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Team Saki-Shika-Cho

Chapter Ten

"Too early…"

Sweatdropped.

-munch munch-

They are standing front of the Ninja Academy where they held their Chunin Exam meetings. Shikamaru yawn loudly while Sakura shakes her head, "It's almost two o'clock p.m. and it's not early." she said.

Shikamaru groan, "Still early." Sakura facepalm while Choji smiles at the school building, "It's been a while since we're -munch munch- here." Choji said.

"Come on, it's better than being late." Sakura walks to the door as her two teammates follow her into the Ninja Academy. When they walk inside, Sakura realize that the room is in Genjutsu and her eyes shift to two young boys standing by the door. 'Hmm…' Sakura turns around and continue to walk upstairs with Shikamaru on her left side and Choji on her right side.

Shikamaru looks at his pink-hair teammate with boredom face, "You think others will notice the Genjutsu?" he is aware that second floor is under Genjutsu.

"Eh?" Choji didn't even know, and he just follow his friends.

Sakura shrugs her shoulders, "Let other Genins figure it out their own." she smirks and Choji frown, "That's kind of mean Sakura…"

The pink-hair girl shakes her head, "Iie, I know there's other Genin who can sense the Genjutsu, but I'm even more curious if they notice those two boys who were 'Chunins' are actually in their Transformation jutsu." Sakura explained.

As they made the third floor and the right room, they walk in and saw few teams have arrived early as well. Team Ten walks to the far back desk and stays there while wait. Shikamaru sits down with his head down on the table and went to sleep. Choji sits next to his best friend while eating his chips. Sakura is leaning on the chair with her arms cross while her Inner is chatting bunch of stuff in her brain.

They wait for about thirty minutes and Sakura needs to go to the restroom, "I'll be back." she called out to her teammates and walk out of the room. She walks to the girl's restroom and go do her business. After that, she washes her hands and stare at the mirror. She wears the same outfit that her mother gave her and Sakura smiles when she saw her emeralds eyes are very shiny. 'I remember that my dad always called me his 'Jewel' because of my eyes…' her eyes turn to sad, she really misses her parents a lot than she thought.

They have been gone for too long but she can't complain, it paid the bills in her house, foods and clothes, plus her parents loves their jobs. Sakura sigh, she dries her hands and walk out of the restroom. Sakura halt her steps when she saw through the window that Team Seven approaching to the school, 'Oh? This is going to be interesting…'

Suddenly, she felt her hand petting by something as she looks slowly looks down and saw a black bowl-cut hair. His eyes are teary with shiny and his big grin mouth sparkle at her, he wears interesting green jumpsuit with orange legwarmers, and he has bushy eyebrows. "Beautiful! Your eyes sparkle that puts all the jewelries put into shamed, your hair shining than the cherry blossom on the spring days, and your beauty is nothing to be compare that you are the goddess of the spring season!"

.

.

.

Huh?

Sakura blink, she did not expect to meet this guy so suddenly, she watches him stood up and thumbs up at her, "I promise to protect you until the day I die! Please go out with me!" his teeth flash a sparkle at her. Sakura is speechless. 'Oh my…'

However, she feels a bit flatter that he compliments her and asked her out. "Umm… thank you err?" she doesn't even know his name. He seems got the message, "Oh, I'm the handsome devil beast! My name is Rock, Lee!"

Sakura smiles softly, "Hello, Lee-san… my name is Haruno, Sakura."

"Beautiful! Matches your beauty looks!"

Sakura blushes softly, she's not used to hear such compliments, "Umm… thank you Lee-san. But I'm sorry, I have to reject your… confess?" she really doesn't want to hurt his feelings.

Lee drop his shoulders disappointed, "Why not?"

Sakura rubs the back of her neck shyly, "Because I don't know you. And you seem like a nice guy Lee-san… and I prefer that we should start with… friends?" she hope he accept that.

"Okay! Yosh! I'll be your friend for now! But I won't give up on you my blossom!" his eyes are on fire with his fist pump in determine while Sakura sweatdropped. She never thought she would meet such interesting person.

"Lee!"

Lee turn his head over his shoulder, "Ah! That's my teammates! I got to go!" Lee grinned at Sakura, "Until next time my beautiful blossom!" he dashes off leaving smoke trail behind.

Sakura blinks and shakes her head, "Interesting indeed."

~301 Room~

Sakura walk back to the room and meet her teammates. Shikamaru and Choji are standing as they were talking and stop when they saw Sakura.

