Okay, so after that breakdown with the e-mails that FF seemed to have, my Inbox was overflowing with about twenty-five e-mails from Fanfiction along with a bunch of other junk mail from my friends! Lucky, huh? Now I've gotta filter everything but whatever. In the words of Shikamaru, how troublesome. And other than this and I've been feeling like a female Hayate this week, my life hasn't been half bad! Testing's over and I'm back on track! (Not that you guys have probably noticed me being OFF track XD)

On a more important note, THANK YOU ALL FOR THE REVIEWS! And to the lucky 100th reviewer...CONGRATULATIONS! I was getting a bit worried I'd have to post this little chappie up before I reached 100 and then along came my old reviewer, Bloody Angel X, back when I was TeenTitansforever who kindly reviewed this story! Quite ironic if you ask me. Anyway, this story is far from over (at least, I figure it will be) and I'm hoping to hit 200! I will pursue this dream with the burning fire of YOUTH! YEAH!

Ahem. Okay. After long hours (coughexaggerationcough) of trying to make this chapter longer and longer without going too much into the next chapter and unneeded fillery stuff at the same time, I've completed a suitable (in my opinion) chapter! Hopefully. So enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"Well, well, well," the man betting on Nami laughed. "Looks like it's your girl who's gonna get burnt to a crisp!"

"No way!"

Midori lowered her head. It's almost over.

"Like it?" Nami's voice came from behind the flames triumphantly. "It's my own little jutsu I made up, pretty cool, huh? I could've killed you on the spot if I wanted to, you know. But what fun would that be? Let's savor the moment I become chuunin and more importantly beat you…again."

Kyoko clenched her teeth angrily and lowered her had as sweat trickled down her face from the heat. It can't be over. I've worked too hard for this!

"Looks like Nami's gonna win," Naruto remarked. "It's too bad though. I kind of wanted that Kyoko girl to win…"

I knew it was just a fluke that she was able to touch Gaara, Temari thought with a smirk.

A drop of sweat ran down Genma's face. Looks like I'm gonna have to stop the match…this girl has clearly—

"And now…I'm gonna finish you!" Nami swung her chained fan into the fire, adding a thin layer of chakra as a shield so her fan wouldn't burn. "IT'S OVER!"

Genma was about to shout that the match was over when the flames resided and Kyoko stood there looking a little dazed with a small cut on her cheek.

Kyoko blinked and touched her face gingerly. She felt the warm blood rushing down her face.

Owie.

Nami stood there with a victorious grin as if she had taken down a whole army of enemies single-handedly.

Kyoko narrowed her eyes. "What are you so happy abou—"

Then, something strange happened.

Kyoko fell backwards onto her back and gasped, covering her stomach with her arms, her face completely red. She rolled onto her side and started…laughing?

"Kyaaaaaaaaahahahahahaha!" Kyoko squealed a she pounded the ground with her fist. "Oooooohhahaahahaha!"

Nami started examining her fingernails nonchalantly.

"What the—?!" Naruto shouted, gripping the rail tightly. "What the heck did she do?!"

"I don't know but it sure didn't win her the match," Shikamaru sighed.

Why is that girl laughing? Temari thought.

What's so funny? Kankuro thought. That girl's stupid to start laughing now.

Gaara gazed down into the arena with the same emotionless stare he always had.

Midori quickly went over to the wall and started banging her head into the hard concrete again. "That-i-di-ot!" she shouted each syllable with each slam of the head. "I-told-her-not-to-do-that! I-di-ot!"

"Not to do what?"

Midori jumped as she heard the voice. Whirling around and rubbing her sore forehead, she saw Neji standing there with a few scratches. "Neji! Are you all right?" she asked worriedly. "Shouldn't you be in the infirmary? You really shouldn't—"

"I'm fine," Neji said reassuringly. "It was just chakra depletion."

"Oh. Well, um, that's good. I'm glad you're okay," Midori said, feeling her cheeks flush.

