Hello, I hope I'm not late. I'm a lazy person, and so, I have been putting this off a bit. Just a lil'. And now, I've made what's going to be the most boring chapter in the book (I think) because we might as well get that over with. I present to you: The chapter of fights that are not relevant to the plot! Due to struggling to find out how to cut to the action.
Disclaimer: As usual, I do not own Naruto.
"Congratulations on finishing the second exam!" Anko announced to the genin standing in the room.
Hinata fidgeted nervously on her spot right with Naruto and Sasuke. It seemed that all the rookies had passed. Everybody, from Ino to Kiba, were all here.
But so are we, she reminded herself. And then she stood taller.
OwOwO
"It seems your team didn't do too bad, Kakashi. They must've gotten lucky," Guy said. "Of course, with my team around, your team is doomed to failure." He finished with a rather smug expression. "After all, the next test is all about ability, and we got you far out-classed."
"Hmm?" Kakashi turned to Guy with a blank face. "Did you say something?"
Guy at that moment felt like an entire mountain had just crashed on top of him.
Boy, that drives me nuts when you act so cool, Kakashi, he thought while clenching his fist. Kakashi awkwardly noted that he could practically feel his rival's blood boiling.
Oh, Guy-sensei, Lee thought watching his teacher's exchange with Kakashi. You are very cool. I mean, you are so cool, you practically glow with cool.
"Don't worry, Guy-sensei!" He jumped up, raising a fist, "Someday I'll make you proud of me!" Tenten, who was next to Lee, awkwardly noted that she could feel his blood boiling.
All the genin were assessing each other. Neji had taken note of Sasuke, Zaku, who our rookies took note as Sound guy No. 2, was seeking revenge after Sasuke, and basically everybody was obsessing after Sasuke. Well, maybe not everybody, but it felt like it.
"Lord Hokage? They're all yours." Anko reluctantly handed the play toys–I mean genin. Yes. Genin. Anko reluctantly handed the genin over to Sarutobi to boss around.
"I'm going to now tell you the true purpose of these exams," Sarutobi said around his pipe. "An increased friendship between allied nations, yes, that matters. But individual strength is necessary as well. The exams are, so to speak…" He blew out a puff of smoke. "They are a representation of the battle between allied nations. In order to keep from destroying each other's military strength, we chose only certain ninja to pass, only those who can carry the weight of their nation on their backs. It's because this is an exam where your life's on the line, it has meaning."
Suddenly, a man came in front of the Third Hokage, kneeling. "Before you do anything, please allow me, Hayate Gekko, to speak first."
"Go ahead," Sarutobi allowed him.
Hayate gave a cough before introducing himself. "Nice to meet you all. I will be your proctor for the next stage. But before that, we need a preliminary exam before the real one."
Huh? Naruto frowned at the man.
"Are you kidding me?" Shikamaru protested. "We've already been through a lot!"
"I'm sorry." Sakura resisted the urge to crack her knuckles. "Say that again?"
"The second exams might've been too easy," Hayate spoke in that slow tone again. Hinata diverted her attention from his face–the dark circles around his eyes that spoke of sickness were hard to look at. "The fact is we never expected so much genin to still be here." He let out a string of hacking coughs. "Sorry about that," he spoke again, clearing his throat. "As I was saying, the preliminaries will be starting immediately."
"Oh, come on, you've got to be kidding me!" Kiba complained.
"You mean we don't even get a break?" Ino protested. Behind her, Shikamaru groaned.
"What a drag," He muttered out his catch phrase.
Naruto was annoyed, but he was up for it. Hinata and Sasuke felt the same.
"If there isn't anybody up for it, they may leave now," Hayate finished.
Does he really think anybody's going to quit, Sasuke thought deridingly. He winced when a shot of pain suddenly went through his neck. Both Hinata and Naruto whipped their heads in his direction when he let out a small gasp.
"Sasuke?" Hinata asked uncertainly.
