Recap: Team 7 successfully completes the second phase of the Chūnin exams. Yay. Kabuto it turns out, is working with Oro !Boo! and the preliminaries begin.

Notice: Sooner or later, I'm adding OVA's, random filler episodes (if there are any...), and movie chapters. They're just for fun and you can skip them if you like. I'm releasing those along with the canon chapter so there. You can request if you like.


Chapter 9: What I truly mean to you

Naruto intensely watched Itachi from behind the stands. "Don't you dare lose weasel!" He barked.

OoO

Itachi and Yoroi nodded to each other. "Are you ready?" Itachi asked.

"Of course I am!" Yoroi rummaged through his bag, he quickly grabbed several shuriken, and threw them at Itachi. Despite Itachi not moving an inch, the shuriken landed right behind him.

"Then it looks like I have no other choice but to use this attack!" Yoroi's hand glowed with chakra, his specialty move. He ran up to Itachi, at this point, he hadn't bothered moving.

OoO

Naruto clenched the standee bars, he watched as Itachi moved in closer to Yoroi. "Sensei, why isn't that guy moving? Itachi's gonna get him!"

Kakashi crossed his arms. "It seems Itachi placed him under his specialty move, looks like the fight's already over."

"Over?"

OoO

Unexpectedly, Yoroi's hand went straight through Itachi's body. "How the...how the hell did you do that?"

"The moment you looked into my eyes, your fate was sealed." Itachi answered.

'Kabuto never said he could use...genjutsu.'

"This was over before it even started."

OoO

Itachi got behind Yoroi and knocked him out, Hayate walked over to them and examined Yoroi's state, he raised his arm. "This battle is over."

Orochimaru, hidden in disguise amongst the shinobi, licked his face. 'Excellent, oh, but I wish I got to see more of his...technique.'

"YEAH!" Naruto cheered, breaking the eerie silence. "Ha! I'll show you a real fight, weasel!"

Sakura dreamily watched Itachi. 'Itachi-kun, I just can't help it, you're so cool!'

Itachi started walking to the standee stands. 'Weasel, huh? I can only blame my existence for that nickname people are dubbing me.'

Tenten gawked at Neji, the only thing that Itachi person made him was frustrated. 'Why do you continue to hide that real power of yours, Itachi? Genjutsu is the last I'd expect from you after that performance in the forest.'

Itachi could feel Gaara's hard stare as he walked past him. 'Genjutsu? Is that your greatest trick? You'll be fun to kill...'

"Mphm! Mpmh!"

Dosu unwrapped Zaku's bandages over his mouth. "I'm going to kill this Itachi and then he'll have a taste of what pain bad suffering truly is yeah he's gonna pay so-!" Quickly, Dosu re-wrapped his bandages around the mouth area. "I actually have to thank Itachi for beating you up, now I won't have to hear your mouth run."

Zaku glared at Dosu. "...$#%*&$#!"

"You better hope you don't get paired with Itachi in Phase three. After what you did, I doubt he'll use that petty genjutsu on you."

"$#%*."

OoO

Kiba mockingly smirked. "Genjutsu huh? Is that Itachi's grand master plan? Heh, everyone can do Genjutsu!"

"Not everyone..." Shino muttered. "It not only requires precise chakra control, but some people just aren't suited for that type of jutsu."

"So what? Who needs chakra control?"

"Most people, that is, if you value living."

Everyone watched as the board flickered again until it finally showed the new match. Hayate glanced at at the board. "The second match is; Abumi Zaku vs Aburame Shino." He announced.

Dosu took the liberty to tear off most of Zaku's bandages. Barely did Zaku manage to get down the stairs and face his opponent.

"Peh, this'll be easy!"

Hayate took a look at Zaku, he looked badly damaged. "Zaku, are you sure you want to do this?"

"Don't lecture me on my self ne-!" He coughed up some blood and it splattered on the ground. "...This'll be child's..." *cough* "...play."

"You should forfeit, Zaku." Shino coldly stated.

*cough* "...never..."

OoO

Naruto watched Zaku struggle, he felt sort of bad for him. "Man, who messed up this Zaku guy? Looks like he got the freakin' crap beaten out of him."

For a second, Sakura's eyes laid on Itachi. "I don't know, Naruto. He must of had it rough in the forest."

OoO

Hayate sighed. "If you're so confident in your own abilities, then," He raised his arm. "Let the match begin!"

Zaku lunged for Shino and he dug his fingers into Shino's upper arm area. Shino simply pushed him off. "You can't beat me, not in the state you're in."

