Chapter 7: The Chuunin Exams
A/N-Y: We're Back!
A/N-S: Yay! You came out of the closet!
A/N-Y: I figured if I was going to die it would not be in a closet. Now... THEY'RE HERE!
A/N-K: You sound like that creepy little girl from Poltergeist.
GM NASAI: I think that was where I made Yuuki up from.
A/N-K: You mean we're stuck with a crazy chick who has ghost issues?
GM NASAI: It could be worse. I got Shina from Happy Feet and Frozen.
A/N-S: So that's why I can't stop singing Disney songs... Wait, where did you get Kana from?
GM NASAI: From Savannah. I just made her more rude.
A/N-K: Huh... That explains a lot.
A/N-Y: Disclaimer: GM NASAI does not own Naruto! If she did it would probably not be ending next month!
A/N-S/K: Of all the times! {Goes outside and screams in despair}
GM NASAI: Honestly... {Sighs} Read on people!
After living in Konoha for two weeks I'm still surprised that we hadn't gotten everyone with our visions. The women weren't shy about coming up to us in broad daylight, but the men were more discreet with their actions.
"Your wife will come back safely." I predicted in front of the BBQ restaurant the Akamichi clan owned. (Well most men).
"Thank you Unmei!" The old man bowed. His wife chuckled.
"You've calmed my husband, I thank you for that." She handed me a block of cheese, loaf of bread, and jar of sake.
"I don't think-"
"Please, you've saved me from his nagging until later." She said. I chuckled at her serious expression.
"Alright." I took the gifts before doing a quick shunshin to appear at Training Ground 7. I plopped down on the ground beside Yuuki and Kana.
"I thought you were only getting BBQ?" Yuuki asked eyeing the cheese hungrily. I threw it to her. She squealed before eating like a mouse. I never understood Yuuki and her obsession with cheese but I didn't judge. I loved sweets like no other!
"Gifts seem to fly out of the blue here." I said cryptically handing Kana her order.
"Who was it this time?" Kana asked taking the bread.
"An elderly couple. His wife was going to visit their granddaughter and he wanted to know if she would come back safely."
"Hmm." Kana hummed already eating. I bit into the bread leaving the sake alone. We didn't drink any alcohol, sadly. If we did our gifts would be null for twenty-four hours. A lesson Kami said would keep us on track. (I think she did that just to make sure we didn't drink.)
"Any more noise from the Konoha 12?" Yuuki asked. I eyed her anxious look before carefully answering.
"No. They're too busy training for the Chuunin Exams."
"Aw." Yuuki slumped. She's been like this ever since we'd met the Konoha 12. Neji had gotten onto her s*** list.
Flashback to the BBQ restaurant~
"I don't understand why you need to have cold tea with spicy yakinuka. It's just going to get hotter." Kana said.
"That's exactly why." Yuuki protested. "The hotter it is the hotter I'll be." She giggled.
"I don't think that's how it goes." I said.
"Sure it is. I've never had pimples or acne of any sort. The spiciness keeps my face clear and also gives me great pain tolerance." Yuuki stated.
"I'm not sure any of that made sense." Kana murmured to me as Yuuki devoured her food.
"She never makes sense." I said looking around. Outside I saw a familiar orange jumpsuit. "Naruto-sama!" I called.
"Eh?" He looked around. I waved my hand. When Naruto spotted us he grinned. "Unmei!" He came inside without paying attention to the glares. I could feel their shock when Naruto sat down beside us.
"What are you doing Naruto-sama?" I asked handing him a plate.
"Uh, eating I guess." He looked unsure. I couldn't understand how he was so cute and kind after everything he'd faced and would face. I just chalked it up to him hearing his parent's last words subconsciously.
"Eat up kid. There's no way we can finish this all by ourselves." Kana indicated the buffet we'd gotten, courtesy of the owners and cooks.
"Then why did you get this much anyway?" Sasuke asked coming in with Sakura behind him.
"Hey look its Sasuke!" Yuuki cheered scooting over. "Sit down, eat, enjoy."
"Uh?" Sakura looked unsure as I piled Naruto's plate.
