Chapter 7 - The Chuunin Exam

Chapter 7: The Chuunin Exam
Naruto. Jaraiya's voice suddenly echoed through.
He woke up to find his sensei next to him standing. Yes, sensei.
There are ten sound ninjas this time in the exam. One of them could be Sasuke in disguise. I suggest during the first two tests you not use your --
Sound Barrier no jutsu!
I already did that. Anyways, do not use your bl... um, your meditation skills. Okay? I don't mind in the very last test because you're gonna need it if Sasuke is there. But do not use it before that. Got it?
Naruto nodded.
And this time, the third test isn't going to be a month away. It'll be the very next day. Jaraiya said gravely.
Understood.
But as long as someone like Gaara or Sasuke doesn't show up, Jaraiya smiled now, kick their asses. This should be cake.
Naruto smiled back. You know it.
Releasing the jutsu, Jaraiya went out. Naruto released his own, freshened up, and went into Hinata's room. She looked so peaceful. Her black, smooth hair was spread across her pillow, and her white, soft face seemed so peaceful. She's beautiful... Naruto thought. Placing his hand on her hair, Naruto thought this was paradise. He sniffed and smelled a fragrance of lilacs and slight jasmine. Placing his hand on her face, he lay his head down beside her so their cheeks would touch. He lay there for a few minutes and realized what he was going. Immediately he got off and mentally killed himself. DARN IT! WHAT ON EARTH WAS I JUST DOING? DAMN IT! I'M BECOMING LIKE JARAIYA-SENSEI! UGHHH! Hinata? he softly said.
She stirred and woke up.
He smiled. Rise and shine, sleepy head! Today's the chuunin exam!
She smiled back.
He went out of the room and made breakfast. She soon joined him. How do you like it? he asked slightly nervously.
She hugged him smiling. It's delicious!
Naruto inaudibly sighed.
Reaching the entrance hall, they placed their forms and sat in the hall before the first test. Looking around, Naruto saw mainly leaf ninja  about 80 of them. Then there were 10 sound, just as Jaraiya said, 20 grass, 15 sand, 3 lightning, 5 stone. Naruto frowned seeing the sound, but didn't show any emotion. Many of them were staring at him  after all, 6' 3'' muscular guy seemed intimidating.
The same proctor as before came and announced himself. Naruto and Hinata got their numbers and sat down in their appropriate seats. They were right next to each other! Naruto hugged her quietly, sat down, and began. Hinata started off with her byakungan and soon found a chuunin; it was Shino in disguise. Shino seemed to be the perfect choice, as he covered most of his body anyways. Hinata wrote on her paper, 'found him,' dropped her pencil so that Naruto could see, and came back up. Naruto followed her arrow until he, too, found him. Naruto used a shadow copy jutsu to copy Shino's movements. Then, right after the first jutsu, he used a shadow link jutsu to chain his hand to Hinata's. Soon both of them were done. They moved on to the second test.
Hinata sighed once they were out of the building.
You weren't nervous, were you? Naruto asked.
I was...
Naruto gasped and acted as if she had committed a sin. Hinata? I can't believe you! he added with extra dramatics.
Hinata couldn't help but smile.
Naruto took her hand and squeezed it. We'll be fine. he said.
She nodded.
Naruto went to take the scroll. It was an earth scroll this time. Anko went over the rules, and Naruto and Hinata headed for their gate. There were forty teams left. There would be at best twenty for the third test. The second test had begun.
Hinata led the way. Their plan was to approach the tower  there, once more teams came, they could then fight for the scroll. It would be better if they got there first though. Suddenly, as they approached, the temperature on the ground rose. Suddenly, the ground fell away. Naruto was just able to grab Hinata and use a Body Flicker jutsu to get on top of a brance. There was lava on the ground; in fact, the lava now was the ground. It covered the entire place, and soon the trees began to burn as well.
Uh oh... Naruto said.
What do we do?
Hinata, find the source of this.
Hinata activated her blood line limit. It's coming from a ninja about two hundred yards ahead. His chakra is extremely high!
