key:
"talking"
'jutsu'
thinking
"flashback"
nonhuman
Welcome to the Preliminary Round
Finally the second chuunin exam was over and done with, and the team had actually managed to shave two days off of their time thanks to Sakura. However all these changes in history, small as they seemed, made Sakura uneasy. What if she was shaping the future into something worse? What if, because of her actions, people who should have lived would now die? And what if those people were Naruto or Kakashi-sensei or maybe even herself?
"First off, for the second test… Congratulations on passing!" Anko's loud voice brought Sakura's mind back to reality and her head snapped up in surprise. They had gathered in the battle warehouse where they would take their next-to-final test. In the front of the large warehouse-like space their sensei's stood behind the three proctors Anko, Ibiki, and Hayate and the current hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi himself.
Sakura gulped, What am I going to do?
"I shall explain the third test." Sarutobi started, and everyone's attention was on him. "But before that, there's something I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for this exam. Why do all the alliances countries ninja take the exam together?" He paused, and Sakura could here everyone holding their breath. "It is a replacement for war among our allied countries."
He then went on explaining how the test is a stage for the countries to show off their power and how a village's strength lies with it's shinobi and a shinobi's true strength is only born through life-risking battle, like the battles they'd have to face during the Chuunin exam. All of the genin in the room were silent, but shock and even slight distaste was ever-so present on their faces. Sakura however was calm, she had known all of this since before she even became an official genin.
Soon, it was Hayate's turn to talk. "Well, actually before the third exam you guys will have to take a preliminary test that will decide who will actually get to participate."
Immediately almost all of the the genin bursted into argument at the thought of having to take an extra test.
"There are too many people remaining. So, according to the chuunin exam rules we must have a preliminary in order to reduce the number of participates. So anyway, those who are not feeling well or want to quit please come forward now, since we'll be starting the preliminary immediately."
"Um… I'm going to quit." Kabuto voice called out and he raised his hand, everyone just turned to look at him with disbelief. Even Sakura, though she was faking it and with that there was one less opponent to worry about.
Sakura could see Sasuke shaking from the pain of the curse seal at the base of his neck. In the past she had taken this moment to ask him to quit, but she knew that hadn't worked then and it wouldn't work now. The pink haired girl could also tell from the whispering between the adults in the front of the room that the hokage and sensei's already knew about Sasuke's mark. Instinctively her hand wrapped around her wrist to hide her own mark.
While Hayate was explaining what would happen in the preliminaries, Sakura open her mouth to address her usually stoic teammate.
"Sasuke, let me see your neck." She whispered, and glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
"No." He sent her a sharp glare that basically said "Mind your own business and don't tell anyone".
"I'm not going to tell anyone, I just know a way to help you with the pain." She continued, not even looking at the boy this time.
Sasuke gave her a skeptical look, but after a moment he let his hand drop to his side, revealing the mark. Sakura place her hand over the seal, she sent healing chakra to the boy. It wouldn't last long, but it would ease the pain till the mark spread again.
She withdrew her hand, just as Sasuke's name came up as one of the participants in the first fight.
"Thanks." Sasuke mumbled before going to facing his opponent.
It didn't take long for Sasuke to win his match and Sakura could feel the disguised Orchimaru's excitement when Sasuke pushed back the curse's influence with his own will power. She watched the sound ninja's teacher licked his lips with delight, and she could barely keep the utter disgust from her face. Then he looked up and stared right at her, she frozen and watched as his excited grin grew into psychopathic one.
Then the second match-up was called and Sakura looked down to see Zaku and Shino ready to face off. She knew Shino would win, and she looked back up to see an empty space where phony instructor of the two other members of the sound trio had been standing. Oorchimaru was gone, probably off causing horrible mischief or something.
After Shino's quick win. Kankuro was up, and of course he won as well.
"Hey, Sakura." A voice near the pink haired kunoichi's ear caused her to turn around fast and find the puppet master standing behind her. "Did you see my fight?"
"What? You won already?" Sakura blurted out, she had been so busy with her own thoughts that she hadn't noticed.
"You seriously didn't watch?" Kankuro frowned at her, a little hurt.
"Sorry…" She shrugged. "But wait, why are you even over here?"
"Well, someone had to tell you it's your turn." Kakashi answered for him and then pointed to her name on the electronic screen.
That's when Sakura looked around and saw everyone staring at her.