"I can! Shut up!" Zaku held out one arm and blasted Shino away, and with the other arm he clenched his stomach, the internally bleeding got even heavier. "...damn you, Itachi."

Shino stood up, as he did, Zaku watched something black crawled up his face. 'Dah! What're those?!...Are they bugs?!'

Zaku felt a weird sensation on his arm, he lifted his arm and saw the same black bugs crawling up his arm and his face.

"In case you didn't know, those are destruction bugs." Shino explained. "They attack their prey in large numbers and eat their chakra. With this many attacking you, you'll be no doubt die. Forfeit!, I'm warning you."

"You can't win here, if you decide to attack it'll be over and without a trump card, the only option you have is to lose."

'I can't give up on my master, because of him, I finally have a place in this world!' Zaku held out both his arms. "If I can still fight, I CAN STILL WIN!"

Zaku tried releasing an air slicing blast attack, however it did not work, he looked at both of his arms which were immensely expanding. "...!"

*BAM*

Both his arms and chest blew out making blood go everywhere and stain the arena. Horrified, Zaku reached for his chest area, the front of his rib cage was completely shattered. "A-" With the amount of blood he lost, Zaku plummeted into a pool of his own blood.

Shino walked up to Zaku. "I told you to forfeit."

OoO

Naruto's mouth hung wide open. "Wow! Did you see that Sakura-chan?! That guy just exploded!"

Sakura sickly nodded. "...yeah, it was very...disgusting."

OoO

Two medic nin came in, they collected what remained of Zaku and placed him on the stretcher. "Report?" Hayate asked.

"Very slim, if any at all, chance of Zaku living."

"That's where ignorance *cough* and arrogance will get you."

OoO

"I don't understand, what the hell just happened?!" Naruto asked.

"It's an Aburame clan technique. Shino has bugs living within him." Itachi explained. "The Aburame, at the time of their birth, give up their bodies to these insects as a nest. By them feeding on said chakra the clan can control the insects and use them to their bidding."

"What? How do you know that?!"

"With the sharigan, chakra appears to me as colors and I can differentiate the different colors in Shino's body. And..."

"I study up on such trivial things every chance I get." He added.

Hayate glanced at the board as it flickered again. "Next match; Tsurugi Misumi vs Kankurō!"

'Heh, my turn!' Kankurō and Misumi walked down the steps to the arena, as soon as they stood face to face, Hayate raised his arm. "Let the third match begin." He announced.

"I will not show any mercy, once I use my techniques, I advise you to give up immediately." Misumi warned.

Kankurō set down the item behind his back. "Well, well, well. Another cocky, arrogant fool. We'll have fun, won't we?"

Misumi ran up to Kankurō and swung his arm, effortlessly, Kankurō blocked his forearm. As if he was made of rubber, Misumi's arm wrapped around his entire body. Kankurō began to struggle as he tried to break free of Misumi's grasp.

"The more you struggle, the more I'll squeeze." Misumi hissed.

Kankurō stopped struggling and smirked. "Alright, I think our little fight is getting old. It's your turn to get bea-"

*SNAP*

"He broke his neck!" Lee exclaimed.

Misumi sighed. "I told you, I would win."

Kankurō's revolved all the way around to meet with Misumi's eye. His face peeled off, revealing a wooden puppet. "You've had your fun! Now it's my turn!" The puppet wrapped around Misumi's body while the real Kankurō emerged from the bandaged thing.

Attached to Kankurō's fingertips were chakra strings which controlled the puppet. "Heh, heh! Time to end this!"

'Looks like we have a clear winner.' Hayate quickly stepped in. "This battle cannot continue. The winner is Kankurō!" He announced.

OoO

"Hey wait...Kakashi-senisei! That's cheating! Two on one is unfair!" Naruto pointed out.

"That's not two on one, it's a doll. The caster of the puppet technique freely controls the puppet with the use of chakra strings. It's like using shuriken or kunai, just a little more advanced."

Hayate watched the board closely as it flickered with excitement.

Naruto crossed his arms. "How can a puppet match up with a kunai?"

"Why are you getting so worked up over this?" Sakura groaned.

"'Cause!" Naruto pointed at Kanurō. "I don't like him! He almost used that on Konohamaru, and if it wasn't for Itac-"

"Oh yeah, I remember that." Sakura clung onto Itachi. "That was so brave, Itachi-kun!"

"No way! I could've done something like that!"

The board finally showed what the next match would be.

