Naruto: The New Story

There was an unnerving silence as the Academy students left. Without their cheerfulness, us Genin didn't really know what to talk about. We were afraid of what Anko would do if we just suddenly started a conversation... So we kept silent. We kept silent and waited until Anko started to talk. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if she was waiting for us to talk! I doubt it, though... With her creepy grin. So no one talked. The only sound that was heard were birds fluttering out and inside the forest. This... Was eerily uncomfortable.

Come on, follow, we'll step on the gas. Don't look at me, I will never bargain

I'll run all through the night

There's no reason for me to complain. Unless, I'm done, but I have no balance

My days are all wasted

If you just open up, and you just get closer, you might just learn to love

And one day your feelings, your lover will return. Ah~!

Try to live long!

Try to squeeze life!

Even though my own legs, they always get wrapped up together, I will still run!

I will steal it!

I'll still take it!

If you're not with me, there's no motivation

So just go far away into the distance...

Chapter 26: Second Exam Starts! Everyone Around Us Is An Enemy!

"This sure is a creepy place..." Sakura whispered. I nodded in agreement, feeling cold eyes staring at my back. I'll just ignore it... That seems like the best option.

Anko laughed, excitement flashing in her eyes. "You will be able to experience why this place is called the Forest of Death." Anko told us.

"You will be able to experience why this place is called the Forest of Death." Naruto mocked, putting his hands on his hip and shaking his butt. "There's no point in trying to scare us like that!" Naruto exclaimed, stopping his mocking action and smirking. "I'm not scared at all, ya know!"

"Naruto~" I snuck up behind him, itching to take out my kunai. "This isn't like the other exam... She's serious. Don't mock her, or your heart my skip many beats."

"Wow~! Aren't you energetic?" Anko smiled sweetly, before a kunai whizzed past Naruto and I! It went so fast... I didn't even see her take it out and throw it at us! I suddenly felt a stinging on my cheek, and it didn't take long to realize I've been cut.

"Gah!" I swiftly stumbled away, being fast enough to sense that Anko was behind us. She smiled at me, but it was obvious she wasn't interested. She was interested in the blonde that just stood there, too shocked to move. I scoffed at that, putting a few fingers on my cut. It stung, but I've been through worst.

"Boys like you die the fastest." Anko was still smiling as she cupped Naruto's face from behind and turned his head to get a better view of the cut on his cheek. "After spilling out that red blood I love the most." She practically purred, taking a finger and touching his now bleeding cut.

I-It happened so fast! But in no less than a second, Anko had another kunai in her hand as she turned around. A-A person with a straw hat on that covered his/her face was right behind Anko. That wasn't really the strange part, though. I expect a Jounin to be able to move so fast, and even though I didn't expect some random person to suddenly be behind Anko, that still wasn't the strange part.

The strange part was the person had the longest tongue in freaking history! It was weird, too, because the tip of the tongue looked like it was split in half! It was like a snake's tongue! O-Orochimaru!

Naruto was wide eyed at seeing the tongue seeming to be giving back the kunai Anko thrown at us! Disgusting!

"Here's your knife." Orochimaru said, even though his tongue was hanging out of his mouth! How is that even possible?!

"Thank you." Anko smiled and thanked Orochimaru like it was the most normal thing in the world! I... I don't know what to do in a situation like this..!

There was a moment of silence, Naruto practically trembling, Anko smiling at Orochimaru threateningly, and Orochimaru inches away from Anko, giving as much of a smile as he could with his tongue out and a kunai wrapped in it.

"But, don't stand behind me like that." Anko broke the silence, smirking now. "That is, unless you want to die young." Anko said that last sentence a little bit threateningly grabbing the kunai from Orochimaru's tongue. That's... That's disgusting. I would never use that kunai, no, I would never put it in my holster. No, I would never even touch it.

Orochimaru slurped his tongue back in his mouth, the corners of his mouth tugged upwards. "Well, I get itchy when I see blood. Also, my precious hair was cut, so I got a little excited." I hear ya, sista'! Wait...

"I'm sorry." Anko apologized as Orochimaru walked away. She let go of Naruto, but Naruto was more worried about that guy with the long tongue. God... My first encounter with Orochimaru. His Chakra is... Eww! I think I'm gonna be sick...

