Fandom The Village Hidden in the Leaves

[Ganryu]

Everyone

It had been some time since the genin had started their careers. Despite this, each and every jonin of the class had nominated them as ready for the exams coming up. There had been some shock and gasping at the jonin meeting, but each had proven their worthiness as far as ninja, and each one’s backing. A few of the jonin even took the gasps in stride.

Since then, some time had passed. Today was the day of the exams, where the genin would have to hold their own, without their hands being held. Also the day all the jonin probably would be on the verge of a heart attack over the first exam. Regardless, each of the five escorted their teams to the exam site. Some might say they were even more nervous than the genin. The village itself had been full of visitors for some time. Mist nin filled the ranks, all though there were several applicants from the other three great nations, and many small ones besides. The amount of nobles, extended family, and simple eager spectators had certainly made the Hidden Leaf a crowded place. Would that encourage the genin, or be overwhelming? In any case, the first exam was hardly a spectacle, to be held in an exam room, where the genin had once gone to the academy. However, the academy had felt empty as of late with the disappearance of the teacher there some months ago, Kojiro Uchiha. Nobody knew what had happened to the instructor.

But, today was about the genin. How well would they perform in the notorious ‘paper test’?

Squad 3
-----​

Umichi walked down the street, covered in so much make-up and ornaments, she didn’t even look the same. She had to impress after all. Her little half pint brats were going to make her the talk of the jonin. Sure, sure, the Hokage’s kid was there, but how nice would it be to see Koutaku take him down a step? Gou was going to love the show he was about to get. Kaida could give one hell of a show too. As for the last one…

Umichi felt her ninja pouch by her side. Still was full. Gripping it harder, it felt weird. She never wore one. Today, today was special though.

“Where is the little brat? I’d look like a real dumbass if only two show up… Then again, those two can handle themselves, but if I could just turn the last one into a real ninja.”

She let go and turned to her team.

“Alright, I have no advice for you all, because I’m fairly sure you’ll pass it regardless. Just be sure to mention your excellent sensei, ♪’kay♪.”

Squad 4
------​

Nobushige's face felt like he was literally ripping it off as he facepalmed, walking amidst his genin to the exam center. His facepalm even overwhelmed his normal hatred of mornings.

"Well... maybe its true what they say on cheaters never prosper. You know how I said to lie about our squad? There are rumors flying all around about Squad 4... about it being a terrifying beast with a sharingan master, a lava user, and some useless crybaby nin trying to get info out of other villages. Center of attention was the exact opposite of what I'd hoped for.

Tch, despite that, I think they call it learning. They'll also call it learning if you get your ass kicked because they are on high alert. Either way, I think you're skilled enough to be chunnin. You pass, great. You fail, meh. Either way, eying on taking you bunch on higher missions after this. I've been eyeing this one about a beautiful rich gal in the Land of Earth! The contract to kill her is ridiculous."

He sighed, and pulled out a kunai to juggle.

"So, any last minute questions or tips you all need? You will find people stronger than you here. Don't worry about it, just be smart. Oh, I did some snooping of my own. Stay away from the Kiri nin. They're freakin' weird this year."

Squad 5
-----​

Koma’s smile could not be brighter today, today would be the day his wonderful little genin would grow into Chuunin, well, start the process at least. In his mind, they may as well have passed the tests already. Sure, they were still genin, and things went down a little odd resulting in the squad having only two.

But he was utmost certain they will succeed.

They got the blessing of a god after all~!

Humming a small tune, he waited for his students to join him, he was going to gather them both together before the exam, give some advice, maybe pointers and some treats he brought along, in case they get hungry. And… Also a good deal of medicine, since the trials would likely be rather troublesome.

Sitting upon a nearby bench, the jonin happily hummed a little tune, feeling in good spirits.

Oh this, these tests was going to be a treat.

Squad 6
-----​

Takara looked up from her book as her students arrived, today was it, the beginning of the Chuunin exams. Who knows, maybe with some luck it’ll help to bring back even a little of Mai’s confidence.

Assuming the first exam wasn’t a complete disaster.

...She really hoped they’d make it through the first exam.

“Heh, time sure flew by… it’s already the start of the exams. With any luck, the three of you will be Chuunin by next month.” She reached into her pouch and pulled out three small boxes, holding them out to her students. “Consider it a bit of a good luck charm. My sensei gave me something similar on the day of my exams too.”

Squad 7
----​

Mako was content, largely content. He was almost certain that his genin were among the strongest as a unit.

Separately of course he had to train them to be able to handle themselves better, but it wasn’t all for naught. The Senju had high hopes for his three wards.

“Now remember, be aware of your surroundings and don’t underestimate your enemy.”

Mako’s words were sure to hit home with at least two of them, considering one had a very strange selective hearing. She reminded him of his younger self, really headstrong, really passionate.

“You three may be on the verge of promotion, but don’t forget that your adventures as members of Team 7 aren’t over!”

There was that stupid grin. Were his eyes full of tears? No it was eye sweat.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Katsumi Nonoba​

Time flies when you're telling lies. It felt like the chuunin exams crept out of nowhere, taking the poor girl by surprise. She had been doing her best during her training, but it didn't feel like her skills had improved in ages. Was she really ready for this? Heck, she couldn't even start rumors without failing horribly according to what sensei was saying.

"I... I'm sorry sensei. I got scared and didn't know what to say... I'm sorry guys... they were just so scary!" Katsumi tried to apologize through her watery eyes and the snot hanging out of her nose.

At the very least, Katsumi was going to do her best to avoid breaking down during the exams. Her teammates would hate her if she embarrassed them any further...

Aiko Uchiha​

"Everything I've done has led to this moment," Aiko whispered to herself. Failing these exams wasn't an option for her. She wanted to show everyone what she could do using Ice Style, something only one other person in the village could use. Aiko also had the title of Uchiha strapped to her forehead. Living up to the Uchiha namel hung in the back of her mind, constantly making her wonder if she was doing well enough. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped her katana.

Her sensei's words broke her out of her trance. Takara then offered Aiko and her teammates each a small box, saying it was a good luck charm. It didn't look special or anything. But, it's the thought that counts. Aiko wondered how Takara did during the chuunin exams. Did she pass on the first try? Did she fail horribly? Sensei didn't look like the type to fail, but Aiko was no sensei.

"Thanks sensei, how did you do during the exams when you were a genin?" she asked her sensei before slipping the charm into her pocket. Aiko would appreciate some good luck. Hopefully she didn't need it.

KageYuuki Ganryu Orikanyo

 

[Orikanyo]

Hideki Ukita
​

Today was the day.

And Hideki was as ready as he could be. "it's just like a test, just like any other." he told himself, fully certain it wasn't going to be like anything he had done before. The young man looked over his kit for what was likely the fifteenth time since yesterday, and he wasn't counting the times before that day. Was he ready? As best as he could be. in truth he wasn't fully sure he agreed with takara's choice of sending them off to the Chuunin exams so early.

Hell, it's been barely a year since they've BECOME genin.

Couldn't it wait?

He only wish it could, he only wish he could grab more time training, more jutsu, more equipment.

He only wish he could spend more time with his group.

But now...

Now it was go time.

Now it was time to show what he and his squad could do.

Now it was the time to be as one.

Now it was the time....

To leave.


Coming upon the others and takara he barely got a word out before takara began, stuffing his his face, well, not really, three boxes, which were offered to them all. "umm.. thank you?' he asked, a eyebrow raised incredulously.

He never imagined sensei to be the sentimental type, or any type at all really.

More like an amalgamous being that taught them and occasionally made them feel stupid.

She just... Was.

Maybe she just wasn't the type to mix business and personal life.

If so, why would she bother with the gifts?

So, guess not.

Taking the charm out of the box he slip it over his neck, turning the crystalline pendant between his fingers. The young man nodded before regarding the others. "Theres no other way, we will succeed, thats for certain. We just have to play for our strengths and guard each other's weak points. Do as we always do, and adapt." the young man scratched his forearm, hoping those words would bring some sort of comfort, as it most certainly didn't for himself.

KageYuuki Ganryu InsaneAsylum

 

[AtlannianSpy]

NAGISA KANAZAWA
SQUAD 4​

Nagisa frowned and rubbed the back of her neck with one hand. It was going to be a hassle if other teams came after them because of this, but having your enemies under the wrong impression about your abilities wasn't a bad thing in her book, at least Katsumi hadn't managed to spill anything about their real capabilities. Not that she knew all that much to blab. Compared to the other teams squad 4 still didn't know much about each other, strengths, weaknesses, temperament, Nagisa was still feeling out that stuff. While they might not be any weaker than any other team it did mean there were more ways for things to go wrong unexpectedly for them.

"I don't think its gonna matter too much," Nagisa said and her tone could almost have been called conciliatory. "If we're good enough to pass then people would come after us anyway, if we aren't then it won't matter whether people come after us or not. I wish you'd picked something more probable then Lava release though, I don't think I can bluff that very well."

InsaneAsylum KageYuuki Ganryu

HOTARU HAGANO
SQUAD 7
​

"Don't worry we'll be careful," Hotaru said, smiling innocently and patting Makorama on the shoulder before lapsing into a bouncing walk alongside her teammates. "Well... two of us will be careful enough for the whole team,"

Hotaru's eyes darted around as they walked, studying her surroundings with an expression close to hunger. In all honest Hotaru had barely managed to fall asleep last night. This was all too exciting, getting to test out her abilities and learn about all kinds of other jutsu from all over the continent, what could be better? What kind of secrets were the other teams holding back? How did their techniques work and what kind of strategies did they use? How would they react in combat, once her moths had started bleeding them? Would they panic or get angry? Or get serious? There were so many possibilities!

