Please Enjoy and I only own Ami and her unique Justus. The chapters of the story will occasionally combined some episodes in to one. Sorry for the shortness of the chapter but there wasn't much I was able to do.
Chapter 14: - Beware the Doll-like Appearance
"Alright we will now decide the next match," Hayate spoke. I glanced at the panel as it began to shuffle through the names for the third to last match. There was only me, Lee, Gaara, Dosu and that other guy from Kabuto's team left, in all my strength I prayed that I wouldn't have to go up against Lee or Gaara.
Lee was praying to be picked next whilst all the others weren't overly bothered with this. The panel stopped and it displayed my name along with the name of the guy who I presumed was Kabuto's teammate, Ai.
"Alright Ami go get him," Naruto yelled. I covered my ears and shot a glare at the blonde.
"At least cheer for me when I'm not right next to you will you," I grumbled. Naruto flashed a smiled at me. I rolled my eyes before I shook my head and hopped over the rail to face my opponent. He was dressed in the same way as his companions, his appearance was greatly concealed by the mask he wore around his mouth that hung to around his neck and forehead protector which he wore like a bandanna. He also wore the standard attire of his team consisting of a high-collared, sleeveless, navy-blue shirt with a short-sleeved, white one underneath, a simple obi around his waist, pants, sandals and fingerless gloves.
"Is this a joke?" He asked once he got a look at me, before he burst out laughing for some reason. I gritted my teeth but remained calm, wondering if I could get him to die of laughter and not be forced to fight such a weakling. "Boy, girl you must be the weakest member of your team, I better you only survived because they protect you night and day, little doll," He taunted. However his statement caused rage to blaze inside of me.
"What. Did. You. Just. Call me?" I hissed out. He looked at me a smug look shone in his eyes, I clenched my fists, my grip turning the knuckles a pale white shade.
"I said you're a doll, girly. This'll be an easy match," He smugly stated. He then began to run at me, but instead of preparing to dodge I remained still. He raised his fist and went to punch me however, I snapped my hand out and caught the fist pulling in towards me as I rotated my wrist clockwise, to prevent any damage.
"What was that?" I mockingly asked. His eyes shot up to me in shock, I then slammed my free fist into his stomach and pushed him back at the same time. The force sent him skidding back across the stone floor as he struggled to regain his balance.
"What the!?" He yelled. I repositioned my legs so my stance was shoulder width apart.
"You thought I was weak, but the problem, my appearance is rather… deceiving," I told him with a smirk on my face. He glared at me before charging at me again, this time instead of blocking his attack, I merely spun out of the way causing him to stagger as his momentum made him stumble when he tried to stop.
"Fight me you little bitch!" he snarled. I raised an eyebrow at his demand, before turning my back to him and walking over to my original position.
"Why should I fight someone so pathetic," I responded. He yelled at me and charged. I spun around and lifted on of my legs up to block his kick, I then hooked my leg around and I was able to force him away from me to the side.
He stood up and glared at me once more, then a strange purple smoke began to billow out from under his mask. I furrowed my eyebrows as I bent my legs for fast reactions to his next attack.
"You're dead meat girl. No one can survive my jutsu," Ai informed me. I didn't respond as I watched the smoke curl and twist around the air spreading out, I glanced only to see that Ai had moved, then suddenly I felt something lock around my neck and my arms were also seized, as the purple smoke began to surround me.
Ai laughed and more smoke began to billow out, it invaded my senses, a strange salt air was present along with a sour smell and I realised then that the smoke was poison. I jumped a little and I was able to curve my body up so that my legs landed around his neck I hooked my ankles together and I began to pull, he struggled against my grip but I was able to twist my arms out of his grasp and I planted my feet against his back and I used them to push away from him, I landed on the ground a little shaky as poison was beginning to take effect.
"Wow that's incredible," I heard Naruto exclaim in shock.
"It is also extremely odd," Lee stated. I could only guess that my teammates had questioned him due to what he said next. "Ami is able to perfectly counter his attack without even looking also she appears to be rather flexible as that grapple is awfully difficult to get out of and her method was rather elaborate and tricky to accomplish," Lee informed them.
"So, what does it matter?" Sakura asked, confused by what Lee meant.
"Sakura, it is rather obvious that Ami is far stronger than any of us believed," Kakashi stated. The man turned around to me and chuckled as the smoke continued to wrap around the fighting area.
