42 Chapter 34: Drama in the Preliminaries 1/2

Wow. A lot of you were happy to see Kabuto stay and fight Sasuke. Guess you all liked that little twist, right? Well that's good. I hope you all enjoy the fights that are about to come. I will say that I actually only have one canon fight here, and the rest are all against different opponents from canon, so we'll see how that goes.

For those of you who don't read my Beast Wars fanfic, let me say again here what I said there. Due to unfortunate financial problems, I may be delayed for an unknown period of time in my writing. I don't know for certain if I will, and if I am, I don't know how long until I am able to get back to writing. But let me state, here and now, that unless absolute catastrophe happens, I will not abandon these fanfics. Like I said, I don't know what exactly is going to happen here, as I might be delayed, or I might not be. Just letting you all know.

To anonymous guest Robyn, I would happily let you know what I'm planning regarding Hinata becoming a full Assassin, except I don't wish to put out spoilers here for others to see who may not want spoilers. So if you are able to eventually contact me privately, do so and I'll let you know. Or you can see what happens as I write the fanfic. So I can't offer any more info then that. x.x

So, with nothing else to add at the moment, here we go!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Assassin's creed. They are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and Ubisoft respectively. This is a nonprofit fan made work of fiction. Please support the official release.

Chapter 34

Drama in the

Preliminaries

At once, the two were in motion, both leaping towards each other, Sasuke, Sharingan active, struck first as he launched a pair of shuriken at Kabuto. Kabuto dodged them, bringing out a curved knife as he prepared to engage in hand to hand combat while Sasuke drew his own, their blades crashing against each other, sparks flying from metal meeting metal. The older genin attempted to use his greater strength to overpower Sasuke, but Sasuke slipped under him, dropping the kunai, grabbing it in his other hand, and slashing at Kabuto, forcing him back. Flipping the kunai back to his right hand, he pressed the assault.

Kiba grinned as he gripped the rail, leaning over it. "Yeah, go Sasuke! Show him the strength of Team Seven!" he shouted excitedly, as Sakura stood next to him, watching while gripping the rail. She had faith in Sasuke, but she was worried about how badly he might have been affected by the sealing process. Not to mention that the genin he was facing was more experienced, with a few years under his belt. She gripped the rail tightly, as Sasuke kept pressing the attack.

Kabuto grunted softly as he blocked another of Sasuke's blows, ducking under a punch from the Uchiha genin, only to be forced to block with his forearms as Sasuke spun and delivered a kick at his face. The blow drove him back a couple feet before he stopped, settling back into his stance.

Sasuke however was already finishing a set of hand signs. Drawing in air, he began launching a series of fireballs at Kabuto, forcing him to dodge to the sides, before trying to rush Sasuke. The Uchiha genin leapt back, finishing another handsign and launching a much larger fireball that created an explosion as it smashed into the ground where Kabuto had stood.

From the railing, the Oto jounin watched, looking impassive, and yet if one were able to see his eyes clearly, they'd see a look of both glee and yet disappointment as he watched the fight, as the smoke cleared, revealing the slightly burning crater where the fireball had landed.

Kabuto, having leapt into the air over the fireball, landed, and glanced at the crater, then at Sasuke, who was again holding a kunai, preparing for the next engagement.

Kabuto slowly settled into his stance, gripping his own kunai, studying Sasuke. He suddenly lunged forward, tossing a normal kunai out, forcing Sasuke to dodge to the side, right into his attack. Sasuke was barely able to move his head to one side, the curved kunai slashing his cheek lightly and drawing blood.

The glasses wearing genin smirked at that, only to find himself on the receiving end of a sudden blow to his stomach, as Sasuke slammed a punch into him. Sasuke swung his kunai down, his eyes widening as he felt the blade bite into flesh, only for Kabuto to suddenly disappear in a cloud of smoke, replaced by a rock that Sasuke's kunai was embedded in.

Sasuke quickly jumped away, as Kabuto appeared through the floor, trying to slash up at him. Sasuke landed and skidded back, panting slightly as he looked at Kabuto, who was also panting lightly. He gripped his kunai, bringing it up into the ready position as he tried to think of some way to win the match. He and Kabuto seemed relatively evenly matched, at least in taijutsu, and Kabuto had a few more years experience on him. Plus Kabuto seemed to know a fair amount of what he could do, if those info cards were any real indication. If he wanted to win this fight, and fast, he needed to pull out a surprise, and fast.

Kiba growled as he leaned over the rail. "C'mon Sasuke, hurry up already! Stop playing around with this guy!" Kiba shouted.

