Chapter 12: Chapter 12: The turn of events
"If one member gets a zero the whole team fails?! What kind of rule is that?!"One of the genin shouted getting up from his seat.
Naruto slammed his head on the table. "Ugggghhhhh…I'm screwed..."
"That's not good for you then…" A familiar voice next to him whispered.
Naruto raised his head looking to his right at the more than familiar face.
"You were always bad at tests." The person said in sympathy.
Naruto scratched his head a little embarrassed. "Sakura? Geez, I didn't even notice you…"
"All right, listen up!" Ibiki shouted and all eyes and ears focused on him. After a few more ridiculous rules the test began and so did the noise of papers flipping and pencils clanking accompanied with quiet groans of those who didn't know what to write. One of them was Naruto. Dropping his pencil onto the table he grabbed his hair in frustration. His blue eyes analyzed the paper as he read the complicated questions in a low whisper but still loud enough for Sakura to hear.
"Determine the coordinates of the ninja at position B if the shuriken aimed at him was going at 60 miles per hou- what does this even mean?!" He slapped his hand over his forehead.
Sakura giggled. He was in trouble but she doesn't have it easy either. She had the highest score in class on tests so she somewhat understood the questions but they were still a bit too difficult for her. Relying on her teammates she decided to use her brains as best as she can until they came up with a plan.
Almost 20 minutes into the test some of the genin began to understand what was really going on. They were supposed to cheat so they did what they could…until…
"Number 61, fail! Number 70 and number 130,that means you fail as well." One of the proctors announced.
"What?!" The guy with the number 61 on his desk got up slamming his pencil on it.
"Five strikes and you're out. You just failed the test."
And that was the first of many other genin whose numbers were called out. Some of them broke out into a fight saying it wasn't fair while others just walked out of the room in defeat.
"There's gotta be something I can do…" Naruto panicked looking at his empty test. He grabbed his pencil with his shaky hand but dropped it again.
A few rows behind him Hinata's byakugan kept watch over both of her teammates. Sasuke was doing well thanks to his sharingan but… "Oh, Naruto…" She knew he was bad at written tests so even before she took her seat she was thinking of a way to help him but upon hearing the rules she needed to think harder. Naruto has always praised her for her intelligence so she can't screw this up if she wants to prove that she is good enough, not just to her crush but to Neji too. Thanks to her byakugan she had answered most of the questions and she saw that Sasuke had answered most of them too but Naruto's paper was empty, not counting his signature on the top corner of the paper.
She fidgeted the pencil between her fingers trying to think of way to help him while hiding her byakugan by lowering her head, but her eyes caught something. She was a little worried that Sakura was sitting next to him but remembering their last conversation about her she didn't know if she should be worried about him liking her again. But what was this about Sakura sliding her test towards him? She read her lips: Come on, look. She was helping him?
Sakura glanced at Naruto. "He's so…upset…I've never seen him like this before, he was always acting tough around me but now…" Her thoughts trailed off as she remembered all those times he had asked her out back at the academy. Even though he got rejected over and over again he was never upset about it and he just kept trying knowing that she would never accept. After she saw him holding hands with Hinata she realized that he got over her so he let his real self show not trying to act thought to impress her anymore. And then she remembered all the times she punched him, now that she thought about it most of the time it was for insulting Sasuke so it was basically for no reason. She felt bad for him so she decided to help him even though he's not her teammate.
Naruto was shocked at her offering to let him look at test but he didn't have any other choice.
"Come on, look." Sakura slid her paper a bit to the left towards Naruto.
But just when he was about to take a glance at her paper…
"Alright! There is fifteen minutes left, time for the tenth question!"
Naruto gulped. "Damn it… this is my last chance to pass." He gripped his pencil in his hand.
However, Ibiki broke the anticipation among the genin by announcing that they can choose not to take the tenth question but that if they did and they still failed they will never be able to compete in the exams ever again.
After a few outbursts some genin began to raise their hand and they gave up on the test.
