3/7/12

Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO

Chapter 2 Chuunin Exams: Written

"Sakura-chan!" a blonde knuckle-head ninja waved at an approaching pinkette.

"Hi Naruto." Sakura gave a small smile at the blonde then looked at Sasuke, remembering what had happened and what her mom had told her. "Good morning Sasuke." She gave a bigger smile but not by much.

"Hn."

(Sakura PoV)

There was a crowd up ahead. They were all outside a classroom door.

I looked up ahead and something smells funny. No literally. Something smells funny. As I scanned the hallway, I noticed that chakra flow was everywhere. A genjutsu maybe?

Up ahead, there was a boy in a green spandex suit with orange leggings. Talk about a fashion crisis. He got pushed back and onto a ground. Then a girl with two buns tried to get through.

'What a fake.' I rolled my eyes as she was punched back. She is just acting to be weak and she is kind of succeeding in it too.

"Nice speech. Now step aside and let us through." Sasuke deadpanned. "While you're at it, release the genjutsu. We're only on the second floor."

People were whispering, wondering what he was talking about.

'Talk about a bunch of losers.' Inner Sakura scoffed. 'Couldn't even tell it was a genjutsu. They are just stepping into hell now. Shannaro!'

'Aah. You must be my inner wolf.' Sakura thought. 'You're not that feisty ya know.'

'Not now. But just you wait,' Inner rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. 'When the tough gets going, you'll see. And besides, we wolves pride ourselves with nobility in a way.'

'Whatever.' Sakura thought. "Yeah. Sure I saw it a mile away. It was rather obvious actually."

Just then, the genjutsu on the room number was released.

"A smart-aleck eh?" the spiky haired guy sneered. "Well, how about we see you deal with this!" he was going to kick Sasuke, but Sasuke was sending a kick as well to counter it.

Right before the kick connected, that green spandex boy got between the two and holds their kicking legs.

'Impressive.' I thought with a raised brow.

"I thought we were going to keep a low profile. That's what you said." A boy with long hair and pearl, no-pupil eyes said to that bushy brow boy.

"I know, but…" then he turned my way. Freaky…That girl with the twin buns…is she one of us?

"Never mind," the girl with twin buns said. "Just drop it."

To be sure, I raised my werewolf aura to that girl only to check. Mom said that if the girl responds by doing the same, then she is of the secret society.

Just like I thought, she raised her aura as well. . .Witch huh? This should be interesting. I wonder if she can tell that I am a werewolf.

The green boy came walking up to me. What is he thinking…"You are Sakura right?"

I nodded. How does he know my name? "I am Rock Lee. Will you be my girlfriend? I vow to protect you."

My face darkened. Is he serious. No offense or anything but, "Definitely not."

"Why?" Lee's face was down cast.

"Because you are a weirdo." I said rather bluntly. Just behind him, I could've sworn I saw that girl have amusement swimming in her eyes. She was holding back a laugh.

'So you think it's funny huh?' Inner rolled up her sleeves. 'Well, it is damn not. Shannaro! I like to see if you were in my position. What do you have to say about that!' Fire was burning in her eyes as she got ready to punch the girl.

But she can't. 'Cool it Inner. Gosh, you are feisty, or have anger management issues. I'd say both.

"Hey you, what's your name." The boy with the long hair asked, more like demanded.

"It's common courtesy to give your own name before asking some else's." Sasuke sneered.

"You're a rookie aren't you? How old are you."

"I'm not obliged to answer."

"What's that." The Hyuuga, yeah I finally figured out he was a Hyuuga because of his eyes, boy scowled.

Behind the Hyuuga, I saw that the girl was giggling. I can understand that since I was giggling myself too. Nice comeback Sasuke.

"C'mon Sasuke, Naruto." I said a bit enthusiastically since my mood got better. "Let's go sign up." I pulled Naruto from the wall, and grabbed Sasuke's hand –which he oddly didn't object– and we walked away.

