When Iruka encountered Naruto again he didn't expected a few things. They barely made it, they were tired and they have one more person with them. He was very proud of them, as Naruto had said before, they weren't children. For him, the challenges to come could be passed if they stuck together. Another smoke cloud, a young Anbu appeared besisdes him.
"I have been waiting for you" The rough voice made the young Kaoru smile, she staggered to his side.
"Hikaru!" Iruka watched as he took his Anbu mask off. The silver hair and the golden eyes were unique, he had seen him before. The young man teased her a bit and took the bandaged arm for a close inspection, brushing his hand on her cheek gently.
"Hikaru-chan! What will happen to Kaoru? The rules…" Naruto was the first to approach him, Iruka was thinking the same thing.
"Don't worry, that was resolved, you have the scrolls with you, right?" Hikaru asked, Kaoru took then a bag and explained they had been ambushed by some scroll trackers ninja. Then she took two scrolls with a more serious face, she was interrupted by him again.
"I know what happened, we have to talk before you go inside"
"Wait, where are you taking her? Is she…?" Sakura asked him, Iruka was glad to see they have bonded well.
"No, she will pass to the next round. You guys go inside" I ushered the three that reluctantly left the young raven with Hikaru.
I made it back to my teammates with new information in mind. My talk with Hikaru had been a great weight in my shoulders after his sudden confession. I was nervous this time, the urgency and seriousness in his voice I rarely see, it left me unsure at first. But I must trust him, he was watching my back and he will remain until this eliminatory round finished. He was standing next to the Hokage in the back as he explained the real purpose of the exam. Glad to be next my team I looked at the remaining opponents. All of the rookie made it, the sand ninja and Kabuto team; I won't admit it out loud but with no sight of the three sound ninja my confidence came back a bit.
However, Sasuke wasn't feeling well, Sakura pleaded he abandoned the exams, just like Kabuto but it was pointless. He was harsh, it was insulting to even consider it and I had to admit he was right. I think all of us came to prove something and giving up at this point after everything we have overcame was unthinkable. So I watched in silence as Sasuke was called first to fight with a guy named Yoroi. Who didn't wasted a second to attack and Sasuke struggled at his advances.
"Sasuke, fight back!" I shouted, he stood but his movements were slow and his arms lacked the usual flow of spirit. As if... then I understood, Yoroi was taking his chakra, I stiffened a bit with the revelation, my mind stuck on a thing Hikaru reminded me of it. The more Sasuke lost his energy, the memory surged with fear.
Naruto encouragement stopped my mind track. This was real, I was not using... that. It was fine, Sasuke will be as well. His encouragement had a good effect on Sasuke, I was surprised as Lee movements were displayed in perfect tandem by my teammate, it gave a whole turn around in the battle leaving Yoroi beaten in the ground. Kakashi took Sasuke aside when he grabbed his collar, and we were left alone watching the next match.
The next battle: Shino against Choji. He was Hinata teammate, but I had few knowledge of his abilities. Choji was the first to move, expanding his body and going for Shino, he evaded for few minutes, until Choji returned to his normal size and started to shake and breath hard. Tiny bugs were leaving his body and Shino explained how they crawled inside his ropes while he was distracted with Ino cheers. Shino passed, they took the Akimichi to the infirmary.
The sand ninja with the painted face, Kankuro beat with ease a guy named Misumi. I had to admit it was very clever to pass as a puppet. The following names were Ino and Sakura, I gave my best wishes to my pink friend and watched in silence. The first part of the battle was slow, I got distracted by a familiar voice in my head.
"Glad you are alright, Hime-sama" Isamu said genty, I had to step back in surprise. I haven't heard his voice for so long I thought the worst until Hikaru had reassured he will be back. Wanting to talk with him in silence I had to sit and close my eyes to concentrate.
"Are you alright? I was starting to think you left me"
"I have to apologize, in my rush to do my duty I forgot of your limits" Isamu replied, I could shape in my head his face in the darkness.
"We are fine now. I have to thank you… "
"Oh, that… it was nothing, are you ready?" He asked
"Hikaru told you? "
"He did. I won't stand for weakness in this child's fights" Isamu said with calm.
Isamu didn't have to remind me that. A huge hand in my shoulders made me jump, Kakashi was back and pointing to the screen. It was my turn. Too surprised at first, then looking for pink hair. Sakura wasn't far, reclined in the wall sleeping with Ino at her side. Kakashi didn't give me time to ask, my opponent was already waiting for me. "Be careful" He said, grinnid behind his mask, a small grin in my face as I made my way. Temari, a kunoichi of the sand, with white dress and a black artifact. I waited for Hayate signal, but neither made the first move.
