Let's put is simply: I do not own Naruto or the card game.

NARUTO TCG: CHUNIN BATTLE TOURNAMENT DUELS-

CURSE OF THE SAND

Chapter 2:

Kanashimi wo Yashashisani

In the center of the tower, about 30 examinees awaited at the dueling field, along with many chunin and jonin, and the 3rd hokage. 'Hmph, out of 78 participants, 21 got this far,' Anko thought, 'I said I'd cut them in half but I was expecting single digests.'

Among those jonin are Kakashi Hatake and his self-appointed rival, Might Guy. "I see your team didn't do too bad, Kakashi. They must've gotten real lucky. Of course, with my team still around, your team is doomed to failure. And after all, what matters on the next test is ability, and we've got you far outclassed. Well, I guess part of growing up is learning to deal with heartbreak. Huh, Kakashi?"

"…Hmm? Did you say something?"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" that really made Guy upset. 'All right, Kakashi, you win this round! Boy that drives me nuts when you act so cool! There's no way I'm gonna let you get the best of me!'

Everyone is so amped up about the third stage. Many duelists couldn't wait to show off their skills on the field. Everyone waited for the Hokage to step forward.

Hokage: The third test is about to start. But before I explain that, there is something I want to tell everyone: it concerns the true reason for this tournament. (Everyone stood quietly.) Why do you think we have all allied nations taking this exam together? … It is to maintain good relations with those allied nations and to heighten the level of the ninja. This exam is the epitome of a war between the allied nations. In history, these allied nations were neighboring countries that have fought each other over and over. To avoid wasting military power, those countries decided to choose a place to fight. That is the beginning of the Chunin Battle Tournament

Naruto: But why do we have to do that?! Isn't this for selecting chunin?!

Hokage: This competition not only chooses who is of Chunin level, but it is also a place where ninjas fight and carry their country's dignity. In the Third Exam, feudal lords and famous people from various countries who may be potential clients are invited as guests to watch the battles. If there's a significant difference in power, the strong country will be flooded with jobs. If a country is seen as weak, their jobs will decrease. The countries are also able to show how their village has grown and possess excellent military power to the adjacent countries so they can put foreign pressure on them.

Kiba: Yeah, but why? Why do we have to risk our lives in battles?!

Hokage: A country's power is the village's power. A village's power is the ninja's power. And a ninja's true power is only born in life or death battle. This tournament is a place to show off the ninja power of one's country. Because they fight with their life, this competition has meaning. That is the reason their predecessors have fought and dreamed of being in the Chunin Tournament. The custom of saving one's life and fighting to maintain balance - that is the good relation in the world of ninja.

Tenten: But then why did you say all that stuff about 'good relations'?

Hokage: It's what I said in the beginning: by losing life and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of Shinobi. This is more than just a game. This is a duel with the pride of your village and your own dreams at stake.

Garra: I don't care. Just hurry up and tell us what the rules of this tournament are.

Hokage: Yes, I would like to explain the third test, but…

"Actually,…(cough)" Suddenly, another person appeared in the middle of the field and bows to the Hokage. "As referee of the third stage, would you allow me to explain the rules?"

"Of course."

The person stood and looked at the genin. "Hello, my name is Hayate Gekkou." Gekkou has an ill look on his face. He really is sick. "The third stage is a set of preliminary matches to decide who will proceed to the finals."

Sakura: But I don't understand. Why aren't we allowed to participate in the next test?

Hayate: Because the first and second tests may have been too easy this year. We have a bit too many people remaining. According to tournament rules, we must have a preliminary round and reduce the number of participants for the third test. As the Hokage said earlier, there will be many guests attending to watch. The battles may take too long and we don't have a lot of time… so anyway, those who are deciding to forfeit please step forward. The preliminaries will be starting immediately.

Kiba: Come on, you mean right now.

Ino: We just finished barely surviving the last exam. Don't we get a break?

Shikamaru: Man, What a drag.

Choji: Hey, when do we eat?

Naruto, however, is ready for another round. 'Alright, I promise Kabuto I'm gonna give it my all….'

"Ok, you got me. I'm out." Kabuto raised his hand and decided to quit.

Hayate: Okay, you may go. Oh, I forgot to tell you, form now on this will be a one-on-one 5-point battle. Does anyone else want to retire?

Naruto doesn't understand. "Kabuto, why are you just giving up?"

