By the time Sakura's match had been called her eyes had long since returned to their mint green coloration and non-foxlike eyes. Sasuke however, didn't care about that at all. So she had a bit more skill than he had first guessed. He was still sure he could beat her in a fight should he need to. Naruto, however, wasn't so sure on that. He had felt something odd from her. Something dark and menacing. But only for the briefest of moments. So brief a time in fact that for the first few seconds he wasn't even sure he had even felt anything from her at all.
So deep in his own thoughts was he that by the time he had returned to the present Sasuke had already stepped forward as did his opponent. He would be the last of his team to fight. That was fine by him. He would use this time to watch his teammate and study his fighting style. Because knowledge was a powerful tool for any ninja. A tool that if properly used could kill more people than any kunai or poison ever could. Hisao had drilled that much into him over his seven years of training under the man. He made plans that once the exams were done he would go visit his old sensei. He was sure the old man would enjoy that.
"Begin". Akira said before once again jumping back into the relative safety of the treetops. The pink-haired girl had surprised her in her fight. Based on her academy records she was a top student academically. But nothing in them had even remotely implied that she was at all a master in taijutsu. Had the records been redacted? If so then by who and why? Only the Hokage and the village council had such powers. But why would they do such a thing in the first place? What was the need? She was from a no-name clan. She was a nobody. It made no sense to the highly skilled ninja and that just wouldn't do. Not at all.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and his opponent, a roundish boy by the name of Kenta were busy firing off attack after attack at an insanely high rate of speed. For a genin at any rate. But even so, Naruto knew something was off. Sasuke was moving in a way he knew wasn't right. He wasn't moving slower but something was clearly wrong with his teammate. But for the life of him, he couldn't figure out what it was that was wrong. Sasuke's form was as perfect as his own the thing was, however, he kept missing. Sasuke, however, didn't seem to notice or care as he just kept on pushing himself to move ever faster and hit ever harder. Kenta, however, didn't look at all concerned. His eyes never once left the raven-haired boy before him for even a second.
Sasuke had once again launched himself at a high rate of speed at Kenta ready to deliver a devastating punch to the boy's face only to once again miss. As his reward, he was sent flying backward by means of a hard kick to the gut sending him to the ground with an audible groan. By now Sasuke was nearing his limit. He could feel it. He was nearly out of chakra. His body ached all over from the numerous blows the boy had landed on him in their fight. Kenta for his part only eyed the downed boy for around a second before pulling out a handful of kunai from one of his ninja pouches before he sent them all flying at him. Sasuke could see the five kunai flying his way at a high rate of speed. But try as he may he knew his time was up. He just didn't have the chakra needed to move out of the way. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to beat Naruto infuriated him to no end. He knew how his father always viewed him as an embarrassment to the family. His father never once said it to his face but his eyes did every time he would walk back home and report that he had once again lost to the sun-kissed boy. It was in his rage that it happened. His eyes now bore the basic one tomoe Sharingan. With that, he was just able to move his body out of the way missing the kunai by mere inches. Kenta for his part only fired more at an ever-increasing rate of attack. It was then that Naruto had figured it out. He had missed it before the first time around due to not looking for it. But now he knew. It was his eyes. It had something to do with his eyes.
Sasuke now equipped with his clan's bloodline could also see why he was losing. The boy also bore a bloodline. Still, with or without the Sharingan he needed to end this fight right now and so with that in mind, Sasuke powered up one of his clans most useful jutsu. Seconds later a sizeable fireball flew through the afternoon air making Kenta jump away or else be burned. By the time the fireball flew past him, Sasuke was gone.
Sasuke ran as fast as his tired legs would allow. He needed time to recover and plan. Just then he heard a sound and so with the speed befitting a ninja he hid behind a sizeable tree. In seconds Kenta came into view looking left then right before moving ever deeper into the forest and out of sight. But just as he was about to once again relax he had heard yet another sound from behind him. Looking around for whatever or whoever it was he soon saw Naruto toss him an MRE (Meal Ready To Eat). He, of course, took it and began to eat the meal happily feeling his chakra slowly being replenished. He wasn't at 100% but this would no doubt help in the upcoming battle.
