The Path A Ninja Walks...
Chapter Fifty-One
Making The Cut: The Rookies Unite
A/N: WARNING-The character known as Sage Amesawa uses a lot of profanity and colorful language as part of his "colorful" personality. Be prepared if you are sensitive to that. Please note it is not because I condone such manner of speech, and also the character does not mean to use it as a way to be harmful, it is just his personality.
"I feel an even better specimen awaits~"
First, Sasuke...
Saseme sighed as she cupped her hands full of the cool running water and sent it splashing to her face...
"The next step will be starting soon..."
Now Gaara too...I just can't catch a break anywhere can I?
she thought to herself as her head hung forward.
Right...the next step...
she thought to herself, with a heavy sigh leaving her trembling body...
beads of water rolled down through her hanging fringe.
Why are we even doing this, again...?
...Why am I doing this...?
XXXXX
Anko grunted gripping at her neck as she sat before the Third Hokage.
"How is it?" he questioned her, "Does the curse mark still cause you pain?"
"No...not really." she said softly, "Thanks to you it's much better."
"That's good, but we better get back to bussiness..." said one of the Special Jounin behind Anko, "This Orochimaru, is one of the Sanin, the legendary three ninja, isn't he?" he asked, " Ranked S in the Bingo Book...he's supposed to be so powerful that not even the Anbu Black ops were able to bring him down..." he paused, "I had heard a rumor that he died- but I guess that wasn't true..."
"Why did he come to this Village now, anyway?" the other wondered...
Even Anko had to take a moment to ponder the answer for that...
Though it didn't take her long to figure out-
"Those twins..."
"The Uchiha then, right?" said the Third. he had a guess as these were the only twins he knew of in the Village that could hold some importance of something Orochimaru would be after...
"Ahh...yeah." said Anko, "From the sounds of it, he seems more interested in Sasuke, though." she stated, "However I wouldn't put it passed him keeping the sister on back file...-"
Before she could continue, she was sharply interrupted by static as one of the Exam Proctors voiced through-
"Anko- we have confirmed that 24 students have passed the second exam." he stated, "And as for the third exam...according to the rules, we'll have to hold a round of preliminaries first." he pointed out, "A first in 5 years..."
With that, the communication cut off, and Lord Third slowly turned his attention to Anko.
"Now...for the time being, we will just continue the exams as planned." he stated, "But I also want to keep an eye on his movements as well..."
"...Yes."
XXXXX
Lined in eight rows of three man squads...the remaining examinees stood ready and waiting for the next task to continue forward with the chunin exams. Saseme's own squad being part of the crowd as well...
"First of all- congratulations on finishing the second exam!" called Anko through the mic.
There were 78 ninja who took this exam...
Frankly I'm surprised 24 have passed.
she thought to herself.
I knew that less than half would make it...but I really though the number would be in the single digits...
The sensei chatted amongst themselves while the students glanced arounf to check out the competition...
"What a drag...there's still so many." Shikamaru groaned, "What a pain in the ass.."
"Sasuke and his team have passed too!" squealed Ino.
"Well duh, of course they did."Shikamaru grumbled.
With all the trouble we went through to keep them safe, they better have passed...
As expected...All the best are here.
Neji thought to himself as his eyes glanced about at the competition around him.
His glancing had halted on a familiar face near by.
...Sasuke Uchiha, huh?
he blinked, his gaze soon shifting to that of another familiar Uchiha face.
Saseme...
His eyes narrowed and glazed over as he thought back to the moment they shred under the moon in her weakened state...
And now here she was again...still with that perplexed expression.
his eyes would blink, wonderingjust what was going on in her mind...
He thoughts have always seemed so empty in her silences since her returned...though, he certainly wasn't going to be the one to ask about it...so he scoffed and shifted his gaze away.
"Check it out..." Sakura said softly, "All of the leaf Village Rookies are here too."
"Woah, everybody's here!" said Naruto, "Old Man Hokage, Iruka Sensei, Saseme and even Bushy Brow! It looks like absolutely nobody got left out this time!"
"Urgh...I don't have a very good feeling about this..." Sasuke growled softly as he gripped at his neck and shifted his gaze toward his sister...taking notice of her expression and letting his eyes narrow on her.
On top of that...Saseme seems to be acting strange too...
he thought to himself.
Maybe I should try to talk with her when this is over...see if I can find out what's going on with her and those sand ninja...
