Chapter 17
Sakura reached for a shuriken and threw it at Misa, but was deflected by a huge boulder Misa had gotten from the ground. The shuriken had made a small cut on one of Misa's finger, which started to bleed. "Owie!" Misa said, putting her bleeding finger in her mouth. Sakura took this chance to run up to Misa, kunai in hand, to place her kunai at Misa's throat, threatening to slit her throat if she moved. Blood trickled down Sakura's throat (just a little!). She gasped when she figured out what Misa had done.
Misa had intended Sakura to come and place a kunai at her throat. Everyone else was surprised too. There stood Misa behind Sakura, holding a kunai that made the small cut on Sakura's throat; just like Sakura was doing (well going to do anyways) a minute ago. Instead of finishing her off, Misa just poofed to where Sakura was at the beginning. Sakura took out a lot of kunai as Misa used a jutsu to use thorny (big) vines to defend & attack. Sakura threw one, then two kunai towards Misa, who in turn crouched down and the vines formed a well-protected vine cage to deflect.
Sakura felt someone grab a hold of her left shoulder and also heard "Nemuri no jutsu!" Before Sakura fell to the ground, she saw the vines retreat to the ground and saw no Misa.
"The winner is… Misa Inuzuka!" Genma announced. The crowd cheered, the noise quieted down when Naruto slid into the arena, jumped up and said something about bulls. Naruto then saw Sakura, "Aww! I miss Sakura-chan's match!! Wait… is she… dead?" Misa shook her head "No she's just unconscious." Naruto just sighed in relief. 'I can't believe she didn't kill her' Kabuto was hidden in the shadows, spying for Orochimaru. Kabuto then thought of Nozomi, and you could see a light blush cross his face. ' I still can't bring myself to talk to her.' Kabuto then felt as if he was being watched. He looked to Gaara and he saw him looking, well more like glaring, straight at him. Gaara knew about the kiss for a while now. And let's just say he loathed Kabuto right now. Right now he didn't know why he did, he just felt jealous. Kabuto just glared right back, 'I better get back before Orochimaru suspects anything.' What he didn't know as he poofed away was that Nozomi's battle was about to begin. Genma then announced "Next can Subaku no Gaara and Nozomi please proceed to the center of the arena." As Gaara walked down to the arena he then noticed he couldn't feel or see Nozomi. 'Where is she?' Genma also noticed this so he announced again. "Can Nozomi please proceed to the center arena?" A murmur was passed through the crowd.
-In the Crowd-
"Oh No." said Suoh. "What?" asked Ai. "No one bothered to wake up Nozomi I saw her still sleeping on the bed when we let." Misa gasped 'Of all times to over sleep she picks now!' Suoh left to talk to the Hokage to please postponed the battle. After much shouting, arguing, and biting (on Marco's part) the Hokage stood. "Due to circumstances," the Hokage announced, "And to reasons unknown this battle will be postponed in the end." Many groans and boos came from crowd. The Hokage looked dully back at Suoh. Suoh just shrugged, and the Hokage sighed. "We will be taking a short break." Many people left the arena, but team Nozomi were worrying their heads off. They sent Ai to check the hotel room, but when she came back he had surprising news; Nozomi wasn't there! Her bed was empty and cold. What they didn't know was that she was out getting breakfast.
-With Nozomi-
'That sushi was great!' She burped. 'Excuse me' Nozomi just had sushi and was currently sitting on the Hokage monument. 'Misa already won the fight, who's next?' (She obviously forgot her fight was next) 'I'm bored, I'm bored, I'm bored, I'm bored!!' Then she thought of an idea. 'Hey Nibi, can I use your hearing really quick?' –Sure kit. Why exactly?- 'You'll see' As she used the Nibi's hearing, she heard conversation from conversation. "-she'll be perfectly fine. A few days rest and she will be up and walking in no time!" 'Sakura's health condition, boring.' "-but I'm HUNGRY!" 'Chouji complaining. I hear enough of that as it is!' "-boy this is troublesome." 'The infamous Shikamaru!' But the next conversation is what threw her off. "STAY AWAY FROM HER!" and with the Nibi's hearing you have no idea how loud that was.
