A/N: Very few reviews, but I'm guessing that's due to technical difficulties with the e-mail thing and not because you're not reading... at least I can hope so. Anyways, let's get this thing going for real now. Chapter six is here, expect a lot of fighting.
Disclaimer: The almighty emperor of dark dragon shadow magic will arise once more to conquer the galaxy (and neither he nor I own Naruto).
Kurenai now looked at her beloved. The young girl she had come to love was riddled with cuts and bruises, but the air of victory about her made her look still very beautiful. Hinata had fought so hard and so well to impress Kurenai, and it had worked. The jounin woman now was overwhelmed with love and pride and emotion as Hinata resumed her position next to her. Kurenai wanted nothing more than to greet her victorious lover with a deep, loving kiss but her mind reminded her that this was impossible in such a public space.
"You were amazing Hinata.' Kurenai said enthusiastically with a wide brimmed smile.
"I… was only able to win… because I knew you were there watching me." Hinata said giving a soft blush.
"Well it's enough to make me fall in love with you all over again. I'm having a hard time keeping my hands off of you." Kurenai admitted in a very soft tone.
"You'll just have to hold it in sensei… and then tonight… you can touch me as much as you want…" Hinata said suggestively, bringing her own voice to a barely audible level.
"Oh, I guess that is what will happen. I'll just store it all up for tonight… though you know if you do win I doubt you'll find any sleep tonight." Kurenai responded teasingly in a still muted voice.
"That sounds nice; now I have even more reason to win…" Hinata said giving a hot blush that seemed to indicate she was having a hard time resisting Kurenai as well.
"Oh yeah, Hinata, here. it's the healing ointment you like to use. It's best that you try to recover as much of your strength as possible before your next match." Kurenai said returning to a more normal inclination of voice offering a small container.
"B-but isn't it… isn't it unfair if I use something like that." Hinata said protesting the offer.
"All the contestants undoubtedly have ways to recover between matches. That's common sense Hinata, in a tournament like this where all the fights happen on the same day it's really quite necessary. I saw Marise treat her wound with some salve earlier. What's more some of these shinobi or maybe their guests might even know medical jutsu. You'd be at a disadvantage if you didn't treat yourself between matches." Kurenai explained thoroughly and watched as Hinata took the container from her.
"Thank you, sensei." Hinata said gratefully before letting her eyes find their focus back on the tournament.
"Ok. Time for the next round. Nyoko Hyoryusha vs. Muteki Kyuuketsuki." Gai called out starting the third match.
Nyoko Hyoryusha was thirteen years of age though by her appearance you would probably guess she was even younger. The genin was quite small, with a short, lithe body and wore suitable clothing for such a body. She aired of boundless enthusiasm that radiated in the childlike features of her face. She had bright green eyes and vibrant neon pink hair that was cut short in a cute way. In a complete contrast to her childish demeanor and appearance, she was equipped on either hand with oversized fierce looking serrated bladed claws.
Muteki Kyuuketsuki like Nyoko was a young genin kunoichi. Unlike the energetic thirteen-year-old, this fifteen-year-old showed complete detachment from emotion. Muteki looked quite scary really. Her hair was long down to her back and of a dark violet shade. She had soft hazel eyes that hinted at intense suffering and loneliness. She wore all black and there seemed to be a sort of anguish in her face. There was evil in her eyes and in her shapeless expression that made her look like Kurenai figured most shinobi did just before abandoning their village to become a rogue criminal or missing-nin.
Nyoko gave a hard, excited cry before leaping forward into a forward barrel roll and punishing the ground at Muteki's feet hard with her claws. As the claw contacted the hard ground Nyoko's chakra seemed to flow through it into each claw blade's serrated edges changing each blade into a rapid-fire chain weapon that ground the floor where Muteki stood instantly to dust. Muteki stepped back, showing no sign of surprise, concern or any desire to form her own attack. Kurenai figured this initial strike was Nyoko's way of showing Muteki the devastating power of her technique so as she would know to not get hurt. Something told Kurenai this was probably a mistake.
