Chapter Seven: Chunin.
"Can't this man take the meeting seriously!?" Sakura groaned a complaint as the team waited for their sensei who called them this morning to meet at noon. And per the norm, it was 1:30 with no sign of him.
"Right, I could be training with Hinata right now," Naru grumbled resting her chin on her arm staring at the river below, Sasuke hummed with their grumbles but not saying anything himself. Naru watched him from the corner of her eyes, ever since their return a month ago Sasuke hadn't been himself, he was quieter and wasn't as clingy as before. While a part of her wanted to question the boy and yet the other part didn't want to restart up the slightly suffocating attention.
"If he's not here in the next few minutes I'm gonna-" Sakura snarled.
"You'll what? Sakura-chan." Kakashi's voice called, making them look up and find their sensei perched on the red bridge before jumping down to them. "And actually I have a reason for being late."
"Went on the wrong path?"
"No."
"A black cat crossed your path so you had to take the long way."
"No."
"Old lady needing bags carried."
"Nope!"
"Overslept?"
"No! Sigh, I was in a meeting with the Hokage and fellow jounin and I decided to elect you three for the chunin exams next week." He produced three slips of paper detailing the formal invitation.
"Sensei you're the best!" Naru cheered, jumping up and down.
"Not so fast, this will be a lot of hard work, but I know you can do it. Think about it and come next Monday, meet me at the academy if you choose to participate." He let them take the slips of paper before disappearing with a smirk.
They walked together down the streets all staring at the papers that could determine their ninja future. The opportunity was rare, most jounin teachers won't let their students take the exam for a year if not longer, they were six months in as a team.
"So, do you wanna get some lunch?" Sakura questioned stuffing the paper in her pocket and gave a small smile.
"I guess, then I'm gonna train after." Naru shrugged. "Sasuke?"
He glanced at her before letting out a sigh and shook his head. "I got something to do." He murmured before walking away from both girls.
"He's not the same…. He's down about something." Sakura commented, Naru looked in the direction he left.
"Maybe the mission took a toll on him."
"Help! Help!" A young voice called out, Naru rounded the corner to see Hiruzen's grandson Konohamaru being held in the air by his shirt, an older boy clad in all black with purple makeup on his face held the boy.
"Hey! Put him down." Naru ordered walking up to the scene.
"And if I don't?" He sneered, a smirk stretched on his face.
"Why don't you find out?" She taunted twirling a kunai around her finger. He scoffed, reaching his hand to the wrapping figure on his back.
"Kankuro! Don't, we're not here for a fight right now," A blond girl stated grabbing his wrist and fixing him with a glare. "Just let the kid go, we don't want him to catch us." She warned, glancing at the two girls and the young boy.
"Take this!" Konohamaru snarled, kicking Kankuro in the chest.
"Why you little-" He snarled, holding the spot as Konohamaru hit the ground scrambling backward before hiding behind Naru and sticking his tongue out.
"Now I don't care." He hissed, pulling the form from his back, the wrapping coming loose. "Don't worry Temari, I'll dispatch all three before they can even scream." Temari groaned, rolling her eyes and throwing her hands up. Naru growled rushing forward to Kankuro intent on throwing a punch, Kankuro smiled, twitching his fingers before Naru cried out as lines wrapped around her wrists and ankle threw her to the ground quickly entangling her body.
"I'm a puppet master kid, I can turn chakra into a string and you fell for my trap. Now - "
"Kankuro!" He jolted, his face paling and his body giving a slight tremor, Naru snorted and glanced up to see a red-headed boy standing on the tree limb upside down, dark marks encircled his eyes, a large brown gourd was attached to his back, his teal eyes bore into Kankuro.
"G…Gaara." Temari stuttered.
"Shut up." He hissed. "As Temari said, we're not here for a fight now, release her." He warned.
"But Gaara-"
"I said now!" He growled, Kankuro let out a 'tsk' before the lines released Naru, she scrambled backward as Gaara disappeared from the limb and appeared where she previously lay, sand shot out around him before encircling Kankuro and raising him in the air making him cry out in fear.
"Gaara!" Temari called.
