This chapter includes:
Narrowing The Field: Sudden Death Elimination!
Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Lions Barrage Unleashed!
Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face!
Kunoichi Rumble: The Rivals Get Serious!
The Ultimate Battle: Cha!
Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru
Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?
Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!
Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!
A Failure Stands Tall!
**A/N** These are episodes I go over. HOWEVER not every episode is in this chapter. These are just like a timeline of episodes. Hopefully that makes sense.
When I walked back upstairs, Naruto's voice shouted, and he laughed.
"Way to go, Tessa!" I laughed, sticking out my tongue.
"Thanks, Naruto." I smiled a little bit.
"That genjutsu was strong! It's amazing you got out, but way to go!" Sakura smiled a little bit. I smiled a little bit at her, nodding. My eyes flickered over to Sasuke, and his were closed, his hands in his pockets, and his head tilted down. He must have sensed me looking at him, because his eyes lifted, and he looked at me.
"Don't get cocky yet, I still want to fight you." He smirked. I chuckled.
"And I still want to fight you, and Naruto." I smirked over at him. He grinned back, before the Proctor's voice spoke.
"It's time for the next contestants. Please come down if your name appears." We all looked up, and watched the board, as names quickly flashed on it, until landing on two.
Uchiha Sasuke vs. Akado Yoroi
"Hm. Didn't waste any time, did they?" Sasuke's voice asked, amused. I heard him groan, and I looked over, seeing him grab his shoulder, just below the curse mark he got. My eyes widened, and I looked at him, my fist curling into a ball.
"Sasuke?"
"I'm fine." He snapped, making me bite my lip.
"Alright now, those whose names have been drawn, come down." I watched as Sasuke slowly walked down the stairs, his opponent doing the same on the opposite side. My eyes narrowed at this.
It was one of Kabuto's 'teammates'. I'd definitely keep an eye out on him.
"Are there any objections to your match?"
"Not here." Sasuke replied.
"No." Yoroi replied sternly.
"You better win, Sasuke.." I mumbled, my eyes not leaving him. Sasuke and Yoroi just stared at each other for a moment, challenging each other with their eyes, before Hayate spoke up.
"Uhhh...alright then. Let's begin the second match." I noticed immediately that Kakashi walked up to Sasuke. My eyes narrowed and I noticed them talking. He must have been warning him about his curse mark, like he did to me. Maybe after the fight, he'll seal it. I'm assuming that he will though.
While I was thinking, the fight had begun.
Yoroi knelt down, and focused chakra in his hand, meanwhile pulling a weapon out with his left hand. Sasuke in return also pulled out a kunai knife. They both threw the weapons at each other, but after Sasuke did, I noticed him groan, and stumble backwards a little bit, until he fell forward to the ground. I don't understand what happened. He didn't use chakra!
I touched my hand to the side of my neck, still watching Sasuke. What was Orochimaru's plan with the curse mark? I don't understand. But how could anyone understand the mind of a madman like him?
Yoroi disappeared, and slammed his fist down where Sasuke's head previously was.
Sasuke dug a kunai in the ground, and used it to swing himself around, kicking his feet into Yoroi's leg, and knocking him over. Sasuke wrapped one leg around Yoroi's arm, holding onto it, while his other laid over Yoroi's neck.
"Hey, you got him!" Naruto shouted from beside me.
No, there's more to it, Naruto.
"Really?" Yoroi asked, turning his hand and grabbing onto Sasuke's shirt. Realization crossed my face, and I leaned forward, gripping the railing tightly.
He's absorbing his chakra!
Sasuke let go of his arm for some reason, and Yoroi lifted his arm, slamming it back down on Sasuke's chest. I growled, pacing and tapping my foot, along with my nails on the railing.
I hated this, I hated sitting still and watching my teammates suffer. I can't help, but I can't just sit here and watch either.
"Dammit.." I muttered under my breath.
