Without a doubt! W/o a d!!
This is my FAV chapter!! (says myself)
It has 2688 words!!! Proud of meeself :)
Well, I don't know how I've been progressing (coughs VERY loudly cough - review - cough!) so I hope you like it, but...
Disclaimer of Disclaimers: A-ahem. Neji does not belong to me because of a certain Kishimoto... But at least I can keep my dreams of that pale-eyed ninja (sticks tongue out).
(Transforms into Hinata) Okay, here's Chapter Fourteen!!!!!!
Ewcks. In just a few minutes of waiting, the speaker goes up to the podium and yells. It's Gai-sensei. It has to be Gai-sensei, right? ...and his clone.
Shine goes their luminous, glow-in-the-dark teeth. Too bad we'd get punished for stealing their toothpaste or dyeing their hair pink or whatever.
"Genins!" the green-suited Jounin literally screams. "Part one is a test of speed and velocity! The rules are simple!" Almost everyone has their hands crammed next to their throbbing eardrums, except for...
Rock Lee stands within a five-foot radius and still manages to smile.
"You will run by foot only on ground! Half a mile (A/N: I first typed "smile"! Loz.) out of Konoha, then turn around. We have marked the trees at the place to symbolize your stoppage and turn-aroundage! Four sets of partners will run at one time, so there will be two groups that run in total!
The judges will be in the trees, watching - any technique of any type or kind is not allowed. You may not activate abilities such as Byakugan or Sharingan. This race determines your knowledge as a runner and solely a runner." He breathes, and affords to grin with a twinkle.
"First group:
Neji, Gaara, Naruto, Chouji, Ino, Yumeki, Shikamaru, Temari!
Take your places!"
They do so, still as rocks.
"GO!!"
In the blink of an eye, they're all gone, and the wind whips through the trees like a farewell hymn.
I think I'm too bored to be worried. My partner still stays as taciturn as ever. Too bored, boring...
Oh, well. It's not like it's my funeral or anything. I walk over to where Sakura, Kiba, Rock Lee, and TenTen are.
"It's gonna be a loooong wait," yawns Sakura. She places a hand over her mouth, sits down.
"No, it won't be." Opposed to the tomboyish demeanor, TenTen has a rather sweet and high voice. "They go really fast. Especially Neji."
Why do I feel like rolling my eyes?
Since no one replies, TenTen adds, "He's the strongest and fastest. He's sure to win!"
- "Yes, that is true, but only if he is goal-oriented," throws in Rock Lee, "and motivated by the other Genin in which he is racing."
Kiba shoots me a look, his eyebrows raised, and then turns to him. "That's crap. This is the Chuunin exams. They don't need anything but their determination."
TenTen's back, obviously upset by Rock Lee's interruption. "Either way, Neji is going to win."
She leans in, preparing to deliver a sermon about the qualities my cousin possesses.
"He's strong and fast and he will beat..."
Slowly but surely, this girl is annoying the heck out of me.
Once again, I feel like talking. So I do.
"What if you're wrong? Have you ever considered that? What if Neji's losing and he's not so great and he's a - " 'Pervert' comes in to my mind first, and unthinkingly I spit it out, - "pervert and looks good only because of - " 'Makeup stays lodged in my brain, and I babble on - "makeup and even though he's a guy so no one notices?"
I didn't know what I just said, and I don't exactly want to, since their reactions vary from amusement (Kiba), shock (Rock Lee), surprise (Sakura), and anger (TenTen).
"Don't you go saying - "
I open my mouth to shut her up, but Gai-sensei interrupts. "We're seeing them...fifty yards away!" His eyes are above his thick brows, and he's squinting. "Group Two, take your places!"
A cruel and agonizing wind rides through my short hair, feeling like a thousand tiny needles embedded into my skin. Not now...
So it's my turn. It's my turn and my teammates. I wait, one side Kiba, another Sasuke. I wish I could say I'm glad and happy as this moment comes to pass, but I'm just not. I'm not fit for this. I never was.
"Can I still take a rain check?" I whisper to Kiba, while Gai-sensei stands craning his neck, waiting.
Kiba grins. I can see every eyelash, he's that close. "Too late, Hinata."
"It's all your fault if I'm dead last!" I hiss back, facing front again.
"Aw, shut up. You're just nervous."
"You shut up."
Beside me, Sasuke's looking ahead, as serious as serious may get. God. It's like the Chuunin exams are more than...just an exam for him.
I could have sworn his head was tilted towards me one heartbeat before.
A loud stampede rushes in, the first thing I see is Gaara and Neji, clearly in the lead.
Dust swirls up; sand, gravel, dirt - hopefully it won't happen to me - and Gaara emerges, victorious. After him, looking furious, is Neji.
What happened? He looks...defeated.
My eyebrows rise slightly. And what's up with the hostile competition?
"Team Two! Take your places!
Ready!" says Gai-sensei.
