Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 17
Lets go! Enter the Chunin Exams
"Wow, alot of people showed up." Naruko analyzed, looking at all of the shinobi walk into the academy. I wonder if Sakura is coming... She left out, not wanting to admit how guilty she felt for what she said the other day. As if on cue, Sakura was seen making her way through the crowd. Immediately, Naruko shook her head trying to dismiss any negative thoughts. Nows not the time to be thinking about that. I should be focused on the Chunin Exams.
"Hey! Sakura, you're late!" Naruto shouted as he waved to his comrade.
"Yeah...sorry guys..." she said, returning the wave back. For a brief moment, Naruko caught her glance but then looked away towards the academy.
"Well, lets get going then." Naruko suggested, hoping it would quickly break the awkward silence between her and Sakura. As luck would have it, everyone's attention drew towards the inside of the academy where it was packed full of foreign ninja from different countries. Despite how big the academy was, it felt tight and a bit claustrophobic to Naruko and the others.
"Oh man, this is awesome!" Naruto shouted in an excited whisper.
"Whats going on there?" Sakura wondered out loud, referring to the argument taking place down the hallway.
Immediately Naruko's stomach dropped, and she took a conscious step back. That chakra... She couldn't distinguish it out, but it felt familiar yet terrifyingly powerful. Where is it coming from?...I don't like this feeling...I don't like it at all...
"Hey guys. I'll meet up with you, I'm going to use the restroom real quick." Naruko told her team as she took off.
"Alright!" Naruto replied, getting distracted by a girl with two buns arguing with another leaf ninja. Re-tracing her footsteps, Naruko tried to determine where this unsettling feelings was coming from. After circling the building she began to second guess herself, and the more she walked the weaker the sense became.
I was over thinking? It seemed to become a bad habit Naruko was developing and she didn't like it. It felt so real though. That type of power is the type that only a jonin or higher would have...I should probably just head back, Naruto will be wondering where I went off to.
"Do you need any help?" Looking up Naruko found herself faced with a guy who looked to be a few years older with silver hair and glasses.
"Hm? Oh, no thank you. I'm okay."
"Thats good to hear. I was going to say the chunin exams is the other way around. Assuming you're taking them." he smiled as he pointed his finger down the hallway.
"Yeah, I was actually just heading back to meet up with my team. Anyways, thank you again for your concern."
"Well we leaf genin have to stick together am I right?" the guy chuckled lightly.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Naruko spoke as she noticed the guy's headband.
"Well then, good luck on the exams."
"You too," Naruko replied as she walked off to find her team. As she turned her back, the guy adjusted his glasses getting a better look at the blonde genin.
Naruko Uzumaki...almost hard to believe a girl like her has so much power...
"Huh? I'm early?"
"Yes. None of the others have showed up yet," Kakashi repeated as he pulled out a pocket-watch from his jonin vest.
"But where could they have gone off too?" Naruko wondered. Room 301, it shouldn't be that hard to find. Watching Kakashi lift a finger up, she turns her head to see her team walking down towards them. "There you guys are. Where were you?"
"Some punk tried to use genjutsu to trick us into thinking we were already on the third floor," Sasuke replied as he shoved his hands into his pockets.
"That explains why everyone was huddled downstairs," Naruko realized as there were far less ninja on the upper floors of the building.
"Yeah! Then Sasuke got his ass kicked-"
"Naruto!" Sakura and Sasuke shouted (as Sakura punched his head).
"Well then..." Kakashi coughed "Glad everyone decided to show up...Especially you Sakura."
"What do you mean especially me?" she asked.
"Well you see, only teams of three are allowed to enter and take the exams. Thats the way it has always been. However, since this is the first time we've had a team of four it was determined that in order for you all to advance, everyone had to be present."
"But you said it was up to us individually if we wanted to take it." Sakura stated "Was that a lie?"
"Sort of."
At least hes honest...Sasuke thought to himself.
"Its an individual decision, but it affects all of you. I didn't tell you before because I didn't want the team pressuring you. At the same time, I didn't want you to feel obligated to take it because of your feelings for the others. I wanted you to come to a decision of your own free will."
"So...even if Naruto, Sasuke and Naruko showed up..."
"Yep," Kakashi continued "It would've been the end for them. But since you're all here, you can formally enter the chunin exams. And I couldn't be any more proud. Good luck."
As Kakashi stepped to the side the team entered into a large room with shinobis packed towards the back, occupying all of the seats available.
"Whoa..." Naruto murmured.
"Guess were...not alone," Sakura spoke with a hint of regret "I had no idea there would be so much competition..."
