"Alright, your ID passports are valid." An attendant signalled to the two guards behind him to pull open the city hall doors. "Follow the right set of stairs up to the third floor. The exam will be in room 329. Instruction for Part One will begin in 20 minutes. If you're not there by the time the door closes, you'll forfeit your participation in the exam."
Meari thanked him and the three began an awkward ascent up the stairs. Sukotto eyed his friends and frowned. Meari was unnaturally silent and Saimon was breathing a little too quickly for his projected calm to be believable. This could make things difficult… our confidence just took a major blow… Meari has nothing to say, Saimon's about to crack and… well… the butterflies in my stomach are probably laying eggs at this point. Sukotto looked out a window onto the street. At this rate, we'll break down before we can even start…
"There are so many flights of stairs… The building didn't seem so big from the outside." Meari wondered aloud.
Saimon walked onto the landing. "This is only the second floor? I could've sworn we've gone up five stories…"
Sukotto realised this too. We've been on this floor before, haven't we? What's-
"See? The second floor again. We're going around in circles!" A girl's voice rang out from the hallway around the corner.
"What do you think, Neji-kun?" A boy's voice asked.
"Hm… its something like genjutsu, but it's more intricate and powerful."
"Can you do anything?" The girl sounded anxious. "We might be late if this keeps up…"
There was a slight pause. The one called Neji spoke. "The source is outside, some punk from Hiding in Rain, I think. We can't get to him."
"Maybe someone'll come find us…"
"I hope it's Uchiha-san!" The second boy sounded hopeful.
"Lee-kun, calm yourself. You'll get your shot at Uchiha-san soon enough, so stop pestering us about it."
Saimon and Sukotto looked at Meari with a puzzled expression. "You know who that is, Meari-chan?"
"Is someone there?!" The girl's voice again.
The group rounded the corner and saw a cell of shinobi from Konohagakure. The female's voice belonged to a brunette in a Chinese-style blouse, hair tied neatly into a bun. Two other boys stood with her.
"Ah, Bobaku-san." Another brunet, this one resembling Hinata a great deal. His eyes were completely blank, iris and pupil all invisible. His hair was done in much the same fashion, two strands falling down into front while the rest was neatly combed. He sported a grey T-shirt and blue shorts. "Is this your cell?"
"Yup!" Meari introduced Saimon and Sukotto to Lee, Neji and Tenten. "This is the cell under Guy-sensei!"
"You said something about genjutsu earlier… Mind helping us out?" Saimon inquired.
Tenten sighed with a weary expression. "We've been trying to get to Room 329, but no matter how many times we walk around this staircase, we've been stuck on the second floor."
"And the shinobi who's casting this little trap," Neji added, "is outside. We can't get to him from in here."
Lee, wearing a green jumpsuit with orange leg warmers and his headband around his waist, checked the clock hanging on the wall. "We only have 15 minutes until the exam starts! We need a way out of here!"
"Hm…" Saimon began to think.
Sukotto did as well. We obviously can't get past the walls…There aren't any windows… I doubt anyone could hear us if we yelled… If only this world had cell phones… we could call Kakashi-sensei or someone to give us a hand… Sukotto's head snapped up. Wait! I know! We could-
"I got an idea!" Saimon punched his fist in his hand, triumph clear on his face.
Damn, he's getting quicker…
"I have some… friends… who could give us a hand, but it might take a while for them to get here…" The group thought for a moment. "I mean, it's worth a try, right?"
Neji sounded sceptical. "Your friends will have to be pretty fast."
"I trust him." Lee nodded. "Please, Guran-san. Call your friends right away!"
Meari looked at Saimon and Sukotto, clearly confused, as Saimon placed his left hand over the blue ring and paused for a moment.
Blue! Red! You guys there?
Saimon felt a tug on his consciousness as the sounds around him began to fade into silence. He then became aware of a very high-pitched squeak coming from his hand.
Saimon-kun? Hello?
Red! You can hear me!
Saimon-kun! This is cool… No Blue, you can't talk to him! Stop it; I'm trying to have a conversation here!
