32: Surviving the Cut! The Rookie Nine Together Again!
Suiren Uzumaki: The disclaimer: I do not own Naruto cause if I did then Sakura wouldn't be a useless fangirl in pre-shippuden, and Naruto would have his father's smarts while keeping his mother's personality and knows about seals and how to use to them. I do, however, own Ryurama Senju, Yuki Senju nee Miran, Raika Miran (Senju), & the White Tiger Summoning Contract (A/N: If there is already a White Tiger Summoning Contract…then please ignore the last part). Remember to Read and Review to let me know what you think. Also, if you don't like any twist that I might make then stop reading and find something else to read plus don't leave a review that's a flame or I will find a way to block you. Ja ne!
…My Line…
"A good harvest?" a voice asked as three teens almost adults walked into the tower.
"Unfortunately, I couldn't find them," another voice answered. "I believe that they are already in the tower, Lord Orochimaru."
The Snake Sannin was leaning against the wall and he didn't look happy.
"Then you'll need to keep an eye on the two that have my attention during the last exam," Orochimaru stated.
"I planned to already, but I do wish to know why you are interested in Raika Miran for," the lead teen said. "I mean, I can understand the Uchiha and in a way, the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki, but a civilian girl. Come now, Lord Orochimaru. What is so special about her?"
"The name Miran isn't a civilian name, Kabuto," the Snake Sannin stated. "Miran is the clan name of people, who many believe to be extinct."
"So, you are saying that Raika Miran is the actually the last Miran alive," Kabuto Yakushi stated. "Am I right?"
"You are not wrong," Orochimaru agreed. "But, come now, Kabuto, as a Sound Village Spy, you see and hear things others wouldn't, so surely you know that before young Raika there had been one other Miran."
"Uh, yes," Kabuto said with a nod. "Yuki Senju nee Miran..." The Yakushi let out a gasp in shock. "Are you saying what I think you are?"
"Yes," the dark hair man hissed with dark amusement. "Not only does the Miran live on in Raika, but so to does the Senjus."
"I see," the Yakushi said as he pushed up his glasses. "So, that is why you have an interest in her."
"That is why I want you to keep a close eye on her & your opinion is of interest to me," Orochimaru informed him.
"Oh, it doesn't really matter does it?" Kabuto asked with a smirk. "Whatever I think, your the one, who decides. Isn't that always the way."
"Your a cagey one, aren't you, Kabuto?" the Snake Sannin asked as he pushed off the wall. "I like that." He then vanished in a cloud of smoke. "I look forward to hear what you have learned."
...My Line...
"How is it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked as he looked at Anko. "Does the Curse Mark still cause you pain?"
"No," Anko answered as she looked him. "Not really. Thanks to you it's much better."
"That's good, but we should get back to business," Kotetsu said. "This Orochimaru is one of the Sannin, the Legendary Three Ninjas, isn't he?" He's suppose to be so incredibly powerful that not even the ANBU Black Ops units can bring him down. I heard a rumor that he died, but I guess, that wasn't true."
"Why did he come back to this village anyways?" Izumo asked looking confused.
This question made Anko to gasp as her mind went back to when she meet up with him again.
...My Line...
(Flashback no Jutsu!)
Orochimaru knelt down in front of her.
"He's a very promising prospect," he stated. "He inherited the sublime abilities of the Uchiha Clan."
(Flashback no Jutsu: Release!)
...My Line...
"That kid," Anko said.
"He's after Sasuke, right?" the Hokage asked.
"Wha..." the kunoichi looked at him in shock.
"Anko, we have confirmed that 21 ninjas have finished the Second Exam," a voice said over the com-links. "And according to the rules of the Third Exam, we'll have to hold a round of preliminaries first. The first time in 5 years."
"Now for the time being," the Sandaime said as he turned to them. "We'll continue with exams as planned. I also want to keep an eye on his movements as well."
"Yes," Anko agreed.
...My Line...
"First of all!" Anko called out. "Congratulation on finishing the Second Exams!" She looked at the group of ninjas with narrow eyes. 'Ha. There were 78 Ninjas, who took that exam...frankly, I'm surprised that 21 of them passed. I said I'll knock them down to less than half, but I thought that the number would be in the single digits.'
...My Line...
"I'm really hungry," Choji stated.
