22. I think the date label will become a thing T.T

Started on 1 April 2017, and I'm aiming for first of May.


Dear Guest,

I try to surprise (wink)

Dear Terra (Guest),

Hahah oh my, well, you're my 101th reviewer, that's a milestone right there :)

Chains isn't too old by Fanfiction standards so I try to be modest (1 year, 4 months, 21 days). I'd be lying if I'm not super happy each time I get alerts for favs, follows and reviews. It makes my day to be able to talk to my reviewers about things from food to shows to stories to this story!

Unlike other stories which get super big super fast, I kinda like the pace I have here? I prefer the ease and gentleness at which I can write. I enjoy being able to spend time replying to my reviewers :3 and checking out the pages and stories of everyone who comes here.

On that note, I have to reverse psych myself and say I love studying and doing work.


A gong sounds throughout the tower, and Sakura jerks awake.

Again, it sounds, and both her other teammates slowly stir.

"So the exam has ended…"

It's the alarm that signals the 5th day's end.

Ever since they made it successfully to the tower, both Team 7 and 10 were whisked off to separate wings by Chunin.

Because of how maze like the tower is in its build, running into other teams is lowered to a near negligible chance – simply to avoid possible altercations.

Examiner Mitarashi popped by to check up on them the first night and to congratulate them.

"Your sensei will be allowed in only once the exam has ended."

It's a cocky smile that melts aside, a not-quite impersonal pat to Sakura's shoulder.

"Suzuki's proud of you, kid."

In that moment, she's almost confused but then Sakura positively beams.

"You know Suzuki-sensei, Mitarashi-san?"

"Just Anko kiddo, any student of my partner is a precious lil kid to me."

The purple haired lady laughs a bit.

"Besides, you're the pink hair to my purple. Gotta look out for you!"

She runs them through the debrief, then on post-exam procedures.

Same old.

"The double gong on the fifth day signals the closure."

On the edge of their beds, waiting for the door to open.

Click goes the knob, and through the door he steps.

A mild tone as Naruto makes a face.

"Not funny, Naruto-kun."

They burst into peals of laughter, Naruto mainly, pointing at their now, soaked sensei.

Sakura smiles.

"You two owe me."

Kakashi-sensei looks almost scandalised, but he only turns it into a puppy sad face.

"I can't believe you all would prank your sensei who came at top speed just to check up on you all as soon as I could!"

Ah, he's not late today…

Properly chastised, they offer Sensei a towel, and like that, back as a team, they move out.


Team 7 is a sight to see, descending from the internal rotunda, yellow, silver, black and pink against the purple-grey toned walls.

Suffice to say, they are the latest of the four teams.

Gai flashes a thumb up at Kakashi, yelling across the room.

"Hoi Kakashi, I see that your Genin are filled by the spring time of youth, as you claimed!"

Tokubetsu Jonin Hayate frowns at them, the very expression deepening his eye shadows.

"Team 7, please hurry over."

The Genin hasten their footsteps, but their sensei only gives the examiner a lazy two fingered salute, sauntering over.

He half opens his mouth to begin briefing, then promptly turns away, coughing lightly.

It's a dry cough on the surface, but Kakashi knows better.

Grimly he thinks, it was good that he was made to retire from ANBU. That cough would give him away.

Hayate recomposes himself before regathering the attention of the Genin in the holding room.

"Good afternoon, I am Hayate Gekko, Tokubetsu Jounin of the Leaf. I will be your proctor for the final exam. Before anything else, teams, please look around you. You are the twelve finalists of the Chunin Exams. As per tradition, the last exam is an arena style matching system. However, this time round, Konoha has another type of test we would like to try out. Instead of simple one on ones, we will be pairing Genin up. The pairing process will be entirely random, and so will the matching process. The pairs will be generated in a moment, but the matches will be done only in a month's time, just before the exam. Any questions so far?"

Unsurprisingly, questions come not from children raised to just harm, but from instructors who were not briefed on this last-minute change.

"May I know the reason for this sudden adjustment? The information dossier before the commencement of the second portion clearly stated that it would be 1-v-1s to allow individual talents to be shown."

