Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (either manga or anime!); the wonderful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns all rights. However, the plot and Namiko Uzumaki are mine!

Chapter 13: The Finals

Namiko barely slept that night, anxious about what the next day held for her, her brother, and the rest of their friends. After their encounter with Gaara yesterday, she was especially worried about Sasuke's match against the Suna nin. She had seen firsthand how violent and insanely strong Gaara was, and even though she trusted Sasuke could hold his own, the thought of that match and losing a close friend terrified her.

She tried focusing on her morning routine instead. Changing into her new outfit that Kurenai helped her pick out, threw her hair into a high bun like Kurenai showed her, and took a look in the mirror. Her new outfit was a black tank top with white cap sleeves and a high-zippered neckline. She wore black shorts with her hip pouch on her right side and kunai holder on her left, and her hitai-ate was slung around her waist like a belt. She decided to pin back her bangs with a black hairclip, and finally satisfied with her appearance, she walked out of her room.

She was already in the kitchen fixing breakfast when Naruto woke up. He sat at the table and laid his head down. When she turned around, she gave a sympathetic smile. "I take it you didn't get much sleep either, huh, nii-chan?"

Naruto groaned, lifting his head slightly. "Not in the slightest."

"Worried about your fight against Neji?" She suggested as she set down their food. "I wouldn't bother worrying about him. Your biggest challenge will be to stay in his blind spot and away from hand-to-hand combat."

"His blind spot?" asked Naruto through a mouth full of food.

"Neji, like Hinata-chan, can see almost three-hundred-sixty degrees around them thanks to the Byakugan," explained Namiko. "but they have a small blind spot right behind their skull. It's not easy to find though. You'd do better to just avoid hand-to-hand." She got up to put her dishes in the sink. "I'm going to head over to the arena. Don't hang around too long or you'll be late."

She quickly slipped on her blue shinobi sandals, grabbed her wakizashi, and headed out the door throwing a quick "See you later" over her shoulder. She walked towards the arena, noticing all the people coming into Konoha. This part of the village was always a little busier than the rest since it was near the center, but today the road was packed full.

Namiko's anxiety started to rear its ugly head, and she scratched her arm nervously. 'All these people are here to watch us fight? I'm not sure if I'm ready for this…'

She was lost in her thoughts when a small voice called out to her, "Namiko-chan!"

Namiko turned around to see Hinata standing in a nearby training ground. "Hinata-chan! I'm so glad you got out of the hospital!" She ran to hug her lavender-eyed friend tightly. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," said Hinata. "I get tired easily, but I'm doing better. The doctor says I need to avoid excitement for a while, but I should be able to resume training with you and Kiba in a couple of weeks."

Namiko blew out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "That's such a relief! Though I'm not sure the finals is a good place to avoid excitement, especially since Naruto's match is first." Namiko gave a half-smile as her friend blushed. "I've got to find Kurenai-sensei before the matches start. I'll see you later?"

Hinata nodded. "Of course. Good luck, Namiko-chan!"

Naruto finished his breakfast and decided to start to walk towards the arena as well. Close to the arena was a small training ground, the very one where Team 7 had their bell test with Kakashi, and standing next to one of the logs was Hinata.

"Hinata? You're all better now?" asked Naruto as he walked up to her.

Hinata quickly darted behind the log, peeking around the side. "N-Naruto-kun! Uh…yes, I was released from the hospital today. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the arena?"

"I just felt like coming here before I went to the arena; this was where I became a genin," he said with a shrug, then rubbed the back of his neck. "I kinda wanted the reminder of where it all started."

A faint blush dusted her cheeks. "Oh wow…that's pretty neat."

Naruto stopped smiling, looking down at the ground. "Hey Hinata, Neji is your cousin, right?"

"Yeah."

"He's really strong, isn't he?" he said, looking towards her.

"Yeah…" she started to say before quickly adding, "but I think you of all people have a chance to win against him, Naruto-kun."

He broke out into a big grin. "Well, yeah, 'cause I'm strong too!" He hardily laughed until his laughs slowed to a stop and silence overcame them.