Red! Sukotto and I need your help!
Really? What do you need? There was a small pause. Blue write this down! What do you mean you can't write?! Just remember it, then!
Saimon crossed his fingers before asking the next question …Can you two travel across the Tears?
You mean those weird rips in the dimensional fabric?
…Yeah, whatever…
Yep! No sweat!
Can you get over to Hayashigakure in the Naruto world in less than 20 minutes?
Oh, Hayashigakure? Haven't been in there for a while! Lessee here… A few muffled sounds of movement, followed by a slight conversation between him and his brother and then a pause. It won't be easy, but we can make it.
Really?! Thanks! Call me when you get here, and I'll tell you what we need done!
No sweat! Oh, Blue, stop being such a baby. It hurts for two seconds, and then it's over! No they won't find out! I promise, we'll have you back to normal before they see us! Okay, let's go. Saimon felt the connection break and his hearing returned.
Saimon shook his head. They're weird little guys… He turned to the group."They can make it. They'll be here as soon as they can." Five breaths were simultaneously released.
"Alright!" Meari thrust her fist in the air. "We're in the clear!"
"That's a relief." Tenten smiled. "I was getting antsy."
"Me too!" Meari stretched. "We should do something to relax ourselves a little. Any good ideas?" The group said nothing. "Well, then, allow me to recommend a game of Poker!
"Poker?" Saimon gave Meari a what-are-you-thinking look.
"Yeah! C'mon!" She sat on the floor and pulled out a deck of cards. The group chuckled, and then settled themselves down. The cards were dealt.
"We'll do some Texas Hold 'Em. Aces can go both ways."
"Should we go for strip poker?!" Saimon asked, an evil look in his eyes.
The decision was unanimous. "NO!"
"Let's bet snacks!" Tenten pulled out some gummies from her pocket.
"Good idea!" The group rustled in their bags to grab the small amounts of junk they had snuck in for the trip. Sukotto had brought a small bar of dark chocolate, Saimon pulled out a bag of chips, and Meari had made some chocolate squares. Even Neji and Lee had given into the temptation, Neji setting down a box of small jelly buns and Lee pulling out what looked like mini Power Bars.
"Alright! Let's play!"
---
"I HAVE THREE KINGS!" Lee slammed his cards onto the centre of the table and glared at Sukotto. "There's no way you will defeat me!"
Sukotto sighed, and laid down his flush.
"W-W-What? Impossible!" Lee huddled in a ball. "That was my last energy bar!"
Sukotto laughed and took the pot, consisting of his own chocolate, some chips and, of course, Lee's prized energy bar.
Meari sniffed at the one she had won. "Lee-kun… this smells like rotten egg…"
"They've been in there for a while…" Lee said sheepishly.
"Enough talking! Let's re-deal this sucker!" Saimon said, eager to continue. He was fairing very well, second only to Neji, who had managed to force Tenten into bankruptcy in just three hands.
Meari gathered the deck and shuffled. The cards were re-dealt for the fifth time. The remaining players cast in their "chips", the last card was dealt, and the betting began!
Mission Time! # 6: Final Poker Hand!
This is your last chance to grab the big pot! Bluff! Raise! Cheat! Take a chance! And don't forget that poker face! Hold it out to the end for all the junk you can eat!
Rewards: CANDY!
…BEGIN!
Saimon's Final Hand: Four (D), King (C)
Sukotto's Final Hand: Four (S) (H)
Meari's Final Hand: King (D)(H)
Neji's Final Hand: Ace (D), Nine (D)
Table-top cards: Three (S)(H), Eight (D), Queen (C), Two (S)
Saimon pushed two chips into the centre. "All right, let's do this."
Neji's face remained completely blank. "I raise you three." Three jelly buns were placed in the centre.
Meari's face gave only the slightest hint of a smile. "I raise you four."
Sukotto eyed the gang suspiciously, and taking a sorrowful glance at his remaining candies, sadly put down his cards and went into the corner with Lee and Tenten (the latter two glaring at him evilly as he ate his chocolate).
