Hey all, Alley here. I don't have a lot to say here either, but if you do enjoy Howl's Moving Castle, please check out the fanfic I posted right before this one. That one will continue once a week until I get it done. It's a lot shorter than this one, but then again I don't really intend to ever have a fanfic this long ever again. We'll see if that happens, but let's get onto it!

THE WILL OF FIRE

PART TWO

Chapter 51 - Trust

The room burst into a uproar after Karin Uzumaki left. All suppressed rage came out all at the same time. The genin did not know who the genin that she mentioned were. They had no idea why they failed and nor did they care. What mattered was their success - not some shinobi that they did not know. It baffled them as to why they were part of the test. Even those who had been caught in genjutsu were clueless. Was it the genjutsu that they needed to beware of? Or was it something else! They just had no idea!

For a long time no one did anything. They were too clueless to try anything. Then some got desperate. The fools started attacking others for their numbers. Which got them and their team promptly removed. Their Proctor had made it clear - violence would not be tolerated. They would not be easily fooled. Instead of learning from that, people got creative. They used less violent and sneaky tactics to get the numbers away from their owners. They used genjutsu and other forms of misdirection. None of them worked. They would be able to get the numbers but when it was used on the paper it would read, "YOU FAILED." Before they were removed from the room. So far no one had figured out how to pass.

This went on for quite a while like this. Numbers were stolen; people were attacked; then the attackers were removed. The remaining genin became more and more desperate. They had no idea on how to get the numbers! It didn't make sense! This defied everything that they were taught. Nothing seemed to work. It felt like the world was going to end with no relief in sight.

Finally, Shikamaru had an idea. He started to ask his friends about the six genin who did not make it to the exam. This test wasn't being straightforward. There was a trick to this. The proctor was looking for something very specific. Yet he had no idea what that was. Neither did the rest of his team. The answer had lie elsewhere. He thought maybe one of the other teams would know more. So, he asked them.

It shocked Team 7 that Shikamaru asked them for help. It was not something that they expected under the circumstances. Sure, they were from the same village and graduated at the same time but right now they were enemies. They shouldn't help them pass. Just as Team 10 should not help them pass. It went against their training. Yet, it was the only thing that he could think of doing. It had to be better than the alternative! So, Shikamaru asked for help. A decision that caught everyone off guard. He did not threaten them or try to take the answer by force. He simply walked up to them and asked for their help. It was something that they would have never predicted in a million years. Yet, it happened all the same.

Team 7 was still not sure that they wanted to share what little they knew but eventually decided to help. It was true that any hint that they could screw their team. Shikamaru was the smartest genin in the room after all. If he decided to use that information to help his team only then there would be nothing that they could do. It was a risk, but it worth it. If anyone could figure it out then it was Shikamaru. He had given his word that he would help them. That meant a lot. He may be lazy and annoying but he was dependable. He would do as he promised to do. And even if he didn't then it wouldn't be so bad. After all, they were from the same village. As long as someone made it than that was all that mattered. They had to give it a try.

They told him that they remembered the six genin referenced by the proctor. They told them what happened. However, they did not understand how that mattered. They simply lost because they were too stupid or too blind to see the truth. That was not the test room. It was a trap. They were told that it was a trap yet they refused to listen. So they failed. They didn't see how that would help. But then again Shikamaru was a genius. He could probably figure it out. Then maybe they could have a clue.

Shikamaru thanked his friends then started to think. He crouched down and put his hands into a v shape. There was answer. He just needed to see it. If only his classmates would give him the time to think.

"Arg! I don't understand this at all!" Naruto screamed as he tore at his hair while Shikamaru tried to think. "What does a few idiots have to do with this test?" He yelled even louder, "ARGG!"

Naruto screaming only made it worse. He was making a scene and stopping Shikamaru from thinking. Plus the other shinobi were ready to strike. The last thing that they needed was a halo of kunai aimed right at stupid boy. It would kill them all. As usual Naruto managed to find trouble. It was one of his least desirable traits. Sakura and Ino were going to hit him when Sasuke yelled. "Sakura, Ino, stop!" She looked straight at him. "You remember what the Proctor said? Violence will not be tolerated. You hit him and we're all done."

"But Sasuke . . .?!" They interjected.

He shook his head. "No, Sakura. No, Ino. You can't touch him. You will be disqualified. And then so will the rest of us. You heard my Aunt Karin. There is to be no violence! No exceptions. Weren't you listening?"

Great. Shikamaru thought. If the room wasn't paying attention they were now. Sure, he knew that Karin Uzumaki was Sasuke Uchiha's adopted Aunt. He considered her family just like he considered Naruto's mother family. No one else needed to know that though! That just painted a target on their backs. One that they didn't need to have. This is real drag. He had to come up with the answer or they were all going to be screwed. Yet the answer would not come: How am I supposed to get the numbers WITHOUT fighting?

Then it came to him. He would ask for it. He would offer his number in exchange for the one held by another. There would be no need for violence. It was so obvious that he wanted to laugh. How could I not see it before? He already knew the answer. It was because he was thinking like a shinobi. Shinobi do not help the enemy. So why would they think of that? It was quite clever. You had to cooperate in order to pass.

He straightened as he addressed Team 7. "Hey guys. Come here." They gathered around Shikamaru as the room followed their every move. "I need to confirm something." He stretched out his hand. "To do that I need your help. Sakura, please hand me your number." Sakura hesitated. "I won't take it, I promise, but I just need it to test my theory. I will return it when I am done."

She hesitated for a moment longer then finally gave him the number. Shikamaru took it then grabbed a blank test sitting at the proctor's desk. He took the paper then placed it on a nearby desk. He ignored how the room's intense glare. They wanted him to fail yet was hoping he ha but secretly hoped that he really had the answer. They were truly clueless. No one did anything to stop him though. They just watched and waited.

Even Shikamaru was not a hundred percent sure that he was right. This all could go so very wrong. Alas, he had no better ideas. It was his best guess and he was going to go with it. But he had a hunch that he was right. All he needed to do was place the number on the page and channel his chakra into it. The seal would activate and then he would know. It all came down to his hunch. It was the best that he could do.

"Here goes nothing . . ." He said as he channeled the chakra into the seal. It was all or nothing. Pass or fail. In mere seconds he would know. Then he could tell them what he figured out. If it worked then he would tell the room what was going on. If he was wrong then their hopes this year would be dashed. It was worth a shot. What do I have to lose?


Alright, that's it for now. See you all next time!