Yo!!! The boys are in quite the fix. Blade's mouth has made him an enemy of the Kunoichi, and now we see how Ino confronts him. Find out!!

Chapter 9: Of Kunoichi's and Rumbles!!! Boys vs. Girls!!!

"So, that's what happened, huh?" Tsunade said, a few yards short of assaulting Kakashi. Hinata had saved his life, and he would never know of it. "So, those two think they can outsmart the Hokage, eh?" Tsunade said, smirking real evil-like. "Don't bother, Tsunade-sama. Let ME have the pleasure." Ino said, disappearing. Hinata didn't like the gleam in her eye, and disappeared to follow her.

(Elsewhere in the Border Village)

Raven and Blade were sitting near some trees, chilling. Raven was taking a nap, and Blade was sitting next to a tree. "You think you will get away with what you did?" Raven asked. "Of course!! If they haven't caught me now, they can't get me now!!!" Blade screamed, smirking.

"So it was you?" Both turned to some trees, and saw Hinata and Ino there. "Seems like you are busted." Raven said, nodding back off. "Figures it would be you! You disrespectful pig!!" Ino screamed. "I am not a pig." Blade said, and Raven chuckled because he didn't deny his disrespectfulness. "Joking at a time like this. Is that all men are good for? Being perverts and idiots?" Ino asked.

"Now you've crossed the line, Ino." Raven had sat up, and had looked interested in this exchange. "Sure most men are idiots and perverted pigs, but you can't label all men like that, when most women are shallow and perverted as well." Raven said. "That's not true!!" Ino screamed back, which caused Raven and Blade to smirk. "Okay, answer this and answer truthfully. If you came across a drop dead dude with a shitty personality, or a normal looking boy with a heart of gold, which would you choose?" Blade asked. Ino looked away, red. Hinata narrowed her eyes. She knew which choice she would make.

"It's like comparing someone like Naruto to someone like Sasuke when they were young, isn't it? Even now, I ask that. Hell. Hinata, if you only went on their outer actions, and didn't get to know them, which would you choose?" Raven asked. Hinata blushed, and lowered her head in shame. "Pity. Shallow all the same." Blade said. "That isn't true!! Hinata isn't like that!! She has a heart of gold!!" Ino screamed, enraged. "True, but I bet you everything I have that if she never met Naruto or Sasuke, she would go with Naruto only because she would be afraid of the cold aura Sasuke has around him." Raven said, smirking.

"And don't get us started on perverse women. Freaking screaming for shit like guy-on-guy! That's disturbing to watch!!!" Blade said. "So, as you can see, women have just as many faults as men. Or do you still believe you to be superior?" Raven asked, and Ino smirked. "Of course!! Without women, men would be moronic idiots who do nothing but jerk off." Ino said coldly, which caused Blade to scowl.

"Sadly, that is true. But without men, women wouldn't have need to borrow things like vibrators." Raven shot back. "I say a contest is in order. You obviously are full of yourselves. I challenge that overconfidence. In two days, our contest will begin. The rules will be stated 5 minutes before the contest. In all fairness, you can recruit as many women as possible. We only need 5." Raven said. "GAME ON!!!!" Ino screamed, and stormed off. Hinata turned to follow her. Blade and Raven then both sighed, and Blade had a worried look. "5?" Blade asked. "All we need is the right people." Raven said.

(With the Girls)

For Ino, gathering her first 4 wasn't a problem at all. Sakura, Tenten, and Hinata (after some coercion) just needed one more person. If the guys could beat them with 5, then all they would need is 5. Now, all they need is one more. "I heard you were getting into it with Raven." They turned, to a girl with crimson locks, smirking. Mika had just put her hat in the battle.

"OH COME ON COIN!!!!" Blade screamed. "Hi Artemis." Raven said, and she waved back. "You and Raven's battles are none of our business." Moon said, smirking. "But your business is flirting with Artemis?" Blade asked, smirking as Moon kept his composed look. "You jealous?" Moon asked, as Blade scowled. He had had a crush on her growing up, and he finally buried them a couple of years ago.

"Can't be. He has a thing for blonds in purple." Raven said cryptically, and the two looked at him confused. Blade blushed crimson, and looked away. "So, you're not in, Coin?" Raven asked. "Nah. These kinds of fights don't interest me." He said. Blade sighed. "I bet I know who would help." Raven said. Blade looked at him, interested in his idea.

