She was still in a bad mood, killing those bastards wasn't enough to calm her down. The fact was she knew most of the village felt the same way about her. Most of them probably haven't realized that she was back but, soon they would. She glanced over towards the Hokage she noticed the Kazekage sitting beside him. The she looked around the Stadium again and her eyes fell on Sub-Zero, who was watching the Kazekage.
"Troublesome," she heard someone say next to her. I was Shikamaru she didn't know much about him but from what see could tell he did everything with the least amount of effort.
"What's wrong?" she asked smiling at him.
"We are expected to fight when the only one anyone really wants to see is Sasuke," Shikamaru said taking a deep breath, "maybe I should quiet it's not like anyone would care it would be one less match they would have to wait thru to get to their precious Sasuke."
"I am sure that's not true I am sure there are people here to watch you fight," she said kindly.
"No, the only teammate of mine that has shown up is Ino and all she ever thinks about is Sasuke," he said in a bored tone.
"Well I want to see you fight if that counts for anything," Naruko said facing forward as she realized that Hayate was not there but instead was a man she hadn't seen before.
"I am sure you all know the rules the same as the preliminary. A match ends when someone gives up or is no longer to fight. I hold the right to end a match at any time and my word is law," the new proctor said. "The first match is between Uzumaki and Hyuga Neji, everyone else, please leave the battle field at once."
"That Uzumaki kid doesn't stand a chance against the Hyuga a Shinobi with a bandage on his face said looking down at the field. 'I thought I could beat that kid too but look where I'm sitting,' Kiba thought to himself, 'well at least if Neji loses I won't have to feel so bad.'
"Sakura do you think your friend can beat Neji, I mean he is really strong?" Ino asked.
"Yes I do," Sakura said confidently.
When everyone but Naruko and Neji left the battle field, she gave him a sweat smile, "You should give up you can beat me, your fate was decided I was picked to be your opponent," Neji said.
"I don't believe in fate, because if fate had its way I would be long dead. Neji you see me and you, we aren't that different really we both have to fight to prove ourselves to the world. But the difference is what we have to prove something to yourself, I fight to prove something to the world," Naruko said lowering herself into her fighting pose.
"Oh now you think you know me you know nothing about me?" Neji said frowning at her as he readied himself to fight.
"No, I would never pretend to know you but I can see it in your eyes that desire to prove yourself," Naruko answered. Neji activated his Byakugan, he smirked when he realized that he was a she. "Whenever you are ready," she said with a smirk.
He remember her fight with Kiba, she wasn't one to be the aggressor she liked having her opponent fall into traps but it would work on him. "Shadow Clone Jutsu" five clones appeared and the crowd was shocked, they didn't think that someone so young would be able to use that jutsu. She started off sending her clones into battle it was obvious which was the real one. She stood back as her much weaker clones attacked him.
'She wants me to bypass her clones and go for her. What is she planning?' he wondered to himself. 'The way she is fight me is clumsy completely different from her first match. I should end this quick.'
He charged her dodging the wire trap she had set readied himself to strike here eyes widened, "Eight Trigrams Sixty-four Palms," he struck her fist two time then, four times eight times until he had struck her sixty-four times closing all her chakra points. The place went silent most them weren't surprised how quickly it had ended but what did surprise them is that Naruko had gotten to her feet.
"You think it would be that easy to beat me?" she asked smiling sweetly at him.
"You have no chakra left you can't win!" he shouted at her.
"If that is the case you will have no problem shutting up and fighting," Naruko said still smiling. He looked over at the proctor who didn't say anything so he attacked her again. For a second time she got back to her feet.
"Why do you keep fight, you cannot win!" Neji shouted.
"I am an idiot that's why. And I know how this match is going to end," she said smiling.
"How is that?" he asked smirking.
"I will win this battle, without a scratch on me and you will lie at my feet wondering what happened," she said smiling kindly.
"What did he say is he really that big of an idiot thinking that he can win?" Ino shouted.
