True Self, New Self

Hi everybody!! Sorry for the delay, but my daughter got sick and I just couldn't get a hold on a computer to write this chapter, I was in the office on in the hospital most of the time. On the bright side I managed to buy a new laptop because the other one decide to commit suicide, and now I'm able to post this new chappy for all of you. It's 00:30 hours here and I'm writting in my daughters hospital room. So on with the reviews!

feisu: *snuggles* I have nothing to say against that! *grabs cookie and starts munching*

Kyandoru: I totally agree with you! *nods*

spriggan_d: Yup, totally made for each other! Mmm... I wish I had some drawing skills so I can draw that image.

Hello: Younger Gaara looks cute with a Teddy Bear, but I can imagine Gaara now with a Neji plushie and he will look totally cute with it.

Fourthiv: Multi-chaptered Criminal!! *squeal with delight*

HellzAngel: All of that will be after the Chuunin Exams, but it will be worth the wait I promise!!

XZanayu: You will have to wait and see!! *grins*

Allys: Actually it is quiet dangerous for me, I start bouncing against the walls... literally!

trulywicked: I'm so glad you liked it!!! Hey I noticed that your stories here are getting very popular, I'm so happy for you!!!

kyu-chan: A minor slip, but you are right, I'll fix that later, thank you for pointing it up. Don't worry about anything, I don't intend to make the Exams that long. And for the rest, you will have to wait and see kyu-chan!! Ja ne!

QoH: Don't worry, here is more for you to read! ^^

On with the chappy people!!


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True Self, New Self.

Chapter 20: Chuunin Exams I



Finally, the day of the Chuunin Exams came. Genins from various villages gather under the attentive gazes of the Hokages carved on the mountain, anxious for the test’s start. Non of them knows what lies ahead, but they know that they want one thing, and that is to win the exam and continue to climb the stair to the next level, Chuunin level. Some of them won’t pass, maybe some of them won’t even survive the tough test of this exam. Deciding to take it is an important decision that will change their lives forever. Even knowing that they are here representing their villages and taking those risks.

Among the small crowd of attentive Genins is where I’m standing, with a small notebook in hand, verifying and adding information to the one I have collected so far, aided by my small fan club and some Bunshins. I’m trying my best to blend in and not draw unnecessary attention to myself, the surprise element is a good ally to shinobis. Things will be easier for me if the other participants see me as a weak enemy and underestimate me, because they won’t see me coming that way.

Suddenly, a blast of smoke covers the area and from within it I can see some people standing. Well I guess that the exam proctors are already here and the fun is about to begin. When the smoke clears I can finally tell who are them. Standing before the rest of the proctors, is Tsunade herself. Behind them Hinata, Shino and Ino stand, trying to look dangerous, and Hinata is surprisingly doing a relatively good job at it.

“In the name of Konohagakure I welcome all of you Genins to this year’s Chuunin Selection Exam. I’m the Hokage of this village and the people behind me are the proctors for your first exam, where some of the skills necessary to become a Chuunin will be tested. With this I declare the Chuunin Exams officially started, so please proceed to the place of the first test.”

“And where exactly is that?” Someone from the crowd asked.

“That, young shinobi, is for you to find out, but you have to be there in five hours max. Good luck to everybody!” She said and before anyone could say anything to protest, they left the same way they came, leaving behind them a groups of extremely pissed Genins.

‘ So, the first test already started and this brats don’t know it.’

‘ ‘ So basically you have to find the way to get to wherever the next test is.’ ’

‘Exactly, the first part of the exam. It is to test our ability to gather information and locate things that we don’t know where they are. It is the same thing like in a mission to retrieve a scroll from a secret base, we don’t know where it is, so we need to gather information around in order to find it.’

‘ ’ Bingo. So what are you going to do kit? ’ ’

‘Take a look around first and amuse myself looking at the rookies. Then use infinite vision to locate Hinata and go there as soon as someone finally gets there.’

‘ ‘ Sounds like a plan to me. If we reach there first it will draw unnecessary attention to ourselves. Getting there second is good enough. ‘ ‘

‘Exactly my point.’

I transport myself to the top of the Hokage Mountain, where I can get the best view of the entire village. Well, first thing first, locate the Exam location so I know exactly where to head when the time comes. Mmmm… funny, this test is even harder than I first thought. I can clearly see where the proctors are, the tricky thing is that the entire building is under a genjutsu. Anyone can walk right in front of it and they just won’t find it unless they are a genjutsu specialist. Many of this years participants are going to fail because of that.

Now lets take a look to the competence!

‘Just like we thought Kyu, they are moving in teams.’

‘ ‘ Well, that is without doubts the smartest thing to do. This exam may be individual, but no one said they couldn’t move in teams. They will stick together until a test force them to be apart. Things are easier for them if they work as a team. ‘ ‘

‘Correct! Now lets see how they manage to reach the Exam location.’

