3 chapter: Truth revealed, this is your team!
"I don't like to repeat myself Inuzuka Kiba.. But if you have your ears filled with dog hair there's nothing I can do about it.." she said and Kiba seemed ready to jump her.
"We will now.. as I said earlier.. rearrange the teams!"
"Why must you change the teams? If you want everything to be even you won't have to do that because it was fixed when we graduated the academy" A desperate Sakura said to her teacher Tsunade.
"Sakura, do you really believe that nothing has changed since you graduated the academy?" Tsunade said to her love-sick pupil.. she knew why she was so devastated, she wanted to be with Sasuke.
"And I do like this because all of you will learn something, you will not always work with someone you like and it is best to learn some teamwork outside the own cell.." Many of the students nodded but was a bit nervous because they weren't used to work with others.
"And you will also learn to not underestimate your opponent just because they often uses to been weaker, every shinobi who can throw a kunai or just a punch has the chance to hit you if you underestimate them."
Sasuke snorted silently at the comment, no one here would make a scratch on him. He had trained almost his hole life while the others had been playing around, he had trained no matter if it was night or day. Because he had a goal and he wouldn't rest before he achieved it.
Neji who stood behind Sasuke and was thinking almost exactly the same thing.. but not as confident. He knew that he could almost take on anyone of the chuunins gathered here and win, but he had learned something that Sasuke had not. He had learned the fact that he wasn't invinceble. He just nodded as he heard Tsunade talk about not underestimating the opponent, he had fallen for that once... he had been so full of himself. Even a dropout had beaten him and it was faor and square too, he regretted that he hadn't tried harder. But now he could have his revenge, Naruto will have to watch his back this exam.. Neji was out for revenge and this time he couldn't lose.. not with his new moves.
Another person who wanted revenge on Naruto was the person standing next to just Naruto. Inuzuka Kiba grinned with his pointy theeths showing in the corner of his mouth. The last time he fought against Naruto he had been defeated by a fluke, he had been humiliated before the hokage and his teammates and that wasn't something he didn't take lightly. The only thing he wanted to be was not on Narutos team so he could attack him when they was in the forest.
Tsunade cleared her throught which got everyones immidiate attention.
"I plan to announce the teams now if you don't mind" She pointed out a little bit annoyed because everyone seemed to doze off into ther own thoughts.
"How will we decide the teams?" a happy Ino asked. It wasn't so hard to know why she was so happy. It was obviously because she had the chance to get into the same team as Sasuke.
"I'm glad you asked Ino, first I thought that we would decide it with a dangerous game of Janken (Rock-Paper-Scissors) but then I got a vision and thought of a better way to decide teams. Which will save us all time but puts a lot more pressure on everyone" Tsunade said delighted. It seemed like she found a perfect way in deciding the teams.
"We will draw lots!" Everyone face faulted except Shikamaru who had already seen through it, Sasuke and Naji who was too cool for face faulting and Tsunade who picked up a straw hat with tiny pieces of paper in it. It was obvious from her expression that she was very satisfied with herself.
"I will now announce the team captains" She said and put her hand into the hat, she quickly extracted four pieces of paper and gave them to Shizune who had the job to read it out loud.
"The captain for Team 1" Shizune said as she folded up the lot. "Is Uchiha Sasuke!" She said with an over enthusiastic voice. She had begun to really look forward to this, she had not been able to not be affected by Tsunade.
The Uchiha made his way through the other Chuunins because he had been standing behind everyone else not wanting to get attention. Now he got the unwanted attention but he also got the position of leader which was good, he wouldn't have to follow anyone but himself.
"The Captain for team two is... Shino" Shizune announced as she read it out loud.
The mysterious bug boy now came out from the crowd and placed himself beside Sasuke. His high collar and his sunglasses did their job and no one saw how he reacted to the hole thing, he could be grinning like mad at the momant but the most of the guessed that he wasn't. Which was true.
