Chapter 4: Fight or Flight the Matches Continue

Once they were given the go, I watched Hayner's eyes pass over her trying to figure out her tactic as she reached into her pockets pulling out shuriken throwing them towards Hayner. He easily deflected them with his weapon seeing her grab a scroll. She started summoning weapons, but Hayner easily was able to dodge around and block all of them seeing her begin to grow frustrated.

"You rely heavily on weapons." Hayner said to her seeing her glare lightly towards him as two large scrolls were put around her.

She did some hand signs before jumping in the air watching the scrolls twirl around her watching as she threw all different various weapons towards Hayner. I watched as he dodged them jumping around the field blocking any that got too close to him until they littered the ground. Once she landed again, I saw her smirk widen noticing she attached the weapons with strings pulling them tightly seeing Hayner look behind them watching as they penetrated his skin.

Tenten looked towards him triumphantly but frowned watching Hayner dissolve into water showing it was just a clone. I closed my eyes smiling lightly, Hayner was always good at hiding while everyone else was looking at the main spectacle. He appeared right behind Tenten holding his kunai to her neck seeing her body stiffen up but admitted defeat not having any other tricks up her sleeve.

He pulled away from her as Hayner was declared the winner walking back upstairs while Reno pumped his fist saying, "Now I just gotta pass and we'll all get a chance to be Chunin together."

I nodded seeing the next names were Shikamaru and another of the sound ninjas watching them both walk downstairs. I watched them both with mild curiosity seeing that Shikamaru used his shadows sort of how I manipulated my blood. Though being hindered by the need for a shadow to be cast, it was still interesting none the less and, in the end, it seemed to pay off. His tactfulness reminded me a lot of Hayner, he was quiet and analyzed what his opponent was doing a few steps ahead of them. He would be a difficult one to beat if he learned what I could do, if anyone even learned what I could do that is.

Next up was Naruto vs Kiba as we all watched interested in how the outcome could go, it was clear Kiba and Akamaru's teamwork was in perfect harmony. Though Naruto's chaotic nature could prove to either help of hinder him against the two. Kiba was clearly winning the fight, but he began getting cocky and started taunting Naruto seeing it effected his fighting dramatically, I had to give it to him, he was persistent.

Suddenly Naruto farted causing Kiba's extreme senses to go haywire taking over the battlefield and defeating Kiba much to the surprise of us all. Reno was giggling beside me from the humiliation that Kiba must have felt as I gave him a sideways look.

"Oh come on Yuna that was hilarious." Reno said defensively while I shook my head saying, "You still haven't fought yet, maybe your opponent will do something far worse."

He scrunched his nose looking over at the board seeing it stop on Reno's name as well as the girl from the sand. He cheered enthusiastically jumping down as the girl walked calmly down the steps seeing the serious look on her face.

"Wanna make a bet?" he said to her seeing her raise an eyebrow saying, "A bet?"

"If I win you go out on a date with me." Reno said giving her a wink seeing her blush out of anger replying, "In your dreams but if I win, I promise I won't kill you."

He looked at her with a slight hint of defeat but shook it off quickly getting in a defensive mode as the proctor gave the signal to start. Reno without missing a beat ran at the sand girl Temari but she easily deflected his attack sending him back with her fan.

"You see this fan, when all three moons are revealed, the match will be over, and I'll have won." she said confidently but Hayner and I both knew that wouldn't stop Reno.

Reno got his fist weapons out going at Temari again as I watched her open her fan a little showing the first purple moon seeing Reno get flung into the wall. He grunted landing on his feet seeing his hands to into his pockets swinging two shuriken in her direction. I watched them swing around her head hitting the ground behind her seeing her raise an eyebrow to him.

"Really is that the best you can do?" she asked while he smirked watching her tense up turning just in time to see he placed smoke bombs on them.

The arena was engulfed in smoke as I tried my best to see through it hearing Temari remark not to touch her. Suddenly with a large gust of wind the smoke cleared up seeing Temari glaring across at Reno who smugly swung a kunai in his hand. My eyes rested on her fan seeing two moons were shown now as she went to take a step but stop herself.

"You really think I'm dumb enough to fall for booby traps?" she said smirking at him watching his smile falter for a moment.

"Lady I was planning on it." he said with a wink watching her eyes widen just in time for her to notice he put a small explosive tag on her back.

She got pushed forward since it was a harmless explosion, Reno may have been competitive, but he didn't want to seriously hurt anyone in an arena battle. She slammed her fan into the ground before reaching Reno doing a flip watching the fan open completely. A huge gust of wind swiped towards Reno bringing up dust and rubble as I shielded my eyes. Once the dust cleared Reno was on the ground barely moving as Hayner and I looked at one another worried.

Temari strolled over to him leaning against her fan saying, "I win, guess I won't kill you."

"Reno is unable to continue the battle, Temari of the Sand Village wins." the proctor said as Ren went down to help Reno up.

"Hey Temari." Reno said hoarsely seeing her look towards him watching a perverted smile appear on his face.

"You can blow me anytime." he said putting a thumb up while she growled ready to attack but her sensei called her name stopping her.

"He's an idiot..." Hayner said while I shrugged saying, "He's our idiot though."

I watched the next names flash on the screen seeing it was Hinata vs Neji who I knew was her cousin seeing the fear appear on her face. I gave her a reassuring shoulder squeeze as she walked down the steps feeling Shino walk up to my side. Despite the tension of my hatred for his bugs my worry for Hinata was greater. I had heard a lot about her cousin and how ruthless he could be and judging by the harsh words he was speaking now it was all true.

Easily Neji outranked Hinata in power as her meek personality was no match for him seeing the already defeated look on her face. I heard Naruto yell at Hinata to not give up and keep fighting smiling, he was a good teammate and clearly cared for his friends. Traveling back to Hinata her stance became more pronounce fighting back against Neji much to the surprise of him.

"Perhaps I won't be the only one on my team to pass." Shino said calmly while my eyes turned to him but decided not to engage him in conversation.

Despite Hinata's best efforts Neji was able to cut off her chakra flow to her arm making it impossible to fight anymore. It didn't stop her as she continued using her one arm until that one was hit as well seeing the pain in her face. My eyes turn to Neji seeing the killing intent in his eyes gripping the railing but Kurenai and Neji's sensei got him just in time to stop him from striking her heart. I breathed a sigh of relief feeling Hayner put a hand on my shoulder knowing my worry.

"She'll be fine." Shino said beside me seeing his hand land next to the one that I had on the railing instantly flinching away from his touch.

I cleared my throat trying to hide my discomfort saying, "I know she will."