Chapter 12: The First Phase
It was eight am when Hono got out of his bed. It was the day of the Chuunin Shiken's first phase, the written exam.
He quickly took a bath, brushed his teeth, put on his black ninja pants, black sneakers, the black sealed gloves and an open, black sleeveless vest with white lining on the edges and a white sun that looked like it was dripping blood on the vest's back.
He walked out only to be blocked by a blond girl and a tall guy wearing a black full body suit.
"Hey Kankuro, Temari. How are you two? How is Gaara?"- he asked with a big smile on his face. Kankuro and Temari looked at each other and nodded. Kankuro placed his hand on Hono's shoulder.
"We have something to tell you. As thanks for helping our brother."- the Sunagakure puppeteer said.
"What do you mean? Your sister's kiss was reward enough."- Hono answered, confused. Temari blushed and winked at him, Kankuro got annoyed.
"Just listen! We came to tell you that we didn't come to the Chuunin Shiken to actually become Chuunin. It's a set up. Your village is going to get overrun with Sunagakure and Otogakure shinobi in the third phase. Gaara was supposed to be the trigger, but now that you helped him, he can't."- he explained, with a worried face.
"Our father, the Kazekage made a deal with a man named Orochimaru to destroy this village so that we can take over it. Personally, we don't think that alliances should be broken just like that and thought we should warn you."- Temari continued, also with a worried face.
"And I suppose that you shouldn't be talking about this due to your worried faces."- Hono replied.
"We... we have to admit we didn't know what to do. Can you help us? Again?"- she asked. He kept himself silent for a few moments.
"My advanced and conjoined genes combined with the kyuubi being inside of me gave me the abilitiy to think better than a whole team of Chuunin. Your sensei, Baki, he looks like a stand up guy. I bet everything I own that he doesn't like this betraying either. Tell him that you told us and that the Hokage is willing to help you as long as you tell him everything. If Baki still doesn't like it, tell him that it is better to betray the Kazekage than to betray the village."- the white haired host said with an expressionless face.
"Wait, betray our father? Are you kidding? Never!"- Kankuro proclaimed, looking at him with a determined expression.
"Betray? You have no idea who Orochimaru is do you? He is one of the legendary sannin and known to love snakes. Like a snake, he always dumps his allies when he has no more use for them."- Hono replied, his arms crossed.
"What do you mean?"- Temari asked.
"I mean there is no more Kazekage! He is probably dead already! I bet Orochimaru is going to wear his clothes and replace him in the phases. In the last phase, he is probably going to attempt an assassination against the Hokage."- he explained.
"Shit! We have to get going!"- Kankuro said, turning back.
"Are you stupid? Two of the sand siblings missing the first phase? It would attract too much attention! Orochimaru would realize something is wrong and retreat, leaving you no chance to get back at him for killing your dad."- he said, holding Kankuro's arm. Kankuro stopped and looked at him, a tear in his eye.
"Shit, just shit!"- he muttered, tears coming out of his eyes.
"That doesn't mean there's nothing you can do. Send a message to Baki to check on the Kazekage while you two take on the first phase. In the middle of the exam I will put you two under genjutsu and give you the answers so you can pass. GO!"- he ordered. Temari and Kankuro quickly dashed away. He quickly jumped down his building and headed towards the Academy, where the exam would be held.
Ten minutes later he arrived, seeing Temari, Kankuro and Gaara by the entrance. Shino and Hinata were meters away. The Sunagakure shinobi nodded at him, confirming that all was done. Gaara looked better. His dark rings were now half as dark. Hono approached Shino and Hinata.
"Let's do this."- they both headed inside and entered their classroom, being followed by the sand siblings, Team 7 and Team Guy, Tenten's team. After a bit, a lot of other teams entered. From the grass village, rock village and one came in from the Mist village. As more entered, Hono noticed the silver-haired boy kneeling on the ground next to Sasuke, laying cards.
