Naruto sent to the genin's and the jounins to the balconies above the arena. Behind Naruto was a large statue with hands forming a seal. Right above the monstrosity, the duo screen started flashing. Naruto announced.
"And the upcoming match is...Konohagakure's Nara Shikamaru...and...Otogakure's Yunoha Kirina."
Asuma chuckled as the Nara muttered something about troublesome. Shikamaru made his way down to the arena via stairs as the Otogakure's Kunoichi jumped from the balconies, landing in front of Naruto. Naruto smiled at her antics. She appeared to be hardheaded, opposed to her opponent, the infamously lazy Nara. That guy could sleep through an attack and not care at all.
"Alright. Are you ready? Go!"
Shikamaru immediately stuffed his hands in his pockets and sauntered backwards. Kirina frowned and shot out a volley of senbon. Shikamaru leaned his head to the side, letting the senbon zip past his head. Shikamaru lazily stood at the side and waited for Kirina to move.
"Oi! Lazy ass! How about you add a bit of 'umph' to this match?"
"How about no."
"You..."
Kirina wasn't stupid. This guy was waiting for an opening, all he needed was for her to attack. But with the action, or more like lack of action, in this match, her patience will dry out. Kirina bit the inside of her cheek. She needed to execute her formulated plan. She had already made her first move with the senbon, all she needed was to continue with the next step. Kirina smirked.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. This girl clearly wasn't stupid like the other hooligans. She wasn't attacking brashly or jumping in without a plan. Shikamaru frowned. He was used to fighting dunces, not people who thought like him. He only faltered when the girl smirked from across the room.
Naruto was thoroughly amused. This wasn't the average battle of arms, it was a battle of wits. The rest of the jounin thought so too. The kunoichi didn't look like she had been properly built as a kunoichi but the expression of concentration on her face showed that although her physique wasn't strong, her strategy and thinking was. Naruto always enjoyed these kinds of fights. Being a skilled strategist himself, he understood how underestimated the mind was. Naruto walked back and leaned against the statue, knowing he was probably interfering with the genin's battlespace.
Naruto smirked. Though it was a battle of the wits and that it was all about surprising the opponent with your advance planning, Naruto had already analyzed and thought through all the plans the two genin could possible choose. The way Kirina was on her toes only told Naruto that she wasn't the patient type. Her eyes flickering to Shikamaru and her surroundings only told him that she was going in for the next move. Shikamaru's aloof expression showed he is patient enough to see what his opponent will do and is able to change plans on whims. His expression also showed that he knew this was not the average hand to hand combat battle. Shikamaru's hands moved slightly in his pockets. Naruto figured he carried a weapon of some sort in the pocket. Judging by the thickness, it could be a bunch of tags. No, not tags, the things in his pocket were round. Smoke bombs. Naruto almost bursted out laughing. Smoke bombs, huh.
Kirina watched from the corner of her eyes as she watched the proctor back up, smirking. What was he doing? Kirina looked back at her opponent. Maybe taunting him will get a reaction.
"Come on asshole, show me how good the Konoha dogs are!"
Well that worked splendidly, she thought sarcastically. Shikamaru looked unfazed.
"Hmmm, I'm not too sure I want to do that. I've got other plans, ya know? Man, this is all just too troublesome."
Kirina got into stance as Shikamaru slowly drew out his hand from his pocket. He held out his clenched fist in front of him. Kirina narrowed her eyes. What was he doing?
Naruto slowly drew his hand up with a hiraishin kunai. Shikamaru let his hand fly open, letting two round peculiar colored smoke bombs fall out, hitting the ground. Naruto almost started laughing out loud. Those were purple striped smoke bombs, meaning they weren't your average smoke bombs. They were pranking ones. The whole place was going to blow up with a certain color.
Kirina watched as the two pellets slowly made their way to the ground. She looked at Shikamaru who smirked. Instantly, the pellets blew up, causing a large cloud of neon green smoke. As the smoke began to clear up, the whole arena was covered in Neon green. At the center, Shikamaru stood there covered in green paint. Kirina also got the full force of the color blast, slowly wiping her face only adding more paint to it.
