, bastard?” Naruto stuck out his tongue, dancing around some of the fighter’s moves, but taking more hits than he wanted and not landing too many. His right arm was practically useless, other than normal jabs and punches, while his left only felt hot to his own body. His injured leg made him slower. For a split second, Naruto caught three forms coming from the Underground hole.  Shit. There were at least five opponents now. He really did not like those odds, especially since everyone he had fought with knew who he was and wanted to kill him today. More so than usual. Katana didn’t respond to Naruto, merely placing a sharp kick to his injured leg, which startled Naruto into getting his head back into the fight. Katana was definitely a good opponent. Naruto almost wished they both were 100 percent to test who was actually stronger. Of course, he didn’t really. Kind of. His stomach swooped, and he tackled Katana, left hand striking Katana’s stomach, hot enough to singe the dark gray fabric, but not enough to injure him too much. Even Naruto’s left modifications were inefficient and not working. Naruto needed to escape. Katana shoved him back, eyes shielded by his dark hair, and if Naruto did not know any better, he would have said he thought he saw a flash of red beneath those bangs, but Eye Implants were forbidden here, so Naruto doubted his own eyes.  Naruto’s stomach started to swirl, red hot again, and the panic rose up. Katana gripped his blade in both hands and charged. No, no, not good! Naruto thought fast, rushing forward, swiping a hand over his right arm, hoping the kunai would appear. Luckily two did, so he sent one, making Katana deflect it, slow down for a second, and Naruto jumped into the air and kicked him in the face. Katana blocked it with the flat part of his sword, but it gave Naruto an opening, stomach rage hot, and Naruto snarled, slamming his right palm into Katana’s stomach. He felt the swirl in his stomach, and he focused on that energy (that drive) and forced it into his right hand. In a matter of a second, the air shifted then pulsed, air tunneling between his hand and Katana’s stomach. Katana blinked, and then the air shot from Naruto’s hand, shooting him into and through several metal pieces of buildings. It collapsed down on the man. Naruto was just as shocked as Katana was. Whatever just happened was new. Naruto could feel his second wind, blood thrumming in his veins, that hot rage in his stomach mounting, but the pain was edging along his fingertips. Something was not right. Naruto caught the other fighter, the one with the long dark hair and familiar insignia on his cheek, in a glare. The other was also shocked, and before the other could attack, Naruto threw his punch and all that rage energy into the punch. The fighter shot across the ground, rolling onto his feet when he was able to. However, Naruto was already off, leaping onto platforms and jumping up, up, up.  He needed to get to the rafters before his second wind came crashing down, before anyone caught up with him. Although it only seemed like it was Naruto, Katana and Jab Man, since the bodies of the others were at Jab Man’s feet when he left. Both must be impressive and experienced fighters. And Naruto was trapped with them in a life or death. He needed to hide. The energy was slowly dissipating, his stomach feeling hollow and cold by the second. He could almost see the rafters. He was almost there.  A sharp, painful hit to his back sent him flying to the right, on the highest level before the rafters. He slammed into the ground, landing hard and bouncing to a stop. He thought he heard something snap, either a modification or his own bone, he was not sure. He was just in pain. He hissed, rocking up to his feet, left leg nearly giving out. So that one was broken somewhere, probably a modification since he could still stand on it, and his other was still bleeding out. Katana glided in, silent and deadly. He stalked forward, bangs covering his eyes, and Naruto shifted, left arm covering his chest and stomach, just in case the man attacked. “What now?” Naruto asked after a matter of seconds of complete silence. “I know you don’t talk much, but you know, asked you a question here.” He was mainly talking for a distraction. He needed to find a way out, but Katana was blocking the door. Katana took sure steps forward, and Naruto braced himself. “You’re so eager to know that I still just plan to kill you.” Katana stated, as casually as anything else. Naruto glanced at him, seeing almost no injuries, other than on the fighter’s stomach and some rips in his clothing with some bruises forming, for sure. “All right. Then do it. Kill me,” Naruto swung out his leg just as Katana ran forward. Naruto swiftly moved to the side, not even attempting a punch because he didn’t have time. His energy was fading, and his eyes hurt the most that he could barely keep them open. Katana seemed fine, managing to grab the blindfold around Naruto’s neck when Naruto dodged, pulling Naruto down to the ground with it. Naruto smashed into the ground and groaned, hand going to his neck. Naruto immediately flopped over onto his back, rubbing where the blindfold dug into his skin, coughing a little. He eyed Katana above him, legs sprawled apart, resting back on his hand behind him. It was such a vulnerable position in a fight like this. Naruto felt his stomach swirl again. He didn’t want to die. Naruto tensed, eyes suddenly starting to water. The guilt of leaving everyone here, the failure of not escaping and everything else suddenly dropped onto him. He failed them all; he failed himself. Naruto merely closed his eyes and looked away. He hoped it would be quick. The last bits of his energy were fading, his chest rising and falling at an alarming rate. Katana’s presence was above him now, dark and looming. But not attacking yet. Naruto’s eyes opened and found Katana, eyes black, face emotionless. Some kind of feeling rose in his chest, and Naruto could not explain what it was. It reminded him strangely of that Hyuga girl. Something he wanted to reach out to and protect. But he couldn’t. “Just go ahead and do it!” He blurted out, practically shouting it. Just end it! Kill me!  