"Hey Sakura."

"Sigh… this is too long…"

Sakura giggles then she heard familiar voices, she turns around and smile wide when she saw Naruto. "They came…" she mumbles and walk to them. Her teammates follow her and they saw Team Seven.

Shikamaru frowns, "You guys going to take this troublesome exam, too?" he sighs as he slouches his shoulders.

Team Seven saw them, Ino smirk at them as she places her hands on her hips, "Oh, it's the idiot trio." Ino flips her pony-tail back and Sakura glares at Ino in annoyed.

"Shut up Ino-pig." Sakura crosses her arms fuming at her rival.

Ino's anime vein popped out, "Make me billboard brow!"

Shikamaru frowns deepen, "Oi, oi…" he doesn't like to hear that kind of nicknames toward to his pink-hair teammate.

Naruto pop out from Ino's behind and waves happily to Sakura, "Hi Sakura-chan!"

Sakura smiles at him and wave at him back friendly as Shikamaru huff softly to himself. Sakura's eyes turn to Sasuke and she finds it odd that she didn't feel excited to see him. Not one bit. 'That's… odd.' she is puzzling with her feelings but decided to push back in her mind to think about it later.

Then another familiar voice called out, "Yahoo, I found you!" Kiba walks toward them with a sharp grin, "My, my, everybody's here."

Hinata blushes softly, "H-hello…" she mutters shyly and Shino stood there silent.

"You guys too? This is such a drag." Shikamaru didn't really expect to meet everyone at the same time. Now he really regrets to come in the exam.

Kiba looks around all the rookie nine, "I get it… this means all nine Genin rookies are taking the exam, eh!" Kiba is really excited, "Now then, how far can we go? Eh, Sasuke?" Kiba smirk at Sasuke in confident and bold.

Sasuke smirk back at Kiba, "Hmph, you're mighty confident, Kiba."

Kiba hmphed, "We've trained a great deal, so… we won't lose to you guys!"

In the background, Shikamaru leans on Sakura's shoulder in boredom while half listening to the nine rookies and Sakura stare at them in amuse and Choji is busy eating his chips.

Naruto steps up while glare at Kiba, "Shut up! I don't know about Sasuke-teme, but I sure won't lose to the likes of you!"

"G-gomen Naruto-kun, Kiba didn't mean it like that…" Naruto looks at Hinata and Hinata gasps and look down attempt to cover her face while Kiba frowns when he notices the strange act from Hinata.

Choji swallowed his chips and his eyes caught the dog laying on Kiba's head. Sakura turn to Choji who is staring at Akamaru with a look that Sakura knows very well. 'Oh my… I know that look. Choji-kun is thinking about that poor Akamaru as food.' Sakura sweatdropped and feeling pity for Akamaru.

Choji walks toward to Kiba but Shino step up and stop Choji. "Don't step on it." Shino said out of the blue. Choji looks at Shino in confuse, "Huh?"

Shino looks at Choji, "I said, don't step on it." Shino shows Choji the tiny bug crawling on the floor. Sakura saw it and shiver a little, she's not a big fan of bugs…

Choji furrowed his eyebrows, "You're gonna eat…that." He said the stupidest thing ever to anyone's ears. Sakura and Shikamaru sweatdropped. 'Oh Choji-kun…' Sakura mentally pats Choji's head.

"Hey, you guys." Rookies nine turn to the owner of the voice; he has silverfish-white hair up in ponytail, glasses, ninja outfit and he wears Leafe Headband around his forehead. "You are rookies right? I suggest you should be little quieter." The boy said as he walks near to them, "Carrying on like that with cute faces…man. This isn't a field trip." he added with harsh tone.

Ino glares at him annoying, "Who are you? Acting all haughty!" she doesn't like guys like him at all.

"I'm Yakushi, Kabuto. Anyway, take a good look around you." Kabuto jerk his head to his left and everyone looks around noticed that bunch of ninjas are staring at them. Sakura narrow her eyes at Kabuto, for some reason he sends out bad vibes to her. Something that makes her little aches and uncomfortable. Shikamaru peek at Sakura, he could feel her shoulders is stiff a little.

Kabuto frown, "Behind you, they're from the Rain Village. They've hot-tempered. Everyone's tense before the Exam. I thought I'd warn you guys before you get your butts whipped." Kabuto frowns turn upside down as his eyes soften up a little, "I guess it can't be helped. You're rookie who don't know left from right, you remind me of my old self." Kabuto added with light up atmosphere a little.

