Disclaimer: I do not own the characters used in this story, though there will be OCs, they are mine. The Anime characters and those from Harry Potter are owned by someone else.

Chapter 9: Prelims…

At the tower in the center of the forest…

"About time we got here." Sasuke stated as he looked over to Ixy who didn't look happy.

"Stupid bugs…" Ixy muttered as she shivered.

"Come on, we made it to the center now what?" Naruto asked as he looked at the earth scroll that he held.

"I say we open a set together." Ixy stated as she pulled out the heaven scroll that she picked up.

"I agree." Sasuke stated as they open the scrolls and jumped back when there was smoke coming from them.

"Wow you made it." Iruka stated as he looked at the girl. "I understand that you are taking Sakura's place…"

"Ixy." Ixy supplied him.

"Ixy, don't try to push yourself too far." Iruka stated as he led them in.

"How many days are left?" Ixy asked as Iruka looked at her.

"Two why?" Iruka asked.

"So we are not the first team to arrive?" Ixy asked as she shrugged.

"No, there are other teams here." Iruka stated as sighed. "Though I would thought that you might have been the last team here."

"Why?" Ixy asked as she looked at the guy.

"Well you don't scream ninja." Iruka stated as she looked at her clothes.

"I don't, well aren't ninja's masters of blending in." Ixy stated as she looked at Naruto.

"You got me on that one." Iruka replied and then stated. "Be ready in two days, you'll find out about the third part of the exams then." Iruka walked off.

[Beep.] Lionheart chirped.

"Ummm… I need to check on my sword." Ixy stated with a pale face.

"Ixy?" Both guys stated as one as she bolted.

A little ways off…

"Okay, this better be important." Ixy stated as a screen popped up.

{This is the Saint Cradle, contacting Lionheart.} Vivio's voice stated. {Are you okay? Where are the others? And what is your situation?}

"Lionheart, send this back to the source." Ixy stated as she sighed. "Vivio, I'm fine and so are my parents. Our situation is somewhat surprising, the natives here are different. I'm helping a team that I inadvertently injured a member of, it will take some time. Is there any news on what caused the dislocation?" Ixy stated as she sighed. "Send it Lionheart."

[Ja.] Lionheart replied as Ixy started to head back to the group.

Off to the side…

'Natives… dislocation… talking sword… what is she?' Hinata thought as she looked at the newest member of team seven.

"Lady Hinata, why are you hiding?" Neji asked scaring her.

"I was doing some thinking." Hinata stated as she stood up and started to walk away but stopped. "You know, I've always wonder what it would be like to see as far as you do but still see as much detail I do."

"You have to give up one for the other." Neji stated as he sighed. "Still why do you not try to increase the range?"

"My own reasons." Hinata stated as she continued on her way.

"You are too weak to do what your destiny demands of you… or are you?" Neji asked to himself as he watched her leave.

With Ixy…

"Man… I got lost…" Ixy muttered as she looked to her sides.

"Ixy, right?" Hinata asked as she walked up.

"Yeah." Ixy stated and looked at the shy girl. 'Well she certainly isn't acting shy.'

"What is Naruto-kun to you?" Hinata asked.

"Huh?" Ixy asked as she looked confused.

"I don't see you fawning over Sasuke." Hinata stated as she looked at Ixy.

"Neither of my teammates is my type." Ixy stated surprising Hinata, who gave a sigh of relief. "Now that we are clear on that, I need some help finding my team."

"Okay, Team seven is this way." Hinata stated as she dragged Ixy away.

'Okay… A Fangirl, or is she…' Ixy thought as she looked at the ecstatic face of the young teen before sighing. ~Mom, had contact with the Saint Cradle.~

~You did, how?~ Teana's voice asked.

~Vivio contacted me, I guess they detected Lionheart.~ Ixy replied as she saw her team. ~Talk to you in a few days.~

~Kay tell us if you make it to the third round.~ Teana stated making Ixy blink.

"Guys I have a question, how many teams are here now?" Ixy asked and got relative blank faces. "I think there might be a chance that there will be preliminary fights."

"Why?" Hinata asked sounding scared.

"I think it might have to do with this competition. I've been in a tournament before. If there is too many people; people tend to get bored with the fights." Ixy stated as she sighed. "I just hope I'm wrong, but I'll not hold back if I have to fight anyone."

"Yeah, wouldn't want you to get rusty now." Sasuke stated in a mocking tone.

"I'll manage." Ixy stated as she looked to the roof.

Two days later…

"Great to see you all here." Sarutobi stated as he did a mental count and frowned. "Years ago all the nations were at war, this is simply a way to keep the forces even." Sarutobi stated making Ixy frown. "But as you know, with 32 genin here, the amount of time it would take to give you all matches, would take several days. The Daimyo from other countries would not like to have to wait a long time to see how the money they spent on our missions if we waste their time that needlessly."

"So if we don't make it past this point we don't get promoted?" Ixy asked making Sarutobi look at her.

"Correct, but some of you will be fighting blind in these rounds and in the matches for the third round you should have a grasp of what your opponents can do." Sarutobi stated making the group look at the old man. "So without further delay. Hayate, please."

'I'm sooooooo going to pick on her now.' Ixy thought with a smile.

Off to the side of the fighting area…

"Sarutobi-san, are you sure that we should wait and see?" Anko asked as she rubbed her neck.

"If he did attack a team, he could be anywhere. Has the investigation figured out what caused that explosion?" Sarutobi asked as Anko looked off to the side.

