Ok so just in case you don't remember its Sasuke, Kankuro, Aoi, Shino and now Yakumo in the finals so far. Big things people, big things are coming and no not just Chojis fight! You know the drill dont sue me thanks for reading 3 lets do this.
The screen whirled up again for the sixth time and the names were chosen. Another kunoichi match and a sad one at that. Tenten of team Gai was utterly humiliated by her opponent. A girl from sand who wielded a giant fan. Now for a weapons specialist like Tenten it should have been easy. Use the right weapon for the given situation and fight as best you can, simple. The problem was Tentens aproach was anything but, she unleashed a wave of weapon from above of various kinds, some thrown when they definitely could have been saved for a ground assault. What made it all bad was that Temari her opponent from Suna, or the sand village in the land of wind, had used her giant fan to throw her attack back at her. It was so obvious that a changed in tactics was required, but instead she ran at the Futon user with a very similar plan. Needless to say you cant overwhelm your opponent once they've trapped you in their attack.
Temari was clear not even challenged by the fight. She ended it with her opponent nearly breaking her back on the giant fan she weilded so easily. The worst if it was after she was tossed off the weapon like yesterdays news, she sighed in disappointment. Tenten and her team had practiced an extra year for this exam and the first if them to go out was absolutely done up. By a rookie. It couldn't get much more worse than that in her opinion.
The following match was much better to look at. It was the hour of kunoici it seemed as another set of female ninjas faced off. Hinata Hyuga vs Karin Uzumaki, both of well known clans with something to prove in their own ways. Karin needed to show the strength of her clan to show her respect for her family, to uphold tradition and make her first steps at the dream she and her brother shared. Hinata was also taking her first steps towards her dream, although she wasn't looking to uphold tradition or show respect. Hinata aimed to tear down the barrieres of her families way of life and that meant doing things her own way. The proctor announced the start of the battle and action sparked immediately! Dimly glowing gold chains raced toward Hinata from Karin's back. Hinata in true Hyuga fashion held her ground though instead of maintaining a single stance for the duration of her opponent's attack. No she bent and twisted in an impressive display of flexibility. If that weren't enough she did three things that took thise paying attention by surprise.
"Aeral trigrams: Acearated Palms Technique! Protections of the eight trigams: 64 Palms!" Hinata delecatly danced around the chains throwing away the chains that came too close before they could wvwn hope to do damage. Karin for her part tried to manipulate the chains back on target but the speed at which the Hyuga princess was moving was unlike anything she'd ever seen from her before. For a moment the chains seemed ti burst away from the blue haired girl framing her like art before diving in once more. Again they were deflected and again they were unable to get past the girl's defenses, Hinata then took to catching the last bits of chains around her. It happened so quickly that Karin almost didn't have time to react when she was yanked towards the other girl. In true Uzumaki form she allowed the change in flow and had a chakra enhanced fist waiting. Hinata met the blow with her own chakra coated hand and went for the block, both parties being blown back by the impact. Hinata rushed her opponent and went to strike when a dome erected from the ground to stop her. Karin didn't even have the luxury of time as the dome she'd created around Hinta suddenly exploded. There stood Hinata arms outstretched no sign of movement haveing been taken before she got back into her modified gentle fist stance.
From the stands Neji scowled. "The full body burst technique! How like the main branch to use our techniques and bar us from the same privileges." He thought.
"Hey Neji if that girl is from your clan do you know her?" Tenten asked. Neji nodded at that pushing down some of his anger before responding. "Yes she is my cousin and the heiress to our clan." He sighed. Rock Lee and their sensei Maight Gai spouted of about the flames of youth, which he put great effort into ignoring for his own sanity, turning all of his focus and resentment to the match below.
Realizing the dome wouldn't work and that taijutsu, with a Hyuga of all people, was out. Karin decided that some water bullets would be next. "But just in case..."
