~Scroll 9~

At the half hour mark, the test continued in full force, and Naruto found himself at an impasse. With the help of the spirit, Shisui, the petite houshi was able to answer all nine questions. All that was left was question 10, and not even Shisui had a clue as to what the final question could be. The only thing that the blonde could do was wait.

He took a deep breath and stretched his senses out to feel his teammates. He could feel Sasuke's smugness and his 'nee-chan's relief. This told him that his teammates were doing fine, and that once the tenth question was revealed, he and the others would be able to move onto the next portion of the exam.

The blonde began to relax at the knowledge that he completed the test - the bane of his existence, and at the sound of his 'nee-chan's Heart Song. He found it odd that amidst the chaos and the pressure of this test that he could hear the pinkette's Song so clearly. Usually his 'nee-chan's Song was chaotic and unfocused as if she had yet found her niche in the world, but here at that moment, she was focused, which revealed a beautiful Heart Song that held so much potential. Closing his sapphire-oceanic blues, the petite houshi just happily listened and reminded himself to talk to his 'nee-chan about what drives her. Perhaps that would help her become a stronger person.

Suddenly as he listened to the beautiful Heart Song, bright blue eyes snapped open when he heard an ugly scratch in his 'nee-chan's Song. Taking a risk, Naruto glanced over his shoulder, and his eyes narrowed at what he saw.

Sakura sat at her desk with her back straight and her head tilted low. But the blonde knew that that person sitting at his 'nee-chan's desk was not his Sakura. The blonde could see the faint outline of Ino overlapping the pinkette.

~How intriguing…~ Ka'a remarked, catching the petite shinobi's attention.

~What?~

~That female has the ability of astral-projection.~

~Hunh?~ Naruto blinked then looked up when he heard his new friend, Shisui, chuckle.

"Shisui, do you know what astral-projection is?" The young Genin mouthed.

Astral-projection is an out-of-body experience. Shisui began, One's spiritual essence, or soul, leaves the body and travels wherever one wishes. The Yamanaka Clan uses this ability as a form of mind control.

Naruto's eyes grew wide in horror at the thought that anyone could invade another's personal thoughts. It made the blonde shiver. Ka'a wrapped his many tails around his beautiful Host. He understood his houshi's horror. To share one's mind and inner thoughts was akin to sharing one's soul, it was an extremely intimate moment but this…

" 'Nee-chan…" The blonde whimpered for the pinkette.

Shisui watched in confusion at the blonde's distress while Ka'a purred soothing words and promises that they would teach the kunoichi how to protect herself from this form of attack.

As the ancient fox calmed his houshi, the pair froze.

~Ka'a?~ Naruto send, ~Was that you?~

For a brief moment, the petite shinobi felt a subtle flare-up of youki, demonic aura. The flare-up was barely noticeable, being masked by the number of chakra in the classroom. Naruto too would have missed it if he was not already familiar with the dark and malevolent feel of youki.

~No,~ Ka'a growled, ~that was not I…~

Sapphire blue orbs grew wide once more in understanding, this caused Shisui to be alarmed for the little blonde. His expressions were so readable that the spirit was surprised that the proctors had not kicked the blonde out.

Naruto, what is it? Shisui asked as he placed a cool hand on the young Genin's cheek.

"There's a youkai here."

Youkai?

"A demon…"

The spirit blinked in surprise as he looked at the blonde with concealed calculation.

A demon? Are you sure, Little One?

"Yes…" Naruto replied, "I recognized the feel… it's not like Ka'a's… not like fire - warm and yet destructive… it's more…" The blonde narrowed his eyes as he tried to describe what he was sensing.

He had thought that it was only Ka'a's aura which possessed heat since the fox's element was fire. However, it would seem that all youkai possessed heat in their youki. But this demonic aura did not possess the same warmth as Ka'a. This dark ki was hot and suffocating as if the heat was weighing down on him.

"Get ready for the tenth question!" Ibiki's voice growled, breaking Naruto's thoughts and concentration in the search of the other youkai.

The flare-up then disappeared, leaving no residual of its existence.

"All right!" The lead proctor called the classroom to order, "Here it comes. Get ready for the tenth question. And before we get to the question itself… I'm adding one more new rule."

Suddenly the Sand-Nin, Kankuro, walked into the classroom with what looked like a proctor.

"Heh… looks like you're in luck." Ibiki told the foreign shinobi, "The time you've spent playing with dolls hasn't been completely wasted."

Kankuro paused. Does… does he know about Scarecrow?

"Don't worry about it." Ibiki dismissed, "Sit down."

Kankuro obeyed the order, and as he walked past his teammate, Tamari, he slipped a piece of paper into her hand.

"Let me explain." The proctor began, "This rule… is absolute."

An absolute rule…? Naruto thought as he heard a deeper meaning behind the scarred shinobi's words.

