Seeing White and Blue [Old]

 ϟ—Chapter Three — Trials of the Summit—ϟ
Part Two: The Boot of Nibasu

Ka'rai, Cirru, and three other Genin sprinted through the snowy peak, the mid-day sun beaming over the endless field of white with the remainder of Nibasu towering over the snow and sea of clouds beyond, 

Ka'rai side-eyed Cirru.

Cirru side-eyed Ka'rai.

"We should fight them head-on," Ka'rai stated firmly.

Cirru rolled his eyes with a groan. "No!"

"I'm here! We can take them!!" Ka'rai argued, pointing at himself with vigor.

Cirru shook his head. "We are infiltrating a base with ten more experienced Genin and a Chunin! What kind of Genin could take all of them on?!"

"Me."

"..."

A Genin with a long, blonde ponytail and green eyes sighed. "Both of you—"

"Shut up!!" The boys roared in unison, snapping back at her.

Ka'rai glared at Cirru. "Listen, you have no idea how powerful I am—!"

"I don't care! You are not powerful enough to take on multiple higher-level Shinobi!" Cirru retorted, making direct eye contact with Ka’rai.

Ka'rai huffed, shaking his head. "Did you not see the giant fireball I made at the graduation?!" 

"Oh, you made a fireball with no hand seals!" Cirru exclaimed mockingly, hands on his cheeks as he made a loud, cartoonish gasp. 

Cirru shook off his expression and scoffed. "Then it gets doused by a water jutsu and you get stabbed in the back by a dozen kunai because you're too stupid to focus on more than one thing at a time!!"

"You—!" Ka'rai growled before jumping over and gripping Cirru's collar, halting the group's movements. Ka'rai's eyes glowed a subtle green and yellow. "How about I show you just how strong I am!!"

Cirru inhaled and blew out a blast of wind that knocked Ka'rai off of him. Cirru fixed the collar of his gray, fitted shirt, huffing. "Do you have any idea how much this cost?!"

Ka'rai grinned, bearing his fangs as he launched a small blue fireball from his hand toward Cirru. The boy's eyes widened as he leapt into the air dodging the fireball.

"It didn't cost enough to not be flammable, obviously," Ka'rai pointed out with a smirk.

Cirru glared at him, still levitating in the air. "You bastard."

"Wait—" Ka'rai sputtered. "How are you still up there?!"

Now, Cirru was the one smirking. "It's a high jutsu level of my clan. It is also a representation of us. I am up here," he said, pointing to himself. Then, he pointed down at Ka'rai. "And you are down there."

"Bastard!" Ka'rai roared.

The rivals continued their bickering and the other three Genin were just about ready to rip the hair from their scalps. The blonde girl took a long deep breath as she felt the heat of flames warm her face and gusts of wind blowing her hair back.

She weaved hand seals. "Doton: Earth Barrier!" she shouted, slamming her hand on the ground and a wall of earth emerged from the ground, blocking a blue fireball from Ka'rai and a super-charged gust from Cirru.

The two snapped their heads toward the girl who brought down the Earth Barrier and walked between the two boys.

"How did you two even get promoted?" She questioned, earning a glare from both of them. "Strength and how many Shinobi you can take on is irrelevant to the mission at hand.

"This is an infiltration mission. We must infiltrate the enemy base, take the scroll of vital information stored there, and escape without getting caught. Even if we could take on all the Shinobi currently housed there, there's no telling who may come as reinforcements.

"This mission requires stealth. You two and your constant bickering are destroying the group's cohesion. So, you two need to get your act together, or else we'll fail this mission," she lectured.

Cirru narrowed his eyes. "What makes you—"

"Leave it, Cirru," Ka'rai said with a wave of his hand. "She's right."

Cirru raised his brow, looking at Ka'rai. "You're just going to concede? Just like that?"

Ka'rai shrugged, and the girl sighed in relief. "Thank you."

"You're welcome…" Ka'rai responded, watching with narrowed eyes as she walked ahead of the group and led the way. Something's off about her…

Cirru walked toward Ka'rai with his brow raised. "Do you know her?"

"No…" Ka'rai answered, not taking his eyes off of her.

Cirru scoffed. "Do you think she's pretty or something? You can't seem to stop looking at her."

"No… There’s… something off about her," Ka'rai repeated.

Cirru tilted his head. "Then what is it?"

"Don’t worry about it," Ka'rai dismissed, still not looking at Cirru.

Cirru huffed, shaking his head. "You’re—"

"Hey!! What are you two doing?!" The girl called.

The two caught up with the group, and Ka'rai ran up next to the girl. "Hey, what's your name?"

"Why?"

Ka'rai chuckled. "Well, we're gonna be teammates so I should know your name!"

"Why not ask them?" she answered, cocking her head back to the two Genin behind her. "You're lying, you want my name specifically. Why?"

Ka'rai blinked. Fuck, I can't just tell her I think something's weird about her! What do I say, what do I say, what do I say?! Nibi, can you help me?!!

No response.

Ka'rai sighed. "Nevermind," he mumbled, falling back. 

"Heh, it seems your little romantic endeavor failed," Cirru teased with a sly chuckle.

Ka'rai didn't answer, opting to use his brain to see what was up with this girl. The way she… well—exists! She doesn't seem like a Genin. I should know, I'm one! But, if she's not a Genin, then why is she here? 

Y'know what—maybe I'm just overthinking or something. She could've trained like I did or something… but she acts like Mama and the other Jonin I was around though… I don’t act like them—Wait, I have an excuse to ask for her name!

Ka'rai ran up ahead beside her with a grin. "I want to know your name because you seem strong and I was wondering if you had a famous parent or something!"

"Another lie."

Ka'rai deflated and fell back once again. Cirru wheezed with laughter and Ka'rai rolled his eyes. Not long afterward, the five Genin ducked behind a rock, narrowing their eyes on a makeshift base of tents surrounded by frosted pillars of black earth.

"I can burn the tents," Ka'rai joked.

The girl sighed. "No, we sneak in. Do any of you have sensory abilities?"

"I do!" Ka'rai spoke up. "I can make my senses better with Nibi Chakra."

The girl nodded. "Good, anyone else?"

"I have a sonar-type jutsu," spoke up another boy with dark skin and curly black hair.

The girl smiled. "Perfect, how detectable is it to other ninjas?"

"Uh… it's a unidirectional burst of chakra, so anyone nearby or any other sensors will be able to tell it's being used," the boy explained.

The girl nodded. "Alright."

"There are tons of gaps in pillars," Ka'rai pointed out, his eyes fully green and yellow and his malar stripes dancing with black flames. 

One of the Genin scoffed. "They're going easy on us."

"Yeah, or else we wouldn't have a chance," the boy mumbled.

Ka'rai huffed. "Uh huh…"

"Listen, not everyone is a Jinchuriki like you!" the boy snapped.

Ka'rai didn't even bother to look at him. "No shit, there are only nine Bijuu."

"Stop," the girl commanded. "Uzumaki, what's the most open route?"

Ka'rai narrowed his eyes. "One o'clock, there's a large gap and it doesn't look like there's anybody there."

"Okay, follow him," the girl said, and the group reluctantly followed behind Ka'rai.

They crept into the base and hid behind a large tent. Ka'rai sniffed the air. "There's someone in there."

"Genin or Chunin?" the girl asked in a whisper.

Ka'rai shrugged. "Don't know. I could be a diversion while you guys run out with the scroll."

