(entrance cost/hand cost/combat power/support power)

(play action)

(CZ:Chakra Zone)

(thinking)

Previously on NARUTO TCG…

Ino: It's my draw (1). Since you have no shinobi to defend with, Ino can attack you directly. (Ino's avatar swoops right in and attacks Sakura, taking her battle reward (BR: 4)). And with that done, I'll end my turn.

The audience waits for Sakura to draw, but she just stands frozen looking at the floor. Whether or not she plays a card, she knows that the duel is over already.

"I couldn't help but notice that you're not making a move, not like it would do any good. If you try to deploy Sakura back to the field, I'll attack with Ino and use Stalemate's effect to gain all 5 battle rewards. But if you don't, she can just attack directly and give me victory. Either way, you're finished." She's right. How can Sakura win against a duelist who can score after each attack? "Comes next turn, no matter what you do, I'm gonna win this duel… and Sasuke's heart!"

NARUTO TCG: CHUNIN BATTLE TOURNAMENT DUELS-

CURSE OF THE SAND

Chapter 6:

Childhood Rivalry

Part 2: Mental Power!

"I'll attack on my next turn and win this match." Ino said. "It's already over, just give up now."

Ino is right. No matter what Sakura does on her next draw, she will only leave an opening for Ino to attack, and the duel will be hers. 'I guess It's better to lose on my own accord that on hers.' She thought. She was about to raise her hand to forfeit when…

"No! Sakura don't!" Sakura looked to the stands to see that Naruto was there . "You've come this far, Sakura! Don't disgrace yourself now by loosing to that lame Ino girl! There has to be a card in your deck that can help turn the tables!" Hearing those words, Sakura just remembered that as cleaver as Ino is, she can counter her Stalemate combo with a combo of her own. But can she draw the cards she need?

Sakura: Only one way to find out. It's my move. I draw! (2) I'll play Sakura Haruno and end my turn.

Ino: (2) I guess you are in a hurry to lose. Very well, I'll just use Stalemate's effect to win this duel and earn my place in Sasuke's heart.

Ino thought back to a time not so long ago…

Flashback

Ino met Sakura in the forest the day after the graduation ceremony and she was told that she's in the same squad with Sasuke. When Sakura reached into her pocket, she pulled out a long hair ribbon. "I'm returning this ribbon to you." She said. Ino gave her that ribbon the first day they met, when they were smaller.

"That ribbon I gave you is for your hair. And your hi-ate is supposed to go on your forehead." She replied.

"From now on I'm not that little girl who's always following you around. Next time we meet on the dueling field… I won't go easy on you."

"…Good idea. Then that makes two of us." Ino takes her ribbon back fron Sakura. "Until then."

…End flashback.

Sakura: That's the thing, Ino. I'm not fighting you over Sasuke.

Ino: What?!

Sakura: I'm not the weak and needy girl I used to be! You're not even on my radar, and you're not Sasuke's type. Ino-PIG!!

Ino: Sakura, do you have any idea who you're talking to?! Don't try to press your luck with me, little bill-board-brow! Ino Yamanaka, end this! (Ino's avatar went full force on Sakura, but was countered by her and both kunoichi were injured.) What just happened?!

Sakura: That's the power of Sakura's special ability: Determination. It injures Sakura during battle, and also gives her 2 power points (2/3). So when Ino attacked, damage was dealt to her (0/1).

Ino: It's not over yet. I'll charge 1 earth chakra (CZ: 2) to play the Leaf Ninja Forces mission card, which means we can draw an extra card during our draw phase. I'll end my turn for now.

Sakura: Then it's my turn (3). I'll deploy Sakura Haruno by releasing another Sakura from my village field. And when Sakura is put in play buy her Growth effect, she gains a growth counter (1/2). Next Sakura will attack Ino. (When Sakura attacked, Ino received 1 damage and was removed from the field.) I'll end my turn (2).

Ino: (2) I'll just deploy Ino to the village field and end my turn with a face-down.

Sakura: (4) Alright, I charge 1 wind chakra (CZ: 5) to play the mission card, Sakura's Decision! When this card is activated, I have to give 1 damage to a shinobi in my village field, as long as it's a female-type. After that I can draw as many cards as that shinobi's mental power. Sakura has a mental power of 3, so I can draw 3 cards from my deck (5). Next I play the ninja card Suzume, and place her in the same team as Sakura. Now attack! (Both Sakura and Suzume attacked Ino and dealt damage to her.) And then I end my turn with a couple of face-downs (2).

Ino: (2) I set a card face-down and end my turn.

Sakura: It's my move, then (4). I'll charge 1 fire chakra (CZ: 6) to activate the Kakashi's Foresight permanent mission card! With this in play, both players can play up to 2 mission cards per turn. Next I'll charge 1 Wind chakra (CZ: 7) to play another permanent mission card, Chunin Exam Rule! /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Card info: As long as Chunin Exam Rule is in play, the number of battle rewards needed to win the game is increased by 2. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

So now we need 7 battle rewards to win, not just 5 (Sakura: 3/Ino: 4). Now Sakura will attack Ino. (Sakura's team battled against Ino to deal damage and discard her.) I'll end my turn for now.

