Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you are enjoying the holidays :)
I apologize in advance for spelling/grammar errors. One of my editors is having issues with her computer and can't access the document, so this chapter might be updated a little later on (but of course I will let you all know). Enjoy! ~KB

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or KH...

~Updated: 2/26/16~

Ch 21: Results

As much as she wanted to plop down on the ground in exhaustion, Manami held her ground until she was told what to do next. If she had learned anything from the past three fights, it was to always be on your toes. Being unprepared cost valuable time in these battles.

Tsunade appeared out of nowhere in front of Manami, almost giving her a heart attack.

"Well done!" Tsunade congratulated with a smile, "Not gonna lie, I'm surprised you're still standing."

Gee, that's encouraging, Manami thought grimly.

Patting her on the back (rather firmly), Tsunade ushered Manami towards a set of doors opposite of where she first entered.

"Follow that hallway and take a right," she instructed, "keep going till you reach a T junction and take a left. Continue till you are brought to a large waiting room. Nurses will be there for a post-battle check-up."

Manami nodded her head wearily in response. She struggled to put the katana away for a moment but managed to get it in the sheath. Manami faced Tsunade fully and bowed respectfully before making her way down the instructed path.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

"So what are your thoughts?" Tsunade asked the three ninja. The four of them had moved to a viewing box space higher up in the stadium.

"Please! Allow me to report first!" asked an overly enthusiastic Guy. His voice echoing in the empty stone room. Beside him, Kurenai rolled her eyes and Kakashi ignored the usual antics of Konoha's Green Beast.

Tsunade sighed, shifting her weight in her stool. She nodded her head in response.

"ALRIGHT!" exclaimed Guy, "I thought our beloved Manami-chan did fabulously! While she was not able to stand up against my Flurry Kicks, Manami-chan fought valiantly and was soon able to catch me off guard! Her skills with the katana are exemplary as well!"

"I agree," Kurenai continued, "even though she was caught in my genjutsu for a while, she was able to fight back as if it were normal combat. Although, it wasn't until that snake nearly suffocated her that she realized she was trapped in an illusion, which could prove troublesome for her on an actual mission."

Kakashi nodded his head in agreement. "It's clear that she doesn't know how to manipulate chakra, although I sensed she has an average amount. She was neither able to escape the genjutsu on her own nor used any ninjutsu against me. However her combat skills are decent enough and the trick she used for the lightning bolt and ice were notable to say the least; excluding the fact that she is considerably vulnerable afterwards."

Tsunade smirked at their responses. "Perceptive as always. Well, since she's a 'decent enough fighter' as Kakashi put it, Manami-san can be useful on missions. But what should we do about the chakra issue?"

The four pondered the possibilities. The light streaming in from the long, narrow opening to the arena inched across the barren floor.

"I suppose she should start with the basics," Kurenai remarked, shifting her stance.

"You're right!" Guy chimed in, "We should get someone youthful to teach our beloved Manami-chan!"

"They'd have to be patient," Kakashi commented dryly, tucking his hands in his pockets.

"Someone who is used to explaining things."

"Someone youthful and knowledgeable!"

"Someone stubborn enough to handle newbies."

"Alright then it's settled!" Tsunade exclaimed standing up so suddenly her stool was knocked over. "I'll have Shizune start filling out the paperwork. You three are dismissed!"

The three ninja bowed respectively before exiting the room.

"Do you think it'll work?" Kurenai asked as they walked down the hall.

Kakashi nodded his head as they turned a corner, "I don't see why not."

"If there is Anyone who is Able to do It I'm sure He Can!" Gai responded enthusiastically.

"I suppose you're right. If anyone can teach Manami-chan about chakra and how to control it, it's him." Kurenai concluded.

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Darkness.

That's all there was.

*plip*

Cold. Wet.

*plip* *plip*

The gradual increase caused her to shiver. Even in the darkness she could see the mist.

"Manami"

Whipping around, her eyes saw nothing.

"Hello?" she called out.

Silence.

The soft rain faded, leaving a familiar mist around her.

*Chirp*

She whipped around again, ready for a fight. Still, she saw nothing.

