Hello to y'all. Once again, I don't really feel like writing an authors' note…

Many thanks to NoCareChakra, Centurious, and 2stupid for reviewing.

Disclaimer: same as last chapter. The OCs are mine, and I love them.

Oh, someone pointed out that Kabuto has a Kekkei Genkai that heals him immediately. I went over the chapters, and realized that the beginning of chapter four had Kabuto injured. News flash time: It was in his dream. Even if in real life he can heal instantly, nightmares are not rational. Sorry for the confusion. I think that Kabuto can heal with chakra, like he did with Hinata during the Naruto Neji fight. That's what I was using…

Chapter 6: The First Test

Setting: Konoha.

Time: Three weeks after beginning teamwork training. Few days before Chuunin begins.

Kabuto strolled through the streets of Konoha, carefully threading through the crowds, making his way to Ichiraku Ramen Bar, where he was meeting Imai, Uotani, and Team Koenma. They had planned the day before after training to celebrate the beginning of the Chuunin exams. Imai had let it slip that he was bringing his girlfriend, which led to the rest of the group saying that they'd bring people with them too. Kabuto didn't want to bring anyone, as well as the fact that any of the people he knew were already coming or wanted to kill him.

As Kabuto rounded the corner, he caught sight of Ichiraku. In front of the store were Imai and a blonde girl, Uotani and a little girl who looked like his little sister, Toboe, Kira, and Jin with a brunette. Kabuto also noticed Iruka, who seemed to be waiting for someone. Once he saw Iruka, Kabuto hesitated, not knowing if he should go to the store because Tsunade had warned him to stay away from Naruto's crowd. Just as he was about to turn around and go back to his apartment, Imai called out, "Heeeey! Look who's here! About time, Kabuto!"

Resignedly, Kabuto walked over to the ramen store. "Hey. Are Shigure-san and Koenma-san coming?"

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Iruka staring at him. Kira seemed to notice and quietly said, "Shigure and Koenma have plans. Let's go to my place. I'll cook something. I don't think there's enough room for all of us here."

Everyone nodded, and Kira led the way to her apartment. On the way, Imai introduced the blonde as Mayura, Uotani introduced his sister as Natsumi, and Jin introduced the brunette as his cousin as Tenten. Kira and Toboe strolled ahead of the group, obviously in a deep discussion about something.

Kira's apartment was larger than Kabuto's. She had a full kitchen, a bedroom, and bathroom, and even a living room, where she quickly set up a table for the group to sit around. The apartment was clean, with mostly blue, gray, and white shades. Her windows looked out over the edge of the village. The group voted on sesame dumplings, Maze-gohan (rice with steamed vegetables), and Senzai (soft bean jam) for dessert.

As Kira was cooking, the group talked about their goals (A/N Kabuto's was to become truly strong, Imai's was to outshine his father, Uotani's was to be able to sleep without interruption, you get the picture…) Once she finished, Toboe helped her carry in the platters. The group said, "Itadakimasu!" and dug in.

After they finished, Mayura and Natsumi went to their homes, Tenten went to find "her friend" (A/N Neji…) and Teams 10 and Koenma walked to the training grounds in silence. Toboe suddenly said, "Hey, Kabuto…you've done the Chuunin exam before, right?"

Kabuto replied in a slightly strained voice, "Yes. I failed seven times."

Toboe shook his head and gulped. "That's not what I was going to ask. I was actually wondering how long it takes?"

Kabuto thought for a moment. "The first exam takes maybe a hour. For the second part, it's five days long. If there's too many applicants left, they do preliminaries for the third part. Why?"

Toboe looked away and ignored Kabuto's question. "So…a little less than a week. I know the last part is a month after that…"

At that, Kira said, "I'll be fine Toboe" and jogged ahead of the group. Jin, Imai, and Uotani ran after her, leaving Toboe and Kabuto. Just as Toboe was about to join them, Kabuto grabbed his shoulder. "What did she mean? 'I'll be fine?' What's going on Toboe?"

Toboe shook his head again. He mumbled, "C-can't tell. Don't be such a busybody. I was just wondering." He pulled out of Kabuto's grasp, and ran to catch up to the group. Kabuto paused and thought, "Something is going on. Toboe is worried about Kira, and the worries are based off of the time frames for the exams… Damn it! What's going on!"

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The night before the exam, Kabuto couldn't sleep. He paced around his room, picked up the apartment, flipped through a book, and all in all did anything but sleep. Uotani and Imai did the same. However, Team Koenma was awake as well, but not in their homes. They were outside, first at the training grounds talking, then up at the Hokage's place, looking through her library and discussing what they found with Tsunade and Shizune.

