OH.
MY.
FREAKING.
GOD.
WE'VE GOT OVER 100 REVIEWS!
Awesome! Right now, I look in the corner of the page and I see a small '102'.
THAT MADE MAH DAY!
Now, as a show of extreme gratefulness, I present you this incredible, ass- kicking chappie a la Sakura's style.
ENJOY!
Sakura walked down to the arena, back straight, face emotionless. Neji looked almost exactly the same, except for the fact that his eyes held pure, naked arrogance. It was clear that he didn't think much of this match.
Sakura almost smirked.
"Are you both ready?" Genma asked.
He didn't get any response. The two genin were too busy seizing each other up and predicting their strengths to answer. Genma took that as affirmative.
"You may begin."
Nothing happened. Sakura stood, seemingly motionless, her face clean of any emotion. The corner of Neji's mouth turned down in a sneer. Sakura hissed.
"Forfeit." Neji said.
"Never." Sakura retorted, her eyes never leaving Neji's.
His Byakugan appeared. "Then you will pay."
And just like that, they were at each other's throats.
Even if Hinata and Neji were from the same clan, with the same Kekkei Genkai, there was an unspeakable difference between their styles. Hinata's movements were always sharp and quick and to-the-point, while Neji had a similar way to Sakura's; quick but round.
For a moment, all Sakura did was dodge and block, trying to find a weak point in her opponent's attacks. She knew of the Byakugan's blind spot after almost three weeks of training with Hinata, but she planned on saving that for later. Instead, she searched for any part of his body which Neji left unprotected, and therefore an easy place for her to strike with the Chakra Scalpel.
There. Just above his pecks, to the left.
Tell me when.
Neji's left hand shot up, heading for the pinkette's right shoulder.
NOW!
Both attacks hit flesh at the same time. For a second, nothing happened. Then, Sakura felt an enormous amount of chakra enter her system, and before she knew, she was flying backwards, away from Neji, who was also soaring through the air.
It seemed as though both attacks had the same amount of chakra in them, and thereby the same effect.
Sakura gracefully back-flipped and landed on her feet at the same time when Neji finally stabilised himself.
"How?" the monosyllable was out before Neji could stop it.
The rosette smirked. "Why, I don't know what you're talking about."
Neji ground his teeth together. "You knew where I was going to hit. It was as if you had seen that technique before."
Sakura gave him a cheeky grin. "Who says I hadn't?"
Neji's eyes widened slightly at that, but Sakura didn't give him time to further analyse her statement.
Her hands flew in the necessary hand signs. A moment later, four clones appeared next to her. With a smirk, she sent them at Neji, commanding two clones to get shuriken and kunai, while the other two wielded her katana.
Neji skilfully avoided the kunai and shuriken, but the same could not be said about the katana. 360 vision or not, one can't seem to be able to move quick enough to avoid two, deadly, well-wielded blades. The Hyuuga prodigy couldn't either. A long slash at his arm and a small jab in the abdomen were proof enough.
Though it seemed that the Hyuuga had had enough of being thrown around. He ran at Sakura, hands ready and attacked her. Even with Sakura's incredible agility, she couldn't escape from all the blows Neji shot at her.
No, no, no!
SHUT UP! Are you really going to let him just pound you like that? Fight back, you idiot!
Even if she spent her entire life living with criminals, she could still be scared. Even if she seemed emotionless and defiant, she could still feel pain. Even if she seemed to always have a plan, truth be told, she was still only a normal, frightened, inexperienced twelve-year-old girl.
But that doesn't mean you can just give up and let Hyuuga win.
I know.
Sakura's eyes snapped open. With a hiss, she blocked a particularly nasty hit aimed for her abdomen, instead concentrating her chakra to her hand and slicing across Neji's cheek.
Gasps echoed between the onlookers.
Neji frowned, but continued his onslaught.
Sakura shot out her fist, but Neji caught it. She smirked, and flattened her palm, but not doing anything to pull her hand out of Neji's grasp.
Then, Neji cursed, releasing Sakura's hand as if it burned him. And sure enough, the palm of his hand seemed untouched, but upon closer inspection you could see a faint purple-ish hue underneath the skin.