Katana shifted his hand on his katana, and he swung down. Naruto wanted to accept it, but he kicked Katana’s legs, using them to push himself along the ground, the katana narrowingly finding itself in Naruto’s own leg. He just never did know when to give up. Naruto blinked then laughed once. “Wow, that worked…” Katana stumbled to regain his footing. “What the hell?” Naruto glanced at Katana, whose bangs hid his eyes again. Naruto and Katana just stared at each other; well, Katana glared, and Naruto stared. Naruto suddenly pushed himself to his feet, swiping a finger over his right arm over and over again, kunais floating into his hands, sticking onto his five fingers. “Rematch?” Katana snarled, diving forward, a little less secure and slightly more manic, but still insanely good. Naruto used one of the kunais to block the katana’s blade, while his free hand shoved Katana back, so he could throw a couple kunais, which exploded on impact, covering Katana in smoke. Naruto received a punch so vicious that he knocked into the wall hard and crumbled. He blinked and tried to find Katana, who was standing in the corner, back to him. Naruto felt unease at the movement. Katana had a plan. Smart, experienced, slightly crazy. Naruto had his hands full for this fight. “You want an actual fight, Fox? I’ll give you one,” the fighter said, slowly, threatening. Katana merely slashed the camera in the corner, quick and with laser skill. Naruto always forgot about the cameras, but they were everywhere. Naruto made it to his feet, nodding. His remark was cut off when Katana looked over his shoulder, eyes swirling to a blood red. They were Eye Implants. Naruto’s mouth popped open. Katana turned around, clothes flowing softly behind him, eyes still red with spots of black inside them. “That’s so fucking cool…” Katana merely raised a brow. “So stupid.” Naruto shrugged and gave a little grin. “And that’s stupidly cool and impressive. And illegal, but so cool.” Katana hummed as a response, but he did not seem put off. His eyes flickered over Naruto. “Easier to see what you really are.” Naruto laughed, uneasy. “You can do that without fancy eyes. They have to have something else to them. Show me.” Naruto raised his hands, grinning with his teeth. If he was going to die, he wanted to know more about these Eye Implants. Not every day that Naruto saw them after all. Katana scoffed, but he rushed forward. Naruto let himself take the hit, sending them both falling toward the ground, arms wrapping around the other fighter, so no major body organs of his could get sliced. Katana smacked a hand onto the side of his head to dislodge himself, while his red eyes flared up in annoyance. His modified hand sparked and made the air taste crispy. Naruto merely turned and kicked him away, so they both had to catch themselves along the levels or let themselves fall. Naruto merely let himself fall, bending his knees, so he can tuck into a roll, if need be. He hoped his legs could withstand the drop. This one last time. Naruto slammed into the ground, left knee popping super loudly, and he had to place his right hand out, so he didn’t eat the dirt. Meanwhile Katana easily dropped in front of him, silent and without injury. So both legs must have been modified at some point. Naruto tried to stand up fully, but his body took forever to rise. Naruto chuckled, wheezing a little. “Well that was something, right? Kinda fun.” Katana did not share his sentiments apparently, making his way over to Naruto, seething with silent rage. He twirled the katana in one hand, impressive and scary when Naruto knew he was in no shape to even dodge it now. “Enough,” Katana’s voice was icy. Naruto nodded, lifting his head. He winced, but other than that, he didn’t do anything else but wait. However, luckily enough, Jab Man slid in between them. “Wait,” the man stated, giving Katana a look before glancing back at Naruto. “I think he was the one who saved Hinata.” His eyes were a pale, milky white when they found Naruto’s, veins stretching from his (no doubt) Eye Implants. Naruto’s breath caught, and images of the girl with similar colored eyes pushed forward. He replayed it all again, especially her death. She had a similar mark on her cheek too, but where hers was purple, Jab Man was white. They were related apparently. Naruto stumbled back, emotions rising to the surface. Katana slowed to a stop, eying Jab Man then Naruto. Jab Man looked at Naruto, and it made Naruto feel uncomfortable, like he was looking through him. Jab Man seemed to know exactly where all of Naruto’s modifications were, eyes traveling to each one, but then those eyes paused momentarily on Naruto’s stomach. Naruto covered himself, hands resting over his stomach. “Hey, stop staring, creep! You’re making me feel naked or something…” Jab Man blinked his eyes, the veins disappearing. “Hm, interesting.” Katana gave Jab Man a furious look, eyes flashing red to truly take Naruto in again. Naruto threw his last kunai at Katana, not for a fight, but for him to stop looking. “Next one goes in your eye, bastard.” Katana’s eyes remained red, even as he caught the kunai between his two fingers a mere second before it hit his nose. Naruto tensed, preparing for another fight, even if verbal was the only thing he could do. Finally, Katana’s eyes faded to black, but not after making Naruto squirm for a solid 10 seconds of contact with those eyes. Naruto saw that smirk Katana had too, so he was warranted to hear: “You’re an asshole.” “Idiot.” Katana instantly and plainly responded. Naruto huffed, leaning back against the nearest thing, which happened to be a support beam for a higher level. “Yeah, sure.” He relaxed just a bit. “Are you guys going to kill me, or are we just going to have this weird little get together?” Jab Man didn’t make any move, and when Katana rolled his eyes, Katana holstered his weapon and leaned back against it. So they were at a standstill, although Naruto was certain Katana wanted to disembowel him still. Jab Man was a toss up. He barely attacked Naruto, and he knew of Hinata (that Hyuga girl from years ago), so that must be something. Naruto rested his head against the support, groaning. “Hey.” Naruto hesitated, knowing the audience would get all queasy without any more bloodshed. However, he wanted to savor the little bit of normalcy. Naruto pushed himself up, moving slowly because of his injuries, but also because the fighters before him would probably cut him down in three seconds flat. He walked a few steps closer, offering his left. “Hi, I’m Naruto Uzumaki, and you guys are?” Jab Man’s brows raised up in confusion, but that was all Naruto could see. Katana just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. “Naruto’s my real name!” Naruto added, so there was no confusion. “And I thought I’d introduce myself, so I can figure out your guys’ names, unless I should call you ‘Jab Man’ and ‘Katana’? Katana is pretty cool, but Jab Man needs a little work on the nickname.” Katana sighed, grabbing Naruto’s left hand roughly and shaking it. “Sasuke Uchiha. Or the Deserter.” Katana – or Sasuke apparently – released Naruto’s hand like it physically pained him to even touch. “What? He’s not going to shut up unless we tell him.” Uchiha sounded extremely familiar, probably one of those rich families that wanted fame on their name probably… Naruto just beamed. “Damn right I won’t!” Jab Man narrowed his eyes, but then his expression softened