Chapter 7 – The Chuunin Exams

A/N - Hey dudes! Aren't you proud of me for updating? I am :). You'd better reviewww or I'll make it even longer next time haha! Kidding, but they do spur me to write more! Okay, I've let you wait long enough, as usual, so here you go!

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden.

The three students arrived perfectly on time. Each sat patiently in the grassy field in which they had all shared their first lesson. It was the fourth time they had seen each other during training in six months. They were all eyeing each other up, attempting to notice any power changes. Though only the mentors knew what their students had achieved.

Each student had improved dramatically in skill and changed drastically in appearance: Izuki now had permanent snow white wings on his back, earning him the title, "Angel of Konohakagure". Sakura had taught him how to enhance his strength and to heal in the same way Tsunade had taught her previously. Izuki had been an eager student and was far more intelligent than Sakura could have bargained for. The only person she had known who was as intelligent at that age was Shikamaru. He wore his forehead protector loosely on his head, causing is to become lopsided at times, but this only added to his innocent, angel-like appearance, aided by a pure personality.

Ayame was now one of the deadliest females in the Leaf Village. Sasuke had ruthlessly pushed her into gruelling rituals to increase her speed and chakra control. It had taken her only three days to unlock the Sharingan after the first training session, and three more weeks to almost master some of it's more powerful secrets – which Sasuke had shared with her. Her long hair still reached past her shoulders, but it was no longer trapped in childish pleats and instead it hung loosely and wildly around herself, increasing her beauty in a temptress-like manner. She wore her forehead protector around her long, slender neck, just like Hinata Hyuuga. Ayame was a quick-thinking killing machine. Sasuke had succeeded in driving her emotions out of her during battle...almost all of them.

Arashii, in appearance, had merely grown taller. Her childish face and almost flamboyantly clumsy nature still marked in the way she acted on a day-to-day basis. Although, that was part of her disguise: deep down Arashii had matured more than Naruto ever could have in that short time span. She was wise, constantly devising new battle tactics that took even Kakashi by surprise at times. He had taught her how to hone her element: Water, just like her mother, she said. She was now fully capable of drowning someone with a few simple hand movements. He had also began to teach her how to summon, and although, Kakashi thought, she was pretending she could not grasp the technique, he knew she was hiding something from him.

The three of them, still eyeing each other up for weaknesses and strengths and physical differences, all sat up straight when Sasuke began to talk.

"The three of you, when you first arrived under our tutelage, seemed to be an impossible bunch. However, Sakura, Kakashi and I have been highly pleased with your progress these past few months, and we have decided you are ready. The Chuunin exams begin in two weeks. We're telling you that you should enter. But," He paused for dramatic effect, due to the already awestruck faces gazing up at him, "We are not forcing you to. Bear in mind though, that if one of the team members chooses not to enter, you cannot partake in the exam."

"I will enter oniisama." Ayame nodded at him determinedly, "I will become a Chuunin and make you proud, Sakura-sensei, Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-sensei-oniisama."

The others looked at her, never having heard her call Sasuke brother, and wondering why she had developed such a link with him.

"I choose to enter also, sensei." Arashii spoke, her previously childish voice as calm as the ocean in the thoughts of battle, "I wish to proceed to Chuunin level and test my abilities."

They all looked at Izuki, "I am unsure of whether I wish to enter." He spoke softly as ever, "Now that the others have both voiced their opinions, I am unsure whether the only reason I feel as though I should enter is because if I do not, then my teammates will suffer. I dislike the use of an exam to tell me how powerful I am, or should become in order to fulfil duties and go on missions."

Ayame glared at him, "How can you say such a thing?!" She rose to her feet, "It is an honour to be put forward for these exams and you know it! Izuki-kun, I thought I knew you better!"

She stormed off inconsolably at this thought of treachery from, what the others thought, a teammate, but for her this was a betrayal of the heart. He did not wish to fight with her; to allow her to test herself. She would change his mind by tomorrow if she had to. That was the one good thing about being a female. Her strength was only rivalled by her feminine powers.

Izuki stared at her briefly as she walked away as the others looked on in silence, unable to see the deeper meaning of her departure, "Ayame-chan is quick tempered. She did not let me finish my line of thought. I will compete in the exams because as a shinobi it is my duty to, whether I agree with it or not."

"Well chosen, Izuki-kun." Sakura praised the morality of her student, "Will you please retrieve Ayame and allow us to start preparing strategies for the exams?"

"Of course, Sakura-sensei." Izuki flapped his wings, knowing that wherever Ayame had run off to, he would be able to see her from the sky.


"I know you're there, Izuki." She scowled as he landed behind her in the alleyway.

"I know. Ayame, I am competing, you never let me finish." Izuki said, trapping her inside his wings and pulling her towards him, calming her hot temper.

"I...I'm sorry." Ayame looked into his beautiful golden eyes and felt at ease again, like nothing had ever happened."

"Now come back to the training zone so we can prepare for the exams, hime."

She blushed, "Oh, alright. But only if you do one thing for me first."

"What?"

She kissed the Angel gently, surprising him at first. Then he pulled her into a deeper kiss, a kiss that the outside world was oblivious to through his snowy white feathers.

"Thank you, Izuki."

"What for?"

"For coming after me." Ayame said, "Now let's see if you can keep up!"

She began to run, and he laughed, taking once more to the skies.


"Okay, shinobi." Sakura stood reading over the almost perfect attack plan that Arashii had just came up with, "Arashii, this is just about flawless, how did you make this.?"

"My father is head of the attack forces in the Waterfall Village." She explained, playfully scratching a cat ear, "He taught me all about the structure and functions of battle plans, and how to devise my own ones. Then I put a few of my own ideas in, and bang! We have an attack plan and formation."

Ayame scoffed at her teammates work, "And how does this work exactly?"

"You mean you don't understand it?" Arashii smiled, her eyes glittering with amusement.

"I...I get it I just don't think it'll work." Ayame desperately came up with an excuse.

"Well then let's put it to use." Arashii smiled sweetly at her and she scowled.

"You know if the wind changes your face will stay like that forever." Arashii pointed out.

"Why I..."

Ayame was cut short by Izuki, who put his hand on her shoulder, "Now, girls, should we really be arguing at a crucial stage? We need to put these plans into practice. Arashii has done a great job in devising these."

Arashii smirked at Ayame and who proceeded to turn and hit Izuki softly on the arm.

"Hey! What was that for?" He grimaced.

"For taking her side and not mine." She tried to be angry at him, but he raised an eyebrow and she melted, forgiving him.

He laughed at her pathetic face and they walked out into the sun to practice.


Two weeks later, Team 7 were stood outside the Exam hall with all of the other shinobi.

Nervous as could be, Arashii could not stop playing with her long blonde locks. Izuki's wings twitched ever so slightly whenever someone spoke to him, but otherwise he seemed calm, and Ayame showed no visible emotion, readying herself for whatever came their way next.

The door opened and the students walked in, unaware that the test they were about to face was going to seem impossible without doing the one thing they would be reprimanded for.

"There is only one rule." The invigilator sneered over all of the ninja, who were furrowing their brows, "If you are caught cheating more than three times, then you will be disqualified from 

the exams and will have to wait until the next time to pass. I will repeat that: If you are caught cheating, you're out."

The ninja swallowed, and began to write.

A/N – AHH I liked writing this chapter – it was so long haha! I truly am sorry I keep taking so long to update. Please review! Next chapter is,"Enter Kazekage." I wonder what that means?