Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto
Chapter 10
Guys guys guys...I reached a new record. Longest chapter I've ever written. over 6000 words! I kinda have OCD so I really wanted the chapter to end after the second part of the exam...so i will reach the ending i want no matter how many word it takes! haha anyways enough rambling. on wards?
With the loud siren shrilled throughout the forest and echoed within the walls of the tower, it signaled the end of the second exam. Out of the sixteen teams that entered the forest only eight made it out.
Begrudgingly the successful teams trudged into the large battle arena located on the first level of the tower. After spending three painstaking days slumming it out in the forest, the last thing on the genins minds was more fighting. Most of them simply wanted to go home, take a nice long shower, and sleep. That is, all except Naruto, who was pumped to continue with the exam.
As each team filed into single form lines in front of the third proctor, Genma, the loud wail of the siren shrilled once more, signaling the start of the preliminary round.
"This preliminary round will eliminate half of you, while the other half will advance to the final round." A bored voice rang out, as a brunette with an impassive look, sucking on a senbon stepped out from the shadows.
All the genins stood up straighter when they saw the large TV screen behind their third proctor lit up. They watched as their names get scrambled together. Once the incoherent mess on the screen cleared up, nine pairs of names slowly listed themselves one after the other.
Uzumaki Naruto (Konoha) Vs Inuzuka Kiba (Konoha)
Yuhi Tani (Kumo) Vs Akimichi Chojo (Konoha)
Nara Shikamaru (Konoha) Vs Haruka Gou (Kiri)
Rock Lee (Konoha) Vs Sabaku no Gaara (Suna)
Temari (Suna) Vs Tenten (Konoha)
Aburame Shino (Konoha) Vs Matsuoka Rin (Kumo)
Uchiha Sasuke (Konoha) Vs Junpei Takao (Oto)
Haruno Sakura (Konoha) Vs Yamanaka Ino (Konoha)
Hyuuga Neji (Konoha) Vs Hyuuga Hinata (Konoha)
Kankuro (Suna) Vs Hiro Takeshi (Oto)
Nagise Shouta (Kiri) Vs Kei (Kumo)
Ando Kyu (Oto) Vs Watanabe Rei (Kiri)
Giving a small cough, Genma recaptured the twenty four genins attention. Taking out the senbon from his mouth, he drawled out in a tiresome tone. "Those are the people you will be facing. You have ten minutes per match. When one of the partners is unable to continue, he or she will have lost the match. If both partners are unable to continue it will be a tie." Letting out a loud yawn, he continued. "Only when it's your turn will you be allowed to step foot in this arena-" He pointed to the large open space around them. "-for the rest of you, you will be watching the matches from the viewing gallery." His finger lifted upwards to point at the ledge that protruded from the wall.
Taking another step towards the genins, he tilted his head backwards to the large screen. "Uzumaki Naruto and Inuzuka Kiba stay. The rest of you, gallery." With another yawn, he placed the senbon back into his mouth and stepped back into the shadows.
Once he disappeared from sight, loud murmurs broke out among the genins as they headed for the stairs that led up to the gallery.
"Naruto good luck." Sakura said to the blond encouragingly as she gave him a light pat on the back.
"Don't lose, dobe." Sasuke smirked.
Grinning at both his teammates he gave them a thumbs up. "WATCH ME KICK DOG-BOY'S ASS"
As the last of the genins stepped onto the gallery, a loud 'Ding' signaled the start of the first match.
Leaning her body on the metal railing she watched as Naruto crouched into an offensive stance, a kunai in both hands. Setting her chin on top of the palm of hand, she watched the blond boy fight. A small smile tugged at the corner of her when she saw Naruto finally land a hit on Kiba. It was to believe that this hyperactive, loudmouth would end up becoming one of the most revered, and looked up to shinobi of all time.
As Naruto landed another kick to Kiba's face, she watched as he looked up at her and shouted. "SAKURA-CHAN DID YOU SEE THAT?!"
Laughing she gave him a thumbs up. "OF COURSE I DID YOU IDIOT, NOW PAY ATTENTION TO THE FIGHT."
