(Well, here's chapter 11, and I'm currently writing chapter 12 now. The Omake wasn't edited, so you'll have to deal with it being rough. I made it explain some things, and hopefully it will answer those questions. Thank you for the reviews you've sent me so far, I enjoy reading them and the praise you all usually give me. There are going to be events in this storyline that are not in the Canon story, though nothing that doesn't make sense, at least to me. Anyway, enjoy the extra and tell me what you think of the Omake and the chapter itself. Thanks in advance…)
Omake: Weaving a Web…
My name is Minato Namikaze, 4th Hokage of the Hidden Village of Konoha, and I've become used to dealing with unexpected events…
But the rogue Sannin returning to the village, and interfering with the Chunin exams?
While I walk down the hall, clad in only my bed clothes and white robe of the Hokage, my thoughts churn over the information just given to me by my son and the Hyuga heir, Hinata…
Judging from what she said, and the details, there isn't anyone else that 'grass ninja' could be other then Orochimaru. But why would he attack Squad 7, what purpose would he have in fighting three genin taking the Chunin exams for the first time?
Walking down the hall toward the nerve center of the tower, the room that is constantly staffed by Chunin and Jounin keeping watch over the second phase of the Chunin exams, I think about what I know about Orochimaru, and what his goals might be…
He was a student to my predecessor, the Third Hokage along with Jiraiya-sensei and Tsunade. He was always interested in forbidden techniques and the power they hold. He was also the top rated student of his generation, with Jiraiya-sensei being the lowest graded student. The Third always thought he was a little strange, and told me on several occasions after Orochimaru's defection that the Third had hoped Orochimaru's quirks would work out in time…
Well, his quirks didn't work out and now he's a major threat to this village and the people in it. I don't have any choice; I have to stop these exams. Whatever he wants, having these exams going on will only make it easier for him to get it…
Walking toward the nerve center, I turn the corner in the hall and look toward the double doors when I one of the doors open. An ANBU in a wolf mask emerges from the doorway, spotting me and immediately going into a quick jog. He cuts the distance between us in a second, falling into step behind me.
"Hokage-sama, there's been an incident…" He reports, and I let out a sigh.
Oh, what now…?
"What incident?" I ask, walking toward the door.
"Orochimaru has been spotted within the confines of the Leaf village." The ANBU reports to me.
I stop mid step, with 3 strides until I reach the door.
"What? How do you know?" I demand.
"Anko Mitarashi was out in the forest, overseeing the exam when he appeared before her. The two of them had a quick interchange, and it ended when her assailant activated the dormant curse mark on her neck."
The curse mark, I've read the reports on it. It was branded on her when she was much younger, some sort of experiment by that freak before he bugged out of the village. Ever since he left, the seal has been dormant, since Anko never bothered to activate it, never desiring its power. We've had experts in sealing techniques examine it several times, and none of them have even a decent theory as to how he created it, or how to remove it from her…
"My squad and I found her nearly attacked by wild animals, and we rescued her and brought her here." The ANBU continues. "Anko says she needs to speak with you immediately."
I nod, feeling another sigh escape my lips.
Can this night get any worse?
Walking through the door to the nerve center, any pride I may've felt at my son passing the second stage of the Chunin exam before the end of the first day is shattered. Taking in the scene before me, seeing the Tokubetsu Jounin grasping her neck, breathing as though she's run one of Maito Gai's 200 lap runs around Konoha completely removes any pride or happiness I feel at my son's stellar work…
"Hokage-sama…" Anko breathes, her gray eyes showing her exhaustion.
"Anko, report…" I demand and no one caring that I'm only wearing boxers and an undershirt, the Hokage's robe a clear reminder of my position…
"I encountered that bastard Orochimaru…" She speaks to me. "I tried to kill him, but he treated me like a little child, and he tried to influence this damn thing on my neck…" She mutters.
I nod once, my decision already made.
"I'm stopping these Chunin exams…" I say aloud. "Effective immediately, the exam is over, any and all results submitted so far are null and void..." I explain.
"Hokage-sama…!" Anko protests my declaration. "He said that no matter what, the Chunin exams shouldn't be stopped, he said that if we were to stop the exams, then things would get much worse…"
"To hell with him…" I say simply. "Whatever he wants, if he wants the exams to continue, then I'm going to stop them…" I respond, only to hear the door open on nearly silent hinges.
A familiar scent of pipe tobacco wafts into the room, recalling images in my mind of one person in particular…
This smell…
I turn around and see Sarutobi Asuma, the man called 'Professor' by the people of Konoha for his mastery of various ninjutsu, stands in the doorway with his red pipe at his lips. The retired Hokage stands wearing the robes of an advisor to the Hokage, having fallen into the role after his retirement from the leadership of the village…
"Sarutobi-sama…" I begin, only to see the old man wear a solemn expression.
"4th Hokage-san…" He begins, stepping silently into the room. "I do believe it would be wise to think on your decision for a moment, rather then jump to conclusions…" The old man advises me. "As Orochimaru's former teacher, I must advise that garnering his wrath would be a foolish mistake not long lived." He explains. "Orochimaru desires the Chunin exams to continue, and to stop them now would draw the ire of the other nations participating in this stage. While Konoha is strong, and I have faith in both you and my village, I cannot advise an action that could bring the combined might of another nation within the alliance treaty and Orochimaru upon us at the same time. If such a scenario were to unfold, Konoha would suffer incredible, if not fatal damage."
"But, Sarutobi-sama, if we allow Orochimaru to get whatever it is he's after…"
"We have no knowledge that pertains to my former student's goals…" He begins, and I can hear the pang in the words 'former student's.' "We should not act rashly, allow the exams to continue, and use whatever resources you have at your disposal to seek out what Orochimaru may be seeking, and do everything in your power to keep him from achieving his goals, but allow the Chunin exams to continue. Many nobles as well as other villages focus on these exams, so canceling them would be a most foolish move."
I breathe a sigh, closing my eyes and shaking my head.
"I don't want to risk anyone's life needlessly, Sarutobi-sama…" I speak in protest. "Too many innocents are involved in these Chunin exams…"
The Third smirks, looking at me with his cool dark eyes.
"Tell me Minato, do you fear for the 9 rookie genin involved in this exam, or do you fear for your only son, Naruto?"
Were anyone else to insinuate such a thing, they'd find a kunai knife passing through the space next to their head before they even realize that I'm angry. However, this man is both my predecessor and my trusted advisor. I am not about to threaten him needlessly for seeing through me so easily…
"I am worried for my son Sarutobi, is that a crime?" I ask, and the man shakes his head.
"The Hokage is not only a father, but must take into account the lives of every person in this village, not only those close to him. If you do that, you will realize that stopping these Chunin exams will only put the majority of these people in danger, while not stopping the exams will only place shinobi in danger."
I take a breath, inhaling the cool air of the nerve center room…
"The Chunin exams will continue…" I finally decide. "I rescind my previous order."
The Chunin and Jounin in the nerve center go to work, and I see the Third Hokage take a puff of his pipe.
"It is decisions such as those that make me glad that I have retired…" Sarutobi says simply.
I breathe a long sigh.
I'm sorry Naruto, I wish I could stop these exams, but I can only hope that Orochimaru's designs have nothing to do with you or Hinata…
Chapter 11: Preliminary Hell
"Oh man, how troublesome…" I hear Shikamaru Nara mutter.
