These images and characters are not mine, and I give credit where credit is due to the people who created them. Let's start with this story, as there is nothing else to say about it.
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Near the borders of the Land of Fire.
Shizune: Is everything okay, Lady Tsunade?
Tsunade: Yes, Shizune, everything is okay. I was thinking about Goku and what he's doing right now.
Shizune: Isn't today the final day of the Chunin exam? How do you think Goku did?
Tsunade: Considering how well I know him, it's likely that he got excited about the fight and let his guard down or that he did not finish the fight quickly and allowed it to continue so that he could have fun with it. I swear it doesn't make any difference how many times I argued with him not to get carried away or let his guard down; he still does both of those things regardless, and because of that, my most notable concern is that he may sustain a severe injury.
Shizune: Not to worry, Lady Tsunade; you trained well, right? All we can do is hope he uses what he learned. I'm pretty sure he did great on the exams.
Preliminaries Room.
The medics have arrived to check on Lee and Goku. One of the medics stood up after checking on Lee and went to speak with Guy.
Medic: You're his sensei.
Guy: I am.
Medic: Please come with me for a minute.
Both Guy and the medic step aside for a moment to speak.
Medic: Lee's breathing is shallow but regular, and he has bone fractures and muscle tears all over his body. Lee is conscious but unresponsive. The road to recovery is going to be challenging, and it will take a significant amount of time. If that were all that happened, it wouldn't be such a big deal, but unfortunately, he fractured his spine in several areas as a result of the last attack. My biggest fear is that he will never be able to return to his former life as a Shinobi.
Naruto and Goku were able to listen in on the conversation. At the same time, Naruto was still carrying Goku on his back. The medic would give Guy a little bow before moving away from him toward Lee to carry Lee away on a stretcher to the hospital.
Naruto: That can't be true. He's wrong.
Guy: Lee, please forgive me. I didn't want to think that you'd lose. I wanted to let you fulfill your "Way of the Ninja!"
Goku: Naruto, please set me down.
Naruto would do what Goku asked of him. Goku would walk toward Guy and kneel in front of him.
Goku: Please forgive me, Guy sensei; I am entirely to blame for all that has happened here. During the battle, I allowed myself to get carried away. My excitement increased as I thought of finally competing against someone like Lee. I could have finished the match sooner, but I wanted to see how far he could have pushed me, and because I acted so selfishly, Lee would no longer be able to continue his career as a ninja. I never wanted to hurt a fellow leaf shinobi.
Goku had tears running down his face as he asked for forgiveness. Guy would see Goku on his knees, asking for forgiveness. Guy places his hand on Goku's head.
Guy: Gokū, you don't have to ask for forgiveness. You did what you had to do to move on, and so did Lee. I allowed this to happen. I saw the excitement on Lee's face when he was fighting you. I have never seen him like that. Be proud of your victory; you both were amazing out there. I know Lee is happy to have fought you. You know he was saving his Gates openings when he had the chance to fight his rival. Now, he has you, too, as a rival.
Guy would stand up and walk away towards where the medics took Lee. Kakashi appears next to Goku and places his hand on Goku's shoulder.
Kakashi: I was hoping you could stand up and walk over to where everyone else is, Goku. The conditions for the next stage are about to be given out, and we can't begin without Naruto and you.
Naruto: Who cares about the following stage rules? Rock Lee's ninja career is over, and for what? How can they all say it's all over for him? Damn it, Lee, you said a failure could take down a genius with effort! Is there nothing at all that we can do about this situation?
Kakashi: Calm down, Naruto.
Naruto: B-But, Kakashi Sensei! He kept saying he wanted to battle Sasuke and Neji!
Kakashi: Perhaps that was the factor that ultimately led to his downfall. Lee was overly preoccupied with the idea of achieving that dream. The young man tried to gain an advantage by doing a forbidden jutsu, hoping to win. In the end, the product is what you can see. Sasuke, Neji, Goku, and even you, Naruto. He paid the ultimate price to keep a promise he had made a long time ago. He risked his life to fight against you guys in the hope that he would prevail. Remember to keep that in mind: Naruto and you, too, Goku. Be worthy of Lee's sacrifice.
Neji: Lee, you didn't understand even at the end. Faith will never smile on the fortunes of a ninja who seeks victory by falling on his sword or demanding others to fall on theirs.
