SailorStar9: Chapter 12 goes up, this is Chapter 13. To all my non-reviewing readers, I love you all! Will love you more if you review! *hugs all round!*
Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 13: Identify Yourselves! The Powerful Enemies That Have Arrived!
Meanwhile...
"Listen Gaara." Kankuro stammered. "These guys started it."
"Shut up." Gaara retorted. "I'll kill you."
"I was at fault." Kankuro stammered. "I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
"Excuse them, you guys." Gaara looked at Keena.
He has unpleasant eyes. Sasuke mused.
He hit Kankuro's hand with a rock so easily and the other detected me… That took skill. Gaara thought.
"Let's go." he shunshinned to his siblings. "We didn't come here to fool around."
"I know." Kankuro replied.
"Gaara." Keena stopped the trio.
Gaara looked at the Guardian.
"When this is over, I'll like to take a look at your seal." Keena answered his unasked question.
"Wha..." Kankuro was stunned.
She knows? Temari was shocked.
"That damned seal isn't working properly." Keena stated.
"Wait up." Naruto cut in.
"What is it?" Temari asked.
"Judging from your forehead protectors, you are ninjas from the Hidden Village of the Sand, right?" Naruto asked. "The Country of Fire and the Country of Wind have an alliance, but a treaty prevents ninja from entering each other countries without permission. State your purpose."
"According to your reasons, I will..." Sakura snapped.
"'What you are looking for is closer than you think.'" Temari quoted. "You don't know anything?"
"This is a traffic pass." she showed them her travel pass. "As you guessed, we're Genins from the Hidden Village of the Sand from the Country of the Wind. We came to this village to take the Chuunin selection exams."
"Chuunin selection exams?" Naruto echoed. "Wait, the Overseer of the Chuunin selection exams is one of the Guardians..."
"Which means..." his finger trailed to Keena who was banging her head against the tree trunk.
"Now I know why Celia insisted I take on this mission." the Guardian muttered, spewing curses under her breath. "I'm going to skewer that Time Guardian after this is over."
"Hey, you there." Sasuke shunshinned to the ground. "What's your name?"
Temari flushed, "Who…me?"
"No. The ghoul behind you." Sasuke replied flatly.
The 'ghoul's' teammates flinched at the title, whilst Gaara looked at the Uchiha.
"Gaara of the Desert…at your service." Gaara replied. "I'm also interested in you two. What's your name?"
Sasuke smirked, "Uchiha Sasuke.".
Naruto nodded, putting his book away, "Uzumaki Naruto, Genin of Konohagakure."
Gaara nodded, then turned around, "Let's go." He said to the other two, and they used Shunshin to teleport away.
"What do you think?" one of the Oto nins asked his comrades.
"I don't think they're much." one of his companions replied. "But we need to keep an eye on the blond and black hair from Konoha and the guy with the gourd from that Sand Village."
Keena looked at Sasuke, "Seems we're in for interesting times." he stated, the Uchiha nodded, frowning.
The masked Guardian sighed and shook her head, "Now…what were you saying about training earlier?"
The raven-haired boy blinked, before grinning, "Field 7? We start off with a spar first."
"Kit, come along." Keena looked at Naruto. "You might learn something."
"See you there." she looked over at the Uchiha, using Shunshin to teleport there, followed by Sasuke, then Naruto.
Sakura wondered why she was left babysitting, when she discovered she was alone, the Konohamaru corps having dashed to get to field 7, their leader not wanting to watch his 'Oyabun' fight.
In the Hokage tower...
"Now that we are going to start the Chuunin selection exam," Sarutobi stated. "Those who are in charge of new Genins, step forward."
"Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma." he greeted the three Jonins. "Are there any Genins you wish to enter into the exam among the ones you teach? You probably already know this, but any Genin who has completed more than eight missions is eligible to enter the exam through your recommendations. But normally, those who have done twice that amount of are more suited."
There is no point in asking. Asuma nodded. It's too early for them.
"Let's start with Kakashi." Sarutobi looked at the one-eyed Jonin.
"From the 7th squad that I lead," Kakashi started. "Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura. I recommend those three to the Chuunin selection exam under my name, Hatake Kakashi."
