Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Unnoticed, Tadashi no Amegakure watched. He grinned triumphantly as the Uchiha family went home. Now he knew one of Itachi's techniques – but what was Chidori?

Chapter 9 – Tadashi and the Twins

One week later:

"Hurry up, Itachi, you'll be late!" Sakura shouted from the kitchen. Her son sighed and stood, grabbing his ninja tools.

"I'm off!" he called. "See you later!" If I survive, he added silently.

"You'll do fine," Mikoto assured him as he walked towards the door.

"Have faith in your abilities," his uncle added. Itachi inclined his head in acknowledgement of their words before departing for the final exam. He was nervous – who would he have to fight? He shuddered as he remembered Mamoru. He was the one that he dreaded fighting the most, but if he had to, he wouldn't forfeit. He had a reputation to uphold.

"When he arrived at the arena, he suppressed a gasp. Naruto had lied when he'd said that it wasn't for the public. Way to undermine our confidence, Itachi thought bitterly. We weren't expecting an audience, so we're shaken up by the public that have come to watch – the whole of Konoha, by the looks of it. He could see Tani in the stands – how did she get here so fast? he wondered. His confidence came flooding back as he realised that his whole family were there – and they were supporting him all the way. They believed that he had what it took to be a Jounin. He grinned and took his place in the line of contestants, between Hotaru and Hisuke.

"Don't forget to present yourselves to them," the third examiner, Aburame Shino the bug master, told them. "You're the stars of the show." The Chuunin ignored him and stood in silence. No point in wasting their energy before the fight. The same question was running through all their minds. "Who am I going to have to fight?" They all had people that they really didn't want to meet in combat – and people they wanted to fight.

"Okay," Shino said. "It's time to reveal the first two combatants." They all tensed. "Tsukiko Hisuke no Konohagakure against Tsukiko Yorusuke no Konohagakure." The two twins looked at each other in surprise. They never expected that they'd have to fight each other.

"Will everyone aside from the two selected make their way to the viewing gallery," Shino said. The sixteen Chuunin made their way up the stairs, the teammates of the twins wishing them luck. They merely nodded and continued staring at each other. Once all the others were up in the viewing gallery, Shino gave the twins the signal to start. Immediately, both started to weave handsigns that would trigger their unique ability – but when they realised that the other was doing it too they stopped.

Hisuke considered his options. His brother was good at ninjutsu and taijutsu, so he'd have to use genjutsu – but how would that help him win? He remembered researching the Mangekyo Sharingan after their mission to find Itachi's uncle. There had been barely anything – but he had found that it could immobilise its opponent, allowing the user to get close without fear of attack. He started to weave signs for a genjutsu, but at that moment, Yorusuke launched into a taijutsu attack – Hisuke's weak point. He dodged and tried to continue weaving the handsigns, but his brother didn't give him enough time.

Yorusuke grinned to himself. He could see that Hisuke was trying to cast a genjutsu, but as long as he could keep him off balance, he couldn't complete the seals. Charging at him again, he missed his brother's quick handsigns.

Hisuke had realised that a genjutsu would take too long to perform – it would use time that he didn't have – so he'd resorted to his unique ability.

Shintenshin no Jutsu! His mind slipped out of his body and entered Yorusuke's. It was a big risk. If he didn't finish it quickly, Yorusuke would through him out, reversing it so that he was in control of both their bodies. He made his brother draw a kunai and held it to his throat. Just as he sliced, Yorusuke gained control. A stream of blood trickled down his neck as he 'returned the favour'. It was common knowledge that he was the stronger twin – he could afford to gloat as he killed his other half.

"You're a weakling!" he taunted, ignoring the blood dripping from his neck. "I am the stronger and we both know it."

His twin didn't reply. There was no point – it wouldn't be long before both twins were dead. He could feel his brother slipping away. Yorusuke seemed to sense that he didn't have much time left. He hurriedly made Hisuke cut his own throat before all his energy drained away and he passed out. Hisuke staggered before he too fainted. Shino stepped up and checked both their pulses.

