Chapter 6: The Semifinals
Aburame Shino stands outside of the wave countries massive tournament arena, contemplating some of the recent events that have transpired. Shino's hopes of winning the tournament and having his name embedded in the arena's title are over. He fought well, but lost his match against the Mist villages Dome. However, that is the furthest thing on his mind. One of Shino's bugs, recently overheard a conversation between the mysterious shinobi of the hidden cloud. The conversation he overheard, has brought the identities of the shinobi into question. Talk of a mission, and fighting their way out of the arena, has given Shino a lot to worry about.
"I can't help but wonder what they are planning. I have to do something. I can't bother the hokage if I do not have any proof. What can I do?" Suddenly Shino gets an idea. "That's it. If I remember correctly, "He" is on a mission not far from the country's border. I will contact him and ask him to come here if his mission has been completed." Shino calls forth one of his bugs to the tip of his index finger. "Find him as fast as you can and bring him to this stadium. Tell him it is an emergency." With that being said, the bug takes off headed toward the fire country at high speed, followed by several dozen other bugs.
"I just hope that he can get back here in time before they make their move."
"Before who makes their move?"
Shino turns around quickly and is shocked to see the cloud village's Shin, standing several meters in the shadows behind him. Before Shino can react, Shin's eyes flash with a bright green light. As the scene changes to forested area behind the stadium, all that can be heard are Shino's screams. When the scene returns to the confrontation, Shino lies unconscious on the ground. His eyes wide open, looking almost catatonic as Shin walks back into the arena.
Back in the fighters locker rooms, all the fighters receive a clean bill of health, as the new nurse makes her rounds. The last nurse having met with a sudden "ailment," appears to have been relieved of her previous obligations. The fighters begin to wonder about the arena awaiting their next matches. The final four has come down to, Hyuuga Neji and Uzumaki Naruto of the Leaf village. Dome of the Mist village and Yamu of the cloud village. The time seems to just tick away quickly as it has now come down to only ten minutes before the starting of the next fight which is scheduled to be Yamu vs. Naruto.
Meanwhile, The shinobi of the cloud village all meets in Yamu's locker room behind the closed sound proofed doors. Shin meets with all three of the team members, and their plan begins to unfold. "We have three more matches to go until we make our move. When the winner is crowned, the celebration will begin almost immediately. That way, we know that everyone will be present and our likelihood of succeeding will increase. As soon as I give the signal, Toragai (formerly in disguise under the name Kumo) who will be making his way into the center of the crowd that will be flooding into the ring, will do his part. Once he has succeeded in beginning his task, Maea (Also known as Yukina) you will then leave the stands, and make your way to your specific targets. Keep it quick, simple and most of all NON FATAL." Shin looks to a startled Yukina with an angry glare.
"I understand Toshida-sama." Yukina says turning her face from the strict Cloud jounin.
"If both stage one and two are completed I will continue with stage three. If I am successful, then it all depends on you, brother." Shin says as he turns to Yamu. "Your part in this mission is crucial. I will have to leave it up to you to decide whether or not the mission is able to be completed if I should fail."
"I will not disappoint you, brother." Yamu says as he punches his fist into his palm.
"If our mission should fail, we will all abort as quickly as possible and take different routes back to our respective base camps. After three days I expect us all to meet up back at the village where we will try to figure out what to do next I suppose."
Outside of the locker room Naruto is running by on his way to meet with Sakura before his match. He is dressed in his trademark orange outfit. "Maybe I can get a good luck kiss from Sakura-chan before I go into my match. I wore the outfit she likes, who knows maybe it will all pay off." As Naruto passes the locker room and makes it halfway up the stairs he finds himself overwhelming with a feeling of nausea. He drops to one knee clutching his stomach, as sweat drops down his face and he grinds his teeth together. "What is this feeling? I feel nauseous almost but, but it's different somehow. Almost like my whole being is quivering." The symptoms then dissipate as soon as they manifested. "Hmpf, must have been some pre-match jitters. Oh well, nothing to worry about I suppose." Naruto then hurries back, on his way to meet with Sakura.
On the contrary, Shin is in the locker room overwhelmed by a similar feeling only many times more intense. He lies on the ground writhing in pain, and screaming deliriously. His teammates desperately try to get him to calm down but his flailing proves too much to handle, as with one swing of his arm sends Kumo flying across the locker room and into one of the refreshment tables.
