IMPARTANT TO ME: usually I don't do things like that but I just read an e-mail from a friend and decided to break my habits. I'd like to dedicate this chapter to a friend who's grandmother is in bad health (she'll know who I mean). Hang in there and hope that your grandma's pain is only temporary.
QUITE IMPORTANT SO I THINK YOU SHOULD READ THIS: being a bit depressed with the number of reviews I've been receiving lately, I've decided to slow things down. To put it simply my exams are killing me and trying to keep up with four fics (not to mention that I'm helping some of my friends to write theirs) I've decided that unless the interest in the fic is satisfactory, I won't update. To put it simply: you wanna know what happens next, then let me know you do. Also, due to the exams, I probably won't be able to update until February… but it's not official (I won't be able to update before Monday, that's for sure and after that it depends of how much free time I'll be able to dig out). So if you want me to spend my free time writing next chapters of this fic, let me know.
Also I've decided to answer some of your questions here, coz they're not such a big secret and the answers might be interesting to all the readers. To do that I've borrowed the idea of RaineJoybringer (whose stories I highly recommend). Hope you don't mind.
Question: Is Takai a Jinchuuriki?
Answer: Nope. I've decided that the new generation of shinobies won't have them (if you want to read my fic with a lot of Jinchuuriki you should check out "Shinobi Showdown"). Takai's case is a bit different, but it'll be revealed in the proper time.
Question: Will there be a flashback about how Sasuke was brought back or is it starting from a different point?
Answer: Actually every event that happened before Kakashi's Gaiden (and few afterwards) are those that happened, so Sasuke DID go to the Sound. And yes, an explanation how he got back to Konoha is planned (as well as few, other events that were pointed out or mentioned during the story… almost everything has it's reason in this fic).
A bit of a warning for all you readers: MANY OC's will be appearing in this chappie. At first it was supposed to be two parts, but then I've decided to put it together so you'll know all the characters that will play some part later on. To make it easier I placed a list of the teams and the names of the characters (who you learned already, because those who names weren't revealed are staying anonymous, sorry), so if you get confused, you can always check the bottom. Of and for the record, I didn't based my snow-nins on the movie (they were invented before I even saw it).
Last thing before I start: new chapter cover was drawn by Hana Ku, so if you wanna know the link, it's on my profile page.
Now, without further to do:
Chapter #29: Encounter
Chapter Cover: Kusari is dressed like a cowboy and he's using his chain like it is a lasso
"Wow, it's like the whole Konoha's here…" noticed Kusari when he and his team arrived at the big square where the first Chuunin Exam was supposed to begin. "Only most of the people gathered aren't leaf-nins…"
The crowd around them was huge. People of all ages seemed to came. Ibuki looked around slowly and noticed few shinobies from Hidden Sand, Grass, Rain, Waterfall and even less famous villages, as Hidden Snow or Hidden Metal..
"And they all seem rather strong…" added Kumiko quietly.
"Chill, Kumiko-chan!" yelled Kai. "We'll kick everyone's butt and become chuunin faster then you could say 'shinobi'!"
"Funny you're the one saying that, loser" they all heard a voice. As they turned in the direction the voice came and saw a team of five, leaf-nins, that seemed their age. The one who spoken was a boy with silver hair, wearing a violet, ninja outfit (A/N: kinda like the one Kakashi wears). His mask covered his mouth and his eyes were brown. The hitae-ate with the Leaf symbol was on his forehead. "Especially since you're probably one of the weakest around here…"
"And you seem too confident for me… Senkou" replied Takaru, who came in front of his group. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but you shouldn't take Kai lightly…"
Kai looked at the new arrivals, trying to recall what he knew about them:
Hatake Senkou… he thought when his gaze stopped at the silver-haired boy. The son of the current Hokage, one of the best students in the Academy. He thinks that he's undefeated and looks down on everybody. I hate that guy.
Igaku Mikka… now he looked at a girl with medium-length, black hair, clipped in a short ponytail and green eyes, wearing a light violet shirt with short sleeves and a yellow sun on the back. She wore her forehead protector around her neck. A silent girl who rarely speaks. When I look at her, she turns around. I don't know much about her.
Kobushi Galu… with that he glared at a boy with spiky, black hair and blue eyes, wearing a green, sleeveless shirt and black pants. You could also spot metal protectors on both his arms. He carried his headband on his left arm. This guy is a loner. He seems confident in his abilities, but that's everything I know.
