Tower Arena
Gaara ignored him and prepared to attack her again. At this point, Turles unsheathed his staff and split it apart before suddenly front flipping off the second floor. This put extra momentum behind his twin short staffs as he bashed them down on the distracted Suna Shinobi's head.
Whatever sand he was sending Ino's way, ended up falling to the ground. Turles managed to push off the guy's head in a way that allowed him to land before Ino, and he held his twin staffs defensively before him. Gaara looked up at him, snarling.
"This is my Ino." Turles stared the Shinobi down, unflinching, Yamcha and Puar were just halfway between where they'd been and where he stood. "Not another grain of sand, nor you, comes near her."
Both halves of Gaara's face showed utter bewilderment. Images of himself when he was younger, his father, his siblings, and his caretaker flashed through his mind in an instant. They then shattered, and he held his head in pain.
"Why?" Gaara asked. "She is a failure. Why save her?"
"She's my Ino." Turles reiterated.
Ino wasn't like other fan girls he seemed to attract. Unlike them, she understood you had to train and take your career seriously. Even if he didn't always understand it, she looked out for him in ways he sometimes hadn't considered.
She'd bring him food or flowers from her shop. Those were little bits of nature he could bring back to his compound. Ino hung around enough to the point Turles had gotten used to her. If someone tried to take that away in his presence, then they'd deal with him.
"She is precious to me." Turles declared, firmly.
"Baki!" Yamcha called out to Suna's Jonin firmly as he and Puar now moved to stand with Turles. "Get down here and control your subordinate."
"You have my apologies…" Baki bowed his head before he appeared beside Gaara.
Before he could say anything, the sand on Gaara cleared up. "I'm done."
He turned and brushed past his Jonin on his way back to the second floor.
"Gaara is the winner…medics!" Yamcha shouted.
He didn't think the injuries Ino suffered were that severe, but he'd feel better getting the girl as far away from that Suna Genin as physically possible. The medics quickly arrived on the scene while the other Leaf Shinobi entered the arena, inspecting Ino nervously.
"Kurenai Sensei…will Ino be all right?" Sakura whimpered.
Kurenai looked at her student sympathetically. "Someone stepped in before it could get worse." She put a hand on the poor girl's back. "I'm confident your friend will be just fine."
Sakura hoped that was true.
Shikamaru was trembling. "That bastard!"
Thoughts of just how bad this could have been, had Turles not stepped in when he did, ran through his mind. Asuma observed, as the kunoichi of their team was carried away on a stretcher, the trickle of tears that ran down the Nara's cheek.
"Ino…chose to fight, despite her overwhelmingly low odds of success." Asuma put a hand on his shoulder. "Ino went out fighting with a passion."
"This isn't where Team 10 ends." Choji suddenly declared, the injuries done to a comrade having stoked his fire to compete. "I'm moving onto the next round."
"Same here." Shikamaru spoke with more determination than at any point in his life prior before he whirled to face Gaara, who was just now climbing the stairs up. "Once I make it, I'll personally defeat you myself!"
"Shikamaru…are you crazy?" Kiba whispered, pulling him away.
That didn't change the fact that the challenge had been made, and Gaara watched the duo step away, with Choji following.
"He gets you only after I've had a go." Turles declared, laying down his own challenge.
"Count me in." Goku added.
Naruto nodded. "I want a piece of him to."
Upon hearing all of them declare their intentions like this, Sakura clenched her fist. "I'm in to."
"You should be careful." Yamcha spoke softly to Baki.
The Sand Jonin, now free of worry for his vicious student, raised an eyebrow. "Why is that?"
"Looks like Konoha is about to be at war with the Suna." Yamcha muttered, his eyes on Turles, Shikamaru, Choji, Naruto, Goku, and Sakura.
"He doesn't know how right he is." Baki thought.
"That was interesting." Zaku commented, with a smirk.
"If he speaks for all of you, I say your village isn't all that hot." Atsui commented, drawing their attention. "Seems to me none of you know what it really means to be comrades."
"Oh, I hope I draw you next." Zaku stared pointedly at him. "I'd like to see how your talk…"
"Quit, Zaku." Vegeta ordered, firmly.
"Vegeta?" Kina asked, confused. "He's acting like himself, yet not talking like it."
