Chapter Fourteen: Exams continue, Defence.
"Hey guys! Where's Choji?" Naruto asked as he came up to Ino, Shikamaru, Sakura and Sasuke.
He had just entered the mission hall was happy to see that almost all the ninjas from Konoha were present. Looking around, he noticed the only other six ninjas were local ninjas. But just as he had this thought one of the Rain village ninjas walked in to stand in the corner.
Ino turned to Naruto with a frown, "Choji-kun had a really difficult one, it was a picture of a no entry sign and on the back of the picture was written, 'Luk across the Way, it's here you'll pay.'" She said.
Shikamaru shrugged, "Basically out of this entire village he has to find one specific sign that looks like a million others and go across the street, or alley, or something. Then I think he just has to buy whatever is there." Shikamaru said.
Naruto frowned, "That's just annoying. He'll have to check every sign that looks like the one on his picture." Naruto muttered.
Sasuke nodded, still holding an annoyed expression, "Do you want to go register as finished?" Sasuke asked Naruto while glaring hard at him.
Everyone picked up on the tension that Sasuke was showing towards Naruto and they were shocked to say the least. Naruto sighed, "Yeah, sure." He mumbled before following Sasuke away.
Shikamaru raised a questioning brow as Sakura, but she just returned the same bewildered look Ino was wearing.
Off to the side Naruto began, "What's wrong Sasuke? Ever since we completed the challenge to get my clue you've been pissy at me." Naruto asked.
Sasuke glared harder, "Naruto, it's not often I threaten you. Especially since I know how pointless it is." He said before his Mangekyou Sharingan swirled, "But if you EVER even mention anything close to what you made me do to anyone then I will put you in an infinite Tsukuyomi. Got it?" Sasuke demanded.
Naruto flinched in fear before scratching the back of his head sheepishly, "Hehe, is this because you screwed up and made us lose that 2%? Cause we can just go back and-"
"Naruto." Sasuke growled out.
Naruto blinked, "Yeah?"
" ."
Naruto stepped back while waving his hand apologetically, "Okay, okay geez." Naruto said before Sasuke walked past him up to the booth.
Naruto sighed then turned to follow him, 'If he's that annoyed at messing up maybe I can get us a chance to do it again…' Naruto thought while smiling at Sakura in the process to signal that everything was alright. She seemed to believe it.
"Here's the directions and a decent plan on how to infiltrate the area of the Lightning Cross." Sasuke said with a blank expression as he placed down the scroll in front of Em.
Em scoffed, "Bullshit, my ANBU from the vicinity haven't even…." He trailed off as he opened the scroll, seeing intricate details of the Lightning cross and how to access it.
Since Em was frozen, Sasuke took the scroll to get his attention, "Well? Do I pass or what?" Sasuke asked.
Em just nodded in awe and confusion until Naruto pushed his fist into Em's sight.
"Hey, I got the Genie's Diamond. Do I pass too?" Naruto asked with a friendly grin as he opened his fist to show Em the diamond.
Em, recognising Naruto as the person who got the 'hardest' clue in box 2, felt his jaw drop, "How the hell did you get that before your competitor did?!" he yelled in shock as he stood to his feet.
Naruto bit his lip and glanced at his brother, "Umm….wicked skills?" Naruto said with a chuckle, hoping not to piss of his brother.
Sasuke smirked at Naruto's expression until they both turned to Em who had sighed, "Alright, you both pass…" he said exasperated as his copy of their application forms.
A few hours later, Choji ran in and straight away ran up to the desk, "I got it! At least I'm pretty sure I got it." he said breathing heavily as he pulled out a fine and placed it on the desk.
A few seconds later, someone else ran up next to Choji, seeing the picture that was his clue, the guy turned to Choji, "Ha! You can't have gotten it! Cause I have it right here!" the guy said while holding up a sign like the one in Choji's picture.
Choji grinned in success as Em began talking to both of them, "Actually, you just grabbed the sign. I guess you had the more complex version of this item since you didn't follow up on the clue hidden there." Em said before turning to Choji.
"So Mr. Akamichi, which one did you go to?" he asked.
Choji grinned, "I went to the restricted area near you village's barracks. It was opposite this no entry sign and the moment I crossed the entrance a group of ANBU surrounded me and took me to your jail in the Raikage tower. I just paid the fine for my release and as I looked down," Choji said as he slapped down the ticket, "There was the signature of Luka Way on my ticket, this has to be it!" Choji exclaimed.
The competing ninja scoffed, "The hell are you on about? You weren't meant to be captured idiot! You were supposed to steal the sign." He explained with a cocky laugh.
Em began chuckling, "Sorry Mr. Kimio, but Choji Akamichi is in fact right. He needed to find that sign," he said pointing to the picture again, "Then he had to pay to get the final sign. Which was Luka Way's signature. It's all in the clues if you put them together." He said with a grin.
"Good work Choji, I guess that means all the Konoha ninjas pass."
##########
It had been an hour since Choji arrived and the group of Konoha ninjas were relaxing on the roof of the hall along with the majority of the other ninjas from the last exam.
"Is it dusk yet?"
"No Naruto-nii. You'll know when it's dusk." Sakura replied to Naruto, who was looking at the sunlight shine off of the Genie's Diamond.
Naruto frowned, "How?" he asked.
Shikamaru sighed, "What do you mean how? It'll be dusk when it is." He said in annoyance.
Ino was asleep, leaning into the chest of her big man. Choji spoke up, "Can we please get some food? All of my chips got confiscated from me when I was arrested." He complained quietly.
