Fox, Waitress, and Valkyrie
Chapter 10: Chunin Exams Begin
Yay, I'm at the second arc of three in part one. Anyway this arc will feature what I call fight scene carnival. I've been planning those fights for a while, and I'm thrilled about that. That being said let's start with the reviews.
Blitzfury: Yeah, I had a debate about what to do with Lenneth and this made the most sense. I think that I can answer your question though because I finished VP:l recently. In VP:l, Platina died from inhaling the Weeping Lilly Pollen. Lucian told Lenneth this, and with memories of the past, Lenneth was able to get around her original death.
Scione: Thanks bro.
DeExil: Yeah my last semester of CC before I go to Marquette University. I can't wait to go there. Yes I think it's obvious by now ... or is it?
Joseph33759: (points finger to the left) that way. No problem. I love responding to my public.
...
Team one's upcoming C-ranked mission was a simple one. A merchant of Waterfall needed an escort back to his village. He was a regular of Konoha so they knew that the man would be of little problem. They were perfectly right. The trip went without a hitch and the team reached Waterfall in three days by walking. Kushina let her gennin take a trip around the village. Naruto, Ayame, Lucien, and Haku all took the tour together and had some lunch which was, to Naruto's persistence, ramen.
After lunch, the group took a tour around the village and went to the town square. In the center of the square was a statue of a large man. He was large in both size and stature. His sword was a long, broad sword and he looked like one not to be trifled with.
"Who's this guy? He looks pretty tough." Naruto asked.
"Indeed. He kind of looks like Zabuza-sama in a way."
"It says here on this plaque, that his name was Arngrim and he founded this village over a thousand years ago. But didn't shinobi villages not come to be until only a hundred and fifty years ago?" Ayame asked.
"I'm not sure about all that but I'm sure that some shinobi villages were built on preexisting villages. The village may have been added as a shinobi village 150 years ago, but the village itself could be as old as the beginning of time." Lucien said.
"How are you so intelligent Lucien? I mean you have to be even smarter then Sakura or Sasuke." Ayame wondered.
"I figured from day one that I'd have to be this teams tactician. I have a natural aptitude for intelligence and I use that to my advantage. Combine that with Naruto's freakish strength, stamina, and agility, Ayame's speed, quickness, and deadliness, and Haku's all around abilities, we're going to be a tough group ready for advancement. Hey Haku, what exactly do you have to do to advance in rank anyway?"
"I don't know. I never really went through all that. Zabuza-sama made the mask that I used himself. I never was even a gennin."
"Maybe we could ask kaa-sensei when we meet back up with her."
After that, Lucien and Haku left Naruto and Ayame to make kissy face, as Lucien called it, and went separate ways in their tour through the village. Ayame found and bought a scroll on basic and advanced bow use and maintenance while Naruto played a lottery for a scroll of water jutsus. He won the jackpot much to Ayame's amazement. Lucien picked up a text on sword usage and Haku got some texts on herbal elements.
After their little shopping spree, team one met back up with Kushina at the entrance to the village. She looked and saw everything that the team had.
"So, it looks like you guys spent some of the money from the last mission eh. I hope that you all used it wisely on things that you may need instead of twenty thousand dollars of instant ramen." Kushina said sternly.
"But I didn't kaa-sensei. I never did something like that. It's a scroll for water jutsu that I won. Honest." Naruto said, waving his hands in front of his face.
"Actually that was a reference to myself. This one time when I was pregnant with you, I had a huge craving for ramen, and since your father wasn't around I kinda ... splurged a bit."
"Well now we know about his addiction to ramen. Another trait that he picks up from his mother." Lucien started. "Hey, Kushina-sensei, how exactly do we move up in rank? We asked Haku about it but he never really answered."
"I was hoping to tell you when we got back to the village, but I guess that can wait. Well in order for a gennin to become chunin, they have to take a specialized exam held twice a year. This year, we have one exam, the first one, in Konoha, and the other one is in Kumo. Applicants are selected by their senseis and before we left, I nominated you three and hokage-sama agreed if you fill out your applications that I have with me."
"Really!? You're the best kaa-sensei! This is awesome and will put me one step closer to becoming hokage myself."