"You can beat her Kaoru! Show that girl who is in charge!" Naruto encouraged me, his voice was soothing and give me the push I needed to give my best.
"Waiting for me to make the first move? How disappointing your boyfriend will be after I end you" Temari said, I just blinked at her, assessing everything in her and my surroundings in silence. Your senses are the first weapon, lethal if you pay attention on how and when to use each of them. I remembered Shisui first lesson, this time I will prove to myself I had grown. A barrier has been lifted, a personal belief will be tested.
"Come on! Hit first, I will give you a try" The sand kunoichi said bemused.
"Women, talk to much" I said when I had a set of ideas in mind. She scoffed angry "YOU are one too! How can you be so stupid?"
"Are you done? I want to be serious" That made the trick, she jumped to give the first strike with the black instrument. With Shunshin no Shisui I was at her back shooting a pair of kunai, my aim was right but neither impacted her. I gave another try to be sure of her ability, using senbon.
"A warm-up? Now who isn't taking this seriously" Again they were sent back, I smiled. It was a fan, barely opened. It was all I needed to prepare for the next step.
"Go for it Kao-chan!" Naruto shouted again. Temari eyes turned to him for a second, it was all I needed. With the wires I had hidden, made again Shunshin enhancing my speed with chakra, in tandem as I left an imperceptible trail in the ground. At times slowing so she didn't suspected while I send senbon in her direction.
"Is that all you can do, how pathetic"
"If you insist…" was all I said as I made the hand signs.
Naruto was flabbergasted. Her friend was giving a good fight, he was specially proud of her for making the other girl angry. Still what he didn't expect was for her to suddenly lit the battlefield with thunderbolts that followed in a sole direction.
"Your student sure is strong, just as I expected of my eternal rival" Naruto heard the weird green guy said to Kakashi.
"Look closely, she isn't set in seriously hurting her opponent" Kakashi replied, not taking his eyes from the battle.
"Why do you say that? She obviously has the upper hand" Naruto asked.
"Think of it. Sure you will notice" His sensei replied, Naruto looked again as Kaoru continued fighting , again she send a thunderbolt through another the wires in the back. A huge smoke was made, covering a great part of the field. The raven suddenly made a barrier and a strong gust of wind crashed.
"Don't you know thunder is weak against wind? I admit, if I hadn't noticed your trap maybe you may have hit directly." The sand girl said it as if it were a compliment. The barrier withstood, but Temari opened the fan entirely and disappeared. Naruto located the sand kunoichi floating above his friend.
"Behind you!" Then Kaoru smiled, and did something that left him speechless. With a wave of her hand the kunoichi in her fan was sent to the ground.
"How-How did you do that?" Temari was so irked, shocked and he understood then. Kaoru was fighting like the old days, her wind power was back. Just how much did he missed while he was unconscious? First, Sasuke weird mark, then this. At least he knew that she was trying to end the battle peacefully.
"You aren't a challenge for my mistress" Kaoru answered with that strange male voice he remembered in the Land of Waves.
"What is wrong with you?" Temari voice was cautious, Naruto grip in the bar tightened unsure of what would happen. Kaoru then touched her head, as if it was hurting. Temari took that chance to strike with her fan. A tornado engulfed her friend and she was trapped
"Kaoru!" Naruto shouted in fear as some cuts were inflicted in her
"Come on, get out of it!" Shikamaru shouted as well, a quick glance at him, grip the bar tight.
"She is trapped, the fight is over" Neji said coldly. Kaoru fell in the ground, bleeding but she stood again.
"Just stay in the ground!" Temari made another wind, Kaoru made another barrier. This time it blocked the attack, but when it vanished she wasn't there. Kaoru appeared behind Temari, with a finger the fan was sent aside. A wire attached to one extreme, the sand kunoichi turned around intent in hitting her teammate. A few punches blocked, but Kaoru managed to trap her hand. Until Temari took a kunai escaped, viciously engaging her on taijutsu.
"Yeah, Kao-chan!" Naruto was hit by Shikamaru then, he massaged her head and shouted to him. "What was that for?"
