Chapter 19
Kyoji was still nervous, even after Jotaro's lecture. There was always another possibility, but something told him he'd fight Ryuu. The dragon warrior simply grinned at Kyoji from across the room, where Neji was still randomizing the selection. A slip of paper slid out and Neji grabbed it and looked closely. He shrugged his shoulders and turned to Ryuu.
"Good luck, tough guy! You get to fight Kyoji, our own resident tough guy, if you know what I mean…"
Kyoji grinned sheepishly as he and Ryuu followed Neji to the arena. The large field was approximately a mile long and about a football field wide.
Plenty of room for a brawl. Ryuu thought to himself.
Neji held out his hand towards the arena.
"Okay, here's the rules. You stay in the arena until the quarterfinal matches. Fair enough?"
Ryuu shook his head, replying, "These fights could get out of hand. Just let the area be free range."
Neji shrugged his shoulders again and replied, "Fine…Just go. Oh, and killing is not accepted, but neither is it prohibited. Go at it!"
Kyoji gulped and followed far behind Ryuu, who seemed eager as he crunched his knuckles together and stood on one end of the arena. Kyoji stood on the opposite end, his knees still shaking. He pulled out the small square of steel he had used since he started training. He squeezed it in his hand, already beginning to merge. Ryuu clasped his knuckles together and focused his chakra, causing the floor to shake as Neji held out a hand.
"Hang on, you two, I haven't said start yet… Oh forget it…" Neji waved the nuisance off as he kicked back and watched the fireworks. Kyoji and Ryuu both began to scream as their chakra reached its maximum level. Almost instantly, the two rocketed forward, clashing fists instantly, neither budging an inch. Ryuu smiled in admiration.
"Not bad, kid… That tickled a bit… Try harder…"
Kyoji grinned and responded with a high kick to Ryuu's chin, sending him falling back. Ryuu rubbed the throbbing spot and flashed his teeth again, punching the ground with such force that the ground shook again. Kyoji simply countered with his own punch, nullifying the quake.
Ryuu was getting annoyed now. The kid was just copying him. He had to pull out the stops… Ryuu performed the seal of the dragon, now concentrating his new chakra. Pulling open his hands, they were suddenly covered in a strange bluish-red flame. Ryuu slammed his fists together again and screamed out.
"Now…the real fun starts!"

Kyoji thought of how this fight would go on if he let Ryuu get any stronger. He needed to get the trump card ready… But he had never perfected that move. It was going to be tricky, but Jotaro told him to believe in himself, and he remembered how the training sessions ended; with him on the floor every time. He wasn't going to be outfought by this idiot who pulled out a new trick every minute. Clashing his fists, Kyoji lunged forward with a punch that connected. But as Kyoji pulled back, he winced at a burning pain in his fist. He looked down and saw the flames crawling up his arm. He waved them off and pulled back.
So…those flames are how he keeps them at bay. But they've moved. They're everywhere but his fists, elbows, knees, feet and head. His vulnerable points. But he just wants me to aim there so he can move into his flaming areas. But I can handle a little change. Let's just hope he's not quick on his feet or his wits.
Kyoji pushed himself off the ground, readying himself for a high jump kick. This was always hard, but he was practically a taijutsu specialist, like Lee sensei. As Ryuu saw the kick, he leaped forward, pushing his chest outward.
Hehehehe…this way, he'll hit the flames and I won't be hurt at all. My whole body has been conditioned in Juunishi Taijutsu, and since I focused on Dragon Style, I have the strongest defense and offense. I'm invincible! Just as Ryuu spoke, he saw the kick connect, but screamed out as he felt a punch-strike combo to his neck. Catching himself, he grinned.
So…a bit faster than I thought. No problem. Ryuu simply changed his stance, adjusting his legs so he was able to push off faster, but he was able to leap back just as fast.
Kyoji clenched his teeth at Ryuu's innovation. He had changed his stance, and thus, his attack pattern. But this would end soon, if he could only reach his peak and finish the Alloy Combo. He relaxed his shoulders and focused more chakra, realizing that he had to be careful not to exhaust his chakra like Taro had. But he knew where to focus, but just not how to get the courage to do the combo. He saw Ryuu lunge forward, slamming into him. Feeling his bones crack, he grinned and struck Ryuu's armpits, paralyzing his upper fighting moves. Now he was able to get some footing and finish this. Ryuu grimaced, but still smirked as he slammed his head into the ground, releasing his body from the paralysis. He struck at Kyoji, who continued blocking, unable to finish the combo. As the blows landed, causing tremors in the air, they were so powerful, Kyoji remembered training under Lee sensei.
It was morning as Lee snapped Kyoji out of bed and pulled him into the dojo. Lee sat and spoke to Kyoji.
