AN: This is the story's longest chapter to date and Clarity has reached over 50,000 words, so I hope it's worth the read!
Warning that there are 2 scenes containing depictions of a panic attack, please be careful if you're sensitive.
Chapter 13: Friends and Fears
Hinata shut the door and stared at her name on the Chunin Selection Exams form, written in bold black ink. A pit formed in her stomach. In the privacy of her bedroom, hidden from anyone else's judgment, her hands shook. It felt like she signed it in blood now that she knew who would be there. Her erratic breath only worsened the panic.
The discussion with Father from minutes ago dominated her thoughts, making it impossible to focus on much else. She'd been worried enough over what this test entailed, just for him to add another massive problem.
"Neji's team is applying as well. Having a Main and Cadet family member participate in the same event is not unheard of, however…" Hinata pictured the way his brow furrowed before he continued, as if the situation made him uncomfortable too. But it was her that had to deal with it, in the end. "There is increased tension due to his prodigal reputation. As my selected heir, falling short of his marks will create doubt within the clan. I trust that you understand what results the Elders want, Hinata."
They, and by extension her father, expected Hinata to display her worth against Neji if their paths crossed. And she held no doubt that he would find a way to face her. Hinata kept her composure while acknowledging the unspoken task, and then retreated from the training dojo. A growing sense of dread threatened to crush her.
There'd be no avoiding her older cousin if he wanted to make a challenge during the exam itself as long as his actions followed the guidelines. Neji's built up resentment towards the Main House only seemed to fuel his natural talent. It had the opposite effect on her. Every time their eyes met, she sensed the hate he carried in sharp detail.
It cut through any facade she tried to maintain. All the work she put into building the image of a good heir disappeared, sending her back to the days when fear and doubt rendered her useless. She crumbled under his silent accusations, because sometimes she believed that she deserved to shoulder the blame.
She despised feeling this way. She told herself that she hated him in return, even if that wasn't quite true. She always thought of him as a brother, but Neji made it very clear he no longer felt the same way when he left her behind.
Hinata's legs went weak, forcing her to sit on the bed. The dizziness had a grounding effect on the fear squeezing her chest. She took the time to slow her breathing down before the sensation worsened. Worrying until she ended up sick accomplished nothing. She had to improve her own abilities and not let Neji intimidate her. Far easier said than done, but she latched onto the soothing logic. Anything to prevent a second round of hyperventilating. Hinata refused to keep breaking down at the thought of failing.
She looked up when the sliding door opened again. Hanabi slipped inside, leaving a mortified green haired maid behind in the hallway. Just like Ko once guarded her in Hiashi's absence, Natsu served as Hanabi's caretaker. Or at least attempted to. Even for a Kunoichi, it took quite a bit of effort to keep her sister entertained.
"We found a package for you at the front door," Hanabi said, which explained the sealed envelope tucked under her arm. She didn't recall ordering anything through the mail.
"Lady Hanabi, remember to ask permission before entering someone else's quarters!" Natsu chided her. She reluctantly stepped inside to bow. "My apologies if we're interrupting you…"
"I don't mind," Hinata said, taking the package. "I finished training for the day." A distraction would be welcome right now. The envelope's return address was Hanamoto Greenhouse. Whatever they sealed inside sounded like loose grain as it shifted around.
"Did someone send you a gift? Can we open it now?" Hanabi asked.
"I believe that's from your highest level mission client. The trading company outside the village." So Natsu knew about it. The entire Main family was most likely informed after news of her upgraded assignment reached Father. That meant they were proud.
"It may not be very interesting," Hinata told her sister. If this was the Hanamotos' formal thank you for helping their business, Hinata assumed it'd be a trinket meant to sit on a shelf, or a piece of jewelry. Something generic and impossible to find offensive. She slit the envelope open with a kunai and emptied the contents onto her bedsheets. Three small packets decorated with flower images fell out. "Oh, they're seeds…" She recognized the different plants by sight. One was purely decorative, but the other two held medicinal use once they matured. This made a far more exciting present than a simple bouquet. Katsuo managed to be thoughtful without asking for her hand in marriage, which she counted as progress. Hanabi collected the seed packs with bright eyes.
