A/N: Well all right, here we go with the fifth chapter of this thing. This chapter will mark the first couple of rounds of the competition among other things, so expect to be seeing a different kind of action from the last chapter. Anyways, I hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: Vegetables are not made of popsicle (…? … I… uh, don't own Naruto…).
Kurenai Yuhi was in love. She had lost herself to that love, and in the line between love and lust, she had found her new reality. Where once she was as a mentor, a teacher a guardian, a sister, an admirer, a mother, an observer, a leader, and a friend, she was now something different, something more, a lover. Hinata Hyuga was now hers to hold and cherish; hers to protect, rely on, trust, and above all simply love.
The pact had been made in the form of their passionate night. Every kiss, every touch, every subtle movement had shown the depth of the true love that was shared. Kurenai could no longer deny the fact that she had had sex with her young teenage student, and it had been the most liberating experience in her life. As it was now, Hinata was her lover; as much as parts of her perhaps wished otherwise, she was in love with a teenage girl. Kurenai still told herself she was sick, she was wrong, but she could no longer deny the truth of her feelings, nor did she need to; Hinata was hers to have.
Morning soon came on the next day, the day in which Hinata would fight for the sake of her precious love, fight to make her lover proud. Kurenai awoke from her restless sleep, still intertwined in the soft embrace of the beautiful Hyuga child. She gazed endlessly at the girl's face and quickly at her naked form before gently waking the girl with a whisper.
"Hinata. You should get up, today's a big day for you…" Kurenai called softly placing her hand lightly at the girl's soft cheek.
"Good morning, sensei…" Hinata gave in a yawn as she sat up and opened her eyes. She gave an unprepared reactionary gasp as she took in the still naked bodies of Kurenai and herself but as she seemingly recalled the prior night's events, her profuse blush transformed into a radiant smile as she bent in to plant a soft kiss on Kurenai's lips.
"Thank you, Hinata… but we don't have a lot of time. We need to make sure you're prepared for the tournament today." Kurenai said containing herself; Hinata's kiss both confirmed that this wasn't a crazy dream and that the young girl still wanted her.
"Alright let's prepare for today then, Sensei." Hinata replied lovingly getting to her feet.
The two women proceeded to clean and dress themselves, eat breakfast and such before sitting down to talk again. Kurenai had actually given them ample time that morning giving them time to sort things out.
"Hinata, there are some things I want to ask you." Kurenai said to start the conversation.
"Oh, is it something about the tournament?" Hinata asked inquisitively.
"No, it's about… us. I mean I'm not sure I understand it all." Kurenai clarified reluctantly.
"Well… I uh, I… mean… we are… that is… I am your girlfriend now, right?" Hinata stated plainly, with blush and stutters, in a way only a shy, nervous teenage girl could.
"Yes, you are... that is … if that's what you want…" Kurenai said distantly, now blushing her self.
"Of course I want it! It's what I want more than anything in the world!" Hinata replied this time with little shyness and vulnerability but instead force and passion.
"R-really? B-but I'm a woman…" Kurenai responded, now the other girl was making her nervous.
"A-actually… I-I've always been attracted to other girls… especially you… K-Kurenai-sensei." Hinata confessed in a particularly vulnerable tone. It was plausible to Kurenai that a girl so riddled with self-doubt as Hinata might have in turn suffered through doubts about her sexuality.
"I'm glad… b-but Hinata this is still… didn't you have hopes... of finding love with Naruto…" Kurenai gave a weak smile as she tried to clear away her own doubt.
"How could that matter, sensei…. I-I already have love with you… why would I want anything else now…" Hinata gave an audible mumble in an oddly romantic tone.
"Yes but, Hinata. Our love… people aren't going to understand it. You'll have to be very careful about who you tell about it, and it's doubtful you'd be able to tell your family at all…" Kurenai said somberly thinking now of what her and Hinata's relationship meant for the Hyuga family.
"As… as long as I-I can be with you sensei… I don't care if anyone knows… just us knowing is enough for me…" Hinata spoke with a sigh.
"I can't ask you to live like that Hinata…" Kurenai protested.
"It's what I want, sensei." Hinata said sharply, definitely.
"I'm happy." Kurenai said smiling at her lover's devotion to her feelings.
"I-I'm actually worried about you on this sensei… I mean you… y-you have…" Hinata started in a meek tone.
"Yes, Hinata... there are responsibilities associated with love… I don't want you to be uncomfortable…" Kurenai said in a searching yet consoling way.
"Of course. I'll do everything for you. B-but sensei, I was a little surprised… that… t-hat you wanted to love me… after…" Hinata started again winding once more to meek hesitations.