Hotaru realized she had drifted off a little bit, thinking about the various exciting things to come and was trailing a bit behind everyone and hurriedly caught up, searching through her library of smiles for something reassuring to flash at Makorama. "Well... Kuren will be careful at least!"

Retro-Grey loyalwolf Hanarei

 

[loyalwolf]

Kurēn looked calmed, cool and collected. He wasn’t showing the slightest sign of worry or any expression show on his face, for that matter. He looked at Hotaru as she looked at all the other ninja passing-by. “Hotaru, please try to keep yourself from drooling over the competition.” Overall Kurēn was confident about his team, especially after all they been through together and their recent experience at the lake. “Don’t worry Mako-sensei, we will make sure to keep our wits about us. Everyone he should be taken serious and we should show no mercy to anyone.” He then looked straight at Mako, given him a small smirk. “for now, you get to sit back and we will be the focus of this chapter in your book because I believe our team will create some really good book material. Isn’t that right Hotaru and Ashi?” trying to get both of there attention and get them to focus on there emotional sensei. Plus, when they made there entrance he wanted to make sure that they were ready and focused. In his mind, he had no doubt the team was superior them most but individually they needed to show off there training from Mako and the camping trip. The brief smirk was now replaced with a cold-stone, serious face on Kurēn’s face. Retro-Grey Hanarei AtlannianSpy

 

[Ganryu]

Mai Sanada - Squad Six​

Mai made her way to the meeting place with sensei, on way to the academy. Didn't see why, but she was going to be a help to her teammates, just like how her mother. Didn't mean she had to like everything though.

Making her way to the rest, she saw Hideki, and Aiko, and waved, a crazed smile going across her face. Forget everything else, today was going to be fun. They were going to the chunnin exams! They would fight other genin for the title of chunnin in a no holds beatdown. Mai shook a bit in excitement. Today, today was going to be fun.

" 'sup guys?"

It was then sensei offered them what she called good luck charms. Mai looked at her right hand. How lucky could sensei be? She shook her head, refusing the gift. She blocked pushed it away with the same right hand.

"Takara-sensei, Imma make my own luck. 'sides, your luck and my luck don't really have good experiences. I'm here for my teammates, but Imma stand on my own two feet."

Looking towards the academy, Mai laughed thinking about it. What could the test possibly be?

"Hideki, Aiko! Imma be helpful to you two today! Afterall, I'm a Sanada, I'm not here just for myself today. I'm here for my entire clan, and for you two. Whatever the test is, trust me for it! We're all gunna do awesome at this."

 

[Spemout]

Kaida- Squad Three

Kaida, unlike some people, had woken up at her usual time. Some people might think that sleeping in would have been the wiser decision, but something she knew was that going against the methodology that she had stuck to for years would just throw her off, make her uneasy. It was human nature to seek out a pattern and stick to it. Thus, she spent the time she had, between her awakening and the time she had planned for preparing, going about like it was a day off, trying to set herself at ease. The rest of the clan saw this and helped, albeit indirectly, by treating it like it was a visit to the dentist. It worked.

Her preparations went without hassle as well. However, as she was about to put on her typical panda hoodie, she saw something she had forgotten long ago sitting in her closet.

A faded white cloak with a hood. The perfect size for her. The kanji for 'Fringed Orchid' (Sagiso), which in the language of flowers meant 'My thoughts will follow you into your dreams', was on the inside of the hood. Kaida's father explained to him that her mother made it for her while she was still pregnant.

Kaida knew very, very little about her mother. All she knew was that she had been incredibly happy to have a child, she was a Jonin with incredible talent in Earth Release and Bojutsu, and she had loved gardening. Her father never told Kaida where she was, why she wasn't there, or even if she was dead or not, no matter how many times she asked.

She put on the cloak instead of her hoodie.

'It doesn't matter anymore. I know she cared about me. That's all that matters.'

After she reached the academy with some time to spare, she simply kept herself busy by reading, waving to anyone she recognized if they were near.

When her sensei spoke to her, she put away the book and smiled. "I appreciate it, Umichi-Sensei."

 

[Retro-Grey]

Squad 3
Featuring Ganryu , yoshua171 , Spemout ​

“Alright, I have no advice for you all, because I’m fairly sure you’ll pass it regardless. Just be sure to mention your excellent sensei, ♪’kay♪.”


Now!


Kiyoshi didn’t leap from the bushes, he didn’t leap from the trees, he quite literally jumped from the top of the marvelous gate. He had heard word a good friend of his had did this once.


“Umichi-Sensei! I’m ready to be a true ninja!”


His voice was filled with a shrill excitement as he came barreling down, he had no prowess in throwing shuriken but he let the many he used to keep at home, fly. He was gonna plant his fist somewhere on this woman, he was determined to.


After that training session, Kiyoshi had been letting himself rest, he still hasn’t talked to anyone about his problems, but he would be sure to do it as soon as he secured his spot back on the team.


As the barrage of shuriken rained toward the ground, Kiyoshi began weaving hand signs.


Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire


His cheeks puffed and his chest heaved upward as he accumulated as much oxygen as he could. All before bringing his fingers to his mouth and releasing the jutsu that was ready to be formed.


Kiyoshi poured as little chakra as he could into creating the flames so that they were still decently sized, but not out of his control. It was then that he covered his shuriken with the flames and began moving them in a pattern much like his fighting style, unpredictable.


Umichi smiled at Kaida, reassuring her before something strange happened, namely Kiyoshi.


“What the hell!?”


Umichi had expected him to try and take it, but, this? This was a little bit out of her normal expectations. He was actually quick enough that in Umichi’s regalia (and there was quite a bit of it), she wasn’t fast enough to draw her fan AND water. Umichi sighed, this was a going to be a pain in the ass. She focused water chakra into her hand, literally ripping blood out of it to surround it. With a swipe, she grabbed the shurikens out the flames. Blood hissed and cauterized, but mostly protected her hands from all but a few minor burns. Still, this was good. A genin did actually manage to catch her surprised. But that was mainly because she hadn’t assumed anyone to be dumb enough to jump off the gate. Seriously, where the hell had he gotten an idea like that?


Well, whatever, he was here, and he was proving himself well.


“Alright, tell me this before you break your feet landing, if you're a ninja, what’s your nindo, your ninja way?”


“My ninja way?!”


Kiyoshi grinned wildly as he clasped his hands together in a seal.


“I’m gonna show the world that the Nine Tails is my bitch!”


And with that, Kiyoshi’s frame disappeared, replaced by a receipt from the food stand Kiyoshi almost always eats at.


Umichi raised an eyebrow.


“An actual receipt? As in he actually paid?”


Dropping the kunai, she reached into the pouch, and pulled out the headband.


“That is a pretty interesting nindo, here ya go. ♪Nooow, let’s go get you all to the first test♪. I said you all would do great.”


She threw the headband behind, just on a hunch.


Yet, instead of Kiyoshi catching it, Koutaku did, having just appeared in a flash of movement. Man, shunshin was useful. “Oh, thanks sensei, it’s good to know you accept your fa--students.” He was spinning a kunai on his finger.


The receipt fluttered slowly before catching a final gust of wind, bringing it just in front of Umichi. Right as the piece of paper touched the floor, a puff of smoke appeared, and Kiyoshi launched his body towards Umichi. His arms were out stretched and he was ready to grab hold of the older woman’s waist.


“Gotcha Sensei!”


Umichi raised an eyebrow and released a rather large amount of killing intent. Enough that with enough imagination, and a remembrance of the last sparring session, Kiyoshi would see exactly that happening to him in his mind. Mostly, blood everywhere. If he wanted to continue the tackle, that was on him. The rest of the genin would feel the weight as well.


“Enough, you got your headband, let’s go.”


Koutaku had been about to take a step forwards and throw, but he stopped mid-stride, shaken by the wave of killing intent. Gritting his teeth he retracted his chakra and let his kunai slip back into its pouch. He took a deep breath and shook off the feeling, the emotion showing for but a moment.


He spun the headband around his hand once and then released it. It hurtled through the air, moving as if it were going to miss Umichi and hit nowhere near Kiyoshi. Instead he tugged on wire and it swung around Umichi and hit Kiyoshi in the face.


Koutaku nodded to himself, pleased.


“Alright, we’re done sensei.” He said with a self satisfied grin.


Kiyoshi almost didn’t stop, he felt the waves of complete fear wash over him and he almost forgot to pull back. Of course, he regained his composure enough to halt his movements and drop his arms. He landed on his stomach, his arms fanned out and his chin on the ground so that he was looking up at his sensei.


“Sorry Umichi-sama, I got a bit carried away, but you did say I was supposed to hit you.”


Then he felt the slap of a metal plate hit him firm on his face, the area of the metal spanning from his brow to his chin.


“Thank you Koutaku!”


The young jinchuriki stood up from the ground and dusted himself off.


“You should definitely work on your aim.”


“I was aiming for you.” Koutaku said, chuckling.


“I’m so glad we have a well behaved girl on the squad… Kaida, remind me to treat you to girls night out or something” Umichi rubbed the bridge of her nose. She then held out the hand, with small burns on it. “And you did hit me. Thankfully, you’re an idiot. Let’s go.”


Kiyoshi trailed off a bit as he tied his headband around his neck, it hung loose as the boy placed his hands on his hips. He had a content smile on his face before looking around with a confused expression.


“Who’s Kaida?”


Kaida walked up behind Kiyoshi silently before glomping him “That'd be me!”


