Disclaimer: Check chapter 1... Naruto isn't my property, so there...
Chapter 11 – Prelims… boredom
Fourteen teams stood in front of the Hokage and assembled jounin. Anko addressed the assembled genin, "First of all. Congratulations for passing the second part of the exams." 'This is incredible for this many to have passed, I figured it would have been in the single digits. Say three or so teams, but to have fourteen out of thirty-three teams make it this far, it's incredible,' she thought to herself.
She then cleared her throat and said, "Now listen up maggots, as the Lord Hokage is going to explain the rest of the test to you. So listen up." She then turned to the Hokage and bowed her head, as she said, "Lord Hokage, their all yours."
Sarutobi stepped forward and began to speak, "First, before I explain to you what the third exam entails I'm want to explain something about the test itself. Listen closely, as it is something you all need to understand. It concerns the true nature of these exams." He took a minute to allow the genin to ponder his statement. "Why do we all the alliance countries take the exam together?" he asked, as he tilted his hat in front of his face to hide a smirk.
Several including Naruto pondered this question, Naruto was about to answer when he say the Hokage ready to speak again.
"'To promote friendship among the countries' and to 'raise the level of shinobi'. I don't want you to be confused by the true meaning of this exam…" he said, and gave a long pause before he continued, "a replacement for war among the allied countries."
Several of the genin began ask what he was talking about.
"If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage that these countries chose to battle… that is the origins of the chuunin selection exam," he said.
"I thought this was to choose who would become chuunin, not a substitute for war," Kiba exclaimed.
"It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobi have what it takes to become a chuunin. But on the other hand, this exam is where each country's shinobi risk their lives to protect their lands prestige," Sarutobi explained.
"Prestige?" Ino asked.
"There will be important individuals watching these exams, influential leaders and individuals, watching the third part of the exam. They are from many countries and make up the customer base for the shinobi countries and as such they will be watching the finals with a close eye. If they see that a country has a weak showing they will steer their business elsewhere, but if a country has a strong showing this will attract more business to said country, and this will also signal to potential enemies that 'our village has much power'," he explained.
"But why do we have to risk our lives in battle?" Kiba asked.
"The strength of the country is the strength of the village, the strength of the village is the strength of its shinobi. And true shinobi strength is born through risking your lives in battle. This exam is a place where a village and you can show their strength. It only has meaning if you risk your lives, and that is why those that have come before you have fought in the chuunin exam and for this dream that is meaningful," he said in a somber voice.
"But then why did you say that stuff about it being for 'friendship'" Tenten asked.
"I said it in the beginning that I don't want to confuse the purpose of this. By losing live and establishing a balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of shinobi. Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test, this is a life-risking battle, with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line," Sarutobi explained.
"I don't care, just tell me what this battle entails, so we can on with this," Gaara said in a cold voice.
"Fine, I'd like to explain the third test but…" Sarutobi began to say, when a man with a bandana and a senbon in his mouth appeared in front of him in kneeling position.
"I apologize, Hokage-sama, from her as proctor. Will you allow me, Shiranui Genma to finish the explanations?" Genma asked.
"By all means…" Sarutobi replied.
Genma turned to the genin and stood, while he did a wave with his hand. "Yo, before the third test is to begin… I would like to do something," he said with a grin that didn't settle well with many of the genin.
He then continued, "I would like to have a preliminary for the third test, as there are still too many of you for the main event."
Naruto shook his head, as he realized that this had been too easy.
"Why do you need to have a preliminary round?" Shikamaru asked angrily.
"Like I said there were too many people left for the third round, meaning that the first and second tests were too easy," Genma explained. He then continued, "According to the rules for the chuunin exams, we must have preliminary round and reduce the numbers. As Hokage-sama enumerated earlier, there will be many important guests at the third test, so the fights might take too long, as we have limited time for them. So do any of you feel that you can't do a fight right now? If so please excuse yourselves and then we will start the preliminary rounds."
Kabuto and an Iwa shinobi both stepped forward, as both looked very haggard. Kabuto then said, "I'm going to quit, as I don't really have much left and would more than likely be beaten by anyone I went against."
The Iwa nodded and said, "I agree with the leaf scum. I won't be able to fight in this condition, sorry guys." He apologized to his teammates.
Genma nodded, as Anko checked names off of the list. "Very well, you two may go," he said, as Anko nodded to him. "Okay, since there aren't any other takers we will continue with the preliminary matches," he explained, as two video screens appeared behind him on the back wall from behind wooden panels. "These electronic scoreboards will show the battle match ups. Now here are the rules: There are few if any. You can use any jutsu or skill to win, but if I call the fight I will you will stop or be disqualified. Also if your opponent is gives up, is knocked out, or dies… you win. Now let's have the first two names."