"You've inhaled the poison girl, you're time is almost up and the longer you exert yourself the quicker it spreads," He taunted.
"I know how poison works, idiot," I muttered. The man glared and he charged at me, I dodged the attack and stepped away from him. "You know the least you could do is make this fight interesting," I bluntly stated.
"You've got poison coursing through your veins and you want interesting!?" The man exclaimed in shock.
"Most people who use poison are cowards, too afraid to fight their opponents head on and try to cripple them to make the fight easier. There are very few who can use poison in a way that isn't cowardly," I stated.
The man growled and he sent a kick out, I seized his ankle and threw him backwards. I then ran forward before flipping back and kicking him in the chin sending him flying backwards.
"You trying to die?" He hissed at me.
"I don't die easily," I retorted, "And besides, I'm still waiting for this to become interesting," I stated.
"Um is Ami ok, she's acting pretty weird," Naruto asked
"I don't think so Naruto. When you and Sasuke were unconscious I think I saw more of Ami's abilities than anyone else, she was pretty powerful even tired and beat up. I think that she doesn't view this man as a challenge and is bored," Sakura stated.
Sakura was right, my abilities were beyond the scope of any of the other candidate and thus finding a worthy opponent was always hard work. I could almost hear my teacher whispering words of praise and manipulation into my ear, it sent a shiver down my spine as I thought of that.
"Give up, with that poison you've only got three minutes left," Ai stated, attempting to scare. I just snorted at that fact.
"One, that's more than enough time to beat you. Two, what makes you think I care about my life?" I stated. Silence flushed through the room at my statement.
"Wh… what are you?!" Ai exclaimed. I looked at him my gaze melting into solid ice.
"I gave you enough chance, it time to end this," I stated, before charging at him. I moved at a faster pace than I had for this entire match.
"Wow Ami's fast!" Naruto exclaimed.
"She's not just fast, she's Jōnin fast," Sakura stated. I appeared in front of Ai and seized his collar, I lifted him up easily, he struggled in my grasp however it was iron clad and he was unable to break it.
I threw Ai over my head and sent him flying towards the wall, I ran after him and jumped into the air before bringing my foot down onto his abdomen which gave extra force to the momentum that he still had from my throw. Ai was sent slamming into the meeting point of the wall and the floor and a loud slamming sound echo as his body made contact.
"The match is over," I stated. I began to wall to the exit, I needed to flush out the poison in my body before it crippled my ability to fight permanently, I could feel the eyes of everyone on me as I left.
I stepped into the rest room and began to root through my pouch, I found what I was looking for and pulled it out. It was a small, brown, clay jar, twisting the top off, I opened it to reveal a bundle of evergreen leaves tied together with a black cord.
I pulled the bundle out and I removed one of the leaves, the texture was rough one way and smooth in the other, it smelled foul but it was exactly what I need. I bite into the leaf and torn off a piece and began to chew the bitter flavour flooding my mouth as I swallowed it down.
The leaf held a special chemical that was able to counteract all chakra based poisons which was exactly what that poison was. I heard the door open, I seized a kunai and I turned to see Temari standing behind me.
"What do you want?" I asked the blonde. She sighed and walked towards me but I grabbed my pouch and jumped back.
"I'm not going to attack you, I actually wanted to know if you were alive or not," Temari stated. I let out a mirthless laugh at her statement.
"Sure, like you even care," I stated. I continued to eat the leaf but I noticed that Temari was scowling at my comment.
"I do. But I want to know why you're here?" Temari demanded an answer. I finished the leaf which left a greenish-black stain on my fingertips. I looked at the girl with a hard expression in my eyes.
"That's my business Temari, but you should be more concerned with your brother," I told her.
"Ever since-" Temari began to yell but I clamped a hand over her mouth and pointed the kunai that was still in my hand at her throat.
"I'd be quite about my past if I were you Temari, after all we don't want any accidents to happen," I threatened my voice lowering into a deadly whisper. Her eyes widened in shock and fear at my threat.
I pushed her away and washed my hand before heading back into the main room, I glared at the floor as I walked, my past was catching up to me in more ways than one and it seemed like I would be unable to run from it this time around.
I could only hope that whatever happened nobody would know who I was by the end of this, otherwise something unfortunate would have to happen and I would have to start moving all over again, sometimes I wondered if I would ever be able to stop running from my demons.