Sayuri stood in the defensive position, legs bent and arms raised in front of her chest. Now that the jutsu wore off and Sora had gotten his sight back, she knew he'd be even more violent and angry. "You should forfeit…" Sayuri told him. "…I mean you keep making these big accusations like you're going to kill me but from where I'm standing the person being beaten here is you." she said softly. Sora shook with anger, his teeth clamped so tightly together that small cracks could be heard.
"Go to hell!" he snarled. "What about you? You said you knew my weakness. Prove it!" he yelled charging at her with increased speed.
"You want me to use your weakness against you?"
"No, I want you to prove that you know what my weakness is and to stop your bullshitting!" he growled, kicking her sharply in the shoulder and punching her in the face at the same time. Sayuri gave a yelp of pain, and slammed back against the wall. "If you knew my weakness you would have abused that knowledge from the start of the match." Sora sneered grabbing her by the throat, blocking any air from getting into her lungs. "But you see here's the thing. I don't have any weaknesses." he grinned throwing her up like a rag doll, as she fell towards the ground, he brought his knee up to connect with her back. Sayuri's mouth shot up and her face contorted into a silent scream. Her body slid off his knee and collapsed onto the ground. Sora chuckled and held is sword above her. He watched as she tried to push herself up but could only use her elbows to push some of her upper body up. "I win." Sora grinned, releasing the sword and watched as it plunged downwards. His eyes widened as his sword appeared to dissolve. He looked to Sayuri. Her hands were together from under the sleeves.
"Ninja-art…Forest of dreams…jutsu." she panted out before she dissolved too. Sora looked around as the ground began to shake underneath him. Cracks appeared along the edger of the arena terrain. Sora leapt back into the middle and watched as from the earth, things began to rise and twist. When the shaking stopped Sora looked to see that the things coming from the ground were trees but they were odd. Their barks were a deep plum and the leaves where lavender. What type of jutsu was this? A violet mist slowly began to form and covered the arena floor, coming to Sora's knee in height.
"What the hell is this?" he shouted, looking around for Sayuri.
Kakashi watched with his visible eye wide before he looked to Tsunade. "No one but Yamato should know wood element jutsu." he told her. Tsunade bit her lip and looked to see Yamato appear next to her. He had been watching in the stands and now stood next to Tsunade's chair.
"Can you explain this?" Shizune asked him.
"She should know wood element jutsu…but those trees look abnormal and I don't mean their colour. My only guess is that it's a genjutsu or those trees are made of something other than wood." he said before looking down at the arena, Sora looked unsteady on his feet now. "Although where is Sayuri?" he pondered. Down in the arena, Sora was acting strangely. The ninja was now grinning happily and sitting on the ground. His eyes were closed and he swayed back and forth humming and talking happily to himself. He lifted his hands to the side making it look like he was holding hands with people on either side of him that no one could see. Sora fell back and landed on the ground, covered by the mist that slowly began to dissipate while the strange trees fell back into the earth, leaving a small mounds of upturned dirt around the arena where the trees had come out. Sayuri was lying exactly where she had been before she had disappeared and to everyone's shock Sora's sword was in her lower back but had completely missed her spine. Had she rolled away when he dropped it, it would have just scratched her. She gritted her teeth and pulled her hand back, wiping some of her blood from the sword onto her thumb. Pushing herself up onto her knees Sayuri made hand-signs and placed her hand on the ground. Temari who had been inspecting Sora to see if he was fit enough to battle looked up to see a black panther appear through the smoke. The animal moved to Sayuri's back and bit the blade. With a growl he ripped the blade from her body gaining a pained, exhausted yell from Sayuri and let the weapon fly across the arena. Slowly the large cat circled to her front and lay it's paw on her stomach where the tip of the sword had exited when she was stabbed by it. "Thank you…" Sayuri whispered shakily getting to her feet and the panther bowed his head and disappeared.
"The winner of the first fight; Sayuri Kurosawa." Temari called out since it was clear that Sora was not getting up anytime soon. Sayuri let out an exhausted smile as the crowd cheered and applauded while she shakily and slowly made her way towards the staircase to the waiting area. One of the medics that had gone to retrieve Sora stopped her. "Miss would you like to come with us?" he asked.
