Chapter summary: Now the teachers have planned a unexpected training for all of them, it sounds silly, but they don't have much of a choice. After all no one would like to be sent back to the academy. Now all the Chuunins will face a new challenge that might lead them into dangerous times.
It was nearly daybreak while the Chuunins sleep soundly underneath their blankets, never had they sleep so deep yet peaceful.
By morning a light mist had settled upon the forest giving the air a damp, furry smell of early dawn, dewdrops clung tightly onto each blade of grass casting a frosty shimmer across the clearing where they slept.
A forest was never perfectly quiet, but however at dawn, everything was still, nothing stirred, only the light chirping of songbirds outside.
Inside the tent Naruto was snoring loudly underneath his covers muttering noisily, "N-No…not my ramen, don't let it get away, s-save it n-now!"
He tossed and turned eventually bumping hard into Kiba who smacked hard across the face.
Akamaru jumped off Kiba's lap looking affronted, barking loudly in Naruto's ears.
Lee had been sleep walking all night leading him in and out of the tent at different times, and the chubby Choji who drooled hungrily throughout the night.
All was peacefully quiet, that is when a large green figure popped up into the tent via the entrance.
"Good morning my youthful friend, it's time to get up and begin the blossoming day!"
Kakashi looked shamelessly along with the other Jounins outside the exit.
No one moved or stirred, Choji covered his head with a pillow. Tenten blinked ignoring his announcement.
Shikamaru frowned groaning unhappily, "What a drag!" the only one that looked convinced enough was (well obviously), Lee, who quietly rubbed his eyes and gazing admiringly up at his sensei with great affection.
"Gai-Sensei!" he cried joyfully running towards him now as fast as his own legs cold carry him.
The others watched in complete annoyance as if having to watch a lamb being slaughtered.
Ino frowned casting pathetic glances at the pair while Kakashi looked away at the horizon enjoying the view of the early morning.
Sasuke was relieved that he had not appeared with one of his unpleasant comics he often reads under his nose.
"Lee!" Gay yelped now turning to the crying boy and also was reaching out for his extra special student.
They were almost like father and son, so related yet overwhelming.
"Gai sensei!"
"Lee!" "Gai sensei!" Lee was crying with bulging eyes and Gai had a tremendously large flow of tears down his face.
They hugged tightly enjoying every, precious moment when they were together.
The rest of the Chuunins ignored, glaring in the other direction.
Why were they even here? It was nearly dawn, and the Chuunins had only slept for several hours in total, lacking rest. Sasuke sighed wearily standing up to retrieve his clothes.
Naruto was the first to get up then dressed eager to know the schedule.
"We're training, right?" he asked hopefully.
Gai however seemed troubled by his comment; he looked at his frizzy, yellow hair almost the exact opposite of his shiny black hair.
Lee glowed. "Our training today will be rather different from what we do daily," he stated briefly.
Lee nodded chuckling to himself; he looked particularly excited today jumping from one spot to another and acting serious when someone had asked him a question as if showing them how a real Shinobi would be like.
How could he be so energetic all the time, they had completely missed an entire night of sleep, no one can deny that!
It took a while for everyone to finally eat and get dressed, Gai and Lee were outside doing there daily exercise (Which includes a total of ten laps around the village), while Kurenai along with Asuma had prepared corn for them at breakfast.
Kakashi was now in charge of the troublemakers around camp, making sure they were to behave, this included Kiba, and especially Naruto.
When breakfast was nearly over, Gai began his final announcement in front of the Chuunins.
First clearing his throat he stood up looking extremely important at the audience.
"Today our training will go slightly different than before."
Shikamaru tipped his head a bit forward as if expecting something odd would happen. Sakura coughed awkwardly. Most of them stayed quiet, looking strangely at Gai as he continued.
"You will be taught to be sneaky yet hidden and learn the ways of a real Shinobi!" he smiled triumphantly doing his nice guy pose.
Right if we haven't already learned, thought Tenten offensively clutching her legs even harder than before.
Neji glared at him while Lee beamed proudly.
