Naruto
Behind Blue Eyes
Chapter VII
Training Ground Forty-four otherwise known to the inhabitants of Konoha as the Forest of Death. This was the site of the second portion of the Chunin Exams. Naruto was standing with his team Hinata and Shino leaning against a post.
Most of the gathered genin were all standing with their teams as Naruto did a quick team count there were twenty-six teams among them were the sand siblings from Suna, a team from the Grass country, several teams from Konoha, Teams Seven, Nine and Ten, his own team. As Naruto studied the teams he got a bad vibe off the Grass Team as well as the Suna team. Before Naruto could say anything about his senses Team Nine came up to him to talk.
"Alright Naruto spill, how did you get past the first exam?" Tenten asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Naruto said pretending he didn't have an ancient demon sealed inside him.
"I know you cheated Naruto so how did you do it without getting caught."
"King of Pranks mean anything to you, Ten-chan?" Naruto asked in return.
"But how? everyone was being watched." Tenten asked.
"Tenten, did you forget I have that sealed in me?" Naruto reminded his friend.
"Oh yea that would be a good way to get answers without getting caught." Tenten said feeling a little embarrassed she forgot about the Kyubi.
"I know I'm not the smartest out of our class but give me some credit will ya Ten-chan." Naruto said.
"Sorry Naruto." Tenten apologized.
"So what kind of test do you think the second exam will be?" Neji asked.
"Survival it's the only thing that the Forest of Death would be used for." Naruto replied.
"That would seem most likely wouldn't it. Plus it's the only way to reduce the number of teams in the exams." said Tenten.
"Yosh I will pass this exam or climb the Hokage monument with one arm alone." Lee said loudly.
"Lee, are you alright?" Naruto asked.
"Why Yes Naruto-kun my flames of youth burn brighter than ever." Lee replied.
Naruto was blindsided by this talk of youth.
"Don't worry about Lee too much Naruto, he was corrupted by our sensei Gai. Now he is all about the flames of Youth." Tenten explained.
"Remind me to prank the ever living hell out of Gai." Naruto said plainly.
"Alright Maggots gather round and listen to the rules of thi exam." Anko said loudly.
The gathered genin looked toward Anko and got closer without getting too close to other genin.
"Now that I have your attention I will go over the rules for this exam. First, this is a survival exam. Each team will be given a single scroll, either Heaven or Earth. Your job will be to gather both scrolls while making your way to the center of the forest. Each Team will need both scrolls to pass this test. How to get those scrolls is up to you. Second, you will need to fill out waivers saying Konoha is not responsible for an death or injury that will happen." Anko explained to the gathered genin.
"Called it." Naruto said to his friends.
"What about food?" Choji asked.
Naruto deadpanned. "Can't that idiot think of anything other than food?"
Naruto wasn't particularly close to the members of Team Ten in fact none of them ever really hung out so Naruto had no reason to be nice to them.
"There is plenty of food in the Forest plus you all have your rations unless you forgot to bring your mission bags. Just be mindful of the forest's predators, poisonous plants and animals and you should be good." Anko said toying with Choji.
"Hah I'll make anything in this forest fear me." came Kiba's voice.
"The Loud ones are usually the first to die." Anko said ominously with a smirk on her lips.
Naruto had to facepalm at this. "Kiba shut the fuck up before I put you in the hospital after the exams are concluded."
Anko smirked at Naruto's words and pulled out a stack of papers.
"Alright you lot come up and get your waivers then report to the tent to get your scroll and gate number." Anko said loudly.
Each team took their waivers and signed them before reporting to the tent and getting their scroll. When Naruto and his team entered the tent they handed over their waivers and received a single scroll. On it was the kanji for heaven. Naruto. Hinata, and Shino were given gate number twenty-three.
"So what's the plan?" Shino asked.
"We have the Heaven Scroll so we need an Earth which should be easy enough to get. Personally I want to kick Kiba's ass but taking on Kiba means taking on Sasuke and Sakura as well and frankly those two concern me." Naruto said.
"I can handle Sasuke." Hinata said firmly.
"And Sakura, while smart, lacks physical strength. Her strongest asset is Genjutsu, which I can handle." Shino said.
"Which leaves Kiba to me." Naruto said with a smirk.
"We should also plan for the off chance that we get attacked by another team." Shino said.
"If another team attacks us we do what we do best, beat the ever living shit out of them. Hinata has her juken, I have my own style and Shino you have your bugs which can drain them of their chakra honesty we can't lose." Naruto said.
"For once I agree with Naruto even if we fight a team older than us and with more experience we have the advantage." Hinata said.
"Then it's decided." Naruto said.
"Yes it is." Shino said in agreement.
XxXxXxX
Team Seven was at their gate with an Earth scroll.
"I want to kick Naruto and his team out of the exams. Come on Sasuke tell me we're going after Naruto's Team." Kiba said.
"Naruto isn't weak Kiba but I want to see just how strong he and his team are so we'll go after Naruto." SaSuke said with a smirk on his face.
"Sasuke-kun, why not pick a weaker team to go after someone like Ino-pig and her team." Sakura suggested.
"Because Ino and her team are weak and not worth the effort." Sasuke said.
"As long as I'm the one who gets to fight Naruto I'll be happy." Kiba said.
"You can have Naruto Kiba. I'm more interested in Hinata." Sasuke said.
"Guess that leaves Shino for me." Sakura said with a sigh.
"Alright that's what I'm talkin about!" Kiba yelled.
XxXxXxX
"Alright maggots the time for the second exam has come you have five days to complete the exam. Good luck." came Anko's voice over a loudspeaker.
The gates swung open and all teams rushed into the forest with their goal in mind reach the tower with both scrolls. How each team obtained their second scroll was up to them but in the end it would come down to a fight between teams with the scroll as the prize.
Team seven was racing through the trees hoping the first team they encountered was Naruto's. After an hour in the forest Kiba picked up a scent.
"I have a scent. It's not Naruto's or any of his team's, what do you want to do?" Kiba asked.
"Let's see who it is then decide." Sasuke said.
"Roger that." Kiba said.
Kiba led team seven to a clearing and in the clearing was Gaara, Temari, Kankuro and an unknown team. Team seven stayed in the treeline hiding their presence and just watched the two teams.
"Come on Shigure, I want to have some fun. The girl looks mighty tasty." one of the men say.
"Relax, you'll get your chance with the girl after we kill the others." Shigure said.
"So you are that kind of shinobi." Gaara said disgustedly.
"So what if we are?" Shigure asked.
In an instant the three shinobi were encased in sand.
"Women are not playthings they should be respected for they are the givers of life." Gaara said angrily.
"Great now you've pissed off Gaara." Kankuro said in a bored tone.
"Desert Funeral!" Gaara yelled.
With a swift motion of his hand the sand imploded killing the three trapped shinobi. Kiba, Sasuke, and Sakura all watched as Gaara killed the three mercilessly. Not wanting to draw attention to themselves team seven remained motionless until Gaara and his siblings left.
"That could have been us." Kiba said.
"Gaara is no joke, that's for sure let's hurry to the next team." Sasuke said.
Unknown to team seven they were being watched.