Chapter 4: A Time To Prepare
Quick A/N: Whoops, I've confused a lot of you guys! I would say this story is more Canon AU than anything else. I plan to cover canon events like the Chunin Exams, the Sasuke retrieval arc, and eventually the Shippuden arcs like the Gaara rescue mission, Pain arc, and Hidan and Kazuku for example. Though not in the exact same order or same season even.
I plan to alter/add to various moments like with Naruto's training with the toads, Hinata's own training with her clan, and Sakura's work in the hospital. I'm sure nobody wants to read about canon done in the exact same way because neither do I lol!
So right now everyone is at the beginnings of the Chunin Exams with noticeable differences such as Tsunade already being back in the village and Orochimaru already influencing Sasuke. I didn't mean to confuse anybody with some of the character's words and actions in the previous chapters lol. (It's the AU element of this all) Hope that helps clarify to the Guest and TheWateringWizard that were wondering and any other readers! Feel free to send me any questions in a review or PM me!
"The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open."
― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters
Hinata
"Don't be absurd, our focus needs to be on Neji right now, the exams are scheduled for next week!" Hiashi reiterates. His voice is a low hush, but it echoes in these quiet halls, speaking privately to her Grandfather and the other Elders.
"So you no longer want Hinata to participate in the sparring exercises we had planned for her?" A woman's voice, maybe Hanami's or Himiko's.
She's thankful for them coming to her defense, though she knows it's all in vain.
"Hinata hasn't shown any of us that we need to give her anymore attention or time right now. She can plan and figure out strategies for the exams on her own." Hiashi continues.
Hinata balls up her fists, squeezing them until they're a blistering hot red.
They sting from long afternoons practicing with Naruto when she can manage to get away from Ko's watchful eyes, practicing with Team 8, or simply practicing on her own in the deep parts of the woods where the sunlight doesn't reach.
"What are the blind spots of the byakugan?" Naruto questions, gentle fist landing at a pressure point near his shoulder. He dodges before she can take out the rest of his arm, giving a sweeping low kick she half stumbles over.
Hinata pauses as she re-balances herself, thoughtful. It's never a good idea to expose the byakugan's weaknesses to anyone be it friend or foe, but it's easy enough as well for someone interesting in learning about their clan finding out via reading or asking around enough.
"It's in the back of the head, a little bit above the first thoracic vertebrae." She responds, shifting backwards to avoid the punch from one of his clones.
Another shadow clone comes up from behind her shuriken at ready, metal tip nearly scratching at her cheek as she puts up her hands.
"Vacuum Palm!"
She catches her breath as the clone disperses in a puff, channeling a weak stream of electricity to her fingertips. It crawls over her fingers like spiders, lightning she intends to use in the exams.
A paralyzing Gentle Fist.
Though it lacks the power to create a strong enough blow that could end a match.
It has to reach to all of her fingers fast, better than this.
Because even with spinning out of the way of his attacks, Naruto has far more chakra than her, can outlast her in a match.
And Neji could easily shut off all her pressure points at the speed she's currently at...
"Want to take a break?" Naruto voices, the original this time seeing her sway on her feet.
Hinata nods, reddening when he tugs her forward gently helping her to lay down beside him in the grass.
He laughs at her flushed cheeks, swiping sweat from her forehead before she can go into a rambling mess.
"I'd figure you'd be used to us at least holding hands by now Hinata!" Naruto mentions teasingly.
It's still a bit strange to him how quick she becomes nervous around him, though he's managed to learn via Pervy-Sage's multiple bouts of advice that Hinata only gets this red around him and none of the other boys around their age.
"It's because she likes you Kid; isn't it obvious?! She's just shy is all, probably from that clan of hers." He can her Jiraiya's bellowing at his apparent obliviousness.
No, it isn't obvious; at least not to him...
A knot swirls in his stomach, a selfishness that he hopes it stays this way, that red thread or not she'll always want him.
Hinata squirms taking him out of the memory, voice squeaking and he laughs. "I-I am!"
For a while neither say anymore watching as the sun dips between clouds, filtering broken rays of yellows and whites through the leaves above. She sips from her canteen quietly, noting Naruto's thinking expression.
