Lazyfox: *yawn* Hi guys. Welcome back to A Happy Fox and Lazy Cloud *yawn*
Magic: *pops in with Summer and Chibi-Obito* Nee-Chan~ You look and sound so tired. What's wrong?
Lazyfox: *Teetering on her feet* Work, school, family drama a little bit of everything, but that's life for ya. A nice kick in the pants, but I'm here to deliver a story so that's what I'm going to do~!
Random: T^T Such dedication! I'm moved to tears~
Magic and Summer: TT^TT Way to go Nee-Chan we believe in you~!
Lazyfox: Because I'm tired no over the top theatrics today just a plain Jay disclaimer this time folks. I LazyFoxLover do not own Naruto or any of the characters, but I do hope y'all enjoy the story ^w^ Now back to our schedule chapter! *passes out on the floor with Magic tossing a blanket over her, Random placing a pillow under her head and Summer giving her Chibi dolls*
The Chunin exam room was in a state of silence as everyone stared at the grinning blond in the back.
"Naru-chan is so cool. She's not afraid to express herself in the slightest. A perfect picture of youth and happiness" Lee thought admiring the young girl for her courage and strength.
Naruko was grinning bright letting out a happy giggle. "Hehehe that felt great to say~" she cheered before she let out a pained cry as Sakura and Ino both whacked her upside her head.
"BAKA! What the hell were you thinking! Are you trying to get everyone in this room to hate us and gun for us?!" the two girls demanded as Naruko rubbed her head and whined.
"Why you hit me? I was making my point that I'm not afraid to fight these guys! It's best that these guys know I'm not messing around!" Naruko yelled back at them.
"THAT'S THE STUPIDEST THING YOU CAN DO IN THIS SITUATION!" the girls screamed again reaching new levels of volume making Naruko's ears ring while pulling her long pigtails.
Across the room a pair of teal green eyes watched the blond girl bicker with her friends. Those same eyes narrowed in on her for since they meet the owner of the eyes has felt a sense of familiarity with the girl, but dismissed it as mere annoyance. The same annoyance he felt with the two companions standing with him.
"So that loud mouth little punk actually showed up here. She's a pain in the ass, but I'm almost glad she's here because now I can pay her back for that sucker punch. I'm going to enjoy playing with her" Kankurō said rubbing at his jaw as he smirked at Naruko.
Temari who was standing next to him rolled her eyes at him. "I still can't believe you like a pipsqueak like her get the better of you. Your such a disgrace to have for a little brother sometime" she scolded glaring at Naruko with scathing eyes before turning to cast Shikamaru a look to see him rubbing his head like he had an upcoming headache.
"Oh I'm the disgrace of a sibling? Well, sister dearest who has been mooning after a no name leaf ninja brat like a love stricken puppy since they got here? I mean really Temari the guy matched you in verbal insults big deal get over it" Kankurō growled smirking at the flushed face of his older sister.
Before a brother and sister verbal fight could break out between them the red head of the group decided enough was enough. "Shut up. Both of you, you're giving me a headache."
The two siblings gave their younger sibling a scared look before nodding at him deciding their fight wasn't worth their lives.
Across the room in another corner stood the only sound ninjas in the exam. "So were a small nameless village huh? What I wouldn't give to knock the smile of that pretty boy's face" growled the boy with spiky hair wearing a tan shirt with grey camo pants.
"Well, you know that old saying right? A little noise is just as dangerous and feared as a tiny storm...How about we show are new friends how nameless and dangerous we're really are!" said the leader of the sound trio who was wearing bandages that covered most of his face except for his left eye.
Karui was standing leaning against the wall eyeing the group of rookies finding their carefree attitudes annoying. "That friend of yours is a big talker. She's going to end up hurt or worse by the end of this Omoi" she tells the dark skin boy.
Omoi gave her a lazy smirk as he popped a sucker in his mouth. "She's spunky, I give her that. I think it's kind of cute on her, but don't you think she kind of gives off the same vibe as Bee-san?" he asked them.
Karui looked annoyed and let out a low sneer. "As if. Bee-san is no way like her in any way."
"Ah...If you say so" Omoi said.
