Chapter 25
It was near morning and Natsumi was still nervous about her match with Hitomi.
Hitomi's so much stronger than me…She was the leader of her own group…She has so much natural talent. And all I have are my gardening skills… But I guess that's my purpose…
She held out her hands, a red iris bursting forth from the ground, a cloud of pollen spinning in a cyclone as she raised her hands up. The sight of nature still made her tear up sometimes… But this was a time to be strong…she needed to brace up. Grasping the bag of seeds, Natsumi rushed towards the arena, as the match was starting in a few minutes.

Hitomi waited, her shuriken loaded and her eyes still glowing. She looked up and saw everyone from the academy and a single eye watched her, it seemed. His hair was white and stood up, spiking in all directions. He wore a black mask that covered his mouth, nose and left eye.
Who is that? Why is he so interested in me?
Her questions ended as Natsumi arrived, still blushing a bit as she stepped onto the floor. Neji held out a hand, calling out a catchphrase he had gained a few years back.
"Ready…steady…GO!"
Hitomi rushed at Natsumi, who managed to dodge the attack, secretly letting a few small seeds fall from the bag onto the stone floor. Hitomi's attacks were constant and Natsumi was hardly physically trained enough to fight, getting pummeled as she escaped into the forest, the seeds she had dropped secretly unleashing their own powers.
Hitomi looked around, seeing nothing but the plants. That was Natsumi's special skill, blending her attacks with the natural environment of the forest. She didn't know which flowers real, or chakra created. Stopping in a clearing, she looked up, her eyes glowing gold and beginning to shine even brighter as Hitomi sensed movement in the bushes. Flashing around with a shuriken, Hitomi swore she had struck Natsumi. She saw the young ninja leap out, a shuriken lodged in her leg, still releasing seeds. Hitomi grinned, thinking this was certainly not going to be a walk in the park…or forest.

Hitomi had always liked to walk through the woods surrounding her house. It always soothed her soul. So peaceful…so serene…so full of her friends. Kenta always trained in one area, while Kyoji and Jotaro clashed in another. Even Basho had his favorite nap spot. She felt so much like an older sibling or a mother to the children she called her friends. She was only a year or two older and yet, so much more mature in many areas. Suffering through so much loneliness had given her a drive to make new friends quickly, but had also given her a cautiousness that balanced out her natural impulsiveness. But, then…she always was different. Even her eyes made her feel…horrible… But the sadness faded when all her friends arrived at her house. It was Natsumi's birthday today!

Natsumi tried thinking of a new strategy, but she realized that she'd have to lure Hitomi towards the stadium and she knew she couldn't outrun her. Then, an idea hit her! She released a special plant she had made just for this type of occasion. Then, she called out Hitomi's name. Hitomi arrived at the spot, where a flower bloomed. But Hitomi stepped back as she saw it was a red iris. The plant unleashed spores that made Hitomi sleepy. She saw Natsumi and began to follow, unable to control her body or mind. Finding herself back at the arena floor, her control returned, Hitomi seeing Natsumi holding countless shurikens in the air, all resembling flower petals. In fact, they were flower petals. A rain of cherry blossoms pelted the area where Hitomi stood, none hitting her. Hitomi looked up to see Natsumi sleeping on a bed of roses that lifted her up into the air.
More beauty…she's trying to fool me again. Stepping back, Hitomi gasped at an explosion. She continued to dodge countless other pops that scorched her skin and burned her clothes. Before long, she was back in the center, noticing four saplings growing on each of the corners. Before she could even react, she saw Natsumi again, holding four flowers in her hands, many others surrounding her. They were blue roses, now prepared for a new attack.
There were blue roses at the party too…

