A/N: I wanted to gouge my eyes out during the entire second fight of this chapter. I'll admit it… Some fighters are just not that interesting to plan out. To be completely honest, if I could have avoided writing the fight, I would have deprived you of it. Anyway, I'm hoping the first fight makes up for it, the rest were just as taxing to do… I'm starting to regret the chapter length I've devoted in previous ones. It's really difficult keeping it so long and still making sure it stays interesting. It makes me wonder if anyone's skipping these chapters and only reading the fluff? (Neon: I'm not! I like your fight scenes, even if I'm not quite sure about Naruto revealing so much in his fight against Kabuto.) ((Me: Thanks Neon!)

That's the question of the day that is, perhaps someone will even answer it (besides my awesome beta. :D)

Beta of Awesomeness: NeonTorch5408

Warning/Disclaimer: Just check earlier chapters. It's really what you'd expect for a bunch of fight scenes and belonging to Kishimoto. This belongs to the correct people.

Words: 6900~

Chapter 11:

Enter! Uzumaki Naruto, Proving Things, and Life Changing Battles!

Take him out! You can definitely do it, believe it!

Hinata's world came to a grinding halt as she read. The board read Hyuuga Neji versus Hyuuga Hinata. Sakura glanced at her teammate sympathetically, and Sasuke actually stiffened.

"You'll do great," Sakura said trying to reassure her. Kurenai stare fixedly at Neji, looking as if she was trying to gauge what would happen in the next few moments. Sasuke's back molars ground together in clear temper.

"Beat him quickly," Sasuke stated his eyes turned to her fiercely flashing, "I know you care about your family, Hinata-chan, but don't let him hurt you." She stared at him, her body's trembles coming to a stop, and her shoulders squaring.

"I'll do my best," she stated, and he stared into her pale eyes before nodding. She turned to walk down the stairs.

"Hinata," Sasuke's voice cut in, attracting her attention once more, "I respect you more than practically anyone," she froze, "Win or lose, you'll always have my respect." She glanced over her shoulder and offered a brief smile before nodding once more and heading down.

Turning to stare at the smug looking Hyuuga male, Sasuke felt his own anger and protective instincts rise.

"If he tries anything with her," he said lowly, so only his teammate and sensei could hear, "I'll kill him."

Sakura and Kurenai had similar sentiments.

Neji sneered at his younger cousin, but paused when Gai clamped down on his shoulder.

"Fight fairly, my pupil, use your true flames of youth!" Gai told him. Neji shook the hand off and continued down, ignoring his teammates like usual. He didn't notice the eyes watching him narrowly, though he offered one last look of smug superiority at the worthless blond he knew was good friends with the little heiress.

Uzumaki Naruto glared at him with usually cerulean blue eyes narrowed into stormy dark blue slits.

The assassin-in-training didn't like this at all.

There was a reason he disliked Team Nine, and it wasn't because of Rock Lee with his annoying outfit and brash attitude or TenTen with her secret fan girl qualities and cocky, insulting superiority complex over other kunoichi.

Uzumaki Naruto had a long standing problem with Hyuuga Neji.

'You better not try anything,' he thought silently. 'Or the full wrath you will suffer will make my fight with Kabuto look like a frolic through a pretty flower filled meadow.'

Naruto, in one of his rare moments of pique, glared down at the back of Hyuuga Neji's head.

Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji were both quiet, dedicated shinobi who worked hard at developing their skills and were devoted to the defense of their village. Now, some would believe this to mean they would get along reasonably well if acquainted with one another. However, they had a long standing animosity with one another. It all stemmed back to childhood where Neji had grown to despise the entirety of the Main Branch family of the Hyuuga, though Hinata loved him dearly.

Naruto, who was born loyal, didn't get on easily with Neji because of this. His dedication to people as well as his innate kindness had grown strong, deeply cemented in his very soul. He was also raised on the Aburame belief that one is loyal to the whole, dedicated to one's family and 'hive.' He believed in being dedicated to his village, but also to his precious family and friends.

That's why when he first saw the satisfied smirk on Hyuuga Neji's face after Hinata suffered a beatdown at his hands, Neji had earned his dislike, and when the boy had proceeded to disparage the shy girl that dislike had turned into animosity. Then, when the boy hit her again when she offered to treat his wounds, Uzumaki Naruto had a feeling he'd never felt for even the cruelest of the villagers.

Hate.

Hyuuga Neji was scum in Naruto's opinion.

Naruto saw Neji for what he was. He was a misanthropic bastard who had no loyalty or love for anyone but himself and was slowly drowning in his hatred of others, especially people he was supposed to love and cherish.