"It looks like their are a lot of hot-headed people here today." Anko remarked. "This is going to be interesting..." She purred, again...

"Why did I get cut, Super Examiner Anko?" I asked, the words dripping with sarcasm. I was going to keep quiet about it, but this crap stings! I'm not like Naruto, so I don't heal fast!

"You were just there." Anko answered nonchalantly, walking back to where she was at first. "Before we begin the Second Exam..." She started, a little too randomly for my tastes. "I'm going to pass these out to everyone." She took out a packet from her jacket. On closer inspection, the big words at the top said 'Consent Form'.

Everyone stared at the papers in confusion, not realizing why she would pass out that. They don't understand... They don't understand most of them are going to die in that forest...

"These are consent forms. Those taking this exam must sign these." Anko explained.

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"From here on, people will die. Therefore, we need people's consent before we continue. Otherwise I'd be held responsible." Anko explained, before giving out a hearty laugh.

I sweatdropped at that. She really doesn't give a shit about us, huh? But, I doubt that they'd let Naruto die. He's the Jinchuuriki of the Nine Tails! Why would they let him partake in something this dangerous?! It's stupid!

"Now, I will begin the explanation of the Second Exam." Anko said cheerfully, passing Naruto the stack of papers. "To be concise, you will all go through an extreme survival match."

The packet was passed to me after a while, and I nonchalantly grabbed a sheet and passed it to a random cutie. Ah, I'm getting side tracked. I need to listen to Anko.

"First, I'll explain the training area's geographical features." Anko took out a scroll, opening it. "The 44th training area is a circular region surrounded by 44 locked gate entrances. There is a river, a forest, and a tower in the middle. The tower is approximately 10km away from the gates. Inside this limited space, you will have to go through a certain survival program. The program consists of..." She rolled the scroll back up, putting it in her jacket. "A competition where anything goes... Over these scrolls." She took out two scrolls from her jacket, a white scroll and a dark blue scroll.

"Scrolls?" Sasuke repeated in confusion.

"Yes." Anko answered. "The Scroll of Heaven and the Scroll of Earth. You will fight over these scrolls."

There was another silence... The only noise being the cawing crows...

"26 teams in total passed the First Exam. Half of those team will get the Scroll of Heaven. The other half will get the Scroll of the Earth. Each team will get one of these scrolls. Simply, you have to fight over these."

"And? What's needed to pass?" Sasuke asked.

"To pass you must bring the Scrolls of Heaven and Earth to the tower with your teammates." Anko answered.

"In other words, the 13 teams, or half of the people here, that get their scroll stolen will fail." Sakura analyzed.

"But it needs to be done within the time limit." Anko replied. "This Second Exam has a limit of 120 minutes. Or exactly five days." Anko put the scroll in her... Jacket. Why does she have everything imaginable in there?!

"Five days?!" Ino exclaimed.

"What about food?!" Chouji asked.

"Scrounge it up yourself." Anko replied. "This forest is a treasure box of nature. There should be plenty of food."

"However..." Kabuto started. "There are a lot of man-eating beasts, poison bugs, and poisonous plants." How do you know?

"Oh, no..." Chouji whined.

"Stupid! That's why it's called survival." Ino chided.

"Also, it is not possible for 13 teams, or 39 people, to pass." Neji... Where did you come from?

"As times passes, you will be required to move more." Lee... Where are y'all coming from?! "So, the time to rest your body will become shorter. This seems quite rough." Lee smirked.

"And we're surrounded by enemies." Sasuke added... Why is everyone just randomly adding random things?! "We won't be able to sleep in peace."

"People will get hurt in the progress of fighting over a scroll, and those who cannot bear this program's strictness will emerge, as well."

"Excuse me, can we quit in between?" Shikamaru raised his hand and asked.

"As a rule, you are not allowed to give up during the exam. You will spend the five days in the forest." Anko smiled.

