Ninja Kitsune

Chapter 14: Final Rounds (Sakura's Progress)

Konoha - Main gate: Time 0700 hours.

It was early, and dignitaries were already starting to arrive. Feudal lords and wealthy businessmen from all over the five great nations began filing in and heading to the arena to get a good seat, and plan their bets.

Among the many visitors, the Raikage and his party came to witness the final rounds. His entourage consisted of 2 jonin named Darui and Shii, and his brother, Killer Bee. Yugito and her team met them at the gate.

"We're allied with the Hayabusa's team against Orochimaru," Yugito reported, "Apparently, as genin teams go, they're Konoha's best. Reports say they killed a greater fiend. Also, the Uzumaki girl, who's the Hayabusa's daughter, has the nine-tails. There's also an Uchiha on this team, and a boy who was trained by Zabuza Momochi. He's a master of ice style jutsu. The Hayabusa taught him, Uchiha, and his daughter kenjutsu."

Bee whistled, "they sound tough, fo sho. Still I'm bettin' on you, Yugito," he rapped.

The raikage shook his head slowly. "Who is your match against?"

"Uzumaki," Yugito answered

"Ino Yamanaka," Omoi reported

"Haku, the ice style user," Samui stated.

"Sounds like these fights won't be dull," Darui noted.

"I'm going to see the Hokage," Raikage told his subordinates, "Darui, Bee, with me. Shii, go to the arena with Yugito."

Hayabusa House - Time 0730 hours.

Naruko woke up to Arisa going ballistic in her head. "What's the problem?" she asked her tenant.

"The 8-tails is in Konoha," Arisa told her host, "Both of Kumo's biju are here."

"Great," naruko thought, "Between those two and Looney-coon, I'll be surprised if there's any bit of this village left standing after this Biju Battle Royale's over with." She quietly dressed and walked downstairs.

"Morning, Naruko-chan," Haku said as she came into the kitchen, "Something wrong?"

"Only that Arisa told me that Kumo brought the Eight-tails into the village," Naruko fumed, "This whole thing is going to turn into a Biju Battle Royale, and I'll be surprised if this village is left standing after."

"What is the Raikage thinking?" Ryu asked, "Bringing another jinchuriki into Konoha when Orochimaru plans on invading."

"You know him," Ayane stated, "Victory through overwhelming force."

"Haku," Naruko said, "We have to go meet Sasuke and Sakura."

"Right," Haku responded. the pair joined hands and walked out.

Training Ground 7 - Time: 0815 hours.

Naruko and Haku met up with Sasuke and Sakura at the training ground where tehy had their first training session.

Sakura's and Haku's battle outfits hadn't changed much, except that Haku now carried a katana on his back. Sasuke now sported a half-mask like Kakashi, and Naruko added a dark orange sleeveless cloak wtih gray flames at the bottom.

"This is it, guys," Sakura told her teammates, "Time to show off the results of our training."

"Nervous, Sakura?" Haku asked, "You're up first."

"A little, "the pinkette noted, "I know so little about Kabuto. Luckily, Ayane-sensei gaught me a few useful jutsu, and my healing skills have improved. I'll be ok. What about you guys?"

"I'm psyched to fight Yugito again," Naruko said, "It should be fun."

"I've trained hard to take on Gaara," Sasuke stated, "But against a jinchuriki, there really are no guarantees."

"Be careful against him," Naruko advised, "That racoon is absolutely insane, and probably drove gaara to the brink himself. He'll be out to kill."

"You be careful, too," Sasuke replied, "Now, let's get to the arena." Team 7 left together, headed to the arena, and the final rounds.

Arena - Kage's Box - Time 0900 hours.

"Lord Raikage," Sarutobi said, "I see you brought your brother with you."

"And you have Jiraiya, Ayane Hajin and Ryu Hayabusa with you," Raikage replied, "I heard your students are impressive, Ryu."

"I'm very proud of their progress," Ryu replied, "One of them is my daughter."

"Sarutobi-sensei," called a female voice. A smile came to the old man's face as a tall, and rather busty blonde woman walked up.

"Tsunade," Hiruzen said, surprised, "What brings you back to Konoha?"

"A letter I got from Jiraiya a month ago," Tsunade explained, "He told me something very interesting, and I had to see for myself. Ryu, Ayane, it's great to see you."

"Likewise, Tsunade," Ayane responded, "What's this about a letter?"

Flashback - 1 month ago - Tanzoku Casino & Hotel.

Tsunade ws resting off a particularly nasty hangover when her apprentice, Shizune, brought an envelope to her. Seeing the handwriting surprised her, so she started reading.

Tsunade

I arrived back in Konoha not long ago, and got a shock, to say the least. Minato and Kushina's daughter is alive. Ryu Hayabusa adopted her. He and Ayane have raised and trained her since she was 5. She's in the Chunin exams, and will compete in the final rounds in one month, in Konoha.

Tsunade, this kid is incredible. I watched her in the 2nd phase, and she's probably the best genin kunoichi in Konoha. I'm helping her train for the finals. I hope you'll come, since you were Kushina's sensei.

