BONUS Chapter Nineteen: Show Must Go On

The next match of the day was Sasuke Uchiha vs. Gaara of the Sand.

But there was a problem—Sasuke wasn't in the stadium. Genma Shiranui, as per protocol, was giving him five minutes to appear before disqualifying him.

"Hokage-dono, it seems that the last Uchiha is not here yet…" said the Kazekage. The spectators were already calling for the boy.

"That it seems. A pity he inherited his teacher's tardiness, right? Well, if he doesn't arrive before the proctor calls the match, he'll be disqualified," the Hokage replied.

"Hokage-dono, Raikage-dono… many people have come to see the last of the Uchiha clan battle my son. Why not delay the match? I know my son is eager to prove himself against him."

"Come on, you foolssssss."

"Bah, I don't care! A ninja who arrives late is a dead one! If he thinks himself too high and mighty to follow the rules, he's no ninja material!" A growled, clearly pushing to provoke the snake Sannin.

"Unfortunately, the Kazekage is right. A lot of people have paid to see Sasuke-kun fight. So, it would be reasonable to bend the rules a bit… but he'll have to prove his worth more than ever. This will reflect in his chances of being promoted."

A consented to Sarutobi's suggestion—reluctantly.

Down in the arena, Genma announced that Sasuke's match would be delayed and called for Shino Aburame and Kankuro Sabaku to prepare.

But Kankuro surrendered the moment he heard his name.

"Hahahahahaha! So much for buying time, right? I don't think your younger son will be happy with his brother for a while," laughed the Raikage.

"I hope your daughter won't disappoint us now," the Hokage added with a smirk.

"Laugh all you want. Kankuro will pay for his cowardice. Sssssstupid kid. He may be saving his weaponssss for the invasion… but he made me look like a fool. And I won't forgive that."

Genma then called for Shikamaru Nara and Temari to enter the arena.

In the Arena

Temari jumped down with grace, while the Nara kid was bitching about how troublesome it was to fight—especially against girls, and even more so against troublesome blondes. That lasted until Asuma threw him over the railing, chuckling.

Shikamaru hit the ground and rolled until he was sitting in the center of the arena. He looked at the proctor, then at his opponent, and yawned.

"Damn… why can't I be a cloud? Just float all day doing nothing…"

"Proctor! The Nara clan forbids that Genin from forfeiting unless he's in a struggle!" a woman shouted from the stands.

"Sorry, ma'am, but only the clan head can issue that kind of restriction," said Genma, his voice amplified with chakra.

Yoshino Nara, the true head of the clan, growled. She grabbed her husband by his shaggy coat, dragged him to his feet—and decked him for good measure.

"Eh… yeah… what she said…" yawned Shikaku.

"Soooo whipped," thought everyone watching.

"Thanks, Mom. Love you too," grumbled Shikamaru.

His sarcasm only further annoyed his already irritated mother.

He jumped up and got into his fighting stance, sensing the killing intent she was radiating.

"Well… I guess I have no choice now. Let's do this, okay?"

"Let the match between Shikamaru Nara and Temari of Suna begin!" shouted Genma, leaping backward to give them space.

Shikamaru, wasting no time, bent a knee and activated his Ninja Art: Shadow Imitation Jutsu.

Temari backflipped and dashed away, keeping her distance until the shadow's reach maxed out. With a sharp movement of her war fan, she slashed a line across the ground to mark the limit.

"Well, crap… can I convince you to take a few steps into my shadow, please?" asked Shikamaru with a smirk.

"You wish."

"Yes."

Shikamaru said it like it was the most obvious answer in the world.

Temari, wanting to finish things quickly, opened her fan to reveal three moons and shouted:

"Wind Release: Wind Scythe Jutsu!"

Each swipe unleashed a powerful gust full of razor-sharp wind blades.

"Shit, shit, SHIT!"

Shikamaru dodged wildly and dove for cover behind a tree. He sighed, then dropped into his thinking position.

Kage Box

"You have a talented daughter down there, Kazekage-dono," said an amused Hokage.

"What is the hand sign the Nara boy is using? I've never seen it before," asked the intrigued Raikage.

"Is he doing some kind of hidden jutsu?"

"That, Raikage-dono, is no hand sign. That's his thinking pose. As lazy as he is, that boy is a genius. His IQ is off the charts. When it comes to strategy games, only his father—my Jōnin commander—can beat him."

