Two Sides of the Same Coin
Chapter Four
Chuunin Exams Part Four – Player vs. Player
The exhausted ninjas all took full advantage of the offered showers and rooms. For the next twenty-four hours, everyone relaxed, but made ready for the battles ahead. The older ninjas, the ones who had gone through the exam before, knew what to expect, but the younger generation didn't.
"I wonder if we'll do one-on-one fighting like last time, or if they'll make us do another team exercise?" Moegi wondered as she paced across her small room in front of Udon and Maiko/Numi.
"I suspect that they'll have us do one-on-one battling, just to thin out the crowd for the final round." Maiko/Numi said as he relaxed on the bed.
"What do you mean 'thin out the crowd'?" Udon asked as he sat backwards on a wooden chair. "There's only you, me, Moegi, Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, Kiba, Hinata, Shino, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Neji, Lee, Tenten, and the other three from wave country." Udon counted off the people on his fingers.
"Yeah, eighteen people are too many people for a final round. Now nine, that's a nice, small number, anything under ten is good." Maiko/Numi told the young ninja as he sat up and regarded the only female in their group with a stare. "Moegi, stop pacing. Pacing isn't going to help you be any less ready for the matches than if you just rest."
"I know, I know, it's just that I'm nervous. We're going up against our sempai's in the next matches." Moegi stopped her pacing for a moment. "I do wonder though, how is it that all of the Konoha teams made it through and only one Water team?" Moegi wondered aloud as she stared at the floor.
"Because Konoha ninja's rock! That's why." Kiba announced loudly as he poked his head into the room. "Time's up guys, they want us to assemble in the main room ASAP." The three ninjas nodded and followed Kiba as they made their way to the designated fighting arena.
"Finally you're all here." Anko stated as the stragglers joined the group. "We will now commence the preliminaries for the final round. Usually Hayato would oversee this portion, but he is currently ill with the flu. Instead, Hatake Kakashi has agreed to fill in for him." Kakashi waved to the crowd from his position with the other teachers. Team seven sweat-dropped and hoped their teacher wouldn't bring out his orange book.
"Anyway, these next matches will be one-on-one. That black screen on the wall behind you will randomly decide the two combatants for the matches. The winner of that match will go on to the finals. Are there any questions?" Anko asked her audience.
"Are we allowed to kill our opponent?" A genin from Water asked.
"No, that is part of the new rules that have recently been instated since the last Chunnin exam." Anko's eyes settled briefly on Lee. "Any killing or serious maiming of your opponent will earn you an automatic disqualification." Some grumbling from the Water team was heard, but nothing else was said.
"Since there are no more questions, let's see who our first contestants are!" Anko yelled and the screen started to spin random letters until two names were seen. "Looks like Kiba Inuzuka and Tenten will be up first. If those two and Kakashi would stay on the arena floor, the rest of you need to make your way to the viewing stands." Anko pointed towards the mentioned stands and everyone hustled up the metal stairs.
"So, Naruto, who do you think will win?" Maiko/Numi asked as the duo climbed up the stairs.
"Tenten, she has more experience than Kiba, and more self control." Narumi answered, looking at the bandaged boy next to him. "How do you think it will turn out?"
"I think Kiba'll win. After all, he does have to make up for losing last time." Maiko/Numi grinned as he looked forward. "I don't remember though who his opponent was, do you?"
"Yeah I do actually. It was me, I out-witted him." 'Actually I don't even remember how Bro beat Kiba. I was on a mission at the time and he never got the chance to tell me before Orochimaru's seal got to him. Even after I was whisked away from Konoha so fast I didn't have a chance to ask.' Naruto thought to himself, hoping his answer was correct.
"You out-witted him, huh? I had always thought that it was mostly Kiba underestimating his opponent and making some very stupid mistakes." Maiko/Numi commented with a grin, looking out of the side of his eye at Narumi. "I could be wrong though, after all, you were there." Maiko/Numi gave one last grin, then left to join Moegi and Udon. Narumi grimaced and quickly made his way towards Sasuke and Sakura.
"What's wrong Narumi?" Sakura asked when she saw her teammates face.
"It's that Maiko/Numi whatever his name is guy, I think he knows that I'm not Naruto." Narumi whispered fiercely.
