Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its plot or characters. I own any OC, my plot, and anything else you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.
It just occurred to me now that the cat Rin summoned is named Hayate and so is the guy in this chapter the one who coughs a lot. I didn't know that when I named the cat.
Song for this chapter is just for Hinata mostly but I tried to add some Rin moments. I won't be offended if you skim past the show events for this chapter. This chapter is VERY long. I took out Sasuke's match to try and make it shorter as well as some of Hinata's.
You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper
-Skyscraper – Demi Lovato
The nine teams stood in lines in a room of the tower. Jounin and chunin stood around and the Hokage was in front of the genin teams. Behind him were more jounin and large stone hands making a hand sign. Rin stood up the stairs on the left side of the room. Gaara glanced up at her without moving his head and she gave a small wave to when their eyes met and he nodded his head ever so slightly.
The order of the lines was Team Ten with Ino in the lead, Team Eight with Kiba in front and Akamaru still shaking in Kiba's jacket, Team Seven with Naruto in front, Team Gai with Neji in front, Kabuto's team with him in front, the Sand Sibs with Gaara in front, then the sound ninjas with Dosu in front. The ninja behind him had both arms in a sling.
"First of all, congratulations on finishing the second exam." Anko said into a headset.
"I'm so hungry." Chouji said holding his stomach.
"What a drag there's so many left." Shikamaru said. "This is such a pain."
"Sasuke and his team have passed too." Ino said happily.
"Well of course they did." Shikamaru said. "After all the trouble we went through to keep them safe, they better have passed."
"Hey look, all of the leaf village rookies are here too." Sakura said.
"Whoa, everybody's here: old man Hokage, Iruka-Sensei and even bushy brow. It looks like absolutely nobody got left out this time." Naruto said.
"I don't have a very good feeling about this." Sasuke said holding his shoulder.
"Alright now pay attention." Anko said into her headset. "Lord Hokage is going to explain the third exam to you. You better listen carefully maggots." She turned to the Hokage. "Lord Hokage, they're all yours."
"Hm." The Hokage stepped forward. He cleared his throat. "First, before I tell you what the third exam entails I want to explain something about the test itself; listen closely now, it's something that all of you need to understand. I'm going to tell you the true purpose of these exams. Why do you suppose our country holds these exams in conjunction with our allies? To raise the ability levels of our shinobi and increase friendship between allied nations to be sure but it's important that you understand its true meaning. The exams are, so to speak," He took the pipe out of his mouth and blew out smoke. "They're a representation between the battle between allied nations."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Tenten asked.
"Now, if we look at our history all the countries that we're currently allied with were once neighboring nations that continuously fought with each other for power. In order to avoid destroying each other's military strength meaninglessly those nations picked champions to do battle on behalf of their counties at a mutually selected location. That was how the Chunin Selection Exams originally began."
"Well, that's great but why do we have to go through these exams then?" Naruto asked. "I mean it's not like we're doing this to pick chunin to go fight."
"Well actually, there is no question that part of the point of these exams is to select shinobi worthy of becoming chunin, that's just not the whole story. These exams also allow for a place where shinobi can carry the pride of their nation on their backs and fight against other ninja for their very lives."
"The pride of their nation?" Sakura asked quietly.
"Many leaders and people of prominence from various counties are invited to attend this exam as guests and also possibly to seek shinobi to work for them. This exam could determine the course of your ninja work from here on out, and more importantly those rulers will watch your battles and take notes of the strengths of each ninja and each nation is developing. If there is a gap in power between the countries the strong nations are inundated with job requests for their ninja and conversely the request to countries that are deemed weak decline. Therefore, the stronger our nation is the better our position when it comes to negotiating with neighboring countries. So it's important to show how much military strength our village has."
"Okay but even so why is it necessary for us to risk our lives?" Kiba asked.
"The country's strength is the village's strength. The village's strength is the shinobi's strength. And the true strength of the shinobi is only achieved when it's pushed to its limits such as in a life and death battle. This exam is a chance for each nation to display the strength of its shinobi and hence the strength of the nation itself. It's because this is an exam where your life is on the line that it has meaning. And it's for this very reason and for the strength of the nation that your forerunners fought in this exam. It's truly a dream worth striving for."
"But then why did you use the expression friendship before?" Tenten asked.
"But you've only remembered half of what I said. You also mustn't have the wrong idea of the exams meaning. This is a custom in which balance is preserved by fighting and dying. In the world of the shinobi that is friendship. The third exam is a fight for life with the pride of your village and your own dreams at state."
