?￢ﾜ ? ~ Chapter Twenty-three — Leaf and Cloud ~ ?￢ﾜ ?ￂﾠ
Shinrai watched on with shock and horror when Naruto's unconscious body hit the floor. A triumphant expression crossed Gosei's face.
"He… he lost?!" questioned Shinrai with disbelief.
"Of course he did," Gosei said with a smirk. "I told you there's no way that Natsuyo would lose."
"W-what the fuck?!" spattered Shinrai. He shook his head in denial and slammed his fist into the railing. "NO!"
Gosei laughed. "Is it really that much of a shock to you?!"
"B-but if he loses, then he's not going to be promoted!"
"Yes, Shinrai, that is how the exams work!" responded Gosei.
Shinrai growled. "He could've won—no!" He rounded on Ryu. "He would've won if you actually taught him how to do shit!"
"Listen Shinrai," he started with a dragged out glare. "Naruto's ragged on me about this and I'm not going to hear it from you—"
"—Yes the fuck you ARE!" raged Shinrai. "You sabotaged him! Look at Ka'rai! Look at Gaara! They aren't uncontrollable monsters! Well, Gaara is like that because that's just who he is—But Ka'rai! He's cool! He's a perfectly sane and pretty cool human being!"
"You don't know how long they've trained with their Bijuu's power," snapped Ryu. His glare malded with the Kyuubi's eyes—Shinrai's breath hitched. "The treatment of Jinchuriki in other villages is nothing but inhumane. They're treated like non-human weapons that have no purpose besides destruction.
"You're ignorant to what that power means, Shinrai. I'm not. I've experienced firsthand how destructive the Kyuubi is. How it is willing to destroy everything without even an ounce of thought. The Kyuubi is pure hatred given sentience. Naruto is not ready for that."
Shinrai's heart raced but he matched Ryu's glare best he could. His Sharingan—veiled by Genjutsu—made it easier. "You're underestimating him and that's pissing me the fuck off." Shinrai managed a smirk. "He's gonna figure it out without your help and make you kiss his ass."
Ryu tensed with gritted teeth. Wordlessly, his eyes turned to normal, and he looked away. Next, he heard Kusari make an angry noise! For once, Gosei was the only one not pissed off. Of course, Shinrai turned his gaze to her. "What's up?"
"Your match… it's up against her."
Shinrai looked toward the board and saw, Shinrai Uzumaki vs Clowui Chinoike.
"The girl that attacked you and Sakura…" Shinrai chuckled with a smirk. Looks like I got someone to take my anger out on… "I'll rip her heart out for you." In a scarlet flicker, he was in the arena. Clowui was already waiting for him. Her gaze was aloof, yet focused directly on him. She was analyzing him with Ketsuryugan eyes.
They were… interesting. Gosei in one of his rants said that they were a mutation of the Byakugan. He sparred Kusari many times, so he should've been somewhat familiar with her move set. But, what was notable about her specifically, was that she had the Curse Mark.
She seemed in control of it by what Kusari said.
Hayate's hand raised into the air. "The match may—"cough. He barely made out the word 'now' through his coughing fit. Once he flickered out of the way he cut toward Clowui—she barely blocked with a kunai that Shinrai cut in two.
His blade of ivory jumped with his chakra, being strangled through seals like high-pressure veins. Clowui was heavily on the defensive. Shinrai saw every move she made before she even made it. He'd cut in and slice in advance—some were deeper than others, more accurate, less accurate. But she was bleeding profusely by the time the exchange ended.
When she attacked Kusari, she had her entire team supporting her. It wasn't the case this time around. Shinrai slit a smirk across his face. Clowui narrowed her bloodshot neon eyes. With a single hand seal, Clowui's blood formed a coating around her kunai.
To Shinrai's surprise, she was the one to attack first. He blocked with his namesake blade, then kicked at her with a leg of chakra. The impact definitely broke bone as she went flying. With a couple of hand seals, it seemed to be a nonissue. He also had to note that she wasn't bleeding despite still being cut.
Blood manipulation? I mean, yeah, that's what Kusari said. I should try to not get cut… that'll be an issue, Curse Mark or not. Dammit! That means I can't play around here.
He bobbed out of the way of a Bleeding Edge Sweep—a blade of blood spewed from her mouth. Not even a hair on his head was touched. Shinrai weaved three hand seals—clone, tiger, then clone again. "Flaming Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Six Shinrais appeared out of smoke and fire. They were just like regular Shadow Clones. Except when you popped them, they blew up into flames! Thanks for that, Natsuyo.
"Blood Style: Blood Bullets!" she called. From both her mouth and her wounds, scarlet bullets of blood shot toward Shinrai's clones. They went out in plumes of doused flame.
Elemental advantage… of course. He blitzed forward and cut through the bullets with his Grass Cutter. They clashed. Her extended kunai of blood sparked against Shinrai's blade. She made a half seal.
