Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Go to my profile to see the pic I drew of Eie in the uniform she wore during the exams. Enjoy!

Sakura's P.O.V.

'…Say it isn't so….This could be a no-win situation…Please Naruto…Try to hang on to at least ONE of your points!!! Don't think Eie will go easy on you!!'

Naruto's P.O.V.

I chuckled to myself. I could do this. Yeah, I can. I didn't need no special favors from Eie.

'This is funny…Here I am…. facing the worst kind of enemy! Teachers didn't call me the all time dunce for nothing! I earned that name on the field of battle!'

I began to hum, as though I knew the answers and was wondering which to answer first.

'Don't show fear! The trick is not to show any fear. Tests can smell fear!'

I fiddled with the paper and pencil.

'Remain calm…don't try to do anything at once. Look at each question square in the eye. Try to find the weakest link….The easy one. Separate it from the herd, and take it down. If it fights back, if only try to save it, no matter what, don't look at Eie!"

Okay, maybe I lied a little.

Sasuke's P.O.V.

I watched Naruto shiver and occasionally glance at Eie.

I chewed on my thumb. 'This is so not good! Naruto's an idiot…I just hope he doesn't panic.'

I started to get annoyed.

'Why does he keeping at Eie for?! Wait…Why do I care?!"

"Huh?" Aries shifting his eyes towards me. His tail was swirling in the air. His eyes then turned to Naruto, and his tail began to move in swirls similar to the pattern of letters.

'What was he doing?'

Aries P.O.V.

C-H-E-A-T-B-U-T-D-O-N-T-G-E-T-C-A-U-G-H-T!

My tail wrote in the air repeating. I caught Sasuke's eye, but he still didn't get it.

I sighed. 'Eie better be prepared for some heart break.'

Naruto's P.O.V.

"Whoa. First up is cryptography. They want us to work our butts off!"

I read question:

Question No. 1

Decode the following cipher and summarize it's meaning.

………..

I smiled. 'Next!'

Sakura's P.O.V.

'I wonder how Naruto's doing…But I got to concentrate on my own work! I've got to hang on to all my points to make up for him….'

I read the test carefully.

'Um….Number two…"The Parabola marked B represents the greatest effective distance the enemy shinobi, A, could throw a shuriken star from the top of a 23.3-foot-tall tree. Calculate the specific features of the scenario and deduce the range of shuriken's effectiveness, assuming a consistent speed for shinobi A's assault upon any enemy shinobi operating within the area that the flight of the shuriken describes. Show your work." '

I widened my eyes. 'Oh no! This…this is…To solve this, you need to hypothesize under very uncertain conditions….and then apply the laws of kinetics to whatever you come up with. There's no way Naruto could solve something like this!!' A bead of sweat fell down my forehead. 'Of course, neither can most of the people here. It's a killer. 'Course I can answer it.'

Eie's P.O.V.

No has started cheating yet. I guess everyone's trying to do at least one problem. And after what Ibiki said, no one's would dare to cheat.

For now.

Naruto's P.O.V.

'Next! Next! Next! Next! Next! Next! Next! Next…'

Sasuke P.O.V.

I gave a chuckle.

Naruto P.O.V.

I looked up, my eyes wide and my lips pinched. 'Oh no…'

Sasuke P.O.V.

'Well, well…I don't know how to answer a single one of these questions.' I sighed, feeling sweat fall down my face. Under the desk, my fingers touched the red tipped feather in my pocket. 'And what's the deal with number ten?'

Question Number 10

This question will not be provided until forty-five minutes into the exam. At that time, please answer the proctor's question to the best of your ability.

I saw Aries still moving his tail. In the same, lazy, movements. What was he trying to say?

Naruto's P.O.V.

I groaned and clutched my head in utter doom. 'Aw….Man, am I screwed here. Totally. Seriously. Totally screwed!! What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?'

"Craaaaap!" I whispered. I growled. "I've got to be sly…sneaky…I can show Eie. I know how to do this…"

Eie's P.O.V.

Oh no. Naruto hasn't figured it out yet. This is bad. Wait! Finally, someone has began to cheat. Slowly, I wrote down the boy's number and team, making sure he was the most obvious.