"First…" Ibiki continued, "You must choose… whether to accept or reject this tenth question!"

Accept or reject…? Sasuke frowned.

"Ch-choose?" Tamari exclaimed, "What happens if someone doesn't accept the question?"

The proctor took a deep breath as he closed his eyes.

"If you reject the question and don't even try to answer it," Ibiki then answered, "you'll lose all your points immediately… and fail! And both of your teammates will fail right along with you."

"Say what?" Shouted a Nin from Rain.

"Then why would anyone choose to reject it?" A Suna shinobi followed up.

"Because… of the other rule." Ibiki calmly stated, "If you try to answer the questions… and you get it wrong… you will never be permitted to apply for the journeyman ninja exams again. Not ever."

"You can't be serious." Kiba barked, "That's ridiculous! There are ninja here who've sat for the Chuunin Exams more than once already! We know there are!"

Ibiki coldly laughed, startling and frightening the remaining of the classroom.

"Just your rotten luck." Ibiki growled out, "I wasn't making the rules in past years. I am now.

"I've been up front with you. You can take a failing grade now, and try again later. Anyone who has doubts would be smart to reject the tenth questions right now. Come back and reapply next year, and the year after that."

Talk about a no-win situation! Sakura thought as she assaulted her lower lip, If even one member of a cell rejects the question, then all three team members fail for the year. If anyone accepts the question and can't answer it… he'll be stuck at the junior level for the rest of his life!

Heads you win, tails we lose! No sane person could make such a choice!

"Ready?" The lead proctor purred, "Then let's begin. Those who choose not to accept should raise their hands. Once their number has been confirmed, they will leave the room."

A heavy silence fell over the Chuunin-applicants as each applicant were deep in thought, deciding not only their own fate but those of their teammates as well.

What in the name of Kami? Naruto thought as his eyes narrowed on the grizzly of a man, Accept… Don't accept… what sort of choices are those?

Slowly a shaky hand rose from the corner of the blonde's eye. Looking to his left, the petite houshi watched as a trembling Konoha shinobi slowly rose to his feet.

"I-I…" The ninja stuttered, "I quit! I'm rejecting the question!"

~Listen, Naruto-dono…~ Ka'a purred, which caused the young Genin to tilt his head to the side.

"Genna! Inako!" The shinobi beseeched, "Please forgive me!"

It was then that the lithe shinobi heard a subtle shift in the Konoha-Nin's Heart Song.

"Number 50! Failed!" A proctor called, "Number 130! Number 111! You fail right along with him."

Two more shinobi stood up.

Another shift in a Heart Song could be heard.

"Curses…" Another ninja muttered, followed by another shinobi crying out, "M-me too!"

Slowly a few more stated their rejections, and with each rejection, Naruto could hear more and more of the subtle shift in the Heart Songs. It was as if the Heart Songs were skipping and pausing, much like one's own heart would when afraid.

Fear! The blonde mentally gasped in understanding. He was able to associate the shift with the scent of fear. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes. Now, he understood the grizzly man's purpose. He was sent to weed out the weak-of-heart, but he had miscalculated in his approach. Naruto knew and understood the nature of fear. It was like an infectious disease. Once infected, it spread like wildfire, and if left unchecked, there was only two options to cure a disease; freeze or burn. But if caught in time, disease and fear can be a source of a cure and of inner strength.

Slowly sapphire blue gems opened as he raised his hand. He could sense his teammates gasp in shock.

SLAM

"{NEVER underestimate me!}" The houshi growled out in his special timbre, "I don't quit, and I won't run! I'll accept your question! Even if I risk ending up a rookie for the rest of my life… I'll still become the best person I can be and protect my precious ones! I'm not afraid of you, Bear!"

Ibiki slowly blinked. It was the only sign he showed that he was surprised at being called a 'bear'.

"I'll ask you one last time." The lead proctor growled, "This is a decision that could affect the rest of your life. Quit now, while you still have the chance."

"I never go back on your world." Naruto calmly declared.

The room became silent as each remaining applicant began to sit taller and more proudly. They took heart in the blonde's words. Yes, they were afraid. They were afraid to fail, but they also knew that they could not let that fear rule them. They were not about to let fear to destroy their dreams. They were going to continue on with their dreams, regardless of today's outcome.

Ibiki stood in front of the classroom with a small smile on his face. Seventy-eight of them are still here. Ibiki thought then laid his eyes on Naruto, … Interesting. He dispelled everyone else's doubts… more than I expected but… there's no point in dragging it out. Thanks to him… no one else will quit. With a quick glance toward the other proctors, who nodded their heads. Ibiki felt himself relax.

"Good call." The lead proctor declared, "So, everyone who is still here…"

The classroom echoed with sharp inhales as everyone waited with abated breath for the final question that would define them and their future.

"You've just passed the first exam!"