"We can plant them while the sun's still up. There's space in the garden, right?" Hinata allowed herself a more genuine smile. After years of taking care of various flowers and herbs, she had successfully drawn her sister into at least one hobby.
"I'm sure there is. Let's see if we'll be able to clear a spot-" Hinata felt lightheaded as soon as she stood, her words trailing off. Natsu reached her side in an instant and refused to back away until she regained balance. She hadn't recovered from that weak moment yet, but she'd be fine in a few minutes.
"Lady Hinata, perhaps you should stay indoors…" She tuned out the maid's concern, hoping she didn't appear as worn down as she felt. Hanabi shouldn't have to worry about this.
"I'm alright, just sore from practicing. I can walk to the courtyard." Natsu relented, but she kept a close eye on Hinata when they left for the back courtyard.
Her anxiety loosened the rest of its grip by the time they collected the necessary tools from the shed. It might return later, but she chose to enjoy this moment while it lasted. Hanabi dug new holes in the soil with the same enthusiasm Hinata used to have when she helped their mother. It felt right letting her handle the trowel this time, even if she smeared her hands and clothes with dirt.
"Remember to keep the holes shallow," she said, inspecting the ground. Hanabi slowed her digging slightly. Satisfied, Hinata approached the shaded stone bench where Natsu waited.
"Did you need something else?"
"I…meant to ask more of a favor. Please stay closer to Hanabi whenever she leaves the compound with you. I'm not sure how often I'll be at home to watch her." Natsu looked confused.
"Did something happen for you to request this?" Hinata glanced back at her sister, still busy with the trowel, and then shared her encounter with the Sand ninja in a low tone. "Hm, that is…" Natsu frowned. "Security will tighten for the Chunin Exams, but I expected our guests to behave themselves. I'll keep that group in mind."
"Thank you." Knowing at least one other person would be on the lookout for that boy with the gourd relieved her. Hinata spent the rest of the afternoon outside, making sure the new seeds were properly labeled and finding other bits of maintenance to do around the garden. No one else took care of it unless she asked for help, but she didn't mind tasks like weeding, cutting, or watering. Natsu forced them back inside by evening so they had ample time to wash most of the soil off with a bath before dinner. Her days spent with just Hanabi became rare once she graduated, but this made her less guilty about it.
Hinata kept her thoughts away from any upcoming events until later that night, when she woke up in a cold sweat. She scrubbed away the moisture that threatened to spill down her cheek. It'd been a while since she dreamed about the night of her kidnapping, and the memory's vividness struck her hard. A shadow blocking out the moonlight as it crept through her window. The cold winter air. His grip on her as he trudged through the snow.
Tonight, the window remained clear. That's all the proof she had to calm her nerves. Hinata laid back down and stared at the ceiling until sleep returned.
The next week passed quickly from Sasuke's perspective. Who cared about basic missions when their chance at promotion felt so close? His other teammates were also restless, though something didn't feel right. Naruto's thoughts never stayed hidden for long, so Sasuke didn't waste much time there. They'd all know what bothered Naruto in about five minutes. Hinata proved more difficult to read.
He had no idea what happened after they received their permission slips from Kakashi, but it noticeably affected her focus. She stared off into space between exercises more than once, or flinched at sudden noises like she'd been ambushed. He'd never seen her this… timid until now. She handled training and missions the same as before, and everyone on the team pulled their own weight recently, which ruled out some hangup about falling behind. No, this must be a different kind of problem.
Possibly clan business, which meant that the odds of her explaining anything were low. Or it was a girl specific topic, which just left Sasuke out of his depth with no desire to touch it. But even if he didn't understand her, he needed to fix whatever killed her confidence.
Just for the group's benefit. Chains were only as strong as the weakest link. So by that logic, the team's struggles became his own. All good shinobi understood this.
Sasuke couldn't figure out what to do until the day before the Chunin Exams. That afternoon, the team completed a C-rank mission involving a small group of thieves. Their client's convenience store had been ransacked multiple times around closing hours, but the thieves stood no chance against the Genin lying in wait today. Sasuke captured the first two masked burglars with a simple wire trap, then left his teammates to secure the last one. Naruto and Hinata cornered the fleeing ringleader in minutes, unable to escape her line of sight or the clones in pursuit. After dragging the heavily bruised man back up the street, the trio of thieves were bound and gagged at the storefront. Fast and efficient, the way he liked jobs.
