Fuyu 07.
"Alright! All of you listen up because I'm only going to explain this once!" Anko commanded, striking fear and awareness into the potential Chunin that crowded before her.
"You've all be lucky enough to continue to the second part of this exam, but I can almost guarantee that more than half of you will no longer be lucky." she paused "From here on out, anything goes. Go out there with the intention to kill anyone that comes at you, after you, and possibly even with you."
"Have the intention to kill those that are with us?" Fuyu asked herself aloud. Why would we have any reason to ever do that?
"Psst. Fuyu." Ritsu called from the other side of Soma. "Don't worry about it, you can trust us the whole way." he reassured, sending a wide grin her way.
She forced a returning smile to grace her features, despite the knotting feeling in the pit of her stomach winding up more and more as the time passed by. She would do anything in the world to be able to see any prediction of what might happen during the second phase of the exams. To see if any of her teammates -her companions- will make it though. To see if she would make it through, alive at the very least.
But the words that just so happened to slip out Anko's mouth further crushed any trace of comfort she gained from Ritsu's words.
"Everyone that lives through this phase must participate in the third one. In other words, those of you who were planning on not proceeding to the final phase, will have to die to get out of this exam."
The eyes of each Genin widened slightly, the sudden addition to the already overbearing pressure registering in their sleep deprived minds.
With his usual stoic expression, Sasuke looked around him at the diverse faces that surrounded him. After a few moments, his eyes eventually landed onto the worried expression that failed to be hidden by his close female friend.
Fuyu. He chuckled to himself mentally. You should at least have some confidence in your teammates at the least.
"Hey! Sasuke-teme!" Naruto called, dragging Sasuke's attention away from the brown headed girl over to the hyperactive blonde. "Don't do anything that will make me have to kill you." he warned.
"Shut up, dobe." he sighed in response.
A lone 'humph' emitted from the throat of the blonde, as the group of three returned their attention back to the purple headed Jonin.
"Each team will receive one scroll. That team will be the only ones who will know what type of scroll they received." Anko began, retrieving two scrolls from a Chunin. "There are 14 lightning scrolls and 14 earth. In order to advance to the next level, each team has to has to attempt getting the scroll that they're not in possession of. In other words, only 14 teams will continue onto phase 3...idealistically. 14 if all of you happen to survive." she paused "Each team prepare to get your own scroll!" she commanded pointing over at a small table that was covered by a thick orange blanket. "Your team is disqualified if one person dies, or if one of you block heads decide to open up the scroll."
"After you and your team receives your scroll choose any one of these gates to enter through. The second phase will start in thirty minutes!"
Fuyu's brown eyes immediately shot over to a group of three that had slowly been inching closer and closer to Team Nagare. After a few moments of studying the three figures, one with a large composite bow that was almost as tall as the young genin and the one carrying it with a quiver hanging slanted on their back, the other with a large Kantana that seemed to way more than he did but nonetheless fit the personality that shown from his facial expressions, then the other, much smaller, teammate having a small Tanto that still posed a threat to Fuyu.
They don't seem like they should be Genin. Fuyu thought to herself, completely blocking out all the calls she received from her teammates.
As if the team of three heard her thoughts, the girl with dull blonde hair looked over her shoulder back at the Saatchi clans heir, her vibrant green eyes gazing right into curious brown ones.
"Aoi Hintou." Fuyu breathed inaudibly, bringing back all the events that happened just a day prior before the start of the first phase.
"Anyways, since you're from the Saatchi clan...I'll be waiting for my opportunity to fight you."
"I mean, only if you're up to it, Fuyu-hime."
Despite her otherwise fear inspiring demeanor, a light, kind smile formed on the young Archer's face as she turned around fully so as to approach the Hyuton user.
"Fuyu." she greeted as she stood eye to eye to her. "Don't die."
A nervous chuckled escaped Fuyu's lips. "I don't exactly plan on it."
"Great, because I want to fight you during the third phase. And I don't want any injuries to be holding you back." she replied with a smirk pulling at the corner of her lips.
