Chapter 12

The Chuunin Exams

Naruto looked down at the test they had been given by the Examiner. At first it seemed simply enough, answer nine question worth two points each. If you were caught cheating you lost 3 points, lose all your possible point and you were removed from the testing. But as Naruto looked more and more at the test she realized the test was nearly impossible to answer correctly, at least at their current level. The only person Naruto could guess that might be able to answer these questions was Sakura and she sure was not around. Naruto then asked each Haku, Tenten, and Anko for the answers and even then they were only able to come up with 4 of the needed 9 answers.

Then it was Tenten who realized what they needed to do. It was pretty simple really they needed to cheat to pass. She realized this after she looked back at what the examiner had said and noticed that they could cheat up to three times. This was meant they were being tested to see if they could gather the information needed to pass without being caught too many times. Anko laughter was heard over the mental link as they figured this out. This made Naruto half yell at her for not telling them, though they could understand why since they did have to still pass the test like any other genin after all.

After that they each set to work finding the information they needed from the surrounding group of genin hopefuls. It was not that hard either because it seemed that sitting next to Tenten was a genin who had already answered all of the questions. Using this Tenten quickly sent all of this information back to Naruto and Haku before noticing something weird about the person's tests. The answers were not written out but printed meaning the person was not a genin but a hidden Chuunin or possible Jonin there to cheat off of.

Thanks to this they finished the first 9 questions with still 15 minutes to spar before the final question was asked. As they finished they turned the tests over before looking around at the Genin hopeful that had not been thrown out yet for cheating. They noticed the sand team, Guy's team and the sound team had also done the same, having either finished their own tests or completed it enough to pass. They looked around the room for other teams that were done but found none right then. Using this they figured out which people they would most likely have to watch out for, but even then they knew that there would still be others they would have to watch out for.

Before the time for the exam finished a few more teams were knocked out. Then as the time came down Ikibi spoke up again looking around the room carefully, "Time is up put down your pencils and do not pick them up again or else you will be removed from the exam," Ikibi paused for a few seconds as everyone hurried put down their pencils if they were still using them. Then continued, "Now that you have answered the 9 questions I will asked the final question. If you get it right you will gain an additional 10 points for your group. Get it wrong and our whole group is removed and you may never take the Chuunin exams again."

The tension in the room increased so fast it was almost scary as Kiba stood up and yelled, "Hay that is not possible there are Genin in here that have taken the test before!"

Ikibi just grinned in such a way that nearly everyone, even some of the Chuunin to shift in their seat nervously. "That maybe true, but they were just lucky I was not the Examiner. But because of this rule we will give a chance to you all to pull out and like with before if one is removed your team goes with you. Also to help you chose I will give you a little information on the question and that is this question is harder than any question that was on that test of yours but also with a yes or no answer."

Ikibi fell silent as he let some of his charka flow out of him blanketing the room, causing nearly everyone in the room to feel like there was heavy weight on their backs. He smiled his creepy smile again as he saw the affects of his words working their way through the group. Some of the Genin were at once looking ready to quit while others looked ready to face the question but worried about the others in their team. There was a select group that looked like they could care less what the question would be or if they could pass it or not. He let them stew a little bit more before he spoke again, "Okay now I will ask who would like to leave now or stay and take the chance at getting the question right."

Naruto in the mean time was keeping quiet much to her dislike, because she wanted to call Ikibi on his lie. Why she keeping quiet one would ask when she could just stand up and tell Ikibi off for lying. It was because of the fact both Tenten and Haku had talk her down telling her to let other too scared to stay in to remove themselves. It was because of this that the room was emptying to Chuunin hopefuls quicker by the second. Naruto remained quiet until she noticed Hinata looking like she was about to raise her hand.

'Sorry sisters but I am not letting Hinata quit on this just yet,' Naruto said through the mental mind link they all had.

'Naruto no let her make her choice if she is not ready then she should quit. Think about this if she tries and gets hurt because of something you did it would be your fault right then.' Haku said not to be mean but explaining.

'I am giving her the confidence she needs or else she will get killed anyway,' Naruto said going to stand up but then Hinata glanced over at her causing Naruto to pause. Hinata's eyes did not hold their usual look of fear and nervousness, but instead they held what looked to be worry. But Naruto realized it was for her but only because of the changes that happened, and then as their eyes met Hinata's turned away but she was now sure she was not going to leave.

Ikibi looked around the room as the last Genin that were to afraid to continue left. Noticing that the remaining genin seemed to be set on going through to the next round he decided it was time to begin the next round. "Well since there seems to be no more people wanting to leave I will now proceed," Ibiki said causing the room to tense again getting ready for the final question before continue, "You all pass."

Ibiki counted to five in his head and as he reach it the room was filled with a resounding "WHAT!"

"But wait a second what about the final question," yelled out Kiba in shock.

Naruto sighed and glared at Kiba who was a row in front of her in the class room, "Kiba staying or leaving was the final question. Do we have the will needed to continue on and face the unknown and risk that come with it. And if called on it, lead a team through a mission where we risk being caught and kill or worse interrogated for information."

Kiba looked back at Naruto in shock, "Since when were you smart."

"When I decided to not hide it," Naruto shot back before looking back at Ibiki, "Sorry about that, please continue Ikibi."

Ibiki nodded before continuing, "Thanks you, and as our young genin stated that was indeed the final question. The willingness to lead your team on missions even at the risk death, wither it stealing information or guarding it. Even in these exams you will risk your life and that of your team. For those that truly wish to become Chuunin be ready for this for you will become the leaders of your own teams."

