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Sayuri and any characters that have not and will not appear in the manga and/or anime are completely original.
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The Answer is Given
Question number 1: Decode the following cipher and summarize its meaning. Sayuri read the code and quickly wrote down the answer. That's simple…Question number 2: The parabola marked B represents the greatest effective the enemy shinobi, A, could throw a shuriken from a top of a 23.3 foot tall tree…Calculate the specific features of the scenario and deduce the range of then shuriken's effectiveness, assuming a consistent speed for shinobi A's assault upon any enemy shinobi operating within the arc that the flight of shuriken describes. Show your work. Sayuri blinked at the question for a couple of seconds before grudgingly drawing the parabola and writing down formulas besides it. What the hell is this? A physics test? She began to jot down the possible speed and applied them to the formulas. We're damn shinobi! We shouldn't even be doing this! She 'humphed' as she circled the answer.
Besides the young brunette, Sasuke busied himself with looking over the questions only to realize that he didn't know how to answer a single one. He watched from the corner of his eye as Sayuri jotted down answers to the test and then suddenly stop on number 7.
None of these questions make sense…They continually get harder as I go. Sayuri looked up at Ibiki and then off to the side watching the proctors look up and take notes on their grade books.
"Rule number 3, if during the course of the exam, a candidate does anything out of the ordinary…In other words anything that leads the proctors to determine that he or she has cheated…we subtract two points from each member of the cheaters team."She tilted her head to the side and looked back at Ibiki. "If you let any of the proctors catch you cheating, you'll bring yourself and your friends down! If you aspire to become a Chunin…If you want to be the best shinobi you can be…then you'd better start acting like you already are."Sayuri blinked and tried hard to resist the urge to hit her head against the table just as Sakura had done not so long ago.
How stupid can I get! She put a hand through her hair as she looked over at Sasuke meeting his eyes for a brief second before looking back down at her test. Against her better judgment she put a hand under the desk and made a single hand sign.
"Sasuke…" The boy besides her stiffened. "Don't move! Pretend to be thinking." The boy leaned forward and bit his thumb wagging the pencil between his fingers.
"What are you doing Sayuri?" His voice echoed through her head as she drew a circle on her test.
"Oh nothing…you know…I just wanted to make your life a living hell that's all." She smiled as she added two dots to the circle.
"Listen Mariha-"
"Sasuke you haven't answered a single one of the questions…I'm trying to help you out here. Listen do you see all the proctors?"
"Of course I do! I'm not blind!" he snapped making her twitch in an effort to not hit him upside the head.
"Do you have another tone that doesn't sound like 'arrogant dumb ass'?" She snapped back. "Think Uchiha! If this is an intelligence test why would there be so many proctors breathing down our necks?"
Black eyes searched the room before he froze "No way! He…" Sayuri nodded her head.
"He wants us to cheat! He told us in an indirect manner that the purpose was to cheat so well that the proctors wouldn't even notice."
"When did you figure it out?" Sayuri smiled at his question and drew a curve on the circle turning it into a smiling face.
"After I answered the 6th question…"
Sasuke's eyes wondered over to Naruto who was currently hunched over his paper in a panic. "I'm sure he'll get it soon enough Sasuke." His gaze shifted to her noticing the small smile on her lips as she bent over the paper. "You see that guy sitting directly in front of me?"
The teen shifted in response.
"Use the Sharingan and copy his every move. The guy has been writing none stop."
"Wait-" His mind suddenly felt empty; her presence gone. Shifting his eyes to peek at her, he saw her resting her head on her hands, eyes closed in concentration. His attention back on the guy she had pointed out for him he closed his eyes and opened them once again mimicking his moves in an instant.
"Got it!" Hajime smirked "I can't believe you answered 6 by yourself! This jutsu is fantastic by the way." He complimented.
"Where'd you learn it?" Diachi asked as he finished writing down answer number 9.
"I was raised by ANBU. It's amazing how many jutsu you're privy to." Sayuri smirked as she heard the thoughts of several ninja echoing in her head. Saito had thought her the jutsu when she had turned 9 allowing her to hear the thoughts of anyone within a 2 mile radius without them noticing. Teaching her the jutsu may have been the greatest mistake of his life seeing as she constantly invaded his privacy without him knowing. Not like he didn't do it either. Sayuri shuddered the thought of him reading her every thought and emotion.
"All right!" Ibiki's voice echoed through the quiet room catching every ones attention "Get ready for the 10th question!"
Sasuke smirked and glanced over at Sayuri who twirled the pencil in her hand. Sakura looked confidently at the proctor while Naruto tried to hide his nervousness.
"And before we get to the question its self I'm adding a new rule." Just then the door opened as the sand ninja stepped in, getting a look from Ibiki. "Looks like you're in luck. The time you've spent playing with dolls hasn't gone completely to waste." Alarmed Kankuro froze for a second before he hurried to his seat.
