Wow. A lot of you were happy to see Kabuto stay and fight Sasuke. Guess you all liked that little twist, right? Well that's good. I hope you all enjoy the fights that are about to come. I will say that I actually only have one canon fight here, and the rest are all against different opponents from canon, so we'll see how that goes.
For those of you who don't read my Beast Wars fanfic, let me say again here what I said there. Due to unfortunate financial problems, I may be delayed for an unknown period of time in my writing. I don't know for certain if I will, and if I am, I don't know how long until I am able to get back to writing. But let me state, here and now, that unless absolute catastrophe happens, I will not abandon these fanfics. Like I said, I don't know what exactly is going to happen here, as I might be delayed, or I might not be. Just letting you all know.
To anonymous guest Robyn, I would happily let you know what I'm planning regarding Hinata becoming a full Assassin, except I don't wish to put out spoilers here for others to see who may not want spoilers. So if you are able to eventually contact me privately, do so and I'll let you know. Or you can see what happens as I write the fanfic. So I can't offer any more info then that. x.x
So, with nothing else to add at the moment, here we go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Assassin's creed. They are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and Ubisoft respectively. This is a nonprofit fan made work of fiction. Please support the official release.
Chapter 34
Drama in the
Preliminaries
At once, the two were in motion, both leaping towards each other, Sasuke, Sharingan active, struck first as he launched a pair of shuriken at Kabuto. Kabuto dodged them, bringing out a curved knife as he prepared to engage in hand to hand combat while Sasuke drew his own, their blades crashing against each other, sparks flying from metal meeting metal. The older genin attempted to use his greater strength to overpower Sasuke, but Sasuke slipped under him, dropping the kunai, grabbing it in his other hand, and slashing at Kabuto, forcing him back. Flipping the kunai back to his right hand, he pressed the assault.
Kiba grinned as he gripped the rail, leaning over it. "Yeah, go Sasuke! Show him the strength of Team Seven!" he shouted excitedly, as Sakura stood next to him, watching while gripping the rail. She had faith in Sasuke, but she was worried about how badly he might have been affected by the sealing process. Not to mention that the genin he was facing was more experienced, with a few years under his belt. She gripped the rail tightly, as Sasuke kept pressing the attack.
Kabuto grunted softly as he blocked another of Sasuke's blows, ducking under a punch from the Uchiha genin, only to be forced to block with his forearms as Sasuke spun and delivered a kick at his face. The blow drove him back a couple feet before he stopped, settling back into his stance.
Sasuke however was already finishing a set of hand signs. Drawing in air, he began launching a series of fireballs at Kabuto, forcing him to dodge to the sides, before trying to rush Sasuke. The Uchiha genin leapt back, finishing another handsign and launching a much larger fireball that created an explosion as it smashed into the ground where Kabuto had stood.
From the railing, the Oto jounin watched, looking impassive, and yet if one were able to see his eyes clearly, they'd see a look of both glee and yet disappointment as he watched the fight, as the smoke cleared, revealing the slightly burning crater where the fireball had landed.
Kabuto, having leapt into the air over the fireball, landed, and glanced at the crater, then at Sasuke, who was again holding a kunai, preparing for the next engagement.
Kabuto slowly settled into his stance, gripping his own kunai, studying Sasuke. He suddenly lunged forward, tossing a normal kunai out, forcing Sasuke to dodge to the side, right into his attack. Sasuke was barely able to move his head to one side, the curved kunai slashing his cheek lightly and drawing blood.
The glasses wearing genin smirked at that, only to find himself on the receiving end of a sudden blow to his stomach, as Sasuke slammed a punch into him. Sasuke swung his kunai down, his eyes widening as he felt the blade bite into flesh, only for Kabuto to suddenly disappear in a cloud of smoke, replaced by a rock that Sasuke's kunai was embedded in.
Sasuke quickly jumped away, as Kabuto appeared through the floor, trying to slash up at him. Sasuke landed and skidded back, panting slightly as he looked at Kabuto, who was also panting lightly. He gripped his kunai, bringing it up into the ready position as he tried to think of some way to win the match. He and Kabuto seemed relatively evenly matched, at least in taijutsu, and Kabuto had a few more years experience on him. Plus Kabuto seemed to know a fair amount of what he could do, if those info cards were any real indication. If he wanted to win this fight, and fast, he needed to pull out a surprise, and fast.
Kiba growled as he leaned over the rail. "C'mon Sasuke, hurry up already! Stop playing around with this guy!" Kiba shouted.
Sasuke glanced up at him, only to blink as he also saw Lee on the railing. His eyes widened slightly, as he remembered the small brawl before the First Exam. Lee had challenged him to a fight, wanting to test himself against the Rookie of the Year, to see if his hard work could beat a natural genius. The fight had been rather one sided, even with his Sharingan active, as Lee had trounced first Kiba, who had arrogantly charged Lee, and then himself. But during the fighting, he had remembered copying Lee's moves.
Sasuke now frowned slightly, as he didn't entirely like the idea of using moves he had accidentally stolen. His father wouldn't have had a problem with it, but his mother had always taught him that it cheapened the hard work of your friends and allies if you simply copied and used their hard learned techniques for yourself. Still, at the moment it was the only idea Sasuke could think of.
Closing his eyes, he nodded, before rushing towards Kabuto. The older genin, readied himself, preparing to charge forward, only to blink as Sasuke seemed to vanish in front of him. That is until he felt the blow to his chin that sent him hurtling into the air.
Lee could only gape, starring as Sasuke perfectly performed the initial kick of his Omote Renge (Front Lotus), followed by disappearing and appearing behind in the air, utilizing the Kage Buyō (Shadow of the Dancing Leaf). "Those are my techniques," he said quietly, stunned that Sasuke had been able to so perfectly copy them.
In the air, Sasuke quickly shifted his body, bringing his left leg up and kicking Kabuto's side, making him grunt out in pain. He suddenly pushed off with said leg, pushing himself into a spin and sliding under Kabuto's back to now bring his left arm down in a bar across Kabuto's neck, continuing the spin to drive a right hook into Kabuto's face, and finishing with a right heel drop right onto Kabuto's stomach, driving him into the ground.
Sasuke quickly leapt away from the explosion of smoke and debris, as Kabuto lay there in the crater, groaning and twitching. Hayate approached the older genin, and seeing him not rising, raised his hand. "The match goes to Sasuke Uchiha," he reported, as medics rushed out onto the arena, gathering up Kabuto.
Sasuke panted softly, slumping a bit, but grinning as several of the viewers, jounin and genin alike, applauded his efforts. He moved back up to the walkway where his team was, where Kiba grinned. "Alright! Way to go man," he said, slapping Sasuke on the back.
Sakura smiled at him. "That was really great Sasuke-kun," she said with a smile.
Sasuke nodded in thanks to their congratulations, before frowning, and moving past them to where Team Nine stood. He approached Lee, before stopping. "Lee-san…I wish to apologize for stealing your moves, and utilizing them. My mother taught me that it is wrong to use an ally's technique, unless they give permission," he said politely, bowing his head.
Lee blinked at that, before smiling, and giving him a thumbs up. "It is alright, Sasuke-san. I am pleased and honored that my moves could help inspire you your Flames of Youth, and bring you victory. Though now, I'm more motivated than ever to prove that my hard work is superior to your natural born genius," he said.
Sasuke sweatdropped slightly as he nodded. "Thank you, Lee-san," he said, as he returned to his team, while hearing Lee's sensei Gai proudly congratulating his student on a 'wonderful display of youth'.
As the arena floor was quickly repaired, the name selector began spinning again, preparing to select the next two combatants. Everyone watched intently, waiting to see if their name was called up.
Soon enough, the generator stopped, revealing two names: Tenten vs Samui.
Tenten grinned, as she hopped down to the ground with lee and Gai cheering her on, with Samui slowly walking down from her walkway. Tenten eyed her competition, trying to size her up. She looked to be about her age, with straight blonde hair that reached down to the top of her neck, with light blue eyes and pale skin. She was wearing a short sleeved and skirted kimono, gray in color, with a black skirt reaching down to her knees, as well as an armored corset around her waist that had the Kumo emblem on the front of it. (1) Rounding out her outfit was a mesh shirt visible in the neckline of her kimono top, a pair of armored bracers and thigh high toeless boots. Tenten's eyes narrowed as she saw the tanto sheathed at the back of her waist.