"HE'S HERE! IT'S HERE! WHY?! HOW?! WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BASTARD!!" Shin screams at the top of his lungs, seriously testing the sound proof walls. As Kumo regains his composure, he runs back toward Shin and attempts again to restrain the madness stricken Shin.
The rest of the team tries desperately to restrain Shin. "Brother, what is wrong? What are you talking about? Who is here?" Yamu questions in vein as Shin does not answer and continues screaming and grunting in both pain and almost sheer lunacy.
Shin then calms down for only a second as his eyes radiate a bright green light and his teeth become sharp and jagged. He bares his teeth and grimaces in pain as he speaks in a voice that is not Shin's, and almost certainly, not Human. "Why is he here? Has he followed me? Why is he here? He must be destroyed. I will not let him get in my way boy!"
Yamu looks on in horror as the strange and maniacal voice seems all too familiar to him. "Dammit, Not now! Maea, Toragai take your positions. You know the drill! Three point seals with a five-point layering sequence."
With that said all three of the cloud shinobi step back and away from Shin. They all roll up the long sleeve on their right arm and make a seal with their exposed arm. The seal is that of a half ram with two fingers extended. The three shinobi then shout in unison, "KAI!" (Release). As the command is given, black arcane writing and symbols begin to spread out from a mysterious seal that resides just above their elbows on their triceps. (The writing resembles the same writing used by Kakashi to seal up the curse seal on Sasuke.)
The writing all cultivates in the fists of the shinobi and the three ninjas then take their positions. Kumo grapples Shin's left arm and holds it under his left arm. Yamu then does the same to Shin's right arm and Yukina rips open Shins jacket exposing his stomach and chest which remain unseen due to the line of sight.
"Keinea! This isn't good, I don't know if this is going to be strong enough. I have never seen it this bad." Yukina says as she looks in shock at something on Shin's chest.
"We don't have a choice." Replies Keinea, "If we don't do anything then you know what will happen."
The three then manage to connect their hands together individually, and in unison, make the hands seals, Ox, Tiger, Snake, Boar, Monkey, Ram, Rat, Snake, Hare, Horse, Rooster, Tiger, Dragon, Dog, finishing the sequence with a clap of their hands. "Fuinjutsu: Hyakuhei Fuin (Sealing Technique: Seal of All Evils)"
Kumo then pulls back his right arm with the writing beginning to churn inside his hand, while Yamu and Yukina do the same. With perfect synchronization, all three thrusts their hands into Shin's body, Kumo into his back directly on his spine, Yamu into his ribs on Shin's right side, and Yukina strikes with her left arm clutching her right as she drives it into Shin's chest. Yukina's hand blocks out the mysterious mark on Shin's chest, as all of the writing transfers from the three shinobi into their leader. Shin screams in pain as a bright light shines from his tortured body, demonstrating the intense pain that is surging through him. As the writing then fills Shin's body and covers all of his figure almost like a curse seal, the three Shinobi shout, "FUIN!" (Seal), and the writing disappears as Shin falls to the ground breathing heavily with his eyes bloodshot and watery.
Back in the arena, The referee announces to the crowd, "Everyone please take your seats. The first match of the semifinals will begin in five minutes."
Shin remains on his knees on the floor of Yamu's locker room, gasping for air and trying to make sense out of what had just happened. As the referee continues her announcement, Shin looks up to Yamu. He grabs Yamu by the collar of his shirt and pulls him close to him.
"I don't know what that was brother, or why it happened, but "it" has gotten stronger. I could feel it, but it was drawn out, awakened forcefully. The seal didn't have the same effect. "It's" still moving, still thinking, and its still very unhappy." Shin seems more and more agitated as the seconds go by, and his teammates are becoming more weary of him and seemingly almost ready to fight. Although it becomes evident that performing the seal has taken its toll, as all three members of Shin's team seem almost as exhausted as Shin himself.
"Yamu, I am afraid I have to ask something of you."
"Yes Brother, what do you ask of me?"
"These recent developments are certainly unexpected and this mission requires me to play a vital role. If I cannot be trusted to play out my part to the best of my ability, then I put everything at risk. So we need to move the plan up ahead of schedule while the seal still has its most potent effect. Because of this, I must ask you to throw your fight in the semifinals."
