*

A WEEK LATER - TRAINING GROUNDS

Training quietly nearby the waterfall, my mind was calm and at peace. Even though many thoughts dwelled in the back of my mind, all I could focus was becoming smarter and stronger for the finals. Two more weeks, and soon we'll seen who'll become chunin. Battling against opponents you are enemies, it made things easier. However, seeing Naruto's opponents, he had to do deal with Neji Hyuga. 

So troublesome, but wastes his talents on putting Hinata down.

"Tch, seriously........almost killed the damn girl," I curse under my breathe, while meditating in front of the waterfall. The rushing water crashes into the river, where I stood on water, focusing my chakra to the soles of my feet

My blood boiled seeing Hinata in pain again, feeling my hands tightening furthermore before realising my anger was clouding my mind, yet again. My body slowly sinks, but I snap back to focusing hard, channeling my chakra again. The wind blows down the valley, as I felt myself sink back to meditation.

The stillness was so tranquil, trying to allow myself to feel through the water. To feel myself be light like a drop, and to be able to bend the water with my chakra. With my family mostly able to accomplish all natural elements, water was my main focus and element.

"So this training?!"

Ignoring the person I inhale slowly, before exhaling, allowing the waterfall to frown out the sounds of the person.

"Oi, I'm talking to you!"

".........."

Soon I hear splashing in front of me, while I calmly opening my eyes to see him. I could sense him before he even came here, but what bothered me was why he was here. Not wanting to expose any weakness to him, I stop what i was doing and faced him.

"You got some nerve ignoring me," He drly chuckles, before standing in front of me. "Where's your buddies? All alone, I assume?"

He glances around, while I click my tongue.

"Seriously, if you're here to distract me from training, you could of at least challenged me," I roll my eyes, trying to be cautious. He's an enemy, and I could feel chills go up my spine and arms without warning. 

"Now where would the fun be in that?" He jokes, while standing there proudly. "You know, you're quite strong out there...."

Disgusted I raise a confused brow, "Huh?"

"Oh when you kicked that leaf ninja's ass out there," He repeats himself, more clearly. "Seriously, you're stronger than what I expected."

My eyes narrow, with irritation not understanding where this conversation was leading too.

"So....what do you want me to say? Thanks?" I question, while walking to the shore of the river. Feeling the earth beneath my sandals, flick my damp hair to dry it. "Listen I don't know why you're here, but you got some nerve interrupting me.....and--"

"Nah, I just wanted to see you in person, nothing personal or anything," he laughs, causing me to be uncomfortable. "Carry on with your training, I'm not stopping you!"

I stare at him dumbfounded by this, before having no choice.

In a few seconds I whip my kunai and aimed at him, only to see he managed to dodge it, impaling the tree behind. His eyes widen in surprise, while my eyes dangerously glare into his own. A sliver of a line, draws blood down his painted cheek.

"Oh, and by the way.........you stay out of Naruto's way," I told him sternly, my voice dripping with venom. "Whatever you're really here for, I hope you understand that who're dealing with is far stronger than your own."

His expression shifts from surprise, to a smirk.

"I see.........you must be suspicious, but trust me.........there's nothing to be suspicious of," He assures me, but I didn't buy it. I've been feeling this bone chilling sensation, ever since ninja from different villages started to enter Konoha. I couldn't place my finger on it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Suspicious as it was, I wasn't sure myself. I'm only a genin, and no one listens to someone so young. So I doubt no one would hear me out, when I have nothing to confirm.

"I didn't even imply with anything suspicious," I shift my weight to the right side, seeing him pull the kunai out. He angles the sharp weapon, running the tip of his finger across before meeting my eyes again. 

For only a moment I see a soft expression across his face, causing heat rushing to my cheeks.

Furrowing my eyebrows, he throws me back my kunai carefully, "Just go away, you shouldn't even be talking with me," I usher me to go, but he leans up against the tree folding his arms together.

"No,"

Seething through my teeth I draw out two more kunais, with a threatening stare down.

"Just because you're older, and an enemy doesn't give you the right to at least respect someone's wishes behind their village's gates," I warn him, my tone deepens. "I already know what you can do with your puppet there, and you barely know half what I can do.......so you're at a disadvantage."

