Eheh... Sorry for the late update, an eagle flew through my way, and...
... Yeah. I was held up with many things that I utterly hate. Such as work. So I wasn't dead, so sorry to those who wanted me to kick the bucket. I'm still alive to pester you all. >:D
In my defense, the "Summer holidays" as you people would call it is on December.
Reviewer's Corner!
Dragon Noir: It probably is getting shorter... And yes, I do need a lot more practice. As for the fangirls... They fell into another one of my many plotholes. I need to practice getting rid of those things as well. D:
A short reviewer corner this time! As for the people who ask about what is going to happen in the Chuunin exam, I'm not telling you. You have to find out for yourself. >:D
Disclaimer: Do you think that the name 'Kishimoto Masashi' - the same person who created Naruto - is a name that can be easily found in the place the early settlers called 'Land of the Long White Cloud'? Ha!
Chapter 14
As Team 7 approached room 301, they noticed a couple of things.
One, the room wasn't room 301 at all; merely a genjutsu to confuse. Usually more well-known as tricks that ninjas/magicians use as party tricks.
And second, no one seemed to notice.
With this thought in their minds, they disbelievingly gaped at a boy with a bowlcut and a green jumpsuit being pushed down easily by another chuunin hopeful.
"Ha! If this is all you've got, you shouldn't even try to become chuunin!" laughed one.
Quietly, Naruto, Sasuke and Hinata slipped through upstairs to the real room 301. However, they did not go unnoticed, as a pair of white eyes watched.
"Uchiha Sasuke! Fight me!"
Naruto inwardly groaned. He had hoped to avoid the confrontation with Gai's carbon copy.This was one part of history he never wanted to see. He prayed quietly that Sasuke would not accept the fight, and-
"Hmph. Fine. I accept your challenge."
Damn you, Kami-sama. (1)
As Sasuke walked towards the area, Naruto muttered, "Remember the plan."
"I know. I got it."
Just then, two high-pitched yells echoed across the room.
"SASUKE-KUN!"
The spectators watched as two blurs towards their target. Sasuke inwardly cursed to himself.
Shit.
He braced for the impact that was inevitably to come. The next thing everyone knew were two girls hugging - no, literally crushing their crush as if their lives depended on it.
"Windpipe... choking.." gagged Sasuke.
"Back off, Ino-pig, Sasuke-kun is mine!" growled Sakura.
"Says who, forehead girl?"
"Says me!"
"Oh yeah? And you and what army?"
"Me andthis army!" replied Sakura, holding up her fist.
"Yare yare... I knew this would turn troublesome..." A bored voice said.
"Shikamaru? What do you mean, 'this would turn troublesome'? And since when were you here in the first place?" Asked Hinata curiously.
"Well, we pretty much decided to follow you guys through the genjutsu. Cue team 8, then Ino and Sakura is killing Sasuke as you can see here," he replied nonchalantly, directing his gaze to the unfortunate boy now turning into a lovely shade of blue.
"Um, ladies? You might want to let go of your precious Sasuke-kun, or else he's gonna suffocate," Naruto called out.
The two then realised what they were doing and looked. Sasuke was now past the point of blue and his soul was slightly flying out of his mouth. Instantly they stopped hugging and their object of affection's face was returning its normal colour. (A/N: Aw... I liked the pretty blue colour..) Gasping, Sasuke sucked in the welcome oxygen.
"Thanks... Naruto.. But couldn't.. you have said it.. sooner?"
"Well, yeah, but it was fun to see you turn blue," he grinned. 'But I wonder why Lee hasn't said anything yet.. it's not natural for him to be this qu-'
"Excuse me, but are you Sakura?"
'Spoke too soon, I suppose,' Naruto sighed, almost wistfully. 'I missed the quietness...'
Sakura thought. If she said something wrong, the creepy boy might attack her. "Um.. yes?"
Wrong answer.
In reply, Lee blushed and glanced shyly at her. "Would you like to go out with me, Sakura-san?"
"Oh! Did you say Sakura? Oh, no, I'm not Sakura, I'm... uh... Ino! Yeah, let's go with that, Ino! The blond girl over there is called Sakura!" The green jumpsuit-clad genin turned his attention to Ino-now-called-Sakura.