"Having Unmei in a restaurant means we usually get these buffet style eats. Mainly for telling the future." Kana said.
"And that's usually how we pay." I said glaring at Naruto until he started eating.
"What happens if you've already eaten there?" Sasuke asked sitting down and getting a plate.
"We try to pay with money, Kami knows we have enough, but since we rarely eat in the same place twice we don't run into that problem a lot." Yuuki said. "Hey look, it's Team 10." She ran out of the private room we'd gotten. We saw her through the window talking to Shikamaru, Ino and Chouji.
"Is she always like that?" Sakura asked.
"Usually." Kana nodded.
"Have you been practicing?" I asked Sakura. She looked down.
"I don't know what to study for. There are so many different types."
"You'll get there Sakura." Naruto cheered.
"Naruto-sama is right." I said. Kana pulled out two books from her bag.
"You should try reading this. It's very good. Unfortunately I can't understand any of these to even try it out." She handed the books on medical ninjutsu and Tsunade's fighting style to Sakura.
"You'll understand." I said before looking to see Yuuki coming back with Team 10.
"Introductions!" Yuuki sang. "These are my sisters Kana and Shina. They know who you are and I'm pretty sure you all know each other." Yuuki nodded before sitting down.
"Hi." Shikamaru said boredly. I smirked. Oh how I loved his laziness and 'what-ever' attitude.
"Sit down, eat with us. It's all free anyway." I said.
"Seriously?" Choji asked sitting down and digging in without a second thought.
"How did that happen?" Shikamaru asked sitting down beside me. Having a lazy genius around was good luck. They were too lazy to defend themselves if you used them for shields. Not that that's what I'd do. (Maybe).
"They're Seers. Hey Shikamaru! Choji! Ino!" Naruto greeted still eating.
"I'm not eating that. I'm on a diet!" Ino cried looking at the food in disgust.
"So am I." Sakura seemed to remember before glaring at Ino. I felt Kana's Killing Intent start to bubble. This was one reason why Kana hated girly girls. They always look so thin, like twigs. Well that and they never could defend themselves properly.
"Ino, Sakura, are you a ninja?" I asked patiently glaring at Kana to stay seated.
"Yes." They replied haughtily. I nodded.
"Then doesn't it make sense to eat a full meal so you don't pass out when you train or go on missions? Unless you want to hinder your teammates with your lack of ninja skills and get everyone killed."
Ino and Sakura stared at me while I bit into some ribs.
"Meat provides protein and the only way to get that is to eat it, or drink lots of milk." Yuuki said. "Mmm, I love spicy food."
"I guess you're right." Sakura said slowly. Ino nodded grimly before sitting down.
"Good, now eat up before Choji eats it all." Kana said.
"I doubt Choji could." I said.
"Hey look, it's Team 8." Yuuki again ran off.
"How does she expect to eat if she keeps running off like that?" Kana asked.
"It's Yuuki, she'll finish eating before we do." I said. I looked back at Sasuke and Naruto. "I hope you two have been working on what I said."
"If I'm going to be Hokage why should I improve?" Naruto asked loudly.
"Naruto-sama, if you do want to be Hokage you should practice your Taijutsu. And maybe get some brains." Kana said before Sasuke could open his mouth.
"Once he meets Jiraiya he will." I muttered so low only Kana heard me. She snickered.
'Ero-sennin.'
"Look who I found." Yuuki chirped coming back with Kiba, Hinata, and Shino. "Kiba, Hinata, Shino meet my sisters Shina and Kana. And everybody else."
"Eat, it's a buffet." Kana ordered.
"And it's free." Yuuki chirped.
"Alright!" Kiba grinned sitting beside Naruto. "Up for a challenge dobe?"
"Bring it dog breath." Naruto challenged.
"They are morons." Shino said sitting between Sasuke and Shikamaru.
"Hn."
"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed. I looked at Yuuki who grinned. Just one more team and we'd have Konoha 12.
"I'll be right back." Yuuki chirped again.
"If you bring anyone else back-"
"Don't worry Kana, I will." Yuuki grinned before skipping out.
"I hate it when she does that."
"Eh," I shrugged. "She wouldn't be Yuuki otherwise."
