Chapter 25

I had actually come to the training grounds early this morning. I couldn't sleep last night with everything weighing on my mind. Aphrodite had come home late last night more than willing to share the news but was a little depressed to find out that Kiba had already informed me she was promoted. She quickly recovered when she realized I didn't know what she had been promoted to, or any of the details. She was ecstatically explaining every bit to me but the downfall was… We've been being watched while training. That thought alone made me cringe. If one of whoever was watching us had gotten close enough to hear us talking then they'd know everything about us. I do mean absolutely everything. They had figured out the differences in our strengths and thought my going to the exams was fitting for my skills whereas, with Aphro's, they didn't want her competing with others whose skills are so much lower than her own. Another downside is. The new squad she is on will be teaching her new jutsu and how to perfect the ones she already knows. Meaning, our training sessions will be few and far between.

Black ops huh… Closing my eyes I sigh. Why is it that I am trying so hard to get up to her level and surpass her as I should be with my status? But, she just keeps rising above me. It is now that I realize that Damen was right. My aunt should have been the one queen. Aphro should be the next in line for the throne. She is smart, cunning, strong, and extremely talented. She would make a far better ruler than I could ever dream of being.

To top it off the loud Jonin weighed heavily upon my mind all night. From her warning of how more than half of the examinees would be cut, I didn't want to chance coming unprepared. As I sit upon the tree branch I pull my travel bag off of my back and open it to do one last check. Food provisions for just in case. Containing high protein, and vitamins. They may not taste great but I bet they would taste better than food pills. For emergency only of course. My blade sharpening and cleaning kit, extra paper bombs, and wire, rope, my storage scrolls. Emergency first aid kit containing cooling pads, bandages, wraps, and a case of various medicine and pain killers among other key items for emergency medical aid. Gloves, a spare outfit, extra kunai, and throwing stars. I have found that unless it's a long and difficult mission all these extras are pointless, yet I still thought it right to pack them. Of course, even though I drank a blood pack last night I gave myself another dose today. There was also an emergency canteen inside my bag that Aphro handed me this morning containing odd markings around the metal exterior of it. It will come in handy if I get into a fight and need some quick healing afterward. Also, a gift Aphro had made for Sasuke that she wanted me to give him today.

Figuring everything is as it should be as I glance through the items one last time. I zip my travel bag and secure it upon my shoulders, noticing the area in front of the training ground had become full of the examinees. My squad seemed to be looking for me as I watch their heads shift at everyone around them. Smiling briefly I stand and chakra step over to them so I would seemingly appear next to Naruto. Successfully achieving a scream from him as he jumped away from me about four inches. "Kira! Don't do that!" He yells nearly causing me to smirk at him as I cross my arms before moving to Sasuke's side.

"I have something for you from Aphro." I whisper to him achieving a nod in reaction.

"She said she was going to give you something to help with training." He mutters.

"Yeah, but her new station won't allow her to train as often so I'm looking for a new full-time partner. You game?" I ask him with a smirk successfully catching his eye. He nods again. "Good. When this test is over I'll meet you at the usual training area. You already have an idea of what training Aphro and I usually do. I'll get you started in the full-on workout twice a day. Every morning meet me at the training grounds at two a.m. Then again at the training grounds no later than 4 p.m or whenever we are done with our missions. Be prepared to be out for hours, so if there are any other responsibilities you have, then I suggest you work them around the schedule." I speak looking ahead of me feeling eyes on us causing the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. I was getting a bad vibe. Which if I am correct I have an idea why…

"This is the location for the second phase of the Exam. It's the 44th battle training zone." The female proctor speaks drawing our attention to her. She was wearing a fishnet outfit with only a small piece of fabric as a skirt and an open jacket to cover her womanly parts.

"You look like a whore." I mutter under my breath low enough only Sasuke could hear me. Even he makes a small sound as if he had almost laughed before he was able to catch himself.

"But we call it, the forest of death." The proctor finishes expecting all of us to gasp in fear.

"Forest of... Death.." Naruto mutters in shock just staring at the proctor with wide eyes. As it sunk in I could hear a faint clunking sound as if it was cardboard being moved against the ground. Taking note Naruto notices this shortly after I do. His eyebrow raises before he begins walking away from it only to have it follow him. He proceeds to run back and forth in front of everyone. As he passes by me a third time I lift my foot and bring it down upon the box that looked like a poorly made fake rock. Naruto turns, his eyes going wide as he looks at me. Making me wonder if my Ice Queen self was showing again. Removing my foot he points down at the box. "That's the worst disguise of all time! There's no such thing as square rocks, it's completely obvious!" He yells after recovering from my Icy glare.

Turning away from the buffoons I return to the tree I had set upon previously and leap into it leaning my back against the main part of the tree. With my left leg bent and my left arm resting upon my knee as my other leg hangs freely below me. Closing my eyes I lay my head against the tree trying to ignore the commotion going on. Trees are always peaceful, though not as peaceful as the nights I spent with Light laying next to me in bed... "Squad seven! First up!" I hear the proctor shout pulling me from my silent reverie. What was she calling us for? Slightly opening my eyes I look over to see the three kids that hang around Naruto standing near Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke, and the proctor. One of these days, I'll relearn how to pay attention.

