==============================
Chapter 07 : Effortless Victories
==============================
As soon as he was declared the winner, Akito¡¦s ice-cold-warrior facade vanished. His eyes lost their rigid look, his posture relaxed, and that inane grin was back in his features like it had never left.
¡§WHOO!!! YEA BABY!¡¨ he shouted happily, dancing his way up the stairs to his companions. ¡§I WON! Whatcha gotta say bout DAT sistah?¡¨ he asked smugly, with a pssht-talk-to-the-hand gesture. ¡§Looks like I made it past the first round after all. How bout THAT Nee-chan? How about THAT? HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡¨
¡§I say your opponent was too weak. If you didn¡¦t win, I¡¦d feel very sad right about now.¡¨
¡§Whatever.¡¨ He said, as if he hadn¡¦t heard her at all, ¡§I still won.¡¨
¡§Uh-huh.¡¨
¡§I DID.¡¨
¡§Whatever.¡¨
¡§Cynic.¡¨
¡§Shut up.¡¨
Naruto had to suppress a grin as he watched his cousins argue back and forth. Well, their version of an ¡¥argument¡¦. The two of them had always been like that. Akito always getting mad, Kai, never losing her cool. They acted like a younger version of him and Sasuke. Almost. Except in the case of these two, Kai would always win through the use of blackmail. And sure enough...
¡§... If you don¡¦t shut up, I¡¦ll tell Otou-san that it was you who broke the TV screen with that bowling ball of yours.¡¨
¡§You WOULDN¡¦T! Well, I¡¦ll tell Otou-san that... that...¡¨ He racked his mind, thinking of any bad thing that she ever did. //It¡¦s not my fault she¡¦s always away on missions, and she never does anything that qualifies as ¡¥bad¡¦.// he thought sulkily. But eventually, he had to respond the way he always had before.
¡§Okay, I¡¦ll shut up.¡¨
==============================
¡§How is she?¡¨ Gai asked the medic as they inspected a knocked-out Ten-Ten.
¡§She¡¦s fine, sir.¡¨ The Medic replied. ¡§She¡¦s exhausted her chakra and seems to be a little bruised up, but other than that, she¡¦s just sleeping.¡¨
¡§She¡¦s just sleeping?¡¨
¡§Yes. We don¡¦t even have to bring her in. When she wakes up, she¡¦d probably be a little sore, but besides that, she¡¦s alright.¡¨ Gai nodded his approval. He picked up the sleeping girl, and walked back up the stairs.
¡§How is she?¡¨ Lee asked worriedly.
¡§She¡¦s just sleeping.¡¨
Lee took Ten-Ten from his teacher and set her down on the ground carefully. ¡§Is that so.¡¨
¡§So he WAS only toying with her all this time.¡¨ Neji growled, glaring at the said boy, who was arguing playfully with his sister.
¡§Yes.¡¨
¡§But... how did he manage to keep his clone up at that speed for so long?¡¨ Lee asked, ¡§Shouldn¡¦t he already been worn out by the time---¡¨
¡§Yes.¡¨ Gai said, casting a look at him. ¡§His stamina is impressive.¡¨ //Just like Naruto.//
==============================
The next match-up was between Gaara and Umi, a Rain Nin.
Needless to say, Umi didn¡¦t stand a chance. Gaara had changed his fighting tactic slightly. He still had the gourd on his back, and the sand still protected him even without his command, but his Sand Armor was gone, and he started to actually move instead of just standing there, waiting for the sand to overwhelm his opponent.
That, combined with his defense, was enough to decide the match right there. Umi, an older man in his twenties, had not Lee¡¦s speed, nor his power. After a few punches, he was beginning to get weary and frustrated by his lack of damage. His specialty, Genjutsus, didn¡¦t work on Gaara, and his chakra was almost gone by then.
After deciding that the poor opponent had finally had enough, Gaara performed his signature move, the Desert Coffin. The sand on the floor snaked its way up the other¡¦s leg, and quick as a flash, had wrapped him up in its firm grip.
¡§Surrender.¡¨ Gaara said, with no trace of humor in his voice. ¡§Or die.¡¨
What could Umi do? He surrendered.
¡§Winner, Gaara.¡¨
==============================
¡§That...¡¨ Akito said in awe, ¡§was just stupid.¡¨
¡§Hnn?¡¨
¡§The Rain guy was fighting a losing match. He should have just given up at the beginning.¡¨
¡§Like you when you fight Kai?¡¨ Naruto asked.
¡§Exactly.¡¨ The other responded. ¡§Huh? What, NO! That has nothing to do with our fights!¡¨
¡§Yea. Sure.¡¨
¡§I¡¦m serious!¡¨
¡§Not funny, Naruto-niisan!!!¡¨
¡§...¡¨
¡§REALLY!¡¨
==============================
The next match was no more exciting than the previous one. Inuzaka Kiba versus Suzuka. After shooting his mouth off about how he was ¡¥fighting a girl¡¦, he sorely regretted ever saying that.
In short, he lost. Bad.
