I thank December Silentvale for helping me.
Across the room, Ren watched as the two teams gathered around the two girls and fussed over them. They were only sleeping.
'Perhaps...they're not as useless as I initially thought.' Ren thought before she huffed at her own thoughts. 'Who am I kidding...They're still pretty useless. They'll grow up and grow up to be less so in the future.'
Gazing up at the screen, it flash as the ever growing familiar sound of it's digital beeping continued as characters few across the screen.
Looking around the room, Ren did a mental head count of those still waiting their turn. Naruto was the last one on his team, next there was Shikamaru and Choji, Kiba and Hinata were still waiting, the mummy Sound team and the last two triplets could still fight, Gaara and his sister were still in, and Rock Lee and his team had yet to have any members fight. Sixteen candidates left, that meant at least eight more matches.
Sighing, Ren's eyes went back to the board and it wasn't long until the next two matches were chosen.
Tenten VS Temari
"Great~!" Shachi drawled sarcastically. "Another Leaf Kunoichi. I hope she's better than the last two. At least with Temari fighting, if she's anything like Kankuro, then this match will be quick."
Sakuya nodded and turned to the Sand Kunoichi in question, "Good luck. I doubt you will need it. Just show these shinobi what real Kunoichi are made of."
Temari smirked at this. "You don't have to tell me twice."
With that, Temari left the balcony and descended to the ground floor along with Tenten on the opposite side of the room.
Looking down at the two Tenten looked eager for the fight while Temari stood facing the girl with her hands on her hips. She looked like she just wanted to get the match over with in Ren's opinion.
'I'm so ready. After watching that last match, I'm fired up.' Tenten thought as she observed her opponent.
Above, Tenten's team each watched eager to see the next match. Some more enthusiastic than the other.
"So this is another Genin from the Sand Village." Neji observed. "This should be interesting to watch."
Meanwhile, Rock Lee didn't hesitate to start showing off his youth as he cheered the bun haired girl below on. "Go Tenten!"
Meanwhile, Temari's team said nothing as both Gaara and Kankuro looked down and simply watched. Gaara looked bored, but Ren didn't blame him. The last match was dragging on too long and was the epitome of boredom. Plus, Gaara probably didn't care who won the match. It didn't effect him. He cared nothing for his family. Ren guessed he just wanted them to hurry up so he could have his turn already.
As for Kankuro, Ren thought he cared what happened to Temari, but from his expression, he wasn't worried.
"Come on, Tenten Use the power of youth!" Lee continued to cheer. Waving his fist in the air in his excitement.
"Nice Lee, let's hear that support. You can do it, Tenten " Guy-sensei complemented Lee and encouraged both his students. The man doing the same as Lee as he rooted for Tenten, raising his fist into the air.
Ren shook her head at the two, tempted to smile at their antics. They where practically father and son from their actions and fashion sense.
"Take her down, Tenten." Lee continued to shout.
"The match hasn't even started yet. They need to tone it down a little." Sakuya complained.
"Don't mind them. It's touching they care so much about her." Ren stated.
"It is I guess, but still, cheer during the match." Sakuya grumbled.
After the last match, Hayate seemed even more tired than before and with bored eyes that spoke how much he wished this was over he gather everyone's attention as he spoke. Addressing each girl in turn as he spoke. "For the sixth match, Tenten Temari, get ready."
Each girl stepping forward. Tenten glared with determination and Temari's gaze showed only boredom.
While the girls were having their stare down, Ren looked beside her to see the same was happening between Neji and Gaara. This time, their eyes showed more than determination or boredom. Both glared with a deadly seriousness. Judging the others possible strength with pupil-less eyes.
The room grew quiet as the girls waited for Hayate's mark to begin.
After but a moment, Hayate started the match. "Begin."
Now that the match had officially started, Temari looked determined, at the words of the proctor she moved slightly but did nothing to attack.
This caught Tenten off guard, "Huh?" Not knowing what to expect, Tenten jumped back giving herself for breathing room to attack or dodge.
"All right, Tenten. Keep her guessing." Lee shouted as Naruto, who was beside him, covered his ears. The black haired boy did have a good set of lungs, Ren would give him that much.
"Go for it. You've got the power of youth." Guy cheered.
The cheering didn't stop as Rock Lee continued. "Come on, Tenten. Send that girl back to her village on a stretcher. We're right behind you all the way, Tenten."
"Let's hear it. Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?" Guy cheered.
"Woo!" Lee interjected.
"Tenten, Tenten!" Guy finished the cheer.
Watching them, Ren began to slowly become irritated. At first it was endearing, but the girl hadn't even attacked yet, she just jumped away. There was no need for the excessive cheering. Glancing at the Sound ninja, the two remaining triplets and their sensei covered their ears from all the sound. Their eyes murderous as they flared daggers at the green clothed ninja.
Ren pitied Naruto as she saw his pained expression. For once glad to be on the opposite side of the room with the less that friendly company since she didn't have to deal with the rambunctious ninja over on Naruto's side of the room.
"Ugh, how'd I get stuck in the cheering section?" Naruto complained, even though he himself had done a lot of cheering himself, at least he did it with moderation.
His complaints did nothing to stop the cheering while on the other side of Naruto, Shikamaru and his team were quiet. Shikamaru yawning from it all.
