CHAPTER 7
Shadow walked into the classroom the mist-nins were using and walked up to their Jounin leader, Tsavong. "You still know nothing...Tsavong of the Mist, do you not remember me?" He said quietly as he disappeared and appeared behind Kenpachi. After standing up on the desk, he reached for the back of his head and pulled 2 feet of hair from his shirt and smiled a bit, sparking memories in Tsavong, the person who had saved Shadow from his father's wrath.
Soni walked in too and looked at Shadow, wondering why he was in here and smiling. "Shadow, what are you doing? Gaara wants us to train..." She said rather quietly and concerned.
Shadow shot a rather cold glance at her. "Tell him I'll be there soon." He hopped off the desk. "I hope you remember who I am before you send your Genin at me...Tsavong." Shadow turned and left the room, following Soni to the training field.
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An hour later, Shadow returned with Gaara and his team mates. Shadow walked directly to Tsavong and told him of Shadows past… and Tsavong's role in it.
Meanwhile, Shadow, Haru and Soni tended to the wounds that the Mist genins had sustained during training.
Shadow noticed the confused look on Rukia's face and explained, "We want to help you...train, and heal, you look like good opponents, I look forward to fighting you..." He smiled warmly at her then tied his last bandage on her arm. "This should hold...for a while at least."
Soni and Haru finished with the other two's bandages and then left, Shadow following.
Rukia stood up and walked towards the exit. Kenpachi did did the same, and Kira walked over to Tsavong, who seemed deep in thought.
"What was that all about, Tsavong-sensei?"
The Jounin turned and examined Kira, as if noticing him for the first time.
"Ah...it's nothing Kira..."
Tsavong stared at Shadow for a moment, then suddenly disappeared from the rooftop. Kira shrugged and made for the exit.
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Genma and his cell sat eating lunch the next day.
'The next round relies on your individual skills,' he told them. 'Its no longer a team exam. I can't tell you anymore than this I'm afraid.'
Ralfe's heart sunk. He wasn't confident on his own. His strategies with his teammates were good, but it was hard to think up good plans when he only had his own skills to work with.
Rina was unhappy too. She needed Ralfe and Kyo to rely on. She wondered if she should just quit.
Kyo felt glad. He was afraid that Ralfe would hold him back from showing his true colours, but now he could show off as much as he wanted.
After lunch, Ralfe and Kyo had gone to train, leaving Rina alone with Genma.
'Genma?' she said tentatively.
'Yeh?' he replied.
'Um... I don't think I can go through with the exam. And now we won't be working as a team, I won't be holding Ralfe and Kyo back.'
'Why do you think that you can't do as well as the others?' asked Genma.
'They're both so strong. Kyo is so strong, and Ralfe is so good at thinking up plans.' said Rina quietly.
'You like them both a lot, don't you?'
'Yeh,' she said shyly.
Genma looked at her. I'll tell you what we'll do,' he said. 'I'll get some friends of mine to train Ralfe and Kyo, and you and I can concentrate on getting your confidence up. Because you have more potential than either of them. But don't tell them I said that.' He smiled at her.
Rina looked happier than she had in months.
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Four days later, a loud siren sounded throughout the forest, signaling the end of the exam. Tsunade called the teams that had passed to the main hall of the tower.
Shadow and his team looked at each other. "So this is how it ends? a mist team, and a bunch of weaklings against us...how pathetic." Shadow said leaning back in his chair blowing sand bubbles.
"Hm...the mist team does look a little tough...I wonder..." Haru said.
The teams assembled in the main hall. The examiners and the jounin stood with the Fifth at the front and the genin stood in a row.
'Congratulations on completing the second test,' the Fifth said. 'You must all be exceptional shinobi for you all to pass so quickly and easily. The examiner for the next exam will now explain the rules.'
Raidou stepped forward. 'The rules for this exam are simple. They will consist of knockout fights between two genin at a time. The fights will go on until one person is killed, concedes, or injured so much that they are unable to fight. If there is a clear winner, then I will stop the fight to reduce the number of corpses we may have on our hands. You have one month to recover, train and strategise. Anyone who wishes to drop out at this stage may feel free to do so.
The third exam will be a great spectator event. The kages will be watching, as well as many distinguished guests. The shinobi lords and examiners will judge whether you have the right material to be a chuunin. Therefore, even if you lose your first fight, you may be still made a chunin. So all of you, or none of you, may become chunin.'
Here is the order of the fights.' He held up a diagram with their names on.
Round 1
Fight A: Rina vs Soni
Fight B: Ralfe vs Kenpachi
Fight C: Kira vs Shadow
Fight D: Haru vs Kyo
Fight E: Rukia vs the Winner of Fight A
Round 2
Fight F: Winner of Fight B vs Winner of Fight C
Fight G: Winner of Fight D vs Winner of Fight E
Final
Fight F: Winner of Fight F vs Winner of Fight G
(These pairings are randomised.)