A/N: Heeheehee :) I love reviews. They make me feel so awesome! And I have , like, 34 of them! Hahahaha! Yay!
... I got inspiration from coffee and ice cream. Is that weird?
ANYWAYS!
Thanks to..
REVIEWS -
Eternal Cat Moon - GAH.. Idk what i did, but i did all this thanking jazz then deleted it all TTnTT now I'm doing it all again.. BUT! I love thanking people for doing things that I love! So here I go! Thank you!
This chapter contains the end of the first exam, so you can find you :)
Master hates Gaara cuz he's sexy and he knows it.
Tough chick - I'm sorry :c But he's not Orochimaru. He's a male. That's all I can say ;)
WOW! Thank you for the honor! I hope I can keep you interested . I feel so nervous now.
Anyways, thank you for the lovely review.
J e l l o - J u m p e r - Thank you for the AMAZING review :)
Y-you.. love it? Thank you!
Teehee.. You called me lovely :) I feel lovely now that I've been called it. You're lovely, too!
Yes.. I play Skyrim :) I have a fanfic on it as well, but I haven't updated in a while because this story seems so much more popular XD And I hate it when I'm just walkin around and like twenty things attack me and I'm like, "MAHH!" and then a dragon swoops down and I'm like TTnTT you suck.
Anyways, I love you!
. - Of course we're friends! You've reviewed so many times and you've read my chapters.. I just feel so honored.
BWUAHAHAHAAHAHAH! Those are some amazing impressions XD
Thank you :) I tried to make them as different, but nice as possible :) I hope you continue to enjoy my story!
spiritgem94 - Hahahahahaah! Is it weird that I didn't want to update my story cuz you hadn't reviewed yet XD? I was like, "Well.. it's ready, but... No. But... Yes." It was an awkward moment.
Finals DO suck.
A really TIGHT pink shirt. I can see it now.. Death by fangirls.
Hiromi : Hai, hai! She WILL grow and she'll be all kick butt ;)
Maiko : She is hiding something.. It's really sad, too :C ... Why'd I make it sad?
Yes, that DOES make sense and it's EXACTLY what she is. You are a pro, my friend.
Kotone : Yes.. She has no emotions. But I hope, as a reader, you will grow to understand that she displays what little she has in little ways. She obeys orders! No matter what they are, she does.
HANAKO (remember her name, my friend.. remember..) : She got more time :) just cuz you said that. I'm glad you like her behavior :) I was beginning to think ya'll thought she was annoying .
Heehee! He WAS! And he IS! Here, have another chapter to wipe your drool.
spiritgem94 - Hi! Th- *does a double take* whaaaa? ... Whatever. Thank you very much for the positive review!
AHHH! Favorite character time! WHOA! I'm glad you like her :) She's supposed to be that cute :) My favorite character.. is Master. You might like him too once I introduce him.
Maiko's kekkai genkai is confusing and complicated, and it was challenging to write about it, but I'm glad you enjoyed it :) She doesn't know that she looks up to him, but yes, she does.
DX I'm soo sorry to disappoint~! But she'll be cooler later on! I promise!
Aww. Thank you :) I'm so thankful and grateful for these kinds of reviews.. I might cry XD
sandluvr1213 - Here you go. This is some more of the chunin exams :) I hope you continue to read my story!
FAVORITINGS -
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taygam - Haha.. Your username made me laugh for some reason. Thank you for favoriting!
-:-
I'm so tired and lazy right now. I wouldn't be surprised if I forgot someone.
If I forgot you, there will be frowns all around ;) And a fist in my face :C
-:-
DISCLAIMER -
Hi.
... Hello? It's time for the disclaimer?
... Meh.
*sigh* I'll do it. I don't own Naruto or anyth-
I don't OWN NARUTO .v.
... I need a vacation.
-:-
ENJOY, DARN YOU!
-:-
Reviews are enjoyed.
Flames will be tossed into the fire and danced around ceremoniously.
POV - Maiko
-:-
"First off, you're going to decide whether or not you're going to take the tenth question or not."