faintly. “Neji Hyuga. Byakugan.” He took Naruto’s hand and shook it cautiously, but politely. Naruto smiled. So they had been related somehow. “Cool, nice to meet you guys.” Neji (Jab Man) released Naruto’s hand, nodding. “Likewise.” Naruto flashed him two thumbs up and a canine-y grin. The three went silent, and surprisingly Neji broke it. “Thank you for trying to save Hinata.” Naruto’s heart clenched. “Wish I actually could have.” Naruto frowned, rubbing his stomach in thought, the slow lazy bits of his swirling energy in his stomach was settling and making him feel cold. “You did. More than you will ever know.” Naruto bit his lip, hugging his arms around himself subtly. “I hope so.” He might not feel like he saved Hinata, although he did, but only temporarily. Neji placed a hand on his shoulder, briefly but grounding enough that Naruto did not get sucked into his memories. So much had happened over the last few days, and Naruto never got a chance to process it. It was all a bit much. Naruto gave him a tiny smile, but it washed away when the audience groaned and started to get riled up, and Neji awkwardly released him soon after. “Think we have a few minutes until they punish us?” Neji and Sasuke looked at him funny. Naruto responded by rubbing the back of his neck. “You don’t have to go through those spectacles or have to do another fight after this or anything?” Neji blinked his pale eyes, confused. “No.” Sasuke crossed his arms, raising a brow. “Do you?” Naruto coughed, shrugging. “Nahh, just heard of things like that, you know?” He tried to laugh. “The walls talk or whatever. Some crazy things!” Sasuke’s jaw clenched a bit, while Neji looked like he didn’t believe him for either what he was saying or if not believing him for just hearing things. Sasuke stared at him, eyes piercing through Naruto more than Neji’s did, and Naruto didn’t understand why either. “What?” “Hypothetically,” Sasuke started, slow and unbothered that the crowd was beginning to boo them and shout at the lack of action. “If you heard these things, what other punishments might a person get?” Naruto paused, running his fingers through his hair then gently pulling at the blindfold still around his neck. “Uhh, I don’t actually know?” He fiddled with the fabric at his neck absentmindedly before he ripped it off and tossed it to the ground. “Could be anything. But they’re just stories, right?” Sasuke’s eyes flashed red and narrowed. “Stop lying, and tell me what you heard , Uzumaki.” Naruto’s stomach swooped, but not in an entirely bad way. Neji watched the interaction, but said nothing. He did look off, veins appearing by his eyes as if he was scanning the area for any extra opponents nearby and could actually see them. Naruto was grateful for whatever he was doing. “Well, just what I said. All of that and added issues to the start of fights. Some modifications being forced onto people. Those spectacles, where there’s a one way mirror to make the fighters watch. Those ANBU soldiers just do whatever they want to you in the middle of the night. Stealing kids, innocent people forced into the fights, people being sold into the Arena. You’ve never heard of any of this?” Naruto raised a brow. “Are you guys new here?” Sasuke’s eyes returned to normal. “First time here actually. Just got in today.” Neji turned back to them, eyes going back to normal as well, the veins dissolving away. “I was here last week.” Naruto tilted his head. “So like you thought to just join up with the Arena or..?” “I’m looking for someone,” Sasuke admitted. “I go to different Arenas, fight the highest fight, and in exchange, they tell me if they know where my brother is.” “I was trying to find where Hinata was sent off to.” Neji replied. Naruto had nodded along, not completely taking it all in, since the audience was acting up more. Naruto shifted, uneasy. They needed to end this fight or something. Then, what the two said registered in his sluggish brain. “Wait… Different Arenas? And what do you mean try to find your brother or Hinata?” “There are Arenas everywhere. How do you not know that?” Sasuke shook his head, glaring at him. “How long have you been here?” Naruto looked disgusted for a moment. “Everywhere?” Naruto kicked at the ground, looking at his shoe. “Who ever thought that was a good idea is a moron.” He chose to not say how long he had been imprisoned. Neji spoke up before Sasuke could. “Have you heard of anyone going missing from their clan or being sold for modifications for the family?” Naruto shrugged. “Well yeah, of course.” “Hinata was sold into an Arena for my father, and no one knew where she went, while Sasuke’s brother disappeared from one of the Arenas somewhere.” Naruto softened. “Oh, I’m so fucking sorry. That’s gotta be rough. Poor Hinata too.” Neji nodded. “But we found her.” Sasuke hummed, irritated. “And still haven’t found Itachi.” Naruto stumbled and leaned back against the support behind him. He was getting exhausted again. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll try to keep a lookout for him. I’ll probably be around.” Naruto gave Sasuke a weak grin. “I’m sure you’ll find him.” “After I fight their best fighters and take them apart one by one.” Sasuke grunted out. “Ah, that’s a sunshine response.” Naruto couldn’t help the little giggle come from himself. He was getting woozy now. He slumped back against the beam, not trying to be inconspicuous anymore. He really could not stand up any longer. “But you should. Take them down from the inside out. Best for everyone.” Sasuke and Neji turned to him, looking like he was crazy for some reason. Or maybe they were worried about how he looked like death. Naruto wasn’t sure. Naruto leaned his head against the beam, face burning hot, while the beam was cold. “So much bullshit around this Arena. Couldn’t figure out there’s others too. That’s insane.” He was muttering to himself, trying to figure it out. Plus at his cell, the only person listening was him anyway. He was losing it, but he couldn’t be bothered to stop. Naruto closed his eyes, so close to just passing out by now. He vaguely heard Sasuke and Neji shift next to him and maybe they moved away. He didn’t have the energy to care, but he did crack open an eye when the Arena shuddered, dust raining from the ceiling and rafters overhead. Naruto opened both his eyes now, noticing Sasuke and Neji standing closer to him. And there was someone up top and the announcer was saying something, but Naruto’s ears were ringing too loud for him to hear it. However, that figure looked like Old Man Sarutobi. However, the man’s eyes were black where they should have been white, and a Skull Transplant was visible at the man’s temple. Naruto’s stomach cramped up, the energy flaring to life only briefly. This wasn’t good. Whoever that was. Look-a-Like Old Man Sarutobi’s voice cracked