There are only two days between finding out about the exams, and the actual exams themselves. Well – one full day, and the day they're told, Sasuke supposes. They have the freedom to do what they wish, so Sasuke trains.
He's under no illusions about this exam.
1) Even though Kakashi SAID they didn't all have to take it, there's no way at least part of the exam isn't a combined team effort. He doesn't relish being matched up with someone else if either of his teammates quit.
2) He doesn't need to worry about Naruto. He's such an idiot that even if he was an absolute failure (which… he's not, as Sasuke's loathe to admit), he'd keep plowing forward towards the exam anyway. Ugh. To be fair (he. Guesses he should TRY to be), that's not a bad way to get stronger.
He hates agreeing with Naruto.
3) Finally, though, Sasuke DOES need to worry about Sakura. He had noticed the way she trailed behind the two, noticed her downcast face, and he knows she's the weakest of them all. Normally, he wouldn't… care. Sakura's emotions are annoying, 99% of the time. But.
If she drops out, or fails early, or something along those lines, Sasuke might get stuck with someone else. The thought sends shudders down his spine. He's only barely begun to figure out how to work with the other two – trying to haphazardly take the exam with a new person sounds torturous.
But… he REALLY doesn't want to give her a pep talk or something like that. Maybe he could get Naruto to do it…?
The idea comes to him that evening, when he beats Iruka-sensei disguised as a random ninja trying to get him to quit. (He… doesn't quite appreciate that his old teacher doesn't think he could win, but Iruka-sensei CARES, so he supposes that is that.) The ninja-that-is-his-teacher disappears, leaving just a rock behind, and Sasuke stares at it dumbly.
Of course. Jutsu.
Sakura soaks up information like a sponge, reading every single morning and devouring library scroll after library scroll (he is very glad he planted that idea in her head). What would cheer her up better than some Uchiha scrolls to study before the exam? It's perfect.
Her mother – he assumes – answers the door the next morning when he knocks. "Oh, you must be Sasuke!" she says brightly, giving him a smile that he very much recognizes. "Sakura's just up in her room, come in, come in!"
Sasuke shakes his head. "I have to go train. Here." He offers her the three scrolls he picked out, and she takes them with slight confusion. "Give these to Sakura. Tell her… she'll be fine tomorrow."
And then he's gone, leaping towards the nearest tree before she can say another word.
Sakura's bright and happy and gushing the next morning, thanking Sasuke for the scrolls – while Naruto complains about how he didn't GET any – so Sasuke supposes he did good.
He rolls his eyes. "Naruto, you can't even read," he tells him, and ignores the blustered yelling of his teammate as he heads inside. Sakura follows him with a giggle, before Naruto falls into step, grumbling.
"I can TOO read, bastard," he mutters, and Sasuke ignores him.
They make it up the first set of stairs, but are stopped by a large group of people gathered around one of the doors. There's two genin in front of it, blocking the way, rambling about how they're weeding out the weak, and pushing down some poor kid in an ugly green jumpsuit.
Sakura grabs his arm. "Sasuke," she whispers, careful to not draw attention. "It's a genjutsu." She points, subtly, and Sasuke follows the line of her finger – huh. The room is marked '301', which is where their exam is supposed to take place, but… this is the second floor.
Sasuke almost – almost – steps forward to put these two assholes in their place. They deserve to be knocked down a peg, and Sasuke is definitely the one to do it. But Sakura keeps talking. "There's stairs just over there. We can sneak by and no one will notice us."
She's definitely thinking like a ninja, and Sasuke sighs with a nod, before tapping Naruto on the shoulder. "Idiot," he says. "Come on, we have to keep going."
Naruto rounds on him, and isn't quiet at all. "Bastard, we-!" Sakura slaps a hand over his mouth before Sasuke can.
"This is the second floor, dummy!" she hisses out. "Be quiet!" With that, she pulls her hand back, and Naruto rubs the back of his head, apologetic.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll be quiet." His whisper isn't much quieter than a normal volume of speech, but it's good enough, and Sasuke nods.
Sakura beams at them both. "We're doing great already!" she chirps quietly, grabbing both of their hands, and dragging them past the crowd.
