A/N: I'm so sorry about this, the Prince of Tennis story I'm writing with my friend seems to have become much more important… I'm so sorry! I kinda feel like this story isn't that good, because it was my very first chaptered story, and I hadn't thought it through very well.
BUT! Many reviews I've received encourage me to write, so here goes, I'm gonna write as much as I can right now!
Preliminaries
Previously…
Sakura smiled.
"Thanks Ino. Sasuke, will you be alright?"
Sasuke heaved himself up. "I'm fine."
Naruto rolled his eyes. Whatever the snake dude did, it didn't take away his bastardness.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
The three teams, Team 7, 10 and Gai's team were all from Konoha, they agreed to head to the centre building together. All three teams had enough scrolls, and they didn't encounter anyone until they all got to the building.
Kabuto was there.
"Ah, so you all made it," he said heartily. Sasuke's still alive, and he has the curse mark… Orochimaru-sama will be very pleased.
Sakura nodded, "That's right. Where's the rest of your team?"
Kabuto smiled, "They went on ahead, and I'm about to follow now, see ya!" he said before leaping off.
Naruto sniffed. He could still smell snake, though it was probably because he had been riding on a snake as well as fighting a snake dude.
The teams went inside the building. The room was empty except for a poster on the wall.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-(Sorry, can't remember what is specifically on the plaque… orz…)
All three teams opened their scrolls, and in the middle of each one was the kanji for 'person'. Suddenly white smoke started to come out Team 7's scroll.
"It's a summoning inscription!" Sasuke shouted in alarm. Naruto and Sakura threw down the scrolls. The smoke started to rise up from the scroll and the familiar poof sound reached their ears. They could see a silhouette standing in the middle of the smoke.
"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto exclaimed.
The jonin had his nose stuck in his book, though he did look up.
"Yo. Long time no see." He gave a one-eyes smile. "Looks like the nine of you went through a lot of trouble."
"Why did you suddenly appear?" Sakura questioned.
"Well, it was meant to be a chunin greeting you, but one of the chunin couldn't make it, so I was the replacement, it was just by chance that I appeared before you guys. Since you all opened yours at the same time, just one person was needed to pass on a message."
"A message?" Ten-ten repeated.
Kakashi held up his hand, and one by one, and fingers dropped on at a time.
"You made it just in time. Everyone, congratulations on passing the second exam. I'd like to treat you to ramen at Ichiraku, but-"
"Ramen?" Naruto said excitedly. You could almost see the puppy tail wagging behind him… or rather fox tail.
"I wasn't finished…"
"What if we looked into the scrolls during the exam… Kakashi-sensei, what were you planning to do?" Sasuke asked suddenly. Everyone started thinking the same thing.
Kakashi closed-eye smiled again. "Ah Sasuke, you're as sharp as ever. As you have guessed, this exam tests your mission completion abilities. So, if you break the rules and open a scroll, we were ordered to knock out the examinees until the second phase ended."
Everyone blinked, and sighed in relief that they hadn't opened their scroll.
"Oh, sensei." Kakashi turned to Sakura. "What does that text on the wall mean?"
"Ah, right… that was what I was meant to talk to you about. Haha, must have slipped my mind," he said while reading his porn. Everyone sweat-dropped.
Anyway, this is the principal Lord Hokage wrote that you should keep in mind as a Chunin. The 'Heaven' in this text points to the head of the person. And 'Earth' points to the body. If you do not possess Heaven, gain knowledge and be prepared. That means, for example, if someone's weak point is their brain, they should study and prepare for their missions."
"And if you do not possess Earth, run through the fields and seek strength. For example, if someone's weakness lies in the strength, they should train them self every day. That's what it means."
"What about that missing letter?" Sasuke asked.
"It's the letter that symbolizes a Chunin." Iruka-sensei opened the scroll and showed it to us. "The 'human' letter that was here goes in there. The survival mission you took part in the past five days tested the basic abilities of examinees as a Chunin. And you guys completed it. A Chunin is a commander-class. He has a duty to lead a team. Deeply inscribe into your heart the importance of knowledge and strength in missions. Never forget that Chunin principal, and go on to the next step."