'HELL YEAH! We got rid of that weirdo plus we one-upped Ino-pig! Sasuke-kun must be drooling over my intelligence now!' Yelled Inner Sakura. 'I can't believe that idiot thinks that pig is-'
"Oi, Sakura! What are you doing, let's go! Shino's already gone on without us!" yelled Kiba. Akamaru jumped off his owner and tugged at Sakura's heels. "See? Even Akamaru wants to get moving! So let's GO!"
'... I am going to neuter that Kiba mutt.' Sighing, she ran as fast as she could to room 301.
"We should get moving as well, Ino. This is getting too troublesome anyway," muttered Shikamaru.
A small silence met the remaining four. A small cricket chirruped in the distance. Then finally Rock Lee hit his fist onto his palm in realisation.
"So that means.. The pink haired girl really is called Sakura!" Team 7 collapsed anime-style.
"Er.. are we still fighting?" asked Sasuke.
"Hm? Oh yes! The fight!" Adopting his taijutsu stance, Lee waited. "Well? Aren't you attacking?"
"Hmph. Overconfident, are we?" With this Sasuke charged.
'I'm sorry sensei, but I might need to use that move..' thought Lee. He became a blur of speed and seemed to disappear for a moment. "Konoha Repuu!(2)"
Sasuke saw the sweeping attack clearly and dodged it. However, he wasn't fully prepared for his opponent's next attack and took a direct hit in the chest. Slightly winded, Sasuke smirked.
"You're stronger than I thought... I guess I'm going to have to take it up a notch! Sharingan!" Eyes red, he attacked. Retaliating, Lee quickly unravelled his bandages and gave a swift kick to the head, sending the Uchiha flying.
"Kage Buyou(3)!" Without a moments hesitation, Lee had his opponent in a bear hug and prepared for his next attack. "If your Sharingan is a genius type from the Uchiha blood, I am simply a hardworking type who has only mastered taijutsu. Now, get ready for the attack that will prove that Hard work shall surpass the genius! Omo-"
"That's enough!"
Before he could finish his attack, Lee's bandages were pinned to the wall and himself soon afterward. Being let go, Sasuke immediately balanced himself and landed on the ground with minor injuries.
"Lee! You are not supposed to use the technique! How many times have I told you that you are not to use that technique until you need to!" Naruto, Hinata and Sasuke turned to find...
A giant red turtle.
"But-"
"SILENCE!" Atop the turtle's shell was a sight that would even make the strongest of fangirls cry.
"The same bowlcut..." murmered Hinata.
"The same green jumpsuit..." muttered Sasuke.
"That... that freaky eyebrow..." gasped Naruto.
"G-Ga-Gai.. sens-"
Before anyone could even blink Lee was punched in the face.
"LEE! THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUE! THOUGH I ADMIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLAMES OF YOUTH, YOU ARE STILL NOT ALLOWED TO USE IT! WHERE HAVE I FAILED AS YOUR INSTRUCTOR?" screamed/wailed/shouted/all of the above... -d Gai.
"Forgive me, Gai-sensei! For my punishment, I shall run around Konoha five times! If I fail that, I shall punch a stump 500 times! If I fail that, I shall kick the stump until I collapse!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
With that the two burst into tears and hugged each other, much to the audience's and The Author's increasing discomfort. A backdrop of a sunset quietly hung behind them.
A few more minutes of disturbing hugging later, Gai began speaking.
"Now... You three are Kakashi's students, corre..." He trailed off as he noticed that team 7 were missing. "Where did they go?"
"Gai-sensei, I think they ran away from awe of our awesome might!"
"LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
Very freaked out beyond all reason, The Author decided to end the horrifying chapter.
Translator notes:
(1) Kami-Sama: God.
(2) Konoha Repuu - Leaf Gale. A spinning kick that sweeps the opponent off their feet.
(3) Kage Buyou - Shadow of the Dancing Leaf. While the target is airborne, the user jumps in such a way as to appear below the target while following a similar trajectory through the air. Since the victim is airborne, he is in a vulnerable position to a more damaging attack such as the Omote Renge or the Shishi Rendan.
Brr... That was the most disturbing of chapters I have ever written.
Now for the first Exam! What should happen there, eh? Only the insane author knows!
'Til then, so long and for the LAST TIME, DON'T SNIFF PAINT!
:B