Last time:
Dosu Kinuta vs Choji Akimichi
Now:
Hanara's Perspective:
Choji's face lost the confident look it had before Lee's match.
"If you win this, I'll get you some free BBQ at Yakiniku Q," Asuma-Sensei bribed.
"Free BBQ? You're on!" Choji said as he walked into the fighting area, "Wish me luck!"
"Good luck," Hanara smiled.
"You can do it!" Shikamaru yelled.
"Fatso!" Ino cheered.
Hanara could see Choji's eye twitching at that last comment.
"Now let the tenth match begin," the proctor said.
"Okay, I'm going to finish this match in about two seconds and then I'm coming after you, Ino!" Choji yelled.
"Fine, Fatso," Dosu snarled, "If you want this match to end quickly, I'll just win it quickly."
"Grr... you're gonna go down, you mummified weirdo," Choji growled.
Hanara sighed, 'Ninja and their obsession with trash-talking.'
Choji's Perspective:
'I know his techniques all too well from my last battle with him. Those holes in his arms let out a pulsing sound. Shino blocked them but I can't do that. Hana said something about her wind ninjutsu disturbing the sound. I can use that. If I can't hear it, it won't affect me. The only problem is, we lost the earplugs in the forest. I need to figure out another way.'
Choji smiled, "NINJA ART: EXPANSION JUTSU! NOW THE HIDDEN LEAF STYLE TAIJUTSU!" Choji's arms, legs and head all went inside his clothes, "VROOM! VROOM! VROOM!"
'This will block my ears from his attacks! And crush him while I'm at it!'
"HUMAN BOULDER! CHUBBIES RULE!"
"Yeah! All right, Choji! You can do it! Squash him hard for me!" Ino cheered.
"Smart thinking, Choji! Good job!" Hana yelled.
Hanara's Perspective:
'That guy doesn't even need to touch Choji to hit him with a powerful sonic attack. But they only work when Choji's ears are showing. Combine that with all the rolling Choji's doing and boom! Choji's not at all affected by that one-trick pony! Choji can win this thing!'
Choji smashed himself into a wall.
'I forgot, Choji can barely control himself... ugh! This could go anywhere...'
Dosu smashed his arm into Choji's lower back.
"Now, to end this!" Dosu exclaimed.
"It's no use, my ears are covered~" Choji sang.
'Wait... the human body is 70% water. Water can transmit sound waves, that's why I didn't want to use my water attacks in the forest. In other words, the whole body is one huge ear for Dosu's attacks!'
"Shit! Choji, get out of there!" Hanara yelled.
"What's wrong," Shikamaru asked.
"Water can transmit sound waves!" she exclaimed, "The human body is 70% water!"
Dosu turned on his sound wave machine. Cracks were forming on the wall that Choji was stuck in.
Choji was screaming.
A 'poof' signified Choji's jutsu releasing and when it was cleared, it revealed Choji faceplanted onto the ground.
"Seeing as Choji cannot continue, I declare Dosu Kinuta the winner of the tenth Preliminary Round." the proctor announced.
The medics rushed up to Choji.
"Are you okay?" a male medic asked.
"I want... meat," Choji forced out.
'Oh Choji...' Hanara smiled fondly, 'He'll be just fine.'
"The opponent went easy on him," Shikamaru muttered.
"Well, unlike last time, they weren't aiming to kill. Choji also got the nicest one." Hanara responded.
"He lost, but I guess I'll still take him to Yakiniku," Asuma-Sensei smiled.
The proctor cleared his throat, "That concludes the preliminary matches. Those of you who have won your matches, please stand in a line here."
Hanara was the last one down and stood at the end of the line beside Shikamaru.
"Congratulations to you all," the proctor said before coughing, "Now Lord Hokage will explain to you what the third round is all about."
"In the final round, each of you will put your battle skills on display, " Lord Third said, "You will demonstrate the power and control you achieved during your time as Genin. Accordingly, the final battles will take place a month from now."