Kabuto shook his head in amusement finding the little blond haired girl's antic amusing. Even though he had his focused on the rookies he caught sight of the movements of the three sound ninjas coming his way out of his peripheral vision. Looking up he saw two of the three of them attacking him with Kunai and Shuriken. Moving quickly Kabuto dodged the attack catching the attention of the nine rookies and the other participants. Kabuto smirked at them before he watched the third member charging straight at him with the fist containing the large amplifier. Everyone watching the fight was sure that Kabuto was going to be hit, but at the last second the glasses wearing boy dodged by leaning back.
"Whoa! So fast!" Ino and Sakura thought.
"Nice reflexes and speed. He might make a good opponent" Sasuke thought getting more excited about the exams.
"Too predictable" Kabuto thought smugly before he froze up as his glasses shattered into pieces shocking everyone.
"So still think the Sound village doesn't have promising ninja? Think you better than us still? Haven't you been in this exam for four years now collecting information? Well, if so then put this in your cards. The three Genin from the Hidden Sound Village will be passing this exam and become Chunin" declared the boy wearing the large gray poncho with the long sleeves and snake patterned scarf who attacked Kabuto.
Kabuto looked up at them still looking superior as he removed his shattered glasses. "I was careless yes, but that doesn't cha..." he started to say before he felt his body shaking with a violent ringing in his head. "Bleh!" he puked as he fell to his knees with blood dripping from his left ear.
"Kabuto-san?!" Sakura and Ino cried in worry rushing to the silver haired boy's side.
"What just happened?! Kabuto dodged his attack!" Kiba yelled surprised by the sudden turn of events.
"Maybe it a trick of some sorts? Maybe a Genjutsu or a high speed attack we didn't see" Choji suggested giving Kabuto a worried glance.
Hinata jumped a bit when Naruko touched her arm to get her attention. "Pay attention to this...This is your next medical lesson" she whispered watching Hinata nod her head before walking over to the injured boy's side.
Kneeling in front of Kabuto examining the damage. "I think it was a high density sound blast you got hit with. Your eardrum's ruptured" Naruko tells him getting everyone's attention. Ignoring them she gently took his face into her hands and tilted it to the side letting the blood drain out of his ear. "Keep your head like this for a few seconds."
Naruko by this time has redone her hair into a low hanging bun showing she was in medical mode to her two teammates who were watching her. Everyone continuing watching as she pulled on a pair of gloves and took out several sterile gauzes. Folding one up Naruko poured a cleaning and sterilizing liquid to start cleaning up the blood around his face. When she cleaned up the drained blood up she went to work on the ear gently cleaning the inside so she can get a better look at it.
"Ohhhh so you have medical training? Interesting, but the damage has already be done so you can't really help him" the leader of the sound team taunted.
Naruko ignored him as she placed the bloody gauzes on the floor. Still looking straight at Kabuto. "There is a tear on the inner wall of ear, nothing serious so you won't have to have surgery to repair it. Just keep you ear clean and it'll heal on its own. Though it'll heal on its own you're going to experience the occasional ringing and headache" Naruko tell him removing her gloves.
"Don't ignore us you little brat! Unless you want to be the next one to experience or wrath" the girl of the group the sound threatened.
"To get to her you'll have to get through me first, so back off before you make me mad" Sasuke said stepping forward giving the trio his infamous Uchiha glare.
Shikamaru snorted wondering when Sasuke got so protective of others even though he was silently agreeing with him. Like he was going to let anyone hurt her while he was around.
"Impressive...I didn't believe you to be capable of learning medical ninjutsu no offense, but the information got on you mentioned you weren't the best of students in the academy and you're chakra control is less than desirable" Kabuto tells her eyeing her with watchful and analyzing eyes.
Naruko had an embarrassed blush as she gave him a sheepish smile. "Well, I can't argue you with you on that, but I'm not a professional healer I just know the basic first aids and simple healing Jutsus. The more advance healing techniques I can't do because of my lack of control, but at least I do the simple things" she tells him pulling out a bottle of medicine.
"Here these pills will help with headaches and this slave will help numb the ache in your ear and these gauze are for you to help protect your ear from getting infected" she tells him before giving him instructions what he needed to do before taking his medicine to help prevent him from getting sicker.
Kabuto took the bottle and slave she gave him giving her a grateful smile as he helped her to her feet. "My sincerest thanks, at least if you ever considering pursuing medicine I'll be treated by the sweetest nurse in the village and the cutest one" he flirted kissing her hand which made her blush.
