A log snapped where Kyo had been a moment before, thanks to 'Art of Substitution'. Kyo appearred behind Haru, stabbing him in the back. 'Ha!'

A log appears in Haru's place. He had used the same technique as Kyo. The sand suddenly kicked up into a violent storm. Kyo retreated back to the arena wall. He drew a kunai in his right hand and two shuriken in the other, whilst trying to make out any shapes through the sand.

He then edged his way round the arena and after several minutes, found Haru hiding behind some broken trees. Kyo leapt into the air and concentrated his chakra to his feet, allowing him to stick to the wall.

'Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!'

A hail of fireballs shot across the arena towards Haru.

Haru smirked and kicked the trees up and watched as they burnt into ash, then ran up the wall and kicked at Kyo. Kyo was ready and ran up the wall to avoid it, then jumped off and smashed Haru in the jaw with a kick of his own.

Haru flew off the wall, blood streaming from his mouth, but already had an explosive tag ready. He dropped above the spot that Kyo was likely to land. He landed on his back and skidded along the arena floor.

Kyo landed by the exploding tag which blew him high into the air. At the top of his 'flight' he overcame his dazedness and realised he would have to do something pretty drastic or he would be a goner as soon as he hit the ground. Quickly he whipped out three lengths of wire and tied the end of each to a kunai, and then tied one to either of his wrists and the third around his waist. As he fell he threw all of the kunai into the wall of the stadium where they were embedded, stopping his fall. He drew a fourth to cut the wire and he dropped to the ground, relatively unhurt.

He looked over at Haru and smirked.

'That all you got?'

Haru got up, coughing blood. 'That was only a sample.' Haru said as he waited for an attack.

Kyo drew a kunai and span it around his finger nonchalantly.

'Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!'

More balls of flame shot from his mouth.

Haru threw sand up, putting the fire out, then jumped and landed in front of Kyo. He threw a series of punches at his opponent. Kyo parried most of Haru's attacks, but he was punched in the gut and was knocked back. He ran back towards him, stabbing at him with his kunai. It caught him on the shoulder and drew blood.

Kyo swung, stabbing at Haru's chest. More blood.

Haru threw all his weight into a punch, knocking Kyo down.

'Neither of them can overcome the other,' thought Ralfe.

Haru's chakra started flaring out around him as he concentrated 75 of what was left of it into an attack.

'Uh oh,' thought Kyo. 'If I get hit by an attack like that I'm dead.' He drew out two shuriken and waited for the attack.

Up on the balcony, Ralfe was anxious. 'These Sand nins are pretty strong. No wonder they made it through the forest so quickly; the levels above most of the genin that were in that exam. Still, Kyo is the strongest member of our team.'

Haru ran forward and kicked at Kyo's chest. He was thrown backwards again. He got up slowly.

'His strength has grown vastly. If I get hit many more times, I'm done for. But that technique must take up a large amount of chakra. If I can avoid it for long enough, he'll collapse.'

Kyo looked around. There were no convenient hiding places in the arena as most of the trees and shrubs had been washed away during the previous fight. The floor was still damp which would stop him moving as quickly, or may cause him to slip.

He focused hid chakra to his feet and readied himself for the attack.

Haru walked forward and drew eight shuriken from his pocket. He threw them at his enemy all at once.

Kyo leapt backwards and landed on the wall, where he stuck using chakra.

'That all you got?' he asked, challengingly.

Kyo ran down the wall of the stadium and around the edge in a wide circle, as fast as he could. He drew two shuriken and threw them at Haru when he was behind him.

Haru ducked to avoid them. 'Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!' Five clones appeared.

Kyo jumped, landed on the arena wall and pushed off it with his legs, allowing him to do a sideflip towards the middle of the arena. He landed and as he slid to a stop, he threw a punch to one of the clones, destroying it.

Haru looked at Kyo and threw three shuriken in unison with another of his clones.

Kyo leapt over the shuriken and landed behind another of the clones. He turned, punching it in the head, and then ran to another, throwing a punch to its chest. They both disappeared in a puff of smoke.

'Alright! He's kicking ass!' yelled Ralfe exultantly.

Shadow walked out into the arena stands and watched Haru fight. 'Haru kill that bastard!' Shadow yelled. Haru nodded and attacked Kyo with his last clone.

Kyo blocked the clone's attack and destroyed it with another well-aimed punch. He then leapt backwards so that he was a few metres from. A smirk grew across his face.

'Gonna fight sreiously now that your boyfriend is here to cheer you on?'

Haru's chakra grew more intense. 'Shut up!'

'Just hurry up and attack me,' Kyo replied tauntingly.

Haru did a cyclone kick towards Kyo, who blocked it, but it was too powerful and he fell backwards. He immediately rolled back up and launched himself at Haru, arm extended into a lunging punch at his face. It hit him on the jaw, and both of them fell to the floor. The both got up and faced each other.

Haru jumped at Kyo, punching as he went.

'Henge no Jutsu!' Kyo was suddenly replaced with a log. He appeared behind Haru and punched him in the spine.

Haru went skidding across the arena floor in a cloud of dust. He slowly stood up.

'Don't think you've won.'

Haru summoned all his charka to his feet and charged at Kyo. His speed had increased dramatically and Kyo had no time to react. He was knocked back and Haru pinned him by the neck to the wall.

'Ugh…'

Kyo stabbed Haru through the arm with a kunai, then grabbed his wrist. With his other arm he struck upwards into Haru's elbow. A snap was heard as it fractured.

'Aargh!' yelled Haru. He drew three kunai with his good arm and stabbed Kyo in the chest.

He cried out in pain and spat forth blood violently.

As Haru raised the kunai for the kill, Genma jumped into the arena and grabbed Haru's upraised arm.

'Its over kid - you won.'

'The winner - Haru!' declared Raidou as Genma assisted the medic nins with getting Kyo onto a stretcher.

'You did really well, Kyo,' thought Genma. 'You almost had him.'