Blood In The Sand

Ikari hopped over the rail, landing on the ground gracefully. He ran a hand through his short, black hair, his red sclera the focus of the room. "Well? Aren't you gonna announce this match's opponents?"

"Ikarinochi Hikari."

"WHAAAAAAAT?" Rena grabbed onto the rail, her outburst causing Suno to jump. "Wait, why do you have my last name?!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?" Kana had said at the same time. She turned to glare at Rena. "This is impossible! It's just… you're… you're the last one!"

"What are you talking about, you crazy asshole?! Sansa's the only other Hikari I know!" Rena snapped, resulting in another glaring battle.

The announcer and Ikari waited patiently for the two to calm down. "Ikarinochi is such an ugly name. I was named after my Kekkei Genkai…" His eyes moved to Rena. Sansa herself looked as if she had seen a ghost. "So, I prefer Ikari, really."

"Alright, well… Ikari Hikari versus Dami." What looked like a rather sturdily built young man came down, not speaking. It seemed he held up flashcards, one with an X, over his mouth.

"So you're mute."

Dami nodded.

"Well, I'll make this fast." Another X card. Ikari laughed. "You see, it's different. Originally, I would have just opted out, 'cuz I don't really care about the chuunin exams," That seemed to be a recurring theme, "But after finding someone like me... " His disposition changed, his expression one of a sadistic child looking at an ant they were about to crush. "I think I want to pass this exam after all. So, I'll be giving it my all. Accept me, please." Dami nodded, getting into a fighting stance.

"Sansa, why does he have our surname?" Rena had been pelting her with questions, confused as all hell. Sansa couldn't keep up and Baki could see her getting dizzy. He had questions, but he figured Sansa would tell him in due time… right? The woman he was marrying… wouldn't keep anything from him…

"All right, let's see it happen. Fight!"

Ikari was fast! He jumped back, clapping his hands together… but nothing happened. "Just kidding. But, hey, let me take it seriously." He took a kunai out of his pocket and in a similar fashion to what Rena had done before, pressed it against his wrist. He looked up, with Dami simply watching him, waiting, preparing. "Almost forgot… Rage Blood Release." As he slit his wrist, his sclera turned progressively from red to black, like ink in blood, completely consuming them until all he had left was nothing but darkness. Blood poured from his arm, but not in the way most would imagine- it went up. It was different than the purple Rena had, in the fact it was completely pitch black.

And then it began. It flowed toward Dami with a speed and intensity that made him jump away, but the blood closed the gap within seconds. "Come on, you can't just dodge! Come at me, do something that would actually get you somewhere!" Seemingly taking his advice, Dami sprinted towards him, avoiding the blood… but again, it was there, in a flash, piercing his leg as it formed some kind of drill. Ikari leaned against the wall, playing with a kunai. He spun it round and round with his index finger, laughing. "Come on, this won't get my blood pumping! You're going to slow my production and put me to sleep at this point!"

Dami let out a silent scream as he tripped over, crashing into the ground. The blood went for him again, but he seemed to be learning that Ikari seemed to go in for rushes. The moment to dodge was the very last, so he couldn't redirect his blood in time. "Please, I'm going to bleed out by the time you get anywhere near me!" His constant belittlement held the crowd's attention. It was bizarre that two people had the same kekkei Genkai, yet didn't know about it. Ikari hadn't at all been surprised about Rena's, but she, on the other hand, was shocked. She barely knew it was a kekkei Genkai.

Dami seemed to be outsmarting the black blood. Ikari had to move his fingers, even if just a little. The entire time, he smiled. As Dami got closer and closer to Ikari, finally going in for a strike, Ikari simply shut his eyes. "Blood Spike." All around him, a volley of black blood spiked up, spearing Dami through the foot and causing him to crash to the floor. Ikari threw his head back, laughing. "You should really watch where you step! Just because my wrist is dripping blood doesn't mean I can't control it."