"Just leave the other teams alone." Vegeta ordered.
Both Oto Genin backed off at that, and soon everyone was back on the second floor.
"I got to say, that's the most fight I've seen from either of you." Asuma commented.
"It's a pain, but I suppose there is no alternative for Choji and I." Shikamaru turned his attention to the monitor. "We got to make it to the next round."
"Agreed." Choji nodded.
The monitor flashed through the remaining names before spitting out their next match.
Turles Sarutobi vs Zaku Abumi
"Oh, just tell me that's 'Mr. Hot' over there?" Zaku pleaded, referring to Atsui, with a smirk.
"You're looking the wrong way." Turles declared before leaping over the edge. "Get down here. I got some aggression to work out, and I need my ticket into the next round. You're the stone I'm going to use to kill those two birds."
Zaku merely chuckled while Vegeta shook his head. Any thoughts that Turles was a weak link to his team should have been tossed out minutes ago. Sure, he got the jump on Gaara, who was focused on Ino, yet the defense had not protected him.
Far as Vegeta figured out, Gaara's sand defended him separately from his conscious uses of it in battle. Perhaps to the level or above what Shino managed with his bugs. This meant Turles was no slouch or hinderance to his team.
"Zaku has always been hard headed." Vegeta crossed his arms. "If what he's seen thus far has not drilled it into his head that he should treat this seriously, then let the coming battle do it."
Turles and Zaku came to stand across from each other, prompting Yamcha to proceed. "Alright, you may begin."
Match 5: Turles vs Zaku
"You were talking all that good stuff." Zaku suddenly rushed Turles. "Let's see you back it up!"
He attempted to catch him with a right hook, but Sarutobi effortlessly caught that with his left arm before noting the strange holes in the guy's palm.
"The moment you try to use that on me, I'm planting your face into the ground." Turles voiced.
Sarutobi could feel the air rushing in as his sleeve moved.
"You're still talking…" Zaku began.
Sarutobi suddenly grabbed his opponent's head, faster than Zaku could react, and smashed it into the ground. This stopped the generation of wind before he lept back and withdrew his staff. Turles once again took it apart into two shorter staffs.
"I warned you." Turles voiced. "Now, you can stay down, or I knock you out. Your choice."
Zaku angrily clenched his fists as he remembered what life was like before. He was just some kid who was homeless, stealing just to get by. He was powerless. Then, Orochimaru found him. Suddenly, there was a new path.
He could follow this man and become strong. By becoming Orochimaru's weapon, he was given that which was denied to him as some street urchin. He couldn't afford to let that man down. He would not let Orochimaru down!
"Now you've done it!" Zaku yelled as he lept to his feet. "I'm mad!"
Turles was suddenly right before his face. "I don't care."
Fueled by his training, anger at the prior match, and aggression over what happened to Ino, Turles smashed both staffs into Zaku's gut with all his might. What's more, he did it at an angle which ultimately sent the Sound Genin just over the railing of the second floor.
Despite being angry, Turles wasn't letting that completely run the show since he ensured the guy wasn't hit where anyone stood. Speaking of Zaku, he ended up crashing into the wall behind the railing before collapsing to the ground.
Yamcha lept up to that level, only to find an unconscious Genin. "This one has had it." He lept back down to the main floor. "The winner is Turles Sarutobi."
Turles reconnected his staff and started walking while the Medical-Nin were called in again. Now that Goku wasn't focused on the fact that some Sand Shinobi was trying to kill a fellow Leaf Genin, he noted his brother's change in weapon.
"Hey Turles, what's up with that staff you're using?" Goku asked as he approached.
"It was my sensei's idea." Turles felt better working that out of his system, so he decided to answer. "He brought up that tradition is good; however, sometimes you got to carve out your own path." He walked by his brother. "For me, I click with short staffs over a long one."
"Carve out my own path…" Goku thought, glancing back at the red staff on his back.
"He was overconfident; especially given everything we've seen from prior matches." Vegeta commented, as he and Kim looked over at their unconscious teammate.
"Should he not have an ounce of pride?" Kin asked, not liking this new direction he was taking.
"You call what he showcased pride?" Vegeta scoffed, causing Kin to glare as she walked away. "If this is how we're meant to view things, I don't want to hear what the rank-and-file think."