From one of her wounds, a whip of blood wrapped around his neck. Clowui pulled him in and whispered into his ear. "I know of your Sharingan."
His eyes widened. Before he could speak, she continued. "From the Genjutsu you placed on yourself, I can see you'd prefer to keep it a secret. Forfeit the match, and I will not expose your secret. My skill in Genjutsu far surpasses yours."
"How… the fuck… do you know that?" seethed Shinrai. Rage pushed through his blade and onto her kunai. The razor-sharp edge started to cut through the blood blade. Fuck—I can't lose or else Lord Danzo's going to take my parents away… But how does she know?! "Wait—" he realized with widened eyes. The Curse Mark. Her control over it. Why she hasn't used it—
He gripped the collar of her shirt and pulled her head onto his. She grunted as her skull cracked. "You're working with Orochimaru, aren't you?" His tone was like boiling acid. The spike of panic on her face—in her chakra it made him smirk.
"Yeah… go ahead and expose my Sharingan. I'll expose you and your little scheme." His grip on her collar tightened and he kicked her hard. He hit nothing but solid blood. The piece of clothing he held ripped off as she was sent flying.
He flickered toward her and barely missed stabbing her eye out. Yora was unsheathed, and he sliced Clowui's stomach—of course no blood spilled. Another scarlet flicker and he dug his foot into her ribs. He felt the blood fight against his impact to keep them intact. Clowui skid across the floor with the tile shattering. Shinrai brandished both of his blades and grinned. "What's wrong…? You're not gonna power up?"
Panic overtook Clowui's being—it spiked in her chakra, he saw every drop of sweat that dripped from her face like tears. The sight erupted glee in Shinrai. A sick grin slashed across his face, toothy and giddy.
Clowui began to bleed again. She stumbled away from him. "Why would you say that name?!"
Shinrai paused and furrowed his brows. What?
"Orochimaru! Never speak that name in my presence!" she yelled, pointing a finger at him. His name froze Shinrai in his tracks. Saying it himself was easier than hearing someone else scream it. "You have no idea what that bastard did to me—and you dare suggest I'd work with him?!"
Shinrai winced, a guilty tremble rattled him. She's… like me. Fuck—now I feel bad for trying to kill her. His head tilted as he gazed into the fear in her eyes. What if I work with her? We could take down Orochimaru together—no… that wouldn't work. Kusari still hates her. I won't betray her like that.
With a ragged sigh and a hollow chuckle, he summoned his disdain for her once again. "Eh… Okay… okay. That doesn't change the fact that you tried to murder my teammate." He pointed Yora right at her. "Activate the Curse Mark. I know you have it. Make this fight worth something."
Clowui's eyes narrowed at his request. A growl of pain ragged from her throat. Magmic marks that mimicked veins spread from the mark on her neck. They flowed across her face and all over her body. Violent violet chakra burst from her and her Ketsuryugan glowed.
Shinrai's breathing hitched—that presence—
—Golden eyes gleamed over Naruto's maimed body—
He held Yora tighter as he stepped back. Dammit, NO! This isn't the time to freeze up!
"This is the power that I'm burdened with…" stated Clowui as blood poured from all of her wounds. Her—Orochimaru's—chakra rose and he flinched. "Blood Style: Demented Spears." Over pale skin, liquid crimson hardened and sharpened into spears—they rained on Shinrai.
Instinct drove both his blades to cut away the spears. The beat of his heart throbbed in his ears. He barely cut away one that would've skewered him—another one grazed his shoulder—a spear pierced through his foot. Shit! It took little effort for him to shatter the spear.
His foresight barely let him see Clowui blitz toward him—her previously pale skin was the scarlet of blood. Just like Yora's eyes—the eyes he had because of her—his heart raced and he could feel the whirling of his eyes. Clowui's kunai shredded through his clothes and into his skin—more blood was drawn.
She weaved a hand seal and Shinrai's own blood formed into a binding prison. "You can still forfeit and keep your secret. I will give you ten seconds before I announce it to everyone present."
Nonoonononono—NO! His heart beat faster but that just made his restraints tighten against him.
"Ten."
A growl ragged from Shinrai's throat. The more he fought, the more of his blood was siphoned—the more his blood vessels strained—the more his insides tore.
"Nine."
Shinrai roared—each pain he felt doubled in the futile power of his chakra as he thrashed.
"Eight."
"KILL YOURSELF!" screamed Shinrai—Please no! FUCK!
Unphased, Clowui continued. "Seven."
Shinrai thrashed more and more—feeling his chakra rise with each injury he took. The pain he felt fueled him; he would keep going and going and going and going because there was nothing that would fucking stop him.
"Six."
He noticed that he was getting stronger—that power was his and he'd use it. I need to harness this! Shinrai wasn't even scared—he was furious. Just like against Orochimaru.
"Five."
What even is it?! It was always like this when he was hurt. Pain would jolt him out of anything—it made him stronger somehow…
"Four."
