Chapter Thirty Five:
Prelim Battles….
Part One.
The genin all looked up at the board and watched for the first set of names to appear. The board revealed the first name: Inuzuka Kiba. The second name appeared momentarily. Momonari Dante, a genin from Hidden Stone was the second name that appeared. The two ninjas stepped forward as everyone else made their way up to the balcony to watch the fighting. Jiraiya and the other senseis quickly joined their teammates, as the first fight was about to begin. The Stone-nin was an average sized man; he had dark brown hair and dark violet eyes.
"Okay Akamaru, are you ready?" Kiba asked his loyal companion who merely barked in response.
"You've got to be kidding; I've got to face some punk and his little dog?" The Stone-nin asked.
"You got a problem you can just leave? I'll take a win, instead of having to bash your face in," Kiba replied to the remark.
"No, I just really wasn't in the mood to face a loser. I guess it can't be helped," The Stone-nin said with a smirk.
"A loser? It looks like I've been underestimated. I'll make you pay for that," Kiba replied.
"You two may begin whenever," Shikamaru said lazily. The Stone-nin immediately performed several hand seals and attacked.
"Doton: Ishi Supaika No Jutsu!" The stone-nin said, as spikes began to shoot out of the ground around Kiba and Akamaru who were trying they're hardest to dodge the attacks.
"Damn you!" Kiba growled as he began to spin rapidly and attack the Stone-nin. "Tsuuga!" Kiba's attack was easily dodged and then Dante countered with another jutsu.
"Doton: Kaitsuu Tsuchi No Jutsu!" The Stone-nin attacked again, as Kiba landed from his attack, the ground began to open under his feet and he began to fall. Kiba grabbed hold of the ledge and the earth then began to close. Kiba jumped out of the hole as the ground closed back up, but as Kiba was getting himself back together stone spikes shot out of the ground and pierced Kiba's right leg, and left shoulder causing blood to begin to pour from his wounds.
"Kiba!" Sakura yelled worrying about her teammate.
"Kiba is getting careless," Neji simply stated getting a glare from his other teammate.
Akamaru ran over to his master who pulled the spikes out of his injuries. Akamaru licked Kiba's injured leg as he looked up at Kiba.
"Don't worry Akamaru, I'm fine," Kiba said as he pulled out solider pills and ate one and then gave one to Akamaru. The dog turned red and instantly jumped on his master's back. "Okay, let's do this!" Kiba yelled readying his next move. "Juujin Bunshin!" Kiba yelled as Akamaru transformed into Kiba.
"This looks interesting," Dante said watching his opponent.
"Gatsuuga!" Kiba yelled as he and Akamaru spun violently and attacked the Stone-nin. The attack was barely dodged from one angle. But Akamaru managed to scratch the Stone-nin. Kiba and Akamaru quickly moved in for a second attack.
"Doton: Doryuuheki!" The stone-nin shouted as he began to vomit mud that formed into a solid wall all around him as Kiba and Akamaru's attack hit, striking the wall and breaking it, but not causing any damage to Dante himself. "Looks like your attacks are useless," Dante said smiling.
"Damn, I can use my Soutourou because merging with Akamaru would use up way too much chakra, not to mention the space is limited in here. No, we've got to break through his earth defenses and land a solid attack," Kiba thought to himself as he pondered on what to do next.
"What's wrong dog boy? Are you running out of tricks?" The Stone-nin asked.
"Shut up, we'll get you some how!" Kiba shouted back at the man.
"Are those your last words, or do you have something else to say?" The Stone-nin confidently asked.
"Gatsuuga!" Kiba yelled as he and Akamaru attacked again. Dante made another wall and Kiba and Akamaru broke it down again. This cycle continued for several minutes until finally Akamaru turned back into his normal self from being too exhausted. Kiba stood beside his companion breathing heavily. The Stone-nin stood unharmed.
"Well this has been really boring, are you done now?" Dante asked looking over at the tired dog ninja.
"Go to hell!" Kiba shouted in anger.
"Those are my words!" Dante replied as he shot spikes out of the ground again. This time Kiba got pierced in his gut, both legs, and arms and also several in the back as he quickly covered Akamaru and kept him out of harm's way. Kiba fell on the ground as blood poured from his wounds.
"Hey examiner it's over!" Dante said looking over at Shikamaru who merely shrugged his shoulders and yawned. "Hey don't call it, I like playing with my enemies," Dante said as he walked over to the unconscious Kiba. "Well you were weak, but at least you entertained me slightly," Dante said as he stood over Kiba.
