"That idea is dumb Toshiro!" Koji shouted.
Riku stared at her team her hands rubbing both sides of her temple, it had been ten minutes of both of them arguing over who was right. We were assigned a simple mission to capture a boar that was destroying a local farmer's crops, but with these two fighting over the best way to trap the beast. It was a little upsetting, finally Riku put her foot down. "Enough since you two won't listen to each other I will make the plan, Toshiro to get the bait Koji set up the snare.
Hitomi was watching from a tree this mission she was letting her students take charge she was just watching them to her this would determine if she would put them forward to take the Chunin Exam. She nodded at the fact that Riku was taking charge of the team now, Koji and Toshiro were both skilled at various things but when it came to leadership she knew that Riku was the best of the three of them.
Koji finished setting up the snare covering the rope lop on the ground with various leaves, Toshiro came back a few carrots, an apple, and a pear. Carefully he set the fruits and vegetables inside of the circle, Riku smiled as the three of them climbed up the trees and began to wait. Riku stood at the ready, Koji keep a look out for the boar, and Toshiro closed his eyes and leaned against the tree. Things were quiet in the forest but that ended as a hawk flew overhead, Hitomi starred at the hawk intently she knew what this meant before she looked back down to see the boar charging forward.
The Beast stopped as it saw the pile of food just sitting there, slowly it approached the food, sniffing the air to make sure nothing else was around it stepped forward and began to eat. Toshiro simple pushes the counter weight out of the tree, as the rock fell the rope pulled around it's legs trapping the beast as it pulls it up into the tree.
Riku cheered, "All we have to do is get it outside the village and we are done.
"Very good the three of you came together and worked together on a trap, now lets get this little guy out of here." Hitomi smiled.
The three genin worked together to lift the boar as a team completing the mission together.
Hitomi smiled as she turned in her report to Iruka, "Another mission completed by Team Nine." she said with a smile.
"Thanks, glad to see another mission is complete." Iruka stated as he took the paperwork.
Hitomi laughed, "Come Iruka you have to be glad to see me as well." she teased as Kakashi entered the room, Hitomi stepped aside while the two of them spoke about Naruto. She was respectful enough to not listen as she waited outside the room. Once Kakashi had exited she was walking next to him. "I take it you saw the hawk?"
Kakashi nodded, "Have you been thinking of entering your students?"
"I've been debating it, I talked to Asuma about it and I judged them on this final mission we did. I placed the mission in their hands and that helped me make my choice." she answered.
The duo first met up with Asuma and Kurenai, after a quick exchange they entered a large gathering room, the Hokage was seated at the back of the room and various other Jounin and Jounin instructors who would monitor the test had gathered.
The Hokage was the first to speak, "You all know why you have gathered here today, we will now choose the candidates for the Chunin Examinations. To begin would those in charge of the rookie genin please step forward."
Kakashi, Kurenai, Hitomi, and Asuma stepped forward, "Kakashi, Kurenai, Hitomi, and Asuma. What do you say? Are there any in your squads you would recommend and you feel are ready for the exams despite their inexperience? As you know any genin who has carried out eight or more mission is eligible to take the exams, beyond that only you can say if they are ready. So Kakashi you begin." the Third spoke in a calm matter as keep his pipe in his mouth.
Kakashi lifted his hand up, "I lead squad seven, Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno. I Kakashi Hatake recommend all three of these genin for the Chunin Exams."
Kurenai made the same hand sign as she looked at the Hokage, "And my squad is team eight Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and now I Kurenai Yuhi recommend all three."
It was Hitomi's turn, "I am the Jounin of squad nine, Riku Sarutobi, Koji Uchiha, Toshiro Yamanaka. I Hitomi Nii recommend all three of my students."
Asuma was the last, "And my squad is number ten, Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and now I Asuma Sarutobi recommend all three."
Some of the other Jounin in the room audible gasped at the thought of all four Jounin recommending all their students. Others spoke in whispers about this, and some just stood silently keeping their thoughts to themselves. The Hokage simply nodded as Iruka stepped forward, "Hold on just a minute!"
"Yes? What is it Iruka?"