"And how have you three managed to acquire a free buffet?" Shino asked.
"We're Unmei." Kana sighed. "We always get free things."
"It's the only way people can seem to thank us for telling their future." I muttered. "Naruto-sama, at least chew before you swallow." I smacked his back.
"I can't! I have to beat Kiba." Naruto gasped before continuing. I rolled my eyes at them.
"'Sama'?" Shikamaru asked.
"You'll understand when you're older." Kana said. "Then you'll call him that to."
"Hn. I'd rather die." Sasuke muttered.
"Be careful what you wish for." I said ominously. The lights all flickered. Sakura and Ino stopped glaring at each other, even Naruto and Kiba stopped eating. "Well that was weird." I commented lightly.
"That wasn't you?" Shikamaru asked.
"Not us." Kana said. "Must've been the wind."
"Look who I brought." Yuuki said coming in with Team Gai.
"Or it could've been them." I muttered.
"Neji, Lee, TenTen this is Shina and Kana. You can get to know everyone else later. Sit down and eat, it's free." Yuuki chirped. "Naruto-sama don't eat my food."
"Sorry." Naruto dropped his chopsticks. By now he and Kiba looked a little bigger.
"I think that's enough for you Naruto-sama." I said. "You two Kiba."
"I still... Beat you." Kiba mumbled, burping in the middle of his sentence.
"Your both idiots." Sasuke said. Neji sat beside Shino and Shikamaru as TenTen joined the girls and Lee sat beside Kiba.
"Now that everyone is here we can go." I said getting up.
"You're leaving?" Hinata asked avoiding her cousin's stare.
"Everyone look around you." Kana ordered. "I'm serious, do it!" They did as told though the emo's just looked bored. "You are the Konoha 12, the most powerful group to come out of Konoha and the ones who will help save the world."
"What?" Ino asked looking around. "But we're only kids."
"We said you will, we didn't say you'd do that today." Yuuki said happily.
"Get to know each other." I said. "Naruto-sama, practice your people skills here. It might make a difference before things start, plus it'll come in handy when you're Hokage."
"Him?" Neji sneered looking at Naruto. I saw Sasuke and Sakura tense. Good, Kakashi must be doing something right. "Hokage? I don't think so."
I looked at everyone else.
Apparently they weren't used to someone like Naruto being called Sama.
"Believe it or not Neji." Yuuki grinned. "But I'm betting on Naruto kicking your ass in the Chuunin Exams."
"And she rarely bets." I said.
"Be nice and don't kill each other." Yuuki's sweet voice shifted to cold and serious. "If you do I can promise none of you will ever be able to walk right again." They shuddered and nodded meekly. Yuuki smiled happily looking for all the world like a carefree idiot again.
I patted Naruto on the head.
"If Neji's being a bastard otouto, we'll know." Naruto looked at me in shock. I winked. "Good luck children." I grabbed Kana and Yuuki before I teleported us far away.
End Flashback~
It had probably been awkward but at least they knew each other's names and faces now.
I tore apart the bread in my hand and sprinkled it into the water for the fish.
Onto the next problem, Sarutobi insisted on waiting to tell Sasuke but we kind of overruled him. And Kakashi was on our side about that. Sasuke's response had been to hole up in his own world, re-evaluating things.
The only times he'd come out of his house was to do missions and to get food. That had been my chance to watch him interact with his teammates. With my bond strengthening skill I made sure he became closer to Sakura and Naruto. (Kana had managed to get Sakura straightened up by giving her new books and dragging Sakura to Kurenai and Anko.)
They'd also told Naruto about his parents and his godfather. Needless to say Naruto still wasn't taking to Sarutobi, Jiraiya and Kakashi. He and Sasuke were really bonding in their temporary ignoring of those Three Idiots.
The next problem was simple. It was almost time for the Chuunin exams. They'd start in a few short days and we'd have to be on our toes for that.
"Anko's coming." Kana warned. I groaned as we had to do another teleport to the river outside of Konoha.
"I hate running from our duties but we really need to have some alone time. These people are giving me an actual headache from all these visions." I groaned.