Kakashi smiled, "And then the next step would be jounin, but that will be a while away."
Everyone nodded.
Kakashi's book closed. "So that was all I was ordered to tell you."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
They headed towards large arena, where the others were waiting. The teams were lined up in front of their sensei, the Exam proctors and the Hokage himself. Behind them there were two big stone hands performing a seal.
"First off, congratulations on passing the second phase." Anko said. "We will now have an explanation of the third exam from Lord Hokage. Everyone listen well."
The Hokage stepped forward and started his speech.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- (Once again, I can't remember…)
A brown-haired chunin jumped out of nowhere in front of the Hokage and kneeled to him.
"Excuse me, Lord Hokage." He said. "I, Gekkou Hayate, will explain the third exam."
The Hokage nodded.
"Please, do."
"Everyone, nice to meet you," Hayate said, turning to us and coughing a little.
"Everyone, before the third exam, there's something I want you to do. Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance the third exams main battle."
"What!" a few people yelled.
"Preliminary matches? What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked angrily.
"There are too many examinees left. According to Chunin regulations, we must decrease the number of participants for the third exam. As previously mentioned by Lord Hokage, there are many guests for the third exam. We cannot have a lot of matches. We're limited on time, as well. So, those who aren't feeling well-" He stopped the sentence to cough a little.
Who's not feeling well? Most people thought.
"Excuse me. If anyone wants to quit after hearing the explanation, please let me know." Like anyone would want to quit after coming so far. "The preliminary matches will begin immediately."
"Immediately?" Kiba exclaimed crossly as some other people gasped.
"But we just got through the second exam!" Ino cried.
"Aw what a drag," Shikamaru creatively said.
Sakura and Naruto heard a small wince of pain from behind and turned around to see Sasuke with a hand over his shoulder, where the mark was.
"Does it hurt?" Sakura whispered.
He gritted his teeth. Even if the mark wasn't activating, he still felt the pain from before. This could be a problem during his fight.
"Should we withdraw?" She asked.
Naruto's eyes widened at that.
Sasuke firmly shook his head, "No way."
"Excuse me."
Everyone turned to look at Kabuto, who had put his hand up.
"I don't really think I can fight, so I would like to drop out."
Everyone was surprised at that.
Hayate coughed, before saying, "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Kabuto replied simply.
Hayate nodded. "Very well, you have agreed to quit, so there is no going back."
"Then, let's begin the preliminary matches." Hayate announced. "It'll be a one-on-one match. There are no rules. You fight until the other person dies, is knocked out, or admits defeat. However, if I judge that the match's over, I may stop you to prevent any unnecessary deaths. The thing that will hold your destiny-" He nodded at Anko, who said something through her mike.
Some seconds later, part of the wall in front of us opened, revealing a huge black television screen. Everyone's eyes widened. "-will be this. This electric bulletin board will randomly display the names of two fighters for each match. Without further ado, I will now display the names for the first match."
"Akadou Yoroi vs. Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke smirked.
"Those whose names were displayed, step up," Hayate said.
Sasuke and one of Kabuto's strange teammates stepped forward.
"The first match's fighters are Akadou Yoroi and Uchiha Sasuke. Are there any objections?"
"No," both said.
"Everyone other than the two fighters, please move up there." Hayate gestured to the balconies.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Everyone was curious to see the top rookie's fight.
"Begin." Hayate announced, stepping backwards to make more room for the fighters.
Sasuke assumed a fighting stance and Yoroi made a seal. His hand glowed with blue chakra and he threw three shuriken at Sasuke.
The Uchiha deflected them with a kunai, but faltered when his mark throbbed causing him to cry out in pain. Losing his balance Sasuke fell on the floor. In an instant Yoroi was in front of him aiming a punch at Sasuke's face.