“Who in the FU–” (cuts to black)

 

[Hanarei]

​

Ashi looked around, the small Inuzuka girl seeming almost lost. It wasn't hard to see her confusion was mixed with a feeling of excitement. She wasn't certain what to do even first. She was more then feeling ready to prove herself, nearly bouncing around where she stood. She had trouble sleeping every night since she was told she would be taking part in the Chuunin exams. It was something she hadn't at all expected she would take part in, but being told she would had only made her that much more giddy about it. To her, it meant she was one step closer to being a Jonin and gaining more prominence in the village. The exams also gave her a chance to stand out and shine above the rest. It was her chance to show she wasn't just some runt, she deserved respect.

Her eyes glanced around barely paying attention hearing as Hotaru spoke. She had missed what Mako said, shuffling quickly to catch up having fallen behind a little bit. Her eyes glanced back and forth as if attempting to piece together what was going on. Something about being careful, the two of them or maybe one of them? She hadn't really picked up on all the details. It didn't stop Ashi from pretending as if she was fully aware of what was being talked about despite having missed most of the conversation.

"Of course I'm always aware!" She spoke out prominently with a wide grin, seeming to interject herself in. Her attention immediately drifted back away not paying too much attention as Kuren began to speak. Her excitement wasn't in the least bit settling down the more she looked around and her mind began to wander in thought about the exams. This was her chance to prove herself, to make up for what had happened before.she would get the rank of Chuunin and she would do so while showing herself to be the best! She wouldn't be relegated to being looked down upon.... to be viewed as weak. She could prove herself once and for all.

She wandered a little bit away from the group, finding herself over by a team from another village. She wasn't certain why she had picked the group, not did itr really matter. She simply saw it as a chance to speak up, to make herself known. A wide grin was on her face as she pointed her thumb at herself. She didn't seem in the least bit concerned about budging into their conversation, and speaking loud enough for others to hear.

"I, Tsukiashi Inuzuka will beat you all along with my Squad 7 of Konoha! You guys don't stand a chance against us, we are the best squad! We are going to woop all your butts and get promoted to chuunins and show you all who is the greatest!" She spoke out loud, her voice carrying out well beyond just the group she had slipped her way to talk to and gloat. A wide grin was on her face being quite loud and prominent keeping a rather fierce look upon her as if it was some game of intimidation she was attempting against the other Genin.

AtlannianSpy loyalwolf Retro-Grey (and others who might overhear her.)

 

[KageYuuki]

Yuuki Uchiha: Squad 4
Yuuki walked alongside his team, hands tucked in his pockets. Was he nervous for the exams? Bet your ass he was. Stayed up a good bit of the night thanks to those damned nerves. At least it gave him a chance to look over his gear and finish a few last tags... Not that it felt worth it at the moment.

He shot Katsumi an irritated look as Nobushige spoke up. "All you had to do was undersell our abilities," His tone was exasperated, "Now they're expecting me to have mastered eyes I don't have and us to have a kekkei genkai that doesn't even exist in Konoha." He rubbed his eyes, had he been anything like Tsubaki, he would have had all three tomoe in his sharingan. Hell, he would have had the sharingan period!

The gap that just kept growing...

"Whatever... let's just deal with these idiots as they come."

Yukari Hyuuga: Squad 5
Koma
A few weeks ago...
"Yukari, are you most certain you wish to do this?" Koma rose an eyebrow to the young lady, standing amidst the training field he so ever loved to visit. “I promise you, I will not be an easy target, not a truly fair one,” he warned once more, the tori gate in view just a bit past his shoulder in the distance.

“I shall dedicate my efforts to defense if you so wish to continue.” he let go of the staff he seemingly never let go off, letting the strange implement stand straight in the air on its own, as if still being held upright.

“I suppose it is difficult to only train with Sei, a cunning one, but a tad lacking in regards to taijutsu for your sake hmm?”

“You make it sound like it’ll be the last thing I do,” Yukari’s stance shifted slightly. Without her jacket on, bruises could be seen on her arms and chest. “At least you’ll actually teach me something.”

“While true. I worry I might be a tad…” he smirked, with a slight chuckle. “Out of your league.” the man shifted his body to face the young woman. “Then again, the first step to climbing a mountain is to take the first step. How about this. For every 5 blows I block, I shall deal one to you. Does that sound fair?’

“You’re a jounin, so are half the people I spar. Why do you think I look like shit?” Yukari muttered, bringing her hands up into a gentle fist stance, “Fine if that’s how you want to do it.”

“Come on then, as I said, I’m going to focus on defense, don’t let me run my mouth forever now, you know I won't stop. Perhaps while I wait I’ll talk about the weather. Nice day we’re having, lovely sunshine, though the clouds show we might be in for some rain soon, I should’ve brought an umbrella, I might drag the wet inside my house if I return all soaked, Nana will be quite angry with me if I do so-”

“Tch,” Yukari stepped forward, thrusting her palm towards the jounin. Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm The burst of chakra shook the tree limbs behind him like a powerful gust of wind.

At her movement, Koma himself moved forwards and outstretched his hand, moving to the left as he pushed the palm towards his right, a light tap bringing himself past the attack with a redirection. “Mind yourself, were this a fight I could jab you in the ribs, stomach or diaphragm. Most men won't go that last way though,” he commented waiting for her next attack.

“To prevent such a dodge again, don’t extend yourself when the enemy is so close. And remember, it’s not always a matter of braving a jutsu or withstanding it, sometimes redirecting can be all the more helpful, and deadly should you make them hurt their allies.”

Yukari gritted her teeth as the jutsu was deflected so effortlessly. Her Byakugan kept a close watch on Koma as she vanished with a body flicker, looking to circle around and strike some of the tenketsu in his back. She could at least start disrupting his chakra flow even if somewhat.

Koma immediately shifted around to guard his back. Grabbing one of the girl’s hands as she went for a thrust. “Everyone expects an attack from behind, well, at least you should amidst a battle-”

With him grabbing her hand, Yukari only moved closer instead of pulling away. Gentle Fist Art: Body Blow. Chakra expelled violently from every point on her body. At such a close range, it would likely hurt. Not to mention he still had a hold of her arm.

After the… Explosion, for lack of a better word, Koma took a few steps backward after letting her go, rattled, it seems. “...Not.. The first time... I’ve made that mistake.” he shook as if reminded of a good bit of pain he was currently re-experiencing.

“Right.” the man let out a little huff, not going to let this...Well, big mishap set his lesson into disarray.

“You get a gold star for that one. Now… I suppose I underestimated you, my student is indeed, worthy of my full attention. I must apologize, I forgot I promised to treat you as a true genin did I not?” with a flick of his wrist the staff leapt towards his hand once more, a brief twirl in his staff he pointed the metal tip towards the young lady.

“How silly of me, never grab a Hyuuga. I coined the advice myself… But I guess we are always our own worst enemies no? Now, let us start again, Yukari. Try and hit me this time.” Such a fool, such a fool.

Yukari blinked, that… actually worked? She’d just reacted to being grabbed, expecting a substitution or something similar. That’s typically how it played out for her at least. Though such a lucky break probably wasn’t going to happen again…

With that staff, he definitely had the advantage in terms of range. Closing the distance between them was going to be much more difficult. Though in terms of eyesight… She thrust her palm towards the ground between them, the blast from the vacuum palm kicking up a cloud of dust and raining dirt and stone around them.

She could see despite the debris in the air, her steps quiet compared to most genin. She just had to close the gap and strike his dominant arm…

“An interesting idea. Come and get me Yukari.” the man began to shorten his grip upon the staff, pointing the tip downwards as he readied to defend against incoming attacks. What was her plan…

Her stance shifted before lunging once more. Had he been able to see the stance, he’d likely have recognized it. Eight Trigrams: 16 Palms A kata of 16 might have been her limit, but it was enough to daze an opponent. With the tip of the staff pointed at the ground, she moved to step on it first, drive it into the ground and use it for a launching point.

“Uppsie daisy!” Koma laughed as he flicked the staff skywards like a lever once he felt her step upon it, sending her upwards, but indeed that was not the end, as it seems the staff was more than simply a plank of wood with a metal ornamental tip, for it had… snaked.. Around her leg, extending much like a living creature.

“And down we go!” bringing the staff downwards brought the genin down as well, roughly upon the soft grass below. “I don’t think I've explained, but I doubt you’d care. Long story short, the staff is alive. That's what happens with really old things.” he chuckled, though drifting a tad away as the staff’s head, once returned to the original size grew an eye…

And a rather long lolling tongue?

“...it... Isn’t always pretty..” he admitted, as he held the staff forwards like a spear towards the young woman, the eye peering around with curiosity towards the white dissipating clouds of dust.

“..that counted, by the way.”

Yukari gasped as she struck the ground, coughing as the wind as roughly knocked out of her. His staff’s alive… of course his staff’s alive, the genin groaned as she pushed herself back to her feet. Idiot, what a stupid mistake she’d made…

“Figures,” she muttered, shifting back into a stance. What a disgusting thing she’d let grab her… How many was that now? Three? She needed to land something, but it wasn’t like she had range on her side here.

Or the largest repertoire of techniques…

She moved to close the distance between them once more, just slightly to her right of the staff. The moment it’d move, her palm would drill chakra into it.

Koma kept up his stance, keeping the tip pointed towards Yukari as she moved. The staff was eyeing her, it’s tongue flailing in the wind like some weird floppy banner. “What else do you think is alive hmm? Maybe my forehead thingie? Maybe my robes? Sandals? I’ve had to deal with that once, annoying as hell.” he chuckled, staying true to the promise he made to being defensive.

“This is kind of fun, we should do this more often. I’ll get you to fight Suishen next. I’m certain he’d love to fight you.” his banter continued as the staff, giggling with glee reached out its tongue towards the young lady. “Now that's not proper.” the man scolded, but kept up his stance.