"Progress, but still no," Cirru whispered.

Ka'rai smirked. "Why? Do you… care about me?"

"No, because as she said, they could bring in reinforcements which could get us caught," Cirru explained.

The girl smiled. "Good, you're learning."

"Anyways, what should we do?" Cirru asked, reluctantly ignoring the comment.

Ka'rai pondered. "We should—"

"Stop talking. Even when whispering, any Shinobi worth their shit will be able to hear you."

The Genin snapped their heads toward the voice and saw a Shinobi with a Kumo Chunin vest spinning a kunai around his finger.

Ka'rai leapt up. "Diversion time!!"

"Dammit," the girl cursed before running away with the other Genin… except for one.

Cirru sighed. "I suppose I can't leave you to die all on your own."

"Aw, so you do care about me," Ka'rai remarked.

The Chunin chuckled. "You two got balls, I'll give you that."

"And they're made of pure, hard, steel," Ka'rai beamed, fangs bared as he clenched his fists.

Cirru weaved hand seals and Ka'rai followed suit. "Taiton: Cirrus Galestorm!!"

"Katon: Breath of a Thousand Suns!!"

Cirru's gale of storming wind merged with the spherical blue flame that roared from Ka'rai's mouth. It created a monstrous blaze that melted all surrounding snow and seared the rock pillars a burning orange. The Chunin’s eyes widened and he leapt over the jutsu, allowing it to detonate in a cobalt blue mushroom cloud of fire behind him.

“You two must be clinically idiotic. You just announced your presence to the entirety of the camp,” the Chunin said flatly.

Ka’rai beamed. “Let them come.”

“It seems like your fantasy came true after all,” Cirru muttered. 

Ka’rai pulled out a kunai and rushed the Chunin. “I’ll start with you!!” he roared, eyes glowing like a Nibi-possessed demon—which, honestly, he was—as he thrust it down on the Chunin, who easily blocked it.

The kunai shone cobalt and it seared with blue flames. The Chunin winced and kicked Ka’rai off of him, only for him to be thrown back at him by Cirru. Ka’rai flipped and kicked back at the Chunin with his foot aflame while Cirru weaved hand seals above the two.

“Taiton: Cirrus Galestorm!!” he roared once again. The Chunin took Ka’rai and threw him in the way of the gale as he flickered out of the way of the jutsu.

Ka’rai glared at Cirru. “You hit me you fucking dumbass!!”

“No, you were IN THE WAY—!!”

“Raiton: Buzzsaw Jutsu!” The Chunin shouted, shooting a buzzsaw of lightning from his hand with the rumble of thunder. The jutsu sparked toward the down Ka’rai, who got up, surrounding his body in flames as he smirked.

Suddenly, Cirru flew down, his hand outstretched as wind formed around it. “Taiton: Hurricane Shield!” Cirru yelled, holding the shield of super-condensed and whirling wind out toward the buzzsaw.

The jutsu collided and the saw dispersed over Cirru’s jutsu and he smirked. Ka’rai grimaced as the flames around his body died down. “I could’ve taken it.”

“No, you would’ve been cut in half,” Cirru stated as his smirk grew. “I saved you.”

Ka’rai scoffed. “No, you didn’t!!”

“Yes, he did,” the Chunin butted in. “And that makes me happy, you two aren’t totally stupid. All brawn with one brain cell each,” the Chunin taunted.

Ka’rai growled. “You…”

“You do realize who you just insulted, right?” Cirru questioned hauntingly.

The Chunin let out a dry chuckle. “Cirru Furachi, heir to the Furachi Clan, and you,” he said, pointing to the other teen. “Ka’rai Uzumaki, Jinchuriki of the Nibi. I know who both of you are.

“But it doesn’t take away from the fact that you’re both fucking idiots,” the Chunin said before being joined by two other Chunin.

The Chunin laughed. ”Now, how are you two gonna get out of this one? Your teammates are probably already knocked out by the other Genin here.”

“Fukkit, I may be stupid,” Ka’rai started. “But I have more power inside of me than you could ever dream of!!” he shouted, slamming his hands into the Ram Seal. 

Cobalt blue flames roared from Ka’rai and Cirru put his hands up to guard against the blaze. Ka’rai’s eyes glowed and his body burned with chakra. 

Cirru’s eyes widened as he gazed upon Ka’rai. His hair floated and his muscles bulged, his—

“Doton: Earth Barrier!!” 

A barrier of earth sprouted from the rock below. Ka’rai paused, looking on in confusion before both he and Cirru were yanked away from the base by the other two Genin. They, alongside the girl hurled smoke bombs to cover themselves as they ran.

Ka’rai’s chakra subsided and he pulled himself out of the Genin’s grip. “Did you guys get the scroll?”

“No, they didn’t get the scroll and they’re just running away and failing the mission on purpose,” Cirru spat, dripping with sarcasm.

Ka’rai rolled his eyes and looked at the girl, who held a white scroll with pink ribbons. “Diversion was successful!!” he cheered.

“Yes… it was,” the girl admitted. “But don’t try that on a real mission, you’ll get yourself killed.”

Cirru raised his brow. “You say that as if you’ve been on one yourself.”

“I did research and studied deeply on Shinobi when I was younger, I know more than the average Genin because of that,” the girl explained.

Ka’rai nodded slowly. See! That’s why she seems so non-Genin like! You were just overthinking it.

“Hmph,” Cirru huffed.

The girl sighed. “At least we passed the test, no matter the mistakes you made along the way. You all should be proud of yourselves for that.”

“Yeah!!” Ka’rai cheered. “Two more to go!!”

The boy sighed. “Yay…”

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

The full moon shone behind the barred 'window' with silver rays. Cirru lay on the bed of his dorm, which looked more like a prison cell in his eyes. It was dirty—no filthy. He hated it. When he first came here, he tried his best to clean, blowing off all the dirt.

It didn’t do much but it was better than nothing. He hated this room. He hated this camp. He couldn’t wait to get out of this dirty place. At least the color scheme was good.

Black and gray… he muttered as his mind wandered. It ended up wandering to the words of the Chunin he faced today. Cirru grimaced.

What was up with him?! He questioned, clenching his fists. That bastard just woefully insulted him without a care in the world. He’d expect such a thing from his peers, it was a given. But from others… 

Cirru clenched his fists. They had no right to speak to him in such a way. He was the Heir to the Furachi Clan! He was nobility. Commoners such as him should be punished for insulting him!

But… he didn’t care. Why didn’t he care?! He either didn’t care about the possible consequences of his actions, or…

There would be none. 

Cirru shook his head. No, there had to be consequences to his actions, for it to be any other way would be incorrect—it would be flat out wrong. 

Cirru smirked. He would tell his father about this, and then that bastard Chunin will get his well-deserved comeuppance. Yeah… now that was right.

I wonder what Ka'rai thinks about that bastard's words…

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

I could've beaten them, Ka'rai huffed, arms crossed as he lay in his bed. He jumped up, looking toward the clang he heard against the iron bars of his dorm. He saw a blur of gold—blonde with lightning…?

It was a lost cause, he instead focused on the paper that drifted down from the window. He grabbed the paper from the air and read the note written on it.

Don't use the Nibi's chakra like that again. 

— Mama

Ka'rai gasped. "How does mama know about that?!" he exclaimed, frantically looking around his room for any sign of his mother, where there was predictably none. 

