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Rest of the Rookie 13
Kurenai and Hinata were staring in shock at what Hana had done to her own brother, their student and friend. Shino had no visible reaction but, for those who knew him it was easy to see that he too was worried.
'How could she do that to her own brother? I know that there was bad blood between them but still...I guess Kiba did kind of deserve it with the way he was acting. I've tried to get him out of his alpha male way of thinking, but he's just so damn stubborn and arrogant...I should probably go check on him to see what kind of condition he's in...' Kurenai thought solemnly.
"Hinata, Shino. I'm going to the infirmary to check on Kiba's condition. I shouldn't be gone too long." With that said she disappeared in a swirl of leaves.
The remaining females of Team 7 were deep in thought.
'W-What if that happens to me? I-I don't want to fight Nii-san! I don't want to lose control again...I-I don't want to put him in the hospital again...I don't want him to hate me anymore than he already does' Natsuki thought worriedly. 'But what if I have to fight Narumi-chan or Nawaki! There are four of us so it's likely that at least two of us will have to fight each other...I don't want to fight anyone...especially Nii-san...I can't have him hate me...I love him...'
Unknown to Natsuki, Narumi was having similar thoughts. 'What'll happen if one of us has to fight each other? I-I really don't want to fight Nii-san. I-I still haven't even been able to make up with him properly from all those years I hated him...What if I lose control like Natsuki did three years ago? I don't want to push him away more than I already have!...Why do I care so much, it's not like I like him or anything...'
Kushina eyed her children and carefully gauged their reactions. She had just gotten back from the infirmary after checking on Sakura. The genin was still unconscious but otherwise okay. On her way out she caught a glimpse of a bloody Kiba and Akamaru. Kushina had overheard the medics saying that he had fought and lost against his sister. This worried her, she knew that her daughters couldn't help but compare the Inuzuka sibling situation to theirs. They wouldn't want to fight and wound their own brother.
'As I thought. Both Natsuki and Narumi look really concerned that they'll have to fight Naruto-kun...but why does Nawaki-kun look excited after seeing that match?...Is he hoping to fight Naruto-kun? The redhead thought worriedly.
All of the genin and jonin-senseis looked up at the screen in anticipation as it started sorting through names once more. Only a moment later did it land on the two names "Nara Shikamaru vs. Hozuki Suigetsu."
Natsuki and Narumi both let out a sigh of relief as they were hoping they wouldn't have to fight their Nii-san just yet while Nawaki sighed in disappointment at not being able to show the loser of the family his place.
Nara Shikamaru vs. Hozuki Suigetsu
Naruto watched the battle somewhat amused. This match wasn't like the others, it was more of a battle of brains than technique or strength. This was how every Nara fought. The only technique that Shikamaru really knew was the Kagemane no Jutsu (Shadow possession Jutsu), but he knew it masterfully. It allowed him to extend his shadow until it made contact with the target's shadow, after which they merge and the target is forced to copy the users movements.
However, Naruto had been right. The Hozuki clan had the ability to turn into water and become intangible. Because of this, every time Suigetsu was caught in Shikamaru's shadow he merely liquified to escape. After which he would counter the Nara with a fairly powerful Suiton jutsu, forcing Shikamaru into a corner.
After repeating this course of action for several minutes Shikamaru saw how futile it was to keep attempting the same strategy and forfeited the match.
Naruto learned several things from this match. If he were to fight a Nara in the future then all he had to do was turn into flames to escape their most favored jutsu. Another was that the Hozuki's logia abilities were severely watered down. The clan still had the ability to become intangible and could control water to a certain degree, but creating massive tidal waves and tsunamis were beyond their abilities unless they resorted to normal Suiton jutsus. This bit of knowledge was helpful because water was Naruto's elemental weakness. This also meant that if the chakra fruit was mutated and became a bloodline then the fruit was out of circulation and that it was lost for the time being.
Naruto would like to see how their abilities would react to each other's, but he would save that bit of curiosity until the final rounds. Only a few moments later did the electronic screen land on another set of names, "Rock Lee vs. Sabaku no Gaara."
Rock Lee vs. Sabaku no Gaara
This was one of the most intense fights that Naruto had seen in a long time. When the fight began it seems as if Lee wouldn't stand a chance, Gaara's control over sand was that overwhelming. Lee almost died several times before he got the okay from Maito Gai to remove his weights. Now normally weights wouldn't make much of a difference in a match like this, however the amount Lee was wearing wasn't normal by any means.
The fight was fast paced and both contestants were highly skilled. However, Gaara eventually won after he crushed Lee's arm and leg with a Sabaku Kyu (Sand Binding Coffin) effectively ending the match.
There was a thirty minute intermission to repair the arena before they could resume the preliminary matches.
"Will Uzumaki-Namikaze Natsuki and Hyuga Hinata please make your way down to the arena." Genma announced as everyone re-entered the tower floor.
Natsuki and Hinata only looked at each other for a moment before nodding continuing to the arena. These two were best friends and had really hoped that they wouldn't have to fight each other, but it seemed that fate had other plans. Neither of them would hold back.