"I don't know?" Sakura answered. Sasuke watch nervously he wanted to jump in and stop the fight but Hydro stopped him.
"Have faith," was all he said.
"You talk big it's time to show me," Neji said with a cocky grin.
"Very well," she said she closed her eyes her wounds began to heal chakra began to flow thru her body the chakra spilled out seeming to heat the air around them.
Neji had a horrified look on his face, "what are you!" She removed her vest and threw it at Neji he dodged it, the weight of the vest made a creator in the ground, he slowly turned his gaze from the vest to her, her expression had change no longer carefree but cold like that of a killers. She pulled out two kunai and threw them both at the same time he spun blocking them both then catching them. But in that time he had taken his focus off of her she appeared right in front of him thru his defense she hit him hard in the face. He fell back but she caught him keeping him on his feet. She kicked him across his face, blood spraying from his mouth. He remained on his feet because she held on to his arm not allow him free of her grip. He tried to punch her with his free hand but the only thing he managed was to get her to let go and to loss her bandana. But in that moment she did a back flip kicking him under the chin. She landed gracefully on her feet and with one swift move she kneed him in the gut. He coughed up blood falling to the ground.
"How," he asked weakly.
"Because of the difference between us, you fight to prove something you want to prove to yourself, you just want to prove you are worth of your name. I fight to prove something to the world; I fight to prove I am worth of this world. You have never tasted desperation; you have never really seen what happens when you lose a fight. In my life there are two outcomes for battle victory or death there are no second chances, so until you have tasted that desperation you can never beat me," she said finally smiling at him. "You need to realize the only limits we have are those we sent on ourselves."
"The match is over Uzumaki wins," the proctor said. Whispers of demon filled the stadium; Neji along with most of the younger generation heard the whispers but didn't understand the implication. Neji watch as she walked off hearing the crowd he felt pain, not a physical pain but sorrow for this girl. He was carried off to the infirmary as he was she stopped turned and waved to him before going into the tunnel.
The next match was between Hydro and Dosu; both were calm as they made their way down stairs. They faced each other, "why don't we make this quick because we both have someone else we would rather fight," Dosu said calmly.
"Very well," Hydro said just as calmly. "Ice Style White out Jutsu" it started to snow slowly at first but it didn't take long for it to become an all out blizzard. Dosu couldn't see a thing everything was white, the sound of the wind made it difficult to hear his opponent. When he found Hydro it was too late he, Hydro placed his hand on the device on Dosu's arm freezing it then he shattered it.
"Give up it's over," Hydro said but Dosu wasn't ready to give in yet. Hydro could tell that he wasn't going to give so he grabbed his arm freezing it down to the bone, Hydro crushed his arm as the blizzard died, Hydro stared Dosu down before saying, "give up, or all that is left is for me to kill you."
"The match is over Hydro wins," the proctor said. Hydro turned his back to Dosu and started back to waiting area.
"No this is not over," Dosu said pulling out a kunai charging Hydro he turned around "Ice Style Ice blast Jutsu," Dosu was completely frozen. 'So this is the power of the Lin Kuei,' Sasuke thought.
Shino and Frost both made their way to the field. "So you like playing with bugs you know I one of the worse opponents here for you," Frost said watching him.
"We will see," Shino said calmly. His bugs started swirling around him, "Ice Style: Frozen Pound Jutsu," the ground froze over in a thin layer of ice. Shikamaru watched as she moved trying to figure out the secret to the jutsu. He knew that she was using her chakra to not slip and slide over the ice but if it was that simple Ino could have done it. He wondered if Shino would be able to figure out how to fight Frost.
Frost charge Shino who stood calmly and when she got close enough his bugs attacked her but she got low dodging the bugs as she slid on the ice. When she was before Shino she pushed herself up landing a kick to his face, but it was a clone made of bugs. She quickly pushed herself away from the bugs looking for the real Shino. Then she say him standing on the side of the wall, "Ice Style: Ice Kunai Jutsu" a dozen kunai made of ice were sent flying at Shino. He dodged them all, he was determined not to walk on the ice he was going to fight her from safety of the wall.