Hyuuga Neji was a bitter soul, who would sooner cut off his own hand than willing take another's when it was offered.

All of Neji's pent up anger, fury, and hatred was locked away, waiting to erupt. He was a pressurized volcano of impotent, negative emotions. Naruto feared the day that it exploded on someone, because he suspected, nay knew, who it would be.

Naruto's fears were likely going to come to fruit today.

Hyuuga Hinata knew how her cousin felt about her. His pale eyes always burned hotter on her than anyone in the main house. His strikes were always sharper, fiercer, and angrier when directed at her.

She used to feel guilty about how he felt, how he acted towards her, blaming herself. In some ways she still did. Naruto-kun would have been upset to know. He'd expressed his opinion on Neji blaming a three year old for not being able to fend off a near Kage-leveled ninja to be the basest of stupidity.

Standing before her cousin, she sucked in a nervous breath and tried to calm down the jangling remaining nerves.

"Hinata-sama," Neji said coldly. Hinata steeled herself completely, putting on a calm, politely distant face.

"Neji-dono," she said formally, his eyes widened at the lack of her usual kind inflection and use of nii-san. "I expect you to fight well. You have the Hyuuga honor to uphold." She fell into her stance and stared unflinchingly into his now surprised eyes.

"Very well," he said, "Though fate has undoubtedly already decreed your loss."

Hinata felt a frown appear on her face, breaking through the placid and formal mask she'd donned.

"Fate and destiny is unknown to you," she said stiffly, "I won't use such a petty thing to determine how I fight, Neji-dono. It's pathetic that you cling to it like a babe to his mother's skirts." Neji's eyes flared.

"We shall see then, if I am correct or if you are?" Neji replied heatedly. "Come heiress, use your natural advantage!" Hinata's eyes widened at the implication, before narrowing sharply and unconsciously activating her bloodline.

"Proctor-san," her voice was tight, with tightly veiled anger, her usual placidity pushed aside, "Please start this before Neji-san dishonors himself more."

Hayate winced but complied. He dropped his hand and shouted, "Hajime!"

The two met in an instant flurry of blows, Hinata's speeding up faster and faster as she twisted to avoid Neji's own onslaught. Her eyes narrowed, and she did something unprecedented, she kicked.

Now, the Hyuuga's style of fighting, Jūken, was dependent largely on circular motions and soft, but accurate, punches or taps that fed chakra into their opponents system.

The chakra laden kick that connected with Neji's gut was anything but.

Neji, not anticipating the sudden change in style, flew back and crashed painfully into the wall. His eyes which had scrunched shut in pain, weakly opened, and he stared at her, reactivating his Byakugan. Chakra pulsed powerfully through her and she stared blandly at him, her own eyes unactivated. Her stance was also clearly off, her legs out of the wide spread stance and into a more aggressive one that allowed the use of kicks and twists.

"That was not Jūken," he said in shock. "You're not using Jūken?" She stared at him before nodding.

"It's actually combination of the traditional fighting style of the Hyuuga clan, and the style I have been developing with my teammates and friends. I have good reserves and excellent control, enough that I can pump my chakra with pinpoint accuracy out of any part of my body, strengthening it or extending it out. The Hyuuga Clan is traditional." Hinata smiled almost proudly, "I am not."

She then launched herself forward.

Hinata's mind replayed her training with Haku, Naruto and the other kunoichi of her year. It was a month ago that this question came up and it had stumped her.

FLASHBACK

"Ne, Hinata-chan," Ino asked, huffing through some more katas. "Why do you only use chakra in your hands when you fight, can't you use it in other places?"

"Eh?" Hinata stumbled and came to a halt. Ino huffed and stopped as well, turning to meet Hinata's confused gaze.

"You can channel chakra anywhere, like we learned in the tree-walking and water-walking exercises, so why do you only use it in your hands? Couldn't you do serious damage with a kick?"

"A-Ano… It… It isn't done in my clan." Hinata fidgeted. Ino blinked before frowning with a nod.

"I guess that makes… You know what," she shook her head as she thought it over; "It doesn't make sense. Don't you want to try new things?" Hinata fidgeted.

"Uh… I… I'm not very good at Jūken, so… Co-coming up with a new style of it…" Hinata stuttered out. Ino glanced at her in surprise.

"You're the best taijutsu user in our year, well the girls at least. But you also beat out a lot of the boys! I think only Naruto-chan, Sasuke-kun, and perhaps Kiba or Shino could hold out against you." Ino said, "You've been training me and Sakura, so I know you're strong."

"Something wrong?" Haku's voice interrupted before Hinata could protest some more, "You stopped training." Ino glanced at the taller ninja with wide, guileless eyes.

