Girls aren't allowed to be Lion Dancers. They are to become the perfect housewives who will do anything for their husbands, even put their lives down for them if simply asked.

In the land of Konoha, Lion Dancing is the most esteemed and dangerous profession. Dances occur all the time as a way of resolving issues between one another and showing the village's strengths. Many times a month there will be big Dances that put the village's honor at stake, and only the top Lion Dancers are allowed to participate.

Most males are raised by an Alpha Lion that will teach them the basics of Dancing and hone their individual skills. With so few Alpha Lions though, there has always been very few Lion Dancers that make it, and even less that survive to teach the next generation. Only the best can be chosen, and the rest go on to equally important work behind the scenes. It is the Lion Dancers that are often the ones that get all of the fame, glory, and stress.

Today is a particularly interesting match for the village. A nameless Lion Dancer was challenged by the heir of the Hyuuga clan, who are known for their noble blood and lethal Dancing techniques. Everyone's attention not only clamored onto Hyuuga Hisoka's reason for the match, but who the Lion Dancer he had chosen was. Apparently, the boy - despite being thirteen years old, just a year above Hisoka - was born specifically to be a Lion Dancer for the village. Neither had fought a real match before, and both had been trained rigorously by top-ranked Alpha Lions. Hisoka's was his own father, a great Lion Dancer before his son who stuck to traditions like a steel clamp.

The other boy's Alpha Lion was a mystery, but was also rumoed to be the prodigy amongst his generation. Thus, everyone tried to find who this Lion Dancer was and were eagerly anticipating the match. The nameless, yet advanced Lion Dancer, against the heir of the most powerful clan of Lion Dancers in the country. It is a fight that cannot be taken lightly.

Inside the Hyuuga Household itself, there was a buzz. Only Hisoka seemed to actually know who his opponent would be. His father didn't care as long as Hisoka won, and had begun adding to the young male's already cruel training regime.

So, while wearing the tunic for all young Lion Dancers with trimming the colors of the Hyuuga eyes that have torn to shreds and pants marred with dirt and grime, Hisoka let his cousin Nejimi begin attending to the worst of the wounds. Nejimi was a porcelain beauty. She was the most sought-after bride in all of the country for her impeccable skills and demure manners. She held a natural elegance and an instinctively razor blade quality that swept prospective suitors off their feet. She will not marry though until either a very important suitor comes up, or when she turns eighteen. For now, she is learning how to serve her future-husband to the best of her abilities. Hisoka had always admired her stoic nature, but sometimes he wonders if she's lonely arranging flowers all day.

"T-thank you, cousin Nejimi," Hisoka whispered for the fourteenth time since he had been sat down.

Nejimi's long, deft hands moved over the cuts and slashes likes the wings of ghosts while she worked. "Do not thank me. You will scar." Hisoka didn't mind though. His flesh had already been cut through countless times, and it made him feel bad when his cousin had to run her fingers over them with her own flawless skin. Secretly, despite their scarce interactions, Hisoka hopes that Nejimi will never be physically hurt in her life. She was much too dear to him.

"You are already one of the clan's b-best healers," he said, stuttering on a word or two out of habit. "I trust you will be there fo-for me in my fight this evening." Nejimi's hand twitched and Hisoka quickly added, "Y-you don't hav-have to go if yo-you do not wi-wish to!" he cleared his throat and tried again at a less panicked tone. "I-I mean... you have never left the Hyuuga household before, cousin Nejimi. I-it will be an honor to take you outside... as well as watching me fight." He then smiled as pale fingers stopped all together beside him. Knowing that eyes as white as his were looking at him, Hisoka summoned the last of his courage and said fondly, "I-it will give me a reason to w-win."

He dared not turn his head, less the small imperceptible smile his cousin wore would vanish like a startled koi.


Hisoka felt eyes on him. He knew his clan's bloodline already allowed for him to see in nearly all directions, but these were not only the judging eyes of his father in the stands, but also all of the awaiting gazes of all of Konoha. They had come to watch him, and were it not for the knowledge that Nejimi was also watching, Hisoka's nerves would have taken over and he would have tripped as he awkwardly made his way to eager gates for the contestants.