The party was going well…no incidents anyway. Hitomi was certainly impressed at the sudden maturity of some of the younger children. She smiled and offered refreshments to some other guests she had invited: Choji, Kiba, and Shino. She then saw Natsumi sitting alone, still looking sullen.
"What's wrong, Mori-kun?" Hitomi said, still using the pet name she had given Natsumi when she first met her in the forest, tending to her garden.
Natsumi looked up, tears still in her face; tears of joy.
"I'm…I'm just so overwhelmed…nobody's ever given me such a big party…or been so nice to me…"
Hitomi smiled brightly and laughed, replying just as gleefully, "You deserve it, Mori-kun! You've been so selfless and caring to everybody else, we all thought you should get something special back! And besides…you need to have some cheer, with being the youngest and in a family of three men! That must be hard, especially with only your mom at home most of the time…"
"Yeah…"
"Sorry…did I hit a bad spot?"
"No…I just never knew you that well…and I didn't think you liked me…"
"Don't think that way…you're yourself and if people don't like that…then they aren't very nice people at all. It's their loss not to have a friend like you…Just go at your own pace, Mori-kun… You'll catch up…"

Hitomi saw the roses blowing past her, the saplings nearly trees. Hitomi's eyes flashed gold again, the roses stopping in mid air. Hitomi unleashed her specialty move, called the Shock Burst. Countless sparks of electricity leaped in every direction, the roses exploding on contact. Natsumi sighed, nearly exhausting her chakra. She then closed her eyes, the trees now glowing strangely… Hitomi realized too late what the tree's true purpose was; it was a destructive explosive, set off by Natsumi's very thoughts…
The dust settled and both Natsumi and Hitomi were on the ground, unconscious. Neji called the match, but Hitomi stood up just as he finished, brushing her hair out of her eyes and nearly tripping again. Neji grinned and Kakashi left the arena, his single eye seeming to grin.
Good job, daughter… I knew you could do it… I'm just…sorry I couldn't be there for you…

Chapter 26
Usagi was still woozy even two days after the battle. She had progressed, but now she was at the mercy of Enishi for failing. She stopped walking as she heard something above her. She then saw the one called Ryota staring her down.
"I've never personally introduced myself… I'm-"
"Usagi of the Zodiac Clan, the highest ranked clan in the Earth Country. You're the leader of the Zodiac Clan, but your sensei, called Enishi, is arriving soon to finish this…mission for the Zodiac Gems, which carry your clan's forbidden ninjutsu. Well…I can't allow you to report…"
"What if I already have?"
"I know you're bluffing… Now leave the exams…or things will get messy…"
"Hehehehe…you really think you can just-"
Ryota held her arms behind her, straining them so much, they would break at a touch. His eyes began to glow as he released her. Usagi spun around to attack, but struck nothing, only feeling further pain from Ryota's next attack. She then thrust through what appeared to be Ryota, but only hit air again. Ryota tapped her on the shoulder, Usagi rearing around to attack again, but she froze at the sight she saw.
Ryota's face was twisted into a grotesque façade, similar to a jester's, but painted with a demonic sort of paint. His face reverted to its usual stolid sight and he flicked towards Usagi, sending her into the wall.
"I managed to control my power enough to injure your chakra lines. You'll never be a ninja again with the wounds I've given you."
"But…" Usagi replied, standing up with some effort, "I can still rip you to pieces and feed on your accursed flesh!" The calm rabbit became a bestial monster, clawing at Ryota. She stopped in midslash, Ryota holding her to his face. He spoke again, hissing into her ear.
"I gave you a chance to live…I gave you my thoughts…but you ignored them both…Now…the rabbit dies…" Ryota unleashed hand seals that stopped at rabbit and then Ryota flared out his palms, paralyzing Usagi where she stood. Nothing happened at first, but then Usagi began to convulse and spasm out of control. Nothing seemed to be the cause, but Ryota's Byakugan said otherwise, as he observed her chakra coils spinning out of control, her now unstable energy tearing her body apart from the inside. Soon she would die and he would be free from her annoyance. He called the attack the Nocturne of Guilt… The name fit very well in his mind…

