The Third Exam
The one month had past. The day had come at last. From all across the Ninja World, from the Villages both great and small people came to see the next generation of Ninja compete here in the Leaf Village.
As Hokage of the Leaf Village and Naruto would watch the entire tournament from his booth high above the stands. Many important guests were expected. Gaara of the Hidden Sand Village, Mei the Mizukage, and even the Rikage of the Hidden Cloud Village.
But before these privileged guests he had his own to deal with. Appearing on the ledge behind him came an ANBU Black Ops Captain with his mask in the shape of an eagle.
"Lord Hokage." He said." I've stationed my men all around the arena, two men to a section and on for each exit."
"Very good Captain." Naruto nodded." As you were."
"Yes, sir." And just like that he disappeared, just in time to as the door opened up for Sakura to walk in. He traded on report for another.
"How's everything looking?" he asked.
"So far so good." She responded." The medical teams will be ready at a moment's notice.
"Good." He said nodding his head." Did you see the contestants while you were down there?" Sakura shook her head.
"Barley." She answered with a small shake of her head." I think Sarada linked up with a couple of her friends."
"I should go down to see her. Wish her good-" He said stepping forward but was stopped when Sakura laid her hand against his chest.
"You have to stay here and met the other Kages when they arrive. Plus you'll only embarrass her if you go down there." He might have said something if the door behind them didn't suddenly swung open.
"TURNUP!" Kiba yelled as he stood in the doorway his arms held high above his head a bottle in each. Eleven in the Morning and he'd clearly already been drinking.
Meanwhile down below the stands the competitors waited. And Sarada was making her way around trying to find friendly faces in a room of strangers. Three teams of three ninjas from the Sand, Lightning, and Sound Village. Sarada wanted to keep as far away from them as possible, no point in riling them up for later. Lucky for her a familiar face found it's way to her.
"Sarada!" called a voice." Sarada!" She turned to see her own teammate Metal Lee running towards her, a big smile on his face and a skip in his step until he stopped in front of her." Good to see you!" He said in a more joyful tone than usual.
"Metal." She said fidgeting with her hands and taking a step back from him, so there was more than a gap between them." Good morning." But as she took a step back Metal took a step closer to her.
"Did you use your one month preparation to its maximum?!" He asked.
"Of course, of course." She said desperate to open the distance between them. She took another step back but this time bumped into something." Oh." She said quickly turning around." I'm sorry I-" but then she saw it was in fact Bolt Inuzuka, with a smile of his own across his face. " In that case I'm not sorry." His smile dimmed somewhat.
"Bolt!" Metal exclaimed in just as an excited tone as he did with Sarada." Are you ready for this?"
"You know I am. WHOO!" Bolt cheered.
"WHOO!" Metal replied.
"WHOO!" they cheered together.
"Keep it down." Sarada said waving her arms. People are starting to look.
"And what about you Salad?" Bolt questioned stepping towards her." Are you ready for this?"
"Well I-"
"I bet she is." Metal said." There's a new look about her. Something, something different." He said waving his finger in front of her face." Something new, but I can't quite make it out. New hair, new glasses?"
"That's a dumb thing to say." Bolt spoke out." Only new thing I see is this little toy here." He recognized the blade almost immediately, no doubt coming from his Aunt's shop. "What's this little toothpick you've got here?" he said reaching for her tanto. But before he could get his paws on it she slapped them away.
"This!" she pointed to it." Is my secret weapon."
"Secret weapon?" Metal and Bolt said together in confusion.
"Of course!" she responded to them with confidence, trying to confidence herself as much as them." Of learned a lot this past month, I think you'll both be surprised." Bolt raised a curious eyebrow at her.
"Oh?" He questioned." And what did you learn?" But she could be just as quick as he was.
"If I told you it wouldn't be a surprise."
"She's got us there." Metal commented.
"Hmh." Bolt grumbled with a nod." I've learned a lot as well." He began. Ever the gloat full one, like his father. " Training with both my Father and my Uncle." Sarada had almost forgotten that. Now suddenly the prospect of fighting Bolt seemed worse than it ever had before. Why oh why didn't she just train with her Mother and Father." So tell me, just how ready are you?"
