Hey everyone! I know that it hasn't been a long time since I last updated this story but I wanted to keep my promise to my friend 'cause I thought that she just wanted me to update, but she actually wanted me to post a new chapter that she hadn't read yet. Lol. So I decided that I was going to do good on my promise and keep it. :D:D Even if I had been the one that was confused. Lol. I'm actually surprised 'cause it's not that late in the night and I'm already posting a new chapter of something. Yay. Lol. Anyway, thank you all to those who have read and reviewed this story so far. It really makes me happy and it makes me want to keep going on 'cause then I know that my efforts aren't a complete waste… Well please enjoy this new chapter everyone. :D:D

To Pass or to Fail

When I opened my eyes in the morning, it was too early to do anything. I summoned my llama for the first time since before our trip to the Land of Waves. It wasn't pleased with me until I explained this whole story. Then it believed me and we lay on the bed together.

"Are you prepared for anything today llama?"

It nodded its head and it made me smile. 'Always looking for something to do, aren't you?' I reached under my pillow and pulled out the head protector.

"I guess I should bring it with me just incase."

I got out of bed and got changed into my clothes. I made sure I had my kunai and shuriken in my pockets can my two scrolls in place. 'Yeah, we're ready for anything.' I ended llama's summon and sent it back before leaving home. I didn't waste any time to get to the Forest of Death for the challenge. I was in the mood to prove that I was good enough to become a true ninja. That way, I really could protect my friends.

As I made my appearance, I saw that Kakashi was there beside a woman that looked to be a bit younger than him. 'Suppose it's his girlfriend?' I asked myself with a small smirk. Somehow the thought made me laugh as I looked at them. On the other side of Kakashi was a darker skinned man with black hair. He seemed to have a cigarette in his mouth. Then beside him was a woman with long, dark wavy hair. Her eyes were red and the clothes she wore were red as well. 'Wow… all we're missing now is the Hokage.'

"Where's your head protector? Did you leave it at home?" Kakashi asked me indifferently.

"No, I brought it," I stated, lifting my right hand to show them I was holding it, "I figured that you might have wanted me to bring it."

I saw the long haired woman whisper something to the dark haired man and he nodded his head slightly. 'Damn it… why can't this thing just start?' The Hokage appeared with a shinobi behind him; obviously a guard for good reasons.

"Hokage," the four said, bowing slightly.

'Should I be respectful as well?' I wondered, raising a brow slightly at their actions.

"Well, shall we start now?" the old man asked, looking towards me.

I tied the head protector around my forehead and under my long bangs. I used it to cover one eye and then pulled my bangs down to cover the other one. 'I don't know what will happen during this challenge, so I better be prepared for anything.'

"Hey look, a Kakashi look-a-like," the dark haired man laughed slightly when I covered my left eye.

"That's enough Asuma. I don't think she needs you poking fun at her," the long haired woman mused.

"Now, now Kurenai," Kakashi mused with what seemed to be a happy grin since we couldn't see his face, "She can imitate whoever she likes."

I had to laugh slightly at their conversation. It was - I had to admit - pretty enlightening.

"So, you are Suzu," the Hokage stated.

"Yes I am," I said with a proud smirk.

'They've all got a sense of humor at least… Even for guys they seem pretty amusing.'

"Which clan do you belong to Suzu?" he asked, his voice sounded curious.

'I don't think so. Even if you are the Hokage, that's confidential.' My smirk didn't fade at the question.

"I don't have a clan," I stated with a shrug, "I was born in this village and that's all I care to know."

The Hokage thought for a few moments before asking another question.

"You have an apartment alone. Don't you have any family? Parents or siblings?" he wondered.

"Used to… My parents died a while ago and then I left the Leaf village. As for my brother… you get the idea."

Kakashi seemed to narrow his eyes slightly at the words and tone. I sounded like I didn't really care; which I didn't… at least not anymore.

"Are we just going to chat or are we actually going to do something? I know I'm not interesting in a conversation," I stated with some mockery.

I wanted to do something. Not stand around talking about insignificant things.

The Hokage's guard stepped forward and pulled out a kunai.

"You're really into fighting, aren't you little girl?" he asked with some amusement.

I opened my pant's pocket and pulled out my own kunai with a dark smirk on my face.

"Who're you calling a little girl?"

