Chapter 9: Preparing for the Finals

Chapter Text

I jump backwards, feeling my feet slam against the ground after my attack. This is hard and challenging, far more than anything I faced during the preparation for this exam. I spin on my foot and dodge to the right, evading the incoming paper scroll attack aimed at me. I have to keep moving; if I stop, I'll lose and end up doing more push-ups and sit-ups. The adrenaline rushes through my body, urging me to last in the fight as long as possible and demonstrate how much I've gained and improved.

I glance over to Maki, my teacher, who is watching the match intently. Her bright blue eyes are filled with determination and a hint of concern. I know she wants me to do well and is proud of my progress, but I also know that she won't go easy on me.

I move in quickly, trying to feint to the right multiple times to throw off her prediction of the direction from which my attack will come. I want to do my best to get inside her defense, which is going to be very challenging given her abilities and much greater experience in fighting than mine. I have to be creative to have any chance at all.

I lunge forward, determined to make a breakthrough in my attack. My limbs blur as I execute a series of quick, deceptive movements, hoping to catch Maki off guard. She remains unfazed, her expression calm and focused as she watches my every move. As I approach, Maki quickly unravels a length of cloth from her roll, her fingers dancing over the surface as she activates a seal. The cloth snaps through the air, twisting and writhing like a living thing as it attempts to ensnare me.

I manage to dodge the cloth, but just barely. The speed and precision of Maki's technique are impressive, and I can't help but feel a sense of awe at her skill. I know that I'll need to be even more careful if I want to land a hit.

I circle around Maki, looking for an opening. As I move, I take a moment to catch my breath and study her movements. I notice that she keeps her guard up at all times, her eyes constantly scanning the area around her. The red markings on her face seem to glow in the sunlight, adding an intimidating touch to her appearance.

I think, my mind running at max speed, as I consider a way to get past her formidable and, to be honest, worrisome defenses. I'll likely have to face opponents with even stronger defenses in the future, like Neji Hyuuga or Gaara of the Sand. I can't afford to be captured by Gaara's sand, or my life is literally over. And against Neji, if he starts his rotation and targets my chakra points, I'll be defeated in an instant. These are challenging foes, ones I can't underestimate. In fact, I can't underestimate anyone in these finals; they are all dangerous and highly capable.

I make up my mind as I make hand seals with my free hand and prepare to attack, my plan is simple and direct. I charge in quickly aiming for a direct strike again knowing that the counter will happen. I want it to; I want it to chase after me for a moment long enough to get my hit in if possible.

I charge in quickly as before, dodging the swiftly approaching cloth. I change directions abruptly, veering to the right to evade it, and as I move away from Maki, I raise my right hand. "Lightning Release, Lightning Arrow!" I call out, forming an arrow of lightning between my index and middle fingers and launching it directly at her while avoiding the cloth.

As I charge in and release my Lightning Arrow, Maki quickly repositions herself to avoid the attack. The lightning crackles through the air, missing her by a hair's breadth. She doesn't seem phased, her eyes still focused on me, analyzing my movements.

Great, that didn't work, meaning I have to think more, search for a new way to strike and land a hit. This is a real challenge, and one I have to find my way around. I dodge the cloth again, this time aimed at me from range. I know just going in won't work; I'll get too close to escape at some point. I have to figure out a way to hit her from range while avoiding the cloth itself.

Misdirection, I have to use that, but this might be all the chakra I can use at the moment. I know that is an area I have to improve—my chakra reserves. I have to build up my chakra if I am going to have a chance against monster-like ninja in the future. I have to get better, or I won't last long in the world. I narrow my eyes as I come up with my final plan of attack.

I take a deep breath, focusing my chakra and readying myself for one final attempt. As the cloth comes at me again, I dodge to the side and sprint towards a nearby boulder, using it as cover. I peek out from behind the boulder, watching as Maki expertly maneuvers the cloth to try and hit me.

I move in, quickly as fast as possible, raising my hand, "Lightning release, homing light bullets," I say firing them out of my index finger like a gun, as the small pellets of lightning fly at Maki spending around moving up and over before attacking from behind her at the last moment, my attack coming from the front as I look to aim and land a good strike of any kind at her with this last try for the day.

Just as I had hoped, Maki is caught off guard by the unpredictable movement of my Homing Light Bullets. She manages to deflect some of them with her Cloth Binding Technique, but a few slip past her defenses and strike her directly. The impact causes her to stumble backwards, giving me the opening I need.

I seize the opportunity, dashing out from behind the boulder and delivering a quick punch to Maki's gut with all my might. The force of the blow sends her sprawling to the ground, and she lets out a pained grunt as the air is knocked out of her lungs. As Maki hits the ground, she drops the large roll of cloth she had been carrying. It unfurls slightly, revealing the intricate seals and patterns etched onto the fabric. She looks up at me, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of admiration.

"Not bad, Miraju," she says, managing a weak smile. Standing over Maki, triumph surging through me, I can't help but feel a sense of pride. I managed to catch her off guard and land a solid blow, something that not many have been able to do. My quick thinking and reflexes paid off, and I proved myself to be a capable ninja in my own right.

"That only took a couple of weeks of constant training to do right," I say with a half-smile, knowing that this attack took literally the whole day for me to manage to land upon her. It was just one hit, not one that would win me any matches, and I have so much more room to improve and grow that it's laughable. However, I do feel that pride, that sense of accomplishment, as I have achieved something at least, and I know I am on the right path too.

