Chapter 10

BalthazartheAngel: Yes, there will be other pairings but none of them will form for some time and in time you should be able to see them form as chapters go by. Or at least I hope you do, it's a personal challenge of sorts, 'Can I write long term Romantic relationships that are subtle.'

The Second Test

The second test was twenty minutes old and Team 12 had quickly taken the lead, their superior speed allowing them to pull away from the other teams. "Ok Naruto, we should be out of earshot of the other teams. What's this plan you mentioned?" Tri shouted to the blonde ahead of him, Naruto, who'd taken point slowed until he was in between Tri and Itachi.

"We use Shadow clones, we continue on like this for another half hour. Then you and me," he said pointing at Tri, "create five shadow clones each. We continue south-eastwards while my clones head south, yours go east. When my clones reach the coast, two go east, three west. When your's get to the coast, three go east, two west. This way we can cover far more of the coast."

"And find the island faster," Itachi finished. "Exactly. We should reach the coast by late afternoon/ early evening. What we do over the night, however, I've no idea."

"Moving around in the dark is just asking for a whole bunch of problems," Itachi said remembering the night-time training they'd done with Genma-Sensei. "You can't see traps, natural obstacles, other teams amongst many other things," the Uchiha added. "Why don't we pick up the pace and ensure we reach the coast before the sun goes down. If we haven't found the island when we get there I'll create a few more shadow clones and they'll go either east or west and we go the opposite way," Tri suggested.

Naruto looked at Itachi, he nodded his liking to the plan. "Ok Tri, let's do it," Naruto said before the three of them disappeared in a flicker.

About 100 feet behind them was Kumogakure's team 22. They'd been trying to keep up with Konoha team 12 and were only just managing to hang on to their coattails. "Where'd they go?" one said quickly looking around for any imminent threat. "They're going even faster? Did they notice us another said.

"It doesn't matter," the third growled, "we'll run into them at some point and there'll be nowhere for them to run."

They weren't the only ones trailing team 12, Yugito had followed them out of the village as the Raikage had ordered. She had been close enough to listen to them devise their plan to find the island, she'd been impressed to hear their intent to use shadow clones. 'Do they really have the chakra for so many shadow clones'. She blinked and almost missed them up their speed. 'They were sandbagging? Oh, this should be fun' she thought as she upped her own speed to match them.

She followed them for hours, they cut an impressive pace. They'd long since left any other team behind. 'Not too bad for kids, nowhere near my fastest, but impressive regardless'. In her time observing them, they rarely spoke, they moved in a modified arrow formation. Naruto took point, Tri was slightly behind and to the left while Itachi was slightly further back on the right. 'They've thought out their formation and made it suit them, too many Genin teams forget to move in formation all together'.

They'd created their shadow clones some time ago. She had to admit, the plan was simple but very clever. When the clones reached the coast, the splitting up clones would allow them to cover swathes of the coastline in hours. Yugito knew where the turtle would be and listening to the latest conversation ahead of her, they now knew too.

"Naruto, Itachi. My clones have found the island, it's further to the east, we'll need to hurry, however, it looks like a weather front is approaching from the south. We might lose it in the fog." Without a word, they all turned south-east-east.

The ocean was now only a few miles away. The terrain had changed too, it was less rugged, there were fewer cliffs with more trees and general greenery.

'To have nearly reached the coast and located the turtle before nightfall on day one is impressive. I wonder if the record for this Exam might fall. Now how will you tackle the island?'

Their journey continued for another hour before they broke through a tree line to find themselves on a rocky beach and off in the distance they could see the island. "That is one weird looking island," Itachi noted. "Looks more like a floating hedgehog or porcupine," Naruto added. "So, what's the plan for the island?" the blonde inquired.

"Leave it to me," both Naruto and Itachi gave Tri a weird look. "What, you want to do the island on your own?"

"Tri, we know you're the fastest of us, but are you fast enough to evade all the threats you might find?" Naruto asked. Tri simply nodded, "For one, all my weight seals are still active and two, remember our day with Anko-san?" The two shuddered at being reminded of the day they'd been left in Anko's care.

It wasn't really training per say, it involved Anko and her snakes chasing them through the forest of death, hours of dodging the Jōnin and native wildlife, hours they didn't wish to repeat anytime soon.

