The day of the chuunin exams had arrived. Together all three girl stood in front of the closed door, each anxious or nervous. "Let's do our best Eiko-nee, Midori-nee." Akako said. Eiko opened the door, slowly waiting, as if suddenly a mysterious white light would engulf them. "This isn't some TV show Eiko-chan. No white light will engulf us. On the other side of this door is just random ninjas from other countries and-" Akako had pushed past her to walk inside but stopped when she saw the scary people inside. "They look scary." Eiko laughed at the terrified look on her teammate's face. Behind them Midori filed in and looked around with her passive face. The nonexistent emotion on her face scared a few of the ninja that had been glaring at them.
"Leave my forehead out of it!" The girls looked over to their left where a group of genin was standing. Three familiar looking ones stood out, Sakura especially with her pink hair. "Sakura-chan!" Akako yelled to her, Sakura turned around to see team four. She glared at Eiko but stopped when she saw the look on Midori's face. "Akako-san…" Sakura said when she stopped next to her. "Well aren't you going to introduce me to your little friends Naru-chan?" She asked. Eiko and Midori stood next to their younger teammate, who was so much like a little sister to them.
"The three rookie genin." Midori said once Naruto finished everyone's name and a little description of them (episode 23). Out of nowhere Eiko appeared next to Sasuke, "So these are the little children I'm going to have competition with? Kawaii!" She pinched his cheek and giggled. He glared and tried to gently push her off him. 'Gently' and ended up shoving her until she was twiddling her fingers in a pout position. Sasuke sighed and helped her up only to have Eiko hug him, and two girls give her death glares.
Midori sighed at her teammate's antics, this happened last year too. "Enough Eiko." She said. "Midori-chan!" Eiko whined back, she came and stood next to her friend. "And you are?" The girls looked at the last guy who was also from the leaf village, at least that's what his hitai showed. "Kabuto Yakushi."
"Hm…I've never seen you around before. Aren't you too old to be a genin?" Akako punched her sister in a gentle manner, "Don't be so mean. Nice meeting you Kabuto, but we have to go. I see Lee-kun over there and he seems to be calling our names! Bye!" Eiko followed as the younger sister dragged them over to their old friends. "He had a strange aura about him Eiko-chan…"
"I know Akako…Tenten! Hey!" She said, running up and hugging her old friend. The two girls giggled over and over, talking about random topics just like they used to. Lee and Akako seemed to be doing the same thing, but Akako was taking out her weapons to show them off. Then there was Neji. Silently Midori sat down next to him.
"Neji-kun." She had to be the only one who ever called him that in such a soft way. He "Hn." –ed and blushed. "The nine rookie genin have all gathered here."
"Is that so?"
"They're not the only ones who have decided to pay us a visit." Akako ran over with Lee, laughing the whole way. "Hi Neji-chan!" She waved Eiko over too, who came giggling with Tenten. Her teal eyes seemed happier than ever. "Ne-" The whole room grew quiet as she was interrupted. "It's time to begin the written test. I am Ibiki Morino, you're first exam proctor, and from this moment on your worst enemy." Akako laughed when he said written, she could tell Naruto would probably flip out at this. The moment he said enemy, people gasped, but Midori remained silent. He explained the rules quite loudly so that everyone would hear, Eiko and Midori paid close attention. "You will pick a number and sit in the seat the number tells you to."
Everyone got into a line to get a small card. When Midori reached the front she reached inside the basket and pulled out the number 5. Eiko was next in line, she watched as her friend went to sit in the front row. Nervously she reached in, "Yatta! I got 27!" She cheered. Naruto was right behind her. He turned around to face Akako, "What's she so excited about?" "That's her favorite number." She explained.
Finally all the genin were situated and in their seats. Ibiki had just explained a majority of the rules. The rules are strange, Eiko thought to herself, if you get caught cheating you lose two points. "The tenth question will be given at the end of the 45 minutes. Ready…begin!" A rustling sound filled the room as people flipped over their tests to begin.
Midori looked at the questions, easily filling them out, but pausing halfway through the page. "These questions are too hard for any normal genin." She said quietly to herself. "Then there is only one reason for this, I just hope Akako and Eiko figure it out." Sighing she filled out the rest. The clock said 4:10. "Only 20 more minutes left."
All the questions! Akako hadn't even begun to fill them out. Despite that she had figured out the point of the exam, they had to cheat. There was only 20 minutes left to the test and by now she knew Midori was done. Eiko would've been smart enough to figure it out too…I can't doubt her!
