Once more it took me a bit longer to update then I've planned, but judging from the way things goes, I must say that it's really better late then never. Collage is really crushing down on me, so the update paste may really slow down in the near future, but at the very least I should be able to keep up at least this week.
As always I wanna thank everyone who sacrificed their time to review the previous chapter. The number of reviews still wasn't as high as I hoped it'd be, but I'm happy to know new readers joined the ranks of those that are interested in this story. So really, thank all of you guys (and girls) that do read and review!
Also some questions were asked, that I wasn't able to answer so far, so I'll just say that Mikka will have her fight soon after Kai's match and as for Kai's opponent… well, all is revealed in this chappie, so just read it.
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT: okay, it really took a lot out of me, however I must say that I'm somewhat proud of myself, because I've managed to prepare a special surprise for the two-year anniversary of this fic (that gets a bit earlier then the anniversary itself, but still). Besides one I had in stored earlier (and that will be appearing in the time for "celebration"), it looks like I'll manage to give you a very special treat next time around. Now here's what I want to ask you guys: please review this chapter, so that I'd know what you think of not just it but also the story so far overall. And if the number of reviews will be high (and I mean high, though nothing impossible really) and you guys promise to review every chapter that'll be updated next week, I promise that even if I'd have to fall behind a bit with my work for collage (though I don't think that'll be necessary), next week (Friday or Saturday) I'll give you a very special MULTIPLY UPDATE, regarding Kai's entire fight! I can promise you that it's gonna take up more then two chapters (won't say how much exactly, to not spoil). And I hope you'll treat that as part of the two-year anniversary celebration (considering how many of you kept on asking "when Kai's gonna fight")!
So with that announced, lets get down to the next chapter of "Naruto: Next Generation":
Chapter #80: Strings Attached
Title Page: out front Kitsune is trying to teach a monkey how to write, while in the back Kai is sleeping under the tree
"That attack should've cut off his arm… and yet he countered it like nothing happened and with a single blow knocked me out… who… what the hell is he?" Tasuki demanded in his mind as his consciousness slowly began leaving him.
Instantly Lee found himself near the laying moon-nin, who cough out more blood and still found it hard breathing. After a quick examination, the Green Beast decided that the fight was over: "I won't allow this match to continue and thus Debano Kitsune is declared the winner!" and with that he pointed at the leaf-nin, who now stood holding the wide cut on his left hand.
Kitsune slowly returned to the platform, still holding his arm. Immediately Mikka purposed to treat him, making Senkou let out a frown of some sort, yet aside from that, the masked gennin said nothing. Taki only narrowed her eyes as she settled them on Shikamaru's subordinate and then turned to her teammate: "Say, Hitomi-san, what is that guy?"
The young Hyuuga only gazed at her companion and then activated her bloodline limit, while she turned her glance at Kitsune. Almost instantly her eyes narrowed as she realized something: "Unbelievable" she announced and as Akira asked the obvious question 'what is it', the white-eyed girl replied, loud enough only for her teammates to hear her: "This whole Kitsune guy… both his bones and blood circulation system… are filled with iron…"
"Iron?" Horohoro repeated surprised, rising his eyebrow. "This doesn't make sense…"
"Not quite" Funbo disagreed as he gazed at Kitsune for a split second. "If you think about, that would explain all this weirdness in that match: why his hand didn't got cut off, how come he managed to knock that moon-nin out with a single blow, his endurance. If that iron was harder then that greenhead's katana, it makes sense that the thing which broke was the sword. The skin still got cut, that's why there's blood, but the blade couldn't cut through the iron in the bones and the impact made it crack…"
"And with iron in the bones, his fists are harder then a typical human" Akira added thoughtfully. "That's why a single attack made so much damage: it broke that Moon guy's bones. And with iron in his ribs, it'd explain how come they didn't break once this Tasuki fellow kept on crushing them…"
"The way you say it" Taki cut in. "It does make some sense, but even if all your assumptions are correct, what you're saying seem unreal. It'd mean this whole Kitsune guy is some sort of robot from a weird, science-fiction book…"
"No, he still have all the human organs and they all seem just like those either of us has" Hitomi corrected her carefully, as if she was trying to choose the right words. "Even those bones and blood circulation system seems the same as a human being, only it somehow got hardened with iron. It may sound crazy for me to say this, but that Kitsune guy is not less human then any of us…" and with that her sight suddenly traveled to Takai: "Which I can't say about this guy…"
"Great job, Kitsune!" Kogane cheered loudly, giving her teammate's a thumbs up. "Though it really took you pretty long to end it! I was expecting better from you!" she teased, making the blacksmith gaze at her for a split second, but then he just seemed to ignore the blonde kunoichi.