"So, do you think this so-called lazy genius has a chance against my daughter?"

"Thank Kami for Yoshino Nara's presence… if the Nara can't forfeit, this match might last long enough for Sassssssuke-kun to arrive," Orochimaru thought, amused.

"Let's see… it's unwise to underestimate a Nara, no matter how much stronger their opponent appears to be," said old man Sarutobi as he lit his pipe.

Back in the Arena

Shikamaru panted before abandoning his cover. Sitting down on a fallen tree, he asked, "Temari-san, was it? Care to surrender, please? Fighting is such a drag, but it seems I can't forfeit, so… want to do it instead?"

Temari's right eye twitched several times as her anger rose—so did her war fan.

"Troublesome girl… troublesome blondes… and troublesome exams…" Shikamaru grumbled, already forming his plan.

"What did you just say?! Troublesome?! YOU CALLED ME TROUBLESOME?! You're dead! DO YOU HEAR ME?! DEAD!" Temari, enraged, swung her fan with all her might, sending gale-force winds laced with slicing wind blades at the lazy boy. Shikamaru dodged skillfully, and after avoiding the first gust, he detonated several smoke bombs. As the next blast spread the dense smoke around the arena, Shikamaru rushed toward her, hurling several shuriken.

Temari sent another volley of her jutsu, repelling the incoming shuriken—only to reveal a flash bomb hidden in their midst. Blinded by the sudden burst of light, the Suna kunoichi jumped back to avoid any follow-up attacks. As her vision returned, she barely dodged shadows creeping in from three different Shikamarus.

"What the hell? Those clones have shadows? That lazy bastard knows a shadow-based Bunshin jutsu? Maybe… the famous Shadow Clone from Konoha?" she thought.

"Well, you tried—but now it's my turn! Wind Release: Great Wind Scythe Jutsu!"

Temari's jutsu tore through the clones, revealing they were indeed illusions. "What?! Where is he?"

Then Shikamaru leapt from behind the same tree he had used earlier, running toward her while forming hand signs. He slid across the ground to avoid more wind scythes and, kneeling in front of her, unleashed his Shadow Possession Technique. But Temari, experienced as she was, retreated in time.

"Well, that was a good try. But I know the reach of your jutsu! You'll never get me!" Temari said confidently, standing a few steps outside Shikamaru's reach.

Suddenly, a small, round shadow appeared next to Shikamaru's elongated one. He directed his jutsu through this new shadow, extending its reach and linking it to Temari's own shadow.

"Gotcha! Hehehe…" Shikamaru snickered, pulling a kunai from his pouch and raising his right arm. Temari, forced to mimic him, dropped her weapon—she didn't have a kunai.

Shikamaru glanced at her, slowly studying her. Then he sighed, dropping the kunai and releasing his jutsu.

"Proctor! I forfeit. I'm out of chakra anyway. Even if I somehow manage to win, I'll have nothing left for the next round." He yawned and scratched the back of his neck. "Nah, I'm done. I'll be taking a nap—don't wake me until the exams are over, please."

"How?! How did you do that?! What kind of Bunshin were those?!" Temari asked, still stunned.

"Je… just normal clones. I used the wall's shadow to extend mine, and made you use your jutsu to lift my parachute-shirt-kunai-thing high enough to set my trap. Buuuut… I wasted too much chakra, so… yeah, I lost."

"B-but… but you could have ended the match there!"

"Nah, too troublesome. Just enjoy your next match. I'll be over there sleeping… If losing to me is too much of a drag, I suggest a rematch in Shogi. Not a drag playing smart people… even if they are troublesome blonde girls."

"Shikamaru, what are you doing, boy! Aaaah, such a drag… such a pretty and intelligent drag…"

Shikamaru left the arena, leaving a flustered and blushing Temari behind.

Kage Box

"That was impressive. No wonder Konoha is so hard to deal with when they have strategists like that kid. Chunin material, no doubt," A said, genuinely surprised by the Nara boy's talent.

"Both did an excellent job. Your daughter is an impressive kunoichi, Kazekage-dono, albeit a bit too specialized. But young Nara… if only I knew how to properly motivate them…" grumbled the Hokage.

The Raikage snickered. "Maybe marry them young to bossy wives to keep them whipped and motivated."