Sasuke kept an eye on them until the police arrived, but Hinata was once again deep in thought. Or at least not paying much attention as she waited on the store's front steps.
When Naruto spoke up from behind her, she squeaked and spun to face him. She almost fell off the short stairway. Sasuke didn't realize she could make that sound. More importantly, how did she not sense the loudest person they knew walking around on creaky old floorboards?
"Uh…" Naruto froze on the spot. Probably anticipating a palm strike for startling her that bad. "The old man had some juice cans in the back, so I thought you might want one." He held up two drinks in his hands. The odd look in her eyes faded.
"Thank you. I…" Hinata examined her sandals, fingers digging into her jacket. Was she about to tell them something? She trailed off into silence and accepted the green tea can. Apparently not.
"Hey, don't worry about it!" Naruto smiled and scratched the back of his head. "It's all good." Her shoulders relaxed. Good for now, but this couldn't go on for much longer. They had to be in top form before the Chunin Exams. Time for drastic measures. Sasuke braced himself before daring to speak.
"Naruto," he called. "We should stop by at that ramen stand."
"Sasuke's paying today, so I'm gonna have three bowls!" Naruto said to the chef as he claimed a stool. Sasuke bit back every insult he thought of at that moment. His wallet hurt thinking about the combined total of their orders, but he needed this to keep them occupied and willing to talk. Ichiruaku was mercifully slow this evening, so at least the odds of anyone interrupting them were low. Hinata took the seat beside Naruto, leaving Sasuke on the other side. They even had room for Kakashi if he didn't worm his way out of eating with them to handle a " special assignment".
"It's a lot of boring, important work that I should finish so the Chunin Exams run smoothly, but don't let me stop you kids," he had said, before dumping them off at the ramen stand. It might even be a real errand if he turned free food down.
"Oh, is that so? How generous of you!" Ayame told Sasuke. He took the compliment from the chef's daughter, sitting up a little straighter.
"...Yeah, I'm handling the bill. Get whatever you want." Neither of his teammates believed him at first. He sighed. "I mean it." Hinata picked up one of the menus like it might be covered with paper bombs.
"I don't know what this is for, but if you insist."
"It's to help us pass the Chunin Exams," Sasuke admitted once they finally ordered something. Not a lie, but not the entire truth either. Naruto bought the excuse, which helped.
"Now this is my kind of motivation! Why aren't you this cool all the time?"
"Because you'd annoy me about it, kind of like right now."
"I just called you cool, you jerk"- The first round of bowls shut Naruto up. A small miracle. They ate in relative silence. Sasuke picked at his soup and tried to get a read on Hinata's mood. It still confused him how she managed to keep up with Naruto of all people when it came to meals. Was it a chakra thing? Did she use more than the rest of the kunoichi he knew? He pushed that mystery aside and laced his fingers together, leaning on the bar in a casual manner. The goal was simple, but he had to make this sound natural.
"Hyuga, did your family happen to tell you how the Chunin Exams worked?"
"My family?" she asked, setting the ramen down. Her second one, right next to an empty first serving. At least she possessed manners unlike the ramen pit beside them. Sasuke half expected her to close off, but she gave him a real answer. "I did ask my father about the exam format. He said that the proctors changed the details and rule set each time, so only those directly involved would have accurate information." And there's no way they'd give it up to anyone who questioned them, he assumed.
"Alright, that figures. But he must know how they are in general. He didn't mention anything else?" She studied the dregs left in her bowl.
"Just a simple outline, if you want to hear it. I'm not sure how useful it'll be tomorrow…"
"Knowing something is better than nothing," Sasuke said. "It gives us an edge." Even having last year's rules was worth something.
"Okay then…" She sounded steadier. "The Chunin Exams are always divided into three stages, and each one removes a large amount of the competition for the last stage." Failing the different sections caused eliminations, then. "The first one is designed around a written test."
"Wait, are we getting a paper quiz?" Of course Naruto caught that part. "Aw man, that's gonna suck." Life threatening enemies couldn't scare him, but some bookwork did?