"So am I."

Midori saw him glance over the crowded audience and followed his sight towards where Hiashi and Hanabi were sitting. She smiled softly.

"Your teammates are in their battle now. What were you saying before?"

"The attack that Nami just did…is a last resort I told her not to use," Midori said, lowering her head. "She's so stupid too. She obviously had Kyoko cornered and the match would've ended right then and there and she would've won. But now she's done that and I can't tell what'll happen next."

Neji's eyes tensed. "What is 'that'? A forbidden jutsu?"

Midori shook her head. "No, nothing at all like that. It's just…it's one of her own foolish prank inventions. Something really stupid, that's all."

"I…don't follow."

"Well, you see…" Midori started. "Nami's something of a…creative prankster sometimes. She likes creating jutsu that are so mindlessly imprudent that they couldn't possibly be taken seriously in battle. She figured out that some muscles in the face are…ticklish when they're touched with the smallest amount of chakra. So she got an idea. Just now, she sent chakra through her chain and into her fan then attacked Kyoko, skimming her face. I suppose she applied the right amount of chakra and pretty much went from there. She knows it works because…well, she experimented." As she said that, Midori unconsciously rubbed her cheek and remembrance entered her mind.

Flashback

"Ahahahahahahaha! Na-hahaha-mi!" Midori chortled, as she wrapped her arms around her stomach. "M-M-Make i-it sto-hahaha-op!"

Nami grinned sheepishly. "I uh, didn't figure that part out yet."

"You-hahaha-WHAT?!" Midori screamed.

"Aw, come on. You need to laugh more anyway," Nami shrugged.

Midori was about to pummel Nami. That is, she could if her vision wasn't so blurred, so she ended up flailing her arms around towards where she thought she saw Nami.

Nami was amused. "Can't see me, can you?" she laughed. "That give me an idea…"

End Flashback

Midori lowered her sight back at the battle. "Nami calls this move…"

Neji gazed back into the arena, eyes mildly wider than usual.

"A Thousand Years of Laughter."

Kyoko clutched her stomach as tears ran down her cheeks. "Hehehehe…why can't I stop—heheh—laughing?!" She shakily pulled out several needles between her fingers and tried to aim for Nami. However, the tears from the constant laughing blurred her vision and she seemed to see seventeen Nami.

"My new technique's why," Nami said, arms crossed. "At this rate, you'll laugh yourself to death. I know how to reverse it, so all you have to do is forfeit…that and pledge eternal loyalty to her majestic greatness, Sekaikage, Kawa Nami."

"Hahahaha! Don't make me—heehee—laugh!" Kyoko declared, pointing a finger at Nami. "I thought you wanted to—haha—fight me! There's no way I'd forfeit to you!"

Nami sighed, her arms still crossed. "But I'm bored with this fight."

"HAHAHAHAHAWHAT?!" Kyoko shouted angrily, whipping out more needles. "I'm gonna get you for that!" She wiped the running tears from her eyes and concentrated. Throwing the weapons towards the Nami who looked the realest to her, she…missed!

Nami tapped her foot.

"GR...heheheheheh," Kyoko giggled. "Fine! I'll just attack all of you then!" She pulled out tens of needles and tossed them in different directions.

Nami stepped to the side and yawned, making two of the needles miss her.

"Argh! Haha!" Kyoko growled, clenching her fists. She knew very well that there would be no way for her to beat Nami now, especially with this jutsu at work. She'd just have to find a way to incapacitate her, but how? Kyoko felt her body weakening every time she laughed. If she was going to do something, she'd have to do it soon.

Nami raised an eyebrow. The heck does she think she's doing? She's just standing there… Suddenly, she saw Kyoko charge toward her in a seemingly half-drunken state while laughing manically. She dodged Kyoko's quick punch just in the nick of time and hopped back a few feet.