"What are you doing?"- Hono asked, crouching. The silver-haired boy didn't even lift his head.
"I'm reading the Genin's information in some cards I created. Let's see, Aburame Shino, strategic expert, student of Aburame Shibi, Konoha jounin. Completed missions, 20 D-rank 15 C-rank, 10 B-rank and 1 A-rank."- the silver-haired guy read. By now, everyone was in the class room, giving each other weird looks. The tension was rising.
"Awh man, you all look so nervous. I bet most of you are pussies. It is ok though, means I get to kill more this exam."- Hono spoke out loud with a smile on his face. Suddenly, the air was filled with killing intent and everyone was looking at him. Hono released his and the Kyuubi's killing intent, a red aura appearing around him. Everyone took some steps back.- "Thought so."
"Why did you do that? In case you haven't noticed, the tension in this room can be cut with a knife."- the silver-haired boy asked, now looking at him.
"I say what goes in my mind."- he replied with a grin.
"Who in the hell are you anyway?"- the boy asked.
"Hono. No surname."- he responded. The silver-haired boy fell behind.
"Hono? "The Blaze" Hono? As in The Red Demon Hono?"- he asked, terrified.
"Heard of me?"- Hono replied. Everyone in the room was confused. The silver-haired boy looked at everyone before replying.
"He's the youngest ninja ever to be added into the bingo book and one of the few people that have a "do not engage" on his profile!"- he explained. Hono shrugged his shoulders.
"It's not that big of a deal."- the white-haired boy replied.
"It says in the bingo book that you killed nine hundred people in less than ten seconds after defeating a jounin level ninja with no injuries to tell the story in the land of waves."- the silver-haired boy said, still terrified.
"Yeah... that whole thing. I was nicknamed "The Red Demon" after the end of that mission. I didn't earn it though. I just killed my prey like any animal does in the wild. Give them a place in the bingo book why don't ya?"- Hono replied, casually. Everyone in the room took a few steps back except his team and the Kirigakure team composed of three girls who stepped forward, each one with their copies of the bingo book on their hands.
The one on the right had purple hair that framed her face and trailed down to the middle of her back, her soft blue eyes shining and a light blush on her otherwise expressionless face. Her skin was so pale it almost glowed and she had a lollypop in her mouth. She wore a black tank top under a sleeveless white jumper and purple sleeves that covered her arms and a green checkered shirt and stripy purple knee socks.
The girl on the left had long pink hair and a very cute smile. Her large blue eyes had a clear innocence behind them that seemed to make even more beautiful. She kept sneaking glances at the white-haired host as they made their way up to him. She had on a tight fitting blue tank top with a white leather jacket and a white skirt that didn't reach her knees.
The one in the middle seemed to be the leader and was very beautiful, just like the other two. She had long white hair, blood red eyes and a body that most women would kill for. She had on the same clothes as the pink haired girl except her top was red and her jacket and skirt were black. She walked with confidence and had a smirk on her face as she made her way over to the Red Demon, stopping in front of him.
"So you are "The Red Demon". When I saw your picture I thought you were cute, but you are much better in person."- she said, looking at his defined torso before looking at his face.- "Mind signing our books?"
"..."- everyone was quiet by then, looking at the girls and at Hono who had a grin on his face. He took their books and drew a white sun dripping blood on each book. The red-eyed girl tooked the books back while smirking at him.
"You've got quite the reputation, juggling a hunter nin like a toy, punching her so hard that she only fell after flying for a bunch of meters before slaughtering nine hundred armed thugs in exactly 6.54 seconds and then mercilessly stab and decapitate a business man before catching his head with your katana that was always being held by your teeth, showering his blood on you."- she commented with a big smile.
"Oh yeah. Most fun I had in my life."- he said, looking up and remembering that day.
"You're not like most ninja are you?"- she asked.
"Ha. I don't think so. Most ninja are boring."- he replied crouching and looking up at her. Her smirk grew bigger.
