Vanex: Hello all! Here is Chapter 3! By the way, I forgot to say this last chapter. I hinted at the song that Narumi will sing later in the story. The hint is hidden in the last chapter. See if you can figure out the hint. Let me know if you figure it out. The person who figures it out first, gets cake! One more thing, I'm not going to go into too much detail about the first two stages of the exam. They're not really relevant to this story. It's the finals that matter. Now then, on to Chapter 3!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.
"Normal Talking"
"Thinking/Dreams/Flashbacks"
"Demon Talking"
"Demon Thinking"
*Scene Change*
Chapter 3
"Man, it's hot here!"
"It is located in the desert, Naruto."
"Shut up, Itachi!"
Mikoto and Yugao shake their heads at Naruto and Itachi. They're walking in Suna, ready for the Chunin Exams.
"You three go ahead, and get a hotel room for us. I'm going to get the info about where the exam will be held."
"Sure thing, Aunt Mikoto."
Mikoto heads off in a different direction.
*Scene Change*
Minato is in the Namikaze private library, adding notes to an entry about a certain memory seal he created.
"In case of an outside influence trying to remind subject of forgotten person, user can take control of subject's mind long enough to divert the conversation elsewhere."
He finishes writing and returns the scroll to the shelf.
"There! It took me a few years, but I finally got around to adding that note. It makes me think of that close call with Mikoto a few years back."
He gets up and leaves the house.
"Well, I gotta get back to work."
*Scene Change*
"Here is your room key. Enjoy your stay."
"Thank you."
The trio head off to their room.
"Say, Naruto, I've been meaning to ask you something."
"What is it, Yugao?"
"You've been making money from both your ninja and singing life. What are you doing with that money?"
"Actually, I'm building my own home. I've had it with my family. As soon as it's done, I'm moving out. You, Itachi, and Aunt Mikoto will be the only ones who will know where the house is."
"Isn't that a bit drastic?"
"No. With both lives I'll be able to support myself. I just can't stand living in that house much longer. I hate looking at them and feeling like I don't exist. If they don't want me to be part of the family, then so be it. I'll legally drop my last name and just be Naruto."
"Naruto! You shouldn't have to do that!"
"Why not? They don't want me! They want me to cease to exist! I'll give them their wish!"
*Scene Change*
Kushina is with the twins at Ichiraku Ramen, enjoying her favorite food, when a bad feeling passes over her.
"Mommy? What's wrong?"
Kushina looks at Mito. "I'm not sure. I just got this feeling. Like I'm losing something or someone important."
"Like what?"
"I have no idea. That's what worries me."
*Scene Change*
That night, the trio went to sleep, leaving Mikoto wide awake. She looks at the sleeping form of her son.
She sighs. "Things are getting worse. I fear the Uchiha clan will go through with their revolt."
She gets up and looks out the window. "I can only hold them back for so long. With the way things are deteriorating, the revolt will within the next few months."
She looks back at Itachi. "I know that you are more loyal to the village than the Uchiha clan, just like me. You will be forced to pick a side and you will choose to side with the village. If that should happen, I want you to spare Sasuke. He has nothing to do with this."
She looks back outside the window. "He could be the one to rebuild the clan, and make it much better than the current one."
Little does she know that Itachi is awake the whole time.
*Scene Change*
The next day, we see the trio heading for the Suna academy.
"So, where do we need to go?" asks Yugao.
"Room 406, which is on the fourth floor," answers Itachi.
The three walk into the building. On the second floor, they see ninja gathered around a door marked 406.
"Genjutsu," says Naruto.
"It's there to weed out the weaklings. Let's head up to the real room."
The trio ignore the crowd and continue up to the third floor, where another crowd is around another door labeled 406.
"A second genjutsu trap."
"These people are more pathetic. To get past the first one, but not the second. They are going to be super humiliated when they find out."
They continue up to the fourth floor, where Mikoto is waiting.
"This is it, you three. Make me proud."
"Of course, Mother."