"Let me explain. This rule is absolute."
XXX
"With our Genin in the exams we've got time on our hands." Kakashi said as he leaned forward. "It's not like we can go on training missions without them." He mumbled at the end.
"Don't worry. We'll be busy again before you know it." Asuma said as he took a long drag from his cigarette.
This caught the silver haired ninja's attention. "Why?"
"You mean you didn't hear?" Kenji asked bewildered as he brought Kurenai a mug of tea.
"Hear what?" she asked before taking a sip.
Green and dark brown eyes met before the two turned back to their friends. "I was informed by the Hokage that this year's first exam coordinator is Ibiki Morino." Kenji answered as he sat next to Kakashi.
"Really? That sadist? Why did it have to be Ibiki?"
Alarmed Kurenai sat up. "Sadist? What do you mean?"
"Kurenai, you're still new to the jounin so you'd have no way of knowing." Asuma said with a smirk.
"Knowing what?" The female of the four asked getting anxious.
"He's a pro. A pro's pro…" Kenji mumbled leaning back.
"A pro…? At what?"
"Torture and interrogation."
Kurenai looked lost, Kakashi sighed, and Kenji just smiled.
XXX
"First you must choose whether to accept or reject the question."
Accept or reject the…? Sasuke wondered as he leaned forward.
"Ch-chose? What happens if we decide not to take it?" The blonde sand ninja asked frustrated beyond belief.
"If you reject the question without even trying. You will lose all 10 points and fail…both of your teammates right along with you."
"Then why would anyone choose to reject the question?" A boy sitting in the front row demanded.
"Because of the other rule…" Ibiki stated. "If you try to answer the question and you get it wrong…You will never be permitted to apply for the Chunin exams again! Not ever!"
"WHAT?" Sayuri cried out snapping her pencil in two. "I know for a fact that there are ninja in this room who've gone through this test more than once!" The brunette stood up slamming her hands on the table. "There's no way you can't let us apply for the test just because of this!"
Yikes! Somebody's mad… Hajime smirked.
Hearing her outburst, Ibiki began to laugh making Sayuri growl.
This guy managed to piss Sayuri off so fast! Naruto looked back and forth from the tall brooding man then to the small 10 year old girl. This is sooo not good!
"What's so funny?" she bit out glaring at the protector from her spot.
"Your luck, that's what." Sayuri looked at him startled. "In the past years I wasn't the one making the rules. But I am now." He chuckle one last time before looking straight at Sayuri. "I've been upfront with you. You can take a failing grade now, and try again later." He turned to the rest of the room. "Anyone who has any doubt would be smart to reject the tenth question right now and try again next year, and the year after that."
Sayuri slumped down at a loss for words. There's just no arguing with him! Unusual brown colored eyes took to glaring at the proctor. He's got everything planned out!
"Ready? Let's begin." All gulped in anticipation for what was next. "Those who choose not to accept should raise their hands now. Once their number has been confirmed you along with your team may leave the room."
Sayuri shifted in her seat. If I fail I stay a Genin…if I quit I'll take those two with me… She bit her lip considering the odds. Then again I have the Open Mind Jutsu I could always cheat my way through the tenth question... The young girl looked at the orange clad ninja. And Naruto…what will he do? I'm not even sure if he was even able to answer any of the questions. Sayuri frowned at her train of thought. Why do I even care he's not in my team! And neither are Sasuke or Sakura! I've got to quit worrying about them and start thinking about me! She frowned and locked her eyes on the man before her.
The boy sitting next to Naruto was the first to go. One by one more and more teams left the testing room and went their separate ways. Sayuri tugged at her sleeve as she waited, watching the proctors mark off students as they left. Suddenly one hand caught her attention.
Her former blonde team mate had raised his hand. She gasped surprised at the action.
I knew the kid would—Hajime didn't fish his thought as the orange clad ninja slammed his hand on the table.
"NEVER UNDERESTIMATE ME! I DON'T QUIT AND I DON'T RUN!" The room was full of shocked faces. "I'll accept your stupid question. Even if I wind up staring a rookie for the rest of my life! I'll be the next Hokage. Even if I only make it by pure stubbornness I don't care! I'm not scared of you!"
Sayuri blinked, gaping at his back before her eyebrow twitched. That cocky idiot's probably scared half to death but…She smiled at him as Sasuke let out a small sigh of relief. Stupid, Naruto…
"I'll ask you one last time. This is a decision that could affect the rest of your life. Quit now while you still have the chance."
Naruto smirked. "I don't go back on my word. That's my ninja way."
The room fell quiet as the Genin looked determined to stay. 78 of them are still here. Hmm…an entertaining kid. Interesting…he dispelled everyone else's thought along with his own. More than I expected but… He looked at the proctors who nodded once to give the 'okay.'