Nyoko leapt forth once more doing more careful acrobatics before clawing at her opponent directly this time sweeping her dangerous weapon at the other girl relentlessly. Muteki adjusted her position to give her exactly enough space to just avoid the attack before making an offensive move. She began a series of handsigns while subconsciously avoiding her opponents random attacks at calculated distances. In a minute or so, Muteki gave her final handsign and her pale skin proceeded to take on a slight gray hue.
"What sort of technique is that, sensei?" Hinata asked curiously.
"Not something I know much about. From what I saw yesterday, I assume it's a personal technique that allows Muteki's skin and muscles to resist damage. She likely is able to control her chakra and apply to her defense as she pleases in this state. I'm not too clear on it's offensive implications though as she had a hard time showing any destructive power in the second test." Kurenai gave her best reply to her eager love.
"I see…" Hinata nodded before returning her eyes to the fight.
At this moment Kurenai shifted her eyes to the crowd, specifically toward the competitors guests. Nyoko's guest was her Jounin sensei, a man Kurenai recognized. Muteki's box on the other hand was empty.
"I don't know what creepy girl is doing making her skin all ugly, but Nyoko's not scared. Nyoko's claws can break anything." The hyperactive genin girl shouted fiercely at her opponent before firing off another series of complicated acrobatic claw swipes.
"Pitiful…" Muteki said with a sadistic laugh.
Nyoko pushed her claw forth again and this time Muteki caught it in her hand. The crowd could see as the chakra channeling claw blade forced itself against Muteki's gray tinted hand, straining hard in order to find any leverage. Nyoko soon found herself overpowered as all five blades of her right claw broke to pieces against the surface of Muteki's palm, leaving only small traces of the elder genin's blood.
"B-but how…. how did…? Nyoko's claws can cut through anything, they can demolish everything easily. How did creepy-girl break Nyoko's claw with just her hand… i-it's…" Nyoko started n a nervous shock.
"Do you understand yet?" Muteki asked with an evil frown.
"No, it was a mistake… Nyoko can do this…" Nyoko said regaining her focus and launching another daring strike with her remaining claw.
Naturally this attack met with the same fate as the other as Muteki crushed the second claw to bits in seconds with just her palm.
"N-no. N-Nyoko's claws… Nyoko doesn't need her claws to beat you. Nyoko's stronger and better than you… yeah that's it…" Nyoko said regaining her fervor once more despite the realization it was likely hopeless.
The 13-year-old now struck with her bare fists and kicks, which seemed to house quite a degree of power for such a young kunoichi, though the other's calculated dodging still was in order. Then Nyoko attempted to connect a massive punch to Muteki's frame. This time the punch was caught in Muteki's palm as before. Nyoko found herself unable to escape despite the fact that Muteki held her by only the clenched fingers of her fist. Muteki's grip was impossible and made her whole hand ache in shear pain. Then Muteki made her movement, with her other hand landing a swift forceful blow to Nyoko's stomach. Nyoko gave a hard cough dislodging a large amount of blood before falling to the floor with a sharp thud, ending the match with a single punch.
"T-that was… how did she do that?" Hinata started in complete awe.
"I honestly have no idea." Kurenai acquiesced in a similar state to her lover.
The match was called and a barely breathing Nyoko was escorted away for emergency treatment by the medical team and her worried, but emotionally disciplined sensei. Kurenai doubted she could withhold emotion from her student now and admitted to herself that if Hinata were to be severely injured her reaction would be more in line with the lover from earlier than this sensei. Kurenai was content with this as it was after all her new role.
The crowd was in a state of shock and confusion so it was imperative the next match be started right away. Gai called out the names of Kusuriko and Umeko and the two met at the center of the floor, which was now torn up by Nyoko's misplaced landings on her claws.
Seventeen-year-old Umeko Yamisune was your average model kunoichi. She looked kind, strong, driven, and determined and was also quite beautiful. She was quite tall and her long soft blonde hair accentuated her piercing blue eyes. She was dressed in a cute effeminate robe that further added to her image. Kurenai noted that her guest was a woman a year or two younger than her who had very similar features. This girl had competed the prior day as well and recalling her name Kurenai knew she was Umeko's sister.
