SPECIAL POV:

"Shouldn't that amplified sound wave have ruptured her eardrums?!" Sakura exclaimed in surprise as she watched Tsukiko take the force of it head on without issue, "I seen what that did to Kabuto... It wouldn't matter that she dodged the attack, it would still hit her, why didn't it?"

Gai turned to look at the kunoichi who spoke, she was one of Kakashi's students and she seemed to be quick to pick things up, Gai was impressed.

Gai had already guessed at what Tsukiko had done to counter the sound waves and he turned to Neji for conformation, knowing his Byakugan would be able to see to her skeletal system,

"She removed the bones from her ears," Neji confirmed, his voice dull and uninterested, "At the beginning of the fight when she adjusted her forehead protector she extended them out and hid them in her pouch,"

Gai turned his attention to Neji who appeared to be watching the fight but he seemed to be unfocused. Gai had watched the fight between him and Tsukiko unfold and while they both seemed convincing in their anger and hatred he wasn't overly sure it was all true to how they both felt.

'It was unlike him to loose his composure during his match against Hinata and I think he regrets it... Tsukiko's upset, but I don't think she would kill him. I don't think either of them really want to hurt each other'

"What does that mean?" Naruto questioned, turning to Kakashi for answers, "What is Dosu's ninjutsu?"

"Sound is a vibration. Dosu's attack works by amplifying those vibrations to dangerous levels which cause the eardrum to rupture when the vibrations pass through the ear," Kakashi explained, not taking his eyes off the fight, "Simply speaking, that vibration is heard because of a connection of bones and fluid in the ear, which is how you can hear me talk now. But without the bones the vibrations can't pass through or rupture the eardrum, which makes the ability useless. It's a clever plan, but it means she is completely deaf right now and that is a disadvantage for her,"

Gai had stopped listening to Kakashi's explanation, he already knew everything he said and silently he praised Tsukiko for her quick analytical ability and strategy. Although he tried hard to stay focused on watching her fight Gai seemed to find his mind wandering.

Entering his team in the exams had proven to be a greater deal than he had anticipated. Lee was in a critical condition after his fight with Gaara and Gai had been told that he would probably never be able to become a ninja. Coupled with the events of Neji's fight against Hinata and the tension between him and Tsukiko, Gai was left deeply concerned for the future of his team. Their determination and desires to prove themselves had been their greatest shared strength as a team. Lee wanted to prove that without ninjutsu he could still be a great ninja and stand equally with geniuses like his teammates. Tsukiko wanted to prove that she was a kunoichi of Konoha, loyal despite her heritage. And Neji, though he would never admit it, wanted to prove a similar point, that despite his position in the branch family he was every bit as capable as the main family. They all acted confident, arrogant even in Neji's case, and believed in their own individual strength. But, when it came down to it, they all suffered from their own insecurities. They knew they were strong, there was no doubting that, but they were never strong enough. And that was the thing that had kept pushing them to train harder, get stronger and be more.

But now it seemed that that strength, that desire to prove themselves that Gai had been so proud of, would be the one thing that broke them.

Gai's attention was drawn back to Tsukiko's fight as it appeared to be coming to a close and she had him cornered against the wall on the far side of the hall. Dosu's amplifier appeared to have one attack left if he was lucky. Gai knew that the waves did not matter as they couldn't hurt Tsukiko anyway, but could see the damage that would occur from the shrapnel if it shattered when he tried to use it.

Just as Gai predicted, when Dosu used the sound amplifier for the last time, it shattered and sent jagged, broken pieces hurling towards Tsukiko. However, she didn't lose focus on her own attack and instead took the impact and pain in order to immobilise Dosu. With that the fight was over and Gai cheered as the exam proctor declared her victory - despite knowing that she couldn't actually hear his words of encouragement.

From the corner of his eye Kakashi caught Gai's eye and he nodded slowly,

"So that is the kekkei genkai of the Kaguya Clan," He commented, his voice lowered slightly, "I have heard about it before, but this is the first time I've seen it for myself,"

Gai agreed, his voice lowering to match Kakashi's, "It's a fearsome ability, even when only being used to immobilise and not harm,"

"I have heard," Kakashi nodded, an unspoken reference to the last years incident in Suna - an event which had become known to a number of parties Gai would have preferred been kept unaware.

Danzo Shimura being one such party.