"Lady Izayoi did tell us to be careful with not overloading ourselves." Kana said splashing her face with water.
"Unfortunately we can't tell people what to do when it comes to our personal lives." Yuuki sighed laying back under the shade.
"How troublesome." I sighed looking over the lake. A vision hit.
'Rain came down, drenching the small village on the border of Amegakure. A gang of A-rank rogue ninja waited until the last light was out before making a move. They destroyed and looted the village. During the attack, two men in black and red cloaks watched from the shadows. When the missing ninja all combined the Paths of Pein attacked. The villagers were all dead.' My vision skipped. 'Pein was disappointed. He still held hope for creating a peaceful world. The villagers were mourned by him.'
I came back to the river.
Nothing had changed, but my mission was going to be separate. After this I'd need to head to Ame. If Pein still cared about his village and the villages on the border then he still had a heart. And if he did then there was a chance that I could work some magic in there. If I changed his perspective we could have a potential ally and be one step closer to helping Naruto bring about world peace.
Unfortunately I could also see Yuuki's vision coming true if I did go to Akatsuki. (Itachi...) I'd stopped arguing and fighting about that unfortunate fate, wasn't doing much good except giving me a headache. But I hadn't accepted it either. I loved my freedom as any boyfriend-less girl but this... I sighed. One did not disobey Kami and her matchmaking without dire consequences happening. I was hoping there was a good reason for this.
(A/N-S: There'd better be.)
(GM NASAI: Don't worry, it'll all work out somehow.)
I hummed a song from my original world.
"The Chuunin exams begin today." I murmured, leaning against the roofs balcony. Genin from the Great Nations were entering the Academy below us.
"Why didn't we take these exams?" Yuuki asked curiously.
"For one, we're Seers. We'd ruin the exams." Kana murmured. "Second, we don't exactly have a village. We roam the nations."
"And thirdly, we're guests. We're supposed to keep an eye on the exams." I said watching the Genin. "Although not on this test. Then no one would pass this test."
"Is Jiraiya in place?" Yuuki asked.
"Yep. Thanks to Sarutobi everyone is on alert for Orochimaru. Kabuto and his team have been cleansed. They have no memory of Snake face." Kana grinned. I wasn't looking but I could feel her glee.
"What about the Suna team?" I asked straightening up.
"I spoke with them earlier." Yuuki said. I caught her nervous look while Kana caught her tone.
"And... What happened?" Kana asked lightly. I took a good look at Yuuki. I saw the blue lines of friendship and a familiar line of white in her chest. Smugness and glee filled me no matter how I tried to fight it. Not that I really put up an effort.
"You found your soulmate." I stated without preamble looking back at the Academy.
"Eh?" Kana did a double-take.
"It's... It's complicated..." Yuuki groaned. It must be if it got Yuuki to act like she'd rather have depression then another boyfriend.
"How?" I shushed them.
"Now's not the time. We'd better get to the Forest of Death and get ready."
"Ooh, the funs beginning." Kana grinned. "And don't think I'm forgetting this conversation Yuuki."
"Of course." Yuuki chuckled nervously. We took off.
After running through the forest shadowing Team 7, Orochimaru didn't disappoint.
"I see him." Yuuki reported. I pressed a hand to the communicator on my neck.
"Where is he?" I asked keeping one eye on Team 7. They were running to the Tower after getting a scroll from a Mist team. I stopped running after them. They would be safe enough from here.
"Kana, look down please." I didn't have to wait long.
"I've got him. He's disabled now but he's smarter than the ones I usually trap. He'll regain his objective and break my suggestion in a few minutes."
"Got it. I'm on my way." I abandoned the Genin to head northwest. (I didn't think it would be possible to get Sasuke without the Curse Mark but apparently Chihiro (Lady Luck) was with us in this mission.)
"Out of curiosity, what is he doing?" Yuuki's voice asked.
"He thinks he's a ballerina giving a show for all the Kage." I skidded to a stop.
"There is no way in hell I'm getting close to Orochimaru if that's what he's doing!" I could hear Yuuki dying of laughter somewhere below.
"Relax. He's oddly good at this." Kana's cool voice came in. "It's almost creepy."