Choji groans to himself, and the two boys leave the surrounding balcony and head to the center of the arena. The two of them stand apart from each other, and it's obvious that they do not want to fight each other…
"Do either of you have any objections to this match?" Hayate asks right after having another coughing fit, making it sound like he has a lung disease…
Hayate begins the match, and at first Choji charges for Shikamaru. Choji throws punches and kicks, trying to hit his opponent, though it's obvious to everyone present that the large boy is holding back, not trying to hurt his teammate. His movements are slow, even for the large boy. Shikamaru, with his small frame, easily shifts and sidesteps Choji's blows.
"What's wrong Choji, are you too fat to move any faster?" He asks.
I hear Ino gasp a moment before Choji's fist flies toward Shikamaru's head. The Nara barely leans to the side; Choji's fist looking like it could take his head off. Shikamaru slips away from Choji before he flipping backwardflips backward agilely and createsing a 6 foot distance from his teammate.
"I AM NOT FAT, I'M BIG BONED!" Choji screams out, flames appearing in his eyes.
The Akimichi boy makes a hand sign.
"Expansion Jutsu…!" Choji yells out.
A cloud of smoke appears around the boy, and I see the smoke disappear. What's replaced the Akimichi is a large boulder like ball that appears to be made of Choji's clothing. The boy yells out angrily, starting to spin as he babbles nonsense, heading toward his teammate. Choji charges and Shikamaru uses his feet to slide by the Akimichi and to stay out of the boy's way. Shikamaru moves behind Choji, with the Akimichi turning around in a wide arc. He rolls toward the Nara boy, and I see Shikamaru put his hands together, forming an odd hand sign, but Choji is on top of him in a moment, before the boy can use his technique. The Nara boy leaps to the side, evading the rolling meatball tank and tucking into a roll. The Nara comes up on one knee, looking over his left shoulder toward his opponent. The meatball tank rolls around, heading toward Shikamaru once again. Shikamaru throws three kunai toward the meatball tank, seeing the knives bounce harmlessly away from the spinning ball that was once his teammate. He takes off at a full run to his left, pumping his arms for speed as he traverses the arena. I see the boy come to a skidding stop, and then I see him make the same hand sign he did before, the shadow below him beginning to flicker, as though he's going to do something with it.
At that moment, the large boulder disappears in a puff of smoke, and before the smoke clears, a kunai flies from the cloud, heading straight toward Shikamaru's feet. The Nara jumps to avoid having his foot impaled. The Nara lands farther away from Choji then before. The smoke clears, with Choji kneeling on the ground, his arm extended, looking as though he just threw something. The Akimichi smirks, looking extremely smug.
"I've seen your technique before Shikamaru, and I'm not going to let you pull it off." Choji warns. "I'm going to fight you with everything I've got Shikamaru, and I won't lose to a lackadaisical person like you!" He declares; pointing a semi taped finger at Shikamaru.
I notice the Nara boy's lips actually curl into a thin line.
"That's what I've wanted this entire time, Choji." Shikamaru retorts.
Choji makes his hand sign again and turns into the giant boulder again. He spins in place like a wound spring, and then takes off toward Shikamaru with much greater speed then before. Shikamaru attempts his technique again, but Choji is in front of him before he can commence it. The Nara is forced to dodge, jumping to the side and going into a roll. He comes up on his right knee, and takes off at a run, wanting to put more space between him and his opponent. I see him make his hand sign, but Choji continues to roll with his increased speed.
What's that on the ground?
I see a glint in front of Shikamaru on the floor while Choji rolls toward him. I see the Nara slip right, rolling 4 times before he comes up to a single knee. The rolling boulder disappears after rolling over the spikes lying in front of him, and I recognize the anti-personal spikes used by shinobi to discourage ground-based pursuit. I see the large boulder disappear, and when the smoke clears a moment later, Choji stands there with the spikes barely sticking into his skin…
His technique must harden his skin. The spikes hit, and they did a minor amount of damage, but they didn't penetrate deeply.
"Shadow Possession Jutsu...!" I hear Shikamaru yell.
A black streak slides across the arena floor. The black streak heads toward Choji's shadow, and once the two shadows meet, I see Choji's stance immediately change. His face shows an expression of abrupt realization, and I glance to Shikamaru to see him holding his right pointer finger in his left hand.
"Success…" I hear him mutter.
"Damnit…" I hear Choji mutter.
Both Choji and Shikamaru stand in a nearly identical stance. Shikamaru's technique forcing his opponent to mimic his actions exactly…
"Would you like to forfeit?" Shikamaru asks.
"Hell no…" Choji responds, only able to move his mouth under Shikamaru's influence.
Shikamaru shrugs, with Choji mimicking the action perfectly. Shikamaru turns around, walking away from where he stands, and Choji mimics the action. Shikamaru walks toward an empty area, while Choji approaches a wall. Shikamaru stops and turns around, Choji acting as a mirror copy.
"You got so interested in trying to squish me that you didn't pay attention to where you are in the arena, and that's going to be your downfall." Shikamaru points out. "I'll ask you again, will you forfeit? I don't want to hurt you Choji."
Choji shakes his head.
"You know I won't give up this match, Shikamaru…" Choji repeats his answer from earlier, and Shikamaru sighs.
"It's troublesome, but it can't be helped…"
The boy leans back, his head entering the empty air behind him, and I suddenly realize Shikamaru's plan. I hear a loud CRACK of Choji's head against the stone wall. The Akimichi stands there, his body freezing when his head strikes the wall. Shikamaru's shadow pulls back, returning to the Nara boy without a sound, and Choji falls down, no longer held up by Shikamaru's jutsu.
"The winner, Shikamaru Nara…" Hayate declares.
"Call for medics, quickly…" Shikamaru states firmly.
The Jounin nods once, waving his hand toward a set of double doors. 2 medic ninja, dressed in the white uniform of the Medical Corp enter the arena holding a stretcher. The two of them run toward the now unconscious Akimichi boy, Shikamaru walking toward his teammate. Concern fills the Nara's stance while he watches the two medics hoist Choji onto the stretcher and then carry him off toward the double doors. I see the Nara's black eyes look for a long moment toward the door, and then he walks from the arena and back to the rest of his team and his teacher.
I can tell that the Nara boy doesn't like what he's done, sighing to himself.
"Choji should be all right, he's in the best hands." The tall Jounin, Asuma Sarutobi says to his student.
Shikamaru nods once, though I can tell from the air around him that he really doesn't like what he's done…
Asuma places his hand on Shikamaru's shoulder reassuringly, though I can tell that his teacher's gesture doesn't do much for his mood…
"Now we will have the second match…" Hayate declares.
The randomizer screen lights up. I notice that names roll by, flashing different names at random. Then randomizer stops, and I feel my eyes go wide at what the screen displays…
"Hinata Hyuga VS Dosu Kinuta…" I mutter.
I look around the viewing area, looking for my opponent, and I see one of the three sound genin moving. The one with only a single visible eye and wearing a fur cape in addition to the white and gray camouflage he wears. He reaches out with his left arm, hopping over the railing and landing on the ground. It's then that I notice the Jounin dressed in all black standing behind the three sound genin, recognizing the man instantly…
That's…
His face is burned into my mind, the true face of the genin from the grass village that single handedly assaulted and fended off Squad 7, stands behind the three sound genin.
What is he doing here? If he's here to watch these matches, then why attack squad 7 during the second exam proper? What could he be planning, just standing there and watching, that grin spread on his face?
I glance toward my teacher; her expression is unchanging and doesn't appear as though she knows that the freaky snake man is in attendance. I glance from my teacher to squad 7, seeing the three of them apparently either uncaring or they haven't bothered to notice their attacker standing not 100 feet away.
