Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto and probably never will.
Author's Note: This is my first time on I would appreciate any reviews and HELPFUL flames.I try my hardest to correct my grammar mistakes soif you find any please put it in your review. Thanks.
"The placement exams consist of three parts," announced Sarutobi Asuma, "The written exam, the combat practice and the weapon practice. You must pass at least two of the components."
A murmur of disinterest greeted the voice of Asuma. The group of applicants were anxious to test their skills or just show off. Most of them were confident that the academy would accept them as this term's students.
"Of course, passing two rounds will not guarantee that you will be enrolled in the academy," the man continued, "Out of all these applicants," he gestures around, "Only twelve would make it into the academy."
Knowing that passing two factors of the exam will not guarantee their place in the school, the smirks were wiped off from most of the faces. Only a few were still smirking. Others remained impassive.
"Let me inform you that the combat practice and weapon practice are the most important aspects of the placement test," Asuma spoke with an air of false secrecy, "The written exams count very little. Good luck."
He disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving several students in panic. Some looked unconfident and others on the verge of a breakdown. Sakura looked extremely nervous after Asuma told them that the written exam wasn't going to count for much. Her advantage was her brain.
"G-good l-luck," Hinata told Tenten and Sakura.
Tenten nodded curtly. She was glad that weapon practice was going to be worth a lot. She had one-hundred percent accuracy. She could handle any weapon that ninjas have ever manufactured. She was going to enjoy this exam.
Hyuuga Neji was standing next to a green clad boy. In Neji's opinion, the boy had the weirdest style. He had the biggest and roundest black eyes that Neji has ever seen. Neji also had a suspicion that this boy was wearing mascara. The boy's bowl-style haircut was extremely, impossibly shiny. Neji had thought him a freak.
"Hello," the boy spoke, "My name is Rock Lee."
"Hn..."
"What's this," Lee exclaimed, "Where's your YOUTHFUL spirit!"
Neji gave an involuntary twitch. A vein was pulsing above his brow. This guy is not only a freak; he's loud and extremely annoying. Neji resisted the urge to punch Lee.
Another boy popped up beside Lee and Neji. This boy had blond hair and what looked like whisker marks on his face. His blue eyes were creased together in a toothy grin. He was dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit.
Great, just what I've always wanted. A freak fest all around me, thought Neji sarcastically.
"I'm going to this school. BELIEVE IT," grinned the blond boy.
The enthusiastic boy started to draw attention to himself. Neji stalked off to somewhere where people will not be eyeing him. The last thing he wanted was for people to associate him with those freaks. He found a spot next to a raven haired boy.
At least he's quiet.
"So you've met Naruto," coldly stated the raven haired boy.
Silence doesn't last long. It was nice while it lasted though.
"Hn…"
"He's so stupid," the boy continued with an air of superiority, "It'd be a wonder he makes it past the first exam."
He is very egotistic. This guy is really self-absorbed.
"What is your name?" asked Neji, making these the first real words he said in the past three hours.
"It is common courtesy to give your own name first," stated the boy plainly, "Nonetheless, my name is Uchiha Sasuke."
The first thing that registered Neji's mind was the last name, Uchiha. The Hyuuga and the Uchiha family were enemies, as far as anyone's concerned. They also possessed the bloodline limit of the sharingan. The second thing that registered Neji's mind was how Sasuke's name does not fit Sasuke.
'Helping hand', psh, yeah right. How can this arrogant prick help anyone but himself?
"Hyuuga Neji," replied Neji evenly.
"Hyuuga," Sasuke said in consideration, "I should have known by the white eyes. I look forward to fighting you in combat practice."
And I'll beat you, Uchiha Sasuke. I'll prove that the byakugan can defeat the sharingan.
Tenten was drowned in frustration. The written exam was a total bust. Most of the questions did not make sense to her. She managed to answer the weapons-related questions with utmost efficiency but the other questions left her clueless. She snuck a glance at Sakura who was already done the test and currently fiddling with her hair.
Lucky her, she has a big brain to rely on.
Tenten let out a groan of frustration before returning to her paper. Hopefully, the rest of the exam is going to be relatively easy.
To the Hyuuga prodigy's disappointment, the combat practice was not held as a competition between the applicants. It turns out that the applicants had to fight specially chosen ninjas and were evaluated on their skills demonstrated.
Looks like I won't be able to kick Uchiha's ass today.
