"Konohamaru!" Kairi said.
"So, does this hurt, punk?" the paint-faced boy tightened his grip, and Konohamaru cringed.
"Put him down, Kankuro, or you know you'll pay for it later." The blonde girl chastised him.
"Hey…I'm sorry. The whole thing was my fault." Sakura was afraid, and was trying to fix things. Who are they? What are they?
"You better take your hands off him right now!" Kairi shouted at him.
Kankuro turned his awful gaze to her. "Would you rather I play with you?" She faltered as he spoke so darkly to her.
The boy continued tightening his grip. Konohamaru started to choke.
So these are the Leaf Village's genin, huh? "We got a few minutes, let's mess with these punks." Kankuro grinned evilly.
Konohamaru began to kick futilely. "Let me go, you big jerk!"
"You're feisty." Kankuro smirked. "But not for long." He tightened his grip more.
Naruto started running at the paint-faced boy. "Put him down!" He growled.
With a movement of his fingers, Kankuro put Naruto flat on his back.
"What the-?! What was that?" Naruto shouted.
"You're a leaf genin too? Looks like your village is full of weaklings." Kankuro said in response.
What are these guys doing here? Kairi clenched her fists.
"You're all annoying, and I don't like runts or scrawny weaklings." Kankuro said, making a fist. "So when a wimp like you starts shooting his mouth, I just wanna break him in half." He finished with an evil grin.
"*Sigh* Fine, I'm not involved in any of this, okay?" The blonde girl said.
Just as Kankuro pulled his fist back, Kairi launched a kick at his arm. He dropped Konohamaru. Then, before he could catch himself, she kicked his feet out from under him.
Whoa, I didn't even see her coming! Kankuro held his arm. She's not like these other twerps.
"You leave us alone!" Kairi shouted at him.
"Why you little-!" Kankuro shouted. He stood up and was about to throw a punch, but was stopped by a stone that was launched at his hand. "Huh?!" He looked up at the tree, and Sasuke was there.
"You're a long way from home, and way out of your league." Sasuke said, tossing another stone in his hand.
Kairi leaned over to Konohamaru and whispered when no one was paying attention. "You should probably go back over there." She motioned to Naruto. He scrambled that way.
"Oh great, another wimp." Kankuro said.
"Get lost." Sasuke said firmly, crushing the stone in his hand.
Sasuke! Always trying to make me look bad in front of everyone! Naruto was flaming with anger.
"Hey punk, get down here." Kankuro said to Sasuke. "You're the kind of pesky snots I hate the most. All attitude and nothing to back it up." He looked at Kairi. "Especially you. You've got a lot of spunk for a little girl."
Little? I'll show you, asshole! Kairi shot him a cold glare.
Kankuro started to take a large mummy-looking case off of his back.
"What?! You're going to use the crow for this?!" The blonde girl shouted at him. She sounded very concerned.
"Kankuro, back off." A voice came from the other side of the tree. Sasuke gasped. "You're an embarrassment to our village." He said. He had red hair, and a huge gourd on his back. He was standing upside down on a tree branch.
What the… Kairi was taken aback.
"Uh…hey Gaara." He laughed, nervously.
How did he get there? He didn't even make a sound! Only jonin at Kakashi's level are that smooth. Sasuke was troubled.
~~~
"I have summoned you for a very important purpose." The 3rd Hokage was making an announcement. "Seeing your fellow Jonin, I'm sure you know what this is about."
"So soon?" Kakashi asked. "I thought we'd have a little more time."
"I take it all of the other lands have been notified about the coming event." Raido said. "I've already seen their genin around the village."
"When do we start?" Kurenai, Team 8's sensei asked.
"We will begin in one week." The hokage stated.
"That's pretty short notice." Kakashi said.
"Exactly 7 days from today, on the first day of July, the Genin will be gathered and tested. Only the very best will be selected as Chunin." The Hokage finished.
~~~
"Have you forgotten the reason we've come all the way here?" Gaara asked firmly.
"B-but Gaara, they challenged us! See, here's what happened-"
"Shut up." He shot a piercing, evil look at Kankuro. "Or I'll kill you." It shot shivers down everyone's spine.
"Heh, right right. I was totally out of line. I'm sorry Gaara." Kankuro was sweating now.
Almost as if he wasn't listening, Gaara turned his head to look at Kairi. "I'm sorry for any trouble he caused."
Kairi just looked at him. This guy…has an awful, evil look in his eye.
He stopped Kankuro with a pebble, and made it look easy. She stopped him with one swift kick. They're both someone to keep an eye on. Gaara thought. He turned to sand and appeared next to Kankuro. "Let's go. We didn't come here to play games." The three turned and began to walk away.
"Hold on!" Sakura shouted at them. They didn't stop. "Hey!"
"What?" The blonde girl asked.