Strike 1.

Sasuke's P.O.V.

I felt the heavy stares of the proctor ninjas. 'They're watching us. Like cats watch mice. Like they expect us to cheat! These rats!'

Sakura's P.O.V.

'Rule number 2.…makes it pretty clear that we're competing against each other. Obviously, only the teams that keep the most points will be allowed to pass. I just wish I know when he cut off lies-how many of the top teams can pass…?' I wrote down the answer to the next question. 'Not knowing would change anything…But the uncertainty is driving me nuts.'

"You know…" the boy next to me stood up. "The one thing I keep wondering…is how many of the top-ranking teams they intend to pass."

That Ibiki man gave a horrible giggle. "Knowing that know isn't going to help you, is it? Unless you're hoping to fail."

"Damn straight," Aries growled.

"I-I'm sorry," the boy apologized and sat back down..

'I thought so. If only about ten of the fifty-one teams can pass…all three of us have to retain as many points as possible. The system is set up so it almost forces you to cheat.' I pulled strands of my hair behind my ear. 'I just hope Sasuke and Naruto don't panic and try to take that way out… But they wouldn't. they couldn't. Not even Naruto is that stupid…is he?'

Naruto's P.O.V.

'Remain calm. Above all, proceed with caution. My only hope is to cheat so well they don't catch me!!!!"

My eyes caught the black ones of Eie. I blinked. 'Wait a minute. Did her eyes just turn red?'

I watched her as I shock my head.

I whacked my head numerous times to clear all the rotten thoughts. 'No way! No way! Don't even think about it! Danger! Danger! Do NOT go there! You're lucky Eie's there to stop you.'

Sasuke's P.O.V.

Eie's just managed to stop Naruto from cheating. Good going. I looked to the side.

'With so many proctors looking over our shoulders, they're probably watching every little thing every one of us does…making notes about us in their grade books!'

One of them wrote something on his clipboard.

'The axe has fallen somewhere.'

"If you let the proctors catch you cheating, you'll bring yourself and your friends down! If you aspire to become chunin….if you want to be the best shinobi you can be…then you'd better start acting like you already are!"

"Hold it!" I got it. 'Unbelievable…This is an "Intelliigence" test…In more than just the academic sense!' I watched Naruto as he continued to shiver with dread. 'Wake up, Naruto! You're history if you don't figure it out!' I gritted my teeth. 'They're also testing…our information gathering skills! They want us to cheat…like shinobi! Without getting caught! Shinobi must learn to uncover the secrets. The proctors want us to cheat….really well! The way the best shinobi would if they needed this kind of information in a real-world mission!' I looked at Aries again, his tail continuing to move in letters. I focused on them.

D-O-N-T-G-E-T-C-A-U-G-H-T-C-H-E-A-T-B-U-T-

Cheat but don't get caught.

Aries nodded at me as I understood. I looked towards Eie, but her attention was towards Naruto. 'Why did she care so much for him? What does she see in that dobe?'

Ibiki walked over to her, nodding as she nodded back.

'Look at how they set up the "perfect score, minus penalties" scenario! With two points deducted every time you get caught cheating….The real message is that you can be caught four times before you face disqualification! What we're being tested on is not whether we know the answers, but how skillfully we can discover them! Come on Naruto! Any minute now, everyone who's figured it out will start going for it!'

Eie's P.O.V.

"Looks like Sasuke's got it," Aries whispered. "So have many of them."

I nodded. Five!

Ice floated upwards on a boy's paper, making him yelp.

"You've cheated five times. Please take your teammates out of this class room."

As they were escorted out, I looked over the remaining teams. Then, I looked back at Naruto.

'Come on, Naruto. Cheat but don't cheat like that guy!'

Sasuke's P.O.V.

Amazing. Eie's just got the first. Time for my move.

I searched the classroom until my eyes fell on a boy who was writing nonstop.

'There. That's the one. I'm going to mimic his every move! Using the Sharingan copy eye!!' I activated my bloodline and almost instantly began to write.

Aries' P.O.V.

'Sasuke's has made his move.' I looked at the clock. 'With twenty minutes into the exam. Now, I can only hope my message gets into the kit's skull.'

