While I was gathering data for the upcoming match... I noticed someone from Kabuto's team was named Tsurugi! I laughed my ass off! But, hey, even in the fanfic it's a funny moment!
Chapter 11-12: The Tsurugi Hidden Rose - The former Rival
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO
-Next one is Shino! Said Kiba, grasping attention from Syng.
-Eh! Its great to see everyone in battle! How does the guy fight? Asked Syng.
-G'ah! You'll see soon enough!
Tifa was a little further away with Misty, Sakura and Hinata. Shino was already on the ground while the other was coming. The sound boy was injured too. Hayate give them the signals.
They talked a lot...
-Say Hinata... beside talking, which seem unusual from that guy, how does he fight? Asked Tifa, looking at the distant boy.
-B-b-bugs, carefully answered the shy girl.
The word echoed in Tifa's head... Bugs... bugs...
A scream was heard in the stages. After such a scream, Tifa fell unconscious on the ground, leaving a panicked Hinata by her sides.
-Don't worry, she'll be fine! Said Syng, not caring much, while watching the match.
Shino had won! While the other had his arms broken for quite a while now.
-So, said Misty right up the stairs.
Shino lifted his head to see the girl. He didn't really care about her... or his teammates calling for him?
-There is more than bugs behind those eyes... she ended.
For the first time ever, Shino was confused about such a simple sentence... Kiba and Hinata hastily called for him as he was passing near a fainted girl. The last one was just getting awake... seeing the inevitable Shino passing by.
She screamed. Again.
-Come on! Next fight! This one was boring! Said Syng.
Naruto was beside him, thinking the same.
-Say... who would you like to fight, Naruto? Asked Syng.
-Anyone! As long as I fight! Answered Joyfully the blond boy.
-Don't be so hasty, baka! Stopped him Sakura. You could get hurt badly if you're too careless!
Everyone laughed around (except Misty, Shino and Shikamaru). The next fight was on.
Kankuro vs Tsurugi...
-Tsurugi!? Everyone shouted in hearth.
The boy had heard his name in the stage in front of him, wondering what they were talking about. Of course, he had a Konoha forehead protector, but his name...
-How come he's called Tsurugi!? Shouted Naruto, while the fight was getting on below.
-What's so special about this name!? Tsurugi mean sword. Explained Syng. Since in Tsurugikure, the main weapon is the sword... Also, there's many kind of metal in our regions, so we get to forge the best weapons.
The fight was already over! Kankuro, the sand puppeteer had, of course, won. The Konoha boy wasn't worth bearing the name of Tsurugi. Everyone got once again exited... who would be next. The tsurugi ninja was getting impatient, but then, he really wasn't the only one! Naruto was almost shaking from the tension... Kiba wasn't better, neither was Gaara. The last one seemed to shake in anger, tho.
The board was going berserk again... Finally, the name were chosen:
Tendo Tiffany, Inuzuka Kiba.
-The dog-boy!? Shouted Tifa, waking up in a haste.
-See? I told you she was okay, turned Syng while speaking to Kiba.
Tifa got herself up. Kiba started to walk down the stairs, troubled to fight Syng's friend. Tifa was waiting upstairs, speaking with Syng. After a while, Kiba was getting impatient.
-Hey! I'm not happy to fight a girl, but let's get over with it! Shouted the dog-boy, being a little bit overconfident.
From upstairs, Tifa had stopped talking and smiled. Turning on herself, she jumped in a move from the high stage to land a few inches away from Kiba. Something even stranger, she was now grabbing a long rod, as tall as herself.
The weapon itself was made of wood, but seemed much more stronger and resistant than mere wood...
-Yo Kiba... You can forfeit right now if you want...
-What?! (Akamaru barked) I'll kick your ass, girl! Answered back Kiba.
-I won't kill you if you promise me one thing... ignored Tifa.
The dog bog looked at her, confused. She sighed and waited a little bit before coming closer to Kiba.
-Please, don't hate Syng, no matter what happens, okay? She whispered, sadly.
The dog boy nodded, not sure how to react to something like this. Hayate soon gave the signal for the fight to start!
-Akamaru! Shouted Kiba, letting the dog launch an attack.
In the stages, people were watching the first attack...
-Say, Syng... How does Tifa-chan fight? Asked Naruto in a stupid tone.
-Errr... Well... She mainly use either Tsuki or S-C... which stand for stealth-cats.
-Tsuki? Wondered Sakura.
-KUCHIYOSE NEKO! TSUKI NO JUTSU! Heavily shouted Tifa while putting some blood on the ground by forming her seal.