"She wasn't lying when she said she's always watching…" Ka'rai mumbled, before uneasily laying back down in his bed.

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Morning dawned and three Genin ran through the haze on the mountain's side. They were neither above nor below the clouds, they were inside of the clouds. 

"I like this mission better than the last one," Ka'rai said, smirking.

Yowui shrugged. "I guess so, it's just oneguy and not… thirteen."

"But we're forced to fight the one guy, so is it really all that different?" the other Genin asked, blowing her blonde hair out of her face.

Ka'rai pondered. "Well, my group actually had to fight them."

"And you passed?!!" Yowui asked, aghast.

Ka'rai nodded. "Yeah! It was so cool!! So like, it was me and Cirru and we were single-handedly holding off a Chunin while the rest of the group went and found the scroll!"

"Wow, you must be really strong then, Ka'rai!" the girl complimented.

Ka'rai grinned, looking straight into her brown eyes. "I am."

The girl grinned back, and Yowui chuckled uncomfortably as they made long eye contact.

"Guys…" Yowui interjected. "Can we get back to tracking… so we can y'know… pass."

Ka'rai sputtered. "Oh right," he mumbled, sending the Nibi's chakra into his eyes, nose, and ears. Black flames danced over his malar stripes and his eyes glowed.

"What did they look like again?" Ka'rai asked, looking back at Yowui.

Yowui breathed out an exasperated sigh as he handed Ka'rai the 'bounty.'

Ka'rai mulled over the bounty and nodded. "Okay… do we have anything that belongs to him?"

"No," the girl answered.

Ka'rai cursed under his breath. "Okay, we're doing this the old fashion way!!"

"By not yelling and announcing our presence?" Yowui suggested with a light glare at Ka'rai.

Ka'rai chuckled. "It doesn't matter," he muttered, bearing his fangs. "Because I'm a fucking predator."

"I'll be your prey," the girl added with a giggle.

Yowui's eyes widened. "Woah, Woah, Woah."

"Oh?" Ka'rai inquired, looking at the girl with a devious, fang-bearing grin.

The girl was nearly overflowing with giggles under Ka'rai's look. "I said what I said."

"Now, can you say your name?" Ka'rai asked.

"I'll say yours."

Yowui shook his head profusely. "Guys… can we focus on the mission, please!"

"I can multitask," Ka'rai said dismissively, before looking back at the girl. "What's your name?"

The girl smirked slyly. "Guess."

"Effort."

"How are you strong and lazy?"

"Talent and I'm not lazy."

"Then guess."

"Fuck you."

Yowui waved his hands before the comment he knew was gonna be made would be made. "Hey! Maybe multitasking is a bad idea!" 

"Fine, my name is Hane," she conceded.

Ka'rai smiled. "That's a nice name!"

"Thank you!"

Yowui sighed. "Ka'rai do you… sense anything?"

"I vaguely smell a human being that's not us three, that's where we've been going," Ka'rai answered.

Hane pondered. "It could be a diversion."

"How could someone divert their smell?" Ka'rai asked, brow raised.

Hane shrugged. "Dunno, but it's possible."

"Ka'rai, where have we been going?" Yowui asked.

Ka'rai looked down, and he saw footprints. Three sets of Genin-sized footprints.

They were going in circles.

Ka'rai pushed his lips out in surprise, Yowui facepalmed, and Hane chuckled slowly.

"Fuck."

Ka'rai took a deep breath, exhaling blue flame. "It's alright, we have until noon."

"What time is it now?" Hane asked.

Ka'rai looked up. "Uhhh," he mumbled, squinting. "Damn, uh… I can't see the sun in the haze."

"Even with your cat vision?!" Yowui questioned.

Ka'rai chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Apparently."

"Looks like we're doing with plan B," Ka'rai declared.

Yowui raised his brow. "What's plan B?"

"I'm gonna fully channel my inner predator," Ka'rai informed, crouching down.

Yowui tilted his head, face scrunched in confusion. "What—?"

"Nibi, c'mon help me," Ka'rai said, slapping the seal on his chest. "Nibi! Please!"

Ka'rai stumbled, and his entire body quaked and the flames on his face raged. Then it subsided and Ka'rai chuckled to himself once again.

"It's not helping me," Ka'rai said bashfully.

Yowui let out a deep, ragged sigh. "I thought you would be more help."

"I did too," Ka'rai responded, getting up.

Yowui pondered. "Okay, if you were on a mountain, where would you hide?"

"In a cave," Ka'rai answered. "Are there any caves on Nibasu?"

Hane shook her head. "No, not any nearby… but I would hide in plain sight."

"Wait, hiding in plain sight…" Yowui mused, humming as he thought. "Like a Shinobi should." 

Hane lit up. "Yeah!"

"Wha?" Ka'rai asked, head tilted in confusion.

Yowui looked at him, bewildered. "Weren't you personally trained by Jonin for two years?!"

"Yeah," Ka'rai answered. 

Hane raised her brow. "Then how do you not know this…?"

"Oh, I didn't really pay attention to the Shinobi rule stuff," Ka'rai admitted, not the slightest bit ashamed.

Both of them started at him blankly. "I hope you don't die," Hane said.

"Nah, Nibi won't let me!" Ka'rai answered confidently. "So, can you explain where the target should be hiding…?"

Yowui sighed. "Hiding in plain sight is when you hide somewhere obvious but you blend in perfectly to the point where you don't look out of place."

"Oh—OH!! I get it now," Ka'rai said. "I'll just look…" he muttered, scanning the area with his eyes. 

Yowui waved his hands. "No, we can't just look aimlessly. Use your nose, go to where the smell is the strongest."

"Ohhh, that makes sense," Ka'rai admitted. "Follow me!"

The Genin followed Ka'rai back in the circle where they traveled before, eventually finding themselves by a glacier. 

"Okay, so now I look?" Ka'rai asked.

Yowui nodded.

"Okay…" he mumbled, looking around the peak, his eyes focused on a rock. A rock that had no snow on its top. Ka'rai grinned and pointed at the rock.

Hane pulled out a tanto and Yowui a kunai. Ka'rai bolted toward the rock, with Yowui and Hane right behind him. The rock popped into smoke and a barrage of kunai was hurled out of it. Ka'rai swept away the kunai and Yowui threw his own toward the Senior Genin. He bolted out of the way of Yowui's kunai and Ka'rai's assault, only to be met with a tanto slash from Hane.

He dodged the slash and kicked her away. Ka'rai landed right in front of him, launching a plume of cobalt blue flames from his hand. The Genin screamed, blocking the flames with his hands to little avail. Ka'rai ceased his attack and pulled any remaining fire on the Genin back to him to be put out. Ka'rai smirked, watching the Genin groan on the ground, completely singed with his clothes and hair smoldering.

Ka'rai frowned. "I wish it was a Chunin we fought."

"But then nobody else would have a chance…" Yowui pointed out.

Ka'rai nodded with a smirk. "True. First-class problems I suppose—wait ugh, I sound like Cirru."

"Who's that, your boyfriend?" Hane asked with a sly smile.

Ka'rai gagged. "Ew, fuck no."

"That's a mental image I did not need," Yowui muttered, looking down at his feet.

Hane tilted her head. "Oh, do you wanna be Ka'rai's boyfriend?"

"I'm not gay!!" Ka'rai roared while Yowui mentally shut down, distancing himself from the conversation as he sighed.