It was at this moment that the door to the roof opened and out walked Em, "Alright, everyone who has passed please come back inside. Those of you who failed along with all of the others who failed previous tests, can you all please come back to this hall tomorrow morning at seven." Em announced loudly.
More than half of the people on the roof grumbled as they leapt off the building, while everyone else walked back inside behind Em.
The Konoha ninjas were the first to enter, and unlike the rest of the Konoha ninjas, Naruto stepped to the side of the stairwell, counting his competitors as they walked into the room.
'So…eighteen people left. And there is still two more tests before the real stuff gets started.' Naruto thought as he stood at the back of the room, looking over the crowd to Em who was standing on his desk.
"Everyone pay attention. You are each currently in possession of an item or a piece of information that is precious and worth A LOT of money. You test for tomorrow is to protect that secret." Em started with a smile.
Naruto frowned, 'Damn, everyone knows that I got the diamond. At least people like Aniki and Nee-chan can hide their real item and pretend they got something else.' He thought.
Em continued, "At tomorrow morning at seven I will tell all of the ninjas that have failed in the first part of these exams that they are to bring the items you won to me at any cost." Em said with a dark smirk.
"By tomorrow at sunset, whoever still has their item in their possession has passed the exam. It doesn't matter where you go, but once the sun sets you have to come here and present your item. If you're knocked out of the running in this, the one who beat will take your place. Then the next day, Friday, will be the final individual test. Then next week will be the tournament." Em concluded.
Naruto tilted his head in thought, 'I thought Neji said there was a survival test like in the Chunnin exams…' he thought before his eyes lit up, 'Maybe…maybe that is the fifth test! They want us to come unprepared for a long term mission!' he realised.
Em cleared his throat one last time, "So, prepare all you need for tomorrow. It's gonna be one hell of a fight." He said with a grin before disappearing in his lightning shunshin.
##########
"Sorry, we won't be doing that." Sasuke said.
Shikamaru frowned, "Why not? It makes the most sense that we should team up to have a united front." He said.
The other Konoha Chunnin were watching the little debate at the coffee table in Team Seven's rooms. Letting the two tacticians of their respective teams talk it through as Neji and Kimimaro were elsewhere.
Sasuke held a scowl, "The more people that are in one area the more likely it is that more people will come to that area because of the higher chance of getting the thing they need." He said.
"That may be true," Shikamaru started, "But we'd still stand a better chance at the fight as a group instead of individuals."
Sasuke nodded, "Good point, but what would you rather, Six against Sixty, or One against ten?" Sasuke asked.
Shikamaru paused for a moment, realising that Sasuke was making his point for him, "Six can fight off a battalion if structured properly, one ninja can only do as much as they can by themselves. They are limited." Shikamaru said.
Sasuke smirked, "But did you think of this; Three against thirty?"
Shikamaru's eyes widened in realisation, "You want to work as our original teams. Knowing that we'd work better together while possibly being able to hide longer." He stated.
Sasuke smirked, knowing he'd won. Shikamaru sighed, "Man, what a drag." He groaned before standing from the table, "Choji, Ino. Let's go make some preparations for tomorrow." He said before leaving, the other two members of team ten following behind him.
The moment the door closed Naruto dropped into Shikamaru's seat as Sakura fell onto Sasuke's lap, "Naruto, let's hear your idea." Sasuke said.
Naruto grinned as if he had been caught, "What makes you think I've got an idea Aniki? You're the great tactician." Naruto said.
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "Because I know you Otouto. You've proven to have previous knowledge of this village and of their people, I can only assume it's from your memories of the Raikage. Therefore, you'd know the best places in this village where we can both hide in and fight in." Sasuke said with a smirk.
Naruto chuckled, waving his hands in defeat, "Alright you got me, I may have a couple of things hidden up my sleeves." He said as he grabbed some paper from under the coffee table and pulled a pencil from the jar on the table.
Sakura knew her boys were doing good, so she just kissed Sasuke on the cheek before getting up and heading to the kitchen, starting on their team's dinner.
Naruto began, "Now, there's these old barracks at the valley we ran through for the speed test. I know no one uses them anymore because as Choji said, he was at the current barracks when he got arrested. Therefore, we can assume that these are either empty or no longer there." Naruto said as he drew a basic version of the valley and a small house at the bottom.
Sasuke nodded, "A secluded spot with a running water source. But I'm not sure how defendable it is." He said.
Naruto grinned again, "No, let's drop our items here within a containment seal." Naruto said as he pointed to the house.
Sasuke scowled, "Leave our items behind? Then they have absolutely no defence. Anyone could get them."
Naruto's grin widened, "Exactly! No one will think to look there! If we set up somewhere at the other end of the valley and make it obvious that we are there and ready to fight then everyone will look at us!" he said while pointing to the other side of his little drawing.
Sasuke thought over the plan, "So we're a decoy for ourselves…it's so stupid it might work." Sasuke said with a smirk.
Naruto grinned, "Yeah it will! Haha!" he cheered as Sasuke stood and walked over to Sakura, leaving Naruto to pause in his chuckling at blink, "HEY! I'M NOT STUPID!"
##########
Naruto just rose out of the ground from his head-hunter jutsu as Sakura appeared from a blurr next to him and smiled, "Naruto-nii, where'd you hide yours?" she asked as the two walked side by side.
Naruto dusted the dirt from his clothes, "But three meters under the barracks, in an old rusted pipeline." Naruto said, pointing down at the ground, "You?"
