Chapter 14: Up for an Exam?

Yuri continues to walk, she needs to tell Saskue about it. Once Yuri is away from them and Saskue follows her, she looks and lets out a sigh. She needs to get this off her chest. But she tastes like Honey, a little less sweet than Isamu. She stares at Saskue who looks at her confused. She nods her head, and Saskue shakes his head.

"Come out Sakura." Yuri shakes her head.

Saskue scoffs and crosses his arms. While Yuri doesn't know if Saskue could tell Sakura was there, it can be a problem. Maybe Saskue and Sakura can figure out how to get Naruto to be less… Naruto. Sakura appears and puts her hands on her hips.

Her focus is on Yuri though. Her anger at Yuri trumps the crush she has on Saskue.

Sakura comes out. "Why did you stop me from talking back there?"

"Do not make a fool of yourself. I ran into some hidden Mist genin earlier. They were nicer, and I remembered from the academy that the exams are held twice a year. But not what I wanted to talk about."

Yuri turns back to Saskue, she wanted to tell him about so many things, and she needed to get it through his head. Everything needed to be said to Saskue and she had to warn them. Especially since they are all so dumb and don't realize what day it is.

"What is it Yuri?" Saskue asks.

"Watch eachother's backs. I don't like the feeling and that Gaara guy? He has such strong chakra. There are so many new tastes…" Yuri trails off.

She allows her words to hang in the air for a moment. Nothing she said was going to get through to them. Team seven needed to be a team and not fight within each other. It was only a matter of time before everything went south.

Sakura finally understands the situation. "You don't think our sensis would put us in… do you?"

"I hate to say it. But none of us are ready." Saskue says.

Yuri nods her head. "They wouldn't do that."

Asami POV:

She had seen the hawk, and since her students were all out on their day off, she didn't have to make an excuse. She wonders what each of them were doing, but even Asami needed a break. She makes it to the office right as Asuma does.

"I'm surprised Kurenai isn't with you." Asami teases.

Asamu lightly shoves her as they walk. "She was doing some training with her team. We have to keep up with you sadly."

Asami laughs as they walk into the office, and she changes to being serious. Its unlike the Hokage to summon all the jonin… especially the ones that are teaching Genin. She spots Guy and Hisata in the crowd. Seems like it's that time once again. And she was planning on putting her students in. She thinks they are ready and will show her what they need to train in.

If they make it out alive. She knows all of them will be challenged though. It would be good for her students. She thinks the rookies will be fine, but she doesn't know who would be suggested from the other squads. Asuma might put his team in. Kurenai might put in Shino honestly. Kakashi… his team is a mess. But they are strong.

Clan children, especially heirs tend to be strong.

Standing in front, she is between Kurenai and Asuma, in their teams orders. And they wait for the last of the jonin to come into the room. Once all have gathered, the Hokage begins.

"I have summoned you for a very important purpose. Seeing your fellow Jonin here, I'm sure you realize what this is about."

Of course. Selections for the Chunin exams. Surely she isn't the only one who knew it was almost time for the exams.

"So soon? I thought we'd have a little more time." Kakashi mutters.

"I take it all the other lands have been notified about the coming event. I noticed some of the genin have already arrived here in the village." Asuma muses.

"And when do we start?" Kurenai asks.

A small pause. That is the one thing, would the Hokage wait so long before the exams to inform them? It doesn't seem like a smart thing to do if Asami is being honest. But he has to have his reasons for it.

"We will begin in one week." The Hokage states.

"One week?" Asami questions.

That isn't enough time to prepare her genin mentally for it. Sure… she had been training them hard and making sure they understood stakes were only going to get higher from here.

"That's pretty short notice." Kakashi states.

She can't argue. That short of notice isn't fair to the sensis. Now they will have to go into overtime to make sure their genin are ready for the exams. And that could take a while.

The third exhales his pipe. "Take heed. Exactly seven days from today, on the first of July, the genin will be gathered and tested. Only the very best will be selected as Chunin. Alright, it is time we chose our candidates for the Chunin examinations. To begin, will those in charge of the rookie Genin step forward?"

Asami steps forward with the others. She knows this is going to be critical for them to place them in the exams or not. It will show everyone how quickly the clan children made progress and powered up.

So critical indeed.

"Kakashi, Kurenai, Asami, and Asuma. What do you say? Are there any in your squads you'd recommend who are ready for the exams despite their inexperience? As you know, any Genin who has carried out eight or more missions is technically eligible for the examinations. Beyond that, only you can decide when they are ready. Of course, most genin require a much longer training period at least twice that many missions. So, Kakashi, you begin."

