The third Exam started the next day and mason was starting to feel the pressure. He was not sure that he was as ready for this as he thought he would be. He wished naruto was there with him, he knew for sure that if naruto would have been there he would be more confident.
Mason had heard that only seven people made it to the third exam which would make eight including him. From the story's naruto has told him the exams must have been really difficult this year. Mason did the math and he knew he only had to when two matches to make it to the finales. He was told the on the first day of the exam all eight would fight. Then later that day after a little rest the four wins would fight. This was so that on the second day the two people going into the finale battle would be all healed up and ready to go.
Mason had heard that five of the seven people who made it through were from the village hidden in the leafs and the other two were from the hidden sand village. He wanted to win the whole thing, he figured if he did that he would make chuunin for sure and he would make naruto proud. He also hoped that he did not have to face a hidden leaf ninja in the final round because he planned on going all out in that match and did not want to hurt a ninja from the same village as him.
He had it all planed out he was going to try not to use his two best moves, lightning sphere and fly thunder god, till the finale battle. This was to give him the element of surprise. The only problem with that is the fact to he will have every few justsu to use. He know he could use burning ash, lightning clones, shuriken shadow clone, and lightning binding.
He also had a plan to use his speed and large chakra reserves. He was going to run around the arena and place a bunch of his markings for his flying thunder god move. They never went away so they would stay there for the next match and maybe he could win the finals really quickly.
Mason had spent the last few days with shino because most everyone else he knew was out on missions or was helping put on the exams and were not able to help him. Mason really like shino at first he was a little weird and quite but the more he trained with him the more he got to know him. Shino had already promised him that he would be in the stands cheering for him. Mason really hoped that naruto and the others would be back in time to see his matches but he knew that they still had about a week left on their mission and were probably miles away from the village. The only thing that was a comfort was the fact that shino, lee, choji, tenten, and sakura would be there for him.
Shikamaru would be there but he was the head of the exams so he could not cheer for any one person. Plus tenten was going to also be rooting for her younger sister that was in the exams. Her name is Shosen she was 15 and taking the exams for the same time and was good enough to make it to the final round. Mason hoped he did not face her because he did not want to hurt tentens little sister.
Mason was sitting in the apartment; he was trying to decide what to do. Shino told him to take the day off and rest. This made it so he had no idea what to do with his day. It was 3 in the afternoon he had been sitting round all day and did not know what to do with him. The match was the next day at noon and he would not know his opponent was until he showed up at the arena the next day.
Finally mason decided to go on a walk, he figure he could go and meditate on one of the training poles in the training field to help him gain more control of his chakra, a trick that hinata had taught him. Then after that he would get dinner and head to the bath house.
When mason go to the training ground he had found that someone else was using it. He keep back in the shadows so he could figure out who it was. When he finally got a good view of the people he recognized one of the people as tenten. The other girl with her must have been Shosen. She looked a lot like tenten in the face and they had the same hair color and wore the same thing tenten used to when she was younger. Really the only difference was the fact that Shosen wore her hair down. It went about half way down her back.
Mason watched for a while to see just what Shosen could do and he was very impressed. He had fought tenten before and knew how strong. The fact that Shosen was giving her a run for her money made mason sweat a little. Out of nowhere a kunai came right at him. He was able to get out of the way very easily but he knew he was caught.
Mason walked up to the girls and said " what's up ladies" tenten seemed happy to see him but Shosen did not share the same feelings. Tenten said "what are you doing here mason?" he replied " o I just came to train a little and I noticed that the field was occupied so I just sat back and watched the show."
Shosen piped in "I hope you got a good sneak peak but if you want to see a real show come to the chuunin exams tomorrow." Mason laughed and said "don't worry I will be there and I wont just watch I will be the best part of the show." Shosen looked confused and said "you are in the exams." Mason with a smiled said " you are looking at the winner of tomorrows finals." Shosen glared at him and said "oh yeah I will wipe the floor with you." This went on for a while mason just messing around like his hero naruto and Shosen getting madder and madder. Finally mason said "do you ladies want to come with me to get something to eat." Shosen said " like I would really go eat with a moron like you"
Right after she said that her stomach made a noise that would put naruto's stomach to shame. Tenten just laughed and said "mason I think you just got your answer." Shosen went to object but her stomach growled again this time even loader.
So the three of them were heading toward the ramen shop when lee came out of nowhere. He looked at tenten and urgently said "guy sensei needs us to report to the training field for and emergence team meeting." Tenten objected saying "how can we have a team meeting when neji Is out on a mission." Lee expecting this answer said "guy wants us to have a meeting to talk about what we will talk about during the meeting we have after Neji gets back." Tenten just looked at him and said your joking right?" without a response he grabbed her by the wrist and drug her behind him heading back to the training fields that they had just come from.
Mason said "well that was metal, should we go on without here?" Shosen knowing how long these "meetings" can take said "if we waited for her we would starve to death." With that they made their way to the ramen shop.
When they got there they put their orders in and made awkward small talk to pass the time. Old man teuchi tried to help the two people find something to talk about because he could almost feel the tension. Finally he asked mason "hey when is naruto coming back to town I don't know how I will make rent without him" he finish with a little laugh. Mason looked down a little disappointed and said "not for another four days so he will miss watching me in the chuunin exams.
Shosen look at mason feeling kind of sorry for him because her sister had told her the whole story on how mason had just shown up there one day with no family and how naruto was the closest thing he had to family. Shosen said with a smile "that probably for the best that way he won't have to watch you lose to me tomorrow."
That broke the ice they spent the whole rest of the night bragging about their skills and how they were going to win. Before they know it hours had passed and it was 9, All of the sudden tenten burst in and told teuchi to get her a bowl before she died of hunger. Mason figured that it was time to leave so he could get good night's sleep before the fights. He paid for his meal and said "well it was nice to meet you Shosen and thanks for the show I will see you at the arena tomorrow."
Mason walked into the dark apartment he had gotten used to and headed straight for his bed/ couch. As he laid there he could not stop thinking about Shosen. He was not sure for sure his feelings but the last thing he thought before he feel asleep was that he would not mind losing to someone like her.