~Skipping the fight between Lee and Sasuke and all that~

(Hinata PoV)

Everyone's here already. Except for Naruto and his team. I wonder if they're coming?

I was fidgeting from all the presences of older ninjas. I know Father would be disappointed in me if I showed weakness.

I sighed. "Something wrong Hinata?" my teammate, Kiba asked.

"N-no. I'm f-fine." I tried to give a reassuring smile, but he didn't buy it. Thankfully though, he let it dropped.

I looked up a bit to look around. I can see Neji-niisan with his teammates…and he seems to be glaring in my direction. I looked down again to avoid his glare which I know is filled with hate.

Just then, the doors opened. At the door's entrance, there was Naruto…and his team.

"Sasuke!" a girl with blonde platinum hair jumped onto Sasuke's back. I think that girl was Ino…Yamanaka.

Sakura got angry and started yelling at Ino. Ino's teammates came up. Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara.

Kiba led the way as we came up to them. "Well well, looks like the whole gang is here."

"H-hi Naruto." I said quietly. When he turned my way, I looked down. I feel so shy. Every time I look at him, my heart pounds harder and I can feel my face heats up. I bet Naruto thinks I'm weird.

He is the opposite of me. He shines brightly and looks confident, while I am shy and hide away. I really admire that about him.

I started to play with my fingers again. It has become a bit of a habit when I get nervous. I wish I can be more confident. I admire Sakura and Ino. They surely don't seem shy. Especially when Ino glomped, er hugged Sasuke from behind.

"Yup. Here we all are. The nine rookies." Kiba said carefree and laughing. "This is going to be fun. That is, if you are good enough to make it, right Sasuke."

Sasuke smirked. "Careful Kiba, don't get too confident."

Kiba gave a chuckle. "Just you wait, we are going to blow you away."

"Oh yeah? What do you think we have be been doing? Picking daisies." Naruto argued. "You don't know the meaning of training! Believe it."

"I-I'm sure he d-didn't m-mean it l-like that." I said shyly while twiddling my fingers. There I go again, I get nervous every time he looks at me.

(Ino PoV)

"You're the nine rookies, right? Fresh out of the academy." Some guy wearing glasses with silver hair said. "I wouldn't draw attention to yourselves. So just cool it."

Something about this guy just rubs me the wrong way. And what doe she mean by that! "And just who are you!" I demanded pointedly.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi." He replied. "But really, just look around you." I, along with everyone else, looked around. "You made quite an impression."

He was right. Everywhere I looked, there were mean glares at us. I held make a scoff and eye roll.

Well excuse us for not knowing the 'rules.' But as I looked, something on the ceiling caught my eyes. It took everything to keep myself from screaming and seemingly look like I was crazy. Because there on the ceiling was a big creature who has eyes like a fly with a face of a spider's and a body structure of an ant's. That hideous creature had literally preying mantis's scythe like arms, which was actually scythes since it was a monster. It had eight, hairy legs like a spider's but the feet were like claws, ready to grab its unsuspecting victim. It was so hideous and scary, but it also feels like it was suffocating me by just sticking to the ceiling, getting ready to strike.

I know that normal people can't see this and that whoever was the prey will just suddenly disappear out of thin air, but when I looked at Hinata and Sakura, they were stiff too and pretty scared. Although, Hinata was showing it the most. Only two thoughts had brought me relief. The being that it would just look like we were scared shitless because of the crowd, and the second being that exterminators were going to come and destroy it.

While Kabuto was explaining something about information cards, I kept looking at that mutant bug from the corners f my eyes. Just as Kabuto was revealing Lee's card, so yeah I have been partly listening, the exterminators were here. Actually, there was only two exterminators, one being my mom and the other looking very familiar. I couldn't tell since she didn't turn my way, but that magenta hair color was very familiar.

When the two destroyed the monster with just a single swipe with their swords, my mom turned around and mouthed good luck. The other woman, I recognized as Sakura's mom and she gave a wave to Sakura in reassurance.