*Chirp* *Chirp* *Chirp*

The frequency of the chirps increased. She couldn't move.

A faint white light crackled.

I have to get out of here, she thought. But her muscles refused to budge.

"Manami"

A faint yellow dot appeared. Then two- now six.

*Chirp* *Chirp*

"Manami-"

They weren't dots, they were eyes; dozens of them, glowing.

*Chirp*Chirp*Chirp*

"Manami!"

Hundreds of them-

*ChirpChirpChirpChirp*

"MANAMI"

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Manami woke with a start. Beads of sweat rolled down her temple, her heart pounding out of her chest. Blinking a couple of times, Manami recognized the ceiling of the room she was brought to for the check-up. She sat up slowly to prevent the room from spinning, thinking to herself, What happened?

"Manami-san."

Manami's head snapped up to find Tsunade looking at her with a concerned expression.

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," she croaked out. Manami made a face at how hoarse she sounded. A nurse handed her a glass of water, which she downed instantly.

"How are you feeling?" Tsunade asked.

"Never better," she replied, this time sounding almost normal.

"The nurses tell me you passed out during the inspection. Care to explain? You appeared a little weary as you left, but not so much to think that you would faint."

"I guess-" Manami began hesitantly. The truth was she didn't really know herself. "I guess I was more worn out than I thought I was. I'm not surprised that the magic drained me the way it did, that was to be expected, but I suppose I put more effort into the fight than I first anticipated. In the end it all caught up to me."

"Magic?"

Manami nodded, "That's what the block of ice and lightning bolt were. I'm not very prone to using it unless I absolutely have to. Like with the masked ninja and the fire ball- there was no way for me to avoid it, so I shot the opposite element at it to buy me a little time to escape."

"Well, that answers that question." Tsunade remarked.

Manami nodded lightly.

"I can't say I'm overly surprised," Tsunade continued, "you were up against the best ninja in each of their respective fields."

Manami grimaced. That told her nothing of how she did in the test, increasing her worry of how well or poorly she performed.

"Now tell me," Manami was broken from her train of thought as Tsunade spoke again, "what do you know about chakra?"

Manami blinked. Chakra?

"Never heard of it."

Tsunade let out a deep sigh, "Just as we thought."

Manami furrowed her eyebrows. That didn't sound too good.

"While you are a formidable fighter and excel with a weapon, I'm afraid chakra usage is a must if you are going to work with us."

"Okay?" Manami replied warily. Where is this going? she thought.

"Before you can take on real missions you'll need to at least learn the basics," Tsunade stepped aside to reveal a chair with the standard uniform Manami saw everywhere, complete with flak jacket and headband. Tsunade's face was serious, "If you agree to fight for Konoha and go on missions for us, you will be accepted into our shinobi ranks as a chuunin."

Manami blinked again. Chuunin?

Tsunade sighed again, "Do you want the job or not?"

Manami's eyes grew wide. I- I'm in?!

Manami nodded her head vigorously and bowed the best she could from her position on the cot. "Thank you so very much, Tsunade-sama!"

Tsunade waved her hand, "Enough. I have work to do. As of this moment, I Tsunade, Godaime Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, appoint you, Kiyomizu Manami, to the rank of Chuunin, effective immediately."

She bowed and Manami bowed in return.

"Everything is already being prepared," she continued, "An apartment will be ready for you by tomorrow and your job starts next week."

"My job?" Manami asked, a hint of curiosity creeping in.

Tsunade smirked as she made her way to the door. "The details are in the file tucked away in your uniform."

With that, Tsunade left without another word.

Manami stared at the door in silence. The nurse had begun to check her again but Manami was too distracted by her thoughts.

She made it. Even if it was by a hair's breath, she made it. But what's this "job" all about? she wondered. Out of the corner of her eye, Manami caught a glimpse of a manila folder peeking out from between her uniform. Guess we'll find out soon enough.

FIN

Hope you guys liked it; sorry it's been so long. And just as a warning, it will probably be a small while again before I post the next chapter. Maybe another month or two... No longer than that though! Anyways, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ~KunoichiBlade