"Alright then Tri. If you're doing this, then wait until sunrise. And you won't be taking watch tonight, we'll do that and await your return. It will allow me and Naruto to keep an eye on the other teams should any arrive." Tri nodded in agreement, "Alright you two, I'll take first watch. Itachi I'll wake you about five hours before dawn."

They located a suitable location to make camp for the night amongst the trees, they made a small shielded fire so no one would see the flames, Genma had taught them how to make and maintain a fire by civilian means. The inside of Tri's cloak carried weeks' worth of already prepared or pre-made food in some of his storage seals. They ate quickly and in silence before Tri and Itachi went to sleep.

They weren't expecting any other teams to stumble on them in the dead of night. Regardless, however, they slept in the trees, if another team were to attack the camp, they'd be attacking dummies left on the ground. Yugito settled down for the night a few hundred feet away, any closer and they might notice her.

The night was neither warm nor cold and it passed without incident. Itachi had relieved Naruto of guard duties as intended. And as the darkness began to fade, telling of the sun's imminent arrival on the horizon Tri woke, ready to contest the island. "Itachi," Tri whispered appearing next to him, "Anything happening out there?" He shook his head, "No, it's been a quiet night, quiet for our guest too."
"They reveal themselves or their chakra stick out?" Tri asked with a grin. "The chakra sticks out. It's the same chakra as the proctor you befriended yesterday."
"I guess the powers that be in Kumo are interested in us," Tri laughed. "Anyway, I'm gonna get going. If you and Naruto do need to move, try to keep your movement westwards so I can get back to you," Itachi nodded his understanding as Tri vanished again.

'Now who will our little spy follow?' The Uchiha wondered, he got his answer as the chakra seemed to split in two with one half following after Tri. 'Shadows Clones, I presume'.

Yugito had her clone remain ashore, while she would follow Tri. She didn't want to risk her shadow clone being dispelled whilst observing. She peered through the treeline to find Tri stood feet from the ocean, his arms were together, hands clamped to the opposite arm just below the elbow. He was just loud enough for Yugito to hear him. "Weight Seals, Kai."

In an instant he was gone, ripples in the waves the only sign of his prior presence. Yugito gasped, 'Ok, now that is impressive,' she thought. "That's speed you'd expect from an experienced Chūnin maybe even some Jōnin, not a Genin. Seems Raikage-sama made the right call telling me to follow these three," she muttered as she shot off after him.

Tri literally skated across the water, the chakra around his feet allowing him to glide across the water as if it were ice. 'Water Skating' as it was known was the third step in chakra aided movement. First was tree-climbing, next came water walking and a few months ago Genma-Sensei had introduced them to water skating. It was easier on lakes since oceans and rivers moved but Tri's control and training were more than sufficient.

The island had moved during the night, it was further out to sea and had moved a little to the south-west. Tri had guessed the distance at around two to three miles, he estimated it would take him ten minutes to arrive. He used the time to make sure his seal laden bandages were prepared, he didn't know what to expect. The forest of death featured oversized tigers, monstrous spiders giant leeches, bears, and that was just the fauna. There were also poisonous plants and others that could eat a person whole you had to look out for.
He assumed the threats would be similar as he continued his charge towards Genbu. He wanted this done quickly so they could start on their way back.

The ten minutes flew by and he soon reached the island, it didn't have a beach coastline per say. They were more short cliffs but it presented no issue as he jumped from the water onto the cliff and ran up the vertical surface. Reaching the top he got his first proper look at the island, there were plenty of trees just like training ground 44, but towering over them was what looked like spikes. He walked up to one of them and rapped his knuckles off of it. 'Huh, feels and sounds like stone'. He shrugged his shoulders and formed the clone seal. "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu," around him appeared a dozen clones.

"You know what the scroll looks like, first to find it wins!"

"Yosh!" they all shouted as they all shot off into the interior of the island. The original, however, was stood stock staring at the low branch of a nearby tree. Perched on the branch was a small black bird that stared back, 'Is that a Raven? Curious creature'. Tri shrugged before beginning his search for the scroll.

The sun had been in the sky for near an hour and team 17 had split up on their way to the coast as soon as it had. They were to make their way to the coastline and reunite later on. Deidara had gone south-west, Yama had gone south and Kurotsuchi had gone south-east. And despite how often she looked over her shoulder, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being followed.