"How would he know that?" Sasuke questioned, looking sideways at Narumi.
"I don't know." Their conversation was cut short by the start of the match and Narumi tried to make that the priority in his mind.
"Alright you two," Kakashi began as he stood between the two competitors. "Don't try to maim or kill, but do try to keep it short. We have a lot of matches to go through today. I now declare that the first round of the final prelims has begun!" Kakashi jumped up into the stands while Kiba rushed his opponent.
"Let's go Akamaru!" The large dog bounded forward, threatening to overrun the girl. Tenten merely jumped into the air, bringing out her large summoning scroll in the process.
"Is that all you've got Kiba?" Tenten taunted as the scroll unfurled. "Let me see if I can find a muzzle for your dog."
"No need," Kiba appeared behind Tenten and grabbed the end of the summoning scroll, twirling it around the kunoichi. Letting go of the scroll, Tenten was flung towards the ground headfirst. Before she had a chance to land on her feet, she was head-butted by Akamaru. Tenten was knocked out of conscious, and the Exam. Narumi winced in sympathy.
"Winner, Kiba!" Kakashi announced and Kiba threw a victory fist in the air.
"I don't see why you're celebrating Kiba." Sasuke called down from the stands. "After all, it was Akamaru who head-butted her, not you."
"You're just jealous that I finished my match quickly." Kiba retorted, stroking Akamaru's head.
"Jealous of you, as if, I'm just giving credit where credit is due." Kiba's face went red at Sasuke's remark. Muffled laughter could be heard from the stands.
"Alright, alright already, that's enough." Kakashi said as he waved his hands. "Since Akamaru can't compete without Kiba, Kiba will be allowed to continue on to the next round." Kiba's face went beet red with anger and the crowd did nothing to hold back their laughter. Hinata tried to calm down her teammate when he entered the stands. It worked, to a point.
Kakashi gave one last sigh, and then addressed the crowd again. "Our next match is an old favorite catfight, the infamous Sakura versus Ino!" Kakashi announced as the names appeared on the screen.
"All right!" Lee yelled, pumping his fist in the air. "I bet twenty bucks that Sakura will win."
"I'll match you, but my money's on Ino." Choji stated as he grinned. Ino leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Thanks Choji." Ino smiled once more before she jumped down to the competition floor. Sakura arrived on the scene at the same time, and once again both competitors faced each other down.
"This time Ino, there'll be no draws, because I'm gonna win." Sakura stated as she pulled on her gloves.
"Don't be sure about that, you're not the only one who's been training. It's gonna take more than a punch to beat me." Ino taunted back. Kakashi sighed and did his best to control the catfight.
"Girls, that's enough trash talking for now. Why don't you concentrate on some fair fighting now?" Kakashi suggested.
"Kakashi-sensei, how can you even suggest that we'd cheat?" Sakura asked staring at her mentor in shock.
"It's just a precaution, besides, the moderator handbook says that I have to say that if the competitors have a history of fighting dirty." Kakashi told the enraged girl has he held up a blue book.
"Which we do," Both girls responded, and then sighed together.
"Whatever, you've said your piece, now let us fight." Ino stared at Sakura. "I'm ready."
"So am I." Sakura replied, as both girls stared the other down, just waiting for the signal to begin. Kakashi didn't hesitate.
"Alright then, begin!" The moment Kakashi was out of the way, the two girls let loose a hell fury on each other. They were matched kick for kick, punch for punch, even kunai to kunai. Neither one could get far enough away from each other to attempt a jutsu. The only sounds in the arena were grunts and clashing metal.
Ino managed to fend off a kick from Sakura, but was thrown back from the blast. As she flew back, she let loose an exploding kunai towards her opponent. The projectile hit the ground with a bang, a cloud of dust hiding the whole scene from view. Sakura took this opportunity to come up behind Ino and deliver a kick to the small of her back. Ino was sprawled on the ground, and barely managed to roll away in time as Sakura punched the ground where her head would've been.
"Are you trying to scar my face?" Ino asked rolling to her feet, eyes glued on the crater in the floor now as Sakura pulled her hand free.
"Yeah, I think your cheek could use a battle scar or two." Sakura answered and then attempted to move, but she couldn't. Wind shackles had wound themselves around her extremities, immobilizing her. Ino grinned as he held her hands in a hand sign.