The silence was deafening, but for once it wasn't the Uzumaki who broke it. "You know…" Hinata walked in front of the log to face Naruto more. "When you cheered me on, Naruto-kun…I felt like somehow I became stronger than before."

Naruto's jaw went slack as Hinata's blush grew as she continued to speak, "When the preliminaries were over, I actually started to like myself a little bit more. On the outside, I might not seem any different, but I feel like I've changed."

Hinata looked away from him shyly. "N-Naruto-kun, it's all because of you…"

"Because of me?" Naruto blinked a couple of times before his signature grin spread its way across his face. "Wow, I guess I'm pretty awesome!"

Silence came between them again and his smile started to fall. "Hinata, is that how you really feel?" At her puzzled look, he continued, "…I might seem strong, but it's usually just an act. I'm embarrassed because of how I screw up all the time…"

"No!" she exclaimed with a smile, her blush fading with her confidence, "That's not true! Even when you do mess up, if you ask me, you're a proud failure! You're inspiring to watch because you're not perfect.

"You make mistakes but still have the guts to get back up and keep fighting. That's what I consider true strength. I know you're an incredibly strong person, Naruto-kun."

"Thanks, Hinata, I needed that," he said with a gentle smile, "I was feeling a bit down earlier which isn't like me, but now, after talking to you, I'm feeling a hundred percent better."

He turned and started to walk away, but quickly spun back around. "Y'know what I thought about you?" Hinata stared, frozen in place as Naruto continued, "I thought you were timid and quiet, and kinda awkward…"

Hinata hung her head in embarrassment, but as Naruto started to walk away to cover his blush, he called over his shoulder, "…but you've grown stronger and more confident, and actually…I think I like…people like you."

Shaking his head to get rid of his blush, he turned back again with a giant grin. "I'm gonna head over to the exam. You should come to watch me blow Neji away!" He ran off leaving Hinata alone with her thoughts.

'He likes…people like me?' Her eyes were wide and staring after the blond until he disappeared from her sight.

"Sorry I'm late," said Kiba as he jogged over to Hinata, raising an eyebrow at her blank stare. "Namiko's match isn't for a little bit, so we should be okay." He waved a hand in front of her face. "Uh, Hinata…?" He sniffed the air, noticing the scent of a certain rambunctious blond. 'Ah…that explains it…you've got it bad, Hinata.'

He shook his head before grabbing her wrist. "Come on, we should find a good seat." Hinata nodded and followed him blindly, still silent.

As Naruto joined Namiko in the lineup of final participants, he noticed someone was missing. "Wait, where's Sasuke?"

Namiko shook her head, brow crinkled with concern. "No idea, he's not here."

"And that Dosu guy I was supposed to fight isn't here either," said Shikamaru, leaning over to the twins.

"Shh," said Genma, turning to face the participants. "You all need to stop squirming and pay attention. Face the spectators, because you are the heroes of the final competition."

The seven genin looked up at the audience surrounding them. It was honestly intimidating but exhilarating at the same time.

Namiko noticed someone familiar near the Hokage. 'Is that…?' She quickly activated her chakra sensing, focusing on the Hokage. She was right; Raido was the one standing next to the Hokage and whispering in his ear. 'Why is Raido-sensei up there with him? He told me he was sent on a mission, but his face looks so serious. I wonder what's going on with him?'

Someone entered the Hokage's special seating area. It looked like the Kazekage, but Namiko couldn't sense any chakra from the person. They were hiding their chakra and hiding it well. So far, Namiko hadn't found a chakra she hadn't been able to sense. This was strange indeed, but she'd worry about that later; there were plenty of high-ranking shinobi around and if they weren't worried, she shouldn't be either.

She turned off her chakra sensing to conserve her chakra. Kurenai didn't want her to waste chakra unnecessarily with this competition being so important.

"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests," boomed the Hokage's voice throughout the arena, "Welcome and heartfelt thanks for gathering here in Konohagakure for the Chuunin Exam Finals! We will now begin the matches between the eight candidates who advanced to the finals. Please sit back and enjoy!"

A jounin with a senbon in his mouth turned to the seven genin. "I'm Shiranui Genma, and I'll be your proctor today." He pulled a sheet of paper from his vest. "We have some last-minute changes. Look again and confirm your assigned opponent."