We - the seond group - all stiffen like bolts of electricity are shot through us. I feel my heart going berserk, my mouth dry.
"Relax, Hinata. You'll be fine."
"I - "
"Set...Go!!"
A flurry of wind, leaves, and clothes, and we're off.
I don't know what happens next - I'm focused to running fast I have no idea, no sight, of what's happening around me. Pretty soon I'm six yards beyond the marked trees.
Crap!
I turn around - hurry, hurry! - and build up speed.
I can't concentrate, can't move fast enough, can't hear if the others are catching up or not -
Come one, you! Just...relax.
A clearing rips open before me and I enter, feeling absurdly happy of the sunshine spilling on my face.
Run - hurry -
"Hinata Hyuuga, first place!" Gai-sensei bellows, looking positively constipated. Another rustle of dirt and dust; "Sasuke, Rock Lee, Kiba, TenTen! Close but not enough!! Any more? ...Sakura, Kankurou, Shino!"
I can't catch my breath fast enough, lying in a heap on the ground, winded.
Two hands force me up. "Good job, Hinata!" I know the voice. It's Naruto. "You won!"
I can't talk, so I cough instead, the Genin babbling and talking as loud and as annoying as they can get.
If this is hell it sure is noisy.
We're only given five minutes to recuperate. I can't seem to inhale oxygen. Kiba hands me a bottle of water, which I forcefully gulp down. I won, maybe, but I still feel like crap. To prove myself...what am I doing? I don't need to... It's all for naught. I don't feel any different. No difference...
"You okay, Hinata?" his voice again; the blond ninja's.
"No," I snap back, irritated. "I'm fine. Why won't I be? I've run a mile and now I'm exhausted!"
"I - was j - "
"Second Test!"
It's not Gai-sensei this time; it's a female's voie; loud, strong, and full of authority. Even I'm compelled to look up.
"I am Mitarashi Anko!"
She's wearing only a long jacket that's zipped tightly, but it's less than minimal protection for such a sunny yet cruel and windy day.
"The Second Test is one of endurance and strength!" she yowls. "You will go with your partner on your turn into the clearing and assume the position like you would for a pushup. Teachers will place blocks of stone on your backs. Each block will lie on your back for ten seconds, then another if you can handle it, and so on. If, say, it's your second block and you only reach seven seconds, the number of points you get will be one - one point for completion. If you get over ten the extra points are counted.
The more blocks you can endure, the more points you will receive - the stronger you are.
Got that?"
As a group of sixteen Genin, the "Hai" is sadly pathetic.
"Very well. Since all of you are so enthusiastic - " her dark eyes flash and her mouth curves upwards - "We will begin now!"
Our groans exceed the noise of any sound we've made so far. Sakura sighs, "But we just finished!"
"That's too bad. You still have enough energy!
Since there are eight pairings, we might as well begin...
First group: Ino and Yumeki!"
It's over in less than a minute. The two kunoichi both buckle at the third block of stone.
Ouch. The blocks look heavy...
"TenTen and Shino!"
TenTen falls first, a four-blocker. Shino manages eight - barely.
"Sasuke, Hinata!"
Why is it me? Why can't they forget? All my life...it's about remembering...
I lie on the ground, feeling idiotic, absorbing the gazes that everyone has one us and feeling the cool grass under my palms.
The first block is placed gingerly. I feel my legs grow stiff, straight.
Ten seconds...
Second block sends a whoosh of air through my throat. My legs slide down a few inches...
Third one. It's so heavy; my hands are making deep indents in the soil. Sweat is literally pouring off my face.
Fourth... Why don't I give up? It's like I'm rooted in the position. Tears collect in my eyes.
Fifth; it wasn't that hard for Shino, was it? He didn't give up; I'm doing fine. I can match his strength!
Six.
On second thought, I really can't. The world tips over as my shoulders hit the ground. It's easy, lying there.
Carefully the blocks are removed.
"Hinata; five."
Sasuke keeps on going; I lie there, exhausted, while everyone watches him.
Seven...ten...twelve...thirteen -
On the fourteenth he gracefully bends down in defeat. Thirteen. More than half of my score and the best so far. The tears that had rolled down my face are dry now; my turn's over and I don't want another chance.
"Temari, Shikamaru!"
Now it's going by too fast. Why wasn't it this rapid during my turn? I could endure longer, surely.
Temari has a seven. She's stronger than she looks; and Shikamaru has a six.
"Kiba and Sakura."
There names sound fitting next to each others', somehow. Kiba manages a twelve, Sakura a six.
"Neji...Gaara!"
All of a sudden now we're all alert, watching as the best of the Genin compete with each other. They stay sturdy the whole time, not flinching, not wincing, not grimacing. Made of the same material as the blocks - stone-hard with raw strength.
Neji comes to sixteen before his hair flops down along with his arms; Gaara the same.
"Rock Lee, Kankurou." Excitement gradually slows down as the green guy does a fourteen, Kanakurou twelve.
