-Right after Kenzo's match-
Pov: Katsuko
...
I watch as Kenzo is taken on a stretcher and turn to Kanata who is all smiles...
"What are you happy for?" I whisper to him.
"Bad rumours have to die down after losing to Sasuke right..?" He replies and I nod my head slowly.
I suppose they would... the biggest contributions to the gossip of Kenzo is his 'Mystery' strength, people hate the unknown and Kenzo is often fighting when no one is around.
...?
...!
Wait a minute...?
"Has Kenzo ever lost to someone before? I haven't seen that in any of our missions..." I mutter.
"Without his transformation he is a nobody huh?" I turn and see one of the Sand ninja mock, the one with the puppet.
"What makes you think that?" Kanata asks.
"He just got wiped- here I thought 'Konoha's Monster' was an actual ninja" He chuckles to himself.
"Think what you want" Kanata scoffs and turns back to the arena.
I look at the board and my eyes widen.
KANATA VS NEJI HYUGA
...
What...?
---
Pov: Kanata
...
I gnce at Katsuko for a moment but my gaze slowly slides over to the Hyuga who jumps down to the lobby floor...
I scratch my neck and jump down as well... am I ready to face the strongest in our css? I have been thinking about this for a long time now- ever since deciding to prioritize my ninja goals instead of my mundane ones...
I have been training like crazy trying to catch up to him- but unfortunately I don't have much talent in anything worthwhile enough to close that gap, and the man I thought could beat Neji lost to the st Uchiha.
Haaaa-
What am I going to do? How do I beat him?
...
"Ready when you are" the instructor says and I look across the room towards Neji who holds up a hand and narrows his eyes, he enters into his taijutsu stance and I immediately start making some hand signs.
*Woosh!* *Bst!* *Woosh!*
I breathe out three wind impacts and he dodges them one by one as he sprints closer to me- *Sp!* I sp away his first attack but he doesn't care and pokes forward with his second- third- fourth attacks- my deflections while ruthlessly trained by Kenzo and my team seemingly feel useless under his barrage of attacks.
*Sp!* *Snap!*
I sp away one st attack and he with a sudden burst of speed kicks my leg and snaps one of the bones... I hop back with a stumble as he stands in his stance waiting for me to stop wobbling.
...
I have to use Kenzo's technique- I rev my chakra and swarm it across my body, I wait as he suddenly jaunts at me and I spin my chakra as fast as I can- *Poke!* with a simple poke he deactivates the chakra point and I can no longer rotate my chakra there... its too te- I failed to learn the technique before the exam.
I spin my chakra.
He pokes through.
I spin.
And spin.
And as if mocking me he waits to strike and disarm the technique each time.
Spin.
Poke.
Spin.
Poke.
Spin.
Poke.
Eventually...
...my chakra is sealed within my body, no points to help control or use it.
No ninjutsu... no more attempts to learn Kenzo's technique... and no way to beat him with taijutsu.
"Hurry up and forfeit" He says as if waiting for something.
He doesn't care... he just sits and waits as I struggle to stand after he disabled all my chakra points... he thinks nothing of me...
...
"You can do it Kanata!" I hear someone cheer but I hang my head low as I stumble back to the ground.
I sit on the ground in defeat... I should probably give up...
"Do you forfeit?" The examiner asks as if knowing the fight is over.
...
Did Katsuko just cheer for me?
Wait- wait- wait- she cheered for me?
Me?
I gnce up to the stands and see her hopefully staring back at me...
I struggle up again- *Stomp!* a foot is pnted on my back and I hear the examiner about to end the match.
NO!
I cannot let Katsuko down! I promised her!
I push back and grab his ankle, he kicks my chin and pushes me upwards enough for me to stumble into standing.
...
How? No- What do I do? What do I have? No chakra- tools- I have tools.
I grab multiple Kunai and throw them at Neji who deflects each one with more precision than I have shown... I frown as I throw and use up my smoke bombs, shuriken and kunai to try and keep him back.
I have but only ten moments to think.
ONE- STOP THINKING LIKE KENZO
He steps closer and grabs a kunai before throwing it at me- I deflect it and continue.
TWO- ONLY TAIJUTSU?
Why did I throw smoke pellets? Of course they wouldn't do anything idiot!
THREE- CHAKRA POINTS SEALED.
I throw the st of my Kunai and throw my shuriken.
FOUR- I NEED CHAKRA UNSEALED.
I throw the st of my Shuriken as he gets closer.
FIVE- HOW TO UNDO PRESSURE POINT?
I pick up and start throwing pebbles that have broken off from the floor due to the previous match.
SIX- NO SKILL OR STUDY FOR THAT.
I jump away when he attacks and gets closer.
SEVEN- BRUTE FORCE IT?
I deflect three attacks as he steps closer and manages to jab at my chest again... I can feel the blood rush as my heart struggles to beat.
EIGHT- RUSH...? WHAT IF...?
I take the hits as I pour all my chakra into one point... it can't travel far through my body... but at the stomach it gathers like normal without the need for a chakra point.
NINE- SPIN CHAKRA VIOLENTLY!!
