First Match: Lee versus Kankuro
Shigame-sensei stepped out into the middle of the now arena. "First Match: Rock Lee versus Kankurou, please step up!"
Rock Lee and Kankurou who were standing just across from each other in front of Shigame took a step closer.
"You may fight until I stop you, the opponent gives up, or is dead. If you continue to do so, disregarding me, I won't hesitate to take you out. Understand?"
They both nodded.
"Alright then. Begin!"
I was sitting in the third row with Hinako and Jin, cheering for Lee. "Pajama Pants against Lee?" I said more to myself than anyone. "This is gonna be an interesting battle. He was easy for me, but I wonder if Lee is good enough."
"Don't underestimate him," Hinako said. "He's much stronger than he looks."
I looked back down at them, watching them intently.
"Judging from the battle I saw between you and Gaara, I'll need to use Karasu." He took out his puppet which was wrapped in the same old bandages.
Lee held his hand up in fighting position. "I am ready."
Pajama Pants pulled a bandage and they all unravelled to reveal his puppet.
"Hold on!" I gasped in realization. "I expected him to make his puppet again, but that looks different!"
"He probably updated it," Jin said.
Karasu, did, indeed look different from before. It had more arms and only one eye this time. It made a clattering sound. Kankurou bent his legs a little and held out his hands. Lee spread his feet out a little. There was a moment of stillness and then Lee was gone. The crowd gasped in astonishment. Then he appeared behind Kankurou, whom he then punched. Kankurou went flying across the ground before he then skidded to a stop. Lee stood there triumphantly.
It's true, I thought. Lee is way too fast for Pajama Pants. There's no way he can win.
Kankurou got back up. But, when I saw his face, I gave a gasp of horror.
"Oh my gosh! He's cracking!"
"You idiot," Jin said. "That's not Kankurou, that's karasu. The karasu you saw was actually Kankurou."
And when I took another look, I realized this to be true. The real Karasu was standing there, cracked, but still held together. What we all thought was Karasu, was Kankurou in disguise. He then took off his disguise and we saw his real face. He smiled and moved his fingers a little. Karasu flung itself at Lee who dodged it, but then Karasu's mouth opened and poison spewed out. Rock Lee was enshrouded with purple clouds, before we finally saw him jump out. He was coughing and holding his mouth. Looks like he had enhaled a little bit of the smoke. He wavered for a moment and then fell to his knees.
"Oh, no! It looks like he took in too much poison." I stood up worried.
"Sit down," Hinako said. "Don't worry. From the looks of it, he's just gonna be nauseated."
I sat down, calmed a little, but only a little.
Lee tried to get up, but hacked and coughed which made him fall back down on the ground. Kankurou took this chance and sent Karasu towards him. His arms opened wide and little knives appeared on his arm. Lee managed to dodge the first attack, but his arm was hugged tightly by Karasu. The sharp knives cut deep into his arm. He gave a cry of pain, before he finally broke himself free. The pain seemed to help him regain his senses and he stood upright. He jumped away from Karasu and Kankurou, putting a safe distance between them. He undid the bandages around his arm a bit so that there was a single strand hanging down from each hand. Kankurou frowned. Lee looked at Pajama Pants just before he disappeared again. He then appeared in fornt of Pajama Pants, but kneeled. He kicked him in the chin, which sent him flying upward. Lee jumped into the air and was flying just beneath Kankurou. I looked and I saw Kankurou's fingers move just a bit, before Lee's badages wrapped around him securely. Lee then grabbed Kankurou and they both went spinning into the ground. "Primary Lotus!"
There was a big blast as rocks went flying everywhere, but not far enough so it hit the audience. Once the smoke had cleared, we saw Lee standing there looking at his opponent, who was not visible for the hole that was in the ground.
Then to our horror, we saw Kankurou standing behind Lee, whom he stabbed with a kunai knife.
How did he survive?
...to be continued.