"What's wrong?" Naruto glanced at Hinata. "Is it the…"
Hinata nodded. "Sasuke, do you want me to block it again?"
Sasuke gritted his teeth and nodded. "It won't disturb my performance in the exams, right?"
Hinata nodded, raising a palm to his neck. "But it's not going to last for long either. You should really get it checked."
"Afterwards," Was Sasuke's short answer.
Hinata nodded, although a bit uncertain, and blocked the chakra points around his seal.
OwOwO
Orochimaru looked from his place where he was impostering as a Sound teacher. He gritted his teeth and glared daggers at the Hyuga who dared interfere with his plans.
I should've gotten to her earlier, he thought rather angrily. No matter, Sasuke's own anger will find a way to unlock the mark.
OwOwO
"You got me," Kabuto raised a hand. "I'm out."
Everybody stared at him. Actually, "is this dude serious?" was the common thought around the room.
Naruto let out a confused "huh?" and stared at the man leaving. From his past experiences, Kabuto seemed very confident in his abilities, and he had taken the Chunin Exams several times already. Why in the world would he quit?
I'm sorry, Sasuke, Naruto, Kabuto thought, pushing his glasses back. But I've already done my job, haven't I, Lord Orochimaru?
Hayate's sudden cough whipped Naruto back to reality.
"Now, then…" Hayate returned his attention back to the clipboard in front of him.
"Sasuke," Hinata whispered. "Are you sure you should be doing this? I don't know how long the effects of Gentle Fist will last…"
"Stay out of it," Sasuke said curtly. "I've come this far, and if this is the way I can get stronger, it's the path I walk."
Hinata took a step back, chagrined, and opened her mouth to apologize, when Naruto stepped in.
"She's just worried about you," He told Sasuke, glaring at him. "You don't need to bite her head off for it. Heck, I understand where her concern is coming from."
"Naruto, one of the people I want to fight the most is you," Sasuke said suddenly.
Naruto's eyes widened and he let out a small gasp. He relaxed a bit. "Well, alright, but don't take your anger out on Hinata."
Sasuke gave a glance at the girl. "Oh right. Sorry." He muttered out the last bit as quietly as he could.
Hinata let out a small smile at the boy's ego and nodded to show her forgiveness. Sasuke is going through a lot, She reminded herself. Just give him space.
"This next exam consists of individual, one-on-one combat," Hayate said with a hoarse voice. "With full battle intensity. The battles will be chosen at random with the generator. We begin now."
All eyes were on the machine at the top, watching the names go by. At last, it landed on the name Yoroi Akado, a ninja whose face was concealed by a veil and glasses, and the name along with it was…
"I couldn't ask for anything more," The ninja uttered underneath his mask.
"Guess I'm up," Sasuke muttered, rubbing the spot on his shoulder one more time.
The other contestants made their way up the stairs to watch from the raised platforms. Just as Hinata and Naruto were about to go, Kakashi made his way to them and stopped right next to Sasuke.
"Don't use your Sharingan," He told him in a quiet voice.
Sasuke widened his eyes. So you knew. "It's fine. Hinata fixed it for me."
Kakashi shrugged. "Just want to let you know, if it comes to a certain fight, I'll have to stop the fight." He continued on his way.
Sasuke gritted his teeth. Maybe it was better that he avoided using the Sharingan, but how was he supposed to win like that? He observed his opponent. Maybe I can make him laugh himself to death.
"Now, if you're ready…" Hayate looked at the two genin.
"Ready," Yoroi said, folding his hands together into a seal.
"Ready." Sasuke got into fighting position.
"Began!"
Both Sasuke and Yoroi whipped out a weapon from their pouch and started with that attack. Sasuke deflected the kunai that Yoroi threw, and raced over, trapping the offending opponent by lodging his arm in place with his body.
"Hey, he got him!" Naruto yelled excitedly from his place on the watching stands.