From his position on the balcony away from the ninja teams, the Hokage watched and added his tow bits even though he had mostly be quiet during most of the other matches. It was weird he would say something now when there had been other more impressive matches. "Tenten is carefully determining her distance, just what I'd expect from her. She's well positioned to attack or defend."
Hayate was growing impatient as he watched the two ninja, the only thing happening since the match started was the two starting at each other and Tenten jumping back a bit. "What are you waiting for? I did say to begin." He repeated himself, making sure both knew they could attack as he looked between the two.
Tenten did nothing as she watched Teari's movements.
Temari laughed at her, "Ha, guess she's waiting for me to make a move. Big mistake, because that first move I make will be the last one you see." Boasting about her skills.
Sakuya sighed. "Here we go again. Contest of the ego and confidence."
Taking a step forward, Tenten moved back. Taking another step forward, Temari tried to goad the other girl into attacking. "Come on, I don't want this match to be over too quickly, so why don't you go first? Come on, girl. Show me what you got."
"Well, OK. If you insist. Remember, you asked for it." Tenten replied falling for it.
"This won't end well." Shachi stated as he shook his head. "Leaf Kunoichi of this generation don't seem to be that impressive. The second proctor meanwhile was awesome." Shachi said with a dreamy sigh as he no doubly thought of naughty things with the proctor, which Sakuya smacked him of the head for.
"There is no need to be gross right in front of us. Daydream some other time!" The brunette yelled.
Ren ignored their banter as she watched Tenten jump into the air and threw four ninja stars at the sand kunoichi. Ren lifted an eyebrow at this. If that was the best she had, then Leaf Kunoichi were nothing to report about back home to the Mist. Ren was honestly expecting more since the girl was older and more experienced than Ino or Sakura.
Watching, Ren gasped as she saw something odd happen to Temari. It was something akin to an afterimage, Ren guessed. If that was so, Temari was fast if she had the ability to move so swiftly that an image of her was left behind. After Temari did whatever she had done, Ren felt the slightest bit of wind. Temari smirked as the ninja stars fell and clattered uselessly to the ground to Temari's right. Though one did imbed itself into the ground.
Ren leaned in closer, the match becoming more interesting. At least Temari was. Ren racking her brain as to what happened until it hit her. Temari had used the wind. Looking over the girl, Ren's eye landed on the object attached to Temari's back.
'Is that what she used to move the ninja stars with? Using whatever that is to create a shift in the air and move the weapons off coarse?' Ren wondered. Looking at Temari's siblings, Ren noticed a common element the three of them had. Each one had a tool attached to their backs. 'Why didn't I notice that before?'
Tenten landed back on the ground in shock. "I missed her! There's just no way."
Temari hands rested on her hips as she stood smirking and taunting her opponent. "What was that, a warm-up exercise? Or maybe you're a little too nervous and it's affected your aim. Is that it?"
Tenten growling at the insults. Ren shook her head, getting worked up easily was not a good trait for a Chunin to have. Anger made people rash and rash decisions got people killed. For a leader it could get the whole team killed.
Seeing the impact her words had on Tenten, Teamri continued on. "Rats, I was hoping I'd at least work up a sweat. But forget that idea if this is the best you've got."
This made Tenten growl even more while above, Rock Lee and Guy tried to figure out what happened.
"What is going on? How could she have missed?" Lee asked. "It is incredible."
"It's impossible." Guy protested. "Tenten's aim is perfect. She always hits her mark."
"Not this time, she didn't." Neji stated. Appearing not as bothered by this development as his sensei and fellow teammate.
"She never misses." Guy stressed. "There must have been something that made her miss." He concluded.
"Huh?" Lee asked shocked.
Across the room, Kankuro smirked as he commented on the fight. "You know, you can always count on Temari to put on a good show."
"Ah, big deal." Gaara replied.
It almost made Ren chuckle.
Back with the remains of Team 7 and 10, Shikamaru couldn't help but complain. "Man, this is embarrassing." He drawled out.
The comment making Naruto turn his attention away from the match to address the lazy genius and ask him what he meant. "Huh?"
"The Sand Village wins again." Shikamaru answered what was wrong.
"What are you talking about?" Naruto asked, not seeing what the Nara was. "The match just started."
"It's over." Shikamaru insisted.
"Give me a break. What makes you so smart? Why don't you explain it to me so I can understand?" Naruto demanded in a huff.
"Uh, skip it. If you can't see it, I'm not going to waste my breath." Shikamaru told him.
Even Choji could see the outcome as he agreed with the boy beside him. "It's obvious like he said, this one's over."
"Ah, I don't get it." Naruto complained. "I really don't understand these guys at all."
Taking some deep breaths, Tenten tried to calm down, figure out how Temari had dodged, and plan her next move. 'OK, stay calm, don't let her get to you.'
Observing her opponent, Tenten noticed the other girl's position at the edge of one of the floor tiles. From there, Tenten began using the tiles as markers, calculating the distance in her head. 'One, two, three. She must have dodged them somehow. But if I try a different approach-'
Meanwhile, Temari was having a grand out time as she noticed what Tenten was doing, and smirking the entire time. Laughing within her mind nearly tempted to laugh right in the other girl's face.
'Ha-ha-ha. Look at her measuring her distance. Here comes her big move.' She thought as she reached back for her ninja tool strapped there, a giant metal fan.
