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Chapter 22: The Preliminaries II

The next names flashed through the next contestants.

Fight 8: Sabaku no Temari vs. Karui

Samui put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. "This time, try not to lose your cool. Remember the last time?"

Karui had the decency to look sheepish. "I can't help it! The bastard kept on laughing like no tomorrow!"

Samui sighed as she let her colleague's shoulder to let her go at the arena.

Naruto watched intently. I believe I'm about to see a good fight between kunoichi. I didn't like the earlier fight. It was completely useless.

Minato sighed. Oh, where did this world go to? To allow fangirls into the ninja ranks…it's a disgrace to ninjas, shinobi and kunoichi alike.

Arthas scoffed. In my time as a Paladin, such weak people are not permitted in army ranks.

Of course, we told them that in a simple, non-hurting way.

Karui drew her blade as Temari snapped open her war fan.

Karui channeled Raiton chakra into her blade, as it began crackling with electricity.

Temari prepped her fan to her side, gathering wind to it.

They stared at each other. Temari, then, whipped her fan to the other side, the gathered wind zooming towards Karui.

Karui raised her blade up high and slammed it down on the ground as she shouted her attack, "Raiton: Shogeki Nami (1)!" Lightning coursed through the blade as it dispelled the wind.

She assumed her stance again and charged towards Temari.

Temari quickly closed the fan and infused it with Futon chakra as she put it up to block against Karui's Raiton-enhanced blade.

Temari pushed with effort the blade away from her. When she got the chance, she swiftly opened her fan and sent another wind wave towards her opponent, shouting, "Futon: Kaika no Gunshuku (2)!"

Karui ran towards the side to avoid it. Afterwards, she grabbed two kunai from her holster and threw it towards Temari.

Temari spun gracefully as she snapped her fan shut to deflect the thrown kunai. Then, she jumped away as a blade was about to slam down on her.

Naruto, on his part, was quite glad to see a good kunoichi fight.

Temari, once landing, opened her fan and whipped it to her side, one to another, and shouted, "Kamaitachi no Jutsu!" Wind gathered and formed a tornado towards Karui.

Karui began gathering Raiton chakra into her blade. It showed as the blade suddenly began emitting immense amounts of electricity. She raised it high and slammed it down on the ground, exclaiming, "Raiton: Shogeki Nami!"

A wide arc of electricity emerged from the blade and collided with the tornado.

There was an explosion and dust covered the arena floor.

Clangs and clashes were heard from within the dust. The adults can sense the fight just fine. However, those who don't have the necessary equipment can't see it. Naruto and the two Hyuuga's can see the battle just fine, Naruto using his Tekigan and the Hyuuga's using their Byakugan.

When the dust cleared, it showed Karui and Temari in a deadlock.

Lightning could be seen between their eyes as they kept on holding the deadlock.

They broke off. Karui stabbed her katana to the ground and made some handseals. Temari snapped open her fan and began spinning it towards Karui's direction.

They shouted their attacks, "Raiton: Jibashi/Futon: Tenran!"

Lightning coursed through Karui's hands and wind gathered around Temari's fan.

They released their attacks at the same time; Karui, whipping her hands forward; Temari, immediately stopping the fan's rotation.

Another explosion occurred. When it subsided, Karui was kneeling, sword for support, while Temari was still standing, though breathing heavily.

Karui gritted her teeth as she grabbed her katana and charged towards Temari with a roar.

Samui sighed. "Here she goes again."

Temari whipped her fan side to side, "Okamaitachi!"

Karui was too fatigued to dodge and she was sent to the wall, with slashes across her body.

Temari closed her fan and looked at the proctor. "Winner is Sabaku no Temari."

Medics came and carried Karui to the med bay as Temari walked to her team.

Fight 9: Omoi vs. Mujona Kurayami [Heartless Darkness] (Fu's second teammate; the one who wanted to violate her)

Omoi sighed as he walked to the arena floor.

