Disclaimer: I don't own the Naruto or Naruto Shippuden Anime/ Manga. This is purely for fan based reasons.

Chapter 10:

The Eighth Challenge:

Dodge

Kiba eyes opened hearing his cell phone ringing. He looked at the caller id to notice it was Yumi. He called late last night the moment he received his phone from Guy. After all this time he finally decided to ask for his phone which the team supported whole heartedly; all of them except Sasuke who argued the point. Luckily Naruto was there to make him see otherwise after all how else was he going to be able to talk his girlfriend who always busy? He quickly answered her call wanting nothing more than to hear her voice. "Hey there," He answered while getting dressed to take Akamaru for a walk. Naruto was the in girl's house spending the night with Hinata so he didn't have to worry about waking him.

"I'm really sorry I didn't answer last night." She apologized as she searched the books in her huge library hoping to brush up on her history before the next council meeting. Though she hardly needed it but it boosted her confidence when she did. Right now she needed all the confidence she could get seeing as everyone in the council disliked her for way of thinking and her love interest. They viewed her as some inexperienced child which was hardly the case. "I was up all night helping my Uncle prepare for the meeting. He hasn't been in one in years so he could use a few study sessions." She explained.

"Uncle," Kiba began thinking back trying to remember who her Uncle was. "Oh that's the guy who owns the Sand Kingdom right? The one with the Sandsea Kekkei Genkai,"

"That's the one," She replied. "I have been begging him to come to a meeting so at least one person there likes me. That way maybe when I suggest something they won't brush it off and treat me like I don't know what I'm doing." Kiba laughed.

"I could kick their butt for you." He offered. "After all from what you told me you and your uncle are the only rulers capable of fighting. The rest are just retired old geezers trying to give the next generation a hard time."

"Those geezers run an entire kingdom and messing with them results in war," She reminded him. "I already told you violence won't work with them. I just have to endure it and hope one day they will see that their way of running a kingdom isn't the only way. That's my situation."

"Anyway," Yumi climbed up a ladder searching through her many books. "I'm happy to know you finally decided to ask for your phone seeing as you forget it all the time." Kiba laughed. "So what did you need to talk to me about?" Yumi grabbed a book opening it skimming through the pages in order to find out if it was the one she needed.

"I just wanted to hear your voice," Kiba answered. "I miss you."

"Well after this meeting there won't be another one till after the war is over. Hopefully my guards will let me sneak off and spend time with you. After the meeting I got help Tsunade make preparations as well as tie up a few loose ends here at the castle should take maybe two weeks after that I'm all yours."

"I like the sound of that,"

"Is that Yumi on the phone?" Naruto walked up to Kiba. "I want to talk to her." He ran towards Kiba trying to grab his phone. Kiba began wrestling with him trying to get keep him away from the phone. "Come on, I rarely get to talk to her."

"Too bad, she's my girlfriend." He yelled. "I love you but I better go. Naruto's being a real pain in the ass." Kiba hung up; Yumi gasped when she heard him say it not even sure he meant to.

"Dude," Naruto looked him in shock. "You really said it."

"Said what?" Kiba asked. "Ass of course I say ass all the time. Ass, Ass, Ass," Naruto shook his head.

"No you said the L-word to Yumi." He pointed out making Kiba blush.

"I did," Kiba looked at his phone. "You're joking I never say that word not since well you know. Did I really say it?" Naruto nodded. "Strange I always thought I was going to say right after we had sex. It would be my first time with her."

"It's too late now you love her," Naruto teased emphasizing the word love. Kiba blushed not liking this one bit. "You want her to have your babies. You want to marry her,"

"Naruto, I will kill you." Kiba pointed at him. "Say one more word and you're gone." Sure he couldn't beat Naruto but he was tempted to try just to shut him up.

"Did you tell her?" Shikamaru asked overhearing part of their conversation.

"He told her alright; he said loved her." Naruto smiled yet again teasing the Inuzuka.

"Not that," He looked at Kiba knowing he knew full well what he was talking about. "Well?"

"No, I didn't." He answered. "I wanted to but I'm scared that I might lose her." Kiba sat down. "I can't go through that again. I've had my heart broken one too many times. I can't bear to lose Yumi too."

