Are We Overqualified?
Right now, what I'm doing is walking on my hands atop the rooftops of Konoha, grinding my teeth and suffering from a migraine.
Normally a young growing girl like me should be casually walking down the road taking in the sight, sound, and smell of the street stalls I pass by, with their freshly-cooked or baked food. Or maybe hang out with girls my age, talking about boys or looking up cute clothes and whatnot. At a point, I also had the option of just relaxing in my room, eating chips and reading a few books here and there.
But, no. I need to train. Especially since the Chuunin exams are coming up and all the training grounds have been "reserved" by Jonin instructors. I mean, why do you need to reserve training grounds?! Genin like me can't even gain leave Konoha to train in elsewhere because we need permission from the Hokage. And in order to get permission we also need to get the approval from our instructors.
Did I forget to mention Anko-sensei is always off on missions so she can't even sign our forms? And the Chuunin Selection Exams are closing in on us. I must train every moment I get.
That is, even when Akiko, Narunosuke and I received a summon from the Hokage, I must continue on with my training.
I said summon, but what I really meant was that Anko-sensei's voiced echoed throughout my brain like some sort of unexplained mantra. The feeling was akin to saying "I passed" repetitively to yourself when looking at your report card, hoping that you've actually passed and that you weren't actually fooling yourself. But deep down, you expect utter failure. That sort of feeling.
All thanks to Anko-sensei trying out her experimental techniques on her Genin pupils. She said that our missions can be completed efficiently if we had better communication than those expensive radio earpieces. So she tried something similar to the Yamanaka clan's technique of sharing knowledge telepathically.
Apparently, she and Ino's dad made some bet during a drinking contest, and then some terrible blackmail-worthy event happened. So she acquired just enough knowledge from him to recreate their one of the Yamanaka clan's many secret techniques. I still wonder if it was something that she should have told her Genin pupils. I mean, do you really need to give us all the details?
Luckily she doesn't try to take over our bodies… but thanks to that, we can now communicate amongst each other using this technique. Anko-sensei called it the "Telepathy Jutsu".
Really original.
One reason why we were able to succeed was all because of that extermination mission. Being the only ninjas around that area, battling against freak-sized creatures to the death, exhausting our chakra supplies, and constant healing by yours truly was what made it even possible for ninjas of our level. And we added maybe a couple of weeks' worth of chakra training and endurance training in the mix. That was definitely a turning point in our lives since we almost messed up our own chakra systems.
Technically speaking, it's like we are communicating by linking our chakras together. I personally handled all the healing during that extermination mission in the Forest of Death, making me more tuned to my teammates' chakra than my own sensei, so I ended up as being some sort of medium for the telepathy communication.
The weight of responsibility is feeling a little bit heavy now.
"Akiko-san, Narunosuke-san, we are being summoned to the Hokage's office ASAP. I'm on my way there right now," I told them over telepathy. All the while I was walking on the rooftops, upside down on my hands. Training, as I said.
Why does the image of a green beast appear when I think about it again?
"Got it," Narunosuke replied quickly, his voice a little fuzzy and unclear. Maybe I should train with him to tune his chakra better? Maybe he should also travel on rooftops upside down on his hands?
"I'm right behind you~" Akiko replied. Her voice loud and clear. Now that is some good chakra control, it was as if she was right next to –
"BOO!"
A jolt ran up my spine and goosebumps popped up on my skin.
Akiko was right behind me.
"I've always wanted to do that to you. You know, make you jump a little!" Akiko laughed and jumped and did a somersault over me, grabbing both my feet and forced them down, then landed safely at a distance, effectively making me form a full-body bridge.
I can't be more thankful to have a flexible body.
"What were you thinking?! I could have fallen! We're four-stories high!" I flipped myself upright and ran after her. She just laughed it off and proceeded into running away from me towards our intended destination.
Unfortunately, I was unable to capture Akiko in all her rare mischief due to the fact that I felt dizzy after all that upside down training on the rooftops and the headache born from all that telepathy jutsu.
