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 10: The Prelims come to a close…

After a few other rounds…

"Winner Nara Shikamaru." Hayate stated as the young teen walked away yawning.

"That was a troublesome fight." Shikamaru muttered as he sighed as he approached his teammates. "Looking at who is left, Ino, hope you don't have to fight the red head from Suna."

"I know, he gives me a bad vibe too." Ino stated as she shivered. "Almost like the bad vibe I get when I asked dad if I could practice with your group of friends."

"What did your dad say?" Shikamaru asked.

"He didn't say anything, just told me not to." Ino stated as she shrugged.

"Yanamaka Ino vs Akimichi Choji." Hayate stated making both teens face each other.

"Don't hold back Choji." Ino stated as she walked with her friend.

"I know better than to do that." Choji stated as Shikamaru didn't look happy.

'Why is the Hyuugas, the kid in green, and the red haired teen left.' Shikamaru thought as he sighed.

"Ready, begin!" Hayate stated as the teens leaped away from each other.

"I know that I have to… Huh?" Choji stated as his body froze.

"This… is… a… very, tiring jutsu." Ino stated as she was breathing hard when she looked at her friend. "Game over." Ino stated as she did a few seals then her body slumped to the floor.

'Why has she been declared out yet?' Ixy thought as she looked at the proctor and those around her. "Am I missing something?"

"Oh yeah, we never did told you what her clan is good at." Naruto stated with a grin. "The Yanamakas can do exactly what Choji is going to be doing."

"I surrender." Choji stated.

"Winner by forfeiture, Yanamaka Ino." Hayate stated making Ixy confused.

"How?" Ixy stated as Choji put his hands together.

"Kai." Choji stated as he then looked around. "Ino, you made me forfeit!"

"Yeah, I can't beat you normally, so I decided to do a mental battle instead." Ino stated as she slowly got to her feet. "I need to find a better way to do that set up."

"You mean besides leaving yourself open like that?" Choji stated as they walked up the stairs.

"Yeah." Ino replied.

'She can take over another person's mind!' Ixy thought surprised. 'I guess I wrote her off too early.'

"Hyuuga Hinata vs Hyuuga Neji." Hayate stated making Ixy look surprised.

"Are they related?" Ixy asked as she looked at the teachers.

"Yes, Cousins." Kurenai stated sadly.

"And Neji doesn't like Hinata's side of the family." Guy stated as he sighed.

"And they put them against each other?" Ixy asked as she looked at the field. "I guess there is more to the story than I need to know but it will take too long to explain."

"Correct." Kurenai stated as the two started to dance around each other.

'No solid hits, but what are those flashes when they miss?' Ixy thought as her eyes widen. 'Those attacks are gentle… I'm going to have to test that to see if my fears are confirmed.' Ixy thought as she then saw that the two moved apart.

In the arena…

"Give up Lady Hinata." Neji stated as he stood firm. "You can't defeat me; Fate has already decided that I'm the winner."

"I can't fight Fate huh?" Hinata muttered as she looked up at Neji. "I could have easily won the match at anytime, but I chose to fight you as an equal, and yet you… still… be…" Hinata stated as she hit the floor out cold.

'She knew how to use the seal's control!' Neji thought surprised. "I see, I underestimated you… Perhaps one day you might be my equal."

"Winner Hyuuga Neji." Hayate stated.

"I won yet lost." Neji muttered as he looked at the roof. "Why… why does it seem that something is amiss?"

"You didn't have to be so rough you know." Hayate stated. "Like she said she could have defeated you at anytime, but chose to fight, you could have honored that."

"She might help me improve my skills which will help her own." Neji stated as he walked away.

"I see." Hayate stated as he coughed before smiling. "Will the last two… oh well begin."

In the stands…

"Sand?" Ixy stated as she watched the teen wearing green dart around and score a hit on the Suna ninja. "A barrier of sand and someone that can move that fast… could he shatter mine?"

"Lee is a skilled fighter but has no skills outside of that." Neji stated spooking Ixy. "Sorry, but you have an aura wrapped around you."

"I know about it." Ixy stated as the fight turned into a pinball attack. "Lee lost."

