Notice: I do not own Naruto, and make no claims of copyright on the
characters who are not my property. Original characters, however, are mine.
Author's Notes: And I am terminally obsessive! I'm writing this thing while at home on spring break, what's wrong with me, I had to burn the story to CD and everything, and now I'm posting it to. Oh well, brain-consuming stories most be appeased. Anyway this chapter is something of an interlude before more important stuff happens. It's also not one of the best, but it should be okay. One thing to note, a lot of names get tossed around here, don't really worry about remembering them, it's just to provide a little anticipation for the main matches.
I seem to have acquired more reviewers, thanks to you all, and see, I'm updating. Additional comments are welcomed!
Some Notes: Yes, I will be revealing somewhat of the history of the dragon ninja, well at least Xi and his immediate master, but that's quite some distance in the future. Gentle Fist spelling, yeah, that's perhaps the case, I swear I've seen it spelled with a 'y' at least once. It's one of the many words in Naruto that's been spelled differently by different translations. That bit about Wusashu is actually really nice, I recognized once I read the comment that if I had included something about it being burned away to blackened stone it would probably have increased the power of the moment, so thanks for noticing.
Between Snows
The shrine atop Mt. Kemigari was a small structure, a single pavilion sunk into the hillside, with a pedestal in front. The doors were shut and locked behind that pedestal, and made of stout stone. They were sealed with the symbol of the hidden village of stone.
Approaching the shrine, Neji looked around at it. Hmm...how do we get in? There were no scrolls to open as in Konoha, only crystal pendants they carried.
He turned to Gosain.
The other ninja was exhausted, dragging his chains along behind him in the snow. He seemed to have to gather strength before speaking. "On the sides of the pedestal, there should be a place for each pendant. Give me the other two."
Neji removed his and the pendant Shiren was wearing and tossed them to Gosain. The other ninja put the small pendants into each of four slots on the stone pedestal, one facing each direction of the compass, north, south, east, and west.
The pedestal rumbled and shook, and slowly the doors opened, revealing a lighted space beyond. Behind those doors stood one of the Chuunin examiners that had served in the first exam, a drab Stone ninja. Such a pleasant greeting. Neji decided, recalling that it had been the academy instructors who greeted them at the end of the exam in Konoha. Still, I suppose it doesn't matter.
"A fourth team huh?" The Chuunin looked surprised. Then he examined them more closely. "Team Fifty-eight?" His jaw almost dropped and Neji could see a hastily quelled reflex to grab a weapon.
A few moments passed. "Well, come in out of the cold already, there's no reason to stand around with the door open."
Neji walked forward, supporting Shiren, who nevertheless let go of him and limped across the doorway by herself. Gosain followed. Once through Shiren extended her arm again and Neji went back to holding her upright. "Thanks for letting me do that." She whispered to him.
Neji didn't reply.
The Chuunin in front of them swung the heavy stone doors shut, leaving them in a torchlit room. It was warm inside, this place was heated, and it felt unbelievably good to Neji to be truly warm for the first time since leaving the examination hall. "Follow me." The examiner said. "I'll explain the situation on the way down. It's a rather long elevator ride."
The walked a short ways through the passage, coming to a small and crude elevator that plunged down into the heart of Mt. Kemigari. Before they got on, the examiner turned back to them. "By reaching this point you all have passed the Second stage of this Chuunin exam. You have proved your willingness to undertake an extraordinary difficult mission that was certain to cause hardship and suffering for your team, while still abiding by the rules as you were ordered by your superiors." Hardly, Neji thought, hearing this. That's what you'd like us to believe, but you examiners allowed all seven teams from Waterfall to try and kill us and did nothing. The examiner continued. "By doing this you have proven your ability to understand the self-sacrifice and dedication required by ninja, and the willingness to undertake the same hardships as your teammates and support them even when they are a disadvantage, not leaving anyone behind. This indicates you are ready to take the final test to determine your worth as squad leaders."
"Ah." Neji muttered. "Is that all?"
"Yes." The examiner replied stonily. "Let's go."
The three genin stepped into the elevator and promptly collapsed to the floor when it started moving, resting their tired muscles and bones. On the long ride down the examiner did not speak to them anymore, and indeed he tried to avoid looking at them. Neji spent the time trying to scrape blood off his face and clothing, trying to remove the hideous layer of red that had stained him everywhere. Gosain slowly and meticulously rewrapped his chains around his body, and Shiren dressed her wounds and sat trying to minimize the pain she was in. Looking at her now Neji decided that Shiren's condition was not that bad, mostly she was just exhausted as they were, the cuts in her side were deep, but clean, and the injury to her foot not serious. She will recover quickly with rest. She must.