Upon hearing he and his team were sent to assassinate someone Orochimaru gifted a mark to, Vegeta started reexamining everything. Quite frankly, he was not happy with his current leadership. Especially when it came to how the man was likely seeing them.
"Moving on to the sixth match." Yamcha declared.
The screen flashed once more before picking the next two names.
Hinata Hyuga vs Kankuro
"Looks like it's my turn." Kankuro noted, subdued after how Gaara's match went.
"That guy." Naruto noted angrily.
"Now, now." Kakashi put a hand on his head. "None of you should let what Gaara did cloud your judgement of a whole team."
"Naruto and I have a bit of history with that team beyond what Gaara did." Goku informed. "That one there attacked a citizen." That drew Sasuke, Hinata, and Kakashi's attention. "Not only that, but the citizen was Konohamaru."
"Hm, isn't that something." Kakashi certainly noted that. "It appears that Suna Team is rather troubled. Best stay on your toes Hinata."
"Right." Hinata stated.
Given some of the reactions the Hyuga heiress managed to catch, she doubted anyone on Gaara's team was like him. That said, she wasn't about to underestimate anyone given talent was quite abundant with those who made it this far.
Beyond that, she could not afford to give anything less than her best. Hinata had to keep reaching for the rank of Chunin and hoping to acquire it this first go around. If she did not, her status as heiress would come into question. As such, both combatants walked on down to the floor.
"With what we're here for, perhaps I can sort of utilize what Gaara did and prevent them from seeing what I got." Kankuro took off his bundle and held it at his side. "If you want to surrender, now is your chance. If you don't, I can't promise a painless defeat."
"No matter what this battle entails, I've come too far to give up." Hinata answered, taking her clan's stance.
"Alright, if you're ready, let the sixth match begin." Yamcha declared.
Match 6: Hinata vs Kankuro
"I'll do you a favor and end this fight quickly." Kankuro stated.
Despite this girl being from the Hyuga Clan, Kankuro didn't think those eyes of hers could be all they were cracked up to be. The words surrounding this girl, the Leaf's Lavender Eyed Angel, honestly told him Kumo was just a sorry excuse for a Shinobi Village.
"We shall see." Hinata made her hand sign. "Byakugan."
Suddenly, she saw a lot which influenced her next course of action. She rushed forward, feigning her target to be the confident Shinobi, and only changed targets at the last second. Kankuro realized too late what she was going for.
Hinata had targeted the Chakra string connecting him to the bundle. With her Gentle Fist, she severed the connection which resulted in Kankuro suddenly collapsing in a heap on the ground. To those who weren't in the know, it seemed as though she somehow broke all his bones at once.
"You're within my range." Hinata voiced, focused on the falling bundle, and intending to end this quickly. "8 Trigrams: 64 Palms."
"2 Palms"
"4 Palms"
"8 Palms"
"16 Palms"
"32 Palms"
"64 Palms"
From the moment the strikes started, the bundle cried out in pain. Coupled that with the disguise on 'Kankuro' falling away to reveal it'd been a puppet, and people put it together fully.
"Hm, such a simple trick could never escape the eyes of a Hyuga." Sasuke commented.
"Still, it was a slick move on his part." Goku admitted. "I think the only Genin who would have immediately figured it out would be Hinata with her eyes or Kiba/Akamaru with their noses."
Hinata finished her palm strikes with one which knocked the bundle back. By this point, the rapid strikes had been enough to remove the bandaging and reveal Kankuro who was now laid out on the ground.
"I can't move!" Kankuro yelled, most certainly trying.
"Since you cannot continue, the winner is Hinata Hyuga." Yamcha informed.
Tower Arena
Hinata walked over and rapidly restruck the tenketsu points she'd closed. Once that was done, she nodded respectfully to her opponent and walked away. Kankuro merely grimaced at himself before reluctantly standing with a sigh.
"Idiot." Gaara commented.
Temari sighed and shook her head. "I can't believe he didn't have a backup plan."
"Now, we move onto the seventh match." Yamcha declared.
The screen flashed through the remaining names before settling on two of them.