In the trees, after their chat with Coin, the girls had begun to spy on them to see who they would recruit. "You got and idea, Raven?" Blade asked. "I always have an idea. It's just a matter of if it will work." And with that, the walk remained silent.

"You are not serious." Blade said, as Raven smirked. "HEY COUSIN!!!!!" Raven screamed at the top of his lungs, and Sasuke looked out the window to see Raven and Blade. He hopped out the window, and landed next to them. "Yeah?" Sasuke asked. "We wish to recruit you to help us defend the honor of men everywhere." Raven said, and Sasuke looked at him confused.

"Ino said some sexist things, Raven shot back, and a contest to see if boys or girls were better was formed. Since you are the manliest of them all, with your Uchiha Powers, we figured with you, it would be a landslide." Blade said, trying to play on Sasuke's pride. It worked. The Uchiha smirked, and nodded. "I'm in." Sasuke said, and Raven smirked as well. "The girls won't know what hit them when two Uchihas come calling!"

The girls looked stunned. They didn't think Sasuke would go for it. Sadly, they were mistaken. "Didn't think he would go for it." Raven said. "Well, a man's pride is the easiest thing to manipulate." Blade said, shrugging. "So, who are the last two?" Raven asked. "Think we could get Shikamaru?" Blade asked. "No. Probably would say it's too 'troublesome.'" Raven said, imitating him when he said troublesome. Blade chuckled, and then a lightbulb went off over his head. "What about someone so determined, that he won't lose when the chips are down?" "You mean Naruto?" Both then looked to each other, and smirked.

"Naruto, we have a proposition for you. If you help us with something, we promise Ramen for the rest of the time we are here." Raven said, and they both knew they had him at Ramen.

"Now, Lucky Number 5." Blade said. "This dude would be so great to our cause, it will be a pain to recruit him." Raven said, sighing. "How so?" Blade asked. "Because the one we're going after is the King of Arrogant Pricks." "You mean Ino?" Raven face vaulted. "NO!!! Ino isn't a boy!!" "You sure?" "Ino in a bra and panties." Blade turned crimson, as blood began to leak out his nose.

"Wow. You want her that bad, my friend?" Raven asked, smirking. "SCREW YOU!!!" Blade screamed back. "Sorry. That is most likely reserved for Ino." Raven laughed when Blade growled and began to mutter obscenities under his breath. "Oh. Save your need to deflower Ino for some other time. We have a battle to win! Who knows, if you win, she may let you sweep her off her feet." Raven said, smirking even bigger, and Blade scowled.

"You are having fun with this, aren't you?" Blade asked. "Even more fun than when you liked Artemis." Blade sighed, and kept silent. Luckily for Blade, the girls were too far away to hear their conversation.

"Dude, I respect you trying to get us a win and all, but I REALLY don't think this will work." Blade said. "Come on. You don't think I can do it?" Raven asked. "It's not that. He just isn't like Sasuke or Naruto. He's a Genius." Blade said. "Even a Genius can be swayed with the right words." Raven said, smirking. The plan: Get Neji Hyuuga to join their cause.

Now, Neji Hyuuga, Genius of the Hyuuga Clan, wasn't a fool. The moment Blade and Raven walked up to him, looking like they wanted something, he knew this could only be bad news. "No." He said without opening his eyes from his Meditative Stance. "We didn't ask you though." Blade said.

"So, you are gay?" Raven asked. "What!?" Neji said, glaring. "I was going to ask if you liked women. Since you answered no, I guess that makes you gay." Raven said in a sing-song voice. "I am not gay!" Neji said adamantly, and Raven smirked. "Just like a river in Egypt, Denial flows through you." Raven said, and Neji stood at max height, and scowled.

Raven sweat dropped, and looked a little intimidated. "But your preferences are your choice. That's not why we are here." Raven said quickly. "We wish to ask your help in an upcoming battle." Blade said, and Neji looked on, interested. "The Kunoichi are trying to say they are better than us Shinobi!!" Raven said, and Neji closed his eyes. "I'm going to stay out of this." Neji said, and Raven and Blade had white eyes.