As the three Genin delved into another bicker session, they were unbeknownst to their watcher. Above them, an icy white cloak flapped in the snowy haze above. The cloak's hood shadowed an ivory white armadillo mask with golden accents. The only feature visible of the person behind the droves were their crystalline green eyes which twinkled like emeralds behind the mask.

They grimaced. "The day he takes something seriously is the day that the village is saved," they grumbled, watching the Genin run off with their target's unconscious body. "At least he's strong, but that'll only get him so far…" they mumbled before making a half seal and disappearing in a flicker of lightning.

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Yowui sighed, sitting on the edge of his bed. He gazed into the starry, moonlit sky from the barred opening in his wall, fists clenched over his pants. I shouldn't have passed those two exams.

He didn't pass due to his own skills and talents, he only passed the first round because of Clowui and her weird eyes. All she had to do was look at someone and they'd be asleep. In the second round, he was just third wheeling while Ka'rai and the other girl flirted, and then he was basically useless in the fight. Ka'rai just set the target on fire with no hand seals while he threw kunai that were dodged.

If he was hit with Ka'rai's attack he'd probably die. No, not probably, definitely. Yowui laid back with a grimace. He was weak, all he did so far was leech off of other people's talents. I can't keep doing this…  he grumbled, gritting his teeth. This is not what his parents taught him. He needed to do this with his own skill. He was fast and he could punch someone with lightning. Whether he failed or succeeded, it would be with his own talents and nobody else's. 

He just hoped that the next test would let him prove that.

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Okay, so I just have to beat everyone's ass in this tournament, then beat the ass of two winners of the other two tournaments. Seems simple enough, Ka'rai mused, walking into line to meet his first opponent out of four.

Ka'rai smirked deviously. "So, we meet again."

"We do," Hane answered, a cheeky smirk tugging at her lips.

Tama raised his hand into the air. "The match may begin… now!"

"I promise not to kill you too badly," Ka'rai assured, tensing.

Hane smiled. "No, I think you're gonna be the dead one."

Ka'rai launched himself toward Hane and she jumped back. Ka'rai swiped a blue blaze toward her and she ducked down with widened eyes, the heat from the flames burning despite not even touching her. She kicked Ka'rai and leapt back. "That's hot," she remarked, touching the reddened skin on her face.

"I know," he responded, huffing out blue flames with a grin.

Ka'rai cocked back his fist and punched out a plume of fire and Hane hopped back, weaving hand seals. "Suiton: Whirling Rapids!" she shouted, spitting a whirlpool of water from her mouth which turned into steam as it canceled out Ka'rai's fire.

"You put out my flames," Ka'rai pouted.

Hane giggled. "Aw, did that make you sad?"

"Nah I'm good, I can just make more!!" Ka'rai roared, breathing out a scorching blaze. Hane leapt over the fire breath and hurled a flurry of shuriken toward him. Ka'rai swiped away the shuriken with a flaming claw before pouncing up at her. Hane stuck out her tanto and Ka'rai clawed at her face, both barely missing. Suddenly, Hane's tanto extended into a ninjato and cut Ka'rai's cheek.

The two landed a couple of feet in front of each other with Hane smirking triumphantly. "Gotcha!"

"You…" Ka'rai mumbled, wiping the blood off his face. "You made me bleed."

Hane's smirk grew. "I did."

"I take back my promise from earlier, I'm going to kill you very badly now," Ka'rai stated matter of factly.

Hane gasped dramatically. "Oh no!"

Ka'rai weaved hand seals.

"Oh no," Hane mumbled, weaving her own.

Ka'rai grinned. "Katon: Breath of a Thousand Suns!!" he roared with a plume of spherical cobalt blue flames blazing from his mouth toward the ground in front of Hane, who leapt into the air wincing at the heatwave from the attack.

"Suiton: Whirling Rapids!" she shouted, spitting a whirlpool from her mouth only for it to evaporate on contact with Ka'rai's jutsu. Her eyes widened as she landed in the path of the jutsu. It detonated a foot in front of her and she was blown back, sweating buckets.

Hane sat up shakily, hearing laughter from behind the crater of cobalt blue fire. Ka'rai emerged from the blaze with his eyes glowing with those of the Nibi's as he laughed, bathing in the destruction he made with his chest heaving with pyromanic laughter.

"I think blue looks really good on you, with the red hair too! You look like a superhero!" Hane complimented haphazardly.

Ka'rai's laughs increased. "Your psychological warfare won't work on me, woman!! The flames of the Nibi have burned away all desires of the flesh I may have possessed beforehand!!"

"Dammit, that was my trump card…" Hane mumbled. "Okay, I forfeit! I'm not winning this one!"

Ka'rai paused, and his flames died as he turned his smile upside down into a frown. "Aw, I was having fun."

Hane stood and patted him on the head. "We can have fun later."

"Wait—what?!" Ka'rai spattered, looking up at Hane's grin before she left the arena, and Ka'rai was announced as the winner. 

Ka'rai huffed before walking toward the place where the non-fighting Genin stood. He looked to his left at the familiar call of his name and smiled.

"What's up, Yowui!" Ka'rai greeted.

Yowui chuckled. "I won my first match, so that's something."

"Yo!" Ka'rai shouted, grinning.

Yowui nodded. "Yeah, how did yours go?"

"I fought Hane and I won," Ka'rai said.

Yowui tilted his head. "Really? I thought she'd flirt you to death or something…"

"She tried, and she's a burning corpse now," Ka'rai joked, grinning as he clenched his fist.

Yowui blinked, shaking his head. "What—?!"

"Joke!!" Ka'rai shouted. "She gave up in the face of my awesome power."

Yowui chuckled. "I would too…"

"No, giving up is bad," Ka'rai stated.

Yowui raised his brow. "But you let Hane give up…?"

"It's not like I could have her un-forfeit," Ka'rai explained with a shrug.

Yowui nodded. "True."

"The point is, you don't give up, I don't have anything else to say but giving up is bad, don't do it," Ka'rai attempted to lecture.

Yowui shrugged. "Easy for you to say."

"Meh, I guess so, but a weak person who never gives up will have way more respect from most than a strong person who does whenever their strength is challenged," Ka'rai noted off-handedly.

Yowui looked at him, before chuckling. "Alright…"

"Ah, it's time for my next match," Ka'rai said, walking off. "Good luck on yours man!"

Yowui waved. "Thanks, you too!"

Ka'rai walked back into the arena—much sooner than he expected—with a smirk on his face as he saw his opponent.

"Sami!!" Ka'rai shouted.

Sami waved. "Hey, Ka'rai! I wasn't expecting to fight you."

"Well, you know what my mama says; always expect the unexpected when you're a Shinobi," Ka'rai said.

Sami tilted her head. "That's not bad advice."

"Yeah, my mama is always right," Ka'rai affirmed with a sage-like nod.

Sami laughed. "Alright."

"You may begin the match," Tama announced, getting out of the way of the battle.

Ka'rai charged forward and Sami leapt back, weaving hand seals. "Raiton: Electric Discharge!!" She shouted, slamming her hands on the floor in a thunderous eruption that made Ka'rai stop in his tracks.

Ka'rai thrust his hands out and spouted plumes of cobalt blue flames from them, the two meeting in a sparking flash before Sami's jutsu was ultimately overpowered and she was forced to leap over the flames, weaving more hand seals.

