Chapter 4: The Forest of Death
"You will have to find a partner for this exam. There are exactly 24 scrolls all in all, half are earth and heaven scrolls. You and your partner must collect at least one of each. Meaning at least half of you will fail. It will be taken place here, in the Forest of Death." There were gasps and murmuring throughout the forty eight students.
"Not only will you have to fight fellow ninja but there are also animals in there. You have exactly five days to get both scrolls and enter the tower. And do not open the scrolls either, if you do you are disqualified. When you and your partner are ready, get your scroll at the booths over there, and choose one of the twenty four gates. One gate for each team." Then Anko dismissed them.
"Sakura-san!" Sakura turned around and saw Hinata, before she could come nearer Sakura put a hand in front of her face to stop her. "Sakura-chan. Not Sakura-san. Got it?" Hinata nodded "Good, I think I know what you're gonna say."
"What else would I come here for?" Hinata said, "Come on, lets get to the booth." Sakura said in reply, and along with Hinata got their scrolls. They got in the line, "Hinata-sama?" The two turned around and saw Neji and Tenten.
"Your partner is pinkie?" Tenten asked Hinata. She just nodded. "Because unlike you, we don't have a boyfriend to be partners with." Sakura told her. Their eyes widened "He is not my boyfriend!" Tenten exclaimed.
"Yeah right. Like I believe that. Come on Hina-chan we don't want to disturb these lovebirds!" Sakura said getting the scroll and dragged Hinata away. "Oh by the way!" The two faced her "Send me an invitation to the wedding!" Before they could reply, Sakura and Hinata were out of sight.
"You simply love to tease them, don't you?" Hinata asked.
"She started it, how would she like it if I call her panda cause of her hair."
"You have to make up with them sooner or later."
"I'll go for later." Hinata just shook her head "Truly immature."
"Thank you, I'm flattered." Sakura said "Come on lets go to gate 24!"
"24?"
"Save the best for last!" Then they headed to the gate. "Hinata-chan, what kind of fighting style do you use?"
"Gentle fist, what about you?" Hinata asked, Sakura laughed a little "You see I have good chakra contol, and my brother said that if you have precisecontrol I can be as strong as Tsunade-sama."
"So are you as strong as her?"
"I don't think so, but I still have great strength. And my mother knew some advanced medical jutsu, so she taught me. I became better than her, so I couldn't learn much after that."
Actually Sakura only trained hard in medical jutsu and strength right after Gaara's death. Before that she was just as good as Ino, but now she definitely found a good motivation to make herself stronger. To achieve her dream. And protect her precious ones in life, she will not let another precious one die because of her.
"You trained hard." Hinata pointed out.
"Of course! Because if I didn't I might not have gone to this school and there will be no way I'm gonna lose my chance to become the greatest Kazekage!" Sakura exclaimed, while they were waiting for the gates to open.
Even though before she even got stonger she got into this school. It kinda make her worry something suspicious was happening.
Hinata giggled "You sound l-like N-Naruto-kun and his dream to become Hokage."
"You stuttered!" Sakura said in a teasing voice "You like him don't you?" Hinata grew red "Thought so." Sakura simly said noticing her reaction.
"What about you and Sasuke-san?"
"What about me and Sasuke?"
"He would rather sit alone than with someone who called him a teme. And he said he respected you. The only people he respects are the teachers, not even Neji-niisan has his respect."
"Your point?" Hinata sighed This girl is as clueless as Naruto-kun. "My point is that he has a cr-"
"You may enter." said the ninja that was guarding the gate. "Lets talk about that later Hina-chan, kay? We got a scroll to steal!" Then they entered the forest with their heavens scroll looking for an earth one. Hinata sighed again Maybe I shouldn't tell her, she has to find out about Sasuke's crush on her own.
"Lets head to the tower, and look for people who will get in our way." Hinata said, Sakura nodded. But then the two stopped when in front of them a giant snake appeared. Hinata got into her fighting stance and Sakura just walked towards it without a care in the world.
"What are you doing Sakura-chan?!" Hinata called at her. Sakura was only one meter away from the snake.
Hey! I've always wondered why animals eat us, I mean we don't taste that good, do we?
The snake stopped hissing and fell silent.
I'm sure they think the same thing so shut up! We're not here to compare food tastes!
...! You must be Sakura-sama!
I like the sound of that suffix!
No need for formalities, I'm not your master or anything-
You are to us animals, but now I see why Adarna-sama, wanted us to just call you Sakura. She has not told you yet...
Tell us what?
She'll tell you, but at your first remark, no. You humans don't taste that good. I've had better meals.
So why eat us? I don't think we're a good diet.
Its either you or the insects here. They taste even worse. But I do not wish to eat you! I think I'll be the one to end up dieing anyway, so I'll just be on my way-
Wait! Before you go, whats your name?
Furuga. Good day, I hope to see you again.
