Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. And I don't own Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3.
Chapter 29
Maybe this was a stupid idea... Sakura thought. She was currently tied to a tree. A bit weird, don't you think?
After that badass moment where the Team Seven genin decided to work together, Kakashi kicked their asses. It didn't even take long. However, apparently, Sakura's punches on the ground really annoyed him so he tied her to a tree as punishment. Also, he stole Naruto's crystals. The pinkette still had hers.
"I'll chase you down to the ends of the earth." Naruto yelled. Sasuke ran over to Sakura, cutting the ropes that bound her to the tree.
"Thanks." The cherry blossom said. The Uchiha nodded in response but he quickly took off. Sakura assumed that he was chasing down their sensei.
"Gotta get more crystals!" Naruto zoomed off. He quickly came back. "Bye, Sakura-chan." He zoomed off again.
After losing terribly against her teacher, Sakura decided to go towards the Leaf Village Centre. Civillians were advised to stay indoors due to the nature of the contest. Many ninja were battling on the streets and the Kunoichi was weary of anyone trying to steal her crystals. Luckily, some people were careless and Sakura found a few crystals on the ground - including a red one.
Walking near the river in Konoha, Sakura noticed Shikamaru and Kankuro. It seemed like they were about to fight (judging by the puppet master's stance) but the Nara boy seemed unbothered.
"I just wanna see how good the Leaf's new chunin is." The Sand ninja said.
"How troublesome..." Shikamaru replied.
"I'll fight, if you don't want to." Sakura found herself saying. Both boys turned to her and Kankuro - for some reason - found this funny.
"You?" He laughed. "Sweet cheeks?"
"Kill him now!" Kokuo exclaimed.
"Wasn't I the one who beat your sister in the chunin exams?" Sakura wondered out loud. "And you were the pussy who gave up. Heh."
The Sand genin narrowed his eyes. "If you really want to lose so bad then, I guess that could be arranged. But, I'm not the one who wants to fight you." In a poof, Kankuro disappeared.
What's that supposed to mean?
"Hey." Shikamaru caught the cherry blossom's attention. "Here." He said, handing her his red crystal and one blue crystal.
"Really?" Sakura asked, looking at him, dumbfounded.
"Yeah. I can't be bothered with this thing." He yawned, acting as if he was disinterested with explaining this as well as the contest itself.
"Thanks!" She exclaimed.
"Now I have to go hide from my mum..." Shikamaru mumbled, sauntering off and wondering where he could nap in peace.
Sakura spent the rest of the day fighting many genin. She hadn't lost a battle yet - excluding the one against Kakashi - and things were looking good. Currently, she had 43 points. Only 17 more and then she could qualify for the next round.
At times, she would see Ino and Hinata collecting crystals. The girls would share a look of some sort and part ways, knowing it wasn't their time to fight. She also saw Naruto a few times but he was so stressed about collecting crystals that he never noticed her.
Tenten had also found her - demanding to fight for her crystal back. The ninja tool girl lost again. However, the cherry blossom did have a chance to ask about her regulation. "I want the Hokage to teach all Kunoichi in Konoha about strength and medical ninjutsu." The girl with two buns on her head said.
She already does that with me... Sakura held back the comment. And, to be honest, she didn't like that regulation. (It made her feel less special). After losing for a second time, Tenten sped off, trying to find more crystals. As soon as the girl left, the pinkette had noticed a brown bird circling her. It looked like a Suna messenger bird. Signalling it to come down, she took a scroll out of the pouch and it quickly flew away.
Meet at Training Ground Eight Now
It wasn't signed and Sakura was confused as to who sent it. She didn't recognise the hand-writing. But, it was a Sand Messenger bird so a Sand ninja had challenged her? Was it Kankuro, wanting revenge for her earlier comment? Did Temari want a rematch? Did Gaara want to spar? Was it somebody she didn't know/didn't remember?
"All of these questions will be answered if you just go to the damn Training Field!" Kokuo yelled at Sakura.
Right. I knew that.
Standing in the middle of the field, Temari stood. Her fan was on her back but she moved it to her side once Sakura made it. "You sent the message?" The pinkette asked.
"I wanted a rematch." The Suna girl replied. "It was embarrassing losing to a girl who didn't even make it to chunin."
"Are you a chunin?" Sakura asked to which Temari nodded.
"I won't lie, I had an advantage. I was the only person who battled twice." The girl said. "Now, what's your regulation?" She asked.
"My regulation is to let academy students be allowed to choose which lessons they would like to take, regardless of their gender. A girl shall not be forced to take Kunoichi classes and a boy shall not be forced to take..." Sakura paused for a second. "Whatever the hell they did when girls were in Kunoichi class." What did they actually do?
"Hmm..." Was Temari's only response to that.
"What's yours?"
"I want mixed Konoha and Suna training sessions. If this alliance is going to happen then I want to know the abilities of those on our side." The Wind user proposed.
I'm not against that. Sakura thought.
"Gaara is nearby. I can feel Shukaku." Kokuo said, sensing her brother.