Ino: (3). OK. Sakura has a team of 2 ninja on the field and 2 cards face-down. She must be saving them for some big combo. That's why she played that Exam Rule card to buy her some time. And she'll be able to deal me some massive damage since I have no shinobi in play, but that's all taken care of. I charge 1 earth chakra (CZ: 3) to play Promise from the Past. When this card is played, I can look at the top 5 cards in my deck, and add a female ninja card from those cards straight to my hand. Then I'll shuffle the rest back into my deck. (Ino checked the top 5 cards from her deck. She picked 1 and added it to her hand. Then she put the rest back.)(CZ: 4) Next I'll play Ino Yamanaka on the battlefield and attack Sakura Haruno. (Ino does battle with Sakura's team.) That's when I activate my face-down Kunai jutsu card (CZ: 3) and equip it to Ino, giving her 2 extra power points (2/3). Now her strength's greater that yours.

Sakura: Not so fast! (Sakura flips one of her field cards face-up.) I activate my face-down card Clone Jutsu! By using 1 chakra crest (CZ: 6), I can play 1 clone counter to aid Sakura in battle. (Sakura's avatar used the proper hand signs to create a clone of herself beside her (1-1).) And with the battlefield evened up (Ino's team: 2-3/Sakura's team: 2-3) both of us will take damage. (Both teams battled and ended with a draw, giving each player 1 battle reward due to Stalemate's effect. (Sakura: 4/Ino: 5))

Ino: I'll set a card face-down and end.

Sakura: Then it's my move (2). I charge a wind chakra (CZ: 7) to play The Fastest Ones mission card! With this in play the total number of battle rewards I needed to win is reduced by 1! That means I only need 6 cards to win this duel while you need 7!

Ino: So that's what you've been up to. You used mission cards to alter our scores, while you used ninja and jutsu cards to strengthen your shinobi?

Sakura: That's right! But I'm not done just yet. Next I'll separate Sakura and Suzume into 2 separate teams (Sakura: 1-2/Suzume: 0-0). Now, Sakura, attack Ino Yamanaka! (Sakura battles with Ino and deals damage to her and discards her.) And next up is Suzume! Attack her directly! (Suzume attacks Ino and takes her reward card (BR: 5)) Alright! I have 5 battle rewards already! And come next round I'll attack with both kunoichi and gain all 6! And after that, it's game over! I'll end my turn.

Ino: (2) (Ino looks at her hand. What am I gonna do? If Sakura attacks on her next turn, I'll lose. Let's see… I have 1 ninja and 1 mission card. If I play Ino Yamanaka from my hand, I can use my second face-down Kunai card to boost her power. But with Stalemate on the field, both Sakura and I can gain a battle reward in a draw. That'll give Sakura a complete score of 6 because she has The Fastest Ones and Chunin Exam Rule mission cards on the field. As long as those two are in play, Sakura can win 6 battle rewards while I have to win 7. 'Sigh' I guess I don't have any other choice. It's time to end this. I charge 1 earth chakra (CZ: 4) to play the Failure mission card to destroy Chunin Exam Rule. (Sakura's mission card shattered into pieces and went to the discard pile.

Sakura: That downgrades ours scores but 2 points! But that means…

"The outcome has been decided." Gekkou said. "Since Chunin Exam Rule has been discarded, both scores have been achieved according to the rules (Sakura: 5/Ino: 5). That means the 4th match will end in a draw. Neither player will advance."

With the match over Ino went up to the balcony to her teammates. Sakura followed her with Kakashi waiting for her. "That was a pretty amazing duel you had." He said to Sakura.

"But sensei, I didn't make it to the finals."

"But you've put all of your effort into your cards. And that's all there is to it, whether you're a chunin or genin. You still have a long way to go."

"Wow, thanks, Kakashi-sensei. Hey, Naruto, what do you think about my match?" Naruto stood beside Kakashi, resting still on the rail with a blank look in his face. "Hello, I'm talking to you." He just stands there silent and motionless. "Alright, Naruto, enough joking around! When I ask you something I want you to respond!" She pulled Naruto by his collar only to see him collapse into her arms. "Naruto, are you OK?! Kakashi-sensei, what's happened to Naruto?!"

"I don't know," Kakashi exclaimed. "I didn't notice until now!"

"Naruto, are you OK? Naruto!"

"Naruto, you gotta wake up!"

"Naruto, wake up! Please!

"Naruto?!"

"Naruto!"

He lies unconscious in the girls arms, unable to hear her voice, only to wake up in a dark, dim-lit dugeon.

Tune in for the next chapter of NARUTO TCG.

Next time: prison

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