For an hour and a half me and Kyuubi laughed at the antics of several Genins, that were using the most unusual ways of gathering information that I ever saw. Some were tricked by the villagers to work for them for a while in exchange of information that turned to be false. Some tried to spy on the other Chuunins of the village, and they were caught, they run for their lives from the pissed ninjas.

But finally, one team of Konoha made it. Well, let the games begin. I stand up and transport myself to somewhere nearby of the place I’ve been spying all this time. I’m not stupid enough to just appear there, because it will be just too suspicious. I calmly walk in and settle on a dark corner of the small room in the third floor of the building next to the Academy.

Slowly the room began to fill with more participants. Some made it by their own means, some followed more skilled teams here, by the end of the five hours, almost all of the teams made it, perhaps by no so honest ways, but legally anyway. I take a look around, from the 34 Genins that started the exam, including me, only 28 made it before the time expired.

Well, the first part of the exam is over, and now all I have to do is wait until the second part is revealed to us. One team is making a little fuzz, breaking the silence that until now reigned inside the room. It is dangerous to do that, I know it all too well. But what was my surprise to see that the team that was causing so much noise, was one that I know very well. There, in the other corner of the room, were Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon. So they are old enough to take the exam now, huh?

“You know boys… you are pissing off the rest of the teams…”

‘ ‘ Wow… déjà vu… ‘ ‘

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

“He’s right Konohamaru, look!”

Moegi said, pointing to the other teams that were glaring at them.

“Hehehehe… there are many of them! I wonder what kind of people are them!”

“If you want, I can share the information I have with you.”

“That will be great!!” Said Moegi, blushing a lot when I smile at her.

‘ ‘ Kit… you’re acting like Kabuto back then… ‘ ‘

‘Already noticed that, but it doesn’t matter. I’m really trying to help them.’

“Do you have any information of the other Konoha team?”

“Of course, here it is:

Name: Hyuuga Hanabi.
Skills: She’s a member of the Hyuuga clan, so the Byakugan and the Gentle Fist style are her main abilities. She’s a genjutsu specialist as well. Good at Taijutsu and Genjustsu. Her Ninjutsu is good but average for a Genin.

Name: Utada Ken.
Skills: He’s not a member of any important clan, but he’s Ninjutsu is pretty good. He has an affinity for earth, so his Jutsus are mainly earth based ones. He’s Taijutsu is average, but worthy of attention in battle. He is pretty weak with Genjutsu.

Name: Yuumura Kouji.
Skills: He’s very skilled with Taijutsu, even if he isn’t part of an important clan, his family developed the last few years an unique style of Taijutsu, if things continue this way, they will become an important clan in the years to come. Average Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.

That’s all I have on them.”

‘ ‘ Rather than the only things you are willing to tell them. ‘ ‘

‘Hey, I have the right to keep some of the important information for myself. It isn’t like I will just spill all the things I went through some much troubles to get. That will be enough for them.’

“Hey Kaji-san, do you have information about the Suna teams?”

“As a matter of fact I do. Lets see…

Name: Mori Chise. She’s the one with blue long hair and eyes over there.
Skills: She’s skilled with thunder based Jutsus, and her personality matches her jutsus. You don’t want to be any where near her when she’s pissed, because her body charges the air around her and emit electrical sparks around her. Good in taijutsu and average in ninjutsu.

Name: Kuchihi Ichigo. He’s the one with green hair and grey eyes next to Chise.
Skills: Water based jutsus. He’s a happy go lucky type of guy. He mainly fights with a pair of tantos. He’s very fast and flexible, so it is hard to land a punch on him in battle. He has a very good hearing as well, so it is not easy to sneak up on him.

Name: Shichiroji Momotaro. He’s the one with black hair and purple eyes leaning against the wall with his others teammates.
Skills: Wind based jutsus. He usually doesn’t take things seriously unless it is extremely necessary. Even when he’s ninjutsu is not so good, he compensate it with his amazing skills with weapons. Think of a genin Tenten and you will be pretty close to how good is he.

Now the other team.

Name: Mori Heihachi. Blue hair and eyes over there.
Skills: He’s Chise’s twin brother, and their skills are very similar so I’m not going to explain him too. I just wonder why they aren’t in the same team, they work wonderfully as a team…

Name: Hemiru Mikoto. Blonde hair, green eyes next to Heihachi.
Skills: Another weapon specialist, but with a catch. He can manipulate his weapons even at long distances by attaching chakra strings to them. He’s deadly at long distances as well as short distances, but his attacks lack of real speed, so if you’re fast enough you can dodge them.

Name: Korime Nadeshiko. Boy with black hair and sunglasses next to Mikoto.
Skills: He’s physical strenght is something to fear, if you don’t want to be at the end of one of his punchs when he’s mad, then you better not even mention around him that Nadeshiko is usually a girls name. He has a very volatile temperament, ready to blow up at any second, and onces he decide that he must eliminate something, he won’t stop until he sees it completely aniquilated.

