I do not own Naruto or any of the ninja here. Not Gaara *cries like a baby and throws a tantrum*.
Thank you to all who review, fave or simply read my story! And thank you to my beta, martinlitre (AKA Ryo)!
I'm glad that most of you liked the last chapter! I always think that my work sucks until I post it, then I get wonderful reviews and I smile. Thanks!
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Last Chapter:
Suddenly, and explosion shook the room. A huge puff of smoke formed in the front of the room. When is cleared, I saw a tall, strict looking ninja. Oh. I almost forgot about that. He looked at all of us, ready to make us suffer.
"Thank you for waiting! I'm the examiner for the first test of the Chuunin Selection Exam, Morino Ibiki. Settle down. I will say this now. There will be no fighting without the permission of the examiner. Even if this permission is granted, there will be no killing of your opponent. Those who do so will be disqualified immediately. Now, the first exam will start. So, bring us your application, pick one of these numbers and sit in the seat assigned to you. We will then hand out the exam problems."
The room went silent as the scary looking proctor announced our impending doom. I glanced at my team. I knew that they were thinking the same, important, crucial thing as me.
I wonder which seat I'm getting?
...
Ryo, Yuuki and I placed our hands over our ears just in time.
"WHAT? A written test?" screamed Naruto. People around the room echoed that. Ibiki shut them up.
"Yes. I haven't got all day, so hurry up and grab a number."
A small queue started forming. My team and I got into it. We grinned at each other. Since we knew the point of the exam, this wouldn't be too hard. All we had to do was answer one question and stay for the last one. Easy. But Naruto wasn't so peaceful. I put a hand on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. Relax. I know that you can do this." He gulped and smiled nervously.
"Yeah! I'll do fine! Believe it!" Well, we all know that he's gonna be screwed for the questions anyway.
When our turn arrived, we greeted the examiners and handed them our applications. They gave each of us a number. I looked at mine.
"I got 91!" Ryo showed me his.
"...Hm, 87. So, you shouldn't be too far away." Yuuki showed us her card.
"Number 6. Shoot, I'm in the front row."
Before parting ways, Ryo leaned in to whisper something to me.
"Which guy is it?" I looked around and located who he was looking for.
"There." I pointed to the two fake genins. "One is sitting down two rows behind us, two seats to your left. The other guy is supposed to be right in front of Naruto.""
"OK."
I sat down. Yuuki was indeed in the front row, right in front of the fake genin. Ryo was one table to me left. Sitting next to me were people who's existence I've never noticed until this moment. Two tables in front of me was Sakura.
Naruto and Hinata were four tables in front of me. I didn't bother locating the other rookies and important people. I turned around to see who was behind me. I nearly grinned my face off.
"Good luck Gaara-kun." He nodded back to me. Then, I turned to face Ibiki who was tapping a piece of chalk on the black board.
"OK! Now, for the rules..." I tuned him out. I already knew this stuff. Your exam scores are based on the entire teams' points... Blah blah blah... Don't get caught cheating... Blah blah... The last question will be handed out in 45 minutes... Blah blah blah... Tick tock tick tock.
"Begin!" I practically heard the stress music playing in my head. I turned over my paper, didn't bother reading the Japanese stuff, picked up my pencil and waited for Ryo to do his thing.
...
Ryo P.O.V.
The second the exam started, I scanned the room and my eyes rested on the guy who had all the answers. I grinned. I clasped my hands in front of me casually and placed my chin on them. I closed my eyes and focused on the guy.
My special power was memories. I could see any memories of anybody, in form of images. A mental image of one of the answers. That was all I needed. Then I could trust Himeko and Yuuki to answer as well. I scanned through the ninja's head, seeing everything.
... Ew... Ew... Gross... Dinner... Kunai... more dirty stuff... I now know why Himeko told us to limit the use of our jutsu. You do not want to know everything these people were thinking about... Ew... Missions... Book... Exam answers... Bingo.