"If you get paired up against Neji, is there another way you can stop him besides the gentle fist? I mean, he knows the same skills as you so you have to come up with a true surprise attack, you know." He questions.
Hinata sits up slowly, despite Neji's skill there is one method she knows he can't ever learn.
The curse seal.
But using it will only increase his hate of the main family, of being reminded of his forced servitude. If Father would just explain the truth about Uncle Hizashi's decision all those years ago regarding the Kumo incident, he wouldn't harbor this hatred of her and the head family she's sure. They could actually get along and train each other maybe.
However Father has refused to speak about it, rarely bringing up his brother's sacrifice and death.
"...There is, though I don't want to use it on him." She whispers.
Though now, a dark and cruel part of her fleetingly wonders what would happen if she did activate the seal upon his head as all main family members learn at age 5, watched Neji's cold smirk disappear into pain resulting in his immediate loss...
'No, it wouldn't be the right way to go about this. Don't listen. Don't let it get to you.'
It's not a surprise Father doesn't want her to participate, wants everyone's focus to be elsewhere.
Her stomach slushes, turning her gaze to the pink and white petals of the coming spring on the branches.
The garden pond is a turquoise green, simmering in the morning light as koi fish swim about reminding her of the approaching long days of sunshine.
Despite the changes in the trees and to the pond, the weather remains cool. Wind ignites another set of goosebumps along her arms, rubbing her arms to keep warm. Winter still hasn't completely let go of it's grip upon Konoha, faint bits of frost still visible on the training grounds in the early morning hours and along the rivers. Clouds drift by lazily overhead, coated in hues of pinks and reds of the coming day.
She thinks of Naruto, that the Rinne Festival is tomorrow and she has yet to find a way to properly sneak out.
Hanabi's schedule is filled to the brim with mandatory meetings with the Elders to discuss her new duties as heiress, exercises to build up stamina, and sparring with what sounds like all of the main and branch shinobi currently in active duty combined based on how many volunteered to help out. Perhaps this is all on purpose after one too many outbursts on her behalf around Ko and Father, now ensuring they'll have as little time as possible around each other.
"I can't promise I'll be there on time." Hinata murmurs.
Naruto shrugs, cerulean eyes bright with confidence.
"If it takes me causing a distraction via my shadow clones just let me know!"
The memory brings a smile to her face, Naruto actually here at the compound openly in the sunlight instead of slinking in the shadows amid the byakugan's blind spots.
The festival will be their first time out together in public; in daylight.
Although their masks will make it hard to fully see each other, nobody should know who they are unless they try and take a closer look.
"We could always maybe use a transformation jutsu?" Hinata suggests.
Naruto squirms and Hinata stiffens, cursing herself inwardly recalling his difficulty with the jutsu back at the Academy.
Naruto entangles their fingers before she can look away embarrassed.
"I'll make sure none of the Hyuga find out."
It all sounds easier said than done.
But she's already formed a plan of her own.
The following evening Hanami is assigned to watch her, knitting at her side only half watching her.
The sun sits low on the horizon, coloring the sky a wash of oranges and pinks.
Now is the time.
She studies the green tea she made for them both, Hanami's laced with a sleeping medicine to keep her out for a good few hours. It's been ground finely enough to blend perfectly into the liquid, scent masked by the mix of herbs brewed in.
Her stomach coils at only the small sip she's taken so far, pursing her lips.
There's enough medicine to give time for her to go to the festival and come back without anyone finding out she's sure.
But only if she takes a few more sips...
Lying to her on top giving her crushed pills unknowingly isn't her favorite option, even more so knowing her past kindness, but she has to do this.
She can't keep being trapped here in the manor, constantly have eyes upon her being guarded.
"I'm going to take a walk around the garden." Hinata announces, moving to stand.
Soft pearl orbs regard her curiously, Hanami nodding slowly.
"You go out to the woods behind the compound often to train; don't you? I see you return as the moon rises with bruises and scratches to your hands and arms you heal before anyone truly notices." She asks with faux casualness.
Hinata freezes, nodding slowly as she looks back to her.
A gentle smile graces her lips, shooing her onward.