"You know, Kyoji, you remind me of myself a lot. I never thought I could ever become a ninja, since I was only good at taijutsu. But my dad told me to never give up, that I would be a great ninja. I believed him and told myself that someday I would surpass him and become a great taijutsu ninja."
"But master," Kyoji replied, "Even if you tell yourself such a thing, it doesn't mean that you'll actually succeed."
Lee's eyebrows raised and he laughed and replied, "So…that means that if you don't think you can fight, you automatically don't fight? Or if…you don't believe you can eat, you still won't take a small nibble? It doesn't matter if you aren't able to actually do something…as long as you have courage and determination, you can accomplish anything… Well, except get the girl… I lost Sakura-dono years ago, when I was about your age. I was foolish, but I proved my point. I faced my most difficult opponent ever and I came out of it alive. Even when Tsunade-sama told me I might never be a ninja again, I still was determined to take the risky surgery and well…look at me now… Remember that, Kyoji and you may be able to beat me someday… Or even my father…" The two laughed and laughed even as Lee struck Kyoji in the stomach and Kyoji thrust a kick to Lee's head.
Kyoji nodded and closed his eyes.
With courage and determination, you can do anything…All right, sensei…I'm going to give it everything and complete the Alloy Combo… For everybody…for Natsumi… Kyoji focused and felt something break inside him. Maybe it was his left femur, maybe it was that barrier he had kept up for so long, but suddenly Kyoji felt an incredible amount of chakra flowing through him. Ryuu stopped in midpunch as he stepped back. Kyoji roared out; in pain or fury, he knew not which; pummeling Ryuu hundreds of times, Ryuu unable to do a thing. Even the mystic flames couldn't touch Kyoji's body as the flurry of combos concluded, Ryuu beaten and bruised. He coughed up blood as he looked up at Kyoji's body, which glowed an eerie green.
It can't be…He couldn't have…he was just a…weakling…
"Ryuu…Ryuu, wake up!" Looking up, Ryuu saw Kyoji holding out a hand. Ryuu knocked it away. Sighing, Kyoji turned and walked away, leaving the duty of cleanup to the other ninjas. He turned around before he exited and called out to Ryuu.
"Have courage Ryuu, and the Dragon Flame will be stronger! Remember that!"
Ryuu closed his eyes, giving up the chase for power he had began all those years when he discovered that power he possessed.
So…courage…and I'll get stronger… What about that…that wimp's pretty darn smart…
Neji held up a second slip of paper, calling out the next match, "Risa Haruno…you're up against Nezumi of the Zodiac Clan"
Risa looked over to Nezumi, who licked his lips and appeared behind Risa, running his tongue up her neck. Risa nearly shrieked out when Nezumi instantly shushed her.
"Don't be scared…I'll be gentle…my young, nubile little ninja…"

Chapter 20
Risa trembled as Nezumi continued to grin at her, his arms dangling lifeless. She then braced up, ready to face the new opponent. She focused chakra and opened her eyes to countless insects buzzing about her. She saw Shino, who grinned and unleashed even more bugs towards her. She shrieked and stopped as she saw the bugs weren't real. Unleashing another skill she had acquired, Shino was replaced by Nezumi, who shrugged nonchalantly, unleashing the sign of the rat, grinning as he thought to himself.
She's the perfect opponent…young…nubile…and feisty… But I'll show her and everybody else the truth. When one goes through life, they simply think everything is dictated by fate or karma, when in reality…everything is simply a dream within our own pitiful delusions. Everyone imagines becoming better or more successful. Some even believe they have already accomplished it. It makes me sick to see these people living out these wasted mirages until the inevitable reality: death. It is the end all to everything. One is free from pain, uncertainty, everything… And now…she'll feel my sting…
Risa blinked twice and saw Kiba and Akamaru merging together to form a feral form that lunged at her, growling and snarling. She canceled out the illusion, sighting the crafty rat and threw her shuriken towards him. Nezumi disappeared and appeared behind Risa, a kunai to her throat.
Two illusions in one…He must be a genjutsu specialist… There aren't many in existence. Mom was one, but she had other skills. This guy just likes to mess around with people and now…I'm as good as dead.
Risa trembled as Nezumi lightly kissed Risa on the cheek.
"It's okay…Brother Nezumi will keep you safe from those mean ninjas…You'll be okay very soon…You won't be sick anymore…hehehehehhehehehehehehe…." Nezumi continued to giggle and cackle as Risa slipped away, hurling two more knives his way. Even as he went into a paroxysm of laughs, he snatched them out of the air, twirling them on his fingers. He then lost his humor, becoming dead again. He performed the sign of the rat and giggled to himself again. Risa was lost in the illusion as she cancelled out the sight of Choji crushing her with his Meat Tank and gasped as she saw Choji upon her, crushing every bone, tearing the muscles and destroying her organs. She gasped out and canceled out the second illusion, seeing Nezumi upon her again, straddling her, still grinning that disgusting grin.