Risa had been awake for the last two hours, still practicing her genjutsu. The battle matches were unknown, but she did know she had to be prepared for anything. Even the possibility of fighting Kyoji made her somewhat uneasy. The sheer power he had unleashed during his fight with Ryuu was incredible. The only possibility that made sense was that Kyoji had unlocked the first chakra gate. But…would he be able to do it again?
The sound of the door opening made her start, but it was only Minoru. For some reason, after his fight with Basho, he had gone back to his habit of wearing the red mask. It made Risa afraid of what Basho had told her brother during their mental conflicts.
"Are…are you okay, Minoru?"
"Yes…just thinking about what's going to happen…with the chunin exam…the Zodiac Clan…Ryota… I think the elders are hiding something from us…"
"Don't think like that! We trusted them to tell us about our gifts… They wouldn't lie to us…would they?"
"My parents were talking about a time when they thought they could trust the elders…but then they told countless secrets all at once…about Master Kakashi…about Tsunade-sama…even about my uncle…I've just been thinking… The whole world of ninjas is built upon secrets… But is that necessarily a good thing?"
"We…we can't really know now…not until we're truly ready to accept it…" Risa looked up to her brother, who smiled gently on the exposed half of his face.
"Yeah…yeah I guess so…Better get going, the finals are about to start..."
Risa nodded and looked down at the ground.
Secrets…how many can be kept before they blow out of proportion…before…it begins to hurt people?

Kyoji sat in meditation as Minoru and Hitomi arrived behind him.
"You're here early, Kyoji, "Hitomi noted, "Something troubling you?"
Kyoji cocked one eye open and shook his head no, "Just heard the first battle…it's me and Risa… Focusing my chakra with my taijutsu is key now…"
Minoru nodded and walked towards the spectator's section, Hitomi following close behind.
Kyoji knew he was ready…he just wasn't prepared for the stress of fighting his friends…It was tearing him apart, but he knew Risa would forgive him.
He saw Risa already on the arena floor and followed suit, removing his jacket, nearly baring his muscular chest.
Risa blushed a bit at the sight of Kyoji's physical prowess, but composed herself and readied her mind for battle.
The whistle blew and Risa gasped as Kyoji struck the ground in front of her. Kyoji looked up and spoke, a sheepish grin on his face.
"Oops…missed…"
Risa giggled nervously and unleashed her illusion, but Kyoji seemed to push them aside, still attacking as furiously as before. Risa gasped at the realization that Kyoji was fighting clean, without his steel merging… This was truly a dangerous battle, when Kyoji was fighting this strongly without enhancements. She had to get up to his level. Throwing two kunai, Risa prepared a new attack she had been preparing this morning. She created clones that also threw two shuriken, making it seem as though a hail of shuriken was coming towards Kyoji. Kyoji seemed to push the blades aside, dashing his fist into Risa, sending her into the forest. He followed after her, still telling himself in his mind.
Risa will forgive me…

Risa looked hesitantly around her as she continued to try to find Kyoji before he found her… This was her greatest battle yet. Kyoji seemed immune to her attacks and yet, he was fighting at only half his true power. She didn't want to imagine what he would be like when he merged. And she had to make sure he didn't… Unleashing her special talents, Risa took Nezumi's talent and improved upon it, leaving extra surprises for Kyoji
Kyoji stopped at the sight of
Risa, who was ready to fight him hand to hand. He blocked her first attack and countered with a kick that missed, Risa being an illusion. He turned to see Risa holding a shuriken to his chest, her hand trembling.
"Risa…what…are you doing?"
"I'm…I'm going to fight you to the death…"
"…You're not Risa…" Kyoji replied, "You'd never kill, even if you were ordered to." He then struck the illusion, turning around to see Risa watching him from a tree branch. He smiled and began pummeling the tree, attempting to knock Risa from her perch.
Risa leaped to another branch, Kyoji following close behind.
This is getting interesting… She put two illusions on top of one another…and there are probably more along this path… Got to find a way to beat her at her own game…
Risa stopped and turned to find that Kyoji had disappeared.
Where is he? Did he find out…no…just afraid…
Risa then turned and ran away, leaving more illusions behind her.
Kyoji was right behind her, developing a new strategy to win…speed against the mind.

Enishi again watched the ninja battles, finding to his surprise that Usagi had disappeared this morning….
Who could've killed her without leaving any evidence? They'd have to be jonin ranked…or higher…the ANBU…
He scoffed and ran through his strategy through his head.
Have to wait until just the right moment…catch everyone off guard…then the gems will be mine…Tsunade…all of Konoha will pay for disgracing our clan in the wars…
Enishi then disappeared, still laughing outwardly.

Both Kyoji and Risa stopped at the laughing and then simply blew it off as their own concerns overwhelmed them.