Chapter 24
After having handed over my application and received a number I glare at the proctor as if he had arranged the seating purposefully. I am seated next to one of the ones that were under my skin. Glancing to my side I see none other than the black-clothed Kankuro. My hands try to close over the top of my test into fists but I proudly prevent them.
"You don't seem to like me very much." He chuckles with his comment as I fight to keep my face void of expression. "Hey, I said something to ya cutie. You should just go home."
"Could be said the same of such a bullying weakling like yourself." I mutter causing him to officially glare at me. "Or have you forgotten the difference in our strength already?" Looking ahead as I hear chalk tap against the blackboard I turn my attention back to the proctor.
"Everyone eyes front. There are a few rules that you need to be aware of. And I won't answer any questions." He taps the chalk again to make his point clear. "So you better pay attention the first time around." Turning he begins writing causing the chalk to scrape against the chalkboard subtly. "Alright, rule number one is this. The written part of the exam is conducted on a point reduction system. Contrary to what some of you may be used to, you all begin the test with a perfect score of ten points. One point will be deducted for each answer you get wrong." Sighing as he turns to face us again I close my eyes. Another one who likes to hear himself talk. "So if you miss three, your final score will be seven. Rule number two, teams will pass or fail based on the total scores of all members. Rule number three, the sentinels you see positioned around the room are there to watch you carefully for any signs of cheating. And for every incident, they spot they will subtract two points from the culprit's score. Be warned their eyes are extremely sharp and if they catch you five times you will be dismissed before the tests are even scored. Anyone fool enough to be caught cheating by the sentinels doesn't deserve to be here. If you want to be considered Shinobi then show us what exceptional Shinobi you can be…. One more thing. If any candidate should get a zero and fail the test then the entire team fails. The final question won't be given out until fifteen minutes until the end of the testing period. You'll have one hour total… Begin!"
Flipping my paper I sigh openly as I look over first the question layout than the questions. The sounds of tapping from people already writing echoes in the now quiet classroom as I take my time to read through the test. These questions are far beyond what normal Genin can answer, that much is certain. The rules on the test show they want people to cheat since the Shinobi way is through lies and deceit. To top it off there are plenty of missions that require information gathering. In fact, most missions require this. So the reasoning for this test and their wild questions is to see who is the best at information gathering. Yet, they probably didn't expect people like Sakura to be taking this test who will be able to answer these questions with ease. One thing is certain... I can't answer a single one of these. If they were normal questions like you would find on a test then yeah I would be able to whiz through these but the problems lay with and around uncertainty. Even I know that my rational deductive skills would cause me to fail this test. Sighing I close my eyes. Naruto on the other hand not only can't answer these questions but knowing his personality he won't cheat. He's doomed from the beginning. So should I even bother answering these questions?
"Giving up already?" I hear Kankuro's nearly inaudible voice come from beside me.
"Not at all." I tell him before finally picking up my pencil. Oh well, in case I am wrong anyway maybe I should. Setting the tip of my pencil down on the paper I push my energy outwards using the trick Aphrodite has been pushing me to refine. Especially these last five days. Feeling the pencils moving on the papers around me. I find the ones moving rapidly as I begin to match the feel of their strokes answering my questions. As a short time passes I finally finish the ninth question before I skim through my test checking my answers. Smiling at my work, I turn my test upside down and lay forward with my head on my arms upon my test with a yawn. Closing my eyes again waiting for the end of the testing time.
I should have listened to Aphrodite's warning and not have trained so hard this morning. If I had known the first part of the exams would have been like this... I probably would have skipped training and spent the morning meditating, so I would have been completely fresh for today. "Hey! No sleeping during the test!" I hear Ibiki yell as I lift my head as if to ask who me? "Yes, you! Sit up!" At this time everyone had paused and was now staring at me as I yawn setting up.
"But I've been done…" I nearly whimper as I rub my eyes yawning. Watching Ibiki's eyes widen briefly at my remark.
"Then wait patiently." His voice this time was calmer and I gave him a courteous nod though inside I was cursing him. Leaning back in my seat I look up at the ceiling with a sigh wondering what to do now to pass the time.
*Sakura*
-Eh, these are integrated problems based on principles of uncertainty and require a complex energy analysis. Incredibly advanced stuff… Naruto! Can't solve these! He hasn't got a chance! In fact, there can't be more than a handful of people here besides me who even understand it.-
"Hey! No sleeping during the test!" Hearing Ibiki yell causes everyone to pause in their writing. For those brief moments, not a sound could be heard as Kira lifts her head as if to ask who me? "Yes, you! Sit up!" My eyes widen. It's not like Kira to slack off like that. Yes, she always arrives late when we are supposed to meet up for missions but other than that she is completely focused on just getting the squad's tasks done, aside from fighting with Kakashi sensei as she tends to try and steal his book often enough. But sleeping during something so important as the Chunin Exam? No, wouldn't happen. We watch as she sets up and yawns rather loudly.