He stabbed the kunai down, Risa creating clones, which Nezumi clearly saw through. He thrust the kunai through Risa's left leg, leaving her limping. She grimaced and rushed to the other side of the arena, nursing her wound as quickly as possible. Nezumi's illusions were upon her again, Kenta stabbing her through the heart, while Akimaru clawed her eyes out. Every new illusion was more morbid than the last. And every time, Nezumi casually missed her. What was he doing? Risa knew that Nezumi could obviously have killed her any time he had pleased, but he was still trying to manipulate her, twist her psyche, make her break… But how could she break the illusions and get the advantage? She then realized it, preparing her Reverse Illusion.
Nezumi appeared behind Risa again, as the purple haired girl turned and giggled at Nezumi.
"Oh, you silly rat… Of course I'll marry you!" Nezumi's heart leaped for joy, but he was suspicious. He cut Risa's cheek again, while Risa simply began to lick the blood from her wound as Nezumi began to cuddle with Risa, the young girl cooperating well with him. He licked his lips again and prepared to end this. But he stopped at the pain of a kunai in the worst possible place. Grasping between his legs, Nezumi cringed as Risa punched the rat into the forest, following up with another kick to his already wounded pride.
Th-that bitch! She twisted my emotions! She'll…she'll pay for it with her…with her pride…
Nezumi darted through the forest, unleashing his triggered illusions, Risa following with her countermeasures. She stopped at a new illusion, which showed her brother and herself playing together, their mother and father laughing and preparing dinner. Risa's eyes started to tear, but she gasped at a new sensation. She shrieked at where Nezumi was touching her and turned around, panicking at the thought of where Nezumi the pervert would strike next. Nezumi stopped behind Risa, copping a feel of her breasts, Risa still paranoid.
Yes…these are both illusions and reality. With my speed, she can't tell the difference. Soon enough, I'll end this with my last kunai.
Risa began to panic, still trying to find out where Nezumi was projecting illusions and when he was being psychotic. She then calmed her mind, remembering her training under her mother. It was all about…
"Sweetie, you can do it…" A younger Risa still focused to form the sign of the tiger, her fingers still fumbling with the then complex motions. Sakura giggled and adjusted Risa's hands, helping her along a little at a time.
"Risa…illusion skills are all about using your mind and controlling your chakra to project whatever vision or sensation. If you want your opponent to think they're being attacked by bugs, think of those icky caterpillars…"
Risa giggled and closed her eyes, Sakura panicking as she slapped her arm at the invisible sensations. The mother then picked up her daughter and laughed along with her as training ended and playtime began.
Risa sighed and her eyes snapped open as she pointed at Nezumi, who froze in midstep.
"You…you're just a coward! Trying to make everybody do what you want…believe what you believe…think what you think… You're too weak to see that, though. You're too busy being a pervert, letting your own desires get the best of you. Something terrible must have happened to you to make you do this…but you can't take out that pain on someone else…That just makes the pain worse…though it may feel good to you, the guilt will follow…in the back of your mind."
Nezumi growled and rushed forward, stabbing with the kunai, Risa gasping at the pain in her skull. She stopped as she saw it was false, but Nezumi had already begun to stab into the back of her neck. The illusions kept piling up and Risa was beginning to break down… But she stopped and unleashed a final burst of chakra, flinging Nezumi backwards. She grinned and turned to Nezumi, running her hands across his body, Nezumi still wincing from the pain, but recovering quickly at Risa's touch… He abandoned all thoughts as he succumbed to the dream, Risa carrying his weak body all the way back to the arena.
Neji was impressed at Risa's ingenuity, Risa performing the sign for victory, leaping up and down. She took advantage of Nezumi's natural insanity and perpetuated it through a single thought of perversion, completely destroying Nezumi's concept of real and unreal. The match was called on a technicality in Risa's favor, as Nezumi was unable to battle.
Neji turned to the remaining eight students. He grinned and told them to take a fifteen minute break. He sighed and glanced over to Ryota, who continued to observe, though the elders didn't allow his participation in the preliminaries. His powers continued to grow with every technique he acquired with the Sharingan in his left and with the Byakugan, he had perfect mental clarity of every move that was performed, able to see through Kyoji's fake outs and Nezumi's clump illusions. The boy was clearly dangerous, but as Ryota turned on his music, he seemed to change drastically. His eyes became relaxed, losing their frightening stare, becoming gray and glazed over. They immediately closed and Ryota seemed like the child they had found all those years ago. He was innocent, pure, childish…the epitomy of a ninja, even with his naivete. It was hard to imagine that Ryota had gone through that much pain in those short ten years. Now…it was just a matter of time…before everything broke loose.