This chapter includes:

Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!

Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!

The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!

"Glad you came Sakura." Kakashi said in front of us. How did he get here? Like, seriously, the only place we're starting to be late to, and then he's here? Come on! "For your sake, and the others." I looked over at the pink haired girl a little confused.

"You weren't gonna come?" I asked. She looked at me doubtful, but shook it off.

"Now, you can all formally register for the Chunin Exam."

"Why, what do you mean?"

"You see, only groups of three are allowed to apply for, and take the exam. That's the way it's always been." I gasped, and stepped forward, looking at him worried.

"Hey, wait, then what about me?! Are they gonna kick me out, or what?" Kakashi patted my shoulder.

"Relax, Tessa. I talked to the Hokage, and he said they will either let you participate with your teammates, or they will put you on your own. Is that alright?" I looked at him shocked, but bit the inside of my bottom lip a little.

"Yeah. Yeah, that's fine."

"But Sensei, you said the decision to take the exam was up to the individual."

"That's right. I did."

"Was that a lie?" Kakashi looked away a little.

"Sort of. It is an individual decision. But it affects all of you. I didn't want to tell you before, because I didn't want the others pressuring you. At the same time, I didn't want you to feel obliged to participate, because of any feelings you might have for Sasuke. Or Naruto. I wanted you to come to a decision of your own free will." I smiled a little, and nudged Sakura next to me a tiny bit.

"Hey, hey, glad you're here though." Sakura looked over at me and smiled a little, but looked back up at Kakashi.

"Wait a minute, are you saying that if the others showed up but I decided not to come with them-"

"It would have been the end of the line." Kakashi finished. "If you hadn't come along, I couldn't of let the others in." I looked at him a little, and he finished with an upbeat. "But it's a moot point. You're all here, and for the right reasons. Sakura.." She smiled at him. "Naruto.." He smiled as well.

"Hm." He added.

"Saskue.." Sasuke only smiled a little bit. "And Tessa." I smiled bright.

"Ready to go!"

"I'm proud of you." Kakashi seemed to smile. "Couldn't ask for a better team." Kakashi moved, away from the door. "Good luck."

"We won't let you down, Sensei. Believe it!" I shrugged my shoulder and winked at him with a smile.

"We got this. Thanks for letting us do it, Sensei." I grinned and walked into the classroom with them. I stared a little at the competition. There were so many! And they were all staring at us! Great. I crossed my arms when a slightly annoying voice appeared.

"Sasuke, where have you been?!" There were footsteps, and the next thing I knew, Ino Yamanaka was clinging onto Sasuke. Sasuke looked at her like he was gonna punch her, but I knew he couldn't. "Boy, you have no idea how much I was hoping you'd show up here! I missed those groovy good looks of yours!" I felt Sakura's anger come off her in waves next to me, and rolled my eyes. If Sakura doesn't peel her off of him, I will. Poor kid, dealing with girls all the time.

"Hey you porker, back off, he's mine!" Sakura shouted.

"Ms. Forehead, they let you in? Still got those big frown lines on that billboard brow, I see."

"Leave my forehead out of it!" Ino stuck out her tongue. I sighed, and walked forward towards her, pulling her by her hair.

"Off the kid, Ino." I yanked her off, making her yell in pain.

"Hey, knock it off, you freak!" I pulled her hard, making her look me in the eyes.

"What did you just say to me?!" She crossed her arms.

"You just want Sasuke all to yourself." My eyebrow twitched.

"Man, you really need help. Sasuke is a teammate, not a lover. Geeze, shut up and get out of here, before I slam you into the wall, next."

"Whatever, freak." She said, turning around. I growled, and shoved her hard away.

"CALL ME THAT ONE MORE TIME, I DARE YOU!" I yelled. Naruto and Sakura came forward, grabbing my arms, and pulling me back.

"Tessa, it's okay, she's just stupid anyway.." Sakura said, trying to calm me down. I crossed my arms, and turned around, angry.

"I'll beat her ass into next year." I warned.