Sakura walks toward to Kabuto as Shikamaru sway back a little while watch her in curious. He was just getting comfortable leaning on her but troublesome woman had to move. Sakura let her small smiles at him, "You're Kabuto-san, right?"

Kabuto nods his head to Sakura, "Hai." he replied.

"This is your second time?" Sakura asked politely while Shikamaru walks behind her closely. Kabuto shakes his head, "Iie, it's my seventh time."

"Huh?" Shikamaru blinks in disbelief when he heard that answer.

Sakura narrow her eyes at Kabuto, 'Suspicion…'

Kabuto place his hand on his left hip, "This exam is only held twice a year, so it's now my fourth year."

"Then that means you know a lot about these exams?!" Ino said as she is impressed by Kabuto even though he's an arrogant in her opinion.

Kabuto scratches the back of his head, "Kind of…" he didn't feel special about it though.

Naruto grins wide, "No kidding, Kabuto-san, you're pretty awesome huh?" he is really amaze by Kabuto very easily. Sakura frowns while her emeralds eyes focus on Kabuto, "But you haven't passed." Sakura said with suspicion.

"Yeah, well, this is the case, yes…" Kabuto chuckle in embarrassingly with sheepishly face.

Shikamaru sigh, "Is the Chunin Exam that high a hurdle?" he shakes his head, "Ugh, this is utterly troublesome…" Sakura hit Shikamaru's stomach back of her elbow behind and Shikamaru grunted at the brief pain. "Troublesome woman…" he grumbles but still stay close behind her anyways.

Kabuto takes out his cards, "Then, maybe I'll give a bit of information to my cute juniors." he offers to help and Sakura recognize the cards.

"Those are Ninja Info cards…" Sakura thought out loud and Kabuto raise his eyebrow at her, "You know them?"

Sakura nods her head, she didn't mean to say it out loud but since he asked… "Sort of… they're cards that have information burned into them and coded with Chakra…or so that I've read." Sakura remember that from the book.

Kabuto nods his head with a smile, "That's correct. I spent four whole years gathering information for these cards. They are pure white to the eye, to open the data on these cards." Kabuto band down his know and place his deck of cards on the ground.

Naruto place his hands on his knees, "What're you doing?" he is very curious about it.

Kabuto place one card on the next to the deck of cards, "The way it works is that no one can see the info without using my Chakra, for example like this..." he press his index finger on the card and the card turns around and then data appears on the card.

"Whoa, awesome! What information is this?" Naruto is really impressed and excited about it as Sakura lean down a little and recognize the information from the scroll she read couple months ago, "Ah… it's the number of test-takers and participating nations, and the number of applicants from each respective village is individually displayed." Sakura explain without thinking.

Kabuto push his glasses up, "That's right, do you know why that Chunin Exam is jointly conducted in the first place?" his eyes suddenly gives her goosebumps that Sakura took a step back and Shikamaru place his hands on her shoulders in confuse. 'What's up with her?' Shikamaru thought in suspicion.

"Well, it's said it's done to deepen friendship among nations first and to boost the Shinobi levels, second." Kabuto continues.

Sasuke raise his eyebrow questioning, "It's said?"

Kabuto smiles, "That's right. The real aim is in the checking of Shinobi levels of neighboring nations and keeping power balance equal." he explains. Ino tilts her head puzzling, "Power…equal."

Shikamaru place his chin on top of Sakura's head, she's really short compare to him, only reach to his neck and Sakura doesn't mind one bit, "Why such a pain in the ass?" he doesn't understand about that part.

Kabuto shrugs his shoulders, "If that's not done, the weak nations will be invaded by the strong nations in no time at all and may end up being controlled unilaterally. There's a point to mutual supervision. Probably." he explained it further and guess the last part.

"Hmph." Shikamaru understand somewhat.

Sasuke pushes his hands into his front pockets, "Of those cards are there ones with detailed individual information?" Sasuke asked emotionless. Kabuto nodded his head, "Hai there are… are ther ones you're concerned about?"

"Hai, there are." Sasuke replied.

Kabuto changes the card back to white, "The information for the applicants this time around is not perfect, but it is burned in and saved." he looks up with a smile and Sakura feels like his smiles are fake to her, "You guys included. About those 'one you're concerned about', who you know. Anything's fine, tell me their information and I'll retrieve it for you." Kabuto explained.

