Kankuro was deemed rather strong in the og series, so why is he always so weak in fanfics?

Hinata's presence made this over six hundred words longer and added so much to the chapter.

Mika barely managed to refrain from rolling his eyes at the Hokage's patriotism speech. 'Sending children to their death, perfect way to prevent a war.' Still, he could see that the man really believed the crap he was spewing, which was oddly sad. Looking around absently, Mika was still as amazed as before to see Team Seven present. Beaten to High hell but present. They would be fun to watch fight in the preliminaries, especially the more skilled Sasuke...

Speaking of, Mika turned just in time to see the electronic board on the wall reveal the names of the first fighters.

Sasuke vs Yoroi.

"Holy hell, he can absorb chakra?" Mika whispered, excited as he watched the fight. "I need to learn those tactics... like yesterday, it would make me able to at least mildly overcome my low chakra and stamina levels. I doubt Yoroi would reveal his secret. The chakra transfer technique is in the hospital library, maybe I can reverse engineer it to do the same as Yoroi?"

Shaking that thought off, Mika watched more closely as Sasuke, after getting his ass kicked, did some impressive taijutsu.

'That is... pretty good. I wish my offense was that good, but I am more of a defense combatant.' Mika pouted. 'I need to work on my offensive taijutsu abilities, and my speed. Sasuke was pretty fast and rather strong.'

Zaku vs Shino

This fight deeply annoyed Mika. How the hell did none of the other genin notice the huge swarm of Insects that had to not only exit Shino at some point but make their way behind Zaku? Shino's plan however was both simple and brilliant. Plugging up the idiots wind holes, when that was clearly his only skill, was very smart. Most ninja would never think of doing something like that.

'Those windpipes are rather cool though, not worth it but still very cool. Better in the hands of someone with a brain though...'

As Shino left the field Mika looked to the Board to see who was next, and was rather pleased when he saw.

Kankuro Vs Mika

Mika calmly proceeded to walk down the stairs, making as many mental notes as he could. 'Mask my powers, only show the base limits. Showing off too much is not a wise option yet...' He settled into position, right under the platform the Leaf village ninjas were standing. With that, he took three deep breaths and waited for the signal.

:::

Kabuto smirked, watching carefully the fight Mika was about to have. 'This is it, what I have been waiting for... show me what you got, Mika.'

The moment they were given the go, Mika acted. Throwing a smoke bomb into the ground, the boy entered the cloud with his sword drawn. After a brief pause, there was an explosion and the smoke rushed away, just as Kankuro went flying to the right, his puppet to the left. Mika was standing on the opposite balcony's guard rail, the boy vanished quickly shushing to Kankuro, placing his tanto at the back of the boy's head.

"Forfeit or die."

Laughter exploded from Kankuro... or rather, Kankuro's laughter exploded from the bound puppet. In a swirl, the bandages unwound and the boy flexed his fingers. "Big mistake, kid!" The Fake Kankuro's head twisted around and opened it's mouth to obscene levels, poison smoke blasted out of it's mouth, right at Mika... who vanished with a jonin level Shushin so fast that the smoke never made contact. Back on the rail, the boy medics sighed. "You're fast, but that won't be enough to win against Crow!"

"I was hoping to end this swiftly, and not kill the son of the Kazekage... pity I have no choice now." The coldness seemed to throw Kankuro, just a tad before he threw his hand out and Crow flew at Mika, who vanished once more, this time appearing just under Kankuro, slicing with a precision any medic would envy. Kankuro's screamed before a wave of blood spurt out of his wrists. Crow dropped as Kankuro's injury was too great and too specifically charged to his puppet control.

"YOU BASTARD!" The boy screamed before Mika knocked his feet from under him and held his tanto to the boy's throat.

"Victory, Mika!" Hayate said, raising his hand.

Mika, instead of leaving the floor, kneeled down and grabbed Kankuro's hand. " What are you do-" Kankuro barked out, only to stop talking when Mika's hands glowed green.

"Even with the care or our medics, you have already lost too much blood. If I do not heal you now, you would never be a ninja again. We are allies, I refuse to lose that by my actions. I cannot heal you all the way, but I can start the process and stop the bleeding."

Kankuro looked at him stunned, and Kabuto saw a wave of guilt in the boy's eyes. With a softness that seemed out of character for the boy, he whispered. "Thank you."

Mika just nodded...

Kabuto looked up, a victorious smirk on his face, looking at a disguised Orochimaru. The man nodded, smirking right back, and Kabuto knew he was going to have a new friend in the service of Orochimaru.

