Hello, again.

Let the Chunin Exams begin! Albeit with some 'scene changes' (the other brothers) thrown in. So Team 7 is going to be a mainstay for a while now.

Also, if enough people like this idea, I'll see about how the Training Trip Arc that serves as a time skip can make a connection between the Shinobi Lands and Equestria/Earth. Sort of have them meet their respective canon counterparts or something.

Perspective: Team 7,

Don't own MLP or Naruto, by the way.

Examining the Future

"Let's do this."

The day had finally arrived, which coincidentally ended up with Sun, Sakura, and Sasuke's first stop being the Academy, on account of it being where the first part of the Chunin Exams would take place.

And as a token to represent the occasion, Rare started working on new outfits for each of them. He promised to have ones all the brothers, Sasuke, Hinata, Sakura, Ino, and Hana at least by the time the Chunin Exams ended. It was only thanks to them actually knowing Rare's passion for fashion that kept them from going "Yeah, good luck with that."

If anything, he'd probably have them ready by the time the third part of the exam rolled in, ready to be displayed during the event. If not before.

As Team 7 walked up to the third floor to participate in the Chunin Exams, they came across a crowd in front of a guarded door on the second floor which confused them. What was so special about the second floor? They were ne- "Guys, they somehow think this is the third floor."

"Just means less competition, so let's move." Sasuke responded to Sakura's statement.

His teammates nodded and followed him through the crowd, mildly deflecting the genjutsu that was set up once they were close enough. While most were idly confused, only one of the teams that were actually there followed them. They made themselves known upon arrival at the correct door.

"It's been a while, Neji, Tenten, Lee." Sun greeted first.

"Indeed." Neji Hyuga, Hinata's cousin and prodigial shinobi before Sasuke, replied. "The mission to help at Sweet Apple Acres was usually taken whenever we came for missions."

"You could've still came around during your down time." Sun remarked. None of them really had an answer to that.

"My most humble apologies." a voice said from behind them. "I shall endeavor to have my team spend time at your most youthful establishment."

"Just stick with the occasional reminder, Gai." Sun told the man as they turned to face him. They also found Kakashi waiting for them with a chuckle.

"And again, the power of the Uzumaki brothers strikes, changing lives wherever it goes." Kakashi said, then moved away from a nearby door. "The exam's in there. Good luck."

"Thanks, sensei." Team 7 returned before walking into said room. And that's where they found all the other teams. Teams 8, 10, the Sand Siblings, and the Kusa, Kumo and Taki teams that Pinkie, Dash and Shy mentioned, to name the ones that they knew for certain.

"Looks like this is going to be a rather fun competition." Kiba quipped, looking around. "The gang's all here."

"Do bear in mind that some might not see it that way, Kiba." Sun told him. "Like the red-haired girl from Kumo. At least according to Dash, she can have the occasional anger-management issue to deal with. But that's just him, so we'll need to talk to her first."

"Although I'm sure a certain beetle would be willing to talk to the Taki team." Sakura teased. "He's been making eyes at said girl since we got here."

"I'd say the feelings mutual there, Sakura." Hinata giggled, joining in.

Shino was just stuck blushing, not having any real way to escape or counter. Fu wasn't much better, having heard it as well.

Thankfully for the pair, anything further was interrupted by a new arrival to the scene, being a silver-haired young man with glasses.

"I'm pleased to see that for once, rookies aren't acting arrogant or terrified about the exams. Nice change of pace." He greeted. "I'm Kabuto, by the way."

"Kind of hard to be truly either one when you're around an Uzumaki like Sun." Kiba answered, getting a chuckled "Touche." in return. "You could say they're a bit of a good luck charm."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Just about anything Sun or any of his brothers touch ends up better than for anyone else." Kabuto admitted. "Too bad the first time I officially met any of them was during the seventh time I've been through this."

"Ouch." Sun winced, and he wasn't the only one.

"I know." Kabuto sighed. "But it did give me time to gather information and see how I might stack up next time."

The moment when he brought out a set of seemingly blank cards, however, Sun instantly sensed the chakra in them, and didn't like how it felt. I'm going to have to keep an eye on this guy.

His wariness only grew when he started hearing just how detailed the information was. I know that genin can be pretty good at information gathering, but this is beyond. He's too good.

However, he had to temporarily stop that train of thought as Kabuto finished speaking. "-don't be too concerned about the Oto team, though. Their relatively new to the scene, and don't have much to truly work with just yet."

Said team, wearing an ensemble of fur trim, bandages, and gray camo, promptly attacked after he was done. But they were quickly deflected by Sun, who wrapped up the two boys in floating chakra while Sasuke got in the way of the girl, who for some reason just stared at him.

"That sort of reaction is just proving your either weak or arrogant, and thus shouldn't be considered a proper threat." Sakura told them as Sasuke and Sun let go, just as a group of shinobi flickered in at the front of the room. In the middle was pretty intimidating-sized man with a bandanna on his head.

"Alright, ya brats! Take a seat, and make sure it's well enough away from your teammates! And as for you three from Oto, listen to Pinkie if you don't to get booted out right now." he barked out. "I'm Ibiki, and your proctor for this exam."

They quickly took their seats, with thankfully only a few minor issues with those that didn't entirely want to listen.