"Then you'll love this!" Kiba said, as he jumped into the air and slashed Dante across the face with his claws causing Dante to move back holding his face. "Simple dog trick, it's called playing dead, you moron!" Kiba said to the man who was still staggered from Kiba's attack. "Now take this, Tsuuga!" Kiba yelled as he spun right into Dante who went flying into the air and received several more attacks while still in mid-air and then came crashing hard into the ground, the impact caused him to cough up blood and then pass out. Kiba landed on his feet and then dropped to one knee holding his shoulder as blood still poured from his wounds. Shikamaru walked over to check out the damage.
"The winner is, Kiba," Shikamaru said and then walked back to his original post.
"Kiba you did it!" Sakura yelled happily.
"Good job dog breath!" Naruto yelled down at the ninja who walked over and picked up his sleeping dog.
"We did good Akamaru, unfortunately... I won't be able to watch the rest of the fights." Kiba said weakly as he fell on his back and went unconscious. The medics quickly attended to the injured ninjas and cared them off.
"Kiba did a good job, his opponent was strong, but he was able to find the guy's weak spot," Kurenai said aloud.
"Yes, the Stone ninja was too confident and got careless right at the very end when he was almost assured to win. That just shows you how unpredictable these fights can be," Neji said.
"Okay, now everyone shut up and look at the board so we can get the next troublesome match under way," Shikamaru stated as all the genin watched the board. Gaara's name was next to be displayed and he made his way down to the fighting area. The next name was then displayed; Akimichi Chouji was the next fighter.
"Chouji... you've got to fight Gaara," Ino said to the visibly nervous boy.
"Yeah, Just my luck," Chouji said as he started to walk down.
"Interesting... I wonder what Chouji will do," Shikamaru thought to himself as he watched his friend enter the fighting area.
"Go Chouji you can do it!" Ino started to yell. "Kick his ass!" Ino continued to shout.
"That's rather annoying," Temari said.
"Okay, you guys can begin," Shikamaru said as Gaara got ready to attack. Chouji got into a stance and then raised his hand into the air.
"Go Chouji!" Ino shouted to her boyfriend.
"I give up!" Chouji shouted as he began walking back up toward the others.
"Y-You what!" Ino yelled in shock. Gaara stood looking rather annoyed as he began to walk back up as well.
"I knew he was going to do that," Shikamaru thought to himself with a smirk. "The winner is Gaara," Shikamaru said stating the obvious.
"Chouji, why the hell did you forfeit!" Ino yelled as she hit the boy over the head repeatedly.
"I'm not about to get myself killed! Gaara might have changed, but he could still kick my ass easily. I'm not going to hospital in little pieces!" Chouji yelled back at his defense.
"Okay, guy shut up, the board is going again," Tenten said to the couple.
The board quickly revealed Tenten's name as the girl hopped down and got herself ready to fight. The next name on the board read, Zen as a man from Hidden Cloud made his way down. He wasn't on the team with Akina. He was a taller man, with light blue hair, and crimson colored eyes. He was wearing all black except for his red sandals.
"A girl... great," The man said sighing heavily.
"What was that?" Tenten said looking rather angry. "Don't take me lightly; I'll put you on the ground before you know it," Tenten said.
"Tenten, don't let this guy get to you. You'll be thrown off your game even before the fight begins," Neji said softly under his breath.
"You two may begin," Shikamaru said as Tenten pulled out five kunai and fired them in. Zen simply sidestepped the first three and caught the last two and fired them back at the girl who avoided them easily as well. Tenten picked up one of the kunai and charged; the man who pulled out a kunai and collided with the girl. The force of his strike rocked Tenten and allowed the man to land a hard kick to her gut and then backhanded her knocking her to the ground rather easily.
"It seems it was I who put you on the ground first," Zen said. "You'd better stay there where you belong if you know what is good for you,"
"We'll see about that," Tenten said as she spun on the ground and swept the man's legs. Zen simply balanced himself with his hands and then pushed up into the air dodging several kunai attacks at the same time. The man spun in the air and then landed almost gracefully on his feet and fired shuriken, which Tenten deflected with her kunai. Tenten charged after firing off several shuriken. Zen easily deflected the shurikens and saw the charging Tenten and stabbed her in the gut with his kunai. Zen was temporarily surprised when Tenten disappeared in a puff of smoke and a log took her place.
