Hello, again.
Admittedly, the matches are kind of lackluster, but there wasn't meant to be much to them. 3 through 5 are pretty well canon outside of Sasuke's opponent, and 1 and 2 are explained in the story.
Perspective: n/a
Don't own MLP or Naruto, by the way.
Day of Harmonious Lights
XXPreviously, on 'Maelstrom Elements'XX
"Thank you all for coming to this momentous occasion, and that interesting greeting. Now, normally I would say a few things to commemorate this, but with the other festivities included, I'm sure even I don't want to listen to an old man rambling when there is fun to be had."
A round of light laughs sounded at that.
"So without further ado, let's focus our eyes on the screen to see just who will be fighting who."
The screen then turned on normally and displayed a list of faces and names, in this resulting order:
Ino vs Karui
Neji vs Sun
Shino vs Kankuro
Shikamaru vs Temari
Samui vs Sasuke
"Let the Chunin Exams begin!"
XXXXX
Both girls got into position as the others walked out of the arena, though Karui quickly asked "Seeing as we got time, I got to ask. Just who made your clothes?"
Ino smiled fondly. "My boyfriend, Rarity. I'll see how getting a word in if you want."
"That would be appreciated. I'm not a shopper, but I'm still a girl." Karui got into position, sword ready.
"I know what you mean." Ino responded, whip out. The thing now looked like a gold embroidered purple vine, while her outfit became more of a purple sleevless qipao dress with golden embroidery set as vines with occasional leaves on them, while everything from the waist down was still the same as before
Coincidentally, Sakura's had flower petals embroidered on in white for the red and black parts, and red on her arm warmers, while Hinata had actually insisted on a simple change of lavender with crystalline blue water embroidery and forest green trim.
Either way, they were quite the sight, even if only one was in the Finals.
When the match finally began, Ino took the initiative with her whip, lashing out in a pretty solid combo and keeping Karui back.
And unfortunately for Karui, the speed and range left her rather hard-pressed to try anything except try and find an opening. It didn't exactly help that the one time she did manage to hit the whip with her sword, she barely held onto her sword while it did nothing to the whip.
Sheesh! Just what is that thing made of ?! She thought, clearly frustrated at the clear disadvantage. At least she isn't using chakra yet.
Unfortunately for her, Ino decided to change things up some and aimed low. Specifically for Karui's ankle.
A quick pull sent Karui into a surprised roll that allowed Ino to run in and pin the Kumo kunoichi and secure the match in her favor.
Though when the match was officially called, Karui couldn't help but playfully grumble "I hate whips."
Ino understood the sentiment and giggled. "Weapons like whips and rope-darts aren't the easiest things to work with, and as such, are generally on the rare side compared to swords. It was tough, believe me."
"Definitely paid off, though." Karui smiled back as the pair walked out of the arena.
Neji and Sun quickly took their places down in the arena, although it was clear there was also a few changes in Sun's wardrobe like the girls.
In his case, it was twilight purple jeans, black boots with burnt orange flames at the base, a more sunset purple long-sleeved qipao top with white stars dotting the sleeves, and an open fiery orange/red vest with the kanji for 'Setting Sun' on the back.
Neji's reaction was subtle, but not subtle enough to keep it from Sun nor Rare. "Wanting an update to your outfit, Neji? You wouldn't be the first."
Neji twitched as he took a stance. "I'm disinclined to relinquish an answer to that question."
"And that's a yes." Sun immediately said as he responded in kind, a few tendrils of chakra forming from his back.
When the signal was given, Neji attempted to attack, only to have to contend with the tendrils. He had to internally sigh when he noticed enough to know that Sun was a bit exasperated at the tendrils, apparently not quite in control. Gonna have to make the most of it before they pin me.
Thankfully, for him, he knew better than to focus solely on the Jyuken, as his legs were quite open targets otherwise.
Still didn't stop Neji from having to stay on his toes.
As Sun claimed full control, the Hokage nodded with a smile. "The brothers certainly have ways to prepare people. Karui just had the bad luck of facing a trained user of a rare weapon."