The examiner coughs again, nodding, "This change was decided by Lord Hokage upon the suggestion of the Lord Kazekage. He stated that within our fast-changing world, it would be good to see how adaptable our new generation is."

There's a pause, and no more questions that bring the decision into doubt, because it is simply what the Kages have decided.

"We'll be in pairs with ninja from other teams then, Hayate-san?"

Recovering from another minor coughing fit, he rasps as he answers Team Gai's female member, "That will hopefully be the case."

With a final arch of his eyebrow, a silent, 'Anymore questions..?"

He gestures at the screen in the corner of the room, "As we announce the groupings, partners please take note. For the final exam, killing is strongly frowned upon. Conversely, pairs are strongly encouraged to use the one month break to work out how to best utilise all your skills. For the Suna team, Lord Kazekage has specifically requested for your accommodations to be fixed at the Hokage Residence's Guest Wing. To clarify, your arena will be Konoha Stadium."


Like numbers on a flip board, numerous what-ifs, Orochimaru watches politely next to his former sensei.

"I see your magical crystal ball is indeed every bit as handy as I have heard."

The old man smiles.

"Why, Rasa, you flatter it so."

Nara Shikamaru – Akimichi Chouji.

They both turn to face each other blinking at the first pair.

His sensei then breaks out into a chuckle, "Oh dear. I must apologise in advance, Rasa, for that will be a poor match indeed. If I know this pair like I do, they are very likely to simply give up."

Haruno Sakura – Hyuga Neji.

Just a contemplative hum, Orochimaru can't really claim to be overly invested in Kabuto's little kouhai.

Uchiha Sasuke – Rock Lee.

There isn't any mistaking the way he leans closer as the Uchiha heir's name appears.

"This will be interesting to see, don't you think, Rasa?"

"Because of it being the Sharingan and a pure Taijutsu user?"

From somewhere, the dratted pipe has been withdrawn.

Window drawn up, lazy swirls of smoke drifting out.

"Sort of, but more because that Genin cannot utilise chakra at all. They are in that sense, antitheses."

Konogakure no Tenten – Sabaku no Temari.

He hums appropriately, because it is his child's match. What sort of father would he be if he showed no interest in his eldest's match?

Yamanaka Ino – Sabaku no Kankuro.

At this, he leaks a smile, because that leaves the last pair as,

Sabaku no Gaara – Uzumaki Naruto.

"I look forward to seeing this pair of children. I was told the Uzumaki is like your own grandson, Hiruzen?"

At the calm smile, Orochimaru smiles back, all pearly white teeth.

"I am sure they will emulate and mark the foundations of Konoha and Suna's future relationship."

Cough. That is, rocky, once I am through.


"So, we have Sakura and Neji, Sasuke and Lee and finally Naruto with Gaara. You three have a month to train up for the finals… What do you all plan to do? And well, what would you like me to do?"

For Sensei's son is paired with the Kazekage's youngest, a demon container brought up not so different from Naruto himself.

But that boy is a budding psychopath who holds even his siblings in disregard.

Kakashi is cautious in just handing off Naruto to Suna's Baki. He wants to keep and teach Naruto. Maybe rope in Jiraiya-sama who's due to arrive the day after tomorrow. But he wants to ensure that Naruto has someone constantly around him.

He's not too worried about Sakura or Sasuke, because they are paired with Gai's kids.

From what he has heard, sans the youth and rainbows, they're good kids at heart, just like his.

"I wanna be able to talk with Gaara first. But geez, that guy scares everyone away. Do ya think his sensei will help us in training together?"

Kakashi nods thoughtfully, replying like he's thinking about it for the first time, "I'll ask Baki and see if we can't set up training slots together…"

But really, an unstable Jinchuuriki is everyone's fear, and Baki is likely himself – scared out of his own wits.

"Sakura, Sasuke?"

"Neji-san and I will train together sometime. I'll ask Hinata-chan if we can all train together, but we could use a target to practise on."

Treating it as a separate case, Kakashi almost seems to wilt, "You just want a punching bag, Sakura-kun. You bully your sensei so."

She holds her hands up in false surrender, "I'm sure Gai-sensei would be ready to spar, just that I thought he'd focus more on Lee-san."

Sasuke pops into the conversation finally, "What do you mean?"

