Chapter 27: Empire of the clouds.
« Welcome, genins, To the first part of our Chunin exam."
We left our hotel in the morning and took another cable car that went toward the lowest level of Kumogakure. After disembarking, our team entered a white room. It was almost empty if you discarded the Jonin before us, the four doors behind him and the single table with four small packages laying on it.
"This is the labyrinth. It was made to confuse and delay invaders during the Shinobi war but was never put to the test. So, we now use it to challenge and evaluate prospective Chunin." The guy in charge had a nicely trimmed beard and sunglasses. Probably in his last thirties.
"Your mission is to take these important documents and carry them to the end of the labyrinth, without looking at them or losing it. Each of you will choose a different path and face different trials."
After taking one of the bundles on the table, our team approached the four different doors that were in front of us. For this 'display of strength', everyone took their best battle attires.
Kasumi was wearing a blue Qipao. Imagine a standard Japanese kimono, remove the sleeves and the too tight waist, let the legs free; and make it battle ready. The color of her dress made a very nice contrast with the bloodlust in her eyes. If I could say so without being assaulted.
Yama was simply wearing his standard attire. A black pant with a green top that you could see anywhere in Konoha.
Neji was wearing his traditional white kimono (big surprise) with the hat he wore earlier.
As for me, I was wearing the 'standard Inuzuka' attire. A grey jacket hoodie and black pants, like my little brother wore in the show. I don't really know why, but I found it quite badass.
I took the door on the far right, and it opened, revealing… An elevator.
Another wave of nostalgia hit me as I pushed the only button that was available on the control panel, and I felt moving upward. After a few seconds the cabin stopped, and the door opened before me.
What welcomed me was a long corridor made of white walls. Immediately I used an Inuzuka dash to move all the way toward the first turn, followed it again to the next, then the next… And hit a dead end.
A labyrinth, in a straight line with no exit…
"Friend. What do you smell?" I asked with my normal voice.
"Hum… Hit a wall and listen." Moon-moon simply answered, and I did so.
The wave coming from my punch echoed on the wall and I understood why they call it that way.
Some walls were directly carved into the mountain… Some weren't and sounded hollow. And the subtle noise of mechanical machinery hit my ears.
"A wall close to the entrance just… Vanished. There's another corridor behind it. It's a stalling technique. I can smell that the rest of the team have met the same 'obstacle." Moon-moon said.
"Makes sense. I could try to destroy one of the hollow walls to reveal its pathway, but I guess they are just trying to direct us toward their 'different trials'. Let's humor them."
We immediately backtracked, the newly opened way continued for some time, and I heard walls opening and closing. They were trying to make us waste time and turn in circle in this moving maze.
Finally, after a few dead-end and backtracking, a wall opened on my left side, and a simple empty room greeted us.
Inside stood a Chunin from Kumo.
"Well done, Genin-kun. You have reached the first trial. If you wish to continue, then you'll have to answer my question."
"… Seriously?" I deadpanned.
"Indeed. You can still try to knock me out, but you won't have any guarantee that the next door will open if you do so. So, why don't we settled down and have a nice little chat, hum?" The chunin finished with a harmless smile.
Oh great.
"Ok, I'll listen to you. Go ahead and ask your question. My time is precious." I said as I put my back against the wall on the opposite side.
"Who founded the village hidden in the clouds?"
OH MY GOD! WHO THE HELL CARES!
"Akihiro Haho-sama. As the leader of a clan with a strong lightning release, he created the village and invited many clans to join him. Most accepted after the first Shinobi war, at the same time as Konoha was founded. Then he also created the tradition of Kiri Jonin having one letter as a name and became 'A'. A tradition still upheld to this day." Moon-moon simply recited. "Also, a lot of historians wonder if this tradition was born because a lot of people purposely misspelt his name to remove the first 'h' and…"
"NOOOOO NOOONONO PLEASE STOP!" The Chunin interrupted my wolf during his tirade, arms wildly waiving.
It worked, somehow and Moon-moon looked at the proctor with curiosity.