Even the Kazekage chuckled at the friendly jab.

"Well, now it's time for my ace to shine! Hahaha!" A declared, standing. Opening his arms as if to embrace the whole arena, he proclaimed proudly, "H-chan is the most talented, intelligent, and responsible of my new generation of ninja. Haku is loyal, trustworthy, discreet, well-mannered—and powerful…"

He grinned.

"…and beautiful enough to outshine some of my kunoichi seduction specialists."

The Raikage crossed his massive arms over his pumped chest.

"But when it comes to the one who'll do the cleaning… that's N-chan. She's my pride and joy. My own brother treats her more like a sister than a student. As joyful as she is… she's also effective. In battle, she turns into a monster—able to slay without remorse. And if someone presses her emotional buttons… she becomes a bloodhound. Just wait and see—this will be her show."

Back in the Arena

Genma called the fighters for the three-way match to the arena. The combatants arrived swiftly and eager. Naruko displayed her new attire: orange-trimmed, loose, black pants; a sleeveless grey shirt that revealed no cleavage; and a long black trench coat that split open at the back, just under her hips, allowing her tail to move freely. The coat was also sleeveless. From shoulders to fingertips, she wore only black, metal-plated, fingerless gloves and showed off her tiger-stripe tattoos. Her blonde mane was tied into two shoulder-length pigtails, and her Hitai-ate sat proudly on her forehead.

Haku had also updated his look, now wearing a light blue battle kimono with snowflake patterns. His usual bun was undone, giving him an even more feminine appearance.

"I'll show Orochimaru-sama that I'm not an expendable pawn! I'll fight and prove myself worthy of his attention!"

The proctor started the match, and the three fighters circled each other, gauging their opponents.

"Tell me, Dosu," Naruko began, glaring at him with her intense blue eyes, "Why do you follow Orochimaru? You know what he is. You know how he tricks people into believing he's their savior just to use them like puppets. So why follow the pedophile?"

"You don't understand Orochimaru-sama at all," Dosu spat back. "Yes, he does terrible things, but he understands the real world. In the real world, the big fish eat the small ones. Lord Orochimaru gives us the chance to grow into big fish, no matter our past! I will prove myself worthy of his time—and rise in the food chain!"

He glared at Naruko, activating his melody arm.

"Such a pity," Naruko sighed. "Haku, stay out of this. We'll duel after I deal with this fool."

"Hai, Naruko-sama," Haku replied respectfully.

Naruko unsealed a katana and took her stance.

Like lightning, she was upon her prey, swinging her blade. Dosu somehow managed to block with his gauntlet.

"Fool! Every time you hit my gauntlet, you're damaging yourself! You're killing yourself!"

"Heh… hehehe… hahaha… HAHAHAHA!" Naruko laughed wildly. "Yes. YES. You feel it? The big fish eats the smaller one! You call this damage? Your tricks can't stop me!"

Even as her ears bled, the kunoichi kept swinging, faster and faster.

"You said I'm killing myself... but the truth is, you're already dead. The moment you chose Orochimaru over your own life, you signed your death warrant. Meh… I'd rather take you out now than during the invasion."

"WHAT?!" Dosu shouted. "I need to alert Orochimaru-sama! Someone slipped up! The plan is at risk!"

Desperate, Dosu attacked with renewed vigor, abandoning his defensive stance. But Naruko easily avoided his strikes—and his vibration techniques no longer affected her.

"Getting nervous? Because I know about your plans?" she teased, pirouetting gracefully. "It's useless. My body heals faster than your micro-damage can accumulate. Though losing my hearing every time we trade blows is annoying."

Naruko jumped back, positioning the Executioner's Blade vertically.

"Well, this is your end. Can't have you alerting your buddies, now can I?"

She slashed down, coating the massive blade in wind chakra. It cleaved through the sound weapon like butter—and the flesh and bone behind it.

Dosu screamed, clutching the stump where his arm once was. Defeated. Useless to his master. His only chance was surrender. He opened his mouth to speak to the proctor—

—and his head flew from his shoulders.

The entire arena gasped. Naruko had decapitated her opponent without hesitation.

In the stands, murmurs of fear and unease spread.

Gaara licked his lips.

Sakura screamed at the other Genin. "She's a monster! She just killed him! Without remorse!"