Kurayami walked to the arena floor. He had obsidian black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a dark red cloak that reached his ankles. Within the cloak were a black shirt and pair of pants.

Omoi drew a blade. Kurayami plunged his hands to his sides and drew two sais and assumed his stance.

Omoi grew interested and straightened up. "Oh…I'm fighting a sais user? This'll be an interesting fight."

Karui shook her head as she said, "Omoi and his weird desire to fight people with weird weapons." She turned to Samui. "If he fought that Naruto guy, he would've been serious faster than your brother would say 'hot.'"

Samui shrugged.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. Wow, this is the first time I've seen someone use such a weapon.

Arthas was intrigued. It's been a long time since I've last seen a sais user. This will be good battle.

Omoi and Kurayami waited for the other to start moving.

Finally, Kurayami moved. He ran to Omoi, sais at the ready.

Omoi charged as well.

Kurayami went for a stab with his left weapon. Omoi pushed it away with his blade as Kurayami went for a second stab. Omoi did something that is both brave and stupid. He thrust his palm towards the weapon. Luckily, the edge of the weapon just went in-between his middle and ring finger.

Up in the stands, Karui has a tick mark on her head. "That idiot…I prefer the old Omoi rather than this one."

Omoi pushed back the weapon, along with the owner.

Omoi reassumed his stance, while channeling Raiton chakra into it, like Karui earlier did, and electricity began emitting from it.

Kurayami, on the other hand, channeled his water chakra into his sais. Water coated the sais and Kurayami redid his stance again.

They charged.

Omoi raised his blade high and slammed it down on the ground. An arc of electricity burst from the blade and zoomed to Kurayami.

Kurayami jumped to the side and whipped his sais towards him. Water whips extended from the water-coated sais and towards Omoi, who was surprised at the technique.

Omoi jumped out of the way, but a whip managed to twirl around his ankle and Kurayami threw him across the room.

The whip receded and Kurayami reassumed his form, saying, "Suiton: Mizu no Muchi (3). It's quite an interesting technique, don't you think?"

Omoi smirked as he stood up. "I'm fighting a sais and whip user. I'm getting giddy." He ran to Kurayami.

Kurayami smirked. "And I'm fighting a Raiton user. I'm extending the same courtesy." He charged as well.

Kurayami rolled to the side to dodge the downward slash and did a quick stab to Omoi's torso, holding back lots to avoid much unnecessary bloodshed.

Omoi winced as the intruding weapon pierced his body. His hand immediately went to his torso to stem the slightly bleeding wound.

Kurayami smirked and kneed Omoi on the stomach.

Omoi winced again as he stumbled to the floor, the lightning around his blade dissipating. He quickly put his blade up to block the downward attack by Kurayami. He found it a lot heavier than normal.

Naruto raised an eyebrow. I see. He's condensing a large amount of water into his sais to increase the weight it brought to the enemy…he's also probably channeling chakra to his arms to lift it easier.

Omoi pushed the opponent away, putting all his strength into it.

Omoi stabbed his blade down and made handseals, "Raiton: Jibashi!"

Lightning covered his arms as he thrust his hands forward and the lightning fired to Kurayami.

Kurayami smirked as he whipped his left hand forward, weapon still in hand and met with the lightning attack head-on. The lightning hit the water and increased velocity to the source.

Everybody was surprised at this. Everybody knows that water is a powerful conductor of lightning.

The lightning reached Kurayami, who, surprisingly, just flinched slightly at the shock. His other arm slowly went to his stomach. Suddenly, he whipped his other arm to Omoi, as he shouted, "Suiton: Kaminari no Ridairekuto (4)!"

To Naruto's, and everybody else's, surprise, the lightning emerged from his other weapon, merged with the whip, zoomed to Omoi, and zapped him.

The hidden Orochimaru was intrigued. It seems Taki can produce good ninjas, after all. I wonder if I can take some of them for experimentation…

The proctor was about to announce the winner when the shocked Omoi dissipated into lightning.