"From the 8th squad that I lead," Kurenai added. "Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. I recommend those three to the Chuunin selection exam under my name, Yuuhi Kurenai."
"From the 10th squad that I lead," Asuma remarked. "Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichhi Chouji. I recommend those three to the Chuunin selection exam under my name, Sarutobi Asuma."
"All three gave recommendations." one of the Jonins whispered. "It's been a couple of years since rookies have appeared in the Chuunin exams."
"Please wait!" Iruka protested.
"What is it, Iruka?" Sarutobi asked.
"Please let me speak, Hokage-sama." Iruka pleaded. "Excuse me for interfering, but the nine who had their names called were students of mine at the academy. Every one of them is talented, but it's too early! They need more experience before they enter the exam!"
"I became a Chuunin when I was six years younger than Naruto." Kakashi cut in.
"Naruto is different from you!" Iruka retorted. "Are you trying to ruin him?"
"They always complain during important missions." Kakashi added. "Putting them into a dangerous situation might be interesting. Ruining them is also interesting."
"What did you say..." Iruka growled.
"That was a joke." Kakashi remarked. "Iruka-sensei, I understand what you are saying. You must be upset as well, but..."
"Kakashi, stop." Kurenai intervened.
"Don't interfere!" Kakashi snapped. "They are no longer your students. They are my subordinates now."
What a troublesome pair. Asuma sighed.
"But the Chuunin exam is also known as the..." Iruka protested.
"Iruka." Sarutobi cut in. "I understand your argument."
"Hokage-sama..." Iruka blinked.
"So, we will put the rookie Genins through a special preliminary exam." Sarutobi added.
"A preliminary exam?" Iruka stammered.
On the bridge the next day...
"Hey, hey, hey!" Sakura fumed. "Why does that person always make us wait when he's the one who called us up? How is he going to compensate a girl who woke up late and had to give up blow drying her hair?"
"Yo, gentlemen."Kakashi said cheerfully, "I got lost on the path known as life."
"LIAR!" Sakura shrieked, only to have a pebble thrown at her forehead.
"Sorry, saw a wasp there, guess I got it." Naruto muttered, putting his book away.
"I'll get to the point." Kakashi shunshinned down. "I recommended all of you to the Chuunin selection exam, so... here take these applications."
"Chuunin exam?" Sakura echoed.
Kakashi looked at his team for their reactions. Sasuke looked very interested which was what he knew what would happen. He looked at Sakura and saw a mixed of fear and doubt which wasn't surprising. Naruto's reaction was the one he confused about. He looked at him like he was losing his mind. "Is there something wrong, Naruto?"
"This is a joke…right?" Naruto asked Kakashi, staring at the applications forms in the Jonin's hand, "You actually recommended us for the Chuunin exams?"
The Jonin nodded, "If any of you don't wish to compete, the exam is voluntary, the choice to enter is yours."
Naruto then exploded, "Something wrong? Are you seriously mental? You honestly think that we're ready for the next level?"
"That's surprising coming from you. I thought you jump at a chance like this considering you know who." Naruto glared at his sensei and released a little killer intent.
"Watch what you say about Keena-nee, teme." Naruto sneered. "Just because you may be an authority here don't mean squat to me. The fact of the matter is you haven't prepared us for such an exam. The Chuunin exams aren't like the Genin exams. There's killing in these exams."
"Killing? Is there really killing?" Sakura asked. Kakashi looked like he was about to answer but…
"Well, you have five days to decide before the exams begin. Go to the third floor to room 301. Later." And Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Why that no good…" Naruto growled
"Naruto, is there really killing in this exam?" Sakura asked
"Yeah. Iruka-sensei talked about his first Chuunin exam once. That's when he took his first life."
"Don't tell me that you're scared dobe?" Sasuke taunted. Naruto was in his face instantly and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
"Listen, you little brat, your attitude is starting to tick me off. I don't care if you are an Uchiha, you slip up even once in this exam and it's your life. How are you going to complete your goal then?" Naruto snapped. Sasuke growled and pushed Naruto off him. He turned and stalked off. Naruto mumbled about stupid 'emos' and 'one eyed jerks'.
"Naruto," Sakura said
"Look Haruno, I ain't in the mood for one of your 'leave Sasuke alone' rants." Naruto said
"No, it's just that, do you think that I should…" Sakura started.
