"Whew..." Kurenai sighed with a downcast face.
One down, two too go... As these thoughts raced, Shino slowly walked up next to Kurenai.
I didn't know Shino was so strong. Sakura pondered in the background.
"G-Good job..." Hinata congratulated her shrouded teammate, twirling her fingertips together.
Quietly nodding his concealed chin in response, Shino was abruptly patted on the back by Kiba. Muffled by the repetitive barking Akamaru, team 10 were all assembled by an iron railing.
Coughing to gain everyone's attention, the screen behind Hayate lit up with yellow kanji. Cycling their a list of remaining names, Hayate continued to cough, holding one hand over his mouth.
Eventually, the names 'Misumi Tsurugi VS Kankuro' were displayed for all to see. Earning a confident smirk from this Suna shinobi, Kankuro walked down the stone staircase, holding both hands in his pockets.
It's that puppet user... Naruto reminded himself, watching as Kankuro and Misumi strolled into the center of the room.
Is that...Chakra? Neji asked, studying Kankuro with his Byakugan eyes.
The third teammate of Kabuto and Yoroi, Misumi wore a carbon copy of their outfits. However, Misumi's most prominent feature was his fragile glasses and the dark cloth over his face, matching his Konoha bandana.
"Unlike Yoroi, I won't go easy on you just cause your a kid..." Misumi exclaimed.
"This is the 7th time I've taken this exam. I'm not going to be held back again." As Misumi spoke, Kankuro unstrapped the bandaged puppet from his back.
"Begin." Hayate cut in, promptly shrouded by a barrage of Shuriken.
Thrown by Misumi, these sharpened blades twisted and soared towards a smiling Kankuro. Dodging these projectiles with ease, Kankuro became tense as Misumi charged towards him.
Lunging forward with rubber arms, Misumi wrapped and contorted his limbs around Kankuro. Constricting Kankuro's entire body, his bandaged puppet was dropped to the floor.
"I can pop my joints out of there hinges... And use my chakra to control the loosened bone." Misumi explained.
"If you don't give up, this is the end for you." Warning his opponent, Misumi tightened his grip on Kankuro's throat.
Suddenly, the sound of a wooden snap polluted the air, magnified by Kankuro's limp neck. Traumatizing several Genin in attendance, Neji was humming with interest.
"H-He's dead..." Sakura stuttered.
Without warning, shards of chipped wood fell atop Misumi's feet, forcing him to dramatically gasp. Staring into the disfigured face of a wooden puppet, Misumi was attacking a decoy.
Twitching his fingertips, Kankuro ordered his puppet to spring forward, revealing a pair of six arms. Wrapping each of these limbs around Misumi, these middle-aged Genin screamed in agony.
"Now, it's my turn." Kankuro's disembodied voice could be heard.
Unrolling the fabric of his hidden puppet, Kankuro's real body came into view, standing up onto both feet. Holding one hand in front of his face, Kankuro's fingertips were engulfed with blue chakra.
"There's chakra coming out of his fingers..." Sakura slurred her words.
Interrupted by the harsh screams of Misumi, these shrieks were dampened by the sound of snapping bone. At the same time, Gaara with groaning with sadistic delight in the background.
"Since his opponent is unable to continue..." Hayate cut in, muffled by the sound of Misumi hitting the floor.
"Winner by knockout, Kankuro." Speaking without pause, Hayate scribbled on his clipboard.
Everyone else is so good at jutsu and chakra... Then there's me. Sakura swelled with self-doubt.
Without a moment of delay, the selection of the next match rushed into speed. Displayed on the nearby screen, a collection of yellow kanji cycled through a pair of names.
No one ever takes me seriously... Maybe they're right? Pulled from these thoughts by a forehead poke, Kakashi loomed over his student.
"Get ready! Ms. Forehead!" Ino shouted, pointing the kanji for 'Ino Yamanaka VS Sakura Haruno.
Inspired by their childhood rivalry, these kunoichi charged down the stairs, racing each other. Sighing in response, Kakashi covered his face with his orange book.
"It looks like you had an easier time getting here than I did." Ino scoffed, drawing attention to her dirt-stained skin and outfit.
Of all the graduated kunoichi from this year, Ino has exceeded them all. Asuma reminded himself as he took a drag from his cigarette.
She will fight with everything she has... Concluding these thoughts, Asuma inhaled a drag from his cigarette.
"Such a drag." Shikamaru sighed.
"Will Ino be okay?" Choji asked, earning a casual shrug.
Standing in the foreground, Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke were all grouped together. Leaning against an iron railing, each of these shinobi were filled with different reactions.
"Let's see what these two have got." Sasuke exclaimed with a smirk.
"Go Sakura!" Naruto yelled out happily!
Resting one elbow atop each of his students, Kakashi continued to lazily read his favored book. As this occurred, Hayate was prepping the next match, a battle of kunoichi.
"I think all three of you make a lovely combination." Kakashi declared, not even looking at his students.
Interrupting this conversation, the sound of rushing footsteps polluted the air. Exposing Ino and Sakura, these ninja charged at each other, causing their sandals to clap the stone floor.
Zig-zagging across the scorched earth, Sakura's reflexes allowed her to outmaneuver Ino, sliding behind her. Using one foot to knock Ino too the ground, Sakura towered over her childhood rival.
She's fast?! Ino panicked.
Kicking Ino in her stomach, this Yamanaka clan member was hurled across the stone floor. Littering this surface with loose strands of her pale blond hair, Ino panted for air.
This is nothing compared to your training. Sakura concluded, fueled by Haku's memory.
Reaching into her satchel, Sakura revealed a handful of senbon, throwing them with deadly precision. Piercing Ino's legs, feet and ankles, this injured kunoichi hastily rolled out of the way.
