Previously on NARUTO TCG…

Garra aims for the bush in which squad 8 is hiding behind. With sand around them, there is no way of escape. He powers up, ready to do one more sand coffin.

"Garra, stop! That's enough!" Temari shouts.

Clenching his fist, Garra made a cork out of sand, and places it onto his gourd. "Fine."

Gaara then walks away, as Kiba's team gasps for breath out of relief. Akamaru still trembles and whimpers behind Kiba's jacket. "So that's what you were talking about."

"What did he say?" Shino asks.

"Akamaru said that the big guy was about to get killed by the kid from the Sand. I don't know what that Sand Village squirt is...but whatever he is, he's way too dangerous to mess with...He's bad news.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

NARUTO TCG: CHUNIN BATTLE TOURNAMENT DUELS-

COILS OF THE SNAKE

Chapter 13:

Illusion

Ten hours have passed since that moment. The squad 7 are at lake fishing. Naruto does Shadow Clones in hopes of catching more fish. "Breakfast time. Shadow Clone Fishing Jutsu, bombs away!" Naruto was able to make three fishes jump from the water. While the fish were in mid-air, Sasuke threw kunais at them and nailed them to a tree. "That's it? I only got three." He said to Naruto, "Go do it again. I could eat three fish myself."

"If you think it's so easy, why don't you get wet and I'll stand on the shore!?"

Sakura was gathering wood for a campfire. "Sasuke! The fire's ready to light." She said, "I could use one of your fireballs."

Sasuke walks away from Naruto "I've got to do everything around here." He complained.

"What do you think I've been doing, huh?!" yelled Naruto.

Later, over a cooking fire, the team was eating fish when Sakura brought up something, "We have to face it...there may not be any more heaven scrolls left."

"Well, that's a cheerful thought." Sasuke replied.

"It's been 4 days since the second exam began, that means that 80 percent of the test is over. Also, there are 78 competitors- 26 squads. So the highest amount of teams that can pass is 13. Let's not forget that Orochimaru guy. He burned the Heaven Scroll card we had. From here on, the amount of teams that can pass just went down by 1. We can't be sure that the rest of the scroll cards are in tact. If one of them is destroyed, that makes the other one meaningless."

"Then that means…" Sasuke finished eating and stood up. "… the next enemy will be our last chance." He went to the lake to get some water. The moment he left, Naruto and Sakura heard a loud rustling in the bushes. They stood to defend themselves, until they saw who it was. It was Kabuto Yakushi, who came out of the bush.

"Kabuto! How did you find us?" Naruto asked.

"I saw a small cloud of smoke and I followed it here."

When Sasuke came back, he could see Kabuto as well. "What are you doing here?" He said "Are you after our scroll card, too?"

"Hmph, I don't need to." Kabuto reached into his deck and took out both the Heaven and Earth cards. "Something's happened, so I'm on my way to the tower with my teammates."

Sasuke is surprised that there's someone who has already gained access to the tower. Now is his chance. "Well in that case…" Sasuke equipped his shield. "Let's duel."

"…Hmph, are you serious?"

"Sorry, we don't have a choice. It's like I said before: This is the only way to survive in this forest." Sasuke is determined to put forth a challenge. This is the only way they can survive in the forest. Kabuto senses that Sasuke isn't all that serious. He could have just attacked instead of declaring a challenge.

Later, on their way to the tower, Kabuto offers the Squad 7 some advice advice: There are still enemies left, he's sure of it. He then tells that the easiest place to get a scroll will be in the area around the tower. They head towards it hoping to find enemies with a Scroll of Heaven. They have a couple of possibilities: those with only 1 scroll hoping to collect the other, those with both scrolls heading towards the tower, and those who are "collectors" who try to get more than two scrolls. They keep extra scrolls and give one to the enemy in exchange for going free. Or by giving friends who are in the same village a scroll they need, so they can gain information to get through the remaining exams easier. Or crush those strong enemies to get to the third exam. Sasuke sees the reason Kabuto came with them… he's afraid of these collectors too.
When they are close to the tower they decided to just walk. Naruto senses an enemy and he throws a kunai at a large centipede. Kabuto then asks Naruto to be quiet to not draw attention. They sense a trap. Naruto walks the other way to trigger a trap, but Kabuto uses a replacement Technique to save Naruto. They move stealthy towards the tower until they notice no matter how long they walk, they aren't getting any closer to the tower.