"Chakra Scalpel." Sakura said simply. "Blue chakra makes surface cuts, green chakra cuts internally."
I know what we have to do. What we need, though, is a diversion.
Where do you suppose we hide?
Where can we hide? Underground, of course!
This might just work…
Creating a dozen more clones, Sakura once again sent them at Neji, then quietly slipped underground.
So, what do you suppose we do?
I say the technique Kisa-kun taught us to create enough water to later use that technique.
Are you out of your mind? That will eat a shitload of my chakra!
That's why you will have to be quick and finish the match.
Why do I put up with you…?
Because you can't get rid of me. Hah.
Sakura sighed. She scrambled out from her little hiding spot underground, just in time to see Neji lift her last clone from the ground by its throat. There was a 'poof' and he clone disappeared.
NOW!
Using Neji's temporary distraction, Sakura's hands flew in the hand signs necessary to perform the technique.
With one last smirk at Neji, Sakura lodged her katana high in the air, before she bent over and took a deep breath.
Now or never…
"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Gasps echoed around the arena. Some couldn't say anything, others simply stared, awestruck, as a tremendous wave shot out from the rosette's mouth. It grew bigger and bigger, growing out like a fountain around Sakura, who stood calmly on the top of the wave, smirking down at Neji. Raising her hand upwards, she caught her katana which had spiralled down, back to its owner.
Sakura was now level with the watcher's alcove, allowing others to see that although she was smirking, the rosette was also panting from exhaustion.
Remember that our chakra reserves aren't as great as Kisame's.
I know. But now, there is no time for backing down.
You're so… reckless.
Che. That's just how I roll.
There were shouts of 'That's impossible!' or 'I've never seen this technique before!', but Sakura's personal favourite was the one which came from jounin with black specs and a bandana around his head; 'This is outrageous! This little girl is too petite to be able to perform a technique like this!'.
Sakura turned her head to look straight at the jounin. "Appearances are deceiving, bastard." She hissed.
Then, her scowl transformed into a smirk when she turned her attention back to Neji. "But now, I plan to get serious."
And she shot down.
Riding the wave, she attacked Neji, who though incredibly agile and quick, wasn't able to avoid an enormous wave of chakra and water.
Getting down and off the wave, Sakura ran towards her opponent, her Chakra Scalpel pulsing with her chakra.
"This," she hissed, swiping at Neji's chest, "Is for looking down at everyone. This," she continued, swiping down at his abdomen, "Is for treating Hinata-chan like scum. And this," she said, fisting her hand and delivering a powerful punch to Neji's cheek, "Is for underestimating me!"
At the last move, Neji flew backward, his back connecting with one of the trees. The audience was silent. No one dared to move. The only sounds were Sakura's hard pants and Neji's blood dribbling to the ground.
"You talk as if you know everything… As if you have experienced what I have… Seen what I had seen… But in reality… YOU DON'T KNOW A THING!" Neji roared, charging at the rosette.
What are you doing? MOVE!
No.
WHAT?
But Sakura's inner discussion was cut short when Neji reached where they were standing.
"You've had your say in this battle, now it's my turn! Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!"
Needless to say, the audience was now completely shocked. No chunin or jounin present had ever seen such a battle before. The two genin were truly masterminds in their own kind. They also had incredible stamina and were exceptionally stubborn.
But now, everyone stilled as the rosette doubled over and fell to her knees, only her chakra kept her from falling down and drowning in the miniature ocean she'd created.
Neji stood over her, a blank façade was back on his face. "You don't know anything. You're just a kid who doesn't know when to shut her mouth."
Surprisingly, Sakura laughed breathlessly. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I am just a stupid kid." She cut off to look Neji in the eye, and the Hyuuga was shocked at the pent up energy and pure, naked power that sat behind those emerald orbs, "But I will not back down. I will fight till I can't move, till the last of my enemies is dead. And that includes you."
Neji scoffed. "Pathetic. You're worse than that blonde brat." He kicked Sakura's side harshly making the rosette hiss. "Hurts, doesn't it?"