Sakura was enveloped in a rainbow glow as her RGS deactivated, "I stuffed the mirror into a mattress in the abandoned barracks." She finished as they arrived at the river.
"Guys, it's time!" Sasuke said, his voice carrying over the river as his eyes scanned the nearby mountain ridges for activity.
The three got into position, the three of them sitting back to back.
Sakura's Scouter Sight looked up, checking for any chakra signatures coming from the mountain in front of her. Naruto looked up as well, his sight enhancement seal glowing as he did the same for the opposite mountain.
Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyou flashed to life as he looked for chakra signatures underground, just in case.
For a few moments, there was silence, until the morning sun peaked over the mountain in front of Naruto, meaning it was almost eight thirty.
Naruto smirked as his eyes picked up stealthy movement, "Guys, two teams here. Looks to be locals." He said as he stood.
Sasuke's eyes traced the mountainside before looking up, seeing a dot in the sky, "A full Suna team in the sky." He said as he stood as well.
Sakura smirked as she saw a dust cloud come barrelling down the mountain, "Another three here. Rock Village." She confirmed as she moved into a crouching position.
Sasuke nodded, "Naruto, take to the skies. Sakura, take down the obvious team of Rock ninjas. I will hold off the six Lightning nin." Sasuke said.
Sakura's legs disappeared in a glow as fire formed at her feet. Naruto rose about a foot into the air, the small tornadoes from his shoes almost touching her flames. Sasuke stepped forward, "Go." He ordered.
Sasuke's Susano'o encaged him as Sakura's fire chakra hit Naruto's causing a huge explosion that pushed Naruto straight up into the air and Sakura straight up the mountainside on a collision course with the overconfident ninjas.
As the dust cleared Sasuke smirked, 'And there are more coming.' He thought as he span, knocking the lightning kunai off course with his Susano'o.
##########
Sakura
She grinned as she approached the ninjas, only to gasp as she saw they were all performing hand seals in synchronisation.
"""EARTH STYLE: ROCK AVALANCHE JUTSU!""" the three yelled as they came to a sudden halt, causing a line of rocks and boulders to start falling around them on the way to Sakura.
The pinkette's sunglasses flashed in the sunlight as she moved at high speeds, rolling under, to the side, leaping over and doing all that she could to avoid the continuous avalanche that she hoped Sasuke wouldn't be crushed by.
She felt another chakra pulse and looked up, seeing a boulder in front of her be crushed as a big golem of stone broke through it.
"EARTH STYLE: ROCK GOLEM JUTSU!"
Sakura crouched under a boulder as she held her materialising claw out to the side, "STREAK!" she yelled.
In an instant, she had blurred between the legs of the Golem, dodging its grasp while ripping through its leg, causing it to stumble before turning slowly.
Sakura looked up and quickly brought her arms up in a defence, blocking the katana that slashed at her, 'Damn! No wonder these guys are here! They're definitely ready to be Jonin!' she thought as she had to focus on the katana wielding ninja that was popping out of the ground around her before ducking back in, while simultaneously avoiding the large Golem's fists and add on top of that the continuous rockslide and she was actually being hard pressed to keep up with only her boots and claws active.
After a few moments, Sakura had a chance and leapt up as her Scouter Sight took in the other two team members.
'One is holding the Avalanche jutsu, the other is holding this golem jutsu. Damn these guys are good!' she thought before using her chakra hop to avoid the swipe of the golem.
To her absolute shock, the ninja with the katana sprung from the large golem's arm, attacking at her unprotected back, catching her completely off guard.
It's amazing how useful the basics are.
With a simple Substitution Jutsu, Sakura swapped with a boulder in front of the Golem, causing the ninja to strike the rock instead and as a testament to his strength, his sword even made it halfway through the large boulder.
Just as Sakura used her amazing speed to leap back up into the air and kick at the opposite side of the boulder, "SHOCKING BURST BULLET!" she yelled.
Since the boulder was airborne, there was nothing for it to be crushed against, causing it to shoot through the air and crush the katana wielding ninja against the chest of the golem.
And because she was airborne, Sakura was launched up the mountain, landing about halfway up the large piece of earth. As she neared her landing, she spun into a back flip, kicking out at the mountain side, "EXTERMINATING BLAST BULLET!" she yelled.
**BOOOOOOOM**
The whole mountainside shook as did the resolve of the two remaining rock ninjas.
Her ultimate initial kick shook loose everything on the mountain from pebbles to boulders and even broke off a few outcroppings on the mountain side, she formed three hand seals before slamming her hands on the ground.
"EARTH STYLE: EARTH SPEARS!"
The two rock ninjas stared in horror as all of the falling debris became covered in spikes as it rolled at them. The one who had control of the golem threw it in front of them as the other ninjas formed hand seals.
"EARTH STYLE: EARTH SHORE RETURN!"
While the golem was slowly destroyed to stall for time, two small, smooth earth walls grew from the mountainside on angles so that every piece of debris that hit it rolled off harmlessly for the next five minutes.
Sakura scowled, 'This was supposed to be a quick battle,' she thought as she saw more ninjas running down the mountain opposite the one she stood on, 'Time to end this.' She thought as her claws disappeared and her Executioners blade replaced them.
**SHLING!**
In a blurr, she ran at the shield and cut it in half, slicing through everything in her path in a single strike.
She turned back at her work only for her eyes to widen as she saw that the rock ninjas weren't behind the wall. Feeling a grasp on her ankles, she looked down just in time to be pulled underground up to her head.