Misumi vs Sakura Haruno
Even before what happened to Ino, Sakura had the motivation to do her best. Kurenai Sensei put in time and energy to work her out of her fan girl phase. She then put in more teaching Sakura in a field she'd never truly considered, yet one she seemed to excel at.
This was now her opportunity to start showing her sensei that all her hard work had mattered. Beyond that, Sakura was the only one out of the Rookie 11 who didn't bear a clan name. Even Naruto, though defunct, bore a clan name.
She wanted to follow in Kurenai's footsteps. Be a successful Kunoichi from a civilian born background, and the next Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha. Gaara hurting and intending to kill Ino was just another reason for her to succeed here.
"Sakura, relax." Kiba stated, catching her attention. "Akamaru sees your tense."
"You'll do find Sakura." Kurenai assured with a smile as she rested a hand on her student's shoulder. "Provided you do your best, I'll be fine with any result you get."
"Sensei…" Sakura smiled before nodding. "I'll give it my all."
She then walked off to meet her opponent on the arena floor, and they came to stand across from one another.
"I'm not like my teammate, Yoroi." Misumi voiced. "I won't get careless, not even against kids. As such, here's some advice. Once I go into my Jutsu, give up quick. If you do, I promise to make it short and painless."
"I won't disrespect the hard work I've put in to get here." Sakura responded, firmly.
"Alright then, if you're ready, let the seventh match begin." Yamcha declared.
Match 7: Misumi vs Sakura
Sakura immediately began flashing through hand signs.
"Whatever you're working on won't end this battle if I end it first!" Misumi shouted.
He then ran at Sakura which seemingly resulted in her stopping whatever Jutsu she was attempting to use. She now reached into her pouch and withdrew a kunai before slashing at her coming opponent. Misumi attacked in a way their arms collided.
Her blade unable to even scratch his arm. Before Sakura could do anything else, Misumi suddenly snaked his body around her. It was an effective locking of her body which Sakura could not break out of, no matter how hard she tired.
"I dislocate every one of my joints, softening my body." Misumi informed, proud of his Jutsu. "Then, with my Chakra, I can control it perfectly." He could feel her attempts to break free. "The more you struggle, the harder I squeeze. Now, give up or I break your neck."
"I refuse." Sakura voiced firmly.
Misumi tightened his hold. "Do you want to die?"
"Why don't you just try to end me." Sakura responded.
Misumi gave her a chance, so he went through with his threat, snapping the girl's neck at once. Rather than her head slumping, she burst into cherry blossoms which stunned the older Genin.
"What!?" Misumi exclaimed, wide eyed.
Earlier, Sakura had finished her hands sign prior to the last few Misumi saw and interrupted. As such, everything ended up playing out perfectly. Everyone who hadn't realized what happened were utterly confused by the fact Misumi suddenly grabbed the air. He held himself there and spoke as though he were talking to his opponent. All the while, Sakura had quickly moved around the arena, unopposed, setting up traps.
"Hey Misumi!" Sakura had stopped behind the Genin and withdrew three shuriken. "Got you."
She threw her shuriken, cutting three ropes she'd set up. Suddenly, from beneath three sections of the upper walkway, the rest of Sakura's shuriken and kunai flew out nailing Misumi in the back and sides. He screamed in pain as blood trickled from the various wounds.
Kurenai smiled proudly at her student. "Very well executed Sakura."
"What just happened?" Naruto asked, confused.
"Yeah, that guy just let Sakura set up and took her traps head on." Goku added.
"That's Genjutsu." Kiba smiled as they looked at him. "Turns out, Sakura has perfect Chakra Control, so our sensei begin imparting everything she knows about Genjutsu into her."
Misumi glared at Sakura. "Damn you…"
In response, Sakura withdrew a smoke bomb and threw it to obscure her presence. This was something Kurenai hadn't shown her; however, it was something the girl had taken up upon thinking back to her time in the academy. Utilization of standard Shinobi tools.
Things they learned in the academy before anything else, coupled with some more advanced avenues one could go down provided they took the time to learn. If there's one thing Sakura excelled at, before learning she could utilize Genjutsu like this, it was book learning.
"Get back here!" Misumi exclaimed, angry.
He ran at the cloud of smoke as it dissipated; however, Sakura was no longer where she had been. As he look for her, she suddenly lunged out from behind one of the support beams of the upper walkway, ninja wire in hand. She wrapped it around him before tightening her hold on it.
