Chapter 10: Chunin exams

Kushina hummed happily, as she easily blocked a kick from Tokara before knocking him aside with a right elbow. Right before she dodges a dozen kunai throws from Ibiki, and throwing Gekko straight into a tree near him with her left arm. It was entertaining seeing them fight as a team; the lesson of this exercise was to coordinate their attacks against a stronger opponent on short notice. As of now they are doing quite well she noted happily, Ibikis tactic was to distract her with kunai's. All the while Gekko attacks with his sword (makes sense since he mostly a swordsman) and Tokara attacks with his taijutsu. Strangely enough he seems more obligated to fight in hand-hand rather than using the explosive clay on his back, but she can just chalk it up to him wanting to be more well-rounded in his attacks.

Tokara did some hand seals and created a Doton: Tsuchi Nami no Jutsu (Earth Release: Earth Wave) quickly to upset her footing. Kushina simply smiled, jumped onto the closest tree and decided to end this. Clearing her throat, she immediately held their attention and began to talk.

"You're all doing quite well, but you need to do a lot better or you won't even pass the first part of the exam. Let's finish this up and move onto the library" she then jumped down and looked at them with clear expectations in her eyes.

With a collective nod, they drew their weapons and decided to put in everything they had. Ibiki pulled out his patented Kabutowari with the kanji for hope on his handle, and Yoroi-doshi with the kanji for honesty. Hayate took out his katana his eyes scanning for weak points. While Ginyu dipped his combat stick in with explosive liquid in the gourd, all the while looking for a place to strike near his sensei. Kushina prepared to use adamantine chains to test their reflexes after the fights over.

Hayate makes the first move with a charging slash katana slicing at her left arm with efficiency. Kushina dodges effortlessly, but her eyes widen slightly as Ibiki who was crouching near her, goes for a right stab to the thigh. She catches her students thrusting arm and knees him roughly in the right lumbar. Before she can throw him aside, Tokara throws his strongest right clothesline to her side in the hopes of a good distraction outside of his stick. Kushina catches it easily, but after giving a nod to Hayate Ibiki blitzes his sensei with brutal tenacity in his movements. Kushina merely tightens her iron grip on Tokara forcing him to his knees (forcing him to throw his stick to the side in order to minimize the impact), while using jittejutsu to knock aside her stoic student with the other hand. Hayate makes an attempt to slice her ribcage on her right side, yet Kushina causally grabs and restrains the blade with one hand.

In that moment, Ginyu takes the chance to hit her with a left hook to the waist catching her off guard. As she stumbles to recover from the blow, Ibiki stands up and hits a left strike to the chest. Tokara lends a hand to help him stand, as Hayate protectively stands between the three with his blade pointing at Kushina. The red-headed sensei merely beamed at this budding comradery as she decides to call this off.

"Well done you three, you guys have done way better in teamwork than three months ago. In terms of teamwork you guys are ready for the chunin exam." Said announcement made them grin to varying degrees in happiness, but in that moment Kushina made a hand-seal and the adamantine chains rose from underground, trapping them in a second. Just to makes sure they listen, as in the past they sometimes get away and drop their guards in the process.

"But you still have some work to do in that area, and that's ignoring the fact you both stick to your preferred areas of taijutsu rather than focusing on other areas. I know Ninjustu, Genjutsu and all those other areas are a bother but focusing too much one area is what kills people in the field. It's hard, but I just don't want you kids to grow up thinking that only one thing with help you as a shinobi. Learning just one other thing could help you in the future dattebane." Kushina said empathetically, she understood that from their backgrounds (Hayates unavoidable neglect from his parents, Tokara years of providing for himself, and Ibiki's parents high expectations) that they felt bound to stick what they were good at, but she knew from past experience that such things would only hurt them. Thus she wanted to do her best to help them avoid such fates.