Sasuke glanced up at him, only to blink as he also saw Lee on the railing. His eyes widened slightly, as he remembered the small brawl before the First Exam. Lee had challenged him to a fight, wanting to test himself against the Rookie of the Year, to see if his hard work could beat a natural genius. The fight had been rather one sided, even with his Sharingan active, as Lee had trounced first Kiba, who had arrogantly charged Lee, and then himself. But during the fighting, he had remembered copying Lee's moves.

Sasuke now frowned slightly, as he didn't entirely like the idea of using moves he had accidentally stolen. His father wouldn't have had a problem with it, but his mother had always taught him that it cheapened the hard work of your friends and allies if you simply copied and used their hard learned techniques for yourself. Still, at the moment it was the only idea Sasuke could think of.

Closing his eyes, he nodded, before rushing towards Kabuto. The older genin, readied himself, preparing to charge forward, only to blink as Sasuke seemed to vanish in front of him. That is until he felt the blow to his chin that sent him hurtling into the air.

Lee could only gape, starring as Sasuke perfectly performed the initial kick of his Omote Renge (Front Lotus), followed by disappearing and appearing behind in the air, utilizing the Kage Buyō (Shadow of the Dancing Leaf). "Those are my techniques," he said quietly, stunned that Sasuke had been able to so perfectly copy them.

In the air, Sasuke quickly shifted his body, bringing his left leg up and kicking Kabuto's side, making him grunt out in pain. He suddenly pushed off with said leg, pushing himself into a spin and sliding under Kabuto's back to now bring his left arm down in a bar across Kabuto's neck, continuing the spin to drive a right hook into Kabuto's face, and finishing with a right heel drop right onto Kabuto's stomach, driving him into the ground.

Sasuke quickly leapt away from the explosion of smoke and debris, as Kabuto lay there in the crater, groaning and twitching. Hayate approached the older genin, and seeing him not rising, raised his hand. "The match goes to Sasuke Uchiha," he reported, as medics rushed out onto the arena, gathering up Kabuto.

Sasuke panted softly, slumping a bit, but grinning as several of the viewers, jounin and genin alike, applauded his efforts. He moved back up to the walkway where his team was, where Kiba grinned. "Alright! Way to go man," he said, slapping Sasuke on the back.

Sakura smiled at him. "That was really great Sasuke-kun," she said with a smile.

Sasuke nodded in thanks to their congratulations, before frowning, and moving past them to where Team Nine stood. He approached Lee, before stopping. "Lee-san…I wish to apologize for stealing your moves, and utilizing them. My mother taught me that it is wrong to use an ally's technique, unless they give permission," he said politely, bowing his head.

Lee blinked at that, before smiling, and giving him a thumbs up. "It is alright, Sasuke-san. I am pleased and honored that my moves could help inspire you your Flames of Youth, and bring you victory. Though now, I'm more motivated than ever to prove that my hard work is superior to your natural born genius," he said.

Sasuke sweatdropped slightly as he nodded. "Thank you, Lee-san," he said, as he returned to his team, while hearing Lee's sensei Gai proudly congratulating his student on a 'wonderful display of youth'.

As the arena floor was quickly repaired, the name selector began spinning again, preparing to select the next two combatants. Everyone watched intently, waiting to see if their name was called up.

Soon enough, the generator stopped, revealing two names: Tenten vs Samui.

Tenten grinned, as she hopped down to the ground with lee and Gai cheering her on, with Samui slowly walking down from her walkway. Tenten eyed her competition, trying to size her up. She looked to be about her age, with straight blonde hair that reached down to the top of her neck, with light blue eyes and pale skin. She was wearing a short sleeved and skirted kimono, gray in color, with a black skirt reaching down to her knees, as well as an armored corset around her waist that had the Kumo emblem on the front of it. (1) Rounding out her outfit was a mesh shirt visible in the neckline of her kimono top, a pair of armored bracers and thigh high toeless boots. Tenten's eyes narrowed as she saw the tanto sheathed at the back of her waist.

Samui in turn looked Tenten over, seeing her pink sleeveless top, slightly baggy green pants, and the scrolls at her hips. She settled her left hand on her tanto hilt, ready to draw at a moment's notice, as Tenten's hands moved down to her kunai pouch.

Hayate, seeing them both ready, nodded. "Fight!" He shouted, jumping back.