Kyoko snickered furiously as she staggered swiftly towards Nami with a series of punches and kicks that her opponent either blocked or dodged. Her attacks were getting weaker and weaker, Nami could tell.

Why is she even trying? Nami thought. This is so pointless.

"That girl can't hit Nami!" Naruto exclaimed. "She looks seriously drunk!"

Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "I'm not so sure."

"Wha?" Naruto said, confused. "How would she possibly be able to win, huh? The winner looks clear to me."

Suddenly, Kyoko landed a hit, surprising Nami who stumbled backwards. What?! She can see where I am already?!

Kyoko smirked under her nose and continued her chain of attacks while giggling periodically. Yes! My eyes are working again!

Nami scowled. Well if her vision's clearing up, that means next comes unconsciousness! It's only a matter of time…

Time to finish this! Kyoko thought as her vision suddenly sharpened again. She jumped into the air and spin-kicked Nami in the stomach. With one last laugh, Kyoko took out several needles and threw them, accelerating them with the last of her chakra. The senbon perfectly pinned Nami to the wall behind her, incapacitating the girl. Kyoko giggled triumphantly, a bright smile on her face. Then her smile faded as her eyelids drooped. She dropped to the ground backwards and unconscious.

Nami grimaced, struggling to break free of the needles. Damn! The unconsciousness didn't come soon enough!

Genma checked Kyoko then glanced up on Nami who was still fruitlessly trying to pull loosely without avail. He stood up and held his hand to the sky, announcing, "Both contestants are put out of action. It's a draw!"

"WHAT?!" Nami screamed. "I totally won! Kyoko's unconscious! You're a whack job! You—" She stopped abruptly when Genma stuck a kunai a centimeter from her throat. "This could happen if she had more people on her side. You wouldn't be able to move at all and they would kill you in a second." He placed the kunai back in his holster and said, "It's a draw. That's my final decision."

Nami frowned and several medic nin unpinned her with a bit of difficulty. The other medics were examining Kyoko.

"I'm fine," Nami told them with a bit of annoyance in her tone. Then, looking over at Kyoko she said, "And she'll be fine too, so don't bother. My attack wears off in a few minutes. Unfortunately, she'll be up and prattling soon enough."

"Her condition isn't fatal," one medic concluded. He took out a small bottle. "But it doesn't hurt to be careful. Here, take this. For you and the girl."

"Yeah, yeah," Nami said, accepting the healing salve. "Thanks. Take her back up to the upper gallery. She'd want to watch the rest of the matches."

The medics helped to carry Kyoko back to the upper gallery where the other contestants waited followed by Nami. Genma watched them for a moment. Neither of them will become chuunin, that's for sure. Kawa Nami was too reckless and doesn't take battles as seriously as she should. Shimizu Kyoko's emotions get in the way of fighting to the best of her skill. No matter how good these two are…it just didn't go for them this year. Maybe next time…

"How embarrassing," Shikamaru sighed as Nami walked over.

Nami whacked the poor boy upside the head. "Who's embarrassing?!"

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his head irritably. "I meant the way the other girl lost."

The girl crossed her arms firmly and said, "Call it what ya want, because that is a S-Ranked jutsu right there!"

"For some reason, I highly doubt that."

"…"

"…"

"Don't you have a match to fight in or something?!"

Midori held her hand to her heart and sighed with relief. It's finally over…

"Neither of your teammates won," Neji remarked, looking at her with a hint of surprise.

"Well, I suppose they'll be fighting about who really won for quite some time…" Midori shrugged. "But they aren't being taken to the medical wing so that has to mean they're both okay. It doesn't really matter to me who won and who didn't. I'm just happy they didn't kill each other. And also…" Midori smiled slightly. "I'm happy to know that we'll all be promoted to chuunin come next exams."

"I see."

