Greetings! kaila900's back baby!!! here is the fabulous chapter six. i typed it on my brand new laptop i got for xmas! hoot hoot! thanks to everyone who has graced me with their presence on my story. you are all lovely people. i hope you continue to stay with my epic tale.

Disclaimer: iay oday otnay wnoay arutonay, eriouslysay

enjoy!

Chapter 6

MPOV

The first exam, psh, a piece of cake. Honestly, that test was insulting. Any top ninja would figure out that the point of the exam was obviously to display our skills of observation and ability to work through difficult situations. How stupid do they think we are? I mean COME ON!…

…

Ah who am I kidding! The first exam was brutal! I swear I felt my mind unraveling as I stared wide eye at my blank answer sheet. Cheat to win? Who the heck is supposed to assume that? It was only Yuudai's pride, Sari's confidence, and my determination that allowed us to take the tenth question and barely squeak by. Just sitting there, watching your precious time slip away was beyond stressful. In the end I didn't answer a single question right. I ended up writing random crap on my paper and praying to sweet baby Jesus for a heavenly intervention. I wonder if Gaara figured it out. I bet he did. I bet he got every question right and took the tenth question with zero hesitation. He never let anything bother him and kept a level head through the most dangerous of situations. How did he do that? I had no idea.

I did know that he made it all the way to the finals in his Chunin exam trial. After that I'm not quite sure what happened. He never told me about his Chunin experience through our months of preparation for the event and I never asked. It was shrouded in mystery which was just Gaara's style.

It wasn't long before the second trail was laid before us. The challenge was to navigate through the forest of death to a central tower where we had to present a heaven and earth scroll. The only problem was each team only had one scroll, so they had to steal the other from an opposing team… oh yeah, and the forest was infested with man eating creatures… that's another problem.

A bead of sweat slid from my hair line as I gazed through the starting fence only to have my vision break when it collided with the wall of trees. Every ounce of common sense I had screamed to stay away from the black void but I knew that's exactly were I had to go.

"What's the matter, Matsuri? You scared?" Yuudai said and I could tell he was mocking me.

"NO!" yes.

"Good, cause I don't want you fucking this up for all of us." he said because, as of now Yuudai, Sari, and I pass or fail as a team.

"Oh you don't have to worry about that." I said sourly. He sighed and rolled his eyes. That's right, you bastard, keep basking in your own glory. We'll see who comes out on top… as I mentally rubbed my hands together in evil delight, Sari said.

"We have a heaven scroll so we need an earth. Shouldn't we be coming up with a plan or something before the challenge starts?" We both stared at her like she had just grown a second head. Oh right! A plan… hmmm… I began throwing together some sort of strategy in my mind when of course my good friend Yuudai said,

"Ha, we don't need a plan. Real ninjas don't need a plan, they just wing it." Uhhh you sure about that buddy?

"Yeah if they want to get killed!" I retorted. "This is real now! We aren't in training anymore."

"Oh shut up, what do you know?" He spat and walked toward the starting gate. I turned to Sari and gave her a what-the-fuck-was-that look but she just smiled and shrugged. Then followed her savior to the gate. How do you like that? Abandoned… curse her hormones!

"Alright you maggots! Get in position! We're about to begin!" Said a purple haired shinobi with attitude. I didn't pay close enough attention to catch her name but she was our proctor. All the teams proceeded to their starting gates. Waiting for our release, I peered around at the wary faces of the other eager shinobi. Some were leaning forward in anticipation while others trembled with panicked thoughts of the dismal nights to come. Though the ninjas were of all different shapes, sizes, colors, and ages, we all had, whether it was masked or not, hints of fear that could be detected in all of our faces.

"READY, SET, GO!" Screamed seniora spunky. Thirty six ninja flew into the darkness.

GPOV

My soft crimson locks caressed my face as the wind rolled over the hills of the land of fire. My left shoe dragged across the shingled roof as I pulled it closer to my body. The corresponding arm came to rest on the crown of my knee. A heavy sigh escaped my lips. Sitting on the roof of our Konoha home, I couldn't help but worry for the safety of my student.

