Starlight

Don't own Naruto

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

'Thoughts'

"Talking'

(----) Different point of view

-+-+ Scene change

-/-/-/ Flashback

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9

Their next missions were boring after the one to waves. He might not voice his opinion out loud, but he was usually thinking it. Other then the occasional spars with the genin from Light, he and his teammate were usually bored out of their minds. He enjoyed spending time with Ganmaru, Koichi, Terish, and Yue better then most people in Leaf. Now if only Sakura would stop trying to ask him out and just focus on training herself, he might even begin to like her.

He looks around at the other two, for Koichi and them were with another rookie group for this week. He found Ganmaru studying a scroll and Sakura was just looking bored. She had given up talking to him.

He wonders just why Kakashi would want to meet with them when he already dismissed them for the day. But then, he might never know what goes on in his teacher's mind. He might not want to know anyway. He wonders how Haku, the teen that Koichi and them captured, is handling being at Light village. He was very interested in what Light village was like, for from just watching Koichi and them, it was kind of obvious that they train their students better then most hidden villages. He wonders if they might consider sending a team of genin to Light village went Koichi and them go back.

He stops that train of thought, for their teacher as just appeared. "Your late!" Sakura yells at the jonin. "Sorry, but I thought that these will make it up to you." Kakashi then hands out some papers. He takes a look at the papers and finds that they were entrance form for the chuunin exam. "You think we're ready for this?" Ganmaru asks. "It's up to you three to choice weather or not to take the exam. Just fill them out and be at room 301 in a week. See ya later." Kakashi says and then teleports away.

They kind of stare at each other then at the papers in their hands, they didn't know if Kakashi is pulling their legs or what. He then notices Sakura look depressed. He sighs and wonders if Koichi and them would also be entering. 'There's only one way to find out.' He thinks as he begins to walk away.

(--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------)

He looks at the form and then at the building. He sighs and looks over at Terish and Yue. It's been a week and he's noticed that someone was in the village with a strong demonic chakra. He didn't go investigating for the simple fact that he might meet up with this person and that person might want to fight him on the spot.

They then enter the building together. He wonders just what kind of exam this will be. It was going to take a while, he was certain of that. They then walk up the stairs and they all notice the genjutsu working at the second level. They look at each other and then at the second level floor. Terish then asks, "What to investigate?" They just nod their heads and walk through the door to the second floor.

They then observe as two guards the room 201. They decide to watch as this plays out. He notices a guy that is wearing the same kind of jumpsuit as Gai. 'Must be the team that he's been training. I wonder if that kid has Gai's speed?' He thinks as he watches as the kid then begins to try and enter.

Terish then says in a whisper, "You know, that kid reminds me of someone…" He smirks and answers in a whisper, "You're talking about Gai. You know, the one that's a good friend to Jeri? I bet you that they're his team." Terish and Yue just sigh, it seems that they remember Gai now.

Soon Sasuke and the other members of his cell appear. He grins a bit as they nod to each other and then watches at what happens next. As they watch Sasuke, Ganmaru, and Sakura approach the door with the two guards.

The kid that is wearing the same jumper as Gai gets pushed to the floor again. One of the guards the says, "Is someone as talentless as you really planning to take the chuunin selection exam?" Then the other one says, "Why bother?" Then the first one continues, "Bunch of wet-behind-the-ears snotnoses!" The second one says, "You said it!" Then the girl with the kid in the green jumpsuit says, "Please… We're begging you… let us in." She then walks towards the door and the first guy knocks her away.

Some kid then says, "… That's just cruel…!" The first guy hears that and answers, "What did you say? You misunderstand! We're just trying to spare you … The chuunin exam is incredibly difficult… And we should know. We've failed three times so far. There are people who made it, then immediately gave up being ninja… Others who ended up crippled… Some reduced to vegetables… We've seen it all!" Most people in the hallway look stunned. Then the guy continues, "Besides that, Chuunin are cell commanders. They lead their units. The responsibilities for failed missions and dead ninja rest firmly on their shoulders. And you little punks have the nerve to apply?" The guy snorts and the says, "We're saving a step by weeding out the obvious losers beforehand."

The Sasuke says, "That sounds good in theory… But you'd better let me through. And drop the force-field illusion you've created, while you're at it. I have business on the third floor." Some kid says, "What's he talking about?" Another says, "Who knows?"

