章節 221: Chapter Twenty One: Fighting the Fear
"Thank you for letting me in. Is Sakura still in her room?" Ino asked as she walked into the Haruno household. Sakura's mother simply nodded so Ino excused herself and walked up the stairs to the room she remembered her friend staying in when they still played together as children. The blond paused at the door thinking for a moment about why she was coming over.
Sakura had been scarred by the Iwa kunoichi she had fought in the preliminaries despite giving the fight her best effort. In fact her best only pissed her opponent off as she had mocked Sakura and called her out on her failings before purposely giving her the scar mockingly as a gift, so that Sakura could fake being a 'true kunoichi'. Ino knew Sakura didn't train as hard as she should have, mostly because like Ino she was trying to use her looks to impress Sasuke. Ino's father didn't like that she did it but so long as she continued to keep up in her clan duties he was willing to let it slide. Sakura though wasn't part of a clan and her parents were more relaxed about her life choices overall though, meaning when Sakura took her attempts too far for what was smart for a ninja, they never bothered correcting her.
As such she had performed horribly, only even reaching that point due to her teammates and some of her own intelligence, which was really the only thing she had going for her at this point. Ino knew that now that she was scarred, her looks were forever changed. Some men found scars to be alluring but neither knew how Sasuke would take it. Plus while a small scar here or there could be overlooked or covered with make-up, some couldn't so it was likely Sakura wouldn't even be able to hide it no matter what.
Shaking her head clear of the thoughts, Ino raised a hand and lightly knocked on her old friends door. "Sakura? It's me Ino. Can I come in?" She called. The blond waited for a moment before hearing a reply.
"Go away Ino..." Sakura's voice seemed to mumble back through the door. Ino barely heard it though with how quiet the voice was. She almost thought she didn't before realizing that there was nobody else on the second floor of the house besides her and Sakura, even though they were seperated from each other by the door.
"Come on Sakura, please can I come in? Your mom's really worried about you. We all are really. You haven't been heard from or seen since you got back here from the doctors at the forest." Ino pleaded. In truth, Ino had been asked to come by her own mother after Sakura's had asked her to get her. She thought maybe one of her friends could bring her back out of the shell she had retreated into. While Ino and Sakura were currently more 'rivals' than 'friends', she felt that would be enough.
"...Fine..." Sakura's voice was again barely heard but this time Ino had been channeling chakra to her ears just to make sure she heard the girls' response. With a light smile knowing Sakura was accepting a friend Ino opened the door and walked in to find the pink haired girl sitting on her bed with her knees pulled to her chest and her face buried in them. As if to further distance herself from the world, Sakura was even sitting with her back towards the door and facing a wall.
"Oh Sakura..." Ino mumbled before walking over and sitting at the foot of the bed. "I heard you got a scar from whatever that chick did." She opened with as Sakura nodded with her head kept down. "Could I see? Maybe we can whip up some make up to hide it." She offered before waving a hand. "Or maybe to flair it up instead. Who knows, maybe Sasuke-kun likes scars and never said anything." Ino didn't really believe that but then again the boy had never shown any inclination towards a woman's appearance in any case. The one thing they knew was they remembered someone finding out he liked girls with long hair, which was why they both (along with ninety percent of the girls of their class) had grown theirs out.
"You can't. It's too ugly." Sakura whined, still keeping her head down so that Ino wouldn't see. The blond just shook her head.
"You just let me decide that okay Sakura? Now let me see." She waved her hand as she spoke as if it would help Sakura raise her head but it didn't. The girl kept her head down. "Sakura, unless you've super-glued that massive forehead of your to your knees, eventually people are going to see. You might as well get used to it now with a friend first." Ino commented, starting to get annoyed with Sakura's behavior. They were supposed to be ninjas meaning that while yes getting scarred was tragic to someone so young and fresh into their career, it wasn't the end of the world like she was portraying.
"No."
"You've got until the count of three before I use my jutsu to take control of you. Then I'll march you right over to that mirror on your dresser and make you show me." Ino threatened the girl. Sakura shook for a second so Ino sighed. "One..." She counted so Sakura just held up a hand.
"Just... just promise you won't make fun of me for it Ino." She asked and the blond could hear the tremble in Sakura's voice. She as really worried about this mark, just how bad was it?
