Face to Face: The Might of the Rookies.
Dad whispered something to Sasuke, and the two proceeded to leave the arena.
"Sasuke." I sighed. A faint image of those black, flame-like marks covering his body came to mind, and I shook the image out of my head.
"Hey girls." Naruto said, looking at myself and Sakura. "Maybe I'm crazy but did either of you see any weird marks on Sasuke's neck during the fight?"
Sakura and I gasped, glancing at each other.
"What mark?" Sakura asked, playing dumb. "I didn't see anything."
"Neither did I." I lied. "Maybe you are going crazy Naruto." I chuckled lightly.
The screen clicked on and the names began cycling through, choosing the next two competitors. After a few seconds, the next pair was decided.
Shino Aburame vs. Zaku Abumi
The two ninja took the floor, it was a match of the Sound vs. the Leaf, and the second Rookie Genin of our village to take part in the Preliminary rounds.
I recognized Zaku as the one who had his arms broken by Sasuke. Those arms were now in a makeshift sling, but despite that, Zaku looked like he was ready for the fight.
Shino on the other hand, was cool and calm, and I don't know if I should be worried or scared. I never really knew Shino that well, I don't know anything about his techniques or his ninja arts. All I really know is that he was a quiet kid, and someone I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley.
I looked across the arena and saw the Sound Jōnin vanish in a cloud of smoke.
"I wonder where he's going?" I questioned. "Why would he leave when one of his own Genin is getting ready to fight?"
Shino's voice snapped me away from my train of thought. "If you fight me, you won't be able to recover." he warned. "Forfeit and withdraw."
But Zaku wasn't buying into the threat. He just smirked, "Well whaddya know, I've got a little movement in one." he said, moving his left arm. "One good arm is enough to beat you!"
Zaku went in for a punch, but it was blocked by Shino, without effort.
"You couldn't beat me using both your arms." Shino said, standing perfectly still, like nothing was going on.
"Just who is this kid?" Helena asked.
Zaku unleashed his sound wave attack, blasting an air stream right near Shino's head, causing him to recoil back, and create a smoke cloud.
"What the hell?" Helena gasped.
As the smoke cleared, Shino stood practically unfazed, only his clothes had a little bit of dirt on them. The arena was dead silent. Then, a strange sound, almost like something marching, echoed around the room.
I looked down at Shino, and saw a group of bugs crawling down his shirt, the bugs were coming from him.
"Is Shino summoning those insects?" I thought.
"Now that you've creeped us out, what else ya got?" Zaku scoffed.
He gasped when he realized an army of small, black beetles were creeping up on his right, and it spooked him, majorly.
I gulped, gripping the iron bars. "What the hell are those?"
"I don't know, but I think I'm gonna be sick." Sakura whimpered.
Shino held up his index finger, where one beetle sat. "They're a rare species of parasitic beetle that attack their prey in a swarm, and eating its chakra." he informed, "A swarm that size, will suck you dry in less than a minute. Your only intelligent option is to forfeit the match."
Shino did make a valid point, even though he had a creepy way of proving it. Since Zaku had only one good arm, he only had one way to defend himself, and either way, he would be attacked from the weaker side.
I gulped. "Damn, Shino doesn't mess around."
"He gives 'creepy crawly' a whole new meaning." Helena added.
Zaku glared at Shino, unsure of how he was going to go about this. While Shino just stood there, his hands forming the sign 'Hitsuji/Ram'. He kept looking back and forth between Shino and his army of chakra devouring beetles.
Both of Zaku's arms were trembling, and I was amazed they were even working, considering how brutally Sasuke had injured him.
I shivered at the memory.
{Flashback}
In a blink of an eye, Sasuke was behind Zaku, holding his arms behind him, his foot on his back. His lips curled back in a devilish smile.
"You seem to be very fond of these arms of yours." Sasuke said. "You must be very, attached to them."
I gulped. Sasuke was defiantly different. He was way more fiercer…darker.
Sasuke put more pressure on Zaku's back and pulled on his arms. Zaku was afraid for his life in that moment. Sasuke's smile widened as he pulled harder, and I heard bones breaking.
Sakura and I gasped. I shut my eyes, horrified that Sasuke would even do that. It was in that moment, I knew that the Sasuke Uchiha I've known all my life, the Sasuke I called one of my best friends growing up, was forever changed.
Zaku passed out on the ground, leaving Dosu the Sound ninja left standing.
{End Flashback}
Zaku was trembling all over and gritting his teeth.
"Never again." he grunted. "That will never happen again."
He held his left fist towards Shino, opening it up and revealing his palm. He then threw his right palm towards the insect swarm. A smirk crossed his lips.
"This is not gonna end well for him." Helena predicted.
For once, I was in complete agreement with her.
And it ended up being a true statement. Once Zaku tried to use his jutsu, nothing happened. Apparently, while Shino was explaining everything, he had some of insects crawl into the holes in Zaku's palms, on both hand, plugging them up.
"True, an Ace in the Hole is a good thing." Shino said. "But two Aces are even better."
In the next instant, the air stream made its way out, blowing out of the pores in the arm itself. With a single punch, Shino knocked out Zaku, thus winning the second match.
"The winner is Shino Aburame." Hayate called.
"Man, that was brutal." Sakura gasped.
"No kidding." I agreed.