The Four Jounin in front of the Hokage all turned their attention towards Iruka, "Lord Hokage with all respect the twelve names that were just given were all my students at the Academy, I know their skills and abilities. Everyone of them has made great progress but it is too soon for them. They need more experience before they are ready for the exams, they will all fail if they are allowed to take it now."
Kakashi was the first to counter his argument, "I was made a Chunin six years younger then Naruto is now."
"Naruto is nothing like you!" Iruka shouted as he walked through the other Jounin, "Are you trying to destroy him?!"
"Well they're always complaining about not being challenged enough." Kakashi remained his normal calm and cool demeter. "Maybe wiping out on the exams will teach them a lesson, a little pain is good."
"What did you say?!" Iruka was upset by his words.
"Oh nothing fatal of course but seriously Iruka, relax. Listen I understand how you feel it's very personal for you and it upsets you..."Kakashi was then interrupted.
"Alright Kakashi that is enough, back off you've said enough." Kurenai declared.
"On the contrary Kurenai, Iruka needs to hear this." Kakashi said as he turned his focus back to Iruka.
Hitomi and Asuma stayed out of this they were pretty sure they knew what he was going to say and he was right it needed to be said to Iruka. "He needs to realize they are not his students anymore, they're mine."
"Fine then! But these exams could destroy them you know that!" Iruka was now cut off by the Third Hokage.
"Iruka, you have made your point I understand. Accordingly I have made my decision as to what to do. We will hold a special preliminary test, Iruka you will be in charge with this. If any of the rookie genin fail I will deny them entrance into the exams, but should they pass this will be the end of your protest." The Hokage made his choice. "Now I will take the names of the other genin that you feel are ready." he spoke out to the other Jounin in the room.
After several more names were given the Jounin were all dismissed, Asuma stayed behind to talk with his father, Kakashi and Iruka left together planning out the pre exam test for his team that left Hitomi alone with Kurenai. The two of them began to walk outside of the Hokage's tower, "Do you think Kakashi was a little harsh to Iruka?" Kurenai asked.
Hitomi shook her head, "It was harsh but it need to be said, he isn't the teacher of these kids anymore they are ours to teach...sometimes you have to let things happen even if they are not one hundred percent prepared for them. That is how life is anyways, you can't be prepared for everything."
Later that night, Hitomi was observing her student Koji he was at training field three and he looked to be waiting for someone. Double check that she had all three forms still she saw it was Sakura Haruno. "Hmmm one of Kakashi's students." she mumbled to herself.
"Why yes she is." Kakashi was behind Hitomi his book in hand.
Hitomi gripped her chest before punching him in the arm, "Did you really have to do that?!" she growled in a low whisper.
He laughed softly, "I noticed this the other night, it seems Sakura has requested Koji's help in training so...as she put it. 'Doesn't sit on the sidelines while Sasuke and Naruto risk their lives to protect her.'" Kakashi said doing air quotes.
Hitomi rubbed her chin, "I see...but why Koji?"
"Because he found her training alone and offered to help." he answered simply. "It seems they are not the only two of our students who have been interacting together, while I was coming here I noticed Riku and Naruto eating ramen together."
"Really I guess it would have to do with Naruto and Konohamaru being pretty close together." Hitomi laughed, "But a question is why are you out here?"
"I check in on my students, even when they go off for training that she wouldn't want her teacher or teammates finding out about."
Toshiro was looking at Rock Lee as he dashed around it had been an hour of him and his sensei running in circles around the market area. It was so annoying they were like children but worse. "Do you two do anything else? It's been an hour and all you have done is run in circles!"
"Well Toshiro you could join us, it may help you discover your Power of Youth!" Guy declared as he pointed at the young man.
"Yes join us Toshiro, if you train with me it will assist you in becoming stronger as well!" Lee took up a pose next to his Sensei.
Toshiro rolled his eyes, "No way."
Lee smiled, "Koji would do it."
Toshiro looked even more annoyed by this as he got up, "Lee I will..." he suddenly stopped as he noticed Tenten and Neji were just kinda watching their Sensei and teammate do their extra training. "Oh but I forgot I promised Tenten a lovely night on the town."
Tenten looked at him confused as Toshiro walked up and took her arm, "Tenten thank you for accepting." he smiled widely as he began to whisper to her, "You get me away from these two and I will owe you."
