Chapter 29 – Start of the Second Stage
Ibiki stood and listened to everyone bitch about the test. He figured that it would be like this. However, even he had a limit. Unleashing his intent, he quelled all arguments. He noticed that the red haired Sand genin did not even flinch. That was something to look into.
"If you are quite done complaining, I can explain why you passed. By now, most of you realized that the nine questions were almost impossible to answer. I wanted to see just how smart you all were in a critical situation." Ibiki explained. Naruto was the one to speak.
"You wanted us to cheat?!" Naruto stated loudly.
"Of course. There was no other way. You had to be creative to collect the answers. Those who were eliminated could not do it as discreetly as many of you. Weather you used string and mirrors," Looking at Tenten, "a puppet," Looking at Kankuro, "or an eye techniques," looking at Hinata. "As long as you stayed within the point system that I enforced, you were safe." Ibiki explained.
"What about the tenth question?" Temari asked.
"There wasn't one. It was a choice that every one of you has to make." He then removed his bandana to reveal a shocking amount of burns, slashes and holes. Everyone cringed at the sight. "I wanted to see if you have the will to become chunin. As a ninja, you may be captured for information. Will you crack or will you hold out to protect the village? Do you have the guts to withstand everything for your village?" he demanded. There was no answer among the group. Ibiki tied his bandana back on before facing everyone.
"Everyone who has stayed despite my threats are willing to push forward. Because you choose to stay and face the challenge, you all have proven that you are ready to become chunin. So congratulations." He said. Everyone was relieved and some even cheered. That soon ended when something came crashing into the room. Everyone was alert as the object began to unravel. When it was over a woman with violet hair, light brown, pupil-less eyes, a fitted mesh body suit that covers her from her neck down to her thighs. Over this she wore a tan overcoat with a purple in-seam and a pocket on each side, a dark orange mini-skirt, a dark blue belt, and pale grey shin guards. She was standing in front of a banner.
"This is no time to be celebrating! I am Anko Mitarashi, the second proctor of the Chunin Exams! So, let's go!" she said, throwing a fist into the air. Everyone just looked at her like she was crazy. Ibiki came from behind the banner.
"You're early again Anko." He said. Anko looked a little embarrassed but noticed the number of genin.
"You let twenty-six teams. This test was too easy." Anko complained.
"No, there are just some brave ones this year." Ibiki explained.
"Brave huh? Well, we'll see about that in the next stage. I'll reduce them by half." She said with a wicked grin. Her grin faded when her eyes locked on to Naruto. She would stare at him before launching herself at him, kunai out. As she closed in, her wrists and ankles suddenly came together. Then they were connected again, making her fall on her face. Anko looked like one of those roasted pigs that had an apple in its' mouth. Everyone got a good look at her ass as it was up in the air.
"Ow, damn it…" Anko growled. She looked up to see the smug grin on Naruto's face, darkening her mood.
"You know, this can all end if you just admit it crazy lady. Say the words and you won't keep suffering the embarrassment." He said amused. Naruto's and Anko's private prank war was known to very few in the village. It all started when Anko insulted Naruto, calling him a 'baby in diapers'. Naruto responded by asking Ibiki why they allowed 'call girls' to be kunoichi. Anko would let that go, warning Naruto with a few hard pats to his cheek. Naruto did not heed her warning and returned the gesture. For his ignorance, Anko gave him an atomic wedgie. She figured that was the end of it. Boy, was she wrong.
It would be two days later when Naruto struck. Somehow, Naruto infiltrated her home and put some kind of dye in her shampoo. Anko hair was now a horrid neon orange color. Her screams could be heard throughout the village. She had burst into his apartment to kill him only for him to escape her wrath. Since then the two were at war. So far, Naruto was ahead.
"I will never, Ever, submit to you." Anko spat.
"Okay, that's enough. Naruto, back-up so Anko can administer the second stage. Anko, play nice." Ibiki said, getting the stink eye from Anko.
"You always take his side. Look at me, everyone is getting a free show." Anko argued.
"Put some drinks or a plate of dango in front of you and we would get the same result." Ibiki replied. The adults chuckled, Anko's cheeks were red with embarrassment and Naruto was laughing his ass off as he backed away. Once he was far enough, Anko got up and glared at everyone, daring them to say something. She then glared at Naruto, making silent threats to the blond. She would get her revenge soon enough.
XXX
The twenty-six team were led to a large training ground. It was a very dense looking forest that was gated. Anko stood in front of the team, annoyance on her face.
"Okay, listen up and pay attention. I'm only going to say this once. This is training ground forty-four, also known as the Forest of Death. It is a ten kilometer in diameter, big enough for the second part of this exam. You will all enter this forest and make your way to the tower that is dead center of this area. However, there is a twist."
"Of course there is. Shikamaru muttered. Anko then pulled out two scrolls. One was white and had the symbol 'Heaven while the other was grey and had the symbol 'earth'.
"Each team must arrive at the tower with both scrolls." Everyone looked at her with acknowledgment. "That's right kids, each team will get one of the other scroll and you have to retrieve the other. You can steal or fight for it. You all have five days to have both scrolls and enter the tower."
"Five days! What about food?!" Choji exclaimed.
"Oh there is stuff in the forest you can eat. They can also eat you but I'm sure you'll be fine." Many sweat-dropped at that. "I only have two rules for this exam. If you leave the forest, you fail. If you open the scroll, there is a nice surprise for you and you fail." Anko said with a smile. "You all have forty minutes to get your scroll and appear at your assigned gate. Oh, I have one piece of advice for all of you." Everyone looked at her.