"Are Gaara and Kankuro here?" The pinkette asked.
"Nice sensory skills." Temari remarked. Kokuo said thanks to no one. "Yeah, they're sitting up on a tree. I hope you don't mind."
"Smaller audience than the chunin exams." Sakura smirked.
"Enough talk." The Suna girl opened up her fan. "This time, I'm going to win!" She swung her fan - moon three - and a huge gust of wind charged at Sakura. The cherry blossom countered with a mud wall. The wind attack destroyed the mud wall but phased out right after.
Forming many clones, the Sakuras began to circle their enemy - hoping to be confusing. Instead, Temari jumped into the air and forced her fan downwards, destroying them all. However, the real Sakura was above her oppponent and kicked down at her back. "Heaven Kick of Pain!" The Suna girl slammed down to the ground. Only, it was a much weaker version of Tsunade's move.
When the dust cleared up, the pinkette saw the remains of a wooden log. A substitution?
"Wind Style: Great Cast Net!" A huge slice of wind came out of the woods. It sliced through Sakura's body and she dissolved into cherry blossom petals. I can do the substitution game too. She thought from a different area in the woods.
Forming the necessary hand signs, the cherry blossom used her Wind Style: Deep Breath Jutsu towards the area where Temari's attack came from. There was no sound of pain, no sound that can be inferred of it hitting. So, Sakura hid underground and made her way around the area Temari was in.
Peaking her head from up the ground, the Leaf genin saw that her enemy was setting up a trap. It took a while for her to understand but it was a simple trap. All the Suna ninja had to do was a cut a rope and kunai with an exploding seal would attack a certain area.
In our last match,I used her own weapon against her. Maybe I should use her own trap against her...
And that's what she did. When Temari jumped - and when she was directly in that spot - Sakura sprang up and cut the rope, setting off the trap.
The new chunin tried to jump away from the barrage of kunai with exploding seals. Although she succeeded, a Sakura clone was already in the air and was ready to attack Temari. It used Earth Style: Weighted Boulders Jutsu. One after the other, boulders were hurled at Temari and she dodged them all. But, she was so focused on the clone, she forgot about the real Sakura.
"Shannaro!" The genin slammed her fist onto the ground next to her opponent. She stumbled and Sakura landed a kick to her stomach. This made her enemy fall to the floor.
Quickly making a few more clones, the Team Seven Kunoichi had them hold her down onto the ground. "I win." Sakura said, smirking.
"Fuck!" Temari growled, struggling to get up. Gaara and Kankuro made their way onto the field as Sakura dispelled her clone jutsu. From out of her pouch, the Suna Kunoichi gave her crystals to the winner. There was more than enough for the pinkette, she had around 90 points now.
"Thanks." Sakura said, placing the crystals in her pouch.
"You better win." Temari said. "Bad enough that I lost for a second time."
"I'll be sure to." She turned towards Gaara. She didn't know what to say to him, after what happened during the Chunin Exams.
"I battled with Naruto." The One-Tail's host said.
"Oh, really?" Sakura asked and she wondered about the outcome of the battle.
"It was in the early stages of the contest. He beat me but I still have enough to make it to the next round." Hmm... People are saying that Naruto-kun is doing really well. The cherry blossom thought.
"Well, I hope to battle with you later." Sakura replied and turned to Kankuro. His cheeks went pink and the Five-Tails' host wondered if the puppet master had a crush on her. No, get over yourself. He doesn't. She thought, remembering what happened at the river earlier on in the day.
After speaking with the Sand Siblings a bit longer, Sakura decided to retire for the day. Upon coming home, she learnt that her parents had already collected 60 points earlier on in the day.
She called them old again.
Mebuki made her least favourite dish for dinner as punishment.
Hiding her crystals, the pinkette went to sleep, dreaming of how proud people would be when they see her win. Along with the dreams came the nightmares.
When the horn blasted, the first round came to an end. Those who had 60 points or more made their way to the Hokage Tower. There were stands where each person had to register. When Sakura registered, she was given a blue crystal again and was instructed to hand over all of the crystals she obtained in the first round.
"Settle down!" Shizune yelled at the crowd.
"This next round is similar to the first." Tsunade began. "All of you received a blue crystal. Each is still worth 1 point. But, this next round has no set amount you need to obtain. Your goal is to collect as many crystals as you can. When the round is over, the two people with the most points will be chosen to fight in the Chunin Exam Stadium to determine the winner!"
People began cheering. Sakura was just glad that the point system was now fair.
"Alright!" Sakura heard Naruto yell. "I'm going to win this thing!" She smiled. She was glad that he made it and his enthusiasm was contagious.
Looking around, the pinkette wanted to see if there were any others she would recognise. That's when she saw Hinata and Ino - they had also made it. Sasuke was brooding in a corner, and Kakashi was leaning up against a wall, hands in his pockets.
A lot of people made it, I guess. She thought. I'm going to beat down all of them. Her eyes drifted to her best girl friends. She then looked to the members of Team Seven. No doubt that we'll clash in this round, I have to be ready.