Kurayami was wide-eyed before he spun around to block a slash to his back.

Kurayami smirked. "Kaminari Bunshin no Jutsu (Lightning Clone Technique…self-explanatory)…I underestimated you."

Omoi gave a small smirk as he said, "Likewise."

Naruto put a hand to his chin. The most notable trait of water is its capability to flow regardless of the obstacles or any object that joins it. He took advantage of that capability. Once the lightning made contact with his body, he made the electrified liquid flow to his stomach, avoiding the heart and lungs, before making it flow to his other arm and releasing it to his opponent.

They pushed each other back again.

Omoi twirled his blade before returning back to his stance.

Kurayami loosened his grip on his sais, flexing his fingers, before tightening it. I wasted too much chakra on the water and the strength. I might as well enjoy this as long as I can. This is the last shot.

Kurayami let go of his chakra, letting the water fall to the ground and relaxing his muscles.

Omoi raised an eyebrow. He must have been running low on chakra. Come to think of it, I'm also almost out of chakra.

Omoi channeled chakra into his blade as it crackled with electricity.

Kurayami channeled ordinary chakra into his blade as it hummed with power. After all, the redirection took much out of him.

They charged towards each other with a roar.

There was a large explosion.

When it cleared, it showed Kurayami down on the ground, unconscious, with Omoi kneeling with his blade for support.

The proctor announced, "Winner is Omoi."

The medics came and carried Kurayami to the med room as Omoi walked back to his team.

Karui looked at him. "Had fun, did we?"

Omoi gave her a smirk. "It was…interesting."

Karui smiled before saying, "Okay, that's good." She suddenly grabbed his shoulders and began shaking him. "You idiot, if I ever see you going so far as to catch your opponent's weapon to get an interesting fight, I will personally give you an interesting fight with your hands tied behind your back and chakra sealed, understand?"

Omoi sighed. "Fine, I'll stop."

Karui let go of him. "Good, make sure to remember it."

Fight 10: Kenkaku [Swordsman] Tenten vs. Chikyu Unmei [Earth Fate] (Fu's first teammate; the guy who didn't want to touch Fu)

Tenten jumped down as Unmei calmly and coolly walked down the stairs to the arena floor.

Unmei was a white-haired individual with somewhat cold, gray eyes. He is shorter than Kurayami by half-foot, or six inches for those who don't know the math. He is wearing an all-blue suit, in contrary to Kurayami. Also, unlike Kurayami, he isn't wearing anything flashy, just a blue button-up shirt and pants. He also has his right hand down in his pocket while his left was left hanging, indicating his favor to his right hand. (He is Fate Averruncus from Negima.)

The proctor said, "Ready? Begin the match!"

Tenten took out a scroll and retrieved a blade from it. She returned the scroll back to its original place and assumed her stance.

Unmei didn't assume any stance or take out any weapon. He just stood there with a bored expression.

Tenten asked, "Aren't you going to pull out a weapon?"

Unmei replied, "My whole body is a weapon, kunoichi. The very earth around us is a weapon to me. Don't think that I am weak and worthless because I don't have a sword or any other weapons."

Tenten raised an eyebrow. "So you're a Doton user?"

Unmei tilted his head to the side. "What was your first clue, swordsman," asked Unmei sarcastically. "Was it the fact that I just said that the very earth around us is a weapon to me?"

Tenten had a slight tick mark on her head. She charged to Unmei. She did a downward slash.

Unmei removed his right hand from his pocket and raised it to the blade.

Everybody was surprised when Unmei stopped the blade by his index and middle finger.

His left hand went for a punch to Tenten's torso and connected.

Tenten gasped at the rather powerful punch. It was too powerful for a human being to produce. She was punched all the way back to a wall.

Unmei looked on as he watched Tenten stand up.

Tenten charged again. This time, she did a stab to his torso.

