Chapter 35

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Title: Chunin Exams 7

...

Shun's POV

"Congratulations to you all on passing the second exams!!" Hiruzen began his speech as he cast his gaze towards the genins standing in front of him.

I couldn't help but look behind him as my eye twitched at one of th Jounins standing right there.

Orochimaru, in his full glory stood there like it was no one's business as he cast a well hidden glance, filled with disdain at the old man.

As though feeling my stare, he turned to me and gave a smile to which I responded.

Walking into the tower was one thing but standing so close to the man he wanted to kill more than anything without letting out any killing intent was rather admirable.

Turning to look at the Genins I could see varying emotions in their eyes. Indifference, arrogance, nonchalance, excitement as well as disregard. But one that caught my eyes the most was the downtrodden look a couple of them had, which included my team.

There was also the scared looks from Kiba as well as Akamaru. Guess they did meet Gaara during one of his episodes.

Shaking my head, I looked at Anko who was probably lamenting at the fact that she failed to actually cut their numbers toa proper half. And behind her were the Senseis, of which I was also standing in their midst.

Asuma, Guy, Kurenai and two other Jounins I would probably forget their existence had proud looks while Kakashi looked indifferent at the whole thing.

Classic Kakashi.

"Now! Lord Hokage himself will explain about the third Exams. Listen up and take every word he says to heart." Anko spoke up, disrupting my thoughts and bringing my attention back to the old man.

Hiruzen gazed at the genins before he began. "The third Exams is about to commence, but before I go into the specifics of how it will be conducted, let me make on thing perfectly clear."

"It pertains to the underlying purpose of the Exam..."

Hiruzen then went on to explain how this stage was a stage set up by the participating villages as a means to fight against themselves while also showcasing their future potentials to the world.

In short, it was a miniature war.

As soon as he finished with the explanation there was an outburst amongst the Genins with Naruto shouting that he assumed it was just an exams to select Chunins.

I couldn't help shaking my head at his self induced idiocy.

I mean, the Hokage is telling you that the original intent of the Chunin exams was to simulate a war and you're thinking otherwise and even voicing it?

Sigh...

Hiruzen went on to explain that if certain participants show to be incompetent or weak, commissions from agents to the country of the individual would be reduced .

"The strength of a Country are the Shinobi, and the greatest strength of these Shinobi, only emerge in the most desperate life and death battles..."

He said which made me nod my head in agreement as he continued.

Hiruzen continued explaining while also clearing whatever doubts the Genin had until the proctor of the exams finally decided to make a move and stop the old man.

I was nearing my limits listening to the man ramble on and on.

I get the fact that he's probably dodging some paperworks but c'mon!

"Good to meet you everyone. I'm Hayate. Uhh, before we start the exams, I must ask all of you to do something for me..." the guy said as he glared at the kids with dead eyes.

This guy needs to chill. What's with the stare. I couldn't feel any particular ailment plaguing him other than a small cancer cell on his lungs.

'Hmm. This looks similar to Itachi's probably due to excessive use of Fire Style. Due to the presence of chakra, Shinobis don't even fall sick, and even if they do, it's probably related to excess or lack of chakra in certain areas of the body.

Noticing the confusion on the Genins' face, Hayate continued. "Ymm, you see, there are some preliminaries to the exam proper...and whether you proceed to the main exam is contingent on how well you manage those."

"P-preliminaries!?"

"Like what?"

"Hayate-san, I don't understand what you mean by preliminaries. Why can't all the remaining applicants just proceed to the next exams?"

A series of questions were thrown at Hayate who intensified his glare and explained how there were still to many applicants, and under the rules of the exams, they had to hold a preliminaries to reduce the number of those to proceed to the next exam.

"Bu-but..."

"As Lord Hokage mentioned. A number of honoured guests will be observing during the third Exams. We need to make the exams intense, tight and fast paced."

He went on to explain a bunch of things to them before announcing that there would be holding the preliminaries immediately.

"Now!?" Kiba practically howled While the others looked grim.

Since Hayate had also given the option for them to give up now, the whole room descended into silence as everyone accessed themselves.

No one showed any signs of giving up. Not even the trio I brought with me...

"Well... I give up." A bestacled young man raised his hands and said with a smile.

"What!?"

Came everyone's shocked cry as they turned to the person who had the gall to give up after coming all this way.

