Naruto's POV (Contestant Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Naruto glanced at Hinata, who nodded back at him determinedly. It seemed she wasn't scared of Gaara. Though Naruto couldn't help but think she should be. She offered a polite bow before she excused herself to check on Sasuke. With that, Naruto glanced around, his eyes meeting Samui. She smirked as she walked over with an odd sway to her walk.
"Seems I get to fight you myself, very cool," Samui said with a smile. "Bring you a game, Blondie. Oh, and I'll see you at the fare." She said with a wink before nodding at him and walking off to meet with her team.
"I can't decide if she likes you or wants to kick your ass," Shikamaru commented after her departure. "Glad to enjoy the lack of drama in my fight, but our favorite broody Uchiha will melt my insides. Can't decide who's worse off between the two of us." Shikamaru mused.
"She doesn't like me for one, and two, no one kicks my ass," Naruto replied with ease.
"Never mind, it may really be you," Shikamaru sighed. "At least I know for a fact how screwed I am."
"Oh shut up, you lazy bastard!" Naruto snapped back. "I'm excited we're all a step closer to winning this thing. Hell, we may have already earned promotions!"
"So either I'm going to be sent on deadlier missions with more responsibilities and eventually die or be killed by the dramatic Uchiha. Really feeling excited; let me tell ya all about it. My life is such a damn drag." Shikamaru concluded.
"Oh, come on, we get to a fair!" Naruto said excitedly.
"Rather nap," Shikamaru replied blandly.
"The hell you are! This land is awesome; surely, they'll show off some unique weapons and sights! Neither Sai nor I have been, and as our team captain, you must lead us through it." Tenten sounded out, now fully healed and with a big smile. "Mind if you tag along with our team tonight, Blondie? Otherwise, this lazy bastard will find a way to escape me and Sai."
"Pineapple can be rather sneaky when trying to escape social gatherings. And I am very excited about the fare. From my reading, it is quite the event." Sai agreed.
Naruto roared with laughter at Shikamaru's nickname, which caused the Nara to growl and get annoyed. "He nicknamed you Pineapple?! HA! Now that he mentions it, I can see the resemblance!"
"Glad you like his nickname! I was going to name you Dickless. Is that good as well?" Sai asked innocently.
"The fuck he say? I'll kill him dead!" Naruto roared as a distraught Shikamaru used his shadow possession to hold him back.
"Ya, welcome to my world, troublesome and offensive," Shikamaru said. "If you stop with the nicknames, and Tenten promises not to trick you into doing so, both of those for the entire night. I'll agree to go to the fair with the three of you." He offered. Tenten and Sai nodded with all smiles at this, and Naruto relaxed with a glare at Sai. "Lovely, let's drop off our equipment and prepare for this." With that, the group attempted to depart, but we were stopped by the sudden arrival of a sand cloud. Inside was the Sand Trio.
They all appeared in a swirl of sand. Gaara was in the front, and his siblings flanked his sides from behind. Gaara held a broad smile as he stared at Naruto.
"Uzumaki, the time draws ever closer," Gaara said with a manic smile. "I look forward to seeing if you can perform as well as they did, though I should warn you." He said as he stalked forward. Shikamaru was frozen by fear; Tenten drew a blade but noticeably kept her distance. Sai also drew his own and stepped closer to Naruto. The blonde strolled forward to meet Gaara.
He felt a small amount of fear but didn't hesitate. Naruto had worked hard to be ready to face Gaara; he wouldn't shy away now. If it came to violence, Naruto would be prepared for it.
They were inches away from each other, glaring openly. Their eyes both seemed to almost glow as they faced off. The backup of both seemed to tense at this, Sai and Tenten edging closer from opposite sides.
"I wouldn't interfere," Temari warned darkly. "Especially when I have a score to settle with you, Pale skin." At odds with the tense threat, she almost attempted to joke with the nickname. As if hoping to keep things from getting violent. Kankuro nodded as he stared down Tenten.
"I wouldn't suggest the two of you try anything, either." Neji's voice cut in. He was behind the two. And walked into the section as if utterly confident. "I see. I can't leave you alone for any time, Naruto." Kankuro and Temari flinched, likely realizing from his match with Sasuke that they would stand no chance in a fight with the Hyuga genius.