"Raiton: Lightning Web!" she yelled, outstretching her hands to and shocking Ka'rai with sprawling bolts of electricity. Ka'rai gritted his teeth, feeling like his chakra was being zapped straight from his network.

He forced his hands into the Ram Seal and roared, engulfing his body in a blazing aura that blew back the jutsu, leaving Ka'rai panting and singed. "The fuck was that?!"

Sami shifted, chuckling. "A jutsu of mine."

"Damn, you have some cool-ass lightning," he complimented before punching a fireball out of his hand toward her. She dodged the jutsu and hurled a flurry of shuriken at Ka'rai, who clawed them away before pouncing at Sami, grinning. 

She rolled back, dodging the flaming dive bomb that was Ka'rai, she leapt into the air, biding her time. Ka'rai bounded out of the ball of flames, taking it with him into the sky as he whipped it at Sami. She winced as her hand was cut by the fire, cutting open the glove on it.

She fell to the ground with Ka'rai hot on her tail, keeping up his cobalt blue assault with joy and vigor. He condensed his flames into a ball on his hand as Sami retreated. Ka'rai bellowed with laughter as he hurled the condensed ball at Sami. She gasped, eyes wide as she carefully deflected the ball with a kunai and just barely dodged the detonating of blue flames that came from it.

Sami panted, looking at Ka'rai with a raised brow. "Are you trying to kill me?!"

"No, I'm trying to injure you, this is a fight!"

Sami tilted her head with a slight nod. "Good point," she muttered before weaving a long sequence of hand seals as Ka'rai watched, giddy with excitement.

"Raiton: Thunderbolt!!" Sami shouted, thrusting out her gloved hand which shot a thick bolt of lightning that glowed a bold, neon white, outlined with a hint of purple.

Ka'rai grinned at the massive bolt and weaved hand seals of his own. "Katon: Breath of A Thousand Suns!!" he roared, with his signature jutsu pluming from his mouth and scorching toward Sami's Thunderbolt.

The two met only for a split second as the Thunderbolt pierced straight through Ka'rai's jutsu, hitting him directly in the face. The impact knocked him to the ground head first and Sami's eyes widened.

"Shit…" she mumbled under her breath as she looked at Ka'rai. His nose was bleeding and his face was black—much more so than usual. His eyes were closed and his hair was frizzed.

The following silence was more deafening than the roar of a Bijuu as she looked at Ka'rai with fearful anticipation. She made him mad, and everyone knew that making Ka'rai angry was a borderline death wish. The silence was broken by a chuckle from Ka'rai and Sami stiffened.

He leapt up, opening his eyes to reveal the Nibi's heterochromia as he glared at Sami with a massive grin on his face. "Damn!! You should've told me that you were this strong!! If I knew then I would've sparred with you more at the academy!!"

"I don't think that would've been a good idea… but I'm happy you're not mad!" Sami said, chuckling.

Ka'rai scoffed. "Why would I be mad? This is nothing but FUN!!" he roared before charging at Sami once again. She blocked his fist with a kunai, cutting it open. But Ka'rai already had a kick prepared and Sami fell to the ground after a hit to the side.  

Ka'rai covered his fist in flame and punched down, only for Sami to dodge as she threw shuriken at his body which he blew back with an explosion of fire. He turned toward her and grinned, seeing her complete a series of hand seals.

"Raiton: Electric Discharge!!" Sami shouted, hitting Ka'rai with the explosion point blank. She winced, pumping more chakra into the jutsu. Ka'rai growled as his chakra was zapped, he narrowed his eyes, noticing the purple tinge to her lightning. 

He grit his teeth and broke out with an explosion of cobalt blue flames, blowing Sami back in the process as he escaped from the jutsu, panting and singed even more. He looked at her, on the floor heaving breaths. She was out of chakra.

"You look pretty out of it, Sami," Ka'rai taunted.

Sami chuckled, uncomfortably covering her gloves hand. "Yeah… I think I'll—"

"Please don't give up, that would make me very sad," Ka'rai pleaded.

Sami shook her head. "No, you don't understand."

"Is it something with your hand?" Ka'rai guessed.

Sami drew in a sharp breath, not responding.

Ka'rai raised his brow. "Are you a Jinchuriki too or something? The hand is a weird place for a seal…"

Sami forced a chuckle. "No, no just—I'm done. I forfeit!!" she announced, getting up and stuffing her hand in her pocket.

Ka'rai frowned, watching Sami walk off as his flames died. Why is everyone giving up? It's starting to make me sad… this is boring. Why can't I get the satisfaction of a real win?!

Ka'rai huffed and walked back into the crowd. But… she didn't give up like Hane did. She had something under her sleeve—er… glove, what's up with that? Her lightning is purple kinda, and I never heard of purple lightning before. Nibi, have you heard of it?

No response.

Ka'rai sighed. Ahhh what's with all these weird girls?! Are all girls weird?!! Is this just something I'm going to have to deal with from now on?! The only girl that isn't weird is Mama, but she's an adult. Do girls grow out of being weird? Man, I'm so happy I'm a guy, I'd hate to be weird for all of my teen years… 

That's rude, The Nibi commented.

Ka'rai scoffed. Are you a girl or something?!

No response.

Ka'rai huffed. Nevermind… I wonder how Yowui is doing…

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Yup, Yowui knew his luck would end eventually. He counted his lucky stars and they amounted to a staggering zero. There were three people he prayed he wouldn't have to face. 

The best of the worst was Ka'rai. He was scarily strong, and getting anywhere near his fire would hurt; but, he was his friend, so he didn't have to worry about the humiliation lasting.

Next up was Cirru. He was basically Ka'rai but worse in every way. He wasn't his friend—he'd fix his mouth to call Cirru a bully, he always called him 'farm boy' or 'country skunk' or some other degrading nickname. Cirru would take pleasure in humiliating him.

But… she… was even worse. The worst of the worst. Clowui Chinoike. She was weird, mysterious, and she barely looked human. Her skin was a clammy, ghostly pale, her eyes were always bloodshot and just thinking of her made him shudder.

But alas, here he was staring her down, about to fight her. His skin crawled at the mere sight of her as sweat dripped down his face. He could—no, he wanted to give up. But, would he choose to give up?

He gulped, clenching his fists as he debated it in his head. Giving up would be smart… very, very smart. But, was it the right thing to do? Would my parents be okay with it?

'...a weak person who never gives up will have way more respect from most than a strong person who does whenever their strength is challenged.'

Ka'rai's words echoed in Yowui's head. He grit his teeth, then he released them, unballing his fists and taking a deep, relaxing breath.

"I forfeit!" Yowui announced.

Jay raised his brow. "You sure kid?"

"Yeah, definitely," Yowui affirmed with a nod.

Jay chuckled. "Alright," he mumbled as Yowui walked off.

I value my life more than anyone's respect, he declared with a slight scoff. He looked back at Clowui, to see if she had any sort of reaction. She didn't, not even bothering to spare him a glance. She just stood there, with that same blank, emotionless expression.

Yowui chuckled. "She really isn't human…" he mumbled under his breath.

He sat in the crowd and watched the next match, it was some blonde girl fighting a boy. The match was over quickly, scarily so. The girl utterly destroyed that boy. Yowui chuckled, That's how my fight with Clowui would've gone…

Soon, Ka'rai joined him, having finished his matches. Yowui blinked. "Wait, matches as in… the entire tournament?"