"Who would've thunk it with him being so quiet, I can't wait to get my shot at him!" Naruto exclaimed, clenching his fist.
"An I thought he was weird before, but now…" Sakura added, trailing off.
"I know exactly what you mean." I told her, breathing a sigh.
The Medical Corp. came onto the floor and put Zaku, who was moaning in pain, onto a stretcher and carried him off the arena floor.
Shino walked up the stairs and rejoined his teammates.
The screen clicked on, signaling the choosing of the third pair of Genin for the next match.
"Now moving onto the third match." announced Hayate.
As we awaited the next pair, my dad suddenly reappeared behind us.
"Hi guys." he greeted.
"What do you mean 'hi guys'?" Sakura replied. "What about Sasuke? How is he?"
"He's fine, don't worry." dad answered. "Sasuke is sleeping soundly in the infirmary."
Sakura sighed in relief, as did I.
And the next pair was two leaf village Genin.
Misumi Tsurugi vs. Sakoku Uzuki
The two Leaf Genin stepped onto the arena floor, prepared to fight.
"Does either combatant have any objections?" Hayate asked.
"No sir." Sakoku answered.
"None here." added Misumi.
"Then let the third match, Misumi and Sakoku, begin." Hayate declared.
And the match started off with both boys breaking out in taijutsu. Sakoku landed a blow to Misumi's face, causing him to flinch in pain. With a smirk, he used the 'Mi/Snake' sign, but he was just as quickly constricted by Misumi, unable to move.
"Let go…you…" Sakoku choked out, collapsing on his knees, gasping for breath.
Misumi's body had turned to rubber and he wrapped himself around Sakoku, binding him from making any hand signs at all.
"Get him Sakoku!" Orchi cheered. "You can beat him!"
Satsuki stood by and watched, her arms folded over her chest.
"I wish I could do that." Naruto laughed.
"I don't, it looks way to weird, not to mention, freaky." I rebuked, crossing my arms.
"I dislocate every single one of my joints, then, using my chakra, I can control it perfectly." Misumi informed, tightening his grip on Sakoku. "And unless you give up, I'll break you neck."
"Go on and try." Sakoku smirked.
When Misumi went to prove his threat, he stopped. "What the hell?" he asked. He squeezed tighter, and Sakoku turned to stone and crumbled away. "A substitution?" Misumi questioned, his limbs returning to normal.
"Nope, a Stone Clone." Sakoku's voice echoed off the arena walls. The real one appeared behind Misumi, still forming the 'Snake' sign. He smiled, "One of my many techniques."
Satsuki smiled. "Nice one, use the clone to gauge the enemy's attack and fighting style." she chuckled, "Very nice work."
"You train them well, Satsuki." my dad complemented.
Satsuki-sensei smiled. "Thank you Kakashi."
I smiled and looked down at the arena.
Sakoku smirked and punched Misumi in the jaw, revealing part of his hand to be the color of stone itself. "I can make any part of my body into stone, by focusing my chakra to that area." he informed, kicking Misumi in the stomach.
Misumi countered by wrapping his arm around Sakoku's neck, tightening his grip. With one more punch to the face, Misumi was knocked into the wall, and Sakoku collapsed on the ground, his hand to his throat.
Hayate checked on Misumi first, then Sakoku. "Since neither combatant is able to move, no one moves on from this match." he declared.
Satsuki jumped to the arena floor and slung Sakoku's arm around her neck. "You did well kid, I'm proud." she whispered.
She laid him against the wall, smiling.
"Great, that puts pressure on me to make sure Squad Nine makes it to the finals." Orchi huffed.
"You'll be fine sweetie." Satsuki reassured.
"Thanks Sakoku, thanks a lot." she said, even though her teammate was unconscious.
I giggled and couldn't help but smile.
Sakura and I went to the bathroom during the short intermission break.
"Everyone seems so strong." Sakura noted, running water over her forehead.
"No joke there." I agreed, wiping the dirt off my face. I sighed, "It makes you worry about who you're gonna be paired with."
Sakura looked at me, "I'm sure you'll be fine." she reassured.
"Don't sell yourself so short." I told her. "You'll be okay."
I looked at my teammate and smiled.
We rejoined Naruto and Kakashi-sensei on the viewing isle.
"When is it gonna be my turn?" Naruto groaned.
"Relax Naruto, it's gonna be fine." I told him. "Sit back and enjoy things a little." I giggled at his facial expression, which read 'bored as hell'.
Dad put his hand on my shoulder, "This isn't the time to be laughing Kristin." he said.
"Huh?" I questioned, looking at him.
He pointed to the screen, and I gasped. The next pair chosen for the fourth match…the names read Kristin Hatake vs. Kankurō.
I looked across from me and saw the Suna ninja smirk. The same guy who I met before the exams started, who openly flirted with me, made me feel completely uncomfortable, was my opponent, in this next match.
Next time…
Kristin: I didn't thin I would fight this early. In fact, I was hoping I wouldn't fight this early. And to top it off, he's my opponent. Oh well, I guess I have no choice, I'm gonna have to fight him with everything I've got.
Naruto: Get this joker Kristin!
Sakura: Show him who's the top Rookie girl around here.
Kristin: Here goes. Next time: Sand vs. Leaf: My Time to Shine! Even through this pain, I have to fight…I have to win…