Three Konoha shinobi stood at the gate to enter the second stage of the Exam. Sakura thought it was a waste to go through the first stage again, but she was glad to see her old friend make the cut again. During the first time they participated in this, she half expected Naruto to give up on the last question. And Sasuke to get caught because of his curse mark.
"Guess it's now or never," Naruto mumbled.
Sakura patted him on the back, "It's not that bad. We've been through this before and we'll get through it again. This time Orochimaru won't be after us - there's nothing to worry about. But if we don't get going, we'll be left behind."
"We go in, stay for five days without help, get scrolls, fight and we're in the last round, right?" Hana popped her strawberry flavored gum - her new addiction. They both nodded in answer. "Let's go so this is done with faster."
Mitarashi Anko was at the gate giving instructions, rules, and information. Their attention got around her, the forest growing deeper and deeper beyond the gate. There had been so many kids at first then the majority of them was cut because of cheating. Morons, Hana had thought when more than several brats were caught cheating.
"Who here has heard of the Forest of Death?" Anko asked. Team Kakashi and Konohamaru. "Well, good. Cause you're gonna need to know all you can to survive," Anko laughed.
A girl with red hair asked, "What does she mean?" Her headband showed she was from Suna.
No one answered so Hana said, "It's called the 'Forest of Death'. Do you really need that explained?"
Red went to swipe at her except Anko told her to knock it off, save the violence for stealing the others' scrolls. It was taken into account that Hana hadn't even flinched.
"Watch your back in there," the mini kunoichi threatened.
Hana smirked while leaning towards the girl. "Unlike your team, mine knows how to help each other. I'm sure that if I don't see you, they will. Not that we'll be shaken by a child."
Eyes darted to the two and Hana's team. The Suna kunoichi said, "Your boyfriend can't help you out. And I don't think Pinky over there is fast enough to keep up."
Flames erupted around Sakura. "Never. Call me. That." Naruto couldn't help in remembering how only Sasuke could call her that and she not get mad. And then he realized that if Sakura was Pinky, that made him the boyfriend. "Oi! I ain't -!"
Anko once again told them to drop the crap only to unheard. Hana rolled her eyes at the blond male, "Oh, be quiet. It took you that long to realize what she said? Dumbass."
"If you heard, why didn't you correct her?!"
Her brow cocked and he stepped back. "I assure you, Naruto, if I wanted you - I would have you. However, I don't have you, meaning I don't want you."
"Cocky bitch," he muttered as Anko yelled again.
Face red with anger of being ignored, she stood atop of the gate. "The Forty-Fourth Training Ground is also known as the Forest of Death. There's been many shinobi that walk in but never walk out. Inside there's a lot of danger and many things lurking around the corner. Hana-chan for instance and Naruto's stupidity," she laughed.
Hana told her not to add "-chan" at the end.
Little did she know that Sakura realized a small secret. Hana never corrected Naruto when he added it. Not even Jiraiya, but it's too gross to even think of that having a double meaning. She had a piece of information for Tsunade now. That woman always asked how the two interacted around each other. Why not add her fantasy to the mix? The two were adorable when they weren't yelling at each other.
"Wow," Moegi breathed.
Naruto grinned, "Ya scared?"
Bakagitsune, Hana mentally scorned. "Urusai unless you want to sleep outside the team's tent."
While beginning their journey into the forest, Team Ebisu found it helpful to themselves to follow Team Yakashi. They were always on top of each other ahead of time. Well...Hana was. Sakura then. And finally, after everyone begins running, Naruto's senses kicks in about the same time. Udon came to find out through handy observations that he was, indeed, correct, after all.
"Somehow I don't think you're suppose to help us, Onee-sama," Moegi said to Hana.
She looked to the girl that warned her, "Did you want to fall?"
Naruto looked from the girl to the young woman, thinking it was unfair again. How was he the only one that she yelled at in the village? Tries to be mean to those twerp, but her words don't have meaning if the tone's different, he thought. It seemed to him that she just didn't like him for some unknown reason. And every time she called him that it made him mad yet his stomach felt light at the same time.
He thought, It's only cause she's hot. I'll give her that much. Should she have been ugly maybe it wouldn't matter.
