Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 12- Let it Begin!

Sakura and Kakashi went to their designated waiting room. They were informed that each team will have their own waiting room to prevent fights backstage. Their room number is 20.

"Wow! We have our own waiting room. I mean I was expecting all of the participants to wait in one room," Sakura said enthusiastically.

"Hmm…it's comfortable," Kakashi said while sitting down on the sofa which is facing the glass window. "They have great taste in picking furniture. I wonder how much they had to spend to build waiting rooms for each teams."

"I'm sure that these are just temporary. I think this big stadium isn't just used for competitions. Maybe these stuff are just borrowed," Sakura answered.

"Maybe you're right. Oh look! The first match is beginning," Kakashi said whilelooking own at the window which is overlooking the battle ground in the stadium.

"Oh! Who's battling each other?" Sakura asked as she sat down next to Kakashi.

"Some Mist nins and Sand nins," he answered.

"Oh…" She said uninterestedly.

"Pay attention to what they're doing. We might fight them when our match comes."

"How are the matches done again? Is it done randomly?" she asked.

"Yes and no," Kakashi answered as Sakura gave him a very confused look. "There are 20 teams all in all. The 19 teams will be picked randomly. The remaining 1 team won't be and that team is us," Kakashi stated.

"What? Why?"

"Because for some reason Tsunade wants us to fight the winner from those teams." Kakashi answered.

"So let me get this straight. The 19 teams will fight each other. Only one team will remain. We will fight that team. Is that right?" she stated.

"Yeah," he answered while watching the first match. "Do you think that the other teams will think it's unfair that we are battling in the last match?"

"I don't think so. From what I observed from the other teams awhile ago they don't seem to care about the prize money. They just joined for the same reason like ours, to test our abilities."

"I see. Well, then I have no more worries about that," ha said while smiling under his mask.

In room number 5…

"Hey, bastard, 5 matches have already passed and we still haven't fought in any match," whined Naruto.

"Shut up, dobe. You're the one who wanted to join his stupid competition so be patient," Sasuke said in an irritated way.

"Fine…I just hope Hinata-chan and the others aren't getting bored," Naruto said.

"Why did you have to invite your girlfriend to watch? Now Neji, Tenten, Lee, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Kiba and Shino are here," Sasuke stated.

"Mou….I don't know how that happened. As far as I know I just invited Hinata-chan," Naruto said.

"Hn."

At the stadium seats…

"Let's just go, Tenten. This place is boring me out," Neji said.

"Oh, come on. I want to see Naruto and Sasuke fight against some ninjas in their matches."

"Hn," Neji answered. 'The only reason why I'm staying is because of you,' he thought while looking at his girlfriend.

Right next to them another conversation is going on.

"Remind me again why I'm here?" Shikamaru said in a bored way. 'It's better to watch the clouds on my favorite spot than to watch these battles. Oh well, I hope Sasuke and Naruto will make interesting matches.'

"You're here because I invited you and you agreed," Ino stated.

"Why did I say yes, why?" Shikamaru muttered. Chouji who heard this chuckled while eating his chips.

"Hey, Chouji. Can I have some chips?" Shikamaru aked his bestfriend.

"Um…okay but only one," Chouji answered.

"And you call yourself my bestfriend," Shikamaru accused him.

"Hahaha!"

On their right side another conversation is going on.

"Hey, Hinata, do you know when Naruto and Sasuke's match will come up?" Kiba asked.

"Um…to tell you the truth, I don't know," Hinata answered.

"Oh, okay," he said defeatedly.

Just then something caught all their attention. It seemed to change everyone's bored and impatient moods.

"For the 6th match team 13 with Tansake Juroku and Mizuko Meagi will be fighting against team 5 with Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto!"

All of them clapped and cheered when they heard that. It seems like everyone in the whole stadium is waiting for Naruto and Sasuke's match. It also seems like both of them are the highlight of the whole competition, but they are greatly mistaken. And so the match begins…

Naruto and Sasuke got into fighting positions so did their opponents. A series of kunais were directed to both of them which they effortlessly dodged. Sasuke suddenly appeared behind Juroku and kicked him which sent him flying to his teammate, Meagi. Naruto who was prepared for this used his Kage Bunshins to beat the hell out of those two.

When Meagi and Juroku finally got rid of Naruto's Kage Bunshins it was obvious that they are pissed. They looked at each other as if saying 'let's do our special techniques to finish these two down.' Unknown to both of them Naruto and Sasuke saw the looks on their faces so both of them prepared for whatever may come.

Meagi did some hand seals and so did Juroku. Just then a great rumbling sound was heard and the ground shook furiously. Sasuke activated his Sharingan then suddenly shot a warning to Naruto.

"Naruto, below!"

When Naruto looked at the ground sharply pointed blocks of ice came protruding from below. One of them barely missing Naruto. Sasuke seeing those things coming before it actually happened went as far as he could from the place he estimated those pointed ice blocks would go.

"Where's the other one?" he asked himself while searching the battle ground.

"Over here," said a voice from his back.

Sasuke tried to move his feet but he couldn't. He tried again but failed like the first time. He looked at his legs to find them wrapped up by some large root-like things.

Back to Naruto….

"What are these shits?" Naruto asked while dodging more of the sharp ice blocks.

