The Shadow Wars
---
Chapter 16
---
"Sasuke... How could this happen to you? You were always pushing yourself, trying to defeat Itachi. I should be the one paralyzed, not you. You have a goal that does not only help you..." thought Naruto.
It was the last night before the start of the Third Task, and Naruto couldn't sleep. He had only two things on his mind: Sasuke and Sakura. That was all that mattered to him at that time.
"What if I... What if I get matched up against Sakura-chan? Will I... Will I be selfish, and continue to fight her, or, even worse, forcing her to go through the torment of surrendering? Or will I allow my dream of becoming Hokage to be delayed by a few years?" thought Naruto. Those were his two biggest fears, allowing setbacks and hurting Sakura. However, that seemed very likely in the exams.
---
Meanwhile, Sakura was also on her bed, wide awake, thinking about Sasuke and Naruto. She also was unsure if she would surrender or fight Naruto.
---
The next morning, all the teams assembled, although there were many missing amongst the people who were in the Exam. From Konoha alone, eight teams were not there. They had failed the Exam. Some had even been killed.
"Welcome, people, to the Konoha arena. This will be the final test for these fine young men and women, in which they will be locked in one-on- one battle for the pride of their village, their family honor, and whatever personal agendas they may have." Announced the Assistant Head examiner. The Head Examiner had been urgently called for a mission near Konoha's borders (yes, this mission will be important to the next story arc.) "And now, judges, announce the first match."
The judges pulled two slips of paper from a jar. These slips of paper had the names of all the remaining participants.
"We, the judges of the Third Task of the Jounin Exam, have paired, in an impartial manner, two shinobi to fight each other in the afore-mentioned task. The following participants are to step into the center of the arena at this time: Hanara Yokure and Hyuuga Neji." The judges announced formally.
Neji and Yokure advanced into the center of the ring, hardly daring to turn away from the other, glaring at each other. At the same time, one of the judges advanced into the area between Neji and Yokure.
"Any shinobi tools are permitted. No interferences are permitted. You are to fight until death or knockout, whichever comes first. If I feel that the fight is obviously a win for one of the fighters, I will stop the match in the favor of the winning fighter. You are not permitted to attack the audience. If, at any time, you do not wish to continue, you may raise your hand and clearly say 'I, insert your name here, hereby surrender.' Fights are to match the shinobi code." The judge said. "Begin."
In that instant, both fighters began focusing on their bloodline, Yokure rearranging his mind and Neji doing hand seals.
"Byakugan!" Neji said. Instantly, the veins surrounding his eyes bulged, and even partially went into his eyes.
"Typical..." muttered Yokure. "I can feel your fear."
"I have no fear!" yelled Neji, angry. He ran at Yokure, and began attacking with his "gentle hands" taijutsu style. However, Yokure did not seem to be phased by the furious onslaught.
Suddenly, Yokure did a quick "tap" to Neji's neck. Instantly, Neji slumped weakly.
"What... What did you do?" inquired Neji, struggling to maintain consciousness.
"I just killed off one of your chakra centers." Answered Yokure calmly.
"You... You son..." Neji began, but he fell unconscious.
"Winner: Hanara Yokure." The announcer said.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I hope you don't lose this round!" shouted Yokure.
"Don't worry, I won't." replied Naruto angrily, under his breath.
---
"Naruto..." Hinata began.
"Yes, Hinata-san?" inquired Naruto.
"I heard... A few months ago... Is it, um, true, that you are going out with Haruno Sakura?" Hinata asked.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" asked Naruto.
"Damn..." muttered Hinata. "No reason, Naruto." After she said this, she stormed away, angry.
"It is your fault, Hinata..." thought Hinata. Although it had been several months since she found out from Sakura that she was dating Naruto, she was still bitter. At first, she had thought it might have been a way to spite Hinata. However, when she thought about it, Sakura wasn't the type to pull such tricks on friends. Hinata wasn't even sure that Sakura knew about her crush on Naruto. On the other hand, it was hard to miss, what with her consistent "blanking-out" in his presence.
Hinata was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even see her sensei, Kurenai, walk up behind her.
"Hinata-sama, what are you doing out here?" inquired Kurenai.
"Gomen, Kurenai. I was just thinking..." Hinata drifted back off.
"What happened?" asked Kurenai, concerned.
"Kurenai-sensei, has it ever happened that you've liked someone for many years, yet one of your friends takes him instead?" asked Hinata. "I'm sorry if that invades your privacy..."
"No, no problem. In fact, Hinata, there was a time, but I do not think now is the time. Anyway, we have a training session in a few hours." Kurenai said.
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei. I'll be there." Said Hinata. Although Kurenai hadn't been specific in her conversation, Hinata was feeling much better.
---
"So, it is true that my foolish brother got himself paralyzed..." thought Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi. "I'll let him relax until he recovers. I doubt he'll stay paralyzed forever. Konoha does have some of the best medic-nin in the world."
"Itachi-sama, should we attack Naruto?" asked Kisame, a tall man with many shark-like features.
"No. We'll let this pass for a while. I see no reason why we should disrupt the enjoyment of the countless fans who came to Konoha to watch the Jounin Exam." Itachi responded.
"Yes, Itachi-sama." Responded Kisame calmly.
---
Will Naruto be able to overcome Yokure?
---
A/N: Although there were little reviews, I got quite a bit out of it. I hope you liked this chapter. And no, Neji is not dead... Yet.