"S-Sorry!" Sakura apologized quickly and bowed toward Hayate who just had on his usual bored expression. She quickly ran down the stairs and took her place in front of her previous rival in love, Yamanaka Ino.
"Were you too scared to come down here and face me, Forehead?" Ino mocked.
"Oh, Please. You know I don't have a fear of dumb blondes." Sakura countered and rolled her eyes at the girl.
"Everyone knows that. You have Naruto on your team after all!" The blonde yelled.
"Enough talk! Let's get this over with." Sakura replied and relocated her ninja headband to her forehead. Ino in turn did the same. After all it was their unspoken promise that at once hey put their forehead protector over their forehead it was time to fight seriously, no holding back. Sakura however was torn, she didn't know whether to win or lose. It was an unfair fight with her current knowledge and ability, but on the other hand she'd be insulting her friend if she went easy on the her.
Ino must have seen the doubt in her eyes cause, cause she quickly shouted. "Don't even think about holding back, Sakura!"
That's when she finally made up her mind, Screw it! Enough tiptoeing it's time for me to strut! "Alright, but don't blame me when you lose!"
Without another word Sakura dashed forward and ran towards her opponent. Ino grinned at the obvious attack before fishing out a few shuriken throwing then at her oncoming enemy. At the moment of impact with the blades Sakura disappeared.
"What the? Where-" Ino started, but unfortunately it had taken her too long to realize where her ex-best friend had gone.
'Earth style: Groundhog Decapitation Jutsu'
Before she could even think twice Ino was immobilized from the neck down, buried deep into the floor of the arena.
In just under two minutes, Sakura was the winner.
"That's my girl." Kakashi appeared next to her and congratulated her.
"WOOOOOOOOOOOO! YEAH! GO SAKURA!" Naruto was hollering loudly from behind the railing on the second floor platform.
"Not bad." Kankuro nodded from next to the loud blonde.
"Alright! That's my angel!" Lee fist pumped the air with enthusiasm.
"This can't be happen!? How could I lose to you of all people!" Ino was having and hissy-fit from her little hole in the ground. "Ugh, Someone get me out of here!"
Sakura gave the girl and small smile before release her from the jutsu. "Sorry, Ino."
"Shut up." The girl mumbled. "Next time I'll definitely beat you, Sakura."
The two girls promptly climbed the stairs and cleared the arena. Going up the steps, however, Sakura could feel a pair of intense eyes on her and she quickly turned her head to see Gaara watching her every move. His cold stare made her shiver, but for some reason even now she could see the future friend and Kazekage that was inside him. So she automatically smiled and gave him a small friendly wave.
Gaara's eyes widened at the girl's action, why is she being friendly to me? Is it some kind of trick? Can't be, she doesn't even know me and she has nothing to gain from befriending me.
"I think she likes you." Temari suggested reading Gaara's confusion like an open book, though the shock at someone liking her brother was evident in her voice.
"That's foolish." Gaara answered emotionlessly.
Temari just shrugged, it was time for her to fight the girl named Tenten anyways.
After Temari's fight was Shikamaru's, and the seventh fight Naruto was able managed a victory against Kiba.
Now, "Hyuga Hinata and Hyuga Neji" were the names that lit up the screen, and just like before Hinata sustained a crushing defeat.
Only this time Sakura's body reacted instinctively when girl went into cardiac arrest. Sakura pulled out a few acupuncture needles and placed them on the pale girl's body strategically while adding some chakra so Hinata's heart rate would lower. Then she put her hand around the girl's throat gently and pushed her chakra into the Hyuga's lungs to clear her airways.
"There, she's stable now." Sakura looked up to once again find everyone staring at her. The genin, the teachers, the proctor, the hokage, the medics they had all just witnessed her advanced knowledge of medical techniques and jutsu.
"Well, get her to the hospital stat!" Was the only thing she knew to say next.
"Sakura, how do you know medic jutsu?" Kakashi asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
Author's Note:
I did this chapter super quick, so it's... Well, it's probably very horribly written.
Not sure when I'll update again. My inspiration just comes and goes like a breeze.
If you guys have any thoughts on who Sakura should have to fight in the final round of the chuunin exams, please comment!
Options are: Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Temari, Kankuro, Neji, Shino, and Dosu (if he lives to fight in the last round).
You can also vote "Nobody".
I'm leaning towards "Nobody", cause I'm a lazy person.