Hinata's whole body shook as she looked at her crush."Oh, dear…Naruto…he will fail…and I don't know how to help him…but if he does his dream will be crushed…I cannot let that happen…Naruto…Sasuke…please forgive me for this…"
But just before she could raise her hand…Naruto raised his…
Sakura, Sasuke and Hinata looked at Naruto in utter shock and disbelief.
Sasuke's mouth fell open. Not even the incredibly cool and calm Uchiha could stop his eyes and mouth from widening. If there is one person that he knew would NOT raise their hand it was Naruto so seeing him actually do it left him speechless. But he wasn't the only one. Sakura looked at Naruto's shaking form in surprise. She blinked rapidly but she realized she wasn't seeing things.
Hinata lowered both hands in her lap and tightly gripped the furry hem of her jacket trying to keep her composure. "Na-Naru…to…there is just no way!"
But even though it seemed like Naruto's hand was in the air for hours it had actually been just seconds before he slammed his hand on the table and looked Ibiki straight in the eye.
"Don't underestimate me! I don't quit and I don't run!"Naruto suddenly yelled out. "You can act tough all you want with your stupid rules, you're not gonna scare me away!" His voice rang through the quiet room. "I never go back on my word that's my nindo, my ninja way! And when I become Hokage someday YOU are gonna have to respect me. Believe it! Hmph." He crossed his arms and slumped back in his seat.
Everyone stared at the blonde but their gaze was directed towards Ibiki as he let out a chuckle. "Is that your final decision? You're willing to take the risk of never becoming a chunin?"
Naruto faced him again. "You want me to repeat all that? Maybe you should have written it down."
A vein on Sakura's forehead popped out. "Idiot, making threats at the guy our future depends on isn't going to help! Cha!" Inner Sakura felt like strangling him.
"Very well then. For those of you remaining there is only one thing left to do." Ibiki announced. "And that is to tell you…
…that you have all passed the written portion of the exams!"
The genin in the room either gasped, blinked or dropped their pencils.
Naruto's eyes widened. "Say what?"
However, the excitement was nothing compared to the embarrassment that a lot of them felt when Ibiki told them that the true purpose of the exams was to gather information. Naruto paled a bit but he kept his cool.
Sakura raised an eyebrow at him. "You didn't figure it out?" She whispered.
"You did?" Naruto whispered back. Sakura shook her head and rolled her eyes.
After showing them his scars and a long, deep and emotional speech about chunin and comrades Ibiki was once again congratulating them on passing, but he got interrupted as the window on his left shattered and a ball of thick dark fabric flew through the window and unwrapped unveiling a busty woman with purple hair dressed in a mesh bodysuit, a skirt and a coat. The fabric pinned on the wall behind her with kunai said in big white letters:
Anko Mitarashi the sexy proctor of the second test of the chunin exam!
"Alright maggots, it's time for the second part of the exams. Follow me!" She yelled out pumping her fist in the air.
Ibiki came out from behind the fabric. "You're early…again…"
A drop of sweat ran down her face and her cheeks reddened in humiliation, but the embarrassment was replaced with confusion as she looked at the genin. "Ibiki, you let all of them pass? You must be getting soft."
"Or it could be a stronger group of candidates this year." Ibiki responded.
"It doesn't matter, when I'm done with them more than half will be wiped out."Anko chuckled. "Your sensei will notify you about the location and date of the second exam, until then you're dismissed." And with that she disappeared in a puff of smoke along with the fabric.
_________________________________________
Team 7 were outside the academy building walking away from it.
"Now that we passed, those guys will know not to mess with us!" Naruto folded his hands behind his head and grinned in satisfaction.
"I doubt that, idiot. It was sheer luck that we passed." Sasuke shook his head at his loud teammate but still quietly sighed in relief.
"So how about we go to Ichiraku to celebrate! I gotta tell Ayame and old man Teuchi we passed. Maybe they will even give us free bowls!" Naruto giggled in excitement.
"No thanks, I'm going home to train. I can't afford to be unprepared for the next test, especially now that I know it could be anything. Later." And with that Sasuke jumped on the nearest roof and headed home.
"Gee, can't that guy enjoy our passing at least for a second…Ah, forget him! You and I can go to Ichiraku alone, right Hinata?" He turned to his roommate catching a worried expression on her face. "Hinata?" He walked in front of her in concern.