Immediately, Samui drew her tanto, holding it in front of her in a reverse grip, as Tenten drew a kunai. The bun haired kunoichi grinned as she spun the kunai by its ring grip on her finger, before hurling it at Samui, who blocked it. Tenten quickly drew several shuriken, launching them with lighting speed at Samui, who quickly began small stepping dodges, deflecting and blocking each shuriken as she began moving closer to Tenten.

Tenten kept grinning as she pulled out several more shuriken, gripping them between her fingers before unleashing them in a massive flurry at Samui, who was forced to substitute away to avoid being hit by them all, reappearing a few feet away. What she wasn't expecting though was for Tenten to yank on hidden wires attached to each shuriken, causing them to wheel around and swing towards Samui, each projectile now a miniature spinning bladed yo-yo.

Samui ducked under one, blocking another and cutting the wire attached to it, before leaping over two more. A fifth however cut into her arm, drawing blood. She landed, her eyes only narrowing slightly as she looked down at the flesh wound, then at Tenten, who yanked on the wires to call back the shuriken she still had control over.

Tenten grinned as she launched them again, this time using her connected wires to have them all come at Samui from different angles. Samui again rolled out of the way, as the shuriken all impacted the ground, before leaping quickly, cutting the wires so that Tenten lost all control of them.

Tenten frowned as she leapt back, her hand going to one of her scrolls. "Hmmm, you're pretty handy with that blade," she said, complimenting her opponent. Samui just said nothing, her face still as stoic as it was at the beginning of the match, as she readied herself again.

On the walkway, Karui growled as she leaned over the rail. "Hurry up and end the bitch already," she muttered, teeth gritted, as Omoi glanced at her nervously.

"Hey, take it easy Karui. You know there are Konoha shinobi who can probably hear us, right?" He muttered. "You don't want to start an incident, do you?"

Before Karui could retort, Kirabi placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm your heat, Karui-chan. I know you ain't Konoha's biggest fan," he said, as Karui groaned.

"Stop it sensei," she muttered, as the fight continued.

Samui now was on the offensive, rushing towards Tenten and trying to get in close, as Tenten kept throwing kunai and shuriken at her. The bun haired kunoichi yanked out a series of senbon and launched them at Samui, who blocked most of them, except for two that pierced her shoulder. She faltered a bit at that, reaching up and yanking them out before tossing them aside.

Tenten decided it was time to up the ante, as she yanked out one of her scrolls, unsealing several different weapons, consisting of swords, axes, a couple spears, and even a mace. She grabbed each one out of the air, tossing them at Samui, who for the first time, looked a bit stunned, barely dodging this large weapons she wasn't expecting to be thrown at her.

Tenten grimaced, as her opponent continued to be fast enough to dodge or block her weapons. It wounded her pride a bit, as she trained constantly to be accurate, getting perfect strikes against targets. She had defeated several thugs, bandits, and a few genin in the past with her accuracy, but it seemed Samui was fast enough to dodge her.

Tenten decided to go for the killing blow, as she dropped the scroll she had been using, and grabbed out two more, setting them at her sides as she crouched down. "Sōshōryū! (Ninja Art: Rising Twin Dragons)" She shouted, as the two scrolls launched upwards in a spiral, wreathed in smoke shaped like dragons. Tenten shot up in the middle of the two spiraling scrolls, now rapidly summoning more weapons sealed into the scrolls, and launching them at Samui.

Samui frowned as she kept leaping away, blocking the weapons that came close to her as she kept dodging, finally finding herself with her back against the wall of the arena, as the last weapon hit the ground.

She looked up at Tenten, only to find the Konoha kunoichi was grinning, as she yanked her hands back. Like the shuriken she had used earlier, the weapons all were yanked back on nearly invisible wires, creating a giant mass of weapons hovering in the air, as Tenten smirked. "This is the end!" She shouted, throwing all of them at Samui at the same time.

Everyone could only gape in horror and amazement, as the weapons shot towards Samui. And yet at the last moment, they all deflected away, slamming into the wall around Samui or the floor in front of her, with not a single one of them hitting her.

Tenten could only stare in disbelief and horror, as Samui stood there, lighting crackling over her body. "I don't find the idea of being a pincushion to be very cool," she said in a stoic voice, slowly reaching to grab weapons on either side of her. The lightning crackled around her, which she had used to create a temporarily reverse magnetic field, now shot into the weapons, and up the metallic wires, shocking Tenten. She began screaming in pain as she was electrocuted, before falling to the ground, hitting it hard. As she lay there twitching and spasming, Samui lowered her hands. "I believe she's done," she said coldly.

Hayate approached, and seeing Tenten unable to voluntarily move, nodded. "Tenten is unable to fight. Samui of Kumo is the winner," he said.