The pink haired girl gives the black-haired boy a side glance, "Lee-san is a mini-Gai-sensei, Sasuke-chan. It's mostly cause Lee-san can't use chakra, his system rejects his own. Senpai has been trying to stop it but by now Lee-san is a pure Taijutsu type. Just like his sensei."

Upon hearing this, Sasuke frowns, before looking at him resolutely, "Teach me Taijutsu then, Kaka-sensei."

He arches an eyebrow, before prodding further, if he really wanted to focus on Taijutsu instead of Ninjutsu.

"It's kinda hard to fire fireballs and lightning rods when you have an ally jumping in their paths."

Kakashi hums, if only to draw this out, because he personally doesn't think that it's too hard.

I mean, Gai and I do it when we go on missions, but then he remembers that the only one he honestly uses when Gai is engaging is the Chidori.

So if he should teach that to Sasuke, is the question.

He certainly could, given that Sasuke is his student, and a Lightning main but he… he needs to ask Gai first.

Like a, "Hey, are you gonna teach Lee the Eight Gates that could possibly kill him? Oh you are? Okay sure, cause I'm gonna teach Sasuke my Chidori that could possibly kill um I don't know, loads of people?"

When it comes down to, it's still okay, because these are ninja, they are killing machines and no one will think twice about it.

"Alright, so here's what I'll do. Today, Naruto, you and I will settle how often you will meet with Gaara and I'll talk with Baki. Sasuke, Sakura, for today, I'll leave you all with Gai-sensei, and you can talk to your partners. Sasuke, ask Gai-sensei for Taijutsu tips, he's the best in Konoha, I have some things to hash out with him, before I teach you anything more. Sakura, when you're training with Neji and Hinata, please just watch out for the clan secrets things. Otherwise, I'm sure the Lord Hyuga will be quite suited to help both of you."


Sensei slides right through the crowd, heading towards the Hokage's Residence, strides light yet purposeful.

Naruto hurries along, apologising to the people whom he bumps into.

As they leave behind the hubbub of the streets, the forested area fills with the sound of clashing.

"Again, Gaara."

With a savage snarl, chakra explodes outwards and he's caught very much off guard because of how angry it feels.

Kaka-sensei beside him, places a hand on his shoulder, steering him towards the noise.

Pulsing gently, like Sakura-chan is fond of doing, but stronger.

Softly crackling, warm and mild to counter the underlying cruelty of the passing chakra wave.

Also to signal to the Training Ground users he guesses?

"Come, Naruto."

"Hai, Sensei!"

He's very-very curious, but, less than super-eager to meet Sabaku no Gaara.

They emerge from the cover of the trees, stumbling onto a easily misunderstood scene.

But that doesn't stop him from jumping straight into the path of a very-shiny spear because it's aimed at a kid his age, on the ground, who has a hand held up like a useless defence.

So before Sensei can even yell, he's never been rebuked for his saving-people-thing, a dozen clones all armed with kunai – attempting to counter a gold spear many times their size.

"Earth Style: Earthen Wall!"

Then, that solid wall shooting out from the ground, spreading sideward and casting a shadow on him and the redhead behind him.

A short moment of silence is observed, and tension decreases.

The wall recedes, and the sun falls back on the redhead's face.

Naruto smiles at the one frantic eye, ignores that half a face covered by sand.

He extends a hand out, back turned on his partner's dad.

"Hi, I'm Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto. You must be Gaara, my partner for the Chunin Exams!"

If he had cared to turn, he would have found that gold spear poised, not yet touching where Sensei's earth wall had been.

As he focusses his attention on Gaara, Kaka-sensei closes the gap between he and the Lord Kazekage, muttering apologies and greetings.

The redhead actually takes his hand, but the shock melts to indifference and the sand crumbles off.

"I am Gaara. Uzumaki Naruto you… Are interesting."

It's a start, right?

He smiles wider, to compensate for his partner's lack thereof.

"Shall we get to know each other first? Like, your likes, dislikes, hobbies and dream for the future, your fighting style, what you're not so good at, what we could do together?"

Stilted nodding, piercing jade eyes that much colder than Sakura-chan's, "Mother is fine with that."

Naruto is special, when it comes to dealing with people. He doesn't ask too much.