'He is good I must admit if I am not careful he might just beat me," Frost thought she turned to see a wall of bugs crashing down upon her. They struck her, she shattered into hundreds of pieces, "Ice clones," Shino said calmly. She watched him from behind a tree; she noticed something crawling on her she turned to see some of Shino's bugs.
"Shit!" she shouted, "Ice Style: Frost Jutsu" the bugs on her froze and fell to the ground. 'I have two minutes to end this or I will lose this armor and I will be fare game for those damn bugs," she thought quickly. She charged Shino her punch just missing him freezing the wall where she had hit. Shino was so worried about dodging her punches he had forgotten about the ice, 'thirty seconds left,' was the thought running thru her minds as Shino landed on the ice.
"Got you," she said she jumped on to the ice too Shino tried to run but he could keep his balance even with his chakra. She was ready to punch him but stopped inches from his face, "I win."
"Your right you have beaten me," Shino said the ice disappeared she sat down on the ground trying to catch her breath.
"If you wouldn't have gotten on the ice when you did you probably would have won," her ice arm also vanishing. Shino reached down helping her up and they both went back to the waiting area.
"What a drag I'm up," Shikamaru said, in a bored tone.
"Come on Shika you can do it," Naruko said smiling at him.
"What did you call me?" he asked turning to her.
"Shika, I like it better than Shikamaru," she said smiling at him. 'I knew this kid was going to be troublesome,' Shikamaru thought slowly walking out down to the battle field. Temari was already waiting for him but he didn't much care all he wanted to do was look up at the sky watch the clouds pass. This was truly troublesome no one even wanted to watch him fight, well no one besides that troublesome Uzumaki. The match had begun and he was even paying attention he was looking up at the sky still he had envy for the clouds, he wish he could just coast thru life as the clouds did in the sky.
"Are you going to fight or just look up at the sky all day," Temari shouted at him.
"I would rather stair up at the sky but I won't here the end of it if I do that, so I guess I will fight, troublesome I know but there you go," he said in his bored tone.
"Well how about I beat you quickly so you can go back at looking at sky," Temari said waving her giant fan. Shikamaru dodged the wind at the last moment hanging on the wall grinning at her.
"You really are troublesome," he said lazily.
"I will show you troublesome," Temari shouted waving her fan again. For a second time he dodged her attack. He sat down behind the tree thinking out what he would do to win the match, "Shadow Possession Jutsu," his shadow shout out she jumped back to dodge his jutsu stopping just outside. She waved her fan again hitting the tree he was hiding behind, he wrapped paper bombs around two kunai and he threw them both at her. She used her fan to send them back they stuck in the trunk of the tree. Shikamaru grinned as he ignited the bombs. The tree toppled over Temari was worried about dodging the falling tree while Shikamaru had other plans. She went to attack him now that his cove was gone but she couldn't move. She looked down at her feet and she had been captured by his jutsu.
"You… how did you," then she looked at the tree and its shadow, "you had me focused on the tree while you used the shadow to catch me," she said annoyed.
"Yeah it was really troublesome it would have been easier if you would have let me catch you the first time I tried," he said lazily. He raised his hand and in turn she raised hers, 'is he going to make me forfeit?' she thought her eyes wide.
"I give up this is all too troublesome," Shikamaru said releasing his jutsu.
"But why you won the match?" Temari said.
"No I gave up, if I had won that would have meant I would have had to fight again and that is too troublesome I would rather just watch the clouds," he said. When he went back into the waiting area he was tackled by a little blond.
"That was so cool the way you used the tree and made her copy what you did you have to teach me," Naruko said hugging him, he realized he was getting nasty looks from Sasuke and he hadn't even done anything. 'This girl is really troublesome,' he thought to himself.
"But why did you give up you had it won," she asked finally releasing him.
