Special Chapter 2
Becoming a Chuunin
It was hard for Kyo to imagine that these three immature children in front of him were the most advanced genin team Konoha had seen since the three great sannin. They were just so…juvenile. Still he had promised them that if they passed his test he would recommend them for this terms Chuunin exam. He sighed as he patted his overly exited cousin on top of her pure white hair.
"Calm down Hikari-chan," Kyo said. "We'll get there when we get there. There is no need to rush."
"But niiii-chaaan," Hikari said. "I wanna be there nooww."
Kyo sighed and rubbed his forehead with his tired fingers. "Hikari you know better then that. When we're out as a team you have to call me sensei."
Hikari pouted but nodded in agreement.
Itachi rolled his eyes. "You are such a child." He muttered. "I can't believe you even passed the graduation exam."
"You're just jealous because I passed ni-sensei's test before you did." Hikari said as she stuck out her tongue.
"Only by five seconds," Itachi growled. "And that's just because you cheated."
"I didn't cheat!" Hikari said. "You're the one who pulled my hair!"
"Because you tripped me first!"
"You shouldn't have stepped on my foot!"
"Honestly you two," Yotaro said as he rolled his eyes. "You're causing a scene."
"Probably because people aren't used to seeing the Uchiha heir show so much emotion," Kyo chuckled. "Usually he's a human ice box."
"Hn," Itachi said as he snapped his jaw shut and crossed his arms, purposely ignoring the white haired girl to his left.
"Ne sensei," Yotaro asked suddenly unsure. "How long would we be gone if we get accepted?"
Kyo glanced down at the Yotaro, whose soft brown eyes were staring uneasily at the Konoha day-care center where he knew the boy's little sister, Tenten, stayed while her brother was with his team.
"The first two exams shouldn't be any longer then a week and a half," Kyo told him. "Then, if you make it that far, the third exam will be a tournament held a month after that."
Yotaro bit his lip uneasily. "What about my sister? She can't be here alone. She's only three and a half."
"Don't worry Yotaro," Kyo said with a slight grin. "I'm sure Kairi would be more then happy to take care of her for you. She'll be watching Naruto-chan during that time as well so Tenten-chan won't be lonely."
Yotaro sighed in relief. "That's good. I wouldn't want my sister to be alone but I don't want to miss the exam either."
"Hey ni-sensei!" Hikari said as she bounced on the balls of her feet and waved her out stretched arm. "We're here! We're here! We're here!"
"We heard you the first time you twit!" Itachi said.
"I wasn't talking to you Itachi-baka!"
Both Kyo and Yotaro sighed at the same time, "There they go again…"
XXXXXXXXX
"I'm not quite sure I approve of this…" Yondaime said as he gazed at the not-quite-eight-year-old genin team before him. "You all have only been a group for less then a year. I'm not sure you're all ready for this."
"We are Yondaime-sama!" Hikari said with a wide happy grin. "We all passed Kyo-nii-chan's test and I even beat Itachi-baka!"
"You cheated!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Not!"
"Too!"
"Well I beat you both, now cut it out!" Yotaro said in exasperation.
"That's because he/she cheated!" Both fighters shouted at once.
"I did not, you did!"
Kyo dropped his head into his palms trying to hide his irritated expression. This wasn't quite the first impression he had hoped to make towards the newly installed fourth hokage. Finally when he could take it no more Kyo jerked his head up and shouted.
"That's it!" He said. "If I hear one more word out of either of you you'll be doing grunt work for the rest of your very short lives!"
This shut them up. After all who would want to do d-rank missions forever?
"You seem to have your work cut out for you Kyo-kun," Yume said lightly, his eyes shining with amusement.
"I think Sandaime-sama had it out for me…" Kyo mumbled under his breath.
Yume laughed. "I'm sure he gave you this team because he was confident you could handle it."
"Or because he wanted to pay me back for all the trouble I caused as a genin."
"Hm," Yume said contemplatively. "It could have been that too…"
"So may we participate, Yondaime-sama?" Itachi asked in his usual stoke manner.
Yume sat back in his chair slightly and rested his chin on his clasped hands. "While it is true you three are incredibly gifted, you are still very young."
The children were about to protest when Yume quickly held up a hand to silence them.
"However, I have complete faith in Kyo when he says that he believes you are ready. He is an excellent judge when it comes to preparedness. That being as it is, you three have my permission to apply for the next chuunin exam. It will be held in the hidden sand village so you will be in unfamiliar territory. I expect you will all be cautious and not take unnecessary risks."
"Hai, Yume-sama!" the three said in unison.
"Very well then," Yume said. "You are dismissed."
XXXXXXXXXX
None of them were quite sure what exactly they were expecting when they were told that they were going to travel to the Sunagakure. Maybe a beach, or an oasis, or something like that; so when they finally arrived in the Hidden Sand village they were kind of surprised at what they did find.
"It looks like a giant litter box," Yotaro said in slight disappointment.
"So does this mean it was pointless to bring my new swim suit?" Hikari said.
"Does there look like a place for you to swim?" Itachi asked rhetorically.
"Hmph," Hikari grunted as she turned away and crossed her arms. "Nobody asked you Itachi-baka."
"That's enough," Kyo said sternly to his young charges. "It's time for you three to head off towards the academy building to register."
