Chapter 6

I felt like a rat trapped in a cage. The noises assaulting me from every angle, beating at my head, pounding within my skull. I tried to fight my way through the black fog in my mind but it just kept getting thicker and thicker. I tried to move but I couldn't do that either. I was… helpless. Screams were moving in and out of the fog, covering me in their sound. I didn't want to give up but the helplessness in the pleading and screaming was too much.

I shook my head, trying to get rid of the memory of the Forest of Death, or DOOOOM, as Ino puts it. I smiled, remembering Ino's smile after I had woken from collapsing. It was warm and sweet, something that I had started noticing about her. When she wanted, Ino was just as sweet as Sakura, if not more. But when she was mad, oh boy, she was vicious. More with words then physically, although she did love punching people once in a while.

"Next match: Haruno Sakura and Yamanka Ino. Report down immediately or you will be disqualified."

I watched as Ino made her way down, she looked anxious and scared and…worried. She was fighting her best friend, or ex-best friend I guess.

"Sakura Haruno get down here immediately or you will be disqualified."

I looked at Sakura; her eyes were wide and scared. She didn't want to fight Ino either, but she made her way down. I watched as she absentmindedly lifted her hand to brush back her hair only to realize it was short now. I smiled bitterly. I should've been there, should've protected her and Sasuke. Damn, fucking Sasuke. Had to be bitten and become power hungry. I could see it in him now, it was on the surface. Before he was able to hide it, he was able to forget it because Sakura and I were there to show him we were a team, we were always going to be there. Not like Itachi. But now…now he wanted the power so bad it seemed like everyday he was reliving his family's massacre.

"YEH!! GO SAKURA!!"

I yelled, smiling and waving my hands up and down. Then I hesitated… should I cheer for Ino?

Their fight was vicious; it was "cat fight to the extreme". But they weren't using their full power, even I could tell. I'm becoming self-insulting, that's not good.

I watched as Sakura went death still, her hands loweing, her eyes becoming slightly empty. Was she giving up? No, that's not possible. Sakura? Giving up? Well, ok, she was known for not always wanting to fight, but giving up on fighting with Ino? I didn't think Sakura would do that. Especially with the conversation going on down there; they probably didn't think anyone could hear them, but I could. I could hear every word. It was sad to think that a friendship so strong, built on protection was destroyed by Sasuke Uchiha. He wasn't worth it.

"Woooo! Yeh!! Go Sakura-chan!" I yelled, playing the part of the love struck boy.

Sakura frowned, but her eyes stayed the same and I shuddered. Ino's technique was strange. I could see she was somehow possessing Sakura but… how was she making Sakura show emotion? Unless…unless Ino was disappointed with me not cheering. Let me laugh at myself for even thinking that. Ino? Disappointed with me not cheering? I've reached a new level of self-denial.

"Beat her up, Sakura-chan!"

It was automatic now, just cheering for her, loving her. Auto-pilot.

"I, Haruno Sakura, will give-"

It stopped there and I saw Sakura fight to put her hand down. But I couldn't help but notice that no one was cheering for Ino. Not even her teammates. I leaned over the rail and yelled:

"Look how far you've come to get to this point! It's going to be a disgrace if you lose to that…uhm…" I couldn't find the perfect insult "that…that Sasuke obsessed freak?!"

You want to hear a secret? I don't know who that was aimed at.

"That was a magnificent insult, dobe." Sasuke smirked; he was leaning against the railing.

"At least I could think of an insult, teme."

HA. That shut him up, he looked down at the two girls fighting and I think he secretly got off on it. He doesn't get any other excitement in his life, unless being an avenger turns him on. Self centered bastard.

I looked down and saw Ino and Sakura on the ground, both were out like a light.

"Draw. Both Haruno Sakura and Yamanka Ino are out."

The sick Jounin said, I gaped, very aware that my mouth was hanging open. I had missed that best part. Damn Sasuke. I bet this was his whole plan all along, getting me to miss the very last part of the fight, just to spite me. I looked over and saw him in the same position, but he was smirking. Jerk.

I glanced at Ino and Sakura, nervous. I moved to Ino, her face was battered, her hair awkwardly cut short and her ever present smile gone. Instead there was bruises and blood and cuts. Ino wasn't Ino and it made me slightly sick. I looked at Sakura, her short hair was mixed with sweat and dirt, her face covered in scratches and scrapes and her smile was gone. But it didn't bother me like it should have, I didn't miss her Sasuke adoring smile, I missed her Naruto loving smile. It dawned on me, she didn't have one.

"Hey…hey Ino…hey…" I pocked her side, my feet had moved on their own accord, I swear!

"HAHA! Your awake!" I yelled and started shaking her shoulders, watching her eyes snap open.