I picked up my pencil. I saw my team do the same. Then, I started copying the Japanese characters, straight out of the unsuspecting ninja's memories.
I decided to copy two of them, just to be safe. In case Yuuki did something stupidly suspicious and got points removed. It didn't really matter. I didn't understand a single thing on my page, but I knew that my answers were chuunin leveled. Actually, they were the exact, perfect answers to the problems. I ended up writing them down faster than the guy himself. This saved our team the time to actually wait for him to write the stuff down. I grinned to myself. We were a bunch of mind players.
Without having to think of any of the problems, I wrote down the minimum stuff in about ten minutes. It wasn't really easy copying Japanese characters word per word, but my friends and I had a few practices.
I gladly unactivated my jutsu. I still had so much time left. I picked up my pencil and started filling up the blank squares on my paper with random sketches of weapons, landscapes and a couple quotes to pass the time.
...
Yuuki P.O.V.
I waited a couple long minutes for Ryo to steal the answers for us. The second he picked up his pencil, Himeko and I did the same. I blinked a few times and activated my jutsu. It was a little like Ino's mind possession, but there where a few differences. For example, I couldn't take over your body, but I could project part of my soul into your body and have access to your five senses: hearing, taste, touch, sight and smell. A few things that made this jutsu very convenient was that I still had control over my own body, all I needed to project my soul was concentration and my victim didn't feel my soul inside of him. It was pretty useful.
I 'borrowed' Ryo's eyesight so that I could see his paper, and started copying the exact characters from his page. I felt like laughing out loud. This was too easy. I felt bad for all the dumb ninjas that were stressing themselves out over this. I glanced at Naruto. He was... totally stressed. Not surprised.
After I copied down the two answers onto my paper, I glanced at the clock. Damn, only ten minutes had passed. This was going to be so boring. I sighed, picked up my pencil again and started covering my problem sheet with hearts, flowers and a few little 'messages' for Ibiki when he would later pick up my page. I snickered and hoped that he could read English.
'The ninja sitting in the seat beside me is staring at my butt.' 'Guess what color my bra is!' 'Whoever is reading this should get a manicure, seriously...'
...
Back to Himeko's P.O.V.
I watched Ryo go through the ninja's memories. I chuckled when he made a face. He must have hit a perverted mental image. That, and respecting privacy, were the reasons why we limited out jutsu uses to the bare minimum. I saw my friend's face light up when he found the answers.
I smiled and activated my jutsu. I could read minds. I could see all thoughts, images, emotions in a person's head, when he was thinking them. My team and I also had one offensive mind jutsu, projecting thoughts into people's mind. It could be used for battle, or messing around.
Ryo pushed the image of the exam answer sheet onto the top of his head, making it easier for me to see it. I started copying down a few answers of the Chuunin Selection Exams, straight out of his mind. No need for incredible stealth, a sand eyeball or the Byakugan.
In about ten minutes, I finished writing the Japanese characters down. I racked my brains. What could I do for another thirty five minutes? I started writing Chinese and drawing Gaara all over my paper wherever there was space.
About fifteen minutes (and four Gaaras) later, my page was completely covered in pencil markings. Now what? ... Oh, I had an idea.
I pushed images of Shikamaru into Temari's mind. I could feel her confusion as to why she was thinking of him at a time like this. I left her mind before I could feel bad about prying. Hm...
I mentally grinned and pushed a lot of images of Naruto into Sasuke's head. Especially some about their accidental kiss and all their moments. I could feel the Uchiha's complete shock. I stiffled a giggle.
One of the examiners gave me a weird look. Shoot. I did the peace sign at him and smiled innocently. He smiled back and continued scanning the room for cheaters. Phew, that was close. I need to be careful, or my team and I would get kicked out. And that would be very inconvenient for messing with the ninja.
I flinched as four teams got eliminated. Some of them begged for another chance, some protested. I felt bad for them. But, I knew that they weren't the last to get kicked out.