"Part of your challenge is to knock this shinobi out without a time limit. How you choke to do it is your choice," stated the Hokage, "Though if you pass out during this match then you fail and can't move on."

'Well doesn't that just smell… though it shouldn't be too hard…'

"That's if I don't knock you out first," the shinobi mused as he readied himself to attack.

My smirk faded at his words and I looked at him intently.

"Don't count on it."

With those words, I readied myself before he ran towards me. 'A frontal attack huh? That's pretty straight forward, but I guess it will be more than just that.' I threw my Kunai at him and he quickly dodged to the side. I ran at him and jumped into the air, readying my fist. He grabbed my arms when I was close enough and threw me to the side without much care.

"You're going to have to do better than that, little girl."

"Oh really?" I asked, sending a clone that had been made while I was in the air to attack him.

The shinobi received a kick to the face, sending him back slightly. As he stumbled, I stood up and drew two shuriken from my other pocket. I threw them and he caught his balance enough to once again dodge to the side. 'He's quick for a shinobi… but then again, I guess he would have to be to protect the Hokage.'

"Come on, come and get me," I taunted.

The shinobi came in and when he was close enough to punch, I grabbed his wrist, took out his knees and threw him to the side. He skidded across the ground before coming to a stop. 'If that's all it takes to take him out then he's just as pathetic as the shinobi from the Land of Waves.'

"You're… pretty good," he said as he slowly pushed himself off the ground.

"This is kind of sad," I stated, watching him slowly get to his feet, "I'm barely using any chakra yet and you're already dying on me."

"Is that so?" he laughed, "Then I guess I'll just have to change that, now won't I?"

'I know I shouldn't judge an opponent until deeper into the batter, but this guy needs to be a little better.' I cracked my knuckles and watched the shinobi closely. I ran at him and he started doing hand signs; substitution hand signs. 'Damn.' I cursed myself as I went to kick him. He disappeared and a random log took his place. He reappeared behind me and round house kicked my ribcage.

I was thrown to the side with the force. I used my left hand to slow down my momentum and land back on my feet. 'That one's gunna bruise… not like I don't have enough already.' I stopped for a moment, taking in his condition and mine. He was worn out with a dirtied face and arms. His legs seemed to be shaking slightly.

"Oh, I got you now," I whispered as I stood up properly and unhooking my brown scroll from my right pant leg.

'Llama is the perfect distraction.' I thought as I placed the scroll in my left hand and cut my right thumb on a kunai that was in my pocket. As the blood came from the wound, I opened the scroll and slid my thumb across it.

"Not you're in for it," I stated, "Earth Style; Llama Pursuit jutsu!"

Llama appeared and I pointed towards the shinobi in front of me. It made a burping noise and looked at him. He was in for it all right.

"What the… A llama?" he questioned as llama ran at him.

I started to do a few hand signs as his attention was drawn on llama and teleported behind him.

"Chicken Leg jutsu!" I called as I kicked out the back of his knees, making his fall backwards.

When he was on the ground, on his back, I stepped to the side and let llama run over him. 'I think he's out now.' I thought with a grin as llama walked over to me and rubbed its head against my hip. That made me smile even more as I scratched its ear.

"Yes, that's a good llama," I mused as I patted its head.

'I owe llama a treat when we get home. It saved me again.' Llama raised its head to its full height and its head was as high as mine.

"I know, I know, I owe you a treat when we get home," I laughed, giving llama another pat on its nose.

We both turned towards the Hokage and the four sensei. With the shinobi out, that part of the challenge was over. My eyes looked at Asuma who seemed to be having a laughing fit.

"Haha, Chicken Leg jutsu," he laughed.

It's all right Asuma, it's not that funny," Kakashi stated, "No matter how original it is."

"It's original all right," said the younger woman with a smirk, "It's nice to see an original jutsu like the Thousand Years of Death now and again."

"I agree Anko," stated the Hokage with a slight nod and smile.

'At least someone found it amusing.' I thought as I cracked my right shoulder by rolling it backwards a bit.

"That was very well done Suzu. A ninja always knows how to improvise… Well some don't but you get the idea," Kakashi laughed slightly.

'Improvise my ass…'

"Can we move on now?" I asked, "No offence but I have a llama to treat."

I patted the side of llama's face at the mention of it and it nodded with the stomp of its hoof.