Sasuke yelled, and I looked to see Yoroi's hand on his forehead, Sasuke on the ground.
"Dammit dammit dammit dammit." I spoke impatiently, my foot tapping worse.
"My chakra! He's stealing it from me!" He acknowledged loudly. I rolled my eyes. No shit Sasuke, but did you really have to acknowledge it out loud?
Sasuke's fist clenched shut, and he moved his feet.
"Get off of me!" He slammed the bottom of his feet into Yoroi's chest, throwing him across the room. Yoroi started taunting him, before they both started fighting. My eyes glanced over towards the teachers, and I saw Orochimaru in his stupid half-assed disguise standing on a balcony, watching with careful eyes.
He wants Sasuke to use the curse mark. My eyes widened, as I continued to think and look at Orochimaru. Yoroi draining his chakra could make that happen.
As Sasuke and Yoroi flew in the air, I saw glowing marks start to cover Sasuke's skin.
Oh no. It's happening. I gripped the railing tightly in my hands, leaning forward nervously.
I've seen what the curse mark can do to people, and it's not pretty.
You need to get rid of yours... A deep voice rumbled in my head.
"Oh, you. You're back. Why?"
I'm always here. I just wait in the background...
"Wait? For what?"
To take control. I felt the smirk in his voice.
"Why are you so angry?" I asked suddenly. He stopped, and looked at me funny, kneeling down a bit and resting his head on his paws, behind the bars.
What? He growled.
"All I can feel from you is so much anger. But why?"
Itama didn't reply, but instead stayed quiet, staring at the floor underneath him.
"Maybe if you think about it, you won't be so angry, Itama." He growled, rising up.
Who are you to give me orders, Brat?! I clasped my hands on the side of my head a little bit.
"Okay, okay. It's not an order. It's a recommendation. We're both in my body, and I hate feeling so much anger coming from you. If I can, I want to help. Please just think about that, Itama." He growled again, but softer, retreating in his little prison.
Whatever...brat.. He spoke halfheartedly. I smiled a little bit. Maybe I got to him.
"Way to go!" I hear beside me, making me jump. I looked over to see Naruto pumping his fist, and a smile on both his and Sakura's face. My head quickly snapped to the arena to see breathing hard and sitting on his butt, Yoroi unconscious on the ground.
Great job, Uchiha..I smiled a little bit. Sasuke started to fall backwards on his back, but Kakashi appeared behind him, holding him up with his knee. Guess it's time to go. I hopped over the railing, and strolled over to them, my hands in the pockets of my shorts. Meanwhile, Naruto shouted something I wasn't paying attention to as I strolled over.
"Is it time?" I asked Kakashi softly, ignoring the look Sasuke was giving Lee. Sensei just nodded.
"We'll see what we can do. For the both of you." I nodded. A medic came to get Sasuke, but Kakashi refused, wanting to take us both.
"Before the preliminaries are over? I wanna see who gets to go onto the finals!" I shifted my weight, onto my left foot.
"He's not wrong. I was kinda hoping to stay too. Can't it wait till after?"
"Forget it." Sasuke and I both scowled at him. "Don't even think about arguing. If we leave them for any longer, who knows, it could be too late. I've already cut you both enough slack as it is. Come on, let's go." I crossed my arms, huffing.
"This is so unfair. We're both fine." I growled as we both walked with Kakashi towards the exit.
"I'm sure you are. But we're going to be positive that you're both fine." Kakashi said with a bored voice as he put his pervy orange book away. Yeah, I've seen the inside of that book. How Kakashi could read something like that, I'll never know.
I leaned against a pillar as I watched Kakashi put symbols in red paint on Sasuke's back. How was he even sure if this was going to work? What if it wouldn't hold, then what? I mean, Sasuke had control over it, he was fine.
But you know what Orochimaru is capable of, and you don't want anything bad to happen to the Uchiha. Just deal with it.