"No it's fine. I'll just sit down for a while with the others. Thanks though." she said before walking up the stairs to the waiting platform. Naruto was on his way down for his match and grinned, hugging Sayuri lightly.
"You were awesome!" he grinned.
"Thanks Naruto, go and win you match." she smiled wincing when he put his hand on her shoulders before he went to the arena floor to fight. Sayuri sat down on the floor with her back to the platform railing.
"Is that how you would Naruto and I?" Sasuke asked, sitting next to her but facing the railing to watch Naruto's fight. "In the second exam, before the mist ninja impersonating us turned up we heard growling…was that a panther you sent?" he asked, glancing to see Sayuri smirk.
"I sent him to keep an eye on you. He wouldn't interfere if you were attacked…unless it was serious and life threatening." she told him.
"So what did it do to you…?" Sasuke asked.
"Healed the stab wound and my back."
"Why didn't it heal all of your injuries?"
"It wouldn't do me any good to have all of my bruises and scratches healed each time I got them. They may hurt like a bitch but they'll heal. Besides Renzo prefers fighting rather than healing. If he isn't summoned to fight then his visits are kept short." before hearing a large explosion and felt bursts of chakra.
"So what was Sora's weakness?" Sasuke asked.
"Genjutsu was his weakest aspect of ninja abilities." Sayuri told him with a smile.
"Then why didn't you just use a genjutsu at the start of the match and defeat him quickly? It would have saved a lot of your chakra and stopped you from getting hurt." The Uchiha asked with a frown, watching as Sayuri titled her head back towards the ceiling.
"Because I had to prove to not only Sora but the Hokage, the Kazekage, the leaf ninja and myself that I can still go up against an opponent and fight. Casting one genjutsu would have been easiest but it wouldn't have been enough." she said before laughing. "Besides where is the fun in ending a match in one move? It was a fun battle and I got through it which is the important things." she said before smirking. "Sakura's in the crowd you know…" she mused, sensing the Uchiha tense.
"No she isn't… she had a mission according to Yamato." he muttered, gaining a sharp laugh from the woman next to him.
"Well she's here now. She should next to Ino…" Sasuke frowned at her and looked back to the crowds, scanning them slowly and sure enough he caught sight of light pink hair. "…did the blind girl get something right?" Sayuri's voice floated to him even when trying to sound innocent the smug tone of her voice couldn't be hidden or on the wide grin on her face.
"Shut up…." Sasuke muttered looking down at the multitude of shadow clones charging at the opponent in the terrain below.
"Ask her out or I'll do it for you." she grinned making Sasuke look at her in shock.
"You'll what?"
"I'll get up, and scream at that girl from over here that you want to go out with her after this exam is over." Sayuri said, getting onto her knees and got to her feet. She placed her hands on the railing and took a deep breath, ready to scream at the top of her lungs. Sasuke shot up, clamped and hand over the young woman's mouth and tore her away from the railing. "Fine, fine I'll ask her myself!" he hissed at her. He moved his hand away to see her smirking at him. "I'm holding you to that promise Sasuke. " Sayuri grinned before turning her head towards the balcony as cheers broke out followed by Temari's voice. "The winner of the second match: Naruto Uzumaki." Sayuri grinned and moved back to sit by the railings as the fights progressed. Now it was the second round, meaning Sayuri and Naruto had to fight. Kakashi looked up as the blonde and red-head made their way towards the centre. "Wonder who will win this one…" he mused..