Shikamaru noticed his match had changed and he was no longer fighting in an extra match. "So, that Dosu guy dropped out?"

Genma ignored Shikamaru's question as Naruto interrupted, "What about Sasuke? He's not here yet!"

"If he's not here by the time his match starts," said Genma as he flicked the senbon in his mouth, "he'll lose by forfeit."

Namiko internally panicked and looked at Naruto. "I just saw him a week ago. He wouldn't miss this unless something happened to him…"

Naruto nodded. "He'd be here, even if he had to crawl."

Namiko glanced at the arena's entrance. 'I hope he's okay…'

"Listen up," announced Genma, "This is the last exam. The landscape is different, but the rules are the same as the preliminary round. You fight until one of you admits defeat or dies. That being said, if I determine a match is over, I can move in and stop it, no arguments permitted. Understood?"

Everyone nodded in agreement and Genma continued, "With that out of the way…Naruto and Neji prepare to start. The rest of you go to the waiting area."

Namiko turned to her brother, grabbing his hand and squeezing it. "Be careful, nii-chan, and remember what I said. Good luck!"

Naruto nodded in response, watching his sister leave the arena, before turning to glare at the Hyuuga prodigy.

Neji smirked. "You got something to say?"

An unusually serious expression came over Naruto's face as he raised his fist. "I've said this once before…I vow to win!"

"I can't wait to see the look of despair on your face when you learn your foolish vow is impossible to keep," said Neji as he activated his Byakugan, getting into a fighting stance.

"Are we going to stand here talking all day?" Naruto was starting to get antsy. "Let's get going!"

Genma looked at both boys before turning to the spectators, "Match one: Uzumaki Naruto and Hyuuga Neji. Begin!"

Naruto wasn't messing around and decided to go straight for his signature move. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

'Hm, interesting. His chakra is divided equally among the clones so I can't use my Byakugan to determine the real body.' Neji mused in his head. He stood evaluating the Uzumaki carefully. "You can try to pull slick tricks, but in the end, there's only one real body."

Naruto smirked. "Don't get overconfident."

"Then come at me if you dare," said Neji motioning for Naruto.

Naruto's clones spoke collectively, "Don't underestimate me, okay?" They charged forward with kunai, approaching Neji from all sides.

The first two clones were easily diverted by Neji jumping into the air and pushing both to the ground as he flipped over them. Two more clones charged at Neji from the sides and he easily directed them away from his body in opposite directions.

Naruto ran up to Neji and delivered a swift kick to the face, or so he thought. Neji avoided Naruto's kick and flipped backward, without taking even a papercut's worth of damage.

Naruto recalled his clones, a smirk on his face. "Okay, not bad, now let's see you do it again."

Naruto sent two of his clones forward again, approaching Neji from the sides. As they ran toward him, Neji got into his Gentle Fist stance, and just as they were about to make contact, he leaped and spun in the air, kicking both clones and causing them to poof into a cloud of smoke.

The other two clones came from behind Neji. He shoved both of them forward as they tried to attack with kunai, then used a palm strike to send them flying through the air, causing those two clones to disappear as well.

'Namiko wasn't lying, he really does act like he has eyes in the back of his head,' thought Naruto as he started to re-strategize.

Neji remained calm and collected. "You thought you could be Hokage? It's absurd. Never. These eyes of mine show me many things. One thing they've shown me, people's limitations are set, fixed, and unchangeable. Only a fool like you wastes his time trying to become something he never can be."

Naruto growled under his breath. "A fool, huh? Not this crap again. Who are you to judge what a person can or can't be?"

"Do you think anyone can be Hokage? That all it takes is a little hard work?" asked Neji. "Open your eyes. Of all the shinobi in the world, think how few become Hokage. They were born destined to be Hokage. It's not something you get merely by trying. Each person is to obediently follow their destiny."

Neji lowered his eyes for a moment. "There's only one destiny we all equally experience." He raised his head and locked eyes with Naruto. "…death."

