The Soul Reaper of Konoha
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Bleach. If I did… well let's just say that Naruto would be totally different, but Bleach would be about the same. I only kidnapped them to put them in situations for your own entertainment.
A/N: Here you go guys and girls, Chapter 9. I do not know why but this chapter was hard to write. Probably due to a bit of writer's block but now that is over, we can get to it.
A/A/N: Again, this is an update to get rid of any errors I have missed and to get me back into writing as well as to make my stories better. Updated 20/03/2017.
A/A/A/N: Updated once again, I promise that these will be the last updates to the chapters before I start posting new chapters and finishing this story before finishing the others. I will be focusing on one story only and finishing it before moving on. This will help me to focus instead of losing track and getting a massive writer's block for several years. I will update everyone with what has been happening with Chapter 11. Updated 23/10/19.
"Yo" Speaking
"Yo" Thought
"Yo" Demon Speaking
"Yo" Demon Though
The Chūnin Exams
For Naruto, 0700 hours could not come quick enough to find out what this surprise was all about. He could not sleep as he was that excited so luckily for him, he got an order through the night that a Hollow was due to attack nearby by and he got to perform his first Konso, or Soul Burial, on the soul of a teenage boy who had not long passed. It hit Naruto hard and saddened him but at the same time, he was happy that he could finally help one soul find peace and cross over to the other side.
He was waiting currently at Training Ground 7 with Sakura and Sasuke waiting for Kakashi to show up. 30 minutes later Kakashi appeared in front of them in a poof of smoke making it a new record for him. "Yo."
"Late again?!" Sakura shouted.
"Sorry I had to help a family find their dog," Kakashi said as he just shrugged.
"Why did you call us here Kakashi-Sensei? You told us this was a surprise." Sasuke said.
"It is. I have decided that since you have completed the mission to the Land of Waves and that you completed the training as well, even though we had an interruption, I have nominated you for the Chūnin Exams which start tomorrow." Kakashi said with what sounded like pride in his voice.
"You mean… we can be promoted to Chūnin!" Naruto shouted and jumped up and down with joy.
"Could Naruto not can. It is not definite if you will become a Chūnin. You could come out on top of the whole exam and not be promoted or come at the bottom and be promoted. It all depends on your skills in battle and in information gathering." Kakashi said to them before continuing. "If you want to take part then you have to fill out this application form and arrive at 0900 hours at the location specified tomorrow." Each of them was given the form to fill out and a piece of paper with the location on it. "Now I want you all to go home and think about what you want to do. Remember this must be your choice if you want to take part or not. See you later." Kakashi suddenly shunshined and left his students to think.
"What now?" Sakura asked.
"Well, he said to think about it. So, that is what I am going to do. Later." Naruto said before running off.
"Naruto, wait!"
"Leave him Sakura. Kakashi said we have to think this over and it is our choice, so I say we all take today to decide if we want to take part." Sasuke said before he started to walk back to the village. Without even turning back to look at her Sasuke spoke, "And before you ask Sakura, no I am not going on a date with you."
Sakura looked dejected at being shot down again before she even asked. Sighing she walked back very slowly to the village before she heard a noise above her. Looking up she saw Shinigami heading towards the village with a new sword and… Naruto under his left arm unconscious. Looking worried she started to follow him as fast as she could. "Shinigami-Sama!"
Naruto was running back to the village when his phone went off. Looking back quickly to see if he was out of sight of Sasuke and Sakura, he dived into the forest and used his badge. Picking up his body in his left arm he jumped up to one of the branches before jumping towards the village to place his body for easy access and to deal with the incoming Hollow. This was also the perfect chance for him to think about the Chūnin Exam tomorrow and what he should do. There would be no doubt that he would take part, but it was the fact if he took part and if he could not exit for any reason if there was a Hollow attack then he was screwed, and someone could get hurt.
