Chakra Wizard
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Sorry about the huge wait, but school work has just been piling up latelyU_U This was the one match I honestly had no clue what direction it was heading when I started it, so hopefully, it turned out alright. As always, hope you enjoy
(Note: I made some changes now that the manga is over, including some names and titles, just in case it causes confusion later on.)
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 052: Withdrawal Fee
As Shikaru and Akame returned to the balcony to watch the next match, up in the stands, a late arrival slowly made its way down the steps between each row of seats – an elderly Neji, his left hand being clenched by Hinata and his right being held by his daughter Otome.
Otome: Turn right here, Papa. Watch out for where Mom’s sitting.
Heeding his daughter’s words, he waited until she had guided his hand towards the chair of front of him before grabbing it and stepping behind it, walking slowly to avoid stepping on the feet of his wife Shien, who helped him into the seat beside her. While Otome took the seat to Neji’s right, Shien wrapped her arm around his own as Hinata took the seat beside her, the sound of which caught Neji’s attention.
Neji: You can go up to where Naruto is now, Hinata. I’m fine, I assure you.
Hinata: (She smiled and shook her head impulsively, despite knowing he could not see her do it.) It’s alright, brother. I’d like to stay here with you and Shien for a while.
Neji: (He smiled gently at her concern and leaned back in his chair, resting his free hand on top of his wife’s.) If that’s what you prefer.
Down below, the now lone Baiko stepped forward to announce the finals’ next two combatants as those above listened attentively.
Baiko: I need Hitomi Hyūga and Kūrogane Yūhi to make their way to the arena!
As the last name left his lips, another series of pillars rose from the ground in front of the balcony, courtesy of the ever generous Nakama. Hitomi took this shorter route without hesitation after offering his thanks to its creator, but for Kūrogane, this was a much slower process, as everyone who watched her could see that she was clenching her arms as she shivered almost uncontrollably. For those unfamiliar with her, confusion was the only product, but for her closest friends and family members, concern was prevalent – even from Shikadai, who had just woken up from yet another short nap.
Shikadai: Huhhhh…uhhh, what’s up with her? Looks like she’s shaking like crazy.
Kogane: (Having been sitting in the row behind theirs this entire time, she leaned down next to her former instructor’s shoulder.) What did you do to my daughter, sensei?
Shikamaru: (He smirked in amusement at this, though concern was still imminent in his eyes.) Quitting always come at a price, Kogane. She’s just gonna have to fight through that urge if she wants to win.
Karui: Poor girl. It was bad enough that she’s going up against a member of the Hyūga clan, but now she has to deal with whatever this is.
Shikamaru: Oh, she’d have no problem if it were just that, Karui, trust me. …Kūrogane’s got more than enough talent to deal with him.
In a nearby section of the stands, two of Kūrogane’s team members – namely Kemono and Katame – sat in anticipation for her match to begin, the former already in the process of providing encouragement to his teammate.
Kemono: Bring it, Kūrogane!! Put this guy in a coma!!
While Mukinu barked at his feet, Katame looked on in amusement, as did the man sitting to Kemono’s left – who bore the same fang-like marks on his slightly droopy cheeks.
Kiba: Cool it there, lil doggie. The fight hasn’t even started yet.
Hana: (Watching this, as well, from her brother’s left side, she turned to him with a soft chuckle.) Hmhmhm, he does seem pretty confident in his teammate, though, doesn’t he?
Kiba: Heh, yeah. I can give him that one, though. …She’s a pretty tough cookie, from what I’ve seen of her.
Katame proceeded to smirk at this, knowing the truth behind this statement all too well, while towards the center of the stands, the family of Kūrogane’s fourth team member sat idly in their seats as they awaited the match to come. The teammate in question was leaned off to the side with his head supported by his closed fist, a posture which caught the immediate attention of his pregnant mother.
Ayumi: You won’t cheer for your teammate, Raiden?
Raiden: (He made little attempt to move in reaction to her disturbance.) It’s not like it’ll make a difference whether I do or not, Mom. …Either way, she’s gonna lose.
Suzaku: (Irritated as always by his son’s pessimistic outlook, he turned away from his prior conversation with his mother and addressed this.) Hey now, you don’t know that, Raiden. …Remember, Kūrogane’s just as strong as you are, maybe even stronger.
Moegi: And even if she wasn’t, you should always cheer on your teammates.
While Raiden attempted to shrug off these assertions, Kūrogane’s fellow finalists watched her descent down Nakama’s earthy staircase with varying response, the most common being worry in regards to her performance in the coming match.
Airon: (She’s not lookin’ too hot right now, is she?)
Nakama: (She nodded in agreement.) (I hope she can manage, whatever’s wrong with her.)
Inase: (I’m sure she will, Nakama. A little handicap’s not gonna trouble Kūrogane, even against Hitomi.)
Airon: (Not as assured of this as his sister, he turned towards the opposite end of the balcony before responding.) (Although, Hitomi’s no stranger to fighting with a handicap, either…is he, Manako?)
Manako made no attempt to respond to him, either verbally or in thought, though his otherwise blank expression made it clear that this was also on his mind. There was little time to reminisce, though, as Hitomi and Kūrogane took their positions at long last, the audience now staring intensively as they tried to predict which of them would make the first move. Most eyes were focused on the latter, who had yet to recover from her excessive shivering, a mannerism those less knowledgeable of her skills and demeanor attributed to an extreme case of pre-match anxiety. Her willpower was enough to keep her legs steady, but another push was needed to help her control her arms, something a select few of her colleagues were happy to provide.
Kei: YOU’VE GOT THIS, KŪROGANE!!! TEAR THIS GUY A NEW ONE!!!
