Ok, um, HI! : ) I want to thank ObitoU.4evrYoung for the grammar correction and animemusicnut for the enthusiastic response to my story and generally all the Faves and Story Alerts I received.

Sooo, on with the story!

…..

"Shi-kun?"
"Hm?"
"You're an idiot."
"So I've been told…"

…

"Mmmhm…" Sakura moaned quietely.

Hey wake up! It's time for the Exam!

Inner… Shut up. It's too early to shout.

Really? What would you say if I told you that it's already 8:30?

I would tell you to royally piss o- Wait! Did you say 8:30?

Yeah…

Fuck! We're almost late!

Well, move then!

Jumping out of her bed as if she'd been burned, Sakura quickly collected her weapons, clothes and a little food.

Putting on her usual attire, she grabbed her pack and was almost ready to leave when she spotted Umi.

She.

Was.

Still.

SLEEPING!

Wake her up, then!

"Umi-chan."

"Mmm…"

"Umi-chan!"

"Hmmm… Two more minutes Mommy…"

"Umi-chan, Wake up!"

"Mmm… Shi-kun…"

Shi-kun? Did she just moan his name?

Sure seems like it. I knew they had hots for each other.

"~Umi-chan! Wake up or I'll tell Shi-kun that you were moaning his name while asleep!"

"Hmpf… Whatever I don't ca – Wait a second, WHAT?"

The older girl jerked up as if she wasn't sleeping just two seconds ago.

"Relax, Umi-chan. Your secret's safe with me." Sakura teased, poking the older girl on the forehead.

"Sakura-chan, what time is it?"

Sakura glanced at the clock and paled. "Uh, 8:47."

Wait for it… 3…2…1…

"WHAT?" Umi screeched, "Fuck, I don't have time! The exam starts at 9:30! And we still have to register!"

"Well then, you better hurry." Sakura said calmly.

While Umi ran around the room searching for clothes and weapons, Sakura stood in front of a full-length wall mirror and admired her outfit.

She had to hand it to Deidara and Sasori – when it came to making comfy, but sexy clothes they excelled at it.

Hun, we're freakin' sex on legs and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

She had to agree. Her outfit was simple, but boy, did it make her look gorgeous.
She wore a black sleeve-less V-neck shirt which was outlined with red and stopped just above her bellybutton, with red bandage-like belts wrapped around her abdomen. That together with a black skirt that ended mid-thigh, fish-net leggings and her black knee-length boots made her look intimidating but also fooled her opponents about her skill level. I mean, come on, how can a girl with PINK hair and a skirt harm anyone?

"Alright, Saku-chan, I'm ready. We can go."

"Finally, Umi-chan. But seriously, what were you dreaming about?"

Umi's face turned scarlet, "N-Nothing Sakura. A-Absolutely n-nothing."

Sakura smirked, "It sure didn't sound like it." She teased.

"Oh, shush! Ok, I like Shiso, happy now?"

"Very."

Then, as if she realised what she said, Umi paled. "B-But please don't tell h-him. I don't think I can survive rejection. Not now, anyway."

"Don't worry – I'm not going to tell a soul."

"Thanks."

~::~

"Ok, could someone enlighten me which room we're going off to? It's really confusing reading it all in Kanji!"

"Umi-chan…" Sakura sighed.

"What Sakura-chan means, you idiot, is that judging from the question you've just asked, you probably skipped a few years in the Ninja Academy."

"Hey! I didn't! I just found it absolutely pointless to pay attention!"

"Uh-huh… Sure Umi-chan."

Suddenly, Sakura sensed some weird disturbance in the air. "Guys… Is it just me or are we…?"

"It's not just you, Sakura-chan. Look at those fools, all queuing to get past those Genin." Shiso scoffed.

"Genjutsu…But why?"

"I don't know, Umi-chan. All I know is that those Konoha ninja are all good-for-nothing brats." Sakura retorted.

"I'm with you there. Ooh, that was a nasty punch!"

"Hm?"

The two girls turned their attention to the group that was standing in front of the door. They watched as a brown-haired girl with her hair in two buns caught her injured teammate and faced the two Genin who were guarding the door.