The green-haired tomboy raised a pierced brow.
Wait.. So I don't have to do it?
"So, uhh, what happens if we don't do it?" She asked.
Ibiki turned towards her and frowned, "Your points will be deducted to zero. In other words, you and your team fail."
Maiko's stomach did a back flip.
Oh great!
A multitude of murmurs went throughout the room and the green-haired genin gulped.
So I have to take it..
The scarred man at the front continued, "And the other rule is, if you choose to take the question and get it wrong, you will never be allowed to enter the exams again."
Maiko blanched.
"What kind of dumb rule is that? There should be people here who've taken the exam in the past!" Kiba shouted, pointing blatantly at Ibiki.
His lightly colored dog barked in agreement.
. . .
Maiko turned even paler when the examiner burst out into creepy chuckles.
"You were unlucky because this year.. I am the rule. That's why I gave you the choice of quitting. Those who aren't confident can choose not to take it and keep their privileges of coming back next year."
He paused to chuckle again and the green-haired tomboy scooted back in her seat.
. . .
"Let us begin."
POV change - Hiromi
-:-
The blonde couldn't have felt so scared.
What would she do if she answered incorrectly?
She could see it now..
Maiko punching her and giving her the wedgie of a lifetime and Kotone giving her the scariest death stare ever until she drops dead.
Yes.. Such an honorable way to die.
"Those who will not be taking this tenth question, raise your hands now. After we get your numbers, you will leave."
Hiromi's finger twitched and she had the urge to toss her hand into the air with tears streaming down her face, the sun making them sparkle as she saved her team's lives..
. . .
Yeah right.
If I don't do it.. Then I'll be disappointing my team.. But if I do take it, I might get it right..
...
Or wrong. Then I'll be stuck as a genin forever..
And my parents will be ashamed of me..
But.. If I leave.. I'll be more prepared for the next year..
No. Maiko and Kotone will fail with me, though!
Her ocean blue eyes flickered to Maiko, who was clenching her fists.
But..
A strong, confident voice was thrown into her mind.
It was a smaller piece of her conscience.
You can do it, Hiromi! Go for it!
B-but.. What if I miss it?
No buts! You can do it!
What if..
Her thoughts ceased as she gulped and glanced at Neji.
He looked so cool..
The blonde folded her hands in her lap and took a deep breath.
A few numbers were called out and people started shuffling out as if there was a beehive hanging over the area.
A trap...
Hiromi blinked owlishly.
Maybe.. that was it?
It was a trap?
They just wanted her to think she needed to preserve her chance..
Then there wasn't a tenth question.. at all?
The blonde determinedly glared at her test.
That was it.
She looked up with a confident smile, but it transformed immediately into a frown.
Naruto.
His tan hand was raised high in the air and was shaking.
"Naruto.." Hiromi whispered.
Maybe.. I could..
Her hand twitched again and her sparkling eyes flickering to her teammates.
I can try and help.. But.. I don't want them to fail..
Her ocean blue eyes were filled with pity.
Maiko's hand was shaking violently.
Almost as though she was having a seizure.
Oh, Maiko.
-:-
A four-year-old Hiromi Sato was gaily walking beside her mother, grasping her hand.
Oh how she loved this walk.
From her house to the academy, her mother would talk to her about the weather, her lesson, and almost everything.
Of course.
She was her mom's best friend and vice versa.
The blonde's braid danced behind her as she skipped ahead of her mother towards the academy's double doors.
"Hey, look, Mommy! We're here! Mommy! Mom-"
The girl was shoved to the ground and her eyes widened and filled with tears almost immediately.
"Sorry! Are you okay?"
She looked up and was blinded by the sun.
Hiromi put a hand to block it and smiled.
"Oh, I'm fine!"
The girl in front of her was her age, and her height.
Her eyebrows were as black as night, conflicting with her lovely mint green hair.
It was long, almost to her knees, and her bangs were perfectly straight.
Her clothes were all bright blue.