In this case, he had no reason to about Gaara's mother.

Maybe later, he thought.

For now, training~


"Well then Gai-sensei, Sakura-san and I will take our leave. Hiashi-sama has asked to see both of us."

He retreats as soon as possible.

It's not too much of ill will or anything, not even a distaste for his sensei's eccentricities but that of a mutual respect, a sort of ground base he attempts to set up.

Neji is definitely not bitter that Lee is Gai-sensei's favourite, because he expects it.

But what he doesn't want, is for sensei to feel overly guilty, and obliged to help oversee their training when the focus is meant to be dedicated to Lee.

It is a given that Sensei focusses on Lee, because Lee is in essence his successor.

Tenten hooked up quickly with her Suna partner, having needed no further prompting.

Supposedly, they would get along mightily fine. His weapon oriented teammate was clearly interested in the Sand's battle tessen.

They receive a downward furrow of those unbelievably bushy eyebrows, before a strong thumbs up, "Yosh, Neji-kun! I see that your fire of youth is raging already, that you wish to dive head into training. Feel free to come and find me if you need anything! My hip and cool rival, Kakashi, is I'm sure also always willing to help!"

Sentences punctuated with hype and enthusiasm, sometimes, the sheer energy wears him down.

Instead of inspiring him, their struggle against the steady flow of time amazes and demotivates him.

Gai-sensei and Lee are… like bright lights in the distance, glinting and winking cheekily. In contrast, he almost shivers at the sensation of the imaginary cold.

Like the embrace of Kiri's cold fog, dampening the air, erasing the light from the scene.

Neji shakes himself out ashen-toned thoughts, turning his attention to his partner, blocking out his sensei from view.

Hand stretching out, making his intentions well known, Sakura extends hers in reply, like acknowledgement. His hand grasps her wrist politely, not tangling fingers.

"Hiashi-sama will be upset if we are late."

His heiress' friend notes his deadpan sarcasm, but she only walks towards the compound.

Calmly intoning, "I'm sure Hinata-chan will be happy to see us," laced with enough wryness to tell him that she knows.

Relinquishing his hold once they're out of Gai-sensei's view, Sakura's hand falls back to her side and her lips quirk.

"Does Gai-sensei favour Lee-san so much?"

"Lee is a miniature version of Gai-sensei. He idolises Sensei."

She 'ah's softly before pressing, "Does your other teammate think the same way?"

"Tenten doesn't think so much as she feels. Temari-san seems much more attentive. Tenten thus invests more in her partner's direction, rather than linger with Gai-sensei."

Neji pays care to his word usage, even if he has already given his own feelings away.

He can hear the smile in her voice, "Then over Lee-san, I will favour you, Neji-san."

Curtly, he restrains the lift of his lips, replying in a murmur that he would have expected no less, "We are partners, Sakura-san."


Like all people, everyone craves affection.

For Lee-san, who was born with the inability of using chakra, Gai-san is his end point, his ultimate goal.

Gai-san clearly sees this, knows how Lee views him, and in turn treats him differently from others.

Tenten-san who grew up as an orphan not unlike Lee, and visualised her own idol but found no mentor to model – Instead turning to weapons and variety as her skill, something Gai is unable to help her with.

That suits her fine, but this style of hands off guidance is not what Neji expected when he graduated.

He had thought that with so exuberant a teacher, Gai-sensei would have enough energy for all three of them.

To dissuade his own thoughts he tells himself that Gai-sensei can't help him with the Juken, can't this and can't that, but frankly, most of the clan techniques he knows are built off basics.

He's a branch member, so he doesn't kid himself, doesn't imagine a future where he can save even himself, not after seeing his father's death come to a resolution.

"Would Hiashi-sama actually train you, though, Neji-san?"

He spares his partner a brief shake of the head, slipping back into his own musings.

The Juken is built off emitting chakra from the tenketsu to affect and disrupt an opponent's chakra flow, to hurt what is inside.

So chakra is the worst and best defence against the Juken.

It's hardly that no one knows that, just that the Juken is hard to counter. Hiashi-sama would pride himself in saying "Impossible" but for all of his Hyuga pride, Neji fears his world views being challenged.