Inuzuka Tsume… this time his eyes stopped at a girl with short, messy, brown hair, two, red, fang-like tattoos on her cheeks, hazel eyes, wearing a blue shirt and grey pants. Her hitae-ate was located on her forehead. Kai also noticed a small, brown-furred dog around her feet. The heiress of the famous Inuzuka clan. She's awfully loud and always carries her mutt, Uramaru, with her. Talking bout your everyday weirdo.
Benda Kokoro… finally his sight stopped at a blonde with short, straight hair and blue eyes, wearing a black and white outfit with no sleeves on top. He was using his headband as a belt. A rather quiet guy, who always seems to know what you wanna say. He seems to be a good guy, but I don't know him that much.
"Seems that this year all Konoha rookies will take part in the exam then…" announced Galu, as he pointed in a certain direction.
Takaru started to turn around, but before he was able to complete that task, a girl with short, blonde hair and hazel eyes, dressed in blue and yellow dress jumped on his neck, cheering: "Takaru-kun, I'm so glad to see you! We've been so long apart!"
"Kogane, you should keep it down…" advised a boy with medium-length, black hair, clipped in a ponytail, wearing a fishnet and a blue waistcoat on it. He wore short, black pants and his hitae-ate, with the Leaf symbol, was on his left arm. "They are our potential opponents, you know…"
"So, you guys too, eh?" asked Tsume.
"It's a free world and anyone who's gennin can participate in this exam…" announced a boy with spiky, blonde hair and hazel eyes, wearing an orange and white outfit with short sleeves. He was also carrying a wooden umbrella on his back and his hitae-ate was located on his left arm.
Amagasa Toku… Kai said to himself as he glared at the blonde boy with the umbrella. He's always carrying that umbrella! I don't know much about him. Not my type of guy.
Rikoteki Kogane… this time he looked at the girl hanging around Takaru's neck who had her headband used as a belt. Kumiko's arch rival when it comes to looks. She and her were the most popular girls at the Academy. She's a huge Takaru fan and likes arguing.
Debano Kitsune… now his sight stopped at the boy wearing fishnet. A guy who thinks he's the smartest of all. He has a sleepy voice and always carries his hands in his pockets.
Konpaku Rei… his gaze went to a girl with long, brown hair, clipped in a ponytail, with many, colorful marking on her face. She was wearing a brown, Indian-like dress and seemed to be fighting with her sleep. Her hitae-ate was on her forehead. Extremely lazy girl, who doesn't seem to have enough interest in anything! And her snoring can drive a guy crazy!
Gusoku Hanamaru… finally his eyes rested on a chubby boy with spiky, blonde hair, wearing a white and red outfit with a huge, golden shield attached to his back. His headband was also located on his forehead. He's always eating something. Plus, he smells! So there!
"H… hello…" Mikka bowed slightly at the new arrivals.
"So, we're all here, eh?" stated Senkou. "How interesting…"
"From what I've heard, we're the only rookies this year…" announced Kokoro. "I know you guys wouldn't want to hear about it, but you shouldn't be so happy… this will be way more difficult then you expect…"
"Whatever…" replied Rei, as she got back to looking at the ceiling. Kai had a strange impression that she was sleeping while she stood.
"Chill, Kokoro" added Tsume. "We trained hard and we're not your everyday weaklings..."
"Then why is your voice so unsure?" asked her blonde teammate.
"Hey, I didn't gave you permission to spy on my…" began the dog ninja, but she was instantly quiet down by Senkou:
"That's enough, Tsume… leave your energy for the exam…"
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"So, is that the brat?" asked a hooded figure, standing near the wall along with his teammates. Three of them were wearing a black robes with hoods, that covered their heads, just like him. The last one was wearing w straw headgear and a red and white, Chinese male outfit. His head was lowered, so you couldn't see his face.
"Looks like it…" nodded the other, hooded man, the tallest of them all.
"He doesn't look much, if you ask me…" announced the third figure with a rough voice.
"Looks can be deceiving, Fuma…" reminded the fourth, hooded figure, with a female voice.
"His skills play no part here…" stated the one wearing headgear. "Our mission is clear…"
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"Rookies…" sighed Funbo, who was observing the young leaf-nins with his team from one of the corners. "Guess it can't be helped…"
"Could your irritation have anything to do with the fact that your sister's standing with them?" asked Taki with a smirk.