The three of them fought this guy up at close range; they should be able to recognize him, so why don't they speak up? He attacked them during the exam, and he even snuck in, posing as a genin…
"Hinata Hyuga, do you intend on forfeiting this match?" I hear Hayate's voice from the arena floor.
In my confusion and astonishment at finding the snake ninja, I never bothered to move from where I was standing. I notice Naruto looking at me, a concerned expression on his face.
"Hinata, is something the matter?" He asks, reaching out and touching my shoulder, and I force myself not to blush.
"No, I'm fine…" I begin, speaking softly. Turning toward the proctor, I speak up. "I'm not forfeiting this match!" I declare.
"Then you will move to the arena floor, or be disqualified." Hayate responds, though Dosu remains silent.
I hop the rail, falling like a brick to the floor. I land in a crouch, and I stand up, walking toward both Hayate and Dosu. Hayate has a short coughing fit while I approach, and I see Dosu's eye looking at me and scrutinizing me. Once I'm within 6 feet of him, the sound genin opens his mouth.
"You're a Hyuga, are you not?" He asks, and I nod.
"My name is Hinata Hyuga, heir to the main branch of the Hyuga clan." I tell him, trying to put all the confidence I can into the statement.
"I see…" He mutters.
Hayate opens his mouth, but I cut him off.
"Before we begin, I have a question for you…" I begin, and I see the sound genin nod.
"Go ahead and ask, though I can't guarantee I'll answer you." He responds, a slightly sinister tone to his voice.
"Your sensei, who is he?" I ask. "He snuck into the second stage of the exam and battled the genin team of Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno and Kiba Inuzuka." I accuse the man standing on the viewing platform dressed in all black.
I quickly catch Dosu's one visible eyebrow rise, and then fall.
"Are you sure of that?" I hear Hayate ask, and I never bothered to notice him listening intently to our conversation.
I nod, risking a glance up to the black clad Jounin, and then looking back toward Dosu.
"That man up there snuck into the Chunin exams while posing as a genin." I explain. "He attempted to kill Sasuke Uchiha, Kiba Inuzuka and Sakura Haruno."
I see Hayate look up toward the other 2 sound genin and their teacher. I see recognition pass through his eyes, his mouth muttering the word 'that's…'
He recognizes him now?
The proctor turns back toward the two of us.
"The two of you have spoken long enough…" He says. "Begin this match, or you'll both be disqualified."
WHAT?
I stand there in shock, not knowing what to say, only to see Dosu lung forward, swinging his right arm toward me. I move on instinct, activating my Byakugan and ducking down. His punch goes over my head, and my right hand strikes his right bicep with a 2 finger strike to his chakra network. My attack disrupts the flow of chakra, though doesn't hit a tenketsu. I see the chakra he uses to direct his sound attack stop, and I roll forward, moving beside him and then behind him, coming out of the roll on my right foot with my left knee against the floor.
I see him look over his left shoulder at me with his one good eye.
"I don't want to draw this out, so I'll end this quickly so I can move on to the third round and fight Sasuke." He says, facing me, and I spin around, entering a Gentle Fist stance after the quick spin.
"You can try…" I mutter, holding stance.
He charges me, and I quickly grab three shuriken from my weapon pouch and throw them. I see him stop and pull his right sleeve up, using a metallic thing on his right arm to deflect the shuriken. In that moment, I spring forward, and he pulls his arm back, swinging a right cross toward my head. I shift to my left, leaning backward to allow his fist to pass in front of my face. My left arm comes up, a palm thrust to his right bicep, and this time my attack hits the tenketsu, striking it dead on and closing it with a hard blow. Immediately, the chakra imbuing his strike, channeling the sound waves disappears, the flow gone and his control over it completely disrupted with his chakra flow cut off…
"What?" I hear him mutter, his left eyebrow rising.
I spin around and move away from him, making sure to put distance between myself and the chakra wave, which Dosu extended. I watch the chakra dissipate into the air, assuming a gentle fist stance with 4 feet between Dosu and Ime. The sound genin turns around, surprisingly calm in spite of my strike to his tenketsu, removing a very dangerous weapon from his arsenal.
If I give him enough time, he'll be able to reopen that tenketsu just by allowing a normal chakra flow to flow into it. However, if he's smart enough to actually force a large amount of chakra into the tenketsu, he can reopen the tenketsu…
I just can't let him do that…
"What did you do?" He asks, looking at me with a curious expression in his eyes.
"You aren't aware of the Hyuga fighting style?" I ask. "You'll get nothing from me…" I explain to him.
He charges me, swinging his right arm in a right hook. I allow his fist to pass by my left ear, and I extend only my pointer and middle fingers, and then I drive both fingers into his bicep, and I feel my fingers penetrate the skin. I feel the warm red liquid inside the muscle, funneling my chakra into the blow in an extremely damaging Gentle Fist strike. Not only do I severely damage the tenketsu, but his muscle is no shape to be used in combat, not unless he's a fully trained medic…
My right foot finds his chest, the weight on my leg weights increasing the impact force of the kick. My kick knocks him backward, his feet sliding against the stone floor of the arena. Blood follows him while he slides against the stone floor, the red liquid dropping from his bicep every time he moves the muscle.
He stands there a moment, and I use the insight granted to me by my Byakugan to see that the single tenketsu I've struck is nearly no longer there, the chakra network in his arm nearly completely severed. I see him try to move his right arm, his right bicep not wanting to cooperate with his mental commands…
He looks down at his right bicep with his one eye, and then looks to me.
"You struck the tenketsu in my bicep, didn't you?" He asks, his left arm across his chest, touching the wound.
I nod.
"I've severely damaged the tenketsu in your right bicep, even if you were to force the entirety of your chakra into the tenketsu, you'll never restore the flow into your arm beyond that tenketsu." I tell him matter of factly. "I've seen your sound attack, and I can tell that you use chakra as some part of it. What I've just done has effectively removed your ability to use that sound attack, meaning you'll never be able to use it on me like you did on Kabuto."
At least the silver haired genin was good for that much. He allowed me to see this strange genin's technique, and since I saw it once with my Byakugan, I was more then ready for it when he tried to use it on me…
Dosu suddenly runs toward me, his expression is neutral, though I can tell that he's extremely displeased with the direction this match is heading. He throws a right cross, telling me he has some feeling left in his right arm, in spite of my attack. He doesn't even bother to try and use his sound attack. I sidestep to my left, grabbing his right arm with my left hand. My right hand goes out, slapping him in the stomach, using the Gentle Fist to disrupt the chakra flow, but I don't directly close any of the tenketsu. The chakra in my strike is barely visible, a red-blue shockwave emanating from the impact. I hear him groan, though his left knee comes up, aimed at my stomach. I push his right arm and body back, throwing him off balance. He uses his left arm to perform a one handed handstand, his right arm not moving and his left leg extending during the quick flip backward. The genin comes down on both feet, his right arm hanging at his right side, with his left arm out, his left hand balled into a fist.
"You cannot win this fight with only one good arm and your legs." I tell him. "My abilities exceed yours, the intelligent thing to do would be to forfeit this match now, while you're still able to walk." I explain to him.
He looks at me with a cold glare in his one good eye.
"You'll have to kill me before I give up…" He explains to me.