I let out a sigh.
What a drag.
"Okay.." He pulled away. "It'll be over quickly. Are you ready?"
As ready as he'll ever be.
Of course, Kakashi couldn't seal us both at the same time, so Sasuke was going first, seeing how he was the one in more danger at the moment, with his chakra almost depleted. Kakashi made handsigns, stopping at a particular one. "Curse Sealing!" He pressed his palm against Sasuke's shoulder, on the curse mark.
The room filled itself with Sasuke's screams, making me physically flinch. I resisted the urge to help him, instead biting the inside of my lip as his screams continued. The symbols Kakashi made danced as they crawled to where they needed to be; circling the curse mark. As soon as they became a solid black, Sasuke leaned over, breathing hard. I rushed over, kneeling down and placing my left hand on his right shoulder.
"There. Now the next time that curse mark starts acting up, the seal should keep it in check." Kakashi spoke. "But remember," He added, Sasuke looking over his shoulder at Kakashi. "This curse sealing jutsu is only as strong as you are. It derives its power from the strength of your will. If that will ever weakens, if you ever begin to doubt yourself, the curse will be unleashed in all it's fury."
"It's okay Sasuke. It's over." I spoke softly, trying to comfort him a little bit. Despite his arrogance, and how much of a prick he was sometimes, he's still a teammate, and a friend, and I wouldn't wish this on him. His eyes flashed to me for a moment, before he started to fall forward. I struggled as he did, but made it so he didn't fall so hard, his head leaning on my shoulder, as I tried to hold his body up.
"Amazing. Too tired to even argue." Kakashi acknowledged, looking down at us. I chuckled a little.
"For once." I shifted a little bit, gently laying him down on his back.
"My. How you've grown." My eyes shot open and a cold chill went down my back.
H-He...He's here..
I felt Kakashi tense up behind me, and my heartbeat sped up in anxiety of the person behind us both. Even Kakashi seems frightened. That's bad.
Relax...I'll take care of him.
"No!" I shouted in my head. "He can't know you exist!" Itama growled loudly in my head.
WE WILL NOT GO BACK TO HIM, NOT AFTER EVERYTHING! I clasped my hands over my ears.
"Why do you care?! He'd be getting me, not you!" Itama growled.
I have to deal with him as well, being in you...
"Oh, I'm sure. You're actually starting to care about me, aren't you?"
Don't get cocky, brat!
"Just think, you've become strong enough to perform the curse sealing jutsu." I jumped to a stand, and turned around, Kakashi looking over his shoulder as well. In the shadows, stood Orochimaru in his stupid disguise, a sickening grin on his face. "Long time, no see...Kakashi." Orochimaru's eyes flickered over to me, making me turn pale. "And I see you have my little traitor with you as well, hm?" I felt myself start to shake, and I unconsciously grabbed the back of Kakashi's shirt, him now facing Orochimaru.
"Hm?" Kakashi looked down at me. His eye widened at the sight of me. Not surprising, seeing as how I was all brave till this very moment. "Traitor, huh?" Oh shit. I felt my breathing quicken, as I continued to stare at Orochimaru.
"K-K-Kakashi-S-Sensei.." I stuttered. I took a step back, reluctantly letting go of the back of his shirt.
"You might want to drop her, Kakashi. She always ends up betraying those she loves, don't you, Tessa?" I gulped, my knees wanting to betray me and buckle underneath me, but me not allowing them to. "I'm sure The Leaf Village doesn't have time for trash like her." I bit the inside of my bottom lip harder.
Don't listen to him. He's just trying to work you up.
"She was always weak when it came to courage. Especially when you really need her." He laughed, looking at me right in the eye.
"Stop complaining because you're someone she didn't want to be around." Kakashi's voice spoke, making me look up at him, tears threatening to spill. "I've known her for much less time than you, and I can see how pure her heart is compared to you." Orochimaru disregarded his comment, his eyes flickering to the ground behind us.
