..Chapter Twenty-one..
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Kei adjusted her thin shades as the morning sun beat down on her. The sound of the audience beat into her ears, pressing down on her brain. The scent of the dirt and freshly cut grass pricked at her senses. The wind carried the sounds and smells, brushing across her soft features and teasing her long black strands.
She narrowed her eyes on the boy in front of her and adjusted her footing in the dirt. Gravel made a sound of resistance beneath her shinobi sandals. She exhaled slowly and took a stance.
Another lone breeze passed between then both, brushing her hair as a hush fell over the audience. Nothing was heard and nothing was seen as she held his gaze. She was infused by it, wrapped in it. The heat of his golden orbs mixed with electrifying orange trapped her.
What was it about this boy that affected her so? Was he as trapped in her eyes as she was his? She doubted it. He'd made it perfectly clear the night before how... unessential emotions were unless in the middle of a mission or battle.
"You won't beat me," he said unmoving.
Her eyes narrowed further. Her determination was just that much stronger. She ignored the snapping sounds of jaws clashing together. His two beasts would not deter her. "I made a promise to you last night, Sunako. And now," her lips drew a flat line, her face stern, "I'm going to show you just how wrong you are."
He arched a brow. "Very well." His face was expressionless even as he shouted. "Tasha! Ishtar! Move it!" He pointed at her.
The time between his orders and when the creatures actually reached her seemed endless. Time slowed to bare heart beats; bare breaths. She activated her eyes, drawing them forth in an instant. It was then time seem that much slower. She watched padded feet thunder against the ground, picking up dust. It danced in the air, almost halting.
Was this the true power of the Sharingan?
She would have to think of something while she was standing there. Perhaps even come up with a plan while she was at it. Because Sunako wasn't playing any games. He'd sent both creatures at her right from the get go. Part of her, the part that was a true shinobi, appreciated that was going to be serious. She respected him for that. At least Gaara had taught him something.
She could pull out her ball and chain. That was one option. If she did though he might just turn the sand creatures back into a pile of nothing, easily avoiding her attacks. If she infused it with Chidori it might shock them. Then again it might not have any affect on them at all because they were elemental spirits. She didn't know much about them... could her eyes tell her anything?
Only one way to find out.
She tried to beyond the creatures, like a Byakugan user might do. She knew she wouldn't be able to see chakra systems but... wait... there it was. The creatures did have chakra. It was a bright... white color. Almost pure. She could see that? Nifty.
They had chakra, which meant she could do damage to them, right? She looked over at Sunako. No, her best bet was to attack the boy directly and avoid his beasts altogether. Taking him down would in turn take them down.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!" She preformed the quick hand sign and made two copies of herself. At her speed it was easy to mix the three of them up. That being done she noted they were right on top of her. With that she was heading directly for him. Her hair was blazing wildly behind her as she ran while her clones kept his hounds busy. By the time the beasts took them out she would already be on top of him.
She hoped.
Her eyes narrowed as he lifted his hand. As she came in close to him his two beasts were rejoining him by his side. Damnit! They hadn't kept them busy long enough. With his creatures back he was going to be able to defend himself. She watched as she circled around him and both creatures turned into swirling bits of sand particles. Then it came at her, the bruising and blinding sand storm that made her stop in her tracks. She cried out, holding her hands up as her face was nicked repeatedly by the haze of dust and debris. Her eyes tightly shut. Now she couldn't see him, much less use Sharingan.
Was this battle really going to back fire on her? Had her promise been so empty? She felt her heart wavering as he body was beaten to the ground. Her legs were shaky and she had no idea where he was coming from if he chose to attack her.
He had her at his mercy.
As this happened... her mind wandered...
...
Last night...
"Uncle Gaara!"
The man who was only a foot shorter in height to her Papa, Naruto, looked down at her. He arched a brow at her worried expression. Concern filled him as he knelt down. "Kei? What's wrong?" His voice was calm and unwavering as always. His eye showed he was concerned for her though.
She reached for him and he stood, picking her up. She was heavy and had grown a lot. Her brother was much easier to carry. He didn't seem to mind though and set her down on the railing of the bridge. "Why are you out so late? You have a match tomorrow."
She nodded, her eyes downcast. "Did you... do you train Sunako-kun?"