After that enthusiasm drifts apart and they all grumble about oh why couldn't they rested longer, they'd have done better, complain wail whine sob. The two of us - pale-eyed, pale-skinned - stay silent.
Another teacher for the Third Test. It's Kakashi-sensei, the dog man.
"The Third Test..." he says, extremely quiet compared to the previous two teachers, "is the Best Jutsu Test. It's easy...even the stupidest ninja can get the rules..." I notice that Naruto looks a bit too relieved, and surprising even myself, I flash him a reassuring smile. He shoots one back. Thanks.
"...you perform...your best jutsu...on my clone..."
Eyes are rolling everywhere and we actually want to get the show on the road.
"Judges will...judge...on your best jutsu.
Any...questions?"
Shake shake impatient. No, no, hurry up.
"No...?" We actually shake our heads this time. "...That's fine." He takes out a book, leaving Gai-sensei to yell out the partners.
"Number one: TenTen! Number two: Shino!"
TenTen does a dance; of Rising Twin Dragons to be exact. I'm not exactly impressed. It looks easy enough. The clone of Kakashi disappears.
"Kikaich no Jutsu." I've never heard his voice before; it's as weird and mysterious as Shino himself. The jutsu sounds cool enough, and the result is a poofed clone and millions of bugs.
"Number Three!!
Sakura and, and Number Four; Kiba!"
On Sakura's face is a desire to prove herself. "Hai...here goes!"
She quickly does both a clone jutsu and a substitution jutsu, just on the safe side. Her chakra control is perfect. The five Sakuras quickly pummel Kakashi into the dust.
The judges are murmuring. Combined jutsu? It's not unheard of, but for Genin...it's tough.
Sakura's sure to receive a high grade. I'm slightly envious myself.
"Jinju Konbi Henge; Sotoro!"
A cloud of dust, and then emerges a huge, double-headed wolf.
I shrink back in fear. That's...that's Kiba?! The boy with the dog?! Transformed...into...
Kakashi's clone is pathetic and ripped into shreds. Another gathering of dust, and Kiba is left standing with a smirking Akamaru (A/N: If dogs smirk, well, they look like it sometimes!).
"Good, Inuzuka!" announces our sensei. "Up next...Number Five; Temari, Number Six; Shikamaru!"
The clone is beaten quickly by both; Temari just snaps her wrist (Kamaitachi no Jutsu!) and Shikamaru uses clones. Not as effective, but it works as well.
Gai-sensei is on a rant; I know it. He doesn't stop yelling. "Number Seven: Naruto - Number Eight, Chouji!"
No one's ready for what Naruto does - with blinding speed and power. Quickly he makes a clone and draws a pulsating blue orb - ramming it into the clone's stomach. The force is so big that it dents two trees.
"W-wow..." I utter, completely amazed. Talk about astonishing.
"Nikudan Senshan!" Chouji roars in his bellow. In goes his limbs - squash goes Kakashi's clone.
"Number Nine; Neji. Ten is Gaara!"
Silently Neji takes his place, facing the unsuspecting, book-reading Kakashi clone. "Hakke Hyaku Nijuhachi Sho." And then he becomes a force of extreme power. The clone is injured fatally on the seventeenth hit but Neji keeps on going - "One hundred twenty eight."
Gaara goes without a second to spare. "Sabaku Kyu." comes the voice that I know will send shivers up my spine. Everything about him is aloof - dark eyes, quiet manner, bloodthirsty hand. He envelopes the clone in a circular sand barrier. Even before it dissipates I know the clone is already gone, dead. Deceased.
"Number Ten: Sasuke! Number Eleven: Hinata."
I know after Sasuke's performance all the Genin will be dissapointed by mine. It'll look to weak, too out of place.
A flash of dark electric blue, a yell of "Chidori!", and his sensei's clone is blown to smithereens. Sasuke takes his place under the tree, looking unruffled.
"...Hinata?"
Um, okay. I...
I know everyone is staring at me. It's all here or now. Nothing else matters.
"J-Jyuuken!" I stammer, and hit my right hand above his shoulder blade. I missed the vital spot slightly, and hit a second time. To my relief it hits the mark, but I know I've done horribly anyhow. Finally the clone vanishes.
"Number Twelve; Ino!"
...And so it goes on. I can't concentrate, can't move to meet anyone's gaze. Not that anyone would want to look at someone like me.
What's the use? The first test was just lucky - beginners' luck is what is was...the following tests will just make me look bad...
I've crawled out of my shell, finally, but there's stormy skies up ahead, I know it, and I want to crawl back in.
That has to be the longest ever chapter in the whole Hall of Fame Chapters of Lumberry!!
I mean, really!! I'm starting to get the hang of this :P
Now if only more people reviewed (hint, hint).
Happy Early-Christmas! It's snooooooowing!! (well, no, but.)
Lumberry