Chapter 93: Chapter 93:
All of the genin squads had now been led to their individual bases, where they were given a flag to protect. As stated, the flag had to remain in the base and could only be carried by if captured by an enemy or when retrieved from one.
Haku and his squad consisted of Tomo, who was a shinobi of the hidden grass, one who had not fought in the preliminary matches. The other was a girl called Seno, one of Iseto's Uchiha teammates.
Haku wasn't sure of their combat ability, but he had no choice other than to work with them if he wanted to try and pass this exam.
"Let's work together, and put aside our differences." He said as he offered a friendly smile.
Seno slowly nodded as she returned his smile, not quite believing how handsome he was.
While Tomo nodded not saying a word as he covered his head with the hood of his large coat.
Haku could tell he wasn't the type for conversation and instead, he jumped right to formulate a plan.
Meanwhile, Kimimaro had arrived at the area where he and his team would call base. It was slap centre in the middle of the wooded area and had a good amount of cover from the large trees. However, at the same time, it also offered the same to any enemies that were good at stealth, leaving them venerable to an ambush.
Kimimaro had been placed on a squad with Yuri, who was a member of Hattori's squad. Of course, she didn't say much, but he could tell that she was prepared to work together. However, he could not say the same for his other squadmate.
"Look, I don't know what they are thinking putting me with you, but it's your lucky day. I'll have a flag for us in no time!" Iseto said with a cocky attitude.
Kimimaro wasn't sure how this would play out if they only worked alone rather than as a team, but only time would tell now.
"That's the last of the Genin in position sir." One of the chunin exam proctors said through the radio to Fugaku.
"Good, how are the traps coming along?" Fugaku then asked, waiting for a response.
"The traps have now been completed, sir." Another of them reported, meaning he could now give the go-ahead.
"Alright, good work," Fugaku said as he crossed his arms.
Fuyōna and the Hokage watched from a distance, having taken up position on a large cliff that overlooked the entire terrain that the genin would be using as their battlefield.
"The addition of laying out traps along the battlefield was indeed a smart suggestion." A voice said, causing both of the Kage to turn around.
It was Danzo, the so-called shadow kage of the village.
"Ah Danzo, have you come to watch the finals?" Hiruzen asked as he puffed on his pipe.
"I have." He said as he walked over towards them using his cane.
Of course, Fuyōne knew better than to believe his little act, knowing full well he was still a dangerous opponent involved in almost every bad thing in this world.
"I must admit, this is an excellent addition to the chunin exams. Being able to test the young genin in a more realistic battlefield situation is something that has been long needed." Danzo said as he looked at Fuyōna.
"Yes well it was a duel effort on both parts," Fuyōna said, looking back to the Hokage.
Danzo remained quiet for a moment before he looked to Hiruzen and then back to Fuyōna. Although the leaf and the mist had allied and were working on the details.
There was still a large concern among the villagers and in the ranks of the shinobi, on both sides. After all, there was a long history of bloodshed between both, and to simply put that aside was nothing something that would happen overnight.
Not only that, but other villages had seen their alliance as a potential threat to their own national security, something Danzo had also come to speak about.
"It has come to my attention that the sand is holding a secret meeting with the Stone and the cloud. Seems that the alliance between our two villages is not being endorsed well by the other nations." Danzo said.
Hiruzen sighed.
"I feared this might happen." He said taking a good look over the terrain.
"I had hoped our alliance would not cause this, but I know the sand still wish vengeance upon me and the mist," Fuyōna said, remembering his meeting with the current Kazekage, Pakura.
"If you don't mind, I would prefer to speak alone, Hiruzen." Danzo suddenly said, not caring if his words came out as rude.
The Hokage nodded and turned to Fuyōna.
"Of course, don't mind me," Fuyōna said as he turned around and walked off, leaving the two of them to converse and not taking any offence.
Danzo waited for Fuyona to get clear of the area before he spoke, not trusting him in the slightest.
"What is it that you wish to speak with me about Danzo?" Hiruzen asked, knowing whatever it was, it most likely would not be good.
"It's about Shisui Uchiha." He said, getting Hiruzen's attention.
"What about him?" The Hokage asked.
"It has come to my attention that the Uchiha are becoming more and more impatient in their potential to rebel against the village. Even though Shisui is still working for us, I fear that he cannot put the village above his clan." Danzo said.
