As always Naruto belongs to Kishimoto. Please review.
Neji's eye twitched slightly. It was too early in the morning for 'male bonding,' especially when Gai attempted to drag him into the equation. Honestly, just because Tenten hadn't arrived yet to help him balance the insanity level of their team didn't mean he wanted to join Lee and Gai in their proclamations of youthful energy before the sun rose (or ever).
"Ah finally," Neji sighed when Tenten appeared in the distance. He waited for her to join them before leaning in, an annoyed glower on his face. "You left me with them."
"I ran late, so sue me," she snipped back.
Neji rolled his eyes. "Maybe tomorrow I'll run late and you can see what it's like."
Tenten flashed him a smirky little grin. "Unlike you, I've figured out how to deal with them. You need to learn to relax more often."
"You know I can tell when you're lying, right?"
"Am I?" Tenten asked, that frustrating smile still taunting him.
Neji scowled. "Just be on time."
"TENTEN!" Gai bellowed, separating from his exaggerated conversation with Lee long enough to notice her arrival.
Tenten said relax? That was an impossibility in this team. One day Neji was going to figure out which tenketsu would affect vocal cords and forever more attack only there when he sparred with his instructor. Perhaps after a few years of that Gai would sound like a normal human being.
. . . one could hope.
"Wonderful!" Gai continued, oblivious to anything outside his own delusional world. "Now that everyone's here, I can finally tell you the most amazing and exciting news!"
If he weren't so formidable when he was serious, Neji would have no respect for the man. But he was formidable, and reluctant as it was, Neji did respect him . . . to a degree. Still, Neji remained skeptical. For Gai, 'amazing and exciting news' could be anything from they were getting a B-rank mission to he found the perfect plant that encompasses the very meaning of SPRING! and had decided to eat nothing but it to remain young and energized for the rest of his life. Neji always hoped for the former but expected the latter.
Gai reached into his vest, eyeing all three students with extended dramatic pause, and pulled out three slips of paper. "Congratulations! You may officially enter the upcoming chuunin exam!"
Neji blinked. Did he hear that right? After all this time they'd finally get to enter the chuunin exam?
Lee was already leaping for joy with one of the slips of paper clinging to his chest when Neji reached forward and took one himself. At the top of the paper, written in official calligraphy, were the words "Application for Chuunin Exam – Village: Konoha." It was true. For once Gai hadn't exaggerated, this was amazing and exciting news . . . and long overdue in Neji's opinion.
"When's the chuunin exam?" Tenten asked excitedly. Her brown eyes were practically alight with anticipation.
"The first phase begins tomorrow," Gai beam proudly. "In order to take the exam you must have a three man team. It is ultimately a test of you each individually, but first you must prove that you can work together as a team. I have faith in all of you. There is no finer genin team in all of Konoha!"
Neji looked at his teammates. Lee had calmed during Gai's speech, but was now bawling at their teacher's feet. He wasn't the same idiot as he had been when they were fresh out of the academy. Gai had turned him into a wholly new breed of idiot, but that breed was also a capable fighter in his own right and fast as hell. On the other side, Tenten ogled her application while quietly bouncing on her feet unable to contain her excitement in still repose. Her accuracy with weaponry was already almost scary; he could only imagine what she'd become in a few more years. He trusted her . . . he trusted them both (not that he'd admit that) . . .
Add in his skill in jyuuken and the advantages byakugan gave them and Gai was right. There was no better genin team in all of Konoha. They weren't going to enter the chuunin exam, they'd conquer it.
Hinata waited quietly with Akamaru content in her lap (the pup had snuck in while his master went off into the woods to relieve himself. A few feet away Shino stood in silence, an act Hinata admitted was easier without their other teammate. Kurenai had asked them to meet her, but it appeared she was running late. Rare, but it happened every once in a while.
"Where's our pup run off to?" Kurenai's pleasant voice called from behind them.
Akamaru hopped up to peer over Hinata's shoulder and barked, his tail wagging happily.
"Wrong pup," she laughed, running a hand between Akamaru's ears affectionately.
"You called, Sensei?" Kiba huffed as he exited the trees. He flashed Akamaru an agitated glare and the white dog obediently leapt out of Hinata's hold to return to his spot in Kiba's jacket.
"Good, you're all here. I have something important to discuss with all of you." Kurenai waited for Kiba to return to the group before continuing. "I have news that could affect this team, and I'm afraid I can't help you make the decision you're going to have to make."
Hinata stood up as Kurenai spoke, the gravity of their instructor's words in every line and strain on Kurenai's face. "What's happened, Kurenai-sensei?"
