As everyone began to sit down in their seats Maelstrom found himself sitting 2 seats across from Ino, 3 seat above Sakura and right in front of Hinata.

Subzero was sitting in the front of the room on the far right and Scorpion was sitting on the far left at the top. Maelstrom snorts as he sees this and thought "So that is the way your trying to pull it. Make us have to use some of our skills to pass this exams....idiots." as he slipped his cloak covered hand on the desk in front of him and set a small object on the desk while sending a small amount of chakra to it and there was a small click and the object opened and he smirked behind his mask and began his plan.

Ibiki saw everyone was in their seats and he said "Alright. Now that everyone is in their seats I can explain the test. In front of you is a test with 9 questions and number 10 is blank. The 10th question will not be asked until the last 15 minutes of the exams. Now everyone begins with 10 point. If you are caught cheating 2 points will be deducted for every time you are caught. If you run out of points your entire team will be disqualified. For every wrong answer 2 points will be deducted. The Chunnins around the room are trained to catch you cheating. You may begin NOW." as he sat down on his desk.

He was looking at each of the teams and saw all 3 members of team assassin have yet to even pick up their pencils. He frowned and thought "strange."

He tensed as he felt something crawl up his leg and he was leaning back so he could see his feet no problem and he saw several small silk worms on his leg and he blinked as the worms began to quickly form silk and the silk began to form words and he read the total message in less then 5 minutes.

My team and I are going birthday present shopping today for the old monkey and we ran into an old student of his and he is looking for contacts lenses at a 5 finger discount. He's thinking about either lavender white or red and black. Maybe you should buy the white ones that are not sealed away in storage since the store owner would be very upset with the loss of business and my team will buy the red and black ones to make sure the discount is expired. We don't have enough money to buy both though. We do have enough though we can get your sister a special snake skin purse and you a snake skin wallet for monkey birthday at the end of 5 days you can give him with those contacts. Don't tell your sister though. She can't keep a secret and gets all excited. Maybe if you got the money a nice little music collection from the new kids would sing a song for her for the next few days. I mean she's into confessions of the heart from what I hear and since they do back ups to her favorite singer who does the song love bites on your shoulder they can give her a great time till monkeys birthday.

Signed

Maelstrom, the storm assassin

The artist formally known as the son of the cowardly photographer and the angry shinigami.

By the way, since I won't be able to attend monkeys birthday party my self tell him that my managers last single great ball of fire has a new single ready to be released called forest fire and it might be released early if I don't contact him and have him reedit the title to save the forest. I sure hope no one interrupts my business trip to him. I would hate to see a great song like that turn to ash.

As he read it over and over the silk worms crawled away. He frowned and thought "what the hell......according to this Orochimaru is coming for the Sharingan and the Byakugan. It also says the sound team work for Orochimaru. I don't understand what the rest of it means. I can understand the threat to the leaf village if we interfere but what the rest." as he looked up and saw Maelstrom nod slowly.

Ibiki frowned and bit his lip and saw Akamaru barking on Kiba head and threw a kunai at Kiba test and said "Number 91 Fail." making several proctors look at him in shock and Kiba look at him and asked "What the hell."

Ibiki said "I am in charge of this test and I caught you cheating 5 times. You fail."

Kiba sighed and said "Sorry boy, I guess they caught us......Sorry Shino, Hinata." as he got up and lead his team out of the room.

Once they were out of the room a kunai hit the wall in front of them with a note attached to it. All 3 looked shock and Kiba slowly grabbed the kunai and unwrapped the note and read

The reason you failed was not because of you lack of skills. Instead because of an tip off to village security about a plot to steal one of Konoha heirs of one of the clans. Your team was one of the targets.

Signed

Ra's Al Ghul

League of Shadows

For more information see Nara Shikaku with this note immediately

Kiba growled as he read this and said "What the fuck is this."

Shino read the note and said "Perhaps we should do as the note instructs. I am not aware of anything called the league of shadows or a person by that name but if they had the ability to cause the proctor to fail our team then we should know why so we may inform our respective clans about this."

Hinata said in stuttery voice "Yes Kiba-kun. My father will want to know why we failed."

Kiba growled and said "Fine." as he punched the wall and they began to leave.

Inside the exam room after team 8 was kicked out Ibiki looked at the rest of the room and he narrowed his eyes at team assassin and sent a glare at them who each seemed to not even notice and he sent a signal to one of the proctors and left in a swirl of leaves.

