An: Okay, I haven't updated this story in like one and half months already. . . .Oh well. Not many people read this anyways. Plus, most of my reviews are constructive criticism so that's why I don't really update this one? I just had a sudden urge to write another chapter, and I chose this one since I haven't updated this in a long time.

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Chapter 9

Chunnin Exams Part 2

Sakura sat on the huge rock in the middle of a grassy field, located in their local park. She sighed as she twirled around her soft, pink hair. She pondered about what happened last night between her and Emi. Suddenly, she heard the approach of footsteps at a calm pace. It was either Emi still sulking, or Sasuke who always walked like that. She looked up to find Sasuke in his normal walking pose: his head bent down and his hands in his pockets. He neared Sakura and stopped in front of her. Sakura could almost hear her heart beating. Sasuke sat down on the rock beside her and laid down on his back on the titled rock. He could feel Sakura staring at him just like always.

"You think you're ready?" he asked in a calm tone. He still had his eyes closed and was still resting on the rock.

"U-uh, I don't know. . . . .I'm scared about it." She replied.

"Kakashi knows some of us aren't ready and it's clear. But he still signed us up, eh?" He said. Then they heard the nearing footsteps of another person. Far away, Sakura spotted a girl with dark, black hair and vibrant blue highlights. She wore a nice fit sky blue tank top with a black mini skirt meant for fighting and mesh, black socks that went up to her knees. Her hair was still down and went down a couple of inches down her shoulders. Sakura knew she must've run out of the house this morning without getting ready yet. She neared and stopped in front of them.

"Hey guys. . ." She said with a yawn. "I'm gonna be up here. . ." She said as she climbed up a tree and sat on its thick branch. The large oak tree covered and provided shade for the rock. Instantly, she took out her rubber bands and began to braid her hair, laying the two locks neatly on her shoulders. She took out forehead protector and tied it on. She wore it just the way that Naruto and Sasuke wore it. "Hey Sakura?" She called out softly.

"Hmm?" Was Sakura's reply as she leaned back with the support of her arms.

"I'm sorry about yesterday. . ." Said Emi. Apologizing wasn't her forte much, but Kurenai always made her do it anyways. However this time, she actually meant it and it came from the heart.

"It doesn't matter." Said Sakura and she turned around and flashed her friend a warm smile. Emi smiled back gladly. They waited there for a few minutes until Emi decided to check her watch.

"Yo, you guys? Where the hell is Naruto? We have about fifteen minutes left to get there, and we're still not there. . . ." Said Emi.

"I think we better go and get him." Said Sakura sounding a bit worried. "It isn't like Naruto to keep us waiting. . ."

"Actually. . . ." began Emi.

"Then where is he?" Said Sasuke all of a sudden. This made Emi jump. At first she thought he was asleep. She thought he was some creep- laying there with his eyes closed making everyone think he's asleep and before you know it- BAM- he pops something out at you. They all paused for a second at that question. Then at the same time, they all answered "Ramen shop!"

About ten minutes later, leaving them five minutes to make their way to the Academy, they finally managed to drag Naruto out of the ramen shop. It took a lot of effort, but finally, Sasuke managed to carry him out of the shop. They finally made it with a very bad-tempered Naruto. Along the way in the hallways, they met some guy named Rock Lee who Sakura insisted, was harassing her. Emi thought it was rather amusing for such a freak to want Sakura so badly, but unfortunately, Sakura didn't think so. They made a grand entrance by being yelled at for being late when they entered the room. Then after that, Emi was given a huge lecture of talking back just as usual, but she blocked the old geezer out like always.

"I hope you learned a valuable lesson on this," Said Ibiki, the instructor for their first task of the chunnin exams. "You're Yuuhi Kurenai's little sister, aren't you?" He asked just like everyone else. "And Haruko, Kai, and Arashi's sister too, right?" That's what they all asked.

"Uh, yeah." She said a bit annoyed.

"Well, I expect great things from you then. I know you father well too, by the way, so I'd be watching out for myself, if I were you." He said.

"Sure. . ." She muttered. This was getting stupid. He turned around and droned on again as she looked around the room. Sakura was on the other half of the room but in her row, Sasuke was in the back, Naruto was sitting in the row after hers, Ino was sitting two rows down from Sakura, Shikamaru was starring at the wall and sitting with Choji in the second to last row. The chunnins lined the walls, and watched all the eager genins.

"The test begins now! I warn you- If you were to cheat, you and your whole team will be disqualified, so don't even think about it. Good luck." He said and everyone picked up their pencils and looked at the test.

Sakura instantly looked at the test. She thought long and hard about what she learned back at the academy about this. Sakura knew she must know this some where in the back of her mind, but it didn't come.

Ino sat behind Sakura. She eyed the test and knew there was no way anyone would know any of this in here. However, she tried her best thinking that she had to do pass this to make it onto the next exams to impress Sasuke-kun.

Naruto sat there with a confused look upon his face. He had no idea what any of the answers could possibly be. "I don't know any of these. . . .But I have to pass! I have to show Sakura that I can be better than that teme. . . ."