"I'm not sure if it'll look like an Academy test or what topics it covers. You might have a chance depending on the subject." Hinata paused. "Or it could be multiple choice." Very wishful thinking on her part, but all three of them were familiar with Naruto's average grades. They needed a backup strategy in case he didn't know a single thing the test asked. Naruto turned paler.
"But what if they want a whole essay?" Sasuke felt a headache building.
"How about the second stage?" Worst case scenario, Naruto just had to scrape by the first section with a bare minimum passing score.
"That one should be a longer survival exercise. The teams compete against each other to finish an objective." Something that resembled a real mission. The danger rose, but fighting was more their specialty. Their team had a wide technique pool and a way to track others from a distance. In a free for all, they were in their element.
"Pfft, if we finished an A-rank, that'll be easy! So what's the last part?" Naruto asked.
"Direct combat, often a tournament in a one versus one format." He stopped eating again, contemplating what that meant.
"But if it's a tournament…doesn't that mean there's only one winner? No way they're picking one guy to be Chunin out of everyone that showed up."
"I think it's designed to display the participants' skills in public," she explained. "The Hokage still chooses who he wants to promote, so even if someone doesn't win…"
"Everyone has a chance," Sasuke finished. It made sense if you just wanted to see how the final few ninja performed under stress. "But the last one standing has the best hopes of selection." Along with everyone else seeing how strong they were. "That's going to be me." How many people watched those matches? Thousands? Naruto predictably fired back.
"Not if I'm there. I'm winning in front of this whole village, even if I have to beat the both of you!" Sasuke shook his head.
"If you can't win against a sheet of paper, then you're not beating anyone in the final stage. Why don't you focus on smuggling some of Iruka's notes into the exam?"
"I think you're both looking too far ahead," she told them. "What about the other Genin"- She paused, like something struck her. Then she pulled a shuriken out from her back tool pouch. Sasuke stopped egging Naruto and looked at it. To him, it was an average throwing star.
"What're you gonna do with that?" Naruto tilted his head at an angle like it'd reveal a secret.
"Maybe taking notes during the test isn't impossible. Naruto, how good is your Transformation technique?" Hinata asked. The idea sank in for Sasuke moments later as she set the shuriken down with a determined expression. "I'm not saying that we should cheat, but…" She found a viable plan to give Naruto answers, though it meant acting dishonestly. For the first time since last week, she wasn't stuck in her own head or jumping at shadows. Sasuke hadn't completely solved her problem, but this was a start.
The Ninja Academy felt different the next afternoon. Instead of schoolwork or another mission assignment waiting inside, something far more dangerous lurked. Their fellow Genin from across the continent, all ready to prove they deserved to move upwards as ninja. And Hinata doubted they'd take kindly to "rookie" applicants standing alongside them.
Naruto and Sasuke met her in the empty playground, their paperwork ready. It felt eerie with all the students gone for the summer, but that was probably for safety purposes. Better to keep restless visitors away from weaker targets in case others had the same idea as Kankuro.
"Chunin Exams, here we come!" Naruto yelled in the main entrance hall. The first floor looked abandoned, though signs of life echoed down from the floors above. "So… where do we go from here?" he asked. Hinata checked the instructions one more time.
"The form states that we finish registration in Room 301,"
"Upstairs, then. We have less than an hour left." Sasuke took the lead, but they soon ran into a small crowd of Genin blocking the hallway. The crowd gathered in a loose semi circle around a classroom door. Naruto tried and failed to see over anyone's heads.
"Hey, what's the big deal? Is this the right room?" Hinata looked up at the nearby sign, studying the numbers as if they would change.
Or maybe they just finished shifting? She suddenly wasn't certain. It did read 301, but that made no sense. They only climbed one flight of stairs, so this was the Academy's second floor. It should be the second floor. How did something this basic confuse her?
