Okay, okay. I'm sorry for taking so long, but I had a case of writer's block! (Please don't come at me with pitchforks and torches). Well, here you are. Not the Chunin Exams yet, but that's going to happen soon. We first have to get through the boring introduction stuff. And then we can have the AcTiOn.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. If you do not know this by now...well, you should know this by now.
OwOwO
Hinata was walking with Naruto, who was chattering about everything in general, when, suddenly, a "rock" moved forwards. She glanced curiously at the terrible attempt to be disguised as a rock, and then glanced back at Naruto, who's right eye was twitching.
"Uh, Naruto…" She pointed at the box.
Naruto immediately started running forwards, the "rock" following. Hinata watched in mild amusement as Naruto was chased back and forth.
"Alright," Naruto yelled, pointing at the "rock". "C'mon, what kind of rock is square shaped and has perfect holes?"
"As expected from my rival!" A muffled voice came from the box.
The box started to glow. Hinata and Naruto's eyes widened. Three huge plumes of smoke of different colors exploded, and the entry would've looked cool had the three kids doing it not ended up coughing at the end. A girl with her strawberry blond hair designed into two sections at the top was the first to leap forwards.
"I'm Moegi, the sassiest girl of the Academy!" She posed.
Next was a boy with glasses, and was that snot hanging out of his nose?
"I like factory work," He said as if sleepy. "Udon!"
Next was a boy with spiky brown hair and a scarf. "And I'm the greatest ninja of the Leaf, Konohamaru!"
"The three of us are Team Konohamaru!" The three finished off together. "Here we are!"
"I knew it was Konohamaru and friends," Naruto stated crossly, hands behind his head.
"So harsh!" Moegi whispered to Konohamaru and Udon, and stepped forwards. "So leader, can you play ninja with us?"
Naruto shook his head sagely. "No, I have to train now!"
Konohamaru protested. "But you said you'd play with us today!"
Hinata walked over. "Naruto? Aren't we already ninja?" She twiddled her fingers nervously.
Konohamaru looked at Hinata slyly, and then poked out his pinky suggestively. "That girl's real pretty, Naruto. Is she your," he winked at him.
"Oh, Hinata, oh no, she's only a friend," Naruto brushed the matter off easily.
Hinata's head dropped. Konohamaru's eyes twitched.
"Naruto…" He growled. "That's not what you say!"
He started chasing him around, fist swinging. Naruto ran away, asking what the heck was wrong with him. Eventually, the chase somehow switched and it was Naruto chasing Konohamaru, until–
Konohamaru crashed into a genin wearing black. A genin from the Sand.
Hinata ran over. The genin was holding Konohamaru up, sneering at him. A girl with four blond pigtails beside him smirked at the scene.
"Kankuro, we're going to get in trouble," She said.
"Aw, can't I just play a bit," The boy whined, lifting his hand to Konohamaru's collar and grabbing him there.
"Let go of him, right now!" Naruto yelled. "Or I'll crush you! Believe it!"
Hinata activated her Byakugan immediately. She caught sight of a small pebble flying towards the Sand genin and raced forwards, just as the pebble hit his arm. She swooped in and gracefully caught Konohamaru, palming the genin's arm away at the same time with a hand glowing with chakra.
"I'm very sorry," She apologized while bowing, before leaping away smoothly.
The genin glared at her, when a voice coming from the tree diverted his attention.
"Let them go." There sat Sasuke, tossing another pebble up and down before catching it and crushing it to dust.
Hinata's Byakugan eyes caught something beside him though. Something dangerous. And as Kankuro was complaining about smart alecks and unwrapping something behind him, she saw something that wasn't far from Naruto's demon. Except, although Naruto's demon wasn't lacking in power compared to this one, this one affected its host a whole lot more…
"Kankuro. Stop it." Sasuke internally jumped when someone materialized behind him. How? I didn't sense anybody! He's practically on the same level as Kakashi!
