The next day, team seven walked towards the bridge where Kakashi told them to meet him. As usual, Kakashi was late making them wait for hours. Ko once again spoke up saying they could train. She mainly wanted to work on their teamwork knowing it was lacking and the many opponents in the exam will already have combo moves figured out.

"Hey how can this be allowed? Why does that person ask us to meet and then make us wait?!" Sakura complained as she panted from the training.

"Yeah! Sakura-chan is right!" Naruto cheered jumping to his feet still full of energy despite their three-hour straight training session.

"Morning people! I got lost on the road life," Kakashi greeted as he appeared on the railing.

"Yeah right! Liar! Apologize!" Naruto and Sakura yelled pointing at his accusingly.

Ko sighed, "can't wait to be back home and away from these idiots."

"Well anyway, this is sudden, but I've nominated you guys for the Chuunin selection exam." He said with a smile making their eyes widen.

"What did you say?!" Sakura yelled.

"You think that makes up for!" Naruto started to yell.

"Here are your applications," Kakashi said handing out the applications.

Naruto's eyes lit up with joy and jumped on Kakashi to give him a hug. "Kakashi-sensei! I love you!" He shouted squeezing him even more.

"Hey stop, let go of me."

Just by the look on their faces, they all liked the challenge of the Chuunin exam; except for Sakura.

"Though this is just a nomination whether to take the exam is up to each of you. Those who wish to take it should sign those papers and turn them in at room 301 by 4pm tomorrow." He said then disappeared.

When Kakashi left they all started walking. Sasuke looked indifferent, Sakura looked depressed, and Naruto was excited.

"Chuunin exam! Chuunin exam!" Naruto excitedly said.

"There's going to be a lot of strong guys in this thing," Sasuke said mostly to himself.

"That's the best part. It'll be a synch for me; they don't stand a chance. Maybe someone will be a worthy opponent." Ko said.

"Like him!" Naruto thought thinking of Kankuro. "And him!" Naruto thought looking at Sasuke. "Ok I won't lose to him! Then there's Ko, she'll be hard to beat but I'll beat her! If I win this; I'll be closer to Hokage." Naruto imagined with a huge grin.

"I might be able to fight him." Sasuke thought thinking of Gaara. "What if I fight Ko? She'll be the hardest to defeat since we still don't know all of her abilities. If she's able to bring the dead back to life, who knows what else she could do." Sasuke looked over at Ko who was walking forward with her arms behind her back.

"Hey Ko, do you want to train with me?" Sakura hesitantly asked feeling embarrassed and ashamed.

"Why would you want me to train with you?" Ko replied turning towards Sakura.

"Because you're really talented and I could use your help." She said rubbing the back of her head.

"Can't, I have a meeting with the Hokage." Ko lied not wanting to waste her time training Sakura.

"Oh okay, maybe next time." Sakura replied sadly making Ko look at her with pity. She rolled her eyes then sighed.

"Meet me at the usual training field tomorrow morning. Eight o clock sharp." Ko's kindness made Sakura's face light up like a Christmas tree and nodded profusely.

Ko separated from the group and reached her home only to be greeted by Kabuto. "I see the Chuunin exams are starting." Ko said closing the door.

"Yes, they are and Lord Orochimaru wants you to be prepared."

"Of course, I won't die." She scoffed walking past him.

"I don't think you understand. He will test your skills seeing how much you've improved since he last saw you."

"I see, tell him that I am more than ready."

"Good,"

The next day, Ko packed everything that she needed, a sword was strapped to her back, all her weapons were in her weapons pouch, and she had medical supplies in her other pouch. Once everything she needed was with her, she headed out towards the training field seeing Sakura already waiting for her.

"Good morning Ko," she was enthusiastic with tons of energy waiting to start the training.

Ko only nodded in response then placed her things on the ground. "What do you want to work on?" She questioned her teammate.

"Um, ah well I'm not sure. I was hoping you'd be able to tell me what I should do. I know this training won't do much to help with the exams but…compared to you, Naruto, and Sasuke…I feel like I'm dead weight." Tears filled the brim of her eyes, but she held them back. "I don't want to be the reason we don't become chuunin."

"Psh if anyone is going to cause that, it's going to be Naruto." Ko meant it as an insult but Sakura chuckled in response thinking it was a joke. "Look Sakura, you have brains and great chakra control. Use those to your advantage; brawn doesn't win every battle."