"I think Hinata-chan needs to add onto her taijutsu style! To create a new one! She can do it!" Ino said. Hinata waved her hands at Ino, who ignored her, and proceeded to explain to Haku her idea for the slightly-introverted kunoichi.

Haku actually considered it!

"You could use a variant," he admitted, "A lot of people know the Hyuuga style, if you switch it up some, then you would be stronger." Hinata's head jerked.

"S-Stronger?" She repeated. She stared at them for a moment before her mouth firmed. The Hyuuga style was extremely familiar to her, and she considered the downsides of it, like the lack of kicks and the limited throws. If she could integrate those moves into the original style while infusing it with chakra then…

"Spar a-against me, please? I want to try out a few things." Her eyes glowed in determination as she asked.

Haku smiled.

"Sure, Hinata-chan."

FLASHBACK END.

Neji met her attack, striking at her tenketsu using several of the advanced techniques of their family style. Hinata countered and when she found an opening delivered another a leg sweep knocking him unsteady before following through with a chakra-infused shoulder tackle to his stomach. Her hands followed in a chakra coated double palm thrust. He exploded off of her and slammed into another wall.

"Come, Neji-san," she said. "That shouldn't have finished you off." The genius groaned but shoved himself out of the wall.

He huffed but got into the traditional stance once more.

Hinata flexed her muscles and moved into her altered stance.

They shot towards one another once more.

Neji dodged another chakra powered kick, and then cursed when his younger cousin grabbed him and threw him using one of the few throws the Hyuuga clan taught. He slammed hard into the ground and his back protested. It was taking a lot of the brunt of the attacks he knew; it was no doubt a massive bruise what with all the slams it had made into unyielding concrete.

He couldn't focus on that however, because Hinata was attacking, thrusting with pinpoint precision at his torso, trying to disable his arms. Three tenketsu closed before he could manage a kick of his own.

Hinata blocked it with a simple arm cross and twisted into position for a drop kick, her heel going up in a remarkable show of flexibility and then coming down in a dangerous crash that he barely avoided. He rolled away and then struggled to his feet.

This was unlike any spar he'd ever fought against. The Hyuuga fighting style had been transformed into an even deadlier dance. He couldn't believe the weakling heiress had created it, or was creating it. There were holes, he could see, where her guard wasn't fully up as she transitioned, as well as awkward pauses.

She was determined though, he'd give her that, graceful and stubborn as she grew stronger.

Probably something she got from her annoying blond friend.

He seriously did not like Uzumaki Naruto.

He knew the blond felt the same about him.

Those blue eyes which had always reminded him of the noon day sky when turned on Hinata changed to a dangerous turbulent color when settled on him. Accusing. Angry. Unforgiving.

Knowing.

Those eyes said he knew pain, dislike, and belittlement, the utter loneliness Neji himself felt. He knew the harshness of reality. His fellow, miserable orphan, Neji admitted sardonically.

Where he accepted his fate, Uzumaki Naruto picked himself up off the ground and moved on with his life, working determinedly against setbacks. He didn't know his parents, his clan, if he had a clan, while Neji resented his immensely. He remembered their last fight before he graduated and was too busy with his genin team. He remembered the clear disgust and anger that laced Naruto's final words spoken to him, his speech missing his usual gentle and kind inflection, a tone that was so readily given to Hinata and Hanabi.

FLASHBACK

"Fate and destiny aren't anything definitive," an eleven year old Naruto snapped, standing between him and the heiresses, a seven year old Hanabi clinging to the back of Hinata's kimono. "Humans were gifted by kami with something called free will. Fate and destiny are made up by a bunch of choices. Just as no one is born evil or good, our choices define us. If you want to stop fate, Neji-san, then stop lying down and letting life walk all over you!"

FLASHBACK END.

"Why are you fighting, Hinata-sama?" He finally spoke to her, "Why aren't you giving up? There's nothing you can do to change our clan!" Hinata blinked.

"Just because we have traditions doesn't mean I'm happy with them," Hinata said, "I want to change the Hyuuga clan Neji-san," her voice turned to its usual affectionate tone, even after he belittled her and hurt her, the tone that was always there except for the brief exchanges during and before this fight. "My nindo means no one is left behind. I am growing my strength so I can enact change. I want to change myself, because I can see something better. Naruto-kun always said to love your self is the first step to loving others and truly being happy. I see our family, miserable all the time, hating their selves for the fact they have a seal or they don't. My sister and I know one of us will end up with the seal one day if we don't change. I hate that our family hurts each other."