Naruto had launched his kunai at the ceiling, flashing up just as the explosion occurred. Most of the jounin couldn't help but laugh at Naruto's eagerness to avoid the blast. So far as to flash to the ceiling.
Kirina was infuriated. Did he just blow himself, along with the arena, up with neon green paint? What was it suppose to do? Give her new hair color? She liked her chocolate brown, thank you very much.
"What the hell man!"
"S-sorry, I think I took out the wrong pellets."
Shikamaru scratched the back of his head and gave a cheesy grin. The crowd laughed at the Nara's mistake. Naruto flashed back down and smiled again. Kirina almost stomped her foot in frustration, but it was too childish for a rising chuunin.
"Urgh! Let's just get on with the match, shall we?"
h on her leg. Kirina charged forward at Shikamaru but was cut short when she felt her arm get cut open. She stopped short and looked at her arm. There was a large gash on her arm. She looked at Shikamaru who was still in the same position. If he didn't throwing anything...then where did this come from? Kirina stepped forward only to hear her pants tear. She looked down to see another gash on her leg. Suddenly, Kirina couldn't move. The light caught glimpse of a small line. Kirina squinted a bit before going wide eyed. Wires! Suddenly, Kirina noticed the complex web of wires around her, several wrapped around her arms and legs, one around her neck. Kirina was beyond shocked.
"H-how! You didn't even move!"
Shikamaru smirked before turning into a puff of smoke.
"B-bunshin! When- During the explosion? How?"
The real Shikamaru jumped down from the balcony, undoing the henge of a jounin on himself.
"Easy. I purposely used pranking bombs to distract you. During the explosion, I made a bunshin and hightailed out of there. Still using the smoke as cover, I jumped through with the wires, creating the web you are in now. I then hid myself among the crowd. I let my bunshin make you think that it was by accident so you wouldn't get any suspicion about the smoke. You would've thought that if the bomb wasn't an accident, then I would have done something, causing you to be more vigilant. Welcome to my personal creation: The spider's web. Creative don't you think?"
"Damn you! Assholes, the lot of you!"
"Yeah, whatever. Welcome to Konoha."
Naruto sauntered his way to the middle between the two genin. He cleared his throat and announced.
"Because Yunoha Kirina is unable to fight, I declare Nara Shikamaru winner of this match. Medics!"
Kirina growled as Shikamaru tsked, walking back up to the balcony muttering how troublesome the match was. Shikamaru was completely unscathed.
Naruto grinned. It was a good match on Shikamaru's part. Not only did the Nara win the match, but he didn't even display his clan's jutsu's yet, giving him the advantage of surprise for the finals.
Kirina was escorted out by the medics after they cut away most of the wires surrounding her. Naruto coughed again to get everyones attention.
"Alright, now for the next match..."
The screen at the top started to buzz revealing the next two names.
"Konohagakure's Sarutobi Konohamaru and Konohagakure's Inuzuka Kiba!"
The two boys jumped of the balconies, landing at Naruto's feet with a cool pose. The two straightened up and grabbed each other's collars.
"Ready to run back home with your tail between your legs, dog breath?"
"Ha, just make sure you don't run back up your tree in fear, you damn monkey!"
"I'm going to wipe the floor with your face by the time I'm through with you, mutt!"
"I'd watch what you say, Monkey-boy! Don't start scratching your ass in the middle of the match cuz ya felt like it."
"Well don't lift your leg up in the middle of the match if you want to piss yourself-"
"ENOUGH BOYS, I SUGGEST YOU BOTH SHUT THE HELL UP AND LET ME START THIS DAMN MATCH!"
The two boys immediately shrunk in fear as Naruto calmed himself from his outburst. Meanwhile, the rest of the room tensed when the Namikaze yell. They all feared for the two genins because they somehow survived Naruto's yelling.
"Alright, you two. If you want a yelling match, maybe you should quit the shinobi life and become a lawyer."
The room was filled with laughs and chuckles as the two boys flushed and looked at their shoes.
"Okay, now that we've all calmed down. Let's begin. Are you two ready? Go!"
Kiba and Konohamaru both jumped back.
"Prepare to eat dirt, dog breath!"
"Kiss my ass, Monkey shit!"
