A Possible Future by Jason Corley

Chapter Thirteen

The following morning Hinata woke to a steady ring from the pot lid she so hated. Hinata did notice that it wasn't the repeated ringing that she hated but just one ring. She sat up and looked around the room and noticed that Sasuke wasn't in the room. Her door was cracked open the way she had left it. She got out of bed and walked to her wardrobe to dress herself. Once dressed Hinata started down the hall and saw Sasuke's retreating back heading into the living room where they ate their meals. She followed into the living room and sat down at the table that Sasuke was setting. Sasuke poured tea for both of them. Hinata said "Thank you for the meal." After that they ate in silence each thinking about what was before them for the day. Once they were finished they both stood up and carried the dishes into the kitchen. Sasuke washed the dishes and handed them to Hinata to dry. After they finished the dishes they walked back to the living room to put there footwear on at the door. Sasuke closed the door on there way out. They walked to the academy in silence. When they got there they walked to the room where theory were to be taking the first exam. Sasuke saw Naruto and Sakura there already. The two of them looked annoyed that Sasuke didn't get there earlier. But what none of them knew was that Naruto and Sakura were also annoyed that Sasuke showed up with Hinata. Hinata joined Kiba and surprisingly Chouji. As it turns out Chouji wanted to take the Chuunin exam again even if Ino didn't. So he signed in as a Solo to be put on a team and he was put with Kiba and Hinata. Kiba looked very annoyed that Hinata showed up with Sasuke but didn't say anything about it. The six of them walked in to the room of Genins all trying to pass the exam. Sasuke looked around the room and saw a face he hadn't been expecting. He saw Kabuto there but this time he was wearing a forehead protector with the symbol of the country of sound. Sasuke walked over to him and asked "What brings you here?"

Kabuto smiled and said "Well since my secret is out I am free to pass the exam."

Sasuke replied "Are you sure you're not here to try and take me back?"

Kabuto answered "Even I couldn't pull that off with all these instructors here. And it looks like you aren't completely welcome here. Everyone is looking at your forehead protector and they see that you have already cut your ties here. You may have a harder time passing this exam then you think."

Naruto said loudly "Kabuto? How can you be here? Is Orochimaru here again?"

Kabuto replied "I don't think he would be. He already has Sasuke after all."

