Disclaimer: I do not own naruto
"Normal speech"
"Toughs and flashbacks"
"Kyuubi"
"InnerSakura"
"Kyuubi's thoughts"
(AN): authors note.
AN: I would like to remind you that the exams take place at least a month after the wave arc.
Vld: don't worry they will live
CHAPTER 11: beginning of the exams
"Good morning Sasuke-kun!" saluted the pink-haired girl, as she was nearing the academy she met with her crush and supposed love of her life.
"Hn"
"Sasuke-kun do you know where is Naruto?" asked the girl in a concerned tone, it would be bad "specially for Naruto", added her inner self, if they lost the chance to advance in rank.
Sakura might have decided to give Naruto a new chance, seeing how much he had changed, but she will definitely kick his ass if he doesn't show up now!
Any further murdering thoughts about her teammate were stopped when a voice behind them spoke up "hey guys! Sorry for being late but I had some things to do" he said enthusiastically, not bothering to go into details, as they really did not need to know that the reason why he was late it was that he needed to make sure that Ten-ten was not in her father's store before going in, as it wasn't wise idea to confront her in her own territory, a building full of sharp, pointy objects that she could use on his persona.
Sasuke, who really didn't care that much as long as he was allowed to take the exam eyed his male teammate before speaking about some changes in his appearance " what's with the bandages and the sword dobe?"
At that moment Sakura studied naruto a bit more carefully and she noticed that the Uchiha was indeed right, all his regular outfit was exactly the same with only two notable exceptions, he substituted the arm bracers for some bandages that were colored black and covered his forearms to the back of his hands (AN: like the ones Lee uses but instead of white they're black) on his back with the handle showing up over his right shoulder was a katana, a gift from his master gave him when he deemed the blond good enough to wield it in the battle field (it looks exactly like the one Gekkō Hayate uses but shorter)
"the last year I trained in different things kenjutsu among them, these things are for them" he responded in half truth, the last thing he needed was Sasuke demanding to tell him who trained him, more likely than not Gai will reject him because of his attitude and Gekko does not think highly of the Uchiha clan as whole.
Then he noticed his team, Sasuke was the same as always, nothing was different from how he acted or dressed from yesterday, Sakura was sporting the same type of clothes but now she was carrying in her lower back several bottles of water with the help of a red belt.
"hmph doesn't matter you're still a dobe" said the uchiha while thinking "just how strong are you?"
"whatever teme"
Sakura, who was seen the forming of a dispute decided to stop them before it started and make them be late for the exam "guys stop fighting were going to be late"
When they were in the second floor they noticed that a lot of people were gathered around a classroom where two kids were guarding the door and a genin clad in a green spandex was sent sprawling to the floor courtesy of one of the door guardians.
"please let's us trough" apleaded the bun-haired kunoichi as she checks that her temamate is okay.
While this was happening the blond was mentally laughing his ass off at the performance.
"oh please let us trough, we area so clueless that even with a Hyuuga we can't tell that's a genjutsu, sometimes bushy brows you're a genius"
After watching the whole ordeal and listening to their speech about how they're making them a favor and how they could die in the exam, Sasuke decided to speak up.
"I appreciate your kindness… but please move. I'm going to the third floor, so I need you to drop the Genjutsu…"
The genin, the one that had his hitiai-ate as a bandanna, smirked " so you noticed huh?"
Sasuke smirked. "Sakura noticed it first, since she's the Genjutsu specialist on our team…"
The girl perked up and smiled before saying "and what idiot wouldn't notice that this is the second floor"
After dispelling the henge in them, the boys, that in the end happened to be a couple of chunins dispelled the illusion before the same on that talked before spoke up " you're good but seeing trough it is not enough!" and launched a kick towards the Uchiha, just when Sasuke's own counterattack was about to connect a green blur stopped cold both attacks.
"fast, and I didn't feel any chakra" were the thougths of Sasuke.
"Lee you idiot, why did you do that this was your idea in the first place" aske the bun-haired genin obviulsy upset of her teammate's actions.
"sorry Ten-ten I couldn't stop besides" he turned to Sakura and blushed.
