Out of the Competition
The next day we arrived at the academy on time.
We headed up to the second floor that had Genjutsu around the area to make it look like the third floor.
There was a huge crowd as there seem to be fighting.
I sniff the air and recognize 3 of them.
I wasn't surprise though, considering Neji was Genin for a year.
I could guess that his teammates must be putting up a show to narrow down the competition.
Lee was knocking down to the ground.
There were two boys guarding the entrance to the floor.
"You plan to take the chuunin exam with that? You should quit now," one of them said.
"Please let us through," Tenten said.
She walks up to the door and was knocking down.
"Hey Naruto, don't you know these guys?" Sakura asked.
"Yeah, they're just putting up a show," I answered.
"How can you tell?" Sasuke asked.
"Because I know Neji long enough to know he won't fall for Genjutsu and two I seen what his teammates are capable of doing," I said.
"Listen we're being nice in comparison of the Chuunin exam, some people either call it quits or die in these exams," the first one said.
"Chuunins are captains of military teams, and everything that comes with it," the second one said, "Yet kids like you think you can pass. We're just thinning out those who won't be able to pass."
"Then let me through, and release the Genjutsu on this floor," Sasuke said.
"Sasuke," I complained.
"So you noticed," the first one said.
The Genjutsu released revealing to be the second floor.
Just then the second guy went for a kick and Sasuke was about to attack back.
Lee jumped in the middle and caught both kicks.
"This must be what Naruto was talking about," Sakura thought, "He was able to block both kicks easily."
I was smiled as Lee made my point.
"Hey weren't you the one who said we shouldn't show our true strength?" Neji asked.
"Well," Lee said looking at Sakura.
He started blushing seeing her.
"Matter mind," Tenten said shaking her head.
Then she noticed I was standing there.
"Hey Naruto," Tenten greeted.
"Hey guys, it been a while," I responded.
Lee move close to me.
"Hey Naruto's what's her name?" Lee asked pointing at Sakura.
"That's my teammate Sakura Hanaru," I said rather annoyed.
Lee walked toward Sakura casually.
"My name is Rock Lee, and according to your teammate, your name is Sakura," Lee said, "Please be my girlfriend, I'll protect you with my life."
"No way you're lame," Sakura said.
"Okay, that was weird," I said.
"Hey you, one of Naruto's teammates, you're Sasuke right?" Neji asked.
"That's right," Sasuke said.
"You're a rooky right, and then you should be 12?" Neji asked.
"I have no obligation to answer that," Sasuke said.
"So Naruto, so what Lee said was true, your team is taking the Chuunin exam," Neji said.
"Yeah, but I'm not surprise to see you guys taking the exam," I said, "Although, just the other day I met this sand ninja that had caught my interest. And his team is taking the exam two."
"Hey Naruto Sasuke lets go," Sakura shouted.
"Got to go, see you guys in the exam," I shouted leaving.
"Hey Lee aren't you going?" Neji asked
"Go ahead, I want to check something out," Lee said.
He allowed us to the training hall.
I sniff the air.
"Hey Lee what are you doing here?" I shouted.
"I'm here to fight you Sasuke," Lee said.
Oh no was the first thought in my mind.
I could tell he was as interested in fighting Sasuke as he would be with sparing against Neji.
Lee jumped down in front of us.
"I want to test my skills against you," Lee told Sasuke then blinked at Sakura.
Then he blew kisses at Sakura who manage to dodge each one.
"Lee even I find that disturbing," I said.
"You're a fool to challenge me," Sasuke said.
"I heard you were rooky of the year after Naruto refuse the title," Lee said.
This was going to be an interesting match, or to me it will be.
Don't take me wrong, Sasuke is good in ninjutsu and he has the Sharingan, but Lee is a different story.
I spared against him once after joining the academy, and without transforming to my true form, he proven to be a challenge with something he's good at.
"We only have 30 minutes left," Sakura said.
Sasuke ran at Lee full speed.
"Leaf Hurricane," Lee shouted going for a spin kick.
Sasuke dodge the first attempt but Lee went from bellow causing him to need to block it.
Lee kicked Sasuke away.
"How could he do that?" Sakura asked, "Was it Ninjutsu Genjutsu?"
"Neither," I said.
"Huh?" Sakura responded.
Sasuke activated his bloodline revealing his Sharingan eyes.
"That won't work so well," I said.
