NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: All OOC comments go here (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=479562).

IC:
Konoha, Coreworlds

Three weeks after Palpatine's return. Two weeks after the Mationbuds Conflict.

It was a nice sunny day in Konohagekure Village, the capital city of Konoha, one of the founder planets of Coreworlds. Travis Masaki and his friend Kagome have just returned from a battle with a Sith Lord (and survived) to meet up with the third member of their team: Nick Kingfisher.

"Hey. How did it go?" Nick asked them.

"Amazing." Travis seemed awed. "Sensei really went all-out."

"You mean..." Nick dropped his jaws.

"Yep. The Nine-tails was released. All nine tails." Kagome shuddered. "The power...was overwhelming. And Travis, you went all-out too."

"Me? Hehe." Travis chuckled. "I don't know. I wanted to beat that bastard raw, that's all."

"You almost did." A voice from above sounded. Keith. "But at least it's over now."

"Yeah." Travis said.

"I still can't believe you guys saw Sensei Naruto release the fox! How did you survive?" Nick exclaimed.

"As much luck as the Force. Besides, Kyuubi didn't really want to kill us." Travis said. "He went straight for the Sith. Boom! Pow! And then he was down."

"Oh. Didn't see that part. I was escaping with Kagome from a hangar bay." Keith said. "As an aside, Sasuke-sensei's just told me about something interesting."

"What is it?" Travis asked.

Keith snickered. "You'll see soon."

"Aww c'mon! Tell me!"

Continuing to needle his cousin, Keith shook his head. "For me to know and you to find out."

"Grrr! If you won't tell me, I'll pound it out of ya!" Travis yelled, jumping after Keith, who simply flickered out the way.

"Not by the hairs of my chinny chin chin!" Keith taunted, and the race was on.

Nick sighed. "Same old, same old."

"Yeah. But I wonder what is going on?" Kagome asked.

"Let's find out..." Sounds of yelling and laughing began fading. "...after we get Travis to calm down."

------

Meanwhile, in the Hokage's Headquarters...

The Fifth Hokage Tsunade, Medical Master of the Coredian High Council, stood before the assembled Jounin of her ninjas. She noted that most of them were already here as soon as they were summoned, but there was still one more. "Oh great, he's picked up Kakashi's habits..."

Then a poof of white smoke appeared and a yellow-haired Jounin with black and orange clothing disapparated the smoke, grinning like he doesn't have a care in the world. "Heh. Sorry, folks. I've just traveled down the road to life..."

Yep. Just like Kakashi. Were the thoughts of the assembled Masters.

Tsunade sighed, making a mental note to give her future successor some paperwork as a mission. "Now that Jounin Uzumaki has arrived, we can get down to business. As you know, several foreign shinobi has already arrived and perhaps some of you may have heard it already from members of the Senate and the Jedi, but it's official now. A week from today, Konoha will once again host the next Chuunin Exams. As a result, I must ask you if any of your students are ready to face the Exams."

Naruto, ever the hyperactive Jounin, spoke first. "I swear by Clan Uzumaki that my apprentices are ready to face the Exams."

"Hmm. So soon after graduation?" Tsunade asked. Not that I doubt their skill after all that's happened, but still...

"Team Seven survived the first one. They'll survive this one." Naruto smirked, glancing over at Sakura and Sasuke, his original team.

Sasuke returned the smirk. "I, too, swear by Clan Uchiha that my apprentices are ready to face the Exams."

Rivalry after all these years...some things never change. Tsunade smirked. Several other Jounin swore by their clans and then it was done. A Chuunin tallied the number of Jounin that sponsored their teams, then swiftly passed out application forms to each Master.

"Go, then and prepare your Genin." Tsunade ordered. With a mass "Hai!" the Jounin disappeared.

"I truly hope they won't get themselves killed this time." Sakura sighed. "But with the war and all..."

"I know." Tsunade replied to her former apprentice. "But as the Jedi say, 'May the Force be with them.'" She turned to lighter subjects. "How goes the children?"

"Oh, they're a handful. Much like their father." Sakura giggled and began talking about the reborn Uchiha Clan.

-----
Tenetia, Imperial Coreworlds

"So. They have begun." A voice said in the darkness.

"Yes, Mother. Our spies report that they'll be ready a week from today." A young voice, etched with darkness replied.

"Very good. Very good." Lady Nightshade replied. "It's time to prepare. Notify your brother, Janus, and grab an expendable Genin. Kabuto will be your Jounin."

"Is that wise, Mother?" Janus asked, frowning, inwardly flinching at questioning the Dark Lady of the Sith.

"With ooglith masquers, it will be. Kill a team from Hidden Rock and use their identities. Then, you shall infiltrate Konoha and execute our plan." Nightshade instructed.

"Yes, My Lady." Janus allowed himself a dark smile. And soon...we shall have our revenge...

"When you are ready, contact me, but not before." Nightshade warned him and then her throne, smaller than Palpatine's of course, but still elaborate, swiveled to face away. Janus nodded and disappeared with a flicker.

Thus is the beginning of the Chuunin Exams...

Suna, Draconis Nightcrawlis

The young prince known as Gabriel Daniel Wagner looked up at the buildings of the Kazekage office in wonder. It always seemed to amaze him, though he never particularly knew why, it just did. He did often wonder what it was like to be Kazekage, was it as hectic as being the King. Since his father was always busy, he hardly saw him in person at the moment, although part of that was due to him being a ninja and staying in Hidden Sand Village.

“No matter how hard you stare at it, you’ll never be Kazekage Daniel,” came a voice behind him.

Daniel, as he preferred to be called, turned around to see his teammate, Katana, stood there. “Not interested in becoming Kazekage,” he replied. “My destiny lies elsewhere.”

His tail twitched behind him.

“I bet,” she replied, just as their teammate, Katsuo showed up leaping down from a building behind the pair.

“Bet what?” he asked, a cat appeared from inside the large object he carried upon his back. The cat looked at Katana and narrowed its eyes.

“Daniel not wanting to be Kazekage, every good ninja aspires to be the Kazekage,” Katana then replied.

Katsuo’s cat hissed at her.

“So you’re saying we’re crap ninja’s now?” Katsuo remarked, folding his arms. “I aspire to be great, regardless of title.”

Katana rolled her eyes, she could never truly understood her cousin and the way his thinking was. The prince really wasn’t that much different either, they both seemed a little strange to her. She quietly folded her arms and closed her eyes to ignore them. Daniel however looked up at the building once more.

“So I wonder what Eamonn-sensei was called into the Kazekage’s office for?” he wondered.

“We’re in trouble,” Katsuo groaned.

The sound of someone leaping off a building and landing behind them was heard. The trio turned around to see a young teen with black hair and red eyes stood behind them. He wore what could be described as an extremely tight fitting outfit. The only colour that seen on him was black, no other colour at all was visible save for the young teens red eyes and pale skin.

“It’s the Chuunin exam,” he said. “Don’t you know anything?”

“Piss off Masato,” Katana then told him, pulling out her fan. If he were to try anything, which he usually did, then she would be ready for it.

“Causing trouble again Masato?” came a different, female voice that belonged to his teammate, Sayuri.

The young teen looked over his shoulder, glaring at her.

“Masato and Sayuri, Kimiko is waiting for you,” came Eamonn’s voice from above them. “Oh and Masato, I will not have you trying to pick fight with my Genin.”

Masato just glared at him before Sayuri dragged him off to where Kimiko would be waiting for them along with their teammate, Shun. Eamonn jumped down having been stood on the side of the building watching them.

Daniel and Katsuo both looked at him. “So what are we doing today?” the young prince asked.

Eamonn’s expression never changed, he just watched the three young Genin. “We have a shuttle flight waiting for us,” he said, to which the three Genin just looked at him.

Usually got their missions from the Kazekage himself in his office. Katana realised that it must be something else other then a mission, something that meant heading far from the hidden village.

“I’ve entered you three into the Chuunin exam,” Eamonn told them.

“You did what?” Katana replied, narrowing her eyes. “Are you mad?” She pointed at her two rather surprised teammates. “Those two will get themselves killed during it.”

Through his trademark sunglasses, Eamonn coldly glared at her. “Well then, I guess you will have fun watching them die in horrifically gruesome ways.”

“Hey!” the two boys complained but were swiftly ignored.

“They are your comrades, my Genin,” Eamonn continued. “You and I will stick by them through thick and thin, even through this Chuunin exam. I will not have you or either of the other two being disloyal to your comrades, got it.”

Katana nodded, she didn’t want to see Eamonn get pissed off. Having their sensei pissed off was not a very nice experience, particularly for the three genin.

*

Somewhere above Konoha, Coreworlds

The shuttle, Suna Team 1, made it’s way out of orbit down towards the planet below. Eamonn turned to the thre Genin and handed them their passes, they would need them to to go into Konohagekure City.

“Don’t lose them,” he warned.

“Yes sensei,” the trio replied.

Eamonn eyed them before returning to the console. He tapped into it to contact the Jurai Air Control.

“This is Eamonn Black of the shuttle Suna Team 1 requesting permission to enter airspace.”

"This is Konoha Air Control, you are cleared to land. Please produce your documents as soon as you land. You understand." A traffic-nin instructed.

"Yes, as requested, over."

Eamonn slowly lowered the shuttle through the atmosphere and decended towards the spaceport. Once he'd landed the shuttle, he looked tward the three Genin before stepping out.

"Well, here we are Konoha," Eamonn said as they joined him outside the shuttle.

Katana folded her arms. "Hmph."

OOC: I'm assuming my character is working along side with Janus to give information on the Ninjas back to Nightshade. BTW, whatever happened to Jeremy from the Chronoskimmer project?


IC:
Coruscant

SIC (excluding DS CoreWorlds)
Aelikes paced within his chambers. The Chunnin Exams have begun. He sent in Shamman to act as a spy along side with Nightshade's son, Janus. Shamman would once again, pick up his role as a Malkir Warrior. There was debate on wether or not Shamman should bring along HK-59, his partner Assassin Droid. Well..... Lets just say the droid, and Shamman, were a bit dissapointed with the results.

"Angry Shout: Why didn't you allow me to go to the trials master!?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND YOU STUPID MEATBAG!?!"

<No, I have not '59. You damn well know why I didn't allow you to go.>

"Angry Suggestion: Well then, why didn't you paint me a different color and modify my voice and optical functions!? It would have helped incase any survivors of the Chronoskimmer Incident were present. Perhapse even modified my armor?"

<NO.>

"Insult: Master, I hate you fucking meatbag guts beyond words. I would have simply LOVED to snipe some of those goody meatbags for the two Empires."

<Save it, you know I hate the Masaki blood line more than most of the Dark Lords in the universe,> Aelikes points to his newer envornmental mask. Something of a "souvineer" from Daniel Masaki which he wore a lot less before he fought him. Now, he can't take it off due to the over use of Force Lightning.

"Finnal Remark: Fine. Something tells me your apprentice won't be comming back unless he has help."

Aelikes got an idea. Perhapse he could get shamman to be a spectator for the first few rounds and pass information that way. He set up the new holographic transmitter which the Huntarian Empire has been working on for a long time. Better image, almost real instead of a hazy, blue thing with white lines. It also had a better range, clear sound system. He set up a transmission between him and Nightshade.

<Lady Nightshade, come in please. This is Darth Aelikes.>

Victoria was walking along on the underside of the bridge before dropping down onto the water's surface where she continued her walk with her hands when Mer surfaced, and caught her team-mate's hand, sucking her into the water.

Coming out of the water, Tori joined Merry who was now on the bridge and ran her hand throught her hair. "What was that for?" She asked with a scowl thought she already knew. "You got my favorite kunai messy." "Not a reason to dunk me." "Was." "Wasn't." "Was."

As they argued the third member of the team, and only boy, walked up. "Sensai want's us to get ready, appear's it's time."
"Fine." Tori replied as she sucked the water out of her vestment and tossed it back into the river, "When are you going to get a hair cut Max?"
Peering back from behind the curtain of hair, "I don't need one."
"Fine, keep your shag." Mer replied with a chuckle.

******************************

"Where is he?" Merry asked
"He's here." Max replied, "And duck." He snapped as he hit the dirt, whilst Victoria and Merry received cream-pies in the face.
"Sensai." Tori protested as she wiped the cream off her face.

"You've been entered into the exams, so cut out the games and grab your gear."
"Yes Sensai." The three replied in unison.

******************************

"Jurai Air Control, Kiriga shuttle requesting permission to enter airspace."

Otogakure, Ravea

The six rouge shinobi faced the three young Genin confidently, swinging their weapons and preparing various Jutsus. To the Missing-Nin, this was survival, but to the Genin, it was another simple test set up by their sensei, Furu Sanada. The Jounin sat from a high tree and watched as his pupils silently prepared for the massacre to come.

The first to move was Ayumi Amuro, the only genuly skilled Genjutsu user of team Suzu. The other two members of the team-Sen Suzu and Noyo Takehashi- had already initiated a combined use of the Utsusemi no Jutsu and Hiru Bansho: Boka no Jutsu Techniques, merging within rocks and trees and throwing thier voices in every direction. The nervous Missing-Nin tried to keep thier focus on Amuro as the voices echoed around them.

The Missing-Nin froze suddenly, and Amuro made his move. The Kanashibari no Jutsu easily paralyed the rouge ninja for a few seconds as team Suzu poured around him. Amuro dissapered in a cloud of smoke, only to emerge as ten clones; Suzu made use of the Shuriken Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, killing one ninja before garroting another. That was two down. Three more stumbled, their eardrums shattered by Noyo's Kyomeisen jutsu before he used a sound blade to decapitate one. Three down. Sen's Zankukyokuha killed the other two. One left.

The final Missing-Nin was more powerful than the others. Originally a water-nin based on the mist Techniques he was using, the Ninja had already defeated Amuro's dopplegangers without a scratch. Amuro was now trying to impale the Ninja with his blades, and with little success. Sen whipped his Garrote wire out, catching the missing-nin by the throat and quickly strangling him.

"Sen, that was my kill!" Arumo was obviously dissapointed.

"Mabey if you could improve on your close-combat abilaties, I wouldn't have had to do that," Replied the Oto team leader. "You serve as a good distraction, but not much else."

Arumo snorted. "At least I can cast come decent jutsus that don't require all my energy, like that Zankukyokuha of yours. Overkill much?"

Just as tempers were starting to flare, Sensei Sanada appeared in a puff of smoke beside them.

"Stop arguing, team; this test is over. The Chuunin Exams are to begin in Konoha in less than a week's time. You know what to do when you get there. The time has come for you to show Otogakure how much, if anything, you are worth.

The three Genin bowed as blood continued to flow from the bodies of the dead Missing-Nin.

"Yes, Master...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Jurai Air Control, this is Oto Shuttle 12. Requesting Permission to Land."

OOC: To all, it's Konoha Air Control. Konoha's a separate system from Jurai.

IC:

DN:
A Konoha Jounin appeared in front of the Suna nin. He had silver hair parted to one side, and his headband was over one eye. Yep. Meet Hatake Kakashi, the Copy Wheel Ninja. "Documents, please." He said.

----

Ravea:

"Oto Shuttle Twelve, please prepare all documents as soon as you land. Thank you."

---

Theao:

"Kiriga Shuttle. Be ready to show identification upon landing. Thank you."

-----

Huntaer:

"Ah. Darth Aelikes. I've been expecting you." Nightshade answered on her holoprojector. "It is time to show you what I have planned."

OOC: Check TGs. And Jeremy's around, but won't be in this RP.

----

The Twins, an expendable Genin named Gareth and "Jounin" Kabuto, all in the guise of Hidden Rock members, exited hyperspace with a stolen Rock shuttle. The real Rock members were killed by Janus' gravikinetic powers then their bodies were spaced.

"Konoha Control, this is Iwaga Shuttle 4 requesting clearance to land." Kabuto said, expertly disguising his voice.

"Iwaga Shuttle, please prepare documents upon arrival."

"Very well." Kabuto answered with a smirk. "Well, there we go. Let's get ready."

"Right." Jesse said.

The descended along with the others, noting the Star Destroyers and Shinobi Cruisers menacing any who are unauthorized. Little did they know that they just allowed a powerful enemy through...

----

Travis was beaten black and blue by the time Naruto came along to give them their latest assignment. The Jounin noted that Kagome felt better and deduced that Travis must have insulted her in some way. Nick just looked sullen.

Great. Team Seven has the personality of the old one. Naruto sighed. "Alright. Listen up, kids. Today, I'm going to announce that I have entered you three into the Chuunin Exams."

"Really?" Nick asked. Travis perked up at that and Kagome looked interested.

"Yep." Naruto's grin was contagious. "Here are the application forms. The first test is within a week from today. I have faith that you three can survive this with flying colors."

"Don't worry, Master. No matter what, we can deal with anything the Exams can throw at us!" Travis beamed. His injuries seemed to disappear. "We'll never give up!"

"That's the spirit, kid." Naruto chuckled. "Now, go and prepare, for in a week, you'll undergo the most grueling trials...ever!"

"Yes, Sensei!" The kids chorused and zipped away.

"Heh. If what I hear is true, the Exams this year will be quite interesting..." Naruto snickered, and disappeared with a *pop*.

Eamonn nodded and handed over his documents, the three Genin did likewise. Katana stared at him as he did so.

"Are we all clear?" Eamonn then asked.

Kakashi looked over the documents, then stamped them. "Approved. Welcome to Konoha." He said, giving the documents back.

"Thank you," Eamonn said, putting his documents in an inside pocket. He turned to the three Genin and passed each of them a keycard. "As I'll be leaving you here, this is where you'll be staying."

In a flash, Eamonn was gone leaving them alone.

"He abandoned us, what do we do now?" Katsuo asked.

Daniel shrugged, "Find where we're staying I guess."

The shuttle touched down, and Sensai Rafael handed his team thier ID and documentation. The shuttle's door opened, and the four exited to show thier identification to the one who was going to be checking the documents.


ooc: Sorry bout that.

Travis sped down the streets at high speed, barely missing people yelling and shouting at him to slow down. Unfortunately, he was running way too fast and didn't see where he was looking. Next thing he knew...

*SMASH!*

He slammed right into Suna's team...

The shuttle touched down, and Sensai Rafael handed his team thier ID and documentation. The shuttle's door opened, and the four exited to show thier identification to the one who was going to be checking the documents.


ooc: Sorry bout that.
"Ah. Yes. You must be the team from Kiriga. Your Jounin Sensei is to meet with the others. Your place to stay has been entered into these lovely document cards." Kakashi smiled behind his mask, holding up a card. "They're right on the table to your left."

Indeed. Aside from Suna, there were names and cards of every nation entering into the Exams. The cards hold information such as their hotel and room and notable tourist spots of Konoha, among other things.

"You little bastard!" Katana yelled, picking herself up from the ground. "You'll pay for that."

Her first instinct was to grab for her fan, as she did so Katsuo grabbed her arm and prevented her from doing so.

"Let go of me," she growled.

"Hey we're not here to fight on the streets," Katsuo pointed out. "Save that for later."

The two of them then looked over at who had run into them. Katana scowled at him, her eyes showing her displeasure.

Huntaer:

"Ah. Darth Aelikes. I've been expecting you." Nightshade answered on her holoprojector. "It is time to show you what I have planned."

<Will do. Shamman is on his way.>

"Unsatisfactory comment: Hmph. Damn that planet."

--------------------
OOC: Remember, this time he needs a new name. Only Nightshade's kids will know shamman's real name due to allignment.

Warrior Shamman droped out of Hyperspeed. His Kirtir Marauder flew on downwards to the planet, making no sounds. He pushed a few buttons, and activated the audio transmitter. "Konoha Air Control, this is Warrior Valenski of the Huntarian Alliance requesting permission to land."



OOC: Check TGs. And Jeremy's around, but won't be in this RP.

OOC: Shame. He probably has a grudge against Aelikes and Shamman.
Wonder how that would've turned out.

"Thank you." Tori commented as she took the the cards and had thier documentation stamped. They then headed off to find the hotel that had thier room.

Once the team had left, Rafael stepped out, "Nice to meet you, Kakashi I do believe?" He commented

OOC:.... Fo some reason, NS had me logged in as HA instead of Huntaer. Now it says I'm huntaer..... Very strainge. Waiting for CW.

"You little bastard!" Katana yelled, picking herself up from the ground. "You'll pay for that."

Her first instinct was to grab for her fan, as she did so Katsuo grabbed her arm and prevented her from doing so.

"Let go of me," she growled.

"Hey we're not here to fight on the streets," Katsuo pointed out. "Save that for later."

The two of them then looked over at who had run into them. Katana scowled at him, her eyes showing her displeasure.
"Ow." Travis rubbed his rear. "Who put the brick wall in my way?"

"Travis, you baka..." Kagome came running up. She noticed the headbands. "Hey. You must be Suna nin. Welcome to Konoha, and please don't judge us by Masaki-baka here."

"I am not a baka!" Travis shot back.

"Never mind about him. I'm Nick." Nick smiled.

"Kagome." Kagome introduced herself, before drilling her fist into Travis' head again.

"OW! Stop it!" Travis yelped, smacking her fist away. "I'm Travis. Who the hell are you?"

Unbecoming a Masaki, you are. Nick sighed.

"Thank you." Tori commented as she took the the cards and had thier documentation stamped. They then headed off to find the hotel that had thier room.

Once the team had left, Rafael stepped out, "Nice to meet you, Kakashi I do believe?" He commented
"Yes. I see you've heard of me." Kakashi commented. "The Jounins are meeting at the Hotel Hokage in the lobby. There, you'll hear what the kids will face."

Warrior Shamman droped out of Hyperspeed. His Kirtir Marauder flew on downwards to the planet, making no sounds. He pushed a few buttons, and activated the audio transmitter. "Konoha Air Control, this is Warrior Valenski of the Huntarian Alliance requesting permission to land."
"Very well. Please land at the Spaceport. Thank you." The traffic-nin answered. "Enjoy your stay."

"You and your team did take down the missing-nin Zabuza and Haku." He commented, and thank you for the info." Rafael commented as he headed off to the hotel to find out the general plan.

Katana scowled, shaking Katsuo off her arm. "Who the hell am I? Thats a rather rude way of putting it," she remarked. "I'm Katana, that's who the hell I am."

She kept her eyes on Travis, she could tell that she wasn't going to like him.

"I'm Katsuo, puppet master," Katsuo said, almost sighing.

"And I'm Daniel," came a voice from above.

The prince was stood on the underside of a tree branch looking down at them. His tail swishing freely behind him.

