Now What Have I Gotten Myself Into? ~Enter Konoha's number one knuckle head

38

             Chapter 38

It was the only way. I told myself as I fall to my knees pain shooting through me from my curse mark as if it were a thousand knives plunging through me repeatedly. Breathing heavily I look ahead of me at the girl who was now lying in an unmoving heap. Closing my eyes I brush my bangs over them to cover the scarlet hues with shaky hands. Yes, I had decided the best course of action was to block the view of the onlookers so I could move with fewer restrictions. Even brought the spears down in a way they would remain held up by wires so I didn't have to worry about dodging the falling debris. I had even created a clone to stand before them all as the ground filled with my huge smoke screen. I never would have thought that the curse mark would attempt to spread though. I could feel it. The markings that started growing over my body felt like insects made of hot lava.

"At least my jutsu caused an extra screen of protection long enough I could get control of myself." I whisper quietly as the girl slowly opens her eyes to look at me.

"Why didn't you finish me like you claimed you would?" Her breathy question was nearly inaudible below the still settling area, as chunks of spears slip from the hold I had placed up and crash against the ground.

"To kill without good reason... is evil. Those who do so deserve death."

"Leaving me here isn't showing me mercy."

"I didn't spare you to show mercy. Mercy is only an imaginative ideal. To show an enemy mercy is to plague them with turmoil and pain for the rest of their existence. I spared you because even though you work for a pedo. I have yet to see you commit an act of evil that would deserve punishment." As I mentioned the word pedo I watch her eyes widen in shock as an inaudible gasp escapes from her. Silence reigned between the two of us as I watch her eyes slowly drift closed. Her wounds probably having finally taken enough toll on her to yank her from reality.

After I had timed my weapon laced flames with that of another burst of explosions from my paper bombs in order to target her more directly I had almost thought I went too far. Until I had seen the girl before me try and move even when surrounded by a pool of her own blood. Her eyes held defiance even though she knew she had lost. A smirk finds its way to the surface as I remember the last moments of our match. "You really are a worthy opponent Amaya chi. But someday soon, you will meet my judgment for crimes I know you will commit." I whisper silently before I look up towards the balcony as it was coming more into view.

I may not be able to save everyone from the path of darkness but, I think I will try. "Yeah! Kira! You did it!" Naruto's voice was the first to echo through the room just before more incoherent shouts could be heard from other konoha genin near him. I could hear my heart pounding in my chest as I try to fight to stand before becoming top heavy from how weak my legs were beneath me. Falling backwards onto my butt I place my hands on the floor behind me. Noticing movement ahead of me I look forward to see the proctor walking up to Amaya. His eyes alone could tell I had won.

"The winner of the first match, Kira Lake." He speaks up to the onlookers just before medics rush onto the field towards Amaya. I watch as one kneels down to check her pulse and quietly reiterates her condition to the others. Rapidly they move her to the stretcher they had brought a long with them and the two carrying her rush towards the door.

"You should come along too Miss Lake." One of them who remained that wasn't reporting to the proctor speaks to me gently as they look down towards me in order to meet my gaze.

"All due respect. I'm just exhausted. You need to focus on Amaya and the other matches to follow." I try to give him a smile but my eyes seem to try and close on me as my chest tightens restricting my breathing. Feeling like I am going to collapse completely onto my back. A rush of bright blond streaks into view, just before I feel hands grabbing me beneath my arms and lifting me to my feet.