The Hokage gave a heavy sigh as he knew something like this might happen.
"I am therefore pushing Itachi Uchiha's promotion to Anbu captain ahead of schedule."
Hiruzen turned to face Danzo now with a concerned expression on his face.
"The boy is only 12 years old Danzo. Have you forgotten that he is too young to become an Anbu captain?"
"He is almost 13 years of age. Something we can easily overlook." Danzo said, getting another sigh from Hiruzen.
The whole disaster of the Uchiha can was weighing heavy on his heart, knowing that no matter what he tried to do nothing seemed to be working.
"And you have the proof that Mukai is selling villages secrets?" The Hokage then asked, referring to one of Danzo's own Anbu captains.
"I do. Having Itachi assassinate him will prove whether or not he is ready to become an Anbu captain, and whether or not he can put the village above his clan." Danzo said.
Hiruzen sighed as he exhaled a large poof of smoke, thinking hard on the matter before he gave his answer,
"very well. See it done." Hiruzen said.
Danzo knew that the two of them never agreed on much, however, when it came to the safety of the village, there was nothing they wouldn't do to protect it.
Danzo didn't say anything as he turned his back and started walking away, leaving Hiruzen alone with his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Fugaku the head of the Uchiha clan was getting ready to announce the start of the final exam, having been given the all-clear that all of the genin were now in position.
Fugaku reached up to his earpiece, pressing the button in for him to speak through it.
"Alright everyone, let the final part of the chunin exams begin!" He said, giving the order for the chunin to give the signal.
"Yes sir!" They said as each chunin exam proctor let the signal, letting the green smoke off all over the battlefield so that the genin could see that the exam had begun.
Both Kimimaro and Haku watched from their bases as the green smoke gave the signal for the exam to start. All of the other squads also watched as they quickly tried to formulate a plan, while others were too busy arguing over whose plan was better for them to get a good head start.
"We only have one hour to get as many flags as possible." Haku thought as he turned to his squad.
"Alright, Tomo you stay here and defend the flag, Seno you come with me to scout for any of the other teams. Given the area of the exam grounds and terrain, I calculate that there will be at least two other squads not far from us at all." Haku said.
Seno was impressed, to say the least, but quickly snapped out of it.
"I'm a sensory ninja... So I can help to find other teams." She said, coming out of her shell a little.
Haku nodded as he smiled at her.
"I can defend no problem. I can use earth-style ninjutsu." The grass ninja said, again proving he wasn't much of a talker.
"Alright, then it's settled. Let's move out." Haku said, taking command of his squad as he and Seno headed out with her leading the way as she used her sensory ability.
Meanwhile, Kimimaro who was paired with Iseto Uchiha and Yuri remained in the forest where their base was located.
"Well, I think it's obvious that I lead this squad, after all, I am the strongest here," Iseto said as he ran his fingers through his thick black hair.
Yuri looked at him as she kept her face behind her blue scarf, not giving him any notice.
"What do you think we should do?" She asked quietly as she completely ignored Iseto, getting an angry reaction from him.
Kimimaro seemed hard in focus as he didn't respond to her question, or Iseto's antics as he tried to get them both to listen to him.
However, Kimimaro's words quickly snapped Iseto out of his silly fit as he finally spoke.
"We fight." He said as he had already sensed an enemy squad that had come right for them.
"What the... How did they find us so fast?" Iseto asked as he looked around not seeing anyone yet.
Suddenly one of the genin appeared above them, standing on one of the tree branches as he peered down at them.
"Your flag will be our first!" He said before he pulled a scroll from his hip.
Kimimaro could see that he had a hidden leaf headband but was unsure as to what squad he belonged to.
Suddenly a large demon shuriken appeared from the scroll he had opened, taking it in his hand before he started to spin it around with skill.
"Let's do this!" He shouted, throwing the massive shuriken towards them.
"Look out!" Iseto shouted as he jumped into the air, with Yuri following his lead to avoid the attack.
Kimimaro, however, simply stood his ground as the shuriken came his way, barely ducking under the shuriken and letting it rip loose into the distance as it shredded through the tree line.
"Behind." Kimimaro then said as he turned around and avoided a slash from another shinobi, this one belonging to the hidden rain.
