Ryoshuu

Chapter 6

By

ensngre

"So we'll meet up with the rest of the teams participating from Leaf?" Naruto asked. "How many teams are there beside Team 7?"

"Hmm?" Kakashi looked up from his orange book. "Oh, yeah, something like that. There should be three more teams from Leaf."

Sasuke looked at his teacher. "Only three? Last time, there were more than that," he asked.

"Saa, the suspense have only gone higher since the last exam you participated in. We don't have too many Jounin's to spare who can accompany Genin-teams to the Chuunin-exams." Kakashi replied, and went back to his book.

"So that's why…" Hanabi, who had stayed quiet until now, spoke up. Both Naruto and Sasuke turned to look on her, while she continued. "I've had some upperclassmen who had difficulty of reaching Chuunin-rank."

"Hmm, really…? It seems as though we had luck, right Sasuke?" The blonde said.

"Yeah. And, we're here." He spoke up, as he took a quick glance around the temporarily camp. There, in front of a team that was sparring against each other, sat two Jounin's. He could hear more sounds from sparring deeper in the forest, probably another team.

The purple-haired Jounin, a woman, spoke up. "So you're finally here, Kakashi-san."

"We've waited for hours," the second Jounin exalted.

"Oh, sorry, sorry, we got lost on the road of life," he lied. "Isn't that right? Naruto?"

"Yeah," he replied, and stepped forward. "Where's the third team?" And looked around.

"They should be here soon," one of the genin's who had been sparring said. The other two walked up beside him. "It's an honour having the pleasure of meeting you, Uchiha Sasuke-san. My name is Uyamau." Sasuke only nodded in response.

Then, the two other teams had returned, and they continued towards the Hidden Village of Stone.

A brown-haired girl walked up to Sasuke and Naruto, who had taken the lead together with Hanabi. The other teams stuck together, and so did the teachers. "Sasuke-san, Naruto-san," she said, "I've heard much about you. You two played both a great part in the Sound-invasion four years ago, right?"

"Not really," Sasuke snorted and answered. He was still the old Sasuke, alright.

The girl giggled. "Although I've heard much about you, there's only rumors. No-one will tell us anything at all. Like why you both disappeared four years ago, and where to..."

"Heh, I see… so it's classified." Naruto said.

"And with all right," Sasuke filled in.

The girl sighed, knowing that she wouldn't get answers from the two. "So what do you think about the exam? My team isn't as strong as yours, but I guess it isn't that much different from the others." She thought for a while. "Actually, Naruto-san, you're even more of a mystery than Sasuke-san-" she was going to continue, when Sasuke spoke up.

"We're here," and there it lay, a massive gate to the village located near the gigantic montains. It was a sight not everyone had seen before.

"Wow…" a boy from the third Genin-team said.

"Are you here for the Chuunin-exam?" An ANBU asked the three Jounin's. A Jounin named Hakuchi spoke up, and after they showed their passes, they were allowed to enter the Hidden Village of Stone.

"I'm hungry, let's go eat."

"I agree with Naruto, it's been a long trip. And we haven't eaten anything today," Kakashi asked, nodding his head. "Well," he turned to the other teams and to their instructors, "good luck, then."

"The same to you, Kakashi-san," one of the Jounin's said, as they made their move to find someplace to stay during the days the exam were held.

"So, up for some ramen?" Naruto asked, while grinning in his unnatural-mature-way. And they made their way to a ramen-stand Naruto had been to before, and seated themselves.

"It's on me," Kakashi said. "I won't be able to look over you during the exams, so this is the least I can do." The others answered with a 'alright'.

The seniors in Team 7 had long ago given up on finding out what's behind that teacher's of theirs mask, and made a promise not to look while he ate. Hanabi wasn't sure of what to do, but followed their advice. While they ate in all their peace, a woman came in, who looked to be around 26 years old. She had long, loose, brown hair with piercing black eyes. She was certainly a sight for the eye. She had a forehead-protector around her neck, indicating that she was a Stone-shinobi. She also wore a grey Jounin-vest.

She was just about to order something, when she saw Naruto. Her eyes went wide than humanly possible, and they were fear-stricken. "It... it's you..." She sweatdropped.

Naruto looked up from his bowl, and put it down on the table along with the chop-sticks. "Oh... so you're alive. Long time, no see... Kakei-san."

Then she snapped out of her fear, and whistled a melody only the Stone-jounins knew. A second after, an ANBU-team of five arrived. "Arrest the one with blonde hair." She pointed at Naruto. "The Scroll of Seals... he was the one who stole it."

Author's notes

I changed to the Village of Stone, instead of Grass. Grass is supposedly a very small village, so them arranging the Chuunin-exam's is out of the question.

A questiong to you readers. Am I going a bit too fast? Should I slow down a bit? (not about the releases - which is quite slow :P) And is the chapters too short? Please state what you're thinking! :) Next chapter up sometime after new-year.