Unsurprisingly Azuko was the first one ready the morning of the final round. He had woken early that morning and snuck off. He knew Taki and to a lesser extent Akari would scold him for going alone considering Taki had made a point of wanting to showing up as a team but Azuko just couldn't keep still.
He wasn't nervous just fidgety, after a strong workout in the pre-dawn grey Azuko began walking around the city. When he made it to the stadium only a few people were walking in, he paid most of them no mind, either civilians or higher ranking ninja that had come to watch.
There was however one face that stood out in the crowd.
Azuko froze as he met his father's eyes.
As usual the eyes were blank and his face expressionless. There was no emotion in his gaze just a purely objective stare, like always.
Azuko paused mid step for a second or two before he forced himself to keep walking. He wasn't going to acknowledge that man. He didn't care about that man, or his wife. They had washed their hand of him first. They weren't worth his time.
As he walked passed his father the man allowed himself a smirk.
"I'll be watching." He said in his usual tone. "Don't disappoint." He walked off away from Azuko as they young Genin froze in place.
His heart was beating in his chest as the words rattled through his head.
His father was here, he would be watching him.
I'm going to prove myself. Azuko said to himself as he stood there. I'm going to show him he was wrong. I'm better than that, better than him. I don't need him.
Despite all the words Azuko offered himself as he stood there, he couldn't stop the inevitable slip back to who he was.
I'll show him. Azuko declared. I'll show him just how powerful I am. That I'm worth something.
Azuko had no idea how long he had been standing there. Time seemed to be an idea not fully realised to his mind as he stood there.
He was brought back to reality by a hand on his shoulder and an all too familiar voice at his ear.
"Geez, Azuko, you promised we would come here as a team." Taki said disapprovingly.
Azuko looked at her, he had no idea just how hard his eyes were or how rough his voice was. "Just leave it." He muttered before walking into the stadium.
Taki froze for a moment as she watched him walk away.
"Don't mind him." Akari said from beside here. "He's probably just nervous, and you know how he is." She said reassuringly.
Taki seemed unconvinced for a moment before she nodded smiling once again. "You're right." She said. "After all there are a lot of strong Shinobi here." She said.
Akari nodded. "Yea, but we're strong too." She said as she began walking into the arena. "Wish us luck." She said with a wave as she followed Azuko into the stadium floor.
Shikamaru paced up and down in front of the line of Genin as they stood in the center of the stadium. Most seats were filled by now and everyone was waiting for the final round to begin.
As Tsunade stood up to give the standard ceremonial greeting to the visiting Lords and Ladies Shikamaru turned to the other Genin.
"By the way, there has been a slight change to the roster." Shikamaru told them. "Due to some unexpected events both the Raikage and Mizukage are running a bit behind schedule, so to keep things from going over time we're flipping the roster." He told them. "So Yin and Taibu will be fighting first followed by Akari and Seruga, you get where this is going." The lazy Jonin said as he took a drag of his cigarette. "So if all save Yin and Taibu could retreat to the viewing platform we can get this show on the road." Shikamaru said.
Tsunade finished her address to the assembled crowd and moved to sit down. "Well now that the formalities are sorted we can begin." She said with a smile to both Garra and Onoki.
Both men nodded in return.
"So who's the first match?" Garra asked as Tsunade sat down.
"Well seeing as we're waiting for Mei and Ay to get here it's going to be Taibu vs Yin." She told him.
Onoki smiled. "A good way to start, that boy Taibu's marked for greatness, he's a very talented Shinobi. That boy form the land of night will hardly pose a threat." The aging Kage boasted.
"While I agree faith in ones subordinates is key I think it ill advised to disregard your opponents so casually, old man." A casual voice said from behind Onoki's chair.
The atmosphere in the room was palpable as the man spoke, seeming to materialise out of thin air. Two women flanked him and immediately the room was set for a fight.
The movements were subtle, barely registrable but as the man's presence became known, Sasuke, Kankuro and Temari shifted slightly, hands nearing their weapons but not overtly acting.
Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi hands whoever came together in seals about the same time the Yoru Kunoichi flanking the man moved their hands to the small combat blades at their hips.
"Myto, Ree, cool it." The man ordered calmly, his tone still casual but even the assembled Kage and guard felt a strong urge to obey the man's words. "We didn't come her to start a fight." The man continued as he walked around Onoki's chair.
"Cheeky brat," Onoki grinned as the man walked past. "Who are you and what are you doing here?!" He demanded.