"Wait... Let me get things clear." I said, closing my eyes. "Half of us will get the Scroll of Heaven, while the other half gets the Scroll of Earth. We have to fight for the scrolls, and you pass when your team brings the scroll to the tower." I opened my eyes, looking directly at Anko, who gave me an amused smirk. "So, if one of your teammates die... You cannot pass?" I asked, shocking everyone around me. Anko wasn't shocked, though. Her smirk looked like it had gotten bigger.

"Oh? Why do you ask? Wanna whack someone in there?" Anko asked teasingly, making the air around me a little cold. I think I'm gonna freeze with all these people looking at me, but I'm not going to falter. I'm going to get this question answered. "Well, yeah. If one of your teammates die, you fail."

"Okay!" I nodded, a smile on my face. Good... So I only have to kill one of them... Maybe Zaku... Yeah, I don't like Zaku... And Dosu will get killed by Gaara... And Kin will get killed by Orochimaru, I think. So, everything is good~! Woohoo~!

"While we are on this topic, here are the conditions that will fail you." Anko started. "First, a team that cannot bring both scrolls to the tower with all teammates will fail." She put up two fingers. "Second, the team that loses a teammate or produces an unrecoverable teammate will fail. Also... Just as a note... You are not allowed to look inside the scrolls until you reach the towers."

"Wh-What happens if you look?" Naruto asked.

"That's a surprise you'll see when. You. Look. At. It." Anko smiled, wagging her finger. "When you become a Chuunin, you will be handling top secret documents. It's to determine your reliability. That is it for the explanation!" She said quickly. She then pointed to the booth that had two Chuunin Examiners sitting down in it peacefully. "We will exchange three or four consent forms for one scroll at that hut... And after picking your gate entrance, everyone will begin at the same time." She breathed in, before exhaling heavily. "Here's a last piece of advice..." She looked down, before looking back up. "Don't die!"

After that, we all just went in our own separate ways. We were supposed to read the Consent Forms and sign it. Well... Of course I'm gonna sign it, but what should I do in my spare time? I'm pretty sure the Sound rats know I've got it out for them... So I can't run into them. And I'm tired of following Naruto around... So...

"Hey! Jalen!"

I turned around in a little bit of surprise, because I recognize that voice! It's Tenten... What does she want with me?

"Hello." I replied lamely. Gah! I'm no good at talking with girls right! Unless I'm begging them for something... Or it's Sakura... But, I don't count Sakura as a real girl. More like a floating forehead. Definitely not a girl.

"Ah, uh... A-Are you going to take this exam?" She asked me. Wait... Duh. Of course I'm gonna take the exams. I'm here, aren't I? And why is she talking to me out of all people?

I just nodded, not really paying anymore attention on her anymore. I see Ino and her gang are bullying Sakura... Hm...

"Uh... Your brother went to my store." She said. I guess she's just trying to make small talk... Wait? He did? Tenten has a store? It must be a weapons store... Ah! That's how they knew each other!

"I didn't know that." I replied. "Did he buy anything?" I asked. I guess that was a funny question, because she giggled.

"Duh! Didn't he give it to you? The staff." She laughed. I did not know he got it from her... Oh...

"Oh, w-"

"It's time to trade your forms for a scroll." One of the Examiners announced.

"Oh! Well, I'll be seeing you later, Tenten!" I faked a laugh and ran. Man! That was awkward... That was the most awkward-est conversation ever!

I found Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, and we all headed to the booth. The booth was covered by a red curtain, so the other teams won't see which scroll we got. Naruto gave the Examiner all of our papers, and the man gave us... The Scroll of Heaven! Yay!

"If you have received a scroll, follow the person in charge and move to your designated gates!" Anko ordered everyone. "We will begin in 30 minutes!"

This random Examiner led us to the part of the fence with a sign on it that had the number 12 on it. The Examiner stood in front of the gate, making sure we wouldn't go in before it's time.

"Alright! I'm not going to lose, ya know!" Naruto exclaimed, punching the air like a boxer. "We'll beat those who get near us first!" He yelled, fist pumping the air.

"And we have an advantage since there's four of us." I scoffed. "It was dumb of them to think that we wouldn't be a challenge."

After a long time (I didn't count. Too long...) the Examiner unlocked the chain from the gate. I guess it's almost time...

5...

4...

3...

2...

1...