Sakura was mortified, she had just been beaten by the same damn jutsu Naruto always got her with in spars. She scowled as the two ninjas popped up in front of her, one holding a kunai as he plunged it at her head.
If only he realised just how sharp her blade was.
She easily slashed up through the earth, cutting the ninja's hand off at the wrist before slashing again with her only loose arm, cutting off both of the ninja's knees and making them fall to the ground.
Her blade disappeared as she brought her arm to her lips in the only fire jutsu she could mould perfectly thanks to her beloved, "FIRE STYLE: FIREBALL JUTSU!" she yelled as she spat out the flames.
The two rock ninjas were incinerated as Sakura ripped her other hand free. She formed two seals before dropping down underground in the head-hunter jutsu as she sped back to Sasuke to help him with the oncoming battle.
##########
Sasuke
Sasuke fell to his knees and rolled to the side, dodging the lightning enshrouded weapons that rained down on him.
For nearly a minute he spent the entire time dodging while his Sharingan span, taking in the sight of every single ninja that was attacking him.
His eyes narrowed as they picked up on the one ninja that was not attacking, instead, the ninja was yelling orders to all those nearby. Sasuke smirked as his Sharingan began to read the ninjas lips, 'So, time for the real battle.' He thought as his ribcage of the Susano'o encased him.
Sasuke stood tall as the kunai began to be deflected even though there was double the amount. His eyes span and his curse mark grew over his body, hidden by his clothes as he mimicked the jutsu from the ninja at the back of the group.
The ninjas at the front yelled in unison, """WATER STYLE: WHIRLPOOL JUTSU!"""
At the same time, Sasuke's voice rang out with the ninja launching the lightning technique, ""LIGHTNING STYLE: THUNDERBOLT!""
The lightning ninjas attack formed into a whirlpool of whirlpools, charged by a huge amount of electricity.
"AMATERASU!"
Sasuke's black flames evaporated the group of ninjas' technique as Sasuke's ball of lightning hit the mountain in the center of the group.
**BOOOM**
Sasuke formed two seals as the surviving ninjas spread out over the side of the mountain, pulling on his curse chakra to keep up the chakra use, "INFERNO STYLE: FLAME CONTROL!"
The black fire formed a black ring that slammed into the mountainside, creating a cage of flames that trapped the ninjas on the spot as Sasuke's Susano'o collapsed, he took a calming breath before forming hand seals one last time.
"UCHIHA FIRE STYLE: GREAT FIRE ANNIHILATION!" he yelled as he poured his chakra into the technique.
The fire ultimately fried all of the ninjas before he turned around, looking up at Sakura as she popped out of the ground with wide eyes.
Sasuke looked up as Sakura spoke up, "Did you know that your black fire could do that?" she asked while gesturing behind him.
Sasuke glanced over his shoulder as his Curse Mark receded, tilting his head in thought as he watched his Amaterasu flames eating the normal flames into non existence.
He smirked as he glanced back at Sakura, "No. I didn't."
The two looked up as they heard a shout of exertion. In an instant Sasuke faded from view as Sakura blurred away.
##########
Naruto
"WIND STYLE: WIND SCYTHE JUTSU!"
"WIND STYLE: TORNADO WINDS!"
"FIRE STYLE: HEAT WAVE!"
Naruto stopped channelling chakra to his wind funnels, and leant back, using the ridiculously simple manoeuvre to fall down out of the way of the techniques.
Naruto flipped right way up and smirked, 'So, these guys have had aerial training, I guess the Sand Village took Baa-chan's words seriously when she suggested for them to copy Gaara's new ANBU division.' He thought before frowning.
""COMBINATION: FLAME TORNADO!"" Two of the ninjas yelled.
Naruto quickly pulled out his blade, 'Time to show off!' he thought as he shot forward, pulling back his blade with a shout of effort.
"SAMEHADAAAAAA!"
Naruto's sword absorbed the chakra in the tornado, cutting a clear line for him to pass through almost harmlessly as he flew up at the trio.
*SLAM*
Naruto was clocked in the face with the metal bar of the third ninja's fan, knocked him loose.
"HOLY LOG THAT HURT!" Naruto shouted as he plummeted through the air, holding his bleeding nose with medical chakra running into it, healing it as he flipped right side up, catching the falling Samehada in his grip as it passed him.
Naruto scowled as he wiped the blood from his face, looking up only for his jaw to drop.
'Fuckin aye, that would really hurt.'
There were multiple wind scythes set ablaze with poison clouds being pulled along inside them. And following behind the scythes were two puppets with blades sticking out of every point, ready to slice him if he dodged.
So Naruto fluxed a huge pulse of wind chakra from his feet, shooting him up towards the scythes as he flexed.
Naruto's lightning armour kicked in as he raised his blade, instantly separating it into its two components.
Naruto looked up just as the first poisonous flaming wind scythe came into reach, "LIGHTNING STYLE: TWO SWORD SLASH!"
Naruto span with his blades, cutting through each of the blades that approached him in lightning fast manoeuvres. With every clash the wind blade burst into a poison cloud that the flames exploded upon contact with immediately. But Naruto's armour would protect him from the explosion while each time he passed one of the explosions the energy would push him higher towards his final obstacle; the deadly puppets.
Naruto took the final explosion to the back of his lightning armour, launching him directly at the two puppets, just as the first spat a barrage of senbon from its mouth.
