Despite it All

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Sasuke's / Suigetsu's POV (Trial of Nio Mountain)

Team Five was more unique. It was random of course but it seemed fate seemed to put men into a group for a unique effect. Sasuke Uchiha, a genius of the forshamed clan, is known as the Ghost of te Uchiha. Shikamaru Nara is a lazy genius known for his shrew thinking and blunt attitude. Rock Lee was a young man who was addicted to work. And would outwork any through pure determination. Suigetsu Hozuki is a talented swordsman with a trick bloodline. Incredibly keen on combat. Shikamaru realizing this group itched for fighting decided to do things differently. He decided to be lord and Sasuke's leader. He had a feeling the Uchiha wouldn't listen otherwise. He and Lee would search for a team to ambush. While Sasuke and Suigetsu searched for the team as well. It was with this that Shikamaru watched as Team One traveled.

"It seems clear to me. Temari is their lord, a decent choice since she seems like a ranged fighter. But it means little if the attacker is simply too fast." Shikamaru said while toking on a cigarette while he did so Rock Lee removed his weights and was stretched.

"I will move with utmost youth!" He quietly declared as he prepared to enact Shikamaru's plan.

Suigetsu's POV

Suigetsu smiled as he saw Yuno and Karui travel through the forest on a horse. "I always preferred my prey to be weaker. He chuckled as he prepared to get points and have fun."

Sasuke's POV

He stood staring down at his prey as he activated his Sharingan. He figured the others may set traps or pick a weak team. But he had always preferred to test his limits. If he was to revive the Uchiha Clan to its former heights he needed to be powerful. Powerful enough to defeat whole scores of enemies. He jumped down as his prey walked up to meet him. The remains of Team Six surrounded the Uchiha. He supposed this would be a small test.

Sasuke faced down the three shinobi confidently. He knew Shikamaru would never condone him attacking them head-on like this henceforth he had supported splitting up. Shikamaru had given each of them several ideas on how to get points with no risk. To be fair to the Nara , it was a good plan. But not his own, these exams offered him a lot. It would be meaningless if he merely succeeded. He needed to excel, to be tested, to know where he stood. Sasuke was confident no single Genin could stand against him. So he had set out to find a good challenge. Kiba and Choji were never quite top tiers. But they were respectable in their own right. The blonde Suna shinobi was an unknown risk. It would be nice to test him. After all, he needed to show the world that the Uchiha were on another level.

Besides it was clear the group was down a man and somewhat injured. A nice advantage for Sasuke and likely he would need it. The group now seeming more confident surrounded the crouched Uchiha.

"Sasuke, it's good to see ya buddy! You wouldn't happen to be looking for trouble would you?" Kiba asked jovially as he and Akamaru stood in front of the Uchiha.

"I am seeking trouble mutt." Sasuke replied curtly. He never understood why Kiba seemed so confident in himself. He considered him a joke.

"Sasuke, surely you don't think you can take us all out." Choji nervously stated as he prepared for combat. "We might hurt you." Choji knew Sasuke was no joke. But surely not even he could take all three of them. He was nothing like that monster earlier.

"Let's not be naive, he knew what would happen when he came here." Sen chided as she drew her fans.

"The woman is right, besides you all cannot touch me." Sasuke stated arrogantly.

This must've served as some unspoken signal. Sen slashed at Sasuke's back with her double fans. Sasuke reflected this casually with a single kunai. Kicking out as he did, smacking Choji in the face and sending him stumbling back. Akamaru launched forward at the throat of Sasuke. He ducked under the attack, before blocking a kick from Kiba. The power of the move sent him sliding back. Sasuke took the moment to stare down at his opponents. "I'm disappointed." Sasuke said in a bored tone.

"I would be too after that perfo-" Kiba started before Sasuke was suddenly in front of him, fist cocked back for an attack. Kiba barely ducked the blow, rolling away from him. Sasuke attempted to pursue him but was blocked by Choji's enlarged palm. It flew towards him forcing him to roll to the side.

This left him in the path of Sen who spun as she unleashed a blast of wind.