"Sabaku, Gaara and Rock, Lee." Sasuke said the names and Sakura knew the names, 'Well not Gaara… but I'm assume he's a brother to Temari? And Lee-san… hmm…' she thought then she opens her mouth, "And Haruno, Sakura." Sakura wants to see her info; she is rather curious about it.

Kabuto blinks, "Oh, alright." He put the three cards each times to appeared the data out, "Here they are." Kabuto stood up with three cards.

"Tell me." Sasuke demanded

"May I please see the card?" Sakura asked nicely and Kabuto give the card about her info. Sakura read the card as Shikamaru shift his chin down over her shoulder and read it in curious. 'Haruno, Sakura. One of the rookies nine. Team leader is Sarutobi, Asuma. Teammates are Nara, Shikamaru and Akimichi, Choji. Mission experiences, nine D-Ranks, and two C-Ranks. My skills in Taijutsu isn't that impressive, Ninjutsu is okay and Genjutsu is really impressive. Hmm… this information is mostly right but small parts are sort of wrong.' she thought, her Ninjutsu actually has improve quite a bit and her Taijutsu actually progressing better in very, very slowly. But still got better.

Kabuto reads the two cards, "Rock, Lee, he's one year older than you guys. His mission experience, twenty D-Ranks, and eleven C-Ranks. His team leader is Might, Guy. In just this year his Taijutsu has drastically improved, but his other skills are not good at all. Last year, he'd attracted attention as a Genin rookie with his ability but didn't participate in the Chunin Exam. This is his first time taking the exams, same as you guys. Tenten and Hyuuga, Neji are on his team."

He looks other card, "Next is Sabaku, Gaara. His mission experience, eight C-Ranks, Be-Ranks… wow, one B-rank as a Genin, eh, he's a Shinobi from a different land and is a rookie, so there is no further detailed information but, it seems he has returned from all of his mission uninjured." he finishes read the cards.

Shikamaru eyes wide in surprise, "B-Rank as a Genin…but uninjured?!" he's having hard time to believe that while Sakura is kind of curious what kind of guy this Gaara is.

"What is this guy?" Naruto gap in shock.

Kabuto put his two cards in his deck of cards, "Leaf, Sand, Rain, Grass, Waterfall, and Sound. There are lots of exceptional Genins from those villages who have some to take the Exam this year as well. As far as the Village Hidden in Sound goes, it's a village of a small nation that just sprang up in recent years so there isn't much information. At any rate, they're all Hidden Village with nothing but crackerjacks." Kabuto said with straightforward.

Hinata looks down, "That kind of m-makes you lo-lose your confi-confidence." she stuttered and Ino glares at Hinata, "Why are you saying that now?"

Kiba walks between them, "Oi…" he glares back at Ino, no one talks to his teammate like that.

Sakura glance up from the info card in her hands at Kabuto with small interests as she has been listening the whole time, "In other words, all of the applicants who have gathered here… they're all choice top elite Genin from each nation."

Kabuto push his glasses back as the lights reflect it, "That's correct. You're pretty smart for this stuff, Haruno." he is slight bit interested about her.

Sakura smiles stiffly as she half-shrug her shoulder, "Well, I do enjoy to read and learn new things." she said.

"So what do you think of your info card, they are right?" Kabuto smirk at Sakura. Sakura decided to lie, she shakes her head and give the card back to him, "Actually, they're wrong." Shikamaru raise his eyebrows but didn't say anything.

Kabuto is taken aback, "Nani? But I was careful…" he whispers the last part and Sakura is starting to get really suspicion about this guy. 'I don't think he should be trust at all, even though he's from Konoha like us…' Sakura thought. "I guess sometimes Ninja Info cards can be misunderstood. You should research it underneath the underneath." Sakura said with her awful skill of lies to Kabuto. Luckily, he doesn't know her enough that she's a terrible liar.

"I guess so." Kabuto mumbles as he put his last card back to his deck of cards and put it in his pouch.

Then all of the suddenly, Naruto turns around and pointed at the crowds front of him, "MY NAME IS UZUMAKI, NARUTO! I WON'T LOSE TO ANY OF YOU! GOT IT!" Naruto shouted out loud with burst of confident and bold.

Kiba twitches and turn to Ino, "Oi Ino! Control your teammate!"

Sakura giggles as Shikamaru sigh out loud while he leans on Sakura once again.

Ino grabbed Naruto and shake him back and forth in irritated, "Baka! Are you trying to provoke everyone!?"

Naruto grinned wide while laugh carelessly, "Oh! I feel better!"