Nope, it still would.
"Why can't Anko-san call you 'Hana-chan', but she can call you 'Onee-sama?'"
A few seconds passed by until he was answered. "Hn."
He sweat-dropped right as he tripped over a large tree root sticking up from the ground.
Sakura rubbed her temples as the two went at it again for the seventh time within an hour. This was too much for her nerves. She was already too alert for comfort. All she had been hearing since that morning was arguing. With their luck, they would be arguing at the wrong time and someone could attack. Udon sympathized with her - Konohamaru and Moegi were similar to the bickering pair.
"Are they always like this," the boy asked as he cleaned his glasses with his sleeve.
"Since she's been assigned to us. They should save the fighting and energy for when the real time comes. Naruto knows this since he's done this Exam before and Hana-san isn't clueless either. Anything could be lurking around us."
Hana sat down beside her with her ears covered, "Urusai!" She glanced sideways. "Oi, what's wrong?"
The blossom jumped at the sudden conversation starter. Giving them a questioning look, Hana sat beside them while drinking some of the water she'd snatched from Naruto earlier. Maybe talking about it would help her calm down. They could tell her not to worry because nothing could happen as long as they stuck together. There couldn't be much danger out here now that Sasuke's gotten what he wanted.
She continued to rub her temples, "I'm just worked up because of last time."
"What could possibly be out here now that Sasuke's with Orochimaru," Naruto asked her with a ghost of a smile.
Jade eyes narrowed at his carefree attitude. Sakura deadpanned, "Akatsuki."
Hana did an immediate spit take. They looked at her while Konohamaru allowed her to dry herself with his scarf, which earned him a glare from the blond.
"Okay there, Onee-sama?" Moegi asked as she braided Hana's hair.
Hana asked the pinkette what made her think Akatsuki would be at a simple Chuunin Exam instead of answering.
"Anything awful than could happen in here can and will happen for Team Seven-Kakashi-Yamato - whatever we are now."
"Like that could happen, Sakura-chan!" Naruto cackled. "Akatsuki coming here is pointless! Only Orochimaru would want to sneak into again. He already has Sasuke. Nothing to worry about."
Hana bit her tongue until she tasted copper. "Baka." He moaned as she started. "Don't moan at me like that! Akatsuki could be closer than you think, don't treat them as though you could beat them with both hands behind your back. Man up and leave Runt alone, and focus on the matter at hand."
Sakura spoke, "Orochimaru infiltrated the Chuunin Exam when Team Seven participated. He hid within his own Oto shinobi. Everyone thought his target was Naruto at first, but it was actually Sasuke. He has the potential to be strong and Orochimaru needed a vessel. Sasuke knew this, but thinks he can kill him before Orochimaru can devour him. But he may not get so lucky."
"What he doesn't understand is that Orochimaru already has him," Naruto stated.
And so Hana's next few hours were spent listening to their stories.
It was the third day and he was beginning to starve. He didn't bring any of his favorite ramen and everything he picked up Hana told him it was poisonous. He was starting to think she was only doing it to starve him. He planned to visit Teuchi and have him make the biggest bowl of ramen he could get, when he got back to the village. It was hard to even argue with her when all he got were cold stares from her.
Hana watched him with her nose turned up as drool began to trickle down his chin. "Is it possible to develop that much saliva," she asked herself before throwing a stick at him. He snapped his head in her direction with accusing eyes. None of her anger had disappeared since he used that cheap trick on Kakashi. Hitting him with the stick helped her feel better.
"You were drooling."
His embarrassment showed, "Oh."
The team walked a little farther to the next clearing, beside the river. They would camp there for the night and hopefully they would be able to stay there the next night as well. Team Ebisu had followed them to the river and Sakura was wanting to speak with Hana alone, but Konohamaru wasn't letting her or Naruto near her, especially Naruto.
"Runt, I doubt anyone is going to attack - yet. No scrolls," Hana said.
Scarf boy looked to her, "Don't worry, Hana-sama! I'll protect you then too!"
Hana's head dropped at his paranoia, "You can't. You're suppose to fight other teams for their scrolls."
"Protect your own team," Naruto instructed.
"Does this mean if we have a scroll you'll take it?" Udon asked.