Mrs. Sato approached with a worried glance at the green-haired girl, "What happened?"
The mysterious girl frowned, "I'm sorry. I was so excited I ran into her!"
After a thorough explanation and a kiss to the forehead, Mrs. Sato left and the girl smiled brightly at Hiromi, revealing canines like Kiba's.
. . .
"My name is Maiko Arakawa! What's your name?"
-:-
Hiromi reopened her eyes.
She remembered their meeting so well..
But... why didn't Maiko..?
Oh, Maiko..
What happened to her...
Shouldn't have happened.
POV change - Hanako
-:-
"Ibiki completely comprehends human psychology."
Hanako nodded in agreement, "He can drive a person into a corner mentally and practically control his mind."
Asuma smirked, "He can find a person's weakness and bring it up for everyone to see."
The black-haired beauty across from him sighed.
"A shame, really. That he was chosen to be this year's examiner.. I was so looking forward to seeing my team in those vests. We'd all be matching."
Kurenai frowned, deep in thought.
Her silver-haired friend sighed, "I think my subordinates might be able to pull it off."
Asuma smirked, "Your team? I think my team's got it covered.."
Hanako smiled politely, "Really? You have a fat idiot (Choji's ear twitched. And he turned around anxiously. . . . . He turned back around. He was going crazy.), a lazy bum, and a blonde buffoon. I honestly think you have the smallest chance of success."
The smoking jounin leaned forward, "And you think you've got it good? You've got an Arakawa, a blonde airhead and some emo. Nice combo, Hana-chan."
The beauty turned into a beast faster than Kakashi could blink and growled, punching air (attempting to aim at Asuma) and hissing.
"You IDIOT! I hope you DIE from all that (curse.) SMOKING! My team is MUCH MORE CAPABLE than YOUR TEAM! Kotone, Maiko and Hiromi could kick your (curse.) ANYDAY, you (curse. Curse. Curse. Curse.)!"
The jounin with the messy silver hair grabbed her around the waist and attempted to hold he back while Kurenai stopped her punches.
"Asuma, you know better than to provoke her!" The crimson-eyed woman scolded.
"S-she started it!"
POV change - Kotone
-:-
The genin watched lifelessly as Naruto slammed his hand back down onto his desk with a confident array of words.
Such a fool.
Won't get anywhere with that stupid grin.
Ibiki sent him a glare.
"I'll ask one last time. This choice will impact your entire life. If you want to leave, now is your last chance."
"No way! I won't turn back from my decision! That's my 'Ninja Way'!" Naruto yelled.
His words lifted the spirits of the other test-takers, but Kotone did not feel a single thing.
What a fool.
"Good determination. Then.. For the first Exam.. everyone here," Ibiki took a breath.
. . .
. . .
. . .
"PASSES."
Kotone's eyes shifted to Hiromi, whose eyes were swirls of confusion and her head was laid down on her desk.
Then to Maiko, who was done shaking and was now smirking with dog-like canines.
Sakura Haruno (Ugh.. This one is quite the.. ahem.. whore.) stood up with an angry, raised brow.
"Hey! What's the meaning of this? What about the next question?"
The examiner let a large smile slip onto his face, "There wasn't one to begin with. Or, I suppose you can call the two-choice question the tenth question."
Sakura's eyes widened, "Huh?"
A young girl's voice from across the room angrily asked, "So those last nine problems were a waste?"
Kotone closed her white eyes.
I'd hate to be there.. In that room..
I'd barely be able to resist the urge to kill everyone..
Ibiki explained the test slowly and surely.
They tested everyone's information gathering skills (Or for Kotone, her state of genius) and how everyone had to be extremely secretive and ninja-like to retrieve their answers and save their teams.
"But, most of those problems could not be solved by you genin."
How insulting.
"So most of you came to the conclusion that you had to cheat. This test assumed that everyone had to cheat. So we snuck in two chunins who knew the answers to be cheated off of."
You knew them right off the bat..
How... amusing.