It might break my chakra system... but if I spin it in a closed space like that and rush at a point shouldn't it open?
TEN- LOSE NINJA CAREER?
Not enough- I need to make my chakra wind affinity, like Kurenai-sensei taught me I need to transform it into sharp rotating winds... like Ryū-san taught me I need to breath and focus... three breaths out, like Kenzo taught me- I need to deflect... just much more different than he had said to and like Katsuko told me- I can do it.
---
Pov: Neji Hyuga
haaa- when will this guy stop? I don't want to be here all day... I take a gnce at the examiner who watches us... can't he see that I have won already?
*Flinch*
I suddenly flinch and turn back to my opponent... what was that? My Byakugan caught something for a moment there... I focus up and rush to hit him.
*Sm!* *Sm!* *Sm!*
My attacks hit him in the shoulder, chest and stomach, he stumbles down and I harden my gaze as I release my st attack.
*Woosh!*
...
Time moves still.
My eyes clearly seeing the chakra building up- breaking through and sshing at his own chakra points- making a direct line of chakra through his body and rushing to the centre of his palm.
I watch my arm strike forward.
I watch his suddenly holt with life and intercept it.
And I watch as a wind enhanced simple deflection sends my hand flying past my torso and- *Swooosh!* *Snap!* dislocating as it tries to fly past my body.
A burst of wind compact and violently rotating around his palm sends my own flying and I stumble into his second movement.
A punch aimed at my forehead.
*Smack*
...
He falls to the ground having fainted... that punch was weak.
Of course it would be weak... the genin just blew up his own arm and chakra system in order to get at me...? Why would he do that?
I hold my broken and dislocated arm as he is taken away and I let the medic ninja heal it... why would...
...
... I don't understand why he would throw away his ninja career for a little fight like this.
---
Pov: Katsuko
I rush down as the ninja take him away on a stretcher... he is knocked out... I hold his hand slightly but he has to go and the medics drift him away... I slowly walk back up to the railings.
...
"That kid was much more impressive than the monster, I am honestly disappointed in the rumours..." The dy sand ninja sneers and I gnce at her.
"Why are you fishing for Kenzo's information- leave him alone" I sniff and reply.
"Pft- we were interested in all that hype of course... just disappointed girly" The older sand brother talks back.
"It doesn't matter how strong Kenzo is, both my teammates proved themselves here... they don't need to win" I retort and grip my bde in annoyance.
He stood up to Neji for me... and got injured in the process, I should have asked him to stop- no, no I can't just spit at all his hard work, he fought till he dropped for me.
For... me.
TEMARI VS SAKURA
Oh... right- the preliminary matches, I hold the railing and distract myself over the worry I feel for those two.
.....
....
...
..
.
So the st match will be me? That's, haaaa- I can do this, Kanata and Kenzo believe in me and Kurenai-sensei believes too- I am sure Ryū would say the same as well.
The current winners are:
SHIKAMARU (Beat Misumi)
SASUKE (Beat Kenzo)
NEJI (Beat Kanata)
TEMARI (Beat Sakura)
HINATA (Beat Ino)
NARUTO (Beat Choji)
SHINO (Beat Tenten)
GAARA (Beat Yoroi)
LEE (Beat Kiba)
And now... KANKURO VS KATSUKO.
Great, I have to fight the guy who keeps making comments about Konoha teams... I can do it... I can- I just have to take a few breaths and believe in myself like Kanata believes in me.
I stand at the bottom waiting for my opponent to move... I am good at Kenjutsu, just average at everything else.
Why didn't I train harder?
Why didn't I stay te training with the boys?
Why did I listen to my parents...?
Why did I listen to Neji?
No- why did I listen to myself?
A topic for another time... right now I have to make the most use out of my kenjutsu that I can.
I raise my Katana above my head and prime myself to fight- I widen my stance and focus down on the puppet user.
I have never fought one before but I have had a lot of experience with fighting multiple opponents, our missions are either like that or fighting one stronger enemy together.
...
Shame the paperwork won't help me here.
*Woosh!*
He throws a Kunai and I chop it down quickly with my bde before returning to my stance, he rushes me and I ssh forward while stepping back to maintain distance... why is he giving up his long distance advantage?
Suspicious- I whack my sword forward to try and maintain a distance while stepping back... I closely study my opponent while I have the time and I make sure to keep an eye on his unused puppet wrapped on his back.
*Slice*
I suddenly jolt forward and slice at the man before turning my bde sideways and sshing at his stomach- *Woosh* *Tear* I rip some of his cloth off and step back a bit once more... I need a better opening and so does he- he is trying to grapple me for some reason...?
I tilt my head as I look at his stomach... wood.
He switched with his puppet.
But he doesn't know that I know that... he cannot see what I am doing and is using something else to find my position... noise? I use one of my hands to grab a Kunai and I chuck it to the side.
He flinches to the left and as I step back once more he turns back to me... okay- so more than just noise but it can be used to distract him.
Maybe he is sensitive to chakra or maybe his puppet can rey information to him somehow...?
I guess.. time to find out.
I ssh forward and strike at his puppets joints- before twirling my bde and slicing just above the puppet, having my bde slice at the wrapping behind it.