Shikamaru's eye twitched at the kiss feeling his jealousy peak, but before he could move Sasuke had already pulled Naruko away from him so she was standing beside him and Hinata. "Gah troublesome over protective brothers and oblivious blondes!"
"So she has medical ninja training? Interesting we can use that against her in the future" Karui thought storing that mental note in her mind.
"I knew that loser was stupid I just didn't realize how stupid she was. Everyone knows with any basic knowledge on Shinobi combat is that you take out the healer of the team" Neji sneered wearing a condescending smirk as he watched the group of rookies.
"That guy is so lucky! He had Naru-chan treat him so tenderly and was able to kiss her hand! I wish that I was injured so she could take of my injuries!" Lee thought sadly before a bright fire burned in his eyes. "Fear not my dear sweet Naru-chan! I will become stronger and sweep you off your feet!" he thought engulfing himself in a determined fire.
Before anything else could go down a smoke bomb went off at the front of the room gaining everyone's attention. "Okay you worthless bastards! Listen up and shut the hell up and sit down the first exam is about to begin!" yelled a deep and baritone man that screamed intimidation.
Looking towards the voice of the man the Genin saw a tall man wearing a black trench coast standing in front of a group of Chunin wearing grey jump suites.
"You maggots are all under my mercy now and I don't mess around. You brats from the Sound better know your place or I'll be booting your asses out the door so fast you won't know where your ass and head is no more! Do I make myself clear?!" the scared man in the black trench coat yelled.
"Crystal clear sir. We just got overly excited about the exam. First timers and all" apologized the boy in charge of the team.
"Good. Now that I have everyone's attention I like to introduce myself. My name's Ibiki Marino. I'm the lucky bastard that gets to give you little maggots your first section of the Chunin exam. Make no mistake if any you disobey my orders or don't follow my rules I will fail you immediately." Ibiki said coldly making the more timid students gulp in fear.
The sound ninja wearing the tan shirt gave a low annoyed sigh. "Man…. And here I thought this exam was going to be hard."
Ibiki as well as the other proctors gave him an amused and dark smirk. "Yes, my test will be loads of fun for you all. Now to kick this party into overdrive you maggots will line up in front of a proctor and will step forward one by one to receive a number tile to assign you a seat and your exam packet. When you receive you test keep it faced down and wait for further instructions" Ibiki said holding up the number 1 tile and exam.
The room went deadly silent after Ibiki statement giving all the students a moment to process what he said. When what their exam was going to be registered the silence was broken by the one and only Naruko Uzumaki.
"NOOOOOOOO! NOT ANOTHER PAPER EXAM! YOU BASTARDS ARE GOING TO SCREW ME OVER AGAIN! Naruko screamed with silent tears falling from her eye in despair. Hinata knowing her friend and teammate had reason to fear the exam gave her sympathetic pats on her back letting her know she was there for her.
"Looks like our targets just grew ten times bigger now and we just got handed the biggest handicap right from the start" Sasuke thought watching Naruko break down and Hinata trying to comfort her. He silently cursed the examiners and gave them each a cold stare down.
"Thank you for volunteering to be the first one up miss loudmouth midget. Good thing you have a big mouth or else none of us was going to see you little ant" Ibiki taunted grinning evilly at the now fuming blond haired girl. "So the infamous Kyuubi container is taking my exam how fun."
Naruko glared up at him for making fun of her size before stomping up to him and snatching her tile and packet from him. "I' .Short!" she gritted out through her clenched teeth. "You bastards better grade me correctly this time or I'm kicking y'alls asses. Higher ranks be damned if I get screwed over again" she growled glaring at them all.
After making her threat Naruko went to her assigned seat hunching over her exam in despair while glaring holes into the paper. The rest of the Genin's stepped forwards after her to get their exams and tiles.
Shikamaru sighed wondering if Naruko was trying to piss everyone off here, but shrugged it off knowing she be okay. Taking his exam paper and tile he went to find his seat and was pleasantly surprised to see he was sitting by his Blue-eyes. "Guess the odds are in my favor today" he thought walking behind her and gently thumping her on the head to get her attention.
Naruko looked up to see Shikamaru sitting beside her and she perked up at that. "Hehe guess traditions are hard to break huh?" she giggled smiling at him deeply happy she have someone familiar nearby.