"All right, calm down," the Hokage mused at my eagerness, "The next part of the challenge is to bring me a rare type of mushroom that is only found within the forest of death."

"A mushroom?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow.

'I have to find a stupid mushroom? That's it?'

"You must find it within two hour's time and return here before that time is up," the Hokage explained as he lifted a picture of a perfectly round, red mushroom with one blue spot right on the top.

'A mushroom? You have got to be kidding me… It looks more like a red ball than a mushroom.'

"There are two other shinobi hiding within the forest, waiting for you to come for the mushroom," explained Kurenai, "They would be anywhere in the forest and you'll have to be alert while you're searching."

"Your llama can't go with you," the Hokage stated, "Nor can your other summon. This is a task to be done alone."

I cask an apologetic look at llama and sighed.

"Sorry llama. I'll summon you later."

Ending the summon, I removed the other scroll from its latch and looked at them for a moment.

'Who am I going to have to leave them with? Not a guy that's for sure… I don't really want to leave them with anyone because I don't trust anyone enough for that… I don't even think I'd leave them with Hinata…' With a sigh, I went to Kurenai and handed them to her.

"I expect those back as they are," I told her as I walked towards the gate to get into the forest.

Asuma followed me and opened the gate with ease.

"Good luck."

'I don't need luck.' I took off into the forest with the image of the mushroom in my mind. I had to admit that this wasn't going to be easy. There was an entire forest waiting for me and I had to find a singe type of mushroom that could have been anywhere within two hours.

"I have to do this."

Hinata sat down against a tree. She had been training to do her best all morning but found it kind of difficult. She wanted to become stronger more than anything.

"I have to p-push myself," she panted with a small sigh.

"Need some help?" Tenten asked as she came to the training field.

She was smiling, which made Hinata smile as well.

"Y-yes," Hinata said happily, "T-thank you."

"Have you been doing this all morning?" Tenten wondered as she helped her friend to her feet.

"Uh huh," the Hyuga nodded with a small blush," I-I made a promise to do my best."

"Promised who?" Tenten wondered with a cocked eyebrow.

"S-Suzu…"

Tenten laughed slightly before giving her friend a pat on the back.

"I guess then we'll both have to do out best, now won't we?" she mused lightly.

Hinata nodded before becoming quiet for a few moments. She had a question but wasn't so sure that she should ask it, just incase things weren't alright.

"Something wrong Hinata?"

"Well… um… Does this mean y-you and S-Suzu are a-alright now?" she asked quietly, shifting her feet slightly and not meeting her friend's gaze.

"Of course," Tenten stated with a smile, "It was a misunderstanding, that's all. We talked yesterday and things are great."

"R-really?"

"Yep, and I think it's time you had a little something to eat, "Tenten laughed, hearing a grumble from Hinata's stomach.

Hinata blushed slightly and nodded, "I-I kind of skipped breakfast this morning."

"Then let's go to my place and cook something up."

I ran through the trees, panting heavily. I had met with a shinobi and he had hit the ribs that the previous shinobi kicked. Pain was coursing through them as I ran on. At least an hour had to have passed since I entered the forest which meant that I didn't have much time left. 'They took away my llama because it has a strong sense of smell… which would mean that this mushroom must have a strong smell.'

"It's perfect," I whispered with a smirk.

The idea amused me greatly because I felt that I was getting somewhere instead of running in circles or running around. Kurenai said that the shinobi could be anywhere in the forest… but I don't think that they would really do that… I think that they would put a shinobi on both sides of the mushroom instead of having them placed randomly around…' A bad smell filled my nose that made me stop in my tracks on a tree branch and cough slightly.

"That smells horrible," I choked, plugging my nose.

I looked around for what smelt so bad and then my opened Sharingan eye caught sight of a red object down on the forest floor. 'It smell that bad when I'm this high up? That's crazy.' Cautiously, I made my way down the large tree to the ground. That was when I saw something interesting.

Beside the mushroom was a plant that had been known to smell horrible; occasionally even knock out if it was bad enough. 'I guess that would be what smells so bad…' I grabbed the mushroom and picked it from its place beside the smelling plant before taking off towards the way I had come. 'All right I got the mushroom finally. Now all I have to do is remember how to get out of here.' It seemed easy enough, but I knew it wouldn't be because of how tired my body already was. I had used more chakra fighting against the shinobi in the forest to end it quickly.