"Hey, you look familiar." Travis pointed at Daniel. "My dad told me about a good friend of his that looked a lot like you. His name was Kurt. Any relation?"

Daniel smirked as he teleported down in a puff of purple smoke that left the smell of brimstone in the air. Stood in front of Travis he nodded, "Yep, he's my father the King," he said.

"Yes you're the heir to the throne, big deal," Katana said sarcastically.

Max, Mer and Tori had found the hotel and checked in, before deciding to explore the city, possibly scope out some of the opposition and generally see what was going on.

Ugh. Travis didn't like the brimestone smell. "Cool. My dad rules Coreworlds too, so I'm kinda a heir as well."

"Oh great. Two royal idiots." Nick rolled his eyes.

"Shut it, baka!" Travis shot at Nick.

"You and what army, dobe?" Nick smirked. Lightning crackled between their eyes.

*Wham! Wham!* They suddenly found themselves staring at the sky.

"Boys." Kagome sighed and shook her head as she resheathed her staff before glancing at Suna's champions. "Mind if I give you a tour of the place?"

Daniel whinced at the sound.

"Sure," Katana said. "I just hope these two don't make arses of themselves."

She gave both Daniel and Katsuo the evil eye.

"Hey wait, your father's Daniel Masaki," Katsuo realised as his cat appeared from the puppet on his back and hissed at Katana. "He went to that Jedi Academy with our Sensei."

"Yeah. One and the same." Travis rubbed his head and got up. "So. Tour?"

Soon, the six Genin moved off through Konoha. Little did they know that someone was watching them.

"Hmm. What do you think Gareth?" Jesse asked, in a tree some meters away from the kids.

"They all look weak. Nothing compared to our skill." Gareth chuckled, flexing a steel-clawed hand.

"Ah. But do not underestimate those two." Janus smirked, pointing at Travis and Daniel. "They're royal brats, like we are. They'll likely have secret skills taught by their families or senseis."

"Mmm. Speaking of senseis, I have heard of this Naruto. Is it true that a demon lies in his belly?" Gareth asked.

Jesse smirked. "More than you can imagine. But come. Let us scope out the rest of the competition..."

The three "Hidden Rock" Genin disappeared in a flash.

"Wonder what villiages have arrived yet." Mer commented while Max continued looking for a store or stand that carried food.
"Well this is the Leaf, so they're here, as to the others that's open for guess, but there is at least one other." Tori commented, "I'd guess Rock or Sand."

"Very well. Please land at the Spaceport. Thank you." The traffic-nin answered. "Enjoy your stay."

"Thank you very much," Fool Shamman grinned wickedly and continued to decend to the planet. Eventually, he landed in a hangar bay.

He grabbed his two lightsabers, 12 Light Shurikens (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/Huntaer/Huntaer/Lightsabers/lightshurikencopy.jpg) and
slowly walked on out in his new "Jedi" style clothing. It will help aid in his disguise. He also carried a make-up kit. Something he wasn't too thrilled to have. He needed to have his skin look..... What Jedi and all other non dark side users would call "Normal."

He extended his Marauder's landing gear and walked on out. Then he got a strainge feeling. Masaki.... He could feel their blood in the force, so, this is one of the reasons why you sent me here is it my master? Clever...

He quickly shrugged the feeling off and began to look for a guard or guide. Whomever was suppose to meet him here.

The three Genin followed their 'tour guides' on the tour of Konoha. To Katana it wasn't very interesting, but for Daniel and Katsuo it was interesting. Daniel couldn't help but feel watched, but then there were alot of people around and they did seem to stare at him.

Never seen an elf before, he thought to himself. "So where exactly do we go for the Chuunin Exam?"

OCC: Damn, you people are fast. I need to get on the ball with this.

"Roger, Konoha Air Control. We're landing now."

The three Oto ninja, along with thier master, stepped foot upon the Konoha soil, carefully observing their surroundings.

The three Genin followed their 'tour guides' on the tour of Konoha. To Katana it wasn't very interesting, but for Daniel and Katsuo it was interesting. Daniel couldn't help but feel watched, but then there were alot of people around and they did seem to stare at him.

Never seen an elf before, he thought to himself. "So where exactly do we go for the Chuunin Exam?"
OOC: Hmm. Maybe we can do the standard Konoha Exam. All the sites say that it's written exam, then Survival Test, then Tournament with a possible prelim after the Second Exam. Easier on the planning, I guess. And Konoha has seen elves before, but not blue elves, hehe.

"Hmm. The paper says we go into the Main Hall of the Academy, where they'll be setting something up there." Travis said. "There, we'll have our first exam."

OCC: Damn, you people are fast. I need to get on the ball with this.

"Roger, Konoha Air Control. We're landing now."

The three Oto ninja, along with thier master, stepped foot upon the Konoha soil, carefully observing their surroundings.
"Ah. Hello, there." Kakashi said glancing at the newcomers while reading his favorite book. Sound nin. Best keep watch.

"Information packets are on the table to my left. The Jounin is to meet with the others at the Hotel Hokage lobby." He instructed. "Welcome to Konoha."

"Written? Ah fuck I hope not I hate written exams," Daniel sighed. "I'm doomed if it is."

Katana glared at him, "Don't be so negative."

"Most likely. I wonder how Sensei did in his exam." Travis mused.

"And here's Konoha's #1 restaurant, mostly thanks to Sensei." Kagome said, pointing at Ichiraku Restaurant. It has grown a lot over the years, having franchises on all major planetary cities, and some smaller ones too.

"Still sells the very best ramen in the galaxy!" Travis chuckled.

Rafael had arrived outside the Hotel Hokage lobby and looked about as he pulled an apple out of a pocket and took a bite.


Max had managed to find a stand that sold noodles and began eating.
"We should probably head to this Academy." Tori commented as she looked at the paper.
"Wonder what the first part of the test will be, hopefully not written, I can't stand writing." Mer commented as she pulled out a couple kunai and began balancing them on her finger tips as they headed toward the Konoha's Academy.

Daniels stomach rumbled. "A good time for food then," he grinned.

Katana hit him over the back of the head. "A good ninja doesn't think about his stomach all the time," she said. "Honestly I can't believe you stay so thin the amount you eat."

"Heh. Let's eat first, then." Travis chuckled and Team Seven entered the famous restaurant. It is very orinate and spiffy, with pictures of the Hokages and other famous Konoha people on the walls. The original bar is at the far end and surrounding it are tables and chairs for patrons. A few people are already eating in the restaurant and barely glanced at the newcomers.

The youthful team sat down at the bar to the pleasure of the 'tender. "Hello. what would you three like today?"

"Shrimp ramen, all-you-can-eat!" Travis grinned, rubbing his hands.

"Fish and chips." Nick said.

"Chicken fingers and fries, please." Kagome ordered.

"Drinks?" Tender asked.

"Butterbeer!" All three ninjas chorused.

"Gotcha!" The 'tender laughed and shouted orders to begin cooking.

The three Suna Genin followed them in and sat down at the bar as well.

"Your hottest ramen," Daniel grinned. "Wait all you can eat?"

Katana rolled her eyes, "Chicken ramen."

"Fish and chips sounds good to me," Katsuo said.

"Yes, young blue one, all-you-can-eat is an option." The 'Tender said. He shouted orders for Suna's crowd as well.

---

Soon enough, the meals were ready and Travis began gobbling up his ramen at the speed of light, leaving his friends to wonder how many bowls can he eat?

Daniel of course took up the all you can eat, his gluttony was well known to his two team-mates. While Katana and Katsuo calmly ate, the blue elf gobbled down his noodles like there was no tomorrow and showed no sign of the hotness getting to him.

"He eats worse than a pig," Katsuo quietly mentioned to the others.

The vastly spread Comm-Orbs across 'much' of the cosmos, galaxies and the Voids, came in handy at times like this. All the recent activity within CoreWorlds space was noticed by a new party, primarily through the signals relayed of basic information of something taking place in the Konoha Star System, dissected information calling it the 'Chuunin Exams'.

This all only got the attention of the Ascendancy Sphere, because of essentially one really, and honestly lacking reason.

--

*Seven hundred million light-years away. The Ascendancy Homeworld, White Diamond/Sapphire.

The Holy Palace Tree*

A normal day of fantastic bustle, as the lifeblood of the Republic continues to flow through the Capital World. Within more of the same of it's vast myriad of citizens of both natural, hypernatural, ascended and artifical citizen type.

Deep within the recesses of the Palace, lies where the information of such import arrives, to the eye of several royals eventually taking note. Of first note, the Prime Intellegence Advisor, who brings in the Royal CIC of the Republic Bodyguard. The Advisor Primes of the Tactical and Strategic sectors arrive as well.

With the Excellency and First Lady Excellency away speaking to the Planetmind of White Diamond-EWT, the decision making falls to these types. This of course means the Lady Prime Foreign Advisor gets into the discussion.

"What, to ask honest, is a Chuunin Exam?" Lady Yurika asks first after the relevant data is displayed to everyone, both upon holographic vidscreens, and personal data Padds.

Lady Funaho... "To all relevant knowledge, a form of, to be crude in speak, a ninja type of exam of a format."

Lord Azusa, husband of said Intel and Bodyguard Advisors, asks plainly next. "And 'why' is this warranting our attention?"

Lady Misaki then asks Funaho. "Why is he here? I thought the author said the Prime Strategic Advisor?" ..pointing to Utsutsumi who waves next to Yurika off the left. Funaho just shrugs, making Asuza frazzle some.

Lady Misaki then answers anyway.. "Because of that discussion we had a few months ago about new types of tactical influxes into our militaries. Something to help counter the tactics the Dark Ascendancy and other dark realms employ."

Lady Seto understands and speaks.. "A lack of Shinobi archetypes in our realm. Not exactly a major weakness on our part, but a lack nonetheless. Something to be mindful of with some of the other ascended realms that may oppose our evolution, like the Consortium Guold attempted."

Everyone's spines shiver at this memory, a very bad one still all too fresh in both mind and history.

Funaho then offers. "It may behoove us consider at the very least, sending a representative party to this node Konoha, and take witness of this event in person. If nothing else, we may learn the mind of a possible future enemy, or even an ally we ill understand as yet."

Yurika folds her arms. "Can we incorporate such things into our landsrad? We're more, well... samurai minded than ninja, as an empire."

Seto counters.. "And yet the ninja is as much a warrior as the samurai. Both are of merit our attention therefore."

Utsutsumi then asks. "What of the mind of His Excellency on this matter?"

Funaho looks over.. "I believe the words of evolution were one we were to take to heart here. Even a bit stretched in meaning here."

Yurika then rubs her head. "So we 'are' going to try to learn everything. Great, my aching brain." ..which gains some laughter in the Intell Office chamber.

Just then, a new, if familiar head pops into the chamber, as Yosho enters looking for Funaho. "Pardon mother, if I... eh? Oh." ..he sees the royal gathering, and waves meekly.

Just then about everyone in the same chamber, save Yosho, realize the perfect person just entered the room. They all respond as much over mindlink, as in voice.

"PERFECT!!"

Yosho just looks around manically. "What...!? Wh.. What?!"

--

A few days later, the Advisors agreed to send three representatives to node Konoha, in the Konoha Star System. They would begin with a simple HPG message, sent through the Comm-Orbs, into the CoreWorlds realm, to get specifics and semantics out of the way.

And a couple days across the Comm-Orb and Comm-Relay network...

--

~ Message 578385.883/FL-99P, HPG-Type A

Coded: Green Semi-Open, Level Two

Subject: Chuunin Exams?

Forgive this intrusion into a unique event, but we garnered information trhough our autoamted networks of this event taking place in one of your systems. (Name withheld for security at present between parties involved.)

If we may, as an added attempt to establish diplomatic relations with the CoreWorlds realm, may send three representatives to this Exam event as objective observers, to learn the processes of this type of combat and way, primarily due to our lack of knowledge of the subject matter involved.

If also willing, we will abide and arrive at the destination and timeframe transmitted, via coded channel 34377-A/HPG-A. If otherwise against this notion, please transmit via open channel instead.

Our intrest is again, dimplomatic, and observation only. We will not participate personally in the event, unless external needs arise.

Honored Regards,

Lady Seto Kamiki
Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor ~

...and then, the wait.

Furu eyed Kakashi as he stepped off the shuttle. A troublesome one, that one. Much too much trouble than he was worth. Furu turned to his diciples.

"Go to the academy and find out as much as you can about the other teams. I want a full report, as usual. Relive your stomachs if you have to as well."

Furu turned and dissapeared in a small puff of smoke, presumebly heading in the direction of Hotel Hokage. The three Oto Genin started to explore, and soon found several teams of Ninja inside the Ichiraku Restaurant.

"A double blessing," Said Sen. "Here we can some food and some information. We'll follow the first ones to leave."

The other two genin nodded.

"Bartender! Sushi, if you please!"

"A resturant." Max commented as he finished the noodles he'd purchased earlier, "Let's stop and get some take away, since I haven't seen a grocery store around."
"Always it's food with you." Mer commented as she added a kunai to her thumb and pinky, to make it so that she was balancing five of them.
Tori opened the door and the three stepped in before heading to a table.

Once there they ordered bowls of noodles as well as quite a few buns.

~ Message 578385.883/FL-99P, HPG-Type A

Coded: Green Semi-Open, Level Two

Subject: Chuunin Exams?

Forgive this intrusion into a unique event, but we garnered information trhough our autoamted networks of this event taking place in one of your systems. (Name withheld for security at present between parties involved.)

If we may, as an added attempt to establish diplomatic relations with the CoreWorlds realm, may send three representatives to this Exam event as objective observers, to learn the processes of this type of combat and way, primarily due to our lack of knowledge of the subject matter involved.

If also willing, we will abide and arrive at the destination and timeframe transmitted, via coded channel 34377-A/HPG-A. If otherwise against this notion, please transmit via open channel instead.

Our intrest is again, dimplomatic, and observation only. We will not participate personally in the event, unless external needs arise.

Honored Regards,

Lady Seto Kamiki
Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor ~

Coreworlds Diplomatic Corps picked up the message, and seeing as it was important enough to warrant the advice of the Council, sent it shooting up the line to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, run by Jedi Master Emily Rydo.

She read the paper and smiled. Finally, we can meet them for real.

To: Lady Seto Kamiki, Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor
From: Master Emily Rydo, Minister of Foreign Affairs

We are pleased to accept the Gaian Ascendancy's request to observe our Chuunin Exams. Here are some information about it.

As you may or may not know, the ranks of Ninja are similar to the ranks of Jedi, in that there's Genin (Apprentice), Chuunin (Knight), and Jounin (Master). The Chuunin Exams is designed to test the abilities of Genin to see if they have the requirements and skill to attain the rank of Chuunin. There are three Tests:

First is Written

Second is Survival

and Third is a Tournament.

As the first two are not open to the public, the Third Test is the one you'll want to view. It will begin in about a month after the Second Exam, so you'll have plenty of time to arrive, tour the land, and get tickets to choice seats. I hope you'll enjoy our festivities.

Sincerely,

Master Emily Rydo

Daniel of course took up the all you can eat, his gluttony was well known to his two team-mates. While Katana and Katsuo calmly ate, the blue elf gobbled down his noodles like there was no tomorrow and showed no sign of the hotness getting to him.

"He eats worse than a pig," Katsuo quietly mentioned to the others.

"Yeah?" Nick glanced at Travis, who was currently trying to outrace Daniel in downing the food. He sighed. "There's one in every village..."

Furu eyed Kakashi as he stepped off the shuttle. A troublesome one, that one. Much too much trouble than he was worth. Furu turned to his diciples.

"Go to the academy and find out as much as you can about the other teams. I want a full report, as usual. Relive your stomachs if you have to as well."

Furu turned and dissapeared in a small puff of smoke, presumebly heading in the direction of Hotel Hokage. The three Oto Genin started to explore, and soon found several teams of Ninja inside the Ichiraku Restaurant.

"A double blessing," Said Sen. "Here we can some food and some information. We'll follow the first ones to leave."

The other two genin nodded.

"Bartender! Sushi, if you please!"

"as you wish!" The Tender, pleased with the customers he's getting, said. "Fish on Ice!"

Soon enough, the kids finished their meal, a small unnoticable timeskip occurred and Genin from all over the galaxy began heading to the Academy for the First Exam...

At the Hotel Hokage, the Jounin were advised of each portion of the Exam and prepared themselves for the Second Test, when they would meet up again with their teams in true ninja fashion...

"It's so going to be written," Daniel moaned as he and his team-mates headed up to the Academy for the first exam. "I hate written."

"Oh quit your moaning Gabriel," Katana.

Steam appeared to appear from Daniels ears as they headed inside, "DON'T CALL ME GABRIEL!" he yelled at the top of his lungs, not caring who was around.

The following message was picked up by the Comm-Orb network and transmitted back within a few days.

~ To: Lady Seto Kamiki, Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor
From: Master Emily Rydo, Minister of Foreign Affairs

We are pleased to accept the Gaian Ascendancy's request to observe our Chuunin Exams. Here are some information about it.

As you may or may not know, the ranks of Ninja are similar to the ranks of Jedi, in that there's Genin (Apprentice), Chuunin (Knight), and Jounin (Master). The Chuunin Exams is designed to test the abilities of Genin to see if they have the requirements and skill to attain the rank of Chuunin. There are three Tests:

First is Written

Second is Survival

and Third is a Tournament.

As the first two are not open to the public, the Third Test is the one you'll want to view. It will begin in about a month after the Second Exam, so you'll have plenty of time to arrive, tour the land, and get tickets to choice seats. I hope you'll enjoy our festivities.

Sincerely,

Master Emily Rydo ~

--

*Six days later, 2017 Hrs Local System Time*

The royals were finishing up dinner and beginning evening routines, as an Aide enters the communal Family quarters entryway, Padd in hand. After finding Lady Seto, enjoying time with Lady Sirrana and Belldandy, when the message finally came.

Soon after reading, Seto locates Funaho, preening Misaki's long mane for bed, with the news. "Looks like we'll need to settle travel plans."

Funaho, looking at the message considers. "Not sure of the timeframe indicated. And staying as guests too long would be improper." Misaki comments looking up from a seated position. "Well we were curious about their realm, maybe we should take up on the offer of a light amount of tourisim, before the observation."

Funaho comments, still looking at the Padd. "We might need to study these unfamiliar terms some for a bit before we go. Or at least on the way."

At that moment walks in. "Pardon, what's this?" ..he sees Seto, just before..

Funaho/Misaki: "DEAR! GET OUT, WE'RE NOT DECENT!!"

Azusa, despite decades of knowing better, and 'because' the two ladies 'do' know better, skedaddles out of the chamber like wildfire, yelling 'sorry' in his wake.

Seto gets as much laughter out of it as the two wives of the said poor royal. She comments lightly. "That never gets old."

Misaki adds.. "And I thought Akito was jittery." ..this as Azusa walks back in fuming.

"Only another three thousand years of this."

---

A return message of, the next day...

~ Message 578688.904/FL-17Y, HPG-Type A

Coded: Green Semi-Open, Level Two

Subject: Invitation acknowledged.

While we do not know an exact timeframe that your exam will fall under, regarding the 'month' after the second exam, and to forgoe waiting too long, we'll be sending a party in advance to make inital dimplomatic contact, which will remain as long as circumstances remain amiable.

We don't want to wait too long and make pests of ourselves while waiting, you see.

We'll arrive in a few standard days in a Second Generation Class Hikari Treeship, via Fold Jump, at coordiantes to be specified by your authorities. Security will be light on our part, and we'll be arriving low profile as not to cause a disturbance.

We look forward to a long awaited meeting.

Honored Regards,

Lady Seto Kamiki
Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor ~

Mer heard a young man yell about his dislike for being called Gabriel and filed it under useful in case he turned out to be one of the competitors in the exam. With a smile she grabbed the rest of the buns, left the payment and with the rest of her team headed to the testing center.

Caroline City, Wooshaba

Lialai walked through the major city towards the Wooshabian Forest. She was already tardy for her meeting with Raikage. She should have known better. Master Kendalis will be most disappointed. Lialai ran quickly through the town. Once outside the city she was able to teleport to right outside the Cloud Village temple. She could tell that the other members of her group were already in the Raikage's home. She walked in.

Behind a desk marked with the Hidden Cloud Village symbol sat the powerful Raikage. Lialai bowed her head to the Raikage and walked over to her group members, Shaoel and Gordunt. Gordunt smiled at her and whispered, "You always have to be late." Sitting inconspicuously behind the trio was their master, Barak Kendalis. He was probably next in line to be Raikage and his clan was one of the most powerful families in Wooshaba. Barak said to Gordunt, "Yes she is always late." He then added, "But she always somehow makes up for it." Barak flashed a smile at his group. Lialai bowed to her master and said, "Greetings Master."

Then Raikage spoke. "Since everyone is now here I do believe we need to proceed with the nominations." Raikage looked at Barak and said, "Do you nominate these genin to take the Chunnin Exams. Barak stood up and said, "I do nominate Lialai, Shaoel and Gordunt to take the Chunnin Exams." Raikage smiled and said, "Well then, I will give all of you guys one hour to get ready and then you must depart to CoreWorlds to take the exams. I wish you all good luck. May the Force be with you. Dismissed."

The three ninjas filed out of the home behind their master. Then Jirair turned around. I have a gift for you all. He pulled out a silver box. He smiled at them and said, "These should help you through your tests." He opened up the box to reveal three pure alexandrite gems. "These gems will help you to harness your powers, but you are going to have to figure out how to harness their energies." Each student took a stone. Master Kendalis then said, "Meet me at the harbor in forty-five minutes." He looked directly at Lialai and said, "Do not be late. Dismissed." All of ninjas disappeared from where they where in seconds.

===============================================================

Exactly forty-five minutes later all three genin and their master were at the harbor with all of their items in hand. Shaoel looked at his partners and said, "This should be simple enough." Lialai and Gordunt smirked and got on the ship. A few minutes later they were on their way to CoreWorlds for the chunnin exams.

OOC: I am going to catch my characters up with everyone else's.

