Growing Up

Mamimi Summons!

Sakura rose as she laid Lee's unconscious body on the ground, turning just in time to see Kankurou standing behind Karagusa in fear as the huge cloud of smoke engulfed the small blood covered girl, Mamimi. Drawing her kunai she left Lee's body, moving to Kankurou's side.

"Sakura-san! Be careful… she is summoning something!"

The cloud of smoke rose up, higher and higher kill both Kankurou and Sakura had to look up. As the cloud slowly disappeared, Mamimi giggled madly as she clung tightly the lush soft yellow fur between her fingers. Sitting on her knees at the edge of a black stripe.

"Mamimi-chan, why have you summoned me here?"

Sakura's body quivered in fear as she held her kunai tightly to her body, slowly she moved her way behind Kankurou and the safety of Karagusa as the near ten foot tall tiger growled loudly, deep blue eyes stared them down as Mamimi crawled up from the tiger's shoulder, her legs hanging over the sides of it's neck as she held the head. The tiger's body littered with scars, his front right leg clad in chain armor, steel claw like coverings over the paw.

"Tamachi-sama, these two have been mean to me. The one dressed in black, he is the one that made Mamimi bleed everywhere. Help me make them pay!"

His eyes rose to look to the small girl sitting above his head as the huge chain armor clad paw took a step towards the two cowering nins.

"Mamimi-chan, this is the Konoha Stadium… using me during the Chuunin Exams is risky. You are not fighting for yourself by summoning me. Just know by doing this, your only chance of making Chuunin is by hoping summoning me is enough to impress the examiners,"

"Enough Tamachi-sama! We have to win so Lee-san and I can get to the finals. The pink haired girl knocked out Lee. I needed to summon you or else it would have been two on one!"

Kankurou growled lightly, his teeth gritting roughly. "Enough talking! This is a fight! Karagusa go!"

Pulling the strings tightly, Karagusa jumped to life once more, leaping towards the tiger beast . Karagusa's forearms flipping back and gripping the shoulder as two gunpowder rockets shot from the elbows.

Tamachi roared with anger as the two explosions stood his body drawing blood from both shoulders.

Leaping forward, Tamachi lifted his paw, bringing it down quickly over the two nins and puppet. Quickly Kankurou reached behind him, arm wrapping around Sakura as he leapt away from the falling foot. Rolling along the ground, Kankurou was just in time to see his precious puppet being smashed by the foot of Tamachi.

"K-Karagusa!" Kankurou stood slowly, his fists clenched tightly as the vein in his temple throbbed to the point of nearly bursts. Lifting his hand, he pulled his hood off, teeth gritting as he scowled. Forcing his fists to open once more the chakra lines to Karagusa shattered. "You, Tamachi! You'll pay for that!"

"He… he destroyed Karagusa…" Temari froze as her hands shook lightly, sitting in the crowd she watched as her brother stared down the summoned beast, his eyes filled with anger and hatred. She stood quickly, moving to the side as she bumped into Shikamaru. "I'm sorry Shika-kun, I have to go talk to Gaara and quickly,"

"Die filthy tiger beast!" Kankurou roared as he drew his own kunai from the black pouch hidden at his side. Dashing forward blood spilled from his lips as his gums bled with the pressure that he bit down with. Leaping onto the armored foot of Tamachi, Kankurou climbed it's leg, driving his kunai into the tiger's shoulder.

"Gaara-kun! We have to get down there and stop this fight. Kankurou is going to kill someone," Temari absentmindedly shoved Hinata out of the doorway, knocking her to the floor as she moved to Gaara, gripping his shoulder tightly. Gaara turned slowly to face her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Gaara-kun, growing up as the older siblings of Shaku's vessel, Kankurou and I lost our friend when you were born out of fear. Karagasu and the puppets are really the only friend's Kankurou had growing up. Even know he treats them as people and his closest friends, you know that. That tiger just destroyed Karagusa, one of Kankurou's precious ones. He isn't going to stop till he has his revenge,"

Leaping from the creatures shoulder, his pulled his kunai along, ripping through the beasts flesh, blood spraying from the severed veins and muscle tissue. Ripping it free he stood upon the back of the tiger. Grabbing Mamimi by the hair, he pulled her up to his chest. Pressing his kunai to her throat as he panted heavily.

"You… you little shit! You killed him!" Kankurou's eyes went wide was anger as he held her tightly, his kunai barely drawing blood as she screamed and squirmed. "You and your filthy tiger took Karagusa from me!"

"Kankurou-kun!" Gasping softly, Sakura stood, hitting the heal seals once more she inhaled deeply, dashing towards the giant tiger, she crouched before it. Springing up, she leapt, grabbing tightly onto the beasts muzzle she exhaled sending the giant cloud of gas out from within her body. The tiger huffed and roared as the gas filled it's lungs with each breath.

"Katon! Tiger's Flame!" Roaring once more, Sakura flew the the tiger's face, screaming as she was forced away by the power of it's flames. Ultimately slamming against the stone wall of the field as the flames pushed harshly against her body, burning her alive as she screamed in horror.

At her screams, Kankurou lifted his eyes once more to stare at Sakura. He pressed his kunai even tighter to the young girl's throat.

"Call it off! Call off your beast! Dismiss it out of my sight and I will let you live!"

Gasping for air Mamimi shook as she spit up another couch of blood. "Ta-Tamachi-sama… please leave!"

"Very well Mamimi-chan,"

Exploding into a puff of smoke, Tamachi disappeared. Both Kankurou and Mamimi falling 14 feet to the ground. Kankurou dropped his kunai as he landed atop the small girl. Pinning her down with his knees, he sat up, pulling his fist back tightly as tears filled his dark beady eyes.

Sakura fell to the ground lifelessly as smoke billowed from her body, her eyes closed tightly as he body shook with heavy heaving coughs of pain. Rolling onto her back, she fell unconscious from the searing pain of burns across every inch of her flesh. Her red dress no longer existed as wrappings and undergarments were all that remained on her charred form.

"Kankurou-kun… it's over. I Baki, Kazekage of The Sand call an end to this battle! Mamimi can no longer fight! If you continue your attack, I will have to force Hokage-sama to disqualify both you and Haruno Sakura-san,"

As Baki stood, looking down to his outraged former student as couldn't believe his eyes. That Kankurou would ever go that far, even facing one of the strongest tiger's known to the ninja world in order to reach Mamimi.

Kankurou's fist slowly loosed as his eyes widened… his head slowly lifting to look up to Baki. He panted heavily as his face was splattered with blood, not his own but the blood of his enemies.

"Baki-sensei…" Slowly his eyes closed as he fell off Mamimi, collapsing to his side, his body curled in pain as he finally as well, lost consciousness.

Tsunade stood slowly as she approached the railing of the Hokage's box, biting her lip softly as she looked over the four mentally and physically battered nins. Raising her hand slowly to the crowd, she sighed deeply.

"Ladies and Gentlemen… your winners. Haruno Sakura and Kankurou,"

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Hope you all enjoyed the ending to this battle.

Next Chapter: Fight 3 Delayed! Ninja Medical Emergency!