Kurenai reached into her sleeve and pulled out three slips of paper. "These are your applications for the chuunin exam. Congratulations."
"The chuunin exam!" Kiba howled. "We get to take the chuunin exam already?"
Shino was quiet, but the buzz of unseen insects told them he too was excited. Hinata smiled to them both. Even though she wouldn't be joining them, she was still happy for them. Not even Neji had entered the chuunin exam yet.
Kurenai pulled the papers back before Kiba could snatch one from her hand. "Before you get too excited, I need to explain a few things. You're going to have to decide whether or not you're willing to risk entering right now."
"What's there to think about?" Kiba scoffed, a fangy smirk permanently lodged on his face. "Of course we're going to enter."
"Kiba," Kurenai said so quietly and with such seriousness it silenced all three. "The first half of the chuunin exam is team based in squads of three. Unfortunately, the number of genin entering means that for you and Shino to enter, Hinata must as well."
"But . . . but I don't want to be a chuunin," Hinata whispered as her teammates gazes fell on her.
"I'm afraid there's no other choice. It must be a team of three, and there are no extra genin to take your place." Kurenai sighed and placed a comforting hand on Hinata's shoulder. "If you enter, you'll have the option of withdrawing once the exam goes to individual assessment, however there's some time between the team and individual tests. I'm worried your grandfather will force you to continue if the three of you make it that far."
"What would happen to the team if Hinata did make chuunin?" Shino asked. He was as calm as ever, but Hinata heard the concern in his voice. Not for his future, but the future of their team, all three of them.
"Most likely since you three are still considered rookie genin, if Hinata were to be made chuunin and return to the clan, you'd remain a two man team until the next year's genin are chosen and one of them would replace her." Kurenai stepped back and handed the three applications to Hinata. "Like I said, I can't help you make this choice. The three of you will have to decide on your own."
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino waited in an uneasy silence as Kurenai left them alone to make a choice they didn't want to make.
"This is screwed up!" Kiba yelled at the open air. "I really wanna enter, but I don't want the team broken up."
"Just because I enter, doesn't mean I will be made chuunin," Hinata offered in a weak voice.
"But there's a distinct possibility," Shino warned.
She'd always found chuunin to be a foreboding idea, because it would end her life outside the clan, but somehow staring at the thin slips of paper in her hands made it terrifying. She didn't want to become a chuunin. She wasn't ready to leave them yet.
"Would your grandpa really force you to go through with the individual tests if you wanted to drop out?" Kiba asked, searching for some way to make this work out.
Hinata nodded. She had no doubt with how adamant he was when she became genin, and his continued complaints on how little time she had to prepare that he'd never allow her to pass up the chance to become chuunin and be forced to return to the clan. And she had faith in her team; she believed they would pass the team portion.
Kiba growled a deep, snarling sound better suited for beast than man. "Arg! This sucks!"
Shino was the only calm one, his thoughts better hidden under the safety of his glasses. After a few minutes of awkward, frustrated silence, Shino finally spoke up. As usual, because he was so reserved, when he did speak it held their attention. "If the chance to become chuunin comes at the risk of losing the team, then I vote we don't enter until it's not required for Hinata join us."
Kiba spat at the ground, his face twisted in anger, but not at Shino or Hinata. It took a moment more, but finally he nodded. "Me too, I don't wanna lose the team. Not yet."
Hinata didn't know if the tears threatening to break free were from the loyalty she felt in her teammates and their willingness to sacrifice for her, or the gnawing, clawing sense of self-hatred ripping her up inside. This wasn't how it was supposed to be. She'd worked so hard to not feel like she was holding them back, and here she was doing just that. All because of her stupid clan rules made by her stupid grandfather. It wasn't fair to them. To any of them.
Hinata stared at the three applications in her hands and took a deep breath. "NO! We're going to enter."
"Hinata–" Shino started but the determination in her eyes stopped him.
"We're entering," she repeated, holding out the applications for them to take. "I'll withdraw after the team portion and if my grandfather doesn't like it, well . . . well I don't care. You guys deserve to try for chuunin, and I'm not ready to leave this team. So I'm not going to."
An arrogant, toothy grin curled Kiba's lips. "Yeah, you tell that bastard!"
"Hinata," Shino said, his brown eyes watching her over the top of his glasses, "are you sure you want to stand up to him?"
She nodded without hesitation. Hyobe always wanted her to be more assertive; he just better be okay with the fact it'll be against him.
A slight smirk crossed Shino's normally passive face. He reached out and took one of the applications from Hinata. "Then we're entering."