Ibiki appeared in the Hokage office and the third looked up from his paper work and said "Yes Ibiki, what is it."

Ibiki slammed his fist on the desk and said "No more lies. I just got told by your little project to fail 2 teams. One team I did and I am prepared to fail another team but I want answers. Who are they."

The third looked at Ibiki and asked "What do you mean."

Ibiki who was still holding the silk message slammed it on the desk and said "THIS."

The third picked up the message and read it as his eyes got wide and he frowned and said "So it is him."

Ibiki asked "WHO."

Just then Shikaku appeared in the Hokage office with a scared look on his face and he saw Ibiki in the office and said "We have got a problem sir." as he handed the note to the third.

Ibiki saw Shikaku worried look and asked "Whose back."

The third read it and asked "Do you know anything about this Ra's Al Ghul Shikaku."

Shikaku frowned and said "Only a little sir and....is it alright to speak about it here with Ibiki. I don't mean I don't trust you Ibiki but this is one of my clans secrets and...."

The third interrupted him and said "It appears he needs to know as much as you do Shikaku. They also sent a message to Ibiki ordering him to fail team 8 and another team. They claim Orochimaru is here and he is after the Sharingan and the Byakugan."

Shikaku frowned and Ibiki said in a pissed off voice "Will someone tell me exactly what is going on."

Shikaku frowned and nods and the third said "Do you remember Naruto Uzumaki."

Ibiki blinked and looked confused and said "Yes, who doesn't but what does he have to do with anything. He died nearly 8 years ago."

The third said "8 years ago when Naruto building exploded I was on my way to the scene when a man appeared and attacked me with a single kunai before leaving. After looking at the kunai I recognized it as one that the Nara clan originally used before they came to Konoha. After getting it verified by Shikaku I believed at the time that Naruto may not have been actually in the building but may have been kidnapped by a secret organization the Nara clan use to belong to called the League of Shadows...."

Shikaku said "Also known as the League of Assassins. My clan served them for over 400 years. All of our clan jutsu were designed when we were with them including our knowledge of medicines that we use for Konoha. The League of Shadows was created by Ra's Al Ghul over 2000 years ago." making both men wide eyed.

The third asked "But how can that be. According to the note you have here he is alive."

Shikaku said "That's the strange thing about him sir. It is rumored he is immortal sir. He like a puppet master working in the back ground. He appears and gets everything running the way he wants it for a while and then when he disappears back into the shadows for anywhere to a few years to a few decades and then he reappears. One day he appeared in front of the league when I was still a little child and said to my grandfather to take us and leave the League of Shadows and come to Konoha and aid in saving the leaf village which we did. When our clan got set up my father was sent back to relay a message to him that we were progressing as he ordered and he discovered everyone was dead. Ra's had wiped them out and went back into the shadows again leaving a single messenger to tell my father that this sector had been corrupted by the ideas of power hungry individuals and that our clan was the only one worth saving. He said to return to Konoha and make the village grow or one day he would return and cleanse the village as the league of shadows has done since we were created. For over 2000 years the league of shadows has been behind the rise and fall of nations. Whenever a society became to corrupted they would cleanse the society through whatever means necessary. They sent ships with rats caring plagues to island nations, burned entire cities to the ground, destroyed entire economies, gave weapons to a countries enemies, assassinated leaders, bribed politicians, supported leaders who would bring about peace, ended civil wars and started them."

Ibiki frowned and said "So those 3 are members of this League of Shadows and they have already assassinated the Mizukage, brought about an end to the civil war in mist, and replaced the leader there and now they are here to assassinate Orochimaru."

The third said "And it appears that Naruto Uzumaki is a member and that he knows who his parents were."

Shikaku blinked at that and asked "What do you mean sir."

The third frowned as he handed the silk message to Shikaku who read it and his eyes widen and said "I see....The cowardly photographer would be the yellow flash and the angry shinigami would be the red death. Naruto Uzumaki is the son of Minato Namikage and Kushina Uzumaki."

The third closed his eyes and said "Ibiki...fail that other team he mentioned and take care of them personally. We can't do anything at the time because the last part of the message was talking about the fireball that destroyed Naruto apartment 8 years ago. He's saying that if he does not report in then there are other ready to go off."

Ibiki frowned and asked "What should we do."

The third said "Have ANBU look for any signs of danger and interrogate that sound team and let that team pass. I was afraid they were here to assassinate Sasuke but it appears they are not."