(AN: okay since we all know what will happen between Sakura and Lee I won't write it)
Naruto who was seeing everything that was happening trying to not stand out felt a dark pressence behind him, sweating cold he slowly turned around to see a seething Ten-ten with her fist closed tightly around a kunai with her eyes promising a slow, painful death for him.
Quickly raising his hands in a defensive posture as if to calm down the girl he said "Ten-ten-chan hello, you are not mad are you?"
The girl just kept staring at him.
"come on it was not so bad"
he couldn't have chosen poorer words to say, if it was even possible the girl was even madder and was growing steadly madder by the second, and she was sporting a very treathening red aura around her.
Seeing the peril of staying in the area he ran and dragged a startled Sasuke with a confused Sakura following in toll.
Neji was about to climb the stairs that would take him to the next level when he saw both his teamates look in the direction were team seven went after a few moments Lee spoke up "keep going I have something to do" and went after them.
Ten-ten went after Lee with the excuse that she was "making sure that the idiot wouldn't get hurt just before the exam" the Hyuuga didn't believed her, and he went to the exam room as it was not his problem anyway.
As they entered the training area a green figure leaped from the balcony and entered in a stance that Naruto knew well "you're Uchiha Sasuke aren't you?"
"yes"
"I wish to figth you"
"even knowing who I am you still challenge me, you must be a fool then"
"I've always wanted to try my skill against an Uchiha besides.." he turned towards Sakura and sent her a wink, wich she dogded.
Naruto decided to intervine before this got out of hand "teme let's just leave, before he kicks your ass"
"shut up dobe I'll finihs him in a second"
"your funeral then" he said before leaping back to avoid six shurikens that would have embedd themselves in his body, then Naruto heard a battle cry he looked up to see a sight that drained all color from his face. An enrage Ten-ten leaping towards him brandishing three kunai in each hand and shouting "Uzumaki Naruto today you'll pay".
This was not a good position for Naruto, for starters with the exception of senbon needles the girl was infinitevely better at weapons, and he was not trying to hurt her. sending a couple of needles from his pouch in order to deflect two of the kunais she launched before doing a short jump to the left, his eyes widenning and cursing silently when he noticed that he unknowingly put himself in her path. As she was closing with a katana raised above her head.
"let's be reasonable about this!" he shouted while ducking an horizontal swipe.
"I'm being reasonable!" she shouted back while swiping with her sword diagonally from her left ankle to above the rigth side of her face trying to gut him like a fish making Naruto dodge to the side.
"it was only a joke!" he shouted in an attempt to stop the enraged girl, the poor guy didn't know what he was doing.
Ten-ten stopped froze in that instant and asked in a small voice "just a joke?" she was calm, but Naruto knew it was just the calm before the storm. A moment latter her attack was resumed, more vicious if that was possible.
Sakura was staring a the whole thing unsure what to do, on one side her crush was getting his ass handed to him both proverbially and literally, and on the other side his teamate, who in a span of really short time manage to change from a loud annoyance to a competent shinobi.
"and a cute one too" added her inner persona, making her blush
"w-what? What are you saying?"
"come on is not like you haven't thougth of that"
"no I haven't" the pink haired girl said defensively.
"you can't lie to me, I'm you remember?"
"fine I admit he's good looking but he can't compare to Sasuke-kun"
"maybe so, but he is still hot"
while the kunoichi was having that important debate with herself, Sasuke was being lectured on the why his doujutsu was not going to work, and on how his opponent will become a genius of hard work.
"My Sharingan...there was nothing...could it be that your moves are..." said Sasuke as he panted heavily.
"That's correct. These move I have used are neither ninjutsu or genjutsu..." replied Lee as he sot forward and tagged Sasuke with a four hit combo that was only partially blocked. Backing away from a now grimacing Sasuke, Lee said with a straight face that showed no sarcasm or dislike, "I've heard that the Sharingan can see thought and copy all ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. I'm sure that you are able to deal with both ninjutsu and genjutsu, since it has to do with the molding of chakra and the use of hand seals..."
"However," said the green spandex wearing boy, "with taijutsu it's a bit different."
"What are you saying?" asked Sasuke as he narrowed his eyes.