Kimimaro exchanged a flurry of attacks with the rain ninja, slipping another of his attacks before he countered with an elbow that he allowed a bone to grow from, stabbing him through the chest.
"A clone," Kimimaro muttered as the rain ninja burst into mud, somehow having given him the slip as he used a substation.
Iseto landed on a branch out of the way, seeing that Kimimaro had stood his ground and was now fighting someone else.
"Who the hell does this guy think he is?" He thought as he turned around seeing the other leaf ninja getting another shuriken ready.
"I'll show him he's not the only one who can fight!" He said as he jumped into the air, dodging another demon shuriken and flipping off another branch as he tossed a handful of his own shuriken.
The leaf ninja quickly dropped from the tree branch, using it for cover as he grabbed on with his hand to hang from it letting the shuriken slam into the wood one after the other. Iseto could see where he was and knew he would be planning a counterattack, however, he had his own plan and quickly formed his hand signs.
"Fire style, fireball jutsu!" He shouted as he unleashed his fireball, aiming it from above the leaf ninja who had not seen him coming from above.
"Shit!" He shouted as he was forced to let go of the tree branch and fall through the air as the fireball followed him towards the ground.
Yuri had also taken cover from the large shuriken, letting Iseto go and deal with the leaf ninja. She was not stupid though and knew that his attack was a simple diversion, along with the rain ninja who Kimimaro was fighting, meaning that there was still one more of them.
"Got you." She said as if on cue the third ninja of their squad jumped down from his cover and grabbed the flag.
Yuri acted fast and rushed down from her vantage point, throwing a barrage of senbon needles at him, causing the genin to panic as he struggled to deflect the small projectiles.
Yuri landed and quickly kicked the boy in his chest, knocking him flying into a tree where he hit his back and head hard getting knocked unconscious.
"That's one down." She said as she turned around to see Iseto shoot his fireball.
The leaf ninja quickly landed on the ground and rolled, using his body weight to dash out of the way of the fireball as it hit the ground not a moment after, exploding and scorching the ground.
"Damn, even with an ambush these guys are still too strong." He said as he knew they had no choice other than to retreat.
"Ebinaka, grab Adagai and let's get out of here!" He shouted as he suddenly tossed a smoke bomb onto the ground, using it for cover as he ran away.
The rain ninja Ebinaka suddenly appeared next to the downed leaf ninja that Yuir had taken care of and quickly dashed off with him, leaving the three of them alone, for the time being.
"Alright, we showed them!" Iseto shouted as he regrouped with the other two, flexing his arm as he ran it through his hair.
"For now, but we should be more careful from now on," Kimimaro said before he looked at Yuri.
Haku and Seno were running along a riverbank as Seno used her sensory ability to guide them to another squad's base.
Suddenly Seno skidded along the ground as she came to a stop having sensed something.
Haku noticed and also stopped, turning to face her.
"What is it, Seno?" He asked noticing the look on her face.
"I can sense four chakra's coming from that way... They are fighting." She said seeming a little nervous.
Haku also had some sensory ability and now that she had told him he was starting to pick up on it.
"How the hell is this guy so strong..." Rokuro of the mist said as he stood panting.
His other teammates were also in a difficult bind as the three of them stood face to face with Hattori, also of the mist.
"Does this guy really think he can just come and capture our flag by himself!" Sakasugi of the hidden leaf said as he took a kunai in his hand.
"I'll kill him where he stands!" He shouted as he charged in, giving a loud battle cry.
"No, wait!" Rokuro shouted, trying to warn him.
However, Sakasugi didnt listen to his warning and tried to attack Hattori, taking a swipe at his head.
Hattori easily parried the attack with his sword and in what seemed like an instant he cut Sakasugi down, not giving it a second thought.
"Shit," Rokuro said as he watched his teammate drop to the ground.
"Give me the flag and I will let you live. We are from the same village after all." Hattori said as he sheathed his blade.
Rokuro looked to his other teammate, Ohada who was of the hidden rain village. Ohada also looked at Rokuro and then back to Hattori, knowing that they couldn't defeat him.
Their base was located on the river bank, surrounded by water and stones, perfect for a water style user like Rokuro. However, it was also perfect for other water style users like Hattori, who was also a mist ninja and could most likely use water style too.
"I didn't want to have to use this for just one person... But I guess I don't have any other choice." Ohada suddenly said as he pulled out a kunai. Rokuro knew what he was about to do, and he knew there was no other way.