Samui watched as the medics picked Tenten up and rushed her towards the infirmary, before another one came to her, offering to heal up her wounds. She nodded as she watched a couple of shinobi clear away the weapons, to deliver them back to Tenten when she recovered. Then her gaze moved up to where Naruto stood.

Naruto frowned as he saw those cold blue eyes lock onto him, hardening as she looked at him. He stared back, frowning, not backing down, as she finally turned away and returned to her team after being treated. Hinata next to him frowned at Samui's actions, and looked up, seeing Karui giving a much more heated glare towards Naruto. "Okay, did you do something to piss off Kumo?" She whispered to Naruto.

"Not that I know," he said, as the next two contestants were chosen, the names Zaku and Shino appearing.

The two genin moved down to the field, with Hayate looking with concern at Zaku's arms. "Are you certain you wish to fight?" He asked Zaku.

"Just start the fucking match already," Zaku growled out, as Shino watched him, eyes narrowed.

Up above, Asuma took a drag on his cigarette, chuckling. "I pity that boy. Even if he was fully healed, I don't think he'd stand much of a chance," he said.

Anko glanced over at him, eyebrow raised. "Ohhh? He that good, huh?" He asked.

"You have no idea. Shino might be quiet and may not look like much, but he can be pretty ruthless at times, when it's called for," he said, as the match began.

Shino just watched his opponent impassively behind his sunglasses. "I would suggest you forfeit. You are at an obvious disadvantage, and I would not wish to exasperate your injuries more," he stated calmly.

Zaku however just growled angrily. "You think you're hot shit, huh? Part of a famous clan in a big shinobi village? You think you're better than me?! Well you're fucking not! I fucking hate people like you, who think you're so much better, looking down on people like me! Well fuck you!" He shouted, as he suddenly yanked his right arm out of its sling, revealing that it was not as bad as he made it seems. "Guess I'm not as injured as you think!" He shouted.

Shino merely raised an eyebrow, before sidestepping as a cutting wave of wind shot through where he stood, slashing the wall behind him. Zaku fired another cutting wave at him, as Shino merely side stepped again, before dodging a third time as a third one came at him. Zaku growled as he launched a series of blasts, each one aimed either at Shino or ahead of him. Shino managed to dodge each one until he had moved almost to the other side of where he had started. He suddenly rushed forward, doing something most people would not predict for an Aburame as he actually got in close enough to punch Zaku, laying a right hook across his cheek.

Zaku spun from the blow, but used the momentum to spin away from Shino, and bring up his good arm, blasting him almost point blank range. Shino was sent flying back, smashing into the wall, only to disintegrate into a writhing mass of black insects, which began surging towards Zaku. At the same time Shino appeared on the opposite side of Zaku, holding a kunai.

"It seems you have a choice now," Shino said in his monotone voice. "You can either deal with my insects or me, or you could surrender," Shino said. "But you cannot take us both out."

Zaku glared at him, his arm pointed at the insects, before he grinned. "Heh, you think, so, wouldn't you? You superior arrogant bastard. But looks like I've got an advantage you didn't think of!" he shouted, yanking out his other arm, pointing it at Shino. "Say goodbye!" He shouted, as he prepared to launch cutting air waves at both Shino and his insects.

However, instead of cutting pressure waves slamming into the Aburame and his swarm, Zaku's arms bulged before air erupted from various points in his arms, making him scream in agony, his arms falling uselessly at his side.

Shino moved up next to him, as his insects swarmed around them, returning to Shino. "While it was clever of you to try and look weaker than you really were, it was easy to surmise that if one of your arms was functioning, the other would be as well," he said. "When I punched you, I used that moment to place some of my insects onto you, to block up your air holes in your arms. Afterwards, I simply had to distract you so my insects could finish blocking up the airways. Once you attempted to attack me…well you see what happens," he said.

Zaku growled as he swung his arms at Shino, only to be backhanded by Shino, sending him flying. "Proctor, I believe he is done," Shino said, as he moved away.

Hayate nodded, as Zaku groaned, lying there, unable to get up due to his injured arms. "Zaku is unable to fight. Shino is the victor," he said.

As Zaku was carried away, the Oto jounin moved away from the wall. "I'm going to see to Zaku," he said to Dosu and Kin. They both simply nodded, but as the jounin left, Dosu glared at his back.

Meanwhile, the name generator began rolling through the next two contestants, as everyone waited with bated breath. Eventually, two new names popped up: Gaara vs Misumi Tsurugi.