"Yeah! I won, of course," Ka'rai boasted, before letting out a disheartened sigh. “Everyone gave up.”

Yowui chuckled. "Who would've thought?!"

"Did 'ya lose?" Ka'rai asked.

Yowui shrugged. "Yeah, I would've fought Clowui so I forfeited."

"But…"

Yowui glared at him. "I don't care about respect, I just want to do what I think is best for me and if that means giving up then so be it."

"Alright," Ka'rai muttered breathily, frowning.

They watched the two girls face off and Ka'rai narrowed his eyes on the blonde girl. "It's her…"

"You know her?" Yowui asked.

Ka'rai shrugged. "Kinda…? She was with me on the first test, and she seemed off to me. Apparently, she trained when she was younger, but I'm still interested."

"I see," Yowui muttered, the two boys delving into silence to focus on the battle.

Clowui weaved hand seals. "Ketsuton: Blood Bullets," she said, spitting crimson pellets of blood from her mouth and toward her opponent.

The girl leapt forward and sliced through the bullets with a kunai. Clowui's eyes glowed and they morphed, her lavender irises darkened to a blackish violet and her pupils shone into a purple rectangle. 

The girl averted her gaze to Clowui's feet and weaved hand seals. "Doton: Shattering Quake Jutsu!" she shouted, slamming her hand to the ground. The snowy ground below split and darted toward Clowui, who jumped over it and kicked the girl, only for it to be blocked.

Clowui swung her other leg and kicked the girl in the head, narrowing her eyes at the surprisingly little effect it had. The girl grabbed Clowui's ankle and swung her to the floor. Clowui flipped out of her grip and landed behind her. 

"Ketsuton: Bleeding Edge Sweep," Clowui spat, spitting a sharp blade of blood from her mouth, swinging her head, and whipping the blade toward the girl. She leapt over the blade with a roll and hurled a kunai at Clowui.

Clowui cocked her head up, deflecting the kunai with the blood while weaving more hand seals. "Ketsuton: Bleeding Edge Jet!" she shouted, the blood that shot from her mouth condensed into a spear-like point directly toward the girl.

The girl grabbed a kunai from her pouch and met the crimson spear-point head-on. Blood showered the surrounding area like a scarlet fountain as the tip of the kunai buried itself in the bloodstream.

Clowui canceled her jutsu and narrowed her eyes on the girl. Her sclera reddened as more blood and chakra were flushed into them. "Your chakra… who are you?"

"That is none of your concern," the girl answered, before smiling. "I should've known your eyes would've picked up on it."

Clowui's gaze sharpened. "Ketsuryugan. Use their proper name."

"I apologize," the girl said, before kneeling down and hurling a flurry of shuriken at her.

Clowui deflected the shuriken with a kunai of her own and charged at her. The two met and clashed, sparks flying from each other’s kunai with the girl looking down, averting Clowui's eye contact.

Clowui let go of her kunai and the girl's arm thrust forward for a split second. A split second that Clowui took advantage of. She grabbed at the girl's arm and her Ketsuryugan glowed.

"I don't need eye contact to put you under genjutsu," Clowui informed and the girl stiffened… then she tensed, knocking Clowui off of her and then to the ground.

The girl confined Clowui in an armlock and stepped on her back, pinning her to the ground. Clowui grit her teeth and shot a glare at the girl. "Why are you here?"

"That is none of your concern," the girl said before knocking Clowui unconscious and standing up, walking back to the crowd.

Ka'rai watched with wide eyes and Yowui was slack-jawed, overcome with complete and utter shock. Yowui shook his head, attempting to wrap his mind around what he just witnessed. "Clowui just lost, badly."

"Damn, that girl's more than I thought…" Ka'rai mumbled before a devious grin grew across his face. "And I might be fighting her soon!"

Yowui looked at Ka'rai, aghast. "You're excited—? Oh… wait, you're you."

"Damn right!!" Ka'rai shouted. "I wonder who the third winner is."

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew on the two boys from behind. "Who else would it be other than yours truly?"

"Cirru!!" Ka'rai roared, whipping back to see his rival with a haughty smirk on his face.

Cirru floated toward the Ka'rai, completely ignoring Yowui. "So, I assume you demolished the competition where you're from?"

"More or less, and you did the same?" 

Cirru nodded. "Indeed."

"Alright!!" Etto announced. "The first three tournaments have finished! We will now draw lots to determine the final two matches!" he informed, with the walls that divided the three battlegrounds collapsing in the back into the ground. What was left was an arena three times the size of the one before.

The three contestants walked toward Etto, who was holding three cards. Each of the three drew a card with the number's one through three. One would fight two, and the winner of that match would fight three. 

Ka'rai looked at his card. one, he noted before looking at Cirru, who showed him his card, two. Ka'rai grinned at Cirru. "You ready to lose?"

"As if you could beat me," Cirru scoffed. "I am honorable enough to admit that you are my superior in pure power. But in technique, smarts, and skill I am far superior to you."

"If you say so," Ka'rai mumbled. 

Etto walked in the middle of the two, hand raised. They tensed. Etto chopped his hand down. "Now!!" he announced before flickering out of the way.

Ka'rai and Cirru charged at each other. Ka'rai surrounded his fist in flame and punched at Cirru, who dodged and kicked him in the face. Ka'rai grinned and clawed at his foot. Cirru winced, flying into the air to avoid more damage.

Ka'rai chuckled as he weaved hand seals. "Katon: Breath of a Thousand Suns!!" he shouted, roaring out a multi-spherical plume of cobalt blue fire. Cirru flew around the Jutsu and weaved hand seals of his own.

"Taiton: Cirrus Galestorm!!" Cirru shouted, blowing a wispy, freezing gale at Ka'rai. He winced as he guarded against the jutsu, his skin being cut by the miniature ice crystal embedded in the wind.

Ka'rai grit his teeth and he ignited himself alongside Cirru's jutsu. He took control of the flames and condensed them into a ball of fire in his hands. He pounced toward Cirru and outstretched his palm and the fireball detonated. Blue flames rained down in all directions like a cobalt firework as Cirru flew out of the jutsu, smoking and singed.

"You ever gonna get down here and fight me like a man?!" Ka'rai taunted, landing on the ground with his black eyes shining into those of the Nibi's. 

Cirru scoffed. "How about you find a way up here and fight me on equal footing."

Ka'rai huffed, clenching his fists as pounced up at Cirru, only to be dodged. Ka'rai whipped around and grinned, a golden chain extended from his hand and grabbed Cirru's ankle. His eyes widened as Ka'rai hurled him to the floor. Ka'rai landed next to the downed Cirru with a fang-bearing grin.

"Cirru, behold… The jutsu of my clan. The Uzumaki Adamantine Chains, with power capable of subduing Bijuu," Ka'rai gloated.

Cirru grit his teeth as he looked up. "So the Uzumaki are worth more than that red hairdo, hm? I can't say I'm unimpressed. But the Furachi Clan is still far superior," Cirru boasted before launching himself into the air, yanking Ka'rai with him.

Ka'rai yelped in surprise, his arm being nearly pulled from his socket as he and Cirru soared. Cirru kicked his leg up, grabbing the chain and jerking Ka'rai toward him. The Uzumaki grit his teeth as Cirru punched him in his face. A grin grew from behind Cirru's fist and Ka'rai laughed as he grabbed onto Cirru with a second chain from his hand. 