Top seed contender Kusuriko Kenkyakukuse was an imposing presence. The nineteen-year-old was also rather tall and had dark green hair tied in a long ponytail. Her strong brown eyes were key in defining the look of gentle and polite but intense strength in her being. She wore a long ceremonial robe and at her side wore a viciously long katana. Her guest, a strong, noble looking man around fifty, Kurenai recognized as the head of her sword school and father.
"I wish you luck. May the best shinobi's blade ring true." Kusuriko said in a courteous tone with a generous bow to her opponent.
"That's not exactly fair since I don't really have a blade." Umeko said with a nervous laugh.
"The blade is a metaphor of our soul's desire for victory." The elder ninja explained herself nobly.
"Alright then. Same to you… I guess." Umeko replied mimicking Kusuriko's bow as if she felt forced.
The fight soon started as Kusuriko unsheathed her oversized edge. Without further notice she unleashed a shockwave of energy from the tip of her sword with a sweeping slash cutting Umeko deep across her frame despite the distance between them. In reaction Umeko drew some shuriken and proceeded to form some clones with her jutsu. Soon Kusuriko was encircled in image clones armed with large shuriken. Volleys of shuriken came from each direction as Umeko masked her position with her clones. Kusuriko deflected each ensuing blade with her sword easily and then with another hard cut, sent a precise shockwave in the direction of Umeko's current location, cutting her hard once more across her entire body.
"You're not so easily tricked I see…" Umeko said in pain.
"You're combined skill at genjutsu and taijutsu is admirable Miss Yamisune, and I'm certain that you are master to a wealth of techniques for your efforts, but my blade is not so easily brushed aside." Kusuriko said serenely.
"I get the feeling I've already lost this one." Umeko said with a sigh before jumping forward with another attack.
The younger girl's next shuriken was larger than the rest and in moments, after a number of handsigns, it began to radiate with a dark purple energy. Umeko tossed it straight and true on its target and naturally, Kusuriko attempted to deflect it with her sword. The elder ninja gave a slight expression of surprise, as she seemed to cut through the shuriken as if it was air discovering it to be an illusion. The next moment Umeko struck from behind with a fierce close range shuriken barrage but to her immediate surprise, the entirety of her attack was faltered by a single sweep of Kusuriko's sword. Umeko, her tricks broken and the pain of the two deep sword cuts setting in fell to the ground and peacefully admitted defeat.
"You fought well Miss Yamisune. You hold the blade of a true warrior." Kusuriko said with a tranquil smile.
"I didn't land a single hit. I somehow got hit twice by your crazy technique and then gave up. I don't think that is exactly what I'd call fighting well." Umeko said with a hint of spite.
"It is the great warrior that know her own limits. What use is fighting when the only thing it will further is your pain?" Kusuriko said in her calm tone as if she had not even broken a sweat during the match that had left her opponent breathless.
"Ha… yeah…" Umeko gave a halfhearted smirk and a nod before finding her way to the medical team. The crowd began to murmur with anticipation as the time for the next level of tournament fighting began.
"You think you're up to the next one Hinata?" Kurenai asked with a hint of nervousness.
"I'll do my best." Hinata replied with a beaming smile.
"Remember watching Marise's technique. It may seem unpolished and uncalculated, but it isn't. Make sure you do your best to keep on your best guard and watch for surprise attacks." Kurenai said with due excitement as Hinata got to her feet and stretched a little.
"Right. I won't lose. I have a reason not to lose." Hinata said in equal parts reply to her sensei and her nerves.
"I love you." Kurenai said assuredly, as if in reminder, before sending her young lover to the floor.
"Alright… they have crushed their rivals swiftly in great displays of the true power of youth. Now, it is time for them to once more display the awesome might of their technique. Now Konoha Taijutsu Competition Round 2: Marise Kaizoku vs. Hinata Hyuga, begin!" Maito Gai exclaimed forcefully to the onlookers starting Hinata's second fight.
Marise wasted little time in going straight into her virtual blitz of furious attacks. Pushing Hinata back several marks, she swung her swords in varying intervals of speed and direction. At her swiftest Marise was far from matching Hinata's dodging speed but the range of the blades and their number made things problematic for the Hyuga girl as she struggled to deflect the sword strikes with repellent blasts of chakra from her hands. Marise was a model of ferocity and drive and despite Hinata's efforts, the young girl found herself on the end of a brutal slash to her right arm, just under the shoulder. Not being one to give in to pain, Hinata took Marise's reduced speed as her jagged blade tore through her flesh as an opportunity to deliver a punishing charge of chakra from her palm directly into Marise's chest, undoubtedly damaging her lungs.