"So rather than tell her that you still have feelings for Ino and that you're struggling with them. You'd rather her find out for herself. That could only be good for you." He spoke sarcastically. "It's going to get worse Kiba. If you really want to be with Yumi then you should tell her. I guarantee once she finds out she'll do whatever she can to help you. But you got to tell her Kiba. Otherwise you really will lose her." Shikamaru explained.

"Are you suggesting he tell Yumi about his feelings for Ino. No offense Shikamaru but that has to be the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say. The moment those words leave Kiba's lips she's out the door." Naruto added. "Besides he has me nothing bad is going to happen I promised to keep him away from Ino clutches. I fully support the Kiba and Yumi relationship. I'm not about to let Ino ruin that."

"What happens if you're voted off whose going to protect him then?" Shikamaru pointed out.

"I appreciate the concern guys but I can keep my feelings in check. I'm a ninja it's what I'm trained to do even if I am like a walking sex addict due the fact I'm in heat. Even I know better than to bark up that tree." Kiba put his phone away. "Thanks but if it comes to that I will take care of myself." He walked away.

"That's what I'm worried about," Shikamaru let out a sigh walking off to meet up with Guy sensei surely the challenge was about to start.

"Hey Guy sent me to fetch you guys the challenge is starting," Hinata ran up to them. "I also wanted to say that soon the teams will split up. It'd be nice if the three of us made it to the finals. So it could be a friendly competition." She looked at Naruto and Kiba when she said this.

"Sounds good," Kiba agreed. "Just hang in there Hinata." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "We're almost there."

"I have to admit at first I was worried that Ino would kick you first chance she got. I wasn't sure that Kiba would be able to protect you like he promised. Turns out he didn't need to." Naruto smiled. "The three of us in the finals, I think we could actually pull it off."

"I knew it," Ino whispered overhearing their conversation. "Hinata you chose the wrong side." She returned to her team so Hinata wouldn't catch on that she knew she was siding with Kiba and not her. Hinata returned with Kiba's team and took her spot with her team. Kiba looked over at Ino knowing she was acting a bit strange. After dating her for what seemed like forever he knew when she was up to something. This could only mean she overheard their conversation and hoped she didn't overhear the fact he's in heat. The last thing he needed right now was for her to exploit it.

"Now that everyone is here let's begin the next challenge," Guy cleared his throat passing out slips to those who didn't compete in the Forest Of Illusion Challenge namely Sai. "For safety reasons if you haven't signed this form it is no mandatory from this point. Seeing as the challenge you're about to face could kill you." Sai signed it and he moved on. "For this challenge I've enlisted some help from your fellow Leaf Shin obi." A woman stepped forward wearing a solid red robe. She had raven colored hair that went to her lower back. Her green eyes looked sharply at Sasuke and Hinata. "Say hello to Mai."

"There's no need for introductions I've heard of her." Sasuke replied. "You're the woman obsessed with the Uchiha. Itachi said that you wanted nothing more than to marry into the Uchiha clan; in hopes of running it from behind your husband's shadow."

"I'm glad he told you that saved me the trouble of doing it." She spoke bluntly not even bothered by his accusations.

"Sasuke's mine so you better not," Sakura went to threaten her but she covered her mouth.

"Careful what you say after all I'm the last person you want to piss off right now. As for Sasuke; sure he's an Uchiha but he's not the type of Uchiha I normally go for. Sadly that dream died with Itachi." She let out a sigh. "A smart man would have let it happen after all I'm quite easily the smartest person here." Mai put her hands in robe pockets. Shikamaru watched her noticing that she wasn't saying it be cocky she was saying it because like him. She's a strategy type. "I would say it's nice to see you Naruto but it's not."

"What did you say?" Naruto bit his lip remember Hinata told him she hated anyone from the Hyuga clan meaning Hinata. "You have some nerve showing your face here you Hyuga hater."

"See if Minato had chosen to be with me instead of Kushina. You'd be smart enough to know not to insult me. It is reasons like this why I dropped you on your head when you were a baby."

"You what," Naruto looked at her confused he already knew who his parents were but it shocked him to learn that she knew them. Ino laughed at the baby remark followed by the others.

"That explains a lot," Ino wiped a tear from her eye.