Noticing this, Tenten smirked as she cracked the code and what caused her previous attack to fail. 'So that's her secret, that fan she carries. OK.' She thought as she started running to her left in a circle around Temari and keeping the same distance between them. Temari did nothing as she turned her head to watch Tenten and kept her hand on her fan.
Once Tenten made a full circle, she continued until she was on Temari's right side. The side holding the fan. As Tenten moved closer to her targeted position, she reached into one of her pockets and with a twist and a leap, she flew into the air.
"All right, try this on for size." Tenten shouted as her body flipped so her feet reached for the ceiling and her head was pointed towards the ground. Spinning once clock-wise as she looked down at Temari and prepared to use the scroll she had retrieved from her pocket. Pulling it open with her left hand, the scroll unfurling to reveal multiple characters. Holding both ends of the scroll she flipped back up and maneuvered it around so when her body faced the ground in a starfish postion, she let the left part of the scroll go.
The way Tenten moved slightly reminded Ren of ribbon dancing as the brunette continued to twirl and flip in the air. Somehow turning back upside-down in the mix and back again, doing a hand sign or two, Ren wasn't sure with the way the girl kept moving and the scroll blocking her view. Soon, the aerobatics stopped as the scroll completely opened and Tenten spun in the air, due the speed she was going the scroll was loosely forming an oval in the air as it warped around the air above and below her. Going slowly at first and going faster and faster, until Tenten's body and the scroll became a blur and spun like a top.
Inside, Tenten pressed her hand to one of the characters and with a small poof a kunai appeared. Grabbing it and pulling out other weapons from the scroll, Tenten hurled them towards Temari. As the weapons of knives, ninja stars, sebon needles, scythes, rained down, Ren felt the air shift again as Temari held the top and bottom of her weapon and quickly opened and closed it. The wind blowing everything off coarse to clatter to the ground uselessly.
Temari flipped her fan around, the base on the ground beside her on the girl's left. The cloth inside tan cream color and open just enough to reveal a single purple circle.
With nothing left to throw at her from that scroll, Tenten landed on the left side of Temari, opposite the is she had originally jumped from. The scroll fluttering uselessly to the ground.
"No way, she stopped everything I threw. What has she got in that fan of hers?" Tenten asked in disbelief.
"Ha-ha, take a look." Temari told the confused girl.
As Ren watched, she couldn't help but feel bad for the Leaf Kunoichi and think she was pathetic as well. Temari was the worst opponent for Tenten to go up against. She probably would have had a better chance of winning if she had gone against someone like Yoroi. The boy being a close range fighter. With that previous attack, Tenten would have done some major damage if he couldn't deflect them all or dodge them. With so many coming at him, it would have been impossible. Tenten would have been able to avoid the chakra drain ability Yoroi had while still doing damage. So the cards were stacked against Tenten from the beginning.
Besides the match up, there was also the fact Tenten didn't seem to have any jutsu she specialized in. She was mostly, if not purely, a taijutsu and weapons expert.
'The Yamanaka at least had her family jutsu, but it's not a combat jutsu. These girls were sorely lacking in ninjutsu in their personal arsenal. This girl has had a longer time period to hone her skills. She should be better than this, she should also have a back up plan in case something like this ever happened. Not planning ahead and having back up plans is sloppy, cocky, and leads to death.' Ren thought with a huff.
Below, Temari continued to explain what was in her fan. "This is the first moon. There are two more. When you see all three moons you'll know, you've lost the match." She warned.
This declaration made Tenten stiffen as Lee called out to her. "Tenten, do not play your opponent's game. Maintain focus."
Tenten gritted her teeth in frustration at both herself and her teammates, useless advise. 'I know, Lee. I know. Well, I was planning to save this for the finals, not waste it on a preliminary round, but it may be now or never.'
Slipping back into a confident smile, Tenten became serious and determined now she had a new plan. This time she pulled out two scrolls.
Lee was confused as he watched this.
Next to the boy, Guy was also surprised as he knew what his student was going to do next. "She's using that already?"
Neji said nothing as he watched the match, doubting it would work. Thinking Tenten was fated to fail in this round.
"What's with the two scrolls? What is she planning on doing with them?" Naruto asked, though no one answered him.
Working on the scrolls, Tenten crouched down and placed the scrolls on the ground, holding them up to keep them from falling over.
Temari tossed her hair back as she laughed. "Ha. It won't work, whatever it is." Temari said with a wicked smile.
Balancing the two scrolls so they stood upright, Tenten formed the hand signs Tiger, Dragon, Monkey, Hare, Snake, and crossed her arms in front of her.
"Rising Twin Dragons." Tenten stated the name of her technique as a mass swirl of smoke billowed forth, making Temari cover she eyes and wind ruffle her hair.
Naruto watched on edge, eager to see what would happen next and maybe Tenten could win. Shikamaru looked slightly confused, wondering if this could shift the tides of the match, though he doubted it. Gaara's expression was an emotionless mask as he watched his sister.
Soon two dragons made of the smoke shot out into the air. Rising up and spin around each other, when the smoke dispersed, it revealed the two scrolls, from the center of the smoke, Tenten jumped in between the scrolls, where she began summoning weapons and throws them at her opponent in quick succession.
Ren couldn't even keep track of what all the older girl was throwing.
