Hello everyone Shinonigga here and first off I have to thank all the readers, because this story now has over 100,000 hits! But before we get on with the chapter you should probably know there's going to be a lot of fighting in it, and not much of anything else. So if fighting scenes are what you're into then you'll most likely enjoy this chapter, if not well forgive me but it can't be helped. So without further ado here's chapter twenty five.
Chapter 25: To make the cut
"The first match of the prelims…cough…will be Naruto Aburame against…cough…Neji Hyuga." Hayate says in a tired voice before he erupted into a fit of coughs. "Forgive me" he says after his coughing subsided. "Anyway will everyone except the…cough…two participants move to the upper levels?"
All the genin complied and made to move to the upper levels with their respective Jonin-sensei following after them.
Anko stopped by Naruto on her way past him, and whispered in his ear. "Try to give everyone a good show out there will yah?"
Naruto nodded after all he'd been waiting for their eventual confrontation, and planned on humbling the arrogant Hyuga in the coming match.
Anko had soon joined Fu and Haku at the upper level. Her team was currently sandwiched between teams eight and nine. And she grumbled to herself when the Sensei of team nine stepped up to her side.
"Tough luck Anko-san" A tall man wearing a green spandex suit with a bowl cut, and abnormally thick eyebrows whispered to Anko. "Your student must have horrible luck to get stuck fighting with Neji in the first round."
Anko smirked "That's not the way I see it Gai, my gaki's going to grind that pretty boy into the dirt." Anko replied with pure confidence.
Meanwhile Hinata was looking down at the arena with an anxious expression on her face. She knew Naruto was strong, but Neji was a prodigy among their clan. She couldn't help but feel some form of worry for her blond friend.
Shino seemed to have sensed Hinata's turmoil, and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You're worried about Naruto yes?"
Hinata let out a weak laugh "Is it that obvious?"
Shino adjusted his glasses. "You needn't worry about Naruto; he'll pull through this just fine." Shino reassured her.
"Hehe Naruto's about to thrash that arrogant snob, right Akamaru?" Kiba says letting his opinion about the fight be known.
Meanwhile both Gaara, and Sasuke, were staring at the two combatants anxiously. They couldn't wait to see the outcome of two fighters of Naruto's and Neji's caliber go at it.
Even Kakashi had put away his book to watch the fight closely.
"So Kurotsuchi what do you think his chances are for victory?" Hoshi says appearing in a swirl of dust behind her team. "You are the only one who engaged him in combat."
Kurotsuchi smirked "Naruto-kun will win this easily; he's definitely one tough nut."
"Tch is that just a way to toot your own horn" Inseki cut in. "I mean you did beat him after all."
Kurotsuchi glared at Inseki. "Shut the hell up, I only won because I had the element of surprise, not to mention the information we have on his abilities. If the fight had been on fair grounds from the beginning I would have lost there's no questioning it."
Inseki grinned "Well that's good news that means he might actually be worth my time unlike the rest of the scum here." Inseki says while crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall.
"Enough Inseki, you know satisfying your ego isn't the reason where here." Hoshi scolded. "Now watch the fight closely so you'll see what you're up against."
Meanwhile down on the floor Hayate had given the ok for Naruto and Neji to start. Most of the onlookers were hanging over the railing in anticipation by this point.
Naruto took a few steps back and stared at Neji with calculating eyes.
Neji simply smirked at his opponent. "So it would appear fate has finally brought us together Aburame. It's only fitting that so many will be here to watch as your foolish dreams are brought to end by my hands."
Naruto furrowed his eyebrows. "You believe my dreams to be foolish? Is that because you've subjected yourself to not having dreams of your own?"
Neji narrowed his eyes on Naruto. "A branch member of the Hyuga can never have dreams of their own. In fact dreams are nothing but an illusion that people use to shield themselves from the real world. Our lives are all pre determined by fate, not hopeless dreaming."
"I just don't understand your way of thinking." Naruto says while eyeing Neji carefully. "You're a genius among your clan; surely you can do anything you set your mind to. Why do you have this warped way of thinking?"
Neji shut his eyes before he began to remove his headband revealing a green x shaped seal imprinted on his forehead "It's because of this."
Naruto quirked his eyebrow. "The curse seal?"
Neji nodded before wrapping his headband back on his head. "I assume lady Hinata has told you about it and its functions."
"She has, but by no means does a seal control our fates." Naruto says with a smirk. "Take it from someone who knows" he added.
Neji gritted his teeth in anger. "And just what the hell would you know about it huh?" Neji challenged coldly. "You know nothing about having something placed on you that you had no control over."
"I do, but I don't let it rule me either." Naruto says while outstretching his hands. "I've chosen my own fate, and I'll prove it here by beating you."
Neji smirked, before he activated his Byakugan. "Then show me Aburame, show me that fate can be deified by beating me here and now." Neji says while shifting into a Juken stance.
"I will" Naruto answers simply, as his kikai began to file out of his sleeves, and collar.
The onlookers watched in awe and disgust as thousands of tiny black beetles flew out Naruto's sleeves and rose into the air.
"Alright Naruto-nii bust his ass up!!" Fu shouted from the top level.
