(Now for the fight.) ~Kiba-chan
(("Speech" 'Mind.' 'Thought'))
I looked at the board and laughed as it sunk in that I was going to have to fight the very person who had made my life a living hell. When I looked around I saw that many of my friends had worried looks and some of them glanced over at me before they quickly looked away again. I looked over at the Sand Siblings to see how they reacted to knowing that their old "friend" was here at the exams. Gaara looked like he was going to kill someone and the other two just looked uncertain and maybe torn between fear and relief. I looked away and watched as Bone walked forward and stood in front of the proctor. When I went to stand across from him I was stopped by a hand on my arm. I didn't have to turn around to know that it was Sasuke who had grabbed me and instead I just kept my focus on Bone.
"You don't have to do this. It won't change anything if you fight him. It won't bring them back you know. Besides I don't know what I would do if you..," he said fear in his voice.
"I'm going to tell you the same thing you told Sakura a few seconds ago. Shut up. I have to do this because I'm an avenger and it's my duty to kill the bastard who ruined my life and tried to do the same thing to you," I said turning to look at him. "At least that's what I would have said to you a few years ago, but now I'm doing this because I'm tired of the lies and the running. I'm tired of living in fear for Sakura's, Naruto's, and your life brother. I won't let him leave this place alive and if I die on the battlefield I'm going to make sure that I take that bastard with me at least." He looked stunned by what I had said and when I felt his grip on my arm loosen I yanked it out of his grasp and walked towards the front of the group. With each step I took memories of my life flashed before my eyes and I felt all the old emotions rise up with each one. I saw my dragon dead at my feet, my parents dead in my arms, Scourge jumping in between me and the blade that took his life, the group of people who I had brought together and made into a family, the two people in that group that I had fallen for as I said good-bye and promised to come back to them, and Nachuraru as he cupped my cheek lovingly as his life drained away. And I remembered the last words that they had all said to me. I love you. Those three words gave me the strength to walk forward and fight the bastard who ruined my life.
"Well what do we have here? I honestly didn't think you would be so eager to go to an early grave, but then again I guess you don't really have any reason to stay on this earth now that you don't have anyone to live for," Bone sneered as I stood in front of him and Hayate.
"No I don't plan on going to an early grave, but I'll make sure that Scourge gives you the royal treatment when I send you to the fiery pits of the underworld," I hissed back at him. I looked over at the sensei's that had come to support their teams and made eye contact with my oldest brother, Tigerstar. I gave him a slight nod and he responded by giving me the same nod. Before anyone could move five Densetsu ninja surrounded my and Bone.
"Are you sure about this old friend?" Firestar asked me.
"Firestar. It's not like she really has a choice or do still doubt that he'll issue the sacred wereanimal challenge?" Faolan asked as he looked at my friend.
"Oh you don't have to argue about that because I don't plan on letting someone intervene in this fight before I can kill that monster. And before you say anything else Faolan I'm issuing the Shi no chosen against your sister there," Bone sneered at my other brother.
"I accept your challenge and I also suggest that Spottedfur does the honor of refereeing this fight, so as to make it a somewhat fair fight," I said before my brother could respond.
"I would consider it an honor to referee a fight between two renowned warriors of my village, Whitetigerstar. At least I'll have something to tell my grandkids," Spottedfur said as she came to stand beside us.
"Please call me Kiba. I am no longer the great Whitetigerstar not since that horrible incident ten years ago," I snarled narrowing my eyes to slits. She bowed her head respectfully and motioned for the others to take up their positions. They nodded and ran to stand a few feet in front of the group of genin and the group of teachers.
"Four Violent Flames Formation," the four remaining warriors called out in unison. As the purple colored barrier formed itself Kakashi tried to be the hero and ran towards the barrier only to be tackled to the ground by a clawed Bramble and Tawny. They quickly pinned Kakashi down and by the time their father had hauled them off of him the barrier was erected. I saw my brother growl something to Kakashi whose visible eye widened a fraction before he stared at me with horror on his face.
"All right now I'm going to state the rules for this particular Shi no chosen. Rule one each combatant may use all of the forms that are at their disposal and can switch between them as often as they like. Rule two if anyone on the outside interferes with this fight the person they interfered with or assisted will die by the claws of all the Werewarriors here today. Rule three this fight can only be stopped when one or both of the combatants are dead. Is this clear?" Spottedfur asked those outside of the barrier.
"Alright, but Kiba is this really what you want?" the Hokage asked as he spoke for everyone present.
"She doesn't have a choice now that she has accepted the challenge. If she backs out now she will die," Sasuke answered from across the room.
"Very well. Where is the safest place for those who aren't fighting to watch this fight?" Hokage asked again.
