Chuunin Exams: Akaze vs Hinata

Chuunin Exams: Akaze vs Hinata

"Chuunin Exams round number two: Axas Hakusora vs Neji Hyuuga, Axas is the winner!" yelled a booming voice from across the grand stadium; home to the fighting round of Chuunin Exams. It was that of Tsunade, the fifth Hokage, looking down at her village's ninja, Neji Hyuuga, lying face first and unconscious on the earth. There was no enthusiasm in her voice as she announced the winner, for having one of the Hidden Village of Leaf's top ninja being beaten by a Cloud ninja was nothing to brag about. Being almost rivals, the Hidden Villages of Cloud and Leaf were very competitive. The Raikage from Cloud was sitting in the throne next to Tsunade and gave a big grin at the announcement of Axas's victory.

"So, Tsunade, who is next to battle?" the Raikage blurted out, trying to hold back his mocking tone; in fact, he really wanted to yell 'Ha! Take that! Axas just whooped that Neji guy%u2019s butt!', but restrained himself. Tsunade sneered.
"The next battle is%u2026 Cloud's Akaze Hakusora and... Leaf's Hinata Hyuuga..." she said as her sneer turning into a grimace. /Not Hinata...\ she thought. Hinata was a young ninja slowly but surely increasing her skill. Unfortunately, she still wasn't a match for her brother, Neji, who had just been annihilated by Cloud%u2019s Axas. /There's no way to win...\ Almost sensing Tsunade's thoughts, the Raikage responded.
"Well, well. I'll think Akaze should have no problem then," he sneered, looking down into the stadium, waiting for the Hokage to announce the next round.

"Round number three is about to commence! Akaze Hakusora and Hinata Hyuuga, please enter the battlegrounds!" Tsunade finally shouted to the apprehensive crowd. She then shifted her vision to the stadium grounds, where timid Hinata was sluggishly walking onto the field. Her pure white eyes bore an anxious look as she glanced around the field looking for her opponent. She wore her usual attire: a beige coat with her clan's symbol engraved onto the back, and short blue Capri pants. She was shivering.
Tsunade grimaced once more. There was no way in the name of the Fourth that Hinata could beat her opponent. All the Hokage could imagine was a giant Cloud ninja emerging from the crowd, brandishing an immense Zabuza-type sword and swinging it at the Hyuuga and knocking her head off. Finally, though, Akaze Hakusora entered the field. Tsunade looked down in surprise.

He was a short ninja, practically the same height as Hinata, possibly smaller, and he bore no giant sword. Akaze stood 4'9" off the ground and his silvery coloured hair blended in with the looming clouds above. Pale blue eyes were planted on his burnished face and he bore no sort of expression, unlike his brother, Axas, who had just finished bragging about his 'glorious victory'; and around his neck was a bright blue neck warmer that had his forehead protector somehow embossed onto it. The Hakusora wore a long beige shirt; the sleeves stretching a good few inches over the tips of his fingers, and the bottom of the shirt reaching down to his lower thighs. He wore simple pants below this behemoth shirt and his feet were unprotected. He strolled to where the examiner and Hinata Hyuuga were waiting.
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Akaze jumped down from his seat in the crowd and onto the barren field where his round of the Chuunin Exams would take place. There was a slight wind on this cloudy day and he already knew this element would give him the upper hand in battle. Being a Cloud protégé, there was much expected of Akaze; and being only 10 years old, it would seem he would have the disadvantage.

He and his team, Team Storm, consisting of his brother, him and a good looking girl named Amaya, had recently arrived with their Hokage (not their Jounin teacher, oddly enough) just a few days before the exams were to begin. Everyone gave a grimace at the team at the sight of their village and slowly began mumbling about their presence. Later, Akaze found out, the Leaf citizens disliked the Hidden Village of Cloud and didn%u2019t encourage their activity in the Chuunin Exams. Now, he would prove them wrong.

Finally approaching his opponent he stared into her albino eyes: they had a frightened look as they stared thoughtfully onto the dirt field. Akaze, noticing this fright, didn't want to hurt the girl, but knew, for the sake of his reputation and village, that he might have to. Akaze bowed before Hinata Hyuuga as the examiner spoke up.

"You may begin," he calmly said as Akaze focused. Meanwhile, Hinata began to think. /How can I beat him...? What would Naruto do...?\ Without further delay and a sudden urge to prove herself, Hinata clapped her hands together.

Byaakugan!

Akaze jumped back at Hinata's technique, obviously her family's bloodline. The battle was already being planned out in Akaze's head and he instantly knew his first move. Licking his finger, he shoved it into the air. A mumble from the crowd signaled confusion as Akaze simply stood there, wet finger in the air. The fact behind this was for him to figure out the wind speed, allowing him to know how much chakra to use on his techniques.

"Hinata Hyuuga," he finally said; eyes opening, "I hear you use the Jyuken ability in battle. I've read much about it and have developed my own version of it. Prepare yourself."