At least we arrived at the Hokage's office, nice and quick. Anko was by the door, sharing her sweet delicacy known as dango with Narunosuke, while Akiko and I were red-faced and sweaty from all the running and jumping across the rooftops.
Seeing as how we have already gathered, I saw the Hokage put away his papers, pull out a scroll and handed it to Anko-sensei. Moments after she opened it she immediately gave some sort of confirmation to the Hokage and then turned to stand beside us.
"So, as you four know, the Chuunin Selection Exams are only a couple of months away now. Jounin leading Genin teams can recommend their team to take this exam should they deem their team worthy enough to take the chance to be promoted," the Hokage explains. At this point, he's looking over his papers and is sifting through them. I wonder what he's looking for?
"However, the same chance cannot be said for you guys."
"What?" I heard Narunosuke say in a tone that expresses his sheer disbelief. Akiko on the other hand, seems to be very quiet. Silent indeed.
My heart felt like it dropped down to my stomach, and my stomach feels like it just digested my heart. I don't understand. We can't take the exam to be Chuunin? Why?! We've been training for days on end, improving our techniques, learning new techniques and thanks to Anko-sensei, stealing other clans' secret techniques! Why won't they just give us the chance to take the exam?
"Hahaha. Oh I'm sorry, Anko. I don't know how to pull it off on your students. They seem so serious I feel bad about it," suddenly the Hokage laughed gently at our serious and dejected faces. I don't know how I look, but I bet I'm the cause of his enjoyment. Anko on the other just shrugged her shoulders, mentioning something about age and how humor can't be understood by old people.
What did he mean by that? Is this some joke? I swear. That sensei of mine can sometimes be so irresponsible.
"That was mean, Hokage-sama! You shouldn't trample on our feelings like that! Narunosuke especially! Who knows how many times he has failed this exam? He's been looking forward to this!" Akiko pouted and gave Narunosuke a pat on the back. I honestly believed she never had bad intentions mentioning Narunosuke just to guilt trip the Hokage. But somehow it makes me feel sorry for Narunosuke.
"Sorry, sorry! But I'm serious about the circumstances not being the same for you guys. Anko will be a proctor in the exams, so she will not be able to supervise you in these coming months during the preparations. Ninjas from other hidden villages will be taking the exam here as well so we have to make sure everything runs smoothly," he explains.
The three of us just nodded, not understanding whether or not it was a good or bad thing that Anko-sensei won't bother us during that time frame.
"Simply put, you guys don't need a recommendation. You are very much qualified to take the exams, even more qualified than some actually. Your forms are already filled up and approved anyhow," he ended with a good laugh on our expense. But in the end…
"Yeeeeeeeeeees! We can take the exams!" Wait what? Whoever said exams were good? Who in the world looks forward to exams?!
Is this some sort of… psychological attack?!
Apparently, only I fell for it.
Narunosuke seemed as nervous as ever. I don't actually know how many exams he has failed since he still remained a Genin while his past team are now Jounins. But then, Akiko doesn't seem to look too pleased about taking the exam. After all she was already a ranked ninja in the Demon Country. Must be troublesome taking exams all over again.
"That is all, Anko will brief you on your next steps. Dismissed."
"Okay team, let's head on to the Forest of Death!" Anko said in a happy manner. Doesn't the term "Death" scare anyone anymore?
Being at the Forest of Death should also normally scare me, but for some reason, the sense of danger seemed to radiate more from Anko-sensei than the location itself. That's a good thing I guess.
"Okay! For the next few months, I won't be able to attend to you babies. So you're going to have to train by yourselves. I'm giving you guys a free pass to use these grounds for training. I'm sure all the other teams are using up most of the training grounds, so this is a special privilege for you! However, this means that whatever trouble you might land yourself into, I won't be helping you," Anko-sensei explained while walking back and forth in front of us.
