An: Hi peoples! Uhh, well, I made another story called "I'll Keep My Promise", and it's about Sakura and Sasuke. Please read it! Anyways, yeah, my school is going crazy over donating to the Red Cross, which I don't think is bad. But, some people could care less, and the way my school gets us to donate at least one dollar, is if you bring a dollar in for the Red Cross, you got to wear a hat on Friday. It's kinda cool to know someone lives in Georgia too. . . .heheh. That was kinda retarded, but yeah. Anyways, on with the story!

Chapter 8

Chuunin Exams

"Right, I have called you here today to discuss this year's Chuunin Exam. Now, may I have all the journin teachers step forth?" Asked Hokage-sama. Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai all stepped forth.

"Now, for this year's Chuunin Exam, are there any that you would like to enter into the Chuunin Exams? Let's start with you, Kakashi."

"Hatake Kakashi. Team 7 consists of Umazaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura, and Yuuhi Emi. I believe that all are ready for this year's Churnin Exams."

"Ahh yes. This year's fourman cell. You're sure about recommending all of them?"

"Yes."

"Okay then. Continue."

"Yuuhi Kurenai. Team 8. Consists of Hyuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, Aburame Shino. I nominate all of them for the Chuunin Exams."

"Sarutobi Asuma. Team 10. Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Choji. I too, nominate all for the Chuunin Exams."

"How interesting. . . .This year, all the genins are ready for the Chuunin Exams?"

"Hokage-sama! Please! Let me have a say in this!" Shouted Iruka suddenly, causing the three journins to turn around.

"Yes, Iruka?" Said the Hokage.

"Most of these students were mine at the academy! I'm not saying that they're not talented, but I just think it's probably too early for them to be taking the exams!"

"I became a chuunin six years before Naruto, Iruka." Said Kakashi.

"You're different from him! Please listen to me, Hokage-sama! I don't understand the reasonings of the journins, but please! I do not think they're ready!"

"They always complain about their missions. Perhaps giving them something harder for once to stop them for complaining may be good. We all know it's fun to crush them . . . ." Said Kakashi. He felt Kurenai give him a piercing look. "That was a joke, of course." He said quickly, but still remaining in his lazy voice.

"I taught them for many years at the academy! I know them better than you would have!" Shouted Iruka.

"They may have been yours at the academy, but now, they are soliders under my command."

"Enough." Said the Hokage suddenly. "So all nine are ready then. . . . .I see. Okay then. Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma. You are now dismissed. Go and tell your team about this news, and have them ready."

"Yes Hokage-sama." And they all disappeared in a poof.

"Hey you guys!" Shouted Kakashi from the roof top.

"Where were you! You're late this time for about an hour!" Shouted Emi.

"Well, you gotta eat, you know." Said Kakashi as he jumped down from the roof.

"You're always late, sensai!" Shouted Naruto.

"Okay, okay. Anyways, I have nominated all of you for the chuunin exams!" Said Kakashi smiling under his mask.

"What!" Shouted Sakura. "Are you sure we're ready?"

"Yep. All the other journins nominated their kids too."

"Oh." Said Sakura as she thought. "Wait a minute! YOU ONLY DID THAT FOR COMPETION AGAINST ALL THE OTHER JOURNIN TEACHERS!"

"What! We're not ready and you nominated us?" Shouted Emi.

"Who cares. It'll be a piece of cake anyways." Said Sasuke.

"Maybe for you!" Shouted Emi.

"Hey! I can so become a chuunin too! I'm done with being a genin!" said Naruto, trying to compete against Sasuke.

"Yeah, sure." Muttered Emi.

"Anyways, just bring this home to your parents to sign, and if you want to follow through, actually give it a try, then meet at the academy in room 301. See ya later!" And he was gone with a poof, leaving the four genins with a piece of paper in their hands.

"What's this?" Asked Naruto. Emi and Sakura both looked over his shoulder.

"Hmm. Well, the exams begin tomorrow. . . .Sakura, are you going to do it?"

"I don't know. . . . ." She said slowly.

"For one thing, I'm gonna beat you, Sasuke!" Shouted Naruto, jabbing a finger at Sasuke's directon.

"Hn."

"Wait, Sasuke, are you going to do it?" Asked Sakura. Inside, she was starting to get fired up. If he said yes, she is so going.

"Of course I am. Don't tell me you're going to try." He said coldly. He felt a sharp stare from Emi. Sakura pursed her lips. "I mean, we should all try. Stick together as a team, and our strengths should help us all pass." Said Sasuke not really knowing what he was saying.

"Yeah! I'm going to do it!" Shouted Sakura. She put her hand straight out in front of her. "Come on! Who else is going through with this?" She said cheerfully. Naruto finally got it, and he stuck his hand in. The two stared at him, so he put his hand in. Everyone had their hand in and was going to commit, except for. . . .Emi.

"What?" She said annoyed.

