A/N: Well, I am back after a hiatus. Sorry for all those who have waited so patiently for this. Also, cheers to Transient Shadow and Kamikaze Hakkeshu, for getting me off my lazy ass so I could get about posting this! You guys rock as die hard Deidara Fans. Props to you both! Now, on with the show!
The Examiner sighed. Another match with that Junio character. This was sure to be boring, since most of the competitors had been too scared to actually fight him well. He sighed again as Rotas made his way into the center, eying Junio as the boy glared across at him.
"Are you both ready?" The Examiner looked at both, receiving a nod from each. He smiled, turning up to look at the crowd. "Alright, your next match will be between Junio Mezanuchi and Rotas Tubaki!" The crowd cheered as the Examiner stepped back, putting his hands up. "Very well. You may...begin!" He let his arms drop, and the match began.
"This guy likes to use that sword of his, so I will just have to keep him from using it." Throwing his hands together, Rotas began forming hand-seals as Junio flew across the arena, sword raised to strike. Finishing his jutsu, Rotas slammed his hands together, then clapped them to the ground.
"Earth Release: Rock Fortress Jutsu!" The ground shook, stopping Junio in his tracks. Suddenly, a large, thick wall of rock surrounded him, rising into the air and creating a funnel, with him in the middle. He heard a sneering laugh from the other side of the wall as Rotas giggled. "This wall of rock is almost impenetrable. You can't really get in, or get out! You're already through!" Bringing his hands together again, he laughed once more. "Just to be sure you know who you're dealing with." He began making more hand-signs, stopping and taking a moment to smile. "Earth Style: Crumbling Wall Jutsu!" Making a fist with his right hand, he punched the wall of rock. Nothing seemed to happen, and then, slowly, bit by bit, the top began to crumble. As the wall was shaped as a funnel, everything that broke off from the top fell inwards. Soon, the entire top of the funnel-like wall lay in the middle, trapping and crushing everything in its wake. Rotas smiled, turning and waving at the crowd.
"Wow...that guy's good, un." Deidara stood, wide-eyed, watching the match. Bushio clenched his hands.
"No...it was supposed to be me. Why?" Rotas again waved as the crowd cheered him on. The Examiner walked to the wall, tapping it and listening. When nothing echoed forth, he shrugged.
"The winner! Rotas..." However, his words were cut short as the ground began to rumble. Rotas turned, gazing around as the earth trembled below him. A fist punched through the ground, creating a hole. Junio tunneled himself up, resting on the ground for a second to catch his breath. Rotas sneered once more.
"So, you tunneled out, huh? Nicely done. However, you ain't out of the woods yet!" He began making more hand-signs, stopping as he did so. "Earth Release: Rock Fortress Jutsu!" Another funnel-shaped wall arose from the ground, trapping Junio once again. Rotas smiled. "I can do that a bunch of times. How many times do you think you can get through it? I'm betting you lose first!" He began making his hand-signs again, punching the wall once more. The top began crumbling in, falling directly towards Junio.
"I...I will...will not be...made a fool of!" Grabbing his sword, he began drawing chakra into it. Taking off full tilt, he ran towards the top, slicing the falling projectiles, making them crumble from the impact. Rotas smiled as the inner part of his wall caved in.
"Knew that it would work, and if you pop out, I'll just do it again and again and again! HAHAHAHA!" His sides convulsed in laughter, he turned, waving once again at the crowd.
"Sword Technique: Crushing Blade of Destiny Jutsu!" Rotas turned, staring as Junio flew through the air, his sword raised up. As he hit the ground, he chopped downwards, creating a rift in the ground. A crack split the arena, catching Rotas unawares and sending him falling down into the earth. Junio heaved, placing his sword back in its sheath and walking to where Rotas had fallen to. Rotas clung grimly to a root, looking up with fear. "Thought you were so clever, didn't you? Now what do you have to say?" Rotas looked down, gazing wide-eyed at the seemingly bottomless rift that Junio had created.
"I...I give up. Help me! I don't wanna die!" Junio smiled, reaching down.
"Give me your hand!" Rotas smiled weakly back, grabbing a hold of Junio's hand. Junio heaved, pulling the boy from the rift. Still holding his hand, Rotas turned back for one more look into the chasm.
"Boy...that was scary. Great technique by the..." However, he didn't finish, as he was swung from his feet and into a pillar, his body crashing into it with a sickening thud. Junio jumped backwards, his sword out.
"Sword Technique: Sword Lash Jutsu!" A thin thread of chakra appeared from the tip of his sword, becoming a long, thin whip-like protrusion. Junio smiled evilly as he brought it up. "I'll make you pay for making a fool of me!" He brought the sword up and over, smiling as the whip slashed into the other boy's flesh, making him scream. He brought it up again, making it criss-cross the same slash. Again, and again he struck, until the boy had passed out. His body was covered in long, thin streaks of red, blood oozing from each of the cuts. Junio heaved, replacing his sword into his sheath. He turned, walking towards the other side of the arena and back up the stairs as Rotas fell without a sound, plopping onto the ground. The Examiner took one look, gazing up at the crowd.
"Very well. The winner of this match...Junio Mezanuchi!" The crowd cheered, though some felt that the boy had gone to far, venting their frustration with boos and hisses. It didn't matter to Junio, who reveled in the anger and hatred thrown his way. As he approached the top of the staircase, he smiled at Deidara.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure that our match is much longer than that." Deidara sneered back.
"And I'll make sure that I win it, un!" Junio chuckled, walking to the corner and sitting down to watch the next match. Deko gave him a sidelong stare, and then turned to his next opponent.
"Well, Joley. It's time for our match, I believe." Joley turned, looking at him a moment before gazing back into the arena.
"Our next match...Deko Mihoto versus Joley Warashi." The crowd cheered as Deko turned to go down into the arena.
"Wait! I give up! I quit!" Deko stopped, turning back with disbelief on his face. Joley gripped the rail, turning back to Deko. "Even if I beat you...I would have to go against that monster. I really don't want to...so..." He shrugged weakly, turning and walking into the waiting room and leaving the waiting box. Deko stared after him. The Examiner shook his head.
"Kids nowadays. No backbone whatsoever." Turning back to the crowd, he threw his hands up. "Very well. Joley Warashi has quit, so by order of forfeit, the winner of the final match of the second round is Deko Mihoto!" He turned, giving the remaining four a smile. "The semi-final matches will start now. Bushio Mesakumi and Deidara, please come to the arena floor." Bushio sighed, turning to look at Deidara. Deidara turned, facing him.
"Hey...Bushio. Let's...let's just do our best, un!" He turned, not waiting for an answer, and began walking down the stairs into the arena. Bushio stared after him, sighing and walking after. So, it had finally come down to it. He and Deidara would fight...and the winner would fight Junio. He gave the other boy a glance from the side. He sat in his place, not watching anything but Deidara. Bushio would wipe that sadistic grin from his face. He would make him pay for killing Yoko. He would make him pay for all the shit that he had done.
Bushio would see to it that he never hurt anyone ever again.
A/N: The long awaited Bushio Vs. Deidara match is next. Who will win? Who will face someone else in the finals? Will it be Deko or Junio who wins the match next? Find out on the next episode of Naruto...no wait, sorry, wrong show. Find out on the next, exciting episode of Deidara: The Early Years. Origato Mr. Roboto!