?￢ﾜ ? ~ Chapter Twenty-eight ~ ?￢ﾜ ?
?￢ﾜ ? ~ Finals Before the Finale ~ ?￢ﾜ ?

They actually trusted a fool from Kumo… It took more self-control than Hinata was anticipating to control her rage. Anger wasn't an emotion that she was accustomed to, not like grief, disappointment, cold, isolation…

Anger was hot; it connected to things—there was always a cause to it, something to direct the anger toward. In Hinata's case, it was the Demon Twins, who she would rank quite low on her list of favored people in Konoha.

"What made you think associating with a Kumo Shinobi was a good idea?" she asked, calmly, collected, with all the peace she pretended to feel. However, there was that strength she reinforced her tone with, a trick she learned from being scolded by her fathers, the elders… everyone.

Naruto rounded on her with his piercing azure eyes. "It was Ka'rai who gave us the warning! He's an Uzumaki just like we are! He betrayed his village just for the possibility of us being safe! Ka'rai's a great guy!"

"Then his loyalty is fickle. He was willing to betray his village for someone he met recently. Who's to say he won't betray you next?" asked Hinata, tilting her head, keeping up her fake smile.

Naruto, in contrast, bared his teeth with his frustrations exposed to the world, just as the white of his enamel. "He was so messed up about it that he was sick! Ka'rai really cares… he really does! Imagine being in that position, just thinking about it fucks me up! I can't! It's terrible!"

"Is that so?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes on her as Hinata pondered in thought. "Yeah, it is so!"

They view him as a Clansman over an enemy Shinobi… Did she view Kusari or Neji as Branch Members or family first?

Well, they hated her, especially Kusari.

That wasn't really family. Miya-sensei was more of a family member than Kusari ever was to her.

Neji… they were close, once upon a time.

"I do not think I would make the same choice in his position," responded Hinata simply. "Do you think you would have? Would you have committed treason for his sake, Naruto Uzumaki?"

The question made Naruto clench his teeth. His brows furrowed with grit reasoning. "I don't know… I don't want to think about it!"

"What about you Shinrai? What would you have done?" she asked the previously silent boy. Whenever he was around her, he stiffened up; he was visibly intimidated for… whatever reason. Not that she minded commanding respect with her presence.

Shinrai let out a breath, keeping his gaze on the floor. "Why should I tell you?"

"So, you would?" extrapolated Hinata. It was obvious that admitting to having the willingness to commit treason was an unwise decision.

His breath stiffened and Naruto looked at him wide-eyed. The growing anxiety in his being snapped into frustration as he walked toward the stairs. "I didn't give you an answer. You don't know me, so don't assume shit. I have to fight Ka'rai. I need all the rest that I can get. Goodnight."

With that, he disappeared up the staircase. She heard a door close not long afterward. Hinata turned her gaze back on Naruto. He let out a breath. "Yeah… if we're going to be fighting a war tomorrow, then the least we can do to prepare is make sure we get some sleep, y'know."

"That would indeed be wise," agreed Hinata. She almost felt… bad, for Naruto. It was obvious that Shinrai was the worse of the two. Naruto had a good heart, beautiful potential, Bontena seemed to agree with the notion as well. Her spirit was drawn to his, in a way.

It was the exact same way that Bontena interacted with… Shivua.

Could he have something similar… to Kusari and I?

In time, it would reveal itself.

For now, Hinata needed to prep for the inevitable violence.

With… rest.

—⊱✿⊰—

At breakneck speeds, Miya blurred toward the Hokage's Office. After Shinrai and Naruto told her of the incoming invasion, not a single second could be wasted. When she entered, Sandaime seemed to be wrapping up for the day. It made sense… it was late.

Even he had an ever so slight irritated twitch of his brow at the sight of her. He took a deep, long inhale of his pipe. "Good Evening, Miya. If you're to bother me at this hour, then I assume its something quite important."

"Tomorrow, during the Chunin Exam finals, there is going to be an invasion of Konoha. Kumo, Iwa, Suna, Kusa, and Oto. Five hidden villages have used the Chunin Exams to infiltrate Konoha, and now they plan to destroy us."

At that news, he stopped in his tracks. It took but a second for him to process. He placed down his pipe. "Make as many clones as you can. Assemble every Shinobi of Jonin rank and above. We will meet under the tower."

Hiruzen snapped his fingers. Ten ANBU appeared from seemingly nowhere. "You have the same objective. Make haste."

Immediately Miya popped three dozen clones into existence. She and her clones flickered out of the Hokage's office. Miya herself made a B-Line to the Senju Compound. Yosei Senju, Konoha's strongest. She was the most important person in this village, next in line to become Hokage once she was finished ensuring the Senju lineage.

