Kiba cleared his throat before continuing to talk, "Now I'd like to begin round two of our Jonin matches!"
The crowd cheered in response. "Yesterday we saw both of these women utterly demolish their opponents. One for her nearly unmatched speed in combat, mixed with her raw power. The other for her grace and remarkable skill that has made her a threat for her enemies for years."
The crowd continued to cheer as Sasuke smirked already aware of who was going to fight in this round. But the smirk disappeared when he realized that if Sarada was right Hinata would lose.
"Allow me to introduce once again, Kuroto Nii of the Hidden Cloud!" Kiba shouted as the crowd cheered for the Cloud ninja that came out calmly until she was in the center of the ring.
"And from the Village Hidden in the Leaves, my own former comrade let me introduce to you, Hinata Uchiha!" He screamed in a very Lee like way that seemed to get the crowd pumped as they stood to their feet cheering for the matchup.
Hinata stared ahead at her opponent. "It was your sister who hurt my daughter like that?"
Kuroto nodded her head.
"I won't hold that against you." Hinata said taking her Hyuga stance and activating her Byakugan.
"It's not going to matter." Kuroto said as a grin spread on her face. "You saw what she did to your daughter, what makes you think you'll do any better?"
Hinata grit her teeth in frustration. "I'm not going to let you play mind games with me."
"Fine." Kuroto said rolling her neck. "This fight shouldn't take that long anyway." She said with a yawn
When she opened her eyes Hinata was already in front of her with her Byakugan active. "Six Trigrams 128 Palms!" Hinata screamed as her hands started to move faster than even Sasuke's Sharingan could follow. She then pulled her arm back again as a purple chakra lion grew over her hand. "Night Lion!" She screamed as her fist struck Kuroto and the chakra continued to push her across the arena into the wall across from her.
Hinata let out a breath as the chakra on her hand disappeared. "That's enough Kiba." She said not looking away from her opponent in the wall. "No one can fight with 128 chakra points blocked."
Kiba was about to announce Hinata as the winner when he notice Kuroto pulling herself out of the rubble. "You're right." She said standing up straight. "But what if they weren't blocked?" She asked as she made eye contact with Hinata.
With a shout Kuroto forced all of her chakra points to open once again. "Can those eyes of yours see what's inside of me?"
Hinata saw the mass of chakra that Kuroto was talking about. But it was still nothing compared to the chakra she had seen within Naruto or Rin. "Are you just going to show off that chakra or are you going to use it?"
"Fine." Kuroto said with a smirk as her eyes changed color, her right eye turned yellow, while the left turned a shade of turquoise. "You asked for this." She said as she charged in front of Hinata.
Hinata readied herself for a charge attack but her eyes widened when she realized that Kuroto had leapt over her and was already striking at her back. Hinata ducked under the punch and punched the Cloud ninja in the face. "You can't attack me from the back." She said backing away from her opponent.
"Lucky hit." Kuroto said wiping the blood off her lip. "You're one of very few people who have hit me when I'm like this."
"I've beaten a Sage before." Hinata spat. "Beating another Biju brat won't be that hard." Chakra lions grew over Hinata's hands again as she took her stance.
Kuroto turned her neck to the side and popped it. "Guess I should start trying now, huh?"
"What?" Hinata asked but her opponent was already in front of her uppercutting Hinata into the air.
"I think I'll borrow that trick I saw him use yesterday." Kuroto said jumping into the air after Hinata and her arm became coated in blue and black flames. "Burn!" Kuroto whispered as her flame coated fist slammed into Hinata's back propelling her into the ground leaving a crater.
Kuroto rubbed the back of her neck. "Guess I still don't know my own strength." She chuckled walking over to the crater Hinata was in. "You ok?" She asked bending over to look inside but found her shirt was grabbed by an enraged and bleeding Hinata.
"You don't know mine." She whispered to the girl before she pulled her into the crater with her. Hinata pinned Kuroto to the ground and started to beat the Cloud ninja into the dirt. "Don't you disrespect me, or my family!" She shouted as her hands were covered in chakra again as she bashed both fists onto Kuroto's face.
"Calm down Hinata." Sasuke whispered from his seat.
Naruto watched from the Kage booth when he glanced over and saw a bead of sweat of Yugito's cheek. "We could call the match if you want."
"No." Yugito said quickly. "She got herself into this, she can get herself out. She's a Jonin of Cloud."
Hinata was about to slam her fist down again when she felt it get caught. "That's enough." Kuroto said as red chakra bubbled over her body.
Hinata's eyes widened for a brief moment before her hand was thrown away and Kuroto kicked the rest of Hinata away.
The blonde chased after her punching Hinata as she continued to fly. "I win!" Kuroto said as her fist slammed into Hinata once again as Hinata flew clear across the arena and slamming her into the wall. The blonde held her fist with her other hand as she was breathing heavy and she watched Hinata fall to the ground motionless.
Kiba walked over to Hinata. "Get me a medic!" He screamed.
