"The winner is Sasuke Uchiha" and the crowd went insane as Sasuke stood proudly staring at his opponent. Arashi clapped absent-mindedly as her eyes roamed around the arena looking for Orochimaru. She didn't find him and that made her slightly upset, if she didn't know before she knew now, he was intentionally hiding his presence from her, although unluckily for him, Arashi had finally decided she was going to kill him.
Sure, Orochimaru was stronger than her and more experienced but Arashi knew how exactly to kill him. Even if it left her without chakra and useless, Arashi had decided without problem that Orochimaru would not live the Leaf Village alive nor would he be able to revive himself using the curse mark. She clutched her wrist where her curse mark stood and she turned back to the stadium.
Sasuke was lucky and Itachi was going to owe her a lot for this even though she wasn't really doing this for the littlest Uchiha.
Said Uchiha been glancing at her as discretely as he could till she stared back and a few people had noticed. Naruto specifically was not happy especially since he found out that what Sasuke's mother had done. He didn't blame Sasuke but he wasn't really happy about it either.
Arashi turned as the announcer rang the next match, and she couldn't help but note that Naruto was truly lucky that he'd know before the final exam" The second preliminary match, Naruto Namikaze VS Daki of the Leaf Village" there was a deathly silence. Arashi stared at her brother who froze. Naruto's hands trembled at his new last name. The realization sunk in and the crowd roared whilst others from other villagers stared at the blonde curiously. They weren't stupid. One could see who was the child of the Hokage. Well..children.
Sasuke held Naruto's shoulder, "get down there dobe. Are you afraid?" the Uchiha taunted and Naruto didn't respond. He stayed mute. Then he looked at Arashi who smiled softly as the crowd continued to clap in encouragement for Naruto to come down, "they can pretend like nothing happened just because of our father but it doesn't change fact that it did happen. Don't let their actions consume you. Before you were Naruto Namikaze, you were Uzumaki Naruto, the deadlast, orphan boy who everyone made fun and whether they decide to be nice or not. Do not let it bother you, you are you..okay?" she muttered gently and softly, and Naruto nodded dumbly as he exhaled nervously.
The rookie nine and the senseis eyes widened at her words and Naruto stepped down to the arena. Arashi stared him proudly and she couldn't help but sigh. Naruto still had a long way to go and that was fine. He was still young. She just hoped it didn't overwhelm, because it certainly looked like no matter how much he broke down, it wouldn't be enough.
Arashi understood and she could only support and offer her advice. Naruto needed to soar and learn his steps on his own.
"Naruto is really the son of the fourth Hokage sensei?" Kiba asked looking at kurenai having heard the announcer and the conversation between Naruto and Arashi even though they were a bit farther from them. Kurenai nodded and Kiba frowned, "then why was he treated so horribly?" Kiba asked having seen for himself occasionally the treatment that Naruto got from others.
Luckily his mom had always told him to be nice to Naruto and now he understood why but Kiba wasn't that blind, Naruto hadn't been really treated nice at all and considering how he'd instead of jumped at joy at being known as the fourth Hokage's son, Kiba had smelt Naruto's fear and apprehension. It was unlike anything from Naruto that he'd ever smelt and it show him that Naruto's treatment was probably worse than he imagined.
"It's another village secret isn't it sensei?" Hinata asked softly as she looked at Kurenai softly, her stutter lost because of her intense worry for the blonde. He really was different and Hinata was truly truly worried about him.
..
Naruto on the other hand looked at his opponent. This was his sister's teammate. He frowned, usually he'd been nice but his calm sister was clearly not fond of her two temporary teammates and that was a sign enough for the blonde that he shouldn't show mercy.
"Go!"
And the fight started.
Arashi watched quietly and she noted all of Naruto's weaknesses with a frown. Kakashi came next to her and Arashi frowned, "why didn't you train him properly, his stance sucks. There's no proper structure and if it were a real battle without..his backup...he'd be dead" she stated without looking at the man and both Sasuke and Sakura stared at Kakashi. They both know how right Arashi's words actually were and they both knew that the man was lazy.
"She's right sensei. Next time we could possibly die" Sakura stated bitter that Arashi was right, even more bitter when she realized that Arashi was the daughter of the Fourth Hokage something that no girl could compete with, moreover she also felt relieved that her hunch about Naruto being the Fourth Hokage's child was right. Although it didn't make it less worrisome and shocking. She hadn't exactly been nice to Naruto.
Sakura was very worried. Especially since Arashi clearly was not Naruto. She wouldn't forgive and let things go and her mom had been clear that she should not anger the girl, otherwise they'd be done for. Sakura was truly scared of Arashi, it didn't help that Arashi was clearly very skilled and when she mentioned about killing everyone, she hadn't hesitated, that was a trained shinobi no doubt and Sakura was even more scared of the girl. It's just she was also jealous too.
She looked at Sasuke who was staring at Arashi who's eyes were fixed on Naruto. Sakura looked for Ino, her ex-friend but that girl was focused on Arashi instead and Sakura sighed. It'd be better if she focused on not making herself a nuisance to Arashi and minding her own business, she'd clearly lost Sasuke...then again. It was not like she had him in the first place.