"Wait!" Hinata spoke suddenly, her Byakugan active. "There's something wrong. That ninja is doing something with his chakra…"
Naruto watched closer and realized Sasuke had let go of his opponent.
OwOwO
Sasuke looked at his trembling hand in shock. What the hell happened? He jumped away to avoid his opponent's swinging fist, and then dodged quickly when he was targeted in the head.
Screw not using Sharingan, he thought furiously, activating his bloodline. I need to see what the Devil's going on.
He narrowed his eyes when he realized his opponent was draining chakra. So that's what you were doing.
He quickly dodged the man's hand again, his movements now much more fluid due to being able to use his Sharingan. But he couldn't keep this up.
I need to think of something fast, Sasuke realized, gritting his teeth. This was getting pathetic.
Meanwhile, Naruto was getting bored.
"Sasuke, what was that?!" He yelled from up above him. "And you call yourself an Uchiha? Get it together!"
Sasuke glanced up by instinct, only to have to dodge again and again, weaving and bobbing around Yoroi's hands. His eyes narrowed for an opening. And then…There!
He ducked under Yoroi's hands and then got close, swinging his leg up to crash it straight under his chin.
Yoroi got sent straight up into the air, and it seemed like he was flying due to the force of Sasuke's kick.
"Hey, that's my move!" Rock Lee protested from where he was watching.
Sasuke leapt up to join Yoroi in the air.
"Okay, I admit, I sort of borrowed that move," He reluctantly told his opponent. "But here on in," he stuck two fingers to his back, "It's all over."
Suddenly, he felt a small, sharp pain in his neck. Sasuke's eyes widened. He had to finish this fight now. He grabbed Yoroi's shirt, and then swung around using that momentum, swinging yet another kick straight into the other ninja's solar plexus. Yoroi gasped and let out a bloody cough, only to be attacked with one punch after another. Sasuke smoothly ended it with one last kick, sending Yoroi straight into the ground.
"How do you like it?" Sasuke said snarkily to the man on the floor. "I call it: the Lion's Barrage."
Yoroi, who was currently lying in a small crater, was unconscious, so he sadly could not comment on the jutsu's name.
Sasuke turned around and looked at Hayate to call the match over, when the pain in his neck increased.
What? He rubbed the spot that was stinging. But Hinata…
He felt something go over one side of his body. No not now. I'm finished fighting.
Sasuke turned off his Sharingan and forced the sensation back. I am in control, he reassured himself. I can control this.
Orochimaru looked on from his place, grinning. You felt it, didn't you, Sasuke? He flicked his tongue over his lips. You felt the power, didn't you?
"The winner of this round is Sasuke Uchiha!" Hayate called.
"YEAH!" Naruto jumped up, pumping his fist in the air. "LET'S GO!"
Sasuke panted, feeling woozy after fighting staggered around, a bit unbalanced. Suddenly, a small poof of smoke appeared behind him, and Kakashi appeared, supporting him.
"You did well," He said quietly. "You used the Sharingan to copy that move, though, didn't you?"
Sasuke nodded numbly.
"YEAH!" Naruto yelled. "You won, Sasuke!" He then turned to Hinata and said, rather loudly. "But I could do waaay better. He looked like he was the one who got beat up!"
Hinata tried to scold Naruto, but she couldn't help but giggle a little. "Naruto," She said when her laughter was under control, "you should be more supportive of Sasuke."
Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
Sasuke looked up and rolled his eyes. "Give me a break you little–" He cut himself off and took a deep breath.
Not everybody was in high spirits though. Lee was looking at Sasuke, grudging admiration in his eyes. He only saw me do it once, he thought, and he was able to copy it flawlessly.
Anko was shocked as well. She had wondered why the curse mark hadn't done anything much, even when Sasuke activated his Sharingan. But then, at the end of the match, it came out, just a little, but even more surprising, Sasuke pushed it back.