For the audience, two Lions with the finest of fur and most ferocious jaws stalked forward. One was pale white with noble blue accents. Its entire body was dressed in clear-cut crystals that, instead of appearing only white, reflected all of the colors to give the lion a regal pastel look. Behind him was a simple helper who assisted by making the back legs walk and to help Hisoka up when the Lions were facing each other and were raised to their full height. For now, only Hisoka could see his opponent. It was that crucial stare down between Lion Dancers, the small moment they share that reflects all they have on the line.

His rival is clad in the 'devil's' colors known as black and red. Ribbons of gold enhance the menacing image as the black lion saunters up to intimidate. This lion is bedraggled already, appearing is if it was born from an erupting volcano. Its fur is thick and wild with ruby chains clattering around its ferociously. Pyrite eyes stare in an endless glare as thick red eyelashes flutter with smug eccentricities. It large feet stamp the ground with an immense roar in direct contrast to Hisoka's smooth, sleek entrance.

Both lions sway from side to side as they approach, circling each other and sizing each other up like real predators. Large drums are pounded in the background and flutes play a haunting melody that sounds like the vibrations of a war. Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump. The two continue doing this, moving in a well-practiced choreography as the beat gets louder and Hisoka's heart beats faster in anticipation. Instantly, all goes still the music stops and Hisoka is lifted up by the waist to make the lion reach its full height. He and his opponent are facing each other, and everyone can see him.

Hisoka is suddenly very small inside. He really shouldn't have agreed to this. Oh, but his cousin and father are watching him...

Thankfully, his opponent gives him a sneaky smile. Hisoka is slightly reassured at that grin. Tao Tao was such a good friend to have. He was so glad that the other had agreed to the match in the first place.

When the two were set down, the large furs are thrown off and the helpers scramble out of the ring as the gates close behind them - it is only Hisoka and his opponent.

Hisoka has short dark hair, slightly choppy in the back with two longer locks that frame his pale round face and bright eyes. He is on the lanky side but is otherwise in fantastic shape. He wears the robes of a new Lion Dancer, made of blue silk with three simple clasps on the front. His has golden trimmings on the front of the shirt and the sleeves while an alabaster sash is wrapped around his waist. His pants are also the same color of snow, if just to emphasis his status in the society. Already he has his bloodline activated, and he stares the other boy down with all of the grace of a Hyuuga in the Gentle Fist stance.

Tao Tao is a few inches shorter with even messier soot black hair and sunny skin, his features are arguably boyish and mature at the same time. His eyes are closed yet they hold a lot of playful mirth while he gives a carefree smile. He wears the same blue tunic with the three clasps, but his has no trimmings and he wears no sash. He also wears generic black pants and is assuming a generic Lion Dance pose for battle, the Prowl of the Tiger.

Around the two, a silence is developed.

"The nameless Lion Dancer is clanless" begins humming through the masses, and Hisoka can feel his father snorting with distaste, already losing interest before the match has even begun. Don't lose hope yet, you still have surprises, Hisoka tells himself firmly as he edged closed to the center. Tao does the same thing and Nejimi took a deep breath because her lungs were choking with anticipation, and then the two boys flung themselves at each other.

On that day, the people remembered a whirlwind of creamy white scales and shimmering silver ones exploding like a shower of petals. Lion Dancers can, funnily enough, turn into dragons.

Due to his noble birth, Hisoka had five regal talons for each foot and a dark blazing mane that whips around like a torrent. His blank white eyes, almost lilac in hue, are bulging and can see everything as they find Tao's tenketsu. His body is small and lithe, incredibly fast and agile as his jaw is elegant but filled with sharp little pointed teeth like rows of white glass.

Tao on the other hand, glints like metal and is bigger, thicker, and has a scruffy burnt mane. He has only four claws, but they are bigger and stronger and when he opens his mouth his two front canines protrude like curved scimitars. All of his teeth are hooked, like some wicked tortue device used for tearing. He has long horns as well, that curl and spiral behind his ears and soot is breathed out from his nose, hot and singing.

His eyes are still closed, and only Hisoka knows that Tao is not going to fight to his fullest. Only Hisoka knows why as he and Tao race for each other.