"Just don't die!"
XXX
Team Kurenai stood at their gate with a 'heaven' scroll in their possession. The three were discussing their plan. Fortunately a plan was already set by Shino.
"Have I ever told you that you are awesome Shino?" Kiba said with a grin.
"Not lately." Shino stated simply.
"S-So, everyone has a bug? Does that include our friends" Hinata asked.
"Yes, although I suspect it might be difficult to get to them if we finish the exam by the first day." Shino explained.
"I wouldn't worry about those guys. Choji and Shikamaru are pretty smart and Naruto is pretty tricky. I think that they will be okay." Kiba said. The other two nodded and waited.
XXX
"I'm sorry but did I just hear you tell me no?" Ino demanded. She was glaring at her two teammates. While Choji looked nervous, Shikamaru looked annoyed. "And why shouldn't we take out the other Konoha teams? If you didn't know, this is an all-or-none battle for the scrolls. Why shouldn't we go after the team that we know about?"
"Because, we don't know anything about anyone. Most of the teams from the Leaf has years of experience. Attacking them head on would be stupid. Team Kurenai would literally see us coming and they would finish this exam by night fall. Team Kakashi is also a no because they will decimate us. The same for team Guy." Shikamaru explained.
"Please, Sasuke is the only one who would be an issue." Ino scoffed. This time it was Choji who spoke.
"Naruto is very strong and not just in sealing. His taijutsu is on Sasuke's level and his ninjutsu night be greater. I really don't know about Sakura but she looks stronger. I mean, you've seen how different she looks." He explained.
"Choji is right. We will get our scroll but we're not going to rush in like idiots. We are not a combat team. Our skills are more towards stalling opponents. That is what we will do." Shikamaru said. Ino was not happy but she could not dispute their claims. She would not argue for now but she would have her way soon.
XXX
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose. He was now regretting his decision to take this exam.
"So, your plan is to hunt and fight a team, taking their scroll in the process?" Naruto asked.
"You have a problem with my plan?" Sasuke asked.
"Other than the fact that it is the stupidest plan ever? Do you know how to track and hunt? Because if you know how to do those things, your plan would have merit." Naruto said. Sasuke gave him a dirty look, making Sakura sigh.
"Naruto is right Sasuke. We need a better plan. Part of that plan is dealing with our scroll. Naruto, do you have an idea?" Sakura asked.
"A really good one. I'll tell you in the forest. Afterwards, we can come up with a much 'better' plan to get a scroll." Naruto said, looking at Sasuke. He scoffed and waited for the gate to open.
XXX
Kakashi stood in front of the memorial stone. He had been at the stone since leaving his colleagues. He didn't even know that his team passed and were in the Forest of Death. His mind was on everything that has happened since getting his team. He couldn't believe just how much things had changed and how wrong it went. Everything just went wrong.
"Did I do something wrong? Was I wrong in my decision? Did I fail again?" Kakashi asked no-one.
"If you are asking those questions Kakashi, then you should know the answers." Kakashi turned to see the Hokage. His lone eye narrowed a little at seeing him.
"Are you here to give your respects? I can leave if you want." Kakashi said.
"That is unnecessary. I will be brief." Hiruzen said. He walked up to the stone and did a small prayer. After a while, Hiruzen stopped and turned away to go back to his office. As he was about to disappear, Kakashi spoke.
"So, has my replacement been chosen?" Kakashi asked, a little bitter.
"Three people have been chosen. We are doing a review of the three and we will make out choice soon." Hiruzen answered.
"So the elders are involved as well? The council might feel slighted that they were not informed." Kakashi stated.
"Are you going to tell them Kakashi? Looking to under-mind me because of the truth? If that is your wish, then you may do so. However, it will not change the decision. You will not be allow to lead the team." Hiruzen said. The jonin was not happy with that.
"I will not accept that sir. They are my team and I will fight for them." He said.
"Are you fighting to keep them because you are sincerely sorry or because it will be another failure that you will pile among your other ones?" he asked, stunning the one eyed jonin. He did not wait for an answer and vanished. Kakashi was left stunned and speechless. The question his leader gave him would not be leaving his mind for a while.
XXX
Anko threw another skewer into the tree across from her. The pattern formed a familiar face. Anko would stare at the pattern before littering it with shuriken. Anko seem to smile at that.
"Anko!" the woman turned to see a frantic chunin examiner.
"What's the matter?" she asked in a bored tone.
"You have to come quick! Something is very wrong!" he said with urgency. Anko was curious and began to follow. They arrived to see two other ninja. Anko walked forward and gasped at the sight. Three bodies were laying there and their faces were missing.
"We found them a while ago but I swear, we saw these three enter the forest." The chunin explained. Anko looked murderous and turned away. She was making her way into the forest, confusing the others.
"Get to the Hokage and tell him to get here fast. Also, inform the ANBU that I went into the forest and I will need back up." Anko ordered.
"Anko, what is going on?" asked another chunin.
"Orochimaru is back in the Leaf and has infiltrated the exam." With that Anko entered the forest.
XXXXX
Authors' Notes
Sorry for the late updates. I started a new job and I'm dealing with some personal stuff. Anyway, while I do not grauntee weekly updates, I will be writing more and updating more. So, I'm getting these up before the Super Bowl, so enjoy the new chapter.