That’s what I have of the two Suna teams.”

“What about Grass? I’ve seen you hang out with them many times Kaji-senpai!”

“Ohh, right, one of my personal favorites is Grass. I got lots of information about them but I’ll give you the basics.

Name: Sora. He’s the one with long black hair tied up in a braid at the back of the room. Don’t ask me his last name, I never bothered to ask.
Skills: Even if sometimes he looks like an idiot, he’s a very smart boy, good at making strategies and the more mature of the team. He specializes in stealth and sneak attacks. His favorite weapon are the needles, because they are very clean and accurate at the time of killing his opponent.

Mako. He’s the red head with the ponytail next to Sora. Again I don’t know his last name, as I matter of fact I don’t know any of their last names.
Skills: He’s very childish, but that only helps him come up with unexpected attacks. He’s moves are almost impossible to predict, maybe because even him not know what he’s going to do next most of the times, but if you have good eyes and squint, you may find a patron on his attacks.

Sako. He’s the brunnette next to Sako.
Skills: Just like his names, Sako and Mako are very similar, and their teamworks has few fails. His a little more mature than Mako, but still childish. He has his quote of original jutsus, so fighting him is very tricky. He tends to follow Mako everywhere, they are almost joined at the hip.

The thing with this team is that unless they are in a very hard situation, non of the skills I already mentioned comes to the surface, so most of the time they are just a bunch of cocke brats. I highly doubt that their true abilities will come up until the last round.”

“Got anything about us boss?”

“Why you don’t read it yourself? I’m going to say hi to Hanabi’s team.” I say surrendering the small Chuunin Exam Bingo Book I made for the occasion to the greedy hands of Konohamaru’s team.

Hanabi and her two teammates are right next to the entrance door, looking and analizying the other participants from the test.

“Hyuuga Hanabi, I’m not surprised that your team was the first one to make it here, I bet that your Byakugan was of great help. I think that you have noticed that your older sister is one of the proctors of the exam.”

“Ahh… Kaji-senpai, I never thought I will see you here, your level is way above a genin if my eyes don’t trick me. Hn, that useless girl has no right to call herself my sister. I’m much younger than her, but I always surpassed her. She‘s just pathetic, instead of continue climbing ranks and become a ANBU captain like that scum of the Branch House that I have for a cousin, he decided to become an Academy teacher, she doesn‘t deserve to be the clan‘s heir.”

I could feel the anger boiling inside my body and before I could stop myself, my hand flew and slapped the insolent brat on the cheek.

“You are the one that has no right to call herself Hinata’s sister. How dare you say such things of her? Have you ever seen her fight recently at all? But that isn’t the point either, your sister is a kind woman and a good kunoichi that had the guts and the strength to persue her own dream, and not the one that her clan decided for her even before she was born. She’s by no means weak, or pathetic. And if you dare to refer to Neji like that again, you won‘t receive a simple slap, but a punch that will put to shame Hokage-sama‘s ones. He‘s a better man and ninja that any of the Main House. The only scum I see here, is you, treating me with respect because you know who I am, but saying such things of your own blood.” I reply her, every word dripping with venom, before turning around and leaving behind me the shocked girl and her teammates.

‘ ‘ Well… that was a little harsh don’t you think? ‘ ‘

‘No, she deserved it, for being such an insolent and disrespectful brat.’

‘ ‘ You do have a point there.’ ‘

I return to Konohamaru’s side, who congratulated me for putting Hanabi on her place. She always looked down to everyone else at the Academy. Moegi was specially pleased with the slap, she says that she wished that it was her the one to do it. Before Udon could say what he thought, the proctors of this part of the exam entered the room and started distributing circular tags with a number on them. The number corresponded to the arrival order, therefore, mine is number four.

“Listen up everybody! Don’t lose that number because you will need it for the next test! For now you are dismissed, we will notify your team’s teacher about the details of the next exam.” Ino announced happily.

“Wait, what happened with the first test?” Someone asked.

“What are you talking about? All of the presents already passed it, now leave!”

“But what was the test about?”

“Information gathering and Genjutsu awareness. As you can see, six people already failed, and that was because they either were too obvious when they were gathering information or they didn’t noticed the Genjutsu around this place and couldn’t find it. Happy now? Leave already damnit!” Ino said before leaving the room, followed by Hinata and Shino.

Well, the first part of the exam is over. The second test is next, if my assumptions are correct, the proctors will be Chouji, Shikamaru and Kiba. I’m a little worried about what they have planned, because they can be viscious and sadistic when they want, and I’m tempted to think this is one of those times…

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So there you go! I don't know how long until the next chapter, it all depends on how fast my daughter heals, so until then, Ja ne!!