She looked ahead again but quickly looked back again as she heard the tell-tale sound of a shuriken. She was able to quickly jump to the right but the shuriken left a shallow cut in her left arm. 'I can't stay still, I have to keep moving and try to lose whoever this is'. Her assailants cover was blown she was able to spot at least four, maybe five individuals.

Little did Kurotsuchi know that help was closer at hand than she could have realised.

The chase continued for five, then ten, then fifteen minutes. She dodged the shuriken and the kunai, seemingly annoyed with their lack of success her assailants changed tact. The first clue, the only clue she got was a hiss. A hiss that soon became an explosion, it was close enough to throw her against a tree trunk with a thud.

By the time she managed to pull herself to her feet the chasing pack had surrounded her. Around her were 12 Sunagakure Genin. "Four entire teams for little ol' me, I don't know whether that's a compliment to me or an insult to you," she shouted out to them. "Brave one aren't you, but there is a dozen of us and now you're all alone and punishment will now be exacted for Iwagakure's crimes against Sunagakure," one of the twelve shouted back as they closed in from all sides.

"Well, you were half right, there are twelve of you," a voice from above them shouted out. All looked up and found.. nothing. It was only when they looked back down at Kurotsuchi they noticed she had a Konoha Genin flanking either side of her. A stoic face with black hair and a wide grin with blonde. Kurotsuchi was just as confused as the Suna Genin were. "Why are you helping her? You've just as much cause to hate Iwagakure as we do."
"Not really, I'd never met or in fact seen anyone from Iwagakure before the lady to my left. The problems Iwagakure have with my tou-san, and the problems my tou-san has with Iwagakure are for them, neither concerns nor involves me," Naruto stated, folding his arms.

He was getting weird looks from everywhere, even the Kunoichi next to him looked as if she couldn't quite process what he'd said. "So, shall we get on with it?" Itachi cut through the silence. "What, without the third member of your team, the darling of the first test not going to show himself?"
"Don't worry about him, he's otherwise occupied," Itachi voice was as calm as always. "Alright leafies, last chance. Walk away and leave pinkie with us and you can walk away." Naruto dropped the smirk on his face and replaced it with a serious look, "No chance."

With the talking at an end, the first shuriken flew through the air which Itachi blocked with one of his own. Two more were thrown, again Itachi blocked. More and more shuriken were blocked every time by Itachi.

Naruto laughed, "Lesson one: Uchiha's are really good with shuriken, especially Itachi here. Lesson Two: I am really good with shadow clones," he boasted. His boasts drew looks of confusion then the shadows appeared around the Suna 12, the shadows quickly got bigger as the first looked up. Naruto savoured the look of absolute shock as one by one they discovered a small army of Naruto's dropping down on them from the treetops. Kurotsuchi quickly looked either side of her to find the blonde and the Uchiha gone.

"I am not being left out of this!" was her defiant shout as she pulled a kunai in each hand and joined the fray. The clones served little more than to be distractions, the real Naruto went right, Itachi went left while Kurotsuchi went down the centre.

Two Suna Genin, having seen off the clones attacking them each drew a kunai and beelined straight for her. One went low, the other high. She jumped forward through the middle, twisting her body she blocked a downward kunai slash from the left and cut the other across the arm before cutting the first across the top of the thigh. Quickly landing on her feet she turned, intending to put one of them down, one was knelt down while the other turned to face her. She threw her kunai to buy her a moment, she flashed through hand signs before slamming her palms into the ground, "Doton: Doryūsō," (Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears). The spikes of earth shot from the ground, impaling both through the lower leg.

The spears were narrow and broke off in their flesh as the impaled Genin went down with screams, despite her training she still wasn't quite desensitised to the blood and agonizing screams that both Suna Genin emitted.

Shaking it off, she lifted her head to survey the battle. Naruto and a few clones were handling a half-dozen while Itachi was taking on another three. 'Where's the twelfth one?' As the thought ran through her mind, her instincts screamed at her to move. Not wasting any time she jumped up, barely half a second later a Fūma shuriken tore through where she had been standing, embedding itself deeply in a tree. She cast several shuriken of her own where she thought the thrower was, she was relieved to hear a pained grunt as two shuriken found the Suna nin's arm.

A Naruto clone quickly rendered them unconscious. Three down, nine to go.

Despite the three on one disadvantage, Itachi's greater skill level and Sharingan allowed him to keep the trio facing him at a distance. The four of them had gone for a Taijutsu engagement with the odd kunai. Everything passed in slow-motion for Itachi, one of the traits of his eyes, he could perceive every punch, every kick, every swing of a kunai and react accordingly.