"I've been happy in the past Hinata. That doesn't mean I don't want to be happy in the future. You are my happiness." Kurenai closed her eyes in reflection a moment as she spoke somberly.
"Then I will… sensei I swear I will make you happy…" Hinata said with a sweetness that made Kurenai smile.
"I'll do my best for you as well. That is what love is." Kurenai said through her smile moving in close to stare in to her young lover's pale white eyes.
"And, I'll start to day by winning this tournament. I now have a real reason to fight and win." Hinata said intensely with a smile that matched her sensei's.
"I'd like that…" Kurenai whispered softly before kissing her lover one more on the lips, this time roughly and sexually as if in a reward for the way the girl gave her answers.
"I think I know what I'm going to want for that prize when I win now…" Hinata said in a deeply suggestive tone as she licked her lips wantingly.
"I wouldn't waste it on something you'll be getting regardless of how you do." Kurenai said in a deeply sexy tone of her own.
"That's good to know." Hinata smiled hotly then resumed kissing the older woman passionately, deeply with her tongue.
Allowing themselves to their distractions Hinata and Kurenai soon found that the hour of the tournament had approached rapidly. In haste, they raced to the competition site. Soon they had arrived in the same building as before again and the competition receptionist greeted Hinata once more.
"Miss Hyuga, good timing, the competition starts real soon. Just go through that door. Oh, and for this round of the competition you are allowed to bring one guest with you to help support you during and between your matches. Good luck." The receptionist girl said kindly.
"Did you hear that, sensei? You'll be able to come with me." Hinata said very happily as the two of them walked through the designated door.
"Yes. It's wonderful, isn't it?" Kurenai smiled broadly, as they crossed the floors to a private connected area where they would be able to view each match; there seemed to be several of these areas, many of which already contained the other contestants and their respective guests.
"So Kurenai, does Hinata here have what it takes to show the power of her taijutsu?" A deep, familiar man's voice called out to the two as it approached.
"Oh Gai… what are you doing here?" Kurenai asked as she looked upon her friend and fellow jounin, Maito Gai.
"The Hokage gave me the job to be the official over seeing this phase of the tournament. Then again, I suppose that's no surprise considering my reputation as Konoha's legendary beast of taijutsu." Gai said striking a pose as he bragged.
"Well, I suppose it's a slight improvement over that droll idiot Aoba we had yesterday… By the way, Gai, I'm surprised you didn't have Tenten enter this competition, she could have done well. I mean I heard about Lee." Kurenai said in a conversational way.
"Ha. Yes, Lee was able to show once again the true champion that he is. Through the power of hard work, he triumphed brilliantly over the competition to show he was the best." Gai spoke heartedly as he recalled Lee's dominance of the male bracket of the competition the prior week.
"Yeah…" Kurenai sighed harshly, in part wishing she hadn't brought this subject up.
"Those other two don't really have much taste for competition. Neji is a true genius but he doesn't like to show off much anymore, he'd rather just fight when he needs to. And Tenten's much the same, she's got a real noble quality to her and doesn't like to show her talents unless necessary. Lee's the one who still feels he needs to prove himself to everyone I guess." Gai said in his gruff tone.
"I suppose that makes sense. It took a lot of coaxing to get Hinata interested in the fight…" Kurenai said looking once more at the girl to her side, briefly recalling all the thoughts of the last few weeks as she did so.
"Well, let's hope things turn out in your favor… I think it's about time to start." Gai replied briefly with a flashing smile before leaving the two Kunoichi to prepare for the fights.
It wasn't long before all the contenders and their guests were secure and present in their designated private boxes. An audience had soon amassed in the public viewing box as well. Maito Gai had soon taken up center stage and proceeded to initiate the tournament.
"Hello, proud citizens of Konoha, and welcome to this year's annual Konoha Taijutsu Competition: Kunoichi Division Grand Battle Tournament phase. I am Maito Gai, Konoha's legendary beast of taijutsu, and I'll be serving as the official overseeing this tournament today. With that said let's start this tournament off right. The first match will be, Shinobu Sogu vs. Marise Kaizoku." Gai called out enthusiastically. The small crowd gave some shouts as the first two competitors made their way upon the stage.
Shinobu Sogu had an air of confidence that reflected in her dark brown eyes though Kurenai assumed it was very much forced. The eighteen-year-old girl was dressed in a relatively uninspired mock-up that looked as if it was merely a feminized version of the standard dress of a chunin. Her headband worn on her forehead in traditional style framed her mid-length brown hair comfortably. She held tightly to a long naginata which Kurenai assumed was her weapon of choice though Kurenai had no recollection of this girl from the day before. Kurenai thought that she could see nervous shivers run though the girl's legs periodically.