Whether that was supposed to be intimidating or encouraging, Fuyu didn't know. All she could recognize was the feeling of her confidence level raising, even just a little.
A timid but firm smile found it's way to Fuyu's lips as she continued to gaze right back at the green orbs before her. "The same to you, Aoi."
She chuckled before leaning into Fuyu's right ear, looking over the brunette's shoulder. "My team and I will be looking out for you, just in case." she promised almost silently.
Fuyu grew silent as she looked past the blonde shoulder also, looking back her teammates who seemed as if they knew exactly what she was whispering. "But why-"
"I've already told you!" she responded, looking back into her brown eyes "I want to be the one who fights you at your best, so I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that no one gets to do that before me."
Fuyu's smile grew wider. "I'll try to do the same for you."
Aoi took a step back, a questioning look on her face. "I guess what they say about your clan is true. They have no trace of a temper whatsoever." she chuckled, regaining her demeanor "Anyways, good luck, Fuyu-hime." she bade, walking back to her awaiting team.
As she was walking back, she couldn't help but smile as an image of Fuyu's smile popped into her mind. You really are an impressionable girl, aren't you, Fuyu?
"So? How'd it go?" one of her teammates asked as she finally reached them.
"Yeah, you were over there for a while." the other whined quietly, looking back at the brunette who was already preoccupied with her team.
"Relax Hisui, Kyouichi." She replied, slightly amused. "She has our back, just like we have hers. Let's just make sure we live up to that promise, alright?"
"Who died and made you king?" Kyouichi mumbled.
"Shut up." she replied "Everyone knows I've been the queen since I was born, it shouldn't be a surprise to you."
Hisui failed to hold back a smirk at her reply, only earning a playful scorn from her. "Ready to have some fun?" the Kantana wielder asked, grabbing onto the handle of his Kantana out of habit.
"Hell. Yeah." Kyouichi answered firmly, with Aoi nodding in agreement.
I can't wait till we're against each other, Fuyu. Aoi thought to herself, looking back over at the Genin.
:-:-:
"Are you gonna tell us what all that was about?" Ritsu asked, looking over at Fuyu as they made their way to the Scroll Distribution table.
Fuyu looked over at her concerned teammate, and shot a warm smile his way. "It's nothing to worry about, Ritsu. I promise." she responded, deciding against telling them of the promise she made to the other Genin.
"Just as long as it doesn't affect us during the exam, it's fine with me." Soma voiced once they finally walked into the station.
"Jonin Commander's Name please." a chunin requested, scanning over the faces of Team Nagare.
"Nagare Shin." Soma answered quietly, reaching out for the lightning scroll he was being handed by the Chunin.
"Good luck to you three."
Soma nodded his head in a silent thank you, as he handed the scroll over to Ritsu while still in the shelter of the tent.
"What? Why are you giving me this?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"No one would expect you to have it, we've got to keep everyone on their toes." he replied quietly. "Just put it into your pouch and shut up."
Ritsu mumbled some incoherent words as he did what he was told, before following Soma out the tent with Fuyu trailing behind closely.
Finally having the opportunity to look over the place where they had been assigned to survive in, also the place where they can possibly die in, Fuyu slowly trailed her eyes from the bottom of the gate to the top of it which was bordered with barbwire.
She shook her head, trying to get rid of all the worst case scenarios that popped into her head that moment. The last thing I want to do is let this forest intimidate me. She thought to herself, forcing her confidence level to grow on it's own. I have a promise to live up to.
"Hey! Fuyu, Ritsu!" Naruto called from beside them. "You guys are just getting your scroll?"
The group of three silently exchanged looks between themselves, before nodding in response simultaneously.
"Well, what scroll did you all get?" Naruto asked, a little too loudly.
"What makes you think we'd tell you something like that, Naruto?" Soma asked, with a look of disbelief on his face.
"Well why not? Afraid we'll come after you?" Sasuke asked tauntingly as he waked up behind Naruto.
