SailorStar9: Nya? Chapter 43 goes up and only one review!

Disclaimers: I own nothing, well except the pairing.

Halibel: Now where's the wuss?

SailorStar9: (Shrugs and points back)

Halibel: (Wide-eyed and gaping as he watches Kakashi getting pulverized by Behemoth, Tao and Araknos as Eva and Team 7 looked on, popcorn in hand.)

Sasuke: (Winces) Are human bodies meant to bend like that?

Eva: How would I know? Hey, Anko, you're up next.

Anko: Yay! (Turbo-charger on stand-by)

Chapter 44: Manga World Youth: Book 6

This bastard is quite stubborn. Bunnark snorted when it was declared a change in goalkeepers.

"Remove the wall, it's in my way." Genzo told the defenders, having taken Morisaki's place.

On the bench...

"Mikami, Wakabayashi's hands, they're alright?" Minato inquired.

"He had some painkiller injections and has both solid tapings on both hands, in these circumstances, he will be able to punch." Ami answered. "However, he won't be able to catch the ball."

"What?" the team chorused.

On the field...

The Konsawatto brothers charged towards the ball, only to pass it backwards to Bunnark.

"What?" Tsubasa gasped when Bunnark made a forward pass in front.

The Konsawatto jumped, readying a triple 'Overhead Shot'.

"I'll defend All Japan's goal with the best of my ability, you won't be able to score anymore, Thailand Youth." Genzo swore, punching through the triplets. "Leave the defense to me,. You have to score one during the last 5 minutes of the first half, Tsubasa." he sent the ball out.

"Ok, Wakabayashi." Tsubasa caught the pass. Using Sano to complete the one-two, the continuous passes were intercepted by the Thailand team.

With the ball in hand, the Thailand team renewed their assault.

"I have it!" Sakun made his shot, only to be deflected by Genzo.

Chana took over with an 'Overhead Shot', Ishizaki tried to block off the ball with his trademark 'Face Block'. Genzo reacted, punching the ball away.

"These guys are persistent." Genzo growled as Faran renewed the attack in the air. Forward-somersaulting, he blocked off the ball.

Bunnark made a long pass to the Konsawatto brothers, Genzo punching the ball off before Sakun reached the ball. The ball rolled over to the sideline, just as Aoi picked up the fallen ball.

"Sorry for being late, everyone." Aoi declared. "Aoi Shingo arrived just now."

"Aoi, you've returned." the team gaped.

On the bench...

"Aoi, why are you here only now?" Minato barked.

"Sorry, Gamo, my flight in Italy was delayed." Aoi apologized. "Moreover, on the way here..."

"Ara, so the brat returns." Rei grinned.

"Enough chatter." Minato snapped. "Hurry and get on the field. Referee, substitution!"

"Gamo, what's my position?" Aoi thought to ask.

"You can move as you want." Minato replied. "But for your expiation, you must score one goal."

"Yes!" Aoi beamed.

On the field...

With Sano substituted, Thailand earned the throw-in, only to have Aoi steal the ball.

"Great Explosion of Mt. Fuji!" Aoi sent the ball into the air to prevent the Thailand players from claiming the ball. Trapping the falling ball, he dodged past his markers and headed out, passing the ball off to Tsubasa.

"Go, Aoi!" Tsubasa made a pass forward.

With a jumping volley, Aoi caught the pass, rolling into the net along with the ball.

Just then, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the first half.

Right at the start of the second half, Aoi claimed the ball and headed straight for Bunnark. "Let's go, Bunnark." he declared. "It's a duel."

"Aoi!" Tsubasa warned.

"Eat this, Bunnark." Aoi stated. "This is my new technique, the 'Right-Angle Feint'. Ah... hey!" he blinked, finding the ball missing from underneath his foot. "I haven't perfectly master this technique yet." he admitted.

Tsubasa cut in before Bunnark could clear the ball. "Let's go, Bunnark." he declared. "This time, I accept the one-on-one duel."

"Then, I'll use any means possible to stop you." Bunnark swore as Tsubasa bypassed him with his 'Santana Turn'.

Dodging Bunnark's arm swing, Tsubasa readied an 'Overhead Kick', just as Aoi came in with a jumping volley. With that, the pair scored a goal together.

"Ah, damn." Aoi muttered, Faran having cut in on him.

"Misugi," Genzo voiced, the Thailand team having taken onto the defensive. "The work of a libero is not just to stay in front of his goal."

"I know." Misugi replied.

Though heavily marked, Tsubasa forced his way through Thailand's defense.

"I'll stop your shot!" Bunnark closed in.

Misugi! Tsubasa spotted the defender behind him and made a back-pass.