"Come on Neji show them how bright your youthful flames burn!!" Gai shouted even louder then Fu.
Naruto's beetles at this point had completely filed out of his body and were now hovering above the two contenders ominously. Neji didn't bother to look at the kikai considering he could see them with his Byakugan.
Kiba watched the scene with a bewildered expression. "Hey Shino why are Naruto's beetles just flying around like that, shouldn't he use them to swarm Neji?" Kiba questioned Shino.
Shino adjusted his glasses and eyed the scene carefully. "I've seen Naruto use this strategy once in our training. It's a method of distraction."
"What do you mean?" Kiba asked curiously.
"Just watch and you'll see what I mean" Shino answered plainly.
"Alright Neji let's start" Naruto says as pulled his hand into a single hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted as nine clones appeared on either side of him. Five of the Naruto's drew there staffs while the remaining five summoned their kusarigama's.
Tenten grinned at seeing Naruto pull out so many weapons, but knew Neji was perfectly equipped for dealing with them. She could only guess who would be the eventual winner.
"Nine shadow clones?" Hoshi muttered as she watched the fight. "That's a Jonin level technique if I'm correct."
"Yeah he only used one during our fight" Kurotsuchi added, while watching the fight closely. 'Does that mean Naruto-kun was holding back against me?'
Meanwhile Neji eyed the clones carefully before he realized there was no way to tell the difference between them and the real one. 'Interesting he's distributed his chakra among these clones evenly, and not even my Byakugan can tell the clones apart from the real one'
Naruto along with his clones suddenly charged. Neji awaited for the incoming Naruto's patiently. The first clone attempted to trip Neji up with his staff but Neji flipped over the staff and drove his foot into the clones gut dispelling it.
'One down' Neji mentally noted.
A second clone rounded on Neji and delivered an upward thrust with his staff that was aimed for Neji's gut. Neji with perfect precision grabbed the staff between his legs and twisted his body yanking the staff from the clones grip. Shifting his body in mid air he flung the staff at a fast approaching clone wielding a kusarigama, the staff struck home and dispelled the clone. Not wasting any time Neji performed a palm strike to the weaponless clone effectively dispelling it.
'That's three'
As this was going on Gai was watching the fight with a bright toothy grin. He always did appreciate Neji's efficiency at being able to counter and dish out damage at the same time. "It would appear Neji's giving your student a run for his money don't you think Anko-san?" Gai challenged.
Anko shrugged "my gaki's just playing nice right now, just wait and see" Anko countered.
Using his Byakugan Neji was able to spot the two clones coming in from behind and performed a backwards flip over the two and landed behind them. Moving swiftly he drove two palm strikes to the backs of the clones destroying them in the process.
'And there's five"
Neji rounded on another clone that was approaching and prepared to deliver it a blow with an open palm but his wrist was caught mid thrust by the tale end of one of Naruto's kusarigama. Naruto forcibly pulled back on the kusarigama and yanked Neji towards him and Neji was met with a brutal kick to his stomach that sent him crashing along the ground into the unforgiving arena floor.
When Neji stopped skidding across the ground Naruto and his clones were already ready to pounce on him. They came flying in swiftly with their staffs and kusarigama's, but Neji merely smirked before he quickly pulled himself to his feet and performed a Kaiten.
Naruto and his clones were instantly stopped in their tracks and thrown violently away from the spinning globe of chakra Neji had created. Naruto's clones popped out of existence and Naruto went skidding across the ground until his back met with the far wall cracking it in the process.
Hinata's eyes widened after seeing Neji unleash the Kaiten a jutsu that was reserved for only main house members of their clan.
Neji stared at Naruto's down formed with a smirk before he walked up to him. "You understand now don't you?" Neji asked dryly. "Fate can't be decided, now summit to me this match is over."
"The hell it is" Naruto says while lifting himself to his feet.
Neji glared at Naruto. "You just don't know when to give up do you?" Neji says while narrowing his eyes dangerously on Naruto. "No matter I'll finish this now!" Neji shouted as he flung himself towards Naruto and prepared to deliver a finishing blow.
Naruto managed to catch Neji by the wrist before Neji could drive his palm strike home. Neji gritted his teeth and tried to send another strike but Naruto caught his second hand as well.
"Now that I got these dangerous hands of yours out of the way." Naruto says while leaping off the ground and firmly planting both his feet into Neji face, sending the Hyuga prodigy sailing across the arena and bouncing off the ground like a cue ball.
When Neji finally stopped skidding across the ground he clutched his shattered nose in agony. "Damn you Aburame!" he roared in pure rage, as blood gushed from his nose.
Meanwhile Gaara was watching the fight with mounting excitement. The sight of freshly spilled blood only severed to fuel is own desire to spill someone's blood.
Back on the floor Neji had regained his calm demeanor and stared at Naruto with piercing eyes. "I wouldn't get to over confident Aburame I've yet to show you what I'm truly capable of."
Naruto leveled Neji an even stare. "And neither have I" Naruto shot back while summoning five more shadow clones.
Neji smirked "Don't you realize that won't work on me a second time?" Neji challenged while charging Naruto and bypassing the clones that came to meet him.
