Chapter 21

It had been two days since the fight, three days into the exam. Sasuke had been getting more and more anxious the closer they got to the Tower. They had been following the river. Still avoiding any run ins they were making good time. Carrying two scrolls added to the danger of the situation. They wer now targets for every team looking for scrolls or who had been nearly eliminated. if they were not careful the would lose even as close to the end as they were. The biggest danger was Naruto opening one of the scrolls. He was obsessed with finding out what was inside them. Everytime they stopped he tried to convince them to open one. Sakura was actually starting to listen as Kagome cooked and Sasuke went to get firewood and water. Just as he was about to open the scroll a hand shot out of no where and held the sccroll shut.

"You shouldn't do that. Did you forget the rules?" Kabuto said.

Kagome had turned the moment she sensed Kabuto's presence. After meeting him during the first round of he chunin exam a strange amount of distrust had built up in her mind. Something about his very existance made her want to be defensive around him. She supposed it was the cards that made her not like him. While ninja did gather information on other ninja very rarily did they do it on their fellow villagers. There was also the suprising amount of info he had on those of distant lands. How could he know so much about genin like Gaara who had never participated in the exams before and was from a distant country? There was also the fact that the written portion of the exam was nearly always the same, the goal was to gather information, to cheat, in order to get the right answers. How could someone so adept at gathering information fail six times?

So she watched quietly as Sasuke returned, paniced. Of course he calmed at the sight of the too familiar face. "God, what were you thinking, Naruto?"

"Sorry," Sakura mumbled.

Kabuto began explaining what happened when someone did open the scroll. It becaame clearer and clearer to Kagome that he was good at gathering information. Despite the leaf on his head band she began to suspect he had other allegances. As they stood there he admitted to having both scrolls and stated he was on his way to his team. She doubted his statement that 'something had happened' thinking that he was probably out spying and doing what he was really good at.

"Well, I'm off." Kabuto said sparing her a glance. She didn't attempt to hide her mistrust.

"Wait," Sasuke called. He stepped forward to challenge Kabuto but Kagome pulled him back.

Kabuto watched and left without another word. As soon as he was gone Sasuke ripped his arm out of Kagome's grasp with a glare. She let him go back to the fire. Since the fight and her admitting to trying to get rid of the cursemark he had grown angrier with her. Before he had been trying to get closer to her and she had pushed him away. It appeared no matter what she did she was going to lose him. She doled out food to each of her teammates and then served herself.

"We should head out as soon as possible." Kagome stated.

"Yeah," Sakura agreed.

They packed up when they had finished the ramen Kagome had prepared from the supplies she'd brought. They were all more than a little thankful for Kagome's preparedness. None of them had expected to be gone for an extremely long time but Kagome had brought enough food to feed them for weeks seal in one of her scrolls. And her cooking! She had prepared nearly gourme food for them at every meal. Sasuke could see the secret pleasure in her eyes everytime Sakura or Naruto complemented her. It was probably nice to be able to cook for someone other than herself for once.

Avoidinng an ambush from a group of rain ninja they made good time to the tower. Inside they food a large, empty waiting area. On the wall their was an imposing wall scroll that posed a riddle about heaven and earth. Sakura correctly guessed that it had to do with the scrolls and together she and Naruto pulled them open. Sasuke pulled them all back as smoke poured out from the scrolls. Kagome tried not to think about the way his hand lingered on her arm. If she got close it would kill her when he betrayed them for power.

"Hey, long time no see," Iruka said standing over the open scrolls.

"Iruka-sensei..."Kagome said in shock.

"What's going oon?" Sakura demanded.

"At the end of this second test it's set up so chuunins meet up with the exam takers and I was allowed to be the one to greet you." Kagome noticedd the way his soft eyes rested on Naruto and smiled lightly.

"Greet us?" Sakura repeated.

"You guys made it just in time." Iruka added with a smile. He went on but unfortunately for him he mentioned the word rammen and Naruto tackled him.

Something occured to Sasuke as he watched Naruto jump about. "If we had opened he scrolls during the test what would you have done, Iruka-sensei?"

"As sharp as always, Sasuke." Iruka bent down and rolled up the scrolls. " As you may have figured out this test's rules were set up to test your ability to preform missions correctly. If you were to break those rules and therefore open the scrolls..."

"What would have happened?" Sakura asked.

"Those exam takers would be put in a state of unconciousness for the remainder of the exam period. Those were my orders."