"But I've been done…" She says groggily as she rubs her eyes with another yawn as if to emphasize her meaning causing Ibiki's eyes to widen briefly. Shocking the proctor that everyone had been made to feel nervous about. -She… She's done?! How?! Not possible!- Catching the eyes of Naruto and Sasuke their expressions told me they were thinking the same thing. We all have noticed since the departure to the Land of Waves. I myself had initially dismissed it until I had listened to Naruto and Sasuke about their fight with Haku. I had always thought Kira was just a rude, disinterested, angry girl who hates waiting but on all of the missions. She was the one that showed more skill than any of us. Especially during our first initial test with Kakashi sensei.
Thinking about this now I couldn't understand why I had thought Kira would be near the same level as Naruto with these tests. Her being finished already, I couldn't help but feel the gap between Kira's skills and my own growing. Since team seven was formed Kira has been slowly showing more sides than just that angry girl and would actually walk with the three of us more often now. No longer isolating herself, plus, her teamwork is improving even with me constantly throwing my jealousy at her. Could this be why Sasuke likes her instead of me? Is this why the two of them tend to walk away from the rest of the squad without even glancing back to do who knows what?! Is Kira really so much better than me? Shaking my head I clear my thoughts. -Now's not the time to be distracted. I can't let myself lose to her! Besides, there will be plenty of time to wonder about the mysteries that surround Kira and Sasuke later! Now's time for the test!-
*
Opening my eyes I give a gentle inaudible sigh. I could still feel every now and then curious eyes upon me from all directions. My guess, people finally figured out they have to cheat but my test is face down which would make it impossible for them to use me. Yeah, I may be getting along with my squad a lot better now but I'm still not going to let anyone cheat off of me. I have faith in Sasuke's abilities and Sakura's mind. The problem is Naruto.
Naruto's lacking of his mental capacity and physical strength wouldn't leave my mind. To top it off he is honorable and straightforward, the only two qualities of his I actually admire. Today though, those admirable qualities will get the entire team thrown out of the exam. Maybe, this was too early for him. He doesn't have a single quality for a chunin in any way shape or form either. Kakashi probably believes this will be more of a learning experience or something for us. It's actually probably just a way to give Kakashi himself some time off from the team. Time passes as more and more genin are eliminated weeding out those unworthy of the proctor's time. But I couldn't help but feel excited about the unknown and hope for the best.
In the death note world, I knew everything that was going to happen. I was able to adjust my plans accordingly to what I already knew. To be honest, most of the time I was bored. Except for when Light and I were together. I never in my life had to work with a team. Even when I was making everyone react the way I wanted them to. I was able to sit by myself and manipulate those around me with small decisive actions. Half the time, Light didn't even know what I was doing or planning. He was just trying to beat Lucien without thinking of the long-term picture. Of course, he didn't know what would happen as I did. I kept that information from him. Only telling him at first what I believed he needed to know. This world however has been nothing but a learning experience for me. And this excitement from not knowing exactly what is going to happen. Makes me glad I listened to Aphrodite and hid away the anime so I couldn't use it as a reference. I was able to successfully bury the majority of my memories pertaining to the anime after it having been so long since I had actually watched the anime. Things like this test seem familiar as others I can remember clearly. But most of the time. Everything is a guessing game.
"Number 41 fail!" Someone shouts pulling me from my thoughts of Light and the other world.
"Numbers 35 and 62 fail."
"Hey, no way!" Someone shouts before crashing sounds are heard with him giving strangled sounds as he is forced to leave. That would be fifteen teams now that have failed. So I guess things should be coming to a close soon.
"Uh, excuse me." Glancing over to Kankuro seeing him raising his hand as he smiles I tilt my head slightly. This is the first time I've actually heard him hold a polite tone. He's planning something.
"What is it?" A sentinel asks.
"Gotta use the can, sorry."
I watch as he stands and a sentinel that has given me the creeps since the beginning places cuffs attached to a rope on Kankuro's wrists. "We go with you to make sure you're not up to anything." The sentinel says before leading the boy away. Do they really go that far? This test is designed for cheating but, beyond leading him out of the room to make sure he doesn't catch peeks at another's test would there really be any sense for them to go into the bathroom with you?
"That's perfectly understandable." Kankuro says with a large smile on his painted face as he is led from the room. No, this is completely suspicious to me.
"Alright! Listen up, the tenth and final question… But before I give you the question, there are some more rules that you need to be aware of." More rules? I silently ask myself finally looking towards the proctor, Ibiki, as I hear the room door open. "Huh?" I hear his quiet sound of question before hearing the door close.
"Ah, made it just in time. I hope you found your trip to the bathroom enlightening... Well, take your seat." Ibiki says with his hands in the pockets of his long black trench coat. A few short moments later Kankuro sets back down nearly glaring at the proctor. Seriously, he should learn when to show emotion and when not to. Judging by the sweat still clinging to his face he was nervous as he should be. His sudden trip to the bathroom was obvious.