"I know." Neji stated as he sighed. "What happened to the member that you took over for?"

"Need to know basis." Ixy stated with a smirk.

After the jonins intervened on the fight…

"Now I want you all to pick a number from the box and that will dictate your opponent in the final round." Sarutobi stated as he walked up to the group with Anko, who was holding a box.

"1." Naruto stated as he looked at the number.

"10." Sasuke stated with a small smirk. "See you in the finals Dobe."

"3." Ixy stated as she chuckled. "I can't seem to run from that number can I?"

"2." Neji stated with a frown.

"9." Ino stated as she looked at Sasuke. "Great… well I guess the charade ends in the finals."

"7." Shikamaru stated as he groaned as the next number was read.

"8." Temari stated as she looked at the shadow user. "What have a problem with girls?"

"No, I just have to deal with loud mouth blondes too often." Shikamaru muttered.

"SHIKA!" Ino shouted glaring at her teammate.

"I have number 4." Garra stated as he didn't look happy. "I guess I can wait."

'I have a bad feeling about this.' Ixy thought with a sigh.

"5." Shino stated as he sighed.

"Which leaves me with number 6." Akadou stated as he looked at Shino.

As the teams were getting ready to leave…

"Before you all leave, the finals will be held in a month's time." Sarutobi stated. "Use this period to work on your skills and hone them as you have lost some information on your skills. Dismissed."

At the edge of the forest…

"Sasuke, I'll see that you get some training." Kakashi stated. "Ixy, your mothers can train you more than I can."

"And Naruto?" Ixy asked making Kakashi flinch. "You don't think he can win with training do you?"

"Actually I know he could." Kakashi stated. "I just don't know the best training method for him at the moment…" Kakashi sighed.

"Actually Teana or Subaru could teach him, I just need to adjust my skills for the finals." Ixy stated. "As I didn't reveal all I could do."

"You revealed that you have a barrier, and a skilled swordswoman." Kakashi stated.

"Do you have an idea on how to break it?" Ixy asked. "I know how much it does and that is unlikely to be done often."

"How would you know how to break it?" Kakashi asked.

"I know of two others that have it, and we tend to shatter the others' shrouds with ease." Ixy stated as she walked away. "Naruto will have some training."

"Thank you." Kakashi stated softly. "Come on, Sasuke. Time for you to get your skills up, you have to be able to dodge Ino from being able to take over your body."

In a hospital…

"Wonder what Sasuke-kun is doing?" Sakura muttered as she sat in the bed she was placed in and the door opened making her look at the person coming in. "You!"

"Shut up." Teana stated as Sakura's mouth hung open. "You remind me of myself when I was younger… before my brother died that is."

"What?" Sakura asked as she was stunned.

"What, that I was similar to you, or the fact that you remind me of myself." Teana asked as she looked at the teen. "Sasuke doesn't like weak girls; that is why he actually listens to Ixy."

"You mean… But I heard that…" Sakura muttered to herself sadly.

"You never thought to ask the boy yourself?" Teana stated with a small frown. "You are a smart girl that should have been the first thing you should have done, when you heard rumors. Still though, your teacher did say that you excel at illusions, something that I'm an expert at myself."

"You are?" Sakura asked as she looked at the older woman.

"Yes. But if you want to learn from me, lose the fangirl attitude. We will begin at the end of the week that is when you are released." Teana stated as she walked to the door. "Actually there is something that you can start now."

"There is?" Sakura asked as she looked surprised.

"Stop dieting, you will be burning way more than you normally do." Teana stated with an evil smirk that would normally find its way to Teana's own teacher.

"Yes… Ma'am…" Sakura replied as she shivered when she saw it.

"Good." Teana stated as she left.

"Two days. In two days I'll get stronger." Sakura quietly stated with a small smile. "I'll show Sasuke that the weak girl that he knew was just a phase, I'll show him the real Sakura."

Outside the door…

"Good, the message got through." Teana stated as she vanished from sight with her array under her and soon it faded from sight.

A/N: Will Sakura improve under Teana's watch... And when will Orochi mess with the exams... as Gaara and Sasuke isn't going to be fighting... Also what will happen during the training... And when will the Cradle arrive...