Startled by an approaching Sakura, Ino used both palms to launch herself up, ignoring the pain in her legs. Bracing for impact, Ino narrowly blocked a fierce punch of Sakura.
Before Ino could react, Sakura quickly side-stepped her opponent, cracking the knuckles on her clenched fists. Lunging forward, Sakura knocked the spit from Ino's mouth, forcing this kunoichi to fly against a nearby wall.
"What a drag." Shikamaru repeated his iconic catchphrase.
"When did she get so good?" Sasuke hummed.
"Maybe it's something Haku Haku taught her?" Naruto murmured an excuse.
Geez, this is so stressful... Ino complained, struggling to stand up as she gasped for air.
"Those two are going soft against each other... Even a bat could notice Sakura is holding back." Tenten pointed out.
As Ino strained to stand up, Sakura walked towards her, shrouded by her rustling pink hair. With each step, Sakura faded into her own mind, distracted by distant memories.
-Flashback-
"Kunoichi must obtain a wide range of knowledge and education..." A 26 year old Ms. Suzume explained.
Defined by curly, shoulder-length black hair, Suzume's pale face was framed by white oval glasses. Drawing attention to her ankle-length pink kimono, this fabric was held in place by dark blue sash.
Standing in the center of tree-line grove, Suzume's wooden sandals were dug into the grass. Exposing a section of mesh under-armor across her legs, Suzume was surrounded by a class of young kunoichi.
"Today's topic is flower arrangement... So everyone, go pick some flowers." Ordering her students to disperse, Suzume pushed her glasses up.
Running through a bundle of dense bushes, a 6 year old Sakura ran after Ino. Dressed in a long-sleeved dark blue shirt with a crimson bow around her skull, these garments deeply contrasted Sakura's brown shorts.
"Ino, wait!" Sakura pleaded, stomping her blue shinobi shoes against the earth.
Characterized by the high-collared orange sweater she wore, Ino's blue pants were tattered and stained with dirt. Spread across her dirty fingernails, Ino's pale skin was a perfet match for her pale blue eyes.
"Geez - you're such a loser." Ino teased, combing one hand through her blond hair. .
10 minutes later.
"I'm not very good at this..." Sakura mumbled, anxiously grabbing a bundle of weeds.
"Relax, there's a trick to these things." Ino declared.
Strolling through the outskirts of Konoha together, Ino and Sakura stumbled upon a wide field. Littered with hundreds of endless flowers, Ino inquisitively gripped her chin while humming.
"What about this?" Speaking allowed, Ino picked a vibrant yellow flower from the ground.
"It's a thoroughwort, and it'll work great for my bouquet!" Chuckling with delight, Ino's pale hair glimmered in the sunlight.
"You're so confident..." Sakura murmured with a downcast face.
"I don't have any of that, I'm ju-... I'm just me." Timidly grabbing her own stomach, Sakura swelled with hesitation.
"That's right, and you're a Sakura flower." Ino cut in, filled with joy.
Rushing next to her friends, Ino ran several circles around Sakura, laughing with each step. Eventually, Ino came to a stop before pinning a pink flower in Sakura's hair.
"You're a beautiful flower, you just have to bud." Giggling after she spoke, Ino accidently snorted.
Traumatized by these words, Sakura's mouth fell open as both hands began to tremble. Usually, Sakura was constantly mocked because of her hair color, but now, she had a true friend, she had Ino.
Six years later.
"As you know..." A 12 year old Sakura stuttered in front of Ino.
Standing instead a small grove on the outskirts of Konoha, this clearing was filled with various flowers. The same clearing from Suzume's class, much had changed over the past six years.
"I'm on the same team as Sasuke." After speaking, Sakura earned a hostile snort in reply.
"You're just trying to rub it in." Ino scoffed.
Startled by the stern expression in Sakura's emerald green eyes, Ino abruptly gasped with shock. Obscured by a leaf-filled gust of wind, these kunoichi glared at each other.
"This is the moment, Ino... From this moment on, I will never lose to you again." Sakura declared.
"You think this changes anything? You're still the same girl from the academy." Ino argued.
Crossing both arms in front of her chest, Ino stuck her tongue out at Sakura. A pair of friends turned into rivals, Sakura and Ino constantly fought for Sasuke's attention.
"I'm not that same girl anymore..." Slurring her words, Sakura was met by a playful scoff from ends.
-Flashback ends-
Staring at the injured silhouette of Ino, Sakura's emerald eyes were hazy and distorted. So distracted by her thoughts, Sakura didn't even react as Ino charged towards her.
You were always there for me... Pondering these thoughts, Sakura was dampened by Ino's footsteps.
Rushing forward, Ino hurled her clenched fists against Sakura's forehead, earning a radiant smile in response. Displaying a brief sparkle in her vibrant eyes, Sakura became enthralled in a staring contest with Ino.
"I'm not a bud anymore." Sakura chuckled, met by a speechless stutter from Ino.
Reaching out with trembling hands, Ino wrapped both arms around Sakura, hugging her childhood friend.
"I don't think we need to keep this match going any longer." Hayate coughed out.
"Winner by display of combat, Sakura Haruno." After Hayate spoke, he was instantly interrupted by Sakura.
"Sasuke! Did you see me?! I was so great!" Sakura shrieked, jumping for joy.
Inspired by Sakura's antics, Ino laughed into one hand while Sasuke sighed with annoyance. Also, Naruto was smiling from whisker-to-whisker, happy for his teammate.
"You've bloomed into such a beautiful flower..." Ino exclaimed, promptly crushed by a huge hug from Sakura.
"Can't breathe..." Panting for air, Ino was shook from side-to-side by Sakura.
"Thank you for believing in me...Ino." Sakura praised, hugging Ino until she passed out.