Hayate stared at Kabuto before pulling out file and began to call out his profile Infront of everyone to which seemed very clean, which was pretty normal, considering he was originally from Konoha.

Anko even went further to dig into his past as a war orphan who was found and put under No Yakushi's care. Her evaluation of him was: Very Ordinary.

Humph. This is someone currently strong enough to give a normal Jounin a run for his money. Well, that's why he's an expert level spy.

As if hearing what Anko said, Kabuto adjusted the rims of his glasses in the classic badass style, causing light to reflect on it.

How that even happened baffled me.

Moments later, he walked out of the room with a sinister smirk on his face.

Now, this is my problem with guys like Kabuto. Why can't they just smile normally?

I mean, villains who smile sinisterly always end up losing, don't they?

Only those who smile normally even when everything is going their way tend to reach the end of the story.

That's common sense, isn't it?

Sigh.

Anyways, back to those that matter, Sasuke was still nursing the area Orochimaru had injected the serum while Naruto was hyped up as usual.

Guess it'll take a period of constant battles or to make the serum properly assimilate with his body.

Oh-ya. Are they arguing about something over there?

Hmm. I see. Sakura wants Sasuke to withdraw due to the mark left behind by the Serum. However, Sasuke wants to prove himself in this competition.

Sigh... What a dilemma.

Personally, I feel she's misplacing her worry. I mean, even I am not worried, what's she worried about?

I'm pretty sure if there was something wrong with him, he would've known through his status, and so will Naruto.

After a few exchange of words, Sakura finally realised that some things were just beyond her... What? No, I didn't know what they were saying, but Sakura gots to understand that everyone has a reason for doing what they do.

It's kind of a nice way to put being selfish, but who cares...

As they began to make their way upstairs Sasuke didn't forget to challenge Naruto which was weird since it was usually Naruto doing to challenge.

"It's just as I'd feared." Ibiki muttered to Hiruzen as they all looked at the departing Sasuke.

"What can we do?" Hiruzen asked calmly. "Pull him out of the exams. Quarantine him under the guard of the Anbu."

"You will do no such thing." I said while failing to conceal the smile on my face.

"Shun-kun, we're doing this for his own safety. From what we know, the substance in his body could do more harm than good." Hiruzen tried to reason, which was in his rights.

He knew full well that I would allow no such actions to be taken against Sasuke.

"Exactly. From what 'You' know, it 'Could' do more harm to his body." I intoned. "You can't see nor feel what's going on inside his body. Don't jump into conclusions. I am not worried, why are you?" I asked and faced the man while making sure he knew I was staring at him despite the blindfold.

We remained locked in our positions until Kakashi sighed and said. "Lord Hokage, I stand with Shun on this."

"What? Kakashi!" Asuma and Guy both cried in confusion.

To them, Kakashi was siding with an outsider over his own Kage, however, Kakashi didn't pay them any heed and continued.

"Do you really think he'd just go quietly if you carried out that order? Keep in mind that he's an Uchiha, a genius one at that."

"Don't talk nonsense. I'll stop him by force if I have to. Any attempt he makes at manipulating his own chakra will provoke a reaction from that Seal Mark, which will end up forcibly drawing out and draining all his strength." Anko raised her voice at Kakashi and I could understand her emotions.

She probably felt like she was a victim of some sort of experiment perpetuated by Orochimaru.

From her first use of the seal, she probably was bed-ridden after using it for the first time, so she sealed it away while assuming it was sure kill Seal Mark.

"And you will go against me?" I asked the girl.

"If I have to. He's a Konoha nin." Came her reply which made me smile.

There was a moment of silence as we glared at eachother. "I see. Unfortunately, without using that seal, you're no match for me. Sasuke will fight as is, should the seal flare and his body can't take it, I'll take care of it."

"And you know what the seal is?" Hiruzen asked to whic I smiled.

"Of course. That seal, is the creation of a genius. A pity a group of people fail to see it's ingenuity." I said and without waiting for them to ask further, I say. "Look, it's starting."

****

Hey guys. I'm back and writing. This is a 1.7k words chapter and this will be the format I'll be using during this Chunin exams.

I don't really care about anyone's POV other than Shun's so that's that.

Also, I'm pretty sure some of you feel I'm making Orochimaru to be a good guy, but don't forget. Shun is all for making the Normal people stronger through conventional means.

Orochimaru experimented with kids. Yes. Due to Danzo's.....

