Deidara and Bushio, being the ones who had attained numerous amounts of the coveted scrolls, were given a seat near the Tsuchikage in the arena. As for the arena, it was huge! Deidara glanced around, studying the architecture. Not as great as his art, but it would do for the time being. He glanced over at Bushio, who was taking in the area as well. It stretched for at least fifteen hundred feet, rows and rows of cropped chairs lining the incline going up. In the center, surrounded by pillars, was the main arena. Nothing special, a dirt floor with two entrances, one on either side. Deidara had seen the building from the outside many times, but never from the inside.

"Wow! This place is huge, un! I wonder if I will get to fight here?" He turned to the Tsuchikage, who smiled warmly down at him.

"You may yet, Deidara. Remember, these are only the preliminary matches. After this, we will have final matches to determine the winner of the Chunin Exams. They will be held here...but after a while! Being the ones with the most scrolls, you will have an advantage over everyone who you see here." The Tsuchikage took a puff on his pipe while Deidara scratched his head.

"An...an advantage, un? Why would we have an advantage?" Bushio shook his head. Could Deidara be any dumber?

"We'll have the advantage because we will have seen everyone's fighting styles and jutsu's...but they won't have seen ours. Get it now?"

"Oh! I get it, un! So, it's like we'll be fresh and everyone else will have to work harder, right?"

"Yeah...something like that." Deidara grinned. He had never felt so special. He turned back to the arena, where a Chunin Examiner was giving the rules to the candidates surrounding him.

"Alright you guys! Here's the rules. You'll fight, one-on-one, in the middle of this arena. You will keep fighting until either of you gives up, or I deem you unable to continue. I will also stop the match if the outcome is inevitable. Now, I will remind you," he said, and then cast a hand around the arena. "We have had many Chunin and Genin come through this arena, and many...have died. If you feel that you aren't ready for this test, now is the best time for you to speak up!" He waited, watching the Genin. As none of them made a move, he nodded. "Very well. The order that you will fight has already been chosen. Prepare yourselves. The first fight is between..." and now he glanced at a piece of paper he held in his hand. He smiled, looking back up. "The first fight is between Yara Mazanuka and Ping Hazamana! Please come to the center and prepare for battle. The rest of you may retire to the upper part of the arena." The Genin turned, leaving the two competitors in the center of the ring. Deidara grinned, hopping down off his seat and running over to where Yoko was walking up the stairs.

"Yoko! Hey, how you doing, un?" She sighted him, smiling and waiting for him to catch up to her. She gave him a hug.

"I'm doing just fine, knowing you and Bushio are watching me. That will make me fight just that much harder!" Deidara smiled, nodding. Bushio walked over, joining the two, and the three man cell was back together again.

"So, what do you think about this one, Yoko?" Yoko glanced down as the Examiner put his hand up, letting it drop to signal the start of the match. The two kunoichi in the center ring glared at one another before pulling kunai and starting in. Yoko sighed.

"Well, this may take a while. There are going to be 14 matches...and I don't even know when my turn is. So, we may as well watch them while we are at it, huh?" She turned back to the arena, resting her arms on the railing and watching the two kunoichi fight toe-to-toe. Deidara sighed, standing on tip-toe to watch the match. Bushio wasn't very concerned. Both kunoichi fought fairly clumsily. He knew that against someone like him, they would both fall fairly fast, so he contented himself with going over the remaining Genin. It looked like most were Stone Village nin...however, some were from the Grass Village, and one team did manage to make it from the Leaf Village.

"Hey! Fancy seeing you here again!" A boy walked up, taking Yoko's hand and kissing it. Yoko blushed brightly before removing her hand from his. He laughed. "Remember me?"

"Oh yeah! You're that guy who cut down that forest, un! That was amazing, I never did get to tell you that we also were happy you did it, un!" Deidara took a glance at his sword, and then back at him.

"Thanks...I suppose. Name's Junio Mezanuchi. Oh, and my partners Maey Tamagazi and Aprilio Zamahido. We are..." and then he made a weird gesture, signaling to the other two, who sighed, standing behind him in different ways. "We are...The Month's of Fame!" He smiled, allowing the shock to sink in. Bushio snorted.

"That's so lame..." Junio got up, annoyed.

"No it isn't! You're just jealous that your name sucks so much!" Bushio fumed, standing toe-to-toe with the boy.