A medic called out to Sasuke. "Maybe you should come with us so we can treat you at the infirmary?"
"I think you're out of your league with this one," Kakashi answered for Sasuke smoothly. "I'll look after him"
The medic looked at Kakashi, as if assessing him, and then let him step by. It was easily clarified that his ego was fully in the drain after that interaction with the Copy Ninja.
"Come on, Sasuke." Kakashi gently guided him out of the arena.
Sasuke nodded and followed his teacher out.
OwOwO
"So that's how you do it," Zaku scoffed from where he was standing.
"Oh, shut up." Kin rolled her eyes. "You're just angry he beat you."
Zaku "tched" and looked away, staring at the generator that was now running once more. He narrowed his eyes when he saw his name was chosen. He looked at the name next to it, and then sneered.
"Which sucker do I have to beat up now?" He glanced around the crowd for his opponent while making his way to the floor.
Shino was emotionless when he made his way down the stairs. Sakura had given him a light punch on the shoulder for "good luck", and Kiba pretty much did the same, just "manlier", as he would say. That had earned him a glare from both Kurenai and Sakura.
Shino stepped in front of the Sound ninja he was facing off, wordlessly assessing his opponent. Zaku's arms were held together in a sling, but Shino knew enough to underestimate his opponent for that reason.
"Now, you may begin!" Hayate announced.
It was then when Shino decided to speak.
"If you fight me here, you will never be able to fight again. You have two useless arms, while I am at my full power." He said this all with no malice, just a matter-of-fact tone that only held truth. "Surrender."
Zaku smirked, wiggling an arm. "Somehow, this arm can move." His left arm started moving. "And one arm is good enough for you!"
Shino caught the motion behind his dark glasses, and then perceived when the ninja was about to move. His arm moved up to block the blow Zaku meant to give him.
"You can't beat me with one arm." There, again, was that factual tone that made Zaku want to crush the boy.
"Stop talking back!" Zaku's right hand began to pulse. "Take this! Air slicer!"
A big resounding impact hit Shino due to the sound emitted from Zaku's palm. Shino tumbled on the ground, rolling to reduce the fall. Zaku grinned at the boy's figure on the ground.
Meanwhile, Sakura and Kiba were fuming.
"Bug boy needs to get his act together!" Sakura hissed, slamming a fist into the rail in front of her.
"For once I agree with you," Kiba spoke dryly. Akamaru barked in agreement.
Zaku retracted his hand, closing his palm. He smirked.
"Come on, stand up," He goaded the boy. His smirk faded when he saw a figure rise from the smoke.
Shino rose, three small holes in his right cheek. From those holes, bugs were coming out by the dozens, black little dots that were creeping over his face, marring the paleness of his skin with inky black. Zaku's eyes widened.
"W-What?" He whispered in shock. This boy…
…was an absolute freak.
"Heh." Zaku put up a boisterous front to cover his unease. "What kind of trick are you trying to play?"
Shino said nothing, merely pointing behind Zaku.
Hinata watched from where she was standing, widening her eyes when she saw an army of bugs approaching Zaku from behind.
"Wow," She whispered.
"Yeah, right?" Sakura said from behind her. "That's Shino's specialty."
"B-But, weren't you just…" Hinata frowned, confused about Kiba and Sakura's early reaction if they knew that Shino had this up his sleeve.
"Oh, yeah, that." Sakura waved her hand dismissively. "He just wanted us to act like that to keep up with the act. But now I guess I ruined it."
Hinata was awed. "Wow," She whispered again.
Sakura nodded sagely, and they both watched Shino explain the use of his bugs.
"Parasitic insects…" Hinata thoughtfully tapped her chin with a finger. "That's an interesting technique."
"It's the Aburame clan specialty," Sakura explained. "The bugs are chakra eating monsters."
Hinata watched in shock as Shino had the man cornered. She activated her Byakugan to see all the action more clearly when she gasped.