Dami, however, continued the assault from the ground, swiping under Ikari's feet. This seemed to catch him off guard, but he caught himself before he hit the ground entirely, doing a somersault and skipping back up, turning to face Dami, who had a well-aimed kick centered around his head. He raised his arm just in time and a swarm of blood burst from his skin, ripping open his self-created wound further, stopping the kick in its path. Dami struggled to move his leg, stuck in suspension. "This is much better," Ikari said and tendrils of black began to creep up Dami's leg. It was a fast creep, reaching his midsection, then his chest, then his neck, "Come on, give up! Say you give up!" It stopped just before his eyes and nose. "Oh, how awful of me. You're mute. Anyways, I'm sure you don't want this stuff tearing you apart from the inside, right? Nod if you give up."

Dami nodded viciously and Ikari raised his hand in the air. Any blood outside of his body, whether on the ground or in the air, flew back into his wrist. Dami fell to the ground, scrambling away from Ikari. "I told you, didn't I?" He leaned over, shoving his hands in his pockets, but the fabric was stained black quickly despite his smile. "I told you that I was going to make it quick. Where's my win?"

The announcer was astounded by Ikari's behavior, as was everyone else in the room. He hadn't been nearly as ruthless as Rena at the end, but more during the battle itself with his sadistic mocking. "Uh… Ikarinochi Hikari wins."

"It's Ikari, I'm telling you. Jeez. Ikari. Is it that hard to remember?" He offered a hand to Dami. "Let's get you back up to the second floor." Dami, although cautious, took his hand and was helped back to the balcony he had been on originally, leaving Ikarinochi Hikari to return to the side of the party he had come with. He was pulled away by Sansa, who snatched him up before he could even reach his destination. She dragged him to a side room.

"Who are you?"

"Me? I'm Ikari."

"No, you said you're a Hikari. You displayed abilities only known to them. You have black blood."

"Oh, yeah. Are you one too?"

"Only in name, but that's not important. You can't be a Hikari."

"But I am."

"No, you aren't!" Sansa snapped, slamming her arm into the boy's throat and pinning him against the wall. He only laughed, chokingly, recovering from the pain rather fast. "You can't be, because-"

"Because they're all dead?"

Sansa's eyes widened. No normal person would have access to any of this information. Then again, he did claim to be of the Hikari name. "How do you know that?"

"I know that because my grandparents were marked for death. They preferred the term 'exiles' but in that case, they ran away to have their kids in private, hidden away from the 'monsters' who wanted to kill them. I've heard all the stories."

"That means… that they… because of your black blood…"

"That's right. I'm exactly what you think I am."

"Stay away from my daughter." Sansa hissed, "Your kind is the worst of the bloodline. You're lucky I don't send you to where the rest of the Hikari are."

"Is she really your daughter, though?" Sansa paused. The look on her face shifted from confrontational to nightmare-inducing.

"I'm not afraid to kill you, you know." Ikari trembled; her face was like a ghost of the past, ruthless and genocidal all the same. "Nobody would care if a headbandless genin's deformed body was found in the Forest of Death. You wouldn't be identified. So I suggest you start thinking real hard about your future, kiddo." She let him go, causing him to drop to the floor, coughing and sputtering. "Take a few minutes. Think over my offer. I hope I don't see you around after the Prelims. You should probably opt-out. Tell 'em you were scared or something."

Ikari glared at her, wordlessly, getting up off the floor and stalking back the way they came. Sansa lit up a cigarette, taking a few puffs. It was a few minutes of relaxing but interrupted by a sudden presence. "Sansa Hikari, Devil Tactician of the Sandi? Please come with me. The Hokage would like to speak to you."

She turned to him, letting out a drawn-out sigh. "Yeah, yeah, figured this would happen. Lead the way."

X

X

"The next match will now begin." While Ikari and Sansa were having their discussions in the side room, the rest turned their attention to the board. Gaara had been leaning against the wall, but now he was next to Rena yet again. There was an outburst about not being able to fight or something from a guy with a weird haircut that Rena was watching. Kana, on the other hand, covered her ears with her hands.