Naruto eyebrows shot above the rim of his shades as Neji stopped in front of him and positioned himself in an unfamiliar stance.
"You're in my field of divination, and you won't escape my eight trigrams." Neji then began to unleash consecutive strikes on Naruto. "Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms! Sixteen palms! Thirty two palms! Sixty four palms!"
Naruto was sent hurdling back by the blows and crashed into the wall and coughed up a bit of blood. His clones that he had summoned suddenly popped out of existence, and Neji grinned knowing he had hit the real Naruto with his attack.
Neji with a triumphant grin walked up to Naruto. "You see it now don't you?" Neji asked with a bit of haughtiness in his tone. "I warned you not to try and defy what path fate has chosen for us. But you refused to listen now look at you groveling in the dirt at my feet."
Naruto grinned catching Neji off guard. "I thought I told you I control my own fate" Naruto says as he lifted his hand into a hand sign. "Boom" he muttered under his breath. As his body exploded sending Neji crashing hard into the ground and tearing chunks out of the floor as his body skidded across it.
The onlookers stared in awe and amazement at what they had seen.
When the dust cleared Neji was shakily lifting himself to his feet, while clutching his badly bleeding shoulder. He stared at the arena with an expression mixed with anger and confusion. 'I don't understand where's the real one?' As Neji thought this he spotted a lone kusarigama lying on the floor. His eyes widened when the kusarigama burst into a cloud of smoke and revealed Naruto standing in its place.
Naruto shifted his body and stared at Neji. "Our match is over" Naruto stated bluntly.
Neji gritted his teeth in anger "the hell it is!" Neji roared as he made to charge Naruto but realized he couldn't move. Neji stared down at his feet and gasped at what he saw. His feet were currently being held in place by a thick amount of Naruto's kikai. "When the hell did you get these things on me?" Neji demanded.
"That's of little consequence now, but my kikai have slowly been attaching themselves to you over the course of our fight. Even with your Byakugan you were too occupied with our fight to notice them." Naruto replied dryly. "Now give up and withdraw from this match" Naruto advised.
"I don't think so" Neji countered as he tried to use a Kaiten to send the bugs off his feet but found he couldn't spin with them holding his feet in place.
Naruto sighed "I warned you." He says before the kikai that were hovering in the air above them started to rain down on Neji engulfing his body completely.
The spectators winced and some turned away from the sight of Neji being swarmed by the thousands of beetles. Soon nothing could be heard except for Neji's screaming as the kikai drained him of enough charka to render him unconscious.
Anko grinned knowing the match was as good as over. She then turned to Gai with a triumphant smirk. "Told yah my gaki was going to wipe the floor with him."
After a minute or so Naruto recalled his kikai back into his body and turned away from Neji's motionless body. "Call the match" he stated to Hayate.
Hayate leapt over to Neji's inert body and checked his condition before giving Naruto a nod "Winner of the first match…cough…Naruto Aburame."
Naruto watched as the medics carried Neji off on a stretcher before he started to make his way back up the stairs. He could suddenly feel a wave of killer intent being directed at him and he turned to face it. He wasn't surprised to find it was Gaara leaking the bloodlust his way, but he shrugged it off and continued on his way.
"Hm way to go Naruto" Kiba congratulated Naruto as he was passing their team. "You really showed that snob what's for." Akamaru barked his agreement.
"The way you utilized your kikai was most becoming" Shino added.
"Yes your match was exquisite Naruto-kun" Hinata chimed. "I just hope Neji-nii will be okay" she added softly.
Naruto nodded "You don't have to worry about Neji he'll be just fine when his chakra recovers, hopefully that fight will serve as an eye opener for him." Naruto added before walking off to join his team.
When Naruto returned to his team he was instantly wrapped in a headlock by Anko. "Way to go gaki, I knew you'd come through for me."
"Congratulations on your match Naruto-kun" Haku says with a bright smile.
"Yeah Naruto-nii, now all that's left are for me and Haku-san to win our matches and our whole team passes on." Fu chorused in.
Naruto wrenched himself from Anko's grip "Yeah, you guys just make sure you do that." Naruto says while casting his gaze back to the score board that was now flashing new names across it.
The crowd watched with bated breaths as the names flashed across the screen before it stopped and landed on two names.
Hayate looked at the score board with a sickly expression on his face before he called out. "Will Tenten and Sakura Haruno…cough…please come down?"
"That's unfortunate for Sakura-san" Haku says while watching both Tenten and Sakura make their way down to the arena floor. "Tenten-san's methods of attack aren't meant for painless victories."
Naruto nodded his agreement "I can testify to that" Naruto says remembering the painful sparring match he had with Tenten.
(Meanwhile)
Tenten and Sakura had both eased themselves into fighting stances, and waited for the go head from Hayate. When they were cleared to fight Tenten leapt backwards a couple meters and stared at Sakura.
"I'll warn you Sakura you should summit" Tenten advised the pink haired girl in front of her.
Sakura stared back at Tenten with a fierce determination. "I don't think so, not with Sasuke-kun watching." Sakura says while inching her finger towards her kunai pouch.