"Sayuri has used a lot of her chakra, Naruto's barely used any plus he hasn't been injured save for a few scratches and bruises. Plus Naruto has insane stamina and the fox's chakra. I don't think there is any way Sayuri will win against him." Tsunade reasoned. It was true. It didn't look good for Sayuri but he was certain she was going to pass even if she lost. Sayuri flicked her hair back and smiled in the direction of the grinning male. Temari looked to the two. "Ready, fight!" she called, leaping back as Sayuri shot forward, she leapt and twisted in the air, one leg bent and the other straight, she brought her heel sharply to the side of Naruto's neck sending him crashing to the ground. The move reminded Sasuke of his 'Lion's Barrage' that he had created during the preliminary of the chunin exam in Leaf all those years ago. Naruto spat the dirt from his mouth and grinned at Sayuri while on his hands and knees. He charged at her as she rushed towards him. Naruto pulled back a fist, ready to strike when Sayuri suddenly arched her back and sent her legs up into a handstand. Her feet kicked his fist upwards and locked around his waist. She pushed back and arched again, sending Naruto head first to the ground. The pair rolled to the ground, Sayuri sitting on top of the blonde as he lay face down on the ground again. Before he got up, Sayuri jumped off of him and gained some distance. Naruto leapt up onto his feet. She was fast, flexible and good at using his weight and strength against him. Smirking he made a handsign, creating a large swarm of shadow clones. He spread them all out to surround her. He watched as Sayuri dug her feet into the ground, turning some of the earth up and grinned. Slowly she reached into her holster strapped onto her right leg and pulled out two shuriken. Taking one in each hand she threw them at opposite ends of the circle. The clones watched as the spinning metal twisted and headed to the same target, one Naruto just outside of the group. The clones couldn't help but grin, their grin faltered when they looked back to see Sayuri was no longer in the circle of Naruto's. A flash of red and a kick to the stomach, Sayuri had hit the real Naruto who was doubled over her leg and the other Naruto's disappeared.
"She found the real Naruto…" Yamato breathed looking to Kakashi who slowly nodded, not quite believing it either. Naruto drew out his kunai and sliced it at Sayuri who although had leapt back to avoid it got scratched below her collar bone. Grinning, Naruto shot forward, with his kunai causing Sayuri take the defensive and keep jumping back. "Rasengan!" two voices shouted from above. Sayuri tensed as the shadow of the two clones sailed down prepared to use the attack on her. Sayuri managed to dodge it but had been caught on the leg with it as she stepped back. The swirling mass of chakra hit the ground beneath her feet. The clones disappeared and Sayuri was thrown into the air and crashed loudly to the ground, bouncing off the earth from the impact and back down again. Wincing, Sayuri shakily sat back against the arena wall, breathing laboured and pained. If the pain she felt in her leg was from just grazing that jutsu she was extremely thankful that it didn't hit her directly. Swallowing she sensed Naruto charging at her again with a few more of his clones. Not wasting anymore time, she brought her less injured arm to the other cradled against her chest and made hand-signs, hiding them from view. "Black Swamp jutsu." she grunted. The earth under Naruto's feet began to change and surge, the light brown turned black and slick, causing him to lose his footing and fall onto one of his knees. The black substance spread through the arena, forcing Temari to take to the skies, not wanting to be touched by the unknown substance. Naruto slowly and unsteadily got to his feet, trying to keep steady while his clones disappeared. He tried to walk but the thick matter under him was heavy and it seemed impossible to move in. It was wet, cold and smelled horrible and at the minute he was ankle deep in it. Suddenly Naruto was hit with an idea. If he could walk on water, he could walk on…water ever this gunk was. He slapped his hands together and focussed chakra to the bottom of his feet. Suddenly he felt himself fall a little lower into the sludge. "Wh-what the hell?" he demanded, tugging on his leg to try and pull his foot to the surface but it didn't work. The smell of the dark stuff under him-he couldn't place it as a liquid or a solid- was getting to him. Naruto put his hands together and created a mass of shadow clones, causing him to sink more and more. When the clones appeared he was down to his knees. The clones made a chain and held on to the one in front of them as the first one grabbed Naruto's hands and began to pull. The sound of the clones falling, yelling and disappearing made Sayuri laugh. Only one clone remained and began to create the rasengan again which only pulled Naruto in deeper, now up to his waist as both the swirling chakra and clone disappeared as he sank. Slowly, Sayuri strained to get back on her feet. The pain was getting worse on her leg along with the injuries she'd gotten from her fight with Sora. While the rest through the fights had helped, the strain of hitting Naruto and fighting him had brought it back tenfold. Slowly she hobbled over to the blonde struggling more and more in the swamp. She reached him and grabbed his hand. With ease she took a few steps back and pulled him out before making a hand-sign and releasing the jutsu, the black sludge seeping into the ground, leaving the dirt wet and mucky. "I forfeit." she announced making everyone stare at her with wide eyes. "W-why? You had me…I couldn't get out of that…that-" Naruto panted, feeling drained and tired.