"But since we have the telepathy jutsu, you can send me reports on your training and whatnot. I might respond if I feel like it," she grinned from ear to ear. Yeah, right. She's probably just going to gossip about our hardships to her other friends to see whose Genin pupils are suffering the most. Sadist.
"Tomoko-chan!"
I jumped when I heard Anko-sensei's voice boom through my head once again. I sent a glare in her direction, but she just smiled in return.
"Team! You all can't rely on just Tomoko-chan for the telepathy jutsu! As the medium, she may provide the clearest message, but what if she is incapacitated? And what if you are too far from each other? Consider this my training assignment for you: Chakra Focus Training. And you are only allowed to communicate to each other using the telepathy jutsu." Really. Hearing instructions booming in my head disorients me so much, I don't know if this was a side effect of the jutsu, or if this was the intended effect.
"That's all! Now scram! You can start training here tomorrow if you want. Gooooo, Team Anko!"
Anko practically kicked us out of the forest itself. I don't even know why she decided to let us discuss it here if we're not even able to use the forest today. Weirdo and sadist.
So for the following weeks before the Chuunin exams, we won't be speaking to each other…out loud anyway. And we can only communicate through telepathy jutsu. This means some serious chakra tuning. But I get the feeling I'll just keep getting worse headaches from now on.
Oh well, I need to bear with it. I need to pass after all.
Got to continue training then.
Months have then passed with some intense chakra training placed into the mix, and it's finally the day of the Chuunin Exams.
"Finally! We're here!" Narunosuke exclaimed as we reached the first exam venue. There was evidence of a fight in one of the rooms that we passed by. Might have been Naruto or Sasuke fighting some other examinees or something. Not that I'd benefit from watching their scuffle.
By the time we settled down at the corner of the room…
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! I won't lose to you bastards!" Some random yellow blob just had to make himself an enemy to every single person in this room.
I definitely must not catch his stupidity.
I looked at his general direction and saw someone weaving quickly through the groups of people crowding the tables. He seemed to move effortlessly, as if he was air itself. He then suddenly launched himself and swung his arm against a guy with glasses.
The guy didn't look like he was hit, but then his glasses shattered and he ended up vomiting on the floor.
Just who is this assailant?
"Kabuto-san?!" Sakura's scream was as ear rattling as ever.
Now I remember, Kabuto was one of Orochimaru's spies. Of course, not being from this world, I am bound to know these things. Furthermore, I shouldn't exactly lose sight of my true goal, which is to leave this world and return to my own.
But I'm nowhere near strong enough to take that action, plus I don't exactly know how to get back home. But I get the feeling that during this exams, I might find an answer…or even a clue.
"Quiet down you worthless bastards!"
A voice erupted as smoke appeared at the front of the room. There emerged a man wearing a black coat and had scars over his face, his head covered by a his modified forehead protector, like a bandana. Behind him were a group of people wearing the same jumpsuit-like clothing. Must be his fellow examiners.
"Thanks for waiting… I am Ibiki Morino, the examiner for the Chuunin Selection Exams' First Test"
He then proceeded to explain that fighting is not allowed, and those caught fighting will immediately be failed unless given permission. Death of another examinee has its own consequences as well.
And the first test is… a written test! Hurray!
Not.
I was seated at the front at the right side with an examiner staring from right across me. Akiko was at the far left side of the room while Narunosuke was in the middle of the room. I can sense his worries even without bothering to look at him. Poor sap.
The examiner then proceeded to explain the rules of the test.
First rule of the test is that everybody starts off with 10 points. The test is made up of 10 questions worth 1 point each but the test also uses a subtraction system. Basically if we answer all questions correctly, we get 10 points. But say if we miss 3 questions, then we will miss 3 points, and will only have 7 left.
The second rule of the test is that it was a team test. So whether we pass or not will be determined by the team's combined score.
I heard a bunch of people suddenly grumble at this rule, namely Sakura Haruno. But hey, I'm confident that they'll pass.