"Hmph, well he sure convinced me." Naruto said.
"Any test is fine." Gaara said. "Just tell me what the details of the exam are already. I can handle anything you throw at me." Rin smiled. Gaara glanced at her and actually had to hold make his own small smile at how proud she looked.
"Mm." The Hokage nodded once. "Very well then. Now listen closely I'm going to tell you exactly what you'll all be doing on the third exam." He coughed. A ninja suddenly dropped down out of nowhere and was kneeling before the Hokage.
"Lord Hokage." He said. "Before you do please allow me, Hayate Gekkō appointed as proctor of the third exam, to speak first."
"So be it." Hayate stood.
"It's nice to meet you all." He coughed. He turned his head to look at everyone. He had bags under his eyes. "There's something I would like all of you" He coughed some more. "to do before the third exam." He coughed. "Uhh, we have to have a preliminary exam before we can move on to the real one."
"Huh?"
"A what?" Sakura asked.
"Preliminary?!" Shikamaru shouted. "Just what do you mean by that?!"
"I'm sorry, sensei," Sakura said. "excuse me, but I really don't see the point. What's this preliminary all about? Why can't we just move on to the third exam?"
"Uhh, well you see… the first and second exams might have been too easy. The fact is we never expected so many of you to still be here. According to the rules of Chunin exams a preliminary round can be held at any stage in order to reduce the number of candidates remaining."
"But-! Is that fair?" Sakura asked.
"It's just that at this stage we have to speed things up a bit. As lord Hokage said, a lot of important guests will be watching. We can't afford to waste their time. They've come to see only the best. So if there are any of you who feel you are not in top physical condition, now's your chance to-" He coughed. "Sorry about that. As I was saying, any of you who don't feel up to this now is the time for you to bow out. The preliminaries will be starting immediately."
"Come on! You mean right now?!" Kiba shouted.
"We just finished barely surviving the last exam, don't we get a break?" Ino asked.
"Man, what a drag." Shikamaru said.
"Heeey, when do we eat?" Chouji asked. Naruto gulped.
"Oh yeah uh… the winners will be determined by one on one combat sudden death." Hayate said. "So like I said if there's anyone who doesn't feel up to it, now's the time to raise your hand." Sasuke suddenly grabbed his shoulder in pain.
"Sasuke?" Sakura asked. Naruto looked back at Sasuke. Sakura whispered to him. The jounin and the Hokage were talking about Sasuke. Sakura was trying to convince Sasuke to quit. She started to raise her hand but Kabuto raised his.
"What the-?" Kiba looked over.
"Okay, ya got me." Kabuto said. "I'm out."
"But- Kabuto." Naruto said. Hayate flipped through papers on his clipboard. He coughed.
"Kabuto Yakushi, the leaf village right? Okay you can go on and step back."
"Gottcha." Kabuto said and walked past his teammates towards the back.
"Kabuto! Hold on a second you can't quit!" He stopped as Naruto shouted at him. "I don't get this! What's going on?!"
"Oh Naruto, I'm sorry, but my body is just too beat up." Kabuto said. "I can't hack it. The fact is, ever since orientation with that dust up with the sound village genin, I've had no hearing at all in my left ear. And now to have to put my life on the line? To fight again right away without a break? I can't do it." Naruto looked down. One of Kabuto's teammates, Yoroi, whispered to him. They had a short and quiet conversation before Kabuto continued walking away. He turned to wave at Naruto with a smile. Some of the ninja watched him walk away. His steps echoed until they faded. Hayate coughed.
"Now then, does anybody else wanna quit?" He asked. Sakura started to raise her hand but Sasuke grabbed her wrist. Sasuke let go but continued to talk to her. Naruto suddenly yelled at Sasuke and Sasuke told him something that left Naruto speechless. Rin frowned as she watched the three. "Alright then, we'll now begin the preliminary round." Hayate said. "This round will consist of one on one individual combat at full battle intensity. This is not an exercise. The surviving candidates from these matches will advance to the third exam. As for the rules there are none; you will fight until one dies or concedes defeat or is rendered physically incapable of continuing the contest. Naturally those who are losing are urged to concede defeat promptly to avoid a fatal outcome. Furthermore, as proctor I'm given a certain amount of leeway in judging the matches." He coughed some. "I might occasionally intervene if a match seems hopeless to save as many lives as possible. Now it's time to reveal what fate has been chosen for you." He looked back at Anko who nodded.
"Open the panel." she said into her mic. A large blue panel in the top left corner was raised.