They all watched as a redhead with strange black lines around his cold green eyes walk backwards from behind Sasuke, and then materialized onto the ground right next to the genin named Kankuro.
"We weren't here to play around," He droned in a cold voice.
"I know," Kankuro half whined. "But–"
"Shut up before I decide to kill you." He glared at him. Kankuro immediately backed down.
"Hey, you," Sasuke called. "What's your name?"
The girl with the four pigtails turned around. "Who, me?" She asked with a hopeful blush.
"No, the one with the gourd." Sasuke completely disregarded the kunoichi.
The redhead turned around. "My name is Gaara. Gaara of the Desert. I have interest in you as well. Who are you?"
Sasuke smirked. "Sasuke Uchiha. Remember it."
Gaara gave an almost thoughtful nod. He then turned to Hinata, much to her dismay. "And you, girl. You can see it, can't you?"
Both Sasuke and Naruto looked at the kunoichi who was shaking. Hinata's eyes were wide. This chakra…it screamed for blood. The lines around his eyes, she realized, they're from insomnia. He must be borderline insane by now if he hasn't slept as long as his eyes signify he has. She glanced even deeper, and saw it. A monster surrounded by sand and blood.
She looked up to meet the boy's eyes with her Byakugan still active, and she flinched after she did so.
"I…" She was trying to resist the urge to scream when she saw that the redhead's eyes were replaced by something else.
Gaara scoffed and walked off, Kankuro and Temari in tow. Sasuke ran forwards to ask them something, nodded when they showed him a permission slip or something, and then walked back. Naruto leaned down.
"Hinata?" He asked carefully.
"He's just like you, Naruto," Hinata began softly, voice shaking. "He's just like you except…I can see sadness."
Sasuke and Naruto's gazes both softened with concern.
"What do you mean, Hinata?" Naruto asked.
"I-I…" Hinata's eyes were wide.
"Let's go," Sasuke gently grabbed Hinata's arm. "We have to meet up with Kakashi anyway. Let's not talk about it anymore."
Hinata nodded and dumbly followed her team.
OwOwO
"What do you mean he was like Naruto?" Kakashi asked cautiously, trying his best to avoid any triggers.
Hinata shook her head furiously. She did not want to talk about this right now. What she saw…it'd be scarred forever in her mind. All that blood…and all that pleasure that came with it…it was sickening.
Kakashi sighed and stood up, lightly patting Hinata's head. "It's alright. You don't have to tell me now, but when you're ready, keep in mind I'm always here for you." The girl could actually be quite stubborn at times.
Hinata nodded, thankful that the matter wasn't pressed upon her any further.
"On a happier note," Kakashi pulled out three pieces of paper. "I vouched you guys into this."
Hinata read the paper that was handed to her, and Gaara immediately left her mind.
OwOwO
Hinata was walking home, shaking from nerves and excitement. She was actually going to participate in the Chunin Exams! She didn't know whether to be overjoyed or to be terrified that Kakashi was giving her, no, them, a chance at this! But should she accept? Would she be able to do it?
I have to, Hinata decided. For Naruto and Sasuke.
Speaking of, the former dropped right in front of her, arms crossed, and his mouth in that trademark grin.
"Hey, Hinata!" Naruto waved at her. "Wanna walk?"
Hinata nodded, but something seemed…off. She thought Naruto's house was the other way…
"Sure," she replied hesitantly. She absent-mindedly activated her Byakugan.
"No need to do that, Hinata," Naruto laughed. "We're safe."
Hinata sharply turned around and pressed a hand sharp with chakra on the imposter's chest. The veins around her eyes bulged even further.
"Why are you pretending to be Naruto?" She demanded, voice cold.
"Naruto" gave her a small nod, and then poofed away.
Hinata stepped back, confused. She scanned the area one more time before deactivating her Byakugan. Strange…
She shrugged and continued on her way.
OwOwO
Iruka walked back to Kakashi, and reluctantly sat down next to him.
"They all passed," He mumbled.
"What was that?" Kakashi leaned forwards and cupped his ear. "Say it again?"