"Heh. Ya coulda killed me there if ya had the lust for blood. You're a true fight." Marise said in an even harsher voice than usual as she coughed up a great deal of blood.
Hinata nodded respectfully as she felt her own blood poor from her deep cut down her arm. A mix of determination and pain clouded in the Hyuga girl's young mind as this time she charged forward with every bit the same intensity as Marise had. The elder chunin was in no position to keep up with Hinata's blazing speed but her swords were effective tools for keeping the attacks within a safe distance from her. She couldn't however hold her defense for long and soon Hinata caught her with a pumping palm strike to her stomach. Borrowing a page from Hinata's book Marise used her moment of pain as the moment of retaliation as she forced a sweep slash deep across the side of Hinata's waist.
"I can't lose… I have a reason now… I must win…" Hinata started as she clenched in pain at the feeling of her new wound.
"Don't ya see, girlie; we all got reasons we gotta win this thing. Only one of us can and I know my resolve is strongest." Marise said determinately though pain was obvious in her words.
"What makes you so sure of that… I have someone I made a promise to and this fight is the first step in assuring that I keep it." Hinata said passionately.
"Promises, eh? That's something to fight for… me, I fight for that prize…" Marise spoke in a breathy tone. Her and Hinata had both token up mutual defensive positions as the struggled to suppress the pain they were feeling.
"And you think that just wanting something like that gives you the strongest resolve?" Hinata addressed in a hard tone of disbelief.
"There ain't much good work for ninja these days. The odd jobs ya end up getting' stuck with on missions don't pay much either. My Kyri's a sweetheart but it's hard for a mother to raise her girl all alone when fightin's all she knows." Marise said in rough off-cuff way that suggested that she wasn't seeking for sympathy.
Hinata paused; she gave a slight glance back at the young girl in Marise's audience box. This was Marise's way to show her love to that child, just as it was Hinata's way to show her love to Kurenai. That meant that her reason, the one thing she had that made her resolve strong, was matched in equal by this woman. What's more Marise had something real and physical to obtain in winning. Hinata began to feel a curtain of doubt and uncertainty fall into place.
Soon the two were at arms once more. Marise was firing off slashes with unmatched vigor and Hinata danced speedily to avoid them. Something was off in her movements though and she soon felt a punishing cut clean across her back.
"Ya know if ya give up now it'll be harder ta keep that promise of yours." Marise said with a disappointed scowl.
"But maybe you deser-…" Hinata started unsure about what to say or do.
"I coulda sworn that look in your eyes was for real back there. But if 'your reason' really means nothin' to ya in the end… then I s'pose I won't have to hesitate to crush you here and now." Marise had a sort of maternal anger as she said her piece to Hinata.
"Your right… I have my reason… and you have yours. I'm not going to do any less then my best." Hinata said recovering herself.
Hinata's new found drive came in an intense blast as she found a new opening in Marise's relaxed guard and used it to launch a powerful strike to the woman's shoulder sending her a nice distance back with the force. Marise retaliated with a hyper speed cyclone of cuts which Hinata blocked any serious damage from but suffered several cuts along her arms. Hinata was losing too much blood and if she was going to win and prove herself as a shinobi to Kurenai and everyone she needed to do it now. Part of her didn't want to hurt Marise now that she knew that only yards away the woman's young daughter watched their match helplessly, but Hinata didn't want to lose either. Hinata received a few more deep cuts across her frame as she waited for a break in Marise's guard. She soon found her opportunity and in a bold move chose to penetrate the sword-wielder's range and force a immobilizing blast of chakra into the woman's back. Marise fell over and coughed up some more blood before in struggle realizing she could only with great painful effort move her arms and legs.
"I guess, my insides'll be torn to pieces now. I was scared cause I knew ya was a Hyuga, but that wasn't half of your strength…" Marise struggled to say.