"The captain for Team three is..." she paused a second to build up the tension. "Lee"
"Yes, you fell for it" He said pointing at Shizune who just looked dumbfonded at him. Only the one who had stood near him the time Shizune was reading had a idea what he was doing. He had just told them that he didn't want to be the leader of a team, he had this dumb theory that if he said that he wanted to be something he didn't get what he asked for and if he said that he didn't want to be something he got to be it. If he would describe it in his own words he would say.
"If you try to hit the pole dead on with a rock it'll miss but if you aim beside the pole it'll hit" Something like that.
"You're so clever Lee!" Gai shouted from his spot behind the Hokage, he didn't know what Lee had done but he thought everything his green student did was smart and clever.
"eh.." Shizune looked confused at Gai who just returned her look with his pose.
"Well, let us move on" Shizune said as she opened the last piece of paper.
Shikamaru could hear how Neji was whispering to himself 'I don't want to be a leader, I don't want to be a leader, I don't want to be a leader' He just shrugged it of.
"The last captain will be... a girl!" Shizune exclaimed.
Ino, Sakura, Tenten and Neji raised their hand in victory signs. Ino, Tenten and Sakura then remembered that they wasn't the only girl and Neji just grumbeled a little as he was sulking because he made a fool out of himself.. luckily no one had seen him, he was so sure that Lees theory would work.
"Ino" Shizune corrected herself as she remembered that she hadn't specified herself.
"In your face Sakura!" Ino shouted as she raised her clenched fist towards the sky. She made her way to the other leaders and placed herself between Sasuke and Shino, it seemed to be ok because Shino wasn't the jealous type.. and he did not have any feelings for Sasuke.
But as she stood there beside Sasuke she felt that something was wrong and looked at Sakura who seemed to smile.
"Maybe you became a captain Ino... but you blew your chances of being in Sasukes team!" Sakura said as she poined teasingly at Ino.
As this dawned on Ino she fell to her knees and just looked down into the floor.. meanwhile Shizune continued the reading and Tsunade continued to draw lots.
Soon all the teams had been filled with three shinobis each with an interesting result.
In Team 1 was Sasuke, Shikamaru and a delighted Sakura
Sasuke had just sighted when he had got Sakura in his team and Shikamaru had also sighted but to the fact that he would have a toublesome girl in his team, Soon they got to know that every team had one girl so there wouldn't have been any chance of an all boys team anyway.
Sakura had almost fainted out of happiness as her name was placed into Team 1, Ino on the other hand had look at the water and wondered if it was allowed to swim home again.
They had some advantage because Sakura and Sasuke had been in the same team before but when you looked closer at it Sakura and Sasuke had never really had so much teamwork.
Shikamaru was a little disappointed at first because he wanted to be in the same team as Chouji but he would manage because Sasuke wasn't weak either.
In Team 2 was the Captain Shino his teammate Hinata and Hinatas cousin Neji.
Tsunade thought that this was one of the more interesting teams because she didn't really know what Shino was made of and it would surely be exciting with Hinata and Neji because she wasn't so sure that Neji had loosened up to Hinata or not. Hinata would also be more shy than usual because of Nejis presence.
They also had the advantage of being teammates not counting Neji of course, but she didn't know if Hinata and Shino had so much of a Teamwork.
Tsunade hoped that Shino would be able to keep things under control. And with 'things' she meaned Neji.
Team 3 consisted of Lee, Chouji and Tenten
Lee had been positive to the fact that he would be in the same team as Tenten and which meant that right now he was like a child on Christmas Eve jumping around and rambling.
"Wow Tenten, we use to be on the same team so this exam will we complete with our glorious teamwork!" Lee said with his hand stretching out for a high five but Tenten didn't seem to be aware of it.
"Lee, actually our 'glorious teamwork' is nonexistent.. You always train with Gai while I train with Neji.. we only do missions and train at the same time." Tenten said as she pointed at the person she mentioned. "Why am I always stuck with you?" She said a little bitter while she massage her temples.