"Sorry, Naruto, but my body is all beat up. I haven't been able to hear from my left ear since I've been attacked by those sound ninja at the selection exam." Kabuto was referring to when the exams first started and Dosu used his sound jutsu to handicap him. Kabuto then walks away from Naruto and his squad 7, for them not knowing his true purpose. 'Naruto, Sasuke, I would love to play with you a little longer… but anymore, and the old blood will start boiling.

"Don't take selfish actions. have you forgotten Lord Orochimaru's orders?" Yoroi was standing right behind Kabuto.

"I'll let you guys handle it. Especially you, Yoroi. with your combo there should be no problems. this is your chance to show your strength. i know you're frustrated that i've surpassed you."

"Heh, Lord Orochimaru's favorite; don't get too confident, kid."

"I understand." Kabuto then leaves the arena and then waves goodbye to Naruto before he goes. 'I'd love to stay, but I might revert to his old self and blow my own cover. I look forward to our next meeting, Naruto.'

After he's gone, Sasuke writhers, clutching his shoulder. The curse mark is acting up again. "Sasuke, listen to me! You have to quit." Sakura said. "You've been acting strange since that Orochimaru gut attacked you. That mark still hurts, doesn't it? If this keeps up..." Sakura thought about when Orochimaru gave Sasuke the curse mark, and when Sasuke almost killed Zaku. that was just too much for her. She wiped fallen tears off her face. "Please quit, Sasuke. I'm afraid... you are in no condition to fight right now!"

'shut up.'

"I can see it. You've been hiding that pain, haven't you?"

"Be quiet."

"I don't care what you say, I going to tell sensei about that mark!..." Sasuke places a hand on Sakura and she stood quiet. "Shut up about the mark." He just said. But Sakura could'nt handle the secretcy. "Why are you being so stuborn?!" she cried. "I don't want to see you suffer anymore! To me you are..."

"This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of my business," Sasuke kept her quiet again. "Sakura, I told you before: I'm an avenger. This isn't just a tournament to me. I don't care about chunin or whatever. Passing the exam is meaningless to me. All that matters to me is if I am as strong as I can be, if I can compete with the best. They are all right here, and I won't forgive you if you take that away from me."

"Hey, stop acting so cool, Sasuke!" Naruto interupted. "Sakura's worried sick and..."

"Naruto...you're one of the ones I want to fight the most." That caused Naruto to remain quiet. No one has ever praised him like Sasuke just did.

Meanwhile, the proctors were talking about what to do with Sasuke.
" What do we do with him?" Ibiki asked.

"We take him out of the exam, hand him over to Black Ops, and let them keep him locked up." Anko protests, "We have to keep that seal under control or...."

"Oh, and he's just going to quietly go along with this, huh?" Kakashi scain with a smile under his mask. "You really think so? You're forgetting he's of the Uchiha clan. "

Now the prelimenaries are about to begin. "Let's begin the the the prelimenaries. These preliminaries consist on one-on-one duels. We will urn off the holographic safeguards on your shinobi shields during the matches. That way, you will basically fight as if in a real life confrontation. Since we now have 20 entrants, we will conduct 10 matches and the winner will advance to the third test. There are basically no rules except for dueling basics. The duels will continue until one of you mortally injured, unconscious, or if you gain 5 battle rewards of admits defeat. But i can regardlessly stop the match, if it is in my sole decision." Suddenly, a giant sreen poped out of the wall. "This electric scoreboard will show the match-ups for each match. Now let us announce the first 2 duelist." The scoreboard scrambles the names of all the participants. It too some time, but the first match-up finnally came: Sasuke Uchiha and Yoroi Akado. Everyone is told to move to the upper level before the fight begins.

Both Sasuke and Yoroi advanced to the arena. "The first 2 participants are Sasuke Uchiha, and Yoroi Akado. Are you ready?"

Sasuke and Yoroi: "Yes."

"Now, on my mark. Convert shinobi shields." Both players activated thier shinobi shields and converted them to duel mode. Sasuke's shield is quite different, which the gauntlet and card platform are in one device rather than separate. This dark gauntlet can extend its platform outward while the platform itself extends it's top section afterwards (think of it as the gx academy disk).

"Virtual systems, ready." The bottom of both shields internally lit up in all colors of the rainbow.

"Duelists, engage!" Both players are prepared and ready to duel.

Both: "LET'S DUEL!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tune in for the next chapter of NARUTO TCG.

Next time: Sasuke vs. Yoroi

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Please review