"I might be a weak, and not a genius like you, Neji-san, but I won't let that stop me. I want to get rid of the Cage Bird Seal, and I will." She lowered herself before shooting forward, Neji automatically intercepted her, "And to do that," she gathered her chakra into her fist, "I have to get to chuunin first!" She sent him flying one last time with a fist to his chin. "Sorry, nii-san, I'm s-sorry."

Neji smirked slightly as he fell unconscious.

Fighting like a lioness all through the battle and only stuttering at the end.

Maybe there was something about a choice in your fate after all.

Kiba let out a loud whoop of excitement.

"Good job, Hinata!" He shouted loudly. Team Seven, Team Eight, and Team Ten shouted down in encouragement. Naruto smiled and met her flushed expression with a glowing look of approval. She smiled up at him before climbing the stairs. Sakura enveloped her in a hug, followed by Kurenai. Then Sasuke gave her a one armed one, both looking surprisingly awkward in it.

Naruto stared.

"Did Sasuke just voluntarily touch someone, and a girl at that?" Kiba asked, staring at the other genin as well. Sasuke avoided touching people, outside of spars and practice, to a large extent. He physically avoided being alone with girls as well.

"I believe he is not a misogynist," Shino stated, "It is largely that he was unable to form connections of friendship with the large fanbase that followed him around. It created an intense dislike of females who like him without getting to know him."

"Hey, I knew him," Ino snapped.

"Yes, we know Ino," Asuma said dryly.

'Your stalking abilities were, and are, scary,' the trio of males on Team Ten thought.

Sakura was jittery as she watched the board. It spun and she blinked in surprise when the board landed on her name.

"Yes!" she squealed in excitement.

"G-Good luck," Hinata said as she sat against the wall, tired from her fight and a small case of chakra exhaustion.

"Win," Sasuke said with a smile. Sakura flashed a grin. She turned to Kurenai-sensei who looked her over before smiling at her.

"You've come very far, Sakura-chan," Kurenai said warmly, "I'm proud of your progress, and I'm certain that this fight will demonstrate your growth! Go and prove yourself!"

"Hai, sensei!" Sakura cheered before rushing down the stairs. She smiled politely at the proctor who coughed slightly before nodding at her with a small twitch on his lips, as if he was fighting a smile.

"Let's have a good fight," Sakura's opponent said to her and Sakura smiled back.

"Yeah, let's show them what kunoichi are capable of, sempai," Sakura replied.

"You're on, Haruno-chan," TenTen replied with a grin.

TenTen and Sakura squared off, facing each other seriously. The pink haired kunoichi studied the other girl closely and the brunette repaid the silent evaluation with her own.

"Hajime!"

They blurred into motion and attacked, contacting with each other in a flurry of kunai, TenTen deflecting a number of them, eyes widening in surprise when in random order a few exploded, creating great bursts of smoke and shrapnel. TenTen quickly dodged out of it and withdrew her first weapon scroll unsealing a brace of kunai. She let them fly and used her pinpoint hearing to try and place the other kunoichi. Sakura dodged them easily, and flashed through a series of seals to use the first of her sensei's specialty flower genjutsu hiding the small explosives she'd added to it. She peppered the air with shuriken following the sudden random bloom of flowers.

"Shi—!" TenTen bit off before dodging, a few of the deceptive flowers hitting her still and causing minor burns and abrasions with their explosions.

Sakura didn't let her pull out other weapons, her fist plowing into TenTen's stomach followed by a sudden head grab and toss, spinning the girl into the ground. Her fist glowed blue, and several watchers sucked in a surprised breath. TenTen's eyes widened at the implication and her mind mentally screamed, 'Move!'

"Oraaaa!" Sakura roared and punched down, her fist missing TenTen in a last minute roll, the girl's eyes going wide as a massive crater erupted in the space she'd been last.

'I need to finish this faster,' TenTen thought excitedly. She whipped out another set of weapons, pulling free a scroll and unsheathing her nunchaku. She twirled them around her and leaped forward, battering the other girl. Sakura dodged it, her own weapon, a fortified baton, lengthening and connecting with the weighted end of TenTen's weapon. She shifted stances and kicked out at other kunoichi who dodged readily with a wheeze when the baton caught her anyway glancing against her ribs.

The two landed away from each other and squared off; wide, happy smiles on both of their otherwise serious faces.

This was a fight worth having.

Lee woke up to the encouraging shouts of Gai-sensei. He staggered to a standing position and glanced blearily around. A flash of pink hair spinning past a very familiar pair of buns and his eyes were torn to the battle field, focus drawn.

"Gambatte!" He shouted before coughing, a yawn appearing out of nowhere, causing him to accidentally swallow the next words which was probably lucky. Lee didn't know who to cheer for, the love of his life or his teammate? It would be unyouthful either way and decided just to observe the fight while shouting suggestions to them ambiguously.

