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Chapter 58: Kiri's Shroud
Temari picks herself off the ground and Koichi manages to open his eyes. “I'm finishing this.” Koichi says. Koichi runs towards Temari and she cracks a smile and makes the rat seal. Koichi freezes in his tracks after a few paces. “So you caught me again huh?” Koichi says. “I should have known you weren't expecting to win in a close range battle with me.”
“That's right, I'm the one who's ending this fight and I'm the one who's going to win.” Temari says.
“Nah, I still think I can pull this off.” Koichi begins to force his back leg beside his first and Temari grits her teeth. Koichi finds it harder to move as Temari increases the output of her chakra.
“Wait...did Koichi move on his own for a moment there?” Kana asks with shock, “What's going on?” Kana continues to look and she sees the beating sweat drip down from Temari's face and her heavy breathing. “She's completely drained...”
“Exactly.” Koji says.
“So that's what you were talking about...Koichi didn't need to outwit her, just tire her out. All that chakra she's used this far has been so taxing on her, yet Koichi still has loads of chakra left to fight with.”
“That's right. It should be that a Nara's shadow possession should halt an opponent in their tracks but with less than adequate chakra for the technique the binding is only so good it seems. That's the secret to how she used her varying strength shadow technique on Hi but it also appears to be a disadvantage as well in certain cases like this.”
Koichi tries to force himself closer and closer to Temari, exerting immense physical strength. He manages to take three steps and then Temari adds more chakra to her technique to finally complete the full strength hold and prevent Koichi from moving. She involuntarily drops to her knee and Koichi imitates the movement. “Damn it...” *I can't keep this up for long...* Temari's shadow begins to thin out and fade and she takes out a kunai and launches it at Koichi. As it travels towards him, Temari's shadow completely retracts and Koichi is freed.
Koichi deflects the kunai with one of his own and he darts towards Temari. Temari takes out another kunai and blocks Koichi and traps him again in another shadow. She leaps back causing Koichi to do the same and distance is drawn between the two. Koichi and Temari hold their weapons in the opposite hands and Temari forces him to drop his. Just before she throws her kunai, her shadow retracts and Temari begins to fall *So close...* She unconscious before she hits the ground and Koichi smiles.
Kiba walks to the center of the arena looking at Temari, “Temari is unable to continue, so Koichi will advance to the final match of the exams.” The crowd cheers loudly and Koichi heads over to Temari and puts her on his back. He takes her to the medics as they begin to come out of the room in the arena.
“Koichi just toyed with her the entire match. He should have been able to end it rather quickly.” Kana says.
“Koichi has restraint to know when and where he needs to use his power. Right now it benefited both him and Temari by holding back. He knows how far he can gauge the abilities of his opponent. Koichi's tactical fighting against his opponents is underrated by a lot of people.” Koji says.
“So how does this help Temari?”
“Pushing Temari to her absolute limits. She threw out everything she had against Koichi.”
“And?”
“You think the proctors won't notice?” Koji says rhetorically pointing to some of the proctors behind them who continue to take notes. Kana cracks a small smile realizing the truth in Koji's words and she turns to him.
“You seem to know a lot about your brother...but I guess that's to be expected of twins, I bet he knows you pretty well too.”
“I know more about Koichi than he knows himself. He could probably say the same for me.” Koji looks with a smile down towards his brother standing back at the competitors section of the arena.
~Intermission Ends~
The intermission is called to an end and the crowd repopulates the arena stands. “That Kiri shinobi is strong, I really think he could cause problems for Ryoko don't you Ko—” Kana looks beside her and notices Koji gone again and she sighs, “And you're gone again, of course.” She leans her right arm on the arm rest next to her and shakes her head.
Koichi glares down at the Kiri shinobi as he stands in the center of the field. He turns his attention towards Ryoko as he sees her walking out of the door at the bottom of the arena, looking completely rejuvenated. “Koichi,” Koji approaches his brother in the competitor's section, “Do you think she'll be alright fighting the likes of him?”
“Of course she will?! What kind of stupid question is that?” Koichi says annoyed.
“Stupid? This guy defeated Hi and myself whilst holding back a month ago. No doubt he's been training and—”
“You know, defeating you isn't a complete impossibility. I'm sure a lot of people could do it. Ryoko's been training too, ever think that maybe she's strong enough to handle this guy?”
“He has the same type of chakra you have. That much power in the hands of somebody like him just makes him monster.” Koichi's eyes widen and he grabs Koji by the collar. Koichi looks his brother in the eyes with intense anger for a moment and then releases him with a look of regret. “Can't believe you think that low of yourself to associate yourself in a category equal to him...or were you just thinking less of me as your brother again.”