Kiba shakes his head amuse, "I won't lose to any of you, you say? You said it." he places his elbow on Hinata's shoulder as Hinata smile shyly at Naruto's optimistic.

Shikamaru groan, "That baka, in no time at all, he's made enemies of his surroundings." Shikamaru said and Sakura cover her mouth attempt not to laugh out loud.

Ino put chokehold around Naruto in anger, "What're you talking big for?! You baka!" she harshly scolded him and Naruto chokes.

"But but… what I said is true! Yikes!" Naruto desperately reaches to Sakura, "Sakura-chan help me!" he begging to be save.

Shikamaru snort, "No way, you are on your own. Troublesome idiot." he's not letting his teammate get involve those troublesome little fight that Naruto started on himself. Sakura stood there amuse, as much as she wants to help Naruto, she really doesn't want any 'enemies' to stare at her so she stays put.

Ino looks at the crowds, as she is sweating nervous, "E-everyone please don't mind him. He's an idiot, after all, he says idiotic, spazzy, scatterbrained things and gets carried away, so please don't concern yourself with him." Ino waves her hands awkwardly while dryly chuckle.

Sakura cover her amuse smile, "Poor Ino… she got glared at."

Shikamaru shakes his head, "Troublesome."

Ino glares harshly at her idiot teammate, "I'm going to kick your ass baka! Learn how to read the atmosphere already you stupidhead!"

"Fine." Naruto pout as he sulking, letting her do whatever she says.

Unexpectedly, Sound Ninjas came out and one of the guy pull his sleeve and swing his arm to Kabuto. Kabuto steps back quickly in time to escape the punch and smirk. But then the glasses he wears suddenly cracks and fall from his face.

Sakura frown, "He dodged it… but that happened…" she stares at the broken glasses on the ground. Shikamaru tilts his head observing the situation front of him, "Probably grazed the tip of his nose. He's trying to act strong so. That punk." Shikamaru snort unamused.

Then Kabuto fell on his knees and vomited as Sakura and Shikamaru are disturbed at the sight but didn't say anything.

Ino gasps in shock, "He puked!"

Naruto run to Kabuto side, "Kabuto-san!" he looks at Kabuto in concerns.

Sakura looks at the Sound Ninja who 'attack' Kabuto, 'That guy… he pulled his sleeve up and did something…' she tries to think about it of how it causes Kabuto's vomited.

One of the Sound Ninjas; Dosu stare at Kabuto, "Oh, so he's not so special. Even though he's a veteran who's been taking exams for four whole years." he mocked.

Other Sound Ninijas; Zaku smirks, "Write this on your card. The three from Sound Village, Doubtless Chunin."

Sakura leans toward to Shikamaru, "There's something in his arm… some kind of trick." she carefully whispers to Shikamaru. Shikamaru frown and bump her shoulder, "Whatever it is, we need to stay away from them." Shikamaru whispers back to Sakura with cautioned.

"Silence! Degenerates! Sorry to keep you waiting." Everyone turns to the front and saw a tall proud man with bunch of Chunins and Jounins standing behind him. "I'm Morino, Ibiki, a proctor for the first test of the Chunin Exam." Ibiki glares at the Sound Ninjas, "You, from Hidden Sound Village! No doing as you please before the Exam! You want to be failed at the get go?!"

Dosu shakes his head slowly, his face is very emotionless, "Sorry, it's our first time taking the Exams, so we slipped out… despite ourselves." Dosu explained.

Ibiki is not very amuse at all, his glare hardens then he looks around bunch of different ninjas, "Hmph. This is a good opportunity so I'll say this, there will be no battles, competitions and the like without permission of the proctors! And even if you get permission, actions that could lead to the death of an opponent will not be permitted. Any pig that screws with me will be disqualified immediately. Got it?!" Ibiki barked at them.

Zaku smirk smugly, "This Exam looks to be easy!"

"Now then, we will start the first test of the Chunin Exam!" Ibiki speaks up, "Turn in your applications, take one of these number cards in exchange and sit in the seat matching the number." Ibiki gives out the instruction, "After that, we will hand out the paper for the written test!"

Naruto blinks, he wasn't sure he caught what that proctor said right, "Written…paper… Paper?" he saw a Chunin man holds up stack of papers with a smirk on his face and Naruto eyes got wide in horror.

"A PAPER TEST?!"

Sakura really feels bad for her friend, 'Poor Naruto-kun. He flunked and skipped every written tests no matter what.' she remembers very well in her memories back in the Ninja Academy. Indeed, poor Naruto.