Half-expecting him to chime in at one point, Kūrogane chuckled softly and smiled up at her benefactor before redirecting her attention to her opponent, her arms having steadied at long last. Noticing this almost immediately, Baiko raised his arm to begin the match, having grown a little tired from the wait himself.
Baiko: Alright, …if both of you are ready, …begin!
As most of their acquaintances expected, neither one of them made a move, instead taking a moment to contemplate their opponent’s abilities and predict their course of action. Both of them being exceptional strategists, they each came to a similar conclusion.
Kūrogane: (I can’t use genjutsu since he has the Byakugan. I’ll have to use a more direct approach for my attacks, preferably with ninjutsu since he uses the Gentle Fist…at least, that’s what he’s assuming.)
Hitomi: (Since I have the Byakugan, she’ll have to take a more direct approach, preferably with ninjutsu since I also have the Gentle Fist…although, she’s probably already figured that out and assumes I did, too. Well, whatever tactic she uses, I’ll be sure to counter it.)
The latter waited several more seconds as his opponent considered her first move, eventually settling on a pair of kunai, much to his surprise. Regardless, he quickly pulled out two of his own and met her advance in spades, the sounds of their blades clashing for the first time echoing throughout the arena, reaching the ears of even those who couldn’t see the fight for themselves.
Neji: Their fight has begun, hasn’t it?
Shien: (She nodded in confirmation, forgetting for a moment that he could not see the gesture.) They’re just using kunai right now. It’s nothing Hitomi can’t handle.
Hinata: (Watching the match much closer than either her or Otome, she quickly stepped in to defend her former sensei’s granddaughter.) Don’t be so sure of that, Shien. …Kūrogane comes from a long line of strong shinobi, and she’s no exception to the trend.
Otome: (Determined to prove her aunt wrong, she stood up out of her seat and held her hands up to her mouth.) Come on, baby! You can win this!!
Down below, Kūrogane was indeed proving a worthy match for Hitomi’s taijutsu skills. His superior speed forced her to put more chakra into every thrust or dodging motion she made, but her larger chakra supply kept them on equal footing regardless. Their exchange lasted hardly a minute longer before they retreated back to catch their breath and assess their opponent’s abilities thus far. Being the more tactful of the two, Kūrogane used this quick recess to its full effect.
Kūrogane: (His reflexes aren’t that much faster than mine. Maybe…yeah, that’ll work.) Those eyes of yours really are a hassle, Hitomi! Nothing seems to slip past them!
Hitomi: Hmhm, I didn’t realize you’d been trying to slip anything past them, Kūrogane! Try your luck, it might just prove favorable to you!
Kūrogane: (She smirked as he said this before holding up her hands, arranging her fingers to form an all-too familiar hand sign.) Maybe I’ll do that. Shadow Clone jutsu!!
Without hesitation, a dozen clouds of smoke appeared around the kunoichi, the clones that emerged quickly positioning themselves in a tight circle around Hitomi. With his Byakugan at the ready, he quickly took note of the small spike in their chakra movements, as well as the fact that one of the thirteen doppelgangers was conveniently positioned in his sole blind spot. To his surprise, though, when he tried tilting his head to get a better look at it, the clones surrounding him mimicked his movements, keeping the one who was hidden out of his sight. This briefly persisted as Hitomi sharpened his reaction time, but no matter how hard he tried, he continued to find himself at odds with Kūrogane’s equally sharp reflexes.
Hitomi: (Hmm, she’s got one of them standing in my blind spot, and apparently, she’s intent on keeping it there. …Hmph, guess that can only mean one thing.)
Digging into the pouch on his hip, he quickly pulled out a kunai and tossed it over his left shoulder, spinning around and charging forward as the remaining clones stood there confused by his actions. To his surprise, though, what should have been a collision with the real Kūrogane, who by now would’ve been doubled over on the ground after making contact with his outstretched palm, was nothing more than a swipe at thin air.
Hitomi: (What!?)
Kūrogane: Alright, get him!!
Without warning, the remaining clones dashed forward, pulling out tag after tag as they closed in on Hitomi.
Hitomi: (Bombs…she’s trying to take me down with them!) Hmph, not a chance!
Kūrogane and her doppelgangers were hardly within arm’s reach of him when chakra began pouring out of his fingertips, a quick reflex in his heels sending his body into a rapidly accelerating spinning motion as the paper bombs reached the point of detonation.
Hitomi: Rotation!!
In a sudden burst of fire and smoke, the clones vanished beneath an enormous black void, which in turn was dissolved moments later by a large swirling vortex of chakra. The entire spectacle passed by in almost the blink of an eye, those who caught none of it quickly turning to their neighbors to figure out what just took place, among them Neji.
Neji: What just happened!? I hear explosions!
Shien: Don’t worry. His Rotation protected him just in time.
Hinata: (With her Byakugan taking note of all that her sister-in-law had missed, she quickly stood up and called out to her grandnephew.) Hitomi, watch out!!
Still in the process of halting the rapid movements of his signature technique, a brief glimpse out of the corner of his eye was all that alerted Hitomi of his opponent’s rapid approach from the nearby tree line, kunai in hand.
Hitomi: (She hid her real self in the trees! And I don’t have time for another Rotation!)
Watching as he tried desperately to hold his arms up to block the attack, Kūrogane grinned in satisfaction before flipping her kunai over in her hands, intending to knock him out with the handle rather than injure him with the blade. Before she was within reach to do so, though, she suddenly fell to her knees as the kunai fell from her hands, prompting Hitomi to reopen his eyes to figure out why she stopped her advance.