Naruto let out a nervous, fake laugh, "Ha! Of course! It was obvious! It would have been dumb not to notice! Right, Hinata?"
Ughh. He's beginning to annoy me.
"Those who cheated like idiots, failed, of course."
The man removed his forehead protector.
"Why? Because information can be more valuable than lives at some times... In missions, battlefields...Information has the worth of a human's life!"
POV change - Hiromi
-:-
The blonde slapped a hand over her mouth to stop a scream.
His head.. was completely covered by scars, screw holes, and cut marks.
"How awful" She whispered, not feeling her crush's eyes on her.
He must've been tortured..
Ibiki continued speaking, but Hiromi was still shell-shocked.
Was becoming a ninja going to do that to her?
She remembered crying when her father became a chunin because she feared for his life..
Her attention was grabbed when she realized Neji's eyes were on her.
Hiromi squeaked and turned a deep red before turning back towards Ibiki.
"We kicked out those who were lacking in that field. That's what was going on."
The girl was the Sand Village still wasn't satisfied, "But.. I still can't agree to that last problem!"
The scarred examiner put his arms out, "But, the tenth question is the main question of this exam."
Hiromi raised a brow, "Huh? What's that mean?"
Ibiki tucked his hands back into his pockets and began explaining.
"It was a take or not take choice. It was a painful two-choice question. Those who wouldn't take it, failed along with their teammates. If you chose it and could not answer it, you'd lose your chance to take the test again. It was a merciless problem."
The blonde with sparkling blue eyes frowned.
So it was a trap.
"How about this.. Suppose you do become a chunin and your mission is to retrieve a secret document. You do not have information on the enemies. Not how many or even how strong. You don't even know if there are traps. So, will you take the mission or not? Just because your life and your teammates' lives are in danger, are you able to avoid dangerous or scary missions?"
Hiromi's frown deepened.
Would she have to do that one-day? Kill ... someone?
"The answer is.."
She closed her eyes.
Yes.
"No. Missions carry heavy risks cannot be avoided and must be taken by someone. The ability to show courage and get through a bad situation.. That's what they're looking for in a chunin."
Hiromi gulped.
Would she have the courage to make those kinds of decisions?
She couldn't even find out what to do when her mom forgot to leave a note when she went to the market..
She couldn't be a chunin..
"Those who cannot bet their fate in a serious situation.."
She could never help her parents when they were in a rush to get out of the house.
She never could decide what to make in their lunch..
"Those who give up when given a chance to come back next year and let their minds sway at the thought of an uncertain future.."
There was that other time when she wouldn't help her mom chop up carrots for dinner because she feared she'd chop off her finger..
"Fools like that who have no determination do not deserve to become chunin."
Hiromi sniffed up a stray tear.
She didn't deserve to become a chunin..
"That is what I believe. You are here because you gave the right answer. You chose to take the last question."
But.. She still wasn't that strong.. She hadn't even cheated!
"You can handle any of the difficulties that will come."
No, no! She couldn't.
"You have passed through the entrance! The first exam ends now!"
Hiromi almost slammed her head against her desk, but simply took a deep breath.
She could do this as long as she was calm and collected..
She was so much closer to becoming a chunin now..
Nothing could catch her off guard..
She was prepared...
. . .
. . .
The window shattered and the blonde turned as pale as the paper in front of her.
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
She squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lip, covering her head with her hands as glass rained down.
"Everybody, there's no time to be excited.."
A voice, masculine, yet feminine, shouted into Hiromi's face.
She peeled an eye open and saw what looked like the next examiner.
The banner behind her kind of said, "Second Examiner, Mitarashi Anko is here".
"I'm the second examiner, Anko Mitarashi! LET'S GO TO THE NEXT EXAM! FOLLOW ME!"
. . .
. . .
Hiromi's heart had practically stopped.
T-this.. was their second examiner?
. . .
She looked kind of crazy.
Ibiki stepped out from behind the banner, with an annoyed expression.
"Grasp the situation."
Anko turned a little red.
