"Next match, Ko Himura and Airi Akimoto!"
"Finally, it's my match." Ko said as she got up, put her sword on her back, and jumped down onto the ground followed by Airi. They walked to the middle of the arena facing each other waiting for the match to begin.
"So, how's your burnt sister?" Ko questioned the orange haired girl.
"Tch still suffering thanks to you. They said she might not be able to continue with being a shinobi." Airi growled clenching her jaw.
"Hmph she's lucky to be alive."
"Let the third match begin!" The proctor said.
In a flash, Airi was next to Ko with a wicked smile plastered on her face. She brought her arm back attempting to punch Ko but she was able to catch it. She wasn't prepared for Airi's foot to hit her side which sent her back towards the proctor. Ko regained her composure readying herself for the next attack. Her team was right, Airi was like Zabuza. She was quick on her feet while also being completely silent making it hard to Ko to keep up.
Airi appeared behind Ko attempting to kick her back but Ko slid under the kick, ending up behind Airi and swung her legs into Airi's causing her to fall. As she fell, Ko kicked her side sending her into the wall that was a few feet away. She groaned in pain as she walked away from the wall, but a smile was still on her face. With a flick of her wrist, fans appeared from her sleeves then wove hand signs.
"Shadow clone Jutsu!" Airi shouted.
She made ten clones who also were wielding mini fans. They started to surround Ko then threw the fans. On the fans were spikes which were projected towards Ko. Just as they were about to hit Ko, she took out her sword deflecting each spike sending them back towards each clone making them disappear. Ko jumped high into the air and headed straight for Airi as she readied her sword. Airi took out a kunai and readied herself as Ko got closer and closer. Their weapons collided making a ringing sound spread throughout the stadium. They struggled against the other's strength trying to outlast each other.
Ko pulled back her sword trying to swing for Airi's stomach, but she jumped back before she could land a hit. Airi lunged forward attempting to stab Ko but she stepped to the right only receiving a cut on her arm. Airi took this time to retrieve a scroll that was in her weapons pouch. She opened the scroll summoning her own sword then got into a ready position. Ko ran towards Airi who swung her sword at Ko's legs, but she was able to jump and kick off the wall behind Airi holding her arms in the air ready to strike from above.
Airi stepped aside trying to swing at Ko but she jumped back once more barley dodging her sword and managed to cut her shirt. Airi lunged towards Ko but she was able to maneuver herself and press herself against Airi's back following her movements staying behind her. Airi jumped back and ran towards Ko; she was done playing with her. She knew Ko wasn't that fast, it may have seemed like her speed was great during the match against her sister, but Airi knew that her sister lacked in speed which meant that Ko wasn't fast either.
She dashed forward and jumped in the air landing behind Ko. She swung at her once again landing a hit on Ko's back making her grunt in pain. By the time Ko turned around, Airi was already gone. She looked around seeing Airi on the other side of the arena weaving hand signs. Before she knew it, the ground below her started to shake. Ko put pressure on the ground about to jump out of the way but it crumbled beneath her letting her fall into the newly made crater. The crater was deep making a harsh landing for Ko.
The red eyed girl got to her feet trying to ignore her screaming body but was pushed down again by water entering the crater. She tried to swim out of the crater but the water pressure entering it kept pushing her further and further down but Ko couldn't give up. Her lungs were already screaming for air. She wasn't prepared and didn't have enough air in her lungs to be able to stay under for much longer. Ko reached the bottom once again and looked up but it looked as if darkness was closing in on her. She could see the crater was almost filled to the top but she didn't know how much longer her lungs would last. It felt as if someone were squeezing them and burned them from the inside.
"I can't drown, I'm not dying this way." She thought as she removed her training weights attempting to make herself lighter.
It was impossible, she couldn't hold on anymore. Her lungs screamed for oxygen and Ko unconsciously opened her mouth attempting to take a breath but only received water; she was suffocating. Ko summoned chakra to her feet and crouched down then jumped propelling herself out of the water filled crater. She tried to gasp for air once she made it to the surface but she ingested more and more water. She didn't know how, but she swam over to the edge of the crater hunched over coughing up water violently then started to hyperventilate as she tried to breathe properly.
Once her breathing was under control, Ko looked around seeing a mist surrounding her. Airi was trying to kill her for revenge and Ko knew it. She can't risk making any mistakes.
"I heard your team fought and defeated Zabuza, I'm guessing you're familiar with this technique." Ko heard Airi from her left.
Ko hoisted herself out of the water getting to her feet. Not even a second later, she felt a sting on her cheek. She reached up to touch it feeling liquid on her fingers. She examined her hand seeing blood covering it. Her chest still felt like it was closing in on her but she had to ignore it and push threw to finish this match. Her pride was not the only thing at stake; Orochimaru was watching, she had to impress him.
