Chapter 25
Sakura took a deep breath and relaxed herself. She faced the Oto genin who was glaring at her. She figured that she wasn't happy about her victory over her. She could tell that she wanted to do some real damage to her. Kin kept glaring at her and couldn't wait for the match to begin. Sakura turned to Naruto who gave her a nod. She nodded back and faced her opponent.
"I would be more worried about yourself, not your teammate. I'm going to make you hurt after what you did to me." Kin snarled. Sakura didn't say anything and waited. When Hayate started the match, both quickly made a move. Kin threw several senbon at Sakura but Sakura dispelled into Sakura leaves. Kin was surrounded by the leaves and Kin cursed. She activated the bells that she had kept on the senbon. The ring bells dispelled the leaves and Sakura was frozen, holding her hands to her ears. Kin smirked and attacked Sakura punching her in the jaw. He smile disappeared when Sakura was replaced with a log.
The sound stopped and Kin turned into Sakura's fist. She was set bouncing off the ground. She got to her knees just in time to see Sakura use the Bunshin (Clone). Kin was quick to her feet and allowed the two clones to pass by her and attacked the last Sakura. She ducked and dodged Kin's attacks, staying at distance because of Kin using senbon between the knuckles. She lashed out with a low kick that stopped Kin's movement and tripped her up. She quickly connected with a knee that rocked Kin's head. She then hit her with a five punch combo and ended it with a kick to the gut. As Kin tumbled Sakura did some hand seals and disappeared.
When Kin got to her feet again she could not find the short pink haired girl. She then felt someone grab her ankle. She cried out as she was dragged underground. When the smoke cleared, Kin's head was the only thing visible. Sakura pulled out a kunai and placed it on her forehead. Kin snarled at her but she could not move and she was in a non-favorable position. Hayate declared the match over and Sakura the winner. Sakura relaxed and placed her kunai back in her holster. She bowed to Hayate and made her way back to the balcony. She could hear the sounds of Lee cheering and a group of Naruto's leading the chant 'SA-KU-RA! SA-KU-RA!' She blushed at the two but loved the attention.
There were many who were surprised by the victory. Ino couldn't believe that her rival had actually won. She didn't even know that Sakura knew jutsu besides the academy ones. She suddenly felt depressed and wondered if she was any good to be a kunoichi. Shikamaru was impressed with Sakura's skills. He was there to save her and Lee from the Oto ninja. She was already out cold and he figured that the injuries on the Oto team were because of Lee. Now, he was reconsidering that. The last was Kakashi. He had never taught Sakura those moves. He figured that genjutsu was the way to go but he never gave her any scrolls to work with. He definitely didn't teach her the Doton: Shinjū Zanshu no Jutsu (Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique). He needed answers and now.
He walked over to his other two students and overheard them.
"Say it, say it, say it, say it," Naruto kept saying.
"Alright damn you! You were right and I was wrong, happy!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Yes, yes I am. As I said, simplicity is better than being flashy. Using simple genjutsu and that jutsu I taught, you were able to win the match." Naruto said with a grin. Sakura just gave him a dirty glare before softening it.
"Thanks again Naruto for helping me out. I don't think I would be nearly as strong if it wasn't for you." Sakura said. That's when she noticed Kakashi.
"No problem. Unlike Sasuke, I won't ignore you and unlike Kakashi, I won't abandon you." Naruto said. He noticed that she got quiet and saw her eyes. He looked behind him and saw Kakashi. The two looked at each other before Kakashi turned and walked back over to where he was. Sakura just sighed and gave Naruto a look. Naruto did not look apologetic and turned his attention back to the match that was about to start. It was Akadō Yoroi versus Sabaku no Temari. Temari readied herself as did Yoroi. Hayate began the match and Yoroi rushed her. Temari was quick to blow him away with her tessen (Iron fan). Yoroi hit the wall hard as Temari backed away to get more of a distance.
