Chapter 23

The fight between Sakura and Ino was devistating. Neither one was allowed to move on. Still the only thing Kagome could think about was what Sakura had said. She had told Ino that she was no longer interested in Sasuke and that she had found someone who inspired her to get stronger and train harder. It was her wish, she'd said, that she could get strong enough to be worthy of the help he'd given her. THe words hung over her mind. When had Sakura grown up? She could still remember Carrying Kakashi with Sasuke and having Sakura doting on him as they walked. Now she was trying to be better. Snapping out of her shock she went to Sakura and healed what damage she could find.

More matches flew by. Naruto came up against Kiba and won despite it being a two on one battle since Kiba had Akamaru. It left only her from their team to go. She looked at her choice of opponents and prayed she didn't end up against Gaara. She wouldn't have to fight Neji or Hinata Hyuuga. They were being put up against each other. Neji she wouldn't have mindedd fighting. The guy was an arrogant prick who was cold hearted to the point he could have given Sesshoumaru frost bite. Hinata on the other hand, would have been difficult. She was too kind for Kagome to beat up on.

It appeared, though, that Neji had no problem beating up on her. She was managing to hold up somewhat but Neji was just plain better. "What's he got against her?" Kagome asked finally.

"She is the heir to the Hyuuga main branch while he is a member of a branch family. According to the Hyuuga family traditions only members of the main family are alowed to use the Byakugan. It's not really her but what she represents." Kakashi explained.

"It doesn't make it right."

She hadn't been this tense since Sasuke's fight. It looked like she wanted to jump in and stop it. Hinata was trying to put up a fight but Neji was faster. Each time it looked like the fight could go her way he turned up the speed and landed lightening quick blows to her vital organs. Kagome didn't know too much about the technique, from where she stood though she could see potential damage of Neji pushing his chakkra into Hinata's body. He had so far stayed away from her heart and lungs. It only seemed like a matter of timme before Neji worked up to it and nearly killedd her. Someone needed to stop this. In a moment of stillness Naruto called out to Hinata in order to cheer her on. The fighting resumed and Hinata fought back like she had never fought before. All too soon Hinata was on the ground again, blood drippping from her mouth. Hayate called the match but Hinata stood again. Neji told her that it was useless, that she could not change her fate. Hinata twisted his words which caused him to attck again.

Kagome didn't even stop to make sure Neji failed his attack. Several Jonin had placed themselves between Hinata and Neji by the time Kagome's feet touched the Arena floor. As Guy tried to talk Neji down Hinata began to collapse, right into Kagome's arms. In the back of her mind she could hear Narutoo yelling out Hinata's name. Right now all she could focus on was Hinat's weak heart beat against her hands as she laid her down gently. Neji's attacks had caused some of her organs to begin shuting down. If she didn't stop hthe process there would be nothing that the medical eam could do. One hand over the girl's heart and the other on her abdomen Kagome began healing the damage. Still distantly she heard Naruto arguing with Neji and the Proctor clear his throat. Kagome snapped awake. Hinata was breathing normally and Kurenai, Hinata's sensei, sat across from her. Standing Kagome moved closer to Kakashi waiting to get scolded for interfering. Instead he smiled at her.

"Thank you," Kurenai said as the Medical nin carried Hinaa away.

"No problem." Kagome said turning to leave.

"The girl might as well stay." Hayate said.

Kagome turned and looked up at the board. Kagome Higurashi vs. Masura Akiyama was written across the large board that loomed over the arena. Her opponent was the first twin she'd faced in the forrest, the weapon user that Naraku had sent to kill her. She wondered if he had rigged this so that they would have to fight again. She looed over at Kakashi. The two shared a look before he led Naruto back to the gallery. Kagome turned to watch her opponent make his way across the arena floor. As confident as he appeared she knew he had fallen for her genjutsu. She could beat him. Her left hand moved to her hip pouch were her blades were sealed.

"Begin!"

She pulled the scroll from the pouch and released the blades. As soon as they were in her hands she was forced to use them to block Masuro's larger sword. Pushing him away she immediately cast a genjutsu on him and moved to attack him from behind and end the fight quickly. Without warning Masuro pulled out a kunai and stabbed himself in the leg. Shocked Kagome was forced to retreat before he could get at her with his sword. He smirked, not mmoving at her, not yet at least.

"Not falling for that again."

She needed a new strategy. Fast. Drawing from Naruto's arsenal she called up a mob of shadow clones to distract him so she could think. Unfortunately he managed to take out most of them with just a few swipes of his sword. He came at her next like he knew she was the real one. She blocked him and decided on her next course of action.

(Kakashi)

Kakashi watched with great interest as Kagome moved easily around Masuro's sword. It appeared that since her intial plan had failed she'd figured out a new plan. Her smaller swords made her much more flexible than the large sword Masuro was using. her nimble movemments made him look clumsy in comparison. Or perhaps he was just that clumsy on his own, Kakashi though as Kagome made an effortless dodge that cause Masuro to fall with the weight of his sword. It came to his mind that she was toying with her opponent, tiring him out and frustrationg him. Suddenly she stopped and began to cast hand signs. Vines began to grow up around the boy as he struggled. Two elemental jutsus, definitely ahead of her classmates.