"Yup. Iruka had his complaints but I had a few words with him and well, that's that."
"So what's the test like anyway Kushina-sensei?" Lucien asked. "We were wondering what it would be like and never came up with anything."
"I can't tell you the specs but I can say this. For an unprepared team it can be like hell on earth. Some don't make it out alive, while others are scarred for life. But those are the unprepared squads. A squad as good as this one will pass the exams with a bit of difficulty but nothing too challenging."
The team was a bit relieved and still confident about their chances of success in the exams. They filled out their paperwork during a break on the trip back to the village. It took again three days to get back to the village and the sight that they saw was different then what they expected. They saw ninja from different nations walking around supposedly for the exams. After walking through the village they saw a group of Suna ninja picking on a small boy with spiked black hair and a long blue scarf.
One of the ninja was covered in black clothing and had a cloak over the top of his head. He had white face paint on him with purple stripes on his face. On his back was a large brown cocoon shaped item.
His counterpart had blond hair tied up into four pigtails and a large fan strapped to her back. She wore a purple dress that stopped at her mid thigh. Her protector dangled around her neck in a similar fashion to Ayame. She also had a red belt around her slender waist.
"Hey put me down you big freak." The kid ordered.
"Now now gaki, don't talk like that to me. I should teach you how to respect your superiors." The boy with the make-up said,
"I'm the grandson of the hokage and the next hokage of this village so you better put me down or you'll be sorry."
"Oh the grandson of the hokage huh? Well then I should give you mire then what I was thinking of giving you gaki."
"Just put him down Kankouro. It's not worth the hassle. Besides just think about what he would do if you get caught." Reprimanded the girl.
"Quiet down Temari. He's not here now so let's have our fun while we can." Kankouro told her.
"Excuse me but I don't think it's wise for an enemy to be picking on any civilian in this village. So put the kid down and we won't have any trouble." Lucien said stepping into the picture.
"Or what huh? You gonna do something about it?" Kankouro demanded. Soon after Kankouro felt the blade of a kunai pressed against his throat. Looking back, he saw a blond haired ninja with whiskers on his face. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Temari getting taken by a brunette girl. She had her legs wrapped around Temari's left and her arms around Temari's chin putting her in a very uncomfortable position.
"Fine fine, you win this round, but if I see you three in the exams you're dead you hear me?" Kankouro let the boy go and he hid behind Lucien and Naruto released Kankouro, while Ayame let Temari free.
"Kankouro you're a disgrace to our village." A new presence appeared under the branch of a tree. He had red hair and a kanji tattoo for love written on his forehead. He had a black shirt on with a white sash going across his body. Strapped to his back was a huge brown gourd. He had mesh underneath his shirt, and black shorts.
Team one had similar thoughts going on at the time. When did he get there? How did I not sense him at all? He's good. Maybe the best I've seen yet save Zabuza.
"G-garra, when did you get here?" Kankouro shivered.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you. I apologize for my comrades here." Garra spoke with a low and frightening tone. "He can get a bit, excited when a challenge arises."
"No problem. I would advise him though not to stir up in a village full of ninja. You can't enter the exams without a full roster if you catch my drift."
All four of them seem strong in their own way. The blond has so much chakra and pure speed to get behind Kankouro. The brunette has quickness seldom seen in any ninja. The silver haired is the most intelligent, and the fourth can hide himself perfectly.
"I wish to know the names of all four of you. Including the one hiding in the trees over there." Team one looked shocked that he was able to detect Haku's presence and Haku dropped into the clearing. Each member of the team gave their name and Garra gave his before all three Suna ninja walked off.
"That guy is scary. I can't imagine too many being stronger then him in the exams though." Lucien started. "Anything wrong Naruto, you seem a bit off?"
"No nothing. Just something in his eyes I didn't like. Like they were in constant pain and suffering. He's like a kindred soul in a way."
"I agree with Naruto on this. The look in his eyes was like the look in mine before Zabuza-sama picked me up off the streets. Lonlieness and without a purpose."
"Hey you blondy. That was awesome what you did with that bully. You too lady. You all are just awesome. I'll be sure to remember you guys when I become hokage." Said the little boy. Lucien chuckled.