"Let me go!" Misumi shouted, struggling against the wire.
"That'd do you no good." Sakura began tying him up firmly, resulting in more blood leaking from his wounds. "In fact, with that many wounds leaking blood, letting you go wouldn't see you achieve a thing."
Before he could comment on that, Misumi suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground. The blood loss was getting to him, exactly as she predicted, to the point he wasn't really moving much anymore.
"Curse, you." Misumi was light headed.
Eventually, Misumi went still and passed out where he lay prompting Yamcha to check on him. "Misumi is still alive; however, he's been rendered unconscious." He stood up. "Sakura Haruno moves onto the next round."
Sakura smiled in satisfaction at her accomplishment while the Medical-Nin were called in to deal with Misumi's body.
"Dang, Sakura's gotten good since the academy." Naruto commented impressed.
"Considering where her skills were, I'd say this is more a natural evolution." Goku voiced.
"Still, it was a great display regardless." Hinata voiced genuinely.
"Ino was willing to try against Gaara while Sakura actually showed herself to be a competent Shinobi." Sasuke crossed his arms. "Throw in what I've seen from Hinata, and it seems the right people were made Kunoichi."
Sakura ran up to happily join her team while Misumi was carried out, just as others were before him.
"With skills like that, the next Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha may just be dubbed sooner than we think." Asuma thought.
"I had no idea Sakura was that smart." Shikamaru voiced, genuinely surprised.
"I wonder if she'd do better in Shogi against you than Asuma Sensei does." Choji stated.
"That's the way Sakura!" Kiba cheered before giving her a high five.
"Indeed, it was." Kurenai smiled as she rested a hand on her student's shoulder. "You did me proud Sakura."
Sakura smiled at her sensei, only to stop as she noticed something peculiar. It was just a second, yet her sensei's smile seemed to drop while pain entered her eyes. Despite such things lasting briefly, the Genin was certain she'd seen it.
"That was some fight." Tenten smiled as her mind turned to Ino, Sakura, and Hinata. "I had no idea the year behind us would produce Kunoichi like them."
"Indeed." Lee nodded. "Ino took on overwhelming odds, Hinata defeated her opponent in no time flat, and that Sakura managed to completely outthink her opponent."
"Just be sure you follow in their footsteps." Turles commented gruffly.
"Let's keep these matches coming!" Yamcha declared. "Time for that eighth match."
The screen flashed before showing two names.
Atsui vs Tenten
"Alright, it is your turn now Tenten!" Lee declared excitedly.
"I know, Lee." Tenten replied with irritation. "I know."
"Go on and give it your best." Guy declared.
"Looks like it's both team's last members." Omoi voiced. "Even excluding Karui and I's match, Konoha has shown they have no shortage of talent to spare."
"Don't worry Omoi." Atsui started walking. "After all these matches, my blood is boiling hotter than ever. I bet I'll be joining you in the next round."
"Remember Atsui, no overconfidence." Samui reminded.
"Hm, you're right sis." Atsui was speaking without thinking. "Wouldn't want my match to end like Karui's did."
"Atsui, I warned you!" Karui shouted.
She attempted to rush him, but Samui held her back. "Please refrain from injuring my brother, at least until the fight has concluded."
Atsui was wishing now he hadn't said that as he sprinted down to the arena. "I hope she forgets about this."
Once both Genin stood across from one another, Yamcha soke up. "Begin!"
Match 8: Atsui vs Tenten
In the briefest of moments, Tenten contemplated if she should go with her arsenal of weapons or attempt to rely on her katana. Her arsenal was within sealing scrolls, and she had countless ways to utilize them. The katana was something she picked up after the last Chunin Exams.
Guy Sensei had suggested she learn a primary weapon, and she found her footing with this blade. Especially once she started learning with Hayate, who specialized in the weapon himself. With it added to her arsenal, she always had an effective close-range weapon.
Ultimately, the choice was made by Atsui grasping the handle of his own katana. She followed suit, and the pair lunged at each other before locking weapons within the dead center of the arena. It seemed to be a dead even struggle as neither could overcome the other in that moment.