He barely noticed that he stopped moving. Wait…
'Ah… sometimes the ability is subtle, so you'll have to pay attention to discover it.'
"Three."
It was time where he finally paid attention. Shinrai smirked. All at once… he and his adoration with pain made sense. Everything made sense. Pain… was his strength.
"Two."
Yeah… this bitch is done for.
"One."
Slowly, he accumulated his pain, his rage and sparked it together to create a fire.
Clowui's head tilted. "Curious choice."
Shinrai's fire erupted.
She cleared her throat. "I have an announce—" Clowui gasped for air but all she got were bloody gargles.
"You're not announcing a damn thing," snarled Shinrai, his namesake blade in hand, drenched with Clowui's blood. The girl brought her hands to her severed open neck. As her palms touched the wound, Shinrai stabbed her hands and her neck.
Shit! I was off! I didn't get to decapitate her.
Quickly, she weaved a series of half seals. A bloody torrent cut through the air—Shinrai's chest was cut open. He grinned in response. "Yeah… keep doing that," he urged, backing up. His chakra soared from the wound and the pain he felt.
His Sharingan whirled as he watched her bleed from every wound on her body. It spilled over the tile. Okay… if she uses blood to fight, then I'll just take her blood away. A Selective Absorption seal oughta do the trick! I definitely do not have the time to make a seal by myself, but I have clones! Now, I just need to distract her enough to get a clone to make the seal…
Shinrai smirked. Easy enough.
From the bloody floor, bullets of blood shot at him. Only a few cuts and he sliced through them—a scarlet flicker appeared in front of her. He slashed with Shinrai, but a bloody blade blocked the attack. Chakra danced from Yora as she went below Clowui's guard. Blood covered Clowui's hand and she grabbed her.
With a roar of chakra, he blew back Clowui. He sheathed Yora to weave hand seals. "Fire Style: Rage Against EVERYTHING!" Scarlet-Orange flames slapped tile and seared toward Clowui. Blood rose in a wall and the two jutsu canceled out.
Perfect. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" he yelled—immediately two dozen clones poofed into shuriken. He tossed them through the haze where he saw Clowui's chakra. Unbeknownst to her, one shuriken impacted another and was sent flying away. When they were popped by Clowui's blood, they boomed into a massive smoke screen. The same tactic he used against Ryu so long ago…
Her chakra was a faint violet glow in the smoke screen. He put both hands on Shinrai's hilt and weaved hand seals. "Fire Style: Entrusted Flame." Shinrai's chakra ignited through the seals constricting the blade. With a burning roar, he flickered into the smoke screen.
Flame clashed with blood. Two glowing scarlet eyes flashed in the haze. Steam boiled from blood. Clowui's eyes shot an arrow from the bloody tears on her face. Shinrai ducked and it pierced through his cheek. He kicked her leg—her bones didn't shatter, to his surprise. Shinrai yelled and cut through the blood with his fire.
Clowui took a step back and parried Shinrai's strike—flames roared and he ripped a slice toward her. Her blood blocked, and she weaved hand seals. Blood churned in a torrent that ripped Shinrai's jacket to shreds—his skin was next. He blew her back with his chakra, but she stayed strong.
He pumped chakra into his flame, and it plumed around his sword. His Entrusted Flame fought to stay ignited against the whirling tornado of gore. Suddenly, the tornado grew blades, and he was slashed a dozen times over. His blood spilled—his chakra bellowed with power. He growled, suffering more cuts to slash the bladed tornado in two. He flickered through the cut and kicked Clowui—her skull cracked. Shinrai grinned and cut her arm off. The wound was cauterized—there was no blood.
Blood pierced through anyway. Her arm was grabbed by the blood and reattached. Shinrai pierced her heart and slashed outward. Again, her blood kept her going. She can't keep this up forever! Fires burned and more strikes and slashes burned through her. With a pained and frustrated scream—a second ghoulish entity of blood attached to his own.
An agonizing scream ripped from Shinrai's throat as his own blood rebelled against him again. It started to mix with his own—Shinrai leapt back as his life-giving liquid was pulled out of him. Stars crossed his vision as he stumbled. He retained the sense to bolt forward. Shinrai put out his flame, grabbing Clowui and keeping her as close as possible. "Yeah… you wanna share blood? Keep doing that… I'll just stay close to keep myself fighting."
She simply tilted her head. Her connection to Shinrai's blood was cut off entirely. Half of Shinrai's blood supply just dropped to the floor, useless. Black blotches entered his vision—the scarlet world Yora allowed him to see returned to normal. No…!
He stumbled—his legs barely able to keep him up. His chakra continued to fire and light itself up; it was the only thing keeping him conscious. He still managed to weave hand seals. "Fire Style…! Burning Attack…!" A swirling ball of chakra burned through the haze to hit Clowui. Her blood encased the jutsu and disabled it.