"The names of each pair of opponents are chosen completely at random. Before each match these names will appear on the display behind me. As there's nothing more to say let's begin. In a moment the names of the first two opponents will appear." Everyone was looking up. The screen blinked on and circled through names until it stopped with a buzz. Sasuke smirked.
"I couldn't ask for anything more." Yoroi said.
"Alright now those whose names have been drawn come forward." Hayate said. Sasuke and Yoroi walked over then faced each other. "You have been chosen for the first match. Yorio Akado and Sasuke Uchiha are there any objections.
"None here." Sasuke said.
"No." Yoroi said.
"Uhh, alright then, let's begin the first match." Hayate said. He coughed. "Okay, everyone other than the two opposing candidates will now clear the area and move to the upper level." Everyone turned and walked up the stairs. Naruto and his team stayed put and Kakashi walked over to them said a few words then walked away. The sand and sound ninja, as well as Kabuto's team mates, went on one side and the leaf on the other. Rin smiled at the sand siblings before turning to look at everyone on the other side. She recognized Lee and waved at him. Lee waved back with a small smile. Gaara frowned and looked over from Rin to Lee. The jounin next to Lee was wearing the same jumpsuit and had the same haircut. He pointed over at Rin and talked to the boy. Gaara could hear them from where he was.
"Is that the blue haired maiden you told me about?" The man asked.
"Yes Gai sensei." Lee said.
"Ah the beauty of young love! Have you asked her out yet?" Gai asked as he nudged Lee with his elbow.
"G-Gai sensei!" Lee's eyes went wide. Gaara started glaring at the two. Gai laughed.
"I'm sure you'll impress her today, Lee!" Gai said slapping Lee on the back. Lee's face went bright red.
"No! It's not like that!" Lee insisted as he held up his hands. Rin turned to Gaara after seeing the green clad boy freaking out across the room.
"What do you thinks bothering him?" Rin asked. Gaara didn't answer.
…
Shino Aburame
VS
Zaku Abumi
The sound ninja with the two broken arms smirked.
"Ha, which sucker is that?" He asked. Shino looked at him.
"Step forward please." Hayate said. The two went down and faced each other. "Very good. Now if you're both ready then we'll begin."
"How's he supposed to fight with two broken arms?" Akira asked allowed. Akio shrugged.
"Candidates ready? Begin." Hayate said backing up. Neither moved.
"If you fight me you won't be able to recover." Shino warned. "Forfeit and withdraw."
"Heh, well what do you know, I've got a little movement in one of them." Zaku said moving his left arm. "One good arms more than enough to beat you!" He ran at him with his left arm out of the sling. He swung but Shino blocked him.
"You couldn't beat me using both your arms."
"Yeah well I've got news for ya!" The thing on his palm started to make a sound. "Try this! Blastic sound wave!" There was a large puff of smoke as Shino got hit and rolled on impact with the ground. The smoke started to clear. "Alright fool, you had enough? Huh?" Shino was standing as the smoke cleared. "He's there's no way!" Suddenly there was a weird sound. "Hey… what?" Bugs were coming out of the top of Shino's jacket and through three holes on Shino's face. "Great, now that you've creeped us all out what happens next?" Suddenly Zaku heard the noise from behind him and saw a large swarm of bugs on the ground coming towards him. Rin shivered and moved closer to Gaara. He glanced down at her as their arms touched and he had to resist the urge to put his arm around her.
"They're a rare species of parasitic beetles that attack their prey in a swarm, eating its chakra." Shino said as he held one on his fingernail. "An army of this size will suck you dry in less than a minute. Your only intelligent option is to forfeit the match. You can't fight two opponents at once. If you use your good arm against me my friends will swarm you from behind. Conversely, if you use your good arm to keep them at bay then you'll have me on your blind side. Either way your defeat will be certain and unpleasant. It's wise to always have an ace in the hole." Shino made a hand sign and held it up. Zaku looked extremely angry and raised his arm, opening his palm.
"Now you've done it! Now you've made me mad!" He shouted as he pointed his other arm at the bugs. Shino lowered his hands. Zaku's right arm shook his he opened his palm. "Like you said yourself, always have an ace in the hole. Right!?"
"What the-? I thought his right arm was shot." Kiba said. Zaku let out an angry cry. "I'll blow you away!" Suddenly the middle of his arms were glowing blue like something was leaking from them. "Arg! My arms! What's wrong with them?!" He cried as he let his arms hang. He looked at his hands in shock. "W-what?!" Shino's bugs were on his hands and in the hole on his palm. Shino was suddenly behind him.