"These aren't shits, stupid boy. This is my special technique, Rage of the Ice Dragon!" she yelled at him.

"Rage of the Ice Dragon? What a stupid name for some stupid shit." Naruto said while grinning. In truth to be told he really thought the name funny not to mention long.

"You'll pay for that, boy!" Meagi shouted furiously at the now chuckling Naruto. She then directed on of her 'ice dragons' to him. It hit him then suddenly he turned into a puff of smoke.

'A Kage Bunshin? When did he make one?' she thought. 'Where's the real one?'

"Up here!" a voice of a certain hyperactive ninja came from above. She then hit him with another 'ice dragon' only to find him turning into a puff of smoke. Then a series of Kage Bunshins did the same things to her. 'Ahhh! Where is the real one?' she thought wildly.

Back to Sasuke…

'I need to get out of these fucking things! I can use my Chidori which I can use 8 times a day but it'll be just a waste of chakra on these shitheads,' he thought. 'Bah! I'll do it anyway.'

"What? Can't get yourself out?" mocked Juroku who is oblivious to the fact he's fighting an Uchiha.

Sasuke started to gather his chakra on his left hand until Naruto appeared.

"Hey, man. Don't waste your Chidori on these weaklings. I'll use my Rasengan to free you," Naruto said.

"Where's your opponent?" Sasuke asked.

"I left her with my Kage Bunshins. Is it okay if we switch opponents? I know you can do Katon Goukakyu no jutsu so you'll be able to melt those ice shits," Naruto said.

"Sure. I don't really care who I'll fight with." Sasuke answered after getting out of the root-like things that were binding him to the ground.

Sasuke went to the part of the battle ground where the 'ice dragons' are. He saw Meagi struggling with Naruto's Kage Bunshins. 'Pathetic' he thought.

He made some hand seals and breathed out great big ball of fire which sent all the 'ice dragons' to melt. 'These aren't like Haku's. They are just blocks of ice that are sharpened. This is really pathetic.' He thought once again.

"You know I really don't want to waste my chakra on a pathetic weakling like you," he said frankly.

"What did you say, brat?" she yelled furiously. Just then Sasuke appeared behind her and hit the pressure points on her neck. That made her unconscious.

"Hey! Are you done?" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke just answered with a slight nod. Naruto of course understood what he meant considering the fact that they are close friends.

"Just give me 5 more seconds, okay?" Narut said loudly. He looked at Juroku who is getting a good beating from 6 Narutos. Juroku then got knocked out. 'Okay, I just needed 3 seconds.'

"Winner of the 6th match Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto!" the announcer exclaimed.

Everyone in the whole stadium clapped and cheered except their friends who are wearing a that-was-pathetic look on their faces.

"That was pathetic," Neji said.

"We know," everyone said at the same time.

In room number 20…

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Sakura said.

"Yeah. It's obvious that those two were no match against Naruto and Sasuke. I am so proud! Those two were my former students and now they are strong ninjas like me," Kakashi said while ending his statement with a joke.

"Whatever, Kakashi! Anyway, now I understand why Tsunade-sama wants us to fight the winner of those matches." Sakura said.

Kakashi thought for a few seconds and said, "Oh yeah! It's obvious that Sasuke and Naruto will win. That would mean we'll be fighting them."

"Looks like we'll have a grand entrance, then," Sakura said with a smirk.

The ninth match ended. Of course we all know who won. It's none other than Sasuke and Naruto. Once again the match turned out to be another walk in the park for both of them. That means they aren't tired at all.

"I told you that this'll be a total bore," Sasuke said in bored way.

"So maybe you're right. It seems like we have another match. Hmmm….team 20," Naruto said.

"Whatever. They might be like those 4 idiots we fought," Sasuke said.

"Oh look! Tsunade-baachan will be announcing the final match. I wonder what's so special about it." Naruto wondered out loud.

"And for the final match, Uchiha Sasuke and Uzumaki Naruto will be battling it all out with…. Hatake Kakashi and…"

"KAKASHI-SENSEI! WHERE?" Naruto said as his eyes turned as big as saucer plates. Sasuke's eyes also got big like saucer plates in fact everyone's eyes turned like that when they heard his name. Everyone who knows him was shocked and at the same time very, very happy that he's back.

"…and Haruno Sakura!"

"WHAT THE FUCK! WHAT KIND OF CRAP ARE YOU TRYING TO PULL?" Naruto yelled angrily. He doesn't like the fact that his now resting friend is being disrespected like that. But deep inside him he wanted to believe it's really her. He wanted to see his beloved friend back, but from what he knows she's dead.

Sasuke is obviously furious. He got really angry because he thought that Tsunade was disrespecting his Sakura. In the inside though, something resurfaced, the pain of sadness and loneliness. He felt guilt run throughout his body as he remembered his last moment with her. That moment isn't nice at all, actually it's the worst.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at the place where 'Kakashi and Sakura' are supposed to come out. They stood there in utter disbelief when they saw their former sensei and beloved friend standing there. There they are, Kakashi and Sakura, standing there alive and healthy. No signs that show any kind of struggle or pain.

"Yo!" Kakashi greeted calmly.

"Hi! Missed me?" Sakura said while giving them a big smile.

Tbc….

Hi! I am very, very sorry for the super late update! I/ve been so busy lately. Sorry again... anyway... thanks to all those who reviewed!