The next day, I woke up with grim determination. Every little bit of bone I had was stuffed into either my body, or my weapons pouches, so I had three times the amount of bones an ordinary adult had without counting the bones in my hair, the bones I could effortlessly generate, and the bones I made from chakra. I stocked myself up on anything I thought would come in handy, from soldier pills to smoke bombs, to receivers and communicators, and emergency whistles. For me, this wasn't about the promotion. This was war. I went to the kitchen, where Aoi was quietly setting miso soup on the kitchen. Even she, as a civilian, could feel the tension. "Do you remember the drills?" I asked.

She nodded at me, "Yep! In case anything goes wrong, I should go into the nearest safe house, which will be in the Hokage Monument, over the Fourth Hokage's ear!"

I ruffled her hair, not being able to summon up a smile of any sort. I just didn't know how Naruto could keep up that mask, even when surrounded by people he could trust with his life. "The tree-walking exercises I showed you and tried to get you to practice with should be able to get you there fast. Do you remember?"

She nodded again, "Don't worry! It'll be okay, baka!"

I deadpanned her, "Sometimes I forget you're just eleven years old."

She laughed loudly, cheerfully. "But in case, it'll be alright, I'll be in the stands. Cheering you on, kay?"

I nodded, before jumping out of the window. Heading for the battlefield, with a hundred and fifty pound weights on my feet.

I stood in the stadium, surveying the area. There was wide open terrain, with a few trees, and even a lake for Suiton users. Good for many many techniques. I was relatively early, but Gaara was already present, as were Lee and Neji. Very few civilians were up in the stands right now, the crowd composed of shinobi discreetly preparing for the invasion and feudal lords and the like. I was sitting there, meditating, when I felt a disturbance in my head. I frowned and entered my mindscape, only to find myself in front of the same door that had led out of the cell relegated to my curse mark. I raised an eyebrow. Was the seal unravelling? That …would be incredibly inconvenient. I looked around to see where else the disturbance could be coming from, but without result, and with a deep breath, I opened the door to the curse mark. I found the fountain with gushing water chained off and the colorful liquid it was spewing now had slowed down a little. The line between me and Sasuke's mindscapes, though, was separated with a curtain. Easily movable if need be, but otherwise shielding us from each other's thoughts. That was where the disturbance was coming from. I looked at the bouncing curtain uncertainly, before thinking, 'well, what the hell?' and opening the curtain. There was nothing there, but a voice did reach my ears, "Gah! Stupid Kakashi-sensei! We're gonna be late, and he wants us to work on this jutsu?!"

Without thinking, I said, "You're gonna be late?!"

Causing the Sasuke-voice to scream like a high-pitched girl. When he recomposed himself, he said was, "Not this again!"

I sighed, "Don't be an idiot. Only the thoughts you want to telepathically share with me will I be able to hear."

He seemed to be happy when replied, "Hn, that's good."

I replied, "We'll have to work on developing this later. Now, what do you mean by you're going to be late?"

He grunted, "Hn, Kakashi-sensei says that we won't turn up to the Exams until I get the Chidori down."

I had heard of the Chidori. Kakashi-sensei's original lightning style jutsu. Only one who possessed the Sharingan would ever be able to use it in combat.

Considering he was up against Gaara, maybe it was a good idea to make sure he gets it down, "Better get down to it, then." I simply replied, "Don't let me keep you." With that, I snapped out of my mindscape. The seats were filling up now, slowly but surely. I could feel Aoi's small chakra signature not far off, but I couldn't spot her. Kiba had shown up, along with Akamaru, as had Shikamaru, even though it appeared as though he had been dragged over here by Ino, which might actually be the case.

Naruto still hadn't shown up yet, but the proctor had deigned to show himself. It wasn't Gekko Hayate. No, I'm certain he was killed by one of Orochimaru's cronies. It was another guy, one who I identified as Shiranui Genma. I approached him, before speaking lowly, "Why is Gaara here?"

The guy blinked, before his eyes widened, "Oh, shit. You're the kid he attacked?! No one told me Hatake had a whelp!"

I frowned slightly, deciphering his words, "Kakashi-sensei isn't my father. I have black hair. But the bones in my hair make it appear grey or, as it is right now, white."