"Hai, sensei," The three responded with terse nods before they leapt off into the direction of the Sand's ninja academy.
Smothering silence seemed to be left in their wake as Kyo sighed. "I hope I've done the right thing…"
XXXXXXXXX
None of the villagers paid any real attention to the three young leaf nins as they confusedly wandered the streets of Suna, in their eyes they were just children. They didn't even notice that they were there. That is, until Hikari started talking.
"Itachi no baka! You got us lost!"
Well, more like started making a scene.
"You were the one that said we should go left!" Itachi said.
"Yes I was! But you were the one that said we should go right!" Hikari said.
"Which means I was right! We shouldn't have taken a left!"
"Well you should have said something!"
"I did you idiot! I said that we should go right!"
"No! You said you thought it might be right! You never said anything about going right!"
"It was implied!"
"Was not!"
"Was too!"
"Not!"
"Too!"
"KNOCK IT OFF YOU TWO!" Yotaro shouted over their bantering.
Silence followed his shout though Itachi and Hikari kept glaring at each other for almost a minute before they turned away and crossed their arms, huffing in anger.
"Man!" Yotaro sighed. "You're acting like a couple of primary academy students!"
"He/she started it," both mumbled at the same time before shooting each other another glare.
"Whatever," Yotaro said as he rubbed his forehead. "Let's just ask for help."
"Fine." Both said.
Glare. Turn. Huff.
Yotaro rolled his eyes. "I swear you two are gonna end up married some day…"
"Me? Marry him/her! As if!"
Glare. Turn. Huff.
At this point Yotaro had stopped listening to their idiocy and had already walked up to one of the street venders to ask for directions.
"Excuse me," Yotaro called up to the portly lady behind one of the fruit stands. "Could you direct me and my friends to the Suna Ninja Academy please?"
The gray haired lady smiled at Yotaro in amusement as she saw he had to stand on tip toe to be able to see over the wooden cart. "Of course dear," she answered. "It's just down this street and to the left."
"Thank-you," Yotaro said with a bow. He was about to leave when the woman spoke again.
"Are you three signing up for classes?" She said with a smile.
"No, sir," Yotaro said as he turned away and glanced over his shoulder. "We're here to apply for the exam."
The old woman gaped at the small boy as he grinned, the only just noticed leaf hatai-ate on his arm winking in the light of the early afternoon sun.
"Thank-you again!"
Yotaro quickly walked over to his still indignant friends. "Guess what," he said with an ironic smirk. "Hikari was right. It is this way."
Both of his teammates deflated and turned to him in shock.
"I was?"
"She was?"
"Yep."
"HAH!" Hikari said. "In. Your. Face. Itachi-baka!"
"Hey," Itachi said. "You're the one who said that we were going the wrong way!"
Hikari scoffed and turned away again, crossing her arms across her chest as she did so. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Itachi's eye twitched but he managed to keep his temper under control. Instead of yelling he simply shoved his hands in his pockets and began to walk towards the end of the road.
"Are you two coming or what?" he said without stopping or looking back.
"Hai, hai," Yotaro said with a wave of his hand.
"Hn," Hikari said, mocking Itachi's "universal" word.
Mean while, long after the three leaf nins had left, the old woman at the fruit stand finally snapped out of her stupor and quickly grabbed the head set under the counter.
"Makizashi-sama," she said as she fixed it to her ear. "Foreign nins have begun to arrive."
"Very good," a scratchy voice responded. "Anything else?"
"Yes," there was a nearly inaudible 'poof' before a male voice replaced the old woman's. "It appears that three of the competitors from the leaf are only rookies."
"That isn't completely unusual," Makizashi said sounding slightly irritated.
"But this is sir," the man continued as he glanced in the direction that the kids had disappeared into. "They seem to be only eight or nine years old. And two of them appear to be from the corner clans."
Makizashi was silent for a moment before he finally spoke again. "Which ones?"
"The Haruno and Uchiha, I believe."
The shaggy red haired man on the other end of the head set grinned dangerously. "Perfect."
XXXXXXXXXX
'I hate waiting...' Kyo thought.
Waiting, Kyo decided, was the worst part of attending an exam in another village. He sighed as he sat in the jounin lounge in Suna's visitor center. At least in your own village you had a chance at being a part of the examination. But in a foreign village you just had to sit, wait, and hope for the best.
How were you even to know if your team was in trouble and needed you? What if something happened in one of the exams and they were killed? What are you supposed to do then? You wouldn't even know until the end!
He sighed again.
'I hate waiting…'
XXXXXXXXXX
"Chuunin, chuunin," Hikari said in a sing-song voice. "We're all gonna be chuunin."
Itachi rolled his eyes but said nothing. He would rather have her chanting some stupid song then nag him any day.
"Ne, ne, Itachi-kun! Yotaro-kun! Sing with me! Chuunin, chuunin we're all gonna be chuunin!"
Okay, now it was really starting to be annoying.
Yotaro had to stifle a chuckle at Itachi's rather pained expression; not that a normal person would see it but someone who knew him well could spot it in an instant. He always found it funny to watch Itachi try and control his temper around the Haruno heir, especially when she was trying to anger him on purpose.
