Disclaimer: *Sighs* I've given up on my plans to torture Masashi Kishimoto until he signed Naruto over to me, he just has too much money from owning Naruto to let me get close to him… Damn Aristocrats.

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Radio/Telepathy"

"Bijuu Speaking"

"Bijuu Thinking"

"Handsigns/Jutsus"

AN: I am looking for Omake writers! I have tried a couple of times but I suck at doing short and sweet funny stuff, so if anyone wants to take a shot at it drop me a line and show me your moves!

AN2: Hey everyone, sorry for taking so long in getting this out, and no. IT IS NEVER ABANDONED! I just kinda hit a brick wall on it and recently busted through, so… without further ado… THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES!

"The greats are never born perfect, they build themselves through blood, sweat and tears, they fall several times and stand eight times more. Even then, they are not perfect, after all, we are all only Human." - Jiraiya of the Sannin

Chapter Nine: Preliminary Round Part One

Sasuke Uchiha vs Naru Uzumaki.

Those words were displayed upon the monitor as everyone save those two filed up to he walkways leaving the arena clear for the battle.

"So…" Sasuke started looking a bit unsure as he stood across from Naru. "Didn't think I would have to fight you so soon…"

"Same," Naru admitted with a nod, her mind running through a hundred different plans on how to deal with him. "But… don't think that my Academy record is accurate on my abilities."

Sasuke swallowed tightly as he got into his opening stance. 'Of course it isn't accurate,' he thought grimly. 'Let's see… she was trained by Ryu-nii, he is a speed specialist… fuck.'

'If he has awoken the Sharingan, that would make things much harder,' Naru thought as she slid into her own stance, the opening for the basic Academy Style. 'Taijutsu and Fire Ninjutsu are his preferences… going to have to end this quickly…'

"Genin Ready?" Hayate called out, getting a pair of nods in return. "Begin!"

The two launched themselves forward towards each other. Sasuke made the first move as he launched himself into a spinning heel kick, only for Naru to blur away and reappear next to him, driving a hard elbow into his side.

Sasuke grunted in response and recovered quickly, throwing a brace of shuriken at Naru who blurred away once again, dodging the shuriken. 'So fast!' Sasuke thought as he moved into a defensive stance and waited for Naru's next move.

On the walkways

Makoto and Eko were standing with Jiraiya watching the match, Kakashi's team on one side of them, Gai's Team next to them, and a team from Waterfall on the other side of the First Response genins.

"Go Naru-chan!" Makoto shouted out in encouragement as Naru went on the offense against Sasuke using the Academy Taijutsu with the Shunpo.

"Kick his ass!" Eko echoed his sister.

"Isn't that the basic Academy Style?" Lee asked in confusion. "And how could she be moving so fast sensei?"

"Shunpo," Gai answered. "It is rare to find a Shinobi or Samurai capable of using the technique, as for why she's using only the basic Academy, I haven't faintest, Ryu-kun is quite an able Taijutsu user himself and could quite easily teach her a style."

"She does have a style," Makoto informed from next to them, a smirk playing across her face. "She just doesn't want to reveal it just yet."

"But… why not? Is this exam not to show off our Flames of Youth?" Lee asked confused further still.

"Lee-kun, there are many types of Youthful Flames out there," Gai explained in a rarely serious voice. "Hers is a Flame that remains hidden until a time of her choosing where it reveals itself in a blaze of glory. Reminds me of the Fourth Hokage." He added with a meaningful look to Jiraiya who smirked in response.

"Something like that I guess," he said with a nod, his eyes watching Naru's movements. "Although personally, I think she fights like her mother when she gets serious."

Gai's team looked up at their sensei as he paled, his eyes wide in fear. "Umm… Jiraiya-sama, do… do you happen to have any barrier seals with you?" He asked plaintively and nearly wept tears of joy when Jiraiya handed him a slip of paper.

"I do not see what the fuss is about," Neji remarked. "It is her fate to lose to Sasuke Uchiha, he is, after all, a genius."

