Chapter 21: Dispersion
"The drawing has ended. Please proceed to your delegated group upon the instructions of the exam proctors." As the announcement ended, groups of ninjas headed towards the arena, each group of five holding a large flag with a designated letter.
The announcer continued. "This arena will not be used for the elimination rounds. Each group will be allotted a venue where all battles will commence. Please proceed to your delegated groups and await further instructions."
The noise from the crowd grew once again.
"We're being separated?" Ino complained.
Shikamaru simply sighed. "I guess they're doing this so that things won't easily get out of hand. It's easier to control a smaller number after all."
Shino nodded in approval. "It definitely lessens the chances of interruption."
"The same goes for us though." Sakura released a heavy sigh. "There's a lesser chance for aid."
"Do you honestly think that we're the only ones here who are willing to back each other out?" Shikamaru gave Sakura a knowing glance. "Look around you. People don't enter the Jounin exams alone. Most enter in groups, the way we did. Entering alone is suicidal. The moment we step in to save a friend is the moment the enemy's team would step in as well. The more people there are in one area, the harder it is for officials to control the crowd and maintain order."
The group went silent.
"I have no qualms over the distribution." Shino began. "The only disadvantage I see is having to undergo multiple fights. It seems to me the exams give far more importance to stamina than skill."
Shikamaru shook his head. "This isn't like the Chuunin exams. Passing isn't based on your judgment, character, leadership skills or anything like that." He paused as he scratched his head. "It's based purely on skill. To be more precise, the three main battle skills – taijutsu, genjutsu and ninjutsu. Whether you win or not in a fight doesn't assure your promotion. It's the level of skill that will guarantee that."
Kiba scoffed. "So it's as simple as showing off?"
Shikamaru sighed in exasperation. "But of course it goes without saying that simply showing off doesn't necessarily ensure promotion. Not to mention the negative effect it has in the next stages of the exams."
Naruto scratched his head in annoyance. "So which is it? Show off or not show off?" Strategizing really wasn't his thing.
Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders. "Timing is everything. It's up to you to decide when to use certain techniques, and when not to use them."
"Attention all examinees. The elimination rounds will begin in half an hour. Please proceed to your designated group immediately. I repeat, please proceed to your designated group immediately."
Tenten sighed. Though luck seemed to be frowning at her, she was still thankful to have not landed in the same group as Lee or Sasuke. Glancing around the arena, Tenten decided to begin looking for her delegated group.
She continued to search in vain through the crowd of scattered contestants when the letter finally caught the corner of her eye. Walking briskly towards the direction of the flag, she took out her lot and raised it at eye level.
"G4." She stated casually, as she watched the flag bearer turn around at the sound of her voice.
She froze. How could she not have noticed?
Those clothes. That hair.
White eyes seemed to pierce through her soul. This couldn't be happening.
She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Neji."
Tenten stood rooted on the spot. She was immobilized by the pair of white eyes. No amount of words could seem to describe how merciless they've grown.
Neji closed his eyes. It seemed as if he did it to restrain himself. Tenten used this moment to release yet another breath she didn't realize she was holding.
Turning around as if he saw nothing, Neji started giving orders as he walked away. Tenten felt like she could finally breathe again.
"Tenten!"
Turning around, Tenten watched as Lee jogged up to where she stood. "I wanted to wish you luck!"
"Thank you. Good luck to us both."
Lee smiled and gave her a hug in return. "Don't you go losing to anyone!"
Tenten found herself grinning. "That's my line!"
Pulling out of the hug, both teammates exchanged smiles.
"Ah! Tenten, you're group's already heading out! Hurry or you'll be left behind!" Lee stated in an alarming voice as he pointed towards the direction where Tenten's group disappeared to. They were no longer in sight.
How the hell did she miss that? Tenten panicked as she ran towards the direction Lee was pointing towards.
"Hurry Tenten-san! Hurry!" Lee kept calling.
"I will! I will!" Tenten yelled in reply as she waved her goodbye.
"Promise me you'll make it to the preliminary rounds!" Lee yelled yet again.