Samui in turn looked Tenten over, seeing her pink sleeveless top, slightly baggy green pants, and the scrolls at her hips. She settled her left hand on her tanto hilt, ready to draw at a moment's notice, as Tenten's hands moved down to her kunai pouch.
Hayate, seeing them both ready, nodded. "Fight!" He shouted, jumping back.
Immediately, Samui drew her tanto, holding it in front of her in a reverse grip, as Tenten drew a kunai. The bun haired kunoichi grinned as she spun the kunai by its ring grip on her finger, before hurling it at Samui, who blocked it. Tenten quickly drew several shuriken, launching them with lighting speed at Samui, who quickly began small stepping dodges, deflecting and blocking each shuriken as she began moving closer to Tenten.
Tenten kept grinning as she pulled out several more shuriken, gripping them between her fingers before unleashing them in a massive flurry at Samui, who was forced to substitute away to avoid being hit by them all, reappearing a few feet away. What she wasn't expecting though was for Tenten to yank on hidden wires attached to each shuriken, causing them to wheel around and swing towards Samui, each projectile now a miniature spinning bladed yo-yo.
Samui ducked under one, blocking another and cutting the wire attached to it, before leaping over two more. A fifth however cut into her arm, drawing blood. She landed, her eyes only narrowing slightly as she looked down at the flesh wound, then at Tenten, who yanked on the wires to call back the shuriken she still had control over.
Tenten grinned as she launched them again, this time using her connected wires to have them all come at Samui from different angles. Samui again rolled out of the way, as the shuriken all impacted the ground, before leaping quickly, cutting the wires so that Tenten lost all control of them.
Tenten frowned as she leapt back, her hand going to one of her scrolls. "Hmmm, you're pretty handy with that blade," she said, complimenting her opponent. Samui just said nothing, her face still as stoic as it was at the beginning of the match, as she readied herself again.
On the walkway, Karui growled as she leaned over the rail. "Hurry up and end the bitch already," she muttered, teeth gritted, as Omoi glanced at her nervously.
"Hey, take it easy Karui. You know there are Konoha shinobi who can probably hear us, right?" He muttered. "You don't want to start an incident, do you?"
Before Karui could retort, Kirabi placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm your heat, Karui-chan. I know you ain't Konoha's biggest fan," he said, as Karui groaned.
"Stop it sensei," she muttered, as the fight continued.
Samui now was on the offensive, rushing towards Tenten and trying to get in close, as Tenten kept throwing kunai and shuriken at her. The bun haired kunoichi yanked out a series of senbon and launched them at Samui, who blocked most of them, except for two that pierced her shoulder. She faltered a bit at that, reaching up and yanking them out before tossing them aside.
Tenten decided it was time to up the ante, as she yanked out one of her scrolls, unsealing several different weapons, consisting of swords, axes, a couple spears, and even a mace. She grabbed each one out of the air, tossing them at Samui, who for the first time, looked a bit stunned, barely dodging this large weapons she wasn't expecting to be thrown at her.
Tenten grimaced, as her opponent continued to be fast enough to dodge or block her weapons. It wounded her pride a bit, as she trained constantly to be accurate, getting perfect strikes against targets. She had defeated several thugs, bandits, and a few genin in the past with her accuracy, but it seemed Samui was fast enough to dodge her.
Tenten decided to go for the killing blow, as she dropped the scroll she had been using, and grabbed out two more, setting them at her sides as she crouched down. "Sōshōryū! (Ninja Art: Rising Twin Dragons)" She shouted, as the two scrolls launched upwards in a spiral, wreathed in smoke shaped like dragons. Tenten shot up in the middle of the two spiraling scrolls, now rapidly summoning more weapons sealed into the scrolls, and launching them at Samui.
Samui frowned as she kept leaping away, blocking the weapons that came close to her as she kept dodging, finally finding herself with her back against the wall of the arena, as the last weapon hit the ground.
She looked up at Tenten, only to find the Konoha kunoichi was grinning, as she yanked her hands back. Like the shuriken she had used earlier, the weapons all were yanked back on nearly invisible wires, creating a giant mass of weapons hovering in the air, as Tenten smirked. "This is the end!" She shouted, throwing all of them at Samui at the same time.
Everyone could only gape in horror and amazement, as the weapons shot towards Samui. And yet at the last moment, they all deflected away, slamming into the wall around Samui or the floor in front of her, with not a single one of them hitting her.
Tenten could only stare in disbelief and horror, as Samui stood there, lighting crackling over her body. "I don't find the idea of being a pincushion to be very cool," she said in a stoic voice, slowly reaching to grab weapons on either side of her. The lightning crackled around her, which she had used to create a temporarily reverse magnetic field, now shot into the weapons, and up the metallic wires, shocking Tenten. She began screaming in pain as she was electrocuted, before falling to the ground, hitting it hard. As she lay there twitching and spasming, Samui lowered her hands. "I believe she's done," she said coldly.
Hayate approached, and seeing Tenten unable to voluntarily move, nodded. "Tenten is unable to fight. Samui of Kumo is the winner," he said.
Samui watched as the medics picked Tenten up and rushed her towards the infirmary, before another one came to her, offering to heal up her wounds. She nodded as she watched a couple of shinobi clear away the weapons, to deliver them back to Tenten when she recovered. Then her gaze moved up to where Naruto stood.
Naruto frowned as he saw those cold blue eyes lock onto him, hardening as she looked at him. He stared back, frowning, not backing down, as she finally turned away and returned to her team after being treated. Hinata next to him frowned at Samui's actions, and looked up, seeing Karui giving a much more heated glare towards Naruto. "Okay, did you do something to piss off Kumo?" She whispered to Naruto.
"Not that I know," he said, as the next two contestants were chosen, the names Zaku and Shino appearing.
The two genin moved down to the field, with Hayate looking with concern at Zaku's arms. "Are you certain you wish to fight?" He asked Zaku.
"Just start the fucking match already," Zaku growled out, as Shino watched him, eyes narrowed.
Up above, Asuma took a drag on his cigarette, chuckling. "I pity that boy. Even if he was fully healed, I don't think he'd stand much of a chance," he said.
Anko glanced over at him, eyebrow raised. "Ohhh? He that good, huh?" He asked.
"You have no idea. Shino might be quiet and may not look like much, but he can be pretty ruthless at times, when it's called for," he said, as the match began.
Shino just watched his opponent impassively behind his sunglasses. "I would suggest you forfeit. You are at an obvious disadvantage, and I would not wish to exasperate your injuries more," he stated calmly.
Zaku however just growled angrily. "You think you're hot shit, huh? Part of a famous clan in a big shinobi village? You think you're better than me?! Well you're fucking not! I fucking hate people like you, who think you're so much better, looking down on people like me! Well fuck you!" He shouted, as he suddenly yanked his right arm out of its sling, revealing that it was not as bad as he made it seems. "Guess I'm not as injured as you think!" He shouted.
Shino merely raised an eyebrow, before sidestepping as a cutting wave of wind shot through where he stood, slashing the wall behind him. Zaku fired another cutting wave at him, as Shino merely side stepped again, before dodging a third time as a third one came at him. Zaku growled as he launched a series of blasts, each one aimed either at Shino or ahead of him. Shino managed to dodge each one until he had moved almost to the other side of where he had started. He suddenly rushed forward, doing something most people would not predict for an Aburame as he actually got in close enough to punch Zaku, laying a right hook across his cheek.
Zaku spun from the blow, but used the momentum to spin away from Shino, and bring up his good arm, blasting him almost point blank range. Shino was sent flying back, smashing into the wall, only to disintegrate into a writhing mass of black insects, which began surging towards Zaku. At the same time Shino appeared on the opposite side of Zaku, holding a kunai.
"It seems you have a choice now," Shino said in his monotone voice. "You can either deal with my insects or me, or you could surrender," Shino said. "But you cannot take us both out."
Zaku glared at him, his arm pointed at the insects, before he grinned. "Heh, you think, so, wouldn't you? You superior arrogant bastard. But looks like I've got an advantage you didn't think of!" he shouted, yanking out his other arm, pointing it at Shino. "Say goodbye!" He shouted, as he prepared to launch cutting air waves at both Shino and his insects.
However, instead of cutting pressure waves slamming into the Aburame and his swarm, Zaku's arms bulged before air erupted from various points in his arms, making him scream in agony, his arms falling uselessly at his side.
Shino moved up next to him, as his insects swarmed around them, returning to Shino. "While it was clever of you to try and look weaker than you really were, it was easy to surmise that if one of your arms was functioning, the other would be as well," he said. "When I punched you, I used that moment to place some of my insects onto you, to block up your air holes in your arms. Afterwards, I simply had to distract you so my insects could finish blocking up the airways. Once you attempted to attack me…well you see what happens," he said.
