Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto. This story is purely a work of fanfiction.

Nina- is my original character (I do own her)


Chapter 87


Kakashi surveyed the grounds to ensure no one was around and from the cover of a few trees he set about putting his plan into action. He'd heard Asuma's question earlier however, he didn't reply. Of course Nina had made the request for no limits. Something of an oddity given that this was a master class, which they'd both been involved in, several times in the past.

"Clever."

Kakashi hadn't even sensed his chakra signature. Rather than giving away that he had been startled, Kakashi simply shrugged and pulled out his reading material.

"I think you ought to hand that over before the start of this match, Kakashi."

"Yes."

Jiraiya recognised his gift and found no surprise that Kakashi had managed to get a hold of it.

"It's on loan."

"I see."

The copy-nin wasn't a man of many words but Jiraiya could sense the unrest bubbling just below his normally mellow exterior.

"She doesn't hate you."

"Huh?"

"Nina. She doesn't hate you, not entirely. But a bet? Seems a little beneath you."

Kakashi tilted his head back against the trunk of the tree and sighed.

"It wasn't for the reasons she thinks, nor you. But in any case that seems moot at this point."

"Explain."

"It wasn't supposed to end up like this. It was just meant as a lesson for Genma and a means of gaining some extra funds for Asuma with his…" Kakashi paused, knowing the news wasn't really his to share but undoubtedly, the legendary Toad Sage would probably already be aware of it. "Upcoming birth of his first child."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin. The shinobi had spoken a great deal more words than he'd expected. So, Kakashi of the Sharingan had fallen for his little sunflower.

"What were you two doing in Amegakure anyway?"

So, they'd been sprung?

"Depends on who you ask. Tsunade would tell you it was just a bet. For me well, I had ulterior motives."

"A bet? Do I? Never mind. I don't." Kakashi didn't wish to know the details. His head was a shambles as it was trying to unscrew the result of one he'd actually been a part of.

Jiraiya held out his hand to Kakashi so he could keep the book safe. However, instead of handing over the book, Kakashi held it for a moment.

The older man drew out a languished sigh. "I asked her the same question."

"Eh?"

"Do you love her?"

Kakashi let go of the book, stuffed his hands in his pockets, and turned his back to the Sannin.

"What was her answer?"

The man was quick witted. "I narrowly avoided a kunai."

"Hmpf."

It hadn't been a clear answer but it wasn't a no either.

"Don't let your guard down, Hatake."

Despite the two warnings he'd been given, Kakashi couldn't help but conclude Nina wanted the opposite. It was almost as if she was requesting what he had for their mission. No limits meant no pretences.


It'd cost her a lot more chakra than she had intended however, she'd been successful. Nina would just have to rely more on her taijutsu without infusing it with her chakra for added strength. She was grateful for the recent training sessions with Guy. They were insanely intensive but would serve her a great deal of good against Kakashi.

She watched as the perimeter of training grounds three fill with spectators and Shikaku made his way into the middle of the grounds to make the announcement. In addition, the crowd were warned of their responsibility to keep clear of the fight.

"Nina and Kakashi a reminder from the Hokage." Shikaku turned leaving the field. "No killing blows."

Nina affixed her hitai-ate tightly around her head with the metal plate bearing the Leaf Village insignia resting on her forehead. She pulled her ponytail firmly, ensuring it wasn't likely to let go throughout the mission. She had steeled herself for this; no she had all but forced herself. However, there was no retreating at this point.

"Perform the confrontation seal."

Kakashi's eye landed on Nina's eyes, which were as intense as he had imagined.

"Don't hold back."

Kakashi nodded, using his thumb to push his hitai-ate upwards, revealing his sharingan eye. However, he kept it clenched closed. Even without her request, he had no intentions to sway the fight by means of lessening the power of his attacks.

Recalling where he had been earlier and the layout of the grounds, he'd need to ensure they avoided that area until the latter end of the match. Her brute strength would likely undo his plan otherwise.

Nina had her own plan to focus on, keeping their distance whilst ensuring they weren't too far either.


Shikaku's voice rang out over the fields and within seconds the scraping of clashing kunai was heard.

As expected Nina pounded her fist into the ground, dismantling the relatively level earth to jagged shards of rubble. She had been slow to react when Kakashi had flung several shuriken at her one slicing her right bicep that she'd failed to shield behind the rock. A minor cut was an easy trade-off compared to being caught in the billowing flames of a fireball that had followed shortly after.

"Why isn't Nina healing herself?"

Naruto turned to look at Sasuke who had his Sharingan focussed on the match, intently following their movements.

"Guy sensei, they are fast but surely Nina…"

"Lee my boy. What does healing take?"