He drooped, "Man, I was looking forward to teasing him about it!" he joked, "But to answer the question; we contacted the Kazekage. Seeing as the boy is his son, we couldn't really arrest him. But, we were able to pinpoint the reason behind his instability, and have received permission to get Jiraiya to fix it."

I nodded, "Though you realize we may not have until then, do you?" discreetly reminding him about the possibility of an invasion.

He gave an almost imperceptible jerk of his head, "It'll be fine kid. We got this. You'll be fine." That last bit was said in a light tone that was slightly louder than the other words exchanged. I was about to respond when a hoard of bulls and Naruto's shadow clones burst through the door. I just sighed at the ensuing scuffle until things got sorted out.

The first round was Naruto versus Neji. I am certain everyone is aware of what happened in this round. Hinata was injured by Neji in the preliminaries. Naruto promised to avenge her. He did. Yadda Yadda. Blame lazy-ass Ibis.

The next round was me against Lee, who immediately jumped down from the balcony when he heard his name. I sighed and did a Shunshin down. There was tense silence in the air as we stood, sizing each other up. I slowly removed my green jacket and threw it to the side, and deadpanned, "The jacket is innocent. Do not damage it."

Lee saluted, "I Will Try My Best! Beautiful Blossom KIYOKO!"

Everyone sweat dropped, but I took it in stride. Then, Shiranui-san brought his hand down, "Begin!"

Lee moved instantly. Before I could blink, he was upon me, about to land a direct hit on my chest. I immediately plunged all my bones out, doing a pirouette with the heel of my right leg sticking out, about to slice Lee. He retreated backwards, before continuing his assault. I spun and waved my arms, shimmying my shoulders and moving backwards and forwards in a rapid pace, somehow blocking every one of his attacks. He attacked me again, and I sent a volley of bones underground to attack from below. He was on the offense, hitting with fast and painful jabs. I put my fisted arms in a cross to block a kick, before deflecting a punch with open arms, and diverting an incoming kick by twisting his leg around mine and forcing him away from me by extending spikes from my femur. I eyed the lake, before retracting all the spikes that Lee was dealing with, and covering myself with a dome of bone that was at least an inch thick. He started pounding at it with increased ferocity, but my dome held, as was expected. I wove the signs, molded my chakra, and whispered to no one in particular, "Suiton: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

The rush of water and the following scream ascertained that I had hit my target. I let the bones melt back into my body, and attack Lee. The boy met me head-on, looking rather worse for wear. He attacked my arms, aiming for my upper body. I wove around it, holding my body loose and flexible. I diverted his best attacks with punches and whirlwind twirls. This was dragging on for too long. I focused all my chakra into my bones and released it through my fist in my next attack. He grunted as he took the brunt of that attack, "A Most Youthful Attack!" he yelled, "As Expected of the Best Taijutsu Style User of All Time!"

I unsheathed my humerus and ulna from my arm in the Camelia Dance, before engaging with him again. I spun around low, trying to trip him, blocking any attacks from him in my rhythmic style. One step forward, elbow-check the opponent, spin around with spikes turned outward, two steps back, bait him in, high kick, deflect with open hands, spin, one step forward. Digital shrapnel. A dance played out between us, with me in the defense and him playing offense. It took a while, but Rock Lee was slowly tiring. I wasn't tired at all. I used a stamina-based technique, made for lasting through long and weary battles, while Lee's was designed for finishing things quickly. I had to turn the tables, and fast. I dropped my weights, and any excess bones I was carrying was siphoned into the ground, which then sprang up as spikes, battling the boy. I put my hands up in a single seal, "Ninpo: Kirigakure no Jutsu!" thick fog engulfed the area, obscuring his vision. I stuck hard and fast. No killing blows, but concussive force could go a long way. I finally readied myself for my final stand. Fast quick jabs. He seamlessly countered, despite the mist, but this was my forte. I made Water Clones to confuse and discombombulate. Hitting the appendages, going for the head in quick painful strokes. It was truly a dance to the death. Speed and gracefulness. Strict discipline. That was what I needed. Eventually, I spotted my opening, I swung my clavicle like a boomerang, wrapping it around his eyes, and effectively blinding him. It was just as well, seeing as the mist was evaporating and I needed to keep my chakra reserves full for the incoming catastrophe, so making more was out. "A Most Underhanded Tactic, Young Kiyoko!" Lee declared, "I Do Not Believe it is Very Youthful of You to Use Such A Technique, But I Do Not Wish To Offend a Mistress of Taijutsu Such As You!"

