Howdy! Like I said at the end of the last chapter, I will not be writing about some of the fights. Shikamaru, Kankurō, Shino, Sakura, and Temari have all moved on to the next round. Now, onto the action. But first, a poem.

Wait there's another test?
To see who gets into the next one?
That's a drag.
It would be fun,
If I could get some more rest.

Shino pulled his bugs away from Tenten who lie on the ground completely immobile. The medic team rushed in to pick up the girl as Hayate announced Shino as the winner. The board began to spin as Shino retreated up to the balcony.

Hinata Hyūga
Vs.
Neji Hyūga

Hinata left for the stairs as all of her friends wished luck. Neji knew that this was not the same 5 year old Hinata who couldn't land a strong punch on a training dummy. Her progress in the gentle fist over the last couple years was nothing short of unbelievable. She went from the timid heir who was hesitant to even fight at all, to a fierce and formidable challenger for anyone. It sure wouldn't be easy. "Hinata-sama," he bowed in front of her. He had grown to respect her over the years, seeing her as an equal.

"Neji-kun," Hinata returned the bow.

"Let the match between Neji and Hinata Hyūga," Hayate paused, "begin!" Both Hyūga activated their Byakugan and charged each other.

"I will not show mercy, Hinata-sama," Neji shouted as he rushed her, "and I know the same goes for you."

"8 TRIGRAMS, AIR PALM," she shouted while running. Neji was shocked. The air palm was a fairly high level technique. If she knew that, than she was even stronger than he anticipated. He quickly jumped to his left, and was forced to quickly dodge again as Hinata sent a kick towards him. The kick was peculiar to him. The gentle fist was mostly palm and fingertip strikes. Why was she kicking?

The two charged yet again and were locked, each sending and parrying blows at a rapid pace. Hinata redirected a right handed strike from Neji across his body, and spun quickly with yet another kick. He noticed chakra emanating from her heel. She was using her feet just as Neji was using his fingertips! It was remarkable. She was able to focus chakra into her feet just as easily as to her hands. Neji disengaged for a moment, "Hinata-sama," he was at a loss of words, "the level of chakra control required to do that is-"

"I appreciate the flattery, Neji, but I thought you said no mercy," she shouted as she charged yet again. The genin atop the balcony were confused. What was Neji taking about?

"She's focusing chakra into her heels to disable the chakra points," Naruto said to the rest of team 7, "just like how Neji is focusing the chakra into his hands." Hinata and Neji continued to exchange blows. Nobody could land a clean shot, as they were both near equivalent in speed. Hinata unleashed a kick towards Nejis right arm. He blocked it with his left, leaving the entire side open. Hinata spun the other way and connected with the chakra point on his left shoulder with her other leg. Neji staggered from the impact, getting completely turned around. He turned around to face Hinata. His left arm felt a little numb and he took a second to rub it.

"8 TRIGRAMS, AIR PALM," Hinata shouted. Neji has completely forgot about that, assuming he would be able to sense her coming and counter. He was knocked across the ground and collided with the wall on the other side. Hinata walked over to the boy and grabbed him before raising her hand.

"That was reckless, Hinata-sama," Neji whispered as he swiftly disabled the chakra points in Hinata's arms, causing her to jump back. Neji slowly hoisted himself up and readied again, "I have two working arms and you have none," he paused, "you should give up."

"Why do you keep showing me mercy?!" Hinata shouted as She rushed the boy. She launched a flurry of kicks that was barely recognizable to the naked eye. Luckily, thanks to the byakugan, Neji was able to block or dodge the kicks. Hinata spun to her left in an attempt to hit Neji's neck, the boy crouched down and disabled the two main chakra points in each of Hinata's legs. She was completely paralyzed in the air, but her momentum alone carried her forward. She fell funny on her leg and let out a pained yell. It was clearly broken, as it was hanging at an awkward, grotesque angle. Most of the spectators winced and looked away.
"Hinata-sama!"
"Kehiban!" Naruto shouted. Most of the spectators winced and looked away.
"Hinata-chan!" Both Naruto and Neji rushed to the girl. The medical team rushed in and picked the girl up. Neji was apologizing when Hinata interrupted him.

"Neji, Neji," the boy stopped talking, "It's okay. I'll be fine," she let out a pained groan, "This stuff happens sometimes." Naruto knew she was right and that it wasn't Nejis fault, but that didn't mean he couldn't be mad about it, "Naruto, don't be mad at Neji." Did she really just-

'HA! It's like she's reading your mind!'

Naruto just grunted and looked away. Hayate declared Neji the winner and the board began to spin.

Sasuke Uchiha
Vs.
Omoi

Omoi was the last of the only three cloud ninja there, 'Oh no I have to face the Uchiha, he's supposed to be like a prodigy. What if he beats me up and my pants fall down in front of all of these people? And then what if the Hokage laughs at me? And then-'

"Omoi! Get down here," shouted the proctor, obviously annoyed.

The boy hopped down and popped a sucker in his mouth. "I guess I'll just have to win so none of that happen," he said this out loud, confusing the entire room.

Hayate shrugged and started the match. Omoi drew his katana and charged. Sasuke also drew his blade and readied his defense. The two clashed blades. They stuck there for a second until Omoi sent lighting chakra into his blade, shocking the Uchiha. Sasuke dropped the blade and attempted to sweep Omoi's legs. The cloud-nin jumped over the attack and fell forward as Sasuke recovered and lunged at the boy. The other cloud ninja dropped their heads and began to walk towards the stairs, thinking it was all over.