The sun's jovial aura was departing behind the horizon making way for the uncertainties of night. Picturing Matsuri in the gloomy disarray, surrounded by hazards and malevolent shinobi who had no choice but to fight others to prove themselves was unsettling. My fists clenched, how could I have done this to her? What kind of malicious world do we live in when mere children are given the kill decision and encouraged to use it? I began to ponder what it would be like if the ninja never came to be. If our imprudent ancestors never were corrupted by the human need for power and control. The lands would be peaceful, wars nonexistent, families mended, walls unnecessary, children innocent, and I wouldn't be a monster… my mother would still be alive. As soon as the thoughts entered my mind, they were tainted. I knew there could never be such a world.

The clunky sound of boots meeting slate crept up from behind me. Kankuro approached.

"Hey, brotha." he said and came to rest at my side. He took a seat on the roof to my right and let his longer legs dangle over the edge. The smell of savory broth lingered around him. He held a steaming cup of ramen in one hand and a pair of chopsticks in the other.

"I brought you some soup." He said handing it towards me but getting no response. "Come on," he said smiling. "its delicious!" He sang.

"No thank you." I said quietly. He shrugged and began to dig into my dinner. My attention returned to my student. An uncomfortable silence proceeded aside from the rapid slurping of the noodles. Finally,

"So what's up? You seemed worried." My brother asked me. I sighed.

"I am wondering about the exams. That's all."

"Aha! Someone's having trouble letting go. Don't worry, little bro. Matsuri will be fine." He went back to his soup. I scrunched up my eyes and turned to him.

"What do you mean, letting go?" I said and was surprised when Kankuro leaned in a put his arm around my shoulders.

" I know it's hard, but you've got to let the baby bird leave the nest." I leaned away from him and pulled out from under his arm.

"Huh?" I said. He squinted in thought.

"Matsuri's not a little kid anymore. She can handle the giant snakes, the vicious bugs, the harsh terrain,… oh and the 30 something other ninjas that won't think twice about spattering her blood all over the forest floor." All comfort gone. My brother smiled and patted me one the back.

"Well," he stood up as if his work here was done. "I hoped that helped." He smiled sincerely and strolled back from where he came. Great… now my concern was higher then ever. Thanks Kankuro… thanks a lot. I put my hand on my forehead. Poor Matsuri…

MPOV

"Look out!" Sari screamed as a huge spider flashed its ugly fangs towards Yuudai. It had to be at least ten feet across not counting it's impressive leg length. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS TOWN?! This is not normal. Does Iruka-sensei have a hidden biochemist lab in his basement where he conducts hazardous creature mutations that we should know about?

Yuudai was frozen in absolute fear towards his sudden aggressor. It crept closer and closer, gaining confidence in it's assault when it remained unchallenged.

"Yuudai! Move!" I yelped. No response, his eyes were the size of dinner plates. Crap crap crap! If I didn't act fast my teammate was going to be a tasty spidey snack.

My mind raced as it tried to formulate a strategy. Ok, think think think. Uhhhhhhh WWGD, what would Gaara do? He would stay calm and… use his sand to… attack from below! that's it! Sparked by inspiration, I whipped my jouhyou over my head in a circular motion until it reached an ample speed. Then I gracefully tossed it towards the creature, accurately snagging its eight hairy legs in a binding knot.

Ha ha! Victory! The monster was immobilized. My success was short lived when the spider began to thrash, yanking me around like a rag doll. Thankfully, Sari stepped up and delivered a harsh blow of wind to the arachnid's temple, causing a dizzied state. I regained my footing and saw out of the corner of my eye Yuudai rapidly shaking his head as if to tremor his fears away. With his mind lucid, his aimed a kuni right into the forehead of the beast. It's nerves spazed until it came to rest for the last time.

Breathing heavily, we all stared with wide eyes from the creature, to each other, and back at the beast.

"What… the fuck… was that?" Sari said finally. I shrugged, uncertain myself. I turned to Yuudai who, white as a ghost and possibly wearing freshly soiled pants, turned back on his nonchalant attitude.

"Ha, that was nothing." he grinned. "good thing you girls have a big, strong, shinobi like me around, eh?"

"I know! Good thing!" Sari flashed her pearly whites. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, too bad we are soooo helpless." I groaned sarcastically.

"Lets keep going." He said giving us permission to proceed. Thank goodness. If this boy keeps it up he better know how to run real fast.

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