Akatsuki's Blood Blossom

Preliminary Rounds

Akatsuki's Blood Blossom

Chapter 8

Preliminary Rounds

Sakura's P.O.V.

I was talking with my teammates as the three of us walked into the arena. I took the chance to look at all to the teams that had passed, apparently all three rookie teams had passed, team Guy, the Sound team, another Leaf team but that team had Kabuto in it... probably a secret Sound team pretending to be a Konoha ninja, and finally, my team. So in total...seven teams, twenty-one participants... great! There is most likely going to be ninja who has to fight two people unless one person forfeits or maybe a whole team? I came back to the real world when I heard the proctor for the third exam, Hayate, start talking.

"Because there are still too many participants the Hokage decided to have a preliminary round to get rid of all the weaklings. If there are any people who do not wish to do the preliminary round you may leave now."

"Why would anyone not want to do the preliminary round?"

"Because, the Preliminary rounds will begin immediately."

"What! But that's not fair, some of us only got here a few hours ago and are completely exhausted and chakra depleted!"

"That's why you have the option to leave now, so, does anyone wish to leave?" when no one raised their hand or said anything he kept talking. "Now then, all of your names have been entered in the system above; when your name is shown it means it's your turn to fight. If not, then please move up to the stands and wait till your name is shown. Now then, first up is Sasuke Uchiha VS Yoroi Akado. The rest of you please go to the stands."

"Yoroi? That's one of Kabuto's teammates; let's see how this one turns out..." I mumbled under my breath and head to the stands along with my teammates.

(I'm not gonna explain everything, just the important parts, like a brief summary if you will...)

Sasuke Uchiha VS Yoroi Akado; Winner; Sasuke Uchiha.

I smirked. "That was a pretty close call if I do say so myself, that curse mark almost lost him the match, not to mention Yoroi's ability to suck out chakra. But that finishing blow, the Lions Barrage, was pretty impressive if I do say so myself. After the match Sasuke was taken away by his sensei Kakashi Hatake... most likely to seal the curse mark.

Next match! Zaku Abumi VS Shino Aburame; Winner; Shino Aburame.

My eyes widen slightly, Zaku, the sound ninja who was able to use the power of sound waves to his advantage had lost against Shino. When Shino had realized that there were tubes in the palm of his hands that had actually made the sound waves travel he used his bugs that resided in his own body to block the tubes, and when Zaku tried to use them again the chakra in his arms kept building up making them explode and allowing Shino to win. His fight was also pretty impressive.

The third match was Kabuto's last teammate, Misumi Tsurugi VS Kankuro Subaku; winner; Kankuro Subaku.

Misumi managed to capture Kankuro and threatened to snap his neck only to find out that Kankuro was only puppet the entire time while the real Kankuro was disguised as the puppet and controlling the puppet. His puppet Crow, had captured Misumi and crushed his bones, announcing Kankuro the winner... 'No surprise there.' I thought smirking.

The fourth match wasn't all that great to me, meaningful and emotional yes... but still rather stupid... Ino Yamanaka VS Karin Uzumaki; winner; none.

The Yamanaka showed strength yes but I honestly expected more out of the Uzumaki girl, although she did fight back. As they were fighting Ino had cut her hair and threw it to the ground. I was a bit confused at first but I soon realized that she used it as a medium for chakra. With both her and Karin stepping on it she surged her chakra threw it to hold Karin in place as she activated her family jutsu and switched minds. But apparently with will and determination alone, Karin shoved her back out of her mind. They both raced to each other and had hit one another at the same time with the same force, rendering them both unconscious. I just don't get it though... they both have the potential to become such powerful Kunoichi's... its just that they spend too much time on their looks... perhaps I should talk to them after the exams? Maybe they both could come back with me to Ame to train... fewer distractions that way too... maybe all the girls can?