Sasuke smirked at this but no one else was smiling. Naruto and Sakura both looked worried. Hinata, Kiba, and Chouji looked concerned. Before any of them could say anything more one of the instructors walked in and told all of the Genin in the room to follow him. As they entered they were told where to sit for the written exam. It was laid out very similar to the first time any of them took the Chuunin exam. The exam consisted of 10 questions and they had to pass with a 70. They were not told the last question would be given at the end. And if they were caught cheating they would be disqualified. When the exam started and they turned the paper over the questions were once again impossible. But again Sakura knew the answers and answered all of them without cheating. Kiba was once again getting his answers from Akamaru. Kiba assumed that Hinata would use her Byakugan to get the answers but what he didn't know was that Hinata didn't have it anymore and he was more concerned with how Chouji was going to pass. Naruto was freaking out again. He always waited for the last question. He knew the last question was what really counted but he never knew if that would be the time he didn't know it. Sasuke answered a few of the questions on his own having learned quite a bit from the scrolls he stole from Orochimaru but for the one he didn't know he used his Sharingan to copy the answers from one of the people that knew. Once done he saw Hinata staring at the paper with fear and he could tell she didn't know how to get the answers without her Byakugan. He noticed that Chouji and Naruto both were freaking out. Sasuke decided to pull a risky move. He closed his eyes and visualized the room and where everyone was sitting. He pinpointed Hinata, Naruto, and Chouji. He started mouthing soundless words. At the same time Hinata, Naruto, and Chouji all looked up surprised to be hearing Sasuke's voice clearly. They started to look around the room but stopped with Sasuke told them to just write as he talked. Naruto wanted to yell at Sasuke and nearly missed what Sasuke was saying because of his own thoughts. The three of them all wrote as Sasuke spoke. When Sasuke finished reading off the answers to the questions he opened his eyes and waited for the tenth question. Naruto was wondering how Sasuke had done that without getting caught. To him it sounded as clear as if Sasuke had been sitting right next to him. As for Hinata and Chouji they were trying to figure out why Sasuke had given them the answers. Chouji more than Hinata because she assume it was because they lived in the same house and Sasuke was taking pity on her. As the hour passed by more and more students were disqualified along with there team mates. Eventually very few were left and the examiner told them that if they didn't pass the 10th question that they would never become Chuunins. But if they left then they would get to try again next time. It was looking exactly like the first time they took the exam. Naruto smiled and was about to say something but Sasuke yelled in Naruto's ear. Naruto covered his ears trying to lessen the volume but it was still just as loud. Eventually Sasuke stopped yelling and said that there chances would be higher if more people left. Naruto looked up and noticed that most of the people were leaving. He looked over at Sasuke and saw a grin on his face. Eventually people stopped leaving and the instructor told them to write the name of only one of there team members that they would want to pass. The instructor also told them that if they caught any looking around or cheating all members would be disqualified. Sasuke thought for a moment. He knew that Naruto would either put down his own name or Sakura's. Sasuke was assuming Naruto would write Sakura. He then wondered what Sakura would write. He knew that Sakura's feeling for Naruto had changed but he thought that she still like him also. Sasuke closed his eyes and was about to talk to Sakura but realized that they would easily see his mouth moving and know he was cheating. Sasuke just had feeling that they were going to be more strict. Sasuke thought about how Sakura would think. She would know that Sasuke wouldn't write Naruto's name and would write it herself. Sasuke decided he had to chance putting down his own name. Kiba wrote Hinata's name without hesitation. Chouji felt that Kiba deserved to be a Chuunin more than any of them and wrote down Kiba's name. Hinata thought about how Kiba and Chouji would answers. She knew that Kiba would either put her name or his own. She was guessing that Chouji would answer with who he thought was the better fighter. She was also guessing that Chouji thought Kiba was the best fighter on there team. Hinata decided to chance writing Chouji's name. After the allotted fifteen minutes they were allowed for the tenth question the examiner walked around and picked up the papers. He quickly put the exams together by team. He looked at the answers for the tenth question only. He told a several of the Genin they were disqualified. When they asked why. The instructor told them they failed the last question. When they started complaining about never becoming Chuunins the examiner told them that he lied about never being able to become a Chuunin. Part of being a ninja is being able to lie. The ones that were told to leave left. He then told the remaining Genin that they passed. He then explained that if everyone was chosen by someone else then they would all pass but if two people in the same team wrote the same name then that meant that at least one of them wasn't going to have their name listed meaning that one of them wouldn't pass and since all three had to pass, all three would fail. Naruto, Kiba, and Chouji's expression all showed that they weren't thinking like that. They had just written the name of who they wanted to pass. Hinata and Sakura both sighed in relief. Sasuke just sat there. The examiner continued by explaining that the point of the last question was to make sure that everyone in the team was being watched, be it by themselves or by each other. The second examiner came in to lead them to the where the second exam would take place. Everyone got up to follower the examiner out but on his way Chouji waved to Shikamaru who was one of the Chuunin watching for cheaters. It was one of the few times that Shikamaru wore the blue jumpsuit with his Chuunin jacket.

Naruto was up front following the examiner with Sakura by his side. Naruto went on about how good he was. That he knew all the answers but Naruto would take quick glances at Sasuke to see if he was going to reveal what he had done. Naruto was surprised to see that Sasuke wasn't trying to deflate he ego he was flaunting. Naruto went back to talking to whoever would listen. Sakura for her part followed along quietly which wasn't like her. Kiba talked with Chouji as they walked while Hinata followed along behind them. Hinata's gaze switched between her teammates, Naruto, and Sasuke. Until recently she had always watched Naruto. That thought alone made her look to Sasuke who was now drawing her attention more and more. That night that she and Sasuke almost kissed was still in her memory. She didn't know what it meant. She didn't know what it meant to Sasuke. She didn't know what it meant to her. She wasn't even sure if it meant anything at all or if it was just because both of them were lonely. In the two weeks sense she hadn't brought it up. She still didn't want to bring it up but she wanted to know. When she looked at Sasuke while they were walking he looked distracted like he was trying to watch everyone at once. She then noticed that Sasuke had his Sharingan active. The whole time she trained with Sasuke he had never used his Sharingan and she almost never saw him with it active. She wondered what had him worried enough to have it active. Sasuke for his part was keeping an eye on Kabuto and the other eye on everyone else.

