Child of the Moon

Respect the Resolve

A/N: I'm SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG TO DO. I ended up getting distracted by real life and a bunch of other projects, but hopefully, regular updates will resume.

Aki stretched out, yawning widely. "This should be a good show," she said.

"Hmm, you thinking there will be less monologuing?" Aiyanna chuckled.

"I'm hoping," Aki laughed.

"Alright, good luck Naruto!" Sakura said. "Do your best!"

"You know it!" he said cheerfully. "It's my time to shine!"

Aki bent her head back, looking at Kiba. "Good luck! Kick some ass, Akamaru!"

"Hey what about me?" Kiba said indignantly.

"Uh... don't get your ass kicked?" Aki said, then smiled sweetly at the pup. "I believe in you buddy!"

"Arf!"

"Traitor."

The two, three if counting the pup, stood in the center of the fighting ring.

"Now, the eighth match," the proctor declared. "Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka."

"Why's he getting all dramatic?" Aki questioned. "Ain't this like... the eighth match?"

"He did specify this was match number eight," Aiyanna gave a tight smile.

"I've been waiting forever for this!" Naruto declared. "Sorry Kiba, don't take it personally when I blow you away!"

"Urgh," Kiba growled, irritated clearly. "That's just what I was gonna say! Only not so politely, right Akamaru?"

Akamaru barked his agreement, and Kiba set him down on the ground while the two continued to yell at each other more insults.

"WAIT A SECOND!" Naruto yelled. "Are you kidding me? What's the puppy doing here? He's just going to get in the way."

Tsukiko sighed heavily from behind Aki before raising her voice a little so Naruto could hear her.

"Akamaru is a ninja hound, and is part of Kiba's jutsu," she said. "Think of him as a kunai, but with legs and a tail."

Naruto frowned deeply but seemed to grudgingly agree to go with it.

"Akamaru, stay there and leave this all to me, I got it," Kiba said cockily.

"And you like this guy?" Katsu crouched next to Aki, whispering to her.

"NO! WHAT THE HELL!?" she punched Katsu in the gut, her face turning bright pink.

"Ack! Ok, whatever you say!" he wheezed, retreating out of arm - and leg - reach of the blushing redhead.

Eventually, Kiba raised his fist aggressively towards Naruto, having missed the entire spat that had happened on the upper level.

"Look, I feel sorry for you, so I'm gonna finish you off in one shot!"

"Yeah?" Naruto grinned confidently. "Is that right? Man, you're even dumber than you look if you think you can beat me."

Aki jumped up onto the railing, taking in a deep breath then yelling down at them at the top of her lungs. "LESS SMACK TALK MORE SMACKDOWNS!"

Both boys looked up at her with surprised fear as she glared down at them.

"IF YOU INSIST ON MONOLOGUING I'LL COME DOWN THERE AND KICK YOUR ASSES MYSELF!" she continued.

Aiyanna sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of her nose, while Tsukiko chuckled brightly, tapping the girl's shoulder.