Hime: Hi! Thanks for being so patient! Hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

While Team 10 made their leave, Team 8 made their way to the clearing for their match against Team 7.

"Yo! Naruto! I'm going to kick your ass as payback for last time!"

Shino sighed at his teammate's antics and wished Kiba would focus on what will be at hand. He shook his head as he noticed Naruto had responded to the challenge..

"Bring it on dog-boy!" replied an enthusiastic Naruto.

"Sasuke, I don't want to fight Shino cuz he's creepy so I'll take on Hinata okay?" says a grinning Sakura but the Uchiha Heir would have none of it.

"No way! Since when can you call dibs on an opponent?"

Sakura was about to retort but Naruto stopped her, "Actually Sasuke, if you want, I could take Shino on instead. I don't mind."

"But didn't you and Kiba-?"

"It's cool besides I always wanted to see what fighting Shino would be like" Naruto told her earnestly.

Sakura frowned, Naruto was way too nice with girls…

"Fine then. I'll take care of the mongrel" smirks the dark-eyed kunoichi.

Naruto grins, "Perfect, then let's get ready."

Tsunade smirked, looking at her serious genin, "Ready kids? HAJIME!"

Team 7 were just about to run forward before Sasuke held them back, "Wait!"

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked.

"Hinata's making hand signs" muttered Sasuke in reply before activating her Sharingan.

So...oh crud! She's doing them too fast! Okay, horse, dog and...WHAT?

She's already done?!

Team 8 somersaulted backward; the boys smirking as Hinata opened her mouth and the opposing team watched, horrified as they witness huge purple smoke came out of her mouth and towards them.

"GUYS! DOUBLE BACK!" screamed Sakura recognizing the jutsu.

"What the heck is that?" asked Naruto as he and teammates ran to take cover in the forest.

"It's the Poison Mist jutsu. Chakra is kneaded within the body and then changed into special chemical substances which is then ejected through the mouth. When this substance comes in contact with the air outside the body, it instantly changes and is transformed into a mist of deadly poison. The poison's ability to kill is tremendous, as even just breathing in a small amount will mean the end of the target's life. As this technique combines ninjutsu, chemistry, and medical knowledge, using it requires fine chakra control and advanced ability in medical ninjutsu."

Sasuke blinked at her, amazed. She was pretty sure that Sakura had just directly recited the jutsu's exact description in the handbook.

Naruto covered his mouth, "So how are we going to fight them if there's a barrier of poison mist in between us?"

Sasuke deadpanned, "I think Hinata would have sort of strategy in mind. In either case, we should keep our guard up."

"Not to mention the fact that we have to avoid the mist at all costs" added Sakura.

The pinkette's teammates nodded in agreement but before any of them could say anything else, a low growling was heard. They turned to the source of the sound, only to see huge, yellow eyes glaring at them in a bush.

"That can't be Kiba right?" muttered Sasuke.

"I certainly hope not" whispered Sakura as she inched closer to Naruto.

"T-that's the l-least of our p-problems."

The kunoichi of the team turned to look at Naruto, wondering why he was stuttering but when they looked down, they understood.

RED ANTS!

"Step back Sakura."

The pinkette frowned but did as she was told. Sasuke went over to Naruto and held on to his wrist, "This might sting a little."

Sakura watched with fascination her dark-haired teammate conjure a layer of chakra over Naruto, one-by-one the red ants fell from Naruto's skin, dead causing Naruto's face to relax.

"How did you that?" Naruto asked in awe.

"A trick I learned from Shishou" replied Sasuke smiling a little at the blonde.

"You...killed...my...pets…"

Sasuke turned, hearing Shino and Naruto gulped who heard it too.

Oh boy…

"NARUTO! SASUKE! WATCH OUT!" came a warning from Sakura.

The two turned to see Kiba coming toward them.

"He's mine!" with a battlecry, Sasuke lunged forward colliding with Kiba. Naruto watched as the two tussled on the grassy ground.

"Keep your head in the game Naruto."

Naruto turned just in time to see shuriken coming at him, he ducked immediately but when he got back up, Shino came running forward with a kunai in hand.

Awww crud...

Sakura sighed, now what was she going to do? That's when she remembered something!

There was no sign of Hinata…

"Aarf!"

Sakura turned just in time for Akamaru to jump on to her and claw her clear-skin face. She screamed in terror as she tried to pry off the small dog.

"STUPID MUTT! GET OFF OF ME!"

Naruto sweat dropped, he didn't expect Shino to be so fast.

Just goes to show that you should never underestimate your opponent.

Naruto ducked again.

Dang it!

Naruto looked around, hoping his teammates could help him; unfortunately Sakura was preoccupied with Akamaru and Sasuke…

Kiba...was on top of Sasuke…

Then, at that moment, Naruto saw red.

Sasuke gripped Kiba hands tightly to keep him from trying to impale her with his kunai.

Damn it!

Suddenly, Kiba felt himself being picked up by the collar. He turned his head to see Naruto glaring at him with intensity.

"N-naruto?"

Without another word, Natura hurled Kiba's body to Shino's, knocking both boys off their feet. Sasuke looked at Naruto, stunned. Naruto held out his hand and Sasuke took it awkwardly.

"Dobe, are you alright?"

Naruto pursed his lips, ready to say something but was interrupted when he felt a kunai pressed against his neck.

"Hinata"

"Sasuke, stand down and surrender."

The said kuniochi deadpanned, unsure of what to do. Luckily, her other teammate came to the rescue.

"Sorry Hinata, but you're the one that needs to stand down and surrender."

"How did you get rid of Akamaru?" Hinata asked, shocked to find Sakura holding a kunai to her back.

"I got mad enough" was Sakura's simple reply. "Now, put your kunai back in your holster."

Hinata did as was told and sighed, "Looks like you got me."

Sakura beamed, "Yup!"

Sasuke turned back to Hinata in disbelief, "No way would it be this easy."

Naruto sweat dropped back to his usual demeanour, "You call what we just went through easy?"

Hinata smirked, "You're right, this is too easy."

With that, Team 7 watched as Hinata disappeared in a puff of smoke with a tree trunk in her place.

Oh shit…

Sakura turned back to see that Shino and Kiba had also disappeared.

"Guys…"

"WATER-STYLE EXPLODING WATER COLLIDING WAVE TECHNIQUE!"

Team 7 looked up just in time to see Hinata with Shino and Kiba at her side, spewing out a great volume of water from her mouth.

Naruto cursed, "RUN GUYS!"

Team 7 ran and ran out until they reached open field where the spectators could see them.

"Finally!" huffed Kankurou, wondering why the hell they were in the forest for so long.

"Holy shit" Temari cursed silently as a huge wave of water came crashing down to Team 7. She also noticed that Team 8 were riding the waves with Hinata leading.

Interesting…

Sasuke spat out water and Naruto helped Sakura up onto a sitting position. They were completely drenched.

"Yield. Now." Team 7 sighed when they saw Team 8 holding kunais to their faces.

Kiba smirked at the victory but before he could brag about it, he realised that he was being pulled underground along with his teammates.

Hinata screamed as she was pulled underground, only to see her head with a panicked expression on her face.

"H-how? When did-?"

Sasuke smirked, "Easy, you underestimated us"

"WINNER! TEAM 7!"

Sakura cheered and went over to hug Naruto who picked her up and swung the pinkette around in glee. Sasuke, seeing this, just clicked her toungue in annoyance.

Dobe!

Hime: Hope you liked it! Please review! ^.^