"You aren't helping" Shikamaru was so serious, his displeasure too obvious. "She is just delaying the fight" Naruto didn't get it, until his friend blocked her punches and evaded her kicks. She was faster, and why she insisted on the defensive? He had seen her do much better than this. At times when Temari got intense did his friend quickly knocked down the sand haired blond, but was too stubborn. Again and again, not using ninjutsu just... what was wrong with her? Blue eyes bugged in surprise while looking at the green eyes of her teammate. She was crying. Why? Why did she looked so desperate? Why did she only avoided?
"What is she thinking?" He finally said while watching the fight, Temari was furiously shouting outraged. Why she was going easy on her?
"There is something in her mind. From all of you, she is gentler, almost pacifist." Kakashi said
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked worried for her friend that occasionally touched her head in the same way as she had a migraine.
"Her own decision to finish this go against her usual fighting style, because she doesn't think this as a serious fight. Kaoru doesn't hurts purposelly unless it's necessary. With a stubborn opponent like the sand kunoichi. What would you think will happen? " Kakashi replied.
"She is making it more tough… that clumsy head" Shikamaru said in a harsh tone.
Naruto looked as Kaoru just defended herself of Temari for a time. Kaoru was tiring herself like that, the sand blond kick sent her rolling to the ground. If she continued like that… He was mad, THEY didn't came this far together for nothing. He knew she could do better and he WILL return some sense to her.
"Kaoru! What the hell are you doing? Is this what Shisui-san great student has to offer? He will be upset to see you give up your dream"
When Temari came intent in ending all, confident with the final blow. Kaoru hand gripped her leg, a purple glow surrounded her and the blond girl was paralyzed.
"Hey, Temari! What are you waiting?" The puppet weirdo shouted.
Suddenly, the sand kunoichi started to breath hard. Kaoru took her other leg, both hands glow slowly engulfed both. His mouth hanged open as the cuts in Kaoru were slowly closing and appeared slowly in Temari, every injury inflicted was being translated. He had never seen her doing that before.
"I didn't think I will see this technique again…" Kakashi mumbled surprised.
"What is she doing?" asked Shikamaru sensei, suddenly Temari coughed blood and fell back in the ground unconscious, the glow faded and Kaoru was the last standing. Hayate declared Kaoru the winner and the painted guy from the sand ushered to Temari side. The next one to fall was her friend, Hikaru beat him to her side, she was sweating and trembling. Shikamaru presence did surprised him, but he was more worried for her to question it now.
"Will she be alright Hika?" Naruto asked.
"Yes, I will have to take her for a few moments" Hikaru said. Kaoru opened her eyes to look at us.
"You finally did it…" Shikamaru said solemnly, touching her forehead briefly with a slight frown.
"Shika… Naruto… Thank you" She said without her usual smile, slowly avoiding our eyes.
"She will be fine. See, nothing went wrong." Shikamaru said pinching her cheek.
"Hey, don't do that" He avoided my hand slap. "What are you talking about? Have you seen that jutsu before? Tell me!" The screen made a sound and he sighed.
"Explaining it would be a drag. Now go away, I have to fight" Shika replied.
"Shika… good luck" Kaoru said, then Hikaru leave in a blink and Naruto had to return with Sakura and Kakashi.
KAORU POV
There was so much I wanted to do. While I walked back to the arena in silence after hitting my head a few times in the wall. It have been very stupid of me to forget my dream. If it weren't for Naruto I might have just end in shame. Sakura greeted her with good news, Shikamaru had won against Ten Ten. Something surprising, I had to ask for that story but meanwhile we stood watching Naruto against Kiba.
While Kiba openly bragged and tried to defeat Naruto. My blond friend holds his ground, finally demonstrating his strength of mind and heart to everyone. Beautiful and endearing in a sense, proud for him. Kiba was a wild tempest in a cloudy day, at times it was upsetting to watch my friend bleed, but he never gives up. Sakura and I cheered for him, we jumped in happiness when he won and I ran to his side once he was up in the stairs.
In his arms I wanted to thank him for so much. His confidence, his cheers, to be my inspiration, but I settled for crushing him with a hug, sniffling a bit his essence in search of comfort. Her blue eyes shined with pure delight and we smiled.
"I did it!" He repeated so fervently, I laughed unable to remain sad by his side. I let him talk about how cool he was, feeling a slight warm in my chest just glad for his happiness. Hinata took me by surprise offering him a bottle. Her sensei explained it was a healing ointment, a gift.