"Around the edges of the barrier. It's more likely that they will be able to break through the top of the barrier than the sides, so everyone needs to stay on ground level," she answered once again. I saw the Hokage nod his head in understanding and stepped back to join the other teachers. I saw Kakashi go over to stand with Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Neji, and Kiba-kun as they stood at the front of the group so that they could better see the fight. "Let the fight...BEGIN!" I jumped out of the way as a kunai flew underneath me and continued to dodge the attacks that Bone continued to launch at me. 'Just a little farther you idiot.' I thought to myself as I lured Bone into a trap. Bone sneered at me when I was backed into a corner and he launched himself at me thinking that I was an easy target. I smirked right back at him and jumped up as he ran underneath me. I twisted in midair and slashed his back with a kunai landing on all fours with my soft, tiger pelt ready for his next attack.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHGGGGGGGGGGGG," Bone yelled as blood squirted out of his back. "You'll pay for that monster." He turned and faced me as his black and white fur burst out over his skin as he took on the form of a werecat. He snarled at me and we launched ourselves at each other and fell to the ground in a tangle of fur, claws, and fangs. He was able to pin me down and used his back claws to shred the soft skin on my underbelly. I gritted my teeth and hissed as I used my back feet to throw Bone off of me. I rolled away as my white fur receded and I returned to my human form. I performed a few quick hand signs and healed the wound on my stomach enough so that it wouldn't continue to bleed. When I looked back up Bone had disappeared and I pulled out a kunai and waited for him to make a move. I wasn't prepared for him to drop onto my back and stabbed me with a kunai in my shoulder. I yelped in pain as I felt the muscles in my shoulder were torn by the weapon. "Well I guess you're not as strong as you thought you were. You know I think that when I'm done with you I'll kill your friend. I think I'll start with that blonde boy and then the pinkette and finally your cousin. Or better yet I'll do to him what I did to you. Then I'll go after that red head after all you seem to be quite close to him, so he'll have to die just like Nachuraru did. Shame really I never had anything against them, but they made your life better and I couldn't have that know could I? Of course not then your punishment wouldn't be complete," Bone said as he pushed another kunai against my throat.
"Bastard," I said as I started to struggle against his hold on my arms. I was able to hit him in the jaw as I struggled against him. He yanked my head back by my hair and pressed the kunai into my neck drawing blood.
"You'll pay for that you monster," he snarled at me. He then proceeded to smash my face into the ground multiple times. When he stopped smashing me into the floor he lifted my by the throat and I started to struggle against him once again hoping that I would be able to get away from him before he was able to do anything else to me. He just laughed at my attempts to break free and threw me into the far wall. I was able to twist in the air so that my back hit the wall instead of face first. The impact nocked the air out of my lungs and as Bone walked towards me ready to end the fight and my life. As he walked towards me a black swallow tail butterfly caught my attention as it floated by in front of my face. When my eyes focused back on what was in front of me I saw the two black robed figures from before standing in front of me.
"Stand up Kiba. This is not how it should end and it's not how your mates would want you to end it," the masked male said. I rolled over and coughed as blood gushed out of my mouth and some of it ran down the sides of my lips. I pushed myself up as I thought about what he said.
"Kiba. This is not who you are. You are the person who should be able to kill that man after what he did to you. You should be able to stand up and stop him before he hurts someone else," the girl said.
"What's the point? I've lost everything. My mates, my parents, my home, and the person I love the most hates me after what I've done," I coughed out. I stayed bent over as I waited for an answer or for Bone to just kill me and get it over with.
"You don't know that," she said again.
"Yes I do. I watched him as he showed the hate and rage he has deep within him and that was just when he saw my name, so if you can really convince me that he doesn't hate me then maybe I'll have a reason to fight other than to kill him. If you can't find one then I'll die right here along with that bastard," I continued as tears stung my eyes.
"Then remember what they would have wanted. Would they have wanted you to end your life or live it to the fullest you can? I know the answer, but I'm curious if you know that answer," the male said. I thought about it and when I focused back on the two of them I smiled because I knew the answer to that question and I wasn't about to disappoint my loved ones.
"Then I guess it's time I get serious, huh?" I said as I pushed myself up against the wall. I saw them smile at me and they moved to stand in the far corner as I released the rest of my stored up chakra reserves in one instant. The added boost to both my chakra and the beasts' chakras instantly healed my wounds and increased our strength twenty fold. The chakra was so powerful that you could actually see it.
"You're right Bone. You will pay for what you did you bastard," I yelled as I released the seal that held Difenda back from using her full power on my body. The chakra changed from a red to a pitch black color as the chakra wrapped itself around me and took on the shape of a wolf. I opened my mouth and roared as my first three tails appeared. They were the one tail, two tails, and the true thirteenth tail of the wolf spirit. "Now you DIE!" I roared.