"This match is over," he declared. "Neither wins." Itachi watched as his teammate was carried off on a stretcher, along with his twin. That's one match down, he thought. Who's next?

Shino looked up at the remaining Chuunin.

"The next battle is between… Nara Hiroshi no Konohagakure and Tadashi no Amegakure." The Nara boy sighed in annoyance and made his way down to the battle arena. His pale eyes watched the petite Ame shinobi, who also chose to take the stairs rather than make a flashy entrance. He has no obvious weapons, Hiroshi thought, assessing him. Probably a genjutsu type. Oh great. This is going to be such a drag. I may be forced to use my mother's jutsu. What a drag. Let's just keep this to ninjutsu, if you please. I hate genjutsu or taijutsu.

Meanwhile, Tadashi was assessing the Nara boy.

Oh, I see. A shadow lover, eh? he thought, using his perceptive abilities to determine his opponent's preferred jutsu. This is going to be fun. They both emerged from the tunnel, neither having said a word to the other. Shino surveyed the silent pair.

"Begin!" Before the echo of the word had faded, Tadashi had begun to weave handsigns.

"Kurosu no jutsu!" Almost simultaneously, Hiroshi weaved handsigns of his own.

"Kagemane no Jutsu!" His shadow snaked towards Tadashi, who made no effort to dodge it, and they became connected. Hiroshi was puzzled. Why didn't dodge it? he wondered. He got his answer when he tried to reach for his shuriken holster. He couldn't move! Tadashi smirked and crossed his arms. To his utmost astonishment, Hiroshi was forced to cross his arms too. What is that Kurosu technique he used? Hiroshi wondered. I've never heard of it. Tadashi grinned as he watched Hiroshi try to work out what was happening. Somehow he's managed to seize control of my jutsu. Kurosu… The key's in that jutsu. He doesn't seem to have any weapons, which means that this is probably his only weapon… It must reverse any jutsu cast at him on the caster… What a drag. This means that Shintenshin no Jutsu would be suicide, as would any lethal jutsu. I'll just have to release the jutsu – if I can – and use weapons. This is even more troublesome than fighting Itachi would have been. At least I would have had a chance to neutralise his Sharingan. There's no loophole here… But what if his jutsu also reverses physical attacks? I'll just have to aim for a non-lethal wound so it won't kill me if it's reflected.

Tadashi watched in amusement as his opponent released the jutsu.

"That's a pesky jutsu of yours," Hiroshi said. "Very troublesome. I'll have to do this the old fashioned way." He drew some shuriken and threw them, aiming for Tadashi's shoulder. Tadashi dodged and they went flying past him. It was Hiroshi's turn to grin as he sent more shuriken the Ame ninja's way. His opponent blocked most with ease, but one caught him in the right shoulder. Hiroshi waited for the pain… but it didn't come. He had found a loophole in the Kurosu no jutsu!

"Very clever," Tadashi said sourly. "But that's not all I can do… Kuchiyose: Joro Senbon!" An umbrella appeared and the trademark Amegakure jutsu - Joro Senbon – began. Hiroshi scowled and dodged the first wave. Damn, he thought. My taijutsu isn't brilliant and my genjutsu is pathetic. The only way to get out of this alive is… He raised his hand.

"I withdraw," he said. Tadashi smirked and stopped his attack.

"Scared?" he taunted. Hiroshi shook his head.

"Taking into account that my ninjutsu is useless, and that the levels of my taijutsu and genjutsu aren't anything to brag about, it's the logical decision." Shino looked impressed.

"The winner is… Tadashi no Amegakure!" The Ame ninja shrugged, while Hiroshi looked positively relieved that he had avoided injury. They both made their way up to the contestant's gallery. Itachi nodded. He knew that Hiroshi had probably made the right choice.

Thanks for reading!

Tsari