Hm. Guess like I'm gonna have to stop drinking Arizona iced tea at night...I can't seem to go to sleep. However, I guess this gives me some time before I have to start researching for big projects that are coming up in school to update and look over my chapters. This is the last chapter for the update-each-day thing I challenged myself to do, and I must say I'm proud of myself. :D It also seems that some new reviewers have awakened, so I'm VERY happy.

And by the way, I hope nobody minds if I skip around some of the battles during the prelims and the third exam. I just think its a bit unnecessary to write out when you all know what'll happen and everything, not to mention its kind of troublesome...

So thank you to all you reviewers and onward to the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"All right, Shino!" Kyoko and Nami cheered as Hayate announced the Aburame's former victory. "You're the man!"

"Heh…didn't know Shino had fan girls," Kiba snickered as he looked across the room at the team of girls. "They're complete weirdos…" Lucky guy… the Inuzuka thought enviously.

Hinata giggled quietly. "Shino-kun d-does deserve s-some recognition…"

"Hm…?" Naruto said, puzzled. As soon as the comments of Team Eight cranked slowly through his brain, he slammed his fist on the rail in frustration. "Geez! Sasuke has fan girls and now Shino has them?! Shino?!"

Sakura smacked Naruto upside the head in an annoyed fashion. "Naruto! Don't be so disrespectful! Sasuke-kun doesn't have fan girls and neither does Shino! We just admire Sasuke-kun and obviously those girls admire Shino! Baka!" But it still is kind of weird…liking Shino of all people…

"Aaaaah…Sakura-chan…you don't have to be so rough," Naruto said, rubbing the rising lump that was forming on his head.

Kakashi shook his head. Naruto, you'll never understand the female mind.

Midori glanced down at Zaku sympathetically as he was carried away on a stretcher, one arm by his side and his detached arm on his stomach. Her stomach lurched and for a second, her vision blurred. Two matches in such a quick time...I hope my turn is soon…Just to get this whole thing over with…And…hopefully we'll all be in one piece. I don't know if I'd be able to take this with a smile…

She looked over to the right at what was left of the Sound team, Dosu and Kin, with sad eyes. She and her teammates were standing in between the Sound nin and Sand nin all thanks to Kyoko who had flounced up the opposite flight of stairs from all the Konoha genin teams without a bat of an eye. Nami and Midori reluctantly had followed, but both were careful to stay away from Gaara. Marieke had joined them a while ago, wondering why they had chosen to stand there.

"Shino's awesome," Nami said with starry eyes. "I'll top him!"

"I wish Zaku had another chance though…" Kyoko muttered. "His arm was blown off…"

"Don't think about the other competitors too much, girls," Marieke advised. "Think only of yourselves."

"You don't hear that advice from a teacher everyday," Nami remarked.

Everyone averted their attention back to the names flashing across the screen. Soon, two names stayed.

SHIMIZU KYOKO vs. GINOU KEN

"Yosh!" Kyoko exclaimed excitedly as she swung one foot onto the rail. "My turn!" She jumped into the arena and landed gracefully on the ground. Standing up, she fixed her eyes on the boy standing across from her.

"You can do it, Kyoko!" Midori called.

Good luck, Kyoko, Marieke thought.

Kyoko grinned. Time to show everyone what I can do!

The boy, Ken, had dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He had a normal build and was average height. Nothing much stood out, except for the worn sheath that hung from his waist.

"You gonna fight with your all?" Ken scoffed.

"What do you think?!" Kyoko shouted, clenching a fist passionately. "Of course! Just hope you'll be able to keep up!"

Ken smirked. "We'll see. But it must be a disadvantage for you...being a girl and all."

"WHAT?!"

Ken chuckled.

"Begin!" Hayate retreated backwards as Kyoko shot forward.

Ken put a hand on his sheath and grabbed the hilt. He stepped to the side, avoiding Kyoko's fist and unsheathed a gleaming silver sword. With strong, sweeping motions, he slashed the sword down, aiming to dislocate Kyoko's hand from her wrist.

Kyoko whirled around on her foot, barely missing the blade. Still spinning, she lifted her leg into the air and attempted to kick the boy in the face.

The boy ducked and swept his leg, knocking Kyoko off her feet. He brought his sword down.

Kyoko rolled to the right, letting the sword pierce the spot where her face had been. Hopping back to her feet, she threw a kick at him.

Ken fell backward to avoid the kick and continued to slice with his sword expertly, though unable to land a hit.

Dodging the continuous attacks, Kyoko searched for an opening.

"Why can't she just hit him and get this over with already?" Nami muttered. "Her aim's not that bad."

"She's biding her time," Marieke said plainly. "She's not using all her strength just yet. I think…she's trying to give her opponent an easy first impression…And she's analyzing him."

