*Naruto: The Dragonoid's Legacy*
The medical tent was bustling with activity as various Genin were checked over after their matches. Naruto sat on one of the examination tables, trying very hard to appear calm while internally panicking.
*Please don't notice anything weird, please don't notice anything weird, please don't notice anything weird...*
A medical ninja—a woman in her thirties with kind eyes—examined his arms where Neji's strikes had landed. "Remarkable," she muttered. "The Hyuga boy sealed several of your chakra points, but they're already starting to open up again. Your recovery rate is impressive."
"Hehe, I heal fast!" Naruto scratched the back of his head nervously. "Always have!"
*Thanks to the Kyuubi,* he thought. *And now the dragonoid thing probably makes it even faster.*
The medical ninja nodded, making notes on her clipboard. "Well, you're cleared to continue. Try not to overexert yourself in your next match. That Rasengan took a lot out of you."
"Will do! Thanks!" Naruto hopped off the table, relieved to escape before she noticed anything unusual.
As he stepped out of the tent, he was immediately mobbed.
"NARUTO!" Sakura crashed into him with a hug that would've broken ribs on a normal person. Naruto's dragonoid durability meant he barely felt it, though he made appropriate pained noises anyway. "That was AMAZING! You were so cool out there! When did you learn the Fourth Hokage's jutsu?!"
"Pervy Sage taught me!" Naruto grinned, gently extracting himself from the hug. "It was super hard, but I got it down! What'd you think, Sakura-chan?"
"I think you've been holding out on us," a lazy voice drawled.
Shikamaru approached with his hands in his pockets, his usual bored expression in place, but his eyes were sharp and analytical. "That wasn't just training, Naruto. People don't change that much in one month. Your speed, your strength, even the way you think tactically now—something else happened."
Naruto's smile didn't waver, but internally he was sweating. *Crap, knew Shikamaru would notice something.*
"Just good training!" Naruto insisted. "Jiraiya of the Sannin is no joke, you know! He pushed me harder than anyone ever has!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, still watching him carefully. "Well, whatever. Just don't get yourself killed showing off."
"Naruto-kun..."
The quiet voice made Naruto turn to see Hinata standing nearby, her face bright red, her fingers pressed together nervously. She'd been working up the courage to approach him since the match ended.
"Oh! Hinata!" Naruto's grin widened. "Did you see my match? I won! I actually beat Neji!"
"Y-Yes, I saw." Hinata's voice was soft but filled with emotion. "You were... you were amazing, Naruto-kun. The way you never gave up, the way you proved him wrong about destiny... it was truly inspiring."
For a moment, their eyes met, and Naruto felt something shift in his chest. With his enhanced dragonoid senses, he could hear her heartbeat racing, could see the genuine admiration and something else—something deeper—in her eyes. It made him feel... strange. Good strange.
"Thanks, Hinata," he said, his voice gentler than usual. "That means a lot. Really."
Hinata looked like she might faint from happiness.
"Well, well, the dead-last finally wins a match."
The temperature seemed to drop several degrees as Sasuke approached, his hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable. But Naruto's enhanced senses picked up on things others couldn't—the slight tension in Sasuke's shoulders, the way his chakra was coiled tightly, the competitive edge in his scent.
*He's threatened,* Naruto realized with surprise. *He saw me win and now he's worried I'm catching up to him.*
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura immediately shifted her attention. "Your match with Gaara is coming up! You're going to do great!"
"Hn." Sasuke's eyes never left Naruto. "That was an impressive display. Jiraiya must have taught you well."
"He did!" Naruto's grin was sharp. "How was your training with Kakashi-sensei? Learn anything cool?"
"Enough." Sasuke's Sharingan activated briefly, studying Naruto. "When we fight in the finals, I'll show you the difference between us."
"Looking forward to it!" Naruto's eyes flashed gold for just a split second—so quick that only Sasuke's Sharingan caught it. The Uchiha's eyes widened slightly. "May the best ninja win!"
Before Sasuke could comment on what he'd seen, Genma's voice echoed across the arena.
"Next match: Shino Aburame versus Kankuro!"
"Oh, that's me watching from the stands now," Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome."
As the group dispersed to watch the next match, Naruto felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Jiraiya, his expression serious despite his usual grin.
"Walk with me, kid. We need to talk."
---
**Underneath the Arena Stands**
Jiraiya led Naruto to a secluded area where they could speak privately. The moment they were alone, his expression became deadly serious.
"You almost lost control out there."
"I know," Naruto admitted, his own smile fading. "When Neji kept talking about destiny and failure, I just... something inside me got angry. Really angry. The dragonoid power wanted to come out."
"I felt it. Everyone with decent sensory abilities felt it." Jiraiya crossed his arms. "That pressure you released—that wasn't chakra or killing intent. That was pure dragonoid presence. If you'd let it go on any longer, people would've started asking serious questions."
"I pulled it back though!" Naruto protested. "And I kept my wings and horns hidden the whole time! Nobody knows!"
"Maybe." Jiraiya pulled out his pipe. "But you've got attention now. The Hokage's going to want to talk to you. Kakashi is suspicious. And that 'Kazekage'..." His expression darkened. "I don't trust him. Something about his chakra feels wrong."
Naruto nodded, trusting Jiraiya's instincts. "So what do I do?"
"Keep your head down. Win your matches, but don't go overboard. And whatever you do, don't transform in public." Jiraiya's hand gripped Naruto's shoulder. "I know this power makes you want to fight, to test yourself. Milim's personality bleeding through doesn't help. But you need to resist that urge. At least until you have better control."
"I'm trying, Pervy Sage. It's just... hard." Naruto clenched his fists. "This power feels so natural now. More natural than chakra sometimes. It wants to be used."
