So, on to some new fights! And some skimmed fights! Yay!

BTW, last chapter, when I was going back over it, I realised I'd misspelled Sasuke as 'Sassuke' more than once. I find that hilarious.

Stuff:

LordTicky: Ehh... no major fics come to mind... I tend to follow 'the chain of awesome'; find someone whose stories you like, go through their favourites lists to find something, repeat as necessary. I'll keep an eye out for Sealing!Naruto fics, though.

...

FIGHTTIMEISGO!

...

"She- what? Hang on, I need to get past!" Naruto cried, being held back by one of the medics on hand.

"Naruto, calm down," Haku instructed, removing his surgical mask (not that it had any real purpose outside of preventing some people from propositioning him) as he struggled to restrain the blond. "If you go out there before your next match, you'll be disqualified. Don't ruin this for yourself."

"But, she's- there's another Uzumaki. I-I have a f-family out there." Naruto sighed, no longer resisting the hold.

"I understand. But you need to stay focused," Haku stressed, before lowering his voice slightly. "There's something else going on. I don't know what, but some of the ANBU are tense, like they're waiting for something. If something happens, you need to be ready for it. Now, head back up, and I'll come up with some excuse to keep her for observation so you can meet up after the tournament."

Naruto sighed, giving a small smile. "Thanks, Haku. That really means a lot. Keep an eye on her for me as well; her team nearly abandoned her back in the forest."

Haku watched as the genin headed back towards the stands. The boy was deceptively strong, considering his size.

He just hoped the flash of red in Naruto's eyes had been his imagination.

OoOoO

Karin coughed, cursing her sensei for not showing her anything that could work long-range. She'd known she wasn't going to beat this guy, but this running and hiding was just embarassing. It wasn't like sensei'd had anything better to do with the other two idiots out of the running but no, he still didn't have time to work with 'the Uzumaki brat'.

"You should give up, before I'm forced to hurt you," the Hyuuga bragged. "A failure like you does not stand a chance against me."

Oh, that did it. She may not have been an exceptional fighter, but no way was she going to sit there and listen to that guy demean her. She was going to put up a fight, damn it!

"Take this!" she announced, managing to get just inside his guard and catch him full in the face with a punch, smiling as she heard a crack. However, the 'Neji' she'd struck promptly burst into smoke, turning out to be a log.

"You brought this on yourself." came the cold voice from behind her. "Hakke Rokujuyon Sho!"

Karin froze as blinding pain shot through her back and she collapsed to her knees. "I'm... not done yet..." she managed, before a palm strike sent her sprawling.

"There will always be those who are considered prodigies, just as there will always be failures. Someone like you does not stand a chance against me."

Karin flinched, standing shakily as she assessed the damage. 'My chakra's totally messed up... and he's barely used anything yet. I-I can't... I can't win this.' "I... give up," she sighed, trying and failing to hold back a sudden hiss of pain. "You win..." 'And I just hope Orochimaru-sama understands...'

Neji scoffed, glaring down at her. "You shouldn't have tried to defy your fate."

OoOoO

"Oh, he is such an asshole," Sakura growled. "No offense, Lee."

"...None taken, Sakura-chan. Neji's attitude can be most unyouthful at times."

"Naruto, are you okay?" Shikamaru interjected, seeing as the blond was gritting his teeth.

"I will be, just as soon as I kick Neji's ass," Naruto responded coolly. "Then we'll see whether his 'fate' is worth a damn."

"Kankuro and Gaara, both of Sunagakure!" Hayate announced, Kankuro immediately raising his hands in surrender.

"I give up. There's nothing I can do that even stands a chance against Gaara." he explained dejectedly, returning to his place in the stands beside Temari.

"Okay then, we will continue to the next match," Hayate accepted, though he resolved to keep a closer eye on the Suna trio. There was no point in coming that far only to surrender... "Kinuta Dosu and Uchiha Sasuke!"

"Alright then, time to finish this." Sasuke grinned as he turned to follow the Oto-nin downstairs.

"Oi, Sasuke," Naruto muttered as he passed. "I'm waiting to see you in the finals. Kick their asses."

