twelve

(—taiketi!)

The wolf came to a screeching halt in front of the tower and kneeled down so she could get off easier. She patted Tempest's shoulder before he disappeared. She cautiously opened the door, peering into the darkness. When she comes across a room she stares at the long paragraph on the wall. Taking out the scrolls she opened them, throwing them to the side and unsheathing her katanas.

The smoke cleared to reveal Inazuma who looked worried at her student's state, "Winter what happened?" 

She sighed putting her katanas away, "You know the saying cats have nine lives? Well apparently so do snakes." 

Understanding crossed Inazuma's face, "I'll let the Hokage know. Since you still have two days you can just stay in the tower." She nods and walked out waving goodbye to Inazuma. In a main room of the tower, she finds the Sand Siblings off to the side, one of the rookie teams sitting on the couch, and Neji's team walking in from another direction. Other teams were grouped off trying not to talk to the others. Walking in confidently she heard murmurs about where her team was.

"WINTER!!!" In stormed a very pissed of Anko making some of the others cower slightly. "Care to explain why there is a 20-foot CRATER in the middle of the forest?!" Winter rubbed the back of her neck, sighing tiredly, "Like I told Ina-sensei, not only do cats have nine lives but apparently snakes do also." 

Anko looked at her with narrowed eyes before sighing heavily, "Fine I won't charge you for the damage... this time."

Anko walks out glaring at some of the Genin before slamming the door shut. Winter walked past the curious Genin and up the metal stairs finding an unoccupied room. Taking off her ruined cloak she changes into a new outfit before putting on a new cloak as well. Laying down on the worn mattress she closes her eyes, wishing for sleep to consume her.

***

Two days later, Winter lined up with the other Genin. She sighed as she listened to Hayate explain the preliminary rounds, before watching them choose the first pair. Stalking up the stairs, she leaned against a metal wall watching Sasuke as he fought. The other matches went by relatively quickly, the victors usually clear the moment the match was chosen. The only exception was Naruto's fight, even Winter was surprised which was something that didn't happen often. The screen flickered, two names popping up.

Hotaru Neikan

vs.

Winter

The Mist Genin vaulted over the railing, landing with no sound. He grinned showing off sharp canine teeth as Winter walked down calmly. He was about 5.8, with dark navy blue hair and obsidian eyes. His Hi-Ate was tied around his forearm as his eyes narrowed. "I've waited a long time for this." He tells her lowly settling into a fighting stance, Winter doing the same. 

"Ready?" Hayte glances between the two before shouting, "Go!"

Hotaru jumps forward aiming several punches at Winter, all of which she blocks. Gritting her teeth, she does a roundhouse kick only to be stopped by his hand as he grips her ankle. Snarling slightly the two Genin engage in a taijutsu battle, neither gaining an upper hand. The two skid apart glaring fiercely at each other. Suddenly Hotaru smirks and Winter's eyes widen as the shadows start moving off the wall. Jumping high she curses when a tendril of darkness grips her ankle and slams her into a wall. Under the cover of darkness,handsigns she makeshand signs, spitting out some blood.

Crossing her forearms she struggles to her feet as several tendrils of shadow attack her. "How the hell are you doing this?" She hissed dodging his attacks. 

"I thought you'd figured that out by now... Yuki." 

Her eyes narrow, her mouth parting slightly in shock. "What did you just call me?" 

He grins darkly, the temperature dropping as more and more shadows gather around him. "You heard me, Yuki the Storm Bringer. Tch, how pathetic you are compared to him." 

Winter lets out a yelp of pain as the shadows creep up her legs binding them together, slowly enveloping her body. "Come on little wolf, show me what you can do." He hisses at her. 

Her eyes flash and suddenly the clone poofs away making him step back in surprise. "Up here." Winter stands on top of one of the statues unsheathing her katanas. "I should've know... Neikan was the head branch of the Shadow Village's most powerful clan." 

He bares his teeth at her, "What do you say, shall we do this the old fashioned way?" 