"Swamp…" Sayuri told him before explaining. "While you may have been caught and while that swamp fed on your chakra I can't fight anymore with my injuries. I'm barely standing and unlike you I don't have a second reserve of chakra…which had you been left in the swamp any longer would have come out and that wouldn't have been good for me. " Sayuri smiled before grinning. "Besides, I want you and Sasuke to come first and second in this tournament."
Temari landed on the ground and placed her closed fan onto her back again. "The winner: Naruto Uzumaki." she called out. Grinning, Naruto rolled onto his back as applause and cheers built up again. The medics came out and approached Sayuri. "I'll take that healing now." she told them with a smile, limping with them to the medical ward in the building. Naruto got to his feet and stretched before heading to the waiting platform with the remaining ninja.
"Looks like I'll have to fight her a different time…" Sasuke mused to the blonde who grinned as his friend went to fight again.
Sayuri felt the warm, soothing chakra flow into her shoulder. "You should have let us heal you after your first fight. Your shoulder is…" the medic tried to scold her but cut off with annoyed sigh. There was no point in even finishing that sentence. Sayuri sat in silence as she listened to the fights going on outside. She let out a tired yawn as her injuries began to heal and the exhaustion took over. Before she completely passed out, she shifted to lay down on the bed and fell asleep while the medics continued with healing her.
Sakura cheered out happily as she ran to Sasuke and Naruto, throwing her arms around both of them. "You both passed!" she sang out only t pull back and frown at them. "But there was no need to fight so intensely." she chastised them.
"It was a great battle to end the exams though…" Temari laughed. "You both tied which is good. And Sayuri passed too along with the Sand ninja and the other leaf ninja." she smirked.
"Speaking of Sayuri where did she go?" Naruto asked looking around as he placed his arm happily around Hinata who had also come to watch the final fights.
"She wanted to change out of her dirty clothes, she'll meet us at the bar to celebrate." Sasuke said standing a little closer to Sakura as they walked away from the arena.
In the bar they all sat down at the largest and longest table at the bar before they went to order the first round of drinks Sayuri approached the table and sat down on the chair next to Genma with a bright smile. "The last of our new chunin arrives." Tsunade smirked causing Sayuri to smile warmly. Sai sat next to Ino from the other side of the table stared at her silently. "I haven't met you before." Sayuri smiled turning her head towards him. Sai had been on a constant string of missions since Sayuri had joined the Leaf so it was normal that they hadn't been introduced. Slowly she reached her hand across the table. "I'm Sayuri." she smiled, slowly Sai let his hand meet hers.
"Sai." he replied.
"You're an artist aren't you? Your fingers have something on them…chalk…pastel?" she guessed, brushing her thumb softly against his fingertips before she released his hand.
"Charcoal today…" the normally expressionless Root member answered, slightly taken by her smile. Sayuri grinned and settled back in her chair that was touching Genma's and lay her back softly against the senbon chewer's side, her head on his shoulder while his arm draped over hers. Sayuri crossed her legs, lightly tucking one foot behind the other. The others noticed the closeness between the two and looked to each other. Sayuri was smiling contently while Genma grinned ecstatically. Yamato approached the table was a lot of bottles of sake while Anko approached with the glasses. The wood element user stared at the two.
"Is Sayuri the woman you were grinning about the other day?" he demanded.
"You were talking about me?" Sayuri asked Genma with a small arch of her eyebrows. Genma laughed out.
"No, I was grinning, they figured out it was because of a woman Had they asked I would have said. " he shrugged leaning forward and taking a bottle and few glasses to hand out at his end of the table.
