Chapter Thirty-Six:
Anone review corner:
Loopy :A cute chapter. I almost thought that someone will be tied on the log.
I didn't expect Kiayo to be this strong, a nice surprise.
Thank you for the update :)
Answer: Ciao~! Loopy~! As always, such a pleasure to hear from you :D Anyways, so glad you thought this chappie was cute :D It was one of my favorite chappies to write. I had to cut a few things out for plot to move foreward, but I am pleased with hot it all turned out Anyways, one of the inital thoughts actually WAS to have somone tied to one of the stumps coz I was consulting the orginal manga queit a bit for the first test, but ultimately I decied not to do it xD Anyways, yeah. I thought showing some of Kiayo's power would be a nice touch simply coz we haven't really seen it much, and I thought it would be something nice to add in. Anyways, thanks for the review~! Hope to see you again~! Happy readings~! :D
On a side note, I am so sorry this took longer than usual to put out! I have a lot of personal issues, and I am starting to write my own, orginal story as well as get a new computer since this one is over 10 years old. As well as trying to catch up on the other fics I've started, but I will contuine to update! Thanks to everyone who has supported this story, even just taking a look at it! You all keep me going! And as always, thanks so much to my beta Clear-Skyz for correcting my grammer, and spelling as well as occasionally helping me out when I'm stumped :D I don't know where I'd be sometimes without her xD Anyways, thanks! I won't keep you all anymore so here's what you're really for! Enjoy~!
As they neared the familiar building of where they were taught, Kiayo could feel her previous confindece dwindle slightly. It was suddenly very clear to her that they were about to face people whom she had no idea what to expect. At the same time, facing uncertain results was the fun part. She'd meet new opponets, get to learn new moves, possibly fight. Show off her skills, and everything else. It was exicting, but it was also unnerving. What if there was someone stronger than her? Well, she knew that to be inevitable. Someone was always bound to be stonger than her. Still, knowing she was about to face uncertain cicrumstance being uncertain of how strong or powerful her opponets would be concered Kiayo. Not that she'd let it show, but still...
"You three did very good. If you just remember the lesson you learned during the first test, you will be fine." Hashirama said simply as they paused outside the building. All three students were looking at the building, each with their own masked expressions, and own thoughts. It wa a few moments before anyone spoke.
"Do you know what will happen next?" Kiayo questioned, glancing over at Hashirama. Her thoughts swirlled around as he looked over at her with a slight grin.
"Honestly, no. None of the masters who have taught the students applying know what is going to happen." Kiayo suddenly felt an imaginery boulder land straight on her shoulders. Her eyes widened slightly, and she sucked in a breath, biting at the insides of her lips. Great.
"We're gonna be fine." Taro said,hoping to sound encouraging as he patted his teammates shoulders. Taro then glanced at Hotaku, who made a face, and then shrugged.
"Yeah. Let's just get this stupid testing over with." Hotaku said simply, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Nobody's expecting anything of you three. Just try your best, ok?" Hashirama was only half sure, but his confidence was growing.
His students were from great families, and he believed her trained them well. After the bell test, he knew they'd do well. However, that didn't stop him form being a little worried about the uncertain results waiting for them. Kiayo, he knew, could easily be discouraged, and while Taro and Hotaku were usually pretty confident, Kiayo could easily lose her own self assurance. That's what worried him. However, after the last test, he was confident she'd do well. Kiayo was very reliable when it came right down to it.
"Yeah. Ok." Hotaku said, his foot moving foreward, but stopped after taking half a step foreward.
"Right." Taro said with a grin.
"Yupp." And with that uttered from Kiayo, in a rather shy voice that Hashirama was not used to hearing from the usually calm and collected girl, he let them go with a nod of his head. Despite her outwards appearance, Kiayo was the first to step foreward, pushing aside the doors, and stepping inside.
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In the rather spacious room that the team walked into, were twelve other students. Kiayo was familiar with a few of them. Team Four, and Five she recognized from her own graduation from an academy student into a Genin. She recognized the blonde haired, blue eyed kid named Ryuu that first inquired her about Madara. She also, to her surprise, recognized Akari.