Itachi ducked under a fist before replying with a fist of his own, straight into the boy's ribs, he felt them give way ever so slightly. 'Fractured, I think.' He thought as they stumbled back, taking advantage he delivered a spinning back kick. His foot connecting with their temple, they were out cold before they hit the floor.

Itachi gained some distance on the remaining two and found himself back to back with Naruto. Naruto had managed to deal with another but that left seven against their two. "Itachi, you got anything that can deal with all of them?"

"Hai, I got something that might work, at the very least it should thin them out," he replied forming the tiger seal. Silently he cast his Jutsu.

All around them, feathers began to fall. Many didn't know what to think of it. Making sure as few as possible were watching him, Naruto formed the ram seal, "Kai," he whispered as he released the Genjutsu, Kurotsuchi saw him as did two of the Suna Genin. The three of them repeated his actions, dispersing the feathers falling around them. It was too late for the other five, however, each collapsing to the ground, fast asleep.

"I didn't know you could do the Nehan Shōja no Jutsu (Temple of Nirvana Technique) Itachi?" Naruto exclaimed, his teammate only smiled, "It's not all I know," he stated as he flew through a few more hand signs before he shimmered away. Suddenly both remaining Suna Genin couldn't move, they found themselves restrained by a tree. Their eyes widened in horror as the Uchiha suddenly emerged from the tree, kunai in hand. Itachi brought the kunai down and stabbed both in the shoulder. The pain broke the Genjutsu but both fell to the ground grasping at their wounds.

"Magen: Jubaku Satsu (Demonic Illusion: Tree binding Death) too huh, you have been a busy bee." Naruto shot forward as he spoke and quickly rendered the final two unconscious.

The fight had barely lasted a few minutes, "You know, that was rather disappointing for twelve against three," Naruto muttered as he knelt down and used some of the basic medical Ninjutsu Tsunade had taught him to stem the bleeding. He didn't particularly want the Suna Genin to bleed out. He felt someone walk up behind him. "Why are you healing them?" a feminine voice asked. "I might not appreciate their actions towards you but Suna and Konoha are technically allies. So it probably wouldn't go down well if the son of the Hokage let a few sand Genin bleed to death."

"Hmph, fine," was her reply, she noticed Itachi was doing the same to the two she'd impaled through the legs. "You know, I'm surprised you didn't take the opportunity to slip away," Naruto asked her. She snorted, "Don't look into it too much, my grandfather would string me up if he discovered I ran from a fight."

"Aww," Naruto lamented. "And here I thought you stuck around because of my good looks." Again Kurotsuchi snorted, seeing the opportunity to tease her further Naruto spoke again. "Shame and here I was about to compliment those dazzling eyes of yours." She had to quickly look away as a tinge of pink dusted the tops of her cheeks.

He let her stew for a few moments before speaking again. "Do you want me to see to that cut on your arm?" Naruto asked her. She looked at her right arm and while the cut wasn't deep, it was deep enough that the wound was still bleeding. Internally she groaned, she knew next to nothing about medical care, definitely not enough to clean, disinfect and bind the wound one-handed. Begrudgingly she raised her arm.

Naruto placed a supporting hand under her elbow to hold the arm still as he held the other over the cut. His hand began to glow green as he slowly undid the damage. Naruto couldn't help but notice how soft her skin was as he held her arm. After a few minutes, he'd stopped the bleeding and closed the wound. A small surge of chakra later and a clean cloth appeared in his hand. "Itachi," he said throwing the cloth that he effortlessly caught out of the air before giving the blonde a questioning look. "I need you to first wet it and then heat it."

The questioning look continued. "My hands are otherwise occupied and I can't manipulate Katon chakra," he explained. Itachi shrugged his shoulders before emptying a water bottle over the cloth. He concentrated and released a small stream of flames from his mouth that he held the cloth close to and within a few seconds he could feel the temperature rise. His task complete he threw the cloth back to Naruto.

Feeling the heat in his hand he nodded his thanks to Itachi. "This'll be really warm," he warned as he began to wipe the blood from her arm, starting around the wound he made his way down her arm. Past the elbow, across the forearm, around the wrist, over the top of her hand. Finally, he turned her hand over and wiped her palm. Discarding the now red cloth, another dry clean cloth appeared in his hand which he used to dry her arm.