Temari was calm as ever, never once showing fear at the mass of weapons being thrown at her. "Ha. It doesn't matter how many you throw at me." She said as she lifted her fan up and grabbed the base. "It's all the same." Opening it wider as she swung it in a circle around her, crouching at the end. "Moon number two!"
Effectively blowing way all the weapons. Landing back on the ground with the emptied scrolls, Tenten glared.
"I'm not done!" She yelled as she jumped up into the air once again. Curling into a ball before uncurling and stretching her arms out Tenten pulled on near invisible strings attached to all of the weapons she had thrown previously. Pulling them up into the air again.
In the meantime, Temari had gotten a firmer grip on her fan as she prepared for all the weapons currently suspended in the air. With a grunt and a wave of her hands, Tenten sent all the weapons down at Temari. Temari grunted at the challenge before her.
Seeing this reaction, Tenten smiled and grew overconfident as she drew closer to the ground. 'Ha, I've got her now.'
Temari then smirked as she chuckled, this was too easy for her. With another wave of her fan, Tenten and her weapons were blown back. Her body skidding to a halt as she landed on the ground. Looking back at Temari, weapons littered to floor between them and around the sand kunoichi. The fan fully open, revealing the three purple moons. The way Temari held it open, it remined Ren of a peacock with it's open tail feathers.
Tenten soon sat up and noticed the open fan herself as Temari smiled and taunted her. "Moon number three."
Standing up, Tenten watched as Temari moved the fan so she crouched behind in and the fan's blank back was facing the brunette. Then, with a spin or two, Temari and her fan disappeared before Tenten's eyes.
'Huh? Where did she go? She- she's gone.' Tenten thought as she looked around for the missing girl.
"Over here." Temari called out behind Tenten.
The girl whipping around. 'What?' she thought in shock.
Above her, Temari was gliding through the air, riding the fan as she smirked down at her opponent, her shadow passing over Tenten as she circled back around and landed in front of her.
Ren wondered why Temari even did it. Psych out her opponent. She could have sneaked attacked her from behind and ended it all already. The whole thing was a waste of time. They practically just ended up back were they started.
Catching her fan again, Temari smirked as she used her finishing move for this match. "Now it's my turn. Wind Scythe Jutsu!"
The open fan creating a whirlwind as she waved it back and forth. Tenten being blown right off her feet.
"Tenten!" Lee called out to her.
The wind keeping her suspended in the air as she silently screamed, though Ren wasn't absolutely sure if it was or the wind drowning it out. The wind cutting in to her clothing and skin. Temari just standing there as the wind kept moving on it's own.
Noticing this, Neji informed his sensei and teammate. "Temari's chakra is controlling the vortex."
"Huh?" Lee asked as he turned his attention away from the match to look at the Hyuga.
"She fought well, but she'll never escape from that whirlwind. It's over." Neji concluded.
The whirlwind didn't dissipate yet, but it did slow down and allowed Tenten's body fall from it's clutches only to land on the end of Temari's closed metal fan as she stretched it out for this exact purpose.
The impact causing Tenten to cough out blood.
Naruto was slightly shaken as he watched this. "Whoa, that girl's really ruthless."
Shachi chuckled. "While I don't particularly like the Sand Shinobi and they keep messing with Ren, you got to admit that they're skilled. As much as I don't particularly like them, even I will admit they are very impressive."
"I have to agree with you there, Shachi. That's what I'm taking about." Sakuya said as she gestured to Temari. "That is a true Kunoichi there. Konohagakure's kunoichi have been nothing but a disappointment. Temari shows real power and skill unlike them. There may be hope for us real Kunoichi yet with me, Ren, and Temari around." Sakuya said with a smirk, happy to finally see better quality Kunoichi than what the leaf had to offer.
"I agree that the Yamanaka and Haruno were not quite up to our standards, at this point of time, they are useless. However, there's no need to be so harsh on Tenten. She just got the short end of the stick in this match. Against someone else, she might have fared better. Though she could use some improvements in other jutsu to aid her when weapons fail her." Ren spoke up to defend Tenten slightly.
"Besides the Kunoichi, Konoha still has ninja here that in the future will become threats in the future. While most of the Leaf Shinobi haven't shown that much skill, there are some that show great promise. You must remember, some are not a peak performance. Even Yoroi and Mistumi could have been a challenge given the proper circumstances. Yamanaka, Haruno, and Tenten have room for improvements. Once the Uchiha has recovered from his experience in the forest, he may show greater strength than what we witnessed. We still have yet to see the rest of Shino's, Tenten's, and Yamanaka's teams fight. And Naruto." Ren added.
"True, I'm not saying all of the Leaf Shinobi are that bad. Shino was cool earlier. But you said it yourself those girls are useless." Shachi replied before looking across the room at the Leaf ninja. "The Hyuga with bushy brows seems like a serious threat, but the other one doesn't seem to be much of a danger. No offence, just calling it as I see it. Bushy brows is fast so he might be a problem. The Uzumaki probably has a lot of chakra to play around with so a battle with him might be difficult. Though he is a knucklehead, he might wear himself out before he can do serious damage. I'm not sure about the rest though."
"We will find out in all due time. Ren and I still have our matches to fight. Beside the Leaf ninja, there's still the remaining Sound ninja to watch out for and a certain someone." Sakuya said as she looked over at Gaara. Her teammates understanding clearly who she was talking about.
