The Chunin Exam - 9

"We were chased out here after they discovered us," Lee explained as he led Neji past the tree line into the surrounding forest of the estate, "This is where I last saw Gai-sensei..."

Neji had activated the Byakugan and was already examining the area.

Lee paused, hesitant to go any farther, "Shouldn't we wait for Tenten?"

"She'll be right behind us," Neji dismissed the thought as he searched for signs of their mentor.

All at once, the two Leaf ninja leapt back to avoid the shuriken that rained down where they had been standing. They looked up to see another Rock shinobi, perched on top of a nearby rock ledge. He looked a bit older than them.

Both Lee and Neji were confident at that point after having defeated a jounin. The chunin before them did not seem at all threatening.

"Feh!" Clearly he was displeased with his aim, as he made a reach for more shuriken.

"Where is Gai-sensei?" Lee demanded, taking an offensive stance.

"If you mean that crazy guy with the stupid haircut," The Rock nin smirked, "My squad leader is handling him right now..."

Lee glared at him but knew better than to be provoked. Neji, even without using the Byakugan, noticed the earth clone of the Rock ninja that had crept up behind them and he turned, signaling for Lee to move.

After avoiding its surprise attack and reducing it to a pile of dirt with a blast of Jyukken, Neji was about to destroy the other two clones closing in. Lee had found one of them and was already attempting to dispatch it, not prepared for when the original Rock chunin attacked from underground, "Doton: Inner Decapitation Jutsu!"

Taken by surprise, Lee was suddenly dragged underground, leaving only his head exposed above the surface. He wore a baffled look as the earth clones approached.

Neji easily destroyed them with two well-placed jabs, and after seeing that Lee was stuck he continued on to get rid of the young Rock nin. In his rush, he evaded the rest of the shuriken the Rock chunin hurled at him with ease.

Unfortunately, after he sealed only two tenketsu, the Rock ninja managed one last panicked jutsu. Neji failed to avoid the rock slide that came crashing down beside him, obscuring him from Lee's view.

Lee spat out a mouthful of dust, "Bleh! Neji!"

It was quiet for a long moment. Out of the rubble, brushing dust from his arms the Rock ninja appeared, coughing and sputtering after his reckless move.

Lee fell silent and watched as the Rock shinobi descended the slope, pleased with his handiwork, 'Did he...really get Neji?'

It seemed so.

Not a moment later, Tenten came diving through the trees, throwing round after round of kunai. One of which, with an exploding tag attached, landed nearby Lee as he began to wriggle out of his prison, "Tenten–!" He was cut off as the tag detonated and thankfully gave him enough leverage from the debris to free himself.

The Rock chunin blocked her hail of knives and ducked back, not expecting another to show up.

She landed in front of Lee with a kunai raised in front of her. He sighed in relief.

"Where's Neji?" Tenten gave him a sideways glance.

"He was injured and I think-"

"Then take him and go ahead and find Gai-sensei," Tenten answered, eyes set on the Iwa nin, "There's no use waiting around here."

Lee gave her an incredulous look, "But Tenten, what about you?"

"I can handle it." She said curtly, watching as the Rock ninja began to form seals.

With a compliant nod, Lee darted over to the rock pile as Tenten leapt at the opposing shinobi. After leaning the unconscious Hyuga prodigy on his shoulder he bolted, hoping she would end this battle as decisively as she had ended the last.

Again, the chunin used a Rock jutsu which she easily avoided by taking cover in a tree. The shuriken he threw as a follow up she deflected and threw back at him. Tenten was still fresh with energy and she could tell her opponent was wearing down.

'If I stay up here, I can avoid his earth jutsu no problem!' She decided, jumping up higher and higher into the canopy of old oaks.

Without warning he appeared behind her and stabbed her full in the back. He only destroyed a substitute. Again he was frustrated, "Why don't you come out of hiding little girl? Your teammates aren't here to save you!"

Tenten already had a summoning scroll out, moving fast. In her mind, she thanked Lee for all of his training as her beloved zanbato appeared and she took hold of its hilt with calloused, practiced hands.

The chunin settled on a lower branch, still searching for her with a kunai in hand.