"Troublesome girl…you sure do know how to make a target of yourself" he lightly scolded her letting out a big yawn.
Naruko pouted at him and stuck her tongue out at him. "Blah! You know I don't trust test and you know I hate being called short more than anything" she tells him with her arms crossed over her chest.
Shikamaru let an easy smirk appear on his face as he leaned closer to her. "I've warned you about sticking that tongue out at me haven't I? Next time you do that it's an open invitation for me to kiss you" he warned teasingly enjoying the flush appearing on her whiskered cheeks.
"Baka-pineapple head! Don't say embarrassing stuff like that~" she whined lowly blushing brightly. "Someone could hear you…"
"Don't care." He said giving her a lazy shrug as he grabbed her hand under the table. "Too troublesome to hide it anymore…."more like too many troublesome guys to deal with" besides if people find out they find out. Simple as that." He tells her squeezing her to show he meant what he said even though he looked bored and tired.
Naruko stared at him for a long time in wonderment before her overly happy smile blossomed on her face. She held his hand tighter completely forgetting about the upcoming exam for that moment to just absorb and savor the happiness she felt at that time.
Behind the couple a pair of cold and calculating eyes study them closely. Seeing how close the two were angered the watcher to the point they dug their nails into the palm of their hands. "So, they are dating! Well, we'll see how long it'll last when I get through with them..."
"Okay a paper exam no big deal. I'll ace this test no problem! Shino's smart so he'll probably pass this exam, but Kiba on the other hand is totally screwed! That stupid dog boy won't be able to answer one of them. Ha shows him right thinking he knows everything" Sakura thought happily.
"This is going to be so lame." Kankurō thought leaning back in his chair already bored before the test had even started.
"Gai-sensei I promise to do my very best to make you proud!" Lee thought gearing himself up for the test.
"So this test determines whether we move on or not. What if this test is leading us into a trap to sign our lives away? What if this is a trick to get us all to sign a false confession for some super secretive S class offenses! And this test is just a secret form that gives them permission to dissect our brains! Man I don't want my head to be cut open or my brain dissected! I like them the way they are!" Omoi sobbed silently covering his head thinking the enemy was really going to attack him.
As Omoi started to have a panic attack he discovered his assigned seat was beside Naruko and her pineapple haired friend. When he saw her smile he felt a sense of warmth wash over him.
"Well, if I'm signing my imprisonment forms at least I get to see the sun for a little while longer huh Sunny?" he said sitting beside her with an easy going smile breaking the couple out of their trance.
Seeing who it was Naruko gave him a friendly grin while Shikamaru gave him a lazy, but critical stare. "Hi Omoi. I see you already came up with you newest disaster of the hour" she teased.
Omoi grinned back at her give her a quick nod which made her laugh at how serious he looked. Shikamaru looked a little upset at how flirty they looked before he shook it off keeping his lazy attitude up even though he held her hand a little tighter and more possessively.
"Geeze cool it with the whole troublesome jealousy routine. Blue-eyes loves you so trust her like she trust you... Man I knew it...Love is such a drag" Shikamaru thought before watching Naruko's face light up with a happy glow that made him smile tenderly at her. "At least it's a happy one..."
Ibiki scanned the room seeing everyone has been seated. "Now that everyone has found a seat we can move on. Before you all flip your test over I have a few rules to go over so shut up and listen up" he ordered getting everyone's attention.
When the room fell in silence Ibiki began to write down his set rules for the class to go by. When he was finished he turned back to the teams giving them all his serious but playfully evil smirk.
"Rule number one! Each and every one of you have been given 10 points right off the bat. This test is based on a ten point scale. There are ten questions total so for everyone you miss a point if you miss none you keep your original score and prove you're not a dumbass." Ibiki tells them.
"So we need a passing score... No big deal for us" Ino thought staring at the back of Sakura's head. "Soon I'll have her big brain working for us."
"I'm glad Naru-chan is sitting beside Shikamaru-kun. If she starts to feel nervous this time she'll have him beside her to calm her down again" Hinata thought happily.
"The second rule for you all is to understand is that this is a team test. If you plan on passing then you better hope you're teammates score decent because we will combine your scores together. At the end of the exam we'll see which teams held onto their initial 30 points." Ibiki explained.
"You can't be serious! Why does the passing of this test have to be team based?! These are individual test so this doesn't make sense" Sakura said.