Hayate: With this, the preliminaries for
the third exam are completed. To everyone. Who has advanced to the Final Round of the third test of the Chunin Exams; there's one person who's missing,
but congratulations.
Hokage: Including Sasuke, who's not here, we have six ninjas from Leaf, three from Sand, and one from Sound, and now I will begin the explanation of the Final Round. The Final Round is where you will show off your battle skills in front of everyone. I want you to demonstrate and show off the ability to be representative of the battle forces of your respective lands. Accordingly, the Final Round will commence one month from now.
Naruto: We're not going to do it here, right now?
Hokage: This is so that there's a suitable period of preparation. That is to say. Along with the announcement of
the conclusion of the preliminary match to each country's Daimyo and Shinobi leaders, readying the summons. The final Round requires preparation time, not to mention the time it takes for you examinees to prepare. In other words,
to know your adversary and to prepare yourself, time is necessary. It is time to analyze what you learned about the adversaries in the preliminaries and take stock of your successes. The battles until now were like actual battles. It presupposed situations in which you can't know your adversary. However, this is not the case in the Final Round. Some of you might have already revealed everything in front of your rivals. In the spirit of fairness and equality, you will have a month to train yourself to further your skills. Now that that's done, I'd like to let you take your leave. But first, for the Final Round, there is one more important matter to take care of.
Naruto: let's get on with it so we can get to training.
Hokage: Now, now. I want you all to calmly take one slip of paper from the box Anko is holding.
Anko: I will go around in a single direction, so please only take one. When everyone has a piece of paper, I'd like you to start from left to right and give me the number on the piece of paper you have.
Dosu: I got Nine
Naruto: I'm Number One
Goku: Lucky Number Seven
Tamari: Five
Kankuro: Three
Gaara: Eight
Shikamaru: I got Six
Neji: Two
Shino: Four
Ibiki: That leaves Sasuke with the Number Ten.
Hokage: Very well. I will tell you how the tournament's final round will work!
Shikamaru: Is that what these drawing lots were for?
Hokage: Ibiki, bring forth the pairings.
Ibiki: Yes, lord Hokage.
●First match Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga
●Second match Shino Aburame vs. Kankuro
●Third match Shikamaru Nara vs. Tamari
●Fourth match Gaara vs. Son Kakarot
●Fifth match Sasuke Uchiha vs. Dosu Kinuta
Shikamaru: Could I ask a question?
Hokage: Go ahead.
Shikamaru: Does this imply that there will be just one person who emerges victorious from the tournament? That we shall only be able to promote one of us to the rank of Chunin?
Hokage: No, on the contrary. There will be several judges in the Final Round, of which I am one of them. The others would be the Kazekage, the Daimyo from various countries who will assign you to your missions, and the Shinobi Leaders. As a result of this competition, the judges will have the opportunity to perform an in-depth analysis and determine whether or not each of you possesses the qualities expected of a Chunin. One can still advance to the Chunin rank even if they are eliminated in the first round.
Tamari: So there's a chance that all of us will become Chunin?
Goku: Correct, but there's also a chance that none of us will become Chunin.
Hokage: To advance in the tournament means maximizing chances to appeal yourselves to the judges. Does that answer your question, Shikamaru?
Shikamaru: This is just about the most enormous pain ever.
Hokage: Hahaha. Thank you for being so patient. We will adjourn until next month.
As everyone was getting to leave, Gaara stood in front of Goku.
Gaara: When we fight, I'll show everyone that I exist. Mother is asking for your blood.
Goku: I'll be ready for our fight, Gaara. Now, if you excuse me, I have to leave.
The preliminary competitions came to an end, and everyone began to make their way back to the village, except for Goku, who did not move from the spot where he had been standing. When Ino realized that Goku wasn't moving, she decided to go to where Goku was and find out what was happening.
Ino: Goku, are you okay? Everyone is leaving except for you.
Goku: Hehehe, well, you see, Ino, I can't move; my legs are cramping up. If I try to move, it will get worse.
Ino would call over her team to try and help move Goku. Ino would grab one of Goku's arms and place it over her, and Shikamaru would do the same to help Goku walk.
Shikamaru: You know you are starting to become more troublesome.
Ino: Do you want us to take you to the hospital?
Goku: No, I need to get a hot bath and rest.
Asuma: Take him to my place. He's been staying there.
