ϟ—Chapter Nineteen — Leaf and Cloud—ϟ
"That… feral-brained idiot," muttered Cirru, hands rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Ka'rai's unconscious body was being carried to the infirmary, Gaara's as well. The plan required Gaara to be a finalist in the exams. Ka'rai utterly wrecked that plan Kay's frustration pulsed in the air through her chakra. Everyone there looked on with surprise and concern.
"I told him not to do anything reckless and he does this?!" She took a deep breath, then crossed her arms.
Cee was similarly disgruntled. "We'll just have to make the plan work with what we have, inform our allies."
"I'm tempted to pull Ka'rai from the exams," spat Kay, her green eyes narrowed.
With a sigh, Cee shook his head. "That would be foolish. Barring him from a promotion seems reasonable at the least."
Kay just sighed in response.
Hane chuckled. "At least… he won?"
"That's not really an achievement," Yowui said flatly. "Who the hell expected Ka'rai to lose."
"Good point," muttered Hane, letting out a breath. "Ka'rai's strong, so maybe he can—"
"Let's shelve this topic," suggested Cee, discreetly pointing his head toward the Hokage in the room.
The rest of Kumo's nin nodded along slowly. Fuu looked on, confused. "What the hell are you guys talking about?"
"We will…" Cee started before looking toward Kay. They exchanged a silent discussion. After a few seconds, Cee nodded. "Tell you later."
"Okay…" said Fuu as she crossed her arms. She isolated herself a bit from the group… there was nobody present that she particularly cared about since Ka'rai was gone.
The fight that followed Ka'rai's concluded. Naruto Uzumaki was defeated by a girl from the Senju Clan.
Kay and Cee's eyes narrowed once they saw her. "That's the Thorn Wraith's daughter?" asked Kay to him.
Cee nodded. "What other Senju are left in Konoha?"
Kay tilted her head in response. Killing her during the invasion would've been a sound idea… had incurring her mother's wrath not been a possibility. At least that made it sure that his Kyuubi power wouldn't be a threat in the final exam. After the conclusion, everyone set their sights on the board.
Names flickered and flashed until two were chosen. Clowui's head tilted curiously. Lord Orochimaru's main target…
The screen read, Shinrai Uzumaki vs Clowui Chinoike.
Quickly, Clowui leapt into the arena. Shinrai seemed to be discussing something with that Hyuuga girl she fought in the forest, Kusari. Whatever her match was, she was interested in seeing it. But, more importantly Shinrai and her seemed to be teammates. She was giving him intel…
It didn't take much longer for Shinrai to leap down in front of her. Her Ketsuryugan analyzed him. There was a Genjutsu veiled over him—a strong one. Of course, her eyes saw right through it. His eyes stared back. The scarlet of a bleeding heart colored his eyes, three tomoe sat over a hatcheted ring around his pupil.
His Sharingan is fully developed… noted Clowui. Her eyes narrowed. I don't think I can win this fight. He was made to be Lord Orochimaru's perfect vessel, after all.
Hayate's hand raised into the air. Shinrai unsheathed one of his two blades, the white one. The black one remained chained to his waist. "The match may—"cough. He barely made out the word 'now' through his coughing fit. Once Hayate flickered out of the way, he cut toward Clowui—she barely blocked with a kunai that Shinrai cut in two.
He's fast—powerful as well!
Ketsuryugan spied the chakra in his white blade jump. It was channeled through complex seals within the metal. Clowui took a defensive stance, creating more blood to flow within her body. Her physical ability was increased and yet she couldn't outmatch the perception of the Sharingan.
Whenever she attempted to dodge, there was the cut of his blade waiting for him. The moment she even thought about attacking, she was met with a gash where she planned to move. There was no Genjutsu involved, it was simple pure visual prowess. She could see his heart, the flowing blood churning in his veins. It beat with rage—the blood in his eyes whirled his tomoe like a hyper-speed clock.
She pushed the blood inside of her to her back to pull her away from him. From there, she stopped the bleeding of the countless cuts that ravaged her body. Dammit… I'm entirely outclassed here.
I can't expose myself by using the Curse Mark… If I used level two I could defeat him easily. Clowui bit her tongue, increasing blood flow to her brain to sharpen her mind. That Genjutsu… why would he have it up? It takes chakra and attention away from the battle at hand.
Her eyes widened in realization. The rest of Konoha is likely unaware of his true nature then. He's trying to keep a secret… A secret that I know. A secret that I can expose. Clowui brandished her kunai with blood, extending and sharpening the blade more than she could before.
Shinrai's face was slit with a smirk. Clowui narrowed her eyes in kind—then she attacked. Of course, it was blocked by his blade. She went in to whisper in his ear, but a kick sent her flying. Ribs were broken, so she manipulated the blood to keep them intact. That didn't take away the pain.