I channeled bones deep into the ground, tunneling around him, until they snapped out around him like the jaws of a beast. He must have heard the incoming attack, because he quickly twirled and danced, a little slower than before, now that he was relying only on sound and scent. I was able to corner him easily and bound him up with the bones, "We're shinobi." I told him tersely, "You either cheat, or you die." Before I hitting him in the jaw and knocking him unconscious. The crowd cheered and whispered. The proctor, Shiranui-san came close and checked his heart rate, "Winner: Kaguya Kiyoko!" he announced. I bowed to Lee then picked up the unconscious boy and carried him up the wall with me by wall-walking. "Here, Gai-Sensei." I said, as I lowered the Bowl-cut boy into a seat. Gai-Sensei nodded at me quietly adding in, "That was Excellent Work, Kiyoko-chan! Lee Would Do Well by Learning from a Taijutsu Prodigy Like You." I inclined my head just a little before moving closer to see the next match. I bit my lip as Shiranui-san started calling for Sasuke to show up. Where was he?! There was some quiet discussion, until Shiranui-san announced, "We're gonna wait five minutes for Uchiha Sasuke to show up. If he doesn't appear he'll be disqualified and Gaara will get a free pass."

A lot of civilians complained but there really was nothing they could do. I sighed and moved down to join Naruto in the viewing deck reserved for the participants. As I walked down the stairs, I was cornered by a group of civilians, "Hey!" One of them yelled, "It's the skeleton brat! The demon fox's friend."

I looked at them icily, "Don't defame Naruto like that."

One of the others pointed me in the chest, it didn't hurt, but it looked like he had meant it to, "You just cost me a shit ton of money, you damn brat!"

I looked at him emotionlessly, "Then you're just unlucky. I would advise you to not bet against the shonobi who come from a clan renowned to have better taijutsu than the Hyuga clan."

The guy growled, "Don't be a smart-ass, kid! You don't belong! You're going to stab Konoha in the back one day! A monster like you will always yearn for bloodshed."

I quirked a brow. Come on, all my experience with Kaito's smart-ass friends has to yield a reward. I played it cool. Like Ibiki-shishou taught me, "Yearn?" I finally said, emotionlessly, "Who uses yearn anymore?" Judging by their stunned expressions as I continued on my path, I hit the nail on the head. Damn civilians. Douches the lot of them. I walked down to the competitor box, and Sasuke and Kakashi-sensei were in the middle of the field. Naruto was heading to the viewing box via the stairs, but Kakashi-sensei made his way up with a Shunshin, giving me a meaningful look and subtly signing in ANBU code, Slight delay. Apologies. Preparations.

I replied with, Understood. Message relayed beforehand.

His facial muscles betrayed his surprise when he signed, How?

Mental Link. I explained. Not elaborating, but it appeared he had understood.

The match started. Sasuke started it off with a bang. Disappearing immediately, his speed had increased. It was nearly on par with Lee. The sand still deflected each and every attack. It did nothing. Finally, he stepped back to attack from another angle. He lit up his fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan and stuck out his hand, channeling lightning chakra into it. The palm full of plasma lit up the stadium making it hard to see, and a chirping cacophony sounded, almost drowning Sasuke out when he yelled. "Chidori!"

This time, the aim was true. The attack aimed for his heart, I could tell. But as Sasuke blurred forward, Gaara pulled up a hardened sand dome around himself. But Sasuke was too fast. His hand managed to slip inside. And the Chidori made contact with Gaara. A scream echoed through the stadium, and it grew deadly silent. Sasuke tugged frantically, trying to get his hand free. He fired up his Chidori again, and tugged his hand out. Around his arm, a huge sandy appendage was holding him in a vice-like grip. Every shinobi tensed. Readied. Screams echoed through the whole arena. Feathers suddenly started whirling around but I dispelled the genjutsu in seconds. Things escalated quickly, suddenly enemy-nin sprung out from their civilian disguises. Jonin and ANBU leapt into action. Gaara and his siblings escaped quickly, with Sasuke on their heels. I immediately ducked behind a wall, shooting an enemy ninja with a chakra powered distal phalange. I flared my chakra, and Haku appeared behind me near instantaneously in response. "Are you okay, Senpai?" he asked, looking around.