"What a drag," Shikamaru sighed. "There's so many left. This is so such a pain."
"Ha, ha," Ino giggled. "Sasuke and his team passed, too."
"Well, of course they did," the Nara deadpanned. "After all, the trouble that Raika went through to keep both Naruto and Sasuke safe...they better have passed."
...My Line...
"I see, that your team didn't do to bad, Kakashi," Gai Might stated. "They must have gotten real lucky." He smirked. "Of course, with my team still around, your team is doomed to failure. After all, what matters on the next test is ability and my team has got your team far out classed. Well, I guess, the hard part about growing up is learning to deal with heartbreak, huh, Kakashi?"
"Hmm," the Hatake turned to him. "Did you say something?"
[A/N: This always made me laugh. It is my favorite one liner.]
This made Gai to freak out before turned away from the silver hair man.
'Alright, Kakashi, you win this round,' Gai thought. 'Boy it drives me nuts when you act so cool. There is no way that I am going to let you get the best of me!'
...My Line...
'So, that's Gai-sensei's old rival, huh?' Tenten thought as she looked at them. 'Well, if I had to judge them on looks alone then I'll have to say that Gai-sensei would lose.'
'Gai-sensei is just the coolest teacher ever,' Lee thought. 'I mean, he is so cool that he practically glows with cool.' "Just you watch Gai-sensei. Someday, I will make you proud of me." His mind then went back to the fight with the Sound Genins and how Raika had to step up. 'I do not want to see anyone close to me get hurt or have to fight alone ever again.' He grind his teeth together. 'That is why I am never going to lose again, Gai-sensei. Never.'
'As expected,' Neji thought as he looked around. 'All the best are here.' He then looked at the Uchiha standing next to him. 'Sasuke Uchiha, eh?'
...My Line...
At the other end of a the line of Genin stood three, who all were wearing the hitai-ate of Iwagakure. The only girl of the group looked at Squad 7 with narrow eyes before looking at an older looking man, who has red hair and dark eyes.
'I wonder if that blonde is related to the Yellow Flash,' she thought as her team's Sensei shook his head. 'And of course, I am allowed not start anything with these Tree Huggers.'
...My Line...
'I can't believe,' Temari thought. 'Only 7 teams of 26 are left.'
...My Line...
'Sure enough,' Baki thought. 'Not a scratch on you, Gaara.'
...My Line...
The red hair Sand Genin just looked a head without any emotions.
...My Line...
'Akamaru is acting strange,' Kurenai Yuhi, the Sensei of Team 8, thought once she noticed.
...My Line...
'Those Sunagakure ninjas,' Kiba thought as he looked at his nin-hound.
'Naruto passed, too,' Hinata thought as she looked over at Team 7. 'Thank goodness.'
...My Line...
"This weird," Raika said as she looked around. "It looks like all of Konohagakure's rookies are here, too."
"Wow," Naruto breathed as he looked back at the other two. "Everybodies here. Old man Hokage, Iruka-sensei, and even bushy-brow. It looks like absolutely no body got left out this time."
"I don't have a very good feeling about this," Sasuke said.
...My Line...
'It's hard to believe that so many are left after the Second Test and so many of them are rookies,' Hiruzen thought before he looked over his shoulders. 'So, that's why they fought so hard to recommend them.'
"Alright, pay attention!" Anko called out for a second time. "Lord Hokage is going to explain the Third exam to you! You better pay attention maggots!" She then turned to the Sarutobi. "Lord Hokage, they're all yours."
"First before I inform you what the Third Exam intel," the Hokage told them after clearing his throat. "I want to explain something about the test itself, so listen closely now. It is something that you all need to understand." This took a few Genin by surprise. "I am going to tell you the true purpose of these Exams."
...My Line...
'True purpose?' Raika thought with a raised eyebrow. 'What does that mean?"
...My Line...
"Why do you suppose that our Village holds these Exams in conjunction with our allies and even with our rivals?" the Sarutobi asked making many to look at each other in confusion. "To raise the ability level of Shinobi and to promote friendship among allied nations to be sure, but, it is important that you understand it's true meaning. The exams are so to speak..."
...My Line...
'So to speak?' Tenten thought in confusion.
...My Line...
"They are the reputation of the battles between allied nations," Hiruzen stated.