"You heard me," Mai spoke. "I did it to spite your father for choosing her over me. I wasn't always an Uchiha lover." She looked over at Guy. "Anyway you said you needed my help and you're paying me right?" He nodded. "Good then let's get this over with so I can take a nap."

"Okay for this challenge we will be covering evasion Mai has been instructed to attack you with all her might. She has been told to not hold back. Your job is to dodge her attacks without being hit once. If you get hit you are out kind of like dodge except its dodging attacks. The team with the last person standing wins. The winning team receives one mutual item and the last member standing receives immunity. The losing team will be sending someone home. Keep in mind her weapons are laced with a chemical that lures the target to a deep sleep even one scratch from her weapons and the effect applies. So you have to dodge all of them perfectly or you're out. You may not attack her either you can only dodge," He explained. "Any questions," They remained silent. Sakura smirked knowing without a doubt she was going to win this. It was like fighting Sasori all over again. "Mai they are all yours."

"Let's get started then," Mai tossed her robe aside revealing her arsenal of weaponry. She wore a black tank top and black pants. She had belt laced across her chest covered with Senbon. Her pants had Senbon strapped just above her right knee cap. She had special throwing disks shaped like an S on the belt around her waist. The woman was virtually covered head to toe with ninja tools. "I should warn you my Kekkei Genkai allows me to manipulate metal. No matter how you slice it this challenge will be over soon." She began doing hand signs. "Fire Style: Burning Cloud." She unleashed a mist of fire from her mouth creating a thick smoke. They all managed to avoid it without getting damaged luckily she wasn't aiming to harm them yet.

Suddenly out of nowhere a Senbon came towards Hinata trying to catch her before using Byakugan. She dodged and the Senbon hit Lee in the leg luring into a deep sleep. "Sorry," Hinata apologized knowing there was no way to avoid it Mai left her no time to warn anyone. It was then she realized what tactic she was going for. Mai intended to make sure her attacks always hit someone even if her target managed to dodge. She was a strategist like Shikamaru. Hinata dodged another Senbon which nearly hit Ino who dodged by luck alone.

"That nearly," Ino gasped evading more Senbon only to notice one of them wasn't Senbon. It was one those throwing disk it swooped around her cutting her leg and nearly hit Hinata but she was saved by Naruto who pushed her out of the way. Ino wanted to point that he was helping her but the effects of the attack lured her into a deep sleep.

"Naruto," Hinata pushed him returning the favor helping him evade. He bumped into a tree that was covered in Senbon every last one of them was a complete miss. "That was a close one." If she hadn't corrected his positioning by pushing he would have been out.

"Hinata," Sakura evaded more of Mai's attacks trying to pick up on her habits. "You do realize your helping our enemy right?" She pulled out a kunai deflecting one of the Senbon.

"Sorry," She apologized.

"Earth Style: Terra Prison." Mai surrounded Hinata with four walls of earth. "Sleep tight." Hinata gulped as a rain of Senbon descended on her. "That's for being a Hyuga." She smirked when she noticed it was only a substitution which to her still applied as an evasive maneuver. "This is why you're the only Hyuga I have respect for." Mai jumped back hiding in the smoke continuing her assault now targeting Kiba's team. "Sasuke you've improved." She watched as Sasuke used his Sharringan to combat her attacks it was no different than his fight with Haku as a Genin. She fired a disk Kiba tried to deflect it but it swung around hitting his shoulder. Kiba fell to the ground asleep. Shikamaru tried to remain out of sight hoping to wait it out only to be nicked in arm by the same blade Kiba deflected it was clear she was now using her Kekkei Genkai to control the direction her weapon went. He closed his eyes entering a deep sleep. Sai took the skies hoping to get the upper hand but was taken out by her raining Senbon.

"I'm actually doing," Naruto was stabbed in the back by a Senbon by Mai.

"No you weren't," She pointed as he hit the ground falling asleep. "I just had a certain way I wanted to beat you." She threw a disk while Hinata was busy dodging Senbon she turned around trying to dodge the disk only hit by another disk in the ankle. She dropped to the ground falling asleep. "So that leaves only you two." She stopped all weapons from flying around being controlled by her chakra. Sasuke and Sakura watched her carefully knowing her next attack was going to be huge. "Sasuke I can understand but you." She looked at Sakura. "Where did you learn to dodge like that?"

