Chapter 6: Prelude
"You need to man up a bit!" Sarada looked onto her right, where a green and blue Inojin hung over the railing and had already puked for the second time, the day without eating anything. She rubbed his back, trying not to smell whatever he just threw up.
"Uhuuuuuu," he seemed to be her opinion, but couldn't say it out loud. If he would open his mouth, he would probably puke again.
"Oh boy…"
It had been three days since the ship had left the coast of the whirlpool country. On board, it had the Konoha genin teams, which had passed the first part of the chunin exams. Around 10 teams had made it (=30 people). Now they were being shipped off to the water country, for the practical exam.
The wind was steady, the water almost calm, but Inojin had become green the moment he had seen the ship. "I can't do that I can't do that…" he had been stuttering repeatedly but his teammates forced him to go on board. Ever since, Sarada had been in charge of him. It had been the worst when they had passed the whirlpools at the coast. But now it was much better, since the water had calmed down. Inojin had asked why they needed to take the ship (he had always been a little sickly and ships had never been his strength). The simple answer he got was, that it was the cheapest, safest and quickest way to the water country was.
"I'll go and see if I can get you some medicine from you teacher ok?"
Inojin nodded weakly. With a sight, Sarada left him there, "don't fall over board."
It was a small ship. Everywhere, people were sitting. Most teams sat together, discussing tactics and what they might want to do first upon arriving. The teachers had their own deck, so Sarada entered the ship.
She met Shizumasa on the first deck. He was lying on a couch, five girls draped around him, taking care of every demand he had:
"And you see, my lord father has always told me that I didn't need to lower myself to the peasant level. I still wanted to. Because you see," he snatched an apple from a girl's hand, "how could you know that we are so much better, if you never see us?" He bit the apple and even Sarada had to admit, he looked gorgeous. Though, the moment the girls started to swoon over him, she shook her head and went on with her search.
How in god's name was she supposed to work together with such an eccentric idiot?
"Talking about idiot… Bolt, what are you up to again?" The blonde dobe froze right where he was: at the entrance to the girls' toilets.
"I don't know what you are talking about," he turned around slowly, with a guilty look on his face. His teammate couldn't say anything to him, because just then two girls left the bathroom. It was Momoka and her friend Shura. They saw Bolt and Momoka almost fainted.
"Leave her alone you creep," Shura yelled and lead her friend carefully away.
"Thanks a lot, Haruno…" he turned to Sarada.
"You were just about to enter the girl's toilet. You ARE a creep. But anyway," she put her hands on her hips, "do you know where the teachers' lounge is?"
"Two decks down I guess," he muttered and went after Momoka and her friend again. He once had met a bet with Hotaru that he could get all of the girls in their senior class to go on a date with him. Since Sarada didn't count (she was no 'girl' because they had always been friends and the idea of dating her, creeped him out), Momoka was the only girl left who had successfully avoided going on a date with Bolt. And Bolt hated loosing, so he was persuading his goal, even while Hotaru was out cold in the hospital. He wanted to surprise the boy, the he woke up. Sarada thought it was a silly bet, but both boys were very passionate about it.
On her way down the stairs, she met some more familiar faces from her graduating class: Akimichi Chocho, the chubby clan heiress, was talking with her friends while going upstairs. She didn't even look at Sarada. She pressed herself onto the wall, to let the group pass.
"…And father said, when I am finally a chunin, he will buy me dinner at the Moartiè restaurant in Konoha city and…"
Sarada rolled her eyes. The girl had always been spoiled. Her mother was from another village and the daughter of one of the richest men there, just like her father had inherited the legacy of the Akimichi clan. They could afford a lot and Chocho only had to smile at her parents to get whatever she wanted.
Saradas family wasn't poor either. The hokage paid her father quite a lot for all the s-rank missions he had to do and her mother was senior physician at the big Konoha city hospital. But they would save all their money, to go on a nice holiday or renovate the flat. Or buy a house. Which is why, even if Sarada did make it this time, she wouldn't get an expensive evening out. Anyway, she preferred her mother's cooking over any restaurant.