Ino and Shikamaru took Goku to the Sarutobi clan's estate and Asuma to Choji to his home.
Goku wakes up the following morning with his body still aching from the battle he had the day before with Rock Lee. Goku takes a bath, changes into clean clothes, and then exits his room, where he finds Asuma and the Hokage engaged in conversation. The Hokage noticed Goku and the Hokage summoned him to come over. Goku smiles and nods.
Hokage: Good morning, Goku. How are you feeling this morning?
Goku: Good morning, Hokage and Asuma sensei.
Asuma: Good morning, Goku. My and the Hokage were talking about you and wanted to know if you could answer something for us.
Goku: If it's about my Kaio Ken, then I don't have much to say because not even I know much about it.
Hokage: What do you mean, Goku? Can you explain yourself?
Goku: The thing is that when Lee attacked me when he opened the fourth gate, I fell unconscious for a bit and woke up in a village called Sadala, home of the Saiyan Clan. In that village, I met my father, Bardock, who gave me a scroll. When I opened it, it said Kaio Ken. Then I woke up when I heard Ino's voice, and I somehow knew how to use the Kaio Ken afterward. But it's like a double-edged sword.
Asuma: How so?
Hokage: Is it that it can grant you speed and strength, but after that, it leaves your body in bad shape, mainly when the body is not used to the Kaio Ken and its side effects.
Goku: That's correct. My body still feels sore and stiff.
Hokage: Goku, could you take it easy for the next two days and allow your body to heal?
Goku: That's no fun. I wanted to start my training for my fight against Gaara.
Asama: You will still have a reasonable amount of time left to practice. I'll tell you what, what do you say we go through the training with Shikamaru? Instead of being all by yourself here in this room by yourself.
Goku: No, thank you, Amusa, but there's a chance that Shikamaru and I will compete against each other, and I don't want to have an advantage over him just because I watched him training. I'll just take a stroll through the village. The village is still new to me, and I haven't had the opportunity to explore it in its entirety.
As Goku left, the Sarutobi compounds started walking around the village. Goku decided to stop at Ichiraku Ramen to eat after a light lunch of 29 ramen bowls and continue walking around the town. Many villagers kept staring at Goku, not knowing why they were staring at him. As he walked, Goku, from a distance, saw a bunch of Naruto clones being chased by a ninja in all black with a bandana on his head.
Goku: I wonder what kind of shenanigans did Naruto end up doing? Never mind, I'll ask him another day.
Goku was beginning to experience boredom, and he noticed that he was in the nearby area of a park. He decided to go over there. Goku immediately started meditating as soon as he arrived at the park by finding a quiet spot to sit down under a tree. Goku sensed two familiar chakras after meditating for an hour. One of them was very close to him and was watching him.
Goku: You can come out. I know you have been observing me for a good minute now, Temari.
Temari: How did you know I was there?
Temari would walk over to Goku and sit next to him.
Goku: I sensed your chakra behind the trees about 15 minutes ago. Can I ask why you were stalking me?
Temari: I wasn't stalking. I was just walking around and saw you sitting there, not moving. So, I was somewhat interested.
Goku: Oh, I see; so you're interested in me then? I'm somewhat interested in you, too.
Temari: Wait, no, that's not what I meant. Wait, did you just say you were interested in me too?
Goku: Yeah. You are the only girl who made it through the preliminary rounds. So congratulations on that! When you use that fan of yours, it demonstrates that you have tremendous control over your chakra and are a powerful individual for being able to carry that heavy thing. You are fantastic, Temari.
Temari would be stunned and embarrassed as she heard someone tell her how amazing she was during her performance in the preliminary rounds, and this would be especially true if the compliment came from a boy. As soon as they discovered who her brother was, none of the young men from her village would ever approach her or speak to her again after they learned Gaara was her younger brother.
Temari: Thank you.
Goku: For what? I meant everything I said.
Temari: Aren't you afraid of my brother? Ever since we got here and met, you haven't backed down from my brother each time you see each other.
Goku: No, I'm not afraid. I'm more excited to face him in a fight. I am going up against a Jinchūriki.
Temari: Wait, how do you know Gaara is a Jinchuriki? Who have you told that my little brother is the Jinchūriki of the Land of Sand?