"So Kitsune won, big deal" stated Rei as she was slowly getting into her sleeping position. "It's not like any, other result was possible. Wake me up when those eliminations are over" and instantly her snoring filled the room again, making Toku sweat dropped at her behavior, while Shikamaru merely let out a sigh.
Meanwhile the medics already placed Tasuki on a stretcher. The green-haired boy opened his eyes with difficulties and saw both Teela and Tenka standing right next to him. He managed a weak smile and with an emotionless voice, he spoke up: "Looks like I blew it in the end… those, two Chishio losers certainly won't let me forget this…"
"Why do you think that?" the redhead asked, calm as usual. "I'm sure they will… we're all friends" but as she said so, Tasuki only let out a quiet snort before replying: "Friends… you know I don't believe in that sort of stuff…"
"Well, maybe you should finally try believing, coz friends can prove useful" announced Teela as she pointed at Mikka, who was just finishing treating Kitsune. "I know that with your experience its hard for you to believe in it, but not everyone who claims to be your friend is just talk…" and as she said so, the green-haired boy settled his eyes at the ceiling, while medics took him away.
Both, Moon kunoichi left the arena as the next pair of fighters was already chosen: SENTOU versus HORAMARU. Seeing this, the blonde boy from Hidden Sand smiled evilly, taking few steps forward to jump down onto the arena, yet his way suddenly got blocked by Hari's hand, who examined hers teammate closely and with a serious voice, she announced: "Don't go overboard…"
However the other blonde seemed to completely ignore her and jumped down, still smiling. Karame gazed at the short kunoichi and then narrowed his eyes as they traveled back to Horamaru: "He just won't listen" the mummy gennin sighed in his mind, yet remained silent, opposite to Sabure, who was cheering loudly for her teammate to 'kick butt'.
"Twenty third match: Sentou from Kane against Horamaru from Suna! BEGIN!" and in a flash the metal-nin charged forward, tightening his steel fists. Seeing this the blonde jumped back, making his opponent's attack hit the floor where he stood just a second ago and smashing it to pieces.
"That's quite the hit power" stated Horamaru with a smirk as he jumped up again, making the incoming punch go right beneath his feet. Immediately Sentou threw his hand up, aiming to hit the sand-nin's back, yet his opponent simply threw his leg back and the instant it connected with the steel arm, the Suna shinobi bounced off it and somersaulting, landed few meters away from his adversary.
"Don't believe in your own strength, eh?" Horamaru asked teasingly, yet his opponent managed to hold back his anger as he raised his right arm up, saying: "These things are charged by my chakra. As long as I feed them with it, they're operating and the more I put, the greater the power they have. This is not so different from The Leaf's Jyuken actually, only in this case it's supported by technology…"
"I see… so those hands of yours… you're proud of them, huh?" the sand-nin asked with a wicked smile as he began flipping the fingers of his right hand. This time Sentou did not reply. In stead he charged at Horamaru again, his fists ready as before.
As he swung his right fist at the blonde, Horamaru simply bended his head to his right, making the punch go right next to his smiling face. Then another attack was launched, this time aimed at the sand-nin's stomach, yet he simply jumped up and flipping in mid-air, he placed his opened palm on Sentou's fist and before the Kane shinobi knew it, his adversary's leg connected with his face, forcing him to take few steps back to keep his balance.
Once he stopped, Sentou charged again and threw his right hand straight at Horamaru's face, however the sand-nin easily dodged by crawling down and as the metal-nin's fist flew above his head, the blonde placed his palm on it and used it to prop himself up. In a flash he spun on his foot and came from the Kane shinobi's right, surprisingly dragging his opponent's left hand with him.
Sentou only widen his eyes in surprise as his own, left hand hit his neck while it seemed to try reaching something behind his right shoulder. Reiji only narrowed his eyes at the sight, immediately realizing what was going on. Funbo merely smirked: "Most amusing…"
"What the hell did you do?" demanded Sentou as he found himself incapable of moving his hands. He looked over his shoulder and only then did he saw the light getting deflected by something thin that traveled from his hands to the sand-nin's. "You… you use metal strings?"
"Maybe" replied Horamaru with a wicked smile as he licked his lips. "And now lets see just how strong those arms of yours ready are" and with a quick motion of his hands, Sentou's steel arms got cut into tens of pieces, leaving the metal-nin yell in agony. As the steel parts felt to the floor with a loud noise, the Kane shinobi dropped to his knees with only a small part of his left arm still in place, while his right one was completely thorn out.
