Chapter 16

Anko walked toward the meeting hall in the Hokage tower. She had seen the hawk that was the signal for the Chuunin exam. It was bit early for the exams but who was she to complain. She was examiner of the second part of the test which was held in training area 44, the forest of death. She loved the fact of scaring those wet behind the ear genins. As she walked toward the meeting, she saw Iruka. She decided to greet him like always; a quick grope.

“Hi Iruka-kun, thinking about me?” she asked in a seductive voice

“A-Anko-san, how are you today?” he said with clear nervousness

“Now how many times have I told you to call me Anko-chan? Don’t you like me?” She moved closer to him and pressed the young chuunin against the wall. Iruka was sweating greatly and Anko just licked her lips.

“That’s quite enough, Anko. Stop teasing Iruka and let this meeting begin.” Sarutobi said. Anko pouted while Iruka gave a sigh of relief then he was nervous again when she groped him again and muttered the word ‘later’ in his ear. Some ninjas chuckled at the chuunin while some cursed him for being such a lucky bastard. After a few seconds, everyone turned toward the Hokage.

“As you know, the Chuunin exams will be held here this year. All ready there are ninjas for other nations arriving for the exam. In one week the Chuunin exam will begin, so I ask is there anyone of you who wish to nominate your genin for this exam.” Sarutobi asked. Anko was not really paying attention. She was thinking off ideas to scare the genins. Her thoughts were cut off when she heard these words.

“I, Hatake Kakashi, nominate Uchiha Sasuke, Hanrou Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto to take the Chuunin exam.” He said. Anko’s blood went cold. The Chuunin exams allowed killing and while Naruto had assisted in a killing, he had not spilled blood himself. She snapped back to attention as Kakashi glared at Iruka and talked down to him. Anko stepped in front of Iruka and glared back at Kakashi.

“He has a reason to be worried especially when it comes to your team Hatake. The fact that you’ve turned your attention to the Uchiha; you’ve neglected your other two students.” Anko informed. Every one now had their attention toward Kakashi. The one-eyed jounin sighed and scratched his head.

“Look, Sasuke had just awakened his Sharingan and I’m the only one who can teach him about. The other two will be fine. I thought you would have more faith in Naruto since you have trained him?” Kakashi asked. Anko growled at the jounin and looked ready to reply but Sarutobi stepped in.

“That’s enough. Iruka, it is their decision on if they believe that their teams are ready. Anko, how Kakashi trains his students is up to him.”

“Yes, sir.” The two said. Sarutobi dismissed the meeting and every one left.

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Sakura sighed for the third time and curse her sensei for his lateness. The cause of her stress was her two teammates. The two were at it again with their glaring at each other. She could not berate Naruto for his glare or his words to her crush. The techniques he knew were strong but Naruto had earned those by himself. Naruto had even given him a scroll for a Katon technique back in the land of wave. There was one time that Sakura convinced Naruto to show Sasuke his Suiton technique. Naruto’s only request was that he did not use the Sharingan. Sasuke scoffed at the idea and ordered him to show him the seals. It just went down hill from there. Suddenly Kakashi appeared on the bridge.

“Yo!” he said with an unreadable expression

“YOU’RE LATE!!!” exclaimed Sakura

“Sorry, I was lost on the road of life.”

“Road of life, my ass.” mumbled Naruto

“Anyway, here you guys go.” Kakashi handed his team three forms.

“What is this sensei?” Sakura asked

“And why did it take two freaking’ hours for you to give it to us?” Naruto snapped

“These are forms for the Chuunin exams. Sign them and bring them with you to the academy to take the exam.” Kakashi explained. Kakashi looked at his team for their reactions. Sasuke looked very interested which was what he knew what would happen. He looked at Sakura and saw a mixed of fear and doubt which wasn’t surprising. Naruto reaction was the one he confused about. He looked at him like he was losing his mind. “Is there something wrong, Naruto?”

“Something wrong? Are you seriously mental? You honestly think that we’re ready for the next level?” Naruto asked

“That’s surprising coming from you. I thought you jump at a chance like this considering you know who.” Naruto glared at his sensei and released a little killer intent.

“Watch what you say about my onee-chan teme. Just because you may be an authority here don’t mean squat to me. The fact of the matter is you haven’t prepared us for such an exam. The Chuunin exams aren’t like the Genin exams. There’s killing in these exams.”

“Killing? Is there really killing?” Sakura asked. Kakashi looked like he was about to answer but…

“Well, you have two weeks to decide before the exams begin. Go to the third floor to room 301. Later.” And Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke.

“Why that no good…” Naruto growled

“Naruto, is there really killing in this exam?” Sakura asked

“Yeah. Iruka-sensei talked about his first Chuunin exam once. That’s when he took his first life.”

“Don’t tell me that you’re scared dobe?” Sasuke taunted. Naruto was in his face instantly and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.

“Listen, you little brat, your attitude is starting to tick me off. I don’t care if you are an Uchiha, you slip up even once in this exam and it’s your life. How are you going to complete your goal then?” Naruto snapped. Sasuke growled and pushed Naruto off him. He turned and stalked off. Naruto mumbled about stupid ‘emos’ and ‘one eyed jerks’.