"It's you guys?" Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi asked, walking up. I turned around, and saw Shikamaru out of the corner of my eye, and walked over a little, smiling.

"Hi, Shikamaru." I smiled a tiny bit. He only glanced up at me.

"Don't worry about Ino, she doesn't let much humiliate her, although she needs some. I knew this was gonna be a drag, but I didn't know it was gonna be this lame." I nodded a little bit.

"So all three stooges are here." Naruto noticed, walking forward. I looked over at him with a slight glare.

"Hey, you know what, pipsqueak?" He stopped. "Ah, forget it, you're a waste of time." He said, backing off. I looked over and waved at Choji.

"Hi Choji." He looked at me, just eating his chips, and nodded his head at me.

"Sorry, but Sasuke's all mine." Ino suddenly reappeared. I glared at her again, when another familiar voice spoke.

"Well well, whatdoya know? It looks like the gang's back together again." Kiba Inuzuka said, walking up with Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga. Hinata was such a nice girl. In fact, she was the only one nice to me in our class.

"Oh..H-Hi Naruto.." Hinata said quietly. I smiled a little. She really liked Naruto. It was so cute. I looked up at Kiba and his dog Akamaru.

"Hi Kiba.." I smile. He glanced at me a little, but didn't smile whatsoever, or say anything. I looked down, deciding against it a little bit.

"Hello, Tessa." Shino's voice said quietly. I looked up at him and smiled a tiny bit.

"Hi, Shino." I said. At least he was trying to help.

"Don't talk to her Shino, you might get the case of the rabies." Kiba said, looking at me. I looked down a little, rubbing my arm nervously.

"Hey, knock it off Kiba!" Naruto said, trying to stick up for me.

"Well its true, remember?" He smirked. It wasn't true. They just made that up a long time ago, when I asked if I could see Akamaru and pet him. Akamaru licked me, and Kiba told everyone that i had rabies. Oh, and that Akamaru's was cured. Yeah, Kiba was a dick. I looked down more, hiding my face under my hair.

"Back off." A slightly angry voice said next to me.

"Huh?" I looked up. Sasuke was glaring at Kiba.

"Back off and leave her alone, loser." He said to him. Kiba seemed to seethe a little, and looked away. It was silent for a second, when Shikamaru spoke up.

"Man, everyone's here at this stupid thing."

"Yep. Here we all are, the 10 rookies." Kiba laughed. "This is gonna be fun! At least, for those of us good enough to make the cut. Right, Sasuke?" He asked, seeming to challenge him. Sasuke smirked.

"Careful you don't get overconfident. She just might beat you." Sasuke's head nodded at me. I smiled a tiny bit, and Kiba frowned.

"Just wait. We're gonna blow you guys away. We've been training like crazy."

"What do you think we've been doing, sittin around, pickin daisies?" Naruto pointed at Kiba. "You don't even know what training means!"

"Uh, d-don't mind Kiba, I-I'm sure he didn't really mean anything by it." Hinata said quietly, pressing her index fingers together nervously. I smiled. She was soooo cuttteee!

"HUH?" Naruto asked her, obnoxiously loud. Hinata looked away, blushing red. God, she was cute.

"Hm?" Kiba looked over at her. Akamaru just barked. Akamaru was pretty adorable too. Choji started to step forward, but Shino stepped in front of him, stopping him.

"What do you want?" Choji asked him. Shino looked at the floor more. "What's wrong?" I looked where Shino was, and saw a beetle crawling on the ground.

"Thought maybe you hadn't seen it. Didn't want you stepping on it." Shino said, looking up at Choji.

"Why, you savin it for lunch?" Choji asked, probably teasing. Shino didn't say anything in response. Probably dumbfounded.

"Hey, you guys!" My skin turned pale, and my eyes widened at this voice. What the hell was he doing here?! I looked down, and bit the inside of my lip hard. He couldn't be here. What the hell?! Without realizing it, blood gushed into my mouth, and my lip stung a little bit. Oops. My heart started picking up a little, and I felt like I was gonna hit the floor, any second. "You might wanna try keeping it down a little."