"They all passed!" Iruka threw up his hands in annoyance. "Okay, fine. You were right. There, I said it."
Kakashi nodded sagely. "Now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Iruka groaned in frustration.
OwOwO
Hinata, surprisingly, was stopped by Neji in the hall. Neji usually ignored her, and if he had to, he'd answer with cold, curt sentences. He would never willingly start conversations with her–much less give her the time of day. So when he stopped her, she knew something was up.
"Lady Hinata," He began smoothly.
"Y-Yes?" Hinata scolded herself for the stutter.
Neji caught the little stammer in her voice and sneered at her.
"I was thinking about the Chunin Exams." Neji whipped out a little slip of paper. "Perhaps you got one of these as well?"
Hinata nodded.
"Well, I'm going to tell you now." Neji slipped the paper back into his jacket. "Quit. Don't go. I'm sure the only reason you're even participating is your team, no?"
He smiled smugly. Hinata's face gave it all away.
"Forget about your team. You'll only be a burden." He turned to leave. "Good day, Lady Hinata."
Hinata stood there, frozen. Neji had just voiced all her fears and insecurities.
I can't do this, she realized, almost despairingly. I'll just fail them, and then when they realize I'm nothing but a burden…
All the progress she had made with her team vanished from her mind. The only thing that was important at the moment was the fact that she just wasn't ready for the Chunin Exams.
OwOwO
The next morning, Sasuke and Naruto both sensed something wrong with Hinata. As this occurrence had already happened before, and the reason being Hinata was hurt, hackles immediately raised, and canines bared (literally in Naruto's case).
"Hinata, are you okay?" Naruto bounced over to check for injuries, sniffing around as if he could smell out blood.
Hinata just bowed her head. "I d-don't think I can participate in the Chunin E-Exams." Her lip wobbled at the disappointment she would get from the rest of her team.
"Do you want to participate?" Sasuke asked carefully, now joining the conversation.
"Yes." Hinata's head remained bowed. "But Nej–I think I'm not ready yet."
Naruto and Sasuke both frowned at the slip-up.
"You know, Hinata," Naruto patted her head. "I think you're ready. Screw your family–mmh!"
He was cut off when Sasuke clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Idiot!" Sasuke hissed. "Don't talk bad about her family!"
Naruto glared at him crossly. "Fine. But the white-eyed bastards deserve it."
Sasuke nodded wisely. "I know." He turned to Hinata. "And that is why, Hinata, I would like to politely state to the Hyuga as the unofficial clan head of the Uchiha…" He held back a smile. "Go to hell."
Hinata stared at Sasuke dumbly. Naruto slow-clapped.
"Y'know, bastard," Naruto threw an arm around Hinata and began leading her to the Academy, where they were supposed to start the Chunin Exams. "I could've said the exact same thing."
Sasuke rolled his eyes. "I am technically the head of my clan, so me saying it has more meaning."
Naruto pouted. "Stupid clan policies."
Hinata giggled at the shenanigans the boys were pulling.
"You know, I'm used to Naruto teasing, but I never knew you would reciprocate, Sasuke," She noted, amused.
Sasuke sniffed and turned his head haughtily. "I entertain him sometimes, I guess."
"Aw, just admit it!" Naruto slapped Sasuke in the back, causing him to reel forwards. "You're getting soft for us."
Sasuke opened his mouth, about to retort, when he noticed something weird. He glanced at Hinata who nodded.
"I can sense it," She whispered and looked at the sign.
The numbers on it said 301, but after she activated her Byakugan she found out they were only on the second floor. Genjutsu.
"What?" Naruto whipped his head around, confused. "What?"
"It's nothing, idiot," Sasuke said smoothly, dragging him into the room by his ear. "Let's go."
When they entered the room, Hinata saw Tenten and Lee…getting beat around. Her eyebrows immediately furrowed in surprise.
Are they pretending to be weak? She wondered. She had seen Team 3 in action, and it did not match up with how they were acting right now. After all, her own prodigy of a cousin, Neji, was in that team.