'Good. I don't want to do anything else for a while,' Hanara sighed.
"Wait! Why can't we just do it here and now?" Naruto asked.
'Nobles need time to come here. Besides, we have to train so we can give them a good show.'
The Hokage said as much.
"What do you mean by that?" Dosu asked.
"Simply this: in addition to announcing the conclusion of the preliminary matches to each country's leaders, we must also have enough time to prepare and distribute summons for the final selection. Not to mention that you examinees need time to prepare for something this important."
"Look, I don't get what you're trying to say. What's the point of all of this?" Kankuro questioned.
Hanara mentally groaned, 'He explained this before the preliminaries started. What's wrong with you guys? Can't you pay attention? After all this dramatic stuff I want to just go home and move to Hikaru's house until Naruto unjerkifies Neji.'
"Oi! Can't you guys pay attention," Hanara sighed, "Making the Hokage say this all over again is what's really pointless. What Lord Third means is that we need to prepare for the next round so that each of us can properly represent our countries and show off. Show each other who's superior and all that jazz. Besides, why don't you want extra time to prepare? I mean, now that the prelims have happened we all know each other's tricks. If we're going to be predictable it'll take the fun out of everything."
"Correct on all points Hanara, although, I would have liked to put that in more polite terms," Lord Hokage smiled, "Please remember to rest as well. Since that is out of the way, I would like to do something important for the final round."
"Let's get on with it then!" Naruto exclaimed, "I mean, how long do I have to wait until I can train?"
The Hokage ignored him, "In a calm, orderly, fashion, all of you will choose a piece of paper from the box Anko is carrying."
"Everyone, stay where you are. I'll come to you," Anko said, walking to the other end of the line.
After Hanara took out the last slip of paper, Ibiki said, "Good. Now that you all have one, read out your number from left to right."
"Nine," Dosu said.
"Number one, of course," Naruto cheered.
"Eight," Temari announced.
"Five," Kankuro read.
"Three," Gaara muttered.
"Two," Neji said.
"Six," Shino told Ibiki.
"Seven," Shikamaru sighed.
"Ten," Hanara smiled.
"And that means Sasuke has number four," Ibiki said.
'If this means I'm against Dosu, this will be a piece of cake!'
"Right. Now I will tell you how the final selection tournament works," Lord Hokage said.
"Is that what the numbers are for," Shikamaru asked, "Drawing lots?"
Lord Hokage ignored him. Huh, he's doing that a lot.
"Ibiki, you may reveal which ninja have been paired up," the Hokage said.
Ibiki flipped over his clipboard so it was facing us, revealing what he was drawing.
The first match was Naruto vs Neji, the second one was Gaara vs Sasuke, the third match was Kankuro vs Shino, the fourth match was Shikamaru vs Temari, and the fifth match was Dosu vs Hanara.
'Seriously, I have to do an extra match against whoever wins the fourth one? Ughhh, I might have to go against Shika...'
"Man, what a drag," Shikamaru sighed, "I might have to do one extra match..."
"I have a question," Hanara said.
"What is it?" Lord Hokage asked.
"If this is a tournament, does that mean that only the winner gets to be a Chunin?" Hanara questioned.
"No, not at all," Lord Third smiled, "There are going to be several judges including myself, the shinobi leaders, the Kazekage, and the lords from various countries who will be assigning missions to you. Through this tournament, the judges will be making a thorough evaluation of your abilities. They will then decide if any or all of you have the necessary qualities to make you a Chunin. So even if you lose in the first round, you could potentially become a Chunin."
"But that could also mean that none of us become Chunin," Temari said.
When Lord Hokage nodded, Shikamaru sighed, "What a drag..."
"Does that answer your question, Hanara?" Lord Third asked.
"Yes. Thank you, Lord Hokage."
"I thank you all for your patience. Let us all adjourn until next month," Lord Hokage said, effectively dismissing us.