Karura watched as her sister's name flashed up on the screen. She sighed. Whoever else was chosen was a dead man, unless…
"Naruko."
Karura turned to look at her mother. Matsuri was staring at Naruko, who kept her back turned and her eyes focused on the screen.
"Naruko, look at me please."
Karura watched as Naruko slowly turned around to glare at her mother. It was funny, Karura thought, how the Kazekage of Suna, one of the strongest shinobi in the world, couldn't control Naruko at all. Yet her mother, a talented jonin but nowhere near Gaara's level, was the only one who Naruko seemed to show any respect to.
Karura watched now as the two faced off. Naruko's glare was so frosty it should have frozen Matsuri where she stood. Matsuri remained calm, never breaking eye contact with Naruko.
Why does every conversation with Naruko become a battle of wills? Karura thought.
Naruko was the first one to break. She looked to the side, frustration evident on her face.
"What do you want, Mother?" she growled.
Matsuri was used to the hostility. They all were. They had all coped with Naruko in different ways. Yashamaru had become a bully, trying to prove to himself that people couldn't push him around. Gaara had grown more serious, devoting most of his time with his family to trying to understand Naruko. Family conversations were usually centred around Naruko nowadays. Karura couldn't remember the last time her father had asked about her day. She didn't blame Gaara, he was the Kazekage and Naruko was a constant threat to the village. Matsuri was the only one who could ever make Naruko listen, but she still spent time with her other two children. She and Gaara were the only two people in Suna who weren't afraid of Naruko. Karura herself was terrified of Naruko, but she tried to hide it as best she could.
Right now, she was scared. Whatever her mother was about to do, it wouldn't please Naruko.
"I don't want you to kill this boy. I don't want you do kill anyone at all but I understand that it happens in these matches. But please, try not to."
Sure enough, Matsuri's request caused Naruko to spin around furiously. Once again, their eyes locked and they became engrossed in a staring match. Karura hovered awkwardly at the side, not quite sure what to do.
Once again, Naruko lost. She growled angrily and turned back to the field. Her opponent was already down there, waiting for the start of the match.
"I won't kill anyone until the final." she said "But I can't promise anything after that."
Karura noticed the look of pain in Matsuri's eyes. Seeing her own daughter act this way hurt her mother badly. That was why Karura tried to be nice to everyone, to make up for Naruko.
As Naruko jumped over the railing (Seriously, was no one going to use the stairs?) Karura looked up at the sky for the millionth time. If there was someone out there controlling the fate of the universe, why did he always make problems for the Kazekage's family? Why had he given Naruko too much power for a girl her age?
No one ever gave Karura the answers to these questions, so she turned back and watched the match.
!
Hisa watched as the two names appeared on the screen.
Naruko vs Chouko Akimichi.
She turned to look at Chouko. His normally round and cheerful face had gone white, and he looked like he was about to faint. Shikai helped him make his way to the stairs and the two boys made their way down.
Hisa turned to look at Nawaki. He was looking a lot more relaxed now that there was no longer a chance he had to face Naruko. Now that Naruko and Chouko were gone, that left Nawaki, Lu and Shikai. One of them would get a free pass to the second round, while the other two would have to battle it out.
Down on the field, Chouko was standing nervously, waiting for Naruko to come down. Hisa couldn't blame Chouko for looking terrified. Knowing Naruko, there was a big chance Chouko would be dead by the end of the day.
Naruko jumped off her balcony and landed perfectly on the ground. She walked over to Chouko, who looked like he wanted to bolt. Shikamaru walked over, gave Chouko a quick pat on the shoulder for encouragement, and declared the start of the match.
The match was over in less than a minute.
Chouko used his Expansion Jutsu to make himself look like a ball. Naruko stood silently, not moving an inch.
"Human Boulder!" yelled Chouko, charging at Naruko.
Naruko didn't even flinch. One second Chouko was barrelling towards her. The next second she had grabbed his neck mid-roll and slammed him to the ground. She tightened her hold on his neck until he began to choke. Shikamaru quickly declared her the winner.
Hisa studied Naruko closely. She had only used one move, so her kekkei genkai was still a mystery. However, she seemed to be extremely skilled at taijutsu. It was almost impossible to stop an Akimichi mid-roll, yet Naruko had done it without using excessive force. So she was smart too, for a five year old.
Naruko made her way back to her balcony, and Chouko hobbled his way back up the stairs. The others surrounded him, congratulating him on surviving. By the end of it all, he seemed quite pleased with himself, despite his loss.