A very quiet groan came up from my throat, but I couldn't let my mouth open to let it out. I swallowed it down, and kept my eyes turned to the floor. My hands were shaking, so I hid them in my pockets, letting my hair cover my face a little. Sasuke must have seen me, because he said something.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" He asked annoyed, I assumed. I kept shaking, and shook my head.

"N-Nothing." I said, my voice cracking a little. "Nothing."

"Tessa?" Naruto quietly asked. "Are you sick or something?" He put his hand on my shoulder. I pulled away viciously.

"I'm fine." I snapped. Naruto looked at me in surprise, but said nothing.

"I mean, no offense, but you're the ten rookies, right? Fresh out of the academy? I wouldn't go making a spectacle of yourselves." He said. I barely looked up, letting my hair cover some of my face still, as if it could protect me. His gray hair was still the same, and those stupid glasses...ugh. "Just cool it. This isn't a class field trip."

"Well who asked you?! Who are you?!" Ino shouted at him. He looked around, analyzing all of our faces, but his eyes stopped at me. He paused, slight shock going through his eyes, and then he smiled, tilting his head up a little. I really hoped he couldn't see my hands shaking.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi. But really. Look around you. You've made quite an impression." Everyone but me looked into the crowd of ninja. They were all probably staring at us. "See those guys? They're from the rain village. Very touchy. They all are. This exam makes everyone tense. And you don't wanna rub them the wrong way right now." I let out a sigh, and look up. Don't let him get to you right now. "You can't help it. I mean how can you know how things work? You're just rookies. You remind me of myself a while back."

"Kabuto..is that your name?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah."

"This isn't the first time you've taken the exam?"

"No, its...my seventh." I laughed nervously on the inside. Pretty pathetic. But that must mean he's gaining intel..Dammit! I looked away, crossing my arms. Of course the year I do the Chunin Exams, he's still here. This is ridiculous. I knew I couldn't run for long, but still. Maybe Iruka... I came out of my thoughts, and looked over, seeing them leaning over Kabuto. He had two cards in his hand. "Here they are."

"Show them to me." Kabuto put one card on the ground, spinning it with his chakra.

"Okay, first up is Rock Lee." My eyes widened. What?! He has intel on him already? He can't have it. Especially on Lee. But he might have info cards on all of us. I growled inside. He can have the one on me, but i won't be able to find the ones on us. But if I can snatch Lee's... I walked forward, and shoved past Naruto and Sasuke, snatching up Lee's card.

"Don't." I warned him. He looked at me dumbfounded.

"What?"

"You can have Gaara's, but you can't have Lee's." I snapped at him.

"Hey, I wanted to see it." Sasuke said to me, a little angry. I turned my head and glared at him.

"Don't start with me, Sasuke." I turned and looked at Kabuto. "And especially you." I snarled at him.

"Tessa, what's wrong with you?" Sakura asked, looking at me. I narrowed my eyes at her, and she backed off. I just put the card in my boot, and crossed my arms.

"Alright, fine." Kabuto said, glaring at me. "Next is Gaara of the desert." I looked away, not caring what he had to say. Let's just get this over with. This loser needs to die already, or something. My eyes widened a little bit. What if.. I looked around nervously, and examined the faces of the people in here. I've got to be careful... Suddenly, Naruto turned and yelled.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! And I'm gonna beat every one of ya! Believe it!" I smiled a tiny bit, but still felt sweat on my forehead from being nervous. At least Naruto is confident enough to do it.

I heard footsteps, and my head turned. My eyes followed the ones running, and one man threw two kunai at Kabuto. They only hit the floor.

Please kill him, please kill him.. I chanted in my head. Kabuto slid back, and a second man appeared in front of him, and swung his fist at Kabuto. He missed, but a moment later, Kabuto's glasses cracked and broke.

"Hold on, I saw that attack, he missed. How did that happen?!" Sasuke demanded.

