03/25/12
Disclaimer: I do not own NARUTO
Chapter 3 Chuunin Exams: Survival
(Ayami PoV)
"Okay…" I said with some uncertainty. "I really want to back out now."
Sho snorted. "As if that is going to happen. Remember, don't die." He mocked.
"Oh shut it." I grumbled.
"Don't worry princess," my brother rubbed my head, messing up my hair. "We'll protect you. Isn't that right Sato?"
"Hn." Sato grunted. Not much of a talker today.
"Hey!" I swatted his hand away from my head and tried to fix my hair. Just great, he got some of my hair loose from its braid. "One, don't mess up my hair. And two, Aiko's the princess, not me."
"Whatever you say." My brother scoffed. Honestly, he teases me so much, but acts all cool and non-teasing when it is around others. "Now did you fill out the form?"
"Yeah yeah." I replied.
We went to turn in our papers and got our scroll. It was a heaven scroll.
As we walked away, I made a comment. "This is way too ironic. A heaven scroll, really."
Sho just shrugged.
"What gate should we pick?" Sato asked as he puts the scroll away in his shirt.
"Twenty-four!" I said. "twenty-four and that's final."
As the clock striked 2:30, the gates opened and we ran in.
"Which team are we going to go after?" Sho asked, excited that it is finally time to start.
"Not the ones from the Leaf or Sand." I replied.
"Any reason?" Sato asked.
"Yeah. The pink haired girl, the girl with long platinum blonde hair, the boy with the dog, the girl with hair into buns, and any sand village teams are to be avoided." I described. "The girls on those teams are part of the society. Plus, there are other teams we can go after anyways."
"You are way too kind." Sho replied.
"Well sor-ry!" I huffed as we came to a stop. "But I want birds of the same flock to survive."
"Grass nin." Sato said.
"Huh?" I replied.
"We go for grass nins." Sato clarified. "But avoid the one with the long tongue. Something's not right about her or her teammates."
"Sure." Sho shrugged. "Doesn't matter as long as we pass."
"But till then," I took off my jacket and undid my hair. "let's take off these clothes. They are going to make me sweaty."
"AHH!"
"What the?" I said as I looked up.
"Looks like a team has already fallen trapped." Sato reported.
(Sakura PoV)
"Like you are going!" I smacked Naruto in the head. "Get real!"
The bump on Naruto's head grew. Sasuke's eye twitched a bit but that's all. Naruto went behind a tree and started to go.
Moments later, "Phew. There was a lot. I wrote my whole name with it."
"You're disgusting." I deadpanned.
Suddenly, Sasuke kicked Naruto in the face. "Sasuke, that was not really worth kicking for." I said.
"Where's the real Naruto." Sasuke demanded.
"What are you talking about Sasuke?" I asked, with just that, I realized that something about Naruto is different.
"Yeah Sakura, I think he's gone crazy." Naruto rubbed the side of his face.
"You wish." Sasuke threw a kunai at Naruto again. "Now where's the real Naruto."
"Better watch out Sakura." Naruto warned. But before he could say more, I threw two shuriken to his right which made him dodge to the left. Just as I thought because right after the shurikens, I threw a two kunai. One missing but the other got stuck to his shirt.
"We ask again, where is the real Naruto!" I said, getting into defensive mode. I can't believe that I didn't notice it from the start. His scratch is gone and the holster is on his left leg when Naruto is right handed. Stupid. Stupid.
'You got that right!" Inner scolded.
'Chaa! Like you knew that!' I retorted back to my Inner.
'Duh! It was obvious. You just didn't realize. I am your subconscious after all. I know things that are at the back of your mind. That feeling you got when you saw Naruto come back from his trip, I know what it was.' Inner informed me with a smirk.
'Then why didn't you say anything!' I yelled angrily.
'Never asked!' Inner yelled back. 'Now pay attention!'
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower jutsu!" Sasuke shot fireballs at the revealed rain in.
After a short battle, Sasuke decided that it we couldn't trust appearance. We needed a password. Although, the password was more like a speech, but whatever. I can remember it. But Naruto on the other hand, it was obvious that he couldn't even though he claimed to.
Just as we had the password established, a big wind current came our way. Like, what the heck! Why are we being attacked already? I went to the side and hid in the bushes. Just a few feet a way from me was Sasuke.
Sasuke, thank goodness he's here. But where's Naruto? As I came nearer, he drew a kunai. "Stay there. Answer the question. 'When does a ninja strike?'"
"Right. A ninja waits until the time is right. When the enemy sleeps and drops his guard. When his weapons lies forgotten in the stillness of the night. That is the moment for a ninja to strike." I recited confidently.
"Good." Sasuke lowered his guard. Just then, Naruto came rushing towards us.
"Hey! Are you guys alright?"
"Don't come any closer. What's the password." I got out my kunai, in case he was a fake.
"Oh right." Then Naruto recited the password perfectly.
"Phew." I lowered my guard.
'You idiot!' Inner yelled at me. 'It's obvious that he is a fake!'
'Why? He got the password word for word.' I shouted mentally.
Inner face palmed. 'It's Naruto you obsessed fangirl! Do you really think he could remember all that! Chaa! A kid from the academy could probably remember more than that loud fool can!'
'Good point.' I sweatdropped at my own stupidness. I tightened my grip and threw a kunai which sliced his cheek cutting 'Naruto' from saying anything more.
"Got to hand it to you," Sasuke smirked. "You are much better than the last one."
"Show yourself!" I yelled. "No use hiding anymore. Now where is the real Naruto!"
The fake Naruto smirked and poofed to be the grass nin from earlier with the long tongue.