Hisoka's teeth dig into Tao's stomach while one claw grips his neck hard enough to puncture the skin. The rest of his body is flapping around wildly to keep the other down, but Tao's long flowing tail wraps around his leg and yanks him off with a spurt of blood. Tao snarls, slashing at him, and the two rip apart for a moment. Hisoka can feel the deep gouge in his shoulder from where he had been hit, but Tao has more wounds despite them being shallower, and Hisoka gives himself an inward pat on the back. But he can't let up his guard yet. Not now, not in front of Tao, and especially not when it has just begun.

Blood and scales have already fallen to the ground and the two organize themselves. Hisoka's fangs flash with chakra menacingly. One bite and he can render Tao's chakra network paralyzed. But Tao bristles and all of his scales now stand on edge and each is like a kunai that will stab Hisoka if he is careless. Tao's fangs do not need chakra to make them any more deadly.

Hisoka rushes at his opponent and avoids the snap of those powerful jaws. "Jyuuken!" He brings his own mouth onto Tao's back right leg, crunching down into muscle and wrecking havoc on the chakra there. Tao howls in pain as he once again brings his tail to slap across Hisoka's face. Only, this time it is reinforced with steel and a flurry of pristine white scales coated in blood flutter across the field like wings of dead butterflies. Hisoka can't help but cry out when he feels those sharp-edged scales dig into the side of his face, but he has to keep his eyes open and dodge Tao's next bite.

Parting once again, this time both actively bleeding from their injuries, Hisoka shakes his head around to get the blood out of his eyes. It drips along his cheeks and down his neck, enough of the scales around his eyes ripped off to expose the soft white fur and pinkish flesh now coated in crimson.

Wincing and one leg down, Tao grinned sheepishly at potentially blinding Hisoka before laughing in that barking manner most dragons use. The crowd waits in anticipation as the two fighters make a ring of red by walking in circles once more, their eyes caught on each other to analyze the next move. The fact that Tao is laughing as he bleeds, lips curled up with glee as his eyes remain curiously closed, only endears the audience to him. All according to plan, Hisoka thinks sardonically - and once again they charge.

Both feint upwards, right into the sky before twisting and grabbing each other with their mouths. Hisoka feels those hooked teeth, each like an individual serrated knife, in his stomach and he feels like passing out - but his has the advantage like this, fangs around Tao's wounded shoulder and closing off the chakra there. If he stops enough passageways, Tao will be unable to keep up his defense and the battle will already have been won. But coupled with the grip on him, Hisoka is forced to let go when he feels Tao's claws drag themselves down over his back, ripping out hair and scales that bring forth rivers of blood and screams. Breathing heavily, Hisoka calculates where he needs to strike next as Tao has already begun redirecting chakra to only certain parts of his body such as his neck, around his legs except the useless one, and his tail. Hisoka grimaces at the other a bit. He'll win, but it certainly wouldn't be easy.

Tao's teeth have already been stained with Hyuuga blood, and he lashes out for more. If he is able to bite down again, Hisoka isn't sure that he'll have the willpower to keep the upper hand even if Tao was currently being as gentle as possible with his attacks.

Deciding that it won't be an option anyways, Hisoka ducks and weaves through Tao's messy lunges using his greater agility to try and find the rest moment to strike. Another claw, this one too close to his throat for comfort, causes Hisoka to lash out and get a mouthful of blades when he puts pressure down on Tao's own claw. From his perilous grasp and having his mouth suddenly cut open, Hisoka falls backwards bringing Tao with him and the two topple back down into the arena. The impact causes a large dust cloud to form, obscuring their forms.

The crown roars for more when the two struggle for what to do next. Tao does not keep his iron defense, the only usable scales left being along the end of his tail, while Hisoka is struggling to choke up blood to breathe, his side aching and shoulders trembling.

Nejimi gasps in the stands and Hisoka leads one last charge. He has the advantage from what the crowd can see, he will not let his father down.

Tao thwumps him with a headbutt to the side, and tugs out more hair that is more of a distraction than an injury while Hisoka twists around and claws frantically as his silver flank. Tao snaps back at him and the two are once again in close-combat fisticuffs. Instead of biting, they claw and ram their heads into each other's sides, bruising and barking like rabid dogs. It is primal and supposed to be a show, even if Hisoka feels all of his muscles scream at him. Tao's smile is gleaming in the flurry, and when he opens his mouth his eyes also open a sliver to reveal blazing vermillion pools of fire and both dragons make their move.