By the time they reached the bottom they felt slightly refreshed, but still weak. The chuunin walked them down a long, long hallway, though he did pause to stop occasionally, and even provided food at one point. That went a long way to restoring the ninja's ability to keep going. Eventually, and it would have been late afternoon by this point, as Neji reckoned the time had passed, they emerged into a wide hall. An open and well lit building with the symbol for Stone painted large against the far wall, and a statue forming a hand seal in front of it. Much like that room in Konoha where they held the preliminary matches, Neji recalled. I hope there are no such matches this time. We are not prepared. Though, we should have over three days left to recover even if there are.
In the front of the room stood a line stood many ninja. The examiners were in front, including Chi Kiri and the nameless examiner of the second exam. Behind them were several jounin, four ninja. One of them was Draci Xi. Neji looked at the other dragon ninja the moment he walked into the room, and Xi met his eyes from far off. There was a cold darkness in Xi's eyes, and Neji looked away quickly, but he understood the warning his fellow dragon ninja had conveyed. He also saw that Xi wore many bandages on his right leg, above the knee. Xi does not normally wear bandages. He must have been wounded. What happened? Who could wound him? The other jounin were from different countries, and Neji did not know them, but their forehead protectors identified them, Stone, Grass, and Lightning. They matched the three teams of genin that stood in lines in the hall.
So, it is the two teams noted by Gosai and Shiren. Neji saw. The lightning ninja Yilosi Nemari and his team, two tall genins, older, like Gosain. Those strange grass ninja are here are well, there seem to be even more thorns on them than before. Strange. The third team was a group of stone ninja; Neji had not noted anything particularly interesting about them. They seemed to be quite strong now though, looking at them. Of all the teams the three stone ninja appeared the least damaged.
Finally in the middle of the hall, flanked by a number of stone ninja, stood an older man in the robes of a Kage. This was Tsuchikage, leader of the hidden village of Stone and the eldest Kage now living with the death of the third. He had a dark face and cutting eyes, his expression seemed perpetually angry. Neji knew nothing about him.
Once Neji's team had walked up and taken their place in line, Tsuchikage motioned to the second examiner. The man stepped forward and immediately began speaking. "You have all passed the Second Stage of the Chuuin exam. Word has been sent that no other teams currently remain in Secure Area Twelve, so it shall be these four teams. As none of you are rookies we can dispense with the elegant speeches and proceed to the point. The third exam will begin in one month. Special Jounin Acade," He indicated a ninja to his left. "Has been appointed as the referee for the third exam. Tsuchikage-sama will explain the rest to you."
Tsuchikage stood still for a moment after the second examiner completed his speech, as if letting time catch back up to the man's quick words. Then he began. "You will fight in a tournament from this point forward. In a moment Acade will explain the rules to you, but they are quiet simple. This is your chance to show the strength of your respective nations to the feudal lords and shinobi leaders who will be in attendance. You will prove yourself as chuunins by proving your strength in life and death matches, and by proving the strength of the countries that taught you. Acade, explain the situation for them." Tsuchikage grumbled.
The Special Jounin Acade was a short and dark skinned stone ninja. He wore the standard brown uniform of stone, now covered in winter gear. His hair was brown and curled back into a spiky clump above his head. The only remarkable facet was a series of linked iron rings he wore on the right hand. "All right, as the referee I will explain the rules to you. The main matches are held as life or death battles that continue from the moment they begin until one opponent cannot keep fighting or gives up. The determination of whether or not someone can keep fighting is entirely mine to make. Since we have four teams the matches will be held as a staggered tournament. The first round will be four matches, and in the second round those who were not in the first round will face the winners of the first round."
"What?" One of the lightning ninja standing by Nemari, asked. "So if you're in the first round you get an extra match? How's that fair?"
"The purpose of this exam is to demonstrate your abilities as chuunin, not to win the tournament. Those who particpate in the first round have an extra match, yes, but those who miss it have less opportunity, and they will have to face opponents who have already proven themselves. It evens out quite well. All matchups are random regardless." Acade paused, and then took out a small piece of paper. "We have determined what the first and second round matches will be already. When I read your name step forward and meet your opponent. The rest of you, pay attention, and recognize whom you will be facing in later rounds. This will be your only chance to try to grasp your opponents."
