Naruto and Neji... that fight... sucks, but...
/// Scene change
I DO NOT OWN NARUTO
The young boy yawned as he woke up. Another day... another day in Konoha.
-Konoha? Day? Another?
He twitched. Damn! He got out of the bed and ran through the house where he had been resting for the past month. The boy ended up in the kitchen where a boy, a men and his wife looked at him confused.
-Shikamaru! This is the tournament day, right? Panted Syng.
-Mendouk'sai, Shikamaru sighed.
-Hey, what's the problem, said Syng. You should be more... exited!
Syng waited for a reply, but soon felt a little uncomfortable... He realised it was a draft of cold wind... and... it was below his chest. Way below.
-Oi, Shikamaru boyfriend! Smiled Shikaku.
-Damn, not again... sighed Syng, understanding he was still naked in front of the Nara family.
-Mendouk'sai, repeated Shikamaru, looking at his breakfast.
Chapter 21: It begins: From birds to blindfold
Tifa ran down the corridor of Ino's place. The blonde, for her part, was already ready and was waiting for Tifa to hurry up.
-Come on! Hurry! Said Ino, impatient.
-You aren't even fighting! Why are you so impatient!? Sighed Tifa, out of breath.
-Because! I'll get a chance to see Sasuke-kun!
-Oh... yeah, the Uchiha big-head boy...
-DON'T CALL HIM LIKE THAT! Shouted Ino.
Aburame's Place
-You're going to be careful? asked the girl behind her scarf.
-Against Tifa? Answered Shino.
-She may be afraid of the bugs... but we learned to use our fears for our own strength.
And so they started walking from Shino's house. Just like everybody else, they were headed to the Konoha arena for the last part of the chuunins exams... The tournament.
Inside the Arena
-Oi... we're missing quite a few person here, said Shikamaru, looking at Syng.
-Yeah... Tifa, Naruto and Sasuke aren't here... and the guy I'm supposed to fight too!
-Tifa? Slowly asked Shino next to Syng.
Syng screamed at the sight of the bug boy.
-Since when you're there!?
"He's like Naruto" thought Shino and Shikamaru at the same time.
-Ino is there, and Sakura too, said Shikamaru looking at the stages.
-So Tifa and Naruto aren't with them... They're gonna be late! Exclaimed Syng.
In the stages...
-Hey, Ino... don't you feel like... the ground is shaking? Asked Sakura.
-What do you mean? Answered Ino.
A burst of smoke exploded from the entrance of the arena. A cannonball-like shadow rolled in smoke to the feet of the others contestants at the surprise of much everyone there.
Naruto had arrived.
-What a pathetic entrance, sighed Shikamaru.
-Better late than sorry, smiled Syng looking at the blonde boy on the ground.
Shikamaru helped Naruto getting back on his feet. Soon after, the boy started rambling about demoniac bulls that would kill everyone...
-Where's Sasuke? Finally asked Naruto.
-Dunno, many people are missing, answered Shika.
Looking in the arena, you could only see Shino, Shikamaru, Syng, Neji, the three sands and now Naruto... Of course, there was a few genins too.
"If Sasuke, Tifa and the sound guy aren't here, who will I fight? I may really end up fighting Gaara... or Shino. I must try and all-out! I'm one of the last to fight, I might have a chance..." Thought Syng, becoming more serious like before any fight.
The tanned boy's thought were stopped as the Hokage began to talk. He welcomed everyone by the standards, followed by Genma who talked directly to them.
-Look at this, there was a change in the tournament, said the jounin.
-What!? Said Shikamaru.
The boy was fighting Temari of the Sand... Naruto vs Neji, followed by Tiffany vs Shino, Gaara against Sasuke, Syng against Kankuro and finally Temari against Shikamaru...
"So I'm not against Gaara yet... I may have to take out some Konoha genins to fight Gaara" Syng thought.
-What about Sasuke? Asked Naruto.
-If he hasn't come here for his match, he's out of game. Same goes for Tiffany.
In the stages...
-Oi, Misty, Hinata, let's sit here! Said Kiba with a smile, Akamaru on his shoulder.
-Hinata, you're alright? Asked Misty again.
-Yes, thank you Misty-chan.
The Hyuuga girl was really feeling better than she had the last month. She noticed that she had softened at the repeated contact of her teammate Shino. Hinata smiled at the girl before sitting next to her and Kiba, beside the two chuunins, Izumo and Kotetsu. Both were talking about Naruto.
-He can't go on with luck forever, said the first.
-The Tsurugi boy was easy on him, but he won't beat an Hyuuga so easily.
Hinata sighed. Both Kiba and Misty seemed to have something on their mind, but the match of Naruto opposing Neji was beginning!
Both boys were talking in the center of the Arena while the other genins were watching them from upstairs.