Lifting Kubikiri up, Naruto knocked the senbon away before lifting up Samehada, blocking the arrival of the second puppet as he fluctuated his lightning armour, cutting off the connection between the first puppet and the puppeteer.
Naruto looked up at the ninjas and grinned as he tossed Samehada upwards, severing the connection between the electrocuted puppet and the puppeteer perfectly as Samehada ate the chakra. Naruto kicked upwards at the second puppet.
"AIR STOMP!" Naruto yelled as a bulb of air slammed into the puppet.
Naruto paused in midair as he saw the two non-puppet using ninjas falling towards him, one standing on two hand fans and another on a larger fan the same size as the one Temari used.
Naruto yelled in effort as he threw Kubikiri up at the two, forcing them to divert their path as it approached the puppeteer.
Naruto turned face down in midair as he reached out with his chakra strings directly from his heart, connecting chakra strings to the first puppet with it and catching Samehada with his right hand. He quickly rested Samehada on his back as he let Sasori's instincts take over.
Turning back, Naruto smirked as Kubikiri Bocho slashed the arm off of the puppeteer, letting the second puppet fall through the air limply.
Naruto reached out with more chakra strings from his heart and attached strings to the second puppet as his wind funnels shot from his feet, propelling him into the air along with the two puppets.
Naruto grabbed the one armed puppeteer and hugged him tight as the two puppets did the same to the other two wind ninjas, stabbing their blades into key points in the ninjas' bodies.
Following his lead, the puppets turned upside down in midair and began spinning, matching Naruto's speed as he plummeted towards the ground.
Naruto grinned, "NARUTO STYLE: TSUUGA: PRIMARY LOTUS!" Naruto yelled.
Instead of needing to open the first of the Eight Gates, Naruto used the amazing rotational speed of the Tsuuga instead, thus cancelling the 'double-edged sword' component of the Primary Lotus that was the opening of the First Gate.
Naruto grinned as at the last second, he let go of the ninjas, letting them slam into the ground, breaking their necks upon impact between Sasuke and Sakura.
**BOOOOOOM**
Sasuke and Sakura appeared back-to-back on the outside of the smoke, looking up at the mountains as other ninjas appeared and began forming hand signs.
Naruto calmly walked out of the dust cloud while cracking his knuckles. He stopped between Sasuke and Sakura as he held his arm forward, catching Kubikiri Bocho's handle as it fell into his grasp.
Naruto smirked as he spotted another group of ninjas approaching from in front of him. Looking down the length of his blade, Naruto chuckled, causing Sakura and Sasuke to glance at him, "And to think, the day's only just beginning."
Sasuke and Sakura smirked slightly as well until Sakura frowned, "Hey their threat levels are dropping. They're reconsidering attacking us." she informed them.
Sasuke's Sharingan span, "So are the ones over here, they are hesitating. Waiting for someone else to attack us first." Sasuke responded.
Naruto frowned, "I wonder how many of them it will take to finally realise that they should be going after one of the other teams instead of us." Naruto muttered before raising a brow, noticing as the ninja in front of him began forming hand seals while his two teammates ran forward.
Instantly, Naruto pulled back his blade at the same time Sakura and Sasuke turned.
Sakura formed two hand seals, "EARTH STYLE: EARTH SHACKLES!"
Sasuke moved his arm forward and he held a single one handed seal, "CHIDORI BURST!"
Naruto formed two one handed seals as he swung his sword with his other hand, "EXPLOSIVE WATER SHOCKWAVE!"
Sakura's technique grabbed the arms and legs of the three enemy ninjas, holding them in place as a burst of Chidori from Sasuke's hand impacted the side of Naruto's jutsu. Electrocuting the ninjas to death as their bodies were crushed by the severe pressure of the water.
Team seven turned back to the waiting ninjas and Naruto grinned, "WELL?! WHO'S COMING FOR US NEXT HUH?!" he yelled excitedly.
##########
"I guess they're finally laying off on the attack." Sakura said as she landed next to Sasuke from her leap into from the mountainside.
Sasuke was sitting, looking bored as hell as he looked up at the sky seeing that it was nearing the end of the day, "Sakura-chan…where's Naruto?" he asked calmly.
Sakura blinked in confusion and glanced around, "Awe dammit!" she yelled in frustration.
"Where do you think he went?" Sasuke mumbled out loud as he thought about it.
He and Sakura looked at each other before sighing in unison, ""Team Ten."" They muttered.
##########
Shikamaru scowled as he leapt back to Ino's side, they were surrounded by two teams of Rock ninjas and backed into a corner.
Shikamaru turned as Choji landed behind them, "Choji! Ino! Formation three!" Shikamaru yelled.
Ino pulled out a hand full of kunai while Choji formed hand seals, "BODY EXPANSION JUTSU!"
Choji became the size of a small house, causing the enemy ninjas to hesitate as his shadow stretched over them.
Shikamaru formed three hand seals, "NINJA ART: SHADOW STRANGLE JUTSU!"
Shikamaru used Choji's huge shadow to grab the ninjas in weak ties, holding them still for just a moment as Ino took aim.
*SHLINK*
Within a second of each other, Ino's kunai had buried into two of the ninjas chests while the other four managed to defend themselves.
Choji's jutsu collapsed as his chakra began to diminish, "I can't do any more, my chakra…" he said, breathing heavily as he fell to a knee.
Shikamaru took a weak defensive stance, "I know, Ino?" he asked.