"Earlier while I was distracting you with my helpful advice I was also sending some of my little friends to plug up those bothersome wind-holes in your hands. Both hands just to be sure. See while an ace in the hole is good, two aces are better." Zaku went to hit Shino but Shino knocked him away to the ground. Hayate walked over and crouched by Zaku. There were holes in his arms where the wind had blown out.
"I'd say this one… has had it." Hayate said. "The winner is Shino Aburame." Zaku was taken away on a stretcher while Shino returned to his team. "Uh, alright everyone, moving right on to the third match." Kakashi returned to his team. The screen blinked.
Misumi Tsurugi
VS
Kankurō
Rin turned to Kankurō with a big smile.
"Good luck, Kankurō." she said.
"Like I'll need it." Kankurō scoffed as he walked past her and down the stairs with Misumi. They stood in front of each other.
"I'm not like Yoroi; I don't get careless, not even against kids." Misumi said. Kankurō scoffed. "A piece of advice once I go into my jutsu give up, quick, if you do I promise to make it short and painless."
"Funny." Kankurō said as he took crow off his back. "I was about to say the same thing. Though I can't promise it'll be painless."
"Alright if you're ready let the third match begin." Hayate said.
"Lemme do you a favor and end this battle quickly." Kankurō said.
"You can't end I if I end it first." Misumi said. Misumi attacked but Kankurō managed to block him. Suddenly Misumi's limbs wrapped around Kankurō's and his arm went around Kankurō's neck.
"Whoa! What's up with that guy's body?" Naruto asked. "That's freaky! I wish I could do that."
"I dislocate every one of my joints and soften my body then with my chakra I can control it perfectly. The more you struggle the tighter I'll squeeze. I don't know what you're carrying in there," Misumi said looking at the fallen crow still wrapped up. "but as long as I have a hold yon you it makes no difference. I could break your neck right now if I wanted to and I will unless you give up." Kankurō smirked.
"You wanna bet?" he asked.
"You wanna die?"
"You fool, you're the one who's gunna die." Kankurō said. Suddenly Misumi tightened his arm around Kankurō's neck and Kankurō's head fell forward.
"I think he broke... his neck." Lee said. Naruto and Sakura gasped. Gaara rolled his eyes. Chips of wood suddenly fell to the ground.
"Huh?" Suddenly Misumi gasped as 'Kankurō's head spun around to reveal Crow's cracked face.
"Now, it's my turn so say goodbye!" it said. Its arms shot out and wrapped around Misumi. Kankurō's arm popped out of the 'crow' on the ground and he unwrapped himself. One of his hands was glowing blue as chakra strings went from his hand to Crow. Crow's arms tightened and Misumi groaned in pain.
"Enough! I give!"
"But if your bones are all crushed just think of how much more flexible you'll be." Kankurō said. Hayate coughed as Misumi fell over.
"Because his opponent is unable to continue, the winner is Kankurō.
"Two against one is hitting below the belt isn't it?" Naruto asked. "I mean, is that thing even far, Kakashi-sensei?"
"It's not really two against one; it's a puppet, not another ninja." Kakashi explained to him. Kankurō walked back up to stand with the others.
"Told you I wouldn't need it." Kankurō said to Rin as he came to stand next to Temari.
Rin looked down at Neji and Hinata. They were fighting hand to hand. Their Byakugan were activated. Hinata went to strike and the two stopped. Hinata suddenly coughed up blood.
"So that's in huh? That's all there is to the main branch's power?" Neji asked.
"Wait what is going on?! I mean I saw Hinata hit Neji perfectly!" Naruto said. Hinata hit Neji's arm away and went to hit him but he caught her arm and poked it with two fingers. He pushed Hinata's sleeve up and there were red dots on her arm.
"B-But you mean-? All this time you…" She said.
"That's right, I could see your chakra points the whole time." Neji said.
"What is he talking about?" Naruto asked. Kakashi explained chakra points to him and Sakura. Neji hit Hinata and she flew back and slid on the ground.
"Look Hinata, I'm completely out of your league and that won't change. This is what separates the elite from the failures." Hinata sat up panting and looked at him. "You may not like it but it's a fact. From the instant you said you wouldn't run anymore your fate was sealed you were destined for failure. And now, you're consumed with hopelessness." He started to walk over to her. "Now this is your last warning Hinata, forfeit this match."
"I…I…" Blood fell from her mouth and she clenched her fists. "I… never…" She struggled to get up. "Go back…" She started to stand. "on my word. Because that too is my nindo, my ninja way." She stood completely and faced Neji.