Shinrai made four clones—Clowui caught them with bloody tendrils. Those tendrils pinned Shinrai to the floor. It was then… when Clowui stumbled—as if something was pulling her. "About damn time… me."
"Sealing Jutsu! Selective Absorption Seal!" Shouted Shinrai Uzumaki as he entered the haze. The Shinrai that Clowui skewered to the floor popped into smoke. Shinrai's Sharingan immortalized Clowui's expression of fear. Every ounce of Clowui's blood was pulled into the seal Shinrai slammed onto the floor.
She strained and fought futilely against it but Shinrai just fucking smirked."I bet you're wondering how my clone took such a beating, eh?" Shinrai boasted out a laugh as she was sucked dry of her blood. Her blood-colored skin dried out into its previously pale color. Each time she attempted to send her blood to attack him, it was just pulled into the seal.
"Well, it occurred to me that Shadow Clones are really fucking weak. Stab 'em once and they're done for. So… I asked myself, why deal with the weakness, when I can make them stronger?" His fucking smirk grew. "And just that I did."
Dramatically, he entered a pose. "I CALL IT THE SUPER SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"
Shinrai cackled at her distress. There was nothing she could do. Her throat was fucked, so she couldn't speak. She had no control over her movements because her blood was being sucked into the seal. Hell, if she was anybody but a Chinoike, she would've died from blood loss a long time ago.
"So, since you're defenseless and all." Shinrai weaved hand seals. "I guess I should kill you."
His hand slammed on the ground and he grinned. The symbol of the Uzumaki appeared in scarlet glowing ink beneath her. "Fire Style." His smirk cracked into a grin. "Uzumaki Flaming Whirl!"
Thanks mom and dad for this jutsu!
From below her a whirlpool of flame scorched her body. Shinrai cackled when he heard her screams—a flash of guilt struck his gut when he remembered… she's suffering under Orochimaru too… He groaned and deactivated his jutsu.
Her blood was still being sucked by his seal. If he deactivated that, then she would attack him again. She did look low on chakra—it was unlikely she could keep going for much longer. He sighed and walked toward her. "I'm sorry that you have to suffer the terrible shit that the Snake Sannin put you through… but don't worry, it'll end right here. I promised my friend that I would take your heart out, so I have to do that now."
Shinrai took out a kunai and prepared to stab for her chest. Hayate grabbed his hand. "That's enough… you won, Shinrai."
"Oh, come on!" yelled Shinrai in outrage. "She killed Konoha Shinobi!"
"And that was well within her rights under the rules of the Chunin Exams. If you truly wanted to take her life, then you shouldn't have wasted your time gloating," Hayate lectured, sounding as if he was holding in a sneeze the whole time.
Shinrai groaned, deactivating his seal and pulling back his hand. "Fine…"
Hayate cleared his throat, then coughed up a storm. "Shinrai Uzumaki is the winner of the match!"
Shinrai let out a haggard growl before flickering up next to Kusari. "Sorry I couldn't rip her heart out…"
"It's fine," said Kusari with a sigh.
Shinrai chuckled. "Can't help but feel a bit bad…"
"Why?" asked Kusari, aghast.
Gosei gave him a suspicious look before he could even respond. Of course, Shinrai dismissed it. "She was hurt by the Snake Sannin… like we all were." Phantom fear sent chills down his spine.
Gosei narrowed his eyes on him. "She was also targeting Konoha Shinobi!"
"Exactly," agreed Kusari with a sharp glare.
"It's possible that the rest of Kumo is targeting Konoha Shinobi as well," added Gosei. His eyes widened. "Sensei?!"
"Kusari," Ryu began, narrowing his eyes in thought. "What exactly did she say?"
"I'm afraid I can't say for sure… but it seemed like her team was in on it."
"Ka'rai wouldn't," said Shinrai quickly. "Plus, it's possible that she's working alone and is just getting her team to help her because yeah! I've helped Kusari with things that are completely unrelated to what I do regularly so... Happy friendships!"
Ryu's eyes narrowed. "Don't be so ready to trust Ka'rai because he's your clansman."
The rest of Konoha's Nin also overheard. Neji decided to interject. "That Ka'rai murdered Tenten. He killed a Konoha Shinobi. What makes you think that he isn't working against our village?!"
Shinrai set his eyes on him. "Sorry to be blunt, but this is a Shinobi Exam where people die. I killed people in these exams, doesn't mean I did it for any grand purpose or anything. They were a threat, I had to take them out." Shinrai let out a breath. "Sorry dude."
Neji looked away with sucked teeth.
"Plus, we all know Ka'rai could've killed you and your other teammate if he wanted to. If he was really targeting Konoha Shinobi, then you wouldn't be here right now."
Neji's furious silence was an admission of logical defeat. Shinrai couldn't help but frown a bit at Kusari's glare. However… it was Sakura that was next to speak. "Does… does that mean the girl you just fought… was she the one that attacked Team 10?"