...My Line...
"And what's that suppose to mean?"
...My Line...
"Now if we look at our history," the Hokage said. "All of the countries that we are currently allied with that were once neighboring nations that once would continually fought with each other for power. In order to avoid destroying each other's military strength needlessly, those nations picked champions to do battle on be half of their countries at a Neutrally selected location. And that was how the Chunin Selection Exams originally began."
...My Line...
"Well, that's great, but why do we have to go through these exams then?" Naruto asked. "I mean, it's not like we're doing this to pick Chunin to go fight."
...My Line...
"Well, actually," the Sandaime started. "There is no question that apart of these exams is to pick shinobi, who are worthy, to be Chunin...that's just not the whole story." He looked at the greenette, who looked confused. "These exams allow a place for these shinobi to carry the pride of their nations on their backs and fight against other ninjas for their very lives."
...My Line...
"The pride of their nations?" the hidden Senju Princess asked. "What are you getting at, Lord Hokage?"
...My Line...
"Many leaders and people of prominence from varying countries are invited to these exams as guests and also to possibly seek shinobi to work for them," the Hokage answered. "These exams can determine the course of your ninja work from here on out and more importantly those views will watch your battle and note of the strength of each ninja and each nations is developing. And if there is a gap in power between the countries the strong nations are inundated with job requests for their ninjas and reversely, the requests to countries, who are deemed weak are declined. And therefore, the stronger our nations is the better our position in negotiation with neighboring countries. So, it is important to show how much military strength our Village has."
...My Line...
"Okay, but even so, why is it even necessary for us to risk our lives?!" Kiba asked.
...My Line...
"The countries' strength is the Village's strength," Hiruzen stated. "The Village's strength is the Shinobi's strength. And the true strength of the Shinobi is only achieved if pushed to it's limits such as in a life or death battle. This exam is a chance for each nation to display it's Shinobi and in-hence, the strength of the nation itself. It's because this is an exam where your life is on the line that it has meaning and it is for this very reason that the strength of the nation that your forerunners fought in this exams. It's truly a dream worth striving for."
...My Line...
"But, then...why...did you use the expression 'Friendship' before?" Tenten asked.
...My Line...
"But, you only remember half of what I said," the Hokage answered. "And you mustn't have the wrong idea of the exam meaning." The Miran's eyes widen at this. "This is a custom in which balance is preserved by fighting and dying. In the world of Shinobi, that is friendship. The Third Exam is a fight for life with the pride of your village and your own dreams at stake."
...My Line...
"Heh, well, he sure convinced me," Naruto stated.
...My Line...
"Any test is fine," Gaara stated. "Just tell me what the detail of the exam is already. I can handle anything that you throw at me."
...My Line...
'Yeah, I bet you can,' the greenette thought as she looked at the red hair Sand Genin with narrow eyes.
...My Line...
"Very well, then!" the Sarutobi called out. "Now listen closely as I am going to tell you exactly what you all are going to be doing in the Third Exam!"
The Sandaime coughed into his fist just before another ninja appeared in front of him on his knee.
...My Line...
'Who is this guy?'
...My Line...
"Lord Hokage, before you do," the man spoke up. "Please allow me, Hayate Gekko, appointed proctor of the Third Exam to speak first?"
"So, be it," Hiruzen agreed.
Hayate stood up.
"It's nice to meet you all," the Gekko stated as he let out a cough. "There is something..." He turned around to face the Genin. "That I would like you all to do...*Cough*...before the Third Exam."
The Genin allowed at him as he coughed even more.
...My Line...
"Such as?" Raika asked.
...My Line...
"We have to have a preliminary exam before we can move onto the real one" Hayate informed them.
...My Line...
"Huh?"
"A what?"
...My Line...
"PRELIMINARY!?" Shikamaru yelled in shock. "What do you mean by that?"
...My Line...
"Excuse me, Hayate-sensei?" the Miran asked as she raised her hand. "I apologize, but I'm afraid that I don't really see the point. What is this preliminary all about? Why can't we move onto the Third Exam?"
...My Line...
"Huh?" the Gekko blinked at her in surprise. "Well, you see, the First and Second Exams might have been to easy. The fact is that we never expected so many of you to still be here. According to the rules of the Chunin Exams, a preliminary can be held at any stage and in order to reduce the number of candidates remaining."