Naruto's grin grew as he charged in for another attack.
Sakura's eyes softened with she saw that large grin spread across him face. He had been such a sweet person to her as a genin, and all that time she treated him like crap, only focusing on Sasuke. It was only after Sasuke had left, had she really started to give Naruto a chance. She had always thought of herself as a deep person, someone who doesn't judge others based on appearance...but boy was she wrong.
She watched as Naruto dodged one of the attacks delivered by Kiba and instead landed one of his own.
Her grip on the railing tightened. This time was going to be different, she was going to be nicer to him, and punch him less...but if he does do something stupid…like super perverted ninjutsu then…that's another story.
"Dobe's doing pretty good."
"Isn't he?" She replied without turning around to face the owner of the voice. "He tends to surprise you like that."
"Hn."
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Five minutes into the battle both Naruto and Kiba were panting, but neither was determined to give up.
"COME ON NARUTO!" Sakura continued to cheered him on. If was as it her cheer give him more strength, because Naruto immediately stopped panting, a grin on his face as he charged towards the dog user with the same speed he had at the start of the match.
Lifting her chin off of her palm, she readjusted her stance. However, her movements were cut short when a sharp pain throbbed around her neck. Steading herself with one hand, she gripped the curse mark with the other in hopes that by applying pressure she could subdue the growing pain.
Yet, it did nothing but to further agitate it. Holding back a groan she could feel the pain slowly down to her arms. It was as if someone had taken a lighter and was currently setting her left arm on fire.
Letting her gaze fall away from Naruto and towards her arm, she watched as the black inky marking coiled themselves around the limb. Another sharp throb of pain pulsated from the curse mark.
"Sasuke-kun?" She weakly turned her head to face him, her eyes widened with fear. What was happening to her?
The said boy upon hearing his name turned. His impassive gaze melted away into one of worry when he saw the black markings of the curse mark had spread across half her face.
"Kakashi-sensei."
He heard her whisper. Immediately realizing what she was getting at, he wrapped an arm protectively around her shoulder, and pushed her head down to hide her face from the others. "Come on, he's at the end of the gallery." He said softly in her ear.
Holding the shaking girl tightly around him, he helped her maneuver through the mass of genins. Occasionally pushing aside the odd few that blocked their path. As Kakashi came into sight, he pick up their pace.
"Sasuke-kun!" The cheery blond Kunoichi blocked his path. Her blue eyes shone with excitement as she saw her long time crush. "What are you-" Her delighted tone vanished when she saw a mass of pink tightly snuggled against her Sasuke-kun. In an instant jealousy reared it's ugly green head. "Forehead girl what are you doing with Sasuke-kun?" She shouted, pointing an accusing finger at her rival, clearly not taking into account the amount of pain her former best friend was currently in.
"Sasuke-kun...Kakashi-sensei." Sakura weakly mumbled, ignoring the blond. Another bout of pain shot through her.
"Forehead girl answer me!" Ino half yelled, as she made a reach for the pink haired girl's shoulder. However, before her hand made contact another hand mercilessly slapped hers away.
"Sasuke-kun?" She whimpered, as she cradled her stinging hand.
"Move." He gritted, as he glared at the blond kunoichi.
Having never been on the receiving end of such a spiteful look, Ino fearfully took a step to the side the allow the pair to walk by. It wasn't until her back collided with Shikamaru's shoulders before she snapped back to reality.
"What's wrong Ino?" Shikamaru asked as he placed a hand on his shaking female teammate's shoulder.
Her gaze not leaving Sasuke she replied in a slightly quivering voice. "N-nothing."
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Kakashi had just been getting to another good part in his favorite little book, when he felt the two chakra signatures of his students. His lone eye narrowed in confusion behind the book. Being a jounin of his calibre, he's gotten pretty good at sensing chakra. So what confused him was the state of his two students chakra signature. One was completely heightened up, while the other was fluctuating dangerously all over the place.
Snapping his book shut, he turned his gaze to his two students. Confusion turned to worry when he saw the grave look on the Uchiha's face and the quaking body of Sakura.
"Kakashi-sensei." He heard his female student groan out in pain.
