Friend or Foe?! - 2

A look of relief came over Shikamaru's face from down below, where he had stretched his shadow to an impressive length, "Well, I've got to admit…that was really troublesome…but it looks like even you couldn't escape my Shadow Bind technique, Tenten."

'But how could he have-?' It was then Tenten noted she had caused her own demise. She had forgotten how many weapons she had scattered across the field after she had used Soushouryu. Cleverly, Shikamaru snuck his shadow amongst the fallen projectiles, linking and weaving his own shadow through their own to get near enough to the opposite wall and ensnare her.

He took a step forward and, unable to fight against it, Tenten fell forward off of the wall. She tumbled to the ground painfully. Lee flinched, looking heartbroken. More than anything he had wished the beautiful flower of his team to obtain a glorious victory that would do justice to her youthful spirit.

Shikamaru had stolen it from her.

Tenten gritted her teeth miserably as she and her opponent neared each other with cautious steps, 'I can't believe I let him get to me! I was so sure I could avoid him that I didn't notice my weapons had shadows he could use against me…'

Her golden yumi dropped uselessly to the ground after he extended his hand, with her mirroring his every movement. From the stands, Ino and Chouji were shocked and amazed at what they were witnessing.

"No way…" Sato muttered from his place beside Team 2, "I thought ol' Shikamaru was an even crappier fighter than me, but it looks like he did it!"

Hayate watched expectantly as Shikamaru approached and then finally stood directly in front of Tenten. The match was nearly over, that much was clear.

Tenten closed her eyes, waiting for the finishing blow, 'Neji…I'm sorry…I guess we both let our skills get to our heads, didn't we? Maybe it's better that we both lost…maybe it was necessary so that we'd just give up and move on. I just hope that you-'

"I forfeit." Shikamaru announced casually without a trace of regret on his face.

Tenten's chocolate eyes were very wide when he had said it.

He turned to her, looking bored, "I must've come up with 200 different strategies to beat you, but you're pretty damn unpredictable for a girl…and I'm totally out of chakra."

On cue, his shadow retracted, freeing her. Hayate muffled a cough, admittedly not surprised Shikamaru had decided to withdraw. In fact, it was the wisest move he could make, "The winner of the match is Tenten."

Tenten's shock morphed into an amused smile, "You know, Shikamaru, you're the only person who's ever bested me, besides Neji, that is."

He looked at her for a long moment, "Eh…you'll have to give that to me in writing because no one will believe me."

Hands jammed in his pockets, the Nara trudged back across the clearing with her while she recalled her weapons. 'He's not so bad, actually…' Tenten thought to herself, impressed with his brilliant tactics. From the balcony, Lee and Sato were cheering, in contrast to a very quiet and confounded Team 2.

Asuma didn't hide the proud smile on his face as he watched his student return to the upper level.

The Kazekage spoke in an entertained voice, "What a talented kunoichi, Hokage-sama. She will make a very fine chunin…"

"Chunin are not named for their power, but for their ability to guide and be sensible, I'm sure you are aware." Hiruzen retorted, he himself rather alarmed by Tenten's performance, "Though no doubt she is as talented as her parents were…"

The next fight was announced by Hayate, "The third match will be between Temari and Haku."

Naruto gave his friend a reassuring grin, "You'll be great Haku-kun! Just stay cool and everything will be fine!"

Haku shuddered involuntarily, unable to bring himself to look at Gaara. He wasn't half as angry as he had been the night before. In truth, anxiety had replaced most if not all of his bitterness, 'I know what this means to Gaara-kun, but I can't just back out.'

Gaara gave an annoyed look to Naruto as he cheered for Haku while he proceeded down to the arena. He didn't feel like wishing the dark haired boy luck, but he couldn't bring himself to root for his sister either. It felt like he was torn down the middle as if he had some invisible zipper of shame.

He stared silently ahead, watching as Temari disappeared down the stairs from across the way.

Temari arrived shortly after Haku did. She scowled openly at him. She didn't like him and she couldn't for the life of her understand why he was Gaara's friend. Though she could see a few similarities they were very different from one another and she wanted to put him in his place.