Three sets of laughter met his remark, making his eye twitch as he looked at GFRT-5 and Jiraiya. "Kid, take my advice, never judge someone on their Academy standings or rank, you will die," Jiraiya announced a wide grin on his face. "Shinobi lie, cheat, steal, and kill our way to the top, and we do it in the most effective way possible, what more effective way is there then to make people think you are just average? Watch, and you will see just how wrong your 'fate' is."

Back to the fight

Naru blurred forward, slamming her fist into Sasuke's gut sending him stumbling back a couple feet before he launched a counterattack of a dozen shuriken that Naru quickly dodged.

She realized her mistake, however, a moment too late as she spotted the wires attached to the shuriken. With two deft finger movements Sasuke manipulated the wires, causing them to wrap themselves around Naru, trapping her.

Sasuke smirked up at her as she belatedly noticed his active Sharingan, his left eye containing two tomoes while his right held three. "Took me a while… but I finally was able to catch your movements…" he announced to the squeals of his fangirls in the crowd. "It was hard keeping my Sharingan hidden from you, too, with you flitting about like that."

Naru strained against the wires experimentally and looked at Sasuke with approval. "Not bad Sasuke-san," she complimented. "Not many in our age group would be able to catch a Shunpo user, even if I am a rookie at it, but… this fight is far from over. Fuuton: Kaze Katta_(Wind Cutter)!" she cried out as wind picked up around her with the wires getting sliced by invisible blades.

"Fuuton, huh?" Sasuke asked a smirk playing on his face. "Bad matchup for you then. Katon: Gōkakyū (Great Fireball)!"

A fireball the size of a beach ball hurdled towards Naru who flickered out of the way and charged at Sasuke. He blocked her first strike and continued to block, being forced onto the defensive as each of her attacks seemed to hide a different one that would have put him out of commission had his Sharingan not have predicted the attack.

Ducking to the side, he allowed Naru's fist to graze past him as he moved in with a powerful blow to the midsection that Naru swayed out of the way from and delivered a resounding spin kick to the back of his head.

Sasuke staggered and on instincts beaten in through harsh training, he threw himself forward in a twisting roll, avoiding a knife hand from Naru and came to his feet facing her with a pair of kunai in hand.

As he leapt forward, Naru reached into her utility pouch and pulled out a pair the tantos she had 'liberated' from the Ame genin and used them to block Sasuke's kunai and attempted to deliver a harsh blow to his midsection, only for him to spin out of the way and put some distance between them.

With the others

Gai's team was fairly silent from shock as the genin dueled with each other, especially Neji who had assumed that this battle would have been an easy win for Sasuke, not the struggle for dominance that he was witnessing.

Gai, however, was shocked for a different reason. "That style… that's…" He whispered, looking over to Jiraiya for confirmation to what he was seeing.

Jiraiya nodded an affirmative. "Yes, Kukashi-ken, the Hidden Fist." He said a glint of pride in his eyes. "But… we're not sure where she learned it from, but she is very effective with it."

"Yosh! Her Flames of Youth are shining brightly!" Lee said excitedly as a fire seemed to burn in his eyes.

"Not yet," Eko informed, a grin on his face. "Just watch."

With Ryu

"YES! Get'em Naru!" Ryu shouted out in encouragement as he watched the fight from a small TV that was linked to the security cameras in the Tower so he could watch the prelims… "Show him what's for!"

Unseen by him, Kushina twitched and shifted slightly, as if reacting to the noise.

With Naru

Naru leant out of the way of Sasuke's kunai throw and neatly cut off the explosive tag attached to it before blurring away. "So… want to play with seals, do you?" Naru asked playfully, making Sasuke blink in confusion. "I'll show you how seal work is really done!"

Sasuke paled as she pulled out a double handful of kunai, all with seal tags wrapped around the handle. "Fuck." Sasuke cursed as Naru launched the kunai, his Sharingan spun wildly as he moved through the Kunai avoiding them. Looking up at Naru he saw that her grin had only increased in size as she pointed to the area around him.

Chancing a quick look, Sasuke paled as he saw that in his focus to avoid the kunai, he didn't see where they were being launched, or how she was herding him, for he was now sitting pretty smack dab in the middle of a ring of kunai. "Fuuinjutsu: Jū-ten no gyaku shōheki (Ten Point Inverse Barrier)." She intoned as the seals flashed to life and a pale green barrier sprang to life around Sasuke. "You can try to escape if you want, but I would advise against using Ninjutsu as it would only bounce back against you."