"I remember being young too Lady Hinata, but don't be reckless when it comes to you 'supposedly' having no red thread at all. Your Father will grow suspicious if you do this too often. This tea you've made...I'll just tell him it was go good we both took a nap and you went to walk it off should he return back early from his meeting."
Cheeks flushed at being so easily caught (a reminder to get better with her brewing), she nods, twisting in the direction of the forest.
'I have somebody else on my side.'
She looks over her shoulder to see if Hanami is still watching her, but her gaze has turned back to finishing with her knitting.
The kimono she decided on feels too baggy, too subdued being a soft violet-blue with pink flowers stitched along the ends as she works her way into the crowds. It will take too much time to go back to the manor and change, risking Father or Neji seeing her.
Everyone around her wears the bright colors of reds and yellows, matching the theme perfectly.
'Where's Naruto? Am I running that late?'
It takes her a minute to see him through the swarms of people, sticking to the shadows out of view.
Naruto presents her with a lion mask just as she approaches up, sides decorated in sapphire blue feathers and violet gemstones.
It's more ryo than Naruto should've spent for a one night event.
"You didn't have to-" Hinata gapes but Naruto shushes her before she can finish, holding up a fox mask decorated with orange and red faux fur and feathers the shade of flames that dance around the edges.
"You look pretty Hinata." Naruto begins, hoping he doesn't screw this up somehow as he reaches out a shaky hand to intertwine their fingers.
He's going to ignore Pervy-Sage's advice to go in for a grope, that usually only ended up with him getting slapped.
But he'd watched her come into the square and completely lost focus, lost everything he wanted to say on how to make sure this evening is perfect...
'So this is what Hinata looks like without that baggy jacket.'
Her face blooms red, words escaping her so he pushes on.
"We've both been looking forward to this for weeks you know! The ryo will come back with more missions and Gamachan will be fat and happy again in no time!" He promises.
He squeezes their hands in emphasis, leading then out of the edge of the woods into cobblestone streets lined with golden lanterns.
"We should hit the balloon pop first or maybe try all the fried foods!" Naruto suggests giddily picking up the scent of smoked fish and grilled meats.
Shinobi and civilian of young and old mingle around various booths, whispered conversations picked up.
"I heard there might be some spies at the chunin exams coming up; some jonin have even been assigned extra shift duties incase of an emergency or attack. I hope Madam Fifth knows what she's doing inviting so many nations into Konoha all at once; exams or not. Lord Third I think would've been more cautious. Honestly, he retired at the worst possible time if you ask me." One man worries while stirring a hot pot of meats and herbs.
'An attack on Konoha?' Naruto frowns.
It could just be talk, nobody has tried to breakthrough Konoha's defenses in years.
Still, maybe he should ask Kakashi-sensei or Old Man Third what they've heard if he can convince one of them to talk.
"It's supposed to generate us a lot of revenue too don't forget with all the bets! I heard Suna is letting loose their own jinchuriki to participate." His friend chuckles in return.
The first man snorts, shaking his head.
"I hope Madam Fifth isn't stupid enough to do the same with our own jinchuriki, bad enough she's still allowing him to be a shinobi and take on actual missions."
Naruto's hold on her hand tightens, kicking at the leg of his stand as they pass by making pots and seasonings spill out onto the pavement in a soupy mix.
The second man curses as hot water hits his hand, moving to hurriedly grab some towels.
"Damn it Yoshida, be more careful!"
"Naruto-" Hinata starts to reprimand him but then she feels the heat, bitterness, and upset pouring out of him like a gaping wound and sighs.
"Don't listen to them." She murmurs instead.
Naruto huffs, but nods. He should be used to these conversations by now, though the sting of old remarks are hard to forget.
'It's fine, I'll just have to prove everyone wrong at exams!' He pumps himself up.
Hinata quietly adjusts his mask forcing blue to meet lilac, ensuring his blond hair and cerulean eyes are tucked away enough.
It won't be the last time people speak harshly of him.
Of them both.
Naruto
"So none of you have met your red thread matches? Like at all?!"
Naruto re-balances his plate of meat, this is the first time he's hearing such news.
The air smells of grilled chickens, beefs, and spices, coming warmer days bringing out the crowds once more.
"Here's another stack of plates and some soy sauce!" A waitress chirps before hurrying to a new set of customers at the door.