Then the snake left. Hinata just blinked in shock. When Sakura just headed towards the snake everything fell silent, even the snake stopped moving. "Sakura-chan, what did you do?"
Sakura's eyes widened remembering her teammate, she turned to face her "I used a genjutsu, then the snake ran off." Hinata nodded, but then she tilted her head to a direction signalling that someone was there watching them. Sakura nodded.
She grabbed her kunai "Let the battle begin." Then two ninja from sound appeared. One was a girl with long hair in a loose ponytail, and another was a boy with spiked up hair and holes in his hands. The four faced each other.
"I'll go for pinkie, you go for the Hyuuga." Kin ordered. Zaku nodded "Got it." Then he attacked Hinata. Kin smirked at Sakura. Sakura glared at her "You're gonna regret calling me pinkie!"
Then she charged at Kin, but before she could get any closer Kin threw a bunch of senbon at her. Sakura had to back up to dodge them. Then she noticed the senbon had bells on them.
That would be a good way to dodge them.
She threw another bunch of senbon at Sakura, she was able to dodge all of them and once again noticed some senbon didn't have any bells.
She must be trying to make me dodge only the ones with bells. But...
But what?
Its a bit too simple. There must be a trap somewhere-
But then Sakura covered her ears. Kin smirked "You really didn't think that those bells were just for decoration did you? Each bell sends a sound wave right to you, entering your mind, whenever I pull this string." She said motioning to the string that was attached to a few bells on some senbons.
Sakura glanced at her opponent, there were more than one now, she wasn't sure if it was clone or her seeing things. But while she was explaining her little trick, Sakura was healing herself, with her hands. Trying her best to hide the green chakra, and worked.
She smirked at Kin.
This girl is too confident.
Time to show her what we're made of! Cha!
Kin scowled Why is she smirking?! She looked down to get her senbon, but when she faced Sakura she was running towards her. Kin's eyes widened. She threw her senbon at her, but it was just a clone. Now she knows which is the real me-
She received a many sharp blows in the stomach, that sent her flying away and crashed into many trees. Sakura smirked when she approached the now knocked out girl.
That should be more than enough.
That's what she gets for underestimating us!
She looked through Kin's things and smirked, she got hold of the earth scroll. Sakura then headed to Hinata's battle.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Hinata was able to dodge the shuriken that Zaku threw back at her. Then he sent a wave of sound at her, she was thrown to a tree. I can't get close to him! She activated her Byakugan. Zaku sent another wave at her, but she was able to get out of the way just in time.
He kept blasting waves of sound at her, but she kept dodging them. He smirked noticing she was getting tired "I was expecting more of a challenge from a Hyuuga! I betting you're the weak heir I always hear about. The one that has a seven year old sister that's stronger than her!" He said taunting her.
She gulped I can't let him win with what he said to me! But she wasn't so sure about herself. Hinata headed towards him with another wave of kunai. Zaku just sent them back at her, but she used a substitution jutsu. And then she attacked again with shuriken but the outcome was the same.
Then above him Hinata was about to attack him, but then he threw a kunai then looked around "Where are you now?" He muttered, but then he noticed a drop of blood on his cheek and looked up to see the real Hinata heading towards him with a kunai embedded on her arm. His eyes widened She was the real one!
When she landed on him she attacked him straight on the heart, he coughed up some blood. But while Zaku was still recovering from the hit, Hinata hit his arm, blocking some of the chakra points. She was about to do the same with the other arm but then he hit her with a wave of sound.
She once again crashed into the trees. Hinata groaned, in that attack he put alot of force into it. She tried to stand but failed to do so and ended up back down on her knees.
Zaku smirked "Tough luck, but you forgot I have two arms. Even though you got rid of one you're not quick enough to get rid of the other." He raised his other arm to send another strong attack at her. Her eyes widened I'm dead!
Before Zaku could attack her, he got a several punches from a pink haired girl. He fell down on the floor, unconscious. Sakura ran to Hinata "You okay Hinata-chan?" She nodded but then looked down "I couldn't handle him by myself."
Sakura scoffed "Thats cause the one I fought seemed like the weak of the two, I swear that girl sucks. But you did well." Hinata let out a sad sigh "I would've died if he sent another wave like the one before. I couldn't battle to save my life."
"Are you saying you're weak?" Sakura asked healing Hinata's wounds.
"No matter how much I train I'm still weak. My own sister that's five years younger than me is a better fighter."
"I think you have no motivation or inspiration. Hey! That rhymed!" Sakura exclaimed, Hinata giggled. Sakura helper her stand up "Maybe you really are weak." Sakura bluntly said. Hinata looked down "That's why after this I'm gonna train you so much you'll be able to beat your own head of the clan!"
"You will?" Hinata asked in bewilderment "Yup! But first lets head to the tower. We can't let our guard down while we're still here. Can you walk properly now?" Hinata nodded. Then they headed to the tower.