"Naruto, wait." Her Byakugan activated, revealing a light "fog" of chakra that flooded part of the hallway. Genjutsu. An area-wide one placed to catch those who walked this direction. And since all genjutsu needed a focal point…
The glowing sign above the door confirmed everything. Chakra radiated off it, obscuring the numbers from view. Illusions functioned by lacing the target's nervous system with foreign chakra after catching their attention, manipulating the senses with hallucinations. But the Byakugan's ability to see chakra both inside and outside the body dismantled this effect. The genjutsu broke down around her as its internal logic fell apart. Whoever cast this technique chose a subtle change, most likely to fool anyone who wasn't careful with details. She may not have caught on if she didn't spend six years of her life in this building.
"We don't have time for these guys!" Naruto shoved his way into the crowd. A few people gave them enough space to see a trio of Leaf Genin facing off against a different pair. She recognized a few of those chakra signatures…
"Someone started a fight," Sasuke said with a hint of interest. She let the Byakugan fade and watched a boy in a green jumpsuit take a rough punch to the face. Her blood turned to ice as he hit the floor. A bun haired girl pleaded to let them through, but one of the door guards swung at her next. Neji's team was here.
"Kind of harsh…" one of the spectators mumbled. The entire group sounded shaken by the two unofficial bouncers. She tuned out the details of their fear-inducing speech about Chunin responsibilities. Where was he?
There, standing closer to the crowd's edge. Neji had his arms crossed while he took in the scene, making no move to protect his team. Faking hesitance. If she saw through the illusion, then Neji would never mistake this for the correct floor. She averted her gaze before he sensed her. They all had to be aware of the setup, so why put on this show?
"Oh, they're holding back," Hinata warned. Sasuke glanced at her in surprise.
"So that's all an act?" She nodded and took a step away.
"I'm not sure what their aim is, but we should find another way around. The genjutsu won't work if we take a different route." Naruto hurried to dispel the illusion with a hand sign.
"I knew some weird stuff was going on," he lied through his teeth. Sasuke looked thoughtful.
"Hm, the Exam's already begun…" Before she could slip away, one of the Genin in the center noticed them. His bushy eyebrows shot up, and his posture changed from defeated to energized.
"I should have guessed that your team would appear soon!" There went her hopes of escaping an early confrontation.
"Hello, Lee." Any signs of prior injury disappeared. Not even his cheek looked bruised. He really did brace himself with chakra and pretend to fall, then. Based on the speed he just used to cross the hall, Lee could have dodge that straightforward punch. Naruto squinted at him, even after he gave a thumbs up.
"You know this guy?"
"We've met before," she said, wearing a half-forced smile. Honestly, she couldn't be upset with Lee over treating her like a friend. He trained his body hard enough to compete with a Gentle Fist user in hand to hand combat, something that most would consider a losing matchup. She admired that work ethic. It must be painful comparing himself to Neji, but the results spoke for him based on the glimpses she caught of his training. She wished she could copy his level of perseverance at times. "Lee, this is Naruto and Sasuke."
"Excellent! Hoping to give it your all against the very best of our peers?" he asked.
"No, we're going to prove that we're the best," Sasuke cut in, sizing up the older teenager. Lee didn't flinch from the challenge. Instead, he smiled as his fists tightened.
"So confident! I have heard exciting things about you…" Competition only drew Lee in. "And a new rival is always welcome. Perhaps we could fit in a short spar." Hinata bit her lip, picturing Lee's definition of a short spar. Not good.
"You shouldn't hurt each other this close to the exam's start."
"I guess our plan's out the window now, huh?" The girl on Lee's team said as she joined them. Not a scratch on her either. "You shouldn't bother the rookies when we still need to register."
"Ah…You're right, Tenten. I forgot in the heat of the moment."
"That's about what I expected, you're no good at acting." Tenten rested a hand on her hips. "Sensei wanted us to lay low, not show off all our techniques. I hope you didn't scare away that other rookie girl." She took on a friendlier tone with the three of them.
"Sorry about him, he meant no harm. He just got a little carried away." Naruto kicked a pebble across the floor, hands shoved in his pockets.
"Why doesn't anyone wanna fight me?" he whined. Hinata struggled to explain that fighting anyone right now was a terrible idea until Neji cut in.