"I-If I… if I win I'll let you have the prize money…" Hinata said thoughtfully.
"You got real heart, kid… but there ain't no use in a prize that you don't win yourself. Me and Kyri have always managed in the past, and the future'll be the same. There will be other opportunities…" Marise said in a gracious but prideful tone.
"Alright." Hinata replied softly as she began to walk back toward the one she loved noticing along the way that even walking was painful. Looking back she watched as Marise's young daughter ran onto the field and into her mother's arms soon a crew arrived to escort the elder woman to a hospital for medical treatment for her severe internal wounds.
"Hinata…" Kurenai said in a mix of emotions. Her Hinata was back by her side once more, and once more she was a victor. Still watching her precious one endure such levels of pain and agony had been insufferable and tears now flowed from her eyes.
"It's alright, sensei. I'm fine now. Because of you I won." Hinata said empathically.
"I just don't want to see you suffer." Kurenai cried softly trying her best to stem her emotions.
"I'll only have to suffer though one more match and then everyone will know how great a shinobi your love has made me." Hinata said in a comforting tone.
"I love you." Kurenai said again, this time as a way to calm herself.
"I know…" Hinata smiled at her lover as she used a section of her hand that was not soaked in blood to dry Kurenai's eyes.
"Hinata… take your clothes off." Kurenai said examining her love.
"B-but people are watching… we can't…" Hinata said in shy protest.
"I don't mean everything. Just take off enough so I can dress and treat your wounds before the final match." Kurenai clarified herself.
"O-Oh… right." Hinata blushed and smiled, now understanding Kurenai's intent.
Hinata stripped down to undergarments so as her sensei could clean her of the blood and seal and apply healing medicine to the open cuts. In truth Kurenai found herself enjoying the task of rubbing and bandaging her young lover's pained almost naked form.
Gai gave an enthusiastic call for the next match and soon Muteki and Kusuriko were squaring off. Kusuriko started with a swift energy slash at her opponent and followed it with several more rapid speed slashes. These same attack shockwaves that had ripped deep into Umeko's flesh, Muteki seemed to shrug off as if they were simple gusts of wind after Muteki had used her technique to once more assume the pale gray hued skin tone of before.
"I'm not sure I understand your technique miss Kuuketsuki. No matter, let us see now who's blade is more honorable." Kusuriko smiled at the thought of a challenging opponent.
"Honor is for fools. True power has no place for such a thing. It is fear and hatred that truly breed that power." Muteki said viciously as if she was stepping on Kusuriko's kindness.
"If that is your vision then let you see that my honored blade strikes through the hearts of demons without mercy!" Kusuriko said forcefully as if she had just taken incredible insult.
With a rage in her heart, Kusuriko charged in to deliver a slicing blow with her katana. The incredible sword shined intensely as it found it's way into Muteki's skin. As much pressure as she would allow Kusuriko couldn't get more than a skin deep cut on a blade that normally managed to slice though hard metals as if it was nothing. The still furious Kusuriko followed up with lightning fast cuts to every inch of Muteki within reach. When the torrent of sword motions ceased Muteki's clothes had been for the most part cut to shreds but her body showed no signs of damage save for trails of blood along some of the deeper cuts.
"How can you resist the might of my blade…?" Kusuriko said with anger in her usually peaceful voice.
"I can make the outer level of my muscles into a chakra absorption layer. Then applying my chakra into a certain spot of my body I can create a wall of defense there that is impenetrable." Muteki explained in a dark tone.
"We will just have to see about that…" Kusuriko shouted in an oddly frustrated tone as she charged the younger girl with her sword. Muteki moved her hand just slightly to catch the blade in the palm of her hand. A foreign look of pain shown on her face as Muteki felt the razor sharp edge cut into her hand, but it was only momentary as in seconds the young girl had shattered the magnificently crafted blade to pieces. Relentlessly Muteki followed this up by delivering a punishing single fist to Kusuriko's stomach forcing her to her knees with pain.
"W-what was that… You broke my sword as if it was nothing… and then you… your strength where does it come from?" Kusuriko said fearfully as she kneeled, bent with pain.