Su was contemplating pulling his feet out from under him, if only to stop the insufferable noise coming out of the boy's mouth. However, all was silent before the next fight was about to begin, knowing that it could very well be one of theirs. Seeing everything that's happened so far only discouraged most, but not Rock Lee.

"Gaara of the Sand, VS Rock Lee."

Rena's eyes widened, her surprise showing on her face. Her head whipped around to Gaara, who was already disintegrating into sand. Rena ran up to where he had been, grabbing the railing, watching as he became solid again on the floor below. The fight that she watched progressed rapidly, blows being traded, but in all that time, Lee barely hit Gaara. It was amazing to see the difference between his and her ability; she, at best, was awful at fighting compared to either of them, but most of all, Gaara.

Each blow left her mesmerized, the way his sand moved capturing her whole, undivided attention. At some point, Ikari had come up beside her, returning from wherever he had been taken to by Sansa. He opened his mouth to speak, but the fact she didn't notice him there and the look in her eyes caused him to trace their movements to Gaara. He frowned, remaining silent. It didn't seem like the type of stupor he could interrupt.

Suddenly, Lee's speed shot through the roof. Faster than any of the opponents had been before. He dashed in and blitzed out, his speed blinding, almost impossible to keep up with as even Gaara's sand was struggling. Rena had almost lost faith for a second, but at that moment, Gaara wasn't thinking of anything other than the battle he was in. He repeated I will not die in his head over and over again.

Rena, however, had her entire perspective change when Gaara wrecked Lee's limbs. She gripped the railing until her knuckles went white, feeling the same terror she did before. More sand crept across the floor, something out of anyone's worst nightmares, most likely meant to suffocate and end Lee's life. Gaara had no respect for his opponent. It was scary how he took a life without a second thought. The people in the forest… the guy who attacked them and now Lee. However, someone finally interfered- a man who seemed to be his father, with the same hair and suit.

Gaara, on the other hand, was having a hard time comprehending why Gai would defend Lee. "But why…? He failed!" He snapped, clutching his head, his nails digging into his scalp. A headache ran through his mind as annoying memories washed over him. "Why save him…?"

"Because he's my student, and also because he is precious to me." Baki sneered, thinking that the red-haired boy wouldn't be able to understand such sentiments. Rena, on the other hand, was somewhat touched- of course, that made sense to her. The face that Gaara made, however, made her feel like her heart was breaking all over again.

"He's precious to him? A student?" The surprise in Temari's voice caused Rena to turn back to her, eyes wide. What did she mean? Weren't you supposed to cherish the people around you with all you had? Just what was the current state of the Hidden Sand?

Again.

She grabbed her arms; they felt searing hot like her blood was boiling.

Do it again, but this time, don't be so pathetic.

She backed away from the rail, resting her back against the wall.

If you're this pathetic, what's the point? Do you think you're worth anything? You're just another pawn.

Her breathing was unsteady. Why were these voices so loud? Sinking to the floor and sitting down, she closed her eyes, trying to block them out.

So be a good pawn and maybe you won't be a corpse by tomorrow.

Gaara stood, no signs of a struggle. He began to walk away, ignoring Gai and Lee. "I quit."

"The winner is… huh?"

Everyone in the room watched as Lee took a fighting stance, prepared for battle despite his ridiculous injuries. "No, Lee," Gai exclaimed, "It's alright, it's all over now. Anyways, you're in no condition to-" His voice cut off and his heart dropped into the pit of his stomach as he stared, dejectedly, at the face of his pupil. "Lee... Oh, Lee… what have I done?" Gai's shoulders shook, once, twice, as he began to sob. Tears dripped down the grown shinobi's face, his expression mixed with agony and hurt. "Look at you. Not even conscious, and still determined to show the world what you can do."

Ha… you…. Like them…

Rena twitched, her head whipping away from the scene. She swore someone had just whispered something in her ear, so much so that the words echoed through her mind. It was such a broken message that she couldn't even understand what it meant. She turned to Su, who had progressively gotten closer to her. "Su, did you say something to me?"