"SHUT UP! You have no right to question my judgment! Now sit down and shut up while finish giving out the rules. Here's my most important rule for you all. If I or any of the protectors around the room catch you cheating you will be deducted two points every time you're caught cheating. If you're caught cheating five time you will lose all your points and be asked to leave immediately." Ibiki explained.
"So instead of getting answers wrong we get points deducted along with it too...interesting" Karui thought smiling at the challenge given to her.
"Remember kiddies I got my eyes on you" said a proctor wearing a bandage across his face.
"You're all ninja trying to advance in your careers so be proud Shinobi as you take this exam and try not destroy yourselves in the process. Oh and one last thing before you all begin…If you find yourself in the position of having lost all your points or failing to answer a single question right….you will be failed along with your two teammates!" Ibiki announced showing off his devil gleaming eyes and smile.
"WHAT HE JUST SAY!?" Sakura and Karui screeched internally with their eyes bulging out in disbelief.
"WHAT?! He has to be joking!" Sasuke thought glancing over to Naruko.
Naruko gulped in terror as she felt herself break out into a cold sweat. Lifting her hands up in surrender silently crying. "Grandma I'm coming home because Sasuke going to kill me!" she thought miserably.
"Well, damn. These guys aren't messing around this year….Wonder how the rookies are going to handle themselves this year" Kabuto thought glancing at two of them in particular.
"At least their trying to weed out the weak useless losers who don't belong here first" Neji thought glaring at Hinata from across the room before turning it on Naruko.
Gaara sat stoically having no fear for the consequence set out by Ibiki showing no trace of intimation in his cold teal green eyes.
"Starting now I have nothing left to say to any of you. Answer each question at you own pace, but be mindful of your time. The exam will run for one hour. NOW BEGIN!" he ordered when the clock struck 3'o clock.
In the room the only sound you could hear was the turning of papers then the rhythmical sound of pencil hitting paper rapidly.
"Okay calm down Sakura. Kiba is the biggest idiot you know next to Naruko, but if he can just answer one question will be okay….. I hope" Sakura thought glancing at her canine like teammate to see he was calm. "That's either a good sign or bad one….Let's hope for good. Okay Sakura time to shine!"
Hinata began to read over the test at fast and steady rate determining which questions would be simple and easy to answer. As she read through each problem she began to realize each question was harder than the last. Each problem involved and needed high levels of intelligence to solve the kind of tutoring one of noble families are offered. "Oh no….These problems are so complex…not one them is easy to solve…. Oh Naru-chan please don't panic I believe in you" Hinata thought worried about her blond haired friend.
"Awww hell I knew it! These guys were plotting to twist our brains around and turn them to mush with these high advance and trippy questions!" Omoi thought covering his head silently crying scared his head was going to be chopped open.
Karui who saw Omoi's display gritted her teeth hard as she held up her shaking fist. "If that idiot costs me to lose this chance at moving on to the next round because he let over the top imagination get to him…I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" she vowed angrily glaring at him which made Omoi shake more.
"Holy cow these questions are killer! Good thing Shikamaru's on our team…Hopefully he stays awake to answer them all if not at least we have Ino's ability as a backup plan" Choji thought biding his time until Ino made her move.
"Hell he might as well wrote on the board that he wanted us to cheat with how he got these questions worded. Good thing I thought ahead and put Karasu into the little group of watchers. Now all Temari and me got to do is wait for Gaara's move" Kankurō thought keeping his eye on his red haired sibling.
Sasuke read through all the questions until he got to number ten sitting his paper down showing a thoughtful smirk on his face. "Heh I see… I can't begin to answer a single one of these questions…. Plus this tenth question has me stumped…"
'This question will be revealed 45 minutes after the test begins. Listen to the examiner closely before answering.'
Naruko just like her teammates had read through the entire exam and each question slowly and carefully. And after finish reading them all came to the conclusion that….
"I'M SO DOOME! I can't answer a single one of these. Why couldn't this be a written exam where I could write random facts out of my head! Dammit! Why do these guys love torturing me with this crap!?" Naruko thought sadly. "The only way I have a remote way getting one these right is if I…is if I…"
Naruko began to think negatively as her eyes began to drift over to Shikamaru's paper, but quickly snapped her head back down to her own as she started thumping her head.