"My business is with the boy behind you. Not the girl." My eyes widened, and I quickly looked to Sasuke, before back at that monster. Just looking at him, I could feel all the needles, all the pain...
"What do you want with Sasuke?"
"Hm. You've acquired something new. How I envy your good fortune. I don't believe you had it the last time we met."
The Sharingan. He wants the Sharingan, Kakashi.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes at Orochimaru, but didn't move from his place in front of me.
He might kill you. A voice in my head suddenly spoke. For leaving. For betraying him. For hiding from him for a few years. He's going to kill you. What are you going to do about it?
"I just need willing pawns to do my bidding." I suddenly hear Orochimaru say.
"And Sasuke is one of your pawns." Kakashi realized.
"Tessa was." Orochimaru spoke, bringing me back into the conversation. "Actually, they both are much more valuable than that." I felt a sudden pain in my neck, and I clasped my hand to my neck, gasping in pain. My knees buckled from underneath me, and I leaned on one hand, panting for breath.
The curse mark was being an extremely painful thing right now. My red hair fell in front of my face as I looked at the ground, trying to take control of it, and trying to make the pain stop.
"Oh, poor child. How foolish you are. Did you think I'd actually give you a curse mark?" My eyes widened, and my head snapped up to look at Orochimaru.
"W-What?"
"It's not a curse mark." Orochimaru smirked. "I've already given you enough power. Why would I give you more?" My heartbeat sped up, and I yelled in pain as it shot down my neck, and to my chest.
"W-W-What is it t-then?!" I asked, my left arm shaking from holding the rest of my body up off the ground.
"It's more like...a poison." He smirked. "But not deadly. Just painful. I do still need to bring you back at some point, and I can't do that while you're dead."
Another round of pain shot from my neck to my heart. I felt the need to cough, and when I did, blood dripped to the floor.
It hurts. It hurts, it hurts! Make it stop!
I heard footsteps, and looked up through my long hair to see Orochimaru walking closer. Kakashi just stood there, making my eyes water.
Is...Is he just going to stand there and let Orochimaru take us? He...h-he wouldn't..
Kakashi suddenly moved, gripping his arm in front of him.
"Stop! Don't come any closer!" I looked up to see Kakashi standing in front of me and Sasuke, what seems like a small ball of electricity concentrated in his hand. Sparks/electric streams went everywhere, but remained focused in his hand.
Lightning Style..
"I don't care if you are one of the Sanin, the three shinobi of legend. I swear, take one more step towards my students, and one of us will die here!" Kakashi threatened. A grateful smile grew on my face, and I felt a little bit better about Kakashi being my sensei.
Thank you, Kakashi.
Orochimaru just started manically laughing. I shuddered at the sound of the laughter that's given me nightmares.
"Funny, is it?" Kakashi growled.
"Oh Kakashi, despite your noble efforts, all in vain."
"You think so, do you?" Kakashi asked, not moving an inch.
"Do you really think that the seal will hold? That you can keep him from what he truly desires?"
He's not entirely wrong.
Sasuke wants to kill his brother. If he has the power now to do it, with the curse mark, he will do it. He just needs a push to get that far. All I can hope is that he doesn't receive that push.
"He will come to me. In search of power. Unless of course, you carry out your threat to kill me. Now's your chance. Take it. If you dare."
No. No no, don't, Sensei. Kakashi only stood there, as Orochimaru walked away into the darkness. Relief flooded my body after he disappeared, but the adrenaline I had wearing off. Now this poison is really starting to hurt.
"K-K-Kakashi..." I stuttered, tears finally flowing out of my eyes. He turned around to look at me, the look in his eyes trying to shake away his fear. "T-Thank..you..." I trailed off, my arm finally giving way underneath my weight.
I felt arms grab me to prevent me from falling, but after that I blacked out.