IC: One day later the ship landed in the CoreWorlds Harbor. Lialai walked up on the deck and smelled the fresh air. Spending the day on the ship wasn't fun. Lialai went back to her cabin and grabbed her sword and her armband. She prepared herself for the exams. As she left her cabin she saw Shaoel and Gordunt walking off of the ship with their blades towards the city to register. Lialai ran and caught up with them. Barak was a couple of paces ahead of them. Finally when they were just outside of the city Jirair turned around and gave them a special look. He then said, "Do you guys remember on the first day of training when I took your lightsabers?" All of the students nodded. "For this test it is necessary that you have them." Barak opened up his robe to reveal three different lightsabers. He handed Shaoel a copper hilted blade with a large garnet in the bottom. "I do believe this is yours." Shaoel bowed and took his lightsaber. He ignited to make the dark red light appear and extinguished it. He smiled in satisfaction. Barak then pulled out a pure silver hilt that had three citrine stones melded into the bottom. Gordunt eagerly put his hands out. Barak put the hilt in his hand. Gordunt beamed and said, "Thank you, Master." Gordunt let the golden light from his blade come out and waved it around in the air. Barak gave him a sharp look and the Gordunt quickly put up the blade. Barak finally pulled out the last hilt. "Finally Lialai I present you with your lightsaber." He held the hilt out to Lialai. Lialai took it graciously and examined the perfect sapphire stones that were in the hilt. She took out her alexandrite and watched all of the stones glimmer. She then put the alexandrite stone back in her pocket and hooked the lightsaber to her waist.

"The building that you all need to register in is right there," Barak told them. The three genin bowed and walked up to the building. They then entered. Lialai walked up to a lady behind a desk and said, "Where do we register for the Chunnin Exams, ma'am? We are from the Hidden Cloud village." They stood there and waited for a reply.

While the Gaians were waiting for a response, the agreed upon party was preparing in the common room of the royal chambers, as Funaho, Misaki and Yosho were settling things with aides and getting up to date information about the Coredians, and this Exam event.

As well as the fact there were participants from several mortal powers and realms. It was not lost on the Gaians an oppritunity to learn a great deal from many of the present participants might allow the Sphere a rare oppritunity.

"That sash might be a tad flashy Sister. Try a normal weave scarf." Funaho recommended to Misaki, whom nods and places a dark green embroidered scarf in a dimensionalized pack bag.

Yosho meanwhile, traveling light as most males tend to do, was more focused on a Padd, containing data on the Chuunin Exam. It still was sorta lost on him as how he would learn anything from mere observation, to incorporate into the Ascendancy militaries.

Other than Sasami and Skuld who chatted away near the communal entertainment bigscreen unit, only an occasional aide or family member entered or exited, looking for someone or whence.

Tis when Lady Jennifer enters, back from a trip to the Sacrosta Galaxy sector of the Confederacy regional capitals. She sees and asks of the three. "And what am I lacking knowledge of, this time fair folk?"

Funaho looks up and smiles to Aleaic's Third Lady Excellency. "A simple trip, questing for knowledge." Yosho however adds in. "Aye, and they're making me tag along." He sighs. "I'm a swordmaster, not a shinobi."

Jennifer blinks a quick couple. "I see I had better update on the goings on around here."

Misaki tosses her the Padd with the relevant information to Jennifer, a deft catch and a moment of quick scan later. "Well, at least you'll be entertained well enough." ..commenting in tone of one not nearly the warrior type some of the other family members are. (She prefers Bell's and Ayeka's company more than Ryoko's or Ifurita's.)

Still..

Funaho and Misaki are sorta suprised when Jennifer enters the Excellency bed chamber, and comes back out with her own small carry on.

"No sense on missing out on this, Excellency's perogrative, ya'll know."

Misaki giggles and looks up at Funaho as Yosho just stares stunned. "She's sure the adventurous one."

--

One the Coredian message was recieved a second time, the Hikari Treeship Montara, a powerful Second Generation Treeship grown from the Triad Tree Hikari, would be the holy chariot for this unusual journey.

All that was needed for the (now) four participants, (much to Seto's sudden chagrin...,) was the final curtain pull from the Coredians.

Barak walked around the city wondering where all of the other Jounin were. He knew that they would be planning the Chunnin Exams. Barak also wondered who would be in charge of directing the tests. Barak walked towards the center of the city.

Wooshaba']Jirair walked around the city wondering where all of the other Jounin were. He knew that they would be planning the Chunnin Exams. Jirair also wondered who would be in charge of directing the tests. Jirair walked towards the center of the city.
"Yo." A Jounin named Konohamaru noted Jirair wandering around. "You're a Jounin, right? All the others are at the Hotel Hokage setting up the Exams."

~ Message 578688.904/FL-17Y, HPG-Type A

Coded: Green Semi-Open, Level Two

Subject: Invitation acknowledged.

While we do not know an exact timeframe that your exam will fall under, regarding the 'month' after the second exam, and to forgoe waiting too long, we'll be sending a party in advance to make inital dimplomatic contact, which will remain as long as circumstances remain amiable.

We don't want to wait too long and make pests of ourselves while waiting, you see.

We'll arrive in a few standard days in a Second Generation Class Hikari Treeship, via Fold Jump, at coordiantes to be specified by your authorities. Security will be light on our part, and we'll be arriving low profile as not to cause a disturbance.

We look forward to a long awaited meeting.

Honored Regards,

Lady Seto Kamiki
Gaian Prime Foreign Advisor ~
Reply to Lady Seto Kamiki:

To clarify the timeframe, the First and Second Exams are held this week, starting today. The Third Exam will be held one standard month from today. The coordinates are attached to this message *See encrypted attachment* and we await your arrival.

We also look forward to this meeting.

Master Emily Rydo, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

------

Upon entering the Academy, Team Seven gave their applications to the Jounin guarding the doors and then they were ushered into a large room filled with dangerous and menacing Genin from all around the galaxy. To the big boys and girls, Team Seven looked like minnows. Still, they swallowed their fear and moved to an empty spot.

"Hey." A girl with black hair in streaks of pink came before them, followed by Keith Masaki and a boy with long brown hair tied in a topknot. They all wore T-shirts with their family seals and olive-green cargoes.

"Hey. I know you, Keith, but who are you two?" Travis asked.

"You don't recognize my beautiful face? How sad. Uchiha Reika, at your service." Reika introduced herself. She's the eldest child of Sasuke and Sakura and aspires to be the next heir of the restored Uchiha Clan. Has she activated the Sharingan yet? The Exams will tell...

"Umino Haruka." The other boy said. The son of Iruka, he aspires to be as great a teacher as his father.

A few more Genin, one team from Rock (ie, the Evil Three), two from Grass, and two from Waterfall entered the Main Hall of the Academy, and then the teams waited for more...

Barak followed Konohamaru to to the hotel. Then he asked Konohamaru, "When do you think the exams will begin?"

============================================================

After getting all of their papers the team quickly ran to the site of the first test. They had heard through the grapevine that it was going to be written. Gordunta hated written tests. "What I am going to do?" he asked his teammates. "Don't worry Gordo, you'll do fine," Lialai told him. Then Shaoel added in, "If you fail, you make Lialai and I fail also." Gordunta yelled back at Shaoel, "Well that doesn't make me feel better!" Lialai and Shaoel laughed at him. They made their way up into to the front doors. There guarding the doors were two Jounin. They each handed them their papers and walked into the room. The room was packed with other Genin. Lialai thought to herself, This should be interesting.

Mer and Tori had departed first, while Max snagging an apple and a couple bottles of water from a store before catching up and heading to the testing room.

The Genin from Kirigakure noticed that another team had just entered and passing the papers to the Nin at the door, entered and looked at the multitude of other 'rookies' and 'vets' taking the test.

Gordunta whispered to Lialai, "I wonder how many people are in this room." Lialai loooked at him and said, "A lot." Lialai didn't see any familiar faces. She thought that maybe she would see someone from the Jedi Academy taking the Chuunin exams. No one seemed to be there. She wondered what her master was doing.

===============================================================

Barak was sitting around with all the other Jounin talking about the test. For some Jounin it was their pupil's second or third time taking the test. Barak thought to himself, This test is going to be difficult. I am sure those kids will make it through. Barak continued socializing with the rest of the Jounin.

Daniel looked around at the other Genin, his tail flicking nervously behind him. "There are some weird guys here," he commented.

Katsuo nodded in agreement. Katana was silently watching the others.

-------

Eamonn too watched the other Jounin leaders. None of them could see that however as his eyes were covered by his trademark sunglasses.

The second return message came at a more appropriate time for the Gaians, right after breakfast, a few days later again.

Seto was enjoying a european type breakfast, when the aide came with the message. Seto handed over a thanking piece of buttered toast to the aide as Seto took the Padd.

She looks over at the four royals. "Looks like you're on guys. Just don't make too much of a mess."

Funaho looks up from some eggs and sausage and smiles. "We'll keep Yosho in line, worry not."

Yosho pleading/objectionally looks at Azusa who holds up his hands with a 'don't look at me' pose.

--

*Treeship Montara, in orbit over the Homeworld Treeship Yards*

A couple of hours later, within the vast tree shaped vessel yards, looking like a large four 'pole' set of trees were melded together into a HUGE four leaf clover of sorts.

The Montara, a vessel that has an eagleish/hawkish look to it's graceful curves, and now busy with vessel Techs preparing for the journey, note the arrival of the four royals via teleporter from the Palace direct, with bows and friendly nods.

Jennifer takes command with.. "Alright, we have a new civilization to meet. Let's shove off."

The weeks of planning come down to a few frantic, coreographed moments where the crew waste no time in setting the appropriate coordinates provided via the last Coredian transmission. Other ship functions are handled in short order, as the royals take spots near the piloting nore center, where the Hikair Link with the onboard Tree is at it's apex, removed from the Tree core itself.

Misaki gets a nod from a senior Nav-Tech and comments over to Lady Jennifer. "I think we're ready."

"Alrighty then. Hold onto your bootstraps." ..and with a set of traffic copntrol comm acknowledgements and handoffs, the vessel is cleared away from the Yards, with ceramic/whitesteel clamps letting go of the Treeship.

A few moments later, away from the Yards, Jennifer acknowledges to the Tree core for departure, and the Tree activates the jump core energizers, and the Fold drive soon after that.

"Here we go."

Jennifer then activates the Jump and the vessel flattens into a bright horizontal line, bliping out.

--

..and arriving in reverse within Coredian space a few monent later, the vast distance traversed easily once more.

Jennifer sighs, the Tree feeling a bit winded in her mind. "I think we're here."

Funaho nods and looks over to the Comm Section of the command deck. "Begin sending greeting messages until we get a return message. Give them our authentication codes from the last two messages and then standby."

Yosho walks forwad over the grassen 'deck floor', set between white steel and Treeship wood beams, looking out at the sight before them.

"Hope they're neighboorly guests."

Funaho chides Yosho. "I think we'll be fine son."

Yosho just blushes a smile.

The three Sound Genin followed the other teams into the testing room, closely observing the other junior ninja closely. Most seemed extraordinairaly weak, with a couple of half-decent ninja here and there. Sen grinned beneath his bandages; the challanges ahead would be cake if he had measured the skill of the other teams correctly. There was always room for suprise, however...Better not get too confident.
============================================================
Meanwhile, Furu was lazing around with the other Jounin at the hotel, quitely observing his rivals. He knew that his team would probably past each of the tests quite easily, but a small worry that there might be some unexpected problem was in the back of his mind.

Lialai watched as a group of ninja filed into the room. She looked at there insignia. She thought to herself, Sound ninja. There can be really tricky. I am going to have to watch out for them. Lialai looked around the room. It was full of weaklings. Shaoel whispered to Gordunta, "Some of these guys are going to be out of here before the test even starts." Gordunta nodded in agreement.

==============================================================

Barak was bored so he pulled out a deck of cards that he always carried with him. He looked around at the other Jounin and asked, "Anyone interested in a little poker?" He looked around to see if anyone would accept.

A sudden cloud of smoke startled the Genin and appearing from the cloud was a Jounin and an army of Chuunin. The Jounin was a woman in her early thirties with brown hair and sports an ANBU cloak. Her face isn't covered through, to the surprise and embarrassment of Travis and Keith.

They knew this woman all too well.

"To your seats, boys and girls! You should have memorized the number on your application forms by now. Hop to it!" The kunoichi ordered sternly. A mad scramble for seats occurred and soon the Genin found that they were separated from their teams.

"I am Masaki Katrina," At this, the Masaki boys sweatdropped and felt like digging a hole and pulling it over them. "and I will be your proctor for the First Exam."

A Chuunin began passing out paper and pencils to each Genin, paper face-down.

A chalk was levitated and began scratching out the rules. "Here are the rules for today. On your exam sheets, there are twelve questions. Each question is worth one point, so if you get it wrong, you'll lose a point."

Heh. Doesn't sound so bad. If I get a majority, I can pass this easy! Travis silently chuckled.

"However, there are some additional rules." Katrina explained. "This is a team effort, so if you lose all your points, your team fail as well. And if you cheat and get caught, you lose two points. Any questions? No? Very well."

An eraser levitated and erased everything on the board, leaving the Genin to their papers.

"Begin...NOW!" Katrina ordered. "You have one hour."

As scritching and scratching began to be heard, Travis stared down at the questions with a foul look on his face. Too hard. Too hard. Too hard. Damn! What the hell is this, college? I'm only 12! Grrr...

He wondered how his fellow Leaf and Sand rookies were doing...

..and arriving in reverse within Coredian space a few monent later, the vast distance traversed easily once more.

Jennifer sighs, the Tree feeling a bit winded in her mind. "I think we're here."

Funaho nods and looks over to the Comm Section of the command deck. "Begin sending greeting messages until we get a return message. Give them our authentication codes from the last two messages and then standby."

Yosho walks forwad over the grassen 'deck floor', set between white steel and Treeship wood beams, looking out at the sight before them.

"Hope they're neighboorly guests."

Funaho chides Yosho. "I think we'll be fine son."

Yosho just blushes a smile.

"Ah. Gaian Ascendancy ship. We're expecting you." The traffic-nin noted the strange Treeship in orbit. "The Hokage (aka Governor) will be expecting you once you arrive on the planet."

Daniel face dropped, it was written after all. The three sand Nin all took their seats and as the exam started, Katsuo and Katana instantly got into the flow of the questions. Daniel on the otherhand stared wide-eyed at the questions.

What the heck do these things mean? he wondered to himself.

He ran both hands through his hair, now what would his father do in this situation. Kurt would probably have an advisor help him, Quatre on the other hand would just get on and do it.

"And know what he was doing..."

Daniel hadn't noticed himself talk quietly under his breath as he stared at the exam paper. It was fortunate for him that no one would have heard him.

Lialai and the others quickly took their seats. When the proctor announced her name Lialai was surprised. Masaki. I know some Masakies. I wonder if any other ones are here.

Lialai did the first problems quite quickly. She was one of the lucky ones who knew what she was doing. She wondered how Shaoel and Gordunta were doing. She used her telepathy to quickly connect to the other two. Shaoel quickly replied, I am fine. Gordunta how are you. Gordunta replied, I am good. I am using a simple jutsu that allows me to see you guy's papers. I think I am fine. Gordunta turned his head to the side and saw a Jounin scratching something down on a paper. He then voiced, Uh-oh. I might have just got caught. I'll be in touch. He pulled his mind out of the connection. Shaoel then voiced, Silly kid. He then pulled himself out of the connection. Lialai rebusied her self with the rest of the problems.

The three mist genin took thier seats before looking at the test papers.

Max looked at the test paper, tapping his pencil on his desk as he thought. He looked at the questions, wondering if Mer or Tori were finding any questions easier than he was. As he lifted the pencil to work on one of the questions, he sneezed. As he was about to sneeze again, he raised his hands to cover his nose, which was already covered by a wall of hair as he triggered his kekkai genkai. With it active, he began looking over the area to see if anyone seemed like they had the answer as logic said one or more of the older genin might know or be able to solve the problems.

Mer had a slightly different. The genin in front of her was sweating but still cute and distracting. As she tried to get back in focus, she heard a tapping that sounded almost like rain, "Max." She thought with an amused smile as she was now able to pay attention to her test. As the brightest of the Kiriga genin, she began working on the answers in earnest.

Tori was having a number of problems as she was horrible at tests that weren't practical. She began poking at what the Proctor had said to see if that had a clue. She kept coming back to the 'If you cheat and get caught' before realizing that it wasn't a warning against cheating, but a warning against cheating crudely. With a smile she began the test.

The four royals had no such worries, responding to the traffic-nin formally. "Acknowledged master controller. We will arrive via teleporter beam in short order near your complex gate." ..Lady Jennifer replied in full grace, lacking any western tang in her voice.

She then looks back. "Ready?"

A few moments later, other than the clothing on their backs and a few items hidden away in subspace storage units 'in' the said informal kimono or yakuta wear, a half jumpsuit, half kimono type in Jennifer's case, all dressed bright yet ulitarian, they head to the teleporter units.

"Just watch the ship. We'll call if needed." Funaho commanded the vessel Angel God commander. At that, the four shimmer away in the soft blue-light of the teleport beam, and arrive on the planet's surface a moment later.

For a moment after arrival, they just look at the new scenery they meet.

The four royals had no such worries, responding to the traffic-nin formally. "Acknowledged master controller. We will arrive via teleporter beam in short order near your complex gate." ..Lady Jennifer replied in full grace, lacking any western tang in her voice.

She then looks back. "Ready?"

A few moments later, other than the clothing on their backs and a few items hidden away in subspace storage units 'in' the said informal kimono or yakuta wear, a half jumpsuit, half kimono type in Jennifer's case, all dressed bright yet ulitarian, they head to the teleporter units.

"Just watch the ship. We'll call if needed." Funaho commanded the vessel Angel God commander. At that, the four shimmer away in the soft blue-light of the teleport beam, and arrive on the planet's surface a moment later.

For a moment after arrival, they just look at the new scenery they meet.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/38/Konoha.jpeg

Konohagekure no Sato is one of the most famous cities in all of Coreworlds. Closely packed and sporting the previous Hokages' faces on the cliff nearby, it is the seat of government for the Konoha System and the location from where Ninjas train. In other words, it's home away from home for many a Coredian, including the Masakis.

As soon as they teleported on the ground, the Gaian delegates were greeted by a young Genin or apprentice ninja, about thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Hello." Kishi said. "Are you the Gaian delegates? If so, the Hokage's expecting you."

------

In the middle of the exam...

*Thwack!* A kunai shot past Travis to hit in front of a Genin.

"Team 18 fails! Get out!" A Chuunin ordered.

"What? Aww..." The Genin hung his head and he and his team walked out of the door in shame. More teams began to be kicked out.

Damn. That was close... Travis thought. Now how the hell am I supposed to do this...What did Mom say?

Keith already discovered the meaning behind meanings as a little bird whispered in his ears the answers. Smirking, he sent a telepathic message to his team.

In response, Reika activated her Sharingan and copied a Genin's movements, one that seemed to have all the answers. Haruka simply used his smarts and a bit of help from Keith to breeze through.

As for Team Seven...

Nick activated his Aim ability to track another Genin who had the answers and copied down the notes while Kagome used mirrors and levers to copy Nick's.

And as for Travis?

Hmm. "If you cheat and get caught..." Is there a message? Sounds like it. Maybe I can cheat, but in a way that won't let me get caught... Travis thought. Now how to go about that...oh, right! Use the Force, kid!

Almost going into a trance, Travis expanded his Force senses to accompany the entire room and noted that the 'Genin' the room were actually Chuunin secreted into the room as spotters. Smirking, Travis searched one Chuunin's paper and memorized the answers. Then he went back to reality and wrote them down.

By the time he was finished, time was almost up...

The sound team was making their way through the exam without much trouble; each member of the team was well educated, and any questoin they didn't know could be found by simply listening around them. Their well-adapted ears could easily tell what the teams around them were writing, given the taps of the many pencils around them. The Oto team was soon finished ahead of time.

Daniel looked down at his paper, most of it was just random scribblings in the hope that at least something was right. There was no way he'd let his team down, especially because if he did Katana would kill him.

Katana was of course having a much easier time of it. While she was bright, she still used a keen eyesight to steal glances at those nearest her out of the corner of her eye. Each glance was too quick for anyone to notice.

Katsuo was brighter then he looked, using his cat inside the puppet he spied on those behind him. The cat relayed the answers it saw back to him via telepathy.

Lialai and the rest of Team Kendalis were finished with all of there questions. She wondered what the last question was going to be. Shaoel sent them a telepathic message, Get ready you guys. I am sure the last one will be tricky. Lialai and Gordunt nodded in agreement.

"All right, everyone. Time's up!" Katrina announrced. Suddenly, the scratching of pencils stopped.

"All right. You will notice that there is a final question." Katrina smirked. "But before I tell you the question, I must detail one special rule for it."

Another rule? Travis thought. Oh man!

"First, you're all going to choose if you want to take this question."

"What? Huh?" Went a confused crowd.

"So what if you don't take it?" Reika asked.

"Heh. Simple. Your points will be reverted to zero and you and your teams will fail." Katrina grinned, clearly enjoying torturing the kids. "Secondly, if you choose to take the question and you get it wrong, you will never again be allowed to take another Chuunin Exam again. Thus, you will be Genin...forever!"

The whole room gasped in horror. The tension and stress began to build...

Then someone raised his hand and bowed his head in shame. "I'm sorry, Jack. Vicky. I can't take this."

A couple of other teams failed as well...

Now Daniel really got nervous, he could walk out now failing his team-mates and wait for the next Chuunin Exam or carry on and fail, thus being barred from entering any further Chuunin Exam. He could tell that both Katana and Katsuo were ready to go ahead with the next question, he couldn't let them down.

Behind him, a hand slapped down on a table. "Ha, bollocks," a voice said. "You won't bar anyone who fails the next question, you're just trying to scare us into failing. We're staying."

Daniel grimaced as he recognised the voice, Masato and that also meant Sayuri and Shun were there. He didn't see them there before but if Masato was staying then so was he. No way would he let that black-haired boy get one over him.

"We're staying," Daniel then told Katana and Katsuo.

The decision to stay or leave was a non-issue for Mer, Max and Tori. Trying and failing was more acceptable, but only somewhat slightly more so, than failing to try at all. They knew should they choose to leave, thier future might be measured in days.

One of the genin beside stood up and boosted that this final question was bullocks and chuckled, wouldn't he be surprised if it turned out he was wrong.

Shamman wondered around for a bit. Getting a feel for the area.
Don't know exactly where I'm going..... Ahh..... Here he is. An ancient technique. It allows a force wielder (both light and dark) to sence where a person has been, and whether or not he/she was light or dark.


He knew what the Masaki Blood felt like through the force. He could taste it. He torchered a friend, Jeremy, in an attempt to turn him over. He followed the trail till he reached the restaurant where Travis and his team ate..... However, it lead him to a dead end. Or so he thought. He serveyed the area, and saw the 'tender who served Travis and his team.