"Oh please! I bet-"

Kakashi gestured to the board. "Sakura, it's your turn."

Sakura gazed at the board, without uttering a single word, she got up and walked towards the staircase.

"...Hey wait!" Naruto called out.

Sakura stopped and turned around.

Naruto grabbed Itachi and smiled for her. "Don't worry! We totally believe you're gonna kick her butt!"

She pumped her fist and gave them a light smile. "I sure will!" 'But of all people...' As she walked down the stairs, her eyes fixated on Ino. '...why her?'

Ino and Sakura stood face to face with each other. "I never knew I would have to...fight you, Sakura." Ino slowly said.

"..." Sakura took off her forehead protector.

XxxxxXxxx

Flashback...

For kunoichi class today, their task today was to pick flowers and create a beautiful bouquet. However, Sakura was having trouble with that 'beautiful' part.

Ino found Sakura laying down on the soft grass with random flowers beside her. "Sakura...you gave up?" Ino asked, sitting right next to her.

"I can't pick these flowers, it's too hard, nothing matches and...I just...I just give up."

Ino picked up a flower. "It's not hard to pick simple flowers and make a bouquet. You just get one main flower, then complement it with the others...I mean you'd think you would be good with this since you're named from flower after all."

"..."

"You see, if the cosmos are your main flower, then use these smaller fujibakama to complement the bigger ones, like-"

A group of girls suddenly came in and decided to ruin everything. Ami, the leader of the group, kicked blades of grass at Sakura. "Do you think you're pretty billboard brow?! Stop trying to make yourself look good because it's only a lost-"

Ino swiped a bunch of fujibakama and threw it into Ami's mouth. "Wha-why'd you do that?!" Ami shouted,

"I'm sorry, but you're mouth looked like a vase and, you might wanna get that checked out, there's poison in the roots."

"...! AHHHHHHHHH!" The three girls ran off in search for their sensei.

Sakura stared at Ino. 'Ino...why are you just...I could only wish to be as talented as you...' Sakura held the fujibakama in her hand. "Compared to you Ino-chan, I'm just a fujibakama."

"No, you're not even a flower," She smiled at her. "You're just a bud."

"Just a...bud?"

XxxxxXxxx

Sakura spoke confidently. "I'm...stronger than you now, and I have every intention of beating you."

"Who do you think you're talking big too?! Don't act all high and mighty!" Ino yelled.

OoO

Up in the stands, Naruto was barely hanging over the edge. "Man! This is-" Kakashi caught before he fell over.

"Is the fight that intense, Naruto?" Kakashi asked.

"I'm just...I'm really worried for Sakura! Kakashi-sensei, who do you think is gonna win?"

"I don't know, those two are...perfectly matched."

XxxxxXxxx

Flashback...

"Why did you give me this ribbon if I'm only a bud?" Sakura asked.

Ino picked up another fujibakama. "Because, someday that bud will grow into a flower, a flower that will perhaps be even more beautiful that the cosmos."

"Ino-chan...thank...you."

XxxxxXxxx

'That's why I want to fight on fair grounds with you, Ino, I don't just want to show Itachi...I want to show you, that this bud has finally bloomed.'

'That's why I have to surpass you...'

OoO

"Why don't you put the forehead protector on your forehead?"

"When I put this on my forehead, is when I don't lose to you Ino, as a shinobi."

"Then I will do the same, Sakura."

OoO

Sakura and Ino both put tied their forehead protectors on their forehead. Quickly, Sakura waved a hand seal and concentrated her chakra to the souls of her feet.

Ino got into stance and prepared for an attack. 'What are you up to-'

*BAM*

Without hesitation, Sakura landed a punch on Ino's face.

"How did you become so strong?!" Ino yelled back, she reeled back her arm and the two clashed. With equal power, Sakura and Ino both flew back while blood spilled out of their mouths.

Hayate watched as the two shakily got up and clashed again and again. 'This is taking longer than I expected. It's been ten minutes already...'

"How can we be...even?!" Ino yelled.

"Don't lie to yourself!" Sakura remarked. "I'll never be even with someone who worries about her long, pretty hair!"

"STOP LOOKING DOWN UPON ME!"

OoO

Shikamaru began worrying. "Ino's getting to her breaking point..."

OoO

"This is it." Ino got out a kunai knife and in a fellow swoop, she sliced off her pony-tail "Don't think you're the only one who can cut their hair!"

Ino did a bird hand seal and opened up her hands making an 'O' shape. "This is where it ends, Haruno."