"So what?" Naruto growled out. "You can think that way if you want. People always tell me I don't know when to give up…Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Dozens of clones appeared and each tried to attack Neji, but he deflected them easily with his Gentle Fist. Neji ran forward to one clone who was hanging back, striking a major chakra point. "You can't hide from me. You're hanging back to keep me from going after you. This is the real body."

Clones started dispersing left and right. The clone smirked before disappearing in a puff of smoke, leaving a confused Hyuuga. 'He…tricked me?'

The real Naruto and another clone came from behind and jumped at Neji, face to face, punch at the ready. "You thought I would be too chicken to take you on in close combat? Think again!"

But before Naruto's fist connected with Neji's face, it froze just centimeters from his jaw. Neji's chakra started to swirl around him before he started to spin as well. The clone was flung across the arena before poofing away, and Naruto himself slid several meters on his back.

"You thought you had me beat?" Neji scoffed. "You're finished and you can't escape. You're within the boundaries of my Eight Trigrams."

Naruto stood up, trying to figure out exactly what the Hyuuga prodigy was planning. Neji changed his fighting stance. "Eight Trigrams, Sixty-four Palms…"

Neji paused for a split second before lunging at Naruto. "Eight Trigrams, two palms!" He hit Naruto twice.

"Four palms!" Four times.

"Eight palms!" Eight times.

"Sixteen palms!" Sixteen times.

"Thirty-two palms!" Thirty-two times.

"Sixty-four palms!"

Namiko watched from the participant box in horror as Neji struck Naruto a total of sixty-four times with the final blow sending Naruto flying through the air. "Naruto!" she screamed, leaning over the railing, her blue-violet eyes wide in panic. 'This was exactly why I warned him to stay away from hand-to-hand combat, though I had no idea Neji had something this devastating up his sleeve.'

Genma stepped forward, muttering to himself, "Looks like this match is over."

Naruto hopelessly tried to stand, struggling to get his body to move even a centimeter. Neji stood over him, smirking. "It must be frustrating to realize how utterly hopeless it all was, this little dream of yours. Now you realize that success through hard work is simply an illusion."

Naruto was finally able to move his head. "No way…" He pushed himself into a standing position. "I already told you, I don't know when to give up."

"You should give up though or you're only going to make things harder on yourself." Neji eyed the blond carefully. "I have no grudge against you."

"I have one against you though!" Naruto growled out. "You're forgetting what you did to Hinata in the preliminaries. You played your mind games and mocked her, calling her a failure. All the crap about the Hyuuga clan with the main and branch families. It still doesn't give you any power to decide who is a failure."

"Very well, since you're so interested. I'll tell you about the Hyuuga Clan's Heritage of Hatred," said Neji as he started to reach for his hitai-ate, "For generations, the Hyuuga Clan has practiced a secret ninjutsu called the curse mark jutsu." Neji removed his hitai-ate, revealing a green manji-like mark across his forehead.

Naruto's eyes went wide in shock. "A curse mark?"

"I was branded with this when I was four years old. Hinata-sama had turned three years old and I was assigned her protector. Our fathers were brothers, twins in fact. Hiashi-sama was born first and blessed by being in the main family, while my father, Hizashi, was born second and assigned to the branch family."

"Why would they split up twins?" questioned Naruto. "And what does that mark do anyways?"

"This mark is no decoration," explained Neji carefully, taking a glance towards his uncle in the audience. "It is meant to keep the branch family in line and make us the main family's sworn protectors. But that's not all, if we step out of line towards the main family, they can use it to cause extreme pain and kill us almost instantly and without effort. This mark only fades after death, after it has sealed away the secrets of the Byakugan."

Naruto's face twisted in horror. 'This makes no sense…'

"Then," continued Neji, "the incident occurred. My father was murdered by the main branch. One night, someone attempted to kidnap Hinata-sama to gather the secrets of the Byakugan. Hiashi-sama rushed to the scene and killed the perpetrator, a Kumo shinobi. In order to avoid a breach of the alliance contract that had recently been signed, Konoha agreed to hand over the body of Hiashi-sama to Kumo. War was averted because my father was sacrificed in his place and served as his body double. The only way to escape the abominable curse mark…is to die.

