All the genins that passed the second test had gathered in a hall. They all filed in line waiting for the next part of the exam. Tapion was shocked there were only four teams that passed including them. Shinta's team passed, they stood next to them. Next to the cloud ninjas was Naomi's team. The fourth team was that one mist shinobi's team. Tapion and Saitou looked agitated by their presence but Hikari was angry. She eyed the one that held a knife to her throat.
At that moment the Sixth walked out. Behind him, followed the leaders of each team. The Sixth cleared his voice a bit before speaking. "First I'd like to congratulate you all for making it this far. Now before we move on to the last part of the exam there is something you need to know about this exam. Before you were told that this exam was a deterrent to war, that the exam promotes friendship among the countries and raises the level of shinobi. In fact the exam is the opposite." He paused letting the knowledge sink in with the genins. "The Chuunin Exam is a replacement for wars among the allied countries. Also All the allied countries take the Chuunin exam together and the reason behind it is to Each countries shinobis risk their own life to protect their lands prestige. This also signals to any potential enemy countries "our village has power". The strength of the country is the strength of the village; the strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi."
Saitou found the truth about the exams interesting. Tapion wasn't really paying attention to the Sixth and Hikari didn't really care. After the explanation, a fifth jounin came out into the room.
He wore the standard uniform and was of average height. He looked at the twelve genins and back at Sasuke and Hinata. "No wonder they nominated the rookies for this exam. Impressive." He said quietly to himself. He then turned his attention back to the genins. He let out a cough and cleared his throat. "I am Konohamaru the third instructor of the chuunin exam." The genins stood at attention awaiting the third part of the test. "This test unlike the last two will not be taken as a team but individually. This is a one on one fight. There are no rules. The fight continues until one dies or is knocked out or admits their defeat. I have the right and will decide the winner if it is clearly one-sided. Many dignified members from all over the land come watch the fights. You will be given one month time to prepare for the fight." He pulled out a bag. "I have a bag of numbered balls. Everyone please come up one at a time and pull out a ball."
Shinta was the first one that walked up to the bag. He pulled out a small yellow rubber ball with a four on it. Roko was next. He walked up and stuck his hand in the bag. He pulled out a ball with the number one on it. One by one they followed him up there pulling out a number. The first match was between Roko and Naomi. The second match was between Shinta and Tapion. The third match Saitou and Iori. The fourth match Batou and one of the mist shinobi. The fifth match Hikari and the mist shinobi that they encountered and the sixth match the last members of the mist and cloud teams.
"Now that you all know who your opponents are you have one month to train. You are dismissed." Konohamaru said and the genins began to talk among themselves as they slowly left the room. The Sixth and the other jounin were already gone.
Naomi looked at her ball and sighed. Iori stood next to her and noticed her relief. "Why the sigh of relief?"
"Oh I'm just happy I don't have to face Tapion the first round." She answered.
"Tapion? From what I've seen he's the weakest of all the genin here." Iori stated.
"You're right he is, but then again maybe not. We used to train together and although he was never able to master as many jutsu as me, I was never able to beat him in our matches." At that moment Tapion walked up to the two of them.
"I'm glad to see you guys made it this far." He put his hand on Iori's shoulder. "Although I'm not surprised at all that you are here." He looked at Naomi and smiled. "Well I got to go. I'm not that strong yet to take on the number one rookie." He tapped Naomi on the shoulder and left the room.
Tapion, Saitou and Hikari walked out together. "So how does this thing work now?" Tapion asked his teammates. "Do we go our separate ways or stick together?" Saitou didn't really know how to answer that one.
"I have no idea." He said.
"We go our separate ways. This part of the test is individual remember. Besides we have to fight each other in the tournament it'd be foolish to train together." Hikari stated as she began walking away.
Saitou and Tapion just shrugged and looked at each other. "I guess I'll see you in a month then." Saitou said.
"Yup and you better improve or else I'm not fighting you." Tapion grinned and slapped his back. "See you in a month.
The meeting room of the main building two weeks later
After the encounter with Vidina, Sasuke and Hinata followed his advice. When they found what they thought was what Vidina wanted them to see, they called a meeting with all the jounin and the Hokage. The Sixth finally entered the room and took his place among his jounin. Neji looked around the room and rested his stare on Sasuke and Hinata. "Why have you called us here?"
