Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
The knives clashed and both their arms started to shake as they lost blood rapidly. Faster than the eye could follow, Tadashi drew a second kunai and stabbed Jun in the side. The Konoha ninja collapsed.
Chapter 16 – Interview
"The winner is… Tadashi no Amegakure," Shino said. "Again, there will be a half hour break before the final match."
Medics appeared and hurriedly took both Jun and Tadashi away to be healed. Itachi followed, having no wish to be singled out by the spectators piling out of their seats to get a glimpse of the finalists. Hands gripped both of his shoulders and he looked round to see Hisuke and Yorusuke.
"Well done," they said. He responded with a nod.
"I'm proud of you," his uncle said, stepping up behind him. Itachi nodded again. He gasped as Tani hugged him tightly.
"You're in the final!" she said, proud of her big brother. Itachi grinned and ruffled her hair, earning himself a scowl.
"I know I am, Tani," he said fondly. He looked up. "Uh-oh." He could see a trio of academy students making their way towards him. Mikoto and her ANBU squad appeared out of nowhere.
"Nice one," Arisu said. "Just watching you makes me want to kill something!" Hana elbowed her.
"You're the most bloodthirsty person I know!" she scolded.
"That's not a bad thing!" Arisu protested.
"Break it up you two," Mikoto said, exasperated.
"Yes, Mik," they said, wary of their teammate's temper. But Arisu was never quiet for long.
"Do you think you can beat that Ame guy?" she asked Itachi, acting like an interviewer. He shrugged.
"Probably."
"Ooh. Confident, aren't we?" she said.
"Shh, Arisu," Taiki said.
"Make me!"
Itachi sighed, knowing full well how argumentative she could be.
"Could you guys shut it? You're giving me a headache," his uncle said. Arisu immediately smiled sweetly at him.
"Sorry," she said. She had taken a shine to him, possibly because he'd spent time with another ninja from Kiri so he knew how to treat her.
"That Ame ninja's no big deal," Wana said, her head protruding from the front of her sister's neck. "After all, I managed to freak him out pretty easily!"
"Itachi-san!" an academy student said, having finally made her way to where the small group were. "Itachi-san!" He looked at the girl.
I'm not in the mood for this, he thought.
"Yes?" Be civil.
"Could you spare a moment to talk to us, please? We're doing an article about the exams for the academy newsletter!" No. Go away.
"OK." Grr. I really don't want to but they're not going to leave me alone until I say yes.
"How do you feel, having made it through to the final?" the girl asked. Terrified.
"It wasn't too hard so I'm not that nervous," he said. Lies. All lies.
"How hard would you say the previous exams were?" A pain in the neck.
"Not too hard – I didn't really struggle."
*Five minutes of questioning later*
"Wow, you're amazing! Thanks for talking to us!"
"Thanks. And it wasn't a problem." I'm not that great and it wasn't as if you gave me a choice. Now get lost. He barely contained a sigh of relief as they walked away.
"Did you enjoy that?" Arisu asked wickedly.
"No."
"Thought not."
"Were you telling the truth?" inquired Hana.
"No."
"Thought not."
"Predictable, aren't we?" Wana commented.
"Shut up."
"Here's an idea – why don't you save all this energy you're bottling up for the fight?" Arisu said.
"Thank you for stating the obvious."
"No probs."
"Try getting some rest," Mikoto suggested, interrupting Arisu before she could antagonise Itachi any more.
"She's got a point – after all, this match isn't going to be easy so you may have to use that," her uncle advised. "And that takes up a lot of stamina." Wordlessly, Itachi headed to the infirmary to sit down.
"That?" Mikoto asked her uncle. "What's that?"
He shrugged mysteriously.
"Just a little something Itachi and I came up with as an 'ace in the hole'."
"You're making no sense."
"Tough."
Arisu laughed.
"You'll get no more out of him, Mik," she pointed out. "Let's go back to our seats. The fight's gonna start soon."
"Like I didn't know." I hope you'll be alright, Itachi. That Ame ninja's no pushover.
"He'll be fine," her uncle said, as though reading her thoughts.
Quickly, Itachi made his way to the infirmary. Upon arriving there, he looked for a suitable hiding place, having no wish to be interviewed again. Catching sight of the boy's bathroom, he entered and locked himself in a cubicle where no-one could find him. Perching on the closed toilet lid, he hugged his knees and thought about the upcoming match.
Ten minutes later, he realised that it was time he headed back to the arena. As he emerged from the bathroom, he met Tadashi, also heading to the arena. They walked together in silence, back to the grassy area that Kiba and Akamaru had just cleared of spectators.
"Ready?" Shino asked them. They nodded, glaring at each other.
"Said your goodbyes?" Tadashi hissed.
"Have you?" Itachi responded.
"The final match is between Uchiha Itachi no Konohagakure and Tadashi no Amegakure," Shino announced.
"Beg- START!" He refused to say 'begin' anymore.
Kurosu no jutsu!
Sharingan!
Both kekkei genkai were activated. Right from the start, every person knew that it would be the most spectacular match of the exam. Or maybe ever. Both were so similar. Itachi was one of the strongest shinobi in Konohagakure. Tadashi was one of the strongest shinobi in Amegakure. And neither wanted to lose.
Thanks for reading!
Tsari