Since it looked like he missed Neji's fight, the other boy was gone, and with the way Gai-sensei was currently splitting his attention between gazing worriedly at the doors where the hospital faculty went through, and at TenTen, it was clear Neji had left, perhaps even lost, which left Lee feeling depressed. The poison or sedative he'd ingested had ruined his chance at seeing his rival fight. However, he would content himself with yelling general encouragements and with watching TenTen's bout against the magnificent flower of youth, Sakura. Their fight was reaching its end judging by their appearances and slowing hits. Sakura-chan looked to be the better off of the two. Her hands lighting green on occasion, healing wounds that were too debilitating or distracting. It appeared her use of ninjutsu and genjutsu with a well rounded background in the basics of her taijutsu and baton work was much more dangerous than TenTen's expansive skills with weapons.

He watched as TenTen weakly dodged another strike. Her weapon coming down on Sakura's as they squared off, heads pushing towards one another as they tried to push the other off. Sakura's leg suddenly shot up, a blur of brown, cream, and blue slamming into TenTen's side as their weapons slipped free of each other.

The young weapon mistress staggered.

Sakura flashed through some more seals before suddenly a sudden barrage of mud bullets sped from her mouth, hitting TenTen and throwing her off of her feet.

The pink haired girl flashed forward and her blue fists met plowed into TenTen's head finally knocking her unconscious.

"Shousha! Haruno Sakura!" The proctor called out.

"Shannaro!" Sakura yelled punching the air. "Good fight, sempai! You're an awesome kunoichi!"

Lee fell a little more in love with her.

Poor girl.

Neji got back from his quick trip to the medical wing in time to find TenTen asleep against the wall, bruised and bloody, a despondent Gai-sensei wailing how he would have to push his students flames to new heights so they would all be prepared for the next chuunin exam. Neji felt a brow go up.

"TenTen lost?" He asked and Lee nodded.

"Her youth was quenched beneath the fire of the almighty inferno Sakura-chan demonstrated," Lee proclaimed, starry eyed. "The Cherry Blossom is truly the most resplendent of all the Flowers of Konoha!"

Neji tuned out the long prattle of Lee's devotion, or increased obsession, with the pink haired kunoichi to study the girl his teammate lost to, his cousin's teammate.

Haruno Sakura was currently leaning tiredly against the railing healing herself while Hinata fidgeted and fretted at her side, handing over medicine. The sole male member of the team glowered at everyone, except the other Rookie Genin, as if daring any to approach. Their jounin sensei was similar, if more like a subtly menacing sentry instead of a challenging one. Her arms were crossed and she seemed to be silently communicating to the other Konoha sensei. She was oddly tense, as if suspecting something was going to happen. It was a level of awareness he'd never witnessed before except in ANBU or guards. He finally gave in to his tepid curiosity and growing worry.

"Sensei," Gai glanced at his quietest student, "Is there something going on that I should know about?" The jounin's features took on the briefest looks of surprise. Lee didn't notice, however, too busy trying to catch Sakura's eye, who was currently avoiding him by turning her back on him.

The jounin's slightest look of indecision confirmed Neji's silent suspicions.

"I am not certain, Neji-kun," Gai said slowly, and surprisingly quiet in tone and level, "However, the best people are on the case, I assure you, with the full backing of my Flames of Youth." Neji was silent before giving the briefest of nods.

"If there is need, I will lend my aid," he said softly. Gai's eyes flashed in surprise once more and he nodded slowly a wide, proud grin forming on his face.

"Yosh!" Gai shouted suddenly, startling Lee almost to the point of falling onto the floor below and waking TenTen abruptly. All three stared at their sensei that was suddenly using a rare, but even more horrifying, volcano erupting version of Flames of Youth Genjutsu. Lee's eyes sparkled. Both Neji and TenTen paled. The man screamed happily, eyes alight, "TEAM NINE SHALL GO ON A TRAINING MISSION TO ENCOURAGE OUR FLAMES OF YOUTH AND I SHALL TRAIN THEM TO THE BRINK OF DEATH AND MISERY SO THEY MAY BECOME GREAT FLAMES FOR KONOHA, BUT DO NOT WORRY, OUR FLAMES OF YOUTH SHALL PREVAIL!"

TenTen whimpered and pulled her knees up, burying her face into them sobbing.

"Nooooooooo~" She cried hysterically, "It's going to be the first six months we were a team all over again!"

Neji winced.

There was no real way of arguing with that.

Gai-sensei was enthusiastic to point of sadism some times when it came to training.

Naruto watched the screen. After Sakura's and TenTen's fight there had been a quick intermission to allow for all the weapons to be removed, and everyone was allowed a quick bathroom break if needed. Naruto wondered who was going to go next.