"I wouldn't be surprised," answered Shinrai, looking down at the match that just concluded. One of Ka'rai's teammates, Yowui…? Yeah! Yowui. He just won his match against one of Natsuyo's teammates—he couldn't be bothered to learn his name.
Sakura nodded along. "I barely got to see her team…"
Kusari motioned for her to stand. She did and Kusari pointed over to the Kumo side of the balcony. Her finger landed on a girl with amber eyes and hair, as well as a tall, tanned, bald dude. "It was them."
Everyone from Konoha took note. Kiba clenched his fists. "If I fight them, I'll rip 'em to shreds!"
"You're still injured," Miya said quickly. "Don't overexert yourself…"
With impeccable timing, the screen of names stopped on two. Kiba Inuzuka vs Cirru Furachi. The bald one floated from the balcony and landed in the arena.
Kiba smirked. "Sorry sensei, but it looks like Kami answered my call!" He paused then sniffed the air. "Ah… he smells injured too!"
"Indeed," confirmed Kusari. "Sasuke snapped his spine."
The Uchiha let out a huff.
Kiba then laughed. "HA! It looks like we have a battle between two broken back bitches!" He and Akamaru pounced into the arena with a growl.
"Good luck, Kiba!" called Hinata from the stands. Shino gave a nod of affirmation—no words, and yet the same sentiment was given. Miya gave him a mix of a concerned frown and an assuring smile. Who knew what message that was meant to give.
Kiba smirked at his team before turning with a furious—feral growl toward Cirru. Akamaru was similarly pissed. "You… did you kill them?!"
Cirru crossed his arms, face straight. "I did not take a single life in that forest—"
"DON'T YOU FUCKING LIE TO ME!" barked Kiba. "Ino… Choji… they both died because of you!"
"Who?" he asked— before catching himself. A guilty expression crossed his face for a second. He quickly hid it with bravatto.
Nothing could get past Kiba's nose—he smelled the guilt wreaking from Cirru. His long-nailed fists clenched and he bared his naturally long canines with an irate growl. "You fucking bastard… YOU DIDN'T EVEN BOTHER TO LEARN THEIR NAMES!"
Cirru stepped back, preparing a shield of wind.
Hayate quickly started the match—without a coughing fit—and flickered out of the way. He and Akamaru bolted toward Cirru. Kiba tossed a soldier pill to Akamaru and he ate it before it could hit the ground. The dog's white fur burned red alongside his burst of chakra.
All Cirru did was outstretch his hands. A gust of wind blew both Kiba and Akamaru to the ground. Kiba weaved hand seals. "Man-Beast Mimicry! C'mon Akamaru!"
The dog barked and in a plume of smoke, he appeared as a perfect clone of Kiba himself. At the same time, all of Kiba's teeth turned sharp, his long nails extended into claws, and a feral grit morphed his features.
"FANG OVER FANG!"
Both he and Akamaru rotated, twin drills of chakra, claws, and air tunneled toward Cirru. He stepped back and floated. "Typhoon Style: Hurricane Shield!" Around his forearm, a cloudy wind of air whirled into a disc. It blocked the impact from both fangs. Cirru grunted as his hurt back was strained.
Dust blew as Cirru flew up into the air. Both humanoid dogs exited their drills and latched onto Cirru's legs. Akamaru-transformed Kiba bit into Cirru's leg and blood spewed onto his face. Cirru growled and rotated. Clouded wind swirled like a mini tornado and both Kiba and Akamaru were flung to the tile. Kiba managed to catch his fall with his hands and landed on his feet.
His back remained intact. Up above, Cirru fiercely weaved hand seals. "Typhoon Style: Cyclone Hailstorm!" A freezing gust of wind pushed Kiba and Akamaru across the arena. Another grunt from Cirru and sharp balls of hail shredded the two—blood spilled to the floor. Flying through the air, Cirru blasted toward them and they were decimated by the jutsu's strength point blank.
Akamaru was knocked out of his transformation. Kiba's claws dug into the ground, and he barked at Cirru furiously.
With an irritated—guilty—glare, Cirru uprooted tile with another titanic gust of wind. "You think I haven't dealt with someone like you?! Feral and animalistic. I've sparred with Ka'rai for years. You're nothing compared to him!" He marched forward. The gust of wind froze over with icy rain that tore Kiba's skin apart.
He leapt over Akamaru to shield him from the worst of the jutsu. "You want to get up close and attack me with those claws of yours. Your long-ranged affinity is poor. So. if there's anyone that can keep you at a distance—you're useless!" Rage fueled the forming clouds in Cirru's blast. Even lightning sparked within, shocking Kiba sporadically—randomly—there was no way to predict it.
"Just give up, you stand no chance."
Kiba glared at Cirru through the storm. "You done yet?! Just run out of chakra for me. Keep using this pussy-ass jutsu, then I'll tear you apart!" Kiba managed to laugh. "Akamaru knows what your blood tastes like… it's gonna be my turn soon."