"Even though they were identical twins and equal in almost every other way, the difference between being born first and second sealed their fates forever. Just as the moment I was chosen to be your opponent in this match, your fate was sealed as well. Your fate is to lose to me. That is a fact."

"You don't know that for sure until we try!" shouted Naruto. "I can't even imagine how much pain you felt when your father was killed, but I think you're wrong to say everyone's fates are predetermined."

Neji put his hitai-ate back on. "You're a glutton for punishment." With that, he rushed forward, striking Naruto squarely in the chest, sending him sliding across the ground. "Proctor, we're finished here."

However, as Neji turned to walk away, Naruto spoke up, "…don't…turn your back…I won't run away. I never…go back on my word."

"Heh, I think I've heard that line before," scoffed Neji. "You're just as pathetic as Hinata-sama…"

"She is one of the strongest-willed kunoichi I know!" growled out Naruto. "I refuse to be defeated by a coward like you who believes in turning himself over to fate!"

"What a joke," said Neji, rolling his eyes. "Everyone is born shouldering a destiny that cannot be defied. How could you understand anything about my fate? About bearing an indelible, inescapable curse?!"

Naruto chuckled bitterly. "I understand it more than you know. You're not the only special one, dattebayo." Neji narrowed his eyes.

"Hinata suffers just as much as you! She's been trying so hard to change and earn respect, which was why she pushed herself to the extreme during your match." Naruto's tone turned vicious, "You…the branch family is supposed to protect the main, but you tried to kill Hinata! Wasn't that you trying to defy your own 'fate' then?"

The corner of Neji's mouth twitched in irritation. "I've blocked sixty-four of your chakra points, so how can you fight? You can't use any chakra and you'll end up just like Hinata-sama."

"You wanna bet?" Naruto smirked as pushed his hands together, trying to focus his chakra. 'Hey kyuubi, lend me your strength!' Red-orange chakra started swirling around Naruto, and a vicious wind whipped around the arena, stirred by the kyuubi's chakra.

Namiko started to panic internally. 'What is he doing? I don't want him to lose, but this is risky. If people find out what we are…' She felt the kyuubi's chakra stir within her as well, and she shoved it down as best she could. 'Not now. I don't need you, you stupid fox.'

Naruto's chakra points unblocked due to the force of the kyuubi's power and Neji was stunned. While Neji was still, Naruto took the opportunity to jump back, throwing several shuriken at the Hyuuga. Neji activated his chakra rotation, easily deflecting the shuriken and grabbing his own to launch back at Naruto.

Naruto rebounded off the arena wall as Neji aimed with the shuriken. Naruto seemed to vanish and the shuriken missed their mark and embedded in the arena wall. Naruto was next to Neji in a flash, both of them kunai in hand; they sprung apart and aimed, kunai ricocheting off each other and retrieving the kunai again.

"So, I hear you like close combat, huh?" Naruto said with a smirk as he rushed forward. "It may be the Hyuuga way to surrender to destiny, but it's not mine! I'll change the way of the Hyuuga clan after I become Hokage!"

Neji began to use his chakra rotation as his rotation grated against the kyuubi's chakra pouring off Naruto. Their kunai clashed again causing an explosion between the two that shook the arena. When the smoke cleared, two small craters were in the arena ground, with neither boy to be seen.

An arm shot up out of one of the craters and out crawled Neji. He got up and walked over to look inside the other crater where Naruto lay. "Sorry, but this is reality, you're a failure. This match is over."

Suddenly, the ground beneath Neji began to crumble. Before he could react, Naruto sprung forth from the earth, punching Neji squarely under his jaw and sending the prodigy flying through the air and knocking him out cold.

Genma stepped between the two. "The winner of the first match is Uzumaki Naruto."

"Yes! That's my brother!" Namiko was jumping up and down, screaming in excitement as she watched her brother enjoy every second of the crowd cheering for him. She glanced over at Hinata and Kiba; Kiba was cheering and Hinata couldn't wipe the bold smile off her face.