"Give him a break…" Akira cut in. "And you, Funbo, should relax… so what if they're cheerful? I think it's a good way to prepare yourself for the hardships that awaits us…"
"Well, their yelling is getting on my nerves a bit…" announced the one with blue hair. "I just hope that they're stronger then they look. What do you think, Hitomi?" and with that he turned to the white-eyed girl.
She didn't answer. All she did was observing a certain group of sand-nins, lead by a black-haired boy, who was carrying a scythe. "Who the hell is he?" she kept wondering.
But what Hitomi did not know, was that Takai's team was observed not only by her, but also by another group of sand-nins. Well, mostly by a short girl with long, wavy, blonde hair, clipped in a ponytail, dressed in a white dress (A/N: quite similar to the one Kurenai used to wear). She had large, blue eyes and her hitae-ate was located on her forehead.
"Would you stop worrying about that freak Hari?" asked another sand-nin, all wrapped in bandages, thanks to which he looked like a mummy. His skin was tan (you could tell that because the bandages didn't covered the area around his eyes… but only that part of his body) and his eyes were bright red.
"Don't take Takai lightly, Karame…" replied the one called Hari. "You know that he's…"
"We have Sabure on our team…" reminded a tall sand-nin with short, blonde hair. His face gave an impression of a snake. His eyes were yellow and snake-like and he was wearing a black and white outfit (A/N: not so different from the those that samurais wore). His fingers were surrounded with thin lines.
As he said so, he turned to a girl wearing a white, fox mask. The girl had long, red hair and was wearing a jet, black robe. She was also carrying a large gourd on her back. "He's strong, but not undefeated…" added the blonde boy.
The last member of the team, a boy with short, spiky, black hair and red eyes, wearing a grey, ninja outfit and carrying a huge sword with spiky blade on his back, said nothing. He just observed a team of waterfall-nins that seemed to argue with a group of rain-nins.
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"Aaaa!" one tall rain-nin yelled in pain as his entire body suddenly got filled with senbons. Before him stood a waterfall-nin with long, wavy, black hair and red eyes. He was wearing a blue outfit with wide sleeves and was smiling widely.
"Kasui, we were supposed to not draw attention to ourselves…" reminded him another waterfall-nin, who was quite wide. He had spiky, brown hair and green eyes. He was wearing a red outfit with two, pipe's attached to his back. He also carried a heavy looking hammer. "What was it this time?"
"He stepped on my foot and didn't apologize…" replied the one called Kasui simply.
"Leave it, Tetsu-dono…" asked a voice and suddenly a small boy, wearing an orange, ninja-dress with a long tongue sticking out of his mouth jumped on the hammerman's shoulder. "You know he has short temper…"
"Shita's right…" nodded another waterfall-nin, this time a girl, with medium-length, black hair, wearing a brown shirt and white pants. You could also spot a huge, white tiger walking beside her. "Still revealing your abilities before the exam begins is pure stupidity…" with that she turned to the one called Kasui.
The last member of the team, a girl with medium-length, brown hair, clipped in two bons, wearing a light blue dress and carrying few bottles with water around her belt just left out a sigh.
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"What do you think, Tsuino?" asked a Rain shinobi, who observed the whole scene from far away. He wore square glasses and had medium-length, straight, black hair. He was wearing white and was carrying a large bow.
"That was fast…" replied another rain-nin. His face was full of scars. He had long, black hair, blue eyes and was dressed in a green robe. He also had a beard around his mouth. "Even though Ameru isn't the strongest, defeating him with that much ease is to be respected. Those waterfall-nin's can be dangerous…"
"I think you're giving that senbon guy too much credit, Tsuino-kun…" announced a girl with short, spiky, blue hair, wearing a blue shirt with short sleeves and grey pants. She also carried three umbrella's on her back. "That was a simple trick…"
"Still he managed to surprise a rain-nin with the speed of his senbons…" reminded another rain-nin, a boy with medium-length, red hair, pulled up. He had sleeveless, white shirt and baggy, blue pants. "And we're though to be experts in those sort of techniques…"
"You're thinking too much…" stated the last member of the team, a girl with short, brown hair, wearing a black shirt with black pants. She had a long chain ended with a round saw around her left arm. "We'll see what those waterfall-nins are capable of during the exam…"
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"He launched so many senbons in a fracture of a second…" noticed Takaru. "I couldn't even see him do it. How about you, Ibuki?"
"Hard to say…" replied the young assassin. "His throwing speed is incredible… the best thing you could do is dodge…"
"Your eyes are just too slow…" Senkou cut in. "He picked out most of the senbons from a hostel on his leg… still to aim and fire at that rate…"
"Hey, are you gonna share those?" Kai didn't pay much attention to the whole conversation and walked over to Hanamaru, who just started a bag of potato chips.
