Yup, I finally updated. I must admit that writing Fugato and Shino's fight was one of the hardest I've done so far, so I double hope you'll like it. As usual, thanks to everyone who reviewed last time. It means a lot. And as for the question, someone asked if Izuna is a Jinchuuriki… well, to that I can only say that not exactly, but what that means you'll have to read and find out. Sorry.

With that said, let's get this show on the road:

Chapter #21: What Bugs Fugato?

"Seventh match: Aburame Shino against Juutai Fugato…" announced Jiryoku loudly. "BEGIN!" and immediately she jumped out of the way as usual. And the moment she did so, swarms of bugs began circling around the leaf-nin's hands as he stood calmly in front of his opponent.

Fugato however didn't waste a second either and went through a quick set of hand seals, ending the chain with a call: "Hijutsu: Kingyuukyuu: Ishi Tanagokoro no Jutsu!" In a flash a huge, stone hand shoot out from the ground in the attempt to smash Shino beneath itself, but the bug user managed to jump back just in time.

Though that was exactly what Fugato wanted as in an instant he appeared behind Shino, who was still in mid-air, and aimed a punch into the leaf-nin's back. Surprisingly for the Grass shinobi however, the bug user managed to flip during his flight and by that not only made the Jinchuuriki's attack miss, but also made him face his opponent the moment he landed back on his feet.

With just few inches separating them, Shino held his hands out front, making his bugs go straight at Fugato. The grass-nin made an attempt to counter attack immediately however and simply lowering himself charged straight at the insects user, going right under the swarm of bugs. Some managed to land on his back though.

Fugato launched a spin-kick at Shino's face, but the leaf-nin avoided the assault by dodging to his left. He then launched an attack of his own: a punch aimed at his opponent's stomach, yet the Grass shinobi saw right through it and blocked the incoming punch with his hand. Without a moment waste, the Jinchuuriki unleashed a punch as well, meant to hit the bug user in the chin from bellow. The young gennin reacted immediately and bended back, making the Nekomata vessel's fist go right in front of his face. A second later he jumped back, extending the distance between them.

It was only then that Fugato felt his chakra being sucked. He looked over his shoulder at the insects that were crawling on his back and his eyes widen: "Those bugs…" he thought and immediately he performed another set of hand seals: "Hijutsu: Kaniza: Gufuu Gekihatsu!"

In a flash a small tornado appeared around the grass-nin and took off all the insects that were attached to his body, without causing any harm to the Kusa shinobi. A second later the rough wind went straight towards Shino in the attempt to blow him away, but the bug user only jumped back, avoiding the attack and once he found himself propping against the wall, he waited for Fugato's attack to arrive, only to jump to the side and have his opponent's assault crush against the wall and thus getting dispelled.

"Impressive technique…" stated Shino calmly as bugs kept flying around him. Fugato only smiled and replied politely: "You ability is quite unique as well… bugs that feed on chakra… close range combat with you could end up disastrous for me… something tells me you're not going to be an easy opponent…"

"Neither will you…" responded the bug user calmly as his insects began gathering above him. "Shall we continue?"

---Meanwhile at the honorary lounge---

"Wow, you shinobi is really scary, Tsunade-san…" stated Migoto as she looked at Shino from her seat. "Controlling bugs… brrr…" at this point she shivered at the thought and then turned towards the Grass leader: "But your kid is doing pretty good as well, Jouryoku-kun…"

"Well, Fugato isn't the one to be taken lightly…" replied the young boy with his eyes slightly narrowed while he watched the fight bellow. Just then three man walked in and took their seats next to other village leaders.

"It sure took you a while to get here…" announced Shingai, the Raikage, coldly as the leader of the Hidden Snow village, Hatsuyuki, settled down next to him. "What were you doing? Anything we should know about?"