Trying to at least intimidate him, and bluff my way out of this encounter, I knew he wouldn't buy it the moment I spoke up. My hands steadily aim at him, with caution. I hardly knew much about him, but he was from a dangerous village. His entrance to our village about at least three weeks ago, wasn't a warm welcome. More like a 'stay out of my way, and I won't kill ya' greeting, following with Gaara acting rather quiet and distant.

Chakra was all the same, by the person who channels their emotions through.

"So.......you must be younger, I assume," he switches the subject, feeling amused. "Tell me, how old are ya?"

Lowering my weapons, I kept my guard up.

"Twelve.......you?"

He grins, "Fourteen, man you sure look older than I thought," he assumes, while it still never changed our relationship as enemies. "So........what about the Senju clan? Thought they were wiped from extinction?"

"............"

The painful memory still was so fresh like it was yesterday, I kept quiet.

"Hmm? Did I say something wrong......?" he tilts his head, while I didn't waver nor kept my guard down. "Listen, I'm just trying to get to know ya! Don't be so uptight, seriously!"

How can he be so relaxed and laid back like this? My heart is beating heavily, while wary about his next move.

"Listen kid, I'm not here to stir trouble," He admits, holding his arms up in defence. "You peaked my interest the other week, just wanted a normal chat with a person. Geez.........if you want me to leave....fine."

He turns around about to head off, when he pauses in his tracks.

"Oh, by the way..........you hurt my sister," he began, while my eyes widen. "You'll regret it, got that?!"

Before calmly walking off, like nothing happened.

Staring at the very spot where stood, I didn't realise how fast my heart was beating. My hands were slightly shaking, not understanding why I'm feeling this way. Swallowing thickly I gave myself a few minutes to calm down, before slowly resuming back to my training. I must've been a bit to defensive, and overdramatic, but after what happened during the forest of death-- I didn't know what to think or feel around the sand siblings.

*

TWO WEEKS LATER - THE ARENA

Training day after day after I healed up, I kept checking in on Hinata and Kiba. Their injuries also sauntered down, allowing myself to feel at ease knowing they survived. Still not impressed with neji, after what he did to Hinata, I used all my anger into my training. Selfish I was, but I needed some way to motivate myself to train.

Jiraiya would even come by, and teach me a few things and would ask for advice with how to deal with Naruto's forwardness, and eagerness. 

Happily I did explain some ways to deal with it, but I mostly praised Naruto's efforts. He went on higher rank missions, more than what my team has done since we became genin. With our team not experienced enough, it made us weaker. Not by team effort, but just lack of stronger and higher ranked missions.

Jiraiya was even seemed to say I should be at least doing higher ranked missions, with how capable I am to pursuing some. 

But I shook my head rather train beside my team, and worked my way up instead of taking a shortcut. Equally and fairly, and selfish I was.

Standing in the centre of the arena, many people were crowding around in the seats and stands above us. All eyes were on us, and I started to become far more nervous than what i wanted. While walking in, I felt presence approach me from the side.

"Oh Kimi, long time," Shikamaru greets, rather boredly. 

"Yeah, did you train or........" I ask, when I answer for him. "......oh, never mind......it's a drag isn't it?"

He nods, "Pretty much, but I did train a bit,"

"Wow that's surprising," I tease him, feeling my uneasiness settle down. 

Slowly we all gather together in the center of the Arena, with the rest who were selected. However to my own surprise, Naruto didn't seem to be around anywhere. My eyes dart around, knowing it won't make up for his sudden absence. With the many people flooding in, my eyes caught sight of a familiar face standing on guard.

"Shiro," I whisper, as Shikamaru notices.

Giving him a smile, he soon gives me thumbs up for encouragement, with a goofy expression. Though the finals were rather serious, in expressing more than just battling. It was to fully show that we can become allies with one another, but still to this day, no one has ever thought that the sand or even cloud could be allies. No one.

It was unsettling to know we could come together, and express a time of peace for only a short while. 

However I could feel someone watching me from behind, as I angle my head to side glance in the direction. Catching Kankuro staring at me, before smirking.

What a jerk.....