Meanwhile, the rest of the room were still focused on the match, though it was clear it was already over even if Hayate hadn't called it yet.
"Oh, Tenten." Lee said sadly as he watched the unnecessary damaging being done to her.
"Wasn't much of a match. Kind of boring." Temari remarked as she looked at Tenten.
"To be able to stop every one of Tenten's attacks like that." Guy muttered, still unable to wrap his mind around the concept and what happened before his very eyes.
"I still cannot believe it." Lee said, sharing his sensei's sentiments.
Naruto was slightly shaking. "It was impressive all right. Scary."
Choji didn't seem that fazed by what happened, though he along with Shikamaru already predicted how the match would end so there was no need to be.
"Yep, it's another win for the Sand Village, just like you said it would be." Choji spoke to his friend beside him.
"Well, of course. That's why I said it." The lazy genius replied.
"Well, looks like we're guaranteed a clean sweep in this round." Kankuro observed.
Gaara said nothing as he only hummed, actually bothering to acknowledge his elder brother. "Hm."
"This Sand team is clearly one to be feared." Hokage muttered as he smoked his pipe.
Below, Hayate picked his way through the mind field of fallen weapons, coming to a stop he announced the winner of the match though it was already crystal clear. "The winner of the sixth match, Temari."
Smirking with a achievement and a wicked thought in her mind, Naruto and Lee gasped at Temari's expression.
"Wait a second." Lee shouted, fearing the Sand kunoichi was about to do something bad to his already injured teammate. Lee jumping from the balcony.
"Hm?" Hayate hummed as he turned towards Lee to see what the problem was.
Pulling back her arm slightly along with her fan holding up the unconscious Tenten, Temari swung it and threw the brunette off of her weapon. Tenten was sent flying over her fallen weapons, she would have possibly landed on the sharp objects and injured herself further if Lee had not jumped down and caught her. Sliding back as he kneeledwith a slight, "Ugh." Gently holding Tenten's body in a more comfortable position.
Watching this, Temari's smirk only grew. "Hey, nice catch."
"What is wrong with you?" Lee demanded. "She may have lost, but that is no way to treat an opponent who has done her best."
Temari picked up her fan and smacked it into the ground. "Oh, beat it." She ordered. "And take that sack of garbage with you." Her voice filled with nothing but contempt.
This only infuriated Lee as he put Tenten down and moved to strike the girl who dared hurt his teammate and insult her so. Charging at the Sand ninja.
Seeing this, Neji called out to the ninja. "No, Lee!"
"Lee!" Guy called out, trying to stop Lee.
"Idiot!" Shachi muttered angerly. "He's going to get himself disqualified. Ibiki made it perfectly clear, fighting without proctor approval would get you kicked out!"
But Lee would not listen anymore, too far gone in his anger. "Leaf Hurricane!" He cried out as he tried to do a roundhouse kick. Naruto gasping as he watched.
Only for Temari to block it with her fan. Lee uttering a confused 'what' seeing his attack so easily blocked.
"Not even close." Temari taunted as she looked Lee in the eye. "You know what? You're as dumb as you look." She concluded.
"What did you say?" Lee growled as he backed off a bit, but looked ready to try and attack again.
"Lee, stop." Guy ordered as he joined them on the ground floor.
"But Guy Sensei." Lee tried to protest as he turned towards the man he admired.
Temari gritted her teeth in irriation from being interrupted.
Above, Gaara called out to his sister. "Temari, forget them. The match is over, so get up here." He ordered. "You won. Why are you wasting your time with that pathetic loser and his ridiculous mentor?"
Ren had to cough at the last comment about Guy, covering her laugh. Gaara did have a point, Guy was a little ridiculous.
"What?" Lee whispered, his anger rising again.
Lee glaring at the redhead as Gaara looked down on him with contempt and a emotionless mask.
Ren sighed at the argument and spoke up. "Break it up." Attracting Lee's attention away from Gaara as she continued.
"Lee, from the beginning, this wasn't a match Tenten was going to win. She didn't lose because of her skills, there were many factors that lead to her defeat. She lost her patience and I don't think she had any other options. Against someone else, Tenten probably would have won. This time, she didn't. After she undergoes more training and gets stronger, she can take the exam again. It's not the end of the world. Getting angry and attacking Temari will change nothing about the matches outcome. You'll only get yourself kicked out of the exam. I doubt Tenten would want that." Ren stated.
Lee looked up at Ren in slight disappointment and betrayal, remembering the time they had spent together in the tower waiting for the second exam to be over. Ren's words slightly hurting when she nothing about Teamri's uncalled for actions to Tenten. Then, Lee looked down at the ground in shame. Ren had a point. Tenten wouldn't want him be kicked out.
Ren then turned to Guy. "Tenten is skilled, but she needs more that those tools. Her attacks are useless if they can just be blown away. Her failure to prepare and plan ahead shows she's not ready to be a Chunin. As her Sensei, you should have helped her see the flaws in her tactics and have back up plans to overcome them." Getting on to Guy as well.
"Hmp!" Temari smirked, enjoying both for the ninja before getting a tongue lashing from the younger girl.
Ren then turned her head to look down at Temari. Her eyes narrowing as the emotions within her eyes made them grow cold. Disgust, annoyance, and anger among them. Temari nearly shivered, Ren's eyes reminding her all too well of her youngest brother when he was angered.
