Genin Takedown - 3

A short ways off, Shino could be seen in a small crater, weakly struggling to stand and failing at it. Lee's Front Lotus could have maimed him had his insects not broken the worst of his fall. It was quiet for a long moment as Shino used up the last of his strength before collapsing, spent.

Hayate approached, fighting back a few threatening coughs, "The winner of the match is Rock Lee."

Sato, unable to stop himself, leapt over the railing and went to his fallen teammate, hoping his injuries weren't too extensive. Hinata stayed close to Kurenai as tears welled in her pale, white eyes. She was glad that her teammates had gotten over their hostilities.

Shino was conscious yet mortified over his loss. He looked up at Sato who helped him stand, not minding the insects that climbed onto him. It didn't take long before a goofy grin found its way onto Sato's face, as it often did, "You did great buddy! That's got to be one of the best fights I've seen in a while..." He paused guiltily, "I'm...sorry I was a jerk."

Shino said nothing, but offered a nod.

Kurenai folded her arms, approving, and spoke quietly to Hinata, "When will they ever learn?"

The Hyuga girl smiled slightly, even if Shino's loss was disappointing.

Lee, predictably, was a gracious winner, "That was a splendid match! Your youth is commendable beyond a doubt, Shino-kun!" Sato snorted in laughter as he and the annoyed Aburame returned up to the balcony, friends once again.

The jounin could tell that the first match had inspired the watching genin.

Gai had decided it was an ideal moment to speak with his eternal rival who was nearby, "So Kakashi, what do you make of my hard-working student?"

There was a long, awkward silence.

A few moments later, Kakashi looked up from his naughty book and turned to an expectant-looking Gai, "Hm? Did you say something Gai?"

Gai clenched his teeth in aggravation, 'Ack! That Kakashi thinks he's so cool! I'll show him one of these days!'

"Lee! Great job!" Tenten finally mustered the strength to smile when Lee had returned, "Of course I knew you had it in the bag from the get-go, but still, you looked good out there."

"Thank you my beautiful teammate!" She sighed, expecting such a flowery response.

Tenten turned her gaze to Neji who gave her a sour look. He did not feel like congratulating Lee at the moment. Her eyes narrowed in impatience as she waited, when finally, he spoke, but not approvingly, "You were slower than usual."

Tenten sighed, wishing he could try to be a tad friendlier.

Lee grinned in response, finding it more favorable than what Neji often criticized him for. A few paces away stood Gai, challenging Kakashi to a round of rock-paper-scissors.

Jiraiya scratched his chin, finding the outcome of the match interesting. In turn, it made him curious as to how his own students would fare in their own approaching matches, "Hey squirts, there's something you should probably be aware of..."

Naruto gave him an alarmed look, "And you're telling us now?"

"Yep," He nodded, "Try to understand the fact that this is the first preliminary of the Third stage of the Chunin Exam has had in over several years," His students gave him questioning looks, "Meaning that it is extremely unusual so many genin made it this far. Not more than ten on average pass, but here now there are over twenty ninja competing..."

"It is quite strange there are so many strong shinobi all competing at the same time," Haku agreed, seeing the break in the normal pattern in the exam, "How can there suddenly be so many more passing genin, sensei?" His teammates also found it curious.

"I have a few theories..." Jiraiya answered slowly, lighting his pipe as his eyes narrowed at Orochimaru, "For now, the only thing you three can do is tough it out. If any weird crap starts going down we'll know."

The new readout appeared on the board.

"The second match will be between Tsuchi Kin and Nara Shikamaru." Hayate announced, glancing up towards the balcony.

"Aw man...why does my match have to be next? And against a girl too?" Shikamaru muttered irritably, and his jounin instructor gave him an expectant look.

"Good luck out there." Chouji smiled, assuming that Shikamaru may decide to give in quickly, but still hoped to motivate him.

"Alright Shikamaru! Get down there and knock her block off!" Ino was enthusiastic.

