I shook my head. Then I looked back at the screen. It was the same, I wasn't seeing things.

"This can't be right." "What's going on?"

I looked over at Grandma Tsunade. She looked furious as she clutched the railing, it bent under her grip.

"Nozomi...?" Kin asked.

"I'm fine." I looked at the screen again. The words were plain as day. Karin verses Nozomi.

"Nozomi, you don't have to fight." I turned to see Inari Sensei standing next to me. "You quit the exams." I don't like seeing Inari Sensei serious, it kinda freaks me out.

I looked back at the screen.

"How did this happen?" Ino asked.

"It's not a question of how..." Shikamaya said.

"It's a question of who." Shikamaru finished.

"I don't mean to steal your catch phrase but..." I coughed. "This is a drag. Sumi stay here." I swung myself over the railing. I landed a little shaky but stuck it never the less.

"Nozomi, you are not fighting!" Grandma Tsunade yelled.

"What choice do I have? Besides there would be an odd number if I didn't fight." I shrugged.

Karin jumped down from the balcony. "I'm not going to go easy on you."

"Good because neither am I." We both took a fighting stance.

Hayate looked unsure of whether he should start the battle or not. Finally he gulped. "Begin."

Karin and I both came at each other at the very second Hayate said 'begin'. She tried to kick me but I ducked. We both exchanged several blows but all were dodged.

I smirked. No more hand to hand... "Earth Style, Rising Stone Spears!" Rock spear pillars rose from the ground. Karin was shot into the air. She barely managed to land on her feet.

"You weren't kidding when you said you weren't taking it easy." Karin said, she pulled out a kunai.

I coughed. She's good, but can she beat me? Nozomi, you shouldn't be fighting. I know but I have to give this my all. I quit when I shouldn't have and now- I was cut off because I had to dodged Karin's attack. I punched her in the face.

"Looks like I got the first blow." I said.

"But I'll get the last." She came at me again.

Now both of us were landing blows. Karin grabbed me by the arm and threw me against one of the stone pillars. There were several 'Ooo's' and 'That had to hurt's' from the spectators. My head was spinning. I looked at my friends out of the corner of my eye. Everyone looked like they were holding their breath. I noticed Gaara was swirling some sand over his hand. I got what he was saying.

"Wood Style: Smashing Mallet!" a wood pillar hit Karin against the wall. I coughed as I smirked.

Karin got up and pulled out another kunai, I did the same. Our kunai clanged as the hit each other. Karin made my kunai fly out of my hand.

Ha! She got you there!- Naruto

That's alright. Frees up my hands. "Wood Style: Wood Projectiles!" Wooden projectiles pinned Karin to the wall by her cloths.

I walked over to her. She just hung limply from the wall, her head resting on her chest.

"This match-"

"Wait." I interrupted Hayate and held up my hand. I walked cautiously over to Karin. Something doesn't feel right...

Karin's head jerked upward. The mark had spread. Karin broke out of her restraints sending splinters of wood flying in all directions. A wood pillar sprang from the ground to protect me from of the larger pieces.

I thought you said you call it off?- Gaara

I also said it would come in handy, now didn't I?

Yeah but- Gaara

Aaah! Just give it up Gaara! The only person who can win an argument with her is Grandma Tsunade and even she doesn't win by much- Naruto

Karin can at me. I dodged but barely. Can we save this conversation for another time? One where none of us are... Oh, I don't know. Fighting for our lives!

...- Gaara

...- Naruto

Bakas. I dodged another one of Karin's punches. The mark was spreading further. I tripped Karin by having a root poke out of the ground. I pinned her down. Her red eyes weren't the ones I knew. They were full of pure rage.

"Karin snap out of it!" I held back a cough.

She tried to throw me off. Thank you Grandma Tsunade!

"Karin don't let that mark take over you." I hissed. Karin continued to struggle. I punched her in the face with my left hand. I held up the scarred side. "No matter what, remember?"

Karin shut her eyes tightly. The mark started to retreat. It was gone. I relaxed. Big mistake. Karin threw me off. I did a back flip in order to land on my feet. I felt horrible, my head was spinning and I felt like I was going to throw up. Karin stood up slowly, shakily. It had come to this. Who ever went down first, whoever stayed standing. I could tell Hayate wanted to call it a tie but he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. A coughing fit came over me and my legs gave out. I lost. I lay face down on the ground then rolled over on my back. I started laughing for what reason I don't know. Karin rolled onto her back and started laughing too. Our hair mingled with each other's.

"You win, Karin." I said.

"Yeah, but barely!" She laughed.

Medical-nin came and started healing our wounds. Grandma Tsunade looked furious as she worked on my wounds. My wood couldn't stop all of the splinters, I only let it stop the larger ones.

Karin and I supported each other as we walked up the steps to join the others. Everyone said how it was really close and congratulated Karin on winning and told me I was stupid for fighting. Personally I don't blame them. Grandma Tsunade looked like she wanted to grab me and drag me home but Grandpa Jiraiya held her back.

"Guys." Kiba said. Akamaru barked as Kiba pointed to the screen. Names were flying across it. Everyone stopped talking. I sat down and put my legs through the bars of the railing. The names stopped next up was Xia verses Shikamaya. There were a few gasps of shock but not as many as when my name had popped up.

Xia and Shikamaya turned to each other.

"Well this is a drag." Shikamaya said.

Xia laughed and pulled out a scroll. "There's something I've been meaning to use any way." Her eyes had their usual playful look.

"I didn't know you were-"

"I want to keep it a surprise." Xia interrupted Shikamaya winking.

Shikamaya smirked and flung herself over the railing at the same time Xia did.

Gaara and Naruto stood on either side of me. "This is going to be a fun match." I said.

There were several laughs and murmurs of agreement from my friends. Shikamaya and Xia were staring each other down, both smirking.

Is it just me or is smirking like your squad's thing?- Naruto

Yeah, I've noticed that too.- Gaara.

I never noticed that. I raised my eyebrows. This is really going to be fun... I giggled.

"Begin." Hayate said.