"I don't suppose so…" replied Hissori, the Rain village leader simply. "But more importantly, did anything interesting happened? I hope I didn't miss my subordinates fights…"

"Your shinobi haven't fought yet…" answered Tsurara calmly. However one of your gennin failed already, Hatsuyuki-san…" and with that he turned towards the Snow leader, who seemed unmoved by his announcement. "The one with the huge hammer…"

"So did two of your wood-nins, Mokuren…" added Orochimaru with a wide smirk, but surprisingly for him, the Wood leader seemed to didn't care: "It doesn't matter…" he stated simply. "Even if Niji and Juzou did failed, for Kaijuu to be defeated by anyone… is impossible…" and as he said so, Tsunade looked at him a little surprised.

"How come he's so sure? It's true that he figured out exactly which of his gennin lost, but… what's the secret behind this whole Kaijuu kid then?" and then she turned her attention to the arena bellow once more as the fight between the two boys continued…

---Back to the Arena---

Shino charged straight at Fugato, with his bugs still circling around him. As he aimed a punch into the grass-nin's face, the Jinchuuriki bended to his left, thus making his opponent's fist go right next to him, but still the insects that were circling around the Leaf shinobi's hand went for him in the attempt to feed on his chakra once more.

Having no way to block, the grass-nin bended to his left even more and propping his hand on the ground, he launched two kicks at Shino, which both got blocked by the bugs user hands. As the Leaf shinobi stopped Fugato's assault with his palms, he used them to grab his opponent's legs and in an instant his insects began crawling onto the Kusa ninja's body.

The Jinchuuriki, having no, real alternative, made a desperate attempt and joining his hands together into a quick chain of hand seals, he risked his head hitting the ground as he had nothing to keep him from falling down.

But before his head hit the ground, he managed to execute the technique and called out: "Hijutsu: Yagiza: Dengeki no Jutsu!" In a fraction of a second his body got covered in electricity, which hit Shino hard and tossed him away, thus making him let go of the grass-nin's legs. All the bugs that crawled on the Jinchuuriki's body got fried.

"That Grass guy…" began Shunrai with his eyes widen. "I thought something like that can be performed only by a Kumo shinobi… and the only two I know who are capable of firing electricity through their bodies and not getting hurt by it are Saikou-chan and Raikage-sama!" The black-eyed boy, who stood nearby, only narrowed his eyes.

"Damn, that sure is an impressive technique!" yelled Kiba with his eyes widen. "How the hell is Fugato capable of doing that?" and with that he turned towards Ayame who stood the nearest to him, but the kunoichi only replied: "It's his bloodline limit…"

"His bloodline limit?" repeated Naruto, slightly confused and it was then that Hinata quietly cut in: "I remember my father talking about a Kusa clan which possessed the ability that's as respected in their village like Hyuuga Byakugan is in Konoha…"

"Indeed, Hiashi-sama mentioned that…" nodded Neji calmly as he observed Fugato. "It's called Juunikyuu or The constellation of the Zodiac… a very unique bloodline limit that allows the ones who possess it to control all the elements to a certain extend…"

"So?" asked Temari, not very impressed. "Even without the use of some bloodline limit people are capable of mastering element-based techniques. Even in Suna lone there people who mastered more then just Fuuton…"

"It's not exactly like that…" corrected Kosha calmly. "Fuuton and other elemental skills are common in shinobi world, but each person has a talent for just one, two elements at max. You see, if you'd combine a typical, ninjutsu technique with the element you specialize in, the jutsu would become much more devastating. This is why Fugato's bloodline limit is so respected in Hidden Grass…"

"I still don't get it…" announced Naruto. But then Shikamaru entered the conversation: "I believe I do… Fugato's bloodline limit gives him the talent for all the elements, doesn't it?" he asked, looking at Ayame, who only nodded. "So any technique he can perform will have a greater effect then if it was performed by someone else and what's more, each of his techniques can have five, different modifiers… how troublesome…"

"Damn, Fugato's that dangerous?" the Kyuubi vessel more stated then ask, with a little respect in his voice. Hinata's face only turned a little sad: "Shino-kun…"