Hattori watched as Ohada threw the kunai across the ground before it hit a rock and cut a wire that had been too fine for the human eye to see while it wasn't moving.
"A trap? Really?" Hattori asked, not seeming amused.
Suddenly the ground where Hattori was standing crumbled away and opened as if it was trying to swallow him.
"Got you!" Ohada shouted as he watched Hattori fall into the hole.
"Now you are finished!" He yelled as the hole was rigged with a large number of explosive tags and poison smoke bombs. This trap had been designed for only one reason, to kill anyone whom they couldn't beat in a fair fight.
Ohada had quickly devised the plan to the others before the exam had started, having already noticed the hole had been set before they even got there. Turns out he specialized in planning this sort of thing and the others had let him build the thing, helping him cover it back up after.
Rokuro watched as the smoke and fire settled from inside the hole, knowing there was no way even he could have survived something like that.
"Did it work?" He asked, still not sure.
"Of course, it worked!" Ohada said through his rebreather, feeling proud of his work.
"This guy might be a big shot back in your village, but he never stood a chance against me! He said as he laughed at his handy work.
Suddenly his laugh was cut short as a blade unexpectedly pierced right through his stomach from behind him, causing his eyes to open wide in pain and surprise.
"How did you..." Ohada said before Hattori pulled his sword back through his torso, letting him drop to the ground.
"You really think I would fall for such a simple trap?" He then said as he looked up towards Rokuro.
"Now, will I be taking the flag, or will I be taking your life too?" Hattori asked as he looked into Rokuro's eyes with a serious glare.
Rokuro knew he had no choice now, being left alone with this guy was not a good thing and he knew he couldn't win.
"Just take it," Rokuro said as he raised his arms. "I surrender."
Hattori smiled and turned around as he headed over to the flag.
"This makes one," Hattori said as he reached his hand towards the flag as he was about to take it.
However, Hattori sighed and abruptly turned around and with expert skill deflected a flurry of senbon needles that were aimed right at him.
"You!" Hattori shouted as he spun around, ducking under a kick from Haku before the two of them planted their feet onto the ground and turned to clash once again, with Hattori holding his sword as he pressed it against Haku, who held him off with a senbon needle in his hand.
"I didn't expect to get to fight you just yet," Hattori said, being impressed at how strong he was.
"Me neither," Haku said as he slowly raised his free hand and began to form hand signs.
Hattori's eyes opened wide in surprise as he had no idea anyone could form hand signs with only one hand.
"Ice style, one thousand needles of death!" Haku shouted as he used the water around them to form thousands of ice needles in the air, all aiming at Hattori and flying towards him with intent to kill.
The ice jutsu exploded, crashing down where both Haku and Hattori had been stood, making it hard to see what had happened as debris had been kicked up, blocking the field of vision.
Rokuro watched from the sidelines as Hattori and Haku both appeared clear of the jutsu, with each of them taking a combat position.
"I'm impressed, it's not often that someone gets the better of me," Hattori said as he flicked his sword.
"Still, I would expect nothing less of someone of the same clan as lord fifth."
Haku was also impressed.
"It's not often I meet someone who can keep up with my speed." He said as he looked over to the flag and then back to Hattori.
"Now Seno!" Haku shouted, giving her the signal.
Seno quickly jumped over to the flag, slipping out of her hiding spot and quickly grabbing the flag in both hands.
"Get back to base, I'll hold him off!" Haku shouted as he watched Hattori, waiting for him to make a move.
However, Hattori simply smiled and sheaved his sword.
"It would seem I have been defeated this time." He said as he nodded to Haku.
"Perhaps we will fight again soon, but for now, I simply do not have the time." He said as he slowly took multiple steps back before he disappeared, leaving Haku and Hokuro alone.
"He really ran away," Rokuro said, not quite believing it.
"For now anyway," Haku said before he too decided to quickly retreat away, leaving Rokuro alone.
"Try not to die Rokuro!" He said before he left him alone.
"Gee thanks, Haku..." Rokuro said as he looked around at both of his dead teammates.
"What the hell do I do now?"
----------
Right going to end this chapter here. A good long one this time with more to come soon!
Hope you enjoyed and as always thank you for your support! Remember you know where to go if you want more!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone