Chapter 24

"What?!" half gasped, half yelled Yukari, drawing the attention of the gathered ninja.

"Is there something you wish to ask, having interrupted our proceedings?" asked the Hokage.

"Yeah there is!" said Yukari, pointing towards Kimura. "What the heck are you doing putting their names forward? This is the Chunin exam we're talking about."

"I know" said Kimura, adjusting his glasses.

"This is the C-h-u-n-i-n exam we are talking about" said Yukari.

"Yeah, you said that the first time around" said Kimura. He paused for a moment, and moved towards Yukari who stepped back slightly. Minamo looked down at the floor, unable to watch as the creepy man stepped towards Yukari. On her other side, the other two Jonin stood uneasily, looking forwards.

"What's the matter, do you not have faith in your former students?" asked Kimura.

"Of course I don't!"

"We-what?" asked Kimura, backing away suddenly, shocked by the stark and honest statement. "I think I misheard you."

"Tomo could nigh on kill herself with safety scissors! Osaka wouldn't realize she was being attacked until she saw her arms fly off!" started Yukari.

Still seated in his chair as Yukari argued her point, the Hokage looked down at his list of names. Slowly he leant forwards and signalled for Minamo to come forwards.

"Yes, lord Hokage?" asked Minamo.

"Who is this Osaka? Her name isn't on the list."

"Oh it's just a nickname, here's the actual name" said Minamo, pointing at the name on the list.

"Ah, I see" replied the old man. He looked towards Minamo as behind her Yukari moved forwards, her face close to Kimura's, a mixture of anger and repulsion upon her face.

"So, Minamo do you wish for your students to take part in this exam?" asked the Hokage.

Minamo paused for a moment. Yomi and Kagura had both proved themselves ready. Chiyo had done very well, but could the younger team member put up with the exam?

"I assume you are worried about Miss Chiyo Mihama?" asked the Hokage, Minamo nodding her head slightly.

"She has all the mental attributes, but she is physically underdeveloped compared to most of the other trainees and people she would compete against."

The elderly man nodded his head. "Given her young age, we would not be against special dispensation to prevent her from getting into possible deadly harm due to her age. We would allow her to compete, but reserve the right to prevent her from taking part in anything that may endanger her."

Minamo nodded. "I would like to give Kagura and Yomi a chance, and I know if I were to refuse, Chiyo would hold herself personally responsible. I would like my team to take part."

"What?!" shrieked Yukari, turning from Kimura. "Not you too Nyamo! Chiyo is just as defenceless as Osaka!"

"Actually Osaka did well on our previous mission" muttered Kimura.

"Bah, this isn't about facts and previous actions!" growled Yukari.

"Lord Hokage, I wish for my team to take part" said Kimura, ignoring Yukari's stare of death.

"Very well" said the man nodding. "Team's five and eight will be accepted into the exam. Now what about you two?" he asked, looking towards the two remaining Jonin. One of the men grunted and nodded, wiping his unibrow slightly.

"I assume that that is a yes Hayao?"

The heavyset man nodded and then turned and looked at the final Jonin present. This man, much thinner, lean slowly stepped forwards. He appeared to have made it his job to make sure the green shirt and vest clung as tight to his body as possible. Slowly he held up a hand and stuck up a thumb, also turning to wink at Kimura who backed away slightly.

"I believe it would be wonderful for my team to take part." He turned to the others grinning. "Isn't this fabulous- all four of the graduating teams getting to take part in the exam together!" On tiptoes he swerved around and pranced towards Kimura. "Just imagine Kim, we could sit and watch our teams compete together!" said the man, moving his fingers along Kimura's shoulder as though they were walking.

"Of course" muttered Kimura stiffly, slowly moving back.

"I take that you are saying yes?" asked the Hokage. "I am right correct Lie?"

"That is true my Lord Hokage" said Lie bowing.

"Very well then, it has been decided. I hope the teams do well, and all twelve young adults strive to do well, while remaining good honest people."

"Huh?!" asked Yukari, not fully understanding the sentence.

"There there, we can't all be clever" said Minamo.

"Gar!" shrieked Yukari, shoving her Chunin exam pamphlet into Yukari's face.

"Ooooh girls, please stop the fighting!" said Lie, clapping his hands together nervously, "We're all friends here!"

--

Tomo's hair hung down, almost touching the floor as she sat, laying on the brick wall, head leaning down over the side. Slowly she opened her mouth and attempted to drink from a cup, only to spill water all over her face. As she spluttered and shook her head, Yomi sat down on the bench built next to the low wall. She sat waiting for Tomo to stop coughing and spluttering and then looked up towards the girl. Tomo soon became aware of the attention and crooked her neck towards Yomi.

"What is it Yomi?" she asked as water dripped from her hair to the floor.

"How did your mission go Tomo?" asked Yomi. "I heard you got a higher level mission, your team was gone for quite a long time."

"Yeah" said Tomo, getting dizzy as she shook her head while it was upside down. "I fought against a vicious assassin, had a girl hero worship me and I threw a shuriken into some guys butt!"

"And you aren't exaggerating in anyway?" asked Yomi, rising her eyebrow as she looked towards Tomo.