Snapping her left hand out, chakra gathered in her palm as she moved to strike its eye. Her right arm was up defensively, her eyes trying to watch both opponents at once. “Hikari’s enough of a hassle, thank you.”

A yelp and a small screech rattled through the air as the yokai receded back into the staff, all but becoming normal once more… And likely not to mess with Yukari again. This got a laugh out of Koma. “they certainly show off their weak point eh? Keep that in mind, for humans and Yokai.” he twirled the staff once more in his hands.

“Alright, last one before I counter~! Let's make it a big one. Show me what you have! Put everything you got into this attempt. Win or lose, you’ve hit me once today, more than what most would say in their lives… Not that I really fight too much, your sensei is an ambush predator.” the man chuckled, excited to see his student's next move…

He placed himself in the middle of the training field, he had full line of sight to any avenue she could take.

He hoped she could manage a second hit, he will admit to being a tad rusty, but this was most certainly a welcome change of pace.

Yukari worked to keep her breathing steady as she studied Koma warily. The problem was, she was a little lacking in tricks, at least, in terms of stuff she’d already used. Her byakugan caught wisps of familiar chakra behind Koma as a cat silently stalked forward. It was the first time Hikari had ever shown up at a fight.

Maybe she wanted to get back at Koma for getting her wrapped up in the summoning contract? Yukari had wondered why the Nekomata hadn’t just left yet. But she never could get an answer from the stubborn furball.

Well, if Hikari wanted to strike from the rear, she needed to keep Koma’s attention on her. The genin rushed forward, pulling smoke bombs from her pouch and throwing them at the ground.

Of the two she tossed, only one detonated…

“Dammit…” She was really hoping for a little more cover than this. No massive strikes, just small blows looking to strike the tenketsu in his arms. The moment he’d move to defend, Hikari would pounce. Chakra coating her extended claws.

“Another smoke screen, surely you’d get bored of those.” Koma twirled the staff, keeping his “focus” upon the young lady in front. But it did not take vision to sense something afoot, indeed, somebody who has been dealing with yokai for years could tell one’s presence simply by having one around.

Having guarded against the frontal assault, the back one came forwards, but however just as the little pretty kitty leapt forwards in an attempt to slash up her bound’s partner’s teacher’s back…

The man bent forwards.

Causing the leaping cat to sail just over his body.

Straight towards a certain young lady who was just kept at bay by a spinning stick.

“Hello Hikari~!” the bowing man chirped, he hadn’t fully expected her to help, but hey, at least he knew they were bonding.

Somewhat.

The spun staff wasn’t that big of a surprise, not something she could easily break through without sending the nekomata behind him flying. Though the moment Hikari lunged…

Koma ducked.

“Shit-!” It felt as if time slowed down as the cat crashed into Yukari, sharp claws tearing into her arms. While she likely could have hit the yokai away before they collided, it was likely she’d end up in the same position regardless.

A sharp breath hissed between her teeth as Yukari moved to stand back up, pushing the dazed cat away. She tried to ignore the blood running down both arms. “Guess that makes five then…”

Koma stared down at the two, staff in his hand held as if he was simply standing there and minding his own business. His smile could not be any wider.

Something was coming.

Something worse than anything Yukari had faced up until now.

Koma took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly… As he began to say…

“Well, that plan was a complete Cat-astrophy~!”

The world felt like a slightly worse place after that.

Current time...
"Don't think I've ever seen you not chipper." Yukari mused as she sat on the back of the bench. "Though you were certainly a lot more opposed to the exams just a few weeks ago..." Her arms had at least healed the disaster that was their last sparring session the week before.

"I swear, Sei's always late..."

 

[Kimiwriter]

Sei Teshima
Squad 5

A Week Ago . . .

Sweat dripped off of Sei’s face as she bent forward, panting. Though her corner of the training ground was deserted, she could hear the faint sound of yelling and metal hitting metal as others worked on their own skills. She wiped a hand across her forehead. There seemed like no end to this.

“Again,” Kuro commanded from his perch on top of the practice stump. He watched her with unblinking eyes. “I thought you ssaid you were one of the best in your class.”

“I was book smart.” Taking her stance, she slowed her breathing before launching into another one hundred kicks. “I knew how . . . to take . . . tests. I was . . . able to answer any . . . question.”

“Less talk, more power. Make the sstump sshake.”

Sei glared at the wood, worn smooth from use. Each of her round house kicks hit the exact same spot, though it was still too low for the snake’s liking. After the one hundred round houses—on both sides—he’d have her do another hundred, this time on her side kicks. He’d make her go through every single kick before moving on to punches and strikes. They’d already been at it three hours, and the damn snake also wanted to work on her jutsu and tool work afterwards. If she wanted to look like an even worse fool, she'd have asked Yukari to train with her.

“Harder. Break right through the sstump.”

Now on back kicks, Sei was starting to get dizzy. “How much longer . . . are we doing this?”

“Until you do better than the last time.”

She groaned. It wasn’t that training and hard work weren’t worth her time, she knew she needed it, but why on earth he picked taijutsu of all things to start with was beyond her. She still planned to avoid physical fights in the Chunnin exam as much as possible. And if she did have to fight, immobilizing her opponent with the toxins she was developing made more sense than trying to win by physical strength. Though she wondered if that could be considered cheating.

Finally she finished the routine Kuro had set for her. Exhausted, she fell back into the grass and lay there. The sky was a lovely blue and the clouds large and fluffy. She sighed and closed her eyes.

Kuro curled into a tight coil, took aim, and launched himself off the stump and onto a bushy part of grass. He landed with a light thump. Slithering forward, he made his way past the short blades that lightly scratched his scaly stomach and over to Sei. She ignored him. Climbing up her arm, he positioned himself on her chest, coiled with his head resting on his body as he stared at her, flicking out his tongue to tickle her throat. She tensed under him, her already thumping heart flittering just a fraction faster. He would never harm her, though only an idiot would feel comfortable having a venomous snake resting so close to their throat. One little nip to the jugular and Sei would not survive more than a few hours without help.


“Can we please work on something else now?”

The snake hissed but relented. “Show me your poisson mist. You need to get the range up before your examss.”

Groaning again, Sei sat up, letting him slide off her chest and into her lap. He hissed in protest and slithered off into the grass. Sei stood and turned to face the open training field. There was no one around who might get caught in the middle of her jutsu. Summoning her chakra, she wove the signs, each movement deliberate and focused, and took a deep breath. She held it for a second and released. A thin purple mist billowed from her mouth, forming a cloud of poison before her. It stayed before her for several minutes, even after she ran out of breath, before floating up and dispersing in the wind.

“Too small. You need it large and sstrong enough to fill an entire field and what were you hoping to do with that kind of poisson; give them vertigo? At the very leasst, paralyzse them so they can’t attack back.”

“You’ve gotten really bossy lately.”

“Oh ssorry miss I-want-to-be-a-shinobi-but-I-can’t-hurt-anyone. You were the one who asked me to train you.”

Sei turned on him. “Don’t you get that attitude with me. I’ve got enough trouble with my grandmother, I don’t need you adding to it.”

Kurio lifted his front half like a cobra and bared his fangs. “You’re sstill too ssoft. You treat every mission like it’ss beyond your ability and control. But that issn’t going to work in the Chunnin exam. It’s not just a test of your sskills like your academy dayss; it’s a chance to establish yourself, make others notice your sstrength and warn the other nations that threatening your villiage will end poorly for them. You must dissplay your skill while convincing them you’re holding ssomething back. I won’t let something bad happen to you out there becausse you weren’t ready.”

The two of them glared at each other for a long time. Sei wiled herself not to blink. Her eyes stung and everything blurred in and out of focus.

Kuro won. “Now. Do it again.”

Frowning, Sei wove her hand signs. After a moment, Kuro hissed and darted forward, wrapping himself around her ankle as he stared up at the sky. Sei smirked. It didn’t take the snake long to realize what had happened.


“At least your genjutsu is improving.” He peered out o her shadow. “Are . . . you sssure there aren’t any hawkss around?”

“It was pretty convincing, right?” Sei closed her eyes to focus. Building a larger amount of chakra might increase the size of the poison mist, but she wasn’t sure how to increase the potency of the poison. It wasn’t exactly an easy thing to generate. Pulling on her store of chakra, she let it build, growing until she itched. Finally opening her eyes, she wove the hand signs, paused to build her chakra one moment longer, drew a deep breath and released. The mist was still too pale, but it looked a fraction bigger.

Kuro nodded, his slender head bobbing up and down. “Good. We’ll worry about speed later; just work on getting it big enough to cover most of this field.”

It was well past noon before Kuro was anywhere near pleased with her progress. Sei stumbled to the shade and sat, leaning against the tree to rest. She felt sore in a way she didn’t know it was possible to feel sore. Kuro sat on her legs while she rested, critiquing her technique and skills and planning out her next round of training. “Like I said, we’ll worry about sspeed later. The size has gotten a little better but it’s still not potent enough. You need to focuss on your potency; either paralyze them or bring them close to death, nausea isn’t going to do you much good in a real battle.”


“What exactly am I supposed to do? I don’t have a store of venom like you do.”

A light cough from the edge of the tree line startled them. Sei sat up, her hand instinctively going to her kunai pouch, she turned to face the voice and stopped. “Grandmother?”

The matriarch of the Teshima family was short and lean, dressed in a grey kimono with a dull red sash. Her greying hair was pulled back into a tight bun, giving her round face a stern appearance. She carried a bento with her, tied up in a red cloth that matched her sash. She stood at the edge of the training field, waiting for Sei to relax before approaching. “I thought you said you would be training today.”

