A/N: Woo... I've got about 40 hits for this story after about one day. That means about 40 people read it and decided to stick with the story as I update it or decided that it isn't worth their time. I'm not a stickler for reviews, but as I don't know how this story will play out (I have a general idea) I would appreciate suggestions if you have any. This is sorta a weak chapter in my opinion, compared to the other ones... but Gai versus the new guy... have fun reading.

Disclaimer:... this is realy annoying... Don't own, Don't Sue

Chapter 3

And a Name to Match

"I cannot believe he is late again…" complained Naruto sitting in his seat.

Three days after the first round of the tournament the second round was underway, the first round saw Kakashi beating out all three of Kankuro's puppets, however people seemed to be looking more forward to the next match. Gai stood in the arena eagerly awaiting his opponent who was once again… very late. However Gai's opponent wasn't the only person who wasn't present.

"And where is Shikamaru?" Naruto added, remembering the empty seat beside him, "

"Shikamaru is at the hospital," answered Neji.

"Huh? What happened to him?" asked Naruto, looking slightly concerned.

"No, He's just fine," Neji assured, "He's been visiting Temari in the hospital whenever he can."

"Wait, she still isn't better?"

"Her shoulder wound was repaired though medic techniques, however," Neji's eyes narrowed slightly, "it would appear as if she suffered psychological damage from the fight. Apparently she just stares off into space all day."

"Oh, I see," said Naruto, then with a grin, "and Shikamaru has been spending his extra time with her."

Neji shot Naruto a confused look.

Then Naruto added with a small snicker, "I always thought there was something going on between them."

"And what do you mean by that?"

However before Naruto answered this question, another voiced filled the stadium, "Sorry for being so late, I had to pick up something on my way here."

"That's a lie," shouted Gai pointing at the newcomer.

"No, No, really," the stranger reached into his cloak and pulled out a small pamphlet.

"What's that?" asked Gai still sounding annoyed at his opponent's punctuality.

"Well you see," the stranger said opening up the pamphlet and pulling off is hood, "I was late the last time, so I didn't get to see how you fight. Now it wouldn't be very fair if you get to walk into this match knowing how I fight, but I don't know how you fight."

"Wait! No one saw you fight! Everything you did was inside that dust cloud!" Yelled Gai pointing his finger at his opponent once again.

"Hmm… lets see now…" started the stranger looking at the pamphlet, ignoring Gai, "Maito Gai… uhh… almost ridiculously good in taijustu, also it says that you are very fast, though nothing else here," he looked up at Gai and crumpled up the pamphlet, "I think I'll have to take you a bit more seriously than that girl."

"And I swear by this face that I will win and then go onto defeat my eternal rival, Kakashi," swore Gai forming up his "Nice Guy" pose and smiling.

"Uhh… whatever," said the stranger, who shifted under his cloak, widening his stance.

In the stands, Neji activated his Byakugan, "There's no way I'm missing a second of this," then his face changed from an eager expression to a more confused one, "I don't believe it…"

"Huh?" asked Naruto, though not looking away from the arena.

"His chakra, in terms of capacity… is only one fourth of that of any normal person."

"Chaka… capacity…" Naruto now turned toward Neji.

"… You may not notice since you don't have a problem…" Naruto's expression was confused, "look you know how weaker you feel after using the Rasengan?"

Naruto nodded, 'it isn't really that much… I barely feel that much weaker…'

"If he would attempt that attack," continued Neji, "he very well might die."

In the arena Gai charged his opponent, who stood there unflinching. Gai balled his hand into a fist and threw his arm back.

"I've got you!" he declared as he trust his arm forward.

A smile appeared on the strangers face as Gai fist cut into his cloak, however, the cloak was all Gai managed to strike. A look of shock appeared on his face as he ran into the cloak trying to slow himself down.

"Got who?" came a very confident voice from behind Gai.

Gai turned enough to see his opponent, dressed in his funeral clothes standing behind him. Right arm outstretched, palm opened yet fingers curled in slightly. A smirk appeared across his opponent's face as he took a swing at Gai with his right arm. Although, this swing was slow enough to give Gai enough time to throw himself out of the way. Gai slowed himself down with a roll and looked up as he was still sliding away from his opponent. While still in motion, Gai saw his opponent smirk again and disappear.