She doesn't have to look at Kakashi to see him put his hand to his face, making it official in his declaration of his team.

"I lead squad seven, Saskue Uchiha, Naruto Uzamaki, Sakura Haruno. I, Kakashi Hatake, recommend all three of these genin for the Chunin selection exams."

With a schooled face, Asami doesn't react. But she is surprised that he put his whole team forward. Seems like Asami isn't the only one who thinks her genin are ready for the exams.

"And my squad is number eight. Hinata Hyūga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame. And now I, Kurenai Yuhi, recommend all three."

Yet another surprise. The Hyuga princess is in the running as well. But now its time for another curveball for everyone.

"My squad is nine. Kenji Okawa, Yuri Chibana, Isamu Haruno. I, Asami Izumi, recommend all three for the exams."

"And my squad is number 10. Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Chōji Akimichi. And now I, Asuma Sarutobi, recommend all three."

There is chatter behind them. Since all the rookie teams were recommended for the exams. Asami smiles. Looks like the rookies are going to have some fun this year. Going from academy students to being nominated for the Chunin exams? How fun is that?

Asuma and Asami share a look and they know this is going to be the chunin exams to watch.

How many people will bet against their students? A lot. Hell… if she didn't know Yuri's powers she would bet against Yuri as well! But she thinks her team will make it to the end. Kakashi's team? Maybe not.

"Hold on, just a minute." Asami knows that voice. Iruka.

"Yes. What is it, Iruka?" Hokage asks.

All the jonin turn towards him. She can tell Kurenai is annoyed by this. As she is. Iruka helped them, yes… but they weren't his students. The day they were assigned to their sensis is the day Iruka was no longer their primary teacher.

"Lord Hokage, with all respect, the twelve names that were just given were all my students at the academy. I know their skills and abilities. Everyone of them has great promise, but it's too soon. They need more experiance before they are tested. If they try now, they're sure to fail the exam." Iruka steps forward.

How annoying. Noble but annoying as hell. What right does he have to say they have great promise when he doesn't know their skill level now or the missions they have done. Asami is about to open her mouth, but Kakashi beats her to it.

"When I became a Chunin, I was six years younger than Naruto is now."

Go Burnt toast. He was the youngest one to make chunin and jonin. They grew up in war though. Moving up fast was part of the process.

"Naruto is nothing like you!" Iruka steps forward. "Are you trying to destroy him?"

"Well, they're always complaining about not being challenged enough. Maybe wiping out on the exams will teach them a lesson. A little pain is good?" Kakashi goes on.

He's putting them in the exams to teach them a lesson. Smart, could be dumb, but smart.

"What- What did you say?" Iruka's face drops a little.

"Oh, nothing fatal, of course. But seriously, Iruka. Relax. Listen. I understand how you feel. It's very personal for you and it upsets you. But-"

"Alright Kakashi. Back off. You've said enough." Kurenai steps in.

While Asami would love for this to continue, she knows they need to end it soon. She needs to tell her team how much fun they are about to have.

"On the contrary, Kurenai, Iruka needs to hear this. He needs to realize they're not his students anymore. They're mine."

Asami lets out a sigh and shakes her head. Burnt toast has a point though. They aren't Irukas students. They have their own teams and have been learning different things. Iruka taught them the basics, but they have begun to hone their skills.

"But these exams could destroy them! You know that." Iruka yells out.

The Hokage puts an end to it. "Iruka! You have made your point. I understand."

"Lord Hokage" Iruka finally backs off.

"Accordingly, I have decided that the best thing to do is to hold a special preliminary test."

Asami looks at the hokage. A preliminary test? She loves that. She might make it harder, but Kenji and Isuma could put it together. And it's their day off, it could end up being a bother.

"Pre-preliminary test?"

Yuri's POV:

At their usual meeting point, Yuri sees Kenji walking up. She and Isamu ran into eachother while walking and had been chatting. Isamu wasn't one for breaks, and he was constantly trying to make new jusuts, most blew up in his face though. And he was struggling with it. The topic of today? How much he was studying.

He was going to be a great medical nin though. Yuri could tell from her last copy of him.

"Ugh… so anyway, I was up late studying last night. This medical thing is a lot! But boy! I can heal at least. Think we have a playdate or Asami sensi is going to send us on a wild goose chase?" Isamu asks.

"I don't know. But there are genin from other villages here." Yuri states.

She is still bothered by the sand genin, Gaara. He seems like a lot of trouble. Way more than it's worth to Yuri. No way should she take them being here lightly. But all the tastes are overwhelming her, especially Jonin of other villages. She would like to talk to Asami sensi about it… but that would have to be after whatever it is she has planned for them.