“I was. I’m just resting.”

Her grandmother stopped beside her and frowned down at Kuro. The little snake lifted his body and dipped his head in a kind of bow.

“I’ve told you about Kuro the snake,” Sei said, “He’s been helping me practice today.”

Without a word, her grandmother sat beside her and untied the cloth around the bento. Inside was a simple lunch. Rice and tempura, some pickled vegetables, and slices of apple. She passed the box to Sei before producing chopsticks from the cloth and handing them to her. “I thought you might be hungry. And this gives us a chance to talk.”

Sei’s stomach tightened. All of her recent talks with her grandmother had ended poorly. She began eating, taking slow and deliberate bites in the hope of buying time.

“I understand you’re signed up for the Chunnin exam and that’s why you’re training so hard.”

“Koma-sensei thinks I’m ready. Or at least, he thinks I stand a decent chance at passing.”

“I'm not sure I like the sound of him. He seems too odd for my taste.”

“He’s my sensei, I’m already learning so much from him.”

Her grandmother shook her head. It was a debate for another time. “I came here to talk to you about the exam. I’m not sure it’s a wise thing for you to participate.” She paused, expecting Sei to protest but continued when she saw Sei take another bite of rice. “Every time they hold these things, we are forced to treat injuries that are often quite terrible. Do you remember that one year the boy who came in missing an arm because his opponant’s jutsu was stronger than he expected and just tore through flesh and bone?”

Sei shivered and nodded. She’d visited him once while she was following her mother aorund the hospital. The sight of blood and bandages didn’t bother her, but the way his arm ended in a sudden stump unnerved her.


“His family was furious when we told them he’d never be able to be a shinobi with that injury. They even threatened to sue the hospital. Honestly, he was lucky the jutsu hadn’t hit him straight on; if it had, he would have died before anyone could help him.” She closed her eyes and shook her head, remembering the state of the child laying in the hospital bed. Finally, she turned to face her granddaughter. “I’m worried something like that is going to happen to you.”

“Grandma. . .”

“You have a gentle spirit, Sei. It’s a wonderful thing but it’s not something you want in a ninja’s line of work.”

“With all due respect,” Kuro pipped up, “becoming a poison expert doesn’t really ssound like a gentle sspirit to me.”

She looked down her nose at the snake. “Knowing how poisons affect the body is an important skill, along with being able to identify symptoms and know how to treat them. Many of our medicines rely on plants that are poisonous. It’s only when these things are used against people that it becomes cruel.” She turned back to her granddaughter. “I don’t want to see you hurt. And I don’t want you to harm yourself by forcing yourself to inflict pain and misery or—gods forbid—death on another person.”

Sei finished the last of the tempura, chewing slowly before she answered her grandmother. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m not dropping out. I knew most of what I was getting into when I started at the academy and the exam acts as a way to deture more violence down the road. If I’m injured but it means war is prevented, I think I can manage that. Besides,” she looked down at her half eaten lunch, “I really doubt I’ll make it very far. And if I am seriously injured and unable to continue being a shinobi, you’ll get to say you were right and I’ll have no other option but to continue the family practice.” Setting the empty box to the side, she stood and stretched. “I should get back to my training.”

Her grandmother sighed and stood. “Be careful, Sei. Mrs. Hana said she had another vision of danger coming.”

Sei quirked an eyebrow at her. “I thought you didn’t believe in Mrs. Hana’s tea readings and fortune telling. You always said there was no evidence of anything she claimed and only fools would believe her.”

“Yes and I still believe that. It’s just . . .” She paused. It wasn’t like her to be so nervous about something so trivial as an odd shape in tea leaves. “I will do everything in my power to keep you safe, that includes forbidding you to participate in these exams.” She gave Sei a quick hug, another uncharacteristic behavior, before turning away and leaving the training field.

Sei frowned and watched her go. "I won't let you stop me."

Current Time . . .

Sneaking out of the house proved more difficult than Sei had thought. Not knowing exactly what to expect, she wanted to avoid using any ninjutsu on her grandmother but after an entire morning of being watched like a hawk, she found she had no choice. Her grandmther would not even let her go into the garden!

The back of the house had a large room that held many of her family's medical journals. Under her grandmother's hard gaze, she lazily pulled books off the shelves and flipped through them, not really paying much attention to what was in them. She did this a few times, creating a pattern of sound and visuals for her to work with. She didn't need the genjutsu to hold for long, just long enough for her to meet up with her team. But she had to be careful. Her grandmother wasn't a shinobi but she wasn't easily fooled by tricks.

"Are you looking for something in particular, Sei?"

Sei shook her head and set the journal back on the shelf before pulling another one and flipping thorugh it.

"Then why don't you stop fidgeting and come play a few rounds of koi koi with me?"

Sighing, Sei set the book down. Her first plan of a looping pattern wouldn't work now, but she could always give an illusion that she was playing a game. She stretched as she crossed the room. As she lowered her hands, she made a few quick signs and released the chakra. Her grandmother's eyes glazed for a moment. Sei sprinted from the room, grabbed her pouches and supplies from her room and jumped out her window, taking off down the road.

"Damn it. Yukari's going to kill me."

Sprinting as fast as she could, she finally reached her team's meeting place. As she expected, Koma and Yukari were already there. "Damn it." Sei stopped in front of them, panting. "S-sorry . . ." She felt so embarrassed; she didn't dare meet their eyes. "I was . . . caught up in something. Family stuff." It was such a lame excuse and she knew it.

KageYuuki Orikanyo

 

[Orikanyo]

Koma

​

"Glad you showed up Sei, you two. Look at you both, growing up so fast. If only my little one had half the drive you do. Takes a little bit too much after her mother you know. Ah, yes. it is time that we headed off to the meeting place. From what i remember, the first test will be rather easy, comparatively." Standing up from his seat he motioned his genin along with him. "Succeed in this test, and you will become full fledged chuunin. Higher pay grade, tougher missions, some other benefits, prestige alongside all that of course. But that also means I won't be in charge of you any longer."

The man let out a small sigh. "Though if you fail, you can already try again. You likely already have thought about it, failure. What it means, what it entails, what will happen. In truth, I have full confidence you both will succeed and become great kunoichi, you both have immense potential in you. Wherever you go with this potential, is up to you, even if I'm still availble to train, if you really need it." he chuckled, how curious, was this how his jonin felt sending his genin off to the exams?

Pride? Fear?

These genin weren't like him.

They would have very real threats to deal with inside, it was his job to have them trained for it.

Were they truly ready?

....

Who knows?

"Come, lets head to the building, we don't have much time left before it begins. I'm certain you both will love the proctor this year." the man chimed happily, leading the young women onwards towards the meeting point.

@ All of you

Sitting in the front of the soon to be filled classroom was an unfamiliar face to the number of students whom would be coming into this room. A teacher, a woman of considerable experience in drilling the basics of ninja-ing into their young minds, or at least had been ever since the one prior had recently gone missing/is considered dead and she was brought in to do HIS job. The sharply dressed woman awaited the genin whom she would be testing today, she fully expected some would try to sneak in another way aside from the door, some might try to force their way in as a show of force to try and scare the other genin.

Some might not even care, walk in, sit down, and shut up.

In truth, she liked all three approaches.

But today, regardless if she liked them or not, she was going to find out just who among them had the guts, the mettle, the balls to pass the first test. it was a rather tricky one, but to some it may just be that easy. Everything was ready, each pawn in it's place.

All she had to do, was wait.

Patiently.

....

..........

.......................

"GOD DAMN COULD THEY TAKE ANY LONGER!"

She was quite excited to begin.


What ya'll need to do~!

So, welcome to the first test, your jonin will be dropping you off outside the Academy doors, you remember that place from your school days, saying their teary eyed goodbyes, you can play that part or move onto the grumbling, pushing and shoving that is the walk into the classroom. Take your seat, punch another genin, give them a hug, steal their lunch money, whatever you want. it's your job to get in the classroom, make an entrance if you need to, in the theatrical sense and not actually making a hole in a wall.

Sorry Mai.

The test will be explained the moment everyone is inside.

Remember, have fun~! ​

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Katsumi Nonoba​

She hadn't realized it yet, but Katsumi was the first one of her squad to enter the classroom. Her mind was drifting, visualizing how all the other genin would look at her and her squad. They'd probably laugh at her at the very least. She opened the door, stepping into the classroom. The sudden silence brought her mind out of the gutter.

Katsumi looked around the room, some of the Kirigakure genin had already arrived, and they were staring directly at her. She recognized them, and they obviously recognized her. One of them stood out, the boy who she had put under a genjutsu to escape from. It was frightening to see him again, but at least she had her squad with her this time. Katsumi turned to her teammates, but they weren't there. Where did they go? Weren't they right behind her? "N-Nagisa? Yuuki?" she called it quietly. They must have decided to abandon her for being a liability. A lump formed in her throat. She heard footsteps approaching, as the pervy mist genin stood up. He smiled and walked towards Katsumi, his hands behind his head.

"Well well, if it isn't my favorite leaf girl!" He said, obviously holding back something as he spoke. "We didn't finish talking back then ya know! Where's your Lava Style friend and that Sharingan master?" On closer inspection his smile was more of an evil grin.

Katsumi slowly shuffled backwards a few feet, remaining silent. He couldn't hurt her in here could he? The proctor wouldn't let something like that happen, would she?

____​

Aiko Uchiha​

Leading the way inside, Aiko stepped through the classroom doors. She peeked over her shoulder, confirming that Mai and Hideki weren't too far behind. Despite how much this squad annoyed her, she didn't want to leave them yet. Not until they did what they needed to do here.