Goku: I can feel chakra signatures, and I can tell that Gaara has two signatures. And one of them is a much darker chakra than the other one, and I haven't told anyone about your brother Temari. It is none of my business to let other people's secrets and matters slip between the cracks. I am aware of the ways in which the general public perceives Jinchrikis.
Temari stared at Goku as he spoke, unaware she could trust him.
Temari: Kakarot, are you a Jinchūriki?
Goku: Hehehe, no, I'm not a Jinchūriki Tamari. Why do you ask?
Temari: Well, primarily because of your tail. Your name is the same as the four-tailed beast.
Goku: Well, my name is Son Kakarot, and it's from my Saiyan side of the family. My mom wanted to name me Goku after her father, but she changed her mind after my dad passed away a couple of months before I was born. Plus, people who are born into the Saiyan Clan have a tail as part of their physical makeup.
Goku would continue talking until suddenly, he heard a loud sound coming from Temari. Temari felt ashamed when Goku turned his head to look at her, so she quickly looked away so that Goku wouldn't see her face flushed with anger at herself.
Goku began to laugh as he stood up and extended his arm to her to help her stand up.
Goku: Hehehe, come, I know a great good place to eat.
Temari: Shut up. I'm not hungry. I'm just.
After the sound of Temari's stomach growling again, she realized she wouldn't be able to finish her sentence.
Goku: There's an excellent place to eat, not far from here. It's nothing fancy, but the food is fantastic. I hope you like ramen.
Temari: I never had ramen before.
Goku: Really? You'll love it, trust me.
Temari was unsure whether or not she should accept Goku's invitation to join him for dinner at first. Still, she eventually gave in after noticing that Goku was not showing any signs of hostility, and it didn't help that her stomach started making noises. A couple of minutes later, Goku and Temari arrived at the Ichiraku Ramen stand. As they arrived, Goku pulled out the chair for Temari to sit.
Ayame: Welcome back, Goku. I see you brought a friend with you this time. Don't tell me she is your girlfriend.
Ayame had a big grin on her face after what she said to Goku and Temari.
Temari: No, I am not his girlfriend. We are just acquaintances who met on the train grounds.
Goku: Yes, I just met her, and she was so hungry, so I brought her here so that we could enjoy some excellent ramen.
Goku and Temari both had some redness on the top of their cheeks.
Teuchi would come out from the back to see who had just arrived.
Teuchi: Come to Ayame; stop messing with my second-best customer.
Goku: Second best that hurts Tsuchi-San.
Goku would place his hand on top of his heart and fake that he was in pain.
Teuchi: Hahaha, so tell me, Goku, what can I get both of you?
Goku: I'll get x-large beef miso ramen.
Temari: I'll get the same but medium.
After finishing their meals, Goku decided to walk Tamari to the apartment where she and her team were staying.
Goku: So, Temari-san, how do you like Konoha so far?
Temari: It's nice. I wish we had trees and flowers back home.
Goku: Well, Temari, when all of this is over, you're welcome back anytime, and I'll show you all of Konoha.
Temari: Thank you, Goku. If we were to eat at Ichiraku Ramen once more, there is a possibility that I would accept your offer. I really wish we had access to ramen back in our hometown. Because of the high quality of the food in Konoha, I can't help but feel envious of this place.
Goku: It must be hard leaving surrounded by sand.
Temari: It is, but I like it too. It's helped me grow into a strong ninja.
Goku: I'm a little jealous of you because of that. Don't get me wrong, I love Konoha and will protect it at all costs. But it was not until two months ago that I arrived here. My whole childhood, I spent traveling from one village to another because of my mom's job.
Both ninjas kept talking about each other life until they arrived at the hotel Temari was staying at.
Temari: Well, Goku, thank you for today. I enjoyed myself.
Goku: My pleasure Temari. I had fun today, too. Well, I probably won't see you again in about a month. My actual training begins tomorrow.
Goku and Temari would wave goodbye at each other as she enters the hotel, and Goku begins to walk away.
Goku: I should stop and see what that pervert is doing here.
With Temari.
Kankuro: Where have you been? It's late. It was your turn to watch over Gara.
Temari: Sorry, I just lost track of time.
Baki appears in front of Temari and Kankuro as the two are arguing.
Baki: I've gotten word from the elders and the Kazekage.
Temari: From father.
Baki: Yes. We are joining the Sound Village in attacking the Leaf Village when the Final Chunin exams begin.
End of Chapter.