"So you do still have some fight in you, but those two beasts of yours can't help you when they're sealed within you," Bone sneered at me.
"That's where you're wrong idiot. The power of the beasts isn't sealed anymore. I removed the seal three months after you drove me out of my home. And now they're going to help me rip you limb from limb as you beg for mercy!" I said as a pair of true dragon wings sprouted from my back. Bone visibly paled and I laughed as I slowly walked towards the boy. He trembled as I got closer to him and started to walk back. I snarled as I saw the terror start to take over his face. I dropped to all fours as he was backed into the wall and I crawled over to him.
"You really are a monster," he said as I took my claws and left shallow cuts on his body.
"Wrong. A monster would torment someone every second they got. Unlike you I never went after your mate, children, or anyone you ever cared about! I left them alone, but you! You attacked my family, my mate, me, my cousin, and my kids. I never harmed yours, but you killed mine and now it's time for me to keep the promise I made to a very dear friend of mine. One you tried to kill and one you tried to scar for life," I growled as two people appeared from within the crowd and pushed forward so that they were able to see me and Bone. I grabbed him by the neck and pulled him over to the barrier and pushed his face into it so that he could see the two people he had almost killed. "They were your mate and son, but you treated them the same way you treat me right now. You sent your son to try and kill me because you thought I would kill him for being your son, but instead I took him in and trained him and now he is my deputy. Tell me how does it feel to know that your son is a better warrior and killer than you ever were?" I hissed as he looked at his mate and son.
"They're dead to me," he said as he spit in their direction. I growled and took him and slammed him into the ground multiple times as I started to get ready to kill him. After he was stunned and bleeding on the ground I took to the air and started to focus my chakra into my palm as I willed it to form a single spike. I dove at him and sent up a cloud of dust to mask what I did to him. I wrapped one of my three tails around his chest, throat, and waist as I drove my hand into his chest. "Please can you forgive me?" he whispered as his life force drained away.
"I will never forgive you. I will make sure that you are remembered as the monster you are so long as I have blood in my body and air in my lungs," I hissed as I pierced his heart. As the dust settled I wrapped my claws around his heart and pulled it out of his chest before I crushed it in my hand. I snapped his neck for extra measure and stood up as I replaced the seals that kept my power in check. I just stood there and stared at the body of the person who ruined my life. 'I did it. I'm finally free of him. My family and friends are safe from him and his intentions after so many years.' I thought to myself as tears fell down my face.
"Well done Kiba. You are the winner of this Shi no chosen. Now that you have won your fight you're free to go and continue with your life as you please," Spottedfur said as she came and stood beside me. I ignored her and continued to stare at Bone's body as two lights appeared above me. I watched as they took on the shapes of a demon and an angel winged man. I stared at the figures unable to feel anything even as I saw them step out of the lights and make their way towards me. I felt Scourge place his hand on my shoulder and I looked up at him and Nachuraru for the first time in months. I felt tears start to flow down my face, but I was unable to move my body as they both cupped one of my cheeks and rubbed it lovingly before they gave me a kiss.
"Thank you love," Scourge said as he put his lips next to my ear. The tears flowed faster as Nachuraru leaned in close and kissed me on the lips again.
"Yes. Thank you for bringing the man who killed us to justice and for loving us when we were with you and your friends," he said as he gently stroked my cheek. I opened my mouth to say something, but all that came out was a choked sob as I hushed me.
"Come on you two. You can't stay here anymore. We've given you all the time we could now let's go before someone else comes looking for you two," the masked male said as he and the girl walked over to us.
"We know, but leaving her a second time is so hard. Especially when she is still hurt by what has happened here today," Nachuraru said as he stood up and raised his angelic wings. The masked duo just nodded their heads in understanding and waited for Nachuraru and Scourge to leave me. The two of them stood up and walked over to the others as they prepared to leave. I just watched them and sobbed as they left me again.
"Kiba. Nachuraru and I want you to remember that no matter what happens we'll be with you even if you can't see us. No matter what happens remember that we both love you with all our hearts and that we approve of your new mate choice," Scourge said as he and the others started to fade away. I smiled at the four of them.
"Thank you," I said as they faded away. As they faded away I was brought back to the real world and saw my brothers and Sasuke standing in front of my looking worried.
"Kiba? They've taken the barrier down and you can leave now," Sasuke said as he looked at me worriedly. I ignored him and pushed myself up so that I was standing and walked away from the body and everything it meant to me and so many others I knew. I walked past my friends, allies, teachers, and family and towards the group of three members that had appeared angry with me before the fight. I saw the anger and hate in their eyes as I walked up to the one who radiated the most killing intent and looked him in the eyes. I only saw hatred and anger at first, but the longer I looked in his eyes the more emotions I saw. I saw anger, hate, pain, betrayal, and above all longing. I understood what he was feeling and knew that I was partially, if not completely, responsible for those emotions. Then right there in front of everyone I dropped down to one knee and bowed my head to him in a sign of the utmost respect as I completely exposed myself to any attacks they threw at me.