Some smug looking ninja wearing a different getup were gathered on one side of the classroom. They must have been the Hidden Mist ninja her father had talked to her about. He had explained Kirigakure's past to her, and made sure she understood the village's hatred towards kekkai genkai, in paticular, Ice Release. Of course, these ninja didn't know about her yet. Aiko stared them down with an icey glare as she sat down in her seat. She also noticed some poor girl being harassed by one of said mist ninja. Where were her friends? Or better yet, her squad. Aiko turned attention away from the poor girl to see if Mai would enter the building by embarrassing herself gain. Hideki wouldn't do anything stupid.

The proctor looked pretty down to business, but Aiko hadn't ever seen her before. Wasn't her teacher at the academy supposed to proctor this? She'd probably watch over them as they took whatever test she gave them. Considering they were in a classroom, it only made sense that they would take a pen and paper test. Aiko then continued to shoot the Hidden Mist ninja a cold blooded stare, one that many of them returned.

 

[KageYuuki]

Squad 4: Makin' Sensei Proud
Suddenly the Kiri genin pitched forwards almost as though he was lunging for Katsumi. But genin's feet fell out from underneath him and he angled straight into the floor as another figure followed him down and they landed together.

"I am SO sorry!" Nagisa said to the boy she had landed on "I wasn't watching where I was going at all! Are you okay?" Nagisa herself was fine, having very deliberately fallen on top of him with her knee pressed into the small of his back. Of course, the reason the boy had fallen in the first place had as much to do with the suppressed chakra thread wrapped around his leg as it did Nagisa running into him from behind "Here let me help you up,"

Nagisa grabbed one of the boy's hands and put her other hand on his collarbone. It really did look to any bystanders like she was helping him up but if anyone with sharp enough eyes might spot the kunai in her palm which was now nestling its tip snugly against his neck or the fact that her other hand was bending his fingers back in a direction they were definitely not intended to bend.

"I really have to be more careful," Nagisa said, hauling the boy to his feet in a way that put most of his weight on his painfully bent fingers. "It would be a shame if somebody got themselves hurt before the exam even started! You be careful now," she said, making very deliberate eye contact with the boy as her chakra thread dissipated and she withdrew her hand from his collarbone, leaving only a very subtle scratch from the tip of her knife on his neck.

“R-right… I'll be more careful…” the boy responded, having been subdued so easily. He then shot a look to the other two members of his squad. They nodded and stood up from their seats, walking towards Nagisa with their fists clenched. One was another boy, the other was a short girl.

As Nagisa finished her veiled threat, Yuuki finally stepped into the room. Hands in his pockets and gaze at the floor. After Katsumi’s little screw up in spreading rumors, he had half a mind to just stay back and let things play out. Though no matter how much he actually wanted to, he couldn’t.

Part of him wanted to say it was in part due to having a sister. Even if she was older… far more talented… Something he likely wasn’t going to come close to.

The rest of him knew he wanted to get even with her himself and that spending so much time around Nobushige was starting to show.

The genin let out an annoyed sigh as he roughly brushed past Katsumi, “You know, sensei was trying to say something when you spaced out and wandered off… Now, look at this mess.” He finally looked up at the approaching genin, harsh crimson hues watching their every move. Another sigh as he shook his head and stepped closer to the smaller Mist shinobi. “Exams haven’t even started yet, doubt the proctor would really like a fight breaking out so soon. Settle it later?” He held out his hand, what looked to be a small envelope blatantly in his palm.

The shorter girl gave Yuuki a smug grin, before snatching the small envelope. As soon as her hand gripped the paper, she screamed and dropped it to the ground. She looked at her hand. “What the hell was that?” She then looked over to her teammate beside her. He was staring at his hands and shaking. He began to breathe rapid, short, and shallow breaths. “I-it’s all over me! S-somebody help me!” The boy yelled as he tried to wipe the imaginary blood off of himself. To any onlookers, the boy just looked like he was having a mental breakdown, and was trying to run his skin off.

Peeking around Yuuki’s shoulder, Katsumi sniffled as she watched these poor people go through such a genjutsu. It was awful and extremely terrifying. “Th-thanks Nagisa… thank you, Yuuki…” Katsumi thanked her teammates. They hadn't abandoned her yet after all.

Yuuki bent to snatch the folded paper doll from the floor, pausing to let the burning glare of the sharingan linger on the girl for a moment before he straightened. “Wonder if they’re doing assigned seating or some crap like at the academy,” he mused, looking back at his teammates as he walked past the Mist shinobi. His hand gripped the boy’s shoulder briefly as he passed, pushing enough chakra in to break Katsumi’s genjutsu.

“Who knows?” Nagisa followed after him, her hands resting behind her head nonchalantly. “We should probably just find somewhere to sit before anything else happens, there’s a lot of bad luck going around today,” she said, twisting slightly to wink at the mist genin she had threatened as they left. With one of her elbows, Nagisa bumped Katsumi gently on the back of the head, encouraging her not to linger too long.

Giving the Mist genin one last glance, Katsumi followed after Nagisa and Yuuki. She was grateful to have such smart and confident teammates. Without them, she wouldn't be here right now. They wouldn't have gone through all that trouble if it wasn't for her. Now, it was time to prove she wasn't useless with her actions from here on out. It was time to become a Chuunin!

 

[KageYuuki]

Yukari Hyuuga: Squad 5
Yukari raised an eyebrow at Sei's excuse as her teammate finally showed up. Family trouble... Well, it wasn't like she didn't have her own share of nonsense to deal with thanks to the clan. Though they at least had some respect for her being a shinobi. That wasn't appearing to be the case with the Teshima. "Your family makes you late a lot." She commented as they walked down the academy halls. "It's only the Chuunin exams, one of the most important events for shinobi..."

Takara Himura: Squad 6
"My time in the exams?" The jounin paused for a moment in thought, "They were difficult, the second stage especially. You'll be pushed to your limits and then some, I can guarantee that."

Takara studied Mai for a moment as her student turned away the gift. "Well, I won't force it on you." she tucked the small box back into her pouch. "The first exam is technically the easiest but it's the only one that doesn't involve combat. So try not to start anything during this stage... Plenty of chances to fight down the road."

She stopped at the entrance to the academy, "This is as far as I can go. Your registration will tell you what room to report to. Just remember, nothing's ever as it seems during the exams so keep your wits about you."

 

[Orikanyo]

Hideki Ukita​

Well.

This was it.

This was the moment he was dreading and reasonably excited for.

Aiko went on ahead into the classroom, causing the young man to follow suit as to at least somewhat look like they belonged in a team. Though in truth he would be remiss to not notice a tense air about, he'd call it stress over the exams but he could cut it like with a knife with how thick it was. Not to mention there was a commotion not two seconds prior of him entering the room, and Mai wasn't even inside the room yet!

He wondered what would happen after all is said and done here? Would they all go their separate ways? Would they stick around one another?

No, now was not the time to be thinking that way, he had a job to do, best he get down to it and do his best, while covering his friend's asses in the process.

"Wonder what type of test this will be." he asked nobody in particular, eyeing the other people in the room as he walked inside. His stance had his hand rest nearby the handle of his sword, just in case. A curious group it seems Yuuki has grabbed, two young ladies. Guess Yuuki was as equally lucky as himself... though, hopefully Yuuki doesn't have to deal with being chokeslammed into a hot spring. He glanced back to Mai at remembering that, a small smirk breaking through. "Mai, you ready for this?" he asked the young woman, who has been occasionally acting weird lately.

Could she really be nervous?

Wait.

Mai?

Nervous?

If the exam had a face she'd punch it.

"How about you Aiko? thinking about it this could be our last, and longest, mission together." he brought his hands back behind his head, looking quite lax.

...Huh?

He could swear he heard barely sitffled snickering coming from the front of the class... On that note.. Who the hell WAS in the front of the class? A new teacher? The proctor? Whoever she was...

She had pretty killer sunglasses.

 

[loyalwolf]

Kurēn Kinoko​

Standing out the classroom among other Genin, waiting for the rest of his team so they could go in together. He wants everyone to see them as a proper team, who functioned as one. Kurēn would claim they got separated but, honestly Kurēn had to walk away from Ashi’s little outburst so he didn’t lose his cool and poker face. Both his teammates were testing his patience by being late to the exam room. “Where are they… I wanted to be one of the first people in the room.” He decided to just go in and save seats for them.

As he entered the room, he saw the small incident that was going on with a girl, he knew was with squad 4. He kept a straight face, but he instinctively reached for his Tessen. He took cautious, but quick steps in their direction, when he stopped in his tracks. He saw another girl intervene, he vaguely remembered her and knew she was part of squad four. He watched closely, analyzing what both sides were doing.

He notices that Nagisa tried to keep her actions a secret and for the most part she was really good at hiding her intentions. Yet, Kurēn just barely pick up on the kunai she had in her palm and knew what she really was doing. Kurēn felt things begin to go out of control when the last member of squad four made his entrance. Kurēn knew more about this one than the other because he was an Uchiha.

Once the altercation was his, he noticed he still had a strong grip on his tessen and his knuckles were turning white. His natural stoic face seemed a little shocked. Then he gave the faintest of smirks “Looks like both Mako’s and Ashi’s brash action and need to be the center of attention have rubbed off on me.”

He took a seat in the back waiting for his team and observing everyone that entered the room. It's good I got to see one of the other squad in action. The last thing a squad wants is to cause a scene and draw attention to themselves. That’s when his mind went back to his teammates. More specifically Ashi’s challenge to another squad out loud and Hotaru odd behavior around her new potential test subjects. He looked utterly defeated. At this point he just wanted the exam to start and get this over with.