Neji smirked a little at his old friend.
Tenten looked shocked and angry about this, "Toshiro I would ne..." Toshiro laughed loudly interrupting her as he place an arm around her as he began to walk a flower now in Tenten's hand.
"Yes Tenten I know we are going to have an awesome time." He said loudly as he walked away with her.
After putting more then a few roads between him and the two fools in green spandex Toshiro laughed and let Tenten go, "Thanks I owe you one." he smiled as she smacked him over the head with her fist.
"You owe me more then one!" she declared as she gripped his collar and began to shake him.
Riku smiled at Naruto as the two had a bowl of ramen before them she laughed a little as he told her of their last mission, "So you near got sweep away by the river?"
Naruto looked down in defeat but then Riku placed a hand on his shoulder, "Hey that is why they place us on teams sometimes we all need the help of others, I mean look at the mission we did today. Hitomi Sensei left us alone to work together on it and it almost didn't work, Koji and Toshiro were arguing non stop about who's trap idea would work the best. Finally I had to put my foot down and take charge."
Naruto smiled, "Well it's good they have you look like I will have to watch out for you if you try to beat me at being the Hokage."
Riku playfully punched his arm, "You don't have to worry about that, I have no plans to be the Hokage."
"Really?! Why wouldn't you want to be the Hokage?" Naruto asked dumbfounded by this.
"Well after seeing my Grandpa do it I guess I just don't want to after seeing how much of his time it took." She stated.
The two of them broke apart their chopsticks and began to eat together, the two of the went through three bowls each before they finished. Teuchi leaned forward and began to whisper to Naruto as he began to shake his head, "Nononono!" he blushed.
Riku looked over at the two of them confused, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing Riku! I swear!" Naruto nervously got up waving his arms across his body in a no motion.
Riku laughed at his reaction before taking out her coin purse Naruto stopped her, "Don't worry Riku this one is on me." he smiled.
Riku smiled, "Thank you Naruto but next time I am buying then." she waved once the two of them split up after walking a bit together.
The Next morning the genin of Team Nine had gathered awaiting Hitomi who had asked them to gather, Koji was laying on a park bench, Toshiro sat with his back leaning on the back rest of the bench, and Riku was sitting cross legged.
"So what did everyone do last night?" Riku asked turning back and looking at the two boys.
Koji was the first to speak, "I was training." He knew Sakura was a little embarrassed about having to ask him for help so he only told a half truth.
Toshiro on the other just rubbed his head, "I don't want to talk about it." he grumbled.
"Fine then, I unlike you two was making bonds with our fellow genin. I was eating ramen with Naruto." Riku laughed.
"Why would you want to hang out with that loser?" Toshiro asked.
"He isn't a loser, if you would get to know him you would know he is an awesome guy." Riku argued.
Koji thought about it, "Maybe you are right Riku, it might be fun hanging out with him."
"Of course you would want to Koji losers always stick together." Toshiro laughed as he got up.
Riku groaned at that comment.
"Alright cool your jets." Hitomi ordered as she appeared handing upside down from the tree above her three students.
"Sensei!" They all hopped up, "So why did you call us here?"
"Well it's for these." Hitomi reached into her pouch just over her hip. She pulled out three forms. "These are the forms for you to take part in the Chunin Exams."
She handed them out to each one of her students, they started with their names and then read.
I, Hitomi Nii
recommend the above named
student for participation in the
Chunin examination.
Jounin,
Hitomi Nii
"I put all of your names forward since I believe you are all ready to attempt to gain this new rank, now this isn't forced if you feel you are not ready you can pass on it and wait until next year. If you are going to go through with it, sign your name below and meet at room three-o-one at the Academy. You must be there by three p.m. in five days. Until then spend your time wisely." She smiled softly as each one of her students took a form.
Riku had a large smile she was willing and ready to take the exams, Koji looked confident and nodded, Toshiro looked indifferent. "So we have the choice?" Toshiro asked.
"Yup if you don't want to take it you don't have to, you have five days to think on it. I will be around but until then I would start training on some new skills, you never know what you will run into during the exams." Hitomi smiled, "Be prepared...for anything." she spoke softly as if she was warning them for the exam. She was gone, using the body flicker technique to leave the area.