Chapter 6

"If you fail to pass my exam then you are not ready to train properly. As such you will return to the academy and study again"

All that work for nothing thought Tomo to herself- she could not allow her dreams to end today…

Kimura stood waiting as his three students absorbed the information he had just given them. Telling them that if they failed then all would be gone for another year, another year wasted as all around them continued to grow in strength. Tomo shook her head. She couldn't allow herself to become distracted. She had to focus on the task, make sure that she passed it. She couldn't face failure...or returning to a crowing Yukari. Finally Kimura spoke.

"However before such trivialities first I feel like seeing your skills with the shuriken. They are likely to be one of your main methods with which you can confront me. Attached to those three trees are targets. Please throw three shuriken each. I'll be observing you."

"I forgot my shurkin pouch" said Osaka sticking up her hand.

"It's pronounced shuriken. Fortunately I brought a spare" said Kimura, handing her a small leather pouch.

Osaka stood, holding the shuriken. Tomo yelled as the first almost hit the centre of the target. The second ended up close to her feet, while the third disappeared into the branches. Osaka turned back to the group dreamily, unsure how to react. Finally she just smiled slightly.

"Well, only about thirty feet off" noted Kimura.

Sakaki in silence approached the target. Standing at the designated distance she took a deep breath before holding up a shuriken. She threw it, the small weapon cutting through the air. It landed on the target, close to the edge. She sighed, and picked up the next shuriken. A minute later she was finished, the second and last throw getting closer to the centre. Tomo sat in disbelief.

"Not bad" observed Kimura. Sakaki hoped the man was talking about her throw and not about her.

My turn. I'll show Kimura! I'm better then Sakaki!

She walked forward, and held all three shuriken, positioned in-between her fingers. She turned and winked before releasing all three. They flew through the air. Two caught the edges of the target. One landed dead centre…on Osaka's target two trees down. Slowly she turned to Kimura.

"Hehe" she said nervously.

"Well, I don't think we have to worry about you having a problem with confidence" mused Kimura.

"Enough of this stupid beginners stuff" said Tomo. "Tell us what the task is!"

"Beginners stuff? If that was beginners stuff, why did all three of you fail to land three consecutive blows upon the centre target?"

"Because we're not good enough?" suggested Osaka. Tomo glared at the girl.

"Well perhaps" said Kimura. "I guess we have to find out whether you can be true ninja- or if your progression from the academy was a fluke."

Not me thought Tomo. I protected Yukari-sensei and beat an older more trained ninja. I can pass this test!

Kimura reached into his pocket and pulled out two bells. "This is a technique I have learnt. A very useful way of testing you indeed."

"Make music?" asked Osaka.

"No. I have here two bells. I have over there a clock set to ring at noon. You need to retrieve the bells from me- steal as it were- before the timer rings. The person without a bell has no lunch. But more then that, they fail this test and have the privilege of another year of Yukari's teaching."

Two bells. But that means one of us is doomed to fail thought Sakaki to herself.

"Strike as though you mean to kill. That is likely to be your only chance of success. Though considering my reputation among the female members of the faculty, this won't be difficult for you to attempt."

"Ha I'll get one of those bells from you!" yelled Tomo. You pervert!

"We'll see. The exam begins in one minute. You may leave and secure hiding places if you wish."

---

Sakaki sat in silence high up in the tree branches. Kimura stood, waiting for one of the team to make her way forward. And it was no surprise to see who had decided to attempt to do so first. She's leaving herself open thought Sakaki to herself as Tomo rushed towards Kimura.

I can take Kimura. I've seen him, how he acts. He's more interested in watching teenage girls then fighting. Tomo rushed towards Kimura and unleashed a barrage of shuriken. She stopped, watching as they sped towards him. He stood still, before moving back slightly, the weapons landing harmlessly in the ground about a foot away from his sandals.

"Damn" she muttered to herself.

She charged Kimura, keeping her fists raised. She struck out, so close to Kimura's face…going to hit. Suddenly the man disappeared. She paused. Where did he go? Suddenly she had a feeling she knew.

"You're behind me aren't you?"

"Oh yes."

She stuck out with a kick that Kimura lazily jumped over. Tomo spun around, and found her punch caught in Kimura's gloved hand. He looked down at her, as she pulled her fist back. She whipped out a blade which the man flicked out of her hand.

Perhaps this was a slightly bad plan.

Kimura stood up, and reached into one of the pouches that were attached to the front of his jacket. Slowly he pulled out a tightly wound scroll. Sakaki gripped the branch tightly. Surely he wouldn't use Jonin level techniques on a trainee.