"Wow, where'd she dig that jutsu up?" Asuma asked out loud as he and the other instructors looked on at the old jutsu.
"She was going through some old family scrolls and came across it." Shikamaru replied lazily as he watched his teammate. "She's been practicing that move for a few months now with Choji and me. This is the first time she's ever actually used it in battle."
"And that may not have been such a good idea." Choji added as he looked down at the fight.
"What? Why not?" Asuma questioned. "It seems like it's working alright to me."
"Yeah it's working now, but the jutsu uses an insane amount of chakra. She can't hold it for long, and afterwards she's lost almost all her chakra." Shikamaru contemplated the scene below. "I think Choji should just hand over the twenty bucks now."
Ino grunted as her chakra was used to hold the wind shackles in place. Using this move was idiotic, but she had to pay Sakura back somehow. Using the last of her chakra, she managed to throw Sakura into the stone wall behind her. Sakura collapsed in a heap with chunks of rock all around her, while Ino slumped to the ground unconscious.
There was a silence for the minutes after, everyone watching to see who could stand up first. Sakura grunted and slowly climbed to her feet. As she made her way towards Ino, Kakashi announced her as the winner. Choji and Shikamaru both jumped down next to their teammate as Sakura examined her.
"She's okay guys; she just used too much of her chakra. She'll wake up in a couple of minutes." Sakura reassured the worried boys. They both nodded and Choji gathered the fallen girl in his arms. All three made their way back up towards the stands.
"That was kind of anti-climatic." Moegi said aloud as she watched the trio. "I mean here we all were looking for some awesome conclusion to an epic battle, but instead it's decided by chakra exhaustion."
"Moegi, you need to understand that most battles are decided by the amount of chakra a person has. Besides, that was a really cool jutsu that Ino performed." Maiko/Numi explained. "Ino managed to hold Sakura for a couple of minutes, which is a feat in of itself. She should be proud herself."
"Yeah, and who knows, perhaps with some more work, Ino will be able to make that jutsu really work in combat." Kurenai added to the explanation.
"Yeah, that jutsu would be awesome for interrogation." Anko said aloud to herself while Narumi silently agreed.
"Please don't say that when she wakes up." Asuma asked as he faced the kunoichi. "I really don't want Ino thinking about becoming an interrogator."
"Why not, don't you think she'd be good at it?" Anko asked, looking quizzically at her fellow jonin.
"Actually I think she'd do very well as an interrogator, and that's what scares me." A round of laughter by the Konoha ninjas followed this. The competitors from water couldn't see what was so funny.
"Okay guys, we need to continue on with the matches." Kakashi called up towards the stands as the screen's letters started to swirl once again. "Our next competitors are Neji of Konoha and Ronin of Water. Please make your way down to the arena floor." Both boys complied with Kakashi's request.
As they measured each other up, every Konoha ninja examined the newcomer from Water. He wasn't exactly tall, but he wasn't short either, and his small frame coupled with his unruly black hair, made Ronin look younger than just fifteen.
"Now remember, if you kill or seriously maim your opponent, you are automatically disqualified." Kakashi reminded the boys' keeping his eye on Ronin.
"Whatever you say, can we just get this little formality over with already." Ronin stated as he crossed his arms, staring at Neji. Neji's eyes furrowed together over the comment.
"We'll see just how much of a formality this is." Neji activated his byakugan as a sort of demonstration; Ronin didn't honor him with a reaction.
Kakashi's eyes darted between the two combatants for another minute before he called begin and jumped away. As soon as Kakashi was clear, Ronin dissolved into water. Water began to burst from the ground, filling the arena right up to the stands. Neji was completely submerged and held at the bottom of the pool by chakra strings.
The first thing that crossed Neji's mind was that he was trapped in a genjutsu. "Kai!" Neji thought in his mind, but the water didn't recede. Accepting that he really was trapped, he inspected his bonds with his eyes. Seeing the flow of chakra, Neji stopped it and forced the strings to fall apart. Now free, Neji swam frantically towards the surface.
"Wow, it took you a whole four minutes to escape." Ronin commented as his opponent's head broke the surface. Ronin grabbed Neji's hair and held him out in front of himself. "You are so pathetic, being trapped by a little chakra string." Ronin tossed Neji to the side.