If she was going to reply she'd have to think of one and quick. Luckily she didn't have to. Out of the corner of her eye she saw another group of friends, namely Shikadai Nara and ChoCho Akimichi. Turning aside her own teammates she ran off to greet them.
"Was it something I said?" Bolt questioned looking to Metal confused.
"Shika!" Sarada called as she went over to him. His back was to her but at the sound of that name he turned to her, his face looking strained.
"I despise that nickname." He grumbled. His sister and Mirai called him Shika and the face that it came from those two was more than enough reason for him to hate it. And after spending a hole month with them Sarada had started to pick up on that habit as well, although she didn't know his hatred for it.
" Glad you made it." She said instead stopping before him.
"Not like I had much of a choice." He replied." There was a required time." Sarada smiled, pushing her glasses up her nose.
"My girl!" Chocho said stepping forward and putting her arms around the smaller girl.
"Yes, yes." Sarada grunted in her grip." I'm glad to see you too."
Shikamaru stood outside the stadium but right next to the door, his back against the wall with one knee bent and raised so he could press his foot against the wall behind him while he smoked.
"Shika!" called a voice that made him winch. He quickly mouthed the cigarette, puffing every last bit he could out of it." Shika!" The voice called, closer this time." SHIKA!" Now it was practically in his ear. Tilting his head he turned to see Ino stomping towards him." What are you doing?!" she demanded with her hands on her hips.
"Pre-game smoke." He answered, already caught and now taking his sweet time with the cigarette.
"We're going to miss the good seats, c'mon!" she said tugging at his arm.
"Let me finish." He said resisting her but she continued to pull. But as Ino struggled to move him she noticed someone familiar coming her way.
"Tenten!" she cheered upon seeing her." Good to see you."
"Likewise." Tenten smiled turning from Ino to her husband." Hey Shikamaru."
"Hey." He responded but as he spoke managed to puff a ball of smoke into Tenten's face. She coughed and waved her hand wildly about, trying to fum the tainted air away." Sorry." Shikamaru said with a shrug.
"So what are you doing here?" asked Ino.
"I've got family in the tournament." She answered." Had to see them through this."
"Wonderful." Ino said." And you won't be disappointed. My Shikadai's gonna take home the win this time."
"No he isn't." Shikamaru commented before a puff. Ino reached up and smacked it out of his hand, effectively teaching him a lesson.
"Not with that kind of parenting! No wonder he's such a sloth, he takes after you!" Shikamaru only rolled his eyes and sighed. Day in and day out it was the same song, same notes with this woman.
Tenten stood back and giggled. Sometimes she was happy she and Neji never had kids, but other times….
"So." Ino said getting her attention." Where is Neji now?" Tenten smirked and glanced around the area above her, as if a soft breeze and the mention of his name and brought him to her side. But it didn't.
"He's around." She answered." You may not see him but he'll see you."
"Well maybe he can see us to come good seats." Ino said." C'mon, they're gonna start soon and I want a front row view." Shikamaru had seemed to ignore her and went for the cigarette on the ground ready to finish it. But instead she grabbed him by his collar and pulled him off into the stadium. Tenten smirking as she followed.
"Everyone." Called a voice. The Genin turned to see their proctor for this final exam, Moegi a former teammate of Konohamaru." It's time. Form up into a line of three and follow me. When we get out there you'll be standing before the hole Ninja world so try to contain yourselves." Sarada quickly moved over to stand with her own team. Bolt was standing infront of her with his hound tucked into his shirt while Metal stood behind her. Turning to her right she saw ChoCho with Shikadai behind her and Muta before her. Looking left were the Sound Ninja. She decided to look the other way." Here we go." Rock Lee said. He led the way and a few paces behind the Genin followed.
In just a few steps they went from the cool shaded area under the stadium before stepping out under the bright, hot gaze of the sun. But that was the only gaze there. Every seat in the stands was filled, from top to bottom left to right, row to row.