The girl shook her head, frowning.

"That's… strange." Rena turned back to watch the exchange below, but Su was concerned. Her fingers twitched. Nobody was saying anything. Was… Rena like her?

"Lee, you've already proven it." Taking his student into his gentle embrace, Gai held him close to his chest. The boy's eyes came to a close, his subconscious fading and there was no doubt he wouldn't be standing again. "You're a splendid ninja."

"The winner is Gaara." The results were obvious. The expression on his face, however, was different than the one she recognized. The way he looked at the two, she almost thought he was nearly envious… full of hate and disgust at the scene, but behind all of that, was it the boy she loved crying for help? Crying for affection?

"Hah, I knew he couldn't beat Gaara." Temari grinned, her head raising a fraction in the air. Nobody else in this room mattered other than the shinobi from her village and her newfound allies. Still, it troubled her- Su was a loose end. What on earth would they do with her? Would Tsukiyomi be all right in that scroll?

Gaara began to walk forward. Kankuro stood on the other side, having observed the battle from another vantage point while he was asking his questions. On the other hand, the upstart with blonde hair vaulted over the metal bar, not caring what anyone else thought or said as he ran past Gaara, their eyes momentarily passing over one another as he ran for Lee. Gaara turned, watching him go.

As Gaara walked back up the stairs, Rena walked over to meet him. She stood at the top, an expression on her face that reminded him of the one she made when she was alone… or when she thought nobody was watching. "Gaara… what happened to you while I was gone?"

This subject again. He ignored her entirely, walking past her until her hand shot out to grab his. His sand rushed to his protection, which caused him to stop. Rena's hand snapped back as she gripped her wrist. They stared at one another, before Rena's expression turned worse, tears dripping from her eyes. "All I wanted… was to help you, Gaara." She dashed towards the exit, to the general area of the bathrooms, wishing to be anywhere but there in that moment. He took a step in her direction, his hands trembling. Why did his sand rush to his aid then, but not before? What was the difference?

Sansa stood in front of the Hokage, at attention. "I'd like to know about the sudden abilities she displayed and the behavior changes." She almost rolled his eyes at his bluntness, but of course, the ANBU had their eyes on everything. The Hidden Leaf was the worst place to expose any of the machinations from the past. His face was hardened by battle; at this moment, he was not the Hokage that the Leaf knew, but the Hokage war knew.

"Lord Hokage, I'm afraid that my daughter has had a troublesome life. Her father was a unique individual; I didn't know him. She disappeared a few years ago and only recently returned; it's implied that her disappearance was not consenting. I will spend time looking into this; if you feel the need to bar her from the exams, please do. I don't want anything damaging the Hidden Sand's relationship with the Leaf like this."

The Hokage raised his hand, silencing the Sand Jonin. "I do not think that will be necessary. Go back to the exams, but make sure that nothing like that happens while on the soil of the Leaf."

"Understood. Thank you, Lord Hokage." Sansa bowed, before retreating from the room. The Hokage turned, sighing, his eyes narrowing.

"Ibiki." Emerging from the shadows, the first proctor came to stand beside the Hokage. "Search our archives. Find anything and everything you can on the Hikari Clan. Those warmongers were supposed to have been destroyed at least sixty years ago and their place in history lost, but I feel that we may be dealing with a special case. One is nothing to look at, but two in the same place?" Ibiki nodded. The Hokage's usual demeanor was gone. There was no time for smiles if that was the child who he assumed her to be. "As for the Yoru, be sure to study them as well. There's been an ongoing agreement… they're closed off from the world, not allowed to participate. It seems like they're violating that contract for a reason." He couldn't rip the child from the Sand, because that would injure the treaty between the Sand and the Leaf, possibly causing another war.

That could not happen.

Everything that had happened in the previous fight with Gaara and Lee left the contestants in a mild shock. Of course, they had seen someone die, but this was… a different kind of cruelty. The conclusion to it, Lee trying to fight unconscious, everyone was both inspired and terrified.