"Hyuuga Neji," a voice called, "Please proceed to evaluation room seven."
"That was the hardest test I've ever taken," cried Tenten, "Didn't you find it hard, Hinata-chan?"
"N-n-not r-really," Hinata replied, "N-not implying t-t-that you're n-n-not s-s-mart, or anything. I mean no offence, really. Gomen…"
"I didn't take it as an insult," Tenten stated simply, "No need to apologize."
"I bet forehead girl found it extremely easy," Ino laughed, "That smart-ass."
"Hey I heard that Ino-pig," Sakura retorted, "At least I have a brain behind my forehead. What have you got FAT ASS?"
"Why you," Ino was steaming up.
Their fight was interrupted by a sudden shout of, "BYAKUGAN!" The four girls turned abruptly to the source of the sound.
"Byakugan," Tenten said, "Isn't that a bloodline limit for your family, Hinata-chan?"
"Yes," Hinata replied shyly, "That m-must be Neji-nii-san. I t-think he's taking the combat portion of the exam r-r-right now."
"You promise you'll let me meet him," Tenten grinned, "Let's go watch."
"Yeah," Ino said enthusiastically, "Show Tenten your extremely hot cousin. I bet she'll love him."
Tenten twitched angrily. Ino was talking obscenity about Hinata's cousin, whom Tenten has never met, implying that Tenten would fall for a boy. Ino, however, did not see the twitch, and continued to grin.
When they reached the door of the evaluation room, Tenten was glad that the door was left wide open. She hastily peeked inside the room.
In the middle of the room there stood a dark haired boy with milky white eyes. There were protruding veins on his temples. His dark hair flowed all the way down to his abdomen. He was dressed in a beige coloured clasped top and a pair of black pants. There was also a weird, jade green marking on his forehead.
"Isn't Hinata's cousin so hot," Tenten heard Ino saying from next to her.
"What's with the markings on his forehead?" asked Tenten.
"D-don't talk about it in front of him," Hinata warned, "He doesn't like it."
"Ok," replied Tenten, "Can you tell me then, Hinata-chan?"
Hinata shook her head, "I-I am s-sworn t-t-to secrecy. I'm s-s-sorry Tenten-chan."
"It's ok."
He's pretty skilled in combat. I wonder how good he is with handling weapons. I'm also guessing he uses doujutsu like Hinata-chan and Hanabi-san.
"What are you girls doing here," called a man from inside the room, "This is a private testing."
He got up from his spot and walked towards the door. With one final warning glare, he shut the door right in Tenten's face.
Bastard...
"That combat practice was way too easy," Neji heard someone comment, "I'd be surprised if I don't get into the academy."
Right you are. That was no challenge at all.
He walked past a group of girls huddling outside the door. Along the wall, there stood Lee and Naruto eyeing them. Neji tried to pick up his pace and avoid being noticed by the two freaks.
Unfortunately, Lee saw him and exclaimed, "With fortune would have it, our YOUTHFUL friend, Neji, has once again crossed paths with us on our journey through SPRINGTIME YOUTH! Yosh!"
How the hell does that freak know my name?
Eyes were dawning on him as the overly enthusiastic boy greeted him in the most unusual of ways. Neji was about to walk away and pretend that this never happened when he heard a familiar voice.
"Neji-nii-san…"
He turned around to see Hinata emerge from the group of girls. She shyly gave him a bow before returning to her friends. They were chatting about things he could never understand but he could not help but overhear.
"Tenten-chan is taking her weapons test right now, in that room," a girl with blond hair said, pointing to a plaque beside a door that read: Weapons Exam 7.
"She going to kick butt," a girl with unusually pink hair affirmed, "She is the Weapons Mistress after all."
"Her accuracy is a hundred percent," Hinata added, "Tenten is so good with weapons."
Tenten…That was the name of the girl Hinata was always talking to him about. Neji's curiosity perked up. Not knowing something was really bothering Neji. He quietly made his way to the open door.
When he looked inside, he saw that all the targets have been hit in the bull's-eye by shuriken, kunai and senbon. On the other side of the room, there stood a girl with brown hair, tied in two buns. Her chocolate coloured eyes were focused on the targets in front of her. She was wearing a pink Chinese-styled top and a pair of dark green cargo pants. Neji noticed that she had weapon holsters almost everywhere.
She sure likes weapons. She seems like a worthy opponent. Hinata is right; she does have very high accuracy. I'm impressed.