"Looks like Konoha is seeing a surge in Kenjutsu." Atsui commented.
"Seems like it." Tenten responded, as both briefly glanced Sasuke's way.
"Let's see just how hot the Leaf's Kenjutsu really is." Atsui commented, as fire began to run down the length of his blade.
Tenten noted this wasn't him imbuing his blade with Fire Nature, no this was more like him utilizing fire release through his blade.
The Kumo Genin suddenly lunged back before slashing out his sword at Tenten. "Cloud Style: Flame Beheading!"
He slashed out his blade horizontally, sending out a wave of fire her way.
Tenten took a deep breath as she took a stance. "Secret Sword: Moonlight!"
Suddenly, Tenten dashed forward so fast that she left an after image in her wake. She ducked under the fire Atsui sent her way before striking with a lateral sword slash across his chest. A gaping wound was left in her wake; however, Atsui would not go down that easily.
Tenten moved to press her advantage as she swung her sword in a circular motion, leaving multiple after images in its wake to the point it was a circle which mirrored the moon. Atsui's eyes attempted to follow the movement before his opponent suddenly rushed him.
As she slashed into her opponent this time, he suddenly burst into flames, and his voice rang out from behind her. "Cloud Style: Deception Beheading!"
In a moment, he replaced himself with a fire clone and got behind Tenten where he repaid her early slash with one of his own to her back. Tenten cried out in pain before turning around and instantly performed a series of backflips to gain distance between her and her opponent.
Atsui watched her closely as she landed, but Tenten remained stationary. "Not going to come at me again?"
From what Tenten could judge, they were about even with the katana. That meant continuing in this way was liable to end in either one of their victories or an absolute stalemate. As such, she figured she'd attempt to save what else she could do with it by relying on her arsenal.
"I've judged our current capabilities." Tenten sheathed her katana. "That's why, I'm changing tactics." She began to run around Atsui before reaching into her pouch and leaping into the air. "Let's see you try this on for size!"
Atsui looked up as this girl had gotten some serious air and she began to move gracefully while opening a scroll. Tenten unsealed an incredible number of weapons, from simple shuriken to full length katana, and threw them at Atsui.
"Oh, that's a lot of weapons." Atsui was stunned; however, he quickly firmed up his resolve before clutching his blade with both hands and letting a massive amount of flames swirl around it. "Cloud Style: Raging Inferno!"
He yelled as he stabbed his blade into the ground, summoning forth a twister of flames that surrounded him and deflected every weapon. Once all of them clattered to the ground, and Tenten landed, the twister dissipated revealing Atsui was panting.
"You stopped everything I threw!" Tenten exclaimed in shock.
"Wasn't easy, I'll give you that." Atsui commented. "Honestly, hadn't expected to reveal that move at this time, but you sort of forced my hand there."
"Since you've showcased something early, I guess I got no choice but to follow suit." Tenten retorted.
"She's got more." Atsui went wide eyed. "This might be too hot blooded for me at this point."
Tenten suddenly took out two scrolls.
"She didn't even utilize this in the last Chunin Exams." Guy commented.
"Oh, I don't like the looks of this." Omoi looked at her team. "What's going on? What's that girl about to do?"
"Just watch." Turles crossed his arms. "What she's about to do will make her last move look like a joke."
Tenten placed both scrolls on the ground and knelt by them while weaving hand signs.
She then crossed her arms. "Rising Twin Dragons!"
Clouds of smoke erupted out of the two scrolls before two dragons rose straight into the air. The two dragons soon transformed into the same scrolls Tenten opened before, and the bun-haired kunoichi was right between them.
This time, Tenten unleashed a truly unbelievable number of weapons fast enough to make them look like bullets. Atsui had no choice but to utilize his same technique, so he let his fire encircle his blade once more.
"Cloud Style: Raging Inferno!" Atsui shouted.
He stabbed his blade into the ground, summoning forth the twister of flames. Like before, it surrounded him and deflected every weapon Tenten sent his way. Once all of them clattered to the ground, and Tenten landed again, the twister dissipated.
This time, Atsui was out of breath and down on one knee. "She's finished, right?"
Unlike him, Tenten barely breathed differently. "I'm not done yet!"