"Come on Itachi-baka!" Hikari said. "Sing with me! Chuunin, chuunin we're all gonna be chuunin."
"Okay!" Itachi said. "That's it!" he rounded on Hikari. "Stop. Singing. NOW!"
Hikari put on an innocent pout. "Ah, you're no fun Itachi-baka."
"Whatever."
"We're almost there," Yotaro said with a grin. "Let's hurry."
"Aa."
"Okay!"
They had just rounded the corner to the stair way when they found themselves stopped in a hallway choked with people.
"What the hay?" Hikari said as she tried in vain to see over the crowd. "I wonder what's going on."
"I don't know."
"Hn."
Hikari sent Itachi a funny look. "What does that mean anyway? Is it some sort of Uchiha secret language or something?"
Itachi glared. "Shut up."
"Hn," Hikari said back with a smirk.
"Why you…"
"Hold off on the fighting you two," Yotaro said. "There's a break in the crowd."
"Should I push through?" Hikari said. "You know, since I'm the smallest."
"In intelligence, wit, looks, temper, figure…" Itachi would have continued if Hikari's fist hadn't connected painfully with his head.
"If I wanted your opinion Itachi-baka, I would give it to you," she said as she crossed her arms and glared.
"Hn."
"Jerk."
"Hn."
"Baka."
"Hn."
"You know that is really annoying!"
"Hn." Itachi smirked.
"Go ahead Hikari," Yotaro broke in before a real fight could break out. "Signal us if there is a problem."
"Kay!" Hikari said before she shrunk down and slipped through the small path between the other exam participants.
"Was it really a good idea to send her alone?" Yotaro said after she had gone.
"Probably not," Itachi said. "But it gets her out of my hair for a while."
Yotaro sweat-dropped. "Right…"
XXXXXXXXXX
Hikari wasn't really sure what was happening. All she knew was that there was a room full of people staring dumbly at a man sitting in a chair. The really odd thing was that everyone in the room was addressing him as 'miss'.
"Please miss," a girl said. "My team really has to get to the next room. We don't want to miss the registration."
"I'm sorry," the man said. "But you haven't been assessed for this exam yet. You need to wait for the screening."
"To hell with that lady!" a brash looking young man said. "Let me in that room!"
The man frowned. "Now that is quite rude. I'm afraid if you continue to take that tone you will not be able to participate in the exam."
"Bite me!" the boy said back.
"Why would he want to do that?" Hikari said. "I doubt that a loser like you tastes very good."
Everyone in the room turned their eyes towards the little white haired girl.
"What did ya say, ya little brat?" the boy growled.
Hikari blinked in surprise. "I said, 'I doubt a loser like you tastes very good'. Are you deaf as well as dumb?"
"You punk!" he said. "I ain't no loser, and I ain't dumb! I'm Hitsukari Momoshi!"
Hikari blinked. "So? I'm Haruno Hikari, what does that have to do with anything?"
Momoshi snorted. "What's a brat like you doin' here anyway? Yer interupten' an important test. Beat it."
"You wish ham head," Hikari said with a roll of her eyes. "It just so happens that my team and I are here to take the Chuunin exam as well."
"You?" Momoshi scoffed. "As if a baby like you would get passed the first test."
Hikari's eyes flashed. "Would you care to test that theory?"
"Bring it on baby!" Momoshi said.
"Don't blame me if you get hurt," Hikari said as she slipped into a loose stance.
"As if a brat like you could lay a finger on me!" Momoshi said as he let loose a heavy punch. He smirked as his fist connected with Hikari's right cheek. "Serves you right! Huh?" Confusion filled Momoshi's eyes as he watched Hikari's image quickly melt away into nothing.
The crowd around the mist nin watched in surprise as the young Haruno suddenly appeared at Momoshi's back.
"You're slow," Hikari said as she jumped up and launched a round-house kick at the older boy's neck knocking him into unconsciousness. She landed soft footed with her back to the defeated nin. "How dull."
Silence filled the room until the girl from earlier suddenly ran over to the fallen boy. "Momo-kun!" she said as she shook his shoulders. "Wake up Momo-kun! You are the most wonderfully strong boy in this whole exam! You can't get hurt after only one hit! That nasty girl must have done something to you!"
"Oh, Momo-kun!" Hikari said as she held her clasped hands to her chest. "You poor dear! Did you get a booboo from that nasty girl?"
"Don't you dare mock my Momo-kun and I!" she said as she stood and wiped her tears from her cheeks.
"That's 'my Momo-kun and me," Hikari said as she rolled her eyes. "Idiot."
"How dare you!" she said. "I am Nanasaki Keiko! Future wife of Hitsukari Momoshi-kun the heir to the famous Hitsukari clan! You will treat me with respect!"
Hikari blinked. "That's a rather long title. Do you refer to yourself like that to everyone or only an unlucky few?"
Keiko roared and lunged at the smaller girl only to miss as Hikari melted away once again.
"Jees!" Hikari said. "You're even slower then your boyfriend!" She turned as Keiko slumped to the ground unconscious. "Hey oji-san!" she said. "Me and my team wanna pass!"
"Why is she calling that lady ojii-san?" someone said. "Shouldn't she call her Oba-san?"