"I promise Sakura, okay? I won't make fun of you or anything. Just please, show me." Sakura lowered her hand and turned on the bed so that she was facing Ino while still keeping her head down. Taking a deep breath the pink haired girl slowly raised her face so that Ino could see and the blond brought her hand to her mouth in a failed attempt to hide her gasp. "Oh Sakura... that's..."
"Horrible, I know." Starting from the upper right of her face and crossing down across her nose to her left cheek was a large and jagged red slash. The edges were frayed somewhat, likely from whatever it had been the Iwa girl had spit into the wound to ensure scarring. Ino instantly knew there was no way to hide such a large mark with make up, just as she had no idea how to even try and pretty it up.
"Sakura, I'm so sorry."
"Don't be. You didn't do this." The girl told her. Sakura shook her head before setting it back down on her knees. "That Iwa kunoichi did. And you know the worst part about it? It's my own fault. I could've gave up when she grabbed me, or avoided fighting her in the first place. But I didn't because I wanted to try impressing Sasuke-kun since he hates that team. In fact, what the girl said was completely true even. I've spent so much time trying to impress Sasuke-kun that I never trained or worked on my skills. And he hasn't even bothered looking at me with a smile the entire time. I've been wasting my career for him and he hasn't cared in the slightest and I never bothered noticing. He even said the day we became a team he hates fangirls, but I had myself so deluded into thinking he wasn't talking about me. But that's just it; he was. Sasuke-kun, Kakashi-sensei, everyone; it was so obvious to all of them that I had no right to be a ninja. No right to even think I was ready for the Chunin Exams, let alone even call myself a genin. But I did and we only made it through that forest because of Sasuke-kun and Sai. I was knocked out by a single punch when we had our first fight in there and then I couldn't do anything but worry over my injured teammates when I woke up." Sakura ranted, Ino staying silent. She could tell this was what her friend had really been secluding herself over rather than the scar she recieved. It was all because of her guilt at her own weakness.
"Sakura..."
"I'm just so weak Ino. I don't know anything more than the three jutsu taught at the Academy. My taijutsu form may be perfect in the eyes of the instructors but since I never train I don't have any strength to use with it so it's worthless. I'm the smartest in our class but that hasn't really helpped at all. Since I diet all the time to try and keep my figure, I don't have the energy to actually work during the team training and I always fall behind. Because I never tried to really be a ninja, I practically let that girl scar me." The blond looked at her friend sadly before Sakura raised her head up. "But not anymore."
"What do you..."
"After these Exams are over I'm going to take my training seriously. No more diets, no more whining about how tough it is, none of it. I'm not even going to try impressing Sasuke-kun anymore. I'm just going to train and get stronger. I'll become the best in whatever I work at until I'm world famous for my skill. And once I'm strong enough, I'll find that girl and make sure to thank her properly." She growled with narrowed eyes. "By giving her a mark to match mine." Ino looked shocked at how Sakura was acting. Where had this come from? Why had she been stuck in a depression before this if she was so focused on her drive?
"Sakura, what happened to you? First your moping about what happened and I have to threaten you to make you actually move and now you're all fired up and it's kind of scary Sakura. What's going on?"
"I... I was never really moping about my scar Ino." Sakura admitted. "I was a little scared at what you and everyone else would think when they see it but that was never really a problem for me. I mean, Iruka-sensei has a scar right? And it hasn't made him some ugly monster or anything either. It's just there and people accept it. Mine may be bigger and stand out some more but we're shinobi right? People will understand and won't make to much fuss about it." She explained as Ino nodded along. "I've just been thinking... about what to do with my life from here after what that girl said. And I had decided a couple days ago this is what I'm going to do. I just hadn't gotten around to telling anyone yet. I figured I could wait until when I went to watch the Finals and then I could tell everyone."