"Hey Kimi, do you know where Sasuke and naruto could be?" Shikamaru broke me out of my own thoughts, turning to him quietly with a soft hum. "Seriously, it's almost time."

Shrugging my shoulders, "Don't know, but it might shift the matches around if they don't show up,"

Out of nowhere a familiar blonde haired boy appears, just at Shikamaru and I's feet, seeing Naruto looking already worn out before the finals could even start. The dust slowly clears up, as the lazy ninja lifts Naruto up before he could look more of an idiot.

"Man, what a drag," he sighs.

After a small rant from Naruto he soon realises something, "Wait, where's Sasuke?" he questions, searching around for the Uchiha.

Shikamaru sighs, "I'm fighting Dosu, but he's not here either--"

"Hey! Knock it off, quite your fidgeting you two," Genma scolds them, as he was our current proctor. I didn't know where our original proctor Hayate, was, but I couldn't question it now. "Stand up straight, and present yourselves proudly to the spectators."

My eyes lift up to meet many or more people, that sat in waiting for the main finals. Getting goosebumps having more people watching me, I couldn't falter, not even a second. Nervous as I was, Kankuro's eyes watched me from afar.

What's his deal? I've done nothing, but defend my comrades no matter what team they're from.....

"You guys are the heroes of this final competition," Genma declares, while my skin crawls again. 

But it wasn't out of anxiety or nervousness, but something that felt unsettling and foreshadowing. My eyes scan across the sea of people, before landing upon the kazekage who just took his seat by the third Hokage.

What's this strange feeling? 

"Welcome all, and our deepest thanks for coming here to the village hidden in the leaves!" The Hokage announces, loud and clearly. ""For this years chunin selection! We have come to the final competition, between the nine candidates who made it through the preliminaries. We ask that no one leaves until all the matches have been completed. Now everyone enjoy!"

About to head to our spots to watch the matches, Genma stops us.

"Oh, and there's one more thing before we get started, look it over," He instructs, pulling out the new paper with who we are versing again.

"Huh?"

He shifts his eyes cooly, "There's been a slight change in the match ups, but now it set take one last look to who you will be facing,"

Taking a better glimpse of the final's matches, I was taken back with a big change to my schedule for today. It seems that I'm fighting an extra match, due to having more stamina, meaning it would be only fair to use that extra stamina for another battle.

I'm battling against Temari and Shikamaru? He seems to be versing her first, then Temari and i will have it out. Then back to Shikamaru, but it really determines if he forfeits, before he could begin. Knowing what he's like, but then again I could be wrong.

"Uh question?" Naruto raises his hand.

Genma seemed already irritated as it is, "What is it?"

"I was uh just wondering, what will happen to Sasuke? I mean if he doesn't show up?"

"If a candidate is not here in the arena, at the time his name is called, he forfeits the match," Genma replies simply, before turning to all of us in preparation to inform us more on the finals.

".....Alright now listen up!" Genma announces. "The terrain is different but the rules are the same as before. That is that there are no rules, the match continues til one candidate acknowledges defeat or dies. That being said, if i determined that a matches over I can still step in at any time. And no arguments permitted, understood?..........These are the opponents, for the first match. Naruto Uzumaki, and Neji Hyuga........Those two stay, the rest of you can go to the waiting area."

Taking the hint we needed to head to the sidelines, Shikamaru, Shino and I began heading up stairs to the waiting room. The three sand ninja follow along, as the turned out to be waiting in a separate level. 

Once we got ourselves comfortable to watch the match unfold, I could see a dark intent in neji's eyes. 

Though it may seem cliche to say so, their argument and quarrel still stands since Hinata was almost at deaths door. I wasn't sure what his deal was with Hinata, but I myself never tried to place my nose where it doesn't belong in. Especially from a large and powerful clan, who hasn't been extinct.

The match soon began, while intensely watching.

Naruto started with a good confronting attack, but it was directed to the most dumbest decision in the beginning of a battle. Facing off with a Hygua, Naruto didn't understand Neji's true power. With everyone placing bets on the Hyuga, my bets were on Naruto. I know it may seem stupid to bet on, but sometimes anger could cloud ones judgement.

"Come on Naruto," I whisper, my hands almost denting the rails before me.