It was fine; she'd managed worse before. She weaved hand seals. "Blood Style: Bleeding Edge Sweep." A spewing of blood cut out from Clowui's mouth like a blade—Shinrai dodged, not even a hair on his head was touched. He weaved his own hand seals in kind.
"Flaming Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Fire style? I can counter. Half a dozen Shinrais appeared out of smoke and flame and Clowui weaved a single seal simultaneously. "Blood Style: Blood Bullets!" Her Bleeding Edge Sweep cut into six bullets that took out all of Shinrai's clones.
Shinrai himself approached and Clowui shot additional bullets at him. Good, he's coming into close range. He cut through the bullets with his blade and blitzed forward in a scarlet flicker. She managed to counter his blade with her bloody kunai. Quickly, a whip of blood sprouted from a wound on her arm and wrapped around Shinrai's neck.
She pulled him close and whispered in his ear. "I know of your Sharingan."
His heartbeat raced within—shock and rage burned across his expression. The scarlet of his Sharingan glowed alongside his widened eyes. Before he could speak, Clowui continued. "From the Genjutsu you placed on yourself, I can see you'd prefer to keep it a secret. Forfeit the match, and I will not expose your secret. My skill in Genjutsu far surpasses yours."
He has little choice if he values his secret.
"How… the fuck… do you know that?" seethed Shinrai. Rage pushed through his blade and onto her kunai. The razor-sharp edge started to cut through the blood blade. Clowui watched him. His face curled with panic and confusion—eyes widened with shock—eyes narrowed and teeth bared with rage.
Shinrai gripped her collar and slammed her head into his. The impact radiated through her skull with an ache. "You're working with Orochimaru, aren't you?" His tone was like boiling acid—and Clowui was drowned in it.
Dammit—how did he figure it out?! Her breath hitched. The Curse Mark… I'm compromised. Shinrai grinned at the panic he saw within her.
"Yeah… go ahead and expose my Sharingan. I'll expose you and your little scheme." His grip on her collar tightened and he kicked her hard. He hit nothing but solid blood. The piece of clothing he held ripped off as she was sent flying.
Clowui tumbled on the floor—she barely dodged a strike aimed for her eye. Panic ran her blood cold. She didn't have time to register Shinrai's hand on his second—black—blade before it cut open her stomach. Quickly, she held in the blood. Just as quickly, Shinrai's foot embedded in her ribs—they were already broken, but now they were shattered. It took all of her focus to keep her body together.
She skidded across the tile of the arena. Shinrai brandished both of his blades with a sadistic grin. "What's wrong…? You're not gonna power up?"
If this goes on any longer then he's going to kill me—I need to do something fast—realized Clowui as the racing of her breath battered her broken ribs. Thinking quick, she dove into her panic. She allowed herself to sweat—for her focus to drop so blood would spill. "Why would you say that name?!"
Shinrai's brows furrowed.
"Orochimaru! Never speak that name in my presence!" she yelled—uncharacteristically emotional for her. It gave Shinrai pause. "You have no idea what that bastard did to me—and you dare suggest I'd work with him!"
Surprisingly, it made Shinrai tremble a bit. "Eh…" he chuckled. "Okay… okay. That doesn't change the fact that you tried to murder my teammate." He pointed his black blade toward her. "Activate the Curse Mark. I know you have it. Make this fight worth something."
Clowui's eyes narrowed at his request. If I restrain myself to the first level… then I should be able to defeat him while keeping up my act. She allowed a growl of pain to overtake her. Activating the Curse Mark hurt, but usually she'd never let herself show it.
Magmic marks that mimicked veins spread from the mark on her neck. They flowed across her face and all over her body. Violent violet chakra burst from her and her Ketsuryugan glowed. Shinrai stepped back—terror crossed his face.
"This is the power that I'm burdened with…" dramatically claimed Clowui. The Curse Mark's Senjutsu revitalized her. The broken state of her ribs melded themselves, her wounds would've closed had she not chose to keep them open. With this, I can easily force him to forfeit.
Blood poured from her wounds. Shinrai flinched at the rise of her chakra—caused by the hand seal she wove. "Blood Style: Demented Spears." Over pale skin, liquid crimson hardened and sharpened into spears—they rained on Shinrai.
She saw the frantic pumping of his blood as he cut the spears away. The boy was scared. Did the Curse Mark frighten him that much? His own teammate had one. It was none the matter. That would only make him want to give up even more.
Clowui weaved hand seals. "Blood Style: Full-body Circulation." Her pale skin flushed red—like a blush, flattered by the prospect of violence. The bloodshot white and red of her sclera flooded with blood to where it was entirely red. Tears of blood dripped from her eyes. Before the first one hit the floor, she was in front of a Shinrai with kunai of blood flying from her wounds.
Her heart never beat faster. Neither did his. Two entirely different purposes fueled the beats of their heart. Clowui's kunai shredded through Shinrai's clothes—his skin. Blood flew. A gleeful yet smileless expression crossed Clowui's face.
