Author's Note: Hey everyone! Heres the next chapter! Enjoy!

Bijū talk or think/Jutsu

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Communication"

Flashbacks – Everything is slanted in flashbacks and Raiura's dreams

Summons Speaking (When they are not in the summoning world)

Chapter 17

Chūnin Exams: Part 3

Raiura blinks as she sees Anko appear right next to the banner.

"Alright Kiddes, I'm your next chūnin proctor, Matarashi Anko. I honesty don't care what you were told by your older ninja, but were doing this exam differently this year," Anko pointed at the genin with one hand and the other on her hip.

"Anko," Ibiki called out, "Your early."

"So what," Anko shot back, "Your finished, so its my turn," she turned back to the genin, "I want to see you all back here in an hour. Now scram."

As most of the genin left, Raiura walked up to Anko and yelped and Anko gave a bone crushing hug, "A-anko-nee... to-too tight."

Anko let Raiura go a patted the young blonde shoulder, "It's good to see you again. Tell me, did some one try to bully you? Do I have to bash their skull in? Was it one of these chūnin idiots?" Anko questioned as she crackled her knuckles, making some of the chūnins back away.

"Nothing like that. It this Kabuto guy, I think Yakashi is his last name, I've got a bad feeling about him, you might want to look into him. He also smells like snakes," Raiura said as she turned around to join her team, "See you later Anko," she waved back as she ran.

"Thanks kid," Anko grinned.

"So that's her huh," Ibiki said with crossed arms, "How come you never let me meet her?"

Anko stared at Ibiki dumbfounded, "You would've scared her with how scary you look to most kids."

As they walked down the hallways of the academy, Sakura looked at Raiura, confused, "So, how do you know that crazy lady."

"Anko isn't really crazy lady, she... not the worse thing ever, she's just got her perks, ya'know," Raiura said.

Sasuke huffed, "Okay, so what should be doing during this hour."

"Pack some supplies, eat, others," Raiura counted off her fingers.

"It was rhetorical question," Sasuke muttered with crossed arms.

After the hour passed, the genin returned to the room, two teams didn't make it in time so they were disqualified. Anko was there, this time with Shisui on her left, she explained that each team would be put in a room and would have to solve a puzzle and get to the location to where they had to go next, of course they had to do this before the timer rang. They would have to get passed the location and to the stadium within an hour. After telling all of this, they assigned each genin team a room before kicking them out and sending them to said room.

Raiura's team had gotten room 212, after arriving they waited until a loud blaring noise came, signaling that the test has began. The puzzle was a riddle about the location.

The blaring noise echoed through the academy, signaling the start of the second phase of the Chūnin Exams. Team 7 huddled around a scroll, their brows furrowed in concentration as they deciphered the riddle that would lead them to their next challenge. Sakura read the inscription aloud, her voice laced with a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

"Listen to the whispers of the wind, Where trials begin and legends are pinned. Two paths await, a choice to make, Before the sun begins to break. Seek the number that holds the key, To where your destiny you'll see."

Sakura looked up, her emerald eyes scanning her teammates. "Okay, 'whispers of the wind'… that could mean anything. And 'trials begin and legends are pinned'… that sounds like the Chūnin Exams themselves."

Sasuke nodded, his gaze fixed on the scroll. "Two paths await'… that's interesting. Maybe there are two different routes we can take to the next location?"

Raiura tapped her finger against the scroll, her cerulean eyes narrowed in thought. "Or maybe it's metaphorical. Two different approaches to the exams, two different strategies we could employ."

Sakura frowned. "But what about the 'number that holds the key'? What does that mean?"

Sasuke considered this, his brow furrowed. "Numbers… we've been given numbers for the exam, haven't we? Maybe it refers to one of those?"

Raiura shook her head slightly. "I don't think so. The riddle talks about 'destiny' and 'trials.' It feels more… significant than just a random number."

Sakura reread the riddle, her lips moving silently as she processed the words. "'Before the sun begins to break'… that implies we need to hurry."

Sasuke glanced at the window. "It's still early afternoon. We have time, but we shouldn't waste it."

Raiura paced back and forth, her mind racing. "Think about the places we associate with trials, with challenges… where we've faced our fears and pushed our limits."

Sakura looked thoughtful. "The training grounds… we've spent countless hours there, honing our skills."

Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. "But which one? We've only ever trained at Training Ground 7."

Raiura stopped pacing and looked at her teammates. "Exactly. We've only ever been to Training Ground 7. But the riddle mentions two paths and a number. What if the number refers to a training ground?"

Sakura's eyes widened. "You mean… Training Ground Two?"

Sasuke nodded slowly. "It makes sense. We've never been there, so it would be a new trial, a new challenge. And the 'two paths' could refer to the different ways to get there."

Raiura grinned. "That's it! And the 'number' could be the training ground number itself! Training Ground Two!"

