Chapter 26: Earth

The arena was silent. Only the sound of clinking metal from the barrage of weapons Tenten unleashed could be heard. The arena was filled with dust and smoke, preventing anyone aside from members of the Hyuga clan from observing the match.

"H-Hey, is he alright?" Kiba nervously asked. He was clutching the rails with his hands tightly. "I had no idea she was that violent."

"I'm not sure. But knowing him, he won't go down that easily." Shino assured.

"YYeah, I guess."

Both watched as Tenten gracefully landed on the tall cement divider of the battle field and the spectator's area. It was about five feet thick and ten feet high. Kakashi was standing alongside her the merciless assault of pointed objects. He already had his forehead protector up to reveal his Sharingan. Even he didn't want to miss a thing.

Kakshi eyed her warily as she crouched down on one knee and began to form hand seals. His eyes widened a bit at the realization. "That's…"

Tenten jumped into the battle field and disappeared into the cloud of smoke and dust.

Kakashi looked on as he narrowed his eyes. There was no mistaking it. The order of those hand seals…

As the smoke cleared, Lee's silhouette could be seen from a distance.

"Not a single scratch." Kiba said in disbelief as he folded his arms on his chest.

"He won't go down that easily." Shino stated with finality.

Lee went into another defensive stance. Tenten was still nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he felt a hand grab his right ankle.

"What the-?"

Lee gasped in surprise. Before he knew it, he was buried tightly underground with only his head exposed from the dirt.

"W-What is this?" He stated exasperatedly as he tried his best to struggle out of the hole that hugged his body securely.

Kakashi sighed. Doton Moguragakure no Jutsu (Mole Hiding Technique). He knew it all too well. It was one of the few techniques he actually allowed himself to use often. "So she has an affinity for Earth."

"So she's using earth techniques!" Griselda stated smugly as she placed her hands on her hips. "It's too bad we have such bad seats! I can hardly see a thing."

Lucas sighed. "We talked about this already. The farther we are the less chances of involving ourselves in her battles."

"I know. I know." Griselda grumbled in annoyance.

"I think using air would have been better." Yue argued as he folded his arms in front of his chest.

"I believe I would have to agree. Tenten-sama could use wind jutsus to fight against a guy whose expertise is taijustsu." Mifuyu nodded in affirmation.

"You're just jealous because Tenten-sama chose my element." Griselda bragged.

Yue scoffed. "Wow. The maturity level is so enlightening."

"What was that?!"

"Now, now. There's no need to act like children." Mifuyu sighed. Why did she have to sit in the middle of these two? They bicker like children to no end. "What do you think Lucas?"

He shrugged in reply. "I don't exactly agree with the use of Earth. But I'm certain she has a plan." Lucas took a deep breath. He needed to calm down. It was taking everything he had not to just step inside the ring and fight the battle himself. A comforting hand fell on his shoulder.

"Relax Lucas, she'll be fine." Mifuyu gave him an assuring smile.

Lucas could only nod in acceptance.

Lee paused from struggling out of the jutsu when he saw Tenten hold out a huge scroll in both hands. She was standing a few good meters away but an excited grin was etched on her face. She was finally getting into the game.

"W-What are you planning?" Lee stuttered a little bit scared.

"Well, you've managed to escape all of my weapon attacks so far." Tenten narrowed her eyes in contemplation. "So I guess I'll have to try another method."

Lee began to struggle out of the hole with much more fervor. He just couldn't shake the feeling that if he didn't get out of that hole, he'd be turned into a human pin cushion.

Lee paused in realization when he saw Tenten spin around while taking a few steps forward. She was trying to gain momentum.

"Don't you dare die, Lee!" She yelled as she released her grasp on the huge scroll, allowing it to fly uninhibitedly over the expanse of the clearing.

"W-What the-?!" Kiba yelled as his eyes popped out.

"Don't tell me…" Shino whispered in disbelief.

Lee's eyes popped as he gazed at the huge scroll fly above his head. If Tenten was going to do what he thought she was going to do, he was as good as dead. Lee struggled out of the hole with everything he had.

In the blink of an eye, the scroll was wrapped up in smoke and the rainfall of heavy metal began its descent. Lee's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. Some even had explosive notes attached to them!

Lee closed his eyes shut in concentration. He would not die here. He could not lose here. He had way too many dreams to give up now. Most importantly… His gaze turned to land on his eternal rival. He will not lose to Neji! He most definitely won't!

"Lee!" Tenten yelled as the weapons rained down crushing everything in their path.

The arena was under zero visibility once again. The air pressure decreased gradually leaving a thick, suffocating cloud of smoke and dust.