Naruto simply chuckled. It was a ninja then. That was much better and easier to handle then. Naruto charged his chakra to his hand, made some signs, and said, TUNDRA GRAVE! Suddenly, the lava froze. Naruto simply hopped down and walked towards the source. When they reached the destination, Hinata examined and found the ninja was barely alive. Naruto kicked him and the ice broke. The ninja was a sound. Naruto took the scroll he had  an earth scroll, but Naruto figured it would eliminate more. Then, turning to the ninja, he said, Seven seals imprisonment no jutsu! and the ninja was immediately frozen in a seal.
Will he live?
Yeah. He'll have enough chakra for ten days, so he'll survive. If he can't get out by then, he'll die.
Ten days? He'll live for sure.
Naruto nodded. But he can't do anything but breath for the first three days. The seal will weaken after that rapidly. And we'll be long gone.
The sun was getting low now, so they decided to go up the trees to sleep instead of down on the ground. At the rate they were going, they would reach the tower by early tomorrow. Hinata used a genjutsu on the area to make them invisible, and made a chakra shield as well. Just to make sure, Naruto used a Lightning Imprisonment seal on them.
Why did you imprison us?
It's not really imprisonment. You see, I've made a shield. Nothing can get in, nothing can go out. So we're safe. And I can take it away whenever I want. he smiled.
I see. That was rather smart. An ultimate shield. They could sleep in peace... and wake up to find themselves in one piece now.
They slept on the branch, but it soon got very cold. Naruto woke up to find Hinata shivering. He looked at her. Using a jutsu, he made it warmer, but she still had a disturbed look on her mind. O who gives... And with that, he pushed away the sick thoughts in his mind and lied down next to her. She unconsciously snuggled up to him, and he put an arm around her. She had a happy look on her face now, and she had stopped shivering. Somehow Naruto couldn't bare to see her unhappy, and he obliged her wish and snuggled up even closer to her. Waking up, he found her right next to him breathing in him. She had that wonderful fragrance with her. Naruto inhaled it and stroked her hair. Hinata, he said softly.
She said something in her sleep, smiled unconsciously, and went closer to him.
Hinata, it's time to wake up. he said and gently shook her.
She opened her eyes and remembered where they were. Okay... she said sleepily.
Naruto helped her up, released the seal, and they proceeded. When they finally reached the tower, they saw three other teams right there. Two of them, Naruto and Hinata included, were leaf. One was lightning and another was stone. The other leaf team simply made a break for it and ran into the tower. However, the stone spoke.
We have a heaven scroll with us. What do you have?
The lightning replied, We, too, have heaven.
Naruto silently made a shadow clone a few yards away so no one saw. We also have a heaven scroll with us. he lied.
They teams looked at each other.
Suddenly, one of the lightning ninjas said, They're lying! They have an earth!
Instantly, Naruto and Hinata had the disadvantage. Four on two. Naruto didn't waste time. He and Hinata went into battle, but these guys weren't rookies. They were experts. The battle was rather tiring, and Naruto didn't want to use full potential. Suddenly, Naruto said, That's enough. We'll lay the earth scroll here. Please, just leave us.
Hinata, still having her byakungan on, looked at him in awe. Naruto never gave up. Suddenly, she realized. Oh no... She ran the opposite direction as fast as she could and found shelter.
Let her go. One of the stone ninjas said. It's this boy who has the scroll.
Then, Naruto appeared next to Hinata. He wrapped his body around Hinata in a tight hug, to protect her. He suddenly felt that instincts which guided him to save her, to make sure she didn't get hurt. Using his chakra, he made a strong shield. Hinata, I need your help. He whispered.
Hinata fed her chakra into it, too.
Hinata thought about his genius plan. It was in fact the shadow clone which was back there. By acting out of the ordinary, he caused Hinata to look at him. Since she had the byakungan on, she saw his chakra inside, and so, he signaled her to run without telling everyone else. Inside, was a huge amount of chakra, contained in a very small space. The clone would explode.
