Chapter 14

Akari grinned at Shikamaru below her.

"Hey Akari, what happened to your shoulder?"

She glanced at what Naruto spoke of. Her cut from the night before was still neatly wrapped in Itachi's bandage.

"It happened during training. No big deal." She smiled at him.

He nodded and then took nervous glance around the arena. She knew who he was looking for. Sasuke needed to get here. One of the reasons she made it this far was to show him she could. There was no point if he wasn't going to show!

She looked back down at Shikamaru. He had been there so long people were beginning to throw things at him. Was he seriously not willing to fight?

"Come on! Come on! Get up and fight! Get it together Shikamaru! You gonna get going sometime this year!" Naruto yelled down at the boy.

Finally Temari grew tired of waiting. She rushed at Shikamaru with her fan landing a blow where he once layed. He mananged to move in time though by standing on kunai he placed on the wall. Temari then swung her fan sending a gust of wind towards him. Again he dodged and disappeared.

"What do you know? He can be fast when he wants to be." Mizuko muttered.

Temari stood there for a moment before using a huge wind technique at the trees. Then from the dust came a shadow. Shikamura was using his shadow technique. Temari moved out of the way and managed to land out of range. She drew a line in front of her to remind herself to keep her distance. Then she swung her fan yet again.

"This girl has some serious wind chakra." Riko commented.

Akari had to agree. They could all feel the gust of air from the girls fan. Hopefully Shikamaru had a plan. As if on cue, kunai were thrown at Temari. She dodged and blocked them. Then his shadow technique creeped up on her yet again. Only this time it went farther than the line she had drawn. He had been waiting for the sun to get lower causing the shadow to get longer.

There was a moment when nothing happened.

"TEMARI! OVER YOUR HEAD!" Kankuro yelled.

Akari looked towards the sky in time to see Shikamarus jacket in the sky being pulled down by a single kunai. She smiled as a new shadow appeared next to Temari allowing his shadow technique to creep closer. Again the girl from the sand got away. This time though it looked as if she planned to use a stronger technique. She began to make hand signs before being stopped dead in her tracks.

Everyone was surprised. How had the boy done it?

"The hole Naruto dug. I would have never thought of that." Mizuko's eyes lit up.

Akari grinned at Riko. It took a lot to impress their sister. Shikamaru slowly raised his arm causing Temari to do the same. Here it comes!

"Okay that's it. I give up."

Akari nearly fell over. The crowd was shocked! What was he doing! He had this!

"I used up all my chakra on that shadow possession jutsu." She heard him say.

"He quit because he ran out of chakra. I've got to say I wasn't expecting that." Mizuko whispered.

Oh man. He nearly had it. Naruto looked extremely frustrated. He was about to fling himself over the railing but shikamaru was already making his way to them. As soon as he reached them Naruto started to yell at him for quitting. He didn't seem to mind though. He was perfectly fine with losing.

"As long as you don't have to do anymore work right?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

He just yawned and leaned against the wall. Typical. She rolled her eyes and turned her attention back to Genma. He called for Dosu and Riko and the two jumped down into the arena.

"Good Luck!" She yelled after her brother.

"Looks like he finally gets a fight." Mizuko muttered.

Riko looked very excited down there. He grinned up at them and waved. Then he faced his opponent. Dosu from the sound didn't seem as excited. He didn't even look all too happy to be there.

"Is your brother any good?" Naruto leaned on the railing.

"Eh, he's alright." Akari shrugged.

The boy in question chose to make the first move.

"Water Style! Liquid Bullet!"

Shots of water began spitting out his mouth. Dosu dodged each swiftly. They flew past him hitting the trees and leaving holes in their trunks. Dosu then launched himself at Riko. He threw a punch.

"Resonating Echo Drill" He called out.

Riko fell to his knees holding his head in his hands. Then he burst. Literally. Where he was once was there was only a puddle. Dosu scanned the arena.

"Water Clone Jutsu." Akari whispered.

She couldn't tell where his brother was but a suspicious puddle began to grow a few feet behind Dosu. She looked at Mizuko who gave her small smile. They turned to their brother who slowly pulled himself out of the puddle. Dosu finally seemed to notice but Riko had already weaved his hand signs.

"Water style. Water prison Jutsu."

A globe of water enveloped Dosu. He didn't seem happy trapped inside the water.

"Kakashi Sensei couldn't get out of that jutsu." Naruto muttered.

Akari glanced at her friend. She wondered what he meant but didn't ask.

"How long do I have to keep him in this before I win?" Riko asked Genma.

"Up until the point I'm positive he can't get out." Was his answer.

"Well that's no fun. I'll just let him out then." He sighed.

So he did. Dosu coughed up water and glared at Riko. The boy didn't say anything. He just waited for the man to make a move. Finally Dosu attacked and they fought in tiajutsu.

"Why let him out! He could have just waited." Naruto asked.

"Riko likes excitement. Sure he would win but, standing there with the guy just trapped would be too boring." Mizuko told him.

Akari nodded in agreement. She watched her brother. He kicked Dosu in the stomach but before the man landed he hit him with a torrent of water mid-air. Dosu hit the wall hard and didn't get back up.