And the third rule is that cheating will result in a 2-point deduction each time the cheater is caught. So they can actually fail without finishing the exam.
And the final rule, all those who lost their initial points during the test, and those that didn't answer the questions correctly will be failed along with their two teammates.
"The exam will last 1 hour. BEGIN!"
And with that we all started with our exams. Heck the questions must be super easy. Not to brag, but I tend to read a lot of books when I'm bored. I don't have a lot of things to do most of the time. It's not like I'm a loner or anything…
Less than five minutes in and I'm still looking over the exam questions again. It was ridiculous.
I UNDERSTAND NOTHING.
These are impossible questions for Genin. They require book smarts and actual combat experience. While we do have our survival and extermination experiences from the Forest of Death, we have no experience as of yet regarding assassinations, infiltration, and actual warfare.
And the last question… will be given 45 minutes later by our examiner.
This means that the exam really does call for cheating.
"Hey Tomoko, Akiko. I've heard of Ibiki-sensei before. He's the Torture and Interrogation Captain in the Lead Assassination Squad. Anko-sensei gave me some pointers on this exam if we ever get him as the proctor. Most likely he has some chuunin around here pretending to be examinees with the right answers. I can get us those answers as long as you guys can pinpoint someone who might have them," Narunosuke's voice rang through my head.
"And how exactly would you be able to get their answers?" I replied wondering whether or not Narunosuke can actually pull it off. If he gets caught cheating five times, it's over for us.
"I have my summon hiding in plain sight. His name is Ryuu. A chameleon. Thanks to this telepathy jutsu, I can communicate with him, and then communicate to you guys the answers. I just don't know how to find the one with the right answers without looking like I'm cheating."
"That's awesome! Leave the search to me! I can detect the chakra of those who might be Chuunin or higher among the examinees. It's a technique I learned from the Demon country," Akiko responded enthusiastically.
This is great! Things look like they are going smoothly. The only thing I have to do is…nothing. I'm actually useless in this test.
Sadness.
Thinking I'm sad does give off the impression that I am actually not sad, but just disappointed at the sudden turn of events. I shouldn't worry too much about it. There is the next test after this, so I should at least make myself useful there.
With that…
I still feel useless. *Insert anime tears streaking down my face.*
"I found two guys Narunosuke. One is three tables in front of you and the closest one is directly behind you. He doesn't seem to be moving much, so I think he's finished answering." Akiko is so talented. If only she'd teach me some of her Demon Country techniques. But then I'd have to go offer an animal sacrifice in the name of their demon. That's what she said anyway.
"That's great! I sent word and I'm getting a visual from Ryuu. I'll send it to you guys now." All this time has passed but Narunosuke never mentioned to us that he had a summon contract already. Even less that it was a chameleon. What if it spies on women changing?!
Well, I shouldn't dwell on it now. Must focus on cheating.
Instantly, I saw an image in my head of a paper with the answers on it. It didn't even seem like the examinee had any intention of hiding it. It looks as if he's baiting the others to try and cheat. Nonetheless, it was a good thing Narunosuke had his chameleon summon and Akiko had her skills. It would be too boring if we just waited for the 10th question to pass.
In fact, why am I even bothering with this exam? It won't matter if I answer or not. What's important is that we don't get caught 'cheating' and that we answer the 10th question correctly.
From the corner of my eye, I saw my seatmate eyeballing my paper.
That gives me an idea.
After writing down all of the answers and doodling at the back, I sighed heavily and leaned back on my seat, my paper in full view and unguarded from my seatmates. I faced the ceiling and closed my eyes, doing some pencil spinning tricks to pass the time.
All of a sudden, the names of those seated next to me were called, and they were disqualified with their teams.
My motive? That's right, to disqualify as many people as possible. Now, I don't mean to be evil and mean or anything, but the less people at the next test, the better right?
"You're mean, Tomoko! How could you do that to your fellow Genin?!" I heard Narunosuke with his sympathetic voice. With the unknown number of times he must have failed, he is bound to feel sympathetic to others failing as well.
