Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Faith in Humanity ❯ Sakura Vs Doso; Temari Vs Shikamaru ( Chapter 16 )

Title: Faith Arc - Faith in Humanity (PG-13)

Author: Karrafear

Summary: AU. What if Naruto survived a murder attempt on his life at the age of 6 and had to leave Konoha for his protection. Now 12, Naruto and Jiraiya returns to face the genin test.

 

Disclaimer: Naruto is an anime and manga series created by Masashi Kishimoto. It does not belong to me; I'm simply using the characters and plot for my own creative devices.

 

"Demon's talk", /Thoughts/, "Speech", 'Speech emphasis', (FLASHBACK), Titles, (Author's interruptions)

 

Warning: This chapter's timeline will coincide with the previous chapters but it is mainly about Sakura and her training as well as a little snippet of Shikamaru at the end.

 

Pairings: eventually NarutoXHinata.

 

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Chapter 16

(Previously in the last chapter)

 

“Okay! Match Two, Haruno Sakura versus Dosu Kinuta. Begin!” Genma yelled as the audience quieten down to watch this match.

 

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(ALL NEW)

 

Both combatants stood opposite each other, eying the other and taking in every detail. Each knew of the other's weaknesses and strengths, but how much the other had improved during the one-month period was still a mystery.

 

/Let's see./ Sakura took a few seconds to remind herself of her opponent's fighting style and techniques from their previous battles. /This guy is mainly a close combat specialist. As long as he is within range, he can use that odd metal thing to attack my ears with sound. There's no way for me to block that type of attack so I have to stay far away from it. Not to mention, I can't see the sound waves so he could theoretically control it through the air in every possible way and attack me from any angle. I can't do what Shikamaru did last time, by taking over his body and control it as I wish, but I can hide myself so he can't find me! As long as he doesn't know where I am, he can't hurt me./ Thought Sakura resolutely.

 

As if waiting for a hidden signal, both Sakura and Dosu suddenly launched into their battle plans. Sakura finished a set of seals in record time and called out: “Gen-Bunshin no Jutsu! (Illusionary Replication Technique)!” Instantly, four other Sakuras appeared out of nowhere, two in front of the original and two behind. Straight after that, the real Sakura continued with another set of seals. This time, it was the Invisibility Genjutsu. Her body quickly started fading out of existence leaving behind no trace of her. (1)

 

Dosu, on the other hand, had quickly pulled up his left arm's large sleeve to reveal a second odd-looking metal device. (2) Raising his left hand up, in front of him, Dosu used his remaining right hand to make a concentration seal. Closing his eyes in focus, Dosu summoned forth a new technique. Immediately following that move, a deep humming sound was emitted from the metal device as the sound waves travelled out in a sphere like direction towards all angels from the epicentre of Dosu's original location.

 

Sakura, hiding her presence with the Invisibility Genjutsu decided to just sit back a bit and watch what Dosu was up to. She made her Illusionary Bunshins launch themselves at Dosu; trying to trick him into thinking they were real and was about to attack him. However, to her surprise, Dosu didn't move an inch as the Illusion's punches and kicks all passed through him without incident. It was as if he knew they weren't real.

 

Changing her plans slightly, Sakura had her Illusions throw Kunai at the still un-moving Dosu, when in reality she had been the one that had thrown her control-enhanced Kunai following the paths that the Illusions would have thrown theirs.

 

Dosu, as if sensing the real thing coming towards him this time, easily dodged the Kunai, still with his eyes completely closed. Confused, Sakura decided to weave her Kunai back in the direction of Dosu using her Chakra controlled strings, just to keep him occupied while she tries to think of something else that could work. Unfortunately for her, Dosu (eyes still closed) seemingly dodged the Kunai a second time, and suddenly lunged towards her invisible location, rushing towards her at high speed.

 

In her panic and confusion, Sakura quickly jumped away, doing her best to avoid any sound attacks that he might have created if ever given the chance to be within range. As she jumped, she lost her concentration on the Invisibility Jutsu and so the crowd was astonished to see her suddenly appearing out in the middle of the air for no apparent reason. Knowing that her position had been compromised, Sakura dispelled all her previous Illusions since they weren't able to do anything in the first place. She also redirected her Kunai at Dosu once again, hoping that she could get lucky had strike him down. What happened next surprised her completely.

 

Dosu raised his right arm's device (the same one he had used many times beforehand) and quickly released a large burst of sound waves towards the incoming Kunai. The waves of air vibration travelled through the air and impacted against the Kunai like a wall or barrier, instantly halting their movements and somehow rendering them to drop down to the ground harmlessly.

 

“HOW...” Sakura was stunned beyond belief. Some of her most powerful moves and it didn't even give him a scratch. /Impossible! How did he know where I am? What in the hell did he do to my Kunai??/

 

“Don't think you're tricks would work twice on me, little girl!” Dosu growled low in his throat as he glared at the pink haired girl. “I have been training intensively just so I could beat you and prove to your precious little Uchiha that he damn well better be prepared to face me!” He suddenly smirked and continued to threaten Sakura with a slightly insane glint in his eyes. “I don't really care if I become a Chuunin or not, but I will take my revenge on you and Uchiha! So be prepared to die! Once I'm finished with you, I'll start hunting him. I'll prove to you all what's my worth.”