"I'm sorry, Gaara," I said as I bowed to him. "I do not expect forgiveness or your trust. I am fully prepared to take the punishment I deserve for what I did to you all those years ago. I shouldn't have left you or your siblings when I fled your village all those years ago, but I honestly thought that if I took you three with me you would die sooner than if I left you with your father. Looking at you and your brother and sister I see now that by leaving you there I made your lives horrible. For this I apologize to you and your siblings, but I also want you to know that no matter what you do after this I will always be there for all of you. If that means that one day I give my life for one of you then so be it," I finished as I waited for a response. When none came I rose to my feet and walked over to the doors of the tower as a loud rumble was heard outside. I opened them and in stepped Nova carrying a large bottle of Sake. "Thanks," I said as I took the jug and uncorked it. I smelled it and then took a couple of swings from the bottle.
"Really Kiba you shouldn't be drinking. You're far too young to drink anyways," Kakashi said as he took the bottle from me.
"I didn't hear you saying that the night you flirted with me in that bar," I retorted as I took the bottle back from him. "Now leave me alone you idiot." I took a few more swigs of the bottle and corked it before I tied it to a loop in my belt. When I looked back at Kakashi his face was red with outrage as he began to deny hitting on me. I just shrugged my shoulders and in my place was a twenty-one year old woman who looked like an older version of me. He snapped his mouth shut after that and I returned to my twelve year old body as I leaned against Nova with tears in my eyes. "Sensei? Does the pain ever get easier to live with?" I asked as the tears began to run down my face.
"Some days will be better than others," he said as he walked away. I nodded my head and watched as Nightpitch landed outside the door before she shrank enough to fit through the door and walked in to stand next to me. I ran my hand over her black scales and stopped when I came to her shoulder where a riding saddle had been placed. In the saddle bags I found letters to every ninja village that I had sent a wanted poster to saying that the person had been caught and now they no longer had to search for him. I moved onto the saddle straps as I made sure that they were correctly positioned so that the saddle wouldn't fall off if they hit turbulence.
"You're leaving right now?" a female voice asked. I continued with my work and didn't respond to her until I was satisfied with the way the saddle was strapped onto Nightpitch before I responded to her. I looked over at her and recognized my old friend Snowleopard by the snow leopard mask she always wore.
"No, but my oldest son is leaving to distribute these letters to the villages that I sent out when Bone got away that day I found you after your son led me to you," I said to her as Blackpanther and Bloodeyes came over and joined us. I pulled my son into a hug and gave him a kiss as he pulled on his padded ridding vest. "Good luck and thanks for doing this. I know you don't like me staying here with Gaara without you."
"I may not like or trust him, but I do trust you so I'll live for now. Can't say I like being away from my mate though," Bloodeyes retorted. I rolled my eyes at him and pushed him towards Nightpitch as I slapped a riding helmet on him.
"Then the sooner you leave the sooner you get to see him again," I said as he climbed into the saddle as Nightpitch turned around and headed back out the door. "I'll see you two in a few days," I said as they squeezed out of the door and took to the air. I heard a roar from farther away than before and knew that they would probably return before the third exam began. I grabbed the corked sake bottle and took a few more swigs before I returned to the front of the group followed by Snowleopard and Blackpanther. I had just walked to the front when a kunai was thrown at me. I pulled out my white sword and put it up so that it would reflect the weapon so that it would hit the wall away from everyone. I waited for the sound of metal hitting metal, but it never came because seconds before the kunai would have hit my sword Snowleopard had reached over my shoulder and caught the kunai.
"Why the hell would you save her Snowleopard?!" Honey yelled as she stepped forward to stand level with me and the others. I growled in my throat as I removed Snowleopard's arm from over my shoulder and removed the kunai from her hand.
"Because unlike you and Rose she didn't betray me for the person who killed my mates and ran me out of my home," I snarled.
"You betrayed the whole village when you killed the Okamikage!" she yelled back at me.
"She never touched my father," Snowleopard hissed as she moved to stand in front of me. "If anything you should be thanking her for killing the man who killed him! Besides if it wasn't for her then my son and I would be dead because he would have killed me the same way he killed my father and my other kits!"
"Snowleopard. You don't have to do this for me," I said as I pulled her back.
"I don't care because I can't stand here and let them insult both you and my family. I can prove that he was a horrible person and clear your name, so why won't you let me do it?" she asked me.