Ino huffs, nails nearly digging into the oakwood of their table at Naruto's tone.
Whoever his red thread match is, if he even has one must have the patience of a saint.
"It's not like we don't have a red thread Naruto! They just don't live in the village right now or we just haven't crossed paths with him or her yet."
Naruto nods, but his curiosity clearly hasn't been abated.
He's supposed to be following through on practicing sealing techniques like Pervy-Sage instructed and while he can make a few adamantine chains appear, they move too slow and fade before they can bind to anything.
Grass shades of yellow to green cling to his jacket, sweat dotting and sliding down his face.
'I'm hardly getting anywhere.' Naruto scoffs.
The tracks on along the grasslands are just a reminder of his sluggish progress.
"Sealing techniques aren't meant to be easy Kid! Be patient with yourself!" Jiraiya's voice booms from somewhere behind him. He half turns to see him with binoculars in hand up in a nearby tree, focus more on collecting his so called research again.
Naruto grunts, reviewing the hand seals again from the myriad of scrolls surrounding him.
By noon hunger started to win out, especially when his fingers throbbed with the sensation Hinata was practicing her gentle fist on what must be trees.
And besides, heading to Yakiniku Q is a way to see how everyone else's training is going anyways!
'Wow, I'm really lucky to already know I'm matched with Hinata then!' He realizes.
Shikamaru merely shrugs, as far as he's concerned having a red thread just adds to one's troubles.
His parents have been wondering daily since his 13th birthday who could be his match if not a girl within the village?
Choji looks up from his batch of pork sizzling, beaming.
"I'm just glad there's a girl somewhere out there for me! I hope she likes to eat the same varieties of chips and meats as me! It may take years before we meet though at how long my thread is."
Ino rolls her eyes, gesturing for him to finish the kabob of peppers and beefs he's midway chewing through.
Out of Team 10 her red thread is the shortest for now, meaning her match can't be that far from the village.
And after seeing Sakura's troubles with Sasuke, Ino herself can't be sure if that's a good or bad thing.
"You know, people from all the nations come for the chunin exams. It's possible one of us will meet our red thread matches then!" Ino abruptly wonders aloud excitedly.
Shikamaru has already considered this, and dreaded it.
Their moms won't let it go if he ends up being the lucky one.
'Speaking of gossip.' He frowns, seeing that switch in Ino's eyes. It's never a good sign when Ino is on the hunt for gossip, gossip that always has a way of spreading like wildfire around the village to both the young and old that visit the Yamanaka flower shop.
Light blue eyes glitter, the very thought of seeing new matches driving her forward.
She leans across the grill, cat-like grin etching her lips.
"So...I've noticed you've been quite silent on who your red thread is Naruto. Have you met her yet?" Ino pursues curiously.
Even Choji glances up from his now finished pork as he adds it to his rice bowl, chewing slowing down to hear what he has to say. A red thread he's been told over and over by his Dad is just as important as food, though not knowing where his currently is has often made it drift to the back of his mind.
Though it's always interesting to hear how things are going with his fellow classmates.
Naruto blinks before grinning.
"Yup, I've met her!"
Ino waits for him to say something more, surely Naruto isn't just going to leave it at that; right?
'Am I going to have to go to Sakura for information?!'
She's been too busy lately to entertain visiting the shop as often, catching her in the evenings leaving out of Konoha's hospital or one of the clinics with her hair in disarray and dark bags under her eyes.
"Do we know her?" Choji asks.
"Naruto merely nods. "Yeah, most likely."
Of all the times Naruto chooses to be quiet, it's over this!
Shikamaru smirks at his responses, giving him a way out.
"Isn't Jiraiya going to start looking for you soon?" He questions.
Naruto jolts at that, glancing to the clock. He's nearly 30 minutes over when Pervy-Sage promised he would be back to check on him.
Crap!
He throws down his promised portion of ryo, sitting up.
"Ugh you're right! He's going to make me eat all those gross bugs the Toads like, you know! Gotta go, I'll see you all at the exams!" Naruto states in a rush, disappearing in a swirl of orange.
Ino scowls, poking Shikamaru's cheeks with her chopsticks.