"Even though the Sharingan can see through the movement of a person, and also predict what that person is going to do by interpreting those movements. It becomes useless if that opponent is faster than the Sharingan user. In other words..." he said as the Uchiha tried unsucessfuly to block the punch to his face followed by a kick to his abdomen.
"What good is seeing my movements, if your body is unable to keep up" said Lee
"Did you know that there are titles of 'geniuses' and 'hard workers' among the strong?" asked Lee. "If you and your Sharingan are categorized as a 'genius'," Lee calm said as he watched Sasuke run at him with anger in his eyes. Furious that he was being defeated by this nobody "Then I should hold the title of 'hard worker', because I will continuously improve my taijutsu."
As Lee dodged the attack effortlessly he got closer to Sasuke and said "look at the big picture Sasuke-san your sharingan versus my speed it's a bad combination"
While this was happening an interesting twist developed in the blonde's combat. Out of nowhere a kunoichi (as Naruto was sure that it was a girl) blocked Ten-ten's sword before driving her away.
"what the hell is wrong with you?!" asked the enraged leaf kunoichi, hard pressed to keep up with her offense, this girl was good.
"I will not allow you to touch him" she said clearly angry and while her opponent's swordplay was good she was not a match for the stranger, for whom the swordplay was basically a family requisite, and she was trainned in it's secrets since she could wield a blade.
(AN: I hope you know who this is)
after a few minutes of combat one thing was obvious to Ten-ten, when it come to kenjutsu this girl was better than her and for some reason she couldn't explain that ticked her off, badly, she was determined to not loose to this stranger no matter what.
After parrying the attack the girl launched a mule kick that make Ten-ten slide back, the girl now rubbing the spot where she was hit, she plunged the tip of the sword in the floor took several kunai and shuriken and launched them.
The girl just started to make hand-seals at blurring speed: snake, ape, dog, rat, ram. And ended with a peculiar sign that the blond recognized "that seal! I know it, is that you Haku-chan?" (is the hand-seal she uses to creat the ice mirrors)
The girl brougth the both hands still interlocked to her mouth inhalled deeeply and released her technique, mentally shouting "hyoton: hyoga ibuki no jutsu" (ice release: glacier breath technique)
And from her lips a white mist with tints of ice-blue was launched in a fashion not unlike the grandfireball, in direct collision course with the steel weapons.
As soon as the jutsu touched the weapons this were stopped cold (no pun inteneded) before clattering usselesly in the floor before continuing towards Ten-ten who jumped to avoid becoming a giant popsicle.
As the leaf brunette dodged to her rigth three long needles sailed trough the air and imbedded themselves above her rigth knee, with a cry of pain she unceremoniusly dropped on the floor, and even in this state she couldn't help but to admire the attack, it was precise and meant to paralize the opponent only for as long as the needles were in place.
In that moment Lee was appearing behind a airbone Sasuke, focused on proving that a hard worker can defeat a genius, while the misterious assailant was running to end the whole ordeal. Not on of the finishing attacks connected.
Lee's was stopped from what it seemed to be a pinwheel, and Haku's sword was stopped by what it seemed to be a bo staff made of black wood.
"stop rigth there, Lee!" shouted what it seemed to be a giant talking turtle, making Naruto wince mentally as he knew what was coming next.
"how could you, I'm really dissapointed of you Haku!" said her sensei with a serious face and a voice tone that indicated that she was moments away of delivering a very painful punishment.
"but Mai-sensei, I saw an ally being attacked and it was my duty to help him" said the ice maiden trying to avoid looking at her sensei, when she finally did her gaze said everything, she wasn't buying it.
"you don't actually expect me to believe that don't you?" asked the kiri jounin with amixed tone of disbelief, anger and amusement.
"hmm hai?" asked the girl in a small voice.
"Lee run a 100 laps to the sunset!" shouted the ever bousterious voice of Maito Gai
"yosh!!"
hearing this Naruto tried to reason with them, even though he knew it was pointles
"woah, woah! Wait a moment Gai-sensei, what about the exmas? There's not enough time"
"you're rigth Naruto-kun! Lee I'll puish you after the exam! Now give 500 laps!!"
"I thought I've heard a familiar voice, it's been a while Gai" said the kiri jounin stopping both green clad man in the spot.
