Hello peoples! Next chapter is here. One thing I would like to stress if I may: Stop calling Naraku Naruko. Only a few persons have done this, but it still irkes me. Especially so because Naruko is a girl's name and Naraku is a boy.That aside please do enjoy
All eyes spun toward the front of the room where the examiners were standing.
"You will all take a tile and be seated according to what you draw. As head examiner I will now tell you the rules. First off no questions. Next the exam will consist of 10 written-"
"A paper test?! NOOO!!"
Ignoring Naruto's outburst Ibiki continued.
"-problems that you must answer in the allotted time. The final problem will be given 45 minutes after the start of the exam. We will be using a point deduction system; starting out everyone will have a perfect 10 and will be deducted 2 points every time you are caught cheating. And you must pass as a team; if one person fails, all three of you fail. That's it for the rules. If you are shinobi, act like it"
All the genin take their seats. Once the exam is passed out everyone begins. Most quickly discover that they cannot answer the problems on their own. Upon realizing this, those with dojutsu make use of them, while others rely on sound, skillfully placed mirrors or any number of methods. One however, was… flirting with Hinata.
"So, after the exam is over we could drop by the lake. I know you like the waterfall there. I know we can have a picnic! Get some ramen from Ichiraku-"
"Number thirty eight this is an exam, not a town social"
"You don't have any rules against it! As long as I don't use questions its perfectly legit"
The examiner, one of the two that were guarding the fake 301 door, was acquainted with one of the Uzumaki's trademarks; following the rules without complying to them. Mildly annoyed Ibiki bellowed an order to work on the exam itself. Tearing his attention away from Hinata Naruto again looked at his exam. The first question didn't make sense to him, and they got increasingly difficult from there.
'Aw man! How are we supposed to answer these?! Hey wait a minute. Hinata-chan was looking over in that direction with her byakugan… that guy must know the answers! Now how to get them…'
A mischeivious toothy grin found its way onto Naruto's face. Hinata looked over at him, knowing full well what happened last time she saw that smile.
"Naruto-kun, what are-"
"Don't worry about it. I got this covered"
Sending a silent prayer to any gods that were listening Hinata returned to her own exam.
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The sensei for the genin were all gathered in a lounge, lazily waiting for the first exam to be completed.
"I wonder how our genin are doing in there"
"Not too well Aoba. Ibiki is the first proctor"
Kakashi looked up at Asuma in surprise.
"That sadist?"
"Wait, what do you mean?"
Asuma chuckled at Kurenai's question as he put out his cigarette.
"He's the head of the Anbu torture and interrogation squad. He's an expert on using mental techniques to break his victims without ever touching them"
"Are you serious? To have someone like that in the first exam seems a little extreme"
"Hey, I don't make the rules. Its just that this year is a little harder than usual"
Aoba sighed heavily.
"Glad I'm not in there. Who knows what Naraku is concocting to deal with Ibiki"
"I guess I have to agree with you there. Naruto is also one to watch out for, but I'm confident they will all make it through"
"Really? Then the next exam will definitely be one to keep an eye on; maybe prelims this year?"
The jonin share a laugh. A flash from a blade interrupts them. The jonin all look toward the one who tried to split Kakashi in twain.
"Zabuza?!"
"Hi there friend. Remember that little 'test of loyalty' you said I had to pass?"
"Ah. Yes?"
"Good. Then you know why I'm going to kill you now"
"Can't we talk about this?"
"DIE!"
Kakashi skillfully doged Zabuza's swings and escaped through a window. Zabuza persued with intent. Aoba and Kurenai were about to go help Kakashi, but Asuma stopped them.
"It isn't all that serious. Zabuza just needs time to adjust"
"Just what made him so wound up?"
"His 'test of loyalty' is to be the instructor for my nephew and his friends"
"Ah"
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Haku was enjoying his day. Life as a teacher's assistant wasn't too bad. Sure the little brats were loud and annoying but he didn't care.
"Hey oneechan. Iruka-sensei says you got to watch the class while he's gone"
"I am aware of that. And I'm not a girl"
"No way! You're too pretty to be a boy"
"Really, I mean it. I'm a boy"
"Haku-neechan is too a girl!"
"No, I'm not a-"
"Yes you are so a girl!"
"N-"
"Haku-neechan! Can you teach us to put on makeup?"
"I don't wear-"
"If you're a guy why're you wearing a dress?"
"It's a hakama, not a-"
"Haku-neechan!"
"Its nichan"
Haku tried to quiet down the students. He really did.