---
Chapter 16
---
"Sasuke... How could this happen to you? You were always pushing yourself, trying to defeat Itachi. I should be the one paralyzed, not you. You have a goal that does not only help you..." thought Naruto.
It was the last night before the start of the Third Task, and Naruto couldn't sleep. He had only two things on his mind: Sasuke and Sakura. That was all that mattered to him at that time.
"What if I... What if I get matched up against Sakura-chan? Will I... Will I be selfish, and continue to fight her, or, even worse, forcing her to go through the torment of surrendering? Or will I allow my dream of becoming Hokage to be delayed by a few years?" thought Naruto. Those were his two biggest fears, allowing setbacks and hurting Sakura. However, that seemed very likely in the exams.
---
Meanwhile, Sakura was also on her bed, wide awake, thinking about Sasuke and Naruto. She also was unsure if she would surrender or fight Naruto.
---
The next morning, all the teams assembled, although there were many missing amongst the people who were in the Exam. From Konoha alone, eight teams were not there. They had failed the Exam. Some had even been killed.
"Welcome, people, to the Konoha arena. This will be the final test for these fine young men and women, in which they will be locked in one-on- one battle for the pride of their village, their family honor, and whatever personal agendas they may have." Announced the Assistant Head examiner. The Head Examiner had been urgently called for a mission near Konoha's borders (yes, this mission will be important to the next story arc.) "And now, judges, announce the first match."
The judges pulled two slips of paper from a jar. These slips of paper had the names of all the remaining participants.
"We, the judges of the Third Task of the Jounin Exam, have paired, in an impartial manner, two shinobi to fight each other in the afore-mentioned task. The following participants are to step into the center of the arena at this time: Hanara Yokure and Hyuuga Neji." The judges announced formally.
Neji and Yokure advanced into the center of the ring, hardly daring to turn away from the other, glaring at each other. At the same time, one of the judges advanced into the area between Neji and Yokure.
"Any shinobi tools are permitted. No interferences are permitted. You are to fight until death or knockout, whichever comes first. If I feel that the fight is obviously a win for one of the fighters, I will stop the match in the favor of the winning fighter. You are not permitted to attack the audience. If, at any time, you do not wish to continue, you may raise your hand and clearly say 'I, insert your name here, hereby surrender.' Fights are to match the shinobi code." The judge said. "Begin."
In that instant, both fighters began focusing on their bloodline, Yokure rearranging his mind and Neji doing hand seals.
"Byakugan!" Neji said. Instantly, the veins surrounding his eyes bulged, and even partially went into his eyes.
"Typical..." muttered Yokure. "I can feel your fear."
"I have no fear!" yelled Neji, angry. He ran at Yokure, and began attacking with his "gentle hands" taijutsu style. However, Yokure did not seem to be phased by the furious onslaught.
Suddenly, Yokure did a quick "tap" to Neji's neck. Instantly, Neji slumped weakly.
"What... What did you do?" inquired Neji, struggling to maintain consciousness.
"I just killed off one of your chakra centers." Answered Yokure calmly.
"You... You son..." Neji began, but he fell unconscious.
"Winner: Hanara Yokure." The announcer said.
"Uzumaki Naruto, I hope you don't lose this round!" shouted Yokure.
"Don't worry, I won't." replied Naruto angrily, under his breath.
---
"Naruto..." Hinata began.
"Yes, Hinata-san?" inquired Naruto.
"I heard... A few months ago... Is it, um, true, that you are going out with Haruno Sakura?" Hinata asked.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" asked Naruto.
"Damn..." muttered Hinata. "No reason, Naruto." After she said this, she stormed away, angry.
"It is your fault, Hinata..." thought Hinata. Although it had been several months since she found out from Sakura that she was dating Naruto, she was still bitter. At first, she had thought it might have been a way to spite Hinata. However, when she thought about it, Sakura wasn't the type to pull such tricks on friends. Hinata wasn't even sure that Sakura knew about her crush on Naruto. On the other hand, it was hard to miss, what with her consistent "blanking-out" in his presence.
Hinata was so caught up in her thoughts that she didn't even see her sensei, Kurenai, walk up behind her.
"Hinata-sama, what are you doing out here?" inquired Kurenai.
"Gomen, Kurenai. I was just thinking..." Hinata drifted back off.
"What happened?" asked Kurenai, concerned.
"Kurenai-sensei, has it ever happened that you've liked someone for many years, yet one of your friends takes him instead?" asked Hinata. "I'm sorry if that invades your privacy..."
"No, no problem. In fact, Hinata, there was a time, but I do not think now is the time. Anyway, we have a training session in a few hours." Kurenai said.
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei. I'll be there." Said Hinata. Although Kurenai hadn't been specific in her conversation, Hinata was feeling much better.
---
"So, it is true that my foolish brother got himself paralyzed..." thought Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi. "I'll let him relax until he recovers. I doubt he'll stay paralyzed forever. Konoha does have some of the best medic-nin in the world."
"Itachi-sama, should we attack Naruto?" asked Kisame, a tall man with many shark-like features.
"No. We'll let this pass for a while. I see no reason why we should disrupt the enjoyment of the countless fans who came to Konoha to watch the Jounin Exam." Itachi responded.
"Yes, Itachi-sama." Responded Kisame calmly.
---
Will Naruto be able to overcome Yokure?
---
A/N: Although there were little reviews, I got quite a bit out of it. I hope you liked this chapter. And no, Neji is not dead... Yet.