"Hey, I didn't get any gossip out of him! He must be lying about meeting his red thread being so evasive like that! Or keeping it a secret affair?!" She huffs.
Shikamaru shakes his head at her bout of theories, pushing away her chopsticks watching as Naruto disappears into the crowds.
"He wasn't lying." He answers dryly.
"Prove it!" Ino snips back.
He has no actual proof and they both know this, though it's clear from his more polite than usual mannerisms that not only has Naruto met his red thread more than once, it's somebody from their class.
'Naruto being secretive about who it is most likely is because whoever she is this will cause more than just gossip to generate; it could be potentially dangerous to her life.' He deduces.
And through process of elimination knowing the girls of their class who already know their red threads and have announced it, the old clans of Konoha, and then recalling who are the most strict it's easy enough to narrow it down.
Hinata.
He nods to himself at the guess (it could easily just be a regular civilian girl, but then the secrecy wouldn't be needed so much he imagines), going back to eating at his plate of beef and noodles.
'Red thread matches truly can be troublesome.'
Sasuke & Sakura
There's a waning gibbous moon out when Sasuke greets her outside her window.
He comes right out of the shadows where moonlight doesn't fall and she feels her thread and heart twist in a mix of longing and annoyance. Despite knowing she's a few months older than him, he approaches her slowly and quietly like she's a petulant child on the verge of exploding.
Because whatever news he has to bring her is going to hurt.
It must be somewhere after 11:00 pm, her parents tucked deep asleep in bed and she wide awake trying to memorize the anatomy of the stomach and brain before Lady Tsunade drills her bright and early again at 7:00 am.
She should feign that she's tired (which isn't even a complete lie), tell him she doesn't want to have this conversation right now...
Kakashi-sensei has been telling them all to get a good night's rest since recommending them for the exams, though she doubts if her team and the others are really getting enough hours in.
Silver light falls over his black locks and like the clouds slipping over over the moon, she can't be sure what mood Sasuke is currently in right now. He spends long hours training with Kakashi-sensei she knows that much from some rumors, but otherwise she can't tell what's running through his mind.
Orochimaru has already probably lured him into following him out of the village. Ready to offer him more chances for power when the right opportunity comes along to get him alone during the exams.
"What did you do to our thread?" He asks point blank.
Ah, no proper greetings as usual.
Sakura studies him, the patchwork of bruises to his arms is why she's felt so achy at work even with pain relievers and the rush of caffeine in her system.
She wonders if he feels the soreness her legs have from being on her feet for hours, the sting in her fingers from doing compressions over and over on their most critical care patients...
"I tried to cut it." She responds, matching his bluntness and dry tone.
To her internal joy, her features stay carefully blank even as her heartbeat thrums in her ears seeing his look of surprise and hurt.
'You wanted this Sasuke! You can't be upset when you asked me over and over to cut it!'
"You tried to cut it? He repeats.
Sakura nods, recalling the Heartbreaker Woman's words. She had tried to foolishly make such an adult decision when she's only been a teenager but a few months, it's no wonder she wasn't taken seriously by her.
"Keyword tried. It hurt like hell, so I couldn't go through with it. I only did enough to create a tiny tear though I'm sure you felt that part of the process too."
He did and her words drip with the poison of knowing that no matter how far away he is as long as their threads are bound to each other they'll always feel a bit of each other's pains, joys, and all the the mix of strong emotions in between.
'Who did you even go to?' He nearly asks. As far as he bothered to learn, it's not easy to get anyone to agree to tear your red thread without it causing controversy and gossip as to the reasons behind why someone would go to such lengths unless they had an extremely good reason. It's unheard of anyone at their age even trying to purposely tear their thread when they've yet to experience the A or S ranked missions that can lead to death or severe injury.
It doesn't matter, whoever it was couldn't get the job done.
So he pushes aside aches and regrets of a life he knows he can't desire for until his goals are all complete, onyx boring into emerald.
"You couldn't go through with it so I guess I'll have to do it for us." He asserts sharply.
Sakura shrugs, cool night air blowing up her pink locks. It occurs to him then that she must've cut her hair at some point in her training or perhaps a confused patient pulled on it and she decided it was best to have it out of the way.