As he was jumping, he heard someone shouting, "Shinigami-Sama!" looking down he saw Sakura and Sasuke chasing him. Sighing he dropped down and looked at her, "Sakura, now is not a good time to talk."
"I am sorry Shinigami-Sama but what happened to Naruto?"
"I don't know. He contacted me but I found him like this." Looking at them quickly he was trying to think of a way to get to the Hollow without alerting them. "Damn it. Now, what am I going to do?"
"You could always tell them the truth you know kit."
"Yes, and how do you think that will go? They will think I am pulling some stupid prank."
"I am only suggesting an option."
"I know it is but not yet. By the way, do you know who else is in my head Kyūbi?"
The Kyūbi hesitated slightly before speaking. "Not yet but I am close to finding out and stopping it."
"Thank you Kyūbi."
He was brought out of his thoughts by Sasuke speaking to him. "Shinigami is something wrong?"
Sighing and deciding it would be best, in the end, to let them know he spoke about the situation, "Yes, it looks like another attack is about to happen." Thinking on his feet he came up with an idea. "It will be difficult for me to take Naruto back to the village. Please, both of you take him there for me as I have about 3 minutes to get to the location of the attack. Keep him safe until I get back."
Nodding, Sasuke took Naruto's body on his shoulder, "We will. Will you be alright?"
"I will be fine. Please hurry, though. Naruto's safety is a top priority. Also, don't worry I will find you where ever you go." Naruto watched both Sasuke and Sakura headed back to the village as fast as they could before try and find out where the Hollow would attack.
The Kyūbi smiled at Naruto's quick thinking before looking behind him and seeing what he knew caused Naruto to worry about someone invading his mind. "As promised, I have not told him about you. As you said it is only when he is ready that he can find out about you."
A shadowy figure looked at the Kyūbi as it walked into its cage before speaking. "Thank you Kyūbi."
"Can you at least tell me your name?"
"Of course, I can. But you will be forbidden to tell Naruto that name or even think it to him. He must hear my name on his own. And I must ask you your true name."
The Kyūbi nodded softly. "I think that is fair."
"My name is ******."
"Thank you for telling me your name. My name is Kurama."
"Thank you. Do you think Naruto will hear me and my name soon?"
"The Kit is dense sometimes, but he will hear you and your name soon enough. I hope."
"As do I Kurama. As do I."
Naruto was near to the location now, but he knew he would not be there until after the Hollow appeared which aggravated him. "How could I be so careless and let them almost see me?" He pushed that out of his mind for now and tried to increase his speed so that no one would get hurt if he was late. He drew out his blade ready so that he could strike as soon as he saw the Hollow. "Damn it. Got to be faster!"
Sasuke, carrying Naruto on his shoulder, and Sakura where near the one place they thought of that they could keep him safe that was nearby, Naruto's apartment as they kept running as fast as they could so they could catch up to Shinigami and help him. That is when they bumped into Team 10. Chōji looked and asked, "Guys what happened to Naruto?"
"Long story. We need to get him back to his apartment to keep him safe, but we don't know what number it is." Sasuke said quickly.
"Chōji and I know where Naruto lives. What is going on?" Shikamaru said while they ran towards the apartment.
"Naruto was attacked and Shinigami-Sama found him, but he had one of them monsters to deal with," Sakura said before continuing. "We have to help Shinigami-Sama."
"I think he can take care of…" Shikamaru stopped talking before saying "What the…?"
"Shikamaru what do you…?" Even Ino stopped and looked in shock as the others saw what has caused them to stop. They saw that a door was broken and off its hinges as they slowly walked in and saw that Naruto's apartment had been trashed and words sprayed all over the walls.
"Who did this? And why?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"We can't leave Naruto here that is for sure. We need to find Shinigami." Shikamaru said though he had a look in his eyes that no one else noticed.
Naruto was getting annoyed with this development. Fights with Hollows normally involved fighting but this one…, "COME BACK HERE HOLLOW!"