Rather than issue a definitive statement like, "One day I will break free of these chains," he'd rather say, "I commit to my fate and exercise the restraints of my position where I am."

Rather than say, "Impossible," he says, "Difficult."

Sakura has always enjoyed challenges, even those only fool's fight.

"Where angels fear to tread, fools rush in. Ever heard of such a saying?"

Head shaking, then he says, "I am not acquainted."

A short laugh, "In such a sense, thinking Hinata-chan's style to be like Hiashi-sama's and Hanabi-chan's. In thinking that, I should like to ask Hiashi-sama to spar with me as a baseline to see… what you and I can do together."

The words slip right out before he reconsiders the intention behind her words, "You must be crazy."

She brushes his shock off.

His new partner is not the type to be dissuaded, then again her relationship with his clan is complicated, conflicting and blurred by the personal and impersonal relationships she has.

He owes her.

Owes it to her to try as she managed to 'do'.

Hiashi-sama at least, would share such a thought.


Retaining just about the poise she had from that test, she pours out the tea, pulling the pot diagonally up.

The tea stream is a clear red, like a fading burst of beauty, a flower aging with grace.

Clashing with the celadon green cups – those clinking as Hiashi-sama overturns them to match Sakura's pace.

"You haven't been serving tea formally, Sakura," his chide comes, "Suzuki ought to be ashamed."

A touch of mischief glints in her eye, "I'm sure sensei will be thankful I can still pour without making a mess, Hiashi-sama."

Her even tone hides so careful a jibe, but the Hyuga head hides his reaction behind a cup of tea.

Neji and Hinata look in upon their exchange with a measure of fondness, surprise and amusement.

They speak like old friends, equal clan heads.

And that's surprising given the Hyuga pride.

"Barring the calming art of sharing tea, I believe we have other matters to attend to?"

Sakura sets her teacup down to signal the start to conversing.

"Yes, I came to request a spar from you, Hiashi-sama."

He nods seriously, "To use me as a basis for you and my nephew's teamwork?"

She half turns to smirk at Neji, his face showing his evident shock – possessive terminology.

Like a little cheering figure, somewhat of a hah, someone understands me!

"Yes please, if it not too much trouble. I hope that through watching us spar Neji-san can better understand what kind of function I can serve against an opponent."

"Not for you to see what Neji can do, Sakura?"

The girl reaches for her tea to finish it, "I know what Hyugas are capable of. Surely if an Hyuga can do it, someone like Neji-san, touted as the Hyuga's most recent prodigy can accomplish it."

Hiashi-sama grumbles with an uncertain amount of hurt ego, "I would like to think that there are some techniques beyond even Neji right now. Like how you do not teach a babe to run before walking, Neji and Hinata have both yet to stand firmly."


Face returning to the usual look of stern indifference, Hiashi-sama takes his stance.

Sakura's stance is deceptively lax, feet comfortably set apart, chains materialising behind her like a dense cloud.

With a mouthed intonation, the veins around his eye bulge, his Byakugan activating.

Hiashi-sama moves first, palm glowing a blazing blue.

Hinata-hime half steps back, looking up at him with concern in her lavender eyes.

"If otou-san accidentally touches Sakura-chan… His Juken could destroy her tenketsu beyond repair."

Neji watches intently, more precisely how carefully Sakura times her sidesteps and dodges.

"No… Hiashi-sama will speed up only after disengaging. Right now, they are merely testing the waters, Hiashi-sama is showing her that he intends on taking this seriously."

Sure enough, they break apart after moments of tense circling.

Sakura's chains are now by her sides, like extra hands.

This time, she moves forward, setting the pace.

Making a straight dash, chains extending front, going straight for the palms.

Hiashi-sama waits right till the tips are at his palms before expelling chakra.

Their chakra constructs clash, and the resultant force has them both disengaging.

The law of inertia states that objects with greater mass, have greater inertia, and require greater force to be moved.

In this case, the opposing chakras are more than enough.

Both he and Hinata-hime activate their Byakugan to check on the chakra systems.

Sakura's chains are still a homogenous blue, only lighter than her main coils.

As they clash again, her chains dissipate like air.

Quickly as they fade, chakra rushes out of her coils, fading faintly, forming back to clash again, smashing forcefully against Hiashi-sama's palms.