"Oh. Well next time don't wait so long. You had everyone really worried forhead." Ino joked at the end with a small smile. Sakura smiled back so the blond knew her friend would be fine. It was still surprising to hear Sakura going from depressed to driven in just a couple minutes though. "Anyways, have you been told about the Finals yet? Like who's in it and all?" She asked so Sakura shook her head. "Well, Sasuke-kun is in it. He even has a bye through the first round." Ino started telling her. "That girl you fought is facing Shino in the opening match while that kid who beat Sai is fighting that red head from Suna right after. Then comes that Oto guy covered in bandages against Neji Hyuuga. And then the girl from Suna is facing the other Iwa boy. There's something about him I've got to tell you about but I'll get back to it." She mentioned as she remembered Sakura had been taken out of the area after her match and as such she didn't know the controversy building around him. "The last match from the opening round is that Tenten girl going against the last guy from the Suna team. And then the winners go from there in that order with Sasuke-kun fighting the winner of the last match and then a three way fight between the winners of all the second round matches."
"Okay, so we'll cheer Sasuke-kun on when he finally fights and all the other Konoha genin on during the first round."
"Right." Ino nodded before heading back to the other subject. "Anyways, remember the Iwa boy with the hood up all the time?" She asked as Sakura shivered.
"I remember. He's a monster, just like his teammates."
"Well you aren't going to believe this. When his name was announced it was as Namikaze Naruto."
"Namikaze? Isn't that our Yondaime's name?" Sakura asked as she narrowed her eyes in cofusion. Ino nodded so Sakura shook her head. "But that's not possible. If he was related to our Yondaime then he'd have grown up here and be a Konoha ninja."
"I know right? When he went down for his fight he took off his hood and get this, he looks almost just like Yondaime-sama! Just round Yondaime-sama's eyes a little and add three little lines on each cheek and boom, twins!" Ino explained while Sakura was still skeptical. "And then his fight started and wow. He fought against that Rock Lee kid teamed with Tenten and Neji and completely dominated him. Lee apparently can only use taijutsu for some reason and Naruto decided to limit himself to taijutsu as well just to enjoy the match and it was... just wow. They were moving so fast and the attacks were so strong before suddenly that Lee kid took off some weights he was wearing and then suddenly I couldn't even see them move anymore! None of the genin could! Next thing we knew Lee was slammed into a wall and Naruto appeared and tossed him back to the center of the stage before bouncing himself off the roof to slam him into the ground. Then Lee tried to use some kind of kinjutsu from what I understand but Naruto beat him down and threatened to kill him if he didn't quit. But Lee refused and was about to die before his sensei appeared and smacked Naruto off him. Obviously Lee lost and Naruto moved on but still... That was him holding back Sakura. Imagine what he can do when he adds his jutsu in."
"I'm still trying to figure out how he could possibly be related to Yondaime-sama Ino. I already knew he was strong considering he was willing to fight Kakashi-sensei, a jonin, if he had to when we first crossed paths outside of Nami no Kuni." Sakura told her with a flippant wave of a hand. "Did you ask your sensei about him?"
"Yeah, the next day when he gathered us together to let us know we can have the month off so long as we make sure to do some basic training to keep our skills up. He said he spoke with your sensei and that there's a slim chance it might actualy be true but that we shouldn't worry about it and that others are looking into it, including his dad, Sandaime-sama." Ino told her before an idea came to her. "You know, I could use my clan jutsu to show you my memories of the fight and talk with Asuma-sensei if you want. I mean, I know from my dad that your sensei Kakashi took Sasuke-kun out of the village to train him so you can't ask him about it. Want me to?" She offered as Sakura thought it over when something clicked from her memories.
"Beware the snake and the prodigal son will return for what's his."
The Iwa boy's warning from when they split after escorting them out of the country. Sakura remembered mostly being scared out of her mind at the time so she was barely listening but she did catch that much. She just hadn't given it any thought since she was more worried about Sasuke and staying alive at the time, as well as mourning what they had condemned Nami to. But now that the boy had revealed himself and what he was claiming it snapped into place. 'He was talking about himself. If he really is related to the Yondaime then he must be talking about whatever Yondaime-sama had left behind after his death against the Kyuubi. I only hope there's nothing Iwa could use against us if it is true.'
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"Alright team, tomorrow is the Exam Finals. We've done what we could and now it comes down to you three. So make sure to do Iwa proud, ya got it?" Kurotsuchi asked as her genin were lined up in a row in front of her while Onoki, Akatsuchi, and Deidara were standing off to the side.
