WARNING! If you skip this chapter you will be losing precious plot moments. Start at chapter 8 and continue until you reach chapter 11. (Note: I posted many chapters at once to catch up.)
…
We all stood in rows of 6 and columns of 3 and saluted to the Hokage who was giving a speech, "Alright… well, we've all made it this far, and there will some preliminaries to limit the number of contenders from the same team moving onward. And I would like to bring to everyone's attention that one of our rookies has died because of threat that we have just realized and are investigating. Let us all mourn give a moment of silence one of Konoha's last Uchiha, Sasuke.
There was silence… it all started to sink into everybody that knew him was surprised to see him go in a stupid test. All the rookies were shocked—the strongest member of my team, and class prodigy, and now KIA. But there was no way to avoid death as a shinobi. I was kill or be killed, and I learned that today. I would have to put my life on the line to protect Sakura and Naruto since I now understand death and true loss of a dear friend.
Still I had never come so close to dying, I was more afraid than I had been because Orochimaru was beyond my own power, and I know no one in this room could help being scared. It's how you deal with being scared that's going to put you at odds with any opponent. Now that I have this mark, I trust myself to never give up on my village. I'm going to stay put in the village unlike Canon-Sasuke. Now I must lead my team through this final ordeal, or risk losing another precious person close to my heart. I knew since my team was now broken up, I had to piece everything back together and figure out the puzzle once again. But I wouldn't do it alone—I don't know if Sakura's with me...
… But Naruto will always be there.
We were led into another other wide-open room where the fighting would take place, and all came up the stairs to the balconies. I had never seen so many powerful ninjas in one place. If Kibbles (Kiba) and Shikamaru had lead their team here with merely luck alone, you couldn't tell that by their hair and clothes. Even Ino looked a little more than worse for wear… she must have had We all went through the exams for the first time, and I wish Sasuke was here to see me fight my hardest to win this match…
"Hey, don't worry." said Sakura out of the blue. "I'm sure you'll do great."
The fact was I didn't know exactly if I'd get used to having the Mangekyou, and I know that I might go blind if Naruto doesn't have his own eyes transplanted into mine, vice versa. There were more problems, like being able to use my Nature Transformation to its fullest degree. I only copied about 100 different jutsu that worked like a slot machine. Sometimes I think of good ideas like using earth walls to break wind flurries, use random ground to air lightning strikes as a defense and possibly offense, and sometimes use water and lighting in conjunction of each other. However, when I face death, I used to freeze at the sight of it. The slot machine of ideas just gives me bar-none.
I remembered one thing that Orochimaru told me while I was using the Kyuubi Chakra. It was like he just knew I'd initially stay conscious with my Curse Seal because of my strong will. I know I didn't really remember the fight, but something happened I didn't get. Why did Sasuke die as well? The fact was, Sasuke was also given the Curse Seal, as shown by the evidence Kakashi told us about after Iruka left us. He died solely because he didn't have the will to fight the Seal, which meant he hadn't experienced the Curse of Hatred or the awakening of his Sharingan. Then, there was the incident were my Sharingan ability heightened. I remember tiny flashes of movement, but nothing really that wasn't vague. They still seemed so precise.
Now I was faced with the choice to be brave and hide my fear. I knew that was the answer.
Still I didn't understand why Sasuke told me to kill every Uchiha that stands in my way. There was no point to make about that statement. He didn't want to kill his brother, but maybe he knew something beforehand that I didn't know… it was all so scary that maybe one day I would die at the hands of Madara or Obito. Orochimaru was child's play, and maybe my own brother… well, I wouldn't go there just yet…
"Alright, may I have your attention. The 6 teams and 17 participants total will have to undergo the preliminaries, 2 of your names will appear on the board. If your name appears on that board, you will report to the field in 5 minutes. You may use any tools or Jutsu that allow you to win the battle. Best come with killer intent as you have in the 2nd part of this exam."
"Is that it? Is it just a clash against two people?" said Ino.
"Well, there's one special rule that I must share with you. Nearly 50% of your ranks must fight and win at least once. Since there are 17 people, we must find an unspecific person to fight two fights. If the person wins both fights, he or she will pass the prelims."
"I'll do it." I said, "What have I got to lose?"
"Alright, then what is your name?" said the proctor Hayate.
"Makoto Nakamura."
"Alright, let's look to the board to see who is first."
The board flashed the name Kiba and Makoto.
"Woohoo! I get to kick ass!" said Kiba.
I swung myself over the wall of and leaped off the balcony to arrive at the floor below.
"Riight, and I'm the Hokage." I said, walking up to him.
"You'd be a pretty lame Hokage." said Kiba. "I'd be a better Hokage than you."
"Yeah, and aren't Hokage supposed to be a master of Ninjutsu, with over hundreds of Jutsu and experience?"
"Whatever, if beat you, I'll be one step closer."
Hayate frowned, "You guys have 3 minutes left to begin, do you wish to resign?"
"Get out of here. Let's do this Kiba." I said.
Kiba's dog rolled off his head and they began to use Man-Beast Transformation and the Four Legs Technique.
"Really, a dog and a boy with a big head doesn't scare me."
When my Sharingan warned me about them executing fang over fang, I used the earth wall jutsu to raise the floor around me, but then just corkscrewed around the wall. I wasn't about to get torn up by Kiba and his dumb dog so I jumped up high and use chakra strings to lower the wall down on top of them. However, the falling rocks just disintegrated and so I jumped off each of the falling rock to avoid them.
Luckily, in mid-air, they ran out of steam to use the jutsu and had to initiate Plan B.