Just then the note on his desk that Shikaku brought in was covered in smoke catching all 3 attention and when it was cleared there was a picture in its place. The third looked at the picture and blinked a moment and said "Well that is interesting." as he set the picture down.

Ibiki and Shikaku glanced at it and both went wide eyed and Shikaku said "Isn't that...."

The third said "Yes. That is Tsunade standing next to her apprentice Shizune who appears to be pregnant and there are 2 little toddlers at her feet and Shizune is being held by Itachi Uchiha who is dressed like a member of the head of the Mist Tide and next to them is none other then Zabuza Momochi who is dressed as the Mizukage outfit with his arm on the shoulder of Subzero with a smile like a father would a child. I see now why that Subzero girl has Tsunade summoning contract. They have us dead to rights. If the league of Shadows has Tsunade, Shizune, and Itachi all 3 with them as it appears then they know all about our ANBU, our medical training, academy training, and most of our prominent ninja.......Ibiki....you have your orders."

Ibiki frowns and leaves the office and the third said "Shikaku......I want you to go over any of your clan archives you can. Find out anything that could be useful to our village. I didn't say this with Ibiki here but Naruto, Tsunade, Shizune, and Itachi all have reasons to hate the leaf village."

Shikaku said "I understand sir and if it comes down to it then my clan will side with the leaf sir."

The third said "I know Shikaku. I know and I never doubted your clan for a moment. You may go."

Shikaku said "What should I do about team 8 sir. They are at my clan compound right now with my wife. After they gave me this message I came immediately here."

The third quickly filled out 3 scrolls and said "Give this to them to give to their clan. It simply tells them that a deep cover agent has informed us off a plot to kidnap one of the prominent heirs to one of the clans of Konoha. In order to protect them I had that team pulled since one of their members was mentioned by name. I won't say which member it was and that they had to see you instead of me to make sure the agent was not compromised."

Shikaku said "Thank you sir." as he took the 3 scrolls and left in a swirl of leaves."

When Ibiki got back to the room he sent a signal to the Chunnin from earlier who held up 2 fingers and Ibiki frowned and thought "so they only caught them cheating twice." and nods and the Chunnin frowned and said "Number 111 fail."

Kin said "What kind of shit is this. I have been done for over 15 minutes now so how can I fail."

Ibiki said "I sent a message to the Chunnin in the room since I felt sorry for your village to see if your other 2 team mates would pass and all 3 of you were caught cheating 5 times."

Zaku screamed "That bullshit. There is no way you caught us cheating 5 times."

Ibiki moved quicker then most in the room could see and slammed his elbow into the ribs of Zaku and said "I AM THE RULES HERE. You will do as I say. I don't know what your village thinks of your skills but you don't impress me and your attitude needs some discipline. Proctors 19, 33, and and 35. Take him and both his team mates to a holding cell until I think they have cooled down. I don't want them interrupting the rest of these test and causing trouble in the village."

Zaku who was holding his chest said "You will pay for this. Orochimaru-sama will....." as he realized what he said and tried to move but Ibiki had hit a pressure point knocking him out and said "You just said the wrong thing buddy. Orochimaru is an S-rank missing nin and if you and your village is connected to him then I am going to have to hold you and your sensei for questioning."

Kin said "We don't know Orochimaru. Zaku only joined our village a few months ago." with fear in her voice.

Ibiki turned to her and said "Then you better pray your telling the truth and he doesn't tell me otherwise. Proctors. Put them in separate holding cells and have ANBU watch them until I finish these exams."

As the 3 proctors went to grab the 3 sound Gennin Dosu went to use his melody arm when a senbon needle pierced him in the side of the neck and Ibiki saw it came from Subzero and she said "It appeared as if he was about to attack you from behind and my team mate is between you and him so I saved my team mates life. He is only is a fake death. The needle hit a pressure point to knock him out."

Ibiki nods and thought "that kind of precision takes years to achieve and she acts like it was nothing. Those 3 really are assassins. I wonder though if they will be enough for Orochimaru though. She appears to be a long distance medical ninja and based on her name and the story from before she has an ice bloodline. Scorpion is a puppet user who uses Suna forbidden jutsu trained by what is considered the best puppet user ever before he killed him.......or recruited him...hmm. I know some about puppet users and they often turn their own body into puppets to some extent. One of Sasori skill level would definitely do that but to what did he turn his body into......" as he narrowed his eyes and thought "I will mention that to the Sandaime later. Then there is him.....could he really be Naruto......Maelstrom is another name for Naruto so that is not much of a code name but I don't since any of the Kyuubi chakra in him." as he sat back down as the 3 sound nins were taken away and waited for the rest of the test to end.