Sasuke swallowed tightly as he experimentally threw a kunai at the barrier only for it to bounce off. Letting out a depressed sigh he raised his hand. "Proctor, I can see no way to continue this fight, I forfeit," he announced as the fangirls in the audience screeched out in protest saying that Naru had somehow cheated and that she should be disqualified.

"ENOUGH!" Sarutobi shouted out silencing them, and surprising everyone else. "You sorry lot call yourselves shinobi? You insult me if you do, shinobi lie, cheat, steal, and kill in order to ensure their mission's success, not only did Naru Uzumaki show brilliant tactical maneuvering as she controlled the fight from beginning to end, but Sasuke Uchiha showed great appraisal ability by realizing that he was unable to continue fighting, they should be praised, and should any of you continue this charade of fangirlism, I will personally see to it that it ends in the shinobi forces, permanently."

There was silence as Naru walked over to Sasuke and deactivated the seal and held out her hand with a wide grin on her face. "You live up to the Rookie of the Year, Sasuke-san," she informed him. "I can't wait for our next bout."

Sasuke smirked and accepted her hand shaking it firmly. "Next time… I'll be the victor," he informed confidently, making Naru grin wider.

"Can't wait for it," she announced as the pair headed up to their teams, who either congratulated on consoled them. "You did good Sasuke-kun," Kakashi informed with a proud smile. "Not many rookies can get to the end of the second round on their first attempt."

Sasuke smirked and nodded, a feeling of content pride filling him, he did his best and his only regret was that he lost, but… there was always next time. "Thanks, sensei," he said, making Kakashi eye smile as he patting his head.

The next match was announced to be Soi-fon from Iwa vs. Tatsuki Arisawa from Kumo as Naru looked up at Jiraiya. "Not that I mind seeing you here, Ero-sennin, but… where is Ryu-sensei?" she asked in confusion.

"Someone who was once thought of as dead was recently found in one of Orochimaru's bases," Jiraiya informed quietly. "Ryu and myself were called in to investigate the seals that were found on her body as well as to look for any other seals on her, Ryu is on standby at the secure wing of the hospital waiting for her to wake up to check for any seals that would appear should she wake up."

Naru let out a small sound of understanding as she turned back to the intense Taijutsu fight. Watching the pair she carefully analyzed their movements and fighting styles, Tatsuki was a brawler using an advanced form of Karate throwing powerful punches and kicks that the more nimble Soi-fon avoided.

Soi-fon herself was using a type of Assassination Taijutsu that was somewhat similar to the Kukashi-ken, only this one focus more on kicks than punches and knife strikes. The fight really began to heat up as Soi-fon whipped out her wakizashi and startled slashing at the Kumo Kunoichi, who weaved through the strikes.

Tatsuki then surged forward in the flurry of jabs and kicks that Soi-fon was hard pressed to keep up with when suddenly the Iwa nin lashed out with her Wakizashi cutting a thin line on Tatsuki's arm. The taijutsu specialist winced slightly before steeling herself and continued her assault.

"She's been poisoned," Naru announced to the others as she watched.

"What makes you say that, Naru-san?" Tenten asked in confusion as she frowned.

"Her movements… they've gotten slightly more sloppy, and are getting sloppier as time goes on," Naru pointed out as Tatsuki suddenly stumbled, getting shouts of concern from her teammates. "My guess is it's some kind of sedative poison…"

Sure enough, Tatsuki stumbled again giving Soi-fon enough time to move in and sharply jab the back of Tatsuki's neck, knocking her unconscious. "Winner: Soi-fon from Iwa!" Hayate announced to the cheers of the remaining Iwa teams as a team of medics came in to check on Tatsuki and assured her teacher that she would be fine before taking her to the infirmary to treat her.

"That's the container to the Nibi, Matatabi, Naru-chan," Kurama informed, making Naru's eyes narrow. "I think I can sense the Hachibi, Gyuki, and the Nanabi, Chomei, as well."