"Because that is the past just as your past with him is just that something in the past. Something that ended when I fulfilled my promise to you and your son when I killed Bone in that Shi no chosen fight. So you need to move on from the past and get on with your life no matter how hard it is or have you forgotten what he took from me?," I said softly. I placed my hand on her arm as I said that and gave it squeeze as I made her look me in the eyes. "Move on from what he did to you, no move on from what he did to all of us. Don't let him control your life instead make your life yours again. Make him lose the power he had over you and take control of your life again," I continued as I looked back at Gaara. "The same way I did if you have to, but try to stay true to who you are. I know I did, and I know for a fact that you can do the same thing. I'm over what happened all those years ago because I've already forgiven Honey and Rose for what they did to me and everyone else for that matter. So try to move on from it and get on with your life." I released her arm and walked to stand by my teammates and brothers as I waited for the next round to be decided.
"When did you forgive them? I thought you were still mad about what they did to you all those years ago," Tigerstar said.
"I hadn't forgiven them until Honey threw that kunai at me a second ago," I stated as Anko stepped forward.
"Alright the next round will now be decided," she said as the board started spinning. When it stopped spinning it showed Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado. I grabbed my cousin and pulled him aside as the rest of the people went up to the overhead railings to watch the fight. "Remember with your new marks and that chakra seal on you you're going to have to rely on your Taijutsu and no Sharingan either," I whispered to him. He nodded in understanding and I climbed up the stairs that were on the right side of the field. I stood a few feet from Gaara's team when he glared over at me, but I ignored it and actually moved closer to him the more he glared at me.
"Are you both ready to begin?" Hayate asked Sasuke and Yoroi. They both nodded their consent and started the battle between them. I watched as Yoroi concentrated his chakra into his hands. Yoroi launched himself at Sasuke who was struck on the shoulder and I watched as some of his chakra and stamina was drained away.
'Sasuke can't let him touch him again. If he lets his opponent touch him more than a few times he'll lose all his chakra.' I thought to Naruto as I saw the confused look on his face. I watched as Sasuke dodged the next attack and was swept off his feet as Yoroi pinned him down and started to suck out his chakra. I gripped the hand rail as I watched more of his chakra being drained away.
"Sasuke! Get your head in the game and Take. Him. Out," I yelled as I saw that he had very little chakra left. I saw him grit his teeth and kick Yoroi in the stomach sending him into the wall directly below me.
"Stop worrying cousin. I've got this," he panted as he teleported to be under Yoroi's head. He kicked up sending Yoroi into the air before he performed the Leaf Shadow Dance technique. He stopped midway into the move and coughed up blood. I saw his marks start to spread across his body as his dark ones tried to meet up with the white ones to unlock his true form and unlock the full potential of his animal form.
'You moron! If you don't focus your marks are going to take over, so focus on something that brings you happiness and they should stop before they spread to your whole body. Quickly!' I thought to him. I left my side of the link open in case I could see what he thought about. I saw the memory of the first time he saw Naruto when we were first in the academy together and how he helped him after a couple of older kids picked on him. The next one was of when he heard that he was on the same team as Naruto and finally when Naruto had accidentally kissed him that same day. I smiled as I saw the memories and watched as his marks returned to his shoulders and returned to their dormant states. I breathed a sigh of relief as he finished the move out by using the Lion Barrage Jutsu and slamming Yoroi in the chest and head.
"The winner is Sasuke," Hayate said. I saw my cousin start to fall and teleported to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Well done Sasuke," I said as I held him up. He was breathing hard and Kakashi walked over to us and I gave him Sasuke to hold as I checked something. "Hold him for me. I need to check something," I told him as the medics showed up.
"Hey mom," Tigerspirit said as I joined her and the other medics with Yoroi.
"Did he survive the blows?" I asked. She shook her head yes and I leaned down and whispered," Make sure he doesn't survive this. We can't have another spy in the village working for Orochimaru. One is enough to deal with at the moment. Alright?" She nodded her head and signaled that she would make sure he didn't survive. I thanked her and walked back over to Sasuke as Kakashi prepared to take him away.
"I'll take care of it Kiba. He's in safe hands," he said as I checked my cousin over. I nodded my head, but didn't trust him so I made a clone and hid in his shadow as he took Sasuke away with him. I made my clone join my brothers, so that no one would be suspicious of me. I saw that the next round was Abumi Zaku vs. Shino Aburame. I made the clone stop and yell out to Shino," Hey do me a favor and make him pay for what he did. Alright?"
"Of course. I'll make him pay for what he did to you sensei," Shino said as he walked to stand in front of Abumi. The clone nodded and went and stood beside my brothers. As I walked in Kakashi's shadow he took Sasuke down to the basement where there were more shadows, so I moved out of his shadow and hid behind a column. I watched as Kakashi started to draw some symbols on the ground and I recognized the symbols as those used in a seal that drew on the power of that person's will. I watched as he finished his writing and performed the hand signs to complete the seal and as he completed the seal on my cousin he told him how the seal worked.