"M-M-Mai-chan?" asked Gai stuttering, confusing both of his students, who haven't seen him like this, ever.
And before any of them (with the exception of Naruto, Lee and Gai himself) registered the red haired jounin crossed the distance and embraced Gai in a big, friendly hug.
(AN: no, they're not together)
"Gai it's been so long since I've seen you! How are you!"
the konoha jounin needed several seconds to recover, but when he did he answered the best he could. "w-well, I've been training a genin squad" he said in a normal tone of voice, shocking everyone who knew his regular behavior. As Mai withdrew herself from the hug with a small, friendly smile on her face, making Gai groan mentally in disappointment.
"that's good, I'm guessing that this two" she said eyeing the shocked Ten-ten and Lee "are students of yours" Gai only nodded.
"well it was good to see you, we'll catch up later but now I have to go, as for you Haku I'll punish you later, Ja!" and shunshin'd out of the room in a swirl of mist.
Gai turned to his students to see Lee astonished and Ten-ten…with stars in her eyes?
"sensei, how do you know the kirigakure no arainami?, and when are you going to introduce me?" (mist's stormy wave)
(AN: I'm skipping the part where Lee tells Sasuke of Neji)
Naruto walked towards the girl that defended him earlier, wondering what will he say to her. "Haku-Chan is that you?"
"hai"
he eyed her new outfit and couldn't help but be awed, it certainly flattered her.
"wow you look, just amazing"
the girl couldn't help but blush at the complement; she was wearing royal-blue ninja sandals, ice blue stockings that reached above her knees, blue cycling-shorts that had on her right leg a senbon holster, a royal blue battle kimono that had flaps both on her front and on her back that acted like waistcloth and was shut by a long piece of white cloth and left a v-neck that was covered by a short-sleeved fish-net shirt, the kimono's sleeves reached only above her elbows, and she was sporting a pair of ice-blue armguards that covered both front and the back of her forearms and the back of her hands that were fastened with the help of a ring in her middle fingers(AN: like the ones Sasuke uses in the shipuuden part, but not as big), finishing the attire was a couple of weapon pouches, a katana in her back , the symbols of her clans, under the sword the Momochi clan symbol and on her right bicep the reisui clan symbol (it means cold water), finally her bangs were left dangling free framing both sides of her face while the rest of her hair was kept in a low pony tail. her headband in her rightful place on her forehead
"you like it?" she 'innocently' asked as she gave a little twirl to show him the attire, while inwardly was blushing madly and wishing she was swallowed whole by the earth.
"though Mai-sensei was right, this certainly gets his attention better than the outfit I had with me the last time he saw me"
he only nodded dumbly.
On an unrelated note, in another part of konoha Mitarashi Anko screamed her head off because of the item that was given to her by one girl called Fuuma Sasame, scaring the girl. Someone has a lot of explaining to do and she must not allow anyone to see this, if Mai hears about it, she will not hear the end of it.
(AN skipping the part of Kabuto, as I couldn't find a good way to change it)
as soon as Naruto sat down and talked with Hinata he looked at the exam and noticed one thing, there was not a chance in hell that he would be able to answer the exam.
While thinking this, the rest of the rookie nine started cheating on their own ways, Kiba using his dog, Shino his bugs, the Hyuuga and Uchiha their doujutsus, Haku and Ten-ten using mirrors.
"no choice I'll have to cheat" he made three hand-seals and a cloud of ninja smoke covered him, allowing his kage bunshins that were transformed in flies go and seek the answers trough the classroom "good thing that Kakashi-sensei taught me the kage bunshin trick"
Pretty soon, teams left and right were being kicked out. Finally, when it came down to it, roughly half the teams were left. Ibiki smirked. 'Looks like the weaklings have been weeded out… it's time.'
"All right, it's time for the tenth question. But before I ask it, I'd like to lay down a few quick rules…"
Naruto groaned "now what?" .
"These are the rules of desperation"
the chunin hopefuls looked exepectantly
"First, you all are gonna choose whether or not you wish to take the final question," said Ibiki, glaring at the Genin.
This got everyone's attention. Temari yelled out, "Choose? So what happens if we choose not to take the tenth question?"