...My Line...
"But, is that fair?" Ino asked in shock.
...My Line...
"Just at this stage, we have to speed things up a bit," Hayate answered as the rest all gave her a deepen look. "As Lord Hokage said, a lot of important guests will be watching, so we can't afford to waste their time. They've came only to see the best. So, if there are any of you feel that you are not in top physical condition. Now's your chance to..."
The proctor started having a coughing fit.
...My Line...
'Talk about not being in top physical condition,' the Yamanaka thought.
...My Line...
'That proctor doesn't look so good himself,' Hinata thought.
...My Line...
Raika tilted her head in confusion.
'I wonder...Lung disease? Or slow acting poison?'
...My Line...
"Sorry about that," Hayate apologized. "As I was saying, if any of you, who don't feel up to this now is the time for you to bow out. The preliminary is going to begin immediately."
...My Line...
"COME ON!" Kiba yelled. "YOU MEAN, RIGHT NOW?"
...My Line...
"No, Kiba," Raika drawled. "He means next week." Kiba blinked at her. "OF COURSE, HAYATE-SENSEI MEANS RIGHT NOW!"
...My Line...
This made a pink eyed, dark hair Iwa Kunoichi to snort.
"I like her," she stated.
"Kurotsuchi," one of her male teammates stressed softly.
This just made her to roll her eyes.
...My Line...
"We just finished barely surviving the last exam," Ino groaned. "Don't we get a break."
"Man, what a drag."
"Yeah, when do we eat?"
...My Line...
'They pulled a fast one, but I'm in all the way,' Naruto thought. 'No matter what. I gave my word to Raika that I will show the village just, who they have disregarding.'
...My Line...
"Oh, yeah," Hayate spoke up. "The winners will be determined by one on one combat. Sudden Death. So, like I said, if there is anyone that doesn't feel up to it, time to raise your hand."
...My Line...
'Does he really think that anyone is going to quit?' the Uchiha thought before he pain shot through his body from his neck.
"Uchiha?" Raika asked as she looked at him.
'Waves of pain,' the dark hair Genin thought. 'Their coming sooner and sooner.'
'I knew that damn Curse Mark should have been sealed while he was out cold,' the greenette thought. "Uchiha, look..." This made him look at her. "Don't think that I am saying this because I like you as I do not nor do I think that I will ever think of you as a comrade, but you have got to quit." This took the Uchiha and Uzumaki by surprise. "You have already gone crazy because of that mark already and you have been feeling nothing, but pain ever since that fight with Orochimaru." Her wine red eyes narrowed. "That mark that he put on you is called a Curse Mark and you should not tempt fate. There is no denying it, Uchiha, that Curse Mark is causing you fits."
...My Line...
"I just gave him a little gift," Orochimaru stated as the Uchiha fall to his knees. "Sasuke will definitely seek me out. He will desire my power."
...My Line...
"You should quit now, Uchiha, before..." the red eyed, green hair pre-teen trailed off. "I am not sure what, but at least, think of the safety of everyone else."
'Raika?' Naruto thought in shock.
The blonde narrowed his eyes as he could see where she was coming from.
...My Line...
"It's just as I feared," the Sandaime stated as Ibiki and Anko stood next to him.
"What do we do with him?" Ibiki asked.
"We take him out of the exams," Anko answered. "Hand him over to Black Ops and let them keep him locked up. We have to keep that seal under control or..."
"Oh, and he just going to go quietly along with this, huh?" Kakashi asked. "You really think so? Your forgetting that he is of the Uchiha Clan."
"Don't care what the heck he is!" Anko snapped at him. "It's as your female student pointed out..." The Hatake blinked a bit at that. "If he stays then he's a danger to everyone! Don't you see!? As he gets stronger so does the Curse Mark! That thing is feeding off his chakra." She reached up to her own mark. "It's a forbidden jutsu that devours the one, who wears it." Anko looks back at him. "It's incredible that the kid is still standing...by now...he should be dead." The second proctor looked at her leader. "Lord Hokage!"
...My Line..
"For once in your life, Uchiha, think about others instead of yourself!" the Miran yelled in anger.
"Shut up, Miran!" the Uchiha growled at her.