Team Ten all grew tense at that, remembering the bloodbath they had seen in the Forest, and their belief it was one of the Suna shinobi who had done it. Naruto meanwhile grew attentive, as he now could watch his fellow jinchuuriki in action.

At the infirmary, the medics were working on Zaku's arms, while Tenten lay in one bed, sedated and unconscious. Kabuto meanwhile seemed asleep. That is until he sensed the small fluctuation of chakra, causing him to open his eyes. He could see the Oto jounin entering the room, with nobody paying any attention to him, as he came right over to Kabuto's bed. He smiled as he spoke. "Greetings Orochimaru-sama. I'm touched you're here to check on me."

The Oto jounin let out a snake like laugh. "Aah, my dear Kabuto-kun. I am glad to see you're alright. Your fight with Sasuke-kun was almost believable," he said. "Now that you've fought him, tell me what you think," he said.

Kabuto sat up comfortably, before speaking. "He seems skilled, for a genin. He has the potential to a powerful shinobi, if he's focused in the right direction. However, it does seem that someone has already sealed the seal you gave him. The fight I put him through should have caused it to activate, at least once," Kabuto said.

"I noticed the same as well. There are few people with that level of sealing knowledge. For them to do it and Sasuke to already be in condition to fight means most likely…that it was my old teammate, Jiraiya," Orochimaru stated, frowning. "That complicates things to a degree."

"Indeed, Orochimaru-sama. I've also noted something, watching Sasuke in the village and such. He seems driven by a sense of justice, wanting to bring his brother in for the 'crimes' he has committed, as well as protecting his family and clan. It might be harder to lure him away from Konoha," Kabuto reported.

Orochimaru nodded quietly. "Nobler intentions are harder for me to manipulate…but I'm sure that Sasuke will see the benefits of coming to me, when the time comes. Continue your charade, Kabuto-kun. I'll have need of your services soon enough," Orochimaru said, standing up and leaving.

"As you will, Orochimaru-sama," Kabuto said, settling back into bed, and sensing the small genjutsu Orochimaru had put up dissipate.

In the arena, many people were feeling rather nauseous at the sight they had just witnessed. The fight had barely last more than a couple minutes after it started, and it had been little more than a bloody execution.

Misumi, when the fight began, charged Gaara, only to immediately be blasted back by a stream of sand that slammed him into the wall, only to then lift him up, smash him a couple more times into the ground, before lifting up his broken body, holding it above where all could see. The sand engulfed Misumi entirely, and before Hayate could say anything, contracted violently, with Misumi's pleas and screams for mercy cut off violently. Some blood had dripped out of the sand, falling to the ground below, before Gaara retracted the sand, leaving a mangled mess of cloth, bone and flesh to slump to the ground.

During the entire affair, Gaara's face remained utterly impassive. The only movement he had made was when Misumi had been captured, as he had lifted one hand and made a crushing motion with his fist, causing the sand to contract. Now having been declared the winner, he returned to his siblings, his face still impassive.

Naruto could only stare at Gaara in horror, at the callous way he had so utterly mutilated and killed Misumi. Hinata was trembling a bit next to him, feeling the same horror. They were not strangers to killing and death, but this cold blooded and gory killing was something they were not used to. Ino was the worst, sobbing slightly, as Anko comforted her. Many of the other genin were much the same, even the trio from Kumo. The Suna team were moving a bit nervously away from Gaara, who simply stood there, impassively.

Sarutobi frowned deeply as he looked at the Suna jinchuuriki. He wasn't disturbed so much that Gaara had killed his opponent, they were shinobi and that was what they did. It was the fact that he not only had done so in such a cold blooded and callous manner, but such a gory manner as well. Given how his teammates and sensei were acting around him, it also seemed he was not something they easily could control. If Suna let such a person into the chuunin exams, it seemed that they had little care as to any international incident Gaara might create. And that worried Sarutobi.

Hayate brought their attention back to the exams, as the name generator began running through the remaining names, before ending with Naruto Uzumaki and Karui.

Naruto blinked at that, before rolling his shoulders. "Guess I'm up," he said.

Hinata nodded as she touched his shoulder. "Good luck. And be careful," she said. Ino and Anko offered their own wishes of good luck, as Naruto headed down the stairway to the arena floor.

Karui growled softly, her hand already on her ninjato hilt over her shoulder. Naruto slowly examined her as he approached. She was dressed in a sleeveless top that was almost like a short skirted dress, with the collar and arm openings being slightly ragged. She also was wearing a long skirt that was open in the front, allowing for movement. He could see she wore shorts underneath the skirt, with thigh high skin tight boots and mesh stockings. She also had an armored vest that had a single shoulder strap over her left shoulder, and a white forehead protector that covered her forehead and the front of her hair, but was open in the back to let her wild red hair flow out from behind. Her golden eyes were locked onto him, anger blazing in them.