Hitomi: What the…
On the ground in front of him sat his opponent, hunched over on her knees as she gripped both of her arms, which were shaking uncontrollably. The sudden outbreak of confusion stretched to those in the audience, as well, including the Kage sitting in the balcony above them. Of course, not everyone was completely oblivious to what had brought about Kūrogane’s present actions, Shikamaru being most prominent among them.
Shikamaru: Damn it…I was afraid that might happen.
Temari: It’s her withdrawal. She’s tensing up like crazy now.
Kogane: (…Kūrogane…)
Chōjūrō: I don’t understand. She was hardly a second away from claiming victory.
Kurotsuchi: Why’d she just buckle down outta nowhere like that?
Konohamaru: (Informed by Shikamaru of Kūrogane’s “punishment” beforehand, he decided it best to let his colleagues remain unaware.) Well, whatever her ailment is, it’s a struggle she’ll have to overcome if she wants a chance like that again.
Down below, Kūrogane continued her struggle to resume standing, only for her knees to buckle even further with every slight motion she made.
Kūrogane: (Not good…I can’t stop shaking…come on…)
Out of courtesy, Hitomi stood by and watched as his opponent gradually came out of her trance, but his patience quickly thinned out after nearly two minutes of waiting.
Hitomi: I appreciate the act of mercy, Kūrogane, but you’ll have to get rid of those feelings here. One small show of compassion like that…
He slowly walked up to her as he spoke, building up chakra in his fingers as he moved along. Seeing this, Kūrogane quickly pulled herself together in time to dodge the bulk of his attacks, though not quick enough to prevent a handful of her chakra points from being blocked.
Hitomi: …could prove fatal in the long run.
This almost unfairness on Hitomi’s part brought multiple reactions from the crowd. Some booed him for what they saw as a cheap shot, some openly expressed sympathy for Kūrogane, while others who had rooted for Hitomi from the beginning cheered in excitement at this sudden turnabout.
Otome: Yeah!! You’ve got her, Hitomi!!
Neji: (Confused by the various responses around him, he called out to figure out what happened.) What did he do? Was it the Sixty-Four Palms?
Hinata: (Not quite as enthusiastic as Otome, she kept her Byakugan fixed on Kūrogane.) No, but he did manage to block some of her chakra points. …She looks like she could collapse at any minute.
In the adjacent balcony, the other finalists expressed their own views on the current state of the match. Like those elsewhere, most opinions favored Kūrogane.
Inase: (And just when it seemed like she’d found a way around his Byakugan.)
Airon: (It looked to me as though she did, Inase. …She couldn’t have been more than a second from winning before and now...)
Manako: (Well, she managed to get away with most of her chakra points unblocked. …She’s still got a chance, albeit a much slimmer one.)
Nakama: (…Kūrogane…)
Kei: COME ON, KŪROGANE!!! DON’T LET HIM BEAT YOU LIKE THIS!!!
As if she had been waiting for him to chime in, Kūrogane’s gritted teeth slowly morphed into a smile as she returned to her feet, staring directly into Hitomi’s pupiless eyes as she formed a standard hand sign.
Kūrogane: (Don’t worry, Kei. …I don’t plan to.)
Almost immediately, her chakra supply exploded, forcing open the handful of chakra points that Hitomi had blocked off, much to the latter’s shock.
Hitomi: What!?
Kogane: (She smiled as she watched from the stands, proud of her daughter’s skills.) (That’s my girl.)
Shortly after her chakra dispersed, Kūrogane reached into her weapons pouch and pulled out two familiar-looking trench knives, fitting her fingers through the holes fixed into their handles as a nostalgic Shikamaru looked on.
Shikamaru: You’ve got him now.
Kemono: GO, KŪROGANE!!!
She waited a moment longer to build up her chakra, but no sooner after did she oblige, speeding off towards Hitomi with one of her knives at the ready. Hitomi quickly held his arms up to counter, only for Kūrogane to stop short of his reach and swing her knife forward, sending a small wave of sharp chakra towards Hitomi which he quickly leapt back to dodge. No sooner after his feet touched the ground was she at it again, each wave of chakra being faster and more difficult to evade than the last.
Hitomi: (Her chakra’s extending out past the blade! I can’t even move close enough to block her chakra while she’s fighting like this!)
Seeing that this head-on approach was going nowhere, Hitomi tried leaping to the right, only for Kūrogane’s arm to swing up and send a large wave of chakra surging outwards, blocking his retreat.
Hitomi: Whoa!!
He tried stepping to the left next, but once again, she prevented him from doing so, forcing him to succumb to continuously dodging her attacks until he dared try to retreat again. From the highest balcony, the Kage watched this series of events intensively, as did the Sharingan-equipped ANBU captain.
Sasuke: It looks as though she’s stopping him every time he tries to retreat off to the side.
Naruto: Yeah, but what good would that do her?
Sasuke gave no response, but casually pointed towards their position on the arena floor, as well as their eventual destination. It didn’t take long after that for Naruto to realize the objective behind Kūrogane’s barrage of attacks.
Naruto: Aaaahhhh…
Konohamaru: (He smirked at his predecessor’s slow understanding, having already come to this realization himself moments ago.) She’s luring him closer to the edge…
Shikamaru: …like the king in a game of shogi.
Both Temari and Karui looked over at Shikamaru as he muttered this, not entirely sure what he meant but too focused on the match to reminisce any longer. Down below, Hitomi was indeed now several yards from the wall of the stadium and approaching fast, and with Kūrogane still in the midst of her irate flurry of attacks, he could only watch as she slowly drew him into a corner.
Hitomi: (She’s not letting me move anywhere else! …Dang!!)
He had little more time to think before he found himself backed up against the wall at long last, Kūrogane’s knife already propped back and ready for one last swing. Her mother and mentor looked on from above, the same thought on their minds as they smiled down at her.