Tenten once again lept into the air and flipped upside down before opening her hands. The weapons she previously threw started levitating via wire being tensed. Atsui clenched his teeth and forced himself to his feet.
"I can't use Raging Inferno again, but my heat won't simply be snuffed out." Atsui yelled as he once more let his fire flow. "I'll burn red hot, right up to the very end!" Tenten directed the weapons at him as he firmly held his blade with both hands. "Cloud Style: Raging Fury!"
He slashed his blade out with all his might, sending out the largest wave of fire he could manage at the coming weapons. He managed to knock those coming for his torso off course; however, various bladed weapons still dug into his legs and arms.
As Tenten landed across from him, Atsui was still standing. "You're one tough Kunoichi, real hot blooded."
He flashed her a grin before falling back, unconscious before he ever hit the ground.
"You were a tough one yourself." Tenten stated genuinely before turning away from him.
"Tenten wins." It did not take long for Yamcha to make the call. "She joins the rest who've made it in the third phase."
At this point in time, I'd put Turles nearly or on par with canon Lee in terms of strength. While he's had less time under Guy then canon Lee did, he benefits from the mentality of not wanting to weigh his team down, 2-3 more experienced teammates(depending on if Neji isn't off on his own mission), and a rather cohesive, eccentric team he fits right in with. As such, getting that attack in on Gaara while he's focused on the unconscious Ino should be within his wheelhouse.
Given the preliminaries are one on one, I do believe only Dosu/Vegeta here are anything resembling a match for a canon Lee strength. Then, come Hinata vs Kankuro. Given who Kankuro shows himself to be in part I, at this time, I could see him sticking with his original plan...despite it being a horrible idea against a Hyuga. Next, Misumi vs Sakura. With Sakura's perfect Chakra Control, I could very well see her being a Genjutsu prodigy.
I decided to tack on essentially ninja tactics since I feel that further accentuate's Sakura's brain. In essence, Sakura is utalizing the two big things she has going for her in the universe. of her. As for how Kurenai reacted, that links back to some filler that expanded her character in what I feel was an interesting way and am going to use later. The last match is Tenten vs Atsui. The three Cloud Shinobi I used did not have much going for them in the way of Jutsu, according to Narutopedia.
As such, I decided to fill out rosters. If Karui hadn't been cocky, she'd have done as well as Atsui had against Tenten. On team Samui, Omoi is the one to watch for, and the guy both Genin aspire to compete against. As such, in my head, I've more or less placed Atsui and Karui at a similar strength with both having potential flaws the other can utilize. Karui can be a bit arrogant while Atsui is a tad hot blooded, flashier.
Mandalorian6969: Dragon Fist was a technique Goku developed himself, so I don't see it coming into play within the confines of part I, at least up to the point Naruto leaves.
Dontus -not Donut- Powerus: When it comes to Yamcha, depends on when he gets into a fight and if he needs anything beyond Inuzuka Clan skills to get by. Then again, I got some general ideas on how Granolah will utilize his Chakra natures, and a way to showcase them. So, it's not out of the question to see them. When it comes to Piccolo, I'm currently leaning towards it being Jr. because that would allow me an easier way to acquaint you guys with just what he is here.
Needless to say, I think I have an interesting back story that will allow him to have a good chunk of his defining qualities transferred into this world. Of course, one will have to wait until the Konoha Crush Arc where I intend for him to make his appearance. Yeah, Lee gets his W here while it makes no difference to Sasuke if he's a year old. As for the Jutsu instead of weights, it's not out of the question. Yeah, Ino got the short end of the stick in the randomization process.
As for Typhoon release, actually if you look at Nawaki's, Tsunade's brother's, Narutopedia page it says he had Typhoon Release and it's just a stronger variation of Wind Release. No combination of two elements. In that vein, I think it might not be something Goku acquires. I mean, in Grand Sage he can already amp Jutsu and even take it further by eventually utilizing Sage Arts to truly imbue them with power.
When it comes to Zabuza, and a lesser extent Haku since he never was really a Shinobi of the Mist to begin with, I do have a story there. As for Zabuza and Haku themselves, they'll be reappearing for that month of training. When it comes to Goku's training over that month, I don't see him making new Jutsu at this time. I think that's something he starts cultivating over the time skip after he's learned more in Part I.