Shikamaru complied, taking his time as he left the balcony, his hands jammed in his pockets. It wouldn't have been so much of an issue, he figured, if his team hadn't faced down the Sound nin kunoichi earlier in the Forest of Death.

'Sakura's team gets ambushed and Ino has a mental breakdown while we watch her take on three enemy ninja. Sounds like any other mission we're on actually...' He sighed inwardly when he reached the main floor.

'I really don't want to fight this chick...' Shikamaru stood at the rooms' center, staring down his opponent, 'And what's worse is that she's seen my jutsu and I haven't seen her's.'

It would be a problem, undoubtedly, facing a foe who had already seen his strategy in action. Especially topping off the fact that he had very little incentive to fight anyway.

"The lazy bum's up now...I've never seen him fight before!" Naruto folded his arms behind his head, immensely bored. Truthfully, Naruto didn't expect Shikamaru would make it so far, considering that he was such a slothful ninja. But the exam, he had found, held many surprises.

Haku stood beside him, still tense, while Gaara leaned against the wall behind them in silence.

Kin smirked maniacally at Shikamaru, feeling confident. She had not forgotten his team's interference with their plan to kill Uchiha Sasuke and she was ready to put him in his place.

"Begin." Hayate stepped back, waiting for the next combatants to start.

"I'm going to finish you quickly and painfully." Kin announced, jumping back and putting distance between herself and Shikamaru. The Leaf nin hadn't expected her sudden onslaught of senbon, but he managed to dodge seconds before they were able to hit him.

"Senbon, eh?" Shikamaru wasn't happy and dodged another round of needles. His attention was diverted when a small, ringing sound came from behind him, starling him.

His dark eyes scanned over two senbon that had missed him and had been imbedded into the wall. Attached to them were bells, tinkling an eerie sort of sound. Shikamaru then noticed the Sound kunoichi controlling the bells herself from across the way with string, while also throwing more senbon at him.

'I've played into her trap!' He dodged in response but was still struck by three of the needles, thankfully in no critical areas.

Kin smirked again, seeing how easily manipulated he had proven to be, "Ask not for who the bell tolls. It tolls for thee!"

Shikamaru muttered in annoyance as he extracted the painful needles from his arm and shoulder, trying to come up with a plan. Kin rang her bells again and this time, Shikamaru found, they had a strange effect on him.

Kin appeared to multiply from where she stood. A blurry line of six kunoichi appeared as his eyes grew fuzzy with the ringing bells, disorienting him, 'Yup, this is definitely genjutsu...I guess I'm going to have to stake out the real one...what a drag!'

"I only threw three needles the last time, but the next time I'll throw five..." She warned, bringing mathematics into her favor, "You'll be a big pincushion once I'm through with you."

Before she could launch more senbon, she frowned, puzzled. Her confusion turned into alarm when she saw Shikamaru stand, smirking triumphantly, "Looks like my Shadow Possession Technique was a success..."

Kin's eyes widened in alarm, finding that she was completely frozen and under her opponent's power. She was certain she had remained watchful of his shadows. She couldn't believe she had overlooked something.

Bored again, Shikamaru decided to point out her error, "You should have realized that the thread you had attached to those bells wouldn't have cast a shadow at such a height," She glanced in horror to the thin shadow cast on the floor, "All I had to do was stretch out my shadow and bingo! I've got you now..."

Asuma, above with his other two students, gave a grunt of approval from behind his cigarette. Ino was ecstatic, "Awesome Shikamaru! Now finish her off!"

Reaching into his holster, Shikamaru drew out a kunai, prepared to end the fight. Kin watched as she too drew out a kunai, mirroring his actions, 'There's no way he's crazy enough to-!'

Without a second thought, Shikamaru threw his kunai, with Kin echoing him helplessly. He leaned back to avoid the knife she had thrown at him. Relieved, she did the same, dodging the kunai…and hitting her head with a powerful thud on the wall behind her.

Kin fell to the floor unconscious and was then released from Shikamaru's control. He stood up again, adding, "It would've also helped if she had been paying attention to her surroundings."

Hayate found the victor obvious, "The winner is Nara Shikamaru."