"Lady Hinata." Her heart jumped. He kept slightly behind his team, though his height let him see past their shoulders. She avoided his eyes and tried focusing on a point beside his head. It failed to help her rattled nerves. "So the rumors were true, you did show up for the Chunin Exams." His lips turned up in a half smile. The only sign that he was aware of how his words dug under her skin. He knew all the cracks in her armor. "I figured you would've quit by now. Did that upgraded mission not scare you away, or was this charade your father's idea?" She remained silent. It took enough concentration to stop her body from shaking, let alone stand her ground. She couldn't run away, not in front of everyone here.
"Hm. Nothing to say, then. What happened to all that strength of yours? I suppose it doesn't exist if you're not in front of the Clan." Her breath hitched and her eyes stung. The rest of the hall faded into the background, replaced by an uncomfortable heat that began smothering her. Somewhere far away, a hand touched her shoulder.
"You don't know anything about me." That sounded like her, despite how detached everything else felt. "I'm here for my own reasons. When we fight, I'll do it on my terms. Not yours." Why did she say it like that? The words were true, but goading him just made things worse. His jaw clenched in response. Neji's glare was as piercing as she last remembered it. Her legs remained stuck in place.
"What an arrogant claim for someone without talent. You can't bluff your way to victory, but if you insist on trying…"
"Neji, stop." The hand on Hinata's shoulder tightened. Her head cleared, and she blinked away the spots in her eyes. She took a full breath as the fight drained out of her. Tenten grabbed Neji by the arm, trying to lead him away, and Lee seemed extremely uncomfortable. "You're not supposed to do this either," she hissed at him. Neji relented with a huff, his mouth a thin line.
"Fine, I'll wait." He turned to an off-guard Sasuke. "You're the Uchiha, right? I'm sure we'll face each other eventually, if you make it through the rest of the competition." The other group left for the third floor, leaving Hinata numb and with awkward questions to answer.
"What the hell was that?" Naruto finally let her shoulder go. She blushed and turned to head back downstairs. He and Sasuke trailed behind.
"It's complicated," she said once they got away from the dispersing crowd. Like that would satisfy them.
"Complicated or not, I want to know the same thing." Sasuke stopped once they reached a more secluded part of the bottom floor. "You don't like each other, I can figure out that much. But why?"
"Yeah, that guy came outta nowhere just to rip into you! But you're related, right?" Sasuke shook his head.
"Not everyone in a large clan is directly related, idiot." No escaping this situation either. She might as well give in now so they didn't miss registration.
"Neji is my older cousin. We were… much closer in the past. Our fathers were twins, actually." That stunned both boys.
"And then something happened." Sasuke had a faraway look in his eyes. "The Hyuga Affair." It was a brief subject during their history lessons. Not many details made it to the public for political reasons. Hinata normally avoided the entire subject like Sasuke dodged the Massacre.
"Years ago, when the Cloud Village signed a formal ceasefire with our village, an incident occured. The Raikage's visiting representative tried to steal our clan's bloodline, but he failed. My father killed him in the act." They didn't need to know how personal that encounter was for her.
"Like…how Kenzou wanted to sell you guys off?" Naruto asked. She nodded.
"Bloodline theft attempts are common between nations that don't have alliances, but the Cloud Village denied his actions. They asked the Hyuga to pay for their high ranking ninja's unjustified death."
"Your father specifically," Sasuke guessed. "A life for a life."
"Either we complied, or we risked pulling the entire village into another war. But delivering our clan leader's body to a foreign power was unthinkable. It couldn't be done." Her mouth felt dry. "So in exchange for upholding Konoha's end of the agreement, my uncle was sacrificed instead. The Byakugan became useless when he died, but since he looked identical to the man they asked for, the Raikage was forced to accept it."
"They killed Neji's father to save yours." It was strange hearing Sasuke say it without any anger. "I can understand why he hates you." Naruto's temper exploded.
"What? But that's not fair! Sure, it's messed up they killed his dad, but she didn't do anything!"
"It's not about fairness, sometimes people just need a target they can blame," he countered.
"Yeah, but"- Naruto lost some steam. He looked pained for a few seconds. Why did this bother him so much? "...It's still not right, y'know?"
"Telling him that won't change his mind," Hinata said. "I can't control how he feels, and I don't want to either."
"Now you're trying to change his perception in a different way. You want his respect, right?" That was close enough to the more embarrassing truth. If she hadn't broken that habit of fidgeting with her fingers, she'd be tempted by it right now.