At the crowds end, a dark haired boy followed. His name was Nara Shikadai. His mother was the bravest and most fierce warrior Sarada ever met and his father was the hokages personal consultant, but the boy didn't look like he had gotten anything from his parents. His little brother had just this year graduated and was now in a team with Bolts little sister Himawari and the son of the Konoha taijutsu prodigy, Rock Lee. The three of them were the most anticipated new team and had yet to prove themselves.
Shikadai greeted Sarada with rolling his eyes and a short ,"moin Sarada…"
She smiled back and made her way back down. Hopefully Chocho wouldn't find Inojin before she was back. Chocho felt that Inojin had to get manlier – but through a different treatment, than Sarada had proposed: Chocho had, one day at the academy, promised to bully Inojin until the day he would have enough, man up and beat the heck out of her. Inojin had just smiled uncomfortably. Nobody had believed Chocho that day, but from the next morning on she had started commenting him on any task he had to do.
At graduation, Inojin, Shikadai and Chocho had been put together on a team and the blonde boy had almost fainted. He had hoped to not spend too much time with her anymore and being on a team with his bully, didn't really help him. Sarada had spoken to their homeroom teacher why she had to work with Bolt instead of Inojin. She had pleaded to be put on a team with Hotaru and Inojin, but the teacher Aburame hadn't listened.
While Sarada was still searching for the teachers, to get some medicine for her friend, Chocho and Shikadai had reached the deck. The girl spotted Inojin, grinned and made her way over to him.
"Huh are we still feeling sick," she mocked. Inojin smiled weakly.
"Yes… Good morning… Chocho…" he had tried to look at her, but he had to look into the water quickly. Another load was coming up. Chocho looked at him, disgusted.
"Really now? How are we supposed to make it with such a weak member," she looked at Shikadai. Her fans nodded wildly. The boy only shrugged.
"He can do it… As long as we survive the practical part now…"
"I… I am awesome on land… you know that…"
"Yeah... totally…"
"Stop it Chocho!"
Sarada had finally come back. She had pulled Shizumasa and Bolt with her. "He is your friend and teammember! Be nice to him!" She handed the medicine Inojin and ignored the angry Chocho. The girl was pretty pissed.
"You! Haruno! You listen! Now," she put her hands on her hips, leaned a little forward and moved her head while talking. It was her famous fighting stance. Sarada turned around, positioned herself in front of Inojin, crossed her arms in front of her chest and lifted her head a little. She made the perfect bitch face.
"And here we go again…" Bolt shook his head.
"What do you mean," Shizumasa stood there, quite bored as it seemed and watched the two girls getting ready. He didn't even realize that Chochos fanclub was whispering and pointing at him. Some of them were blushing.
"Aaaah they have been at it since academy days," the Uzumaki explained, "most of the time because off Inojin, but sometimes because Chocho didn't like Saradas dress, Sarada was angered by Chochos attitude… They could go on endlessly…"
"Well, sounds like there is a good bitch fight coming up." Shizumasa waved at a nearby girl and she brought him a chair. Bolt was stunned as the older boy sat down.
"How do you do that?"
"It's quite easy. All you have to do is-"
"Stick to your own problems, bitch. Inojin is my teammate and I can do with him, as I freaking please," Chocho bitched.
"Oh girly. Is that all you got? Bad words and obvious statements? Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?"
"Ooooh now I'm scared…" the dark skinned girl laughed, "trust me princess, if I wanted to hurt you, I would simply-"
"You would simply what? Run up to me and punch me? Don't make me laugh! You couldn't even hit me if you were only half of what you are now!" This was a hit down below the belt.
"You asshole," Chocho hissed. She was about to say something even meaner, when there was suddenly a bell and an announcement.
"Ladys and Gentlemen! We are reaching our destination: Kazanretto, the volcanic island. Please regroup with your team and teachers on deck and prepare to deboard."