"I noticed that. It's that time right? The chunin exams?" Isamu leans against the tree.

Slowly Yuri nods her head. Glad her team seemed to remember the exams were upcoming. It would be bad if they didn't. Asami sensi always said they have to know about things going on around them, and the exams are always big.

Kenji makes it to them. "Speculating what we are doing today?"

"I don't know… I hope it's retrieved and found." Isamu chuckles.

"All of you are wrong." They all turn to see Asami sensi coming towards them. "I know this is all last minute, but I suggest you guys for the Chunin exams. Here are the application forms."

"Application forms?" Yuri questions.

She never heard of having to do application forms. But she also had never taken the exams before. It would be a shame if they forgot something. Asami sensi hands out the forms to the three of them. Yuri reads it over, it seems more like a waiver… she had heard the exams got rough… but she didn't know how rough they would be.

"You all pick. Doesn't matter to me. I would look bad though if someone on my team said no through. You have 5 days. Report to room 301 at the academy. Until then, train. I have a few things to get in order."

Asami sensi walks away and she is left staring at the paper. Her teammates are also left in silence. All of them take in the information. It seems to be a lot. In true Asami fashion she doesn't stick around for questions, just to tell them something and walk away.

But she had them in the pool for Chunin exams. All that intense training was making sense now to her. Asami sensi was preparing them.

"She… she recommended us?" Isamu asks.

Drawing both Kenji and Yuri to look at him. Both of them exchange a look. Isamu is a perfectionist. And he might not do the exams.

"Looks like it. And we have a few days to get it all together." Kenji pauses and looks at Yuri. "Yuri, please tell me you have other things mastered."

She glances around, she has to make sure no one is around. Though… she would taste their chakra if they were around. So while they can talk about it now… she would need to be careful about talking about it in the future. As it could cause her problems should other people find out about her talents.

It could put a target on their backs and that isn't something Yuri would want, not before they began the exams.

Yuri looks up at Kenji. "I do. I might need to copy you and Isamu before, should you learn something new. But we should be careful… with the other villages around I can be out in the open copying."

"I understand. We need to keep our heads up." With a nod, he knows how risky it is to talk about it out in the open.

Yuri notices Isamu is lost in his own world. Out of all three of them, Isamu might be the weaklink. All of them know it, while he is really good at chakra control and staying out of the way… she knows it bothers him. Isamu is really smart and can see things quicker than Kenji or Yuri can. He is a true wild card in the situation. She puts a hand on top of his.

Yuri wants to comfort him. Show Isamu he wouldn't be alone in the exams. She and Kenji would be there.

"Isamu, if you don't feel ready, you don't need to pressure yourself. We have your back no matter what though."

Isamu doesn't look up. "I… I need some time to think about it…"

He turns and walks away. Leaving Kenji and Yuri alone, staring after him. It's unlike him. While Yuri has no idea what is going on in his head… she worries. Isamu might not take the exams. She knows he and Sakura aren't fighters like their teammates, but that is what makes a team balanced. Keeping things balanced is important.

"He's doomed." Kenji finally says.

"I agree. But we should leave him alone. Only he can decide if he is ready. I know he's been training hard, and Asami sensi has been pushing him extra hard. She wants him to be a fully trained medical nin, and it will take time."

"I know. But we need him on our team. No one else can keep up with our pattern changes."

She knows that. The three of them got used to the wildness of how they think. They could work together on the fly and all come out of Asami's test with a few bumps and bruises. Since Asami sensi said that built character. Was Isamu slipping behind them? Did she not notice?

Yuri turns to Kenji. "Ya… give him a day or two. Afterwards, we can try talking to him."

With that Yuri walks away. She needed to think as well. From the Sand Genin, to Isamu to the exams. There was too much that could happen and go wrong.

Of course… She is going to take the exam.

The Next Day:

In the training yard, Yuri was trying to get a little fast and to work out some energy. And it was going to help her think about everything. When she left Kenji there were too many things rattling in her brain. Punching and kicking the post, Yuri needs to get it worked out.

Starting with the sand Genin.

The Kitty boy bothered her, he was all bark and no bite it seemed. He liked the power he had over weaker people, and it was going to be his downfall eventually. She couldn't get a read on that girl… nothing about her. With the object on her back, Yuri had so many questions about her style and what she did. But none of it mattered.

Not with Gaara.

He controlled Kitty boy so easily. He was a true threat. A threat that Yuri didn't like. And the blood and cotton candy. Was he related to Naruto? It's not impossible… Naruto was an orphan… but them being related and not from the same village is weird. Villages don't mix. They haven't in a long time, and she doubted they would. Not with all the hatrade there is.

