~Yay! Now we can get some ACTION! Since I added an OC, I kinda had to change the whoel Preliminary Matches thing and add somebody I can fight. Also, I didn't want to type up all the different matches like in the anime so I just wrote up Sasuke's then had mine right afterwards lol. Done. Haha
"It's time." Darui gently shook my arm. 'That's right.. I must go on.'
"Ah, Yes." I woke up and looked around the room again.
"I've been healing you non-stop for eight hours." Shee stopped the healing jutsu and lifted his hand from my abdomen. It was still dangerously sore. He had developed rings under his eyes from his tremendous healing efforts.
"Thank you so much. I feel a lot better and I can definitely battle again, I think." I tried sitting up and ignored the pain so I could stand up, Darui and Shee were by my side helping me stand.
"Here eat this." Shee held out a small red ball, "It will give you strength."
"Thank you." I popped it in and followed them into the next room. Kakashi had already left and was waiting for us on the inside.
The center of the room was giant, it completely engulfed us. All the surviving teams had gathered up front with the instructors. Shee and Darui helped me walk over to them and hear the next announcement.
"First off, congratulations on passing the Second Exam." Anko spoke loudly so we could hear, "We will now have an explanation of the Third Exam from Hokage-sama. Everyone listen well."
In the front of the instructors stood the Hokage who was dressed in a white and red robe, with a matching hat. It was an older man who looked as though he'd gone through many battles; a very strong individual, despite his appearance. "The Third Exam will begin. But before the explanation, there's one thing I want to make clear to all of you. It's about the true purpose of this exam. Why we do an exam with allied nations. 'To maintain good relations with the allied nations' and 'Heighten the level of the ninja'. Don't let those reasons deceive you. This 'exam', so to speak, is.." He paused, "The epitome of war between the allied nations."
"What do you mean?" I heard one of the students ask.
"If we go back through history, the allied nations right now were neighboring countries that have fought each other over and over again. To avoid wasting military power, those countries decided to choose a place to fight.. That is the begging of the Chuunin Selection Exam."
"Why do we have to do that?!" Asked Naruto, "We're not doing this to select chuunins?"
"Yes, this exam does examine those who are worthy of the chuunin title. But on the other hand, it is a place where ninja fight and carry their countries dignity. In this Third Exam, feudal lords and famous people from various countries who may be potential clients are invited here as guests. And feudal lords from countries with hidden villages and ninja leaders will see your battles. There's a significant difference in power, the strong country will be flooded with jobs. If a country is seen as week, their jobs will decrease. And at the same time, countries are able to show how their village has grown and possess excellent military power to the adjacent countries. In other words, they can put foreign pressure on them."
"So why do we have to fight with the risk of losing our lives?!" A boy with a dog yelled abruptly.
"A countries power is the villages power. A villages power is a ninjas power. And a ninjas true power is only born in a life-or-death battle. This exam is a place to show off the ninja power of one's country. Since this is an exam where you fight with your life on the line, it has a meaning.. And your predecessors have fought and dreamed of being in the Chuunin Exam because of it."
"But why do you say it is to promote good relations?" A girl asked very upset.
"I told you at the beginning to not get confused with that. The custom of showing one's life and fighting to maintain balance.. That is the good relation in the world of ninja. This is a life-or-death battle for your dream and villages dignity."
"Just tell us the details of this lie-or-death battle.." We all turned to see the sand boy, Gaara, grow impatient. As he spoke I swear my wound began to hurt again. I grunted from the pain and listened closely for the rules.
"Then I will now begin the explanation of the Third Exam, but.."
"Excuse me Hokage-sama." An instructor I didn't recognize jumped forward and knelt down to the Hokage, "I, Gekkou Hayate, the judge, will explain."
"Please do." The Hokage allowed.
"Everyone, it is nice to meet you." He spoke as he stood from his kneeling position, "Wveryone, before the Third Exam," He paused to cough; "There is something I want you to do." Confused, we all listened in to the sickly looking jounin who coughed frequently, "Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance in the Third Exam's main battle."
"Preliminary matches?! What do you mean?!" A boy yelled in the front row.