She weaved a hand seal and Shinrai's own blood formed into a binding prison. "You can still forfeit and keep your secret. I will give you ten seconds before I announce it to everyone present."
Shinrai strained against his own blood. His racing heart only tightened his restraints.
"Ten."
A growl ragged from Shinrai's throat.
"Nine."
He roared, anger soaring in his chakra.
"Eight."
"KILL YOURSELF!" screamed Shinrai, futily fighting against himself.
Unphased, Clowui continued. "Seven."
Shinrai calmed, going silent.
"Six."
"Five."
"Four."
It seemed that he was resigned to his fate… foolishly refusing to give up.
"Three."
"Two…"
"One."
Clowui's head tilted. "Curious choice." She cleared her throat. "I have an announce—" Clowui gasped for air but all she got were bloody gargles.
"You're not announcing a damn thing," snarled Shinrai, white blade in hand, drenched with Clowui's blood. The girl brought her hands to her throat, only to find it split open. As her palms touched the wound, a kunai embedded itself through her hand and her neck.
He slit my throat! He escaped the Blood Binding—how?!
Quickly, she weaved a series of half seals. A bloody torrent cut through the air—Shinrai's chest was cut open. He grinned in response. "Yeah… keep doing that," he urged. A relieved gasp signified the repatriation of her neck. She forced blood to stitch her veins, arteries, and airways back together. It wouldn't last forever, but it would last long enough for her to win this battle.
She opened her mouth to speak… but nothing came out. Clowui's eyes widened in shock. He destroyed my vocal cords! I can't speak… not until I get genuine treatment. Her eyes then narrowed with fury. He took away my ability to force him to forfeit… while also taking away my ability to verbally signal a surrender. He's out to kill me while I can't kill him.
This bastard plays a clever game…
Clowui allowed blood to spill from her neck, all of her wounds oozed with it. It pooled over the tile of the arena. The blood loss didn't matter to her, she was constantly making more. An advantage of being a Chinoike.
It didn't surprise her that Shinrai didn't attack. He was formulating a strategy against her. She wouldn't let him finish it. With a single seal, bullets of blood shot from the floor. Shinrai defended against them. A scarlet flicker dashed in front of her and she blocked the blade with one of her own blood.
Chakra flew from his black blade as he went for an underhand slice—the white one kept her blood occupied. Her hands were still free. Clowui coated her hands in blood before grabbing the blade. Shinrai roared and spun. She was blasted back by the force of his chakra. He quickly sheathed his black blade and flashed through hand seals.
"Fire Style: Rage Against EVERYTHING!" A bloody orange firestorm seared the floor—it churned in a blaze toward her.
Blood Style: Cardiac Wall. Scarlet rose like an anti-gravity waterfall. Shinrai's fire turned both itself and Clowui's blood into steam—shrouding the area entirely.
Through the blood mist, she heard him shout, "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"
Dammit, she weaved hand seals. Blood Style: Blood-vessel Whips. To her surprise, twenty-three shuriken blitzed through the mist toward her. Chakra—Shinrai's chakra—was visible inside them. Transformed clones. There has to be more than this.
Her bloody whips sliced the transformed clones into smoke—massive bursts of smoke. Her blood mist was overtaken by shrouded gray smoke, the color of metal. Clowui sucked her blood-soaked teeth. Dammit, I can't see a thing.
That soon chained when she saw a sunrise glow in the smoke. Shinrai's chakra churned like his blood—she could see that. The sunrise was in his hand while he charged through the smoke. It was obvious that he set one of his blades alight. Which one? It didn't much matter.
Quickly, she drew a blood blade from her own wound to match it. Two glowing scarlet eyes flashed in the haze. Steam boiled from blood. Clowui's eyes shot an arrow from the bloody tears on her face. Shinrai ducked and it pierced through his cheek. He kicked her leg—she stood her ground against it. Shinrai yelled and cut through the blood with his fire.
Clowui took a step back and parried Shinrai's strike—flames roared and he ripped a slice toward her. Her blood blocked and she weaved hand seals. Blood Style: Gorey Circulation. Blood churned in a torrent that ripped Shinrai's jacket to shreds—his skin was next. He blew her back with his chakra but the blood and chakra at her feet kept her abound.
His flaming sword burned hotter as he defended against the tornado of blood whirling against him. It was a surprise that his blade kept its fire—no matter. Blood Style: Gorey Circulation Armory! In but a few hand seals, her morbid storm outstretched with blades—swords, knives, axes, and cleavers. Of course Shinrai was torn by it.
His chakra only roared in response. He suffered more cuts and cleaved her jutsu in half. Her breath hitched with shock—her skull was cracked—she was kicked. Shinrai's blade amputated Clowui's arm—cauterized. Quickly, she sent bloody tendrils through the smoldering flesh to grab it before it even hit the floor. It was stitched back to her socket.