"Haku-neechan! Taro says he has a crush on you"
"I did not you liar!"
"Don't call me a liar you liar!"
Haku hung his head in his hands.
"Mou. Can't these kids ever be quiet?"
"Hey you just used 'mou'! Only girls use that!"
"Yeah! That proves she's a girl!"
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The exam was nearing the forty minute mark. It was time for Naraku to make his move. He stood up, walked over to the Kumo nin from earlier, backhanded him out of his seat and took his test.
"How dare you! I'll kill you, you little freak!"
"Temper temper. You need to stay calm when taking tests; everyone knows that"
"Damn you!"
The Kumo nin punched Naraku square in the jaw, only to have him dissolve into mud. Infuriated he rushed Naraku, who was back at his seat. One of the proctors grabbed him, keeping him inches away from Naraku's smirking face.
"There is no killing allowed. Return to you seat immediately"
"But he-"
"Now"
The Kumo nin sat down again, swearing revenge on Naraku. He almost missed the fact his exam was still in front of him. He quickly looked back to Naraku. Naraku just waved. Just then Ebisu came crashing through the door, screaming his lungs out. He took a few steps than stumbled forward. Grasping his posterior Ebisu again shouted; drawing more attention to him. A furry, flaming hand erupted from Ebisu's pants. It was followed by a shoulder and a head. It began screeching and tried ever harder to extract itself from Ebisu. AN: That's right. He has a flaming monkey crawling out of his ass.
As suddenly as it happened both Ebisu and the monkey disappeared in a poof of smoke. While most examinees and examiners were looking around confused Hinata turned to Naruto.
"Naruto-kun…"
"He he he he. That was perfect! They never saw it coming!"
Hinata glanced down and noticed that Naruto's test had been replaced with the very same one she had been cheating off of.
"Quiet down, all of you. It is time for the final question"
Attention returned to the front of the room. Ibiki took stock of the remaining genin. Only about a half of them remained; the rest failed for not cheating effectively.
"The last question… is more of a choice. You may choose to try and answer it or choose to not answer and leave"
Slamming his hand on the board silenced the protesting genin.
"If you try to answer the final question and get it wrong you fail the whole exam and can never take it again"
Protests again erupted, citing the fact that Ibiki could not control other nations' policies on the matter.
"Well it's just bad luck that I'm in control this year. I make the rules and I won't change them"
Doubt and uncertainty began creeping into the genins' minds. Not even a minute had passed before one genin cracked under the pressure and left the room, failing his teammates along with him. That caused a cascade of genin to give up and leave. Naraku noticed that the Kumo nin that had earned his ire was remaining seated.
'Well we can't have that now can we?'
A sudden pain caused the nin to jump out of his chair, leading the proctors to list him as failed.
"I didn't! It was him! He made me…"
"You raised your arm and left your chair. You fail"
Naraku smiled, pleased with himself. That fool was out of the way. Now a subtle message to his teammates to not leave…
Both Momotaro and Nanami then had a kunai land on the desks in front of them with a simple note: Take the last question or I'll kill you. The recipients of the notes gulped nervously and became very determined to not leave their chairs. The number of genin leaving petered off; prompting Ibiki to reveal the tenth question.
"To all of you remaining… I say congratulations on passing the first exam!"
Multiple questions regarding this statement bombarded the now chuckling man.
"It's quite simple really. There was no tenth question so much as there was a choice to take it or not. Let me put it to you this way. Say you are a chunin assigned to go on a mission in hostile territory. You aren't given any information on enemy positions, numbers, traps or the layout of the area. Can you just decide not to take this mission? OF COURSE NOT!! These types of missions happen everyday for chunin here and in every other village! Anyone who wants to take the easy way out and try again next year is not fit to be chunin!"
"Wait a minute! Then what about the other questions? Why did we have to do them?"
In answer to Temari's query Ibiki began removing his bandana.
"In order to see who among you could gather information without being caught. If you are discovered any information you have could lose all validity and if you're caught-"
Ibiki finished pulling off the bandana, revealing his numerous scars. Many genin were shocked though other took it in stride.
"You could lose not only the information but your life and the lives of your comrades"
Ibiki put his bandana back on before going to his next statement but was interrupted by an object crashing through the window. It flew open stringing up a banner and revealing none other than Mitarashi Anko. Ibiki gave off a disapproving grunt.
"Alright! Whose ready for the next exam! Let's go!"
"You're early"
"Bite me"
"I'll leave that to someone else"
"Oh you're no fun. Anyways get your shit together 'cause we're heading for the Forest of Death!"