Unmei dodged to the left before he kneed her again on the torso. Then, after she bent forward in recoil, he did an elbow drop on her back. She screamed in pain as she sprawled on the ground.

Unmei turned around and walked to a good distance away from her. He put both his hands together and did a few handseals. He put his right hand on the ground.

The earth where his hand touched shifted before it turned to a shape of a lance. Unmei grasped it and twirled in the air with his right hand. Then, he lowered it in front of him, horizontally. (It's like how Jaden Korr holds his dual-bladed lightsaber in Star Wars: Jedi Knight Jedi Academy.) He said, "Doton: Sekki no Yari (5)."

Tenten smirked as she stood up. "You Taki ninjas are surprising. Your other teammate used sais and you use a lance."

Unmei didn't reply.

Tenten charged again. Tenten did a horizontal slash.

Unmei blocked it. Then, Tenten split away before Unmei could react.

Tenten used her free hand to take out a scroll from a pocket and unfurled it. She pointed it to the sky and weapon hilts slowly emerged from it. Suddenly, lots of weapons zoomed out and rested on the air.

Tenten raised her held sword vertically high before dropping it down to Unmei, shouting, "Tsubasa no Ame (6)!"

The airborne blades dropped down to Unmei. Dust accumulated and covered everybody's sight of Unmei.

Tenten lowered both blade and scroll as she sighed.

Suddenly, she froze as she heard someone within the dust cloud say, "Is that all you have? If that is so, then I am completely disappointed."

When the dust cloud cleared, it showed Unmei, right hand in right pocket, lazily walking out of something that looked like a closed rose made of rock. All around the earth rose were the weapons that are supposed to hit Unmei.

Tenten stuttered, "W-what is that?"

Unmei rolled his eyes. "A person emerges from an area-type jutsu that you deem to be unavoidable and inescapable and you are shocked by his counter-jutsu. We are shinobi. We should expect the unexpected." Unmei raised his left hand and waved it behind him. The earth rose descended back down to the ground. "For your information, the technique I used is Doton: Sekki no Hanabira (7)." He returned his hand to his side.

Tenten gritted her teeth. She stored her scroll back into its place before she charged again. Tenten suddenly disappeared from in front of Unmei to behind him, surprising him.

Tenten did a downward slash which connected. Then, Tenten kicked him hard on the back. Ha! Take that! Unmei fell forward before his left hand shot out in front of him and stopped his fall. He did a handstand and landed gracefully.

Tenten gritted her teeth as she saw Unmei recover. Unmei turned to look at her before he turned his eye to the wound behind him, which was slowly seeping blood.

Unmei returned his stare to Tenten. "So, you accumulated chakra into your blade to slash me." Unmei smirked. "However, it seems that you didn't cut deep enough as you intended." He turned his body around to show that the wound cauterized by what seemed to be earth and rocks. "This is my Chikyu Hakuri Hifu (8). It decreases any damage given to me by a large margin."

Tenten cursed mentally. She was already tired from using Tsubasa no Ame and the quick burst of speed to get behind Unmei. She doesn't have much stamina unlike shinobis, although, she has more stamina than more kunoichis. After all, Tsubasa no Ame is somewhat a mid C-Rank, a jutsu rank that is not prescribed for genin.

Unmei turned back to Tenten before he slowly removed his right hand from his pocket and made some seals and put his right hand on the ground again. However, instead of the earth shifting into a shape of a lance, his hand sank right into earth itself, much to the surprise of the onlookers and Tenten.

Unmei whispered, "Doton: Chikyu no Shudo (9)."

Suddenly, the ground below Tenten shifted and five fingers emerged, surrounding her. Tenten rose as a large hand was beneath her and grasped her tightly, her blade in-between the middle and ring fingers.

Unmei removed his hand, but the earth hand didn't. Unmei slowly walked to Tenten. Unmei saw Tenten wriggling her way out of the hand's grasp. He chuckled before saying, "It's useless. The hand is tightly wrapped around you. It's like being paralyzed. You can only move your chest for breathing. Forfeit."