That was when Omoi shouted out, "Cloud-style reverse beheading," and spun around, slashing at the Uchiha, leaving behind a pretty nasty gash. Sasuke was knocked back and fell to the ground, coughing up blood. He looked up with a devious grin and what Omoi saw shook him to his core.

The boy activated a fully matured, three tomoed Sharingan. The entire crowd gasped in shock, even team 7. "I was going to save it for the final round, but I think it's necessary to use it here," Sasuke spit out some blood. He had had it, truthfully, since he began at the academy. He only had the two tomoe back then. The trauma from losing most of his family and then constantly remembering how he never got to show his father his true strength took a toll on the boy. It was enough trauma to unleash it. Sasuke slowly stood up to face the oncoming Omoi. He ducked, avoiding a diagonal chop, before spinning around and slashing at both of the boys ankles. Omoi had to focus all of his chakra to his feet to even stand up straight. He turned to face the Uchiha. He was just standing looking at him. Sasuke threw his katana at the cloud-nin, and Omoi attempted to block it. Before the blade reached Omoi, it and Sasuke shattered like glass. He was staring in awe, standing in a completely black space. "What the..." he muttered sheepishly as he was suddenly brought back to the real world, Sasuke pressing his blade to the boys throat. "Genjutsu," Omoi exclaimed in realization, "I submit," Sasuke then crumpled to the floor along with Omoi. The medical team gave emergency attention to the boys, stopping the bleeding, before carrying them off. Hayate declared Sasuke victorious before the board began to spin again.

Naruto Uzumaki
Vs.
Kiba Inuzuka

The two boys hopped down from the the balcony and readied themselves. Naruto drew two kunai and Kiba put Akamaru on the ground, "Don't worry Akamaru, I won't hurt you," he baby talked to the puppy, who growled in response

"You may begin." Hayate jumped back.

Kiba and Naruto both stood still. Kiba was about to move when Naruto chucked a kunai on the ground below him and the other in the ceiling. The two kunai lodged themselves into the cement floor and wood roof. Naruto readied Nuibari. It seemed to float, "Chakra threads," Kankurō said in disbelief. Naruto held his hand out towards Kiba and the blade jumped to him.

'This boy is incredibly annoying. And that yappy dog," Nuibari let out a shiver, 'so inelegant. I prefer fish as pets!' She shouted as Naruto sent her flying at the now part dog, part boy, dogboy (protector and king of Chilladelphia).

Kiba and Akamaru easily dodged. Kiba threw a smoke bomb on Naruto and charged alongside his dog into the smoke. When the smoke cleared, Kiba and Akamaru were standing in the center confused. Naruto was nowhere to be found. Kiba looked everywhere. When he looked at Hayate and shrugged, Naruto appeared at a kunai he dropped into the smoke and grabbed Kiba. In a flash, Naruto teleported to the kunai in the ceiling.

"Kakashi, was that-" Kakashi nodded and held up four fingers.

"That's the fourth's jutsu alright."

Naruto, holding onto Kiba's legs, began to spin to his left. Kiba tried to claw at the boys hands, but his grip held strong, despite the deep claw wounds. Naruto started to spin at breakneck speed before releasing the boy towards the ground. He teleported to his kunai in the ground. He stepped back and let the boy collide with the ground. Akamaru rushed him, but Naruto just grabbed the mutt by his back. He whistled and Nuibari came back to him. The chakra threads were really what brought the sword back, but the whistle made it seem cooler. He held the point of the blade to Kiba's throat, just in case. He was out cold, and so Naruto was named the winner before Kiba was taken to the hospital.

"Wow Naruto! That was a rather impressive match!" Lee congratulated his friend, "Now it is my turn to fight! I will show off my impenetrable and ever-flowing youth!" Lee held out a thumbs up and Gai began to cry. He was so proud of Lee. He had become so strong through hard work alone.

Naruto and Lee had kind of grown apart after they became genin. There wasn't a lot of time to train together. Just as he was thinking Sasuke limped back into the room. He stood next to Naruto, "What do you know about that Gaara guy?" Naruto turned his head and shrugged.

"You and me both are going to see what he can do for the first time," they both stared ahead in silence.

"Good luck you two!" Sakura shouted after getting up. She had beaten Ino earlier, the latter was still unconscious.

"Good luck Lee!" Neji shouted from Naruto's left. He glared through the boy. He was still upset. He knew it was an accident, and Hinata even told him not to be mad. He just couldn't help it. He knew acting vengeful was against his nindo, so he just kept to himself.

"You are Naruto's friend, is that right?" Gaara asked Lee, getting a nod in return, "Then I know this will be a good fight,"

(The fight is the same up until this point)
Gaara held his hand out, he was about to close his hand on his sand, which would have devastated his body. He instead just enveloped the boy from below the head in sand. "The sand will continue to squeeze until you pass out," Gaara got up from the crater. "You would be wise to give up, Rock Lee."

"I. Will. Never. Submit," the bushy browed boy wiggles around in an attempt to break free. Gai shed a tear at the boys determination. He was so proud of his student.

"As you wish," Gaara said as he sat back down.

Hayate called the match after Lee had been immobile for 5 minutes. The rest of the genin were all extremely inspired by the boys determination. When Gaara released the boy from the sand, Gai and Naruto jumped down to catch the boy as he fell out.

"Is he your son?" Gaara asked.

"No, Gaara," he stopped and looked at his pupil, "but I sure wish he was." Guy smiled and shed another tear as the medical team carried him away.

Hey all!
Here is the list of everybody who passed onto the final round:
Shikamaru, Kankurō, Temari, Shino, Sakura, Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, and Gaara.
Anyway~
Hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did. Hope you have a good day/night (or else!)
Jerry out!