Jaws bite down, one stronger than a rushing river that crunch into muscle and shutting down chakra, and the other a pinpoint strike made precisely to rip through muscle and into bone marrow. Both swallow their yells when they tumble to the ground, panting from the exertion and their wounds. Both attempt to return to their legs, but Tao seems to baulk and his head falls to the ground in one smooth graceful arc like a katana. Hisoka wobbles up instead and places a claw over his friend's neck in a show of triumph and to help his shaky body stabilize. Tao's barely-opened eyes focus on him, and he gives Hisoka a secretive little grin just for the two of them.

The people in the stand cheer around them, a loud booming force that washes over Hisoka and basking him in glory. Not only has Hisoka won his first match and proving to his father that he is worth being the heir, but Tao will be honored for such a brave performance and undoubtedly spoken up with reverent tongues.

Both shrink down into their normal human appearances. Hisoka quickly steps off of the dark-haired boy's neck as a stretcher is placed down beside him. Tao is now grinning like a fool, unable to move any of his appendages and bleeding freely. Hisoka feels just as bad if not worse, as well as guilty as he watches Tao get marched off to surgery. He takes stock of himself and finds his tunic is beyond repair, many claw marks that have sunk deep into his skin - one particularly bad one over his shoulder blade. His stomach and left thigh have gruesome teeth marks, both deep and likely to put him in the hospital for a while. Hisoka feels proud and sad at the same time as he sees his cousin's face light up with worry and happiness as his father nods in concession to his son's strength.

After all, Lion Dancers are all about putting on a good show, and Hisoka has done just that.


Three Years Later

Tao's name has become worldwide after his match. After proving himself by facing the Hyuuga heir with honor and dignity, even if he lost, his skill has begun being required multiple times. His name now, is 'Silver Dancer' just like Hisoka's is the 'Ivory Dancer'. They have become good friends and have shared equally good relationships between families. Well, more like all of the Hyuuga's have enjoyed relations with only Tao Tao and his Alpha Lion, who only communicates with them through Tao or the rare note.

Nejimi was the only girl not to fall for Tao's charms. She is grace and elegance incarnate and she finds the way Tao is half a head shorter than her a turn-off. Still, he treats her with respect and slightly jealousy when she has to go on her dates with prospective husbands. Hisoka simply smiles at the 'blooming flowers of youth' as the 'Spring Dancer' Rock Lee would have said.

"So anyone can date you, and you're not allowed to object?" Tao asks incredulously as another male leaves. The guy had been Shikamaru Nara, and though the boy is lazy and not a very skilled Dancer, he is the smartest and uses his brain to his advantage. Romantically, he didn't even stay awake through the entirety of the lunch.

Nejimi shakes her head once as she puts away the cutlery in the kitchen. "Only if they are of the pedigree. If you have a well-known clan, you can ask for a date, but Lord Hiashi must allow it. After that, because I am not eighteen and it is not of utmost importance, I can reject any marriage proposals." Tao scratches the back of his head as he walks over to her. She stiffens when he takes the plate from her and begins helping her with the dishes. It was bad enough that Tao had allowed himself in the kitchen, a place were only females were allowed, but to help out with domestic duties have made him appear sort of a weirdo towards the clan members. Hisoka chuckles at his cousin's put-upon expression she tries to cover her growing blush with.

"Tao, the Chunnin exams are coming up and father wishes for us to train together," Hisoka interupts diverting the topic excellently as he sits comfortably at the counter. He does not help with the dishes, seeing as Tao is adamantly scrubbing them with a sponge, but he does immerse himself in the 'taboo' of being in a woman's domain. The two are young and silly, and Nejimi puts up with both as best she can.

"Your father wants us to train so much I bet he thinks I'm like your conjoined twin from being around you so much," Tao gripes as he blows some of the dish bubbles into the air. Nejimi scolds him by flicking water at his face, which is ineffective because his eyes are always closed. Tao smiles despite this, and is mature enough not to begin a soap bubble fight. "Hey, no fair Nejimi! You're going to tell Lord Hiashi I've harassing you like last time and I'll get kicked out of the house again!"