Kankuro had told her to finish him quick and save her energy for later, when she'd need it. She planned to. Haku, much to her surprise, looked in that moment very much as docile as he had been during the preliminary rounds, 'I don't get these mood swings of his…'

Temari wouldn't let that sweet, demure face of his fool her, even if it nearly had.

"You may begin now." Hayate backed away and Temari had almost not heard him, being so caught up in her thoughts.

With a startling burst of speed Haku had attacked first, which she hadn't been anticipating. Temari was unable to open her fan before he had closed in, moving with the ease of a creature underwater, and landed a roundhouse kick that sent her crashing to the ground.

Above on the balcony, Naruto glanced inquisitively over at Tenten and Lee who were cheering, supposing they had something to do with his new ability in taijutsu.

He'd thank them later.

What Haku lacked in strength was compensated for in speed. He circled around Temari as she swung her iron fan down, missing him, and tripped her up with a devious slide tackle on his way past her.

The crowd's keyed up roar filled Temari's ears and her blood boiled. She refused to be made a fool out of. As she stumbled she opened her fan hastily, managing only two moons, but it was enough to blow him away.

She smirked in satisfaction as he fell through the air until she noticed him procure a summoning scroll, 'He's summoning something, that girly brat! Whatever he calls it won't do him any good!'

Temari did briefly recall Naruto summoning huge battle toads during his match. That memory alone was enough to make her slightly nervous of what his teammates were capable of.

Haku's feet were planted on the ground again, and the scroll swirled elegantly around his arm for a moment before recoiling back to its original shape. Their stares locked for a moment and Temari paused, confused, 'What was that? A bluff? There's nothing here!'

She looked left and right to make sure he hadn't summoned any creatures into the arena, and was relieved to find there was nothing new present.

Naruto turned to Gaara, a bit bewildered by Haku's theatrics, "What is he doing? Haku-kun can't summon anything! Is he trying to fake her out?"

Gaara frowned, "I honestly don't know what stunt he's trying to pull this time."

Temari grinned at her opponent, crouched low to the ground in front of her, "You must think you're very clever, huh? Stalling like that, you nearly had me fooled!"

"Who's stalling?" Haku rose to his feet, wearing a genial smile.

A lone, fat raindrop landed squarely on the end of her nose and a growl crept from Temari's throat as she turned her attention to the sky, 'I don't believe it!'

Overhead the once-sunny sky was thick with dark clouds that had gathered directly over the stadium. From behind Naruto and Gaara, Sato laughed aloud and they turned to him wearing questioning looks.

"He said something about a new jutsu he had learned but I didn't know it'd be something as dorky as calling rain clouds!" Sato tried to explain, half laughing to himself.

Gaara's glare threatened the longevity of his face, "There's nothing dorky about it if you have complete control over water."

Sato fell very quiet, "Oh…now that I didn't know. That's…that's kinda cool!" He had only thought Haku was capable of certain water jutsu and never considered the possibility of a Kekkei Genkai.

Naruto chuckled at Gaara's irritated expression.

The scattered drops of water quickly escalated into a full-frontal downpour, making many members of the audience grateful they were seated beneath an overhang.

Temari's bangs were damp and heavy within moments, clinging to her forehead uncomfortably. She was aware that this was one of the worst conditions a Sand nin could fight in, being that she herself rarely ever saw rain of this magnitude, let alone battled in it!

Haku held senbon steady between his knuckles, his eyes scanning over Temari. Abruptly, he ran towards her, aware of every raindrop falling past him, launching them with a warning cry.

Anticipating the projectiles, Temari revealed the third moon on her fan, "Daikamaitachi no Jutsu!" An even more powerful whirlwind knocked Haku and his senbon into the air, cutting him repeatedly in the process.

"Haku-kun!" Naruto leaned over the railing, not expecting him to be hit with such a powerful attack. Gaara's eyes narrowed at the sight. It wasn't like Haku to make himself so vulnerable.

Haku fell back to the ground helplessly and splattered into a puddle of rain water.

Temari's eyes widened, 'He substituted with a water clone!'

She looked around, horrified to see a dozen water clones surrounding her, all wielding senbon. She hadn't even seen him form them, let alone heard them close in. Temari suddenly wished she had a bit more of a background in fighting ninja capable of water jutsu.