It was then Midori realized she was having a regular conversation with Neji. THE Hyuuga Neji, Hyuuga clan prodigy, dubbed respectively the Ice King by her two teammates was talking without an insult to her, Hikari Midori, the calm and quieter one of Team Twelve, the otherworldly kunoichi team. Confusion was written all over her face as she turned towards the Hyuuga boy and said, "Neji…why are you being so…um…"

"My battle with Naruto made me realize…" Neji interrupted, not looking at her directly. "That the way I acted towards other people…was not acceptable. You…and many other people who hadn't done a thing to me did not deserve the ways I treated people. I'm sorry."

Midori smiled sincerely, noticing a hint of light blush on his pale cheeks. Naruto-kun…you're amazing.

Meanwhile, Kyoko opened her eyes wearily. "Mm…huh…?"

"YEAH SHIK! YOU ROCK! KICK HER BUTT!" Nami squealed.

"Shik?" Naruto stared at Nami oddly.

Nami whistled innocently and ruffled Naruto's hair. "It's a big kid thing, Ototo."

"I'm the same age as you!"

"My match was over a long time ago…" Kyoko whispered quietly to herself. "So Nami won then…" She lowered her head in disappointment.

"Huh?" Nami turned around and saw Kyoko, awake. "Hey."

"Ow!" Kyoko exclaimed as a small bottle hit her arm. "What was that for?!"

"Baka. Can't even catch," Nami scoffed. "The medics said that you have to put it on your wounds. I already used it."

Kyoko frowned and stuck her finger in the salve. "Why aren't you bragging, huh?"

"Because, pinhead, I didn't win according to toothpick guy over there," Nami said, crossing her arms.

"Huh?"

"Apparently if you had friends on your side, I would've been 'killed in a second' or something," Nami said, flexing her index and middle finger up and down to emphasize 'killed in a second'. "So tell me. How did my jutsu not affect your movement?"

"I dunno. It kind of…went away for a second and that's when I made my move."

"Should've known. Midori only said it was five seconds. I didn't think you'd be smart enough to be quick about it and attack."

"Hmph. Underestimating me was your first mistake."

"Don't try to act all cool, it's not like you won."

Kyoko grinned slyly. "But you didn't win either."

"I knocked you out, and that's victory enough for now," Nami said stubbornly. "If I had backup, they would've killed you too!"

Kyoko's grin faded. Then, a determined look replaced her previous expression. "Well, the next time we battle…I'll be the winner."

"Tch. You wish," Nami said. "You'll just try to keep up with my skills." She turned back toward the arena to watch Temari and Shikamaru's battle.

"That lazy bum," Naruto muttered. "GET YOUR BUTT OUT THERE, SHIKAMARU!"

It's almost time for Gaara and Sasuke's battle, Kyoko thought. And that means…Orochimaru will make his move soon.

As soon as Shikamaru's match ended with the lazy genin forfeiting, trash began to fly. Naruto jumped into the arena to 'lecture' Shikamaru and Nami and Kyoko looked at each other knowingly. Both girls knew what was going to happen next. They had to be ready for it.

Yay! It seems we have a little psychic reviewer among us! Midami Uchiha of the sand was right about the double KO! Heheh...funny. I just finished a report on ESP AND turned it in along with my stupid science project XD Now I can rest assured for the weekend! Um...that is...after homework...(sweat drop) And once I get rid of all these e-mails! (whips out stick) BACK, JUNK MAIL! BACK!

Nami's awfully happy with all her supporters, by the way. Kyoko...doesn't really care, it seems, which is probably a good thing.

Oh, and be prepared for another big skip to more important things. Although I'm pretty sure no one's gonna be mad about skipping Shikamaru and Temari's match and...Gaara and Sasuke's match, it doesn't hurt to give a heads up, right? So just so no one's confused about the time period of the next chapter, it'll be right at the attack on Konoha! Woohoo!

Konohanians: GLARE

Um...I mean...oh no. (hides and waves a GO KONOHA flag) Go Konoha! Boo Oto!

Until next week!

-HM