I passed the time by turning over my paper and continued drawing. Only a few minutes later did I realize that I was covering my once blank page with more Gaaras, hearts and love kanjis. Wow... that was disturbing. I felt myself go red. Am I really that creepy?
Then, I saw something that made my blood chill three times over. Hovering right about paper, was a grain of sand. Dammit! Please oh please, don't turn into an eyeball and see all the embarassing stuff I drew! I debated turning over my paper, but remembered that the other side was also covered in fan-art. I gulped and did the first thing that came to mind.
I gently poked the gain of sand and, to my relief, it floated away, towards another table.
I nervously shifted in my seat and hoped that I could tough out the next twenty minutes without giving in to the obsessive need to draw all over the tables. I don't think that Ibiki would like that.
What I really wanted to do was get a pocket mirror from my scroll and use it to stare at Gaara who was so conveniently seated behind me. But, ninja proctors and their suspicious minds would think that I'm cheating. I sighed. Nineteen minutes to go.
...
I spent the rest of the time guarding my test from grains of sand and enjoying people's stress and misery. I know that I'm all Peace & Love and stuff, but when I'm bored (or when Kabuto is around) I tend to get evil and bitchy. Well, my fellow human beings should all be able to understand that.
I stared at Ibiki as he had his inner monologue about how he's weeded out all of the hopeless cases and that he was ready for the last question.
"All right! Listen up!" The entire room gave him full attention. "Now, for the tenth and final question!"
The atmosphere was so tense, I had a huge urge to cough. But, I didn't, because that would be suicide.
"But, before I give you the tenth question, there are some more rules you need to be aware of." The back door opened, and Kankuro walked in. After Ibiki's remark, he went on with the rules.
"These rules are unique to question ten. Listen carefully, and try not to let them frighten you." I wanted to laugh. How subtle, really. "Okay, rule number one. Each of you can chose to not be given the question. It's your decision."
"Woah! What's the catch?" asked/yelled Temari. The proctor chuckled.
"If you chose to not take the tenth question, regardless of your answers to the other nine, you get a zero. In other words, you fail. And that means, of course, both your teammates fail as well." Murmurs were heard across the room. I was just impatient to answer and go mess around. I gave into my earlier urge and started drawing a caricature of Ibiki on the table.
"You guys didn't let me finish! If you do accept to answer the question, and answer it incorrectly... you will not only fail... You will be banned from taking the chuunin exams ever again!"
Cue gasps and shouting and Akamaru's barks.
"Of course, you don't have to take the question. If you aren't feeling confident... skip it. You can try to take the exams next year." He chuckled evilly "Now, if you're ready... The tenth and final question! If you don't want to take it, raise your hand and you're free to go!"
At this moment, about everyone in this room had a stressful argument with their conscience. Should they do it? Should they bail on their teams? What to do? Jiminy Cricket, help me! Or something like that. One person raised their hand. Then, like a contagious disease, people raised their hands one by one and got their teams disqualified.
Last but not least, Naruto raised his hand. Everyone watched him struggle for a good ten seconds. Then, like expected, he slammed it down with more force than necessary.
"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, but you aren't going to scare me off! NO WAY! I don't care if I do get stuck as a genin for the rest of my life!" He stood up. "I still will be Hokage someday!"
Silence roamed across the room and no body raised their hand. After a few seconds, Ibiki and all the examiners gave each other little nods.
"Well, I admire your determination, if nothing else. For those of you who remain, I have one thing left to do... And that's for me to tell you... That you've all passed the first exam!" Cue amazment and dropping pencils. I heard Yuuki groan.
"FINALLY! This was the longest hour of my entire life! My butt hurts for sitting on this chair for so long!" The examiner gave her a weird look and chuckled, again. I rolled my eyes.
"Ibiki-sensei... Please just tell us what the other nine questions were for so that we can get this over with..." He now gave me a weird look, then gave Ryo one. Yeah, now he realises that our test papers are mostly covered in squiggles and sketches. I braced myself for a long, boring speech.