"And above all this, he's also a Jinchuuriki…" Fukamaru reminded himself with narrowed eyes. "He's certainly not the one to be underestimated…" and with that he looked at Gaara, who stood nearby and observed the fight with his arms crossed. "Neither is this guys…"

"Did you heard that, Sasuke-kun?" Baita asked her teammate with a tiny smirk appearing on her face. "That Grass guy could make an interesting opponent for you…" but the Sharingan user didn't reply. He just threw the kunoichi a quick and cold glare and then got back to watching the fight. Gunko stayed unmoved by any of this as he just kept on cleaning his drum.

Shino slowly stood up with bugs crawling all over him. Soon they crawled down his pants and walked on the ground. At first it was hard to tell what was going on, but soon Fugato realized that they were forming a circle around him, blocking his any, possible way to escape.

"Not good…" he only managed to think as he went through a quick set of hand seals: "Hijutsu: Kingyuukyuu: Daichi Ayatsuri no Jutsu!" he called out, slamming his hands to the ground and in a flash the surface began to crack, swallowing the insects that began to surround him while other bugs got crushed by rocks that suddenly started to pop out from the ground, forming spikes and just falling on the microscopic animals.

As the bugs began to retreat, Fugato used the rocks that raised from bellow ground as cover and charged straight at the place where Shino stood the last time he saw him before he used his technique. In a fraction of a second he performed a complex set of hand seals and with the last symbol large among of chakra gathered in his right hand, only to materialize itself in the form of a huge blade that was attached to the grass-nin's arm.

Meanwhile Shino stood right in front of the huge stone that shoot from the ground just a moment ago, preparing to use his insects again when suddenly the rock got cut in half and Fugato came charging at him, piercing through his left leg before the leaf-nin managed to react.

"Forgive me the rough treatment, Shino-san…" began the Jinchuuriki calmly as he looked at his opponent's face. "But this is a fight after all… I can't allow myself to hold back too much and I suppose you're doing the same…"

"Correct…" he suddenly heard a familiar voice and as he turned around in the direction it came from, he saw Shino standing right on top of a nearby rock. "What the…?" was all the Nekomata vessel managed to think as the leaf-nin whose leg he pierced instantly turned into a swarm of bugs, that covered him in a fraction of a second.

"Kikai Bushin no Jutsu…" stated Shino calmly as he walked down to the place where the grass-nin was now being overpowered by hundreds of insects. "The one who felt into a trap is you, Fugato-kun…"

"Heh... that Grass guy actually lost…" stated Gokiburi a little surprised. "Pity, I really wanted to fight him… he seemed like an interesting opponent. But then, that bug user might bring you some excitement, Dakatsu…" and with that he turned towards his black-haired teammate.

Dakatsu said nothing however. He didn't even seem to realize that the muscular gennin was talking to him. His entire attention was drawn by the match bellow. The match that was about to end.

"Fugato-kun lost?" asked Ayame totally surprised as she looked at Kosha and then at Fukamaru. The blonde's grip on the rail tightened and his eyes narrowed. "I never thought Shino was that good… he'll be a very hard opponent in the next round…"

"My bugs feed on chakra, but I suppose you already figured as much…" began the leaf-nin as he looked at the Nekomata vessel. "If they'll consume too much, you can die, so please surrender quickly so we could end this fight…"

"Sorry, Shino-san…" replied Fugato with a smirk suddenly appearing on his face. "But this fight is already over…" and the moment he said so his body exploded, covering the insects and the bug user himself in the cloud of white smoke.

"Kage bushin?!" Chouji's eyes widen at the realization as he awaited for what they'll see when the smoke will clear. And the answer soon came, for as the smoke disappeared, everyone saw Fugato standing right behind Shino with the blade of his sword near the leaf-nin's throat.