"You cut your hair." Sasuke notes, words tumbling out before he can stop them.
Sakura blinks, jade eyes brightening, slow smile rising up and he wishes he hadn't bothered mentioning it from the way his stomach lurches.
"Yeah, an old man wound his fingers through it while I was starting an IV on him for fluids he needed saying I reminded him of his days of skirt chasing...wouldn't let go until another nurse aide distracted him. I immediately went and had it cut the next day." Sakura describes.
Whoever this man is, is lucky he wasn't there too.
Part of him wants to ask if she plans to grow it out again or if she'll let it stay at this length where only the tips touch her shoulders.
'Short hair suits her.'
But he stomps down the pain of longing seeing coldness melt back into her eyes.
"Are you really going to cut our thread Sasuke?" She asks tightly.
At his nod her features completely darken, shutter and blacken like the very night surrounding them.
"Okay; go for it. You seem to enjoy causing yourself pain after all."
The words stab like she expects, verdant eyes stormy and unforgiving. As much as it makes her stomach clench and heart crack, Sasuke isn't going to pick her. She can't be like the women who come to the ER, arms streaked with plum colored bruises, tear-stained cheeks wondering why their red thread match continues to hurt them.
And yet still refusing to leave or tear their bond.
'Maybe Sasuke doesn't have any emotions left for love and relationships after what happened with his clan." She considers.
But then, he still got a red thread when she's met plenty of patients now who never got one, whose matches were already deceased or with another...
Doesn't that mean he should still have some hope?
"Just know once you do it, you'll lose this Sasuke." Sakura asserts.
Sasuke looks her over questioningly, frowning when she holds out her arms.
"You'll lose the chance for happiness, a family; peace." She pursues.
She can see the idea practically dance in his mind once more of memories together on Team 7 and new ones that can still be created of them on long walks through the woods, resting under the stars or training together. But love can't win out, not when Orochimaru croons in his other ear to obtain power; get revenge.
Sasuke shakes his head, images evaporating into the darkness around them.
"...I can't, you know I can't. Not when-"
"Not when Itachi still lives and breathes. I know." She whispers, finishing for him.
To his surprise, she reaches out and touches his arm anyways, green glow emitting out. He's going to leave after the chunin exams even if his voice still wavers with some uncertainty, she knows it without him even bringing it up aloud.
And she'll know he's gone from the village completely when her red thread grows longer, gets fainter to see the farther away he goes from her.
Sasuke stiffens, but doesn't move, watching her at work for the first time. So this is what she's been doing all day that leaves his own hands with a pinch of soreness too. She moves with a practiced ease, superficial wounds easy to treat compared to the intensive and trauma cases that must constantly flood the hospital's wings.
Lord Fifth is much of an enigma like her, sweeping begrudgingly back into a village most said she purposely ran away from with Jiraiya and Naruto at her heels to prevent her from turning back around.
'Why did Lord Third step down?' He considers asking if Sakura has heard anything from the doctors and nurses, if it has anything to do with Orochimaru...
"You always had better chakra control than me and Naruto." He mentions quietly instead.
Sakura nods, glad for the night to hide the heat crawling up her face, fingers gently brushing along his knuckles.
"I'm going to look into studying genjutsu too and more earth related techniques. I need to master a wide variety of skills to be a great kunoichi on and off the battlefield."
"You'll do good, you pick up most things easily." Sasuke mutters.
Their eyes meet again and Sakura sighs seeing the fog coming over his eyes slowly pushing her away.
"I have to go." He states, moving out of her hold before his feelings or hers cloud his thoughts. He steps back from her and the chasm between them deepens again, forcing them in different directions of life. After the exams she can't be sure when the next time they'll be alone like this will happen, if ever.
"No, you don't. Let's not play around, you're choosing to go if you leave with Orochimaru for power once the exams end; defecting from your home." Sakura retorts bitterly.
His lips flatten, why did he come here?
He knew Sakura did something to their red thread, that the pain of trying to tear it is going to hurt them both...
Still, he has to try for himself.
It's better this way for her; for the both of them.
"See you at the exams." Sakura calls out, Sasuke only giving a clipped nod before disappearing into the shadows just the way he came.