Sakura looked relieved. "You're right! It all fits! Let's go!"

Sasuke, a flicker of worry crossing his features, looked at Raiura. "Are you sure you're up for this? You've been working on that Hiraishin technique, and you've been exhausted." He was worried she would overexert herself. He wanted to be friends with her again and show her he cared.

Raiura smiled reassuringly. "I'm fine, Sasuke-kun. I'm ready for whatever this exam throws at us. Besides, we're a team. We'll face it together."

They made their way through the winding paths, the riddle's clues finally leading them to the edge of a familiar, yet strangely different training ground. It wasn't Training Ground 7, their usual haunt. This was Training Ground 2, a place they'd only heard whispers of. As they emerged from the dense foliage, they spotted a figure perched high in a tree on the opposite side of the training area. It was Raidou, his usual stoic expression softened slightly by a small smile. A peculiar object dangled from his hand – a metal keychain, glinting in the afternoon sun.

"Hello, Team 7," Raidou called down, his voice carrying across the training ground. He held up the keychain, dangling it for emphasis. "This is your access pass. You need to come and get it from me."

Sakura frowned, her gaze sweeping across the seemingly empty ground between them and Raidou. "Why doesn't he just throw it? It's not like we can't reach him."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his senses on high alert. Something felt off. "Don't be so sure, Sakura. Look closer."

Raiura, ever cautious, had already activated her chakra sensing. What she felt made her breath catch. The ground between them and Raidou was a minefield of chakra signatures – the telltale signs of hidden traps. "Sasuke's right," she said, her voice low. "This isn't as simple as it looks. The ground is covered in traps."

To demonstrate her point, Raiura flicked her wrist, sending a kunai spinning towards a seemingly innocuous patch of earth. The kunai hadn't even traveled halfway before a metallic snap echoed through the training ground. A large, jagged bear trap had sprung from the ground, its metal jaws clamping shut on the kunai with brutal force.

Sakura gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the scene. "Traps? Everywhere?"

Sasuke scanned the ground, trying to discern the patterns of the hidden dangers. "They're well concealed. We'll have to be extremely careful if we want to get to Raidou."

Raiura, her mind already formulating a plan, looked at her teammates. "We need to find a way through this without triggering any more traps. Sakura, can you use your medical ninjutsu to sense the subtle shifts in chakra flow that might indicate where the traps are hidden?"

Sakura nodded, her initial apprehension replaced by a focused determination. "I can try," she said, closing her eyes and concentrating her chakra.

Sasuke, ever the strategist, looked at Raiura. "What about you? Can your chakra sensing pinpoint the exact locations of the traps?"

Raiura nodded. "I can, but it's not just the traps I'm worried about. I sense something else… something… unsettling." She couldn't quite place it, but a prickling sensation at the back of her neck told her that there was more to this challenge than met the eye. "We need to be prepared for anything."

Sakura, despite her limited medical ninjutsu training, did her best to focus, trying to discern the subtle shifts in chakra that might betray a trap's location. "I… I think there's something to the left, a little ahead," she stammered, pointing hesitantly. "But it's faint, I'm not sure."

Sasuke, his Sharingan activated, scanned the ground intently. "She's right," he confirmed, his brow furrowed. "There's a tripwire there, barely visible to the naked eye."

Raiura, her senses already on high alert, nodded. "Good eye, you two. Sakura, trust your instincts. Even small hints can be helpful. Sasuke, keep a lookout for any other traps we might miss."

With Sakura and Sasuke providing what assistance they could, Raiura took the lead. Her chakra sensing, almost as refined as the legendary Nidaime Hokage's, painted a vivid picture in her mind of the treacherous landscape before them. She could feel the subtle pulses of chakra emanating from each trap, their locations as clear to her as if they were marked on a map.

"Follow my lead," she instructed, her voice calm and confident. She moved with a fluid grace, weaving a path through the minefield with an almost preternatural awareness. She stepped lightly, her feet barely disturbing the loose earth, avoiding pressure plates and tripwires with an uncanny precision.

"There's a cluster of traps ahead," she warned, pausing briefly. "Pressure plates and some kind of… explosive tags, I think. We'll need to go around them." She indicated a narrow path that snaked through the traps, a route that would require them to move single file.

Sasuke, ever the pragmatist, nodded. "It's the safest way. Let's go."

They proceeded cautiously, Raiura leading the way with an unwavering confidence. She seemed to anticipate every trap, her movements so precise that it was as if she were dancing through the deadly maze. Sakura, though nervous, tried her best to keep up, trusting in Raiura's abilities. Sasuke, meanwhile, kept a sharp eye on their surroundings, his Sharingan helping to spot any traps that Raiura's senses might have missed.

With a final, almost casual flick of her wrist, Raiura deactivated a particularly nasty-looking tripwire that snaked across her path. She landed gracefully at the base of the tree where Raidou sat perched, a small smile playing on her lips. "Here I am," she announced, her voice light and teasing.