"What the hell am I thinking! I can't cheat! It's immoral and so wrong and if I get caught I'll be dragging Sasuke and Hinata down and our entire team through the mud" she scolded herself.
Shikamaru casted a worry glance to his troubled girlfriend and gave a soft sigh. He knew she didn't figure out the true purpose behind this test, but even if she did he doubt she would act on it. Cheating wouldn't sit right with her and he knew that, well if she cheated herself she feel guilty, but if she didn't have a say in the matter….
"Like I said before you are a very troublesome girl, but you're my troublesome girl" Shikamaru thought as he performed his trademark hand signs.
When he performed the last hand sign the shadow under his feet began to shift and twist until it stretched out and connected to Naruko's shadow.
Naruko felt her body freeze up and she was confused as her hand slowly moved towards her pencil. She was so confused until she noticed she was imitating Shikamaru's movements.
Sasuke smirked as he too formed a quick hand sign activating his family blood line. "Sharingan! As Shinobi it's our job to see beneath the underneath. This test was never to test out our knowledge, but to test out how we gathered information without being caught. At least figure that out Naruko because the other strong players already did!"
Gaara had enough time to gather up the Chakra he needed to unlock his jutsu so covering one of his eyes a form of sand began to mold itself in his palm. After a while the mold took on the shape of an eye and when it was completely constructed he crushed it spreading sand in the air. "Opening of the third eye!"
"Looks like Gaara's making his move...Guess it's my turn. Umm excuse me...can I be excused to the restroom?" Kankurō asked looking sheepish.
"You may, but if you don't make it back in time before the test finish you'll fail" Ibiki said watching as one of his proctors came over to him and escorted him out of the room. "Seems like these kids have figured out my little hidden message... interesting" he thought studying the crowd sharply.
Akamaru who was sitting on Kiba's head bent down to his ear and began to replay the answer to number three. Kiba could smirk happily as he copied down the answer. "Good boy. Now what's the answer to four" he whispered softly.
Above the heads of the testing Genin a little wiretap had been set up to cause a little mirror display. Controlling the wires and mirrors where Tenten who was adjusting it a certain way to see the test of another test taker while giving it a good angle for another to see. "Lee! If you can see it adjust you headband."
Lee catching the light reflection looked up to see the mirrors and the test reflections inside them. Removing his headband from his stomach he tied it around his head.
Across the room a little fly had been sitting on a desk staring at the paper of a student who seemed to have been writing everything down quickly and assertively. Memorizing all the answers the fly quickly flew back to his owner and proceeded to show him the answer. "Good job.. So the answer was eight...what's the next one" Shino thought watching his little friend fly around.
After copying down her last answer Sakura placed her pencil down feeling smug at completely answering the entire exam with plenty of time left to spare. Unknown to her that was what a certain blond was waiting for.
"Okay Sakura take a good nap I'm going to be borrowing your soul for a bit" Ino thought holding up her hands to start her Mind Transfer Jutsu. Once the transfer was complete Ino's body slumped over alerting Choji their plan had begun.
"So Ino took over Sakura's body... Not a bad choice...Now when she takes over mine she'll write the answers down for me and Blue-eyes" he thought.
Just as he thought they were in the clear a kunai flew right in between Naruko and him to the guy sitting behind him causing a big surprise.
"That's number five kid. You're out of here" said the proctor with the bandages. "Team 27 please leave immediately."
Silently the trio walked out with their heads hanging low in shame. After they left Kankurō showed back up and as he passed Temari's desk he dropped something on their and went back to his seat.
Naruko's heart was pounding thinking that was almost her because Shikamaru was willing to cheat for her. She couldn't let him fail with her even if he was being sweet about it all. Fighting against the hold of the shadow possession she moved her free hand to grab her writing hand.
Shikamaru seeing this looked at her with a raised brow and watched as she slowly shook her head at him mouthing 'thank you' to him. Getting the message let out a low troubled sigh as he withdrew his shadow watching Naruko's face light up.
"Thanks Shika, but I got to do this one on my own. I'm putting everything into the final question. Dattebayo!" she thought smirking at him.
"Troublesome girl" He thought shaking his head fondly at her.
Putting her entire faith in the final question Naruko watched as the clock ticked down watching more teams being asked to leave after hitting the five time rule. Soon it was the 45 minute mark and everyone still in the room was sitting on the edge of their seats.