'I can definitely wait until the day comes when I have to do the same.' I thought as I turned my attention back to that Kabuto guy. Something about him really oozes evil, but what?

(Ayami PoV)

"Hurry up Aya!" a teen boy called over his shoulder.

"I'm coming. Geez." I shouted back to my brother.

"It is your fault that we are going to be late!" My brother, Shoichi shouted as he ran a couple feet ahead of me with our cousin, Satoru.

"Sor-ry." I rolled my eyes. "At least the hokage gave us a slip just in case we are late.

"Be glad that he was a kind man!" Sho called as we ran up the stairs. "You are way too lucky for your own good."

"Thanks, and I know. God must love me." Thank you Kami-sama. "But it's not like I can really help it."

"Oh yes you can!" my brother argued back.

"Oh shut up." I huffed, not from running, but from annoyance. "Stop!"

They immediately stopped by the door and turned to look at me. "Disguise check."

"It's not really a disguise you know." My brother retorts.

"You know what I mean." I took out a mirror and checked my hair. Yup, it was still braided neatly and inside of my jacket. "Kay, let's go."

When my cousin, Sato opened the door, the crowd's direction was turned towards a teen on the ground, coughing. . .up blood? What did we miss?

Anyways, we snuck, more like walked quietly to the back since no one really noticed us, at least that was what I thought.

A moment later, smoke appeared along with ninjas. Looks like we made it just in time.

"Just damn lucky." Sho snorted. I just flashed him a victory smile. I am glad I am just lucky like that. I didn't even think that we could have made it since we were late ten minutes to meet the hokage.

As the spoke cleared, a tall, muscular man started to shout at everyone to be quiet and introduced himself. "I am Ibiki Morino, your proctor. And from this moment, your worst enemy."

I flinched a bit as the proctor was yelling at the three sound nins that just attacked that leaf ninja.

Ibiki just smirked at the bandaged sound nin's excuse. "I'll say this once. There will be no combat between candidates. No attacking each other without the permission of the proctor. And even then, the use of fatal force is strictly prohibited. Anyone who thinks of defying me will be disqualified immediately. Got it."

No fatal force…Thank goodness. I can not handle killing, yet I suppose. I am a shinobi after all.

(Matsuri PoV)

I sighed.

My teammates Hitoshi Madehite and Takeshi Madehite seem confident. One had a composed face while the other was smirking.

Even though they are twins, they are almost opposites. Oh well, at least they have similar personalities, sort of anyways.

Everyone was getting in line to give their applications and get their numbers. I was standing behind Gaara. He seems so intimidating, but Temari said he is not really if you get to know him. Although, she did warn me to never get on his bad side or be in his way when Shukaku is staring to emerge in his personality. Whatever that means.

I soon got my number and went to take a sit along with the test paper I got. I waved at my teammates who waved back; they really know how to calm me down. So far, I was the only one in this bench table. I looked around and was getting bored.

So I raised my aura to see who would respond. At least I would know who to count on if a monster were to appear. I already know that Temari and my best friend Sari are part of the society, but who else? As I looked, I saw a pinkette, platinum blonde, dark blue, brown with twin buns, and a girl in a hoodie responded. So that makes…eight of us. I guess that is pretty high since Mom said there is usually around five or less normally. The highest was thirteen in recorded history so far.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when proctor Ibiki was announcing the rules.

. . .

Oh my goodness, there was quite a few. For one thing, a team test? I guess that's not so bad, but we each have to answer at least one question right. Takeshi would be in such deep trouble, I hope this test isn't so hard.

I laid my head on my hand that was propped up.

But if I know him, he would try to cheat. Which I would allow this time if he tries to answer the question. But then that brings to another rule, is we're caught cheating, then two points would be marked off our ten points that we receive in the beginning.

It's not like an ordinary test, each person is given ten points to start. Each question is worth one point each. You get marked off two if caught cheating. If you can't answer a single one right, then you and your team are disqualified immediately. The tenth question is given at the last fifteen minutes of the time. Lastly, we only get one hour to complete the test.

