Negotiation Successful.

(Whoosh!)

Naruto and Sasuke jumped across trees in the forest.

"Are we there yet?" Sasuke asked.

(Whoosh!)

"We are here!" Naruto said upon landing on the ground.

(Whoosh!)

Sasuke also landed on the ground.

"We are just surrounded by trees," Sasuke complained.

"Just wait!" Naruto said, following which he started to meditate cross-legged on the ground.

….

A few moments later…

< SAGE MODE! >

Naruto scanned the area.

"Good!"

"Looks like no one is there," Naruto said following which he got up.

"Follow me!" Naruto said as he launched off towards a particular direction.

(Whoosh!) Sasuke also followed Naruto quickly…

Soon,

Naruto and Sasuke entered a cave…

After walking for a few moments.

The duo approached a naturally formed downward alley that lead to a HUGE hall.

At the end of the alley which was the opening to the hall…

Naruto pointed his hand to the front.

"Sasuke!"

"This is what I wanted you to see," Naruto said.

Sasuke slowly approached the place where Naruto was standing at.

By the time he approached, he was stunned by what was in front of him.

"This…" Sasuke was too stunned to speak.

——————————————

"The First Battle Between Kankurō of the Hidden Sand and Aburame Shino of the Hidden Leaf!"

>>>>BEGIN<<<<

"OOOHHHHH!!!!!" The crowd went crazy upon the announcement to start the first match.

"GO SHINO!!" Kiba shouted.

(WOOF!)

(WOOF!) Akamaru barked excitedly…

"Huh?" Ino, Choji, Lee, Hinata, and Karin turned back.

"Kiba-kun!" Hinata and Lee greeted.

"Oh!"

"You guys!"

"You have already taken your seats I see…" Kiba stared at the group.

"Where is your seat located?" Lee asked.

"It's C-4" Kiba replied.

"C-4?" Choji looked at the empty seat next to him.

"It must be that seat then!" Kiba said.

(WOOF!) Akamaru barked.

Kiba then sat down next to Choji.

(GRRR!!!!!) Akamaru became angry.

"What is it, boy?" Kiba asked following which, he trace Akamaru's direction of sight, only to find that it was staring at the bag of chips Choji had.

"Hmm?" Choji stared back at Akamaru.

("OW") Akamaru whined a bit.

"You better not get drool over any chips of mine!" Choji spoke in a firm voice.

"Aww…" Ino stared at Akamaru giving its puppy dog eyes.

"It's all right boy; I am going to get you some snacks during the break," Kiba said.

(WOOF!) Akamaru barked back in agreement.

"To think you would bicker against a dog for your food…" Ino sighed.

"Hmph!"

"If it was some other flavors, then I might not mind, but when it comes to BBQ flavor…"

(num)

(num) (num) (num)

Choji continued to eat.

Ino sighed in defeat following which she looked towards the waiting room area.

…

("Have they sorted things out yet?") Shikamaru thought upon seeing the two pitted against each other.

("I am the only unlucky one of the bunch to battle two times in the first round.")

("I will win the first one, but I am probably going to have to forfeit the other one to save the energy for the real battle…")

("I don't know who will win, if it is the Dosu guy or the girl named Temari.")

("I'll definitely withdraw against the sound guy no doubt,")

("However, if the girl wins then things might get a bit ugly, since it would be a problem of a man's pride if I am forced to withdraw against that one…") Shikamaru thought.

("There's no doubt, I will win against Shikamaru…")

("But who will win amongst the other two…?") Sakura thought as she looked towards Dosu and Temari who stood a meter away for Sakura…

Gaara looked towards Dosu and thought back to what had happened almost a month ago…

—————Flashback—————

Gaara looked away from Dosu as he stared at the sight of the village.

"Fight Temari in a fair match."

"If you defeat her, you might get to battle against Sasuke…" Gaara said.

"Hmph!"

"I'll remember this…" Dosu said as he left the place.

——End Of FlashBack—————

"Temari!" Gaara called out.

"Hmm?" Temari looked towards Gaara.

"When it is your turn, I want you to give it your all!" Gaara said.

"Gaara…" Temari stared at him.

"I will!" Temari said as she looked towards the ground.

….

In the seating area of Column B, Kakashi was staring at the ground where Shino and Kankurō stood…

"Oy!"

"Kakashi!"

"Move your head; your white hair is blocking my view." Kakashi heard a voice from behind him.

("This voice?") Kakashi turned back to see two familiar people in front of him.

"Za-" Kakashi stopped immediately, following which he changed the names he was about to utter.

"Arata and Hajime!" Kakashi stared at Haku and Zabuza…

"It's been a while Kakashi-san!" Haku greeted.

"You two…" Kakashi smiled upon seeing their faces after a long time.

…..

Back on the battlefield…

Kankurō looked towards Shino.

"You guys probably don't know the real terror of this world," Kankurō said.

"In that case will you teach me that terror?" Shino asked.

"Hmph!"