"You have heard of Genma's reputation haven't you Sayuri…?" Naruto asked.
"Course I have. He's a guy who likes the company of women. I'm not looking for anything serious." Sayuri smiled before the two laughed.
"So…what's the arrangement?" Sakura asked with a frown.
"Normal couple I guess but we'll split if Genma has been with any other woman…or women. He get's five chances." Sayuri explained casually, hearing a choke and someone spit out their drink.
"Five?"
"Sure…I know the type of man he is and I know he likes to have fun. I'm not going to force him to change his ways just for my sake. But I'm not going to let him completely screw me over." Sayuri explained taking a sip of sake.
"That makes sense I guess." Tsunade said throwing back some of her sake. "Well enough of that. Here's to these kids passing the chunin exams and also…a very big apology to the best blind ninja there is." the blonde grinned, raising her glass into the air. Everyone grinned and lifted they glasses together in the toast and drank. Kakashi stared at Sayuri and Genma silently. She had proved herself to be a good ninja and even showed she could go up against Naruto in a fight that had impressed him and stunned him at the same time. He had been just as shocked as the others when they saw her sit intimately close with Genma with a radiant smile on her face. It was a first that Genma was actually in a relationship…but he was probably more willing because he was given five chances before it would end. However something in the back of his mind came to him 'But with a woman like Sayuri maybe he won't be so quick to seek out another woman…let alone five.' The masked ninja took a swift drink of his sake, trying to silence his thoughts with alcohol. The silver haired ninja let his visible eye land on Sayuri who was talking happily to Hinata to sat next to her. He looked at Genma's free hand lightly trace patterns on the scarlet woman's pale smooth skin. Something seemed to flare in him…annoyance, irritation…jealousy? It all seemed ridiculous. Why would he be jealous? Because Sayuri was actually in a relationship with Genma? No that couldn't be it. He throw back more sake. He would never admit it because the image had only entered his mind briefly and swiftly left again…but for the briefest of moments he pictured himself being the one that was that close to her and touching her smooth white skin.
"Hey Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked, Kakashi silently thanked the blonde for speaking to him and breaking him from his thoughts. "Yes Naruto?"
"If Sayuri was part of our team for these exams…is she going to be a part of our team from now on?" Kakashi paused… he hadn't thought about it and looked to Tsunade it would be up to her after all.
"Hmm, well groups for missions change depending on the mission, its rank and the abilities needed for ultimate success…but maybe for training she can join up with you." Tsunade pondered before taking a long drink of sake.
"I'll be happy with anything." Sayuri spoke up with a smile before returning to her conversation with Hinata.
"We'll talk more when we're back home." Tsunade said with a lazy wave of her hand, too busy wanting to enjoy her alcohol and day off from actual Hokage duties. The ninja drank plenty long into the night, laughing and talking about past missions. Anko slammed her hand drunkenly down onto the table and pointed an accusing finger at Sayuri.
"So Sayuri…if you can fight like…like you did today…wh-why didin' you just…you know kick them bashturds tah shit…in that…in that inn of yours?" she slurred.
"Cause I couldn't. Practically no chakra and constant beatings meant no fighting." Sayuri shrugged with a giggle. She wasn't as drunk as some of those at the table but it seemed she was a giggly, happy drunk. "BUT! It's in the past now and if I meet any of those groping beating bastards again I will kill them slowly." she laughed happily taking a drink of her sake while her elbow propped itself onto Genma's shoulder and her fingers lightly played with his hair. At some point in the evening she had Genma's headband on her head and his senbon in her mouth in some way impersonating him. Again Kakashi found himself wishing to be in Genma's position, wanting to feel her hand in his hair. With a silent sigh he downed his drink trying to shut out his thoughts again. "HEY!" Sayuri suddenly shouted, pointing her glass at Sasuke, her hand holding the glass loosened slightly so she could point at Sasuke.
