Chunin Exams 10/?: Preliminaries Pt. 2

The first battle of the preliminaries between the two definitely Genin, went about as well as Naruko could have expected, considering who was definitely not under a henge masquerading as a Genin. Overall, they kept it to a reasonable level for 12 to 13-year-old actual prodigies, albeit ones that should be looking for a Jonin promotion soon, and not a Chunin - but that was beside the point. 'I wasn't worried that Kakashi would go too far, but my clone... ugh. I don't think Tobirama designed them to constantly be used, especially for longer-term purposes outside of scouting and maybe some spycraft.' 

Indeed, it seemed like the longer she used the famed Shadow Clone technique, the more inevitable flaws she found within it. The Clones acted differently - be it because they knew of their inevitable erasure, or simply because they are incomplete replicas. It seemed like something was missing that would make them 'whole', with each clone that missing bit being different. You could never truly guess what a Shadow Clone would do unless it was in an incredibly serious moment 'Which of course, is why most people don't use them for even scouting or spying. Most Shinobi don't want to risk their clones deciding to blow up a bandit camp for some reason that wouldn't even affect the regular them, and thus ruin a mission.' 

Her eyes blinked. 'Oh, right. Preliminaries.' Having completely skipped over the match between the two fight between a waterfall genin that the other genin waterfall Shinobi had managed to push into the preliminaries, and who she was sure was Dosu from Oto - a grimace crossed her face at the next matchup. 'Choji Akimichi versus Jirobo of Otogakure'

It didn't matter that Choji was significantly stronger than he would have been in a canon. With a bit of regret in her blue eyes, she watched as the two large boys lumbered down into the arena, a cruel gleam in Jirobo's eyes, and a not-quite-as innocent as he should be, but still innocent look in Choji's. 'This is going to be brutal.' 

Three minutes later she was proven right as a titanic punch sent Choji flying through the air, before cracking into a wall, a nauseating snap resounded throughout the arena. 'This preliminary and final round is going to be brutal in a way they weren't in Canon.' As the medics ran out to attend to Choji, Jirobo walked up the steps, and Naruko's shoulders sagged at the shouting Ino let out towards Jirobo, and the sheer rage in Shikamaru's eyes. 'This might be the first time they see a comrade so hurt, honestly it's most of their first time.' 

Blue eyes surveyed the room, taking note of the various reactions. Honestly - it was clear the sheer difference. Most Konoha genin were various forms of nauseated or angry, whereas every other shinobi be it from Suna, Taki, or Oto were completely unconcerned. 'The training changes I did still weren't enough, it's alright to be outraged by such a brutal loss, but Kiba and Ino are looking a bit too pale.' 

She didn't sigh - no matter how much she wanted to, and once more, her gaze locked onto the screen above the arena. 'Shino Aburame versus Kankuro of Sunagakure' 

For a brief moment, her eyes crinkled and for a blink and you miss it second, a smile flashed on her face. 'This one will be an easy win.' Before the changes were done to Shino in Boruto, he was already well in the upper leagues of the Konoha 12 in canon, and if you discounted Team 7, was more than likely the 2nd strongest by the time of the War Arc, just behind Neji. 'Now? Heh. His little friends are downright monsters. Who knows how many Generations of them have fed on my chakra laced with Kurama's? 

To call what she witnessed a match would be downright horrifically downplaying Shino. Kankuro was not weak - no. He was solidly Chunin material, who had Chunin tactical awareness, combat prowess, and no obvious weakness for the Chunin Rank. Not only that, he was the son of a Kazekage. His chakra was large and potent; and only a step away from the bare minimum expected of a Jonin. Yet, it took him merely twenty seconds to collapse as tiny, nearly microscopic insects flooded out of Shino's body. Yet, even though they where so small, there were so many of them they nearly caused the entire arena to be clouded in a red fog. Within five seconds Kankuros was pale and woozy. By fifteen seconds he had dropped to his knees, and on the 20th second, he finally fell unconscious. 

Catching Sakura and even Sasuke shifting slightly Naruko huffed before each of her hands clapped them on the shoulders. "Don't worry team! Shino is only so strong because he's one of the greatest geniuses the Aburame Clan has ever known, and his insects for probably a few dozen generations have guzzled on my chakra! I'm sure you'll catch up to him one day." Was Shino as skilled at Taijutsu or Genjutsu as Sasuke, or even Sakura? Probably not. But who cared about that when his friends were so strong? 'Of course, I can't say that out loud, my cute little Genin might have hope if I said that!' 

Yet, even though she said none of her thoughts out loud, Sasuke gained a calculative gleam in his eye, and a fiery spirit rose up within Sakura as her fist clenched. 'I just meant to prank them! Aww, damnit. I'm gonna have to train them even harder now!' 

"I'm going to beat him Sensei."

"No Sasuke-kun I'M gonna beat him, CHA!" Both Naruko and Sasuke turned to a rapidly reddening Sakura. "Forget that last part, okay?!?"

"Nope. I'll remember it forever."

"Hn."

"Maah, I'll remember too." 'Oh right, he's still here.'

So, the preliminary continued. Sadly, the next few matches were not good for Konoha. Kiba faced off against Tayuya, who for obvious reasons absolutely demolished Kiba and Akamaru, and unluckily Temari and TenTen faced off much like in Canon. Again, both Kiba and TenTen were stronger. 'Just not enough. Actually, Kiba SHOULD be strong enough to force a Curse Mark 1, maybe even a Curse Mark 2. He's clearly shown off immense prowess for a Chunin Exams participant, it's just this version of Tayuya... is so much stronger. I guess based on Jirobo and her, the Sound Four actually live up to their hype of being Orochimaru's bodyguards for once.'  

It was an interesting, yet highly alarming thought. 'If someone like Guren or Kabuto is significantly stronger as well... this invasion will be far more difficult than I thought.' Once more, however, Naruko was snapped out of her thoughts by the match announcement, but this time an interested gleam appeared in her eyes. 'Oh? How curious that another canon match-up happened. This one is definitely random, after all - no one would be stupid enough to pit a Branch Hyuuga versus the Main Branch in a chunin exam.' 

Indeed, on the screen was the match in question. 'Hinata Hyuga versus Neji Hyuga'

Her gaze swept from the weary-looking Neji, on over to the regal, stonecold, but prideful Hinata. 'This... is certainly going to be interesting.'