"She killed him… but she doesn't seem psychotic," Shikamaru thought, narrowing his eyes. "Yet she beheaded him while he was about to speak. Was he going to forfeit? There are lots of ninja moving… What's going on? Tch… this is a drag, but I better keep an eye on those Kumo ninja."

"Shall we duel, N-sama? Or do you wish me to forfeit?" asked Haku politely.

"Of course, Haku-chan! Let's duel—to prove we're worthy of promotion!" Naruko answered with a grin.

Both fighters began circling like predators. Haku drew four senbon in each hand and rushed his master at inhuman speeds. Naruko switched her odachi for twin short swords, and they began exchanging strikes.

"N-sama, are you holding back?"

"Ju ju ju… perhaps. I like that word, you know? Peeeeeerhaps you are too?"

They shared a knowing smile. Haku slipped through her guard, aiming to stick senbon into her shoulder—but Naruko dropped to the ground and rolled away.

"Ice Release: Thousand Needles of Death!" Haku unleashed a barrage of ice needles. A Shadow Clone jumped in front of Naruko, impaling itself and creating a path for the original to escape.

"Nearly got me," Naruko winked. "Now it's my turn! Wind Release: Wind Blade!"

With each swing of her swords, she sent slicing gusts toward Haku. The delicate-looking boy flipped and danced away from the attacks with agility and grace. Naruko swapped to her long odachi and sent a massive, crescent-shaped blade.

"Ice Release: Mirror Shield!" A lone ice mirror absorbed most of the force, allowing Haku to dodge.

"N-sama, I have some new moves for you to taste."

"You mean 'test,' right?" Naruko teased with a foxy grin.

"Nope. Taste—like ice cream!" Haku chuckled.

"Ice Release: Frozen Lance!"

Several sharp ice projectiles launched from the shattered mirror. Naruko dodged and deflected until she stood in front of him.

"Ice Release: Frozen Spears!"

Spikes erupted in various lengths, nearly impaling her.

"I'm not done! Ice Release: White Naginata!"

The remaining ice reshaped into a beautifully crafted naginata, taller than Haku. He spun it with elegance and bowed, ready for the final clash.

Their duel awed the crowd. Nobles took notes. Ninja observed intently, marveling at the rare Ice Release techniques.

"That's what I'm talking about!" chuckled the Raikage. "My girls have this tournament in the bag!"

"Isn't Haku-kun a boy, though?" the Hokage asked with a raised brow.

"Bah, don't be a spoilsport, Sarutobi-dono! It's an inside joke for those who know him. Hilarious!" He burst into laughter, echoed by his bodyguards.

In the participants' box, Hinata and Karui watched with pride. The other Genin were stunned.

Each time their weapons clashed, Naruko shattered Haku's ice—but he regrew it. Realizing the drain on Haku's chakra, Naruko jumped back.

"Lightning Release: Shining Dart!" She formed a gun shape with her hand and fired a lightning bolt. Haku blocked it with his weapon, then dropped it to avoid the shock.

Naruko's clones swarmed him.

Haku fought valiantly, but Naruko's numbers and reach overwhelmed him. With her blade at his neck, he surrendered—greeted by thunderous ovation from the crowd.

"Well, Haku, that was amazing! How's your chakra? Need a refill?" Naruko asked, resealing her weapon and offering a hand.

"I'm ready to keep fighting, N-sama," he replied, taking her hand.

Kage Box

A, the Raikage of Kumogakure, was elated. His team—his brother's "three girls"—had stolen the tournament spotlight. Kumogakure was basking in the attention, and his personal bets were paying off massively.

"YES! YES! YEEEEEEEESH!" he roared. "Look at them! N-chan already bagged the tournament!"

The other Kage edged away from the laughing storm of a man.

"Bring out that Uchiha! I want N-chan to wipe the floor with his smug face! Or with your son's gourd, I don't care!"

"Please calm down, Raikage-dono," Sarutobi said diplomatically. "We agree they are worthy of promotion, yes?"

The Kazekage nodded. "They are impressssive indeed." Then Pedomaru thought. "I sssshall keep an eye on that pretty ice boy… for future hosssts."

The Raikage continued boasting while Genma called the next match: Gaara vs. Sasuke. This time, Sasuke and Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leaves at the center of the arena.