Ibiki stared at the clock smirking. "Now that the trash has been dealt with we can start the main entertainment" "Okay listen up...I'm about to reveal the tenth question!"
"This is it! All or nothing I just got to get this answer right or Hinata and Sasuke go down with me! I can't let them down I just can't!" Naruko thought gulping feeling really scared now.
"Now before I reveal the tenth question I need to go over the added rules that come with this question" Ibiki stated getting everyone's attention. "These rules are known as the rules of desperation..."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
"Man it sure is boring without having my team around to nag me for missions" Kakashi whined sitting back in his seat across from Asuma and Kurnai.
Asuma who just lit up a smoke smirked at him. "Looks like you're going into Hime-withdrawal just like Shikamaru did when you guys went on you wave mission" the chain smoker teased.
Kakashi eye twitched at the mention of the shadow ninja's name and his fondness for his little sister. "Don't joke about that Asuma...You might lose a student earlier than you plan if you do."
Asuma could only laugh at him finding his over-protective strike funny and entertaining. "So tell Kakashi how are things between you and Yugao now a days?"
Kakashi's mood kind of soured at the mention of the purple haired woman. "Well, to be honest we...broke up."
"What? Why, I mean you too were fine when you left for your Wave trip?" Kurnai asked.
"Well, that's what we wanted everyone to think and I guess Yugao and I wanted to believe it too, but we've fallen out of love with each other. I still care for her, but we just don't work the way we used to" Kakashi tells them.
"Oh wow I'm sorry to hear that. Does Hime know about you guys splitting up?" Asuma asked.
"Not yet. We didn't officially end until my team and I came back. That's when we both decided it was better for the break…. we both discovered we had developed feelings for others that weren't with each other" Kakashi tells them.
"So you broke up because you each found someone new? Care to share who they are?" Kurnai asked.
"Sorry, that business is strictly my own and Yugao's. If she feels comfortable to share than by all means ask her, but as for me I'm keeping my to myself" Kakashi said knowing if word got to his caring, but noisy little sister he never hear the end of it.
"Nothing wrong with that. By the way did you guys hear who's running the first section of the Chunin exam?" Asuma asked blowing out a stream of smoke.
"No. Who the unlucky bastard that got stuck running it this time?" Kakashi asked.
"That unlucky bastard happens to be the one and only Ibiki Morino" Asuma said.
Kakashi's deflated greatly at the name. "You're kidding me...They got that Sadist running the exam?" "Those poor kids...I wonder if they'll even make it through the first round..."
"Sadist? Who are you guys talking about?" Kurnai asked.
"You can say Ibiki has created a name for himself for his love of torture and interrogation skills. That's why he's the lead director in the anbu's interrogation task force. Though physical torture won't be allowed in the exam, he's probably submitting the kids to his mental interrogation methods..."
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"Now here is the stipulation for the Tenth question. You must choose on whether to take it or not?" Ibiki tells them.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE GET TO CHOOSE?! What if we choose not to take it?!" Temari demanded tired of his mind games.
"If you choose not to take the tenth question you score will be reduced to zero with you and your two teammates failing the exam" he said calmly.
Many Genin became angry and started yelling in outrage. "Well, if that's the case than of course we're going to take the stupid question!" people yelled.
"However there's another part of the tenth question..." Ibiki started to say.
"Just give it rest already! What else is this freak going to throw at us?" Karui thought furiously.
"If you choose to take the final question and answer it incorrectly then not only will you fail, but the person to answer incorrectly will lose their privilege to take the Chunin selection exams again!" he yelled.
"What he say?!" Naruko though horridly looking like she just got punched in the guy or that she was fighting Zabuza again for the first time.
"WHAT THE HELL KIND OF RULE IS THAT?! YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO'VE FAILED AND TAKEN THE TEST MULTIPLE TIMES!" Kiba yelled finally losing his temper.
Ibiki stood quietly after his outburst before he himself broke out into a dark laughter before looking at the remaining student with his demon eyed star. "Like I said before...you're all the unlucky bastards that got stuck with me this year and whatever I say goes! Though you can't say I'm cold hearted and ruthless I'm giving you a way out aren't I?" he said laughing darkly again.
"He's a ruthless bastard alright...Naruko just don't crack under pressure and we'll be fine" Sasuke thought keeping his eyes on her.