"You fool!" roared Cirru and his gust followed in kind. Kiba was blown off his knees and shielded Akamaru from the impact with the wall—with his back. Kiba screamed out in agony, he twitched on the floor, writhing.
Cirru ceased his Jutsu. Quickly, Akamaru—white again—dug into Kiba's pouch and fed him a soldier pill. His back wasn't shattered, not entirely. So, with the surge of adrenaline given by the pill, he managed to stand. All of his feral features returned to normal and his hoodie was trashed off of his head. Kiba's stance was weak—quivering.
He didn't care. That bastard needed to PAY! Kiba weaved hand seals. "Earth Style: Dustcloud!" His hands slammed to the floor and particles of shattered tile shrouded the sight of everyone there. Kiba's nose guided him through. As expected, Cirru blew away the dust.
When it was cleared… Kiba and Akamaru were nowhere to be seen.
Cirru's brow furrowed—his eyes widened. From directly behind him, the arena floor shattered. "TUNNELING FANG!" A singular drill of claws and chakra erupted from below and struck Cirru in his back before he could react.
He let out an agonizing scream and was flung across the arena. Kiba collapsed to the floor afterward. It was obvious he had barely recovered from only entering the tower just an hour before. Cirru growled and raved as he forced himself to his feet. Kiba's eyes widened with shock. "Your back's not broken?!"
"You have a good nose, don't you, you mutt. Can you not smell the storm?"
Kiba sniffed the air, then slammed his fist onto the shattered tile. Last minute, Cirru concentrated air on the place where Kiba impacted him. Kiba's breath heaved, and Akamaru pouted. Cirru limped toward the two, weaving hand seals. "Typhoon Style: Cyclone Hailstorm…" he muttered when he was right in front of the two.
At that distance, the hail would blow holes through them. Cirru huffed out his jutsu—it hit… gold? A shadow loomed over Cirru as his own jutsu was blown back on him. He fell to his butt and Miya glared down at him with eyes of furious adamantine. "That's enough."
Cirru gulped and stumbled away from the towering woman in front of him. Hayate flickered back into the fray. "I—"cough"—was gonna stop him, y'know."
"You were too slow," responded Miya flatly.
Hayate coughed. "I guess…" He cleared his throat. "By way of interference, Cirru Furachi is the winner of the match!"
Miya turned and crouched down to Kiba's level with a smile. "You did good, Kiba. I'm proud of you."
"I… couldn't make him… pay…" strained Kiba, his teeth gritting as he barely managed to push himself of the ground.
Miya helped him up as the medics came. "It's okay… you did enough. You tried your best," she said with a soothing tone.
Kiba opened his mouth to argue, but just sighed. His head hung as he was placed on the stretcher. Miya made sure to smile at him as he was escorted away. Once he was out of sight, she flickered back to her spot on the stands.
Shinrai watched the match with narrowed eyes. "He was going to kill Kiba. That all but confirms it…"
"So it seems," muttered Gosei.
Hinata looked toward the Kumo half of the stands with a unique brand of disdain. It almost looked like Kusari… it made Shinrai shudder when he noticed it. With a sigh, they all watched on as the board flickered with names.
It was then when Shinrai finally realized who was missing. Yeah, Team 10 was gone. But, he didn't really talk to them. He barely had a reason to care. Who was missing to him… was Karin. Despite the fact that she passed, she was nowhere to be found. Did she just forfeit?
Shinrai let out a sigh. He'd find her again… or more likely, the other way around. Either way, he was hoping to get kissed again.
—⊱✿⊰—
His face really burned. Everything ached—especially his head. Naruto groaned as he sat up. His entire head was wrapped with bandages, his stomach felt real weird… He let out a sigh as the memory of his match entered his head. He wasn't going to be promoted to Chunin. It would take longer for him to become Hokage—hell, if Gosei won his match, that bastard was going to outpace him! There was no escaping it. He… He… "Lost… I… lost."
"Yeah, you did!"
Naruto looked to his left. Natsuyo was sitting there, also in the infirmary. She had a smile on her face. A frown was on Naruto's, but the bandages hit it. "You won, why are you here?"
"Because you really roughed me up back there! I had trouble standing, so my sensei made me go to the infirmary!" she explained. "That was a really really good fight we had! We definitely have to have another go after we've both gotten stronger!"
"Heh…" responded Naruto. Her smile was contagious. "Yeah, I think we should! I can't let you sit on your victory for too long!"
"No… I think victory's seat is quite comfortable!"
"Yeah! That's why I'm going to be the one sitting it!"
"Well, you're not right now!"
"You got lucky! If my jutsu worked, then you would've been toast!"
"But it didn't, so I'm still bread."
"Screw you!"
Natsuyo laughed, then a quick beat of silence passed. "Also… you said that you were the stronger one between Shinrai and yourself. But, when I fought Shinrai, he beat me kinda badly—"
"Oh… I was just trying to scare you! Get you off your game…" Naruto let out a sigh. "Shinrai's a lot stronger than me now."