Sasuke went after Lee thinking it was Ninjutsu or Genjutsu.
Lee dodges him and kicked him into the air.
"What he's using is Taijutsu," I said.
Lee jumped from under Sasuke.
"You should have listened to Naruto," Lee said.
"Shadow leaf dance," Sasuke recognized.
The bandages on Lee's arms uncoiled for an attack.
Just then a windmill toy stopped Lee's next attack.
"That's enough Lee," a tortoise said.
"A summoning," I recognized.
Lee was forced to the ground as Sasuke fell.
Sakura caught his fall saving him.
The tortoise was on Lee's case about him using a forbidden technique.
Just then Gai appeared on the tortoise's back.
"Sasuke Sakura, that's Lee's Tenten's and Neji's Jonin instructor Gai-sensei," I said.
Sasuke and Sakura were shocked seeing him.
"Now Lee," Gai said.
"Yes," Lee responded.
Gai punched him sending Lee to the ground.
Then they hugged each other in front of us.
"It's alright Lee, youth and mistakes go together," Gai said.
"You're too kind," Lee said.
"Now for your punishment will be after the chuunin exam," Gai said.
"Yes," Lee responded.
"500 laps around the practice range," Gai said.
"Yes!" Lee agreed.
"Are they always like this?" Sakura asked.
"Mostly when they're training together," I said.
"Oh Naruto it been a long time," Gai said, "I trust my rival Kakashi been treating you well."
"Yeah he been helping us out," I said.
Gai moved behind us at high speed.
"Well I hope he's doing well himself," Gai said.
He threw a kunai that knock the windmill down.
Lee wrapped up his bandages. He and Lee left soon after.
"Let me tell you something about Lee, he's working hard to be talented in Taijutsu because he has no skills in Ninjutsu or Genjutsu," I said, "It's one thing to be called a genius cause of talent or Kekigenki, but it's another to be a genius cause of hard work."
We headed off to the main room.
Kakashi was waiting for us at the entrance.
"Sakura, good you came, now all of you can participate," Kakashi greeted.
"What do you mean?" Sakura asked.
"Wait this was another test to see if we can enter this as a team again," I said.
"That's right. If Sakura had stayed behind you and Sasuke wouldn't have been able to participate," Kakashi explained, "But all of you made it and I'm proud of each one of you. Now go."
We entered the room just to be stared down by everyone in there.
To add to it not all of them were from the sand or leaf village.
There were some from the grass village, rain village, waterfall village, and 3 from the sound village.
They look strong, but then again, I'm strong two.
"Sasuke you made it," Ino shouted as she jumped on Sasuke, "I haven't seen you in a while, so I had been waiting in excitement."
"Get away from Sasuke, Ino-pig," Sakura shouted.
"Why if it isn't Sakura, big ugly forehead as always I see," Ino responded.
"You three here for this stupid test two," Shikamaru said.
"Hi Shikamaru, hi Choji," I greeted.
"Oh Naruto I forgot about you, sorry but I don't think cuteness will make you Chuunin," Ino said, "You need strength two like Sasuke here."
"Hey I got strength, in fact I have some new jutsus you haven't even seen before," I said.
"New Jutsus, that sounds interesting," Kiba said as team 8 entered the room, "Definitely be interesting if we have to fight each other."
Akamaru barked in agreement.
"Well if we do, you be ready to lose," I said.
"We been training like crazy," Kiba said.
"So have we," I responded.
"Hey guys you should be more quiet," said a guy with grayish hair and glasses, "You guys are rookies right? Fresh from the academy."
"Who are you anyways?" I asked.
"Oh Naruto Uzumaki, the son of the Nine-tail fox. I was wandering when I'll meet you. As for my name, its Kabuto," the guy called Kabuto said, "Look behind you to see what I mean."
We did and saw that everyone was giving us a look including some rain ninjas.
"Those guys are from the rain village, like everyone else, they're nervous about the exam," Kabuto said, "But since I feel sorry for you, I'll give you some insight on the exam."
"This isn't your first time taking the exam is it?" Sasuke asked.
"No actually its my 7th time, but the exam is hold twice a year so it's my fourth year," Kabuto said pulling out a deck of cards, "These are ninja cards, I keep all my data I gathered on them including info on you rookies."
"Which is how you knew about who my father was," I said.
"Yeah, if you want I can give you info about your father," Kabuto said.