I watch as Maki slowly pushes herself up to a seated position, wincing slightly as she does so. She takes a moment to catch her breath, then nods approvingly at me. "You may have a ways to go still, but you're definitely getting there," she says.

I nod, feeling a sense of validation wash over me. "Thanks, Maki-sensei," I reply earnestly. "I'll keep working hard to improve."

"I have no doubt about that," Maki responds with a reassuring smile. "Keep pushing yourself, Miraju. You have the potential to become an exceptional ninja."

"I think I need to work on that other trick, the one for the first round match up against Shikamaru Nara," I reason with a smile. Despite feeling tired after the intense training session, I know this is another crucial aspect of preparation. I am determined to improve and excel. Defeating the opponent who defeated Kin in the preliminaries is my goal, and I am eager to achieve it. With that in mind, I prepare myself for more work.

"That sounds like a solid plan," Maki replies, nodding in agreement. "Training and preparation are key to success in the upcoming matches. Let's focus on refining your techniques and strategies to give you the best chance against Shikamaru." She then gestures for you to follow her, indicating that the training session is far from over. With renewed determination, you steel yourself for the challenges ahead and eagerly follow Maki to continue your preparations.

As the night wears on, I find myself exhausted from focusing on refining that ability during the twilight hours. Despite the fatigue, I feel a sense of determination. I have a plan mapped out for my upcoming matches. First, I'll face Shikamaru, and then I'll be ready to take on Temari. If I can defeat her, I'll secure my spot in the semi-finals. There, I'll likely face formidable opponents like Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Kankuro, or Shino Aburame – all exceptionally skilled ninja. It's a daunting prospect, but I'm prepared to give it my all. And if by some chance I make it past that stage, the final challenge awaits, whether it's against Sasuke Uchiha or Gaara of the Sand. It's an uphill battle, but I'm determined to face it head-on.

"Did the other two leave with the rest of the Sunagakure ninja who didn't make it to the finals, sensei?" I ask, realizing I hadn't considered the whereabouts of my teammates. It hadn't occurred to me whether they stayed or had headed home. I presumed the latter, as I hadn't seen either of them in a couple of weeks.

"Arumajiro left to go home to help out his family," Maki responds with a nod, confirming my suspicions. "As for Amara, she's still in town, helping out and spending time with Neji Hyuuga, most likely in the Hyuuga Clan compound. That's why you haven't seen her around."

Yeah that makes sense, I have no reason to go to that part of town, and knowing Amara she is putting out the full court press on Neji's family working her way into their good graces if she has as big of a crush for the stoic, and icy genius prodigy as it seemed. "Sensei, I do have a personal question for you though," I asked softly, a bit embarrassed about the upcoming question.

Maki raises an eyebrow, her expression curious. "Of course, Miraju. What's on your mind?" She encourages me to ask, her tone gentle and understanding.

"How does one go about picking out a gift for a um girl that one likes," I ask, my mind at that moment about a certain Otogakure ninja who has been keeping tabs on me over the last two weeks.

Maki chuckles softly, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Ah, young love," she muses. "Well, it depends on the girl and what she likes. Think about her interests, hobbies, and personality. Is there something she's mentioned liking or wanting before? That could be a good starting point." She offers me some advice, her tone warm and supportive.

"Thanks Sensei, I will think about that," I say pausing, "Is it odd that I like a girl from a different village, I mean not a girl from Suna."

Maki nods thoughtfully, understanding the weight of my question. "It's not odd at all, Miraju," she assures me. "Feelings can't always be confined by borders or village affiliations. Love can be a complicated thing, especially in the world of ninja. But ultimately, what matters most is how you handle those feelings and whether you're willing to navigate the challenges that may come with them. If your feelings are genuine and strong, they can overcome any obstacle, even those imposed by village rivalries."

Maki's expression suddenly shifts, her eyes glancing past me with a knowing look. "In fact, Miraju," she continues, her tone indicating a hint of amusement, "that certain female you mentioned might be closer than you think."

Surprised, I turn around to see Kin standing not too far away, her presence unmistakable. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I realize she might have overheard our conversation. Embarrassment washes over me, but Maki's gentle smile reassures me that everything will be alright.

Best deal with this one head on, I turned and smiled walking over to Kin, "Good evening, night, I'm not sure what time it is right now, um, how has your day been Kin-chan?" I ask blushing a bit still as I look at the dark-haired teen in front of myself. "Um, did you hear what I was talking to Maki-sensei about?

Kin returns my smile, her expression warm and welcoming. "Hey, Miraju," she replies softly, her eyes meeting mine. "My day's been alright, nothing too eventful. How about yours?"

As she speaks, I can't help but feel a sense of relief at her calm demeanor. Taking a deep breath, I nod. "Yeah, I heard a bit of your conversation with Maki-sensei," Kin admits, her cheeks tinted pink. "But don't worry, I won't pry. Everyone has their secrets, right?"

I nod, grateful for her understanding. "Yeah, thanks, Kin-chan," I say, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders. "Well, if you're up for it, maybe we could grab some ramen together?"

"Sure, I'd love to!" Kin replies, her smile widening. "Ramen sounds great." She seems genuinely pleased by the invitation, her demeanor relaxed and friendly. "Lead the way, Miraju."