"This is starting to get interesting, doesn't it, Mikka-chan?" Kogane came closer to the shy girl and gave her a thumbs up.
"I… I guess so…" replied the shy girl as she backed away. But while she was walking back, she bumped into someone. "I'm sorry…" she said quietly with a bow.
To everyone's surprise though, the snow-nin she bumped into, a huge man wearing red and blue outfit, with a square, wooden helmet, which covered his face, on his head, raised up a huge mace, prepared to attack the leaf-nin. But then another snow-nin appeared between them. This one had spiky, black hair and was wearing violet with wolf's skin placed on his back in a way the wlf's head was located above his. He had a long spear attached to his back and Mikka also noticed three, monkey statues attached to his belt.
"Take it easy, Yamazaru…" the spearman tried to calm the huge man down. "It's not the proper time yet…"
The one called Yamazaru slowly began to lower his mace, but still said nothing.
"You're no fun, Yari…" announced another snow-nin, a girl with long, blue hair, wearing blue and white dress with wide sleeves. "It was just starting to get interesting…"
"Don't worry, Aisu…" cut in a tall man with long, messy, brown hair and a bandage going across his nose. He was wearing brown and white fur all over his body and carried a huge sword on his back. There was also an oversized bulldog walking beside him. "We'll have plenty of fun during the exam itself… you'll get to see Yamazaru smashing some brat's head yet…"
As they walked away, the last of the snow-nins, a girl with medium-length, light blue hair, wearing a light blue robe bended down to Mikka and whispered: "You better watch out from now on… my teammates aren't that nice and once they find someone not of their liking, they tend to get… creepy…"
"Mikka can take care of herself…" assured Kokoro as he walked closer to his teammate.
"I didn't say she couldn't… well, see you during exams…" and with that she ran after her team.
"Boy, the Chuunin Exam sure attracts weirdos…" announced Kusari but at the same moment he said that, he felt a cold blade coming at his neck. He jumped back in the last second, thus avoiding the attack.
The one who attacked turned out to be a shinobi from Kane Gakure. He had spiky, short, black hair and a black ninja mask was covering his mouth. His eyes were hazel and we was wearing black. His hitae-ate was on his forehead and he was holding two katanas in his hands.
"Long time no see, eh Kusari?" asked the metal-nin.
"Futatsu…" the chain master said quietly, looking at the swordsman.
"So, you remember… I'm flattered…" and with that he charged at the leaf-nin once more, only this time his attack was blocked with an axe.
"Futatsu, that is enough…" ordered another metal-nin. This one was bold and had a dragon tattoo on his forehead. His left eye was shining red and was placed in some sort of metal plate. He was wearing black and red. "We came here to pass the exam, not for fun. Besides, this isn't the one you're hunting…"
"And who the hell are you?" yelled Kai, pointing a finger at him. "And why did that freak attacked my teammate?"
"We're the team from Kane Gakure…" replied the boldy. "My name is Ono Reiji… that 'freak' as you called him is Futatsu… and these are Hogosha…" with that he pointed at the boy with spiky, blue hair and four, fang-like tattoos on his cheeks, wearing a dark blue outfit and carrying metal protectors on his hands. "… Naginata…" with that a girl with short, red hair, dressed in a white, sleeveless shirt and short, blue pants, carrying a long stick bowed. "… and Sentou…" here he motioned to a boy with spiky, black hair, wearing a violet, sleeveless shirt and blue pants. But what really drew attention in this one were his arms, which were completely covered with metal. "And the reason why he attacked your friend was because he, apparently, have some unfinished business with your teammate's brother…"
"Kusari never said he had a brother…" Kumiko said to herself, but kept quiet.
"So loud…" they all heard a voice and when they turned around to see who spoken, they noticed a team of moon-nins coming their way.
The one who spoken was a boy with spiky, light green hair, wearing dark violet, blue and brown outfit. He had red eyes and was carrying a strange-looking sword on his back. For a moment he glared at Rei, but then his sight got back to the rest of the group. "Try not to make all that rocket… everyone is excited about the exam, so the bomb might go off anytime…"
Kusari looked at the new arrivals and his gaze stopped at the youngest among the moon-nins, a girl with long, blue hair and blue eyes. She had a strange tattoo on her cheek and was wearing all white. "Teela, didn't expect to see you here…"
"Is Hasaki around?" replied the girl, not bothering to even say 'hello'.