Hikari looked at them oddly. "Are you all blind or just plain stupid?" she ignored the cries of outrage and pointed at the man. "That isn't an Oba-san! He doesn't have a chest you know!"
The man raised a brow. "You must be very good to be able to see through my genjutsu."
"Hey Hikari!" Yotaro said as he and Itachi pushed their way through the masses. "Did you really have to knock them out?"
Hikari scoffed. "They started it. I was only defending myself."
Itachi rolled his eyes.
"Hey!" Yotaro said his eyes wide. "You're the same guy that gave me directions! How did you get here so fast?"
The man ignored Yotaro and turned to the group in front of him. "How many of you saw through my illusion? Don't bother lying. I can easily tell the difference."
The genin all shifted uncomfortably and exchanged awkward glances. Only twelve of them raised their hands. The jounin nodded with a smirk.
"As I thought," he said. "A bunch of wanna-be looser brats."
"Hey you jerk!" Hikari said. "Just who do you think you're calling a 'wanna-be looser brat'? I'll have you know that me and my team are the youngest genin since Kakashi-sempai!"
"My team and I idiot," Itachi said as he sent a suspicious glare the jounin's way. "Who are you?"
The man almost started but he quickly caught himself. "I am Nikaito of the Hidden Sand Village. You're examiner."
"Hn," Itachi said as he crossed his arms. "Then let us by so we can begin."
Nikaito almost shuddered under the intensity of the boy's glare. 'Maybe Makizashi-sama's plan isn't such a good idea after all…'
Nikaito shook his head before he continued. "Very well, those who raised their hands may continue on with their teams." He glared. "The rest of you, get lost."
Angry shouts filled the hall but Nikaito ignored them and motioned the rest of the applicants forward. The last one to follow was a brown haired mist nin. He walked over to the unconscious forms of Keiko and Momoshi.
"Wake up," He ordered dully as he nudged Momoshi with his sandaled foot. "You're lucky I specialize in genjutsu."
Momoshi groaned, "Hey, Daisuke. That hurts." He paused and rubbed his head. "Oh, man, it feels like I've gotta ton of bricks on my chest…" He glanced down and saw Keiko's blond head. "Ah! Get off of me you idiot!" he said as he pushed her away.
Keiko landed with a thump on the floor and she let out a cry. "Owie," she sniffed. "Momo-kun, why did you do that?"
"Stop calling me that!" Momoshi said with a blush.
"Oi! Team Lame Brain!" Hikari said. "Stop being stupid and get in here!"
Keiko glared and pounced on Momoshi's arm. "You're only jealous because a mean, ugly, bratty little girl like you could never get someone as wonderful, strong, handsome, and smart as my Momo-kun."
Hikari growled at the thirteen year old blond before she stuck her nose in the air and grabbed Itachi's left arm at the elbow. "Come on Itachi-chan, let's leave this idiot behind."
Itachi blushed deeply at this but went along anyway. He glared at Yotaro as the boy turned his laughing fit into a coughing fit.
"You're all idiots," Daisuke said as he rolled his gray eyes.
XXXXXXXXXX
The room the seven groups entered was large, gray, and empty. Each of the remaining 21 participants looked around in complete confusion. There were no windows or doors besides the one they had just entered and aside from their individual groups there was no one else in the room. Nikaito smirked from the door way before he raised his hand in mock salute.
"Good luck," he said before the door slammed closed and darkness swallowed them whole.
"What's going on?" Keiko shrieked as she grabbed what she assumed was Momoshi's arm. "Momo-kun! What do we do?"
"Let go of me you idiot!" a strange voice yelled back. "I'm not your 'Momo-kun'!"
Before anyone else could say anything a loud voice bellowed through the darkness.
"Welcome to the second test of the chuunin exam. My name is Makizashi Yue." The voice was deep and menacing, and seemingly enjoying the near fear that had rose up on the genins' faces. "Your task is to locate the missing member of your team before the sun sets at the end of five days. You may use any and all skills you posses to defeat the 'kidnapper' and reunite as a team. Keep in mind that killing is legal and everyone outside of your group is an enemy." Makizashi chuckled. "I would say good luck but it won't do you any good."
"Now what?" Hikari said.
Itachi was about to respond when suddenly the floor fell from beneath his feet. Shouts filled the air as one after another the genin dropped through the floor and into the even deeper darkness of unconsciousness.
XXXXXXXXX
Kyo jumped in surprise as he felt his stomach do flip-flops. He frowned as he set his tea aside and leaned back against the couch. He wasn't sure why, but for some reason he felt as if he had suddenly started falling. The feeling quickly subsided and he shrugged as he picked up his tea. It was probably just his imagination…
XXXXXXXXX
"Wake up," A harsh voice demanded and Hikari groaned in protest.
"Don wanna…" she mumbled as she rolled over. "Fife minutes."
"Wake up now, you idiot!" The voice shouted again and Hikari shot up and rolled to her side only just avoiding the stream of water that had been aimed at her head.
"What are you doing Itachi-baka?" Hikari said. "I was sleeping!"
Itachi shrugged as he replaced the top of his canteen. "Hurry up. We have to find Yotaro."