"I know, kid. But you're Naruto Uzumaki. If anyone can master impossible power, it's you." Jiraiya smiled. "Now come on. We should get back before people start wondering where we went."
As they walked back toward the arena, Naruto asked quietly, "Pervy Sage... do you think I can really keep this secret? Forever?"
Jiraiya was silent for a long moment. "No. Eventually, the truth will come out. But the longer we wait, the stronger you'll be when it does. And the more people will know you as Naruto first, dragonoid second."
That made sense. Naruto nodded, determination filling his chest. "Then I'll get strong enough that when people find out, they won't be able to do anything about it!"
"That's the spirit!" Jiraiya laughed, ruffling his hair. "Just remember—"
"I know, I know. Stay in control, don't destroy the village, blah blah blah."
"Brat."
---
**Hokage's Booth**
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a long pull from his pipe, his aged eyes thoughtful as he watched the current match below. Beside him, the "Kazekage" sat in silence.
"Your student has trained the Uzumaki boy well," the Kazekage commented, his voice raspy. "The Rasengan is not an easy technique to master."
"Jiraiya has always had a talent for bringing out the best in his students," Sarutobi replied carefully. He'd been Hokage long enough to read people, and something about the Kazekage's interest in Naruto set off alarm bells. "Though I must admit, I'm surprised by the extent of Naruto's improvement."
"Surprised? Or concerned?"
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why would I be concerned about one of my shinobi growing stronger?"
"No reason." The Kazekage's tone was casual, but underneath the bandages, Orochimaru's mind was racing. *That boy is different. The energy around him, the way he moved, that brief moment of pressure—he's undergone some kind of transformation. Perhaps even more interesting than Sasuke-kun...*
"Lord Hokage," an ANBU appeared in a swirl of leaves. "You requested to see Naruto Uzumaki after his match?"
"Yes. Send him to my office after the current match concludes." Sarutobi smiled kindly. "I'd like to congratulate him personally."
*And get some answers,* he thought.
---
**Back in the Arena**
Naruto returned just in time to see Kankuro forfeit his match against Shino.
"Eh?! Why'd he give up?" Naruto asked, confused.
"His puppet was already filled with Shino's insects," Sakura explained. "He had no way to win."
"Oh." Naruto watched as Kankuro retreated, shooting nervous glances at his brother Gaara, who sat in the stands radiating murderous intent. "That guy gives me the creeps."
"Gaara?" Sakura shivered. "Yeah, he's terrifying. I hope Sasuke-kun will be okay fighting him."
Naruto's enhanced senses focused on Gaara, and what he felt made his dragonoid instincts stir. There was something inside that boy—something powerful, angry, and barely contained. Another Jinchuuriki, the Kyuubi had told him. The One-Tail.
But there was something else too. A hunger for battle that resonated with the Milim-influenced part of Naruto's personality. Part of him—the dragonoid part—wanted to fight Gaara himself, to test their strength against each other.
*No,* Naruto told himself firmly. *Stay in control. You're not here to fight everyone. Focus on the plan.*
"Next match," Genma announced. "Temari versus Shikamaru Nara!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, slowly making his way down to the arena floor. "Why do I have to fight a girl?"
Naruto watched as his lazy classmate faced off against the Sand kunoichi, but his mind was elsewhere. He could feel eyes on him—multiple sets. Sasuke watching him with his Sharingan. Kakashi observing from the Jonin stands. Hiashi Hyuga studying him with interest. And that fake Kazekage whose chakra felt wrong and familiar in a way that made his skin crawl.
*Something bad is coming,* the Kyuubi rumbled in his mind. *I can feel it. The pieces are moving into place.*
*What kind of something bad?*
*The kind that will test whether you can truly control your new power. Or whether it will control you.*
Naruto's fists clenched. Whatever was coming, he'd face it head-on. That was his ninja way.
On the arena floor, Shikamaru and Temari began their battle. But unknown to the cheering crowd, dark forces were gathering. The invasion was imminent.
And Naruto Uzumaki—human, Jinchuuriki, and dragonoid—stood at the center of it all.
---
**Meanwhile, in a Dark Corner of Konoha**
A figure in an ANBU mask met with several others in the shadows.
"Lord Orochimaru's signal will come during the Uchiha boy's match," one whispered. "The invasion begins then."
"What about the Uzumaki kid? He's shown unexpected strength."
"Lord Orochimaru has taken an interest in him. If possible, capture him alive. If not..." The figure drew a finger across his throat. "Eliminate him."
The others nodded and dispersed into the shadows.
In the arena above, Naruto suddenly shivered, his dragonoid senses screaming danger. He looked around, searching for the threat, but couldn't pinpoint it.
"You okay?" Sakura asked, noticing his tension.
"Yeah," Naruto lied, forcing a smile. "Just... got a weird feeling. Probably nothing."
But it wasn't nothing.
The storm was coming.
And when it broke, Naruto would have to choose—keep his secret and risk everything, or unleash his true power and reveal what he'd become.
*To protect my precious people,* he thought, watching his friends around him, *I'll do whatever it takes.*
Even if it meant the whole world learning the truth.
---
**To Be Continued...**
---
*Author's Note: The tension builds! The invasion is coming, and Naruto's secret is getting harder to keep! What will happen when he's pushed to his limits? Will he be able to control his dragonoid power, or will it consume him?*
*Next chapter: The invasion begins, and Naruto faces his greatest challenge yet!*
*Thank you so much for all the support! Your comments and reviews mean the world to me! Let me know what you think—should Naruto reveal his powers during the invasion, or keep them hidden longer?*
*Don't forget to add to your library and leave a review! Chapter 6 coming soon!*