Once they arrived at the gate around the forest that had been the location of the second exam all the Genin formed into there teams. The examiner explained the rules. That they had 5 days to obtain both the heaven and earth scrolls. Half the teams would get one type and the other half the other type. Once again they were told they couldn't compete unless they signed consent forms. This time there were only 14 teams to begin with that made it to the second exam. After each of the teams got a scroll they each walked to a gate to wait till the exam started. When the exam started each team raced forward into the forest of death. Kiba's team did what they had always done and that was to sets traps for an enemy team to walk into. Naruto's team was a bit more forward in there tactics since Sasuke had agreed to let Naruto lead. The only threat Sasuke felt the whole time was from Kabuto. And even though he felt threatened by Kabuto, he didn't think Kabuto would try to force a fight. It seemed as if Kabuto really was after making Chuunin this time. They stopped when they came across a trio of young Genin. Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura to let him handle this. He only semi released the Kyuubi so his eyes pupils were slits and he had claws. He jumped down and roared at the trio. They screamed and Naruto tore at the two guys clothing along with leaving some bloodied scratches. He turned his head to look at the girl and let an expression he learned from the perverted hermit creep onto his face. Naruto moved towards the girl waving his arms in a clawing motion. The girl screamed in terror. Sasuke jumped down and grabbed Naruto by the collar. Sasuke stared at the girl and said "If you give us your scroll we will let you go unharmed. If you don't I can't guarantee my grip won't slip." He then let Naruto move forward a little and Naruto snarled. The girl pulled out the scroll and dropped it at her feet before running off. Sasuke let go of Naruto and Naruto reached down to pick up the scroll.

Naruto let himself return to normal and sighed "It's not even the one we need." He tossed the scroll to Sasuke right before Sakura landed a rather hard punch to Naruto's head. Naruto cried out in pain and asked "What was that for?"

Sakura looked pissed and she said angrily "What were you going to do if Sasuke hadn't stopped you?"

Naruto pleaded "I wasn't going to do anything. I knew Sasuke would get the idea."

Sakura said loudly "You could have told us first."

They now had two earth scrolls. They continued on in hopes of finding a team with the scroll of heaven.

Kiba stopped and said "Hinata, use your Byakugan to look for the other teams." When Hinata didn't do as he said he asked "What's wrong. Why aren't you using your Byakugan."

Hinata looked down and said "I can't use it anymore." Kiba looked at her knowing he had missed something important while he was away. He looked down to Akamaru and Akamaru barked in understanding. It was up to them for scouting from now on.

Sakura hit Naruto on the head very hard and Naruto asked "What did I do wrong? You didn't hit me last time."

Sakura hit Naruto again and said "The last time you didn't rip the front of the girl's clothes either."

Naruto pleaded "But she wasn't turning over the scroll."

Sakura cracked her knuckles and loomed over Naruto as she asked "And what would you have done if she didn't turn it over." Naruto looked to Sasuke for support but Sasuke was looking elsewhere. Sakura grabbed hold of Naruto's collar and continued "Don't think Sasuke can help you. This was your idea."

Naruto was sweating bullets. Naruto had learned the hard way over the months that Sakura's punches were getting stronger. In a nervous tone Naruto said "Sakura...I didn't do anything. I was just trying to scare them. I haven't hurt any of them." Sakura stared Naruto in the face and was drawing back to punch him but stopped when Sasuke spoke.

"This is getting annoying." Sasuke said flatly. "This is the third earth scroll we've taken. Which means we have four of the seven earth scrolls."

Kiba yelled "He did what?"

The rain ninja hanging upside down in the trap that they had set said "I said that..."

Kiba interrupted him by saying "I heard what you said." He sighed before continuing "I guess I can't say I'm surprised since it's Naruto. What I can't believe is that Sasuke and Sakura are going along with it."

As they started to walk away Chouji said "It does seem like Sasuke would make them do it his way."

In a quiet voice Hinata asked the rain ninja "What type of scroll were you carrying."

The rain ninja replied "If you let us down we'll tell you."

Kiba strode forward quickly and grabbed the rain ninja by the hair and said exposing his fangs "If you tell us we won't harm you."

The rain ninja answered "We had an earth scroll."

Sasuke sighed as he leaned against a tree and stated "That's it. It's been three days and we've collected all the earth scrolls but not a single heaven scroll."

Naruto spoke up optimistically "Then that means the next ones we find will have a scroll of heaven."

Sakura replied "Only if they haven't lost it to a group doing what we are."

Sasuke said "Instead of continuing with Naruto's plan of moving in a spiral around the course getting closer to the center lets just go strait to the center and wait for the others. We have all the earth scrolls. They have to get one from us to move on."

As Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura approached the building at the center of the forest they stopped to look for any signs of there enemies. They didn't see any so Naruto decided to take command again and lead them out into the open. Unfortunately for Naruto he stepped into a trap. His foot was pulled out from underneath him and he saw the world turn upside down. He dangled there and scream "Get me down." Sasuke and Sakura stared at him wondering how he could still get caught by such a basic trap.

Kiba said "Hey, it's Naruto." As Naruto hung there and slowly spun Kiba, Chouji, and Hinata walked out to meet him.