Hinata saw her opponent throw up two different sets handsigns and decided that it was time to end it."Byakugan!" She called out. The veins bulging aroundher eyes proof of the dojutsus activation. The whole room was stunned. Sure thanks to a few unfortunate events the Hyuga were arguably the strongest in the village but that was all reliant on the clans ocular kekkei genkai. Her reaction time. Her display of power. The ease of combat and all without her Byakugan activated. It was incredible!
With her Byakugan active, Hinata could see the chakra of her opponent. Most importantly she could she the film of chakra before her. Looks like the hard way then. She ducked under several compressed balls of water, a good thing too since they made cracks in the wall on impact. She ran through the thin wall of chakra and started attacking the Uzumaki girl. "If you thought I was going to fall for that then you're nit as promising as I'd hoped."
Karin smirked, dodging attack after attack. It looked sloppy, she very nearly fell to the floor several times but soon the plan was clear. Kyō from the stands was cackling which made his teammates smirk grow wvwn more. "You know me better than that! I was an honnorary princess once upon a time wasn't I?" She said laughing. Karin leapt backwards and put her hands together. Once she did Hinata took note if the bright powder blue glow at her feet. She didn't even have time to understand the seals use before it was too late. Jets of water hit her from all sides, eventually propelling her upward and leaving her emoblized.
Or so it seemed.
"I was really hoping to save this for the finals but no matter. I'm ending this." She struggled through the propper hands saigns and waited until her opponent was where she wanted her. Hinata could see even her current state, that Karin was headed for the big finisher in the air. "Flashy as always, just like him." She thought. Karin was soon right at her level fist reared back and wrapped in the spiky glowing chains her clan could unleash. "Awigr Buwam!" She said and unleashed the air based attack. Thanks to Karin's own jutsu she couldn't understand her it was perfect! It clearlyworked too as the burst if two wind sent Hinata out if the jutsus clutches and knocked Karin into the wall. Not wanting to guve her opponent more time to plot Hinata rushed her where she was, leaping at her and with the Gentle fist style beating her into the wall and making sure ti hit as many tenketsu as possible. When the adrenaline died down bith girls fell to the floor out of breath Karin went to swjng one last punch but fellout from the lack of energy. Hinata whi was just out of reach stood and tried to look as reserved and greatful as possible win accepting her win. After she was announced the winner she quietly thanked Karin for the fight. It was nice to go all out every once in awhile.
In the bathroom Sakura looked at herself. Some would say it was a bit hasty to maje such a decision in the forest. But, Sakura couldn't fully relate to that group anymore. She was changing and though it was tough, she knew that it was the best thing she could be doing right now. Better to start a new grove than fall with the rotten, her dad always said. "New look billboard brow? I'm nit sure it's in Sasuke's taste." She geard from behind. Ino started back at her from the mirror smirking.
Sakura sighed and turned around with her own smirk. "Not the first time you've been wrong Ino-PIG! But you may be on to something with that! After all your not exactly in his taste either." They glared at eachother fir a bit before Ino broke the silence. "Look Sakura thjngs are getting heated out there lots of these giysbare really good and to be honest you're only going to embarrass yourself trying to be something you're not." Ino said. Sakura in turn scowled, who was she to say that? Ever since their falling out the inky things they knew was what the other looked like and what they did in class to impress Sasuke. A romantic rivalry that was a far cry from the friendship the two girls once shared. "Like she'd be any better off!" Sakura thought. "I hope we get paried up then Ino-pig! Save my strength for the big guys you know?!" She said putting on her best Naruto, for the insult. It worked too, Ino was so red in the face she was practically purple! While she stormed out she made sure to say, "Lets hope Sasuke sees it yeah, what would you do if he missed your big finish? The horror! Hahahahaa" said Sakura cackling.