'We will be working together to succeed in our first mission and at the end I am certain you will learn an important lesson of youth." Kurenai looked boringly at her fellow Jounins, rolling her eyes frequently.
"We will be playing," he nodded slyly back at Kakashi.
"Hide and go seek!"
All the voices grew faint, melting away and all eyes were now turned to the sensei.
The sudden words allowed Choji to cough while munching on his breakfast, Sasuke looked taken aback and Hinata almost fell onto Naruto.
There was a long silence, a time when everyone scowled at him;
Lee was the first to recover looking just as excited as a five year old, and his eyes widened with curiosity and began his troublesome chant, "yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes!"
Kiba stood up abruptly facing him in such lurid expression that made Gai sweat.
"I-you're lying," he scoffed with disgust.
Gai shook his head knowingly at the young Inuzuka boy confirming solidly, "By order of Hokage Sama, any Chuunin who refuses to participate in this mission will be immediately sent back to the academy without excuses for any matter."
He read out impressively adding, "Which means-""You don't have much of a choice," Shikamaru interrupted quickly, while Gai nodded in agreement, "Precisely." Choji gave a yelp at the last word, dropping his last bag of chips onto the ground.
Naruto brightened up, "Great, when do we start?"
Gai straightened up again declaring, "I will set you off into arranged pairs, me and Naruto will be it this time."
He smiled broadly pulling out a sheet of wrinkled paper containing all the Chuunin names.
Neji and Sasuke exchanged disappointed looks as they trudged up to the sensei reading their own names.
"This means the teams are all settled now, Ino Yamanaka/Nara Shikamaru, Rock Lee/Tenten, Neji Hyuuga/Hinata, Sasuke Uchiha/Haruno Sakura, Inuzuka Kiba/Akamaru, and Aburame Shino/Achimichi Choji."
Everyone stood pinned in their spot, some casting suspicious looks over their shoulders at their partner.
Naruto got up to his feet skipping to stand boldly beside Gai, Kiba patted Akamaru's back, as being his favourite canine he gave a joyful bark, at least they'd feel comfortable with each other.
Ino took Shikamaru's arm and looked nervously at her former team mate.
Sakura too gave a weak smile at the blue haired Uchiha boy determined to work together again like when they were ginins.
Sasuke however looked away at the distant horizon.
Shino looked vacantly at the fat, porky boy not sure if they could actually get along.
Choji said nothing beside him.
And eventually the two Hyuuga cousins who stood rigid in their seat glaring at the other, Hinata looked frightened, giving his older brother small worried looks, and it wasn't too surprising after all they had been rivals for the longest time.
Naruto upon seeing them shoved the timid Hinata into Neji's arms.
Hinata surprised almost fell over as the surprised Neji caught her in one arm staring aggressively into Naruto's eyes while Hinata looked rather pale.
You could tell she wasn't enjoying this one bit; her gaze was transfixed to Neji and Naruto.
My b-big brother Neji is with me? But why? He has a-always hated me, it is impossible for him to change.
Maybe there was a particular reason in this, but I still don't know what I should do.
The blue haired konoichi looked away forcing her eyes not to cry in front of everyone, it was painful for her to be with Neji.
He had called her weak and not worthy to be a Hyuuga; Hinata had to admit that his words were true.
"You will have time to hide while I and Naruto will count." Gai's loud booming voice filled the clearing.
Sakura gave a small gulp then followed Sasuke into the darkness.
At first everything seemed silly; they were playing a child's game and not a very good one either.
They had rules without too much of a choice; it was hard for them to imagine going back to the academy.
The Chuunins headed one by one out into the forest in different directions and careful to avoid others that was presently in hiding.
Neji began to head off alone unaware of his sister while the nervous Hinata followed him into the leaves that lead into the depth of the forest.
Author's note: I hope you enjoyed that, I will continue to update as soon as I can, so please be patient! Now that school has begun, I have less time to work on these, I have wrote my second fanfic (sigh), so be sure to check that out. And don't forget to review when you are done.
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