-Chunin Exam Day-
Pov: Kenzo
"Are you alright...?" Kanata asks as our team walks.
"You look pale... well- more pale" Katsuko adds.
"Naruto is entering the exams..." I mutter out and let a breath escape me.
"Oh- uhhh... sorry?" Katsuko offers three pats on the back.
"He will be fine~ you trained him and he has six months under his belt- remember we were going to do the exams with little time too?" Kanata adds.
"We would have died..." I hold my hair and shake off the bad thoughts.
"Well- maybe, maybe not, can't baby your brother forever you know?" Kanata gives up and pushes me forward.
I take a deep breath as we walk up to the entrance of our first exam building.
"Okay- now that is what we need" Kanata says as I frown and my nose scrunches up.
"Looking angry Kenzo... maybe take a few more moments before entering...?" Katsuko whispers.
"I am calm- lets just focus on winning and not backing down alright? Confidence, smarts and teamwork" I remind them and shrug off the caring hand.
I remove my blindfold and control my stare, my pupils dite and fluctuate a bit as I see again while my eyes slowly focus on what's in front of me.
We go up a set of stairs and find ourselves in front of a door, two guards stand in front of it.
Before they can speak I go towards the next set of stairs and arrive at the third intended floor with my teammates.
"I think we went a floor too high, those guys started talking about the exam" Kanata asks but still follows trusting me.
"Ryū's not said third floor- that means third floor" I huff and they nod their heads.
We enter through another door on the third floor and sit down on one of the empty seats in the corner, I face the wall and frown- tapping my feet.
"About thirty here currently, we will be waiting for about twenty minutes as the people start cmouring in" I say.
"Could have slept in a bit more..." Kanata grumbles.
"Its good we are early... better to sharpen our minds... and be prepared" Katsuko attempts to cheer us up.
...
"Its... sunny?" Kanata starts.
"Don't" I say and shut him down.
"Alright, no small talk then" Kanata awkwardly coughs.
...
Time passes and more people enter, at least more than fifty... after that I stop counting and start to regute my breathing.
I am awoken from my meditation when Naruto's voice enters my ears.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki!! I wont lose to any of you!!!" He yells out and I sigh.
...
*Tap* *woosh*
I hear someone rush towards him...? A threat- many would be eager to make a stunt before the exams and my idiotic brother just painted a target.
"Sit. Down!" I stand up and stare through the crowd at the ninja... sound? Not a vilge I know.
Many caught in my gaze panic like deer caught in headlights- grabbing weapons or preparing to retreat, the sound ninja stops running and looks around nervously, unsure of what to do under my gaze.
I harden it only a little and I hear a few yelps from the crowd as he steps back with clear understanding of my message.
'Try it and I will kill you'
"Find a spot to sit and await further instructions- do not cause unnecessary commotions before the exams" I command and sit back down.
...
Everyone goes silent and barely anyone even whispers... those whispering being Naruto, Ino and Kiba discussing with their teams.
Seems they know me well enough to not feel as threatened.
A few moments pass and the instructors finally flicker into the building, smoke covers them as they appear and my boss- Ibiki who is in charge of the first section begins to describe our goal.
To summarise: A written exam with multiple ninja watching our every move, the tenth question will be revealed ter in the exam.
Each person has ten points thirty points to a team, every question counts as one point and failing one means losing a point.
Keep as many points as possible to pass- cheaters have a deducted two points per offence caught... which tells me this is a cheating test.
I quietly inform the team about my views and give them some passing advice as the instructor finishes expining.
"The exam sts for one hour- find your seats" Ibiki tells us and everyone finds a pce to sit down... we are guided by the instructors to sit away from our teammates.
I am sat next to Sasuke Uchiha and a Sand Genin- I look to the roof to avoid startling anyone and notice kunai fly to it... is that mirrors? Impressive... if I wasn't watching the roof I wouldn't have noticed... so quiet and nonchantly putting up something so ridiculous.
I listen and understand that Tenten did it- right, she always had some mean aim in the academy.
"BEGIN!" Ibiki chants and our test starts.
I look down at the test and scan the paper... but my ears listen to the man in front of Sasuke- he starts writing quickly and I copy his notes... lucky to have learned how to listen well enough to understand what's being written.
Sasuke seems to be copying the same man and time passes as more and more Genin are told to leave.
The room is filled with scrawling noises and sighs of defeated teams, every now and then yelling from the expelled teams.
I am fine in this test- especially with the dummy test takers giving me the answers from all around the room.
Kanata and Katsuko... Naruto as well- I wonder how well they will do in this exam?
---
Pov: Kanata
This is absolutely unsolvable- what am I supposed to do with question three??? I am only on question three and it has been twenty minutes!