"No sweat Kaa-chan. We're gonna sweep the whole thing." Naruto bragged with one arm wrapped around Hikari and Kurai standing on his opposite side. Hikari was smiling while Kurai had his normal stoic look as the blond boy grinned. "There's no way we can lose." Kurotsuchi smirked before glancing at her grandfather so he nodded and floated over with his guards following.
"Well that's good, because I've spoke with Orochimaru the night of your meeting with Jiraiya and have informed him of what Iwa shall be doing during his invasion plan." Onoki began. "The Invasion itself will start at the conclusion of the Uchiha's match so there will be plenty of time for you three to show off our village's might. Orochimaru himself also assured me that so long as you, Kurai, do not injure your jinchuriki opponent enough to prevent him from fighting afterwards then we won't be changing anything already planned. Apparently when the signal is given, Gaara is going to unleash his biju on the village to cause mayhem and havoc all over while the Sannin will summon a few of his own snakes to add to the confusion. Meanwhile he will be dealing with the Hokage and the various Suna and Oto ninja arriving in disguise as spectators will begin attacking people throughout the village. I have decided to add the seven of us to the force of the Invasion. You, Naruto, are to do just as Gaara is and attack the village while under Kyuubi's power. Hikari, Kurai; the two of you will stay close to Kurotsuchi and help deal with enemy ninja. Deidara will be flying above and using his bombs to attack while Akatsuchi will be using his golems in the village to destroy what he can. I will be making sure Orochimaru's fight isn't interrupted by anyone, including the Sannin Jiraiya, who Orochimaru was surprised to learn was within the village." Onoki explained as his shinobi grinned, save for Kurai's emotionless self and surprisingly Naruto. The blond had only nodded his understanding with a serious look but his grin had fallen when he learned they would be aiding the Invasion, something Onoki noticed. It seemed Jiraiya's talk with the boy had affected him more than they had realized. "Naruto? Is there something wrong? Some reason you feel you won't be able to fufill your orders?"
"Ah... No Oji-sama. I'm just thinking." He replied as even Hikari and Kurotsuchi now turned confused faces on him. "I've got no problem destroying Konoha really. Even with that talk I had with Jiraiya, I still want to kill off most of this place for what they did to me. And you know I follow my orders, so that's not a problem."
"Then what is it Naru-kun?" Hikari asked as she pulled away to get a clear look at him. "Come on, you've been acting a bit wierd ever since you spoke to your godfather." Naruto only hung his head without denying the claim as he had been different since the talk. Mostly he'd been more prone to getting lost in thought when he wasn't training, eating or flirting with her. He'd also been reading his parents' journals more than before.
"I'm just not sure we're ready for this I guess." Naruto admitted. "I mean, there's only seven of us. Sure Oji-sama is a Kage and three are jonin. And yeah, I'm jinchuriki to the strongest biju and Kurai's immortal but still. I'm just worrying about whether we have enough or not. As it is we're really depending a lot on Oto and Suna to carry this plan off. Suna is betraying their peace accord with Konoha so how can we trust them not to act on their own resentment against Iwa? And Oto is run by Orochimaru, who knows what secret agendas that guys given his men? It's a lot you know? Maybe we should hold off and go home when the fighting starts to build our own forces up to strike at Konoha afterwards. I mean, even if they can repel both Suna and Oto, they'll still be weakened from doing so right?" He explained, making the older ones stare at him wide eyed.
"You really have been thinking about this, haven't you Naruto-kun?" Kurotsuchi commented as he nodded in return. "You bring up some good points but in the end, Tsuchikage-sama has gone over all of this himself earlier and decided it was worth the risk. This is likely the best chance we'll get to take out Konoha and while a lot of Iwa won't be able to participate like they'll wish, we're just going to have to make this work." Naruto nodded again as Onoki still stared at Naruto in thought as he floated at eye level with the boy.
'I doubt that's all he's been worried about. That damn Sannin said something that's changed the boy. He claims he's still loyal but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on him either.' Lowering himself to the ground Onoki grunted to draw attention back to him. "The three of you have done good work this month preparing for tomorrow. I expect nothing but the best when it comes to your matches. Remember your training, your village, and your goals. Many can be reached tomorrow with the fall of Konoha and success in the Chunin Exams." The three genin nodded so he grunted again before walking away, back into the Namikaze Estate they were all staying in. The others followed as well though Naruto headed up to the master bedroom he had taken, Hikari following a moment later.