"Kunoichi and Shinobi have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. Saying one is stronger than the other is ludicrous." Neji said. Blade sighed. (We lost him. Damn.) He glanced to Raven, who's hair was covering his face, before his mouth curved into a smirk. "I didn't know Neji Hyuuga was a coward." Neji gave him a chilling look, and Blade began to sweat feeling uncomfortable.

"I didn't think you of all people would be afraid of some Kunoichi." Raven said, as Neji's face began to darken evilly. "You think a few Kunoichi would scare me?" Neji asked. "That's what you're saying." Raven said. "Count me in. I will prove you wrong!!" Neji said, as he disappeared in a poof of smoke. Blade stared at Raven, dumbfounded and muttering random drivel. "See. All it takes is the right words." Raven said, as he laughed out loud.

Now at this point, the girls had given Raven their full attention and respect. On the outer, he looked like a moronic idiot, like Naruto. But once he put his mind on something, he was actually quite manipulative. "So, that is what we are up against? Raven seems to be the one that will present the most danger." Mika said, and Ino nodded.

"Though the others are quite good in their own ways. Except the blond with the sword. He seems like an idiot." Tenten said. "I wouldn't doubt him." They all turned to Sakura, and she looked serious. "I looked into the American Death Gods before we got here. And his name is more well known than the others. He used to work for the American Overlord." She said, as they flashbacked to when his green sword became this weird blade that looked like it detached from itself, and extend.

(Those two. They form Yin and Yang. Which one is the more dangerous of the two?) Sakura mused to herself. Raven represented the Mind. Blade represented the Power.

"I think Shikamaru has the impression I am smart." Blade said, as Raven chuckled. "If anyone's smart, it's me and Moon." Raven said. "He'd flip if he found out you taught me chess. After years of beating it into my head." Blade said, and Raven smirked. "Meh. Your Sword Skills make up for your stupidity. After all these years, you still manage to pose quite a challenge when we spar, even though I am the leader." Raven said.

"I guess my past is the reason for that…" Blade said solemnly, as Raven smirked. "You mean you being Krad's Number 13 before you joined our side?" Raven asked. "Lucky Number 13. If anyone could handle a job, it was me." Blade said, and Raven sighed. "But you are on my side now, along with Coin and Artemis." Raven said.

(Town Square)

In the Border Square, the Kunoichi stood, waiting for the boys. "I see we aren't too late. Didn't wait too long, did you?" From the roof, stood Raven, Sasuke, and Neji. "Don't forget the Blond Duo!!" Across from them stood Naruto and Blade, leaning on walls, as the other three appeared in front of him.

"Tsunade will be the middle nin in all of this." Ino said, and Tsunade nodded. "You sure she won't turn on us at the last second?" Blade asked, before Raven popped him in the head. "She's the leader of a village. If there's anything she's good at, it's being neutral in things." Raven muttered. "But what about-" "This isn't American Politics. These guys have more honor than that." Raven said, and Blade nodded defeatedly.

"Okay Granny. What is the game?" Raven asked, as Tsuade glared at him, which he ignored. "I have 10 headbands." She said, as she pulled out 5 red headbands with the insignia for female on them, and 5 dark blue headbands, with the insignia for male on it. "You have one week to get a headband from the opposite sex, and hold on to them. The winner is the one who has the most headbands. I will act as a neutral to prevent cheating." Tsunade said, as each nin took a headband.

Sasuke, Neji, and Naruto tied theirs around their foreheads. Blade tied his around his Sword Sheath, and Raven had his around his neck, backwards. The girls tied theirs in the usual places, and Mika tied hers around her forehead. "What's the prize for winners?" Blade asked. "Winner gets the losers for slaves for a week." Tsunade said, and there were 10 smirks. "Then I guess game is on!" Raven said, as the boys disappeared. "I believe in you girls Sakura." Tsunade said, and the girls disappeared as well.

ShadowRonin: That's right kids. Boys and Girls begin their battle of wits, strength, and gender related abilities as Raven and the Shinobi take on Ino and the Kunoichi. Raven has his work cut out for him, and both sides will duke it out.

Next Chapter: Both sides begin battle plans, and weakness are about to be exploited. The tactics are thought up, and plans are initiated. Set up complete, see the plans on:

Chapter 10: One-on-One Confrontations!! Let the Games Begin!!!