As Hayate started the match, Naruto shifted his stance into a more ready one, as he watched Karui. "I have a question, before we begin. Why are you so angry with me? Did I do something to you?" He asked as his hands ready to reach for a kunai or his own ninjato.

Karui glared at him. "As if you don't know! We saw you, hanging around with that traitor!" she shouted, as she lunged at him. Naruto quickly yanked out a kunai, blocking the blow, but watching as the force of her strike actually cut into the kunai, leaving a deep gouge. Jumping back and throwing it at her as a distraction, he quickly switched to his own ninjato, eyeing her blade carefully.

Karui followed up quickly, going into a side slash as Naruto blocked it it, spinning her blade to the side in an attempt to bring his own around in a quick slash. She leaned back, bringing her sword around her head to slash down at him, as he raised one of his armored bracers. Unlike his kunai, the bracer held up, as he used it to slide her slash off to the side. As she was caught off balance, he quickly brought his knee up into her stomach, driving the air out of her, before he shoved her back.

Karui panted, trying to draw in air, as she clutched her stomach, before glaring at Naruto, who held his sword up in the ready position. Naruto now was returning the glare, gripping his blade.

"So what? You trying to get back at her by attacking me or something?" Naruto asked.

"I want to make sure she understands what it means to betray Kumo!" Karui said, as she went and attacked again with a thrust.

Naruto parried the blade, swinging it around and slashing at her neck, which she ducked under, a couple of strands of her hair being cut in the process. Karui spun away, slashing back at him as Naruto merely stepped back as well. Karui shot up, only to see Naruto drawing out his crossbow with his other hand, bow blades locking into position as he channeled chakra into it, a bolt popping up into position thanks to the ammo seal etched onto the crossbow. He quickly fired, the bolt slamming into Karui before she could react, making her eyes go wide, before she poofed into smoke, a rock in place where she had been.

Naruto quickly sheathed the crossbow, before hearing the hissing of a blade cutting through air. He rolled forward, the blade passing through where his head had been, as he came up to one knee out of the roll and raised his sword up, supporting the blade with his left hand to block Karui's downward stroke. Shoving back, he got back up onto his feet, tossing the blade up before quickly running through handsigns for the Grand Fireball. With a roar he launched a rather sizeable fireball at Karui.

The Kumo kunoichi gaped before throwing herself to the side, the fireball smashing into the wall behind her and exploding. She rolled back to her feet, glaring as she brought her own sword up, lightning now channeling through it. "You want to up the ante? Fine!" She shouted, as she swung the blade, lighting shooting through it and heading straight towards him.

Naruto barely dodged to the side, cursing as the lighting actually singed his right sleeve. Seeing another bolt of lightning coming at him he ducked this time, rolling to the side to avoid a third blast.

Karui came charging at him, now going for melee combat with her lightning wreathed sword. Naruto was forced to dodge the attacks, as he knew if he allowed his sword or bracers to connect with that blade, it would shock him, leaving him wide open to more attacks. He tried to open up the distance with her, but she kept pressing the attack, her sword arcing with lightning and seeming to be a blur around him.

Desperate for a moment of breathing space, he managed to grab a couple of smoke bombs, detonating them on the floor and causing Karui to jump back in surprise. Having a moment's reprieve, Naruto stabbed his sword into the ground, before making several shadow clones. "Distract her. I need a few moments," he said, a desperate plan forming in his head.

As the clones shot forward through the smoke, he closed his eyes as he got ready to perform the only technique he knew that could be of help here, taught to him after the Nami mission not by Anko, but the only known wind wielding shinobi in Konoha.

Flashback

Naruto glanced up at Asuma, as the sensei of Team Ten held up one of his trench knives. "Watch closely," he said, before throwing it at a tree. The trench knife buried itself a couple inches into the tree, sticking there. Asuma grinned as he held up his second trench knife, this one's blade becoming wreathed in distortions, before he threw it at the same tree. The trench knife pierced through the tree, cutting through and hitting the next tree, and the next, before stopping at the fourth one.

Naruto could only blink in surprise, before grinning at Asuma. "That was incredible, Asuma-sensei."