"It's ok Tenten, I understand" Lee said as he patted Tenten encouraging on the back.
"Understands what?" Tenten said said glaring at Lee again.
Lee who had no idea how the womans mind worked just said "It must be 'that' time of the month"
Team 4 was made out of Ino, Naruto and Kiba who just dodged a airborne Lee.
This was the only team that hadn't gotten any former teammates..
Ino who had been hoping to get into the same team as Sasuke was a bit disappointed, her second choice had been a former teammate which she didn't get. She was not very happy with her team, she thought Kiba and Naruto was a bad replacements for Sasuke or Shikamaru and Chouji. They didn't have that thing called teamwork either, for the two baoys were locked in a glaring contest.
Kiba Wasn't very happy, he had wished to be in any team except one with Naruto and look what he got. Maybe Lees theory worked after all, now Kiba wouldn't have the chance of beating Naruto into a pulp because they were in the same team. He was at least glad that Naruto wasn't appointed leader, but neither was he.
Naruto wasn't very with the team either, he had seen Ino fight once but it didn't count because he had been too busy looking at Sakura who was fighting Ino. So he knew nothing about her.
Kiba on the other hand was just annoying. He had seen him fight once too but he was fighting against him so he noticed him that was for sure. He was forced to admit that the dog boy had some skill, but not near enough his level. Their only chance of winning this competiotion was to hope that the other teams underestimated them.
Tade cleared her throut the second time that day, she didn't want to do it everytime she was going to say something but she didn't have much of a choice. As the last time she got the attention immediately.
"You will now be transported to your teams starting position, all the teams will be split up on the Island so they start at diffrent location and diffrent vegetation for that matter." She said with commanding voice.
"Team 1 will begin at the beach that are visible from here which is north, Team 2 will begin in the forest that is located at the east part of the Island, Team 3 will start from the grassy area that is located at the west part of the island and Team 4 will start in the cold part with snow that is located south." Tsunade carefully explained, she was sure that she had explained everything now.
"You haven't told us the objective yet, the only thing we know is that we will find some orbs and not lose points" Shikamaru said with a tone in his voice that indicated on the fact that he was bored.
"Well..." Maybe she hadn't told them really everything yet. "All teams shall gather two orbs each and bring them to us as fast as you can, all the orbs are located in the middle of the island. The weather in the middle of the Island is very.. how shall I put this... weird. It hasn't any weather to be exact because it is neither warm or cold and neither dry or damp not even day or night. We often refers to it as 'The zone of twilight', it is a pretty big area and the stones are hidden very well." Tsunade said now remembering what the objective was.
All the students except Lee thought that the name sounded corny but they hadn't got any better suggestions so they just stayed quiet.
"There is also four kind of orbs, you cannot bring two similiar orbs.. you must bring two diffrent orbs and if you bring more then that, you'll maybe get some bonus." She said with a glint in her eyes which she used to get when she had planned something evil. But no one of the students knew Tsunade so well so they didn't notice it.
"How will we see any diffrence?" asked a confused Naruto "Doesn't all orbs look the same?"
"It seems that you don't know so much about orbs Naruto" Tsunade said while pointing accusingly at Naruto.
"um..Shizune?" she then said looking for a helping hand "explain to Naruto how he will see the diffrence.. I'm beginning to feel a little tired after all this talking" She said with a feeble attempt to cover the fact that she didn't know either.
Shizune just sighed and began to explain..
"Each orb has a symbol in it, the Leaf orb for example has a leaf within it while the fire orb has flames in it and is a bit warmer than the other orbs. The Ice orb hasn't got any symbol it just is very cold and in a shade of light blue. The Sun orb have the symbol of a star in it, many says that it is a real star but many doubts that." Shizuna said filling the explanation out with a little information.
"The orbs are treasures of Konoha and was created by the combined power of the first and second Hokage, they are very valueable and it exist only four of these.. we have made some copies of them and used our chakra to make them as real as possible. There is a total of six orbs in the middle." Tsunade said with a voice that told them she wanted them back as fast as possible.