"Well, I say she's taking too long," Nami said, crossing her arms. "This guy's not so hot. She should be able to beat him hands down, right?"

Marieke didn't answer her subordinate and kept her eyes on the match.

Kyoko back flipped in the air to get out of range picked out several needles from her holster. Okay, she thought. My turn! She released the silent weapons towards the boy, stabbing him in several places. She smirked under her nose. "You were saying?"

Ken scowled as he took out the needles roughly. "I'm just getting started, girl." He stabbed his sword into the ground and performed a series of hand signs. On the last sign he shouted, "Ninja Art: Lightning Blade!" Ken pulled his blade out and pointed the weapon at Kyoko. Jagged bolts of lightning shot out from the point of the sword, straight toward Kyoko.

Kyoko's eyes widened. She ducked before the lightning could reach her, but Ken wasn't about to allow her to get away unharmed. More lightning was let loose.

"He's using chakra to create lightning," Neji remarked. "He's putting himself in a risky situation. He won't last long if he continues to use his chakra so carelessly." He turned to Lee and said, "What do you think, Lee?"

"Huh?" Lee was confused.

"You seem to know that team of kunoichi well," Neji said simply. "Think we'll have another leaf genin passing this exam?"

Lee turned his attention back to the battle. "I don't know. I do know Nami-san a little and Midori-chan has hung around with all of us a bit but…as far as Kyoko-san goes, I have no idea what she can do. As I see it, it could come out either way."

"It doesn't seem she's doing to well," Tenten said with a bit of concern in her voice. "Needles aren't exactly the most deadly weapon out there if she doesn't know the points in the body by heart."

Dodging the new bolts of lightning, Kyoko jumped into the air. I've gotta get rid of that sword of his!

"Whoa!" Naruto shouted from the stands. "That guy can shoot lightning so easily! That's so cool!"

Naruto, you traitor! Kyoko thought as she sailed through the space.

"Retreating to the air? Bad choice!" Ken simpered.

"AAAAIIIEEEE!" Kyoko screamed as the energy blasted in her direction. She threw her arms in front of her for protection. Her attempt was useless, however, and the lightning electrified her body.

Marieke tensed.

"Kyoko!" Midori shouted as her friend hit the ground.

That was quick, Temari thought.

"Heh...that girl's done now," Kankuro said with amusement.

"…" Gaara didn't say a word. Remembering that it was the same girl from the second exam he had the tiniest microscopic bit of wonder if she was worth living. Probably not.

"I think we're finished here," Ken said nonchalantly. "Examiner?"

Hayate glanced at Kyoko emotionlessly.

"Don't say anything, Hayate!" Nami ordered. "Kyoko! GET UP!"

Pain was shooting through Kyoko's body. She felt completely helpless.

"Is that all you can do, huh?!" Nami called angrily. "You Short-tempered Psycho!"

No… Kyoko thought as a vision flashed through her mind.

Flashback

"Ha! Yah!" Kyoko shouted as she thumped her fists against a tree.

"Your form needs work," Marieke said as she stood up from the log.

A vein pulsed on the side of Kyoko's forehead. "Yes, sensei."

"Yeah, Kyoko, like this!" Nami said as she split a thinner tree in half.

"Right, but don't use so much power in one attack if you don't have a good amount to spare," Marieke said.

"Hey, I'm getting better everyday, sensei!" Nami said jauntily. "After all, you said yourself that my chakra level's increasing! It's not like I'm stupid."

Kyoko tried to tune her teammate and sensei out as she continued training.

"I'm back!" Midori called as she came running up to the small group.

"I understand you want to become a medic nin, Midori," Marieke said. "But you won't learn if you just stay in the library all day. You must train your body, not just your mind."

"Heh…sorry, sensei," Midori said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Still, you're improving," Marieke said. She looked over at Kyoko. "Wrong form, Kyoko."

"Rr…" Kyoko grumbled heatedly.

CRACK!

"What's up with you?!" Nami exclaimed.

"NOTHING." Kyoko walked away, leaving two very confused teammates and a defiant sensei. I can do more than they think…I'll show them. Then they'll appreciate my skills.

"What a Short-tempered Psycho."

"Nami…"

End Flashback

Midori watched her friend nervously. Little did she know that she was thinking of the very same day as Kyoko.

Flashback

Midori lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep. It was then she heard the noise of a door closing.

Curiously, she snuck out of her room just in time to see a blue heel disappear behind the apartment door. Midori quietly followed and discovered that it was Kyoko. Trailing her teammate, Midori found herself hiding behind a tree, watching her teammate start practicing taijutsu.

Kyoko was too fixated on getting her form right as Marieke had instructed to notice Midori only a few meters away.

Midori watched as realization struck her. Kyoko...