Answering her question, Ibiki replied, "If you choose to not take the question, you'll lose all your points. In other words, you fail." Grinning, he added, "And when you fail, your teammates will fail with you."
There were cries of indignation, and someone yelled out
"Of course we'll take the final question."
Ibiki closed his eyes, and continued on. "And that goes with the other rule. If you choose to take it, and get the question wrong…" here he opened his eyes, "you'll be banned from the Chuunin Exam for the rest of your natural lives!!"
At this point, Kiba rose up and pointed a finger at Ibiki, saying, "What kind of bull is that!? There are people here who took the Chuunin Exam before!" Akamaru added a bark in agreement.
Ibiki chuckled. "You were unlucky this year. I am the Proctor. And as such, your shinobi careers are in my cruel, unfeeling hands. That's why I gave you the option of quitting."
At this, Kiba sat down in a daze. "You can choose to not take the final question, and fail. But you can take the exam again."
Everyone had the same thought: "don't take the question and fail, or take the question and stay a genin forever if the question was wrong. Either way, it's a no win scenario"
"And so, it begins," intoned Ibiki, his voice carrying throughout the room.
Soon enough people started to leave the room, during this time Sakura was about to rise her hand when Naruto rasied his hand and slammed it hard.
"just shut up and give the damn question! I'm not afraid of you! Even if I stay a genin for the rest of my life I'll find a way to be hokage!"
"Little smartass" thought Ibiki "I guess there's no point in belaying the inevitable. You're an interesting one… Uzumaki Naruto"
"Good choice" he yelled out "Now… to the 78 remaining… congratulations on passing the first test!"
as he explained the why of the tests and the value of the information and showed them the consequences, he congratulated them for passing.
Not a moment after he did that, a large bundle flew in through the window and landed in front of him. Kunai hit the ceiling, and the object flew open to reveal a banner and a woman. The woman wore a net outfit, a trenchcoat, a miniskirt, and a pair of shin-guards.
"That woman's gonna be the death of me" thought Ibiki.
"Everyone, no time to celebrate!! 'Cause the Second Examiner is here!!" She had one hand in the air and yelled, "I am Mitarashi Anko, Second Examiner of the Chuunin Selection Exams!!"
"Anko," said Ibiki from the side of the banner, "check the atmosphere."
Anko blanched, and then recovered. "You let 26 teams pass, Ibiki? Losing your touch?"
"Not at all, we just had some talented ones this time around."
"Oh, well." She gazed out at the teams left, grinned, and said, "You can be sure that I'll cut their numbers in more than half." That scared the crap out of a lot of people. She raised her voice. "All righty, prepare for the next exam tomorrow. We're gonna be somewhere else, so ask your Jounin sensei about it. Dismissed."
Then she moved to where Naruto was and poffed out of the room to a trainning field where Kakashi and Sasame where waiting.
"well brat what do you have to say of this"
she showed him a paper, that happened to be a wedding certificate for Hatake Anko and Hatake Kakashi, where the witnesses names whre none other than Uzumaki Naruto and Fuuma Sasame.
"well.."
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AN: done!! Finally and with this chapter the chunin exams begin, and of course the poll for pairings ends. Of course there is also the new rivalry that just sparked between Ten-ten and Haku; this is also the longest chapter I have ever made. And yes Gai has a crush on Mai and I do not know how far will it go.
The Polls are officially closed, the first winner its none other than Haku (duh), and remember that I will choose the fourth member of the harem:
HINATA: 4 32
SASAME: 4 18
OC: 2 3
TEMARI: 7 31
HAKU: 54 44
INO: 6 7
TEN-TEN: 5 31
HAREM:152
Kin: 0 8
Sakura: 0 1
Tayuya: 1 4
And the moment you're all waiting for the winner is…. Harem!!!:
1)Haku obviously
2)Hinata (I'm not that sure on this one and I'll see if can make it work)
3)Ten-ten or Temari (tied, asking for reasons to decide who wins (reasons, no votes)
4) Sasame (you seriously did not see it coming?)
o yeah his nickname will eventually be konohagakure no kiiroi Arashi (the yellow storm of konoha)
again if for some reason I can't write harem Naruto stays with Haku (or change it's integrants)
Well that's it for now please review flames are not accepted but constructive criticism is.
JA NE.