"Yeah I would like to know more about what kind of demon my father was, other than ruthless," I said.
"Let me give you info about whose taking the exam first," Kabuto said.
He took one card and twirl it around and focusing his chakra on them.
"By the way Naruto these cards are kind of like your jutsu scrolls, except when I focus my chakra to them…" Kabuto said as finally a map of the countries participating appeared, "That happens."
The card showed how many teams were participated.
87 ninjas were from the leaf (29 teams), 30 from the sand (10 teams), 21 from the rain (7 teams), 6 ninjas from the grass, another 6 from the waterfall (2 teams each), and 3 ninjas from the sound (1 team).
"This is the total of ninjas participating in the exam from what village (153 ninjas participating, equaling to 51 teams)," Kabuto said.
"You said you have info on individuals right?" Sasuke asked.
"Yeah I do," Kabuto said then revealed a card on my father and gave it to me, "You can keep that one if you want. I can just make another one."
"Thanks," I said.
"Anyways is there two you have in mind," Kankaro said.
I knew one of them Sasuke might be curious about was Gaara as even I was curious to learn about him.
"Gaara of the Desert, and Rock Lee," Sasuke said.
I was a little curious about why he said Lee, but I only knew him for about a year.
Kabuto revealed two cards.
"Show them to me," Sasuke said.
Kabuto revealed Lee's first.
It showed that Lee was strong in Taijutsu but not so impressive with Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, as well as his missions.
I wasn't surprise to find out this was his first time in the exam.
Of course Hinata and I know Neji, and I know Tenten.
Then he showed Gaara who mostly had C-rank missions and one B-rank mission.
"I don't have much info on him other than he came back from all his missions with no scratch," Kabuto said.
I knew one thing not mentioned and that was what I learned about Gaara when we met.
Kabuto told us the rest of what he knew which made most of us nervous but those like me who wasn't faze by was waiting outside remembering about Gai's warning.
…Flashback…
"This isn't so easy, you're rushing things, even for Naruto," Gai said, "I waited a year before letting my kids enter."
"You have seen what Naruto was capable of right? Well Naruto grown since then, and with that so has Sakura and Sasuke," Kakashi said.
"I believe you, but because Naruto is ready doesn't mean his team is ready," Gai said.
"That's enough, now we'll nominated the rest of the Genins," Minato said.
…End of Flashback…
I was standing at my spot shaking with excitement.
"Everyone in this room, you better listen up because my name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm going to surpass you all," I shouted.
"Hey couldn't you control your team's pet?" Ino asked.
"Naruto is not my team's pet he's my teammate," Sakura responded.
Everyone was looking at me.
"Heh, it's that nine-tail fox's son," Kankaro thought.
"Naruto of course has to make a scene," Neji said.
"You have to give points for not losing his cool though," Tenten responded.
The sound ninjas were ready to show that their village was more than what they said.
"Those are big words coming from you," Kiba said.
"Idiot now they'll come after us," Shikamaru said.
"Hey, I'm just showing them that I'm not some kind of rooky who runs scared when things get tough," I said.
"Yeah but now they're looking at us," Sakura shouted.
The sound ninjas moved in for an attack.
Dosu pulled up his sleeve revealing armor on his arm.
Zuko jumped and threw Kunai.
Kabuto dodge the kunais as Dosu came up in close range.
Dosu went for a punch but Kabuto dodge it.
Just then I thought I heard something coming from Dosu's arm.
Kabuto's glasses shattered, then he collapsed and puked.
Now I know I heard some kind of sound before.
The sound ninjas stood in front of us.
"Hey kid, I hope you're listening because it'll be the sound ninjas are the ones that will surpass to Chuunin," Zuko told me.
A/N: I stopped it there because I want to include the explosion and entrance of the Jonin and Ibiki to start off the next chapter since it'll lead to the First round of the Chuunin exam. I hope you enjoy it. Also I thought I give you the insight of how many teams are there out of the number of ninjas from which village and in total. Wasn't hard just take the total and divided it by 3.
Remember to rank from 1-10 on how good I did with the POV. I might have mess up at some parts because I been so busy with the other stories. This is why I want it rank for each chapter that is updated.
Next Time: The first round starts and things aren't that easy. The questions are impossible to answer without being a Chuunin or a genius, and you must choose whether to take the 10th question and take a chance of not taking the exam, or fail your teammates. Can everyone pass the first round? Read to find out...