"You might not know…" The proctor was slightly panting and… Looking around him in fear. "But there is an urban legend that says that everyone that called our Founder with… That name… Get immediately struck by lightning. Him and everyone around. I mean I don't really think it's true, you know? But explaining to the God of Shinobi that a lightning bolt mysteriously killed one of his genin in the middle of a mountain on my watch…? Yeah, no. Not taking any chances…"
Well, I've heard weirder things coming from superstition. But still.
"Moon-moon? I mean I'm grateful and all but… Where did you learn that?"
"Elemental Nations: A History. As I told you before, I had a lot of free time recently."
Oh, right. Sorry.
"Anyway, you can continue forward." The chunin said as the wall behind him opened, revealing another corridor. "Good thing that your wolf is smarter than you, right?"
The words pierced me like a molten katana through my heart.
Moon-moon… Was smarter than me…
Tears started to flow from my eyes.
"Hum… Hey? Genin-kun? It's not that bad? Everyone have their strong points, right?" The Chunin was awkwardly trying to cheer me up.
…What?
I continued having my (faked, because what?) mental breakdown and observed the proctor, as I let crocodile tears fall from my eyes.
"You can continue and… You can trust your wolf to help you right?"
Then I made a show of ignoring him, my Friend and I moved toward the new corridor at a slower pace than before.
"He really thought I was serious?" I asked within my Imprint. Walking like a man that lost all his drive.
"Bought it hook, line and sinker." Answered Moon-moon, serious again.
"Let's use that. Still, I'm genuinely sorry that you had to read so many books just to pass the time before I came back..."
"Nah, don't worry. I'll wait forever if I ever need to. Also, I discovered that I love reading! Now I want to find a way to write but it's a slow process since I don't have opposable thumbs…"
A wall opened directly on my left side. The stones going upward with the sound of machinery and revealing another corridor.
"Okay… Let's face the music Moon-Moon…" I weakly said, assuming my 'depressed' persona. Hey, this is fun!
At the end of the path was a room quite like the one I saw before. With another Chunin that was looking at me with… Is that pity?
"This is your second trial!" The Ninja said, trying to gather an air of authority. "You can still try to knock me out, but you won't have any guarantee that the next door will …"
"Let's get on with it and let me out… please…" I said while looking the Chunin in the eyes. And channelling my inner Kiba. Eyes not leaving their target, lower lips trembling, hands on my chest.
It worked. Huh.
"Hum… Okay? So!" The proctor regained his senses. "Describe how Kumo gained the upper hand in the battle of the Kamiatze plains!"
HEY! I REMEMBER THAT!
"Konoha engaged your forces on the field, but it was a distraction." Moon-moon answered again. "Kumo used a Rock release to send a covert assassination team, mimicking a landslide. It worked and Kumo managed infiltrate our headquarters and kill Konoha's Jonin Commander. This secured your victory on that day despite massive loss of active Shinobi."
"I knew that Moon-moon… I could have answered…"
"Sorry Friend, I thought you weren't paying attention during that class." My ninken answered with the dog equivalent of a sly smile.
"Which, in the end, completely bite you in the ass when the Jonin Commander position was handed to Nara Shikaku." Moon-moon continued. "Who completely overhauled Konoha's strategies. With his new formations, Kiri was completely decimated and had to close its border. Wind completely withdrew from the war to recoup their losses only after one battle. Rock felt the wind turning and chose the road of diplomacy, thus giving the name 'fence sitter' to their Kage. With the board now cleaned, he let loose the Yellow Flash on your country and the Raikage of this time signed a peace treaty only two days later, after the battle of…"
Well, okay… I didn't know that part…
"Okay! That's enough! You pass!" The Chunin screamed. "You can continue forward, Shinji-kun. The test was to ask a question about a Konoha defeat which, according to your profile, should have angered you but… I guess it backfired."
"Moon-moon is smarter than meeeeeee…"
The Chunin let the dejected me pass through the gate behind him, with a word that 'the next trial might be more in your field, so don't be so down young boy…'
Seriously, are shinobi supposed to be that gullible?
I had my answer when, after a few turns, I was facing another dead-end. I let out a depressed sigh and noticed that a team of four Chunin were a dozen meter behind me. I'll give it to them; I didn't sense them approaching. Probably because they held no ill intention toward me, if their apologising face meant anything.
I turned and locked my eyes with the kunoichi of the group and did my best 'Puss-in-boot' impression. Lower lips trembling and all. I felt her emotions flare and her right hand moved to pat me on my head. She probably wanted to tell me everything will be alright.
This was so fun!
"Well… Hum… Prospective Genin!" The leader of the group took a second to regain his professionalism. "The exit is behind us. You'll have to pass us to exit the labyrinth! Or you can simply give up your…"
The bundle I was carrying hit his face and he fumbled to catch it for a few moments.
"Take it… I don't… I just want to go home… I don't care anymooooooore…." I broke down on my knees, tears flowing in front of the battle-hardened shinobi in front of me.
"Oh… Okay… Errr… You can leave then… Don't worry kid, you'll have better luck next time… I guess?"
The squad moved out of sight, leaving the road toward the exit free. I walked towards it with my shoulders slumped. Moon-moon following me, looking at me with fake worried eyes. After a few turns, I entered a bigger room where the Jonin we met in the entrance was waiting for me.
"You managed to reach the end of the labyrinth unharmed, Genin-kun." The man said while I was walking toward him, sad eyes glued on the ground. "Unfortunately, by giving the documents to your enemies you have disobeyed the will of your lord. Thus, I hereby disquali…"
I interrupted him by shoving the real bundle I had kept hidden in his chest. After a few moments of hesitations, which I used to walk at a normal pace toward the wall behind him, the shinobi looked at the content. Immediately his hands went up toward his earpiece.
"Team Firebolt! Report! Do you have the package with you? … You have it? … Good. Then It's simply a Genj… WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S ONLY DOGGY KIBBLE INSIDE!"
The proctor immediately turned towards me. My completely unimpressed gaze clashing against the surprised one he sported.
"What did you…"
"Acting." I answered calmly. "Acting and good ol' Shinobi tricks. On the first question my reaction was faked because I found it funny, but I noticed that the Chunin completely bought it. I acted the same way on the second question, the guy even took pity on me and gave me a pointer for the next trial. That's fraternising with the enemy. Not a good way to stay alive in the field."
I straightened myself and moved toward the tanned man.
"He told me that the next question would be 'more in my field', which told me I would have to fight. When your team ambushed me, I continued acting and they left without even confirming that what I gave them was the real deal. Since I entered in the labyrinth, I have been looking for blind spots in your surveillance system. When I found one, I switched the real package with another one weighting the same."
The Jonin got over his surprise and I felt that he was looking at me in a new light.
"I know this is only the Chunin exam. None of this is real." I continued, my face close to his. "But if we were in the field then they would be dead. Their attitude was at best negligence, at worst dereliction of duty and in all cases complete incompetence. The kunoichi even wanted to reassure me. A shinobi from a village at war with you in all but name. Please understand, Shinobi-san, that I am not impressed."
I finished my tirade and got back toward the wall, resting against it with my arms crossed.
"Well played, Genin-kun." The man simply clapped his hands, face impassive. "You have reached the end of the labyrinth with the documents. I'll admit, I'm impressed. Now, I must say that you are the first of your team to have arrived. Unfortunately, one of your teammates lost his own. If you wish you can go back and try to…"
"ATCHOOO! / ATCHWOOF!"
"What was that?" Asked the man, peeved by our interruption.
"Sorry. We're allergic to bullshit. Quite a deadly affliction in our field of work." I said wiping my nose along with my Friend. "Moon-moon?"
"Yama-kun will be here in a few moments. As a medic-nin in training, his first trial was a trivia about the Shinobi rules of engagements. His second was against a Shinobi that tried to put him under a Genjutsu. He reversed it and continued his way. You might want to send someone to dispel the illusion on the poor guy. He's still thinking that Yama-kun will come in his room any second now."
Moon-moon recited with the wolf equivalent of a shrug.
"Then he was ambushed by one of your team who tried to take the sack from him and…"
On cue, a wall opened on my left side, unleashing a cloud of white smoke. Yama walked through it, completely unharmed.
"Hey Shinji-kun! I see you managed to finish first! Mind If I stay away?" I simply waved at him with a smile as he walked on the opposite of the room. Probably because breathing close to him right now meant a trip to Neverland.
"Neji-kun is also close by. As a shinobi from a noble clan of Konoha the first two questions were about the political and economic advantages of Kumogakure. So, he was quite nettled when the squad ambushed him… And…"
"You send a squad of CHUNIN against him?" I could only ask. Where they THAT stupid?
"Before you draw some… Misplaced conclusions, Inuzuka-kun, the Chunin exam is impartial. Each Genin will face the same trials. But for the subtext, this squad was sent here as punishment.
"What did they do?"
"They tried to peek on Yugito-sama while she was enjoying her rest at an Onsen." I tensed immediately. "So, as punishment, they were asked to choose between ambushing the Hyuga genius or a day of training with Killer-B."
"They chose wisely."
"They chose wisely." The Kumo-nin agreed with a nod.
On cue, another door opened and Neji, clothes still immaculate, entered.
"Well, that was a nice walk." He said while putting his bundle on the table where Yama and mine were.
"A very enthusiastic walk?" I said while he placed himself close to me and lowered his hat to hide his smile.
"As for Kasumi-chan… Well…" Moon-moon continued, suddenly hesitating… "As an unaffiliated shinobi of Konoha she was asked questions about the inner law of our village, then a question about a battle Kiri won with the help of her sister… So, she was a liiiiiitle angry after that… Then the intercepting squad got to her. Before engagement the man in charge said something like 'Oh, is daddy's little princess lost?' or something then another one commented that 'he should be the knight in shining armor that bring her safe back home' and… Well… She took offence to that..."
The distinct sound of 'Team Four Synchronised Facepalm (feat. Neji)' echoed in the empty room. Our sensei was following our progress, I'm sure she participated.
"You might want to send a medical team their way." Neji said, Byakugan active behind his straw hat. "With mops. Lots of mops…"
Almost on cue the last door opened, and our last teammate entered.
"Don't… Say… A word…"
Our completely drenched in blood teammate moved silently toward our wall. She looked at us, probably to dare anyone to say something. We all took a step back, even the proctor, in front of the eyes that promises only disintegration to the offending party. Because simple dismemberment would be way too pedestrian, you know?
Kuruko, her fur also colored red, was just purring on her shoulder.
"So…" I tryed to regain control of the conversation. "Did we pass the fourth trial?"
The four of us looked at the Kumo Jonin, with varying degree of intensity.
"You noticed… I'll admit, I'm impressed. What gave up the game?" The tanned man said with a smile, also trying to regain some control of the situation. And moving stealthily away from Kasumi.
"You kept saying that 'I reached the end of the labyrinth' and never that I 'passed the first exam'. I figured there was a catch, then your offer to help my teammates confirmed my hunch." I said while shrugging my shoulders.
"I saw you ask this question to the girl from Kiri before I came here." Neji simply said.
"Four is a culturally important number in Kirigakure." Yama continued. "From your team size, political movements or national holidays. Like three in Konoha, two in grass or seven in mist. Since the Chunin exams were invented by us with their three main assessments, I was certain that you'll try to put the number four somewhere." Yama clinically said.
"I was just hoping that we will have to fight you to pass, because I REALLY want to kill someone right now and you look like a convenient, guilt-free target…"
Yeah. Screw 'moving stealthily away from her'. We all took a huge step back.
"Well, congratulations, you passed the first exam." The man said. "You'll have to move to the next room and wait for every participant to finish here. Still, I think I'll follow your team. We don't have that many wildcards every year…"
The man pointed to a wall, and another door opened where he was pointing. We all moved from our relaxed position and moved toward it.
Fun stops, mission starts. Everyone thought that at the same time. Neji offhandedly confirmed that the 'red rabbit' was already here. Probably not alone if the files about her teammates were true. And indeed, two of them were here.
What welcomed us was a lobby, with couches. I noticed that Suigetsu was draining the water dispensing fountain. Our approach was decided in our briefing. Kasumi, Neji and I moved toward an unoccupied sofa while Yama approached his target.
Our entrance wasn't unnoticed. There weren't that many people here. So, while Suigetsu was wondering out loud why the proctor were angry with him turning into water and apparently messing with something in the bag, all eyes suddenly turned on us.
I noticed that the little girl eyes locked on… Neji.
Moon-moon shared with me the recognition and fear in her mind.
…What?
Oh, right, the Hyuga are known across the land as a founder family of Konoha.