"I AM NOT COMING ANYWHERE NEAR YOU SOUL REAPER! YOU JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME!" The Hollow shouted back as it was running away.
"I SAID COME BACK HERE, YOU COWARD!" Naruto shouted swinging his blade like a mad man trying to catch a small animal with a huge net.
The Hollow was running as fast as it could and looked back to see how far away it was. The Hollow smiled at the thought of outrunning a Soul Reaper, but it did not see a foot coming towards its face that sent it flying back towards Naruto who brought his blade down hard. "DAMN IT!" Naruto's Zanpakutō sliced through the Hollow's mask as it slowly faded away. Looking up he saw Team 8 and Team Guy.
"SHINIGAMI-SAMA!"
"L… Lee? What are you doing here?" Naruto said standing up and sheathing his blade.
"We saw that you were chasing one of them… Hollows as you called it… and thought we would offer a hand." Neji said.
"More like a foot from Lee," Naruto replied as he saw his teammates, still with his body, and Team 10 run up to him as his eye started to twitch. "Great just what I need and now I think I am getting a headache." He looked at them before saying, "I thought I said Naruto safety was a top priority."
"We tried to take him somewhere safe which was his apartment but we could not take him there as it was broken into and the place was trashed with the words 'Demon', 'Get Out' and 'Monster'." Sasuke said while putting Naruto on the floor.
Naruto just sighed as he looked at them and played along though he had some anger in his voice. "Again? This is getting ridiculous and the small minds of the villagers are not helping the situation." He placed his fingers on the mask's nose and rubbed it while thinking, almost as if he was rubbing his own nose before he looked up at them all. "Ok leave Naruto with me I will take him to someone who will look after him. It is one of the village's safe houses, they will look after him for now. I need someone to go to the Hokage and inform him that Naruto's apartment is trashed again so that it can be cleaned up and repaired as soon as possible. The rest of you can go about your business, ok?"
All of them nodded as Naruto took his body and jumped up to a roof and took off so he could get back into his body without anyone seeing. "Guys is that true? Did Naruto's place get trashed that badly?" Kiba asked.
"Yes, it was bad from what we saw. But Shinigami said again, does that mean this has happened before?" Sasuke replied.
"You really have been treated bad Naruto. It is a wonder why you have not turned your back on us. And I wouldn't have blamed you if you had." Shikamaru thought to himself.
Landing on a building he knew was far enough away he grabbed his body and went back inside. "Damn it. I really am getting sick of this." He was thinking to himself before a light went on in his head. "Ok, it is decided. I am taking part in the Chūnin exams, winning it and getting promoted. No matter what. That will get me some respect in this village."
"Kit I am proud of you, but I think another attack is happening."
Sighing he exited his body again with his badge and headed to the location of the Hollow with a clear head on his shoulders and hoping that he would get to fight instead of just chasing a Hollow around the village.
"You know how to spoil the moment don't you?"
"I try my best Kit."
Sakura was walking home, thinking about the Chūnin exam tomorrow and about Naruto. She came to her house and walked straight in and up to her room without even greeting her parents as she just fell onto her bed. "What can I do? I know I am not strong like Sasuke or even Naruto, not by much though. But I… I am going to enter the Chūnin exams to prove I can be just as strong as my teammates. But Naruto, is he in any condition to enter now? And he really has been treated badly and I guess everyone in the academy never helped. I better start being a little nicer to him. But if he does something stupid, I will still give him a whack on the head!" "YES, WE WILL! SHĀNNARŌ!" Sakura slowly started to drift off to slumber as she made her choice.
Sasuke was in his family training ground practicing his family Jutsu and at the same time thinking. Eventually, he sat down for a rest and he concentrated more on his thoughts. He closed his eyes softly before nodding "I am defiantly taking part. There was never any doubt about it. I know Sakura is the weakest link in our team but Naruto… he is a mystery, to be honest. What I saw when he fought Haku was a strength that even I could never hope to achieve. How did he achieve it, though? That is what stumps me. I will ask him later about that. Since Sakura is the weakest in fighting if there is any combat that involves us as a team Naruto and I will cover Sakura and if there is anything that involves book smarts Sakura and I can cover Naruto." Satisfied that he had what he thought might be the bases covered at the exam he stood up again and continued his training.