The black screen was ominous in a way.

Naruto sighed and crossed his arms, ignoring the faint twinge of pain from the bruises and cuts he'd gotten during his earlier fight.

"I'm itchin' to go," Kiba grumbled, finally returning from the restroom, and the blond huffed in amusement.

"You'll go soon enough, Kiba-kun," Naruto told him warmly. Shino nodded next to him, before refocusing on a shōgi conversation with Shikamaru and Asuma. No doubt organizing their next game, the two were joined at the hip when it came to playing, much to Naruto's amusement. The screen finally flashed and they watched closely.

The entirety of Team Seven felt their eyebrows shoot up in surprise.

It looked like the three way fight was going to be a bloody one.

Seeing their names come up, Zaku and Dosu exchanged a wary glance before eyeing the red haired Suna genin suspiciously. They hadn't seen or interacted much with their sand cohorts, however he remember Orochimaru-sama's orders not to get in Sabaku no Gaara's way.

"You know what Orochimaru-sama expects," their sensei hissed to them quietly, and they nodded stiffly. They would not fail to meet his expectations.

Those who did ended badly.

Meanwhile across the room with the Sabaku siblings and their sensei Baki, Temari was wincing. Her younger brother's face had broken out in a creepy grin. Unfortunately, the last few fights, even the one where Kankuro was taken away on a stretcher, had slowly fed the red haired male's blood lust.

Knowing what was coming she found herself sympathetic towards the two genin her brother was about to face, but only just enough to be grateful it wasn't her.

This time at least.

Zaku and Dosu leapt over the rail and landed readily on the floor. Below and impatiently watched as the other shinobi slowly made his way down the stairs, leaving his opponents to eye him warily.

"We'll smash him, eh, Dosu?" Zaku said a bit ferally, "He doesn't look like much, hm." The charade was up, but Zaku's true feelings were showing anyway. The former street urchin was determined to make something of himself.

"We still have to be cautious," the cape wearing Oto nin replied, "Especially with the leader's plans."

"He'll still be here even if he doesn't make it to the final exam, hm," Zaku growled testily. "Let's just beat this bastard up, hm."

"Patience, Zaku," Dosu warned.

"You're not the boss of me!" The fellow Oto genin hissed. Dosu rolled his eyes at the response, so in character for the obsessed genin. Just as Dosu was about to reply a cold voice cut him off saying something that immediately put his hackles up.

"Will I get in trouble if I kill them," their opponent asked, and the two glanced sharply at the red head and the proctor. The sickly looking tokubetsu-jounin eyed the Suna nin warily but shook his head.

"The waiver in the second exam is still in effect." He answered, "It will be until the end of the Final Exams, though we would advise you not to kill your competitors in front of a live, civilian audience filled with important people and clients." The slight cough that slipped in and out of his conversation made what he said a bit disjointed, but it was fairly clear.

"Oi, oi, you bastard, hm," Zaku growled, "You won't get the better of us, if anyone's going to die it's you, hm."

"I hate to agree with Zaku," Dosu drawled, "But it is two against one. Let's beat him and then Zaku and I will fight to see who continues. Is that acceptable Zaku?" Zaku spat to the side in contempt.

"We'll kill him slow, then I'll show you who the boss in our squad is Dosu, hm." Zaku snarled. The three genin moved into their positions, the two Oto nin moving out slightly to flank their joint opponent.

The proctor studied their starting points and shivered a bit at the rising KI, the redhead had a very strange and bloodthirsty one. Putting it out of his mind, he chopped his hand down.

"Hajime!"

He then got the hell out of the way.

Zaku shot forward first, his two hands thrusting out and shouted, "Zankūha!" A blast of air shot out at the Suna Genin. It was cut off however by a wall of sand that suddenly appeared, pouring out of the massive jug Gaara carried on his bag. However, this was merely the open volley. Dosu followed up quickly, cutting a sharp turn to attack with kunai, explosive tags wrapped around the handles, testing the effectiveness of the barrier. The sand blocked it again, hardening into a solid wall, while other tendrils swirled like thoughtful tentacles and blotches of sand formed tiny clouds around him.

"Suna no Tate," Gaara said monotonously before continuing with, "Suna Shigure." The clouds of sand grew and suddenly flew towards them, both Zaku and Dosu watching them cautiously, speeding up and never staying still, splitting their attention between Gaara and the sudden miasma of sand in the air above them.

"Rain," he intoned next and a rain of sand poured down onto them attempting to capture them.

"Shi—Dammit! Zankukyokūha!" Zaku roared, his hands spinning out and an eruption of air appearing to protect both him and Dosu as the other Oto Nin threw more exploding kunai at tendrils slithering towards them.

