Chapter 19 Chuunin Exams?
"Good news, my lovely sla- team members! You all qualify for the Chuunin exams. I recommended you." Kurenai-sensei spoke with a smirk. I sweatdropped when she nearly said 'slaves...'
Kiba instantly began cheering as Sensei told us the time and place while giving us our forms. Huh. Chuunin exams? Can't wait. When Kiba snuck another glance at me, I raised an eyebrow at him. He's been taking peeks at me lately ever since New Year's and it's been bothering me. He quickly looked away and I sighed. If he's sick, I hope he gets well soon...
"Since I told you late, tomorrow go to the academy's room three-oh-one by three o'clock," Kurenai continued.
Kiba began yelling. "You should've told us earlier, dammit!" I smiled to myself. That was my every day Kiba. It's not like him to be worried.
"Well, it is Kurenai-sensei. She was probably with Asuma-sensei and it just slipped her mind. Asuma must be good in bed, eh, sensei?" I teased. Kurenai flushed dark red.
"Have you been reading Kakashi's books?!" She scolded. Grinning, I nodded.
"Dad is right. They're... Educational." Kurenai face palmed while I laughed. Indeed I had read the first book in that series over New Year's slacking off, and I had found I enjoyed it. I only read it because Jiraiya had also written 'Tale of a Gutsy Ninja', and I had really loved that story. Well, since there was no sequel, why not read his other works?
So I did. And these books are surprisingly good. I whipped out an orange book and stuck my nose in it, continuing where I left off. My team (excluding Shino) sweatdropped. All I need is a sharingan, and I'll be a copy of my dad.
When I went home, Saki greeted me for a round of shogi which she let me win at. That game was harder than it looks! Cookies were fresh from the oven. For the first time in a long while, I was happy to be home.
The next bright and shiny day, team Kurenai was at the academy, climbing up the steps. Upon reaching the second floor, I noticed a Genjutsu on the door. Kiba and Shino briefly stopped, smirked, and ran to catch up with me as I nonchalantly walked by. Our teacher is a Genjutsu specialist; an illusion of that skill is pathetic. When we finally reached room 301, it was full of Genin from all over the shinobi world. Akamaru and Kiba recoiled at the stench of people's sweat and fear.
"Sucks being a mutt, eh?" I grinned at him. Kiba glared at me before taking a pill that for a short time lowered his sense of smell. "Cheater!" I sang while whipping out my orange book.
Kiba kept grumbling for a bit before realizing I was reading my book again.
"Just what the hell is so interesting about a damn- woah." Kiba paused his rant after peeking over my shoulder to read a few sentences.
"It gets better," I grinned. The Inuzuka attempted to steal it from my hands while I ninja dodged his attempts.
"Na Na Na, you can't get it!" I teased. He growled as he launched himself at me which was rather easy to sidestep.
"Girls shouldn't be reading that kind of material!" Kiba shouted, desperate to get the book.
"What are you, my dad? He doesn't mind me reading this, not one bit! He even told me I can borrow the rest of the books," I grinned. Dad was just so lovable. Awkward, but lovable.
"Get away from Sasuke-kun, Ino-pig!" The familiar pinkette's voice screeched.
"How did I ever manage to get through the academy with THOSE two? My head hurts and I only heard one sentence..." I winced. Kiba snickered and began walking over to where the other rookies were gathering. Looking at the tense atmosphere everywhere else in the room, I smirked. I skipped after Kiba. Naruto screamed out some crazy self motivational phrase, Kiba degraded him, a silver haired creep (no offense, Dad) came by with his stalker cards, and the creep threw up when Sound ninja attacked him with vibrations.
Finally, the proctor came. "Pipe down you baby-faced degenerates!" I wonder if I could try out for the torture department? This guy looks like a blast to work with when carving - ehh yeah. I tuned in to find out what I need to do. I sat far from Kiba and Shino, but relatively close to a hot redhead from the Sand with the word 'love' written on his forehead. No, Saya! You're a Kiba fangirl!
As soon as he said written test, I tuned out again. Obviously since they're giving us a written test they want us to cheat, but I have no means of cheating except my kunai. Since that is too obvious, I'll have to put my knowledge to the test. The paper was handed out and I stared at the paper. Too hard. Brain hurts.
I put my head down for ten minutes. When I looked at the paper again, I managed to answer the first question in twenty minutes after racking my brain. I put my head down again and slept fifteen more minutes. I got one answered and I know it's right, so we'll pass.
"I'll announce the final question now. But there are more rules." He droned on and on about if you get the question wrong you'll stay Genin forever and blah blah blah. A lot of people left but I sat sleepily in my chair.
"I won't run, and I won't hide! Even if I stay Genin forever, I'll still be Hokage someday, believe it!" Naruto suddenly shouted, slamming his hand on his desk and sitting down. I began laughing.
"That's my dad's team, all right!" I called out. Shino looked over at me silently while Kiba glanced at me. Why is he glancing at me so much anyway?