"Twin Breeze Blades!" She called two blades of wind flying towards the rolling Uchiha. Sasuke rose to his feet as they came close, calmly disappearing right as the blades cut into him. Sen screamed in panic as she narrowly avoided a kunai slash from Sasuke who was now somehow in front of her. He kicked Akamaru who attempted to attack him from behind. But this left him open to Kiba who flew in with a drop kick. Sasuke barely managed to raise his guard after being smashed into and driven into a nearby snow bank.

"Cocky bastard." Kiba complained as he stood before the now-buried Uchiha.

"He was no joke." Choji replied walking up as well. Sen merely slashed in front of the two talking men with a fan interrupting them. The two men watched confused as Sen seemed to randomly fearfully jump back. Before Kiba caught on with a startle cry.

"Kai!"

As he did so he saw Sasuke unleashing a high kick to his face. Choji somehow reacted in time, managing to shove Kiba out of the way. Sasuke growled angrily before disappearing and reappearing inside of Choji's guard with a viscous body uppercut. Choji gasped for air as he collapsed. Kiba jumped away trying to avoid Sasuke. But the Uchiha saw this and fired off several kunai. Kiba closed his eyes, prepared to be riddled with them. But as he did he heard a call that saved his ass.

"Wind Style: Wind Breakthrough!" Sen called. A gust of wind caught Kiba, the kunai, and Sasuke sending them all flying back. Kiba used this to his advantage, spinning in the air with a smile.

"Thanks for the assist! This is over! Fang Over Fang!" Kiba called as he became a blur flying towards the Uchiha. Sasuke merely smiled as his Sharingan turned on allowing him to see the perfect counter. He twirled slightly in the air allowing him to avoid the blow. As he did so he managed to snag the boy's hood on his hoodie. Before he suddenly disappeared with Kiba in tow. Before Sen or Choji could hope to figure this out they both appeared in front of them, Sasuke tossing Kiba into Sen the two crashing and turning into a painful ball of limbs. Choji growled as his fist grew he fired it off towards the smiling Sasuke. Choji's vision was blocked as he felt something hit his fist. He smiled at the lucky blow unaware of Sasuke falling from above.

Unleashing a powerful and merciless kick to the top of Choji's skull. It drove him into the ground with a powerful boom as Choji fell unconscious due to the blow.

Kiba and Sen untangled and stared as Sasuke cracked his neck. "I didn't think I needed my eyes for this." He stated sounding somewhat annoyed. "I suppose I shouldn't underestimate you anymore." As he stalked forward intending to defeat the two as well. Before to the shock of him and Kiba, Sen raced forward, bowing to the Uchiha.

"We surrender. Take your points." Sen said darkly.

"Sen?!" Kiba asked, alarmed.

"Think about it for a second!" Sen countered hotly. "He just fended us off while holding back and now we're down another man. We can't afford to be beaten here!"

"So what? We just give up?!" Kiba asked angrily as he and Akamaru stood in front of Sen, seemingly still convinced to fight.

"No, we let him win this and have the chance to make points later. We challenge him and lose and we may have to drop out of the exams." Sen explained in a frustrated tone.

"She is correct." Sasuke added plainly. Sensing that the surrender would go through with a minor push.

Kiba felt his hands clench hard enough to break his skin. There was no nice way to put it. So far in this exam, he had been outperformed. Were there many shinobi this far above him? "FINE!" He growled as he and Akamaru stepped back. The large dog whining at this. Sasuke nodded as if bored with the show before tapping Sen once. After this, he started to stalk away.

"Wait, what about the other points?" Kiba called out, his confusion winning out at his anger for the moment.

"My teammates will get them or I'll do this again." Sasuke replied plainly as he left the two standing shinobi (and one unconscious one) alone.

"No offense but I hate you Leaf shinobi!" Sen yelled, annoyed. "Besides, being Chunin isn't worth this level of trouble." She stalked forward with rage being obvious. "I withdraw, good luck Kiba." Sen stated as she walked back towards the bottom of the mountain. Pulling out the tag for medical personnel and releasing it to get aid for Choji and herself.

"None taken." As the samurai appeared, they grabbed Choji and escorted Sen off of the mountain. While he would likely be fine he had taken a nasty blow to the head and was disoriented. So it would be best for him to drop out for now.

Kiba would make sure he passed now. No matter what.