Okay- I scan the rest of the paper and manage to complete question seven... but that's all- I need a pn.
Kenzo said cheating... but how do I cheat without being caught?
Should I initiate a secret discussion with Kenzo? We have many tapping codes in that we learned through T&I...? But these guys would recognize it wouldn't they? That guy is literally the big boss.
Uhhhh...
I gnce around me and see who I can copy as to help find out how to copy... a pink haired girl in front of me- she just fell asleep... oh- no she is back up again.
Anyway, she is good enough right? Seems to have more answers than me at least.
I take my time to slowly but surely form hand signs in the most natural way I can... I exhale a small cold breath and aim it towards her legs.
The chilly air makes her move and I can get better visuals on her paper.
I study it as best as I can.
---
Pov: Katsuko
Kenzo would kill me if I forfeited here... he wants to keep an eye on Naruto and I can't just give up on team.
...
Then again... I am not getting this promotion so it doesn't change much- I look all around and back to my paper.
It sucks being at the front of the cssroom, no easy way to cheat and Ibiki-san right in front of me.
Good thing I study well and focus on my mainly writing based job, I can keep five points so hopefully the other two- Kanata mostly, doesn't get caught cheating or fail to answer the questions.
...
---
Pov: Naruto
I have no idea what any of this means.
...
Oh! Number seven is about genjutsu!
*Tap* *Tap*
I tap my foot as I slowly start to panic, maybe Kenzo was right and I should have been better studied- that's only one question!
Better hope and pray that Sakura and Sasuke keep our score up.
---
Pov: Kurenai
"On another note- where is Ryū? Shouldn't he be here with us for your first team?" Asuma asks.
"He left a note for me- saying that he can't make it and that the team is more than fine" I sigh and shake my head.
"Didn't know there was someone more zy than Kakashi" Asuma chuckles as Kakashi rolls his eye.
"Whatever he does its best not to poke around him, he is doing something more important than I thought" Kakashi yawns as he zily stretches on the couch.
"How so?" I ask.
"Don't ask- its a whole load of [Redacted]" Kakashi waves his hand around.
"Right... so you are worrying about two teams huh?" Asuma asks and I smile.
"Yeah, Team eight will be my biggest worry, but this should be fine experience for the team... team six will have greater chances of winning I believe- the snippets of Kenzo's training that I saw showed me that his rumours won't die down" I sigh and remember him showing me his shifting progress...
"Good enough then" Asuma comments and puts out his cigarette.
---
Pov: Kenzo
"I can't do it! Sorry!" A genin stands up and leaves.
Why? Ibiki just told everyone about the tenth question... and that one will be a forever genin if they fail this test.
Lies of course but no one could know that if they didn't have insider knowledge on internal affairs like I do.
Being Ryū once again shows its perks.
Many people get up to leave and my face un scrunches when I hear Naruto raising his hand...?
Great! Yes this is a good idea!
*Sm!*
"Don't underestimate me! I will not run! Even if I am a genin forever that cannot stop me from becoming Hokage!!" Naruto shouts confidently and I pinch my noses bridge in annoyance.
Not great, terrible idea Naruto.
...
"I see... then congratutions to all of you who remain, you have passed the first test" Ibiki tells the cssroom after a moment of silence.
"What?" Someone mutters as more questions arise.
"To the 81 of you who passed this test of courage and information gathering- the idea behind this test was about weeding out the cowardly and finding the few who would be capable enough as a Chunin. Those who wouldn't back down to a challenge and be capable enough to keep information as well as steal it" He shows his tortured head and everyone goes silent as he continues.
"These scars could happen to anyone of you- what happens after the torture and what you did to survive it is what really matters, you have proved yourself worthy enough to face the dangers of the second test. I wish you luck" The mood in the room brightens as he pces he bandana back onto his head and cracks a smile at everyone.
...
*CRASH!* *WOOSH!*
"I AM THE EXAMINER OF THE SECOND TEST! THERE IS NO TIME! FOLLOW ME!!" Anko the person Ibiki mentioned to Ryū during the chunin exam meeting jumps through the gss window and erects a banner in a matter of seconds while posing beautifully.
...
"Wait... 81?? You left 27 teams!? What were you doing Ibiki?" Anko compins and the two start to discuss.
After she compins she turns to us again.
"Alright- get up and follow!" She says and jumps out the window again.
Many people jump after her and some rush down the stairs... I tie my blindfold back on as we walk through Konoha and run out to the forest of death.
Always this forest... perfect.
As we arrive at the chain-link fence covered in seals Anko turns around and stops the group.
"Welcome to the second exam- the forest of Death!" She tells us excitedly.