"You really think you'll make it in the Chunin Exams?" One of the genin in front kicked a boy in a bright green jumpsuit. "We're treating you nice compared to what you'll go through in there."
"Please," A girl with two buns on her head stood up. "We just want to get into that room."
She was immediately slapped in the cheek. Neji was standing over both of them, as if concerned.
"A lot of people who've failed these exams have given up being a ninja and have come back seriously injured," One of the ninja sneered at Tenten. "A weak little girl like you has no chance, so why don't you go back home, and play with your dolls?"
The girl's lip wobbled.
"That's a sound argument," Sasuke walked up, Naruto and Hinata right behind him. "But I'm going to pass." He narrowed his eyes at the genin. "Now, can I get to level three?"
The genin looked at him surprised.
Another person behind him whispered, "Aren't we already on floor three?"
"Ah, so you saw through the genjutsu," the ninja realized. "Not bad."
"You can thank my little friend over here." Sasuke tilted his head in Hinata's direction. She cowered a bit from the attention, but stood strong. "She has the sharpest eyes in the group. Saw it coming from a mile away."
"Well, the test isn't over yet," The genin suddenly swung a leg at Sasuke, who prepared his own kick.
Suddenly, a green blur flashed in between the two, stopping both kicks gracefully.
Ah, so they were only pretending, Hinata clarified. There's that amazing power and speed.
Sasuke was shocked at who stopped his kick. Wasn't this guy ridiculously weak just a few moments ago? To be able to stop his kick…
"Hello, Lee," Hinata greeted him pleasantly, much to the surprise of everyone standing around her.
"Hinata!" Lee leapt over and grabbed both of her hands. "I am so honored to meet again my eternal rival's cousin!"
"Lee, let go," The girl with buns walked over. "You're scaring her."
"Hi, Tenten." Hinata smiled shyly.
"Hey, Hinata," Tenten went over to pry Lee away from the flustered kunoichi.
"Lady Hinata." Neji walked over to observe this scene with scowling eyes. "So you participated after all."
Naruto growled at the newcomer, and Sasuke began cracking his knuckles ever so subtly.
Neji turned to Sasuke. "You. What's your name?"
Sasuke glared at Neji. "Isn't it polite to first give your own name before you ask for someone else's?"
Neji smirked. "You probably already know my name. Neji Hyuga. I've heard Lady Hinata sometimes refers to me as "brother"."
Sasuke's glare deepened. "Well, go to hell if you think I'll associate with you." He tilted his chin up. "Sasuke Uchiha. Keep that in mind."
They went along their way, when Lee challenged Sasuke to a fight. Naruto, who was quite disgruntled from being so disregarded, charged against Lee instead, and was immediately bodied. Sasuke stepped up to face Lee.
OwOwO
"I told you it was a bad idea," Hinata scolded as she applied a glowing hand to Sasuke's scraps. "Now look at you."
Sasuke sniffed.
Turns out Lee was more of an opponent then all of them, except for Hinata, had thought. He cleaned Sasuke's clock.
"I can't believe someone that lame could beat me," Sasuke muttered.
"Aw, is the mighty Sasuke I-got-beat-by-someone-lame Uchiha upset?" Naruto teased.
"Shut up, idiot!" Sasuke retorted, standing up now that his make-shift nurse was done fixing him up. "You weren't any better."
"Naruto, Sasuke," Hinata smoothly broke them both up. "Kakashi-sensei is waiting for us."
Naruto and Sasuke grudgingly got up, and the three walked to the room where Kakashi was waiting for them.
OwOwO
Kakashi was leaning against the wall, observing his genin. They had all come a long way, and now…
"Well…" He began. "It's good that all three of you decided that you wanted to participate because you cannot partake in the Chunin Exams without a full set of a three-man team."
All three kids looked at him in shock.
"You mean if one of us decided not to take it, no one on Team 7 could've taken it?" Sasuke asked incredulously.
