Chapter Forty-Nine
The air of tension in the stadium's lower levels unsettled Sakura's stomach, almost as badly as the sushi she'd shared with Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke last night. The double date had been a last-minute attempt to achieve some semblance of normalcy before what promised to be a day from hell.
As she checked her reflection in her compact mirror, she was happy to see her face was not sunken as it had been after waking up and hurling her guts up at 0400. She'd prayed vainly that she was the only one food poisoned. When she arrived in the concrete locker room this morning, her prayers were unanswered. Sasuke had dark circles under his eyes and the look of a man in sheer agony when he arrived this morning. Naruto was impossibly worse, not knowing which end to stick in the toilet. Of the four of them, only Hinata had avoided getting sick. Not being a fan of seafood, she ordered cucumber salad. Should have just gone to Ichiraku's like Naruto first suggested.
Sakura sipped the spicy mix of water, rehydration salts, and ginger. Naruto's mom almost didn't let him leave the house this morning. She only relented after being reminded that the stadium might be safer than home in the next few hours. After that, Kakashi nearly disqualified him and her on medical grounds. She sipped again, almost wishing she hadn't lied about feeling better. The fate of the village is possibly in our hands, and we have Madara Uchiha's Revenge! Life was cruel.
"How are you feeling, Sakura?" Hinata's soft voice came over her shoulder.
"Like shit," she sighed as she sank in the ready room chair. Sakura rubbed the side of her face against a headache, wondering if she should just go to the restroom and let the wave of nausea overtake her.
"I feel bad," Hinata began rubbing Sakura's neck and shoulders, kneading through aching muscles, "I knew I didn't like seafood, but I never thought this would happen."
Sakura moaned gently under Hinata's fingers, "It's fine, it was my own damn fault for choosing a place we'd never been the night before something so big," she sighed. "Too bad you're not training as a medical-nin, your hands are amazing."
"Thanks, Naruto and Kushina taught me," Sakura caught a hint of blush in Hinata's voice.
"Ugh…" twin groans sounded as Naruto and Sasuke exited the nearby restrooms, both clutching their guts. "Who is up now?" Naruto asked.
"Gaara and Lee, Temari and TenTen, and Shino and Choji," Sakura answered. "You guys sure you're up for this?"
"Do we have a choice?" Sasuke answered flatly.
"Announcing the winners of the first seed: Gaara of Suna, Temari of Suna, and Choji Akimichi!" the announcer boomed on the overhead speaker.
"That means whomever wins next will face Gaara, Temari, or Choji most likely," Sakura said.
"Announcing the next seed: Kiba Inuzuka versus Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka, Temari of Suna versus Shikamaru Nara."
"Goddammit," a frustrated voice sounded from a far corner. Everyone turned to see Shikamaru sitting in meditation.
"What's his problem," Sakura asked Naruto.
"I think it's something to deal with his girlfriend," Naruto quipped.
"Dammit, that's not it, and she's…" Shikmaru opened his eyes, darting them back and forth.
"That's not the story your mom's been telling around the village," Sakura replied.
"Dammit, I knew she couldn't keep her mouth shut!"
"Am I missing something?" Hinata asked innocently.
"Yeah, genius here got caught by his parents exploring strange new worlds with Temari in the planetarium at the Academy," Sasuke grinned, "By the way," he gave Shikamaru a thumbs up, "excellent choice of place make out; I wish I thought of it, myself!"
"It wasn't like that, Sasuke!"
"Wait, you got frisky with the Shrew of the Sands!" Sakura laughed, "I thought you both were asexual!"
"I don't want to talk about it!" Shikamaru said.
"So, you lied about making out with her," Naruto asked, confused.
"No!" Shikamaru protested.
"Then you're worried about fighting her?" Hinata asked.
"No!" Shikamaru buried his face in his hand, "Dammit, war is possibly going to break out in a few hours, and all you guys are more worried about something I did with a girl?"
"Well, yeah," Sasuke answerer, squeezing Sakura's hand, causing her heart to race, "Making out is so much more enjoyable than making war; you should try it more often," he smirked. "So, details, man, was she hot?"
"Sasuke!" Sakura scolded playfully. She had to admit, she'd much rather not be facing the prospect of evacuating the civilians in the stadium at any moment. Her heart gently quickened at the thought of her and Sasuke finding a quiet spot.
"Hey," Hinata sounded concerned, "If you all don't get going, you're going to forfeit!"
"Shit!" Sakura carefully extracted herself from the chair and shuffled along with Naruto and Shikamaru toward the exit tunnel.