 

Sakura shuddered at the intense maliciousness within Dosu's tone of voice. Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself. She really needed to defeat him, if not for herself, then at least for her teammates. She couldn't afford to lose here. /Calm Down Sakura./ She commanded herself. /Let's think this through logically. He can sense what is an illusion and what isn't. HOW??/

 

“Why are you after us? What was Orochimaru planning on doing to Sasuke?” Sakura asked, stalling for time as she quickly re-analysed all the new information about Dosu's improved fighting style. /Sound! His attacks are sound! Of course! With his left arm thingy, he is able to emit a small humming sound or a super sonic wavelength in all direction. If something has mass or is solid, it will automatically repel the sound wave. And with his eyes closed, Dosu can pick up what object has mass and where it is from what he hears. It's just like how bats see in the dark, by emitting sound and when the same sound is reflected off cave walls and stuff, the bat automatically knows not to ram itself into the wall! That's how he was able to tell which are illusions and which are real!/ Sakura thought to herself triumphantly.

 

/Okay. Now for the other bit... How was he able to dispel my Chakra control-enhanced Kunai? Think sound! Think sound! Aha! God! I'm a genius! He uses his Chakra to control the sound waves, right? Then he should be able to use the same Chakra to sever my Chakra from the kunai easily. What's made up of Chakra can easily be destroyed by placing Chakra into it, or in this sense, mixing the two Chakra signatures in mid air and severing my influence over the Kunai. However, being unable to use the Chakra-enhanced Kunai like I do, he simply drops them harmlessly onto the floor./ Sakura concluded to herself, now, far more calm than she had been only moments ago.

 

“I don't know what Orochimaru want's with Uchiha. But by doublecrossing me, he too will find that I'm not just a guinea pig to be used and then discarded. Mark my words, as long as I'm alive, I will get my revenge one way or another.” Dosu chuckled harshly at his own words and once again glared at Sakura with all his worth. /Oh! This is going to be fun ripping you apart!/ He thought as he lunged at her once again.

 

/SHIT!/ Sakura thought, jumping back and throwing four sharp metal needles at Dosu at the same time. Her precision with metal needles was much more accurate than Kunai since Sakura had practiced continuously with their use during her one month training period. Even without consciously doing so, Sakura's aim was perfect in their execution, directed at vital points in the hope of stopping her opponent's body movements.

 

Dosu managed to block two of her needles from piercing his chest but missed the other two that had stabbed into his thigh. Thinking that was all, Dosu tried to run after Sakura but suddenly collapsed as his legs refuse to hold up the rest of his body weight. Temporarily immobilised, Dosu frantically tried to reach the two needles still attached to his body, attempting to pull them out so that he can move his legs once more.

 

The needles, long and incredibly sharp, had embedded itself into two very important veins and opening points within the body's Chakra circulatory system. It had pierced deeply into the thigh muscle and remained stuck even while Dosu tried to pull it out from a very awkward angle.

 

Pressing her advantage, Sakura finally made an offensive move for the first time during this battle. Her hands moved quickly over a set of difficult to make hand seals. Once she had finished, she directed her last seal at the still flailing Dosu and whispered her newly learnt technique: “Mukaku no Jutsu (Blind Senses Technique)!”

 

She could the familiar burst of Chakra flowing out of the palm of her hands, floating through the air at a substantially slower rate than Ino's Shintenshin no Jutsu (Mind body switch) (3). Luckily for her, Dosu was too busy pulling the needles out of his leg to notice what Sakura had just done. He seemed to be in a very emotionally unstable state of mind and therefore wasn't focussed enough on his surroundings.

 

The technique finally reached Dosu, and immediately, Sakura could see the effects happening on his body. His entire body stopped moving as if it had simply frozen in time, his eyes had glazed into a greyish hue. And there he sat, unmoving, like a statue.

 

Knowing that time was against her, Sakura quickly got ready to finish off Dosu. Rushing at the now unmoving body, she pulled out four more needles and flung them at him, aiming at different place. After the first barrage, Sakura continued to fire needle after needle, all striking with meticulous precision at where she wanted them to land. She had aimed all her needles on all the important points within a human body. Some on the acupuncture points, some on the major veins and arteries, some on the Chakra inner coil system. Overall, by the time Sakura had finished her barrage of needles, she was already very low of Chakra. Deciding now would be a good time to release the Jutsu. Sakura quickly ran towards Dosu until she was directly behind him before performing the released seal (KAI).

 

When Dosu awakened from his Genjutsu haze, he discovered that his body was suffering from intense pain. Looking down, he was shocked at the number of needles his body now held within. Trying to move was no avail as both his arms and legs seem to be stiff as if no blood was flowing into them. His frantic cry was cut short as Sakura used all of her remaining Chakra to perform another set of seals and then lightly tapped him on his shoulder. “Kyousei Suimin no Jutsu (Forced Sleep Technique).” Dosu instantly dropped into a deep slumber.