He felt a chakra surge for a moment and glanced at the side of the room where he detected it and saw all 3 members of team assassin look at the same direction subtlety and he thought "strange, what was that just then and who used it. It felt like a replacement but I don't see anyone in a different place then before.......hmm, so none of the proctors saw who it was either. Strange. Their is only leaf ninja over there."

Maelstrom turned his head and looked over his shoulder and held his hand up like he was yawning and he quickly dropped all his fingers down to one and then all 5 again before he clenched his fist.

The proctors saw this and Ibiki narrowed his eyes and looked at his desk a moment and thought "could he.....51 or 15.....seat 51 is a rain nin on the left right side of the room and number 15 is.....Yakushi Kabuto.....and he is over there by the chakra that was felt before...hmm." as he looked at Kabuto.

A few minutes later Ibiki stood up and said "Alright, pencils down. It is time for the 10th question. Now before I get to that question there are some new rules that are in effect. If you chose to take the 10th question and get it right then you pass. However if you get it chose to take it and get it wrong then you score will reach zero and you and your entire team will fail the test and none of you will ever be allowed to take the test again."

Murmurs broke out and Ibiki said "SILENCE." as he released a little KI. He continue "Now as I was saying if you do not feel you are ready to take the 10th question then you are to raise your hand and your team will fail this test but be allowed to take it again next time. Now chose." as he looked around the room.

Kabuto slowly raised his hand and Ibiki narrowed his eyes and said Number 51, Yakushi Kabuto right."

Kabuto said "Oh how embarrassing. I guess I failed this test so many times that you know me by name. I'm not really that good of a ninja. I only took the exams because my sensei wanted us to. I'm a medic nin and I don't really like to fight and I'm not to sure about my answers anyways. Sorry guys but we all 3 knew I would give up before we got into combat. I just don't like fighting and I know the next part has that."

His teammates frowned and got up and walked out of the room and Maelstrom put one of his hands into a fist and used his other hand to cup it before putting it in front of his face to rest his head on in a thinking pose.

Ibiki said "Alright, anyone else." as he saw the other in the room sweating and a few teams left and he saw the Sakura began to raise her hand and to his shock Maelstrom slammed his fist into the desk in front of him startling the entire room and said "Enough of your mind games. Nobody else is going to give up this chance. They all came here to support each other and only a weak coward would give up now and disappoint their teammates when they are counting on them. After all those who abandon their comrades are worse then trash."

Ibiki blinked and thought "he just quoted Kakashi and....I see, smart. He needs the Uchiha to draw Orochimaru out and if the girl quit the Uchiha would fail. By quoting the girls sensei he made her forget her doubt for the moment and ensured his bait remained....He is very dangerous. He knows how to manipulate those around him to get a desired result. He knew how to manipulate me to fail team 8 and he knew how to manipulate the Hokage by having team 8 go and see Shikaku who would immediately run to the Hokage who would give me the go ahead to pull the other team.....I am going to have to talk with both the Sandaime and Shikaku about this League of Shadows after the exams. If this is the way only 3 of them can do and by the way Shikaku spoke there is likely a lot more then they are a very dangerous enemy....the fact no one even knows about them besides a select few makes them more dangerous. To gain Itachi and Tsunade on their side and have the land of Water in their debt the thought of what they could do is devastating." and he said "Well for those of you who remain.....you pass." making several people scream "WHAT." in shock.

As he began to explain things he saw maelstrom write something on his paper and Anko broke through the window at that moment and said "Don't get comfortable kiddies. I am Anko Mitarashi and I am the proctor for the second exams......36 teams, your losing your touch Ibiki."

Ibiki said "No....we just have a very dangerous group this time around. When you get the kiddies started come see me. We got a Gennin who knows Orochimaru and has lose lips."

Anko eyes went wide as her entire attitude changed for a moment as she rubbed her shoulder like she had a stiff muscle and said "Whatever..All of you meet me at training ground 44 in an 30 minutes. Anyone not their by then fails." as she shot Ibiki a look and shushined away.

As everyone got up and began to leave Ibiki walked over to Maelstrom paper and read what was wrote and the only thing on the entire paper he had wrote was the word

CHECKMATE