When they spiraled down to the ground, the came back up and nearly struck my head as I still was jumping off the rocks to avoid the fall. I jumped and slid out of the way when I landed.
Akamaru was apparently in need of catching as they had both ran out of chakra, but they fell gracefully enough to each take a food pill.
"Kiba! That's suicide, if use food pills to replenish chakra…" said Kurenai.
"I know, don't you think I know that? Let's just try again, this time, no stupid rocks! Fang Passing Fang!"
I casted the Double Suicide Quicksand Technique, used it on the ground and buried my hands, and made the ground less solid for Kiba and Akamaru by extending its reach. When Kiba started to sink, he realized that he was about to lose, and he spun with Akamaru, turning up the less solid floor like wet clay and spun himself out. I reverse the jutsu and before he was completely immersed into the floor. Kurenai jumped down from the balcony and ran up to him, checking his pulse. Hinata and Shino followed.
"He's alright… using that pill can have adverse side effects if he over uses his chakra." said Kurenai. She sighed in relief with one hand on her chest.
"I knew that for Kiba, a fast and powerful fighter, low stamina would soon run out. I let him run out of steam." I said. I gave a faint smile.
"Very wise, Kakashi taught you well. Shino, Hinata, wait for me as we take him to a doctor." said Kurenai. They nodded.
We all went up to the balcony again for the next match. The name that was next… "Oh, god…" I said.
"Are you afraid of the power of youth, Makoto?" said Might Guy, "Go for it, Lee!"
"Youth!"
Lee sped to the floor in a millisecond flat. How am I going to beat him? Lee never gives up. I felt my rage flowing… this time I was so mad at myself for being afraid, that my Sharingan and Curse Seal activated. I jump off the side and slammed my feet into the floor, making a large crater. I would not lose.
Lee looked taken aback. "What is this power? Its…"
"Frightening?" I said.
"Fantastic! The makings of a good fight!" he said.
His fearlessness made me angrier.
"Alright, begin…" said Hayate.
We jumped in the to the air and clashed bone shattering fists, but because he opened the first gate to not get his arm blown off.
"Gate of Healing!"
Shit, he's not backing down. I have no time to even think, strategize, or use Hand Seals. I see how Shikamaru would be blown away—we were both mid to long-range shinobi respectively and never had we dealt with a pure Taijutsu master. Unlike most Taijutsu users, Lee could go beyond human limits.
"Gate of life!"
My Cursed Seal increased my power. Nonetheless I leaned over and coughed up blood when I landed. I clutched my heart. Was I pushing myself too much? We exchanged blows and blood everywhere from wounds on our limbs, but Lee was Less injured than me. This was serious. I must have spurted out a gallon of blood out of my mouth.
"Guy, stop the match." said Kakashi, "Or I will."
"The blood is getting a bit out of hand…" he said.
"This match must go on until one of them forfeits or loses." said Hayate.
"I will… not… lose!"
For the first time, I activated my Mangekyou Sharingan and quickly, my sight was completely different. I tried to use both eyes, but that's when something went terribly wrong because my sight went dark and my eyes went everywhere. However, my Cursed Seal however started to recede and into my neck and afterward I was focusing, defocusing, tracking, and sensing all at the time.
Everything that went haywire after about 1 minute of that became clear. I could see in a 360-degree area, and my sight turned to multiple screens like you see in security closets at grocery or brick and mortar stores back on Earth. But it didn't just heighten my tracking, it gave me complete ability to see and know what was about to happen all around me in real time without weakness like a Hyuuga.
Lee came to my left, and I barely blocked it and threw him across the room. Really? That much power coming from me? The Mangekyou worked on my whole body- maybe… no it can't be. Maybe my Sharingan gave me the ability to use Senjutsu rather than the Senjutsu from the Cursed Seal? Considering he was using the 3 of the Eight Gates, it was astounding that I didn't break and arm and was able to throw him halfway across the room.
"Lee!" said Tenten.
Lee wasn't responding, and the aura around him faded. I deactivated my Sharingan and tried to stand.
"It's over… looks like you win Makoto." said Hayate.
I walk, my stomach queasy from swallowing so much of the blood I couldn't I spit out.
"Makoto, you can barely walk. Please… I think we'll finally put an end to that Cursed Mark from spreading." said Kakashi, he looked to my shoulder, and... "What? It's… gone."
"Yeah, I think it's because of my Mangekyou. For a moment, it felt like real Senjutsu coursed through my veins." I said.
"That's like my Mangekyou… we may never know why it did that, but let's stay concerned for right now." said Naruto, crossing his arms.
"Right. Maybe my will was just too weak for the Cursed Seal and when it started to kill me, my regenerative powers from my Mangekyou saved me. I ought to use it a lot more…" I said, nodding twice.
"Just be careful. You'll lose your sight the more and more you use it-" said Kakashi.
I felt terribly dizzy for a moment, and you know what? I fell forward a bit.
"Makoto, are you okay?" said Sakura putting my arm around her shoulder and brace. One more time, and I mean if I throw up blood once more, I was going to drop dead. But it didn't come. What did happen was weird… I saw vision a purple, and he had Sasuke's voice.
"Damn, I wish I were here… did you feel me? You must do this on your own. I may look like a monster now, but I will always be with you. Kill any Uchiha that stands in our way."
Maybe it was something all Uchiha experienced at one time, but the truth was that I felt inclined to do what he said. I felt someone close to my heart when saw that monster, but maybe it was all a hallucination.
...
WARNING! If you skip this chapter you will be losing precious plot moments. Start at chapter 8 and continue until you reach chapter 11. (Note: I posted many chapters at once to catch up.)
