A Family Of Foxes And Snakes

Chapter 23

Naruto sat back and watched as Shion had just won his match. He was against a Konoha ninja by the name of Akadou Yoroi. The man had the same type of technique as Shino as the both of them could drain each others chakra. However, Shino was much better at it than he was as all of Shino’s bugs sucked the man dry, leaving him suffering with chakra depletion.

Shino didn’t get off easy either, seeing that he was breathing hard after the battle. He knew that Shino would be a tough opponent but he wonder how his bugs would deal with the chakra of the Kyuubi. Still, he placed Shino as one of his problem matches. The screen flashed again and the next two names were shown.

“Yamanaka Ino, Sabaku no Kankuro, please come down to the floor.” Ordered Hayate

Sakura watched as her former friend and rival for Sasuke walk off the floor after her defeat. She thought that she had actually won when she connected with the Shintenshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Change Technique) but it turned out that her opponent was really a wooden doll. She remembered that Hidden Sand village was known for there puppet army so that make her opponent a master at the Kugutsu no Jutsu (Puppetry Technique).

She watched as Ino whined about losing to someone who wore make-up. Sakura chuckled at her as her teammates groaned. Shikamaru made a comment about hanging with Naruto when the referee called his name along with a girl named Tenten. Speaking of her teammate, she turned to see that he was watching the matches. She was still hurt about what Naruto said to her but she had to admit that she did push the wrong button. That mark, by what Anko said, was no joke. Naruto was just concerned about the team and she ran her mouth. She only wished that she got the chance to apologize if he talked to her again.

Naruto smirked at his friend as he attempted to hide his face. His match was a very short one and it ended in a very funny way. Tenten right off the bat attempted to make Shikamaru into a pin cushion with a lot of kunai. Shikamaru just kept running around. Getting pissed, Tenten unleashed her attack, the Soushouryuu (Twin Rising Dragons). However, that caused her downfall when Shikamaru connect their shadows and made her forfeit.

Now Shikamaru was hanging out with him. He didn’t trust his teacher to help him when the bun girl attempted to murder him.

“This is so troublesome.” He whined as he hid behind Naruto.

“You know she can still hit you with the kunai because you’re taller.” Naruto said

“I hate you.”

“Next time, fight the girl.”

“A man shouldn’t hit girls.”

“While that may be true, she and every other girl in this place can cut our balls off. I happen to have a great attachment to my balls thank you.” Naruto explained

“That’s only so you and Hinata can mate like bunnies.” Shikamaru joked

“For the last damn time, we’re not like that.” He growled

“Whatever,” Shikamaru said with a smirk. Suddenly, he looked at the board. “Looks like your teammate is up next.” Naruto looked up at the board and saw that it would be Sakura versus the sound ninja, Tsuchi Kin.

“Finally something interesting, let’s see how much Sakura has learned.” Naruto said

Sakura and Kin faced each other. Sakura had placed her hair in a bun so that it wouldn’t get in the way. Kin had a vicious grin on her face.

“I’m glad I’m fighting you. Now I’ll pay you back from what you did in the forest. Let’s see who’s genjutsu is the strongest.” Kin said. Sakura just smiled at her and waited for Hayate to give the signal.

“Begin!” he said. Kin wasted no time and reached in her pouch. Sakura did a very hand seals just as Kin threw something at her. Sakura moved out of the way and saw that they were senbon needles. She finished her hand seals but was unable to call out her jutsu. Sakura was on one knee as a high pitch sound reached her ears. She then suddenly saw a lot of Kins. They all smiled at her and she pulled out a kunai.

“How do you like it, my Suzu no Oto (Bells of Sound)? I wished to make this fight keep going as long as possible. Now, I remember I owe you a kunai,” she said as she threw, catching Sakura in her leg. “Actually, I owe you two.” She threw another one in Sakura’s shoulder. Kin smirked but it died down when she heard no screams. Suddenly, Sakura began to fade into thin air. Kin was confused until heard footsteps coming from behind. She turned only to meet a fist. Kin was sent flying into wall. She glared at Sakura.

“You didn’t think I wouldn’t notice the bells? You little sound techniques will not help you.” Sakura said and did some more hand seals. “Now, we fight on my playing field. Sakura Shinrin (Cherry Blossom Forest)!!” Suddenly, the area turned into a forest full with cherry blossom trees. Kin stood up to face this new threat.

“What the hell?” muttered Shikamaru

“Wow, Sakura is aiming for the fences on this one.” Naruto replied

“You know this technique?” he asked

“Yeah and it makes her one of the most deadly kunoichi’s here. I think the only people who can beat it would be the Suna kunoichi, Hinata-hime, Anko-oneesan and Hinata’s sensei. Hell, when we were testing this technique out, she almost beat me.”

“Sakura Hitoame (Cherry Blossom Shower)!!” Sakura said and all of the trees burst into cherry blossoms petals. The petals formed a tornado around Kin. She screamed out when she felt a slash across her back. Then she felt around slash across her arm. She felt more slashes all over her body until she hit the ground on her knees.

“Damn it, I’ve had enough of these games.” Kin gathered her chakra and then released it. The blast of chakra dispelled the illusion and threw Sakura back some feet. Sakura groaned but it turned into a yelp as she felt her hair being pulled. “Look at this, you must take real good care of your hair. I can’t believe that a fan girl like you disgrace me like this. I’m going to enjoy messing up your pretty face and your silky long hair.” Kin raised her fist with some senbon in-between her fingers. “Any last words bitch?”