Sasuke then began to explain their encounter with Vidina, Gouda and Roosta. He cleared his throat. "After our talk, Vidina told us to look into the history behind the word 'kage'. We found something. Before the time of the five great kages, even before the founding of any villages there was a man. We couldn't find his real name but he was referred to as the shadow or kage. He was the first person to use chakra. He had seven apprentices and toward the end of his life he named the sixth apprentice his successor. According to the stories the third was jealous and killed the sixth apprentice thinking he could take his place. The remaining five students discovered the murder and banished him to a desolate valley. That valley was the valley of Kai. The five students eventraully went there separate ways founding the five great villages." Sasuke looked at his fellow jounin and waited for a response.
Kiba stepped up out of the crowd. "If what you say is true then why are we the only ones attacked."
"Because the one directly responsible for the punishment was the one who founded the hidden leaf. We must be the first targets in their revenge." Hinata answered him. Shino also took a moment and spoke out.
"What about his Vidina figure. He also came to me and spoke of being an ally but can we trust him." Shino took his hands out of his pockets.
"I think so, if what he claims to be true and he is a friend of Naruto then I think we can trust him." Konohamaru stated and most of the other jounin nodded.
"Yes that is true but until we know more we should not plan to depend on him." Neji said in a stern voice. "There was another thing I wanted to discuss." He paused. "There seems to be several large military convoys passing by our village in the recent days. I've ordered several Anbu to check it out but I want all of you to stay alert. I know they aren't shinobi but I have a bad feeling out this." He looked at everyone. "I may need to depend on all of you soon."
Downtown by the noodle shop
Tapion finished his bowl of noodles. It had been two weeks since he started his own training and he saw it fit that he deserved a break. He got off the stool and began to head back to his training area when he bumped into Hikari. The encounter took them both by surprise.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be somewhere alone training to your heart's content." Tapion wondered. Hikari was slightly annoyed.
"I don't need to explain myself to you." Hikari replied. She was about to go into detail about it when suddenly they heard a loud boom. Hikari looked at Tapion and he nodded. They both jumped up to the nearest rooftop.
"What the..." Tapion was stunned to see or not see an entire city block. It was just a pile of rubble. Off in the distance they spotted two large cannons sitting on a hill. The one on the right aimed more to the left. He saw this and then looked back at his home. "Oh no..." Without a second thought he jumped down to the street and sprinted as fast as he could home. Hikari just watched him run for a second and then followed him.
There was panic among the streets. The chuunin were doing all they can to get the people to safety. Hikari saw many Anbu rush past them and toward the outer parts of the village. They were under attack but by whom. Shinobi would not use modern weapons like this or would they. A few moments later he was a block away from his home. At that moment the entire area exploded and Tapion flew backwards and landed on his back. He quickly got to his feat. "No!" He yelled out and started running toward the rubble and fire with tears in his eyes. Only a couple of buildings remained standing. None was his home. He looked around. "Mother!" He yelled repeatedly. Hikari came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Tapion we have to get out of here. Its not safe!" Hikari said. Among them several people were slowly trying to make it through the rubble and to safety.
"No I have to find my mother." He said as he shook off her hand and began frantically looking around for any sign of her."
He ran across a mound and Hikari relunctantly followed him. The cannons fired again. The air surrounding them was cloudy and full of dust, Tapion could not see. He then looked up and saw a wall come crashing on top of his head. But right before Hikari dove and tackled him as the walls came crashing down.
On the other side of the village
The Sixth walked out onto his balcony, five shinobi behind him. "Tenten, Shino I want that artillery gone. Sasuke, Sakura, Kiba take as many as you need. You're on crowd control." Tenten, Shino and Sasuke nodded and left without another word. Neji watched them go into the chaos. "Good luck."
The invading soldiers were able to breach the main gates and made there way through the village. "This doesn't look good. We may be stronger on an individual level but they out number us about thirty to one." Kiba commented as they made their way to the fighting. Sakura, Sasuke and Kiba decided to split up and ordered the Anbu and chuunin that followed them to do the same but to stay in groups of four. Sakura took the left, Kiba took the right side of the village and Sasuke headed up the middle.
