Aceina
1. I put to you, if Sakura likes Naruto then why does she hit him for making even the slightest error, and do nothing to anyone else? Besides, I'm just not really a fan of her.
2. Personally, I believe that Sasuke's 'genius' comes from being trained at an earlier age, and his gimmicky Sharingan. And I haven't made Akiko a 'genius' in ninjutsu, merely intelligence. She knows how to use the jutsu first time because the memories of them were implanted into her by the Kyūbi.
3. If you're really going to argue specifics, the Kyūbi's name is actually Kurama, not Kurami, and this is fanfiction, if you just want the canon, then read it.
adngo714
The English translations are at the bottom of each chapter. If I have missed any, please cite a paragraph number and I will take care of it.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
While Sakura had been failing in her assault against Akiko, things had not been idle in the stadium. Genma called out, "Okay, the next match will be Gaara of Sunagakure vs. Dosu of Otogakure."
Dosu jumped down, eager to get their match underway as Gaara disappeared in a sand Shunshin. Once the two fighters were down there Genma said, "Alright, since you two don't seem the type to blab all day, I'll just go on and start the match. Begin!"
Dosu said, "Let's see which ones faster, your sand, or my sound."
Gaara said, "I don't think you can validate my existence," as he extended his arm, causing his sand to rush forward at Dosu. Dosu punched at Gaara, but, as he did, he was engulfed in sand, blocking the echo chamber in his gauntlet, nullifying his attack. As the sand engulfed Dosu Gaara said, "Sabaku Kyū(1)." When the sand had completely restricted Dosu's movements Gaara said, "Sabaku Sōsō," clenching his hand, causing an explosion of sand and blood to occur, shocking the audience at the brutality and complete inconsideration of human life shown by the Genin.
Genma, shaking off his surprise by the move, said, "The winner of this match, Gaara." As he was awarded the victory Gaara disappeared in another Sand Shunshin.
Genma called out, "The next match is between Aburame Shino and Kankurou of Sunagakure." Shino, determined to make a better showing than Akiko, and thereby get promoted over her, jumped down to the arena floor as soon as he heard his name. When he was on the floor he slowly walked over to Genma's location.
Meanwhile, up in the competitor's box, Kankurou thought 'Hmm...I should probably go down there and fight a drawn out battle to give Sasuke more time to get here, but if I do that then there's the likelihood that I'll have to show them Crow before our plan comes to fruition.' He called out, "Proctor, I withdraw from my match."
Genma looked at Shino and said, "Well, you'd better head on back to the competitor's box. The winner, by forfeit, is Aburame Shino. Next up is...huh?"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In the competitor's box Temari sighed and thought on what Kankurou had done, 'Knowing him Kankurou probably forfeited because he wanted to hide 'Crow' for the plan. Well, it's my turn anyway. So here 'goes.' Temari drew her battle-fan and swung it, generating massive amounts of winds. She then descended to the arena floor next to Genma, even before her name was called.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"...Huh? Who are you?" Genma asked as Temari appeared before him.
"What d'you mean? It's my match next isn't it?"
Genma smiled and said, "You're an eager one. Very well then, the next match is between Temari of Sunagakure and Nara Shikamaru."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The crowd, hearing the name 'Nara', thought, 'So, it's a member of one of the great clans' turn huh?' and started cheering, before Shikamaru actually fell(read pushed) to the arena ground, landing on his back and stare at the clouds, not moving a muscle.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Temari looked up at the competitor's box and said, "Well, I'm not sure which is more interesting, his enthusiasm, or his luck in surviving a fall from that height."
When Shikamaru lay where he was Genma got tired of waiting and said, "Alright, begin."
Temari shrugged as she looked at Shikamaru and said, "Well well, I guess I was wrong about you Konoha-nin."
Shikamaru, not looking up, asked, "Huh? What was that?"
"It would appear that Akiko is the only one with any fight in her. The rest of you are just a bunch of wimps, like that bun-girl that I decimated in the preliminaries."
Shikamaru growled and said, "You know what, I was considering giving up, but now that you went off and said something like that I don't think that the proctor would let me," as he stood up.
Temari smirked as she unfolded her battle-fan and swung it, saying, "Kamaitachi(3)," causing multiple blades of wind rush at Shikamaru, who proceeded to run as fast as he could towards the only cover provided, the trees. "So, running away is all you can do is it? Looks like I was right."
"You know, it's not considered very honourable to beat a girl, but hey, you're not really a girl, are you?"
Temari, fuming, asked, "Huh?"
"You're just a Kijo(4)" Temari's face scrunched up in anger as she drew back her fan and let rip with another, larger, gust of wind, this one blowing the tree almost to the point of uprooting itself. Shikamaru thought 'Okay, stop pissing off the scary Kunoichi.' Shikamaru then made a handseal, quietly saying, "Kageton: Kage Nui(5)," sending his shadow underground.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Authors Notes:
(1) Sabaku Kyū = Sand Binding Coffin
(2) Sabaku Sōsō = Sand Waterfall Funeral
(3) Kamaitachi = Sickle Weasel
(4) Kijo = Female Demon
(5) Kageton: Kage Nui = Shadow Release: Shadow Sewing
I am well aware that there is no such thing as 'Kageton', but for this story it does make sense.