The three walk into a classroom. The ninja inside all stare at them as they enter the room, before turning back to what they were doing. The trio walk over to a corner, to wait for the proctors to arrive. A few more teams come in, before the proctor comes in.
"Alright! Everyone take your seats! I'll be your proctor for the first exam!"
Everyone picks a seat and sits down.
"Okay, this exam will be a written exam. You'll have to answer ten questions. You'll each start with 10 points. Every time you're caught cheating, you lose 2 points. If you, or one of your teammates loses all ten points, your entire team fails. You are not allowed to attack anyone else in this room. You have one hour. Ready? Begin!"
The hour passes. A few teams have been eliminated but most are still in the room.
The proctor looks at them. "Congratulations, you have passed this portion of the first exam. It was designed to test your information-gathering skills at being able to get the answers to the questions, without getting caught. Now, before you pass on to the second exam, you have a choice to make.
Only two of you will be allowed to go on to the second exam. You must choose the teammate that will fail and have to wait for the next Chunin Exams. The teammate that is selected to fail must leave this room, immediately."
Some of the teams begin arguing, which eventually ends with one person leaving. Itachi, Naruto, and Yugao all look at each other, nod their heads, and all get up to leave.
"Where are you three going?"
Naruto glares at the proctor. "We refuse to choose. We are a team. It's either we all pass, or we all fail. We can wait longer to become chunin."
As the trio leave, a chunin stops them and directs them to another room. Some more teams join them a bit later.
*Scene Change*
Back in the first room, the teams that had one teammate leave, grin at thinking they will go on to the next exam.
"Those of you still in this room, all fail! Like our ally, Konoha, we believe in teamwork. By selling out your teammate, you've shown that you don't have the maturity or responsibility to be a chunin. All you care about is yourself, but your teammates and allies matter as well. One person doesn't win a war. Get out of here."
*Scene Change*
In the second room, the teams inside are told that they passed and are instructed to report to the north gate. Upon arriving at the gate, they are greeted by the second proctor.
"Welcome to the second exam! This exam will be the ultimate survival test! You will all enter the desert and you must stay in it for exactly two days. You'll be given just enough water for half that time. Which means you'll need to attack other teams to get their water to survive long enough. On the morning of the third day, you are to return to the gate, which means you will pass. Remember one thing, your entire team MUST survive and be present with you when you return. Otherwise you're disqualified. Another disqualification will be leaving the desert ahead of time. You must be in there the entire time, to pass. Now, if you want to quit. You can do so, right now. Those who wish to continue, you need to sign these papers. This will free us of the responsibility of your deaths, if they should happen. Make your choice, now."
A couple of teams back out right away. Itachi, Naruto, and Yugao all start talking to each other.
"You think we should go for it?"
"I'm think we can do it, Itachi. What do you think, Yugao?"
"It's a crazy test, but I think we can survive it."
The three nod and walk up to the proctor.
"Three papers, please."
"Are you three sure you want to go through with this test?"
"Positive. We didn't come this far, just to back out now."
"Very well, here are the papers."
The three sign them and hand them back to the proctor.
"Right. Everything looks in order. Here are three canteens, each full of a day's worth of water."
More teams sign up and receive their canteens.
"Okay, then. The test will begin now. I wish you all luck out there."
The gate opens and the teams rush forward, into the hot desert.
*Scene Change*
Minato is pondering at his desk. "I need a way to avoid having to go to the Chunin Exam finals. I'm expected to show up with my family, and I don't want to risk Kushina remembering Naruto. I also don't want the twins to know they have a brother."
He ponders for a few more minutes, before his eyes light up in realization.
"That's it! But I'll need his help."
He pushes the button for the intercom.
"Secretary, can you summon Hiruzen Sarutobi to my office? Tell him it's urgent."
"Right away, sir."
Minato leans back in his chair, as he waits for Hiruzen to arrive.
Vanex: No. Hiruzen is not a villain in this one. He's going to be tricked in this. I won't reveal how, you'll have to wait until the finals to find out. See you all next time!