𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐀 𝐇𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐀 𝐓𝐖𝐈𝐍

The Preliminaries, Pt. 7

Last time:

"I declare Shikamaru Nara as the winner of the 8th match!" the proctor announced.

Now:

Shikamaru's Perspective:

"Whoo-hoo! Way to go Shikamaru! I knew you could do it!" Ino yelled.

"Good job, Shikamaru!" Hanara cheered.

Shikamaru sighed and walked back to his team as the medics took care of Kin.

'This is all so troublesome. Now I have to participate in the hardest round where all sorts of people will come to watch. If I pass and become a chunin, I'll get even more work, but if I fail, I'll get it from everyone. Why did I agree to this?'

Beep!

"The next match is between Rock Lee and Gaara of the Sand!" the proctor announced.

"Phew! I'm glad I didn't get either of them," Choji sighed.

"Yeah... but now you're for sure up against that Dosu guy," Hanara said.

"I know his tricks, I'll find a way to counter," Choji smiled.

Hanara's Perspective:

"YES! IT WORKED! I KEPT SAYING IT WAS NOT MY TURN AND NOW IT IS!" Lee celebrated.

"YOSH! LET YOUR YOUTHFULNESS SHINE IN THIS MATCH, LEE!"

"YES, GUY-SENSEI!"

"Go down to your opponent, Lee," Neji said.

"OH YES, OF COURSE!"

"Now that both opponents are here, let the ninth match... BEGIN!" the proctor said, jumping back.

Immediately, Gaara sent his sand to Lee. Lee jumped into the air and dodged before landing back onto the ground and running back to his opponent, engaging him in taijutsu. Only, Lee couldn't land a single hit, the sand kept blocking him.

"Is that..." Sakura asked, tone filled with disbelief.

"Sand?" Ino questioned.

"Hm... seems like all the Sand shinobi are pretty strong," Shikamaru commented.

"Yeah, no kidding," Hanara agreed.

'He's an unstable jinchuriki with Shukaku's sand manipulating abilities? Yeah, no thanks, I don't want to ever go against him.'

"I'm going to go get some info," Hanara said, noticing Kankuro beside Naruto, "See ya!"

"So, what are Lee's chances in beating Gaara in taijutsu?" she asked, appearing beside Naruto in a puff of smoke.

"The sand shields and protects Gaara of its own accord. Gaara doesn't have to do anything. No one's ever broken through it, either. No matter how good this Lee guy is, he doesn't stand a chance." Kankuro smirked.

"Blood!" Gaara snarled.

"He's mentally unstable for sure," Hanara whispered to herself, "No sane person can be that bloodthirsty..."

Gaara's sand caught Lee's foot mid-attack and threw him against the wall opposite to it.

'Dammit. Lee, he's a mentally unstable jinchuriki. If things get too bad... I know it's against your shinobi way but, you should forfeit. Maybe I should tell Guy? But... most Byakugan can't tell if someone's got sealed chakra in them, I'm guessing. Otherwise, Naruto would've been found out years ago. I don't want to reveal that my Byakugan is more suited to in-depth searches than scanning large areas. The elders might make the clan do things to me or even say it's not the 'true' Byakugan and- no they wouldn't do that. Besides, Lee's life is on the line, I should tell Guy. Hm no, I'll tell Kakashi and leave it up to him. I'll ask Kankuro just to be sure, though.'