They passed by a few animals, but they gave way. Sakura was getting nervous, Hinata might get suspicious with the animals giving them way without a fight "Hey Hinata-chan?"
"What?"
"Why do you think the animals are ignoring us?" Sakura asked already knowing the answer. Hinata shrugged "Maybe there are better prey out there, and they skipped us... You notice something?"
"What?" Sakura asked this time.
"We faced the sound ninja and got their scroll in about twenty minutes. And now in about twenty more minutes, we'll be at the tower already, making it a total of forty minutes from the start to finish. Anko-sensei gave us five days."
Sakura nodded at the realization "You're right, its a bit too quick. But maybe its cause the sound nin suck, the animal found better prey, and with your Byakugan we can escape the traps."
"So it was just luck."
"A good shinobi makes their own luck. Remember that." Sakura informed her. Hinata smiled then nodded "You really will be a good sensei." Sakura scoffed "Then you better be a good student. Got that?"
"Hai." Hinata said, Sakura nodded. Then Hinata smirked "Sakura-sensei." Sakura fell down anime style. "No need to call me that!" Hinata nodded "Kay."
"But first lets find a good motivation for you to help you keep training."
"... Like what?"
"It can't be simply because you want to get strong. Like Sasuke, he trains to kill his brother, Naruto trains to become Hokage. You?"
"... So that I can change into someone better." Sakura glanced at her It was what he said too.
Flashback
"Gaara?"
"Hn."
"Are you okay?"
"No."
"I know its not your fault." the seven year old Sakura said. Gaara looked down "I didn't mean to do it. I just wanted to play with them. The sand acted on its own and it..." Sakura smiled at him "I know. No need to worry."
"Why are you still friends with me?"
"Because, you're my older brother of course! But... why do you want to be friends with those mean kids who run away from you? I don't get it."
Gaara just smiled at her "So that I can change into someone better."
Sakura smiled back at him "You're already one of the best people I know, if other people can't see that... I'll help then notice how great a person you really are, Gaara."
"Thank you Saki."
End Flashback
Sakura smiled at the memory, then faced Hinata "You're already one of the best people I know, if other people can't see that... I'll help then notice how great a person you really are, Hinata-chan."
Hinata's eyes widened, but then she smiled at Sakura "Thank you Sakura-chan." Sakura then looked back in front of her.
Even the same response.
They're kinda alike, huh?
Yeah, its just that Hinata is more outgoing with her feelings, and is a bit too kind.
You're right about that. That's something we have to work on.
"We're here." Hinata said. They finally arrived at the tower, when they entered it they saw the sign on the wall. They opened the scrolls and then Tsunade appeared in a puff of smoke.
She smirked at them "So you two are the first ones." Then she explained to them the message on the wall. And then the two headed into the room.
They looked around "We really are the first!" Sakura exclaimed. Hinata nodded "I think that means that Sand and Leaf are gonna lead in the competition."
Sakura tilted her head in confusion "Competition?" Hinata raised an eyebrow "You don't know? There is a competition for each level, first year up to fourth year, the teams will be the same, unless someone gets expelled. Its about brain, brawn and that kind of stuff. The teams are the different villages. The winner is announced when we graduate."
"Temari-chan said that we're rivals, but an actual competition?"
"Yeah, but I really think only you should deserve the credit-"
"What are you talking about Hinata-chan?! You of course helped out!" Sakura exclaimed to the girl "If it wasn't for you, I bet I'd trigger every trap I came across. And you helped with the sound ninja! Stop degrading yourself!"
"But-"
"No buts. As part of me helping you train, you have to stop thinking so lowly of yourself. Got it?" Hinata nodded, then she smiled She really is a good friend.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
The Hokage, Tsunade, sighed. "Whats wrong Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked, Shizune was not only assistant to the Hokage but the principal of the Konoha Ninja Academy.
"I went to greet the ones who arrived at the tower already." Shizune's eyes widened "Already?! It hasn't even been an hour!"
She sighed again "I know, and one of them was Hyuuga Hinata." Shizune nodded "The heiress of the Hyuuga clan."
"And the other is known as Haruno Sakura." Shizune's eyes widened "The one Sarutobi-sama said to enroll into only this school?"
"Yes." But then she looked out the window.
I bet the girl forgot her warning. But... that could be a good thing... hopefully...
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Sakura's eyes widened.
Oh no! We totally forgot!
Forgot?
Remember what Adarna-chan said! 'Beware the ones with white eyes'. We're best friends with one!
But she didn't say what we should be afraid of. We should just keep our guard up.
Fine. But wait! I remembered something else!
What?
"Hinata-chan!" Hinata glanced at Sakura "Whats wrong Sakura-chan?"
"Do we have to stay here until the five days come to an end?!"
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
i know its a sakneji, but i had to make sak and hina friends first
who else is going to play matchmaker? but anyway...
review pls!