Chouji asked "What scroll do you have?" Naruto clamped his mouth shut.

Kiba spoke in a tone that sounded like he had already won "Come on. If you tell us we'll let you go unhurt. That is of course if you give us your scroll if we need it." The rope holding Naruto and he landed just to get caught in another trap. Unfortunately Sasuke and Sakura were already in the middle of their jump and landed in the open with the rest of them.

Sasuke said "Here's a deal. You help us fight the next group and if it is a scroll we need we keep it. If it is a scroll you need you keep it. And just so we know who needs what we'll show each other what we have."

Kiba said annoyed "We know you have an extra earth scroll. You just want us to help you get a scroll of heaven."

Naruto said from his swaying position "Or we could just take yours." Kiba and Chouji took up a ready stance. Which caused Sakura to assume a ready stance while Naruto pulled out a kunai to hold in front of him and Sasuke to just stand there with a grin. Sasuke smiled when he saw that Hinata didn't think to try and fight them. He then looked at Kiba and Chouji when he said "New deal. If you help us get a scroll of heaven we will give you a scroll of earth. And if you happened to lose the one you started with we will give you an extra to barter with. Besides you owe me."

Kiba snarled when he asked "And why's that?"

Kiba looked over his shoulder surprised when Chouji dropped out of ready stance answered his question "Sasuke gave me the answers to the questions on the first exam. We wouldn't be here if he hadn't helped me." Kiba then turned his attention to Sasuke along with everyone else.

After thinking for a moment Kiba relaxed and said "Deal."

It was the last day and still no one else had arrived. The six Genin from Konoha were started to lose their patience. They were getting ready to send Naruto out in the open since that was his way of the ninja and he would make excellent bait. But they didn't have to because Kabuto walked out in the open with his team mates and looked in the direction of the Konoha six when he said "I see you Naruto. You're not hidden that well. You and your team mates can come on out. We just want to talk." Naruto and Sakura came out of hiding right away and started walking towards Kabuto. Sakura was walking behind Naruto.

Kabuto said "I know you're there Sasuke. Come on out."

Sasuke whispered to Kiba "You better be ready to back us up." He then handed two scrolls of earth to Hinata. When she looked at him in a questioning manner her whispered to her "One for you and one of us if he takes all the ones in our possession. Sasuke jumped down out of the tree and walked forward to meet with Kabuto. They stood several paces apart. Sasuke had his Sharingan active. Naruto looked like he was itching for a fight since he was clinching and unclenching his hands.

Kabuto said "From the number of teams we came across that claim they had a scroll of earth that was taken by a monster wearing orange we know you have at least one extra scroll of earth. And you wouldn't still be out here if you didn't need a scroll of heaven. So I propose a deal. You give us a scroll of earth and we will give you a scroll of heaven."

Sasuke quickly said "Deal." and pulled out a scroll of earth. Kabuto pulled out a scroll of heaven and they walked towards each other. They both slowly reached for the other person's scroll. They each had hold of both scrolls. They both smirked and completed the switch. Kabuto and his two teammates backed away towards the building. After they had disappeared inside Sasuke turned around to see Kiba, Chouji, and Hinata walking towards them. Hinata held out both scrolls of earth and Sasuke smiled to her when he grabbed just one. The six of them entered the building together. Sasuke, Naruto, Kiba, and Chouji all opened the scrolls resulting in summoning Kakashi and Kurenai. The six of them were congratulated for making it that far and shown to the waiting room.

Upon learning that all 7 of the earth scrolls had been brought in it was decided to cut the wait short and proceed with the ceremony. Tsunade greeted the three teams that made it. She was glad to see that Sakura had made it. Tsunade informed them that because of the number of people that had been disqualified all the members of the three teams would be competing in the finals. They were told to reach into a box and pull out a number. They each did so and the match set-up was determined.

1: Chouji vs. 2: Yamabiko

3: Sakura vs. 4: Hinata

5: Sasuke vs. 6: Hibiki

7: Kiba vs. 8: Naruto

9: Kabuto

Winner of 1vs2 fights winner of 3vs4 and that winner becomes A. Winner of 7vs8 fights 9. Winner of 5vs6 fights winner of 9vs(winner of 7vs8) and that winner becomes B. A fights B resulting in the winner of the competition.

Author's Notes

I expect to hammer out chapter 14 pretty quick. But since spring semester starts Jan 6, I don't know how quickly I can get chapter 15 out. This is probably where the chapters slow down. I wanted to get as much out before the end of January, when the manga is scheduled to resume. I also plan to fix the scene changes in earlier chapters.