But her next problem is Isamu and Kenji. If Isamu dropped Kenji might as well. He wouldn't want to go in with people who don't know his powers. And one person being out from their team could mean the difference between passing and failing. And Kenji didn't want to be second to Saskue anymore. Not when Saskue was improving slower than everyone else.

People were finally catching up to Saskue.

Finally, the Chunin Exams themselves. Who put in their rookie team? She hadn't been able to find the others, all of them were busy with their teams. She didn't know if Shikamaru was in or not. Saskue didn't come over last night at all so Yuri cooked for two for nothing.

While she was nervous, she signed the application form. She needed to do this. Maybe a test was what she needed. One not crazy like Asami Sensi.

"Come on Totomi! We have to keep training. You know that!"

Yuri pauses in her training and follows the noise. It pulled her out of her thoughts, which was fine with her. She seemed to have too many questions and not enough answers. Answers that had to come with time.

She sees a girl with white, grey white, hair and a boy with blue hair. And a… what animal is that? A white cheeta? How fun, makes her wonder about their abilities. While she can't taste them, she notices them. Strange. Noticing the girls headband, they are… Hidden Grass she believes.

"Why? The exams start soon. We need to rest Kiya." The boy states.

But the boy, Totomi, spots Yuri. The two stare at each other causing the girl to follow. It feels like a tense moment of them waiting to see who will approach first. She should stay out of it in all honesty. Not her problem.

They seem to notice her headband as the girl comes up to her. Which… she doesn't know why it surprises her.

"Hey! You might know where we can do some training right?" She asks.

Yuri takes a step back as the girl gets closer to her, people don't normally approach Yuri that quickly. At least not here in the leaf. She seemed like the weakest on her team and possibly in her class. But she was the top of her class and could keep up with a lot of people.

"Um… ya. Here. It's a training ground. I was just about done here if you would like to use it." Yuri offers a smile.

She has to be friendly. They are here for the exams as well.

"Kiya, I told you we don't need to train." The boy complains.

"Well I think you do!" Kiya exclaims. "Sorry. Boys right?"

This causes Yuri to giggle. Leaving it to each team to have a bubbly member! One to break the ice and put others around them at ease. It creates balance.

"I have the opposite problem. Getting my boys to stop. But please. I need to find one of my teammates anyway." This causes Yuri to laugh a little.

"Oh! Are you taking the exams as well? Maybe we will see each other!" The girl, Kiya, claps her hands together.

There is a spark in her eyes that Yuri knows. She wants a challenge. Some females don't study well or there are so few that fighting females gets boring. And Yuri would love to be that challenge for the other.

"I am. I look forward to hopefully fighting against you? But I should be off." Yuri nods and walks off.

Her mind races though. New information comes in quicker when there are new people around.

Hidden Mist, Sand, and Grass. Many people come from all over to take these exams. They are some of the biggest exams in the land. And the only way for a genin to move up in their career. Yuri doesn't want to move up just yet… but the test could be a chance to see what she might be fighting against in the future.

As Yuri walks away she gets a familiar taste.

Forest.

Why is Iruka sensi here? She hadn't tasted him in a long time. Of course… he didn't know about her ability to taste chakras. And Asami sensi helped her hone that skill, maybe she could start tasting regular chunin chakra. She might just have to focus a little more.

Instead of going on her normal business she decides she doesn't have time for this. Throwing a Kunai she guesses where he is.

"I don't have time for games. Come out and state your business."

A shinobi from the hidden… She believes Rain steps out. But he tastes just like Iruka, and rarely do people taste the same. She narrows her eyes. She doesn't have time for this nonsense. It has to be to ensure she is ready. Why can't he just test Sakura or Naruto? Maybe Ino would benefit from this.

It just annoys Yuri.

"Oh? I heard you're going to be in the exams. I just wanted to thin out the leaf genin."

"Ya ya. Go pester someone else. And just so you know, I hope we don't engage in battle."

But he charges her anyway. With her speed, she ducks under him and continues to walk. She isn't going to play into this hand. He isn't an illusion, or he wouldn't have dodged the kunai. And she doesn't want to get in trouble for fighting outside of the exams.

"Save it for the exams."

She turns when she hears him again and kicks him right in the head. And continues to walk. Not even looking back as the taste begins to fade from her mouth. It's a strange thing… kicking Iruka sensi in the head.

Why would Iruka sensi do something like this?

Notes: I hope you all enjoyed! Please leave comment or follow the story! Things are only going to get crazier from here. Stay tuned for the next adventures!