'They're showing off,' Naru realized as she gave the two tailed jinchuriki the once over. 'The Five Great Nations are showing off their strength, but… the Shodai gave the Nanabi to Takigakure, so they must be showing off themselves trying to get a bigger slice of the pie, so to speak…'

"You're probably right about that," Kurama informed seriously. "When this is over, come and meet me in the mindscape, they want to show off, we can show off too."

Naru smirked in a vulpine manner, getting raised eyebrows from her teammates as the match for Samui of Kumo and Agon of Kusagakure. As many of the males stared at the very buxom genin, Naru studied the familiar genin that was her opponent. He was the one who lead the Kusa genin Naru's team had stolen the scrolls from. He looked to be about the same age as Ryu with a shaved head and dark blue eyes, he had a strong jaw with his face set in a serious line and was wearing a black, grey striped, muscle shirt with a pair of similar pants and had a pair of bladed tonfas holstered on his legs.

He seemed to have felt Naru's eyes upon him as he looked up right at her and gave a respectful nod and turned back to his opponent as he pulled out his tonfas.

"'Meteor' Agon," Lynn said, looking them man over. "Never made it past genin for several years due to being paired with genin who were unable to keep up with him."

"Looks like he'll finally get his chance for promotion," Eko said as the combatants took up their stances, awaiting Hayate's signal to begin. "How did he get the nickname Meteor?"

Hayate gave his signal and shouted out for the pair to begin. And before Lynn could answer Agon exploded forward throwing his fist forward, the tonfa he was gripping glowed with chakra. Samui, surprised by the sudden burst of speed, just barely managed to throw herself out of the way of the fist, causing it to connect to the wall.

An explosion roared out as dust and debris were thrown up forcing many to turn away to cover their eyes. "Explosive speed combined with destructive force!" Lynn called out, belatedly answering Eko. "His style 'Ryusei Ken (Meteor Fist)' further amplifies that through the use of chakra conducting weapons like those tonfas."

"Fuck me…" Eko said as he stared wide eyed at the destruction.

Down in the ring Samui seemed to be sharing a similar sentiment as she hurled a double handful of shuriken at Agon as she tried to create some distance from him.

"Ryusei Chokusen (Meteor Straight)!" Agon shouted as he punched forward with his fist, sending out what looked to be a streak of red that, when it passed the shuriken, knocked them off course in the wake of its passing before impacting against Samui's stomach, knocking the wind out of her lungs.

Agon wasn't finished as he rushed forward, his body blurring as he crossed his arms across his chest, the long parts of the bladed tonfas extended. "Ryusei Ha (Meteor Blade)!" He shouted out, his arms slashing in an X fashion against Samui, only for her to disappear in a poof of smoke, leaving a log in place to take the attack. "Kawarimi!"

"Raiton: Izanuma Ran (Lightning Run)!" Samui called out as she finished her seals and grabbed her tanto and slashed it out causing a burst of lightning to run along the ground towards Agon.

Agon tried to dodge the jutsu only for the lightning to leap up and strike his tonfas making his arms go numb. Growling he found himself on the defensive as Samui dashed in and started slashing at him with her Tanto.

He launched a roundhouse kick forcing Samui to leap back in avoidance giving him a little breathing room as he shook feeling back into his arms, wincing slightly as it felt like pins and needles ran along his arms.

"He's pretty good…" Eko murmured as he studied the young man's fighting style. "But that Samui is no slouch either."

Naru nodded in agreement as her eyes studied the battlefield before her. "She is good… but Agon is more experienced in combat." She murmured appraisingly. "What will you do now?"

Agon refused to give Samui time to rest as he relentlessly attacked her, showing that his footwork was just as skilled as his fists as he worked feeling back into his arms.

Samui growled as she was forced to abandon the jutsu she was forming in favour of crossing her arms above her head to block the axe-kick he launched at her. "Tch, so uncool…" She said as they squared away.

Agon smirked at her as he shook his arms one final time before raising them into position. "For you perhaps," he informed calmly. "I am ending this now… " Samui's eyes widened slightly as she threw herself back, Agon sliding into a new stance. "Ryusei Ken Hijutsu: Ryusei Ame!(Meteor Fist Secret Technique: Meteor Rain)!" he shouted out as he leapt up and, with a swing of both tonfas, launched a massive flurry of red streaks that destroyed the entire area around Samui causing her to cry out in pain.