The names of 'Uchiha Sasuke' of Konoha and 'Ishi Yumi' of Iwa appeared on the screen. Naruto smirked, since he knew that Sasuke was tired and not fresh.
'So are you going to steal from others, teme?' Naruto asked in his mind.
Everyone but the two combatants left the arena flow for the metal balconies on either side of the arena. Naruto found that he was the buffer for Konoha and the water villages, Waterfall, Rain and Water. The Earth, Cloud, and Sand took the other balcony. Naruto found that it appeared that the villages had some division for supposed allies.
Sasuke got into a ready stance on the arena floor while Yumi did the same. "Give up girl, as you're against an Uchiha and will most assuredly lose," Sasuke taunted.
"Bring it chicken butt hair," Yumi replied with a smirk.
Genma stood between the two with a raised hand. He then lowered it and backed off, as he said, "Begin!"
Sasuke disappeared suddenly to quite a few of the combatants. Yumi was suddenly launched into the air, as Sasuke knelt below her with his leg extended to where her chin used to be. Naruto looked around to see anger run across Lee's face. Sasuke then ran through several hand seals and took in a breath, and say, "Fire style: Fireball Jutsu." A ball of fire the size of Sasuke formed about three feet from him and engulfed Yumi, as she descended through the fire. She screamed in agony only to hit the ground. Sasuke continued to apply the fireball for a couple seconds after she had hit the ground. He stopped and surveyed the results. Yumi's clothes were nearly burned off showing most of her body. Luckily for her chest was still mostly covered and she was breathing slowly, as Sasuke moved towards her with a drawn kunai.
"The match is over, Uchiha Sasuke is the winner. Medics!" Genma yelled, as several medics entered the arena, gently placed Yumi on the stretcher and left with her to administer medical treatment.
Naruto noticed one of the Iwa shinobi's eyes burn with hatred, as Sasuke smiled, but also winced from pain on his neck. Sakura was screaming celebratory chants to Sasuke, who just ignored her.
Naruto then turned to Hinata who then smiled an evil smile. Naruto looked at her in confusion until she pointed to the scoreboard. Naruto turned and smiled slightly, as it read, 'Uzumaki Hinata' verses 'Haruno Sakura'. "I would wish you luck, but you don't need it, love," he said, as she smiled and then jumped down to the arena floor.
Sakura smiled and moved down to the arena floor via the stairs. She smiled at Hinata and then said, "Looks like I get to beat you, like Ami did in the Academy," she said coldly.
Hinata had her head tilted down so that her bangs concealed her eyes. Sakura had missed that, as she spoke Hinata had activated her Byakugan. "Eighty one strikes will be all it will take to win this match, and you won't even lay a hand on me," Hinata replied coldly, as her voice send a shiver down Sakura's spine.
"You were weak before and you still are," Sakura replied in an attempt to regain control.
"Let's do this," Hinata said, as she slid into her Juuken stance, and Sakura got into the academy stance.
"Begin," Genma said, as he backed away from the combatants.
Sakura ran forward and did a few hand signs. She then said, "Clone Jutsu," as two more of her appeared.
Naruto, Haku, and Neji shook their heads and all thought the same thing, 'Idiot. Those are illusions and the Byakugan can see through illusions.'
All three Sakura's threw a right hand punch at Hinata, as she slid to the right through one of the Sakura's. She then tapped Sakura's left wrist. Sakura cringed and then held her hand for a moment. "That is one. One hit for each time you beat Naruto-kun. You shall pay for what you did to him," she explained coldly.
Sakura shook the hand to try to relieve the numbness in her hand and wrist. She then charged Hinata again. This time Hinata tapped Sakura's left elbow and shoulder. Sakura then felt both areas go numb.
Neji watched with a smirk. 'She is still weak, but that one is even weaker. She is just toying with her. Why won't she just get it over with?' he asked himself.
Hinata had hit Sakura fifteen more times, all moving out from the left side of Sakura. Sakura cringed at the last hit, as the chakra point near her left breast was hit and caused extra pain from the effected nerve cluster in the area. "What are you doing to me bitch?" Sakura asked in a seething voice.
"Kiba-kun will be most offended for you referring to me as such, but to answer your question. I would refer to the clans of Konoha. What are the Hyuuga known for?" Hinata asked with a smirk, as she raised her head enough to look Sakura in the eyes.
Sakura gasped, as she saw the veins next to Hinata's eyes bulged and her eyes more intense than she had ever seen before. She quietly whispered, "Byakugan…"
Hinata smiled, and said, "That's right. With these eyes I can see your chakra points and close them or open them at my will."