A blade pierced her heart—still aflame. It was ripped out and she remained fighting. Damage of this level was nothing. Fires burned, and more strikes and slashes burned through her. Clowui let out a pained and frustrated scream—BLOODY GHOUL! From Clowui's non-burning wounds, a ghoulish entirety invaded Shinrai's blood—going inside of him.
An agonizing scream ripped from Shinrai's throat as his own blood rebelled against him again. It started to mix with his own—Shinrai leapt back as his life-giving liquid was pulled out of him. He bolted toward her. Shinrai put out his flame, grabbing Clowui and keeping her as close as possible. "Yeah… you wanna share blood? Keep doing that… I'll just stay close to keep myself fighting."
Is that so? Was what she would've said. Instead, she simply tilted her head. Clowui cut off the connection between her blood and Shinrai's. Half of his supply dropped to the floor to become her weapon. He stumbled—his legs barely able to keep him up. The scarlet of his Sharingan faded to black. Somehow, the bastard still managed to weave hand seals. "Fire Style…! Burning Attack…!" A swirling ball of chakra burned through the haze to hit Clowui. Her blood encased the jutsu and disabled it.
Shinrai made four clones—Clowui caught them with bloody tendrils. Those tendrils pinned Shinrai to the floor. The most sickening nausea blurred Clowui's vision as she was pulled. It was as if she was fighting her mother—the way her blood was pulled from inside of her.
Barely, she heard him say, "About damn time… me."
Next, she heard that same voice yell, "Sealing Jutsu! Selective Absorption Seal!" Another Shinrai came from outside the haze, looking as if their battle didn't even happen.
The Shinrai that Clowui skewered to the floor popped into smoke. That was a clone?! She questioned, utterly horrified. Shinrai's Sharingan whirled with glee upon looking down upon her—matching the bastardly smirk on his face.
Meanwhile, every ounce of blood she made inside her body was pulled out of her wounds. When she attempted to close them, she was pulled toward the seal, skidding across the floor, functionally immobile. Clowui grit her teeth and fought hard against the pull—it did nothing.
"I bet you're wondering how my clone took such a beating, eh?" Shinrai boasted out a laugh as she was sucked dry of her blood. Clowui became so drained that her Full-Body Circulation was sucked out of her. Violent blush of red faded to pale—almost white skin.
Dammit, dammit no—! TO HELL WITH HIM! Clowui trashed and pulled against the force of his seal—there was nothing she could do. Not even the Curse Mark could help her fight this. As a last ditch effort, she spat some residual blood toward him. It was just pulled into that damned seal.
"Well, it occurred to me that Shadow Clones are really fucking weak. Stab 'em once and they're done for. So… I asked myself, why deal with the weakness, when I can make them stronger?" His smirk grew as he continued to gloat. "And just that I did."
Dramatically, he entered a pose. "I CALL IT THE SUPER SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"
I could develop something similar with Blood Clones, she managed to note through her rage.
"So, since you're defenseless and all." Shinrai weaved hand seals. "I guess I should kill you."
Her eyes widened. He wouldn't— where the hell is the proctor?!
His hand slammed on the ground and he grinned. The symbol of the Uzumaki appeared in scarlet glowing ink beneath her. "Fire Style." His smirk cracked into a grin. "Uzumaki Flaming Whirl!"
Clowui screamed as whirling flames burned and pulled her skin off of her—boiling the pulled blood inside her. Sooner than she expected, the jutsu ceased. He sighed and walked toward her. "I'm sorry that you have to suffer the terrible shit that the Snake Sannin put you through… but don't worry, it'll end right here. I promised my friend that I would take your heart out, so I have to do that now."
He still believes that lie… She almost felt bad for him.
Shinrai took out a kunai and prepared to stab for her chest. Hayate grabbed his hand. "That's enough… you won, Shinrai."
So, he interferes now?
"Oh, come on!" yelled Shinrai in outrage. "She killed Konoha Shinobi!"
"And that was well within her rights under the rules of the Chunin Exams. If you truly wanted to take her life, then you shouldn't have wasted your time gloating," Hayate lectured, sounding as if he was holding in a sneeze the whole time.
Shinrai groaned, deactivating his seal and pulling back his hand. "Fine…"
A sigh of relief relaxed her breath as her blood was returned to control. She used the last bits of the Curse Mark's chakra to restore her body's blood to its usual amount. The Cursed Marks of Blood drew into the mark on her neck and she let out a breath. It didn't take a terrible amount of effort to stand.
Despite that, Konoha's medics urged her into the stretcher to be taken to the infirmary. She let out one last breath as she laid down on her back. Her cover was kept. Kumo was uncompromised. It was a shame she lost her match… but it wouldn't mean much in the long run. There were many other ways she could complete her mission.
Clowui allowed her eyes to close as she drifted into a Shinobi's rest.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Are all Uzumaki crazy strong monsters?! Yowui spattered, scratching the back of his head. "Geez…" I don't think I can beat a single one of them. Not Naruto, definitely not Shinrai, and I have not a chance in hell of even touching Ka'rai.