Soma returned the smirk. "Not at all. I'm more worried about going after you guys when we've gotten desperate for a scroll."
"We wouldn't do that." Fuyu interjected quietly, looking over at Soma's dark brown eyes.
"It's a competition, Fuyu." Soma countered.
"That shouldn't make you want to go against your own teammates."
"It's fine, Fuyu." Sasuke interrupted. "How about we make a deal? We tell each other what scroll we received, and if we just so happen to have different ones, we vow not to come after each other."
Soma scoffed. "What makes you think we'll agree to that-?"
"Deal." Ritsu responded eagerly. "Think about it. If they have the same scroll as us, we could use it as an advantage on both sides. If they have a different one, then it'll still be an advantage to us, to serve as more incentive to complete this phase before them." He worked out aloud.
"Yeah! That makes sense!" Naruto agreed at his gray haired friend. "So, what scroll did you guys get?"
Knowing much better than to announce that precious information, Ritsu leaned over into Naruto's ear whispering: "Lightning."
"No way! We got Lightning too!" Naruto replied a little too loudly.
"Naruto!" Sakura scolded. "You said that way too loudly!"
Soma and Sasuke looked around them at all the predator like glares they received from various teams.
"Idiot." Sasuke sighed, looking back over at the blonde.
"You just made 42 new enemies for all of us, in a matter of seconds." Soma scolded, pinching the bridge of his nose tightly. "Now we have to be twice as alert."
"It'll be fine, Soma." Fuyu said reassuringly. "I have no doubt that we'll figure out a way to make it through successfully. All of us." she added, scanning over the faces of her 5 close friends before winding back to Soma's.
"Yeah, just as long as you three stay as far away from us as possible." Soma retorted, aiming it at Team Kakashi.
"With pleasure." Sasuke responded, before walking in the opposite direction, expecting his teammates to follow.
After looking up at Soma, and the back of Sasuke sever times, Fuyu walked after so as to take hold of his arm lightly.
"I'm sorry, Sasuke." she apologized. "Hopefully, after all of this is over, things will go back to normal." she finished, letting go of his arm.
"You should stop hoping on such ideals, Fuyu." Sasuke responded, without looking back at her.
A sad smile graced Fuyu's features. "Well, let's just worry about the now then, shall we? I wish you, and your team, good luck." she said quietly. "Although, I'm sure you won't need it." she concluded, heading back to her own team.
Once he finally felt his two teammates behind him, he continued his walk to the other side of the forest, wanting to get as much distance from team 13 as possible. Just as Soma requested.
Sasuke's fists tensed slightly as he looked down at them. I wish you good luck too...Fuyu. He thought to himself, before looking back up at the road before him.
Both literally, and figuratively.
:-:-:
"Alright! Whether you guys are ready or not, the second phase will be starting..." Anko paused looking down at the purple watch on her wrist. "Now!"
As soon as the last sound left her lips, all 28 gates flew opened, letting in all 84 genin into it's forests, to their success, or to their death.
"Alright! Let's do this!" Naruto said enthusiastically as he and his team walked through the gate.
"Dominate!" Ritsu yelled, sprinting from tree to tree, his adrenaline pupping furiously.
It's only just the beginning. The two hyperactive boy's teammates thought to themselves simultaneously with an accepting smile.
Being able to easily keep up with her enthusiastic teammate, Fuyu looked up at the sunlight that filtered through the canopy of trees, leafs and vines. Closing her eyes lightly, her left hand involuntarily rose to take a light, gentle hold onto the necklace that served as a constant reminder of her teammates.
I'll do everything I can to keep both of you safe. Just like how you did for me in the Land of Waves.
:-:-:
*Sadly though, the lone Uchiha was right. Fuyu's mind, which was so set on idealistic thinking, would be the completely wrong way to predict their future with. Fuyu's definition of 'normal' began to change as soon as she stepped foot through the gate.
The only question left to ask is: Will she survive the change?