He asked the 'Tender where they went off to. He said something about the "Chuunin Exames." Gave Shamman basic dirrections to where they were held. It was enough for Shamman. Even if they weren't accurate, he found the "blood trail" again. Leading him straight to the building where the chuunin exames took place.

He walked on in, and looked for the reception desk. However, a sudden burst of furry came over him. His eyes began to glow dark red, from their normal redish color (OOC: picture, devil like) as the sent grew stronger...... He's here. He no longer needed a reseptionist. The sent was sooooo strong. He found them. They were grouped together..... Sooo strong..... Shamman stopped himself before he went further. He calmed himself. He couldn't go in like that. Center your soul.... Store your anger for later..... He quietly walked into the room. Saw the group. He saw the Theo people, he saw the Draconis people. And.... He saw Travis. Masaki.....


"All right, everyone. Time's up!" Katrina announrced. Suddenly, the scratching of pencils stopped.

"All right. You will notice that there is a final question." Katrina smirked. "But before I tell you the question, I must detail one special rule for it."

Another rule? Travis thought. Oh man!

"First, you're all going to choose if you want to take this question."

"What? Huh?" Went a confused crowd.

"So what if you don't take it?" Reika asked.

"Heh. Simple. Your points will be reverted to zero and you and your teams will fail." Katrina grinned, clearly enjoying torturing the kids. "Secondly, if you choose to take the question and you get it wrong, you will never again be allowed to take another Chuunin Exam again. Thus, you will be Genin...forever!"

He knew fear when he saw.... and smelt it. This was a cleaver trick.
He loudly slamed the door behind him with the force.

::I'm in.:: he announced.

Lialai didn't even have to look at her group to know that they were staying. She thought to herself, We have come to far now to just quit. She said aloud, "Cloud Team Barak is here to stay." Gordunta and Shaoel nodded in agreement.

OOC: IT's Travis! Not James, Travis! And Jeremy isnt a Masaki, just a friend of them, specifically Keith's older sister Rina.

IC:

Behind him, a hand slapped down on a table. "Ha, bollocks," a voice said. "You won't bar anyone who fails the next question, you're just trying to scare us into failing. We're staying."
"That's right! Even if you do manage to throw a question at us, I'm gonna answer it, even if I never get above Genin. I won't give up!" Travis glared at his mom.

Then Katrina chuckled. And laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?" Travis asked.

"Oh, nothing. Just the fact that there is, like the young lady just said, no twelfth question."

"Ugh!" A mass facefault occurred.

"So what was the point of that?" Keith asked. "And did we pass?"

"Yes. By staying here, by showing that you are willing to give up everything to ensure the success of a mission, intelligence-gathering or not, you have shown that you are on your way to becoming Chuunin." Katrina said. "After all, if you're chosen for a vital mission with a high chance of failure or death, you can not do it and you and your team would be safe, but your village or nation will be severely challenged without the correct intelligence. But if you give it your all and risk everything you know, no one will fault you if you do fail."

With that, the papers in front of the kids began to smolder and burst into flames and a few yelped in surprise. An irritated look crossed Katrina's face. Now, General?

The flames lept high into the air, smoking the ceiling and then lept to the front of the room, swirling into the shape of a man. Then the flames were dispelled, revealing a smirking raven-haired General sporting a black cloak.

"Major General Roy Mustang, Flame Master of Konoha, at your service." The General announced himself. Hmm.Twenty teams. More than last year. Well, let's cut that number down some more!

"And now, the Second Task will begin. Follow me." The General brooked no argument as he walked out of the room. The kids began following, murmuring questions of what kind of Task this will be now.

-----

Noting Shamman, the members of "Hidden Rock" moved in step with him. Jesse spoke with him harshly, nearby metal items vibrating with his anger. "You almost gave yourself away with that stunt. I had to put a genjutsu (read: illusion) over you to keep the proctors from noticing you, but I can't guarantee you won't be detected anyway."

Masato folded his arms and smirked, he saw that coming a mile off. He could recall Kimiko telling them that the Chuunin Exam questions were not always as they might seem.

Daniel breathed a sigh of relief, the first part was down and it was now onto the next part. He and the others followed, each wondering what the next part of the exam involved.

Max frowned from behind his curtain of hair. He wasn't fond of things he termed as practical jokes, and this fit the bill perfectly. He and the other mist genin stood and headed out to see what this next task was.

OOC: IT's Travis! Not James, Travis! And Jeremy isnt a Masaki, just a friend of them, specifically Keith's older sister Rina.

OOC: WTF!?!?!?!?! What the hell am I thinking!?! (not at all apairently). Then where the hell did I get James from!?! GOOD GOD MAN!



Noting Shamman, the members of "Hidden Rock" moved in step with him. Jesse spoke with him harshly, nearby metal items vibrating with his anger. "You almost gave yourself away with that stunt. I had to put a genjutsu (read: illusion) over you to keep the proctors from noticing you, but I can't guarantee you won't be detected anyway."

"Sorry. It's an ancient curse. When one's master has been affected by an enemy as much as my master has, the apprentice is transfered with the same amount of hatred for the Master and Apprentice share a special bond. I still have much to learn about controling it. I have a feeling that's another reason why my master sent me on this mission. To controle it, just as he has. However, it's very usefull when we're in battle."

Lialai smiled as she heard that her group had passed. She yelled, "Yes." She turned to her two teammates and said,"Let's go." They followed the General.

"Sorry. It's an ancient curse. When one's master has been affected by an enemy as much as my master has, the apprentice is transfered with the same amount of hatred for the Master and Apprentice share a special bond. I still have much to learn about controling it. I have a feeling that's another reason why my master sent me on this mission. To controle it, just as he has. However, it's very usefull when we're in battle."
"Just be sure you keep your head down. Ah. We're here." Jesse said as General Mustang arrived at a large, and I mean large electrified gate. Inside teh gate, there was a jungle and a distant roar sounded somewhere inside it.

"Training Grounds Number Fifty, Or in other words, Welcome to the Jungle of Doom." The General grinned. "So this is your second task. Survive one week inside this jungle and reach the tower at the center. Oh, yes." He snapped his fingers and flames erupted, revealing scrolls that are either black or white. Each team have either a black or a white scroll, Heaven or Earth. "From now on, anything goes. You must get a scroll of the opposite color in order to pass. You may not look inside the scroll or you will fail. You may not pass if a team member is dead or incapitated. Any questions? No. Very well."

The General ordered each Genin to a different gate, one mile apart. He noted something odd around Hidden Rock's team, but decided not to worry about it. They'll likely fail, anyway.

----

Now, as for the teams, here's the lowdown:

Konoha Team Seven (Me): White Scroll.

Konoha Team Nine (Me): Black Scroll.

Suna Team Wagner (DN): Black Scroll

Otoga Team (Ravea): White Scroll

Iwaga Team (Me): White Scroll

Kiriga Team (Theao): Black Scroll

Kumoga Team ([NS]Wooshaba): White Scroll

That means thirteen more scrolls to take. 6 White, 7 Black.

As soon as the teams were ready, the gates opened and the kids rushed in, anticipating either the hunt or just hoping they'd survive this Extreme Survival Task.

Alsmo as soon as they entered, Team Seven encountered a nest of sleeping raptors (as in the dinosaur).

"Oh, great." Travis whispered. "Not five minutes and we're already in an enemy territory..."

"Shut up. Let's sneak through..." Kagome hissed.

They sneaked their way through snorting raptors with red on their faces. Blood. They almost made it past when...

*CRACK*

"Oops." Travis groaned as he stepped on a twig.

Suddenly, the raptors awoke, sniffed the air, and glared menacingly at the meal ticket before them, growling, smacking lips...

"RUN!" Team Seven ran for it and the pack of raptors followed, screeching in glee...

OOC: Yes, folks. This here place is full of dinosaurs, big and small. Survival of the fittest in all its bloody glory. Mwahahahahaha!

Daniel, Katana and Katsuo headed into the forest, not knowing what they would face. As they saw a river in the clearing ahead, an almighty roar shuttered the silence. That caused Daniels fur to stand on end, prompting a rude comment from Katsuo.

"Look at it, it's like static," he laughed.

"Quite you idiot," Katana snapped. "You'll give us away and if I'm not mistaken, that was a T-rex."

"A T-rex?" the two boys gulped.

All of a sudden, the exam got that little bit more dangerous.

Max took his team's scroll, a black one as he and the rest of the Kiriga genin headed to the gate. As soon as it opened, they moved in,

As they quickly scaled the trees, they heard a ferocious roar.
"Wonder who's that directed at." Tori commented as she leapt to a nearby tree.
"We got to find a place to meet up so we can fan out and find another team. Preferably one with the white scroll." Mer agreed as they reached a tree by a creek where they saw a large, nasty looking lizard sitting in the shade.

"Just be sure you keep your head down. Ah. We're here." Jesse said as General Mustang arrived at a large, and I mean large electrified gate. Inside teh gate, there was a jungle and a distant roar sounded somewhere inside it.

"Fine. *incert the roar here* What's this? Are we going up against beasts?" He turns to Jesse, "you know, there are a few things about the force which I'm sure your mother may have taught you about the force.... But do you know how to talk to animals?"


"Training Grounds Number Fifty, Or in other words, Welcome to the Jungle of Doom." The General grinned. "So this is your second task. Survive one week inside this jungle and reach the tower at the center. Oh, yes." He snapped his fingers and flames erupted, revealing scrolls that are either black or white. Each team have either a black or a white scroll, Heaven or Earth. "From now on, anything goes. You must get a scroll of the opposite color in order to pass. You may not look inside the scroll or you will fail. You may not pass if a team member is dead or incapitated. Any questions? No. Very well."

"That's it?" Shamman whispered to Jesse, "Shouldn't be too difficult...."
However, the moment he said that he remembered something which Trilkan had once told him, "Never underestemate 'easy' tasks. They can often become the hardest ones you do. Always be on your guard no matter how easy, or difficult your mission is."

Shamman now guessed this might become one of those tasks....


The General ordered each Genin to a different gate, one mile apart. He noted something odd around Hidden Rock's team, but decided not to worry about it. They'll likely fail, anyway.


He thinks he senced me..... Now's the time to keep my dark side powers down. Perhapse.... It's time for a new brand of force powers?


Konoha Team Nine (Me): Black Scroll.

OOC: I'm taking an assumption that that's us.


As soon as the teams were ready, the gates opened and the kids rushed in, anticipating either the hunt or just hoping they'd survive this Extreme Survival Task.

Alsmo as soon as they entered, Team Seven encountered a nest of sleeping raptors (as in the dinosaur).

"Oh, great." Travis whispered. "Not five minutes and we're already in an enemy territory..."

"Shut up. Let's sneak through..." Kagome hissed.

They sneaked their way through snorting raptors with red on their faces. Blood. They almost made it past when...

*CRACK*

"Oops." Travis groaned as he stepped on a twig.

Suddenly, the raptors awoke, sniffed the air, and glared menacingly at the meal ticket before them, growling, smacking lips...

"RUN!" Team Seven ran for it and the pack of raptors followed, screeching in glee...

OOC: Yes, folks. This here place is full of dinosaurs, big and small. Survival of the fittest in all its bloody glory. Mwahahahahaha!

"What the hell....?" Shamman peered into his pockets and picked up a Light Shuriken (as in, a lightsaber style shuriken), and grabbed one of his lightsabers in the other. He's seen some of the animals he's heard roaring... but they were only on holodecks back in Huntaria. And they had safty features.

OOC: Nope. You're with Hidden Rock. White Scroll.

IC:
"Heh. Dinosaurs. Powerful creatures, but no match for Shinobi...or Sith for that matter." Janus grinned. He looked up. "Hark. I sense...prey."

Launching himself into a tree, Janus peered into the jungle and noticed a random team of Genin walking through the area. Grass-nin, too. He sent a telepathic message back to his team members. Let us hunt.

Jesse sighed. "He's always more in tune with animals than I am. Not that I don't enjoy this..."

The three "Rock" Genin launched themselves into the trees, appearing to flicker inside and out of thin air. Before the Grass nin knew it, one of their members was speared in the back by Gareth's sharp hand-claws, gagging in pain and surprise. Gareth let the girl drop to the floor, dead.

"What? Damn you!" A second Genin growled and launched shuriken and kunai at them. Only to see them stopped in midair. "How?"

"Fool. Metal cannot harm me." Jesse smirked. With a twitch of his finger, the metal objects were sent flying back into the Genin, stabbing him in vital spots. Magnetic Type: Magnetic Repulsion.

The third Genin pissed himself in fear and went to his knees. He took out what was a black scroll. "Here. Spare me, please. Have mercy!"

"Why, thank you." Janus said, levitating the black scroll. Then he looked on at the Genin with a heartless gaze. "No mercy for the weak!"

Suddenly, the Grass-nin found his body squeezing into a pulp and screamed in excruciating pain before his body imploded, killing him instantly. Gravity Type: Gravitic Crush.

Now that they have the second scroll, Team Rock could do what they wish before heading to the Tower.

"Heh. Sorry, Shamman." Janus said to the Kirtir as they moved on. "I'll let you have at the next team that comes along."

=======

Meanwhile, Team Seven barely escaped by running up some trees where they fought off the raptors by slicing at them with their lightsabers as they came up. With their numbers depleted and a slight scent of blood in the air, the raptors cursed at them in their "language" and moved off.

Kagome sighed. "That was close. Hmm. We have six days, twenty two hours and ten minutes left to get a black scroll and survive this place."

"Now how are we gonna do that?" Travis asked.

"Dunno. Just hope for the best I guess." Nick sighed.

A few hours of tree-hopping later, Team Nine (Keith, Haruka, Reika) found them.

"Heh. Looks like we're together again." Keith smirked. "What scroll you have?"

"White. Why?" Travis asked.

"Black." Keith answered with a frown. "I think a truce is in order, is it not?"

"I suppose." Travis replied and they shook on it. "But if in the last day we still don't get a scroll, I'll take you on!"

"Heh. Good luck with that." Cocky Keith answered. Before Travis could retort, a loud roar sounded in the distance.

"Uh, let's move on." Reika said.

"Good idea." Kagome answered.

The two Konoha teams bounced away, not wanting to be a predator's snack...

OOC: 6 White Scrolls, 6 black scrolls. Hidden Rock has both.

“Well that was easy enough,” Masato smirked, holding up a white scroll.

It was now splattered with the blood of the unfortunate trio he and his team-mates had come across. Shun and Sayuri were quietly stood befind him looking almost emotionless. Now that they had both scrolls it was time for them to head to The Tower.

“Come on,” the black-haired boy ordered and leapt into the trees. His two team-mates followed behind.

************

“Oh crap,” Katsuo gasped with a pant. “Do you think they saw us?”

Daniel crawled down the tree toward his team-mate, “No they left, did you see them?”

The young puppeteer Genin nodded. “He just imploded that guy, did you see it?”

From within his puppet came a frightened meow.

“Wheres Katana?” the blue elf then asked.

“Right here,” she said, emerging from behind another bush. “We need to find a white scroll then we can head for the safety of The Tower.”

The two boys nodded in agreement.

“I just hope we don’t meet up with them again,” Daniel mentioned as they headed out once again.

Noting which way the Rock team had gone, they chose out an entirely different route, one that would take them away from that team.

Shaoel carried the white scroll in the hilt of his family's sword. The trio of lightning ninjas flew through the forest. Gordunt used a jutsu to locate where the nearest team was. Gordunt looked at Lialai. "They are about three miles away. From the sounds of it they are from Konoha." Lialai smiled, "Firebugs, huh? We'll check them out later. First let's get a general surveillance of the area." The trio heard a mighty roar from behind them. They looked back to spot a gigantic ape. Gordunt yelled, "I got it." Gordunt quickly did a Cloud Village hand sign. His eyes glowed a brilliant yellow and a lightning bolt came down on the ape's head. The ape fell to the ground. Gordunt caught up to them and said, "I didn't kill it. Just stunned it." Lialai and Shaoel nodded and continued through the forest. Lialai thought to herself, We need to find a black scroll fast.

An massive, feral ape leapt down from a nearby tree and lunged at Victoria. Drawing two kunai, she threw them at the ape. Each thunked into the ape's flesh without doing much more than getting a roar of rage from the beast.

As the ape slashed it's powerful claws at Tori, she leapt up, comming down before comming down to smash her heel full into the beastial face. As the ape's neck snapped and it feel back, Tori quickly followed to retrive her kunai.

"Man that was annoying, and I think it blunted one." She growled as she looked over at the others, "And you could have chipped in."
"For an ape?" Mer commented
"Let's split for a bit to see if any of us can find a team, but don't engage, call the others." Max commented as the other two nodded.
With that, the three mist ninja disappeared to seek out the other teams.

The thunder trio landed in an open area surrounded by trees. Lialai glanced around and said, "This looks like a good area to stop and regroup. Are we still going to go after that Kohona team?" Shaoel shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know. It doesn't matter to me." The group froze as they heard a twig snap. Gordunt quickly pulled out his sword and said, "Someone is close." Lialai nodded and said, "How right you are. Get up in the trees." The group gathered their chakra in their legs and used it to propel them quietly into the high branches. From there they sat and waited for there victims to walk into the circle.

OOC: Nope. You're with Hidden Rock. White Scroll.

OOC: Ahhhh.....


IC:
"Heh. Dinosaurs. Powerful creatures, but no match for Shinobi...or Sith for that matter." Janus grinned. He looked up. "Hark. I sense...prey."


"Should this go well for us, I believe my master would be interested in trying to 'import' a few of these dinosaurs into our territory. If not a live creature, then perhapse some bits of DNA we could use to clone. I bet we could probably learn to train these animals to fight for us."


Launching himself into a tree, Janus peered into the jungle and noticed a random team of Genin walking through the area. Grass-nin, too. He sent a telepathic message back to his team members. Let us hunt.

Jesse sighed. "He's always more in tune with animals than I am. Not that I don't enjoy this..."

"If I remember correctly, your mother mentioned to my master that you're more of a guy who controles metals.... A very useful asset."


The three "Rock" Genin launched themselves into the trees, appearing to flicker inside and out of thin air. Before the Grass nin knew it, one of their members was speared in the back by Gareth's sharp hand-claws, gagging in pain and surprise. Gareth let the girl drop to the floor, dead.

Shamman used his force powers (to know what I'm talkin' about, you need to have played the KOTOR series) to cloak himself to avoid being seen. He slowly used the force to pick up a Light Shuriken from his pocket.

[quote]
The third Genin pissed himself in fear and went to his knees. He took out what was a black scroll. "Here. Spare me, please. Have mercy!"


Shamman crept behind the third Genin, and prepaired to throw the shuriken at him.


"Why, thank you." Janus said, levitating the black scroll. Then he looked on at the Genin with a heartless gaze. "No mercy for the weak!"

Suddenly, the Grass-nin found his body squeezing into a pulp and screamed in excruciating pain before his body imploded, killing him instantly. Gravity Type: Gravitic Crush.

Just as Janus caused the body to implode, Shamman threw the shuriken which flew right through the Grass-nin's head. Shamman only had a few seconds before he realised the Shuriken could go for Janus's body. He quickly stopped the Shuriken in mid-air with the force (you're suppose to do that sort of thing anyways), and called it back towards him.

"Light Shurikens.... Usefull weapons, hard to master. Jesse," Shamman turned to Nightshades other son, "I know you can controle metal, but these are a lightsaber version..... It may be more difficult for you to detect. Be on the look out incase you ever come across a Malkir.

And speaking of difficult weaponery, my master wanted you two to have these," Shamman pulled out a two pairs of gloves, specialized to resist Lightsaber blades (aka: can touch) one for Jesse and for Janus. He then reached into his back pockets and tossed them each what looked like two microphones stuck onto each end of a chain in the middle. "Light Nunchucks (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a172/Huntaer/Huntaer/Lightsabers/LightNunchucks.jpg). Another Kirtir favorite weapon. Developed durring the Great Conquest (what the Kirtir referre to as the Colapse of the Huntarian Republic), these are a rather..... Unique weaponery. Their weapon fighting style is exactly the same as the metal/wood ones. However, you need those gloves inorder to use them. Otherwise.... Well, you know what'll happen."



Now that they have the second scroll, Team Rock could do what they wish before heading to the Tower.


"There's something I want to try before we go to the tower. Something I've been wanting to do to Travis since I learned about these creatures, it will give us time to reach there first....."


"Heh. Sorry, Shamman." Janus said to the Kirtir as they moved on. "I'll let you have at the next team that comes along."


"Hush!" He heard a familiar russle in the bushes. And high pitched squealing type noises.... He slowly crept towards the bushes, only to be pounced on by a Velociraptor. The creature attempted to dig it's claw into Shamman's stomach, to get a sence of his blood but it couldn't. Shamman quickly lifted the creature with the force into the air, and sent it flying to a nearby tree. Shamman quickly got up, so did the creature. It began to run towards him, but Shamman held up a hand and began to speak in the creatures toung.

Basically translated:
You will hunt down the Masaki boy and his team. You and your pack shall no longer attack us.

Why? I don't know the smell of a Masaki and even if I did, I could kill you here, and now.

You won't kill me because you know you can't. And as for the smell.... Shamman grabbed the creatures skull and put his thumbs into the creature's eye sockets. Not pushing them in, but transfering his anger and hatred. His knowledge of the "smell" of a Masaki will help the creature to hunt Travis down. Not to kill, but more like delay time. If not to try and capture one of Travis's team members.

Go.....

Soon a group of Rookie Genin walked into the circle. Gordunt heard the female ninja say, "We have to protect our black scroll. I don't want to be here next year taking this exam." A male ninja looked at her and said, "Don't worry Naraki. We'll be fine." Lialai thought to herself, That is what you think. She nodded to Gordunt. Gordunt smiled and began doing quick hand signs. He used a unique genjutsu that trapped the group of rookies inside of a ball of lightning. Naraki yelled, "What the hell is going on?" Lialai lept to the ground and said, "Give us the scroll and Gordunt here won't electrocute you until your brains splatter everywhere." The ball quickly decreased in size. Withing moments, Team Barak were on there way to the Tower with the black scroll. As they got closer they ran into a lot more obstacles.

Teams Seven and Nine continued racing through the jungle on the tree-tops when suddenly, a large winged reptile with rock-hard skin and a long tail swooped down upon the young Genin. Shuriken and kunai simply bounced off its grey skin and then it grabbed what happens to be Travis.