through somehow. “It looks like we need to bring in another fighter. An old time favorite, The Teleporter! Let's see how our fighters compare to the legend.” The Old Man smiled, forced and hurting it seemed. Then he disappeared from the door above. The Arena shook again, the ceiling rising up another level, beyond the rafters a few more yards, revealing another door, this one made of steel and closed off with wires and hinges. Sirens wailed, a red light swirling and flashing, and air rushed into the Arena, knocking Neji and Sasuke back a few feet with the force. Naruto covered his face with his right arm, still propped up by the support beam, but he could still feel how it shook and bowed behind him. “Watch out – this is new,” He shouted over the wind. He figured he’d let Neji and Sasuke know, to prepare them. Sasuke and Neji glanced at him, Neji glancing at him from the side and Sasuke turning around to face him for a split second. Naruto didn’t think they appreciated his comment. He had to let them know. They were more at the ready than he was. The door slowly opened, gears shifting and popping with each drop until it revealed complete and total darkness. Both Sasuke and Neji were staring into the abyss, and Naruto could see their Eye Implants activated. Sasuke was the first to react, jerking back some, while Neji got into a fighting stance right after. Naruto gritted his teeth against the pain to stumble his way forward, eyes trained on the darkness across the room. He squinted against the darkness, seeing nothing with his normal eyes. The door let out one last puff of air, the bottom dropping out of sight. Everyone was silent, even the audience. Sasuke’s jaw clenched, and he reached back with his left hand, retrieving his katana, red eyes never leaving the darkness. Neji’s veins by his eyes deepened as he stared into the opened door. From his arms and his legs, a pale white glow started to form, cool enough to feel from where Naruto was. Neji was modified through all his limbs. Naruto couldn’t even tell. It would make sense why the jab knocked him down as much as it did. The pale glow expanded to cover the rest of Neji’s body, looking like a cloudy white when it connected with his activated Eye Implants. Naruto tore his eyes away, focusing back on the door. He clenched his right hand, urging it to cooperate for a few more minutes. Naruto saw the red dots within the darkness before anything else. They disappeared for a second, as quick as a blink, but then returned the next second in the same position. The red dots started to come closer, shadows slinking away as the figure seemed to hover above the ground. The figure was slowly revealed, the red dots shifting with each moment until the figure dropped to the ground. The figure’s eyes (or what were those red dots) spun, a blazing red and black, expanding from his pupil like a pinwheel. A soft green glow started to illuminate from his fingertips, while his eyes slid along the three of them. “Don’t look, Naruto!” Sasuke said, but it was too late, the red eyes connected with him, and he couldn’t turn away. It was similar yet different to how Sasuke’s eyes held him. This one was more like he couldn’t look away, almost like he was forced to stay put, and the weirdest thing after was that he started to see things on the edges of his visions, like hallucinations almost. The eyes flickered away from him, and the connection lessened, but Naruto could only blink sluggishly, watching in slow motion as the figure – the famous Teleporter – actually teleported , flashing half the distance to them, through obstacles and within a second. This guy was super fast! And this guy was focused on Sasuke, Eye Implants locked on Sasuke’s. All of Sasuke’s fingertips lit up, actual flames forming, katana starting to get encased with his fire. However, he had no time to attack before the Teleporter blinked and phased right in front of Sasuke. Naruto thought Sasuke was done for, but suddenly the yellow warning lights flashed and sirens blared, the door to let people into the Arena opened, and then another person seemingly flashed into existence, faster than Naruto could keep up with. The new arrival appeared between Sasuke and the Teleporter, within breathing distance to Sasuke and seemingly punching distance to the Teleporter. The new man was covered in a red hue, eyes blazing red in another similar pinwheel, but it was more circular. The Teleporter stumbled back once, a red glow emitting from his cheek before it faded (the arrival had punched him away). Then the new arrival’s left hand snapped, lighting a flame over his pointer finger and thumb. They were both modified, but they were going to fast for Naruto to figure out exactly how. The arrival whipped out his arm, drawing a line of fire in the air before he threw it down to the ground. The ground erupted into a large blast, cutting the Teleporter off from Naruto, Neji, Sasuke and the other man. The other man easily walked through to the other side, meeting the Teleporter. They both gave each other a look, maybe something like the Teleporter did to Naruto. They were battling it out mentally or something. Either way, the silence broke when the Teleporter charged forward, green encasing his arms now. The arrival deflected with his own arm, the green and red melding together for a split second before they separated. The three of them were too stunned to speak or move, watching how the two practically danced around each other, blow for blow. Then the Teleporter phased out of existence with his speed and sent a staggering punch to the arrival, who flew sideways, but managed to flip and settle himself on his hand, practically doing a one-handed handstand like it was nothing. Naruto was mesmerized by the skill and speed of both of them. He wondered if he ever looked like that or it was just this legend and whoever else that was. The Teleporter locked eyes with him again, and he was stuck. The Teleporter phased out of Naruto’s view, but the red eyes burned into his, and Naruto could swear that he saw multiple versions of the Teleporter rushing him. Just when the Teleporter appeared, almost within their safety circle of fire, the arrival practically appeared next to the Teleporter, grabbing the Teleporter by the jaw, right hand coming up, a deep red smoke escaping from his wrist and the ring he had on. Then the arrival blew the smoke right into the Teleporter’s face. The Teleporter staggered back, as if in pain, blood coming from both his eyes. Yet he never screamed or yelled, just tried to wipe the smoke off him. The arrival gave the three of them a quick glance, the leftover smoke lingering. “Itachi,” Sasuke stated, voice sounding deep, a little hurt if Naruto listened really hard, when they all finally got a decent look at the man’s face. The man, clearly Itachi, since