"The next time you disobey direct orders I will kill you," Gaara warned.
"Please Gaara! I'm sorry, don't kill me!" Kankuro begged, struggling against the sand grip. "I'm your brother, don't kill me!" He whimpered.
"Pathetic." He hissed letting the sand drop the boy and entered the gourd again.
"Who are you?" Naru questioned, Gaara turned looking her up and down, a flicker of something Naru couldn't place flashed in his eyes before turning.
"Gaara of Sunagakure." He replied. "Who are you?"
"That's none of your business." Naru looked to see Sasuke in the same tree Gaara had been. "Why are you three in Konoha?" He questioned as landed in front of Gaara and next to Naru.
"Well, well, you're a sight," Temari mumbled a faint blush on her cheeks.
"Hey! You were asked a question!" Sakura stated.
"Duh, we're here for the chunin exams, we have passports."
"Prove it."
"No!" She scoffed. "We're required to show it to higher individuals, not brats." She sneered.
"Well, then I'm sure the Hokage will be quite pleased you were threatening his grandson," Naru said.
"There's no need for that." Kankuro chuckled.
"Shut up." Gaara hissed. "We mean no harm, my idiot brother and sister are deeply sorry, it won't happen again." He said, staring down Sasuke and Naru both. "We'll meet in the exams I assume."
"Uzumaki Naru." Naru supplied before Sasuke gave her a stern look, Gaara looked at him expectantly.
"Uchiha Sasuke, now go." He ordered, the three turned and disappeared down the alley.
"Thank you all," Konohamaru said bowing.
"Go see your grandfather, tell him not to worry about them," Naru said with a smile, he nodded and rushed past them.
"You're stupid to supply unknown ninja your name," Sasuke commented.
"I'm not stupid! What's with you?! You're such a jerk!" Naru snarled, he snorted before walking away from her. Naru's lip quivered before she turned the opposite way and stomped off. Sakura sighed quietly, her shoulders slumping at her arguing teammates. 'Are the chunin exams really a smart idea?' She thought before going off on her own.
o0o
Naru stood in the middle of the training grounds later that evening. "Alright kid, I'm going to teach you a great evade and defense attack. It's Jinsokuna yusō."
"So, it's basically shunshin no jutsu."
"But at a much faster and stronger rate, you'll use chakra points to move from place to place in a blink of an eye, you can move yourself and others with this."
"Sweet!" Naru cheered.
"You'll have to learn how to leave subtle marks of chakra, not so much that it can be sensed by others or that it drains you quickly. Recall the tree-climbing exercise Kakashi taught you, you'll need less than each sole of your foot to do this exercise, first focus on bringing up small bursts of chakra first."
Naru focused carefully listening to the tailed beast instruct her on chakra control all while being watched closely from the trees by Sasuke.
o0o
"Sakura, I get you're worried about the exams, but I really need to work on my jutsu," Naru grumbled as she followed her pink-haired teammate.
"Naru we're a team, and it's obvious something is bothering Sasuke-kun. I haven't seen him since we split up yesterday and if we can't even get along for training then…"
"Then what?" Naru squinted.
"I mean, how can we continue as a team?"
"You do realize if we take these exams and pass we won't necessarily be a team anymore, we'll be split up, we're getting older and stronger and can't play D-rank games forever. Besides Sasuke is being the one who's all broody and closed off again, why do I have to-"
"Naru, you like Sasuke-kun, anyone can see it, while I don't like and don't accept it, you can't pretend you don't care."
Naru stopped in place, looking at the girl. "Sakura…"
"I'll be keeping up and putting up a fight and so will others, so stop being stubborn and admit it." She whirled around, her green eyes glinting dangerously.
"N… no, I don't!" She protested looking away, crossing her arms over her chest and a pink hue appearing on her cheeks.
A loud explosion made the girls jump as smoke filled the air from the training grounds. Both rushed forward through the gates and towards the smoke, finding the trees smoldering and Sasuke standing in the center, his body shook and audible heaving for breath emitted from him.
"Sasuke-kun," Sakura called, approaching slowly.
"Leave me alone!" He barked.
