Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and am not making any money out of this endeavor.
Insanity's Ending
Chapter Six: Preuve
'Flashback'
Kakashi sat at Naruto's bedside, a two weeks after the Wave incident. Sakura had visited quite a few times, and Sasuke, who was still limping, with her. Naruto had been quiet the whole time, not even reading any of his books, just staring blankly out the window. Kakashi was worried.
"Naruto…do you need anything?"
No response.
"Well…I have a surprise for you."
Naruto didn't even turn to look.
"I've requested for an entry pass for you and your team into the Chuunin exams. I think your performance in the current mission proves that you can at least try to…"
Naruto had, by then turned to face him, with fearful eyes.
"N-No. I can't…It'll happen again…I…can't…I won't…kill…"
Kakashi looked at Naruto sadly.
"You won't, I believe in you…"
Naruto shook his head vigorously.
"No, No, No, NO! You don't understand! I…I…I enjoyed killing that boy! I enjoyed killing the assassins! I'll kill again! I can't control it!"
Tears began to roll down Naruto's cheeks. Kakashi patted his back.
"I understand….I'll leave the recommendation here…If you change your mind."
Naruto wiped the tears away, and fell back onto his bed, looking once again out his window as Kakashi walked slowly out the door.
Sakura frowned. Chuunin exams? She couldn't even do a thing to help Naruto and Sasuke and Kakashi wanted her to enter an exam reserved for the most elite of genin? Sakura sighed and looked across the bridge, where Sasuke was sitting. She mulled over the thought of trying for a date again, but dismissed it, knowing what the response would be. Naruto was so much easier to talk to…
Naruto. He hadn't been alright since the big Wave fight. She was worried about him, and it seemed strange, but she felt very comfortable with him, and at least he didn't just respond with minor hand or head movements or annoying 'fehs' or hnhs'…
Sakura sighed again. Maybe it would be better if Naruto didn't come for a while, then maybe they wouldn't be able to enter the Chuunin Exams…
Kakashi's arrival jolted Sakura from her thoughts.
"Well, team. Today's…the deadline for entry into the Chuunin exam…Most of the teams should be at the administration block as we speak…"
Sakura nodded, and Sasuke frowned.
"Why can't we go too?"
Kakashi sighed.
"Three man teams, Sasuke."
Sasuke's frown deepened. Kakashi began to speak again.
"Naruto hasn't been feeling well lately. After the…incident with his…uh…anger management issues."
Kakashi frowned inwardly at himself for the obvious lie.
"So without Naruto, there won't be a Chuunin exam for us?" said Sasuke, with a scowl.
"I'm afraid so…"
Nobody spoke, Kakashi's expression downcast, Sasuke's angry and Sakura's strangely happy…until…
"H-Hey, guys…"
Naruto stepped onto the bridge. He was dressed in a white shirt and long black pants, along with his wrist guards and knee guards, though the latter were hidden under his pants.
Sakura cheered, though she didn't really know how to feel on the inside. Sasuke smirked and Kakashi smiled heartily.
Team seven approached the central administration building, Kakashi trailing behind them. He'd noticed Naruto's behavior had changed since the last time he'd seen him. He seemed jitterier. Kakashi wondered if this would affect his performance during the examinations.
As they stepped inside said building, Kakashi began to speak.
"Well, now. You're on your own here on out. Remember all I've taught you and don't forget to think before you act. Bye."
Kakashi walked off, leaving the three genin alone.
"Well, then. Let's go." Said Sasuke, with barely controlled enthusiasm. Naruto nodded hesitantly, and Sakura sighed.
Team seven walked up a flight of stairs, to see what seemed to be a struggle going on.
A Girl in a pink shirt was on the floor, quivering in what seemed to be fear, as a green uniformed boy with the single most garish haircut and eyebrows lay alongside her, also equally fearful. A long haired boy with white eyes seemed to be conversing fearfully with two tough looking boys in front of a door, as bystanders looked on.