Akari was talking with light brown haired kid with tanned skin, and bright green eyes with excitement. Next to that boy was another boy with curl, thick white-blonde hair, and very light blue, almost white eyes. He seemed a bit stand offish, or ignoring, Akari and her other teammate as he simply read a book.
Ryuu was talking with a pretty girl with shoulder length slivery hair and dark eyes with a single mole right by her mouth. She nodded with a slight smile, and then glanced at a bronze haired boy with light brown eyes, who made an apathetic face, and then shrugged as he laid his head back on the desk. The girl with silver hair shook her head, and looked back at Ryuu, once again engaging in some sort of talk.
The first team that Kiayo recognized from her own graduating time was the blonde haired girl with light eyes that was talking to a rather large boy with light brown hair, and markings of some sort on his cheeks. He nodded, his hands grabbing a handful of chips. He glanced over at the seemingly sleeping kid with spiky hair held up in a ponytail. The rather large kid pushed the bag in offering to the lazy kid, but he merely pushed it away.
The second team consisted of the kid that was covered up from head to toe. He seemed to be looking out the window while the girl with a wild appearance about her, her dog secured in the front of her jacket, talked rather fast with the strange boy with pink hair. He grinned as he leaned back in the chair, yawning and stretching.
Kiayo's dark eyes then looked at her own team. Taro's dark eyes were looking at the kids in excitement, a large grin placed on his face. Hotaku's own lavender eyes glanced around with a mixture of curiosity, and un-impressiveness.
"We should choose our own seats." Kiayo whispered, bringing the attention of her male teammates. She didn't want to make too much noise, and end up pissing off the students. Plus, some part of her was wanting to avoid Ryuu. He always had a way of annoying her during the school days. Hotaku and Taro looked at her, and then nodded.
"Right. We should." They walked up until they found a seat close enough to the front of the room where they can hear in the instructor, but further enough away from the other teams. They didn't want to bring any attention to themselves. However, that didn't seem to go their way.
"Hey! It's you again !" Ryuu had found his way over to Kiayo. He grinned his smile at her, seemingly ignoring her teammates. Kiayo merely looked at him without much emotion.
"I'm sorry. I don't recall who you are." She said in faux friendliness, hoping to get him to leave her alone. However, it didn't seem to work.
"Really? I remember you, but then again its quiet hard to forget you. I mean, out of all the children in this room, your father is perhaps...I don't know, a little more impressive than most." Kiayo frowned. She recognized that tone all too well. A rather patronizing tone that she didn't take too kindly to. She wouldn't have anyone talking down on her family. Directly or not.
"Listen, I'm not sure what you're trying to say, but I really don't like your tone." She narrowed her eyes slightly, standing up. The chair made a screeching noise as it scooted back, echoing through the room. She could feel the curious eyes of the other children on her, but she didn't particularly care.
"I'm just wondering how you'll fair is all. Don't you think it's about time someone knocked you off that pedestal you're clearly so used to being on." He said in a false sweet voice, smiling as he titled his head slightly. Kiayo glare deepened, and her urge to knock him out deepened.
"What pedestal are you talking about?" She questioned in a low voice.
"Oh. I think you know exactly what I'm talking about, Princess of the Uchiha clan." Kiayo's teeth began to grit together.
Hotaku and Taro both began to look around the room. Their eyes watching as the other students turned to look at what was going on. Even Akari was watching with some interest.
"Enlighten me. Tell me what the hell you're talking about." Kiayo could feel her anger rising inside her. She could tell that this boy was obviously hiding something.
"You know there are rumors about the village. You know, you've had to at least heard them. It's clear he only shows his soft side to you, but one really has to question him sometimes. Even his own clan didn't even know he had a kid until you showed up. Nobody had even seen him with a woman. Wouldn't that be strange that even members of his own clan didn't know? I'm just saying it all smells a bit too fishy to me. And not just to me, but to others too. You're quiet the little mystery, and one really has to question the real relation between you and Madara." Kiayo didn't really understand what he was talking about, but it was really starting to anger her what he was saying. She felt herself shaking.
"Listen, I'm not sure exactly what you're trying to say here, or even who you are, but you're upsetting my teammate." Kiayo was surprised to see Hotaku was the first to stand up out of his chair. It made the same screeching noise as he pushed it back rather forcefully. He narrowed his own eyes as he put his palms on the table, leaning forward with a hard expression towards the other child."Now, I can't have you upsetting her. She's had enough of your crap, and so have I."