Zaku growled as he swung his arms at Shino, only to be backhanded by Shino, sending him flying. "Proctor, I believe he is done," Shino said, as he moved away.
Hayate nodded, as Zaku groaned, lying there, unable to get up due to his injured arms. "Zaku is unable to fight. Shino is the victor," he said.
As Zaku was carried away, the Oto jounin moved away from the wall. "I'm going to see to Zaku," he said to Dosu and Kin. They both simply nodded, but as the jounin left, Dosu glared at his back.
Meanwhile, the name generator began rolling through the next two contestants, as everyone waited with bated breath. Eventually, two new names popped up: Gaara vs Misumi Tsurugi.
Team Ten all grew tense at that, remembering the bloodbath they had seen in the Forest, and their belief it was one of the Suna shinobi who had done it. Naruto meanwhile grew attentive, as he now could watch his fellow jinchuuriki in action.
At the infirmary, the medics were working on Zaku's arms, while Tenten lay in one bed, sedated and unconscious. Kabuto meanwhile seemed asleep. That is until he sensed the small fluctuation of chakra, causing him to open his eyes. He could see the Oto jounin entering the room, with nobody paying any attention to him, as he came right over to Kabuto's bed. He smiled as he spoke. "Greetings Orochimaru-sama. I'm touched you're here to check on me."
The Oto jounin let out a snake like laugh. "Aah, my dear Kabuto-kun. I am glad to see you're alright. Your fight with Sasuke-kun was almost believable," he said. "Now that you've fought him, tell me what you think," he said.
Kabuto sat up comfortably, before speaking. "He seems skilled, for a genin. He has the potential to a powerful shinobi, if he's focused in the right direction. However, it does seem that someone has already sealed the seal you gave him. The fight I put him through should have caused it to activate, at least once," Kabuto said.
"I noticed the same as well. There are few people with that level of sealing knowledge. For them to do it and Sasuke to already be in condition to fight means most likely…that it was my old teammate, Jiraiya," Orochimaru stated, frowning. "That complicates things to a degree."
"Indeed, Orochimaru-sama. I've also noted something, watching Sasuke in the village and such. He seems driven by a sense of justice, wanting to bring his brother in for the 'crimes' he has committed, as well as protecting his family and clan. It might be harder to lure him away from Konoha," Kabuto reported.
Orochimaru nodded quietly. "Nobler intentions are harder for me to manipulate…but I'm sure that Sasuke will see the benefits of coming to me, when the time comes. Continue your charade, Kabuto-kun. I'll have need of your services soon enough," Orochimaru said, standing up and leaving.
"As you will, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto said, settling back into bed, and sensing the small genjutsu Orochimaru had put up dissipate.
In the arena, many people were feeling rather nauseous at the sight they had just witnessed. The fight had barely last more than a couple minutes after it started, and it had been little more than a bloody execution.
Misumi, when the fight began, charged Gaara, only to immediately be blasted back by a stream of sand that slammed him into the wall, only to then lift him up, smash him a couple more times into the ground, before lifting up his broken body, holding it above where all could see. The sand engulfed Misumi entirely, and before Hayate could say anything, contracted violently, with Misumi's pleas and screams for mercy cut off violently. Some blood had dripped out of the sand, falling to the ground below, before Gaara retracted the sand, leaving a mangled mess of cloth, bone and flesh to slump to the ground.
During the entire affair, Gaara's face remained utterly impassive. The only movement he had made was when Misumi had been captured, as he had lifted one hand and made a crushing motion with his fist, causing the sand to contract. Now having been declared the winner, he returned to his siblings, his face still impassive.
Naruto could only stare at Gaara in horror, at the callous way he had so utterly mutilated and killed Misumi. Hinata was trembling a bit next to him, feeling the same horror. They were not strangers to killing and death, but this cold blooded and gory killing was something they were not used to. Ino was the worst, sobbing slightly, as Anko comforted her. Many of the other genin were much the same, even the trio from Kumo. The Suna team were moving a bit nervously away from Gaara, who simply stood there, impassively.
Sarutobi frowned deeply as he looked at the Suna jinchuuriki. He wasn't disturbed so much that Gaara had killed his opponent, they were shinobi and that was what they did. It was the fact that he not only had done so in such a cold blooded and callous manner, but such a gory manner as well. Given how his teammates and sensei were acting around him, it also seemed he was not something they easily could control. If Suna let such a person into the chuunin exams, it seemed that they had little care as to any international incident Gaara might create. And that worried Sarutobi.
Hayate brought their attention back to the exams, as the name generator began running through the remaining names, before ending with Naruto Uzumaki and Karui.
Naruto blinked at that, before rolling his shoulders. "Guess I'm up," he said.
Hinata nodded as she touched his shoulder. "Good luck. And be careful," she said. Ino and Anko offered their own wishes of good luck, as Naruto headed down the stairway to the arena floor.
Karui growled softly, her hand already on her ninjato hilt over her shoulder. Naruto slowly examined her as he approached. She was dressed in a sleeveless top that was almost like a short skirted dress, with the collar and arm openings being slightly ragged. She also was wearing a long skirt that was open in the front, allowing for movement. He could see she wore shorts underneath the skirt, with thigh high skin tight boots and mesh stockings. She also had an armored vest that had a single shoulder strap over her left shoulder, and a white forehead protector that covered her forehead and the front of her hair, but was open in the back to let her wild red hair flow out from behind. Her golden eyes were locked onto him, anger blazing in them.
As Hayate started the match, Naruto shifted his stance into a more ready one, as he watched Karui. "I have a question, before we begin. Why are you so angry with me? Did I do something to you?" He asked as his hands ready to reach for a kunai or his own ninjato.
Karui glared at him. "As if you don't know! We saw you, hanging around with that traitor!" she shouted, as she lunged at him. Naruto quickly yanked out a kunai, blocking the blow, but watching as the force of her strike actually cut into the kunai, leaving a deep gouge. Jumping back and throwing it at her as a distraction, he quickly switched to his own ninjato, eyeing her blade carefully.
Karui followed up quickly, going into a side slash as Naruto blocked it it, spinning her blade to the side in an attempt to bring his own around in a quick slash. She leaned back, bringing her sword around her head to slash down at him, as he raised one of his armored bracers. Unlike his kunai, the bracer held up, as he used it to slide her slash off to the side. As she was caught off balance, he quickly brought his knee up into her stomach, driving the air out of her, before he shoved her back.
Karui panted, trying to draw in air, as she clutched her stomach, before glaring at Naruto, who held his sword up in the ready position. Naruto now was returning the glare, gripping his blade.
"So what? You trying to get back at her by attacking me or something?" Naruto asked.
"I want to make sure she understands what it means to betray Kumo!" Karui said, as she went and attacked again with a thrust.
Naruto parried the blade, swinging it around and slashing at her neck, which she ducked under, a couple of strands of her hair being cut in the process. Karui spun away, slashing back at him as Naruto merely stepped back as well. Karui shot up, only to see Naruto drawing out his crossbow with his other hand, bow blades locking into position as he channeled chakra into it, a bolt popping up into position thanks to the ammo seal etched onto the crossbow. He quickly fired, the bolt slamming into Karui before she could react, making her eyes go wide, before she poofed into smoke, a rock in place where she had been.
Naruto quickly sheathed the crossbow, before hearing the hissing of a blade cutting through air. He rolled forward, the blade passing through where his head had been, as he came up to one knee out of the roll and raised his sword up, supporting the blade with his left hand to block Karui's downward stroke. Shoving back, he got back up onto his feet, tossing the blade up before quickly running through handsigns for the Grand Fireball. With a roar he launched a rather sizeable fireball at Karui.
The Kumo kunoichi gaped before throwing herself to the side, the fireball smashing into the wall behind her and exploding. She rolled back to her feet, glaring as she brought her own sword up, lightning now channeling through it. "You want to up the ante? Fine!" She shouted, as she swung the blade, lighting shooting through it and heading straight towards him.
Naruto barely dodged to the side, cursing as the lighting actually singed his right sleeve. Seeing another bolt of lightning coming at him he ducked this time, rolling to the side to avoid a third blast.
Karui came charging at him, now going for melee combat with her lightning wreathed sword. Naruto was forced to dodge the attacks, as he knew if he allowed his sword or bracers to connect with that blade, it would shock him, leaving him wide open to more attacks. He tried to open up the distance with her, but she kept pressing the attack, her sword arcing with lightning and seeming to be a blur around him.