There is Garra...and there is Lee! Glad to see him here, its been so long since I've seen him! Naruko thought to herself as she observed the sea of shinobi sitting down. Catching his glance she waves and smiles.
"You know bushy brows?" Naruto asked.
"You mean Rock Lee? Yeah, I-"
"Sasuke there you are!" a familiar voice shouted "I'm so happy to see you here!"
Ino...Naruko mentally sighed. She wasn't on bad terms with her but she wasn't exactly friends with her. And after what happened with her and Aka, Naruko found it awkward to talk to her. I wonder what ever happened to Aka...
"Hey you pig back off he's mine!" Sakura shouted at Ino.
"Miss forehead they let you in?"
"Leave my forehead out of it!" It wasn't until she heard a calm quiet voice break through Sakura and Ino's conversation did Naruko break out of her thought bubble.
"Hi Naruko." The Hyuga smiled "O-oh! And hi Naruto..."
"Hinata!" Naruko smiled "You're here too!"
"Huh?" Naruto said wondering what Hinata was saying.
"Ah..." she blushed as her eyes feel to the floor.
"She was saying hello," Naruko told him.
"Oh, uh, hey." he replied back.
Can't you say it more sincere... Naruko mentally slapped herself in the forehead. Hey...that guy next to Rock Lee...he's got the same eyes as Hinata's...that must be her cousin.
Naruko recalled Hinata telling her about him in the past, but not much. Based off of her friend's words the two weren't on 'good terms' exactly.
"That's your cousin isn't it?" Naruko whispered over to the timid-Hyuga. She had never met him before but judging from the same physical characteristics Naruko found no harm in asking.
"Ah-!" Hinata softly gasped "Y-you noticed too huh."
"I only noticed because you guys have the same eyes."
"...Yeah...thats him. Neji Hyuga..." Hinata replied in an uncomfortable tone.
Shes scared...Naruko noticed as Hinata held her arms close to her chest. She wondered what exactly happened between her and her cousin. There were times she almost asked because she couldn't help it. But Naruko knew the subject made Hinata uncomfortable so she never brought it up.
"Whos she? I don't remember seeing her earlier..." Tenten wondered.
"Looks alot like that loud idiot from before," Neji added. "A sibling perhaps?"
"That is Naruko Uzumaki. And you're right, she is Naruto's twin sister." Lee responded.
"You know her?" Neji asked.
"Yeah," Rock Lee nodded "I've never seen her fight before but I am certain shes very experienced."
"You seem to hold her with high regards." Neji noticed.
...interesting...Neji thought to himself as he watched his cousin talk to Naruko.
"Looks like the whole gang is back together again. This is going to be fun! At least for those of us who are good enough to make the cut, right Sasuke?"
"Don't get overconfident Kiba," Sasuke replied with a smirk.
"Just you wait, we're going to blow you guys out of the park, we've been training like crazy." Kiba stated.
"What do you think we've been doing?! You don't know what training even means!" Naruto shouted back.
"Hey you guys...You might want to keep it down, no offence but you guys are fresh out of the academy right? I wouldn't go making a big scene, after all this isn't some field trip."
Its that guy from before...Naruko noticed.
"Why don't you mind your own business, who are you?" Ino spat out.
"I'm Kabuto Yakushi. And just look around you. You guys have already made an impression on these guys."
"You sound like you speak from experience," Naruko noticed, looking at all of the other shinobi who were taking the exams.
"You are correct, this isn't my first time taking the exam...its actually my seventh."
"So I guess the rumors about this exam being tough was true. Oh man, what a pain..." Shikamaru mumbled.
Seventh? Naruko wondered as she watched him talk to her comrades. For a moment she didn't believe him, then again its wasn't like he had given her a reason to distrust him. He carries himself with confidence though...Maybe that would explain what I was sensing earlier. If the competition is as tough as he's hyping it up to be then...
"...But you get it. Seems like the competition is going to be intense this year," Kabuto sighed after showing the group his information cards.
"So it seems..." Hinata spoke "Its almost intense to make you lose your confidence..."
"Yeah, great time to start talking like that." Ino replied sarcastically.
"Do you really think its going to be tougher this time?" Sakura asked Kabuto.
"Oh yeah...Out of all the times I've taken this exam, this bunch has the most potential."
"Whatever! Doesn't matter whos here because I'm going to beat everyone here! Me, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Can you say that a little louder? Didn't quite catch it." Kiba replied jokingly.