"Relax, it's not as if I showed them the right answers. I reproduced the exact same questionnaire at the back of my paper but with the wrong answers. It's not my fault that they fell for the trap. You don't have to do the same, I'll be the one to shoulder the burden of eliminating the other teams." That's what I said but what I really just did was to make an example of those who did cheat in an obvious manner. I get the feeling Naruto might do the same and attempt a terrible method of cheating, so I hope he considers this a warning.
At least now I have the whole table to myself with no seatmates.
And 45 minutes in through the test…
"Ok, and now we will begin the 10th question." Ibiki-sensei stood up, and I stopped playing with my pencil to look at him. He also mentioned something about some guy playing with dolls in the restroom. Odd.
"I'll now explain. These are the rules of desperation," He stood from his seat and walked to front of the room.
"First, for the 10th question, you must decide whether you will take it or not. If you choose not to, your points will be reduced to zero…you fail along with your teammates!"
A group of people reacted that they will definitely take the question.
"And now…the other rule. If you choose to take it and answer incorrectly… That person will lose the right to take the Chuunin Selection Exam again."
I heard Kiba suddenly react, stating that there were other people who taken the exam before.
"Hehehe. You guys are unlucky. This year, it's my rules. But I'm giving you a way out. Those who aren't confident can choose not to take it, and try again next year. Those that do not wish to take it, raise your hand. Once we have you confirmed, leave."
Silence engulfed the room. Followed by people who raised their hand, opting out and giving up.
"You guys better not raise your hands. Remember what the Hokage said, we are more than qualified," Akiko's soft voice was laced with a tiny bit of worry, but that was good enough for me.
"WE ARE OVERQUALIFIED!" I gave a telepathy shout to Akiko and Narunosuke, effectively making them wince. I let a huge grin show on my face as I continued to stare at the ceiling. I love these guys.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Naruto raising his hand. That idiot better not be giving up at this point. It's not according to script after all.
Then he suddenly slammed his palm down on the table.
"Don't underestimate me! I will not run! I'll take it! Even if I'm a Genin forever! I'll will myself into becoming Hokage, so I don't care! I'm not afraid!" Naruto's voice echoed through the whole room, effectively instilling a sense of confidence within me.
Naruto, you idiot. You're amazing, you know that?
Even Ibiki sensei is impressed.
"Good decision. Now to everyone still remaining… I congratulate you on passing the first test!"Ibiki sensei gave us a huge smile and began explaining that the final question was actually a choice we had to make.
"Basically the premise of this test is to cheat. As cheating targets, we had a couple of chuunin or so who knew all the answers mixed in with the examinees to help you guys out. But those that cheat poorly…fail of course," Ibiki then removed his forehead protector that also covered his head and showed us the horrible burn, screw holes, and scars underneath.
"Because at times, information is more important than life. And on missions and the battlefield, people risk their lives in order to get their hands on it." I felt myself cringe looking at the marks of torture adorning this man's head. Surely, the rest of his body must have had it worse. I looked down at my hands.
I don't know if I can even withstand that kind of pain.
"If the enemy or third-party notices you, there is no guarantee that the info will be accurate." I decided to look away from my small hands only to discover Ibiki-sensei towering over me. He suddenly placed his gloved hand on top of my head and began patting me.
"See this girl? She had the right idea giving false information to weed out those who fail at information gathering," I blushed at his actions, also silently angry at being treated like a kid in front of all of these people. I can practically hear Akiko snickering.
He finally took his hand off my head and walked back to the front of the room.
"I want you to remember this. Information in your hands can be a powerful weapon for your comrades and for the village. But question 10 is the true purpose of this test. The take it or not to take it decision, these were obviously painful choices. Those who choose the latter fail along with their teammates, and those who choose to take it could lose the chance to take the test again…a true leap of faith."
Towering over us, I felt his aura become a little bit more overwhelming than a while ago.