Kakashi looked at Arashi and he ignored the thunderous beat of his heart. Nerves. If he saw her eyes. He'd see a ghost. "You look like you parents" he said and Arashi stared. "You look like my failed godbrother, pleasure really" Arashi turned to her brother and Kakashi didn't dare say anything after that. Both Sasuke and Sakura's eyes widened at the extra dose of information.
Before they knew it, Naruto won (although it was a close call) and Daki laid on the floor whilst Arashi's normal calm countenance fell and she brightened. It was like looking at a star.
"That's my twin!" she yelled happily uncharacteristic but who cared, that was her brother. The crowd roared in applause and Naruto only looked at Arashi and his eyes which were full of shadows brightened and a large full grin materialized on his face and all of sudden, everyone who'd seen Naruto grin couldn't help but think that every grin that Naruto had made seemed a little..forced.
Arashi met Naruto who hugged her and she smiled softly. "You did great" she said and Naruto nodded his head happily as they both went on place. "That was cool man" Kiba said and Naruto smiled distantly, "thanks" then he looked at Arashi again as they both started talking as if they were in their own bubble. No one could pop it and no one would even try so they could only listen.
"The Fourth preliminary match. Neji Hyūga VS Hinata Hyūga"
Hinata blinked, she felt immediate fear as her cousin glanced at her. She looked at Naruto and instead of meeting his eyes as she hoped, she met violet galactic eyes which were tranquil and staring right at her. Hinata's nerves shot up even more and she hesitantly got down from the stand went to the arena.
Her eyes looked for blonde again but they never met hers. She then looked at Arashi who stared calmly at her. Then gave her a small nod of acknowledgement. Then looked away. Hinata couldn't help but clench her fists, her future sister-in-law was watching. She didn't want to disappoint.
She wouldn't disappoint!
The match started and very quickly it turned brutal that it stunned the crowd. Hinata's weakness was apparent in everyone whilst Neji's anger and superiority shone and overshadowed her whole.
Hinata gasped in agony, she couldn't move, she couldn't fight anymore.
"Protector call of the match"
Neji muttered calmly as he exhaled and Hinata shakily stood up from the ground, no, she wouldn't give up. With great pain and anguish, Hinata wobbly stood up as her blood dripped to the floor. She couldn't fight. She couldn't do anything. She wasn't strong nor was she worthy in a lot of things. But she couldn't give up. She couldn't.
She ran shakily and Neji glared hatefully, "i said stand down!" He struck her once and Hinata crushed on the ground with a loud thud.
"Protector call this match!"
"N-no..I won't..give.up"
Hinata struggled and Neji glared and was about to strike when a flash of yellow immediately held his fist. Hinata looked up and saw violet eyes staring inquisitively at her. "The match is over. You should control yourself, otherwise you'll only be as worthy as the firt beneath my feet" Arashi muttered calmly and Neji glared at her though he took a step back.
"What do you kno-"
"I don't care. You've won. Leave" Arashi interrupted calmly as if Neji were a modern day nuisance. The blonde walked to Hinata and sighed, "you're weak, you should have given up. A shinobi knows when to quit and when to fight"
"I-i.."
"Shut up" Arashi muttered and her hands started to grow a colour of forest green. Hinata felt a blast of shame at Arashi's words and tried her best to avoid the numerous amounts of stares that were on them both. It lasted for five minutes and Hinata felt miraculously better. Arashi raised her up and the crowd clapped. Arashi came closer to her ear, "you want to be strong, actually put the work in being strong for yourself rather for anyone else. You're pathetic as you are. You can't even confess to the person that you love and you're somehow magically hoping to be worthy yet you do absolutely nothing but talk about how weak you. Wake up, no one's going to encourage nor praise you for the sole reason to motivate you and life your poor self-esteem"
Hinata's eyes widened in anguish and the protector's eyes widened, "miss isn't that harsh?" Arashi shrugged, "isn't my match?" Arashi asked and the protector nodded. Arashi stared at Hinata who started to walk away and she frowned, "by the way, I just saved your life, you could have been nothing more than the useless person you always tell yourself you are, so don't waste my favour"
Hinata nodded mutely and Arashi sighed internally. She hoped the young girl took her advice, Arashi had only done it because she was afraid that Naruto's rejection or ignorance would have hurt her which would have then hurt Naruto. Naruto didn't need that.
"The fifth preliminary match begins, Arashi Namikaze and Lee of the Leaf Village!" And the crowd went wild. Arashi merely waited patiently. Lee beamed and then looked at her with a large grin.
"It's so youthful that we've been paired together as I hoped! If I win would you consider ever going out on a date within me!"
"What!? NO!!" Naruto yelled and Arashi shrugged, "if you somehow win, I'll even marry you" Naruto almost had a stroke. Mouths gasped open and Lee looked at Arashi stunned. Arashi glinted, "I swear on my father's grave" she promised and then her eyes met Orochimaru's who licked his lips and then grinned.