"Hey Naruto, looks like you got a rival for the Hokage position. What are you gonna do about it?" Lucien wondered.
"Simple really. I beat him out to become hokage and name him my successor."
"Hah, you're good but I have the shortcut to becoming hokage, a good and solid training regiment with the best sensei in the entire village. Top that."
"Listen uh,"
"Konohamru."
"Konohamaru. There is no shortcut to becoming hokage. Hokage's not about getting a shortcut or bloodline, it's about giving your all in everything that you do. Whether it be training, D-ranks, or killing ninja and rescuing a beautiful princess. There's no such thing as a shortcut, and if you truly believe that there is one, then you'll never become hokage." Team one looked shocked that Naruto spoke words like that, but then they all smiled. They knew that despite his cheerful and outgoing appearance, another part of him knew more about true maturity then even old men.
"I understand Naruto-neesan. From now on I'll work hard and beat you to the position of hokage." Konohamaru left the area just leaving team on and Haku.
"So, some of the participants are pretty tough. Lucien do you know any way to maybe give us a preliminary edge over the competition?" Ayame asked.
"Well I have one idea but I don't know how everyone is going to react."
"What's the idea?" Naruto deadpanned.
"Well most people have a single weakness and that's bragging to the opposite sex. So I say, we flirt our way into finding out info about people from other villages. But since the birds over here won't go for it I say that Haku and I can handle it. I charm the girls while Haku takes the boys."
"But I am a boy."
"Well Haku one of us has to act as a girl. Heck you don't even have to do anything that makes you seem homosexual. Just dress up like a girl and flirt with the guys a little bit until they give you info about their team."
"And how does that exactly make me not seem homosexual?"
"OK so it does. Anyway just dress like you did in the forest and just talk to some of the male gennin and let them reveal some of their secrets." All of a sudden a team from Kiri came by. It was made up of two female gennin and one male. Lucien took off his headband and innocently bumped into one of the girls. He fell down along with her and helped her get up.
"I'm so sorry I'm new in town and awfully clumsy. Are you alright?" The girl looked at him with hearts in her eyes and a red face.
"Y-yeah I'm fine. Actually I'm sorry for bumping into you. I've never been here before."
"That's okay. I don't mind. So you're not local?"
"No we're here for the chunin exams held here this year. I'm Kanna, and these are my teammates Raku the boy, and my best friend Anta."
Meanwhile team one watched on as Lucien continued to talk to the girls. After a while they all left while Kanna wrote something on Lucien's hand. He walked back over to the group to report his findings about them.
"A typical strength on strength team. Kanna the girl I was talking to is proficient with taijutsu. The boy is excellent with water style ninjutsu. To be expected really from a ninja of Kiri. The other girl is great at genjutsu. She's so good at it she made herself seem like a girl even though she's a boy. I rate them a six on a scale of ten."
"What did she write on your hand?" Ayame asked.
"She gave me the hotel she's staying at along with their room number. Of course she was a bit disappointed when I told her that we were actually ninja but still she wanted to go out with me."
"Wait you told her? Why?" Haku asked.
"She deserved to know. Besides I also told them that others would try the same thing so they're on lookout for it. Think of it as an alliance for the exams."
"I see. So you want me to do something similar, but with the guys?"
"Yeah. Just get the info you need and tell them what we did right?"
"Exactly. The exams are in seven days. We use that time to suck up any info that we can in that time. That way, when it comes to exam time, we'll have a leg up on the competition."
"So you three are entering the competition too are you?" Sasuke said as he and Sakura came into view. "Just because you did that one C-rank doesn't mean you're that tough you know. We did one too."
"So what? We did two already." Naruto replied.
"Yeah well did your team take down a group of bandits?"
"No we weren't that lucky. Just regular escorting that sort of thing." Ayame answered.
"I saw that encounter with those Suna ninja. I will admit that you guys are decent, but there's no way that you guys could take us down. As a unit we're the best so you may as well give up now."
"Chill out Sasuke. Look I know that you want to kick some serious arse in this exam, but seriously try to kick the arse of somebody that you can actually beat. Look Sasuke, you're good, really good, but these three are really really good."