"Hey, you ok?" He grabbed her shoulders trying to get her to face him.
He noticed the way she kept both her hands folded over her chest. They have been teammates for a month now and the two of them got a lot closer so Naruto learned to recognize what she felt just by looking at the placement of her hands because that was a habit of hers that she didn't let go of and she probably isn't even aware that she is doing it.
When she dropped her arms on her sides and she isn't trying to cover any part of her body that means that she is relaxed, if her hands are gripping the hem of her jacket she's nervous, if she's covering her face with them she's embarrassed, if she places her hands over her chin she's afraid, if she twiddles or taps her fingers together she's excited but if she folds her hands over her chest she's upset and there must be something wrong.
"Hey." He called out to her again, this time she looked up at him.
"C-can we just g-go home?" She said in a quiet shaky voice.
"Yeah, of course." He threw his arm over her shoulders and they continued walking.
A couple of silent minutes later he spoke up. "What's wrong?"
"We'll t-talk at home…please…" She sounded even more worried now.
"Ok…that's ok…" They were quiet the rest of the way.
_________________________________________
When they finally got to their apartment the sun was starting to go down showing that the two were in no hurry to get home because Hinata knew that when they did she will have to tell him that they almost failed because of her.
Sitting down on the couch she lowered her head looking at her hands that were now in tight fists in her lap.
Naruto sat in front of her feet putting his chin between her knees. "What's wrong?" He blinked in surprise when she lifted her head and a few tears ran down her cheeks.
"I a-almost g-got u-us d-dis-squal-lified…" she stammered out.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I almost r-raised m-my h-hand…we would h-have f-f-failed b-because of m-me…"
"You wanted to raise your hand?... Why?"
She sniffed. "If we h-h-had…" She swallowed trying to control her stutter. "If we had failed…we could never become chunin…ever…that might make it harder…for you to become Hokage…"
Naruto's jaw dropped in disbelief.
"Both you and Sasuke have goals…I would have ruined them…"
"Hey…you wouldn't have ruined anything."He tried to comfort her. "I don't need to become a chunin to become Hokage, even if you did raise your hand I wouldn't be mad at you. Your intentions were good, although I don't know how Sasuke would have reacted but…hey, that's a mute point. We passed so no need to cry about it, ok?"
She wiped her tears and nodded.
"So uhh…what do we do for dinner?" He asked sheepishly.
"I will make you whatever you like." She raised her head to look at him. "It's the least I can do."
"I told you, don't worry about it." He got off of his knees and sat beside her throwing his arm over her shoulders and giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Plus, you know I like everything you make so make whatever you want."
She blushed at his soft smile and gentle words. Naruto's a hothead, it's easy to tick him off but he was so patient with her. He was just so sweet and kind towards her, always defending and protecting her, justifying her actions and praising her. Her family members would always lose their patience with her and get irritated by her stutter and gentle nature, but Naruto was the total opposite. That's what she loves about him, among many, many other things.
Leaning in she gave him a long kiss on the cheek. She was about to hug him back but he pulled away a bit to look at her.
"What? Dessert before dinner?" He winked at her mischievously.
She blushed even more and giggled. "Naruto!"
_________________________________________
The day after they met Kakashi on the bridge where they usually meet ad he explained where the second part of the exams will be taking place…and that's where, the day after, they are standing…right now…looking at the dark woodsy area surrounded by a tall metal fence. And who was standing in front of it? The same weird lady who burst through Ibiki's exam room window days ago. As all genin who remained in the competition after the first exam gathered around her she yelled out:
"Listen up, maggots! It's time for the second part of the chunin exams! And it will take place in the battle training zone you see behind me!" She lowered her voice giving it an eerie tone. "But we like to call it…the Forest of Death."
"The forest of…death?" Hinata gulped.
"Don't worry." Naruto nudged her arm gently. "I bet that she's creepier than anything in that forest."
But he failed to notice Hinata's slight smile as something else caught his eye.
A rock…on the ground…shaped like a perfectly smooth rectangle…with eye holes…slowly shimming towards him.