Marise Kaizoku also appeared to be quite confident, though for her this seemed as natural as breathing. She had the air of an adult woman, which suited her twenty-four years, though her deep gray eyes seemed even older. She was dressed loosely in a tattered mix of clothes that highlighted her incredible figure, everything being tight, torn and shaped right enough to draw all kinds of attention. Her wild mess of red hair trailed down her back recklessly and was framed similarly with her headband. Her weapons as Kurenai had remembered were a pair of large jagged wide bladed swords, which were quite daunting.
Gai gave the call to begin and shortly the girl's were facing off. Shinobu took a defensive stance while Marise charged forward speedily offering up a series of punishing blows that the other girl struggled to deflect with her polearm. Once Marise's onslaught had wound down a little Shinobu gave a hard twist of her naginata before making a rough cut with her blade which the swordfighter caught in between her blades and deflected it before offering a brutal cut to the younger girl's back.
"I don't think this one has much chance of being close." Kurenai remarked with a sigh as she watched.
"I hope I don't get over powered by an opponent like this…" Hinata said showing signs of fear.
"Don't worry about that. You just need to make sure you always pay attention to what your opponent can do. Watch Marise, she seems reckless but her style is mostly aimed at finding her opponent off guard. She backs them into a corner with her strikes, but only makes her real attack when a counter comes; a fairly efficient strategy to take out a defensive opponent if you got the right skills." Kurenai explained in a low tone.
"Right, Sensei. I'll make sure that I pay close attention." Hinata responded with a smile though her gaze seemed to travel away from the match and into the audience boxes. Kurenai followed her eyes and caught what they were seeing.
The private observation areas of Marise and Shinobu now contained only what must of accounted for either's guest and special observer. Shinobu's guest was a boy who looked about her age; he looked every bit as awkward and uninteresting as Shinobu and the way he stared on with a worried look told Kurenai that he must be her lover. In Marise's chamber was a young girl around nine years old with wild bright red hair; this girl was rather obviously some sort of relation to the rough woman as she actively jumped up and down with each successful blow Marise landed.
"Do ya see yet. You ain't got no chance a winin' against me." Marise shot roughly as she caught another failed strike of her opponents naginata on her blades.
"I can't give up… I can't give up… Ryosuke is watching me…. I must…" Shinobu began to pant aloud as the pain from the cut's riddling her body began to get to her.
Shinobu felt as Marise delivered a punishing blow with her knee to her stomach freeing their hold on each other. Shinobu struggled to regain her posture in order to avoid Marise's next vicious sword strike. She had yet to land a single blow on the second seed finalist but something about the way she held herself told Hinata and Kurenai that Shinobu was if nothing else dedicated. With a fierce movement of her blade Shinobu managed to deflect another strike of Marise's swords, she followed up with a kick to the girl's side hoping to break her guard. It worked partially as Shinobu found a break in which to launch a short stab that actually managed to connect to Marise's shoulder causing blood to spurt from the wound as it did. Marise clenched at her wound as she freed herself.
"A lucky hit, but I'm afraid that's all the luck you'll be havin'."Marise said as she bared a smug grin, which concealed her now piqued rage.
Shinobu made no reply only charged forth in offense with her rage in full. She gave a few eloquent spins of her blade before slashing forth in a fierce and brutal jump maneuver. It was a near flawless execution but that didn't stop Marise from evading it with a well placed roll and half-flip to the side. As Shinobu landed the elder chunin saw her ultimate opportunity to strike. A fierce swift slash to the girl's back later and Shinobu was down, blood gushing deeply from her wounds. The girl made a few slight movements in an attempt to stand up, but her will seemed broken and she seemed to collapse readily into unconsciousness.
"Shinobu! Please... be alright." The young man who was the 18-year-old's guest shouted as he raced toward the girl's limp body.
"She'll still be breathin' after that. But it's best ya get her to a hospital or somethin'." Marise said in a way that hinted concern as she turned and began in the direction of her waiting guest.
"You didn't have to go that far. Shinobu never did anything to you... but this is serious... this wasn't supposed to be a real fight..." The boy shouted now not withholding his tears as he leaned gently over Shinobu's broken frame.
"Trust me. If that had been a real fight. I coulda sliced your little girlfriend to pieces in seconds." Marise spoke softly as she continued off the field.
The young man soon took the losers body from the competition hall in search of medical treatment before Gai once more returned to the center of the stage.
"Alright. The champion of the first match is Marise Kaizoku who will advance to the next round where she will face off against the victor of the next match: Hinata Hyuga vs. Oki Kodoku." Gai said to signal the next round of competition.
"It looks like it's time..." Hinata sighed longly.
"Do your best, Hinata... and remember I always will love you." Kurenai responded quietly as she patted the girl softly on the head. She was now Hinata's lover and part of her wondered if she would react similarly to that young man during the previous round if she saw Hinata so badly hurt.