"I felt for an old trick…" admitted the bug user calmly without even looking back. "The same one I used just a moment ago… guess it couldn't be helped… I surrender…" he announced, making a wave of surprised calls go through the stands. Jiryoku stayed shock for a short second and then, from the bottom of her lungs, she announced: "Winner: Juutai Fugato!" and instantly the entire crowd began cheering.

Both Shino and Nekomata's vessel slowly walked to the stairs leading back to the platform as the cheers didn't quiet down. "Looks like the people enjoyed that match…" noticed Ino simply as she looked around the arena.

"Naturally, both Shino-kun and Fugato-kun gave a great example of a burning, young spirit!" yelled Lee happily. "I won't be worse then them! I cannot allow myself to!" and as he kept announcing how great he'll do, Tenten merely shook her head slightly.

"That Grass guy put on an interesting show…" stated Ikao a little impressed, but Gouu was far from getting excited over a match like that: "Nothing special…" he announced calmly. "Basically none of them shown anything worth attention really… what do you think, Kosame?" he asked their grey-haired teammate, but he didn't reply. He only set his eyes onto Fugato and Shino who just walked onto the platform again.

The white-haired boy from Kaimei narrowed his eyes as he threw the Nekomata vessel's a quick glare, before setting his eyes onto the screen. No-one even seemed to notice that another selection has already began.

"Good going, guys!" Naruto greeted his friends with a thumb-up. "You really know what to do to make the audience go wild… too bad your fight ended so quickly…" but as he said to Fugato only rubbed the top of his head, saying: "Nothing we can do about it… besides, it's not the time for you to get excited over out fight when yours is still ahead…"

"Yeah and I'm really looking forward to that one…" Hyouden thought to himself with a smirk and then notice that two people, who should be on the platform, were missing. Then he looked at the screen and realized that the tournament kept on going.

Very few people actually noticed that another pair was selected. Only after a longer moment did the audience, along with the contestants, realize that two, new participants already stood on the arena in front of each other. First one was Ikebano Shunrai, the silver-haired Cloud shinobi. Second was the short, waterfall-nin with blue hair and yellow outfit.

"Eight match: Ikebano Shunrai from Kumo against Umihebi from Bakufu!" announced Jiryoku, making everyone, who didn't realize what's been happening until now, to look down at the arena. "BEGIN!" and instantly the waterfall-nin went through a series of hand seals.

"Suiton: Mizu Boufuu no Jutsu!" he called out and in a fraction of a second water shoot out from the bucket he carried at his belt and flew right at the cloud-nin. Acting on instinct Shunrai jumped back, but the tidal wave seemed to be chasing him.

"What the hell?" wondered the silver-haired gennin. "There's no way so much water could come out from that lame excuse for a bucket! How is it that he created an entire tsunami?!" and with that he jumped to his left, but the water kept trailing him.

"Surprised?" asked Umihebi with a smirk as water shoot from bellow ground, spraying the entire arena. Shunrai's eyes widen even more when he noticed water forming itself out of nothing. "This is a bloodline limit ability! It is rumored that my clan came originally from the Hidden Mist! And know that I can use ANY water in my surroundings, the one in the atmosphere included!"

"So that's how he got so much water?!" yelled Naruto completely shocked and then turned towards Fukamaru. "Even you didn't master water-based techniques to that level!" but then he received a smack on the head from Sakura: "Of course not! Didn't you heard that waterfall-nin? It's a bloodline limit!"

Hisen only 'hmphed' before turning around and walking away from the rail. "Annoyed, aren't ya?" Renge asked her teammate with a smirk and then turned towards Shinkou, who had his eyes narrowed. "But no matter what I say… such ability…"

"Shunrai seems to be in trouble…" stated Ryuu calmly, observing the fight bellow. Saikou didn't reply, but the bald boy's eyes widen slightly as he noticed electricity going through her body. "She's loosing it already?"

The silver-haired cloud-nin jumped back once more, avoiding being pushed against the ground by a powerful wave, but just then got hit in the back by another ray of water. "There's no escape!" announced Umihebi, still holding the final seals as water covered the entire arena now. "You should just surrender, it won't hurt as much!"