"He beat Clowui?!" Cirru questioned, visibly shocked and aghast.
Sami narrowed her eyes with concern. "While she was using her curse…"
"Well, he comes from the same clan as Ka'rai," said Hane, before letting out a breath. "But, damn—"
"I just hope none of us have to fight him… besides Ka'rai, of course," Yowui said.
Cirru scoffed—Yowui twitched as he felt Cirru's gaze. "You say that as if you're going to pass this part of the exams…"
"How about you say that again after I dunk your head into thundering water again?"
Sami snorted.
Cirru glared. "You—!"
"Yowui, your match is now," informed Kay, pointing up to the board.
Yasuda Shigeru vs Yowui Keiso.
Some dude with long black hair and a bright pink uniform leapt from Konoha's side into the arena. Hane smiled at Yowui. "Go beat 'em up!"
Yowui chuckled and waved his hand at her. "I'll try my best." He then hopped down into the arena to face Yasuda.
Yasuda smirked at him. Yowui gave him a bored look. His chakra feels susceptible to Genjutsu… noted.
Cough—"The match may begin… now!" His sneeze seemed to launch him across the arena in a flicker.
Yasuda charged with a kunai. Yowui dodged. Yowui kicked him in the spine and weaved hand seals. "Genjutsu: I Hate Myself Illusion."
Suddenly, Yasuda gasped. Then, he started cutting himself profusely. "FUCK ME! FUCK ME! FUCK ME! WHY DO I EXIST AGHHHHH!"
Yowui leisurely weaved hand seals. "Lightning Style: Stormbreaker Point!" He yanked a kunai from his pouch and channeled a thunderstorm onto it. He blitzed forward and stabbed him in the shoulder. The following thunderclap blew a hole through his shoulder.
Ouch… muttered Yowui. Well, at least I didn't kill him, so Hane's not gonna be sad!
Yasuda screamed in agony on the floor. He was bleeding from the many self-inflicted cuts, as well as smoldering from the wound in his shoulder. The proctor dude, Hayate, flickered in between the two.
He coughed up a lung—maybe two—before announcing that, "Yowui Keiso is the winner of the match!"
Damn… I won. Don't really know what else I was expecting… He was broken from his thoughts by a loud series of claps. "GREAT JOB YOWUI!" exclaimed Hane with a grin—she hadn't seen her smile that wide since she entered Konoha. "YOU WON!"
"Heh…" Yowui chuckled as he leapt up to the balcony.
Hane giggled and her grin somehow widened. "You barely broke a sweat, too!"
With furrowed brows, Yowui touched his forehead. It was… dry. "Wow, you're right," he admitted with another chuckle.
Cirru huffed. "Congratulations, farm boy. You've earned yourself a chance at being promoted."
"Yeah… I think I'll take my chance over yours," murmured Yowui.
With a look of disbelief, Cirru rounded on him. "Don't let one victory get to your head, you country skunk!"
In all honesty, Cirru was right. It wasn't like he beat a clan kid or someone strong. But eh, he got to rub something in his face so he would roll with it. Yowui let an uncharacteristic smirk cross his face. "No… I think I'll let it, air head."
"What did you just call me?!" demanded Cirru in outrage.
Yowui gave him a wry look. "Focus less on me, and on your match," he suggested, pointing his head toward the board of names.
It read, Kiba Inuzuka vs Cirru Furachi.
With narrowed eyes and a huff, Cirru floated down to fight his opponent.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
This boy looks like a human mutt. Him and 'ol farm boy would get along swimmingly, thought Cirru as his eyes narrowed. That Kiba Inuzuka had a furiously feral expression on his face. It didn't affect Cirru all that much, that Hyuuga girl was infinitely more terrifying.
The dog on the boy's shoulder was just as angry. "You… did you kill them?!"
"I did not take a single life in that forest," Cirru said—truthfully. He kept his face straight and his arms crossed.
"DON'T YOU FUCKING LIE TO ME!" barked Kiba. "Ino… Choji… they both died because of you!"
"Who?" he asked—before catching himself. Wait… the team that Clowui killed. Could it be them?! Dammit—guilt gutted him. They would've died no matter what, but what Clowui did was utterly brutal. Did he see their remains…?
Quickly, Cirru shook his head. I can't show any ounce of anything toward enemy Shinobi. He channeled his usual bravatto and smirked at Kiba.
Kiba's long-nailed fists clenched and he bared his naturally long canines with an irate growl. "You fucking bastard… YOU DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO LEARN THEIR NAMES!"
Cirru cursed and a Hurricane Shield whirled over his forearm.
Hayate quickly started the match—without a coughing fit—and flickered out of the way. Kiba and the dog bolted toward Cirru. Kiba tossed a soldier pill to the mutt and it ate it before it could hit the ground. The dog's white fur burned red alongside his burst of chakra.