"Oh, come on!" Said Naruto. "We're in this together, right?"

"Fine. What the heck. If I get my ass kicked, I'm so blaming you guys." She said as she put her hand in.

"Right! We're all in this together, and we're going to become chuunins!" Shouted Naruto as everyone tossed their hand into the air. Kakashi chuckled to himself as he watched his team. They were all going to go for it. He wondered what this was going to be like. . . . .

"Hey Sakura." Called Emi.

"Hmm?"

"You wanna go and get Ino? You know, spend some time together and talk about the chuunin exams with her, and see if she's going to do it too." Said Emi crossing her fingers behind her back.

"Why should we?" Asked Sakura aware of what her friend wanted.

"Oh, come on! Let's refresh the good ol' days, and have fun for one night!"

"Emi. . . .Why are you trying to get us back together?"

". . . ."

"We split up, okay. It's not going to be good ol' times anymore. . . .Ino's my enemy now-"

"Why? Just because she likes Sasuke too? Have you ever even thought about how Ino feels? Sakura, I think that you're the one who ended this relationship with Ino in the first place!"

"Oh, fine! Take her side then! It's all by fault? Well thanks for being such a supportive friend!"

"It's not like that! I don't want to stop being friends with you or Ino! But don't you remember that time when you and Ino split ways?"

Sakura thought about way back when. . . . .

Flashback

"Ino! Emi! You won't believe it! I think- I think!" Shouted a six year old Sakura running towards her two friends.

"What Sakura? What won't be believe?" Asked Ino.

"I think I like this really cute boy!" Said Sakura excitedly.

"Who! Tell us Sakura!" Shouted Emi.

"I like Uchiha Sasuke!" Said Sakura letting it out in one breath. Ino's facial expression changed.

"What?" Asked Ino all of a sudden, breaking Sakura from her day dreaming moment.

"Huh?"

"Sakura, you like him? But. . .I thought you knew that I liked him too. . . ." Said Ino slowly.

"You never told me that." Said Sakura.

"Yes I did, Sakura! How can you like him!" Shouted Ino.

"Because I can! I will get Sasuke-kun!"

"No you won't! Before I met you, everyone made fun of you! You're that big forehead girl! How can he ever like someone like you!"

"Stop!" Shouted Emi. "This is stupid! Quit fighting over a boy!"

"Oh yeah! Well, I don't get how he can like a loudmouth like you, Ino!" Shouted Sakura at Ino. Sakura burst into tears, and she ran away from her two friends.

"Sakura! Sakura! Come back!" Shouted Emi.

"Forget her." Said Ino.

"Ino! How could you do this? You really did hurt her feelings!"

"Like she didn't hurt mine?"

"I know she did! But, lets forgive her!"

"Why? Just because everyone used to make fun of her? I helped her, and now she betrays me!"

"But, can' t you both just like the same boy?"

"No."

"Please. . . . .I'll go and talk to Sakura about this! I'm sure she didn't mean anything she said!" Said Emi as she ran towards the direction Sakura ran.

The next day, Sakura called Ino and told her to meet her at the park.

"Hi Ino." Said Sakura when Ino arrived. Ino noticed that she had taken off the red ribbon that Ino had first given her when they met. He ribbon was now in Sakura's hands.

"Hi Sakura. . . .What did you call me down here for?"

"We both like Sasuke-kun, don't we?" Said Sakura slowly. "Doesn't this make us. . . . . enemies?"

"Sakura. . ."

"Here's the ribbon you gave me. I don't need it anymore. I'll win Sasuke-kun, Ino." Said Sakura placing the ribbon in Ino's hands.

"Oh. . ." Said Ino softly. She was taken aback.

"The day we fight for Sasuke-kun, we'll wear ours like true shinobi and fight all out."

"Fine." Said Ino hiding her tears. Ino was rather good like this, since she was strong.

"We're no longer friends then. See you around big forehead girl."

"Hmph. Bye Ino-pig!"

And they both parted separate ways.

End of Flashback

"Ino never really wanted to part with you. . . ." Said Emi.

"You make it sound like it's all my fault!" Shouted Sakura with tears in her eyes.

"It's not! But you know what? Everytime I think about it, it makes me feel like it's mine because I didn't take action in trying to stop you guys from parting! You know, the whole village think that it's all Ino's fault that you guys became rivals! Do you think that's fair? I don't think Ino wanted to part with you anyways!"

"And you think I did?" Shouted Sakura with blown out tears.

"No. . . .That's why if feels like it's all my fault. . . .I'll see you tomorrow Sakura." Said Emi turning and leaving. As she walked, tears started to drip on the road.

End for now. . . .

AN: How was it? Well, I didn't really like this chapter a whole lot. I was trying to not put so much Emi into it. But she's kinda like my problem-solver character. . . .She's the bridge between Ino and Sakura. Oh well. Remember to click the little go button when it says "Submit a Review". . . . .

Aquaviolinessorchdorker2293 out!