"Sakura!" She pointed at the Sound ninja's right arm. "His other arm–it still works!"
Sakura leaned over the rail. "No way!"
To the viewer's dismay, Zaku lifted his other arm up as well, one pointing in Shino's direction and the other in the direction of his parasitic insects.
"What?" Kiba was shocked. "He can use his right arm as well?"
Zaku grinned at Shino. Now was his chance.
Sakura banged her head onto the rail. "Oh no," She muttered. "How did you miss this, Shino?"
"Wait!" Hinata widened her eyes. "There's something weird with Zaku's arms. I can detect another being in them. They're small, and they produce signatures similar to Shino's."
Sakura's face immediately perked up. "His bugs!"
They both watched in amaze as Zaku's arms ripped themselves apart, as the bug's had blocked the opening for the sound to come out. Shino finished the fight with an unorthodox back hand.
OwOwO
"Well, I guess this match is over." Hayate scratched his head, looking over Zaku's unmoving body.
I hope that the future fights won't be this confusing, the confused procter thought.
The wrappings around Zaku's arms were undone, showing the many rip and puncture like wounds they received from being unable to release the force of the sound fueling his attack.
"The winner is Shino Aburame," Hayate announced.
Shino nodded silently, and then made his way back up the stairs.
"Good job, Shino!" Sakura called.
She was the only one who said anything. Kiba was too occupied with Akamaru at the moment, and everyone else, with the exception of Hinata who felt a bit bad for the boy, was edging away from the winner of the previous match.
"Um, Shino, that fight…" Naruto was at a loss for words. "...Was very interesting."
Shino merely nodded and stood silently. A momentary pause entered the area. A very tense momentary pause. And then the generator clicked, and they looked up for the next match.
"Kankuro versus Misumi," Hinata read out loud. She frowned. Wasn't Kankuro one of the Sand ninja that they had met?
Hinata turned her head around to share her discovery with Sakura, but to her surprise, she saw recognition in the pink-haired kunoichi's eyes–and fear.
"Sakura?" Hinata asked uncertainly. "Are you okay?"
Sakura shook her head. "He was one of the ninja we saw in the Forest of Death." Her voice quavered a little. "Him along with his little brother, the red head."
"You guys crossed paths?" Hinata whispered.
"Yeah…" Sakura's eyes remained glued on the arena floor. "And the one called Gaara, I think, he's scary. I think if I got him as an opponent then I would forfeit."
Hinata nodded. She closed her eyes and remembered what she had seen inside of the ninja before. It was terrifying. Not unlike the beast in Naruto, but more wild. Bloodthirsty. She reopened and turned her attention back onto the battle. She noted when the ninja, who she noted to be on the same team as the one Sasuke fought, wrapped his arms around Kankuro like they were boneless.
Hmm, he must not be as powerful as his teammate, Hinata noted, trying to comfort herself with the fact that not every single opponent in the exams were as terrifying as Gaara of the Sand. Her comforting thoughts immediately left her when she saw Kankuro flip the tables and absolutely destroy the other ninja with a puppet of all things.
At least I now know what's in those bandages, She thought ruefully. She fiddled her fingers, a habit that she thought she left behind, and anxiously looked at the generator. Any of these matches could have her in them. What if she couldn't do it? What if she lost? What if she disappointed the people close to her? What if–
She started when a warm hand clamped onto her shoulder. She turned around to see Naruto's bright smile.
"Don't worry, Hinata!" He gave her a thumbs up. "I'm very sure you'll do great! After all, who else has the power to completely stop someone with a few taps like you can?"
Hinata's worries immediately went away. She smiled softly at Naruto. "Thank you, Naruto," She said gratefully. "I…I needed that."
"No worries!" Naruto slung an arm around her shoulder. "That's what I'm here for!"
Hinata's smile grew wider, and she leaned against his arm. "I'm, I'm sure you'll do very well as well, Naruto."