The man barely paid him any notice casually smirking at the old man as he walked up to Garra, standing over the man the two appraised each other for a short moment before the man offered a low bow.
"Lord Kazekage," He said respectfully. "It's an Honour to finally meet you."
Garra acknowledged the man with his own half bow from his chair.
"Bastard!" Onoki spat. "Don't you dare ignore me brat! Who are you?!" He demanded.
"My name is Lyto," The man replied dryly levelling an unimpressed eye at the old man. "If you wish to get anything else out of me I suggest you watch your tongue." He replied.
His voice never rose from its original volume but his tone and stance changed dramatically from a casual easy going feel to cold and powerful in an instant.
Tsunade watched the man with interest as he stared down Onoki. He was clearly a ninja from the land of night; he was dressed much like the two in the stadium and with a long black over coat, chest plate and blade at his hip just like his two guards.
His hair was black and shaggy hanging around his head in a messy mop, that coupled with his calm grey eyes and stubble have him the strange mix of ruggedly good looking and porfesional.
Eventually the old man relented and shrugged in his seat. "Very well he said." In a softer but no kinder voice. "Would you be so kind as to tell an old man what it is you're doing here."
His tone and his eyes were condescending but Lyto didn't seem to care too much for the old man.
"If you must know I was invited." He said pulling out a small letter from his jacket pocket. "Lady Hokage." He said, giving Tsunade her own respectful bow. "My name is Rai Lyto, Leader of the Village Hidden in the Night, It is an honour to be here." He said as his guard gave their own respectful bow.
Tsunade inclined her head. "Thank you." She said. "It's nice to finally meet you, I may actually be able to add something to the file I have on you." She said lightly
"I've heard of you." Onoki said sourly. "The self-proclaimed Yorukage." His tone was once again condescending and as he went to say more Lyto stood up.
"I Never claimed that name." Lyto said evenly, though clearly irritated. "It was a name other people began associating with me after I came to leadership of my village. In fact if I remember correctly it was Iwa that first called me Yorukage." He said evenly. "I myself never used that particular title."
"You better watch who you're talking to boy." Onoki said dangerously.
"And I could say the same to you old man." Lyto said evenly. "Keep in mind that the difference between us isn't power."
"And what is the difference then?" He asked.
"A title," Lyto replied. "People respect you not just because you are strong but because you also bare that title, and because you bare that title you demand every ones respect. But keep in mind that I don't care for your title and if you annoy me I'll silence you." He told him evenly.
Onoki growled at him. "Are you threatening me?" He asked.
"Informing would be a more appropriate word." Lyto said as he turned to walk to his seat. "I don't believe in offering threats verbally."
Onoki went to say more but Tsunade interrupted before he started.
"The First match is about to begin, that is as good a way as any to begin the day." She said clearly annoyed by both men's behaviour.
Lyto nodded politely and took his seat while Onoki merely muttered something under his breath.
Down in the stadium both Genin eyed each other cautiously.
On the side of knowing your enemy Yin already had the higher ground. He'd ended the last fight with a single effective lightning style Jutsu and it was already clear that the Iwa nine used Earth Jutsu. He had also used more techniques to win his fight.
Still He didn't let it stop him.
He brought his hands together in a seal and charged forwards. Yin drew his blade and side stepped the initial charge the Iwa nin made.
He moved for a quick thrust to the ribs but as the Iwa nin's foot made contact with the ground it burst apart violently.
The Yin jumped back nimbly avoiding the spray of stone as the Iwa nin disappeared into the stadium.
Yin stood there.
He tensed for a moment as he looked about himself trying to figure out what he should do. The Iwa nin currently had the advantage of being able to attack from anywhere, using the ground under Yin's feat as a weapon.
He guessed the Iwa nin was preparing something because he hadn't yet made his move. Yin though about Moving but it wouldn't do much, if he waited in the tree then nothing would happen.
His only option left was to bait his opponent.
He let his blade drop into the ground and got on his knees meditating in the centre of the arena, focusing his chakra.
From the stand above Onoki boasted about the match. "Ha, all he can do is think to surrender." He jeered casting a glance at Lyto. "And he calls himself a Shinobi."
From the other side of the stand Lyto said nothing.
The scene played out in silence for nearly three minutes and the crowd was growing wrestles as they watched nothing. Clouds gathered over head and Yin just sat there waiting for his opponent.
Finally the Iwa nin made his move.