"Oh, how could I forget!?" the greenette growled back. "All anyone, who bares the Uchiha name, cares about is themselves..." She gave a sarcastic smirk. "Unless the Uchiha in question is Shisui Uchiha, of course." 'And Itachi Uchiha.' "But, the rest of you are all me, me, me, me, ME! Screw everyone else and their lives...right?"
"Well, you please be quiet?" Sasuke asked though he looks pissed.
"That's it, isn't it?" Raika asked. "You don't care if someone gets killed as long as it's not you, right?"
"That's enough, Miran," the dark hair Genin growled.
"I am not going to let you get someone else killed because of your selfishness," the hidden Senju told him. "I'm going to make sure that they know about that mark then maybe something could be done about it."
Naruto's eyes widen as the green hair Genin goes to raise her hand.
...My Line...
Just then a hand rose up in the air which took a lot of people by surprise.
...My Line...
"Huh?"
...My Line...
"What the...?"
...My Line...
"Okay," Kabuto said. "You got me. I'm out."
...My Line...
"Huh?"
"Why, Yakushi?" Naruto asked confused.
...My Line...
"Huh...hmm..." Hayate turned to the clipboard in his hand while coughing slightly. "Kabuto Yakushi of Konoha, right?" He looked at him. "Okay, you can step back."
...My Line...
Gotta cha," the Yakushi agreed as he moved to walk away.
...My Line...
Both Naruto and Raika shared a look at this as it rubbed them the wrong way that someone, who has as much chakra as Kakashi Hatake, would quit just like that.
"Say, Yakushi," the blonde spoke up as he looked back at him. "Why are you quitting?"
...My Line...
'Pathetic.'
...My Line...
"I'm sorry, Uzumaki-san, but my body is just to beat up," the Yakushi told him. "I can't heck it. The fact is ever since orientation and that entanglement with that Otogakure team, I've had no hearing at all in my left ear. And now to have to put my life on the line. To fight again right away without a break...I can't do it."
...My Line...
Hiruzen watched as the two hidden Senju Cousins shared a look with each other and took note that they wore expressions that screamed that they didn't trust the dark eyed, silver hair Konoha Genin.
"Seems to me that I have seen that one before," the Sarutobi stated. "If memory serves, this isn't the first time that he has dropped out before a battle. What kind of game is he playing?"
The Hokage glanced over to Kakashi, who had narrowed his eyes as well.
"Anko?"
"Oh, right," the Mitarashi said as she looked at her own clipboard. "Kabuto Yakushi. Says here, he's failed six times in a row."
"What do you have on his background?" the Sandaime asked as he glanced at her.
"He's time at the Academy was not what you would call impressive," she answered. "Average grades, took him a full three tries to pass the Graduation Exam. As far as the mission that he has carried out since then there has been 2 C-Ranks and 14 D-Ranks. It's not exactly a battle record to write home about. However..."
She looked at the Hokage.
"Go on."
"There is something before his time in the academy," Anko informed him.
"Huh?"
"Do you remember the child?" the Mitarashi asked. "The one, who was found, after the battle at Kikyo Pass? The only survivor."
"I remember the story," Hiruzen answered. "It was said that a small boy was found among the enemy dead on the battlefield. He was found barley alive and brought back by a Jonin of the Medical Unit. Your saying this is that boy?"
...My Line...
"Kabuto, what are you thinking your doing anyway?" his teammate asked him quietly. "Have you forgotten Orochimaru's orders?"
"Ha, I'm leaving that all to you," Kabuto answered just as quietly. "What's the problem? For someone with your abilities it should be no trouble. This is your chance to prove yourself Yoroi. After all, you've always wanted to take my place haven't you? Go for it."
"Hmph. You maybe Orochimaru's favorite, but be careful that you don't push it far."
"Thanks for the advice," Kabuto stated. "I'll keep it in mind." He started to walk away only to stop and wave at Naruto before continuing. 'Sorry Uzumaki-san, Uchiha-san, Mira...no...I mean, Senju-san, wish I could stick around and play a little longer, but if I did that the old me might get stirred up. Can't have that. Might blow my cover. Wouldn't be much use as a spy after that. Besides I have already done my job. With you here looking after things, you don't need me, do you, Lord Orochimaru? Guess I just have to save my fun for later. Until we meet again, Uchiha-san, Senju-san...oh...you, too, of course, Naruto.'