"How far have we walked?" Sakura said, "That tower's not getting any closer."

"Now that you mention it," Naruto said, "I was thinking that too. It's weird."

"Would seem that we've been spotted. Somebody is playing games with us. Look...rings a bell?" pointing a finger, Kabuto sees a giant centipend, the one Naruto killed. . They've been tricked into walking in circles with an illusion technique. The enemy must be planning an attack once they've tired. Sure enough, three shinobi rose up from underground, all three of them had on respirators and masks. "The name's Mubi," their leader said, "And we're here to claim our prize."

"Those guys want a duel." Sasuke said to his friends. "Those guys made this genjutsu to keep us from leaving, and the only way out of this is to beat these guys."

"Well, if it's a duel they want, then that's what we'll give them!" Naruto takes out his shinobi shield.

"I'll help out too. It's time to show these guys what we're made of." Kabuto reached to his back and put on his shield. All players equipped shields and converted to duel mode.

"DUEL!"

Sasuke: I'll take the first move (7). I set 2 cards face-down. Then I charge 3 chakra cards and charge 1 fire card to my chakra zone (CZ:4) to activate the Revive, Sharingan mission card, which lets me move 1 Sasuke Uchiha card in my deck to my hand. Then I play Sasuke Uchiha (3/0).I end my turn (0).

Naruto: I guess it's my turn now (7). I charge 6 cards to my chakra zone (CZ: 6) and play Naruto Uzumaki (1/0). End turn (0).

Kabuto: My move (7). I charge 5 cards to my chakra zone (CZ: 5) and end my turn (2).

Oboro: My draw (7). I charge 5 chakras (CZ: 5) and deploy Oboro (1/1). I set one card face-down and end my turn (0).

Kagari: (7) I charge 6 chakra cards (CZ: 6) and deploy Kagari (0/1). End turn (0).

Mubi: My draw (7). First I'll charge 4 cards to my chakra zone (CZ: 4), and deploy the Mubi (0/1) ninja card. Then I organize Oboro, Kagami and Mubi into one team, with Oboro as the leader. Then with their combined power, all three will attack directly! (All three rain avatars closed in on Kabuto, inflicting direct damage and 1 battle reward. (BR: 1) Then I set 2 cards face-down and end my turn (0).

Sasuke: My draw (1). I'll use three chakra crest (CZ: 1) to equip Sasuke with face-downs Kunai and Shuriken, giving him 5 additional power point (8/5). Attack! (Sasuke's avatar attacks the team leader, but it phased right through as if it were nothing.) What just happened? My attack should've caused some damage!

Mubi: That's because this team has ninja with special abilities that work with each other. If Oboro receives 2 damage points from a battle, Mubi and Kagari's special abilities each take out one damage from the attack. Also, Oboro's special ability negates any battle damage from his support ninja if it receives an absolute defeat from a battle.

Sasuke: I'll just end my turn and let Naruto go.

Naruto: Alright, (1) I use 1 lightning crest to play the jutsu card, Shadow Clone Jutsu!

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////info: When you play the Shadow Clone Jutsu card, you can deploy 1 ninja with the same name as the user until the end of the turn. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Naruto: and with 2 teams on the field, I can give damage since Mubi and Kagari's effects only work when they receive at least 2 damages. (Both of Naruto's avatars attack Oboro)

Mubi: I don't think so. I use 4 wind crests (CZ: 0) to play 2 copies of the Misty Follower Jutsu card. (From underground, 2 dark figures came up behind Oboro, taking place of Naruto's attack.) When this card is activated, I can call out a mist token (0/0). So whenever Oboro take any damage, he can let my mist token take his place. And since this battle came out in a draw, only your shinobi take damage (3/0).

Naruto: I'll end my turn and discard one of my Uzumaki cards from the field.

Kabuto: My move (3). I deploy Kabuto Yakushi (1/1). ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////info: When you deploy Kabuto Yakushi, you can look at the top card in your deck and place it back to the top or bottom of your deck. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Next I use 3 water crests (CZ: 2) to play the jutsu card Senbon Rainstorm. This lets me flip 2 coins, and one of your shinobi take damage for each one that came up heads. (Kabuto's avatar wields a giant umbrella and threw it into the air, firing many needles.