"Enough with History class.. let's begin!" Kiba shouted from the crowd. There was a agreeing mumble from the rest of them.
"Ok, let's get started then..." Said Tsunade and turned around to the Jounins. "Will you please transport our teams to their destination and give them the signal to start"
The Jounins went over to the teams and then they split up and prted from the boat with the teams in their back. Kakashi didn't need to transport anyone because he thought that it would be a disgrace if Sasuke, Shikamaru and Sakura didn't find their way to the beach when they could clearly see it from the boat.
Two men were bowing infront of a slim dark man.. the room that they was located in was very dark and you could almost not see the tip of your nose.
They seemed to be very disappointed at themselves and they also seemed to preparing themselves for some punches or even worse.. death.
"We are sorry Itachi-sama, we couldn't find it" They said through their teeths almost crying, but the man that was called Itachi didn't to feel any sympathy for them. He had lost a very precious item and wanted it back.. he had sent them out to search for it but for no avail.
"I send you on one of the easiest mission that doesn't demand much of you two.. but you fail me and come back empty handed?" The sharingan flashed in his eyes as he looked at the two bad excuses for persons at his feets. They didn't deserve to live, he would soon see to that.
"Yes Itachi-sama... we know that the straw hat is very important to you.. we are sorry for our incapability of finding it" They seemed to tense up as the Older Uchiha glared at them through his almost closed eyes.
"Why would someone take my straw hat.. they doesn't have any use for it" Itachi said while rubbing his temples in thought.
"It's a very nice design my lord" one of the underlings said. "But there are many diffrent ways you can use a straw hat on Itachi-sama, remember that time we filled it with punch during the Akatsuki gathering? Remember how you used it to play frisbee with Kisame on the beach?"
Itachi looked at the lower lifeform infront of him.. it made sense after all. He must begin to think in a diffrent way.. he was sure that he had lost it in Konoha. Maybe he should visit them and look if they were about to throw a party.
"It can also be very useful when you're about to draw lots.." said the other underlingwho didn't want to be outdone by his colleague.
Itachi turned his eyes to the two underlings again.. they had provided him with useful information, they wouldn't die today.
He had a good information network and every big event would be reported to him.. it was just a matter of time before he found out who had been using his straw hat.
"Let's wait, soon enough I'll get my revenge"
Tsunade was whirling the straw hat that she used for the lots a couple of minutes ago, it surely was a useful hat.. she had found it at the stuffed animal stand beside the Hokage tower. She didn't know why anyone would place a stand there but she persumed that it just was the twist of fate.
She looked down at her watch.. it had been almost six hours since the students had left the boat and if they had kept up the pace they left with they would be in position by now.
She looked over to the three students who was standing ready at the beach, they had been standing there for the last hour and Sakura had already made herself comfortable in the sun because she wanted to get some tan. Not that Tsunade could blame her, she was also placed in the sun.
"Kakashi, you can give them the signal now.." she said waving her hand at Kakashi who was standing beside a giant red rocket who almost resembeled a chili.
Kakashi reached into his pocket and took out a matchstick. He lighted it on his hip and slowly lit the big chili rocket, the fuse let out a slow hissing sound and Kakashi went and took cover behind the chair Tsunade was resting in.
With a bang the rocket flew up in the air like a... rocket. It created a tail made out of smoke as it reached the maximum hight and was placed in the middle of the island where it exploded into a mix of diffrent colors and glitter.
Out of the explosions flew a dozen of other rockets who flew away in diffrent directions.
Soon the sky was almost covered in god knows how much colors and the glitter rained down over the Island.
Kakashi and Tsunade just stared with wide eyes at the ruckus the rocket made, they were sure that they had bought a ordinary signal rocket..
"That was one hell of a rocket Hokage-sama" Kakashi said regaining his composure. That rocket almost had the capability of destroying a village.. maybe he should keep one in a scroll. But the rocket itself was so ugly so he decided against it.