But as Shunrai was tossed around by water, he performed a chain of hand seals of his own: "Raiton: Ikazuchi Dageki!" and in a flash electricity shoot from his body and traveled by the water, reaching every corner of the arena.

Umihebi only managed to yell in pain as he got hit by the powerful charge, his skin burnt in several places in the matter of seconds. As the electricity disappeared and water stopped moving, the waterfall-nin felt to the ground unconscious.

Shunrai looked around the arena, which was now covered in water, but not by much. The ground began 'drinking' the liquid already and in a minute or two the battlefield should return to the way it was before, only the ground would be softer for a bit.

"You're ability is impressive…" stated the cloud-nin calmly as he looked at his fallen opponent. "But you forgot that Kumo shinobi specializes in Raiton… you may have been able to cover this entire arena in water… but water conducts electricity… and by releasing your full power… you sealed your own defeat…"

Jiryoku, who was now standing on the wall, holding to it by collecting chakra, only smirked: "That Cloud brat could be a bit more careful… he almost got me with that attack…" and with that she jumped down to check Umihebi. After a short analyze she only stood up and announced: "Winner: Ikebano Shunrai!"

---strong opponents emerge… and silence fell at witnessing the overwhelming power… the battle continues---

And so this chapter is over. I hope you enjoyed it. Now, about the jutsu encyclopedia, this time around I'll just give you the translation of the techniques, without the actual description (sorry in advance). I'm in a bit of a hurry this time, but if I won't forget, I'll place the descriptions for those techniques next time:

Hijutsu: Kingyuukyuu: Ishi Tanagokoro no Jutsu (Secret Skill: Taurus: Stone Palm Skill)

Hijutsu: Kaniza: Gufuu Gekihatsu (Secret Skill: Cancer: Tornado Outburst)

Hijutsu: Yagiza: Dengeki no Jutsu (Secret Skill: Capricorn: Electric Shock Skill)

Hijutsu: Kingyuukyuu: Daichi Ayatsuri no Jutsu (Secret Skill: Taurus: Earth Manipulation Skill)

Kikai Bushin no Jutsu (Bug Clone Skill)

Suiton: Mizu Boufuu no Jutsu (Water Element: Water Storm Skill)

And an updated list. Before that however, an extra word: if the name is written in italics, it means a certain character lost, but remained on the platform (unlike those whose names were completely crossed out). That's just so that you won't get confused about the fact that the character lost and yet is mentioned from time to time. Anyway, here goes:

Konoha #1: Haruno Sakura, Nadare Fukamaru, Uzumaki Naruto

Konoha #2: Hyuuga Hinata, Aburame Shino, Inuzuka Kiba

Konoha #3: Yamanaka Ino, Akimichi Chouji, Nara Shikamaru

Konoha #4: Tenten, Hyuuga Neji, Rock Lee

Suna #1: Temari, Sabaku no Gaara, Kankuro

Suna #2: Kanpuu, Gokiburi, Dakatsu

Kiri: Nadare Renge, Arashi Shinkou, Oomizu Hisen

Kumo: Saikou, Ikebano Shunrai, Ono Ryuu

Iwa: Gosai Kendo, Jishi Borudo, Shita Tsume

Kusa: Hasaki Ayame, Juutai Fugato, Tokage Kosha

Ame: Asagi Ikao, Doshiburi Gouu, Kaihaku Kosame

Bakufu: Daburu

Oto: Akado Baita, Kinniku Gunko, Uchiha Sasuke

Tsuki: Kihako Fukuchuu, Shishiki Izuna, Usume Kim

Yuki: Gusoku, Hyouden

Moku: Kaijuu

Fezza: Dekai Fukuro, Inuwashi Hasaki

Kaimei: Gagakushi, Keppan

And this is really it. Thanks for reading and hope you'll bless me with a review.

Best wishes and until next time, hopefully.