Acade stepped in front of all four teams. "First match, Abaranki Kei versus Chi Yoro."
Two ninja stepped forward, a girl from the grass team and a boy from the stone team. Both were thin ninja, but the grass ninja was tall while the stone ninja short. Neji recognized the Chi name, that boy, for it was a youthful ninja, perhaps his own age or a few months younger, is a relative of the first examiner. Niether ninja seemed particularly remarkable; they wore simple outfits with little adornment. The female grass ninja, however, carried several long branches one her back, they seemed to be woven with grass. There must be some strange technique she uses, Neji decided. The two ninja looked at eah other and said nothing, just trying to measure each other with their eyes.
Acade continued. "The winner of this match to face Tonetero."
"Heh." A deep and gritty voice remarked, as the strange grass ninja stepped forward. The man seemed to be covered in thorns, they stretched out of his uniform and through his hair. Are they stuck to his skin? Neji wondered, or are they growing out of it? The dark haired and eyes grass ninja had a cruel look. His eyes are almost like Gaara's Neji recalled.
"Well Kei," Tonethero spoken in his scratchy voice. "If you win you get to face me. How nice."
Kei went extraordinarily pale. The examiner motioned them all back into line. "Second Match, Monihii Waru versus Imidori Kana." This time the names called forward the female ninja from the Stone team and one of the two other boys from the lightning team. Neji noticed now that the two lightning, though they dressed very differently, were twins! Strange, very strange. That they should both be on the same team, why would the jounin allow that? Neji didn't like it. Well, they can't fight together this way. The tall lightning ninja faced his much shorter opponent, the stone ninja, Kana. Looking at them Neji decided it would be a close match. They are both more skilled than it would appear, he could tell from their careful stances.
"The winner of this match to face Senirai Shiren."
Shiren walked forward, limping painfully.
"Well, quite the incentive you just gave me examiner." The lightning twin laughed. "I'll need to win the first match to have the chance to beat you, Shiren." He gave her a cruel and angry look.
Shiren replied with a dark smile. "You can try, but I'd rather face your opponent. Beating you wouldn't even be a challenge."
So, Shiren does know the lightning ninja. Neji considered. I wonder what she knows of them? He made a note to ask her, but quietly.
"Get back in line." Acade told them pleasantly. "The third match, Yilosi Nemari versus Kabure Gosain."
The words seemed to impact with the strike of a lightning bolt in the room. Behind Tsuchikage Xi's head turned to bore into the eyes of the Lightning jounin to his right, and likewise Gosain and Nemari stared at each other with death in their eyes. Each walked stiffly forward, Gosain gripping his pole and Nemari his spear. Though the two ninja held a similar state of exhaustion, they managed to gather a tremendous store of hate as they stared at each other. "So." Nemari spoke. "One month until I kill you." He said.
"I'll beat you so bad you can never so much as stand up again without that spear to hold you bastard." Gosain spat back.
"Enough." Acade said, moving between the two. "Settle this a month from now, or I'll disqualify you both. The winner, or perhaps it will be the survivor of this match faces Tsukabe Ota."
In deep contrast to the violent reactions of the two Cloud ninja, the sturdy and stony stone ninja who stepped forward, a fully-grown man who appeared to be about sixteen, simply nodded at the others. This one is dangerous. Neji saw. Unlike the other stone ninja this man had the strength of the rock truly behind him, and he looked completely unfazed by whatever ordeal he had faced outside. So, that leaves only three, Neji saw as the ninja walked back into line. Which one will it be? He wondered.
"Fourth match, Draci Neji versus Morihii Yon." Acade said clearly. "The winner of which, obviously, faces Doshiyre Masan."
So, it is the other twin that I fight first. Neji thought as he stepped forward. He appears quite weak. It should not be difficult. He looked at the other one, the grass ninja. That one hides his abilities well, but I wonder what these grass ninja are capable of. Still, Neji could not convince himself that either of these two were a serious obstacle to him. He recalled that Xi had told him not to underestimate opponents, but how could these ones oppose him? I will wait though. There is a month that must pass.
"Then that is all of the matches. The other logistics have been given to your jounin. They will guide you out of here and we will meet again in a month for the exam."
As the examiner turned away and filed out behind Tsuchikage through a door behind the statues, Neji reached out to grab Shiren and hold her up again. "You're not yet ready to stand for so long."