Ino wiped blood from a large gash on the left side of her forehead, "I'm almost…done as well." She said, hoping that the wound wouldn't scar.
One of the ninjas formed hand seals, "EARTH STYLE: MUD BOMB JUTSU!"
Shikamaru formed seals, "DARK STYLE: BLACK HOLE!"
Once the small mud bomb was eaten, Shikamaru fell to his knees from lack of chakra, 'Crap! I'm done…' he thought while glaring at the approaching ninjas.
Two of them ran forward, pulling out their kunai as they approached his team.
"RASENGAN BARRAGE!"
Ino grinned happily as Naruto appeared, slamming a rasengan into each of the two ninjas' chests and blowing them back into their other teammates.
"Naruto!" Ino said in relief before fainting from chakra exhaustion, barely being caught by Naruto as he walked over to the other two.
Naruto healed her scar as he set her down in Choji's arms.
"The Yellow Flash!"
Naruto scowled as he spun and mentally cursed, 'Damn! Of course they'd notice the Fourth's rasengan! Guess I have to finish them.' Naruto thought as his lightning armour flashed into existence.
"LARIAT!"
Naruto's Lariat obliterated one ninja's head in an explosion of blood. In the next second, he had turned to the next closest ninja as his lightning armour collapsed.
He held up his palms, "FLAMESTREAMS!"
The ninja performed a substitution, dodging the attack while it set the rest of the area alight in flames. Only to appear in front of a water clone that cut him down with Kubikiri.
The other two ninjas leapt away from Naruto and his clone, one of them right onto Samehada. The last ninja turned in shock as a second water clone ripped Samehada along the now dead ninja's spine, killing him instantly.
The ninja turned back just in time for a large battle shuriken to stab through his chest and get lodged in his spine.
Shikamaru and Choji watched on in awe and sudden fear, coming to a realisation concerning Naruto's true strength.
Tossing their swords back to him, the water clones splashed as Naruto caught the blades and let them fuse back together as his arm turned grey and stretched, taking back his shuriken as he calmly walked over to team ten with a smile on his face.
Shikamaru stood defensively, making Naruto pause, "Shika?" he asked in confusion.
Shikamaru was staring at him, fear obvious in his eyes, "Why are you here Naruto? I thought it was clear that we'd stay separate." He said, shaking slightly just trying to stay standing.
Naruto slowly sheathed his two weapons, feeling the obvious tension while also feeling outwards with his chakra, making sure that there were no other ninjas in the area, "Shikamaru, I'm here because I felt Choji's chakra almost disappear almost half an hour ago and then I felt yours and Ino's drop below what's healthy. I was worried about my friends." He said slowly, looking truly confused.
Shikamaru watched Naruto for a moment before smirking, "Heh, I guess you definitely…got a chance…at the…Hokage…seat…" he said before fainting.
Naruto took the last few steps and managed to catch Shikamaru, he looked to Choji who was smiling, "You need some help Cho? I don't think there is anyone coming and time's almost up." Naruto said with a smile.
Choji nodded and stood, letting his arm dropping limply to the side as he hissed in pain.
Naruto frowned and lifted Shikamaru onto his back, having his limp body sit on his sword sheath as he held Shikamaru's arms safely around his neck with one hand.
Naruto reached out with his free hand and formed two one handed seals before placing it on Choji's arm, "Geez man, what did you do block a rockslide?" he asked with a chuckle.
Choji nodded tiredly, "Not one, three." He said with a soft smile.
Naruto grinned as he swept his hand down Choji's arm, "That should do for now, I'll fix you up more tonight okay?" Naruto said before helping Choji to support the unconscious Ino on his back.
Choji nodded and the two slowly began to make their way back to Team seven.
Naruto glanced as Choji, "So did you guys keep all of your treasures?" Naruto asked.
Choji smiled sadly, "Actually, Ino traded hers for our safety to that local team Neji-sempai introduced us to." He explained.
Naruto frowned, "I thought they all passed?" he asked.
Choji shook his head, "Na, the red headed girl needed to get back in." he said before stumbling on a loose rock.
Naruto's eyes flashed red as he felt someone approaching from behind them, he span as chakra built in his lungs, "WIND STYLE: GREAT BREAKTHROUGH!"
"WEAPON STYLE: CUTTING EDGE!"
Sasuke's Kusa slashed a hole in the wind jutsu, letting him and Sakura pass through safely, "Oh! Sorry Aniki, Nee-chan." Naruto said with a grin.
Sasuke nodded and began saying orders, "I will take Shikamaru. Naruto, go get your diamond, we couldn't find it. Sakura, use Scouter Sight to find us a safe path. Let's go people." He ordered as he crouched.
Naruto and Sakura followed his orders as Choji watched on, slightly confused as to why the obviously super-strong Naruto followed Sasuke's orders, 'Is it possible that Sasuke is even stronger?' he thought in slight shock at the possibility.
Naruto stepped back and saluted, "See you back at the base?" he asked.
Sasuke nodded, "Be quick, there may be a few obstacles at the final checkpoint. That's where the smarter ninjas would be waiting for us to return to, tired and weakened." He said.
Naruto chuckled and jumped up into the air, activating his wind funnels in the process, "See you guys soon!"
##########
"There you are!" Sakura said quietly, knowing that Naruto would hear her and look down.
A few seconds later, Naruto landed with a grin, "So, let's walk in yeah?" Naruto said.
The two dropped into an alleyway behind Sasuke, who smirked as he passed Shikamaru to Naruto once more and stepped out into the open.