Neji was able to stand up on the water, and faced Ronin. Now he was annoyed. Ronin conjured dozens of water clones, and instructed them all to attack the Konoha nin. Neji initiated the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms as a way to keep his invaders at bay while he tried to figure out a plan.
No matter how many clones Neji took down though, there were always three more ready to take its place and Neji's chakra was falling low because of his jutsu. Suddenly, the clones melted back into water. The water was still, and Neji waited anxiously for Ronin's next move. As much as he hated to admit, Ronin had set the tempo for this match, and now he was stuck playing defense.
The spectators in the stands could feel the anticipation in the air as everyone stood waiting to see what would happen next. They got an answer. A tail of water broke the surface of the water and raced towards the Konoha nin. Neji dodged the tail, but two more came up behind him and dragged him down to the arena floor.
Ronin stood there, surrounded by an air bubble, watching as his water serpents held the rival ninja in place. "Come on, I expected a better fight than this from the great Neji Hyuuga, genius of the Hyuuga clan." Ronin taunted a sadistic smile on his face. Neji glared at him. Neji re-activated his Byakugan, and almost gasped. Ronin's smile grew bigger.
"Ah, I see you've finally discovered my little trick." Ronin stepped closer to the imprisoned ninja. "Seeing as I grew up in Water, it would only be natural that I grew to have an affinity for water. I've infused this water with strands of chakra. So these strands and my affinity make me the Master of Water." Ronin twirled his hand and three spheres of water instantly formed, solidifying into solid chunks of ice. Ronin launched these spheres at Neji, with all three hitting their mark.
Neji was thrown out of the water, crashing hard into the ceiling, hard enough to send a crack throughout it. Acting on instinct, Neji held himself to the ceiling with his chakra. He was panting heavily. All of the oxygen depravation, physical abuse, and mild chakra exhaustion were draining his strength quickly, very quickly. The spectators from Konoha couldn't believe this turn of events. Never before had anyone pushed Neji this far so quickly before. Suddenly the outcome of this match wasn't what they'd thought. The two Water ninjas left only grinned as they watched their comrade come out of the man-made pool.
Ronin rose out of the water on a pillar made of ice, his clothes, hair, and skin completely dry. As he came to the same height as Neji, he sneered. "Oh how the mighty have fallen. Whenever the elders had talked of Konoha's strength, your name always seemed to come up. I thought that you would have been a worthy opponent for me, but it seems that I was wrong." Water tendrils rose from the water and wrapped themselves around Neji's appendages before he could even blink. They dragged him back under towards Ronin's domain.
This time though, Neji no longer had the strength to resist. As he slowly sank into unconscious, the water disappeared through a hole in the middle of the arena, its original source.
Silence came over the apprehensive crowd as the scene below them was unveiled by the water's disappearance. Neji Hyuuga, the brilliant nephew of Hiashi Hyuuga, had lost. Kakashi knelt next to the unconscious boy and gestured for the medics.
"Winner Ronin," Kakashi announced as he stood up, letting the medics take over. Ronin grinned, and jumped back up to his teammates who greeted him with nods and high-fives.
"Neji….lost?" Narumi said in disbelief. He was having trouble accepting that anyone could beat Neji so easily, and yet Ronin had. Neji hadn't even had much of a chance to defend himself.
Maiko/Numi nodded as he stood next to Narumi. "Ronin was a strong opponent. Not only did he grow up in Water, but he obviously has an affinity for it. We will both have to be on our guard should we ever have to face him." Narumi nodded as they both watched Neji be taken away on a stretcher.
"The competition is much more intense this year." Jiraiya stated as he stood with Tsunade and Shizune.
"I agree, and I'm a little concerned about our guests from the land of Water." Tsunade commented. "It seems that we'll have to keep a close on them. All of them." Both of her companions nodded silent agreement as Kakashi stood in the middle of the arena again; ready to announce the next match.
A/N: Hello everyone, thank you to all the people recently who have alerted or faved this story! Seriously, I had like seven people do that in the course of three days! That rocked! I know I promised a surprise, well there was kind of one, but the big on isn't going to be for a while. I'm sorry, but it fits better in the story! Some of you probably already knew what it though. Until next time!