"What do you mean?"

"Use that brain of yours to come up with a plan or strategy. You can be a strategist directing us what to do. You can also help keep this group together. We don't get along with each other, but you can be the glue that holds us together."

Her words really spoke to Sakura giving her more confidence in herself. She gave Ko a wide smile then got into a fighting position.

"Can we spar for a while? If I can at least hold my own against you, I know I can do this."

It was about two when they finished training so they both sat against the stumps trying to catch their breath.

"Thank for training with me Ko," she gave Ko a sincere smile then looked down at her hands. "I'm surprised you agreed to train me. I-I thought you didn't like me."

"I don't really like anyone Sakura. It's just easier that way, keeping people at a distance is better for me."

"You don't have to!" Sakura shouted getting up to a seated position and stared at the Himura. "I've known you since you came to the academy and I can see that you changed a bit. You got along with most of the boys in our class joining in their games! You've always sat next to Naruto when no one else would and you were…somewhat nice to him, nicer than everyone else. Even now, you protected us from danger and you push us to train together. You're even more in touch with your emotions now. It might had taken five years, but you've been changing and maybe in a few more years, you'll let us in."

Ko looked away from Sakura gritting her teeth. Everything Sakura said was true but she wished it wasn't. Most of what she said about protecting them and making them train was for her own benefit. Trying to fit in with the students was just to lessen suspicion but the emotions, they are real. Ever since the mission to the land of waves, she has felt something for her team in wish she has never felt before. She believes that this was what having friends felt like.

"Maybe," Ko replied then got up to her feet and held out a hand for Sakura which she gladly took. "Come on, let's start heading over to the academy."

"Hey! Sakura-chan!" Naruto shouted running towards the girls waving his arm around.

"Yeah, good afternoon," Sakura replied with a big smile. Training with Ko was exactly what she needed.

They walked through the doors and went to the seconded floor seeing that there were people blocking the way for them to go through the door. The sign said that it was the third floor, but Ko could tell that there was a genjutsu place on it. It wasn't that hard to count two floors.

"You should quit now; you're just a little kid." One 'genin' who had three bandages on his face and spiky hair said.

"Yeah." The one with the mask thingy on his chin agreed as he stood above an odd boy. He wore a green jumpsuit with orange leg warmers and a red forehead protector worn as a belt. Ko took note of the bandages around his forearms up to his fingers.

"Please let us through," a girl with two buns in her hair pleaded as she held up the odd boy.

The guy with the spiky hair smacked her across the face causing her to fall to the floor.

"Horrible!" Someone in the crowd gasped.

"What did you say? Listen this is our kindness. Then chuunin exam isn't easy, even we have failed it three straight times. Those that take this exam and end up quitting as shinobis, those that die during the exam; we've seen it all. And chuunin often become captains of military teams. The failure of a mission, the death of a comrade, it is all the captain's responsibility. Yet, kids like you think you can pass?" He lectured as he looked at everyone.

"We are just thinning out those that will fail anyway. What's wrong with that?" His partner joined in.

"I agree but you will let me pass though and also remove this surrounding created with genjutsu. I'm going to the third floor." Sasuke demanded making everyone looked at the team like they were crazy.

"What's that guy talking about?" Someone asked.

"I don't know," his teammate replied.

"So, you noticed," the guy with the mask thingy said.

"Sakura, you must have noticed first right? Your analytical ability and genjutsu know how is the most improved on our team." Sasuke said to her.

"Of course, I noticed a while ago because this is the second floor." Sakura said.

The genjutsu was released and it went from 301 to 201. Then the guys with spiky hair went to kick Sasuke as he was about to kick him but someone stepped in front of them and grabbed the boy's leg. It was the boy that was getting knocked around earlier.

"Hm so he was acting defenseless. Of course, those bandages are hiding wounds from his training." Ko eyed the bandages once again wondering what kind of training he put himself through.

"He's fast, he was able to see both kicks and slide himself in between, he's completely different from the person that was getting knocked around earlier." Sakura thought.

"Catching my kick with his hand, what's this chakra in his arms?" Sasuke couldn't believe how this was the same kid getting pushed around before.

