-Half an hour later-

"You're late!" sakura and naruto screamed at Kakashi as they arrived at the bridge.

"Sorry guys that's my fault." Mari said sighing slightly as she perched on the rail of the bridge above them.

"Forget that, I have something to tell you all." Kakashi said looking around at all of his students " I've put you all forwards for the chuunin exams, here are the forms you need to fill them in and take them to room 302 of the academy by 3'oclock tomorrow afternoon."

"You're all dismissed." He said smiling at the looks on their faces.

"Hey why don't we all go get something to eat? It's my treat." Mari said to them all before glancing at Kakashi who nodded slightly from behind his book and smiling.

"Can we get ramen?" naruto said loudly making Mari wince. "Sure we can." She replied ruffling his hair slightly and chuckling when he scowled at her.

"Sasuke-kun did you miss me." Someone shouted from behind them making Mari spin around, she moved out of the way to stop herself from being hit by a yellow and purple blur which launched itself at Sasuke.

"Oh, hello Asuma." She said waving to him as she watched Sasuke try to pry ino off him; she winced slightly at the noise.

Kakashi stopped and moved back standing beside Mari.

"I forgot you haven't met my team yet, his is ino yamanka, choiji akamichi and Shikamaru Nara." Asuma said pointing to each one of them in turn.

"Oh so you're shikaku's son. I've heard all about you." She said smiling at Shikamaru before looking around at the others again.

"We're just going to get something to eat your team are welcome to join us." Asuma said smiling when Kakashi and Mari nodded.

"Naruto, we've got a change of plans, we're going to go have barbecue with team 10." Kakashi said smiling at naruto.

"Aww." Naruto said looking down, only to scowl at Mari again when she ruffled his hair. "Come on naruto, we're paying."

Asuma shook his head slightly as they all headed to the restaurant, ino, Shikamaru, naruto and the rest all sat at a table together leaving the jonin's to sit together at another.

"So Mari how are things with you?" Asuma said exhaling a cloud of smoke as they cooked the meat.

"I'm fine. Although I have been having trouble with one of my abilities." She said not looking at Kakashi as she spoke, she could feel his gaze on the back of her head.

"It seems that my mind is more open to people's thoughts than normal. I'm a bit worried about it because it normally means that something is going to happen." She said, before jumping slightly when Kakashi put his hand on hers beneath the table.

" it'll be alright, we'll all help you work out what ever has caused your ability to play up." He said looking over at Asuma who nodded.

Meanwhile over on the other table.-

"So that's the new jonin." Shikamaru said remembering what his father had said about her. "I still can't believe the speed she beat my father in, while injured as well."

" yeah Mari- san's good. She had Sasuke beat and tied to a post within a minute the first time they sparred together." Naruto said trying not to laugh when Sasuke glared at him.

"You've got to admit though, she's pretty isn't she." Ino said looking over at the older kunoichi.

"Yeah she is. I think she likes Kakashi-sensei as well." Sakura said smiling slightly at the thought.

Shikamaru remained silent as he looked over at the three jonin "I wonder where she comes from originally. We all know she didn't grow up here." He said thoughtfully.

"No one really knows about her past. I think that the only people that know about it are the hokage and Kakashi-sensei." Sakura said softly "She always looks upset when anyone mentions the past, so no one really asks her about it."

Shikamaru nodded before eating some of the meat choiji had cooked he remained quiet as he watched them All talk his mind going over the possibilities.

He looked over when he saw a chuunin walking over to talk to Asuma, Mari and Kakashi and nudged naruto who was sat next to him. They all went silent as they listened to see what was going on.

The jonin table.-

"What is it kotetsu-san?" Kakashi said looking at the chuunin in front of him.

"Mari aikido san is required at the meeting for the chuunin exams." He said smiling over at Mari as he spoke.

Mari nodded before turning to Kakashi "I'll see you later. Bye Asuma i hope both teams do well in the chuunin exams." She said before looking at kotetsu.

"I'm coming." She said before walking over and putting her sandals on.

"Well let's go then." kotetsu said before they both vanished.

Chuunin exam meeting-

"Nice to see you here, Mari aikido san." Ibiki said as she sat down next to kotetsu and izumo.

Both kotetsu and izumo smiled before looking over at Ibiki again. "All of you will be acting as proctors during the first exam with me as well as the second with Anko." Ibiki said loudly "Mari- san I know that you are a jonin and most of the time the proctoring is left to the chuunin, however the hokage has said that you unique abilities might come in handy if there is any trouble."

15 minutes later-

"You all have your roles for the first test of the chuunin exams, you are dismissed." Ibiki said "Wait kotetsu, izumo and Mari please stay behind."

Mari looked as surprised as kotetsu and izumo as she was asked to stay behind. "Tomorrow I'd like you to disguise yourselves as a group of genin and remain like that until shortly before the first exam. " I want the three of you to set up a genjutsu over the second floor, then stand outside room 203 and see the reactions of the candidates." He said before dismissing them.

"Kotetsu, Izumo. It's nice to be working with you both." Mari said smiling at them both,

"The pleasures all ours. We saw your test for jonin; it was amazing I've never seen Genma and shikaku beaten so fast." Kotetsu said grinning before looking at izumo.

"What's this you're saying about me?" A voice said from behind Mari making her jump slightly.

"Hello Genma, we were talking about the jonin test." Mari said smiling at him when she saw the smile on his face.

"Oh yeah I promised I'd show you kitia someday." She said before summoning the white wolf.

"Guys meet kitia, Kitia this is izumo, kotetsu and Genma." Mari said.

Kitia walked towards each of the men in turn and sniffed them before moving back to stand beside Mari. "It's always nice to meet friends of my lady's" kitia said her voice low as she licked one of her white paws.

Genma blinked before chewing his senbon again as kitia walked forwards and put her paw on his leg gently. "The king of the wolves was right to come to this village. You are all worthy of the loyalty of the wolf contract." She said before turning to Mari "I am your familiar now; if you need me just call my name." The wolf disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Mari blinked before looking at the others and smiling, she rubbed her forehead gently almost absentmindedly making Genma look at her curiously. "Mari- san you haven't been having any problems with your abilities lately have you?" he asked her. Mari looked at him for a moment before looking away giving Genma his answer.

"Anyway I'll see you two in the morning." She said to kotetsu and izumo smiling slightly before turning to leave, she waved at them both as she got to the end of the corridor.