"What's wrong?"
Sakura lifted her head and stared at her teacher. The curse mark had now spread across her whole face and her normal green eyes turned to a predator red color. Weakly, she pushed aside her long pink locks, to reveal the origin of the curse mark.
Placing his book into his ninja pouch, he hesitantly touched the mark. "Who gave that to her?" His grey eye stared at Sasuke expectantly.
"Orochimaru. Can you seal it?" Sasuke asked as he pushed the girl towards the silver haired male.
"Yes, follow me to the top floor." Kakashi said, as he took Sakura away from Sasuke and carried her in his arm. Sasuke quickly followed after Kakashi.
Once the trio enter into the large dimly lit room on the top level of the tower, Kakashi set the girl down in the middle as he searched for the ink bottle in his ninja bag.
Weakly, Sakura tried to force herself to sit up in an upright position. Seeing her struggles, Sasuke reappeared by her side, with one hand placed securely on her back and the other around her arm, he gently as possible helped her sit up into a kneeling position.
"Thank you." She said, barely recognizing her own voice. Instead of her normal soft, melodic tone, the voice that came out of her lips was deeper, more vicious and taunting.
"Sasuke out of the sealing circle." Kakashi ordered as he finished drawing the last symbol of the seal. Giving one last worried look at the girl, he stepped out from the circle of the inky markings surrounding his teammate.
"Sakura do you mind moving your hair." Kakashi asked, as he was busy preforming the hand signs for the fuuja houin technique.
With two shaking hands, her twisted her hair into a winding knot on top of her head.
"Sakura this will hurt." Kakashi mumbled, as he placed his hand on top of the curse mark. The moment his hand touched the inky marking on the base of her neck, a blue glow engaged around his hand. Slowly he watched the marking surrounding the girl's face, neck and arm slow receded.
Sakura felt the burning sensation resulting from the spread of the curse mark slowly replaced by the throbbing pain of a thousand needles. Squeezing her eyes shut, she let a scream rip from her throat. Not caring if the whole tower heard her, she screamed till her throat was raw.
Sasuke turned away from the scene. He remembered that pain when Kakashi had sealed his mark the first time round. That pain was a thousand times worse than when he first received the curse mark.
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After the sealing had been completed, Sakura collapsed on all fours, panting. The pain was now gone, and instead a dull throbbing sensation pulsated from her curse mark. Once her breathing became proper again, she turned towards Kakashi. "Why did the mark activate?"
Helping the girl up, he replied. "The heaven seal-" He pointed to the three commas on her neck. "-it can activate by itself. Even if the user does not want it to."
"So will it happen again?" Sakura asked, as she was helped out of the sealing circle and back to Sasuke.
Placing her back into Sasuke's arm, he gave Sakura a stern look. "No, however the seal only stays strong as long as your will stays strong. If your will weakens the curse mark may activate again."
Sakura touched the mark. "Thank you Sensei."
The stern look left his face, and a smile took it's place. "No problem." He lightly ruffled her hair. "Now, I think it's almost time for your battles."
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Leading her back down to the first floor where, Sasuke shoot worried glances at the girl. She was looking slightly better than before, but her skin was still a sickly pale color and her eyes lacked their normal brightness.
As they reached the door leading to the gallery of the arena, Sakura gently pushed herself out from Sasuke hold.
"I'm better now, thank you." Sakura offered him a small smile with she caught the worried looked he shot her.
"Hn"
"Let's go win the preliminary round." Sakura placed her hand on the door knob and turned.
"Winner: Aburame Shino." Genma's bored voice called out as a group of medics ushered the kumogakure ninja out of the arena. Pocketing his hand into his long trench coat pocket, Shino walked up the stairs leading up to the gallery. His two teammates galloping around him congratulating him.
Walking past the clamorous team, Sasuke and Sakura took their spots beside Naruto. Sensing his teammates, Naruto turned to the both of them. "Where did you guys go?"
Brushing her hair aside, Sakura showed him the newly sealed mark. "Sealing this." She watched as Naruto study the sealing pattern around the three commas.
