Growing Up...
The Chuunin Exams Begin!
"Ladies and Gentlemen! We welcome you to the village of Konoha and invite you to join us in our celebration of the Fall Chuunin Exams!" Tsunade grinned as she stood inside the Hokage's balcony. Her arm raised with a fist as she looked over the filled stadium. Shizune smiled lightly as she watched Tsunade have such obvious much as the crowd roared with her words.
"You may think it odd that I have called you all to the stadium when the Exams are just beginning! Well you see, I am breaking tradition! Some of you may not know, but I am Tsunade, new Hokage of Konoha! Well you see, to me, a new Hokage means new rules, new traditions!" Another roar of the crowd arose.
"Instead of the usual tests and trials. This year, we have so many Genins it would take days simple to just cut the numbers down! The leaf, the sand, the mist, the rain, the grass, and so many others. The best and brightest are all here. But to cut down on the time and get things done, we are going to weed out the weaker ones right away!"
Fireworks whizzed through the air as they exploded in a show of majestic designs as confetti over the crowds. "Bring in the Genins!"
As the crowd roared, Naruto grinned as he held the small card each one was given, a number written upon it. 137 pinned to his coat as he looked over the large mass of Genin students moving through the halls of the stadium as the filed into the field. Pushing his way through the crowd as he heard the chanting of the stadium.
"Naruto!" Sakura laughed as she pushed through the mass of Genins, grabbing Naruto's arm. "This is crazy! How many do you think are here?"
"Uhh... a lot is my best guess..."
"Have you seen Hanabi anywhere? I was looking for her since I got here,"
"No, but I really doubt she no showed,"
Light blinked Naruto as he blinked lightly, stepping into the field as Sakura clung to his arm to keep herself from being lost in the masses.
"Genins! Are you ready for a explanation of this first test?" Tsunade grinned as a roar from the nearly filled field rose with her words.
"Listen carefully. This is not - repeat not the first test of the Chuunin Exams. This is the first ever, Chuunin Exams Qualifier! Surrounding the stadium I have ANBU members and Jounin leaders who have been trained to feel and measure chakra just by sense. When I give the word, give it your all! Focus your chakra with all your might, ever single bit of it! Only the strongest chakras will advanced. At the end of this qualifier I will read out 8 names! These 8 and their teams will advance to the Chuunin Exams! 24 people, meaning 8 teams will participate in this year's Exams!"
"What the hell? That isn't fair only 8 teams!" The Genin crowd roared in protest as yells echoed through the stadium. "What the hell is she thinking?!"
Naruto gulped deeply as this news sunk in slowly. "Only 8 teams..." Hmm... simple, he would just take some chakra from that baka Kyubii, heh, that ought to put him at the top of that list! "Don't worry Sakura-chan... we will make the cut, I know it..."
"I know Naruto-kun," She smiled softly as she released his arm finally as Tsunade rose her arm slowly.
"Once I drop my arm, I expect to feel nothing I have ever before from you all! Show your true power!" Tsunade grinned as her hand finally fell.
A whistle of energy echoed through the stadium as if her hand falling had been it's only cause, a glow of power seemed to rise from the masses. Each Genin standing at attention as their hands tightly held in the position of the tiger.
"Hehe! Is this all you Genin's have to offer! Come on I know you can give more then that!" Tsunade giggled as she yelled out over the mass. The crowd yelled and cheered for each of their own Genins. Chuunin and Jounin sensei secretly rooting for their own pupils as lords watched in semi-awe a the power manifested itself as a large blue aura over the stadium. Suddenly there in the sea of aura a spike of red shot through the sky, spiking up from the sea. Almost in a challenge, deep purple chakra spiked through the air. One by one, more and more unusual chakra came to challenge and over take the red.
Naruto's teeth gritted tightly as Kyubii's power rushed through his body, beads of sweat trickling down his face. Were there truly others this powerful! Enough to rival the power the Kyubii had to offer Naruto?
"And the results are in! You may all relax now!" Tsunade smirked as she watched those spikes of aura rise one over the other. The slowly fell as the Genins slowly gave sighs of relief, aura slowly fading.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, and Genin... I will now announce the results as they have been given to me. The following genins and their teams please report back here at 2 o'clock!
Number 126 - Konoha's Shitaru Keisuke! Team Members: Rock Lee, Ten-Ten!
Lee smiled lightly as he crossed his arms over his chest. "So, we finally know his name..."
Number 135 - Konoha's Hyuuga Hanabi! Team Members: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura!
"Hanabi is the strongest of the three of us?" Naruto's eyes widened as he looked over the crowd once more... she could over come the Kyubii's power?
Number 73 - The Sand's Gaara! Team Members: Kankurou and Temari!
Number 283 - The Grass' Hitoro Ushima! Team Members: Keiyoko Mishina and Jin!
Number 5 -Konoha's Harunama Kazuki! Team Members: Ino Yamanaka and Tanaka Mamimi!
Number 413 - The Mist's Minka! Team Members: Kira and Jen!
Number 212 - The Mist's Ayami! Team Members: Kanemura Joji and Genturou"
and finally...
Number 199 - Konoha's Hyuuga Hinata! Team Members: Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino!
Naruto smiled lightly. "Hinata-chan is here after all..."
"H-Hinata-chan!" Kiba's eyes widened as he looked to her in shock, Akamaru yipping softly as if giving Kiba confirmation. Kiba whispered silently to himself. "Hinata-chan, how powerful is she really?"
"To those of you who didn't make this year's cut. Do feel bad, not at all. This was simply just a way to cut down numbers. I believe each and every one of you truly have what it takes to become Chuunin, but this time, these 8 teams will be the only ones to get that chance. I am sorry, but please, try again next year, and train with all your heart,"
"Team Keisuke, Team Hanabi, Team Gaara, Team Ushami, Team Kazuki, Team Minka, Team Ayami, and Team Hinata. Please return to the stadium at 2 o'clock this afternoon. I ask of this to you all in the stands as well. It is then that we will have the first test of the Chuunin Exams!"
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Note: Yes, I know it is short, very short. But I will make it up to you all in the next chapter with a special extra long chapter. The entire first exam will take place with the next chapter.
Next Chapter: The First Exam! Anything It Takes To Pass!