Tenten lowered her head in defeat after a few more wriggling. "I…forfeit."

The proctor said, "The winner is Chikyu Unmei."

Unmei put a hand to the large hand and said, "Kai." The large hand shuddered before slowly sinking back to the ground, letting go of Tenten in the process.

Unmei walked back up to his teammates. Tenten did the same after returning the sword back into her scroll.

Fight 11: Nara Shikamaru vs. Tsuchi Kin

(Canon Fight)

Fight 12: Akimichi Chouji vs. Kinuta Dosu

(Canon Fight)

Fight 13: Hyuuga Hinata vs. Hyuuga Neji

Both Hyuugas looked at each other before nodding and going down to the arena floor.

Neji said, "I hope you the best of luck, Hinata-sama."

Hinata smiled and nodded. "I hope that we can enjoy this match."

Neji nodded before they simultaneously activated their Byakugan and assumed their stance.

Hitomi and Hikari watched intently at the match. Hiashi and Hizashi did the same, intent on seeing this rather good fight.

Up in the stands, Naruto crossed his arms and observed the fight.

Minato eyes switched from Hinata to Neji in quick succession.

A few seconds later, they charged towards each other.

They thrust and parried as they attacked each other.

Naruto was somehow entranced by the movement. It's as if they're doing some sort of dance.

Arthas nodded. Indeed they are. It's…somewhat alluring.

Hinata jumped back away before thrusting her hand forward, saying, "Suiton: Suihachi!"

Water emerged from the palm and went to Neji.

Neji jumped to the side before charging to Hinata.

Hinata tilted her body to the side (like a sideways Matrix) to avoid a Jyuken strike to her left shoulder before thrusting her palm to Neji's torso, "Hakke Kusho!"

Neji was blasted away by a burst of chakra to his torso. Neji recovered and looked at his torso and saw that the attack ruffled up his shirt. He looked at Hinata. "You ruined my favorite shirt, Hinata-sama. I can't let that slide."

Hinata smiled at him. "I apologize, Neji-nii-san."

Neji smirked. He dropped back to his stance again.

They charged at each other again.

Hikari noted to her husband, "This is the first time I've seen our son fully enjoying something."

Hizashi nodded. "That is probably he's always wanted to test his strength against his cousin. This fight gave him that." He turned to his brother. "In your opinion, brother, who will win?"

Hiashi turned to him. "It would be favoritism if I said my daughter will be winning. In this course, only the swiftest and most flexible will win."

Back to the fight, Hinata and Neji landed on opposite ends of the arena, none managing to hit the other.

They continued their attacks.

Finally, Hinata managed to surprise Neji when he did a palm thrust to her chest and she did a Jyuken strike on the palm. Neji winced. Hinata took that opportunity to strike Neji's chest, "Shotei!" With that strike, Neji was paralyzed.

Hinata jumped a few feet back and assumed a stance, a stance that Neji and the other Hyuuga present knew.

Hizashi turned to Hiashi. "You taught her that technique?"

Hiashi smirked at him. "I deemed her worthy enough. Don't worry, though, brother, I've told her to restrict the use of that technique to half."

Hinata struck. She shouted, "Hakke Sanjuuni Sho!"

She did the first two strikes, "Ni Sho!" She followed it with two more strikes, "Yon Sho!" Then, she did four more, "Hachi Sho!" She followed through with eight strikes, "Juuroku Sho!" She finalized it with sixteen more strikes, "Sanjuuni Sho!"

Neji crumpled to the floor.

Hinata walked to Neji and knelt beside him. "Are you alright, Neji-nii-san?"

Neji managed to reply, "Yes…that was an entertaining fight, Hinata-sama."

Hinata blinked before smiling at him. "Yes…I suppose it was."

The proctor called it, "The winner is Hyuuga Hinata!"