"Hey! Leggo! Ow!" Travis screamed, his arms pinned in between the talons of the beast. Then it roared in a loud squawking sound and took off.

"Damn it!" Keith cursed and bit his thumb. "Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Ram. Kuchiyose: Jouka Ryuu!"

A large, tan-scaled dragon appeared in a poof of smoke.

"Jouka! We gotta keep Travis from becoming dino-food. Now!" Keith yelled as he jumped on the twelve-foot dragon's back.

"Very well." The fire-breather growled, then took off quickly.

The demon dactyl noted the dragon pursuing it and fired a beam of energy from its mouth at them. The dragon dodged and retaliated with a Dragon Fire attack.

"Don't hit me. Don't hit me. Don't hit me." Travis prayed as he felt the heat of the fireblasts, then a fireball smashed into the boy.

"Yaaaaaaaah! He hit me." He moaned, coughing up smoke. Unluckily for him, the fireball also cooked the dactyl's talons, forcing the creature to let go of his would-be lunch. "Waaaaaaah!"

Just before he smashed into the tree canopy, Jouka dove and barrel-rolled to catch Travis and then Keith smirked. "Gotcha!"

Travis grumbled all the way to the ground, where the rest of the two teams managed to catch up. Once over the shock of nearly becoming dinner, Teams 7 & 9 realized that they were in the midst of a herd of Diplodicus, long necked saurpods with even longer whip-like tails...

=====

Meanwhile, the Hidden Rock Team found another team, this time one of those with a white scroll. When they did so, Janus had a thought. "Shamman. Why don't you see if you can take that Hidden Rain team on your own? You can take the identity of one of them and we can use Henge Kage Bunshin to allow you to "officially" take the rest of the exam until we're ready to execute our mission."

OOC: Hidden Rain uses water and rain techniques. They often carry umbrellas from which they can literally rain needles at enemies.

I hope you know a technique that can take the ID of others.

Henge: Transform. One of the basic shinobi skills. It allows the user, depending on the chakra use, to either transform into another person, an animal or an object. Object transform takes the most chakra energy.

Kage Bunshin no Jutsu: Shadow Clone. Basically, it creates flesh-and-blood clones of oneself that can use anything the owner uses, including techniques and weapons. Depending on the chakra of the user, the clones' strength are evenly divided. Meaning that weak ninja produce weak clones and strong ninja produce strong clones. They die after one hit. High-level technique.

“Well I see no one else here,” Masato smirked as he and his two team-mates entered The Tower.

Looking around the place seemed dark and rather quiet. A little too quiet for Masato’s liking, he’d have preferred another team here for perhaps one last fight. Instead he took a seat to await the other teams.

“What do we do with these?” Sayuri asked, holding up the two scrolls.

“How the fuck should I know?” he replied.

Shun took the blood-splattered white scroll from her and inspected it. “We open them,” he said. “We’re at the tower so we’ve finished the mission, the mission ends and we find out what the scrolls are.”

“Fine whatever,” Masato yawned.

Ignoring him, Sayuri looked over at Shun. “On the count of three,” she tarted, placing her thumb on the seal. “One, two, three.”

Both Sand Nin broke the seals and upon opening the scrolls they lay them on the ground, crossing each other. A large smoky explosion occurred causing Masato to stand up and be prepared for a fight. But as the smoke cleared, they saw Kimiko stood on the scrolls grinning at them.

“Well done, you’ve passed the second test,” she announced.

**

“Fuck this forest!” Daniel yelled.

It had felt like days since they’d entered and they were still yet to find a white scroll. They had stopped beside the river to clean off from a raptor attack, there had been three of them but only one had been visible. Katsuo had been quick to realise that the one in front of them had been there to distract them from the two that were about to attack from the sides.

“Quiet you idiot, you want to get attacked again?” Katana whispered.

“If it’s a team with a white scroll then yes,” Daniel replied.

Victoria Mariua was travelling through the trees when she head someone yell out “Fuck this forest!”. Pausing, she listened closely to hear the one that had yelled mention they were looking for a white scroll. With a silent curse she quickly left, heading back to the others. That team was only good as a 'trophy' team.

By the time she returned, she found the others. "Found a white team, looked to be in fairly good condition as well."
"Alright, I found what appears to be a tired team, and they just happen to be near a river."
"Did you get a look at thier scroll?"
"No, but we can always use a trophy." Mer commented with a wicked smile.
"Let's go them." Max said as the Kiriga team headed to hunt down the mystery nin.

Meanwhile, the Hidden Rock Team found another team, this time one of those with a white scroll. When they did so, Janus had a thought. "Shamman. Why don't you see if you can take that Hidden Rain team on your own? You can take the identity of one of them and we can use Henge Kage Bunshin to allow you to "officially" take the rest of the exam until we're ready to execute our mission."

"Hmmm.... Can do. Now, to think of a creepy spell.... Ahhhh..... Classic. Bone Dance, they won't be prepaired for this one." Shamman slowly crept up to what appeared to be a nearby pile of bones. He couldn't tell what type of dinosaur it was, but he knew it would scare the living hell out of 'em. Shit, it would scare the hell out of him if he was victim to this spell. Shamman sat down, and meditated. He started with a low, dark hum which began to grow to a quiet chant. The bones soon began to flote around in the air hauntingly. Shamman closed his eyes, and finnished the chant. The bones soon formed a pack of small dinosaurs, Compsognathus to be exact (as seen in Jurrasic Park 2). He directed them towards the other team, and ordered them to attack. The skeletons obeyed, and pranced onward towards the unsuspecting enemy. They were expecting attacks. That much is obvious. However, Shamman believed that they weren't expecting attacks from skeletons.

Shamman slowly crept towards the other team and force messaged them him singing an old earth song, hauntingly as the dead Compsognathus's began to attack them.

::Theeerrre once was an wo-oman all ski-in and bones....::




OOC: Hidden Rain uses water and rain techniques. They often carry umbrellas from which they can literally rain needles at enemies.

I hope you know a technique that can take the ID of others.


Bone Dance: This spell temporarily animates the physical remains of a humanoid being, it is currently the most powerful spell of animation known to the practitioners of true Necromancy. The Bone Dance creates a link between the corpse and the caster, allowing him to mentally control its movements. The skeleton or zombie animated by this spell is incapable of carrying out any independent actions, the caster must mentally command the undead to walk forward, pick up a vibroblade, strike an opponent with it etc.. The spell occupies the greater part of the casters attention, if concentration is broken the spell will end.

OOC: Sith Techniques (no. I did not make these up):

Facial Manipulation: This spell enables the caster to copy the face of another being, either living or dead. The caster gains the facial features of the chose individual, providing the caster can clearly see the face he/she/it is trying to emulate. The caster does not gain any sensory abilities (or disabilities) associated with the new face. Note that the false face is NOT an illusion, it can last for several hours depending on the casters rank, or until he/she/it chooses to end it.

Dark Double: This spell creates an illusion of the caster that is under the caster's complete control. It appears to be a perfect duplicate since the caster is familiar with all the nuances of his own body and mannerisms.
Despite the skill of the image, the illusion is flawed at this level. It cannot make any sound and has no substance. Thus anyone viewing the illusion would see an exact duplicate of the caster, but the image could not speak, would make no sounds as it walked, etc. The caster must also be able to see the illusion he is creating so that he can concentrate on his actions(either by being in line of site or viewing it with some sort of surveillance equipment).

Shapeshifting: This spell allows a Sith sorcerer to again touch the Prime wave and open all channels of communications to let the Force flow through his body. However, the user must search out the proper frequency of the Force to successfully cast this spell. To do that, he needs to meditate on the spell's meaning . As the Force flows through the user's body, his appearance slowly morphs from human to animal. The Sith may choose what animal he/she wants to morph into. The frequency of the spell depends on the wanted animal. It is sad to say that when the spell is completed, along with the body morphs user's mind into that of the animal. The user literally becomes an animal, his mind changed into bestial. From that point on , the only counteraction one can take against this spell is for some other Sith user to cast a "Werewolf" spell on the animal.


Here's somethin' interesting I'd like to try...

Control Mind
Allows a powerful Dark Jedi to take over the mind of someone nearby, making them
slaves and puppets for the Dark Jedi controlling them, a Dark Jedi cannot take over and completely control more then one person at a time and great concentration and time is needed though he can alter the will of a small group for a short time.

There are a lot of awsome sith powers out there.....

The Hidden Rain team were shocked at the sight of Compy bones charging at them and one of them fell screaming and fighting them as the little dinosaurs tore at his flesh. The other two were alerted and shot needles at the dinos and Shamman while preparing jutsus...

The Hidden Rain team were shocked at the sight of Compy bones charging at them and one of them fell screaming and fighting them as the little dinosaurs tore at his flesh. The other two were alerted and shot needles at the dinos and Shamman while preparing jutsus...


The dinosaur bones broke back down to a pile of bones just as the needles hit them. Shamman dodged the needles, and jumped into the air throwing two light shuriken's at the other team and a puff of black and red smoke remained to where he once was. When the Hidden Rain team saw the Light Shuriken's from shamman, they appeared round spinning disks comming in fast eventhough they had four small red blades.

He began another haunting tune, just as he disapeared ::1, 2 he's coming after you....::

The remaining two Hidden Rain team members were soon stairing at blank smoke and Shamman crept behind a group of clustered bushes. He staired at the tallest of the two remaining Hidden Rain team and begain to glare at him.

Air began to grow heavy around this Hidden Rain team. Eventually, Shamman hopes, he will cause enough pressure to crush his opponent to a pulp. If not, then to sevearly cripple him. He's only used this power a few times in the past.

The other, he placed his lightsaber onto the ground. It then slowly transformed what appeared to be a small, poisonous serpent. It slowly slithered quietly towards the other unocupied Hidden Rain guy and waited for the oportune moment to pounce.


OOC:

The force powers I used:

Change of Style: Altering an object, such as a saber into a serpent, for a sustained amount of time dependent upon the user's level.

Pressure: Altering of the air pressure around one's opponent that results in extreme discomfort, possible nausea, and if the user is strong enough and the pressure is increased, the person or object under the stress can either be crushed due to the pressure, or is severely crippled.



Hey, CW here's another sith power to create another "Clone"

Doppleganger:
This is the ability to harness the force in order to create a "clone" of the user. The user may control the clone though the force. These creations are exactly like user save one aspect, No clone can touch the force. Only one dopplegangered clone may be created at a time and a user must enter a state of rage in order to create the clone.

A second team member was skewered by the light-shurikens while the third felt heavy air surround him. Now the third was stronger than the other two and found this enemy an interesting opponent. My team's dead, but no matter. I'll kill this fool! But where is he...ah. Over there!

Forming a Tiger seal, he managed to dispell the Pressure attack with a Release technique. Then smirking, he summoned water from a nearby stream and shot it at Shamman's hiding spot in the form of water-needles.

The member that was attacked by the compys shook them off only to find a small, poisonous snake hissing at him. Feeling his fear take hold, the boy forced himself to watch the snake and hope he's fast enough to skewer it with his kunai before it struck...

A second team member was skewered by the light-shurikens while the third felt heavy air surround him. Now the third was stronger than the other two and found this enemy an interesting opponent. My team's dead, but no matter. I'll kill this fool! But where is he...ah. Over there!

Forming a Tiger seal, he managed to dispell the Pressure attack with a Release technique. Then smirking, he summoned water from a nearby stream and shot it at Shamman's hiding spot in the form of water-needles.

Damn, he's good. Shamman began to find this one to be amusing as well. He therefore decided to try an unorthodox method. He activated his other lightsaber, which glowed red, held it in one hand and deflected the water with the other with much effort. Realizing he was starting to fail, he deactivated the lightsaber and put it away. He held out his other unoccupied hand, and slowly began to freeze the water. As soon as the on-comming water-needles were frozen, he turned to the other member.

"Ever been in an earthquake?" He asked. He slamed his hands into the ground and the earth shook. Trees began to shiver and wave as the ground continued to move rappidly. Slowly cracks in the ground could be seen between Shamman and the Hidden Rain member. The rumbling continued
to grow louder, and the shaking more violently. Trees fell. And at that instant, Shamman released his hands from the ground and it colapsed underneath the two opponents, creating a 100 meter wide and 8 feet deep hole.


The member that was attacked by the compys shook them off only to find a small, poisonous snake hissing at him. Feeling his fear take hold, the boy forced himself to watch the snake and hope he's fast enough to skewer it with his kunai before it struck...

The snake lept at the enemy. It lunged straight for the Hidden Rain's heart, it's teach were aching to sink into his enemies soft flesh.....

OOC:

Force powers used:

Sinkhole: This spell will create a depression in the earth anywhere from 2 meters to 2000 meters wide, and varying in depth from 1 foot to 30 feet.

Damn, he's good. Shamman began to find this one to be amusing as well. He therefore decided to try an unorthodox method. He activated his other lightsaber, which glowed red, held it in one hand and deflected the water with the other with much effort. Realizing he was starting to fail, he deactivated the lightsaber and put it away. He held out his other unoccupied hand, and slowly began to freeze the water. As soon as the on-comming water-needles were frozen, he turned to the other member.

"Ever been in an earthquake?" He asked. He slamed his hands into the ground and the earth shook. Trees began to shiver and wave as the ground continued to move rappidly. Slowly cracks in the ground could be seen between Shamman and the Hidden Rain member. The rumbling continued
to grow louder, and the shaking more violently. Trees fell. And at that instant, Shamman released his hands from the ground and it colapsed underneath the two opponents, creating a 100 meter wide and 8 feet deep hole.
The Rain member was surprised by the Doton (Earth) type move and landed on the lower ground. "You're good..." He stared at his opponent, then released a rain of poison-tipped needles at Shamman, then drew a chakra-infused short sword (meaning that lightsabers won't cut easily). Then he beckoned with a gesture...

The snake lept at the enemy. It lunged straight for the Hidden Rain's heart, it's teach were aching to sink into his enemies soft flesh.....
The snake sunk into flesh faster than the nin could execute a move, pumping poison into the heart. The nin seized up, then fell to the ground, dead.

======

Meanwhile, Teams Seven & Nine treaded carefully so as to not disturb the Diplodicus. One smack from that whip-like tail could cut a man in half, and let's not think about what would happen if they caused a stampede!

In the distance, a rumbling occurred, alarting the saurpods to a danger and they became nervous and skittish.

"Let's move, quickly." Travis hissed. The rumbling ceased, but the boy and his friends picked up their pace, not wanting to become pancakes. They nearly made it to the end of the herd when Keith held up a hand.

"Hold. I sense nin in the area." Keith said. "Nick, if you please..."

"Right." Nick's eyes became eagle-piercing and crosshairs replaced his pupils as he scanned the area. Aim Sight at work. Think a sniper's sight, only for this kid. "They're 200 meters. Sound nin by the looks of it."

"Can you make out the scroll?" Travis asked.

"Yeah. Black." Nick smirked. "it's right on a blond-haired dude's belt."

"Hmm. Since they're sound nin, we'd best be careful." Travis said. "I have a plan..."

The Rain member was surprised by the Doton (Earth) type move and landed on the lower ground. "You're good..." He stared at his opponent, then released a rain of poison-tipped needles at Shamman, then drew a chakra-infused short sword (meaning that lightsabers won't cut easily). Then he beckoned with a gesture...

"I was trained by my master, Darth Aelikes second in command of Huntaer. Commander of the Huntarian Empire Forces. He's the appentice of Darth Trilkan, Emperor of Huntaer and the most powerful Kirtir Dark Lord in Huntarian history....."


The snake sunk into flesh faster than the nin could execute a move, pumping poison into the heart. The nin seized up, then fell to the ground, dead.

After it's target was neutralized, it changed back into it's lightsaber form.

Shamman waited for this moment and called upon his lightsaber. He then activated both of them, and blocked the on-comming water needles. He then lowered his dual lightsabers, and opened his mouth as though he were going to shout. Instead of words, red and blue flames burst out. Forming the shape of a firey cylinder. It charged at the last Hidden Rain member.

OOC:

Dragons Breath: This spell is a progressive spell one can learn it at but the Sith Sorcerer continues to advance with his/her ability to wield the spell. At its basic level the Sith Sorcerer can summon up a fiery blast that bellows forth from the casters mouth. This blast travels the length of line of sight in a straight line. As the caster grows within the Sith he/she can begin to customize the effect of the blast. At Level 2 The the caster can grant the fiery blast an illusionary effect such as placing a shadow of a cobra or the like into the blast. At level 3 The Sith the fiery blast no longer is a line of sight bolt. The fire is bellowed out of the casters month and the cast may animate the fiery cobra,for example, to chase the intended target so long as the cast can see the target. As Sith Lord level the target need only to have been in the Sith Lords sight prior to the casting of the spell as the Cobras in this case will follow the target as if locked on with a targeting lock from a TIE Fighter targeting computer. So long as the Sith Lord remains in the general region of the target. This spell is both devastating to the target and demoralizing to it.

Team Barak sped through the forest. They had already dispatched of two teams on their way to the tower. The fools thought they could defeat them. One team from the Hidden Grass village almost got them until Lialai used the Jedi Mind trick to make him turn against his teammates. The Grass Ninja heartlessly destroyed his teammate. Then Shaoel took care of the belligerent warrior. The tower was within sight. As they came out of the forest a large ape attacked them. It had the mark that Gordunt had put on him. Lialai looked at Gordunt and said, “Someone is mad at you.” She pulled out her lightsaber. Shaoel and Gordunt also pulled out their lightsabers. They all ignited them. Gordunt said to Lialai, “I won’t let him escape this time.” Shaoel shook his head and said, “Sure.” They are ran at the giant beast. The ape punched the ground and the vibrations sent the trio flying. As Lialai flew back she called upon the wind to slow herself down. Lialai did a quick hand sign and yelled, Shock Clone Jutsu times three. Suddenly three Lialai appeared in front of the confused ape. The Lialai trio smiled and began to gather a combination of chakra and electricity underneath of their feet. Gordunt yelled Lialai, “You are going to kill it.” Lialai replied, “I know.” Gordunt shook his head and did a quick hand sign. “You are going to have all of the fun. A thunderbolt appeared inside of Gordunt’s eye and then the clouds darkened.” Shaoel smirked and pulled out his family’s blade. Shaoel then said, “Lialai has the ninjutsu, Gordunt has the genjustu.” He ran his finger down the side of the galvanized blade and a sudden spark of electricity generated from it. Shaoel said, “And I have the taijutsu.” The three Lialai shot into the air and yelled, “Lightning Foot Jutsu.” As she came down above the ape’s head the three shock clones became one. Gordunt looked into the sky and said, “Zap Cannon Justu.” In the sky a powerful ball of lightning shot at the ape. Shaoel leapt into the air and said, “Thunderblade Eradication Justu.” Then all three of them together yelled, “Thunder Team Trio Justu.” Lialai kicked the ape hard over the head. Before the ape hit the ground the ball of electrical energy caught him and began electrocuted. The ape’s cry could be heard across the land. Shaoel then finished the ape off by shooting through the ball of electricity into the beast’s stomach. Then ape exploded as Shaoel exited its body. When Shaoel landed he said, “That was gross.” Lialai and Gordunt smiled and began walking towards the tower. Shaoel sheathed his blade and caught up with his teammates.

The three Kiriga nin smiled as they caught sight of their prey, "Mer, Tori, would one of you do the honours?" Max asked, refering to a team technique they'd developed, which utilized Max's Kekkai Genkai as it's key.

Mer smiled, "If you don't mind?"
"Not at all." Was the reply.

Mer looked at the water and utilized the Kiri Gakure no Jutsu to generate a thick mist to rise up from the water, completely engulfing the area. As the mist completely blocked the sight of the three hapless nin, Max activated his bloodline trait, with it piercing the mist that would normally blind any and all within, he held an vast advantage over most nin.

Drawing two kunai, he threw them with wicked force and pin-point accuracy, each removing the head of two of the three nin in a spray of blood and a dull thump. He quickly moved in, gathering his two kunai and preformed a scissor cut to the remaining nin's throat.

Mer let the mist disappate and the two headed in to gather the scroll. "Did you have to be so messy?" Tori asked as she looked at the blood spattered on the scroll. Picking it up, she checked, "Yep, right type."
"That's good." Mer replied, "So should we get another scroll or two or head in?"
"If we come across another team that looks open, then sure, otherwise better to be safe than sorry." Max commented as he stretched and deactivated the Single Shadow Eye and the Kiriga team began making it's way toward the tower.

"I was trained by my master, Darth Aelikes second in command of Huntaer. Commander of the Huntarian Empire Forces. He's the appentice of Darth Trilkan, Emperor of Huntaer and the most powerful Kirtir Dark Lord in Huntarian history....."

After it's target was neutralized, it changed back into it's lightsaber form.

Shamman waited for this moment and called upon his lightsaber. He then activated both of them, and blocked the on-comming water needles. He then lowered his dual lightsabers, and opened his mouth as though he were going to shout. Instead of words, red and blue flames burst out. Forming the shape of a firey cylinder. It charged at the last Hidden Rain member.
A Sith Lord? A slight hesitation appeared in the Rain nin. That hesitation cost him most dearly as he was swiftly consumed by flames. As he screamed, his white scroll rolled away from his body.

And then, it was over. Team "Hidden Rock" appeared and Jesse smirked. "Three minutes. Not bad, but you'd have to do better than that to deal with a Jounin-level. Now, let's do this."

Forming hand-seals, Jesse and Janus chanted: "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

In a poof of smoke, a clone of each twin appeared. Then the clones formed a Ram seal and muttered: "Henge."

Another poof of smoke and they transformed into the two dead Rain nin.

The one that was killed by fire would be Shamman's ID.

"Don't forget the scroll." Gareth said before hopping away.

=======

Meanwhile, a team from Sound relaxed themselves near a stream, having succeeded in gaining both scrolls themselves. While one Sound member went away to gather food, the other two were bored.

"You know, why don't we open them?" The girl said, supremely curious about the scrolls.

"You stupid? We can't do that until we reach the tower." Her teammate said.

"Yeah, but aren't you curious about it. What harm could it do?" The girl asked.

The boy sighed. "Alright, but the moment something goes wrong, we close it, ok?"

"Yeah, sure." The girl shrugged.

Tension looming, the Sound members struggled to build up the courage to open the scrolls. A thumb went to the seal to break it. So intent were they on the task at hand that they didn't notice several Leaf nin sneaking up behind them. By the time they did sense presences...it was far too late.

"Now!" Travis yelled.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Reika summoned a powerful fireball from her mouth.

"Waah!" The girl was hit, but the boy -barely- managed to dodge. "Damn!"