"Sakura, wait.." Naru attempted to stop her but followed nonetheless.
Sasuke groaned, falling to his knees gripping the remaining grass. "You need to rest, you've used too much chakra," Sakura suggested, he shot her a glare before his eyes landed on Naru.
"Shouldn't you both be training, instead of goofing off?"
"Alright, I've had enough! I don't know why you're acting this way you … you teme! But I'm sick of it!" Naru snarled, grabbing his shirt and pulling him up. He stared into her eyes a faint blush on his face before a scowl replaced his shock.
"Let me go."
"If you have a problem with me then we'll settle it now!" She snarled, shoving him backward holding her hands up in fists. "Fight me."
"No." He stood up, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
"I said fight me Uchiha!" She spat, he turned beginning to leave her behind, Naru growled before running at him and kicking his knees making them buckle and him to fall. He shot her a harsh glare and stood up.
"Naru, Sasuke stop." Sakura began before whirling around as a paper bomb landed next to their feet throwing them back.
"What the hell!?" Naru snarled her eyes darting back and forwards before landing on the rain ninja landing in front of them.
"Tell me why you Konoha ninja are so highly praised? I've been here for a while." He taunted.
"Come find out." Naru spun kunai around her finger before gripping the handle.
"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" Sasuke barked racing through hand signs before taking in a deep breath and expelling a large fireball. Naru raced to the left and Sakura to the right around the enemy who flinched from the fire. He spotted both girls and jumped up dodging them.
"Here!" Sakura grabbed Naru's wrist and spun her around, giving her a boost to follow the man in the air and tackled him to the ground.
"Who are you!?"
"Tsk! This is your only warning, drop from the exams or pay the price!" He warned before his body swelled up.
"Naru!" Sasuke tackled the girl to the side, shielding her as the enemy exploded.
"Sasuke…" She whispered.
"I guess I finally managed to protect you once." He murmured before pushing up and disappearing.
"Who was that? Why was he trying to stop us from the exams?" Sakura questioned.
"Dunno, but I'm more pumped than ever now!" Naru huffed. "We're gonna participate in these exams and come out on top!"
Sasuke walked to the Uchiha district to the main house where he grew up and where he lost everything. 'I have to get better… stronger. Stronger than everyone.'
o0o
Kakashi flipped the pages of his orange book before glancing behind him to the rain ninja standing there. "Well? How'd it go? Believe me now Iruka?"
"I'll admit they have gotten better, but I still don't approve of your opinion, how do you know this won't break them totally?"
"Because, I believe in my team, they have an unbreakable bond, I know they'll survive and pass. Watch."
"You better be right, Kakashi-san." The chunin murmured before the jounin disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
-o0o-
Naru stood by the academy door on Monday tapping her foot. 'I swear if they don't show up…'
"Calm down, if they don't show you'll have other opportunities, and with your spat with the Uchiha, an exam depending solely on teamwork and unity probably isn't the best idea."
'No! I have to do this! I need to get stronger and prove-'
"The only thing you have to do is be patient and trust your path."
Naru pouted before perking up at Sasuke walking up, bandages on his jaw and arms.
"Sakura's not here yet?" He murmured.
"Not yet," Naru chewed her cheek before holding her hand out, he cocked his head in confusion. "I don't know what's going on, but we need to be teammates for this, so I'll call a truce, I don't like how you've treated me, but we'll put that on the backburner for now, at least until these exams are over."
"Naru, it's not that I-"
"Save it. We'll get along for this then after you can go on your own path away from me." She murmured, turning away from the Uchiha as Sakura approached with a smile.
"Naru, Sasuke-kun, are we ready?"
"Let's do this!" Naru cheered.
The team entered the academy following the halls to the third floor where a large group stood murmuring amongst themselves. "What's going on?" Sakura questioned.
"Release a burst of chakra and keep going." Kurama ordered, she tilted her head in confusion, making him roll his eyes, taking over and releasing a burst of chakra catching everyone's attention.
"Naru?" Sasuke questioned grabbing her arm frowning at the shift of her eyes from purple-blue to deep red. "What's going on?" He whispered.