"The match goes to Riko Yoshida." Genma called out.

Riko jumped up the meet them. He grinned at them before taking a seat on the floor. He rubbed his ear.

"Man. That technique of his is strong. I nearly didn't get away from it in time." He winced.

"You still won! That was great." Naruto smiled at him.

Riko thanked him and then gave his sisters a hard look. Akari frowned and glanced at Mizuko. There was only two matches left and Sasuke still hadn't arrived. It was their turn.

"Akari Yoshida and Mizuko Yoshida."

"Sister against sister."

They turned towards Shino. He hadn't spoken the whole time but he chose now to speak. He nodded at them and faced the arena again. The two girls leaped to the ground. They didn't look at each other until they reached the center.

"Whatever happens happens guys. Try your hardest!" Naruto called down to them.

Akari took a deep breath and faced her sister. Mizuko gave her small smile which she returned. She chose to make the first move before she changed her mind.

"Flame bullet jutsu!"

Fire balls soared towards Mizuko. She made hands signs of her own.

"Liquid bullet jutsu!"

The two elements met head on. Water and fire touched causing a sizzling noise. Steam began to form in between them. Mizuko took the chance to throw shuriken. Akari saw them coming and blocked them with her Katana. She leaped in the air but Mizuko didn't give her a chance to try anything.

"Water Whip Jutsu!"

Water wrapped around Akari's leg. Her sister pulled hard bringing her crashing to the ground. She was relentless.

"Water Stlye! Ice Dart Technique!"

Akari pulled herself up in time to dodge some but not all of the darts. She felt the sting as quite a few cut her skin. Mizuko came at her with her kunai. Akari pulled out her own and they fought head on. At one point Mizuko kicked her among some trees. She fell back but pulled herself back up and lunged at her sister. Again they met blow for blow.

The real Akari watched from the branches. Nobody could see her for she was using the Transparency Justu. She sat herself down and used the little medical jutsu she knew on her worst cuts. Her clone was doing pretty well but eventually Mizuko will realize it's a fake. She needed to get the upper hand fast.

In that moment Mizuko landed a huge blow sending her clone flying back and disappearing in a cloud of smoke. She heard her sister swear silently to herself.

From the trees Akari weaved hand signs.

"Fire Release! Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"

Mizuko leaped out of the way but one hit its mark. She fell to the ground clutching her side. Akari felt slightly guilty but she couldn't hesitate.

"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"

Shock registered on Mizuko's face as three Akari's appeared with Katana in hand. She didn't have time to move before they sent her flying against the wall. Then seconds later her younger sister threw kunai pinning her up against it like a scarecrow. She was bleeding from Akari's assault. As hard as she tried she couldn't keep her eyes focused. Finally she succumbed and fainted.

Akari stood in front of her sister panting. The crowd was cheering. She had done it. She had won. She didn't think of this quite yet though. Quickly she went to Mizuko and pulled her off the wall. She swept her hair from her face and woke her gently. Her sister smiled at her and mouthed "well done".

A small sob escaped Akari's lips as she grinned at Mizuko. Then Riko was at her side along with Naruto. They congratulated her and then Riko helped his twin up. He led her out of the arena into the infirmary. Akari watched them go.

"I knew you were good but Wow!" Naruto grinned at her.

"Hey guys! You realize there's one more match right?" Shikamaru yelled from above.

Akari and Naruto glanced at each other. Sasuke was up and he still hadn't arrived. She looked up and found Sakaru in the crowd. The girl had her hands clasped in front of her and shook her head. She hadn't seen him either.

"What's wrong with him? He needs to be here!" Naruto growled.

Genma looked ready to call it. He was going to disqualify Sasuke. Then she felt a gust of wind. Leaves swirled around them. In between Naruto and Akari stood Kakashi and Sasuke back to back. The Uchiha was dressed differently. All in black. He glanced at her. He gave her a small smile and then turned to Gaara. He was ready.

"Just make sure you don't lose to this guy." Naruto told him.

"Got it."

"Hey Sasuke! Don't lose. Cause I want to fight you myself!"

"Got it."

"Okay. Well I guess it's time for us to go. Come on Naruto. I'm beat so let's take the stairs." Akari said.

She grabbed Naruto's hand and led him away but not before wishing Sasuke good luck. He gave her a nod. They made their way up and noticed Gaara coming their way. Two ninja were waiting for him. Akari and Naruto stood frozen to the spot as the boy used his sand to kill the ninja. He didn't even bat an eye.

Gaara continued his way down and passed them on the steps. He glanced warily at Akari before heading to his match.

"He just…killed them. Like it was nothing." She whispered.

Naruto only nodded.

"Will Sasuke be okay?"

He didn't say anything. His fists clenched at his sides. Then he turned and made his way up. Akari glanced at the direction Gaara had gone before following. They reached the others and ran to the railing. They looked down at the two boys. This was going to be some match.

Akari stared at Gaara. He had given her an odd look. Was he wary of her? But he seemed way scarier than she did! He must have felt her stare for he glanced up at her. Sasuke saw this and noticed who Gaara was staring at. He didn't look too happy.

"Why are they looking up here?" Naruto asked.

Akari didn't say anything but she suddenly found her hands very interesting.