"Aw, I was just hoping that my training really paid off." Natsuyo sighed similarly to Naruto. She looked up to the ceiling. "I get you though. I've been trying to surpass Gosei since forever. I equaled him for a little bit…" Her expression turned dejected. "But he leapt past me once again."
"Damn," responded Naruto. "Shinrai and I have been equals since we first met. But, he came back from his first mission and…" Naruto hung his head. "I've never been able to catch up to him since."
"Wow… so we're both the ones behind, eh?"
"I guess," admitted Naruto with a huff. "But you're used to it, so it's probably easier for you."
Natsuyo snorted. "Maybe, maybe not. We're not in each other's heads."
A hum was Naruto's response. He tilted his head to the side. Then to the other side. It ached but it wasn't anything he couldn't deal with. He grunted as he stumbled out of his bed, on his feet. Natsuyo looked at him wide-eyed. "Huh? What are you—?"
"I'm a fast healer!" responded Naruto with a stumble. Slowly, he regained his balance. "See!"
"Hey! I can heal fast too!" she spattered before throwing off her own covers and getting on her feet. She also stumbled her way to balance.
Naruto smirked at her. "I was hurt worse. I get the win this time!"
"I bet I can run faster while injured!" challenged Natsuyo as she not so carefully sprinted after him.
Naruto chased after her. "Hey!"
Before either of them made it another ten steps, they collapsed to the ground and it hurt. Unanimously, they decided to walk the rest of the way back to the infirmary.
—⊱✿⊰—
Sasuke's fist slammed into her gut. She didn't get the chance to counter attack before a kick pounded her side. A second fist to her face knocked her unconscious. Sasuke made sure her fall to the floor wasn't painful or unceremonious.
Hayate flickered beside Sasuke with a cough. "By way of knockout…" He held his breath as if he was about to sneeze. He never did. "Sasuke Uchiha is the winner of the match."
"Noo!" cried Natsuyo. "That was my teammate!"
"Yes!" shouted Naruto. "That was my teammate!"
"Shut up, I still beat you!"
Naruto groaned.
Shinrai chuckled, elbowing Naruto. "I see the vision…" he said to where only Naruto could hear. "What a great way to get back at Gosei."
"Wait—HUH?!" spattered Naruto. "What do you mean?!"
Shinrai shushed him. Everyone around looked at him suspiciously. "You know exactly what I mean, Naruto."
Naruto turned red from embarrassment, shaking his head. "You're crazy!"
"That was established long ago, Naruto," said Shinrai with a tone that sounded like it had thousands of years of wisdom. The sound was nothing but a falsity.
The board of flickering names ceased on two: Sakura Haruno vs Sami of Kumogakure.
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she watched her opponent drop into the arena. "She was one of the ones who killed Ino…"
Before Sakura could jump into the arena, Kusari placed a hand on her shoulder. "She can absorb chakra through a mark on her palm. Her Lightning Style has a similar effect, but on a smaller scale. I'm afraid I don't know anything else."
"That's enough…" said Sakura as she nodded along. She forced a smile when she looked at Kusari. "Thank you."
Kusari nodded in acknowledgement before Sakura leapt down to face Sami. Sakura felt herself shaking… she'd never felt such a burning desire to hurt someone. There were many times where she felt irritated, angry, and furious. But no… never like this.
"GO SEND HER TO HELL SAKURA!" shouted Naruto from the stands.
For once, hearing him yell put something of a smile on her face. Her eyes never left Sami. She looked down at her with amber eyes with a neutral, almost contemplative gaze. Hayate started the match and flickered off.
Sakura charged immediately—a crater fist already solid around her hand. Sami was caught off guard, hit in the chest, and sent tumbling to the ground. A growl burned Sakura's throat when she missed her next attack.
She wasn't weak—hell no—and she wasn't going to lose this match. A single half seal. Cherry blossoms shrouded Sami's vision. Sakura dashed forward and struck Sami in her kneecaps with her Crater Fist. Of course, she collapsed. But Sami hit her and not her illusionary clone. Did the Genjutsu not affect her?! The same knee Sakura struck bashed her nose, and she was sent flying.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Field." White electricity shrouded with purple sparked throughout the arena. It went away. The arena floor continued to zap with voltage.
Sakura's eyes narrowed. A minefield… She weaved hand seals. "Earth Style: Tremor Quake!" Her fist slammed to the ground. Dust blew and shattered tiles jumped. The impact activated the minefield, and the arena blasted with shocking booms. Lighting blocked Sakura's vision. The moment it faded, she saw Sami erupt from her own Jutsu.
Her heart dropped—a searing pain screamed in her shoulder. Sami's kunai dug into her shoulder—same arm as her Crater Fist. Sakura screamed out with her burning desire roaring. She grabbed Sami's collar and pulled her into her knee. Sami grunted and Sakura bashed her fist into the girl's jaw. Then she transferred her Crater Fist to her non-stabbed hand, hammering it into Sami's head. Kumo's Genin stood after the impact.