Her eyes dart to the Hokage who gives her a tiny nod. In response Winter reaches up and unties her Hi-Ate, Hotaru doing the same. Murmurs broke out as the two pocketed their headbands, bringing out another one. Hotaru's had black fabric, a kanji for shadow on it. Winter's had three claw marks on it, the fabric a silver color. The two simultaneously tied the headbands across their foreheads making one handsign.

Winter tenses before darting forward doing her best to evade the shadows. Hotaru closes his eyes, shadows twirling around him before taking the shape of a towering dragon that let out a ferocious roar. It clashes with Winter as she uses her Katanas to fight it, not realizing until too late that it had a spiked tail. The tail swept into her side, slamming her into the ground before dragging her across the ground. Cuts appeared on her face and she struggles to her feet, casting aside her torn cloak. She wore a red tanktop with black shorts, a leather cord visible around her neck.

Dashing forward she cuts through the shadows, barely managing to hit him before jumping back avoiding another attack. 

He narrows his eyes before yelling at her, "I thought you'd be more of a challenge. Perhaps that's why he died, because you can never beat anyone." Her eyes snap up at him, shifting between a dark turqoise and a brewing storm. "Heh, once you die here I'll go pay them all a visit, burn their graves to the ground." Her eyes widen in anger and she doesn't even try to dodge the next attack, letting it hit her. Staggering to her feet with her back to him, she grips the handles of her katanas tightly.

"I bet he wasn't even that strong." Hotaru continues darkly, "He was so weak he died easily, such a pity. I was told he had a wonderful scream. Akio Ookami, tch he's nothing but a disgrace. Just like the rest of that dead village."

Inazuma winced as Winter closed her eyes, sheathing her katanas. "You think the Storm Village was weak?" Her voice is cold as she takes out six kunai. 

"Of course, they were annihilated like the freaks they were." He spits on the ground, "And once you die the world will finally be clean." 

She laughs, an insane edge to the sound. "I will show you... just how strong a Storm ninja can be." She flicks her wrists, not turning around as the kunai impale the windows, shattering them. 

"You missed idiot!"

"I wasn't aiming for you." She cracks her neck and the spectators glance around nervously as thunder rumbles overhead. She raises her left hand to the sky, the wind picking up. Lightning flashes outside, the wind whipping around the arena below.

"Oh my god." Inazuma says her eyes widening as she yells above the sounds, "Get the procter out of there now!" 

Hayate jumps and lands next to the Hokage as Kakashi looks at Inazuma. She is gripping the metal railings tightly, her face paling. 

"What is she doing?" 

She gulps, "I knew that she might kill him, but this?" 

Naruto looks at her curiously, "Kill him?" 

Inazuma laughs harshly, "No kid, she isn't just going to kill him." 

Tenten's eyes widen as the realization hits her, "You mean she's going to summon that?!" 

"Someone please tell me what's going to happen!" Naruto yells impatiently. 

"Winter's going to obliterate him." Inazuma hisses out.

Winter's eyes flash open making the Sand Siblings take a step back as they see them. "Taiteki!" Lighting hits Winter straight on, lighting up the arena with a blinding, white light. When it clears eyes widen in shock as Winter grins darkly gripping the black handle of the giant scythe. The blade itself was covered in red bandages, a tag attached with a name on it.

 Lighting sparked along the edges as she glares at the shell shocked Hotaru, "A-A s-sealed weapon?!" 

Winter dashes towards him, the ground being ripped up from the lighting. He doesn't even stand a chance.

A single scream erupts from his lips before it's over, a loud explosion is heard rocking the ground. When the smoke clears Winter stands tall, blood dripping off of the bandages. Hotaru's body is charred, and his head is decapitated.

 Silence follows until the proctor speaks up, clearing his throat. "Winter is the victor." 

Medic ninjas come out, clearing the body away as her scythe disappears in a flash of lighting. Walking up the stairs she doesn't react when most of the Genin flinch away from her, Hotaru's blood that is splattered over her.

And all Team 7 can hear is Inazuma's grave words echoing in their mind.

"Winter's going to obliterate him."

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