Instantly, there were two more Jonin-elect ninjas charging at Sasuke, but he just smirked as he pushed out his chakra.
"SUSANO'O!"
For the first real time, Sasuke's Susano'o took its full form, covering the whole team in its giant purple form.
Every single person in the vicinity stopped and stared in shock and fear as the huge armoured being glowed. They looked up, letting the Konoha ninjas walk harmlessly into the hall without anyone even acknowledging them.
Sasuke de-activated his Susano'o and smirked as he held the single seal at his side, "Mirage Shunshin." He muttered, disappearing inside the exam hall.
And with that, the Konoha ninjas arrived safely in the exam hall, ready for the fifth and final test.
##########
"So how are you guys feeling?" Kimimaro asked as he looked over Naruto's shoulder at Choji.
Choji and Ino were laying side by side on the large double bed while Shikamaru lay down on the couch, Naruto was checking over and healing them while Sasuke and Sakura got the information for the next exam.
Choji nodded, "Much better now, thanks to Naruto." He said, flexing his now fixed arm.
Naruto nodded and took two leaves from the seeds he grew on his arm, "Put these in your water, it'll help with your chakra recovery for the morning." He said as he passed them to Choji.
While the big man dropped the leaves into his bottle of water, Naruto walked around to Ino, placing a hand on her forehead, "Damn, I can't do anything about this scar. You can tell her that when she wakes up." He said, pulling two more of the same leaves from his forearm plants.
Naruto passed them to Kimimaro, "In her I.V, I'll set it up." Naruto said while reaching over to his medic pack, unsealing an I.V bag and some liquids.
Kimimaro poured the liquids that Naruto passed to him into the bag, along with the two crushed up leaves.
Naruto hung the bag up on the bed head then set it up to help with Ino. In about two minutes the needle was in and Ino was set for the night.
Naruto stood and stretched, "Alright, last but not least the lazy bones." Naruto said as he walked over to the couch.
Shikamaru was watching Naruto with a frown as he was being checked over, 'Just what are you hiding Naruto?' Shikamaru thought as Naruto pulled his green hand away from the Naara's forehead.
He smiled as he held out four leaves, making sure Shikamaru didn't realise the differences between his drink and Choji's, "Put them in your water, you'll be fresh by the morning." Naruto ordered.
Like the others, Shikamaru did as he was told.
Naruto stood and turned to look around the room, removing the plants on his arm in the process, "Okay, you're all good here so I'll go check up on the others. Get some rest, I have a feeling tomorrow is gonna be a bitch." He said with a grin before grabbing his medic kit and leaving.
Kimimaro followed him into the hallway, "Naruto, I would like to talk to you privately for a moment please." He said before leading Naruto to the Jonin's hotel room.
Naruto raised a brow and followed. Once they were in the room, Naruto picked up on the subtle movements Kimimaro showed, 'Why's he so nervous? And stressed?' he thought before falling onto the couch, letting Kimimaro pace in front of him on the other side of the coffee table.
Kimimaro reached into his pocket and tossed a letter onto the table, "Tell me what it means. I feel like it's important but I do not know what to say in reply." He said with a frown.
Raising a brow at the pink envelope, Naruto lifted the letter free and opened it;
'Hey Kimi-kun,
How are the exams going?
When are you coming back home?
You're too far away, I can't feel your shadow. I don't like it.
I miss you.
Love Kurayami Botchatsu.'
Naruto looked up at Kimimaro and raised a brow, "So…I'm guessing you two are together then?" he asked.
Kimimaro's facial expression didn't change but his shoulders stiffened, "…I am…uncertain." He said.
Naruto grinned, "Do you like her?" he asked pointedly as he stood.
Kimimaro's brow twitched, "I am uncertain." He repeated.
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Come on Kimimaro, it's obvious there is something between you two. Just gimme the details yeah?" he said, practically cornering Kimimaro into a chair.
Kimimaro's face stayed blank for a moment before he sighed, letting his emotions show, "Look, I was just her escort. My mission was to take care of her and make her feel welcomed to the village. That was achieved through her attempting and succeeding in seducing me." He said with a frown.
Naruto was caught off guard, "Wh-what?!" he practically yelled.
Kimimaro looked up at Naruto, "After we slept together, she moved herself into the apartment Jirobo and I share. I was doing my duty to the village." He said before looking at his hands, folding his fingers together.
"But for the first time in a few weeks, she had to go work with the Naara's…she did not stay with me that night…my night was..restless, I could not sleep." Kimimaro said with a frown.
Naruto nodded with a small smirk, "Kimimaro, I think you stayed with her for more reasons than just your orders. Do you have feelings for her?" he asked.
Kimimaro frowned, "I am…uncertain." He admitted.
Naruto sighed, "Do this for me, close your eyes." Naruto said.
Kimimaro frowned but nodded, so Naruto spoke quietly, "Imagine her face. Tell me what you see."
Kimimaro had his eyes closed as he relaxed, so Naruto smirked when he saw Kimimaro's lips pull up in a slight smile, "Her eyes. They have and aura that…it's just…good." He muttered quietly.
Naruto nodded, hearing the slight rise in Kimimaro's voice as he spoke about Kurayami.
Naruto tilted his head with a cheeky grin on his face, not that Kimimaro could see it, "So? Who cares about that aye? Is she good in the sack?" Naruto asked in a pervers tone that he had copied from Jiraiya.
Kimimaro's eyes snapped open and his skin began to darken as he glared at Naruto, "Do NOT speak so vulgar of Kurayami-chan." He demanded.