Hiromi guessed she arrived a little early.
The purple-haired woman continued anyway.
"Seventy-eight?" She turned to the scarred first examiner, "Ibiki! You let all these teams pass? This test must've been too easy!"
Morino simply smirked, "It seems this year, we've been sent excellent genin."
Anko huffed, "Oh well. I'll be sure to make more than half the teams fail in my exam."
Hiromi hit her head on the desk, for at least the third time that day.
"I-.. I thought it was over" She mumbled.
POV change - Maiko
-:-
Oh no.
Right when she thought she was going to have smooth sailing to chunin-hood, this chic pops outta nowhere.
Great.
"I'm getting kind of excited... I'll explain the details tomorrow! We'll meet elsewhere tomorrow so ask your jounin leaders where to go to and what time. That's it. Get out of here!"
The green-haired girl had exited the building and immediately ran to Shikamaru and Choji, who were standing off to the side, politely waiting for her.
"Man! That was insane.. I'm so tired it's not even funny" The tomboy groaned.
Her lazy best friend crossed his arms behind his head, "Yeah.. It was such a drag. I'm surprised Naruto passed."
Choji grunted in agreement before returning to his bag of chips (What the-? Were those the same ones from earlier?).
Maiko cracked her knuckles and back, "Ahhhh~! So where we goin' for dinner?"
Shikamaru shrugged, "It's your night to pick. And mine to pay.. Such a dr-"
"Drag, yeah, we know! I know just where to go! I've got to say bye to my teammates first! You two wait right there!"
Before either one of them could interject, the tomboy sped off to Hiromi, who was standing idly by.
Shikamaru sighed.
So troublesome..
She returned less than two minutes later and punched Choji in a friendly manner on the shoulder.
"Okay! So let's head to Ichiraku's real quick! I still need to get home and sleep for the longest time possible."
Shikamaru closed one eye, "Eh? That place is so much more expensive than that other place.."
Maiko pouted, "I like their ramen! C'mon, Shika! It'll be fun!"
Her pout transformed into a beautiful smile that the lazy boy couldn't help but smile back at.
"Alright.. But get something small, okay?"
"Yeah! Thanks, pal!"
...
...
So troublesome..
POV change - Hiromi
-:-
The blonde waved farewell to Maiko before turning and beginning her walk home.
"Hey! Hiromi!"
Her long braid danced as she spun around to smile at Kiba.
"Hi, Kiba! Hi, Akamaru!"
The boy smirked, showing off his canines and his dog barked joyfully.
"Man! Was that thing challenging or what!"
"It was.. I was so nervous.. I felt like raising my hand, but I didn't want Maiko-chan and Kotone to fail."
Kiba crossed his arms, "Hey, hey! You wanted to raise your hand? So not cool, Hiromi! You should believe in yourself more."
The blonde turned a light shade of pink before crossing her arms as well, "I-I did! I just didn't want to get it wrong and never get my chance back.. A-and Maiko-chan would've beaten me up.."
Akamaru suddenly injected with a few comments of his own and Kiba nodded in agreement.
"What did he say?"
"That you would've gotten it right even if there was a tenth question."
"A-ah! Thank you very much, Akamaru.. But.. I'm not really that smart.. In the end, I couldn't even cheat off of.."
"Hm?"
The girl's face was a bright tomato red as she mumbled the name of her crush, "N-neji."
Kiba barked out an array of beautiful (n-not really! She didn't think that at all!) laughter.
"Off of Neji? Ha-ha-ha-ha! That's priceless!"
Hiromi smacked him gently on the arm, "I-I didn't want him to know! I would've lost every ounce of pride if he discovered I cheated off of him!"
Kiba scratched his nose with a grin, "So? How'd you cheat?"
. . .
. . .
"I-I didn't."
"HUH? How'd you get all those questions then?"
"I didn't! I made them up!"
. . .
The boy went into another round of laughter as Hiromi turned even redder.
Akamaru seemed to be laughing as well.
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up!" She grumbled.