"Is it...are you…"
Covering the mark again with her hair, she patted the blond on the head. "I'm fine." Sakura's face broke out into a smile. "Now, did you win your match?"
"You bet!" Naruto jumped up ecstatically. "I'm going to the final!"
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"Can I get Uchiha Sasuke and Junpei Takao down here?" Genma gave another yawn.
"Go kick butt, Teme." Naruto slapped his friend slash rival on the back, slightly sending the Uchiha stumbling forward a bit. Giving the blond a mocking glare, he jumped down from the gallery.
Once the two ninjas landed in the arena, Genma give a small cough. Taking out the senbon, he stared at the two. "Begin." The familiar 'Ding' signaling the start of the seventh battle.
With his hand resting on the hilt of his kusanagi, Sasuke gave the tall purple haired sound ninja a bored look. This was so not worth his time.
"The curse mark is going to completely take her over-" The purple hair sound shinobi, titled his head towards the pink haired girl. Sasuke followed his gaze. "-and when that happens she'll be desiring for more of our lord's power. She'll leave this pathetic village."
Sasuke continued to stare at the sound ninja with an impassive look. The sound ninja was trying to bait him, but he must be incredibly thick if he thinks that little taunt will work.
The sound ninja tried a different approach. "I honestly don't know what Orochimaru-sama sees in her, but I guess she is pretty enough to be used for his own special needs." The sound ninja's face twisted into a smirked, when he saw Sasuke's hand twitch.
Drawing out his sword, Sasuke disappeared behind the sound ninja. His weapon placed on the sound shinobi's neck. "You talk to much." He hissed.
Adding more pressure to his sword, he watched as the ninja turn into a log.
"Che."
Looking around the arena he searched for his opponent, when he found no trace of him, Sasuke looked up to see Takao diving towards him. A whirlwind of snakes blasted from both of his palms.
Smirking, Sasuke re-sheathed his kusanagi. Sending the chidori current throughout his body, he jumped up dodging the two spiraling blasts of reptiles and made a grab for the sound ninjas wrist. Sending a stronger current of chidori, he watched as the ninja scream and spasm in pain as he body fell unceremoniously to the ground.
Taking out a kunai, he landed on top of the twitching ninja. "This match is finished." He placed his kunai to the ninja's neck, applying just enough pressure to draw blood but not kill.
"Winner: Uchiha Sasuke." Genma yawned again, as he ushered for medics to drag the spasming sound ninja to the infirmary.
Placing his kunai back in its holster, he walked across the arena and up the stairs to the gallery.
"Teme! That was awesome!" Naruto exclaimed as the stoic Uchiha approached his team.
"Hn." Sasuke smirked at the wide eyed blond.
"Did you have to use that much chidori?" Sakura mused as she watched the still twitching ninja be carried off. "I think you may have damaged his nervous system."
Sasuke followed her gaze, and shrugged. "Don't care."
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"Next match: Haruno Sakura, and Yamanaka Ino" Genma drawled out as he motioned for the two kunoichi to come down.
Tightening her headband Sakura gave her team a smile, before following after Ino down to the battle arena.
"Sakura-" The said girl turned towards the Uchiha. "-don't mess up the arena to much."
"Can't guarantee anything."
Ding "Begin"
Right after hearing the proctor start the exam, Ino reached for three shuriken and threw them at Sakura, who easily dodge the weapons. Not giving time for Sakura to deliver attacks of her own, Ino charged towards the pink haired girl, who did not budge from her spot.
"Bushin no jutsu." Ino said as a two clones of herself appeared beside her, each holding a kunai.
Keeping her stance, Sakura raised one finger. She watched as Ino's speed slightly slow down probably trying to figure out what Sakura was planning on doing with one finger.
Almost tauntingly slow Sakura slammed her finger into the ground, a tremor followed, as the ground cracked all over the place. She had made sure that she gathered just enough chakra to her finger to crack the ground but not fully destroy it.
Despite the lack of destruction following her attack, it did it's trick. The two clones made by Ino exploded.
"FINISH HER, SAKURA-CHAN!"
Shifting her eyes to the blond who was randomly attacking the air, Sakura gave a small chuckle.