Seconds later, a huge explosion was heard. The chakra rushed past them; luckily, their shield was barely strong enough. The explosion lasted five seconds, and it burned everything within a three hundred yard radius. Walking there, Naruto saw that they were dead. Suddenly, tears came to his eyes. He hadn't expected them to stand there  he thought they would run, and they would escape in time... Hadn't they detected his massive chakra? He had killed... Killed for his first time... And he couldn't help but cry. He leaned on a nearby tree and cried. Suddenly, motherly instincts came over Hinata. Her Naruto-kun was hurt, and she would protect him. She came, wrapped him in her arms, and let him cry his heart out.
He buried his face in her chest and cried. It's okay. It's okay... was all he heard as he was rocked back and forth. Hinata stayed with him that day, consoling him. She patiently heard all his guilt and told him it wasn't his fault. At the end, he was very glad Hinata was there. She had helped him deal with it. Thanks, Hinata-chan.
She hugged him. Anytime, Naruto-kun.
They picked up both heaven scrolls and walked into the building. They summoned a different chuunin. Very well, you may proceed. the chuunin said.
Naruto and Hinata bowed, said, Thank you, and went into the hall. There they rested, ate, and recovered. At the end of five days, 10 leaf teams passed, 1 sound team, 2 stone, 4 sand, and 3 lightning. Again, there were way too many contestants; they had preliminaries. However, this was the part that was different. It wasn't like an ordinary one on one fight; it wasn't even team fight... In fact, it was a one on one fight... only, the one they would face was a chuunin.
Oh no... Naruto thought.
Naruto didn't watch the others' fights  he only kept track of who fought who... And the problem then came. The one he fought... was Sakura. Naruto came down.
Sakura-chan... I love you, and you are my teammate... I cannot... will not not fight you.
But Sakura had different thoughts. She had been missing Naruto too much  may be even longing for him, and she wanted to prove to herself that he was a weak, puny, pathetic little punk who could not beat her, and that way, she had not reason to love him... She never did have a reason to love him... Right? Yes, of course. What was she thinking, loving Naruto... Yeah right!
Naruto couldn't fight Sakura!Hearing the hokage's rules, Naruto heard that he didn't have to win... Just do well show competency. He then realized Tsunade was testing him. She put him up against her own student to see how well he had learned. Also, he inferred, there was a little bet of $5000 to the winner. Naruto sighed. Gambling on the relationship of two friends...
Hearing Naruto's words, Hinata could not do anything but sigh. She held back the tears... Seeing as she could not, she went to the bathroom. She couldn't... Of course... How could she even believe she could compete with Sakura, apprentice of Hokage-sama herself... She couldn't... And she never would, would she? No... She wouldn't...
One of the sound nins looked with a smile on his face. This... Should be interesting... It will settle once and for all, who was the strongest... of the three...
A sand ninja stolidly looked upon the two fighters. His partner bumped him on the shoulder, but the ninja showed no expression whatsoever. The time... will come... Naruto...
Naruto suddenly gripped himself... It was the opportunity he was waiting for. He would show Sakura-chan how strong he was. He would show her he was worthy... He would show her he was damn better looking than Lee for sure! But on his face was look of deep, humble sadness.
Very well, Sakura-chan. Since you have wanted this fight to prove you do not love me, we shall fight.
Sakura looked shocked. He had read through her like glass. Can he... No, of course not... No one can...
But do remember, you are a medical nin. Thus, you will not die, as you can heal yourself. So, I will not hold back. And... As I told to Kiba, 'If you get in my way of becoming hokage... I will whip you like a dog.' 
Sakura laughed. Cocky as ever, Naruto. Weak little annoying brat.
Naruto simply shook his head. Let us begin.
Sakura's smile went away. This was not Naruto. Naruto retaliated at even the slightest insult... Something was wrong... horribly... wrong...
BEGIN! Tsunade yelled.
Naruto made shadow clones and henged them into pebbles at such a fast speed, it appeared that he only made the pebbles around him move.
Kakashi was looking with his sharingan, and he was impressed. His sharingan was barely keeping up with his jutsu speed; it was impossible to see with the untrained eye.
That's it? Making pebbles move? My turn! Sakura yelled. She pouned her fist into the ground  a huge fifty foot of rock and earth was uplifted. Naruto simply jumped out of the radius, unimpressed. Everyone else's eyes were nearly popping out of their heads. It was incredible.