Sasuke rolled to the left and kicked Yoroi legs causing him to fall. Sasuke immobilized Yoroi pretty well, holding his head with the leg and his arm positioned on Sasuke's chest, with his other leg and one hand.
Kabuto's teammate's hand glowed with chakra again and clutched on Sasuke's shirt. The Uchiha's eyes widened and he started to shiver. Feeling the grip on his arm loosening Yoroi slammed it on Sasuke's chest. He took his head away from Sasuke's leg and jumped backwards, leaving the Sasuke on the floor.
Sasuke quickly sat up but couldn't dodge it in time. Yoroi pressed his hand on Sasuke's head causing him to fall on the floor again. Sasuke grabbed Yoroi's arm but couldn't find the strength to shove it away. After his futile attempts Sasuke released Yoroi with an exhausted expression. Everyone's eyes widened.
Surprising everyone, Sasuke managed to gather strength on his leg and kicked Yoroi's chest.
"Get off!"
Kabuto's teammate was thrown a few meters away from Sasuke. He, too, was surprised, but masked it well as he got to his feet.
Sasuke sat up again, panting heavily.
Yoroi chuckled. "Relax. I'll end this quickly."
He darted towards Sasuke using the same technique again. This time the Uchiha managed to stand up and dodge it. He dodged a few times until Yoroi's hand touched one of his hair's bangs. Sasuke reeled forward, using all his effort not to fall.
"What's wrong? Are you done for already?" Yoroi teased.
Sasuke swung a kick at him, but Yoroi jumped backwards and avoided it.
"SASUKE!" Naruto yelled, frustrated. "You call yourself an Uchiha with that? Stop acting like an idiot! Get serious!"
Sasuke ignored him, though he agreed.
Yoroi charged towards Sasuke. He was coming closer. Sasuke didn't do anything.
Suddenly he dodged all of Yoroi's punches. A smirk came to his face. With an amazing speed, he ducked and kicked Yoroi's jaw, sending him flying upwards. Everyone gasps. That's Lee's move! (A/N: I realise that Sasuke didn't have the Sharingan when he fought Lee, but I didn't know how else to change it. I'll make it that he remembered how to do it from watching him, without the Sharingan.)
Lee's and Gai's mouths dropped as they also realized that.
I can't believe that bastard copied Lee's move! Naruto thought.
Sasuke appeared below Yoroi while Yoroi hovered above Sasuke.
"I'll admit that I borrowed (Naruto snorted at that) that one but from here on out its all original." Sasuke said pressing two fingers on Yoroi's back.
"This is the end."
Sasuke was about to strike when the mark on his neck started to glow. Kakashi narrowed his eyes at that.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. The mark slowly started to retreat until there were only the three black commas on Sasuke's neck. He smirked and kicked Yoroi's left side but Kabuto's teammate blocked it with his arm. Then surprising everyone Sasuke raised his right fist and punched Yoroi's jaw. The ninja started falling upside down but Sasuke's attack wasn't over yet. He kicked Yoroi's chest with full strength.
"Lion's Barrage!" Sasuke yelled as everyone's eyes widened.
The force of the attack sent the Sasuke backwards, landing on his chest. Yoroi let out a wince of pain and stood on the floor defeated. Sasuke slowly sat up breathing heavily and wiped a fillet of blood from his mouth.
Hayate walked to Yoroi to check his conditions even though there was no need for that. It was obvious who the winner was.
"I will stop this match now." The proctor stated. "The first match winner is Uchiha Sasuke. He passes the preliminary round."
The boy was exhausted. Sasuke's eyelids started to close and he was about to fall backwards when a cloud of smoke appeared behind him. Sasuke ended up leaning against Kakashi-sensei's knee while the jounin lazily read his perverted book.
"Good job," Kakashi complimented, causing Sasuke to smirk.
"Yaay! Go Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted, and Ino glared at her.
A group of medic-ninjas walked into the arena and took Yoroi in a stretcher. One of them walked towards Sasuke with a serious expression.
"Uchiha Sasuke, we'll give you the best treatment we can."