The girls relaxed. Bolt waved Sarada over and Chocho pulled Inojin away from the railing to the other side of the ship.
Ako joined her pupils and gave them some last instructions.
The island was about 50 square kilometers. It had two small inactive ones and a huge volcano in the north east. From aboard the ship, they had seen it blow small dust clouds into the sky. Otherwise, the island had white beaches all around, a part with dark cliffs, which formed natural sculptures high up into the sky on the north western part. Those were perforated and the sea was quite rough. But everything the examinees could was a part of the beach, followed by a dark jungle. Because some meters into it, thick mist rose above the tree tops and covered everything to be seen above and within.
"Can you hear it?" Bolt whispered to Shizumasa. The older guy raised is brows and hid his arms within his wide sleeves.
"Of course. Who do you take me for?"
"Hahah," Bolt grinned, "you can't hear a thing!"
"What are you-" Shizumasa wanted to hit bolt, but Sarada caught his pale fist mid-air.
"Shhh… we need that idiot."
"He offended me."
Sarada adjusted her glasses, "he doesn't mean it like that."
"Enlighten me?"
"You cannot hear anything, which is very unusual for such a huge forest. Shouldn't there be animal noises? Running water?" Shizumasa understood. He might have been a prick, but not an idiot.
Ako smiled. She was proud, that her students had caught up that fast, "this truly is no forest that you have ever seen."
The examinees from Konoha met with the other village's candidates at a camp site on the beach. Sarada asked Ako, how many students had mastered the first exam and were now allowed to take part in the second part.
"Well, of course there are the 30 examinees from Konoha, 12 teams from Suna, 18 from Kiri, Iwa sent 9, none from Kumogakure… and some 10 teams form other, smaller villages. Which makes…"
"…round about 177 participants, right?" Sarada started thinking. The number was quite high for a second exam. Ako knew why the girl wanted to know.
"Trust me, this stage is quite harsh. It's probably the hardest from the five we have."
"Worse than the forest of death?" Bolt groaned. He had had his problems back there and now?
"Hush now," Ako patted the boys head, "they are now giving the instructions."
A loud gong was heard and everybody got silent in an instant. A group of five people entered a stage, in front of the examinees.
"Welcome," a man with black hair said. He was muscular and wore the headband from Kirigakure, "welcome at the second exam of this year's chunin exams! My name is Kuriarare Taroshi and I am the supervisor of this stage. This island might not look very dangerous, but you will be surprised. My young collegue from Iwa will now explain the rules to you. Listen well," he grinned and everybody could see his sharp teeth, "because we won't say them again." He took a step back.
A man around 18 took his place, "hello examinees from all the countries! Welcome on Kazanretto. At nightfall, in approximately 226 minutes, you will start the second part of the chunin exams. Each team will start from a different point on the beach, with at least 200 meters in between each team." Suddenly, a white screen rolled down behind the officers and a map of the island popped up. "Your goal is to collect, within 7 days of time, at least 33 points to pass the exam and to enter stage three: the one on one battles in the unity arena." The man passed over to the Konoha representative. A young woman with shaggy white hair and coal dark eyes. She spoke with a mocking smile on her face. The name was Hatake Hanare.
"To gather these points, you have to do some tests," she pointed at the map, "we parted the island into five zones with different levels of difficulty." The examinees looked at each other. This was totally different from what they had known before.
"We have very easy tests in level 1 areas, but there are also level 4 areas. In level 1, you get 2 points for solving a puzzle or passing a test. Level 2 gives 4 each, level 3 –quite difficult already- means 7 points and level 4," her grin got even broader, "level 4 means 9 points. Now you can calculate yourselves, how many tests of one level you need to do, to get your 33. And don't think you can just do level 1 tests until the time is over. Each test can only be done once! And of course," she winked, "we took great care to balance it all out."