"As for you." Ren said as everyone waited to see what she would say to the Sand village girl. Ren tilting her head as she looked at the girl below. Her team gasped as did many of the others as she smiled at the girl. But it wasn't a happy smile. It was a sadistic smile.
"If I even catch you treating you opponent in such dishonorable way ever again, to someone undeserving of such contempt and disgust you've shown. By the time I'm done with you, you will be even less than garbage." Ren's voice dark as she promised this.
Temari couldn't contain her shivers from the threat. The whole thing reminding her of her brother in uncanny ways.
Gaara looked at Ren in surprise. Having not expected such a quiet girl to do such things. Hinata and Naruto were definitely shocked. Even Shachi and Sakuya shivered. The saying, 'It's the quiet ones you have to look out for," ringing true.
The room was silent until Guy broke it as he placed a hand on Lee's shoulder. "Just calm down, Lee." Then addressed the Sand ninja. "A word of warning. You Sand villagers have no idea what Lee is capable of. Remember, he still hasn't fought yet. So I'd be careful if I were you."
Gaara narrowed his eyes at the warning. Becoming irritated.
Still on the opposite balcony, Neji said nothing.
"That kid's crazy picking a fight with them." Kiba remarked. Akamaru still shaking. From the Sand ninja or something else, who knew?
"Those Sand Village guys are trouble. They're the last people I'd want to go up against." Kiba spoke to Hinata.
"They do look almost unbeatable." Hinata fretted. "But, just now, Ren was kinda scary too."
Tension was still high in the room, Guy's words not helping calm things down really. Naruto was glaring across the room at the Sand Shinobi. Only to get distracted as Sakura spoke to him. For Ren, she wasn't in the mood to listen to what the useless girl and Naruto were saying.
Glancing beside her, Ren caught Gaara staring at her. Looking at him, Ren wondered if he was staring at her because she had freaked out his sister. She knew he was already interested in Shachi and Sakuya, thinking they were strong opponents. Perhaps her outburst had drawn his attention as well. She may have gone a little overboard with it, however she wanted to make herself perfectly clear. Fear, was a powerful motivator, but that didn't mean she liked doing so.
As they stared at each other, they didn't look away or back down. However, their stares were not as harsh as the ones between Gaara and others like Sasuke and Neji. They were calm and simply observing the other.
On the other side of Gaara, Temari was glaring at Ren. Trying to hide her fear and furious a quiet little girl had shaken her so much. Kankuro was also weary of the Mist Kunoichi. He always thought his brat of a brother was scary, but what scared him more was the possibility of someone just as twisted and scary as his brother existing out there somewhere. He feared he had finally met that person. The words of Ren's teammates echoing in his mind as he couldn't help but wonder what Ren was truly capable of.
Further down the balcony, the second Sound team were watching Ren like a hawk. The remaining sisters hiding their smirks as they watched Ren. Their eyes gleaming with ill intentions.
Soon, Lee and his sensei returned to their side of the room as medic ninja took Tenten away. After clearing the room of all of Tenten's weapons, the electric board worked it's magic as it emitted digital sounds. Soon it would choose and reveal the next combatants for the seventh match.
As they waited in anticipation, Naruto and Lee were all fired up.
"Here we go. Let it be me. Please, let it be me. Let it be me." Naruto chanted.
"No, it's my turn. My turn." Lee argued back like a child as they both wanted to go next. Lee wanting to fight the last Sand ninja and get revenge for his fallen teammate.
Their chants, pleas, and prayers were denied as neither of their names were chosen. Instead, the board read, Shikamaru Nara VS Kin Tsuchi.
Lee groaned in disappointment while Naruto let out a short growl as he crossed his arms and turned his back on the match.
Shikamaru wasn't too happy about this as he drawled out, "Guess it's me." His hands in his pockets as he waited for his opponent to come down to the ground floor and face him.
Meanwhile, his team was cheering him on. Even Naruto cheered him on.
"Shikamaru, come on. You can do it. You can win this, no problem." Ino encouraged.
"OK, OK." Shikamaru gruffly replied.
"All you have to do is tell yourself, I cannot lose. Right?" Ino encouraged him further.
Beside her, Choji wasn't quite pleased with Ino's new attitude. 'Man, when did she get so darn enthusiastic?' He complained in his mind.
Seeing one of the names on the board was unfamiliar to her, Ren glanced over at the Sound teams. Having already met the all of the rookie Leaf ninja and the Sand team, the Sound were the only ones she didn't know the names of. Rei's last name was Hinode, since her sisters more than likely shared this last name, that ruled them out. That only left the mummy ninja and his female teammate.
Watching them, Ren saw the mummy ninja warned the girl. "Remember, he manipulates shadows. Watch the shadows."
"Ha." Kin laughed conceitedly. "You think I'd ever fall for a stupid jutsu like that?" She questioned him.
Before he could say anything, Kin left the balcony to go and fight her match.
Ino meanwhile continued her cheers. "Yeah, Ok. Here we go, Shikamaru. Make that little girl cry."
"Oh man, this is such a drag. I mean, give me a break. I gotta fight a girl?" Shikamaru complained as he ignored Ino, his hands still in his pockets.