Morning soon came for Team 7 as they all met up near the location and walked towards it in high spirits with their application forms ready. As they walked Sasuke filled them in on his plan to cover any weaknesses that the team had. Naruto protested about being covered in book smarts but a swift punch to the head from Sakura changed his mind. As they handed in their forms, they were told they had time before the exam started. As they spent some time walking around the village the three members all suddenly heard a scream. Reacting without hesitation they ran to the location of the scream to find Konohamaru held up by an unknown ninja. "You little brat! I will kill you for that!"
"Hey let him go!" Sakura shouted.
"Why should I? He ran into me!"
"Let me go it was an accident!" Konohamaru said trying to get free.
"Accident or not you have to pay!" Bring his fist back the unknown ninja swung at Konohamaru but was stopped by Sasuke grabbing his arm.
"You heard him; it was an accident now let him go," Sasuke said quietly.
The ninja let Konohamaru go but then tried to strike Sasuke which missed thanks to Naruto pushing Sasuke out of the way and taking the blow for him right into his temple which was enough to stagger him. Before another punch could be thrown, they all heard a voice that was filled with so much anger it sent a shiver down everyone's spine. "Kankurō, what do you think you are doing?"
Behind the ninja now named as Kankurō, a kunoichi appeared and spoke, "What have you done now?" They finally got a good look at Kankurō now. Kankurō wore a black, baggy, full bodysuit with a red and yellow circle on the front and had brown. He also wears a black hood with cat-like ears and his forehead protector on his forehead. The hood covered his hair completely. He also sported a triangular face-paint design and wore gloves.
They also got a look at the kunoichi that appeared behind him. She had dark green eyes and blond hair, which was gathered into four ponytails. Her outfit consists of a single light purple-coloured, off-the-shoulders garment that extended to halfway down her thighs, with a scarlet sash tied around her waist. In addition to incorporating fishnet worn over her shoulders and legs, specifically on her right calf and her left thigh, she also wore her headband around her neck.
"Look I am sorry ok?" Kankurō said quickly as he looked up into the trees.
Team 7 and Konohamaru looked to where Kankurō looked and saw another ninja in the trees standing on a branch. He had pale skin, short, spiky hair that is brick-red and green eyes. What they picked up on was that he had two very notable traits in his appearance: firstly, he had tanuki-like black eye rings and secondly, he had the kanji "love", what looked like carved, on the left side of his forehead which was visible due to the forelocks being parted on the left side. He wore a black full-body suit with t-shirt-like sleeves, three quarter length legs, and an open neck. With this, he wore a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips, and a wide leather band system over the left shoulder and right side of his hips. With this leather band, he carried around a gourd on his back. He also wrapped his forehead protector over the band. "Give me a good reason why I should not kill you where you stand Kankurō."
"Look, Kankurō said he was sorry, and he will not do something like this again. Right?" The kunoichi said softly trying to defuse the situation as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I will not…"
"Shut up or I'll kill you." He then turned to Team 7 and spoke to them, "I apologize for my brother's actions. My name is Gaara, my brother whose name you know is Kankurō and my sister is behind him, she is named Temari."
"My name is Sasuke, the one who took a punch from Kankurō is Naruto," Naruto at this shook the cobwebs out of his head and stood beside Sasuke as Sakura stood by them as well, "and her name is Sakura. What are you doing here?"
"We are here for the Chūnin Exams." Temari said, "You should know that since this is your village."
"We do but even guests know to be nice to the hosting village's citizens." Naruto shot back loudly.