As Ikibi finished speaking a plume of smoke filled the center of the reviewing a Jonin standing before them. Kiba at once whimpered realizing who knew the scent that came from the figure inside the smoke. As the smoke dissipated it reviewed a female with fang shape clan markings very much like the ones Kiba had on his own cheeks. "Hello I am Tsume Inuzuka and I am the Examiner for the second part of the Chuunin Exams."

Naruto almost laughed out loud as she heard the last name realizing why Kiba was scared. His own mom was the in charge of the exams now. Tsume had an animalistic look similar to that of her son Kiba. She has long spiky dark brown hair, vertical slit-like pupils, elongated canine teeth and nails. She also had the clan fang markings on her cheeks as well as markings over her eyes and a dark shade of purple lipstick. She was wearing slandered Jonin wear with a vest dark green pants and shirt.

"Well Ibiki it seems that you might be losing your touch," Tsume said looking around the room which was a little over half way empty.

"No just got a good bunch of genin it seems," Ibiki said knowing he usually left out of a group of about 150 genin like this he normal had it down to around 51 genin or less. But this year he had about 23 teams pass the first part which came out about 69 genin still a pretty good group he thought.

"That maybe but we will see after the next exam just how good they really are," Tsume said before turning to the genin class itself, "Okay get over to training ground 44 in five minutes or you will be removed from the exams."

With that Tsume and all the Chuunin and Ibiki disappeared in small bursts of smoke, with most of the group staring at where they had just been standing. Naruto looked at her teammates before walking out of the classroom quickly followed by them. Most of the other teams followed after that realizing that none of them knew the way to training ground 44 expect maybe Naruto's team. It was good that their guessing that Naruto team knew the way because only 3 minutes later they were all standing in front of a chained linked fenced area with 8 Chuunin and Tsume waiting for them.

"Okay kid since it seems you all made it here we will begin right now. Behind me you can see Training Ground 44 also known as the Forest of Death. It is in here that the Second stage of the Chuunin Exams will take place. During the next 5 days your mission will be to navigate your way through this forest till you and your team, have reached the Tower at the center of training ground. But before you think that this is easy we have some other stuff you will be taking with you." Tsume said looking around at the Genin grinning in a way very much like Anko did when she was in a good mood. Needless to say most of the Genin were very scared, while Kiba was looking like he was ready to quit right then.

"It is simple you will each get one of these two scrolls. During the next 5 days you will have to gain the other scroll from a different team taking it by any means needed. You need both scrolls to enter the tower and pass the exam. The only rules for this park of the exam are you may not look at what is written on these scrolls, you must have two at the end to pass, and your entire team must be alive at the end to pass as well. Other than that killing is legal, and death is expected since this forest holds many dangerous creatures some of which have been known to kill Jonin. So be on your guard," Tsume said with a smirk since she had met some of those creatures before, none of which were fun to deal with.

"Wait if that is true how can you get away with sending us in there to our death," asked someone in the crowd?

"Simply you sign these forms that don't make the Leaf village responsible for your death if you die during this part of the Exams." Tsume explained, pulling out a form from her one of the pockets on her vest. "If you wish to continue with the Exams each person in your team needs to sign one, then turn them in and you will receive one of the scrolls needed to take part in the next part of the exams. You have 30 minutes to decide starting now."

Tsume walked over to where everyone noticed a table set up with a lot of scrolls and paper forms on it. At once everyone started speaking to their teams deciding on wither to continue or not. Naruto group at once went over and signed the forms and were handed a scroll that looked different from the others. Tenten looked at it then Tsume, "Tsume-san what is this for?"

"The Hokage told me to give our group this scroll instead of a Heaven or Earth Scroll. Then he told me to give you an order, you are not to open it till you have completed your mission at which time head for the tower and open it up at the tower," Tsume said.

Tenten nodded taking the scroll, "Okay we will do as told."

Naruto and her group were then pointed to a Chuunin who showed them to the gate they would be starting at. They noticed they were located at one of the Northeast sector gates that could not help but thank the Hokage that they were not put somewhere else. As the Chuunin walked away Naruto spoke up.

"It seems our mission is more important than gather scrolls, either that or he does not want to review us to the Village just yet," Naruto said looking at the scroll that had been handed to Tenten.

"That could be true, though as it is we might have to do that anyway if we are not careful. Thankfully with what he did we are not likely to be found out about anyway," Haku said as another Chuunin came by with another group of genin.

They fell silent as the group passed looking at the closely until they were out of hearing range again. They then started planning on find the locations of the summon scroll, talking with Anko but the Northeast sector and what she knew about it. In the end they decided the scroll and shrine were likely in a cave or tunnel that was likely hidden. Their reason for this was because Anko had never found it one her many trips through the forest, and genjustu would not work well to hide it since she could easy sense and dispel almost any genjustu she came across.

A few more teams pass them before they came up with their plans. It was simple really, they would have Naruto make clones and have them move out through the forest searching as they went. In the mean while the clones were looking they would remove teams from the exams getting rid of unneeded and unwanted competition. Then when a clone found the shrine or they did they would claim the scroll signing it as needed and dealing with the summon creature. After which they would quickly head to the tower at the center of the training ground.

After that they set to waiting for some sort of news to begin with the second part of the exam. It did not take long for an announcement to be heard over a speakers system near each gate. "All Genin we are now ready to begin the exams. As such I wish you all luck, now begin," Tsume voice said over the speakers as all the gates opened up at one. Naruto and her group at once shot in. The same with many other teams, as the second stage of the Chuunin Exams officially started.