Get Lost

Chapter 14

Sasuke fought first. He was matched up against one of Kabuto's teammates. Sasuke seemed to be struggling. At times, it looked as if he could barely stand.

Kazue stood up on the balcony above with everyone else who wasn't fighting. Sasuke may have been struggling, but he was still trying. Kazue glared over at Shikamaru, who didn't notice. Sasuke wasn't like some people who never tried even when it was easy.

Even though Sasuke was struggling, he still won. Sasuke collapsed afterward. Kakashi Sensei caught him. They spoke for a minute, but Kazue couldn't hear anything they said. Then Kakashi Sensei led him away.

Shino fought next, against a ninja from the Sound Village. He won pretty easily. The Sound ninja looked rough afterward. He had to be carried away on a stretcher.

The next fight was between Kabuto's other teammate and a ninja from the Sand. The Sand ninja used a puppet and managed to win easily as well.

Kazue felt her will diminish as she watched these fights. Everyone here was so powerful. They either won without much difficulty, or they were destroyed and had to be carted away. She knew she definitely wasn't in the first category.

Then Sakura fought Ino. They knocked each other out and the match ended in a draw. Neither one would continue on to the final round. They mostly used taijutsu, except for Ino using her clan technique. That was more of the type of fight Kazue would have. She looked around. Everyone who was left was powerful. Except maybe Naruto, but Kazue had been hearing that he was getting stronger. There was no way she was going to make it through this first round. 

The girl with her hair in two buns from the Leaf Village fought another Sand ninja. The Sand ninja had used her giant fan, blowing everyone around the room. The Leaf ninja seemed like she was in a lot of pain afterward. Kazue was glad she hadn't been the one to fight the Sand ninja. The Leaf girl had seemed powerful in the beginning.

"I don't think I caught your name before."

Kazue glanced up. Kabuto stood beside her. She started. She hadn't heard him approach. "Kazue Ige."

Kabuto smiled. "Nice to meet you Kazue." He turned and leaned on the railing. Kazue slowly mimicked him. She wasn't comfortable around him. Why not? She had been before. He seemed nice. 

It's because of his offer, she acknowledged. It's because I'm seriously considering it.

They watched the screen scramble through the remaining names. Kazue prayed she wasn't next. 

Shikamaru Nara.

Kazue watched Shikamaru walk out onto the main floor. His opponent was from the Sound Village. She was tall with long, dark hair. Her teammate had been powerful. He probably would have won if he was fighting someone other than Shino. The bug kid had always creeped Kazue out. But if this girl was that ninja's teammate, she was probably powerful too. Shikamaru didn't stand a chance. Not with his work ethic.

Ino was cheering. Shikamaru seemed annoyed. Kazue was too. 

"Do you know him?"

Kazue had forgotten about Kabuto. "Oh, yeah. He was in my class at the Academy. He wasn't a very good student."

"Really? I would think he'd have to be in order to get this far."

Kazue fell silent.

The proctor announced the beginning of the match. Shikamaru actually pulled his hands out of his pockets. He slid into position for his Shadow Possession Jutsu. The girl seemed to know it already. Had they fought before?

She jumped out of the way easily while throwing needles. They had bells on them. Kazue frowned, leaning over to see better. Why bells? Shikamaru would be able to hear them and dodge easily. He didn't have to see them to get out of the way.