“I'm sorry alright...it's just...I mean who knows what he's had to go through. How can you say he's a monster without knowing of his background huh?” Koichi's words are said in a defensive and solemn tone not even he believes.
“He's a member of Kiri's Anbu if that wasn't already perfectly clear from his attire nor the way he fights. Both materialistically and mentally, he's never been in a world where his status as a person is cared about, not even by himself...his eyes are without any emotion, only with the will to do what he's ordered. Mindless and without regard for anything but his orders, plus those powers make him a weapon of Kirigakure. A weapon with monstrous power. It's all in his eyes Koichi, you should be able to tell how to read people who openly displays who they are. There are instances where people try to fool themselves and others with false appearances but this isn't one of them.”
“You've always been a better judge of character than I have Koji...”
“Not really...with you it's judgment of character, with me it's perception...there's a difference.”
Kiba begins the match and the two shinobi anxiously begin. Ro takes out several kunai and launches them towards Ryoko as she begins running towards him. Ryoko quickly draws her blade with her left hand and brings it down diagonally. She deflects all the blades with her draw as she continues on towards Ro. Ro takes out another kunai and tosses it with a paper explosive attached to the end. Ryoko sees the tag and steps right as the kunai comes near her face. She leaps away just as the kunai explodes. Ryoko lands safely out of range of the explosion only to find her vision slowly dampening in a thick mist.
*I shouldn't waste too much time with her. My real prize is that Suna Jinchuuriki...or that one from Konoha...* Ro quickly and silently moves through the mist, getting behind Ryoko. *I'll finish this quick.* Ro sees clearly through the mist and looks at Ryoko's backside, seeing her on guard with her katana. He runs up and approaches her but as he gets moderately close, Ryoko holds up her right hand and tosses a black small black ball behind, between her and Ro. The ball explodes into a thick black smoke screen, fusing with the mist. “What the?!”
“I don't need to see through your predictable jutsu. I can sense your foul chakra.” Ryoko's voice resonates throughout the mist and thick fog. Ro reacts quickly and takes out a kunai and blocks slash towards his torso and backs away.
*I can't see through this black fog, it's much thicker than the mist.* Ro blocks and avoids several other strikes as he tries to exit the fog. Ro blocks another strike overhead with his kunai and he quickly shoots his other hand outwards. He grabs onto Ryoko's neck and lifts her with his hand, “How ironic is it that you call me predictable?” Ro launches Ryoko to the ground in front of him and he places his hand on the ground. Just like with Mika, a geyser of water shoots up from beneath her. Ro jumps high in the air outside of the fog and sees Ryoko falling to the ground. Ro claps his hands together and summons a large mass of water out in front of him. “Suiton: Suishoha (Water Release: Water Shockwave)!” The mass of spiraling water shoots down from the top and a large wave descends on Ryoko.
“Ryoko!” Koichi shouts from the stands.
Ro begins to descend, “Pathetic,” Just then meerkats appear from under ground, spiraling upwards with kunai. “What?!” Ro jerks his left arm up as one of the spinning meerkats flies under his arm. With his kunai in his right hand, he launches it down towards another, diverting it's path but he's skimmed on the shoulder. The last too meerkats make it to Ro's shoulders, unfolding their bodies and stabbing the kunai into his shoulders. They drag him to the ground and he's pinned. They leap away as Ro looks up to see Ryoko descending upon with her katana. “Damn it, that other one was a transformation.” Ro inhales and through his nose and quickly exhales a small burst of water up towards Ryoko. Ryoko crosses her arms and takes the water bullet. She's knocked back but she lands on her feet, regaining balance quickly. As she begins to run, Ro turns his head to his left shoulder and bites down on the kunai and forces it out of his shoulder. He quickly reaches over to his right arm and pulls out the other kunai and gets up. He rises and he's slashed across the chest with Ryoko's blade.
Ro leaps back and begins panting as the rest of his mask falls off and his face is revealed. “You underestimated me,” Ryoko shakes the blood off her katana, “You held back, thinking you didn't need to go full on. Well that was your mistake and now you're going to answer for it.”
Annoyance is apparent on Ro's face as he looks at the young kunoichi. His blood begins to boil as his chakra begins to flare partially. “Very well. I suppose you deserve to witness my power.”
Naruto rises in his seat at the words of the Kiri shinobi. Akamaru begins to growl and he barks once. Ro smiles cynically and makes the tiger seal. His chakra explodes in a powerful red shock wave. Naruto's eyes widen in surprise, “I sealed his chakra, how could he?”