"No she isn't" said Kimura, suddenly just appearing. In shock Tomo half fell off the wall and Yomi's own cup of water ended up across Tomo's face. "All three of my students did well. Of course, I did most of the work, but still…"

"What do you want Kimura-sensei?" asked Tomo, gripping hold of the top of the wall and pulling herself up slightly.

"I have come to inform you that you, as part of my team, will be competing in the Chunin exams."

"Really?" asked Tomo, her eyes slightly wide with excitement. "Wow. Yukari said you'd have to be a total moron to sign us up for the exam."

"Yeah" said Kimura.

"Well good luck to you" said Yomi, "I hear that's really tough."

"Your team was accepted too" said Kimura bowing.

"What?" asked Yomi, looking up at the man in disbelief.

"Minamo believes that you are ready to take part" said Kimura. "All four graduating teams from the academy this year have been entered. Even Lie's team" said Kimura, looking slightly uneasy.

"Our team was entered?" asked Yomi. "But what about Chiyo? She's too young to take part in something like this- it could be dangerous for her."

"The team has been entered, and the Hokage has promised no harm will come to Miss Chiyo because of her age."

"Well…I see" said Yomi. "I just can't believe it…entered into the Chunin exam already."

"What's so special about this?" asked Tomo. "Written exams are boring, I fail to see what all the fuss is about" said the girl yawning.

"Er Tomo, this is more then just a written exam" muttered Kimura, Yomi rolling her eyes slightly as she looked away from Tomo.

"Idiot" she muttered to herself.

"There is actually much more to the Chunin exam then just a written paper" said Kimura, Tomo's eyes lighting up slightly. "However that is part of it." The look of excitement vanished from Tomo's face.

"Oh great" she muttered to herself. I never do well on those type of things. "So what actually happens if you pass this exam?" asked Tomo.

"Well, er Tomo, if you pass the exam you become a Chunin" said Kimura. "I kind of thought that would be a bit obvious" said the man. "It's pretty rare for a ninja of your age to become a Chunin, so I'm giving you a special opportunity here."

"A Chunin huh?" asked Tomo. "Wow, that's like, a level above what I am isn't it?" asked Tomo.

"Yes, that's why you have an exam to see you are ready to become one yet" said Kimura. "However I won't be able to help- it'll just be you and Sakaki and Osaka. No help from me, just what you can do."

"I see" said Tomo. She rolled over and pushed herself up, before standing up and adopting a pose, pointing towards the village. Yomi groaned. "I'll take on this challenge, and I'll pass, and I'll become a Chunin!"

"Well, good for you" said Kimura.

"I don't suppose there's any chance of being told what is on the test?" asked Tomo, looking towards Kimura expectantly.

Kimura shook his head. "No, I won't know, and I wouldn't tell you anyway" said the man, Tomo frowning towards him. "That's the rules."

"Rules are meant to be broken" muttered Tomo, her arms crossed as she pouted slightly.

"Tomo, you do realize you are training to be a ninja right?" asked Yomi, "With a special code of honour and so on?" asked the girl.

"Yeah, but I'll be a special ninja, respected by all, while choosing which rules to follow" said Tomo, nodding her head in agreement with her statement.

"And you actually spent time out in the wild with her on a mission?" asked Yomi, "How did you survive?"

"I have my ways" said Kimura, looking towards Tomo. "It had its perks, that is for certain."

"Hey, stop that! Besides Yomi, I had to put up with him during the entire mission" said Tomo, pointing towards Kimura, who slowly turned and looked at the girl, hurt.

"Well that is a good point" said Yomi, Kimura's shoulders slumping slightly.

"Two against one, that isn't fair" said Kimura to himself, rubbing his shoulder slightly, trying to ignore the comments.

"So then Kimura-sensei, how long is it until the exam starts?" asked Yomi.

"Oh I see, now I'm given respect when people want information" muttered Kimura to himself. "Well anyway, the exam should begin in roughly two weeks" said the man. "It'll be pretty hard to miss."

Tomo sat back down on the wall. She had very little idea of what the exam would entail. She didn't know just how dangerous the exam could actually be, nor how much effort would be required. She slowly itched her head and looked upwards at the sky.

"Kimura-sensei?" asked the girl.

"Yes?" replied Kimura.

"I take it we can have a two week holiday now, to prepare for the exam right?" asked Tomo.

"Oh no" said Kimura shaking his head. "You're going to train as hard as possible for the exam, I will ensure it."

"Oh" groaned Tomo, "No fair."

"Don't worry, if you train hard enough I'll allow you to have the day off before the exam" said Kimura.

"I can't believe just how kind you are" groaned Tomo sarcastically.

"I do try my hardest" said Kimura, turning away and walking down the path. "I'll see you tomorrow Tomo, along with the others. Oh and good luck to you too Miss Yomi" said Kimura as he walked back towards the village.

"Hey, wait a minute, only my friends are meant to call me Yomi!" called out Yomi as the man vanished from view.

"Looks like you've made a new friend Yomi" joked Tomo, grabbing an annoyed looking Yomi in a hug. A hug designed to annoy.