Hisa looked back at the screen as the three remaining names flashed up. Nawaki was nervous again, gripping the railing tightly, eyes never leaving the screen. Hisa was nervous too, but for a completely different reason. She knew Nawaki would be fine, he could hold his own against both Lu and Shikai. Hisa was worried about the second round. There was a big chance she would face either Hizashi or Naruko, and those matches wouldn't end well for her. So what if Hizashi needed help? She wasn't going to forfeit like Obito. If she did end up facing Hizashi, she would win first, talk later.
She focused on the screen as the two names flashed up.
!
Once the two names flashed up, Kakashi decided that it was time to make his move. He studied Sakura closely, waiting for the perfect moment to jump down and scare her.
"Are you going to stare at me all day or are you going to come down and talk to me?"
Kakashi was so startled he almost fell out of his seat. She had known the whole time that he had been there! He hid his surprise and jumped down into the empty seat next to her.
"Why hello there Sakura, fancy meeting you here."
She smiled at him and rolled her eyes.
"I suppose you know why I'm here."
"Not quite, but I can guess. I don't think you're here to see Naruto's kids."
"You know." she said, turning around to face him fully.
"Know about what? Sasuke's child? Yes I know about that."
"Keep your voice down!" she hissed.
He put his hands up in surrender.
"Sorry, it's not every day your old student comes back after mysteriously disappearing from the village."
"You haven't told them I'm here." It was a statement, not a question.
"If by 'them' you mean Sasuke and Naruto then no, I haven't told them anything. I don't plan on telling them anything unless you say so."
She looked at him curiously, trying to see behind his calm demeanour.
"Why would you do that?" she asked calmly "I'm a missing-nin, and I'm not special like Sasuke was. Surely the right thing would be to turn me in."
"Well Sakura, the thing is that to me you are special. So I'm not going to do anything. I'll let you continue this crazy plan."
She sighed.
"Why does everyone think my plans are crazy?"
He looked at her incredulously.
"Don't you remember your three failed schemes to see my mask? Not to mention that surprise birthday you tried to organize. I was in the hospital for three weeks!"
"Point taken." she mumbled. "Anyways, how did you find out?"
He smiled under his mask. Time for a surprise.
"Nawaki told me himself. I've been training him for the last month, and he's good."
She nodded, eyes scanning the stadium. Kakashi didn't know if she was looking for Nawaki, Sasuke , Naruto or all three.
"I know that you've been training him. I saw the two of you practising once, you were teaching him the water clone. But seriously, how did you find out? Nawaki would never tell you."
He smiled again. So she trusted her son completely, that was good.
"You're right, he didn't tell me. I had a hunch and I made a comment about you and Sasuke. His face was all the proof I needed."
She had turned around and was glaring at him.
"What do you mean you 'made a comment' about me and Sasuke?" If you told him about that one time with the cream…"
He put his hands up again in surrender.
"Calm down. I merely told him that you were proud of him and that I would try and get Sasuke to watch his match."
"Oh," she said, settling down again in her seat. "That's good. But now he'll be even more nervous, knowing Sasuke will be watching."
He looked at her closely out of the corner of his eye. Her face gave nothing away.
"Do you think he can win?"
She nodded.
"Of course I do. He's my son and I believe in him."
!
Nawaki gulped as his name flashed across the screen.
Nawaki Hachino vs Lu Ten.
He looked across at his opponent. Lu and Lee were locked in some sort of strange embrace and… was that a sunset? Nawaki shook his head and turned away from the two spandex-clad shinobi.
Oki came over and gave him a hug.
"Good luck." she said cheerfully "Not like you need it. I know you'll do great."
Nawaki tried to control his blushing, he really did. But his face still resembled a tomato. Luckily, Oki moved on and Hisa was next.
"Lu Ten's only strength is his taijutsu." she began "He's been trained by Lee so don't try and fight him on taijutsu alone. Use your ninjutsu techniques, and if you know any genjutsu that would be helpful."
Nawaki did know genjutsu, but it all centred around his sharingan.
"Thanks." he said to Hisa.
She scowled in embarrassment.
"Just try not to lose too badly." she muttered.
He grinned. "It warms my heart to know I can count on your support."
"Get going," she said, but there was a slight smile on her face.
Nawaki jumped over the railing (If you can't beat 'em, join 'em)
He landed on the ground just as Lu landed next to him. Nawaki took a moment to look around the stadium. Somewhere in the crowd, for the first time ever, both his parents were watching him. He would not let them down.
Nawaki was strangely relaxed about the whole match. Lu was better at taijutsu, but Nawaki was miles better at ninjutsu.
He was going to win this.