"That's what I'm afraid of." I muttered. I jumped off the tree to land on a shield. I flicked my wrist and my shield twisted into a slide. I love doing this.
I zoomed off my slide when the ground came. Of course, if I'd done this in our old world I'd be a pancake. I did a back flip off the tree I'd hit, landing perfectly safe and on my feet.
"And she sticks the landing." Yuuki yelled, clapping. I bowed, mockingly.
"Show off." Kana cried. I snickered but that quickly slid off my face. Orochimaru was indeed a ballerina but... He was also dressed in clothes tighter than Gai's. And that was... My brain couldn't function...
"This is so wrong." I yelled hitting Orochimaru with my shield. He slammed into the nearest tree, which was coincidentally, fifty feet away. And since my shields grew bigger as they traveled he was not gonna be 'a happy camper'.
Orochimaru slammed into the tree with the force field knocking the air out of him. I wrapped two layers of shields around him as he fell.
"So, what do you guys think?" I asked as Orochimaru was stretched like a starfish. (Yeah I'm going to have Kana wipe my memory of this. It would give me nightmares for the rest of my life.) "The possibilities are endless."
"We could leave him here for the animals to eat." Yuuki offered.
"No. Then the animals would get indigestion." Kana explained patiently.
"We could permanently mind wipe him." I grinned sadistically.
"No, not good enough. We still need him alive for the Invasion to happen" Kana said.
"Then what do you suggest, oh Great One?" I asked sarcastically.
"I wish Itachi was here. He could Tsukiyomi him." Yuuki sighed. Kana and I shared a quick glance.
"I could do it." Kana said catching my thoughts. I nodded.
"That would be enough for now."
"What?" Yuuki asked as Kana concentrated. "What are you gonna do? He's basically immortal!"
"No one is immortal." I said as Kana started to alter Orochimaru's memories.
"Everything went as planned?" Sarutobi asked once we'd reached the Tower.
"As far as Orochimaru knows, he marked Sasuke. And as far as Team 7 knows, the team they fought was a real team from Grass." Kana reported.
"I have to compliment Sakura, she really came through." I nodded absently moving my arm to get the stiffness out of it. "Although I don't recommend teaching her about any more nerve points, she could kill someone next time."
"Sasuke and Naruto have really improved on their team effort. They worked together and almost gave me a hard time." Kana said.
"Unfortunately we can't say the same about most of the teams we faced." I dropped a bag on the table. "Scrolls we won."
"You'll have to have a preliminary round. There's still too many that passed." Yuuki giggled. Sarutobi nodded.
"Then I shall have my ninja ready for this preliminary round." We nodded before walking out of the control room.
"I'm proud of our work guys, but we still need to change the way the Suna team is working." Kana said once we were alone in the hallway.
"Yuuki can do that." I dismissed.
"Me?" Yuuki squeaked.
"Yep, your souldmate is in that group isn't he?" I grinned evilly. "We're so happy you found someone sis."
"Truly happy for you and yours." Kana smirked. Yuuki groaned.
"I knew that would come back to bite my ass."
A/N-S: Poor, poor Yuuki. I'd feel sorry for her but...
A/N-K: I can't summon up the energy. Oh well.
GM NASAI: You two aren't even worried it could be Gaara?
A/N-S: If I have Itachi and Kana has Kakashi then Yuuki will definitely have Gaara. Kankuro just won't be able to handle her.
A/K-K: Gaara won't kill her without having us come down on his ass. Shukaku can't save him from us.
GM NASAI: I'm very glad Yuuki isn't here then.
A/N-S: Where is she anyways?
GM NASAI: I sent her to go fetch Tora. She's the only person who loves that demon cat enough to not 'accidentally' kill it. Unlike you two.
A/N-S/K: {Shudders in horror} We killed it soo many times! Why won't it just die!
GM NASAI: Okay... This is the longest chapter I've written so far. Unfortunately I don't think I can keep this up but I will try. For your sakes. Read, review, read again and then go back to the miserable existence we call life.
A/N-K: You were reading Anne Rice again huh?
GM NASAI: Little bit. Ja'ne!