"Sensei.. I don't understand what you mean by preliminary matches.." Sakura asked unsure, "Why can't we just start the Third Exam with the remaining examinees?"
The instructor sighed, "In this case, it must have been because the First and Second Exams were too easy, I don't know.. But there are too many examinees left. According to chuunin regulations, we must decrease the number of participants for the Third Exam."
"Oh no.." She answered back with a gasp.
"As previously mentioned by Hokage-sama, there are many guests for the Third Exam, so.. We cannot have just many matches. We are limited on time, as well. So for those are aren't feeling as well.." He stopped to cough, then recovered to finish his thought, "Excuse me. If anyone wants to quit after hearing the explanation.. Please let me know. The preliminary matches will begin immediately."
I felt Darui tug on my shirt and whisper, "You know you're not feeling well.. Maybe you should-"
"No. I want to do this. Remember, I have the-"
"Don't! Don't use that." He ordered. Even he understood my risks in my special technique.
"I can control it. That's why I trained with Bee in the mountains for so long. I'm a lot stronger than I look, and I haven't had the chance to show it yet." I explained and smiled to assure him of my confidence.
We all looked back at the sickly instructor as he began to speak, "I forgot to mention, but you will have one-on-one matches from here on out. So please withdraw if you wish."
"Um… I'll quit." All heads turn to see the boy with glasses that had fallen back at the beginning of the First Exam.
"Um… your Konoha's Yakushi Kabuto-kun? You may leave, then."
"Yes."
"Kabuto! Why are you quitting?!" Naruto yelled shaking his fist in frustration.
"Sorry Naruto.. But my body is completely worn out already. Even before the exam, after I had that quarrel with the sound guys, I couldn't hear anything in my left ear. I can't fight right away, especially, if it's a life-or-death battle.." Naruto then looked away with an unhappy expression,I watched as the boy left the room in silence.
"May I assume.." The instructor coughed again, "There are no more people who wish to retire? Then, let's begin the preliminary matches. It will be a one-on-one match. In other words, it will be like a real battle match. Now that we have exactly twenty people, we will have ten matches.. Winners will be able to advance to the Third Exam. There are no rules. You will fight until the other person dies, is knocked out.. Or admits defeat. Um.. If you do not want to die, please give up immediately. However if I judge that the match is over.." He coughs again, "I may stop you to prevent any unnecessary deaths. The thing that will hold your destiny is.." He turned to Anko who whispered into her microphone. Which opened a video screen high up on the arena wall, "Will be this. This electric bulletin board, will randomly display the names of two fighters for each match. And without further ado, I will now display the named for the first match."
The names scanned for a moment to display: Akadou Yoroi vs. Uchiha Sasuke.
"Those who named are displayed, step up. The first match's fighters are Akadou Yoroi and Uchiha Sasuke. Are there any objections?"
"No." They both answered after coming front.
"Um.. We will now begin the first match." He coughed again, "Anyone other than the fighters, please move up there." He pointed to the second story balconies.
We all did as he said and watched the match begin. Shee continued healing my stomach and ribs so I could fight again, "Now.. Begin!"
"Let's go!" The man named Yoroi yelled with excitement.
"Yeah!" Sasuke did the same. In a moment's notice, they whipped out their skurikens and kunais after a few hand seals to being with. Sasuke successfully dodged them but crumbled to the ground as if fighting something. 'Is he alright? He wasn't hit! Why did he fall?'
The man attacked again but ended on the floor with Sasuke who placed him in a head lock. The man smirked for he had another trick up his sleeve. His hand began to glow from blue chakra as he gripped Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke released his grip as though all his energy had been sucked out. The man punched his abdomen and stood back up. The man lunged forward to grab Sasuke's head, again with a glowing blue hand radiating chakra. 'Why isn't Sasuke fighting back? He looks so weak..'