Tenten eyes darted to Sasuke for a second and she noticed the Uchiha had his eyes locked on Naruto and wasn't paying any attention to their fight. Tenten sighed before reaching for her waist and grabbing a scroll. "Sakura take my advice you're a ninja now and should focus on bettering your abilities instead of fawning over a boy, who from what I can tell has not interest in you." Sakura scowled but Tenten paid it no mind. "After this fight maybe you'll have a better understanding for what a true kunoichi fights like" she concluded as she outstretched the scroll in her hand.
"Release!" she shouted as two pairs of knuckle dusters popped out of the scroll and she caught them in her hands.
Sakura took a step back 'Damn is she really going to attack me with those things.' Sakura thought nervously as she watched Tenten put on the knuckle dusters.
"These are the least dangerous weapons I have." Tenten says while positioning herself into a taijutsu stance.
Sakura narrowed her eyes and steeled her conviction before charging Tenten and pulling out a hand full of shuriken. Sakura leapt into the air and threw the shuriken full force towards Tenten. Tenten blocked the incoming shuriken with her brass knucks effortlessly and darted towards Sakura's descending body.
Sakura flipped through some hand signs and summoned five clones to confuse Tenten.
Tenten smirked at the weak excuse for a jutsu. "Academy level jutsu won't work on me" Tenten retorted as she bypassed the clones and drove her fist firmly into Sakura's gut knocking the wind from her. Tenten wasted no time in delivering a back hand to Sakura with her brass knucks sending the pink haired girl skidding across the ground painfully.
Sakura gritted her teeth and wiped away the trickle of blood from her lip, before standing up and reaching for a kunai. "I'm not done yet" Sakura boasted before charging back into the fray.
Sakura tried for a downward slash but Tenten leapt backwards to avoid the slash and retaliated with a vicious uppercut to Sakura's chin, that sent Sakura airborne.
Tenten leapt off the ground to get above Sakura and ran through some hand seals. "Wind style: Violent Wind Palm!" Tenten blasted a stream of air from her palm that barreled into Sakura sending the girl crashing hard into the awaiting floor below.
Sakura landed with an audible thump as her body and head connected with the stone floor, and lied there unmoving.
Tenten landed gracefully in a crouched position on the ground and stared at Sakura's motionless form.
Hayate walked over to Sakura and crouched down next to her and tilted her head. "She's out cold…cough…winner Tenten" Hayate says while pointing his hand at Tenten.
Excessively loud cheers and shouting of youth could be heard curtsey of Gai and Lee
"Tch what kind of match was that" Anko asked with disdain "That Sakura girl fights like she still belongs in the academy." Anko then rounded on Kakashi who was standing a team away from them. "Hey Kakashi just what in the hell have you been teaching that girl?" Kakashi looked up from his book with a disinterested expression. "Jack shit by the looks of it, you'd oughta be ashamed you lazy bastard." Anko spat in disgust.
Kakashi shrugged before going back to reading his smut.
"Why that…I swear that attitude of his really pisses me off." Anko grumbled.
"Oh Anko-san don't let my eternal rivals to cool for school attitude, dampen your flames of youth!" Gai boasted loudly.
Anko furrowed her eyebrows. "Will you shut up Gai, I'm standing right here damn it."
Naruto shook his head at the two teachers' antics before he turned his attention back to the score board to see who would be fighting next. After the names stopped flashing Hayate cleared his throat.
"Will Kurotsuchi and Choji…cough…Akimichi please report to the…cough…arena?"
Kurotsuchi grinned before leaping over the railing and landing smoothly on the ground below. While Choji hesitantly made his way down the stairs. He was more then nervous about the fight, but felt that maybe he could over power his opponent.
Sarutobi took a drag of his pipe and leaned in a bit closer. 'Well this should be an interesting match; it's been quite some time since Iwa has sent any competitors to the chunin exams.' Sarutobi thought while eyeing Kurotsuchi carefully.
Anko snorted "So this is the girl that gave you so much trouble?" she says while looking at Naruto.
Naruto merely nodded while eyeing the competitors closely.
Anko smirked. "I gotta admit I like that look in the girl's eyes." Anko says with a fierce grin. "She looks like she thrives on causing others pain, something we have in common."
Naruto simply rolled his eyes at his sensei's comment and returned his attention back to the fighters below.
(Bottom Level)
Kurotsuchi and Choji faced off against each other and Hayate stepped up. Lifting his hand in the air he gave the signal for them to start and hopped back so to not get caught in the action himself.
Choji gulped as he eyed his opponent. He took note of how she only stood stoic still almost as is she was bored with the whole situation.
Kurotsuchi smirked as she watched Choji fidget. "Well are you going to attack me or not?" She challenged as she readied herself into a fighting stance.
Upon looking at Kurotsuchi's overconfident visage Choji steeled his resolve and prepared to attack. Racing through some quick hand seals he chanted "Ninja art: Super Multi Size Technique!" Choji's body expanded into an unbelievable size, and Kurotsuchi had to cover her mouth to suppress her giggling.
"What the hell kind of Jutsu is this?" Kurotsuchi mocked while snickering. "I mean weren't you fat enough?"
Choji narrowed his eyes dangerously at the insult. "That's it no more holding back!" Choji shouted in anger, as he called out "Ninja art: Human boulder!" Choji tucked away his head and limbs and began to roll towards Kurotsuchi.