Desperate for a moment of breathing space, he managed to grab a couple of smoke bombs, detonating them on the floor and causing Karui to jump back in surprise. Having a moment's reprieve, Naruto stabbed his sword into the ground, before making several shadow clones. "Distract her. I need a few moments," he said, a desperate plan forming in his head.
As the clones shot forward through the smoke, he closed his eyes as he got ready to perform the only technique he knew that could be of help here, taught to him after the Nami mission not by Anko, but the only known wind wielding shinobi in Konoha.
Flashback
Naruto glanced up at Asuma, as the sensei of Team Ten held up one of his trench knives. "Watch closely," he said, before throwing it at a tree. The trench knife buried itself a couple inches into the tree, sticking there. Asuma grinned as he held up his second trench knife, this one's blade becoming wreathed in distortions, before he threw it at the same tree. The trench knife pierced through the tree, cutting through and hitting the next tree, and the next, before stopping at the fourth one.
Naruto could only blink in surprise, before grinning at Asuma. "That was incredible, Asuma-sensei."
Asuma nodded. "Yes it was. Wind chakra is one of the most deadly elements when combined with weapons, as it allows you to make your weapon sharper, reach farther, and pierce deeper than any other element. It is also quite versatile in defense as well, allowing you to block or deflect incoming projectiles and even jutsu. However, it is a very rare element, with only the Suna shinobi being prevalent in its use. So, you're unlikely to run into another wind user unless you run into a Suna shinobi."
"So…how do I do that?" Naruto asked, pointing to the trees Asuma had all but destroyed. Asuma grinned, as he began to explain to Naruto what to do.
Flashback Ends
Now, Naruto began focusing his chakra into his sword, focusing on the air around the blade, focusing on manipulating it to his will. Slowly, small wisps of air began to run along the blade, as Naruto focused, ignoring the memories he received from his clones as they were dispelled.
Karui found herself surprised when the first Naruto emerged from the some cloud, followed by more. She at first expected them to be normal clones, but when the first one had actually almost slashed her arm, she realized instead these were solid clones. She gutted the first one that had almost cut her, dispersing it in a cloud of smoke, as she raised her blade, blocking the next one and dispersing it as the electricity in her sword coursed through the clone. Two more fired crossbow bolts at her, but she deflected them and sent a wave of lightning at them, destroying them. A fifth came at her with his ninjato in one hand and a kunai in the other, and Karui managed to dodge his attacks, striking him down, before turning and gutting the sixth clone that had emerged, dispersing it.
Growling in anger, she readied her blade. "If you're too scared to fight me, then I'll come get you, coward!" She shouted, a she rushed into the smoke, swinging her sword down in an overhead strike.
Everyone could only blink as they heard what sound like thunder erupt from the smoke, which was blown away, revealing the two genin. Their swords were clashed together, the lighting around Karui's blade now straining against the twister of air that surrounded Naruto's sword. Naruto grinned as he saw the stunned look on Karui's face, as he stood on his feet now. "Guess you weren't expecting that," he said, as he shoved her away.
Karui stumbled back, quickly bringing her sword up as Naruto swung at her again, wind blade clashing against lightning infused steel. Her eyes widened as the wind actually cut through the lightning, and a gouge appeared in her sword, forcing her to jump back, as Naruto pressed the attack. She opened the distance, swinging her sword and sending a bolt of lightning from her sword at him, but he deflected it up with his sword now, before slashing down at her. She leaned back, only to gasp as the front of her armored vest was split open by the wind of the sword, causing it to hang loosely off her left shoulder. She quickly threw it at Naruto to try and distract him, but he sliced through it, pushing his advantage as their blades clashed yet again. And this time, her sword shattered, the blade cut into by the cutting blades of wind surrounding Naruto's sword.
Naruto slammed his foot into Karui's stomach, knocking her back, before swinging his sword around, pointing it at her neck. She could feel the tremors of air, so close to her skin, ready to cut into her neck if he moved the blade closer. Naruto just stood there, blade ready, glaring at her. "Yield," he said.
Karui shakily looked at him, before raising her hand. "I-I yield, proctor," she said.
Naruto cancelled the wind around his sword, before slowly sheathing it, as he was declared the winner. Then he surprised everyone by holding out his hand to her, to help her up. She slowly took it, staring at him in surprise as he pulled her to her feet.
"Things are not as simple or as black and white as we'd like them to believe," he said quietly, so no one else would hear. "You've got one half of the story, regarding the traitor you wanted to punish by hurting me. I suggest you find out the other half, before you so eagerly rush to what could have been your death," he said, turning and starting to walk away.
Karui stared at his back, glaring a bit in anger due to him trying to justify Yugito's defection, but also feeling confusion at his words. She grabbed the remains of her sword and vest, stomping up to meet her teammates, who were quietly watching her or her opponent.
Kirabi could only mentally whistle. 'Mister Nine's host ain't no slouch, is he Gyūki?' He thought.
"No he isn't. And that was without Kyuubi's help. I shudder to think what he could do with more training, and Kyuubi's aid," rumbled the Hachibi biju sealed inside of him.
Gaara meanwhile winced, holding his head, as he heard his 'mother' scream for the blood of the shinobi he just watched fight. His teammates backed away at that, looking worried.
Anko grinned as she clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Nice work there gaki," she said. "Especially with the wind chakra."
"You did fantastic Naruto," Hinata said with a grin as well.
Sarutobi had a look of pride on his face, seeing how well Naruto had done as well. It made him feel proud that this boy, who had been an outcast, put on such a display of skill and ability, as well as mercy and restraint.
Kakashi however was frowning behind his mask, seeing the skill Naruto had displayed. Naruto's ability with his wind element was progressing already, most likely thanks to Asuma being convinced to tutor him. He was skilled with a blade, and showed strategic thinking, using his clones to distract Karui as he finished his own preparations, while also using a smoke screen to mask his moves. More and more, he was seeing Naruto progressing quickly, almost too quickly. At this rate, it'd be possible that even if Kakashi got him as his student, there wouldn't be much to teach him. He kept reading his book, mulling over his thoughts, as the next names were being randomly selected.
Sakura bit her lip, nervously watching the names go by. After seeing what some of the other genin had displayed, not to mention the horror of Gaara's match, she found herself worried about her own match. There were still several shinobi she knew were clearly stronger than her, and others she didn't know for certain.
Ino, sensing her friend's distress, smiled as she came over and patted her shoulder, drawing Sakura's attention to her. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine," she said.
Sakura nodded, glancing up at the screen, only to freeze, feeling herself go numb. For there was her name, versus Temari of Suna.
Temari smirked, seeing the pink haired kunoichi freeze up. With a flourish, she flipped over the rail, easily landing, smirking as she rested a hand on the fan at her back. "Well, you coming Pinkie or not?"
Ino glared at Temari, before turning back to Sakura. 'You can do this Sakura. Just keep calm, and believe in yourself. Like I do," she said.
Sakura nodded, as Kiba joined in. "You got this Sakura. Remember, you're the one who saved us in the Forest," she said.
Sakura gave a nod, and started to move forward, only to be stopped by Sasuke. "Good luck Sakura," Sasuke said quietly to her.
Sakura's eyes widened, before she nodded, becoming more determined, and quickly moving down the stairs, heading into position opposite Temari.
Temari just smirked, as she drew out her iron battle fan, and leaned casually against it. "I'm in a good mood Pinkie, so let me tell you this now. Forfeit, and save yourself the trouble," she said. "Otherwise, I can't promise your pretty little face will stay that way."
Sakura trembled, but clenched her fists, staring back at Temari. "I wouldn't be much of a kunoichi if I just gave up, would I?" She asked quietly. "I might not be the strongest, the fastest, the most skilled…but I am still a kunoichi, a ninja of Konoha. I fought to get here…and I won't back down, not when my friends and teammates believe in me," she said, before reaching up and undoing her forehead protector, shifting it from acting like a hair band, and tying it properly into place around her forehead.
Temari shrugged. "Your loss then. I'll try not to cripple or kill you. More than my brother would give you," she said, as she kicked the base of the fan, spinning it in her hands and bringing it into battle position. Sakura slowly slid into her taijutsu stance, fists clenched and ready.
Hayate nodded to them. "Fight!" He ordered, moving back.
Sakura started things off, rushing towards Temari while creating two clones in the process. The trio spread out to distract her, as they moved in to attack.