Nejimi gives Tao a mix between a befuddled expression and a delightfully amused one. Ever since Tao became their best friend, she had begun to also open up. She is still the most sought-after bride in the entire Fire Country, but at least she wasn't a robot arranging flowers all day. "You are the one always starting the arguements. And it's Ms. Nejimi." Tao makes a funny show of rolling his eyes without opening them, pouting slightly like a whiny dog. Nejimi is not amused despite her small smile. "It's not gentlemanly to address a woman so informally, Tao Tao."

He huffs and washes the last dish for Nejimi to put away. "You only seem to think I'm a gentleman when it suits you," he says, but Nejimi pats him on the head and walks away to dry her hands. Hisoka is bubbling inside at the display. Were it any other m22ale, even him, Nejimi would not have been to haughty. Only Tao can get her real self to play.

"Tao, father is expecting us. He wants to watch our spar this time and evaluate our weaknesses," the Hyuuga heir explains when Tao tries to use Nejimi's casual kimono as a washcloth. She returns the favor by trying to shove him into the oven.


Hisoka felt biting shame inside his gut when he fell to his knees in front of the entire village, blood pouring from his mouth and burn marks smoldering his skin. Uchiha Sasuke's hatred for his brother and revenge for his clan was more powerful than Hisoka's pride in becoming a good Hyuuga heir. Hisoka cannot hide the venom in his gaze as he crumples down and is forced to gaze up at the Uchiha, wishing a bolt of lightning would come down and strike the dark-eyed male like he had done to Hisoka's flesh only moments before.

Hisoka stubbornly clings to consciousness until Sasuke limps and falls over too. They are both dragged onto stretchers and Hisoka cannot bear to scope out his father's disappointed gaze. His last thoughts of how his younger brother Hitoshi might make a better Hyuuga heir than he will ever be.


A month later and the Chunnin exams are at their finals. Only one more match each and the newest Chunnins shall be decided. It is the Leaf against the Sand mostly, with all of the Sand Siblings passing flawlessly through to the next rounds. Sasuke, too, of course. Shikamaru's wits have helped him pass as well, even though his best friend Isamu and his rival Sadao both were disqualified for turning the entire match into an angst-filled battleground.

Hisoka feels sympathetic when he learns that Lee may never be able to Dance again, despite his Alpha Lion's encouragement. Shino also won his round with incredibly grace and fluidity, which only made Hisoka think more on his defeat. The epic battle between two of the most prestigious clans in Konoha, and Hisoka lost. He wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

"Tao may be fighting with Uchiha, he might be able to avenge your honor," Nejimi says placidly. She is nursing her cousin's wounds after he tried to push himself too hard again from training. With Tao's Alpha Lion wanting to handle the prodigy himself, Hisoka was left alone by himself to mull over his weaknesses and hide away in his room. Only Nejimi had offered him a helping hand, which many of their other, more distant, cousins scoffed at. To be coddled by your female sibling was an embarrassment, but Hisoka's pride had been shot so far down that he is sure that they will be unable to think any lower of him. And also he needed someone to lean on right now.

Tao was already stronger when they first fought. Of course he would become a Chunnin, Hisoka thought dismally.

"Nejimi... our first match was rigged," Hisoka confessed, breath hitching when Nejimi stopped wrapping his bruised arm for a second. "H-he had always been the better Dancer. I-I just wanted to prove to f-father that I was strong enough to lead this clan. B-but now I realize that I cannot rely on fake triumphs to pr-prove my worth. I-I'm sorry."

Nejimi's face was emotionless, as if deciding on what to say if only to ease the situation. Hisoka already knew how disappointed she was though. "You asked Tao to lose to you so that you can shine in your father's eyes." It wasn't a question and she continued. "You then lose to Uchiha because you were not strong enough to defeat him." A pang in his heart. Hisoka had promised himself not to cry. "So... now that you have lost to Uchiha, you believe that your father will strip you of your birthright because you are not strong enough."

The way she put it. So analytical that left no room for bias. It made it all the more worse because it was all true. Hisoka choked down his anguish. "Y-yes."

To his surprise, Nejimi finishing tying his bandages and pulled them one last time with a sharp tug. Hisoka gasped when she looked at him like he was an idiot and said tenderly, "Then, you should just get stronger." She stood up, gathering the medical kit she had brought, and smoothed down her skirts before walking away.