"Lady Chiyo," She replied nearly exhausted from all the dodging. "Also Lady Tsunade didn't train me for nothing." Sakura held out a kunai getting ready. She found it interesting that in terms of dodging she and Sasuke were neck and neck. There wasn't much she could compete with him in and she had nothing she could be beat him at other than chakra control. So she was determined to add this challenge to the small list. She hasn't won a single challenge. It was time to correct that. She wasn't going to hold back anymore.

"Whoever evades this next attack deserves to win." Mai began doing hand signs. "Steel Art: Senbon Terror." She created a magnetic field that surrounded her entire body in a Senbon Sphere. She appeared in between them catching them off guard. "Disperse." The needles fired off in several directions aiming directly for them. The Senbon fired at them like a machine gun of needles each with a homing effect and attacked for what seemed like hours. "You told me not to hold back." She reminded Guy who thought she way over board with that attack there wasn't a single ninja in their village that could dodge an attack like that. She looked at the huge smoke field left by her attack waiting for it clear to see who won if anyone.

"No way," Guy gasped seeing Sakura who was lying on the ground dodging every single needle at the last second. Sasuke was the ground asleep nearly dodging them all but was cut on the cheek by a stray Senbon. Sakura was panting too tired to move acting at last second while jumping for her life took nearly all the chakra she had just to keep up. "We have our winner," Guy held his hand out only to see Kakashi do the honor impressed to see exactly how much Sakura has grown.

"When did you get so good at evading?" He asked letting her borrow his shoulder to rest.

"Sasori," She replied. "I never had to dodge like that though." Sakura looked at Sasuke who was sound asleep. "I actually beat him."

"Yeah Team Ino wins this challenge." Guy pointed out. "Way to go Sakura. When the others wake up let them know the results."

Once everyone was awake Sakura let them know that Team Ino won and she was victor. The moment she told Sasuke he immediately went to Guy for proof not seeing how it was even possible for her to evade when he couldn't. "There is no way Sakura won." He yelled. "I demand proof."

"Dude," Kiba spoke. "It's not like we're sending you home. We're sending Shikamaru." His team nodded even Shikamaru was in agreement. "Don't tell me you're bent out of shape because she beat you."

"Mai, did Sakura really evade all those attacks?" Sasuke asked he began checking her for marks determined to say she cheated somehow. Sakura let him check her but there wasn't a single scratch on her. "This proves nothing she's a medic," He turned his attention to Mai for an answer to his question. Clearly his competitive side was starting to kick in and he was feeling less masculine because it was Sakura his girlfriend of all people.

"She was still awake; you weren't." Mai pointed out. "I don't really know or care what happened the smoke blinded me too to be honest I was certain I got both of you. After all I hardly ever miss especially with that jutsu. I do admit towards the end of it I did let the needles guide themselves after the last batch I released my hold on them so it's possible if she dodged at the last second. Quit getting your panties in a bunch she won you lost get over it." She let out a sigh. "I'm starting to remember why I avoided you."

"I don't buy it," He argued. "It had to rigged,"

"If it was rigged dumb ass; it would be rigged in your favor. Mai likes Uchiha and you saw what she did to Hinata she was targeting ninety percent of the time just because she's a Hyuga. If anyone has a right to complain it's her." Ino crossed her arms.

"I refuse to accept that she beat me," Sasuke pointed at her.

"Somehow I knew this would happen," Kakashi stepped forward being one of the judges for this competition it was time he put Sasuke in place. "I happened to record the entire thing after all Tsunade has been watching it on tape this entire time. So if you want I could show you what really happened unlike what Mai saw the camera can see through the smoke. Will that ease your mind Sasuke?"

"Play it," He demanded. Kakashi pulled out the tape. In seconds everyone gathered around curious to see what happened; even Sakura wanted to capture the moment. It wasn't often she did something insanely cool. He fast forwarded the tape showing them the part where Mai dispersed the needles. "Okay so here's Sasuke." He pointed at Sasuke who was doing well up to the point one glided passed his blade and hit his cheek. "Here's Sakura," It showed her jumping back almost matching Sasuke's moves move for move with a kunai but instead of continuing to deflect the needles she quickly began jumping back dodging as they chased her around. Finally she leaped back letting the needles pin her but moved her body little bit at the last second she moved her body just enough to barely dodge every needle. The needles were lined with her body perfectly if she had done anything different she would have lost. "There you have it." He turned it off.