"Well look at that, a rolling fatass." Kurotsuchi teased as she jumped over Choji's boulder form with limited effort. "Is that all you got?"
Choji made a slow turn around and headed back for Kurotsuchi, whom began to leap out of the way of his relatively slow advances.
Meanwhile Shikamaru slapped his hand over his head. "Man this is almost too troublesome to watch." Shikamaru stated with a bored expression on his face.
Ino looked at her lazy teammate with a scrutinizing, glare. "And just what do you mean this is too troublesome to watch? That's our teammate down there show a little more support."
Shikamaru merely yawned. "And what would be the point in that, just look at the girl she's obviously playing with Choji. I mean that grin hasn't left her face since they've started the match."
Ino's eyebrow twitched dangerously. "You're a jackass you know that you lazy bum. Now let's see if I cheer for you during your match."
Shikamaru shrugged "well that would simply be troublesome on its own." Shikamaru countered.
Ino gritted her teeth in anger and prepared to bop Shikamaru over the head, But Asuma placed his hand on her shoulder.
"There's really no point in arguing with your own teammate Ino" Asuma stated before taking a drag of his cigarette. "Besides Shikamaru's right about this match."
Ino frowned "you can't really mean that Asuma-sensei."
Asuma sighed. "I'm sorry, but that's just the way it is. Choji's attacks are far to slow to deal with an opponent who can move that swiftly. That's why on team missions Choji doesn't attack until Shikamaru ensnares the opponent."
Ino nodded her head before returning her attention back to the fight.
Meanwhile Kurotsuchi was quickly becoming bored with the little game of tag she was playing with Choji and decided to put an end to it. "Sorry big boy, but our game ends here." Kurotsuchi stated as she made a hand seal. "Earth style: Ensnaring Tar!" Kurotsuchi blasted a stream of tar from her mouth that spilled over the arena floor in front of Choji's rolling form.
Choji's rolling body quickly lost traction underneath the tar, and his body stopped moving completely "Damn it" he muttered as he transformed back into his normal size.
Kurotsuchi grinned at Choji as he tried to free himself from the sticky tar. "Now that you aren't going anywhere." She called out as she charged Choji and delivered a vicious kick to Choji's unprotected face, sending him crashing into the nearby wall.
Choji slid down the wall unconscious.
Hayate leapt onto the scene to check Choji's vitals before declaring Kurotsuchi the victor.
"Tsk tsk that was hardly any fun at all" Kurotsuchi muttered as she made her way back to her team.
Anko whistled "That kid isn't half bad" Anko commented.
Fu gave Anko a half heartened glare. "Just who's side are you on any way Anko-sensei?"
Anko shrugged. "What I'm just saying I can appreciate when a gaki has talent. Besides you should stop worrying about me and worry about yourself because you're up."
Fu turned to the score board and saw that her name was displayed along with Zaku's.
"Will Fu Tonbo and Zaku Abumi…cough…report to the arena?"
Zaku grinned at seeing who his opponent was. "So looks like I get my chance to rough up the green haired one after all." Zaku stated as he made his way down to the arena floor.
Fu merely sighed, before leaping over the railing and landing on the floor below, and heading towards Zaku. "This is ridiculous" Fu muttered as she stopped in front of Zaku. "Do you really plan on fighting me in that condition you're in?"
Zaku smirked, before wriggling one of his arms out of his sling. "Well look at that why dontcha, seems I've got movement in one of these arms of mine."
Fu shrugged "Oh well I tried to let you off easy, so don't blame me when you get hurt."
"As if yah could pull it off" Zaku countered as he charged Fu head on, and delivered a solid left hook at her.
Fu held up her right arm and blocked the incoming blow effortlessly. "Face it you don't stand a chance in hell at beating me with one arm." Fu stated in a bored tone.
Zaku merely grinned catching Fu off guard. "Oh yeah" Zaku challenged as he opened his fist into an open palm revealing his air tube.
Fu quirked her eyebrow, as Zaku blasted a stream of air at her point blank. An explosion erupted from the attack and dust and debris clouded everyone's sight.
When the dust settled Zaku's grin was replaced with a sneer. Fu was no where in sight, but in her place were hundreds of dragonflies. Zaku along with the rest of the crowd had bewildered expressions on their faces as they scanned the room for Fu.
"Come out yah coward" Zaku chorused while searching the area frantically, completely ignoring the dragonfly's until they began to fly in circle fashion around him. "What the hell" Zaku muttered as he watched the dragonfly's pick up speed around him, and begin to give off feint electrical charges.
Meanwhile Shino quirked his eyebrow as he watched the scene unfold with apprehension. As far as he knew Fu didn't have any insect familiars or summons that could attack. But what he was seeing was definitely the start of a coming attack. Shino adjusted his glasses before he turned his attention to Naruto.
"Naruto" Shino spoke in a monotone drawl.
Naruto turned his attention to Shino. "Yeah what is it?"
"From what I know Fu doesn't own a summoning contract, so that leaves me to question how did she even get those dragonflies here. Not to mention if their neither summons nor familiars they shouldn't possess any unique abilities, so how is it their giving off electrical charges?"