All Cirru needed to do was outstretch his arms. A gust of wind blew both Kiba and the dog to the ground. Kiba weaved hand seals. "Man-Beast Mimicry! C'mon Akamaru!"
The dog barked and in a plume of smoke, he appeared as a perfect clone of Kiba himself. At the same time, all of Kiba's teeth turned sharp, his long nails extended into claws, and a feral grit morphed his features. They truly turned into a human canine.
Cirru's eyes narrowed. This fool… he's a lesser version of Ka'rai.
"FANG OVER FANG!"
The duo whirled into twin drills of chakra and air that spun through the air toward Cirru. With a swift foot he stepped into the air. He didn't need hand seals for this jutsu. "Typhoon Style: Hurricane Shield!" Around his forearm, a cloudy wind of air whirled into a disc. It blocked the impact from both drills. Cirru grunted as his hurt back was strained. Dammit—I can't make this physical.
Dust blew as Cirru flew up into the air. Both humanoid dogs exited their drills and latched onto Cirru's legs. One of them bit into Cirru's leg and blood spewed onto his face. Cirru growled and rotated. Clouded wind swirled like a mini tornado and both Kiba and Akamaru were flung to the tile. Kiba managed to catch his fall with his hands and landed on his feet.
He's feral! I suppose I can't blame him… I aided in the death of his friends, after all. Cirru winced and fiercely weaved hand seals. I can't think about that right now! "Typhoon Style: Cyclone Hailstorm!" A freezing gust of wind pushed both mutt-men across the arena. Another grunt from Cirru and sharp balls of hail shredded the two—blood spilled to the floor. Flying through the air, Cirru blasted toward them and they were decimated by the jutsu's strength point blank.
Kiba and the dog bled furiously on the ground. Images of the corpses… those Konoha Shinobi—Kiba's comrades. Why couldn't he just do his job?! How was he supposed to earn his father's respect again with these idiotic feelings? He was damning these two to the same fate which Clowui bestowed.
He'll mingle with his comrades in the afterlife. I suppose I'm doing him a favor. He looked—mangled bloody bodies—he glared and uprooted tile with another titanic gust of wind. "You think I haven't dealt with someone like you?! Feral and animalistic. I've sparred with Ka'rai for years. You're nothing compared to him!" He marched forward, the gust of wind froze over with icy rain that tore Kiba's skin apart.
His arrogance, his bravatto, his comfort… it would get him through this. It always did.
Kiba leapt over his dog to shield him from the worst of the jutsu. "You want to get up close and attack me with those claws of yours. Your long-ranged affinity is poor. So. if there's anyone that can keep you at a distance—you're useless!" Rage fueled the forming clouds in Cirru's blast. Even lightning sparked within, shocking Kiba sporadically—randomly—there was no way to predict it.
"Just give up, you stand no chance."
Kiba glared at Cirru through the storm. "You done yet?! Just run out of chakra for me. Keep using this pussy-ass jutsu, then I'll tear you apart!" Kiba managed to laugh. "Akamaru knows what your blood tastes like… it's gonna be my turn soon."
"You fool!" roared Cirru and his gust followed in kind. Kiba was blown off his knees and shielded his mutt from the impact with the wall—with his back. Kiba screamed out in agony, he twitched on the floor, writhing.
Cirru ceased his Jutsu. Please be finished.
Quickly, the dog dug into Kiba's pouch and fed him a soldier pill. So, with the surge of adrenaline given by the pill, he managed to stand. All of his feral features returned to normal and his hoodie was trashed off of his head. Kiba's stance was weak—quivering.
This insolent fool…
Kiba weaved hand seals. "Earth Style: Dustcloud!" His hands slammed to the floor and particles of shattered tile shrouded the sight of everyone there. With an offended groan, Cirru blew the dust out of his line of sight. When he did… there was no sign of Kiba or the mutt.
"The hell?" he muttered with his brows furrowed. Rock shattering sounds hit his ears—his eyes widened. Underground?!
From directly behind him the arena floor shattered. "TUNNELING FANG!" A singular drill of claws and chakra erupted from below and struck Cirru in his back. He barely managed to shield his weak spot with a miniature storm.
That didn't stop it from hurting like hell. He let out an agonizing scream and was flung across the arena. Cirru growled and raved as he forced himself to his feet. Kiba's eyes widened with shock. "Your back's not broken?!"
"You have a good nose, don't you, you mutt? Can you not smell the storm?"
Kiba sniffed the air then slammed his fist onto the shattered tile. Both he and the dog were utterly out of it. With narrowed and heavy eyes he weaved hand seals. Time to finish it. He limped toward the two. Once he was in front, he rasped, "Typhoon Style: Cyclone Hailstorm…"
At that distance, the hail would blow holes through them. Cirru huffed out his jutsu—it hit… gold? A shadow loomed over Cirru as his own jutsu was blown back on him. He fell to his butt and a towering woman stood over him. An adamantine aura coated her tanned skin and Konoha Jonin uniform.