"Please let us through! We're supposed to go in there!"

"Pfft. Don't kid yourself. Delicate little girls don't belong here, so you better go home and play with your dolls."

"No! My team is taking the Exam, so I need to go through!"

Just as it looked that the other Genin was going to punch the Bun-Girl, Umi felt a swish of wind next to her. She turned her head only to see Sakura disappearing.

"Sak-!"

SLAM!

Gasps of shock and surprise were heard across the corridor as a small, pink-haired girl caught the Genin's fist and pinned it to the wall (creating a small crack in the said wall).

Sakura-chan… You're too fast for your own good…

"Punching a girl? And here I thought that casting such a pathetic Genjutsu was embarrassing enough."

The Genin was slightly shocked but he hid it under a mask of fake arrogance.

"Oh? Well, enlighten me, what else makes you think I'm embarrassing myself?"

"Hmm… Let me think…" Sakura put a finger to her chin in mock-concentration, "How about the fact that you're hiding under a henge?"

More gasps. God, these people are retards.

I can see why Itachi-sensei left this shithole. I mean, seriously, even Hidan is smarter!

"Interesting. Tell me, is it your first time taking the exam? You seem more confident than the other brats. Or maybe you're just arrogant."

Sakura pushed the boy's hand further into the wall, making the previous crack become a full-blown dent.

"You see, I'm confident because I have something to be confident about." As if for emphasis, she pressed his hand into the wall until he flinched.

"Now," she said turning to the brunette boy, "Be a good boy and cooperate. Release the Genjutsu."

"Kai."

Sakura smiled, "Thanks!"

~::~

"Sakura-chan, I knew you were vicious, but wasn't that a bit over-the-top?"

"Over-the-top?" Sakura echoed, "Why, whatever do you mean, Umi-chan? I didn't even fracture his knuckles!"

Umi sighed, but then brightened up, "So, I guess this is it, ne?"

When her teammates sent her questioning looks she giggled, "The big, bad Chunin Exams! We're ready for whatever is thrown our way!"

Shiso and Sakura shook their heads at the over-enthusiastic red-head.

"Seriously, where does she get the energy?"

~::~

"Now, we'll begin the first part of the Chunin Exams: The Written Exam!" A loud voice boomed across the room.

"Now that everyone's seated, I can explain the rules," started Ibiki. "You all will start out with 10 points. For each question you get wrong, or don't answer, one point will be deducted. You will be evaluated on a team basis, so that your combined score out of 30 will determine if you pass or fail. Also, for every time you are caught cheating by any of the Chunin you see seated all around you will result in a deduction of 2 points. And lastly, those who lose all their points, either by cheating or answering incorrectly will fail, along with their 2 teammates."

Sakura grimaced. Why did they pay so much attention to cheating…?

"Now, BEGIN!"

The sound of rustling paper and groans echoed throughout the room as Sakura concentrated on the paper in front of her.

These problems…they are particularly advanced. I don't think many people in this room stand a chance at answering them correctly, though I believe I can at least. Still, something doesn't feel right. That examiner…there's some hidden meaning under what he said, I just know it. OK, think Sakura. What's unusual about this exam? Let's see…the questions are really hard, so people are going to be inclined to cheat. I guess it a really lucky thing, then, that the examiners only subtract 2 points instead of failing people like they…normally…do. That's it!

As Sakura began answering the questions, she felt something flutter right next to her ear. She turned and saw that it was the paper butterfly she got as a present from Konan. She gave one to each of her teammates making it easy to communicate in troublesome situations. Sakura unfolded the note and smirked. It read:

So I see that you've figured it out, ne? I wouldn't expect any less from you, Sakura-chan. Umi-chan looks a bit lost, though. And I can't help her with my Nature Transformation or this, seeing as I've already instructed this butterfly to fly only to you.
-Shiso (But you've probably figured it out already).

Sakura smirked. So, Shiso had figured it out too, huh? Well, that's really smart. She glanced in Umi's direction; she really did look lost. Damn.