"So you can use Sealing Jutsu now Kakashi?" Orochimaru said as he walked out of the shadows. I released my white tiger form as he walked out and I prepared to make my appearance. "Long time no see." He walked forward until he was standing in the candle light and was only a few feet away from my friend and cousin.
"What do you want with Sasuke?" Kakashi questioned him looking nervous.
"You see Sasuke there is one of the last people that can use the Sharingan and I want that power. Besides the last person I had who had that power really did a number on my hideout when they escaped from my place," Orochimaru said as he continued to walk forward.
"Take one more step and I'll remove your head this time around," I snarled as I walked into the light. My tail slowly swished back and forth as I threatened the Sannin.
"So then you really were the one that killed Bone. It doesn't matter though you can't kill me," he said smirking.
"Oh really? Why don't you look me in the eye and say that again," I hissed as I made eye contact with him. He stiffened before he doubled over and threw up on the floor. "I guess you're not as strong as you thought Orochimaru. Or did you forget that you taught me all of your most powerful Jutsus," I snarled at him. I saw him shake in fear and I laughed at his weakness the same way he once laughed at mine. "Now look whose weak snake. Your puny fear jutsu can't affect me at all anymore and I'll enjoy the day that I get to end your traitorous life, but you won't die yet. Now leave and know that the only reason you're still breathing is because I let you leave alive," I hissed as I walked towards him.
"You'll pay for this Whitetigerstar. All that matters is that I will have your cousin and the Sharingan," he said before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"And that's where he's wrong. Those marks on my cousin aren't his own, but he's right about your seal it won't stop his powers. Just look at the marks and you'll see what I mean," I said to Kakashi as I released my tiger form and returned to my human from. He looked confused, but when he looked at my cousin he saw that the seal he had placed on him had already been broken.
"How? That seal was used to seal the same mark on someone else, so why didn't it work?" he asked.
"Because he didn't put that curse seal on him. That seal is part of who Sasuke is and because of his spiritual power as a wolf he is stronger than you or anyone else I haven't trained myself," I snarled. Kakashi looked surprised and I just picked up my cousin and carried him out of the basement as I cradled him to my chest in a way that made him look dead. I hear Kakashi follow me up the stairs where we were met by Tigerspirit and her medic team. "Take good care of him. He has someone waiting for him to get better," I told her as she took him from me.
"Of course. I'll make sure to place a guard around his room as well," Tigerspirit said as she took Sasuke away followed by Kakashi. I watched them leave and turned to face the stadium as I saw an image of Shino using his bugs to destroy Abumi's arms and smirked at how easily one of Orochimaru's subordinates was taken out. I walked towards the arena as soon as Kakashi teleported back to my team. I sighed as I heard the sound of the electronic board choosing the next pair of opponents. I saw the board flash through my mind as my clone looked at it. It said Kankuro Subaku vs. Tsurugi Misumi. I walked forward and another image flashed through my mind of a jar filled with poison being slipped into Kankuro's suit. I smiled coming to a stop before I could be seen by anyone in the arena or who was watching the match.
{Kira's POV}
"You're going to have to be faster if you want to beat me," Misumi said wrapping himself around Kankuro. I smirked evilly as I heard the sound of the poison jar break as Misumi started to squeeze the life out of Kankuro before snapping his neck. Kankuro's head hung forward and Misumi smirked before Kankuro's head spun all the way around to stare at him. Misumi looked shocked when Kankuro's ribs burst out of his back and wrapped around Misumi forcing the shards of the poisonous jar into his flesh before slowly squeezing the life out of Misumi who gave a gasp of pain as his bones were ground into dust. As Hayate called the match I walked out of the shadows and over to the body before checking for signs of life. I smiled in a cruel and deranged way when I found a slight pulse in Misumi before I stuck my tongue out and slowly ran it over my canines in a hungry way.
"Well it seems you've survived this fight traitor. Not that it matters the poison I had my clone slip into Crow's clothes before the fight began will kill you before the medics can even get here," I said. I stood up as I wrapped my hand around his throat before pulling his limp body up to a stand before throwing him into the air with little effort. I heard someone rush towards me as I lifted one hand and blocked the kick that was aimed at me head. "You'll have to be faster than that if you want to land a hit on my or take my new found training dummy," I said looking at the person who had attacked me. I barred my fangs in a bloodthirsty way as I looked at Guy.
"You should know better than to treat your opponent like a thing when they've given their best in the fight," Guy said as I easily threw him away from me. I gave him another bloodthirsty smile before grabbing Misumi out of the air before teleporting him out of the arena.