"Yup!" Kakashi gave a thumbs-up. "So thank goodness!"
Hinata dropped her head. Oh, Kakashi-sensei.
"Well, then," Kakashi pushed the door open. "Go on."
The three looked at each other, and then back at Kakashi.
"You got this," Kakashi reassured them. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have suggested you participate."
They all gulped, and then nodded. Hinata glanced at the boys, as if asking if they were ready. They all nodded, and then stepped into the room.
The Chunin Exam was about to begin.
OwOwO
"Naruto!" A boy wearing a jacket and boasting a dog on his head leaped over and slapped the blond on the back. "I didn't think you'd make it!"
"Kiba!" Naruto groaned. "Why are you here?"
"He's here because our sensei recommended us for the Chunin Exams," Another boy wearing a jacket and glasses that obscured most of face stepped forwards. "Why? Well…that's because we have shown commendable progress during our training as genin."
"Eh?" Naruto peered at the boy dumbly. "What was that, Shino?"
Shino sighed.
"Sasuke!" Said boy was immediately attacked by a pink blur. "I knew you'd make it!"
Kiba rolled his eyes, and Shino sighed again.
"Get off of me!" Sasuke furiously shook off the kunoichi.
"Aw, Sasuke…" Sakura looked at him pleadingly.
"Get out of the way, billboard brow," Another blonde waltzed over. She smirked at Sakura smugly. "Sasuke wants to be with me." She turned to the Uchiha. "Isn't that right?"
Sasuke used Hinata as a shield, much to the girl's dismay.
"What a drag," A bored voice greeted the rest of the genin. "Looks like the rookies all passed."
"Mm." Choji agreed with his friend while munching on chips.
"Shikamaru!" Ino dragged him over by his ear. "Lazy bum!"
"Women are a drag," He muttered while letting himself be towed towards the rest of the genin.
Naruto had immediately engaged in a conversation/argument with Kiba, Sasuke was trying to avoid Ino–Sakura was in a very deep debate about something with Hinata–, and Shino was standing in a corner.
"Shino," Hinata called out a tad-bit uncertainly. "Would you like to talk with us?" She felt bad for leaving the bug lover out of the conversation.
Shino merely shook his head. "Thank you, Hinata. But I am content with just watching."
Hinata nodded.
"Ah, don't worry, Hinata," Sakura patted her shoulder. "He's usually like this. Anyways, could you tell me more about the medical jutsu Kakashi showed you?"
"Of course," Hinata nodded. "The basics is focusing your chakra–"
"You do realize all of you are attracting attention, right?" A voice distracted all the genin from their talk.
Hinata looked around, and then gulped. She never realized that so many people were participating in the exams. And they all seemed so much older and experienced than herself… She looked at her teammates. Even Naruto had to be a little bit offed by this atmosphere…
"You just wait!" Said blond stood up and pointed a finger at all the glaring ninja. "I'll beat you all in the exams, no, I'll wipe the floors with you! Believe it!"
"Hmph." The man who spoke before walked over. He pressed his spectacles in before grinning. "I don't know if you want to attract that attention, kid. There are a lot of dangerous opponents out there."
"Why are you telling us this?" Sasuke asked with narrowed eyes. Shikamaru had to agree with the Uchiha prodigy. People like him usually didn't help other people unless they got something out of it.
"Because I don't want you to lose hope yet." The ninja gave a mock bow, glasses glinting off the bright light. "My name is Kabuto Yakushi. I have taken the Chunin Exams five times before, and I think I can help you youngsters out."
Naruto peered at him suspiciously. "How can you help us if YOU have failed it before?"
Kabuto straightened up and smiled. Hinata shivered slightly. That was one creepy grin.
"With my ninja info cards, of course." He raised up a hand, spreading out red cards like a fan. "They're chakra encoded with what I learned from the past exams. I've got more than two hundred of them. They don't look like much, not to the naked eye, no, but I don't want other ninja to know what I'm doing, right? These cards show the geographical distribution of all ninja info cards candidates who've come to take the Chunin Exams. What villages they come from, and how many from each village. Why do you guys think they all come here to take the exams together, at the same time?" Kabuto grinned.