A nodded. "Agreed. They are certainly a rare sight in the Shinobi Lands. While I'm a bit hesitant on the Yamanaka on account of her match being kind of simple, the Hyuga and Uzumaki are definitely ready in my eyes."
The Kazekage said nothing, letting them speak.
Back with Sun, he pulled the tendrils back and shifted them into a barrage of needles that was spread just right to force Neji to call out "Kaiten!" and spin rapidly, creating a barrier that sent the needles flying away.
Unfortunately, that was what Sun wanted, as a man-sized fist suddenly came up from below and sent the still spinning Neji into the air, much to the Hyuga's surprise. As he came down, Neji found himself tied up in a chakra web of sorts, unable to continue.
He just had to deadpan at Sun. "For the record, this is just cheap, Sunset."
"Still in the learning phase with this, I'm afraid." Sun responded while scratching the back of his head as Neji floated over.
The match was decided in Sun's favor as they 'walked' out, with Sun releasing Neji at the stairs. However, Sun's attention was gained when he heard Kankuro call out "I forfeit!" on the way back to the other contestants, and Pinkie's hand showing up with a note.
He fist bumped when he finished the note, then continued over to Sasuke as Temari and Shikamaru went down. "Do what you will during your match. Something's came up with the Tree."
Sasuke barely spared a glance back in acknowledgment, though he did wonder what exactly Sun meant. Shouldn't he save his strength? And, if it is so, what's wrong with the crystalline tree?
He knew the truth behind Kankuro forfeiting, but that was another story.
The Uzumaki influence shown through again as Shikamaru was more active in his fight than the average Nara, which unfortunately led to an increase in creative methods that Temari had to deal with.
A literal Shadow Clone being one of them (as in he turned his own shadow in a clone).
Despite it being currently directed towards her, Temari couldn't help but become interested. Just what else was in the Nara's brain?
Eventually, though, he managed to pin her and win the match.
XXWith PinkieXX
Pinkie looked on in curiosity as he and Jack studied the active movement of chakra with the crystalline tree. Something was definitely happening, and the fruit were at the center of it.
"Whad'ya reckon, Pinkie?" Jack asked him after a while, "That's definitely chakra, but just what is it doing?"
Pinkie took a moment to formulate a response. "Let's just say we'll probably find out once the real fight shows up. If it's doing this now, then it should be in response to that. Most likely, at least."
Jack glanced at him in concern. "'Most likely?'"
"The author hasn't given me anything more than that one omake to work with, so I'm still a bit low on details." Pinkie pouted, making Jack facepalm.
"Dangabbit, Pinkie!"
The pair heard Karin's giggling before she got into view. "I think your reaction was the idea for his actions, Jack."
Pinkie instantly went into an exaggerated thinking pose, making Jack and Karin chuckle/giggle. "Maybe."
Just then, Dash sped in close. "That's the last of THEM!"
His last word was loud as a bolt of chakra suddenly lanced out at him, catching him off guard with the power increase that left his skin tingly and his hair full of static.
Dash had to take a moment to reorient himself afterwards, which was a moment to long to keep the others from laughing. "Not funny, guys."
"We think it is." Pinkie laughed, only to stop as a seal keyed to him and his brothers went off in their heads, "He's 'getting' into position. Get ready."
Karin quickly nodded right after Dash and Jack, realizing what Pinkie was talking about. She quickly ran off as Dash blurred away with Jack.
Pinkie stared at the tree for a few moments longer before just disappearing, as though he was never there.
XXBack in the ArenaXX
Sun watched as Sasuke and Samui fought, ready for action. He subtly noticed when Dash blurred onto the Kage Box. Almost time.
It was during one clash of blades when feathers started falling.
Show time. Both boys thought as they leapt into action, Dash speeding to right beside the Hokage just as a purple flame box formed around them.
The boy had to sweatdrop when he noticed a detail, which got the old man's attention. "Dash?"