"What was that, you little basturd?" Junio smiled at him, a dangerous kind of grin.

"You heard me. My name is better than yours!" Bushio cocked his fist back, ready to wipe the mirth off the boys face, as Yoko grabbed it.

"Oh, will you stop acting like boys? Geez..." Bushio calmed, allowing his fist to open and fall limply to his side.

"...Whatever." He turned back to the arena, staring at the fight, that wasn't really going anywhere. Both kunoichi stood apart from one another, eying each other as their chest's heaved. Bushio shook his head. They were both spent, having wasted most of their chakra in the first moments. However, one of the kunoichi smiled, standing upright. Her hands flew in front of her, and she made a hand sign.

"Water element: Water Entrapment Jutsu!" An orb of water suddenly flowed from the ground, catching the other kunoichi in a vice-like grip and holding her there. She struggled, flailing her arms and feet wildly as she thrashed in the water, trying to find an escape. However, there was none, and she slowly faded away into unconsciousness. As the Examiner took a glance at her and called the other the winner, the kunoichi removed her jutsu, allowing her opponent to flop limply onto the ground. A team of medical nin suddenly moved in, removing the girl and taking her away. Deidara grinned. It had been a horrible fight until the end. That water move had been cool! The other kunoichi swiftly made her way back to her teammates, who cheered her loudly. Deidara also cheered just as loud, and thought that she had turned his way, nodding her head at him. He smiled just the more.

"The next match...will be Maey Tamagazi versus Yodai Rendo! Please enter the ring and prepare yourselves!" Maey glanced at the five around her, smiling.

"Well, wish me luck..." and then she looked at Deidara. "You to, cutie!" She turned, walking to the stairs and down into the main arena. Getting to the bottom, she shielded her eyes, glancing up at the sun as it peered into the open roofed building. Her opponent, a boy from the Stone village, faced her. She smiled, nodding at him. "May the best kunoichi win!" The boy grunted, grinning over at her as he crouched. She stood stock still as the Examiner glanced at both nin, and then signaled them to start.

"Watch this...it will be over in a moment!" Junio gripped the railing, watching his partner in action. Deidara scratched his head questioningly.

"It will, un? But that guy looks pretty tough!" Junio scoffed, turning.

"Don't worry...the thing about Maey is that she can anticipate an opponent's moves. It's not that she knows what they are going to do, but she can read them." Deidara looked down into the arena.

"Really? How?" Junio scoffed once more.

"Just watch, shrimpy!" Deidara did watch.

The boy, Yodai, took a kunai from his pouch. He chucked it, watching as it whistled through the air. However, Maey hardly moved, just fluidly edged to one side and allowed the kunai to fly by harmlessly. Yodai, looking perturbed, grabbed two more kunai from his pouch. "That won't work...try that whip that you have in there...you never know!" He stopped mid-swing, staring at her. She smiled unarmingly at him, waiting for him to put the kunai back and take the whip out...which he did. She smiled again, twirling her hair. "Alright, now try your best...because it still won't be good enough!" The boy sneered.

"Shut up!" He lashed out, catching her wrist and flinging her to the ground in the same movement. He smiled, bringing the whip back for another strike. As it flew through the air, she turned, catching the end of it and giving it a hard yank. The boy, stunned, was pulled forward a foot or two before catching his ground again. He dug in, yanking back. The girl just laughed jovially as she let go of the whip, allowing it to return to its user. The boy recoiled the weapon, staring at her as she hopped to her feet.

"You think you're so hot, don't you? Well, you're about to learn a painful lesson!" The boy stood, bringing the coiled whip to his front and holding it with both hands. "Secret Technique: Rope of Binding Jutsu!" The coiled whip suddenly came to life, slinking out of his hands and wrapping around the girl faster than she could blink. The boy smiled evilly, putting his hands together in a diamond shape. This he compressed, at the same time compressing the rope. Maey squealed as the rope constricted her, tighter and tighter. "There isn't any escape now! Might as well give up, girl!" Maey squealed again as the rope constricted her further, making her grit her teeth.

"Now...watch this!" Junio nudged Bushio slightly, and he grunted.

"As far as I can tell, she's done for," Bushio said. Aprilio glanced at him.

"You would think that...but there is a reason for her doing what she's doing!" Deidara glanced at him.

"Really? Like what, un?" Aprilio winked at him.

