Chapter 13
Ebiki stood at the first of the class holding up a piece of paper with a number on it "Let's proceed with the first stage of the chunin exams. You'll each be given a number, this number determines where you will sit. We'll start the written test once you're all seated"
"The what...?" Naruto said nervously
Sasuke and Hinata looked at him
"Did he say written?!" He asked as his voice was shakily
One of the chunin in the first smirked as he pulled out the exams
Naruto got on his hands and knees and yelled "NOOOOO! NOT A WRITTEN TEST! NO WAY!"
His teammates both sweatdropped at his reaction
As the candidates were being seated, Naruto looked down at the exam and grunts I can't believe this! Why written? Why?! He looked over on his left and sees Hinata siting next to him At least I'm not alone but he still panics a bit...Still this is a disaster!
Poor Naruto, based on how Iruka set up our team and his reaction to this part of the exam, written exams are not his strong point Hinata thought as she looked at her teammate, she looked around and saw Sasuke a few rows behind her.
Sasuke felt someone looking at him and looked around to find Hinata staring at him, he nodded at her and mouthed "Good Luck"
She blushed and smiled,nodding back and mouthing "You too"
However, seeing the interaction between them made Sakura's blood boil Just what the hell is going on? Why are Sasuke acting so nice to her?! He never act that way towards me or anyone else! She clutches her fist
Naruto kept messing with his hair as he freaked out when Hinata spoke up "Naruto"
He looked over to her "Hmmm?"
She gave him a small smile "Good Luck, let's do our best"
Naruto calmed down a bit and smiles back "Yeah, you too"
After all the candidates were seated, Ebiki explained the rules, which made everyone nervous but one rule that shocked everyone was: if any candidate should get a zero and fail the test, then the entire team fails.
With the rules and the time period of the test explain, Ebiki said "Begin the test!"
As the test progressed, everyone tried their hand at the questions. Soon some realized that the test was design for them to cheat, to show the chunin how they can secretly gather information from other ninja.
In Team 10, Sakura tries to figure out how to solve the questions on her own, Kiba puts Akamaru on his head using him to find the candidate with the answers and Shino uses his bugs to fly around looking over the test and return to him with the answers.
In Team 8, Ino uses her mind transfer jutsu to enter Sakura's body and memorizes her answers to pass on to Choji and Shikamaru
In Lee's team, Tenten uses mirrors she secretly put above on the ceil to look on Shino's paper and passes the answers onto Lee, while Neji uses his byakugan to look at the test on the person in front of him.
Lastly in Team 7, Sasuke uses his sharingan to copy the movement of the pen the person in front of him is using. Being from the same clan as her cousin, Hinata uses her byakugan as well. However Naruto was still panicking in his head as he was the only one of the rookies who didn't know the point of the test.
Hinata glances at Naruto's test and sees not a single question has been answers, she looks up to find him holding his head in frustration We all have to pass to get to the next part of the exam, I have to take this risk "Naruto"
He looks over at her with a miserable look "Hmmm?"
She slides her paper closer to him "Here, look at my test"
His eyes widen in shock "W-What?! But Hinata..."
"I know w-written test aren't your strong point, Naruto. And I know you wouldn't want to let the team down, s-so please hurry and copy"
Hinata, you're a life saver! Naruto thought as he smiled big. Before he could take a look at her paper, a kunai flew past him and landed in front of the guy seating behind him.
The guy stood up, scared "W-What was that all about?"
The chunin that threw it smirked "The rule is if you are caught cheating, five times then you're out. Take your teammates and leave"
Naruto watched as that team left the room and looked back at his own teammate If I do this, then we'll both..."Thank you Hinata, but no thanks"
She looked at him in shock "H-Huh?"
"I'm an ace ninja, I can pass this test without cheating, besides I won't want you to get into trouble because of me." He said with a gentle smile
Hinata looked at him in awe, there are times where she almost forgets why she admires him and then he reminds her, Despite the fact he has no answers on his paper, he still cares about what happens to us and believes he can pass . So much belief and confidences, I don't think I can change his mind "If you're sure about this"
"I'm positive!" He said with a smile but he regretted his decision after look at the test I'm so busted, unless...yeah in five minutes, they'll give the tenth question. So that's what it comes down to. Everything's riding on that, believe it!