"Well of course I will!" He grinned boastfully. "After all, who can stand a chance against the great Naruto Uzumaki?"
Hinata giggled. "Of course."
Naruto opened his mouth to say something else, when he spotted a certain somebody. "Kakashi!"
"Yo." Kakashi nonchalantly raised a hand.
"How's Sasuke?" Naruto wanted to know. "Is he alright? Is the curse mark–mmh, Kakashi!"
Kakashi raised a finger to his lips while muffling Naruto's mouth with his other hand. "We don't talk about that."
Naruto stepped back, wiping his mouth. "Why?"
"Because it's a secret," Kakashi said casually. He turned onto the other member of Team 7. "You too, Hinata."
Hinata nodded, however a bit uncertain.
"Anyways," Kakashi turned his attention back to the arena. "I'm sure the next match will be pretty interesting for you."
Hinata looked down as well, and to her surprise, saw Ino and Sakura facing off.
OwOwO
"So." Sakura stared at her best friend and rival. "Here we are."
"Yeah." Ino looked back. "Here we are."
Sakura stood up taller. "You know I'm different, right, Ino? I'm not that little girl that needed your help anymore. I've trained and trained to get to this point, and I'm not going to lose to you."
"Hey, I've trained as well!" Ino protested. She smiled slyly. "Besides, you're specializing in genjutsu, right?" Her smirk grew wider when Sakura hesitantly nodded her head in confirmation. "Well, guess what? I'm a sensory type. I have honed my skills to detect changes in my chakra."
Sakura cocked her head. "This is more than Sasuke now, right?"
Ino nodded. "That's where our rivalry branched off of, but now–" She untied the headband along her waist and wrapped it around her forehead, observing Sakura do the same. "–this is the real deal!"
Sakura nodded, and then grinned. "And you've already lost."
Ino watched in awe as Sakura faded away in a swirl of cherry blossom petals. And then she sighed.
"You never learn, don't you?" She said, almost patronizingly. "I'm a sensory type."
She closed her eyes, finding the disturbance in her chakra confirming that she was under a genjutsu. She put two hands together to undo the genjutsu.
"Release!"
She immediately blinked back into reality, only to realize that Sakura was holding a kunai against her neck.
"Don't speak to me like I'm inferior," Sakura said coldly. "I am your equal now."
Ino twisted around. "Then prove it!" She pressed her thumb, middle finger, and forefinger together to form a box shape. "Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
Sakura gasped–the jutsu was released at such a fast speed–and collapsed. Ino smiled triumphantly one more time before her body fell to the floor.
Alright, she thought, inside of Sakura's mind now. Now, all I have to do is–
She let out a scream when she felt a hand, a very large hand, wrap around her waist. To her horror, the hand belonged to a bigger, darker, and more demented version of Sakura.
"Nobody invades my mind!" It screamed.
Ino immediately pulled her hands together to release the mind transfer jutsu. When she popped back into her body, she pulled herself up shakily, using the wall behind her to support herself. Sakura was just as disoriented.
"Ino-pig…" She growled.
"Billboard brow," Ino retaliated.
Sakura charged forwards, racing towards the weakened blonde, gaining momentum by enhancing her speed with chakra. Ino shakily pulled her hands back up in hopes of catching Sakura in another Mind Transfer Jutsu.
Just a little bit more… She thought desperately. To her shock, her foot slipped, and she fell forwards, missing entirely. She fell down, unconscious.
And Sakura, she was an inch away from Ino when she fell when she realized that she couldn't stop the momentum she had gathered, and then…
She rammed straight into the wall behind her, head first.
Hinata winced from where she was standing. Sakura had made a crater into the wall, and she couldn't imagine what damage Ino would've gone through if Sakura had hit her person. She looked at Sakura, now also unconscious, who had a trickle of blood running down her forehead.
Hayate examined the remains of the match, confused once again.