"It's you." I narrowed my eyes. Something about that ninja is not right. I can smell two scents, one being stronger than the other. The greater scent was like that of a male snake while the smaller scent was that of female with a hint of death. Don't ask me how I can tell, it's just instincts and takes training. But never mind that, I have to focus and can only hope Naruto will show up soon.
(Hinata PoV)
That was fast. The poor trio that fell for our trap, or more like the leeches trap, were killed by the leeches. I felt horrible just leaving them there. But we got lucky that they had a heaven scroll. I wonder if Kami-sama is shining light on us.
We are now making our way towards the tower. Kiba was excited and very happy when we managed to get a heaven scroll so easily and quickly too. That must have been a record; not even thirty minutes into the second part and we are already done. Now it is just a matter of time to get to the tower.
"Hinata!" Kiba called over his shoulder. "How far until we get there?"
I formed a hand sign and concentrated into my eyes. "Byakugan." I looked up ahead. We were making good time so far, but that is because no one had attacked them so far. "I t-think we are going at a good pace. Maybe we'll get there by the time night falls."
Shino nodded while Kiba was talking about them being the first ones with Akamaru barking in agreement or something.
I sighed as we sped along. I still had my byakugan activated so I decided to see where everyone was. It seems like the other girls were doing fine, that was what I thought until I saw Sakura.
There was a grass kunoichi that was attacking them. No wait…is that even a she? I tried to look closer and through that person, but I just couldn't. All I see is bones which means I went too far. But does that mean that I am just being paranoid.
Just then, that person turned to look in my direction. I immediately gasped which caught my teammates' attention. But I didn't care, I looked at the person's eyes and saw them to look like something…I can't quite put my finger on it, but her eyes were so evil.
I deactivated my byakugan and was panting.
"Are you okay Hinata?" Kiba asked.
"Y-yeah." I tried to put on a small smile. "Just a bit tired is all."
"Okay…" Kiba nodded. "Then let's take a break."
"There's a river near by," I pointed towards the left. "Can we rest there?"
"Let's go then." Shino said.
Water. I feel at peace near there.
(Tenten PoV)
We had split up. I was running among the trees, trying to search for anyone.
This was such a pain. We had to try and survive out here, where there are animals. I decided to keep on searching for another thirty minutes before heading back.
So I decided to rest a bit. As I was looking around, I began to continue reading a hand book for witches on magical spells after setting up traps around me.
When I first opened the book, I was surprised. Not at the fact that there were spells, but at the fact that I could read the book since it seemed to be another language. I read it like it was some ordinary book that wasn't written in some ancient language. Don't ask me how I know it's an ancient language, but I just can.
There were many simple spells since it was just a beginner's book, but I had to remind the incantation. It wasn't like a jutsu where you had to perform hand signs; this one is where you have to speak words to activate it. However, as you advance more and reach a high level, you don't even need to speak the words. That was like, the same as performing a jutsu in high speed.
After ten minutes of reading, I decided to put the book away. The book was black and on the cover read Konoha's History in the Making. That is such a great title, the book will appear as a boring book.
I disabled all the traps and packed up, and began to search again. But as I was heading back, I sensed something was wrong nearby. Actually, I felt that someone was in danger. Without question my instincts, I immediately sped up towards the destination.
Minutes later, I appeared near a clearing where Lee was unconscious and with a sound nin by him, the one with the bandages on his face.
I growled quietly. How dare they mess with my teammate. I scanned quickly and saw that the girl of the squad was gripping onto that pink girl's hair. I was gripping very tightly now. As I looked more, I noticed that another team of the rookies were hiding behind the bushes. Cowards. But I can't just rush into there. If only I can contact that team without being noticed.
Let's see. . .Ino Yamanaka. Yamanaka clan technique allows them to possess a person's mind and go through opponents' minds.
Hold it, how do I know that? Never mind. But I have a plan now. If I can only get her to possess that sound kunoichi, then put. . .
(Ino PoV)
What the? I thought I heard a voice through my head. Hmm. . .
"Shikamaru, I think I have a plan." I whispered quietly.
"Well then?" Shikamaru asked impatiently while Choji kept eating by was all ears.
"So I need you," I looked at Shikamaru. "to trap one of the guys with your shadow jutsu for as long as you can." Shikamaru nodded, then I turned to Choji. "And I need you to get their attention so that me and Shikamaru can execute our techniques."
"And how do I do that?" Choji asked while still eating.
I rolled my eyes. "Do I have to think of everything? Just make your entrance known. I don't know, just walk into the area and munch on your chips loudly. It won't take very long for us. Got it?"
"Yeah. Sure." The two nodded. "What a drag."
"Count to four and then I'll be ready." With that, I crept quietly closer to the sound kunoichi.
Four counts later. . .
Munch. Munch. Choji came into the area and eyes turned towards him. The guy (Zaku) that was advancing towards Sasuke stopped and turned around.
A shadow crept from the bushes and trapped the bandage guy (Dosu), but he didn't seem to notice it yet. I got into position and held my hands up into a circle, "Ninja Art: Mind Transfer jutsu."
When I opened my eyes, I saw that I was still holding onto Sakura's hair. Huh. It really is soft, but not as soft as mine.
"Hey Dosu," Zaku pointed at the creeping shadow. "What's that extending from your shadow?"
"Huh?" Dosu looked down and tried to move but couldn't.
I smirked. Then I bent down low to Sakura's ear. "Sakura," I whispered and I saw her hold a kunai. "It's me, Ino. I took over Kin's body." I loosened my/Kin's grip onto Sakura's hair but still held onto it.
Apparently Sakura didn't believe me and snorted.
"I am trying to help billboard forehead."
At that, her eyes widened. "Play along and act that you are still struggling against my grasp."