Akamaru stopped his attack and walked back to Kiba. A cloud of smoke was around Tifa for a while, but soon was vanished. The scene given to all the ninjas around was the kunoichi... she was sitting on a big black panther, smiling while the feline was growling at the little dog.
-What!? Almost screamed Kiba.
The black and big cat was purring as Tifa was petting it in the neck. The poor Akamaru must've been as big as a single paw from the panther. Tifa got down the big cat, still petting it.
-This is Tsuki. Sometime, she can be a good girl... when she is, she doesn't kill her victims by tearing them. I wouldn't use it against you, but keep that dog away...
-I hate dogs, said a feminine, yet strong voice coming from the panther.
Everyone in the stages was amazed, while Kankuro was getting on the same side as Naruto.
-Oi. She's the Feline Hidden Rose, right? Said Kankuro, obviously talking to Syng. And she (he looked at Misty who was also looking at him.) Is the Shadows Assassin, right?
-Indeed, answered Syng. Let me watch the match, sand-boy.
Kankuro laugh and got near Naruto. Everyone started to watch the match more carefully.
-Akamaru! Juujuin Bunshin!! Shouted Kiba, as Akamaru was transforming into a replica of the boy. Gatsuuga! He then shouted, forming a missile for their body onto the girl.
-Tsuki, softly said Tifa.
The panther rushed against both opponents. Their attack was broken and reflected by the full body hit of the panther. Tsuki growled while leaning a paw on transformed Akamaru, covering most of his body.
-Akamaru! Shouted Kiba, blowing their respective identity. How could!?
-Cats too can smell the scent of people. They are agile, strong, silent... they are better than dogs.
The panther was crushing the replica of the boy, when the technique was dispelled to leaving a whimpering little dog under a big dark paw, between the claws of the cat. The dog fainted.
-Also, while looking in the eyes of a cat, you can easily get lost. Look like Akamaru wasn't so strong after all, laughed Tifa. Dismiss! She shouted, making the panther disappear in another cloud of smoke.
-Got ya! Shouted Kiba, while charging on her, throwing her on the ground and making her roll on herself a little bit.
She was covered in dust as she was getting herself up.
-Now... you're getting me angry! She roared hard.
The Yin Yang symbol on her thigh started to glow hard before adding to the symbol three little white claw on the left, making the tattoo much bigger. The two little blue balls on her hair had become two little cat ear, her eyes were such of a cat and her canine her growing too. Just like Kiba was taking the aspect of a dog sometime, she was taking the aspect of a cat.
-Did I say that we have five cats in our house? Said Syng to the others.
Everyone looked at him with an angry face.
-What? Did I broke the moment?
Hinata smiled, laughing a little while the others turned back again to the match, trying to ignore that last thing.
Kiba charged another attack, which barely missed Tifa. Another round from the dog-boy, no matter how agile she was, the girl couldn't parry that one. She used her long rod as a sort of shield, but took the damage, getting thrown on the ground, but throwing Kiba away too.
-My turn! She said.
The girl took her rod and hit the ground with it. The rod was broken!
-Why did she broke her weapon!? Asked Shikamaru.
-Tifa's weapon is quite special. She can break it up to 20 time. The staff is actually already divided in 22 part, all tied by a chain in the center. Simple said: She can make her weapon be a staff, a flail, a nunchaku or even a whip.
-Quite the all-around weapon! How brilliant! Joyfully said Lee.
The staff was in his "nunchaku" stated, a three branch weapon. The fight was getting heavier... Kiba threw some smoke bomb, but the girl was easily getting out of the cloud of smoke. Akamaru was still knocked out, so he had to rely only on himself.
-She's strong! Noticed Naruto with a smile.
Hinata and Shino were looking carefully their friend. He still had a chance, but Akamaru was knocked out...
-Akamaru! Shouted Kiba, throwing a little pill in the unconscious dog mouth. The pup woke up as Tifa was waiting farther away.
-You wanna play soldier pills? Smiled Tifa, looking at the little now-red dog. Fine.
She swung her rod again, broking the rod in 22 part. It was now a wood/chain whip!
-Let's tame the beast, she growled, hitting the ground with her whip.
-Akamaru, go! Shouted Kiba.
-If a problem comes along, you must whip it!
As the dog was jumping on her, she turned around hastily, creating a sort of spherical shield with her whip. The dog was thrown back from his own attack to Kiba.
-How!? Arg!!! Growled Kiba.
-Let's end this before someone get hurts, said the tsurugi rose, panting.
She rushed to face directly Kiba, but instead of attacking him, she stopped before him, quickly forming seals with her hands.
-Fuuin no Jutsu! She shouted while quickly moving behind Kiba and putting her hand both in his back and on Akamaru.
Both fell on the ground. She took some time to take her breath and, with her foot, turned Kiba on his back.