"No can do, kids. I can't allow you wimps in here. Believe me when I say I'm doing you a favor."
Sasuke snorted as the boy turned to look at him.
"You got a problem...Punk?"
Sasuke sneered.
"This is the second floor. Your embarrassingly bad genjutsu is as transparent a glass of water."
"Hello, Kotetsu-san!" said Naruto, waving.
The boy glared at Sasuke for a while, then began to laugh. With a wave to Naruto, he disappeared with his friend in a cloud of smoke.
Sasuke laughed as the two on the floor got up and dusted themselves off.
The boy in green stepped forward.
"You are…Uchiha?"
Sasuke nodded. The green clothed boy's eyes seem to gleam.
"YOOOSH! I have finally found the opponent who will be my eternal rival! MY YOUTHFUL SPRINGTIME WILL SOON COME TRUE!"
There was a deafening silence as Naruto snapped out of his daze, to see the boy in green looking at Sakura.
"Hello, miss. You're pretty. I'm Rock Lee. Will you go out on a date with me?"
Sakura backed away slowly.
"No…"
The newly introduced Lee's eyebrows wriggled.
"BUT WHY, MISS? MY YOUTHFUL SPRINGTIME-erk."
Lee was cut off as the girl in pink began to pull his ear, following the boy with white eyes. She then looked back, smiling.
"Sorry about Lee, and thanks for the…uh…save. Yeah. Bye."
Team seven stared after them, as they disappeared around a corner. Naruto looked thoughtful.
"They didn't need our help." He said, to be met with confused stares, as the bystanders began streaming past them. "The long haired boy…That was Hyuuga Neji."
Sakura gasped as recognition of the name grasped her. Sasuke just looked at him strangely.
"He was the guy who Jyuukened the examiner into the hospital!"
Naruto nodded, as Sasuke pondered.
"Smart move. They wanted to hide their true skill…"
Team seven stood in the corridor for a while, until Sasuke began to move towards the next flight of stairs, eventually followed by an ever-hesitant Naruto and Sakura, whose face displayed silent resignation.
Team seven reached the third floor, where they were met with a single door.
Sasuke promptly pushed it open, and Naruto cringed at the sight that met their eyes.
The entire room was filled with Ninja, all eyeing them, and some staring quite strangely. The ninja sported different headbands, most of which were familiar, such as the Sand's, and the Grass'. Naruto noted a few familiar teams, namely teams eight, all seated on a row of chairs, and team ten, standing in a corner of the room. Lee's team was standing in another corner, furthest from the exit. They seemed to be conversing.
Naruto's thoughts were interrupted as Ino began to head their way. Naruto turned to Sakura, to see a wide grin on her face.
"Now who's the better Ninja team, piggy girl?"
Ino froze, her face scrunching up. She turned a pale shade, but quickly returned to normal. Sakura began laughing insanely.
"You rookies should really shut up…"
Team seven, along with Ino, turned around, to see a white haired boy staring somewhat wearily at them.
"Every year I have to deal with you total greenhorns. Bleh."
Sasuke twitched, and Sakura began to mouth protest, before they were both stopped by a small hand gesture from the newcomer.
"Hey, I'm trying to help your miserable hides here."
Naruto squinted, then began to speak.
"Yakushi Kabuto. Genin ranked Konoha Shinobi. Attempted Chuunin exams seven times, all failed. No particular speciality observed. Presumably trained by adoptive father, who was a medic."
Naruto fell silent.
All eyes were on him, as he turned slightly red with embarrassment.
"I did some research on everyone here after getting the attendance list from the Third…"
Kabuto snickered.
"Impressive. Looks like you aren't as green as these other twits."
Kabuto felt hostility directed at him.
"Looks like you won't need any info." Kabuto said, pulling out a pack of cards and shuffling.
Sasuke looked at the pack suspiciously.