"The genjutsu?" She stated and jerked her head, he looked up to the halls that were previously labeled to the rooms they were searching for to a completely different number.
"Who are you?" Both turned to see a leaf team of older kids standing behind them.
"None of your business, let's go." Sasuke ordered grabbing Naru's hand and pulled her away quickly.
Sakura followed her teammates up the stairs to the third floor. "Maybe if I introduce myself first you'll supply a reply." They turned to find a leaf genin dressed in a green full body leotard with orange leg warmers, his hitai-ate tied around his waist, his hair cut into a bowl cut and had extra large eyebrows. "My name is Rock Lee." He held a thumbs up and winked. "And your name is gorgeous?" Looking pointedly at Sakura, she stuttered looking at her teammates who looked away with a tiny smile.
"S..Sakura?" She mumbled.
"You are beautiful! I think I love you." He blew a kiss, making Sakura yelp.
"Aww Sakura, that's sweet." Naru laughed until Sakura snarled and punched her arm.
"Shut up Naru!"
"And you two are Sasuke Uchiha and Naru Uzumaki."
"If you know who we are, why ask?" Sasuke questioned.
"Because I wanted to introduce myself to my rival Sasuke." He frowned before rolling his eyes. "And to introduce myself before I defeat you in battle."
"Tsk, not in this life. Let's go." He ordered. Lee skidded in front of Sasuke. "Fine, you want me to beat you before these exams, then fine!" His eyes flickered from black to blood red. "You still wanna fight?"
'The sharingan!' Sakura swooned.
"I'm not scared of your sharingan or family name. I have proved myself through sheer hard work and raw talent, while you use both former mentioned crutches." Sasuke sneered before shooting from his place springing in the air and moving to deliver a kick towards him.
'He's coming, I'm sorry Gai-sensei, I may need to break your most important rule and use that move.' Lee thought as he disappeared. "Leaf hurricane!" He cried out, Sasuke gasped as Lee moved faster than he could nearly follow. Lee's foot connected with his cheek throwing him back. Sasuke winced, touching his bruising cheek.
'I'm not moving fast enough.' He thought dodging as Lee kicked towards him again. Sasuke dodged the blow ready to throw his own before Lee kicked him in the air and appeared right below him. "You see your sharingan is nothing as I use taijutsu, not much that you can copy. Now watch as I defeat you-" Lee trailed off and gasped, Sasuke turned his head and gasped as Naru appeared above them and flipped in the air bringing her foot down on his stomach knocking him into Lee and down to the ground.
Both gasped for air wincing in pain as Naru landed in a crouch and glared at them both. "Enough! We have only a few minutes to report to our assigned rooms! Let's go!" She ordered snatching Sasuke's wrist and pulled him forward, he blushed as he stumbled forward.
"Why did you have to kick me?" He rasped.
"Cause you're an idiot." Naru growled, he grumbled pulling his arm free and walked next to her.
"I think you're both idiots, actually all three of you, if we would have been caught, we could have gotten in big trouble!" Sakura agreed.
"Caught doing what Sakura-chan?" Kakashi called
"I hate it when he calls me that." Sakura hissed with her cheeks turning red, Naru giggled behind her hand glancing at Sasuke who looked away.
"Should I be included in this secret conversation?" Kakashi smirked.
"No." Sakura and Naru replied.
Kakashi hummed with a head bob. "Well I'm relieved to see you three together, had it been any different I couldn't let you in."
"What? Why?" Sakura questioned.
"The chunin exams are a team test. If one or more of you had not shown you would forfeit your right to enter."
"Why didn't you tell us this?" Naru asked.
"Because it's your individual decision, you shouldn't be pressured by others to do the test. But I knew you all would show, so I grant your entrance." He gestured his hand to the door. "Good luck and use the things you've been taught and you'll pass, I know it." He whispered as they walked into the room as he shut the door behind them.
"This is great-" Naru started before turning her head to find a room full of ninja, some looking at the team and murmuring.
"Well, well, it seems we're all together again." Shikamaru commented, waltzing up to them with Ino and Chouji in tow.