Kiba ruffled her hair as his laughter ceased, "Ha-ha! Chill, Hiromi! I'm sure that guy back there won't come hobbling out here just to tell you that you got a few wrong."
The girl with the braid sighed and hung her head, "But still.. I feel like I don't deserve to be this far."
The brunette frowned as she continued.
"I-I mean.. I'm not courageous like Naruto.. Or confidant like Maiko.. Or smart like Kotone and Shikamaru.. Or cool like Sasuke.. Or strong l-like you, Kiba."
The boy turned a light shade of red before coughing into a fist.
"We-well.. I think you could be if you tried."
Ocean blue eyes blinked.
"Huh? Really?"
"Well.. what I meant to say was.."
Kiba broke out in a wide, friendly grin.
"You're already all of those things!"
Hiromi's blush returned.
"Minus the as cool as Sasuke part."
She hit him playfully upside the head before grinning at him.
"Thank you, Kiba.. You're pretty cool, too, you know!"
"Ha! Always have been."
"Don't get a big head!" Hiromi pouted.
The conversation continued throughout the entire walk (when had they started walking..?) until the blonde wished him a good night and trotted down her street, unaware of the happy boy that threw a cheerful fist into the air as she disappeared.
POV change - Kotone
-:-
As the seventy-eight students shuffled out of the academy, the pale girl had slithered ahead of everyone else and was already on her way home.
Or at least, her apartment.
That place where she slept.
Home was a place where there was love and hope and food.
None of those things subsided in Kotone's home.
. . .
She went down a couple of streets she didn't usually go down because of the odd sensation that she was being followed.
She eventually stopped at a small antique shop to throw off her pursuer(s?) and examined some of the merchandise.
"Welcome!" sang the old man behind the counter.
Kotone guessed he didn't get customers very often because he seemed a bit flustered at her sudden appearance.
She stalked throughout the store, looking uninterested in all of the items until her snow-white eyes laid upon a sword.
It wasn't very unique.
It was a katana, with a black hilt and a sheath of the same bland color, but with a flowery (or maybe it was an intricate dragon?) pattern etched into it.
"A-are you interested in it?" the old owner coughed.
Kotone stared at it.
"No."
The man frowned before hobbling back to his spot behind the counter and watching the pallid girl look intently at the katana.
. . .
She had seen it before.
But where?
. . .
It looked so familiar that Kotone's head began throbbing.
"Are you sure you're not interested?" The old man asked again.
This time, her voice was raised, "No."
He stumbled back a bit and hid behind his counter as the colorless girl walked out of the shop and back into the streets, still aware of her pursuer.
. . .
. . .
Kotone arrived at her apartment a little quicker than planned and took her time as she opened her door, closed it, and took off her loud pair of geta.
When her 'chores' were done, she walked into her bedroom and gently fell back upon it.
It squeaked under her weight, but remained silent as she laid there, eyes wide open and staring blankly at the ceiling.
. . .
Her stalker's presence became stronger than ever and Kotone opened her window, slipping out, knowing she could catch him or her if she ran.
. . .
"Reveal yourself. I have been completely aware of your pursuit since we left the academy."
. . .
A figure stalked out from behind an annoyingly tall chimney and crossed its arms.
. . .
"Is there a reason you wanted to follow me here? To my apartment?"
The fleeting light landed on the figure, revealing Sasuke Uchiha.
His expression explained his emotions.
He was disappointed, angry, and shocked.
"I want to fight you."
His words came out angry instead of disappointed.
Kotone stared at him impassively before turning around and walking back towards her window, her bare feet making distinct sounds against the tile of the roof.
"No."
"Why not?"
. . .
She looked up to the sky, the gentle breeze causing her white hair to fly around her face.
"There isn't enough."
Sasuke looked even angrier for a moment before taking a step forward, his jaw tight.
"Enough of what?"
. . .
"Wind."
. . .
And with that, she disappeared back into her apartment and the Uchiha leapt away from rooftop to rooftop.
A/N: Enjoyed?