"We will now begin the Chuunin Selection Second Exam!" Anko announced. And as soon as she did, the gate just opened. Unlike everyone else who rushed in, we casually walked in, too cool to be doing all that running.

"Alright! Let's go!" Naruto exclaimed again, and we ran in the forest. It's finally time for the best arc in this story to begin! I can't wait to have some fun and test my abilities!

After about 3 minutes of running, we started walking. And after about 2 minutes of walking, we heard a scream.

Oh! Where are my manners? I have to explain the forest to you people! Let's see... Everything looks dead. Dead trees... Gloomy atmosphere... A lot of moss hanging from the trees up top... This looks like forest Hell.

"That was someone's screams, right?" Sakura asked when we heard some boys screaming. And as soon as she said that, a flock of birds came from a section of the forest and flew into the air. That was creepy, no? "I'm starting to get nervous." Sakura mumbled, inching a little closer to Sasuke.

"Okay, everyone. We need a plan." I said, taking the role of leader immediately. They all looked at me, meaning I've gotten their attention. "As you all know, I can sense Chakra. I know which guys we go to, and which guys we avoid."

Naruto nodded, before running to a bush. "I gotta pee."

"You have the bladder of a squirrel, Naruto!" I chided, but I was smirking inside. I sense one person near us... And I remember one person ambushed Naruto while he was peeing. Perfect... I can use this opportunity.

"You IDIOT!" Sakura yelled, punching Naruto on the head. "What are you trying to do in front of a lady?!" She pointed somewhere else. "Go behind the grass!" And that's exactly where the Ninja is.

So... This person doesn't have a scroll, if I remember correctly... I don't want to kill him, since he won't kill Naruto... I don't want to expose him already, because I want to fight at least a little bit. Hm... I'll just expose him as a fake when he comes back out. That seems to be the right choice of action.

"Ah~ I peed a lot!" The fake Naruto sighed as he got out of the bushes. Yep... Their Chakra feels nothing alike. And I can sense Naruto still in the bushes. "That felt good!" He added.

"Like I said, don't say such a thing in front of a lady..!" Sakura yelled, raising her fist, but she didn't get the chance to hit him. It was Sasuke that hit the fake Naruto in the face, knocking him to a tree. "Wha-! Sasuke! You didn't have to go that far!" Sakura gasped as the fake Naruto just lied on the ground, shaking in pain.

I instinctively grabbed my orange scroll, rolling it on the ground; opening it. "I'm surprised you figured out so fast, Sasuke." I remarked, sending Chakra to my palm and slamming it on the symbol. The scroll exploded in a puff of smoke, sending out my Bo Staff. "Sakura, grab my scroll. Make sure nothing happens to it." I ordered, grabbing my Both Staff and smirking as I saw Sasuke run up and kick the fake Naruto in the face.

The fake Naruto rolled on the ground, but jumped up on a tree branch to avoid Sasuke's second kick. Sasuke didn't slow down as he jumped up on the same branch a second later, kicking the fake Naruto back down on the ground. He fell down harder than expected, creating a big puff of smoke as he hit the ground.

"W-What are you doing all of a sudden..?" He asked, trying to get back up. Sasuke would have let him, but not me. That's what I don't understand about Anime... They let the opponent get their bearings. Not me.

I took this as an opportunity to get into the fight and ran up and slammed my staff down on the fake Naruto's chest. "Don't worry, Naruto! This is just some friendly training. You should know that, wouldn't you, Naruto?" He coughed up a little blood, and as I brought my staff up to slam it down again, he rolled out of the way.

"Fine, ya know!" He wiped the blood off of his mouth and took out a kunai, glaring at me. I'm surprised he's not going to release his transformation, but whatever. It's better this way, so I'm not intimidated.

I noticed Sasuke took out a kunai, but I stopped him. "Sasuke, go and untie Naruto! I'll handle this guy!" I told the raven haired boy. He just stared at me, before reluctantly walking sway. "Don't worry, you'll get your fun, okay?"

"You're a little too calm, don'tcha think?" The fake Naruto charged at me, kunai glinting. I grinned, spinning my staff to block the first attack and then swung the staff at his head. He blocked of course, but I didn't stop attacking. I swung at his leg, but he jumped up and managed to nick my cheek with his kunai.