It was her who needed this news just as much as the Hokage himself.

There was a glint of crimson in the darkness. Immediately, Miya flickered toward it, drawing her amethyst dagger, pointing it at a man. He had a featureless mask, vantablack on the left, glowing crimson on the right. He had a cape, with generic full black Shinobi wear that didn't show an ounce of skin.

He was performing Sealing Jutsu in an alleyway… in a way that Miya didn't immediately recognize. "Who are you?!"

As if he didn't see her before, the masked man gasped dramatically. "OH. MY. SAGE. MIYA!" he exclaimed. Her brows furrowed. "You son of a bitch…" he paused, collecting himself. "You daughter of a bitch, it's been too long girl!

"Your outfit is gorgeous, you've always been such a queen. No wonder I was head over heels for you back in the day. Oh… your hair too! Ughhhh!" he groaned, twirling himself over the sealing matric—that Miya could now see as green.

"If I didn't look in the mirror every day, I would've thought there could be nobody as beautiful as you."

…What the fuck is this dude's deal? Miya stepped forward, sending a golden wave of wind at the sealing formula. It didn't do anything. Miya glared at the man. "Tell me who you are and what the hell you're doing?"

The man scoffed in theatrical offense. "Not even a thank you for all my lovely compliments? Such rudeness is unbefitting for someone of your stature." He let out a sigh. "If you must know, I'm making preparations to invade Konoha! It's something I have never done before, but—"

—Miya cut through him, literally. It felt as she just sliced through air—

"—I'm definitely excited about it! I've been hating this village for the better part of six years, dudette," he continued, walking out from the wall as if nothing happened. "I'm sure you get it, considering what happened to your parents and all."

Miya glared, the amber of her eyes shone out with adamantine glitter. "Choose your next words very carefully."

"Oh, okay!" the man placed a hand on his chin, thinking deeply, audibly. Miya went to charge again but she felt a hand on her shoulder—he was nowhere to be seen.

The warmth of a human body radiated on the side of her face. In a delicate whisper, that man said, "You should go check on those little Genin you have back home."

The First Gate blew the man back with an Adamantine aura. Immediately, a seal on her wrist glowed. A seal around her house… Naruto, Shinrai, Hinata… they were fine. It was as if… she was there for a reason.

There was a sealing formula on the ground, she had no idea who placed it, she couldn't even read it. It was an entirely foreign language… one she'd only ever seen once before. On the Caged Bird Seal.

It baffled her.

Then a flood of memories broke the dams in her brain.

The Invasion—Yosei—what the hell am I doing?!

In a flicker, she blurred to the Senju Compound.

—⊱✿⊰—

About fifteen minutes later, every Jonin, ANBU, and village official was gathered under the Hokage's office. A room of shadows, lit by fire. The biggest fire in the shadow was Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime. He stood at the center, surrounded by a crowd of Konoha's most notable Shinobi still in the village.

The clan heads, Hiashi Hyuuga, Yosei Senju, Inoichi Yamanaka, Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, stood by Hiruzen in a close circle. Right beside him, Danzo Shimura and Jiraiya stood. Other notable Shinobi, such as Miya herself, Kakashi, Gai, and Asuma, were close enough to be involved in the conversation.

Most others formed a crowd around the important ones.

Again, Ryu was nowhere to be found.

With a deep sigh, Hiruzen spoke. "Kumo, Iwa, Suna, Kusa, and Oto have joined forces, conspiring in an invasion on our village of Konoha. Ka'rai Uzumaki, Kumo's Nibi Jinchuriki leaked the information to Shinrai Uzumaki and Naruto Uzumaki, who in turn told Miya Uzumaki.

"That brings us here."

"We need to eradicate every foreign Shinobi in Konoha immediately," said Yosei, narrowing her eyes. "We have the element of surprise, if we strike preemptively, then there will be no chance of an invasion."

"I agree," said Hiashi. "It is best that we act with haste, before things can escalate any further."

"That gives us a chance to steal the Nibi for ourselves," added Danzo, not moving an inch.

Shikaku shook his head. "To act brash with so little information isn't smart… There are too many variables. If they've been planning this… then it'd be idiotic to think they haven't at least considered the possibility of a leak."

"I think I've found one of those contingencies," Miya announced, bringing attention to herself. "While I was traveling to the Senju Compound, I spotted a Jutsu Formula. However, it was in a language that I could not read. In fact, it was in the same language as the Caged Bird Seal."