Now that we've weeded out most of the hopeless cases, 15 minutes to go. Time for the main event "Alright, listen up! Here's the 10th and final question!" Ebiki announced "But there are unique rules to the final question. Here they are: You can choose to be given the final question, but.." He smirked "If you choose not to take it regardless of your answers to the other nine questions, then you fail along with your teammates" The candidates mutter to themselves about why shouldn't they take the final question.
Ebiki speaks over their mutter "You didn't let me finish, if you choose to take the tenth question but get it wrong, not only will you fail...YOU WILL BE BARRED FROM TAKING THE CHUNIN EXAM EVER AGAIN!"
Naruto and Hinata were in shock as he heard the last part
"Now those who don't want to take the final question, raise your hand. Your number will be recorded and you'll be free to go" Ebiki said
Hinata watched as one by one candidates raised their hands and left with their team. It sadden her to see people who prepared for these exams leave so early into it, If I do, it'll be like giving up and I told myself no more of that!
However, she looked besides her and saw Naruto shaking but this time she didn't know what to think of it. She thought back to all the moments talked about his dream:
"Someday I'm gonna be Hokage and you'll look up to me! My name is Naruto Uzumaki! Remember it!"
"Argh! Shut up! I'm willing to do anything to become Hokage! No matter what it takes"
"...To be the greatest Hokage, then the whole village will stop disrespecting me and look at me like I'm somebody, somebody important"
Your dream is what keeps you going, it's what keeps you from giving up, so what will you do now, Naruto?
Hinata looked behind her to see how Sasuke is holding up, only to see he was looking in her direction with his eyes widen. She turned back to Naruto and her own eyes widen as she saw that her blonde teammate had raised his hand. A few seconds pass, she jumps in her seat as Naruto slammed his hand on the desk
"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run! You can act tough all you want, you guys aren't gonna scare me off, No way! I don't care if I do get stuck as a genin the rest of my life" He stands from his seat and gives Ebiki a determine glare "I'll still become Hokage!"
Hmmm, he's completely clueless and he still going for it. The kid's got guts, I'll give him that Sasuke thought
I should have known he wouldn't give up or he wouldn't be the guy I look up to if he did Hinata thought as she smiled at him
"This decision could change your life, if for any reason you would rather quit, now's your chance" Ebiki said
"No way, I never go back on my word, that's the way of the ninja" Naruto replied
Ebiki looks around the room and sees the rest of the candidates weren't wavering and made his decision "I admire your determination, if nothing else. For those of you remaining, there's only one thing left to do and that's for me to tell you..." He smiles at them "That you've all passed the first exam!"
Suddenly, something clashed through the window and a big banner spread crossed the front room. A young woman stood in front of the room "Heads up, boys and girls! This is not time to be celebrating, I'll be your proctor, Anko ! Are you ready for the second test?" She pumps her fist "Good, then let's go follow me!"
The remaining candidates are lead to the fence of a large dark forest that's as far as the eye can see. The tree were bigger and longer than normal ones and the dark aura surrounding the forest was so dense, the candidates could feel the promise of possible death waiting for them.
"Whoa, nice place. What is it?" Naruto ask
"This is the location for the second phase of the exam, The forty-fourth battle zone" Anko smirks "But we like to call it, The Forest of Death!"
Hinata gulps "B-By the look of it, the name is fitting"
"You're about to find out why we call it that!" Anko grinned
Naruto huffed "You're about to find out why!" He said in a mocking tone while doing a funny dance.
Sasuke just shook his head at his blonde teammate while Hinata buried her head in her hands, in embarrassment .
"Do your worst, you're not gonna scare my away!" Naruto points at Anko "I can handle anything!"