Up in his booth Naruto leaned against the railing looking down at the young competitors as they came in one by one.
"There!" Kiba said slapping a hand on the Hokage's back causing him to grunt." That's right, there's my boy." He pointed him out as if he couldn't be seen." And there's your girl, Haha!"
"I had noticed." Naruto replied.
"Here." Kiba said handing a drink off to his Hokage." To Victory!"
"Right Kiba, to Victory!" He raised his glass and clicked it against his friend's.
"Contestants." Said Moegi." Today you participate in the Third and Final part of the Chunin Exam. A great Tournament where you will test your skills against each other."
"And now to wedding!" Kiba said after his drink.
"The what?!" Naruto said shocked. But he wasn't the only one. Sakua, Hinata and even some of the guards looked over in confusion.
"To the wedding!" Kiba said again." My son and your daughter." He turned his attention down to the arena where the two children in question stood." A fine match I'd say."
"Now be reasonable Kiba." Naruto said taking a step closer to him." We can't just make this kind of decision now, that's for our children to decide." Kiba didn't appear to be listening and was instead more preoccupied with his drink." Beside Sarada might not take that news so well."
Kiba suddenly spat out his drink in surprise.
"What?!" He said turning to the Hokage." My son is bad news?!" He took a few aggressive steps forward moving the Hokage back." What's wrong with my Bolt?"
"Nothing Kiba." Naruto said fanning his friend." I only meant-"
"Why doesn't your daughter like my son?!"
"Now, Now-"
"I'm not so sure my son likes your daughter." Kiba said with a small push." I'm not so sure my grandchildren want you for a grandfather!" He gave him another violent push.
"Why you unreasonable pompous." Naruto began to yell back.
"Pompus?!" Kiba said in shock. His legs spread apart, his fists tightened.
"Don't you dare!"
"Forward!" Kiba yelled jumping forward." For Honor, For Family!" He jumped back took the Hokage to the ground. The two began rolling around. But in their struggle they knocked against the table spilling both their glasses and the bottle onto themselves.
The liquid spilled over and covered both their faces, some getting into their mouths. And in this silly situation the two couldn't help but laugh.
"What's this all about anyway?" Kiba chuckled.
"Nothing Kiba, absolutely nothing." Naruto laughed. Then the two began to laugh like fools next to each other. And Sakura the entire time just watched the entire thing unfold.
"Hinata." She said turning to her friend." Thank you for coming."
"And now." Moegi had finally finished." Turn your attention to the board and see the layout for this Tournament." He pointed up to the electronic screen where not only the contestants but all the stadium leaned in to watch.
Sarada didn't care where she went but she didn't want to go first. There was a lot of pressure when going first, especially now and especially for her. Besides she'd rather wait it out and see what everyone else had in store. And luckily for her she wasn't in the first round or the second, but she was in Third. She'd be fighting a ninja named Tarui.
Naruto too had observed his daughter's placement and looked down to see how she reacted to such news. However he was distracted from it by a nudge from Sakura on his left.
"Look." Sakura pointed to the board." Shin Uchiha." At the same time Naruto, Kiba and Hinata all leaned in for a better view. Hinata of genuine curiosity, Kiba a visible anger and Naruto suspicion.
"Who do you think it is?" Hinata said turning her attention to the three sound ninja. The girl of the ground was standing in the front, the two boys behind her. But neither looked very much like Sasuke, and there was very little to distinguish themselves from one another. They both had pale, light skin. One had a blue tint to his hair while the other was pure white. This only furthered the curiosity of the on-lookers.
"I can't tell." Sakura said." Not from up here. Naruto however focused on more, he looked at their eyes. The boy standing in the middle had golden yellow eyes and a slight smile on his face. But the one behind him had dark black eyes with a serious expression, Naruto could recognize that look.
"That one." He said with a nod getting everyone's attention." In the back."
Sarada was glad it wasn't Shikadai or ChoCho but she didn't know who her opponent was. She slowly turned her head to try and take a guess. She didn't think it was a boy so that narrowed it down considerably. Only girls she saw were from the Lightning, Sand and Sound Village.