Miya Uzumaki… realized Cirru as she glared down at him with furious golden eyes. "That's enough."
Cirru gulped and stumbled away from the towering woman in front of him. Hayate flickered back into the fray. "I—"cough"—was gonna stop him, y'know."
"You were too slow," she responded flatly.
Hayata coughed. "I guess…" He cleared his throat. "By way of interference, Cirru Furachi is the winner of the match!"
"Hmph," muttered Cirru before he floated back up to the stands to sit down.
Cee gave a nod of approval toward him. "Good job, Cirru."
"Thanks…" he muttered, his vision fading.
Sami let out a sigh. "Someone take him to the infirmary."
"I will," volunteered Kay. "I need to see if… Ka'rai's awake."
Cirru barely had the chance to process being picked up before he fell unconscious.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Some time passed. Matches were fought, not much was notable. That's what Sami thought, at least. Neither Clowui nor Ka'rai returned from the infirmary. Kay said that the latter was still unconscious. She held her bandaged palm with her exposed one. Not having her glove… it made it so that she'd never calm down. Always on edge, her heart beat a bit faster than it was supposed to. Her breaths were just a tad faster, a tad shallower.
Clowui slowed her heart while she was there. It went back to racing right after she left. Speaking of her… Clowui lost her match. Shinrai Uzumaki… Ka'rai's clan. Clowui had a Curse Mark, he didn't. Yet, he still came out on top.
It was hard to believe that Genin that strong really existed—with such raw talent. Well, not exactly. She was one of them. The ANBU that trained her said that her Void was a gift, a talent like no other.
As much as they always told her that, she always disagreed.
The Void took her first friend away from her.
It just sucked and took everything away from her.
She'd banish the Void into oblivion if she could.
She couldn't…
"Sami, your match," informed Cee.
She looked up to the board to see, Sakura Haruno vs Sami of Kumogakure.
With a sigh, she hopped off the stands and into the arena. Clenching her bandaged palm. I need a new glove. Her opponent, Sakura, consulted that Hyuuga Girl… Kusari. Her eyes narrowed. She's giving her intel…
It took a bit for Sakura to face her. When she did, the girl was trembling with an expression so hard and heated. The only time she'd seen somebody so furious was when she saw Ka'rai talk about Gaara… and when they fought.
"GO SEND HER TO HELL SAKURA!" shouted her teammate from the stands, Naruto Uzumaki… one of the targets. He was back from the infirmary, it seemed.
I didn't think I'd be well liked here… Chills took her over as memories flashed—
—Over her friend's limp and cold body. Everybody stared. Everybody feared. Sami sobbed. A small child with a glowing diamond palm—
—A rocky fist hit her chest. The match started and she was taken totally off guard. Sami tumbled to the ground. It didn't take much effort for her to roll out of the way of Sakura's next attack.
Cherry blossoms shrouded Sami's vision. Her brows furrowed. Genjutsu? Without even a seal, she broke it. Sakura dashed toward her knee and bashed it in. Sami winced as she fell to the ground. She struck Sakura, the girl seemed surprised. Sami followed up by kneeing her nose—Sakura flew across the arena.
She weaved hand seals. "Lightning Style: Thunder Field." White electricity shrouded with purple sparked throughout the arena. It went away. The arena floor continued to zap with voltage.
Next, Sakura weaved hand seals. "Earth Style: Tremor Quake!" Her fist slammed to the ground. Dust blew and shattered tiles jumped. The impact activated the minefield and the arena blasted with shocking booms.
Sami took advantage of the electric storm and bolted into it as cover. A kunai was retrieved from her pouch—she dug it into Sakura's shoulder when she appeared. It was the same arm that held her fist of rock. She could've aimed for the heart… she didn't know why she didn't.
Sakura screamed out with pain and rage, grabbing Sami's collar and pulling her into her knee. Sami grunted and Sakura bashed her fist into the girl's jaw. Then she transferred her fist of earth to her non-stabbed hand, hammering it into Sami's head.
Sakura growled and tackled her to the ground. "YOU KILLED INO!" The knuckles on her rocky fist turned sharp and she bashed it on Sami's hand—electricity arced and shattered the fist. Sami kicked Sakura off of her, weaving hand seals.
She barely had the nerve to think. Years of training under ANBU possessed her next moves. "Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!" As Sakura was flying through the air, a bolt of lightning as thick as her struck her in the chest. She flashed to the wall and groaned.
Finally, with her head clear… she got to think about the girl's words. Ino… that must've been the girl that Clowui… made explode. Her friend—guilt tore her from the inside out. Her friend died… just like mine did. I just put her into the same place that I was in…
Sami would've shut her eyes to cringe had she not been in battle. Her sympathetic gaze met Sakura's irate eyes. The girl could barely stand… She weaved hand seals for another Thunderbolt and shot it at her.
She couldn't bring herself to aim somewhere lethal like her head. Instead, she aimed for her side. The impact still knocked her unconscious.