Tsunade just looked disbelievingly at the spectacle infront of her, she had payed for a signal rocket and had recieved a damn missile! Maybe it got lost on the post order office and she recieved another ones order... well.. that rocket would at least be noticed.
Gai who had been assigned to lead Lees team to the spot where they were going to start from was standing with tears in his eyes as he looked at the firework cavalcade in the sky.
He went over to Lee and pointed up at the colors and beams.
"Look Lee, it must be a sign.. the green color up there is so much stronger than any of the other colors! You'll prevail" Gai said with tears in his eyes as the firework reflected in his eyes.
"Yes, I can see it Gai-sensei! How the green light that is formed as some kind of beast just crushes all the other colors and nearly makes them fade away! And how it pushes away the fat yellow blob who doesn't seem to stand a chance! That yellow blob looks just like Neji!" Lee said predicting his future in the forms and colors that appeared on the sky.
Tenten was standing some distance away from the two beasts who admired the sky who had begun to darken but was now bright again when the fireworks danced like butterflies under it. It was a breathtaking sight. She was a bit jealous on her sensei and teammate that they had such a big imagination, but that was also one of their negative traits. She didn't see any green color or a yellow blob that looked like Neji. She knew that her eyesight was perfect...
"Don't you think that it is some kind of signal or something?" Tenten asked her green sensei after they had stood there a couple of minutes and watched the firework.
Gai suddenly remembered something and broke out from his trance.
"That's right, almost forgot it!" He said with a smile. "That is the signal for all of you to begin!" He said smiling widely.
Tenten felt like push something sharp through Gais green spandex suit but stopped herself.
"We must hurry, the other have already begun while 'some of us was too busy watching the firework'" She said agitated. She seemed very worked up.
"You're going to pay for this later!" Tenten said and pointed a kunai at Gai, after that she sprinted towards the grassy area that lay ahead of them with Chouji in her tracks.
"Gai-sensei, does that mean that it wasn't a sign?" Lee asked and couldn't help but look disappointed.
"Of course it is, that blob was looking exactly like Neji does! How can you doubt it!" Gai said while throwing Lee a nice guy pose.
Lee ot tears in his eyes and was on his way to go over and hug his sensei when he noticed that Tenten and Chouji was a long way ahead of him.
"Hey, what are you doing! I'm the leader!" Lee shouted as he began to run after his teammates, lucky enough Lee was one of the fastest Chuunins so he quickly caught up.
Ino, Kiba and Naruto looked at the snowy road infront of them, no one had expected it to be this cold and everyone was freezing.. well except Kiba who always used to wear his hooded jacket and I don't count Naruto either because he had fairly warm clothes.. and Asuma wasn't cold either because he was a special Jounin and they never get cold!
So the only one being cold at the moment was Ino who was wearing her usual attire of a short sleeved T-shirt and a short skirt.
"It's freezing, Naruto... as the leader of this team I order you to give me your jacket" Ino said while almost shaking from the cold.
"You just want to see my skin, admit it" Naruto said absolutly clueless to the fact that Konohas kunoichis became monsters when they were disobeyed. Not every kunoichi but the most of them.
They had like all the other ninjas in Konoha inherited the will of fire...
Soon enough Ino was wearing a range jacket with a spiral on the shoulder and back. It belonged to Naruto but he didn't have any use for it because he was uncounsious in the snow, bleeding from a bump in his head.
"Now, time for some strategy" Ino said while poundig her fist out into the cold air. She suddenly felt that her legs also was cold.
"Ok, first thing.. Kiba take of your shorts" Ino said commanding. Asuma who was standing a bit away just sweatdropped. Ino was a very determinated person... but if this went on he would have to stop her.
After a while everyone gethered in a circle, Kiba still had achieved in the mission of defending his shorts. But only through giving Ino the spare one he had in his backpack.
"Okay" Ino said as she saw that Naruto and Kiba was listening.