"Again, I apologize for that incident. We are going." Gaara said as they walked past them before whispering, "Mother tells me you are strong. For that reason alone, she craves your blood." He then walked off slowly as Sasuke and Naruto looked at him strangely.
"What do you think he was on about?"
"I don't know Naruto but to be honest, I don't like it."
Sakura was shaken by the words spoken by Gaara, but she pulled herself together. "Guys we better go to the exam room now or we will be late."
Kakashi was waiting patiently near the exam room when he heard someone coming up the stairs. He glanced over and saw his three students which made him smile behind his mask as he started speaking, "I see you all came today. That is good news then."
"Why do you say that Kakashi-Sensei?" Naruto asked him.
"Well these tests cannot be taken unless you are a three-man team, so if even one of you did not want to take part then the entire team could not take part." The Genin of Team 7 looked at him with surprise at this.
"So… we never had a choice?" Sakura said softly.
"No, you did but that choice would have affected the whole team. The reason I never told you was that I did not want anyone on this team to be bullied by the other members into taking this exam if they did not feel ready or if one person was not ready and they felt obliged to take part just to help the others. Since you all made the choice by yourself that means that you are ready as individuals and as a team to take the Chūnin Exam." Kakashi gave them all his eye smile before saying, "Now into the exam room or you will be late. Good luck."
Walking into the room they saw quite a few Genin from the Leaf before a mass of platinum blonde hair collided with Sasuke hard knocking him slightly backward. "SASUKE-KUN!"
Naruto sighed before he started to count in his head, "Three, two, one."
"INO-PIG GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY SASUKE-KUN!"
Naruto just shook his head at the sight, "They never change." before he saw the others move towards them. "Hey, guys."
"Glad to see you took this exam with us as well," Chōji said.
"It's troublesome if you ask me. Though it is good to see you here as well Naruto." Shikamaru said with his hands behind his head as the other Genin that they had come to know came to see them.
"Yeah, the Rookie 12 are taking the exam together," Kiba shouted making everyone in the room look at them.
"You lot are so loud." They saw someone speak to them who held what looked like a pack of blank cards as he walked towards them. He had black eyes with grey hair kept in a ponytail and wore circular glasses. He wore a dark purple shirt with a white undershirt and a white obi around his waist-worn at an angle, dark purple pants, blue sandals, and a shuriken holster on his right leg. He wore a Konoha forehead protector and dark purple gloves with open fingers and a metal plate covering where his knuckles would be.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY FOUR EYES?" Kiba shouted which just drew, even more, attention to themselves.
"I said that you lot are so loud. You might want to keep it down; you're drawing too much attention to yourselves. And you do not want to do that, even if three of you do have a bit more experience than the others. The reason I am saying to not draw attention to yourselves is that this exam makes everyone tense. Rub someone up the wrong way and they will start trying to take you out."
"And you are?" Shikamaru asked.
"Ah forgive me for not telling you sooner. My name is Kabuto Yakushi and this is my seventh time taking this exam." Kabuto said with a smile.
"Seventh?" Naruto remarked.
"Well the exam is held twice a year, so this is my fourth year taking the Chūnin exam." He replied while scratching the back of his head.
"It is as the rumours say then. This test is tough." Shikamaru said.
"Yes, this test is tough. But since you are all rookies, I can give you some insider tips with my Ninja Info Cards." Kabuto pulled out a deck of cards and placed them on the floor in front of them all.
"I have never seen them before," Neji said as he looked at them to try and figure out how they worked.
"You are only rookies, so it is understandable you have not seen them. These may look like ordinary cards with a blank face. However, I have collected information throughout these tests about the candidates and the villages they have come from as well as how many have come from each village just by adding my Chakra to it." Kabuto spoke as he places a single card on the floor.
"You can do that?" Hinata said very quietly.
Rather than answering the question, he placed his finger on the card as it started to spin around and then stop as an image appeared of the Ninja Lands and showed the percentage of Genin from each village that was taking part. "You see?"