Raidou chuckled, a hint of grudging admiration in his eyes. He'd met Raiura once before, a brief encounter orchestrated by Kakashi, who had regaled him with stories of the girl's prodigious talent and almost unnerving perceptiveness. Raidou had sensed something special about her too, a raw power barely contained beneath a calm and collected exterior. He held out the keychain, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "Impressive, Uzumaki Raiura," he said, his voice laced with amusement. "You've certainly made this interesting."

As Raiura reached for the keychain, Raidou let out a dramatic groan, feigning exhaustion. "You've worn me out just watching you," he said, exaggerating a stretch. He knew she could see right through his act, but he couldn't resist teasing her a little.

Raiura rolled her eyes playfully, taking the keychain from his outstretched hand. "Oh, I'm sure you'll recover," she retorted, her tone light. She clipped the keychain to her belt, her movements efficient and purposeful. "How much time do we have left?" she asked, her gaze turning serious.

Raidou glanced at a small, almost imperceptible timer attached to his wrist. "Twenty-five minutes," he announced, his voice losing its playful edge. "You need to get to the stadium in the center of the village. Good luck." He knew that was a tight time frame, even for someone as skilled as Raiura. He'd built in a buffer, of course, but he wanted to see how they handled the pressure. He had a feeling that Raiura, with her sharp mind and almost preternatural instincts, would figure it out. He just hoped her teammates could keep up.

Raiura, Sasuke, and Sakura burst through the stadium doors, their breaths coming in ragged gasps. They'd sprinted through the village, navigating the crowded streets with a single-minded focus. Every second counted.

The stadium was a cacophony of noise. Genin from all the participating villages milled about, their faces a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and exhaustion.

Raiura scanned the crowd, quickly locating the other members of their graduating class. They were clustered together near the center of the arena, a small island of familiar faces in the sea of unfamiliar ones.

Mikoto, ever vigilant, padded silently beside Raiura, her keen senses taking in the sights and smells of the bustling stadium. Taka, perched on Raiura's shoulder, surveyed the scene with his sharp, predatory eyes.

As they made their way towards their classmates, Raiura noticed a familiar figure detach from the group and walk towards them. It was Gaara, his crimson hair a stark contrast against the muted colors of the crowd.

He approached Raiura, his expression unreadable. "You made it," he said, his voice low.

Raiura nodded, a small smile gracing her lips. "Just barely," she admitted. "That trap course was… interesting."

Gaara's gaze flickered to Sasuke and Sakura, then back to Raiura. "I was worried," he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

Raiura's smile softened. "We're fine, Gaara," she reassured him. "We're a team. We look out for each other."

A brief silence fell between them, the noise of the stadium fading into the background. Gaara's eyes met Raiura's, a flicker of something akin to gratitude passing between them.

"Thank you," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Raiura tilted her head slightly, her cerulean eyes meeting his. "For what?" she asked softly.

Gaara hesitated for a moment, then spoke, his voice gaining strength. "For… for being my friend."

Raiura's smile widened, a genuine warmth spreading through her chest. "You're welcome, Gaara," she said. "You're my friend too."

The conversation was interrupted by a loud announcement echoing through the stadium. The proctor's voice boomed, calling the remaining genin to the center of the arena.

Raiura glanced at her teammates, a look of determination in her eyes. "It's time," she said, her voice firm.

Sasuke nodded, his expression serious. "Let's do this," he said, his voice laced with confidence.

Sakura, her initial apprehension replaced by a quiet resolve, nodded as well. "Together," she affirmed.

Team 7 joined the throng of genin moving towards the center of the arena, their steps purposeful and their spirits high. They had faced the first challenge, and they had overcome it.

They stood shoulder to shoulder, ready to face whatever the Chūnin Exams threw at them next. They were a team, bound together by shared experiences and a common goal.

And they knew, deep down, that they would face whatever came their way together. They were Team 7, and they were ready.

The proctor's voice echoed through the stadium, outlining the rules of the next phase. A hush fell over the crowd as the genin listened intently, their minds racing with strategies and plans.

Raiura, her senses on high alert, took in the atmosphere of the arena. She could feel the tension in the air, the undercurrent of competition and ambition that permeated the crowd.

She glanced at her teammates, a silent message passing between them. They were ready. They were prepared. They were Team 7.

And they would face whatever challenges lay ahead, together. Their bond, forged in the fires of training and tempered by the trials they had faced, would see them through.

They were more than just teammates. They were friends. They were family. And they would fight, not just for themselves, but for each other.

The Chūnin Exams had begun, and Team 7 was ready to make their mark. They were ready to show the world what they were capable of.

They were ready to become chūnin. And they were ready to do it together.

End of Chapter 17

Author's Note: Hoped you enjoyed! See you in the next one!

Review and tell me some positive thoughts.

Bye for now loves,

Slivia