Sasuke kicked the man off but was attacked again by the man's glowing fist-punches at Sasuke. They sort of danced around until the man touched Sasuke, making him weak again. It was continuous, Sasuke was getting weaker and weaker every time he was touched by the opponent, "Dang.." I whispered as I observed it all. A sharp pain in my side from the healing caused me to look away for a moment, but I quickly looked back at the fighting match to see that Sasuke had thrown the other man into the air. He did an odd spinning motion before ending his movement with a fierce kick to the other's abdomen. It was a powerful finishing movement. The match was now over. I was able to relax knowing that Itachi's younger brother was now safe. I was worried he would continue to get hurt, but I guess that kind of worrying should stop. We are shinobi after all.
The coughing instructor spoke again, "Next we have.. Omatoke Chie and Hatake Reiko. Please step up to the platform." My name was called. I had to perform the second match. My heart immediately went flying into an adrenaline rush. Darui helped me rise to my feet so I could go fight. The other girl jumped form the second story to the platform beneath, but I went ahead and took the stairs. I didn't want to waste energy, because it was clear to say.. I would need it all.
As I approached the pumped up and energetic opponent and the instructor, I thought about the ways that I fight and how reckless it is. I freaking make craters in the ground as I fight. The two tails inside of me makes up for so much of my chakra that it all comes out in my fists, feet, and sword. I bowed at the instructor before he said begin, "Um pardon my way of fighting, but I'm a bit reckless.."
"That's ok, just fight however you fight. But please avoid hurting the people in your surroundings." He coughed again.
"Kay." I exhaled as I examined the girl in front of me. This was going to be very hard. I had such an awful injury for a burden in my fight. The girl in front of me was a bit taller than I was. She had short blonde hair and held a devilish smirk across her face. She clearly showed she thinks she's strong and even more so since she can clearly see I am injured to begin with. I was still clutching my throbbing side, and my clothes were soaked in blood, although my damaged skin on the outside didn't show damage. Shee's healing jutsu did that much for me and more. 'I can pull through this..' I encouraged myself.
The instructor spoke up, "Alright, begin." Without delay the girl charged at me, whipping out her kunai and prepared to slice me. As soon as I moved to the side, I reminded in an instant, just how injured I was. It was extremely hard to move fast.
I looked over at her charging at me again, this time forming seals. 'Oh crap.' I whipped out my Katana sword and readied for the worst. I studied my surroundings as fast as my mind would let me. The floor began to rise from beneath me, sending me flying into the air. It was like the earth became a wave for a moment. Within seconds, the girl had jumped into the air where I was and punched me to the floor. Several punches to my gut had me jumping backwards in fright. A sudden stagger sent me crumbling to the floor, coughing up blood. The blood wasn't from damage she had done, but the damage from the sand boy. The girl before me stopped and let me recover a little so it didn't look like she was beating up on some weak person. I took that kindness to my advantage and recovered to my feet.
I glanced over at the instructor who was tempting to call it a draw, but I quickly decided charge after her. Now, it was my turn for offense. The girl quickly backed away from my sudden movements, but she was too slow. I added chakra to my feet to give me speed I couldn't otherwise give myself, compliments of the abdominal injury.. and flew next to her. I swiped my katana in her direction just barely missing one of her vital organs. She managed to get away with a minor slash at her side. I wasn't trying to kill her, but by golly disable her. Another swipe with my sword had her falling to her knees in pain from cutting an Achilles tendon in her right leg.
She performed more ninjutsu to control the rocks underneath me again, creating an earthquake of sorts. It was directly under me, causing me to fall into it. I didn't have the strength to jump away at its quickness. My heart pumped violently as I fell into the black pit. I looked up in the split second I was falling to see the rocks surface sealing me in. 'I might die!' My long held in two-tails demon chakra flew out from my body, sending me flying into the air and out of the earthy pit below, now the game is in my control. I had to end the battle.. Now. My internal bleeding was increasing and was now entering in the dangerous and critical stage. Shee knows it too, because I could hear him screaming at my from the top observing balcony, "Reiko, end it now!"