"I would have had to fight again if I won and it would have been too troublesome," he said sitting down. Next Cyrax was looking at Kankuro as he got up and made his way down stairs. Down on the field he continued to watch Kankuro, he had seen his last fight and knew that once he destroyed the puppet everything would be so much easier. Kankuro pulled off the bundle off his back. Cyrax stood there his blank gaze fixed on him. Kankuro didn't like it there was something different about this guy, he hadn't watched a single match but the whole time he had been watching him.
"Make your move. For it will be your last," Cyrax said coolly.
"That's what you think you can win?" Kankuro asked smirking, Cyrax didn't say anything, "fine if you want me to end it now then that's fine," he unwrapped the puppet and he lunged for Cyrax, who made hand signs faster than Kankuro thought possible. "Ice Style: Crystal Trap Jutsu," ice shot up from the ground trapping the puppet.
"Do you think you have won this battle yet?" Kankuro asked still grinning. The head of the puppet popped off going. A knife was sticking out of its mouth head straight for Cyrax again with lighting speed he casted another jutsu, "Ice Style: Crystal Trap Jutsu," the head was trapped in an ice formation, leaving Kankuro completely defenseless. Cyrax ran at Kankuro, his giant fist met with the side of Kankuro's face knocking him out with one punch.
"The match is over, Cyrax is the winner," the proctor said, the ice melted away the puppet fell limp to the ground. The final match was set to begin the favorite to win was up next, but now that they had seen the others fight not as many people where as sure it was as one side as they thought. Most people had Neji and Sasuke in the finals but Neji had been taken out in the first round. And then all three Lin Kuei Shinobi had made it thru who none of them look to be push over's.
"Good luck Sasuke," Naruko said smiling at him.
"I don't need luck dope," Sasuke said coolly.
"Don't get cocky now Sasuke," Naruko said pouting at him.
Sasuke didn't say anything he jumped down, ready to fight and so was Gaara. He stood there talking to his someone no one could see.
"Don't worry mother you will taste his blood soon," Gaara said with a mad glint in his eyes.
"I don't see his mother do you?" Naruko asked turning to Shikamaru.
"I don't know, I don't really care this is all troublesome," Shikamaru said turning over trying to sleep.
The battle between Sasuke and Gaara began, Sasuke's speed had increased greatly he was almost as fast as Lee. Sasuke easily got thru Gaara's defenses which only made him angrier. Soon a shell encased him, Sasuke tried punching the wall but it was like hitting a steal wall. Sasuke jumped back he made a few hand signs; the sound of a thousand birds filled the air. "Chidori," Sasuke ran at Gaara ready to use his new jutsu. Thru the battle Naruko had a feeling that something wasn't right.
She started out of the waiting area she was aware that she was being watch but she didn't much care much. When she was out of ear shout of everyone an ANBU Root member appeared before her.
"Watch the Kazekage, there is something not right about him," she said to the Root member nodded and then he vanished. She felt someone casting a genjutsu. She released it and walked back towards the area. She saw most of the crowd passed out and the three Sand Shinobi where on the run and Sasuke was fallowing them.
"Hydro do you want to join me for some fun?" Naruko asked sweetly.
"I thought you would never ask," Hydro said fallowing Naruko. Then Cyrax and Frost joined in. Kakashi watch as the four Shinobi went after Sasuke. He noticed Sakura was awake he appeared beside her.
"Sakura go after them get Kiba, Shino and Shikamaru to join you, avoid fighting at all possible," Kakashi said to her before joining Lee and Guy who were fighting with Sound and Sand Shinobi. Sub-Zero noticed Sarutobi was in trouble. He ran as quickly as he could towards the fray.
"Orochimaru, you wish to fight someone fight me," Sub-Zero said as he press a kunai to Sarutobi's throat.
"Sub-Zero this is my fight I should have done this years ago, all I can asked is you help my village while I deal with him," Sarutobi said.
"If that is your wish," Sub-Zero said vanishing.
To Be continued