Naruto smirked "That's because this is a jutsu of hers that's she been working on for a while now" Naruto answered. "I don't want to give away the ending so just watch and see what happens, it will be over shortly."
Shino nodded and turned his attention back to the fight at hand.
(On the Floor)
Zaku was quickly becoming frustrated; as he watched the dragonflies trap him inside an electrified dome. And it didn't take him long to deicide blasting his way out was his best bet. Extending his arm Zaku chanted "Decapitating Air Wave!" A stream of condensed air plummeted towards the dragonflies and made contact with the dome.
To Zaku's surprise his attack merely caused the dome to shudder slightly but the dragonfly's were unfazed.
"I'll give you one chance to throw in the towel" Fu's voice echoed from within the dome. "If you don't submit I'll fry your ass."
Zaku spat in indignation. "Tah hell with yah!" Zaku shouted as he pulled his second arm free from his sling. "I'll blow your ass away!"
"Wrong answer" Fu's voice replied bluntly from within the dome. The dome began to crackle and give off electric sparks before the dome erupted into one giant flash of bright light, temporarily blinding all the spectators.
All that could be heard was Zaku's shouts and cries of agony, before the flash of light died down.
Naruto and Shino were the first to regain their ability to see considering their glasses shaded their eyes from the brunt of the flash.
Naruto nodded his head in approval as he watched the dragonflies converge into one spot and merge together. Soon Fu was standing in the place were the dragonflies merged together with an earsplitting grin etched on her face.
Hayate stepped onto the scene to check on Zaku. He grimaced at the sight of the badly burnt sound genin. It didn't take a genius to see Zaku wouldn't be getting up from that attack for awhile. Raising his hand in Fu's direction he announced her as the winner.
No cheers were heard only stunned silence accompanied Fu's victory. As eyes darted back in forth between her and Naruto.
'Just what kind of training did Anko give these kids' Kurenai thought along with every other Jonin as she eyed both Naruto, and Fu. 'First the Aburame boy defeated Hyuga Neji without so much as getting a scratch on his body. And now this Fu girl trounced that Oto ninja with one attack.'
Anko smirked when she saw Kurenai eyeing her. "So what's up Kurenai, jealous of my gaki's?'
Kurenai rolled her eyes. "I'm not jealous I was just curious to what kind of training regime your students undertook."
"So looking for some pointers eh?"
Kurenai simply sighed, before returning her attention back to the score board.
When the names stopped flashing Shikamaru grumbled to himself "Looks like I'm up" he stated in a lazy drawl as he made his way down to the arena floor with his hands in his pockets.
"Be careful with this one Kin, we don't know what his abilities are so don't get overconfident." Dosu advised his female companion.
Kin scoffed. "As if I'd lose to such a generic looking ninja like this guy." She replied before leaving down to the arena stadium.
(Meanwhile)
Fu was making her way back up towards her team. "So what did you think of my match Shino-kun?" Fu asked as she was passing team eight.
Kiba cocked his eyebrow at hearing the honorific added to Shino's name. 'Don't tell me some one as quiet as Shino could have better luck then me when it comes to chicks.' Kiba thought bitterly.
"I found your match most intriguing, you'll have to explain to me the mechanics of that jutsu you performed."
Fu smiled "I figured you'd like it, my own personal tribute to the Aburame clan. Though the dragonflies weren't real, I think I played a rather convincing swarm of them don't you think?"
Shino nodded "your flight patterns and way of movement were spot on. Even I couldn't differentiate between you and real dragonflies."
Kurenai watched the exchange between Shino and Fu with interest. She found it hard to believe someone not among the Aburame clan could converse with Shino so comfortably. 'I wonder' she thought with a smile as Shino and Fu continued to talk amongst themselves.
Kiba groaned to himself as he listened in to the relatively boring conversation Shino and Fu were having on insects and how she could implement them into her style of fighting. Deciding he had enough Kiba walked over towards Naruto's group and stood next to Naruto who was watching the fight down below.
"Is there something you needed Kiba?" Naruto questioned without taking his eyes off the fight down below.
Kiba shrugged "just lookin for some better company" Kiba replied simply.
Naruto chuckled slightly. "What's wrong, Shino and Fu-nee boring you to death?"
"How'd you know" Kiba asked while petting Akamaru.
"Trust me I've had my fair share of listening to those two." Naruto answered as he watched the sound kunoichi land another senbon on Shikamaru. "Once those two start talking about insects there's no stopping them."
Kiba nodded thoughtfully. "So what's up with those two anyway?" Kiba asked while shooting a quick glance towards Shino and Fu, whom both seemed to be enjoying each others company. "I mean their not…well yah know."
"Dating?" Naruto asked bluntly.
"Uh yeah" Kiba replied bashfully.
Naruto shook his head. "No their not dating, although me and Haku-san have a creeping suspension that Fu would probably like too."
"Is that a fact?" Kiba asked as he watched Shikamaru ensnare Kin with his shadow possession.
"Yeah, though I'm not sure how my bro feels. He's always been good at keeping his emotions in check."
Kiba chuckled "yeah that guy is like a brick wall sometimes."
Both boys laughed lightly, as they watched Hayate declare Shikamaru the winner by knockout.