"I'm Akasha, this is my sister Moka and our friend Mizore. Maybe after the first part of the exam is over we can go out and trade stories."- she said with a persuading smile.
"Sure, sounds fun as long as it has a lot of blood. I'll be sure not to kill you until then."- he replied with a grin. They smiled and walked off, Akasha looking back at him over her shoulder and winking.
"It's a date."- she said before turning her face around and walking away. Hono turned back to the faces of Kiba, Sasuke, Shino, silver-haired boy, Rock Lee, Neji and the rest of the male ninja close enough to them.
"What?"- he asked, confused. Kiba shrugged off his shock, being able to mutter.
"Dude, I've got to get in that book!"- he muttered, receiving silent nods from his male friends.
All of them got to their places and Morino Ibiki started the exam. He said that it would last an hour. Everyone started with ten points. Every time they were caught cheating, two points would be deducted. If they killed anyone in the room, they would be disqualified. Time went on and it was only after fourty minutes that Hono silently performed four signs. Horse, Snake, Dragon, Tiger. He opened his eyes to reveal the Yin Yang symbol. Akumanogan! He quickly copied everything on the test of a Grass ninja in front of him and put Temari and Kankuro under a genjutsu, telling them the answers. After it was all done, five minutes were left. Hono stood up and walked to the Grass ninja in front of him that had been the source of all the answers and tapped his shoulder. The Grass ninja looked up at him before being blasted away with Hono's sealed glove technique. The Grass ninja went flying through the window and landed on the ground outside. After this, Hono grabbed the ninja's exam, curled it into a ball and threw it out the window as well before going back to his seat. Everyone was shocked and Ibiki walked up to him with a shocked face.
"What?"- Hono asked him.
"WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?"- Ibiki replied, pointing out the window at the ninja that was being carried to the hospital.
"Hey, you can't say a thing. There were no rules about blasting ninja out the window and throwing their exam at them. I was bored..."- Hono answered, laying back and putting his legs and feet on the table. Ibiki simply turned around and walked to the front of the black board muttering that he needed a drink.
"Everyone, exam's over! There is one final question. Those of you who decide to try and answer it, be aware that if you fail, you'll never have a chance at becoming a Chuunin again. The rest can give up and try again next year."- the examiner announced with a devilish smile. Five minutes later, a third of the classroom had left.- "Ok, for those of you who stayed, you pass! A ninja must have the determination and guts to face the unknown!"
"..."- everyone in the room was silent, sending death glares at the examiner for putting fear in their minds. Suddenly a big white cloud materialized in front of them with a big banner saying "The Sexy and Single Mitarashi Anko!"After a bit, the cloud dissipated to reveal a sexy purple haired woman. She wore a beige coat and a light brown skirt over a fishnet full body suit that ended at her thighs and forearms. Her purple hair was tied into a spiky ponytail and she had light brown eyes. She had big breasts and a nice body, but it was nothing compared to Akasha's.
"Wow, all of these are still up for the second phase? You're losing your touch Ibiki!"- she said as every male in the room except Hono bled from their noses. Did this not go unnoticed by her as she walked up to him and looked at him straight in the eyes.- "This kid is either broken or gay."
"I don't swing that way if that's what you are asking. I like women."- he replied, looking at her.
"Then why didn't you react like them? Am I not sexy enough for you?"- she asked. He laughed.
"Don't worry, you are. But when I first see someone, I don't think of how hot they are like my male pals. I think of killing them. It kind of kills the mood. Besides, I haven't bled in years."- he answered, grinning. After a bit, she grinned as well.
"You're something else kid. Anyway, I am the Sexy and Single Mitarashi Anko and I am going to be the examiner for the second phase. Meet me by training ground 44 tomorrow morning."- she ordered before disappearing. Again, everyone was looking at Hono.
"I should have taken the Chuunin Exam long ago. All this attention feels nice."- he smirked, sending chills down everyone's spine.