"I know... But, now, I'm going to give you reason to love me more." Hinata replied toughly as she got to her feet and exited the enclosed area.
Kurenai saw no reason to issue a statement like 'there's nothing you can do to make me love you more since I already love you more than anything.' Even if this was a truth, Kurenai wanted the girl to believe she had to succeed, and what's more, such words would only amount to trite romantic sentiment at this point.
Gai gave the call to start before either girl made a movement. Oki slinked lazily into a defensive stance with no wasted movements leaving Hinata on the offense. Hinata let her Byakugan flare as she launched a rapid palm thrust at her opponent with due focus. The Jounin caught the swift strike with her hands and forced Hinata into a tight hold by her arm. Hinata struggled vain to free herself of the woman's grip but was soon met with a jarring crash as she was hurled to the ground in a brutal throw. Not wasting any breath, Hinata regained her posture at once and made another high speed strike, which was unfortunately met with similar results as she felt the other girl's hand suddenly tight around her wrist. Oki then pulled her into another hold this time breaking it with a sweeping kick to her opponent's back.
Hinata got to her feet once more. She was obviously in a great deal of pain but the look in her eyes told Kurenai that the girl was far from broken. In fact the reflection in those soft pearl eyes, now distorted by the Byakugan showed that if anything Kurenai's love was more determined now then ever. Hinata jumped back then pulling a kunai from her things closed the distance. The young girl hurled the small knife at her opponent knowing full well the knife would be caught expertly, then proceeded to rush behind the opponent and disrupt her balance with a swift sweep of a kick. Oki moved effortlessly to evade the sweep, before being made target of an onslaught of enraged palm thrusts, now brought to levels of speed far outreaching all her prior attacks. The Jounin struggled to evade each rapidly ensuing blast of concentrated flowing chakra, but somehow managed to still avoid being hit as she parried the strikes with Hinata's kunai.
"So, girl, don't let it get to your head that you might be able to keep up with me. I know about those damn eyes of yours and I'm not impressed. I've got more than just my eyes that working toward my state of ultra-perception." Oki called out coolly, her nerves were invisible.
"It's not just… it's not just the Byakugan that is my strength… I will not lose to you…" Hinata said sounding somehow fierce and docile at the same time.
Hinata was determined to stay true to these words as she continued to move her palms at speeds quicker than anyone but her and Oki could see. Then Hinata slowed her strike considerably, allowing Oki to make a counter motion. This apparently was what Hinata had planned all along as when the older girl thrust her knife forward with due swiftness Hinata used her own reflexes to ensnare the other's arm in her own hold. Hinata unleashed a damaging blast of chakra directly into Oki's arm before finding the leverage to deliver her own punishing throw to the girl following that up with another torrent of connecting strikes to her down enemy. Oki recovered herself though she was now bleeding profusely on the inside; she jostled around a bit before realizing it was hopeless and falling to the ground once more.
"It's over just like that... Ha, you're real good kid. I guess the Hyuga really are the hot shit they claim to be then… I lost this one." Oki acquiesced as she sat clenching at her insides.
"I'm sorry… but I have a reason to win…" Hinata said unapologetically, she didn't like hurting people but she knew the one she loved was watching.
"I suppose just wanting to show off and make some quick cash isn't a good enough reason then." Oki replied in a sarcastic but pain deluded tone.
The match was called and a young woman around Oki's age who had been her personal observer came to the floor with an irritated expression. After scolding her friend about how pathetic she was, this girl proceeded to lead her off the field and over to where the medical team awaited. Kurenai gave a smile as Hinata rejoined her once more with a look of real accomplishment.
A/N: No, not again! I need to write short chapters again before you people all start expecting all chapters to be this long. That being said I had initially intended to have this chapter account for the entire first round of the tournament. But since I didn't want to rush the romantics at the beginning I decided I'd leave it at just the first two fights. I tried to spend as little time as possible on the first fight as, in case you couldn't tell Shinobu was the big throw away character of the bunch. I still tried to keep it at least somewhat relevant in some aspects, but yeah, I'm sure a lot of you skimmed that section. As for fight number two, it was fairly predictable. Since I made this a taijutsu competition I didn't want to give any of the characters any really weird abilities, so Oki was fairly limited in terms of skills. I wanted her to not be some weapon based fighter like Shinobu and Marise either, so I thought it would be a battle of perception and reflex. That being said the next chapter will be entirely battle oriented (though I'll try to still lace in romantic stuff in the dialogue and stuff between Hinata and Kurenai when possible). Expect the next four fights with me saving the last fight for the final chapter. So yeah, hope you continue to read.