Kakashi stood tall on the cement divider as he placed his hands into his pockets. "If this continues, there won't be anything left of the arena."

Tenten brought her hands down when the pressure of the explosions disappeared. "Lee-" She immediately paused when she sensed something very nostalgic. She slowly closed her eyes and smirked. The true battle was just about to begin.

"What happened?" Kiba leaned on the railings, hands gripping onto it securely. "Is fuzzy eyebrows alright? His scent seems fine but I can't see a thing!"

Shino remained quiet but he knew in his heart that this battle wouldn't be over that easily. He was someone who could fare against Gaara of the sand. And though Shino would never admit it out loud, even he wasn't confident of facing the taijutsu expert.

"AH! It's that… that move!" Kiba screamed in anticipation, pointing a finger towards the arena.

Shino averted his gaze from the noisy Inuzuka boy back to the battle field to his surprise.

"That's the move he used against Gaara of the Sand before, right?"

Shino nodded in affirmation.

"Damn." Kiba cursed as he clicked his tongue. "This'll be over in no time.

"Finally." Sasuke whispered, a strange form of relief showed on his face.

"Finally?" Kiba paused to look from Sasuke to Shino.

Shino simply looked at back at him equally puzzled.

Sasuke smirked. "Now the real battle begins."

Kiba was about to asked Sasuke a question when he heard Shino whisper loud enough only for him to hear. "Don't meddle into other people's business."

Kiba opened his mouth to protest but he stopped himself in the end. After all, Shino was right.

The smoke and dust was slowly clearing up. A silhouette could be seen vaguely, standing in the middle of the ruined grounds. Suddenly, a strong pressure sent all of the smoke and dust outwards from the battle ground, pushing some of the spectators a few meters back.

Tenten sighed. "You're really serious this time."

Lee remained silent as he stood in the middle of the clearing, his back hunched and his fists balled. His skin was reddish in color and veins were popping from his temples. The air around him seemed to envelop him in a strange circular manner. His chakra radiated from his body, creating an incredibly intimidating aura.

"Fifth Gate! Tomon (Limit Gate)! Kai!" Lee shouted.

Another strong gush of air was felt throughout the arena.

Tenten raised her hands up to cover her was in deep shit.

"I'm not holding back anymore Tenten!" Lee stated. "So give it your all!"

"Of course!"

Tenten smiled as she retracted her hands from her face only to see Lee a few paces a way from her.

"Konoha senpu!"

Tenten flew back up in the air. She cursed. She let her guard down. Tenten arched her back and cart wheeled backwards. Just as she was about to regain her balance, Lee was already behind her.

"There's no time for rests, Tenten!"

Tenten immediately twisted her back and raised her hands in front of her face to block the attack. Still she was sent flying a few good meters back. While in midair, Lee appeared directly in front of her.

"I'm not yet finished!"

Lee threw in a couple of punch and kicks. Tenten managed to block some but a few still connected to her body. She was sent flying backwards onto the cement divider by a kick to her stomach. The divider was crushed, embedding Tenten's body onto it deeply.

"Tenten-sama!" Griselda and Yue both yelled as they stood up.

"Sit back down. Both of you." Lucas ordered. "We're not to interfere in this at all."

"But!" They both said in unison.

"Sit. Down." Lucas whispered dangerously.

Yue and Griselda forced themselves to sit back down.

"Let's just believe in her. She'll get herself out of this." Mifuyu assured the three.

Yue and Griselda quieted down but that didn't mean they were no longer thinking of rushing down to the battle field and beating up the watermelon peel and ripping his body into pieces.

Mifuyu glanced at Lucas. She expected to at least see an angered face or a scowl but all she saw was confusion and disbelief.

"Is something wrong Lucas?" Mifuyu asked in curiosity but she received no answer from the fire bender. He was too engulfed with his thoughts that he didn't even hear Mifuyu speak.

Tenten forcefully pushed herself out of the rock hard divider. She breathed in and out raggedly as she fell on her knees.

She slowly glanced up to look at Lee. He was in his signature fighting stance again. His hair was flowing up in the air due to the pressure of his chakra.

Tenten smiled a bit as she slowly rose to her feet. "That. Seriously. Hurt!" Tenten screamed as she looked at Lee with a slightly pained face.

"You should condition yourself, Tenten. Everything will get harder from here on."

Tenten smirked at Lee's line as she looked down. "I know. I know…"

Neji looked at Tenten's form with a raised brow. After all those years, this was all she could do. She was still incapable of handling Lee when his gates are released. Neji watched impassively as Tenten struggled to stay on her feet. He closed his eyes. It was over. The winner of the match was obvious.

"O-Oi… Is she going to be alright?" Kiba scratched the back of his head. Those of two incredibly violent teammates.