Even cut out from the world, Kirigakure must know about them.
Neji got the cue and removed his hat, eyes visible, while Yama approached them.
"Hey… Hello? You managed to finish the examination before us? That impressive!" Yama did his best, but it was for naught.
Suigetsu almost took the bait, but the little girl shut him down for good.
"And why should we speak with you, leafs?" The little girl hiding behind a mask said in a cold voice. "In case you forgot, we are enemies. Begone."
"Well…" I said, moving closer to provide support for Yama as was the plan if the first contact failed. The little girl eyes moved on me and… Paused, somehow.
"This exam is an opportunity to know each other after all."
"You mean to spy on each other… Who are you?"
I noticed that she was looking at the tattoos on my cheeks.
"Inuzuka Shinji. It's an honor to meet you in neutral land." I said while putting a hand on my heart and bowing, which was the standard way of greeting foreign shinobi.
"I've heard about your clan" Suigetsu asked. "You're the heir?"
"Nope." I said truthfully. "I gave up my right on leading the clan eight years ago to my little brother, Kiba, who should finish his training next month. I'm just here because it's fun right?"
I noticed that Ume completely froze on the spot. Weird.
"Ume!"
That was the Aozora girl, Kiriko, if my memory serves me right. She dashed from the door that opened and rushed toward us.
"Are you being rude again?" She said with a disapproving face, and I noticed that Ume body language calmed down. Those two must be quite close.
"I'm sorry for anything she said, the Sumire aren't known for their tact." The Aozora girl continued, with a polite bow. Yama accepted her apology and started talking with her as I fell back toward our corner. The eyes of the young girl stayed focused on me as I took a seat next to Kasumi.
"Guys? I'm beat. I'm gonna take a short nap. Wake me up if something happens, right?" Neji nodded, as that was the code we agreed for 'beginning observation'.
"Okay, unless it's funny, right?" Kasumi said with a wicked smile and a brush in her hand.
"If I wake up with obscene drawings on my cheeks, you'll be doing our laundry for the duration of our stay here."
"You don't have the authority for thaaat." Bakasumi singsonged, making Suigetsu giggle.
I rolled my eyes at here before closing them.
"Okay Moon-moon." I said with my Imprint. "We have sight and smells already covered. Can you read her emotions?"
"No problems!" Moon-moon and I looked at each other in the eyes and…
"What do you think?"
I was watching two persons, one old woman dressed in a fine kimono, being addressed by someone else. A young girl with dark red hair that was holding a familiar mask.
"Very appropriate for the Red Rabbit." Answered the probably noble lady with a smile.
Wait, what?
"A lot of kids don't enter the academy three years earlier than their peers."
The vision changed, and I was now in a beautiful garden. Where Shinobis were tending to bees without any protection. The same women were talking while watching the scenery.
"Or rejects a place among the seven swordsmen."
"Is there a point to all this, or…"
WHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
"What do you mean?" I was now in an opulent office. The current roster of Kirigakure were gawking at two adults. Adults I recognized as the Jonin-senseis that accompanied the present teams. The one who spoke must be Aozora Kiriko, even if she looked… Less pale than the one we met. Makeup, surely.
"What Gonbee-san meant." The blond guy we knew as Kishi Kansen, Jonin sensei of Ume's team, spoke in a calm manner. "Is that while we can recommend you as student, each of you will be interviewed by the five families and they'll make their own judgments about who they think can represent them. Think of it as an individual assessment of your abilities to complete this mission. And you should think of this as a mission. One's that success or failure will have a tremendous effect on the future of this country."
The whole room felt into an uncomfortable silence, before Ume broke it.
"So, no pressure then. Got it."
WAITWAITWAIT REWIND! I mean, this is quite a good piece of information, but SHE REFUSED TO JOIN THE SEVEN SWORDSMEN? A NINE-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS INVITED TO THE SEVEN SWORDSMEN? WHAT THE FUCK?!
Then my visions changed again, and I was in… A simple room with stone walls. Ume entered with a mop and a broom and started to clean the floor and the wall… Which were all stained in blood.
A torture room.
Then, after her deed was done, I saw her sit on the dirty bed of the original occupant in the room. One teenager, probably my age, was lying there. Awake but unresponsive. What had he done to justify such treatment?