"I would agree with you Guy sensei, but I don't see traitors as people who deserve mercy or the treatment of a real opponent. Have you already forgotten what I did to the person who ruined my life?" I questioned giving him an innocent smile. He looked taken aback as I took a threatening step towards him a deranged look in my eyes. "I'm not very forgiving and I have to say I don't like it when weak prey interrupts my play time with Master's body."
"Kira. Leave Guy alone," a female voice called. I stopped and smirked before turning to look at the person who had spoken.
"I would worry more about you apprentice. After all you're fighting in the next round and I expect you to win without using your other form or powers that Master Kiba decided to give to you." I appeared beside the girl and wrapping an arm around her shoulders as I pointed to the screen. "Oh and Sakura I expect you to treat my student the same way you would treat someone who was threatening Sasuke." I looked over at the pinkette who jerked back in surprise before hesitantly nodding her head. I gave her one of my signature smiles before running my tongue over my canines before I turned to look over at the other side of the ring. I winced when I locked eyes with the Shukaku Jinchuuriki, but kept my gaze held steady with his. Neither of us took our eyes off the other and I smiled at him when I adjusted to his hate filled gaze. As Sakura and her opponent headed down to the battlefield I grabbed her opponent and pulled her back.
"What is it Kira-sama?" she asked. I smiled and leaned in close to her when I realized that TenTen was watching us.
"I forgot to tell you that I sealed off your other spirit to make sure that this would be a fair fight. Besides I couldn't have you trying to use it in battle before you're ready now could I Ino?" Ino looked back at me before giving a quick nod of her head as she turned away from me. I smirked at her back and looked across the arena floor locking my gaze on the three sand ninja. I ran my tongue over my canines as I looked at the team and thought about what my Master had gone through for them and so many others.
"Now you may begin you match," Hayate said signaling for the match to begin. I removed my gaze from the Sand Genin and watched as Ino jumped away from Sakura. Sakura smirked at the blonde and started to taunt her with their past and the fact that she was on Sasuke's team instead of Ino. Ino just stared back at her with scorn present on her face. Sakura took the opportunity to take her head band of and I felt shock run through my link with Kiba-chan.
'Interesting it seems that Sakura has finally decided to take our apprentice and friend seriously. I never thought that she would move her head band for Ino. Sakura is full of surprises lately.' Kiba-chan said to me. I smirked and tilted my head in a cocky manner and looked at my apprentice in approval as she mirrored Sakura's last movement of removing her headband and placing it on her forehead the same way Sakura had.
"Not that it matters. Ino should be able to easily defeat that weakling. Ino doesn't need to use her spirit to defeat Sakura all she really needs is an opening to get in one good hit if she wants to win. Hey Ino," I called. Sakura and Ino turned their heads to face me as well as many of the others in the room. I flared my black wings out behind me taunting the blonde with the fact that I could use my spirit freely, but she was unable to do so. "Make this a good fight and I promise our next training session won't be nearly as hard as the last few were. If you win I'll even give you time off to go on a date." Ino's eyes widened at the thought of getting time off for a date before she smiled up at me.
"Of course Kira-sensei. I look forward to the time off from training. I don't suppose Difenda-sensei would be willing to give my mate some time off as well?" Ino asked looking up at me.
"Of course she will. You know the rules about mates and time off. If one of you gets time off then so does the other of course the teachers must allow it as well, but not even Kiba-sama is against this little arrangement and seems to think it will give you the motivation to defeat Sakura. I look forward to seeing the outcome of this match. Good luck my apprentice," I said running my tongue over my canines again. Ino looked back at me and smiled before turning back to Sakura ready for a fight. I released my hold on Kiba's body as she took control once again. I ran my tongue over my canines one more time before they shrank back to their normal size which were still larger than average for a human.
{Kiba's POV}
I shrugged my shoulders and flared my wings before folding both so that they were wrapped around my body like a shield or cloak. I watched as Sakura and Ino started to trade blows and opened my link to one of my closest apprentices. I saw memories of when she and Sakura were close friends back when we were in the academy together. I smiled at the memories as I thought of when I would watch how close the two of them were. I smiled in a bitter way as I remembered when the two of them followed me to my house one day and stumbled upon me in the middle of fighting with a rogue dragon who had been attacked by my enemies and forced into becoming a being of evil. We were only about seven at the time.
{Flashback}
The two of them had almost been crushed to death when the dragon jumped over me and attacked them. I had barely been able to stop the claws, but in doing so I had to change into my weredragon form. In the end when I had defeated the dragon and changed back the two of them looked pretty frightened of me. Sakura took off as soon as she saw me change back to my human and the next day there were rumors about me being some kind of demon. I ignored most of the people and walked through the halls as people whispered about me. Later that same day I was heading home and heard someone following me, so I decided to go to a remote area in case it was one of my enemies. A few minutes later I was standing in a glade prepared to attack the person who was following me.
