Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 2- The Games Begin, Teams Set to Fight!
"Poker?" Naruto asked confused.
"That's right," Kakashi replied, "This game was agreed upon by the other jounins due to the high level of strategy, calculations, and luck involved in this game,"
"Don't see why we all must participate in this," Sasuke muttered, "We all have better things to do,"
"Sasuke's right," Sakura added, "This mission isn't really a mission at all!"
"You're right," Kakahi replied, "It's an examination, it's a test to see how each team's ninjas will react in a situation involving decision making and calculations,"
Elsewhere Asuma was giving the same talk to his own team.
"This test will assess your capabilities as a ninja in terms of strategy and intelligence," Asuma explained, "Besides we have Shikamaru on our team so you guys can't lose,"
"Munch that's true," Chouji murmured as he swallowed a handful of chips.
"Shikamaru you had better not let us down!" Ino snarled.
"Yes ma'am," Shikamaru sighed, "I wish she'd shut up!"
Kurenai was also explaining and giving them strategic advice.
"Kiba, you're completely useless in this situation so just try to look at the other team's cards with Akamaru," Kurenai instructed, "Shino, your bugs can be useful as well in that area, Hinata your Byakugan should help you as well,"
"Y-yes," Hinata mumbled.
"Yes," Shino echoed calmly.
"WHAT!" Kiba snarled, "HOW AM I USELESS!"
Finally Gai was giving his own team his idea of a "pep talk".
"Don't worry my team!" Gai cried, "With your abilities you will win regardless!"
"How does Gai keep shouting at that volume?" Neji muttered.
"Gai-sensei is a genius!" Lee cried.
"Now here's the plan!" Gai shouted enthusiastically, "Neji, on the first move you are to go all in, make sure to use your Byakugan to make sure you always get 21!"
"21," Neji asked confused, "We're supposed to be playing poker," Tenten remarked.
"WHAAAAAAT!" Gai cried, "21 is not the same as Poker?"
"No, poker is the one with straights and flushes, and pairs, and so on and so forth," Tenten explained.
"Oh, you mean Black Jack!" Gai replied, "Then just always try to get rid of the Joker!"
"That's Old Maid," Neji replied.
"We're so screwed," Tenten sighed.
Two hours later the teams gathered into the same meeting hall.
Except instead of being an empty tiled room now it was covered in a rich embroidered carpet and multiple chandeliers along. Several tables had been set up. Each was made of thick strong oak and rich green velvet had been sown onto the top. Slots containing chips were stocked to the top and decks of cards were neatly shuffled and lay in the centre. Each table had two signs with numbers written on them save one. It simply had the word "Backseat".
"Kakashi-sensei, what's that mean?" Sakura asked pointing to the one different table.
"Each team will be asked to put one 'elite' player onto that table," Kakashi explained, "Basically that table is reserved for each team's best player,"
"Which is me of course," Naruto laughed.
"Nope, Sasuke, you're going," Kakashi instructed.
"WHAT!" Naruto cried.
"Yes," Sasuke muttered as he strode over and took a seat at the table.
"The rest of the teams will be put into a 'team match' where there will be two games of four," Kakashi continued explaining, "Though the Backseat table is reserved for the best this is were teammates must utilize their cooperation and teamwork to their fullest extent,"
Table One's sign read: Team 7: Uzumaki Naruto
Haruno Sakura
Team 8: Inuzuka Kiba
Hyuuga Hinata
"I have to face Dog-breath again?" Naruto whined, "This sucks!"
"Same goes to you," Kiba shot back as he strode up with Hinata huddling shyly behind him and Akamaru lying atop his head.
"This will be bad," Sakura thought, "Hinata uses the byakugan, and she may be able to see our cards with it!"
"Hmmm, he's got Sakura on his side," Kiba thought, "She's smart and real good at calculating odds and ideas; she'll be the main threat!"
Sasuke sat with his hands folded in front of his mouth awaiting his fellow competitors.
"I have to face against Mr. Number One Rookie?" Shikamaru whined, "How troublesome!"
"And last years as well," Sasuke smirked as Hyuuga Neji took a seat next to him.
Finally Aburame Shino took his seat silently and waited for the game to begin.
On the other table Yamanak Ino and Akimichi Chouji took their seats next to Tenten and Rock Lee.
"Rock Lee's a real naïve kinda guy;" Ino thought slyly, "Tenten is cunning though so I'll have to watch out for her,"
"Ino is probably gonna trick Lee," Tenten thought irritably, "Chouji may look simple but he's not stupid, Ino is really cunning but she's also impulsive, that'll be here downfall!"
Tsunade walked out from the balcony and smiled widely.
"Hello everyone," She called out, "Welcome to Konoha's Poker 1st Tournament!"
"Just hurry up!" Naruto called out, "I wanna get kick dog breath's butt!"
"WHAT!" Kiba cried, "Listen hear you fox-faced brat…"
"In any case, will our dealer's step forward?" Tsunade called out.
In a puff of smoke three figures appeared.
"Hey Naruto," Umino Iruka called out cheerfully, "Make sure you try your best!"
"Tch, the brat always does, doesn't mean it's always a good thing when he does," Mitarashi Anko sighed as stood next to Iruka.
"Hmph, look like I'll be overseeing another exam," Genma Shiranui mumbled.
Each was wearing black dress pants, a white long-sleeved dress shirt, a bright red dress-vest, and a black bow tie to complete it.
"Allow me to explain the rules," Tsunade explained, "Each player will be given a total of 10,000 dollars except the 'backseat players' who will be given 100,000 each, the moment one player is cleaned out they will leave the table until there is a sole winner, the two winners from each table will compete in the semi-finals while the 'backseat' player will await for the winner to face him in the finals, if both finalists are from the same team they will automatically be declared the winner by default,"
Genma stepped forward and picked up the cards on Team 7's and Team 8's table and began shuffling them absent-mindedly while Iruka stepped forward and picked up the cards on Team 9's and Team Gai's deck and did the same. Anko stepped forward and picked up the cards that lay on the "backseat" player's table.
"Dealer's begin to deal," Tsunade instructed, "Players may feel free to use any method to win however dealers may use any method they desire to prevent cheating, if they so choose,"
Each of the dealers shuffled and divided the chips amongst the players.
Shinobi Scoreboard (Team 7 vs. Team 8)
Team 7
Uzumaki Naruto: 10,000 dollars
Haruno Sakura: 10,000 dollars
Team 8
Inuzuka Kiba: 10,000 dollars
Hyuuga Hinata: 10,000 dollars
Shinobi Scoreboard (Team 9 vs. Team Gai)
Team 9
Yamanka Ino: 10,000 dollars
Akimichi Chouji: 10,000 dollars
TeamGai
Rock Lee: 10,000 dollars
Tenten: 10,000 dollars
Backseat Game: (Nara Shikamaru vs. Uchiha Sasuke vs. Aburame Shino vs. Hyuuga Neji)
Nara Shikamaru: 100,000 dollars
Uchiha Sasuke: 100,000 dollars
Aburame Shino: 100,000 dollars
Hyuuga Neji: 100,000 dollars
"Dealer's begin!" Tsunade cried.