Meanwhile, Danzo eyed the man before him floating inside one of the many test tubes Orochimaru had dotting around the cavern.
"Happy with my toys Danzo"? Orochimaru asked the former Hokage.
"How many do you have ready"? Danzo asked disregarding what the ghost-white man said.
"A few thousand, Danzo-kun". Orochimaru replied before eyeing the man for himself. For a time neither he or Danzo said a word only eyeing the man as he slowly bobbed up and down in the greenish liquid. At the base of the container, the emblem of the leaf village was prominent.
"What's his name"? Danzo asked.
"It's Yamato. I was, however, unable to find a clan name". Orochimaru replied sounding a bit unhappy with his failure. Danzo said nothing before he turned away and walked deeper into the cave. Soon Konohagakure would pay. Soon it would be nothing more than ash under his feet.
As Sasuke carefully breathed in and out he listened intently for even the slightest bit of sound. Such as the sound of the trees moving to and fro or the snapping of twigs underfoot. For now, however, he was safe. He was still unsure why Naruto had helped him in the first place but for now, he would worry about winning his fight than trying to figure out his unusually helpful teammate. As he did so Akira Tensho was busy keeping an eye on the two combatants. She was honestly taken aback at Naruto's kind gesture to his teammate but was nevertheless pleased to see it. A chunin needed to work well with his/her teammates and doing that proved he would do well in that respect. Still, he had a long road ahead of him before he would have the honor to wear the green colored vest. Still, she needed answers and so with but a second of her time a clone soon formed and off it went to the Hokage Tower. At that very moment, Sasuke's opponent was ever so slowly closing in. Kenta was embarrassed at his mistake. He had allowed a lowly genin to somehow get away from him. A fact he would make sure to correct the next time they met. However, he would first need to find the boy and that was proving to be a bigger challenge than he had first anticipated. Still, he was sure it wouldn't be long before the two would once again do battle.
As that was happening Danzo was just finishing up some light training. In just a few weeks time he alongside countless others would attack the village of his birth and get his revenge. Until then, however, he would train. This much younger body of his was proving far more capable than he had first guessed. An unexpected but nevertheless welcomed surprise. Just then a Sound ninja walked up. In his hand lay a scroll. Taking it in hand Danzo began to slowly read it's contents. The snake was once again departing the cave. This was the fifth time in as many weeks. Danzo, however, didn't care so long as his revenge against his village was complete. He could always deal with him later anyway.
Orochimaru meanwhile stood unmoving atop a sizeable hill overlooking a fairly insignificant fishing village. He always hated having to make the long trip to the hill on which he now stood upon but today he had been told that he had something good. Orochimaru didn't have to wait long as a hooded figure soon walked up. His footsteps were nearly imperceptible. But Orochimaru wasn't a legendary SS-rank ninja for nothing. Turning to face the figure he could see the scroll already at the ready. Taking it in hand he unsealed it's contents and smiled a wicked smile. The kind that made even the hardest of hardened criminals wet themselves in fear of what that smile meant. Just as fast he had resealed back inside the scroll and was gone. Leaving not even a leaf behind.
Sasuke jumped out of the way of yet another round of kunai raining down from above. Kenta wasn't playing around anymore. His attacks had more than double in both its speed and its ferocity. Even with his clan's bloodline, he was just able to keep up.
"Fucking die already"! Kenta yelled out as he unleashed yet another round of kunai and ninja stars. Sasuke backflipped away before firing off his own attack.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu". Sasuke yelled out as a fist-sized ball of fire moved at Kenta. Kenta caught off guard was hit by the jutsu. The sound of the blood-curdling scream told them this battle was now over. Kenta or what was left of him was nothing but a blackened husk. His face now permanently etched with a look of horror. Akira once again jumped down and announced to nobody's surprise Sasuke's victory. Now it was Naruto's turn and if the last two fights were anything to go by this was going to be a hard-fought battle. The final battle was about to began.