"WHAT?! You have got to be joking brother! I will not . . ."
"You will do what I ask of you, brother." Shin says as he finally rises to his feet. All three of his teammates back away quickly from him as he begins to quickly regain his composure. "It cannot be helped. Throw the fight brother. Make it as convincing as possible, but regardless throw the fight. The operation will take place just before the final intermission."
"I. . . Understand brother."
The four cloud shinobi then all return to their respective places, Yukina and Kumo report to seats on opposite sides of the crowd, Shin reports back to the 1st balcony with no one the wiser of his stressed out expression. Yamu then reports to the center of the ring where a confident Naruto is already waiting.
"Nice of you to show up," Naruto says as he crosses his arms in front of his chest. "I was beginning to think you were too scared to show up."
"Give me a break. And miss the opportunity to humiliate you in front of all these people? I don't think so."
The referee then raises her hand into the air and calls the crowd to order. "Ladies and gentlemen this is the 1st match of the semifinals, when the semifinals are concluded their will be one final intermission, and then the finals will proceed with the award ceremony taking place immediately afterwards."
In the crowd Ino, still bandaged from her fight with Yamu, and Chouji still looking a little nauseous, sit side by side watching the competitors. Ino then takes a quick look around the crowd and notices something odd.
"Where is Shino? I would have thought he would be interested in watching this match?"
Chouji replies, "Oh you know how Shino is. He lost his match and is probably just off wandering, thinking to himself what he will do in his next fight, or what he did wrong this time, blah blah blah. He isn't one to just sit down and relax you know."
"Hmm. I guess you're right."
The referee stands poised in the middle of the ring while the competitors begin to take their respective stances. "Then without further delay, let the 1st match of the semifinals, BEGIN!" The referee then swipes her hand downward and the two competitors launch toward each other.
Naruto strikes first with a right-handed punch that grazes Yamu's jaw. Yamu replies as he moves with his downward momentum, placed one hand on the ground and using it to pivot around with a sweep kick that knocks Naruto off his feet. Naruto quickly recovers in time to dodge two shuriken headed straight for him. He replies with his own shuriken which Yamu in turn parries with his kunai. After the first test of ability, the two begin to stare one another down. With confident smiles on one another's face, the two charge yet again and exchange a brilliant display of taijutsu. Kick after kick, punch after punch, counter move after counter move, neither can seem to get the upper hand on the other. The two then exchange blows with their kunai, once again each failing to give the other an opening in which to capitalize on. After several minutes of the exchange, Yamu moves away from Naruto and places his hands one over the other.
"Kaze no Shuriken" (Wind Shuriken) Full Spread!" Yamu then sweeps his hands in a sweeping motion sending out a flurry of almost two dozen wind shuriken. Naruto runs away from the swirling balls of wind and in a desperate move, dives to the ground as the projectiles speed overhead.
Naruto then stands to his feet and takes his signature pose. "Kage Bunshin No Jutsu." Five shadow clones then appear around Naruto. As Yamu readies his kunai, the clones charge, attacking one after the other. The first clone is dispersed with a single swipe of Yamu's kunai, the second dives at Yamu with a right hand. Yamu counters by sidestepping the attacking clone and using its momentum to send it into ground without dispersing it. The third receives a spin kick from Yamu to the head and into the fourth clone who was following shortly behind. Yamu follows with several shuriken to the two clones, dispersing them immediately. The final clone attacks in a tandem with the real Naruto. The clone has his legs swept out from under him as the real Naruto finds himself flying directly into the second clone, dispersing it.
"You will have to try something different if you are going to beat me." Yamu says confidently.
Naruto only responds with the creation of twelve more shadow clones, all dispersed as quickly as the last bunch with only five remaining. Before Yamu can react to the last remaining clones, four of the clones perform a stereo baseball slide, connecting with a kick sending Yamu into the air.
"U-ZU-MA-KI"
As the real Naruto, having used the final clone as a trampoline, comes downward with the final kick to complete the combo. Yamu manages to move his body to the side just enough to avoid the kick landing across the back of his head. The kick lands on Yamu's shoulder sending him turning a full 360 degrees, and right above Naruto, whose momentum as put him in a position parallel to the ground. Yamu grabs Naruto in a full nelson, hoping to send him crashing face first into the ground. Naruto manages to turn enough so that the two land on their side and proceed to roll across the arena floor. Naruto has injured his right shoulder in the exchange and is clutching it firmly as he kicks up to his feet only to in time to see Yamu coming in fast. Yamu leaves the ground and connects with a double footed kick to Naruto's chest, sending him flying backward and into the pool at the back of the ring.