Sakura pulled out some kunai and threw them at Hinata only to have them blocked by Hinata, as she charged Sakura. Hinata took a senbon out and threw it at Sakura, as she then did several hand seals, and said, "Senbon Shadow Clone Jutsu." The one senbon became fifty. Sakura pulled her hands in front of her face only to be hit by all the senbon. "Eighty hits," she said, as she walked over to the fallen girl and then tapped her on the head. "Eighty-one, and I win," she declared, as Genma checked Sakura's pulse only to find it strong.
"Winner by knockout, Uzumaki Hinata," Genma declared, as medics took Sakura to the infirmary.
Sasuke still nursing a sore neck, said, "She was weak and deserved to lose."
Naruto looked at Kakashi who continued to read his book. "No wonder your team is so screwed up," he said under his breath.
Kakashi looked at Naruto and asked, "Did you say something?"
Naruto turned to Kakashi and wore a confused look on his face. "Huh?" he replied.
Kakashi turned back to his book and continued to read, but also said, "Sasuke, she is your teammate and should have your support. She did well against a superior opponent. That jutsu is forbidden for a reason, I wonder where she got it from."
Ino wore a worried look, as Sakura was taken from the arena. 'Man, Hinata really hurt her. How much has she improved?' she asked herself, but was drawn to Naruto's pointing finger. She looked up at the scoreboard in horror, as it displayed 'Momochi Haku' versus 'Yamanaka Ino'.
"Will the participants please come down?" Genma asked.
Haku 'Body Flickered' down to the arena floor and then waited for Ino to come down. Ino had a bad feeling that only got more intense, as she saw the look upon Haku's face. "Haku-san, are you angry with me?" Ino asked, as she took her position.
Haku's face contorted in rage, as she said "Your family assaulted Naruto-kun and since the person who did this has not been brought to justice, I feel that you will have to take some of that anger for them."
Ino stepped back in fear, as she saw the cold fire in Haku's eyes. This wasn't just anger at a friend being hurt. No, it was at a loved one being hurt. "Look I'm sorry if one of my family hurt Naruto-kun, but I didn't do it and were supposed to be friends," Ino said in protest.
Haku opened a bottle of water and threw it at Ino. Ino quickly pulled out a kunai and sliced it in half, not noticing the water soaking her clothes. Suddenly she began to feel very cold.
"Begin!" Genma said, as he backed away.
Haku moved through several single handed seals and said, "Frozen Body Jutsu."
Ino felt her clothes harden and she only was able to move her arms, but even that was limited.
Haku was instantly beside her, and whispered, "Do you know what an anti-rape seal is, Ino-chan?" Haku said in a cold voice.
Ino nodded, and quietly replied, "It is a seal that will cause a rapist to not be happy as it destroys his testicles. Why?"
"Because, your aunt put it on Naruto-kun, several years ago, more than likely to protect you from being impregnated by him. That is if you ever would find eyes for him. With said seal, he could have died, had he even tried to masturbate and I would have lost someone with whom I'm in love," Haku said into Ino's ear.
"You're in love with Naruto?" she asked. Suddenly it hit her, 'Haku loves Naruto and my aunt put a seal on his… oh my. No, Haku is a girl and in love with Naruto.'
"Ah I see it in your eyes that you have figured out what the truth is," Haku said, as she turned and walked away. "Don't worry, because you're my friend, I won't kill you. But as a shinobi I must kill my emotions, and cause you to yield, shatter!" she proclaimed, as Ino's clothes broke off of her body and fell to pieces on the floor. Ino immediately covered her chest. "Do you yield?" she asked, Ino just nodded. Haku opened her battle kimono, pulled it off and set it on Ino's shoulders.
Ino looked up and saw her wearing a standard shinobi shirt and paints in blue, but also noticed her hips and breasts. She took the kimono and wrapped around herself. "I yield…" she quietly said, as she and Haku walked to the infirmary.
"Now you understand my rage and why I did what I did?" Haku asked, as she wrapped her arm around Ino and helped her out of the arena, and Ino could only nod.
"So Naruto-kun isn't playing both sides of the field, as I had suspected," Sai said rhetorically.
The next match was a guy from Kumo named Raijin and a guy from Iwa named Jaken. The match was fairly one-sided with Raijin using lighting jutsu to break Jaken's Earth jutsu. In the end Jaken was a quivering mass of jello being taken away to the infirmary. Haku came back without her kimono, but was in time to see Raijin's victory. Haku watched, as most of the male eyes watched her walk up to Naruto and stand next to him.