Hisoka sat there for a while, contemplating her words. She made it sound so simple, and even if it was, it was an insurmountable obstacle. To his astonishment, Lord Hiashi rounded the corner and looked pleased to see him. It was brief, quickly masked by an air of business, but it had been there. Intrigued, Hisoka allowed his father to sit by him. They watched the leaves fall from the tree in the courtyard for a while, allowing the lazy winds to rustle their equally dark hair. Unlike his little brother Hitoshi, Hisoka looked much more like their mother.

After a long, tense silence, Hiashi finally spoke. "Tao Tao's opponent is widely speculated to be Uchiha." He spoke confidantly, as if making an observation sound like a fact. The younger Hyuuga tried not to look deflated. Tao would probably walk over his opponent. As if a mindreader, Hiashi added, "Do not underestimate Uchiha's power though. It has already been common knowledge that Sasuke Uchiha's strength is derived solely from his wanton revenge against his elder brother. Tao Tao is a skilled Dancer, but I am not sure if he has what it takes to go up against such raw hatred." Hisoka nodded, a bit numbed now. If even his father was having doubts about Tao's match...

Another long stretch of time, whereas the two watched the sun set and the sky begin burning a deep amber into a smoky maroon. "You cannot let one rigged match determine your future," Hiashi said suddenly, sitting up just like Nejimi had. Before he left though, he brought out a scroll from within his robes and handed it to the shocked heir. "Please deliver this to Tao Tao the next time you see him, preferably right before or after the match. Have Nejimi accompany you though, she has been dropping hints about wanting to see him." A flutter of a smile and the chief of the most powerful clan in all of the Fire Country is gone, disappeared like the sun that had just hidden itself behind the horizon.

Biting his lower lip, Hisoka thinks about what his father had said. A rigged match? Obviously he knew then of Tao's power. So it had been all for naught? Hisoka rattled that in his head a bit. He wouldn't have been named the Hyuuga clan heir if Lord Hiashi did not think his capable. But he was far from capable! "Then, you should just get stronger," chimed in his head, and all of a sudden it made sense.

At first, Hisoka had deluded himself into believing that his power came from a match that was inevitable from the start, and had been arrogant. Now that he had been thoroughly humbled, all there is to do is keep going! It was like what Nao Uzumaki would have said. Something like, "The first step to greatness is always the first step, whatever that means dattebeyo!" Flushed, Hisoka headed to his room with his head held high. Tomorrow, he and Nejimi will be paying Tao a visit. He clutched the scroll in his hand as he went to bed, wondering what it contained. The seal on the front was not his father's handwriting, but the lines were neat and well-made. Feeling renewed, Hisoka went to bed looking forward to the next day for once.


Tao was a fucking mess. He couldn't see out of one of his eyes, having to wear a patch over it while he was forced not to use any assistance despite trembling when he answered the door. Nejimi had offered to help, but Tao refused. He told them that he and his Alpha Lion had been training every day to the point where Tao's body was unable to heal itself and he was thus under house arrest. Hisoka had been too distraught over his friend's persistence in his grueling training regime that he forgot entirely about the scroll.

Instead, Tao confided in them all of his insecurities while he shivered and Nejimi held his hand. Tao had been unable to feel it, his fingers firmly wrapped in bandages and numb. He told them of how he watched Sasuke and Sadao battle on the hospital roof top, of how Sasuke had become enraged when it felt like Sadao would be able to defeat him. Of how his Alpha Lion gained the knowledge that Sasuke was being slowly pushed over the edge after his brother came by not to battle him, but to abduct Nao and Sadao. He relinquished his inner battle on fighting Sasuke with all he had, fearing that if he won it might provoke Uchiha even further.

Hisoka apologized for their first match, at which Tao tried to convince him was beneficial for the both of them but to no avail. Afterwards, they all sat in suffocating silence until Hisoka told Tao of how he knows that Tao is stronger than him, and that it hurts knowing these things but he will just have to train harder like Tao had done and prove his worth by his own means. The two made sure to never become bitter just because the other is stronger, as well as to not succumb to the hatred of vengeance. And to seal the deal, Nejimi gave Tao a chaste kiss on the cheek. He couldn't feel it, but his face turned red all the same.


Even after all of the collected data and highly-desired circumstances, as well as Tao just recovering fully from whatever hellish training he had done (which he refused to divulge the details on) it turns out that at the last moment, the selections were switched.