"I TOLD YOU TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY!" Yamu screams at the submerged Naruto. "DON'T WASTE MY TIME!"
That being said, gurgled words can be heard from underneath the water that has begun to bubble. "Tajyuu Kage Bunshin No Jutsu! (Mass Shadow Replication)" Suddenly more then one hundred clones leap out of the pool.
"Well then," says Yamu. "I guess that's different"
The clones all surround Yamu, who frantically tries to figure out what to do with so many targets. As the clones all charge at once Yamu begins to panic. He does not notice the shadow clone that has used two other clones as a springboard. The clone strikes Yamu with a spinning heel kick to the face. ("U") At the same time, another clone has used a leg sweep to send Yamu to the ground. ("ZU") The heel kicking clone then restrains Yamu's arms at the wrists, holding them down against the ground. ("MA") The leg sweeping clone does the same with Yamu's ankles. ("KI") Yamu now has his whole body left prone to the attack of the other clones.
Two clones then take their own positions only a few meters away. One of them crouches to his hands and knees, while the other then crouches on one knee on top of the first clone. ("NA") The real Naruto then uses the two clones as a stepladder ("RU") and leaps off of the seconds clones shoulder, sending him more than 15 meters in the air. ("TO")
"W-WAIT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Screams Yamu, who can only await the next move.
The real Naruto then tucks into a cannonball and does a partial somersault in mid air. As he reaches only a foot or two away from Yamu's prone body, he fans his legs out and crosses his arms over his chest in an X. Naruto lands back first in a perfect somersault senton across Yamu who is left screaming as Naruto hits, and all of the clones disperse, filling the ring briefly with a massive puff of smoke.
"TEBAYO RENDAN!"
Naruto rolls off of a battered and bruised Yamu, who is left clutching his mid section and grimacing in pain. The referee rushes to Yamu's aid, "Do you give up?" The referee asks before she stops the match.
"Y-yes I give up." Yamu responds as he rolls onto his stomach, still clutching at his ribs.
The referee stands up and calls for the medical team, as Naruto starts to revel in the crowd's ovation. The referee raises Naruto's hand, "Winner of the first match of the semifinals: Uzumaki Naruto!"
The crowd continues their ovation as Naruto returns to the fighters area, trying to get all of the water out from his ears. The medical team carries Yamu to the medical bay on a stretcher as he still seems to be in pain.
Back in the audience stands Yukina makes her way down to meet Yamu in the medical bay. When she arrives, she smiles and shakes her head at the wounded Yamu and addresses the medical staff.
"Its all right, he will be ok, please let us leave."
The medical staff helps Yamu to his feet as the two cloud shinobi leave the medical area. Yukina smiles as she turns to Yamu who is walking under his own power but still holding his mid section.
"Very convincing Keinea, no one will even be the wiser that you let that little punk win."
Yamu responds as he scratches the back of his head with a large smile on his face. "Yea, you thought so too eh? I did such a good acting job, maybe I should become an actor after all this is over heh heh heh." As Yukina smiles and continues to walk back to her seat, Yamu then clutches his ribs again after Yukina's back is turned, and a look of pain and anger comes over his face yet again. "It's a shame that I wasn't acting. That brat beat me even without me having to throw the fight. I was going to smack him around for a while, and then make some deliberate mistake and twist my ankle or something. Dammit, I wasn't expecting a technique like that. That kid was something else for sure. Uzumaki Naruto eh? When the mission begins, remind me to kill you before I leave."
Back in the fighters area Naruto is met by Neji, who is making his way down to the ring for his match with Dome, who stands in wait. Naruto has his fingers in his ears trying to clear all of the water and mud out that he acquired after being knocked into the pool. As Neji passes by Naruto he has a few words for his comrade;
"Watch this match carefully Naruto. If I am to be victorious, you and I will meet in the finals. If that is to happen, believe me." Neji turns to Naruto with a smile on his face. "You will not defeat me a second time."