"I'm merely trying to get to the truth. We're all curious, aren't you?" Ryuu had dropped any sort of friendly pretext as he frowned, eyeing Hotaku. Hotaku merely sighed heavily.
"Be that as it may, we're not here to learn the truth about anyone here. We are here to test our abilities, and if this is your way of trying to psych us out, you have another thing coming, and you are sorely mistaken. Leave us alone now before I make you regret your descion to even come over here." Ryuu merely smiled again, and then shrugged as he walked back to his own team, laughing heartily as he began to talk to his own teammates.
Hotaku glanced at Kiayo, who at this point had sat back down with her arms crossed, and a scowl on her face. Taro was rubbing her shoulders in comfort.
"Kiayo, what that kid was saying-"
"It doesn't matter." Kiayo interrupted Taro, shrugging off his touch. She still felt highly angry."Whatever comes next, I'm going to kick his ass." Hotaku and Taro glanced at each other, and then sighed as they looked forward. Kiayo's eyes glanced over at Akari, who gave her a masked expression as she turned towards her own teammates.
Chatter once again started in the room, but all Kiayo could think about was what Ryuu had told her. Were there really rumors like that spreading around the village? In her own clan? If things like were being said, then what else was being said? Is this what irrarted Madara so much about the village? Even his own family doubted her and his relationship? His being her father? Not that it was true, he was technically her uncle, but still...Why were things like that being said? What else was being said? She just didn't understand one bit, and it was confusing. It just added on to her worries.
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Hashirama sighed as he sat in the observatory room where the other teachers and some of the parents sat. Madara, of course, was seated there. His arms crossed over his chest as he looked out the window with a frown. Hashirama glanced at his brother, who had brought a book along to read.
"Brother, you should calm down. I can feel your worry from where I was sitting." Hashirama had failed to notice that his brother had moved to sit next to him. Hashirama glanced at him, and grinned slightly.
"Don't tell me you're not worried about your team, Tobirama." Hashirama said jokingly, but as always, Tobirama didn't take it as joking around.
"Not in the least bit. I know I trained my team well and hard so that they can face anything that shinobi life may throw at them. I have nothing to worry about."
"All our teams are exceptionally well trained." Another teacher chimed in with a smile. His thick lips set out into a smile as he leaned back.
Hashirama sighed shaking his head. He didn't want to voice his concerns over his own team out loud. They still had a lot to learn, and he was just didn't want anything to happen to anything of them that they weren't prepared for. That lesson he had already learned. However, he forced himself to calm down as he finally relaxed, and began the chatter with some of those around him. He just had to have faith that his students would do well.
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Kiayo felt herself feeling somewhat anxious as she, and the room filled with other Chunin hopefulls, waited for the next examiner to come, and tell them what was to come next.
"What the hell do you think is taking them so damn long?" Taro complained, throwing his arms across the desk, and pouting as his landed on the surface benath his chin."Seriously! I'm bored as hell!" Taro again complained after a moments silence.
"They're probably getting things ready." Hotaku said cooly, a bit annoyed by his teammates complaining.."Just be paitent." He said a second later, looking foreward. Taro rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah." Taro's dark eyes glanced over at Kiayo, who was looking at the desk, biting her lips, and then looked foreward with another heavy sigh.
It was about ten mintues later that the proctor showed up in a puff of a cloud, which brought all the children to attention.
"Huh, So, these are the children that passed." The man before them couldn't have been more than twenty-five with shaggy brown hair, and sharp, alert green eyes. He had a single scar running across his face from his left temple to his sharp jawline on his right side, right below the ear."Well, if this is it, all of you have moved on to the next phase. Congratulations on passing the first phase. However, the second part will be tougher, so be prepared. I'll be your proctor for this exam. My name is Akio Satoshi." Akio spoke with a rough voice, but also had a tone like he really couldn't care less about anything.
"So, what's this exam exactly?" Ryuu asked, sounding a bit more than impaintent. Akio sighed heavily, shaking his head, and throwing the kid a shar look.