It's hard to believe that so many are left...and so many of them are rookies.
thought the Hokage as his eyes shifted back to Kokoro as well as Kakashi, Asuma and Guy.
So that's why they fought so hard to recommend them...
"All right, now pay attention!" said Anko, "Lord Hokage is going to explain the third exam to you- so you better listen carefully- maggots!" she huffed and politely passed the baton, "Lord Hokage...they're all yours."
The old man gave a nod and slowly stepped forward onto the podium and cleared his throat.
"First before I tell you what the third exam entails- I want to explain something about the test itself." he stated, "So listen closely not, it's something that all of you need to understand." he pointed out, "I am going to tell you asbout the true purpose of these exams."
True purpose?
Sakura and Hana both looked to be confused, however Saseme, simply kept her head down...
Because she already knew the answer.
"Why do you suppose our country holds these exams in conjunction with out allies?" he asked-
Not that anyone could actually answer this question- it was more rhetorical.
"To raise the ability levels of the Shinobi and increase friendship between allied nations- but it's important that you understand it's true meaning." he said, "The exams are- so to speak- they are a representation of battle between allied nations." he stated.
"What's that supposed to mean?" TenTen wondered.
"If we look at our history..." said the Hokage, "All of the countries that we are currently allied with- were all once neighboring nations that continuously fought with each other for power." he said, "In order to avoid destroying each other's military strength meaninglessly- those nations would pick Champions to due battle on behalf of their countries at a mutually selected location." he stated, "That was how the Chunin Selection Exams, originally began."
"Well, that's great and everything." said Naruto, "But why do we have to go through these exams then?" he asked, "It's not like we're doing this to pic chunin to go fight-"
A valid question no less...
Saseme chuckled softly to herself as she folded her arms.
And she respected Naruto for asking it.
"Well actually..." said Lord Third, "There is no question that part of the point of these exams is to select Shinobi worthy of becoming Chunin..." he stated, "it's just not the whole story." he pointed out, "These exams also allow for a place where Shinobi can carry the pride of their nation on their back- and fight against other ninja for their very lives." he said, and continued on, "Many leaders and people of Promidence from many countries are invited to attend these exams as guests- and also possibly to seek Shinobi to work for them." he blinked, "This exam could determine the course of your Ninja work, from here on out." he points, "More importantly- those rulers will watch your battles, and take note of the strengths that each ninja- and each nation is developing, if there is a gap in power between the countries, the strong nations are inundated with job requests, and conversely the requests from countries that are deemed weak? Declined."he stated, "Therefore- the stronger our nation is, the better our position when it comes to negotiating with neighboring countries...which is why it is important to show how much military strength our village has."
"Okay, but even so- why is it nessasary for us to risk our lives?" asked Kiba.
A simple answer, really...
Saseme thought to herself with her eyes narrowed as she thought back to the meeting her father would often have...
"The Country's strength is the Village's strength, the Village's strength is the Shinobi's strength- and the true strength of the Shinobi is only achieved when it's pushed to its limits such as in a life or death battle." said the Hokage, " This exam is a chance for each nation to display the strength of its shinobi and the strength of the nation itself." he clarified, "It is because this is an exam where your life is on the line- that it has meaning." he said, "And it is for this very reason that for the strength of the nation, that your forerunners fought in this exam, it's truly a dream worth striving for."
"So then why was the expression used before?" Hana asked, a question shared by TenTen before The Hokage continued his explaination.
"But you have only remembered half of what I said." he stated, "You also mustn't have the wrong idea of the exam's meaning." he said, "This is a custom which balance is preserved by fighting and dying- in the world of the Shinobi? That is friendship." he said, "The Third Exam is a fight for life with the pride of your Village and your own dreams at stake."
"Hmph...well he sure convinced me." smirked Naruto.
"Any test is fine." said Gaara, "Just tell me what the details of the exam are already- I can handle anything you throw at me,"
"Gaara..." Saseme whispered his name ever so softly under her breath before shifting her gaze away once more.
"Very well then." said the Hokage, "Now listen closely, I am going to tell you exactly what you will be doing on the third exam-"
Though he was soon interrupted by a new presence that took the stage.
"Lord Hokage, before you do, please allow me, Hayate Gekko, appointed as Proctor of the Third Exam, to speak first."
"...So be it."
The man was silent for a moment before rising to his feet to speak.
"It's nice to meet you all." he said calmly, "There's something I would like all of you to do before the third exam..."
To be Continued