"Hn. We could take em."
"Sasuke listen to Sora. Here's a question, what are your teammates best abilities? What are their tendencies, what do they do in their spare time?" Naruto asked.
"We don't need any of that. Our teamwork is fine. We can take anything that comes our way, because individually we're the best. All three of us. When you have power, techniques, and knowledge that we do, teamwork is nothing but a second thought." Sora smacked her forehead with her hand while Sakura awed that Sasuke complimented her and her team.
"If that's what you think, that you're so superior to everyone else that teamwork is a second thought, then go ahead and try in the exams. We'll see you in a week." Lucien challenged as the team walked away. After a while Sora berated Sasuke.
"What the hell was that Sasuke? Saying that we're too good for teamwork that we don't need to use it?"
"Look Sora it's a simple tactic. We tell them how good we really are, then they feel intimidated when we fight them enabling us to have the advantage."
"That would work on a weak team, but these guys aren't weak and now they're gunnin for yur arse. Obviously you didn't think that one through the whole way."
"Sora, quit berating Sasuke-kun. It's a simple tactic of intimidating your opponent. We're stronger then them, so we'll win."
"Sakura, you don't get it. Intimidating your opponent only works if they're weaker then you. Did you see the way they took that Suna team down? Obviously they're good. I might be able to take the girl, and maybe, just maybe, Sasuke could take Naruto, their strongest, but there's no way that you could take snowball. You got better, but not good enough."
"How is Naruto their strongest? As their leader shouldn't Lucien be their strongest? After all the strongest has to lead." Sasuke added.
"No Lucien's the leader, but just because of intelligence. I trained with him, so I know that he's good but not as good as blondy. He specializes in toying with your mind and making you second guess yourself."
"I guess that makes sense. So, we need to lookout for them then?" Sakura asked.
"Yes, them and the Suna team. They're good too."
"Fine it's settled. We stay away from team one and that Suna team. I don't like it, but I guess the team decided to do it."
"Good, now I also heard another thing that they said and liked about picking up information. I think that we should do the same. Sasuke, you can attract fan girls like no tomorrow, so I want you to flirt your way to some information. Sakura, I want you to do the same as will I. We'll see what we can find out."
Sasuke smirked. "For once Sora, we agree on something. If we can figure out what kind of attacks that teams use we'll have a clear advantage. There is one thing I don't understand though."
"One thing?" Sora asked. Sasuke and Sakura glared at her after this comment.
"Yeah, that other person hanging around with team one. The guy who looks like a girl. What's his story anyway?"
"I thought that same thing. I asked snowball about it when he came in a couple of weeks ago but he just said that he found him in the village and they are hanging out, but I don't buy it. He moves like a shinobi easily at chunin level minimum. There's always a chance that he could try to sneak him into the exam as a wild card."
"But isn't that against the rules?" Sakura wondered.
"Yes but I wouldn't put it past snowball to do something like that. He has a way of reading the rules and guidelines and finding some kind of loophole. There's a chance that we'll have to deal with all four of them."
The week passed by and teams one and seven gathered the info that they needed. Both squads got info from about seventy percent of the teams. Team seven also tried to figure out something or anything about Haku but all failed miserably. Finally the day of competition arrived and team one walked into the second floor of the academy but saw a sign that read 301 on a door and a crowd of gennin waiting around the door but being blocked by two gennin. Lucien smacked his forehead at the obvious genjutsu, while Ayame and Naruto just shook their heads.
"What do you think Lucien? It's obviously a genjutsu." Ayame whispered.
"I say we sneak by. If anyone gets caught in this then they don't even deserve to pass." Team one started to sneak on by and witnessing the arguments at the gate.
"Please let us pass. Come on." Said a girl with a Konoha headband and buns in her hair.
"Why should I? Some of you may die here, while others will be scarred for life. You gotta prove your way though." One of the disguised chunin stated.
"Drop the genjutsu. It's only the second floor and the exam's on the third so why not just take it down and let us by." Sasuke gloated. "My team recognized it right away. Especially Sakura because she's a genjutsu expert." Sakura blushed at this while team one joined in a group face palm.