As papers were being handed out, Ibiki spoke again. "Now that you lot are seated, we can begin. As you can see, your first test is a written one. However, there will be a few rules to follow. They boil down to 'If you're caught cheating three times in one hour, you're out.' So you better hope you're good with your brain, otherwise..."

He left it hanging, not needing to say anything else. Although he did add "Have fun." after a bit.

While Sakura and Sun didn't have to worry, all of Team 7 quickly figured out what Ibiki had meant. Among their friends, the couple were the only ones that didn't need to cheat at all. In regards to everyone else, they had to cheat without getting caught three times.

And when Sun cracked his back loud enough to be heard, he noticed various methods that were being used to cheat subtly. Special mirrors used by Tenten and Lee, bloodlines used by the Hyuga cousins and Sasuke, clan/special abilities used by just about everyone else. The biggest question on his mind, though, was Did Pinkie set those up and let Tenten and Lee know? Or did they do all the work?

At any rate, he finished his test and pulled out his notepad to continue working on the story he was making with Sakura. He then heard a throat clear.

"It's for a story I'm trying to write with my girlfriend." He explained. "We wanted to do something about Icha-Icha being so popular when it's nothing but trash. I can show you if you want."

Ibiki walked forward and took a look, then nodded. "It checks out. Just let us know before hand next time."

"If there is a next time." Sun noted. "I could make it through this time around."

"True. You could." Ibiki begrudged before walking away, throwing a kunai at a seemingly random examinee. "You and your teammates are out of here, bub. So beat it."

Sasuke slammed his head on the desk loud enough for people to notice. "You just had to say that."

"Pinkie was near." Sun and Sakura said more than asked in unison.

Sasuke nodded just as music started playing through the overhead system.

[Michael Jackson – Beat It]

The reactions were various. Some were confused until they learned about Pinkie, some started bouncing to the beat, while the ones that knew Pinkie groaned at the choice of song.

Although the few who knew enough about Ibiki chuckled a bit, thinking it to be oddly fitting for the man. Somehow.

It also resulted in a lot more chunin hopefuls being disqualified, so it also surprisingly worked. Just not entirely in the way Ibiki wanted to do things.

It was only when the time limit was up did the music cut off, letting Ibiki breath a small sigh of relief at being able to do his job without being interrupted.

[End Song]

"Time's up, ya brats!" he barked. "Now, there is one final question you have to take, but there are a few different rules this time. One, you either choose to take it, or you don't. No middle ground this time. Two, if one of you doesn't take it, the entire team is out of here. And three, if you fail...then you can't try again. Period."

"What?!" Kiba yelled, angry. "How can you say that?"

"My test, my rules. Deal with it." Ibiki replied. "So what it's going to be?"

"Consider carefully. Are you in or out?" Sounded through the the overhead system right after Ibiki's question, this time getting giggles from those that knew the reference Pinkie was making.

Ibiki spared but a glancing glare upwards, otherwise focusing on the room. "Well?"

"I think it's pretty clear by now, Ibiki." Sun said as he stood up. "Those of us left in this room are not going anywhere. Pinkie already took care of those that weren't ready, so you're job here is done except for sending us on our way to the next exam."

Ibiki knew the boy was right, but didn't show it as he observed them all. Sun's words had the desired effect, with each pair of eyes staring at him being filled with determined fire.

He sighed. "Leave it to the Uzumaki to spoil my fun. For those of you still here...you pass."

Silence.

"...What?"

Sun explained. "The entire test was to see how well we can get information without being caught, while the final question was 'Is it worth it or not?' Is not only the information worth getting it back to base, but is the mission worth the risk."

"Go big, or go home." Sakura added.

Ibiki nodded. "Exactly. On many a mission, information is far more valuable than life itself. But you don't always know what information is valuable, and even then, you won't always get away."

He took off the bandanna, revealing a head of scars that gave a minor green tint to Sun's face. "I'm speaking from experience."

Pinkie whistled as he popped out of nowhere on a desk. "Dang. Someone must've thought you were a knife sharpener or something. Oh, and Anko's about to blast into the room as a cannonball."

"Wha-" CRASH! "Oh."

"Be thankful that I dealt with her banner, though, so it's just her." Pinkie added before vanishing into thin air, but not before a purple-haired woman in a trench coat stood up and growled at him, "I will find a way to get you back for my banner, kid."

"Yeah, good luck with that." Teams 7, 8, 9, 10 and Suna responded as one, causing her to sulk some from just how many people doubted her statement.

But she quickly shook it off. "Business first, then pleasure. All those that are still here, I'm Mitarashi Anko, and I'm the proctor for the Second Part. Meet me at Training Ground 44 in ten minutes, otherwise you ain't getting in."

She then jumped out another window, with the aforementioned teams not too far behind her. Albeit they chose a less damaging route than a window.

Pinkie did have one final piece for them, in the form of an apple for Gaara who savored the taste.

Hoped you like the little musical references I made with Ibiki. While he is more intimidating than punk, it just seemed to fit in my head. The smaller one was from Aladdin and the King of Thieves, where Saluk, or whatever his name was, convinced the other remaining thieves to join him.

Until then. Please let me know what you think.