Hello all, Sorry for taking so long to update my co-writer and I have been keeping pretty busy lately but are still writing. After the chunin exams our stories will be diverging so if your more invested in Shizuko and Naruto's story please follow her at Tsukiange and If your interested in Lie's and Sasuke's I will remain posting here. As always there are pics on Tsukiange's Pinterest page under the same user name as her profile please feel free to check them out and Comment. Thanks everyone and enjoy!

Chapter 14

(Lie's POV)

I had spent the rest of the night doing some stamina training in the mountain range behind the Hokage stone faces. When I finally decided to head down to the meeting point Shizuko, and the boys were waiting.

I jumped down from the building, and Shizuko looked at me with worried eyes, "long night?"

"More than you know," I answered her question carefully not letting my eyes wander away from hers, not sure if I was prepared to meet the waiting eyes of Sasuke. Luckily he turned away and prompted all of us, "whatever let's get in there early and scope out the competition."

I shoved my hands in my pockets as I followed my group into the examination building.

"You wimps think you're strong enough to pass the chunin exams, your nothing if you can't get past us."

There was a crowd gathering ahead facing down two boys that were blocking the way.

"We need to get in there, how else will we be able to sign in."

The two blocking the path just snickered as they pushed another kid back.

Sasuke stepped forward with the rest of us following, "stop wasting all of our time. This isn't even the right floor you just used genjutsu to hide the door numbers. This is only the second floor not the third. Shizuko probably noticed it first."

Shizuko didn't look surprised at all by his assumption. Maybe she did notice it first. I didn't... I still can't handle genjutsu, but I did know this wasn't the correct location. I could feel the dark chakra down the hallway on my left. I could feel it reaching out to me, pulling me by all my senses.

The ninja with his head wrapped stepped forward. "You figured it out huh. Well, you still won't get past me."

Sasuke took the challenge and went in for a roundhouse kick the other ninja threw a punch, but in the blink of an eye a ninja in a green jumpsuit with a black bowl cut got in between them holding both foot and fist before they could connect. "please do not fight."

Both parties backed up.

"We don't have time for this anyway, let's go," I said bored and started leading the way up the west wing.

"Wait, I'm Rock Lee I want your name," the green ninja called out.

Sasuke turned around, "I'm Uchiha Sasuke."

"An Uchiha huh? I'm the top genin, and I wish to challenge you."

Sasuke gave a wicked smirk, but Shizuko grabbed his arm, "Sasuke please there will be plenty of time later, can't we just go?"

"Don't worry Shizuko this will all be over in five minutes."

Shizuko looked at me desperately.

"Don't ask me. If I were you, I'd wait for these two to do whatever. I saw that boy's speed just as clearly as you did. Sasuke won't be able to beat him with pure force."

Sasuke looked back at me offended, and I just crossed my arms and sat down while both ninjas got in ready mode. "I'll show you Lie I won't lose."

"I'm not gonna catch you Uchiha when he throws you across the room with one of his kicks."

"Hn."

They started engaging, and Shizuko came and sat next to me, "You should root for your teammates."

I just sighed, "It's a pointless fight. This guy is serious and Sasuke it's underestimating him because he looks ridiculous. I'm guilty of it too, but Sasuke won't beat this kid."

My statement solidified when Lee connected a kick to Sasuke's jaw sending him flying. He hit the ground hard, but he was still smiling when he activated his Sharingan. Lee started unwrapping the wraps on his arms.

Sasuke charged him again. Lee dodged and swiped under him kicking Sasuke up in the air as he explained that Sasuke's Sharingan would never be able to decipher his movements because they are neither genjutsu or ninjutsu but taijutsu. Lee used the dancing leaf shadow technique and floated in the air in Sasuke's shadow as his arm wraps expanded and right before he launched his attack a pinwheel came out of nowhere and pinned his wraps to a wall.

Despite my talk, I rushed over quickly to catch my fallen teammate before he crashed into the ground. His force knocked me on my back. He lay in my arms staring down at me with a surprised face, "I thought you weren't going to help."

"Yeah well it'll look pretty pathetic if we showed up to this exam already injured, wouldn't it? Now get up Sasuke."

"Uh, yeah," Hesitantly, he said as he slowly lifted his weight off of me awkwardly and we started out to the strange man on a turtle who appeared to have thrown the pinwheel that stopped Lee's attacks.

"You must be Kakashi's students. I'm sure you've heard about your sensei's greatest rival?"