"Hey, what happened to the plan? You're the one who said we shouldn't draw attention to ourselves." A boy approached the two mostly looking at the bowl cut one. The first thing Ko noticed was his featureless white eyes with a lavender tint.

"Hyuga," Ko confirmed.

"Well," the jumpsuit wearing one replied with a blush and looking towards Sakura.

"Oh no," his female teammate said shaking her head and placing her hand on the right side of her face.

The guy with a weird haircut came up towards the team giving making Ko take a step to the right getting away from his target, Sakura.

"Hi, my name is Rock Lee. So, yours is Sakura. Let's go out together! I will protect you 'til I die!" He shouted enthusiastically giving her a thumbs up.

"No way you're lame." Sakura's voice was filled with disgust taking a step away from him attempting to hide behind Sasuke.

Feeling rejected, the boy bowed his head and skulked back towards his team.

"Hey you, what's your name?" The Hyuga questioned Sasuke.

"When you want to learn someone's name, you should give yours first." Sasuke replied with a cocky tone.

"You are a rookie right? How old are you?" The Hyuga was persistent but was ignored.

"Psh we don't have to answer you," Ko scoffed getting directly in front of him blocking his view of Sasuke giving him a glare.

"Naruto, Sasuke, Ko! Let's go!" Sakura said cheerfully pulling at the boy's wrists. Ko merely gave him a smirk before turning on her heel following her team.

On their way to the first exam, they ran into the Genin from before who challenged Sasuke. Sasuke thought he had the advantage against the boy, Lee but was wrong when he tried to use his sharingan and learned that Lee didn't use chakra, only taijutsu. Sasuke greatly lost after only a few moves making Sakura concerned while both Ko and Naruto snickered at his defeat.

They both criticized Sasuke's performance pointing out how Lee has been training hard for years. They laughed at Sasuke's angered face but then a turtle appeared across from them yelling at Lee.

"Um, is that his sensei? Can turtles be senseis?" Naruto questioned unsure of what was happening.

"No, that's a summoning animal." Ko informed the blonde. "The turtle could be his sensei's summoning."

Soon, a man who was the spitting image of Lee, appeared on top of the turtle proceeding to slap Lee making team seven gasp. The three were taken aback by his appearance unable to think of anything else but Ko observed the dynamic between the two look alikes. After slapping the student, he gave him a bone crushing hug exchanging kind words.

"What kind of tough love is that? Father has never hugged me or said anything kind after slapping me."

The older man then turned his attention to the group making them freeze in fear. He disappeared then appeared behind them making them slowly turn to face him.

"Hi there!" His voice was booming with joy. "You must be Kakashi's team right?"

"You know Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura questioned snapping out of it.

"You can say we're eternal rivals! 50 wins, 49 losses. I'm stronger than Kakashi." He boasted with a white smile almost sparkling in the light. "Now, you all should get to the classroom! You're almost out of time!"

Their eyes widened then ran towards where they were told to meet. After a brief talk with their sensei, they walked through the doors already feeling the tension in the air. Ko scanned the room seeing many people there from different villages; she spotted the team from her home village and the genin from the sand village. Her eyes lingered on the older male but then her attention was turned to Ino.

"Sasuke-kun! You're late!" Ino shouted jumping on Sasuke. "I haven't seen you for a while, so I've been waiting in excitement." She squealed making Ko's face scrunch up with irritation.

"Get away from Sasuke-kun! Ino pig!" Sakura yelled trying to get in between the two.

"Why if it isn't Sakura big ugly forehead as always," Ino mocked with a laugh making Sakura angry.

"You guys are taking this stupid test too? Don't die." Shikamaru approached them with a bored expression.

"Oh! The idiot trio!" Naruto said waving to them.

"Don't call us that! Man this sucks."

"Yahoo! Found you!" Kiba said coming towards them along with his team. "Well well, everyone is assembled.

"Geez you guys too?" Shikamaru asked.

"So looks like all 10 rookies are here. I wonder how far we will get eh Sasuke." Kiba said.

"Shut up! Sasuke might, but I won't lose to the likes of you!" Naruto shouted at him.

"S-s-orry Naruto, Kiba-kun didn't mean it in t-that way." Hinata stuttered shyly with her timid voice.

"That dog looks tasty," Choji thought eyeing the white pup on Kiba's head.