Temari just smirked, as she twirled the fan, ignoring two of the Sakura's and jabbing it at the third, who dodged to one side.
"Fun little tip. When you're skilled with wind chakra, you can sense changes in air displacement. Clones don't displace air, so those are useless against me," Temari said with a smirk, as she brought her fan down at Sakura, who leapt back.
Sakura suddenly kicked the fan, sending Temari off balance, as she moved in and punched at Temari, who barely swerved her head out of the way. "You talk too much," Sakura said, drawing a kunai and readying herself.
Temari growled softly, as she opened the fan. "Fine. Then let's dance," she said, as she swung her now wide open fan at Sakura. Chakra flared through it, creating a massive gust of wind that shot towards Sakura.
Sakura threw up her arms, as the wind slammed into her, sending her flying back. She let out a cry as she smashed into the wall, slumping over and panting from pain.
Temari smirked as she advanced, fan held at the ready. Sakura slowly got up, drawing out a kunai, before throwing it at Temari. She easily knocked it away with a small gust of wind, bringing her fan around to launch another hurricane of wind at Sakura.
Sakura easily rolled to the side, dragging out a smoke bomb this time which she threw at the ground between herself and Temari. The smoke billowed out, only for Temari to blow it away with a gust and a smirk. "Useless!" She cried out, only for her eyes to widen as Sakura stood there, hands held in a handsign.
The world around them wavered, and Sakura vanished, as Temari found herself in a room made of hardened sand and stone. She turned, her eyes widening in horror as she saw her brother Gaara there, a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.
"Temari…you've proven yourself too worthless to let live," he said, his sand seeping out of his gourd. "I'm tired of letting your pathetic existence continue."
Temari screamed, backing away in horror as the sand shot towards her.
Sakura could only blink as Temari screamed in horror, trapped in the genjutsu she had used on her. She approached Temari, kunai in hand, as she stood there, screaming with glazed eyes staring at nothingness. Feeling the drain on her chakra, she let it drop, unable to maintain it anymore, before moving quickly.
Moving quickly, Sakura got behind Temari, putting the kunai to her throat. Temari, reacting to Sakura grabbing her, immediately began screaming and struggling, looking around wildly. It took her a few moments to realize her situation, and she panted heavily, eyes wide with fear before narrowing in rage.
"Surrender," Sakura said, catching the grins of Ino and her teammates at the sight of her catching Temari off guard.
Temari just started to growl, letting out a scream of rage as she jerked her head back, smashing Sakura's nose. The pink haired kunoichi stumbled back, blood flowing from her nose and tears from her eyes, as Temari whirled, swinging her closed fan against Sakura's stomach. Sakura bent over, the air driven from her lungs, as Temari now brought her fan around and smashed it into Sakura's back, knocking her flat.
"YOU FUCKING BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU!" Temari shouted, as she prepared to smash her fan into the back of Sakura's head, only to be stopped by Hayate.
"That's enough," he said, before kneeling next to Sakura, who was lying there, trying to breathe, blood still seeping from her nose and now her mouth as well. She was weakly struggling to get up, but failing to do so.
Hayate nodded quietly. "Sakura Haruno is unable to fight. Temari of Suna is the victor," Hayate said, as medics rushed out to get Sakura.
Temari glared hatefully at the pink haired kunoichi, spitting on the ground near her, before storming way, back towards the railing. She slowed a bit as she neared Gaara, moving as far from him as possible to bypass him, putting Kankuro and her sensei Baki between her and her youngest brother.
Ino could only stare in horror as Sakura's bloody form was carried away, starting to follow, but was stopped by Anko. "You can't. You'll be disqualified," Anko said quietly.
"She needs me! I need to go check on her!" Ino said, only for Anko to keep holding onto her.
"She'd never forgive herself if she knew she was the cause of you forfeiting. Wait till your match, and then go see to her," Anko said.
Ino looked to her, before slowly and grimly nodding. Her gaze shot to Temari though, her eyes narrowing in anger and hatred. Temari just glared back at her, her previous arrogance gone, replaced both by anger and fear.
Karin, who had been watching, could only gape in horror, seeing the girl as she was taken out. She looked to Naruto, who looked back to her. "I-I'm going to go see if I can help her," she said, as she rushed off after the medics.
Lee meanwhile also looked quite disturbed and angry, clenching his fists. "Temari-san's actions were quite unnecessary," he said, watching the Suna kunoichi from his position.
Neji just scoffed quietly, arms crossed as he leaned against the wall. 'It was her fate to lose. She should have surrendered when Temari-san gave her the chance. Her defeat and injuries are her own doing for trying to resist fate," Neji said.
Lee turned to him, glaring and preparing to step towards him, only to be stopped by Gai. "Neji, you should not speak of your comrades like that, when they tried their hardest," he said, as Neji just seemed to ignore his words, turning to where the names were being picked. His eyes widened slightly as the two names appeared: Hinata Mitarashi versus Kankuro.
Hinata glanced towards Kankuro, eye's narrowed. "Guess it's my turn," she said, as she adjusted her bracers. "And it looks like it's up to me to show these Suna shinobi why you don't screw with Konoha," she said.
"Don't get too overconfident Hinata," Naruto warned. "These shinobi are dangerous, and so far, it seems they're very violent."
"He's right imouto," Anko said seriously. "Don't underestimate him."
Hinata nodded, before looking to Ino, and nudging her. "Hey…for Sakura, right?" She asked, holding up her hand.
Ino looked at her, before grabbing it. "For Sakura," she whispered.
Hinata grinned, as she vaulted over the rail, landing, while Kankuro stood across from her, gripping the strap of his bundle.
Kankuro smirked, sliding his bundle off and setting it to the side. "You really want to fight me, little girl?" He asked. "You've seen what my brother and sister can do. Do you really think you can beat me?" He asked.
Hinata just watched him, eyes narrowing slightly. "You have no idea what I'm capable of," she said, before smiling. "I might just surprise you."
"Fight!" Hayate yelled, as Hinata activated her Byakugan. Her eyes widened, before she grinned.
Kankuro frowned, as he readied himself, gripping his bundle as if he was about to unwrap it. Hinata quickly rushed forward, throwing a kunai at Kankuro, who dodged to the side, still gripping the bundle. Hinata pulled out another kunai, moving closer as if to slash at Kankuro. He raised his arm to intercept her arm, only for her to spin away, slashing at the bundle to rip the strap he was holding, before kicking it away from Kankuro. She spun, throwing the kunai dead center into Kankuro's chest before turning, delivering several quick jabs to the bundle.
Kankuro collapsed to the ground, as if he suddenly had become boneless, while the bundle hit the ground, a male voice letting out a cry of pain from inside the bundle. The wrappings unraveled, revealing a second Kankuro who slowly stood up, while the first Kankuro began to crack, hardened sand falling off of him, revealing underneath a wooden puppet.
Kankuro growled, rubbing his right arm. "What did you do to me?!" He demanded, his arm feeling numb, and his chakra out of synch.
Hinata just smirked as she slid into her combat stance. "My name might by Mitarashi, but once upon a time, I was a member of the Hyuuga. The Byakugan lets me see a person's chakra, and so I was able to see that you were hiding in the bundle, disguising your puppet. And I could see the chakra strings you had connected to your puppet. So instead of attacking the puppet, and falling into your trap, I struck at you, disabling your chakra points in your right arm there to disrupt your control of your puppet."
Kankuro glared at her, as he lowered his left arm, and started to twitch his fingers. The puppet began to move, one arm starting to rise up as a blade extended from it, only for Hinata to strike out with her chakra infused hand at the air, severing the chakra strings. The arm dropped down, as Hinata smirked. "You think I wouldn't see those either?" She asked.
Kankuro's eyes widened, as Hinata suddenly was upon him, delivering several rapid jabs and strikes, causing his body to spasm and jerk, before falling over.
Hinata just grinned down at him. "Guess this little girl was the worst opponent you could face," she said, patting his forehead as he lay there, glaring at her. (2)
Hayate declared her the winner, and she walked off, leaving her defeated and humiliated opponent behind. He just glared, struggling to get up, but failing, as two medics put him onto a stretcher and carrying him away.
Hinata smiled as she joined her teammates, with Anko having a barely suppressed smile. "Well…that was rather quick," she said.
"I guess I was the worst opponent he could ask for," Hinata said, shrugging her shoulders but grinning.
Anko nodded, before flicking her forehead, making her yelp. "Next time, don't antagonize your opponent once you've defeated him. It's a great way to earn enemies," she said.