Kagome thought back to earlier at the river. If they had opened that scroll...Kabuto had saved them. Why? More importantly, who was he spying for? She kept quiet as Sakura and Naruto thanked him for saving their group from diqualification. She looked back up at the wall still contemplating the meaning. Sakura followed her gaze eventually and asked Iruka what it meant. As usual Naruto interupted.

"No, Naruto, I'm also suposed to explain that." Iruka answered. "Read it. It is the motto of the chuunin writen by the Hokage."

"If you lack Heaven, seek wisdom, be prepared." Kagoe read. "If you lack Earth, run in the fields, seek advantages. The next part is missing a word."

"Exactly, here the word 'Heaven' refers to the mind and 'Earth' the body. For example, Naruto's weakness is his brain, 'gain knowledge' and for Sakura it's her stamina so she must train harder. And if you have both Heaven and Earth you can succeed in eve the most dangerous of missions." He looked between Sasuke and Kagome as he spoke.

"Then what does the part with the missing word mean?" Sakura asked.

"THat word represents a chuunin. The word is person and it comes from the scrolls. The last sentences therefore reads, "These are the principle's that guide a person." Iruka smiled. "These five days of survival were to test the exam taker's basic abilities and to see if they had the qualities of a chuunin. You guys passed that. Chuunin hold the military rank of captain. Chuunin are responsible for leading teams. Knowledge and inner wisdom are needed for these duties. Keep this motto in mind as you face the rest of this exam." Naruto and he shared a personal moment. Suddenly Iruka snapped out of it ad looked at each of them. "But in this third and final test don't push yourselves too hard."

Naruto jumped up again to tell him not to worry. After all they weren't Academy students any more. Kagome watched his face fall. It was written all over his face that he was worried about them. Especially Naruto. She had watched him care for Naruto and knew that he considered it a special bond. The will of fire. He nodded and left. They stood and followed the hall into a large arena and stood with the other genin. The Hokage stood before them congratulating them on passing the test. Kagome looked at the group on the platform. Most were the Jonin instructors of each of the teams present but there were examiners mixed in. One Jonn caught her attention. "Orochimaru" had disguised himself. The damn snake was as good as ever with his cursed diguises.

"Lord Hokage will now explain the thrid test. Listen carefully." Anko yelled. "When you are ready Lord Hokage."

"Of course," the older man said. "Before I explain the next part of the exam I'd like to explain the true reason for this exam." A shocked murmur ran through the crowd. "Why do we have all the allianced countries taking the exam together? "To promote friendship among the countries", "to raise the level of shinobi." I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning...This exam is a replacement for war among the allied countries."

"What does that mean?" Tenten asked.

"If you go back in time the current allies were enemies who fought each other who would rule." The Hokage explained. "In order to prevent wasteeful fighting these countries chose to simulate battle through the chuunin selection."

Standing next to Naruto Kagome could feel the anger boiling off of him. Before he could yell out she grabbed his arm. He stared at her in shock. Before them the Hokage continued explaining that selection did did decide who became chuunin it was a way for the countries to fight without war. Each shinobi fought for the honor of their village. Spectators would include leaders and possible clients. Stronger countries would get the clients and weaker countries would lose clients. It would also model political and military potential to those who would attempt an attacks on the participating countries. Kiba burst out about risking their lives. It almost made her laugh. As a shinobi they would have to risk their lives over and over, what did it matter if they risked them here?

"The strength of th country is the strength of the village. The strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi. A shinobi's strength is born in battles that risk their lives." The Hokage said. The explaintion continued and it was starting to get on Kagome's nerves.

Finally the examener jumped in and began to explain. "Before the third part of the exam we will hold a preliminary test." Another shock went through the crowd. "We have decided based on the amount of genin remaining that the first two rounds were too easy. According to the rules we must hold a preliminary to reduce the number of participants. First anyone who does not feel well or feel like quiting please come forward now. After we will begin."

Kagome looked at Sasuke. With the curse mark he should be the one to pull out. Depending on her enemy Sakura could possibly succeed. Naruto could win if he could keep focused. And then there was her. Some of these genin were definitely better than her but if she played it right she could probably win her battle. As she was thinking it over Kabuto raised his hand to quit. It caused several eruptions from her fellow rookies. He had seemed like he would pass this one but to Kagome it was just more proof that he was a traitor. Sasuke was in pain and Kagome could see Sakura contemplating calling him out on it. Before she could though, Sasuke stopped her. She should have stepped in and backed Sakura up but she couldn't. Sasuke didn't want anyone to know. It wasn't her business. From the looks of some on the platform the situation hadn't gone unnoticed.

"Let's begin the preliminary."