"Those questions were to test your ability to strategically gather information under the most adverse circumstanced. You see, those question were to test not only you, but your team, and how well you functioned as part of that team. That's why the test was based on a team score basis. Knowing that everything you did, or failed to do, also affected your teammates. I wanted to see how you handled the pressure. And, as most of you must have noticed, the questions were to hard for you to be expected to solve them. So, you had to cheat to pass it. This test was designed for cheating, it demanded it. So, two chuunin who already knew the answers and were disguised as genin took the exam with you." The people raised their hands. "Those who were caught cheating were eliminated. Better not to cheat, than cheat clumsily."
He removed his hat. Everyone gulped at the scars on his bald head. Then, Ibiki continued his rant on information.
"OK... But I still don't see the point of the tenth question." said Temari.
"You don't? The tenth question was the whole point of the exam. As I said before, this test tested you as part of a squad. The tenth question gave you two choices, both difficult. You could skip the question, but that meant that your team failed as well. Or you could try to answer, knowing if you answered wrong, you could loose your chances of ever being chuunin. It was a no win situation, but similar to those that chuunin have to face every day. For example, if you were to lead a mission, but you had no idea how many enemy ninja there were, and you knew that they probably expected you, do you withdraw from the mission thinking that you and your teammates would rather live another day?"
He said the last part like Yuuki would say 'Is wearing green spandex cool?'.
After a dramatic pause for effect, he continued.
"NO! You can not! You must focus only on the goal of your mission! On your honor, on your village and on your discipline. These are the qualities required in a chuunin squad leader. those who chose the easier of two paths, those who falter in face of adversity, those who put their comrades lives in jeopordy by worrying about their own, those who would rather save their necks at the price of honor, aren't fit to call themselves chuunin!... At least as long as I'm here... As for you who remain, you have earned the right to go on to the next step. You have successfully passed this gate. I declare this part of the chuunin exam... completed. I can do nothing more than wish you all... good luck!"
Naruto went all hyper. Then, the windows crashed and in tumbled our next proctor.
"Alright, heads up! This is no time for celebrating! I am your next proctor... Anko Mitarashi. Ready for the next test? Good! Then follow me!"
Everyone in the room sweat dropped. I couldn't blame them. Seeing her be even louder than the knuckle head was indeed jaw dropping.
"... Ibiki. You let all of these kids pass? Your test was too easy! You must be getting soft!"
"Or, it could be that we have a stronger crop of candidates this year."
"Hm... They don't look it. Trust me, when I'm done with them, more than half would be eliminated. This is gonna be fun... Alright, you maggots have had it easy so far, but things are going to be different first thing tomorrow morning. I let your squad leaders know where you're to meet me. Dismissed."
I sighed in relief. That hour was simply painful. I slid my paper over my caricature of the examiner and stood up. Along with the rest of the room, my team and I exited this hell hole, buzzing with happiness.
Hmmm... What could I do whilst waiting for tomorrow? I glanced around at all of the 'important' genins, the boys in particular.
I grinned to myself. I knew what I could do to mess with them some more.
...
Writing this chapter has made me realize how incredibly boring this exam must be for those who know the point of it. And did anyone notice in the manga how some of the examiners had their eyes covered? What is that?
Well, yeah. Hope the chapter was ok, please review, and all that blah. The next chapter will be another hilarious 'annoy the ninjas to death' chapter.
Sorry, I had to sit through an exam for this chapter. Hope you guys understand the difficulty of being in the Naruto world... nah.
So, my awesome reviewers are: saku123, bloodshadows, ArisonxGaara, Totally CRAZY and Hyper, leogirl321, Xx-im-da-lonely-emo-girl-xX, Suezanne, Drakloverxpsycho, pink-pajamas12, kitsuneXXnoXXkyuubi102, ProfilingXCSIXMyXCareer, Dawnstep, forever-sweet, piixmiin and dreamingofmagic.
See you next time!
~~~XOXO HimekoUchia