Hello, again.

The chapter title is a play on the Chunin Exams and the song in the chapter, as they are now set to seek a promotion, but they do have to follow a 'code' of sorts during that particular day. This is also a multi-parter to bring in Nightmare Moon and Luna (you'll see what I mean when the Invasion shows up).

Perspective: n/a

Don't own MLP or Naruto, by the way.

Promo Code

XXEquestrian MoonXX

Luna didn't hold back the tears, helpless as the monster Nightmare Moon controlled her body, looking at various images.

The ponies of Equestria, a giant nine-tailed fox, and a rather spectacular looking dragon, among a few others.

Nightmare Moon laughed softly, and not in a kind way. "So many different foals, so many changing worlds, and yet none of them c-oh. This is interesting."

Luna glanced at the new image, only to become genuinely curious herself. The pair had seen similar before, but something about this time felt...different.

"Let's take a look."

XXKonohaXX

"Sun? Sun. It's time."

"Ngh. All right, Sakura. I'm up." Sun stretched as he sat up, only to ask "Any idea why Pinkie asked us to wake up this early, leaving hours until it starts, again?"

"I think he wants to start whatever party he's got for this with the sun." Sakura shrugged, walking out of the room, "As it stands, it's just you we're currently waiting for."

Sun was walking out the front door with the others moments later, only to come across an interesting sight when the village was in view.

Streamers, statues, stands, and signs, all of which were in a form of black and white, at least until the sun started shining on them. Then color slowly formed.

"He certainly knew what he was doing with this." Ino said, hugging Rare, "It's actually quite beautiful."

"Do yeh think his plan might've been teh let people spend time at teh shops and sights before teh fights? Make it more of eh big event?" asked Jack, only for a bell tone to suddenly start ringing, "Never mind."

[Hunchback of Notre Dame – Topsy Turvy]

Windows and doors quickly opened, with practically everyone wanting to know just who was responsible, at least until they saw the additions around the place.

A few moments later, their attention was diverted to the top of the Hokage Tower, where Pinkie was standing, allowing his voice to echo throughout the village. "Come one, come all!"

He clapped his hands, somehow 'timing' it just right for the stands to open and the rest of the shops to close outside of those who lived on-site. "Leave your looms and milking stools, coop the hens and pen the lambs. Come one, come all!"

"Close the churches and the schools. It's the day for crossing dams." He knelt down, as though to jump, "Come see the Chunin Ex...ams!"

His laughter wasn't the only thing ringing through the air as he jumped over to a square near the main gate, landing just in time for the sun to come up completely, color to fill in fully, and confetti to blast into the air. "Twice a year we throw a party, here in town. Twice a year we turn a village upside down."

Pinkie tossed a couple of objects to a few nearby kids, which turned out to be figurines of various ninja that one of the stands under command of the Ichirakus had for sale. He bowed with a flourish, getting giggles from said kids. "The genin are kings and every king's a clown. Once again it's Chunin Promo Day."

By then, people were starting to feel the spirit he was hoping to fan the flames of, only helped along when he started dancing (technically), down the main street. "It's the day the fighter in us gets released."

He passed a robed group with a rather stretched split, making them gape. "It's the day we mock the line and shock the priest."

The group had to shake their heads in amusement when they saw the expressions, humored by how easily the robed group was shocked. They were seriously surprised by stretchy limbs, when they lived in a world where people tossed the elements, metal, and bombs around like candy?

They really needed to get out more.

Pinkie quickly arrived back at the Hokage Tower, where Tsunade, Shizune, and Hiruzen were waiting, with the old man singing "Everything is looking bright at the Chunin Exams."

Much to the shock of the remaining foreign nin and dignitaries, not even they were immune to joining in. "Chunin Promo!"

"Everything is upsy-daisy!" Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro quickly encountered them, though the elder two were somewhat unnerved by the childish glint in Gaara's eyes, having never quite seen that directly from him.

Sun chuckled and told them "This is why Pinkie is the party person around the village. He knows how to makes things interesting." just before another round of "Chunin Promo!"

As if to prove Sun's point, a candy apple suddenly appeared in Gaara's hand, which got him to drool a bit from the first bite, his brother and sister to gape, and the rest to laugh good-naturedly at the sight. "Everyone is acting crazy!"

Pinkie stepped out of nowhere and clapped twice, somehow causing the chairs for the Kages and Daimyos to become the main color of the respective nation with gold trim and a velvety comfortable texture. "Seats are gold and blades are a bouquet, that's the way on Chunin Promo Day."

"Chunin Promo!"

"Beat the drums and blow the trumpets!" Background musicians started playing, getting crowds to listen.

"Chunin Promo!"