The next match was Inuzuka Kiba versus Hyuuga Neji. Kiba and Akamaru both went down to the arena and waited for Neji to arrive. Neji was about to speak when Kiba held up his hand and said, "Look I know you're going to spout some crap about destiny, so save it. We both know more than likely you're going to win, but that doesn't mean I'm just going to roll over or leave with my tail between my legs. So save your derogatory speeches for someone who cares."
Neji was incensed at the attitude of this boy, as he had just taken one of his most effective ways of dealing with an opponent and pushed it aside. He sighed and said, "Fine, let us get this mockery of a battle over with so that I can go back to watching the losers win against more pathetic losers."
Kiba smiled and then charged. Neji quickly blocked a clawed fist thrown at his face. Kiba kept a watch to make sure to notice if Neji was using his Juken attacks or only defending. After a few more punches he noticed a smile cross Neji's face and instead of taking the hit he jumped forward past Neji, surprising the Hyuuga and making him miss the hit.
"You have good evasion for a mutt," Neji said in a derogatory tone.
Kiba smiled at Neji, as Akamaru jumped on his back. "Thanks Neji-kun… Akamaru are you ready?" he asked, as he received a bark in return. "'Man-Beast Clone' jutsu," he exclaimed, as Akamaru changed into a copy of Kiba, and he said, "Let's get him Akamaru!"
Neji returned to a ready stance and awaited the dog users attack.
Kiba and Akamaru both ran and then jumped, as he exclaimed, "Fang over fang attack!" Both copies of Kiba began to spin, as they approached Neji and formed whirling tornados of destruction.
Neji squinted and then flipped over the spinning tornados, and jabbed at one of the tornados. Both hit the ground. One Kiba skidded to a halt on his feet while the other skidded along the floor in a heap, only to be covered in smoke, as it turned back to Akamaru and began to slowly breathe in labored breaths. "Pathetic. Is that the best you can do loser?" Neji asked in contempt.
Kiba took a quick survey of Akamaru to determine that he was in no immediate danger. He then pulled out a couple of smoke balls and threw them at Neji. Kiba then ran at Neji and performed the 'Fang over fang' attack again by himself. Neji noticed that there was an irritant in the smoke that caused him to have to turn off his Byakugan for a second to rub his eyes so that he could reengage it again. He found that it was all that Kiba needed to slam into him and send him flying.
Neji wiped the blood from his lip and slowly stood up. "You were lucky, dog boy," he exclaimed.
"Luck had nothing to do with it, and like I said, I'm not letting you off so easily. If you screw up, I win. So I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. While you have everything to lose, also working with a Hyuuga has helped me be able to fight with and against them," Kiba explained, as he again threw more smoke balls and charged Neji.
Neji was prepared this time for the attack and sidestepped it while he hit several chakra points on Kiba. Kiba skidded to a stop near the wall. He looked up and moved to the wall with both his legs hurting and not being able to move them. He then propped himself up on the wall and smiled. "You win Neji, I just hope you understand that not everyone will be so nice to you," Kiba said, as he showed a kunai wrapped with an explosive tag. He then continued, "I could have thrown this along with the smoke bombs. I hope you understand that Nijiko asked me not to injure you too badly, as she worries about your fatalistic attitude."
Neji scoffed at the Inuzuka and moved over to glare at the boy only to hear Genma speak, "Winner Hyuuga Neji." He looked up at the board, as the medics removed Kiba and looked at Neji. "The next match will be Fu from Waterfall village versus Sai from the Leaf. Will both combatants please come down to the arena floor?"
Fu walked down the stair with her silken pack strapped to her back. Sai jumped down to the arena floor.
Sai smiled at Fu and then said, "It is said that you should insult your opponents to throw off their balance and make it easier for victory. So beautiful, let's fight."
Everyone looked at Sai as if he were an idiot. Fu smirked at the comment and then opened a bottle of water and poured it on the floor. She then did it to a second.
"What is the water for?" Sai asked.
"You'll see," Fu replied with a smirk.
"Begin," Genma exclaimed, as he jumped away.
Sai quickly pulled out a scroll and unfurled it. He then dipped his pen in an ink well at the base of the scroll and began to draw a lion on the paper.
Fu made several hand seals and said, "Water style: Water spikes!" Suddenly the water on the ground sprang from the ground and headed towards Sai.
"Beast Imitation jutsu," Sai exclaimed, as the lions leapt from the scroll only to become the size of real lions and then charged at Fu. The lions were cut down by the water jutsu. Sai threw several kunai at Fu who just dodged the thrown weapons.
Fu did several more hand seals and said, "Water style: Water Bullet." She then spit out several fist size water projectiles. Sai was able to avoid the first three only to be hit by the fourth.