All around her she could hear Airi laughing manically as kunai whistled past her purposely missing her. Airi was playing with her. Ko didn't know any of Airi's weaknesses. Her fire jutsu will only be countered by Airi's water and they both had Earth affinities. Finally Airi made her move by kicking Ko in the back sending her forward but she managed to catch herself before falling. Ko had enough of the mist. She made hand signs and positioned her fingers around her mouth.
"Fire style: Great Fireball Justu!"
Flames erupted from Ko's mouth blasting through the mist making it disappear. She may fight like Zabuza but she wasn't as strong as him. This wouldn't have worked against his mist jutsu. The ball of fire disappeared once it collided with one of the walls. Airi stood close towards the lone tree in the arena with an angry look on her face. Ko sent her a smug smile which angered her even more. She made more hand signs and held out her hand towards the crater of water. The water started to flow out of the crater surrounding her arm. She shot the water towards Ko who tried to escape but the water wrapped itself around her. Airi lifter her up into the air then thrashed her around the arena making sure Ko hit everything in sight.
Airi grew tired and let Ko fall hitting the ground face first. Ko's body throbbed in pain but she had to get up. She can feel the blood oozing from her body dripping onto the ground. Ko had enough, she was done playing games. She concentrated on her eyes then opened them revealing the eerie red glow that covered her eyes. She looked around seeing everything red including Airi's red face which had a look of shock. Ko didn't know if it was because of her red vision or if Airi's face was red with anger. The crowd gasped as they saw them piercing through their soul.
"So you are a Himura. I guess I pissed you off enough to reveal those demon eyes." Airi mocked.
"Demon? Haha they're a gift," Ko chuckled.
Ko kicked Airi in the back sending her flying into the tree almost knocking it over. Ko quickly made hand signs creating two clones. They both ran towards Airi who was still getting up. The first clone ran at her and kicked her side which made her fly towards the other one. The second clone kicked her stomach making her fly towards Ko. She realized that the girl that was flying towards her wasn't Airi; it was a clone. Ko took out a kunai and stabbed it in the heart making it disappear. Ko could see Airi hidden behind the tree and can see her scared look.
"What's the matter Airi? Scared of little ol' me?" Ko mocked as she walked closer towards the tree.
Airi knew it was no use. She never fought a Himura before but she heard from others in her village that it was a terrifying battle. Those red glowing eyes of theirs shook every opponent that was in their way to the bone haunted by it if they survived. Nothing escapes their cursed eyes.
"Earth style: earth spikes!" Ko shouted.
The ground started to shake and out of the ground came huge spikes. The spikes went towards where Airi was hiding. She quickly jumped onto the wall using her chakra she was able to stick to the surface. Airi started to panic, she didn't know how to fight Ko. She didn't expect her to be an actual Himura; her hair was black. Himura's always have red eyes and brown hair not black. Their skin was a normal color not pale as snow; she didn't understand.
Airi tried to use her speed again against Ko and ran towards her then disappearing then reappearing behind her trying to land another hit. Ko was looking the other way where Airi disappeared making it feel like she had the advantage but when she went to punch Ko, her fist was caught. Airi's eyes widened when she looked up at Ko seeing those glowing eyes staring back at her.
"Sneak attacks won't work,"Ko chuckled then used all of her strength the pull Airi off the ground and throw her against the wall.
Airi quickly recovered and started weaving hand signs. "Water style: Water dragon jutsu!" She shouted.
The water in the cavern started to rise forming into a dragon. It grew larger and larger in size before flying towards Ko who remained calm. Ko simply made her own hand signs and disappeared into the ground. She appeared next to Airi kicking her in the head sending her to the ground. When Airi's chin hit the ground, blood spewed from her mouth then started to cough.
"Speed isn't everything now, is it Airi?" Ko mocked as she made more hand signs pumping more chakra into this one.
"Fire style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
The ball headed towards the crater that Airi had made earlier. Everyone could feel the heat from the fire ball as it flew into the crater creating steam. Once the steam cleared, the water was gone.
"Now that that's out of the way." Ko said turning towards Airi who was now standing. "Let's give everyone a show."
Ko ran towards Airi who started racing towards her. Airi went for a punch but Ko easily ducked under it punching Airi in the stomach. Airi tried to bring her knee up to hit Ko but she grabbed Airi's knee with her hand pushing it down making Airi lose her balance causing her to fall. Before she hit the ground, Ko kicked her in the chest making her slide across the ground.
Once she stopped sliding, Ko walked towards her as she attempted to get up. She started to cough violently but quickly recovered followed by hand seals.
"Earth style: Rock staff." She said weakly.