Ka'rai turned his body and threw Cirru toward the ground, but he caught himself mid-air and yanked Ka'rai toward him again. Ka'rai laughed before inhaling, he exhaled with a roaring torrent of Nibi flame. Cirru's eyes widened as the fire hit hi, head on and he plummeted toward the snowy floor with a crash.

Ka'rai pulled back his chains and landed on Cirru's chest, knocking the breath out of him. Ka'rai looked down, smirking. "Oh no, your shirt."

"Bastard…" Cirru managed. "The price of that shirt is worth more than your rent. You owe me."

Ka'rai formed a fireball in his hand. "Yeah, I owe you the pleasure of losing to me."

"No, quite the opposite actually," Cirru quipped before spitting a ball of wind at Ka'rai's face. He flew out from under Ka'rai's foot and weaved hand seals. "Taiton: Category One Winds!!" Cirru bellowed.

Ka'rai barely had time to wipe the blood from his nose before a colossal wind storm drafted toward him. Ka'rai groaned, barely being able to open his eyes as he dug his feet into the snow. He formed claws out of his toenails and dug deeper. The force of the wind was so powerful that he wasn't even able to lean forward. So, he leaned backward.

He dug the glowing claws on his hand into the snow and flipped his legs over him, landing on all fours with his claws digging into the dirt like a feline. Eventually, the winds subsided and Cirru scoffed.

"You're like an animal," he insulted.

Ka'rai grinned. "Nah, I'm a predator," he corrected before pouncing at Cirru who barely dodged with a side-step. Ka'rai turned and clawed at Cirru again, nicking his cheek, drawing blood.

"Why aren't you flying? Are you out of chakra?" Ka'rai taunted, keeping up his assault. 

Cirru sucked his teeth, blocking a claw swipe with his arms only for them to be cut open. "Dammit…" he cursed. Ka'rai laughed and leapt on Cirru, pinning him to the floor, bearing his fangs.

Ka'rai detracted the claws on his hand and yelled as he chopped Cirru in the next. "I win," he boasted before rising off of Cirru.

"No, you haven't won, not at all."

Ka'rai looked at her, a battle-lusting grin plastered over his face. "Hello, three."

"Hello," The girl greeted.

Ka'rai tilted his head toward the girl. "You gonna tell me your name now?"

She pondered. "Hmm… You know what, if you win I'll tell you."

"Don't make it easy for me," Ka'rai taunted.

She smiled. "Okay, I won't."

"Good," Ka'rai said, smirking.

Etto walked in between the two with his hand raised. They tensed, the girl reaching for her shuriken pouch as Ka'rai regrew his claws and grinned. "Now!!" Etto announced before flickering out of the area.

The girl hurled a volley of shuriken at Ka'rai. He clawed the shuriken away and pounced at the girl. She rolled out of the way, letting him hit the ground before charging at him. She punched, and Ka'rai blocked with a grin. The two delved into a taijutsu exchange.

Ka'rai grit his teeth, forcing himself on the offensive, only to be punished with an elbow to the throat. Ka'rai coughed and the girl punched him in the face, then kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the floor. Ka'rai chuckled as he got up, weaving hand seals. "Katon: Breath of a Thousand Suns!!"

"Doton: Earth Barrier!" she responded, erecting a wall of earth that blocked the flames, leaving the black earth searing with orange. Ka'rai grinned. "Holy shit you're strong," he complimented.

"Thank you," the girl said, appearing beside him. Ka'rai threw a fist in her direction only for it to be knocked away, which was soon followed by the rest of Ka'rai's body as he was kicked into the searing wall of earth.

Ka'rai growled, igniting his claws and attacking the girl, who analyzed his attack as she bobbed and weaved every strike. Ka'rai grit his teeth and roared out a torrent of flame point blank. The girl leapt back, weaving hand seals. 

"Suiton: Tidal Roar!" she shouted, spouting a roaring tide from her mouth which doused the flames into a steaming plume. Ka'rai charged into the steam, making out her silhouette. He clawed at her which was predictably dodged, and the girl swung at Ka'rai. He blocked the hit and kicked her in the gut, sending her skidding over the bare rock.

She smiled. "Good job."

"Did you just—?" Ka'rai questioned.

"That was the first good hit you got on me, so good job."

"Bastard!" Ka'rai roared, pouncing at the girl and starting another taijutsu bout. Ka'rai was on the offensive this time, not that it made much of a difference as he was still unable to get a hit off. Suddenly, the girl swung at him. 

Ka'rai's eyes widened at the speed of the attack. From her hand blew a cloud of smoke and a clang echoed throughout the arena. The smoke cleared and Ka'rai's arms trembled, blocking an iron mace with them. The girl increased the pressure on her attack and Ka'rai grit his teeth, holding his ground.

Ka'rai leapt to the side, letting the force of the mace carry him as he flipped over it and side-kicked the girl in her torso, knocking her down. Ka'rai grinned before it fell alongside the rest of his body as his legs were swept from under him. Ka'rai hit the floor and the girl stood above him, whirling her mace. Ka'rai leapt up, dodging the strike to what would've been his head, weaving hand seals. "Katon: Breath of a Thousand Suns!!"

Ka'rai's roared with the jutsu and the girl dodged forward, the jutsu detonating behind her in a brilliant plume of cobalt blue. Ka'rai landed in front of her, grinning. The girl dipped down into a battle stance with her mace, and a smile curled her lips.

"Give me everything you got, Ka'rai," she encouraged.

Ka'rai smirked. "You don't gotta ask me twice," he remarked before blitzing through hand seals. "Katon: Endeavoring Flame Wave!!" Ka'rai roared, outstretching his hands as they seared blue. He yelled, aiming the blaze of cobalt blue flames that erupted toward the girl. The following explosion detonated with a mushroom cloud that melted all remaining snow in the arena and even caused the watching Genin to cover their eyes.

Ka'rai outstretched his hand and the flames coalesced in the palm of his hand. With a flick of his wrist, they dispersed and Ka'rai walked toward the searing, smoldering crater. He smirked at the sight of the girl splayed out at the center of it, singed.

"So, now do I win?" Ka'rai asked with a smile and raised brow.

The girl chuckled as she forced herself up with a tremble. "Yeah… you win."

"...But you're still standing," Ka'rai said.

The girl let out a small laugh. "I admire your never give up attitude, just don't let it get you killed."

"If you say so," he said with a chuckle.

The girl raised her hand. "I forfeit!" she announced before walking toward Ka'rai, outstretching her singed hand. "My name is Kay."

"Ka'rai," he said, shaking her hand. "Well, you already knew that…"

She laughed. "I did know that."

"Do you have a surname?" Ka'rai asked.

She shook her head. "No."

"Okay, now how are you so strong?!" Ka'rai asked.

She tilted her head. "I told you already, I trained and studied when I was younger."

"Since like negative nine months old?"

"If that's what floats your boat then sure."

"..."

Kay laughed. "Anyways, congrats on your win, and goodbye!" she said walking off as Etto flickered into the arena.

"Alright!!" Etto announced, grabbing Ka'rai's hand and raising it into the air. "The winner and the strongest among this year's graduates is Ka'rai Uzumaki!!"

The camp roared with applause and Ka'rai grinned, making out Yowui, Hane, and Sami in the crowd cheering for him. It brought a tear to his eye, which he wiped away before anyone could see.

"Okay," Jay started, yawning. "Now that testing is done, all of you return to your dorms. It will take time for all of you to be evaluated."