"HEYYYYYYYYYYY!"

"Back…OFF!"

I saw her punch coming at me and moved so she only hit my side and instead of my stomach. Ouch, that stung. I laughed as her confused blue eyes stared at me and then her gaze turned confused and questioning. I nervously rubbed the back of head, avoiding her stare.

"Naruto… why?"

I wanted to answer the question but all that came out of my mouth was "Eh?"

"Why did you wake me up first?"

Because you're better then Sakura. Because you looked wrong not smiling. Because…because I know that you're worth it.

"Eeerrr, never mind that! Your technique is so weird!" I saw her eyes sparkle with laughter at my sudden subject change and then her cheeks blushed. Damn. Need to rephrase "I mean, how you go into someone's head? That's just, just so cool!"

I've always wanted to get into peoples head and try to control them. Maybe make Sasuke smile and see how many people would faint out of shock. Hehehehe, that would be fun.

"Well…" She stopped in mid-sentence and looked to Sakura, she was waking up. "Waking up, huh?" Ino gave Sakura and smile and made a shooing motion with her hand. I gave her one last lingering glance and walked off, she didn't even notice.

"Yeh!! Ten-Ten use the power of youth!" Gai and Lee screamed. Weirdoes. Awesome ninjas, but weirdoes non the less.

I watched the match but my concentration was on Ino and Sakura. I clenched my fists as their conversation ended. She was playing an act, being the one person Sakura needed. Sakura didn't deserve Ino, but she needed her. Maybe for now, it was enough.

"Now the seventh match, Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka."

I smiled, finally, my turn. Time to play the game.

"I've been waiting forever for this!" I yelled, waving my arms around like an idiot "so don't take it personally when I beat you down!"

I watched Kiba turn a nice shade of angry red.

"Just what makes you think you can beat me?! Anyways that's what I was going to say, only not so politely! Right Akamaru." He yelled, waving his finger around madly. I heard a dog yip in reply, a dog? But…wasn't that against the rules or something?

"Oh yeh?! Well…Talking's easy! Let's see what you've got to say when I'm done with you!"

Auto-pilot yell, although pushing his buttons was pretty damn funny. Dog boy set his dog on the floor. Wait…

"Are you kidding me? What's that pup doing here?! He'll get in the way!"

"Deal with it! I never go into battle without Akamaru by my side." "Yip! Yip!" Damn the mutt and his dog.

"Come onnnn. Isn't that against the rules or something?!" I really didn't want to fight the dog, I couldn't help but cringe and remember dogs in the streets when I was little. All beaten and bruised from ninjas "playing" with them.

"Akamaru. You stay right here and leave this to me, I've got it." If he wants his dog to get injured, fine by me. Sort of.

"GO ON NARUTO! GET HIM!" I felt happiness fill me, but then it diminished slightly. That was Sakura, not Ino. Sakura cheering for me wasn't a first, it wasn't anything too special. It felt great but Ino cheering for me would be even better. God, am I falling for her? No, I can't, falling for Ino would be dangerous.

"Hey, I feel sorry for you, so I'm going to finish you off with one shot." I gaped at him on the inside.

"Yeah, is that right? You're even dumber then you look if you think you can beat me!"

Here we go, play the cocky, blonde act and beat him up. Simple plan.

"You sure talk tough for suck a little squirt." "Yip"

We looked at each other, I felt my chakra building up, adrenaline was starting to pump through me.

"When you're ready, begin."

Kiba bent down and put his hands into a jutsu position but didn't say anything and suddenly, chakra enveloped him.

"Here I come." He growled out and in a flash I felt his elbow in my stomach and the floor on my back. Damn, that was powerful.

I wanted to lay here just a little longer, going in and out of consciousness but my ears picked up talk from all over the stadium. Everyone thought I was going to loose that easy. Even Ino. Might as well show them what I got. I stood up shakily, letting myself regain balance.

"What!? No way!" Take that, dog breathe. I'm stronger then you think.

I took deep, heavy breathes and allowed the air to fill me up; giving me back some strength.

"Don't ever…don't ever underestimate me!" I wasn't going to be shown up by some idiot with a dog.

I knew I had restored the faith in some people that thought I couldn't make it. My ears were no longer chakra charged but I could feel them changing their minds.

"YEEEEEHHHHHHHH!"

"ATTA BOY NARUTO!"

Sweet music to my ears. Let the battle begin.

So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so sorry it took me this long to update. I just couldn't get into the story. I forced myself to finish this and now I really like how it turned out. I think I kind of went off at the end though, but hey, I finished. So I hope you like it.

Elishia…don't kill me! I promise to do better next time… -cowers behind chair-

Warmest regards,

Lamps