He had seen the possible merit her abilities would have being employed by Root, despite the official report being that Root no longer existed. As an already alienated, impressionable eleven year old, Tsukiko could have easily been manipulated and twisted into becoming a very dangerous subordinate for him. But Gai had no proof and only a suspicion against Danzo, one he had shared it with Kakashi, and for a while after the mission in Suna they had kept a close eye on Tsukiko to insure no harm came to her and that Danzo kept a distance.

Gai believed he knew his student well, he had seen her kindness and her desire to protect rather than needlessly harm, he knew that an organisation like Root or Anbu was not suited to her. The way she ended her fight with Dosu was just more proof of that fact. He did not doubt that to protect herself, or more importantly to protect Hinata, Lee, Neji or even himself, she would be prepared to kill. But while there was no necessity for such extremities she would show mercy and forgiveness.

It always puzzled him that technically she was a girl from such a historically violent and bloodthirsty Clan, with a kekkei genkai only used for genocide and raging war. Because to him, when he looked at her, she was just the same as any other Konoha ally, a loyal comrade and a beloved student.

With the preliminaries over the Hokage readdressed the remaining examinees still in the exam and informed them of the rules for the final test which would be held in a months time. At this time they also revealed the match order and showed that Neji's first opponent was Naruto Uzumaki and Tsukiko was the odd numbered person who was set to face the winner of the Shikamaru Nara vs. Temari match. Neji and Tsukiko were also in different pools which meant if they were to fight each other in the exams it would only be after they had already defeated everyone else.

When the Hokage finally released them so they could leave, for the first time in the 5 days of participating in the exams, Gai quickly intercepted Tsukiko and Neji before they could leave. His intention was to get them to talk and see how to go about resolving the tension created during the preliminaries but they both cut him off before he could say what he wanted to,

"There's nothing more to say right now," Tsukiko shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant but Gai could sense there was a lot more she wanted to say, "Apologising can't fix this, not that he would offer one even if it would,"

Neji narrowed his eyes, glaring down at her, "I have nothing to apologise for,"

"The fact you think that is the problem," She muttered in reply, seemingly trying to keep her emotions in check,

"No, the problem is you've already picked a side in a fight that has nothing to do with you,"

"This has everything to do with me when you try to kill someone I love," Tsukiko snapped, "I warned you what would happen,"

"'Warned'? How I-"

"I begged you not to hurt her! That by doing so would hurt me too. But that obviously meant nothing to you and you made your choice; your hatred of the main family is more important."

Neji didn't reply and he turned his attention away from her so he no longer looked her in the eye. It was a fact that even Gai couldn't refute and he understood why Tsukiko was so upset. But although in-team fighting was not something they needed at the moment Gai found that it was no his place to intervene - at least for the moment.

"There we have it then, it's as I said, there's nothing more to say," Tsukiko sighed rubbing her temple, but none of the bite left her voice as she spoke, "If you're able to make it to the finals then I'll make my point clear then,"

"I'll be in the finals..." Neji affirmed his pale eyes set and determined as he peered down at Tsukiko who met his gaze in a silent agreement. She kept her head even, refusing to look up at him or show intimidation by their substantial height difference.

Gai looked between them,

'Maybe fighting in the finals will bring about an understanding between them. I don't want to see Team Gai fail here... But... I'm worried...'

NEXT TIME-
Chapter 12: "Fear flickered in Neji's eye and Tsukiko grinned wickedly"

AUTHOR'S NOTE-

Scientific inaccuracies? What scientific inaccuracies? That is how hearing works... don't look at me like that! I know what I'm talking about... *shifty eyes*

Okay, okay! You got me... Fine. I confess...

I have no idea if that would work or not? I do know hearing sound is about vibrations and there are 3 bones in the ear though, so that part is accurate. But for the sake of fanfic entertainment we are just going to take it for granted that if you remove all the bones vibrations cannot pass through... Which I don't actually know is true. I tried to google for answers but found nothing specific so I just rolled with it.

I personally don't actually think it would have worked?

But shuuuuush... I never said that... The author can't be pointing out their own plot holes now can they?!

Seriously though, I hated science at high school so I didn't pay much attention in class, but if anyone did listen to their teachers in biology and knows better what would actually happen and can help me rewrite this to be more accurate please tell me! I would like this to be as realistic as possible - you know, as realistic as physics-defying ninjas can be :P

So enlighten me, oh smart biology-loving readers, was I okay in taking creative licence here, or did you read it and think; "That's so grossly inaccurate, what a shitty author not doing their research better!"