However, Naruto had been trained to sense even the slightest bit of chakra, and he realized all she had done was power her chakra to her first  truly remarkable due to the amount of control it needed, yes  but rather simple nonetheless. It was like Naruto's shadow clones  only showing off, and having no real use. He had learned that long ago.
That's it? he said appearing behind her. It was not him; only his shadow clone. He himself had henged into a pebble; so, it appeared that he had traveled at in incredibly fast rate. Naruto still wasn't trying his hardest. He punched Sakura without hesitation on the head; she healed herself immediately as she landed on her feet ten feet away.
The next thing she knew, she was on her her knees, struggling to get up. Naruto stood in front of her. Game over. he said. You've been sealed. You cannot move. he smiled. Lifting her chin so that she looked at him, he said, Good match.
What are you talking about! This isn't over!
I'm sorry. I would say 'I give up,' but, seeing as my sensei's $5000 depends on this match, I cannot. Forgive me. and with that he walked behind her calmly, placed his hand on her neck, and knocked her out. Carrying her to Tsunade, he gave Sakura to the hokage. Please, make sure she's all right. I may have gone too far.
It's okay, Naruto... She's fine... I on the other hand... she moped about her $5000. Sakura soon woke up to find herself next to her sensei. Naruto... I... I am... truly sorry... YOU COST ME $5000! $5000! TO THINK I TRUSTED YOU... I CANNOT BELIEVE IT... She went on with her moping, but continued her announcements.
Hinata turned around to find Naruto behind her.
N-Naruto-kun.
Hinata? Are you all right? Your stutter is back!
T-This is the g-girls r-room.
He went closer to her. That's not what's bothering you.
Like you care...
He hugged her. I do care. When you're not happy, my world is darker. I'm not happy, and it bugs me so much. Whenever you feel sad, I don't know why, but you're always in my mind. I do care. Now tell me, what's bothering you?
I-Is Sakura-chan a-all right?
She's fine. I won. Hinata, stop beating around the bush. What's wrong?
I love you... That's what went wrong... The sad thing is, I will always continue to love you... Nothing... she said, and walked away.
Naruto, for the first time, couldn't read her face. He had a slight hint  it was something about love  but he had no clue what. Does she  nah, yeah right! Like that could ever happen. Naruto shrugged off the idea and walked off.
Hinata had to fight some inexperienced chuunin who actually only became chuunin one year ago. Hinata easily won, only with one or two bruises, and she moved on.
In the end, 3 leaf teams passed, 1 sound team, 2 sand, and 2 lightning. There were four teams; thus, two rounds would be team battles, and at the end, there would be regular one on one fights. It would take place the next day as Jaraiya had said.
Naruto and Hinata went back home. Hinata and he took a shower, changed into night clothes, and readied themselves. Coming out, Naruto saw Hinata. She was gorgeous. Naruto's eyes widened. He couldn't stop thinking about her all of dinner, and stared at her.
What? she asked.
Nothing... he mumbled. After that, he meditated, but he found he couldn't  he kept thinking about her the whole time! What was wrong with him? Then Jaraiya came. He explained the situation privately to him.
Jeez... Just when I thought you were smart...
What is it then, Sherlock?
You're in love you idiot! and then he left Naruto to ponder this.
But I love Sakura-chan!
Do you know what love is? Jaraiya asked him.
Of course! It's...! It's... It's...
Jaraiya disappeared.
The problem was, that the more he thought about it, the more his feelings for her consciously grew. Could that pervert be right for once? He shook his head, but he couldn't get her out of his head. He looked at the clock. It was nine. She couldn't be asleep. And then he realized it. It's my feeling for you. He had to tell her.
Going to her door, he knocked.
Naruto-kun?
Yeah... Hinata-chan, can I come in? I need to talk to you.
Yes, Naruto-kun.
She was reading a book on her bed. She put it down as he came in and sat next to her. Hinata-chan... It's about the chuunin exam...
Yes?
Why... Why did you help me when I killed those people?
For the same reason you helped me when my father was about to put the seal on me. she simply said.
But... Did you know what that reason was?
No... Like you don't know my reason...