Suddenly, Hinata coughed and Namiko saw blood in her friend's hands. 'Oh no, she must've overdone it and got too excited.' She was about to alert someone when she saw Kiba and a jounin flag down an ANBU medic for help. Kiba helped walk Hinata up the stairs and out of Namiko's sight. She breathed a sigh of relief knowing that her teammates were being helped by ANBU.

Naruto practically skipped to the waiting area for the participants where Namiko immediately launched into his arms. "I'm so proud of you, nii-chan! You did it! I knew you could!"

He hugged her tightly in return. "I owe you for your tips with the Byakugan. I owe Hinata too."

Namiko pulled back from their hug, quirking her head to the side. "What did she do?"

"Gave me a little confidence boost," said Naruto quietly, the faintest of pink on his cheeks. If she didn't know her brother so well, she would've missed it.

Naruto was busy getting congratulated by Shikamaru when Namiko heard the crowd start to get restless. Normally matches started only a couple minutes after one ended, but Sasuke had yet to show and it had been already ten minutes since Naruto's match ended.

'Where on earth is he? He's not hurt or anything, right? I know he was training with Kakashi-sensei, and he's always late for everything, but…wait!' Namiko quickly activated her chakra sensing and stretched it out as far as she could, searching intensely for Sasuke and Kakashi's signatures, but they were nowhere to be found.

She interrupted Shikamaru and Naruto's discussion about where they thought the Uchiha could be, "I can't find Sasuke or Kakashi-sensei's chakra signatures at all. That means they aren't within a five-kilometer radius of the arena."

Suddenly Genma's voice cut through the commotion in the arena like a knife. "One of the contenders for the next match hasn't arrived yet. So this match will be postponed and we will proceed with the following match."

Namiko froze. 'But the next match is…'

"Kankuro and Uzumaki Namiko, please come down."

Naruto and Namiko locked eyes. "Imouto, you'll be okay…"

A voice cut off Naruto, "…I withdraw!"

Namiko spun around so fast she almost lost her balance, staring at the Suna shinobi in shock. "You what?"

Genma shook his head and sighed. "Very well then. Due to Kankuro's withdrawal, Uzumaki Namiko wins by default." The crowd was in uproar.

Kankuro turned and walked out of the participant's box, leaving Namiko's brain reeling. "What the hell? So you aren't even going to try?" Kankuro didn't answer, he just walked out the door.

Part of Namiko was relieved but something about Kankuro unsettled her. 'That's…I'm so confused. Honestly, he could probably take me easily with that puppet of his. My kenjutsu training has helped, but I'm still not nearly as strong as everyone else here. What is his agenda?'

Temari didn't wait for her name to be called as she opened her giant fan, riding on it to the arena ground. Genma looked up at Shikamaru. "Well, at least one of you is ready. Please don't withdraw too…"

"Oh man, what a drag—" started Shikamaru before Naruto unceremoniously slapped the Nara on the back so hard he fell over the railing.

"Go get 'em, Shikamaru!" called Naruto with a grin. "Get up and fight!"

Shikamaru lay on the ground, staring at the clouds. 'Seriously? No one even cares about my match. Is there any point in fighting?'

Back in the waiting area, Namiko turned to Naruto. "I- I'm not sure how I feel about not fighting in my match."

Naruto shrugged. "I'm all for it. It keeps you safe and gives you time to see everyone else's skill and plan for it. You are more of the strategist between the two of us."

Namiko furrowed her brow as she thought it over. "Yes…but something just feels off. I can't explain it."

"You worry too much, imouto!" He laid a hand on her shoulder, giving her a quick squeeze. "Now let's watch Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru and Temari's match was an interesting one for sure. Temari proved to be a formidable opponent for him. She was cunning and intelligent, quickly able to determine just how far his Shadow Paralysis jutsu could work, and stayed as long-distance as she could to avoid getting caught in it.

Shikamaru always thought fifty steps ahead though, and he had lured her, unknown to her, into a trap he set up. He used the two connecting holes from Naruto and Neji's match to stretch the length of his Shadow Paralysis jutsu. He captured her, but instead of delivering the final blow…he forfeited.

Temari had won by default.

Naruto was pissed that Shikamaru went through all that work only to quit, leaped down to the arena ground, and was currently yelling at the shadow user. "Why did you quit? Are you stupid or something?" Namiko leaped down next to him, laying a hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him down.

