Ninja Skills
3. That Damn Test Again Pt. 1
–or–
In Which Memory Fails Naruto… Again…
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If I owned Naruto, I sure as heck would not be wasting all my time studying up for my own 'damn test' – a.k.a. the SATS. I'd be playing with shuriken.
Thank you: Under a Rain Cloud (sorry it took so long and thanks!), Herbblade (I don't think Naruto would remember that much because of all he's been through and he hasn't got the best memory or attention span to being with XP thanks so much!), ancient midnight (thanks!), SnowCharms (thanks for your suggestions! Yes, things will end up a bit differently in regards to how far Oro gets with his scheme and who knows what. As for whether Tenten can forgive Sasuke… we'll see…)
=I appreciate the input and every single review made me smile. Hope I can return the favor! I also hope my format change isn't for the worse… I don't know what came over me *blinks innocently*.
Now without further ado, I present to you Ninja Skills – 'cause ninjas have skills.
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How could she not tune him out?
He had this deep, gruff voice that scratched her ear drums to the point she was wincing every time he spoke too loudly. It's hard to listen to someone with a tough voice like that.
He was trying to intimidate all of them and she knew she was stronger than him, and it's hard to be fearful of someone you know you could dance circles and slap around without them noticing it was you.
Oh, and she also got a front row seat in watching him die. It's hard to listen to someone so full of life when you're wondering when they'll disappear.
Her nose started to sting – the first sign of severe crying. God, since when was she so emotional?
Then again, it's understandable that's she's an emotional mess considering all these people who are supposed to be six feet under are breathing the same air as her.
As Tenten struggled to look scared, multiple other ninja who were trying to use this opportunity to survey the competition saw right through her wide, naïve eyes.
They studied her as she kept switching between utter hopelessness and indifference.
It was the strangest thing.
She was the exact same way when the rookies had all gathered in the front of the room after Lee had rejoined their group. While everyone was getting pissed or annoyed, she looked overjoyed. They thought the water works would start then – but she held them back well enough.
Now they weren't so sure how much longer she'd be able to hold out.
No matter how hard they tried, nervous Genin kept an eye on her as they filed into the testing room, as they received the papers of doom and the incredulous instructions, and when they were told they were being watched…
Though they forgot she existed when they were told to start.
Her thoughts were still in a whirl, but she tried to tie her most exuberant thoughts down long enough to look down at the blank test in front of her. Her face cringed.
"Ewe," she thought miserably. "I hated this test. Hmm, well, at least this is one aspect of the exam I don't have to suffer through."
She took the paper, shoved it to the top of her desk, crossed her arms, and sat there.
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"Oh! None of this makes sense!" Lee thought miserably as he scratched his head. He looked over to see Neji scribbling away – CURSE HIS VIGOROUS YOUTH – and Tenten just sitting there… wait… WHAT WAS SHE THINKING? Why isn't she doing the test?... her paper's just in the corner… ah, that's it!
"Tenten is finished! She wouldn't just NOT do it! Silly me! I suppose she's smarter than I give her credit for! For doubting her and not believing in her, I shall do one thousand push-ups with Gai-sensei when this is over!"
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Gaara looked around lazily. How lame was this? Everyone was so blunt about their 'cheating' now it was ridiculous. He sighed and debated on even doing it. Why should he? What would his mission matter? No one in his village would ever see him as more than a threat whether he succeeded perfectly in this assignment or not.
His eyes snagged on a person seated nearby. She looked as bored as he felt. He lifted a hand and slapped it over his eye. He watched as it melted into sand before him and sifted flawlessly through the air escaping even the exam proctor's notice. Hn – maybe he should be in charge instead of these pathetic leaf nin.
He watched numbly as his sand went closer to her, started to pile up and hit her eye, and that's when the most unexpected thing happened. She took a kunai out and made a pinwheel with it, waving the sand away like it was a bunch of fruit flies. How could she have known it was an attempt at seeing her paper? How could she know what it was and how to handle it? Who was she?
He could have sworn he saw her mouth, "Damn Gaara's sand!"
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Naruto was in an extreme state of panic right about now, though panic may be an understatement.
The thing is, he couldn't remember how well he did on this test. Or how he could've even gotten an answer. It was like it was written in a different language… possibly Japanese or something (XP).
At least he got to sit by Hianta again. That was lucky. She was all red from her nervousness and shook every time he said something. Poor girl. Her whole heart was in this dumb test.
"N-Naruto," she whispered quietly. "You can c-copy my answers."
His brows perked up. He was prepared to answer until he looked up at Tenten. She was playing with her pencil. Was she done already? No way! She might be smart but she's not THAT smart… or was she? "Nah, it's okay. I'll… figure it out! Believe it!"
She smiled and nodded. "Oh, well okay then."
He was so screwed…
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I'm sorry it was awfully short! But I hadn't updated in so long I figured I'd put something out! Next chapter will put this one to shame! There's the 'LAST QUESTION!' all the way up until the beginning of the –DUN DUN DUN- Forest of DEATH!!!! How exciting XD It'll be WAY longer and there are WAY more twists and stuffers. And for the random Gaara bit when he was sending sand at Tenten – that she was cool enough to notice. I heart Tenten FOR LIFE!
Errr… cough… PLEASE REVIEW!