This frustrated Naruto, and it wasn't making his confession any easier. But Hinata saw through him like glass.
Naruto-kun, what do you want? 'Stop beating around the bush.'  she quoted him.
Naruto realized something was wrong. Hinata was usually not like this. She seemed... unusually sad. Her voice had no malice in it, just pure sadness. Um... This isn't really easy to say, and, let me just say before hand that if you hate me for this, or if you want to get away from me, or if you don't feel the same way, I'm sorry, and I forgive you. I know you're sad... And so... I know you'll hate me...
Hinata tilted her head slightly wondering what could be so bad.
Hinata... I... he sighed. He couldn't do it. Hinata, I love you. There, he said it. He braced for a slap, or a scream, or a girl running away from him, but nothing like that happened. When he opened his eyes, he saw a crying Hinata. Hinata I am so sorry! I knew it was a bad idea but --
Hinata lunged at him and kissed him.
Her lips were so, so soft and tender. Naruto realized that she was his heaven, his paradise, no... She was his very life. He needed her. She wasn't just some fun thing he could go to every now and again. No, he had to have her. Without her, he was like a plant without water. Naruto pulled her to him, and she willingly went. They were now against each other, and Naruto was still squeezing her. He kissed her lovingly, and she kissed him back.
When they finally let go, she said through teary eyes, I love you Uzumaki Naruto. I have always loved you, I love you, and I always will love you.
Even at the academy?
She nodded. Even at the academy.
Naruto placed her right next to him and kissed her again. He nudged her on her neck, hurtin her a bit, and kissed her there to heal her. Then she poked him, and they went on and on switching roles in this game. All the while, Naruto looked at Hinata, and now, in her eyes, Naruto saw a bit of lavender... And it grew... And grew... Until her eyes were lavender up till her irises. Naruto kissed her again.
What about Sakura... Hinata looked at him worriedly.
That's what had been bugging her... Of course! Was he an idiot or something! He had the idea that she loved him but shunned it away thinking it couldn't be possible.
Naruto smiled, squeezed her hand, and said, Hinata, I didn't even know what love was... Until I met you... And I will never leave your side... Never... And that's a promise.
And we don't ever go back on our words, do we... Because that's our ninja way.
Naruto seemed a bit startled that she said 'we', but he smiled, loving it, pulled her closer to him, and said, Yes... Exactly, and kissed her. He fingered through her soft hair, as so toyed with his. He let her kiss his cheeks, nuzzle his neck, and whatever she wanted. He was simply enjoying being with her.
Waking up, Naruto found himself right next to her. He snuggled himself closer, wanting to simply remain with her forever. He inhaled her soothing scent, cointaining of lavender and a bit of jasmine, and kissed all over the back of her neck. He placed his hands around her hips, kissed her neck again, and woke her. She went closer to him, wanting to surround herself completely in him. He began nibbling her ear, and she moaned with joy. Suddenly, he remembered it was the final test of the chuunin exam. He frowned, and she sensed it.
She turned and faced him. Then, resting her head on his neck right underneath his head, she kissed him, and said lovingly, "Come on, Naruto-kun. Let's go."
"I don't wannoo..." he mumbled, closed his eyes, and simply lay next to her kissing her head every so often.
"Naruto-kun..." she whined. "All right, it's time to go." and she got up.
But he simply remained in bed.
Then, grabbing him tightly, she kissed him on the lips as hard as she could.
Naruto sighed when it was over and got up.
"Finally! Am I going to have to do this every morning!"
He kissed her on the cheek. "I wouldn't mind." he said smiling.
"I love you." she said.
"I love you, too." he replied with one last hug.
The 'I love you's were now their morning greeting. They got up, prepared themselves, and got ready. With high hopes, they set off for the final test of the chuunin exam.
"Are we ready?" a pair of red eyes glared at the man.
Shifting his glasses carelessly, he simply said, "We're fine. We've been through the review already. Let's go."
The red eyes glowed for a second, and the man was on the floor dead. Today... Is the day I test my strength... Today... I will fix the past wrongs...
The sun came up as it approached seven o' clock... The chuunin exams would begin in one hour...

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