Naruto's P.O.V.

'Aaaargh! I'm almost out of time! Rats! If I don't cheat, I'm dead anyway!'

Something whooshed pass me, right about when I was going to cheat. The guy behind me gave a shriek as the kunai hit his paper. Ice froze around the kunai, lodging it deep in the desk. I looked up to see Eie and the spiky haired ninja who threw the it look at each other.

'That was clear…I was about to turn around.' I tried to calm down, to stop my racing heart.

"Wh-what was that for?" the boy asked.

"That's five strikes, and you're out!" the ninja said.

"N-no way…"

"Take your teammates with you and leave this classroom," Eie said.

"You heard her. Now."

The team began to leave slowly, as though they would change their minds and let them back in.

"Dang!" one muttered.

"You're done here. Move it!"

'Yipe! That was close. No way am I gonna risk cheating…not alone!' I looked up to the black eyes of Eie. 'And I have a feeling she's going to be the one to take me out.'

"N-Naruto…"

I looked to the side to Hinata.

"You can look at my paper, if you want to…" she whispered.

"Huh?"

"Naruto…please…look at my answers," she repeated softly.

'Wh-what's Hinata talking about? Why would she help me?'

Aries's P.O.V.

'That girl…' I spit a ball of fire at the most obvious of the bunch.

"Leave boy. You failed," I snarled. "Along with your teammates."

'That girl has the aura of Touki herself…'

Eie's P.O.V.

My eyes began to hurt. So many were cheating now, but with out my double vision I wouldn't have caught on.

I rubbed my eyes. "What happens if you can see them all?" I thought out loud.

The ninja next to me glance at me sharply.

"Fail only the obvious ones," Aries repeated.

Leaving my sore eyes alone, I looked at Naruto again. I gasped, as I saw them talking.

That was the most obvious way to cheat!

Naruto's P.O.V.

I continued to stare at Hinata. 'Oh…No! No way!' I glared at her, figuring out her plan. 'It must be some kind of trick. But that would be such a dirty trick…Hinata's not that kind of girl…Unless Kiba and the others put her up to it….Forced her.'

I had to ask. "Level with me!" I whispered. "What's in it for if you help me?!"

Hinata began to tremble. "It's…..It's just…." she muttered. She twiddled her fingers and avoided my eyes.

'Why can she never look at me in the eye?' I wondered.

"I….you…." She swallowed and her cheeks turned redder. "I don't want you…..to have to leave so soon, Naruto-kun."

"….?"

My blank expression must have made her nervous, for she stammered, "W-well you know…there are only nine of us newbies, and we don't know what we're facing….The odds will be better for all of us… If we stick together…at least for now…"

"Oh…." I smiled. "Okay. Heh…. I guess that makes sense. Sorry for doubting you."

Hinata pushed her test under her arm.

I hummed. 'Boy! This is my lucky day! Good thing Hinata was next to me!'

Eie's P.O.V.

'Oh no…' I looked to the side as a ninja began to write. I wrenched my eyes back on the pair. 'Naruto!'

Aries's P.O.V.

I closed my eyes, my tail stopping. 'I guess the kit didn't see me. Idiot. I hope Sasuke and Sakura will go easy on him.'

Naruto's P.O.V.

I stopped turning once I heard the scratching noises. I look to see, not Eie, but another ninja writing on his clipboard. He glance at me and grinned.

"Hinata," I whispered. "Don't you get it?"

"Huh?"

"A world-class ninja like me just isn't the kind of guy who cheats!" I grinned and lifted a fist. "Besides, I don't think Eie, Sakura and that bastard Sasuke will forgive for failing. Even that dog Aries might beat my hide!"

Aries's P.O.V.

A vein twitched on my head. 'DOG?!'

Naruto's P.O.V.

"B-But…Naruto…" Hinata protested.

"Besides…If I get busted, I don't want you to pay for having helped me!!!" I quickly explained.

'Anyway….If I get caught doing the crime, Sakura and that jerk Sasuke are gonna have to do the time. I cant afford to mess up here!'

"I-I'm sorry I bothered you…" Hinata whispered.