As Agon landed he sheathed his two tonfas and waited for the smoke to clear, when it did Samui was easily visible in the rubble, hurt, but not dead. "Match over!" Hayate cried out as he lifted his hand. "Winner: Agon of Kusagakure!"

"He'll definitely be one to watch out for," Jiraiya informed solemnly, earning nods from the other jonins nearby as Samui was carried out of the arena, her sensei, Bee, escorting her. "Hopefully you don't get him until the finals if you fight him."

The three genin nodded in agreement as the computer screen began to shuffle through names once more.

Makoto Seishin vs Lynn Namakura

The whitette blinked at the screen before looking over to Team Seven where Lynn looked back at her before shrugging. "Hey, could be worse," the auburn haired girl commented. "At least Konoha wins either way."

Makoto nodded slowly before taking a calming breath. "Right," she agreed with a firm nod and a smile. "Let's do this!"

With their pieces said to one another the two girls leapt from the viewing area and down into the arena, taking their respective positions at the ready. Makoto stood slightly crouched as she held her hands palms out towards Lynn who was in a loose stance, standing with her right shoulder and leg facing Makoto.

Hayate looked between the two to confirm their readiness before raising his arm. "Lynn Namakura and Makoto Seishin of Konohagakure, begin!" he declared as he brought his hand down in a sharp chop and leapt away as Makoto threw herself towards Lynn who threw herself away from the punch Makoto threw.

Lynn smiled cheerily as she braced her hands on the floor before launching a punishing series of kicks that forced Makoto to back away from before she became intangible gasping in shock when Lynn's foot buried itself into Makoto's gut, blowing her back a few feet. "Sorry, Makoto-chan, but that intangibility won't work on me, I figured out how to hit you~" Lynn sang teasingly as she gracefully flipped herself to her feet, her arms outstretched to her sides and she grinned cheerfully. "Allow me to show you the Namakura Taijutsu: Saru no Ashi(Monkey's Foot)!"

Lynn flipped herself forward launching a series of kicks at Makoto as she was forced to dodge the nimble blows from the redhead who was grinning the entire time, her hazel eyes glimmering with excitement as she acrobatically maneuvered her hands along the ground, chaining her combo together before launching herself into the air in a forward somersault. "Saru Ono(Monkey Axe)!" she shouted out as she lashed her foot down in a devastating axe kick that had Makoto sweating as she felt the air ripple from the powerful kick as she dodged.

'Damn, she's good,' Makoto thought as she used her Kekkei Genkai to fly back a good bit, gaining some ground between them as she fired as series of green blasts at Lynn forcing the girl to keep back before flipping through a series of seals. "Magen: Gyaku Sekai(Inverse World)," she muttered quietly before smirking as Lynn blinked a few times, the entire world around her changing, left becoming right, up becoming down.

Refusing to stop it there Makoto flashed through another set of seals. "Doton: Funsai Dai Chikyu(Earth Release: Great Earth Pulverization)!" she cried out before slapping her hands to the ground, causing two massive slabs of earth to break away from the arena floor before slamming up to Lynn who just barely managed to dodge.

Lynn gritted her teeth and surged her chakra. "KAI!" she cried out as she released the Genjutsu before forming seals of her own. "Suiton: Suigan(Water Bullet)!" she shouted before spitting out a series of water blasts that rocketed towards Makoto only for the whitette to jump out of the way.

In the Stands

"Man, they're really going at it," Tenten commented as the pair began to trade ninjutsu shots, dirt, water and mud flying all over the place. "They never showed anything like this during the Academy…"

"YOSH!" Gai cried out… youthfully as fire seemed to burn around him. "My Eternal Rival, you and you protégé have trained such youthful student!"

Kakashi chuckled slightly as everyone else stared at Gai with twitching eyebrows. "While I wish I could take full credit for Lynn's skill, her mother has trained her quite a bit as well…"

"Makoto-nee, kick ass!" Eko shouted out excitedly, pumping his arms.

