A/N: Still going for five days in a row, so try to keep up with me, guys! I'm just really bored and excited at the moment!
"Hey, what's this?" Naruto said as he found a large paper on the wall. "Another test?"
"No, I don't think so," Sakura said as she examined it. "It looks like it's missing some words. Maybe that's what the scrolls are for."
Sasuke handed Sakura the Earth Scroll and Naruto the Heaven. "Open them."
The two looked at each other while their thumbs slipped under the open side and pulled.
When it was opened, it had a symbol on it, the kanji for fire and a kanji for person. Naruto squinted at it. "This is it?"
A large puff of smoke came from the Heaven Scroll. Sasuke looked on with a surprised expression. "Naruto, Sakura, let go of the scrolls. It's a summoning jutsu!"
Naruto immediately got rid of it, running a bit back as Sakura copied his actions. The smoke seemed to be growing taller and more human-like. A shadow was visible from it. It was no other than….
"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto called.
The academy teacher smiled warmly at the three of them. "Nice to see you guys. How long has it been?"
The three were shocked when Sasuke spoke, "What's going on?"
"Well, the test was set up so we Chūnin are to meet up with the exam takers and I was lucky enough to meet you guys," Iruka explained.
"Meet us?" Sakura wondered as Iruka took out a watch to see the time and he said, "Phew, you guys made it just in time."
"All three of you passed," Iruka added. "I would like to buy you each a round of ramen, but—"
The three teammates tackled him, each saying, "We did it!"
"You're all really happy about this, and so energetic, as well." Iruka put them back on their asses.
"So, Iruka-sensei, what would have happened if we opened the scroll during the exam?" Sakura asked.
"Sharp and intelligent as always, Sakura." He lay out the open scroll, to its contents. "This was a test for you to do your mission correctly, and if you were to break the rules, the one who saw what was inside would be unconscious until the exams were over."
Naruto had his hands clasped, as if he were praying. Thank you, Kabuto-san, thank you!
"What's the writing on the wall mean, Iruka?" Sasuke wondered.
"Who the hell cares, we passed, didn't we?" Naruto interrupted.
Iruka chuckled and answered, "The writing is the Chūnin motto, written by Hokage-sama.
"'If you lack Heaven, seek wisdom, be prepared' means, if Naruto's weakness was his brain, then he has to gain knowledge to prepare for his next mission. It also states that if you lack earth, you have to run in the fields to seek stamina. That means, if Sakura's weakness was stamina, it's telling you to work harder.
Lastly, if you have both elements of Heaven and Earth, you can succeed. With your team setup, each of you has to work harder at something different." Iruka sighed.
"Then what was the purpose of the test?" Naruto interjected.
"The purpose of the 5 day survival test is to see if you have the basic abilities of being a Chūnin. A Chūnin, as you know, has the responsibility of leading a team and is the rank of a captain in the military. You three have successfully passed that part. For the third and final part of this exam, I want you all to take the motto to mind. That's all I have to say."
Naruto ran ahead, but was stopped by Iruka. "Don't push yourselves too hard. Naruto, you ….."
"I'm not a kid anymore, Iruka-sensei! With this forehead protector, I've officially grown up! Don't look down on me, and don't think I'm going to lose, either!" Naruto shouted his hand on his headband.
The teacher smiled as his former student ran past him, the remaining two following close behind. Sakura said something to Iruka on her way. "Naruto's right, he has grown up."
The Hokage had a cigar in his mouth as he looked at Anko. "Is your mark all right?"
"Yeah, for now I guess. Besides, I thought someone like you would be more worried about me other injury," Anko said, patting her stomach.
"I suppose so, but I think that your mark is more fatal to you."
"Anko-sama, Hokage-sama, are you both sure that we can capture Jiraiya? He is one of the legendary Sannin and has disposed of every one of our ANBU that has gone after him." A Chūnin said.
"What's after, anyway?" asked another.
"He said something about a blond kid, which I assumed to be Naruto. I mean, who else would he be talking about?" Anko revealed.
The Hokage looked down; the legendary child was now the new target Jiraiya wants. From years of knowing the sage, he was well aware that Jiraiya would stop at nothing to get what he wanted.
"Anko-sama, the test has concluded with 21 passing teams. We will have to do the preliminaries for the first time in 5 years," a Chūnin announced.
"Yes, get on with the exam. We will have to keep watch on what Jiraiya does."
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Anko stood up.
"Congratulations, all of you!" Anko said through a headpiece. "Out of 78 takers, 21 of you have passed. I was expecting it to be in the single digits, but you have exceeded my expectations."
Gai looked smugly at Kakashi's team. "So your team passed. Very nice, Kakashi. Now, it's going to be about real battle ability."
Kakashi turned to Gai. "Did you say something, Gai?"
He turned away from the silver haired man. Not bad, Kakashi. I expected nothing less from my rival.