Immediately, the attention shifted to the Hyuuga Clan head, even more so as other Shinobi muttered in agreement, supporting Miya's claim. There's more of them… she noted.

Hiashi's eyes narrowed in consideration. "I assure you that the Hyuuga Clan has zero intention of betraying Konoha. It was said that Kusagakure was a part of the invasion, then it would make sense that a similar seal to the Caged Bird would appear. Its ancient origins are from the Land of Grass."

"So, could you decipher what the seals do?" asked Danzo to Hiashi.

Hiashi shook his head. "The Hyuuga only have knowledge of the Caged Bird… nothing more."

"I do, in fact," said Toneri Hyuuga. He walked forward out of the crowd of Hyuuga, joining the tier of the other Elite Jonin. Where he belonged. "I came across one on my way here. It is a summoning, Lord Hokage.

"I assume that it is where they plan to summon their forces to Konoha."

The crowd mumbled, Asuma cursed beside Miya.

Hiruzen focused in on Toneri. "Could you disable them?"

"No, I tried to do so. I failed."

"This… is not looking good," Kakashi commented under his breath.

Miya rolled her eyes, clenching her fists. "Maybe I can do something!" she announced. If I overlay my own seal on the summoning, then I could counter it."

"That is impossible," informed Toneri. "In my studies of the Sealing Jutsu of Grass, I've found that it outright rejects any other seal placed onto it, even seals of the same language. It is impossible to counter this summoning."

"So… there's no stopping this invasion," extrapolated Jiraiya, biting his lip. "This has to have something to do with Orochimaru. He just so happened to infiltrate Konoha during the exams." Jiraiya clenched his fists. "This has to have something to do with him."

Asuma stood up straighter, biting the cigarette in his mouth in half. "So… the death of my students is related to his whole fiasco?"

Choza and Inoichi looked similarly intense at their Hokage. "The likelihood is high… almost guaranteed."

"Those Genin were targeting Konoha Shinobi…" muttered Kakashi, narrowing his visible eye.

"So it seems," mumbled Miya with the rumble of an ensuing storm.

The Hokage cleared his throat, seizing the attention of the room. "The best course of action is to prevent as many casualties as possible. There is no saving the infrastructure of Konoha. All of you, discreetly evacuate as many civilians as you can, take advantage of the cover of night.

"Use any Genjutsu you can to hide your actions. We cannot allow our enemies to know that we know. Once evacuations are complete, we fortify what we can. Save everything that we can. Remember your—our Will of Fire. Protect Konoha with your life, because the lives and livelihood of everybody you cherish is on the line."

"Pretty words… Lord Hokage," spat… Zero. Alone, in the darkest corner of the meeting room, unseen, unheard, as always. Those words of pathetic propaganda irked him to no end. They were utter bullshit. If they were true…

If they were true, then Miruni would be alive… and so would the rest of her Clan.

Honestly, he really could just rip the pathetic Hokage's head off right now. His little run-in with the Kyuubi left him crippled. He only had a single fucking lung. He couldn't use Sage Mode anymore. He was a true shell of his former self.

But, no. There was no way even he could escape the wrath of all of Konoha's finest. And… he truly wanted Orochimaru to do the honors.

His prize… was Danzo.

—⊱✿⊰—

Noon. As Sandaime requested… most of Konoha's civilians were evacuated. They were replaced with Shinobi, who blended in as civilians in the stands, in homes. Even still, in order to make Konoha still look lively, there were still civilians who remained.

Those who were unimportant.

The most essential, cooks, doctors, engineers, business owners, children, they were prioritized for evacuation and shelter, under the Hokage monument. Anyone else who was there, they were just lucky. Most weren't… not at all. Even many civilians still watched the matches of the Chunin Exam finals.

They were the most unfortunate.

—⊱✿⊰—

Aiko was excited to see the matches for the Chunin Exam finals. Two of Team 5 would be participating! Surprisingly, it was Gosei who wasn't the one who passed. She always pegged him as the strongest of the squad, so it was definitely news to her.

What was a shame, was that ever since the month started, Ryu was just… gone. She hadn't gone that long without seeing him since she came to Konoha. Truly, in her heart of hearts, she missed him.

When she went to ask Miya about it, she got nothing pretty much. Apparently, they had a bit of an argument, Miya didn't give any details. Aiko wasn't sure if she wanted to hear any details…

But, eh, it was fine. It wasn't like she needed Ryu to be there, she just really really wanted him to be. It was even more surprising that Ryu wasn't even there to watch his students perform, all of the other senseis were there…

Well, at least Team 5 had her!

Not that… Shinrai would appreciate it.

Kusari would at least, Kusari was a kind soul.