Unfortunately, they don't go unnoticed. "Hey!" yells one of the asshole genin. "Where are you guys going? The exam's right here!"
Sasuke doesn't miss a beat. "Bathroom."
There's a pause, and they keep walking – Naruto sniggers. The genin manages to find his voice. "You're all going together?"
Sakura looks back at him and gives him the most wilting glare he's ever seen from her. It's kind of impressive. "Yes. The bathroom's a team bonding activity. That's what Kakashi-sensei says, duh."
No one else stops them.
Sasuke is… incredibly grateful to be done with the test, when it's finally over. To be honest? It's a miracle they all passed. It was Naruto with a paper test. God.
And the drama before it didn't help, what with all the loud-mouthed fellow rookies, Kabuto, and those damned Sound Ninja with their weird tricks. He hasn't even done anything physical – in fact, all he's done is get info on that Gaara, and cheat on a test – but he feels absolutely exhausted.
Fortunately, the next part of the exam is tomorrow.
Naruto leads the way out of the room, bubbling and bursting with joy, but Sasuke and Sakura share a tired look. He feels complete and utter solidarity. Time for this day to be done.
Kakashi's waiting for them just outside the door. "Maa, maa," he asks, as if he doesn't know already. "Did you pass?"
Naruto leaps at him in a hug, clinging to the man while Kakashi gingerly pats him on the back. "Yes! Yes, we passed, Kakashi-sensei! We're gonna be chunin!"
Sasuke rolls his eyes. "Idiot. We're not done with the test. We've still got another part to go."
Their teacher eye smiles at them all as the blonde finally releases him. "Well… you've actually got two more to go. There's three parts."
Sakura groans. Naruto pouts. Sasuke resists the urge to bang his head on the wall. Two more? How long was this going to take? It already felt like an eternity, and they had only just started.
Kakashi waves off their distress. "You've passed part one, though! Congratulations. Should we get some ramen?"
As if on cue, his stomach rumbles, and Sasuke reddens. "…Sure." Sakura makes a face, but nods, and Naruto's faintly bouncing off the walls.
"Ramen, ramen, ramen!" he chants, bouncing up and down as he starts to lead the way, Kakashi and then the other two ambling behind. Kakashi spares them from his sing-song antics by asking him for test details, however, and Sasuke is incredibly grateful.
Of course, Naruto's account of the test is extremely inaccurate, spiced up and inflated beyond measure to make the blonde seem like a genius, but Sakura's more than willing to poke holes in his story, angrily interjecting every time he makes up some bullshit. Sasuke's fine leaving them to it. He doesn't really want to get involved – he doesn't care.
Unfortunately, the whole ordeal gets started over again when they arrive at Ichiraku's, and Naruto HAS to tell Teuchi and Ayame what happened (and when did he get on first name basis with them? Has Sasuke been here that many times, really?), and Sasuke slumps in his seat next to Kakashi.
The man just laughs, reaching over and ruffling the Uchiha's hair (which makes him scowl). "You did good today, Sasuke."
Sasuke doesn't look at him. "Hn."
"You stuck together as a team. I'm proud of all of you."
Naruto shuts up, staring at Kakashi. "You're… proud of us?"
Kakashi nods. Probably not sensing his impending doom – because Naruto's eyes well up in tears, and he throws himself at the jounin. "Yes! We really are gonna be chunin!" He crows, clinging to the man.
Their teacher tries to pull him off, to no avail, and Sakura slides over one stool to whisper to Sasuke. "What's up with that?" she asks, and.
Sasuke is abruptly reminded of what she said to him, the day they became teammates. He breaks apart his chopsticks and doesn't look at her. "Hn. I guess he's lucky he doesn't have parents who praise him."
From her sharp inhale, that struck home, and he's definitely relieved when the other two stop their antics, Naruto returning to his overeager story – without any interjections from Sakura, this time – and Sasuke eats. Kakashi surveys them, but says nothing.
He's done quickly, eats quickly, and he sets some yen next to his bowl and slides off the stool. "See you tomorrow," he says. "Don't be late."
The Uchiha lifts a hand in acknowledgement at the good-byes tossed his way from Kakashi, Naruto, and Teuchi, but he doesn't look back.
He has to get home and train for part two.