The Genin saluted. "Yes sir!" they shouted before doing as they were told.

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Ka'rai lay in his bed, smiling at his victory. Those two years of training paid off and he was now definitively number one. But, there was still something tugging at his mind. Well, not something, someone.

Kay.

She was ridiculously strong. If any of the other Genin he knew were hit with Endeavoring Flame Wave then they would be dead, and if not they'd be damn close. But Kay was able to not only live but walk it off.

It… it just seemed off. He thought that fighting her and learning her name would answer his questions, but it only spawned a thousand more. If he was being honest he didn't buy the training from an early age. Yeah, it would've made her stronger for sure, but not that strong. Right?

She would have to be a prodigy surpassing anyone he'd ever heard of. One akin to the likes of Konoha’s Yellow Flash… But if that was the case, then why had he not heard of her before? Ka'rai shook his head, rolling over in his bed. Gahhh, this is all a headache… he muttered, giving up on conscious thought as he closed his eyes

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

An ANBU flickered from rooftop to rooftop over Kumo's moonlit haze, glowing a starry silver under the celestial light of the stars and moon above. Each time they landed, they flashed in flickers of lightning to the next leaving trails of golden blonde and azure electricity.

Their emerald eyes narrowed on their destination, the Raikage's Tower, which towered over the village below, built into a mountain at the peak of Kumo's haze. They flickered to the entrance and walked in. They scaled the flight of stairs and knocked on a door.

"Come in," said a deep, gruff voice.

The ANBU walked in, seeing the Raikage sitting at his desk, hands folded. Next to him were two women, one had fair skin, and curly crimson hair that matched her eyes. Arasei Uzumaki. The other woman had dark skin, silver hair, and green eyes. Mabui.

The ANBU bowed and removed their mask. "Kay Cessitsu, mission report."

"Go ahead," The Raikage permitted.

Kay nodded. "The mission regarding the advanced evaluation of Ka'rai Uzumaki's skill was a success. His power is unmatched, his combat skill is advanced, and his intelligence in battle is on par. However, he's reckless and has zero strategic prowess. 

"Luckily, when put with the right people he is willing to work with them, so that makes up for it somewhat. If I may add a personal recommendation, I do not suggest placing him on a team with Cirru Furachi, they butt heads and it could lead to the possible downfall of the team."

The Raikage nodded. "Thank you, Kay," he said before turning to Arasei. "Do you care to explain your son's inadequacy in strategy?"

"I apologize, Lord Raikage. The main priority of Ka'rai's training was getting Ka'rai's hot-headedness under control as well as teaching him how to manipulate the seal in order to prevent another rampage," Arasei explained.

The Raikage shook his head. "How is his anger, Kay?"

"It's not an issue, he does get angry when he's taunted, but it's borderline playful the way he lashes out about it," she said.

The Raikage chuckled. "Playfulness in battle, hm?"

"Indeed, he barely takes anything seriously," Kay informed.

The Raikage narrowed his eyes. "That's an issue."

"I agree," Arasei added pensively. "I'm definitely going to talk with him."

The Raikage huffed. "You better. Mabui, file the mission please."

"Yes, Lord Raikage," Mabui said with a nod, taking the paper from The Raikage.

The Raikage sighed. "Thank you," he said before turning to Kay. "Good job on your mission, you and your family will be paid handsomely I assure you."

"Thank you, Lord Raikage," Kay said with a bow.

The Raikage cleared his throat. "Now, I have another mission for you. This mission, though, it is a long-term S-rank Mission."

"What?" Kay asked, eyes wide.

The Raikage nodded. "Indeed," the Raikage affirmed before explaining the mission to her. "Are you able to take this mission?"

Kay was silent, pursing her lips as she mulled over the details of the mission. "Yes, I will be able to,” she answered eventually.

"Good, you are dismissed. You too, Arasei," The Raikage said with a nod.

"Yes, Lord Raikage," they said in tandem before walking out of the office.

Mabui walked over to him. "Lord Raikage, are you sure that's wise?"

"Of course I am, we're in peacetime, it's not like we need him for anything else," The Raikage huffed.

Mabui bowed slightly. "If you say so."

⁑♨—ϟ—♨⁑

Ka'rai was unhappy. He wanted to go home. But he wasn't. He was still at the camp. I miss my mama, he pouted as he stood in line, facing the three wardens under the early morning sun.

He stood next to Yowui and Sami alongside other passing Genin, but it was nowhere near the original amount, only around twelve out of the original fifty-four. Hane wasn't there, which only served his sour mood. At least I have Sami and Yowui… Cirru too I guess, he mumbled, looking toward his rival, but his eyes drifted to who was standing next to him.

It was Kay. He looked at her curiously, cursing the fact he was forbidden from speaking. He sighed, redirecting his eyes to the endless expanse of blue that was the cloudless sky above him. Suddenly, a call from Etto broke his focus, and he redirected his gaze toward the wardens.

"Alright! You twelve are the Genin that passed the trials. You have been deemed exceptional and you will be put into four-man cells under a Jonin-sensei. Congratulations!" Etto announced.

Jay yawned. "Alright, I'll announce the teams now, all of you better pay attention because you will be tied to these people for the rest of your Shinobi career, so it's best you three try and get along."

"Yes sir!" The Genin affirmed.

Jay rattled off two teams, none of which had teams Ka'rai cared about all that much. But that would change with the third team, however. "The next team will consist of Cirru Furachi."

Ka'rai perked up.

"Sami, and Clowui Chinoike," Jay announced. 

Sami gasped. "Yes!" she cheered under her breath.

"Oh yeah, you're friends with Clowui," Ka'rai said.

Sami nodded. "Mhm, sorry I couldn't be on your team, bye!" she said before walking off behind Clowui, but as Cirru walked out, he stopped by Ka'rai.

"It seems that we're not on the same team, Ka'rai," Cirru said, oddly sentimental.

Ka'rai chuckled. "Yeah, we're not. But that doesn't mean I can't beat your ass again on our own time."

"You may have beaten me this time, so you better savor that," Cirru started, before smirking. "Because you won't taste victory against me again."

Ka'rai grinned. "Nah, I think I'll get used to it."

"Keep it moving, Furachi!" Etto commanded.

Cirru kept walking, but not before looking back at Ka'rai. "Goodbye, for now, Ka'rai."

"See ya, Cirru," Ka'rai said before looking back at the wardens. There were only three Genin left, so there wasn't a need for another announcement.

Yowui chuckled. "So, we're on the same team?"

"Yup, along with…" Ka'rai started, looking at Kay as she walked over to the two. "You."

She waved. "Hello!" she greeted. "I look forward to being on a team with you two."

"Look at me, the human being on a team with two monsters," Yowui remarked under his breath.

Ka'rai slapped him on the back. "Don't worry man, you'll become a monster too."

"Ow," Yowui muttered.

Kay laughed. "Don't worry, you won't be behind for long."

"Here's hoping," Yowui mumbled before walking out of the Boot Camp with his team. They exited the gates, and stared out, seeing white and blue as they gazed into the horizon. The endless sea of clouds stretched out alongside the expansive, azure sky above with the Sun's spotlight shining a light on the journey ahead of them.

Ka'rai cracked his knuckles, standing ahead of Kay and Yowui with a massive grin on his face. "This is gonna be fun."

ϟ—Chapter End—ϟ