Kill him…
I have no time to think about what he says before he comes running for me. He throws a left jab aimed at my head, and I shift my head right at my neck, avoiding the punch. My hands lance out to his chest, and I land 6 two finger jabs into his chest, striking 6 tenketsu. I see his left bicep shift, and I barely duck under the sweeping strike meant to knock me off my feet. I spin around counter clockwise, extending my right foot, driving my foot into Dosu's chest, into his right ribs. With the added weight of my training weights, my kick has more impact that it would normally, and I feel ribs give under my kick. Through the Byakugan I see 3 of his ribs break under the strike. His right foot comes up, and I'm forced to jump backward, putting distance between Dosu and Ime. I come out of the flip on my feet, entering a Gentle Fist stance. I never lose sight of him during the flip, and I see the boy charge me, ready to continue this pointless match of taijutsu against the Hyuga Gentle Fist…
I don't have any choice. I don't want to hurt him any further, but I'll have to knock him out in order to stop him. If he truly won't stop until he either can't move or is dead, I'll just have to insure the former happens…
I wait, assuming the stance grandmother showed me, preparing to use one of the many Gentle Fist techniques. He gets close, his momentum building, and I see him pull his left arm back, ready to drive his fist into my face. I spin at that moment, releasing a burst of red blue chakra from my body and shaping it around me into a dome. I spin in place, yelling out 'rotation!' after I begin to use the technique. I maintain the dome, spinning Dosu around while he's caught in the rotation. I increase the speed of my spin. I hear Dosu yelling out, screaming as he's whipped around me like a child's toy trapped in the dome. I stop my spin, releasing Dosu from the dome and throwing him toward the wall. The boy flies like a thrown rock, hitting the wall back first. His entire body flattens on impact, his arms and legs snapping backward and hitting the wall. I see his head snap back and hit the wall, and I see his good eye close. I see his body slump downward, his arms and legs falling forward, his head soon following his limbs.
Around me, the arena floor is dug up; slightly lower then the rest of the arena, the effect of my rotation. I look to Hayate, seeing him look toward Dosu.
"Are you still conscious?" Hayate asks loudly, and I look up to the viewing area through my Byakugan to see Neji with a look of surprise in his eyes.
I guess his father didn't tell him that I could use the Rotation. I wonder what other surprises that I'll have in store for him if…when I fight him…
Hayate continues to watch Dosu, looking for signs of life. 5 seconds pass before Hayate speaks again. Dosu doesn't move during those 5 seconds, what I can only assume is a test to make sure the ninja isn't faking being beaten.
"And the winner of this match is, Hinata Hyuga!" He says, raising his right arm and pointing toward me.
I nod, the veins around my eyes receding as I deactivate my Byakugan.
"I need medical assistance!" Hayate yells toward the doors.
2 more medic ninja emerge holding a stretcher. The 2 medic ninja put the sound genin on the stretcher and then haul him away, through the double doors and I can only imagine into an area to be given emergency medical treatment.
"You may leave the arena." Hayate informs me. "You don't have to remain here, though you cannot leave this tower until the conclusion of these preliminary matches now." He informs me.
I nod and I walk toward the viewing balcony surrounding the room. I return to my teammates, walking slowly. I notice the sound Jounin eying me while I walk back toward my teammates and my sensei, his slit eyes following me from across the room, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. While I can't sense an ounce of bloodlust coming from him, having seen him look at squad 7 and then the three of them falling over and shaking, I don't even want to think about what kind of techniques the shinobi has up his sleeve…
Walking back toward my teammates, I walk past Neji, and I feel his eyes follow me, though he makes no comment toward me. I can feel the hatred in his glare while I walk past, though I ignore it. Walking back to my teammates, I see Naruto grin while Shino merely nods toward me.
"You kick ass Hinata…" Naruto mutters.
I notice Kurenai glares at him for a moment, and then the expression passes. A light poke in his left shoulder from our teacher reminds him of his vulgarity.
"Oh, sorry Hinata…" He mutters, and I shake my head.
"It's all right…" I respond, turning back toward the arena. "Thank you for the compliment…"
"Your level of skill is to be expected…" Shino comments, his hands in his pockets.
"Yeah, with all that training you go through, it's no wonder you kicked the crap out of that weirdo…" Naruto says, putting his hands behind his head.
"You did well Hinata…" Kurenai comments, and before I can respond, the digital beeping of the randomizer coming to life pulls the combined attention of everyone gathered in the large chamber toward it.
The screen flickers names across the screen, until finally it comes to a stop. I know that I can't be picked again, but Naruto and Shino both don't have that luxury, and the red haired genin from the sand village hasn't fought yet either…
Please Kami, don't let either Naruto or Shino fight him. I don't know what he is but I really don't want to see either Naruto or Shino take him on…
The screen reads Temari VS Ten-Ten, and I allow a breath to leave my lungs that I didn't realize I was holding. I glance toward the kunoichi from Team Gai, seeing the bright girl already walking down toward the arena floor. I look around for her opponent, and I see the blond girl from the sand genin team with the large fan walking from where the rest of her team stands to the arena. I see both Temari and Ten-Ten approach each other, meeting Hayate in the middle of the arena.
The proctor glances at the two competitors, Ten-Ten first, and then the sand kunoichi.
"Do either of you have any objections to this match?" He asks, and both of them shake their heads no. "All right, begin!" He yells.
"Go Ten-Ten…!" A small version of Maito Gai yells, and I can only assume that boy is the infamous Rock Lee…
He's cheering for her?
Hayate jumps away from the two of them. Ten-Ten hops backward, the sand girl not even moving.
"You know, you can't win, right?" Temari asks arrogantly.
"We'll see about that…" Ten-Ten retorts, going to her pouch and throwing a single kunai toward Temari.
Out of nowhere, with a foot left before the knife strikes its target, the kunai flies away, clattering to the arena floor 10 feet from where Temari stands.
"What the...?" Ten-Ten asks aloud, her question chorused by nearly everyone else in the arena.
She did something, I couldn't quite follow what it was, but she used that fan to do it. Before the knife was about to hit, she didn't have it open, but now it's partially open. Whatever she did, it involves that fan…
"Could she have missed?" I hear Sakura Haruno ask, and Maito Gai speaks up.
"Impossible…" The odd Jounin often referred to as Konoha's Great Beast of Battle retorts. "Ten-Ten practices with her throwing weapons everyday, and never misses, whatever happened, that sand kunoichi did it."
He couldn't see it either? I guess whatever she did was supposed to be covert…
She stands with the fan 1/3 open, a single purple circle visible on the inside of the fan. The entire time, Lee cheers his teammate on, encouraging her to fight and to beat Temari into the ground.
"My fan has three moons…" Temari explains. "Once you see the third moon, this match will be over." She says matter of factly.
"Oh yeah…" Ten-Ten mutters.
The kunoichi goes to her weapon pouch, withdrawing 8 kunai, holding the knives between her fingers.
"Try this…!" Ten-Ten challenges.
She throws the 8 knives, each weapon aimed mercilessly at Temari. The sand kunoichi smiles a slim, arrogant smile.
"It's useless…" Temari mutters.
The 8 knives fly, until like the first kunai, they're all swatted away at the last moment, as though the air itself were protecting the sand kunoichi. Temari grimaces and I see Ten-Ten reach into the pouch at the small of her back. I see the girl withdraw 2 scrolls, and Maito Gai speaks up.
"She's going to use that, already?" I hear him mutter.
The girl places both scrolls on the ground next to her. Then, she looks toward Temari.
"Rising Twin Dragons…!" She yells out.