Sakura sat next to Eiko. Her unusual, multi-colored hair formed a dome around her head as she bent over the test. "Number one is deciphering a code…four is a little easy but I shouldn't risk the others." Carefully she looked around her, the point of this test is to cheat. Midori won't have to but Akako will need help. "Kuchiyosu no jutsu!" She yelled under her breath.
Fifteen more minutes. The clock read 4:15.
Biting down on her sharp fang, she swiped it underneath the table. The familiar black patterned line appeared, spreading out, and glowing for just a moment. Eiko looked around to make sure none of the people around the room caught her. Finally a small bat the size of her thumb came flying out. It flapped its wings quickly to keep aloft. "Ohayo Puchi-kun." She said to the little bat. "Ohayo Eiko-ue!" He said in his little squeaky voice. "Go to Midori."
"Hai!" He said, flying off. Puchi flew low on the ground, and in and out of genin to remain hidden. In the very front row he reached Midori. "Midori-dono!" He said next to her ear. She looked up surprised, then noticing the tiny animal flying next to her. Midori nodded, understanding his presence.
Nozomi sat with the other sensei in a room, lying around lazily. Asuma tapped his cigarette on the ash tray, she never understood why he smoked. "Lunch wasn't as good without Eiko's cooking." Nozomi rubbed her stomach and sighed. "I wish they'll come back already!"
He chuckled, "Your wish might just come true. I heard this year Ibiki is the exam proctor." Her eyes went wide. "Great…sticking them with that sadist right off the bat." Nozomi jumped onto Kakashi's lap and began to ruffle his already messed up hair. "Don't worry Kakashi-chan! Even if their chances look iffy, I know my students will pass at least!" He groaned when she landed on him.
"Alright, listen up, here's the tenth and final question!"
Akako pouted, oh get on with it! The door in the back of the room opened. Everybody turned around to look at the odd, cat-suit wearing guy who entered. Akako dismissed him and turned around, waiting for the exam proctor to say the final question.
Ibiki continued after dealing with the genin, "There are a few rules to the tenth question. If you choose not to take it, regardless of your answers to the test, you will get a zero. Meaning you and your team fails." Chatter filled the room. There's no point in taking the tenth question if you don't think you'll pass…Eiko looked around for her teammates. When she caught their eyes she would wink, and they would nod back.
"If you choose not to take it raises your hand. Your number will be recorded and you'll be free to go. People began to leave, each person slowly raising their hand to leave. Akako looked next to her to see Sakura with a worried face. "Don't you believe in him Sakura?" She asked. Sakura turned to her with a confused face, slowly putting down her hand.
Naruto slowly began raising his hand, and as the tock clicked by, he slammed it down on the desk. "Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want you guys aren't going to scare me off! No way! I don't care if I get stuck as a genin for the rest of my life, I'll still be Hokage some day!" Midori sat back in her seat and sighed, "I suppose that's Naruto for you."
"I've got no choice then…well then, you all pass."
"Ne, ne, ne I totally knew that!" Sakura turned to glare at Akako, she returned it with a mischievous glance. Eiko glanced to her left where the windows let the sun through. She sensed a presence coming quickly. It happened all at once.
The glass broke as something or someone came flying through. Team four could only look on with wide eyes. "I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi! Ready for the second test? Let's go then, follow me!"
Ibiki peeked out from behind the curtain, "You're early…again."
Later that night while the sun was setting the girls set out to go to the park. "Ah! Nothing I like more than a picnic in the morning!" Eiko said, putting the basket down. Calmly, Midori sat down next to her and unfolded the blanket. Akako took the food that Eiko had prepared, and laid it on top. "Good job on the test girls, I knew you could do it!" Out of nowhere Nozomi appeared. Scared, Akako jumped to the side, and when she realized it was her sensei she began to yell at her. "Ne, you're more of a little kid than me!"
"Take that back brat!"
"Never!" The two fought on. Happily Eiko dipped the tempura into her special sauce before letting it float through her mouth. "Nozomi-sensei." Midori said. "Eh, hai Midori?" She asked.
"Tomorrow is the second part of the chuunin exams in the forest of death. We will make it through." Nozomi nodded in response, "I believe you will. And if you don't, well I have some sort of fit punishment in mind." She grabbed Akako around the neck and began giving her a noogie. Everyone laughed. "A toast!" Eiko said, raising a glass. "To becoming chuunin, and to a life without hardship!" Again they laughed, "Cheers." They chorused. How long before you appear again?