"So you're a smart one eh. Well take this." The chunin launched a kick as did Sasuke but they were interrupted by a green blur. When the blur revealed itself, it showed a gennin in pure green spandex with a large bowl cut hair dew and the largest eyebrows anyone ever saw. Team one shared a unison thought of fast.
"Lee what are you doing? You said that we need to disguise our power." Said the bun haired girl.
"I am sorry Tenten but I could not stop myself upon seeing the beautiful Sakura-san again. Go up to the third floor as planned and I will meet you there or else I will do 1000 push-ups."
Tenten left as Neji and Sasuke exchanged their names and Lee challenged Sasuke to a fight below and he accepted. Lucien got that sparkle in his eye that meant mischief.
"So guys, anyone feel like watching this?"
"Wouldn't miss it for all the ramen in the world unless it's made by Ayame-chan of course."
"Aw Naruto-kun."
"Come on not here too. Let's check it out."
Team one went down the hall into an arena type place with an overhead balcony. They watched as the gennin named Lee started viscously flirting with Sakura.
"So how exactly do you two know each other?" Sora asked.
"I collected information on him and he developed a crush on me. I swear he won't leave me alone always complimenting me and asking me out, it's a bit freaky."
"Correct. Even though the youthful Sakura-san used her lovely body to get information about my team on me, I was touched that she would think so highly of me that she would need to extract information. I would do 10,000 jumping jacks to repeat the words that we spoke that day."
"Look guys, a male version of Ino." Naruto whispered to his teammates. They held in a chuckle at that and watched as Sasuke activated his sharingon and proceeded to get his behind kicked all over the arena. Lee was about to finish the fight when a turtle came in and interrupted the fight. After that a larger version of Lee came in complete with the eyebrows, haircut, and spandex. After a verbal tirade the two proceeded to hug disturbingly.
"No amount of therapy will ever make this moment ok." Lucien deadpanned.
"I once saw two girls go at it right in the ramen stand. After that I would rather see it everyday for the rest of my life." Ayame said.
"So would I." Lucien chuckled while Naruto got a bit red I the face. Ayame stepped on Lucien's foot.
After the disturbing display, the older man and gennin left. Team one dropped down to see Sora in the corner shaking her head and Sakura helping out Sasuke who couldn't believe that he just lost to that freak.
"Nicely done Sasuke. I swear you almost had him there too. Oh well, can't win em all." Lucien jeered.
"Man I've seen some ugly displays but that was just yikes." Naruto added.
"Oh really, like you could do any better Naruto-baka?"
"Well I couldn't do much worse I'll tell you that much that now."
"This coming from the team not needing teamwork. Shame really, if that's what you got then you may as well go home now." Ayame added. After that team one walked up the stairs to meet their destiny while certain members of team seven was having second thoughts about the exam.
OMAKE
Haku was dressed up in his pink kimono with his hair down just like he met Naruto in the forest. He walked through the streets in search of info for Lucien and his team. He saw a team of three each of which had the insignia for Konoha. One was dressed in a large white overcoat, the second was a girl with pale eyes, and the third had a dog on his head.
"Excuse me, but my friend is in the hospital and I need to pick up some flowers do you know where I could get some?"
Kiba looked the girl from top to bottom, and back up and said, "How you doin?" with a smirk on his face.
"Very fine. So can you help me out?"
Kiba, being the kind soul that he was escorted him to the flower shop. After getting back to his team he looked excited. "Yeah, I'm one wild beast all right."
"Kiba, you do realize that that was a guy not a girl right?" Shino asked.
"What are you talkin about? She was hot. I'd pound that into next week."
"A-actually Kiba-kun, Shino-kun was right."
"You too Hinata? How do you know for sure?"
"W-well I wasn't sure so I used my Byakugan and it really was a boy."
"But that would mean that. But that's impossible. I mean. Oh Kami. Oh, oh Kami. Oh Kami." Kiba cried while Shino and Hinata backed away.
...
Couldn't resist that last scene. I liked it. It was silly yet funny.
So I explained a bit more of team one's dynamic. You see where everyone stands in the team.
Thank you for reading.
Next Chapter: A Written Test?
Release: Thursday August 28
Please review.
LET'S GO PACK!!