We all just stared dumbfounded at this strange ninja who was an adult version of Lee in appearance but more sassy.

"Never heard of ya," Naruto replied with his blunt nature towards which started a whole deal with how guy and Kakashi have been battling to see who's best.

For time's sake, I did interrupt, "Yeah that's all very interesting, and what not and I'm aware that I must sound very condescending right now but we have already wasted time with this fight and need to go check in."

Shizuko elbowed me for being rude, but by her face, I knew she couldn't deny we were wasting time.

The man laughed, "ah yes just like a student of Kakashi's to be blunt. I apologize for your delay. Lee sees these nice young ninjas to the check-in area and don't disappoint me."

With that, the man puffed away and Lee apologized for keeping us. Stating that he just wanted to test his strength that he really wanted to fight his team member Neji and walked away.

"All this talking I just want to hurry up and become a chunin. Let's go!" Naruto burst out with his impatient yells.

"Agreed," I said, and Shizuko giggled.

All four of us continued onward and checked in.

The waiting room was full of the smug faces of genin from other villages. We walked in only for Sasuke to get ambushed from behind by the blond ninja from the academy wrapping her arms around his neck and Sakura clutching his right arm.

"Hi Sasuke it's good to see you," Ino squealed excitedly.

"Sasuke I know you're gonna do great and become a chunin. You'll probably beat out everyone here," Sakura said earning a lot of ugly looks from the nasty faces around us.

Sasuke attempted to shake them off of him as the other genin from the academy surrounded us.

"Well, this is pathetic and embarrassing. I've meant to tell you guys something. I'm not going to be on your team for the exams."

Shizuko looked panicked, the boys surprised.

"WHAT!" Naruto screamed. Funny I didn't realize he even cared.

"Lie what do you mean?"

"I mean that the rules for the chunin exams are that you can only enter in three man squads. Kakashi came to me last night after the festival and told me I would be joining a different squad who was willing to lose a man to gain me."

"What team would agree to lose one of their own for you?" Naruto asked surprised.

"You're joining his team aren't you. Akumu's?" Sasuke said finally jerking away from his leeches, but his long hair covered his sudden dark expression.

I nodded, "yeah I am...They offered to lose Nanusuki to gain me. My clan doesn't care about ninja ranking to the outside world, so they didn't mind."

"So you're going to be working against us?" Sasuke half asked half stated with a very somber look against his dark features.

"Yeah, you can look at it that way. We will be on different teams, but I have no interest in taking you down. However, I'd get used to seeing me as a person, not on your team. The clarity might just amaze you."

I turned my back to my team. I didn't want to see their faces. However, the smirk that greeted me was no better in comparison. Akumu was concentrated on my every move as I walked over.

"Hello, beautiful. I was waiting for you all day," Akumu said embracing my body in a hug no doubt giving a victorious smile towards my team members.

"Well you know how I love to keep you waiting," I remarked in disdain as I pushed his body away from me refusing to breathe in his scent and sat on the table across from where Ezerah was sitting with his arms crossed. "So Akumu still manages to drag you along on his missions huh?"

He looked at me with anger filled eyes, "just give up already so we can all go home. I'm sick of tagging along so that Akumu can just bring you back. It's just going to end up being a real chore for Nanuzuki and me."

"Sorry for not making life easy for you and your lover. Fortunately for you, my time here is coming to a close anyway. However, I do plan to see this stupid exam through."

"Why? You don't care any more than we do of your ninja rank to the outside world."

"My plans are none of your concern."

Ezrah got up from his chair with his hands balled up into a fist as he grabbed the collar of my hoodie in a rage. However, before he could say his piece or draw his fist back, Akumu knocked him to the floor.

"Ezrah do not overstep your boundaries. Do you understand?"

Ezrah got up in a huff and sighed, "Whatever." With that, he huffed back into his chair and closed his eyes trying to calm himself.

I went to turn away when Akumu caught my arm, "you haven't made our lives easy Lie. Can't you understand his frustration."

I flicked my arm away and lashed my tongue out in an evil hiss, "no Akumu I really can't. I don't understand why you are relentlessly trying to get me to go back to that place. I don't understand why they follow you like a lost puppy and I don't know why you don't want to kill me after I destroyed our entire clan."

Akumu smiled at me for losing my cool, "the answer to all your questions are simple love. We are the highest in the chain of command. Second only to the great devil himself. We chase after you because much like Nanusuki and Ezerah. We are meant to be. I know you can feel our attraction. I know how it pulls us together even when we are from one end of a building to another."