"Chakra trace cards." He said, eyeing Kabuto angrily. "You have information about me in there."
Kabuto's face was expressionless.
Suddenly, a hand snatched the cards away. Kabuto growled, turning to face the thief, just in time to see his beloved cards placed above a thin cylindrical object.
"Shinobi rule #34, subsection 2. A Shinobi must be unidentified. Any information known about him…"
There was a deliberate pause as Naruto's Raijin activated.
"…Is a liability."
Kabuto's eyes shone with concealed anger, which dissipated quickly.
"Very smart."
Kabuto smiled, placing his hand on Naruto's shoulder, causing Naruto discomfort.
"I think you'll do quite well in this little exam."
Kabuto paused, and looked at the remaining members of his 'audience'.
"Unlike these louts."
He laughed, and began walking away.
Suddenly, a strange bandaged Ninja dashed in front of him, and threw a punch with a heavy-looking gauntlet. Kabuto dodged, somersaulting back.
He smirked, just as his glasses shattered. He placed his palm to him face, gasping. The mystery ninja looked at his crouched form, then at team seven and Ino.
"Laughed too much. Heh."
Kabuto rose, drawing a kunai, one hand over his left eye, just as a hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"There'll be NO fighting before the test."
Kabuto turned, to see a massive figure.
The figure stepped into the center of the room.
"You'll get enough of that later."
There was silence, as every pair of eyes in the room fell on him.
"THE CHUUNIN EXAMS START NOW!" he bellowed, in a deafening tone as team seven moved aside, and Kabuto moved towards his team, still nursing his eye.
Naruto glanced nervously around as he spotted Sasuke in the second row and Sakura behind him, on the fifth. He himself was in the middle, the third row. He nervously swallowed a pill as the examiner began.
"I am Morino Ibiki, special operations information retrieval and confirmation department."
His mouth curved ever so slightly.
"To the unenlightened, that means the torture department."
Many eyes widened, as he continued speaking.
"This is the first part of the Chuunin examinations, so listen up. It's a written test. There is an additional tenth question. That question will be given to you in the last fifteen minutes of this examination. The circumstances under which you'll be operating are as so. Cheating will not be condoned, and two marks from your total of ten will be deducted each time you are caught. You only need one mark to progress in this exam. Should your marks fall to zero…"
Ibiki's grin grew into a strange smile.
"You and your ENTIRE team will be disqualified."
Gasps were heard, and there was much worried conversation as Ibiki slammed a nearby table, creating a crater in it, and silencing the entire room. He smiled as he said in the spoke in the softest of tones.
"You may begin now."
Paper was shuffled, and pens were clicked.
Naruto stared at the first question. He hadn't expected a written exam. Prior to leaving for the Wave country mission, he'd attempted to study the past chuunin exams in attempt to decipher the first and second tests. Most Shinobi were rather tight lipped about it, as well. Naruto sighed.
Naruto gazed at the paper, scanning each of the questions, one by one. He raised an eyebrow. This was a difficult exam. Sakura and he would probably be able to get the majority of the questions right, but everyone else would likely not be able to do a single one. And what was it with those Ninja sitting by the windows?
Naruto looked up slowly. Mirrors on the ceiling. Suddenly, his eyes widened, and he slowly looked to around. People were cheating! Hyuuga Neji had around his eyes the trademark bulging veins of the Byakugan. So did Hyuuga Hinata. Ino seemed to be readying her Shintenshin, while Sasuke seemed to be faring well. Naruto guessed he had activated the Sharingan. They were all cheating…
Naruto was shocked out of his thoughts when a kunai landed on the table next to him.
"Row three, table 8, get out now. You and your entire team are disqualified." Said one of the chuunin sitting by the windows.
Angry gasps were heard, as they were ushered out of the room.
Naruto continued doing his paper, as more were caught, and sent out. He had noticed numerous attempts at looking at his paper, and, when he was finally done, turned said paper upside-down.