"Run Suzu, run," I whispered before jumping back into the trees.

The ground was dangerous because it made me an easy target for anything between animals and people. Trees were a good way to travel.

After a while of running, I was panting as I got closer to the exit with the mushroom held in my left palm. I had to be careful as to not squish it. 'Just a little farther… Only a bit more and then you can go home and sleep.' I smiled at the thought as I came to the opening. I jumped over the fence and landed on three; my right arm, and my legs.

"Well that… was interesting," I panted, looking towards the Hokage.

The shinobi was back on his feet and everyone was sitting, facing each other. 'I guess I wouldn't want to be standing for two hours.'

"How was I time wise?" I asked, walking over to them.

They all looked at me and the Hokage smiled slightly.

"Right on time," he stated.

'Good. I was going to be mad if I was late.' With a sigh, I handed him the red, round mushroom before sitting down and looking at Kurenai.

"Can I have my summons now?" I asked, holding out a hand to get them back.

"Yes, you can," she nodded with a small smile before giving back my scrolls.

I re-latched them to my pants and cracked each of my fingers. 'I wonder if I can leave yet.'

"Suzu," the Hokage said calmly, snapping me out of thought, "We have decided to allow you to continue on to the chunin exams in the future. Though you will need a sensei to help you train."

'A sensei? Does this mean that I'll have to trust someone?' I thought dully to myself.

"Okay… then who would be my sensei?" I asked with a cocked eyebrow.

"I will," Kakashi stated pleasantly, "but only in the morning because I'll have three other students to train later."

"You can join in training with my team whenever you'd like. You seem to be good at Taijutsu," Kurenai said with a nod.

I nodded in agreement as I got to my feet, taking the head protector off my head.

"Training doesn't start until after the academy's done, right?" I wondered.

They all nodded. 'That's good. So now I can go to the academy for a few days and hang out with Hinata and see her get her head protector.' I smiled at the thought before heading into the village.

"I think you'll have your hands full Kakashi," Anko laughed slightly.

"At least I won't have to put up with her arguing with anyone," he mused lightly.

"That's certainly true," Asuma laughed as well.

I walked through town tiredly, barely realizing where I was going. I was walking down Tenten's street and wasn't even aware of it. A door opened and a familiar voice snapped me out of my daze.

"Suzu?" Hinata's voice wondered.

I looked and saw Hinata coming out of Tenten's house. They were both smiling, which made me smile slightly as well.

"Hey guys," I said, waving slightly as I walked towards them.

"You just can't give it a rest, can you?" Tenten asked me, pointing to my arms.

They were bruised already.

"I guess not," I laughed slightly, "It was just a random shinobi, so it's not big deal."

"You'll never make it back to the academy if you get beaten up every time you're healed, you know that right?"

"I know, I know. I've got to take better care of myself," I mused, "So what are you guys up to?"

"I-I was training all morning," Hinata said with a smile.

"That's good to hear," I stated with a wide grin, "What about you Tenten?"

"Oh nothing much. I cleaned my house today. Made the toilet all nice and clean."

'Well that had to be… interesting.' I laughed slightly at the thought of Tenten cleaning the house.

"Oh, there's this thing tomorrow with the older genin. Are you guys going to make it there?" Tenten wondered, excitement in her eyes.

Hinata nodded with a smile.

"Y-yes. I-I heard that you were doing a w-weapon demonstration Tenten," Hinata said lightly, poking her friend in the side.

"Oh, I'm doing something all right. Neji's going to do a show too," Tenten laughed, "I wanted to dress him up as a clown but he won't let me."

"I wonder why," I laughed, knowing the reason.

'Clowns are EVIL!' Hinata laughed lightly with a mile. She had two great friends that understood her. That was all she could ask for.

End of Chapter 9

So… how did everyone like it? I hope that it was good enough to at least please a lot of people. Lol. There was a reason that Anko was there instead of some other sensei but I can't tell everyone why yet. Lol. That ruins my fun for later. :D:D And yes, I have made a reason on why Kakashi is always late to meet with team seven. xD I'm REAL evil that way. Lol. So I hope that you can figure the being late thing on your own… and if you don't then that's alright 'cause I'll be putting the reason in later anyway. :D:D Well I hope that you had fun reading it and that I'll see you all the next time around in the next chapter. :D:D Please R&R and I'll try to update as soon as I get the chance to. :D:D