Sakura was in the ring in an instant checking for any fatal injuries. After a moment she let out a breath. "She's going to be fine, not a single fatal blow." She said quietly when she turned to look the blonde Cloud ninja.
"Good." Kuroto said turning around and walking away. "That means I win."
Sasuke jumped down into the ring as well as they brought Hinata away on a stretcher. And Sakura took her seat back in the stands.
"Mom's going to be fine?" Sarada asked.
"Yeah." Rin said shocked. "Kuroto didn't hit a single vital organ."
"That's ridiculous." Rin said in shock looking down. "She has the power of a Biju and she still has that much control. As far as I know Naruto's the only one in complete control when he uses Kurama's chakra."
"You don't have control with Isobu?" Sakura asked.
"Not fully." Rin said. "Whenever I try to use it I get angry and it becomes harder to control my actions, unless I give him complete control."
Kiba let out a long breath in the ring again and after a few more matches that were no where near as exciting he announced the final fight of the day.
"Today we have two Jonin from the Village Hidden in the Leaves. We have the veteran Asuma Sarutobi, head of the Sarutobi clan, renowned for his abilities at close range and for his skill with wind chakra blades."
Asuma stood in the center of the ring putting out a cigarette under his shoe as Kurenai and Mirai rubbed their faces at his habit.
Kiba continued. "And we also have the golden boy of the Hidden Leaf, the one and only Kakashi Uchiha!"
The two Jonin stood across from one another, Asuma looking bored and Kakashi like a hardened warrior.
Kiba backed away feeling the killing intent coming off both fighters. "Shinobi combat begin!" He shouted as he lowered his hand and jumped away.
Asuma let out a breath. "Listen kid, let's make this quick, I have plans with the family that I'd like to get to now."
Kakashi said nothing as he pulled out a sealing scroll. Asuma's eyes widened as he watched Kakashi reveal the contents. "Was wondering if I'd ever see that thing again." He said putting another cigarette in his mouth but not lighting it.
Kakashi picked up the Gunbai, Uchiha war fan and held it over his head. "I am Kakashi Uchiha, the head of the Uchiha clan. Son of Obito Uchiha the clan head before me, direct descendent of Madara Uchiha cofounder of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and I will prove to you just what I'm made of."
Asuma smirked but hid it quickly. "I don't know kid." He said shrugging his shoulders. "I mean you may look like your old man, but that doesn't mean your anything like him." Asuma said lighting his cigarette.
Kakashi swiped the Gunbai in the air causing a rush of wind to put out the cigarette in Asuma's mouth. "We fight as clan heads." Kakashi said pointing the massive fan at his opponent before strapping it to his back.
"Fine." Asuma said spitting out the cigarette and pulling out his trench knives. "I won't hold back then."
"Neither will I." Kakashi said activating his Sharingan.
The two rushed at one another, luckily the Sharingan could see that Asuma was changing the length of his chakra blades as he swung them, but with his most recent teacher he was fast enough to dodge the attacks.
Kakashi ducked under one of the knives and brought his own kunai up to block the next blade that Asuma sliced through with ease.
Kakashi backed away breathing heavily as Asuma took his stance across from him. "Your father would've won by now kid." Asuma shouted before whispering. "Guess you aren't good enough for my daughter."
Kakashi's eyes widened before he charged ahead at Asuma, he stopped just out of the Sarutobi's reach and formed hand signs faster than anyone watching could follow. "Water bullet!" He shouted before spitting out a single shot of water that Asuma was about to slice away.
Kakashi looked around, he had a plan in motion for this fight but he needed Asuma to do his part. "Is wind chakra all you've got?" He asked with a smirk.
"I'll show you what I got." Asuma said leaping into the air as a cloud of ash filled the arena. "Burning ash!" He shouted before clenching his teeth and the ash in the arena began to combust and explode.
"No." Mirai said as she felt her mother pull her into a hug.
"You shouldn't get over confident kid." Asuma said landing on the ground.
The dust cleared away and he looked at the water bubble that Kakashi had formed around himself. "Glad this worked." He said with a grin.
"Smart." Asuma said. "But it wasn't enough to get me to blow all my chakra."
"That's not what I was doing." Kakashi said as the water bubble fell to the ground and he walked forward before pointing to the sky.
Asuma looked up at the looming storm clouds. "You aren't a lightning user." Asuma said crossing his arms. "You can't use Sasuke's Kirin to win."
"I may not be lightning." Kakashi said doing a series of handsigns. "But I'm phenomenal with fire and water." He looked up to the sky. "Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!" He screamed as a massive fire dragon flew out of his mouth and into the sky.
Rin watched on. "No way." She said.
"What's he doing?" Sarada asked.
"Isobu has this ability to make it rain, and then his power is much stronger with all the water around him." Rin said looking in shock and awe. "Kakashi is going to make it rain."
Minato was watching intently as he felt the chakra inside of Kakashi starting to stir and move.
Naruto watched in shock. "I never would've thought of that." He said in amazement.
