No notes to give you this time.
EDIT:: Hey guys! I'm just curious... I have this set to end right after the Sasuke Retrieval Arc, do you want me to continue it after that OR do you want me to end it like I plan? I DO warn you... There will be some character deaths if you urge me on. The only other way I can see this ending - plus updates will become more sporadic. Your choice. Oh and happy reading! ^.^
Son of the Snake
Chapter 9
Third Round- Beginning of the Invasion
Shikamaru, Tenten, Lee, and Choji all stood in a row grouped at the rail, as for the Hokage's orders. Neji was beside them several feet away with his Byakugan partially activated, also Hokage's orders. Jiraiya had reported his findings, and the Old Hokage had decided to prepare for the worst. Jiraiya had insisted on sitting on the rooftop above, and was waiting in case anything happened. If anything did, then the opponent would likely choose the rooftop since it was a lot better to keep an eye on other things from above, than to do the same from below.
The body of Hayate was discovered, and after that the Old Hokage knew there was something going on. So now he had a full plan to at the very least get the people around him through anything that happened. He'd sent Hayate to investigate the culprit for Sasuke's kidnapping attempt; Kabuto Yakushi, which was who Kakashi suspected after he caught a glimpse of a quarter of his face during their chase. Of course they didn't know, but they were in the idea that there was a possibility of it, a very strong possibility of it. And they'd become even more suspicious after Hayate's death, but decided not to risk anymore lives, and instead prepare.
Genma, the new proctor called out the first match… "Shikamaru Nara and Kabuto Yakushi," He called. Kabuto and Shikamaru were both quite the same weighing each other up before the match even began; on the way down the stairs. Shikamaru was a pretty easy person to size up; lazy, smart, slow, patient, strategist, and a dreamer; he lives up to the Nara name.
Shikamaru was also sizing up his opponent. Physically strong, excellent chakra control considering what the doctors said when I visited, confident, sadistic, unfazed, hard worker, smart, makes strategies… But not as well as I do, but he also seems to need someone else to think for him… Or maybe someone else forces him to let them think for him… Interesting mix…
"Begin!"
The match started with Kabuto and Shikamaru just standing there. Of course Naruto and Haku were confused, Shikamaru was not a close-quarter's fighter, but Kabuto was… And yet they weren't moving.
Finally Kabuto made a move. He ran at the pineapple headed boy, and took the first move. Shikamaru got away but still felt a cut on his chest. Something had gone straight through his shirt, and made a half inch deep cut in his chest. What the heck; well, this is troublesome.
"Interesting…" Kabuto backed off for a while, and watched his opponent dart behind the trees. There was a shadow barely managing to grab his foot. But as soon as he moved the shadow couldn't strain anymore.
"Interesting… You're quite accomplished for a Nara aren't you?"
Shikamaru sat quietly thinking on what he could do. And soon enough a large plan was formed in his mind; if he could just…
Thirty minutes later…
The last half hour had been filled with sporadic attacks as Kabuto attempted to incapacitate Shikamaru before he could pull off his plan… Whatever that was; finally Shikamaru threw a kunai, and his shirt in the air, together it created a shadow. Kabuto realized the purpose, and shot it down.
"Is that all you've got? I'm disappointed…"
"Not quite," Shikamaru said. Stepping out, Kabuto went for his weapons pouch but found that his body wouldn't move. "Perhaps you're more formidable than I thought… Ah, I see you were biding your time… Long enough for that shadow from the wall to give you enough of a boost to extend your shadow… Long enough to catch me… Well perhaps you're better than I thought…"
"How troublesome… Proctor I quit."
"Shikamaru talked first, why?" Genma asked.
(Ino was less civil- "WHAT THE HECK?! YOU IDIOT, WHY THE HECK ARE YOU QUITING! SHIKAMARU, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!")
"I burned too much chakra earlier."
"Kabuto Yakushi wins by default!"
Kabuto smiled politely at the proctor. "I am dropping out of the tournament as well. I also exerted far too much chakra to be able to do much more."
"Fine; go on then, back to your team."
"If you don't mind, I would like to go and sit with my sensei."
Genma thought on it for a couple minutes while the damage Kabuto had done to the arena fixed itself… "Fine…"
"Thank you."
"The next match will be between Temari, and Akarui Kimichi!"
Temari dropped down from the balcony, and Naruto dropped as well, only slower from some sort of wind chakra pushing up against him. They stood at ready while Genma, knowing that this would be a destructive fight stood halfway up the wall.
"Begin!"
Temari was mostly a long range fighter, but she had some skills with close range, she had to since she had to be able to take care of herself. Naruto was a close range fighter for the most part using that to his advantage by sneaking snakes out, and depending on who he's fighting will either knock out with a sedative, or poison them.
Naruto ran forward at blinding speed, giving Temari a run for her money, just trying to keep here eye on him. He stopped in front of her dropping smoke pellets, and grinned happily, summoning a small snake that could go up his sleeve; he also gave her one- they were going to be their walky-talkies during the invasion.
He then launched an attack, slashing at the blonde Nin; she escaped with little to no injury; and jumped back pulling out one of her Kunai and countering him, then counter attacking him.
Temari pulled back breathing a bit harder than usual. "You're good,"
"You're not so bad yourself." Naruto said, also feeling a little winded.
They clashed again, sending sparks into that air.
Kabuto meanwhile slipped off the balcony, and found his mark… An ANBU Black-op. No one heard anything as he killed the ANBU and took his mask and cloak; leaving them in a small corner to use in several minutes… Suddenly, his concentration was broken as a large explosion sounded, and Naruto was declared winner.
He finally went and sat down beside Aurea, watching as the next match was called.
"Haku Momochi and Tenten!"
"You're going to make for an interesting opponent Tenten."
"You too…" Tenten held out her hand. "Fair fight, ok?"
"As fair as a fight between two ninja can get." Haku said taking it. Tenten, understanding what the other girl meant shook her hand and they both smiled a little, letting go and stepping back to prepare.
"Begin!"
Now it was on, the two began a battle, keeping it as clean as possible. Of course it was a battle of two kunoichi, so it was bound to dirty up a little. By the end Haku was stuck in a trap of weapons, and Tenten had her fingers frozen to her weapons. So they were both declared to a tie, and Tenten helped Haku out, while Haku helped Tenten get the weapons off her fingers, since she'd done the same thing a few times with her senbon.
Kabuto meanwhile had slipped silently away and into that ANBU uniform. He was standing behind the crowd waiting for the signal… The whistle that would start the invasion… The one signal that would begin the destruction of the hidden leaf…
Next battle was Garra, and Lee's fight. (Not even going to detail this one at all… It would take about 5000 words… and I don't feel like it… So yea…) they were battling hard, Lee got a hard hit on him, and Garra went into his sand ball to transform- against the plan.
Naruto's eyes hardened as he watched. Dangit, what the heck is he doing?! Well, forget plans- invasion starts now! The blonde stepped onto the rail and whistled, enhancing the sound with chakra. Suddenly everything became chaos.
Alright! I know that was a short chapter but I didn't want to go through the fights too much, I first of all- suck at writing battle scenes, and second of all- it would have made this chapter about 10,000ish words long. Didn't exactly have the patience for that- anyways, I have some seriously big plans coming up, and I'm satisfied with how moderately paced this story has been. I've got all the way through the Sasuke Retrieval Arc thought out and planned, including a way to do the Tsunade Arc too. I've got plans… Big plans… Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh, heh…
EDIT: I re-read this and... Gosh I'm sorry guys. I can REALLY tell how sucky this chapter is. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it at least a little anyways...