Shikamaru and Kogane: …Checkmate…
Hitomi slammed his eyes shut to brace for the attack, only to open them again when it never came. There was no surprise on his face this time as he had already estimated what happened, and sure enough upon looking down, he found his opponent hunched over and clutching her arms, her knees having apparently given out from excessive trembling.
Shikamaru, Kogane, Katame, and Konohamaru: What!?
Kūrogane: No…not again…
In the midst of her sudden spasm, she had allowed her trench knives to slip from between her fingers, leaving them free for Hitomi to pick up if he so chose. The odds were now clearly in his favor, and Shikamaru placed his hand against his forehead as he realized how hopeless Kūrogane’s chances were now.
Shikamaru: I’m sorry, Kogane. …I should’ve waited until the finals had passed.
Kogane: (She placed her hand on his shoulder to ease his mind, secretly considering this a more fitting punishment for her daughter.) It’s alright, sensei. …I think she managed to impress the Kages either way.
Down below, Hitomi had indeed taken up one of the discarded knives, but instead proceeded to address his opponent rather than be forceful in making her surrender.
Hitomi: I guess I can show mercy this one time, too. …Just give the word.
Kūrogane: (More concerned with getting out of the tournament than anything else now, she wasted no time accepting his offer.) …Alright…I give up.
Catching wind of this from afar, the proctor held up his arm to make the result official.
Baiko: The winner is…Hitomi Hyūga!
The audience gave a mixed response to the announcement, many of them suspecting this outcome had been preplanned, or even underhandedness on Hitomi’s part. Of course, not everyone was entirely displeased, including his oblivious grandfather, who heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the result.
Neji: Huh, thank goodness. I thought he’d been trapped in a corner.
Hinata: (While dismayed to do so, she felt obligated to tell her cousin the truth.) He was for a moment there. …Kūrogane’s chakra flow just started acting strangely and cut itself off, though. I wonder why.
Neji: (His smile slowly vanished upon hearing this.) You mean…he nearly lost?
Shien: (She stared unhappily at her sister-in-law for a moment before turning back to Neji with a smile.) But he didn’t, dear. That’s the important thing. And now he’s moving on to the next round where he’s sure to win again.
This answer seemed to appease Neji for the time being, meanwhile towards the opposite end of the stands, yet another person expressed their lack of surprise at the outcome.
Raiden: I told you, didn’t I? …She was doomed from square one.
Ayumi: (Disheartened by his indifference to his teammate’s loss, she gave her own thoughts on the outcome in hopes of swaying him.) I don’t think that’s true, hon. She came close to winning plenty of times from what we saw.
Further down, Kūrogane’s other teammate was displaying a very contrasting reaction to the results of the match.
Kemono: OH, COME ON!!! What the heck was that!?
He stood up and shouted as Mukinu barked at his feet, prompting Kiba to flick the latter on the nose to quiet him before reaching up and pushing him back down into his seat by the shoulder, while Hana continued speculating on the match.
Hana: She was so close to winning. …I wonder what came over her.
Katame: (Also aware of Kūrogane’s period of withdrawal, he nonetheless expressed his utmost faith in his student’s skills.) Who can really say? …She did put on a good show, though, which is really what this competition is about.
Over at the finalists’ balcony, yet another hotheaded genin was causing a fuss about Kūrogane’s defeat to his siblings’ dismay, his sister namely.
Kei: This is a load of crap!! Shikaru, I’m calling your granddad out on this!! It’s his fault she started acting weird, not hers!! I can’t believe it, she was this close!! THIS close!!
While Inase buried her head in her hands out of aggravation, the nearby Z questioned his future opponent on his brother’s antics.
Z: What the hell’s that boy yellin’ bout?
Airon: (He couldn’t help but grin at this, though he was more focused on the conversation taking place in his mind.) Hehehehehe, the reasoning changes every time. Who can really say at this point? (You think she showed enough talent to get the promotion?)
Inase: (Oh, definitely. She showed off more than enough from what I saw.)
Nakama: (I still wish she could’ve moved on with the rest of us.)
Airon: (Hmhmhmhm, what are you talkin’ about? The rest of us haven’t even gone yet.)
Manako: (Are you saying you doubt some of our chances, Airon?)
Airon: (He glanced over at Manako as he said this, who was glancing back in a matter-of-fact manner.) (Hmhm, well, there are a few special cases I shouldn’t have to worry about.)
Above them all, the Kages were also discussing how the match played out, their takes on the outcome being almost unanimous.
Konohamaru: This was a rather close one.
Darui: Sorry, Lord Hokage, but I wouldn’t call it close in the slightest.
Kurotsuchi: She almost won twice before she started acting weird like that. …It’s almost as if the match was thrown so he would win.
Gaara: I guess we all can agree on who the real winner was here.
The others nodded in agreement, meanwhile down below, Hitomi returned the trench knives to Kūrogane before holding his arm out in a friendly offer.
Hitomi: Need a hand?
Kūrogane: (Still trembling slightly, she smirked as a sarcastic answer crossed her mind.) Only if it’s holding a cigarette.
Hitomi: (Having been wondering this for the past several minutes, he looked down in reminiscence as he reevaluated her behavior during the match.) So that was the reason, was it?
Kūrogane: Yeah, but don’t get too caught up on it. …You might be facing the Kazekage’s grandson next round.
Hitomi: (Seeing the smile on her face as she said this, he realized she bore no regret about her loss and proceeded to return her gesture.) Hmhm, I suppose you’re right.
Kūrogane finally took his hand and hoisted herself up, and the two proceeded to return to the balcony as Baiko prepared to announce the next round.