"If you're not confident you can answer this question then leave now and try again next year...Now if you're already let's begin the final question! Those of you who don't wish to take it raise your hand now. You can leave as soon as your number is confirmed." Ibiki instructed them.
"No way! If I quit now Hinata and Sasuke fail with me...But if I answer the question wrong I'll be a Genin forever! What the hell am I supposed to do with choices like that!" Naruko screamed inside her head.
Hinata glanced at Naruko watching her friend struggle with this decision. "Naru-chan doesn't want to let Sasuke-kun me down, but if Naru-Chan risk the final question and gets it wrong..."
"I..I won't take it!" a man yelled standing up looking scared.
Naruko watched as the man and his teammates walked out, but that wasn't the only team to walk out. Many teams followed after them leaving a good number of teams left. Naruko soon began to shake feeling anxious and nauseous all at once.
"Naru-chan is always looking out for me and the others and forgetting about herself most of the time...If she fails she'll be a Genin forever...then her dream will... I'm sorry Sasuke-kun, Naru-Chan, but I can't let her risk her dream!" Hinata thought finding the courage to slowly lift up her hand, but stopped midway...
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"Ibiki's mental torture is the best in all of Konoha, He knows all the inner workings of the human mind and knows how to exploit its weaknesses. With him being able to attack your mind there's no escape from his interrogation!"
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
Naruko lifted her arm up shaking like a leaf in a wind storm catching everyone by surprise.
"Na...NARU-CHAN!?" Hinata, Lee, and Choji thought worriedly.
"You idiot! Did you really just throw everything away?" Sasuke thought angrily watching her closely.
Shikamaru looked at her shaking hand worriedly. "Blue-eyes?"
Before anyone could say anything Naruko slammed her hand on the desk as she jumped to her feet glaring at Ibiki dead in the eyes. "DON'T UNDERESTIMATE ME! THERE'S NO WAY I'M GOING TO RUN AWAY!
That got everyone's attention as they all stared at the little loud mouth blond that seem to gain everyone attention from the start.
"YOU THINK ITS FUN PLAYING THIS LITTLE GAME OF YOURS, BUT I'M NOT PLAYING ANYMORE! I'M NOT AFRAID SO GIVE ME YOUR FINAL QUESTION I DON'T CARE IF I GET IT RIGHT OR NOT! I'M STILL GOING TO BE HOKAGE SOMEDAY!" Naruko finished yelling keep her eyes deadlocked on Ibiki's.
"That's my Blue-eyes. Always loud and troublesome just the way I like her" Shikamaru thought looking up at her with a lazy and amused grin.
"I don't know rather to throttle her for pulling that stupid off and scaring me or give her credit for her guts" Sasuke thought slumping back in his chair.
"Are you sure? I won't ask again. If you choose to take the final question and get it wrong you career will be on the line?" Ibiki asked never once breaking eye contact with her.
Naruko smirked as she tightened her headband on her forehead. "I never go back on my word! That's my Nindo my ninja way!" she tells him determinedly.
"Nicely said Sunny...Guess the fire in you really does burn brighter than the sun" Omoi thought watching all the doubt and fear that was one the remaining student suddenly disappear with her words.
"What an amazing ability she has. In a moment's notice she took away every one worries not bad kid... Hmm no point and dragging this out any longer anyway, but with 28 teams left its more than I expected oh well..." "Well, since no one else is getting up I only have one thing left to say to everyone in here..."
Everyone was gearing up for the final question wondering what it was going to be...
"I congratulate you all! You've all passed the first section of the Chunin exams!"
Lazyfox: *slowly wakes up* Ahhh not a long enough nap~ But as you can see the first part of the exam is over yay~ *Cuddles with her chibi dolls looking exhausted*
Random: Kick butt action time baby! *fists bumps the air*
Magic: The nest chapter will hopefully be posted on the anniversary date, but we don't know for absolute surety yet *stares at the droopy eyes of his sister*
Summer: But if the chapter does go up as plan It'll be the 50th chapter and it'll celebrate this stories fourth year of publication~!
Lazyfox: Indeed it does. Again thank you all for the continued support of this story for the last four years. It's made me really happy to see everyone enjoying this story. So I hope to see all again real soon so until next time….
Everyone: JAA-NEE!