"Oh, brother…" Naruto pinched his nose and shook his head. "Are you serious?" He looked at the rock.
The rock chuckled. "You saw through my disguise again. You're quick boss." A muffled voice said before the rock exploded with colorful smoke. What was left behind when the smoke cleared were three kids on their knees on the ground coughing. "I think we used too much gun powder, guys…" The familiar voice said in between coughs.
The three kids looked up at Naruto and Hinata who were looking at them in confusion. Even Sasuke's eyebrow rose.
The kids looked at each other before getting up and introducing themselves.
"I'm Moegi, the sassiest kunoichi in preschool. Check me out!" The female one of the three spoke in a sweet voice.
"I love algebra, call me Udon!" The boy with glasses and a runny nose said making hand sighs with his hands which were peeking out from his long sleeves.
"And I'm the number one ninja in the village, Konohamaru! And when we're all together…"
"We are the Konohamaru ninja squad!" They said in union.
The loud introduction drew everyone's attention towards them and even interrupted another fight between Sakura and Ino who weirdly looked towards Naruto.
"Why doesn't it surprise me that Naruto's playing around with little kids…" Sakura shook her head. Both girls forgot about the fact that they were arguing just seconds before.
"Hey, what are those goggles on your head?" Naruto lamely asked the three.
"You used to wear goggles, remember? So we're copying you!" Konohamaru grinned.
"Oh." Naruto responded flatly. The only reason he wore those goggles was because he really wanted to wear the leaf headband like the others but couldn't because he couldn't graduate. The goggles weren't a nice reminder.
"Oh, come on boss! You ought to be more excited!" Konohamaru yelled in disappointment.
Hinata giggled into her fingers. "They are so cute."
The giggle drew Moegi's attention towards Hinata. Moegi's eyes widened. "Hey, it's that…?" She whispered to Udon. He fixed his glassed and looked towards her. "Oh!"
Flashback:
It was another day at the academy and the classes were about to finish. As all the students in the class packet their school supplies, Konohamaru turned towards his two best friends and whispered. "Hey guys, I have something important to tell you so wait up after the bell okay?" The two nodded.
After the bell, Iruka was exiting the classroom and saw the three sneaking around the hallway. Following them to see what they were up to he stopped next to the wall only to hear a very interesting conversation.
"I saw boss yesterday after school."Konohamaru started.
Iruka raised an eyebrow. "Boss? Oh, he must mean Naruto." He smiled.
"And guess what?" Konohamaru continued. "He has a girlfriend!"
"Huh?!" Iruka's jaw dropped. "Did he manage to win Sakura over after all?"
"No way, really?" Moegi squealed.
"Boss is so cool!" Udon sniffed.
"And because we're interviewing them today you'll get to see her! She's really pretty!" Konohamaru exclaimed. "She has dark hair with bangs and these weird eyes!"
He described her as the three ran down the hallway and out of the building to prepare for the interview leaving the baffled Iruka in the hallway.
"No way…" He whispered remembering the shy Hyuga. He remembered the time he gave them an assignment and while the students were writing he walked around the classroom observing their work, but as he walked by his timid student he saw that she had already finished and was now drawing a large heart around Naruto's name in her notebook which was already full of hearts and chibi drawings of Naruto. He smiled at her as they made eye contact and she blushed a shade of red that was only possible for her and shrunk in her seat. Later after the class she walked up to him and shyly begged him not to tell anyone.
"Wow…"Iruka grinned. "What a match, indeed."
End of flashback:
"Yeah, that has to be her." Udon whispered back. Moegi nodded.
"Hey, what's this all about? You kids are interrupting the exams."Anko walked up to them placing her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, I was just about to ask what you guys are doing here." Naruto looked at Konohamaru.
"We're here to do an interview for the academy's newspaper."
"Oh, that's right. Lord Hokage told me about that."Anko remembered. "Alright then, we are taking a ten minute break!" she announced walking away.
"An interview?" Naruto asked.
"Yeah, we are interviewing people here, but there is one person who is the most important." Konohamaru pulled out a notebook and a pen.
"And who's that?" Naruto asked.
Konohamaru chuckled. "Well, it's you, boss!"
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