Sakuya raised an eyebrow at Shikamaru's comment. Slightly ticked off about his complaints about having to fight a girl. 'Is he looking down on girls? I'd show him once I froze his limbs off.' She thought darkly.
"Yeah, you just keep thinking that way, little man." Kin replied angerly. Probably ticked off as well.
As Shikamaru observed Kin, he thought back to the time they and encountered them in the Forest of Death. 'I knew what these guys were capable of from the time we met them in the forest during the second exam. Problem is, I didn't get a look at her jutsu. And to make things worse, she saw mine.' He thought glumly.
"Ready?" The proctor called out.
'Oh, well.' Shikamaru conceded.
"Seventh match." Hayate announced.
'Nothing I can do.' Shikamaru thought.
Both prepared themselves as Hayate addressed them.
"Shikamaru and Kin. Begin."
Shikamaru didn't waste a moment as his hands flew to form the ninja hand sign of the rat. The only hand sign required for his clans signature technique, the Shadow Possession jutsu.
"It's all I've got." He muttered.
Seeing this and knowing full well what he was doing, Kin began to taunt him. "You're not trying that stupid shadow thing again, are you?"
This angered Shikamaru as a vein popped up. "Shut your mouth! Ninja art, Shadow Possession Jutsu." He yelled as he activated his jutsu, his shadow stretching towards Kin from his body, attached only by his feet.
"Is that all you know? If that's the only trick you've got, this is going to be easier than I thought." Kin informed him as she jumped away from the approaching shadow.
Shikamaru tensed as he heard the sound of bells. Kin having thrown two senbon with bells attached as she jumped away. Ducking, the belled needles went over his head as they imbedded themselves into the wall behind him.
Looking over his shoulder, Shikamaru quickly thought of the purpose of these objects and what strategy the sound Kunoichi had in mind. "Bells? Oh, please. Not that old trick." Shikamaru said with a chuckle and a smirk.
"Let me guess. Next, you'll throw senbon with bells and senbon without bells at the same time. I'll react to the bells and while I'm focused on dodging them, I won't notice the silent needles coming at me. Am I right? Good luck." He told her, growing confident in his analysis.
"Hm. Even the lazy Nara has a large quanity of confidence in himself." Sakuya observed.
"Seriously, the whole thing needs to be renamed the ego or overconfidence exams." Shachi agreed.
"You sure talk a lot, don't you?" Kin observed as she ran towards him and threw more sebon at him.
Shikamaru's smile remained as he ducked to his left and then down. "Now I know to be careful to dodge all the senbon, not just the ones with bells."
What Shikamaru didn't calculate or expect was the sound of bells ringing even though he hadn't seen Kin throw any.
Shocked, Shikamaru whirled around. 'What? Where?' He thought, demanding an answer.
Behind him, almost innocently, the senbon Kin and thrown previously were somehow being moved, the bells ringing. Looking closely, Shikamaru noticed the glint of threads attached as they pull on the bells.
"Threads?" Shikamaru questioned, before he realized his mistake. He had gotten distracted and Kin was still there now ready to attack again. Smirking, Kin was ready. "Oh, man."
"Too late." Kin declared as she threw two more of the silent senbon at Shikamaru, hitting their target as Shikamaru was forced back on his bum.
"Ah!" He yelled out in pain.
Up on the balcony, Choji said nothing as Ino calling out to him in worry. "Shikamaru!"
"Well, that didn't take too long." Naruto stated, thinking it was all over.
"Hold on, don't be so sure." Sakura interjected. "He's not beaten yet."
"Huh?" Naruto asked before turning back to the fight to see what she was talking about.
Standing up, Shikamaru moved to pull out the senbon stuck in his right arm, slightly above his elbow. "One inch higher and that would have been a fatal hit." Gritting his teeth, he pulled them out and turned to Kin. "OK, now I get a turn." He declared as he tossed the senbon away and they clinked to the floor.
Ren raised an eyebrow at this. 'This isn't a mock battle in ninja academy. There's no taking turns in a real battle, only attack and defend when there's an opening.'
"Sorry, that was your turn." Kin replied as she tugged the thread attached to the bells. The sound of the bells beginning to affect Shikamaru as things around him seemed to shift and he became unbalanced.
"What the- what's going on? Ugh." Shikamaru asked as he sunk down to his knees before glaring at the source of what was probably causing this.
Seeing her plan working just as she hoped, Kin began explaining what was happening. Her hand resting on her hip. "You see, you don't ever ask for whom the bell tolls, because it tolls for thee. This bell sends off a peculiar sound vibration that travels through the outer and inner ear, then directly to the brain. First comes paralysis, and soon you'll start hallucinating."
Hearing this, Shikamaru had begun to sweat as the bells kept ringing. "Uh." He grunted as he covered his ears in a vain attempt to block out the noise.
"It won't work. You can't block the sound out once it's inside your head. It's useless." Kin spoke.
Meanwhile, just as Kin said, Shikamaru begun to hallucinate as more Kin appeared. Removing his hands from his ears, Shikamaru wasn't looking too good, still sweating. "I can't tell which one of them is the real one."
'He's already seeing things? This technique is intriguing. Though it's quite cowardly. Use the bells and go in for the kill when the enemy is unable to fight back. Cowardly, but smart none the less.' Ren thought.