Simple enough, but complicated t the same time.

"You may begun!"

I flipped the test over and looked through the problems. Oh KAMI-SAMA!

As I looked through each problem, they seem to get harder and harder. How am I going to answer these? Between all three of us, Hitoshi is the only one who would know how to answer this. Let's see. . .Of course. I remember Hitoshi trying to teach us something similar to this. I tried to remember and wrote down the answer to number eight. But what about the rest?

I tilted my head up a bit and saw that Takeshi seemed to be writing. I guess we should be able to pass now. But the test is so hard, it's all integrated stuff. It's…It's so tempting to cheat.

But I can't do that, can I?

I thought over what he had said.

'Anyone who is caught cheating does not deserve to be called a shinobi. Show us, what exceptional shinobi you can be.'

That's all he said, but does that mean we can cheat. Technically, he didn't say no or prohibited. He just hinted it, but still.

By now, sentinels were eliminating candidates already. Looks like they got caught.

Oh well, I guess I should cheat a bit. But how?

'Hmm?' I glanced at the guy next to me. His face is forward, but his eyes…Sharingan.

He must be an Uchiha. So sharingan huh. I wonder if I can activate it.

Concentrate. I concentrated chakra to my eyes. I can feel…something burning into them. It didn't hurt, but the sensation is powerful. When I opened my eyes again, I tilted my head up a bit and saw the world completely different. Everything seemed kind of…slow?

I just shook my head and began writing. I hope no one notices my eyes. Well, my hair is covering my face a bit, but I have to look out for the sentinels near the front. Gotta keep my head down and eyes squinted so no one can catch me.

I am so glad Mom gave me these protective contacts. Okay, so it was cheating, but it doesn't completely hide my eyes away.

(Sari PoV)

"All right," I looked up at Ibiki. "Here's the final and tenth question."

I looked down at my paper. Meh, good enough. Seven questions out of the nine on the paper.

"But, before I give you the tenth question, there are some more rules you need to be aware of." Ibiki said.

'You have got to be kidding me' I faced palm myself.

Just then, a boy dressed in black with face paint came back from the bathroom.

"I hope you found your trip enlightening." Ibiki said. The boy hesitated. He must've cheated while going to the bathroom some how. "Well? Aren't you going to take a seat."

When the boy from the sand village sat down, Ibiki continued. "Rule number one, you can choose to take or not take the final question."

What? What is he getting at…

"Woah, what's the catch." Temari demanded. Rash as ever. "Let's say we choose not to take the question, what happens then?"

"If you choose not to take the tenth question, regardless of the other nine, then you will get a zero. In other words, you fail." Ibiki said. . .with mirth? Is he challenging us. . .Then bring it on big guy. I can be just as rash as my home girl. "And that means both your teammates fail as well." There was a lot of whispering when he said that.

"Not so fast," Ibiki interrupted the commotion people were making. "You didn't let me finish." Then his face got serious. "If you choose to answer the question and answer it incorrectly, then not only will you fail, you will be barred from ever taking the chuunin exams ever again."

Say what! You have got to be kidding me. I'm pretty confident in answering since I am the smartest when it comes to written tests, and my teammates should be fine I hope. But will they feel confident enough to answer? Rikiya Yokofumi, he's the physically strongest of my team. Shun Chimosu, he's the fastest one in the group, not super fast, but pretty decent for a genin and faster than us anyways.

"Hey! That's bull man!" a boy in a great jacket shouted with a white pup on his head. He definitely took the woods right out of my mouth and reminded me of how ridiculous the rule is. I mean really, what kind of rule is that! "There's a lot of people here who have taken the test before." His dog barked in agreement.

The proctor began laughing. "I guess you are just unlucky. I wasn't making the rules before, but now I am. But of course if you don't want to take it, then you don't have too." He said off handedly the last part.