"I just want him to realize that I'm my own person, not a stand-in for my father." She wanted her brother back, but what if he didn't exist anymore? What would she do then?
"Yeah, you'll show him! I wanna knock Neji down a couple of pegs too." Naruto cracked his knuckles. Sasuke shrugged.
"Sure, why not? He'll be in our way no matter what."
"You don't have to get involved in this, really…" But knowing she had their support did cheer her up.
The Academy's third floor looked clear of any other traps or roadblocks. With fifteen minutes to spare, they entered the real Room 301. Hinata expected a large group, but the sheer amount of people waiting around in a single lecture hall was sobering. Most of the Genin in attendance wore Leaf headbands. The rest of them came from Sand, Grass, Waterfall, and even the far off Rain Villages. An impressive collection of ninja, and as she thought, not a single one looked thrilled watching another set of fresh Genin walk in. Did they take it as an insult?
"Hah, check out what the cat dragged in! Didn't think you'd make the cut." A dog barked in response. Naruto wrinkled his nose at Kiba's greeting.
"Ugh, who let jerky-breath and his puppy sign up?" He still wore the same fur lined jacket and kept Akamaru right under his chin.
"I guess they just let anyone with a form try out these," Sasuke said, fighting back a smile. "No skill required." Hinata shouldn't be surprised. Of course they'd work together if it meant insulting someone else.
"You're making it worse by answering him." Kiba took them in stride.
"Still talking like hotshots, eh? Get ready for a rude wake up call when we knock your team outta the competition!" he said. Shino adjusted his glasses with a finger, face hidden behind the tall collar of his trenchcoat.
"Though your boasting does raise our morale, it's highly unnecessary." Kiba scratched his cheek.
"C'mon, Shino. I'm just messing around! Nothing wrong with hyping ourselves up."
"Oh boy, everyone's in this. What a drag." Shikamaru wandered over with his near permanent expression of boredom. He did have a nice set of silver earrings though, identical to Choji's tiny looped pair. Now that she paid more attention, their entire team wore the same earrings. It must be something coordinated between their three clans. "No wonder it's so loud…"
"Hey guys. Long time no see." Choji raised the hand that wasn't busy holding his chips.
"Is our entire graduating class here?" Hinata asked. She couldn't quite hear Ino or Sakura, but she did spot a pink head of hair not far away. What were the odds?
"Pretty much," Choji said, before his chewing stopped. "Uh, everyone that didn't get failed by their sensei, I think." Shikamaru sighed.
"They had the bright idea to send us all in at once. I bet we're someone's stupid office joke.
"Always so negative, Shikamaru!" Ino appeared behind him. She leaned on his shoulder casually. "We're here because Asuma-sensei thinks we have potential, you know. Even if you're too lazy to use it half the time."
"Most of the time," Choji corrected without missing a beat. Shikamaru rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, whatever." Ino smiled at Hinata's team, a gesture she connected with Ino wanting something. Still an improvement from believing Hinata planned to harm her over petty comments, though.
"Your teacher must be confident in your team too, huh? Not that I doubted you or Sasuke for a second…" Was that meant to be a compliment?
"So this is where the rest of you went." Sakura joined their strange reunion. "Thanks for leaving me behind, Ino-pig."
"Not a problem, Forehead." Their use of nicknames felt less barbed this time, like a private joke between the two girls. Hinata might have asked questions if Sakura's clothes didn't distract her. She changed her look the most during everyone's six months apart.
She still wore a red and white dress and dark shorts, but a thick cloak decorated with pink cherry blossoms rested on her shoulders. It could be secured with a few button fasteners that hid most of her body from view, but the cape opened to reveal the extra holsters and pouches wrapped around Sakura's waist like a makeshift utility belt. The inside of her cape had small pockets sewn on for even more storage. She also tied her long hair back in a neat ponytail using a familiar red ribbon.
But the parts of her outfit that stood out most obviously were the red safety goggles strapped to her forehead and the heavy duty respirator mask that hung from her neck. Someone went through the trouble of spray painting it pink and white to match the rest of her uniform too. Hinata had no idea what to make of it or how everything fit together, but it did look interesting.