Oboro: I play the jutsu card Fog Clone Jutsu. (Several copies of rain shinobi appeared out of thin air. When the needles hit, several disappeared.) When this card is played, by using 2 wind crests (CZ: 3), our ninja can't be targeted by any opposing jutsu cards. In addition, our team gets a clone status. This card can be used whenever you play a jutsu card. So now we can't be touched by attacks or jutsu.

Kabuto: I set one card face down and pass (0).

Oboro: (1) I'll use 2 wind crests (CZ: 1) to play another Misty Follower Jutsu card and play another mist token. I end my turn (0).

Kagari: (1) I use 2 wind crests (CZ: 4) to equip Oboro with the Giant Shuriken jutsu card. Now our team attacks Kabuto! (All three rain avatars closed in on Kabuto and damaged him (0/0).) That's when giant shuriken's ability activates. When the user's team wins a victory, it gives one more damage to their opponent. (Oboro throws the giant star and deletes Kabuto.) End turn (0).

Mubi: (1) I'll pass. End turn.

Sasuke: My move (1). I'll pass this turn.

Naruto: (1) I'll take Naruto and form a team with Sasuke as leader (4/0). Now attack Oboro!

Oboro: You're forgetting about my Misty Follower's ability. I can just remove one mist token and block your attack. (The dark-cloaked figure got in the way of Naruto's attack and collapsed into a fog of mist.)

Naruto: I'll end my turn for now.

Kabuto: (1) I deploy Kabuto Yakushi. Next I activate his special ability, see one card at the top of my deck, and place it at the bottom. Then I use 2 chakra crests (CZ: 0) to equip Kabuto with my face-down Cross-Shaped-Shuriken, giving him 3 extra power points (4/4). Attack! (Kabuto throws his metal star at Oboro, forcing him to injured state (0/0) and lowering his team power (2/0).) That ends my turn (0).

Oboro: (1) I'll send my team to the battlefield and attack Kabuto. (His team attacks Kabuto's avatar and forces him to injured state.) End turn.

Kagari: (1) I'll pass this turn.

Mubi: (2) (Perfect. Just the card I needed.) I charge 1 card to my chakra zone (CZ: 1) to play The Fastest Ones! ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////info: When you play The Fastest Ones mission card, you can down grade the total amount of battle rewards you need to win the game by 1. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

That's all for now.

Sasuke: My move (2). I charge 1 chakra (CZ: 2) to play the mission card Exhaustion of Stamina. When this card is activated, all cards in all players' chakra zone are discarded (CZ: 0). That ends my turn.

Naruto: (2) I'll play the Haku ninja card and move him with Naruto and Sasuke. Now our team has much more power (7). Attack now!

Mubi: You're forgetting about our special ability whenever the team leader receives 2 damage point, Kagari and Mubi can just cancel it out!

Naruto: I know. But with your team leader in injured state, he can't activate his effect, which means his support ninja are wide open for damage! (Naruto's team attack and damaged both Mubi and Kagari.) That ends my turn (1).

Kabuto: (1) I deploy the Misumi Tsurugi ninja card! ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////info: Misumi Tsurugiis a turn 2 male sound ninja. In healthy state, he has 3 combat points and 1 support point. In his injured state, it has both 2 combat and 0 support points. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Now I use Kabuto to attack Oboro! (Kabuto swoops in and discards Oboro.) Misumi, It's your turn! Attack Kagari! (Misumi attacks Kagari and discards him.) That should end my turn for now. Now you don't have any more defense. On our next turn, we go full force and we win.

Oboro: (2) I pass.

Kagari: (2) So do I.

Mubi: (1) Me too.

Sasuke: (1). I'll pass this turn and let Naruto finish this.

Naruto: Alright (2)! I'll charge 1 chakra card to play the mission card Make-Out Paradise!

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////info: Make-Out Paradise is a mission card that allows the player to win one extra battle reward when he wins a complete victory or a complete battle reward. /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Now with the field set, it's time to attack for a One-Shot Winner! Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Haku, take out Oboro and all 3 battle rewards! (Naruto's team closed in on the 3 rain shinobi and knocked them hard into the ground, winning the match (BR: 3)

Naruto, Sasuke, and Kabuto have finally won the duel. "Whoo-hoo! You guy did it!" Sakura yelled. "And just in time, too!" the morning sun slowly rises on the horizon. After the battle, Naruto ties up the rain nin team and finds a Scroll of Heaven Card. "Now we got both cards to enter the tower." He said.