The red-haired girl touched his forehead, with an expression I could only describe as 'apologetic', but the boy didn't even react to the contact. He was already too far gone.
I felt Powerlessness and Anger radiating from her. Followed by Resignation as she simply took her tools and moved… Toward another cell.
The vision now showed me a dirty and dilapidated street. A couple of civilians were running and hiding.
"We're almost there Kyoko. Only two streets and we'll be ho…"
A hand grabbed the head of guy who spoke and… Shoved him again the wall he was hiding.
"Now look at what we have here… It looks like we have two civilians out after curfew!" The Kiri-nin said, wearing the standard uniform of their Genin.
"Don't touch her!" The civilian man tried to protect his girlfriend, but more shinobis appeared, and he was swiftly beaten. Do they not care about the life of civilians? I heard his ribcage being fractured…
"You know the rules, got to obey the law, or else…" The patrol man was drunk on his own authority. I knew, from my grandfather files, that Kiri was a shithole where the 'strong' ruled the 'weak', but he was a patroller! Our equivalent of the Genin corps! Did no one above him give a shit?
I watched helplessly as three patrollers kicked the man in the ground, while the one that spoke was holding the woman by her throat with a disturbing smile.
Then, a powerful gust of wind swallowed everything. The garbage on the streets were directly send towards the bullies and one of them was even blown away.
Ume appeared in the middle of their formation and immediately...Did something. The guy that was kicking the civilian was just... Sent crashing against a wall.
The other one simply fell down to the ground after behing hit by ...Something?
Then she took the last member of the patroller group and… Threw him toward a another one that was keeping watch at the end of the street.
Both were crushed against a wall as the sheer velocity of the collision took them out.
All that was left was the one that held the woman hostage.
And not even a second after, he had the point of a sword drawn millimeters to his Adam's Apple.
"Explain." Was the order, silver eyes conveying one simple message.
Please, give me an excuse to kill you. I insist.
Now, I was overlooking what I thought was the walls of Kirigakure.
A wall that was swarmed with a horde of… ARE THOSE KIMIMARO'S CLANSMEN?
"Strategy twelve!" I noticed that a younger Kishi Hiroshi shouted an order, and everyone followed. Water was released from their shinobi, all underaged I noticed, and the horde was pulled back. Then…
"Seven!"
As soon as the order came, Ume took a steep back while a lightning jutsu was used on the now drenched Kaguya. A lot of them died on the spot but… Not enough.
Multiple plans were tested against the horde. Water and ice, Fire and earth…
None were enough.
"Triangle formation!" The order came out of the left field but all the children (and I will not call them Genin) took a fighting stance while the Kaguya broke the main door of Kirigakure and escalated the walls. Almost all of them were… Slaughtered.
"Force jump!"
I watched as Ume sent herself with a Wind Jutsu in the direction of a group that were moving toward the civilian area. In a jump that covered more than 30 meters, she cut the head of the Kaguya that was leading the charge. And the one on his right side for good measure. Then, after securing her footsteps, she slashed her sword in a move that drew a line of Kaguya's blood between her and her still living opponents. Then she simply sheathed her sword.
She took an Iaijutsu stance, while the civilian behind her ran for their life.
The message was clear. But in the bloodshed I was watching it was missed.
Three Kaguya instantly attacked.
Three Kaguya instantly died.
And the vision changed again.
"Please, Ume. Keep quiet and wait for mommy, you're doing great. Mommy is proud of you! Don't worry, I'll be back. Mommy just want to see if daddy is okay!"
A woman with red hairs like Ume was trying her best to hide a baby with leaves and branches.
The baby was silent, overwhelmed by what was going on.
The woman then started to run away, and I helplessly watched her as a kunai lodged itself in the back of her neck.
"What… The…" I went back to myself. Trying my best to catch my breath, completely drained by the ordeal, exactly like the time where I felt Shikako's...
"Oh! Come on Shinji-kun!" Kasumi said cheerfully. She was close on my left side and holding my shoulders. "Don't tell me you still have nightmares!"
She violently shook my body as I was still trying to process what the FUCK I just saw.
"Option..." I tried to say as she was shaking me ever harder. "Two… One point." As she continued to try to 'wake me up'.