Nearby, Neji glared in her direction, before scoffing. Obviously that Suna shinobi had been incredibly weak, to have been defeated by her. He had expected more considering his teammates, but obviously he was their weak link. It mattered little. He'd deal with her in the next part of the exam, as fate decreed.
Baki meanwhile was frowning, seeing how easily Kankuro was taken down. He knew that the boy was still a rookie with regards to utilizing puppets in combat, but the fight with that Hinata girl had shown perhaps one of the greatest weaknesses the puppet shinobi of Suna faced. And that was something which, regarding their future plans, they had to be wary of.
The random generator began selecting two more names, and soon enough, the next combatants were revealed. Kiba blinked as he saw he was now facing the Oto genin Dosu. This made him frown, as he remembered him in the Forest, and what his bracer had done to him and Akamaru. He glanced down at his canine partner, who whimpered softly as they saw Dosu preparing to head down to the arena. He gripped the rail, as two parts of him warred with each other. The more animalistic part of him, born of the Inuzuka's connection to their canine partners, was demanding he fight this enemy, and prove his strength and worth. But another part of him, his rationale, more human side, reasoned that the fight would be pointless, and the outcome almost guaranteed.
And so, he surprised everyone when he raised his hand. "I forfeit," he said, somewhat reluctantly. "I've already been on the other side of his jutsu. I know what he can do, and that I can't beat him," he reasoned.
Sasuke frowned as he moved over to him. "Kiba, are you sure?" He asked. "You could get a strong first blow in, before he could attack you."
Kiba shook his head. "No…I'm not going to put Akamaru through a fight with this guy, and if I can't fight with him, I'm handicapping myself. Better to fight another day," he said.
Hayate sighed. "Very well. Kiba Inuzuka forfeits the match. Dosu Kintu wins," he said.
Dosu however didn't seem that upset. In truth, he was happy to be advancing, as it would make his goal all the more attainable. He glanced at his sensei, who had returned sometime during Naruto and Karui's match, and glared slightly. He knew now Orochimaru had sacrificed the three of them to test his newest future pawn's power. So, he fully intended to fight Sasuke in the finals, and kill him, both to prove his strength, and to foil Orochimaru for offering them up like lambs to the slaughter.
Kakashi frowned slightly at Kiba's forfeit, but couldn't fault his reasoning. He knew that it showed a level of maturity in Kiba, which was good, given his brash and childish behavior in the past. Sighing, he settled for the fact that out of his team of three, at least Sasuke had passed to the next round.
The next set of combatants caused everyone, from Konoha at least, to stare at the board in surprise: Chouji Akamichi versus Shikamaru Nara.
The two friends and teammates looked at each other, before Shikamaru let out a groan. "Troublesome," he said, rubbing his forehead. "Asuma-sensei, can I just forfeit too?" He asked.
Asuma frowned at Shikamaru. "No, you can't. Unlike Kiba, you don't have a valid reason. You two get down there and fight," he said.
Chouji chuckled nervously as he followed Shikamaru down. "W-Well at least I know I won't get beaten up too much," he said, as they arrived on the floor.
Shikamaru sighed as he looked lazily at Chouji. "Just do your best Chouji, alright? Show them what you've got."
Chouji nodded, as Hayate looked at the pair of them, seeing they were ready, before nodding. "Alright then. Fight!" he shouted.
Immediately, Chouji puffed up into a giant ball, using his clan's jutsu, the Baika no Jutsu (Multi-Size Expansion), before drawing his arms, legs, and head inside. "Here I come Shikamaru! Nikudan Sensha! (Human Bullet Tank)" He shouted, charging towards Shikamaru.
Shikamaru dodged to one side, watching Chouji roll by and turn back towards him, before he dodged again. "You're being troublesome Chouji. I don't like having to move so much," he complained.
Chouji simply wheeled back around to him, as Shikamaru quickly dodged to the side, pulling out a couple of kunai with explosive tags attached to them. He threw the first one down in Chouji's path, causing him to veer to the side as it exploded, causing him to smash into a wall. Before Chouji could back up, Shikamaru tossed the other kunai with explosive tag down, exploding again and smashing Chouji back into the wall. Due to his size and bulk, it didn't cause a lot of damage, but it kept him there as Shikamaru jumping onto Chouji's bulk, and slammed a smoke bomb down into the neck hole of Chouji's shirt. He jumped off, as said bomb exploded, forcing Chouji back into his normal form as he coughed while smoke seeped out of his shirt.
Chouji staggered a bit, coughing for air, as Shikamaru winced a bit. "Sorry Chouji," he said, as Chouji slumped against the wall, only to freeze as Shikamaru caught him in his Kagemane no jutsu. Shikamaru sighed, as he lowered his hands, slowly standing up, with Chouji doing the same.
"What now Shikamaru?" Chouji asked, watching his friend.
Shikamaru let out a tired sigh. "Well…you can surrender…or I can knock you out," he said, turning his head so Chouji could see the wall right next to his head.
Chouji let out a frustrated sigh. "…fine. I surrender," he said, looking disappointed he had been taken out so quickly.
Hayate nodded as he declared the fight over, while Shikamaru just sighed softly. "Troublesome," he said, not really wanting to advance, but knowing Asuma and his own mom would chew him out if he hadn't tried. He patted Chouji on the back, seeing how he was down. "Hey, c'mon man, cheer up. You did your best," he said.
"Wasn't that much though," Chouji mumbled, looking down as they headed up the stairs to rejoin Shino. That is until a hand stopped Chouji, making her look up and see Ino there.
"Hey, don't be down Chouji," she said. "You gave your best, and I know Shikamaru gave you his best in return. Right?" She asked Shikamaru, who just nodded.
"Yeah, c'mon Chouji. You really think I wouldn't give you my best man? We're friends, and you're going to get my best, whether it's sparring or fighting side by side. Just don't make me do much else though," he said.
Chouji gave a grin, and turned back to Ino, blushing a bit. "Thanks Ino-ch…I mean Ino," he said, mumbling the last part as his blush increased and he quickly moved off.
Ino blinked, and blushed slightly as well, as Naruto and Hinata grinned. "Ooohhhh, Ino's got a boyfriend," Hinata teased, as Ino slugged her arm.
Lee meanwhile was frowning, arms crossed. "Gai-sensei, my flames are youth are quickly waning," he said. "I do not like having to wait so long in order to fight," he said.
Gai patted his shoulder. "Do not fret Lee. Your fight will come soon, and your flames will reignite!" He said, grinning at him, causing others around them to cringe at their antics.
The screen began to wind through the remaining six names, to pick the next two contestants. Lee just frowned, looking away, until the names were picked. He glanced back, and grinned, seeing Rock Lee vs Yoroi Akadō. "Yosh! I knew if I acted disinterested, my name would be chosen!" He shouted, as he leapt over the railing energetically.
Neji just huffed quietly, leaning against the wall. "The fool should calm down. His antics are an embarrassment," he said, as Gai frowned at his Hyuuga student.
On the ground, Lee smiled as he faced his opponent, Kabuto's other teammate Yoroi, who stood a full head taller than Lee. He cracked his neck, rolling his shoulders as he readied for the fight. "I don't know which is scarier, kid. Your eyebrows or your fashion sense," he taunted.
Lee just continued to smile, as he slid his left arm behind his back, holding his right hand up to his opponent. "You will find that those are not what you should fear. Come and I'll show you," he said.
As Hayate started the fight, Yoroi rushed forward, preparing to lunge with his right hand, only for Lee to easily sidestep it and slam his shoulder into Yoroi's chest, pushing him back before taking a half step back, launching a fierce and rapid barrage of punches to Yoroi's midsection. The taller, older genin let out cries and gasps for air, before Lee delivered one final punch, driving him back several feet. Lee just continued to smile as he readopted his stance.
Naruto grinned as he watched. "Did you see how fast he punched?" He asked.
Hinata nodded as she watched as well. "Yakumo told me that Lee trains nonstop in taijutsu, pushing himself to extreme limits to be the best," she said.
"What about ninjutsu, or genjutsu?" Ino asked, looking at them.
"He can't use either of them," Hinata said. "His chakra coils never developed properly enough for him to utilize the amounts of chakra necessary to cast ninjutsu or genjutsu. He is capable of things like tree or water walking, but beyond that is impossible. Hence why he's focused entirely on taijutsu."