Sai slowly stood up and then charged Fu. Sai cocked back his fist only to be hit and slammed into the wall by a hit from Fu. He slumped, as he fell from the indentation in the wall. "Guess I hit him too hard," Fu exclaimed.
Genma approached Sai and checked his vital. Satisfied that he would live, he said, "As her opponent is unable to continue, Fu is the winner."
"I knew I was on a team of losers," Sasuke exclaimed.
"The next match will be between Uzumaki Naruto and Akadou Yoroi. Will both the combatants please come down to the arena?" Genma asked.
Naruto jumped down only to slip when he hit the ground. Most people laughed, as Naruto dusted himself off. He smiled and scratched the back of his head. "Sorry about that," he said to Genma who just nodded.
Yoroi laughed and then said, "This should be a quick match if you're not coordinated enough to make that jump."
Naruto shrugged and took a ready stance.
Genma took this, as him being ready, so he said, "Begin."
Yoroi did several hand seals and his right hand began to glow.
Naruto also did some hand seals, but then grimaced, as he started to perform them again, but only slower. Yoroi reached Naruto and then slammed his hand onto Naruto's chest. He began to chuckle at this. "Do you feel it? Your chakra slipping away, as that is my ability," Yoroi explained.
Naruto looked at him, as if he were crazy. "You know you just screwed up, don't you?" he asked, as he only felt a small pull on his chakra. "Your ability is like a small leak in a dam, now for the jutsu I was going to do. Wind style: Drilling air bullet!" Naruto took a deep breath and blew it out at Yoroi who tried to jump out of the way, but was hit in the left arm and sent spinning twenty feet away.
Yoroi shook his arm to try to mitigate the pain. "That hurt, so now we're going to really fight," he explained.
Naruto smiled and drew his sword. "Sword versus kunai, I think mine is bigger," Naruto teased, only to have Yoroi charge him. Naruto was blatant in his upwards swing, as his opponent blocked the strike only to find that the sword slipped off the kunai and Naruto did a return strike and cut the back of Yoroi's right leg. Yoroi began to hobble, as the blood flowed from his leg. "Do you yield?" Naruto asked.
Yoroi angered by the upstart kid charged at him. Naruto repeated the same maneuver, but this time he sliced into Yoroi's left leg. Naruto then struck the inside of each arm, as Yoroi dropped his kunai. He then raised the sword to Yoroi's throat and said, "You can no longer fight and either yield or I will finish you."
Genma saw Yoroi nod and said, "Winner is Uzumaki Naruto."
The medics quickly took Yoroi out of the arena, as Naruto made his way back up to his former position between Hinata and Haku. "Do you think that Kiba knocked some sense into Neji?" Naruto asked.
Hinata shook her head and said, "I'm not sure if he did, Neji-niisan is quite determined to keep his attitudes."
Nijiko also nodded at the answer. "Hinata-sama is right, I'm not sure that he is ready to accept others in his life just yet," she said sadly.
Genma looked up and announced the next match. "Would Kamizuru Majin and Aburame Shino please come down to the arena floor?" he asked, as Naruto noticed a furrowed brow on Shino who walked down slowly to the fighting area.
"So the impassive Aburame don't disappoint? I will get revenge for my clan for what you guys did to us all those years ago," Majin said in a loud boast.
Both combatants raised their arms and waited for Genma to speak. "Begin," he exclaimed, as he jumped away.
Immediately insects left the large sleeves of both combatants, bees from Majin and beetles from Shino. Both groups of insects collided. Naruto smirked, as he noticed a group of beetles moving along the floor towards Majin. "This should be interesting," he said, as he brought the attention of those around him to the wave of beetles. "Do feel sorry for Shino in that he is going to lose a lot of his colony to this fight. I say this fight could go either way. That is if Majin noticed the beetles at his feet, otherwise it will be over."
Majin screamed, as he moved his arms down to his legs to try to figure out what was going on and then noticed the stream of beetles going up his pant legs. "No! I can't believe I was fooled by you!" he exclaimed, as his eyes began to roll back into his head and then fell over. The bees turned course and left the beetles alone while going back to their master.
"Winner Aburame Shino," Genma exclaimed, as the medics took Majin from the arena. Shino wearily came up the stairs, as Naruto put a hand on him to steady him. "Good job Shino, but I hope you didn't lose too many insects," Naruto said compassionately.
Shino shook his head and replied, "No I only lost about a third of my colony, but I'm worried about Majin attempting to try this again. My trick worked on him this time. It won't work again," he explained.
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A/N: Good catch and I fixed a couple other problems, thanks again Goku90504.