Debate Team (sasunaru/narusasu)

|| Chapter Thirty ||

Thirty minutes later, Mr. Hatake walked back towards the table where Naruto, Sasuke, and Yamato were awaiting his return, a look of distress now planted on his face. Ino, Sakura, Neji, and Kiba were now also present, having joined Naruto and Sasuke in eating up all the snacks Kakashi had packed for them.

"What did they want to talk about?" Yamato was the first to notice him and inquire, everyone else being too engrossed in the snacking to notice his reappearance.

Kakashi sighed and sat down. "There was apparently a stranger on the premises who had been involved in a number of gang fights in the area. So, unfortunately, the tournament will come to an end after this first round."

Hearing the news, Naruto frowned, jumping out of his seat in dispute. "What?! B-bu-but this is our first ever tournament! How could they do this to us?!"

From behind the blond, Sasuke glared at him. How could the part where there was a stranger related to gang fights here just completely fly over this moron's head? He rolled his eyes and looked over at Kakashi to ask, "Have they caught the guy?"

"Mhm," He nodded. "Apparently they couldn't charge him or anything for some reason, so they simply escorted him off the premises, and the tournament is being called off early to be safe."

"Woah, that's scary..." Sakura joined in on the conversation, her and Ino shivering in fear.

"Don't worry, you two will be fine." Mr. Hatake gave them a tiny smile in an attempt to console them. "We can't leave yet since we have to wait for everyone else to be done with their first round. As soon as they all get here though we'll be on our way back to Konoha High. I already called the bus driver and he's on his way here."

"Hey everyone, we're back!" All heads turned as an enthusiastic Lee ran over, Shikamaru trailing behind. The duo wasn't very ideal but both had no one else to partner up with in the tournament. Shikamaru being laid back and Lee being more upbeat wasn't the best but Kakashi believed they both would be good for each other.

"Quiet down Lee." Shikamaru sighed, massaging his temple. "That round was such a drag..." He complained, dragging a chair over from another table and sitting down next to Naruto. "I don't think I'll be able to make it through the next two, to be honest."

A small smile formed on Kakashi's lips as he tried to make the best of their current situation. "Lucky for you we're leaving as soon as Hinata and Tenten get here."

"Huh?" Shika's bored expression turned into one of surprise. He glanced around at everyone else at the table, no one but him seeming surprised by the sudden news. "Why?"

Before he could receive a response, an angry Tenten stomped up to the table, her hand around Hinata's wrist as she dragged her over. "You guys will never guess what happened. Gosh, I'm so upset!"

"What happened?!" Lee and Naruto both yelled out, their interest piqued. Talking about whether early voting was good or bad was extremely boring, so they instantly got excited over the thought of some type of gossip.

"When it was Hinata's turn to read her case files the guy who we were competing against turned and flipped her off! And since the judge was in the front and his back was facing her, she couldn't see! What a fucking asshole! I mean, who does that?" Tenten babbled, a shy Hinata standing right behind her, her head facing the floor. Her shoulders were slightly trembling meaning she was most likely crying...

"What?! If I was there I don't think I could've held back using these big guns." Naruto shun a sinister grin, pulling his sweater sleeves back and flexing his "muscles"

"Naruto!" Sakura smacked him over the head before rushing over to Hinata. "Hinata, are you okay?" She asked, pulling her in for a tight embrace. "Don't let him get to you... I bet you two did great and beat his annoying ass!"