Suddenly, Sakura's hands wrapped around his ankle. "Hurts? Hurts?" she questioned quietly. "You have no idea what it means to hurt. I've been through all kinds of pain; emotional, after being betrayed by those whom I'd trusted the most, physical, after being at Death's door more often than I can count. The list goes on, Hyuuga. You just have to play the cards you're dealt with and make the most of it."
"Play the cards you're dealt with and make the most of it?" Neji echoed. "You can't 'make the most of it'. We're all given a destiny at birth. We cannot cheat it, as we can't run away from it. And there is only one destiny we all share. Death."
Sakura didn't comment. She just sat there, breathing heavily, staring up at him with big, sparkling emerald orbs.
"That's what you think, don't you?" she asked quietly, "That none of us have a choice. We might be given a destiny to follow, but it's strictly our choice if we follow it or not. I have cheated destiny more times than I can count. Sometimes oblivious to the fact, sometimes purposely. I was destined to die before I even had the chance to live. But I didn't die. I have cheated death and slipped away from destiny's grasp, so don't you dare tell me we don't have a choice! Only those who can't make decisions of their own succumb into the path their destiny sets for them. And it's cowardly to do so."
The entire arena was quiet. No one talked. Everyone watched the pair below with mild shock. Although just kids, they had experienced almost all of the shit this world had to offer. It was cruel.
Neji didn't speak. He just stared at the rosette, a calculating look in his eyes. Could it be true? Is it possible to cheat your destiny? She made it sound so easy it was almost believable.
Suddenly, he felt a surge of chakra and his eyes snapped to the girl in front of him. She was kneeling now, blood dribbling down her chin, but her hands were moving in a series hand sign he had never seen before.
She stared him in the eye. "Personally, I would have hoped to have saved you from the darkness which seems to haunt you. No one deserves that, even if they are cocky, insufferable gits who think they know everything."
Neji almost smiled. Even in her condition, she still managed to keep up that fiery, temperamental façade. But it was the hand signs she was making which interested him more than what she was saying. Only because of his Kekkei Genkai was he able to keep up with the speed she was making them with.
Ox - Monkey - Hare - Rat - Boar - Bird - Ox - Horse - Bird - Rat - Tiger - Dog - Tiger - Snake - Ox - Ram - Snake - Boar - Ram - Rat - Yang Water - Monkey - Bird - Dragon - Bird - Ox - Horse - Ram - Tiger - Snake - Rat - Monkey - Hare - Boar - Dragon - Ram - Rat - Ox - Monkey - Bird - Yang Water - Rat - Boar – Bird
At the last sign, Sakura stopped. She looked up at her opponent, a small, sad smile on her face. "I was hoping to avoid using this technique, but you give me no choice." She closed her eyes. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
An enormous dragon rose from the depths of the small lake Sakura had created, and shot towards Neji. It was obvious at the second it made contact with the Hyuuga prodigy who would win the match. Sakura might not have made many attacks, but those she did she did them well, making sure to leave a mark.
After everything calmed down, Neji was spotted, lying down on his back, staring at the sunny sky above. Sakura walked over to him just as he turned to look at her.
"How?" he asked, his eyes trained on the rosette's face. "I lost to you. I am Hyuuga Neji of the great Hyuuga Clan, and yet, I lost to some girl from Amegakure. How is that possible? Wasn't I destined to win?"
Sakura smiled at the boy's nostalgic words. "Sometimes it's not who you are, or how many talents you possess, but how you use those talents that you have." she said, also looking up at the sky. "As for the destiny part? I agree, I may be nothing compared to the great Hyuuga Neji, but I try. You see, when captured birds grow wiser, they try to open the cages with their beaks. They don't give up, because they want to fly again."
Neji turned to look at the mysterious slip of a girl. Then, a smile broke across his features. "I see now."
Genma walked over to them. "I declare Sakura as the winner of the third match."
Cheers and applause rang through the arena at deafening volume, yet Sakura could not stop staring at the poor, corrupted boy in front of her.
Because she knew she was the same as him.
~::~
Do you likey?