"She can't handle him anymore." Shino stated with finality.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Was this all she could do? Was he really just imagining things about that girl?

"Is it alright to let this match continue?" Kiba was glancing from Sasuke to Shino.

"That is not for us to decide." Shino answered.

Kiba quieted down as he glanced at Lee then at Tenten. "I understand but…"

"Then what do you suggest? We stop the match?" Shino added.

Sasuke to narrow his eyes a bit at Shino. Would they dare?

Kiba opened his mouth to retort but he paused, then he glanced at Akamaru. "She'd probably be furious if we did."

Shino nodded in agreement. "She's not like other kunoichis."

Satisfied with they're answer, Sasuke turned his attention back to the fight. He refused to believe that this was all that bun-haired panda girl could achieve.

Tenten was now on her feet. Her breathing was slightly labored but she still had a smile on her face. What was she going to do now? The best thing was to stop his movement first. She needed to trap him somehow.

"Be prepared Tenten! Because here I come!" Lee sped up towards her in a flash.

Before Tenten could react, Lee sent her flying backwards with a kick.

"Konoha senpu!"

Tenten flinched a bit in pain, forcing herself to form a few hand seals as she flew up in the air.

Much to Tenten's surprise, Lee appeared right behind her in midair. Lee spun swiftly to one side as he raised his right foot. It collided perfectly with her stomach. Tenten fell down on the ground with a loud crash.

The arena was quiet.

Lee spun a few more times before he reached the ground. "I know that that isn't enough to bring you down, Tenten!"

He glanced at where Tenten landed and took up his fighting stance once more. He patiently waited for the dust to clear out before making his next move.

Lee's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. There, embedded a few feet within the ground, was a large stuffed panda.

"Replacement technique?!"

"How cute!" Lee heard a little girl yell in the crowd.

Lee narrowed his eyes and heightened his senses. He glanced to his right and left preparing for whatever ambush Tenten had in store for 's eyes suddenly widened at the thought that crossed his mind. Lee jumped away from where he once stood and glanced below him immediately. He began to jump from one place to another randomly as he prepared for Tenten's next move.

"It looks like Lee thinks Tenten is going to do the earth technique she did on him a while ago." Kiba stated.

"One would think." Shino answered.

All of a sudden, Lee paused from jumping.

"Let's see if you can still catch up with me!" He announced as he glanced around the arena.

Lee began to run around in a circle with great speed.

"What is he doing?!" Kiba said exasperatedly as he raised his hands in front of his face.

Shino and Sasuke did the same.

A small tornado began to grow in the middle of the battle field. The spectators began to panic as they raised their hands in front of their faces. The people seated near the battle grounds were holding on to the rails and chairs in fear of being sucked in by the cyclone.

Kakashi moved further backed into the aisle of the spectator's area. He had his hands up his face as well. He glanced to his left and was surprised to see Gai sitting quietly on a chair.

"This is new. You've been silent this whole entire match."

Gai didn't reply.

Kakashi glanced at Gai when he didn't speak. "Something wrong with your voice? A stomach ache? Or perhaps… That time of month?"

Gai's eyes popped. "Just what the hell are you saying Kakashi!" He had his fists raised at the Copy Ninja.

Kakashi turned to look at Gai with his hands up in defeat. "It was a joke."

Gai sighed before sitting back down on the chair, his expression stern once again.

"You're worried about this match aren't you?"

Gai looked at his eternal rival with tears flowing freely from his eyes as he nodded.

"I made it a point to give a congratulatory speech to all my students when they engage in battles! However, both of my students are fighting each other now! If I give my speech to the winner, the loser will surely be consumed with disappointment! Also, the loser might feel rejected by me, his/her favorite sensei in the world! It's hard to celebrate with one if the other has lost!"

Kakashi simply sweat dropped at Gai's silly antics. Why was he so adamant about making ridiculous rules or rituals about everything?

All of a sudden, the tornado vanished. Kakashi turned his attention back to the fight. The battle field was still cloaked in dust.

"Why does the dust always get in the way?" Kiba stated irritated. He had no idea what was happening. All he knew was that the two of them were in the cloud of dust and were both uninjured.

Shino and Sasuke remained quiet but neither knew what was happening in the battle grounds as well.

"I see."

The proctors glanced towards the Hyuga genius when they heard him spoke. They were a bit surprised when they saw him smirk.

Neji deactivated his Byakugan and closed his eyes. He was looking down with his arms folded in front of him. He still had a smirk on his face.

The proctors looked at each other curiously. "Ne, Hyuga-san? What's happening?"

Neji still had his smirk on as he opened his eyes and looked on at the battle field with a new found interest. "Wait and see."