"You can come out now. I know you're there," I called. I heard something rustle behind me before a familiar scent wafted towards me. "What do you want Ino?" I asked turning towards her. She looked nervous and I gave her a friendly smile showing that I meant her no harm. She chewed on her lip for a few seconds before hesitantly making her way towards me before she stopped a few feet away from me.
"I wanted you to know that I didn't start those rumors about you being a demon. I just wanted to make sure that you knew that," Ino said. I smiled at the girl and motioned her closure as I sat down on the ground. She hesitated for a few seconds before sitting next to me.
"I know Ino. I don't really care, but I'm glad you had the courage to come and tell me yourself. Don't worry I promise I won't hurt you or your family if you decide to tell people what you saw. They were bound to find out eventually, so go ahead and tell everyone that I'm a demon or whatever. All that matters to me is that my loved ones know that I'm not a demon. Besides I have my clan mates to take the place of those who wish to see me fail," I whispered motioning to the trees around us. Ino looked around and noticed that we were being watched by an assortment of wolves, tigers, and other animals. She shifted closer to me when one of them took a step forward and slowly made their way towards us. I gently squeezed her arm as the wolf sniffed at the girl in curiosity. "Don't worry Wolfspirit looks intimidating, but he's a real sweetheart I promise."
"All right. I trust you Kiba-chan," Ino said as she hesitantly reached out a hand towards my youngest son. He sniffed her hand before moving away to be replaced by a black scaled forehead. Ino almost jerked back, but left her hand there as Nightpitch blew a small stream of air over us. I smiled at her and gently nudged Ino. She stared at Nightpitch as the dragon pulled her head back and curled herself around the two of us. Ino continued to stare at the dragon as she rested her head in my lap letting me scratch the ridge above her eye making her hum in happiness.
"It's alright Ino. Nightpitch won't try to hurt you. She is my dragon and I am her rider, friend, and leader. She's really sweet when you get to know her and it seems she has already taken a liking to you and your spirit," I said gently stroking the ridges on Nightpitch's neck. Ino looked hesitant again as she slowly leaned back to rest against Nightpitch's side. Nightpitch lifted her head and press her snot against the blonde's forehead showing that she wouldn't harm the child. "See, I told you she wouldn't hurt you. I have to say I'm a little surprised to see her acting like this. She usually refuses to interact with anyone outside of the clan, so you're something special Ino." Ino rested her hand on Nightpitch's snout and absentmindedly began to run her hand over the dragon. I smiled before I stood up and swung myself onto Nightpitch's back before staring up at the sky. I felt Kira stir within me and growled at her to leave me and the others alone. She settled down again as I ran a hand through my hair with a sigh of frustration.
"Hey Kiba-chan, can I ask you something?" Ino asked. I looked down at her and nodded waiting for her to continue. "You don't really like me do you?" I stared at the girl for a few seconds before flipping myself so that I was lying on my stomach looking down at her.
"Honestly, I do like you Ino. I mean sure you're full of yourself and you chase after my cousin when he obviously isn't interested in you, but otherwise I think you're a good person. I saw what you did for Sakura when those kids tried to make fun of her and when I heard them insulting you later I defended you. You're someone I would be proud to call friend, ally, or clan mate. Heck I could even call you sister and be proud of it because I can see that deep within you you're someone I could come to rely on. It might take time on my end, but I would defiantly put in the effort needed to get you to trust me," I said in all seriousness.
"Do you really mean that?" she whispered with pure joy in her voice. I smiled and nodded my head enthusiastically. Her face broke out into a large grin before I reached out a hand and pulled her onto Nightpitch's back. She hugged me as soon as she was beside me and I laughed at her before ruffling her hair playfully.
"Yeah, I meant that and I also mean what I'm about to ask you. Ino, do you want to train to become a warrior like me and some of my other friends?" I asked.
"You mean like what you did when you fought that dragon?"
"Yes. Over the years I have found a way to change a normal person like you into someone like me. It's a way to unlock your spirit, but I never know who is going to get what spirit. I only have the power to guess what animal spirit each person will get. Again I'll warn you that this is going to be hard for you to go through, but if you're sure about becoming like me than I'll be happy to turn you," I answered never letting my eyes wander from her own. She nervously bit her lip and I could see the indecision in her blue eyes.
"Do I have to decide right now?" she questioned. I gently smiled at her before squeezing her arm in comfort.
"Of course not. Take all the time you need. I'm sure that either way you'll make a great kunoichi. I suggest that we keep our friendship hidden from your friends though. I doubt that many of them would approve of us being friends," I said looking the girl in the eyes. She nodded and extended her pinky finger towards me.
"Pinky promise that we'll always be friends no matter what," she said. I smiled and wrapped my own pinky around hers before promising to stay her friend no matter what.