What was that? Naruko noticed, watching a blur pass by the crowd. She looked to see if anyone had noticed. At least I'm not going crazy. Looks like Kabuto picked up on it too.
Confirming her thoughts, a ninja jumps out of the crowd to attack Kabuto. Then another appeared right in front of him and swung a punch at him. Swiftly dodging the punch Kabuto smirks and stares his attack down with confidence. Then-
Kabuto's glasses shattered and he fell to the ground puking.
"Are you okay Kabuto?!" Naruto shouted as he and Sakura ran to his aid.
I don't understand, he saw the attack coming yet he wasn't able to dodge it...What on earth did those guys do, use genjutsu? Before anything else could happen, clouds appeared near the double-doors on the right side of the room and appeared a small group of ninjas with jonin vests.
"Alright you baby face degenerates! Pipe down and listen! Its time to begin the Chunin Exams! I am Ibiki Morino your proctor. And from this moment your worst enemy."
Poor Naruto...Naruko watched as her sibling was twitching in his seat. Though he was a couple of rows ahead she could practically see the sweat coming off of him. I never expected the first part of the exam would be a written test...Naruto never was a good test taker...I can only hope for the best for him.
After being situated, everyone received their seats at random and entered the test room. Naruko was slightly surprised to see she was seated next to Neji Hyuga, while the rest of her team were spread around the room.
Its amazing how they both so much alike and yet...Before finishing her thought Naruko's eyes darted towards the chalkboard,only after noticing that the Hyuga had caught her staring.
"Alright listen up!" Ibiki shouted as he began to explain the rules of the test "This test is conducted on a point reduction system. Everyone begins with a perfect score of ten points and for every answer you get wrong a point will be deducted from you're score. Also, teams will pass or fail based on the scores of all members of their team."
Damn...Naruko's grip on her pencil tightened. But wait, is it any different since we're a team of four? Whats the score we need to pass?
"Like every test you've taken in the past cheating will not be tolerated with. If you're caught, two points will be deducted from your test for every time we do catch you. And if we catch you cheating more than three times you will be immediately dismissed. Lastly, if in the event a candidate is to get a zero on the test the whole team immediately fails. You all have one hour to complete the test. During the last fifteen minuets we will give you the last question. Now...begin!"
Flipping over her test, Naruko writes her name down and scans the test looking for the easiest question to answer first. Let's see...the first question has to do with deciphering a code, lets start with that. After answering a couple of questions Naruko peeked her head up to see Naruto frozen solid in his seat. Brother...please don't give up, all you have to do is get one right at least.
Well, well. What do you know. Neji thought to himself as he snuck a glance at his neighbor's test. I misjudged her. She's smarter than I though.
Wow these questions are hard. They're definitely above chunin level...its almost like they want us to cheat. Naruko realized as she caught Neji Hyuga's glance again. Then she noticed a fly standing near her paper. As soon as she swatted it away the fly immediately flew to Shino who sat two rows ahead of her. Wish I had realized that sooner, I only have one question left to answer.
"Ah-! Hey what was that all about?!" shouted a leaf genin. Immediately everyone's eyes darted up and stared at the situation unfold.
"You just failed the test, three strikes and you're out." One of the proctors smirked "You and you're teammates will leave immediately."
The guy stood there frozen solid and in shock, while his teammates had a disappointed, grim look on each of their faces.
"Candidates 23, 43, and 50. Fail." Soon after the first team was dismissed, more and more people were excused out of the room, causing many to become distracted from their tests. A perfect time for cheating.
"Hey," Naruko whispered through the ruckus. "Don't be so obvious. You don't want to end up like them." Though the Hyuga never responded, the smirk he had on his face was all Naruko needed to see.
"Candidates 2, 35, and 74. Fail."
"Candidates 54, 58, and 80. Fail."
That's the 13th team to be dismissed. Naruko noticed as she finished her test.
"Alright! Listen up, here is the tenth and final question!" Ibiki stated "But...before I give you the question, I should let you know that you all individually have the option of answering the question or not."
"So what happens if we don't answer it?!" shouted one of the sand ninjas.
"If you choose to not answer the tenth question, reguardless of the previous nine questions you've answered. You get a zero. You fail." Ibiku smirks. "And so do your teammates as well...and if you do answer the question but get it wrong, you will not only fail-but you will be banned from taking the Chunin Exams ever again!"
What?! Naruko's stomach dropped again.
"Thats bullshit! There are people here who've taken the test before, whats up with that?!" Kiba shouted.
"Well, I guess you're just unluky." Ibiku laughed with a cold, dark tone "I wasn't making the rules before, but I am now."