"Feh, like I needed you to tell me that. Just make sure you don't let the Hyuuga beat you before I do." Sasuke smirked, rolling his eyes.

OoOoO

"I've been waiting for you, Uchiha. I hope you're ready to lose." Dosu rasped, his voice hoarse.

"That's cute. What, did it take you the whole month to come up with that one?" Sasuke drawled, raising an eyebrow as he circled his opponent warily. Dosu looked... pretty much the same, though the cloak covering him made it difficult to know for sure. "Let's get this over with. I have actual fights to get to today. Gokakyu no Jutsu!"

Dosu's visible eye widened a fraction as he ducked instinctively, Sasuke's follow-up kick driving into his face. "Bastard! Let's see just how cocky you are when I rip out those eyes of yours! Tekkaito!" he snapped, a pair of metal cables flying from the wrist of his Melody Arm as he threw open the cloak.

Sasuke blinked as he ducked back, sharingan whirling into existence. "More tricks up your sleeves, I see," he muttered, determined not to grimace at his own pun. "Pity it won't save you. Raihado!" he cried, slamming his palm against the cable as it retracted.

It... didn't do much.

"You didn't think I was that stupid, did you? I knew you used Raiton. My weapons and clothes are all insulated. Your lightning won't reach me." Dosu gloated, chakra concentrating in his gauntlet as he unleashed a soundwave to disrupt the Uchiha's balance.

"Huh. Still, there has to be a limit to what you can block," Sasuke commented idly as he leapt away. "And I don't see any point in holding back here."

'That's still really annoying. I really should've looked for a faster Katon jutsu when I was hiding from Zabuza- I mean... actually, that's pretty accurate. So. Do I try this long-range, or up close?'

"What's wrong? I thought you weren't holding back!" Dosu snarled, moving ahead slowly as he maintained his attack. Sure, it wasn't exactly easy to stand so close to the Melody Arm, even with his specially-made bandages damping the effect, but he'd trained relentlessly to resist its effects. He'd prove himself worthy, and become one of Orochimaru-sama's elites. He just had to get past this spoilt clan brat first.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, trying to focus on the chakra carrying the soundwaves while trying not to rub at his eyes as they prickled uncomfortably. Damned Mangekyo. It may have been a powerful tool, but not worth the eventual blindness, which was currently making itself known as a relentless, incredibly aggravating itch somwhere behind his left eye.

It was more annoying than the council.

"Hosenka!" he cried, sending a barrage of small fireballs towards his opponent, nodding to himself as he saw them flicker slightly once they got within a few feet of Dosu- specifically his oversized gauntlet.

First things first, take a leaf out of Naruto's book. "Why do you wear those bandages anyway? Are you that ugly?" ...So his insults could use some practice. Important thing was that it worked.

"Don't you insult me! You lousy clan bastard!" Dosu grunted, lashing out with his cables again. Sasuke danced out of reach, steering the battle back to the trees and ducking behind one. "You think you can hide from me?" the Oto-nin snarled, snapping the trunk with the metallic whips to get through to his target.

Except his target wasn't there.

"Hey," came the voice from... below him? Sasuke's head and arms shot out of the ground and dragged his opponent below ground. "Doton: Shinju Zanshu. I should probably thank Kakashi for that one... ehh, maybe later." he mused as he saw the squirming head his technique had left.

"You... think I'm... done? Not YET!" Dosu grimaced, the ground around him splintering. "I'm a master of sound jutsu. And solid earth like this..." he continued as he blasted a crater in the rock. "Is perfect for carrying sound waves. Now DIE!" he snarled, lunging at the surprised Uchiha with the claws on his weapon. It sank into the cloth and flesh with ease. But no blood. And no screaming in agony. Shit.

"Chidori!" the real Sasuke barked as he erupted from the ground, left hand sparking as he drove it at Dosu. Kakashi's sole original technique sliced through the Uchiha's target with ease.

The two halves of the Melody Arm clanked as they fell from Dosu's arm, leaving him struck silent and unrespnsive, even as Sasuke's knee crunched against his face, his nose breaking on impact. Sasuke glanced over at Hayate, who nodded.