he smiled just a bit at Sasuke, nodded once. Before he became serious again, his left hand rose up, a similar red smoke appearing. This time he blew it straight into all three of their faces. Neji and Sasuke shielded their faces, rubbing their eyes in anticipation of the burn or blood like the Teleporter experienced, while Naruto accidentally inhaled deeply. A swirl of that energy in his stomach lit up faintly and his vision sharpened, and the shapes beyond his vision disappeared. Neji and Sasuke appeared to be blinking too now, no pain or distress. This was a different type of smoke than the one Itachi used on the Teleporter. Naruto could move again, and he physically shuddered to prove it to himself, but he refused to lose sight of the Teleporter and Itachi. Itachi merely surveyed him, a quiet glance, before the Teleporter attacked again. The Teleporter phased in and out again, and Naruto could almost see him in three different places at once. Meanwhile Itachi backpedaled, going so fast backwards that he was practically gliding across the ground. He evaded the attacks, taking on hits from the side and front, but not seeming to get too hurt somehow. Naruto could not see it, but his stomach plummeted, unease and anger boiling again. He snapped forward, hands outstretched before he shoved Sasuke and Neji back behind him, just as the Teleporter appeared within the fire. Neji slid backward, while Sasuke accidentally dropped his katana when Naruto pushed them back. Itachi blinked from yards away, but it took him about the same time for him to reach Naruto for the Teleporter to strike him as hard as he could, green slamming into him like a truck. Itachi’s body heat was touching Naruto’s right arm, and Naruto couldn’t inhale, eyes wide. Itachi had the Teleporter around the wrist, and Itachi must have pushed the other’s hand down, since Naruto was certain it was going to crush his chest into pieces. Naruto wished that Itachi just shoved the Teleporter away from him, if he was that fast, but it could have been worse. Either way, Naruto didn’t dare move, and the Teleporter didn’t move either, all three of them watching as the Teleporter’s hand dug into Naruto’s stomach. It didn’t cut through skin, bone or internal organs somehow. It was free of blood, but the strangest thing was that the green from the Teleporter’s hand started to get pulled into Naruto’s stomach. Naruto gasped, body getting a complete shock of energy. His fingers tingled, his stomach swooped, the ache in his modifications lessened and his eye twitched. A soft, orangey-red glow spread from his stomach, but the Teleporter withdrew his hand before any more of that green could get sucked into Naruto. The Teleporter’s lips formed something suspiciously like: “Energy Replacement.” Itachi’s lack of emotion or surprise gave Itachi away. Itachi had known something was up with Naruto, or rather his stomach. Before anyone else could react, the Teleporter snapped out his hand and Itachi flew across the Arena, smashing through a few of the levels. The Teleporter was encased in full green hues. Naruto could almost see a form or creature in that green, but Naruto decided not to stare. The Teleporter was pulling back for another attack, so Naruto forced his newfound energy into his right arm. He drew back and smashed the Teleporter right in the middle of his forehead. The Teleporter shot across the ground, digging into the ground with the force of Naruto’s punch. Naruto placed his hands together. “All right.” He stepped forward, leaving Sasuke and Neji a few more steps behind him. “Stand back.” He gave them each a glance, and fortunately, they must have seen something in his eyes and stayed out of the way. Naruto had limited time, but he doubted Itachi could completely take out the Teleporter, and he knew Neji and Sasuke weren’t as fast as Itachi either. Naruto didn’t believe he was fast enough either, but he would give it his all, even if the energy took everything with it. Naruto turned to the Teleporter, the ground shaking and rising above the ground when the Teleporter stood up, almost unphased. Naruto’s eyes twitched again, just as the Teleporter started to phase in and out with his speed. It was insane how fast the Teleporter was; Naruto could not keep track— 
Wait.
 
What’s that?
 
There’s something…
 
There!
 Naruto could see a yellow sheen in his vision, almost a step in front of the Teleporter on the left. Naruto rushed forward, leaping over the fire, which was dying down now. He ran straight into the Teleporter, but he phased right through that one. He wasn’t after that one either. It was the Teleporter on the left. Naruto focused on both of his hands, placing the palms of them together. The wind in the area picked up, whipping his clothes and drawing into his clasped hands. His hands sparked, the air creating currents, soft static blending into them as they reached his hands. As he approached the Teleporter, at the last second, the Teleporter switched positions, and the yellow sheen flashed all the way to the right. Naruto only had a moment to switch his hands, right outstretched, left above it to amplify it. The Teleporter was too fast, so the Teleporter phased just an inch out of reach, and Naruto was left half falling, but he struck out his left foot to stop himself. Naruto’s eyes caught a glimpse of Itachi to his left, so he put all the rest of his energy to his left foot, propelling him straight into the Teleporter, right hand connecting with his chest. He hoped Itachi would come to his aid. Itachi instantly appeared between the Teleporter and where Sasuke and Neji were, his own hand outstretched. However, his hand pierced into the Teleporter’s eye socket, retrieving an eye, and Itachi stepped to the side to allow the Teleporter to whiz past him. The Teleporter flew into the post that Naruto had been leaning on earlier, right in between Neji and Sasuke, who leaped out of the way in time. When the Teleporter and Naruto’s attack stopped, the wood and metal splintered then exploded, showering everyone, including the audience with metal bits. Something bright escaped from the wreckage, and Naruto might be a little delirious because that looked like what he imagined sunlight used to be. Naruto’s attention came back, just as the Teleporter stumbled out of the wreckage, clothes ruined, but with minimal injuries somehow.  