Dog, Snake, Monkey... Wind Funnels!

Akaze started the battle by charging at Hinata, hands erect. He finally reached her and jerked his hands towards her chest. At this movement, a small, powerful cone of wind blasted from his hands and sent the Hyuuga flying backwards, though, she didn't lose her balance. Determination swept into Hinata's eyes as she prepared her Jyuken to counter. With the same movements as Akaze, she thrusted her hands forward as a blast of chakra emitted from them, much as the wind had from Akaze. Dodging the blow, the Hakusora quickly retaliated with another Wind Funnel.

Speed was the element of choice in this battle as the two combatants duked it out with all their might, sending Jyuken and Wind Funnel blows back and forth; these either begin dodged or blocked. Hinata vaguely remembered a battle like this with her brother, Neji, last Chuunin Exams. /This time,\ Hinata concluded, /things will be different.\

The two seemed to be tiring as chakra and wind blew out of their hands endlessly in a clash of Leaf vs Cloud. Up in the Stadium Balcony, Tsunade looked down in astonishment. "It seems as though Hinata is holding off your 'protégé' quite well!" she finally said to the Raikage after minutes of viewing. The Raikage grimaced.
"Akaze! Stop playing with her and do that technique!" he yelled to the stadium, briefly catching Akaze's attention. The Raikage suddenly realized what his ninja was doing. "Akaze," he said to himself as Tsunade listened to him closely, "I know you don't want to hurt her, but, you may have to..."

With a sigh, Akaze knew what he had to do. No more holding back, he would use that technique.

Monkey... Special Technique: Phase Shift!

With an intense flash of light, Hinata looked around with her Byaakugan. /Where did he-\ With a burst of pain, Hinata fell to the ground. Akaze stepped up behind her.
"Phase Shift, a technique I developed using my bloodline." Quickly Hinata rose from the ground and went into her battle stance once more. Another flash of light and another burst of pain. It seemed as though Akaze was using this ability to sneak up on her and use Wind Funnels. /I have to counter this, but how!?\ Hinata thought to herself nervously. Suddenly, she had an idea. /Byaakugan can see chakra circulatory systems (CCS)... so, if I can slightly follow him, I'll be able to see where and what he is doing.\

Hinata continued a Jyuken onslaught and waited for her opponent to use his Phase Shift again. Finally, the moment arrived and she knew what he had to do. Focusing her eyes, she saw through the blast of light from Phase Shift and noticed Akaze's CCS rapidly moving behind her; she saw something else to. /That's it! He makes the blast of light and becomes a bolt of lightning! Then, he travels behind me, returns to human form and uses Wind Funnels!\ Without any more time to think, Hinata gracefully twisted around and caught the oncoming Wind Funnel from Akaze. Grasping his hand tightly, Hinata grinned and shot a Jyuken at his chest.

Akaze flew back to the stadium walls and crushed it's rocky foundation. Hinata panted with excitement. /I really did it!\ She carefully walked towards her opponent, now seemingly unconscious on the ground, with the examiner, who was just as careful with his steps. He raised his and in the air. %u201CWinner... Hinata Hyuu-%u201D he stopped dead in his words. There was a burst of smoke and suddenly the unconscious Akaze was gone and a log was in it's place! /Damn it!\ Hinata thought, /It was a replacement technique!\

Back behind the few trees, at the other end of the stadium, Akaze panted ferociously. He indeed had been hit by the Jyuken blast, but had barely been able to use a replacement technique and avoid the impact on the wall. /Now, I imagine, she's sealed some of my chakra holes. I need to finish this now, before it gets worse. But...\ Akaze stopped. In he training he had been taught never to think of the worst case scenario; he'd do what he must.

Monkey, Ox, Rat... Special Technique: Distance Phase Shift

An enourmous flash of light was created and Akaze shifted into lightning form once more. This technique could be fatal, for, staying in lightning form for to long would weaken his chakra and pretty much use it all up. But, this is what he had to do.

Hinata couldn't prepare herself for the next move. In a split second, she was induced to an unimaginable pain as she quickly caught a bolt of lightning go straight through her and rematerialize as her opponent. It was instantly over. /I was doing so well... I let my guard down for an instant and now I'm done...\ Without anything keeping conscious, Hinata Hyuuga fell to the ground.

The examiner was shocked at the immediate turn of events that had just unfolded. One moment, Hinata had seemingly won, and the next, she was out cold on the ground. He had to announce the winner. He quickly teleported to the balcony and informed Tsunade of the match's outcome.

Akaze stood there, motionless as his vision was blurred. He had absolutely no chakra left and was barely alive; he just had to stay awake for a moment...
"Chuunin Exams round number three: Akaze Hakusora vs Hinata Hyuuga, Akaze... is the winner..." Tsunade finally yelled, disappointedly, to the crowd. And, with that said, Akaze smiled as he lost consciousness and fell to the ground beside his opponent.