Sorry. I'll be explaining all these in the subsequent chapters so stay tunedTitle: Chunin Exams 7

...

Shun's POV

"Congratulations to you all on passing the second exams!!" Hiruzen began his speech as he cast his gaze towards the genins standing in front of him.

I couldn't help but look behind him as my eye twitched at one of th Jounins standing right there.

Orochimaru, in his full glory stood there like it was no one's business as he cast a well hidden glance, filled with disdain at the old man.

As though feeling my stare, he turned to me and gave a smile to which I responded.

Walking into the tower was one thing but standing so close to the man he wanted to kill more than anything without letting out any killing intent was rather admirable.

Turning to look at the Genins I could see varying emotions in their eyes. Indifference, arrogance, nonchalance, excitement as well as disregard. But one that caught my eyes the most was the downtrodden look a couple of them had, which included my team.

There was also the scared looks from Kiba as well as Akamaru. Guess they did meet Gaara during one of his episodes.

Shaking my head, I looked at Anko who was probably lamenting at the fact that she failed to actually cut their numbers toa proper half. And behind her were the Senseis, of which I was also standing in their midst.

Asuma, Guy, Kurenai and two other Jounins I would probably forget their existence had proud looks while Kakashi looked indifferent at the whole thing.

Classic Kakashi.

"Now! Lord Hokage himself will explain about the third Exams. Listen up and take every word he says to heart." Anko spoke up, disrupting my thoughts and bringing my attention back to the old man.

Hiruzen gazed at the genins before he began. "The third Exams is about to commence, but before I go into the specifics of how it will be conducted, let me make on thing perfectly clear."

"It pertains to the underlying purpose of the Exam..."

Hiruzen then went on to explain how this stage was a stage set up by the participating villages as a means to fight against themselves while also showcasing their future potentials to the world.

In short, it was a miniature war.

As soon as he finished with the explanation there was an outburst amongst the Genins with Naruto shouting that he assumed it was just an exams to select Chunins.

I couldn't help shaking my head at his self induced idiocy.

I mean, the Hokage is telling you that the original intent of the Chunin exams was to simulate a war and you're thinking otherwise and even voicing it?

Sigh...

Hiruzen went on to explain that if certain participants show to be incompetent or weak, commissions from agents to the country of the individual would be reduced .

"The strength of a Country are the Shinobi, and the greatest strength of these Shinobi, only emerge in the most desperate life and death battles..."

He said which made me nod my head in agreement as he continued.

Hiruzen continued explaining while also clearing whatever doubts the Genin had until the proctor of the exams finally decided to make a move and stop the old man.

I was nearing my limits listening to the man ramble on and on.

I get the fact that he's probably dodging some paperworks but c'mon!

"Good to meet you everyone. I'm Hayate. Uhh, before we start the exams, I must ask all of you to do something for me..." the guy said as he glared at the kids with dead eyes.

This guy needs to chill. What's with the stare. I couldn't feel any particular ailment plaguing him other than a small cancer cell on his lungs.

'Hmm. This looks similar to Itachi's probably due to excessive use of Fire Style. Due to the presence of chakra, Shinobis don't even fall sick, and even if they do, it's probably related to excess or lack of chakra in certain areas of the body.

Noticing the confusion on the Genins' face, Hayate continued. "Ymm, you see, there are some preliminaries to the exam proper...and whether you proceed to the main exam is contingent on how well you manage those."

"P-preliminaries!?"

"Like what?"

"Hayate-san, I don't understand what you mean by preliminaries. Why can't all the remaining applicants just proceed to the next exams?"

A series of questions were thrown at Hayate who intensified his glare and explained how there were still to many applicants, and under the rules of the exams, they had to hold a preliminaries to reduce the number of those to proceed to the next exam.

"Bu-but..."

"As Lord Hokage mentioned. A number of honoured guests will be observing during the third Exams. We need to make the exams intense, tight and fast paced."

He went on to explain a bunch of things to them before announcing that there would be holding the preliminaries immediately.

"Now!?" Kiba practically howled While the others looked grim.

Since Hayate had also given the option for them to give up now, the whole room descended into silence as everyone accessed themselves.

No one showed any signs of giving up. Not even the trio I brought with me...

"Well... I give up." A bestacled young man raised his hands and said with a smile.

"What!?"

Came everyone's shocked cry as they turned to the person who had the gall to give up after coming all this way.