"Hey, no problem."

'Great. She believed me. Now I've got my honor And I'm screwed! trying to be a big shot.' I cried silently.

Aries's P.O.V.

"Hmph." I closed my eyes. 'The kit's got some honor in him. Dumb fox.'

Eie's P.O.V.

I sighed. He was safe….for now.

Naruto's P.O.V.

The clock continued to tick, the hands coming closer to my doom.

'The test's been going on for half an hour…only another half left! At this point….that last question is my only hope.'

Sakura's P.O.V.

'That's it! I've answered them all! There's nothing left for me to do but wait for the tenth question.'

Sasuke's P.O.V.

'I've been writing nonstop . I was going to mimic two or three other students to be on the safe side…But I hit the target dead-center on my first try.' I smirked.

Aries's P.O.V.

'That girl's up to something,' I thought, staring at a blue eyed, blond girl who was smirking with glee. Suddenly, she slumped over, asleep.

My eyes widened a bit. 'What?"

Eie's P.O.V.

Something's wrong. Sakura started acting weird, staring down at her test with an evil smile.

he hour drowned closer to an end. About thirteen teams have been disqualified. It's strange though, because I caught almost every one along with another ninja. Aries caught some too, burning their papers to ash.

I looked at the clock again. It was almost forty-five minutes scheduled for Ibiki to give the tenth question.

People are getting desperate.

I swept my gaze over them again. They stopped at a certain red haired boy, hands in a jutsu. If I looked closer, I could see small grains of sand.

I took out my black book and lifted the clipboard to hide it in my lap. Carefully, I began to sketch his hand movements and take notes on his jutsu. Gaara touched his left eye and something appeared in his palm.

"A third eye," Aries whispered.

'Well, he's definitely not obvious.'

"Excuse me."

"What is it?"

Kankuro stood in his seat. "I've got to go to the bathroom."

I didn't move my eyes from Gaara, despite the distractions.

Finally, forty-five minutes has passed.

Naruto's P.O.V.

"All right! Here it comes. Get ready for the tenth question."

I growled, feeling extremely nervous. 'I'm risking it all on one roll of the dice.'

Sasuke's P.O.V.

'Mr. Big Shot…Ha!'

Sakura's P.O.V.

'Just one more mountain to climb!' I was ready, hand poised over the portion on the test where the tenth question was located.

Eie's P.O.V.

I closed my book and sighed. 'This is it.'

"And before we get to the question itself…I'm adding one more rule."

Everyone gasped in shock. Kankuro chose at the time to come in.

"Heh. Looks like you're in luck," Ibiki said. "The time you've spent playing with dolls hasn't been completely wasted." 'What does he mean by that?' I thought. "Don't worry about it. Sit down."

He waited until Kankuro went back to his seat. "Let me explain. This rule is absolute."

Naruto's P.O.V.

'An absolute rule?!' I swallowed.

Sasuke's P.O.V.

"First, you much chose whether to accept or reject this tenth question!"

'Accept or reject?' I thought.

Sakura's P.O.V.

"Ch-choose?" the girl who was with Gaara burst out. "What happens if someone doesn't accept the question?"

"If you reject the question and don't even try to answer it, you'll lose all your points immediately and fail! And both of your teammates will fail right along with you," Ibiki said bluntly.

"Say what?!"

"Then why would anyone choose to reject it?"

"Because….of the other rule."

'Oh come on,' I thought, really worry now. 'What more can he add?!'

"If you answer the tenth question, and you get it wrong…You will never be permitted to apply for the journeymen ninja exams again. Not ever."

"You cant be serious. That's ridiculous!!!" Kiba protested. "There are ninja here who've sat for the chunin exams more than once already!! We know there are!"

That Ibiki man gave a disturbing chuckle. "Just your rotten luck. I wasn't making the rules in past years. I am now. I've been up front with you. You can take a failing grade now, and try again later."

"Huh?"

"Anyone who has doubts would be smart to reject the tenth question right now. Come back and reapply next year, and the year after that."

'That's about a no-win situation!' I bit my lip. 'If even one member of a cell rejects the question, then all three team members fail for the year. If anyone accepts the question and cant answer it, he'll be stuck at junior level for the rest of his life! Heads you win, tails we lose!! No sane person could make such a choice!!'