Naruto & Hinata
The chunin exams start on a rainy spring morning, warm raindrops pattering the Academy's rooftop, sky an equal balance of milky gray to blue.
Their first obstacle: Written Exams.
'Can being connected to Hinata help me see the answers?!' Naruto panics.
He unfortunately learns after the first 10 minutes that no, having a red thread does not give you access to their thoughts or a way to send each other answers. Sitting next to Hinata is a slight comfort, but even she seems perplexed by the difficulty of these questions.
He chances a glance around before they start, noting their fellow classmates worried looks or masks of calm.
'These questions don't seem designed for a genin to know. They discuss complex scenarios and decisions for missions or objectives I'm sure none of us have experienced.' Hinata reads through, activating her byakugan for a quick scan across the room.
Most people seem to be winging it.
"You all have only 2 hours to finish, anyone caught cheating is an immediate fail of you and your teammates. Begin!" Ibiki announces drawing the room to a hush.
It seems like everyone is just trying to copy off of each other whether they think the person in front of them or beside them has the correct answer or not, ensuring none of the proctors notice their behavior.
And then there are those like Sakura who move through each question with a lightning speed that seems to impress Ibiki and the other proctors.
Hinata peers back over to Naruto, frowning at his squirming.
'It's alright Naruto. The objective is to cheat it seems; cheat and not get caught.'
Naruto twirls at his pencil meanwhile, he can tell Hinata is nervous for him, hell he is nervous for himself too!
Hinata said he's a kinesthetic learner and all of their training involved physical practice, not thinking they would need to do anything like the tests and quizzes they had back at the Academy. Nothing about fill in the blank or multiple choice questions involves the action of attack.
Right?
Though all around him he hears the quiet shuffle of pencils moving, everyone seems to know exactly how to take this test except for him.
Hinata pokes his hand with the tip of her pencil, Naruto glancing towards her when it's safe before looking towards her thinly written message in the corner of her paper.
'C.H.E.A.T.' He reads.
'Cheating? How can one cheat without being caught by a guy like that?!' Naruto shivers, risking a glance up at Ibiki's imposing form.
His ink black eyes roam across the room, landing on his own probably haggard looking blue ones for a brief second nearly making him freeze up.
Yeah, he's screwed.
But is that really the purpose of this portion of the exams? What exactly can he do that won't make him stand out when he's known for doing exactly that?
'Think. Think. There's no way I know the answers to any of these questions so I have to try some option to get at least one answer down.' He determines.
He looks at a duo of boys in the row in front of them, the taller of the two already appearing to be midway through the questions. Okay, he should go for looking off of his answers then.
'I'll have to use my nature affinity.'
Carefully beneath the table he makes the signs for his move.
"Wind release: Twister." He whispers.
He unleashes the mini gust storm between the pair, strong enough to ruffle their papers into the air and give him a quick view of the answers they both circled. The taller one's essay answer isn't much help from his messy scrawl, something about a shinobi ascertaining the skills of their enemy first before attacking.
'It's not much, but it will do.' Naruto decides, hurriedly writing down a mix of their responses and writing his essay into his own scramble of words.
The shorter of the pair curses, flattening their papers hurriedly back down. "Damn it, what the hell was that just now?!"
The taller boy shrugs, glancing towards a sand shinobi at the end of their row with a grunt. "Must've been one of those Suna shinobi. Most of them used Wind based techniques after all."
Naruto meanwhile grins, just a little bit more at ease.
'I didn't get caught!'
He peers back to Hinata just as time winds down to the last 5 minutes, the next parts of the exams will surely having them facing off against each other in their respective teams and then solo matches.
Attacking one's Red Thread purposely is full of risk; a danger none of them have faced before. It's possible to have an immediate loss for both parties at the emotional/physical toll it could have though perhaps all the jonin sensei are expecting that, ready to see how they'll handle themselves when faced with such a situation...
-x-
Don't have much to say here lol, Happy July 4th weekend for all my American readers!
I do have a quick question, do you guys care about the order I do events in canon wise? I don't want to cause any further confusion as the story goes on is why I ask. My plan is to mix new events I've thought of with canon like I mentioned earlier, but it's always good to hear any suggestions!
Enjoy. Review. Favorite. Follow!