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Suigetsu's POV (Trial of Nio Mountain)

He wasn't sure when but they had caught wind of him. An impressive feat considering his level of mastery of the Silent Killing technique. Truthfully it mattered little. The more they traveled the more they ran the risk of running into another team. Suigetsu could take his time to decide his method of attack. With only the two of them, he was sure he could beat them in an outright fight, especially if one considered their obvious injuries but one of them was a Cloud Shinobi. Which just so happened to be a village full of his weakness. He was still confident he could best the two but no need to be too risky.

What was infuriating was that the two seemed determined to keep running. With a frown, Suigetsu decided enough was enough. He burst from behind a long sword in hand as he slashed at both their heads. He beheaded the two with relative ease before they suddenly became shadows and enveloped him. He tried to brute force his way through the shadows as they lifted him into the air but couldn't. He couldn't even become water…

"KAI!" Suigetsu yelled as he dispelled the genjutsu he had been placed in. As he did so he awoke to reality where Karui pierced his chest through. Yuno standing in front of him, Sharingans glowing.

"Decent effort you weird bastard!" Karui yelled at the man as she pulled her blade out of him mercilessly.

"You're not even that cute." Yuno panted to the man. "Enjoy my Sudden Shadow Binding Genjutsu?"

Suigetsu stumbled forward as liquid leaked from his body. "I may not be cute…" He started as he turned towards the two…revealing the hole in his chest dripping with water. "But that attack was." He finished as he flashed forward swinging his longsword at Karui. The woman caught the slash but dropped to the ground suddenly. The ground beneath them cracked as Suigetsu whispered to Karui. "Water Style: Great Water Arm!" His strength increased greatly and slowly overwhelmed her. Before he could finish Yuno appeared, slashing his arm in half with a kunai. The arm turned into water as Suigetsu laughed mockingly.

"It's super effective! Water Style: Drowning Bubble Jutsu!" He called as the water that was his arm wrapped around the head of Yuno. The woman flailed as she struggled to breathe. But her attacks went through the liquid body of the man without effect. Karui thrusted her blade into the man several times as well. But to both of their dismay, it didn't stop. Yuno slowed down as she drowned. Suigetsu chuckled as he activated the technique again. This time trapping Karui. "Shame it ends here. Was hoping you two weren't scrubs." Suigetsu taunted as Yuno slowly fainted. Suigetsu chuckled as he released her. "One down. One to go. Already got my points anyway."

But as soon after releasing Yuno he flinched as he suddenly got a debilitating headache. He screamed as his jutsu released Karui as well. "N-never underestimate a Uchiha." Yuno struggled as Suigetsu slowly climbed to his feet. The two of them stared for a moment as Suigetsu seemed to struggle to get himself together. "That was my False Pain Jutsu. Luckily you're still affected by Genjutsu." She taunted.

Suigetsu growled as he stumbled a bit. "Think a bit of pain will save you?" He asked angrily.

"NO BUT THIS WILL!" "Cloud Style: Lighting Flash Slice!" Karui called as her blade, now covered in lightning, slashed into the back of Suigetsu. He cried out as he stumbled back. She had never used the style before. Her control was all off and she could feel her chakra drain too quickly. It seemed she lacked the efficiency to use the technique Omoi had shown her. Damn it.

"You do know the lighting style! You two are more trouble than you're worth." Suigetsu growled. The man jumped into the air into a tree above the path. "But next time you won't be so lucky!" He called as he retreated. "Besides, I completed my goal anyway. HAHAH!" Suigetsu taunted as he left.

"Karui you said you didn't have mastery over lightning style." Yuno said tiredly as she sat on the ground. "Let's rest for the night…" She noticed Karui was face down on the path. "Or you forced it." She joked to herself.

The young woman sighed as she walked over to the other woman. "Thank you, you were much more interesting than I thought." She said sadly as she reached into her pocket and called for an aide for the woman. Quickly a Samurai appeared, giving first aid to the woman and lifting her for transport. Upon seeing the beaten state of Yuno he offered to take her back as well. Yuno refused of course.

How could she back out without meeting more interesting people?

Shikamaru and Lee continued to observe the group. Tracking them silently as they unknowingly padded towards the trap they had laid ahead. With his quick mind and Lee's endless energy, they had prepared quite an array of traps for their unaware prey. In truth he would've preferred them moving together but with his team holding…..