Pumping chakra to the soles of her feet, she ran towards the stunned Ino. As she got closer, she extended her arm and flicked the blond hard on the forehead. With minimal chakra gathered to her fingers she watched as Ino fly back a couple of meters before landing with a painful thud on the ground. Lowering her arm, she stared at the girl with a bored look.
"Come on pig." Sakura taunted. "You can do better than that."
Giving Sakura a dirty glare, Ino pushed herself off the ground and rubbed her bruising forehead. Grabbing two kunais she threw them one after another at the girl, who again deflected them. However, what she wasn't expecting was that one of the kunais was attached to a chakra string and when she had deflected that kunai the string unraveled from the weapon and latched onto her leg.
'Shit.' Sakura cursed mentally as she tried to free her immobilized limb.
"Gotcha." Ino shouted as she squatted down and created a circle with her hands.
Sakura's eyes widened when she recognized the technique. Rapidly she performed her own hand signs.
"DOTON: DORYUUDAN."
Placing her hand to her mouth, Sakura released a torrent of mud missiles towards Ino. Seeing the incoming mud missiles, Ino broke concentration on performing her jutsu to dodge the attacks. Taking this moment of distraction in the blond, Sakura used her enhanced strength to tear apart the chakra string that bound her.
Panting Ino dodged the last of the mud pellets. Her glare hardened. This was Sakura. How was she even able to do these techniques. As far as Ino was aware, Sakura hardly ever trained. Hell even she trained more than Sakura. Growling she ran towards her rival.
"This again?" Sakura sighed.
Raising two fingers before her face, she disappeared in a whirl of cherry blossoms. Ino immediately stopped her movements when she saw Sakura vanish. Taking out another kunai, she pivoted around, preparing herself for any possible attacks.
"Over here." Sakura's voice whisperer from behind her. Spinning around Ino found herself face to face with the pink haired girl. Raising her hand, Sakura placed the palm of her hand to Ino chest. "Chakra Kyuuin Jutsu."
Ino's eyes widened and her mouth slightly agape as she felt every last bit of chakra being drained from her body. Her legs quivered under her and she crumpled to the floor, unable to move a single muscle as she panted harshly for breath.
Lowering her hand back to her side, Sakura turned to Genma.
"Winner: Haruno Sakura."
Grinning, Sakura turned to her two teammates and gave them two thumbs up.
"What did you do to me, forehead." Ino gasped as she struggled to keep her eyes open. Medics swarming around her like flies, trying to place her on the gurney.
Touching Ino's arm, Sakura gave her a smile. "You'll be fine, you're just exhausted."
Barking orders at each other, the medics hoisted up the gurney and ran out off the arena. Giving Ino a small wave goodbye, Sakura ran up to the gallery to greet her thrilled team (or rather just a thrilled Naruto and a nonchalant Sasuke)
"SAKURA-CHAN!" Naruto shouted as he tackled the girl in a bear hug. "WE ALL PASSED!"
Awkwardly reaching around the blond, she patted his back.
"Can't breath." She wheezed out.
Clearly not hearing her, Naruto squeezed tighter.
"N-naruto...can't breath." She tried again, this time she was starting to see black dots. Just as she thought she was going to pass out from the lack of oxygen, she felt the pressure lifted off of her. Gasping to get her breath back she glared at the sheepish blond who was being held by the collar by Sasuke.
"Are you trying to kill me?" She smacked the blond boy across the back of his head. There goes her resolve to hit him less.
Rubbing the sore spot on his head, he mumbled a small 'sorry' to the irate girl.
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"Next match: Hyuuga Neji and Hyuuga Hinata."
All heads turned towards the stoic Neji and shy Hinata as they prepared themselves for their match.
'Ding' "Begin"
"I don't want to fight you Neji nii-san." Hinata timidly said, as she activated her byakugan.
Activating his own bloodline, he glared at the girl. Hatred tingled within him. He scoffed. Just who the hell does she think she is? She calls herself as part of the main house. What a joke. A weakling like her dares to call herself Hyuuga. Her existence isn't worth shit.