The first match was announced, and Aiko grinned as the anticipation of action made her jitter.

—⊱✿⊰—

"The first match is Natsuyo Senju vs Rock Lee!"

The crowd roared and Natsuyo couldn't help but feel the churning blaze of nervousness in her stomach. This was the Shinobi who defeated her brother, and according to him, Rock Lee trained just as hard as she did throughout the month.

Without a doubt, she knew she was in for the fight of her life.

Natsuyo clenched her fist and the sun's yellow fire burned from her skin, licking the air like fierce rays. "I will not lose here, Rock Lee!"

"Well, I say that I will not lose here either!" he quipped back, dropping into his battle stance with an expression of determined ire—it was the most driven look Natsuyo had seen in her life.

It was then when she couldn't stop the excited smirk that crossed her face. Her yellow flames beamed across her body, matching her grin. "Then, let our battle be legendary."

"So it shall," agreed Rock Lee, matching her smirk with his own.

Genma—the proctor—raised his hand into the air. Natsuyo and Rock Lee hardened their faces, tensed their bodies. "The battle begins now!"

He cut the air.

Both Genin disappeared from sight.

At the moment of the clash, Rock Lee was blown back with the fire of Natsuyo's Godai. The skillful flip on his feet allowed him to block the next attack. He countered with a fist to her gut—she grunted with the blunt ache of pain radiating throughout her body.

A kick from Rock Lee blasted her across the open arena. With a mere guiding of her hand, the wind twirled around Natsuyo and allowed her a gentle landing. She continued to spin, and the wind picked up into a tornado.

"Wind Release: Vortex of the Meadows!"

A whirling blast of wind collected dust as it drafted over Rock Lee. The rotating force picked him up off the ground. Natsuyo grinned. She moved and the elements followed suit.

As it turned out, Naruto was right.

She just needed to move.

Not to be like Gosei, she needed to burn her own path through destiny's forest.

After all, she'd never surpass Gosei if she followed the path he forged.

With that, Natsuyo weaved a single hand seal. "Fire Release. Rising Scorch."

Her Vortex of the Meadows plumed with yellow fire—it burned white. Rock Lee shouted out in pain. His unintelligible cries turned into something tangible, something with meaning. "Second Gate: Gate of Healing! OPEN!"

Natsuyo's firestorm was blown back, and she barely blocked a fierce kick from Rock Lee. The impact still sent her flying toward the forest that bordered the arena. Rock Lee followed soon after, illuminating the darkness with a green glow.

The yellow shine of Natsuyo's fire burned around all of them. Her hands were clasped in the tiger seal, her left arm bleeding and bruised from the single kick. "Fire Release: Butterfly Summer!"

Engulfing Natsuyo, fires bloomed into butterflies that soared throughout the dense trees. They were set alight with the most passionate yet gentle fires. Rock Lee was consumed and Natsuyo smirked. She pounced forward, kunai alight and slashed at him.

He swatted her hand away, comboed her into another kick, then a punch and an elbow. It finished with a knee that blasted her to the ground. What followed next was a tree that flew at her like a spear. With both hands, she barely caught it and turned it to ash.

The ash blew back with a punch to her chest.

A rib certainly cracked, but Natsuyo pushed through and grabbed Rock Lee's arm. She grinned. Fire clones sprouted like golden coneflowers. Another thing she'd have to thank Naruto for…

"Exploding Fire Clone Jutsu!"

Over a dozen flaming eruptions scorched Rock Lee from all sides. The boy scrambled off of her while she inhaled. An exhale of searing wind amplified the fire and Rock Lee careened through the air in a burning arc.

With the Tiger Seal, Natsuyo took control of the fire and coalesced it into a point, right above her fingertips. Rock Lee stood, singed, as he barely managed to get the flames off of him with a burst of force.

"Third Gate: Gate of Life! OPEN!" Rock Lee's skin boiled red. An intense green aura shattered the earth beneath as his pupils went vacant.

Dammit—cursed Natsuyo. She barely weaved hand seals. The moment she finished, Rock Lee kicked her.

That didn't stop her jutsu… it was complete, after all.

"Fire Release… Sunshine Shower," she managed with multiple broken ribs. Breathing was agony but she couldn't help but laugh as her condensed ball of fire rose into the air. For but a second, it turned blinding. It expanded into what looked like pure golden light.

Afterward, it fell apart.

Raindrops of fire—raindrops of sun rained down on Rock Lee, burning him. However, he didn't much care about the pain. Those Eight Inner Gates were giving him more than enough of that. His assault didn't stop on her.