Suddenly she was falling with the weight of the blade, and she seemed to fly downward, in a silent free fall though the treetops, crashing down next to his position. Tenten watched as his eyes widened in shock, probably due to never seeing such a weapon before.

And it happened with her mind elsewhere. The blade swung nearly on its own accord and bisected him right through his middle.

The Rock nin gave a startled, choked gasp before he fell back off of the branch in two halves.

She rested on bent knee and leaned on the stained blade. She panted heavily.

Tenten could tell she had won even before she had summoned the sword.

With only half a mind and a conscience that seemed to be frozen over, she unsummoned her blade without cleaning it, her arms trembling from the effort.

Tenten hadn't wanted to kill him but he had gotten in the way. If she hadn't stopped him he would have surely gone after her friends.

The next thought that did cross her foggy mind happened to be something less important, 'I'm definitely not calling it Cow-Killer anymore.'

*

"Remind me again why we're not out training?" Naruto yawned, preparing ramen for his breakfast.

It was the day before the Chunin Exam and the three boys of Team 2 lazed about at home early that morning.

"Jiraiya-sensei feels we should rest our bodies and minds for the day so we can be fresh for tomorrow," Haku answered, busy sweeping, "Today we relax."

The blonde boy smirked at him, "You don't seem very relaxed to me, Haku-kun."

Haku frowned at him, "If I don't do the housework it'll never get done."

Naruto nodded, knowing that neither he nor Gaara were keen on chores, at least not the way Haku was. Somehow during their years spent living together Haku had assumed the role of housekeeper.

On the couch Gaara was spread out, dozing lightly.

Though they didn't admit it, the boys all had the 'pre-exam jitters,' or so Jiraiya had labeled it. They didn't know what to expect from the exam besides the participation of shinobi from distant countries. It was anyone's guess what would happen after they took the plunge into the fierce contest of becoming chunin.

Gaara was confident enough to sleep on the idea.

Naruto and Haku, on the other hand, were a different story.

Finished with his cleaning, Haku sat across from Naruto at the table and helped himself to some instant ramen. Naruto slurped his noodles slowly, staring down into his cup.

"So, tell me about your training with Hinata-chan," Haku said after a moment, looking sly, "Gaara says you've been going to see her often now."

The blonde boy's face lit up at the subject, "Yeah, Hinata-chan is awesome to spar with! Her taijutsu totally rules out yours and Gaara's!"

"I can imagine..." Haku sighed.

"She's great, but..." Naruto's smile faded, "Her clan has issues. I've never seen people more stuck up! And they make her out to be some kind of joke. It's completely unfair, Haku-kun."

"The Hyuga's strict traditions make them quite narrow-minded," The dark haired boy agreed, taking a nip at his ramen, "But what do they have against Hinata-chan?"

"Her dad thinks she's worthless and that Neji's some kind of saint!" Naruto had stopped eating, and his raised voice caught Haku by surprise, "I'm telling you, it's unbelievable that she's even related to them at all!"

Gaara smirked from his place on the sofa.

"And Hinata-chan…she keeps trying so hard. When I'm Hokage, I'm gonna set that clan straight, just wait and see!" Naruto gestured with his chopsticks.

Haku smiled and with an earnest voice answered, "Naruto, you really will be the most virtuous of leaders this village has ever had. I will cherish the day your face joins those on the Hokage monument."

Naruto wore an astounded look upon hearing his friend's sincere words, and then nodded quietly, unsure of what to say.

In his own mind, Gaara agreed with Haku's declaration.

"I spoke with Sakura-chan yesterday after I ran into her uptown," Haku changed the subject with flawless timing.

Naruto wore a surprised expression, "Really? I haven't seen her in a while."

Gaara's smirk vanished.

"Yes. She and her teammates have been thoroughly preparing for the exam, although she seemed a bit nervous," Haku added thoughtfully, "Not unlike us."

"Feh! We'll do fine! I still think we're the best team in this entire village!" Naruto grinned confidently, having faith in his team's abilities.

Without any kind of warning, Gaara rose from the couch and left the apartment. His friends blinked in confusion.

The door closed behind Gaara gently and Naruto stared after him inquisitively, "Where does he think he's going?"

"Gaara-kun can handle himself," Haku said simply, "Let him go where he likes."