"Woah, Sakura. You look…" Naruto couldn't decide on a description, though he sounded impressed. "Cool! I knew I should've kept my goggles." Sakura stared at him like he grew a second head, then relaxed.
"Er…thanks? I think."
"Isn't it amazing? My little Sakura finally came out of her shell!" Ino jumped in. "Not what I'd call "fashionable", but very unique."
"Alright, that's enough from you two," Sakura growled, her face turning red. Kiba patted her on the back.
"Yeah! Besides, it's got nothing to do with fashion. This is all useful stuff," he explained.
"Hey, mind if I join in?" Everyone stopped when an older silver haired boy approached them from the mob of other Genin. His Leaf headband and relaxed demeanor weren't very threatening. He looked like the average ninja from home. He pushed his rounded glasses a few inches up the bridge of his nose. "My name's Kabuto. You're the ones fresh from the Academy, right?"
"...That's right," Sasuke said with a curt nod.
"Well, I've taken this Exam a few times before, and I thought you guys might appreciate some beginner tips. How about it?"
Kabuto, despite this being his seventh try, knew quite a few things about the Chunin Exams. Especially the competition. His deck of cards stored scraps of info on everyone in the room, which disturbed her a little. But he did take four whole years to collect it, so that made sense, right? He must keep an ear to the ground for these things or have a reliable source by now. A part of her wanted nothing to do with them, though. Having an edge over the other participants was great, but what stopped any of them from looking into her for the right price? Sasuke must have felt differently considering how fast he looked into Gaara of the Desert.
The Genin that finished a B-rank mission, but never bled before, according to Kabuto. That had to be a Sand Village rumor they spread as a form of intimidation. It sounded too perfect. Not even a Jonin could accomplish that on every mission.
But what if it wasn't faked? What did that make Gaara, compared to them? Untouchable? Nothing truly rattled Naruto and Sasuke refused to crack under pressure either, but someone needed to think about these things if they planned on surviving. The tree lone Genin from the Sound Village only worsened her nerves when they jumped Kabuto in broad daylight. No one seemed able to decipher the technique they used on him, though it likely involved the metal device on one of their arms. The holes she spotted brought a speaker or amplifier to mind, but those were for instruments, and that right hook barely made noise as it missed Kabuto.
A Leaf ninja in a neatly pressed gray uniform appeared at the very front of the room before anyone else could try their luck at picking a fight. The tall man with two long scars across his face absorbed the scene with sharp eyes, as if daring someone to interrupt him. He wore a black trenchcoat that marked him separate from the fifteen or so other uniformed ninja lined up behind him. He cleared his throat.
"Listen up!" His rough voice brought the whole room to attention. "I've let you cocky, undisciplined Genin mess around for long enough, so the test begins now." He adjusted a pair of black gloves. "I am Special Jonin Ibiki Morino, designated proctor of this exam phase. Until you leave my classroom, you'll pass or fail by my rules alone. Got it?" Silence answered him. Ibiki cracked a smile that only served to make him more intimidating. "Good. First rule: No fighting without my or one of these Chunin proctor's express permission. I don't care who, what, or why." He glared at the Sound ninja. "No exceptions. Don't let me catch you again." The Special Jonin made a signal to the group he arrived with, who all spread around the room and took up different positions. One stayed by the desk with Ibiki.
"Second rule: Line up and turn in your forms to me. In exchange, you'll receive a seat number. Where you sit is non-negotiable. If you don't have a form, stop wasting my time and get out. Once every applicant is seated, I will distribute the written test and a set of pencils." Everyone formed an orderly line that snaked towards the blackboard. Hinata's team ended up a few people behind Shikamaru, though no one dared to make much noise by talking out of turn. The Chunin surrounding them resembled vultures at a soon to be corpse, increasing the room's stress.
"As long as you all respect the rules, we'll get along just fine." The double doors to the outside world locked with a harsh click.
AN: The Chunin Exams have officially started, and things are set to differ from canon events already. Not just character appearances either. The further in this gets, the more fun changes I can hopefully showcase. Please leave a review if you have any questions or just wanna share your thoughts! Keep in mind that I can't answer any anonymous messages.