I focused my now color changed eyes onto the girl collapsed on the ground. It's a mere side effect of taking on a minor stage of the demon two-tails bijuu.. She only thought she had won, judging how the beginning of the match went, but in fact, there's a lot more to me than meets the eye. Literally.. My eyes changed to the shade of the demon cat's, one green, and one yellow. Blue chakra flew out of my body like a flickering flame and took on the pre-stage of the bakeneko demon. The girl screamed as I closed in on her and ended the match with a final blow. A simple punch in the gut sent her flying into the cement ground, making a dent of her own. I fell to my knees with exhaustion. Blood pouring from my mouth without control. "Ah.." I coughed a good bit, and tried listening to the instructor, but never made it to the end to hear the instructor say, "The match is now over. Winner is Omatoke Chie."
I laid on the floor unconscious as the opponent was still conscious and rose to her feet to finish the match. I was soon looked after by my brother and never got to see the rest of the matches.
I magically appeared in a hospital bed, completely bandaged around my torso. It was the next day already. I looked over at the guest chair to see the man I had met the other day named Tenzou. He watched me awake and then smiled, "Kakashi had to leave, so he asked me to come and stay in case you woke up."
"Thank you." I spoke as I lifted the bed sheets to stit up.
"Careful! Are you sure you should be sitting upright yet? I heard you had severe internal damage." He held out his hands in worry.
"I'm fine. Did I win?" I flinched from the pain in my side.
Tenzou looked at the floor and answered, "No."
I sadly continued my questions, "How was Naruto? Did he make it?"
"Yes he did."
"And.. The Gaara kid from the sand country? Did he make it?"
"I think so. He's still here in the hospital."
"Oh.. Excuse me then." I stood and began walking away exit the room.
"Wait, where are you going?" He asked, worried about my condition and appearance.
I was wearing just a tank top and shorts, with many bandaged areas, "I need to speak with him. Thank you for worrying." I smiled.
"Alright, when you're done, come back and rest." He ordered with his hands on his hips. Kakashi directed me to watch over you, so I'm coming too. I really don't think you should be up and moving so early."
"I'll be fine." I reached over the vase of flowers brought to me by Kakashi and grabbed a single daisy. I left the room with Tenzou and He followed beside me as I shuffled down the hallway. I continued on down the hall to an information nurse's booth, "Excuse me, which room contains the boy named Gaara?" I asked the nurse.
"Room 409 at the end of the hall."
"Thank you." I left her and went in search of it. It was just where she said it'd be, sitting at the end of the hallway on the left. My body began to tremble at the thought of seeing him, but I needed to try this. He was a Jinchuriki just like I was, and I was pretty sure he didn't know love like I have learned about. I just.. Wanted to try this.
I nodded to Tenzou to wait for me outside and knocked before sliding open the door to see a blue drape that now separated me from him, "Hello?" I heard no answer. This was probably the scariest thing I've ever done. My heart was pounding so fast I couldn't even think clearly, but somehow found myself walking over around the hanging separator sheet to see him. He was fully awake and staring at me, arms crossed. He hadn't said a word yet, so it made it all the more awkward and intimidating. I tried to manage a smile, but embarrassment and terror had it fading away pretty quickly.
I slowly came to his side and held the flower up, "This is for you." I placed it on his bed sheets. He still said nothing so I spoke again, "You know, it's ok. I'm ok, so you don't have to worry or anything." I knew I wasn't making any sense, "My injury will heal up, so I'll be ok. Don't worry, I'll forgive you." I bowed and then tried to study his reaction. Absolutely nothing, he was definitely awake, but just didn't move at all, "I just wanted to tell you that.. and that I am a jinchuriki too. Please know, that there is good in this world. There are reasons to live and reasons to love. No matter what you've gone through, I know it all too well. And yet, I am still striving forward to seek out the good things of this world and seize it." 'Itachi..'
"Is that it?" I finally heard him speak. His voice was too deep and too mature for a thirteen year old. It was terrifying.
"Yeah that's it." I whispered and walked away. 'God! What was I thinking?! Am I crazy?' My mind blew up with stupid questions as I left. Who knows what he could be thinking about. Whatever it is should be better left unsaid.
I returned down the hall with Tenzou to my bedroom and lied down again. It was time to rest, I had my fair share of an adrenalin rush for the day. Now, it was time to fully heal. I wanted to be able to help my friends train for the Final Exam.
~Please comment! 3 =_=