He finished by wrapping the injury with bandages. "It should fully heal in a day or two and I don't think it will scar. Kurotsuchi lightly fingered the bandages around her arm. She'd been expecting his hands to be rough and his medical care to be callous. But he hadn't, his hands were gentle and the way he'd healed the wound, cleaned away the blood had been.. caring.

"Thank you," she quietly said. Naruto gave her a warm smile, "Your welcome Kurotsuchi-san."
"Itachi, will the rest going to be ok?" he asked turning to face him. "Yes, they should be fine, these two will have trouble walking for a while though. Thankfully she missed the bones, otherwise, they may have needed crutches for the rest of their lives."
"They shouldn't have attacked me then," Kurotsuchi brushed off Itachi's comment. Naruto chuckled, "Well, I suppose that's true."

"You mentioned he was busy but where is your teammate exactly?"
"He's retrieving the scroll from the island. And where are both of your teammates?" She looked at him with a light scowl before relenting, "Touché, my team split up to find the island. Wait, hang on, you let him travel to the island alone?" Naruto nodded, "Yeah, he's quick on his feet. He'll be fine."
"What, quick enough to avoid any potential threat?" Itachi was the one who answered, "Yes, if there is a faster Genin in these Exams. I'd like to meet them." She didn't know whether to believe him or not, 'but then again this team aren't an ordinary team'.

"I presume your the reason I've been sneezing just now?" A voice above them said. Looking up they found Tri sitting on a high branch. "You found the scroll already, Tri?" Itachi shouted up to him. He disappeared from the branch and reappeared in front of them. "Hai," he stated as a black scroll, exactly like the one Darui had shown them yesterday appeared in his hand. "All the scrolls are in the same location so I know I was the first one there. What happened here?"

Four Suna teams decided to take out their grievances on Kurotsuchi-san here," Naruto explained. Tri replaced the scroll in a storage seal as he turned to face her, "You alright?"
"Besides this cut, I'm fine," she said showing him the bandages. "Good," he bluntly stated. With a raised eyebrow she asked, "Why is that good?"
"Because compared to pretty much all the Kunoichi, hell nearly all the Genin in these Exams, you're actually interesting. You aren't for a lack of better term, a 'pushover'." Kurotsuchi couldn't decide whether he'd complimented her or not.

"Can we get going? I don't particularly like the wilderness in this part of the world," Itachi asked. "Yeah, alright Itachi. Tri, let's go." His bi-colour haired brother nodded, but before jumping away he shunshined straight in front of Kurotsuchi. Placing a hand on her shoulder, "When you get to the island, look for a temple near the turtles head." With that, he vanished along with his team leaving the Iwa Kunoichi on her own with twelve unconscious Suna Genin. Deciding she didn't want to be around should those sleeping wake up she quickly made herself scarce too.

Team 12 successfully avoided contact with any other Genin team on their way back to the village. Barring one occasion where they nearly ran straight into an Ame team, they were untroubled. The return journey with one of the scrolls had, however, proven far more difficult. The journey to find the island tested a teams ability to move with speed to find their goal, the island itself was the same, only more dangerous. Returning the scroll to Kumo tested a teams ability to move quickly and with stealth. A team that possessed all these traits would likely find themselves progressing to the final stage.

"Oh come on you three, the test isn't even thirty five hours old yet," one of the Kumo gate guards exclaimed as Team 12 arrived in front of them, their young faces a mixture of bewilderment and amusement. "Why are you assuming we want to withdraw from the second test? We're finished. Tri, if you would." Naruto said, in Tri's hand appeared one of the seven scrolls needed to pass the second Exam.

"As you can see guard-san. We pass… So, what do we do with the scroll?" Neither of the guards answered courtesy of the looks of utter shock on their faces. Naruto waved his hand in front of one of their faces, "Hello? Anybody there?"
"Y-You present the scroll to the proctor," one finally responded pointing to the courtyard they'd left the previous afternoon. The sun had gone down a couple hours earlier but they'd decided to push on to Kumo to avoid being jumped during the night. "Arigato," Naruto said throwing a wave over his shoulder.

