35

                                    

                                          
Aisura and Senshi were running together wanting to get this done as quickly as possible and get back to Sora both a bit nervous about leaving her alone. Though as they ran Senshi looked at Aisura also having noticed his change in attitude. 
"What happened when you were training?" Senshi asked. 
Aisura tensed a bit not surprised Senshi noticed but hoping it wouldn't be brought up. 
"I just realised I had to become a lot stronger so I wouldn't be a burden to you two," Aisura said. 
Senshi sighed worried this would happen one day. 
"You were never a burden Aisura, I'm fine with you wanting to become stronger but know that we have never seen you as a burden," Senshi sighed. 
"I know," Aisura said with a smile.
They may not have seen him as a burden but that didn't mean he wasn't one. And he promised himself he would become strong enough to protect them both. 
The two soon made it to the treeline looking at Tatsuo who stood there alone. Sora was right in assuming they would go with the same plan. But this also meant she was alone against two people. Aisura and Senshi looked at each other with a small nod. Aisura touched the pocket that had the flag reminding himself he had to keep it safe. He paused for a moment as he looked back at the trees searching for a little bit confusing Senshi. He soon found a small hollow area under the tree and hid the flag there. 
"Just in case he figures out I have it. We can pick it up when we have the other one," Aisura said. 
She nodded and they refocused on Tatsuo steeling themselves for this. They had to get the flag. That was the main priority. Senshi ran out first her katana drawn, Tatsuo immediately looked at her already knowing she was there as well as Aisura. Making him a bit worried about Sora hoping she wasn't going to overdo things. But for now, he had to focus on them. He didn't know how much they had improved. 
Tatsuo could immediately tell Senshi's moves had become a lot better, with a lot more intention behind her attacks as well as having more confidence in her ability. He also looked back at Aisura who still hung back but he wasn't as meek and timid anymore he had a hard look in his eyes watching Tatsuo waiting for the moment to strike. 
Tastsuo put his focus on Senshi as he dodged her attacks, he wasn't surprised at her improvement after all Katsumi was a master of close combat renowned by many as a genius. You wouldn't guess it by just looking at him. Tatsuo continued to dodge as he noticed he was getting further and further away from the flag. Was that her plan?
He dodged again but this time he stepped closer to her grabbing her wrist. Senshi tried to pull away but he was too strong. Her eyes narrowed as she dropped her katana catching it with her other hand and moving it to strike Tatsuo. His eyes widened as he quickly let go of Sensehi but as he did sebon came flying at him. He pulled out his kunai deflecting them but one managed to get a cut on his hand. 
His attention moved back to Senshi, as she kept attacking him continuously not giving him a break. Though as he continued to move he noticed his body struggling to keep up. He looked over to Aisura then the cut on his hand having a good idea he was poisoned. 
Tatsuo jumped back quite a bit from Senshi confusing her. He began to perform hand signs worrying her. Sora had warned her he was more like Sora when fighting, someone who was good at ninjutsu and to be careful of that. He had been fighting her close combat until now. He first spat water at her, but Senshi knew from Sora this wasn't an attack this was so there was water on the battlefield so he could more easily use his water jutsu putting Senshi on edge. 
He performed more hand signs but Senshi knew what it was immediately having seen Sora do it many times, it kinda being a staple of hers. Senshi raised her katana as water shuriken went flying at her, she was able to deflect most of them but still gained a few cuts from them. He performed more and Senshi watched unsure of what it was this time. Water rose into the air firing little balls around her. She was confused but Aisura panicked. 
"Get out of there!" He called out running towards Senshi. 
But he was too late as the spheres of water shot at Senshi so fast she couldn't follow them. She was cut up pretty badly. The jutsu finished as she stood with gashes all over her body as she glared at Tatsuo lightly panting from the pain. Tatsuo made sure it wasn't going to hurt her too badly not waiting to do them any major harm. But he knew at this point he had lost, struggling to move his body from the poison. He hadn't expected Aisura to already be using poison which had caught him off guard. 
Aisura was by Senshi's side healing her, having become a bit more proficient with his healing abilities. 
"Is this the best time for this?" Senshi asked. 
"It's fine there is a reason he so quickly moved away from close combat. And at this stage, he must be having a hard time moving. My sebon were laced with poison, So I'll heal you up a bit " Aisura explained.
Senshi looked at him shocked not expecting that, did Aisura have that planned from the start? Aisura healed her a little bit before they went for the flag now wanting to hurry up and get back to Sora worried about her. Tatsuo smiled glad to see they had improved so much. He would shake off the poison soon it not being a long-lasting one.
~~~~
Sora was panting lightly as Shiori finished healing Katsumi. Sora grew tense knowing she didn't really have anything else up her sleeve and was now being drained from the jutsu. Katsumi jumped up slashing at Sora, she jumped down only to have to jump back as Shiori slashed at her with a kunai. Sora got a small graze on her cheek as she jumped back trying to keep her distance from them. But as she went to move again her body was stiff making her eyes narrow. Aisura had warned her about the poison. 
Shiori watched as Sora noticed the poison. She should go down soon and they would be able to get the flag. Sora just glared as she took deep breaths the feeling of being poisoned was familiar to her, though this one didn't cause any pain like the ones she was used to. She has also experienced a lot of paralytic poisons because of Orochimaru and has become resistant or immune to a lot of them him having to create new ones just for her. But she would use that against them.
Sora soon fell to the ground Shiori and Katsumi walked towards her to get the flag. 
"Your poisons scare me sometimes," Katsumi said looking down at Sora.
He went to reach for the ninja pouch where he assumed the flag was but as he did Sora grabbed his wrist shocking him. She jumped up pinning him to the ground and holding a kunai to his neck. Shiori looked at her shocked, wondering how she was able to move. Sora was being affected by it. It was harder to move but she faked being paralysed to gain the upper hand. 
"why isn't she paralysed Shiori," Katsumi said genuinely being caught off guard. 
"I don't know I hit her. Maybe she is resistant though I don't know how," Shiori said. 
Sora knew that she would be knocked off eventually but she just just needed to buy more time. Just as she thought Katsumi was stronger and pushed her off standing up and looking at Sora, they had underestimated her and he knew it. They were meant to be keeping their skill at a skilled chunin level but she still genuinely got the upper hand and if this was a real fight he would have been dead. 
As they were about to attack Aisura and Senshi ran through the trees shocking the two. Senshi jumped at the two attacking Katsumi their blades meeting as Sora threw a kunai at Shiori also running up to her to distract them Aisura got to the base pulling out both flags and placing them on the pole. Sora let out a sigh as she sat on the ground taking a deep breath Senshi followed her wounder still visible. Aisura walked up to them a smile on his face. 
"We did it," He said. 
"Yeah, see told you Sora. I knew we would beat them This time," Senshi said. 
Tatsuo soon met up with them still a bit stiff. He looked at his students and the other Sensei they were impressed with their student's growth. They had come a long way. 
"Well done you three. With this, I believe you are ready for the chunin exams. They will start in a few days, you will need to sign these forms to participate. I will give you more information on the location at a later date for now you should all rest up," Tatsuo said. 
The genin nodded as they all took their leave. what would the chunin exam entail?