The scrolls explode in a puff of smoke. A strange dragon made of gray smoke leaves each cloud, going straight up and winding around like there's an invisible cylinder extending upward from the leaf kunoichi. I see the scrolls themselves have extended, with Ten-Ten having not moved. Then, the brown haired girl jumps upward, her hands darting outward to the scrolls, and I realize what she's doing…
She must be using those scrolls as weapon storage; there isn't any other reason to deploy them like that. As she rises up the scrolls, she's grabbing weapons and preparing to use them against her opponent. It's a genius tactic, though with her inability to land a single thrown weapon against Temari, I don't know if simply multiplying the number of thrown weapons will do anything…
I see Ten-Ten reach the top of the twin scrolls, and then a barrage of kunai, shuriken and other throwing weapons lance out toward Temari. I see the sand girl's expression doesn't change, though a cloud of bladed throwing weapons comes for her. I see her open her fan to another section, revealing another one of her 'moons.' The various bladed instruments of death come down upon her, threatening to encompass the sand ninja if she doesn't do something. Then, at the last moment, all of the throwing weapons are knocked away, Temari appearing as though she's barely even moved. The weapons clatter to the ground while Temari grins. Ten-Ten grimaces and I see wires extending from her to the weapons scattered around Temari.
"Try this…" I barely hear Ten-Ten mutter.
She pulls at the wires, causing the scattered weapons to rise up once again. She flicks her hands, sending the already thrown weapons back at her opponent for another try…
"It's useless…" Temari mutters.
Wind swirls around her, cutting the strings attached to the throwing weapons and sending the metal weapons flying. Ten-Ten lands on the ground with barely an audible thud, going to one knee from the impact of the high jump. Her thrown weapons clatter around the arena with their landing, Temari obviously happy that her opponent has been unable to land a single blow…
"My turn now…" The blonde girl begins.
I watch her open her fan, revealing the third 'moon.' She swings the fan with 10 feet between her and Ten-Ten, and I wonder just what the Sand Ninja has planned. Then, I see the gust of air moving forward, and I see it blow past Ten-Ten, forcing the leaf kunoichi to throw her arms up in surprise. The wind literally picks her up, pulling her into the air while a vortex appears around her.
"Ninja Art: Wind Scythe Jutsu…" Temari mutters, looking up at her opponent, suspended in mid air.
I see wind flash across Ten-Ten's body. The girl cringes as her opponent's technique goes to work, assaulting her form. 20 seconds later, the vortex disappears, and Temari stands underneath the falling Ten-Ten. The sand girl catches Ten-Ten on her now closed fan, looking at her opponent lying nearly impaled on the large fan.
"Is that all?" She asks, and then tosses the now unconscious Ten-Ten away.
The girl lands with a thud against the arena floor, every part of the word unconscious.
"The winner, Temari…" Hayate declares.
"Ten-Ten…!" Lee yells out, ready to leap over the railing when Gai's heavy hand lands on his right shoulder.
"Leave Ten-Ten to the medical corps, Lee…" He tells her.
"Gai-sensei…" Lee protests, but Gai shakes his head.
"You haven't fought yet; do you think Ten-Ten would want you to forfeit your match just so you could check on her while she's in the hospital?"
Lee shakes his head, the dark mop moving with him.
"Then remain here, Ten-Ten will be fine, her injuries aren't life threatening, I can tell from here…" Gai says, making a thump up and flashing an obscenely bright smile.
Lee nods once, though I can tell he doesn't like not checking on his friend after her match. Neji remains motionless, several feet farther down the observation balcony then Gai and Lee. The sand girl straps her large fan to her back, and without a word saunters away from the arena. I watch her leave the arena and return to her two teammates and teacher, while Hayate does a quick examination of Ten-Ten and her injuries. He calls for a medic, and another pair of medic ninja appears holding a stretcher. They gently load Ten-Ten onto the stretcher and then haul her out of the arena. Her weapons disappear in puffs of smoke, going back to their extra-dimensional storage. Hayate coughs for a few moments, sounding like he has lung cancer, and then clears his throat.
"The next match…" He begins, and the randomizer lights up.
Watching the names run by on the screen, I begin to feel worry for both Naruto and Shino. I glance toward Neji, my cousin maintaining an air of absolute and unshakeable calmness, and the ever present arrogance hovers around him.
I don't want Naruto and Shino to fight him. If he were to fight them, he'd attack them furiously to try and get to me, to make an example of them, so I will surrender when the two of us eventually fight…
The randomizer stops, and I see the two names displayed.
Kiba Inuzuka VS Neji Hyuga…
I breathe a sigh of relief while Neji calmly walks to the arena floor. Kiba follows him, though several steps behind. I can tell that Akamaru looks tired, resting inside of Kiba's jacket, and a sad air around the dog…
"I feel sorry for that idiot cousin of yours, Hinata…" Naruto pipes up, and I nearly jump through the ceiling.
I turn and look, Naruto standing with his hands behind his head, a grin on his face.
"What do you mean, Naruto…?" I ask, the grin never leaving his face.
"When Kiba's together with that dog of his, they work together really well, and they've got these combination moves they do that'll knock you on your…" He begins, and then looks thoughtful, and then his grin returns. "They'll knock you off your feet." He finally says.
I notice Kurenai smile; the boy having thoughtfully changed what he was going to say before he said it.
"I don't know…" I respond, looking back toward the two fighters.
"Do you possess some knowledge of his combat ability?" I hear Shino ask, and I shake my head.
"I've never seen him fight, and I've never sparred against him. Grandmother forbade me from having contact with members of the branch house without her, and she insisted that I spar against her rather then someone my own age, so she could teach me." I explain.
"I see…" I hear Shino nod.
Out of the corner of my eye, the boy nods once, pushing his sunglasses up to his nose.
"If his skills are half as developed as yours, it is safe to assume Kiba Inuzuka will have a challenge ahead of him."
"There's no way that emo-jerk is half as skilled as Hinata is!" Naruto argues. "He's from the branch house or whatever anyway, so he couldn't be as strong as you, right Hinata?"
I shake my head.
"I just don't know…" I respond, staring down at my cousin, now standing in a gentle fist stance with his Byakugan activated.
Just how powerful are you, Neji-nii-san?
Kiba smirks, taking the dog from his head and placing the puppy down next to him.
"Do either of you two have any objections to this match?" Hayate asks, and both fighters shake their heads no. "All right, you're free to begin…" He says, and then jumps away, not wanting to get caught up in the melee.
"Before we begin…" Neji begins. "I believe I should inform you that it is impossible for you to win against me."
Kiba looks at the boy with an expression that can't be misinterpreted.
"What're you talking about?" The Inuzuka asks. "Me and Akamaru are gonna kick your head in, right boy?" Kiba asks, the dog yipping twice to show his agreement.
Neji doesn't even blink.
"It is your destiny to lose this match, no matter how hard you struggle against it; you cannot defy your destiny. I will win, and you will lose, there is no avoiding it. You lost this match the moment I was selected to be your opponent."
"Go cram it!" Kiba tells him, making hand signs.
I see him get down on his hands, looking like an animal. I see his nails extend, his arms becoming more muscular.
"Beast mimicry…" I hear Kurenai-sensei mutter, and I turn to face her.
"What's he doing?" I ask.
"It's a clan technique…" She begins. "The Inuzuka are a clan within Konoha that specialize in the use of ninja dogs." She explains to us. "Over the years, they've developed ninjutsu that allow them to mimic animal movements, and gain animalistic strength." She continues. "What he's doing now is called beast mimicry, which is a technique that uses chakra to enhance his muscles, and his sense of smell well beyond human levels…"
I look back to see Kiba charge Neji, running toward my cousin on all fours…
Maybe he will be able to beat him…
I watch Kiba lunge and swing his right hand/claw at Neji. My cousin gingerly sidesteps, allowing the move to pass him by without even a hair on his head being touched. Kiba instantly leaps into the air, dodging Neji's counterblow, a two finger strike which I can only assume was aimed at one of his tenketsu.