"I can't make that decision for you." Naruto replied.
"What are you planning to do?" Sakura asked.
"I'm going to think about. If I decide to take the exam, then I'm going to train hard. If you want, you can train with me. I was going to find Hinata and lazy bones and train with them but they may train with their teams instead." Naruto suggested
"Are you sure that I wouldn't get in the way?" Sakura asked
"Maybe but I've trained with Shikamaru. Besides, the Cyclops isn't going to help unless we happen to have red eyes with tomes."
"You know, you should stop that. I really think Kakashi is getting fed up with you insulting him." Sakura noted.
"Whatever. Later Haruno and remember to think about it." Naruto said and left Sakura. It would be a few minutes before Sakura left too.
That night...
"How were they?" Kakashi asked his visitor.
"Although we went through the trouble of setting up a special preliminary exam, all nine rookies passed." Iruka replied. "It seems like their skills are growing, just like the three of you have said."
"But the real Chuunin exams isn't going to be that easy." Keena pointed out.
On a training ground somewhere...
"Hey, have you heard?" Lee asked his teammates. "This upcoming Chuunin exam will have rookies for the first time in five years."
"No way." Ten-Ten remarked. "Those Jonins must be trying to look good."
"I heard that three of them are from Kakashi's unit." Lee replied.
"That's interesting." Neji noted.
"Either way..." Ten-Ten sighed.
"It's pitiful for them." Neji replied.
Five days later...
"Sorry..." Sakura greeted her teammates. "I'm late. Good morning, Sasuke-kun."
"Morning." Sasuke responded.
Sakura's acting weird. He mused.
In the corridor...
"You're trying to take the Chuunin exam with that kind of level?" the two Genins guarding the door mocked. "Maybe you should quit, kids. You're still kids."
"Please, let us through." Ten-Ten pleaded.
"How cruel." one of the ninjas muttered after Ten-Ten was knocked back.
"What did you say?" the two Genins glared. "Listen up, we're being kind to you. The Chuunin exam is extremely difficult. We have seen those who gave up becoming a ninja or become seriously injured taking this exam. A Chuunin is a commander of a squad. It's the commander's responsibility for failing any missions and the death of their subordinates. And to think these kids are trying to... What's wrong with sifting out those who aren't going to pass anyway?"
"That's a sound argument, but I will pass." Sasuke cut in.
Naruto frowned, "Why the hell are you jackasses blocking the way? We're still on the second floor, so move it or lose it!"
"What's that guy talking about?" one of the nins muttered.
"I don't know." his partner replied.
"You're pretty good." the Genins in disguise replied, removing the henge. "But just being able to detect it isn't enough."
Sasuke readied to defend himself, only to have Lee block the attack.
He's fast. Sakura blinked. He's different from the person who was just being attacked.
He stopped my kick? Sasuke frowned after the disguised Genin jumped away. What's that charka in his arm?
Naruto gazed at Lee, seems there may be some worthwhile contenders yet.
"Hey, you broke the promise." Neji chided. "You're the one who didn't want to gather attention by doing something that stands out."
"But..." Lee started.
"She must be why..." he turned to Sakura.
The bruise he had is gone... Sasuke growled. It must've been fake.
"My name is Rock Lee." Lee approached Sakura. "You are Sakura-san, right? Let's go out together! I will protect you until I die!"
"No way..." Sakura muttered.
"What?" Lee blinked.
"You're too 'unique' for my tastes." Sakura replied.
…the hell? Naruto frowned and rolled his eyes as Sakura blew the guy off.
"Guy's got bad taste in women." Naruto muttered.
He frowned, "Where have I seen that hairdo before?"
Neji turned slightly and stared at the retreating team.
"What is it Neji?" Ten-Ten asked. She looked in the direction that he was looking and smirked. "Interested in the Uchiha?"
"No." Neji replied.
"No!?" Ten-Ten blinked.
"The blonde is who interest me." Neji said. Ten-Ten was confused by that but let it slide.
"Teammates go on without me for a while. There is something I must do." Lee said
"Fine but don't take too long." Neji said. Lee nodded and walked in the direction that team 7 walked in.
SailorStar9: Wow, now that's done, read and review.