The second guy says, "So you figured that out, eh?" Sasuke smirks and says, "It was easy. Right Sakura?" Sakura, his friends, and him look kind of surprised at this. For it was the first time that Sasuke ever really acknowledged Sakura outside training. Sasuke continues, "You were probably the first to notice it." Sasuke turns his head and continues, "You're the most analytical and the best in our cell…" Sasuke winks at her. "At understanding the art of illusion"

The others then begin to understand why Sasuke was doing this, it was to boost Sakura's moral. It works for then Sakura says, "Of course I noticed it. Obviously, we're still on the second floor." The first guy then says, "Hey… Not bad. But just seeing through it isn't… Enough!" The guy then tries to kick Sasuke and Sasuke then kicks to block it. But the kid wearing the green jumpsuit appears between them and holds onto each of their legs. He's impressed with this. 'He's fast.' He thinks and then watches as a kid with white eyes approaches his teammate. "Hey… That's not what we agreed! You're the one who insisted we should avoid drawing attention to ourselves." Sasuke, the guard, and the kid in the green jumpsuit get out of their stances.

The kid looks over at Sakura and then blushes. The girl that's his teammate then says, "Here we go again…" The kid then walks over to where Sakura is and then introduces himself. "Hi, my name is Lee Rock. You're Sakura right?" Then the kid grins and does thumbs up as he continues to speak. "Would you like to go out with me? I'll protect you with my life!" Sakura then says, "No… Way… You are way out of hand!" Lee looks kind of depressed at this.

Then the kid with white eyes approaches Sasuke. "Hey, you! What's your name?" The kid asks Sasuke. Sasuke then answers, "It's common courtesy to give your own name first." Then the kid with white eyes says, "You're a rookie, aren't you? How old?" Sasuke then says, "I don't have to tell you a thing." Then Sasuke turns away.

He then looks around for the two guards and finds them at in a room. He looks over at his teammates and then decides to follow Team 7's lead. Then he notices that Lee is behind them. He looks at where Lee is looking and then understands what the kid wants. He then motions his friends to the next floor. He didn't need to see what happens between Sasuke and Lee, for he knows that Sasuke will lose.

(--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------)

He looks up and finds that Lee kid standing up there. "What is it?" Sasuke asks. Lee says, "You and me, here and now… Want to fight?" "You want to fight me… and now?" Sasuke asks. "Yes!" Lee says and then jumps down to the floor.

He's impressed, for Lee has guts jumping from so high up. He then watches as Lee then stands up. Lee then points to himself and says, "My name is Lee Rock. Among sticklers, etiquette requires one to introduce oneself before asking the name of another…" Sasuke then answers, "Sasuke Uchiha. Huh… So you knew who I was all along." "I'm calling you out! I want to test the effectiveness of my techniques… Against the last surviving member of your legendary clan." The Lee blushes a bit and says, "Besides…" Lee then turns to Sakura and winks.

He watches as Sakura over reacts to this. "No Way! Those eyelashes creep me out!" The he watches as Sakura trembles a bit. "Not to mention the geeky 'do… Plus the caterpillar unibrow!" Lee just says, "You're an angel!" And blows kisses at his female teammate. Sakura ducks down and hits her head on the floor. He had a hard time to keep himself from laughing at this. He could see that Sasuke had the same problem. Sakura then yells out, "You keep your weird kisses to yourself, creep! I could have died, dodging those!" Lee then says, "Aw… Don't be like that…"

Sasuke then decides to return to the challenge. "So, you're challenging me, even knowing my lineage? In other words, you're a fool. So, dog-brow… Do you really want to learn… What it means to be an Uchiha?" Lee then answers confidently, "Absolutely!"

Then Sasuke then starts it off by charging towards Lee. Then it looked like Lee disappeared and now is attacking Sasuke. As he watches the fight, Sasuke blocks the kick and Sasuke is flying through the air. Sasuke flips and rolls on to his feet. It seems that Sasuke's spars with Yue were paying off. He can't see Sasuke's face, but from the look on Lee's face. He'd guess that Sasuke's Sharingan was out. The Sasuke then charges Lee, then Sasuke moves to the left and blocks something. Then Sasuke then pushes Lee's kick back and then lets go of Lee's leg. Sasuke then quickly tries to punch Lee, but is sent flying into the air.

