A/N: My lovely readers/reviewers, is having what appear to be technical difficulties with story updating. I finally figured out a way to bypass and update this new chapter that I uploaded a couple days ago by reading several forums on this topic. Some of you might not get alerts to the new chappie right away, so I apologize. I am already working on the next chapter and I hope to have it done soon. Also, please ignore the A/N at the end of the chapter, because I already started on the next chappie before figuring out how to update! Please enjoy!

Since she really wouldn't be fighting anymore, Kari decided she'd move back and forth between the waiting area and the crowd. She found Kiba and Hinata down in the front row with Kotetsu and Izumo.

"Hey, guys!"

They all looked over at her, Kiba getting excited. "Oh, Kari! Finally decided that I was the best person to be with?"

She rolled her eyes at the comment, pushing him over some to take a seat next to him. "Only in your dreams, Kiba!"

Izumo looked at her with a confused look. "Shouldn't you be in the waiting area with the others?"

She shook her head. "Not really. Apparently, the person I was supposed to go up against dropped out. I won by default."

"Oh, man…I'm sorry. I knew you were looking forward to fighting and all."

She shook her head, giving them a smile. "Nah, it's all right. Besides, I'll just cheer for my friends!"

"Who would've believed that little squirt would've survived this long." Kotetsu stated, talking about Naruto.

"Yeah. He's been one lucky kid so far, but his lucks about to run out. He'll never survive this one." Izumo said. Both were met with sharp whacks upside the head from Kari.

"You should never doubt the abilities of someone until you see them for yourself."

They shut up after that, and Akamaru began to whimper, Kari and Kiba glancing at the puppy. "Yeah Akamaru, what is it?"

Akamaru whimpered again, Kari understanding him. 'There's an ANBU member here…'

Kiba gasped, "What? Are you sure?" Kari looked over towards the very back of the crowd, her eyes narrowing when she saw the cat mask and black cloak. "What the hell are the ANBU Black Opps doing here?" Kiba asked, the question not directed to anyone in particular.

She frowned, shaking her head. "Beats me, but…whatever the reason, it can't be good."

Something big was going on. Without a doubt…

Most of Naruto's match consisted of Kiba and Hikari yelling at him, Hikari mostly cheering him on. In the end, Naruto managed to gain the upper hand and win. Unfortunately for Kiba, he didn't get to see it because Hinata began to cough up blood. One of the ANBU members took them away to get Hinata treated, leaving Kari with Izumo and Kotetsu.

"The winner is Naruto Uzumaki." Genma announced, and Hikari jumped for joy, cheering loudly along with the crowd.

"YEAH!" Without thinking, Kari jumped over the railing and down onto the field, running towards Naruto. "YOU DID IT! YOU REALLY DID IT, NARUTO!" She tackled him into a happy hug, pulling away and giving him a high five before the blonde began to run around the field, cheering happily. She laughed at him for a moment before moving over to the waiting area, teleporting in next to Shikamaru.

"Naruto defeated Neji?" Shikamaru asked no one in particular. "Oh man, I can't believe it. And I thought Naruto was the same as me, one of the dorky uncool guys."

Shino looked over at him, "Dorky and uncool?"

"You do realize you just basically insulted yourself?"

"Now everyone is saying he's going to make something big of himself. Just great! I doubt I can beat him now. This is really bad. I've never felt so depressed…What a drag…"

Naruto came up and began to talk with Shikamaru. Hikari blocked them out and stared up at the sky, where a hawk flew over head. She stared up at it, mentally communicating with it.

'Scout the area for Sasuke Uchiha. If you find him, fly back overhead.'

As the crowd began to grow impatient, Hikari moved to where the Hokage was, surprising him.

"Hikari, what is it?"

"Grandpa Hokage, please don't disqualify Sasuke Uchiha. I know that if we wait a little longer, he'll show."

"Lord Hokage, I ask you to take this girls request in consideration; consider waiting a little longer before disqualifying Sasuke Uchiha." The Kazekage said.

The body guard for the Hokage, Raido, spoke up. "I understand your point, but no matter how excellent a shinobi he may be, he's late and we can't make special allowances. If there is no clear reason to make all the shinobi leaders and feudal lords wait, then there's no reason not to disqualify him immediately."

"I see…Then it's a good thing I do have a clear reason." Lord Kazekage stated, the three looking over at him. "Including myself, most of the shinobi leaders and feudal lords here came simply because they want to see the next match."

"Yes, but still-"

"He's the only remaining member of the Uchiha clan, and I know the land of wind especially is hoping for a bout between Sasuke and our Gaara."

Raido looked over at the Hokage. "Lord Hokage?"

"Very well then. We will make an exception. We shall postpone this match and wait. Inform the proctor right away."

"Yes sir."

Kari smiled happily, looking over at the Kazekage and bowing respectfully. "Where are my manners? It's an honor to have you visiting our village, Lord Kazekage! I do hope you enjoy the upcoming matches and your stay here. You too, Grandpa Hokage." She made a hand sign and disappeared in a cloud of flower petals, reappearing back in the waiting area. Genma announced the change in plans, and Shikamaru panicked.

"Hey! That means my battle is one match closer now, what a drag!"