-You wonder where Tifa-chan is? Asked Shikamaru.
-She won't be out so easily, cut Shino.
Syng sigh. He didn't even wanted to watch that match... But Naruto gave the first punch, which Neji avoided quite easily. The blonde counter-attacked quickly and the fight went on.
-He became stronger and faster than last time, smiled Syng. "What most of the people don't know is that I usually don't fight with more than three sword, while I used more with Naruto... I didn't actually went "easy" on him..."
-Kage buushin no jutsu! Shouted Naruto.
The blonde attacked Neji without release, while the Hyuuga simple attacked one after another, never getting hit. So it was the power of the Byakugan? But then, Neji fought his way to the real Naruto, the boy was lost.
-I told you, not to come to conclusion so easily, panted Naruto, smiling.
The buushin disappeared, Neji getting attacked from behind!
-GO NARUTO! Screamed Kiba from the stages.
Hinata and Misty smiled at the sight of the fight. While Shikamaru and Syng were watching closely the match.
-You know, Shikamaru, said Syng. He may have a chance...
But Neji stopped the attack quite easily.
-What's that!? Shouted Syng from the stairs.
While somewhere else in the stages, an Hyuuga master was looking at his nephew.
-Hakkeshou Kaiten?
The fight continued with Neji attacking Naruto with a Juuken style fighting, but as everyone was looking at the intense fight, somewhere in the stages, Hinata was coughing a hell lot.
-Hinata! Said Misty, getting up.
-Hinata! Shouted Kiba, watching the weak girl coughing her blood.
An Anbu came and took Hinata while Kiba and Misty followed the suspicious guy. Up the stairs, he began a medical jutsu, treating Hinata easily. During that time, the match was going on, with Neji talking about his past... and revealing the truth.
-This is my mark. Said Neji, unfolding his forehead protector. A cursed seal.
Everyone who knew the boys were silent watching them. Neji hasn't live the easiest life... A cursed seal, which can only go after your death... The control of your fate, the absolute fear of dying. So it was how Neji's father had live... and died. From upstairs, another boy forced into fate was watching, his heart aching.
-The fear of death, whispered Syng. A bird in a cage.
He remembered Asuma words. He took a cigarette from the inside of his vest and lighted it with a really small version of a fire jutsu.
-You smoke!? Said Shikamaru, surprised as hell.
-Blame your sensei, not mine, smiled Syng.
Naruto answered directly to Neji, fighting the boy with his own words and his way of the ninja.
The fight was going on... with words and feeling, but aren't the words mightier than the sword?
Fate goes against Tsurugi.
-What!? His chakras point were sealed! Exclaimed Syng, watching Naruto fight. This chakra isn't his!!
The fight was becoming way much intense than any others had been till now. Chakra was overwhelming the arena, an odd chakra. Naruto had became faster than Syng, stronger than Tifa and maybe even wiser than Misty! Neji was fighting was fighting his best now, but what a fighter Naruto was! Confronting their two chakra, an explosion ensued.
Naruto was down. And soon, Neji was up, as the blonde emerged from the ground, hitting the Hyuuga. Obviously, the fight was finished.
-with Naruto winning, smiled Syng, taking a puff on his cigarette.
-Maybe the bird will fly, now, said Misty elsewhere, holding Hinata while Kiba was still there.
Flashback
-Now that everyone is gone, Neji, you can come out, sighed Misty in the forest.
It was soon after most of the genins had face their fears with Misty's secret technique. While most had fainted or cried, some went off running and screaming.
-You went easy on them, answered Neji, coming out of the bushes.
-You would've like me to kill them in their own fears? They are kids. Serious people don't play with their fears, answered coldly Misty.
Neji came near Misty.
-I suppose you still wanna know, like most of the others?
-I know of my fears. Said Neji.
-You wanna fight them, right?
Neji stayed silent. Misty smiled and faced the boy, performing her seals, before falling in darkness. Neji felt strange... first he felt sleepy, than it was like a dream, but way too much real. In the center of a desert, with an horizon of despair and death, a crossroad of sand in a ground of dried soil. And at one of the corner a dead tree, longing to disappeared, with a girl, both sitting and fading in the tree. Misty was looking at him, with a dagger in her hand.
-I will open only one way from your four greatest fears... And you shall fight it until you won't be able to, and suffered at my jutsu's power.
-Very well, no need to tell them what they are, said Neji, removing his forehead protector, showing his cursed seal.
-Once you will have faced Hinata's father... even in illusion, you will come out stronger, Hyuuga Neji, said Misty, throwing her dagger behind the boy.
The blade entered the sand easily, as the ground began shaking. Neji turned around and faced a door... it was the Hyuuga mansion door, which he went through. Hyuuga Hiashi was waiting for him, ready to fight.