He blinks and he hears Sakura gasp in surprise. He sighs and continues to watch as Lee then shadows Sasuke through the air. "Kagebuyo. There's no ninjutsu or tricks. It's all physical." Lee tells them. Before Sasuke could begin to start a ninjutsu, the bandages on Lee's left arm are trailing through the air.

Then out of nowhere something pins the tip of the bandages. He turns as he hears someone say, "That's enough, Lee!" He finds a big turtle standing there with a Leaf headband around its neck. Both Lee and Sasuke land on the floor.

Lee then bows to the turtle. "You know the rules, Lee. That move is strictly forbidden!" The turtle says. He looks at Sakura and finds that Sakura just shrugs. He then returns to staring at the scene in front of him. "Please forgive me… I was only…" Then Lee stands up and continues, "I… I wouldn't have used the reversal move… I nerve meant…" Then the turtle says, "You fool! Do you think I care about your feeble excuses? Consider the repercussions of a ninja! Baldly showing off all his secrets!" "Y-Yes, sir!" Lee says. "I hope you are properly prepared?" The turtle says. "Y-Yes, sir!" Lee says. Well, then… He's all yours, Master Gai!" The turtle says and then a funnel of smoke appears on the turtle's shell.

Then a man appears on the turtle's shell. "Au, the exuberance of youth. All of you are full of it." The man says in the turtle's voice. He just stares at the older guy. He finds that the guy is wearing the same jumpsuit as Lee, or maybe he should say that Lee is wearing the same jumpsuit as this man. The guy shares the same haircut and eyebrows as Lee.

Then Sakura says, "He's got the biggest eyebrows yet! They're almost… Alive… And that same dorky 'do… They're… Uber-brows!" Lee turns and shouts, "H-Hey! Don't try to make fun of Master Gai!" Gai then says, "Lee!" "Oh! Uh, yes, sir…" Lee asks. Gai then punches Lee and says, "Idiot!"

Then he had to do a double take for it looks like Gai and Lee were crying. "Master! I… I…" "That's enough, Lee! Not one more word." Gai says and then Lee cries out, "Master!" Then they hug each other. "I understand. It's because you're young!" Gai says. "Master!" Lee says. He was now getting freaked out at this. They let go of each other and then Gai says, "It's all right, Lee! Mistakes and youth go hand in hand." "You are too kind… Master!" Lee says. "But I can't let your attempt to break the big rule go punished. You penalty will be to sweat after the chuunin selection exams." Gai says. "I understand!" Lee says. Then Gai then poses and says, "Five hundred laps around the practice arena!" Lee then says, "Yes, sir!"

Then Gai looks towards them. "By the way… How is Master Kakashi?" Gai asks them. Sasuke asks, "You know Master Kakashi?" "Do I know him? Heh, heh…" Gai says and then it looks like the jonin disappear right in front of them. "I should say so! We're arch-rivals!" Gai's voice comes from of behind them.

They turn and look at him and Gai then continues, "The score stands at fifty to forty-nine." Then Gai smiles and says, "I'm stronger than he is." Lee then says, "As you can see, Master Gai is totally amazing!" Gai then says, "I know Lee started this fight, but take pity on his old teacher. For the sake of my own self-respect, forgive him." Then Gai sends out a kunai to knock the thing pinning the bandage to the floor. "You and Lee should head up to the classroom now." Lee then begins to rewrap the bandage. "Best of luck, Lee! Later!" Gai says and disappears. "Yes, sir!" Lee says. Then when Lee's finished wrapping his bandage, he says, "By the way, I'm here to prove my own strength in combat. I do know that the strongest Leaf genin is on my team and I plan to take him down! By the way, you're on my list too!" Then Lee leaps back up into the air. "Off to apply for the exam. Be ready for it, okay?"

Lee is gone and they look at the direction where Lee has gone. "Well, I wonder what a match would be like between Lee and one of Koichi's team? Now, I'd say it'd be a close match." He says, trying to lighten the mood. It works for both Sakura and Sasuke grins at the very thought. He knows that few will be able to match up with any of Koichi and them. Still, he'd like to think that they might be in for the same surprises as them.