Naruto's P.O.V.

"Ready? Then let's begin."

There was so much tension in the air, it made me even more nervous. And that guy isn't helping any.

"Those who choose not to accept should raise their hands. Once their number has been confirmed they will leave the room."

I growled. 'What kind of stupid question could it be?! If I get it wrong, I'll be a junior-grade rookie for life…NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! But if I just reject the question, Sasuke and Sakura both have to suffer for my lack of guts. And…"

A black haired angel comforted me when I really needed it the most. Never even judged me like other people did.

'Eie…' The ice tear felt heavy on my chest. 'I want to, but…'

Sakura's P.O.V.

'I don't intend to raise my hand,' I quietly thought. 'I'm sure I can answer the question., whatever it may be. But…' I looked at Naruto's back. 'Even if Naruto decides to play it safe and reject the question, and we all fail, all I'll lose is time. I wont have failed forever and I can apply again for the next exam. But…' I closed my eyes. 'But Naruto…you're different. It'd be foolish to sacrifice yourself forever for our sakes. Reject the question.'

Eie's P.O.V.

A hand went up. The man who sat next to Naruto stood up. "I-I…I quit! I'm rejecting the question! Genna!! Inaho!! Please forgive me!" he whimpered.

"Number 50! Failed!"

"Hmph. Weakling," Aries muttered.

"Number 130! Number 111! You fail right along with him."

Two more men stood in their seats and proceeded to leave with their cowardly teammate. After, more began to leave. Soon, twenty-six teams were left, including Naruto's. I looked at him. 'Will you quit, Naruto, and never be Hokage, or will you risk it all?'

Sakura's P.O.V.

The stare from Eie must be making him hesitate. '…Naruto…Why don't you raise your hand? I'm sure Eie will understand. Sasuke too. I do.'

"I…I did it! I did it! I'm a ninja! Ninja! Ninja! Ninja!"

"It's Uzumaki Naruto. I am the cream of the elite. In fact, one day I'm gonna be the next Lord Hokage! So remember my name."

"Well, you're old and stupid! I am doing all the right things, and I'm doing them fast."

I sighed.

"…I'll be a better shinobi than Lord Hokage!!!….And then all the villagers will have to acknowledge my existence at last!"

'He's always going on about "Lord Hokage" this and "Hokage" that like a broken record! I'm sorry Naruto…' I smiled. 'Your dream may be crazy…' I clenched my fist and slowly began to raise it. '…But I don't want it taken away from you forever.'

A movement made me stop. "Huh?"

Aries's P.O.V.

'It cant be!' I sighed in disappointment. 'I thought he was better than this and more…'

Eie's P.O.V.

I couldn't believe my eyes. Was that really Naruto's hand going up?

'Na…Naruto!' I shut my eyes and bowed my head. He was shaking so bad. It was really hard for him to do this. 'Fine. If that's your choice, then I'll accept it. But I promise to help you so you can pass next year.'

SLAM! I jumped.

"Never underestimate me!!! I don't quit, and I wont run!! I'll accept your stupid question! Even if I risk ending up a rookie for the rest of my life, I'll still become Lord Hokage, even if I can only make it by pure stubbornness. I don't care!"

I blinked in amazement. "Naruto…" I whispered.

"Hmph." Aries grinned in pleasure.

Sasuke's P.O.V.

"I'm not afraid of you!!" he shouted.

I quirked my lips in a annoyed, yet relieved smile. 'He…never even gave us a thought. But he certainly does have guts. Good thing, because a idiot needs them!'

Eie's P.O.V.

"I'll ask you one more time," Ibiki warned. "This is a decision that could affect the rest of your life. Quit now, while you still have the chance."

"I never go back on my word," Naruto answered. "That's….my shinobi way!"

I smiled, feeling so much happiness I could explode with it.

"That's our kit," Aries said and shook his head, much like a dog.

"I know," I whispered, "and I'm happy."

Ibiki suddenly looked at us proctors. Seeing everyone else nod, I nodded as well.