"I am not your nii-san, you pathetic excuse of a Hyuuga." He spoke with such vehemence that Hinata subconsciously took a step back.
Putting his hand into the hakke position, he slide his feet towards her in a graceful manner, while striking with his palms.
Hinata herself, also got into the traditional Hyuuga hakke position. Every time he send one of his palms towards her she countered it with her own. Her feet copied the same graceful movement as Neji's.
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"Wow their movements are so smooth." Naruto stared in awe at the pair. Their movements in perfect flow and synchronization. It didn't even seem like they were fight but rather dancing.
Sakura stared at the two. A fond memory popped into her head as she remembered the tough attitude Neji had when he was teaching her how to smooth out her movements and glide across the battle field.
"Hinata-chan's pretty good." Naruto commented again, as he stared intently at the shy violet haired girl. Her normal timid looks were replaced by one of sheer concentration.
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Neji frowned when his attack was blocked again. Since when did Hinata get good? Brushing away this thought as pure luck, he switched from the eight divination sixty-four palms to the Hakkesho Kaiten. A strong whirlwind of chakra surrounded him, sending Hinata flying back. Taking this opportunity as Hinata was struggling to get up, he charged towards her and returned to performing the hakke rokujuyon sho. This time his palms landed the attacks.
"Six" Hinata felt six of her chakra points sealed off, by the hakke.
"Eight" Two more was sealed.
"Sixteen" This time majority of her chakra points were sealed off.
Stopping at sixteen instead of the traditional sixty four, Neji jumped away from the girl who was now spitting up blood. It was over, there was no way she could fight any more. The battle was his.
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"Kakashi."
The said man lowered his book and stared at the purple haired jounin who casually leaned against the wall beside him.
"Hm?"
"There's something off about those two." Anko stared in Sasuke and Sakura's direction, Kakashi followed her gaze. He watched as Sakura talked animatedly with Naruto while Sasuke leaned against the wall behind them looking disinterested, but he could make out a small frown on the boy's face.
"I know." Kakashi replied not taking his eyes off the two.
Anko turned towards the silver haired male, her purpled eyes hardened. "Are you doing anything about it?"
Kakashi stared down at the woman. "With time."
"What do you mean with time, you old scarecrow?"
Kakashi sweat dropped. He was not old. "It means I have my own way of finding out what they are hiding. Simply pushing or forcing them to tell me isn't going to do any good."
Anko scoffed. "Always too soft, Kakashi. If it was me, they would be chained up in interrogation crawling over each other to spill their secrets to me."
"How professional" He mumbled as he turned his attention back to his book.
"Shut up!" Anko elbowed harshly into Kakashi's side
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"Give up Hinata, you can no longer win." Neji spoke with a haughty attitude.
Wiping the thin trail of blood from her mouth, she slide her feet back into the hakke position. "No."
"I sealed majority of your chakra points there's no way you can win. So just give up." Neji was getting agitate.
"No"
Fed up with resistance, he ran towards her and thrusted his palm into her stomach "Give up." He ordered. Coughing up blood, Hinata stared up at her cousin with a determined look.
"No" She aimed a palm at Neji who easily blocked it and hit her again in the stomach. This time, she collapsed on the ground.
"Give up." He seethed.
Spitting out another mouthful of blood, she raised her head and stared at Neji. "I will not give up, because this is my ninja way."
In pure frustration, Neji pulled Hinata up by the collar of her shirt. "Your ninja way?" He scoffed.
"I've always watched Naruto-kun fight and no matter how hard it got, he never gave up. So that's why I mustn't give up."
"Pathetic!" He growled, as he mercilessly kicked Hinata in the abdomen. "For a main house to be beaten down by a branch member."
More blood poured out of her mouth, as she tried to force herself to stand up. Seeing her actions Neji ran towards her ready to kick her again, but was stopped by a flash of orange who blocked his kick with the back of his arm.
"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT TO HER, WHEN SHE'S TRYING SO HARD?" Naruto shouted, as he took a protective stance in front of the purple haired girl.
"N-naruto-kun…" Hinata softly whispered.
"BACK OFF UZUMAKI." Neji growled. "THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS."