::::

'His kenjutsu is going to make him a real beast, but that Shushin... it will, not a single doubt, rival Shisui's one day, maybe even Minato's!' Orochimaru chuckled, looking at Kabuto's protege with interest. 'He can heal so well for his age, and immediately separating Puppet and master was a brilliant move, even if he was unaware of it being a puppet or of the range of a puppet master's chakra threads...then cutting the boy's wrists, such a dark act but one so effective. Yes, he will make a fine servant indeed.'

::::

Hinata, who moved over to Mika as he climbed the stairs, smiled. "Good job on your match, Mika."

"Thank you, I am sure you will do well too."

"That was clever, separating him and his puppet."

"I didn't know it was a puppet, I just knew that it was likely to be dangerous." He smiled. "I didn't want him stopping me, so I blinded him. A half trap really."

She leaned in. "You're a scary fighter, I thought you were going to kill Kankuro."

" I considered it, he is very dangerous. I read about puppets, they are really dangerous. He could be a real threat, most take two years longer to get mastery of even a single puppet. He is very talented, but I would rather make an ally of him than an enemy. Hopefully, my healing of him makes him want to be my ally... oh and I am so using you to copy his chakra threads. I have never seen them, but I know that's how puppets work. So many applications, just you wait I can and will master them."

"I know you will, and I will too!"

They shared a moment then, growing closer and closer.

Within minutes the stage was cleared of Kankuro's blood and the board started to choose the next fight. And when it landed, Mika couldn't hold in his groan. This was going to take a while and would embarrass every serious kunoichi ever.

Ino vs Sakura.

Mika's guess had been right, it was an embarrassment. However, there was one thing, one thing about the match that caused him look on with curiosity. "That is an unusual jutsu, using hair as a medium to hold fast your opponent. A good one shot technique, depending on the strength of chakra. Clever girl. Such a waste of potential..." He felt Ino's sensei glaring at him, but he didn't really care. The man had failed as a teacher ... 'Maybe I will ask her to spar with me. Same with Sakura, she managed to break out of Ino's technique that has to count for something...'

To his shock, Hinata sighed. "That wasn't very good." She said, with more confidence than before. "I don't think either of them have improved since the academy."

"Likely not."

"I think they are the weakest of our class, by a large margin."

Kurenai, standing nearby, gaped at them. "Hinata, you've never spoken like that about others."

"Not out loud." She said. "They need to hear it though, I want them to die in battle or be offended. I do not wish them to die because they were lazy. Even before, without confidence, I never stopped training. I knew the importance...they need to learn this too."

Kurenai nodded, her eyes soft. "Yes, yes they do."

Asuma just huffed, not at all listening to their words.

Mika sighed and turned to the next match.

Ten-Ten VS Temari

Sadly, Ten-ten got the shit kicked out of her. Temari was truly the perfect opponent for her, hopefully, it would use it to show her that she shouldn't rely on only one skill. 'I might have to ask her about her sealing skills, that is so rare and I really want to be a sealer. Basic seals or not, seals are amazing. Looking at the Second and Fourth Hokages. If am to help Hinata, to complete my vow, then I really, really am going to need help.'

Shikamaru vs Kin

'What a cool technique, both of them actually. Shadows like that are so versatile and so is the bell genjutsu she is using... Maybe I could mimic it, any of them?' He whispered to Hinata. "Any idea where I can get Genjutsu training, I've always wanted to learn but it so dangerous to teach yourself Genjutsu, less you trap yourself in your mind."

Hinata smiled. "My sensei is a genjutsu mistress, ask her?"

"I would be honored."

Kurenai leaned in. "I heard you, I would be happy to instruct you on the basics once we are done with the chunin exams. Especially since you've done so much for Hinata."

Mika smiled. " That would be deeply appreciated."

Naruto vs Kiba.

This fight got Mika to sigh. "Kakashi, do you ever teach your students?"

The man recoiled. "What do you mean?"

"Other than Clones, Naruto is no different that in the academy. He could be so much better with taijutsu training, just that alone and the clones and he would be a real monster in battle." The man just sighed, looking deeply uncomfortable. It was about this time that Naruto won his fight... with a fart of all things, making Mika sigh more. "How does he get away with being so ... poor a ninja but win with such a dumb move? His luck is such a strange thing. This fight was barely more impressive on Naruto's side than Sakura's fight was. You lot should be ashamed, it makes me glad to have gone into the Medical corp."

He would have said more, but something horrible happened next. The board went through a bunch of names, before landing on two...

Hinata Hyuuga... and Neji Hyuuga..

Mika's heart dropped into his chest and he knew his only friend's life was very, very close to ending...

Looking over, Mika saw the sheer horror in Hinata's eyes, it was clear the girl was aware of her impending doom just as well as he did.

"Well, fuck."

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a fun chapter, but there is more in the next chapter. Kankuro's taijutsu is not great, that was a point the series made. Mika's shushin is exceptional and his kenjutsu is above average for his age.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.