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It was exam day. Kabuto ate a healthy breakfast, and met up with Imai and Uotani outside the school. They made their way to the third floor. When they reached room 315, a crowd standing around the door. Two older genin were blocking the way, and Team Koenma stood in front of them. Kira was on the ground, holding a hand to her cheek where she'd been punched. Toboe knelt behind her, with Jin standing next to them. Kira was saying, "P-please…let us go in! We've waited so long. Why won't you let us in?" and tears slowly made trails down her cheeks.

Toboe was yelling, "Hey! Don't hit her. She did nothing to you!"

One of the older genin laughed. "Losers like you three don't belong here! Go save some woman's cat or something! Those are the only missions for you!"

Jin cracked his knuckles angrily. "Hey. Kira and Toboe. I think we could take them, don't you? After all, they're just genin."

At that jibe, the other older genin went to kick Jin. Suddenly, his friend slammed into the wall, knocked unconscious by a blow to the head. Kira was standing, her eyes glittering dangerously as she glared at the remaining offender. Toboe sighed, and stood, putting his hands behind his head. "Kiiiiraaaaa…I thought we were supposed to act weak…thanks for blowing our cover."

Kira snorted softly and replied, "I was tired of waiting for them to give up. Besides, we already know this is the wrong floor. We're still on the first floor. These jerks wasted our time." She turned and walked away, with Jin and Toboe close behind her.

The crowd dispersed, and Team 10 stared at the room sign. Imai said, "Okay, I really thought that said 315 a few minutes ago…"

Uotani growled, "This is so annoying. Shouldn't genin be above sabotage already."

Kabuto shrugged. "It happens every year. Let's go, we don't want to be late."

Once Team 10 arrived at room 315, they glanced around for Team Koenma. They found them sitting at one of the tables. Kira had her head on the desk; obviously she was asleep or pretending to be. Toboe and Jin were smiling easily at the other genin, and laughing when they got sneers back. Jin seemed much more comfortable in this atmosphere then he had any day out in the training grounds. Team 10 made their way over and stood near the other three. Jin asked, "Kabuto, you recognize anyone?"

Kabuto glanced around. "Yeah, a few. Most are new since my last time. It doesn't look like there are any Rookie genin like the last time I was here."

At that, the door slid open and revealed a tall, big man. He introduced himself as Morino Ibiki, and informed them that the first exam was about to commence. As the genin filed into the new room, they were given seat numbers. Once the genin had found seats, Ibiki began the explanation. "Questions will not be allowed, so listen carefully. The first rule: You guys start off with ten points. This test is made up of ten questions, each worth one point. The test uses a subtraction system. Basically, if you answer all of the questions correctly you keep the ten points. But say you miss three questions, then you would only have seven points. The second rule: The combined scores of you and your teammates will determine whether you pass. Now, the most important rule: The third rule is that, during the exam, anyone the testing officers catch doing sneaky activities, mainly cheating, will have two points subtracted for each offense. So, during the exam, there will be some who lose all their points and will be asked to leave. As a shinobi trying to reach the level of Chuunin, act as a proud shinobi should. And the final rule: those that lose all their initial points during the test will be failed along with their two teammates. And the final question will be handed out at the forty-five minute mark. The exam will last one hour. Begin!" (A/N This entire speech is from the anime. Ibiki says it then, and now he says it here. Live with it. I didn't feel like coming up with another exam because I'm lazy. And I know that Ibiki uses this type of test every time.)

Kabuto flipped the paper over, and scanned the test. "Hm…some of these are easier than the last few years. I should have told Imai and Uotani about this test…Teamwork and all that…Well, they're both smart. They'll figure out that cheating is the key soon enough."

20 minutes later…

Imai's thoughts, "Oh shit! I don't know any of this! I'm so dead…Uotani's going to kill me…Okay, calm down Imai. Think! If only a couple of teams pass, then gaining lotsa points is key! Um…hey…this system encourages cheating! No, no, he told us not to cheat…wait…he told us not to get CAUGHT! Okay, so now I find someone who knows all the answers, I cheat off them, and then I'll be all good! They must have put people in here who know the answers!"

All the while a couple rows away from Imai Uotani is writing slowly, "And if the attacker is four feet away, which is within the circumference of the throw, then I would attack with the…etc." Obviously, Uotani is smart…and can figure out most of the answers from experience.

