Shikanenai hummed a happy tune as he leant on the rail that was all that stood between him and plunging headfirst into the Chuunin Exam's arena. Notionally he was supposed to be waiting for his match on a balcony set aside for contest. Like most rules he encountered, however, Shikanenai was treating that expectation as the merest of guidelines, easily set aside should the need arise.
A few yards along the rail stood Shikamaru, who, having lost his own preliminary match was in fact more or less where he should be - the three of them were standing between the rail and the rank of frontrow seats reserved for the genin who had failed to secure a place in the finals.
Three?
Yes, for between the two Nara boys stood another genin, this one not looking at all her usual meek self.
Hyuuga Hinata looked down at the arena where Neshan and Neji were about to engage in one of the spectacles of chakra-driven carnage that most of the audience had come to see.
Almost idly she tested the restraint of the dual shadow-binding that the two shinobi had laid upon her. Nope. She still couldn't move, although the black markings of Orochimaru's curse seal still rose and fell up and down her neck towards her pale face.
"If you let me go, I promise that I'll only maim him severely?" she offered grudgingly, eyes still fixed on her cousin.
"Is that a promise in the same sense of your promise to prevent either of us from ever siring another generation of the Nara clan if we didn't let you go an hour ago?" Shikanenai asked absently.
Hinata growled softly and from well behind her, Ino and Kiba cowered behind the mass of Chouji. Shikamaru was severely tempted to join them. Bloodline heiresses with cursed chakra-boosting seals were so troublesome...
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.
A few yards along the rail stood Shikamaru, who, having lost his own preliminary match was in fact more or less where he should be - the three of them were standing between the rail and the rank of frontrow seats reserved for the genin who had failed to secure a place in the finals.
Three?
Yes, for between the two Nara boys stood another genin, this one not looking at all her usual meek self.
Hyuuga Hinata looked down at the arena where Neshan and Neji were about to engage in one of the spectacles of chakra-driven carnage that most of the audience had come to see.
Almost idly she tested the restraint of the dual shadow-binding that the two shinobi had laid upon her. Nope. She still couldn't move, although the black markings of Orochimaru's curse seal still rose and fell up and down her neck towards her pale face.
"If you let me go, I promise that I'll only maim him severely?" she offered grudgingly, eyes still fixed on her cousin.
"Is that a promise in the same sense of your promise to prevent either of us from ever siring another generation of the Nara clan if we didn't let you go an hour ago?" Shikanenai asked absently.
Hinata growled softly and from well behind her, Ino and Kiba cowered behind the mass of Chouji. Shikamaru was severely tempted to join them. Bloodline heiresses with cursed chakra-boosting seals were so troublesome...
D for Drakensis
You're only young once, but immaturity is forever.