"I'll make you eat those words, ya damn mutt!"
"Hey, Shut the fuck up!"
"Why don't you!"
"Nu-uh, why not you!"
Naruto, along with the rest of the room, sweatdropped.
This is going to be a long match...
OMAKE!
an:/Alright. (I say 'alright' a lot, don't I?). THAT WAS A SHORT MATCH/CHAPTER. I KNOW! let's just make it one match for now...I can probably zip by the prelims this week, if I have time...HOLY BAJEEZUS, I've forgot to write the other stories! :P Don't worry, winter break is coming up, I've got this shit under control...or do I?
Alright, onto the Omake.
"What I'm trying to say is...well...Sakura, I love you."
"N-Naruto..."
"I know, you probably don't love me too, but I just wanted you to know-"
"No, Naruto. I-I love you too..."
The Sakura inched closer to Naruto as Naruto did the same. They were centimeters apart, feeling the other breathe hot air on their lips. Naruto gaze was dropped as he looked at her lips. Sakura closed her eyes and went in closer. Just as she was about to kiss those perfect lips of Naruto. Naruto suddenly opened his mouth and let out a bark. Wait. A bark? What the hell?
Sakura snapped her eyes open and was met with a pair of beady black eyes. She was face to face with her pet dog, the yellow labrador, Captain. The Dog was breathing on her and was extremely close. Sakura kept her eyes wide open at the dog, not saying a word. Captain then licked Sakura's face and walked away. Sakura paused a moment before screaming.
"KYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~"
"Gee Sakura, you look like you just went to hell and back. Is there something wrong? What happened?"
Sakura shot a glare at Konohamaru who shrunk back.
"Nothing, Konohamaru. Just woke up on the wrong side of the bed."
"A-alright, Sakura. If you say so. By the way, Naruto-nii said he'd be late. So now we're just waiting for him."
"Hn."
Sakura blushed. Naruto was going to be there! Can this get any more awkward? First she had a dream about him, now she's going to seem him in real life! Sakura was panicking inside her mind but was cut short when she heard a voice.
"Yo, guys. Sorry I'm late. Had to help a lady cross the road, heh heh."
Sakura froze that very moment. He's here! Sakura turned around to see the blonde. He was wearing his typical jounin attire, dark blue long sleeves folded to his elbows, matching pants, tied down with bindings below his knees. His green jacket was a size too big but fitted nonetheless. His red bib covered his neck with his konoha hitai-ate on his forehead. His clear blue eyes twinkling with mirth, his blond hair outshining the sun. His whiskers adding a feral yet tame effect. Sakura couldn't help but inwardly swoon. He was just the epitome of cute guys in Konoha. Konohamaru's annoying voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Liar! You used that same excuse yesterday and the day before that! It's no coincidence."
"What if it's her routine to cross the road at the same time everyday?"
"What if you could just show up on time, for once!"
Naruto let out a chuckle and ruffled Konohamaru's hair. Sakura's heart was pounding as she heard his laugh. He turned from Konohamaru and smiled at Sakura.
Sakura's heart practically stopped. Sakura tried to take in a deep breath.
"Hiya, Sakura! How's life treating you?"
Sakura was furiously blushing which went unnoticed by the block-head-when-it-comes-to-love idiot. She resisted the urge to faint right then and there. Here inner personality took over from there. No way was she going to be a total wuss because of some smile!
Naruto's smile was wiped off his face when he had to suddenly dodge a chakra enhanced punch.
"Whoa, there Sakura. What's up?"
Sakura, or more like Inner Sakura, gritted her teeth and went in for more punches.
"Quit-Smiling-like-a-some-stupid-buff-oon-, IDIOT!"
Sakura huffed between punches. When she was tired she stormed off, red as a tomato. Naruto turned to Konohamaru and Sasuke.
"What's up with her?"
"Said she woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I don't believe it for a second."
"Hn. Girls."
The three boys muttered in agreement.
an:/Ha, I'm such a tease. Alright. Gotta work now. Tootaloo mofos. Rate and Review?
KINDA A POLL?
Should Naruto join ANBU later on? Somehow? No?
this is a simple yes or no question, but if you'd like to add something to it, knock yourselves out!