But at the apex of his ascent, a laser appeared on his shoulder and the next thing he knew, a searing bolt of energy blew his arm off. "Aaaaah!"

The Sound dude landed harshly on the rocks when Travis appeared in front of him, electricity sparking from his index finger.

"Do you yield?" He asked, smirking.

"Ugh. Y-yes. Take anything you want. Just don't kill me." The Sound nin pleaded.

"Thanks." Travis levitated the black and white scrolls. "And I have no intention of killing you. I think I'll leave that to Mother Nature. She's not as forgiving as I am, you know."

The Sound nin just moaned in pain and defeat. A short while after the Leaf teams disappeared towards the tower, the third member of the Sound team returned, only to see his teammates moaning and groaning in defeat. The third one burst into waterfall tears at their defeat...

"What do you see?" Katana asked.

"I see some Nin who look rather injured, ones unconcious I think, or dead," Daniel replied.

While Katana and Katsuo were on the higher branches of a tree, Daniel was hanging from a lower branch by way of his tail, spying on the three Snow Nin.

"A sneak attack seems right," Katana suggested.

"No I see their scroll, it's white just what we need," Daniel replied. "I think I can sneak up and snatch it."

Ever so quietly he climbed down the tree and hid himself in the shadows. A few moments of watching he saw his chance and quietly crept around behind the bushes to where the unconcious Nin lay and where the white scroll was kept. A girl Nin was treating the wounds of her other team-mate and neither seemed to notice his pressence. Slowly he crept out and took the white scroll before disappearing back into the bushes. The last thing he noticed before returning to his team-mates was that the unconcious Nins chest was raising and falling in time with breathing.

Still alive, Daniel thought to himself as he climbed the tree to where they were waiting for him to return.

"No violence just a good stealthy run," Daniel grinned.

"Come on, let's head for the tower," Katana suggested.

A Sith Lord? A slight hesitation appeared in the Rain nin. That hesitation cost him most dearly as he was swiftly consumed by flames. As he screamed, his white scroll rolled away from his body.

And then, it was over. Team "Hidden Rock" appeared and Jesse smirked. "Three minutes. Not bad, but you'd have to do better than that to deal with a Jounin-level. Now, let's do this."

"I'm still only a Kirtir Warrior. When this mission is complete, I'll be closer to my goal of Kirtir Knight. I'll be faster, and much more stronger then."



Forming hand-seals, Jesse and Janus chanted: "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."

In a poof of smoke, a clone of each twin appeared. Then the clones formed a Ram seal and muttered: "Henge."

Another poof of smoke and they transformed into the two dead Rain nin.

Shamman was slightly confused for a few seconds before he caught onto who was who.


The one that was killed by fire would be Shamman's ID.

"Don't forget the scroll." Gareth said before hopping away.


"I won't," Shamman levitated the scroll with the force and it lifted into this stretched hand. With the other hand, he called the shuriken's which he threw at the other Hidden Rain fools back to him and put them back into his pockets. He leaned down towards the dead Hidden Rain and put his hand on the scared head. He closed his eyes and began to mutter. He slowly began to change his body into the dead Hidden Rain nin and he stood up, "Let's go," he said and almost jumped with surprise. He forgot that his voice changed also as he changed his identity.

He stood for a moment, "Wait. I have an idea which will be benificial to our situation." He staired at the dead body for a few seconds. Consentraiting on the mini-clorients within the dead body. It began to transform. It would transform into something which would be shocking to the other teams, perhapse even to Jesse and Janus. It transformed into.... Him. Shamman. Shamman was satisfied with the results, and walked towards his other team mates. "If anyone suspected I was of the Dark Side, they can't know now. I'm dead."

"Heh. Good trick." Janus smirked.

Some time later, they snatched a black scroll from a Leaf team and Janus killed them all with his Gravity Crush technique and headed to the tower.

=====

One day later...

"Ah. Finally! We made it!" Travis grinned, as they reached the doors of the tower. It looked a lot like China's Forbidden City, only smaller and it had large, snarling dragons out front, watched over by masked ANBU.

"Dragons?" Travis noticed the creatures. "Then that means..."

"Something's up." Keith frowned. "Extra security for the Hokage, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess." Travis said. "Well, let's go in."

The ANBU nodded as they held up the scrolls and they were allowed entry. Upon entering, Teams Seven and Nine were allowed to open their scrolls, revealing, in a poof of smoke...

"Hey, Naruto-sensei." Travis grinned. "We made it."

"Sasuke-sensei." Keith bowed.

"Heh. I'm glad to see that you survived, kids." Naruto smirked. "But it's not over yet."

"Why? I thought we'd finished the Second Exam." Nick said.

At least they didn't have to encounter an evil Snake Sannin... Sasuke thought, remembering when the elder Team Seven did their exams and unconsiously feeling a scar on his shoulder. "You did. But just come with us and you'll see why."

Curious, the young kids followed their senseis and went into a large chamber with a couple of teams already arrived and the Hokage with her council up front.

Tsunade smiled, glad to see that Naruto and Sasuke's team have survived, and inwardly smirked as they have little idea of what to expect. Soon...

======

Soon after Team Seven entered the tower, Team Hidden Rock did so as well and noted the increased security.

They opened their scrolls and out popped Kabuto, disguised as a Hidden Rock Jounin.

"Ah, Good. I expected no less from you three. But who are they?" Kabuto asked, referring to Shamman and his ilk.

"Warrior Shamman of the Huntaerian Empire, Sensei." Janus said, pointing to the warrior. "The other two are shadow clones."

"Hmm. Good ones, too. They certainly look the real deal. But once they're revealed..." Kabuto frowned.

"We'll think of something." Jesse said.

"Ah, very well. Come with me, then. There's another part of this Task that you will conduct." Kabuto smirked. I never actually passed this part way back then, but I know for a fact Janus will enjoy this, heh.

"Very well." Gareth said, and soon Team Hidden Rock and "Rain" moved towards the central chambers...

The Kiriga nin arrived at the tower, after a relatively easy journey, stopping only one for food, and then dealing with a pest of an animal who'd tried to make off with their food while the girls were getting washed up and Max was getting water.

Flashing the two scrolls, the entered thier door and once inside broke the seals of the scrolls and unfurled them ...

With a poof of smoke they were met by Rafael Uzuai. "Did you make it sporting?"
"No, of course not."
"Good, come along now, it's time for the next portion."
"Next portion?" Tori groused as they followed their sensai, "How many portions are there in this blasted test?"

Daniel stood back up and dusted himself off. With the scrolls exploding like that he wondered if they'd done wrong. As the smoke cleared they saw Eamonn staring at them.

"Oh shit," Daniel groaned.

Katana and Katsuo were stood on either side of the blue elf.

"Good job, you've passed," Eamonn told them.

"Alright!" Daniel yelled.

Both Eamonn and Katana glared at him.

"Now theres just the next part, come with me," the Jounin said and led them into the other room.

There they could see a few other teams were already there. Unfortunately he also saw that Masato's team had beaten them. The black-haired boy smirked at them.

"Well look here, the little squirts didn't snuff it," Masato remarked. "I guess that's a good thing right?"

Lialai and her group entered the tower. Shaoel and Gordunt had a scroll in each hand. Lialai looked at them and said, "We are supposed to open them as soon as we get into the tower." Shaoel and Gordunt nodded. They opened them at the same time. A thunderbolt lept from each of the scrolls and hit one another. The group jumped back. Then a life-size hologram of Barak appeared. The hologram then said, "Looks like you guys made it to the third round. Congrats. Keep it up and you'll be chuunin in no time." The hologram disappeared in a poof of smoke. Lialai smiled and said, "We made it guys. I wonder who else is here." They began ascending the stairs of the tower.

"Heh. Good trick." Janus smirked.

Some time later, they snatched a black scroll from a Leaf team and Janus killed them all with his Gravity Crush technique and headed to the tower.


"By the time they find my body, the spell would've worn off. But by then, it'll be tooooo late."


Soon after Team Seven entered the tower, Team Hidden Rock did so as well and noted the increased security.

They opened their scrolls and out popped Kabuto, disguised as a Hidden Rock Jounin.

"Ah, Good. I expected no less from you three. But who are they?" Kabuto asked, referring to Shamman and his ilk.

"Warrior Shamman of the Huntaerian Empire, Sensei." Janus said, pointing to the warrior. "The other two are shadow clones."


"The rest of the teams will think that I'm dead. Either a couple of hour or at least untill I no longer to disguise the body. Also, don't refer to me as Shamman for security reasons. My pasport says I'm 'Warrior Yantka of the Huntarian Alliance.'"


"Hmm. Good ones, too. They certainly look the real deal. But once they're revealed..." Kabuto frowned.

"We'll think of something." Jesse said.


"How long do your clones last?"



"Ah, very well. Come with me, then. There's another part of this Task that you will conduct." Kabuto smirked. I never actually passed this part way back then, but I know for a fact Janus will enjoy this, heh.

"Very well." Gareth said, and soon Team Hidden Rock and "Rain" moved towards the central chambers...

"Let's move onto the other part," Shamman stated.

"Oh, the clones will last a couple of hours or until someone hits them. Then they disappear." Janus said.

Now that most of the surivivors have arrived...

Hmm. The flag team from Sound (Ravea) seems to have failed. Oh well. Tsunade thought. "Alright. Let me tell you all the reason why you are here. From what I see, there are eight teams still alive. That means that there's still too many people in the Exams. So we must conduct a..."

Taa-daa!

"Preliminary Elimination Tournament!" The Godaime Hokage announced.

"E-elimination..." Travis gulped.

"The rules are simple. You must defeat your opponent with all of your skill. The winners will be eligible to participate in the Third Test one month from today. The losers will get a nice pat on the back and a "try again" consolation prize. If they survive."

"Well, that's nice." Haruka Umino muttered.

"But here and now, I allow you your chance to forfeit, no questions asked."

Janus chuckled as his clone in the guise of Hidden Rain raised his hand. "I forfeit."

"So do I." Jesse's clone said as well.

"Very well. There's the door." Tsunade pointed. The clones moved towards the door and then once they were out of reach of the Godaime's senses, they popped out of existence.

"Anyone else? No? Very well." Tsunade said. Suddenly, a scoreboard lit up, randomly choosing the names of those who will fight first. First up...

Katana vs Travis!

Travis sweatdropped. "Great. Not only am I first, but I'm also going to fight that bimbo..."

He sighed, but Nick gave him a thumbs up. "Good luck, Travis."

"Thanks." He said as he hopped down to the arena floor. I'll need it.

Masato smirked as he watched the two Hidden Rain clones leave. Two less competitors were always good, but he couldn't help but think there was more to them then just simply leaving.

Katana vs Travis!

"The Masaki, how troublesome," Katana yawned.

"He called you a bimbo, I heard it," Daniel then said.

"He said WHAT!!" she yelled before leaping down.

Katsuo looked over at him. "That Travis kid is so dead, didn't you really have to tell her that?"

"A little incentive," the blue elf grinned.

Katana hit the floor in front of Travis, her eyes burning with anger. She tapped her oversized fan, scowling at her opponent.

Travis eyed his enemy, waiting for Shikamaru to begin the battle.

"Ah, how troublesome." The Jounin lazily sighed. ""If you're KOed or you forfeit, you lose. Ready!"

Travis prepared...

"Begin!"

The young Masaki began by tossing shuriken at the Sand nin to gauge her reaction.

Shamman watched eagerly as Travis and the other fought against eachother. He wanted to see the outcome of this match. He wanted to see if Travis had as much skill as the rest of his relatives.

Swiftly Katana picked up her fan and easily swatted shuriken away. Her eyes turned to him, she read his body language to see what he might try next.

"Hmph."

She wasn't going to use any of her top moves just yet, no they would come later if needed. Instead she opened her fan and swung it around blasting Travis with a strong wind.

"Ugh. Ung." Travis felt himself pushed backwards by the strong wind and used chakra to keep himself on his feet. Looking at her through his arms protecting his eyes from the dust, he smirked. "Is that all you got? Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Clones of Travis appeared in a poof of smoke and began surrounding and attacking Katana while the real Travis used the distraction to advance closer to the kunoichi.

"Heh. That's my apprentice all right." Naruto smirked, noting that Travis used his own signature attack.

"I just hope he's not as much a dobe as you were, baka." Sasuke smiled.

"What did you say?" Naruto steamed.

"Now calm down, Sensei." Kagome said sternly. "And watch Travis. Knowing him, he's got a plan up his sleeve!"

As the clones attacked, Katana leapt up out of the way.

"Little bastard," she cursed. "Dai Kamaitachi!"

As before she swung her fan. As before a strong wind blew at the clones, only this time the clones wouldn't just be blown away. Imbued within the wind was her own chakra which would cut at the clones.

"Hmph, the only way this Travis kid can win is if she forfeits," Katsuo remarked.

Team Barak sat back as Travis and the Sand Kunoichi battle. Sensei Barak looked down at his group and said, "It looks like you guys have some serious opponents here." Gordunt chuckled and said, "I think we can handle ourselves Master Kendalis." Shaoel nodded, "I can't wait to see who I'll fight. This should be very interesting. Very interesting." Lialai looked over at the three of them and smirked. She then put her attention back towards the battle.

As the clones attacked, Katana leapt up out of the way.

"Little bastard," she cursed. "Dai Kamaitachi!"

As before she swung her fan. As before a strong wind blew at the clones, only this time the clones wouldn't just be blown away. Imbued within the wind was her own chakra which would cut at the clones.

"Hmph, the only way this Travis kid can win is if she forfeits," Katsuo remarked.
The clones poofed away when the wind cut at them, but Travis was still in the game.

Hmm. I can't win if I stay at range, she'll just blow away anything I throw at her. I'll have to get close...and/or surprise her. Travis eyed the situation. So...

Summoning a few more clones, they and Travis jumped high to attack Katana...

"More clones... how pathetic," Katana muttered.

It was then that she knew they were a distraction, the real Travis was elsewhere. She would need a better advantage point, but as the clones and possibly the real Travis came at her she used her fan as a hoverboard to escape. Now Travis would have to jump up to get her.

Looking down, she scowled. The ceiling was too low they could still get to her easily. That was rather frustrating.

"More clones... how pathetic," Katana muttered.

It was then that she knew they were a distraction, the real Travis was elsewhere. She would need a better advantage point, but as the clones and possibly the real Travis came at her she used her fan as a hoverboard to escape. Now Travis would have to jump up to get her.

Looking down, she scowled. The ceiling was too low they could still get to her easily. That was rather frustrating.
"Heh. Perfect." Travis said. "Now!"

A clone grabbed him and tossed him to another clone, then that clone sent flung him up, up, up to the ceiling, where he used his chakra to stick upside down like a fly.

There, he formed a couple of hand seals, his fingers crackled with electricity and then he yelled: "Raiton: Rakurai no Jutsu!"

His father's trademark technique! Bolts of lightning lit up the ceiling as they aimed for the kunoichi...

"Hmph," Katana remarked. "All I need is a lightning rod."

She bit her thumb, drawing blood and ran it across the open fan. As was her name, a large katana appeared from the fan, attracting the lightning to it rather then Katana. As she leapt down a large explosion erupted from the fan, making a large dent in the ceiling and sending it crashing to the ground. There was only so much that the fan could take and it had been exceeded by a rather large amount. She stood on the ground and looked up, she had taken quite a bettering there.

Still she had not been defeated far from it, but...

"I forfeit," she said raising her hand.

"All right!" Travis yelled and teleported back to his friends' side.

"Very well. Let's see who's next..." Shikamaru said lazily.

The scoreboard again went randomly through the names of people on board.

And now...

Gabriel Wagner vs Shou.

"Hm. My turn." The third member of Hidden Rock smirked and jumped down to the arena floor.

"Heh it called you Gabriel," Katsuo laughed.

Daniel hit him on the back of the head before teleporting down to face his opponent. He looked over to the other ninja, there was something strange about him. His tail twitched with anticipation.

Katana was now sat against the wall behind Katsuo and Eamonn looking at the mangled and still smoking remains of her fan. It appeared that she would have to replace it.

"Ready..." Shikamaru raised his flag. "Begin!"

Claws released themselves from gauntlets on each arm, and Shou, also known as Gareth, began to charge at the Sand nin, intent on skewering him with them. Not as good in ninjutsu as either of the Twins, Gareth nevertheless trained in the use of his claws, employing them in his taijutsu skills to increase damage.

Daniel watched the ninja come at him. Is that all he's going to do? he thought to himself. If it was then he had to only block the claws. Quickly done as he brought up a wall of sand from his gourd to first block him. The second part would be to completely encase him in sand so he couldn't move.

"Oh this'll be over quickly," Katsuo remarked.

Lialai was surprised when the female ninja with the katana submitted. Lialai swore to herself she would not quit. She looked over at Gordunt and Shaoel. She knew they wouldn't quit either. Lialai proceeded on to watch the next fight.

Mer, Max and Tori watched the ninja fight with interest. They were skilled and watching was fun. None were likely to drop out like the one had throught they hoped they wouldn't be pitted against each other, thought that would be in keeping with Hidden Mist tradition.

Daniel watched the ninja come at him. Is that all he's going to do? he thought to himself. If it was then he had to only block the claws. Quickly done as he brought up a wall of sand from his gourd to first block him. The second part would be to completely encase him in sand so he couldn't move.

"Oh this'll be over quickly," Katsuo remarked.
Damn. Rookie mistake... Gareth grumbled to himself as he found himself encased in sand. However, the more he slashed, the more the sand covered him until he had no choice, for the mission is foremost in his mind.

"I...yield..." Gareth slumped his head in shame.

"Shou yields. Winner is Gabriel!" Shikamaru announced.

The scoreboard then began spinning again.

Merry 'Mer' Norrilla vs Umino Haruka!

"Umino? Cool." Naruto said, but he worried slightly. The opponent looked strong and last he checked, Iruka didn't have anything really special to trump anyone, much less pass on to his son.

Sasuke simply smirked as he read his friend and rival's face. "Don't underestimate him."

"Why? You know something?" Naruto asked.

"Just watch." Sasuke continued to smirk, infuriating Naruto.

Haruka sighed and jumped to the floor. He waited for his opponent.

"Alight!" Daniel yelled, not even caring that he'd been called Gabriel again.

He teleported back to his team-mates and high-fived Katsuo.

"Too easy," Katsuo remarked. "Doubt I'll get it that easy."

Daniel placed his gourd on the floor and placed his hands behind his head. "This could be interesting."

Mer walked onto the field as well, tessen expanded and covering her lower face so that only her eyes very visable. "You wouldn't hurt a delicate girl?" She asked in a dainty voice as she batted her eyelashes at her opponent.


"This should be fun." Tori commented to Max.
"Yep, looks like she's already playing her games."
"She always did enjoy messing with peoples heads."

"I hope I don't have to." Haruka answered, blushing slightly.

The teams sweatdropped.

"Keep your eye on the mission, kid." Sasuke sighed.

"Ready?" Shikamaru asked. "Begin!"

Haruka went into a stance, pulling out his lightsaber but not igniting it.

"Is that it?" Naruto asked.

"Of course, not, dobe." Sasuke glared. "Watch."

Sasuke's apprentice watched his opponent carefully, waiting for her to make the first move.

"That's good." She replied, a smile in her voice, "Gentlemen are very rare and always nice."

Her stance was neutral as the match began, and asked in that same sweet voice, her tessen still covering her face minus the eyes, "What's that in your hand?"

"Wait and see." Haruka smiled, digging a foot in the dirt.

Merry smiled, it was time for the match to actually begin. "Time to stop playing with his mind." She thought with a smile.

Snapping the tessan shut, she hurled it at Haruka and as soon as it left her hands they launched into the seals for the Daibaku no Jutsu.

She's using that? There's no water here. Sasuke thought, activating his Sharingan to copy it. Even so, he'd better be careful...

Haruka noted the "Iron fan" weapon attacking him and smirked. His lightsaber lit up, a forest-green color and struck the weapon, slicing it in half. Then, noting that she's going into the seals for a Water Type (specifically, Great Explosion) move, he knew he had to act quickly. So, he stuck his lightsaber into the ground, and then began running as fast as his chakra-enhanced legs could, preparing to dodge whatever was coming...

As he voluntarily disarmed himself of his weapon, Mer smiled as she ceased the seal she'd been doing and drew eight kunai, four in each hand.

Throwing all eight, she quickly did the hand seals for a clan varient of the Soshuha which provided a swirling armour of Kunai around her without inhibitating any of her movement.

ooc: Just realized, miss-typed, meant to post the Bakusui Shoha, but can work with it as is so don't worry 'bout it.

Sure it appeared that Haruka disarmed himself, but the fact is, his lightsaber is making a nice line in the dirt as Haruka kept it going with a Ram seal. He was forming a large circle around Merry with the blade of light. He noticed that Merry has produced a slicing shield of kunai flying around her. While his lightsaber could slice through them all to get to her, that wasn't his plan. Still, he took care to be wary of what she will do next.

The lightsaber continued to move, as if from an invisible hand, cutting lines into the dirt, now forming two large triangles inside the circle, each point facing the base of the other. Haruka began to smile as everything appeared to be going according to plan as he looked at his pair of fingerless gloves. They had, on each palm, a strange symbol, almost like a rune or seal, but used for a different purpose. One in which the kunoichi will soon find out.

Naruto frowned as he tried to think what Haruka's doing. Then...he grinned. "Heh. Good plan."

Sasuke smirked and nodded. "It is. I'll tell you how he learned this later. For now, let's see if he will succeed."

"Hai." Naruto said.

"Hey. What's Haruka doing?" Travis asked. Keith smirked and whispered in his ear. "Really? Wow..."

Mer chuckled as she noticed the saber cutting a path in the ground, "Can't have that now can we." She commented to herself.

As his lightsaber began cutting the second triangle, Mer drew and threw two Kunai at Haruka as a distraction more than anything else as she utilized the Shunshin no Jutsu and the Bunshin no Jutsu to disappear while Haruka would, ideally, believe her to still be surrounded by the barrier of blades.

She then began doing the hand seals for the Bakusui Shoha with the intention of flooding the arena, which would help her and her team when their matchs came up.

Lialai smiled as the Hidden Mist ninja began her water seal. She said to her master, "Isn't she crafty?" Barak nodded in aggrement.

Mer chuckled as she noticed the saber cutting a path in the ground, "Can't have that now can we." She commented to herself.