"No need for violence, not yet anyway," Gaara stated with a smile. "Uzumaki, I will be the greatest challenge you ever face, and I will not fall to your plan. Impress me in the battle and join me, or fail to do so and die." He ordered with a chuckle. "Come, human siblings, let them play before the monster comes." He said darkly as the three disappeared in a mass of sand.
"Why the hell does that psycho want you so bad? Is both of you being jinchuriki really a reason to fight so intensely?" Shikamaru asked, utterly confused.
"It's more than that." Neji countered. "I don't fully understand it, but I recognize the look in Naruto's eyes. It's the same look he had when we clashed. Whatever the reason, it seems the other represents a challenge to Naruto's ideology. Naruto is willing to go through the violence to prove a point. Though I must admit, I don't understand why."
"You're somewhat right, I can't look away while someone like me is hurting, ya know? I must show him his ideals are flawed and that he needs his humanity. I'd want someone to do the same if I were like him…" Naruto explained while looking at his palm.
"Seems like a foolish reason to fight," Sai commented.
"This is one of these emotional things, Sai," Tenten explained. "Or male emotional things… or something."
"Or something," Shikamaru concluded with a nod.
Ino's POV (Outside of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Ino panted as she looked around. Despite her best efforts and even seeing Choji and Yuno being taken, Ino had found no trace of where they may have gone. Worse yet, the screams of Ino and Choji seemed to stick to Ino. Were they even alive? Did she watch some of her friends die?
"Ino!" Sakura yelled as she ran over. "I heard what happened from Gai! Yuno and Choji are missing as well now?"
"Y-yeah," Ino said. "I saw it in person, Kami Sakura, I don't know what happened…"
"I was afraid to hear it would be true," Lee concluded as he walked up to the group. "How strange. From what I heard, it seemed like some kind of attack."
"There was a lot of smoke, but after it was gone, all that was left was scratches and… blood," Ino said. "I thought it might've been a body flicker, but the smoke didn't dissipate immediately, and you couldn't use it to carry others, especially against their will. You'd have to do in burst and would be just as likely to drop them anyway."
"It certainly makes no sense. Yuno was strong enough to make it in the latter exam rounds. I find it hard to believe anyone took her and the Youthful Choji." Lee added.
"The whole thing is strange. We're down a teammate, and poor Shino is missing both of his." Sakura said sadly. "Furthermore, there's no trace…"
"Indeed," Gai called out as he walked to Genin's group. "I, as well as the most kind Samurai, found no trace of them. I have been left with assurances they will look into it, and the Kage will have such addressed before tomorrow's matches."
"That's it?" Ino asked incredulously.
"We surely are gonna keep looking!" Sakura spoke openly. "Our teammates and our allies are missing!"
"Indeed, we will search all night!" Rock Lee agreed with her. But Ino's eyes widened when Gai shook his head. The other two gasped audibly at such.
"Gai Sensei-" Ino tried but was stopped as Gai suddenly lashed out, quickly punching through a concrete railing. Gai flinched as if realizing what he had done, taking several deep breaths and a weighty sigh. Gai seemed to regain control of his emotions. His smile and regular expression returned. But all were stunned by the anger from the usually jovial man.
"I understand your frustration; those embedded with Youth such as yourselves can't help but want action in times of peril. But for now, we must be patient. Things are more complicated here than you know." Gai explained. "Go to the fair, have fun, and take your mind off this. That's an order." He marched off having said his piece, but his walk was slow and purposeful.
Ino looked at the others in shock. Sakura seemed as shocked as her, while Lee looked agonized. "We gotta tell the others… You, you two, have to tell the others." She decided with a flinch, remembering how things were between Naruto and her. "Kakashi is supposedly a big deal. I'll try to win him over as well. Perhaps he can use his clout to help. We won't let them forget about this."
"Still avoiding Naruto?" Sakura asked with a sigh. "Fine, we need help with this anyway. Come on, Lee, the others will surely be at the festival." Sakura hugged Ino, recognizing the state she was in, before running off.
"YOSH LET'S GO RECRUIT OUR ALLIES!" Lee said excitedly as he raced off to pursue his teammate.
'Focus Ino, like Anko taught us, business first, feelings after. Need to find Kakashi Sensei after a stressful day, so… dive bar?' Ino nodded to herself as she convinced Kakashi to aid them.