"Well, I guess there's only one thing to say now: you pass!"
"Why is Konoha full of trolls?!" I called out among the shouts of confusion. Some kid sitting in front of me laughed and turned around. He was from the Cloud village... And hot. Like, Kiba-level hot.
"Because trolls gather together in the Fire Country to be trolls together. Konoha is a poor victim of this troll phenomenon." He said, his black eyes twinkling. Studying him, I saw he had blonde hair and dark skin, like the rest of the Cloud kids. Well, it looks damn fine on him.
"I have to live with two. My mom and dad. I think they married each other because they're trolls." The kid from Cloud laughed.
"My name's Konya. Jun Konya."
"Hatake Saya. Pleasure to meet you, Jun-San." I gave a famous Hatake grin.
"Eeeeh, Saya-chan just call me Konya." He complained.
"Then, Kon-kun." I spoke after a second of thought. He looked satisfied with my nickname.
Surprisingly, a kunoichi burst through the window.
She spouted some stuff about the second test when Ibiki popped up next to her.
"Anko, you're early. Again." The purple haired woman blushed, but instantly regained her composure.
"Ibiki, you left twenty six teams? You're going soft." Ibiki replied that there were stronger Genin this year.
"No matter. When I'm done with them, not even half will be left."
I love this village.
Murmurs of disbelief resounded through the room while I chuckled. "Trolls, trolls... Everywhere..." Kon-kun stifled a laugh at my statement.
I think at this current point in time the hot kid from Sand wants to brutally murder me. It's visible in his eyes. The anger... But at the same time, the loneliness. Turning to him, I gave him a smile.
"My name is Hatake Saya, daughter of two merry trolls. What's your name?" He stared at me as if I had three heads and four arms.
"Why do you want to know?" He growled with a sexy angry undertone. Kiba won't mind if I become a fangirl for the hot Sand kid, right?
"It's rude to call you the 'hot Sand kid' repeatedly in my head, so I need a name to prevent me from ever calling you 'hot Sand kid' to your fa- oh." I stopped talking. Laughter erupted from me. "See, I did it anyway! Hehe, please give me your name."
"Gaara. Gaara of the Sand." He finally answered. Cue slight drool. His eyes are intense and such a pretty color.
"Nice to meet you, Gaara-San. May I be your friend?" He looked at me now as if I were a centaur with five heads. I sighed. "Please?" I pleaded. It took a long while, but he ended up nodding. When he did, I cheered like I had mental problems... Oh. Okay then. Moving on...
After Gaara-San grudgingly agreed to become my friend, Kiba and Shino appeared behind me and dragged me away.
As I was being kidnapped, I called out: "Bye, Kon-kun! Bye, Gaara-San!" Kon waved back like a monkey on drugs while Gaara looked away. "Gaara-San, you bastard! I know you love me deep down inside! One day I will make you smile! Mark my wo-" My sentence was cut off by Kiba placing his hand over my mouth.
"Shut up already, Saya." He hastily released my mouth when I licked his hand.
"Shut up, Mutt. And who said you could address me without honorifics, anyway? Who do you think you are?!" I complained. Truthfully, I loved the way my name rolled off of his tongue. I ranted away at him. Kiba wisely ignored me.
"Saya." Kiba and I stopped arguing in the middle of the street. My teammates had released me when we had gotten outside of the classroom. I had begrudgingly followed them; Kiba began to bash on my attitude, and I had returned with a cruel comment after comment until Shino had mysteriously spoken.
"Yes, Shino-san?" I questioned him.
"The comment about your father's team when Naruto had yelled out was probably against the rules."
First time I ever hear Shino actually say a sentence, he's scolding me. Well, I guess that is to be expected, considering I'm me.
"Since none of us were disqualified, it's fine!" I chimed. We stopped walking when Shino paused.
"It could've gotten us disqualified. I thought you were the best in the academy?" That really grated on my nerves. I do like Kiba.. A lot.. but I was cool with Shino until today. So, I snapped, like any (in)sane person would do.
"You act like you know everything. Rules this, rules that, I've been a rule follower my whole life and I WILL be. We're shinobi, tools. We're supposed to be emotionless killing machines for our country." Kiba was taken aback by my outburst while Shino showed the slightest hint of surprise, but I wasn't done yet. "So what if I disobeyed at the Chuunin Exam? We passed, and that's that. They expect us to still act sort of like kids! If we had failed right then and there because of me, right now I'd be on my knees apologizing to you two because we didn't have a chance at the main event! Besides, they didn't clarify any rules except for no cheating! I wasn't cheating, I was merely stating my opinion. So do me a favor and keep your damn mouth shut, Shino. I don't want to hear a word from you for a little bit."
Shino opened his mouth, about to speak. I interrupted him. "Nope, not listening. I'm not listening to you. And Mutt, keep your trap shut, too. Shino, be grateful I haven't given you an aggravating nickname like Bug-boy yet. Keep yapping about 'rules' and I'll be traipsing around calling you demeaning nicknames. Clear?"