I nodded briskly, "Yeah. Come on, Konoha needs us. Where are Aoi and Kaito?"

He pulled out his senbon, already molding his chakra for the incoming jutsu. "Aoi had gone to the bathroom some time before it happened. I can't locate her, but Kaito's with us."

I jerked my head, "Then let's kick some ass. Like the bad old days."

Haku exhaled sharply in an almost laugh, "Alright then."

We jumped into the fray, literally, Haku immediately providing us with the high ground by raising a ledge. Blood sprayed everywhere, I charged forward, closing the distance between our opponents, making them flinching backwards. I bowed sharply, avoiding a shuriken to the the throat, before snapping up and using the moment to flip over the guy, turning him into a pincushion. Killing him instantly. I didn't need to turn to know that Haku was right behind me, covering my flank. I pinpointed enemies quickly, and pulled off my jacket. RIP, my old friend. I walked forward, before moonwalking backwards. The Bone Dance was best used for the odd jerky movements of this dance style. I put a foot forwards, immediately twisting around. I tapped my feet in a rapid frenzy as I spun. I shimmied my shoulders, flourishing my hands and holding my arms in a T-pose. I was simply focused on getting through this crowd. Harming no one except the enemy. I ran over the seats and fallen civilians light-footedly. One step forward, two steps back, arms held up high as I cartwheeled and ducked. Head held low, avoiding flying weaponry, ignoring the blood. Feeling at home. This was right. I weaved left and right, tripping up enemies and lunging wildly if anyone tried to sneak up on me. I bobbed my head in time to the random rhythm I had come up with. I moved towards the left, turning and twisting. My hair struck out someone attempting to come at Haku from his blind spot. We worked together seamlessly. I swung my hips to the rhythm, turning towards the right, avoiding the senbon sent towards an enemy barely. I swung my fists sideways to catch a passing shuriken, before swinging them back around to shoot a bone at the Oto-nin who shot it. I jumped to avoid a Suna shinobi who was tumbling after a particular viscious attack on Haku's part. I leant forward, quietly taking stock of my surroundings, my head held down, and my bangs shadowing my eyes. Shinobi fighting left and right. I noted Haku's position. All surrounding allies were taken in account. Someone was heading towards me fast. I twitched my hand. My neck cricked. I suddenly appeared beside him, and grabbed his wrist, flinging him over me, and using the counterweight to fling myself to the ceiling, where I rebounded hard using chakra and landed on the floor, sending chakra around the place, blinding any surrounding sensors and knocking the people around off-blance. It was all Haku need to skewer all hostiles. I ducked immediately sticking my hands to the right to shoot an approaching enemy. We ran off with barely a nod while the Konoha ninja gathered themselves and dashed off. We were on a roll. I chewed a chakra pill and was off again. We zipped through the area, killing hostiles preoccupied with other fights. I swung my arms and hips as I moonwalked. Bones zipping around at lightning quick speeds. I worked through the crowds, until I fell upon Kakashi-sensei and the others. The fighting had diminished incredibly. Haku was breathing heavily, and my muscles were aching. Kakashi-sensei looked unruffled, except his unnatural uptightness. Gai-sensei was with him, as was Lee, who seemed to have recovered from the blow I had given him. "Youthful Kiyoko!" he yelled when he saw me, "What Happened to You?!"

Kakashi-sensei appeared right next to me, "What happened?! Where are you injured?" The panic was evident in his voice.

I blinked, "What?"

Haku coughed awkwardly, "Ano… Kiyoko-Senpai… you're covered in blood."

I looked at my clothes and arms, which were indeed caked in drying blood, "Oh, yeah. No injuries. Drawbacks to my Taijutsu style."

Kakashi-sensei sighed in relief, "Good."

I scanned the place, looking between the skirmishes, spotting a familiar bright orange ponytail, "Kaito. Are you okay?" I asked, crouching down with him.

He gulped, his chocolate eyes wide, "N-no. If it hadn't been for your lessons in genjutsu dispelling I would've nearly died."

I nodded, "Yeah, that's why I taught you that shit. C'mon, let's get you outta here…"

I offered my hand to him, but he recoiled, staring at blood soaked hands. "I-I can't just stand by, w-when you're risking my life for me!" he cried, "I-It isn't right!"

