To Become A Chunin

Chapter 13

Finding Training

"Congratulations. We now acknowledge the eight winners who will now compete in the third round of the Chunin Selection Exam." Anko was on a roll. "You seven now represent your four villages to all the people..."

Tsunade was very satisfied. "One from Sand, Rain, and Waterfall. Five from Leaf. Three were very young, but very promising. All will eventually make good chunin."

Anko finished. "As in the preliminaries you must fight every moment as if your life is on the line. Any hesitation can lead to defeat or to your death. Now the Fifth Hokage will present the rules for the Chunin Finals."

Tsunade flared her coat as she stepped forward. "Tomorrow messages will be sent out to all the Lords and Shinobi Leaders and all the villages in the allied nations inviting everyone to come in one month and watch one of our greatest public spectacles. They will go back home having made a judgment about the power of each country based upon your performance in this exam. It is the judgment of these Lords and Shinobi Leaders which will determine whether you are fit to become Chunin."

Fu-Ai spoke politely, "Your pardon, Hokage-sama. I thought that the winner of this tournament would be the one to become a chunin."

"Fu-Ai, all of you, listen carefully. Three years ago your sensei defeated an opponent in the first round. One of my first duties as hokage was to promote that opponent to chunin, the only one from that exam. A weaker opponent had out-planned and out-thought her and determined the shape of the battle. This, more than power, is the trait of a chunin. During the next exam, nearly every contestant was judged of chunin level, but she was superior. She determined the every step of every battle until losing to a superior opponent in one of the most exciting final battles on record." Hanabi proudly stood a little taller thinking of that fight and Neji. "Have you ever seen her outmaneuvered since?"

Fu-Ai bowed low. "No. Thank you, Hokage-sama. I appreciate the instruction and will endeavor to profit from my Sensei's training."

"So, in the next month," Tsunade continued, "you have the opportunity to train to become the best shinobis possible. Unlike the preliminaries, everyone has seen your jutsu. You need to make preparations based upon your opponents' strengths, and your knowledge of your own weaknesses. If you enter the finals without improving as you are now, you are in danger and you could die. Anko, the box please. Everyone pick a tile and state your name and number."

"Hotaru, number 5." "Hanabi, a 2." "Fu-Ai. I have drawn number 6, Sensei." "Sharinmizu, 3." "Moegi, I got a 7." "Naruto Uzumaki, I got 4 this time. I like your new tiles." "I'm first this time. Oboro, Number 1."

Ibiki finished, "And our missing contestant... So the Final Chunin Tournament Pairings are..."

.

OBORO - HANABI HYUUGA

SHARINMIZU - NARUTO UZUMAKI

.

HOTARU ABURAME - FU-AI

MOEGI - KONOHAMARU

.

Moegi shrieked, "Oh, Naruto do we have to? Can't we change?"

Hotaru stared placidly. "Those fans. My darlings must get to her before those fans can do damage."

Hanabi was aloof. "That fool. He understands nothing, has no control. His jutsu is crude."

Moegi nearly sobbed, "Why Konohamaru? He'll hate me, or worse feel sorry for me."

Sharinmizu shook his head. "Such power. He nearly destroyed the tower with his opponent's attack. I must plan."

Naruto stared back. "Water jutsu, and plenty advanced. Always trouble. Zabuza and Suien and those snow ninja. Bet he has a water dragon by then."

Fu-Ai was calm. "Deadly insects. I must consult with Temari-sensei to see if she knows anyone who has fought an insect trainer."

"That little snot," Oboro thought dismissively. "She won't ever see me, let alone hit me a dozen times. Useless!"

Tsunade went on, "I can see from the stares that the strategizing has begun. How to defeat your opponent and best show your abilities at the same time. Hold anything back and you lose. Use up all your chakra in the first round and get destroyed in the next two. Do you train only for the first match, or also develop strategy for the second? Are you confident enough to plot out the third? If there are no further questions... You are dismissed until next month when we will all gather at the arena."

Naruto walked into the infirmary where Konohamaru was setting up in bed. "Hey Boss. Did you really almost blow up the whole building? That poor kid. They got him wrapped up in sooo many bandages I call him Mummy. Doesn't talk, you know. But the nurse said he made signs with his hands which weren't jutsu, don't kinda understand it, which said it happens to him all the time."

Moegi snapped at him from the door. "It is called sign language. It is like our silent infiltration signals, only more complicated."

Konohamaru shrugged. "Nurse said you saved him. How'd you burn him up and save him at the same time. I always miss everything. Moegi, why ya standing in the doorway. Tell me how you beat Umimaru? It's great we both won."

Moegi slowly walked to the bed and handed him a copy of the tournament bracket. He got more excited. "Wow, the tournament! Who we fightin'? UH-oh. Wow, again. Hey, this is great! You know what this means! One of us is going to the second round!! Ebisu-sensei, guess what? One of your students is going to the second round!"

Ebisu walked in and smiled indulgently. "Yes I know, Hon... Konohamaru. I am proud of the skill and determination you both showed. The doctors say you are to stay here overnight, but you can resume light training tomorrow. So I will expect you both at the bridge at 2:00 so we can design a program for the next month."

Konohamaru looked away. "Sensei, I can't. We are opponents. We can't see what the other one is practicing. And Moegi needs you. You know her genjutsu better than anyone and can teach her better than anyone, except maybe poor Kurenai-sensei. So you gotta teach her something that can beat me, 'cause I won't lose to her or anyone."

Moegi threw herself on Konohamaru. "Oh thank you. Is it really all right? Sensei has been your tutor for ever so long. I don't want you to be angry with me."

"Ow, oh, wow, not so hard. It's OK. Naruto will help me, won't you. I'll be fine."

Ebisu was adamant. "Absolutely not. He is totally unqualified. He knows nothing about instructing a young ninja and nothing about earth jutsu."

Naruto answered calmly, "Ebisu-sensei, please reconsider. You know that I care for both Moegi and Konohamaru as much as you do. Konohamaru has made a decision as a shinobi as to what is best for his team and his village, no matter the personal consequences, the lesson of the first exam. I would have to be a lot denser than I am to travel over two years with Jaraiya-sannin and not learn almost every technique for teaching control of chakra. Although I don't plan to toss him off a cliff."

The others looked alarmed.

"As far as jutsu... Well... I got it. Geesh this will be expensive. But I know a teacher which I am sure you will approve of."

Next: Chapter 14

Chakra Training