"I watched the match between Hinata and the Sound guy, and I saw what you Hyuga do." Kiba informs him. "You won't be hitting my chakra network, or sealing off my tenketsu…"
I see Neji shift, his expression still emotionless, holding the Gentle Fist stance and looking at his opponent.
"Regardless of what you saw, it will not change the outcome of this match…" He begins again. "You will lose, it is your destiny." He says with absolute faith.
"Shut up! Akamaru, here!" Kiba yells, tossing a black ball past Neji, and the ninja dog catches it, chewing it up.
Kiba pops a pill in his mouth, chewing on the black ball.
Soldier pills…?
I see chakra begin to irradiate off of Kiba's body, and Akamaru's fur shifts from white, to a sort of dirty red color.
"Now…" Kiba begins. "Ninja Art: Man Beast Clone!" He yells.
Akamaru disappears in a puff of smoke for a moment. When the smoke clears, a nearly identical copy of Kiba stands on all fours where the dog once was.
"Let's get him Akamaru!" The real Kiba yells.
With a yell, both the Inuzuka and his clone charge for Neji from opposite sides. The two spin like lethal drills, ready to run Neji through like a blade. I see him standing there, holding the Gentle Fist stance and not looking at all worried, if anything, sublime confidence floats around him in an aura.
Does he really believe all the stuff he said about 'destiny' and that he can't lose? Does he honestly think that if he stands there and takes Kiba's attack that he'll somehow stand up without taking any damage?
For a long heartbeat, I question my cousin's sanity, until I see him rotate to the left at the last minute, spinning his body and moving out of the way with a sly motion. I hear Kiba yell something, but it's two late. The two of them collide in a giant cloud of smoke, and I see Neji consumed by the smoke. I activate my Byakugan, looking into the smoke to see what's going on…
He's moving…
I see Neji move within the smoke, his hands dancing out toward the fallen Inuzuka and his dog. I watch Neji strike his tenketsu with unerring precision, his every blow sealing off one of the vital points in the chakra network. When the smoke clears, Kiba lies on the arena floor with Akamaru next to him, the dog's transformation having been undone by Neji's strikes. Neji stands over both of them, standing up straight with his arms at his sides. Looking through the Byakugan, I can tell the match is over…
He struck the tenketsu on both of them, he's sealed off their chakra, and damaged their internal organs, and neither of them should be able to move without being racked with pain. It's over, he won…
"Proctor, do call the match…" Neji begins, never taking his eyes off of his opponents. "These pieces of filth have lost, and are in need of medical attention."
Hayate nods.
"The winner of the match…" He begins, pausing, allowing Kiba to speak up, but the Inuzuka does not move. "…Neji Hyuga…"
Hayate waves for more medics to enter the arena, and the white clad healers enter into the arena with a stretcher. They scoop up Kiba and his poor dog, hauling both of them away. I see Neji watch the medics picking Kiba up, and I see his lips move, though no sound leaves them.
"I told you…" Hhe mouths the words silently. (He can't mutter if there is no sound coming out.)
I deactivate my Byakugan while Neji leave the arena floor and walks back up to rejoin his teacher and his team.
The entire time he was down there, Lee and Gai didn't speak one syllable, Lee was so vocal with Ten-Ten's match and with his other teammate Neji, he was completely silent…
It's then that I hear the light footfalls of someone approaching, and I look to see the one called Kankuro from the sand genin, wearing the strange tape wrapped backpack on his back.
"Hey, you and that boy, Neji, you're both from the same family right, so doesn't that mean you have the same abilities?" He asks without as much as a greeting.
I open my mouth to answer, but Naruto speaks first.
"Why don't you go mind your own business?" Naruto speaks up. "Hinata doesn't have to tell you anything, so go blow it out your ear!"
I see Kankuro scowl beyond me toward my teammate.
"Listen Kid, I wasn't talking to you, and…" Kankuro is cut off by the digital sound of the randomizer starting up again.
The sand genin's eyes drift to the screen. Like everyone else he watches the randomizer going to work, and then the screen spits out two names…
Rock Lee and Gaara of the Desert…
I see the miniature Maito Gai jump up into the air.
"Yes, IT IS FINALLY MY TURN!" Lee yells out, his right fist in the air.
Gai's left hand touches his shoulder in an attempt to calm the boy down.
"Lee, listen, there's some advice I should give you before the match…" He begins, and Lee quickly pulls out a pen and notepad.
Does he really treat his sensei's words like they're something to live by?
"Lee, watch the gourd on that boy's back, there's something strange about it…" Gai says, and Lee writes on the pad.
"Yes, Gai-sensei…!"
"Lee! You can't read notes in battle, now go out there and give it your all!" Gai yells, and his student joins him.
Gaara already stands in the arena, looking up toward Lee with a sadistic expression in his eyes. Lee leaps over the railing and lands in front of Gaara, a grin on his face as the dark haired boy assumes a Strong Fist stance. Hayate stands around them, glancing between Lee and Gaara.
"Do any of you have objections?" He asks, and neither boy says yes. "All right, begin!" He yells.
Hayate leaps back, and I Gaara removes the cork from his gourd, throwing it to Lee, who catches it with his left hand.
"Impatient, are we not?" Lee asks, allowing the cork to fall to the ground.
The sand ninja smirks, and sand begins to pour out from the open gourd…
How is he doing that? How can he manipulate sand like that?
I activate my Byakugan and look through the kekkei genkai, trying to find an answer as to how in the world Gaara can manipulate sand. I see chakra filling the sand, and I can see his chakra network is unlike a normal person's chakra network…
His coils, they're larger then a normal person's coils. Plus, I can see a slight gold tint to his chakra, while the rest of it is an orange color. Over his entire body, I can see sand covering him in a thin layer, with chakra filling the layer of sand, holding it in place…
Lee watches Gaara for a moment, and then the green clad genin charges. I watch the boy throw a punch, only to see the sand that lies around him pop up, forming a wall between Lee's hand and Gaara's body…
"What the…?" Naruto asks. "He can move the sand?"
"It isn't Gaara moving the sand…" Kankuro explains. "The sand is moving all on its own, independently of Gaara's will." He continues. "The sand moves to protect him, while Gaara is just standing there. That sand is the reason that Gaara has never been hurt, even when he was a little boy…"
He's never been hurt? Does that mean that he's a Jinchuriki like I am? But, my having the Kyuubi doesn't let me move things or cast illusions or anything like that. So, if he's a Jinchuriki, why are the two of us so different? He emits bloodlust like he enjoys killing, and I've never seen him wear anything but a sadistic expression…
Lee spins clockwise, driving his heel toward Gaara. The sand wall falls, only to rise again and intercept Lee's spin kick. The boy drops his leg, and then throws a 1-2 punch, and then drops and attempts a leg sweep. His outstretched leg is intercepted by the sand, which blocks the blow without any problem. Lee quickly retracts his leg a moment before the sand attempts to wrap around his leg. The genin jumps backward, flipping backward 3 times and coming to a stop on his feet. Lee returns to a strong fist stance, staring down the psychotic Gaara.
"Why is he only using taijutsu?" Sakura asks. "Why doesn't he get some range, and use ninjutsu?"