"Now about these two choices… Say you became chuunin. Your mission is to steal a secret document. The amount of ninjas, their abilities, and such are unknown to you and there could be traps set all around you. Now do you accept or not?" He motions his hand in front of his face, "Because you don't want to die, or because you don't want your comrades hurt… can you avoid this dangerous mission? The answer is NO!"
The whole room practically jumped at his voice.
"No matter what the danger…there are missions you can't avoid. The ability to be courageous and survive any hardships, this is the ability needed to become a chuunin captain. Those who can't put their destinies on the line, and walk away from the chance looking forward to the uncertain future of 'there is always next year'…they are cowards and don't have a right to become chuunin…that's how I feel!"
I look over at Naruto to see his face filled with pride and glory. That idiot sure has the right stuff when he needs it.
"Those who chose to take it answered the difficult 10th question correctly. You will be able to survive any troubles you face in the future. You made it through the entrance. The first test of the Chuunin Selection exam is over. I wish you guys luck," he finished.
"Hell yeah! Wish us luck!" Naruto's loud voice again reverberating all over the room. But suddenly an unknown person smashed past the room's glass window, a black blur spinning in front of us. Then two kunais suddenly flew up towards the ceiling, effectively leaving a black banner hanging.
SECOND CHUUNIN EXAM TEST PROCTOR, ANKO MITARASHI, IS HERE!
That was what's written and that was also person standing in front of us.
"I am the examiner for the second test! Anko Mitarashi! Now let's go! Follow me!"
I get the feeling she got here a bit too early. I was right of course when she blushed as Ibiki-sensei pointed out that she had bad timing.
"Ibiki! You left 27 teams! That's too much! The test was too easy this time! Bah, that's fine. I'll at least cut them in half in the second test," she said as-a-matter-of-factly.
"Ahhh, I'm getting excited. I'll explain everything once we've changed venues. Follow me," and she just calmly pulled down her banner, folded it neatly then placed it in a summoning scroll. Then she walked out the door like any calm civilized person.
"You guys go on ahead to the tower in the Forest of Death. I got a special task for you," Anko-sensei's voice in my head again. I just sent her a 'yes' for confirmation's sake.
What is she going to make us do again? Extermination?
Akiko, Narunosuke and I stayed a little longer in the room and let the others leave first. After all, since we've already been to the Tower in the Forest of Death, we can just use the teleportation jutsu to get there quickly.
"Tomoko Yamanate." I turned to whoever it was who called me. It was Ibiki-sensei. I did some hand motions generally asking if he meant me or some other Tomoko Yamanate out there. Too bad there were only four of us left in the room, Ibiki-sensei and my team.
"You and your teammates don't look like much at first glance, but it turns out you guys are exceptional at information gathering. I also found it interesting that you used this test to take out some of the competition so early in the game," Ibiki-sensei praised me. He praised me!
I turned to Akiko and Narunosuke and gave them a huge thumbs up with a smug face.
"If you and your teammates ever feel like being in the Interrogation and Torture Forces after you become chuunin, let me know. I will send a recommendation to the Hokage to put you in my team. Talents like you are hard to come by," after he said that, he left with all the papers from the exam.
I couldn't stop smiling. Really. It's like someone is pinching my cheeks outward and I just can't stop the grin.
"We've been acknowledged guys! Let's keep at it and we'll be promoted in no time!" I gave a victory and then made a dance of joy. Akiko danced and clapped along while Narunosuke seemed like he was about to burst with joy with his little summon Ryuu doing a rainbow color dance on his head.
Everything is awesome.
Hi! I know I've been sort of invisible lately, ignoring all my past works...
Well, I finished this chapter for my bestie who's feeling a bit down in the dumps and she says she's my number one fan.
So I'm gonna take this story seriously and make sure it ends the right way.
As for my other stories... I'm hoping even an ounce of inspiration will hit me to get me going.
But for now, I hope you liked this chapter!
Chapter 15 is coming soon!