"Join the client crowds and money nets, popping in from all over today." By then, the stands and shopping were starting to go full swing, though the entertainment locales weren't far behind. "Side attractions are all distracting, keeping children on play-acting. All because it's Chunin Promo Day!"

Sun, Sakura, and the rest of the shinobi set to participate eventually found themselves facing the main doors leading to the appointed arena, waiting for the moment where they open and let them through.

Kankuro leaned over to Sun with a concerned look on his face. "What exactly did you guys give Gaara? Not to be rude, but his reactions so far have been creeping us out."

"A candy apple." Sun answered, shaking his head in amusement, "It's simple enough: he's becoming addicted to them."

He quickly glanced up, then changed the subject. "Get ready."

The group quickly stood at attention when they heard an echoed "Come one, come all! Hurry, hurry here's your chance, See the strongest close at hand. Come one, come all! See the finest genin of the land, Make an entrance to entrance. Dance la twitching muscles...Dance!"

The doors opened to stands filled with people, letting a barrage of cheers reach their ears as they walked out into the arena and stood in front of the Kage Box...well, Sun jumped and slid down a slide of chakra with Sasuke right behind him as Pinkie sang "Here it is, the moment you've been waiting for," Samui and Karui front-flipped while Ino cart-wheeled with "Here it is, you know exactly what's in store," Temari glided in to "Now's the time we cheer until our throats get sore," while Shino appeared in a small cloud of bugs during "Now's the time we crown the new chunins!" Neji, Shikamaru, and Kankuro actually walked in, though it was clear on their faces they were wishing they thought of similar (no matter how dignified Neji tries to be).

A good number of the ones who had yet to be exposed to Pinkie were caught off guard when the main screen on the arena wall suddenly turned on, depicting a person curled into a ball that landed in a body of water and made a massive wave. "So make a splash that's incredible and inspiring!"

It then switched to a number of different faces, each set for battle, etched in either paintings or stone. "Make a face that's etched for a museum wing!"

Pinkie then appeared on the screen, pointing a small pole towards a board with markings positioned as a form of stairs with a flat hat of sorts on his head. "For the one that's smartest will be career cruisin'! Why?"

"Chunin Promo!"

"Risky folk, forget your shyness!"

Samui had to ask "Risky folk?"

"Chunin Promo!"

Sun responds with "He largely means us."

"You could soon be called 'Your Highness!'"

Karui deadpanned. "He does realize we're just here to get a promotion, right?"

"Not the point of the idea, actually." Sun clarified, "Think 'King of the Hill.'"

That got all of them in the arena to understand, having at least heard about the idea.

"Put the proudest talents on display. Be the king of Chunin Promo Day!" Pinkie stood up on top of the Kage Box, only to look into it for a quick moment, "Everybody!"

As Hiruzen, Tsunade, and a few others such as A walked into the booth, the crowd joined in again. "Twice a year we throw a party, here in town. Twice a year we turn a village upside down. Twice a year some rookies end up with a crown. Twice a year on Chunin Promo Day!"

The new group laughed good-naturedly at the unorthodox greeting, just in time for Pinkie to sing "And with the laughter, oh, what comes after? Dear people, applaud," he swung down to bow before Tsunade, "For we'll have a new name to laud."

This time, even the genin in the arena joined in "And its the day we do the things that set minds free, unlike the other three hundred and sixty-three. Twice a year we love to drop in, where the fights are never stoppin'," They turned to one another as one, "for the chance to pop some popinjay and pick the ones to come on top in Chunin Promo Day!"

"Chunin Promo!"

"Strong and crazy, upsy-daisy," The genin raised their fists between them, in respect for the event they are about to participate in, "Chunin Promo Day!"

[End Song]

Hiruzen then proceeded to address the crowd as Pinkie sat down beside his brother's in the stands. "Thank you all for coming to this momentous occasion, and that interesting greeting. Now, normally I would say a few things to commemorate this, but with the other festivities included, I'm sure even I don't want to listen to an old man rambling when there is fun to be had."

A round of light laughs sounded at that.

"So without further ado, let's focus our eyes on the screen to see just who will be fighting who."

The screen then turned on normally and displayed a list of faces and names, in this resulting order:

Ino vs Karui

Neji vs Sun

Shino vs Kankuro

Shikamaru vs Temari

Samui vs Sasuke

"Let the Chunin Exams begin!"

In regards to Hiruzen's words at the end, that's largely because I've never been good with things such as speeches.

In the case of the song, on the other hand, the Chunin Exams can be compared to events like the Super Bowl for the Shinobi Lands. And while some might have brought up a Jonin Exam, the Chunin one is what pops up the most, and with the most people coming to watch (clientele, civilians, and shinobi), so Pinkie's just making it a bit more obvious to the villagers.

Until next time. Please let me know what you think.