Most of the things in the Estate had been stripped down and sealed into storage scrolls to carry back to Iwa after the Exams. What was left were the things Naruto didn't want and Onoki felt Iwa didn't need. Earlier in the day the pair had also gone and cleaned out the Uzumaki and Namikaze bank accounts of everything as well. Naruto had also made a trip to the Uzumaki mansion near the outskirts of the village but as that was placed there as part of the treaty between the Uzumaki and the Senju rather than belonging to any specific Uzumaki, Naruto couldn't take much more than a couple scrolls and items that were meant for clan members only.
Inside the master bedroom, almost all the pictures of Naruto's parents were gone, having been sealed up by Naruto with his parents journals and a few of their technique scrolls. The only one he didn't seal had been the picture of his pregnant mother with his father standing behind her. It still sat in its frame on the nightstand next to the bed. Dropping down onto the bed Naruto grabbed the picture and stared at it, like he had been during the past month since talking to Jiraiya.
'Would you two approve of me killing off the place you loved? Destroying the home you died for? What would you think of me as well? Would you be proud of me? Or would you hate me for the choices I've made?' The blond sighed as he kept his eyes on the smiling faces of his parents. He had been asking himself the same questions and reading his parents journals in the hopes of an answer but had yet to find an answer. It ws clear his parents loved the village, and each other, with every fiber of their being. Had they known what Konoha had done to Naruto after they died, would they still love the village and be against Naruto wishing to destroy it? Or would they have approved of his choice and rallied behind him?
"Naru-kun? Are you okay?" Hikari called as she poked her head into the room. Seeing Naruto lying on the bed staring at his parents again the girl walked in, closing the door behind her. Without a word she lied down on the bed next to him and rested her head on his shoulder. "You alright?"
"I'm fine Hikari-chan. Just... wondering." The girl nodded into his shoulder while raising one hand up and idly running it across his chest under his shirt.
"You've been doing that a lot lately. Any reason why?"
"It's just that I wonder what they'd think of me. I already thought about how different my life could've been had they lived or had I been kept here in Konoha but ever since Jiraiya..." Naruto trailed off as Hikari raised her eyes up to his. "I wonder if they'd be proud of me or not. What they'd think of you or Kurai, or Kaa-chan and Dei-nii-san and Aka-nii-chan. Would they be alright with me being with Iwa? Or would they have preffered I'd love Konoha, even after what this village did to me."
"Does it matter what they'd think of you? They're gone Naru-kun. No amount of wishful thinking and 'what if' talk is going to change that." Naruto sighed and set the picture down on the nightstand before wrapping his arms around Hikari, making the girl smile slightly and snuggle herself deeper into his side.
"I know that. It's just, I never really realized it until coming here but in the back of my head I'd been worried about what they'd think of me. Whether or not they'd approve of me." He tilted his head down to stare into his lovers eyes as he gave her a gentle squeeze in his arms. "You don't really care what your family thinks of you since you're already something of a black sheep among them by being an heiress in a male-oriented clan. As long as they don't do anything to you or the people you do actually care about, you could care less whether they approve of you or not. This is different though." The blond explained and Hikari shook her head.
"It may be different but that doesn't mean I don't understand or anything. You want their approval because you're unsure if you've done the right thing. You want their approval in the hopes that they can guide you or tell you what you should do. I remember being like that with my grandmother when she was alive. She was the only person in the family that actually nutured and raised me. My father was always worrying about not having a son and training me. My uncle and cousin want to see me fall and go out of their way to try and embarrass or put me down. My mom died after giving birth to me and the rest of the clan isn't really close to me because they either hate my status or are intimidated by it. Only baa-chan got close and would tell me she loved me or if she was proud of me. When I was younger I wouldn't look to my father for his approval or guidance, I'd go to her. She's the one who helpped me." Hikari explained as Naruto started idly rubbing her lower back with a hand just as she was doing with her hand on his chest. "You're looking for the same thing Naru-kun. Sensei and Tsuchikage-sama may have raised you and trained you but they were never your parents. They love you yes, and may have adopted you into their family even but it's not the same as the approval from someone you know would love you unconditionally like you know your parents did, even if you never really met them. It's just obvious that from what you do know and what you've learned about them that they loved you without reserve ever since you were concieved. They didn't even have to meet you to care for you. That's the kind of love they had for you. That's why you want their approval so badly. Because you're worried you may be doing something that would've changed that."
