(The epic Chunin Exam Arc is underway! In the Nineteenth Chapter everyone is forced to compete in a 1v1 preliminary match before being allowed to take the Third part of the exam. In the Fourth match Shun of the Leaf defeated Kuro of the Grass. The Chunin Exams continue! What will be the outcome? I love feedback and constructive criticism, so please leave a review so I can improve my writing and storytelling skills. Enjoy!)
Shun gets back up to where the others are, not showing any sign of pride or joy at his win. He just settles back into the place where he was standing before and gets ready to watch the next match. As soon as the victorious fighter arrives back up at the balcony Tousen starts bragging to Kayo, "Wasn't Shun just amazing in that last match, Kayo? I told you he would win. Yes, I trained that boy myself."
Rame Tsu yells at him, "Don't take credit for something you didn't do, Sensei!"
"Yeah, Shun learned and perfected that Jutsu all on his own," adds Naoko.
Tousen shrinks back into his own world, "Why do they always have to act like my mother? Why can't they just be good students and help their Sensei out?"
"Because you are a pervert!" they both yell.
"Was I speaking out loud just now?" wonders Tousen, slightly confused.
"No, Sensei," explains Rame Tsu, "Sadly, we just know you a lot better than we would like to."
The machine is started again and stops on two more names. "The next two competitors are Naoko Fei and Ino Shigure. Please make your way down to the battlefield," announces Tatsuki.
Shun returns to his spot on the balcony and says, "Good luck, Naoko."
Rame Tsu reminds her, "Remember the last Rain Ninja used Genjutsu attacks."
"Okay, right," says Naoko and then she jogs down the steps, eager to fight.
Rino tells Ino, "Don't be foolish with your attacks like our brother."
She responds, "I'm not an idiot! I know how to properly wield the attacks of the Hidden Rain Village." She takes the umbrella from her back, pops it open, and uses it to float down to the battlefield.
Ino lands gracefully on her toes and smoothly places the umbrella on her back in one swift motion.
Naoko teases, "Nice umbrella; it matches all of your clothes, and it makes for a pretty fancy entrance. Yet a matching outfit is not going to help you at all in the battle."
"How would you know?" inquires the feisty Rain Ninja, "If we're basing the match on sense of fashion you are clearly the loser. You look like your brother dressed you."
"My outfit is designed to give me the maximum advantage in battle, not for boy chasing. If you were any kind of decent kunoichi you would have done the same," counters Naoko.
Rame Tsu shouts down to her friend, "Naoko, the Rain Ninja can use their umbrellas to attack, so watch out!"
"I know," replies Naoko with a wave of her hand.
Ino warns her opponent, "Don't underestimate me, Leaf Ninja! Just because I'm not from one of the great shinobi villages, doesn't mean I can't kick your ass."
The proctor's lips curve up into a smirk as she thinks, "Spirited little girls, aren't they? Seems like this is going to be another entertaining match."
The tall, blonde Rain Ninja places her hand on her hip and leans into a feminine pose announcing, "Ino Shigure from the Hidden Rain Village reporting for duty."
The sporty Leaf Ninja across from her adjusts the tight black glove on her hand and says, "I'm Naoko Fei of the Leaf Village, and I am ready to fight."
"Then why don't we get this match underway," says Tatsuki, "Ready, begin!"
The match commences and Ino charges straight at Naoko. She has a height advantage and launches a punch from a distance a little further away than a similar sized opponent would. Naoko has good reaction time and uses her left hand to deflect the punch up above her head. Then she counters with a forceful punch to the enemy's abdomen. Ino slides back across the floor clutching her belly. Naoko goes right on the offensive darting forward and leaping into the air for a spinning kick. With amazing speed Ino draws out her umbrella and bats the kick to the side. Ino immediately continues into an attack, taking two steps forward and swinging violently. Naoko brings both of her arms up to her side and braces to get hit. The umbrella smashes into her side and hurls her across the room.
Naoko crashes to the floor and rolls across it for a while until she is able to skillfully get back on her feet. However, Ino is right on her again swinging her umbrella with a controlled fury. Naoko ducks, dives, and dodges out of the way, barely escaping from getting pounded into the ground.
"Damn, what is with this girl?" thinks Naoko, "I've never heard of an umbrella being used this way before. From the power she is putting behind her swings it should be broken by now. It must be made of a different material then a normal weapon. She is using it more like a kanabo. I've spent countless hours training with Rame Tsu, so I know I can think of a way to counter any weapon."