"A good idea…" Gai begins. "But for Lee, it isn't an option."
"What?" Sakura asks.
Lee grabs a kunai from his pouch, spinning the knife around on his pointer finger before he grips it out of the bottom of his hand. He runs forward, using the knife to attack the sand as it rises to protect Gaara. Lee fights a losing battle, attacking the granular substance with his knife, while not really doing any damage to the sand…
"He can't use ninjutsu?" Sakura asks.
"Lee was born special, but not special in the same way that Sasuke Uchiha or Neji Hyuga is referred to as special." Gai explains. "Lee was born with underdeveloped chakra network, so his abilities with ninjutsu and genjutsu are extremely retarded. Rather then focus on this, I simply had him focus on the one form of combat he can do, taijutsu, and I had him put the whole of his being into it. Because of that, I've turned his inability to a blessing."
Lee continues to strike at the sand, using his knife in a myriad of ways, trying to pierce the wall of sand and strike the shinobi beneath it. Sand moves around Lee and flanks him, poising to strike him from behind. The green clad genin appears to sense the strike coming, leaping up and into the air, avoiding Gaara's attack. The genin spins in the air, and then comes to a stop atop the large finger statues against one of the walls of the arena. The boy breathes heavily, his stomach moving up and down in an exasperated expression.
"LEE!" Gai yells, sticking out his right hand, and giving the boy a thumb up. "Go ahead, take em off!"
I see Lee's eyes go wide, and then he sits down on the statue.
Take what off? What is he talking about? Wait a minute, those leg warmers on his legs...
With the Byakugan, I can see the same chakra enhanced weights on Lee's legs that both Naruto and I wear on our arms and legs. I watch the boy take off the leg warmers, seeing him remove the weights, and then stand up in a T-shape, holding the weights straight out at his sides. I see the concentration of chakra in his weights is higher then even what I wear…
"He thinks little weights are going to help him against Gaara?" Kankuro asks.
A moment later, Lee lets go of the weights, and I see the restraints fall to the ground like anvils. The two sets of weights hit the ground and a giant cloud of dust and smoke flies up alongside a loud BOOM of impact. I cringe at the impact, and through the Byakugan I can see Kakashi ask 'Gai, how much weight are you making him wear.' Lee springs from the statue, disappearing in a blur of motion. He reappears near Gaara, running around him in a circle. He moves in a blur of motion around Gaara, outside the perimeter of the sand. Then, the boy disappears, and Gaara looks on, trying to find him. Lee appears above him, flipping forward in the air and driving the heel of his foot into the top of Gaara's head. Lee's foot striking Gaara is a 'thud' that rings out through the entire arena. Through my Byakugan I see Kankuro's eyes go wide, and I can tell that the red haired genin has never been hit before. Lee lands on the ground, and then disappears in a blur of motion. Lee appears behind Gaara, driving his fist into the back of Gaara's head. The red haired genin leaves his feet, spinning in the air and then landing on the ground. Gaara rolls and then comes up on one knee. The sand genin glares toward the leaf genin, a look of pure bloodlust in Gaara's eyes.
He hit him. He moved like a blur without using an ounce of chakra enhancement and hit Gaara, getting around the sand and hitting him before the sand could move to block.
I see Lee disappear again in a blur of motion. He reappears on Gaara's left, landing a straight jab to Gaara's head. The Genin shifts, taking three more lightning quick blows from Lee before he's knocked back, the Genin landing on the ground and rolling around his gourd. He comes up on his hands and knees, glaring back toward Lee. Lee lands on his feet, standing upright in his strong fist stance.
Gaara stands up straight, and Lee's expression shifts to one of shock. The sand that surrounds the sand genin has cracked, revealing to everyone in attendance that Gaara is covered in a layer of sand.
"What the heck is that guy?" Naruto asks. "Is he made of sand?"
"No…" Kankuro explains. "The sand covers him in an armor that protects him, so even if the shield of sand should fail, Gaara always has protection."
"Does this guy even have any weaknesses?" Naruto asks.
With that, the entire group turns back toward the match. Lee appears to be winded, as though his speed is taking its toll on his stamina…
Running like that must take a lot out of him. He's even faster then I am without the training weights, but he doesn't have my kind of stamina…
He stands in the strong fist stance, his right arm behind his back. Gaara stares at Lee, his right hand resting above his right eye. The sand armor surrounding him is cracked at various points, showing the damage that Lee has done. Lee stands there, breathing heavily while the sand around Gaara on the ground slides up his body, reforming the armor of sand and sealing the cracks…
Gaara removes his hand and stands up straight, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Is that all?" Gaara asks, his voice showing disappointment.
"What is he…?" I hear Sakura mutter.
I see Lee grimace, and I see his head drop slightly, his stance widening slightly.
What now?
I see him disappear, reappearing in front of Gaara. The boy drives his right leg into Gaara's chest in an attempt to drive the sand genin into the air. The boy lifts only a small amount, and I see Lee grit his teeth. The boy reels his extended right foot, driving his left foot into Gaara in an attempt to make the boy go higher into the air. I watch while Lee sends kick after kick into Gaara's chest, the sand that protects Gaara and makes up his sand shield beginning to go up into the air to cover him once again. I see Maito Gai clap his hands together in prayer the same moment Rock Lee closing his eyes from the pain of the multiple kicks.
Then, Lee arcs out and wraps Gaara in the tape that surrounds his forearms and wrists. I see Lee grab hold of the now wrapped Gaara, beginning to spin Gaara back toward the ground…
He's going to drive him into the ground like that? What a powerful and deadly taijutsu move. However, I'd imagine that technique takes quite a toll on the user's strength.
"Primary Lotus…!" Lee yells out, driving Gaara's head into the arena.
There's a loud WHAM as Gaara hits the ground in a cloud of smoke and dust. I watch Lee emerge from the cloud, landing on his feet with his arms drooping at his sides. The boy looks exhausted, like he's just ran several miles without a break…
That move had to be his trump card, it's meant to finish this match, there's no way he can go on…
I see the smoke clear, and the only thing at the impact point is a shell of sand in the shape of Gaara…
"What the…?" Gai demands and I hear Kakashi speak up.
"When you closed your eyes to pray, Lee closed his eyes from the pain, that's when Gaara made the switch." Kakashi points out.
I see the sand that makes up the sand shell break apart and crawl along the floor. The sand moves past Lee, and behind the boy I see Gaara emerge from under the floor, the sand covering his body like some sort of sand demon. I see Lee turn around, meeting the psychotic expression on his opponent's face…
This match is over, Lee is outclassed, there's no way he can win. Gaara is some freak of Nature, he can't win…
I look over my left shoulder to my teacher.
"Kurenai-sensei, please stop the match…" I say, and I see my teacher shake her head.
"I can't act unless one of the participants is going to die Hinata." She tells me matter of factly.
"But, Lee-san will…" I begin, and I see her shake her head again.
"If Lee refuses to see that he can't win, then he may well die." Kurenai tells me, though her eyes glance to Gai. "If that were to happen, it would be sad, but this world does not need more stupid ninja…"
I look away from my teacher, instead focusing back on what's happening in front of me.
He's a monster, can't you see that Lee? Has Gai never taught you to see when you're in over your head?
I see Lee smirk, the expression barely noticeable on the older genin's face.
He's smiling?
I see him leave the strong fist stance, moving both arms to his sides. I see him look down, an air forming around the boy. Gaara stands there, watching his opponent with a seemingly even expression.
"Will you entertain me some more?" Gaara asks.
"Gai, you didn't…?" I hear Kakashi speak, and I activate my Byakugan.