"Hiding your face behind those sunglasses and that huge jacket that covers your face…"

"I wonder…"

"What kind of expression you have on your face?"

"Is it that of fear?" Kankurō asked

"Why don't you find out?" Shino asked following which he stretched his arms out.

"Hmph!" Kankurō lowered his puppet that was on his back onto the ground and unwrapped the cloth that was woven around it.

(Whoosh!)

(Whoosh!)

Five chakra strings extended from each hand, connecting to the puppet on the back.

(Tk!)

(Tk!) (Tk!) (Tk!)

(Tk!) (Tk!) (Tk!) (Tk!)

Sounds of movement of puppet joints echoed across the field.

Hah!

Kankurō executed his puppet technique to reveal a strange puppet with three eyes and four hands that crawled across Kankurō's body and latched its body onto Kankurō by wrapping its arms and legs around him.

(zz!)

(zz!) (zz!) (zz!)

(zz!) (zz!) (zz!) (zz!)

Buzzing sounds echoed, followed by the appearance of swarms of bugs that appeared from within Shino's sleeves.

(zz!)

(zz!) (zz!) (zz!)

(zz!) (zz!) (zz!) (zz!)

The swarms of bugs started to fly about, around Shino's body…

"When we fight, we never underestimate our opponent."

"No matter what puny insects they may be…"

"I will advance with full force!" Shino declared.

"…" Kankurō's eyes twitched.

("Opponent - Puny insects?")

"Bring it!" Kankurō taunted Shino.

"…" Shino stared at Kankurō.

"If you don't attack."

"THEN I WILL!!" Kankurō launched CROW (the name of his puppet.) towards Shino at full speed.

"Hah!" Kankurō opened his palms which in turn opened a hidden mechanism under the arm of CROW to reveal a huge needle.

"Huh?" Shino stared at the incoming attack.

(Whoosh!) Shino dodged the attack.

(Boom!) CROW landed the needle which pierced into the ground.

Shino's eyes observed closely at the blade.

("Looks like it is coated with poison.") Shino thought.

"Hmph!" Kankurō made CROW retrieve its arm and pursue Shino again.

("Shit!") Shino felt sweat appear across his face.

"Hah!" Kankurō activated the hidden mechanism within the mouth.

(Whoosh!) two needles flew straight ahead towards Shino.

("Got him!") Kankurō thought.

(Sh!) (Sh!)

Kankurō sent two chakra strings after the two needles.

(tk!) (tk!)

The two needles stopped right before Shino.

"Give up right now!" Kankurō said.

"Hmph!" Shino smiled, following which his body split apart into tiny insects.

"Insects?" Kankurō was surprised.

(Whoosh!) Shino appeared behind Kankurō.

("Shit!") Kankurō exclaimed following which, he appeared a few meters away from the spot he stood at and face Shino.

"To think you'd make a clone out of insects and use them as a distraction while you sneak up on me…" Kankurō said.

"Your reach encompasses from medium to long distance, and you use a puppet."

"I didn't think you would do well in close combat."

"With that puppet master jutsu where you have to concentrate on the control of the puppet…"

"The one casting the jutsu is prone to openings in the defense." Shino explained.

"You're very aware of the weakness of a puppet master!"

"However, from here on out I'll show you the essence of this ninjutsu fighting style!"

Kankurō said following which he tugged on the Chakra strings to open CROW's mechanism under the puppet's arm.

"The real terror of Crow, my puppet of warfare!"

Kankurō said following which he tugged on the string once again to launch a weapon towards Shino.

(Bang!) the mechanism launched a ball-shaped object.

(Whoosh!) Shino quickly created a barrier made out of insects.

(Poof!) The little ball exploded.

("This is Poison Smoke Bomb?") Shino thought as he jumped away from the spot.

(Cough!)

(Cough!)

"Did I inhale… a little bit?" Shino asked himself.

"Haha!"

"You are indeed correct at your guess!"

"This is a poison bomb!" Kankurō confirmed Shino's doubts.

"Damn it!" Shino cursed.

"Give up now, and I will give you this antidote!" Kankurō said as he held up a small bottle in the air.

"Hehe!" Shino laughed.

"THAT"S IMPOSSIBLE!" Kiba and Hinata stood up.

"What happened?" Lee, Ino, and Choji asked.

"SHINO"

"Never"

"laughs," Kiba uttered these word one by one in an eerie voice.

"Why are you laughing?" Kankurō asked.

"Look at your hands!" Shino said.

"Huh?" Kankurō stared at his hands.

("BUGS?") Kankurō stared.

("OH NO CROW!!") Kankurō stared at his puppet which had its joints filled with bugs.

"I remove my bugs for the antidote."

"What say you?" Shino asked.

("DAMN IT!") Kankurō cursed.

The two of them raised their hands at the same time.

Genma smiled.

"THE FIRST BATTLE BETWEEN KANKURŌ AND ABURAME SHINO"

"ENDS IN DRAW!" Genma announced.

"WWHHOOOOAAHHHHH!!!!!!!" The crowd went crazy over the first match.