"The winner by knockout, Uchiha Sasuke!"

And the crowd went wild.

OoOoO

"An incredible display for someone so young. Was that the genuine article? Hatake Kakashi's infamous assassination technique?" the Kazekage asked, impressed.

"Indeed. And even more so that he was able to repurpose it for an exhibition match. That level of restraint will certainly look good when it comes to deciding promotions."

"Ah, Hokage-sama, no need to be so serious. Plenty of time to discuss promotions later; let's just enjoy the matches while we can, before we get down to business." 'You may as well enjoy the last of your time on Earth, sensei. I'll allow you that much.'

OoOoO

"Nara Shikamaru and Temari, come down to the arena for your match." Hayate announced, as Dosu was carted off to the infirmary.

"Shika, don't drag this out. Please," Naruto begged. "We all have other stuff to do today."

"No promises." the shadow-user drawled as he ambled down the stairs.

"Ah, damnit, we're gonna be here for hours. And we can't even leave." the blond groaned.

"It's okay, Naruto, you can have your nap."

"Don't patronise me, teme," Naruto huffed. "I'm gonna take a rest, but not 'cause you told me to." he muttered, lying down on the seat and turning away from the rest of the group.

"I swear, it's like he's a toddler. I thought I was done with this after Megumi..."

"I'm not asleep yet!"

Gaara raised a non-existent brow as he listened to the teammates squabble. They were vaguely amusing. It was almost a pity they were all going to be sacrificed to Mother. Almost.

OoOoO

Jiraiya frowned as he gazed out over Konoha's wall. Itachi had sworn Orochimaru was ready to attack the village, and using the chuunin exams (where almost all of the ANBU were stationed, not to mention the elites and sensei himself) as a distraction for the assault. Granted, he and his 'Otogakure' didn't stand a chance against the strongest of the Five Great villages, but his old teammate had always been ready to sacrifice his allies when he had to... or wanted to.

But there was no sign of the snake summoner or his army anywhere.

At least he had the cute blond ex-Iwa chick Itachi had sent him as backup. The boy had good taste... even if the girl wasn't much of a talker.

"Hey there, cutie. Come to see what the legendary Jiraiya-sama can do?"

A muffled sigh, as she rubbed at her forehead. She was definitely too young for him... but he could get some prime research material if he played his cards right.

Just as soon as he dealt with this invasion.

Any minute now.

...

Yup.

OoOoO

"What's the holdup? I'm fine!" Karin protested, the medic-nin with suspiciously cold chakra pushing her back onto the bed.

"Uzumaki-san, please. You are a member of a foreign village who was injured by one of our own. It is our responsibility to ensure you are recovering well, so as not to cause a diplomatic incident." Haku explained to the aggrieved girl. Hm, not bad for something he'd just made up. Plausible, even.

His efforts were rewarded with the girl finally settling down. He moved to leave, hoping to see Naruto's fight against the Hyuuga, as that would just be amazing to watch. Oyone, one of the other medics, poked her head around the curtain as he walked past. "Haku-san? Dosu's teammates are here. They want to know why he's being held for observation."

Haku sighed. Maybe he should have just locked Karin in the room and been done with it.

OoOoO

"Oi, wake up!" Sasuke ordered, poking Naruto with the hilt of his chokuto. "Sakura's heading down for her fight, and she'll literally break your face if you miss it."

"Mzzemboff." the blond mumbled, wiping the remnants of sleep from his eyes. "Shika surrendered?"

"Yeah."

"Even though he was totally winning?" Naruto groaned, rolling the tension out of his shoulders

"...yeah... Were you really asleep or just dicking around?"

"Kiba owes me a hundred ryo... yeah, I was having a nice nap."

"Why do we still make bets with you?"

Sakura, now standing across from Lee in the middle of the arena, sent a glare at the duo, who immediately flinched. "Maybe we should stay focused." Sasuke suggested.

"Yep. I really don't need to be punched today."

...

Done!

Next time, we'll have Lee against Sakura and hopefully Neji versus Naruto. Them monologues, man. Them monologues.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this one! See you!