I swung up from our little safe haven, rushing forward and delivering a swift jab to an attacker's neck, making him collapse, dead, before crouching back down, "That's what shinobi are meant to do." I said, trying to follow the way he used to hold himself, calm and comforting. "Protecting those who aren't strong enough to do it themselves."

He sobbed harder if anything. "T-that's not it! I'm not weak! I'm not weak at all!"

I put his arm around my neck, "C'mon, don't be a pussy, let's get out of the active battle zone, ne?" I turned to Kakashi-sensei, "I'll take him to a bunker, and start fighting on the outside."

He nodded, "Right, we'll finish things up here."

He was shivering from the trauma, crying. His utter uselessness on his part slowed me down, but Haku had my back, pulling up walls and spikes of ice to shield us from the onslaught while he killed them one by one with cut-throat efficiency. We made it out into the village, my bones supporting us as I waltzed us outta there, my one-handed swooping strikes not half as damaging as the original style. Kaito was flecked with blood, and his eyes had shrunk into near pinpricks. But he managed to stumble along a little, his legs possibly incredibly bruised from all the shockwaves he had experienced. Haku was covering our flank to the best of his abilities but he was an assassin, trained for stealth and quick combat. Not constant long-drawn brawls. He was running out of chakra and fast. He finally stumbled, when a Dolton slammed up, throwing him away with a force that sent him flying into a wall, dazed. I gritted my teeth, dashing forward, to help him up. Kaito had mostly calmed down, but the panicked look in his eyes had yet to subside. I let him go, taking my stance, allowing him to quickly check up on Haku.

I extended my bones, falling into the comfortable form, head held low, knees apart and slightly bent while my arms rested at my sides, hands pointed outwards. The person responsible dashed forward, throwing a kunai rigged with a paper bomb at me. I weaved signs at breakneck speeds, "Suiton: Water Wall jutsu!"

As soon as it went up, I flashed forward, engaging him in combat. He was good. I feinted to the right, tapping my feet in a furious rhythm as we fought. I fought alternating between quick jabs and long swooping strikes. I gave him a high kick as he got in close, aiming for his crotch. I dodged a blow and slid backwards, matching him in speed. He weaved through sign and stone started spitting out at me. I winced and started dodging for my help. I twisted around, stepping back, but I activated a paper tag, and nearly blown to high heaven. I moonwalked through the literal minefield, keeping an eye on where everyone was, and let a Water Dragon loose. I grimaced as the Water Dragon set off even more paper tags, sliding on my knees through the wreckage. Straight to an abandoned sword. I grabbed it, and yanked it out of the ground as the force stopped me. I flourished with my hands, putting my arms far away from my body, nodding and tilting my head as I avoided shrapnel. More ninja were making their way here. Most of them weren't allies. I grimaced as I battled it out, pulling out all the stops, cornered by puppets. I systematically aimed for their joints, taking them apart quickly. I barely acknowledged when Haku started shooting senbon, locking them up. I channeled bones into the ground, making them spike out into the air, skewering the puppets with accuracy. I channeled chakra into my feet to fling me up into the air and gain the speed to get a head shot with the Suna-nin. I panted heavily as I span blocking all attacks, keeping my defenses up, as they kept on coming. Finally, the cutting edge of a Futon struck into me, throwing me back. I coughed as I got up, shielding Kaito and Haku. I felt my heart constrict as the barrage of paper bombs made their way to me like guided missiles, I groaned, retracting all the bones on the battlefield, coating it around the dome around Haku and Kaito. They weren't gonna die today. I bent forward, quickly chomping down on a chakra pill and darting through the signs, pouring everything into it, "Suiton: Water Wall!"

It held up high, and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I dashed forward through the steam and rushing water. I struck hard, fast, all kill points, dodge or block blows, catch and throw back any flying weapons. I dashed through the place, flaring my chakra frantically, looking for help, I knocked back any offenders. I managed to close the difference between and twisted my waist to apply and back away from the wind jutsu ninja were releasing. I was severely weakened, but it was still within my capacity to force these guys into backing away. I wasn't gonna fail this time. No way.

Kiyoko: Okay, a little late, but we're getting there. I've set up a poll on my profile regarding my next projects, so go look that up, I guess. Read, Relax, and Stay home, everyone!