I could feel it, but it wasn't Akumu who was drawing me. I barely knew the guy. From what I did know he was a cocky narcissist with a god complex and couldn't stand not to get what he wants.

I sighed and distanced myself from him, by sitting at a table observing the rest of team seven as they talked to a silver-haired man.

Shizuko's POV

I could only stare in shock as Lie walked away, the feeling of betrayal like a poisoned knife in my heart. I was sad but also irritated. It seemed so natural for her just to throw us away, just walked away like it was nothing. A part of me wondered if she ever cared about me, or if we were stepping stones for her, someone to use. I blinked back tears of anger.

I looked away from Lie and her new teammates to black eyes that matched my feelings.

"It's okay Sasuke; I have a feeling she won't be gone long." I tried to sound upbeat, but it seemed false even to my ears. He just grunted and looked away.

"I think you're right Shizu; Lie can't just erase everything we've been through together. You guys are best friends!" Naruto yelled as he flailed a grin on his face. I gave him a tiny smile in response knowing I still had my Knucklehead ninja here.

"You guys might want to keep it down over here, you are drawing too much attention to yourselves, especially for first timers" A guy with silver hair and round glasses walked over wearing a Konoha headband.

"Who are you?" I asked as the ten of us looked at him.

"My name is Kabuto," he says it pleasantly, but the way he looked at me gave me chills up my spine. We broke eye contact as Sasuke stepped in front of me.

"Well, what's it to you Kabuto, are you some expert?" Sasuke asked, and I gave him a grateful look.

"Well, this is my seventh time taking it so that you could say that…" He sheepishly said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Sounds more like a failure…" he mumbled. I gave him a light tap on the back for being so rude, but he just smirked at me.

"Why should we listen to anything you say?"

"Well, in my seventh year I have gathered a lot of information on the different villages and people." He held up a deck of cards, "I bet you guys can't even tell me what villages are here."

The nine genin from Konoha shook their head. "Yes, I can." I shook my head at their lack of knowledge.

"Not everyone has your skills Shizuko." I started as he said my name darkly, as I never gave it.

"There are six villages here this year, with the Village of Sound taking the place of the Village of Light. We have The Village of; Sand, Rain, Grass, Waterfall, and Sound. Sound just popped up one day and is still a relatively small village compared to the Village of Light. Now I have information on all the ninja in this room. Anything you want to know?" As Kabuto was explaining, he glanced at me when he talked about the Village of Light.

"Yes, I want information on Rock Lee, Gaara of the Sand….. And Lie Kuriyama." I looked at Sasuke with wide eyes as he brought up Lie then frowned at him, as the other genin looked at him in confusion.

"If you wanted to know about her, you should have asked me, not an outsider. He can't be trusted." I hissed at him, but he just shrugged and turned back to Kabuto who was focusing his chakra on a card with Gaara's face on it. Ugh the Arrogance of him!

I just rolled my eyes and stomped away to an open seat. I felt eyes on me, and when I looked up, my eyes met bright green eyes who didn't blink. Averting my eyes, I stared at the desk.

"You are Shizuko Hoga are you not?" Looking up the older genin of Konoha surrounded my desk comprising of the creepy one in green with bushy eyebrows. There was another with Lavender eyes of Hyuga, and a pretty girl with her hair in buns. The one who asked me was the one with Lavender eyes, looking at him I nodded.

"You've already met Rock Lee, but this is Neji Hyuga, and I'm Tenten." the girl spoke, her voice slightly arrogant.

"Hello?" Tilting my head, I give them a quizzical but suspicious look.

"Don't be so nervous, you were one of the only ones to see through the genjutsu, we just wanted to see what you were all about," Neji explained his voice smooth. "I also saw what happened at the festival."

At the mention of the festival, I looked at his eyes wide. At his smirk, I knew he was talking about my run-in with Gaara.

"We are not the only one who wants to know more about you…" The three of them looked over at the nine rookies to see them looking at me, Sasuke with suspicion and anger and Naruto out of sadness and curiosity.

It looked like Naruto and Sasuke were about to walk over to me, but their attention diverted by a man in bandages covering his body used sound chakra to attack Kabuto's system, even though he missed a direct hit.

Just as Kabuto was about to retaliate an older man with a scar on his face appeared in front of the classroom with the Proctors.