She closes her eyes, smiling "So, looks like we got ourselves a tough guy"
She throws a kunai, which cuts Naruto's cheek and lands next to a team from the village hidden in the grass. Then she appears right behind Naruto "You tough enough to handle this? You're not afraid, are you?" She cups his non-bleeding cheek "Tough guys like you usually leave their blood all over this forest"
After her confrontation with the female grass ninja, Anko walked back to the front of the crowd "Now, before we begin I have something to hand out to you all" She pulls out a stack of paper "It's just standard consent form. Before this test, all of you are going to have to read over this form and then sign it"
"What for?" Naruto asked
"Some of you may not come back from this test and I have to get your consent to that risk..." She grins "Otherwise, it would be my responsibility"
As the forms were being passed out, she explains what they'll be doing during the test and what skills this test will be testing. "13 teams will receive a heaven scroll, the other 13 will receive an earth scroll"
"Ok, so how do we pass the test?" Sasuke asked
"Your entire team must bring both a heaven and earth scroll to the tower" Anko said
"Which means that half of the teams will be fail, maybe more if t-they're unable to get them" Hinata said
"No one ever said it would be easy" She puts away the scrolls "Oh and one more thing, the test have a time limit, you must finish it within five days"
"Five days?!" Ino said
"Ok now each team take a consent form, as soon as you sign it, exchange it for a scroll then pick a gate" Anko sighs "Oh and one more word of advice: JUST DON'T DIE!"
The teams spread out to read and sign their forms and talk strategy, Sasuke and Hinata were against a rock, exchanging thoughts
Sakura stood a distance from them, watching them. She glared intensely as she saw a smile appear on Sasuke's face as he was speaking to Hinata. I'm getting to the bottom of this but I'll need help
Sakura looked around for Ino's team and sees them near the tree far from the other candidates
Ino spots her and starts mocking her "Well well, if it isn't the little future failure. What's up, Billboard brow? I thought you would have washed out of the program by now, your big forehead alone should have gotten you tossed"
As much as I want to comeback at her, I need to stay focus on why I came "Look Ino, I need to talk to you about something serious"
By the tone of Sakura's voice, Ino knew she wasn't joking. She turn to her team "Shikamaru, Choji could you give us some privacy?"
"Whatever, just try not to kill each other before the test begins" Shikamaru said before taking a walk with Choji
Ino turns back to Sakura "Ok, you got my attention, what's going on?"
"You and me got another rival"
"Huh?" Ino said confused "Just what are you talking about, Sakura?"
"I'm talking about another rival for Sasuke's love, Ino."
That got Ino on her toes "Really, now? Who is it and how's she doing!"
"She's doing all too well and it's Hinata"
Ino stumbles in surprise against the tree she was leaning "H-Hinata?! Billboard brow, are you sure about that?"
Sakura glares "I'm so sure, Ino don't tell me you haven't seen the interactions between those two?"
"What interactions?"
"How Sasuke got out of our hold and went to Hinata's side, when he could have just went to a random spot, the way he glared at Kiba and told him Hinata wasn't going anywhere, the eye contact they had after Kabuto told they the seriousness of these exams and before the first exam started"
Ino thought back, it's true she did see Sasuke go to Hinata's side and pull her away from Kiba, but the rest she didn't see, so she wasn't sure "But didn't she like Naruto?"
"That's what I thought too, I mean you'd have to be blind not to see it but something has changed"
Ino taught about it for a minute, it's true something had changed but she figured it was Hinata's new found confidence and she didn't think it was a bad thing "Look Billboard, maybe you're misreading the-"
"Sasuke was smiling"
After hearing those words, Ino forget what she was saying and just said "Smiling?"
Sakura nods "Ino, when have you ever seen him smile? I mean in our days at the academy, he never smiled not even once"
"M-Maybe you just saw him smirking"
"No, I know a smirk when I see it and he was definitely wasn't smirk. That was a smile, a real honest smile"
Ino didn't want to admit it but maybe Sakura had something. If what she said was true, then there might be something going on between them "So, what do you need?"
"We talk to Hinata and find out what's going on" Sakura said
"But why do you need me for that?"
Sakura hesitated "Well...because she might...think I want something else"
Ino raised an eyebrow "What did you want from her?"