"Yotaro?" Hikari said as she looked around. "So he's the one they took…" she breathed out a sigh of relief. "Boy, for a moment there I thought that they were going to take me…" Her eyes widened as the situation finally sunk in. "Ahh! They took Yotaro-kun! Now I'm left alone with you!" She ran frantically in a circle as she continued screaming. "Nooo! I'm too young to diieee!"
Itachi's eye twitched. "Cut it out you moron! The sooner we find Yotaro the sooner you get out of my hair."
Hikari stopped and growled. "It's not like being with you is a picnic either Itachi-baka."
"Whatever," Itachi said as he began walking. "Let's just go."
Several minutes past before Hikari spoke again. "Ne, Itachi-baka?"
"Hn."
"When did we get in the desert?"
"Hn."
"How did we get here?"
"Hn."
"You're really annoying."
"Hn."
"Stop that!"
"…"
"…"
"…hn…"
"Ahg!"
XXXXXXXXXX
Kyo flinched as the handle of his teacup suddenly broke for no reason. "I have a bad feeling about this…"
XXXXXXXXXX
The day went by quickly as Hikari and Itachi made their way through the desert and towards the mountains in the distance. This exercise wasn't very challenging for them since Hikari's heartstrings practically mapped out Yotaro's exact location and, as of yet, they hadn't run into any opposition.
The sun had just begun setting before the young duo entered into the large mountain range and began searching for a place to set up camp. At long last they found a decent sized cave where they could both sleep comfortably. They spent the set up in silence, neither wanting to risk starting another fight.
"I'm going to go set the traps," Itachi said as he stood, the white bandages on his lower left arm and cheek standing out brightly in the gleam of the fire.
Hikari nodded dully as she pulled out ramen cups. "Don't get caught," she said. "I don't want to have to save your sorry butt."
"Hn."
Hikari flinched in irritation but held her peace remembering what had happened only a few hours ago. She huffed and set up the tea pot for the ramen.
'The whole thing was all Itachi's fault,' Hikari thought. 'If he hadn't been trying to get a rise out of me I never would have lost my temper.' She paused for a moment and listened to the water rolling in the pot. 'Ok, maybe trying to scratch his eyes out was a bit much…But it's still his fault!'
Hikari jumped to her feet as the sounds of breaking rock and pain reached her ears.
"I knew it!" she said as she ran from the cave. "I'm gonna have to save him!" her tone was harsh but her face was scrunched up in worry betraying her true feelings; she was afraid. She didn't want Itachi to be hurt. Besides even if he was a big jerk she was still in love with him.
"Itachi-kun!" Hikari said as she ran from the cave in the direction of the fight. "Please don't die! I'm coming!"
More and more chakra poured into her small legs as she struggled to quickly scale the steep cliff. She was still four feet from the top when she leapt into the air. She easily cleared the ledge and landed with a soft grunt. Hikari's eyes widened at the sight that greeted her. The large plateau was covered in what seemed to be ANBU from the Hidden Sand.
Hikari didn't hesitate for long. Instead she used the surprise of her sudden appearance to dart past the circle of nins to where Itachi stood surrounded.
"Are you alright?" Hikari asked as she slid behind Itachi's back and took up a defensive stance.
"I could have handled this without you, you know," Itachi answered.
"Yes, but then I wouldn't have the satisfaction of saying 'I told you so'."
"Yeah, that would have been a real shame."
"Shut up."
Several tense moments past and the two leaf nins stood rigid, awaiting any attack that might come their way. Finally Hikari couldn't take it anymore.
"Hey you stupid ANBU people!" Hikari said as she dropped her stance and put her hands on her hips. "Why aren't you attacking? We have better things to do then stand here waiting on you idiots all night!"
"Hikari, please stop making a fool of yourself," Itachi muttered as his eyes faded from red to their original black.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that they are illusions. The real ones probably took off a while ago."
"You mean you were loosing against illusions?"
Itachi rolled his eyes. "No, they were real before you showed up. Maybe your big, fat mouth scared them off before you arrived." He smirked. "You were being rather loud."
"I was not!"
Itachi clutched his hands over his chest and widened his eyes dramatically. "Itachi-kun! Don't die!" He wailed in a high pitched voice before he swiftly returned to normal.
Hikari blushed and turned away.
"What were you so worried for?" Itachi smirked. "Did you really think that I'd need a weaklings help to defend myself?"
Hikari flinched and lowered her eyes. "I hate you," she whispered.
Itachi's eyes widened in shock, "W-what?"
Hikari sniffed and two tear stains appeared on the rock next to her feet. "I hate you!" Hikari didn't even give Itachi a chance to speak before she leapt off of the cliff and began running towards the cave.
Itachi stood stalk still. He hadn't meant to make her cry. He was only playing like they usually do. He hadn't meant to hurt her feelings and…she hated him? "No," he whispered. "She-she can't hate me. She just can't..."
XXXXXXXXXX
When Itachi finally arrived back at the cave he found the fire out, an empty cup of ramen, and his teammate huddled in her sleeping bag as far back in the cave as she could get. He bit his lip and looked down at the still hot water and extra cup ramen. Well, at least she didn't want him to starve.
"I only did it so we can find Yotaro-kun," Hikari muttered stiffly. "After that I never want to see you again."
Itachi sighed and poured the water over his ramen. "I didn't mean it Hikari. I was just playing."
Hikari only pulled her bag closer to her body.