“Naruto,” Sakura said

“Look Sakura, I ain’t in the mood for one of your ‘leave Sasuke alone’ rants.” Naruto said

“No, it’s just that, do you think that I should…”

“I can’t make that decision for you.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“I’m going to think about. If I decide to take the exam, then I’m going to train hard. If you want, you can train with me. I was going to find Hinata and lazy bones and train with them but they may train with their teams instead.” He suggested

“Are you sure that I wouldn’t get in the way?” she asked

“Maybe but I’ve trained with Shikamaru. Besides, the Cyclops isn’t going to help unless we happen to have red eyes with tomes.”

“You know, you should stop that. I really think Kakashi is getting fed up with you insulting him.”

“Whatever. Later Sakura and remember to think about it.” Naruto said and left Sakura. It would be a few minutes before Sakura left too.

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Two weeks had passed and team 7 had stood outside of the academy. Sasuke looked at his team and wondered what they had been up to. He had spied on them training together at one time. He was really there to see if Naruto would accidentally do any new jutsu but the dobe just seem to know that he was there. He noticed that Naruto’s trench coat was a bit longer in length and Sakura had her hair tied in a bun. Both seemed to be sporting some under clothes that seamed to protect them. All and all, they looked ready to fight several ninjas.

“So you guys ready for this?” Naruto asked

“I’m ready.” Sakura said

“I was born ready.” Sasuke boasted. Naruto just snorted and walked into the building. Sasuke soon followed with Sakura right behind them. As they walked through the halls of the academy, they noticed many ninjas in the building. Sakura realized that Naruto was paying special attention to each and every one of them. She sighed at bopped him.

“What was that for?” he asked

“You’re not going to start a fight before the exams.” She ordered

“Oh, and you don’t want to find that rain-nin f…” Naruto was cut off by another bop.

“Watch your language. You’re in the presence of a lady.”

“That’s debatable.” Sakura scowled but did nothing. She could agree with Naruto in wanting to get some pay back for the attack they suffered during one of their training sessions but they may have gotten disqualified because Naruto wanted to rip the ninja a new one. As they walked toward the stairs, they noticed a small scuffle between a team and two older boys. Sakura noticed that the sign that said 301 was under a genjutsu. She nudged Naruto to let him know. Naruto got the message and was about to tell Sasuke when he blurt the genjutsu out.

“You noticed it first, right Sakura?” Sasuke said

“Yeah, we’re on the second floor not the third.” She said a bit dejected

“Of course, the easy thing would have been for us to go around these two and sneak pass but no. You are the great Uchiha. Kami forbid you don’t let everyone know who you are.” Naruto said sarcastically. Sasuke glared at Naruto and Naruto gave it right back. One of the older boys looked interested.

“So you’re the last Uchiha? Well then, let’s see how good you are.” He threw a kick and Sasuke did the same. Suddenly a green blur appeared and caught both legs and held then with ease. A boy with a bowl cut and huge eyebrows appeared. Before he could utter a word, Naruto had a kunai to his neck. With a flick off his wrist, a kunai appeared from his sleeve and he held a kunai to the forehead of another genin who had his hand in the striking position. Sakura held the older ninja by his throat and had a kunai to his back and a girl with her hair in buns had a kunai to Sasuke’s throat. Everyone stared at the group of ninja with awe and fear. Naruto looked at the genin with pearl like eyes.

“A Hyuuga, that’s interesting. You must be Neji.” Naruto said

“Spiky blonde hair, blue eyes, you must that friend Hinata-sama talks about. I would ask you to remove that kunai from my teammate.” Neji stated. Naruto grinned and removed the kunais he had in his hand. Sakura release the older nin and Neji’s teammates released their capturers.

“You would have to excuse me. I believed that your teammate was attacking my teammate.”

“It is understandable. Tenten, Lee, we’re going.” Neji ordered. The two nodded and walked away. Naruto looked at the retreating team with a critical eye. He turned away when Sakura called to him. Naruto walked away to catch up to his team. Neji turned slightly and stared at the retreating team.

“What is it Neji?” Tenten asked. She looked in the direction that he was looking and smirked. “Interested in the Uchiha?”

“No.”

“No!?”

“The blonde is who interest me.” Neji said. Tenten was confused by that but let it slide.

“Teammates go on without me for a while. There is something I must do.” Lee said

“Fine but don’t take too long.” Neji said. Lee nodded and walked in the direction that team 7 walked in.

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Team 7 walked toward the third floor in silence. Naruto and Sakura stood away from Sasuke who walked in front of them. Naruto had a look of annoyance on his face while Sakura was silent.

“Oi, teme, I hope you take this exam much more seriously now. We won’t be facing some pushovers.” Naruto said

“Do you know that guy Naruto?” Sakura asked

“Hyuuga Neji, last year’s rookie of the year. He’s considered the prodigy of the Hyuuga clan.”

“What else do you know about him?” asked Sasuke. Before Naruto could speak, a voice spoke out.

“He is considered the strongest genin of these exams.” Everyone turned to see the same big eyebrow kid from earlier. He wore a green spandex suit and had yellow leg warmers. His hand and forearm was wrapped up heavily. He turned to Sasuke. “You are Uchiha Sasuke, right?”

“Who wants to know?”

“My name is Rock Lee and I challenge you.”

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Authors’ Notes: Hey guys. Sorry about the wait but I was way busy with the re-write of one of my stories. I also re-wrote the fifteenth chapter of this story as well. Tell me if you notice the differences in it. Well enjoy the new chapter.