Bright sunlight assaulted Naruto as he emerged from the tunnel. It was a clear, perfect October afternoon. He could have appreciated the excellent day better had his head not been throbbing and his guts not threatening to turn inside out. Last time I go anywhere other than Ichiraku's again!
Kiba stood at the far end of the tournament ring, dressed in his usual black and grey. A canine grin on his face hinted he could smell Naruto's weakness. "Naruto," a soft voice came from behind. Mom?
He turned to see his mom in her mission gear, her flowing red hair tied up, "Remember, save your chakra reserves; there will be plenty to do later. Losing now won't matter!"
"A ninja never gives up, and I'm not going back on my word!" he replied.
Mom smirked, "That's my boy, go get him, and put him in the doghouse!" Mom kissed him on the cheek as she ran back down the tunnel he'd come out through.
"You gonna keep playing kissy time with your mom, or are ya gonna fight?"
The comment normally wouldn't have got any response from Naruto; however, they were here to fight. Naruto was feeling ornery, even if he had bubble gut. "Bring it," he waved on Kiba.
Kiba charged across the ring, nowhere near fast as dad, but still quicker than expected. Shit! Naruto barely dodged the flying tackle by rolling to his left, unsettling his guts even further. As he came to his feet, Kiba attacked with a claw-hand strike and followed up with a second strike. Naruto dodged the first strike and dodged the second.
Naruto replied with a hook kick toward Kiba's head, also blocked, as were both of his follow up punches. Kiba replied with a rock-solid body check. Staggered, Naruto stumbled backwards. Before he could react any further, Kiba came at him again, tackling him at the waist. Naruto fell backwards with Kiba over the top of him.
The wet slap of the ground shook Naruto's innards like a can of soda. He pulled Kiba in close, dug both feet into the other boy, and flung Kiba overhead and away.
Naruto clutched his stomach as he struggled to his knees. By now the gurgling in his stomach was joined by cramping that brought him down to all fours. Oh god! I'll be lucky if I don't soil myself with this one! Kiba was coming at him again, racing on all fours like a hungry wolf about to savage injured prey.
OH GOD!
Try as he might, Naruto couldn't restrain the pressure wave, and he broke a fierce wind. Naruto, not wanting to add vomit to the mix, covered his mouth and nose to avoid the foul odor sure to follow. Unfortunately for Kiba, he'd run straight into it. A dog's sense of smell is a thousand times stronger than a human's. Naruto smirked slightly as the charging boy stopped dead in this tracks, his face first twitching, and now contorting as he clutched his throat and began to gasp.
As Kiba fell to the ground writhing, Naruto slowly got to his feet, careful of any further gurgling in his own guts. Kiba stopped moving, and his eyes rolled back in his head. "I'll be damned," Naruto heaved. Of all things to win a match with, a fart! Naruto laughed, shaking his head as the medics approached to remove Kiba. "Here's the winner!" The proctor grabbed Naruto by the wrist to raise his hand overhead. Naruto noticed the proctor used his free hand to pinch his nose. "And it is Naruto Uzumaki winning against Kiba Inuzuka!" boomed over the loudspeaker, and the crowd cheered. Lucky bastard!
Shikamaru exited the tunnel and made his way to the designated tournament ground. This is stupid! Wasting our energy ahead of the real fight! Shikamaru had half a mind to tell the proctor her forfeited as he came to the edge of the ring. There was a familiar hand on his shoulder to shake him out of his melancholy thoughts, "Go get her, big guy!" Choji gave him a firm slap on the back with enough force to send Shikamaru stumbling forward into the ring. Dammit, Choji, really?! Choji winked with a thumbs up as he strolled off. Now there was no backing out.
He eyed his opponent. Temari wore a creamy tunic over a sheer athletic chafe-guard and her usual pair of short shorts – an unusual ensemble for the crisp October day. While certainly not cold outside, the outfit was better suited to a desert environment – her fan covered more of her than the outfit. Could it be she's hoping that showing off her damn fine legs will provide enough distraction to kick my ass? Shikamaru's eyes wandered along the well-defined features. Dammit, if she thought that far ahead, she's not going to be easy to beat! Start thinking with your brain and not your tool!
"So, star-boy, ready to lose?" she taunted with her usual wicked smirk. He'd find it cute if she weren't trying to beat him into submission. Even then, everyone had strict orders not to go all-in, knowing full well they'd be evacuating the crowd soon.
However, he still had his pride on the line, and he did not want to lose to Temari. "Come get some," he yawned. He knew her hot warrior blood wouldn't be able to resist such a blatant challenge. Temari charged violently, leaping overhead and bringing her fan down where he stood. Shikamaru savored the surprised look in her eyes when the strike landed on empty ground. "Nice try, Temari, but you're announcing your attacks too readily!" he taunted.