Naruto nodded approvingly. "Well that was in interesting match, not very flashy but interesting none the less."
"You gotta be kidding me, how'd Shikamaru of all people pull off a win?" Kiba asked more to himself then Naruto.
Naruto merely shrugged. "You know what they say brain over brawn."
Kiba scoffed. "Well it won't turn out that way with my fight, right Akamaru?"
Naruto adjusted his glasses. "So you're saying you're not intelligent?"
Kiba looked indignant. "What I've never said that."
"Sure you did, you just said your match won't turn out like Shikamaru's. So wouldn't that be implying that in your match brawn will conquer brains?"
"Touché" Kiba replied irritably.
"Besides were about to find out the out come of your match right now considering you're up."
Kiba looked at the score board and sure enough his name was displayed across it, along with Sasuke's. "Damn" Kiba grumbled. "I wasn't exactly looking forward to fighting with Sasuke."
"Yeah you two both rely heavily on your taijutsu skills and speed." Naruto stated. "Well at least the rest of us are in for a good show even if it's at your expense."
"Up yours" Kiba replied as he made his way down to the arena floor with Akamaru on his shoulder.
Naruto snickered to himself; he always did enjoy getting under Kiba's skin.
(On the Floor)
Sasuke and Kiba stood before each other with Hayate in the middle of them.
"Now you two already know the…cough…rules so there's no point in explaining them." Hayate announced while shooting glances between both Sasuke and Kiba. "You two are free…cough…to begin." Hayate says before leaping out of the two boy's way.
Kiba knelt down and placed Akamaru on the ground next to him.
Sasuke eyed the two in front of him with a smirk. "Why don't you get that flea bag of yours out of here, he's just going to be in the way."
"Deal with it teme, Akamaru always goes into battle with me."
Sasuke shrugged "hn fine do what you like, but don't blame me when that mutt get's hurt."
Kiba growled literally at the insult to Akamaru. "I know you're good Sasuke, but don't think for a minute you can take me down easily." Kiba retorted as he readied himself into a fighting stance.
Sasuke did the same and shifted into his family's taijutsu stance. 'It's a good think Kakashi sealed up that curse seal a couple days ago. Now I don't have to worry about being hindered in this fight.' Sasuke thought as he waited patiently for Kiba to make the first move.
In a flash of speed Kiba charged Sasuke on all fours. Using his speed Kiba appeared behind Sasuke and tried to use his claws to slash Sasuke in the back. Sasuke swiftly turned around and blocked the blow with his forearm, and countered with a leg sweep tripping Kiba.
Kiba quickly made a recovery by flipping backwards to put some distance between Sasuke and himself. Sasuke wasted no time in charging right back after Kiba.
At that moment Akamaru tried to attack Sasuke from his blind spot, but Sasuke could sense the small puppy advancing on him. In a blink of an eye Sasuke stopped in his tracks and rounded on the dog delivering a back hand to the puppy sending it flying across the arena. Sasuke smirked at his handy work, before he turned to Kiba. "I told you to call off that little mutt."
Kiba grinned I hope you don't think Akamaru was done in by that weak attack.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes on Kiba before he felt an intense pain on his calf. "What the hell." Sasuke grunted out as he looked down at his leg and sure enough Akamaru was hanging from it. "You little shit" Sasuke spat before rearing up to punt the small animal.
Kiba used that moment to shoulder charge Sasuke sending the Uchiha skidding across the ground painfully. Akamaru let go of Sasuke's leg and leapt back to join his master. "So what's up Sasuke not wining as easily as you thought?"
Sasuke grinned before standing up. "I'm just getting warmed up" Sasuke replied as his eye's turned from onyx black to ruby red.
Naruto's eyes narrowed at the event "Just what exactly did Sasuke do to his eyes?" Naruto asked no one in particularly.
"It's his Sharingan" Hinata answered while walking up to Naruto and Haku.
Naruto cocked his eyebrow "You know of this Hinata-chan?"
Hinata nodded. "Yes it's a dojutsu, like that of the Byakugan." Hinata replied softly. "Though its abilities differ from the Byakugan."
"Do you know what that eye can do?"
"I only know what my father has told me about it." Hinata answered while keeping her eye on the fight down below. "It has the ability to copy and replicate almost any ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu that it comes into contact with."
Naruto's eye brows shot over the rim of his glasses. "Damn that's a bit overkill"
"That's not all" Hinata continued. "It can also be used to predict what your opponent will do."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "If that eye of Sasuke's can really predict what an opponent will do, someone that relies heavily on taijutsu like Kiba is in for one tough fight." Naruto concluded before returning his attention back to the fight.
Kiba by this point was furious as he swiped at Sasuke viciously, whom kept avoiding his blows flawlessly almost as if he knew what Kiba was planning before he did it.
"Face it Kiba, you can't hope to win against my Sharingan." Sasuke replied arrogantly while planting his foot into Kiba's gut sending him sailing across the arena.
Kiba grit his teeth as he dug his claws into the ground to stop himself from sliding. Akamaru quickly bounded to his side and Kiba reached into his coat and pulled out two pills. "It's time we got serious boy." Akamaru barked his agreement as it caught one of the pills in its mouth Kiba also downed one of the pills.