On the ground, Yoroi growled, as his right hand became wreathed in chakra. "Come here you freak!" He shouted, as he rushed forward, lunging with his hand again. Lee, instead of repeating his previous attack, this time spun and shot a rapid kick straight into Yoroi's chest, sending him flying back and smashing into the wall.
"I fail to see how trying to perform the same attack twice would work," he said with a polite grin. "However, if that is your strategy, I encourage you to continue trying your best, in hopes you can give me a good fight."
Yoroi staggered forward a couple steps, then growled as he moved, this time leading with a left jab, only for Lee to block it, punch him in the stomach, followed by two more hooks to his face, and then a strong uppercut, that sent Yoroi flying. The older genin smashed into the ground, as Lee retook his stance. This time though, he didn't get up, making Lee frown. "The fight is not over, is it?" He asked, slightly frustrated at not having more of a challenge.
Yoroi however wasn't getting up, causing Hayate to approach and check on him. Finding him unconscious, he stood up. "Yoroi Akadō is unable to fight. Rock Lee wins," he says.
Lee frowned at that, accepting his victory but feeling somewhat cheated after some of the exciting fights they had witnessed before his own. He joined his team, as Gai clapped his shoulder. "Good work Lee," he said with a smile.
"Thank you Gai-sensei," he said quietly. "I'll admit it though, I was hoping for a better fight, to prove my strength and my flames of youth."
Gai gently patted his shoulder. "I understand Lee, but do not be too upset. You will find a suitable challenger in the Finals. Everyone you're facing against will be the best of the best here," he said, as Lee smiled, cheering up at the thought.
The remaining four genin who hadn't fought yet now all stared at screen, waiting to see if their names came up, feeling tension and anxiety as the names randomly sped by on the screen, finally stopping on Ino Yamanaka vs Kin Tsuchi.
Ino gave a smile as she turned to her teammates. "Finally, it's my turn. I was getting way too freaked out waiting," she said, as she reached down and patted her kusarigama.
Anko gave her a confident grin. "Well get down there and make it a clean sweep for Team Eight," she said, as Naruto and Hinata both nodded.
"Thanks sensei. Be back soon," she said, as she moved down the stairs.
Kin meanwhile glared at Ino, recognizing her from the team that had ambushed theirs when they had tried to take out Sasuke Uchiha. She slipped a few senbon into her hand, shifting her stance as Ino settled across from her.
Hayate glanced between them, and then started the fight. Kin immediately held up her hand, senbon in between her fingers, while Ino pulled out her kusarigama and began swinging the ball end around to get the momentum going. Kin just smirked as she threw the senbon at Ino, who sidestepped to avoid them, swinging the weighted ball around and sending it shooting at Kin. Kin ducked under, only for Ino to swing it around and bring it now shooting at Kin from the side, causing the Oto kunoichi to duck and attempt to open the distance between them. Ino pursued her, swinging the chain around to keep the momentum up.
Kin whirled, throwing more of her senbon, this time attempting to get her genjutsu into play. Ino dodged then, and was preparing to swing her kusarigama, when she heard the ringing, and immediately felt the vertigo and disorientation set it. She dropped to one knee, groaning softly.
Kin smirked at that, seeing her opponent caught. "What's the matter blondie? Not feeling too good? Think you might puke?" She asked, as she continued to ring the bells, leaving Ino more disoriented, as she looked up and saw five Kin before her. "Do you need your mommy to come get you medicine for your sick tummy?" She taunted.
Ino growled softly, as she gripped her kusarigama. "Fuck…you…bitch," she managed to get out, before barely managing to swing the chain of her kusarigama down low.
Kin, not expecting this maneuver due to Ino being so disoriented, could only let out a yelp as the chain wrapped around her right leg, before Ino yanked, dragging her off her feet. Her vision clearing, Ino quickly leapt forward, slamming the kama part of her weapon down, with Kin barely moving her head to the side to avoid it. Ino however let go of her weapon and grabbed Kin by the scarf around her neck, driving a devastating punch right into her face. Kin's head snapped back, as Ino lifted her back up, and prepared to drive a second punch in.
Kin, stunned from the blow, still managed to get one foot onto Ino's chest and push her off, before scrabbling to get back to her feet. She barely turned around to face Ino, still shaking her head, when she saw the Yamanaka kunoichi sweep her left sleeve back, revealing a senbon launcher that she quickly used to launch five senbon. Kin tried to dodge to the side, but she was still somewhat disoriented from the blow to her face, causing three of the senbon to puncture her right arm.
Ino dropped her left arm, grabbing her kusarigama and dragging the chain back to her, only to kick the weighted ball at Kin, causing the weighted ball to slam into Kin's chest. The long haired Oto girl let out an 'oof', before disappearing, being replaced by a log, as Ino immediately searched for Kin. Hearing a cry from above, she looked up, seeing Kin drop down with a pair of senbon in each hand. Ino rolled to the side, her hands rapidly moving into a handsign as Kin hit the ground. "Shintenshin no Jutsu!"
Everyone could only watch, some in confusion, others in anticipation, as Ino slumped over unconscious. Kin remained crouched for a few moments, before slowly standing up, and turning to Ino. She smirked, slowly bringing her senbon needles up, as she approached her, as if preparing to jab them into Ino's unconscious body.
On the walkway, Team eight was all tense, watching in growing horror as it seemed that Ino had failed in her attempt to catch Kin in her signature jutsu. That is, until Kin suddenly just dropped her senbon and shrugged, raising her hand. "Proctor, I forfeit. I clearly can't win against someone of her skill and ability," she said, smirking the whole time.
Almost everyone face planted as they heard those words, as Anko grumbled quietly about getting her student back for scaring her like that. Hayate just shook his head as he came over to them. "Ino Yamanaka is the winner by forfeit," he said.
Kin smiled at him. "Would you mind making sure she doesn't do anything until I'm back on my feet? I don't think she's going to be too happy," she said, indicating her body, before she suddenly slumped over, and Ino jerked, opening her eyes up.
Kin blinked, shaking her head, before growling. "You little bitch!" She shouted, preparing to lunge at Ino, only to be stopped by Hayate.
"Enough. Either seek medical treatment or return to your team. Now," He ordered, as Ino got to her feet, grabbing her kusarigama.
Kin glared hatefully at Ino, before turning and stalking off, as Ino just grinned, stowing her weapon and moving to join her team, only for Anko to smack her lightly upside the head. "Ooww, what's that for sensei?!"
"Didn't you hear my warning to Hinata? Next time, don't play around like that," she said. "Just end the match, and don't taunt your foe too much. It's never a good idea to make enemies you don't need to have."
Ino frowned a bit, glancing down. "Sorry sensei," she said.
Anko just sighed. "That being said, good work Ino. Well done," she said, making In perk up a bit.
Hayate meanwhile signaled for the last two contestants to come down. "Neji Hyuuga and Omoi of Kumo. Please take your positions," he said.
A very noticeable tension filled the air, as the last two genin faced each other. Omoi shifted a bit, feeling the cold hard stare of his opponent, as everyone watched the scene with anticipation or fear.
Neji finally spoke up. "It would seem fate is most kind to me this day. It has delivered you into my hands, so that some small measure of justice might be taken against your village for its actions ten years ago," he said.
Omoi gripped the hilt of his katana, frowning. "It was your village that killed our ambassador," he said. "We only demanded justice for his death."
"Your ambassador broke into the Hyuuga mansion and attempted to kidnap a member of the Hyuuga clan," Neji countered. "Even if it were not under your Raikage's orders, your village still unjustly called for the head of the one who killed him when you had no right to demand justice for a criminal's death. And because of your village's actions, my father was sacrificed to appease your village's lust for bloodlines."
As Omoi's eyes widened, Neji slowly gained a smirk. "Yes, I am Neji Hyuuga, son of Hizashi Hyuuga, the man sacrificed to Kumo so as to prevent you from getting our bloodline, but also to prevent war between the villages. My father was taken from me because of the cowardice of the Hyuuga's main family and the duplicity of your village's leader. And now…fate has decreed that I shall have my revenge," he said, as he slipped into his Jyuuken stance.
Sarutobi frowned as Neji finished his speech, wondering if he should stop this match before it began. He didn't want Kumo to have a chance to cause an international incident. But at the same time, there was nothing he could, as everyone else had already fought. Sighing, he signaled to Hayate to start the match, but also added another handsign indicating he should watch the fight closely.
Hayate nodded, turning to the two. "Begin," he said.