Shikamaru groaned. "Why does it matter? Let's just watch the next match."

"The next match—? Sasuke!" Naruto went from lecturing Shikamaru to grinning like an idiot in a split second. "But where is he?"

Without warning, a gust of wind blew a swirl of leaves through the arena. Namiko smirked as she felt two familiar chakras within the leaves; she didn't even need her chakra sensing to feel their familiar chakra. When the wind stopped and leaves fell, standing there were Sasuke and Kakashi.

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled as he smiled. "Sorry we're late. You wouldn't believe the traffic."

"You're late!" snapped Naruto. "I thought you got cold feet about fighting me!"

"You managed to win, huh, dobe?" smirked Sasuke.

"You know it!" said Naruto, rubbing the back of his neck with a grin plastered on his face. He noticed Sasuke's line of sight was no longer on him, but on Gaara. Naruto's smile faded. "Don't you dare lose to him, because you're the one I want to fight the most too!" Sasuke nodded in agreement, his signature cocky smirk on his face.

Namiko sighed. Their rivalry was something else. Naruto and Shikamaru started to head back to the participant's box, but Namiko hung back for a moment. Turned away from Sasuke she spoke softly, "Be careful. Don't be foolish just because you want to fight my brother. Gaara is dangerous beyond belief and kills without a single thought…" She took a deep breath, "…just…stay alive."

"I promise," he replied sincerely, just loud enough for only her to hear.

Namiko cleared the fighting area, walking back up the steps, passing Gaara. The absolute hatred rolling off him made her sick to her stomach. She fully intended to keep her chakra sensing off during this match or she'd be sick with worry. She continued up the stairs, meeting up with a pale Naruto and Shikamaru sitting on the steps. It didn't take a genius to know what had happened.

She offered both of them a hand up, and instantly let go. The fear she felt the moment she touched them made her freeze in place. It doused her entire body with the feeling.

Terror. Absolute terror.

It was the same feeling she had when Team 8 witnessed the death of those Ame shinobi at the hands of Gaara. Had Gaara killed someone else? Honestly, she didn't want to know the answer, pulled both boys to their feet, and pushed them towards the participant box where Temari was sitting, looking at the arena floor with anxious eyes and shaking her leg.

'Something bigger is going on here, but what?' Namiko thought as she leaned over the railing again, looking at the Suna shinobi and Sasuke.

The two genin were facing each other as Genma stood between them. "Begin!" he called out as he moved out of the way.

Gaara's sand started to leak out of the gourd on his back and swirl around him. Sasuke immediately jumped back to put distance between him and Gaara. 'So this was the sand that Kakashi warned me about…'

Suddenly Gaara's eyes went wide before gripping his head tightly, as if in pain. He began speaking quietly, as if talking to someone Sasuke couldn't see, "I beg of you, don't get so mad at me. Mother…"

Sasuke was puzzled at Gaara's behavior. 'What is with this guy?'

"Early, early…I know, I made you taste such awful blood. I'm so sorry." Gaara was now staring at Sasuke, still seeming to speak to something or someone that couldn't be seen, "But this time I'll make sure it's something that tastes very good." Gaara gripped his head again before all the sand swirling around him fell to the ground.

Sasuke took the opportunity to throw several shuriken at Gaara, only to be caught by the sand coming to life yet again. The sand morphed into a clone of Gaara as Sasuke ran forward. The clone sent out a stream of sand and Sasuke narrowly escaped, leaping into the air.

Sasuke threw more shuriken at the clone which it easily repelled. He aimed a well-placed kick, breaking off the "arms" of the clone before using his left arm to hold the clone in place as he punched through its head causing it to disperse in a blast of sand.

Sasuke rushed Gaara, aiming a punch at his face, before appearing to vanish into thin air and reappearing behind Gaara. Sasuke pulled back and struck Gaara with full force, managing to put a crack in the sand shield covering Gaara's body and sending him sliding across the arena. "So that's your sand armor, huh?" Sasuke held out his hand, motioning Gaara forward. "Come on, make your move."