...My Line...
"Now then, does anybody else want to quit?"
...My Line...
'I can't let Uchiha put innocent lives in danger,' Raika thought. 'I'm going to have to tell them about the Curse Mark.' The greenette went to raise her hand only for the dark hair Genin to stop her. "Huh?"
"Don't you even think about telling them about this mark," he told her.
"Just what are you trying to prove!?" the Miran asked in anger. "Cause all I am seeing is an idiot, who doesn't care if he kills someone!" Her dark wine red eyed flashed with malice. "Am I suppose to stand back and watch as an innocent is killed because of you?"
"Then don't watch," the Uchiha told her. "But, stay out of it." This made her to gasp in shock. "This has nothing to do with you." He turned away from her, but does look back. "What I am is an avenger. For me, this is far more then just an exam. Whether I become a Chunin or not means less then nothing to me." Naruto was shocked as he also listened. "Am I as strong as I can be? All I want is the answer to that. I can only find out by fighting the strongest, the best." He thought back to those he had meet. "And the best of the best are all here. This is the path I walk. Not you or anyone can change that."
"Nidaime-sama was right," the green hair Genin said. "The Uchiha are a clan cursed by evil."
This pissed Sasuke off, but Naruto decided to speak up.
"Well, you two stop?" he asked. "Sasuke, she is worried about the consequence of that Curse Mark that Orochimaru gave to you."
"Tch."
"And Raika that was going to far," the blonde added as he looked at his honorary best friend. "You need to apologize to..."
"Aniki," the greenette spoke up.
"Yeah?" the Uzumaki asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Shut up!" she growled.
"Rude," the hidden Senju Heir pouted. "Anyways..." Naruto went on as he glared at the Uchiha. "There is no need to bit her head off..."
"Naruto..."
"Huh?"
"Your one of the ones that I want to fight the most," Sasuke told him.
This took the Uzumaki by surprise.
...My Line...
"I am still concerned about Orochimaru said," Hiruzen stated. "Allow the boy to continue with the exam for now."
"What?"
"And we will see what happens."
"But, L-Lord Hokage..."
"However, at the first sign of the Curse Mark growing or his power getting out of control you will step in and stop it."
"Alright."
"But...I...huh...as you wish."
...My Line...
"Alright then, we'll now begin the preliminary round," the Gekko stated. "This round will contend one on one individual combat at full battle intensity. This is not an exercise. There are 20 of you remaining, so that means there will be 10 matches. The surviving candidates of these 10 matches will advance to the Third Exam. As for the rules...there are none. You will fight until one dies or concede defeat or is render incapable of continuing the contest. Actually, those, who are losing are urge to concede defeat promptly to avoid a fetal out come. Furthermore, as proctor I am given a curtain amount of leeway in calling the matches..." He coughed for a moment. "I might occasionally intervene if a match seems hopeless. To save as many lives as possible. Now it is time to reveal what fate has chosen for you."
He looked back at Anko, who nodded her head.
"Open the panel," she ordered.
At this a part of the wall moved and showed a black screen on the wall.
"The names of each pair of opponents are chosen completely at random," Hayate informed them. "Before each match, these names will appear on the display board behind me. As there is nothing more to say, let's begin. In a moment the names of the first two opponents will appear."
The screen ran through the names before stopping on two.
Yoroi Akado Vs Sasuke Uchiha
'Didn't waste any time did they?' the Uchiha thought.
Raika scoffed as she looked away with anger that they were allowing this.
...My Line...
Suiren Uzumaki: To the review left by danj09290 from the last chapter: Well, I am not completely back as my main laptop still has a virus and it is the one that has Microsoft word and the ability to watch my Naruto DVDs. Anyways, thanks for the compliment and I am glad that I made you laugh plus I am glad that Naruto is coming off as having a brain at least. I was going to have Naruto use the Wood Style against Neji in front of everyone, but he will be forced to use it against Gaara and I have a plan for Sakura, so don't worry about that. I am still not sure if it should be Raika or Sakura, who is taken hostage by Gaara...at least not yet, but I do have an idea for the scene though it does depends on who I use for it. Anyways, I am going to try to get out some chapters, but I am not making any promises. Sorry.