“Naruto! Obviously they sent him with a shinobi who is versed in Fuinjutsu.” Kurama says to him.
“I have to stop this.”
“Wait Naruto, let the Inuzuka handle him for now. You have another job to do.”
Naruto looks perplexed at Kurama, “What are you talking about?”
“You said you sealed a part of your chakra inside the shinobi as well didn't you,” Kurama starts, “then you need to look inwards now to see just what is going on with Saiken's chakra!”
“But—”
“You're duty is to us as well Naruto!” Kurama scolds. Naruto nods his head giving into Kurama's words. Naruto closes his eyes and enters into the subconscious being of Ro.
“Hokage-sama, what are you going to do about this outburst?” One of the guards asks, “Naruto-sama?” Naruto doesn't answer, deep in meditation.
On the battle field Ryoko's eyes widen in fear, sensing the immense and cold chakra within Ro. The burst of chakra begins to refine itself and forms a cloak of chakra around him with one tail. “Let's see how you fair with this!” Ro moves in what seems like a blur and appears right in front of Ryoko, “Shame, seems you were looking for more than you could handle.” Ryoko's coughs up blood as Ro's hand pierces her stomach.
“Ryoko!!” Koichi and Koji yell simultaneously. Both shinobi leap down quickly, Koichi releasing the seal on his body. Ro looks up just before Koichi lands. Ro manages to get out of the way before Koichi's fist impacts the stadium ground. Koichi creates a giant crater in the field with the sheer force of impact. He grits his teeth and looks at Ro with intense anger.
“Yes, yes, you're exactly what I'm looking for,” Ro's voice has become deeper and more demonic in tone. “Come, lets see how I do against a full Jinchuuriki.” Just then a giant paw slams down on Ro's body completely trapping him. A giant two headed wolf roars with fury. The bystanders in the stadium begin to flee in terror of the entire situation.
Koichi attempts to head towards Ro but he finds himself unable to move. He looks behind him and sees Koji holding him back with chakra strings. “Let me go!”
“No! Help me with Ryoko damn it!” Koji's voice holds serious demand, surprising Koichi. Koichi nods and he runs to the other end of the arena with Koji and Ryoko.
Ro tries to force himself up but Kiba applies greater weight making Ro's struggle, a struggle not to be completely crushed. A few kunai with explosives attached hit the giant wolf and knock them off balance. Ro's teacher appears beside him and faces the giant two headed wolf. “We must leave now Ro. We'll discuss your actions when we get back to the village.”
A kunai is placed at the shinobi's throat from behind, “How about you explain everything here.” Naruto ask.
“Fighting against the Hokage was not part of this mission, so I will avoid confrontation.”
“I'll break every bone in your body before you even have the chance to think about moving.” Naruto says with a deep intimidating tone.
“You must have seen for yourself already Hokage-sama. What more do you want from us?” The Kiri shinobi says mellow toned. Just then Ro springs up and hits Naruto in the chest knocking him away. Naruto regains his balance quickly and sees the two shinobi go up in flames. They vanish within the flames within seconds. Kiba and Akamaru transform back and approach Naruto.
“Naruto, why did you let them leave? You could have avoided that kid with no problems.”
“I had to see something and besides, they were right...I saw everything.” Naruto's tone is ominous and pained from what he saw inside of Ro's body. “These exams are turning out just like our first...only much worse.”
“What do you want to do?” Kiba asks, “That girl is in no condition to fight, so that means there's only one more match.”
“We need to see these exams through to the end,” Naruto looks up and sees the entire stadium empty with the exception of the chuunin proctors and a few shinobi shinobi left in the stands. They remain firm in their attitudes, unaffected by the events that just occurred. Naruto turns behind and sees Koji and Kana tending to Ryoko and Koichi standing over the two. “We can't let this ruin the entire exams. We'll continue with this through the end. Announce the next fight.” Naruto demands. He gets back up to his seat and when he sits down he sees his son and Koichi standing face to face with Kiba in the middle.
Ryoko is in the infirmary again and Koji and Kana sit in the stands watching anxiously.
“Alright...the final round is between Koichi Shichiyo of Sunagakure and Jiraiya Uzumaki of Konohagakure,” Kiba pauses, looking at the determination on each of their faces. “Begin!”
To Be Continued...
Author's Note:
I do apologize everybody. I know this release is a week late, but I fell behind due to work I was doing preparing for college. But it's here now. Please tell me what you think of the chapter, what you liked/disliked etc. Please vote for who you think is going to win in the next fight in the Poll. To those of you who read/comment/rep this post I thank you. Enjoy 
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