Team Dosu, Team Gai, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, Team Kakashi, Team Baki, and Kabuto's team had passed.
Team Dosu was staring intently at the Uchiha's team. Zaku looked at the blond. I'll get you back eventually for my arm.
Baki was looking at his team. Baki focused on Gaara at first, realizing he had no visible wounds then Temari and Kankuro, who both had only small scratches.
All of the rookies made it this far, it's almost unreal. Naruto thought, moving his eyes from each of the teams. I'm getting a strange feeling.
"Hokage-sama, explain to them the test," Anko said.
"Before I explain the test, I need to tell you something. It involves the true reason for this exam. Do any of you know why each participant gathers in a single hidden village instead of staying in their own respective village?
"'To promote friendship among the countries', 'To raise the ability of shinobi'? Both are incorrect. The real reason for it is to be a replacement for war among the allied countries.
"Before the countries became allies, they were enemies. The countries fought endlessly to see who would rule. In order to prevent senseless fighting, the stage that these countries choose for battle that is the origin of this exam."
"So why the hell does that have anything to do with becoming a Chūnin?" Naruto shouted.
The Hokage blew out a puff of smoke from his cigar. "It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobi have what it takes to be a Chūnin. On other hand, it has another side. One that shows how far a shinobi will go to risk their lives to protect their land's honor.
"The leaders and great individuals from each land will be watching. The leaders will also be there to witness your battles. Depending on how a village's representatives do their battles and get promoted, that land will receive more clients, however, if they are weak they will lose their clients.
"It can also send political message, like 'We have this much power'."
Kiba yelled, "Why do we have to risk our lives in combat?"
"The strength of a country is the strength of the village and to strength of the village is the strength of a shinobi. And a shinobi's true strength is born through life-risking battles.
"This exam is a place to see each county's strength and to show off your own personal strength as well. It only has meaning because lives are at risk in the battles. Those who have come before you have fought in this exam for this dream that is meaningful."
"But then why did you say stuff about it being for friendship, Hokage-sama?" Tenten cut him off.
These kids' questions are really annoying me. The Hokage cleared his throat. "I said this in the beginning; I don't want you to confuse the purpose of these exams. By losing lives and establishing balance. This is the shape friendship takes in the world we live in now. Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a simple test ….This is a life-risking battle for survival. With your dreams and your country's honor on the line as well."
"Hurry up and tell us more about the life-risking details," Gaara said.
"Yes, I'll explain that now but…" he stopped, thinking in his mind, If you little kids would stop interrupting me, this talk would've already been over.
"Actually, Hokage-sama, as referee, will you please allow me, Gekkō Hayate," a man coughed.
"By all means," the Sandaime said.
"Hello everybody, I'm Hayate," he said. "Before the third test, I'd like you all to do something."
Naruto examined Hayate with great interest. Is he sick or something, he sure sounds like it?
"It's a preliminary for the third test. Whoever passes advances to the finals," Hayate told them.
"Preliminary, what do you mean?" Shikamaru asked loudly.
"I don't understand either, Hayate-san. Why aren't the people here allowed participating in the main thing?" Sakura added.
"Ummm, this year's test might have been too easy, seeing as how so many people made it here," He coughed. "According to the rules, since there are too many people, we need a preliminary to reduce the number of you down. As Hokage-sama stated, there's going to be many important people there, and too many fights will be too much for a limited amount of time.
"Those who feel like quitting may come up now, since we'll be starting soon, come up."
"What? Right now?" Kiba asked.
Kabuto smiled, remembering his plan. He rose up his hand and said, "I'm going to quit."
Sasuke looked in disbelief. "Kabuto?"
Hayate took out a clipboard, supposedly with the names of the takers. "You're Yakushi Kabuto-kun from Konoha. You may leave now.
"Does anyone else want to leave now? Oh, I forgot to tell you all, this is individual battling, no longer team-based. You may raise your hand on your own judgment."
"Kabuto-san, why are you quitting?" Naruto asked.
"I'm a bit beat up from the last test. Besides, my ear still hurts from when the Sound Team attacked during the first test." Kabuto looked at Naruto.
Anko took a closer look at Kabuto. "I remember him, he quit last time and six times before that."
"What the hell kind of a record is that?" Hiruzen wondered.
"Well, he didn't stand out much during his time at the academy, had average grades, and graduated on his third try at it. He also completed a total of 16 missions, two C-rank and 14 D-rank. Nothing really special about him." Anko went over his data.
"What about before the academy?"
"Before he entered the academy?" She flipped through the papers and stopped at a particularly interesting one. "Well, do you remember the boy brought back from the battle at Bellflower Pass?"
"Yes, I remember a Jōnin member of a med team brought a child back, the only survivor. He's that boy, isn't he?"
She nodded.
Jiraiya now had a new temporary form. It made him lose the red marks on his face, no warts, retaining his white hair and having an Otogakure forehead protector.