"I'll stop your shot!" Bunnark jumped into Misugi's ball course when the ball shot over his shoulder and curved straight into the net, pulling the equalizer.

"Go, Aoi." Tsubasa bypassed the Konsawatto brothers and made his pass.

"Like I'll let you!" Bunnark blocked Aoi's ball course.

"I won't give up." Aoi swore and renewed his attack, only to have Bunnark clear the ball, the younger player being blown off by the impact.

5 minutes and counting.

Faran made a pass to Sakun, who let the ball pass between his legs. Chana jumped over the ball, allowing it fly pass to Bunnark.

"There, I leave it to you!" Bunnark made a high pass.

"Go, Chana!" Faran and Sakun propelled their brother towards the ball.

"I'll score the victorious goal!" Chana sent the ball into the net.

Genzo reacted, diving to save the ball, his fingertips brushing against the ball. The ball hit the goalpost and was about to pass the goal-line when Aoi cut in, kicking the ball out.

Matsuyama caught the cleared ball, just as Aoi crashed his forehead onto the goalpost.

"This kind of thing is nothing at all." Aoi assured. "Moreover, we must score quickly." and rocketed off.

"I'm leaving it to you, Tsubasa." Matsuyama made his pass.

Tsubasa then passed the ball to Sorimachi who returned it. Tsubasa caught the returned pass and passed it off to the side, where Aoi had already speeding forward.

"Good, here!" Aoi made his shot beneath the goalkeeper's legs. "This is my special technique, the 'Nutmeg Shot'. No way!" he exclaimed when Chana deflected the shot.

"Not yet!" Tsubasa declared. "The match isn't over yet."

"Right, like Tsubasa said." Takasugi agreed, getting the toss-in. "The match is not over yet."

With the Thailand players closing in, Tsubasa made a 'Flying Drive Shot'. "Aoi, score!" he barked, the ball curving around.

"I won't let you score the victorious goal." Bunnark promised, closing in on the overturned Aoi.

"Here!" Aoi made a no trap roverciata on the ground, the ball shooting between Bunnark's legs, past the goalkeeper's fingertips and into the net, scoring Japan the reversal goal.

With that, the whistle sounded, signaling the end of the match.

The next day...

"Tsubasa's going back to Brazil again?" Ryo echoed. "Really, a pro doesn't have time to relax."

"Yeah, but I've realized something after yesterday's match." Tsubasa admitted. "It appears that I have neglected Asian soccer, but yesterday, Thailand taught me that there are many magnificent and strong teams in Asia. So, next time we must not be negligent in the second round. I'm going back to Brazil for our sake, to get stronger. Next time, I'll see you will be in August."

"Yeah, we'll resume our training today." Ryo nodded. "We'll be stronger too when you return. Hyuuga and Misaki will be back for the second round too."

"But, Tsubasa, you won't meet Angeo." Teppei teased.

"She waited, so lonely in Japan for you to come back." Ryo prodded.

"The'yre meeting at the airport." Ami supplied. Saving her cousin from further embarrassment. "And by the way Bas," her eyes twinkled. "You're the honorary godfather."

"Don't I have a say in this?" Tsubasa complained.

"Nope." Genzo grinned at his cousin-in-law.

Omake

Behind the scenes of Naruto, Part Nine

Sasuke moaned painfully. He felt like he had been run over by a truck and then dragged 3 miles to a hospital. He couldn't move any part of his burning body. He weakly opened his eyes and tried to adjust his vision. His surroundings were blurry but he managed to see two blurry figures leaning over him. There was a blackish blob and a pinkish one.

"Sasuke? Sasuke? Are you alright?" Sasuke was sure that the voice belonged to Sakura.

"Oh no! Why? Why? Why did this have to happen to my Sasuke?" The second figure wept loudly. Without a doubt Sasuke knew that the cry belonged to his brother, Itachi.

Sasuke let out another painful moan. "Sakura? Sakura…I'm…fine…" Sasuke managed to choke out with a cough. But it was quite obvious with his coarse voice and endless coughing that he wasn't.

"Well if you're fine then I'll leave! I mean I do still have to find Lee! Bye!" With that the pink haired ninja hurried left the room.

"Sakura…uh…wait…" Sasuke tired calling out to Sakura but he was interrupted by an eruption of coughs. He even tried to get up from his bed, but he didn't even get up a few inches and his tired body fell back to the bed.

"Sasuke! Don't try to strain yourself!" Itachi cried. He quickly made his way to his brother's side. Itachi continued to cry hysterically. "Sasuke, why didn't you tell me you were dying?" He softly whispered.

Sasuke opened his mouth to make some rude, nasty comment but the only that came out was another fit of coughs. Why exactly did Sakura make him drink? But he didn't blame Sakura; she was only trying to help. Sasuke blamed Itachi for almost choking him to death.