She locked eyes for a moment with the girl from the Sound Village. And Sarada didn't like the smirk on the girl's lips, she quickly turned and dropped her eyes. She hoped it wasn't that girl.
But there was no use in worrying about that right now because the first match was about to begin.
"Will the first two competitors come to the center of the ring?" Moegi said." The rest will wait up in the lounge." No arguing there. Sarada turned on her heel and followed the crowd out.
The longue was just overlooking the stadium below where they would later fight. But Sarada wanted a close view of the action and stood by the railing. Bolt came to stand on her right while Shikadai leaned close by against the wall.
The first round was Metal Lee of the Hidden Leaf Village versus Araya of the Hidden Sand Village.
Araya wore a frightening looking mask on his face, almost like on the ANBU wore. His was white with purple eyes and a scowling mouth. Sarada was glad not to fight him.
"Alright, begin!" Moegi told. Metal snapped into his fighting stance while Araya reached for his back and pulled out a sword, a tanto just like Sarada.
"No fair!" she fumed pounding her hands against the railing.
"What?" Bolt asked confused looking at her. She pointed and angry finger at the sand ninja.
"That little, little…COPYCAT!" he yelled. Bolt looked down to see what she was talking about and saw it almost immediately.
"Did you really think you were the only person in the world to have one of those?" Bolt snickered. "I guess your secret weapon isn't so secret after all." Sarada still fuming with anger took a step away from Bolt, only making him laugh harder.
Araya jumped forward with another slash but Metal dodged him once more. But this time he jumped forward and landed a kick right in the Sand Ninja's chest, the force of the blow stumbling him back and onto one knee. The crowd cheered in approval. Metal jumped forward to continue his attack, cocking back his arm for a strong punch.
But from one knee Araya raised his sword and prepared himself, slashing at Metal when he was in range. And Metal choose instead to duck and roll under the blade rather than attack, to stand on both feet behind his opponent. The skill and speed of his movements earning even greater approval from the audience.
Sarada was shifting in her place as she watched the match. But she also noticed her training buddy Shikadai seemed to be watching it with disinterest.
"What are you thinking?" she asked as she walked up beside him.
"How far I'd get if I ran for it." He replied simply. She could tell if he was joking or not, but all the same she thought it was funny and laughed. She stopped when she looked up at him to see him looking at her strangely. But he wasn't alone as he laughing got the attention of everyone in the room.
Embarrassed she turned her attention back to the match. Araya advanced at Metal swinging his sword. But Metal ducked his head back, allowing the blade to pass right over his head. Araya brought his blade back and this time stabbed at Metal but only for him to slide under his blade once more.
Sarada saw Arya's quick work with his sword at it gave her a few ideas. Sure he was quick and all but she liked to think she had advanced well in using her's, despite being self-taught. She reached back and fiddled with the blade at her back, waiting for the chance to use it.
Eventually she got the courage to turn and talk to Shikadai again.
"Do you know who you're fighting?"
"Whoever Yodo is." He said glancing at the board. Sarada gave a mysterious glance around their unknown competition.
"I don't know anyone else here." She whispered to him. He looked down at her strangely, wondering why she was whispering.
"Neither do I." He said at full volume.
Metal jumped back one more avoiding another slice of Araya's blade. They stood about ten feet apart for some time, each waiting for the other to make a move. But evidently Araya got tired of waiting, and apparently even tired for his sword.
He set the blade aside and instead began using handsigns. This was not going to be good for Metal. He could go up against taijutsu and the best weapons available but any other kind of jutsu would be his undoing. If her teammate was going to win he had to act fast.
Metal jumped back, just in time as Araya used his jutsu. He closed his right hand except for his index and middle finger, and with one quick movement struck it forward.
Metal stood back waiting for some kind of projection to come but he didn't see it. Instead he felt a piercing pain inside his right shoulder, opening him like he's been stabbed forcing him to stumble back. Araya quickly moved in with another swift movement and Metal was once again hit by this invisible attack, this time on his chest. Blood began to appear from the visible punctures left behind.