Naruto responds with a smile of his own as he wishes Neji good luck in his match. "I don't know what he said, but I am sure it was something good to get him to smile like that. Damn water! Stupid mud! I can barely hear a thing."
The two fighters meet in the ring where the referee calls the crowd to order. "Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this next match will face Uzumaki Naruto in the final round of the Wave Country Tournament, Hyuuga Neji of the Hidden Leaf Village vs. Dome of the Hidden Mist village. Both fighters to the center of the ring."
Neji approaches the center of the ring with his eyes shut, as Dome seems concentrated on things other than his opponent. As Neji reaches the center point of the ring, he opens his eyes and activates the advanced bloodline of the Hyuuga clan, the byakugan. As he looks around the ring in all directions, he scans the flow of chakra around all sides and notices chakra flowing from Dome into the back of the ring and into the pool.
"What is he doing? His control is remarkable! To be able to transport his chakra more then twenty meters to the back of the pool is no easy feat. But what is he doing with it?" As the referee raises her hand, about to begin the match, Neji notices more chakra moving out of Dome's body as he takes an offensive stance. The chakra is subtle for the most part. However, a lot of chakra seems to be gathering at Dome's eyes. "I see, its genjutsu. He is trying to use the same technique he used on Shino. No wonder Shino could not help but fall for the trickery. This skill is using a tremendous amount of chakra. I have never even heard of a genjutsu of this magnitude. However if he focuses all of his efforts into this technique, he must not be very adept at much else. If that is the case, he may have defeated any other competitor. . ."
The referee swipes her hand downward as Dome retreats to the back of the ring and along the rim of the pool.
Neji looks on with determination to avoid falling for the genjutsu Dome is planning on attacking with, ". . . Except ME!"
Neji charges to the back of the ring as Dome starts a jutsu, as Dome starts using several different hand seals, Neji notices with his byakugan that there is no chakra being focused anywhere in Dome' body except for the pool in the back of the ring. "I see. His genjutsu creates a small territory in which all of his illusions are made manifest. His hand seals are to add to the illusion he is already creating. Whatever he is planning on using with this technique, it is focused in the pool." As Neji takes another quick look around the ring, he notices that the chakra flow in the area around him is massive, taking up the whole ring and more then 80 of the arena itself. The entire crowd is in the middle of the genjutsu's territory, and with the exception of some high level shinobi using a genjutsu counter technique, the crowd is also under the spell of the illusion. "It's huge! The crowd is just as much a victim of this technique as I am."
"Suiton: Suishouha!" (Water Element: Water Wave) Dome unleashes one of the most powerful water type techniques known to exist in the wave country. The pool swirls in a cyclone like formation and then erupts outward sending a monstrous wave into the air and then toward Neji. Neji halts in his tracks as he can see the massive tidal wave coming toward him, but something does not make sense in what he can see. The wave is coming toward him, but most of Dome's chakra is directed at Neji.
"But I can see the wave, what is going on here? Wait a second." Stands his ground and stares down the wave of water.
The crowd screams at Neji to get out of the way, as he closes his eyes and stares down the impeding onslaught. The wave strike's Neji head on as water begins to cover the entire surface of the ring floor. The referee is even seen clutching onto a tree near the edge of the forested area, almost totally submerged in the water.
As the water begins to reseed into the ground and back into the artificial pond, Dome looks on in shock as Neji has not moved from his position. The crowd is speechless, as no one would have been able to stand up to that level of a water technique.
Dome begins to start another jutsu in hopes of affecting Neji the second time around. Neji begins to walk toward Dome as he scans him with his byakugan. Neji notices everything in a shadow-like view, with two images slightly superimposed on top of one another like two movies playing at the same time. The one image that the entire crowd is seeing, is that of Dome making several new hand seals and more water beginning to fill the pool, and the water level in the ring beginning to rise. To Neji, it looks just as real as it does to the crowd. The second image underneath the first image, is the view of the Byakugan. It shows Dome with one single hand seal formed (the seal of the ram) and his chakra flooding out of him and into the surrounding area. Neji has figured out the secret to Dome's genjutsu, the technique that fools the eyes of everyone in the crowd, cannot fool the white eyes of the Hyuuga clan's prodigy.