"Sasuke-kun!" Ino squealed, throwing her arms around his neck, he glared at her before shrugging her grip.
"Naru! That's my girl! I knew you'd be here." Kiba announced and leaned in her face and gave her a sharp toothed grin. "Don't you worry babe, I'll take care of you," He purred, Sasuke swept his leg across Kiba's ankle making him fall and laughter exploded from the ones that witnessed the scene. "You!" Kiba snarled, grabbing Sasuke's collar and growling in his face, Akamaru yapped in sync with his owner.
"Kiba, stop, it's not time to make a scene and remember what sensei said, all fighting outside of the exams are strictly prohibited." Hinata chimed in, the boy growled at Sasuke once more.
"I can't wait to meet you in these exams Uchiha, then we'll see who is the best and worthy of Naru-"
"Seems to me if you can't keep your cool you're not quite to par.." They turned to see an older teen with silver hair tied in a ponytail and black rimmed circular glasses waltz up to their group. "Mere minutes and you've gathered almost everyone's interest. I'm Kabuto, this is my seventh time for these exams."
"Seven years?"
"No, these exams are held twice a year." He held up two fingers. "Failed three times, you have no idea what you're getting into."
"Then why don't you share your oh-so valuable knowledge with us." Naru commented.
"Well, that's the thing the exams are different each go around, keeps repeaters like me from how you say … getting a leg up." He scratched the back of his head with a smile.
"Then you're of no use to us." Sasuke commented.
"Hm, I didn't say that, see I have been able to gather information on countries, individual ninja's. I have a lot of knowledge."
"How?"
"Mmm, I'll keep the how to myself, but I can show you." He dug in the pouch on his hip before pulling out a deck of orange cards with the kanji for shinobi on them. "Anyone in particular you wanna know about?"
"How about Gaara?" Naru questioned, Kabuto nodded his head crouching down.
"And Lee." Sasuke chimed in, they watched as Kabuto pulled out two cards showing the blank side.
"Is that supposed to be the information?" Kiba mocked him before Naru hissed at him to be quiet.
"Now, watch." Kabuto focused and they watched as the white faded to reveal the profiles of Rock Lee and Gaara.
"It seems Rock Lee was a popular genin last year but didn't participate, sensei Might Gai with teammates Tenten and Hyuuga Neji. Shows a history of 31 missions between C and D ranks and has skillful abilities with taijutsu but not much else." Kabuto supplied
"Whoa." Naru muttered, turning her sights on Gaara's card. "That Gaara kid has an impressive history."
"It's said Gaara has a special chakra. Much like your own Naru-chan." She looked up at Kabuto who smiled at her, she stood up wrapping her arms around her stomach.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke questioned.
"Nothing bad, just what I've gathered the chakra amount in Gaara and Naru here are almost evenly matched, way beyond most genin. They have a special aura around them, making them quite rare and interesting."
"Who else is participating in these exams?" Sakura butted in, Naru slunk back from the genin who looked at her once more before pulling out another card listing out the countries who chose to send genin.
"Naru?" Sasuke whispered, grabbing her arm. "Are you okay?"
"Wh… what if this was a mistake?" Naru whispered, Hinata turned to her and noticed her shaking. "Maybe we should have waited or trained more or… or."
Take a deep breath, you're panicking. Kurama commented, Naru took in a breath and let it out slowly.
"If you… if you think we should go-"
"No, I think I just had a case of nerves, I just don't… I dunno, his aura is… off putting." She gestured to Kabuto who was answering the questions of others.
"He won't touch you Naru, no one will." Sasuke comforted.
"You finally pulled the stick out of your ass?" She commented, Sasuke rolled his eyes.
"You're an idiot."
"And you're a teme!" She snarled.
"You're all too loud." They turned to see a boy who sported bandages all over his face except his left eye and ear. He wore a large poncho with long sleeves that covered his hands with a patterned scarf and pants.
"Who are you?" Kiba questioned.
"From the land of Sound, Otogakure is a small village and not of much significance." Kabuto commented.
"Oh really?" He commented disappearing before appearing in front of Kabuto swinging his arm that was in a metal device, Kabuto leaned back and smirked as Dosu jumped back.