He wasn't surprised she knew this. Many people knew since the exams had started. He looked at the top of her head since it was hung down to stare at her hands. "Yes... does this concern you?"
She shook her head and looked up at him. She bit her lower lip. "I just got done talking to him and I had to see you. I needed to talk to you about him."
"Are you worried about the match?" He reached up and rubbed her arms gently, trying to warm her.
"A little," she admitted. "But, that's not why I'm here. Sunako doesn't seem to care about... life, Uncle Gaara. Human life. He thinks it's better to... go on following the mission and leave those weaker than him behind." She frowned, looking furious all of sudden. "If you trained him how can he still have these ideals? He idolizes you. It doesn't make sense.."
Gaara sighed. "Sunako aspires to my former image. Did he not tell you this?"
She shook her head, face rid of anger and now showing signs of questions.
He nodded. "I didn't think so. He respects me too much to... say ill of it."
"Ill of what?"
"Kei, Sunako recognizes my strength, he just ignores the fact that my ability to succeed comes from my people, my family and those I care about. I have tried many times to pass these thoughts to him, in hopes, that he would take them as his own." He shook his head. "The boy is stubborn. He has heard too many passing stories from when I was younger. And he doesn't spend near enough time with me on a personal basis." His eyes looked sad as he looked off behind Kei's line of vision.
"So..." she whispered..."He thinks you became strong because of your past? Before you gained control of the One Tail?"
He nodded. "He and I have similar pasts. We were both used as weapons and cared little for. I confided these things in him. I had hoped telling him about my life a child would help him change. Instead, he took the knowledge the wrong way. He thinks being hard and emotionless will gain him the strength he needs to become a great shinobi." His lips actually turned into a sad smile. "I'm not disappointed in him... just... regretful. I wish there was something more I could do to help him change."
"Uncle Gaara?" She looked at him with hopeful eyes and a smile.
"Hm?"
"I made a promise to him. I told him I would beat him in tomorrow's match." She reached for his hand.
He looked down at it and then back at her. "Oh?"
She nodded. "I told him I would teach him the most powerful lesson a shinobi could learn."
"What was that?" He asked, genuinely curious.
Without missing a beat she said, "The value of defeat and the true strength of those weaker than yourself."
He smiled at her. "You might be able to reach him yet... don't loose tomorrow."
"I won't. I promise you that, Uncle."
...
She cried out as the barrage continued. She couldn't loose here. She'd made a vow to her uncle and the to boy fighting her. Much like yesterday this wasn't about just the exam. It wasn't about winning or loosing. It was ridding on so much more. This fight was a battle of wills. It was a fight where you laid everything on the line and prayed the underdog came out strong. She could do this. She had to.
She ignored the blood on her arms and legs; the tears in her clothing as she got a feel for what direction the wind was coming from. She assumed she was trapped in a tornado of sorts.. that or a sand storm. It kept changing directions... making it harder to feel where she was at.
She didn't need to know where she was at to do preform the seals. But it would help to know where he was at. She placed her hands over either side of the shades; the top and the bottom. Feeling as though they were adequately sealed she dared to open her eyes.
She couldn't see him. She couldn't see anything but the storm. She looked up. It wasn't a tornado. It was just one random storm. The beasts had to be moving their chakra about to keep it going. He must be waiting for her to pass out. And then something odd happened. The storm continued around her... but a bubble was created.
She slowly lowered her hands and stared around her... it was like a glass dome had been made around her to protect her. It was then she realized the state of her body. She gasped at the damage. Everything stung. There were cuts and marks and reddening bits all over her body. She felt her face. It too felt horribly scratched. It wasn't anything a medical nin couldn't handle and few days rest with some ointment... but it hurt. She hurt. Part of her wanted to collapse. She couldn't though. She would not loose here.
"I'll give you the opportunity to forfeit."
She turned swiftly and stared at him. That's why he'd created the bubble... to talk to her. Like hell she was giving in. "I made a vow, Sunako. I won't break it."
"You're being stubborn. You have nothing to prove." His eyes narrowed.
"You're wrong," she whispered. "I have something to prove to you."
He stared at her, arms crossed over his chest. "The weak will always fail, Kei. Nothing can change that and nothing ever will."