"Jalen!" Sakura screamed, but I ignored her. There's no point in screaming if you aren't going to do anything.

"Damn it." I mumbled, before jumping back a little and sending Chakra to my feet. This should give me the push I need. I charged at him, going a little faster than he intended, and threw my staff in the air above him. He stepped back a bit, confused, but I just punched him in the face.

Ya see... I threw the staff in the air to make him think I was going to use a technique or something. But instead, I used his confusion and hesitation to get the upper hand on him and punch him in the face.

He stumbled back, the punch the not hurting him as much as I intended, and just charged at me again. The kunai would have cut my throat this time... But, I didn't just throw the staff in the air for no reason. I grabbed the staff that would've fallen on my head if I didn't, sent as much Chakra as I could have to it in that limited amount of time, and brought it down upon his head.

He tried to block with his kunai at the last minute, but with the sturdy wood and added Chakra, the staff broke through his kunai and landed straight on his head.

"Gah!" He screamed as he fell on the ground... Hard. There was a puff of smoke as he hit the ground again, and being the awesome Ninja that I am, I jumped back. I would have thrown an explosive kunai in the smoke, but he didn't kill Naruto, so I'm not going to kill him.

"Jalen!" Sakura ran up to me, concerned. "Are you okay? What's going on?!" She asked, obviously confused.

"You'll see in a minute." I panted, feeling sweat drip from my head into my second cut on my cheek. It stung, but I could take the pain. It's not like he stabbed straight into my cheek, just nicked it like how Anko nicked me. I'm now sporting a cut on both of my cheeks... But, it just proves how awesome I am! I... Think. "I think I hit him hard enough for the transformation to go away." I told the very confused girl.

"So you found out..." Another voice... Different from Naruto's said as the smoke started going away. "...How did you find out, though, is my question?" He added.

"There are plenty of things you did wrong." I started to chide. "Naruto has a cut on his cheek from the Examiner. Where did your wittle cut go?" I teased. "Also, your holster is on your left leg. Naruto's right-handed." I deadpanned.

"How unlucky..." The guy finally came out of the smoke, and he was a creep. Brown spiky hair... Tan shirt (Or whatever he's wearing)... And what looks like a breathing thing on his mouth. Oh yeah, and he's a rain Ninja. This guy is the definition of creepy. "What are you, his boyfriend?" He teased, taking out another kunai since I broke his other.

I smirked. "I'm his brother." I said, seeing from the corner of my eye Sakura taking out her own kunai. "And the only reason you aren't dead is because you didn't kill Naruto. I don't think you have a scroll, since you're alone and that would be stupid, so we'll let you go if you just apologize."

"Speaking of scrolls, which one of you has it?" He ignored me, turning his kunai so it would glint threateningly. Man... Where the heck is Sasuke and Naruto? Oh... I didn't tell Sasuke where Naruto was, but he should know! Damn it! "If you give it up quietly, I'll spare your lives." He said, motioning for us to come closer. We just glared, ready for whatever he was gonna do. "I see..." He charged at us, making us tense up. "I have to use force now!"

Hey~ Can you hear my voice now?

Hey, the sky, it needs to be blue and clear so everyone will smile...

And the sea, it needs to be vast and never-ever-ever ending...

Yes, you need to always have a smile on you all the time, yeah...

Or else, I'll have to go home and cry.

You don't have to look around you anymore, because your look is ending...

All of your friends are all hiding inside your hands. Yes, everyone...

If you think you want to cry, or you think you want to run...

If you forget all the happiness that's found in this world...

Everyone sing~

The bright light was created, then the darkness created

Those two different things are one

Harmonia~

Telepathy~

Hey~ Can you hear my voice now?

So it's finally the start of the Chuunin Exams. What everyone has been waiting for. Hm... Jalen's had the start of his First Chuunin battle. But, this guy isn't transformed anymore! Will Jalen get intimidated?! Will Sakura help at all?! What's Sasuke doing?! Will Naruto ever get untied?! Read the next chapter to find out, ya know!

And remember to check out those stories I told you all about last chapter!