Asuma nodded. "Yes it was. Wind chakra is one of the most deadly elements when combined with weapons, as it allows you to make your weapon sharper, reach farther, and pierce deeper than any other element. It is also quite versatile in defense as well, allowing you to block or deflect incoming projectiles and even jutsu. However, it is a very rare element, with only the Suna shinobi being prevalent in its use. So, you're unlikely to run into another wind user unless you run into a Suna shinobi."

"So…how do I do that?" Naruto asked, pointing to the trees Asuma had all but destroyed. Asuma grinned, as he began to explain to Naruto what to do.

Flashback Ends

Now, Naruto began focusing his chakra into his sword, focusing on the air around the blade, focusing on manipulating it to his will. Slowly, small wisps of air began to run along the blade, as Naruto focused, ignoring the memories he received from his clones as they were dispelled.

Karui found herself surprised when the first Naruto emerged from the some cloud, followed by more. She at first expected them to be normal clones, but when the first one had actually almost slashed her arm, she realized instead these were solid clones. She gutted the first one that had almost cut her, dispersing it in a cloud of smoke, as she raised her blade, blocking the next one and dispersing it as the electricity in her sword coursed through the clone. Two more fired crossbow bolts at her, but she deflected them and sent a wave of lightning at them, destroying them. A fifth came at her with his ninjato in one hand and a kunai in the other, and Karui managed to dodge his attacks, striking him down, before turning and gutting the sixth clone that had emerged, dispersing it.

Growling in anger, she readied her blade. "If you're too scared to fight me, then I'll come get you, coward!" She shouted, a she rushed into the smoke, swinging her sword down in an overhead strike.

Everyone could only blink as they heard what sound like thunder erupt from the smoke, which was blown away, revealing the two genin. Their swords were clashed together, the lighting around Karui's blade now straining against the twister of air that surrounded Naruto's sword. Naruto grinned as he saw the stunned look on Karui's face, as he stood on his feet now. "Guess you weren't expecting that," he said, as he shoved her away.

Karui stumbled back, quickly bringing her sword up as Naruto swung at her again, wind blade clashing against lightning infused steel. Her eyes widened as the wind actually cut through the lightning, and a gouge appeared in her sword, forcing her to jump back, as Naruto pressed the attack. She opened the distance, swinging her sword and sending a bolt of lightning from her sword at him, but he deflected it up with his sword now, before slashing down at her. She leaned back, only to gasp as the front of her armored vest was split open by the wind of the sword, causing it to hang loosely off her left shoulder. She quickly threw it at Naruto to try and distract him, but he sliced through it, pushing his advantage as their blades clashed yet again. And this time, her sword shattered, the blade cut into by the cutting blades of wind surrounding Naruto's sword.

Naruto slammed his foot into Karui's stomach, knocking her back, before swinging his sword around, pointing it at her neck. She could feel the tremors of air, so close to her skin, ready to cut into her neck if he moved the blade closer. Naruto just stood there, blade ready, glaring at her. "Yield," he said.

Karui shakily looked at him, before raising her hand. "I-I yield, proctor," she said.

Naruto cancelled the wind around his sword, before slowly sheathing it, as he was declared the winner. Then he surprised everyone by holding out his hand to her, to help her up. She slowly took it, staring at him in surprise as he pulled her to her feet.

"Things are not as simple or as black and white as we'd like them to believe," he said quietly, so no one else would hear. "You've got one half of the story, regarding the traitor you wanted to punish by hurting me. I suggest you find out the other half, before you so eagerly rush to what could have been your death," he said, turning and starting to walk away.

Karui stared at his back, glaring a bit in anger due to him trying to justify Yugito's defection, but also feeling confusion at his words. She grabbed the remains of her sword and vest, stomping up to meet her teammates, who were quietly watching her or her opponent.

Kirabi could only mentally whistle. 'Mister Nine's host ain't no slouch, is he Gyūki?' He thought.

"No he isn't. And that was without Kyuubi's help. I shudder to think what he could do with more training, and Kyuubi's aid," rumbled the Hachibi biju sealed inside of him.

Gaara meanwhile winced, holding his head, as he heard his 'mother' scream for the blood of the shinobi he just watched fight. His teammates backed away at that, looking worried.

Anko grinned as she clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Nice work there gaki," she said. "Especially with the wind chakra."

"You did fantastic Naruto," Hinata said with a grin as well.

Sarutobi had a look of pride on his face, seeing how well Naruto had done as well. It made him feel proud that this boy, who had been an outcast, put on such a display of skill and ability, as well as mercy and restraint.