They were all talking amongst themselves until Naruto shouted something to all of the people in front of them who glared at the rookies.

"Hey guys, you should be quieter." A voice said from the crowd. "You guys are rookies just out of the academy, right? Screaming like schoolgirls geez." Ko recognized that voice immediately. Kabuto was here with her which meant her father thought she needed help in the exam. "This isn't a picnic." Kabuto scoffed as he approached them.

"Who do you think you are?" Ino asked pointing a finger at him.

"I'm Kabuto, but instead of that, look behind you." He motioned to the many irritated shinobi behind him. They looked behind them and saw everybody staring at them, especially the rain ninja. "Those guys behind you are from the hidden rain, they have short tempers. Everyone is nervous about the exam, quiet down before you cause a scene. Well, I can't blame you. You're clueless rookies."

"Kabuto-san right?" Sakura asked.

"Yeah."

"So is this your second time?"

"Nope, my seventh time. This exam is held twice a year so this is my fourth year." He replied making Ko tilt her head. Now she knew why he was in the village with her but had never seen him. He's been with his own team and attending all the chunin exams to gather information.

"Wow, so you know a lot about this exam," Sakura continued with some hopefulness in her voice.

"That's right,"

"Wow impressive," Naruto said.

"Not really," Ko spoke up stepping towards Kabuto with a smirk on her face. It's been a while since she'd seen her comrade for more than a conversation so she wanted to humiliate him for a change. "I mean, he's taken this exam seven times. He's failed the exam seven times which is pretty pathetic." She let out a small laugh and could see the irritation on his face. "Most people pass on their first or second try."

"Heh, aren't you a smartass." Kabuto shot back looking down at her with a smirk. "I guess I won't share some information with you rookies then." That caught everyone's attention making them glare at Ko. "But I like you guys, so I'll share some info with you cute rookies. With these ninja info cards. They're basically cards which have info burned on to them with chakra. I have four years' worth of info here, over 200 cards."

He explained how he has chakra in coded cards that tell peoples statuses. Sasuke asked him to show him Rock Lee and Gaara and Kabuto showed him them.

"Leaf, sand, rain, grass, waterfall, sound, many outstanding genins from the various hidden villages are here to take the exam well the hidden sound village is a small village just created last year so there isn't much info but." Ko was curious on how they kept the village a secret for years.

"M..Makes you lose your confidence." Hinata said.

"So basically, all the people here are..." Sakura trailed off too scared to finish her sentence.

"Yup! Like Lee and Gaara, they are the top elite genins from the various countries." Kabuto said.

"This isn't going to be easy." Naruto thought.

Kabuto got up from his kneeling position and while the group talked amongst themselves or stuck in thought, he went over to Ko. "He'll be here for the second exam, make sure your team passes."

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto! I won't lose to you bastards!" Naruto shouted to everyone which made Ko sigh.

"Easier said than done." She replied making Kabuto chuckle.

"Hey, it's that guy from before." Kankuro said to Gaara as he stared at the team. His eyes trailed from Naruto to Ko taking in her appearance again. He couldn't get their encounter out of his head, those eyes of hers were burned into his mind. The look of confidence and that killer instinct could never leave his sights again. Even as she scanned her surroundings, he could see that same confidence in her eyes.

"Hehe, the Hidden Sound is a minor village?" The shorter Sound shinobi scoffed.

"Is that so?" The taller male asked.

"Let's play with them a little bit." The woman suggested.

"Hehe good idea, calling us leftovers. Let's help him add to his data that hidden sound shinobis can be vicious."

The sound ninja came out of the crowd and went for the attack on Kabuto. As they were going to attack him, Ko jumped in front of them and kicked the one guy with the bandages on his face. He used some sound waves to mess up her hearing, but she kicked him again in the face and he flew across the room. Ko could feel her ears bleeding and could barely hear anything but she stood her ground trying not to falter.

"You brat!" The mummy man shouted.

"Quiet down you worthless bastards! What's this?!" Someone said from the smoke. When the smoke cleared a man with scars all over his face. Behind were tons of chuunin.

"Thanks for waiting. I am Morino Ibiki, the examiner for the Chuunin exams first test."

"Hidden Sound guys, stop doing as you please before the exam. Do you want to fail already?" Ibiki said.

"I apologize this is our first time we got a bit carried away."