Kūrogane’s withdrawal symptoms rob her of an easy victory, giving the match over to Hitomi!!!
The End
(Note: I made some changes now that the manga is over, including some names and titles, just in case it causes confusion later on.)
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
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Chapter 052: Withdrawal Fee
As Shikaru and Akame returned to the balcony to watch the next match, up in the stands, a late arrival slowly made its way down the steps between each row of seats – an elderly Neji, his left hand being clenched by Hinata and his right being held by his daughter Otome.
Otome: Turn right here, Papa. Watch out for where Mom’s sitting.
Heeding his daughter’s words, he waited until she had guided his hand towards the chair of front of him before grabbing it and stepping behind it, walking slowly to avoid stepping on the feet of his wife Shien, who helped him into the seat beside her. While Otome took the seat to Neji’s right, Shien wrapped her arm around his own as Hinata took the seat beside her, the sound of which caught Neji’s attention.
Neji: You can go up to where Naruto is now, Hinata. I’m fine, I assure you.
Hinata: (She smiled and shook her head impulsively, despite knowing he could not see her do it.) It’s alright, brother. I’d like to stay here with you and Shien for a while.
Neji: (He smiled gently at her concern and leaned back in his chair, resting his free hand on top of his wife’s.) If that’s what you prefer.
Down below, the now lone Baiko stepped forward to announce the finals’ next two combatants as those above listened attentively.
Baiko: I need Hitomi Hyūga and Kūrogane Yūhi to make their way to the arena!
As the last name left his lips, another series of pillars rose from the ground in front of the balcony, courtesy of the ever generous Nakama. Hitomi took this shorter route without hesitation after offering his thanks to its creator, but for Kūrogane, this was a much slower process, as everyone who watched her could see that she was clenching her arms as she shivered almost uncontrollably. For those unfamiliar with her, confusion was the only product, but for her closest friends and family members, concern was prevalent – even from Shikadai, who had just woken up from yet another short nap.
Shikadai: Huhhhh…uhhh, what’s up with her? Looks like she’s shaking like crazy.
Kogane: (Having been sitting in the row behind theirs this entire time, she leaned down next to her former instructor’s shoulder.) What did you do to my daughter, sensei?
Shikamaru: (He smirked in amusement at this, though concern was still imminent in his eyes.) Quitting always come at a price, Kogane. She’s just gonna have to fight through that urge if she wants to win.
Karui: Poor girl. It was bad enough that she’s going up against a member of the Hyūga clan, but now she has to deal with whatever this is.
Shikamaru: Oh, she’d have no problem if it were just that, Karui, trust me. …Kūrogane’s got more than enough talent to deal with him.
In a nearby section of the stands, two of Kūrogane’s team members – namely Kemono and Katame – sat in anticipation for her match to begin, the former already in the process of providing encouragement to his teammate.
Kemono: Bring it, Kūrogane!! Put this guy in a coma!!
While Mukinu barked at his feet, Katame looked on in amusement, as did the man sitting to Kemono’s left – who bore the same fang-like marks on his slightly droopy cheeks.
Kiba: Cool it there, lil doggie. The fight hasn’t even started yet.
Hana: (Watching this, as well, from her brother’s left side, she turned to him with a soft chuckle.) Hmhmhm, he does seem pretty confident in his teammate, though, doesn’t he?
Kiba: Heh, yeah. I can give him that one, though. …She’s a pretty tough cookie, from what I’ve seen of her.
Katame proceeded to smirk at this, knowing the truth behind this statement all too well, while towards the center of the stands, the family of Kūrogane’s fourth team member sat idly in their seats as they awaited the match to come. The teammate in question was leaned off to the side with his head supported by his closed fist, a posture which caught the immediate attention of his pregnant mother.
Ayumi: You won’t cheer for your teammate, Raiden?
Raiden: (He made little attempt to move in reaction to her disturbance.) It’s not like it’ll make a difference whether I do or not, Mom. …Either way, she’s gonna lose.
Suzaku: (Irritated as always by his son’s pessimistic outlook, he turned away from his prior conversation with his mother and addressed this.) Hey now, you don’t know that, Raiden. …Remember, Kūrogane’s just as strong as you are, maybe even stronger.
Moegi: And even if she wasn’t, you should always cheer on your teammates.
While Raiden attempted to shrug off these assertions, Kūrogane’s fellow finalists watched her descent down Nakama’s earthy staircase with varying response, the most common being worry in regards to her performance in the coming match.
Airon: (She’s not lookin’ too hot right now, is she?)
Nakama: (She nodded in agreement.) (I hope she can manage, whatever’s wrong with her.)
Inase: (I’m sure she will, Nakama. A little handicap’s not gonna trouble Kūrogane, even against Hitomi.)
Airon: (Not as assured of this as his sister, he turned towards the opposite end of the balcony before responding.) (Although, Hitomi’s no stranger to fighting with a handicap, either…is he, Manako?)
Manako made no attempt to respond to him, either verbally or in thought, though his otherwise blank expression made it clear that this was also on his mind. There was little time to reminisce, though, as Hitomi and Kūrogane took their positions at long last, the audience now staring intensively as they tried to predict which of them would make the first move. Most eyes were focused on the latter, who had yet to recover from her excessive shivering, a mannerism those less knowledgeable of her skills and demeanor attributed to an extreme case of pre-match anxiety. Her willpower was enough to keep her legs steady, but another push was needed to help her control her arms, something a select few of her colleagues were happy to provide.
Kei: YOU’VE GOT THIS, KŪROGANE!!! TEAR THIS GUY A NEW ONE!!!