Sure enough, sat at a table at one end of the courtyard was one incredibly bored looking Darui. "Proctor-san," Naruto shouted as he shunshined over to him, his teammates in tow. The proctor was leaning on the back two legs of his chair as Tri presented him with the scroll. Darui locked eyes on the scroll and proceeded to fall backwards off his chair, his head bouncing off the ground with a thud. Quickly scrambling back to his feet whilst rubbing the quickly growing bump on his head, he grabbed the scroll from them and checked it over for the slightest flaw. "I don't believe it, you actually finished the exam. Um, sorry but uh, who are you?"

"Team 12, Konoha," Itachi stated bluntly.

Uh right, yeah, sorry. Team 12, you pass with a time of 1 day, 9 hours." The three of them backed up slowly as the man looked like he was about to have a breakdown, "Let's go find Genma-Sensei," Naruto whispered from behind his hand.

"So Genma-san, what are your team actually like? I won't beat around the bush when I say that every village has picked up on your three Genin through their intelligence networks." Genma was in Kumo's Jōnin standby station, he and most of the other Jōnin who's teams were competing in the second exam where there, killing the five days that encompassed the test. And Genma was bored stiff, worse yet, word had gotten around about how easily his team had passed the first test.

"They're mature beyond their years, where most Jōnin sensei have to start with the basics such as tree climbing and the like. I didn't have to do anything like that, I took charge of Genin that you'd probably have mistaken for Chūnin. Hell if it weren't for the age restrictions now in place in Konoha, they wouldn't be far from their Jōnin trials already," he said casually as if it were common knowledge, which in Konoha it was. But here it came across more as shameless boasting.

"Hmph, look at the Konoha Jōnin hyping up his already over-hyped Genin." Genma was about to throw a retort back but a Kumo Chūnin entered the room before he could. "Shiranui Genma, your team are waiting outside for you." Not wasting any time, he stood and walked out of the room. "Chūnin-san, tell me. How beat up must they be to have to have withdrawn after barely a day?" The Chūnin gave him a confused look, "You misunderstand, Konoha's Team 12 have passed the second test," the Chūnin replied as he saw himself out, closing the door to utter silence. Meanwhile, Genma walked down the corridor with a wide grin on his face.

"Come in," A called out, hearing a knock on his office door. He'd been staring out the window that his office overlooked. He didn't know how long he'd been sat there just looking out the window, but he remembered the sun was still in the sky when he'd started. He quickly spun in his chair as he recognised Yugito's voice as she greeted him. "You're back awfully early Yugito." She had a grin on her face, "You were right to have me watch them Raikage-sama," she replied. "And why's that?"
"Because they've just passed the second test."

The five days of the second test had come and gone. All seven scrolls had been returned to Kumogakure, the final one returning with hours to spare.

The seven teams were lined up in front of Darui and some looked far worse than others. Darui opened a scroll in his hands and began reading from it. "In seventh place with a time of 4 days and 21 hours, Team 23, Kumogakure. Sixth Place with a time of 4 days and 17 hours, Team 22, Kumogakure. Fifth place with a time of 4 days and 3 hours, Team 7, Sunagakure. Fourth place with a time of 3 days and 19 hours, Team 2, Takigakure. Third place with a time of 3 days and 17 hours, Team 4, Kumogakure."

"There's a lot of Kumo teams," Naruto noted looking around. "Yeah, our new best friends included," Tri replied pointing with his chin towards the team who'd confronted them before the second test. "Second place in what would have been a record setting time of 2 days and 20 hours, Team 17, Iwagakure. And finally in first place with a record setting time of 1 day and 9 hours, Team 12, Konoha."

The glares they got from the Kumo teams only served to widen the grin on Naruto's face. Genma-sensei had already informed them they'd broken the record but to hear it said out loud in public was satisfying.

"But now I feel I must apologise," Darui continued, "Who can figure out why?"
"There are too many of us," the green haired Taki Genin cheerfully shouted to Darui. The assembled Genin looked around in confusion, after a few seconds Tri smiled, "She's right there are too many."
"What do you mean Tr… Oh, I see," Itachi said, catching on. "What? What do you mean there are too many of us?" Naruto asked of his two teammates. Before either could reply Darui spoke again.

"Yes as some of you will have realised, there are simply too many of you. There are 16 spots in the third and final round of these Exams and there are 21 of you. So we still need to get rid another five of you. Now as reward for finishing fastest, the four fastest teams are given byes straight to the finals." The three remaining teams started to shout and complain but Darui quickly cut them off, "SILENCE," he shouted, "Perhaps in future you'll learn to finish your task faster."