Emi sat there looking at the test repeatedly. She doodled random things on the piece of paper as she sat, deep in thought. There was no way that we could have learned any of these. Sure, at the academy, Iruka sensai did brush upon these topics, but they only knew a little bit about it, and it's not enough to get them anywhere on this test. She started to get ideas.

Sasuke sat at the very back of the room. He scanned the test once more after doing so three times before. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes.

"There's no way we could answer these. Sakura as smart as she is, she will answer these the best out of any of us, but it still wouldn't be correct. Naruto- I bet he has no clue as to what he is doing. But if he cheats. . . .it'll be over for all of us. Emi's probably just on the verge of giving up. . . .So am I, but there has to be something behind this!" Thought Sasuke as he continued to ponder. They did come upon these topics back at the academy, but not so much to be able to answer these questions. At last, he came to the conclusion- Ninjas are supposed to read messages hidden. The whole object of this is to cheat- but to cheat without getting caught. Part of being a ninja is to have good spying skills and to gather information secretively. "That's it! Come on! Emi, you have to get this! Sakura probably is going to get cheated off of, and Naruto! He's going to ruin it for all of us. Come on Naruto! Don't blow this!"

Minutes passed, and soon, almost everyone concluded what they had to do. Everyone, except Naruto of course. He sat there with a blank piece of paper and prayed in his head to the gods. Mainly because he didn't want to face the wrath of Sakura when they didn't pass as a whole. Emi listened to the scratch marks the person beside her made. She marked down the number of marks made per word and tried to figure out the word that could be associated with that topic. Sakura finished and was satisfied with the work she did, and sat there with her paper turned over. Sure enough, Ibiki called time. They looked across the room. Approximately half of the people that applied were gone. However, all of this years Konoha rookies remained. Gai's team, which was one year ahead of them, remained too. Teams from other countries remained too. One team from the Village of the Hidden Sand, and the other team from the Village of the Hidden Sound. Other teams were from Konoha but much older than the Konoha rookies.

"Time." Ibiki had said. "Okay. . . .well, take a look around. Half of you that came in are already gone. Eliminated until next time. Well, here comes the final question that I would have stopped you with. However, if you get this question wrong," He paused and looked at every single individual with a glistening in his eye. "You can never be a ninja again. However, if you leave now, you will have the chance next year. So, if you can't stand it, leave now. Note that your team members are going with you." He said. Everyone looked at their own teammates. A couple of the older ones gave up, and left with their team members trailing after them. Finally, after Ibiki asked if anyone else wanted to leave, he stood up straight and tall, towering over the one fourth of the contestants that applied. A giant smile appeared over his face.

"Congratulations." He said. Everyone gave him a strange look. "You all pass the first exam."

"What are you talking about?" Said a girl with dirty-blonde hair. She looked about one year older than the rookies, and she wore a purple skirt and fish net shirt. She was from the Village of the Hidden Sand. "What's the final question?" Everyone looked at Ibiki for this explanation.

"Well, this final question, was simply a test to see what you choose to do. Neither of them seemed very appealing, correct? You see, being a ninja requires you to make decisions. All decisions have consequences. As for your test- you really didn't need to answer anything. The whole objective is to cheat, which most of you should have found out."

"We were?" Thought Naruto with a confused look over his face.

"Anyways, you will be proceeding onto your next exam tomorrow, but Anko should be here to-" He said when all of a sudden, a poof of smoke appeared, revealing a small woman with black hair tied up.

"So Ibiki- I see that you haven't pushed hard enough this year." She said looking around the room. "There are quite a few more brats than usual. . ."

"Anko, just get to the point." Ibiki said annoyed.

"Fine. Okay, listen up brats. Your next exam will require you to pack. It starts tomorrow, and you and your team should arrive at the gates of the Forest of Death tomorrow at 10:00 A.M. It's going to last for a week, so pack your bags. However, I warn you- say good-bye to whoever you want now, because you might not make it out ali-"

"Enough Anko. All of you are dismissed!" Ibiki shouted and the sound of the chairs being pushed in and the scatter of feet filled the room.

"That was one hell of a test. . ." Muttered Emi as she and her team gathered outside of the room.

"Honestly tell me you guys. Did you all know that we were supposed to cheat?" Asked Naruto. They all laughed at him.

"Yes Naruto- we were." Said Sakura.

"Crap- doesn't this mean we have to go home and pack?" Said Emi. "Gosh! I just unpacked from the last mission with Kakashi sensai."

"Did I hear my name?" Said a man's voice. They turned around. There he was smiling under his mask.

"Kakashi sensai!" Said Sakura.

"Yo." He said. He looked at his watch. "Well, it's about 6:00. I'll take you guys out for dinner; my treat." He said.

"Yahooo! You rock Kakashi sensai!" Said Naruto.

"Arigato." Sakura and Emi said.

"Come on." He said as he and his students walked down the halls of the academy.

End for now

AN: okay, so I haven't updated in a long time. Mainly because my self-esteem of this story has been crushed. Surprisingly, I actually got a review from a new reader, which kind of made me add this chapter. I know it's long and cheesy, but if no one reviews, then I'm most likely not going to update. Check out some of my other stories please!

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