Stopping in her tracks, Tenten turned around to give Lee a 'thumbs up'. Her eyes filled with determination as her mouth curved into a smile. "See you there."
Lee smiled and did his own version of the 'good guy' pose.
Tenten's eyes widened with the sudden realization that her group was nowhere in sight. Panicking, Tenten hurriedly scrambled out of the arena.
Lee watched Tenten's back as she hurried out of the arena. He smiled. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that she'd make it to the preliminary rounds.
Griselda let out a frustrated sigh. "For the hundredth time, would you stop fidgeting your freakin' leg?!"
Rolling his eyes, Yue merely folded his hands on his chest. "It's a subconscious regulatory behavior. Get over it."
Cracking her knuckles, Griselda looked just about ready to beat the hell out of someone. "Well then, excuse my 'subconscious regulatory behavior' of knocking out people who annoy the shit out of me!"
"Griselda."
"Yue."
Came the simultaneous warning tones of Mifuyu and Lucas.
"We have more important things to worry about that both your 'subconscious regulatory behaviors'." Lucas commented in slight irritation.
"The matches could begin in any moment. Anything could happen. We can't risk being caught off guard or worse, lacking in teamwork just because of a ridiculous squabble." Mifiyu scolded.
"Fine! If you think what we're fighting over is childish, then switch seats with me. Let's see how long you can tolerate having your entire seat wobble just because of this idiot's incessant need to move." Griselda challenged as she stood up to emphasize her point.
Standing up, Mifuyu wordlessly took her seat.
"Well so-rry for being so fucking worried that I can't even allow myself to sit still for five minutes!" Yue answered through gritted teeth.
Griseld opened her mouth to respond but was pulled down onto a seat by Mifuyu.
"I understand that both of you can't stand one another." Mifuyu began with an exasperated sigh. "But can we please put our differences aside? I understand that air and earth are polar opposites, just as water and fire are. But for the sake of our mistress, can we please stop the petty fights?"
"Mifuyu is right. We're all on edge." Lucas added with a firm look on both arguing guardians. "We don't know where the elimination rounds will take place. We don't know the capabilities of the people our mistress will be fighting against. And most of all, we don't know just how much control our mistress has over her blood limits." He paused to emphasize the gravity of exposure. "There are about a million possibilities. We could run this scenario over and over and our heads and we still won't be able to achieve a conclusive outcome. The best thing that we can do right now is to figure out where the battles take place, as well as find out as much as we can on her current competitors."
The group went silent.
"I understand." Griselda nodded as he stood up from his seat. "The birds would be able to find out where Oujo-sama's battles will take place. I'll inform you via radio." With one more nod, Griselda took her leave.
"I'll try to dig up more info on the competition. I'll try to classify those who Oujo-sama would be better off avoiding." Yue took off without a goodbye.
Mifuyu gave Lucas a meaningful glance. "I guess they really were that worried."
"And you're not?" A mocking raised eyebrow accompanied the reply.
"Of course I am." Mifuyu rolled her eyes. "But manipulating them both that way, you're too cruel."
"I don't know what you mean." Lucas responded with an expressionless glance.
"You may have fooled them, but you can't fool me." Mifuyu folded her hands to her chest; a stern look adorned her face.
Lucas looked away and directed his gaze to the screens. Sometimes it was annoying just how much Mifuyu could read him. "What would you prefer? Restlessness or activity?"
"I still think it's a bit cruel. Sending Griselda out like that when you already know where the venue where Oujo-sama's battles are, and directing Yue to that task when in fact the chances of him accumulating worthwhile information is low."
"Would you have preferred that they stayed and fought then?"
"They would have calmed down eventually."
"Do you think given their history of fighting they'd miraculously stop now?"
"They would if it was for Oujo-sama!"
"Do you have any proof of that?"
Mifuyu let out a hardly suppressed groan of annoyance. "Why don't you just admit that their restlessness was infectious enough that you needed them away from you to regain self-control? Because if not, sooner or later you would eventually lose your cool the same way they did."
Lucas let out a slow composing breath. "If it bothers you so much, then go find them and bring them back."