Sakura growled and tackled her to the ground. "YOU KILLED INO!" The knuckles on her Crater Fist turned sharp and she bashed it on Sami's hand—electricity arced and shattered the fist. Sami kicked Sakura off of her, weaving hand seals.
"Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!" As Sakura was flying through the air, a bolt of lightning as thick as her struck her in the chest. She flashed to the wall and groaned.
No… She forced herself off of the wall. Sami seemed surprised. Sakura coughed and growled. Why… am I so fucking pathetic? Her glare of seething fury met Sami's apathetic—sympathetic gaze. She weaved those same hand seals again. Sakura attempted to move out of the way. Another Thunderbolt knocked her out cold.
"By way of knockout, Sami of Kumogakure is the winner of the match," announced Hayate.
Kusari tilted her head. "A shame… I was rooting for her."
"She didn't try to kill her," muttered Shinrai. "Odd. When she stabbed Sakura's shoulder, she could've just as easily went for her heart."
"Guilt maybe?" theorized Gosei.
Naruto made an audible huff. "I don't like you guys talking about Sakura's life like that!"
"My bad," said Shinrai off-handedly, she looked back at Kusari. "Didn't she attack you?"
"Well, she didn't until I threatened her teammate's life," admitted Kusari. "They were too scared of me to attack without proper incentive."
"Makes sense…" mumbled Shinrai. "You can be quite terrifying when you want to be."
"I try my best."
Neji grumbled angrily. The board of names flashed to, Hane of Kumogakure vs Neji Hyuuga.
"Oh, that's Ka'rai's girlfriend—" realized Shinrai.
Neji cracked his neck, not saying a word. He looked toward his sister and Kusari gave him an assuring nod. Shinrai simply whistled. "Just try not to kill her if you value your life."
"Do not tell me what to do, Uzumaki," spat Neji before he leapt into the arena. His burns were still extensive, and visibly affecting him. Each movement was stiffened by bandages. Every other movement seemed to cause him pain.
Hane had long, blonde hair, brown eyes, with an all white uniform. Her expression was visibly hurt—emotionally—by his state. Before the match started, she bowed to him. "I'm sorry for what happened to you… and both of your teammates."
Neji's Byakugan snapped into activation. "What the hell are you sorry for?!"
"I don't like seeing people hurt. My village hurt you by taking your father, then your teammate, and both you and your other teammate are hurt physically." She paused to take a breath.
"I apologize on behalf of Kumo for all the hurt and sadness my village has caused you, and anyone else you care about." Hane stood with a breath, then a chuckle. "Even still… I can't let you pass here if I can help it."
Neji was utterly speechless. Rage festered in his clenched fists… he relaxed them and crouched into the stance of the Juken.
Watching on, Kusari's brows furrowed. At the same time, Shinrai smiled. "Aww, she's nice." His hand fell to his black Grass Cutter.
"I don't trust her…" murmured Kusari.
Shinrai let out a breath. "You should really get over your prejudices sometime."
She huffed in response.
Hayate's cough signaled the start of the match.
A blitz and Hane barely blocked with her tanto. She leapt back, but a palm struck her arm. Neji crouched and three palms hit her leg. Her leg buckled and her tanto extended—a ninjato was dodged by Neji. A palm hit the core of Hane's chakra and she was sent skidding across the shattered arena floor.
She trembled, laughing to herself. "You're quite the strong one…"
"I'm aware."
Hane managed to cut Neji's bandaged palm as he attacked again. With a grunt, she took advantage and sliced. His blood stained her blonde hair red as she dashed under him—weaving hand seals.
"Water Style: Water Whip Blade!" Water coated her ninjato and she cut back at Neji. He dodged but the water whipped out to cut the bandages off his cheek. Hane cut again—Neji's Byakugan pulsed and he struck the weak points of her whip. It fell off her blade harmlessly and a Juken strike to the neck knocked Hane off her feet.
"Your words earlier… have earned you your life. Forfeit the match and you will not need to be hurt anymore," declared Neji, keeping a Byakugan-fueled gaze on her.
Hane gasped—her breaths short. She nodded. "I—forfeit—" she managed.
Hayate flickered into sight. "By way of forfeit, Neji Hyuuga is the winner of the match."
As Neji leapt back up the stands, Kusari had an bemused expression. "You… let her go?"
"She's not a bastard like the rest of her village," huffed Neji. "She at least deserves a life."
"I suppose," responded Kusari half-heartedly. With a sigh, all turned their attention to the flashing board of names. When it landed… a tense silence fell between all three Hyuuga there. What the board said was…
Hinata Hyuuga vs Kusari Hyuuga.
?￢ﾜ ? ~ Chapter End ~ ?￢ﾜ ?