"It's time," Aries said and got to his feet.

"Yeah."

Seeing our approval, Ibiki proceeded. "Good call. So, everyone who is still here…" he paused for effect, "…You've just passed the first exam!!!"

Everyone had shocked faces. It was actually pretty funny.

"What do you mean, 'passed' ?" Sakura had to ask. "When did that happen? What about the tenth question?!"

"There is no tenth question," Ibiki grinned, "beyond the whole 'accept or reject' thing."

Oh. I get it.

"Hunh?"

"Hey! Then why did we have to suffer through the other nine questions?!" the blond girl from yesterday demanded. "That was a total waste of our time!"

"There was no waste," Ibiki said. "Those questions had a purpose, which they've already served."

She looked confused. "Such as?"

"Our goal was to test your skills…at spying!"

"Our skills at spying?"

Couldn't this girl take a hint? I sat back in my chair. Everything fell into place now.

"Remember the rules at the beginning? You pass or fail as part of a three-man call. With that rule, I pressured you with the fear that anything you did wrong…would bring your teammates down with you."

"You know, I kinda figured that was it," Naruto said.

I sighed. 'Naruto, don't push it!'

"He may be our kit," Aries muttered, "but he's still an idiot."

"However, the questions are beyond the level that junior ninja could be expected to handle. So most of you, having reached the same conclusion, had only one way of retaining your points-by cheating. In other words, we set up the test on the assumption that you cheat."

"Hmf." Sasuke looked annoyed, even though he was smiling.

"And, to ensure there would be suitable targets for you to cheat from, we snuck in a pair of ringers-two journeymen ninja who already knew all the answers.

They both smiled. It's funny. They were the only ones who, no once in the entire testing period, tried to cheat.

Two ninjas began to talk, saying how long it took to find them both.

Naruto, in either jealousy or realization of his own stupidity, started to laugh hysterically. "Ha ha ha! Yeah! It was obvious!!! Any idiot could tell! Right, Hinata?"

"R-Right," Hinata answered.

"If this the same kid who had the look of doom earlier?" Aries asked.

I smiled helplessly. "Yep!"

"Of course, anyone who cheated in a clumsy or obvious way." Ibiki began to remove his headband and the wrapping over his head, "failed."

I gasped. The skin of his scalp has been burned, adding to the scars across his face. Holes from what probably was screws filled his scalp. It was a gruesome way to be tortured.

"I guess…it was hard keeping your mouth shut," I whispered sadly.

"Good work soldier," Aries said, saluting him.

"Don't feel sorry for me, Miss Eie," Ibiki said, putting them back on. "The information you obtain cant be trusted…if you cant keep your presence from the enemy. Learn that and learn it well. If you bring back intelligence from a suspect source or a compromised operation, you're doing your enemies' work for them, putting those in danger. That is why we maneuvered you into using your espionage skilled to cheat. It was the quickest way of weeding out the students whose skills aren't yet to snuff."

"Okay…But what was the deal with the tenth question?"

Ibiki smiled as he yank the final knot that held the cloth together.

"Ah! The tenth question….was the first real test on the exam."

Aries nodded. "So it was."

"What on earth do you mean?" Sakura asked.

"Let me explain…The tenth question was a choice between two options that were both difficult and dangerous. Those who chose to reject were failed, and their friends along with them. Those who chose to accept and couldn't answer the question lost any chance of ever even trying again. It was a nasty, unfair, no-win set of options. So why did I present them? Let's suppose you all go on to successfully attain the rank of chunin. You are assigned to steal a vital enemy document, knowing nothing about the skills, deployment, or military preparedness of your foe. You may have to cross a …"

Ibiki faded into the much lighter, leaner form of Father Abel. "Territory has been trapped and set to mess with your mind. Demons are ruthless and merciless, so in turn so shall angels. On the battlefield, it's either you or them. They wont wait until you're ready and they wont definitely wont take pity on you if you are a child. Search and destroy, and bring whatever you can in the good name of God. Anything that can be used in our cause. Remember, search and destroy. Also, survive or die with God's blessing…"

"Of course not!" Ibiki's voice brought me back to reality. "No matter how dangerous the risk, there will be missions that you cannot decline. A ninja must demonstrate valor that inspires those around him, helping all to overcome their fear."