"I'll manage," She replied. "But thanks."
Xi walked up to them, he himself walking slowly and deliberately, ignoring some pain. He looked over the three carefully. He said nothing though until the other three teams had left behind their jounin, a matter of some minutes. Then Xi finally spoke, and in tones low and serious. "I am impressed you all managed to survive." He told them. "Neji, what did the waterfall attempt?"
"How do you know?" Neji asked Xi, wondering. He couldn't have been watching us, so how can he tell that the Waterfall attacked us.
Xi tapped the bandages over his leg. "A far reaching conspiracy. Four jounin traveled here with the Waterfall genin, and I fought them all earlier today."
"You fought four jounin?" Gosain said in shock.
"Ah." Xi gave him a stern look. "It was not a pleasant fight, and I barely survived it, and even so I left a companion to die. Those jounin are dead now, but what happened to you?" He asked, somewhat impatient from the pain of his wounds, even if mostly healed.
"The genin attacked us, all of them." Neji told Xi levelly. "They are dead now."
"All of them." It was not a question.
"No, one at least lives, perhaps two, but that is all." Neji recalled the ninja that Gosain had struck down. They might still be alive, if the Stone examiners had been quick.
"Very well, one or two is not a concern." Some of the sternness and focus left Xi as he spoke; he seemed to return to a more normal perception. "With so many losses I do not think Waterfall will try anything more during this exam, indeed they will have to try and explain what has happened to Stone, given that they failed." XI paused. "I am quite impressed with you all, that you survived this ordeal, what was likely an s-rank mission, it speaks tremendously of all your abilities. You should handle the third portion of the exam easily. Yet, how did you defeat so many genin?" Xi asked, even though his eyes said he already knew the answer.
All three ninja looked away, but Xi continued to stare at them, and Neji felt pressured and knew he must answer the older dragon ninja. "Wusashu." Was all that he had to say.
"Ah." Xi replied tonelessly. "I suspected that." He stood back straight up. "It seems none of you are well, especially Shiren. Stone has been rather more accommodating in light of this conspiracy being defeated. I have another appointment with the medics, and Shiren and the rest of you should come. We will eat and recover and consider how to spend this month."
The three ninja followed Xi out; the painful pace of the wounded all that they could manage.
Author's Notes: And I am terminally obsessive! I'm writing this thing while at home on spring break, what's wrong with me, I had to burn the story to CD and everything, and now I'm posting it to. Oh well, brain-consuming stories most be appeased. Anyway this chapter is something of an interlude before more important stuff happens. It's also not one of the best, but it should be okay. One thing to note, a lot of names get tossed around here, don't really worry about remembering them, it's just to provide a little anticipation for the main matches.
I seem to have acquired more reviewers, thanks to you all, and see, I'm updating. Additional comments are welcomed!
Some Notes: Yes, I will be revealing somewhat of the history of the dragon ninja, well at least Xi and his immediate master, but that's quite some distance in the future. Gentle Fist spelling, yeah, that's perhaps the case, I swear I've seen it spelled with a 'y' at least once. It's one of the many words in Naruto that's been spelled differently by different translations. That bit about Wusashu is actually really nice, I recognized once I read the comment that if I had included something about it being burned away to blackened stone it would probably have increased the power of the moment, so thanks for noticing.
Between Snows
The shrine atop Mt. Kemigari was a small structure, a single pavilion sunk into the hillside, with a pedestal in front. The doors were shut and locked behind that pedestal, and made of stout stone. They were sealed with the symbol of the hidden village of stone.
Approaching the shrine, Neji looked around at it. Hmm...how do we get in? There were no scrolls to open as in Konoha, only crystal pendants they carried.
He turned to Gosain.
The other ninja was exhausted, dragging his chains along behind him in the snow. He seemed to have to gather strength before speaking. "On the sides of the pedestal, there should be a place for each pendant. Give me the other two."
Neji removed his and the pendant Shiren was wearing and tossed them to Gosain. The other ninja put the small pendants into each of four slots on the stone pedestal, one facing each direction of the compass, north, south, east, and west.
The pedestal rumbled and shook, and slowly the doors opened, revealing a lighted space beyond. Behind those doors stood one of the Chuunin examiners that had served in the first exam, a drab Stone ninja. Such a pleasant greeting. Neji decided, recalling that it had been the academy instructors who greeted them at the end of the exam in Konoha. Still, I suppose it doesn't matter.