"You said that they can show info on candidates, does that include any Ninja?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"Of course, has someone perked your interest?"
"Gaara and a Ninja from Konoha called Shinigami." As soon as Sasuke said this Naruto shifted slightly thinking the worst.
"What if it shows that it is me that is behind Shinigami's mask?"
"Ok first off Gaara." He did the same process as before to make it showed all the information he had on Gaara. "Let's see. Gaara from the village Suna also known as 'Gaara no Sabaku.' Hmmm not much information on his skills but his mission experience shows that he has completed eight C class missions and one B class mission and... in all of his missions he has not even received a scratch." Kabuto said with a slight shock on his face which did not live up to the shock on the rookie's faces at the thought of a Genin not receiving on a single scratch on a mission let alone a B class mission.
"Now onto this Ninja, you called Shinigami." Again, he did the same but this time it showed Shinigami, "Shinigami. Not much information on him that if for sure. Not even a record on what missions he has done. Just says that he is a Konoha Nin and that he is the force that has been taking out the Hollow infestation that has gripped the village recently."
"Hollow. We keep hearing that word but what are they?" Ino asked.
Kabuto looked through his deck before pulling out a card and pouring his Chakra into it so that the Rookies could read about Hollows. When they read about them all of them, except Naruto, paled at them and realized what they were once.
"That really is horrible," Tenten said.
"If only you knew how horrible it is." Naruto thought.
Before they could find out any more from Kabuto about the other candidates, they were drawn to look at the front of the room as it looked like someone had set off a smoke bomb as they heard someone speak, "All right you baby-faced degenerates, PIPE DOWN AND LISTEN UP!"
As the smoke cleared, they saw a group of Konoha Ninja, but they saw what looked like the leader of the group. He was an imposing man who wore a black trench coat over a grey shirt and dark grey pants. He wore gloves with metal over the area where the knuckles should be, his Konoha hand band was more like a bandana that covered the top of his head covering his hair but what got everyone's attention was the two scars on the man's face. One was over the left side of his face reaching down the past over the left side of his mouth and the other started just under his right eye and reached to under his right ear. "It's time to begin. I'm Ibiki Morino your proctor for this part of the exam and from this moment your worst enemy."
Everyone looked at Ibiki in shock before he spoke again, "Now you all receive a slip of paper when you handed your application forms. Please hand these into me and you will receive a number. This number determines where you will sit. As soon as everyone is seated, we will start the written part of this exam."
"W… w… written exam?" Naruto paled as soon as he saw the exam papers.
"Naruto, don't worry. We will figure something out." Sakura said quietly.
After everyone was seated Sasuke started to get worried at the situation. "Damn it. Both Sakura and I are too far away from Naruto to help him out. This is bad."
"Why? Why did it have to be a written test? Why?" Naruto was panicking so much that he did not notice Hinata sitting next to him. That and the Kyūbi started talking to him.
"Kit if it is something I can help with, I will you know."
"I know."
"Urm… Naruto, are you ok?"
"Oh Hinata, it's nothing to worry about," Naruto replied while faking his best grin.
"Ok well… urm good luck."
"Good luck to you too Hinata."
"Alright now, there are a few rules for this part of the exam. Also, no one can ask a question so listen the first time around because I will NOT be repeating myself." Ibiki stated as he started to write on the board with a piece of chalk.
"No questions?" "WHAT TYPE OF RULE IS THAT?" Both Sakura and Inner Sakura thought.
"Ok rule number one. This exam is on a point reduction system. Every candidate will start with the maximum score which is ten points. If you answer a question incorrectly or miss one out, you get a point deducted. For example, if you miss or answer five questions incorrectly then you get five points." Ibiki said as he wrote the first rule down for everyone to see.
"Rule number two. Teams will pass or fail on the total score of all three members." As soon as this was written down and said everyone gasped.