"Crystal," they both murmured. I smiled.
"Thank you. Now farewell until tomorrow. I have business to take care of." I mockingly saluted them, whipped out my orange book, and trotted to go find my purple-haired friend.
I found Hinata at the dango stand with the rest of her team.
"Hina-chan!" I called to her. She turned around, surprised to see me waving with an orange book in my hand.
"S-Saya-chan!" She murmured my name.
"How'd you do on your exam? Cheat using that Jashin-forsaken Byakugan, right?"
"Eeh... Maybe.." She shyly poked her fingers together.
"Oh, if it isn't Saya!" A familiar blonde ninja shouted, nearly bursting my eardrums.
"Hina-chan, how do you stand this team?" I asked, aggravated already. She cocked her head in confusion. "Well, there's an emo duckass, a cotton-candy airhead fangirl obsessed with the emo duckass, and a blonde who dresses in orange like an idiot and screams at the top of his lungs and probably doesn't understand how shinobi work in silence and darkness." I clarified. Wincing, I brought my hand to my throat. "I've talked so much today.."
"W-well... S-Sakura-san isn't that b-bad. Sa-Sasuke-kun isn't th-that br-broody... And N-N-N-Nar-r-u-to-k-kun-" I smirked as she stuttered horribly at his name. "- isn't that loud..."
"Ah, Hinata-chan! You're a really good person, aren't you?!" The orange-clad idiot shouted.
Hinata blushed while I laughed. "Anyway, I snapped at my teammates earlier. They're probably surprised that I went off like that. I mean, I saw Shino show a little bit of emotion!" I wailed. "I'm sorry already, I love my teammates so much! Hina-chan treat me to dango!" I pleaded. Hinata sighed and bought me some.
I happily ate some, all traces of sadness gone. The duckass walked out of the dango shop with Cotton Candy trailing after him like a lost puppy.
"Hn, let's go, losers." He grunted.
I snapped for another time that day. "Hina-chan is not a loser, Jashin-damn you! Hina-chan is a beautiful and strong person and will always be better than you! Just because you're an Uchiha and you have fangirls trailing after you, worshipping the ground you walk on, doesn't make me respect you! Respect is EARNED, and right now, on my list, you're down at the bottom of people to respect. You're a stuck-up loser who needs to get a life outside of your own little world and wake up. The world doesn't revolve around your pathetic life." I cleared my throat and finished my dango.
"Hina-chan, have you found your chakra nature yet? I told Dad a little while ago for him to have you take the paper test." I spoke to Hinata, ignoring her speechless teammates.
"Don't talk to Sasuke-kun like that!" A piece of Cotton Candy screeched at me.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't think cotton candy could talk. Which food stand did you escape from?" I asked her. "Besides, I wasn't talking to you. What I say to other people is not any of your or your forehead's business. Shut your trap and leave me alone." She was about to begin talking again. "Oh shut up already. I've seen enough of your aggravating face today." Luckily, she shut up. Finally-
"Don't talk to Sakura-chan like that!"
"OH MY JASHIN! Hina-chan, really, how can you STAND this? This is worse than Neji and Hiashi on bad hair days!" Hinata broke out into laughter. Whole-hearted and not shy laughter. I smiled to myself. "There. It's been a while since I've seen you laugh like that." I winced. "I really have spoken too much today. What's with this? I didn't know it was 'make Saya talk endlessly' day! Someone should've informed me!" Hinata laughed a bit more before she finally calmed down. I linked my arm through hers.
"Hina-chan, you didn't answer my question."
"Oh, no. Kakashi-sensei didn't have me take any sort of paper test." I tsked at my dad's irresponsibility and dragged Hinata to my house.
"I don't think you've met my mom yet. Have you heard? She's back! And I was wrong about her!"
AN: What is this? What is this thing right here? Is this what I think it is? Yes, I believe it is. It's an update. I haven't updated in thirty one days! I have some laziness issues. I should've updated after midterms were over but I was writing this actually and sorry it took so long to finish and i was so annoyed while I was writing this because I'm following the main storyline and I know I'm making a run on sentence but let me disobey the laws of grammar for now because I really don't care and I should be doing my damn homework but I don't want to and believe it or not I'm in honors classes so I'm tired all the damn time and... (Coughs) Hope you enjoyed! Sorry I skipped most of the dialogue, but I couldn't be bothered to continuously switch between Hulu and Notes. I put what I remembered. Also, before you ask if this is going to be a triangle story or switch to focus on Gaara, no it won't. And before you call Saya a Sue because she's strong and nice and awesome and hasn't been killed by Gaara yet, she's going to become pathetically weak. I can say this since I bet no one reads my rants. I mean, who cares? Chapter is up, author rant down below, chapter is all that's needed. Hey, isn't this chapter a little longer than usual? I hope so! I tried so hard on this! I pushed through my laziness to have my little sweethearts gobble this chapter up and be ungrateful bastards who don't review!
Yeah. Please review. I'll become happy if you do.