"Really, Hikari," Itachi pressed. "I don't think that you're weak at all. You are a great ninja," He paused and his voice got lower, embarrassed. "And an even better…friend…"
Hikari rolled over to face him. "Really?"
Itachi blushed and looked away. "I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it."
Hikari smiled and closed her eyes. "Goodnight Itachi…kun."
Itachi waited for her breathing to steady before he answered. "Goodnight, Hikari."
XXXXXXXXXX
Yotaro threw another punch as he continued his kata. It was probably past midnight already but he couldn't sleep. He had a feeling that something was wrong. He didn't have the heartstrings like Hikari but she had shown him and Itachi how to reach a sub level of the symmetry plain. It wasn't much, but it was enough to notice that something wasn't right.
"I just wish I knew what," Yotaro said aloud as he threw another vicious fist. Scuffling outside of his door made him pause in his kata as he tried to focus on what made the sound. He placed only the tiniest bit of chakra in his ears, not wanting the sensitive drums to burst, and listened hard. He didn't move, didn't blink, he barely even breathed. Finally the sounds came into focus and he was able to make out two different voices.
"How are things progressing?" the first asked. Yotaro placed it as Makizashi Yue, the same man from the dark room.
"Everything is going according to plan," the second, Nikaito, answered. "Kazekage-sama will be greeting the other village representatives at 0800. No one will even think to be watching the kids; they will be too worried about an attack."
"Good," Makizashi said. "Be sure to be cautious. We don't know what these kids can do. Did you send out the spies to find where they are?"
The voices began to fade as the speakers moved further down the hall and several words became difficult to make out.
"Yes sir, they have pinpointed their loc--tion in a cave only fif-- meters --st of here."
"The girl mu-- --e well tra--ed to come th-- far so q--ic--ly…"
"When s--all I give the si--nal, sir?"
"0--15."
"H--i."
Yotaro bit his lip and sat on his futon as he tried to figure in the gaps. They seemed to be after some of the participants in the exam though he wasn't sure who. Whoever it was, they would need help. Unfortunately he wasn't quite sure which direction he should head. He only caught the last part of the word and there are two directions that end in 'st'.
Yotaro bit his lip and tried to think harder. Who was in this exam that would be important enough to take? As boastful as that ditz from earlier was he highly doubted it was either her or her boyfriend so who? Suddenly it hit him. He could have punched himself for being such and idiot. So now that he had the 'who', all he had to find next was the 'where'.
XXXXXXXX
"Ow! Hey! That hurts you idiot!"
"Oh you are such a baby," Hikari rolled her eyes as she finished applying the antibacterial cream on Itachi's arm. "It's not even that bad of a cut anyway."
"Sure, you say that now," Itachi said. "But you can't pretend that you didn't almost faint when you saw it this morning."
"That was because you didn't treat it last night and the blood was everywhere! I thought you were dieing!"
"Don't be stupid. I wouldn't die from something as dumb as a cut."
"You would have if that kunai had gone two centimeters deeper."
"…Hn…"
"There," Hikari tied of the end of the bandage. "All done."
"About time."
"'Why thank-you Hikari-chan. It was so nice of you to do this for me.'" Hikari said with a scowl.
Itachi stood and turned away. Hikari glared as he walked to the mouth of the cave and ducked to leave. He was halfway out when he paused. "Thank-you…Hikari-chan."
Hikari blanched in surprise, not really expecting Itachi answer, and, did he really call her Hikari-chan? A light pink blush dusted her cheeks and she smiled. "You're welcome…Itachi-kun."
XXXXXXXXXX
"Do you have a visual?"
"Hai, captain. Should I proceed?"
"No, wait for back up."
"How long?"
"Ten meters and closing."
"Hai. Hiazawa out."
Hiazawa Yakoku stiffened as he felt someone come up behind him. Swiftly he grasped a kunai and turned to face his assailant; only to come face to face with the bottom of a size four ninja sandal. He felt the blood vessels in his nose burst and the bone crack as he went down with a cry. He didn't have anymore time to call for help as a newly sharpened kunai was flung downwards and into his heart before he could blink.
Yotaro sighed and yanked his weapon from the man's chest. "I hope we don't get disqualified for killing exam officiates." He muttered as he wiped the blood on the man's pants and slipped the kunai into his weapon holster.
"Well this is nice," a voice said from behind. "Now we don't have to go looking for you."
Yotaro turned and smirked. "Hello Itachi."
Itachi nodded. "I could have taken him."
"Yeah, but then I wouldn't get to have any fun."
"I would be greatly concerned if you sister where to turn out like you."
"Yeah well, I could say the same thing about Sasuke."
"Hn."
"So why are you here?" Hikari asked as she stepped up from behind Itachi.
"Wow, you're both in the same place and not killing each other. This is a good sign."
"Shut up." Both Hikari and Itachi said together.
Yotaro coughed. "Anyway," he suddenly became serious. "I over heard something while I was in my room."
"Yeah?"
"Sit down. This could take a while."