People were running down the streets away from the fighting in panic when Sasuke and three Anbu reached the main gate. A soldier ran at them with his rifle in hand. Sasuke easily dodged it and struck him down with one attack. He looked on as he saw men with guns firing and rushing through the gate. "These are ordinary soldiers? How'd they get past our defenses?" He noticed some dead chuunins and Anbu lying in the middle of the streets. The four of them easily dispatched the infantry the held the gate. "You three make sure no one enters the village. I have to go, something doesn't feel right." Sasuke headed back toward the center of the village.
The Sixth marched down the stairs and to the street level. An Anbu member caught him. "Sixth its not safe here you must come with us." Neji took that remark in anger and turned around to face the white Anbu.
"What are you doing here? Our people are in danger!" He yelled. After a moment his out burst subsided. "I'm sorry. How goes the evacuation and fighting?"
"Over sixty percent of the citizens have been taken to safety. We have managed to finally take control of the fighting and have begun pushing them back."
"What about those cannons?"
"For the time being they have stopped firing. We have yet to get word from Tenten and Shino." Neji looked worried. "What troubles you? We have saved the village."
"Have we my old friend. You know as well as I do that these soldiers should not have gotten this close to the village without warning. They lack the skill and ability to do it. Someone else is here." The Sixth said in a stern voice looking outward toward the city.
The Forest
Tenten and Shino made good time to the cannons. Tenten was surprised at the four dead Anbu members lying near the ground of the Artillery. Suddenly a man appeared standing in between them and their target. He held in his left hand a bloody knife and smiled. "Come out the only way to save you village is to get through me."
Tenten and Shino looked at each other and walked out to meet this man. "We don't have time for this Shino." One of the Artillery fired another shot.
"I know. I'll take him you stop those things." He ran at the man and prepared to strike with all his might. The man easily dodged him, struck him down and kicked him back to Tenten. Tenten reached into her back pouch pulling out a scroll.
"Tenten, Shino complete your mission, I'll take care of him." A voice came from behind them. The two looked back with wide eyes. A tall man appeared wearing a faded emerald suit and black flat jacket with a battered leaf head protector around his right arm. "There's no time go. Save the village!" He yelled. They both nodded and went around the impending battle. Tenten looked on as they fought. "Rock Lee..." She said out loud.
Rock got in his Iron Fist stance awaiting the other ninja's move. The enemy glared at him and threw several shuriken's at him and charged. Rock caught the first one and used it to block the rest only to get kick in the stomach. He grabbed his foot and spun him to the ground. As the other shinobi got up, Rock took a step back holding his gut. He looked down and saw a little blood. He then looked at his opponent's boots. They were spiked. He laughed at Rock and started to perform several seals and placed his hand on the ground.
A large puff of smoke came up and dissipated from where he stood. A large gorilla stood in front of the shinobi. He wore a metal breastplate and stared at Rock. Rock returned to his battle stance awaiting the gorilla. The gorilla let out a yell and charged. He swung hard at Rock. The gorilla was faster than he expected and there was no time to dodge. He put up his arms to block the attack. Rock went flying backwards and went right through a tree.
He coughed and got back to his feet just in time to see a knife fly at him. He ducked and saw the gorilla jump into the air several feet and come crashing down on him. Rock jumped to the side.
"Leaf Herculean Whirlwind!" Rock yelled out. Rock Lee spun with all of his strength and delivered a powerful spinning heel kick, blasting the summoned creature back. The gorilla flew backwards crashing through several trees. Rock's heel was imprinted in its armor plate. The gorilla looked up and then at its master before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Rock then turned his attention on his main opponent who was already performing seals and planning his next attack.
Shino landed on the right artillery and Tenten landed on the left. Shino poured several hundred bugs into the massive armored vehicle. He heard screams and the hatch opened and three men came scrambling out crying. He looked over at Tenten.
Tenten stuck several exploding seals all over the artillery and jumped off right before the explosion. They both turned to see how the fight was going.
Rock Lee jumped back. This shinobi was good but not that good. He smiled and then seemed to have disappeared. The shinobi just stood there looking around trying to figure out what kind of jutsu he did. Rock Lee appeared in front of him double punching him with all his might he possessed. The other shinobi did not move he just stood there for a second and dropped to the ground. Rock Lee looked down at the lifeless body and then at his former comrades. He smiled at them. "It's been a while."
A/n: I bet you all thought I forgot about Rock Lee well I didn't. I just didn't know how to plan his entrance. Well this chapter's in the bag. I'll get the next one up as soon as I can.