My eyes opened to see that I was lying in a bed. I quickly sat up, and looked around. Tenten was in a bed next to me, along with that guy Yoroi, Zaku, Kiba, and Kin.
I gasped, and quickly jumped out of the bed.
"The rest of the matches!" I exclaimed and ran out of the infirmary, ignoring the yelling coming from the medics. I disappeared from the hallway I was in, reappearing behind Naruto. He looked beat up, as did Sakura, Ino, and Shikamaru. I guess they fought. I shoved past them, and leaned against the rails, to see Hinata and Neji below.
Oh no..Hinata..
"How is she doing?" I quickly asked, worried. Hinata was a good friend of mine, and I knew about how Neji was rude to her, same with her father. They're a bunch of jackasses, and Hinata didn't deserve it.
"Not well. I think she's finished." Kakashi replied to me, making me quickly turn to look at him in worry, but not for long.
I know everyone thinks Hinata's finished...but she's got heart. My eyes narrowed. But if he tries to kill her..
I believe in her.
And obviously, someone else does too. After Sakura spoke about how she wasn't gonna make it, Naruto shouted right next to me.
"Go Hinata! You can do it!" I smiled, wrapping an arm around his neck to give him a quick side hug, before pumping my other fist into the air.
"Come on Hinata! Kick his arrogant ass! I believe in you!" I dropped my arm from Naruto just as Hinata ran forward, sending punches, or at least, in the way of the Gentle Fist, at Neji.
Naruto gives her strength. I'm not blind. I've seen the way Hinata watches Naruto. It's not just admiration. But it's love.
Yeah, that's right. I know Hinata has a giant massive crush on Naruto. Not that I'd tell him, but I'd certainly help her out. She's such a nice girl, and she deserves someone like Naruto.
A lot of people would take that the wrong way, but Naruto is strong. People underestimate him, and people are real shitty to him. Naruto is gonna take the leaf village by surprise.
I heard a gasp, and I looked in time to see Neji connect his hand under her chin, sending her stumbling back.
"Hinata!" Naruto shouted. Hinata looked down, starting to cough out blood, making me tense. I gripped the railing in my hands, and struggled not to jump over. I can't help her. She's doing good by herself.
Just as I said that, she ran forward, aiming for Neji, but he got there first, slamming a chakra filled palm into her chest. A gasp left my lips as I watched her crumble before my eyes, hitting the floor.
"Hinata!" I screamed. Kakashi gripped my shoulder, holding me back.
"You're finished." I hear Neji say arrogantly, and turn, walking away.
That bastard.
"It's too bad. But after that blow to the heart...Hinata..is done." I hear Guy say behind me, making me grip the railing tighter. We all hear a creaking sound, but I ignore it, until Kakashi gets my attention.
"Tessa." I look over at him, and see him looking down at my hands. I gripped the railing so tight that it bent underneath me, squished like a bug, but some pieces sticking up, making my palms bleed.
"Whatever." I ignored him, looking back down at the arena, and grabbing a different area of railing.
"Since she is no longer able to continue this match-" The proctor started.
"No!" Naruto shouted next to me. "Don't stop this match!"
"Naruto! What on earth are you doing?! Hinata's had it! You can see she's unconscious, can't you?" Sakura shouted.
"No, she's not." I snapped at Sakura, looking down to see Hinata struggling to force herself to a stand.
"What do you think you're doing?" Neji asks from the other side of the arena.
"If you continue to fight, you're going to die."
"I'm far...from finished!" Hinata says, taking a step forward.
She's not finished at all, Neji. She's changing much more than you realize. You will never be at her level of kindness and purity.
Neji suddenly gets angry at something Hinata says, and charges at her quickly. My eyes widened, and I reacted on instinct.
No!
There was a large puff of smoke, and I stood in front of Hinata. I would defend her to my last breath if I had to. Kakashi, Kurenai, and Guy stood over Neji, holding him back, the third Proctor standing next to Guy. Neji's eyes pierced into mine with anger, but mine shot anger right back at him.