"LIKE HELL IT'S NOT." Naruto launched himself at the pissed Hyuuga. His fist ready to strike.
"Stop." Both Neji and Naruto was stopped in their tracks by their respective sensei. The anger not leaving each boy's eyes.
Clearing his throat, Genma stepped out from the shadow and took out the senbon. "Um..Winner, Hyuuga Neji." Quickly waving his hand, medics rushed in and placed the injured girl onto their gurney, before quickly carrying her out.
"Let me go Kakashi-sensei, he deserves some sense knocked into him." Naruto snapped as he struggled against the vice like grip of his teacher.
"Calm down, Naruto." Kakashi lowered his book to give the boy a stern look.
Huffing and stomping his feet like a child who has been denied candy, he tore away from his teacher and stomped back up the stairs to the gallery, though not before stopping and giving one last glare at the Hyuuga.
Pushing aside the genins that were in his way, he stormed back to his teammates.
"Thank you." A hand reached out and stopped Naruto. Turning his head he stared at the raven haired and red eyed sensei. "Thank you for saving Hinata."
"No problem." He replied briskly, as he broke free from her grip and continued his trek back to his teammates.
After another thirty minutes, the preliminary officially came to an end. Once the last winner was announced, Genma wheeled out a blackboard. On it were the names of the twelve genins who won their match, and again their names were paired with another persons
"So, the final exam will take place in three days at the training field behind the hokage tower-" He broke off with a cough. "-on this board is your opponent. Prepare well and see you all in three days." Giving another cough, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
As he left, the genins immediately swarmed around the board, fighting to see who they will be facing.
Seeing his opponent, Naruto turned and glared at Neji. "YOU'RE GOING DOWN, ASSHOLE!" He shouted.
"Come on, Naruto." Sakura muttered, as she dragged Naruto away before he starting screaming more profanities at the Hyuuga.
"So who are facing?" Naruto asked once they were a good distance away from the crowd of genins.
"Temari." Sakura replied.
"What about you, teme?"
"Gaara."
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The rest of the trip back to Konoha was in complete silence. It wasn't until Jiraiya popped out in front of Naruto, before the blond finally spoke.
"Ero-sennin!" Naruto greeted the white haired male. "Are you here to train me?"
"No, I'm here researching." Jiraiya replied, as his eyes followed after a busty blond that just walked past him.
Naruto pouted. "You don't need research for that stupid book-" Jiraiya made as disgruntled noise. "-I passed the preliminaries, so I have three days for you to teach me a new technique." Said Naruto, as he dragged an unwilling Jiraiya to a nearby training field.
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Once they disappeared, Sakura and Sasuke gave each other a weird stare.
"Ah, just the two I wanted to speak to."
Both ninjas turned around, to see their sensei standing behind them. His perverted book surprisingly out of sight.
"What." Came Sasuke curt reply. The only thing he wanted to do at this moment was to go home and rest.
"Is that how you talk to your beloved sensei?" Kakashi feigned a hurt expression as he ruffled the annoyed Uchiha's hair.
"Do you need something sensei?" Sakura asked in a much politer tone.
With his hand still on Sasuke's head, he turned to his favorite female student. "Yes, meet me at training ground three, I need to ask you two something." With this said he disappeared.
When all three ninja's arrived at their ground, Kakashi sat down on the grassy field, ushering his two students to do the same.
Confused with his action, they complied nonetheless.
"So, want to tell me how is it that you two know those attacks?" Kakashi asked straight out. He was not a man that liked to beat around the bush.
"What attacks?" Sasuke feigned ignorance.
"How is it that you know chidori-" He gave the Uchiha a pointed stare, before turning towards Sakura. "And how is it that you know chakra scalpels and medical ninjutsu?"
"Training." Sasuke cooly replied. It wasn't a complete lie.
Kakashi's lone eye hardened as he stared at the two. "I don't like to be lied to Sasuke." The boy merely ignored the stern tone of Kakashi, while Sakura was slightly fidgeting. Kakashi had always been more or less a father figure to her, so she didn't really like upsetting him.