"Should I need the scroll I don't have yet you hold, I'll gain the one I need."
Konohamaru and Moegi looked at her with confusion. Udon could understand why she would do such a thing, but did she really have to say it so confusingly? They began to say something until she was hit with a dime-sized rock. She whirled around to see Sakura shake her head before walking past her.
"There was a bug," Naruto lied.
Hana gave him the finger before turning back to the brats. Konohamaru glared at his so-called boss before pulling his eyelid down and sticking out his tongue. Naruto jumped for him, "DAMN RUNT, I'll…" he trailed off while lunging again.
She sat her chin sat on her knees as she looked at the fire. Tomorrow morning they would be given the scrolls, which also meant it was time to fight. Since Sakura told her about Orochimaru sneaking himself in through his own village's shinobi, she's been a little paranoid. Sakura's fidgeting wasn't helping her nerves either. The twerps were doing their own thing telling ghost stories around a miniature fire. Hana noticed Naruto started poking a bug with a twig, after Sakura scolded him for frightening the twerps.
"This is boring! Can't I scare them again one more time, Sakura-chan," he yelled in a whisper.
"No. Find something to do instead of sitting on your ass," she answered.
Without thinking, Hana asked, "But isn't that what you're doing?"
Naruto looked at her surprised then began to cackle when a vein became more noticeable in Sakura's forehead. Hana hadn't meant to be rude or funny. She truly didn't understand what they were suppose to do if they couldn't sit down. If they trained, then they would be wasting energy for tomorrow. Should they sit there any longer, she'd go mad. This team stuff was all too confusing.
"My butt's numb. Can we do something that doesn't involve me sitting on it anymore?" Hana asked.
Konohamaru grinned, "I can fix that for you, Hana-sama!"
Instead of Moegi hitting him, it was Naruto that gave him a large lump on the head. He poked it and winced, "Oyabun what was that for?! I was only trying to help her!" He didn't get an answer, only saw his boss sit down with his arms firmly crossed. "What do you care anyways?! Hmph!"
Udon asked, "Heaven Scroll. What do you guys have?"
"Same," Sakura answered.
Udon looked at Hana, "You can't take our scroll, right?"
She answered, "Aa."
They decided to help each other grab two Earth scrolls. Working together would be quicker for getting to the final stage. Soon they would be attacked by Earth scroll holders. Hana took the front , Naruto the back, Sakura a side, and the twerps were in the middle as they walked.
A twig snapped after a few hours from the west that caused Hana to stopped in her tracks. Sakura and Udon noticed and they grabbed the others, pushing them into bushes. It was a little kid that came from the trees. Hana took a look at his forehead protector to see a music note.
"Oto."
He smirked before getting into fighting position. Naruto came out before Hana retaliated. She earned a glare from him, saying it was just a kid that wasn't strong enough to handle her. The kid started cursing him about minding his own business and not to interfere.
"There are all teams of three, are there not," she asked Naruto
"Yeah. Why?"
"Then where the hell are his teammates, dumbass?"
"Damn!" He ran back to the bushes as the Genin ran at Hana.
Fucker may be small but if he's Oto…
She was dodging his moves without counterattacking. Hurting him wasn't her purpose, just tiring him out was enough. Minutes into fighting - without landing a hit - still hadn't worn him out, however. Letting her full strength out would attract others. If it weren't for Yamato specifically telling her not to do so, then she would've already won. It was starting to get boring the slower he got.
One hit should do the trick.
Moegi appeared by her side as she was about to smack the Oto. She said that his teammates disappeared so she ran here.
Udon appeared on the other side of Moegi out of nowhere. Udon had never attacked someone outright and it had surprised her. Especially since she hadn't sensed his chakra. Then she realized that it was because her guard was down when it came to him. She wouldn't expect him to fight so why be on guard around him?
"Another one?" The Oto chuckled. "Alright! Let's go!"
Sakura kicked him in the head then grabbed the scroll from the holster on his waist. She smiled at Hana, held it up for all to see, "How long have you known it's a fake?"
"Since he started attacking me," Hana answered.
"How did you know," the Oto shinobi asked rubbing his head.
"You never checked to make sure I hadn't already grabbed it. Had it been real, I would've already taken it after knocking you one good time."