Naruto listened to the girl with a small smile on his face as she spoke. He knew she was right. He knew it because that was exactly how he had been feeling. The blond pulled Hikari ontop of his body as he leaned up and kissed her, doing his best to pour in all his love and passion for her as she smiled and returned the gesture. This was why he had fallen for her. Not because of her looks (which were beautiful), not because of her skills (which were great), not even because of the sex (which he couldn't get enough of with her). It was because of this, how understanding she was. She had seen past her families and the villages hate of him and came to know the boy behind the shadow of his father. She knew just what to say to clear things up for him or to cheer him up if he was down.
"You know..." Hikari started as they pulled back from their kiss and caught their breath. "There's someone else that loves you unconditionally." Naruto smiled and raised a hand to cup her face.
"Yeah, I'm looking at her." Hikari smiled as he pulled her back down to kiss her lips before pulling his lips back so that their foreheads were still touching. "And I love you too Hikari-chan. And nothings ever going to change that."
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
The next day saw many things happening all across the village. Venders and tradesmen were opening up their shops bright and early to attract the foreign visitors arriving for the Chunin Exams. Ninja patrols were increased to everywhere to make sure the law was followed. And hundreds of spectators, from royal, shinobi and civilian background, all came to the village to witness the next generation of ninja showcase their strength.
Inside Konoha's arena the stands were filling with those who had purchased tickets to the event while down in the arena the actual competitors awaited their battles. Hikari was leaning back against Naruto as the two were making small talk with Kurai next to them. Standing a few feet away was Gaara, the boy being silent while occasionally glancing at Naruto when the blond called out a question to his fellow jinchuriki. Temari and Kankuro were watching Gaara and Naruto intereact with a small bit of wonder and a large amount of fear. They knew the two had spoken during the month break and whatever Naruto had said to Gaara had an effect. He hadn't threatened them at all but the general feeling of murder never went away either. Plus after his display in the preliminaries, the two were terrified at what would happen if the whiskered boy got mad. Finishing up the list of competitors were the Konoha ninja and Dosu, the lone Oto genin left. Dosu was listening in on both the minor convesation the Iwa genin were having as well as whatever the people in the stands were talking about. It was a minor annoyance to him that from what he could hear nobody believed he could win. But he could wait until his match to prove them wrong. Neji and Tenten were standing patiently waiting for their fights to start, occasionally glancing in Naruto's direction trying to figure out if his claim to the Namikaze name was true or not, as was Shino a couple feet away. Sasuke was nowhere to be seen.
Standing in front of all of them, waiting with a half-lidded gaze was a brown haired man with his headband as a bandanna tied on his head backwards and a senbon between his teeth. He wore the standard outfit of a Konoha jonin with a long sleeved blue shirt and pants and a green vest with a red spiral on the back. While he kept one eye on the genin to make sure nothing started prematurely, the other was kept on the Kage's booth, waiting for the signal from the Hokage to begin the tournament.
Up in the Kage booth itself sat Sarutobi along with two jonin guards. His thoughts were on his talk with Jiraiya after the man had come back from speaking with Naruto. After a single conversation Jiraiya was claiming him to be an angry but reasonable and level-headed young man with from what he could tell, a somewhat mischivious side and a high amount of loyalty to those he cared for. He also told the aged man that had he tried talking to Naruto as if he were wanting to get to know him rather than get something from him, he likely would've been better recieved as he was. In hindsight Jiraiya was right but at the same time as Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't afford such pleseantries at the time, nor could he afford them now still. By the time these Exams were over Naruto would have to willingly come to Konoha otherwise he was going to be forced to take unreasonable measures that very likely could and would start a Fourth Shinobi War.