Your teammate and friend

Jiraiya

"Shizune," Tsunade said, "Get our stuff ready. We're going to Konoha."

End Flashback

"Thanks for telling me, Jiraiya," Tsunade told her former teammate, "I wouldn't miss this for the world." Tsunade joined the Konoha partyl.

"This is a happy sight," said a calm voice as the Kazekage of Suna walked up, "Two of the Legendary Sannin, The Ninja Dragon and his closest friend, The Third Hokage, and the Raikage."

"Welcome, Lord Kazekage," Sarutobi responded, "It's an honor to have you here."

Ryu looked to Ayane, then nodded to the Kazekage. Ayane just nodded back to Ryu.

"What's up, Ryu?" Tsunade asked

"That's not the Kazekage," Ryu whispered, "I'd know that chakra fifty kilometers away. It's Orochimaru in disguise. Don't do anything. Let him make the first move. We knew about this already."

"Sensei knows?" the slug sannin queries

"Ibiki told him before he told us," Ayane explained, "Naruko's team captured a genin of his and sent her to be interrogated. She offered full details in exchange for asylum."

"I see," Tsunade noted, watching Sarutobi, Raikage and Kazekage/Orochimaru sit down to watch the matches.

Arena Floor

"Oh shit," Naruko said, "I know that chakra anywhere."

"Who is it?" Sakura asked

"Orochimaru," the blonde answered, "And he's in the Kage's box with Dad, Ayane, and Jiji."

Sasuke looks at the Kage's box. "He has Ryu-sensei, Ayane, Jiraiya, some blonde woman and the Raikage with him,"the Uchiha stated, "Orochimaru won't stand a chance against those odds."

"That blonde woman is Tsunade," Sakura informed her team, "another of the legendary sannin."

"Not to mention that oversized hamburger," Arisa told Naruko, "The 8-tails is in the Kage's box, behind the Raikage. The man with the sunglasses."

"Things just got more interesting," Naruko noted, "The guy behind the Raikage, with the shades, has the 8-tails."

"Orochimaru really did bite off more than he can chew," Haku said, amused, "2 Kages, 2 sannin, Ryu-sensei, Ayane-sensei, and the 8-tails. This is almost too funny not to laugh."

"What are you four talking about?" Ino asked Team 7.

"Only a sannin about to get his ass handed to him," Sakura told her friend, "Orochimaru is in disguise as the Kazekage, and is surrounded by Jiraiya, Tsunade, Ryu and Ayane-senseis, Lords Hokage and Raikage, and the 8-tails container."

Ino thought for a moment. "yeah," she agreed, "I'll say he's pretty much screwed."

"Will Sakura Haruno and Kabuto Yakushi step forward," the referee said, "Everyone else, go to the contestant's box and wait your names to be called."

"Good luck, Sakura-chan," Sasuke said to his teammate and friend.

Kage's Box

"I don't think Kabuto will know what hit him," Ayane mused, "Sakura really has come a long way."

"I wouldn't count Kabuto out yet," Kazekage told the Hajin, "He may just surprise you."

"I'll take a piece of that action," Ryu replied, "Say 500 ryo on Sakura?"

"You're on, Hayabusa," Kazekage sneered behind his mask.

Arena Floor

"Jutsu and weapons are allowed," the ref explained, "But there will be no killing. Is that understood?" Sakura and Kabuto nodded. "Then Begin," the referee told them. the two combatants jumped backwardsa way from each other.

Kabuto started to charge at Sakura, but the Kunoichi was ready. "Earth Style: Earthen Rampart!" she shouted as a pillar of earth rose up under her. Kabuto ran up the wall, but Sakura leaped off and dove at Kabuto at high speed. "Cherry Blossom Crash!" she called out as her chakra enhanced punch hit it's mark on Kabuto's chest, making him fall, crashing to the ground. Kabuto's wounds started to slowly heal, but he noticed the pink-haired girl still signing on her way down. Chakra flared around her for a moment, then gathered into her fist, as she brought it down upon Kabuto's still sore midsection. "Ninja Art: Chakra Devastation Jutsu!" she called out, as her punch drove Kabuto down further into the ground, creating a crater that expanded for ten meters in every direction.

Kage's Box

"Ayane," Tsunade asked, "Did you happen to train her?"

"Her chakra control was already impressive when I first met her," Ayane explained, "So, along with training Naruko, I took Sakura under my wing."

"You owe me 500 Ryo," Ryu chuckled.

Arena floor

The ref checked on Kabuto. "He's out cold," he said, "Winner is Sakura Haruno. The next match will begin in 10 minutes. Ino Yamanaka and Omoi of Kumo, please come down.

End Chapter 14

A/N: If you're curious about Sakura's last jutsu, go to youtube and look up Ayane's ending from Dead Or Alive 4. The jutsu she uses to bring down a building is what I call "Ninja Art: Chakra Devastation Jutsu".

Next Time: Chapter 15: Final Rounds (Konoha shines & Naruko's new power)