Eventually, Morino Ibiki stepped back into the center of the room. Everyone looked at him.
"It's time for you to learn about the final question. Now, there's a procedure to this. First of all, If you get it right, good for you. If you get it wrong, however, No matter how many points you've garnered so far, You'll fail. And you'll also be unable to join the chuunin exam again."
There was a stunned silence until someone spoke up.
"For the next four months…Till the next one, you mean."
Ibiki laughed.
"No, No…"
His smile returned, only wider.
"Indefinitely."
Gasps were heard, and nervous chatter emerged from the silence. Ibiki slammed an adjacent wall, creating yet another crater. He hastily shook his hand, and looked at the wall.
"I've got to stop doing that…This is obviously coming out of my paycheck…"
He turned back to the crowd and sighed.
"You can choose NOT to accept said question, the result of which would be expulsion from the exam, but no restrictions on your future attendances will be put in place. Additionally, as with add previous procedures, If one man leaves, the rest go too. Now. Those who will leave. Put your hands up."
Silence came over the entire room, broken by the occasional bird.
A hand shot up, and angry whispers were heard. A chuunin proctor ushered three people out. Many hands followed, and it continued, until only a few were left. Among them were teams seven, eight and ten, Neji's team, Kabuto's team and the mysterious bandaged ninja's team.
Naruto looked around nervously, as Ibiki began speaking again.
"Hrrn. Gutsy bunch this year, eh? Well. For those of you who didn't put up your hands…"
Naruto tensed up.
"You all pass!"
A stunned silence fell over the room. Naruto's eye twitched and he put up his hand.
"What was the purpose of this tenth question?"
Ibiki looked at him, then at the rest of the genin.
"In your lives as Ninja, you will understand one thing. Information is a commodity most precious. The easiest way to get information is through interrogation. This is a dire consequence. However, you must NEVER reveal anything. Till death, your allegiance is to your respective village, and till death your allegiance shall remain. "
Ibiki removed his headband, revealing deep wounds and scars, eliciting gasps and squeaks from the crowd.
"Those who left are afraid of dire consequences. They will be the first to reveal your secrets."
Ibiki covered his head again, and was about to begin speaking again, when a large black ball crashed into the room, shattering a window. If unfurled into a banner, which flew in all directions, revealing a purple-haired woman in a jacket. She stared at the silent crowd for a while, eyes roaming to each of them.
"Oh for the love of…" Ibiki mumbled.
She turned to Ibiki.
"TWENTY-SEVEN teams? You're losing your touch, old man."
Ibiki waved it off, and walked slowly away, sighing.
The woman turned back to her still-speechless audience.
"I am Mitarashi Anko, and I'll be chief examiner for the second exam!"
She was greeted with silence. She sighed.
"Meet me at Training ground 47 tomorrow morning at ten sharp."
Nobody moved. Anko rolled her eyes.
"You're dismissed. Go, go, go, go."
Ibiki collected the scripts after the genin had all left.
"All correct?" he mumbled to himself. "Uzumaki Naruto…"
A proctor came up behind him.
"Amazing, eh? I didn't even catch him cheating."
Ibiki looked at the paper again.
"You think he actually managed to answer all of these questions without…Nah."
Chapter six!
Thank you for the kind reviews, and the constructive criticism, and for supporting my story.
I'm sorry it took so long to update. I have been really busy lately, and haven't had time to do much thinking.
I don't know if I'll even put a romance in this. I'm bad at writing soppy stuff and I'll feel embarrassed if it went…y'know, all the way.
Still. Couple ideas will be appreciated.
Q&A
What triggers Naruto's berserker rages?
Stress of any sort. If he didn't have the pills, he'd probably have killed Everyone in Konoha by now…
Will this be Yaoi?
No. I don't support yaoi. My sincerest apologies to those who are excessively disappointed.
Please continue to ask questions.
Thanks!
