A bug in the machine

"The next match is decided!", the examiner announced as he looked up at the board.

Shino Aburame VS. Subaku no Kankuro

"Shino?", Ino asked as she looked to the silent Leaf Ninja as he walked to the steps. "Then that means I'm fighting that other Kiri-ninjan doesn't it?", Ino realized with a grin. She could win the match after all, and get her reward from Naruto. That thought made Ino give a small girlish squeel of happiness as the examiner watched both wanna-be-Chunnin decend the stairs.

"I wonder how this guys fights.", Naruto muttered in wonder. He was as strange as most of the ninja from the other nations were. For one, he wore a lot of makeup, and another was that stange bandaged object on his back. Was it some kind of weapon? Either way, Naruto was looking forward to see how his friend was going to beat this opponent.

"Okay then, are both of you ready?", he asked. Getting silent nods from both of the combatants, he yelled the start of the match "Begin!". Kankuro placed the bundle on his back on the floor with a grin. "I'm going to finish this match up fast, I don't need to waste my time dragging this out.", Kankuro stated as he smirked. "I will advise you not to count me out just yet.", Shino replied pulled a kunai out as he charged towards his enemy.

The match started out pretty tame compared to some of the matches. Shino engaged Kankuro in hand to hand combat, quickly seperating him and his unknown package from each other. Shino seemed to land some decent hits on his opponent, even though his weapon was parried and dodged every time he used it. Finally, it semed Shino got an opportunity and seized it as he thrusted his Kunai forward.

"Shino got him!", Naruto shouted as Shikamru stared at the team from Sunagakure across from them. "Something's up... they're too calm for their brother just getting hurt, they know something!", Shikamaru said to himself as he returned his sight to the ring.

"Give up, you are outmatched and it's pointless to continue.", Shino said before what the others thought was Kankuro suddenly grabbed Shino tightly, preventing his escape as parts of its fascade fell away revealing something else entirely. "What is that?!", Ino shouted as the object that the Kankuro look-alike had dropped suddenly broke open, revaling the true Kankuro as he sneered.

"I got you where I want you now. Ii hope you like my puppet Karasu. I really made sure it was ready for the exam today, so it's especially lethal right now.", Kankuro said as he moved his fingers a bit, the chakra wires moving with them as he made the puppet tighten its hold on Shino even more. "Give up! If you don't, I'll keep tightening 'till its breaks your bones and squeezes the life out of you.", Kankuro said, certain that victory was just seconds away and his match would be the shortest of all his sblings.

"And I advised you not to count me out yet.,", Shino replied as the puppets arms tightened too much before he suddenly exploded into a large mass of black beetles. "Are those bugs!!!!", Ino yelled in disgusted shock, Naruto, as surprised as Ino was, looked on. But even the audience wasn't as as confused as Kankuro. "What the hell is this?," he asked as Shino appeared behind him.

"This is my clans ability. We control these insects in our fights. You are quite literally outnumbered in this ring.", Shino stated as bugs began to flow from under his clothes, making Kankuro stare at him before grinning "Is that it? You're going to bug me into defeat?", Kankuro could help but snicker a bit as he moved the puppet in front of him.

"If that's the case, then I'll just squash them along with you!", Kankuro yelled as he moved his hands to make his puppet attack. only for him to stare in wonder. The puppet made some strang sounds and seemed **** to follow its masters movements.

"What... what did you do to Karasu?!", Kankuro yelled as Shino held up on of the insects on his hand. "My bugs are tougher then you think. They put themselves in the gears and joints of your puppets body, so it's not going to be moving for the rest of this match.", Shino stated as Kankuro growled in annoyance. "You bastard!", Kankuro said as he started feeling weaker all of a sudden.

"Hey, is it just me or is that puppet guy getting slower?", Naruto asked as Shikamaru nodded. "I think I know why. I heard about Shinos clan from my dad. They're troublesomely dangerous opponents to fight if you don't know what they're capable of. They apparently are hives for the insect in their bodies and have a symbiotic relationship with them"

"Huh? Symbiotic?", Naruto asked confused as Shikamaru nodded. "Yes, Shinos clan uses the insect to fight in their battles and in return...", Shikamaru said as Ino and Naruto looked on to his next words, "... they allow them to feed off their chakra.". After those words, Kankuros scream caught their attention as he realized he was losing. "What are you doing to me?", Kankuro asked as he fell to his knees.

"I'll show you." Shino said as Kankuro felt something shifting in his suit. Then he saw them: Dozens of the insect Shino had around his body were coming from under his clothes "My insects are not only tough, but their main source of food is chakra. Right now, you're about to pass out from exhaustion, you lose.", Shino stated as Kankuro fell to the floor.

"How did you...?", Kankuro asked as Shino, seemingly reading his mind, answered. "At the start of the match, I put bugs on both the puppet when I hit it and left some on the floor when I passed by you. I made sure to get both of you before putting myself in a position to be caught.", Shino said just before Kankuro passed out.

"A word of advice, even the smallest insect can be dangerous. Don't count it out 'till the end.", Shino said in the same monotone voice he had used thoughout the match. The examiner, seeing what was happening, called out "The winner of the match is Shino Aburame.". As the swarm of bugs returned to Shino, Ino turned to Naruto with a grin. "Naruto-kun, watch my match, okay? I want you to see forehead girl's not the only Kunoichi who can kick butt!", Ino said with a grin.

"I will, Ino-chan.", Naruto said with a smile as they heard the examiner speak. "Since there is only one match remaining, will both contestants please enter the ring?", he called out loudly. As Ino entered the ring she gave one last look to Naruto and her teacher with a grin before facing her opponent with the same determined look. 'To be with my team... to show Naruto-kun how good I am... I won't lose!", Ino thought as the examiner took his spot.

"Alright, this is the last match of the preliminaries... both ready?", he asked as the mist ninja nodded. "Bring it on!", Ino shouted just moments before the examiner raised his hand and gave the signal for start of the match for the last time. " Begin!".