One antisocial genius who wished to fight against strong opponents.

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One violent sociopath who wished to fight against strong opponents.

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And one hardworking idiot who wished to fight against strong opponents.

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Who knew they likely wouldn't go for any reasonable plan. As such he had learned of their abilities and sent them off. His gut told him the two would manage somehow and he and Lee at the very least could get one as well. But the team they had run across was an interesting one.

He recognized both Ino and Shino and they were troubling. Ino had never been all that powerful but she had a solid head on her shoulders and could be very clever. Shino was similar but significantly more powerful and intelligent. Add to that Cloud Shinobi he had no info on. And a Suna woman he saw already was a long-range fighter. They were certainly a team to be wary of. In direct combat doubtless, they could defeat the two of them. Worse yet Shino had subtly created a perimeter of small insects to patrol the area around them. Meaning no one who came close would do so without their knowledge.

Luckily he had already figured out how to score points on them without combat. And the secret was Lee. Lee was absurdly fast and apparently could become even faster. Originally Shikamaru had intended for him to blitz the others but there was too much risk. Instead, they had set an array of traps to give the man the perfect shot. He would race in, make contact and get out. If things worked out perfectly they would escape before they had the chance to defend themselves.

It was Omoi who triggered their first trap. The young man unknowingly stepped on a trip wire. Suddenly a huge log flew into the clearing towards the group from a hill in front of them. Omoi, who had been on guard, flew forward with his sword drawn. "Cloud Style: Crescent Moon Beheading!" He flashed forward the slash managing to slice the log in two.

The group all flinched as they realized they were in an ambush. Tens of kunai and shuriken flew from the surrounding woods. Ino and Shino flashed forward and skillfully deflected these with ease. Shikamaru body flickered behind the group. He threw a large amount of Kunai each tagged with explosive tags. Temari stood on her horse with a smile.

"Nice try slacker!" She called as she swung her fan. A powerful gust of wind sent the kunai and Shikamaru flying back as the sound of explosions deafened any other noise they could catch onto before….

"Now Lee!" Shikamaru called. As soon as he finished this a green blur flew into the clearing landing on Temari's shoulders.

"Yosh!" Lee screamed as Temari lost balance due to his weight. The two stumbled, Lee jumping off Temari, and Temari falling off the horse. Shino and Ino both flew in to attack the man but he merely gave them a blindingly white smile as he raced past both of the group. Simply being too quick for them to react. Lee ran into the forest screaming out apologies.

Omoi, seeing him escape and being closer than the others, raced forward to combat Shikamaru. Who merely smirked at the approaching man. "I wouldn't." He informed blandly. Right as Omoi drew close Shikamaru jumped up revealing the approaching horse behind him. He had timed the jump perfectly landing on the horse. Omoi threw himself to the side. Aware if he had harmed the horse he would fail. This allowed Shikamaru to race past the group.

"Sorry about that. We needed the point and pointless combat is a real drag." Shikamaru called out as he raced by. His horse carried him further up the mountain as he informed, "Something to keep you busy for my escape!"

As he said this he threw a kunai to sever a rope he had set up before. With this, a large amount of tree trunks rolled down the hill towards the group. Ino, Shino, and Omoi all flinched at the approaching debris. But a snarling Temari merely swung her fan with a scream. "Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!" She called. Her attack produced a strong gust of wind as blades of wind sliced through the logs with ease as the gust threw them from their original path. Sawdust, snow, and dust filled the air blocking their vision. Temari merely swung her fan again. Forcing away the disturbance to their vision. And showing the two attackers had escaped. Team Two was silent as their lord and leader seemed frozen. Before the woman snarled. "Oh, that damn slacker will pay for running out on me.!" Ino and Omoi both snickered at this, causing the irate woman to turn to them. "Got a problem?!" She asked furiously. Both Omoi and Ino stiffened up barely holding their mirth, shaking their heads no in hopes of escaping her wrath.

"I think they both find it funny. That is because you made him sound like a lov-" Shino did not get to finish his informing due to Temari chasing him around with her fan. This of course caused Omoi to freak out over their team falling apart.

Ino took back her earlier thought. Her team sucked…..in a way.