"Ok so far, if Sakura and I can get a perfect score and Naruto still gets a zero then we can still pass this part." Sasuke thought.
"Rule number three. The Chūnin positioned around the room are here to watch you all carefully for any signs of cheating. If a candidate is caught cheating, then they will remove two points from that candidate's score. I will warn you all now, these Chūnin's eyes are extremely sharp and if they catch the same candidate five times you will be dismissed. Those who get caught cheating by the Chūnin do not deserve to be in this exam. So, show us all what exceptional Ninja you are." Ibiki said smiling sinisterly. "On and one more thing if a candidate gets a zero and fails this test then the entire team fails as well."
At this moment Sasuke, Sakura and Naruto all had the same thought go through their heads at the same time. "SHIT!"
"The final question will not be given out until fifteen minutes before the end of the testing period. You all have one-hour in total. And… BEGIN!"
Naruto just stared at his test with a blank look on his face as he glanced at the clock. Forty-four minutes had passed already, 14 teams had been booted because of cheating and his one chance to pass this exam he blew it by being "noble" because he did not want Hinata to get into trouble and possibly lose her chance to become a Chūnin. "Damn it what do I do?"
"Maybe…your only hope lies with question ten Kit?"
"It is worth a shot Kyūbi. I might have more luck with that one."
"Alright here is the tenth and final question. But now that you have got this far there are a few more rules that only apply to this question, so try to not let them frighten you. Rule number one is you can choose if you want to answer this question or not. However, if you choose not to answer it then regardless of your answers to the other nine questions you will automatically get zero so you and your teammates will fail." Ibiki had a sinister look on his face as everyone started to whisper amongst themselves.
"Time for the knockout blow." "However, if you choose to take the tenth question and answer incorrectly then you will not only fail but… YOU WILL BE BARRED FROM TAKING THE CHŪNIN EXAMS FOR LIFE!" The look on everyone's faces said it all for Ibiki as he grinned.
"HEY, THAT IS BULL! THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE EXAM BEFORE!" Kiba shouted out with Akamaru giving a yap in agreement with his partner.
"Well, that is unlucky for you then because I was not making the rules last time. Though if you do not want to take the question then you do not have to. You can try again next time." Ibiki said with a neutral look on his face.
Several teams had backed out after hearing the rules for the final question as Naruto started to have a fit on what to do. "What now? Ether I give up and fail my team with me or I lose my chance at becoming a Chūnin ever again and with that goes my dream of becoming Hokage."
"Kit I know what you are thinking, and you are stronger than this. Do not back out now."
"But Kyūbi what if I fail and…"
"DON'T THINK LIKE THAT! And do NOT even think of putting your hand up. If you do, I will fight for control and make sure you keep your hand lowered!"
Naruto, ignoring Kyūbi's advice started to put his hand up slowly as Sasuke looked on in shock. "Naruto? Are you really going to throw the towel in now? This is not like you. You never give up so don't give up now. Keep your hand down!"
"Naruto please put your hand up. I know you want to become Hokage and I know you do not stand a chance. Please put your hand up. We can always try again next year." Sakura though softly.
"I WON'T LET YOU GIVE UP SO EASILY!" The Kyūbi started to wrestle control of Naruto's arm before slamming it down hard on the desk.
"What is wrong? Change your mind?" Ibiki said looking right a Naruto.
"Sorry about that. I was having second thoughts, but it is ok now. Even if I am stuck as a Genin, forever I will still achieve my goal of becoming Hokage. Nothing, not even a stupid question, will ever stop me from that." Naruto stated looking directly into Ibiki's eyes. Though his eyes had a touch of red to them.
"Hmmm." Ibiki looked at the other Chūnin as they all nodded. "Looks like that little speech gave everyone the courage to stay. What an interesting kid." "Alright. Then all that is left for me to say is… you all pass the first part of the exam."
"WHAT?!"
"But how come we never got the tenth question?"