"A fourth team huh?" The Chuunin looked surprised. Then he examined them more closely. "Team Fifty-eight?" His jaw almost dropped and Neji could see a hastily quelled reflex to grab a weapon.
A few moments passed. "Well, come in out of the cold already, there's no reason to stand around with the door open."
Neji walked forward, supporting Shiren, who nevertheless let go of him and limped across the doorway by herself. Gosain followed. Once through Shiren extended her arm again and Neji went back to holding her upright. "Thanks for letting me do that." She whispered to him.
Neji didn't reply.
The Chuunin in front of them swung the heavy stone doors shut, leaving them in a torchlit room. It was warm inside, this place was heated, and it felt unbelievably good to Neji to be truly warm for the first time since leaving the examination hall. "Follow me." The examiner said. "I'll explain the situation on the way down. It's a rather long elevator ride."
The walked a short ways through the passage, coming to a small and crude elevator that plunged down into the heart of Mt. Kemigari. Before they got on, the examiner turned back to them. "By reaching this point you all have passed the Second stage of this Chuunin exam. You have proved your willingness to undertake an extraordinary difficult mission that was certain to cause hardship and suffering for your team, while still abiding by the rules as you were ordered by your superiors." Hardly, Neji thought, hearing this. That's what you'd like us to believe, but you examiners allowed all seven teams from Waterfall to try and kill us and did nothing. The examiner continued. "By doing this you have proven your ability to understand the self-sacrifice and dedication required by ninja, and the willingness to undertake the same hardships as your teammates and support them even when they are a disadvantage, not leaving anyone behind. This indicates you are ready to take the final test to determine your worth as squad leaders."
"Ah." Neji muttered. "Is that all?"
"Yes." The examiner replied stonily. "Let's go."
The three genin stepped into the elevator and promptly collapsed to the floor when it started moving, resting their tired muscles and bones. On the long ride down the examiner did not speak to them anymore, and indeed he tried to avoid looking at them. Neji spent the time trying to scrape blood off his face and clothing, trying to remove the hideous layer of red that had stained him everywhere. Gosain slowly and meticulously rewrapped his chains around his body, and Shiren dressed her wounds and sat trying to minimize the pain she was in. Looking at her now Neji decided that Shiren's condition was not that bad, mostly she was just exhausted as they were, the cuts in her side were deep, but clean, and the injury to her foot not serious. She will recover quickly with rest. She must.
By the time they reached the bottom they felt slightly refreshed, but still weak. The chuunin walked them down a long, long hallway, though he did pause to stop occasionally, and even provided food at one point. That went a long way to restoring the ninja's ability to keep going. Eventually, and it would have been late afternoon by this point, as Neji reckoned the time had passed, they emerged into a wide hall. An open and well lit building with the symbol for Stone painted large against the far wall, and a statue forming a hand seal in front of it. Much like that room in Konoha where they held the preliminary matches, Neji recalled. I hope there are no such matches this time. We are not prepared. Though, we should have over three days left to recover even if there are.
In the front of the room stood a line stood many ninja. The examiners were in front, including Chi Kiri and the nameless examiner of the second exam. Behind them were several jounin, four ninja. One of them was Draci Xi. Neji looked at the other dragon ninja the moment he walked into the room, and Xi met his eyes from far off. There was a cold darkness in Xi's eyes, and Neji looked away quickly, but he understood the warning his fellow dragon ninja had conveyed. He also saw that Xi wore many bandages on his right leg, above the knee. Xi does not normally wear bandages. He must have been wounded. What happened? Who could wound him? The other jounin were from different countries, and Neji did not know them, but their forehead protectors identified them, Stone, Grass, and Lightning. They matched the three teams of genin that stood in lines in the hall.
So, it is the two teams noted by Gosai and Shiren. Neji saw. The lightning ninja Yilosi Nemari and his team, two tall genins, older, like Gosain. Those strange grass ninja are here are well, there seem to be even more thorns on them than before. Strange. The third team was a group of stone ninja; Neji had not noted anything particularly interesting about them. They seemed to be quite strong now though, looking at them. Of all the teams the three stone ninja appeared the least damaged.
Finally in the middle of the hall, flanked by a number of stone ninja, stood an older man in the robes of a Kage. This was Tsuchikage, leader of the hidden village of Stone and the eldest Kage now living with the death of the third. He had a dark face and cutting eyes, his expression seemed perpetually angry. Neji knew nothing about him.