When Gaara made no move, Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "If you won't do it, then I will." He rushed Gaara head-on, vanishing again and sliding around behind Gaara. As the sand moved to protect Gaara, Sasuke flowed around it, landing another kick, and sending the Suna nin flying through the air again.

"What's the matter Gaara? Is that all you've got?" taunted Sasuke with a smirk. "I'm going to tear off all your armor."

Sasuke ran full speed at Gaara, but instead of going directly for him, Sasuke ran around Gaara causing the Suna nin to struggle to keep track of where Sasuke was. Without warning, Sasuke leaped from the cyclone of sand he created, landing a kick to Gaara's face, then grabbing Gaara's shirt and kneeing him in the chest.

Sasuke sprung back from Gaara to create distance between them as both shinobi attempted to catch their breath. Gaara put his hands together to concentrate his chakra and his sand started to surround him like a protective sphere.

Sasuke saw an opening and decided to chance it. 'I've got to try before he totally encloses himself in that thing!' Aiming for the hole that was quickly closing, Sasuke threw a punch but stopped as the sand spiked out, keeping him from making contact. Blood dripped from his knuckles and a cut on his cheek and leg that had managed to brush against the sand spikes. He pulled back and the sand receded, covering Gaara completely.

In the observation area, Naruto had been mulling over Gaara's words the day before. Suddenly, he sprung to his feet. "We need to go talk to Kakashi-sensei. Now!" He turned and ran towards the main arena seating, with Namiko and Shikamaru following close behind him. "We need to stop the match!"

They ran until they spotted Kakashi, standing next to Gai and Rock Lee. Naruto attempted to catch his breath. "Kakashi-sensei! You have to stop the match right away!"

Sakura looked up at them from her seat behind Kakashi. "What are you talking about?"

"The guy Sasuke's fighting is different than the rest of us! He's about as far from normal as you can get." Naruto was running his words together, trying and failing to cover the panic he felt.

"Naruto, slow down," Ino snapped as she turned to face the trio. "What are you trying to say?"

Namiko was the one who spoke this time, "Gaara thinks his purpose in life is to kill for the sake of killing."

"Don't you see?" yelled Naruto. "If this continues, Sasuke will die! You've gotta believe me!"

"Relax," said Kakashi casually as he watched Sasuke. "You know, Sasuke and I weren't just goofing around. There's a reason we were so late getting here. Don't worry…"

Sasuke was moving quickly back and forth, attempting to find a way to break through Gaara's sand sphere. 'I don't know what the hell you're up to in there. Are you going to stay in there forever? Stall all you want, I can use that time to get ready for what I have in store for you.'

Sakura looked up at Kakashi. "Sensei, you said there was a reason you were late. What was it?"

Kakashi raised his visible eyebrow. "You want to know?"

Naruto groaned. "This isn't the time for chatting!"

"You're right," said Kakashi, cutting off Naruto. "So shut up and pay attention. Keep your eye on Sasuke, he's about to surprise you."

Namiko walked forward a few steps to stand next to Kakashi. She saw Sasuke move far away from Gaara before leaping high onto the arena's wall, sticking to it in a kneeling position holding tightly onto his left wrist. 'What is he planning?'

Suddenly, electric-like chakra started crackling around Sasuke's left hand. A sound like birds chirping filled the arena, and it took Namiko a minute to realize it was coming from the chakra in Sasuke's hand. He raced down the wall, using the length of the wall to help him gain speed.

"Whoa, I've never seen him do that before!" exclaimed Naruto as he watched Sasuke in awe.

Sasuke deftly wove in between the sand spikes as he approached Gaara, taking no injuries. He jabbed the sphere with his hand using the chakra, breaking a hole in the sand. Sasuke smirked at his success. "Now I've got you."

A blood-curdling scream suddenly rang through the entire arena: "BLOOD! It's my blood!"

A/N: We'll end there for this chapter. ;) I'm sorry this was on the tail end of my normal schedule, I had some personal things happen and everything got majorly delayed. I'm still planning on posting a chapter next weekend, though things may change due to the Christmas holiday. We'll just have to see!

Thanks for reading, and an even bigger thanks to those of you who have reviewed!

-Eriisu