At first it was a disappointment as well as a relief. Tao wouldn't have to fight Uchiha. He wouldn't have to go up against the rage-filled beast the younger male had begun growing into. But that meant that he didn't know who his opponent would be until the day. To his chagrin, he got Shikamaru instead.

It had to be the most infuriating time of Tao's life, because he didn't know if he should go all out or try and attack normally. His scales bristled as he was forced to try and keep off the ground, but even that could be lethal with the way Shikamaru's shadow shimmered over the land. He kept Shikamaru at a distance, hoping to wear out the other's chakra reserves so he couldn't use that pesky shadow, even using his new technique of causing his scales to turn into projectiles and shoot themselves at his enemies before they exploded. In the end, he won despite getting trapped in the Nara's famous shadow-possession jutsu. Shikamaru forfeited in a very graceful manner as he humbly returned to his human form before the other, an immense sign of respect for a Lion Dancer.

"I had around two-hundred other plausible moves to use, but I ran out of chakra just to get you to this point." He yawned. "I forfeit. Good fight, Tao." Tao's assumptions of Shikamaru easily fell apart after that, as well as his decision to never underestimate the prodigal serpent ever again.

Tao was sent to the medical wing for his severe lack of chakra and from having several of his own explosions detonating too close to his skin. He was surprised when Hisoka came by then, offering him a scroll with a handwriting he was too familiar with for comfort. Hisoka and Nejimi waited respectfully outside of the door, and were surprised when they heard Tao begin to cry. They peeked inside, and saw him with the most serene smile he had ever had in his life, molten red eyes glistening with relief as if a cage door had been opened for him. Nervously, the two left Tao be, wondering what could have been in that scroll just as a loud earthquake shook the building and the Lands Hidden in the Sand and Sound attacked.


Sasuke had defected. Shikamaru assembled his most trusted team to bring the ass back, screaming and kicking if need be. Lee was undergoing his surgery that would determine if he would be allowed to continue Dancing or not, but they don't have the time and must go as a five-man cell. Shikamaru Nara. Sadao Haruno. Isamu Yamanaka. Shino Aburame. Tao Tao.

They left in a hurry, unable to tell their friends and families when - if - they would return.

Hisoka and Nejimi waited in agitation with the rest of the village, their panic rising when Rock Lee rushed after them right after his operation was a success.

A day after the mission, Shikamaru came back looking lost beyond words. Mission failed. He was limping and having to use Temari, his rescuer, as a support. Rock Lee was being hefted by Gaara's sand. Isamu was put into a coma from overriding his mind-transfer jutsu. Shino was gravely wounded with several gouges inside of him, nearly all of his insects decimated. Sadao came back unconscious in the arms of his Alpha Lion Kakashi, clutching Sasuke's headband unconsciously.

Tao came back already dead, two incredibly large holes that went straight through his body and numerous lacerations already becoming infected from fighting a monstrous spider-like dragon that could maneuver around his steel-coated defenses. Prince Takehiko the Slug King had to operate on him the moment he returned, using his own scales and raggedy hair to help close the wounds - and even with the most skilled medic in the land his chances were slim. When he finally woke up, Hisoka wanted to cry out of fear and happiness. Nejimi lost all of her princess-like nature when she screamed at Tao for not telling them how severe the mission was, as well as demanding that he take her out on the most expensive date he will ever be able to afford.

"And you're not allowed to get a dessert!" she breathed heavily, a furious swan flapping her wings in fury before a barely-conscious Tao probably doped to his eyeballs in pain medication. Hisoka was behind her, twiddling his fingers nervously as he saw Tao slowly open his eyes a crack and looked over at him. A smile was on his lips, a shining secret just for them.

"It's a date," he conceded.


A/N: Some really twisted version on if Naruto only could have males be ninjas. I had to add dragons. It was much harder to actually make everything align with the story, but hopefully there won't be that many plot holes I am leaving out. At least if it was this way, Tao would have gotten a lot more screen time. Any knowledge on Eastern dragons and Chinese lion dances may also help with understanding. Hope you understand all of the name-switches too.

9/17/12: I edited this but it still looks very choppy. Most of the weird wording and spelling mistakes were weeded out, but let me know because I am just terrible at this.