Once Neji's team had walked up and taken their place in line, Tsuchikage motioned to the second examiner. The man stepped forward and immediately began speaking. "You have all passed the Second Stage of the Chuuin exam. Word has been sent that no other teams currently remain in Secure Area Twelve, so it shall be these four teams. As none of you are rookies we can dispense with the elegant speeches and proceed to the point. The third exam will begin in one month. Special Jounin Acade," He indicated a ninja to his left. "Has been appointed as the referee for the third exam. Tsuchikage-sama will explain the rest to you."
Tsuchikage stood still for a moment after the second examiner completed his speech, as if letting time catch back up to the man's quick words. Then he began. "You will fight in a tournament from this point forward. In a moment Acade will explain the rules to you, but they are quiet simple. This is your chance to show the strength of your respective nations to the feudal lords and shinobi leaders who will be in attendance. You will prove yourself as chuunins by proving your strength in life and death matches, and by proving the strength of the countries that taught you. Acade, explain the situation for them." Tsuchikage grumbled.
The Special Jounin Acade was a short and dark skinned stone ninja. He wore the standard brown uniform of stone, now covered in winter gear. His hair was brown and curled back into a spiky clump above his head. The only remarkable facet was a series of linked iron rings he wore on the right hand. "All right, as the referee I will explain the rules to you. The main matches are held as life or death battles that continue from the moment they begin until one opponent cannot keep fighting or gives up. The determination of whether or not someone can keep fighting is entirely mine to make. Since we have four teams the matches will be held as a staggered tournament. The first round will be four matches, and in the second round those who were not in the first round will face the winners of the first round."
"What?" One of the lightning ninja standing by Nemari, asked. "So if you're in the first round you get an extra match? How's that fair?"
"The purpose of this exam is to demonstrate your abilities as chuunin, not to win the tournament. Those who particpate in the first round have an extra match, yes, but those who miss it have less opportunity, and they will have to face opponents who have already proven themselves. It evens out quite well. All matchups are random regardless." Acade paused, and then took out a small piece of paper. "We have determined what the first and second round matches will be already. When I read your name step forward and meet your opponent. The rest of you, pay attention, and recognize whom you will be facing in later rounds. This will be your only chance to try to grasp your opponents."
Acade stepped in front of all four teams. "First match, Abaranki Kei versus Chi Yoro."
Two ninja stepped forward, a girl from the grass team and a boy from the stone team. Both were thin ninja, but the grass ninja was tall while the stone ninja short. Neji recognized the Chi name, that boy, for it was a youthful ninja, perhaps his own age or a few months younger, is a relative of the first examiner. Niether ninja seemed particularly remarkable; they wore simple outfits with little adornment. The female grass ninja, however, carried several long branches one her back, they seemed to be woven with grass. There must be some strange technique she uses, Neji decided. The two ninja looked at eah other and said nothing, just trying to measure each other with their eyes.
Acade continued. "The winner of this match to face Tonetero."
"Heh." A deep and gritty voice remarked, as the strange grass ninja stepped forward. The man seemed to be covered in thorns, they stretched out of his uniform and through his hair. Are they stuck to his skin? Neji wondered, or are they growing out of it? The dark haired and eyes grass ninja had a cruel look. His eyes are almost like Gaara's Neji recalled.
"Well Kei," Tonethero spoken in his scratchy voice. "If you win you get to face me. How nice."
Kei went extraordinarily pale. The examiner motioned them all back into line. "Second Match, Monihii Waru versus Imidori Kana." This time the names called forward the female ninja from the Stone team and one of the two other boys from the lightning team. Neji noticed now that the two lightning, though they dressed very differently, were twins! Strange, very strange. That they should both be on the same team, why would the jounin allow that? Neji didn't like it. Well, they can't fight together this way. The tall lightning ninja faced his much shorter opponent, the stone ninja, Kana. Looking at them Neji decided it would be a close match. They are both more skilled than it would appear, he could tell from their careful stances.
"The winner of this match to face Senirai Shiren."
Shiren walked forward, limping painfully.
"Well, quite the incentive you just gave me examiner." The lightning twin laughed. "I'll need to win the first match to have the chance to beat you, Shiren." He gave her a cruel and angry look.
Shiren replied with a dark smile. "You can try, but I'd rather face your opponent. Beating you wouldn't even be a challenge."
So, Shiren does know the lightning ninja. Neji considered. I wonder what she knows of them? He made a note to ask her, but quietly.