The Hokage was drawn from his thoughts as three more people came up to the booth. One was Onoki himself, his Kage hat on his head and two jonin guards at his back. Taking the seat on Sarutobi's right Onoki stayed silent but looking down at the arena he smirked seeing his genin. "Heh, I'm going to enjoy today, for many reasons." Sarutobi nodded his understanding, thinking Onoki was only referring to watching his genin fight and not knowing about the other plans as the attention of both Kages was drawn to the booth entrance as another entered. Wearing a white robe that covered his body as well as a blue Kage hat and a veil that covered everything on his face other than his eyes was the Kazekage. His two guards keeping position behind him the man took the seat on Sarutobi's left and nodded a greetings to his fellow Kage.
"Hokage-dono, Tsuchikage-dono. A pleasure to see you both."
"It's a pleasure to see you as well Kazekage-dono. How was your trip through the desert?" Sarutobi asked as the man shrugged.
"As well as could be expected. But perhaps it's for the best that the Exams were held here this time? You are getting quite old Hokage-dono. Perhaps it's time for a Godaime?"
"You do realize I am a couple years older than Sarutobi, don't you Kazekage-dono? Calling him too old for the job is saying the same to me. And I made the trip just fine." Onoki interjected with a grunt.
"My apologies Tsuchikage-dono. I didn't mean anything by it."
"Feh. It doesn't matter. Let's just get these Exams started." The Kazekage nodded so Sarutobi stood up and walked towards the railing.
"So be it." He muttered before lifting his voice so that everyone could hear it. "Welcome one and all to the Finals of the bi-annual Chunin Selection Exams. Before you are the twelve finalists who have risked everything to come to his point and show just why they are deserving of promotion. Now, may all of you enjoy the battles to come and stay to the very end. I now declare this tournament begun!" He called, to the many cheers of the spectators as he sat back down.
"Perhaps I'm missing something but I only count eleven genin Hokage-dono. Aren't we missing one?" The Kazekage asked as Onoki and Sarutobi both narrowed their eyes, though for different reasons around the same missing genin.
"Yes, one Uchiha Sasuke. However he has a bye through the first round and his match is the last of the second. There's plenty of time left for him to arrive." Sarutobi commented but Onoki scoffed.
"Maybe, that depends on how fast the matches are. And I don't know about either of your village's genin but I know mine will dominate theirs." He bragged before tiliting his head to the side. "Or rather two of them will. I'm not entirely sure Kurai will be able to breeze through his opponent like his teammates will to their own. A jinchuriki is nothing to take lightly, no matter the rank." Both Kage's had narrowed eyes and the small dismissal of their genin but nodded their heads in agreement with the last statement. Jinchuriki were feared for a reason after all.
Down on the arena floor the jonin seemed to snap to attention after the Hokage had spoken and the crowds cheers died down. "Alright listen up. My name is Shirunai Genma and I'm the proctor for the finals here. The arena may be different but the rules are exactly the same as before; you fight until one of you gives up, gets knocked out or killed. If I feel a match is decided then I'll intervene but otherwise this is anything goes one-on-one fighting. Now, everyone but Hanamaru Hikari and Aburame Shino is to head up to the waiting area so that we can begin." He explained as the genin nodded. Naruto gave Hikari a kiss before following the rest of the genin up to the specially prepared area for them to watch and wait for their own matches. Hikari however didn't watch him leave but instead turned towards her opponent.
"I remember you, we stole both your scrolls in the forest without even having to fight. You three were terrified of us." She commented as Shino stood silent with his hands in his pockets. Hikari raised and eyebrow before shrugging. "You can play the silent game all you like. Kurai does it all the time so it doesn't bother me. Anyways, I'd advise giving up, because if you don't then I will fight to kill. Just a fair warning."
"Like you warned Sakura-san before scarring her for life? I thank you for the advice but will not be taking it. I shall give this battle my all in the hopes of defeating you and being promoted to chunin. My friends have also asked me to make sure you are hurt extremely for what you did to our classmate." Shino monotoned before tilting his head slightly. "Just a fair warning." He echoed, making Hikari smirk and bend her knees slightly in preparation to fight.
"Well if that's how you want it bug boy, I'll make sure it's interesting." Looking from genin to genin Genma nodded before jumping back.
"Hanamaru Hikari of Iwa versus Aburame Shino of Konoha; hajime!"
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票