Dog boy hesitated at Ibiki's answer. "If you don't feel confident, then by all means don't take it and come back next year." He laughed again like this was all just an amusing game to him. But of course! He is not the one taking it, he created the damn thing!

(Temari PoV)

"Those of you who don't want to take it, raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and then you're free to go."

I snorted. As if I'm gonna raise my hand. We are good to go. On the other hand, if people do raise their hands, less competition for us. Let's see who and how many raises their hands.

At first, no one raised their hand. Then, one guy from the Leaf raised his hand and apologized to his teammates. With just one, many began to raise their hands and a whole flurry of people left.

Damn! Too many people left. Sure I wanted less, but not a whole lot. 'Will there be any good ninjas left.' I thought to myself.

Bam!

Huh? I looked to see a blonde boy clad in orange and some blue stand up. "Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, but you aren't going to scare me off. No way! I don't care if I am stuck as a genin for the rest of my life, I'll still be hokage one!" With that, the blonde sat down with a huff.

I think I might come to like this kid. He got spunk, I'll give him that. Vampiric instincts tell me that he would be something one day. I guess we'll see.

"This decision is one that can change your life. If for any reason you would rather quit, now's your last chance." Ibiki warned.

"No way. I never go back on my word." That loud blonde spoke confidently. "That's the way of the ninja."

Interesting. . .

After a while after that blonde's speech, everyone is looking pretty confident. I see that Ibiki is looking around to see if anyone would leave, but I guess not since the sentinels agree.

"Well, I guess I admire your determination." The proctor said slowly. "For those of you who are remaining, I guess there is only one thing to do. And that's for me to tell you…"

Tell us what? Hurry up already!

"That you all passed the first exam."

Say what! Where's the tenth question!

Then that pinkette from the Leaf village asked the same thing, but Ibiki just grinned and said there wasn't one not a written one at least. While saying all that, he laughed with glee.

What a shocker. He is actually laughing like he is proud of us. But there has to be more. I mean really, what's up?

"Actually, your decision to stay was the answer to the tenth question."

"Wait a second!" I yelled. "Then the other nine questions was a waste of our time. Is that what you're saying!"

Proctor Ibiki explained that those questions were just to test us how we would gather information under circumstance like this.

Then he started to talk more about teamwork and cheating on the test. Blah. Blah. Blah. I was zoning him out a bit because I get it already. But when he removed his hitai-ate, there were burn marks, puncture scars, and a couple other things that I do not want to describe.

So now I am interested in what he has to say. Information can be or not be true. When gathering information, the sources may not be right so it is better to not know then know.

"I still don't get the point of the question." Sari said.

"You don't?" Ibiki said with mirth. So he explained the whole point. It's either life or death in cases. But when it all comes down to it, would you rather pass off a mission to live another day? Or would you risk it?

I guess it would depend. But I would choose to risk it in most cases. After all, I will have to risk it eventually as I get more training.

"Those of you who are still here, you have passed through the first gate. I hereby declare that this part of the chuunin selection is completed. There's nothing left put to wish you all good luck." Ibiki said proudly.

Huh. I guess I did learn something of value today. Now then, it's on to the next part.

"Alright! Yeah! Yeah!" the loud blonde cheered.

Suddenly, something crashed through the windows. I got into defensive mode just in case it was an attack, but when it revealed itself…

"Alright boys and girls, this is no time to be celebrating. I will be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi. Are you ready for your next test? Good, then follow me!" she ended with a fist pump.

The second part is here already? That was fast.

"You're early…again." Ibiki said. The woman's enthusiasm dropped a bit and a blush was forming on her face.

When she scanned the place, she commented about the amounts of candidates and that the test must've been easier. But Ibiki all but said that we may be a stronger group this time.

"Oh really?" Anko sneered. "Before I'm done with them, more then half will be gone."

Oh really. Then bring it on.

"You have gotten it easy so far. But the next part will be harsher and more cruel. It starts next thing in the morning, I'll contact your squad leaders and tell them where to meet."