"But, your teammate won't need it? I'm sure Kao-chan has some for me?" He looked at me, I just made a tiny nod, kind of flattered he remembered I still have some bottles left.
We returned to our side. The next names made me stiffen, Neji. Hinata was already there beside Kiba who was carried by the nurse. It took me time in the past to know part of the story Hinata had with Neji. He hadn't been that horrible until my home arrest was made. Hinata and I were forced to separate more than once at the academy by Neji when I was allowed to return. There he was tormenting my friend, it seems like the hate was still present and latent. It was infuriating, how few words from him left Hinata trembling like a leaf. She was her first female friend, a gentle girl that didn't deserved to be treated like a bug.
"Stop it!" Naruto shouted in fury by my side. "Who the hell you are to say what Hinata may or may not be?" He was right, I can't just watch. The least I can do is to encourage her as well "Hinata! I believe in you! Don't let him get to your head!"
Finally, she prepared her stance and the fight started. Kakashi explained the Byakugan, a lethal kekkei genkai and as they circled and punched each other the danger escalated in her. Neji was merciless, his hits brought her two times to stop in pain. Naruto keep encouraging her, I was getting afraid for her.
"Hinata!" Neji just gave a punch and she fell to the ground blood in her mouth. He mocked her efforts, so easily…
"Shut up! No matter what you say. Hinata is a brave kunoichi. Stop messing with my friend…" Tightening my grip so strong in the bar just to keep myself of jumping and punch him. She stood and her words made Neji mad. All the jounin had to stop him, Hinata was carried away hurriedly after coughing more blood. Her pulse was so low, I heard Kurenai mumble Neji really tried to kill her.
How can someone be so… so…. Hearthless? This was far from simple resentment. Neji almost killed my friend. A gentle girl with a big heart that heard me cry when I was little. That shared with me her lunch, with patience enough to introduce me to things I didn't understood. She was the first to introduce me to tea and encouraged me in the end to made my personal bags. We have to go back, I walked next to Neji determined to make one thing clear.
"Better pray that Hinata made it alright."
"Is that your attempt of a threat?" Neji asked indifferent.
"No, I promise that you'll be my first kill if something happens to her."
He stirred something very awful, a memory I was determined not to repeat ever again. I won't lose another loved one if I could do something about it. No, if I must take a life….
"Hey you" The boy with the puppet came near Naruto and I. Not interested in him I watched as the last fight began. Lee, I had new found admiration at another awesome demonstration of taijutsu. He was against the read head I meet before, Kankuro mentioned his sand was his weapon and his defense. It had been exciting until it got to a point that the energy escalated so much it was pressing the air. The others were acting normal, not affected at all and it was confusing me. A wave of sand chased without pause after Lee. Something was pressing my chest but nothing was there.
"Hime focus on me and breath" I had to take long breaths and do as told. Isamu energy was embracing me like a blanket, the weight in my chest was lifted slowly. With my mind in track I recognized at last the oppressing feelings before.
"Kao-chan, are you alright?" Naruto voice was near, a frown and his hand in my forehead. "Why are you crying?" I felt his hand in my cheek, Kankuro was looking at us. I didn't even noticed my tears.
"No…" Lee remained fighting, Gai confessed the last resort, the goal Lee had in mind. A powerful force in Lee was awakened and the battlefield was sent flying in pieces. Sending Gaara flying completely breaking and trapping him. The pressures of energy came back at full force, Lee and Gaara were so strong it was difficult to remain standing. The last rush of wind send Lee rolling, Isamu was screaming now to me but… but…
"LEE! PLEASE SOMEONE STOP THIS! I cried trembling, the sand came at him. My head was punching, Lee cries were loud.
"GAARA! PLEASE STOP!" I pleaded, Gai made it in time between them. The pressure in my chest was painful, too much emotions were surrounding the atmosphere. Fear, loneliness, solitude, hate… Naruto went running to Lee, the medical team already moving. A mass of silver and golden eyes, Hikaru was at my side.
"Hey, take my hand and breath. Focus and open the Reishi flow" He soothed the pain. The feelings were decreasing as the glow between us danced and it was bearable to breath again. "Yeah, like that… good girl. Let me take you out."
"No, please not yet." Hikaru sighed, the glow persisted. He let a hand to be next to the others. The Hokage congratulated all who passed, we have a month to train for the finals. They paired us by numbers, Shikamaru was my first opponent. After that Hikaru take me out as promised, I was sleepy so I closed my eyes and made myself comfortable besides him.
