Naruto woke up with a start. He sat upright. Sunlight gleamed through the dim blinds. This room wasn't the dormitory he shared with Sasuke and Sakura. He wasn't sleeping on the floor, but on a couch cushion.
To his right, Kakashi Sensei was sitting in an armchair. He was reading his orange book he carried around everywhere with him.
"Sensei?"
"Ah, Naruto," the jonin lowered his book, "you're awake."
"Where am I? Where are Sasuke and Sakura?"
"They're in your dormitory. You are in the jonin quarters."
The young shinobi looked confused.
"Don't remember?"
Naruto shook his head.
"How are you feeling then?"
His eyes widened and he felt his side. There was only a little sting. He lifted his shirt to see a row of small stitches already absorbing into the skin. The stab wound wasn't open and bleeding, but was only a shade of deep pink and closed.
"But how…?"
"You can thank your unique chakra for that," his teacher stood and walked to his head. Kakashi examined the healing cut, pleased, "and my needlework."
Naruto was speechless. He remembered a worried Sakura leading him through the arena campus. In his haze, he did slightly remember Kakashi sensei's voice…
"Naruto, get back to your teammates. I warned Sakura to be careful of those twins. They're after more than just the victory of the Skills Championship. They're after you."
"There was one more. One I didn't recognize…"
"Nobody can be trusted. No one is your ally," Kakashi opened the door and poked his head out, "It's early enough so none of the other jonin will see you leave here. Hurry and get back, avoid the guards."
Naruto hurried towards the door, "Thank you, Sensei!"
"Naruto," he placed a gloved hand on the young boy's shoulder, stopping him in place, "the Skills Championship is already difficult. Now, it just got much more challenging. Be ready."
He nodded once and raced out of the dormitory.
"Naruto!" Sakura stood with a start when the blonde-haired ninja barged into their quarters, "you're okay!"
"I am!" He beamed, "all because of you, Sakura. If you hadn't taken me to Kakashi Sensei then I would've been done for."
"Hooray, the moron is back," Sasuke crossed his arms, "but we've still got the same problem on our hands."
"The twins. Uraya and her brother, Uneo," Sakura stared at the door cautiously, "they've been quiet since the incident last night."
"We're going to have to continue the trials today at all costs," Sasuke said, "so be prepared. They'll attack next during today's competition no doubt."
"Kakashi Sensei said the same thing," Naruto nodded, "Sasuke, I overheard their conversation yesterday. Uneo wants to kill you after what happened the first night."
"But it's you they're after," he furrowed his brow.
"Uneo must want revenge," Sakura spoke softly, "which means they won't be holding back when it comes to you, Sasuke."
"Let them come! I'll be ready," he clenched his fist.
Just as he finished his sentence, the intercom came to life. The voice over the speaker spoke ominously, "Contestants in Dormitory Two. Commence to the Arena Field immediately for today's trial."
The trio looked at each other nervously.
"I guess it's time," Naruto rubbed his hands together.
"We'll watch out for each other. No matter what," Sakura said resolutely.
"Right," Sasuke nodded once, "and remember that Uraya and Uneo had another ally last night. We don't know who it is yet, but be on the lookout. We'll have to find out soon enough."
They exited the dormitory and headed to the Field Arena.
Kakashi walked up the stands of the arena. The white-haired Jonin waded through the crowds, listening intently, eye watching carefully.
He took his seat, several levels away from the arena's main field. The spectators around him mumbled excitedly, betting on a winner.
Dormitory Two's competition was about to commence, that's why Kakashi found himself in attendance. The other dormitories would be having other tricking competitions to weed out competitors in an effort to close in on a victor. However, this was the main event.
Each Skills Championship would hold a competitive brawl between the contestants. However, each Championship would throw a spin on the main event to make the challenge more difficult for its participants.
He watched closely as the competitors took the field. He scanned the shinobi until his eye settled on Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke. They were standing side by side. Kakashi smiled at that, they were acting like a team.
The announcer's voice boomed throughout the arena, "Dormitory Two. Your competition for victor of your level in the Skill Championship continues with the Fearsome Fight. This event pits shinobi against shinobi as the more skilled ninja shall advance to a future trial."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke warily.
"However, for this year's Championship, the Fearsome Fight will have battles against three opponents instead of two. Therefore, three contestants will fight each other while trying to defend against their two opponents."
"Three fighters in one battle…?" Sakura stiffened.
Uraya and Uneo smiled evilly.
Kakashi watched with interest.
"Of the fifty competitors who began the Championship in Dormitory Two, only eighteen remain following yesterday's trials. Only six competitors will advance to the final round. The first fight shall commence immediately. The shinobi competing are: Asahi, Haruto, and Itsuki!"
Naruto let out a breath of relief, but he recovered quickly. He didn't want to show weakness in front of the twins.
The other competitors were led to the stands, awaiting their turns in the Fearsome Fight.
The three fighters stood in a standoff against the others. A siren indicated the battle would start. Naruto watched them. Asahi went down early in the match. Haruto and Itsuki battled for another few minutes, before Haruto advanced to the next round. The first fight was over.