XXXXXXXXXXX
The scenery flew by as they raced threw the shrinking shadows. It had taken them half of the morning to come up with a plan on how they where going to handle this situation that only they, and the bad guys, knew. In the end it pretty much came down to: who the hell cares, and since when did we plan anything. Of course, being the intelligent children that they were (minus Hikari since she didn't really understand what they were talking about) the decided that before they chose whether to help or not they weighed the pros and cons; Yotaro being more pro and Itachi more con. They ended up in a rather irritating stand still and, against their better judgment, turned to Hikari for the deciding vote. Her answer rather shocked them because the idea hadn't even occurred to either of them.
"Well, I don't know anything about politics but I do know that if we help the Kazekage he'll be indebted to us, right?"
Needless to say the idea of having one of the worlds most powerful leaders in their debt settled any doubt in their minds about not helping. Unfortunately, as stated before, they didn't really have much of a plan.
"I get to hit the bad guy first!" Hikari said from between her friends.
Itachi snorted. "I'm in the front."
"So!" Hikari said. "I called it first."
"You'd have to beat me there."
"You're faster then me!"
"Hn."
Yotaro appeared in front of them both. "Well then, since I'm faster then the both of you it seems I get the first hit."
"You cheated!" both of his teammates said together. Yotaro simply laughed.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Kyo sighed in dejection. It was really pathetic that he could feel something bad was going to happen and yet he didn't do anything about it. Instead he simply drank tea and went to bed and now he was paying the price for it. He tried to move his fingers so he could scratch his wrist. No such luck. The bindings were too tight. He closed his eyes and tried to send out a message to Hikari. If anything could be said to be good about this situation it was that he could still use his heartstrings.
"I could really go for a cup of tea and some ramen right now," he mumbled and the man next to him laughed.
"You and me both, kid."
"I'm not a kid," Kyo said as he opened his eyes and turned to face his fellow captive. "My name is Ha-." He paused. "Kyo. My name is Kyo."
"Baki."
"So why are you here?"
"Beats the hell out of me," Baki said. "I was just sleeping this morning."
Kyo smirked. "You and me both, Baki-san."
Baki let out a harsh laugh. "So you have any plans to get out of here or are we simply going to exchange idiotic words."
"For the moment?" Kyo yanked at the chains attaching him to the wall. "I'd say idiotic words sound pretty good for a start."
"Hn."
Kyo smirked. "You sound like Itachi."
Baki blanched. "Uchiha Itachi?"
"He's on my team."
"Then your team is in real trouble."
Kyo shrugged. "Can't be anymore then usual."
"You want to bet on that?"
"Only if you're willing to loose big."
XXXXXXXXXXX
The sun was setting by the time team four arrived back in Suna. It wouldn't have taken so long if they hadn't kept being attacked by enemy nins. Luckily Hikari's heartstrings alerted them before the opposing forces came to close. They were never able to avoid them but they were able to be prepared for them.
"You don't think we'll be disqualified do you?" Hikari asked.
"What for?" Yotaro said.
"For offing so many examiners."
"I hope not, though I was wondering the same thing earlier." Yotaro said as they dropped into a group of bushes.
"Well we have already killed about half of them," Itachi said. "If the other half gives us any trouble we'll just kill them too."
"But their only chuunin!" Hikari said in shock.
"And we're only genin but that doesn't stop the rest of them from trying to off us."
"True."
"Shh." Yotaro pressed his finger to his lips. "I hear something."
The other two listened hard but found themselves unable to hear anything of importance. Still, Yotaro had much better hearing than anyone they had met. If he said he heard something it could be several meters away.
The three were silent for over a minute before Yotaro nodded. Hikari poked his arm softly. "Well?"
"It's a couple of ANBU."
"ANBU?" Itachi asked. He placed his chin between his right thumb and index finger. "That could be a bit of a challenge."
Hikari rolled her eyes. "A 'bit' he says."
"Well I could have said it will be easy."
"And then you would be a liar."
"Come on guys," Yotaro interrupted. "We need a plan."
"Don't look at me," Hikari said. "You two are the smart ones."
"Great. Thanks."
"Any time."
"I think I might have an idea." Itachi said his face firm in thought.
"Great," Yotaro said. "Let's hear it."
Instead of answering Itachi sent an evil grin in Hikari's direction.
Hikari gulped. "Somehow I get the feeling that I'm not going to like this very much."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Hikari glared at the ground as she flipped her now black hair over her shoulder. "I knew I wasn't going to like this." She said as she straitened her short skirt and top.
"Just act natural," came an amused voice from over her ear piece.
"Acting natural would imply acting seven."
"Good point," Yotaro returned. "Okay then, act like your seventeen."
"Gee thanks," Hikari's matured voice drawled sarcastically. "You know I could probably drown in the dew drop of help you are giving me."
"I'm sure."
"Just do your part Hikari," Itachi said. "We don't have very much time."
"Whatever." Was the last thing she said before she ditched the ear mic in the nearest trash bin. "Well, here goes." She steeled herself and dropped her shielding as she ran around the corner.
"We have a problem!" Hikari said as she skid to a stop at the ANBU's feet. Her breathing was uneven and short as if she had been running for a long time.
"What is it?" A wolf masked ninja asked.
"I don't know who it is, but someone has been killing the exam officiates!" Hikari said in fright. "Their bodies are littering the streets and desert!"
The two guards exchanged a glance, though how they did it behind those masks Hikari didn't know. After a moment they nodded sharply and turned to face the panting 'sand' nin again. "Wait here and guard the door. Don't let anyone in or out. We'll find out who is behind this."