Everyone else was silent, apart from Choji who was obliviously crunching on his chips rather loudly.
"Why, it's to foster friendship between nations, of course," Kabuto continued smoothly. "International brotherhood and all that, and it's true enough as far as it goes. But there's another reason. You see, the most important thing is that this way they can carefully regulate the total number of chunins that end up in each village, thereby, maintaining the balance of power. If that balance isn't maintained, then the village that wound up with more ninja would be more tempted to attack its neighbor. Makes sense!"
"So you can see anybody?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"Yeah, almost everybody at the Chunin Exams," Kabuto boasted proudly. "You got anybody in mind?"
"Yes," Sasuke continued briskly. "Gaara of the Desert and Rock Lee."
"You already know their names?" Kabuto sighed. "That just makes it boring."
He flipped out a card, flipping onto the ground. "Rock Lee. Belongs to Team Guy. Teammates are Tenten and Neji Hyuga." Hinata winced at the name. "Would you look at that." Kabuto stopped to whistle in surprise. "His taijutsu is off the charts, but he has no ninjutsu or genjutsu at all!" He flipped out a second card. "And now, for our little Gaara…" He frowned at it. "Strange…not much info on the guy." He turned the card to show Sasuke. "Quite impressive actually. Has had eight C-ranks and a B-ranked mission. And it's said that he came back unscathed from every single one of them."
Kiba grinned at Sasuke. "Getting cold feet now, are we?"
Sasuke scoffed. "Show me Sasuke Uchiha."
Kiba raised an eyebrow. "Cocky much?"
Kabuto shrugged at the rivalry and placed a card on the floor. "Sasuke Uchiha… Team 7. Teammates with Naruto Uzumaki and Hinata Hyuga. 7 D-ranks and, whoo, an A-rank mission. Not bad, not bad."
Kiba glared and looked away.
"So, you have information on everyone?" Hinata asked carefully.
"Yes," Kabuto confirmed. "Almost everyone, although there has been a fairly new village, the Sound. They're pretty small and isolated, so I don't know much.
The three ninja in the crowd perked up their ears when they heard this bit of news.
"Small and isolated, eh?" One of the ninja wearing strange arm contraptions smirked. "Shall we show them what we're made of?"
The ninja in the front who was wrapped in bandages all over and grotesquely hunched over smiled behind his mask. "It's too bad that Sound ninja are quite cruel."
They whipped over, flashing in between ninja to get to their target.
Kabut turned around, as if sensing somebody. Hinata immediately activated her Byakugan. She widened her eyes when she realized something was coming towards their "guide" fast.
"Kabuto!" She warned.
A man leaped in front of him, producing two kunai. Kabuto swiftly dodged him only to be attacked by another ninja. Hinata watched closely. She watched as Kabuto jumped backwards, but how his glasses still shattered. And then, it all seemed to be okay after he smirked, but he tumbled not long after and began retching.
Sound, she realized. They use sound as an attack.
She looked at Sasuke, as if trying to relay this information telepathically. He nodded. She was about to glance at Naruto, but he was too busy helping Kabuto.
"That's what you get for insulting the Sound," a Sound ninja with spiky hair sneered at Kabuto. "Tch, small village indeed."
"Enough horsing around!" A booming voice caught everybody's attention.
There stood a tall man with a cap wrapped around his head and scars going across his face. He grinned sadistically at the bunch of ninja.
"My name is Ibiki Morino. I am the proctor for your first exam, and from here on out, your worst enemy."
OwOwO
Dun dun dun! I just love my cliff-hangers! At this point, I wouldn't really blame you guys for trying to break into my angry reader protected underground bunker (I think it's protected) because I would do the same. Did you notice I'm using a different time skip/story divider/I don't know what to call those things? Lines were getting inconvenient. I needed something easier to do. And to end this author's note: REVIEW! (Pretty please?)