"Do it." she ordered. Sasuke, was one of the more sober of the group tensed, knowing what Sayuri was talking about. "Do. It." she repeated sternly. "You promised…" she began feeling Sasuke's hesitation. The Uchiha watched as her lower lip jutted out into a devastating pout that made him feel his resolve slowly cracking. He didn't want to ask Sakura out in front of his drunk and tipsy peers. "…are you going to back out of a promise to a blind woman?" she demanded.
"You're using the blind card?" Sasuke demanded.
"Of course! And the honour card. You will lose your honour as a man and my respect if you don't follow through. By my reckoning you've delayed your promise by hours!" she smirked at him before throwing back her sake. "So. Do. It. Now…boy." Boy? Sasuke snapped his gaze to her angrily. She know how to persuade anyone. Sasuke turned to look at Sakura, the alcohol had already tinged his cheeks a light pink but now he was blushing.
"I didn't want to ask this in front of all the people we know who are drunk…but Sakura…would you…" he trailed off with a low grumble. Sakura had heard him finish and was about to answer when Sayuri belted out. "LOUDER!"
"Sakura would you like to…um g-go"
"STOP MUMBLING AND STUTTERING." Sayuri ordered.
"SAKURA WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO OUT ON A DATE WITH ME WHEN WE GET BACK TO KONOHA?" Sasuke shouted although not as loudly as Sayuri before he glared furiously at the blind ninja. "HAPPY?" He demanded.
"Aww he's so adorable! I wish I could see his little blush on his little face!" Sayuri cooed happily, completely ignoring the Uchiha making everyone laugh. Sakura giggled and moved closer to Sasuke, sitting just as close as Sayuri was to Genma. "I'd love to." she grinned.
By the end of the evening, not many of the ninja were left standing. Naruto had a sleeping, drunk Hinata affectionately in his arms. The Kyuubi container seemed the less affected by all of the sake consumed. Sasuke was left holding Sakura steady, the medic was able to walk as long as she had help. Anko clapped Genma hard on the back. "C'moooooon lover boy. You have the key to the room. Letsh gooo already!" she grinned, close to falling to the floor but managed to right herself in time. Genma drunkenly tried to roll his eyes and kept his arms around Sayuri's waist as they stood swaying in the streets of Suna. "I will shee you…in the very late afternoon tomorrow." Genma grinned. Sayuri tilted her head back and giggled.
"I will be there…but I won't actually see you." she grinned before they laughed. The two slowly kissed, even drunk they could still achieve that sort of passion. Roughly Anko grabbed Genma's shirt and yanked him away causing Sayuri to fall back. The only one there to catch her was Kakashi. His hands caught her shoulders and watched as Sayuri's leg kicked into the air. The action caused her black skirt to slide up her thigh slowly. Kakashi being a man, couldn't help but look and smirk. Sayuri continued to laugh as Kakashi pulled her up to stand. "Are you okay to walk on your own?" she asked, not letting go of her shoulders. Sayuri grinned and laughed. "Am not all that stable when am sober." she slurred out with a laugh, managing to trip while standing still. Kakashi sighed and chuckled at her. She was an adorable drunk. Gently he lifted her and draped her over his shoulder before making his way to the Kazekage building to get some sleep. "Is…so…weird!" he heard Sayuri gasp breathlessly.
"What is?"
"I can feel myself moving…but my feet aren't on the ground…." she giggled.
"That's because I'm carrying you."
"Oh you are? How lovely!" Kakashi chuckled again at the woman. When he reached the room he unlocked the door and stepped in and kicked the door shut as he headed towards the bedroom. Softly he lay Sayuri down on the bed. He removed her shoes and pulled the covers over her. She'd fallen asleep on the way back and now a soft, content smile shaped her parted lips. Again, Kakashi couldn't help but be jealous of his senbon chewing friend and wish that he had gotten to kiss the woman who was sleeping peacefully in front of him. Sighing Kakashi got up and changed for bed. A part of him secretly hoped for Genma to fall prey to women as quickly as he always did so Sayuri would no longer be his. A thought crept into the copy ninja's head as he settled down under the covers and this time he didn't try to push it out of his mind. If Sayuri and Genma did break up which they no doubt would since Genma had little restraint when it came to women…what if the next man she should be with was him?