Was he seriously that fast? Or durable? And why didn’t Itachi attack or fry him? If the Teleporter was stuck between Naruto and Itachi’s attacks with nowhere to go, he would at least be unconscious. Naruto groaned in annoyance, glaring over at Itachi, who only had an Eye Implant in his hand. “Why didn’t you actually attack him?!” Itachi didn’t give him a response, just threw up the Eye Implant, and pointed up. A crow suddenly appeared, taking hold of the Eye Implant and swallowing it. Then it squawked, landing on Itachi’s shoulder before it blinked, a red eye like the Teleporter’s staring back at him. No, wait, maybe it was the Teleporter’s? Naruto stared at the crow, then Itachi, but then looked to the approaching Teleporter, who was unnervingly close to Sasuke and Neji. Naruto rushed forward, but Itachi’s crow dove, swift and as fast as the Teleporter had been. The crow dove into the Teleporter’s face, and he finally let out a scream. The Teleporter suddenly stopped, the crow almost pausing where his eye had been before taking off into the bright light within the wreckage. The Teleporter’s hand went to his missing eye, a fleeting, curious touch. Then he looked around confused, singular eye locating Itachi and blinking to black for a moment or two. Itachi and the Teleporter shared a look, and that moment broke the crowd. ANBU forces stormed the Arena and the audience was freaking out. But Naruto could only stare at the silent conversation that Itachi and the Teleporter were having. Sasuke and Neji were also at a loss. Sasuke was scowling, tense, while Neji was trying to figure out what was happening with the two silent men, just as tense or even more so than Sasuke. Naruto crept his way toward Sasuke and Neji during the look, the energy in his stomach feeling like a pit now, uneasy and sluggish. The Teleporter’s body visibly shivered, as if fighting back a cold or some unknown force. Then he said, “I.. I can’t fight it, Itachi. You need to protect them.” His voice was scratchy from lack of use. “Get them out. You’re the only one that can.” Naruto could practically sense when the Teleporter’s resolve crumbled. The Teleporter straightened up, red implant swirling back to life, and the Teleporter looked directly at Naruto, face expressionless. Naruto’s stomach clenched, and just as the Teleporter’s body darted forward, Naruto rushed to put himself in between the man and Sasuke and Neji. However, Naruto’s body refused to cooperate, so he made it a few feet then stumbled, bumping into Neji, who almost went down but managed to stabilize them both. Naruto merely lurched forward, hand on his knee to stop himself from completely falling, eyes snapping up just as the Teleporter phased out and into existence. He was not able to move, none of them could dodge either. Naruto flinched, turning his head and closing his eyes for the inevitable hit, body tensed to brace for it. He might not be making it out alive. The connection sounded like an explosion, cracking the air so loud that Naruto’s ears were ringing. Yet he felt only the air, not the force of the blow. Naruto cracked open an eye and looked ahead of him. The Teleporter’s face was less than a foot away from his, fist even closer, but blocked by an object. When Naruto’s eyes focused, despite the smoke and dust, Naruto’s eyes grew huge. He glanced to the fist surrounding the Teleporter’s then to the arm attached to it. Blood ran down the skin, starting at the fist all the way to the elbow, purple wires from the modifications stuck out in miscellaneous directions, while pieces of metal peaked through where there shouldn’t be metal. Naruto followed the mangled arm in order to see the owner’s face. It was Sasuke ! Sasuke was glancing at Naruto over his shoulder, eyes blood red and shining, face almost scary looking in anger, but with only a slight tightness to his jaw to signify how painful it must have been. Sasuke must have just had enough speed to shift an arm out, his left, to prevent a killing blow to Naruto’s head. At the expense of Sasuke’s left arm though. Naruto didn’t know what to think, simply flabbergasted, mouth open in his shock. No one protected him. Ever.  Luckily, Naruto was stunned, but so was the Teleporter. The Teleporter blinked slowly, as if in another inner fight. Then that eye narrowed, and his fist drew away from Sasuke’s, still barely showing any strain from the connection. Before the Teleporter could act, Itachi zipped in and punched him straight through the Arena’s wall, pushing him into the stands where the audience was still scrambling to escape, but the Teleporter easily went in between them all without issue. 
Whoa, Itachi had speed, strength and precision…
 Or at least that was what Naruto gathered with this fight. Naruto’s gaze fell onto Itachi, who looked livid. He wondered if that was because of the Teleporter, Sasuke’s injury or if Itachi was just that pissed off. Iachi turned to Naruto, face merely annoyed now. Itachi grabbed Naruto by the shoulder. Then they both phased directly to where the light was shining into the Arena, and Itachi shoved him through, even when Naruto struggled against him. “Hey, wait! What about Neji and Sasuke? We can’t just leave them there!!” The last thing he saw was Neji’s look of (if Naruto didn’t know any better) semi-concern and Sasuke’s narrowed gaze. Naruto didn’t get a chance to complain or fight back anymore before he stumbled through the hole, and it closed up where he came through. Wood covered the hole, so he could only stare. He left them all in there. His eyes started to glaze over, and although the energy in his stomach started to disappear again, he wanted to run in and take them all out. He didn't start throwing punches, but it was a close call. The wood on the door slinked out behind him and caught his attention, preventing him from stupidly charging in. He was ready to punch someone’s head in though, so whoever this was would have to suffice. He turned around, and after his eyes adjusted to the bright light around him, he saw more than one person. In fact, he counted three: two men and one woman, all around middle aged, a little older than Itachi and the Teleporter seemed to be. The man closest to Naruto was crouched down, left palm touching the ground, right arm appeared to be a complete replacement, and it was perpendicular to the left in order to amplify it. The wood from the wall remained there, but a trail of wood and metal slid its way to where the man’s left palm was. He also had a scar along his left eye, Eye Implant red, but with a few black dots next to his pupil. The rest of the man was covered, so Naruto could not tell how modified he was. He was dressed in a mask covering half his face, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and a green tactical vest. So evidently modified and a fighter of sorts. The woman and man behind him were also modified. Naruto could see that the second man was littered with scars along his right side, pieces of arm replacements scattered within the scar tissue, like he had seen many fights. He had purple and white baggy clothes, as well as a glove on his left hand, so he couldn’t make out every modification, but Naruto absolutely knew that the right side had to be modified quite severely, even though that was covered by a sleeve, and