She used every ounce of chakra in her body to reinforce it—to stop it from being torn apart. Natsuyo roared with an aura of flames charring the floor. She kicked him, but Rock Lee supported himself and punched at her face. Her head whipped back, and she flew away.

It gave her enough space to weave a hand seal. "Downpour!"

The rain of fire roared, and it became unbearable. Again, Rock Lee screamed from the agony of being burned. Natsuyo took a moment to catch her breath, to cauterize her bleeding bruises. That moment was a mistake—she was kicked into the air. Another punch to her lungs launched her directly into the focal point of her Sunshine Shower.

Rock Lee roared with another punch and it destroyed her jutsu with an eruption of flames that licked the audience with its heat. Her opponent… he forced himself into being unphased. Another punch—he disappeared—he kicked behind her.

Her arms were bound—her nose was shattered—her spine was almost broken, it seemed that Rock Lee pulled back at the last moment.

"Fourth Gate: Gate of Pain! OPEN!"

Natsuyo burned her restraints away just in time for Rock Lee to gut kick her to the ground in a heap. She barely rolled out of the way of the next earth shattering impact. Her arm was broken when she blocked a kick. A blur into nothing—an elbow to the back of her head—she went flying.

"You have been a worthy opponent, Natsuyo Senju!" announced Rock Lee, crossing his arms—the pure force of his aura made it impossible to approach. Him. Veins seemed to burst on his skin. His hair stood on end. Helixes of chakra swirled around him and shattered the earth below. Dust, rocks, and pebbles rose—defying gravity in the face of his power. "But it is time to end this."

Natsuyo managed a smile with her bloody teeth. "You're mistaken… I'm far from done." Natsuyo allowed herself to succumb to the golden blaze. It ate her alive… as if she became the sun herself.

With a deep breath, Natsuyo roared, and so did Rock Lee.

Her aura of fire exploded. "Agni Punch!"

"FIFTH GATE! GATE OF LIMIT! OPEN!"

Both fighters disappeared.

Their fists clashed.

Fire and pure power overtook the arena in a brilliant glow.

Flames, chakra, and dust settled. Silence of anticipation grew as one silhouette made itself clear as the one that stood.

Rock Lee stood. Natsuyo Senju was on the ground, barely moving. His eyes were vacant, his breathing haggard, still in his stance, prepared for battle as he stared into the abyss. Silent, unnmoving, Rock Lee stood.

However… it was Natsuyo that groaned as she moved, as she stood. Slowly, she looked back at Rock Lee— her eyes shot wide. How is he still up—?

Natsuyo nearly fell to the floor as she charged at him with a kunai. However, she was stopped. Genma stood in front of her. "You won. He's unconscious."

Again, Natsuyo's eyes went wide.

He was unconscious… and even despite that he had the will to stand. Rock Lee was truly the worthiest opponent she ever fought.

But, beyond that, she finally processed the first half of Genma's statement. "I… won?"

He grabbed her wrist and held her hand into the air. "Natsuyo Senju is the winner of the match!"

The crowd erupted. Cheers and roars all for her. Pride huffed an agonizing breath into her lungs. She didn't care. She just grinned, grinned so hard that her face felt like it was being ripped apart.

Immediately, she scanned the crowd. The first person she spotted in the crowd was Naruto, his outstanding orange and boisterous blond hair made him stand out. He was definitely happy that she won. He clapped hard, and even through the volume of everyone else, she heard his voice. Though she couldn't exactly make out what he was saying.

Right beside him was Gosei. His grin toward her was obvious, obtuse, and proud. Though he didn't clap or cheer… that was more than enough for her. Gosei…. He was proud of her, of what she's done.

Even more so, her mother was. She was above them, though her little siblings weren't there like she imagined. Her mother had a proud and even smile on her face.

She felt her mother's pride even more than Gosei's.

It would've brought a tear to her eye… had she not fallen unconscious.

—⊱✿⊰—

She… she utterly surpassed me, realized Gosei, watching on with pride, even as Natsuyo was carried off into the medical bay, alongside Rock Lee. Mother was correct, it was her drive that pushed her so far. A drive that he didn't have, not even now.

Even in the face of the shame he felt for himself, in the utter disappointment that assaulted his mental—how his younger sibling surpassed him… he just couldn't bring himself to care, not right now.

He just wanted to be happy for his sister. His sister who finally succeeded. His sister who made the Senju proud. His sister who was stronger than him, physically, mentally…

His sister who he needed to take some tips from.

His sister who was his worthiest rival of them all, more than Naruto, or even Rock Lee.

Gosei smiled at the thought, the concept, the person, the sister, Natsuyo.