"It must have come closer than it looked. Look at him acting like it was nothing. Real tough guy." Shikamaru said, scoffing a little. A moment passed, and Kabuto hit the floor on his knees, throwing up. Yuck. What a loser.

"Kabuto, what's wrong?" Sakura asked worried. "What is it?" Naruto and Sakura ran over to help him.

"Hey, Kabuto, are you okay?"

"Yeah..I'm fine.."

"Are you sure?" Naruto asked. I looked up at the sound ninja as well. They must really hate Kabuto. Good. I hope they kill him. I walked away from our group a little, and then there was a small flash in front of me. I jumped, and started to throw a punch, but there was a gasp.

"Tessa, it is me!" I gasped as well, and Lee caught my fist. I stared at him with wide eyes, and then stopped.

"I-I'm sorry, Lee." He nodded, but didn't let go of my fist. He only looked at it, confused.

"Tessa, why are you shaking?" My eyes widened a little, and I pulled it away, rubbing my arm.

"It's nothing." Lee stepped closer, towering over me.

"Please. It's okay. Tell me." He asked. I stared at him and then looked away.

"Just forget it." I said. "There's already been enough damage." I mumbled. He stared at me for a moment, and then looked down a little.

"I am...sorry. If I come on too strong. But I do care about you." He said, looking back up at me. I stared, a little conflicted, and then looked back towards the group.

"I don't like the exams this year..this isn't good." I said nervously.

"Why? What is wrong?" I looked back at him.

"Just...I have a really bad feeling, Lee." I looked back at Kabuto, sending a glare his way. "He has info on everyone. Sasuke wanted to see yours, but.." I reached down into my boot, pulling it out, and holding it between two fingers, showing him. "Here. I wouldn't let them see it." He stared at me for a second, and sent a smile my way.

"Keep it. As a sign of trust!" He grinned wider. I stopped shaking for a moment, and then smiled.

"Alright. I'll keep it safe." I said, sticking it back in my boot. "Thanks, Lee." There was a loud poof of smoke next, and a voice called from the front of the classroom.

"Alright, you baby faced degenerates, quiet down and listen up!" I looked up at the front, and saw a man there standing, with scars on his face. Chunin and Jonin I believe, stood behind him, a big crowd of them. "It's time to begin. I am Ibiki Morino, your proctor. And from this moment, your worst enemy."

"First, you candidates from the village hidden in the sound! Knock it off! Who told you you could fight? You wanna fail before we've even begun?"

"Sorry. It's our first time. Guess we're a little jumpy...sir." Ibiki smiled, and then looked at the rest of us.

"I'll say this once, so listen up. There will be no combat between candidates. No attacking each other without the permission of your proctor. And even then, the use of fatal force will be strictly prohibited. Anyone who even thinks about messing with me will be disqualified immediately. Got it?"

"Hm. No fatal force? That's no fun."

"Now, if we're ready, we'll proceed to the first stage of the Chunin Exam. Hand over your paperwork. In return, you'll each be given a number. This number determines where you will sit. We'll start the written test once you're all seated." I sighed. Written test? So boring. I looked up at Lee and smiled a tiny bit at him.

"Good luck, Lee." He gave me a thumbs up.

"Good luck, Tessa."

I sat down in my desk with my test, and leaned on my elbows, putting my head in my hands. This is so lame.

"Everyone, eyes front. There are a few rules you need to be aware of, and I won't be answering any questions. So you better be paying attention the first time around." He said, tapping the piece of chalk on the chalkboard. I rolled my eyes. He's over dramatic. "Alright, rule number one: the questions on the written exam are conducted on a point reduction system." I sighed. This will take forever.

Hey, I don't want to write the whooooole thing out, so I'm gonna skip to the main part, and I'll probably skip a little after that. Sorry, but that's just a lot to write out.

So I was right. They're pressuring us to cheat. No one can get these questions right. Except maybe, Sakura. The test for this part isn't to get the questions right. Its to see how well you can cheat without getting caught. Only exceptional shinobi can do this without getting caught. I huffed. The only way I think I could do it was maybe copy hand movements? But even then, it won't be perfect. My blue eyes glanced up, my head not moving as I see a ninja to my front left writing quickly. I could just barely see the answers as well, so without moving my head, I wrote stuff quickly.