Ino brings the umbrella up over her head again and slams down the weapon. This time Naoko does not dodge, instead she stays in place and catches the end with both of her hands. Then she lowers her hands, twists her hips, and then swings the umbrella around and releases it.
Ino goes flying across the room, but lands gracefully on her feet.
"Nice move, Naoko!" cheers Rame Tsu, pumping her fist in the air in celebration.
"It looks like that way is not going to work anymore. Then I guess I better move on and try this," thinks Ino as she tosses her umbrella into the air and starts making hand signs.
"It looks like she is changing strategy," thinks Naoko as she takes out a kunai and gets into a defensive stance.
The umbrella opens up and floats in the air, and then begins rotating. "Rain of Needles!" shouts Ino when she finished her hand signs. Numerous poison tipped needles shoot out of the umbrella in all directions. Then Ino motions with her hands and guides the needles towards Naoko.
"Watch out! Those have poison on them!" warns Rame Tsu, her body leaning over the railing wanting to jump in and help even though if she did Naoko would be disqualified.
The first wave comes and she is barely able to dodge them. Naoko sprints forward attempting a direct attack, but she cannot get close enough and is forced back by the poisoned needles constantly being shot at her.
Naoko flings her kunai at Ino to distract her for a moment and then takes out a string of kunai and uses a Manipulating Attack Blades to control the kunai with invisible chakra strings. Ino tries to dodge and attack at the same time, and Naoko also does the same. Yet Naoko's attack is faster and more direct and eventually hits the target in the shoulder. The umbrella collapses and drops out of the sky. Ino expertly catches it, spins around, and reopens it so that it shields her from view. While behind the cover the tough Rain Kunoichi plucks the kunai from her shoulder and then begins forming seals. Naoko continues attacking with her chakra string controlled kunai, but they just bounce off the umbrella.
Then Ino lifts the weapon above her head when she completes the final seal, "Fog Clone Jutsu!"
A fog excretes from her body and spreads out around her. Then it begins moving up and forming into twenty or so clones. All the copies simultaneously put the umbrella back in its place on Ino's back and then charge forward to attack. Naoko extracts some shuriken from her pack and chucks them at the clones, however the weapons simply pass right through. The confident Leaf Kunoichi summons one of her kunai back to her hand and attempts to slash through her opponents, but the results are the same.
"What is this?" thinks Naoko as she continues to attack, "It is similar to that Jutsu the other rain ninja used, but it isn't the same. Plus she called it a different name. I am fairly sure it is not a Genjutsu, but then why are the clones not destroyed when I hit them?"
Ino secretly throws kunai at Naoko from the cover of her fog and hits her four or five times in various spots.
Naoko ignores the pain from her wounds and thinks to herself, "She has to be somewhere around here. Maybe I can draw her out with that Jutsu." So she jumps back out of range of attack and gathers chakra on her feet to run up and stand on the wall. Some shuriken fly at her, but she is so far away she can dodge them while still making seals for her Jutsu.
Naoko squats down and then jumps an amazing distance. While in the air she adjusts the glove on her right hand and then slams it into the earth when she lands. The ground rumbles and then shatters apart in a large circle around her. As the clones get blown away an umbrella is thrown into the air, and more poisoned needles are shot at Naoko. They hit her before she is able to dodge them.
The real Ino reveals herself when the dust settles and Naoko charges at her for another attack. Naoko trips and collapses onto the ground from the poison before she can even get close. Tatsuki steps in front of Ino before she is able to land her own kunai attack.
Tatsuki declares, "The match is over. You are the winner, Ino Shigure."
Ino grunts, dissatisfied that she didn't get to finish her opponent off.
"We need to get the poison out of this girl right away," orders Tatsuki. Some Medical ninja rush out to bring Naoko to the hospital for treatment.
Rame Tsu watches helplessly from the sidelines, trying not to giveaway any sign of the deep worry and concern that she is feeling inside. Longing to go with her friend she thinks, "Damn it! I wish I could go with her, but i know she'd want me to stay here and win. I can't let myself be distracted. I have to focus on defeating the opponent when it is my turn."
(That is the end of the chapter, what did you think? The Preliminaries have officially started and Ino of the Rain was victorious in her match! Will Naoko Fei be okay after a fierce battle and deadly poison needles? Who will fight next? How will everyone else fair? As usual, if you want more information on my characters you can see their bios on my profile page. Be warned, there may be some spoilers. Also I'm in the process of getting pictures drawn for the characters, but I have no idea how long that will take. If you're interested in drawing and have a DA account then send me a Message. Enjoy the next chapter, and please review.)