"This round ends in a tie!" He announced after neither side rose after 20 seconds. "Neither will move on to the finals."
"Oh, Sakura…" Hinata said, sad for her new friend. "And Ino too…"
Both kunoichi were carted away, Ino just for a small check up from missing the Mind Transfer, and Sakura for the rather severe head injury she went through.
OwOwO
Kankuro stared at the medics carting the two girls away. "That was…intense."
"Tell me about it," Temari agreed. "It's almost as bad when I give you a whipping."
Kankuro immediately clamped his mouth shut with a sharp click. Perhaps it was better for his health that he remain silent.
OwOwO
Hinata sighed and looked back up to the generator for the next match.
"Tenten versus Temari," She read out loud. Her face brightened. "Tenten is Neji's teammate!"
"You mean you know her?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Of course," Hinata confirmed. "Her and Lee." She smiled and looked down at the arena to see the Sand kunoichi from before, and the brunette that was Tenten make their way down to the floor. "Tenten is a very strong shinobi. She's a weapon master. I'm sure she'll do great." She then frowned when a thought came to mind. "Although…the Sand ninja seem like very tough opponents."
"I'm sure she'll do fine," Naruto waved a dismissive hand.
Hinata nodded and looked back down.
"TENTEN!" A new voice joined their conversation. Two new voices, actually.
Hinata turned her head around, as those voices were very familiar to her. "Guy, Lee!"
"Hinata!" Lee said excitedly. "My eternal rival's younger cousin!"
Hinata laughed awkwardly. She was very familiar with Lee's, and his sensei's, if we're being frank here, eccentricities. However, it did not say that Lee was not an accomplished shinobi, as he was the very opposite. Hard work in the flesh.
"Go, Tenten!" Lee yelled when Tenten moved into fighting position.
"Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate?" Guy chanted, raising an arm up.
Lee whooped at the top of his lungs, and Guy yelled out Tenten's name.
Naruto, who was right next to the two and feeling very bad for himself at the moment, cupped his hands around his ears.
Man, he thought miserably. What'd I do to get stuck in this position?
Hinata looked back at the ongoing match. She observed Tenten jumping back, getting ready to put distance between her and the blonde.
Temari smirked. "Hmph. Wanna observe what I do?" She said snarkily in response to Tenten's preparations.
Tenten gulped a little.
"You're not skilled enough to see how I'll attack," Temari continued. Her smirk was still present, but it was fading into something more aggressive. "Stop trying to look good."
Tenten jumped up and whipped out several shuriken, throwing them all in Temari's direction with uncanny precision.
Hinata watched, excited. There was no way Tenten could miss–she had seen her train before on targets–her accuracy was on point.
The shuriken whirled at Temari and then…missed.
Every single one of them.
Lee and Guy were outraged.
"How could she'd missed?" Lee was astounded. "It's incredible!"
"It's impossible," Guy corrected. "Tenten doesn't miss."
Naruto looked back down again to see Tenten attempt another round of weaponry at Temari. "Doesn't seem so."
Temari got tired of waiting after a while, and produced her fan, opening it a third of a way to show a large purple spot on the white steel.
"You see this?" She called out to Tenten. "These are moons. When I show all three of them…" She placed the bottom of the fan solidly into the ground. "...I win."
Tenten gulped. This was going to be a hard one.
OwOwO
"Oh, Tenten," Hinata watched her cousin's teammate anxiously. "Hang in there."
"Do not worry, Hinata!" Lee clamped a hand on her shoulder. "I am sure Tenten will win this."
"Nah, she's screwed."
Hinata whipped her head around to see Shikamaru join the conversation.
Shikamaru walked over and rested his head on his arms. "See that Sand ninja? She's already won. The match might as well be over."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, confused. "It just started."
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, observing Tenten chuck weapons at Temari only to miss every single time. "I just know."
Naruto let out an exasperated gasp and looked away. "Soo helpful."