Half-expecting him to chime in at one point, Kūrogane chuckled softly and smiled up at her benefactor before redirecting her attention to her opponent, her arms having steadied at long last. Noticing this almost immediately, Baiko raised his arm to begin the match, having grown a little tired from the wait himself.
Baiko: Alright, …if both of you are ready, …begin!
As most of their acquaintances expected, neither one of them made a move, instead taking a moment to contemplate their opponent’s abilities and predict their course of action. Both of them being exceptional strategists, they each came to a similar conclusion.
Kūrogane: (I can’t use genjutsu since he has the Byakugan. I’ll have to use a more direct approach for my attacks, preferably with ninjutsu since he uses the Gentle Fist…at least, that’s what he’s assuming.)
Hitomi: (Since I have the Byakugan, she’ll have to take a more direct approach, preferably with ninjutsu since I also have the Gentle Fist…although, she’s probably already figured that out and assumes I did, too. Well, whatever tactic she uses, I’ll be sure to counter it.)
The latter waited several more seconds as his opponent considered her first move, eventually settling on a pair of kunai, much to his surprise. Regardless, he quickly pulled out two of his own and met her advance in spades, the sounds of their blades clashing for the first time echoing throughout the arena, reaching the ears of even those who couldn’t see the fight for themselves.
Neji: Their fight has begun, hasn’t it?
Shien: (She nodded in confirmation, forgetting for a moment that he could not see the gesture.) They’re just using kunai right now. It’s nothing Hitomi can’t handle.
Hinata: (Watching the match much closer than either her or Otome, she quickly stepped in to defend her former sensei’s granddaughter.) Don’t be so sure of that, Shien. …Kūrogane comes from a long line of strong shinobi, and she’s no exception to the trend.
Otome: (Determined to prove her aunt wrong, she stood up out of her seat and held her hands up to her mouth.) Come on, baby! You can win this!!
Down below, Kūrogane was indeed proving a worthy match for Hitomi’s taijutsu skills. His superior speed forced her to put more chakra into every thrust or dodging motion she made, but her larger chakra supply kept them on equal footing regardless. Their exchange lasted hardly a minute longer before they retreated back to catch their breath and assess their opponent’s abilities thus far. Being the more tactful of the two, Kūrogane used this quick recess to its full effect.
Kūrogane: (His reflexes aren’t that much faster than mine. Maybe…yeah, that’ll work.) Those eyes of yours really are a hassle, Hitomi! Nothing seems to slip past them!
Hitomi: Hmhm, I didn’t realize you’d been trying to slip anything past them, Kūrogane! Try your luck, it might just prove favorable to you!
Kūrogane: (She smirked as he said this before holding up her hands, arranging her fingers to form an all-too familiar hand sign.) Maybe I’ll do that. Shadow Clone jutsu!!
Without hesitation, a dozen clouds of smoke appeared around the kunoichi, the clones that emerged quickly positioning themselves in a tight circle around Hitomi. With his Byakugan at the ready, he quickly took note of the small spike in their chakra movements, as well as the fact that one of the thirteen doppelgangers was conveniently positioned in his sole blind spot. To his surprise, though, when he tried tilting his head to get a better look at it, the clones surrounding him mimicked his movements, keeping the one who was hidden out of his sight. This briefly persisted as Hitomi sharpened his reaction time, but no matter how hard he tried, he continued to find himself at odds with Kūrogane’s equally sharp reflexes.
Hitomi: (Hmm, she’s got one of them standing in my blind spot, and apparently, she’s intent on keeping it there. …Hmph, guess that can only mean one thing.)
Digging into the pouch on his hip, he quickly pulled out a kunai and tossed it over his left shoulder, spinning around and charging forward as the remaining clones stood there confused by his actions. To his surprise, though, what should have been a collision with the real Kūrogane, who by now would’ve been doubled over on the ground after making contact with his outstretched palm, was nothing more than a swipe at thin air.
Hitomi: (What!?)
Kūrogane: Alright, get him!!
Without warning, the remaining clones dashed forward, pulling out tag after tag as they closed in on Hitomi.
Hitomi: (Bombs…she’s trying to take me down with them!) Hmph, not a chance!
Kūrogane and her doppelgangers were hardly within arm’s reach of him when chakra began pouring out of his fingertips, a quick reflex in his heels sending his body into a rapidly accelerating spinning motion as the paper bombs reached the point of detonation.
Hitomi: Rotation!!
In a sudden burst of fire and smoke, the clones vanished beneath an enormous black void, which in turn was dissolved moments later by a large swirling vortex of chakra. The entire spectacle passed by in almost the blink of an eye, those who caught none of it quickly turning to their neighbors to figure out what just took place, among them Neji.
Neji: What just happened!? I hear explosions!
Shien: Don’t worry. His Rotation protected him just in time.
Hinata: (With her Byakugan taking note of all that her sister-in-law had missed, she quickly stood up and called out to her grandnephew.) Hitomi, watch out!!
Still in the process of halting the rapid movements of his signature technique, a brief glimpse out of the corner of his eye was all that alerted Hitomi of his opponent’s rapid approach from the nearby tree line, kunai in hand.
Hitomi: (She hid her real self in the trees! And I don’t have time for another Rotation!)
Watching as he tried desperately to hold his arms up to block the attack, Kūrogane grinned in satisfaction before flipping her kunai over in her hands, intending to knock him out with the handle rather than injure him with the blade. Before she was within reach to do so, though, she suddenly fell to her knees as the kunai fell from her hands, prompting Hitomi to reopen his eyes to figure out why she stopped her advance.
Hitomi: What the…
On the ground in front of him sat his opponent, hunched over on her knees as she gripped both of her arms, which were shaking uncontrollably. The sudden outbreak of confusion stretched to those in the audience, as well, including the Kage sitting in the balcony above them. Of course, not everyone was completely oblivious to what had brought about Kūrogane’s present actions, Shikamaru being most prominent among them.