Yin rolled to the right suddenly leaving his combat blade behind as the earth beneath where he had been sitting burst apart again and a small jagged peak stuck out of the ground.
"Bout time you made your move." Yin said as he weaved a series of hand signs. "Futon: Shihaihiru!" The wind gathered beneath his feet as he began to glide slowly around the rock spire that had risen from the ground.
He heard the rumble of stone a split second before he felt the heart begin to up heave itself. He increased his speed as another spire shot out of the ground.
"So that's you play then?" Yin asked as he began to move through the battle field.
Another pillar tried to skewer him but he was gone before the spire had reach his knees.
He could see the ground cracking before him but this time it was different the mountain that emerged was larger, more rounded, and distinctly human in shape.
"Doton: Gōremu no karada!"
The body swung a chunky fist at Yin as he passed, but he ducked under the arm easily as he reached into his pouch and pulled out three Kunai.
The golem moved again, faster than Yin thought it could surging forward on a carpet of rubble it struck again.
Yin angled the wind under his feet and shifted his weight as he retreated from the Golem. As he suspected Taibu picked up the pace not wanting him to get away.
With a grin Yin dug his heels in and let forward changing from a retreat to a charge in an instant. Taibu threw a clumsy punch but Yin avoided it easily as he three all three kunai into the golems side.
The Hulk of Rock turned to charge and in that moment Yin activated the bomb tags
Chunks of stone were thrown about as Taibu staggered. The heavy sheet of stone had kept the explosions from killing him but the impact had broken ribs and he was struggling to keep the Jutsu active.
He could see Yin a few feet back waiting for him to make his next move.
He shifted his wait and grimaced at the pain. If he had any hope of winning this round he needed to end it quickly.
He raised an arm against the protests his body gave him and spread his finders. "Doton: Sutōn shuriken!"
Yin shifted his weight and let the wind carry him to the side as the shards of stone flew past him.
The first pillar was torn apart from the impact of the stone fragments sending chunks of masonry everywhere.
Yin caught his Combat blade as it flew past him. Thrown free from the spires destruction.
"I'll give you this. That Technique is powerful." Yin said as he made a series of hand signs. "But it's too slow to beat me." He said as he took a deep breath.
"Ranton: Taifu Basuto!" As Yin exhaled the moisture in his breath gained strength from his chakra developing into a full blow rainstorm. The technique hit Taibu square in the chest and the Iwa nin was thrown against the far wall of the stadium.
His Jutsu collapsed around him as he tried to keep his feet, he looked up to see Yin angling a lighting charged blade at him and sighed raising his hands.
"I forfeit." He said knowing when he was beaten.
Yin lowed the blade, letting the lighting chakra go as Shikamaru called the match. There was a General round of applause as Yin helped his opened up and the two left the arena.
"Okay that was a good first match." Shikamaru said. "Next would Soji Akari and Yoguji Seruga please come forward to begin the next match?"
Yin passed Akari on the stairs as she headed down to the arena floor. As they met eyes the two stopped for a moment.
"I guess it goes without saying but you better win." Yin said as he looked her in the eye. "I've spent a month preparing for out match."
Akari grinned at the man "You know I'm not going to lose to that jack ass. I've got a lot of pent up stress that I'm looking forward to working out all over this face." She said as she cracked her knuckles.
Yin smiled as he offered her his fist.
Akari looked at the fist for a moment before she started walking, leaving Yin to stand there for a moment. "I'll save that for the ring, pretty boy." She said with a wave as she walked away.
Yin stood there for another moment before he smiled to himself and went up to the observation platform for the other genin students.
"What took you so long?" Makabi asked as Yin joined him.
Yin said nothing as he watched Akari walk out into the arena, his heart pounding. He couldn't wait for them to fight.
No freindlies you're not in some delusion dream land from which you shall wake and sadly be without another chapter.
Yes i have returned once again for an unspecified time to do that voodoo i do so well.
I do apologizes for this delay and i hope i didn't turn any of you off, sadly the motivation for this project just left me for a while, but i do vow to finish it.
Justsu in morder of use were.
"Futon: Shihaihiru!" (Wind Style: Sky Heel)
"Doton: Gōremu no karada!" (Earth Style: Body of the Golem)
"Doton: Sutōn shuriken!" (Earth Style: Stone Shuriken)
"Ranton: Taifu Basuto!" (Storm Style: Typhoons rapture!)
Until next time I wish you all the best.
Yours truly.
Nicolai Grey.