"Wait a damn minute," Mai replayed the entire challenge again watching Sakura the entire time. "You bitch; you picked up on my attack patterns. No wonder you dodged it." Sakura blushed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." She apologized. "It just sort of happened." She went to explain exactly how she was able to pick up on Mai's pattern and explain what that pattern was but she was cut off by Mai.

"We're on the same side Sakura. I appreciate it if you left my attack pattern a secret after all now that you figured it out. I'm going to have to change it entirely." She explained. "You'd only be wasting your breath if you told them." Sakura nodded respecting Mai's wishes. "Anyway I believe I'm done here." She held out her hand. "A rogue ninja has to eat too." Guy handed her a chunk of money from his wallet tapping it his savings to make sure, she'd come. After taking the money she left.

"Well now that we have that cleared up," Guy cleared his throat. "Allow me to officially say that Team Ino wins this challenge and Sakura receives Immunity." Ino and her team embraced their champion grateful for the win. "Team Kiba unfortunately you'll be sending another member home."

"Great how soon can I leave," Shikamaru wondered.

"You aren't even going to vote?" Guy asked.

"Nah, I think it's pretty obvious who's leaving." Kiba answered. "Temari isn't here anymore so there went Shikamaru's motivation. He was only in it for the sex."

"True," The Nara agreed. "Speaking of Sasuke are you feeling okay?" He wondered seeing Sasuke with his cheeks flushed after seeing Sakura's performance completely turned on by it.

"Let him have his trance after all Sakura was bad ass." Kiba agreed. He didn't even like her like that and he had to admit at that moment she was hot. Naruto was struggling to keep it together after seeing that.

"You're not voting," Guy repeated. "I mean come on I went to all this hard work to create a competition and you're going to skip one of the most crucial parts. How could you do this to me?"

"Alright fine," Kiba let out a sigh. "We will have a vote but only to shut you up. Let's get this over with guys." He left with his team not noticing Sasuke wasn't among them. When he walked in Sasuke had his boxers thrown in the middle if the floor and had Sakura's swimsuit lying in pieces from being torn. The Inuzuka's eyes widened when he noticed Sasuke doing the dirty with Sakura in the middle of the floor. He was going all out on her and she loved it.

"Get out," Sasuke tossed a kunai by Kiba's head. He returned his attention to Sakura holding nothing back. Sakura let out a loud moan he forced himself in deeper and deeper leaving her aching for more.

"Let's have our vote somewhere else," He shut the door letting them have their moment.

"What's going on inside Kiba?" Naruto asked. "I didn't see anything." He went to take a peak in the window but Kiba made him look away.

"Let's just say now isn't a good time." He went to leave but could his heat wouldn't let him. He could sense the couples release and wanted to be there just to hear it and get a whiff of what his body ached for constantly.

"Their having sex in there," Naruto noticed sensing it too. "We need a minute." He snatched Kiba hoping to bust one off to ease his urge to join in. Kiba held up one finger from outside the door he heard a moan from Sasuke who had to have cracked off a big one this time from the way he sounded.

"There you go," He smirked. "Let's go Naruto." Kiba walked off while he still had the sense to get away from what was driving his heat wild. He needed the release so he wouldn't try to get it from Sasuke or Sakura.

By the time Sasuke was able to recover from what did he did with Sakura. Naruto and Kiba were back having a quick one before the vote. They could tell just by looking at the Uchiha he was a lot happier now. All he needed was a wild time with Sakura one that would leave her walking funny for a few days. "Let's just get this voting thing over with." He left with the team while Sakura stayed in Sasuke's room trying to recover. They made a unified vote that literally had Shikamaru as the only vote. Even Shikamaru picked himself.

"Are you happy?" Kiba asked; Guy smiled and nodded.

"I'll see you guys later," Shikamaru got on Gaara's sand cloud being taken off the island glad that he no longer had to deal with anymore of Guy's ridiculous challenges.

"Say hello to Temari for me!" Naruto yelled as Shikamaru disappeared. "So Sasuke," He glanced over at him. "How was she?"

"Not another word," Sasuke glared at him.

"Did I miss something?" Sai asked but Kiba shook his head knowing it was best to leave him out of it.