"So will Team 7, Sunagakure and teams 22 and 23 from Kumogakure step forward." The nine of them did as asked, one was far slower than the rest. One of the Kumo Genin was having to use crutches to walk, one of their legs wrapped in a splint. "The bouts to decide the final four spots will being momentarily. Do any of you wish to withdraw?" As Darui expected the Genin with the broken leg raised their hand, a look of massive frustration across his face, the remaining eight didn't budge. "Very well, then eight of you will contest the four remaining places."

The matches had taken place in the Chūnin arena, none of them had taken very long and then they were sixteen. One of the Suna and three Kumo Genin had gotten through the playoff bouts.

"Alright, now we have the right number of you, we're going to draw the bouts for the finals. All your names have been entered into the computer and they will be drawn at random on the screen behind me. Good luck to you all." Darui moved to stand next to Yugito as the screen began spinning through the sixteen names. A few seconds past and the board stopped and displayed two names.

Match 1:
Uchiha Itachi, Konohagakure
Vs
Sajin, Sunagakure

Naruto gave Itachi a pat on the shoulder, "First out the hat, huh Itachi." Itachi looked around for the sole Sunagakure Hitai-ate. The two locked eyes before Itachi gave him a brief nod as the screen started again. A couple of seconds passed before it stopped again.

Match 2:
Deidara, Iwagakure
Vs
Yōrō, Takigakure

The ever-present grin on Deidara's face widen as he got seemingly one of the easier first rounds.

Match 3:
Uzumaki Tri, Konohagakure
Vs
Kanui, Kumogakure

Kanui couldn't believe his luck, a chance to get some payback against one of the Hokage's sons for the deaths of many of his extended family at the hands of Konoha shinobi in wars gone by. Tri was utterly indifferent, he held no concerns over his first round opponent, he had already turned his attention to the next draw, he'd face the winner of that match in the second round.

Match 4:
Fū, Takigakure
Vs
Omōi, Kumogakure

Fū gave a friendly wave to Omōi. "She seems friendly enough, but what if she's really strong, what if she can draw on the power of some monster that makes her really strong. What," *Smack*. "Shut up! Baka!" his teammate Karui shouted after hitting him on the head. Only Tri noticed the flicker of sadness cross Fū's eyes.

Match 5:
Uzumaki Namikaze Naruto, Konohagakure
Vs
Shurki, Kumogakure

"Oh dear," Yugito muttered. "Two of the Hokage's sons against two Kumo Genin who hate the hidden leaf, we might have a fatality in the finals." Meanwhile Shurki and Kanui were practically dancing together at such a prospect. Naruto just rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the screen.

Match 6:
Karui, Kumogakure
Vs
Yama. Takigakure

And with that Naruto had his two potential second round opponents, like his brother he had no concerns over his first round match.

Match 7:
Atsui, Kumogakure
Vs
Senba, Kumogakure

And with that there were only two names remaining and sure enough:

Match 8:
Kurotsuchi, Iwagakure

Vs
Kegon, Takigakure

With the drawing of the final two names, the first round matches were set. Darui stepped forward again as he addressed them one last time. "Well, there you go, you know your opponents. The finals will take place in this stadium exactly one month tomorrow. Don't be late."

The Jōnin sensei's had stood away from the remaining Genin but with the draw made they began to make their way to their teams. "Alright guys, What're your thoughts?" Genma asked. Many of the other Genin were trying to act tough, that ridiculous walk with the back straightened and shoulders held high, the attempts at an evil grin and the making eye contact with everything with a pulse.

Naruto was the first to respond, "I don't think any of us are that fussed by our first round opponents, one of Karui or Yama doesn't concern me greatly in the second round either."
"Yeah, Naruto has the easiest route to the semi-finals. Itachi against Deidara will be interesting but I'll admit Fū has me concerned, she's the only one in the finals who has more chakra than me, she might be the youngest but she is strong. Then of course I expect I'll be facing this one in the semi-finals if I make it," he said jokingly hiking a thumb at Itachi. The Uchiha just rolled his eyes at his friends attempt at humour, Tri's sense of humour only came on strong if he was throwing insults or being sarcastic.

"Are you three ready? I want to get you all back to Konoha as soon as we can." His Genin all nodded, as they all readied to depart, Naruto noticed Kurotsuchi staring at him, he met her gaze with a grin. A quick wink and he was gone.

'Interesting indeed'.

End Chapter