“Yeah, you talk too damn much.” Sakura growled and cut her hair. Kin was thrown back by the move and she did not see Sakura complete her hand seals. Kin watched as the hair in her hand turned into thorny vines and latched onto the sound ninja. Kin bit her lip to dispel the illusion and narrowly dodged Sakura’s punch. Kin threw the senbon but Sakura dodged it and did the Bunshin Jutsu (Clone Technique). Kin jumped back as the clones attacked and blocked Sakura’s punch.

“What are you stupid? I’m from the Sound village. I can tell which was the real you.” Kin boasted

“Then you’ll love this.” A voice said from Kin’s left. She turned just as Sakura hit her with a chakra enhanced punch. Kin was sent flying at high speeds into the wall again. This time Kin did not get up. One of the Sakura’s disappeared in puff of smoke. Sakura was breathing heavily but she had a big smile on her face. Suddenly, her eyes rolled in the back of her head and she fell over. Naruto caught her and everyone was surprised that he was down there. Sakura groaned and looked at him. She smiled and gave him a thumb up before she passed out. Naruto grinned at her and lifted her up. He turned to the ref.

“So what’s the call ref?” he asked

“Seeing that neither one can continue, this match is a draw.” Hayate said. Naruto just shrugged and walked to the stairs while carrying his teammate.

“Now that was a fight. She’ll be only hell of a kunoichi when she increases her chakra some more.” Anko said

“That and she know Tsunade’s technique.” Ibiki added

“I think she does that subconsciously. All her time from beating up Naruto must have helped.” Sarutobi explained. “I quite impressed by what Kakashi has shown her.” He then looked at Kakashi and saw that he was as surprised as he was. “Or maybe she learned it on her own.”

“Or maybe that Uzumaki kid may have something to do with it. The only genin who knows the Kage Bunshin is Anko otouto.” Ibiki said

“I’ll have to talk to him about that. She could have died from using that.” Anko said

“Make sure that you do Anko but don’t be too hard on him.” Sarutobi said

“I’m not that hard on him.” She said

“What about the time you allowed that snake of yours to launch him across the village?” Ibiki said

“Hey, he hijacked my dango. It’s like if someone destroyed ramen.” She said. The two just sighed at her antics.

Back on the balcony, Naruto looked pale as if someone did something evil. Shikamaru looked at his friend in worry.

“You ok Naruto?” he asked

“I don’t know. I’ll feel better when I get some ramen in my stomach.” Naruto said

“Of course, so how is she?” Shikamaru asked

“She’ll be all right. She’s suffering from some chakra exhaustion but nothing too major. I didn’t think she would use the Kage Bunshin and I know that I’m going to get it for showing it to her.” He said. He looked at the where the Hokage was and saw Anko gave him a stern look. “Yep, I'm going to pay for it.”

“What about your sensei? He looked like he was giving you a stern talking to.”

“Like he has any right to, he hasn’t trained me or Sakura since becoming genin. All he’s shown us is chakra control exercises while he teaches Sasuke Ninjutsu and other things. For all I care he can lecture me all he wants but it doesn’t mean that I’ll listen. He hasn’t earned my respect and by the way he’s going he never will.” Naruto said, loud enough so that everyone could hear. Shikamaru just shrugged and watched as Chouji went up against Kiba. Asuma just chuckled as Gai was berating Kakashi for diminishing his teams ‘fires of youth’. In his mind, Kakashi deserved it for playing favorites. He watched as Ino fixed Sakura’s hair while she was out. He then turned his attention to his other student.

Naruto looked on as the medics removed the stain off the wall that was Tsurugi Misumi. The guy must have had a death wish. He had gone up against the Sand ninja, Temari. He had a strange ability that allowed him to move his limbs like a snake, which did not sit well with Naruto or Anko. While he did that advantage, he made two critical mistakes. One was call the Sand ninja babe and the second was to use his ability to grope her. Needless to say, she was not amused. The fight before that ended in a draw. That fight was pretty good. Kiba and Akamaru were evenly matched with Chouji. The two ended up knocking each out with their signature moves.

“The matches are getting interesting and you haven’t gone yet.” Shikamaru said

“Well, I plan to be the most exciting.” Naruto said. Shikamaru chuckled but then stopped cold.

“Oh no.”

“What is it?” Shikamaru pointed to the board. Naruto looked at it and felt his heart sink. On the board, the next match was announced.

“Hyuuga Hinata, Hyuuga Neji, please come down.” Hayate said

Hinata faced her cousin. She felt her heart jump a mile a minute. She was hoping not to fight her cousin but she knew it was a possibility. She wanted to run out of there but she thought back to her talk with Naruto.

--Flashback--

“So, your cousin hates your guts because of what happened when you were three?” Naruto asked. The two had finished school and Naruto treated her to lunch at the ramen stand.

“Yes, because the hidden cloud village was angry for the death of their ambassador they asked for my father’s head,” Hinata explained

“But his twin brother went instead.” The two were quiet for a while before Naruto spoke again. “Well, screw him. He has no reason to blame you for the death of his father.”

“Maybe if I was a bit stronger,”

“You were three. If any thing, he’s just being a bully. To me, a bully is nothing but a coward whose acting tough. All a bully needs is a kick in the ass.” Naruto said with a grin. Suddenly, he was bopped on the head by Ayame for using bad language. Hinata covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

“You’re so funny!!” Hinata giggled

--Present--

Hinata smiled at the memory and faced her cousin with a determined look. Neji looked at his cousin and glared slightly. He was going to talk down her but the look on her face said otherwise. She had a look of determination as if she actually had a chance of winning. He looked to his left to glance at Naruto. He had a certain influence on her than made her focus more. So much more, that she had almost beaten her sister. He scoffed and shot down such thoughts. Fate was against her and nothing beat fate. He slid into a Gentle fist stance. Hinata followed his lead. Both activated their Byakugan and waited for the beginning of the match.