Sakura shook her head "Look that's not important now, you want to find out or not?"
Ino sighs but nods "Fine, lets make this quick"
The rivals walked around the area looking for Hinata and saw her leaning against a tree away from her teammates "There she is, Hey Hinata!" Sakura called to her
Hinata looked up from her consent form to see Ino and Sakura walking up to her, she was silently hoping Sakura wasn't going to ask about switching teams again "Oh, Hello Sakura, Hello Ino"
"We came to ask you something, do you have time?"
Hinata sighs "Sakura, I already told you I'm not switching teams with you"
"What?! How dare you try to secretly switch teams, Billboard brow?!" Ino angrily said
"Oh, shut up, Ino pig! You would have done the same thing if you had thought of it first!"
"Um...guys, your question?" Hinata said reminding them
Sakura turn to her "Oh right, anyway we wanted to ask what's going on between you and Sasuke?"
Hinata looks at them, confused "What do you mean?"
"I mean you and Sasuke are getting pretty close and we don't like it"
Hinata looks at the expression on Sakura's face and knew she was upset but the expression on Ino's face showed she was unsure "When you're part of a team, you're suppose to form bonds between teammates"
Ino speaks "Yeah...that's true...but Sakura thinks your bond with him is...too close"
"The point is the bond you have with my Sasuke is suppose to be the bond that he has with me! He treats you like you're special!" Sakura said angrily. She didn't want to sound mean but thinking about it just made her so mad
Ino looked angrily at Sakura "Your Sasuke?! He's mine, Billboard Brow!"
"In your dreams, Ino pig! We're perfect for each other, you should give up!"
"You're the one who's dreaming, Ms. Forehead!"
The paper in Hinata's hand slightly crumble in her hand as she watches the conflict between the former friends. She didn't know why but her blood was slowly boiling when Sakura said she didn't like the bond she had with Sasuke. Her anger boils more as they are in front of her talking about him like he was their property. They talk about him like he's a trophy, he's more than just a pretty face!
Hinata couldn't listen to them anymore, so decides to walk away, but she didn't get far
"Hey, Hinata we're not done yet!" Sakura said
Her back still turn to them, Hinata said "Why do you two like Sasuke so much?"
The rivals looked at each other "Well because Sasuke is really cool!" Sakura dreamily said
"He was the best student in the academy!" Ino added
"And he's so hot!" They both voiced
Hinata sighs, shaking her head "You two barely know him and yet you say you love him."
"Hey! How we feel about him is none of your business!" Sakura said angrily
"Then my bond with him is none of your business, either!" Hinata yelled back
Both girls were surprised at how Hinata raised her voice, Hinata herself is shocked too but she was so upset. She took a deep breath to calm herself, then looked at Sakura "Sakura, I'm telling you this one more time, I have no intention of switching teams with you and I won't break my bond with Sasuke. So please, just drop it." With that said, she walks away to find her team
Sasuke was near the stand waiting for the rest of his team and sees Hinata coming his way. He was going to wave her over when he saw the upset expression on her face.
Hinata walks up to him "Hi Sasuke, My form is signed, so where is-"
"What happened, Hinata? You look upset" Sasuke said
She lowered her eyes to the ground and sighs "It's nothing to worry about, I'm fine really"
Hinata kept looking at her feet, but looked up when she felt a hand gently patting her head, to see Sasuke giving her a gentle smile. With that smile and patting, Hinata's heart was pounding hard, her cheeks turned rosy red and her feeling of anger and sadness turned into happiness and safety. W-Why does he make me feel this way with just a smile? I-I feel so safe with him...I don't know why I feel this way but...She gives a smile back at him ...but I know I don't ever want to break what I have with him, not ever... "T-Thank you, Sasuke. I feel better now"
He removes his hand, still smiling and nods "That's good, come on Naruto already handed in his form and is waiting near one of the gates"
"Right" She said then follows him to the stands, they hand in their papers and receive a heaven scroll and goes to the gate to wait for the signal to start the second part of the exam.