"Chakra and time."

"Right you are Sakura." Guy who was mesmerised by the physical display in front of him still found time to answer the inquisition from his student. "Neither can be spared so carelessly during a match such as this. Kakashi isn't allowing Nina time nor are they fatal wounds. There would be little sense for Nina to waste such precious chakra healing every bump or graze she receives."

"Right you are Guy-Sensei."

"I don't get it. After a while she would have so many that she would succumb to them."

"True enough Naruto. However, if it gets to the point then Nina would have to give herself that time. But right now neither are relenting. This would be true in the midst of a battle or war..."

The rookie 9 suddenly found themselves pulling back and shielding their faces from the flurry of debris extending from the blows being exchanged between the shinobi.


Nina had landed a decent strike on Kakashi's left bicep, tearing through the layers of his shirt and into his skin. Kakashi retaliated with a violent kick at Nina to put space between them both. Although, Nina had managed to block him, she'd still ended up on her side skidding along the ground grazing her left shoulder and bicep. Kakashi weaved a quick succession of signs and doused Nina into a wave of water from the water dragon jutsu. It wasn't anything more than a slight deterrence given Nina's chakra affinity being water.


"Training grounds three will be out of commission for a while at the rate these two are demolishing it Mellady."

"Shut it Shizune. I'm sure Captain Yamato will be available for repairs."

"Yes Mellady."

"Little gruff there Tsunade. Anyone would think you were losing."

Tsunade pounded the chair that Jiraiya had been sitting in, causing anyone within the vicinity to clear out.

The disruption distracted Nina momentarily, long enough for Kakashi to land another slice to her exposed neckline. That had been a close one, not herself per say but rather her … shit. Nina ducked in time to clip Kakashi's feet out from beneath him as he lunged at her again. She skipped backwards, putting some distance between them again.


The Fifth did indeed have money riding on Nina winning but so far, the kunoichi was lagging behind. It wasn't that she wasn't trying but the pair were so evenly matched it was hard to distinguish a frontrunner.


Their kunai met again and Kakashi took the opportunity, given their close proximity to ask the questions that plagued him.

"Was it just a mission for you?"

They both stumbled backwards and re-engaged with each other.

"I'm not talking about this now."

"Just answer the question."

Nina swiped at the air landing another minor laceration to his right shoulder. Their kunai were discarded and they locked fists with each other. One held the others fist.

She wasn't going to answer that question so he probed again. "Why request lifting the limits of the match?"

"To show the next generation the reality that they may face one day."

Nina overbalanced and was locked in with her back against Kakashi, who'd managed to retrieve a kunai from his holster to hold to her throat.

"And that's the only reason?"

Through gritted teeth, Nina sent a burst of her chakra releasing her of his hold.

"No. But that doesn't really matter."

"What was the other reason, Nina?"

"I said it doesn't matter!"

Her punch sent Kakashi flying back towards the tree he'd been standing at earlier and he scrambled to his feet. Now, she was using her chakra which meant her stamina was reaching its limits. Luckily, because he was reaching his too. His lungs were burning and the sun was beginning to dip, giving the sky an orange haze.


"They've reached their limits."

"Don't count either of them out yet. Especially Nina."

Tsunade's teeth were biting ferociously on her thumbnail. She sure hoped Jiraiya knew what he was talking about because from her perspective Nina was certain to lose.


The pair of shinobi stood across from each other, heaving in the air that was thick with dust and the ground around them littered with kunai and shuriken barring the one each they both had in their hands. Both of them had several cuts, abrasions and markings of spattered blood.

She wanted to hate him. But… Nina swallowed trying to quench her parched throat. It was said that when shinobi exchanged blows that you could see their truth, their intentions, their feelings and their thoughts. Lifting the limits hadn't revealed anything else; no more so than what she truly knew and it was infuriating.


It hadn't escaped her attention that Kakashi had avoided the area in which he stood for the entirety of their match, so there had to be something hidden. Luckily her counter measure was still in play, however, she knew judging by the setting sun she would be running short on time and at any point from here on out, it could all come undone. She was also running low on chakra which was necessary to continue with the cover. It was now or never.


He knew what Kakashi had planned, but Nina was sure to have a counter measure. She wasn't unfamiliar with this particular tactic pertaining to the copy-nin. He could see her expression and her resolve was indeed waning. She may not willingly admit it however, Jiraiya had known the woman before him since she was a wee-thing, and he could tell the repercussions of the mission hadn't been felt by Kakashi alone. Like his own muse, she preferred to fight it every step of the damn way. Stubborn women.

Regardless, this match wasn't Kakashi's to win. It never was. But then, it wasn't Nina's either.