Hopefully I got this. But other people are failing. There's a lot of people standing up, and people getting kicked out. They must really suck at cheating. At least 14 teams have failed. After lots of time, it was finally time for the 10th question. They took their damn time getting us there.

"Here's the tenth and final question! But, before I give you the tenth question, there are some more rules you need to be aware of."

I'm gonna skip part of this toooooo

So if we decide to answer the tenth question and get it wrong, the whole team will fail, and we can't take the test again...but...if we don't take it...all of us will fail and we have to wait until next year..

"Those who don't want to take it, raise your hand. They'll take your number, and you're free to go." I stared at the proctor. I'm good. I'm confident. I can answer this question. But..what about Naruto..?

"Uh..I'm out. I'm sorry, I'm out!" One guy said, raising his hand and standing up. After that, many people lifted their hands, and left. So many...I looked over at Naruto, and let out a soft sigh. Poor kid...he probably really wants to help us..but..maybe he should raise his hand...He should...i mean..if he fails, he won't be able to become Hokage..it would kill him not to be Hokage..but.. I gasped a little, as Naruto's hand went up. He then slammed it down onto the desk.

"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit, and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, you guys aren't gonna scare me off! No way! I don't care if I do get stuck as a genin for the rest of my life!" He stood up. "I'll still be Hokage someday!" I chuckled, and looked down, smiling. He's crazy, but he's brave. He's a good kid. Ibiki tried warning us one more time, but we stayed. EVERYONE who hadn't gone yet. Naruto had given the others confidence into staying.

"There's only one thing for me to do...and that's to tell you..that you all passed the first exam!" He smiled. I looked at him confused, but shrugged.

"Uh... okay?" Goddamn, i'm so glad, cause I honestly didn't think I would pass this test. Ibiki was trying to explain the whole exam to everyone while I yawned, and spaced out. Why did it matter? Let's just get on with it, dude.

"Those who were caught at it, failed. Better not to cheat, than to cheat clumsily." Ibiki said, untying his bandanna headband, and pulled it off, making my face turn a little pale. "Information. It can be the most valuable weapon in battle. How you gather intelligence can determine whether a mission's a failure or success. There will be times you have to risk your life to get it." I stared at his head, and there were scars, and puncture wounds all over his skull. He must have endured so much pain..

SKKKKKKKKKIIIIIIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP

"You have passed through the first gate. I hearby declare this part of the Chunin Selection Exam completed. There's nothing left, but to wish you all good luck." To the right side of the room, Naruto stood up cheering, making me laugh. I wasn't paying attention, but I suddenly heard glass break, and when I looked forward, there was a sudden curtain there, and a woman standing there.

"Heads up boys and girls, this is no time to be celebrating! I'll be your next proctor! Anko Mitarashi. You ready for the second test? Good! Let's go, follow me!" She shouted, thrusting her fist into the air excitedly. Everyone kinda just sat there in silence, staring at her and not knowing exactly what to do. Well...she was a bit overwhelming. She was like a female version of Naruto. But crazier. And you have to be pretty crazy to beat Naruto.

Ibiki stuck his head out from behind the curtain and mumbled something to her, and then she dropped her arm, furrowing her eyebrows. "How many are there?" She looked at Ibiki. "Ibiki, you let all these guys pass? Your test was too easy! You must be getting soft."

"Or it could be..a crop of stronger candidates this year."

"Hmm..They sure don't look it. Trust me, when I'm done with them, more than half will be eliminated." My eyebrows raised a little. What? Don't count on it, lady. Oh well. I'm ready for it. And so are the rest of my teammates.

The next day, it was time for the second exam. Anko dragged us all the way out here, so this must be pretty good.

"Woah, nice place. What is it?" Naruto asked her.

"This is the location for the second phase of the exam. Its the 44th battle training zone. But we call it...The Forest of Death." She smirked.

"Forest of...Death?"