"You can do it, Makoto-chan!" Naru chimed in with her own encouragement.

"SHANNARO! KICK HER ASS LYNN!" Sakura roared out in support for her own teammate.

Suddenly Sasuke was acutely aware of all the eyes that trained onto him, sweat dropping slightly he gave a minute fist pump with a monotone. "Go get them."

Back in the Arena

Makoto panted as she was slowly being pressed into a corner by the agile Lynn, who not only had her beat in Ninjutsu Alignment, but in Taijutsu as well, only her creative use of her Genjutsu repertoire kept her in the game for this long.

Panting she narrowed her eyes at her opponent who seemed to be as energetic as ever, even with a light sheen of sweat on her body as she grinned at Makoto.

A deep frown made its way onto Makoto's face as they squared off against one another, waiting for some flaw or opening in the other's stance that they could exploit.

Lynn suddenly surged forward as Makoto's stance shifted ever so slightly, launching a vicious series of kicks at the whitette who was quickly backpedaling only to come to a sudden stop as her back hit the arena wall, pinning her in place.

Lynn let out a victorious shout as she launched her attack, only for the should to change into a confused yelp as her foot seemed to phase through Makoto's body before it shimmered from existence.

Her yelp gave way to pain as a second later a fist slammed into the side of her face, sending her careening into the statue of the tiger hand seal. Growling Lynn managed to correct herself to land properly on the ground, skidding to a stop as she searched the arena for her opponent.

A blast of green chakra forced her to roll out of the way as Makoto dived towards her from the air, landing hand first on the ground as she levered herself for a series of kicks that hit the whitette hard several times in the chest before Lynn rotated her lower body in a move that looked vaguely similar to a breakdance move as she caught Makoto with one of her feet to spin the other genin around into a wall.

Makoto let out a small groan as she shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs from her mind before her instincts told her to dodge, just in time to avoid a spinning roundhouse kick that cracked the wall she had been leaning against.

The redheaded genin pursued her viciously as she bounced off the wall to add to her own momentum, scoring a few extra hits on the medic before finally sweeping her feet out from under her and dropped her heel into Makoto's sternum.

The whitette gasped in pain as she was slammed into the ground, cracking the tiles under her and making her vision blot out a bit before it slowly came back enough to see Lynn holding a kunai to her throat an odd whitish chakra running through the blade. "Urgh… I give up…" Makoto groaned in pain as she slumped back into the ground.

"Winner! Lynn Namakura!" Hayate announced to the room as the assorted shinobi applauded the well fought battle.

"Sorry, you alright?" Lynn questioned apologetically as she helped the medic up to her feet.

"I'm… fine mostly… just sore all over," Makoto replied with a groan of pain as the exam's medical team came to check her over. "How the hell were you hitting me?"

"Yin Chakra," Lynn informed with a grin as she helped Makoto onto the stretcher. "'Bout the only thing I could think of that would actually hit you to be honest."

Makoto let out a groan in response. "And with me using Yang Chakra to do my thing, of course it would negate my intangibility," she sighed as she shook her head. "Anyways, I'll win next time."

Lynn let out a chuckle in response. "Well, I look forward to it!" she replied as she waved her off, heading for her own team that was congratulating her on her victory, getting nods of acknowledgement from Naru's team as well.

Hayate let out a short cough as the board began to flash names again, bringing everyone's attention to it.

Gaara no Subaku

Vs

END CHAPTER

AN: Yes… I am that much of an asshole…

Plus… I'm not actually sure who Gaara should face off against to be completely honest with you.

Again, sorry for taking so long with this chapter, life happened, kinda forgot for a bit, remembered, brick wall of writer's block… then… yeah, so here ya go, enjoy!

OoOoOoO

Pairing Victors!

Ryu x Haku (Any surprise there?)

Naru x Itachi (Whelp, toss that crate of adorable plot bunnies into the incinerator)

Eko x Hinata (Boy meets shy girl, shy girl faints, boy panics as shy girl's father attacks.)

Makoto x Gaara (The Healer and the Demented, yeah, nothing wrong with that.)

Sasuke x Lynn (Arise! Perverted Uchiha Clan!)