Seeing how the girl was more easy to crack than the boy, Kakashi repeated his question to her. "You can tell me anything Sakura."
Biting her bottom lip, she rubbed the back of her neck as she exchanged a look with Sasuke, who merely shrugged.
Taking Sasuke's indifference as a 'go ahead,' Sakura opened her mouth to speak. "Um...this may seem really impossible and crazy, but it's the truth I swear."
Kakashi gave her a look that urged her to continue.
"Um...we're from the future- wow that sounds so awkward coming from my mouth-" Sakura scratched the back of her head, as she stared at the sky. "Um...I guess it's not so much future, as to a different timeline? But uh...in that timeline-I guess, Sasuke-kun had already trained with you, so that's where he learned the chidori...and uh...everything is the same up to this point, except for that he was the one that got the curse mark, and that resulted in him leaving the village and following Orochimaru in search of power-" Her tone turned bitter at this point. While Sasuke stared at her with an unrecognizable emotion. "-anyways after Sasuke-kun had left, I trained with the rest of the rookies and Tsunade-sama, so that's where I learned my moves. Oh, right and we also got a replacement member Sai."
Sakura paused as she took a breath before continuing. "Uh...so a lot of things happened after that, and um...Madara Uchiha and Obito Uchiha-" At the mention of this name, Kakashi's eye widened, seeing this look Sakura explained herself more clearly. "- yeah, Obito didn't die he was save by Madara Uchiha who was somehow still sustaining his own life. Uh...Obito because he witness you supposedly kill Rin, wanted to create a new world with his sharingan so he started the fourth war with Madara-" Sakura turned to Sasuke. "-so during this war Sasuke-kun worked with the alliance, but we still lost."
Sakura's by now had a sullen look on her face. "Naruto, Sasuke-kun, and Me, we got stronger, way stronger but we lacked teamwork, and that costed our lives. Naruto was already defeated by Obito, and Sasuke-kun and I were slowly dying. However, before truly died - I suppose I could say it like that - there was this blinding white light, and when we woke up we were twelve again re-living that timeline again. I think whatever happened to us was meant to give us a second chance to change how this story ends." She drew in a breath as she concluded her sentence.
Kakashi stared at the girl with a calculating look, trying to take in everything she told him .Even though the story she told him was completely unexpected, it certainly did explain their extraordinary difference in power.
"I know how crazy I must sound, but it's the truth." Sakura added, as she saw the look Kakashi was giving her.
"You said you trained with Tsuande?"
Sakura nodded. "She became the godaime after the sandaime was murdered in an invasion."
Kakashi took in the information. "And you say Obito is alive?"
"He's the akatsuki member with the orange spiral mask." Sasuke answer Kakashi this time. "He was the one that told me the truth about Itachi and Konoha."
Kakashi opened his mouth to press on this is matter of Itachi, but decided against it when he saw the aggravated look on Sasuke's face. "I see. But why would he think that I killed Rin?" Kakashi probed again, trying to gain some piece of tangible information that could more support their story.
Getting a sense of what Kakashi was doing, Sakura calmly replied. "When you asked him why he would start this war, Obito explained to you-" Sakura scratched her head in a thoughtful manner. "-and Naruto and I over heard everything." She added on as an after thought. "anyways he told us that after Madara healed him, he planned on returned back to Konoha. Back to Rin and you. However, he witnessed you kill Rin with your bare hands. But even though he understood that it was Rin who willingly sacrificed herself to prevent the possibility of war breaking out. He was -"Sakura shook her head. "-he is mad at you for abandoning your promise to always protect her."
Kakashi fell silent, as he studied the two ninjas before him. She had just undoubtedly provided him with the most tangible information he could ask for that supported her insane story.
"Please believe me." Sakura added softly
Kakashi was taken aback when he saw the pleading look in her eyes. As crazy as her story may have sounded he believed her. There had been many moments in his career as a shinobi where he witnessed the unexplainable and this must have simply been one of those moments.
"Of course I believe you, Sakura."
So there were comments saying how Kakashi would be suspicious, and I guess before this moment it made no sense for him to pry...so yah...
anyways, as always please review!