"Kushina-sensei we meet Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha an hour ago, does that mean Minato-sensei team will go the chunin exams also." Outside of avoiding talk of being reminded of his weaknesses, Hayate wondered why exactly they would join this year after the talk he heard. Obito wasn't a bad fighter, it's just he wasn't exceptional in the arts of shinobi and fairly overconfident. Minato-sensei is a great teacher, but isn't the type to rush his student's experiences if they weren't all ready for it. Such as Obito and Kakashi stubborn refusal to get along with each other, and Rin having to play mediator between the two.

"Minato-kun and I talked about for a bit, and decided we should both join to see where we all are at. Obito came be a bit of an idiot, but he's as persistent as his sensei so he should be able to go as soon as he works for it. Rin may not be toughest of the team, but she's a sweet, cute well-rounded girl with a talent for medical-ninjutsu. And my little scarecrow may be tough on the broody side, but he is the one of the most skilled genin I know. But I know we can beat them if we just work harder and kick ass dattebane" She said with a cheshire grin, Minato-kun is her beloved dumb/smart blonde boyfriend. But she would be crazy, for not dropping some hints on the other team's characteristics for her team. With that she dropped the chains on her students, and cheerfully bounced in the direction of the shinobi library.

"Alright people let's get moving on to the library and potentially ramen." Kushina grinned at the last thought.

"Actually I'll talk a moment to talk with Tokara over here, we'll catch up in a couple minutes" Ibiki said with a wave.

"Okay see you in a bit" Kushina and Hayate nodded, walking away as the sensei talked on about the virtues of ramen. After Ginyu got his combat stick back off the ground he went to see what this might be about.

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"I thought it about for a while but even after seeing it once I couldn't believe it. Your near death hit me harder than I would ever know, and made me reconsider some things about you" Ibiki being the strict kid he is, spent no time beating around the bush in why he stopped Tokara all of sudden. It sort of surprised Ginyu how quickly he admitted this, considering how in the past he had always was hard on Tokara and seemed indifferent to his struggles. Where did this concern come from?

"I've always thought you were going to slow this team down, going to whine like a bitch when the chips come down and give up like so many other civilian kids in the academy did during and after graduation." Ginyu wasn't surprised as back in Kusagakure if the civilians weren't weak or overcompensating; they were naïve, arrogant and certainly going to die from trying to build themselves as something greater than they actually are. Maybe that's why village leader held so much power, because he built himself off their flaws.

"Yet during that mission not only did he manage to build the courage to talk down a powerful shinobi who held his own against Kushina-sensei, but off a clearly superior fighter and survived by perseverance. I never thought you would even accomplish half of what you did there in your whole career." Ginyu had to do his best in restraining his laughter; the former occupant didn't even do half of what he did. Tokara only tried to convince shinobi to back off because he didn't want to fight such a threat, and the only reason he survived that match is because he was needed as in entry key to this village. Tokara may have some bravery, but the truth is he probably he wouldn't have accomplished much because he didn't have the drive to grow strong. Ginyu didn't have that issue; no matter what the body he would train it to his best all the while maintaining allies in accomplishing his goals. He may not ruthlessly discard his comrades in the way Lord Frieza did his followers, but if he had to do some immoral things to get his ways he would. Ginyu closed his eyes as he tried to not make his thoughts float back to his former village.

"Yet you did all that and surpassed my expectations. I want to build the bond, that I probably never would have if it wasn't for that mission." Ibiki said as he took out his hated blades he despised greatly. Ginyu looked on with interest as he wondered if this was going to be the same as Hayate's promise.

"I haven't told any classmates this, except Hayate and you. These blades, are passed down in the Morino clan for ages as a way to show trust in the most talented in the clan to succeed as the clan heir. I don't want to become clan heir as that would mean I couldn't pursue my dream as chief interrogator in Konoha's Torture and Interrogation force. This twist is that if I give them back me and my brother will be disowned from the clan for dishonoring the tradition with no faults drawn to the clan, as the village would never interfere with clan laws like they would with civilians. If I tell anyone outside of my clan they could only pity me, and if didn't use these blades the clan they would banish me for not using it." Ibiki said heavily his eyes somewhat downcast in contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.