"They do realize that we could easily escape this by breaking the floor, right?" Dash asked loud enough for the nearby 'corners' to hear, making the two shinobi in said corners blink in realization, "Apparently not."
The 'Kazekage' chuckled. "Like you will be able to do anything about it, br-!"
He was cut off by a blast of wind from Dash's tonfa, which revealed the man to be Orochimaru.
"I'm a lot faster than you know, chubba-bubba." Dash said, sparks dancing over his form.
The Hokage, however, had a different idea. "Use that speed to gather your brothers here instead. Orochimaru is still beyond you."
Dash looked put-out, but obeyed, spinning fast enough to drill through the roof.
For once, Orochimaru put aside his more darker tendencies for genuine curiosity. "That wasn't chakra-based, was it? That was all natural speed?"
"Dash has always been fast." Hiruzen replied, quickly summoning a monkey that transformed into a staff.
"Interesting, but first," Orochimaru summonsed as well, only...it wasn't an animal.
It was two coffins.
Hiruzen's eyes widened considerably as the lids fell, revealing the contents of each. "I was a fool for ever trusting you, Orochimaru."
"'Too little, too late' on that account, sensei." Orochimaru returned as the two in the coffins walked out into the open, "But I thought you'd like the idea of Naruto reuniting with his parents."
"Naruto?" the woman of the pair asked, looking between the two living men, "Old Man, did something happen?"
When he didn't respond, the man with her narrowed his eyes. "Something did, Kushina. And I don't think it was what either of us wanted."
Orochimaru attempted to use the distraction to 'attach' kunai to the back of each of the pair's necks, only for another hole to burst open between them. The culprit: a giant hand made out of chakra.
"That's like my Chains, Minato!" Kushina exclaimed when she saw it after moving away.
She was confused, however, when she noticed it having some trouble getting a proper grip on the roof, partly on account of pieces breaking in its grip. And both she and Minato had to laugh when it grabbed Orochimaru, only to slam him into the roof after a moment of stillness.
As though it had to register the fact it had hold of Orochimaru.
When it finally got what it wanted, it pulled Dash, Sun, Shy, Rare, Jack, and Pinkie into view, Pinkie holding a bag.
"You wanted...us..." Sun asked, only to noticed Kushina and Minato, "...oh boy."
"The Yondaime and his wife, who are Naruto's parents." Pinkie said, completely serious as he both said that and kicked Orochimaru into unconsciousness, despite not being close to the man.
The ones holding the 'prison' blinked, and chose not to try anything. None of them...wanted the pink-themed boy to 'target' them.
Sun glanced at Pinkie before pinching the bridge of his nose. "We can worry about this later. We still got an invasion to deal with."
"We'll need these then." Pinkie pulled the crystalline 'produce' from his bag and handed them to his brothers, taking the blue one for himself, "Let's eat."
"Eat?" Rare asked, only for Sun to manage to swallow his purple one whole without a problem.
As the rest followed suit, they had no idea just what awaited.
XXNightmare and LunaXX
Nightmare looked on at the matches with intrigue, interested by the displays of skill and power in a world of warriors.
Luna, on the other hand, noticed a few other details. Particularly, Pinkie seemingly sympathetic eyes towards her and the the coloring of the six 'fruit.' Could the tree be what I believe it to be? Why are those six connected?...How is Nightmare Moon going to react?
When the six boys ate the 'fruit,' she could do nothing but wonder just what was in store...and why they ate the things anyways.
To reiterate about Neji and Karui losing: Ino was using a whip, and a proficient user of a whip or rope-dart (or similar) tends to be a harder opponent to handle than one with a sword, and Sun could fight using raw chakra at range. The Gentle Fist requires physical contact, so fighting straight energy is not something it can truly win against.
While there are a few differences from the original omake, the simple intention is to put much more work into the rest of it, both for their powered-up outfits and what the invaders will have to deal with. Here's a hint for what Orochimaru will have to deal with: RASENSHURIKEN!
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.