Immediately, Neji was on Omoi, Byakugan activated as he ducked inside Omoi's guard before he could bring his sword up, and jabbing at Omoi's right shoulder. The Kumo genin quickly dodged back, but Neji pressed the attack, not letting up as he launched a flurry of jabs and pokes at his opponent with blinding speed. It was all Omoi could do to dodge the attacks or try to block with his sword.
At the railing, Karui growled, gripping the rail. "C'mon Omoi, stop letting that asshole push you back! Fight!" She shouted, as Kirabi watched his student worriedly.
Omoi finally caught a break when he used a rapid substitution with a piece of debris from an earlier match, appearing behind Neji and striking at him. Neji easily swayed to the side to avoid the blade, and lashed out, striking several points on Omoi's arm before the Kumo genin could pull away. He winced and shook his left arm out as he felt his chakra fluctuate and his arm grow slightly numb.
Neji just smirked as he held his stance. "I told you. Fate has decreed me the victor, to punish your village for what it did," he said, before lunging at Omoi again. Omoi however managed to bring his sword up, forcing Neji to dodge the stab. Neji moved to strike at his left shoulder, to try and disable his arm.
Omoi danced back, sheathing his katana and trying to run through the hand signs for a jutsu as Neji continued to pursue him. Succeeding, he threw his right hand forward. "Raiton: Sandāboruto! (Lightning Style: Thunderbolt)"
From his hand, a ball of lightning formed, lashing out in Neji's direction with multiple streams of electricity. Neji quickly swayed and dodged through the bolts of electricity, as Omoi drew his sword again, slashing down violently and quickly as Neji drew closer.
Neji, thanks to his Byakugan, saw this movement, but even the forewarning was not enough to allow him to fully escape the sword, as he dodged back. The blade managed to slash a fine line down the front of his top.
Neji glared at him, as Omoi raised his sword again, reading for the next round of fighting. Neji slowly resettled into his stance, as the two stared at each other.
Omoi eventually made the first move, stepping forward while swinging at Neji's left, as Neji leaned back away from the sword, before quickly stepping in. Before Omoi could react, Neji had delivered three quickly palm strikes to his chest, the third actually forcing him to skid backwards, before he coughed up blood. Neji however didn't stop, quickly moving in and to strike at Omoi again, only to find himself hitting a log as Omoi substituted himself. His Byakugan quickly warned him of Omoi appearing behind him and lunging towards him, only for Neji to spin, grabbing Omoi's arm and slamming another palm thrust into his sternum. Omoi staggered back as Neji yanked the katana from his hands and threw it aside, before smirking.
"You are within the range of my divination," he said, as he settled into a new stance. "Hakke Rokujūyon Shō! (Eight Trigrams, Sixty-Four Palms!)"
Before Omoi could react, Neji moved quickly, hitting him with two blows, followed by four more. He continued to strike at points of Omoi's body, each time doubling the number of blows he hit him with before ending on the sixth-fourth blow.
Omoi was thrown back with that last blow, slamming into the ground and laying there, his body twitching, as he coughed up more blood. Neji just turned his back to his fallen foe. "Proctor, this match is over," he said, walking away.
Hayate quickly called the match, signaling to the medics who rushed over and began stabilizing Omoi so they could take him away. On the walkway, Karui growled angrily. "You bastard!" She shouted, about to jump over the rail, only to be stopped by Kirabi. "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME?! YOU'RE DEAD YOU FUCKER!"
Neji just looked at her, scoffing, before heading up to the walkway to join his teammates. Gai was frowning as he looked at Neji. "Neji, you shouldn't have made this bout personal," he said.
"Sensei, I was merely treating my opponent as I would any enemy who would or could potentially kill me. This fight would not have gone any differently if he had been from Suna, or Iwa, or Kiri," Neji stated calmly. "In this instance, fate merely allowed me to deliver justice to those who were not punished for their crimes."
Gai just frowned, as Neji leaned against the wall. "You will find, Neji, that your view on justice and another person's justice are not the same. Some would call what you did nothing but petty vengeance."
"As you said, sensei," Neji said, not really sounding like he cared for Gai's words.
Sarutobi let out a tired sigh, as he signaled to one of the chuunin standing near him with a box. As the chuunin approached the Hokage, Hayate turned his attention to the genin present. "Will all the victors please come down here, for instructions regarding the finals," he said.
The twelve finalists quickly moved to the arena floor, lining up before the Hokage. "You all did extremely well in these fights , and so congratulations are in order," he said, though the way his gaze lingered on Temari, Neji and Gaara indicated he had other thoughts regarding their fights. "The Final part of the Exam will be held within a month's time for now, which will give you all a chance to train and learn new techniques and abilities to surprise your opponents with. The Final exam will be fought in an elimination tournament, where each of you will face one opponent, who you must defeat to reach the next round. Those defeated will be disqualified. However, disqualification does not automatically make you ineligible for promotion, nor does winning the tournament guarantee you your promotion. Instead, you'll be judged on your tactics, fighting style, and your emotions and personality during your matches to determine whether or not you are Chuunin material or not. For now though, we will determine the order of the first rounds of fight. Each of you will draw a piece of paper from this box, and reveal the number you receive," he said, as the chuunin moved forward with the box, allowing each of them to draw a number.
"Five," Sasuke said, holding up his slip.
"Nine," Samui said in her monotone voice.
"Three," Shino stated quietly.
"Six," Gaara said, making Sasuke tense slightly since that most likely meant Gaara would be his opponent.
"Seven," Naruto said as he held up his paper.
"Eleven," Temari said with a frown, not liking she was likely in the last match.
"One," Hinata said, giving a brief grin to Naruto as she waved it at him, making him pout.
"Eight," Dosu said, glancing down at Naruto, his likely opponent.
"Troublesome. Ten," Shikamaru muttered.
"Yosh! I have four!" Lee said energetically, looking at Shino and giving him a nod of respect, as Shino did the same.
"Twelve," Ino said, glaring at Temari, who just smirked at her.
"And I have two," Neji said, smirking as he looked at Hinata, who now was no longer grinning.
Sarutobi nodded as the numbers were noted. "Very well then. So for the first round of the Final exam, the matches will be in this order. Hinata Mitarashi versus Neji Hyuuga, Shino Aburame versus Rock Lee, Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara, Naruto Uzumaki versus Dosu, Samui versus Shikamaru Nara, and Temari versus Ino Yamanaka."
As the genin all nodded, glancing at their now confirmed opponent, Sarutobi began to conclude his speech. "Remember, this tournament will be fought in front of clients and people from across the Elemental Nations. You are not just fighting for a promotion to become Chuunin, but also to represent your village in front of potential clients. Train hard, and make your villages and fellow shinobi proud. Dismissed," he said.
The sensei of the various teams quickly moved to their students to escort them from the Forest of Death and begin planning their training regimens for the next month, as Sarutobi let out a quiet sigh, feeling the drama and tension of the past nearly hour drain out of him now. Some of the matches had been rather brutal to watch, as these children fought to defeat, cripple, and in one or two cases, even kill each other. And he knew that some of the matches in the Finals would be just as bad, if not worse, than the ones they had witnessed today. Quietly pulling out his pipe and lighting it, he slowly puffed on it for a few moments, before shunshing away. There was much to do to prepare for the coming Finals, as well as dealing with the fall out of Orochimaru's appearance.
And that's chapter.
I'm sorry if these fights seemed rushed in places. Some of them are short on purpose, given how some of the combatants I think are far more powerful or better suited to defeating their opponents then others. But also...well I admit, I rushed this chapter somewhat out of fear of not being able to post or update it for some time, depending on what happens with my situation here.
To repeat my message at the beginning of the chapter, in case you missed it, I may or may not be unable to write or update for an unknown period of time, due to financial problems happening here at home. No I'm not begging people for money, I'm simply letting you all know what might happen. I might disappear for a few days, a couple months, or longer. Or I may not disappear at all. I don't know, to be honest. But I can guarantee that I won't abandon my fanfics. I will finish the ones I'm writing.
Special thanks go out again to my beta's, Bill Alain and Kyuubi123, for their work in editing my chapters.
So, I hope you all did enjoy this chapter, and at least some, if not all the fights that happened. And I'll see you all in my next update. Till then!
1. I know Samui doesn't have a forehead protector or any other Kumo emblem on her person/outfit, but I don't understand why, as it's necessary to identify her allegiance. So I added one in.
2. So yes, this fight was short and one sided, but let's be fair. A Hyuuga would be the worst opponent for Kankuro to face, as they would easily see through his ruse and disable his capability of fighting with little effort. So is this really a big surprise?