"These rules are unique to question ten. Listen carefully. And try not to let them frighten you." His voice that started his normal I'm better than you tone to a roll of coldness causes me to smirk as I see his eyes drift over to me. "Very well then, Rule number one. Each of you is free to choose not to be given the final question. It's your decision." Closing my eyes I take in a breath. What is Ibiki getting at? Free to choose?
"Whoa, what's the catch?! What if we decide not to do it, what happens then?!" A girl yells as I listen to my heartbeat slow and steady.
"If you choose not to take the tenth question, regardless of your answers to the other 9 you'll get a zero. In other words, you fail and that means, of course, your teammates fail as well." Opening my eyes I look at his. He was clearly enjoying this. I'm calm for the most part. I am worried about the others though. They could crack, especially Naruto…. There was talk going around the room about who would choose to fail and how of course they would take the question. All usual stuff if you ask me. Being told something like this would make you question why would they even have a rule like this? Of course with Ibiki saying that you and your teammates will fail means what he says next will be… really bad... "Not so fast. You didn't let me finish… If you do accept the question but answer it incorrectly you will not only fail. You will be barred from taking the chunin exam ever again!"
This guy... Looking into his determined eyes and watching his smile it comes to me as if a light bulb was flicked on in my head. From the very beginning, he put a lot of pressure on everyone to try and make them mess up. The test isn't just about proving your information gathering skills but it was meant to test your strength of mind. The entire room when he stood calmly and explained the first set of rules grew tense and nervous. His tone shifting from authoritative to cold giving multiple meanings to his words. He's trying to break our spirits. Trying to make people quit. It's mind games! It's almost like.. he's a sadistic version of Lucian... Using his words and intellect in order to test and maneuver everyone around him. Even Lucian's seemingly innocent questions always had a double meaning to them.
"Hey that's bull man, that's ridiculous!" Kiba stands pointing his finger at the proctor. "What kind of bogus rule is that?! There are lots of people here who have taken the test before!" His dog barks as if in agreement causing Ibiki to chuckle.
"I guess you're just.. Unlucky. I wasn't making the rules before but, I am now. Of course, if you don't want to take it, you don't have to. If you're not feeling confident then by all means skip it. You can come back and try again next year." He laughs again. The uneasy fear is growing in the room. Covering every inch and crevice in the coated fear. "Now then if you're ready. The tenth and final question, those who don't want to take it raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and then you're free to go." Everything falls silent as the proctor lets his words settle in on everyone's shoulders. To see through deception, that is the way of the Shinobi.
This guy has been deceiving us from the very beginning in a number of ways. First placing all of those rules on the test to make everyone nervous and not want to mess up. To feel the pressure of having your whole team riding on your back but was in fact daring everyone to cheat so that he can test and weed out our information gathering. With every person caught more pressure was put on the examinees causing more and more to fail. When really that was just a front. He was preparing all of us for this moment, slipping into our minds and placing doubt with fear to cloud our judgment. Narrowing my eyes on the proctor I sink my fangs into my bottom lip. From figuring all this out I wouldn't put it past him to throw another curveball on everyone. Slowly taking in a breath as I rest my elbow upon the table and cup my mouth with my right hand. Making it look like I was in thought when I let my tongue slip out of its confines and catch the blood now rolling over my chin.
Watching as more and more students give in to the fear. Doubt clouding their expressions. My left hand beneath the table clenches into a fist as I withdraw my fangs from my bottom lip. "Cutie you worried?" Kankuro's voice cuts in causing me to look at him with a glare from the corner of my eye. Pulling my hand from my mouth I make sure that when doing so I unknowingly wipe my chin of any residual blood.
"Not at all. In fact. I've pretty well figured this guy out." Sighing I look back towards the proctor silently thankful for Kankuro's sudden words. I felt much calmer now. The fear in this room is killing me.
"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tuff all you want you guys aren't going to scare me off! No way! I don't care if I do get stuck as a Genin for the rest of my life!" Finally smirking as I roll my eyes watching Naruto's actions. "I'll still be Hokage someday!" He proclaims in defiance before setting back down. Heh, Naruto, only you. I could hear even Kankuro give a slight chuckle at his words. The tension in the room lessening bringing newfound courage to everyone. An impact, I feel, only Naruto can accomplish.
"Interesting teammate you have there." He comments quietly to me causing me to subconsciously nod in reaction.
"This decision is one that could change your life. If for any reason you would rather quit. Now's your last chance."
"No way, I never go back on my word. That's my nindo my ninja way." Naruto says and Ibiki falls silent looking around the room as the Sentinels are even smiling from Naruto's outburst. Naruto never seems to stop surprising me.
"Well then, I admire your determination if nothing else. For those of you remaining, there is only one thing left to do and that's for me to tell you…" He pauses for dramatic effect his presence seems to have changed from the overwhelming stature to more carefree. "That you've all passed the first exam!" What?! I figured a curveball but this much of a twist? Really? I feel relieved even with my confusion. I guess I'll never understand that guy fully. The important thing is. We passed.