"You did and you all answered correctly. The first part of the exam was to test your information gathering skills. The test was designed to force you to cheat but was designed to see how good you are at it without getting caught, which was what we were looking for. Always remember that useful information gathering can save your village, but you must see if it is useful information. Misinformation can be worse than no information as it can cost the lives of your comrades and your village, which is why I had two Chūnin sit in with you disguised as Genin with the correct answers so you could have someone to cheat off." Ibiki stated before continuing.
"The second part of the exam is like a real-life situation that Chūnin face every mission they take. Do they take the easy option and try again another time, or do they go for it regardless of the risks that could cost them everything? All of you here who stayed and wanted to risk it all proved to me that you all could become Chūnin. And for that, I wish you good luck on your…" Ibiki stopped and looked out of the window as a ball smashed through the window which resulted in a banner being hung up covering the front to the room as someone was there crouched.
The banner said 'Here Comes The Second Test's Proctor: Anko Mitarashi' but they were soon drawn to the woman who stood up from the crouched position giving them a good look at her. She wore a tan overcoat, complete with a fitted mesh bodysuit that stretched from her neck down to her thighs. She wore a dark orange mini-skirt on top of the mesh bodysuit, as well as a forehead protector, a small pendant that looks like a snake fang on a thick cord, a wristwatch, and shin guards. She had light brown, pupil-less eyes and she had violet hair that was done up in a short, somewhat spiky ponytail. She also wore a dark blue belt around her waist that connects to her skirt that has an appendage-like sash. "I am your next Proctor from the Chūnin exams, Anko Mitarashi. So, stop celebrating because the next part of the test begins now!"
"You're early… again Anko." Ibiki said as he came out from behind the banner at which Anko sweatdropped.
"Hang on… did you really let this many through? Ibiki are you getting soft or is your test getting easier?" Anko said with a little anger.
"Maybe or maybe this lot have got what it takes to pass and become Chūnin," Ibiki said with a smile on his face.
"Maybe but it does not matter. After I am through with them, they will be cut in half. Now listen up maggots, I will inform your squad leaders where you will be taking the second part of the test tomorrow. So, until then DISMISSED!"
Ibiki was collecting the test papers when he picked one up and suddenly smiled. "Well looks like I passed someone who did not answer a single written question. He truly is an interesting kid."
"So, you are telling me Naruto is up for promotion?"
"That is correct Urahara."
"Well, I hope he won't mind if I sort out a temporary replacement for his Soul Reaper duties until he had passed then Hokage?"
"Please call me Hiruzen."
"Ok but only if you call me Kisuke then."
"And we have a team of ANBU on hand to defeat the Hollows, that was one of Naruto's concerns with taking this exam." Hiruzen said while he smoked his pipe.
"I can understand that and I commend Naruto for thinking about other people's safety, but can your ANBU take out a Hollow in a single strike?" Kisuke asked while he took a sip of some tea.
"No, but with the 8 of them the Hollows will be no match," Hiruzen replied softly.
"Ok. I hope you don't mind if I come and help then since I am a Soul Reaper myself. I can take the load off your ANBU so to speak." A smile graced Kisuke's face.
"I think that would work. As soon as Naruto finishes the second part of the exam he is back in charge. Until then you and my 8 ANBU will keep the Hollows at bay."
And that is Chapter 9 done. Sorry, it took longer than expected. But with losing another job and looking for another one some things have got pushed back. Though I will say this, a late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Now onto the Review Responses:
NARUTO1: Thank you for saying that.
raveman2: If Kon sets his sights on anyone in Naruto's world... urm he might not live through it lol.
Goddess of Night Eternal Faith: Thank you for saying that though Naruto never actually met Rukia. He saw her and he thinks she saw him and that is it lol. And I hope this is quick enough.
Namikaze naruko14: Thank you for saying that too.
A/N: Finally done edited this chapter now. I am closer to uploading Chapter 11 as well.
Until next time
Reven of Darkness