SUKOTTO FOLDED! Remaining: Three!
Back to Saimon's turn, he assessed the current situation. Meari has a good hand. Her poker face needs some work…I'll have to be careful of her… He looked over to Neji. I can't read that guy at all…He's pretty good, but I think he's bluffing… I'll just have to out-bluff him! He won't intimidate me! No, if I can make him think I have a good, hand, the pot will be MINE! "I raise to six!"
"I raise to seven" was Neji's automatic response.
"I'll go up to eight!" Meari was still in it too.
Damn. They're tricky… I really need to rattle their confidence… what to do… what to-
Saimon reached behind him and grabbed his plastic bag of chips. He scooped up two jelly buns, a square of chocolate, some gummies and a power bar, and unceremoniously dumped them into the centre. Only two syllables escaped his lips.
"All in."
Sukotto, Tenten and Lee whipped their heads around, gasping. "Guran-san! That's a gutsy move!" Saimon said nothing, but only stared at Neji with a look of utmost impatience.
Neji sighed. "All in."
Meari gave a small squeak. "I fold." She hastily joined the trio in the corner and watched with eager eyes.
MEARI FOLDED! Remaining: Two!
Saimon and Neji stared at each other with looks of contempt. The slowly brought their cards up, before slamming them down on the floor.
"HIGH CARD KING!"
"HIGH CARD ACE!"
The world stopped as Saimon slowly fell backwards onto the ground, defeated.
Winner: Neji!
---
"THAT ISN'T FAIR! YOU USED THE BYAKUGAN, DIDN'T YOU!?"
"As if I would use it for a game of poker." (What a sucker…)
"OH YES YOU WOULD! I DEMAND YOU GIVE ME MY MONEY BACK!"
"Sai-kun, we used candy, remember?"
"THEN GIVE ME THAT BACK, TOO!"
"Guran-san, your hand is glowing."
"SHUT UP A MINTUE, LEE-SAN! I'M GIVING THIS BASTARD TO THREE BEFORE I-" Saimon looked at his raised fist as he noticed a blue glow radiating from the ring on his hand. He growled at Neji before activating the ring.
Saimon-kun?
Yeah, here. You guys ready yet?
Yeah! We're right over the city!
Saimon gave a surprised sound and stared at the ceiling suspiciously. You're over it? How'd you get up there?
Not important. What do you need us to do?
Saimon thought. Can you see the big dome-shaped building in the middle of the city?
A pause. Yep. That's where you guys are?
Yeah. Is there anyone around the building? They're probably making a weird sign with their hands and not moving a whole lot…
Another pause. Yeah, there's one kid. He's just kinda staring at the wall, and he's concentrating mana onto the building…
Saimon smiled. You mind breaking that concentration?
How?
Saimon began to chuckle evilly. Be creative.
Hee hee… gotcha. Over and out.
Saimon turned the ring off and regarded the rest of the group. "We're almost home free. Just give it a-"
ROOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRR!
A giant roar shook the floor under the group. As they all lost their balance and fell, the roar continued, the sound of large beating wings now added. Barely audible, the sound of a scream broke out from outside. The beating died down and as the ringing in their ears did too, the group found silence once again.
"What… What the hell…" Neji got to his feet, panting slightly. "Was that… that…"
"You don't want to know." Saimon pointed to the clock. "We have to move! We don't have much time left!" The group nodded, and ran up the stairs.
They reached the top and were relieved to find that they had not looped back. Instead, they entered the third floor hallway. Down the way, a door marked 329 stood open. There was a lot of noise coming from the room, the source being the 150 ninja that were inside.
As the group gave a shout of victory, an exam proctor reached for the doorknob, about to close it. The gang began to run full tilt towards the room.
"WAIT! WAIT UP!" Saimon called out. "We're here! We're here!" The hand froze on the knob as the group of six dived through the opening. They slid into the exam room, panting heavily. The clock struck the beginning of the exam and the door behind them slammed shut.
Why, Sukotto asked himself as he noticed a shinobi walking to the front of the room, does it always have to come down to the second?!