"Shit," he yelled as he rammed his fingers into the ground, nearly breaking them, and throwing himself in another direction again.

He turned his head quickly enough to see his opponent finishing another ill-fated swipe at where his body used to be before he came crashing to the ground. His opponent turned toward him as he came to a stop looking slightly frustrated yet still confident.

"Impossible," said Naruto amazed, "how can he be that fast?"

"No," answered Neji, "he isn't fast, it's some sort of technique allowing him to move over long distances without consuming too much chakra."

"Huh?" once again Naruto seemed confused.

"You've gained no analytical abilities over those years with Jiraiya have you?" asked Neji.

"…"

"Well consider," sighed Neji, "he can maneuver his position on the field quickly yet he has been incapable of landing an actual blow on Gai. I saw that he somehow moved himself into the trees during the time Gai ran through his cloak, however I was unable to follow his transition. Also he does not attack Gai now that Gai has temporarily been backed into a corner. Lastly, the shape of his hand when he attacks is odd" Neji stated as he watched Gai get up and compose himself, "those three things tell us three important things about him," Naruto still looked confused, "it tells us that he is slower than Gai, that where he can transport himself is limited to a few locations, and that there's some sorta trick to his attacks."

"And how do you know that?" asked Naruto.

Neji slammed his face into his palm, "why do I even bother?"

"Ah, I see that you, still deep in the springtime of youth will still allow his opponent to rise so that you may fight him on honorable terms," proclaimed Gai standing up and dusting off his clothes.

His opponent looked confused at Gai's words, "Uhh… yeah, we'll say that's it… though have I met before."

"Oh, you believe you've seen this beautiful face before?" Gai asked pointing at his face with his thumb.

"No, I think I've seen that booger of an outfit you're wearing," his opponent stated.

This caused Gai to charge him once again. Though, in the stands, Naruto's concentration was taken away from the match.

"Yo, Naruto," came a loud voice from behind him.

Naruto turned around, "E… Ero-Sennin."

"Ho, I heard that there was something big happening here so I decided that I should come and have a see," Jiraiya stated as he moved past Neji and Naruto, sitting in Shikamaru's seat.

"Yeah, it's quite a match, Fuzzy-Brow's Sensei against some weird guy who can move around fast," said Naruto looking back down at the arena, "although neither of them have been able to hit each other."

"Ho Ho… just wonderful," seemed to be the answer Naruto got.

Naruto turned and noticed that Jiraiya had pulled out his telescope, however he wasn't looking down at the arena.

"Hey! Ero-Sennin!" yelled Naruto pointing at Jiraiya, "the match is down there!" and shifted his finger down to the arena.

"Sheesh," said Jiraiya as he shifted his telescope down from some women in the stands across the arena down into the arena itself. There he saw Gai and… He dropped his telescope, glass lenses shattering upon hitting the ground, and stood up with a look of horror on his face, "V… V… Verko-sama!"

Naruto turned to see the now named Verko looked up toward the stands, "Jiraiy-AH!" the last syllable coming out as a yell as Gai finally connected a fist into the chest of his opponent.

Gai kept charging with his arm outstretched and Verko attached to his fist until he finally nailed Verko against the wall of the arena. Gai heard the sound of crackling as he felt Verko's ribs shattering behind his fist.

"I normally wouldn't hit a opponent who was distracted like that," panted Gai, "but for you, it was the only way," Verko reached out and grabbed Gai's arms trying to push it away, "I've won."

The crowd began cheering for Gai's amazing one hit victory, however Neji, Byakugan still activated, noticed something no one else did.

"GAI-SENSEI, GET HIM OFF OF YOU NOW!" He warned Gai, after jumping to his feet.

Neji observed that Gai didn't have the chance to hear the entire warning though. His eyes rolled up and he passed out while falling to the ground, releasing his smaller opponent. Verko took three slow steps away from Gai before stumbling over and landing on his knees and hands.

Genma, who had been very unnoticed up until now, stepped up to both of them, "It would appear the winner of this match is… Verko…"

Naruto watched, Verko shot Genma a very nasty looked upon hearing his name before turning back to the ground and coughing up a mouthful of blood. Verko then attempted to get up before falling to the ground, blood trailing from his mouth and appearing to forcefully keep his eyes open.

A/N: I seem to use these ending that makes you question what happens... Well I'll tell you that in the next chapter you find out a little bit more about this "Verko"