that the man’s left hand had been modified, although hidden by the glove. Definitely another fighter, probably very experienced by the looks of it. At last, there was the woman. She hovered by the second man, practically touching his right arm. She had purple marks on her cheeks, but nothing visible with modifications, except for the one that Naruto noticed peeking out of the top of her shirt. Seemed to be one of those chest modifications. He had seen one during his fight, and that person lost consciousness from going too high up too quickly. He wondered what hers was about and if she had been a fighter with that. She didn’t seem like much of one though, especially with the lack of scars, outward modifications or transplants and with that obvious disadvantage. Naruto would not discount her though, just in case. It would be stupid to think someone wasn’t a fighter. He just witnessed how Itachi and the Teleporter looked pretty normal, plus or minus some visible modifications. Yet they were the craziest fighters he had seen so far! He would have to be careful. He balled his fists, shifting in a stance, although it was painful and unsteady. “You want a fight too, assholes?” He glared, trying to look unruffled and ready. The man in front with the Eye Implant slowly stood, hands up in a placating manner, lazily slouching. “We mean you no harm.” The red eye blinked to a dark, normal color, and the man’s other eye opened and revealed itself as the same black. “We’re actually here to get you out.” The man then had the audacity to smile just a bit, eyes crinkling some, trying to make himself seem less threatening. It was working, but Naruto refused to let his defenses fall… at least not all together. Naruto hesitated then bared his teeth a little. “Fine, then let me back in first!” He demanded. “We can’t just leave them there. Then I might believe you.” The closest man hummed softly, not appearing phased by Naruto’s display. “It’s not as simple as that, Naruto. Unfortunately, we can’t let you go back in right now.” His two companions, however, did tense up slightly, the man especially, while the woman looked a bit concerned. However, Naruto’s surprise must have been visible on his face at his true name coming from a stranger’s mouth, since no one attacked or said much else. Naruto went to open his mouth, though, because he really could not leave those two alone in there. Itachi, he wasn’t too keen on yet, but Sasuke and Neji, he had to make sure they got out. The man suddenly cut him off. “Excuse me, one second.” His Eye Implant flared a bright red, but it didn’t hold Naruto immobile and Naruto’s stomach didn’t clench up surprisingly. It was more calming than scary, unlike the Teleporter’s or even Sasuke’s. Still kind of cool, but not seemingly aggressive. Anyway, the man crouched back down, left palm touching the ground again. The wood spread from the man’s hand then darted across the ground before connecting with the side of the building, stretching up the side before it crumbled, revealing an entry into the Arena. Within a second, Sasuke then Neji were shoved outside, and the Arena wall got replaced. The wood on the ground retreated back into the man’s palm, and the man stood up. “There.” The man let out an almost satisfied sigh, standing up again. “That’s done.” The Eye Implant melted away, regular eye color visible. Naruto’s heart clenched. At least Sasuke and Neji were alive. Neji didn’t appear to be affected, white robes more dirty than anything, but he did have some cuts and scratches. Meanwhile, Sasuke was dirty, left arm completely bloody now and shaking in most definitely pain. Sasuke suddenly threw his right hand into the wooden wall then directed an intense glare at the man closest to them. “Kakashi, let me back in. Itachi is right there .” The man (apparently Kakashi) with the singular Eye Implant just gave Sasuke a look, unbothered with Sasuke’s gaze and maybe semi-annoyed with Sasuke’s demand. “You know I can’t. We have to leave.” Kakashi glanced sideways at Naruto now. “I’m sorry but we’ll explain more later, but right here, we’ll get caught.” Naruto tore his gaze from Sasuke and the wall, eyes finding this Kakashi. “No.” Naruto clenched his right hand a little. “I’m not leaving. We can’t leave Itachi,” Naruto might not know Itachi, but he owed Sasuke for saving his life. “And we can’t leave the rest of them. They have kids inside. We– I will not leave them here. They wouldn’t make it.” Naruto took a step toward Kakashi, right hand taking in what little air it could, jaw jutted out in determination. “And I made a promise. I’m going to save them. I refuse to break that.” The three older individuals, especially the two males, no doubt felt the shift from Naruto’s right arm replacement, but Naruto refused to back down. “I’m going back in.” Kakashi went to respond, but the man behind him started talking, voice deeper than Naruto expected. “And you will. But not today,” the man said, voice full of conviction and authority, full of knowledge of something, making it seem as if he had been in a similar situation to Naruto even. “You go in there, and you will die. You won’t succeed in anything, besides getting yourself killed, just like the Arena wanted. But come with us, and you can and will save them all.” Naruto paused, and Kakashi added, a little less stern and a bit more soft, reassuring even. “You’ll be able to save more than just them too. But right now, the Teleporter will kill you. Plus Danzo is already moving people out as we speak. They’ll be gone before you can do anything to help.” “But we can’t just leave them–” “We won’t.” Kakashi continued. “We have two men on the inside, and we won’t leave them either. We just need to go then come back. We’ll get prepared, so we can take them down.” The words made sense, but Naruto wasn’t hearing it all the way. “And if you don’t let me come back? What then?” Naruto couldn’t trust these fighters. Fighters always lied, and he felt like he was abandoning his Arena, those kids, Konohamaru, everyone else there that deserved to escape even more than he did. “And if I– if I just leave and then they all die?” The woman stepped forward now, voice kind. “Hey, it’s okay. We know you’re scared and worried about them, but we promise, all we want is to get you out. You’ll be free to come back and protect them when you’re feeling better.” She smiled. Although the man behind her looked wary that she was approaching Naruto, she took another step closer. “And if you want, only if you want, you can help us save everyone too. But it’ll be your choice, Naruto.” Naruto’s breath caught. He had never had a choice. His throat burned just a little at the thought and at the woman’s sincerity. He could almost picture his mother somehow, if he thought real hard about it. “And they won’t be able to fight until they find