"Get back in line." Acade told them pleasantly. "The third match, Yilosi Nemari versus Kabure Gosain."
The words seemed to impact with the strike of a lightning bolt in the room. Behind Tsuchikage Xi's head turned to bore into the eyes of the Lightning jounin to his right, and likewise Gosain and Nemari stared at each other with death in their eyes. Each walked stiffly forward, Gosain gripping his pole and Nemari his spear. Though the two ninja held a similar state of exhaustion, they managed to gather a tremendous store of hate as they stared at each other. "So." Nemari spoke. "One month until I kill you." He said.
"I'll beat you so bad you can never so much as stand up again without that spear to hold you bastard." Gosain spat back.
"Enough." Acade said, moving between the two. "Settle this a month from now, or I'll disqualify you both. The winner, or perhaps it will be the survivor of this match faces Tsukabe Ota."
In deep contrast to the violent reactions of the two Cloud ninja, the sturdy and stony stone ninja who stepped forward, a fully-grown man who appeared to be about sixteen, simply nodded at the others. This one is dangerous. Neji saw. Unlike the other stone ninja this man had the strength of the rock truly behind him, and he looked completely unfazed by whatever ordeal he had faced outside. So, that leaves only three, Neji saw as the ninja walked back into line. Which one will it be? He wondered.
"Fourth match, Draci Neji versus Morihii Yon." Acade said clearly. "The winner of which, obviously, faces Doshiyre Masan."
So, it is the other twin that I fight first. Neji thought as he stepped forward. He appears quite weak. It should not be difficult. He looked at the other one, the grass ninja. That one hides his abilities well, but I wonder what these grass ninja are capable of. Still, Neji could not convince himself that either of these two were a serious obstacle to him. He recalled that Xi had told him not to underestimate opponents, but how could these ones oppose him? I will wait though. There is a month that must pass.
"Then that is all of the matches. The other logistics have been given to your jounin. They will guide you out of here and we will meet again in a month for the exam."
As the examiner turned away and filed out behind Tsuchikage through a door behind the statues, Neji reached out to grab Shiren and hold her up again. "You're not yet ready to stand for so long."
"I'll manage," She replied. "But thanks."
Xi walked up to them, he himself walking slowly and deliberately, ignoring some pain. He looked over the three carefully. He said nothing though until the other three teams had left behind their jounin, a matter of some minutes. Then Xi finally spoke, and in tones low and serious. "I am impressed you all managed to survive." He told them. "Neji, what did the waterfall attempt?"
"How do you know?" Neji asked Xi, wondering. He couldn't have been watching us, so how can he tell that the Waterfall attacked us.
Xi tapped the bandages over his leg. "A far reaching conspiracy. Four jounin traveled here with the Waterfall genin, and I fought them all earlier today."
"You fought four jounin?" Gosain said in shock.
"Ah." Xi gave him a stern look. "It was not a pleasant fight, and I barely survived it, and even so I left a companion to die. Those jounin are dead now, but what happened to you?" He asked, somewhat impatient from the pain of his wounds, even if mostly healed.
"The genin attacked us, all of them." Neji told Xi levelly. "They are dead now."
"All of them." It was not a question.
"No, one at least lives, perhaps two, but that is all." Neji recalled the ninja that Gosain had struck down. They might still be alive, if the Stone examiners had been quick.
"Very well, one or two is not a concern." Some of the sternness and focus left Xi as he spoke; he seemed to return to a more normal perception. "With so many losses I do not think Waterfall will try anything more during this exam, indeed they will have to try and explain what has happened to Stone, given that they failed." XI paused. "I am quite impressed with you all, that you survived this ordeal, what was likely an s-rank mission, it speaks tremendously of all your abilities. You should handle the third portion of the exam easily. Yet, how did you defeat so many genin?" Xi asked, even though his eyes said he already knew the answer.
All three ninja looked away, but Xi continued to stare at them, and Neji felt pressured and knew he must answer the older dragon ninja. "Wusashu." Was all that he had to say.
"Ah." Xi replied tonelessly. "I suspected that." He stood back straight up. "It seems none of you are well, especially Shiren. Stone has been rather more accommodating in light of this conspiracy being defeated. I have another appointment with the medics, and Shiren and the rest of you should come. We will eat and recover and consider how to spend this month."
The three ninja followed Xi out; the painful pace of the wounded all that they could manage.