Later, they finally made it to the tower, where Kabuto's teammates are waiting. "Thanks, Kabuto." Naruto said to him. "Because of you we can go into the tower."

"No, it was because of you. You were great in the end, Naruto. Well, my friends and I are going through this door. See you at the end." Kabuto went with his team.

Squads 7 are finally alone. "Alright, guys," Naruto shouts, "You ready for the third exam?!"

Sakura: Yeah!

Sasuke: Alright.

"Alright, then let's go!" Naruto, followed by Sakura and Sasuke, opened the doors and walked inside the tower, prepared to confront what's waiting for them. Inside, the room was empty.

Naruto: Okay, we're inside the tower, so what now?

"Guys, look." Sakura points to a giant scroll on the wall. "If you do not possess Heaven, gain knowledge and be prepared. If you do not possess Earth, run through the fields and seek strength. If you open both Heaven and Earth scrolls, dangerous paths turn into safe paths. This is the secret of … should lead you on your way.' I think it's referring to our scroll cards. Now must be the time to play them." Naruto gave Sasuke and Sakura each a scroll card. When both players activated their shields and played them, both shields glowed. When the light faded they could see that the shields changed form. Sasuke's carries a red gauntlet with 2 black wings and a sharingan symbol at the top, whihe Sakura's turned pink with 5 card zones circle around it.

Sasuke: Our shinobi shields have transformed!

Sakura: Incredible!

That's when, out of no where, Iruka Umino appeared out of a puff of smoke. Squad seven is very surprised.

Iruka: Looks like you guys had a little trouble.

Naruto: Iruka Sensei?! What are you doing here?!

Iruka: At the end of the second test, it's set up so the chunin meet up with the exam takers… and I was allowed to meet you here. (Iruka look at a pocket watch he took out of his vest.) And just in time, too. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, you passed the second test. And to celebrate, how about I treat you all to a bowl of ramen after…

"We did it!" Naruto ran to his teacher and gave him a big hug, knocking them both to the ground. "We did it, we did it, I can't believe we did it!"

"Iruka-Sensei," Sakura asks, "that scroll on the wall, what does it mean? It has something missing to it."

"That's the chunin motto written by the Third Hokage. The "Heaven" points to the head of a person. The "Earth" is the body. For example, if Naruto's weakness is his brains, he should study and prepare for his missions. For those, like Sakura, who don't possess strength, they should train every day. Once they have both attributes, any dangerous missions will become safe."

"Then the missing word must be…"

"That's right. The word that represents a chunin. 'This is the secret of the person; it should lead you on your way.' That's the complete last sentence. The survival mission of the past five days tested the basic abilities of the examinees as a Chunin. And you guys complete it. A Chunin is a commanding and has the ability to lead a team. You must understand the importance of knowledge and strength in missions. That's all I have to tell you."

"Roger!" Naruto stands and salutes Iruka.

"But the third and final test is the main event of the Chunin Battle Tournament. Just don't push yourselves too hard. Especially you, Naruto. I worry the moment i…"

"From the moment I received this headband, I'm not an academy student anymore!" Naruto says, "There's no need to worry! This headband is a symbol that I'm all grown up, right? I'm not a kid anymore! I'm a ninja!"

"You're right, I'm sorry." Iruka thinks back to when Kakashi recommended them to take the Chunin and his initial opposition, believing that they weren't ready yet. He then realizes how far along they've come. 'The person that reveals his true strength… that may be you, Kakashi.'

Soon, all 21 people passed the Second Exam. According to Chunin regulations, they will have to do preliminary matches for the first time in five years. The Second Exam is now officially over.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Epilogue

Inside the tower, Kabuto's squad meets a mysterious person.

Kabuto: Everything was above expectations. I've gathered all the data I needed on him, (Kabuto handed an information card to the person.) just that you're so interested… Lord Orochimaru.

Orochimaru: I need an honest opinion: as our spy…

Kabuto: That won't be necessary, since everything is in your decision.

Orochimaru: kukuku, I admire that intelligence of yours. Good work. (Orochimaru looks at the card, which has Naruto's data on it.) Now that I've planted that seal onto the boy, I've severed his ties to that Fox Sage, which is the key to Naruto's Kyuubi power. And with him out of the way, there is no saving the Hidden Leaf Village as it becomes crushed… by the Coils of the Snake.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is the end of Part 1 of the Chunin Battle Tournament Duels.

Next time: Curse of the Sand.