a new Arena. You have time to heal and figure it out, Naruto,” Kakashi mentioned. “And like Rin said, you have a choice out here. We won’t take that away from you. Besides, you and I both know that if you get captured by them after that last fight, that it will all change.” Naruto looked at him, confused, a little guarded again and slightly unsure what the man meant. Kakashi’s eyes glanced at his stomach, and Naruto’s stomach plummeted in response. “You do know what I’m talking about, right?” His eyes were back to Naruto’s in less than a blink. Naruto had tried to ignore it for some time now, but he had a vague idea what Kakashi was talking about. He might have been modified with an Energy Replacement. He didn’t know how or when or where even, and he didn’t see any visible marks on his stomach either. But if Naruto had an Energy Replacement, he would have to face realteration and memory categorization. That sounded suspiciously like altering, changing or hiding memories to him. Either way, Naruto knew for certain that they’d crack him open to see what they could find, and even if they didn’t find anything, they could very well still realter him. Besides, it wasn’t the first time something weird happened to Naruto with his stomach, even if it wasn’t a modification like that. He recalled something when he was younger, too. And since Naruto knew what the Arena was like, he understood they would do whatever they wanted to him where modifications of his body were concerned. Even if it was something suspected, rather than confirmed with something even potentially illegal, they wouldn’t allow it to go unlooked. Naruto’s anger crumbled at their comments, brain going through what everyone said. Logically it was all going to be okay, even if Naruto’s gut didn’t like leaving now. Logically, it was the safest bet for himself, too. Naruto glanced at the Arena behind them, the smoke pillowing up into the sky, the entire Arena slanted to the side. Naruto gave it a thought and gave the three’s statements some thought too. Then he nodded, whipping his head back around to glare at the three strangers. “I’ll come with you, only to heal up. And even if you guys don’t come with me, I am coming back. I will not abandon any of them. I will even find Itachi and that Teleporter guy. Make sure they escape too. And I will take down this Arena, for everyone that suffered here, for Hinata, for those kids, all of them. With or without your help. So you better stay out of my way then!” Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto saw Sasuke and Neji drift closer to him. He hoped they were on his side, but Naruto couldn’t believe it if they were. He honestly didn’t care. He was going to take down his Arena, save as many people as he could. He escaped , and he was going to get them out. Naruto released the air in his right fist, what little there was, and he stepped forward, closer to Kakashi, but less threatening now. “And then… Only then, will we talk about these other Arenas. Mine comes first.” Kakashi looked at him for a moment then nodded. “It’s a deal.” Then his eyes crinkled again, a weird smile, but a smile nonetheless. A smile at Naruto for whatever reason. A smile in agreement too, oddly enough. Naruto jerked his head in a nod, an almost smile coming to his lips. “Good. Now let’s–” Then the most blinding pain hit his head, and he collapsed to the ground, not realizing he was screaming, but he was. It felt like earlier, when the Arena’s sirens and influence knocked him unconscious without a touch from the ANBU soldiers. So it was definitely something inside him. Naruto gripped his ears, the ringing so loud, and he felt the blood trickle between his fingertips. There was a commotion around him, but he couldn’t focus. He couldn’t even see now. The pain was unbearable, and he felt like he was going to be sick or his head was going to pop, or both probably. His body slumped forward just as something stuck behind his ear, a burning sensation rolling along his ear and briefly down his neck. But then the pain and noise stopped, and he gasped in a sharp breath. He sucked in breaths upon breaths, the pain ebbing away and his vision slowly but surely coming back. “Sh-shit,” Naruto slurred out, tasting his own blood in his mouth (probably from his teeth cutting him slightly), fingers gingerly probing behind his ear. Then he felt it. Something was crushed beneath his skin, something small and rectangular. Something so close to his brain that the Arena could use to force him unconscious. The Arena put something inside him to control him, even if it was limited control, and he didn’t even know. Naruto’s hands fell to the ground beside his knees, leaving him sitting on his haunches but bowed forward, eyes unblinkingly staring at the ground as it sank in. He should have realized it sooner when no one else heard the noise and when he knew something was suspicious. What else couldn’t he control? He knew he had issues with his modifications, and that was more evidence to the Arena fucking with them mid-fight too. Naruto really had no choice in that Arena, and the Arena was playing him all along. He hated to find out what else they did to his head though. His breathing picked up just thinking about it. Naruto glanced up at the people around him, trying not to breathe, but still trying to calm down, trying to ignore the rising panic. He barely saw their forms, but he could see Kakashi knelt down, as if he wanted to check him but didn’t want to spook him further. He could see Sasuke staring at him from behind Neji; Rin and the second man appeared concerned, standing directly behind Kakashi, the closest they’ve been to him since he escaped. He saw Neji’s milky white glow start to fade. Neji must have jabbed and destroyed that thing in his head somehow. That thing inside his head . Naruto’s brain could only focus on that. It was in his head. The Arena was in his head. They had been inside his head. They made modifications on his body and inside his head now. Naruto tried to suck in a breath, realizing he shouldn’t hold it too late, but when he tried to breathe, he found he couldn’t. Fuck, fuck, no no no, not now. His hand went to his chest, unable to take in air, even though his chest rose and fell quickly under his hand. He was going to have a panic attack around strangers, after he just escaped the Arena… The Arena that was messing with his head. That had been messing with his head for years probably. Everything was so fuzzy – his head, his vision, his fucking memories even. What did it mean ? He just couldn’t take it, and he gave into the panic, letting it swallow him into darkness for the first time in a while. He just hoped these five strangers didn’t do anything to him while he was unconscious… Or even if these strangers were real at this point…   
~ (To Be Continued) ~