Mifuyu raised an eyebrow at this. "Changing the subject." She muttered just loud enough for Lucas to hear. She felt his annoyance spike up a notch higher. "Fine. I won't say any more."
Giving Mifuyu one last look of poorly veiled aggravation, Lucas made a mental note to never be left alone with his counterpart. Water bearers and their inherent perception never failed to piss the hell out of him.
Sasuke exhaled with poorly veiled annoyance at the weight of eyes that never seemed to give him a break. "What?" The look of mock surprise towards his threat made him want to punch the man in the face.
"What?" Kakashi mirrored in response. When he sensed the darkened aura of his previous student, he couldn't help but raise his hands up in defeat. "A joke Sasuke." He responded in a jolly tone.
An icy glare was sent his way.
"Can't blame a person for being curious."
Sasuke clenched his jaw in annoyance. Kakashi was baiting him into a conversation again. Why wouldn't that perverted idiot just get to the point? There was a limit to how much he could control his drive to puncture a hole through a person's head using chidori.
Kakashi looked on happily at the utterly annoyed form of the Sharingan prodigy. He was giving him to verbal reply but his gaze promised pain if he didn't stop beating around the bush. Deciding he didn't want his former student to risk disqualification by attacking him, Kakashi let out a conceding sigh.
"Why the sudden interest in her Sasuke?"
Kakashi watched in amusement as Sasuke's eyes widened a bit for a fraction of a second, before they immediately went back to being cold and emotionless.
Sasuke fought the urge to frown, deciding instead to remain indifferent. He knew from the start that Kakashi was one of the many ninjas in charge of his surveillance but he had no idea that the extent of the surveillance captured even trivial things such as his inexplicable curiosity towards that girl from Gai's team.
"What are you talking about?"
Kakashi resisted the urge to laugh. Playing innocent was Kakashi's last bet on how Sasuke would respond to such a question. Unfortunately, he was wrong.
"I never took you as the avoiding type."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. The teasing tone did nothing to quell his growing frustration. "Whatever it is, it's none of your business."
Kakashi feigned a look of surprise. "Can't a former sensei express interest in his former student's sudden appreciation of the opposite sex?"
Sasuke had never wanted to kill him more than in that very moment.
"I'm just surprised, that's all. Out of all your choices I never really expected someone like her. Never took her kind of girl as your type, you know?"
Kakashi swallowed a chuckle when he saw a sudden spark of electricity course through Sasuke's body. He was getting more pissed than usual.
"K-Kakashi-san?"
"Hm?" Kakashi turned his attention to the nervous chunin at his side.
"T-The group is complete, s-sir. A-All participants have been gathered." The young chunin's gaze shifted uneasily from one Sharingan user to another.
"Oh, is that so?" Kakashi replied cheerfully, ignoring the murderous aura standing just a few feet away from him. Giving the chunin a few more instructions, Kakashi turned his attention back to the furious Uchiha avenger.
"Looks like this conversation will have to continue at another time." Leaping towards the front to lead the excursion, Kakashi gave out more orders.
Sasuke was still seething. Kakashi always seemed to find the right words to say to piss him off enough to become murderous. Scoffing, Sasuke began to follow suit. The group began to head out of the arena towards the direction of the battle grounds.
What really pissed Sasuke off wasn't Kakashi's ridiculous interest in the romantic affairs of his life; but rather, his pretention towards the bun-haired girl. Sasuke saw how his former sensei looked at the kunoichi, especially the scrutiny he gave her before he offered up a spar. If Kakashi's mysterious interest in the girl would be any indication, then that compelling feeling he felt towards the woman was vindicated somehow.
He grunted in annoyance. He couldn't understand it himself. Just what the hell was it about that woman that compelled him to want to thrust a chidori down her throat?
Sensing the group slow down gradually, Sasuke concluded they were close to the location. Repressing unnecessary thoughts, Sasuke focused on the matches ahead. Whatever that bun-haired girl was hiding, he would just have to find out during the semifinal rounds. That was if she would even make it there.