As his lightsaber began cutting the second triangle, Mer drew and threw two Kunai at Haruka as a distraction more than anything else as she utilized the Shunshin no Jutsu and the Bunshin no Jutsu to disappear while Haruka would, ideally, believe her to still be surrounded by the barrier of blades.

She then began doing the hand seals for the Bakusui Shoha with the intention of flooding the arena, which would help her and her team when their matchs came up.
Haruka, being a son of the master of the basics, noticed that the bunshin wasn't what she was supposed to be as he dodged the two kunai rushing at him. "Hmm..."

His lightsaber soon completed the second triangle and flew back into his hand. Then he focused his senses, trying to spot where Merry really is...

Merry was a number of meters behind him as she finished the last hand-sign for the Bakusui Shoha, causing a massive volume of water to appear from nothing and deeply coating the floor. It would also, in theory, eradicate the design her opponent had cut into the floor.

Haruka jumped high, narrowly avoiding the wave of water splashing around the arena and landed on the surface, using chakra to keep himself afloat. I hope it's still there...

The Umino boy took a deep breath and dove underwater, swimming to the bottom and noticing a school of little fish swimming around. Heh. Odd. Ah. It's still there!

Indeed, the funny thing with deep lightsaber gashes is that the symbol survived the water assault by virtue of being three feet deep and made of still-cooling glass, courtesy of the blade itself.

Now. Let's do it! Mindful of the fact that he needs to breathe, Haruka wasted no time in clapping his hands, activating the transmutation circles and planting his hands on the edge of the larger circle at the bottom of the sea.

Suddenly, a flare of energy sprang up, forcing Haruka to hold on tight as the water was literally blown away by the powerful energies involved in alchemy. Yes. Alchemy.

Understanding. Dirt is usually made of quartz and organic topsoil and water is H2O, with the common elements of hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, among others. Once Haruka understands that, he can conduct the next sequence.

Deconstruction. This is where the energy produces those familiar sparks and bubbles of steam when underwater. The organic and inorganic compounds in dirt are broken down to their elemental components.

Reconstruction. Now, the compounds are reconstructed, molecule by molecule to something completely new, using the elements in dirt and water as a base.

The water immediately swirled into a whirlpool as something large was being formed seemingly out of a blinding flash of light, aiming for the kunoichi. That something, once it broke the surface, turned out to be a giant hand, grasping swiftly for the girl. On the wrist of the hand was Haruka, finally breathing air again and directing the hand with his powers.

Amazing. So this is Umino Haruka, son of Umino Iruka... Tsunade smirked.

Renkinjutsu. The Art of Alchemy. Uchiha Sasuke grinned. Mastery of this technique requires years of study and hard work, but this boy, my apprentice, has done it. I'm proud of him. And so will Master Iruka be, I'm sure.

Heh. Now things get interesting with alchemy in the game... Naruto smirked, crossing his arms.

Barak thought to himself, Nice use of alchemy. I wonder who trained that young apprentice. Whoever it was took spent a lot of personal time with that student. Very nice technique.

Lialai and the others looked on and watched as the big water hand reached out toward the female ninja.

Eamonn lowered his sunglasses to have a better view of what was going on. Any one who'd have looked at his eyes would have instantly recognised the sharingan.

"This should be fun, someones about to lose badly," Daniel laughed.

"Not as badly as the weakling you fought," Katsuo pointed out and both boys laughed.

Sasuke glanced at Eamonn. He was still intruged as to how he gained the Sharingan without being an Uchiha...

Mer was caught off guard by the hand, it appeared to be a clan jutsu, one with a unusual seal set, but she then smiled. If Haruka wanted to pit his clan technique against hers, she'd be happy to oblige.

Drawing five kunai, two in her left hand, three in her right. Making the hand signs for the Teppodama, thought with a slight twist that he was almost certain not to realize, she spit the water ball at him while tossing the kunai at him in a method that would make blocking all six attacks quite difficult.

The adaptation included the presetting of a Kawarimi no Jutsu.

Crap. Haruka dodged the kunai attacking him, but one of them grazed his arm, spilling blood. He noticed Merry poofing away as soon as the hand attacked her.

Kawarmi. Hmm, not unexpected. However... Haruka scanned the area for Merry. Finding her (whereever she is), he clapped his hands again and slapped them down onto the surface of the water. Immediately, a large waterspout in the form of a dragon rose up, roaring in challenge. Suiryuudan no Jutsu!

"Heh. Alchemy's pretty cool. It bypasses most of the seals you need for high-level jutsus like this one, making them lots quicker than normal." Haruka smirked. "Attack!"

Roaring, the water dragon charged forth and opened it's mouth wide...

Merry noticed his continued attacks and smiled, his lastest was a higher rank than he should be able to do, which ment he was burning his chakra quite quickly. Rasing a hand in a wave, she dropped down into the water.

To make any attempts to strike her underwater, she decided to see what he'd do. As she awaited Haruka move, she used the Kiri Gakure no Jutsu to put him at a disadvantage. It would disadvantage her as well when she needed to come up to breath, but otherwise the occasional dripping of blood from his arm would grant her the edge.

The dragon splashed the water and turned back into its original form.

Hmm. She's underwater. Let's see if she'll survive this... Haruka grinned even though he's feeling the pinch of chakra depletion. He clapped his hands and focused on the water once more.

It became cold. Colder than cold. The other ninjas watching the battle began shivering. Ice formed on the surface, then began spreading underwater relentlessly, freezing all the fish that swam under the surface. Haruka kept going, focusing on freezing every cubic inch of water until Merry is forced to submit...or freeze to death.

Mer chuckled mentally as she saw the ice forming, using ice against a nin of the water country was not perhaps the smartest thing to do. As the ice made it's way to her, she began doing the hand seals for the Hyoton no Jutsu, an adaptation on the Doton no Jutsu to pass throught the ice. Quickly travelling to the surface she caught her breath and realized she was starting to feel the chakra crunch.

Breathing hard after that last move, Haruka noticed that Merry broke through the ice and smirked. She's pretty good. But I'm afraid it's time to end this.

Focusing the last reserves of chakra within him and slowing his breathing, Haruka ignited his lightsaber again. This time, he would attack directly. But first... "Do you yield, my pretty?"

Reika sweatdropped. "Oh, great. He's turning into a womanizer."

Kagome agreed. "Yeah, he sure is."

Shaoel said to his friends, "It is about time that some taijutsu is going to be used. All of these water techniques were starting to bore me." Lialai nodded in agreement. Gordunt replied, "I liked the water techniques. They reminded me of one of our jutsu. Lialai and Shaoel smiled. Lialai then remembered the stone Barak had given them. She then realized what they were for. Lialai smiled and said, "Those stones are going to come in handy. Barak looked over at her and thought, Smart kid.

"Put that annoyingly buzzy thing away and come ask me that up close." She replied, her voice, appearence and general demenor that of a school girl talking to a guy she has a bit of a crush on and would enjoy kissing, something that wasn't that far off the truth, all things considered.


"Great, Mer's crushing again." Tori commented to Max.
"Yep, this will be what, the fourth time this month?"
"Fifth I think, but who's counting.

Haruka cocked his head. "I think not."

And before Merry could reply, he struck, aiming to dismember Merry's limbs...

Merry had been expecting something like what Haruka pulled and as he was swinging, she'd drawn two kunai, both designed for ease of transfere of chakra, and sent some of her remaining stores of it into each, using them to X-block/deflect the blade, before throwing a kick at his open side.

Haruka twisted aside just enough to allow the leg to graze him. Although it hurt and he was winded, he then shifted his lightsaber to cut the leg using one hand to hold the hilt and the other to deflect any taijutsu blows. He's a student of Makashi* for sure.

OOC: *Lightsaber fencing. See Count Dooku for example.

As she snapped her leg back, Haruka's blade grazed it, injurying her thight. Stumbling back, she realized that with the leg damage, her chances to kill or at least get a yield were next to nil.

With a note of pain, and definately a note of reluctance, she relaxed her guard and said, "I yield," Before kneeling down to avoid any further stress to her leg, at least till she got a medical nin to look at it.

Gordunt thought to himself, That match took long enough. Lialai popped her neck and stood up. Lialai looked around and said, "I wonder when we'll get to fight." Shaoel looked up and said, "Probably soon. Just a couple of us left." Gordunt nodded in agreement. Barak looked towards where Sasuke and Naruto were standing. He then replied, "I am going to go talk to some of the other Jounin. Break a leg in your matches. I expect you guys to give 110 percent, okay." Barak gave his pupils a smile of courage and walked to where most of Jounin were standing. He then said, "Whoever trained Haruka was a pretty good teacher. I wonder what the rest of Haruka's group will do?" He hoped to spark a little conversation.

"Congrats, Haruka." Sasuke smirked as the boy saluted to his opponent before jumping back onto the rails. Tsunade had a couple of medic-nins take Merry on a stretcher to get treated.

"Thanks, sensei." Haruka grinned tiredly.

"Next up..." Shikamaru said, looking at the scoreboard.

Shaoel Carter vs Keith Masaki!

"Looks like I'm up." Keith Masaki noted and hopped down to the arena, now that it had drained away, leaving muddy ground and puddles.

"Whoever trained Haruka was a pretty good teacher. I wonder what the rest of Haruka's group will do?" He hoped to spark a little conversation.
"Well, Keith's a Masaki, and you know they're unpredictable as hell." Naruto said. "Then their's Reika."

Sasuke seemed to look proud even if he's still a bit emo.

"Sasuke-baka's kid." Naruto grinned.

"Lucky not to lose her leg," Katana remarked. "Stupid bastard should have just taken it clean off."

Eamonn looked at her out of the corner of his eye, there had been a time that he would have done the same. His eyes moved onto her fan, he could tell even from here that it was irreparible she'd definately have to get a new one and she couldn't do that until they return to Suna. Being with her until then was certainly going to be rather frustrating.

Barak smiled as Shaoel's name was called. Barak looked at Shaeol and nodded. Shaoel smiled and pulled the alexandrite out of his pocket. He then dropped it into his lightsaber's hilt. Barak thought to himself, Good, they discovered that the alexandrite will allow them to channel chakra into their lightsaber blades and allow them to combine the Force and chakra. This should be interesting. Barak looked at Naruto and said, "Well, Shaoel can be unorthodox. Let the match be a good one." Barak looked over at Lialai and Gordunt. They were fully focused on Shaoel and Keith.

Shaoel had disappeared down to the field. Shaeol was now studying his opponent. Shaoel knew that this was going to be an interesting match. He looked up into the sky, closed his eyes and then looked at Keith. A small thunderbolt appeared within his pupil. He was ready to fight.

OOC: CW is currently stuck on computers that have Jolt blocked, I'm posting this on his behalf to keep the thread going. CW wrote it, I'm just posting it.

IC:

"Ready?" Shikamaru raised a flag. "Begin!"

As soon as the flag dropped, Keith waited for his opponent to make the first move, ready to pull out his lightsaber-resistant staff at the first sign of danger. He had a plan here, but he wants to test Shaoel first...

OOC: I understand. I won't do anything to drastic.

Shaoel took a step back. I wonder what he can do? Probably shouldn't use my lightsaber just yet. Shaeol did a series of handsigns and yelled, "Shock Clone Jutsu!" Five Shaoel surrounded Keith. All five of the clones did another handsign and Shaoel then yelled, "Raiton no Justu!" Five thunderbolts rained down from the sky into the Shaoels' hands. Shaoel then guided the five thunderbolts directly at Keith.

Lialai sat back and said to Gordunt, "That was a pretty good opening move. That is how you use lightning Justu." Gordunt smiled and nodded his head. "I doubt that Keith dodge five lightning bolts."

"Aaaah!" Keith was struck by the five lightning bolts and panted deeply before smirking on his knees, ignoring the pain. "T-that's it? My cousin Daniel's bolts hurt worse. Now for my move."

He bit his thumb and went to familiar seals: Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram.

Then he spread the blood of his thumb onto the palm of his other hand and slammed that hand down to the ground. "Kuchiyose: Random Summon!"

A large, overly dramatic explosion of smoke occurred, and the other Ninjas expected some powerful and dangerous creature to appear...

But a collective sweatdrop ran down their heads when a small, pink, puffball with catlike ears and a microphone appeared.

"Jiggly!" It chirped.

Keith sweatdropped. "Now that's random."

But Naruto and Sasuke and Shikamaru stiffed in fear, and even Kyuubi whined like a fox cub. "That is the most dangerous creature alive!"

"You got that right." Naruto said to his tenant inside his mind. "But we can't run."

"Shit."

"What's going on?" Travis asked. "Sensei?"

"You'll soon learn." Naruto felt like crying.

"Uh, right. Do whatever you can to beat that guy..." Keith waved his hand, sighing. Why of all creatures did I have to summon a Jigglypuff?

"Jiggly!" The puffball grinned and put her microphone to her mouth. And then she began to sing. "Jiggly-puff...Jiggly! Jiggly-puff...Jigglypuff!"

"Oh no. Here we go again." Naruto felt himself get drowsy, even Kyuubi was affected. The ninjas rubbed their eyes and began to fall asleep, and not even Tsunade could stop it...

Keith yawned and the last thing he thought before nodding off was. Great. A draw...

OOC: I hope that goes for everyone.

"What the fuck?" Daniel wondered, seeing the pink puffball.

Katsuo was first to fall asleep, hitting the ground quite hard. Eamonn held onto the railings as he fought against the urge to fall asleep. Katana had by then slipped and was lying asleep upon the remains of her fan. Daniel's eyes turned to a glowing green as he began feeling sleepy, the last thing he recalled seeing was Eamonn slumped against the railings.

"I'll kill him," Matsuo sleepily muttered before succuming to sleep himself.

Max yawned as he heard the music and plugged his ears to try and stay awake, but alas failed. Tori tried likewise, and muttered, "I'd have been able to beat the blob," Before drifting off.

Thier Sensai had headed out to get some noodles, expecting to be back before the match started, but arrived a little late, to see everyone asleep, before he likewise fell asleep, but at least he saved the noodles from spilling.

"Aaaah!" Keith was struck by the five lightning bolts and panted deeply before smirking on his knees, ignoring the pain. "T-that's it? My cousin Daniel's bolts hurt worse. Now for my move."

He bit his thumb and went to familiar seals: Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram.

Then he spread the blood of his thumb onto the palm of his other hand and slammed that hand down to the ground. "Kuchiyose: Random Summon!"

A large, overly dramatic explosion of smoke occurred, and the other Ninjas expected some powerful and dangerous creature to appear...

But a collective sweatdrop ran down their heads when a small, pink, puffball with catlike ears and a microphone appeared.

"Jiggly!" It chirped.

Keith sweatdropped. "Now that's random."

But Naruto and Sasuke and Shikamaru stiffed in fear, and even Kyuubi whined like a fox cub. "That is the most dangerous creature alive!"

"You got that right." Naruto said to his tenant inside his mind. "But we can't run."

"Shit."

"What's going on?" Travis asked. "Sensei?"

"You'll soon learn." Naruto felt like crying.

"Uh, right. Do whatever you can to beat that guy..." Keith waved his hand, sighing. Why of all creatures did I have to summon a Jigglypuff?

"Jiggly!" The puffball grinned and put her microphone to her mouth. And then she began to sing. "Jiggly-puff...Jiggly! Jiggly-puff...Jigglypuff!"

"Oh no. Here we go again." Naruto felt himself get drowsy, even Kyuubi was affected. The ninjas rubbed their eyes and began to fall asleep, and not even Tsunade could stop it...

Keith yawned and the last thing he thought before nodding off was. Great. A draw...

OOC: I hope that goes for everyone.

OOC: ROFLROFLROFLROFLROFL....

IC: Shamman watched in amusement as the Masaki summoned a Jigglypuff. He began to laugh, since he knew the exact cure to the jigglypuff. Just cut off your hearing. You don't need them for the force.

Shamman then relaxed and sat back, continuing to laugh hidiously at the unusual creature.... However, he still felt a little sleepy.... ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Shaoel came back into one and stared at Keith. He survived. That's good. Then Keith did a justu similar to his master's summoning justu. Instead of summoning a bird or monkey however, he summoned a Jigglypuff.

Lialai sat up in the stands and said, "Jiggypuff? This is such a drag. Now it is going to be a dr . . . . ." Lialai and Gordunt fell asleep in the stands. Barak looked over the side of the ring and thought to himself, Who summons Pokemon? Barak shrugged his shoulders and said, "Why bother resisting it?" Barak laid down and gained some much needed z's.

Shaoel was still taken aback from the Jigglypuff summon. Soon after Keith fell out it was his turn to go to sleep. Shaoel slowly drifted of into dreamland. The whole arena was now victim to the forgotten Jiggypuff's anger.

Jigglypuff stopped singing and looked around at all the sleeping patrons. She puffed up in anger and twisted off the cap of the microphone, revealing a marker. Then she angrily doodled on everyone's faces and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

A few minute later, everyone awoke from the nap they took. The boys took one look at each other and doubled over in laughter while the girls steamed up.

"Draw. Neither win nor lose." Shikamaru yawned. In this case, a draw results in neither one passing to the third exam.

The scoreboard zipped around again, revealing the next two contestants.

Tori (Theao) vs Kaneda (OOC: Jesse)!

"Hmm." Jesse disappeared in a swirl of dark smoke and reappeared on the arena.

"He is so dead," Masato angrily cursed trying to remove the marker from his face.

Shun whispered something to Sayuri and they both laughed.

Meanwhile Daniel was getting angry, marker pen ink was hard to get out of fur. That meant he was likely stuck with it until he could get a shower and until then he had to put up with Katsuo's taunts and laughing.

"Katsuo if you don't shut up, I'm going to shove your puppet up where the sun doesn't shine."

Victoria stretched, stood, whipped her face off and popped her ears. Shaking her head, she headed down to the arena, but not before noticing thier team's Jonin picking himself up with his bowl of noodle.

Max wondered idlely who'd he'd come up against, and how well Tori would do against the rival nin.

"Ready?" Shikamaru asked. "Begin!"

Jesse smirked and beckoned Tori to do something.

Tori smiled as she decided to test her opponent's reactions before getting into the more serious activities of the match. Drawing a kunia, she threw it at Jesse.

The kunai sped towards Jesse, yet he did not move an inch. Less than 30 centimeters from his head, the kunai suddenly and mysteriously turned aside to hit the floor behind him. Jesse continued to smile, and what a cold one it is...

Shaoel stood up and walked back to the stands. He sat down next to Gordunt. He was a little frustrated. Lialai looked at him and shook his head. Gordunt then said, "You would have won if he hadn't summoned that Jigglypuff." Shaoel nodded and said, "I know. He is an idiot." Barak woke up to find marker on his face. He thought to himself, I hate Jigglypuffs. He then did a quick hand sign ending in the dragon seal. He then quietly said, "Water Release: Face Cleaning Jutsu." His hand sent soapy water from it and he washed his face. He then began to watch the match.

"I guess I'll have to get serious, as he's good." She muttered as she began snapping the hand-seals for the Kasumi Jusha no Jutsu. She would then be able to see how he liked one of her favorite jutsu.

As illusionary clones surrounded Jesse, he prepared his own technique, pulling out two steel balls the size of marbles and waited...

Keith, after getting smacked by the girls for the prank, noted something about "Kaneda". "Hmm. He feels familiar..."

Using the illusions to get close, Victoria decided to pull out a jutsu that few other genin would know, or even be vaguely expecting. She'd learnt the AnBu techninque from her parents, both former members of the Kiriga AnBu. Hiding behind one of the illusion, she did the hand seals for the Kanashibari no Jutsu. Beside the unexpectedness of it, it would logically also freak out a criminal nin.

Body Paralysis. Jesse felt himself become paralyzed. Advanced...and useless.

The steel balls suddenly flew out of his hand and swirled around him protectively. Then one of them shot out at Tori at a speed that, barring precognition, ninjas could only hope to match. In other words, the ball has become a homing bullet.

This was Jesse's signature technique, Magnetic Bullet.

Shamman woke up from a long snooze. He began to rub his hands on his eyes and when he took 'em off, he found black marks on his hands. Curious, shamman walked up to a mirror and stared at his reflection. The jigglypuff drew a zombi-like adolf hitler face on him. Shamman quickly washed the marks off, and began to wander towards Janus. He asked Janus a question, but shamman couldn't hear himself.

Idiot.... He forgot that he partially-disconnected his hearing with the force, and reconneted it.

"Your brother is up I see. I've heard from my master that he has a very unusual tallent in magnetic capabilities. This should be interesting."

As she dodged the bullet, again and again, she studied the pattern of the ball that remained in defensive. Then a smile lit her face as she began the sign for Kawarimi no Jutsu. Waiting till it was just about to strike, she completed it, with the intention of substituting with Jesse.

Ideally either both balls would be destroyed, one in defence, the other offence or he'd get struck by his own attack and eliminated that way.

Shamman woke up from a long snooze. He began to rub his hands on his eyes and when he took 'em off, he found black marks on his hands. Curious, shamman walked up to a mirror and stared at his reflection. The jigglypuff drew a zombi-like adolf hitler face on him. Shamman quickly washed the marks off, and began to wander towards Janus. He asked Janus a question, but shamman couldn't hear himself.

Idiot.... He forgot that he partially-disconnected his hearing with the force, and reconneted it.

"Your brother is up I see. I've heard from my master that he has a very unusual tallent in magnetic capabilities. This should be interesting."
"Indeed. Seems to me that this will be quick." Janus nodded.

"Indeed. Seems to me that this will be quick." Janus nodded.

"I've got no metal powers myself, but it's said my master has a few. I've personaly never seen 'em in action, so I think this will be interesting. I could learn a thing or two.

My main tallent seems to be element powers. Controling water, wind, fire, earth, and the like."

As she dodged the bullet, again and again, she studied the pattern of the ball that remained in defensive. Then a smile lit her face as she began the sign for Kawarimi no Jutsu. Waiting till it was just about to strike, she completed it, with the intention of substituting with Jesse.

Ideally either both balls would be destroyed, one in defence, the other offence or he'd get struck by his own attack and eliminated that way.
Unable to defend himself from the Body Switch, Jesse instead stopped the bullet in midair when he found himself in the path of the object. Smirking, he then sent both balls at Victoria, each one coming at her from different vectors, a much harder move to block as it was like being hit by machine guns, judging by how fast the bullets were moving.

With the bullets continuing to strike for her, Jesse began levitating other metallic objects from his pouches. Shuriken, kunai, etc. They all began to swirl around Jesse, forming a deadly shield of metal around him. It was only a matter of decision when they would strike...

"Yield or die." Jesse said, boring emotionless eyes into Victoria's. "Your choice."