-What did you do, asked Kiba, angry.
-I sealed your chakra and your dog's, she smiled.
-Arg! I can still fight...
-Me too... but please, keep your promise... Don't hate our leader...
-Leader? I thought you were the leader of the team!
Everyone was silent around, even Hayate and the Hokage wanted to hear the answer.
-I may act like it, but Syng is definitely stronger than both me and Misty. Together.
Gaara looked at the boy on the other side, just like everyone was doing. The tanned boy felt he was suddenly the center of attention, as he was starting to feel... hum... "uncomfortable".
-Eh... not... that m-much, he tried to say, talking the same way Hinata did.
-Winner, Tendo Tiffany, said Hayate, grasping everyone attention again.
Hinata rushed down to see Kiba and Akamaru.
-Don't worry Kiba, you'll be able to move in a while, Akamaru should too, explained Tifa as Hinata was coming to them.
-P-please, use this ointment for Kiba-Kun, stuttered Hinata while giving a little pot to the medic.
Tifa smiled at Hinata. The girl blushed.
-I didn't went easy on him, he was a tough guy. Smiled the Kunoichi, covered with dust.
Hinata smiled too as they both went upstairs to see the next match.
Lee welcomed Tifa with his thumbs, just like Sakura and Tenten did. Kankuro watched Gaara getting impatient as he was talking to Naruto.
-Who's up next? Asked Ino.
The board went random again... to stop on both Sakura and Ino's name. They looked at each others with an angry face. Without talking they both went downstairs, getting ready for the fight...
-Hun? What's with them, asked Naruto.
People explained what they knew about the rivalry of Ino and Sakura... as the fight was going on, people were explaining about the many rivalry in the town. Naruto Sasuke, Kakashi Gai, Neji Lee, Sakura Ino...
-Don't you have any rival? Asked Neji.
-I used too... I get I can't surpass him anymore, said Syng.
-How come? Asked Kakashi, unusual of him.
-He's dead, smiled Syng.
People gasped around.
-And you smile? Shouted Tenten, while Tifa and Misty remained silent.
-My rival was our sensei... Juusan. He was only 19 years old.
Ino was hit while crying.
Syng reach for his bag to take a picture and show them to everyone who had forgot about the match. On the old picture, you could see a replica of Syng in the center, but looking much younger. He still had his fishnet shirt, but instead of a vest, he had a little cape. On his left was a younger Tifa, her hair shorter than now and on the right was Misty, smaller than she was now. Behind them was a tanned young adult who was smiling the same way Syng was.
Sakura fell on the ground.
-He showed me how to summon swords without seals... Explained Syng. But he died while using his own jutsu.
-Its still cruel to smi- Said Tenten.
-He, cut Tifa. He made us promise never to cry, and to always smile, said Tifa with an happy face.
The battle was over.
-Both have lost, Hokage-sama. Explained Anko.
-Indeed. This could mean trouble if we don't have an even number for the third exam. Softly said Sarutobi.
-Let's wait and see, maybe we could declare two winner from a later fight... Said Ibiki with his scarred face.
-We could. Let's wait and see.
The jounnins nodded. Most of the fight till now were impressive and fast. The longest fight to now had been the last one, between the two girl who had lost. Who was next?
Syng was putting away his picture in his bag, waiting for the next match.
He looked at Misty, who was standing next to Shino. Not that they were talking to each other. Kiba was coming back, he had healed fast and was gathering information on what happened from Hinata. Tifa went to see the dog-boy, who burst in laugh while remembering the fight they just had. Naruto was getting impatient on the next fight...
Tenten vs Temari, the sand kunoichi.
The fight would end fast...
Flashback to Tsurugi, 2 years ago (Syng age: 12)
-So you're the one who won't eat! You couldn't get a bells! Smiled the sensei.
-Since when does sensei do this anyway!? Screamed the young Syng.
-Tsurugi gained many custom from others country during the last war, explained Tifa, eating ramen in front of the tied-up boy.
-I got this one on a mission in Konoha! Smiled the sensei. This is a beautiful village were everyone is nice to each other!
-It must be better than Tsurugi, said Misty, eating.
-Yes in a way, no in another... Maybe someday, even through the pain you had to endure, you'll watch Tsurugikure from far away and miss your village. I heard from the Third Hokage there... people have the will of fire, the leaf of the tree... Maybe we, too, have a sort of will here. A will of the sword!
-That's stupid, baka-sensei!! Shot Syng.
-Don't call me baka! Shouted Juusan
/Flashback to present
The fight was already over? With Temari winning. Of course.
-I want to fight!! Please!! Screamed Naruto, next to Syng who had gotten silent all of a sudden.