"Suiton: Daibakufu no jutsu!" (Water Element: Water Explosion Technique) A second blast of water erupts from behind Dome, sending another huge amount of water toward Neji like a tsunami. The wave tears up the ground and knocks over trees in the process. The referee finds her self on the actual wall of the arena trying to avoid the rising powerful water currents. As the wave hits Neji, completely submerging him in water, he continues to walk toward Dome and through the wall of water.
"H-how are you doing this?! The water should be tearing you apart at this level. Why are you not going down?" Dome yells in frustration, as beads of sweat begin to run down his face. Dome knows that Neji has figured his technique out, but he has chosen to fight until the very end.
"You made three large mistakes in this fight." Neji replies as he gets within ten meters of Dome, "First of all, you tried to use a technique against me that you had already used and explained in a previous match. Secondly, you used the technique against the only person in this arena that would be able to see through it."
Dome tries desperately to make Neji fall for his technique, as he raises the water level high Neji's head, tossing and turning the water on top of the confident leaf genin. Dome closes his eyes concentrating all of his skill and chakra in the faint hope that his technique will take effect on his opponent.
"And your third mistake," Neji says as Dome opens his eyes. He can see Neji only two meters in front of him, crouched with his hands fanned out in front and behind him with his palms laid out flat and turned upwards. "You're in the range of my Hakke."
The divination field forms around Neji and the unsuspecting mist shinobi, signifying that Neji is about to use his finishing technique.
"Jyuukenpo: Hakke Rokujuu Yonshou" (Gentle fist style: Divination Field Sixty-four Palms) Neji begins the 64 hands of hakke technique with the first spin and two strikes to the chest of Dome, instantly canceling his genjutsu and withdrawing the territory on the crowd. "TWO." Neji follows up with two more strikes, closing more of Dome's chakra holes. "FOUR." Neji, having warmed up and started the technique, then kicks it into high gear and unleashes the full force of the divination technique. He strikes eight more of Dome's tenketsu's, sending Dome reeling. "EIGHT" The flurry continues, as Neji strikes the next eight chakra holes. "SIXTEEN"
Up on the first balcony, Shin looks on in disbelief at Neji's speed, accuracy and power that he is demonstrating. "This kid is incredible, he is so fast and his strikes are so harsh, yet his technique is fluent and clean. His style has almost no weaknesses. Every time I think he has shown the extent of his ability, he comes out with something new and even more impressive. This is not good. We act after this match and this kid cannot be in the way." Shin looks down to Yukina who already is watching Shin. He points casually with his left hand at Neji in the ring, and then moves his index finger along his throat. Yukina nods in approval as the two focus on the match again.
"THIRTY-TWO" Neji continues down the final stretch of the monstrous 64 hands of hakke combo with the next sixteen strikes. As Dome is sent backward away from his opponent, Neji spins yet again, focusing his chakra into a rotation and starting a downsized kaiten. With the added rotation and power behind Neji, he strikes the final thirty-two tenketsu's with his high powered kaiten/jyuuken combination strikes. Neji finishes the combo with a twisting strike with both hands, sending Dome spinning and tumbling backwards for several meters as Neji himself finds himself in a small crater in the ring.
Neji stands confidently as he looks upon his fallen opponent, who is being attended to by the referee. The look on Neji's face is one of determination. Neji came to the tournament to make a statement to the world and to himself that no one will stand in his way as he tries to eliminate all of his weaknesses.
"Sixty-Four."
Back in the stands, Yukina turns to Kumo at her side, "Get into position. Do you have the device?"
"Of coarse." Replies Kumo as he heads to the stairwell and down toward the ring.
The referee raises Neji's hand as Dome is carried out on a stretcher. "Winner of the second match of the semifinals: Hyuuga Neji!"
The crowd gives Neji a standing ovation, as Neji has his sights set up in the fighters area where Naruto is still struggling to clear the water and mud from inside his ears. Neji points to Naruto whose attention is now focused on Neji. Neji cracks a smile as he then points to himself with his thumb and nods. In the fighters area Naruto reciprocates with a smile of his own. The rematch is set for the final round. Naruto then makes his way down to meet with Neji who will shortly be on his way up.
On the 1st balcony a look of awareness is stricken across Shin's face as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out two earplugs which he then places in his ears. "It's time."
Kumo, Yamu, and Yukina are all doing the same at the same time, placing earplugs into their ears and saying together, "Let the mission begin."