"Here's a good opportunity to say this; there will be no fighting without of the examiner. Even if permission is granted, killing your opponent will not be tolerated. Those pigs that disobey me will be failed immediately." He ordered.

"Heh, this exam is sounding easy," a sound ninja said.

"We will now start the first test in the chuunin exam. Instead of your current seating arrangements. You will pick one of these tabs and sit in the seat assigned to you. We will then hand out the exams."

"What?! A paper test?!" Naruto yelled.

They all picked a number and sat in their seats. Ko sat between Lee and a guy from the rain village. Ibiki explained the rules and the test began. Ko gently rubbed her left ear hoping she would be able to hear out of it. She didn't expect him to have such an attack, if she would've just observed before acting reckless she wouldn't have been deaf right now.

"These questions are super hard no one could answer these without proper experience and reading. Naruto wouldn't be able to answer these, maybe Sasuke and Sakura." Ko thought as she read through the questions. "Hmm must not be just a test of knowledge but skills also. He said if he caught us cheating but what if he didn't. I guess he wants us to cheat since the questions are too hard for us to know. It would help us gather information in a real mission."

Ko activated her Subete Miru able to see the papers around her. She was only able to see a few answers thanks to the people who write big. She could only see the room with a birds eye view and if she lost her focus, she'd be able to see outside the building as well. When she finished, she looked at the rest of her team.

"Naruto you better not get a zero or else I will kill you then bring you back then torture you and kill you again." She thought as her gaze fell on him.

"Damn, this is bad. Looks like Naruto's already freaking out!" Sasuke thought seeing Naruto start to shake.

Ko looked around and saw that everyone was starting to understand the method of this exam by using their gifts; except Naruto who sat there shaking like a leaf.

"Dammit I wish I could talk to people in their heads so I could give him the answers. If we don't pass because of Naruto, he's the first to die."

Then Hinata was nice enough to let him copy off her. Naruto was very confused, but he declined. More and more teams were getting eliminated one by one. Most had to get kicked out by force by the Chuunin watching us.

"Hey are you even watching us?!" Some guy yelled.

Then a Chuunin ran and held him up against the wall. "Listen, among Chuunin we ate the elite that were assembled to watch over this exam. We haven't missed anything you've done. You could say that this strength is our proof." The Chuunin said.

Ko saw Gaara using his sand and he made an eye out of it. He went over to a guy and it made sand go into his eye so he couldn't see. Then Kankuro went to the bathroom.

"Wait! That's not an examiner! It doesn't have a life force, smart." Ko thought.

"Ok, we will now start the tenth question!" Ibiki announced.

Finally, it was the end of the exam. He explained the rules to this question; whether you will take it or not. Then people started protesting. If you don't want to take the question, then you leave.

"Naruto you better not raise your hand or else!" Ko thought.

Soon everybody was dropping like flies. Then Naruto raised his hand making his team members hold their breath.

"Don't underestimate me! I will not run! I'll take it! Even if I'm a genin forever! I'll will myself to becoming Hokage anyway, so I don't care! I am not afraid!" Naruto shouted slamming his hand down.

"Humph, moron but he's got guts." Ko thought smirking.

"I'll ask you again. Your life is riding on this decision. This is your last chance to quit." Ibiki warned.

"I follow my unbending words; that's my ninja way."

Everybody got a confidence boost from that speech.

"Now to everyone still remaining I congratulate you on passing the first test!" Ibiki congratulated. "To the 79 who remain congratulations on passing the first test!"

Then everyone started protesting asking questions. Then Ibiki started to take off his headband revealing burns, screw holes, scars on his head. After he was done explaining the tenth question something crashed through the window. A woman with purple spiky hair with a tan trench coat came through the window.

"You guys! This is no time to be celebrating! I am the examiner for the second test! Mitarashi Anko! Now let's go! Follow me!" She shouted at everyone.

"Anko huh? She was father's student and was given his curse mark." Ko thought remembering Orochimaru leaving the Sound to search for Anko, who was out on a mission at the time.

"Bad timing," Ibiki told her.

"79! Ibiki, you left 26 teams?! The test was too easy this time!"

"This time there are a lot of outstanding ones," Ibiki replied.

"Bah that's fine I'll at least cut them in half in the second test. Ah I'm getting excited. I'll explain everything once we're changed places, follow me."