"You're from the Village Hidden in the Sand. No shinobi can enter another's Village without permission." Kairi stated.
"So state your purpose!" Sakura shouted. "And it better be good!"
"Really? Have you all been living under a rock?" the blonde girl replied. "We have permission." She held up her pass. "You're correct, we are Hidden Sand Genin." She said to Kairi. "We're here for the Chunin Exams. Get the picture?" she sassed.
"What are the Chunin Exams…?" Naruto scratched his head.
"Naruto, it's when the Genin of the village are tested to become Chunin." Kairi said to him. Isn't it obvious by the name?
"Oh! Why didn't you say so?! I am so there!" Naruto became determined.
"Hmph." Gaara turned and started walking again.
"Hey, you! With the gourd!" Sasuke hopped down from the tree next to Kairi. "Identify yourself!"
Gaara stopped walking again. "My name is Gaara of the Desert. I'm curious about you, too. Who are you?" He turned to look at Sasuke.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
Gaara looked at Kairi.
Oh, he's looking at me. "Kairi Namikaze."
"Hi there, I bet you wanna know my name too-" Naruto started.
"I couldn't care less who you are." Gaara turned again and disappeared with the other two.
"Well, things are getting interesting." Kairi said to Sasuke. He smirked at her.
~~~
"All right, it's time to choose our candidates." The 3rd hokage said. "To begin, will those in charge of the rookie Genin please step forward?" Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma and Raido stepped forward.
"Kakashi, Kurenai, Asuma and Raido. What do you say? Are there any in your squads ready for examination despite their inexperience? As you know, technically, any Genin that has carried out 8 or more missions is eligible. Beyond that, only you can decide if they are ready."
There's no need to say all of this. It's way too soon for all of them. Iruka thought.
"Kakashi, you begin." The 3rd Hokage motioned to him.
"I lead Squad 7. Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno. I, Kakashi Hatake, recommend all three of these Genin for the Chunin selection exams."
Iruka gasped.
"My Squad is number 8. Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame. I, Kurenai Yuhi, recommend all three."
"Mine is Squad 9. Daigo Yuudai, Tadashi Akihiro and Kairi Namikaze. I, Raido Namiashi, recommend all three."
"And I lead Squad 10. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi. I, Asuma Sarutobi, recommend all three."
There was whispering all around.
"Hold on, just a minute!" Iruka shouted. "Lord Hokage, with all due respect, the nine names that were just listed were all my students at the academy, and I know their talents and abilities! Every one of them has great promise, but it's way too soon! They need more experience! If they do it now, they are sure to fail!" He was pleading.
"When I became a Chunin, I was 6 years younger than Naruto is now." Kakashi stated.
"Naruto is nothing like you!" Iruka shouted. He walked to get in Kakashi's face. "Are you trying to destroy him?!"
"Well, they're always complaining about not being challenged enough. Maybe wiping out on the exams will teach them a lesson."
"A little pain is good." Raido chimed in.
"Wha-What did you say?!" Iruka continued to shout.
"Oh, nothing fatal, of course. But seriously Iruka, relax." Kakashi said in a calm voice.
Iruka grunted in frustration.
"I understand how you feel. It's very personal for you, and it upsets you, but-"
"Alright Kakashi, back off. You've said enough." Kurenai interrupted him.
"On the contrary, Kurenai. Iruka needs to hear this. He needs to realize that they're not his students anymore, they're ours." Raido backed Kakashi up.
"But these exams could destroy them! You know that!" Iruka began to shout again.
"Iruka!" The 3rd shouted. "You have made your point. I understand." He spoke calmly.
"Lord Hokage." He said respectfully in response.
"They have proven they're ready to me." He cocluded. Iruka conceded.
~~~
"Ahh! Where are they?!" Naruto shouted. He, Sakura, Sasuke, Tadashi, Daigo and Kairi were all waiting under that cherry blossom tree for their senseis.
"This happens every time, it's about time we get used to it." Kairi was sitting on the bench under the tree. "It's always the same. We rush to get here and end up waiting."
Poof! "Hey everyone." Raido and Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke.
"Sorry, got lost on the path of life." Kakashi said, cheerfully.
"Bullshit!" Daigo yelled at them.
Both teams gathered closer.
"I know this is a bit sudden, but we recommend all of you for the Chunin exams." Kakashi said.
"Here's the application forms." Raido passed them each one. "This is all voluntary. It's up to each of you. If you don't feel ready, you can wait till next year."
"All right! Kakashi-sensei you rock!" Naruto jumped up to hug him.
"Don't you slobber on my vest!" Kakashi threw him off. "Whoever wants to take the exams, sign the application and come to Room 301 at the academy at 3pm five days from now. That's it."
"This is perfect!" Kairi was exuberant.
Naruto giggled. "Chunin Exams!" He looked at the application.
~End of Chapter 9~