After a few moments more to herself in the bathroom she gathered enough energy to walk out like nothing happened. Another battle had started, Kyō she recognized even before she saw his form thanks to the colorful ecplosions with different reactions. She recognized the other boy as one of the Hikaru kids, she went to the screen for his name. Asuka, the Hikaru boy, was much like his sister in a few ways. Quick, string and wielding a weapon. The weapon was different though, a white and golden otsuchi spoked with rubies at the top and bottom of the handles respectively. From the fight she learned a few things. Uzumaki like the Hikaru were fast or maybe it was the other way around, she didn't know and thinking the thought out loud could send Naruto on a tangent. Another thing she learned was that they too had somw strange techniques that involved summoning. The color was off instead of purple the circles the drew up in the air were a shade of yellow so ethereal it could only be compared to the sun. Of course the litteral sun with feathers around it made that comparison easy to think of. Naruto had seemingly come on to the fact she was back and told her about the fight she missed. Neji and Choji. The former making quick work of the latter. Sakura then listened to the trash talk in the current match up. Asuka said that Kyō should dress more like a red light girl to match his hair then, if that wasn't enough, tried hitting on Karin from the arena floor. Which must of been a continuous thing because he was actively doing it now. "C'mon you look like you could use a little light in your life!" Sakira heard. Amazingly he tossed up a bunch of feathers that glowed tge higher they went. Asuka was about to hse ine of techniques if his now gold pupils were anything to go by. Kyō tried to attack him again with his darts but to no avail. Bursts of yellow and purple and the two were gone or maybe just moving fast? The onlookers Sakura included could see the effects of their on going battle. Craters that suddenly appeared and cuts into the stone wall that just wasn't there before, all the while the feathers kept rising.
The two boys were finally back in sight. Huffing and puffing, Asuka went to say something but was ultimately shut down by the seal shot towards his face. So instead he rolled his eyes and snapped. The feathers became a family of angles. A bunch if baby heads circling a bearded one. The scene wouldve been more awesome if not to long after, they caught a fully charged bladed turent to the face. The arch of chakra being unappreciated by the angelic summons. They in turn began to shoot lasers? Comming down still in formation to target Kyō. Having switched his focus to the threat Asuka was now able to pry off the seal. "Good lord were your parents expecting a boy the training you've gotten is wayyy to serious for such a pretty face." He said.
"YOU CANNOT TALK TO HIM LIKE THAT! ILL COME DOWN THERE AND SHOW YOU THE RESULT OF SERIOUS TRAINING! You PUNK!" Yelled Lee from the stands gripping the railing so tight you'd think he was going to throw it at the white haired boy. In fact that might've actually been the plan but suddenly he was reprimanded by the proctor. "If you interfere both you and Uzumaki san will be disqualified. Is that (cough) understood?" Lee grimaced and nodded to show he did. That didn't cuase his grip loosen though, not even a little. So he turned his attention back to the explosive wonder that was Kyō Uzumaki.
Kyō kisses one if his darts turning it hot pink he threw it at the baby faces ones and they were consumed in a fire of the same color. "I am a boy Im just not hauntingly misogynistic like you darling." He said slicing up the the smaller angels still and dodging the lasers from the rest. "Pet names already? We haven't even gotten handsy yet!" Asuka said laughing. Picking up massive hammer and attacking the Uzumaki head on. Kyō tossed a fee seals onto the floor around his opponents feet and like Karins fight water came out of it. "Uzumaki style! Scalding Geyser!" The water jetting towards the kumo genin was steaming and fast, Asuka hammered the floor to make a barrier but it didn't work. Not only did the boiling stream break through his defense the others bent around it and hit his back. At the same time the water in the seals was all used up and Kyō took down the last angel turning to dodge Asukas swing. "Ooh a little sluggish there hm?" Said Kyō tachi in hand. Asuka continued with his attack, switching between swinging and jabbing at his red headed opponent. "So mouthy and rude, you really ought to be hanging around more civilized people. We do this without all the banter. Just action!" His movements were once agin top speed and lightning seemed to dance around his weapon. "You want touch me?" Kyō said slicing at Asukas arms. The boy from kumo luaghed smashing a dart coming his way. "Oh I'm just itching to!" He dashed towards Kyō posed with the promise of pain- and then he found himself in a hamster ball. "Phew I wasn't sure that would work! Thanks for being so easy. About all the teasing though sorry but im spoken for," Rock Lee fainted behind him face red and ears steaming."I also think you should get that itch checked out cant have you saints dying off to a whores illness. Thats so boring." Asuka still rolling around with no way to fight back and being trapped in a jutsu was ruled incapacitated and lost. One snap and all the seal and reactions from the darts were gone. Asuka fell face first into the concrete floor, much to his sister's amusement, and prayed to look cooler in the future. "Any chance that could change?" He called out to Kyō who was on the stairs already. Kyō looked back unimpressed.