"Move, Zaku," Dosu barked, grabbing his partner and dragging him as he sent burst after burst of air from his hands, trying to disrupt it.

They landed back to back and Dosu hissed as he noticed the newest development.

It looked like he could make spears with his sand as well.

Wonderful.

Naruto watched the opening maneuvers of the fight closely, his eyes following the movement of the three foreign nin critically. Standing near to him, Shikamaru was doing the same

"Who do you think will win?" Kiba asked and Naruto tipped his head to the side before shaking it.

"Not sure, but those sand techniques look like a combination of futon and doton affinities." Naruto replied, "It's a rather interesting combination, fairly powerful don't you think?"

"It suits his environment," Shino stated, "Why? Because a large majority of Kaze no Kuni is desert."

"If he has enough chakra he could pretty much swallow his enemies whole by using the very ground they were attacking on, or creating a limitless defense for himself and his allies," Naruto thought out loud, "That would be a formidable enemy in any invasion against Sunagakure."

"You would have to take a lot of planning to defeat him, he has a high level of defense and offense, even if he doesn't move around much," Shikamaru said agreeing. They watched as the two Oto nin grew more desperate in dodging the sand. Both seemed to be lacking in ninjutsu, and it was quickly becoming clear that they were limited in their attacks. The one in a cape couldn't maneuver close enough to use his strange armament and the other one who kept blasting air was constantly put on the defensive.

Then he maneuvered badly.

Both Shino and Naruto winced.

"This isn't going to end well," Naruto murmured.

'Shit,' was all that passed through Dosu's mind before he watched in horror as Zaku lost his footing while blasting back a tendril he'd already thrown a kunai at thus fueling the explosion higher. The resultant blast from the chakra fed explosion threw both of them off their feet and Dosu felt the tentacle of sand wrap around his lower body.

"Shit!" Zaku snarled, and started a rapid series of blasts.

"Calm down, Zaku," Dosu said, struggling to get free of the sand himself, yanking with all of his strength as he watched in horror. Zaku wasn't his favorite person, and to be honest he didn't have one, but he was better than that bitch Kin, "I'll get you out." The bandaged shinobi said firmly.

"Dosu," Zaku panted, his eyes meeting Dosu's single uncovered one, his hands turned toward him and a bitter smile appeared on his face, "Get out of here."

Eye widening, "Za—" He was cut off as the surge of air blasted him free and into a wall. As he was knocked unconscious his last horrified thought was the wall was surprisingly soft, Zaku having softened the blow enough not to seriously injure Dosu when he was thrown back, free of the sand.

He didn't see the surge of sand rushing to fully cover them both.

"Oh shit!" Asuma said as the mouthy genin was about to be swallowed by the sand. "Call it Hayate!" The tokubetsu-jounin nodded sharply from his place on the statue.

"Shousha! Sabaku no Gaara!" The proctor declared. The Suna Genin wasn't stopping though.

Suddenly the jounin were appearing in the arena below. Naruto clamped down a hand on Kiba and Ino as they moved to assist as well.

"We wouldn't survive interfering," he told them when they glanced at him sharply in question. The two genin were rescued readily, Asuma-sensei blowing the sand way powerfully and yanking the genin out, the boy's legs clearly broken and bleeding heavily. Kurenai had already intercepting the next sand attack and the arena flickered with a suddenly powerful genjutsu leaving the red-haired boy confused and attacking unseen foes. Hayate appeared in front of her, his sword appearing out of nowhere and warding off the sand tendrils whenever they got too close for comfort just as Gai swooped in and snatched the other unconscious genin out before leaping back to the observation platform. A surge of sand followed him, but both Neji and Lee interfered, powerful strikes weakening the spikes and causing the chakra infused sand to falter and collapse in some places. Gaara's bloodlust heightened and he redirected his focus on Lee and Neji.

Both male Team Nine genin merely focused, with intent frowns, on defending Gai and the boy in his arms, while TenTen prepared to fire a barrage of exploding kunai, her odango hairstyle looking slightly ruffled, tendrils of hair sticking out of their usual tidy buns.

"Enough," the Hokage barked sharply, the sand immediately froze as the whole room was engulfed in killing intent. "Control your genin Suna!"

"Hai, Hokage-sama," Baki said a bit shakily and ordered Gaara to return. The redhead abruptly cut off his attack but he didn't move for a few moments staring at Team Nine before saying.

"Mother wants your blood, don't die until I kill you," he then went up the stairs returning to his team. The whole area was silent except for a few broken moans coming from the two genin as they were taken out by emergency iryō-nin.