"Just watch!" Deidara turned, watching the combatants. As far as he could tell, the boy had Maey just where he wanted her.

"Just give up already! I don't want to hurt you!" The boy compressed his hands, making the rope bind even tighter. However, as he did so, Maey laughed. She began laughing hard, and then laughed harder, and then harder still. The boy grimaced, making the rope bind even tighter. "You're nuts. Examiner, just call her out already!"

"I'm sorry...but I can't until she says she quits." The examiner was very clear about that.

"Very well...I'll just pop her like a balloon then!" He squeezed tighter, and she laughed harder.

"Now, the fun begins..." Junio said, smiling down. Suddenly, Maey became quiet, and Yodai glanced at her, wondering if she was out. Then, no one could have expected what happened next...except her teammates.

The rope bind that Yodai had placed on her suddenly flew apart, snapping in crazy locations and falling uselessly away from her. She lay on the ground, and began her maniacal laughing again. Then, she slowly got to her feet, staring down at the ground before bringing her eyes slowly to Yodai. Her eyes, usually a light hazel, now had a fiery red in them, and she grinned at him. He gulped, taking his two kunai out of his pouch. He only had time for one gasp before she was on him, closing the gap between them in the blink of an eye. She lashed out, punching him square in the face. He rocketed back, screaming through the air and burying himself lengthwise in a stone pillar. There he remained, embedded a good inch in the solid rock. Maey stood in the center, heaving. Her eyes returned to their beautiful hazel, and she stumbled a bit before regaining her composure, sweat dripping down her face. The Examiner walked over, examining the boy in the pillar before nodding.

"The winner of the second match...Maey Tamagazi! Congratulations! Please return," he said, gesturing that she should go back up the stairs. She smiled, turning and walking back up the stairs...but looking as if she had just fought for hours straight. Bushio smiled to himself.

"So...muscle manipulation, eh?" Junio glanced at him.

"Yeah...how you know?" Bushio grinned, eyes shut.

"Easy...she waited until she knew the boy wouldn't be able to dodge her. I have a feeling that that jutsu is only good for one or two punches...and then after that, you aren't able to do much else...am I correct?" He glanced at the other boy for confirmation, who just shrugged, turning back to his teammate.

"I don't know...I've never seen her need two punches before." He smiled openly at her as she made her way to them.

"See, told you I could take him!" Bushio smiled at her.

"Great job. The jerk had it coming." Deidara also gave his opinion.

"Yeah! That was a great fight, un!" Maey glanced down at him.

"Thanks shorty!" She kneeled down, giving him a peck on the cheek and getting back up, prepared to watch the next match. The Examiner was busy looking over his list as the medical nin made their way out of the arena with the boy...who was still out cold.

"Very well...the next match will be between Raiycho Zen and Aprilio Zamahedo. Please come to the center of the arena and await the beginning of the match!" Aprilio sighed, cracking his fingers experimentally.

"Well, wish me luck...though I don't think I'll need it." He turned, walking down the stairs and into the arena while his teammates up on top cheered him. He stood in the middle of the arena, waiting for Raiycho to make his appearance. The other boy did, suddenly and flauntingly. He took a running jump, throwing himself over the top of the railing and landing on his feet in the middle of the arena. He took a moment to acknowledge the crowd as he turned, sizing Aprilio up.

"So...you are ze combatant, eh? What ez theez? I weesh for tyou to begone from my sight et once!" Aprilio stared at him, gawking.

"Why the hell are you talking like that?" The other boy snubbed his nose up, looking at his fans.

"I talk like zees because I am refined. You, sir, are no jentlemeen!" Aprilio snorted, shaking his head.

"I'll show you refined, you overstuffed popinjay." He grabbed a hand of dust and dirt, sprinkling it on himself. The other boy sneered.

"Wat is zees you do, eh?" Aprilio smiled.

"No, nothing. Just showing you how refined I am." Raiycho sneered again, and turned his back.

"Very well. Zees will be no trouble for, how you say, mua?" He smiled up at his fans as the Examiner began the match.

"Watch...Aprilio is a master of elemental jutsu's." Bushio looked sidelong at him.

"A master? How many does he know?" Junio looked back at him, smiling.

"I think he knows two...but don't worry. He knows them like the back of his hand!" The boy, Raiycho, took a backward step, bringing his hands up to his chest.