A disguised Jiraiya and Kabuto exchanged glances as he fixed his glasses and quickly shifted his eyes to see Team Kakashi. Sasuke-kun, Naruto-kun, Sakura-san, it would have been fun to play with you longer, but I guess we'll have to wait on that.
"Don't take any selfish actions. Remember this is for Jiraiya-sama," Yoroi said to his teammate.
"I know, I know," he reassured.
Jiraiya kept his focus on Kabuto. Trying your best to keep down your boiling blood as you have to live a lie as a spy. Such a great apprentice.
"I'll let you take over, Yoroi-kun. You great abilities to do it." Kabuto smiled. "This is also your chance to prove you're stronger than I am, since I have surpassed you."
"Don't get too cocky just because you're Jiraiya-sama's favorite," Yoroi said.
"Understood, senpai." Kabuto started to walk away.
Team Kakashi watched as he waved to them and kept walking. As he walked away, he smirked. I'll save the fun for next time, Naruto-kun. You, too, Sasuke-kun, Sakura-san.
Naruto looked at Yoroi and felt a wave of pain coming from the seal. He grabbed onto it and Sakura looked at him. "Naruto, are you alright?"
"I think I will, Sakura-chan. So we're going to keep this from Sasuke?" He asked, feeling relaxed as Kurama took the pain and absorbed it as a power source.
Hayate looked expectantly into the crowd of people. "No more retiring?"
Seeing that the pain came back and was doubled Naruto winced. Sasuke looked at the blond. "You know, if you're hurt, you should quit."
"No," Naruto said plainly.
Sakura started to tear up. "Naruto, you should quit! I don't care if you think you can fight, you should just be safe!"
"S-Sakura-chan, I can't," Naruto tried to calm her down.
"I'll tell the proctor and the sensei's about it, so just—" She was cut off as Sasuke grabbed her wrist and looked at her in the eyes.
"If Naruto says he feels fine, we should believe him," he said.
Sakura knew that Sasuke felt a change of heart and wanted, selfishly, to fight the Uzumaki. She nodded to him. She knew that she would come to regret it later. Sasuke wanted to convince her more thoroughly, stating, "Naruto wants to be the noticed for his abilities, so why should we try to stop him?"
"Yes, Sasuke-kun." She looked down.
"And you." Sasuke turned to Naruto. "What's up with making Sakura worry? I thought you liked her."
Naruto grew red. "No I don't, Sasuke! Stop acting like you know my feelings toward her!"
Anko went over to Hiruzen. "I think we should pull him out of the exam now."
"Well, there might be a flaw in that," Kakashi started. "He's not the type to give up so easily. Especially because he's an Uzumaki."
"Don't be an idiot! We have to pull him out, now! By releasing as much chakra as him, he'll go wild and the forbidden will destroy his body!" Anko yelled.
"The Kage Bunshin?" Kakashi scratched his head.
"Stop playing with me! You know what I mean!"
The Hokage spoke to the two. "It's amazing he's still standing. By now, he should be dead. Jiraiya is on my mind. I want to see why he chose this boy."
"H-Hokage-sama!" Anko protested.
"But if the cursed seal starts to go wild, jump in and take him out of the arena. Understood?"
Ibiki stood to his right. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
"Now, let's begin the preliminaries. This preliminary will be one-on-one fighting. It'll be just like a real life fight. Since we now have 20 participants, we'll conduct 10 randomly selected matches. The winners will advance to the next part.
"There are no rules in the fight, only to keep going until one is unable to battle, meaning knocked out, incapable, or dead. If you don't want to die then acknowledge your defeat before that point. Since we don't want a mass overload of corpses, I'll jump in to stop it if I see an expected death, okay?"
Anko spoke into her earpiece. "Open it."
Hayate said, "Is this…This is an electronic board that will randomly choose two names and those two will be opponents. Is that clear? Now, time for the first matchup."
The board flashed random names repeatedly between a versus sign. Everybody in the room kept their eyes on it until it stopped with two names lit in green.
Hayate read aloud the names, "The first matchup, Uchiha Sasuke versus Akado Yoroi."
Yoroi fixed his dark sunglasses as he looked at Sasuke. The Uchiha stared at his enemy.
Hayate brought the two males to the center. "Are you both ready to participate?"
"Yes," they said in unison.
A/N: Ninth chapter, done. You know, since I'm still starting to adapt to having Sasuke as a normal guy, I still want to keep the battles the same, but have it done my own way. I used this chapter for an explanation of the Chūnin Exams because it's important to know some of the original story. I just made the dialogue a bit different.
In the canon, Hayate's birthday is the same as mine, November 2nd, but I don't like how he died, I kinda liked him. Remember, I'm trying to made consecutive days because, in almost any long chapter story, the beginning is updated quickly then it gets slower.
And I have a story for you guys to check out if you like the idea of a cool Naruto. Search The Sealed Kunai by Kenchi618, it's pretty good!