"You can't move your arms or legs. And even if you could, you wouldn't know which one of us to throw your shadow at. Face it, you're cooked, little man." Kin spoke, the use of the word 'us' informing Ren that it was indeed time Shikamaru was hallucinating.
"I'm going to cook you nice and slow over a hot fire." Kin promised as she took out three senbon. The bells continuing to toll.
"You think it's that easy, huh?" Shikamaru asked.
Kin did not answer as she threw the senbon. Seeing them coming, he braced himself. "Ah!" Shikamaru cried out as the senbons hit two places on his arm and one in his shoulder. Once again falling on his bum.
"That was three. Next time, I'll throw five. Each time, a couple more till you end up looking like a hedgehog." Kin taunted.
'His hair already looks like a pineapple. He doesn't need to become spikier.' Ren thought.
"Stop playing games, why don't you?" Shikamaru asked her.
"Hm?" Kin asked.
"If you're so tough, get it over with. Stop wasting my time." Shikamaru told her.
"I'm sorry. So you're not a fan of my slow and painful method, huh?" Kin asked with false politeness. The bells ringing yet again. "Fine, suit yourself. We'll do it the quick way then, and painful." She said as she pulled out three more sebon.
Shikamaru looked worried at this declaration. Watching this, Ren noticed something odd. She could see the shadow of the thread. 'How's that possible? The thread is too thin to create such a dark shadow.'
Before Kin could attack, something strange was happening and she couldn't throw the senbon. "Wh- what's wrong?" Unknown to the spectators, the hallucinating of Kin had disappeared. "Can't move my arm." Her arm lowered to her side.
This development shocked the mummy Sound ninja. "Huh?"
Shikamaru chuckled a little as he stood up. "It looks like my lame shadow jutsu was a success after all."
Others watched this in shock.
"But you haven't thrown any shadows. No way, I made sure of it." Kin protested as she looked around her.
Ren then realized why the shadow seemed odd. 'The Nara has the skill to back up his confidence. He may be one of the few here that deserves the title of Chunin.'
Shikamaru smirked. "Ha. You really still don't see it?"
"What do you mean?" Kin asked, close to freaking out.
"Look at that thread you're holding. Don't you find it a little strange that it would cast a shadow at this height?" Shikamaru asked her, the shadows moving on their own. "Of course you didn't notice it because you were concentrating on other things, like killing me."
Looking down as the shadow grew around her, Kin scolded herself for her stupidity. "The shadow spreading out around me and I didn't see it coming."
"Right. I stretched my shadow out along the line of that thread and followed it all the way back. Now I'm attached to you." Shikamaru informed her as he raised his hand, Kin mirroring him.
Yet, Kin wasn't backing down, thinking there was still now way for Shikamaru to win. "And now, so we mirror each other's movements. So what? A cute trick, but what do you gain by it?"
"Man, you're annoying." Shikamaru complained. "Shut up and watch." He ordered as he reached for his shuriken holder with Kin doing the same.
"Hm." Shikamaru hummed as he smirked at Kin.
Realizing what he was doing, Kin started to freak out. "You must be insane. If you throw that shuriken at me, you'll just be attacking yourself."
Not caring for her words, Shikamaru took out the weapon anyway and readied to throw it. "Makes it kind of interesting, doesn't it?"
"You wouldn't. You couldn't." Kin protested.
"Yeah, like a game of chicken. Let's see who ducks first." Shikamaru suggested as he threw his weapon.
"You're crazy!" Kin yelled as she had no choice but to throw hers as well.
Both shuriken passed the other as everyone watched with baited breath. Seeing the weapon coming, Shikamaru bended over backward. Narrowly missing the sharp object that had been thrown at him.
Kin smirked as she watched this. 'Big deal. I'll do that, too.' She thought as she attempted to do the same. She did miss getting hit, only for her to hit her head on the back wall. Effectivly knocking herself out.
"And that's what I call using your head." Shikamaru joked. Hearing Kin's body crumple to the ground, Shikamaru flipped himself over and landed on his feet.
"The wise Shinobi carefully scouts the physical layout of the battlefield and never loses sight of his position on it. That was her problem. I made sure she was so busy focusing on me, she didn't notice the wall inches behind her head. So when we both dodged backwards, kabong! Now who's hearing bells?" Shikamaru explain with a hint of gloating.
Not missing a beat, Hayate announced the results. "Winner of the seventh match, Shikamaru Nara."
"That a boy, Shikamaru!" Ino cheered.
"Yeah, way to go!" Choji cheered on his best friend.
Shachi laughed at what happened. "Man! This guy is as cool as Shino. And here I thought he was just lazy. He's someone to watch out for."
Sakuya nodded. "This keeps on getting interesting. Who ever is left at the end of this will certainly be worthy opponents. I can't wait until it's our turn to fight and we can secure our position in the finals."
"Come on. Come on, me next. Me next, me next, me." Lee chanted.
Naruto was slightly disgruntled with his own unfortunate luck, sorely wishing for his own turn to get here already. "Even that good-for-nothing lazy bum won his match. When am I going to get my turn? Ugh."
"Now there's only me left." The mummy Sound ninja observed angerly.
"Oh, do be so dramatic." Erhu said with a wicked smirk and false kindness.
Mummy ninja only glared at her.
"You still have us with you." Erhu tried to cheer him up, her words doing the exact opposite.
Shrugging it off, he ignored her and her creepy daughters.