Naruto let the joking face disappear as he smiled kindly at Kimimaro, letting the bone user know that he was messing around, "Kimimaro, I think you truly know how you feel. Don't over think it, just follow this." Naruto said, placing his hand on his chest in a gesture.
Kimimaro paused in his curse transformation as he clutched his chest, "But I am…diseased." He said with an almost unnoticeable sad expression.
Naruto rolled his eyes, "Not your lungs moron, your heart." Naruto said with a chuckle.
Kimimaro looked down at his chest, 'Follow my heart…?' he thought before looking up at Naruto and nodding.
"I will try." He said before lifting up Kurayami's letter and reading it once more.
Naruto felt as though this was a good time to leave, so he let himself out as he walked to his team's room.
##########
"Here, that should do it." Naruto said as he gave Sasuke and Sakura a bottle of water each which he had prepared earlier.
Sasuke nodded and began sipping as Sakura turned to their Jonin captain, "So this last test, any idea what it is?" she asked.
Neji nodded, "One of the tests has to be a Survival test and since this is the last of the five I am positive that this is it. You will have to turn in all of your equipment except for one item and then you'll be given plain clothes. After that the Raikage himself will use some special jutsu to start the test. It'll be a different test from the one I did other than those key parts so I have no more information concerning it." Neji explained from his chair.
Naruto tilted his head, "Only one item…well I think it's obvious what that will be for us three." Naruto said while pulling out Samehada Bocho.
Sakura frowned, "What if they see my rings as separate items? Then I can only take one." she said.
Sasuke tuned to her, "I have a solution. Remember the summoning scroll I made for you?" he said.
Sakura grinned as she pulled it out, she unrolled it on the floor and turned to Sasuke, "So how do I use it?" she asked.
Sasuke knelt over it, "Give me all of your rings." He said.
She did as he said while Neji and Naruto watched in interest, after the long procedure, Sasuke decided that his board was the one item he wanted to bring.
Neji ordered the team to rest, so off to bed they went, ready for the challenge they were to be given the following day.
##########
"Now I have things to do today! So let's finish this quick!" A yelled to the remaining ninjas, "This is your final test! You will all be competing by yourself! No teamwork is allowed or you will be disqualified!" he yelled.
Naruto frowned as A pointed to three booths where B, C and Darui where sitting, "You will go to them and give them the one and ONLY object you will be allowed to take with you. And I mean one. Not a set, not a pair. Follow their orders after you do that, got it?!" A yelled.
Mostly, the ninjas seemed to accept this information as if they knew it to be true, though there were a few exceptions that didn't appear to know.
"Lightning ninjas! You're up first!" The Raikage yelled.
Neji spoke up to the five present leaf ninjas, "Alright everyone, I warned you of this. Do you have your items?" he asked.
Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Choji nodded while Shikamaru shrugged, "I still haven't decided what to choose." He said.
Neji frowned, "Shikamaru, this is kind of important." He reminded him.
Shikamaru sighed, "Fine then. I'll bring this." He said as he pulled out a large picnic blanket from a seal in his pouch.
Neji tilted his head, "I won't understand anyway will I?" he asked, receiving only a shake of the head in return.
"Leaf Ninjas! You're up!" A yelled.
The leaf ninjas walked over to the booths and team Seven walked in first.
Naruto closed the curtain behind him and turned to Killer B, "Yo Octo-pops. What do I gotta do?" he asked.
Killer B grinned, "Yo Naruto! Just leave the item you want most! Then hold on to yo-self." He said.
Naruto unsheathed his sword and placed it on the desk, "She's all I'll need." Naruto said with a smirk, his eyes becoming slits.
Killer B's smirk matched Naruto's, "Get ready Naruto, place your hand on the globe." He said before flipping a switch.
Naruto looked down as a trap door opened and the portion of floor he was standing on fell through, landing in a room with mirrored walls and seals covering one wall and a green globe in its center.
Naruto looked around the room before placing his right hand on the globe.
*POOF*
The smoke cleared and Naruto's eyes widened. He was butt naked and everything he had other than himself was gone completely from the room.
He covered himself with his hands as he turned around the room, "What the hell?! What do I-?"
Hearing a sliding noise, Naruto looked to the wall on his right as a small chute opened and a pair of light brown clothes fell out.
Naruto frowned as he put them on, 'Light brown underwear with light brown pants and a light brown long sleeve t-shirt with a hood. How imaginative.' He thought with a sigh as he pulled the hood up onto his head.
He gasped as a see-through piece of light brown material covered his face completely, joining up from the hood to his collar.
Naruto looked at his reflection and smirked, 'I get it, now no matter who we are we look the same now.' He thought as he looked over his completely brown form.
Naruto waited a few seconds before the platform that brought him down carried him back up, he came to a stop in front of a grinning Killer B. "Yo Naruto, take Samehada Bocho. Turn around and touch that bulb behind you yo." Killer B said with a gesture to Naruto's sword.
Naruto nodded and grabbed the sword before placing it on his back, he then turned and touched the new globe, "Goodluck Naruto." B said once more.
Naruto turned to respond before he disappeared in a reverse summoning seal.
*POOF*
##########
Chapter End.
Firstly, sorry that I posted the chapter late.
Secondly, WAHOO! One hundred reviews!
Thanks everyone for keeping up with my story :) I hope your enjoying my Jonin exams as well.
Please help me at least match the review count for part one of this story, it's a little personal goal of mine.
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