"That's a whole lot of crazy," Chōji commented.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru agreed glancing at him, intensely wary of the other male.

Orochimaru tipped his head to the side and nodded thoughtfully. The fights so far had been impressive for genin, and he was already assessing them as alternates for his new body. Remarkably, Uchiha Sasuke still hadn't accessed his dōjutsu, causing the former Konoha nin to pause. The fact he wasn't the strongest in his year was just as surprising.

However, it would seem that Konoha had a prime crop of rookie genin this year. So far the fights with all of the rookie genin had proven to be something, although several were clearly just normal, hard-working shinobi, like the kunoichi. He was surprised by how much they'd grown; reports had labeled them much weaker. Still… His interests still stayed with his earlier plans.

With the Sharingan and Sasuke's young developing body he would be able to grow it how he desired and learn all of the jutsu he could ever wish to. He could even use the Uchiha to breed new members of his line with kunoichi of his choosing making stronger, better bodies to inhabit and enslave. Orochimaru merely needed to get his seal on the lad. Then those pinwheel eyes would finally be his.

Kin sneered as her two teammates were rescued. It was pathetic in her opinion, and she would have thought them better off dead if they had to be saved by those fucking tree huggers.

"Pathetic," she whispered, "Sensei what should we do to them?"

"Ignore it, Kin," her sensei said coldly, "You must finish your mission, or the Leader will be most displeased."

"Hai," she murmured eyes hard, "I live to serve."

Orochimaru's lips curled sadistically under the false flesh mask he wore.

"That's a good genin," he hissed sarcastically.

The names on the board spun.

Gaara returned to his place next to Temari with a look of irritation on his usually cold features. His mother whispered in his ear.

"I want more blood, Gaara," the voice whispered seductively, "Don't you want to confirm your existence? Where's the blood, I want my sacrifice."

"I need more blood."

"I love you."

"Give me more blood!"

"Blood! Pain! Blood!"

"Free me! Give me blood!"

"I want to be free, I want blood! Destruction! Destroy everything! Kill them who get in your way!"

"Where's my blood Gaara?" Mother finally paused long enough for him to answer, thus allowing Gaara to stop gripping his head in pain.

"It's coming," He mumbled, his eyes settling on the different Konoha genin. "We'll get plenty of blood soon." His fingers flexed slightly in his sleeve and he couldn't help wonder how they would sound as he crushed them.

Would they beg?

Would they cry?

Or would it just be pretty red flowers and lines?

"That…Was pretty messed up," Shikamaru said with a wince.

"Glad it wasn't us," Chōji said with a nod.

"Guy is completely psycho," Ino muttered. "We drew the lucky ballot skipping out on that guy, although he's kinda cute when he isn't trying to kill you."

Shikamaru and Chōji turned and stared at her in disbelief while Asuma merely pulled out a cigarette with a silent grumble and sigh.

"So one of you two could be up next," Asuma said changing the subject, "Think you're ready?" Chōji and Shikamaru shared a glance.

"I guess so," the Akimichi finally replied. "I just want to fight someone and get this over with."

"Mendōkuse," the Nara grumbled with an eye roll. "As long as it isn't a girl, I don't mind. I don't like fighting girls, it's always awkward."

"You should be used to it with all the practice fights you've had with Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan and Ino, Shikamaru," Asuma said with a frown.

"It's still a drag," the boy replied. "When you get into a fight there are only two possible results… One you win and get called a brute or a pervert, or two you lose and get accused of going easy on them or being a pervert."

"I've never accused you of being a pervert!" Ino protested, "If there ever had been someone I'd accuse of being a pervert it would be Kiba!"

"Hey!" The boy standing not far away from her shouted in offense.

Ino continued blithely on, flipping her blond ponytail over her shoulder.

"But he's dating Naruto-chan so I figure I'm safe because anything I could come up with would be nowhere as bad at whatever Naruto would do."

Naruto merely smiled a bit menacingly.

"I would be most displeased if you did anything like that, with anyone but me," Naruto murmured to his boyfriend. The Inuzuka turned a bright red before leering at Naruto who'd turned demurely away and looked at the board again, the black screen behind the males on Team Ten and thus not visible to them. He let out a soft chuckle and murmured what he read in Ino's ear earning a surprised squeal and smirk. They exchanged a crafty glance, unsettling both Team Ten male genin.

"Well, well, well," Ino said tipping her head to the side and smirking at the board. "It looks like the kami have heard you, Shikamaru, Chōji-kun."

The duo abruptly turned around.

"Shit."

A/N:

So... It's on with the fights and yet another cliffhanger! ;) Still, I like the fights and how they've gone. I look forward to hearing from y'all! :D