"No, they don't know who or what caused that massive blast, but it looked like our guests did." Anko stated making Sarutobi nod. "So I'm thinking the young girl in team seven did it."

"I do as well, but what caused her to use such an attack?" Sarutobi asked as Hayate finished explaining the rules.

"Round one will be…" Hayate stated as he looked at a flat screen TV. "Lanster Ixpellia and Kinta Dosu."

"I'm up first huh?" Ixy asked to no one but jumped the railing and landed on the ground safely. "And while I don't mind being called by my full name, I do like Ixy a bit more."

"Understood." Hayate stated as Dosu walked up.

'So she is the one that hurt Orochimaru-sama. She seems so frail.' Dosu thought as he smirked. "This will be over in one hit."

"You sure about that? You mean that you can't take a hit or you just that cocky?" Ixy asked as she settled into a stance.

"Begin!" Hayate shouted as Dosu ran right up to her and threw a punch that hit a shield surprising him, but he smiled when she started to scream.

"You bastard…" Ixy stated as she held her ears. "I'm going to make you pay!" Ixy stated as she vanished from sight.

"Wha…" Dosu stated as he felt like he was getting hit several times.

"Dance of the silver sun." Ixy stated holding a sword out and she sighed. "Damn, I can't hear a damn thing." Ixy stated as walked a little funny. "He is lucky that I wasn't able to move right… there was several slashes from behind but I couldn't do them."

"Winner Lanster Ixy." Hayate stated as two groups of medics came in.

"Just heal my ears." Ixy stated as one pointed to one of the stretchers. "I'm fine just need them healed."

"Alright." One stated as she did just that. "Better?"

"Yeah." Ixy stated as she leaped up grabbed the railing and flipped over it. "Still didn't know it had that massive of a weakness."

'So sound waves are harsher on the shield…" Kakashi thought as he frowned. 'But that can't be the only way to beat it.'

In the ring…

"Round two is…" Hayate stated as he looked at the TV. "Uchiha Sasuke vs Sabuku No Kankuro."

"Hmmm… A puppet user?" Sasuke stated to himself as he smirked. "Hey, Naruto, we better make sure we can go against Ixy." Sasuke stated as he walked away.

"Ready?" Hayate asked as he looked at both teens. "Begin!"

"Fire Style: Grand Fireball!" Sasuke shouted as he lobbed a large ball of fire at Kankuro.

"You bastard!" Kankuro shouted as he revealed that he had hidden himself as his own puppet and leaped away from his burning puppet.

"Thought as much." Sasuke stated as he settled into his fighting stance.

"Proctor I give." Kankuro stated as he looked at his destroyed puppet. "I can't fight without it."

"Damn." Sasuke muttered.

"Winner Uchiha Sasuke." Hayate stated as he coughed into his hand. "The next fight will be…" Everyone looked at the screen. "Inuzuka Kiba vs Uzumaki Naruto."

"Give up Naruto." Kiba stated as both teens walked into the area.

"Fat chance at that." Naruto stated as he smirked. "You want me to quit so you don't lose badly."

"Me! Lose to you!" Kiba shouted as he glared at the blonde.

"Begin!" Hayate stated as he jumped back in time to avoid weapons thrown at the competitors.

With the two…

"Stop dodging me!" Kiba shouted as he leaped at Naruto who moved to another spot while smiling.

"Why, if you can't hit the target than you must really suck." Naruto stated as he flipped backwards dodging Akamaru. "Kiba, stop holding back."

"You can tell?" Kiba asked as he looked at the blonde surprised.

"I have an Emo on my team." Naruto stated.

"HEY!" Sasuke shouted as Naruto snickered. "Don't compare me to that mutt!"

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted as fifteen more appeared. "Come on, or did you actually think that you can win with a half assed attempt."

"That's it." Kiba muttered as Akamaru jumped to his back. "Man-beast clone."

'Good…' Naruto thought as a truly evil smirk appeared. "You know Kiba; you got to understand that I made your mom a promise."

"Huh, what does that have to do with this?" Kiba asked dumbly.

"I'm a prankster; your mom caught me once trying to prank your clan." Naruto stated as he pulled out a scroll.

'He wouldn't.' Sarutobi thought before sighing. 'He would.'

"Prepare for the worst existence of your life!" Naruto stated as he tossed the scroll at Kiba and it was unraveling in the air.

'I got a baaaaad feeling about this.' Ixy thought as she saw Kiba back away from the item.

"It can't be… Mom caught you trying to use that on my clan, after all the hardships we went through in the academy?" Kiba asked as he looked scared.

"Well you walked into the trap." Naruto stated as the scroll erupted in the most dangerous yellow cloud that just seemed to linger.

"What did you put in that?" Kiba asked as he crawled out of the cloud.

"Five weeks of bad food, and a surprise." Naruto stated with a grin. "And I have more than one."

"You are evil." Kiba muttered as he rolled over to his back. "I'm out."

"Could you please get rid of this?" Hayate stated as he coughed more than normal.

"I don't know how." Naruto stated as Kakashi appeared. "Will I get in trouble for this?"

"No." Sarutobi stated as Kakashi did a few hand signs.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough." Kakashi stated as a giant whirlwind pushed the cloud away.

A/N: Does anyone want to make a guess on who makes it to the finals… also will Orochimaru's plan to destory the Leaf work or will he be facing the might of the TSAB Riot Force… Who will fight whom!