A tense murmur started through the remaining participants. Who would be chosen?
The loud speaker started again, the announcer's voice boomed over the intercom, "The second fight shall commence. The shinobi competing are: Masuda, Oka, and Konishi!"
Another sigh of relief from Naruto. He made brief eye contact with Sakura. She gave him an equally worried glance and turned away. This was going to be a long day…
Kakashi watched with a narrowed eye from his aerial position. He located those twins that Sakura warned him about last night: Uraya and Uneo. They looked fearsome, even from his distance. However, he was also scanning the line of shinobi for their mysterious ally, the one that Sakura and Naruto heard conversing with Uraya in the hallway the previous night. None caught his eye, not yet.
The first fight began and ended swiftly, with the victor advancing to the next round.
Around him, jonin and spectators cheered and booed based on their winning or losing bets.
Yet, Kakashi knew the real fights were only just beginning. The Skills Championship watched all and observed everything. No doubt the gamemakers knew of the skirmish between Naruto, Sakura, and Uraya in Dormitory Two the night before. No doubt they were aware that Uraya and her mysterious ally were after Naruto and his chakra. It all made for more compelling competition. Was it a coincidence that his three students had not competed in the Fearsome Fight yet from a random lottery of eighteen? Unlikely.
The gamemakers knew of the tension between his students and the twins. Therefore, what would make for better Skills Championship trials than an outright battle between them?
Kakashi mulled on this thought and waited.
The second fight between Masuda, Oka, and Konishi finished as well. Oka emerged as the victor of the match. The shinobi waited as the announcer spoke once more, "The third fight shall commence. The shinobi competing are: Yamakawa, Shinohara, and Nagata!"
Naruto exhaled again, but this time he was anxious. Why wasn't his name called yet? Why wasn't Sakura's or Sasuke's? Or Uraya's and Uneo's for that matter? The unknown clawed at him. He was hoping those twins would be called already, so he wouldn't have to face them…
Pull yourself together, Naruto! You can do this!
The match between the three shinobi began.
Sasuke nudged him and spoke quietly, "The competition just got tighter. Odds are we're going to have to face either Uneo, Uraya, or their friend from last night."
"Which we don't know who that could be," Naruto clenched his fists, "he could've already competed?"
Sasuke's face darkened, "I wouldn't get your hopes up."
Yamakawa was knocked out by Shinohara. Nagata pulled a strike on Shinohara.
"What if we compete against each other?" Sakura said with wide eyes, "Who's going to win? How do we advance?"
Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, but didn't know what to say. He entered the contest because he wanted to win the Skills Championship after all…
Naruto filled the silence, "No matter what happens, we're still a team. We came into this competition knowing that we'd have to compete against each other at some point. Best of luck to the winner is all I have to say."
"Agreed," Sasuke nodded, "No matter what happens, we still come out of this thing as a team."
Sakura smiled.
Nagata knocked out Shinohara. The match was over.
Silence filled the arena as the announcer spoke once more, "The fourth fight shall commence. The shinobi competing are: Uraya, Yamamoto, and Sakura!"
Sakura's face drained of color. She stared blankly ahead.
Uraya's evil grin grew tenfold.
Naruto held in a hitched breath. He was originally relieved that he wasn't chosen to compete against Uraya, but upon hearing Sakura's name he immediately wished he was called.
"Sakura, you can do this," Sasuke said resolutely, "don't let her get in your head. Use Yamamoto to your advantage, team up against Uraya if you have to then deal with him."
She was speechless, stuttering over her words as her fear engulfed her.
"Sakura!" Naruto took her by the shoulders. She snapped out of her stupor and looked into his eyes, "Listen to what Sasuke said. Remember, you fought Uraya off twice before and won. You got this!"
"Come on, Sakura," a voice taunted from up ahead. Uraya was standing in the middle of the arena, dragging her scythe in the dirt, "I'm waiting."
Sakura nodded, stood, and walked confidently onto the field. Sasuke and Naruto watched with tense interest from their spots on the sidelines. Naruto glanced at Uneo for a moment. Uraya's twin brother watched Sasuke with a murderous stare.
Yamamoto, Sakura, and Uraya stood in a loose semi-circle in the center of the field.
Uraya struck first. She immediately lunged at Sakura with her scythe. Sakura rolled away, landing in the dirt. Uraya struck again and Sakura dodged. Yamamoto circled them both.
"He's waiting for them to take out each other!" Naruto growled, "He's going to let Uraya kill her!"
"He's just competing in the match," Sasuke replied, "it's smart, but that's not good news for Sakura."
"Come on, Sakura!" Naruto shouted.
Sakura rolled again, just barely out of the way from Uraya's scythe. She heard Naruto's cheer from the crowd.
Sakura caught a glimpse of Uraya's evil grin and manic eyes. Yamamoto stood on the outskirts, smiling, just watching as Uraya nearly killed her. She felt a fire burn in her stomach. She would not be defeated so easily.