Tomo walked back as fast as she could as the man loomed over her with the scroll. Slowly he raised it…and started bopping her on the head with it. She backed away and started running as Kimura followed trying to tap her on the head. Surely he couldn't be such an idiot.

Tomo finally outpaced the man, and stumbled down to the ground. She pointed her finger at him and yelled. He placed the scroll back in its pouch, and slowly pulled out a book. He crouched down and began to flick through it. Tomo thought about yelling. Then she noticed the cover. Tomo looked at it in disgust.

"Hentai?!" she exclaimed.

"I happen to enjoy the artwork. It has a very well written storyline."

Tomo climbed to her feet. "I'm going to get one of those bells from you."

"Uh-huh. Wow! That's not natural, it's sickening…in a good way" cried Kimura. "Oh well." He turned the book slightly, trying to get a better look. "No way could a woman handle that many men."

"Grrr! Stop looking at porn and pay attention to my fight with you!"

"Why?"

"Heh, here's a little something I learned a few days ago" said Tomo, producing three clones of herself. "You may be able to beat one of me, but I know four of me can beat you."

"A-ha" replied Kimura, carefully turning over the page of his book. His gaping mouth (under the mask) fell even more. "I don't think I should be reading this around the students. Yukari would kill me."

He stood up and watched as Tomo charged him. Watching from a distance, Sakaki gasped as he pulled out a kunai knife. He twisted it, bladed point sticking outwards, and hid the ready weapon behind his back as the Tomo's leapt through the air. In a swift movement he slashed out at the jumping figures. Tomo('s) yelled out in surprise, and three vanished as they were hit. Tomo landed on the ground, Kimura pointed the knife at her forehead.

"That was quick. How did you know which one was the real me?"

"Who said I knew which one's were merely ninjutsu, and which was actually you?"

"Whaa!"

"Oh and Tomo- I'm behind you again."

Tomo yelled as Kimura gripped her. Suddenly she was upside down…and hanging. Kimura walked away observing his handiwork, as Tomo swung gently in the breeze, rope tied around her ankles. He waved his finger.

"You can't do very much when you're hanging from a tree."

"Ha, you think you've got me? I'll get down from here in no time." She grunted as she struggled to get down.

"You grunt like a much older woman" said Kimura dreamily.

"I'm just going to stop until you go away now."

"Ok" replied Kimura in a disappointed tone.

He slowly walked away, leaving Tomo to remain blowing around in the breeze. She remained in quiet frustration, wondering if one of the others might attempt to help her. She didn't hold her breath. Sakaki wouldn't walk into such a trap, and Osaka probably didn't realize what was going on.

"Hey Tomo."

Strange, I can hear Osaka.

"Hello Tomo" said Osaka, walking in front of the strung girl. She looked from the rope, to the girl, to the rope. She cocked her head slightly, studying the situation. "What's going on?"

"Osaka! You've got to let me down" cried Tomo. "I'm trapped!"

"Okey-dokey" said Osaka pulling out a kunai knife. Tomo watched in silence. No way would Osaka do that. She did. Tomo yelled as Osaka cut through the rope and she fell to the ground with a loud thump. Osaka looked down at the girl curiously as she groaned and writhed on the floor.

"Are you re-enacting one of the scenes from Kimura-sensei's books?" asked Osaka. "Because if so, you should be very ashamed."

"I'm hurt you idiot!" replied Tomo.

"Waah!" said Osaka, backing away.

"Oh my legs…and head and most of my torso."

"You should stay here and relax" suggested Osaka. "If you attempt to move, you may get hurt."

"I'm already hurt" cried out Tomo as cramp shot across her leg.

Osaka nodded and began to walk away. Tomo reached out desperately.

"Hey! Where are you going?" she called out. Don't leave me here!

Osaka turned and smiled. "I'm going to try and get one of those bells. If you wish I could get you one too."

"Aha" said Tomo, gripping her dead leg. "Wake up, wake up!"

"You should try lathering your leg with hot sauce" stated Osaka. "That ought to cure the numbness."

"Huh?"

"Goodbye Tomo. I'm about to fight Kimura-Sensei" said Osaka in a happy, rather then serious tone.

Slowly the girl walked away and only one thought filled Tomo's mind.

She doesn't stand a chance.

Author's note: It simply couldn't be a Naruto story without at least one flashback could it:P And it seems that with the publication of this chapter, I've now reached 100,000 words archived on this website. Not bad considering a few months ago I'd given up hope of getting back to writing fanfiction.