Life as a Chunin

This story takes place right after the chunin exams. It shows what life is like for the new chunins. It seemed like they'd be as close as ever…maybe not. There won't, I repeat, WON'T, be a lot of fluff in this fiction. Sorry, but I just don't want fluff at the moment.

The genin sat tired awaiting their judgment. Would they become chunin or would they be sent back as genin? Naruto, who was usually loud and obnoxious, was probably the quietest one in the room. Chouji, who was usually eating, was now mumbling nervously that he wasn't hungry. Ino and Sakura were no longer thinking of Sasuke, Sasuke was looking nervous just as everyone else was.

"Please let me pass…please…please," Hinata muttered under her breath. Naruto heard her and turned and put on a smile despite himself. "Don't worry Hinata, you did great," he said encouragingly. She nodded and looked down blushing.

'What the hell is taking them so long? Really, pass or fail, right?' thought Sasuke. 'What if I don't pass?' thought Sakura. 'I know! I'd be separated from Sasuke!' said inner Sakura. 'Who cares? It would be so humiliating!' Sakura thought back. 'I can't fail. I have to pass,' thought Naruto desperately.

Inside the Office:

The persons in charge of making the decisions were talking fast as to not make the ninja wait longer. While some decisions were easy, others were not. Most were decided. It would only be a few minutes longer.

Outside the Office:

"How much more of this madness do they expect us to take?" said Ino quietly. Sakura looked over at her ex-best friend and took her hand encouragingly. Ino looked up and nodded. They had come to an understanding in a way.

Just then, the door to the office room opened and a man brought in the teams one by one to know if they passed or not. Teams went in and out, some cheering for joy, others, near tears. Ino was among those close to tears. When she and her teammates came out of the room, Shikamaru patted Ino's back sympathetically while Chouji offered her some chips.

"It's ok Ino. They said they'd give you a re-test," said Shika. "It's not ok. I couldn't pass it the first time!" Ino wailed. Shika looked over to Sakura who got up to comfort her friend but just then team seven was called into the room. "Good luck," said Ino. "I'll be back and you'll be ok," said Sakura as she caught up with her teammates as they entered the room.

"Team seven?" asked a jounin. They nodded. "I will call your names in alphabetical order," he said. Sakura nearly cried at this.

"Haruno Sakura…passes…but barely," said the jounin smiling. They then realized Kakashi was there too. She smiled weakly as she heard and tried her best to keep a straight face but only passed out. Naruto caught her. "Uh…ok…Uchiha Sasuke…passes…but after failing to beat your opponent, you are required to attend training with another chunin until further notice," said the jounin with a smile to the boy. Sasuke for the first time in a while smiled. Only slightly, but Naruto looked over at him.

"Now…Usamaki Naruto…we had a difficult time with you…not that you did badly…but you were difficult to place," said the ninja. Naruto looked confused. "So did I pass or mot!" yelled Naruto who was about to have a fit. The jounin noticed this and choose to speed up," You passed." Before he could say anything else, Naruto jumped up and yelled at the top of his lungs," Yeah I'm a chunin! How do ya like that!" Sakura woke to his yelling and hit him over the head. "Would you chill?" she said. Naruto quieted down.

"Now…uh…your training will be your responsibility. You are of course allowed to train with others if you so wish but it is up to you to stay fit and such. You will be given missions that fit your ability's. I expect you will all be eager to get a mission. With that said I wish you luck and congratulate you…chunin." Kakashi smiled at his former team and gestured them to the door. They left feeling good. Naruto was smiling ear to ear. Sakura was still in shock from the news but say Ino and smiled encouragingly. "You passed? I knew you would," said Ino.

The teams went in and out and finally everyone was passed or failed. The jounin sensais came out to congratulate or offer comfort to their former teams.

Kakashi came toward his team smiling beneath his mask. "congratulations," he said," I have never been so proud." "Probably because you never passed any of your other teams," said Naruto. "That could have something to do with it," said Sakura. Kakashi anime sweat drop. "Well…still…I want to treat you guys to ramen…on the condition that Naruto keeps it to a limit of 15 bowls." "You got it Kakashi-sensai!" said Naruto who was giddy.

They went to the ramen shop and just as Naruto promised, he ate exactly 15 bowls. 'Baka Naruto,' said Sasuke. "Pig," said Sakura. "Hey I'm a growing boy," said Naruto defensively. "You guys realize that you won't be seeing as much of each other now that you're chunin?" asked Kakashi. Sasuke looked him in the eye and nodded. Sakura looked down and nodded. "What? Why not?" asked Naruto.

"Because Naruto" said Sakura," We'll be really busy with missions." "And training," Sasuke continued. "And friends naturally drift apart," Kakashi finished. "But I don't want to drift apart," said Naruto quietly. Sakura shot Kakashi a nasty look. He looked off in a different direction to avert her angered eyes. "Just because we won't see each other every day or don't hang out as much doesn't mean that we're going to drift away from each other as friends. We all will always be friends," she said trying to cheer up her friend. "Yeah you dope…friends for real, friends for life…weather we like it or not," said Sasuke smirking. "I'm not a dope," Naruto muttered under his breath.

"What's today Kakashi-sensai?" asked Sakura. "Uh…Tuesday…and you don't need to call me Kakashi-sensai as I am no longer your teacher," he said. "Oh yeah…well…anyways…how about we agree that every Tuesday we'll get together to do something as friends…weather it's watching Naruto pig out on ramen or training or something like that…we'll be doing it as friends," Sakura. "Really? Awe…you guys are the best!" said Naruto," Group hug!" He spread out his arms. "Not on your life," said Sasuke. "No," said Kakashi. "Uh…maybe later," said Sakura who meant no.

"Awe come on! Friends for real friends for life!" he whined. He looked sad now. "Just once," said Sasuke. They did the group hug thing which put Sasuke in a bad mood, made Sakura blush, Kakashi's eye twitch, and Naruto smile. "Never again Naruto. That was a one time thing," said Sakura. "We NEVER speak of this again," said Sasuke. "Well I'm going home," said Kakashi putting the money on the counter," Congrats." He walked out of the shop.

"I'll see you two around," said Sakura getting up and walking out of the shop. "Ditto," said Sasuke walking out with Naruto bringing up the rear.