At her next roll, Sakura grabbed a handful of dirt in her palm. She turned again and threw the dirt in Uraya's eyes. The girl bellowed and fell back. Sakura steadied her footing and threw a shuriken at Yamamoto. Surprised, he barely dodged the blade and fell to the dirt.
"Yes!" Naruto cheered frantically from his place, "Get 'em, Sakura!"
Uraya scratched at her scarred face angrily, "You pest!" she screamed at Sakura.
Yamamoto joined the fray, not smiling anymore.
"Seems like we've got ourselves a fight," he spat in the dirt.
Uraya wielded her scythe, glancing side to side at both opponents.
Yamamoto raised his hands above his head and clapped strongly. A bolt of lightning emanated from his fingertips and he threw the lightning Sakura's way.
"No!" Sasuke and Naruto said in unison.
Sakura hit the dirt as the lightning sizzled past her head.
"Yamamoto has an elemental ninjutsu," Sasuke gripped the rail with white knuckles, "he can summon lightning!"
Naruto was speechless.
Uraya shifted her weight and focused on Yamamoto. Shock was written all over her face. Though she wanted to fight Sakura out of revenge, a formidable opponent was standing before her, one she did not expect…
"But I think that helped Sakura!" Naruto nudged Sasuke, "Uraya is focusing on him!"
As Sakura recovered from the lightning blast, her two competitors argued.
"What are you doing?!" Uraya screamed, "We made a deal!"
Sakura gasped. Naruto's jaw dropped. Sasuke grit his teeth.
Yamamoto smiled, "Sorry, Uraya, you have your masters and I have mine. We never came to a deal last night and when I saw that all you had to offer was your blind anger and your brother's murderous intent for Uchiha, I knew you couldn't provide me anything."
She stared at him, mouth agape.
"Uzumaki is mine," Yamamoto growled, "right after I defeat you."
Yamamoto raised his hands to the sky. Uraya shuddered beneath him, raising a hand to protect herself against the onslaught.
"NO!" Sakura screamed, running towards Yamamoto. As he brought his hands down, she shoved him from the side. The lightning struck the floor at Uraya's feet, just missing her by centimeters.
Yamamoto stumbled as Sakura placed herself between them.
"Enough!" She stood her ground, snarling like a tiger, "We are here to engage in friendly competition, to test our strengths as young ninja! Forget your masters and your ulterior motives, this is the Skills Championship!"
"Stand aside!" Yamamoto towered over her, "It is not you we want, it's your teammate. Don't be foolish and intervene by standing in our way."
Uraya was silent beneath Sakura, still floored by Yamamoto's betrayal.
"Whatever you want from him," she argued, "is wrong. You want to hurt Naruto, maybe kill him. I won't let that happen."
A blast knocked Sakura off her feet. It wasn't from Yamamoto. Uraya stood over the unconscious Sakura, who landed in the dirt several feet away.
"NO!" Naruto yelled, "Sakura!"
"She protected Uraya," Sasuke said under his breath angrily, "And Uraya still attacked her…"
"What were they saying to each other?" Naruto frantically looked to Sasuke, "could you hear?"
"No," he shook his head sadly, "nothing."
Her teammates watched on in disbelief.
"Weak girl," Uraya growled. Sakura remained motionless, covered in bleeding scratches. Uraya used a flash bomb tucked away in her tunic, only to be used in emergency measures. It provided the perfect attack.
Sakura was defeated in the fight. Therefore, she was eliminated from the Skills Championship.
Yamamoto glared at Uraya, "At least she possessed more resolve than you. Your defeat isn't far off, Uraya, you should've let Sakura protect you as long as you could."
Uraya growled and lunged with her scythe. Yamamoto easily dodged her strikes, allowing her blind anger and hatred to overwhelm her and veer her off course.
"This was always your problem, Uraya! You let your emotions cloud you from the prize!" Yamamoto hissed as he kicked her scythe from her hand. He pinned her in the dirt, his boot resting on her chest as she struggled beneath him, "You are a failure."
He raised his hand to the sky.
"Your foul brother is next. Uzumaki is mine," he laughed. Electricity crackled between his fingers.
"No!" Uraya screamed, clawing at his boot, "NO!"
Yamamoto brought his hand down. The lightning struck Uraya in a great blue burst. The arena was silent. She lay motionless in the dirt, twitching from the aftershock.
Medical aids gurneyed Uraya and Sakura off the main field. The shinobi on the sidelines didn't dare utter a word. Naruto stole a glance at Uneo who was emotionless.
Yamamoto bowed cynically to the spectators and took a seat.
After several moments, the announcer's voice boomed again. Naruto barely heard the voice. It sounded muffled to his ringing ears. He was still replaying the scene he just witnessed.
Sasuke nudged him, pulling him out of his trance. His teammate's face was pale and cast in shadows.
"Come on. We're up."
Naruto felt cold dread wash over him.
Sasuke walked onto the main field.
Waiting for the both of them was Uneo.
Next chapter coming soon! Leave me a fav/follow/review!