"What's s-so impor-important about the Mor-Morino clan, why could-couldn't you have ju-just refused you wh-when you were yo-younger, why is your bro-brother roped into th-this, what d-do your parents thi-think, who else mi-might have a clan in our cl-class and mo-most of all wh-why are you telling me this." Ginyu shot off like a rocket, he didn't want to seem pushy but he was a bit curious in the way of clan politics.

"The Morino clan was renowned for their great amount of summoning contracts and interrogation tactics which is very useful to the village, I couldn't refuse because back then I wanted to please my parents so I accepted them, my brother is very untalented in the arts of shinobi so he would be thrown out if it wasn't for my acceptance of the blades, my parents only care about looking good hence the rude meeting with our team, Kakashi: Hatake clan, Asuma: Sarutobi clan, and the rest are civilians with some shinobi parents. Why am I telling you this, it's because I trust as you as a comrade to hold this secret to heart. If I didn't come to value you as much, I wouldn't have. This question is can I rely on you." He said dead serious in his expression, his eyes scanning for any sense of deception or falsehood.

"Yo-you can count on m-me" Ginyu said as he thought about this. Who knew that this event would bring so much trust in two of his comrades, in just a day two of them have come to relay information they would have given out beforehand. All he had to do, is keep his mouth shuts about their secrets, assist them when he could and fulfil these new promises he made.

"That's good, now let's get moving before Kushina-sensei gets angry. Kami knows that woman's wrath is more frightening than the Hokage's." he said as they darted to the library.

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The library was huge, and the librarian gave us passes as genin for the time being. Apparently until your a chunin, you're too immature as a genin to gain access to anything. Which meant needing jonin supervision to look over any books or scrolls that would be needed as genin. This made some sense to Ginyu, as when he went to learn a Ki technique from a scroll, he would have to show his membership as Captain of the Ginyu Force to access Frieza's library.

"Okay guys, try to get some Ninjutsu, Genjutsu and maybe some other jutsu scrolls to check out from the library. Avoid going to the jonin section unless you want to get banned, and don't be afraid to ask the scary lady any questions. We'll work on tree-walking and water-walking exercises, while working on elemental control. If we have enough time, we'll start on the basics of fuinjutsu, well call me in a hour I'm going to go take a nap." With that the cheerful jonin pranced off to take her usual nap.

The students looked at each other and decided to split off to get their jutsus and anything they might need. Hayate went to look for some wind scrolls, kenjutsu katas, and strategy scrolls for potential usage in the fields. Ibiki went for interrogation scrolls, usage of summoning techniques he might need, and ways to hide his weapons. Ginyu however went for as much as he could carry: the history of Konoha, effects of Genjutsu, medical ninjutsu, while taking at least 5 scrolls of each element, multiple taijutsu katas scrolls, an encyclopedia on explosive ninjutsu, and usage of ninja tools. He managed to snag a chakra paper lying around, and walk back home a very happy man. With the usage of shadow clones and the plans he would make, brought him so much joy he end up doing a poses before falling over like a log.

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Many training sessions later, and Kushina was excited to find the built-up of friendship in her students never seen before. It was the little things, like how Ibiki always made sure Tokara stood up first, and always had Hayate's back at every turn. Hayate with his consistent excellent taijutsu combinations with Tokara, and listening to Ibiki criticism most avidly. Tokara's acting as the distraction for his teammates advantage, and the way he did everything he can to make sure they worked the hardest (even though she could tell somewhat that there was a slight change to his demeanor she just wasn't sure what). She was glad she was part of a team several months she wouldn't have been one if it wasn't for Minato-kun and Tokara's encouragement (someone who while nervous never gave up and served as a hidden example of courage for someone who seemed to give up on being Hokage long ago). She wished they could stay like this forever, not as genin or kids but as a team. Everyone seems to forget their previous comradery the moment they make chunin, just as hers and Minato's did the moment they did. Splitting apart greatly never to reform is her fear, and that's why she keeps funding this parties the kids make, as hopefully they'll still remember who helped assist them become what they are today. She hopes Kakashi remembers this, and hopes she maintains the will to be a jonin when they graduate. And maybe just maybe, she might finally will be able to achieve some semblance of peace as the nine-tailed Jinchuriki.