"Definitely familiar." Keith muttered. He went to Sasuke and whispered something in his ear. "I remember a guy I faced once who had the ability to manipulate electromagnetic fields. This one feels like him."

"Hmm." Sasuke said. "Interesting."

"I've got no metal powers myself, but it's said my master has a few. I've personaly never seen 'em in action, so I think this will be interesting. I could learn a thing or two.

My main tallent seems to be element powers. Controling water, wind, fire, earth, and the like."
"That's interesting. And you know I'm gravity personified." Janus allowed himself an indulgent smile.

Unable to defend himself from the Body Switch, Jesse instead stopped the bullet in midair when he found himself in the path of the object. Smirking, he then sent both balls at Victoria, each one coming at her from different vectors, a much harder move to block as it was like being hit by machine guns, judging by how fast the bullets were moving.

With the bullets continuing to strike for her, Jesse began levitating other metallic objects from his pouches. Shuriken, kunai, etc. They all began to swirl around Jesse, forming a deadly shield of metal around him. It was only a matter of decision when they would strike...

"Yield or die." Jesse said, boring emotionless eyes into Victoria's. "Your choice."


"Ah..... Just look at that." Shamman was amazed by Jesse's powers with magnetics. Shamman staired at the metal balls as they rappidly moved, increasing spead. "Reminds me of an old holodeck movie I once participated in as a child."


"That's interesting. And you know I'm gravity personified." Janus allowed himself an indulgent smile.

"I figured. You crushed that other guy with no problem."

Tori had one final tactic before she knew she'd have to yeild. Dropping a smoke-bomb, she utilized the Shunshin no Jutsu to both avoid the marble bullets and to drop six explosive notes in a close circle around Jesse. Each tag had been partially trimmed to cut down on the time it would take to explode.

Darting back from placing the last explosive tag, she dodged the bullets again. The blast should be able to get throught the blade barrier.

OOC: Posting on behalf of CW, he's unable to get to a computer which doesn't have Jolt blocked.

IC:

The tags exploded, showering shuriken and kunai everywhere. But what Tori expected to be a battered and bleeding Sithling turned out to be...nothing.

A well-placed Teleport allowed Jesse to maneuver his way out of harm. Not only that, the next thing Tori knew, a crimson lightsaber ignited, poised to strike her neck from behind.

"I ask again. Yield or perish." Jesse said simply.

Lialai and her group sat up there looking at the balls. Lialai noticed that they weren't being controlled by chakra but by the Darkside of the Force. Lialai knew something was up with this guy. I'll have to watch out for that guy. He is a darkside manipulator. I have fought to many of his type already. I need to get to the next stage of the exam.

With a scowl and note of annoyance, she replied, "Fine, I yield."

Lialai looked around and thought to herself, Not to many people left. I should be up soon.

As it stands now, the people still left are:

Lialai, Gordunt, Reika, Kagome, Nick, Tetsuo (Janus), Masato, Shun, Sayuri, Max, Katsuo, and Warrior Yantka.

Next up, as Jesse returned to the stands, is...

Gordunt vs Katsuo!

"Alright my turn!" Katsuo yelled.

"If you loose you're worse then Katana," Daniel taunted.

"Bite me," the puppeteer remarked before leaping down to face his opponent.

Gordunt smiled. Lialai and Shaoel wished him good luck and he jumped down to the field. Gordunt then thought, "I want to make this as physical as possible." He balled up his fist and red chakra began to be released from them he then looked at Katsuo and said, "Okay." He waited for the Jounin referee to start the battle.

"And...begin!" Shikamaru ordered.

The fight was on...

Gordunt ignited his red lightsaber. He looked at his opponent and thought, Sword combat should show me what my opponent can do. He did a quick hand sign and said, "Raiga-Shunshin no Jutsu." A lightning bolt thruck Gordunt and he quickly disappeared from in front of his opponent.

"Hmph," Katsuo remarked. "How unoriginal."

Too move would leave himself open, to stay where he was would invite Gordunt to attack him. So that was what he would do, wait and makr Gordunt show himself.

Unoriginal but effective. Gordunt thought to himself as he used his red lightsaber to attack from underneath the ground. He rocketed out the ground and knocked Katsuo into the air. While Katsuo was in the air Gordunt used the Force to throw his lightsaber directly at Katsuo's head. Gordunt thought to himself, I wonder if he falls for it. He waited to see the results.

But it wasn't Katsuo, it was a decoy, his puppet. When Gordunt had knocked Katsu's puppet into the air, it had shot out poisoned needles in all directions. Only a skilled Jounin would have been able to avoid all of them. The lightsaber hit the puppets head and a pair of hands grabbed the hilt.

"You have been poisoned," came Katsuo's voice.

Katsuo was nowhere to be seen, there was only a cat in the corner watching Gordunt.

Gordunt yelled as he was struck by the poison needles. Then a thick smoke appeared around Gordunt. The only thing that was left when the smoke was cleared was log. Gordunt smiled from behind Katsuo. Gordunt looked at him and said, "Simple justu. You might want to drop my lightsaber." Gordunt did a quick hand sign ending in the dog sign. "Hilt Shocker Jutsu!" A strong surge of electricity coursed from the lightsaber into Katsuo's body.

"Those two are pretty good. I wonder which one will pass..." Travis noted.

"Thanks for powering up my puppet," Katsuo taunted.

The cat continued to watch. Standing so close to the puppet made Gordunt vulnerable. Two more hands appeared and began wrapping themselves around Gordunt, making sure he would be tightly bound.

"Theres a compartment in that puppet thats inpenetrable by that electricity, but I'm not in there."

There was an explosion of smoke where the cat had been and Katsuo finally appeared.

"And thank you for finally revealing yourself." The shock clone disappeared as in a bolt of lightning. A lightning bolt struck about 10 meters in front of Katsuo and Gordunt appeared unharmed. Gordunt used the Force to rip the lightsaber from Katsuo and back into Gordunt's hands. Gordunt took up a Juyo stance and said, "Are we going to fight or are we going to play with clones and puppets?"

"I am a puppet master, I fight by strings," Katsuo replied.

Sure enough he was living up to what he said. As Gordunt had appeeared in front of him, Katsuo had begun to wrap chakra strings around Gordunt's legs. Not touching at first, otherwise Gordunt would know that they were there.

"Lets see."

Katsuo clenched his hand shut and pulled the chakra strings toward him. The chakra strings tightened around Gordunt's legs and pulling it towards him would have toppled his opponent.

Gordunt was ripped forwards toward Katsuo. Gordunt shook his head and used the Force the help him grab his Crimson Blade and his lightsaber. He focused his chakra through the Crimson Blade and the Force through his lightsaber. He then linked the two swords together also combining the two sources of energy together creating energy that was able to break through the strings. The combined blade took on a golden hue as chakra and the Force channeled through it. Then Gordunt used the blade to slice through the strings. Because Gordunt was still in the air when the strings were cut, he was sent flying towards Katsuo.

While in the air Gordunt swiftly held his newly combined blade. Lightning flashed in the sky as he neared the puppeteer. When he was at arm's length from his opponent, Gordunt slashed his blade across Katsuo's body. "You can call me the Puppet Destroyer," he whispered as his blade slashed through Katsuo.

Katsuo easily dodged the blade and stood up behind Gordunt, laughing. "Your getting slow," he said. "The poison is taking effect within minutes you'll lose conciousness and fall into an eternal coma."

He took a step to the side.

"I poisoned you with my chakra strings, you made it so much easier to poison you when you used your own chakra to break it."

The puppet master grinned as his puppet returned to his side.

"Yield now while there is still time to get the antidote."

Gordunt quickly slung a kunai at the puppet hitting in the middle. He had to get rid of it in order to complete his next move.

Gordunt looked at the puppet master and smiled. "I need not an antidote today. The power of Jedi will help me this time." Gordunt cut himself with his blade and used the force heal technique to break down the poison within his body. Gordunt felt his energy and vigor returning. His eyes glowed as chakra and the Force rushed through his body.

Gordunt smiled and said, "It is time to end this my friend." He did a series of hand seals and yelled, "Raigeki no Yoroi (Lightning Armor)!" Lightning surged from the sky surrounding Gordunt in an unbreakable wall of electric currents. Gordunt yelled, "Your puppets, needles, or strings won't be able to touch me. They will simply be destroyed before they touch this barrier. This barrier will move wherever I go." He did another handsign and yelled, "Shunshin no Jutsu." As he quickly sped towards the puppet master he did another hand sign that ended in the goat.

Barak looked down from the stands and said, "It is all over now. He is about to use one of his signature moves. Lialai and Shaoel stared at the match with deep interest. They didn't get to see this technique a lot.

Gordunt yelled, "Crimson Raikyuu!!!" A red thunderbolt fell from the sky into Gordunt's hand forming ball lightning with Gordunt shoved directly into Katsuo's stomach. The impact caused a spectacular explosion. Barak and his two other apprentices watched on to see the results.

"He stole my technique!" Naruto yelled.

"He stole my Dad's technique!" Travis yelled.

Everyone else simply sweatdropped at the master and apprentice yelling foul words at Gordunt.

OOC: My apologies. I didn't still anyone's technique however. Talk to me in the OOC thread

OOC: All is edited. Tell me if you see any more problems.

Shamman watched the fight below, and heard the outcries from the stadium. There was a bit he didn't understand, something out of his realm.
He slowly walked over to Janus, and tapped him on the sholder, "is it illegal to coppy another's signature? Or, is it because of this.... Ah... Particular family in question, the Masakis, that receieves special attention for that signature power?"

Shamman watched the fight below, and heard the outcries from the stadium. There was a bit he didn't understand, something out of his realm.
He slowly walked over to Janus, and tapped him on the sholder, "is it illegal to coppy another's signature? Or, is it because of this.... Ah... Particular family in question, the Masakis, that receieves special attention for that signature power?"
"Hmph. Copying attacks is a ninja staple, just look at Uchiha's Sharingan eyes." Janus glanced at Sasuke-sensei.

"They're just fools for all their prestige." Jesse shook his head. "Ball-shaped elemental attacks are signatures of Masaki and Uzumaki, though."

Barak turned around at hearing the other ninja talk about ball-shaped elemental attacks. He then stated, "The Raikyuu is a move that is common in my clan. We have developed many versions of it. The newest version which you guys have just seen: Crimson Raikyuu was created by Gordunt after I taught him and the rest of his team how to use the normal Raikyuu. I was lucky to have gifted chakra controllers on my team. Gordunt made that Raikyuu all on his own after seeing me use a more powerful version of the Raikyuu. I am proud that they all mastered it, but it is just one of the many justu they have mastered." Barak turned around and waited for the results because the smoke hadn't cleared yet.

When the smoke cleared Gordunt was still standing there with his Crimson Raikyuu. He looked at Katsuo and said, "It isn't worth it." He through the Raikyuu into the sky and walked away from the arena. He yelled back the Jounin, "I forfeit." He jumped up into the stands. Barak smiled and thought to himself, Wise decision, Gordunt.

Lialai looked at Gordunt with a bewildered expression. She then said, "Why did you give up? You had him." Gordunt shrugged and said, "Like I said before, it wasn't worth it.[/i] Lialai smiled and then Shaoel said, "Lialai you are the only one Hidden Cloud has left. You have to win." Lialai smiled and said, "I will win. I am going to become a Chuunin." She looked over at her master who was waiting for the Jounin to call the next fight.

Katsuo stood there wide-eyed, had he just been about to lose? He wasn't sure, he had something in reserve but would it have stopped that. Walking over to his puppet, he took out a small veil and leapt up to Gordunt.

"Here you might still need this," he said. "The poison doesn't kill you but will give you explosive shit."

Gordunt took the veil and said, "Thanks. I appreciate it." He quickly drank the antidote. The Force wasn't able to fully heal him but it helped him.

Katsuo bowed and headed over to his team-mates. His puppet was already waiting for him there and his cat was sat by it, licking herself.

"You were going to lose that," Eamonn told him.

"I know," he replied and slumped down beside the wall.

As it stands now, the people still left are:

Lialai, Reika, Kagome, Nick, Tetsuo (Janus), Masato, Shun, Sayuri, Max, and Warrior Yantka.
Next up:

Nick vs Masato!

"You're up, bud." Travis grinned. "Go get 'em."

"Good luck." Naruto said.

"Thanks!" Nick hopped down to the arena floor and awaited his opponent.

"Hmm..... Another friend of the Masaki?" Shamman makes note of this. He then turns to Janus,
::One of the key ways to bring down your enemies is to attack their friends. Make them focused on their friends safty rather than their own. I say we make note of the ones this one hangs around with. He's still young, and nieve, easy to turn him around and make him follow our path. We can try to capture him and bring him to your mother as.... Ah, a gift? Unless, the other masaki.... Keith.... Decides to summon another jigglypuff.::

Masato smirked, now was his time to fight. He leapt down to the arena floor and eye'd up his opponent, his red eyes staring intently at him. Enough to send a shiver up anyones spine.

"Man I hope he kicks Masato's arse," Daniel remarked.

This should be interesting, Shaoel thought to himself. Barak looked back at the other Jounin and asked, "Who trained these two?"

A woman with light blue hair stepped forward. "I trained Masato," she said.

"Hmm..... Another friend of the Masaki?" Shamman makes note of this. He then turns to Janus,
::One of the key ways to bring down your enemies is to attack their friends. Make them focused on their friends safty rather than their own. I say we make note of the ones this one hangs around with. He's still young, and nieve, easy to turn him around and make him follow our path. We can try to capture him and bring him to your mother as.... Ah, a gift? Unless, the other masaki.... Keith.... Decides to summon another jigglypuff.::
Janus cringed slightly at that mention. Perhaps. We could do that.

Little did Shamman know, that was exactly the plan in place for Travis.

Meanwhile, Nick eyed Masato and gave a little shudder. Those eyes...too Uchiha-like.

"Ready? Begin!" Shikamaru ordered.

The blue-haired boy with the cowboy hat (ie Nick) placed his hands over the holsters on his belt, like an old-style Wild West character and prepared to move at the slightest danger...

Masato said nothing as Shikamaru ordered the match to begin. Like Nick, he stood his ground staring at his opponent. As Nicks hand moved to his holsters, Masato's right hand moved onto the handle of something he wore on his back.

Kimiko stepped forward with a worried look on her face. "He's going to use that blade already?"

Janus cringed slightly at that mention. Perhaps. We could do that.

Little did Shamman know, that was exactly the plan in place for Travis.


OOC: Excellent....

A woman with light blue hair stepped forward. "I trained Masato," she said.

Barak stood up and said, "Masato is the one with the weapon on his back. From the looks of it is a sword or type of melee weapon. Is he a good swordsman?"

Masato said nothing as Shikamaru ordered the match to begin. Like Nick, he stood his ground staring at his opponent. As Nicks hand moved to his holsters, Masato's right hand moved onto the handle of something he wore on his back.

Kimiko stepped forward with a worried look on her face. "He's going to use that blade already?"
Heh. Using a sword? No chance! Nick thought. Faster than the eye, a blaster whipped out and started pumping spears of red light at the enemy nin, then he prepared to move aside quickly in case the ninja could deflect the bolts.

"Heh. Ninjas are fast, but they don't hold a candle to bullets or blaster bolts." Travis grinned.

Naruto grinned as well. "That's...not entirely true."

"Huh? What do you mean, sensei?" Travis asked.

"There is one ninja I know that can match a bullet's speed, and that is Rock Lee." Naruto said.

"Of course, he'd have to open five Gates to do that." Sasuke pointed out. "Or did you forget?"

"How could I? Bushy-brows fighting Gaara...what a fight to remember." Naruto chuckled.

"What happened then?" Travis asked, knowing that he's about to get a flashback.

"Heh. It went like this..." Naruto began, telling the story of Rock Lee vs Gaara way back when...

In quick movement Masato drew his sword as soon as he saw Nicks hands grab for his blaster. Keeping his eye on his opponent meant he was able to see it even though it was a blur. That revealled its blade to be a black flame, he swirled the sword around in front of him faster then the eye could see. It's didn't block the blaster shots, it absorbed them. Stopping the swords movement, he smirked at Nick.

"You'll have to do better then that," he said rather coldly.

"Hmm. This is going to be tough..." Nick noted. "Still, as long as I stay out of range of that blade..."

Nick suddenly threw exploding marbles around Masato. Brilliant orange and red flashes erupted when they detonated, showering dirt everywhere. Then Nick began scanning for the nin...

Barak thought to himself, You never really see guns at Chuunin Exams. That is pretty interesting. He then glanced at the black fire sword that Masato carried and thought, Now that is an interesting weapon. Able to absorb energy that is cast into it. I wonder how you disable it. Barak looked down over the fighting field and waited for the conclusion.

Masato leapt to the opposite end of the arena to Nick. Fiesty, he thought to himself.

He stood there watching Nick, waiting for his next move.

"Hmm." Nick thought. More exploding marbles rained out at Masato. Nick then readied himself to attack again, changing weapons from the pistols to the lightsaber on his belt. If that black blade won't cut it with blasters...

Hmm a lightsaber, Masato thought. I can easily deal with one of those.

Masato leapt away from the exploding marbles, they were more annoying than anything. He raised his sword and pointed it toward Nick, waiting for him to make the first attack.

Nick attacked, sweeping his lightsaber for a low feint to the legs before aiming higher, the chest area.

Masato stepped back before swinging up his sword to block the attack.

Lightsaber connecting, Nick followed up with a series of katas, trying to get inside the enemy's guard and defeat him...

Masato wasn't going to be defeated that easily, no he had something up his sleeve...

"Black Dragon technique," he said, leaping away from Nick.

The black flame that made up his swords blade took the form of a dragon head. Swinging the sword normally caused the dragon head to detatched and head toward Nick.

"Waah!" Nick rolled to the side, dodging the black dragon. "Damn! Low on marbles, blasters don't work, lightsaber...not my best skill. What do I do?"

Lialai looked on in surprise. A black dragon had just shot out of that boy's blade. She looked at the flame sword and thought now that is interesting. She had seen a lot of different types of swords, but the flame sword happened to be one of the most unique.

Masato chuckled as he heard that. The dragon head returned to the sword, silently giving a roar.

"Yield or die," Masato told him.

"Rrg." Nick gritted his teeth and reached for a rifle strapped to his back. Can I use it? Should I use it?

I have nothing to lose, I guess... He pulled out the rifle, but not just any rifle. It can fire a ball of whitish energy that is tied to a person's chakra. In other words, the stronger the person's chakra, the stronger the blast when it hits.

"He's going to use that? Interesting." Naruto folded his arms.

"I've never seen him use that before, he's always used blasters." Travis said.

He's driven into a corner... Kagome thought. He's out if he fails to win with that.

"Darkness' Antidote." Nick whispered, formed a Ram seal and whipped the rifle around, aimed at Masato, and fired a glowing white ball of energy at him...

Masato aimed his sword toward the white ball of energy and at Nick.

"No," Kimiko said under her breath.

"Black Flame Pillar!" Masato yelled.

In an instant, the black flame became a pillar. The pillar of black flame shot away from the sword, engulfing everything in it's path including Nick if he wasn't careful. Even the white ball of energy would likely be absorbed by the black flame.

"Nick! Watch out!" Travis yelled.

The white energy collided with the black pillar and ignited, a powerful explosion that shook the Tower itself. But the black pillar, despite weakening, kept advancing.

Damn! This is it! Nowhere to run, not enough chakra to fully stop the thing, Nick waited for the inevitable, and shut his eyes in fear. Because he didn't keep his eyes open, he didn't notice a blur of blue hair and red/white jacket that stopped in front of him.

"Psybolt Beta!" A resounding yell bellowed, and a powerful blast of multicolored psychokinetic energy struck the black pillar and repulsed it back towards Masato. The attack would be powerful enough to slam him into a wall.

"What?!" Nick opened his eyes again, seeing Travis right in front of him, exerting effort to keep the black pillar from killing them. "Why, Travis?"

"Because you're my friend." Travis grinned. "If you die, I'll kick your ass!"

"Heh. Baka." Nick smirked. I forfeit, but that doesn't matter. What matters is that I have people who I can count on...friends like Travis!

"Hmph. Foolish sentiments." Janus scoffed.

Jesse, however, was silent. What power is this, that this cousin of mine should be capable of stopping such a powerful attack with that technique? Could he..?

"Heh. That's my apprentice." Naruto grinned. "Never give up when you have precious people to protect."

"Heh. I can attest to that." Sasuke smirked.

"Sigh, how troublesome. Nicholas forfeits the match to Masato due to outside involvement." Shikamaru announced, and shortly, Nick and Travis left the arena.

Kimiko breathed a sigh of relief, that technique was an extremly dangerous one to whomever was on the recieving end of it.

Masato meanwhile picked himself up from the ground having put up a barrier to stop the black flame touching him. His back ached and his head hurt from the impact with the wall, but still he won the match and that was what mattered. He stood up and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Won't be so lucky next time," he said.

Picking up his sword, he placed it back in it's sheath and head back up with the others. His two team-mates whispered between themselves as he walked past them.

Next up:

Lialai vs Kagome!

"All right! Now it's my turn!" Kagome jumped down to the arena and waited for her opponent.

A sudden gale rushed throughout the stadium as Lialai stood up. The sky darkened and a massive lightning bolt flashed across the sky as roaring went throughout the arena.

Lialai's eye's flashed as she lept down into the arena. Barak smiled and said, "Lialai show me what you've got." Lialai looked at Kagome and said, "Hello." She was ready to start the battle.

Shaoel looked at Gordunt and said, "She is determined to win this." Gordunt nodded his head and said, "She better or the Raikage will have an ulser." Shaoel shook his head and looked back at the arena.

"Nice light show. Let's do it!" Kagome smiled, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

"She's really psyched up." Travis noted.

"Yeah. Go get her, Kagome!" Nick yelled.

"Begin!" Shikamaru ordered.

Kagome opened up with a series of fireballs from her hands, sending them towards the Jedi.

Lialai smiled and said, "Fire? Is that all you got?" Lialai called on the wind and used it to knock the fireballs away from her. As the powerful blasts of air hit them they simply dismembered. Lialai then said, "Lightning should be interesting right about now." Lialai began snapping her fingers. At each snap lightning came down and struck at Kagome. Some of them were bound to hit. The faster she snapped the more thunderbolts came down.

Gordunt thought to himself, She can do that all day. It is useful because she doesn't have to use chakra to call on her lightning. Everyone sat back and watched the lightning strikes that Lialai had called.