Chapter 8: Test 2

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. The only thing I own is a bag of ideas and a bit of inspiration.

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"Did you find Sensei?"

"..No" Kokoro said softly, as she looked away.

"Hn, then we have to search for him quickly only 30 minutes are left," said Uchiha Soba, trying to sound confident, but his voice betrayed a hint of nervousness.

Ren looked at the trap mechanism with frustration beneath his calm exterior, 'We are already quite deep in this ground, We have already searched the front area for Sensei, So the most possible area to find Sensei is further in.' thought Ren.

"Let's continue to move in this direction," ordered Ren as he glanced at his teammates. Kokoro looked like she wanted to say something but held it back and stayed silent.

Soon they crossed the snakeskin and continued to venture further. Suddenly, Ren motioned everyone to crouch as he peered at the clearing before him. He signalled his teammates to come to join him.

Uchiha soba joined him as they looked at the clearing. Uchiha Soba was about to rush in as he saw Indo but Ren quickly held him back. "Let's ambush him together," whispered Ren.

Uchiha Soba and Kyokei Kokoro nodded as they began discussing their plan. Soba recommended some standard ambush strategies taught in their clan.

Ren nodded and then looked at Kokoro for her input but she just shook her head indicating she had nothing to say. Finalizing their plan all of them discreetly took their position for ambush.

Soba threw a kunai at Indo from a tree and ran towards him. Indo dodged the kunai as he jumped away with ease. "An ambush?" Questioned Indo as he watched the Uchiha approach him holding the kunai in his hand.

Indo and Soba now engaged in a taijutsu fight, But Indo blocked each of Soba's attacks and was about to punch him, but sensing something, He grabbed the Uchiha and twisted himself as he avoided kunai aiming at him from his back and sides.

Indo threw Soba towards Kokoro who was trying to attack him from behind. Both Uchiha and Kokoro collided and fell to the ground.

Indo turned to Ren and was about to punch Ren, But as soon as his punch reached Ren, it went through him. Indo widened his eyes as he pulled back his hand.

'Clone jutsu.' thought Indo as he saw a kunai with paper seals pass through the illusion of Ren.

He quickly traced back the location of the kunai.

*Boom*

Ren watched as he saw the paper seals exploded but quickly put up his hands in defence as he felt his instincts scream.

*thud* Ren was pushed back as Indo punched him as soon as he had shunshined there.

Ren saw Indo going for another attack, 'Kawarimi no Jutsu' With that Ren substituted himself with a log and crouched behind a bush.

Ren waited for Soba and Kokoro to attack Indo but seeing them not attack yet made Ren glance towards them

'Th-These bastards are arguing' thought Ren in bafflement as he looked at them arguing over something.

Ren ran towards them and almost shouted "WHAT are you doing?" This made both of them flinch, "THIS IDIOT STABBED ME." shouted Kokoro as she glared towards Soba.

"IT WAS NOT INTENTIONAL, SENSEI THREW ME TOWARDS YOU, YOU SHOULD HAVE DODGED, YOU BITCH..." Shouted back an equally enraged Uchiha

Ren looked at Kokoro and saw a slight wound near her collarbone and gained a picture of what had happened

'When Indo threw Soba to Kokoro, he must have still had the kunai in his hand and it mistakenly pierced her.' but this just made Ren more furious.

Suddenly both Soba and Kokoro stopped arguing as they felt chills down their back. They both slowly turned towards Ren and gulped as they felt nervous.

Ren was glaring at them with hostility " Do you want to go back to the academy? Both of you have abandoned the plan when we only have at most 10 minutes to land a hit and pass the test?" Ren questioned them in a low voice.

This made both of them avert their eyes butthey were still glaring at each other.

"What a mess. I came expecting an ambush but look at you arguing among yourselves. Well it does make my job easier " came the voice of Indo as he now stood a little away from them.

He walked a bit near them which made Ren tense up and get ready for another attack.

Indo continued " I have changed my mind I will only take two students, But how about I give you the choice, Select two people among yourselves the other person will fail and go back to the academy."

"What?" questioned a confused Kokoro as she thought to herself 'Two? I thought only one was needed.'

Indo just drawled a little lazily "Didn't you hear it? I don't think this team will work out, I want to take only one person as my student but I don't think I will be allowed to, so I am settling for 2, So hurry up and vote a person out of the team. You only have 6 minutes for this task to end"

This made all of them look worriedly at each other but Ren thought to himself 'What only two?.. But isn't supposed to be three.' as he looked at Indo.

'First of all, landing a hit on a Jonin is almost impossible and within two hours no less, now he comes to us and tells us to vote a person out, it's almost like the test isn't about...' Something lit up in Ren's mind as he thought of a conclusion.

By the time Ren was done thinking the time was almost over. " Time is up, So have you come to a decision?" asked Indo but didn't wait for a response as he looked at Kokoro.

"I vote out Uchiha Soba," said Kokoro in a snarling tone, Indo nodded like it was expected and then turned towards Soba. "I vote out Kyokei Kokoro," said Soba while still glaring at her.

'This too as I expected, now what will you say?' thought Indo as he looked at Ren.

Ren saw both Soba and Kokoro look at him almost pleadingly. 'I hope I am not wrong...' thought Ren as he spoke "I vote out myself."

This surprised all of them surprised. "You want to vote out yourself?" asked Indo, 'Did he figure it out?' thought Indo as he probed Ren further.

Ren nodded. "Why?" asked Indo as if to confirm something. "I won't sacrifice my teammates. You will take all of us or none," said Ren as he looked at Indo's brown eyes.

'He figured it out... But still' thought Indo as he spoke " You all fail."

'I-I was wrong?'Ren was stunned by Indo's words.

"You can return to the academy for another year or still be a genin and work for the genin corps," said Indo without mercy. 'Sorry kiddo, the moment your teammates chose to vote out each other you all failed.'

"Why?" gasped Kokoro with watery eyes. "Because you all fail fundamentally as a team and a shinobi," said Indo in a harsh voice as he looked at Kokoro

" While you did not lead your teammates astray, you did not reveal my location implicitly." Two Clones of Indo now jumped from the trees and stood next to him. "I had been following all of your movements from the start and you disappoint me."

He then turned towards Soba, " You argued with her, while you may or may not be right, Arguing during a real mission could lead to fatal consequences."

"Then finally you voted out your teammates for saving yourself, this behaviour is unacceptable." This made both of them look down in shame. Then he turned towards Ren.

"Your fault is your bad luck to be in this team." Said Indo as he walked away, leaving behind one sobbing girl and two downcast boys.

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Author's note:

A little bit shorter than the usual chapter, But this felt like the best place to stop. Constructive criticism is appreciated. If you liked the chapter be sure to comment.

DROP YOUR POWER STONES, 50 power stones for the bonus chapter.