"What's going on?" Sarada asked as he leaned forward. "How is this happening?"
Now Araya had something else in mind, he reached for his sword once more.
"Wind Roaring Wall!" he commanded as he swung his sword from it's sheath. And this time when he released it a giant whirlwind shot out of his blade and at Metal. Seeing the small tornado coming at him he quickly jumped out of the way or be caught in it. The small tornado continued on, destroying the ground where Metal once stood while he got to safety. But when he got back on his feet he saw Araya pointing his finger at him. Before another gust of wind could pierce him Metal jumped out of the way again, letting the wall behind him get punctured.
With nothing else to do he ran, running circles around Araya while he just continued to point hoping to finally tag Metal with his wind sword jutsu. But Metal was too quick, and Araya found himself striking the ground or the wall where his enemy had been instead of where he was. He began to get disoriented. And in his anger Metal saw an opening.
Araya reached for his sword ready to level the entire area with another wind storm. He raised his sword above him, but before he could swing it down Metal took his chance. He stopped running circles around Araya and instead went right for him, dropping down low and sliding towards him. As he went by he grabbed Araya's legs and tripped him to the ground, managing to knock the sword out of his hand in the process.
While Araya was on his stomach Metal took his chance and jumped on him. But when he got close enough he saw that Araya had pulled out a kunai and swung at him with it. Metal pulled himself back avoiding the blade and then jumped forward and punched Araya right in the face.
"YES!" Bolt cheered. Metal jumped forward and landed another punch on the other side of Araya's face. Even though he was at a disadvantage with ninjutsu, Metal's true skill was in taijutsu and few could match him in it.
He jumped forward and punched Araya again in the face, knocking him back with another step. But Araya tried to steady himself and stabbed forward with his knife. Metal brought up his right arm and blocked, and then with his free hand grabbed onto Araya and took him to the ground.
Araya struggled against Metal as he was taken to the ground while the Leaf Ninja pulled his arm around Araya's neck and into a chokehold. The crowd continued to cheer.
"C'MON!" Bolt cheered.
"Go for it!" Sarada added. Araya tried to struggle against Metal but with each push or pull he made it only made it worse. Metal tightened his grip with Araya becoming weaker and weaker in his grip. He now had two choices, fight back with the limit strength he had left or pass out. He picked the second. He reached his arm back and patted Metal against his elbow, admitting defeat.
In a fit of joy Metal jumped to his feet to hear the roaring of the crowd.
"Winner of the first round, Metal Lee of the Hidden Leaf Village."
"HaHa!" Bolt cheered pumping his fist into the air.
"Alright." Sarada said turning to Shikadai, no sooner than the fight had ended." It's your turn. Get down there and give him hell!" Shikadai knowing he had nowhere else to go took a step forward towards the steps down to the arena. At the same time he looked but to see who exactly it was he'd be fighting. Evidently Sarada had spoken wrong when she said 'him'.
Stepping out from the group was another Sand Village Ninja. This time a girl wearing a red body suit, lavender jacket the hood over her head covering her blonde hair except for one bang going down her forehead.
Shikadai froze in place while she continued to walk, even right past him and down the stairs. He only moved to turn his head and follow her.
"You going or what?!" Sarada called breaking his chain of thought. Shikadai said nothing but turned and descended the steps.
Shikamaru had sat calmly this entire time, one leg crossed over the other at the knee while his left arm was rested on the seat and his right hung at his side. Only his head moved when he saw Shikadai descending the steps. He wasn't nervous, he wasn't excited, he was calm. That was until his son's opponent came into his view.
Quick as a flash he kicked his legs up to stand on his feet and lean over the railing for a better look.
"What's the matter?!" Ino asked startled by his sudden movement. But he didn't answer he just continued to look down at the arena, hoping against hope that this wasn't real. But his son walked out into the arena and the girl that was his opponent walked out as well.
"Oh God." He moaned sitting back down in his seat.