He got up and tried again to get close to her but Temari would not allow that to happen. She opened her fan fully and waited. When he got close enough, he attempted to use his speed to get close. He managed to get very close to a surprised Temari. However, Temari smirked and vanished. Yoroi was surprised until he heard Temari speak.
"Kamaitachi no Jutsu! (Sickle Weasel Technique)" was her cry. Yoroi was left up by a violent whirlwind. He cried out as he got cut up by the slicing winds. Hayate awarded Temari the match and told her to stop. She stopped her jutsu and allowed Yoroi to drop to the ground. Everyone winced when he landed head first onto the concrete. She just walked back to her team without a care. Shikamaru, Naruto and Sakura watched with some worry.
"Those Suna ninja are kind of vicious, don't you think?" Sakura asked.
"Considering how they live and where they live, it isn't too surprising. We should all be careful." Shikamaru said. The board cycled again and Naruto smirked at who was next. He also smiled due to who he was facing.
"Well Shikamaru, good luck on your match." Naruto said. Shikamaru looked at the board and sighed. He would be going up against Tenten. He slowly made his way downstairs and faced his opponent. He could see that the girl looked very annoyed with him and his attitude.
"What the hell is your problem? Aren't you going to defend yourself?" Tenten demanded.
"What's the point? I don't even want to be here. I especially don't want to fight a girl." Shikamaru stated.
"What does that mean?" Tenten growled.
"It's just that all women are troublesome." Shikamaru said. Tenten immediately pulled out two scrolls and called out her technique.
"Soshoryu (Twin Rising Dragons)" Tenten roared. Smoke exploded, taking the form of dragons. They spun in the air and reached the ceiling. The smoke cleared and two scrolls were revealed. Tenten jumped in the middle of the two scrolls that were still spinning. Tenten summoned an array of weapons and began to attack Shikamaru with some gusto. The boy looked at the weapons and began to run. Tenten attempted to kill Shikamaru who just kept running. It didn't help Shikamaru that Naruto was egging the girl on. After a few minutes, Tenten finally ran out of weapons. Shikamaru sighed in relief until he saw Tenten's hands move. Her weapons came out of the ground and floated in the air.
"Oh crap." Shikamaru had to continue to run as the weapons came at him again. Tenten missed the running boy again and attempted to move her weapons again. Shikamaru wasn't about to let that happen. He did a seal and his shadow connected with the wires. He used it to connect with Tenten's shadow. Now in control, he used Tenten to turn her weapons on herself. Tenten was very confused and surprised at her actions. She couldn't move her arms to dispel the jutsu and was now at Shikamaru's mercy. With no other choice, Tenten had to surrender. Shikamaru released her and quickly left the floor when he was declared the winner.
He reached Naruto who was now alone again. He glared at his friend who just smirked at him.
"You could have made that match a little exciting." Naruto said with a smirk.
"I hate you so much right now." Shikamaru said. He quickly hid behind Naruto when Tenten passed by. She attempted to glare a hole through Shikamaru. Naruto just chuckled and turned his attention to back to the grounds. The board cycled names again and it was Inuzuka Kiba against Akimichi Chōji. The two boys dropped to the ground and prepared to fight. Kiba was cocky and told Akamaru to stay out of this. He used the Shikyaku no Jutsu (Four Legs Technique) and attacks. Chōji stood his ground and took the blow from Kiba. However, Chōji absorbed the blow and threw Kiba back several feet. The boy was surprised and tried again. Chōji took the blow again and sent him flying again.
Naruto was impressed and looked at Shikamaru.
"Wow, I didn't know Chōji was so strong." Naruto said.
"He's not really strong but he's using his brain a little. He's using his clan's ability to absorb the damage and return it, using Kiba's own energy against him." Shikamaru said.
"That's pretty cool." Naruto said. Kiba growled at Chōji would was standing in the same position. He called Akamaru to his side and gave him a pill. Akamaru's fur turned red and his energy spike. He jumped on Kiba head and the boy did a signal seal.