/Flashback
-He fought so hard... sighed Misty. He deserve to lose and rest now... Its for his own good.
Sasuke was still absent. And his match was upcoming...
-Where the hell is he? Asked Shikamaru.
-Who knows...
It really didn't bothered Syng. Tifa was still missing... But it was said to everyone... The match was postponed. Naruto and much everyone else was satisfied... for now.
Next match: Tendo Tiffany against Aburame Shino.
The boy was going downstairs, now even knowing if Tifa would be showing up...
-Damn... if she isn't here either... whispered Genma for himself.
Shino was now in the center of the arena, alone. Everyone still waiting for another match. The Hokage, as well as the Kazekage were both getting impatient, too.
-There's two things you need to know, said Syng, smiling to Shikamaru.
Hinata got up, still a little bit dizzy, helped by Kiba and Misty.
-Looks like Tifa-chan isn't here either, said Kiba.
-Well... Tifa took many habits from Syng during these years... explained Misty.
-First thing: When she doesn't want to do something, she'll wait to the very last second to do it... explained Syng.
-What's the second things? Asked Shikamaru.
-That doesn't concern you! Smiled the tanned boy.
-Well, began Genma, if she isn't here either...
Shino waited, but not so long... Everyone stopped talking in the stages. It was like if everyone had heard... a roar...
The doors of the entrance of the arena explode in another smoke cloud, while a shadow entered flying. It was Tifa riding Tsuki, her black panther!!
-Tifa! Shouted Syng, laughing at the same time.
-Mendoukusai, the troublesome girl... sighed Shikamaru.
Tifa got out of her panther, while the feline disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
-Am I too late? She grinned.
-N'ah... just on time, start the fight now, said Genma.
Shino and Tifa readied themselves.
-So you're here? Asked Shino.
-Of course, bug-boy!
The match began quickly as Tifa shot some shuriken right to Shino. Bugs began pouring out of the boy, stopping the stars without even having to move. As the sight of the bugs, Tifa shivered and turned around.
In the stages.
-Why starting the fight like that? She afraid of the bugs, said Syng.
-Troublesome.
Tifa still wasn't looking at Shino, trying to concentrate. Ino and Sakura were watching the match. The fight had begun quickly, but now both of them stood there without moving.
-What is she doing? Asked Sakura.
-She plans on waiting all the day? Sighed Ino.
In the arena, Tifa was calming herself.
"Ok... you've come late because of this, you have to do this..." She thought.
Flashback
Tifa ran down the corridor of Ino's place. The blonde, for her part, was already ready and was waiting for Tifa to hurry up.
-Come on! Hurry! Said Ino, impatient.
-You aren't even fighting! Why are you so impatient!? Sighed Tifa, out of breath.
-Because! I'll get a chance to see Sasuke-kun!
-Oh... yeah, the Uchiha big-head boy...
-DON'T CALL HIM LIKE THAT! Shouted Ino.
-Anyway, go on without me! I'll go see Lee at the hospital first!
-He's still there? But he came to the beach with us...
-Yeah, but he was caught training again, sighed Tifa.
The older girl started running through the village to find the hospital. Soon, she reached the room where Lee was waiting, Gai-sensei by his side.
-Tifa! Exclaimed Gai. Why aren't at the matches yet?
-Tifa-chan! Blushed Lee.
-I wanted to see you, and wanted you to come at the fights... Smiled Tifa.
Lee blushed, but looked down rather than smiling. It would be hard on him to watch everyone fight while he couldn't even walk without help... He sigh and smiled.
-There something I wanted to give you anyway, smiled Lee.
-Nani?
Gai grinned and looked in the drawers of the room. He took something and turned to Tifa. It was a beautiful flower, with petals in hearts...
-They say you're the Tsurugi hidden Flower... and this flower is called the Feline Heart... smiled Lee.
Tifa blushed and ran to hug Lee in his bed, almost hurting him.
/Flashback
-Ok Tifa... you're doing this for Juusan and Lee... she said to herself, turning back to Shino.
-So you fight? Asked Shino.
-You don't know me very well, Shino, grinned the girl with a defiant look.
She untied her forehead protector (which was always used as a big necklace around her neck) and re-tied around her eyes, using it as a blindfold. She grinned for the better. Everyone was looking at them in the stages.
-She won't see the bugs, smiled Misty.
-But now she's blindfolded and can't see Shino, said Kiba. I was hoping for something better from the cat-girl...
-Don't underestimate her, dog-boy.
Tifa bite her thumb and smiled.
-Kuchiyose no jutsu! She shouted, making Shino twitch a little from the surprise.
A little black cat with a yin yang emblem on the forehead was at Tifa's feet. The small cat climbed up on her shoulder, purring at her master.