"Holy Mother of shit!" Nozomi then started to rub her ears. "Ow…" 'Now let me think who would say that?' Two names popped in her head: Sasuke and Neji. 'But of course the two lovestruck boys.' But she was completely wrong. It was Gaara and Kabuto.
-A few minutes later-
'What…the…hell' When Nozomi got down from the monument, find no conversation worth listening to, she found the whole village quiet. 'That's just weird. Usually it would be buzzing with people especially Konohamaru. Man little bugger doesn't know how to keep his mouth shut!' As she continued walking, she noticed her favorite of all stores was open. The WEAPONS STORE! 'I need more shuriken and maybe a kunai or something.' As Nozomi entered the store, there were weapons and metal galore! 'I am I HEAVEN!' From being an ANBU, Nozomi and Misa were both rich to say the list.
-Mere minutes later-
As Nozomi exited the store, she couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable. 'Hmm…I feel like I'm being watched…again.' She continued walking until –BAM!- Nozomi bumped into something. "NOZOMI!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!" She was getting a bone crushing hug by none other then Misa. "C-C-Can't B-B-B-B-BREATHE!" With that Misa had let go, but kept her hands on Nozomi's shoulders. Misa then started shaking Nozomi uncontrollably, "You missed you match! ND! It's against the Gaara guy! AND! Now it's postponed to the end…" "STOP SHOUTING YOU DUMBASS!" Nozomi's shout shocked Misa and she stopped shaking her all together.
She knocked off Misa's hands and took a step back. But then she said, "Misa, take it from the beginning." Then Misa's shock turned into hyperness. "Okay! But not here, somewhere comfortable!" She took Nozomi's hand and ran towards the park. "Hey Misa, where's Marco?" "Hmm? Oh he's with Ai." But that's when Nozomi narrowed her eyes at "Misa". 'Since when did Marco trust Ai? He hasn't gone near her since that fire incident.' (Ai had set Marco's tail on fire on accident) But either way Nozomi let "Misa" lead her to the park
-With the REAL Misa and Marco-
"Nozomi! Nozomi!" "Arooo!" "What was that Marco?" "Bark!" Marco tilted his head towards where Nozomi was being led by the other "Misa". Misa's eyes widened in shock. So she decided to follow.
-At the park-
"Okay Nozomi! I…" "Cut the crap Naruto, What do you want?" Naruto's face turned into pure shock. 'How did she find out?' he thought. Nozomi said to Naruto, "I know what you're thinking. I'm not dumb you know." Naruto said quietly, "But how did you know?" "Because the real Misa and Marco are behind you!" Naruto turned around and found Marco on Misa's head, growling.
"Hehehe…' –Naruto turned and was now rubbing the back of his head- "Sorry Misa!" Misa looked at him, and then pointed at Marco, "Apologize to him." Naruto's jaw dropped, then started yelling, "Why should I apologize to a DOG?! I…" Nozomi interrupted, "Just apologize so we can go back to the Arena! I don't even know who's gonna fight next!" They were heading back to the arena when Misa realize something. She had stopped walking, making Nozomi and Naruto turn around. "Sasuke's and Neji's battle is next!" Misa ran towards the arena as quick as any being could
-At the Arena-
Nozomi, Misa, and Naruto had just came to their seats in time. "Next up, Sasuke Uchiha verses Neji Hyuuga." Out of anticipation, Misa grabbed Nozomi's wrist and squeezed it. As both battle contestants walked their way down, there were murmurs from the villagers and other ninjas while feudal lords spoke of bets. Everyone went quiet as Neji and Sasuke approached the center. "Ready…"-both boys went into a fighting stance- "Begin!" Neji used Byakugan while Sasuke used Sharingan.