Mark my words, Natsuyo Senju, for I will surpass you, no matter what happens.

—⊱✿⊰—

"Shinrai," Kusari began. They were in Training Ground 5, the one assigned to their team. With Ryujin-sensei gone, and Gosei with Team Gai, they had it all to themselves, basically. The remnants of their first battle against Ryujin-sensei were long gone, repaired and grown over.

It looked as good as new.

That, however, was not her concern.

Kusari's gaze on her teammate heated with the intensity of determination. "I need you to make me as angry as you possibly can."

"That… that sounds like a death sentence."

Kusari rolled her eyes. "If what I have goes to plan, you should be very much alive."

"Kusari, what the fuck are you planning to do to me?" he asked, deadpan.

"I need to control my Ingoken."

"YOU'RE GOING TO USE THAT ON ME?!"

"Not entirely."

"Dude… I thought it'd be Ka'rai I have to worry about not you—" he spattered.

Kusari stepped forward, Shinrai stepped back, Kusari dashed forward and held him in place with a firm, yet gentle hand. "I'm not going to kill you."

"But are you going to maim me?"

"No, I will not."

"I don't know if I trust that."

Kusari sighed, looking Shinrai in the eyes. "Your meditation has helped me greatly in controlling my… power. I simply require a field test… something with actual stakes, to give me every reason not to fail.

"On top of that, I trust you to be able to take at least one hit…"

Shinrai sighed, placing his covered forehead on hers. Metal clanged from the impact. Slowly, he stepped back, the scarlet of his Sharingan whirled. He drew his white blade. "Give me all you got, Kusari."

Kusari crouched into her stance. Allowing the searing heat of Shivua's fury to overtake her. Shinrai charged—flashing with visions of the heiress.

An eruption like no other followed.

—⊱✿⊰—

Sasuke's life wasn't at risk fighting her, Kusari knew that for sure. No serious injury, nothing career ending. Sasuke physically would be as good as new after a day's rest. But, his pride… that would never recover after what she did to him.

Even seeing the two tomoe whirl around his crimson eyes, his Sharingan, did little to shake her confidence. Something about Sasuke, something in him made Shivua utterly despise him. If anything, it would help her out. Shivua's rage was going to come easy in this battle.

"The second match! Kusari Hyuuga vs Sasuke Uchiha!"

The crowd went wild especially at the call of Sasuke's name. Everyone expected him to win. Everyone wanted him to win. As far as they were concerned, it was fate for her to lose. Their interpretation of fate was completely and utterly incorrect.

The crowd was the Hyuuga Clan, a false interpretation, caged by false expectation.

Sasuke… was the Main Branch, the creator of the false expectation, the bastardizer of fate.

She was being too hard on him, Sasuke did nothing wrong, in truth. But… that didn't alter her mindset for the battle at all.

Genma raised his hand into the air.

Sasuke's Sharingan whirled, analyzing her—picking her apart. Despite the lack of tomoe, the power behind them matched Shinrai's eyes. "I'll wipe you away like the scum you are," he promised, no temperature to his tone.

That caught her off guard. But, all she showed for it was the crouch into her battle stance. Legs firm like a brawler, hands in front like a boxer, palms out like a Hyuuga. Her Ingoken stance was truly her own now. "I'd like to see you try, Sasuke," she teased with her Byakugan coming to life.

He growled as she said his name. Kusari smirked in return.

Genma chopped his hand between the two. "THE MATCH BEGINS NOW!"

Shivua's power erupted within her—floodgates of fury released. Sasuke stumbled backward. Kusari was in front of him. "Ingoken." A flash of barbaric chakra—Kusari's palm was in Sasuke's chest. He screamed out with pain.

Bones were broken, blood vessels popped, but… there wasn't a hole in his chest. It was the control she worked so hard for, that Neji stressed for her, that Shinrai sacrificed his body for… partly.

Only one hit, and Sasuke was coughing up blood.

Kusari couldn't help the triumphant smirk that crossed her lips. "This is the power I held back in our last two battles. If I truly went all out in those two bouts, you never would've stood a chance. And now, I have the control not to kill you using it. Forfeit to save yourself a world of pain."

Sasuke growled and his Sharingan bled with luminescence. "How dare you…" he growled. "How dare you suggest I'll give up after a single damn hit. Do you ask me because you know you'd do the same in my situation?! Are you that much of a coward?!"

Kusari's Byakugan gaze cracked with the twitch of her brow. "I'll make you say the words, 'I forfeit' if it means I'll have to turn the rest of you as red as your eyes."

"You'll never get the chance!" Sasuke blitzed through hand seals. "GREAT FIREBALL JUTSU!"