-S-C. Explained Tifa. Stealth-Cat, Taiyou ("sun", her panther name (Tsuki) meaning "moon"). He and me can communicate... he'll be my eyes.
Tifa jumped toward Shino (somehow, she had now her staff-like weapon in hand even if nobody had saw her getting it) and struck the ground where he was. Shino jumped to parry this attack and "threw" bugs against her. He dark cloud roamed to the girl, as she turned around.
-Bugs? Smiled Tifa. Fuuin no Jutsu! She shouted.
The swirl of bugs fell on the ground.
-Nani? Panicked Shino.
The bugs started soon to move again and got back to Shino. Kiba was watching in the stages with surprised. Misty smiled and explained even before he asked.
-She sealed your body, right? Well she can seal the body of the bugs too, but since they are smaller, their organism is running faster, so they recover much more quickly than you did, explained the girl behind her scarf.
Shino looked for the next attack. Tifa was still blindfolded as the cat was still on her shoulder, even if she had jumped, the cat was staying there.
-You can't attack me with your bugs, Shino! Smiled Tifa.
Shino sent another swirl of bugs, confident in himself. She, again, sealed the cloud of insects while another went to her. The cat on her shoulder jumped in the air, while Tifa rolled on herself with her staff, preventing the bugs from coming closer.
"She's already tired... those sealing jutsu are quite hard to handle" Thought Shino.
Tifa directed an attack at Shino while clacking her staff on the ground heavily. It was divided now enough to be used as a whip. She jumped in front of him, hitting him with her whip, which he parried easily. He jumped in the air, but was hit from behind with the same weapon, making him hit the ground and the dust. Two Tifa were standing behind and in front of him. One of the girl disappeared in a cloud of smoke, forming a little black cat running to the original one in front of Shino.
-Brilliant, isn't? I got the idea from Dog-boy.
In the stages, Syng, Shikamaru and Naruto were staring at the arena, as surprised as any other genins. Kiba had his mouth wide open looking at the fight while Misty was laughing.
-Nani!? He shouted angrily.
Shino got up slowly, watching carefully Tifa and her cat.
-You mimicked Kiba... simply said the boy.
He sent a swirl of bugs, followed by a few kunai to her, while she jumped on a side and her cat on the other. While the swirl divided, Tifa sealed the attack on her side, but the cat couldn't. He was attacked by the bugs and soon disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
-Nani?! Shouted Tifa, more serious.
-Your cat can't seal the bugs, my kunai were meant to separate you, said Shino. You'll have to fight blindfolded without your cat...
He send some kunai, which barely missed her as she jumped.
"I can't fight him like this" She thought. "Tsuki would get in the way, while my other felines wouldn't be as good and would get hit by the bugs..."
-Too late, said Shino.
Tifa felt something on her feet. She removed her forehead protector from her eyes to watch the bugs crawling on her. She screamed as the bugs moved on her, drawing her chakra while she was disappearing in a dark roaming cloud.
Everyone stayed silent. The bugs went back to Shino while Tifa was on the ground.
-You lost. You don't have enough chakra to move now...
-I'm... not... done yet... Release! She shouted, her eyes close, still on the ground.
The yin yang tattoo on her thigh started to glow. Black rings-like tattoo started appearing on her left leg and on her right arm. Another one appeared as a necklace.
-Nani?
Tifa got up slowly, shaking her head to remove the dust from her hair.
-Our marks aren't tattoos... those are seals! We can unleash them when we don't have enough chakras... grinned the girl.
The two blue balls on her head were now cat-like ears. Her teeth had become fangs while her nails were now claws. She started running to Shino, fighting with taijutsu rather than seals. Shino wasn't now as fast as she was, without even letting bugs coming out, he had no time to control them. While he looked at her, she hit him on the chest, taking him breathless. The boy fell on the ground, thinking she had won.
The seal went back to normal.
-I've won, bug boy...
Shino couldn't move... but bugs roamed out of him without Tifa knowing.
-You've done the same mistake twice.
Tifa fell on her knees. Bugs were sucking her last remaining chakra, she fell on the ground.
Now both of them were on the ground, unable to move. Genma smiled and got to them.
-Looks like there's no winner from that one... It's a TIE! Both lose! He shouted.
Everyone applause as both genins were taken out of the arena.
-Now my match is getting closer, sighed Shikamaru.
-Don't complain, I'm next! Proudly said Syng. I'll make it last long-
-Supervisor! I give up! Shouted Kankuro, the sand boy.
-Nani? Said Syng.
The people were getting impatient again. The tournament wasn't going so well after all... Watching to upcoming impatience, Temari jumped in the arena, at the surprise of everyone in the stages.
-Go Shikamaru! Smiled Naruto, throwing the boy in the arena.
-Maybe he didn't want to fight Naruto... Said Syng.
Temari was now watching Shikamaru for the upcoming match...