He regained his claim and poker face. “At least they haven’t picked a fight with another team yet.” He cast his gaze over to the other leaf ninja in the room. Two Uchihas. The boy seemed to be dangerous, but I know Aiko is someone to not take lightly either. Then there was the kunai girl and she seemed to be very skilled with ninja tools. That could be an issue. Then another ninja entered who he remembered being a part of the same squad as Aiko. Even with all this going on in his head, he kept a straight face and made a note to tell his teammates about everything he observed whenever they arrived. He had no doubt that the exam will be difficult this year, especially with all the rookies participating.

 

[Kimiwriter]

Sei Teshima, Squad 5

Sei didn't reply; partly because she didn't want her grandmother finding out and thinking she was slandering her family-- that was another headache she didn't want to deal with-- and partly because she didn't think she could really explain her situation. Yukari was born into a shinobi family. Being a shinobi was expected of her; how could she understand fighting against everyone in order to be someone she wanted to be?

Turning her attention to the doors at the end of the hall, she swallowed. Am I really ready for this? She touched the tool pouch at her side, making sure she could feel the mask and poison pouch near the top. There was already a murmur coming from the room ahead. Don't let them know how nervous you are. Make them think you have something to hide.

Sei rolled her shoulders back and lifted her head. Her false confidence wavered slightly as they neared the door and she let Yukari pass through first.

The room was already starting to fill up, though there were still plenty of seats left. Team four was already making a scene. The other teams watched each other, sizing each other up and plotting. Sei prayed no one would pay much attention to Yukari and herself. "So," she glanced at her teammate, "where should we sit?"

KageYuuki

 

[Ganryu]

The Three Idiots
(Kiyoshi Ao, Mai Sanada, Ashi Inuzuka)​

Mai stood a little back from her teammates as they made it to the actual classroom. She was positively shaking, putting one hand on the other as her breathing increased. Today… this was it…. It was the Chunnin exams…

Looking down the corridor, she saw Kiyoshi. Her eyes narrowed. There was no way he was going to steal this moment from her. Her labored breathing added a disturbed laugh to it. Showtime.

Mai took off at the classroom at a sprint. Kicking the door, she savagely looked around, her quiet labored laughing growing. The room was full! There wasn’t a better stage on earth. She noticed a bunch of her classmates, and her team. She couldn’t look too long though, it’d lose the effect. Leaping forward, Mai did several flips, landing on the desk in an exaggerated fashion.

“Listen up, other villages. I am Mai, of the Sanada! The rest of you don’t have a chance in hell, here’s a handicap to make things more fair! Beware Squad 6, we’re the ones you have to look out for. Run from us if you see us, I’d take you all on if it was an option!”

Her laughter echoed through the room.

There was no room for others, the competition was vast but Kiyoshi’s new found pride was vaster. Of course, he didn’t catch a glimpse of Mai before she made her way into the room, well he did but he wouldn’t let anyone know, but man did he hear her speech.

He let out a small smirk, running ahead of his teammates and barging into the room full of genin. He pulled a stunt similar to Mai’s, except his final flip was one that soared above the fiery girl, only so he could land in front of her.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I’m the one you should look out for! Kiyoshi Ao, the greatest genin this village has seen, and soon I’m going to be the greatest Chuunin, and from there you ask?! I’ll be the strongest shinobi in the existence of this world!”

Kiyoshi chortled and kept his confident smile about him.

It looked like a blur as a third figure charged through the hallway hearing the proclamations with a rather angry look upon the wild girl’s face. Ashi had ran well past her teammates, bumping into several of the other Genin trying to rush her way inside the classroom not wanting to let them top her off from ‘stealing her thunder’.

Reaching the door on all fours, it was her turn to leave an impression. She began to spin, twisting around rapidly in her passing fang seeking to upstage the two. Her quick and clumsy stance combined with her reckless movements had caused her to fumble on the execution of her move. Spinning in the air she veered off course, instead of landing upon the desk she smacked directly into it, causing a loud crack as it caused the desk to jolt forward and the Inuzuka girl to stop in her tracks holding her head briefly. She her head briefly before shuffling to her feet, attempting to play it all off holding her hand out.

“D… don’t listen to this lamo copy cat jerks! I Ashi Inuzuka and my Squad 7 are going to beat you all up and beat the Exams cause we are the best, these two copy cats trying to copy me when I was first don’t know better!” She spoke sharply pointing to herself in an attempt to regain a spotlight she felt had been stolen to her, automatically assuming she had been heard earlier and the two were trying to outplay her.

Mai’s face reddened as Kiyoshi jumped infront of her, her laughter cut short. This was exactly why she wanted to beat him in, because of course he’d do something stupid like this. She quietly reeled her left arm back into a haymaker, eyeing Kiyoshi’s back. Suddenly the desk under her cracked in two, causing her to lose her footing. Her wheels on her back jingled as she flailed, trying to reach out for something. She found something, falling forward onto Kiyoshi.

This was her entrance, how dare they mess it up. She just sighed in defeat. She’d just have to tell people she was not to be messed with the old fashion way, by punching them into a coma. She turned to the other two, and moved to crack her knuckles. It failed.

“Could you two, not be retarded? I mean, you could have landed anywhere else in the room! If you were going to upstage me, at least do it by doing a better entrance, not by jumping infront of me, or destroying the desk I was standing on? Come on, it defeats the entire point of me trying, and makes you two look dumb. Well, I’d fight you, but I don’t know what rules the first exam has.

Hey, Ms. Proctor lady, now these idiots messed me up, what are we doing?”

“HEY! Don’t blame me that your entrance lacked finesse! Try a little harder next time and maybe you wouldn’t be upstaged!”

Kiyoshi yelled it back instinctively as he felt Mai grab onto his back, he turned to face Ashi quickly.

“AND AS FOR YOU! I don’t know you, but you need to work on your landings. Under different circumstances I’d offer my help, but since you think you’re gonna be the one to win, I’m going to have to show what real strength is. Maybe you learn from failure.”

His quick annoyance had dissipated and he crossed his bandaged arms as he awaited some sort of remark. His eyes falling on Mai, examining and comparing her to the last time they had crossed paths. The glove was new.

A trickle of red slipped down from Ashi’s forehead, having managed to get a cut on her head from smacking into the desk, though she seemed to ignore it. She fiercely glared at the girl who had called her and the other guy stupid. She didn’t get a chance to respond back as she turned to look at Kiyoshi hearing what he said. It had managed to make her even more angry at his ton being even more condescending making her view it as a way of dismissing her and calling her a failure. She lifted her hand to point it at the two, her sharp teeth looking like fangs as she spoke loudly.

“You are both dumb! I know what I was doing I was trying to show just a tiny bit of my strength by breaking the desk, I wouldn’t do anything dumb like mess up my landing I’m a talented shinobi and you should learn from me how to be one!” She spoke, the blood from her cut still trickling down her forward falling from her brow to the right side of her right eye as she spoke attempting to play off her accident as some elaborate tactic.

“I’mma beat you both and you will see that you can’t mess with me or my team when you get rumps kicked right out and sent back to the academy ‘cus you aren’t good enough to even attempt to beat me!” She spoke crossing her arms attempting to act tough by looking away despite the throbbing pain from where she had smacked her head in the desk.

Mai was stunned by Kiyoshi as Ashi started.

“Lacked finesse!? LACKED FINESSE!? Where was my lack of finesse when I laid you out at the training grounds? Or when I beat you inside the classroom and made a perfect landing?

And I haven’t even fought you yet and you’re bleeding everywhere! I can’t mess with you if you bleed out before we fight!

I came up here to give everyone else handicap, to make it a fair fight! That’s all I want, a fair fight! What the hell are you two trying to pull? Tch, forget it.

Anyone who wants to mess with a Sanada, I’m Mai, heir to the family. Fight me.”

With that, Mai stomped off from the two of them. Couldn’t someone appreciate her declaration, and not completely ruin it?

Kiyoshi scoffed before almost breaking out in complete laughter.

“You won’t be saying any of that once I show you my new move! I think you’d even have to cough up some Ryo too!”

The blonde boy then turned to face Ashi, looking her up and down, he wasn’t that much taller than her.

“You’re bleeding. Get it fixed so I don’t feel bad when you lose to me.”

Kiyoshi walked off after his subtle statement and took a seat, awaiting his teammates.

Ashi kept up her defiant look as the two spoke up giving their piece before storming off. She lifted her hand up, touching her finger taking some of the blood and glancing at it. She shook her head looking fiercely out as the two were long gone.

“We…. well its called ketchup, you dumb cats! I’ll show you both who is bleeding during the exam, not that this is blood its not, cause I’m too good to bleed and… I’ll show you both!” She spoke out pointing her finger in the vague direction they went as to keep up her tough act. .

 

[loyalwolf]

Kurēn continued his observation of the different teams and competitors. He was still waiting for his team, when a Leaf Genin from squad 6 made a grand entrance. Then, even before he had the chance to full take her word and analyze her properly another guy came in to make a fool of himself. They both remind me of…. Before he could even finish his thought, the person he was thinking of entered the room.

Kurēn still looked blankly at the scene in front of him. “They can’t be that dumb, can they? That's impossible? Maybe it’s a part of their plan?” he was beginning to look extremely angry, that was until he notices the blood on Ashi’s forehead. He sighed “this should be expected by now. No need to get so worked up.” He was trying to calm himself down. he was back to his normal self, he got up out of his chair. He began to walk toward Ashi with no expression being shown. He did cast his gaze both Mai and Kiyoshi. Then he gave the tiniest glare, warning them to not insult his teammate again. When he reaches her, he looked at her face and gave her a look of worry. Before returning to he naturally expressionless face.