---
Pov: Ibiki Morino
"Ah- back in time for the start of second exam, how did they do in the first?" The Hokage asks me as I enter the surveilnce room with cameras pointed all around the forest and multiple T&I and Anbu members at work.
"They were well behaved the entire time which was surprising- many passed and around half got through, a good batch this year" I smile remembering the demon kid.
"Good, I have high hopes for the teams entering this year- Konoha seems to have the most participants... maybe the third exam will be between Konoha ninja and just one other vilge this time?" The Hokage brushes his facial hair as he talks.
"With all the cn kids in teams it wouldn't be surprising for that turnout" Shikaku adds as he watches some screens.
"We do have the Kazekage's kids, they seem a cut above the rest" I remind them.
"Any bets on winners?" Inoichi asks the room.
"Neji Hyuga is my bet- from what I heard he is strong enough and willing to make the tough choices as a leader, if I can vote for my own son than my vote is his" Shikaku procims.
"Neji or Shikamaru huh? Both intelligent and capable enough to be Chunin... my vote is either on Shikamaru or Sasuke Uchiha" Inoichi nods his head.
"Not your own daughter? Greatest dad of the year here" Shikaku teases Inoichi and he scratches his neck awkwardly.
"That Naruto kid has spirit... might be a contender for next years exams if he studies a bit more- other than that it will be between the sand siblings and Sasuke Uchiha or the Hyuga" I speak up.
"Fair enough, what about you Hokage-sama?" Shikaku asks.
"Many great talents this year... but you are all forgetting about Kenzo who has proven to be Chunin level many times over in his work and strength" The Hokage reminds us and I frown a little.
That kid makes me feel uneasy... and I am sick of hearing about his reputation everywhere I go... doesn't help that Ryū the most terrifying person to have in his position, a man no one knows is in charge of Kenzo.
"Kenzo...? I must admit his mission records have been quite good, I suppose his bad reputation drags his name down a bit... Hehehe- I wonder how the crowd would react if he won?" Shikaku chuckles imagining the scenario.
"He is doing great work- a shame his kekkao genkai makes everyone feel uneasy around him" I add and sigh, he does most the work within his sub department and I can see him rising to greater heights.
"Change my bet to Kenzo then- I won't lose much money if the Hokage himself is positive of his chances" I decre and Shikaku chuckles some more as he begins collecting money from every person in the room who decided to hold bets.
"These are for the whole exam?" Inoichi asks as he drops some money into the box.
"Yeah- I will keep it safe for a month don't worry" Shikaku says as they go back to work.
The genin are about to enter.
---
Pov: Kenzo
"Should we sprint to the end and get first pce or do you wish to take it slow?" I ask my team members as we are let into the forest.
"No sense in waiting... unless you want to watch over your brother?" Kanata tells me and I grit my teeth again.
"Whether they get to the tower or not... I cannot help them- not in an official test, he would be angry with me if I babied him here" I let out an angry sigh.
...
"Do you need time to cool off? You haven't been in a good mood all day" Katsuko asks.
"No- lets cool off at the tower and wait, the nearest non-Konoha team is that way, with the point they entered... we could ambush them if we run north" I point at certain directions.
"How do you know that?" Kanata asks.
"If these points are evenly spread for fairness... I can figure out where someone is entering and considering the river flows that way we can assume they will follow it to the tower themselves- most the genin are Konoha, Sound, Sand and there is one grass team that went by us as we approached our gate so its probably them" I tell them and they nod.
We make our way through the forest, my guidance helps avoid the most deadliest of creatures and speeds up our pace considerably.
---
Pov: Kanata
"AAHHHHHH!!!" I hear screams in the forest as Kenzo guides us with surprising ease... it has barely been an hour and already its been too much.
...?
We have been trying to find the grass ninja that Kenzo anticipated but it seems that there is no sign of them ever entering the forest.
I double check on my Earth Scroll just in case and take a breath of air as Kenzo suddenly stops and enters into a small clearing.
..?
He transforms his hand into a cw and starts digging until he finds a corpse... the grass ninja? How did they die this early?
Two bodies- is this a trap? Where is the third ninja?
"Katsuko- figure out the cause of death, Kanata protect her while I scout the area and try to find the st one" Kenzo tells us and we begin our work, I dig up the second corpse as Katsuko digs her fingers into the flesh of these ninja, she taps the neck of her one and furrows her brows.
"Snake bite- very, very deadly poison, the person was paralyzed instantly and died shortly after, face is frozen in fear..." She estimates and goes over to the next corpse.
"Snake bite on the leg rather than the neck... same symptoms- the snake is unidentifiable" She tells me and Kenzo arrives back again.
"No luck" He reports.
"Large Snake bites, both poisoned" Katsuko recaps.