"Thought of what?" Roshi asked confused.
Utakata saw what was happening. "Kakashi is bringing his element to him."
Asuma felt the first rain drop hit the top of his head. "Cool trick I guess." He said before taking his normal stance.
Kakashi grinned as the rain started to fall harder and faster until it was a full storm.
Asuma charged Kakashi as the Uchiha started a seal of hand signs dodging every strike that was made while he continued to weave signs.
Finally Kakashi had finished when he formed the last sign. "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" He screamed but nothing happened.
"Sorry kid." Asuma said walking forward. "But I guess you're out of chakra."
"Nope." Kakashi said with a smirk. "I needed more water."
"What?" Asuma asked before he heard a roar coming from above.
The storm clouds started to twist and turn into the shape of a dragon before it started to fall into the ring.
Kakashi jumped back pulling the Gunbai out and holding it low to the ground.
Asuma covered his face as the enormous water dragon slammed into him and the entire arena became a swirling pool of water.
Kakashi used the power of the Gunbai to surf over the swirling water as he continued to make hand signs. "Water Style: Giant Vortex Jutsu!" He shouted as the water started to spin faster with Asuma in the center spinning uncontrollably.
Kakashi continued to spin around the arena as it was drained out into the rest of the village and the water level receded back to normal and he stood on the ground again with the Gunbai on his back.
He let out a long breath from the exhaustion when he saw Asuma standing back up. "How are you not unconscious?" He shouted at the man.
"Experience." Asuma grunted standing up straight still holding his trench knives. "If that's the last trick that you've got, I'm just going to finish this." He pumped more chakra into the knives as they extended even farther till they were the length of swords.
Kakashi groaned. "I didn't want to use this until the finals." He said with a long breath.
He closed his eyes for a moment. "Gate of Opening!" He shouted. "Gate of Healing!" He continued. "Gate of Pain!" He screamed as his skin started to turn red.
"I don't have a lot of time to beat you." Kakashi said his Sharingan staring at Asuma. "So I'm going to make every second count!" He shouted as he moved in the blink of an eye in front of Asuma pulling his fist back to punch.
XXXX
"Hello?" Kakashi asked looking around. "Lord Hokage told me to be here bright and early." He said looking around the training ground.
"Youth!" He heard shouted from above him before landing on the ground.
"Gai?" Kakashi asked looking at the Blue Beast giving him a thumbs up.
"The one and only." Gai said proudly. "So Naruto tells me that you want to be even better than you are now so that you can surpass even the great Sixth Hokage?"
"Yes." Kakashi said back ignoring the weird speech patterns that he had gotten used to when Bai was still alive.
"Well than, I'm going to have to accelerate your training." Gai said loudly. "With Lee and Bai I had years to train their bodies into the perfect embodiment of youth."
Kakashi looked away from the man for a moment. "Maybe this was a bad idea." Kakashi said turning around. "I'm sorry for bothering you."
"Kakashi." Gai said quietly as the Uchiha stopped walking. "You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened. My son made his decision, and I've accepted it, in fact I'm proud of it."
Kakashi's fists were balled up as he listened to Gai talk.
"He died the same way my father did." Gai said sounding sad for a moment. "Opening the Eight Gate is something that is to be respected and admired. I don't teach anyone this technique without them knowing the cost."
He looked ahead at the back of Kakashi's back. "Just like your father, and mine before him, Bai understood that sometimes it takes your own life to protect those you love."
Kakashi didn't turn around but tears were openly falling from his eyes as he grit his teeth and balled his fists so tight they started to bleed. "But why me?" He asked trying to hide his tears.
"Because you were his best friends." Gai said with a smile. "I'm glad he had someone like that in his life."
"Gai Sensei!" Kakashi turned around not hiding the tears in his eyes, but revealing the determination behind them. "Teach me how to make my best friend proud."
XXXX
Kakashi pulled his fist back as he felt the tendons in his leg and arm start to tear, he threw the fist forward with everything that he had.
"I give up." Asuma said as the fist was an inch from his jaw.
"You what?" Kakashi asked.
"I said I give up." Asuma said putting the knives away. "You owe me a pack of cigarettes." He said pulling out the soaked package. "I guess there could be worse guys for my daughter to be with." He said turning around and walking away.
"What?" Kakashi asked as the red from the gates faded but his cheeks kept a red shine.
"Treat her right." Asuma said without turning around. "Next time I'll make sure not to let you try and drown me."
"And the winner by forfeit is Kakashi Uchiha!" Kiba screamed walking down the wall back into the arena.
"Holy shit." Yugito said from the Kage booth.
"I taught him everything he knows." Naruto said leaning back. "Well except the Gates."
"You know what that means?" Gaara asked.
"What?" Roshi asked the Kazekage.
"Kakashi is going to face Kuroto tomorrow." He said looking at his fellow Kage.
Naruto and Yugito both got quiet for a moment. "I guess so." The Hokage said scratching the back of his neck.
"This will be fun." Yugito said smiling.