"Seems to me that they just sold you some crap in that workshop" stated Horamaru with a devilish smirk as he threw his hands up and flipped his fingers. In a flash Sentou found his entire body getting wrapped by metal strings. Fear appeared on his face as sweat covered his body. "Lets see what you're made off…" purposed the blonde joyfully.
"No, I give up!" Sentou immediately yelled and instantly Horamaru felt someone's hand landing on his shoulder. As he looked over his shoulder, he realized it was Lee: "He forfeited. This match is over, so please calm your spirit of youth down and unwrap the poor guy…"
"Why should I?" replied the blonde with widen eyes in which insanity seemed to hide. In a flash the sand-nin pulled his hands back, but at the same time Dekai jumped down, cutting all the strings with his sword, which once more got surrounded with wind. The string user frowned as he glared at his teammate: "What the hell are you doing, asshole? This isn't your fight!"
"No, it's not" admitted the swordsman. "However this match is over. Chill…" but as he said so, Horamaru connected his palms and upon separating them, strings hung between them again as his eyes settled on Dekai: "Why should I?" the blonde repeated psychotically, but then Kankuro appeared on the arena and reached for his scrolls.
"Horamaru, that is enough! Calm down, otherwise I'll be force to knock you out" announced the puppeteer, making his subordinate glare at him as well. After a moment, that seemed like hours, the blonde lowered his hands and with another frown, he jumped back onto the platform. The Sand jounin let out a sigh of relief and then turned to Lee: "I'm terribly sorry for the interruption. Please continue and do allow the medics to take care of that Kane boy…" and with that he took Dekai up the platform as well.
"Winner: Horamaru from Suna!" announced the Leaf's Green Beast as medics took Sentou away. Reiji only narrowed his eyes again: "So I'm the only one left…" at seeing the whole scene, Kumiko merely shivered as she gaze at her teacher: "Naruto-sensei, why is that guy allowed into the next exam anyway? He just disobeyed a direct command from a higher rank!"
"Well, he may be cruel, but that has nothing to do with the fact that he did won" the blonde jounin replied calmly. "It may be painful to admit, but he's skilled and the fact that he's a psychopath is a secondary issue…"
"Well, either way I sure would hate to go against him in the next exam" stated Kusari nervously. "He's even more freaky then Takaru and Ibuki…" and the instant he said so, both the weapon mistress and the son of Tsunade began beating the crap out of him. Kai only backed away, sweat dropping: "The guy does have a point…" he thought as he observed the whole scene.
Finally Lee announced that the participants of the next match will be chosen and so the blonde gathered his attention at the screen: "Pick me already! Pick me!" and surprisingly for him, Sabure followed his example. Yet this time, it was the blonde's wish that got granted.
Kai widen his eyes at realizing who his opponent will be. Mikka only let out a quiet gasp, while Senkou smirked behind his mask with a single thought racing through his mind: "Well, what do you know?" The screen gave no doubt about it: HATAKE SENKOU versus HAISHA KAI!
---fate has made the choice… what will become of Kai?---
And that's it for this time. Remember: if you want an extra, multiply update next time, review! And With all that said, all that's left is to place the gennin list before I wrap this up:
Konoha #7: Murasakki Kumiko, Tanken Ibuki, Gekido Takaru, Hagane Kusari, Haisha Kai
Konoha #3: Konpaku Rei, Rikoteki Kogane, Amagasa Toku, Debano Kitsune, Gusoku Hanamaru
Konoha #4: Igaku Mikka, Inuzuka Tsume, Benda Kokoro, Hatake Senkou, Kobushi Galu
Konoha: Hamano Taki, Hyuuga Hitomi, Manako Akira, Tanken Funbo, Horohoro
Suna #1: Aoru, Torune, Honemaru, Tarakudo, Takai
Suna #2: Sabaku no Sabure, Hari, Dekai, Horamaru, Karame
Kusa: Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kuchibashi Taka, Kyohaku Tokame, Wanabi Hizoku
Ame: Furikuzu Tsuino, Hebereke Nazaa
Bakufu: Azarashi Kawa, Abura Tetsu, Makko Shita
Tsuki: Junsei Teela, Tenka
Hane: Ono Reiji
Kumori: Kyuu
And that's really that for now. Thanks for "tuning in". Hope you'll let me know what you think and see you next time!