"Is that- ahh!" Kabuto cried out as his glasses shattered, he fell to the ground gagging.
"What?" Sakura questioned.
"See, my small village specializes in sound manipulation. I don't have to hit you to do any damage."
"Enough you degenerate's pipe down and listen up.!" A voice boomed drawing their attention to the front of the class. "I am Moreno Ibiki, your proctor and your worst enemy." He smiled. "First and foremost, you ninja from Otogakure, knock it off, no one told you you can fight! The rules are simple: anyone caught fighting without permission from your proctor and use of fatal force is prohibited, anyone who breaks the rules . Is that clear?!"
"Sorry, it's our first time sir." Ibiki hummed. "Turn in your agreement forms and take a seat with your team and wait until I say, the written exam will begin right away."
"A written test.." Naru whined.
"We got this." Sakura held her fists up and chuckled.
Naru sighed as she sat between Sasuke and Sakura near the front of the room, the only sounds being the shuffling as they found spots to sit.
"This written test will be put to the test. There are 10 questions if you choose not to answer anything you fail, if even one of you is caught cheating your whole team fails." Ibiki supplies as the tests were passed along. "You're all skilled genin or else you wouldn't have been recommended, but that doesn't mean I'll take it easy on you." Ibiki warned.
Naru watched as Kurama answered the questions quickly, Sakura did her own and Sasuke began to copy her with his sharingan.
"Numbers 15, 16 and 17, you have been caught three times, you're done." A chunin pointed to a Leaf team who began to protest and kick as he was dragged out with the others. More numbers were called out and the teams escorted from the room as Ibiki smirked, raking his eyes over the genin who began to sweat and panic. 'Always easy to find the weak links.'
"You have 10 minutes left as you all may have noticed there are only nine questions on your papers, the 10th question you must decide if you want to take the test."
"What do you mean?! We can decline to answer it, what happens then?" Temari questioned.
"Simple, you and your team fail, and a new stipulation for quitters."
"Which is?"
"If you choose to take the 10th question and you get it wrong, you will be barred from taking the exams ever again!"
The remaining genin began to voice their complaints and questions, Ibiki chuckled quietly. "If you have to complain then take the safe route, quit now and you can try again in six months."
Naru swallowed heavily, feeling her chest tighten and her heart beat quicker and quicker. 'If I proceed and fail I could never become chunin, but if I quit Sasuke and Sakura are punished… what do I do?' She darted her eyes all around watching as nearly half of the room called it quits.
Naru nearly jumped from her seat as Sasuke's fingers slid into her hand and squeezed, she looked at him as he gave a small smile and nodded his head before gesturing to Sakura.
Naru followed his example by taking Sakura's hand and nodding at her.
"We got this, we've gone through tougher battles."
Use your chakra and send it out, he's using a jutsu that's making you panic kid, help your allies. Kurama instructed, Naru focused on releasing waves of her chakra which quickly hit the others making them relax, Ibiki locked eyes with Naru who smirked at him and nodded her head.
Quite interesting..' He mused before taking a deep breath. "You remaining genin, I have one last thing to say," He called, drawing their attention back to him. "You pass."
"But the 10th question…" Sakura squeaked.
"That was the 10th question, you see for the ones that quit or were caught poorly cheating didn't have what it takes to be a chunin and don't deserve to even try. You all that remained and stayed strong have the beginning makings of true chunin worthy to represent your village. So again, you pass, congratulations!" He smiled brightly.
Naru let out a deep sigh slumping in her chair, Sakura cheered with the others, Naru looked over seeing Sasuke's hands still locked in hers.
"Your sensei will meet you outside and bring you to your next test, dismissed!"
Naru walked next to Sasuke in silence as they followed the crowd outside, finding their sensei's waiting for them.
"Sasuke…" She called, he turned to her in confusion. "I … I wanted to tell you, thank you. I couldn't do it w…w…without you." Her cheeks turning pink as she leaned forward pressing a quick kiss on his cheek before scurrying away, Sasuke touched his cheek before quietly chuckling.
'Bring on this next test..'