Sasuke watched with disinterest as Akamaru started to change colors and become more feral looking.
Kiba crouched on all fours and Akamaru hopped onto his back. Making a hand sign Kiba shouted "Ninja art: Man beast clone!" A cloud of smoke erupted and when it cleared an exact replica of Kiba was standing on his back.
"Well that's a neat trick; let's see what it's capable of." Sasuke challenged as he charged the two Kiba's.
Akamaru leapt off of Kiba's back and charged forward with Kiba right behind him. "I admit that eye of yours is tricky but let's see how well it works in the smoke." Kiba retorted as he threw a smoke bomb directly at Sasuke.
Sasuke stopped in his tracks as the smoke engulfed him and obscured his vision. "Damn" Sasuke muttered as he scanned the area desperately for Kiba and Akamaru.
Without warning Sasuke was suddenly barreled into by a gray spinning blur, that hit him with terrific force. Sasuke went skidding across the floor and before he could recover another gray blur crashed into him sending him flying out of the smoke.
(Meanwhile)
Hoshi watched the fight with disinterest. "Is this really all the Uchiha are capable of?"
"I knew right off the bat that, that Sasuke was nothing but talk" Inseki replied haughtily. "Even with his famed Sharingan he's getting worked."
"I wouldn't get too cocky if I were you; after all you haven't fought yet." Akatsuchi shoot back.
Inseki scoffed "Aburame, Tonbo, and the Hyuga have already fought, so that only leaves that sand rat and Momochi left to challenge me."
"Well maybe you'll get one of those two" Kurotsuchi cut in. "I for one hope you do, so I can see that arrogant grin wiped off your face."
"I said they could challenge me, I've never said they could win." Inseki countered.
Hoshi merely sighed at Inseki's attitude before returning back to the fight.
Sasuke gripped his bruised ribs in pain when he finally came to a halt. Wiping away the blood from his lip he stared heatedly at Kiba and his doppelganger.
Kiba seeing that he wasn't able to get the job done with his first attack readied another smoke bomb, but Sasuke was quick to respond. Charging right into the fray Sasuke kicked one of the Kiba's up into the air and performed his lion combo. The Kiba and question hit the ground with tremendous force, and was shrouded in a cloud of smoke.
When the dust settled only a battered and unconscious Akamaru remained.
Sasuke smirked "that's one down."
Kiba grit and bawled his fist in anger. "Damn you!" he roared while charging Sasuke in a blind rage.
Kurenai shook her head in disapproval. "That's no way to attack your opponent Kiba."
Sasuke grinned as his Sharingan revealed to him everything Kiba would throw at him. Using his Sharingan to his advantage Sasuke easily blocked all of Kiba's blows. Kiba tried to deliver a kick to Sasuke's gut, but Sasuke caught Kiba's leg in with his arm. "Now that I got a leg up on you." Sasuke called while hitting Kiba with a devastating punch to the face.
Kiba went skidding across the ground, and before he could even recover Sasuke was already looming over him performing hand signs.
Kiba's eyes widened as he pulled up his arms to help guard his face.
"Fire style: Great Fire Ball Jutsu!" Sasuke shouted as he spewed a ball of fire from his mouth the hurdled into Kiba sending him crashing hard into the nearby wall.
Sasuke landed smoothly in front of Kiba.
Hayate walked over towards Kiba to check on him, before he called for the medics and declared Sasuke the winner.
Sasuke stuck his hands in his pockets and headed back up the stairs, all the while never letting the smirk fall from his face.
Sasuke shot Naruto a glare on his way passed. "Don't get comfortable Aburame, you're next."
Naruto and Hinata glared at Sasuke, but he paid it no mind and continued on his way.
"So he thinks he's king of the world now because of that Sharingan?" Anko interjected. "You'd better tear him apart if you have to fight him" she added.
Naruto nodded. "I thought his head was big before he had that Sharingan." Naruto replied while watching the names flash across the screen. Both Naruto's and Anko's stomach dropped when the names stopped flashing. "Shit" Naruto cursed as he turned to Haku.
Haku's eyes narrowed on the bored "So I guess it's my turn now" Haku stated while walking past Naruto.
Naruto placed his hand on Haku's shoulder "I know you're going to go out there no matter what I tell you. So good luck, and if things start to get nasty out there I want you to forfeit."
Haku nodded, and continued on her path.
Fu then took the liberty in getting in Haku's way. "I know Naruto-nii has already told you to be carful out there, but I'll say it too. There's definitely something off about this guy so if things get dicey get the hell out of there."
Haku nodded and continued on her way.
Meanwhile Kurotsuchi was tapping her feet nervously. 'Sorry Naruto-kun but that girl doesn't' stand a chance.'
When Haku got down to the arena her opponent was already waiting for her.
Hayate cleared his throat. "The seventh match…cough…between Haku Momochi and…cough…Gaara of the sand begins now.
Finally I'm finished with the first half. I felt that I needed to describe all the fights since there all new matchups. But I didn't show Shikamaru's and Kin's because you've already seen it a million times. Anyway please review and I should have the next chapter out by next week, so until then later.