"Kira!" Naruto yells waving for me to join them. With a sigh, I leap over to them glaring at the kids as I cross my arms. I do have a reputation to uphold. If people found out that I actually like kids, they most likely wouldn't be as afraid of me anymore. Meaning, I'd have to deal with even more people trying to talk to me. "Oh, Kira.." Naruto begins rubbing the back of his head. "Well umm, Konohamaru and the others are here to interview us for the academy newspaper…" Looking at him I raise a curious brow.

"And... Let me guess, you wish for me to participate."

"Please!" The three kids say in unison as they hold their hands in prayer style in front of their faces. Sighing I drop my arms to my side once I feel Sasuke's hand on my shoulder. As if he knew I was debating about ignoring these kids.

"Why not. I guess there is time to kill." I mutter getting excited looks from the three little ones. That had me fighting not to let my front slip and nearly smile.

...

"I'm sure that Naruto is just talking about himself over there to those kids. I'll bet he never even mentions us." Sakura says standing behind Sasuke who was resting on the ground. I'm only a few short feet away from them leaning against the nearest tree.

"Hmm. That would be just like him." Sasuke comments as he closes his eyes.

After waiting for the other three members to finish their interview, I wonder if they left me as last for a reason. "Hey, Kira." I look over to see Sasuke standing in front of the three kids. "We'll be waiting for you in front of the training grounds. I'm sure knowing you this won't take long at all." Giving him a smirk I stay put.

"You know me too well." That is all I said before he started walking away leaving me alone with the three children.

They walk over to me and set on the ground in front of me, their notebooks at the ready. "Alright, tell us about yourself, for the article." The one I recognize as the very kid who had been picked on by Kankuro asks. Konohamaru right?

Sighing I brush my hair behind my shoulder and close my eyes. "I am Kira Lake. I am Aphrodite Damphire's Cousin. The fourth member of Squad 7. Now I'm sure that Naruto talked about himself, Sakura only talked about Sasuke, just as Sasuke said a little bit about everyone in the squad. There isn't much left for me to say. Except.." I smirk opening my eyes to look down at them. "I am known as the Ice Queen, come to find out it's because I have a killer glare that can freeze people in place. Sasuke told me that." I shrug then look up at the sky.

"Speaking of Sasuke. What do you think of him? We heard you two go off on your own a lot. Are you… dating?" The snot-nosed boy asks nearly causing me to burst out laughing.

"No, we aren't. We are just friends. We got to talking during one mission and we realized neither one of us were as annoying as everyone else. As for going off on our own. That's a laugh. We usually meet up with Aphro and train. So the only real times we are alone are when we are en route to the training grounds where we don't actually talk. We are too busy focusing on the training at hand."

"Training? Like what?" The girl asks looking up at me with wide eyes.

"Are you asking because you heard from the others that I am stronger than they are and you being an aspiring female ninja, you wish to be better than the boys on your squad?" I ask her lightly getting her to giggle. She is almost too cute.

"Even if I told you what our training entails it would do you little to no good. You need to find a training regimen that works for you. Find your weaknesses and focus on them. Once you have well-rounded yourself then add in your skills so you may sharpen them along with what you had already been training on. Never say you can't. There is no try. Do or do not. Focus hard on your goal, never waver, and never slack off. If you find someone stronger than you then fight like hell to be better than them. Just remember, strength isn't everything. If you find yourself getting medium to low grades in school, work on your grades. Never settle for anything lower than a high score. Your body and mind must be equal to be a strong ninja. In missions, you will need to gather information, know all you can about your target. Then you'll need the strength to take them down. See, you need both."

"Wow, you're smart Kira!" She squeals causing me to smile down at her. I notice one of the other two boys writing like mad on his notebook as if he was trying to not miss even a single word of what I had just spoken.

"Next time we meet. I expect you to be stronger." Patting her on the head lightly I walk away from them towards where my squad is waiting for me.

"Took longer than I expected." Sasuke says as I stop next to them. Giving him a shrug I look at the three of them. My squad, my team. Each having their own strengths and weaknesses yet we seem to accompany each other well, covering another's faults and adding to another's strengths. I'd have to say, they couldn't have paired us up better. Naruto Uzumaki, his outgoing personality and vast chakra interact against his lack of brains and jutsu. Sasuke Uchiha, practically even across the board perfectly contrasts with Naruto leveling them out. Sakura Haruno her sharp mind and keen intellect contrasting with her lack of physical and fighting strengths. I have to admit, she is smarter than I am at times so my physical and fighting strengths even her out. Take one away from our squad and the rest would fall apart. We are perfectly leveled in strengths and weaknesses.

"We really want to thank all of you. That was a great interview!" The female kid says happily looking up at us.

"Yeah, thanks." The one with snot hanging from his nose says.

"Knock them dead on the chunin exam boss." Konohamaru says holding his thumb up.

"Don't worry guys, we'll make it!" Naruto exclaims holding his own thumb up to the kids as they walk away.

"Hey, girl.." I mutter catching her attention causing her to stop. "Good luck." I smirk causing her to smile brightly.

"Thanks! You too!" She squeals before giggling, turning around to walk with her friends again. Looking back to Sasuke who had a brow rose curiously, I shrug my shoulders as if to ask... -What?-