As the referee readies to inform the crowd of the next break in entertainment she turns to the entry way of the ring to notice Kumo walking slowly toward the center of the ring. The referee is confused by the actions and wonders how the former tournament participant was allowed into the ring. Her look turns from curiosity to surprise as she sees the two guards who were set to guard the entry way, laying lifeless on the ground. The referee reaches for her kunai just as Neji turns around to notice Kumo. Before the referee or Neji can react, Kumo throws off his trench coat to reveal a full body outfit hooked up with a device similar to the sound amplifier that Dosu wore during the chuunin exam, except this amplifier takes up most of Kumo's body instead of just his arm. Kumo slaps his right fist into his left palm as a thunderous echo of the clap resonates from the massive amplifier throughout the arena.
"Hibikishibari No Jutsu" (Echo Body Bind Technique) As the sound of the amplifier resonates throughout the arena, many of the spectators are confused by the turn of events.
In the 1st balcony the Raikage questions Shin as to his student's actions. "Shin what is your student doing in the ring? This is outrageous, he is making our village look . . . " The Raikage finds that he cannot leave his seat no matter how hard he tries. "Shin what is the meaning of this?"
Shin begins laughing heartily to himself as he is able to walk about freely while all others on the 1st balcony and throughout the arena are paralyzed by the technique of Kumo's. "Its Kumo's special technique, you idiot. By using those amplifiers he creates a sonic wave that paralyzes anyone in its wake." Shin then looks down to the crowd as only two members are moving around, Yamu and Yukina perch themselves on the railings of the crowd area. "Oh and so you know. His name is not Kumo."
In the ring, Kumo's henge dissipates as his true form is shown. He is a tall well built man with a shaved head. Yamu dissipates his henge as well revealing the already introduced Akira Keinea. Yukina makes a drastic change as the short and fat mist shinobi becomes a tall athletic brunette so beautiful that many male members of the crowd forget about the fact that they are being forcefully detained in their seats.
Ino tries desperately to leave her seat but like everyone else cannot move. "Dammit, what is going on here, Chouji can you move? CHOUJI?!"
Chouji is sitting next to Ino with chips falling out of his hand as he remains mesmerized by the new and extremely beautiful Yukina, whom Shin identifies to the Raikage as Sukio Maea.
"Maea has been with my group for a long time, you have never met Masato Toragai who currently keeps your ass restrained to that chair, and I believe you know my brother Akira Keinea." Shin says as he mockingly slaps the Raikage across the face.
"Your brother?! What are you talking about Shin, you have no brother . . . You aren't Shin are you?"
"No, you idiot I am not. Shin died months ago, the same with the rest of his team."
"I know who you are. You are supposed to be dead dammit! And so is your brother!"
Shin reveals his true form as his henge is canceled. The form before him is a man of roughly 16 years old. His hair is long and black and tied back and braided in a thick ponytail, and a head protector around his forehead fades from the village of the hidden cloud, to a previously unseen design of two lines jagged and connecting to one another (almost like two connecting lightning bolts.) The man is handsome but his demeanor is not one of a confident and calm shinobi of his age. The look upon his face is one almost sinister.
"Akira Toshida. . . Wh-what are you doing here? How are you here? It's impossible, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD! What do you want with me you beast?!"
Toshida strikes the Raikage in the face with a hard right hand as his personal bodyguards look on, helpless to stop harm from falling upon their leader.
"TOSHIDA! HURRY UP I CANNOT HOLD THIS TECHNIQUE FOR LONG!" Toragai shouts from the center of the ring, as he strains severely trying to keep the technique from wearing off.
Toshida focuses his attention back to the Raikage. "So selfish and so naive as always. Whoever said that I wanted you?"
Toshida looks to the other side of the balcony where Tsunade looks on helpless to move. Tsunade makes eye contact with the threatening Toshida, knowing that she is the real target of this treachery.
"KEINEA! MOVE OUT, MAEA TAKE HEAD TO YOUR TARGETS!"
Toshida grabs the 5th Hokage by her arm and pulls her out of her seat. She falls to the ground still unable to move under her own power. Toshida wraps Tsunade up with wire around her wrists behind her back and more around her ankles. Toshida then slaps several sealing scrolls around the binding on Tsunade, sealing her ankles and wrists and preventing her from escaping.
"Sorry Hokage, but I am afraid that you are temporarily a prisoner, of the shinobi from the Village ofSin."