"Jūjin Bunshin! (Beast Human Clone)" Kiba called out and Akamaru turned into a copy of Kiba. The two Kiba moved and attacked Chōji. Chōji stayed on the defensive and was parrying every attack of Kiba's. He was using mostly throws and redirects to combat the two. Kiba was getting frustrated but quickly calmed himself. He threw two smoke balls at Chōji and blinded him. They both used this to attack Chōji. Chōji couldn't help himself but take some blows from the two. That's when Kiba decided to finish it.
"Gatsūga! (Fang Passing Fang)" Kiba said. The two began to spin and came at Chōji to finish the match.
"Baika no Jutsu! (Multi-Size Technique)" Chōji called out. He grew in size and got very big. When Kiba's and Akamaru's attack hit, Chōji was able to absorb it the brunt of the attack and threw the two drills away and into the wall. The two crashed into the wall and grunted. Chōji decided that it was time to attack. Slipping his arms, legs and head inside, Chōji began to roll.
"Nikudan Sensha! (Human Bullet Tank)" Chōji shouted and quickly rolled towards them. Kiba shook the cobwebs out but he saw the large rolling ball coming at him. He looked at Akamaru and told Akamaru to move. They did and Chōji crashed into the wall. Kiba and Akamaru used the Gatsūga again but Chōji used the roll to launch himself from the wall and clash against the Gatsūga. The attacks were batted away and sent flying. Chōji managed to stop and took to the air. Using the gravity, Chōji brought his full weight down on one of the Kibas. The Kiba gasped before turning back into Akamaru.
Kiba roared at Chōji for hurting his friend and charged at him with everything. Chōji rolled at him as well. Kiba did a powerful Tsūga (Passing Fang) and Chōji increased his speed. The two moves clashed and there was a large explosion. Everyone watched the smoke, awaiting a victor. When it did clear, they all saw Chōji and Kiba on the ground. They were both not moving and both had swirly eyes. Hayate checked them both and stood.
"This match has been declared a draw." Hayate said. While the outcome was not what some wanted, people were impressed with the fight. Kurenai went to get her student and Asuma did the same with Chōji. Naruto had to say that was a very interesting match.
"It looks like things are starting to pick up. Let's see," Naruto said and looked around to see who was still left. "There's the guy with the large eyebrows, myself, the guy with his arms in slings, Hinata, that Neji guy and the sand guy. Oh man, I can't wait to go."
"Calm down Naruto, why must you always be so excited?" Shikamaru said. Naruto was about to say something when the next two names were shown. Naruto's face took a serious expression when he saw that it would be Hinata against her cousin Neji. He looked across to see Hinata had a similar expression on her face. As Neji made his way down, he appeared right next Naruto.
"Let's see if your influence has done anything to her. In the end, it is her fate to be a loser, just like you." Neji said and walked off. Naruto just glared at the retreating form of Neji and really resisted to toss a kunai to the back of his head. He looked back toward Hinata who was also making her way down. The two locked eyes with each other for a brief moment. Naruto gave her a 'thumbs up' and a goofy grin. Hinata smiled and nodded at him before continuing. Shikamaru looked at Naruto before facing the field.
"Do you think that she will do well against Neji Naruto?" Shikamaru asked seriously.
"I think so. I believe that Hinata will not just show Neji just how strong she is but she going to show just how strong a Hyūga can really be." Naruto said. The two focused on the floor and waited for the match to begin.
XXXXX
Authors' Notes: In the last story, I had Sakura draw with Kin. Looking back, I should not have given her such powerful jutsu. The jutsu I gave her would have killed her on the spot due to her chakra level. Yes, with Naruto's help, her level rose but not enough to do any of the jutsu I allowed her to do. So, I had her use an easy D-rank jutsu and use her brain to defeat Kin. I actually like the fact that I wrote it this way. Well, enjoy the fights and watch out next week for the next chapter.