"Not even in hell Hikaru." He said taking out a lollipop and joing his team. Asuka sighed and went up to his team as well. Meanwhile back in the stands Naruto was praising his clansmen for the work he put into the darts and his seal at the end. Sakura took that moment to really get a look at all the Uzumaki together. They weren't an inbred, stuck up noble clan like some in the village but they all had a strength that couldnt be extinguished. Considering their hair color it was funny to think about. Moving on with clasic features she could already take down a few. Like her own family of merchants of different trades there was a signature hair color attached to the clansmen, a red of varying shades but all poping in the perfect way for each Uzumaki. Some would say the violet eyes were a common feature but Sakura, who had been near the compound and seen enough Uzmaki in the merchant district, knew it wasn't. Even in front of her now she saw that wasn't the case. Naruto with his heliotrope, Kenshin with his deep purple and their sensei Kanata, with a more toxic shade of the same color. Then tgere was Kyō and Karin with green and red irises respectively. If Narutos mother and Kanata were anything to go by the she could expect them all to be faurly tall in the future. Sakura thought of the comradery that they had a trait most were praised for though went unappreciated in the "foreign" clan. Naruto talked about it all the time, his duties and how his clan managed to escape total annihilation without aid from their allies just to be scorned for coming to them in the end. They were abke to make the best out of it and maintain their values and traditions. Something she wished she had. As a kunoichi she was well versed in a number of different customs and cultures but it wasn't hers. She was just born into a family that had enough to support her dream(even if some hated it) abd for that she was grateful. She missed her constant thought her first peak into the ninja world and all the confidence she'd started to gain from it. But things were different now, she had no constant, without her team she was alone and for what? A boy? She didn't regret going after what she wanted but maybe she could have done things differently. She missed-
"Ino Yamanaka versus Sakura Haruno!" The proctor called. Well shit.
Snapping out of it she met Inos gaze and quit her reminiscing. She did think back to how her former best friend had tried to make her quit and thiught to communicate that she was serious in her decision not to. So when they got to the arena floor she did something only Ino would understand. Taking her headband and placing it properly on her forehead. Axes in hand she got ready to shiw why she deserved to be here. So much had happened since graduating the academy. Even if she had lost her friend and herself while studying to become a ninja and chasing after Sasuke things. Were. Different. She was a ninja now and in the world of ninja strength was the only universal tongue. She would say what she neded to say to her friend, even if that meant beating the message into her.
Ino copied her movement and the match began. Ino tried to avoid the swings of Sakuras axes and got away only barely scratched blocking when she coukd with kunai. Sakura in turn had to watch out for the Inos fist and blade. Letting the a es return to the seals Naruto gave her Sakura continued the faight with just her fists. Ino in a display of true dramatics cut her long ponytail and went to fight the same way. When Ino found herself getting overwhelmed she went to use her clans secret justsu and invaded Sakuras mind and soul. Whatever she saw inthere was enough to kick her out temporarily stunning Sakura, but also leaving her drained. Both girls recovered at the same time and went ti finish the ither off with a blow to the face. Knuckles met cheekbones and they both staggered, one more than the other. Sakura continued her assault on the girl and watched as she dropped to the floor afterwords. "Winner Sakura Haruno. (Cough cough)" the proctor said. The pink haired girl helped the other one up and they went to chat privately. When they came out they were both grinning and taunting each other like back in the academy.
"You two alright?" Kakashi asked when his student came back. Sakura nodded. "We came to an agreement we're rivals for real now. I think we needed to do that a while ago but that doesn't matter. Things are better now. I'm better." Sakura responded