"Very well zen! I weel show you who is the wenner and who ez ze loser!" He made a few hand signs, his hands moving much slower than Deidara would have guessed. "Summoning Jutsu!" He threw his hands to the ground, and a puff of smoke appeared, enveloping the arena. Deidara narrowed his gaze, trying to peer through the dense forest of mist and fog. Suddenly, the smoke billowed from the arena, and Raiycho stood in front of what looked to be a gigantic beetle. It was at least ten feet long, and fifteen feet high. As well as being massive, it moved back and forth, clacking dangerous looking pincers and staring down at Aprilio. "Zees iz my partner! Hey...go show heem why I am ze best and he iz just a loser, eh?" The beetle scuttled forward, pincers down and glistening. Aprilio smiled, putting his hands together.

"Well, if you want to use a bug, may I accept the position of exterminator?" He began making hand signs, and stopped, waiting for the insect to lumber almost on top of him. "Fire Style: Nine Flames of Chaos jutsu!" His hand shot to his mouth, and immediately, flames began sprouting from it. The beetle, taken aback, reared up, its front legs swinging in the air as the flames engulfed its under carapace. However, after the flames dissipated, the beetle flopped down, relatively unharmed. Raiycho sneered, laughing.

"Hohoho! You cannot beat ze beetle with zees attack, my unwarey foe. Hohoho!" The beetle began to walk forward once more as Aprilio began making hand signs once again.

"Take this, you over-sized cockroach." He made a last hand sign. "Water Release: Geyser Eruption!" He shot his hands below him, striking the earth. The immense summon almost had him within his grasp as a geyser of water shot from below, striking it in the same place as the fire had. The beetle let off an unworldly roar as it stumbled. As the water began to sink back into the ground, the beetle shook off the effects, once again towering over the genin.

"Hohoho! A leetle water un fire will barely hurt ze beetle, eh? You are, how they say...done for, eh?" The beetle, highly provoked, began to stab out with its horned projections, making Aprilio jump backwards to escape.

"Hehehe...the bigger they are, the harder they FALL!" Taking a kunai from his pouch, he threw it, landing a perfect shot, again, where each of his attacks had hit. The insect seemed stunned for a second, and then exploded beautifully, sending shards of shell and chunks of multi-colored guts flying everywhere as the exploding note took effect. Raiycho stood for a second, gawking as his beetle stumbled and fell, poofing back to the summoning plane. Then, he hit his knees, tears rolling from his face.

"Wait...why...how? How did you do that! That's not fair! I'm supposed to be the winner, not you! WHY!" Aprilio smiled, walking up to the Genin and sticking a kunai under his chin.

"Them's the brakes. I knew that an oversized insect would have an incredibly hard exoskeleton. So, I used fire to weaken and superheat the shell, and used the water to cool it down incredibly fast. After that, it was a simple matter of, how would you say..."blowing" it's mind? Hehehehe," said Aprilio, smugly guffawing to himself. Raiycho glared up at him, and then turned his head away, gazing into the dust.

"Fine, you win...I give up." The Examiner nodded, raising his hand.

"The winner of this match, Aprilio Zamahedo! Well done, now please return to the upper tiers." Aprilio bowed to his side, ignoring the curses coming from the teammates of the defeated boy, who sulked his way back up the stairs, still muttering about his bugs.

"That was amazing!" Yoko was quite excited, giving Aprilio full applause.

"That guy was overconfident. Tsch...refined my ass!" The six Genin watched as the Examiner began to read his list again, and then glanced up at the tournament entrants.

"The next match will be between...Lucia Midri and Rotas Tubaki. Please come down and prepare for battle!" The two Genin in question began to slowly sink down to the arena, taking the steps one-by-one. Yoko glanced at both, and then sighed.

Wonder when I'll get to go? She began watching the match, noticing each fighter's abilities and skills. However, another Genin was having the same thoughts she was. Junio was standing erect, almost stock still, taking in each match. Though his conversation had been light, the only thoughts running through his head were...

I wonder when I will get to fight...I haven't seen enough blood yet!


Since I have had almost 6000 hits on this story, I thought I would give my readers an extra special treat and finished this chapter a little early. Also, I crammed 4 fights into it, and one you can imagine...I suppose. Thanks to all of you who review and stuff...it means a lot to me! THANKS YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!!!