I barely nick it and attempt to run around the puppet to hit its master once more.
*Ssh!*
I hack into the side of the wrappings and hear a groan of pain- all before the wrappings burst and the puppet attacks with multiple limbs.
*Ssh* *Tink* *Slice* *Thunk*
I whack at the sudden hidden bdes attacking me before stepping back and sshing forward once more.
*Ssh!*
A ssh not from me but rather my enemy... a bde pointed at my neck floating just above the fine hairs ying there.
"Your loss" He chuckles and I frown.
"And that *Cough* concludes our st match!" The examiner calls and I sheathe my bde slowly as everyone drops down to the main floor again.
...
I'm not good enough.
But I will try to be better now.
---
-Back in the present-
Pov: Kanata
...
*woosh!* *Ruffle*
"Ah- damnit-" I hear Kenzo mumble as he drops something... I sigh and turn around to see what he is doing sneaking into my hospital room.
...?
"Kenzo? Why are you covered in bandages? I thought the medics healed all your serious wounds?" I ask and push myself up on the bed, making sure not to bump Katsuko as she rests her head on the end of it.
"... I... have a really good reason" He says and slowly grabs another bandage.
"Do you now?" I smirk.
"Of course! Enough about my current body horror- how did your matches go? Good I hope~" he chuckles and attempts to change the conversation.
Ahhh- never mind.
"I... lost, I also... lost the ability to gather chakra properly and use it in my right arm" I bluntly tell him.
"I lost too" Katsuko yawns.
...
"Well... bunch of losers aren't we?" He says and stops collecting bandages from my ninja gear.
...
"Is the... damage permanent?" He asks.
"Yeah, nobody in this hospital could do anything for me" I say and y back down.
"Who did that to you" He asks... both me and Katsuko catch his tone going a tad bit colder.
"Me" I reply and rub my shoulder.
"Ah... worth it?" He asks.
"Worth it" I nod.
"Was it accidental?" He asks and slumps down next to the bed.
"Nah... just felt like doing it- an instinct to prove myself and all my hard work, seems pathetic in hindsight, Neji doesn't even know who I am" I sigh and click my tongue.
...
"I think you chose wrong... but even so that decision has definitely helped me get over myself" Katsuko sniffs and smiles at me.
"Woah- when did I become a third wheel?" Kenzo peeks over the bed and raises his brow beneath the bandages.
"Wha- no- that's not-" Katsuko ducks and hides from his gaze.
Huh- already used to that gaze now...? Well, the limited one as he likes to call it.
"Hahahaha! I can't believe I didn't see this budding romance~" Kenzo chuckles out loud and I blush and turn away as he stands up.
...
"So the weather huh?" He says completely throwing away the mood... what are we strangers?
"Kenzo- you don't have to force yourself to stay" I sigh and shake my head.
"That's great! I got to go- also I am stealing your bandages... if I go out of control my bad" He says and grabs some stuff before hopping away.
..?
"Was he missing a foot when he left...?" I lean and try to peer down the hallway but can't.
I turn to Katsuko who still hides...
...?
...!
"Want to go out-" she throws a pillow at my face.
---
Pov: Temari
"So all news on the possible threat is minimal? Nothing too bad?" Baki-sensei asks and I nod.
"None of the genin will be much of a problem to our pns... Gaara will be fighting st so we can dey as much as possible thankfully" I reply with a sigh.
"Good- where is he anyway?" Kankuro asks.
"Said he wanted some space- but he was muttering 'Monster' so I need to go make sure he hasn't taken any grievances on the genin" Baki-sensei says and we nod.
"I can go find him sir- you have a 'meeting' tonight with the informant do you not?" I ask and he stops for a moment before nodding.
I walk to the door as he flickers out and Kankuro ys on the bed to sleep.
"Be careful" He says as he wipes away his face paint.
...
"Ill be fine" I flicker out the door and roof hop to the hospital... that's where the Monster would be at least.
...
After a few minutes and some tracking I manage to find Gaara at a park near the hospital, it's very quiet and calm... good, no one is watching.
I nd on a tree and get a better angle, I see he is conversing with... the monster? Hasn't he been healed yet? Why is he covered in bandages.
...???
Where are his legs?
"Why do you not listen" My brother states and as the Monster sits on the bench rexed.
"Because your request is weird and I am in the middle of my own weird thing" He gestures to his missing legs.
"Enough with the jokes, prove my worth" Gaara frowns.
Not good.
"I like the jokes, lighten the mood when my legs disappear and I have no other of my usual coping mechanisms to rely on" He shrugs his shoulders as sand starts to rise around him.
Ah- I almost forgot about tonight being the full moon...
No use, Gaara is pissed- I just have to clean up after him and ensure no one witnesses this.
"Shut up- shut up!" Gaara groans and raises his hand, the sand surrounding the monster and forming a coffin.
"Woah calm down you crazy child-" The monster tries to push himself away but his weak and legless body cannot escape in time....
*CRUSH!!!*
Blood seeps from the sand and Gaara breathes heavily as he holds his head.
...
Alright, lets clean up and leave before anyone notices or tries to interfere with our pns.
Thanks for reading :)