Blood was shed and wounds were surfacing to every spot, that was landed upon each other. It was so intense, my eyes observe with their sharp focused movements. Neji seemed to get the upper hand, as he managed to jab Naruto with chakra points to stall his movements. 

"Dammit, seriously he's gonna be dead at the end of this," Shikamaru groans, while I whack him at the back of the head. "Ow, why--?"

"Just.........give him a chance,"

*

It's been a while since their battled begun, but slowly something wasn't feeling right, as Naruto continued to be beaten by a bloody pulp. Something reddish and orange bubbly substance, begins to encase all around the boy. Fangs drawn from his teeth unnaturally, as my senses were soon on high alert.

My blood ran cold feeling familiar about this aura, recognising the slight shape.

"The Nine tailed fox," Whispering in an audible tone, for only me to hear.

Though it looks to me that naruto was gonna lose control, he begins to harness the fox within him and controls it steadily towards Neji. Many gasps flow through the crowd, while I could tell some of our top Jonin were ready to prepare for anything. 

The aura however was so intense, I kept my guard up.

Neji was standing there stunned by this, while Naruto continues to steady his power. All eyes were on him, stunned and taken back by how he managed to harness this immense power of chakra.

The two began to keep battling it out together, when a large explosion occurs between the two. A blinding light surrounds the area, as debris falls around in the center of the arena. Everyone was on their toes, with the trembling earth shaking beneath us.

Everyone fell dead silent, as the cloud of dust soon begins to clear up.

"W-What just.......?'

"Which one is Naruto?"

Both holes were made into the earth, only for one of them to move. Neji seems to be moving around still, as dust falls off brushing it off. He stumbles out of the crater beneath him, as my eyes linger back to Naruto not moving. 

He's not moving.......is he...alright?

Out of nowhere I could sense something was coming, but it came from beneath Neji, that it even catches the Hyuga off guard. With a sharp punch from beneath the chin, Neji went flying as if he was falling in slow motion in time. A few moments he could lift himself up, weakly finding it difficult knowing that explosion must've weakened him.

In a few moment Neji collapses completely, as Naruto was finally claimed the battle a win. 

Cheers and yells of excitement burst through the entire Arena, seeing naruto look rather proud of himself. I myself was taken back, never seeing this kind of battle before. Unique to it's finest. The scent of blood reaches my nose, but all I could do was smile at Naruto's persistent attitude and victory.

He sheepishly scratches beneath his nose, feeling happy to be praised.

"Argh....Naruto defeated Neji?" Shikamaru groans. "Oh man, I can't believe it....and I thought Naruto was the same as me. One of the dorky and uncoolest guys."

"Dorky and uncool?" Shino questions.

"Now everyone's saying he's gonna make something big of himself, just great," Shikamaru sighs. "I doubt I could beat him now, this is really bad.....I've never felt so depressed.....what a drag."

Placing a firm grip on his shoulder, he turns to me with a surprised expression.

"Don't think so poorly of yourself, we all have different strengths," I assure him, knowing he's far more smarter. "besides, you're dorky...but cool. So please, don't beat yourself up about it? You can surprise yourself, if you can make it happen."

He groans further, exasperatedly. 

"Why do you have to sound so damn wise too!" He whines out loudly, while I chuckle gently. "Seriously, compared to both of you........I can't even beat you to save my life."

I flick his nose, earning a stunned look.

"Don't compare others too.......seriously," I scold him, while placing my hands on my hips. "Today, they rank us to see who will become worthy of becoming chunin............and to be honest, if I don't?--Then I can train harder, and retake the test."

"Seriously, this is a drag," he drawls out, while I softly smile.

I know I tend to encourage others with their skills, and level in talent, but I'm a hypocrite myself. I know I have strength, IQ but not as confidently as some would express.

"Kimi?" Shino spoke up, turning to him with a soft hum. "Are you okay with doing two matches?"

I nod eagerly, cracking my knuckles together.

"Yep, I've got enough energy to last me two matches and maybe more," I ensure his concern.

Though I'm not sure what Temari has in store for me, especially seen she was far beyond cruel to Tenten at the preliminaries. She seems to be strong, despite