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Chunin exams 8:00 A.M

The team strode confidently to the gates of the first chunin exams. Each for several weeks has improved greatly, both individually and as a team. Kushina practically smirked as she saw the other five genin teams chatting around. She wasn't an arrogant person, but it felt good knowing that the others are painfully unaware of the threat of her team. She cackled so caught in her thinking, that she didn't notice her team greeting the other examinees and a yellow flash behind her. The sudden enveloping of arms around her waist made her jump slightly, before she gave a glare as her thick-headed boyfriend gave her a laugh.

"Don't give me that Kushi-chan I just wanted to see what my favorite girl was doing." He said obviously enjoying the pout on her lips.

"I was doing fine before you snuck up behind he my you dummy, you just wanted to see mess up my concentration before the exams even begin didn't you." Kushina said half-heartedly.

"You caught me red-handed didn't you, I just wanted to know how your team was doing before the big event." The blond blue eyed jonin asked, genuinely curious in the growth of his girlfriend's students, from what he heard from Kushina they have grown greatly.

"Oh you would just love that wouldn't you, but I not going to give any details besides our team is going to crush yours." She said with a smirk.

"Oh is that promise." He said, he couldn't help but egg her on it was so fun seeing her all determined and daring, it one of the things he loves about her the most.

"Yes it is and I promise that when we win, you'll have to pay me back in ramen" she said eager to eat her full of it.

"Well we have to wait and see" the jonin said with a smile.

The team scouted out the potential opponents between the team, observing them up and down for anything they can use against them. They eventually decided it was best to strike up a conversation with their fellow teams before the beginning of the exams in several minutes. Ibiki decided he wanted to talk to Orochimarus team, Gekko took Asumas team, and Ginyu took Obito's team.

"He-hello it's ni-nice to me-meet you ag-again, I ju-just wan-wanted to as-ask you what are your n-names." Tokara asked, It might look suspicious if he asked them about their capabilities, but if he asked their names. He could confirm their identities; potentially identify their traits and their comradery.

"It's none of your business leave loser" the silver haired one said in a dismissive tone.

"Bakashi that was pretty rude of you, how can you treat someone you don't know like that" the one with the orange-goggles say annoyed. He identified him as Obito Uchiha the one he meet on the streets, and potentially one of the children of the prophecy.

"Because we don't know why he asking us now, and because I can back it up unlike you Obito" he sniped back rudely. Ginyu didn't really like his attitude, reminded him too much of Zarbon or even Salza. However, it just proves Kushina-sensei words of being on the tough side.

"That's enough you too, sorry for the rash insult. Kakashi may be a little rude, but his heart is the right place. Oh, and you must be Tokara my mother talked about you being one of Kushina-sensei students. I didn't recognize you before, I just hope we can be friends after the exam, you seem like a nice guy." Rin gave him a wink and a smile. Before Tokara could reply, the doors slammed open as the proctors stepped out.

"All right brats, I'm only going to say this once so listen up. This is the annual chunin exams, which only the worthy can pass through these three exams. We would usually hold this internationally, but due to rising tensions we have to hold the chunin exams in the village and only for Konoha shinobi. All the tests are timed, killing is not allowed, and the events won't be all together. As the Chunin events will be split between the months of now September and October. The first will be paper exams, second with be team battles and last one will be individual fights. Any questions?" he said noticing hands he promptly turned his back on.

"Good the chunin exams will commence now. Enter this door." Ginyu moved back with his team and noticed a desk near Rin who sat down was available. He knew this was going to be a tough one, but for some reason he couldn't stop the small smile arise on his face as his love of competition rose through the depths of his soul.