The ground began to shake as some earth started to rise and fall into her hands creating a staff. Airi used it to help her stand and used it for support as she got into a defensive position. Airi gathered all of her strength and ran toward Ko about to strike her with the staff. Ko reached up to block the staff but Airi disappeared and went to kick Ko in the back. Ko ducked under her leg rolling away from her then got into a crouching position to lunged towards Airi.
Airi lifted the staff blocking Ko's punch. Airi jumped back then lunged forward attacking Ko left and right but Ko blocked them all. Ko let Airi attack her to give her some hope of winning as she easily blocked each attack. Ko was getting herself ready to block on of Airi's punches but was surprised when she suddenly jumped back. She wove more hand signs and shortly after, Ko started to feel the ground get softer beneath her. She looked down seeing the ground had turned into mud.
When Ko looked back up at Airi, her view was blocked by a rock that had been thrown towards her. Ko didn't have time to react before the rock slammed into her body sending her across the arena and fell to the ground; the rock landed only a few feet away. Airi laughed out of joy when she saw Ko's motionless body on the ground. She could see the blood oozing from her arm and the side of her face and the bruises that covered the left side of her body.
Airi slowly walked towards Ko feeling victorious. She smiled down at Ko's body then looked up at the proctor.
"It's over," she said with a smile.
Movement caught her eye. She looked back down at Ko seeing her trying to get up.
"You bitch," Ko weakly growled then spat out the blood in her mouth.
Ko quickly looked up at Airi looking into her eyes for the first time since their glaring contest. Airi took a step back as Ko pulled her into a genjutsu. Airi fell backwards sitting up staring at nothing in horror as she subconsciously looked around seeing herself tied up. The world around her looked real but there was no one in the arena except her. She looked up seeing a sword stab her in the chest repeatedly. She screamed in pain as the genjutsu continued.
In the real world, Ko kicked Airi's body creating a distance between them. Ko fell to her knees afterwards feeling pain all over her body but it hurt worse on her left side. Her breathing was heavy as she tried to calm down and focus on coping with the pain. She still needed to finish the match and had to do it fast. She wished she was allowed to heal herself but Ko knew it would be suspicious if a genin knew medical ninjutsu especially since no one in the village could teach her or have the time to.
Ko released the genjutsu but Airi remained still staring at the ground in fear. Ko smirked and made hand signs then reached into her weapons pouch. Three shuriken were in between her fingers then threw them towards Airi. The three shuriken multiplied turning into almost twenty about to hit her opponent. Ko watched Airi waiting for her to move but she still stared at the ground. Ko started to see a flicker of numbers above Airi's head counting down to zero quickly.
"What are you doing? Move, I know with your speed you can dodge. What are those numbers?" Ko thought as she watched the number decrease.
Airi still didn't move or even flinch when the shuriken pierced her skin. She reacted a few seconds later with a horrified scream that echoed throughout the arena. Airi's eyes widened even more as her body started to fall forward landing face first on the ground. Ko could see the numbers clearer seeing them count down to zero. The audience was silent for a moment but then cheered with excitement. The first death in the exam.
"Winner! Ko Himura!"
Ko hardly could hear the audience or the announcement of her victory. She couldn't stop staring at the now lifeless body in front of her. There wasn't a life force to be seen around her body anymore. It vanished as soon as the number reach zero, Ko still didn't believe it.
"She was supposed to dodge. I gave her time to react. Why didn't she move out of the way?"
Ko slightly shook her head when she saw the medics approaching Airi. She stared into Airi's lifeless eyes then closed hers stopping her Subete Miru and turned away. Ko walked towards the crater and looked down seeing her sword. She reached out her arm creating a chakra string attach onto the sword then yanked it up making it land in its sheath. She walked back into the building and slowly walked to the waiting area. Before she could reach the stairs, someone was blocking them.
"Are you alright?" Sasuke questioned his teammate seeing a strange look on her face but he couldn't tell what she was feeling.
"I knew you watched my match. You showed up when I activated my kekkei genkai. What did you think of my match?" Ko questioned him as if she didn't just take a life. She needed to be strong and push those feelings away; there wasn't time to dwell on them.
"It seemed like you didn't mean to kill her." Sasuke pointed out.
"Of course I was, she just...wasn't supposed to die at that moment. I wanted more of a show." Ko lied wishing he'd change the subject.
Before Sasuke could reply, Ko jumped over him landing on one of the steps behind him. He knew it was bothering her, she had just taken a life. He knew every shinobi will kill in their lives but she was just a kid like him. He knew taking your first life isn't easy to cope with and many have different reactions to it.
"Good luck in your match Sasuke, make sure not to die." She waved to him as she continued to walk up the stairs feeling even more anxious than before.