Weak points made themselves clear in an instant. Six palm strikes and it was gone—Sasuke moved to her side as she disabled his jutsu. Shuriken flew. Kusari struck them out of the air. They reflected off of each other—traveling in arcs seemingly impossible to strike her. Not a single one hit her.

They were pulled back—connected to each other with ninja wire. They spun around her—"Rotation!" Kusari blasted them all back.

Sasuke smirked, weaving a single hand seal. The chakra inside of him molded, compounding like friction, sparking as the hair on his body raised—Lightning?!

"Lightning Style!"

The electric wire and shuriken cut through her rotation and into her skin, through her jacket—barely stopped by the mesh armor around her torso. Kusari seethed, a burst of chakra shattered the electric wire, the Shuriken fell to the floor. The full force of her Byakugan glare matched Sasuke's Sharingan.

His smirk sharpened. Kusari's head tilted. A flash with a kunai in her hand. Sasuke barely blocked with his own, both kunai shattered. Her controlled Ingoken flared in her leg as she kicked Sasuke's hip.

Another cry and he collapsed to the floor. Kusari kneed him in the nose, no Ingoken. Sasuke was on his back—Kusari stepped on his throat. "Forfeit, Sasuke."

"Go to hell!" he wheezed, pushing against her foot. Even the full force of Sasuke's chakra-boosted arms meant nothing in the face of just her single leg. Her body was infinitely more powerful than his— he was battling futilely against his fate of failure.

Slowly, she increased the force. She shut off his airway. "Forfeit if you wish to breathe."

This time, Sasuke couldn't scream. He couldn't do anything but thrash. Either way, her victory was guaranteed—a violent violet aura chakra whipped her off of him. Sasuke took a deep, long, clear breath. Heavenly Cursed Marks flew across his face in a magmic whirl—like the spreading of the sun's rays over a death ridden battlefield.

Kusari's eyes narrowed. Oh… so this might be a challenge. An internal shudder rattled her mind as she thought of the last time she was forced to do battle with Sasuke's Curse Mark. He stood tall, as if the damage he received didn't even occur, not in the slightest.

The same thing happened to the heiress, dammit.

The fight had effectively reset itself; she was back to square one against a significantly more powerful opponent. Luckily, she didn't use any jutsu that were too strenuous, and her injuries were minimal.

Sasuke growled and hatred rose in his Sharingan like a blood moon, amplified by the Curse.

Kusari's hair floated as more of Shivua's power coursed through her, utterly controlled—Shivua's fury was hers now—a service to her fate… to destroy Sasuke, and then the Main Branch.

A destined Byakugan glare honed in on Sasuke, avoiding eye-contact with the Sharingan. "You don't have to worry about me running away this time."

Sasuke snarled, the magmic orange of spreading curses faded to an onyx black. A cursed blur and Kusari and Sasuke's fists met. Kusari pushed forward and her bones doubled the impact, Sasuke skidded back. Kusari blasted forward—into a fireball from Sasuke. The burns only affected her skin. She had no reason to give it any mind.

Kusari's smoldering Ingoken slammed into Sasuke's shoulder. With her Byakugan, she saw that less damage was inflicted; Senjutsu reinforced his body. Her next Ingoken to his gut was restrained just a bit less. His core was torn and he seethed. Sasuke kneed her chin and kicked her skull.

She barely held back a scream.

Her head remained an infuriating weak spot.

Sasuke, unlike Hinata, capitalized.

Another ache screeched through her head as Sasuke's fist slammed into it. Kusari's mind rattled with a cursed kick. The blunt force of his head made her stumble back. A kunai flew at her chest, Kusari blocked it with her arm. It cut through the skin and cracked on impact with her bone.

Kusari needed to take a deep breath; Shivua threatened to throw her self control out the window.

"Damn you… Indra," spat Kusari, trembling, searing at the core.

Sasuke's fury flared over—a cursed helix surrounded him. "What did you just call me?!"

What did she just call him…?

Indra… rasped an ancient resentment… rasped Shivua. Something otherworldly came over her, the Caged Bird burned, as if it was holding something back. "You heard me!" Kusari spat, out of her control—What?!

Sasuke riled. "How do you even know what that is?! Is this your pathetic attempt at a mind game?!"

If it was, you'd be falling right for it. Again, Kusari spoke against her will. "It is what you are. Don't run from it. No matter what you or your pathetic clan believes… you will always be Indra."

What am I saying?! questioned Kusari as Sasuke screamed out with fury that matched her own. His fist flew into her face and she collapsed to the ground. Sasuke leapt on top of her but Kusari kicked him off.