Moegi looked up to her role model with a smile. Her scarf wearing partner asked where the real scroll was, and two other Genin came from the trees. The female Oto taunted him with the real scroll. When stuck her tongue out, Moegi asked her if she wanted to have it cut off. With obscene words yelled towards each other, they began fighting.
Hana grabbed both girls by their shirt off the ground. "Knock it off, twerps."
"Hana-chan, put them down," Naruto told her. "You were fighting that kid earlier!"
She looked to her team-mate, "Instead of standing there, make me, Dobe."
"Just do what I say and put 'em down!"
The two began another argument while everyone stood there watching them. Sweat dropping, the other four Leaf shinobi tried to hide their embarrassment. Udon stepped away from Hana and Naruto when the Oto that held the fake scroll asked, "Can you just make your girl let Tamae-chan go now?"
Naruto stared at the boy with bug eyes and his mouth hanging to the ground. Hana looked at him with a hint of disgust. Sakura was laughing, hard holding her stomach. For once she wasn't the accused! Moegi snorted while her friends stood stiffly scared of Hana's now dark aura.
"Let's get one thing straight: I do not listen you." With a flick of her wrist, Hana tossed the girl into him. Moegi sat tenderly on the ground, Hana turned back to the boy. "Runaway while my hands are free, if you value your life."
They ran off in opposite directions in an attempt to get away from the older shinobi. Konohamaru was about to go after them, mainly to teach that Oto bastard Hana was his, but Sakura stopped him by holding onto his scarf.
"We don't need them anymore."
"But we should get the scroll!"
"We could go after them but I already have what I wanted from them," Hana smirked holding the real scroll. Tamae had been holding the real one without thinking to hide it. She grabbed it from her holster while she sat her back on the ground. Now they needed one more and she could rest.
Last Earth scroll was hard for Team Kakashi to obtain while keeping the first one and their own Heaven scroll safe. Team Ebisu could look after their own Heaven scroll. Many had popped out in attempts to grab the scrolls and failed. Suna Genin were their opponents for now. Naruto already knew they would be tough with Temari as their sensei. Later, he would have to give her a thumbs up for her pupils.
"Temari-san sure is one hell of a sensei," Sakura said to Naruto.
The only boy of the team owned a puppet that he wasn't too accustomed with. He tried many techniques with it and none hit Team Kakashi members. However, Udon had been hit once with it and if it wasn't for Konohamaru, Moegi would've been struck with the redhead's wind attack. The small fans barely resembled Temari's gigantic one.
The redhead girl from earlier asked, "How do you know Temari-sensei?!"
Naruto said, "She's an old friend of ours. And if she could see you now -"
He was cut off by a gust of wind. "Don't speak so familiarly about Sensei!"
"He was going to give you amateurs a compliment," Hana said as she stood behind the girl with her chin high and arms over her chest.
"How did you get behind me so fast?!"
"I ran?" Hana half-answered, before getting sliced by a shuriken in the arm, not that she flinched. "It's about time one of you made a hit." The boy's smile vanished as Hana said, "But since I let you hit me, it's only fair that I get my turn."
Running up, she smacked her into a tree while Sakura kicked the boy's puppet away. Their sensei isn't too great if they don't know defense tactics, Hana thought to herself. After her fans were gone, the flower sent a small amount of chakra to her fist before slapping the ground and caused the ground to upturn, sending the girl flying.
Team Ebisu did their own group attack for the only boy, who happened to be the last one standing. The poor rookie suffered a nose bleed from seeing the Puri Puri no Jutsu.
"I really hope the final stage is more fun than this," Hana yawned.
Naruto gaped at her, "Boring?! I'm exhausted!"
"Yes, but -"
Naruto interrupted her, "And for WHAT?! Wait until I see Temari - I'll give her an earful on those fucking brats!"
"I got the scroll," Hana held it out for him.
Naruto stood before her with a blank look. Glancing from her to the scroll and back to her, he took it cautiously then put it into his pouch.
Moegi looked from the blond to the older girl then smiled to herself; Konohamaru cheered for 'his' Hana-sama before linking arms.
It was official, Moegi really did envy Onee-sama.