The medics came and put Neji on a stretcher. However, as he was about to be carried away, he stopped them. He looked at the present members of the Hyuuga clan, so did Hinata.

They were pleased that all four nodded their heads in approval.

Neji was brought to the med room as Hinata went back up to the stands.

Fight 14: Rock Lee vs. Unnamed Kiri Shinobi 2

(Rock Lee won.)

Fight 15: Sabaku no Gaara vs. Unnamed Kiri Shinobi 3

(Gaara won. No contest)

After Fight 15, the Sandaime called every winner to the arena floor (except Sasuke as he had his Curse Seal sealed).

The Sandaime said, "Congratulations to each and every one of you who won on the preliminaries. The finals will occur one month from now, so take the time to train during that one month." He gestured to Ibiki, who was carrying a box. "Each of you will get a number from this box and you will announce it to us."

They took their number and announced it.

Ibiki took note of every one of them and showed them the match-up by the finals.

Fight 1: Fu vs. Hyuuga Hinata

Fight 2: Hikashi Setsuna vs. Uzumaki Naruto

Fight 3: Aburame Shino vs. Sabaku no Kankuro

Fight 4: Nara Shikamaru vs. Sabaku no Temari

Fight 5: Omoi vs. Chikyu Unmei

Fight 6: Kinuta Dosu vs. Sabaku no Gaara

Fight 7: Rock Lee vs. Uchiha Sasuke

Nanabi, from within Fu's subconscious, smirked. Ooh, look at your luck, little fly. If you win your fight with the Hyuuga girl and your crush wins his against the swordsman, both of you could fight.

Fu shouted back. He's not my crush!

I don't care what anybody says. Humans are too funny and too easy to tease.

Fuck you.

Heh, I appreciate the sentiment but I only go for other demons. Besides, don't you want to save yourself for your King?

Why did I get stuck with the annoying one?

Nanabi laughed. Just be grateful that you didn't have Nibi or Gobi in you. Nibi is the most perverted of us Bijuu. If she saw your crush, she would go to any heights for you to get laid with him. She will even go as far as projecting perverted images of you and him doing perverted stuff. Gobi is quite wild and energetic. Her over-energetic mouth will drive you insane. Also, be grateful that I'm just pushing you towards him.

…alright…I suppose this isn't so bad.

The Sandaime cleared his throat. "Alright, all of you have one month to prepare for the finals. All of you are dismissed."

They went their separate ways.

The new chapter's done!

Read and Review!

( 1 ) Raiton: Shogeki Nami: Lightning Style: Lightning Wave – Fires a wide arc of lightning, like Kurosaki Ichigo's Getsuga Tenshou.

( 2 ) Futon: Kaika no Gunshuku: Wind Style: Weapon Disarmament – Think of Negi Springfield's disarmament technique.

( 3 ) Suiton: Mizu no Muchi: Water Style: Water Whip – It's like ATLA's Water Whip.

( 4 ) Suiton: Kaminari no Ridairekuto: Water Style: Lightning Redirection – Redirects lightning. It uses the same concept as ATLA's Lightning Redirection.

( 5 ) Doton: Sekki no Yari: Earth Style: Lance of Stone - Summons a lance made out of stone.

( 6 ) Tsubasa no Ame: Rain of Blades – Summons a huge number of blades from a scroll which goes into the sky and rains down on a large area.

( 7 ) Doton: Sekki no Hanabira: Earth Style: Petal of Stone – Summons a flower of stone and covers the user with it like a closed flower.

( 8 ) Chikyu Hakuri Hifu: Earth Peel Skin – Covers the user in earth, much like Iwa no Yoroi. It reduces damage taken.

( 9 ) Doton: Chikyu no Shudo: Earth Style: Hand of Earth – Creates a hand of earth from below the intended target. It is still avoidable if the opponent is fast enough.

I hope it helps.

Author's Note: For those who don't know what ATLA means, it means Avatar: The Last Airbender.