Shikamaru: Damn it…I was afraid that might happen.
Temari: It’s her withdrawal. She’s tensing up like crazy now.
Kogane: (…Kūrogane…)
Chōjūrō: I don’t understand. She was hardly a second away from claiming victory.
Kurotsuchi: Why’d she just buckle down outta nowhere like that?
Konohamaru: (Informed by Shikamaru of Kūrogane’s “punishment” beforehand, he decided it best to let his colleagues remain unaware.) Well, whatever her ailment is, it’s a struggle she’ll have to overcome if she wants a chance like that again.
Down below, Kūrogane continued her struggle to resume standing, only for her knees to buckle even further with every slight motion she made.
Kūrogane: (Not good…I can’t stop shaking…come on…)
Out of courtesy, Hitomi stood by and watched as his opponent gradually came out of her trance, but his patience quickly thinned out after nearly two minutes of waiting.
Hitomi: I appreciate the act of mercy, Kūrogane, but you’ll have to get rid of those feelings here. One small show of compassion like that…
He slowly walked up to her as he spoke, building up chakra in his fingers as he moved along. Seeing this, Kūrogane quickly pulled herself together in time to dodge the bulk of his attacks, though not quick enough to prevent a handful of her chakra points from being blocked.
Hitomi: …could prove fatal in the long run.
This almost unfairness on Hitomi’s part brought multiple reactions from the crowd. Some booed him for what they saw as a cheap shot, some openly expressed sympathy for Kūrogane, while others who had rooted for Hitomi from the beginning cheered in excitement at this sudden turnabout.
Otome: Yeah!! You’ve got her, Hitomi!!
Neji: (Confused by the various responses around him, he called out to figure out what happened.) What did he do? Was it the Sixty-Four Palms?
Hinata: (Not quite as enthusiastic as Otome, she kept her Byakugan fixed on Kūrogane.) No, but he did manage to block some of her chakra points. …She looks like she could collapse at any minute.
In the adjacent balcony, the other finalists expressed their own views on the current state of the match. Like those elsewhere, most opinions favored Kūrogane.
Inase: (And just when it seemed like she’d found a way around his Byakugan.)
Airon: (It looked to me as though she did, Inase. …She couldn’t have been more than a second from winning before and now...)
Manako: (Well, she managed to get away with most of her chakra points unblocked. …She’s still got a chance, albeit a much slimmer one.)
Nakama: (…Kūrogane…)
Kei: COME ON, KŪROGANE!!! DON’T LET HIM BEAT YOU LIKE THIS!!!
As if she had been waiting for him to chime in, Kūrogane’s gritted teeth slowly morphed into a smile as she returned to her feet, staring directly into Hitomi’s pupiless eyes as she formed a standard hand sign.
Kūrogane: (Don’t worry, Kei. …I don’t plan to.)
Almost immediately, her chakra supply exploded, forcing open the handful of chakra points that Hitomi had blocked off, much to the latter’s shock.
Hitomi: What!?
Kogane: (She smiled as she watched from the stands, proud of her daughter’s skills.) (That’s my girl.)
Shortly after her chakra dispersed, Kūrogane reached into her weapons pouch and pulled out two familiar-looking trench knives, fitting her fingers through the holes fixed into their handles as a nostalgic Shikamaru looked on.
Shikamaru: You’ve got him now.
Kemono: GO, KŪROGANE!!!
She waited a moment longer to build up her chakra, but no sooner after did she oblige, speeding off towards Hitomi with one of her knives at the ready. Hitomi quickly held his arms up to counter, only for Kūrogane to stop short of his reach and swing her knife forward, sending a small wave of sharp chakra towards Hitomi which he quickly leapt back to dodge. No sooner after his feet touched the ground was she at it again, each wave of chakra being faster and more difficult to evade than the last.
Hitomi: (Her chakra’s extending out past the blade! I can’t even move close enough to block her chakra while she’s fighting like this!)
Seeing that this head-on approach was going nowhere, Hitomi tried leaping to the right, only for Kūrogane’s arm to swing up and send a large wave of chakra surging outwards, blocking his retreat.
Hitomi: Whoa!!
He tried stepping to the left next, but once again, she prevented him from doing so, forcing him to succumb to continuously dodging her attacks until he dared try to retreat again. From the highest balcony, the Kage watched this series of events intensively, as did the Sharingan-equipped ANBU captain.
Sasuke: It looks as though she’s stopping him every time he tries to retreat off to the side.
Naruto: Yeah, but what good would that do her?
Sasuke gave no response, but casually pointed towards their position on the arena floor, as well as their eventual destination. It didn’t take long after that for Naruto to realize the objective behind Kūrogane’s barrage of attacks.
Naruto: Aaaahhhh…
Konohamaru: (He smirked at his predecessor’s slow understanding, having already come to this realization himself moments ago.) She’s luring him closer to the edge…
Shikamaru: …like the king in a game of shogi.
Both Temari and Karui looked over at Shikamaru as he muttered this, not entirely sure what he meant but too focused on the match to reminisce any longer. Down below, Hitomi was indeed now several yards from the wall of the stadium and approaching fast, and with Kūrogane still in the midst of her irate flurry of attacks, he could only watch as she slowly drew him into a corner.
Hitomi: (She’s not letting me move anywhere else! …Dang!!)
He had little more time to think before he found himself backed up against the wall at long last, Kūrogane’s knife already propped back and ready for one last swing. Her mother and mentor looked on from above, the same thought on their minds as they smiled down at her.