"I'm afraid he won't be appearing during the exams…" responded the chain master.
A second later the rest of the moon team arrived. The first one was a girl with long, red hair, clipped in a strange way. She was wearing violet, Chinese dress with golden decorations here and there and had light green eyes.
The other two were boy in the same age. The were twins and the only difference between them was their hair. The first one had blonde and the other had green hair. They both wore green and brown dress and had a scar across their left cheeks.
"So this is the brat?" asked the light-green haired boy, bending down to Kusari's level. "I was expecting something more from the brother of the famous Hagane Hasaki… so tell me, do you have any, special skills or are you just counting on your teammates to…"
"Enough, Tasuki" Teela said without changing her voice nor her emotionless expression, yet you could sense something that made her teammate listen instantly. "We're not here to make friends. Kusari-kun, I wish you luck during the exams. Maybe we'll get to face each other… if not I'll find another way to settle the score…" and with that she took her leave with her team following her.
"You rookies are talented…" announced a certain, red-haired grass-nin as he propped himself on Takaru's and Senkou's shoulders. "The exam haven't started yet and you already found yourselves so many enemies…"
"And you are…?" asked Ibuki, looking at the Kusa shinobi suspiciously.
"Right, where are my manners?" the grass-nin hit himself on the head. "My name is Wanabi Hizoku and these are my teammates: Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kyohaku Tokame and Kuchibashi Taka…" saying that he pointed at the grass-nin you guys should know a little (A/N: they appeared at the beginning of the 27 chapter). Tobane turned out to be the girl with blonde hair, Nezumi was the one with the rat, Tokame was the one with the hood and Taka was the one with the mask on.
"Freak show continues…" Kai sighed to himself.
"That rat-girl seems pretty…" thought Hanamaru as he swallowed another potato chip and kept staring at the one called Nezumi.
"Pathetic…" Takai thought to himself, looking at the Leaf rookies and the group of shinobies gathered around them. Just then he raised his sight at the nearby stone.
A second later a smoke bomb exploded on the stone and a woman with long, brown hair, clipped in two bons walked out of the cloud of white smoke. She was wearing an orange, Chinese dress and blue pants and seemed to be in her early thirties.
"Welcome all Chuunin Selection Exam participants!" she called out, drawing everyone's attention. "I see that some of you can't wait for the event to start, so I guess I'll skip the formalities… My name is Hyuuga Tenten and I'll be the examiner for the first test!"
And with that this chapter ends. Hope you liked it and that you'll drop me a review once you're done.
Now, as promised, a list of the more important OC's:
KONOHA TEAM #7 (lead by Uzumaki Naruto) Murasakki Kumiko, Tanken Ibuki, Gekido Takaru, Hagane Kusari and Haisha Kai
KONOHA TEAM #3 (lead by Nara Shikamaru) Konpaku Rei, Rikoteki Kogane, Amagasa Toku, Debano Kitsune and Gusoku Hanamaru
KONOHA TEAM #4 (lead by Hyuuga Hinata) Igaku Mikka, Inuzuka Tsume, Benda Kokoro, Hatake Senkou and Kobushi Galu
KONOHA (lead by Aburame Shino) Hamano Taki, Hyuuga Hitomi, Manako Akira, Tanken Funbo and no info
SUNA TEAM #5 (lead by Temari) no info, no info, no info, Takai and Tarakudo
SUNA TEAM #6 (lead by Kankuro) Hari, Sabure, no info, no info and Karame
KUSA (grass-nins) Hokku Tobane, Kanraku Nezumi, Kyohaku Tokame, Kuchibashi Taka and Wanabi Hizoku
TSUKI (moon-nins) Junsei Teela, no info, no info, no info and Kihako Tasuki
KANE (metal-nins) Naginata, Ono Reiji, Futatsu, Hogosha and Sentou
AME (rain-nins) no info, no info, no info Furikuzu Tsuino and no info
BAKUFU (waterfall-nins) no info, no info, Abura Tetsu, Makko Shita and Rein Kasui
YUKI (snow-nins) Nadare Aisu (to those who read or will read my "Shinobi Showdown": she has nothing to do with Fukamaru), no info, Sarumaru Yari, no info and Yamazaru
KUMORI (shadow-nins) no info, no info, Fuma, no info and no info
And I think this is really the end of this chapter.
Hope you enjoyed it. Keep warm and till the next time.