So, Shi-kun, I've decided. I will help Umi-chan, just to have the satisfaction of imagining the Examiner's face when he realizes that our whole team had full marks. But don't you think it's a bit strange? They're saying that we will get the 10th question 15 minutes before the end. Isn't that a bit peculiar? Unless there's some hidden reason behind why they did that. Anyway, I'm going to help Umi-chan now. Send the Butterfly back when you've composed a reply.

Sakura quickly scribbled the answers to all the questions on the spare Paper Note she had in her pouch. Despite her confusion and rush, her neat, cursive handwriting was the same.
The note read:

Umi-chan, Shi-kun suggested that I help you. Do not worry – the test was created so that you are forced to cheat, it's not just you. Now, Shiso and I are going to try and figure out just exactly what the Examiner is planning. I will inform you of anything unusual – all you have to worry about is the test. I'll be back.

Now, let me think this through. They are subtracting only two points from the test if they see you cheat. We've already figured out why. Then there's that 10th question. Why give it at the end? Why not now? Unless they're testing something else… Look at Ibiki… Didn't Itachi-sensei say that this man has gone through more torture and pain than physically possible…? But if you experience pain, you want to pay back with pain… No, that couldn't be it – they won't harm us, it's against the rules. But then, why? Except maybe it's not physical pain they're thinking about… Wait, that's it!

So, you finally understood.

You bet, Inner.

Shi-kun, I got it. Whatever happens on the 10th question, do not give in! don't listen to them! Shut them out! The man who's standing in front of you, Ibiki Morino, is Konoha's most fierce and strict shinobi. He's an interrogator. He threatens his opponents with physical pain. But, he won't harm us – it's against the rules. However, he will do something else. When physical pain fails, interrogators mess with the person's mind. They are masters in the art of mind-fuck. They will make you do and say things simply with a few well-chosen words. So; Don't. Give. In!

~::~

"Every one of you who'd stayed in this room: Congratulations. You've passed the First Exam!"

Sakura sent Shiso a knowing look.

~::~

"Ibiki-sama, we have a problem!"

"What is it?" The gruff voice of the interrogator asked.

"A team from Amegakure passed the exam…"

Ibiki arched an eyebrow, "So? Twenty six teams passed the exam – what's so special about this one? Ame has Genin too, you know."

"Ibiki-san, I'm afraid you don't see the gravity of the situation."

"Well, enlighten me, then."

The Chunin flinched. "What we meant to say was… That a team from Amegakura passed *gulp* with fuul marks."

"What? That's impossible!"

"W-We've checked their test papers. No question was left unanswered. We even think that, dare I say it, the Genin of the team had somehow commu-"

Suddenly someone burst through the door. "My apologies, Ibiki-sama, I believe there's something you might want to see!"

"Bring it in, Izumo."

Said Chunin inserted the cassette he was holding into its rightful place and pressed play.

"Concentrate on the person sitting in the 3rd row, seat number 24. What you're about to see it ingenious."

~::~

"Remarkable…" Ibiki murmured.

The Chunin gathered in the room were speechless. They saw everything – the Paper Notes, The test paper, the contents of the Paper Note.

"The pink-haired girl… I want her file here."

"Yes sir!"

"Sakura, huh? Well, let's see who you really are." He flipped the file opened.

Name: Sakura
Age: 12
Skill: Incredible analysing skills, Medical Jutsu.
Affiliation: Amegakure
Ninja Rank: Genin, Mizukage's special Hunter-nin.
012601

"I-Incredible…"

"Wait," Kotetsu said, "So what you're trying to tell me, is that this kid is a Hunter-nin, even though she's not even a Chunin yet?"

It was meant to be an exclamation but it came out sounding more like a question.

"It seems so. Well, gentlemen, I believe we should leave it as it is. The case will unroll itself in front of our very eyes if only we act patient and wait."

"Yes Ibiki-sama."

"Dismissed."

POOF!

"Well, Sakura, you sure are an interesting one. Che. Very interesting indeed."

…

~::~

FINALLY DONE!

Phew, this one took me 2 days.

2 Bloody days!

Hope you like it!

~You're fully capable of choosing your own destiny. The question is, which path will you choose? That decision is fully yours to make.

~Invincible Shadow