Suzuka was a Mist Nin, and clearly was, the leader of the trio from the only Mist team. When she produced a fog, just like Ibino before her, Kiba expected an easy victory. After all, he didn¡¦t need his eyes to see, all he needed was his nose. Then, the blows started coming.
Inuzaka Kiba had not trained himself in endurance. He had only mastered the art of attacking, and was unable to take hit after hit of surprisingly strong punches coming from a girl.
After a short while, and a final strike to his head, he lost the match in a humiliating loss. He had not damaged Suzuka in any way, and Akamaru, who had been pounded into the wall, had also been unable to help his master.
==============================
Immediately after Kiba had been carted out, another battle was called. Mubi and Kankurro. A Rain Nin and a Sand Nin. The winner?
The Sand Nin.
The match was so utterly disgraceful, the one remaining Rain Nin felt a sudden urging need to hide his face.
Kankurro did not even use his marionette. Mubi had attempted to use Genjutsu, and it had failed. Then, after a punch that didn¡¦t even merit as strong from an annoyed puppeteer, Mubi had fainted.
¡§Stupid.¡¨ Kankurro muttered, more than just a little bored. ¡§If I had to have an competitor,¡¨ he continued to himself as he walked up the stairs, ¡§Why couldn¡¦t I have a stronger one? Like Him.¡¨ He tossed a dark glance at Uzumaki Naruto.
¡§Then again, if I had, then I probably would have lost.
==============================
Meanwhile, sometime between Kiba and Kankurro¡¦s matches, Naruto had struck up a conversation between the 5 former Genins, and the Lee Team. Akito had joined them soon afterwards, and yet Kai was still sitting alone, meditating on the thin railing, balancing herself perfectly. But even as they talked, the Leaf Nins dared not ask the questions that were on top of their minds.
Where have you been all these years? Why did you come back? Who are these two people?
And most of all... Why did you leave?
Naruto seemed to sense the feeling of unease in the air.
¡§I¡¦ll answer any questions you guys have,¡¨ he said, ¡§after the Preliminaries.¡¨ They started. His sudden sensitivity to all those around him was unexpected, and if possible, doubled the sinking feeling in their stomach, that the Naruto they knew and loved, was not coming back.
==============================
The screen started up again. But the next pairing... was unexpected by everyone.
¡§Uzumaki Naruto VS Haruno Sakura¡¨
==============================
I am aware that this chapter is crap. But I couldn¡¦t take it anymore! I had to get all the ¡¥pointless¡¦ matches out of the way. .
Questions/Comments: icy_cloud359@kuririnmail.com
-Yume
Chapter 07 : Effortless Victories
==============================
As soon as he was declared the winner, Akito¡¦s ice-cold-warrior facade vanished. His eyes lost their rigid look, his posture relaxed, and that inane grin was back in his features like it had never left.
¡§WHOO!!! YEA BABY!¡¨ he shouted happily, dancing his way up the stairs to his companions. ¡§I WON! Whatcha gotta say bout DAT sistah?¡¨ he asked smugly, with a pssht-talk-to-the-hand gesture. ¡§Looks like I made it past the first round after all. How bout THAT Nee-chan? How about THAT? HAHAHAHAHAHA!¡¨
¡§I say your opponent was too weak. If you didn¡¦t win, I¡¦d feel very sad right about now.¡¨
¡§Whatever.¡¨ He said, as if he hadn¡¦t heard her at all, ¡§I still won.¡¨
¡§Uh-huh.¡¨
¡§I DID.¡¨
¡§Whatever.¡¨
¡§Cynic.¡¨
¡§Shut up.¡¨
Naruto had to suppress a grin as he watched his cousins argue back and forth. Well, their version of an ¡¥argument¡¦. The two of them had always been like that. Akito always getting mad, Kai, never losing her cool. They acted like a younger version of him and Sasuke. Almost. Except in the case of these two, Kai would always win through the use of blackmail. And sure enough...
¡§... If you don¡¦t shut up, I¡¦ll tell Otou-san that it was you who broke the TV screen with that bowling ball of yours.¡¨
¡§You WOULDN¡¦T! Well, I¡¦ll tell Otou-san that... that...¡¨ He racked his mind, thinking of any bad thing that she ever did. //It¡¦s not my fault she¡¦s always away on missions, and she never does anything that qualifies as ¡¥bad¡¦.// he thought sulkily. But eventually, he had to respond the way he always had before.
¡§Okay, I¡¦ll shut up.¡¨
==============================
¡§How is she?¡¨ Gai asked the medic as they inspected a knocked-out Ten-Ten.
¡§She¡¦s fine, sir.¡¨ The Medic replied. ¡§She¡¦s exhausted her chakra and seems to be a little bruised up, but other than that, she¡¦s just sleeping.¡¨
¡§She¡¦s just sleeping?¡¨
¡§Yes. We don¡¦t even have to bring her in. When she wakes up, she¡¦d probably be a little sore, but besides that, she¡¦s alright.¡¨ Gai nodded his approval. He picked up the sleeping girl, and walked back up the stairs.
¡§How is she?¡¨ Lee asked worriedly.