What are we going to do? Naruko darted her eyes around the room to see what her teammate's reactions were. Just as she suspected, everyone was tense and on edge. If only we could talk it out as a team and decide but...no, its up to them individually just like he said...
"Now then, if you don't want to answer the question raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and you will be dismissed with your team." After Ibiki finished talking, a handful of people raised their hands and left the room.
Naruto...Naruko watched as he slowly went to raise his hand...It's okay brother, there is always next year. Besides, if we failed now then there would be no chance for us to take the exams again...which means he won't be able to become Hokage. Naruto-
"Don't underestimate me!" Naruto yelled as he slammed his hand onto the desk "I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, but you're not going to scare me off! Cause no matter what, I'm going to be Hokage!"
You're the best. I'm proud of you, Naruko smiled as her brother started the proctor dead in the eye.
"Well, I admire your determination." Ibiki spoke after a minuet of waiting "For those of you waiting, there is one more thing left to do...and thats to tell you that...you have all passed the first part of the Chunin Exams."
The Forest of Death. The name had a dark eerie chill to it, but was perfect nonetheless.
"The second part of the exams will take place here at the 44th battle ground." Anko Mitarashi stated, standing in front of the large gates that separated everyone from the forest.
"Why is is called The Forrest of Death?" Sakura asked.
"You'll find out why soon enough," the purple-haired proctor smiled.
"They call this the Forest of Death. You'll find out why," Naruto mocked at how serious the proctor was trying to be.
"N-naruto!" Naruko tried to hush her twin all while trying to keep herself from laughing at the same time.
"Do your worst, you won't scare me off!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Oh, looks like we got ourselves a tough guy." Anko smiled. "Think you're tough enough to handle this?"
"Ah-!" Naruto gasped, realizing she had not only thrown a kunai at him, but she had disappeared and reappeared right behind him.
"You're not afraid are you?" Anko asked as she wiped the blood off of Naruto's cheek "Guys like you usually end up leaving their blood all over this forest."
Is that-?! Naruko froze as she watched Anko slip another kunai knife into her hand.
"I was just returning your knife," a grass ninja said to the proctor. As he uncurled his tongue he placed the kunai knife into Anko's hand, getting a disturbed yet intrigued look from the other competitors.
"Why thank you," Anko smiled "Although I highly advise you not to stand so close to me."
Its him! There is no doubt about it. What is he doing here? Naruko realized. Trying to rip her gaze away she unfortunately catches the grass ninja's cold gaze...and that was all enough needed to confirm her fears. He's not with the Akatsuki still right?
"Now then, before we get started I have consent forms I need you all to read and fill out." Anko stated while taking out a stack of papers from her coat.
"What for?" Naruto asked.
"Some of you may not come back from this test, and I need to get your consent for that risk. Otherwise it'd be my fault." Anko laughed "Here, hand these out while I explain the test."
Why is he here?...No, how is he here?! It doesn't make any sense! And why are the proctors so calm, have none of them realized yet?
"Here," Sasuke said waving a sheet of paper in my face. "Pay attention."
"Right," I nodded while skimming the consent form. I see... So we'll have five days to get both a heaven or earth scroll to the tower in the center. Naruko picked up, trying her best not to get distracted by his presence.
"Also, there are three ways to fail this test," Anko continued. "Number one is obvious, if all members of a team can't make it to the tower with both scrolls in five days. Number two, if a team loses a member or if a member is unable to continue. And number three, none of you and I mean none of you are allowed to open the scrolls until you reach the tower."
"Whats up with you?" Sasuke murmured to Naruko.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"You've been shaking for the past ten minuets."
Damn...Naruko didn't even notice until he had brought it up. "...I'll tell you later. Promise."
"...Right." Sasuke replied, observing her body language.
I can't tell Sasuke now, let alone anyone else. It would just cause a scene, and knowing how powerful he is, alot of people would definitely get hurt...Taking a deep breath of air Naruko did her best to calm her nerves. Well...whatever happens I need to stay on my guard and protect the others...
Naruko-ナルコ-
Chapter 18
Nightmare's Return
Sorry for the wait! But good news, I'm on summer break now so hopefully updates will be quicker. Also, reviews are always encouraged! Good or bad, I love the honesty! Plus, I know you guys have said there are grammar errors and spelling mistakes with the story so I plan to go back and adjust some things! I was thinking of asking if someone could help out but with my unsteady schedule it seems unlikely T-T Anywho, until next time! Sorry I didn't reply to everyone in this chapter but I promise I will in then next one.