"This isn't your field," Kakashi-sensei said calmly. The medic sent him a confused look.
"I'll take him," Kakashi-sensei kneeled down and whispered something in Sasuke's ear. His eyes widened, but no one else seemed to notice. Naruto frowned, but even with his hearing, he couldn't make out what he said. Looks like Kakashi-sensei knows…
Everyone's attention turned to the electric board, which started sorting the names again. Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei stopped walking for a moment to see who would be fighting next. Everyone held their breath as the two fighters' names were displayed.
Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino
The two girls looked at each other in surprise, before Ino smirked.
"Haha! Time for me to show you my skills!"
Sakura glared at her.
"Fat chance, Ino-pig!"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.- (Sorry about this, the source for my Naruto story disappeared… sorry for apologising so much… arrrhhh!)
Bang!
The two girls punched each other, and knocked each other out. Everyone watched them with wide eyes. None of them moved.
Hayate checked them both, then announced, "Both are unable to fight. They will both be eliminated."
Kakashi and Asuma appeared to take their unconscious students back up to the balcony.
The teams looked at them as they lay against the wall, sleeping.
"They don't even require medical treatment." Asuma said. "They'll wake up in a bit."
"Misumi Tsurugi vs. Kankuro." Hayate announced.
Kankuro and Kabuto's other strange teammate walking down to the arena. They stood in the middle of the field facing each other.
"I must warn you. Once my move gets a hold of you, it's over." Misumi said in a threatening tone. "Give up and I'll finish this quickly anyway."
"Then..." Kankuro took the bundle out of his back with a smirk. "I'll finish the match quickly too."
They glared at each other. Hayate nodded. "Begin the third match."
Misumi darted towards Kankuro. "Victory goes to the swiftest!" Suddenly Misumi's arm started to stretch like rubber and clenched around Kankuro's whole body, causing him to drop his bandaged bundle. Misumi's legs around his legs, arms around arms and neck, and Misumi's head stood behind Kankuro's.
Naruto's eyes widened in curiosity.
"Woah! What's with his body?"
"I don't know what kind of tool you use…" Misumi said as Kankuro tried uselessly to escape from his grip. "…But there's no point to it if I immobilize your body like this. I can break your neck, as well. Hurry up and give up."
The Suna ninja smirked.
"No."
"Do you want to die?" Misumi asked, tightening his grip.
"Idiot. You're the one who's going to die."
There was a loud crack. Everyone's eyes widened drastically as they saw Kankuro's head dangling down on his neck.
"His neck is broken!" Lee exclaimed horrified.
Gaara's team was the only ones not affected at all.
"How stupid," Gaara scowled.
Kankuro's face started to crack. Pieces of his skin fell on the ground.
Kankuro's head spun to face Misumi and we could see his face clearly now, and how it was only a puppet.
"What?" Misumi asked with wide eyes.
"Now it's my turn," Kankuro's puppet spoke.
The rest of his skin peeled off and his arms became brown, wooden and thin as they clenched around Misumi's body. A hand came out of the fallen bundle and started to take off the bandages. Kankuro was kneeled on the floor holding the bandages with one hand while the other glowed blue with his chakra. Blue strings were coming out of his hands, controlling the puppet. The puppet's grip on Misumi tightened. The man struggled, but it was useless.
"You can't become more elastic if I break your bones," Kankuro mocked.
Unable to resist anymore, Misumi fell on the floor with the puppet on the top of him. Hayate coughed before announcing the winner. "Since his opponent is unable to fight, the winner is Kankuro."
"I-It's two a-against one. Isn't t-that unfair?" Hinata asked.
"It's not unfair, as it is only a doll," Kurenai said.
"He controlled the marionette with his chakra," Lee said. "It's a mere tool, like a shuriken."
A/N: Ah, I'm going to stop here now. I'm sorry for the wait, and I'm sorry if this seems rushed to you. I still don't know how I'm gonna join Naruto and Hinata together yet :P but I'll work something out.