Hanare waved and a man with the headband from Kumogakure stepped up. A group of other ninjas came up to the examinees and gave out bracelets in different colors.
"Be careful! As you may have already noticed, the island is very dangerous itself. The forest is inhabited by dangerous carnivores, be careful with the water supplies and always keep the name of the island in mind! For each test you pass, you are rewarded with a supply package. There might be food, water, ration pills, medication or even weapons. The quality and amount depends on the difficulty level of the test you just passed. There are also two save houses on the island. If you enter one or take of this bracelet," he held one up. Bolt looked down onto his. It was red with gold ornaments, "they are beautiful, aren't they?" The man smiled at the genin. "Well, if you take them off, you and your group are automatically disqualified and will have to wait until the test is over, to leave the island together with all the others. If you need immediate help," he turned the bracelet around, "you put your thumb onto this small panel. It activates a locator. To keep the death count low, please don't hesitate to call for help!"
He stepped back and another woman waved at the crowd.
"We are almost done! Only 6 out of the 59 teams are allowed to pass, which means: Even if you have gathered 33 points, you haven't yet passed. You will need to bring the bracelets at that moment back to one of the five check points and the teams with the highest amount of points, will pass. Commander Kuriarare, please." She bowed and the first man stood in front again. The crowd had grown tense with all this talk and they had started to whisper. But as soon as he raised his voice,
"You have now heard about all the rules, except for one." He raised his hand and the island's map vanished. A picture with all the current kage appeared, "each of our great leaders has created a very special test. If you manage to pass one of those five extra hard tests, you are granted 11 points!" The genin started to whisper again. "And, a team that manages to gather all 33 points and passes a kage's test, passes the exam, however many other teams have more points."
"It's like," Bolt whispered to Sarada, "if we pass a kage test, we are... Safe?" Sarada nodded.
"Now all the teachers to us. You will draw the start position of your group from this bag."
Ako made her way to the front and not 20 minutes later, they were on a boat to the western side of the island, together with 15 other teams. Sarada had to hold onto her glasses, because the wind was harsh. Bolt stood next to her and Shizumasa behind them. All three of them look towards the sinking sun on the horizon, the wind in their hair.
End of Chapter 6
Happy New Year!
Happy new year and may it bring you everything you ever wished for! The delay was due to my hangover... I sometimes drink worse than Tsunade ;)
You finally met some of the other genin! How do you like them? Right now, they have just started their journey and there will be a lot of developement and plottwists ahead. It won't always go the way Bolt and Sarada want it to go... but well: Does it ever go as wished/planned?
Please tell me how you liked it/disliked it, what do you think is going to happen? Do you like Hanare Hatake? Hihihihi
See you next week with a chapter called "Jungle Beat"!
Your Usagi
Review Answers
Thanks to my readers and reviewers!
Kronus96:Yes... she really has some issues. I just hope she never ends up in Barney Stinsons Bed like "who is your daddy?"... . Thanks for the review and I will gladly go on writing!
SoundlessWorld: Hahaha I always want to get better, but if nobody tells you how to, you are kind of lost somewhere... Yeah they are similar. A lot actually. But Bolt is not exactly his father, just as Sarada is not Sasuke... Especially Bolt will be developing a lot different than Naruto later on... And thanky ou for the cheesy moment :3
Soul Raider 116: Thank you for the awesome review! I know I have problems with spelling and some with grammar... English is not my mothertongue... And I still don't have a Beta T.T I will check the chapters again :D THX! For Kakashi, I had threee women I could have gotten him together with, Ayame was one of them. But I rather liked the idea of him as a single parent... And you will meet Karin again. Somehow she always gets what she wants, doesn't she? I will spellcheck and go on writing! Thank you very much!
IamWhatIamBaby: Thanks for the review! They are really cute together, aren't they? I personally even like the times when she is all the teenager and he is just like 'I don't get her' XD I hope you will like what is coming up. There is some nasty stuff on the way :D Please go on reading! I will make it as interesting as possible ;)