"If you will have a bit more paitence, Ill explain." Akio spoke slowly, like someone who was annoyed at having to explain something for the millionth time. He then looked at the rest of the kids with a much softer expression."Right, so this exam is simple in the terms of it's a simple survival exercise. However, this one is a bit more...Extreme and harder than the previous exam, and certainly more so than anyhting you've done in the past."
"How so?" This time it was the pink haired boy, Jingo, that spoke up with a curious expression. Akio glanced at him, and then looked as if he were trying to explain something hard to a child, and trying to simplfy it.
"Well, let's put it this way, by the time this is over, half, if not more, of you who have gathered here, will fail." Those words sent an upset amongst the twent-one students.
"But we worked so hard!"
"This is so not fair!"
"What the fuck kind of test is this?!"
Even Hotaku seemed a bit surprised as his lavender eyes widened just the slightest. Taro sat up, looking alert, and then looked over at Kiayo in somewhat of a panic. However, despite her own anixety, she merely hardened her jaw, and looked foreward, waiting for the man to contuine on.
Akio watched as the kids complained their disaaproval. He would wade this out before he contuined on. He didn't have to wait long.
"Ok! Can everyone just calm the hell down?!" Taro yelled, covering his own ears, looking annoyed. The yelling had finally gotten to him.
Akio looked impressed for a moment, nodding his head, and then waited another mometn for the room to die down before he contuine one.
"Now, as I said, this is a survival excerise. Each team will be given two speific items to fins, and should you fail to retrieve those things, you fail."
"So what are those things?" Taro asked, now getting rather serious.
"One will be a stone with the word "shinobi" painted in it. Another will be a golden charm that will have "village" enscribed on it."
"So, we just find those things? And then what?" Akari asked, eyebrows drawing together as she tried to take this all in.
"It's not just so simple as finding them, and bringing them back safely. These items are scattered in the forest. Of course, a map will be provived so it will be easier to locate the items, but that's the only comfort you'll have. You will have to battle the elements, as well as each other to obtain these items. You will have to figure out how to obtain your own food, shelter, and water. You'll have to fight off any dangers you encounter in the forest, and that's exactly what this exam is about. Survival." Akio paused, allowing for any questions to be asked. However, after a few mintues, it became clear that none wanted to ask anything, so he contuined on.
"As I said, this particualr exam is about suvival. As a shinobi, sometimes you are faced with situations where lack of basic survival skills can not only harm yourself, put you comrades in dnager, but also jerpordize a mission. Survival instincts, and skills, are esstinal to a shinobi. With that being said, lemme get to the nitty-gritty details, hm?
"First off, you may use whatever shinobi tools, and skills you have availale for your usage. Don't hold back. I assure you, holding back may cost you your life. Or a fate worse." He chuckled a it sardonically before contuining.
"Second, this is still a team excerise. If one or more of your teammates is rendered unable to contuine on, the whole team fails the exam as well. If you attempt to pass with your teammate obvious unable to contuine, you will still fail.
"Third, if can't locate all or any of the items mentions, and return to the checkpoint by the time this exam is over, you will fail. Lastly, this exam will only last five days. If you fail to show up at the check point, a party will be sent to find you, but you will still fail.
"The point to which you are to return to once you have found and kept both items will be outlined in ed on the map which I'll now hand out to each team." With that said, the proctor picked up a stack of papers, and handed them out to each team.
Once taro, Hotaku, and Kiayo got theirs, Kiayo immedtaly grabbed it, and began to open it. Akio stopped her by putting his hand on top of hers.
"Oh, and another thing, nine of you are allowed to look at the maps until you are in the forest." The proctor explained, tkaing his hands off Kiayo's, and walking foreward, handing out the last map." Alight, you guys follow me." Akio motioned for the room filled with kids to follow him as he exited the room. The kids were quick to follow.
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The kids were lead to the beginings of a forest unfamilair to Kiayo. Her dark eyes looked around fast, trying to take in all her surroundings as fast ashe could.
"Alright, all of you spread out, and then open the maps. Keep those maps close. Youd don't want to lose em. Alright! Everyone Begin...Now!" The teams each spread out in a blur. Kiayo made sure to hold fast to the scroll.