OwOwO
Tenten was struggling. Why couldn't she just hit her target?
She took a deep breath. Alright, just stay calm. Don't let her get to you.
She moved her attention to the ground, and began taking steps back. One, two, three…
Temari narrowed her eyes. The other girl was carefully calculating the distance between her and herself, so she was probably getting ready for something big. Her guess was right when Tenten leaped up, producing a scroll that hit Temari with a myriad of weapons, once again.
And Temari flicked her fan, once again, causing everything to miss.
Tenten leapt back, gritting her teeth. She looked down ruefully at her own hands.
I wanted to save this for later, but it looks like I can't do that.
She sighed and took out two small red scrolls.
Neji gasped at the sight of them. But she said she was saving that for the finals!
Tenten smiled and placed them both carefully on the ground, leaving them standing up. This was her trump card, and the Sand girl was not going to survive it, fan or no fan. She crouched down and flashed through seals.
"Twin Rising Dragons!" She shouted.
There was a large puff of smoke, then two dragons rose out, weaving and intertwining with each other, tighter and tighter, then changing back into the two scrolls. Tenten leapt up gracefully in the spiral, hanging in mid-air and throwing weapons at Temari smoothly.
"Second moon!" Temari yelled, blowing back all the weapons away from her.
The ground was littered with sharp objects, and the scrolls that Tenten used were crumpled, useless heaps of paper.
Not one to give up easily, she jumped up high into the air, flipping around before manipulating the weapons through near invisible string with her hands, sending them towards Temari's direction in one last try.
Now I got her, Tenten thought triumphantly.
But Temari merely smirked, blowing back the weapons. Rinse and repeat.
The force of the wind knocked Tenten from the air, and she fell down with a grunt, body colliding with the weapons on the floor. She looked up to see her opponent's fan wide open, all three purple moons glaring at her.
And then, Temari disappeared.
"Over here!"
Tenten widened her eyes, searching for the other girl, and then looked up to see a dark shadow.
"Wind Cyclone Jutsu!"
The next thing she remembered was that she was being lifted up, and that something was ripping and cutting her, and then–
OwOwO
Hinata winced at the loud thunk that resounded when Tenten fell back first right onto Temari's fan. Temari had snuck behind her in the air via her fan, and then caught her in a wind jutsu. At the end, the Sand kunoichi finished the battle without a scratch.
"Fifth match winner: Temari!" Hayate announced, stepping around the sharp weapons carefully to examine the condition of the contestants.
"That girl's really ruthless," Naruto whispered.
"Oh, Tenten," Lee said sadly.
"Wasn't much of a match," Temari snarked.
She then flicked her fan, flipping Tenten onto the ground now littered with kunai, shuriken, maces, scythes, you name it.
Lee, of course being fast on his feet, leapt down and caught the girl, skidding from the added momentum before regaining his balance.
He then turned indignantly towards Temari and raised a fist.
"She may have lost, but that is no way to treat an opponent who has done her best!" He yelled.
"Oh, beat it." Temari turned around haughtily.
Lee couldn't take it anymore. "Leaf Hurricane!"
He swept towards Temari, his leg aiming for her head. Temari quickly brought up her fan to block his kick. Naruto watched with wide eyes.
Lee glared at her before deciding to let it slip for now, bounding back, scooping Tenten up along the way, up to where the viewers were standing.
He looked up to see the next match.
"Oh, what a drag." Shikamaru sighed. All he wanted to do was to get some sleep. and cloud watch a bit after the all too troublesome "Forest of Death".
And now he had to go fight a freaking match.
Life was a drag.
OwOwO
So? How did you like it? Please share your honest opinions. Constructive criticism would be appreciated. But please, try to keep criticism away from your opinion on how the story should run because I'm trying to learn how to write better as well :). Suggestions on the story's plot line are also welcomed, but just keep it away on advice on writing. Review!