He blasted through hand seals and Kusari did the same.

"Fire style! Starlight Inferno!"

"Lightning Style! Voltage of Genocide!"

Blazing orange fire seared the ground as lightning screeched from Kusari's hands, blowing apart the earth and everything in its path. Possessed by the urge to dominate, Kusari blitzed through her own lightning storm and through Sasuke's firestorm. The pain, heat, and pure chakra threatened to tear her apart but Kusari didn't care. She appeared through the other side like a ghoul and Sasuke looked terrified, even if just for a second.

Ingoken blew apart his ribs for a second time. His blood erupted out of his mouth, onto Kusari's head. The white streak of her head was stained red. Kusari just kept going. Ingoken. Ingoken. Ingoken. Ingoken—

—"CHIDORI!"

Kusari screamed as her shoulder was pierced by lightning. A thousand birds cried in her ear— it felt like they were bleeding. The only reason why she wasn't impaled was because her bones were unnaturally durable.

Sasuke's Sharingan whirled. "You'll pay for every evil you've committed Shivua." Kusari's heart dropped— what did he just— how does he—? In her panic, she made the mistake of eye contact—dammit!

Her world whirled in with the crimson glow. She slipped on herself; she slipped on her own mind—her control. Shivua pushed against the Caged Bird seal—Kusari screamed—it HURT—! The pain freed her—Kusari gasped, Sasuke was on top of her.

Instinct thrusted her palm into Sasuke's shoulder. There was no Ingoken, but the pain of her own skin and muscle being torn made her growl. Sasuke growled similarly, through the opposite side of his shoulder… she saw a bone. It was sharp, like a tanto.

Kusari yanked her arm from Sasuke's shoulder and felt the pain of her bone snapping off—she couldn't help but scream at the horrid sensation… nothing she's ever felt before. Sasuke barely wasted a second before slashing a kunai across her chest. Blood flowed freely and an eruption of Shivua's rage blasted him back.

Kusari stood, clenching her fists at the pain, holding back all of the rage. Sasuke's teeth bled as he snarled. "You don't deserve an ounce of the strength that you have. The fact that you have it fucking infuriates me."

His glare was matched by Kusari's. "You don't know me. You don't have the right to tell me what I do and do not deserve— especially my strength."

Sasuke chuckled— cynically, hatefully. "Oh… I know enough," he spat. "You're despicable. You're a monster, a destroyer! A barbarian who only views people as things to be eradicated. In reality… it's you that needs to die. You're the trash of this world that needs to be taken out!"

What… His words… they… Her anger faltered, the control of Shivua's slipped. Power erupted but Kusari herself didn't have the mind to move—she was shaking. His words were her own thoughts. He's… similar… to me, in some way.

"You, you're no different from the bastard who murdered my clan!" shouted Sasuke, the curse erupting with that violent violet chakra.

With a deep breath, Kusari centered herself. "I can see why you'd think that…" she admitted, not taking her eyes off of Sasuke. "I thought the same of myself not too long ago."

"Then do this world a favor and take yourself out."

Kusari chuckled a bit. "No." She rolled her head on her neck and looked Sasuke in the Sharingan eyes. "Don't be so foolish to think your revenge is the only one that exists. What is supposed to be my family tried to kill me. Revenge upon them is my destiny, just as you have your own fate of revenge."

"I… see…" Sasuke said, eyes narrowing in realization. His fists clenched. "I suppose—"

In a blur—summoning Shivua's rage she knocked him to the ground. He heaved his breath, Ingoken made breathing cost as much effort as sprinting a thousand miles. Kusari gave him a condescending smile. "Now, forfeit, Sasuke Uchiha."

He sucked his teeth. "Go… to… hell…"

Kusari watched the consciousness drain from his body.

At least she got the satisfaction of victory. Sasuke was carried off to be treated and Kusari had her arm raised into the air by Genma. "Kusari Hyuuga is the winner of the match!"

The crowd went silent… then it exploded with cheers.

Kusari just bathed in the praise. It was something similar that she imagined when she stood over the corpse of Hiashi Hyuuga. A Hyuuga Clan freed from the Caged Bird, cheering on and basking in their newfound freedom, knowing that they'll never know slavery again.

The crowds accepted her fate, not their misconception. Hopefully, the Hyuuga would do the same. She won against Sasuke Uchiha.

Nobody would've thought that possible before.

Shivua's rage evaporated into Kusari's elation.

If there was one thing that this match confirmed, it was that her victory against the Main Branch…

It was fate.

?￢ﾜ ? ~ Chapter End ~ ?￢ﾜ ?