"If I apply vast amount of chakra into my fist I can harden it to extreme levels. What's more, when my fist makes contact to your flesh I can absorb any chakra within that portion of your body, disrupting the chakra balance in your body and greatly weakening that areas defense by a degree." Muteki explained with a vicious laugh.
"I see… I will not give in to you." Kusuriko said as she got to her feet and pulled a short secondary sword from her side. The chunin gave a fierce yell before unleashing a series of deep cuts at points of Muteki's body exceedingly spread out. This strategy seemed to work better as all after the first were clear cuts that bled thoroughly and seemed to induce pain. However, from Kusuriko's expression it was obvious that she expected more from her exceptional swordplay. Muteki was largely unfazed by the level of pain she was feeling or the blood streaming out at all parts of her body nor was she fazed by the degree to which Kusuriko's attacks had torn through her clothing. Muteki gave one last twisted smile before making a swift movement in circle behind Kusuriko, making a swift grab at her neck. She clenched hard for a few moments before throwing the other girl's limp body to the floor with a thud.
A/N: I'm going to cut off there since this chapter is getting ridiculous in terms of length. I expected this since I was determined to get in four full-length fights. I tried to make them at least somewhat interesting, but I'm not sure if I succeeded. I rather liked the first fight, it was fun, as was the third fight but that's a given since that was Hinata's. The other two fights were a little… eh, I don't know exactly… they could have been better. I had initially when planning this tournament out, had the final fight scheduled to be Kusuriko vs. Hinata (I had Kusuriko as the main OC and the others as just supporting characters, but then I decided to expand more on the others as well) but I decided that I didn't really like her. I made her sort of arrogant and annoying, and her fighting style was boring so I gave the last match there to Muteki who I thought would make a better final opponent for Hinata. I already covered the whole Hinata struggling to fight against someone she respects theme well in the Marise fight so I think I have an excuse to let the fight be against the psycho. Anyways tell me what you think. I like reviews… Oh and one more thing, actually let's bold this and start a new paragraph:
Important Announcement in regards to my next fic: I have decided to drop the Anko X Temari idea I had for my tenth fic. I just can't come up with any spark for it and with this fic near completion I just figure I won't have anything when it comes. Now that brings me to what I am going to do next. As you may have noted, I haven't been adding requests lately, I actually feel at this point I don't want to commit myself to write a fic based solely on a fan request, me having an idea to shoot off of is more important. I still however really regard fan input in high regard. Thus I have decided to take a vote on what my next project should be out of the ideas currently flowing in my head. Just post your preference in a review or in a PM (provided PM's are working…) and tell me which of these ideas you want to see be fleshed out, and the one the most people want will be:
Choice 1: Pairing: Ino Yamanaka X Hinata Hyuga. Genre: Romance/Drama. Length: 5 chapters. General Timeframe: post-timeskip/future. Basic Plot idea: Hinata has always loved Naruto but has never been able to express her love for him. Distraught, Hinata seeks out the help of the always popular and seemingly outgoing Ino in order to help her learn how to be more attractive and assertive. Ino reluctantly accepts, but it appears that it might be too late for either of them to express their true feelings as they begin to realize Naruto has already fallen for the one that Ino has always secretly loved, Sakura.
Choice 2: Pairing: Sakura Haruno X Ayame. Genre: Romance/Action/Comedy. Length: 5 chapters. General Timeframe: post-timeskip/near future. Basic Plot idea: As they have matured, Sakura has found herself spending more and more time with Naruto. Consequently, this means spending more and more time at the Ichiraku Ramen Bar. Sakura soon found herself going there constantly even when Naruto wasn't with her and she begins to wonder why. But in the shadow of a insidious master thief, Sakura may soon get an answer.
Choice 3: Pairing: Yugao Uzuki X Temari. Genre: Romance/Drama/Action. Length: 5 chapters. General Timeframe: beginning of timeskip. Basic plot idea: One day when conducting a raid against criminal ninjas for ANBU, Yugao is addressed with a cryptic message that her revenge awaits in the Land of Wind. As she relives newly surfaced memories of Hayate she makes a new pledge to find this revenge in the desserts of Suna village. Face to face with what she had thought were enemies Yugao soon learns that finding revenge may be harder than she thought; maybe it is better to learn to forgive and move on.