10 minutes later…

Kabuto looked up from his page. He judged that about 20 of the genin had no idea what to do, about 75 knew and were trying really hard not to get caught, the other 5 had given up and were waiting for the tenth question. As Kabuto wrote he could hear the officers telling teams to leave as the genin were caught, and the protests of some genin who didn't want to leave.

Kabuto glanced over the remaining genin, and his heart nearly stopped when he saw Kira. She was…asleep? Her head was down on the paper, which was turned over. Kabuto stared harder at the paper and could see that the spaces for the answers were all filled in. She was done! How? Kabuto then found Toboe, who was smiling and taping his pencil on his head. When he stopped, he looked over his shoulder at Jin, who smiled back and discreetly made a thumbs-up sign. At that, Toboe dropped his pencil on the table, and Kira sat back up and glanced over her shoulder at Toboe, who gave her the thumbs-up sign as well. Kira smiled, leaned back in her chair and put her hands behind her back, waiting for the tenth question. Jin and Toboe flipped their tests over, and leaned back in their chairs as well, waiting for the question. Kabuto glanced at the officers, and saw no one writing down that they had seen Team Koenma cheat. Kabuto wondered how Team Koenma had shared answers, but he knew instinctively that they had.

45 minute mark…

Kabuto had completed most of the test. This year, some questions were much simpler than others. About half of the applicants were left; the rest had been failed or kicked out because their teammate was caught five times. This left about 75 applicants, with 25 full teams.

Morino Ibiki interrupted Kabuto's train of thought when he announced, "Since 45 minutes have already passed, I will now give the tenth question. This question is a competition within the three-man team you've worked with."

Kabuto heard the gasps and complaints around him. "A competition, hm? I'm pretty sure I could beat Imai. Maybe Uotani…"

Ibiki continued as if he hadn't heard the interruptions. "The three of you will compete for the third question, but only one out of the three will fail. Those who fail will remain genin forever and will never be allowed to take the Chuunin exam again." At the protests of the genin, Ibiki yelled, "I am the rule here! I don't allow complaints! If you want to give up, do so. There is also the option of giving up this exam and retaking the exam six months from now. Of course, if one person gives up, all three of the team will fail. But you can still take the exam six months from now if you chose that option. Now, choose your option!" (A/N This speech and the bit after, are all based on episode 105 when Ibiki gave this question to his younger brother's year.)

The genin tensed, as each one went over the options in their minds. Give up now, and take the exam again in six months. Take the last question, and you compete against the people that know you best. One of them will fail and remain genin forever…

Ibiki added, "This is a choice between your comrades and your future. Which is more important? Now is the time to give up if you want."

Kabuto started when Team Koenma stood up together. "What?" he thought. "They all finished their exams, they're all smart. Why give up?"

Toboe said, "We give up." Jin and Kira nodded.

Jin added, "Why take such an exam, that puts yourself over your teammates? That goes against everything we've learned."

Kira smiled slightly. "We'll see you again in six months. Get a new test by then, or we might just become Chuunin elsewhere."

At that, Team Koenma strolled out of the room. Once they had left, Ibiki turned to the remaining genin. "Is anyone else giving up?" He waited a bit.

Kabuto turned to Uotani and Imai. They stared at one another, and then Imai winked. He mouthed, "Let's go" to the other two. Uotani, Kabuto, and Imai pushed back from their respective desks and said, "Same here. Comrades over future." They walked out.

Once they reached the hall, two Chuunin met them, along with Team Koenma and various other genin who had given up because of the final question. One Chuunin, with black hair and bandages over his face, smiled and announced, "Congrats, kids. You've passed the first exam."

The genin glanced around at one another. One Mist genin asked loudly, "What? We gave up! We're coming back in six months!"

The Chuunin grinned, "You guys understood, fundamentally, that no one should throw away their friends. As Team 10 said, 'Comrades over future.' That is one of the main things a Chuunin must know. Never betray your comrades, and always believe in them! You pass!"

Yay! They passed the first exam! How'd you guys like it?

Nya, thank god that's finished. It was hard to write…I kinda have writers' block…-sigh- this is a lot longer than I wanted…

Okay, for anyone who is wondering why Ibiki and the other Chuunin are letting Kabuto remain, even though they know he worked with Orochimaru, it's because Tsunade told them to leave him alone. They can only watch him, but for now, they have to trust him.

Thanks for reading! Review please! I need feedback…

Thanks for beta-ing Tam!

MWAHs to y'all

Libaka