"I am not weak!" She yelled. "Just because I have emotions and care about others does not make me, or anyone like me, less of a person. It is those same emotions, those strengths, that make us capable of defeating people like you."
"It makes you careless." His lips drew a flat line. "It makes you do stupid things like make promises you can't keep." He was referring to her vow.
She knew this. He expected her to yell again. Instead, her lips twitched into a smirk and she placed her hands on her hips, her body language bearing down on him. Her strength radiated to him. It was then she pointed to herself with her thumb. "I am an Uzumaki. I am a Hyuuga. I am my father and my grandfather's child before him. Namikaze Minato." If he could see her eyes, he would see what deadly intent and determination was inside of depths. Her voice lowered slightly. "And when we tell someone, promise them, were going to kick their ass. We do it!"
He took a step back, not intending to, just from her presence alone. What was this? Why was she bothering him? No, he would not waver. If she wanted a fight he would give her one. Like Jade, he wouldn't kill her, but she wouldn't be awake at the end of this.
"Have it your way," he muttered and dissipated into the storm. The bubble rapidly closed around her.
She closed her eyes as the storm set in and began to preform a series of quick seals. Her hands were separated and each one preformed the seals separately. When she was done her hands came together with a loud smack. Something rippled... and for a moment caused the storm to ripple as well. She dropped low, hitting the ground with one hand, causing a summoning seal to appear.
Moments passed before anything seemed to happen.
Then... a heat began to radiate from her body, it slowly engulfed her form. One might call it a reddened version of Chidori. But it wasn't electricity... or blue a color that came from her body... it was like a flame.
She smirked when she knew she was ready and ran. She ran against the heat of the storm, gaining speed as she found her footing. The fire raged on outside of her, protecting her sight and body from any further harm. It heated up the sand, warping it, changing. She watched at crystals... glass formed and dropped around her, stabbing into the dirt.
"Blessed Fire of The Phoenix," she whispered with a smile on her injured face and lept up as the fire raged on and grew bigger. It was then she landed on a large bird with several tails, just as engulfed as she was. And after a moment the fire cleared and the storm stopped.
She kept her loose footing as they landed. Wings expanded on the great creature and she jumped off, facing Sunako. He was on the ground, on his back, his hair a mess and his clothing slightly torched. He looked up at her...
"How.." he whispered.
"I told you," she said, "real power... the true strength of the shinobi lies not in the fight itself or the wish to succeed because the mission dictates you do so. It lies in the need, the will, to protect those precious to you and the ideals of those precious to you. Without them, you have nothing in this life."
He looked at her a while longer before shutting his eyes and drifting away.
She watched him a while longer, the great bird behind her poofing out of existence. She watched as her vision waned and tried to remain steady. She grit her teeth and placed a hand on the side of her injured head. Her breathing was erratic as she winced. Summoning was something still fairly new to her... and that contract? Was a huge one... she never used it if she didn't have to. It pulled too much chakra from her small body. And now she was feeling the effect.
Kakashi was next to her announcing her win. It was then and only then, once she knew she had won, that she allowed the world to go black and fell into the older man's arms.
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AN: x,X That was hard to pull out. Took me a few hours too. -feels dead- Hope you enjoyed it. Now that the whole Chuunin thing is over--hopefully--I can continue with the more urgent parts of this plotline. -smiles-
Lady Rini: He is! That's kinda the point though. I hope you don't hate him.
Superme383: That's ok! Randomness makes life go round. Thanks again!
NicolerogersXX: I have no idea?! -pout- I'm not a big fan of original characters for hook up purposes... but, who knows? You got any ideas?
Tap-chan: XD I have NO Beta. I'd rather learn to edit my own work. If you happen to see a repeating mistake, let me know. Give me a link to the proper grammar rule to correct it too. Practice doesn't always make perfect. Perfect practice make perfect. Silly huh? But true. Thanks for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying this. And yes, I tried REALLY hard to make her an even balance of all three. Not an easy feat, trust me!
Kattylin: Oh good! I'm glad everything is working out for you then -wipes brow- Woot... Anyway, I should shouldn't I? How'd you like the one she learned herself? The summoning? I still have to figure out how THAT contract came about.
Toodles!
--Blade