"Kiba will go first because he has a great sense of smell which he can use to find our opponents and traps. Naruto, we will go in a line formation and you will be last because you have a very thick head and could easily survive a blow to it if the enemy ambushed" Ino pointed out, she could faintly hear a "hey" from Narutos direction.. but he was ignored "I will be in the middle so I can shout orders to both of you and because that is the safest position. I have heard that the Leader always should be safe.. just like in shougi" Ino said before she could stop herself. She was starting to sound more like Shikamaru.. which Naruto was quick to point out.
"Ino, you spend too much time with Shikamaru... you know that" He said with almost closed eyes.
"I just came to realize it" Ino said while sighing.. that wasn't good. Soon she would surely use the word troublesome.
Suddenly a many colors appeared on the winter sky and all of them just stood there stunned by the beuty of fireworks for a while.
"That's the signal" They heard Asuma say from his direction, he was standing a bit away from the group.
"What signal?" Kiba asked confused.
"The starting signal, If you want a chance to find an orb I recommend you to get moving" Asuma said while lighting the cigarette that seemed to have been put out during the trip.
"No need t say that twice!" Kiba said with a grin. "Let's go Akamaru!" a loud bark in agreement was heard from Akamaru. As Kiba rushed.. or at least tried to rush through the snow who reached him to the waist.
"Itachi-sama! Disaster!" one of Itachis underlings came running into the dark room and almost tumbeled ove the threshold.
"What is it now? Haven't I told you to knock before you enter my room, Shishi?" Itachi said while glaring menacingly at the underling who seemed to be called Shishi.
"But I have two very bad news Itachi-sama!" Shishi said while bowing before Itachi.
"Ok, If it wasn't important enough I will cut of your legs.. that should teach you" Itachi said while still holding his glare at the desperate life form infront of him.
"I just got a call from Tensai, he just found out the location of your straw hat! He also found the other pieces of the puzzle!" Shishi said while bowing eagerly. He hoped that this news was important enough...but sometimes even if it was important Itachi would hurt someone just for fun and the sound of breaking bones.
"The pieces of the puzzle!" Itachi suddenly got up from his chair in suprisement, he had not thought that he would find them so soon... and the straw hat was of course a bonus too.
"Yes Itachi-sama, they were found on the Island of four seasons... Tensai says that it is some kind of exam going on at the Island right now, we could easily snatch the pieces in all the commotion." Shishi said but he didn't sound cocky or secure... if you did, it could cost you your life.
"Ok, go and take care of the trash... bring Tensai too, I want the pieces. What level are you by the way? Chuunin? Jounin?" Itachi asked the one at his feets.
"We are newly graduated Jounins Itachi-sama" He said with his eyes directed at the ground infront of Itachi.. they weren't worthy of looking at him yet.
"Sounds good, make sure you bring me the pieces and the straw hat, if you do.. you will be rewarded" Itachi said with a cold chill in his voice.
"That's so generous of you Itachi-sama" Shishi said with a smile creeping up his face, but he still faced the ground so no one could see it.
"Do I have your loyalty?" Itachi suddenly asked, he looked down at Shishi.. the sharingan always present in his eyes.
"If that is what you desire" Shishi answered dead serious.
"Good, get out of my sight... and don't screw this up this time" Itachis sai flashing the sharingan once more at the underling who slowly backed out through the door.
"The final pieces of the puzzle, finally.. I have waited for an oppertunity like this." Itachi hissed coldly.
What is Itachi up to? What is the pieces he desire? Who will suffer the pain from stealing his straw hat?
Next time on Naruto; Ultimate test!
Heads up, the clouds are gathering!
Naruto: Ino! Hand over the jacket if you value your life!
Ino: I will return it soon, as soon as we get out from the snowy part..
Naruto: But the snow just goes on and on.. how big is this place?
Sasuke: Stop your whining dobe...
Naruto: You got to start on the beach, it's not fair!
Sasuke: Now I know why you ended up in the snow, you are too hotheaded..