"By way of knockout, Sami of Kumogakure is the winner of the match," announced Hayate.
Sami sighed before leaping up to the stands once again. She seemed to be the least hurt of her team after their matches… considering she was the only one not in the infirmary.
Kay's eyes met hers. "Why didn't you kill her?"
Sami let out a heavy sigh. "I couldn't bring myself too… I guess I could relate to her."
"It's okay," assured Hane before Kay could speak. "They may be our enemies, but they're still human."
Kay narrowed her eyes on both of them, she didn't say a word… but she didn't need to.
Orders are orders.
Sami pursed her lips guiltily, while Hane was unphased. Her apathy didn't last as long when she saw who she was fighting.
Hane of Kumogakure vs Neji Hyuuga.
"Oh shit—" she sputtered.
Yowui looked at her intensely. "Forfeit. That guy is gonna kill you."
"What makes you say that?" asked Kay.
"We attacked him with Ka'rai in the forest… killed one of his teammates… so he's really mad at us," explained Yowui.
Hane remained silent. "No, I won't forfeit."
"Do you want to die?!" he questioned.
Hane shook her head. "No… I need to do something else."
Kay seemed suspicious. "Don't take after Ka'rai and do anything senseless."
She just chuckled before hopping down in the arena, where Neji was waiting for her. He stared at her with an utterly disdainful glare. His body was still burned to ribbons from Ka'rai's attacks. Each movement was stiffened by bandages. Every other movement seemed to cause him pain.
Pain struck Hane's face as she stared at him. Her fists clenched and she sighed internally. The match hadn't started yet. She would take that chance. So, she bowed to him. "I'm sorry for what happened to you… and both of your teammates."
Neji's Byakugan snapped into activation. "What the hell are you sorry for?!"
"I don't like seeing people hurt. My village hurt you by taking your father, then your teammate, and both you and your other teammate are hurt physically." She paused to take a breath.
"I apologize on behalf of Kumo for all the hurt and sadness my village has caused you, and anyone else you care about." Hane stood with a breath, then a chuckle. "Even still… I can't let you pass here if I can help it."
Neji didn't say a thing to her. He just crouched into a battle stance. Hane responded by unsheathing her tanto.
Hayate's cough signaled the start of the match.
A blitz and Hane barely blocked with her tanto. She leapt back, but a palm struck her arm. Neji crouched and three palms hit her leg. Her leg buckled and her tanto extended—a ninjato was dodged by Neji. A palm hit the core of Hane's chakra and she was sent skidding across the shattered arena floor.
She trembled, laughing to herself. "You're quite the strong one…"
"I'm aware." Hane managed to cut Neji's bandaged palm as he attacked again. With a grunt she took advantage and sliced. His blood stained her blonde hair red as she dashed under him—weaving hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Whip Blade!" Water coated her ninjato and she cut back at Neji. He dodged but the water whipped out to cut the bandage off his cheek. Hane cut again—Neji's Byakugan pulsed, and he struck the weak points of her whip. It fell off her blade harmlessly and a palm strike to the neck knocked Hane off her feet.
"Your words earlier… have earned you your life. Forfeit the match and you will not need to be hurt anymore," declared Neji, keeping a Byakugan-fueled gaze on her.
Hane gasped—her breaths short. She nodded. "I—forfeit—" she managed.
Hayate flickered into sight. "By way of forfeit, Neji Hyuuga is the winner of the match."
Quickly, Hane was rushed into the infirmary… her strength had earned Hane her life in the face of power.
⁑ —ϟ— ⁑
Clowui awakened in the infirmary. To her surprise, she only had one person treating her. Despite that, she was already at full health. Her eyes opened, and she saw a woman treating her. The woman's long, silky black hair hid her face. But even through that, she saw the golden eyes glow.
Lord Orochimaru! Quickly, Clowui composed herself. "Hello… caretaker."
"Greetings, Clowui," greeted Orochimaru with a smooth and feminine voice. It didn't resemble his own at all. "That Shinrai, he's strong, isn't he?"
"Indeed he is…'' agreed Clowui with narrowed eyes. "I can see why you're interested."
"Yes," he slithered. "I am quite proud of him." A beat of silence passed. "However, I would like to know who you think I might be interested in alongside him."
That's why he's here… "Kusari Hyuuga. For a Hyuuga, her body is strong… she might even contest a Senju or Uzumaki in raw durability and tenacity. Even without her Byakugan, she was far more powerful than the entirety of my team.
"On top of that… she has a barbaric deviation of the Juken. She can blow a torso into a bloody mist with a single strike."
Orochimaru's golden eyes shimmered with joy. "Is that so…?" A grin crossed his face. "Thank you for telling me."
"Of course."
With that, Orochimaru took his hands away from her. His smile turned to that of a nurse… the golden of his eyes shifted to brown. "You're free to go!"
Clowui exited her bed and bowed her head. "Thank you, caretaker."
ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