But she too must be feeling the drain on her reserves, because she splits off the two main chains to attack Hiashi-sama from as many directions as she can control.

As she soon realises, Hiashi-sama is skilled enough to expel chakra from individual tenketsu.

One of his palms gets just a little bit too close and she ducks down to sweep his legs out from under his feet, backing rapidly to rethink her strategy.

Hiashi-sama presses insistently, not giving her breathing room and she darts left-right, back headed straight for the wall.

Neji notes that since the beginning of their battle neither of them have used any flashy jutsu or skills.

They continue their game of cat and mouse, Hiashi-sama only grazing the air near Sakura's limbs, sending her chakra into spasms, Sakura's chains battering Hiashi-sama only to disappear, leaving ghost imprints.

When she's a foot from the wall, Hiashi-sama sends one palm glowing blue forward to box her in, the non-chakra active palm moving as the follow up.

Her chains surge forward then, her coils exploding like a brilliant blue flame.

A heavy coating of near liquid chakra swallowing him whole, and with a yell, she throws him a distance away.

Like tar, seeping right into his tenketsu, refusing to be expelled.

Sakura is hunched over from the effort, now her reserves truly low.

Just her wispy blue core flickering in the wind.

Then, the come back – There's a short moment where Sakura's chakra even appears to travel further, she stops her chains with a mental command.

But she doubles over as her chains are all shattered simultaneously, a spinning dome that roars to life, blue like their lifeblood, the Hyuga Main Branch's prized Hakkesho Kaiten.

The ultimate defence technique, Revolving Heaven.

His clan head retakes the position he began in, looking fully composed, only breathing heavier, clothes rumpled.

Not a strand of hair is out of place, and Sakura manages a satisfied sigh at the sound of their matching exhales.

She presses no further, and relaxes her stance, bowing once to show her thanks before hurrying over to both he and Hinata-hime.

Neji more really, and they begin discussing in earnest.

Hiashi-sama calls Hinata-hime away, bidding the remaining two a fruitful discussion, "I hope to see earnest collaboration."

And Sakura smiles.

"I want to remake the Juken and Kaiten."

"For us to cycle in and out of being offense and defence each time?"

She nods.

"We could also specialise if you wish, but since the Kaiten builds on the Juken, we'll have to work on both."

He frowns.

"We have a month, Sakura-san. And Hiashi-sama will not aid us in this conquest."

She smiles – self satisfied – "You were watching, no, Neji-san? Chakra expelled from all his tenketsu, then a rotation element, Byakugan activated throughout to minimise dizziness."

It near constitutes clan secret stealing but since he's part of it, Neji guesses it'll be alright.


I'm calling it here, I finished this 10 days in advance on the 20th, but I'm going to do my homework first.

Once I'm done with that, I will proof read this, add more rambling, and then post it.

Thanks for waiting so long :)

Today is a Friday and I have actual exams on Wednesday and nope I have not started studying bahahahaha *maniacal-panicking laughter* sorry.

Posted on the 21, so I kept to my time limit.

To be honest, I'm beginning to question why I write still, given that the time I spend on this could be used for studying but I don't like studying so much as I write, so I procrastinate by writing if that makes sense?

I have so many new chapters of stories sitting in my email asking to be read, but I will grant myself only this reprieve of writing.

Writer will be taking a break to focus on my studies for the next 2 weeks or so, so I'll see you sometime in June?

We'll go by the 1 month break thing again because I want to give myself leeway.

On a side note, I have decided to attempt NaNoWriMo this year – I'm half convinced that committing is a terrible idea.

Just to get a feel, would anyone be interested if I wrote a Orochimaru-centric story? Probably a pretty tragic kid-Orochimaru to start, and then I'll run from there.

It's just something bouncing around in my head. (Cough, but November is far from now, I'm not set on anything.)

I'm so sorry (sigh) I rambled a lot again.

(P.S. Did you all want to see Orochimaru!Rasa training Naruto and Gaara in teamwork? Or Lee-Sasuke-Gai? The chapter was getting a bit too long, if not I wanted to include Kabuto here for chakra theory.)

But anyway, see you in one and a half months!

Kayo.