He sighed “You just don’t learn do you, but I guess I shouldn’t expect you to change who you are.” He cut a piece if his sleeve and pressed it against her forehead. “Make sure to keep pressure on your forehead to stop the injury from worsening. After this part of the examine will get it bandaged up. Now let go sit and stop causing a scene. Soon enough, everyone will see what our team is made of.” He took her arm and made his way to the back where he was sitting before. Not before casting his gaze at the other two idiots. This time making it clear his unhappiness and that even though he doesn’t approve of his teammates action, he was going to stand by her. Whether she liked it or not.

 

[AtlannianSpy]

HOTARU HAGANO
SQUAD SEVEN
​

I never expected to find another subject like Tsukiashi, let alone two. In terms of control grouping and replicating results this is going to be invaluable. I was operating under the impressions her psychology was unique but all three of them tried the same thing completely on their own initiative. I would've thought natural selection would weed out these kinds of traits to a greater extent but apparently not. Kiyoshi Ao. Mai Sanada. I need to stidy both of them more...

Hotaru was watching the spectacle from a seat near Kuren's the she had slid into quietly. She was resting her chin on one hand and her eyes had the dreamy expression of someone who has just won the lottery and is planning how to spend their winnings. A good teammate, maybe even an average one might have gone over to see if Ashi was okay but Hotaru was more interested in gauging the room's reaction to the three showoffs. Who was unsettled? Who was conferring with their teammates to target them later and who was unconcerned. Now that Ashi had poked them Hotaru would see what shook out of them, besides Hotaru had learned enough about Ashi to know that something this minor would barely phase her, let alone slow her down.

The results were disappointing. The foreign teams reacted with a very mundane variety of surprise, bemusement and laughter. A few of the mist teams maintained their cool and appeared to be calculating something, Hotaru made a note of those teams for later but the rest? Boring. True the other leaf teams had some interesting people, very interesting actually. But Hotaru could study them any time! This was her big chance to study ninja from outside her village and so far they weren't producing anything exciting.

Hotaru's legs swung restlessly underneath her desk. Hopefully the exam itself would be challenging enough to be exciting enough to be a challenge otherwise this whole thing might be a wash. The proctor looked vaguely sinister which was promising, also strangely familiar. Something about the facial features or those sunglasses she was wearing reminded Hotaru of someone. Oh well, that could be filed away for later. The exam should be starting soon, things weren't going to be boring for much longer.

 

[Spemout]

Kaida - Squad Three

Kaida had walked in and waited patiently, and had been waving at Nagisa with a small smile, but then Kiyoshi decided to make himself into a clown, alongside the ever-active Mai and a certain Inuzuka Ashi who, much to Kaida's surprise, still lacked a fluffy companion.

She sighed, and then stared at the Mist genin and his team. She still had a bone to pick due to their behavior towards Nagisa's team. Once they all noticed her, she began cracking her knuckles simply by flexing them, a dangerous glint in her eye as she mouthed to them a few choice words. *You won't make it far.*

Kaida had mental discipline drilled into her ever since she learned the secret to the Elemental Fist, but even then she won't hold back her opinion on people if it isn't necessary.

She then called out to Kiyoshi. "Eh, Kiyoshi-san, no need to try and prove yourself. If it helps, I believe in you."

Retro-Grey Ganryu yoshua171

 

[Orikanyo]

Ago Aburame

​

At first, Ago was quite happy that atleast somebody showed some level of confidence, but that first person turned into two, and then three, but it seems three was more than enough to crush her desk underneath their weight. Papers flew everywhere, her coffee, also everywhere and mixing with said papers, all the treats she hid away in her desk?

Gone.

Her desk?

Gone.

All those student papers she hadn't quite marked yet?

Covered in coffee.

Yep.

This was gonna be one of those days.

Standing up from her roller chair that she loved so very much she looked towards the three behind her heavy dark shades. "...So... You want to prove yourselves early huh? Well then, I'll tell you something right now, you will be, because no matter if you succeed or fail this test. You three little idiots will be having some quality time with me, some mops, and the school toilets to prove just how well you can clean them. Is, that, clear? Good! Now get to your F**KING seats brats!" she snapped at the genin, and awaited for them to follow orders.

Once everyone had found themselves a seat nearby their squad members, the proctor cleared her throat, sitting once again in her fancy wheelie chair in the front of the class, cross legged and arms folded together.

"Now then, since everyone is-" the door opened as a single late genin snuck in to meet with their group apologizing many times softly. "-Here, I shall introduce myself. I am Ago Aburame, the proctor for the first exam. To answer a few frequently asked questions. Yes, I have bugs all around inside my body. Yes, I feel them, but you get used to it. And yes, I am single~! Now with that out of the way, I shall introduce our first test. Would everyone please look inside their desks?"

Within each of their desks, once opened, was a small white ball attached to a triggering seal, one with even the slightest of savvy in regards to ninja related tools could note them to be-

A smoke bombs, set to explode the moment the desk was opened.

*BOOM*

Immediately, pure white smoke filled the room, the feeling of movement just beyond one's eyesight all around the genin, some would be bumped slightly, others hearing muffled movement of something being dragged away.

These noises lasted for roughly 4 seconds before it all returned to silence...

Once the smoke cleared, the room was as it was but mere moments before, some genin had reacted with drawn weapons, some reacted by being still and shocked. But all was normal in the room, nothing had changed, as far as the genin knew.

The proctor spoke up once more, smiling wide as can be. "Now then, here is your test. Within each and every one of your group, is an imposter. One of my colleagues, each skilled in the art of manipulation and deception, has disguised and placed themselves amongst your ranks. A ninja must see through each lie, each illusion, each deception, to see underneath the underneath. Don't blame me for that cheesy turn of phrase my proctor used it long ago. We had gained in depth reports upon your mannerisms, your fears, what you enjoy, what you have done. You profiles are ours, and your sensei left nothing to our imagination, we know you, top to bottom. Your task, is to find the liar, the trickster! And you have roughly..." She checks her watch. "5 minutes to figure it out, if you guess wrong, or go over the time limit, you will fail. If you leave the room, you will fail. If you kill one of your teammates, you fail, and are an idiot. If you attack me, I will break you and feed you to my bugs.

Once you think you have found the truth, you must come to me, and whisper the answer into my ear. After that, you will be asked to leave along side your squad and your group member will be returned to you. You will learn if you had failed, or passed."

Stifling abit of a giggle, she held her hand before her mouth.

"Now then, Exam number one!

Begins!"

You know what you must do.
Those of you who have been contacted must remain silent,
or shall be punished as discussed.

Find the liar.

But have fun~!

​

 

[InsaneAsylum]

Aiko Uchiha​

Once the smoke cleared, and the proctor began explaining the first test, Aiko relaxed her firm grip on her katana. It was a good thing she didn't start slashing, because she probably would've cut up some poor innocent genin.

The first test wasn't anything she thought it would be. Apparently one of her teammates had been replaced by another ninja is disguise. Her job was to figure out which of her teammates had been replaced. This wouldn't be easy.

Aiko cast a cold glare onto her teammates, who sat in the two desks to her right. She considered her options. She could question the both of them, and try to ask questions that only the real Mai or Hideki would know. Unfortunately, these ninja imposters were more than likely trained to be questioned. A better option would be to see just how well they can keep up their disguise. Briefly, Aiko grinned, before returning to her serious glare.

"Come here, Mai, let me make sure you're not the imposter. Don't resist."

 

[loyalwolf]

Kurēn keeps a firm eye in the Aburame but took quick glances at Hotaru. He was wondering what she was thinking, seeing a member of that clan here. She simply asked everyone in the room to open their desk and like everyone else Kurēn followed her instructions. Soon the whole room became filled with smoke, but Kurēn stayed calm and in his seat. He did have his hands on his tessen but overall remained cool and collected.

As soon as the smoke cleared, Kurēn looked around and tried to see if anything changes. From what he could tell there wasn’t anything drastically different. That’s is when Ago explained the exam and what they needed to do. This was not what Kurēn prepared for and he wasn’t sure if Mako prepared them for this anyway. Kurēn didn’t like being turned against his own teammates. “I am sure you two have your own way of solving this. But right now, it's best to think that each one of us is an imposter. Thus, the best way to figure this out is to prove that we rent imposters.”

Kurēn then stood up and looked at the other two ninjas. “Asking questions, or using word won't do much. Considering they have a full file on us, but also because they are specialized ninja. Yet with our team, we each have unique skills and jutsu that no one should be about to copy. So, all we have to do it preform it to prove to the other that we aren’t imposters.”

With that Kurēn began making a few hand signs and looked to his left. “As you both know I have a unique kekkei genkei. So the best way to show you guys I'm the real kuren is by performing a fungal release. Ninja art Fungal release: giant toadstool.” He layed out his palm and out of no where a medium sized mushroom grew out of it. It was relatively small compared to what kuren was use to creating but he still wanted to keep his abilities hidden. He felt this was enough evidence to prove his pony and that he wasn't an impostor. “No matter how good the impostor is no way they could copy my fungal release. Now if you don’t mind, Hotaru I would like to see deliver a message to us, using your special friends. And Ashi, I would like to see your passing fang again, but this time try to aim for some of our competitors, instead of a desk.” Looking at the two, Kurēn want to see if Hotaru could used her moths properly and if Ashi could actually pull off a passing fang. Which ever person could perform, kuren believes they would be the imposter

The only real issue was if Ashi’s impostor was another Inuzuka but he had a plan for that. For now, he wanted Hotaru to prove that she was who she said she was.