Finally Itachi seemed to stop bawling. He smiled weakly at Sasuke and exclaimed. "Sasuke, since you're dying and I called some people to visit you."

Sasuke didn't even get time to react and the door of his bedroom burst open. "Sasuke! Sasuke! Why are you dying?" A booming voice cried. A figure leaned over Sasuke and continued to sob. "Sasuke do you recognize me? This is your uncle Kisame. Oh no, the poor boy doesn't even remember me!" Kisame continued to weep.

"There, There." Itachi comforted Kisame by patting him lightly on the back. "I mean it's not like I'm losing my brother or anything…" Itachi couldn't take it anymore he too started to cry again.

Kisame and Itachi hugged each other and sobbed wildly. "Why? Why did it have to be our Sasuke?"

The room was silent except for the low sobbing of Kisame and Itachi and Sasuke's heavy breathing. Then another voice spoke from the door. "I had to see if you really were dying, Sasuke-chan."

Sasuke froze. He knew exactly who that voice belonged to.

Somewhere near a panting paranoid boy…

"Uh, Hinata…bye…grains and fields…hehehe…got to go…" With that Naruto quickly left a confused Hinata before he could embarrass himself anymore.

Naruto ran behind a wall and caught his breathe. Why did he have to such an idiot? Why couldn't he just tell Hinata what he felt? Why?

"Having some girl problems are we, Naruto?" Naruto looked up to see who had just spoken to him.

"Leave me alone, Lee." Naruto replied weakly. He didn't want anyone witnessing his woe.

"Well if you really wanted I could help you. I could you know teach you everything I know about girls. I mean a lot of girls do like me you know." Lee offered calmly.

Naruto's face lit up. "Do you really mean that Lee?"

"Yeah, Of course I mean it." Lee smiled. "Welcome to Lee's Hunka Macho Lessons."

Meanwhile…

Gaara, Kiba, and Kankurou stood at the door of Kankurou's bedroom.

"It was right over, under that bed." Gaara squeaked as he pointed to Kankurou's bed. Kankurou fearfully hid behind his brother. Kiba smiled brightly as he stared at the bed.

"I'll just check it." Kiba exclaimed calmly as he headed towards Kankurou's bed. He lifted up the corner of Kankurou's bed and stuck his head in. Suddenly he was engulfed by the bed.

Gaara's eyes widened as he stared in horror bed. Kankurou closed his eyes and hid behind Gaara. What were they going to do?

Gaara was just about to call for help when Kiba called from under the bed. "Hey guys its ok. It's George. It's George my sharp fanged, red eyed, invisible chicken." Kiba giggled and laughed under Kankurou's bed.

Gaara and Kankurou sighed with relief. Then after a few more moments Kiba emerged from under the bed holding air. "Gaara, Kankurou meet my chicken George." Kiba held up his empty hand to show the invisible chicken.

Before Gaara didn't even have time to react and George gave out a ferocious growl and attacked Gaara. George bit Gaara's pants leg and brought him to the floor. Gaara screamed his head off. "Oh no! Please! I'm going to die again!"

Finally the red haired ninja managed to shake off the angry chicken. "Aaaaaaahhhhhh!" In a panic Gaara ran out of the room waving his arms like crazy and screaming.

"Gaara! Wait for me!" Kankurou yelled and ran after his brother and the crazy chicken.

"George!" Kiba yelled and ran after Kankurou, Gaara, and George.

"Please! I don't want to die!" Gaara shrieked like a madman. In his fright Gaara didn't see the 15 foot red brick wall in front of him.

"There you are George!" Finally Kiba managed to catch his chicken the exact moment Gaara ran straight into the brick wall.

"Gaara!" Kankurou cried in terror, running to his brother's side. "Gaara, Gaara, are you alright?" He tried to wake up his unconscious brother.

"Huh? What?" Gaara opened his eyes.

"Is he alright?" Kiba called to Kankurou. He stayed a good distance to make sure that George didn't get another chance to attack Gaara.

"Are you OK? How many pancakes did Temari have for breakfast? What is the speed of light? What color is my underwear? Gaara, are you alright?" Kankurou asked hysterically.

"Two; one blueberry and one chocolate chip, 299,792,458 meters per second or about 186,000 miles per second, and purple with green dinosaurs." Gaara answered weakly. "Gaara? Who's that? Where am I? Who are you? Who am I?"

"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Kankurou yelled.

"What is it?" Kiba called, as he petted George from a distance.

"Gaara has…Gaara has…Gaara has appendicitis!" Kankurou cried.

SailorStar9: Gaara has appendicitis? Who is Sasuke's unknown visitor? Will Lee's Hunka Macho Lessons help Naruto? Tune in next time…