¡§She¡¦s just sleeping.¡¨
Lee took Ten-Ten from his teacher and set her down on the ground carefully. ¡§Is that so.¡¨
¡§So he WAS only toying with her all this time.¡¨ Neji growled, glaring at the said boy, who was arguing playfully with his sister.
¡§Yes.¡¨
¡§But... how did he manage to keep his clone up at that speed for so long?¡¨ Lee asked, ¡§Shouldn¡¦t he already been worn out by the time---¡¨
¡§Yes.¡¨ Gai said, casting a look at him. ¡§His stamina is impressive.¡¨ //Just like Naruto.//
==============================
The next match-up was between Gaara and Umi, a Rain Nin.
Needless to say, Umi didn¡¦t stand a chance. Gaara had changed his fighting tactic slightly. He still had the gourd on his back, and the sand still protected him even without his command, but his Sand Armor was gone, and he started to actually move instead of just standing there, waiting for the sand to overwhelm his opponent.
That, combined with his defense, was enough to decide the match right there. Umi, an older man in his twenties, had not Lee¡¦s speed, nor his power. After a few punches, he was beginning to get weary and frustrated by his lack of damage. His specialty, Genjutsus, didn¡¦t work on Gaara, and his chakra was almost gone by then.
After deciding that the poor opponent had finally had enough, Gaara performed his signature move, the Desert Coffin. The sand on the floor snaked its way up the other¡¦s leg, and quick as a flash, had wrapped him up in its firm grip.
¡§Surrender.¡¨ Gaara said, with no trace of humor in his voice. ¡§Or die.¡¨
What could Umi do? He surrendered.
¡§Winner, Gaara.¡¨
==============================
¡§That...¡¨ Akito said in awe, ¡§was just stupid.¡¨
¡§Hnn?¡¨
¡§The Rain guy was fighting a losing match. He should have just given up at the beginning.¡¨
¡§Like you when you fight Kai?¡¨ Naruto asked.
¡§Exactly.¡¨ The other responded. ¡§Huh? What, NO! That has nothing to do with our fights!¡¨
¡§Yea. Sure.¡¨
¡§I¡¦m serious!¡¨
¡§Not funny, Naruto-niisan!!!¡¨
¡§...¡¨
¡§REALLY!¡¨
==============================
The next match was no more exciting than the previous one. Inuzaka Kiba versus Suzuka. After shooting his mouth off about how he was ¡¥fighting a girl¡¦, he sorely regretted ever saying that.
In short, he lost. Bad.
Suzuka was a Mist Nin, and clearly was, the leader of the trio from the only Mist team. When she produced a fog, just like Ibino before her, Kiba expected an easy victory. After all, he didn¡¦t need his eyes to see, all he needed was his nose. Then, the blows started coming.
Inuzaka Kiba had not trained himself in endurance. He had only mastered the art of attacking, and was unable to take hit after hit of surprisingly strong punches coming from a girl.
After a short while, and a final strike to his head, he lost the match in a humiliating loss. He had not damaged Suzuka in any way, and Akamaru, who had been pounded into the wall, had also been unable to help his master.
==============================
Immediately after Kiba had been carted out, another battle was called. Mubi and Kankurro. A Rain Nin and a Sand Nin. The winner?
The Sand Nin.
The match was so utterly disgraceful, the one remaining Rain Nin felt a sudden urging need to hide his face.
Kankurro did not even use his marionette. Mubi had attempted to use Genjutsu, and it had failed. Then, after a punch that didn¡¦t even merit as strong from an annoyed puppeteer, Mubi had fainted.
¡§Stupid.¡¨ Kankurro muttered, more than just a little bored. ¡§If I had to have an competitor,¡¨ he continued to himself as he walked up the stairs, ¡§Why couldn¡¦t I have a stronger one? Like Him.¡¨ He tossed a dark glance at Uzumaki Naruto.
¡§Then again, if I had, then I probably would have lost.
==============================
Meanwhile, sometime between Kiba and Kankurro¡¦s matches, Naruto had struck up a conversation between the 5 former Genins, and the Lee Team. Akito had joined them soon afterwards, and yet Kai was still sitting alone, meditating on the thin railing, balancing herself perfectly. But even as they talked, the Leaf Nins dared not ask the questions that were on top of their minds.
Where have you been all these years? Why did you come back? Who are these two people?
And most of all... Why did you leave?
Naruto seemed to sense the feeling of unease in the air.
¡§I¡¦ll answer any questions you guys have,¡¨ he said, ¡§after the Preliminaries.¡¨ They started. His sudden sensitivity to all those around him was unexpected, and if possible, doubled the sinking feeling in their stomach, that the Naruto they knew and loved, was not coming back.
==============================
The screen started up again. But the next pairing... was unexpected by everyone.
¡§Uzumaki Naruto VS Haruno Sakura¡¨
==============================
I am aware that this chapter is crap. But I couldn¡¦t take it anymore! I had to get all the ¡¥pointless¡¦ matches out of the way. .
Questions/Comments: icy_cloud359@kuririnmail.com
-Yume