Hayate stared at Kabuto before pulling out file and began to call out his profile Infront of everyone to which seemed very clean, which was pretty normal, considering he was originally from Konoha.

Anko even went further to dig into his past as a war orphan who was found and put under No Yakushi's care. Her evaluation of him was: Very Ordinary.

Humph. This is someone currently strong enough to give a normal Jounin a run for his money. Well, that's why he's an expert level spy.

As if hearing what Anko said, Kabuto adjusted the rims of his glasses in the classic badass style, causing light to reflect on it.

How that even happened baffled me.

Moments later, he walked out of the room with a sinister smirk on his face.

Now, this is my problem with guys like Kabuto. Why can't they just smile normally?

I mean, villains who smile sinisterly always end up losing, don't they?

Only those who smile normally even when everything is going their way tend to reach the end of the story.

That's common sense, isn't it?

Sigh.

Anyways, back to those that matter, Sasuke was still nursing the area Orochimaru had injected the serum while Naruto was hyped up as usual.

Guess it'll take a period of constant battles or to make the serum properly assimilate with his body.

Oh-ya. Are they arguing about something over there?

Hmm. I see. Sakura wants Sasuke to withdraw due to the mark left behind by the Serum. However, Sasuke wants to prove himself in this competition.

Sigh... What a dilemma.

Personally, I feel she's misplacing her worry. I mean, even I am not worried, what's she worried about?

I'm pretty sure if there was something wrong with him, he would've known through his status, and so will Naruto.

After a few exchange of words, Sakura finally realised that some things were just beyond her... What? No, I didn't know what they were saying, but Sakura gots to understand that everyone has a reason for doing what they do.

It's kind of a nice way to put being selfish, but who cares...

As they began to make their way upstairs Sasuke didn't forget to challenge Naruto which was weird since it was usually Naruto doing to challenge.

"It's just as I'd feared." Ibiki muttered to Hiruzen as they all looked at the departing Sasuke.

"What can we do?" Hiruzen asked calmly. "Pull him out of the exams. Quarantine him under the guard of the Anbu."

"You will do no such thing." I said while failing to conceal the smile on my face.

"Shun-kun, we're doing this for his own safety. From what we know, the substance in his body could do more harm than good." Hiruzen tried to reason, which was in his rights.

He knew full well that I would allow no such actions to be taken against Sasuke.

"Exactly. From what 'You' know, it 'Could' do more harm to his body." I intoned. "You can't see nor feel what's going on inside his body. Don't jump into conclusions. I am not worried, why are you?" I asked and faced the man while making sure he knew I was staring at him despite the blindfold.

We remained locked in our positions until Kakashi sighed and said. "Lord Hokage, I stand with Shun on this."

"What? Kakashi!" Asuma and Guy both cried in confusion.

To them, Kakashi was siding with an outsider over his own Kage, however, Kakashi didn't pay them any heed and continued.

"Do you really think he'd just go quietly if you carried out that order? Keep in mind that he's an Uchiha, a genius one at that."

"Don't talk nonsense. I'll stop him by force if I have to. Any attempt he makes at manipulating his own chakra will provoke a reaction from that Seal Mark, which will end up forcibly drawing out and draining all his strength." Anko raised her voice at Kakashi and I could understand her emotions.

She probably felt like she was a victim of some sort of experiment perpetuated by Orochimaru.

From her first use of the seal, she probably was bed-ridden after using it for the first time, so she sealed it away while assuming it was sure kill Seal Mark.

"And you will go against me?" I asked the girl.

"If I have to. He's a Konoha nin." Came her reply which made me smile.

There was a moment of silence as we glared at eachother. "I see. Unfortunately, without using that seal, you're no match for me. Sasuke will fight as is, should the seal flare and his body can't take it, I'll take care of it."

"And you know what the seal is?" Hiruzen asked to whic I smiled.

"Of course. That seal, is the creation of a genius. A pity a group of people fail to see it's ingenuity." I said and without waiting for them to ask further, I say. "Look, it's starting."

****

Hey guys, this will be the format I'll be using during this Chunin exams.

I don't really care about anyone's POV other than Shun's so that's that.

Also, I'm pretty sure some of you feel I'm making Orochimaru to be a good guy, but don't forget. Shun is all for making the Normal people stronger through conventional means.

Orochimaru experimented with kids. Yes. Due to Danzo's.....

Sorry. I'll be explaining all these in the subsequent chapters. Stay Tuned.