Kakashi however was frowning behind his mask, seeing the skill Naruto had displayed. Naruto's ability with his wind element was progressing already, most likely thanks to Asuma being convinced to tutor him. He was skilled with a blade, and showed strategic thinking, using his clones to distract Karui as he finished his own preparations, while also using a smoke screen to mask his moves. More and more, he was seeing Naruto progressing quickly, almost too quickly. At this rate, it'd be possible that even if Kakashi got him as his student, there wouldn't be much to teach him. He kept reading his book, mulling over his thoughts, as the next names were being randomly selected.

Sakura bit her lip, nervously watching the names go by. After seeing what some of the other genin had displayed, not to mention the horror of Gaara's match, she found herself worried about her own match. There were still several shinobi she knew were clearly stronger than her, and others she didn't know for certain.

Ino, sensing her friend's distress, smiled as she came over and patted her shoulder, drawing Sakura's attention to her. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure you'll do fine," she said.

Sakura nodded, glancing up at the screen, only to freeze, feeling herself go numb. For there was her name, versus Temari of Suna.

Temari smirked, seeing the pink haired kunoichi freeze up. With a flourish, she flipped over the rail, easily landing, smirking as she rested a hand on the fan at her back. "Well, you coming Pinkie or not?"

Ino glared at Temari, before turning back to Sakura. 'You can do this Sakura. Just keep calm, and believe in yourself. Like I do," she said.

Sakura nodded, as Kiba joined in. "You got this Sakura. Remember, you're the one who saved us in the Forest," she said.

Sakura gave a nod, and started to move forward, only to be stopped by Sasuke. "Good luck Sakura," Sasuke said quietly to her.

Sakura's eyes widened, before she nodded, becoming more determined, and quickly moving down the stairs, heading into position opposite Temari.

Temari just smirked, as she drew out her iron battle fan, and leaned casually against it. "I'm in a good mood Pinkie, so let me tell you this now. Forfeit, and save yourself the trouble," she said. "Otherwise, I can't promise your pretty little face will stay that way."

Sakura trembled, but clenched her fists, staring back at Temari. "I wouldn't be much of a kunoichi if I just gave up, would I?" She asked quietly. "I might not be the strongest, the fastest, the most skilled…but I am still a kunoichi, a ninja of Konoha. I fought to get here…and I won't back down, not when my friends and teammates believe in me," she said, before reaching up and undoing her forehead protector, shifting it from acting like a hair band, and tying it properly into place around her forehead.

Temari shrugged. "Your loss then. I'll try not to cripple or kill you. More than my brother would give you," she said, as she kicked the base of the fan, spinning it in her hands and bringing it into battle position. Sakura slowly slid into her taijutsu stance, fists clenched and ready.

Hayate nodded to them. "Fight!" He ordered, moving back.

Sakura started things off, rushing towards Temari while creating two clones in the process. The trio spread out to distract her, as they moved in to attack.

Temari just smirked, as she twirled the fan, ignoring two of the Sakura's and jabbing it at the third, who dodged to one side.

"Fun little tip. When you're skilled with wind chakra, you can sense changes in air displacement. Clones don't displace air, so those are useless against me," Temari said with a smirk, as she brought her fan down at Sakura, who leapt back.

Sakura suddenly kicked the fan, sending Temari off balance, as she moved in and punched at Temari, who barely swerved her head out of the way. "You talk too much," Sakura said, drawing a kunai and readying herself.

Temari growled softly, as she opened the fan. "Fine. Then let's dance," she said, as she swung her now wide open fan at Sakura. Chakra flared through it, creating a massive gust of wind that shot towards Sakura.

Sakura threw up her arms, as the wind slammed into her, sending her flying back. She let out a cry as she smashed into the wall, slumping over and panting from pain.

Temari smirked as she advanced, fan held at the ready. Sakura slowly got up, drawing out a kunai, before throwing it at Temari. She easily knocked it away with a small gust of wind, bringing her fan around to launch another hurricane of wind at Sakura.

Sakura easily rolled to the side, dragging out a smoke bomb this time which she threw at the ground between herself and Temari. The smoke billowed out, only for Temari to blow it away with a gust and a smirk. "Useless!" She cried out, only for her eyes to widen as Sakura stood there, hands held in a handsign.

The world around them wavered, and Sakura vanished, as Temari found herself in a room made of hardened sand and stone. She turned, her eyes widening in horror as she saw her brother Gaara there, a bloodthirsty look in his eyes.

"Temari…you've proven yourself too worthless to let live," he said, his sand seeping out of his gourd. "I'm tired of letting your pathetic existence continue."

Temari screamed, backing away in horror as the sand shot towards her.