Shikamaru and Kogane: …Checkmate…
Hitomi slammed his eyes shut to brace for the attack, only to open them again when it never came. There was no surprise on his face this time as he had already estimated what happened, and sure enough upon looking down, he found his opponent hunched over and clutching her arms, her knees having apparently given out from excessive trembling.
Shikamaru, Kogane, Katame, and Konohamaru: What!?
Kūrogane: No…not again…
In the midst of her sudden spasm, she had allowed her trench knives to slip from between her fingers, leaving them free for Hitomi to pick up if he so chose. The odds were now clearly in his favor, and Shikamaru placed his hand against his forehead as he realized how hopeless Kūrogane’s chances were now.
Shikamaru: I’m sorry, Kogane. …I should’ve waited until the finals had passed.
Kogane: (She placed her hand on his shoulder to ease his mind, secretly considering this a more fitting punishment for her daughter.) It’s alright, sensei. …I think she managed to impress the Kages either way.
Down below, Hitomi had indeed taken up one of the discarded knives, but instead proceeded to address his opponent rather than be forceful in making her surrender.
Hitomi: I guess I can show mercy this one time, too. …Just give the word.
Kūrogane: (More concerned with getting out of the tournament than anything else now, she wasted no time accepting his offer.) …Alright…I give up.
Catching wind of this from afar, the proctor held up his arm to make the result official.
Baiko: The winner is…Hitomi Hyūga!
The audience gave a mixed response to the announcement, many of them suspecting this outcome had been preplanned, or even underhandedness on Hitomi’s part. Of course, not everyone was entirely displeased, including his oblivious grandfather, who heaved a sigh of relief upon hearing the result.
Neji: Huh, thank goodness. I thought he’d been trapped in a corner.
Hinata: (While dismayed to do so, she felt obligated to tell her cousin the truth.) He was for a moment there. …Kūrogane’s chakra flow just started acting strangely and cut itself off, though. I wonder why.
Neji: (His smile slowly vanished upon hearing this.) You mean…he nearly lost?
Shien: (She stared unhappily at her sister-in-law for a moment before turning back to Neji with a smile.) But he didn’t, dear. That’s the important thing. And now he’s moving on to the next round where he’s sure to win again.
This answer seemed to appease Neji for the time being, meanwhile towards the opposite end of the stands, yet another person expressed their lack of surprise at the outcome.
Raiden: I told you, didn’t I? …She was doomed from square one.
Ayumi: (Disheartened by his indifference to his teammate’s loss, she gave her own thoughts on the outcome in hopes of swaying him.) I don’t think that’s true, hon. She came close to winning plenty of times from what we saw.
Further down, Kūrogane’s other teammate was displaying a very contrasting reaction to the results of the match.
Kemono: OH, COME ON!!! What the heck was that!?
He stood up and shouted as Mukinu barked at his feet, prompting Kiba to flick the latter on the nose to quiet him before reaching up and pushing him back down into his seat by the shoulder, while Hana continued speculating on the match.
Hana: She was so close to winning. …I wonder what came over her.
Katame: (Also aware of Kūrogane’s period of withdrawal, he nonetheless expressed his utmost faith in his student’s skills.) Who can really say? …She did put on a good show, though, which is really what this competition is about.
Over at the finalists’ balcony, yet another hotheaded genin was causing a fuss about Kūrogane’s defeat to his siblings’ dismay, his sister namely.
Kei: This is a load of crap!! Shikaru, I’m calling your granddad out on this!! It’s his fault she started acting weird, not hers!! I can’t believe it, she was this close!! THIS close!!
While Inase buried her head in her hands out of aggravation, the nearby Z questioned his future opponent on his brother’s antics.
Z: What the hell’s that boy yellin’ bout?
Airon: (He couldn’t help but grin at this, though he was more focused on the conversation taking place in his mind.) Hehehehehe, the reasoning changes every time. Who can really say at this point? (You think she showed enough talent to get the promotion?)
Inase: (Oh, definitely. She showed off more than enough from what I saw.)
Nakama: (I still wish she could’ve moved on with the rest of us.)
Airon: (Hmhmhmhm, what are you talkin’ about? The rest of us haven’t even gone yet.)
Manako: (Are you saying you doubt some of our chances, Airon?)
Airon: (He glanced over at Manako as he said this, who was glancing back in a matter-of-fact manner.) (Hmhm, well, there are a few special cases I shouldn’t have to worry about.)
Above them all, the Kages were also discussing how the match played out, their takes on the outcome being almost unanimous.
Konohamaru: This was a rather close one.
Darui: Sorry, Lord Hokage, but I wouldn’t call it close in the slightest.
Kurotsuchi: She almost won twice before she started acting weird like that. …It’s almost as if the match was thrown so he would win.
Gaara: I guess we all can agree on who the real winner was here.
The others nodded in agreement, meanwhile down below, Hitomi returned the trench knives to Kūrogane before holding his arm out in a friendly offer.
Hitomi: Need a hand?
Kūrogane: (Still trembling slightly, she smirked as a sarcastic answer crossed her mind.) Only if it’s holding a cigarette.
Hitomi: (Having been wondering this for the past several minutes, he looked down in reminiscence as he reevaluated her behavior during the match.) So that was the reason, was it?
Kūrogane: Yeah, but don’t get too caught up on it. …You might be facing the Kazekage’s grandson next round.
Hitomi: (Seeing the smile on her face as she said this, he realized she bore no regret about her loss and proceeded to return her gesture.) Hmhm, I suppose you’re right.
Kūrogane finally took his hand and hoisted herself up, and the two proceeded to return to the balcony as Baiko prepared to announce the next round.
Kūrogane’s withdrawal symptoms rob her of an easy victory, giving the match over to Hitomi!!!
The End