"What snake?" He bends down to the corpse.
"Can't tell" She shrugs.
"Big teeth, something the size of an arm at least, maybe as thick as one too" I add.
"Thats too small for this part of the forest, they would be easy pickings for snake predators here... its a summon- maybe the third teammate as they were attacked in fear without having taken any offensive actions... either that or a terribly stealthy ninja, both dangerous to us" Kenzo expins and gets up to look around.
...
"No discernible trail" Katsuko says as she studies the ground.
"What about the group on the other gate next to us?" I ask.
"Probably Konoha ninja as most teams participating are... maybe it would be wise to check on them as we head south east to find another group we can actually fight without getting negative reputation" Kenzo tells me and I nod as we take off towards the south eastern direction.
...
---
Pov: Naruto
*CRASH!*
I feel my body tumble and bruise as I descend into the snakes gut- not good... how do I solve this problem?
I grab a kunai and pierce the wall of flesh to stop my descent as the creature rushes through the forest.
...!
Got it! I fumble around in my pockets and pull out a special smoke pellet- the ingredients can make anyone vomit by smelling it- easily helps me here.
I chuck it upwards to hit the tongue and grab another kunai to start climbing the throat... moments ter I am sent hurtling out of the snake and onto the forest floor.
*Spt!* *Squish*
My vomit covered body smells horrible and I flick the goop around before looking up at the distressed snake... that is one big snake indeed.
I need to find Sasuke and Sakura again- I pull out a custom made and very expensive explosive paint seal and attach it to a kunai- I throw it at the distressed creature right between the eyes before dashing up a tree and flickering through the forest.
*Bang!*
Orange paint drips down the face and into the eyes of the snake, both sight and smell disturbed I can easily rush towards my team.
*Stomp!*
I nd on a tree branch and look towards my team trembling before one enemy... they look cautious and afraid- not a good sign.
"Can't remember the code but it had something about singing?!" I call out as I flicker down towards them and throw two normal smoke pellets and grabbing them.
*Flicker*
I flicker upwards and they drop from my grasp to run from the grass ninja themselves.
"He will catch up- intense genjutsu and summoned a big snake" Sasuke tells me and I nod.
"Maybe we should forfeit this scroll... he is not on the genin level..." Sakura offers and to my surprise Sasuke quiets down to think about it.
"Are you serious!? We aren't giving up that easily-" *BASH!!* *CRASH!!!!*
My protest is cut short as a tail flings into me and sends me flying into a tree... I bck out for a moment but wake up in time to jump out of the way of a giant snake smming into the tree.
*SLAM!*
I jump over it and observe as the grass ninja walks slowly towards Sasuke who uses ninja wire and fire jutsu to keep him at bay.
Sakura attempts a genjutsu but seems to have failed... she then backs away and aids Sasuke by throwing kunai at the undisturbed genin.
"KNOCK IT OFF!!" I Yell and punch down on the snake... rage entering my eyes as Sasuke pulls out the scroll.
*Flicker!*
I rush from my tree and sm in-between the snake man and Sasuke- catching the scroll and throwing a stink pellet at the snake guy before storing the scroll and jumping towards Sasuke.
"What are you doing!!" I shake Sasuke and push him off the tree before following him.
Our team nds on the dirt and dashes away again- Sasuke and Sakura looking at me trying to find words as my body becomes a little more fox like.
"Naruto- don't be unreasonable- he is holding back and will kill us!" Sakura says with fear.
"Listen to her Naruto, we can get two more scrolls ter idiot" Sasuke adds.
"Listen to your squabbling... you keep trying to hand me a scroll... but I don't want that" The snake man appears suddenly in front of us, bursting through the ground and smiling evilly as he walks at us nonchantly.
We stop fully and back up... what to do...?
...
Moments pass as the snake dude takes his time to approach and bare his fangs... but he suddenly stops with a jolt and turns his head backwards.
"Oh...? I was going to save Kenzo for ter... but now will do just fine" The Snake says and unches at me- *Sm!* palm to my gut he sends me flying... and my... my conscience... my conscience starts to...
...
---
Pov: Sasuke
I jump back as the grass ninja snaps his neck and elongates it suddenly at my own neck- I barely dodge and- *Bite!* the genjutsu is disrupted as I come back to reality... I feel something burn onto my neck and I grab at it in pain.
I wince and fall to the ground as my body burns up.
No...
---
Pov: Sakura
I watch in horror as both Naruto and Sasuke are taken down with ease, I gulp as the man shrinks his neck to normal size and I raise my kunai nervously.
"Sleep- I have guests to attend to" The man says and I feel a wave of chakra assault my own, a genjutsu knocks me out cold.
Thanks for reading :)