"I had no idea that Hinata's as tough as she is." Naruto said.
"She is a lot like you." Lee said.
"You know, come to think of it, she is always watching you." Sakura said.
"Huh?" Naruto looked at her then back down at Hinata. Hinata was smiling then activated her Byakugan. Neji did the same.
"Bring it on." He said. Hinata suddenly put her hands to her chest in pain and coughed up more blood. Neji got into a stance with one hand up.
"Doesn't it seem like the difference in strength makes it unfair?" Sakura asked. "He's just way too strong. It's a mismatch, seriously." Naruto was gripping a thing of medical ointment that Hinata had given him.
"Go Hinata! You can do it!" Naruto shouted. Hinata ran at Neji and they started fighting. They both went to attack at the same time and Neji hit her first sending a blast of chakra. She coughed up blood and fell over.
"You just don't get it do you?" Neji asked her. "Your strikes were ineffective from the very start. You're finished." He walked away.
"It's too bad, but after that blow to the heart Hinata is done." Gai said. Naruto looked upset. Hinata wasn't moving. Hayate walked up to her.
"Since she's no longer able to continue this match-"
"No!" Naruto shouted cutting him off. "Don't stop this match!"
"Naruto, what on earth are you doing?" Sakura asked. "Hinata's had it. You can see she's unconscious can't you?" Naruto smirked and everyone looked shocked to see Hinata getting up slowly. She managed to stand but was still shaky and was holding herself with one arm.
"What do you think you're doing?" Neji asked. "If you continue to fight, you're going to die." He activated his Byakugan.
"I'm far from finished." Hinata said taking a few steps closer.
"Give up the tough guy act. I can tell you're barely standing." Neji said. "You've been carrying a very heavy burden having been born to the main branch of the Hyuuga clan. And you've cursed and blamed yourself for being weak. But look, people can't change the way they are, that's just how it is. Just accept defeat and you won't have to suffer anymore."
"No, you're wrong brother, you've got it backwards. You see I can tell that you're the one; you're suffering much more than I."
"I'm what?"
"You are the one who's all torn up about the fate of the main and side branches of the Hyuuga clan." Neji looked pissed and ran at Hinata.
"Neji no! The match is over!" Hayate shouted as he started running to stop him. Suddenly Gai was holding Neji back, Kakashi had a hand on his arm while Kuranai held his other and Hayate had two fingers on Neji's forehead.
"Neji, get a hold of yourself." Gai said. "You promised me you wouldn't let this whole head family thing get you riled up."
"Why are you and the other Jounin butting in? The head family gets special treatment huh?" Suddenly Hinata fell forward and started coughing up blood. Kuranai ran over to her.
"Hinata!" She put a hand on her back. "Hinata."
"Hinata!" Naruto shouted as he, Lee, and Sakura jumped over the railing before running over. "Hinata, you okay?" Naruto crouched next to her. "Hey!"
"Na-Naruto…I just…I…do you…" She ended on a whisper before her eyes closed.
"Hey you, loser." Neji said.
"Hm?" Naruto looked over at him.
"I have two pieces of advice for you." Neji said. "First of all: If you intend to call yourself a shinobi, stop that stupid cheering of yours it's disgraceful. And second: once a failure, always a failure. You can't change that." Naruto stood.
"We'll just see about that." Naruto ran at him but Lee stopped him. "What are you doing?"
"Naruto, I get where you are coming from believe me but, the rules say all fighting must be done officially in a match. A loser beating a genius through sheer willpower, now would not that make for an exciting match, even if I am the one who is going to have to fight Neji. Of course if you ending up fighting him that is fine too."
"Alright fine, you win Lee." Naruto said turning around and walking back to Hinata. Lee gave a thumbs up to Gai who gave one back. Hinata coughed up blood again. Kuranai unzipped her coat and put a hand on her chest and one on her neck. Kuranai glared at Neji.
"I wouldn't waste your time glaring at me when you really should be taking care of her." Neji said.
"Get a medic! And hurry up!" Kuranai shouted.
"We're coming." One said as they ran over. They rolled out the stretcher. "She has no pulse." Naruto ran over.
"This is very serious. She's got ten minutes at best. Let's get her to the emergency room now!" They put her on the stretcher and started to take her away.
"Stand back." Naruto watched them.
"Hinata." He said quietly. "Hinata, I give you my word." He crouched and put his fingers in her blood before standing up and facing Neji. He held out his closed fist and blood dripped. "I vow to win."
I know that was a VERY long chapter and it was mostly show events which is why I'll be posting another chapter later today…tonight… in a few hours.