"Neji! Get ahold of yourself. You promised me you wouldn't let this whole head family thing get you riled up!"
"Why are you, the other jonin and this pathetic reject butting in?!" He growled, glaring at me. "The head family gets special treatment, huh?!"
Suddenly, Hinata behind me drops to the ground, making me quickly turn around.
"Hinata?! Hinata!" I kneel down, placing my hand on her shoulder. Kurenai follows suit, helping me, and I hear Naruto shout her name as well. Kurenai helps me lay Hinata down on her back, as I hear multiple footsteps run this way. I quickly look to see Naruto, Lee, and Sakura running to us.
"Hinata! You okay? Hey!"
"Get out of the way, Naruto!" I shove him over and quickly concentrate my chakra. If I could just help her enough, it could save her life. Green chakra flows around my hand, as I press it to her heart, concentrating on repairing some of the damage.
"Hey you. Loser!" I hear Neji shout over here.
"Neji, shut the fuck up, or I'll come over there and pummel you into nothing but remains of what you once were." I threatened, shaking.
I am unbelievably angry at him for this. And he will pay for it.
"Stop that stupid cheering you do. It's not acting like a shinobi." He continued on, ignoring me. "And second, once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that!"
You will be a failure. Hinata has never stoop to your level, and she never will.
Footsteps behind me get further away, and I can only assume Naruto tried attacking Neji.
"Hey! How about you idiots stop fooling around and get medics out here before she dies!" Yelling at no one in particular, wanting to hurry and get Hinata help. I continue focusing on healing the inside as much as possible, before she starts to get worse. But of course, after I thought that, she coughs up more blood, making Kurenai's eyes widen, and making me stop.
"She's going into cardiac arrest!" Kurenai says, and glares at Neji.
"I wouldn't waste your time glaring at me, when you really should be taking care of her."
"Get medics out here now!" I shout, getting more frantic. I concentrated harder on my chakra, hoping that maybe I could be doing some good to help her.
"We're coming!" They roll out a makeshift stretcher, and kneel down, me moving out of the way.
"She's got no pulse!" My eyes widened, and tears threatened to spill. "She's got ten minutes at best!"
"Let's get her to the emergency room, now!"
"Go!" I shout, trying to get them to hurry. They're not hurrying fast enough. What a bunch of idiots. I growled, and turned around, seeing Naruto kneeling down, running his hands through Hinata's blood on the ground, and turning around to face Neji.
"Hinata, I give you my word.." Neji glares at the both of us. "I vow to win!" I couldn't resist. I disappeared, and reappeared in front of Neji, slamming my fist full force (Without my monster strength of course, that would decapitate him) into his cheek, making him fly back into the wall of the arena, and spit out blood.
I reappeared in front of him, and gripped him by his throat, slamming him up against the wall.
Calm down. If you get too angry..Itama...
I felt some ninja trying to pull me off of Neji, but I shoved them off, still gripping him by his throat.
"If she dies or you ever do that to you again, I will not hesitate to end you." I growled, the most serious tone possible lacing itself through my words.
I threw my fist forward, missing his face by an inch, my hand embedding itself into the wall.
"Mark my words Neji, you will be taught humiliation, regardless if it's from me, or Naruto." I ripped my arm out of the wall, shoving Neji one more time, before disappearing and reappearing on the balcony.
Hopefully that gave him the message I wanted him to get.
Hinata will be okay.
She's stronger than any of us realize.
Hinata will be okay.
**A/N** Neji is an ass, and I hate him in the beginning of Naruto. Hinata's my main girl, lets be honest.
Also, I just watched the scene where Naruto and Hinata kiss and I'm screaming cause it's so cute but its so cheesy, and I legitimately cried because of excitement, cuteness, and agh. So many things.
~xoxo Tessa