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Anko surveyed the genin before her. Oddly enough quite a few rookie teams had made it; four from Konoha, one from Suna another from Oto.
'Heh. Fresh meat' "So here we are! Welcome to the Forest of Death; your next testing grounds. The premise here is a no holds barred scroll battle where the object is to get a heaven and an earth scroll and get to the central tower in five days or less. You can't half-ass your way through this you're in there for the full 120 hours. There will be some deaths with this one, so everybody has to fill out these waivers proving I was not ultimately responsible and saving me some paperwork. You get a scroll for every three waivers. You, pass these out"
Giving Naruto the waivers nipped his sarcastic remark in the bud. As they circulated the genin read them and prepared themselves for the upcoming ordeal. A sudden commotion alerted the genin to the arrival of one very pissed off Kumo nin. His two teammates followed him trying unsuccessfully to stop him.
"YOU! I'll kill you you little shit! And then I'll kill that little Hyuga bitch of yours!"
"You were warned, fool"
Naraku dashed forward, catching his victim off balance. He recovered quickly, landing a glancing blow to Naraku. Now full of confidence the charged Naraku. Naraku responded by whipping his hand to the side, letting the light catch a near invisible strand of ninja wire. The other end of said wire came flying forward, taking the unfortunate Kumo genin's arm with it. Stopped dead in his tracks the hapless genin closed his other hand over the stump of his arm, staunching the bleeding. His poured all his hatred into a blazing glare at Naraku. A few quick handsigns and Naraku touched the forehead of the downed genin.
"Yakedo Shinin no Jutsu. No one threatens Hanabi-chan as long as I draw breath"
The Kumo nin's jonin instructor arrived just in time to see his student crumble to ashes. He started for Naraku but was stopped by Anko.
"No attacking examinees; you know the rules"
"But he-"
Tossing the severed arm at the jonin Naraku scoffed.
"Idiots. I warned you not to let them bite off more than they could handle. Be thankful I left two of them alive"
"Teme!"
"Or would you wish to join the other one in the afterlife? I think I can arrange that"
The Kumo nin stormed off, dragging his remaining genin behind him. Anko smirked at Naraku an gave him the once over.
"Not bad gaki. If you were a few years older I might just give that Hanabi some competition"
"I'm flattered. But don't let her hear you say that. She can be a bit jealous at times"
"Too bad. It might have been fun. Anyways let's get this show on the road! You've had enough time to fill out those waivers"
As the genin teams begin to collect their scrolls they disperse to the different numbered gates surrounding the Forest of Death. All the teams feel the pressure mounting as the starting time gets closer. At one gate is the concerned elder brother.
"Man, Raku is so heavy-handed. He needs to lighten up. Just randomly killing people all the time is going to haunt him one day"
"I know. It's scary just being near him. How does Hanabi put up with it?"
"I dunno. Oi, Sasuke, don't feel like you have to contribute to the conversation or anything"
Unable to stop herself Sakura laughed. Sasuke, if he had done anything but brood, didn't show it. Over at another gate the Oto nin were prepping for the last time.
"So the plan is to gun straight for the Uchiha"
"Right. Passing is secondary, but if we can't get him here then we'll do it in the next part of the exam"
At still another gate more Konoha nin were conversing.
"Dude Hinata, you have one seriously whacked out in-law"
"He's not a relative yet. Naruto-kun and I still haven't…. gotten married"
Shino noted the radiant shade of red his teammate turned in that pause. Yet another gat is visited.
"Mendokusei. I don't want to go through with this"
"Suck it up and do it! You aren't ruining my chances with Sasuk- of advancement just because you're lazy!"
Chouji just pined over all the food he wouldn't be eating over the next five days. Oddly enough team Gai was playing go fish. It is probably best not to ask. As for the Suna team they sat in silence awaiting the start of the exam. At the predetermined time the chunin assigned to the gates opened them. Naraku looked up at the expanse of trees. He swallowed a soldier pill.
"The hunt… is on"
mou feminine expression of exasperation
nichan older brother also used to refer to older unrelated males (I can't remenber if it's two is or not, someone correct me please)
neechan older sister also used to refer to older unrelated females
hakama divided skirt worn by aikido practitioners, shinto preists and preisteses
mendokusei troublesome
Jutsu learned used
Yakedo Shinin corpse burn jutsu. used primarily by the oi nin (hunter nin) squad of the anbu corps to remove bodies by burning them completely down to ash from the inside out; uses a large amount of charkra and direct contact so uses in battle are limited