What the Byakugan shows me sends a chill down my spine…
He's opening the inner gates?
I can see his chakra network, and the regulators that govern the entire network, and 3 of the so-called gates inside Lee's boy have been opened…
"I did…" Gai says with a hint of pride. "Lee will do anything to prove he can be a ninja with only taijutsu, and I am willing to do anything to help him in pursuing that dream."
"Gai, it's forbidden, and you know that…" Kakashi points out.
The bowl headed man merely shrugs.
"What are you two talking about?" Sakura asks.
"The Lotus of the Leaf blooms twice…" Gai begins, and Sakura gains a look of recognition.
"Lee-san said that to me earlier…" She says, and Gai nods.
"The Lotus has two forms, the first is the technique that drives a person into the ground, and is done with a single open gate. The second Lotus, called the Hidden Lotus, can only be done after opening 4 of the gates…" Gai explains.
"How many can Lee open Gai?" Kakashi asks.
"5…" Gai responds.
I see Lee's body begin to change, with chakra flowing into the air around him.
I've read all about the inner gates and their opening, and the dangers present in using that power…
I listen to Kakashi, explaining the benefits and consequences of using the inner gates to everyone present, while watching the match. Lee opens the fifth gate on his body…
Lee disappears, hitting Gaara with a lighting quick kick. The sand Genin flies into the air, and Lee moves like a blur of motion, striking Gaara and knocking him around like a ball. With each hit, a thundering BOOM resounds in the arena, and I watch Lee beat his opponent senseless with a combination of hits that should kill anyone unlucky enough to receive it. My hands tighten on the rail in front of me while I watch Lee beat Gaara, finishing with a punch and kick combination straight to the boy's stomach, sending him flying down toward the ground.
For a moment, I feel as though Lee may've won, that the sand genin won't even survive the onslaught, but that feeling shatters when I see the gourd on his back begin to flake apart. I see it's made of hard sand, the gourd softening a moment before Gaara impacts the ground with a loud BOOM! The dust cloud is terrific, with even the spectators having to raise their arms and block the dust from their eyes, myself included. However, blocking my eyes with my arms does not hinder my vision, and I see that the sand Genin is indeed alive, lying on the ground with sand around him in the middle of the large cloud of dust.
Lee lands outside the cloud, looking somehow even more ragged and tired then before. He stares on into the cloud, falling backward and landing on his rear. The boy breathes heavily, apparently no longer even able to stand…
The smoke clears, revealing to all that Gaara is in fact alive…
"Impossible…" Lee mutters; the sheer disbelief evident in his voice.
He turns and starts to crawl away as sand begins to slide across the floor toward him.
I feel my grip tighten, the sand flying across the floor toward Lee…
He'll kill him…
I move without thinking, my hands hitting the releases on the weights on my arms and legs. I'm over the railing before Kurenai can speak a protest, kicking off the railing toward the green clad shinobi. The boy stares on in horror with Gaara's sand inches away from wrapping around his arms and legs…
The green clad boy disappears as a blur of motion hits him, snatching him away from the sand. I do my best try and protect the boy, going into a roll and trying to take most of the impact with the ground. I hear the muttered gasps of surprise from both the spectators and the proctor. I hit hard, a loud THUD echoing in my ears. I go into a roll, holding Lee in front of me. The green clad boy and I roll several times until I manage to kill the most of the momentum, stopping with him lying on the ground. I'm almost on top of him, on my hands and knees.
The green clad boy looks up at me, amazement showing in the large eyes beneath the obscenely large eyebrows…
Through the Byakugan, I can see the sand genin move his hand toward the two of us, his sand turning on the arena, the boy apparently dead set on killing Lee…
I quickly get to my feet, putting myself between the older genin and the assaulting sand. I watch it coming, preparing to use a rotation defensive technique, when Maito Gai appears in front of me in a blur of motion. With Gai's appearance, the sand stops, and I hear Gaara mutter.
"Why…?" The red haired boy mutters, his hand floating in the air. "Why do you protect him…?"
I keep my mouth shut, and it is Gai who answers.
"Lee is special to me." Gai says simply.
The sand retracts, and I feel Gaara's bloodlust pull back, disappearing into thin air. I deactivate my Byakugan while the sand returns to Gaara, reforming the gourd on his back. The boy stands up, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I quit…" The boy simply says, walking away and back toward his two teammates.
About a minute too late…
Hayate stands there, his eyes cast in my direction. I turn back toward Lee, seeing him struggling to get to sit up. Gai turns around; looking at me with an expression similar to one Lee gave me after I pushed him out of the way of Gaara's attack.
"Thank you…" The man says, tears falling from his cheeks. "If not for you, Lee would've…"
I shake my head.
"Something isn't right with Gaara-san." I tell Gai in a matter of fact tone. "He would've killed Lee-san if I hadn't done anything and…" I trail off, the older man nodding.
"You have saved the Fires of Lee's Youth…for that I owe you a tremendous debt!" The Green Beast of Konoha yells out enthusiastically, slapping me on the back.
I force myself not to stumble from the sheer force in the man's loving blow. I see him give me a thumb up, and flashing an uncannily bright smile.
"Gai-sensei…" Lee mutters weakly, and just like that, the older man forgets about me.
"Lee, once you've recovered you are going to run 200 laps around Konoha for this defeat, on your hands!" Gai yells at Lee and the older genin nods.
"Yes, Gai-sensei...!" Lee yells, though I see the enthusiasm leave him shortly after he finishes speaking.
He's on his last legs, he needs to rest…
"Come Lee…" Gai says, scooping the boy up into his arms. "I'll take you to the medical corps, and they can check you out."
Lee just nods, his eyes drifting closed in his sensei's arms. Looking at the two of them, I feel a chill run down my spine.
They could be father and son, if I didn't know better…
I shake my head to clear it, leaving the arena floor and walking back toward Naruto and Shino. When I pass Neji, the scowl I get from him tells me he disapproves of my action in saving his teammate.
Sanctimonious asshole…
I ignore the scowl and walk past him without looking directly at him. Instead I focus on my teammates. Both Naruto and Shino look concerned, while Kurenai has a mix of emotions on her face.
"Hinata…" Naruto begins.
Shino merely looks at me from behind the dark sunglasses.
"Hinata, what you did was admirable, but you realize you cost Lee his chance of winning the match?" Kurenai asks, and I nod.
"He was going to die Kurenai-sensei, it's better to lose and live then win and die."
Kurenai nods once.
"That is true Hinata…" Kurenai replies.
The rapid beeping of the screen pulls my attention away from my teacher and back toward the randomizer that decides the preliminary matches. I watch the screen flash names, looking around at the Genin who haven't fought yet…
Both Naruto and Shino haven't fought, and the two sound genin still standing haven't fought. Ino from Team 10 hasn't fought, and Sakura and Sasuke both haven't done anything yet. I hate to think what would happen if Naruto or Shino fought against those sound genin, they seem to be out for blood, though I don't know why. Finally the two genin from Kabuto Yakushi's team haven't fought yet either. Those two are a complete mystery, I have no idea what those two can do, and then there's the snake freak…
I glance toward the man dressed in all black, still standing behind the two remaining sound genin. He has a sly smile on his face, an expression telling me that he's happy at what he's seen so far.
What a sadistic bastard. He's enjoying watching children beating each other within an inch of their lives…
The screen blips, telling me the names of the next two competitors have been decided. I look up, never expecting to see what the screen displays…
Ino Yamanaka and Kin Tsuchi…