"Shino and Kankuro, come down!" Genma ordered.

"Proctor! I withdraw!" Kankuro announced, everyone staring over at him shock. "I withdraw, so please advance to the next match!"

Genma sighed, "Due to Kankuro's withdrawal, Shino Aburame wins by default. Also, due to the lack of his appearance, Dosu has forfeited the match that would be after this next one, and Hikari Sarutobi also wins by default."

Hikari sighed dejectedly. 'Jeez Uncle Genma, just announce it to the entire world, will ya?'

The blonde girl that was on Gaara's team rode down on her large fan, and Genma looked up at the waiting area. "Hey, you up there! Come down."

"Aw, come on! What're you doing, moving these matches up like this? Why does it have to my stupid match that gets pushed up? Oh man, this is such a drag!" Shikamaru complained.

"Shikamaru Nara, come on!"

"Alright! Shikamaru, you can do it!" Naruto exclaimed, slapping him roughly on the back, hard enough to send him flying over the edge of the railing and down to the ground below.

'Damn that Naruto…'

0o0o0o0o0oo0

Sasuke's match got a bit closer than I had thought it would, all thanks to Shikamaru…In the end, he had Temari, but he gave up. The lazy bum. Poor Naruto got mad about it and jumped down to yell at Shikamaru. I shook my head, looking up at the sky. My hawk hadn't come back yet, telling me that Sasuke wasn't anywhere around the village…at least, not yet.

'And to think, I got your sorry ass more time…'

I jumped down to the ground and ran over to Genma. "How much longer are they giving him?"

"10 more minutes. This crowd isn't happy about it though. Listen to them: They're completely restless."

An incredibly stupid yet seemingly brilliant idea popped into my head. "What if we were to give them some entertainment?"

"Huh?"

"I have an idea!"

0o0o0o0o0

Kari reappeared back on the field, 9 shadow clones with her, the clones in cheerleading outfits, Kari still in her regular attire. Genma's senbon nearly fell from his mouth as he saw them. "What the hell are you doing and why are they dressed like that?"

"You'll see! All right, who brought the CD player?"

"Right here!" One of the clones piped up, bringing the CD player. Hikari took it and sat it down. "All right, into your positions!"

They got into position, and Kari hit the play button, running back quickly with the pair of pompoms in her hands.

Motteke! Sailor Fuku begins-

A vague 3 cm

Ain't that a flexible rule?

For rapping, a sailor uniform…

It isn't a disadvantage

Gotta do your best!

Gotta do it!

That's when we catch and release

In between the sweat

Sweat

Then I say Darlin' Darlin' FREEZE!

Everyone instantly stopped complaining and turned their attention to the field as Hikari an her clones danced, Hikari singing along with the CD.

Kinda down Kinda out

I love you

Huh?

Just one letter's different

You wimp

Gymnastic high bar

Gourmet-enough already!

That blazing body of the that gal who flew off

Is she what we call a normal girl?

Am I the only one who's surprised?

A second helping of Tonkotsu

They moved around, changing positions, the crowds full attention on them.

BON-BON cheer squad

Let's get! Cherry pie

RAN-RAN welcome party

Look up! Sensation

Yeah!

Feels like something's there

An asteroid bumped into me and crumbled away

Sing out squadron ranger

Take it!

I'm supposed to be the one who laughs last

Because of my sailor uniform

That's the conclusion

I'm in a bad mood

Even though it's Monday!

What to do?

Summer clothes will fix it

Cuuute!

I hesitate until it gets close to 3 pix's

Try your best!

Be eager

My Darlin' Darlin' PLEASE!

The clones poofed away and the tape stopped. Hikari bowed, quietly praying for Sasuke to hurry up. Just as Genma was about to call it over, a storm of leaves appeared, blowing away to reveal a late Jonin and Uchiha.

"Sorry we're late. You wouldn't believe the traffic."

Genma ignored Kakashi's excuse and looked down at Sasuke. "And you are?"

Sasuke looked up at him with a plain expression on his face. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha."

The crowd went wild and Hikari smiled. 'At least they didn't get here while I was dancing…that would've been something Sasuke would've used against me…'

"Heh, so you decided to show up after all? I was betting you wouldn't come cause sooner or later you'd have to face me!" Naruto exclaimed.

Sasuke smirked, glancing over at him. "So what about you? Did you win?"

"You know it!"

"Heh, well, don't get too full of yourself. You're still a loser." He walked over to Kari and smirked. "Well, did you win?"

She looked down with a sad smile. "Yeah…By default."

"What?"

"Dosu never showed, so I automatically won. I didn't even get to show off my new skills."

He smirked at her, "By the way, that was an interesting thing you did to buy time. I had no idea you could dance, Karasu…"

"There are an awful lot of things you don't know, Duck-butt…" She grabbed a strand of his hair. "Nice get up, by the way. I'm gonna say that's what took you so long. And your hair is longer…Just look at it. Listen, Sasuke; I want you to promise me something."

"What is it?"

"Promise me you won't lose to Gaara."

He smirked. "Got it."

A/N: Should I write a detailed description of Sasuke's fight with Gaara, or should I skip it and start at the part where the Village is under attack? Let me know. Hope you enjoyed this crappy chappie!