Temari swiped the fan across the ground, sending up a hail of dirt and dust, but he dodged the attack again, moving about a quarter-circle behind her. He yawned loudly, and she again swiped; Shikamaru reversed his motion, dodging the opposite direction. This time he waved; she again carved a channel across the ground, still failing to hit home. They kept up this dance several more motions before he dodged back into the shadows. "Give up, yet?" he laughed.
"You're an asshole!" she growled.
"I'm also told I'm a good kisser," he winked.
Temari angrily whipped the fan, releasing her wind-scythe attack. The air current struck with vicious intensity. It was now or never, "Shadow possession jutsu!" he made his hand seal and sent a probing column of shadow at Temari.
She flipped backwards desperately as he reached the limit of his range. So much for a quick end. His reach was limited to about fifteen meters or so. He withdrew his shadow. In theory, this development favored her; Temari's best attacks were ranged ones. She attacked with wind-scythe again. Every human instinct screamed for him to get up an attack, but he knew better. Shikamaru sat on the ground, creating as small of a profile as possible, and began to meditate. He let his eyes half-close. Tenten had wasted her energy trying to charge through the tornado, he'd seen on the highlights on the TV in the ready room. When facing a tornado or tsunami, you can't hope to fight it, only ride it out! The wind hit again, but to much less effect.
The wind carried Temari's frustration, as well as the curious scent of cinnamon. Perfume, really? Another gust hit him, and he looked up to the sky. Try it now! He again launched a tentacle of shadow at her. Much to her horror, it reached at her even further. It was a great trick, but it won't work again. Shimaru pulled off his light jacket, stood up, and tied it to a kunai. Temari struck again with her wind attack. Just in time! He let his jacket go, and the wind shot it skyward like a hot air balloon.
As he sat down on the ground again, he surveyed the ground before him and smiled. Almost time, just delay her a little longer. The shadow cast by the arena wall grew longer, as was the shadow cast by his jacket drifting down like a parachute. He again set the attack outward, extending from shadow to shadow. She barely managed to stay out of his range as she dived and juked to avoid the narrow grip of his shadow.
Temari grinned as he seemingly reached the limit of his range. What she didn't realize was, he was positioning her. She didn't dare close the range with him, but he couldn't move without exposing himself to attack. Faced with such an impossible situation, he'd have to change the conditions of the battle. Temari planted her fan in front of her to shield her movements. He guessed that she'd generate a shadow clone to distract him and make a desperate charge to take him down.
Sound tactic, but time to end this. Shikamaru reached with his jutsu, snaking it along the channel she'd carved into the ground when she'd tried attacking him earlier. Temari hadn't given a second thought to the shadows that formed as a result. Who would? Shikamaru smirked as he grabbed her shadow, taking control of Temari like a marionette on strings.
"H-how? How did you –"
"Have a look," he turned her head and body to show her the channel of shadow, "You did all the hard work." He grinned as he strolled up toward her. "You didn't really think I was going to let you get away with that little stunt you pulled a few nights ago?"
"What are you talking about?" she looked unnerved at the knowledge that she was at his mercy.
"My parents won't stop talking about what they walked in on," he smirked slightly, "Care to give everyone else something to talk about?"
"What?!"
Shikamaru released his shadow possession, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. He could have braced for the expected slap at the cheek. It never came; instead, her arms came up around his neck. The sound of wails and howls coming from the stands caused him to smirk. That will give them something to talk about. "This is not fair," she heaved as they separated.
"You're right," he winked, turning to the referee, "I give up, she wins!"
"WHAT!" she shouted indignantly as he strolled away.
"Sorry troublesome woman, but that was too easy, and I need to save my strength," he called back over his shoulder as he strolled away. "Have fun with your next match!"
A gust of wind hit him from behind. A demonic look came over Temari, "SHIKAMARU, GET BACK HERE AND GET THE BEATING THAT'S COMING TO YOU!"
He took off running as the referees restrained her, "Lady Temari, there is no fighting outside of the match!"
Shikamaru turned to look at her one more time before making his way back down the tunnel. "See you, troublesome woman," he blew her a kiss before running down the tunnel to safety.
Author's notes: Hey everyone! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you liked my take on the these two matches in the Chunin Exam. Next week will be the next few matches, plus a few curious surprises. Sorry if this was a bit short, but this seemed a good place to pause for the week. Stay healthy, stay safe, and I'll see you all next week!