"Alright, rookies listen up…"

Lie's POV

I sat with my eyes closed arms crossed trying to relax. I heard a lot of commotion but barely opened an eye to acknowledge when that same silver-haired man who had been talking to my team got attacked by two men from the sound village. However the most exciting thing that happened was his glasses shattering from sound waves until a man with a scar on his face came in.

"That's enough. You'll all have plenty of time to fight later. My name is Ibiki, and I'll be your projector for the next exam. Enter my classroom."

We all shuffled into seats that had our names on the desks.

"Assigned seats huh. So this is what an academy looks like," Ezerah said looking around at the reasonably standard classroom except there where men with clipboards sitting around the perimeter.

We all took our seats. Mine happened to be near the left center of the classroom next to a red-haired sand ninja. The moment I sat next to him he looked over towards me, "girl, you were a member of that team weren't you? The team with the one they call Sasuke Uchiha and Shizuko Hoga?"

I looked at him curiously and then back and diagonally to where Sasuke was seated.

"No, not really," I said matter of factly as I put my attention back to the front of the room. I could feel this boys chakra. I could feel his darkness. There was no doubt in my mind that this person was dangerous.

"Your team intrigues me you know," the sand ninja continued in a raspy monotone voice.

"The Kuriyama clan? They intrigue most people." I slid my eyes back to the boy. Noticing his dead eyes and the kanji for love on his forehead.

"No, your leaf team. They are far more interesting than your clan mates."

He was serious. I thought about my odd team. My self-righteous angel teammate who had dragged me into that team. The stubborn hyper ninja who saw me as a teammate, who trusted me and didn't at the same time. Of Sasuke and his angst, anger, and superiority complex. "I agree. They are far more interesting."

"Alright, rookies listen up. The first part of the exam will be a written test. The other sentinels and I will be monitoring the test. The scores of you and your other teammates will be added up, in the end, to decide who passes and fails. If you get caught cheating three times, you and your teammates will be asked to leave but don't worry you can always try again next year. You all will have a half hour. GO!"

I started reading the questions.

If a kunai was thrown from atop a hill at 5 miles an hour and the hill is kilometers high. The target is 25 meters away, and the wind resistance is….

-_-'' What? Do people think like this instead of fighting? Throw your damn kunai. No wonder we get to cheat. No one in there right mind could take half an hour to figure this out, and no one should have to. So who has the answers? I looked past the sentinels into the window noticing just how bright it was. How could I find out? I looked down to think to notice the shadow of the boy next to me. I could see the shadow of his hand, of his pencil. If I could link my hand to mimic that shadow I could copy easily. That's resting on the possibility that this boy can get the answers though and I didn't like that. Just as I was about to think of a contingency plan the shadow started to move and I copied every movement. To anyone else, I was thinking… staring at the table. For me though the light was working in my favor for once in my life. The boy's hand never stopped, and neither did mine. I got fortunate with my placement and couldn't help but wonder if the others did as well.

I knew Shizuko did fine, as when I looked over she was using her light manipulation jutsu to make it brighter around her body, so it was painful for their eyes to look at her. It was like trying to stare into the sun. I almost missed seeing her copying the person's answer in front of her before it got painful for me to look in her vicinity.

"times up I'm going to go through a list of everyone who got caught cheating. You and your teams are dismissed if I call your name…"

The Procter went through his list and finished in no time, and no one I knew got disqualified.

"For those of you who are lucky enough to have made it this far we have one final question. This question will be harder than all the others. If you fail this question, you and your other teammates will be forbidden from taking the chunin exams ever again, but if you give up now, you and your team will still be free to take it next time it comes around. Think hard about this it affects your entire team. Please raise your hand and leave if you are not ready for this."

Hands hesitantly went up weeding out the masses. I knew my current team was safe none of them cast, either way, I didn't know about team seven though. They have way too much reserve for each other. However, Shizuko looked more confident than she usually did and Sasuke seemed as cocky as ever, but both of their eyes focused towards the shaking hands of Naruto near the front. I know Naruto isn't a coward but I also know that he's not very bright he began to raise his hand, a panicked look strained his face. Only to throw it into a fist and slam it onto the table and yell, "I didn't come this far to quit now, believe it."

I smacked my face while a few others chuckled at my idiotic teammate. 'Well I was right he's no coward.' That seemed to be the end of the raised hands. When the Procter spoke again, "congratulations all of you have passed the final question-"

Before Ebiki even got a chance to continue a loud bang came from the right left of the room, and a female ninja came sailing in.