"Good call." Everyone leaned forward. "So everyone who's still here… You've just passed the first exam!"
"WHAT?" Sayuri couldn't help but cry out. When everyone's eyes fell on her she turned beet red before quickly schooling her features back to normal. "What about the 10th question?"
"There is no 10th question beyond the whole 'accept or reject' thing."
"WHAT? Then why did we have to suffer through the other 9 questions? That was a total waste of our time!" Sayuri turned recognizing the blonde from the sand village.
"There was no waste. Those questions had a purpose which, they already served."
"Like what…?" Sayuri spoke out again.
"Our goal was to test your skills…at spying!" Ibiki grinned at the brunette.
The blonde looked confused. "At spying?"
"Remember the rules at the beginning? You pass or fail as part of a 3 man team. With that rule I pressured you with the fear that anything you did wrong would bring your teammates down with you."
"I kinda figured that was it." Naruto huffed making both Sayuri and Sasuke sweat drop.
"However the questions are beyond the level that Genin are expected to answer so most of you having reached that same conclusion had only one way of retaining your points…by cheating." He stepped forward. "And to ensure there would be suitable targets for you to cheat from we snuck in a pair of ringers. Two Chunin who already knew the answers."
WHAT? AWW MAN! Naruto had a mental break down before bursting out laughing after finding out that other ninja had figured it out before him. "Hahahaha! Yeah any idiot could figure that one out!"
"That fool had no idea." Sasuke mumbled.
"Want to be on how many he answered?" Sayuri whispered besides him.
"Not much of a bet considering…" both stared at Naruto and then glanced back at each other.
"None." Both agreed as they turned around only to see their proctor without his headband.
Sayuri gasped, brown eyes widening slightly at the sight. The Uchiha besides her narrowed his eyes.
Burns, scars, puncture wounds from where screws were used…long slash marks… Besides him Sayuri gulped thinking the same as him. He's been tortured!
"The information you obtain can't be trusted. If you can't keep your presence secret from the enemy. Learn that and learn it well if you bring back information from a suspect source or a compromised operation…you're doing your enemy's work for them putting those you serve in danger." Putting his headband back on, he continued. "That is why we maneuvered you into using your espionage skills to cheat. That way we weed out anyone whose skills aren't up to snuff."
"Okay so what about the 10th question?" The blonde asked again.
"Ah the 10th question. That was the first real test to this part of the exam."
Everyone blinked at the proctor. "What do you mean?" Sakura was the first to recover.
"Let me explain. The 10th question was choice between two options…both very difficult and presenting themselves as a no-win situation. So why did I present those two options?" He looked at the room to make sure he had their attention. "Let's suppose you all go on and pass the Chunin exam. You are assigned to steal a vital enemy document, knowing nothing about your enemy's skills, deployment, or military preparedness. You may have to cross territory that's heavily mined and littered with traps. Now…" everyone looked at him. "Do you accept the mission or do you reject it? Rather than place your own life or lives of your companions in jeopardy, could a Chunin get away with only doing the safe jobs?" He narrowed his eyes "Of course not! No matter how high the risk there will be missions that you won't be able to decline. A ninja must inspire valor that inspires those around him…helping all to overcome their fear. That is the most valuable skill of a Chunin commander in a squad."
Naruto looked proud of himself, Sakura sighed, Sasuke smirked, and Sayuri leaned forward smiling.
"Those who can't do that are weaklings who can only make weak and easy decisions and don't belong as Chunin at all. You've all answered the 9 questions and stuck through the test up until the very end. You've passed the first part of the Chunin selection exam. I'll pray that you put up a good fight."
"YEAH YOU DO THAT! GO PRAY!" Naruto yelled out feeling the inspiration.
"That idiot…" Sayuri giggled shaking her head.
Suddenly a black ball crashed through the window. By the time all the ruckus went down a young woman stood before them.
"None of you are in any position to celebrate. I am the second proctor of the Chunin exams…Anko Mitarashi! Times a-wasting people! Let's go!"
The room was eerily quiet. Sayuri relaxed and took a good look at the proctor. Damn psycho lady! She thought as she watched the two proctors talk to each other.
"This year we have participants of exceptional caliber." Ibiki explained at her complaint.
"Yeah right. I'll cut the number in half by the time the next test is done."
She what…? Sayuri thought alarmed.
"I get charged up just thinking about it! I'll explain everything as soon as we settle in our new location. Come on! Follow me!"
XXX
They found themselves outside the gate of a large forest in a secluded area. Hajime looked pale as a sheet, Diachi looked indifferent and Sayuri just stared in wonder.
"Welcome to the Forest of Death!
Ok this chapter took a lot longer than expected. Sorry about that. Please Review! Thank you.