"An angel must be able to fight and protect God and only God. Personal matters must not be involved. Keep your petty feelings away from the battlefield."

"Those who cant gamble with their own fate, who would trade today's certain risk for tomorrow's uncertain future, never taking the chance that lies before them, are weaklings who make only weak and easy decisions. In my opinion, they don't belong in the ranks of the chunin at all! By choosing to accept, you answered the almost-insoluble tenth question correctly. If you keep that spirit, you can probably conquer all of the many doubts and difficulties you'll face. You've passed the first hurdle. Part one of the chunin selection exams is now concluded. I'll pray you fight the good fight!"

"Yeah! You do that! Go pray!" Naruto grinned.

'Oh Naruto.' My eyes widened, feeling a sudden presence coming this way. I jumped as the windows shattered. Aries growled as he dodged the shards. I stepped in front of everyone, an ice spike in hand.

I was expecting an angel. What I got was twirling black cloth unveiling a woman. Kunai knives brought the cloth a float as the woman revealed herself.

She was a spiky purple haired woman with the strangest eyes. They appeared purple in this light, creased like a serpent's. She was dressed in a netted close revealing outfit with a trench coat over it.

I looked over to Ibiki, but I lowered my stance in confusion upon seeing him sigh.

"None of you are in any position to celebrate," screamed the newly arrived woman. "I am the second chief examination officer, Mitarashi Anko!! Time's a-wastin', people. Let's go!! Follow me!!!" She lifted her hand high.

No one moved. I released the ice from my hand, absorbing the water.

"Cant you sense the mood in here?" Ibiki asked, peering out from the flap.

I walked back to my seat. "You know, that woman almost reminds me of Naruto," I whispered.

"Only utterly insane," Aries muttered, eyes half closed, sounding bored.

Anko slowly counted the teams. "Seventy-eight of you are still here?! Ibiki! You passed twenty-six teams?! Obviously, you went way too easy on them," she glared.

"This year, we have applicants of exceptional of exceptional caliber."

"Yeah, right. I'll cut down the number half before the next test is done."

Whoa! Is this woman serious?

Aries's ears pulled back, displeased. "This woman almost reminds of Haine."

"Haine the Traitor? You have met her before?" I asked incredulously.

"Unfortunately."

"Ooh! I get charged up just thinking about it! I'll explain things in detail as soon as we move to our next location," Anko grinned. "So follow me!!"

"Eie! Aries! Stay a moment."

We stayed while the rest left. Naruto looked at me and I gave a thumbs up. That seem to cheer him.

"You did a good job of judging, despite being emotionally involved with most of them," Ibiki said, collecting the clipboard from me. "You too, Aries."

"We had practice, sir, where we're from," I answered.

"I see. Well, I hope to use you two next year. Off you go."

I stretched once we got outside. "Let's go over to the second test," I suggested.

"Sure," Aries nodded.

We followed the procession to the gates of a forest, filled with giant trees and shadows.

A place of death.

I knew a few demons who would love to call this home.

"This is the arena for the second exam: training ground 44," Anko announced. "Also known as……..The Forest of Death!!"

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"Aw! That stupid bitch! She stole my idea!"

"You couldn't do that even if she didn't," the Furie said coldly. "I wouldn't let you. Have you already forgotten we're not suppose to involve humans?"

"We aren't?"

The Furies sighed, and continued her spying. The human brats were now led to a ominous forest, stinking with the stench of death and decay.

"Hmph. These humans actually have some style," she muttered.

"Oooh! Someone's gonna die today! Yippe!" the Reject squealed.

"No Rosetta. We cant. So many deaths in one area will raise Uriel's suspicions. He'll go blabbing to God and our entire plans will be ruined. Focus on the angel. See she doesn't try to escape."

"What if the humans try to help her?" the Reject asked.

The Furie smiled, revealing her fangs and sharp teeth.

"We'll see."

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A/N: Damn this took a long time to write. Especially we all the exams we had at school. I hope everyone liked this chapter and the next one will be out as soon as possible. Thank you everyone for your support!