"I see... Kawarimi No Jutsu, so childish," Zen said as he turned to see Tenten set two scrolls down on the ground and performed several hand seals. "Two scrolls... what is she planning?" Zen said as Tenten leaped into the air as the two scrolls unraveled around her and she began firing hundreds of weapons down at the man, who simply closed his eyes. "What, has he given up? No, that can't be it, he's planning something," Tenten thought to herself as the weapons were about to rain down upon the Cloud-nin.
"Raikouhara!" Zen yelled as a field of lightning emerged deflecting the weapons. The field acted as a shield of energy that didn't allow any of the attacks to come through. The weapons fell to the ground and the lightning field disappeared.
"I got you!" Tenten said, as she pulled the weapons back up with her fingers giving the commands almost like Kankurou would do with his puppet. The weapons rained down once again and were about to strike but were deflected once again and a surge of electricity flowed up the strings and shocked Tenten causing her to drop from the air to the ground.
"It would seem that I have you. My technique is almost automatic. I can turn it on and off at anytime. You should give up, you can't defeat me," Zen said, as he picked up a kunai and fired it at Tenten that stabbed her deep in the shoulder causing her to scream in pain as blood began to flow from the now open wound.
"Tenten!" Neji yelled in concern for his girlfriend. Neji quickly quieted down when he saw a smile form on Tenten's face.
"Thanks for the advice, but I decline," Tenten said as she pulled the kunai out of her wound and grabbed her blood shoulder and then performed several hand seals. "Kuchiyose No Jutsu: Ketsueki Buki!" Tenten shouted as her blood turned into several kunai and she began firing the kunai in as fast as the blood was flowing from her wound.
"W-What is that?" Zen said in shock as he tried to turn on his technique but the shock of the attack delayed his attacks and the man was pierced several times with the kunai. Zen then dropped to the ground.
"Well, I guess that's all for that match," Shikamaru said looking on at the battle. "You're winner is Tenten," Shikamaru said as he let out another yawn. Tenten turned her back as Zen staggered to his feet and realized what had happened.
"I... I lost... no…. Damn!" Zen walked up to Tenten and placed his hand on her injured shoulder. "Die bitch!" Zen shouted as Tenten screamed in pain as electricity shot through her open wound.
"Tenten!" Neji screamed as he hopped down from the balcony and raced over to his love.
"I won't allow any interference!" Zen said as he turned on his technique as Neji collided with it sending the boy flying into the air and then crashing into the ground. Zen then picked up a kunai as Neji got back up and charged. Zen fired the kunai at Neji, which struck the boy in his left shoulder; Neji was rocked by the attack. Then he felt a sudden surge of energy course through him as he dropped to the ground. "Did you like that? I can charge up weapons as well," Zen said looking rather evil as he prepared to attack the injured and unconscious Tenten again.
"Damn!" Shikamaru yelled as he was about to step in with his technique when Zen was suddenly sent flying as Neji planted both feet into the guy's face.
"Neji!" Naruto yelled as he jumped down to help his friend. Neji ignored everything around and charged in a blinding rage and began to viciously pound on the man.
"Die you bastard!" Neji screamed violently as Naruto caught his hand.
"Don't do it." Naruto said pleading with his friend. "Tenten's hurt, take care of her first. That's what should be important," Naruto said as Neji stopped his attack.
"You're... right Naruto," Neji got up and walked over to Tenten who was already being placed on a stretcher.
"Hyuuga-san, please allow us to look at your wound," A medic said to Neji.
"How is she?" Neji asked.
"She'll be fine. It's not as serious as it looks," The medic replied. "Now please your injury,"
"No, I intend to use this pain to help me fight," Neji said as he watched the stretcher leave.
"Neji, you sure you shouldn't have it looked at?" Naruto asked looking concerned.
"Its fine," Neji said walking back up to join everyone else.
"I hope so," Naruto muttered under his breath. Naruto then turned and looked at Akina.
"These Cloud-nins seem like very bad people... I hope you're not like them as well," Naruto thought to himself as he looked at the girl.
Jutsu List
Doton: Ishi Supaiku No Jutsu - Earth Style: Stone Spike Jutsu
Doton: Kaitsuu Tsuchi No Jutsu - Earth Style: Opening Earth Jutsu
Raikouhara - Lightning Field
Kuchiyose No Jutsu: Ketsueki Buki - Summoning Jutsu: Blood Weapon