 

Sighing in slight exhaustion and the emotional roller coaster ride she had just gone through, Sakura looked at the Examiner with an annoyed expression. “Well?!” She yelled at him, waiting impatiently for him to DO something.

 

Genma shrugged, not at all impressed by their performance, but he kept that thought to himself. “Dosu Kinuta is unable to battle. Winner: Haruno Sakura!”

 

The crowd cheered at another Leaf victory, though most of them didn't think that the fight had been that spectacular at all. Sakura only sighed in relieve at having passed the first round before she made her way back up to the waiting area where the other participants are. Haku and the other medic Nins were just arriving to carry Dosu away when Haku gave Sakura a secret wink in congratulations. Sakura smiled at that and returned with a nod in thanks. They both went back to their appropriate places, waiting for the next match to begin.

 

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“Kankuro versus Aburame Shino! Get down here now!” Genma called, irritated and bored out of his mind.

 

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Above, in the waiting area where all the participants stand, awaiting their own matches, Kankuro shifted in nervousness. He looked back at his re-constructed Karasu (puppet) and thought to himself. /SHIT! This match doesn't even matter! But there'll be hell to pay if they found out about the gimmick I placed within Karasu before the signal is given!/

 

Glancing at his sister with a slightly desperate look, she only gave him back a tight lipped and stern expression. Quickly diverting his eyes back to the examiner, Kankuro called out clearly: “I forfeit!”

 

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/What.../ Genma frowned at the reply. He wasn't the only one.

 

Shino had already been on his way towards the stairs (instead of jumping off the railing) when he heard Kankuro. `Happy' at the situation was NOT what Shino was feeling right now. In fact, he was feeling quiet put off, after training so hard with his father just to find out his opponent forfeited.

 

Naruto narrowed his eyes but didn't speak. He had already heard from his Aunt that there were going to be discrepancies during the Chuunin Exam. After all, he still kept in mind those three events in which his Aunt said could not be rectified, no matter what they did. /Sound will invade Konoha. The 3rdHokage will die. And Shukaku will be awakened... If I put all three together, I'd harbour a guess that Orochimaru is behind the attack, and somehow he has persuaded the Sand to help as well. If not, then Gaara and Shukaku would not have a role to play in this power struggle at all./Naruto clenched his fist, the only sign that he was furious at the situation. /Why is it, that I still can't protect the people close to me??/

 

Shikamaru gapped at Kankuro's abrupt announcement, completely stumped at what to do. /Does that mean…/ He thought to himself with a despairing tension in the air.

 

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Not waiting for the same thought to sink into these people's minds, Temari grabbed her fan (strapped onto her back), unfolded it, waved it a bit to gather a large gust of wind and rode down to the arena floor on top of her huge fan as transport. There, she stood, confident and calm, waiting for her match to begin.

 

Genma looked at her with a dull expression and a raised eyebrow. “Looks like you're very eager to get your match on the way...” He huffed. “Fine. Nara Shikamaru! Get down here now!” He demanded, looking thoroughly annoyed.

 

Shikamaru continued to gap at the scene. /Didn't I have another match between us! What the hell! Oh man! This is soooo troublesome!!!/ He was brought out of his astonishment when Naruto tapped him on his shoulder.

 

“Yo! Shikamaru! It's time for your match. Get down there now!” Naruto called cheerfully, carefully hiding his interest over Shikamaru's growth under the tutelage of Kaga, as well as the concern he felt for Konoha as a whole. He had overhead a conversation between his Aunt and Kaga before hand, talking about how Kaga-san had taught Shikamaru a special move. Naruto couldn't wait to see what Shikamaru had learnt, and how well he performed it.

 

Shaking his head out of his reverie, Shikamaru looked ruefully at Temari. /What's she getting so excited about?! Damn!/ He rubbed his head with irritation. /Man! What's with people these days!? They just can't wait! No one understands the concept of patience anymore! Well. If I really can't be bothered than I guess I could always forfeit like that other sand guy... How come I'm the one who always gets his match moved around all the time.../ Shikamaru mentally complained to himself, ignoring the growing calls from the angry crowd, all calling him to `hurry the hell up'.

 

Unfortunately for Shikamaru, that was the moment Sakura had finally returned to the waiting area. As she watched Shikamaru taking his sweet time thinking over whether or not he should accept the match, Sakura had lost her patience in waiting for him to acknowledge the fight. Forcefully shoving him forward, over the rail, Sakura called out to him enthusiastically, smirking all the way. “Alright! SHIKAMARU! GO FOR IT!!” /Let's see what you're teammate is capable of, Ino-pig!/ She mentally thought to herself, wondering if there was a huge gap in comparison between her two teammates and Ino's two teammates.

 

Shikamaru landed with a thump onto the arena's floor in a very undignified manner. Above, in the waiting area, both Naruto and Sakura sweat dropped at his seeming ungracefulness. /You sure you've taught him some good moves, Kaga-san?/ Naruto thought to himself sceptically, both his eyebrows raised in doubt.

 

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