Hikari's face glowed with relief. "Oh thank-you!" she said. "I'm sorry I bothered you but I had no idea who else to go to and-."
The second guard cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Just stay here and be careful. We'll be back soon."
Hikari nodded and took up the first nins post at the door. "I shall guard with my life."
The two ANBU nodded before they took off in the direction that Hikari had come from.
"See," Yotaro said coming out of hiding. "That wasn't so bad."
"Hn, only because you weren't the one being oogled behind an animal painted mask," Hikari said. "When I grow up I am never wearing clothes like this again. People look at you like you're a slab of meat."
"Just change back already." Itachi said.
"Oh, right."
XXXXXXXXXXX
It had been at least a half-hour since Kyo first sensed his team enter Suna's boarder and, after the slight pause almost twenty minutes ago, they were steadily making their way towards his cell.
"I wonder how much longer it will take them to get here," Kyo thought aloud.
"I wouldn't count on them showing up at all, even if you do have Uchiha Itachi on your team," Baki said as he tried to ease the pain in his wrists. "We're at least ten meters underground and the passages to get here are like a giant labyrinth with no way out."
Baki had just finished talking when their heavy cell door eased open and Hikari's white head peaked in. "Hello Kyo-sensei," she said. "How are you?"
Kyo chuckled. "Aside from being chained to a wall, I'm doing rather well, you?"
Hikari shrugged. "We're all fine. The trip wasn't any worse than the others we've taken before."
Kyo turned to face an irritated Baki. "I win."
"Shut up."
XXXXXXXXXXX
After Kyo and Baki were free the group split up again. This time Kyo left with Baki to go and free the Kazekage and the other prisoners while Hikari, Itachi, and Yotaro set off tracking Nikaito's chakra print.
"Are you sure it was a good idea to let your team go alone?" Baki asked as he and Kyo raced from cell to cell. "Shouldn't you have gone with them?"
Kyo shook his head. "I wouldn't have been any help until they got there since I have no idea who this Nikaito is. Don't worry about them; they are very capable of taking care of each other but I'll still join them once we finish here."
"That may take a while," Baki said. "As I said before: these halls are like a labyrinth."
"Then we better start looking."
XXXXXXXXXXX
"Well, that was rather anti-climactic," Hikari said dully as she stared at the huddled and whimpering form of Makizashi Yue. "I mean, I know that you're scary and all Itachi-kun but that was just pathetic."
"Hn," Itachi said as he turned away and let his eyes fade from red to black. "It's not my fault the man was all talk."
"At least that Nikaito guy put up a decent fight," Yotaro said as he stretched his arms. "He has to be just a year or two short of ANBU I'm sure." He turned to face his friends. "If you two hadn't set aside your pride and combined your stances we wouldn't have won."
Itachi and Hikari looked at each other for a long moment before Itachi looked away and scowled. "Whatever. Just don't expect me to do it again." he said but a soft smile could be seen around the corners of his line strait mouth.
Hikari grinned and grabbed his arm. "At least not until we get home and start to perfect it, right Ita-kun?"
Itachi blushed and looked away. "Aa."
Yotaro laughed. "I know you two are going to get married someday."
"Whatever."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Team four stood on the outskirts of the Hidden Sand village smiling coyly at the Kazekage and Baki.
"You do realize that you are indebted to the Leaf for this." Kyo said; it wasn't a question.
"Get out of my village before I kill you," Kazekage said as he turned away angrily.
"Well Baki," Kyo said as he turned to leave. "I expect you to live by your loss and forever house any Leaf nin that enters your village."
"Just leave." Baki scowled.
Kyo laughed and waved as he and his now chuunin team made their way back home to Konohagakure.
End Special Chapter Two
Kaliea: Oh. My. Word! That was soo hard to write and I thought it would never end. It wouldn't have if I hadn't cut the fight scene. It wouldn't have been very cool anyway; just Hikari and Itachi using the yin/yang for the first time (which will be seen in a flash back later) and the big honcho sobbing like a baby while Itachi glared at him with the sharingan. Nothing major. Please review and I'm very, very sorry that it took me so long to update last time. Till next time, ja ne!
Review Answers:
Autumnloverforever: Thanks I plan on it though my updates might be a little slow.
Susa-chan: I'm sorry, I've been so busy with school (collage is soo not High school) that I haven't had a chance to write. I'll try to update faster from now on but I won't make any promises. Say high to Kyuubi-chan for me!
Angelgurl079: Sorry about the wait. I hope this one was better.
Dragon Man 180: Nope, sorry. This was in the past not the present. Maybe later, if they live that long. Oops. Did I say that? ;)
Danny-171984: I'm sorry! I'll try to do better! As for the 'forest of death' thing, your right. Only Konoha has a forest (I think) but the scroll didn't say anything about the other villages having the exact same chuunin exam did it? I'll have to look again later. Anywho, sorry again that the last update was late.
Jays Arravan: Thanks, I don't remember where the sentence was. I got the whole thing off of NarutoFan so the sentence would be there. It wasn't profound or anything, just about what they did there.
Kaliea: Thanks soo much to all of my reviewers and very patient readers. Keep reading! Ja!