End Flashback

She wants more than anything to prove herself to us, Midori thought. Nami and I have been improving at a quick rate…She has too, but Marieke-sensei has yet to give her praise…And ever since the mission, she's wanted to surpass Nami…

She glimpsed at Nami from the corner of her eye. Her confident teammate was staring down into the arena silently.

"I…won't…lose…to you!" Kyoko shakily picked herself up. She slowly reached into her holster and took out a few more needles.

Ken narrowed his eyes. "You should've stayed down." He shot more lightning at Kyoko who loosed her needles into the air, then forced one into the ground. She narrowed her eyes in concentration. Suddenly, the needles stood six feet straight into the air in the lightning's way. As the energy ran through the point of the highest needle, Kyoko quickly let go of the needle stuck in the ground and the tower fell.

"That's pretty smart…" Shikamaru commented, understanding what had taken place.

"What?" Ino said, confused.

"I don't get it!" Chouji exclaimed.

"What?!" Ken said in shock. How did she do that?!

As if reading his mind, Kyoko said, "Lightning strikes the tallest object in the area, right? All I had to do was make a rod through needles and chakra. Easy!" Yeah right, she thought. I used up a little too much chakra than I needed to for that…better finish! She winced as she stood up. After a few seconds, she started running, hands deep into her holster and back pouch.

Ken blasted countless smaller bursts of lightning which were simply stopped by Kyoko's constant needles. She knew he was weakening from the constant chakra use.

"Take this!" Kyoko shouted as she kicked Ken's hand, forcing him to drop the sword. Turning around quickly, she smashed her fist into his face, sending him flying. When Ken hit the wall, Kyoko's fist was still outstretched, frozen in place as her shoulders heaved up and down with exhaustion.

After a quick check, Hayate looked over at Kyoko and said, "Winner: Shimizu Kyoko."

Kyoko seemed to unfreeze as she heard this. Her body ached and her skin was scorched, but her heavy breathing was shortened as her mouth broke into a smile. "I…won! I won!" she cheered. She smirked at the boy being carried away on the stretcher. "And that's how it's done!"

"Wow…" Naruto said in awe.

"Incredible," Lee mumbled.

Tenten smiled. "That's the power of a devoted kunoichi."

As she passed the sand team, Kankuro and Temari gave a fleeting look at her from the corner of their eyes.

She used simple needles…weapons that barely damage an adversary…and won, Temari thought. Not bad…

This crazy chick is something, Kankuro thought. But it's not like her opponent was all that tough.

What a fluke, one of Ken's teammates thought. Ken wasn't the most powerful out of us anyway…But I'll avenge his loss anyway. He looked at Kyoko. Getting beaten by a female…what a disgrace.

This all-female team isn't to be taken lightly… Dosu thought as Kyoko reached her team. So far I've seen that fierce Nami girl from the battle in the Forest of Death...then Midori can reduce damage of wounds at her age…and Kyoko's shown to be a good opponent. I wonder…what else they can do…

"…So…?" Kyoko said cheerfully.

Nami was leaning against the rail with her arms crossed and eyes closed while Midori sat against the wall wearily. Her eyes were closed as well.

Kyoko frowned. "Aren't you guys gonna congratulate me?"

Nami opened her eyes casually. "Oh. You're still alive."

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT! MIDORI! SAY SOMETHING!"

Midori slowly half-opened her eyes. "Sorry, Kyoko…good job," she said tiredly.

Kyoko grumbled something and angrily crossed her arms over her chest. Slouching against the wall, she said, "This is the congratulations I get for passing the preliminary round from my faithful teammates…always cheering me on…"

"Oh, give your teammates a break, Kyoko," Marieke said with a smile hidden with her mask. "I'd say you did very well."

Kyoko smiled happily.

Marieke smiled as well with the concealment of her mask. She looked over at Midori whose breathing had become clear, and frowned. Before she could say anything, Midori stood up and took out a small bottle from her back pouch. "Kyoko."

"Hm?" Kyoko looked over at her teammate. "Is that…?"

Midori nodded. "A healing ointment. Half your body's scorched. You should take it."

Kyoko grinned toothily. "Thanks." She took the ointment gratefully and started applying it onto her burns.

Midori gave a small smile and looked back at the screen distantly. It's a good thing I bought all these in advance…it looks like we're gonna need it.

Another chapter done! I may not be as good as other people when it comes to thinking up battle strategies, but the needle-thing made sense to me...sort of...I guess. O.O Oh, I don't know. It was kind of in the spur of the moment, but it all worked out in the end. Aaaaaaaah...I'm sleepy now. It's like...two-thirty right now for me, so I think I'll go to bed. I'll sleep well tonight knowing that I'll have a nice amount of reviews in the morning. RIGHT? Right.

Happy Easter, everybody!

R&R please!

-HM