OoO

"Huh? What the hell is Ino doing?!" Naruto yelled.

"It's the mind body change technique. It's a jutsu that allows you to project your own spiritual energy into your opponent's body, allowing you to control that person. But mind that, it has a major weakness. It's a slow jutsu and it requires time to get back to your actual body, which means for that time, an enemy can attack you." Kakashi explained.

"And what if it misses?"

"Then you're vulnerable to the enemy."

"That's crazy..."

Team 8...

"Why would she use that? She's only supposed to use that during my shadow technique!" Shikamaru yelled. "You're going to lose!"

"It's not even a battle jutsu," Asuma added. "What is she thinking?"

OoO

Ino got into position while Sakura ran around, ignoring the yells of Shikamaru, she used it anyways. "MIND BODY CHANGE TECHNIQUE!"

Ino lowered her head while Sakura stopped and playfully smirked. "Looks like you've missed, Ino." Suddenly, she felt something coil her legs.

"Did I miss?" Ino raised her head, it was only a trick. "Now that I've trapped you. This battle is finished."

Sakura looked down and saw Ino's hair wrapped around her legs. 'So that's why she cut her hair?!'

Ino did the same bird hand seal. "Mind body change technique!"

The room went silent as Ino's and Sakura's head dropped.

"..." Sakura's head went up. "This is it..."

OoO

"What's wrong with her?" Naruto asked.

"She's under the jutsu Ino cast." Kakashi explained.

OoO

Ino was now successfully in Sakura's body. 'Heh, I'll just make her forfeit, see how you like that, Sakura!' Sakura slowly raised her hand. "I Haruno Sakura would like to-"

Naruto clenched the rail. "NO SAKURA! SNAP OUT OF IT! YOU CAN'T GIVE UP!" He shouted.

Sakura began trembling.

'There's no way I'm gonna let you win, Ino!'

'What the hell?! How is this happening?!'

'It doesn't matter! I'm gonna win this fight no matter what!'

"Well...do you want to forfeit?" Hayate asked.

"CHA! WHY IN THE HELL WOULD I FORFEIT?!"

Somehow, the technique failed and made Ino go back into her own body. For something like this to happen, it was pure crazy.

OoO

'Sakura had such a strong ambition, not wanting to lose to her rival, that she forced Ino out of her body.' Kakashi glanced at Naruto. 'Just like you, Naruto, huh?'

Naruto let go of the railing, he stared at Itachi who for the most part, was silent. 'I know you don't like fighting as much as me or anyone else but, if we ever do have a fight, Itachi, I wonder what ours'll be like?'

OoO

With the last of their chakra, Sakura and Ino ran up and punched each other as hard as they could, knocking them both out. Hayate walked up and analyzed their bodies. "Because both opponents are knocked out. This ends the match with no winner."

At the same time, Kakashi and Asuma appeared, picking up their fallen student. They went back to the standees and placed Sakura and Ino next to each other.

Kakashi looked at Sakura. "That was a good fight, Sakura."

They'll be okay in about half an hour." Asuma reassured.

"Our next match is; Temari vs. Tenten."

Temari and Tenten walked up to each other.

"GO TENTEN!" Lee screamed.

Hayate raised his arm. "Let the fifth match begin!"

XxxxxXxxx

-Just outside of Konoha-

Sasuke along with his partner sat just outside of Konoha. "Why are we here again?" Kisame asked.

"Sometimes...I'll watch Konoha as a sort of pastime." He folded his hands. "As Konoha grows more and more, whenever I destroy the village, it'll be more satisfying."

"Is that so? What a creepy person you are."

"You're one to speak."

XxxxxXxxx

"And the winner of round five is Temari!" Hayate announced.

Itachi got himself up and started to walk off.

"Wait! Weasel where are you going?" Naruto asked.

"I'm going to get a drink of water."

"Yeah whatever! Just be back in time for my match!"

"I promise, I wouldn't miss your match for the world." With that, Itachi walked out of the arena hall and entered the tower's main entrance.

OoO

"It's been a long time hasn't it, little brother?"

Itachi paused, the color drained out of him, he recognized that voice from anywhere. "...Sasuke? Why are you...here?"

"Because I'm itching to kill everyone," Sasuke slid out his katana. "JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!"

"I won't allow you to!"

"And how are you going to do that! With love?!"

"No..." Itachi turned on his Mangeykō sharigan. "...With hate."


A/N: Day 9 of my re-edits, wooo, almost done! If you're reading this on July 20th, 2015, I advise you to wait a day or two before the next chapter.