"What do you think Kakashi?" Asuma asked.

"She's in control of the situation at the moment. I think she might have the easiest win if she plays her cards right." Kakashi said. "Interestingly enough that is the second elemental jutsu she's used."

Asuma nodded. The two stood in silence watching the rest of the fight. Masuro cut his way out of the vine coccoun. Kagome used her swords to channel a wind jutsu that sent Masuro back a few feet. She knocked his sword a side and used a good kick to knock him out. She stepped back so that Hayate could call the match. Of course, Naruto cheered. She merely nodded and jumped back up to the gallery next to Kakashi.

"Nicely done," Kakashi told her.

"Thanks."

"You held back."

"Saving my skills for the next round, don't want my next opponent to know everything about my abilities." Kagome explained sitting against the railing.

"Kagome you were amazing! Where did you learn all of that? Can you teach me?" Naruto asked.

"I figured it out by myself and no, I'm not going to teach you. It's my own style and I'd like not to have the whole world knowing it."

Naruto slumped away making Kakashi smile. She was much more natural wih other people now and she'd finally relaxed. Lee and Gaara were the next two up. It was a bloody and shocking. Lee used taijutsu that even Kagome had never thought of using. He managed to pul them of at speeds that seemed unhuman. But then there was Gaara. The sand that he used seemed to move of it's own accord rather than being under his control. The sand armor that covered him healed as soon as it was injured which made it hard for Lee to to gain any ground against him. There was only one inevitable outcome, as good as Lee was, Gaara was going to win. And he did. What Kagome didn't see coming was the fact that he was going to take Lee's legs with him. Her heart thundered in her chest as the match was called. She moved to get to Lee and help heal him but Kakashi held her back.

"Even if you could help him Kagome, you just came out of a major fight. Also, I don't want you anywhere near Gaara of the Desert." Kakashi said staring the red head down.

She nodded but remained on her feet. Naruto couldn't resist though and ran to Lee's side. It was hard to watch. Even from the gallery she knew what the medics told Guy. Lee could never be shinobi. He was completeely broken now. If he tried he might get himself killed. She remebered the way he had acted before the exams. This was his life and it was over. Her heart went out to them. It was all she could think about during Choji and Dosu's fight. His legs had been completely destroyed. All she could see when she closed her eyes was the moment Gaara's sand closed around Lee's legs. In the end Choji lost his fight and the prelims were over.

"Would the winners please come down to the front?" Hayate called. They each filed down the steps calmly. "To each of you who have made it on to the next round congratulations. Lord Hokage, if you would..."

"Of course," The Hokage said. "As I already told you, you will fight for the pride of your countries in front of some very important people. This is why the final round will be held in one month. This break will be for preperation."

"What does that mean?" Neji asked.

"In addition to notifying all the country lords and various shinobi leaders this time will be used to arrange for this event and prepare the location. For you this time can be used to learn more about yourself and your enemy." The Hokage explained. "You may calculate your chances of winning by analyzing data you collected during this preliminary period. Until now you have opperated under true battle conditions against unknown opponents. However the final stage will not be like this." He took a breath. "To make everything fair this month will be a time to improve yourselves and rest."

Finally it came time for them to select their opponents. Anko came around with a box containing sheets of paper. They were each instructed to take one paper. Each then read off their number to Ibiki. From that he created a bracket for the tournament. Kagome found that she would be the last match against Dosu. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. The guy was a creep and had acted under orders once for Orochimaru. That just meant she would have to take him out a quick as possible to move on. It also meant that she might have to fighht the female from the Dusk as well.

"Wait because this is a tournament that means there is one winner right? Does that mean that only one of us will become a chuunin?" Shikamaru asked.

"No, there will be judges watching each fight and assessing each of you for the qualities of a chuunin. Even if one loses their match if the judges find them worthy they will be able to become a chuunin."

"So in other words, we could all become chuunin?" Temari asked.

"Yes, now you are all dismissed."

Kagome walked back to Sakura who stood alone in the gallery. "So Kakashi went back to Sasuke?"

"Oh, yeah..." The petal hair girl answered.

"He'll be fine, Sakura. He is stronger than an mark and too stuborn to let it control him. Let's go get something to eat. I'm hungry and I really don't feel like cooking for the next month." Kagome said.

Sakura looked up in shock. They's never been friends but after everything it felt nice to know that they could get along. She nodded and they walked out together.

A/N: Oh My God, the Chuunin exams last forever. God, I am so tired of the word chuunin. I don't think I'm really going to use it in the sequel. Anyway, I want to apologize for some of the spelling and grammar errors in the last few chapters. I just got a new computor that has to have the latest version of Office installed and I haven't bought it yet so I'm opperating out of WordPad which has no spell check on it. I only survive English because of spell check and now it's gone. I am so sorry. I really am trying though.

Also, I want to thank all of you for the birthda wishes, it was so nice to hear from all of you!You guys are amazing and I love you all.