Kakashi's Teammate, the Lightning Goddess

The Chunin Exams: P.5

*edited*

Chapter 18: The Chunin Exams: P.5

                “Welcome to the Preliminary Round!” the Hokage announced, as Team Seven rushed in, making it in the nick of time. I smiled at them, all beaten and battered up. Sasuke mustered up the energy to wink at me.

                Standing next to Kakashi made me nervous. Something told me that he hadn’t forgiven me yet, although it had been a whole of two minutes since he’d watched me burn his book with an excited, beaming smile on my face. 

                “… Kira do the explaining now, since she’s been your guardian angel for the last two rounds.”

                Although I had totally missed everything up until my name, I was pretty sure that the Hokage wanted me to explain the Prelims and also the third exam.

                “Sure,” I said, stepping forward. “Hi, everyone. I never properly introduced myself before, but my name’s Kira, and I’m a regular Konoha Jonin. Kakashi here and I co-lead one of the Genin teams here in this room.

                “Anyway, as you probably know, there were too many participants who passed the Second Exam. Therefore, we’re holding a Preliminary Round before the Third Exam itself. Anybody confused? Please, dear Lord, nobody raise their hand.”

                Nobody did, much to my relief.

                “Okay, so in this round, and also in the actual Third Exam, you’ll be sparring. No fatal hits, please. I will be a supervising proctor along with my old friend Hayate over there.”

                Hayate, coughing as usual, waved.

                “You’ll be fighting in pairs, chosen completely at random by the electronic scoreboard over there. I know you just got out of the Forest, but the Prelims begin now.” Cue round of groaning. “Anybody who isn’t feeling up to it may choose to drop out now. Your teammates will not be affected.”

                There was a little murmur, until a Sound Ninja at the back raised his hand. “I wish to forfeit!” he announced, and I was a bit glad, because he gave me a bad vibe.

                “All right,” Ibiki said, scanning down his clipboard. “Kabuto Yakushi, is that correct?”

                To my interest, my own Genin team seemed to want him to stay. Had he helped them out in the Forest when I hadn’t been watching?

                “He’s dropped out many times before, and always at this stage,” Anko whispered in my ear. “Naturally, we’re a bit suspicious of him.”

                I nodded. “Anybody else?” I then noticed Team Seven having a bit of an argument, and I could easily discern why. “Hey, Team Seven, you guys done with your mid-life crisis? Or do you need a little more time?”

                Several people snickered. The three of them glared at me.

                “Usually, I would remain professional and I wouldn’t intervene,” I said, crossing my arms. “But you three know what happened in the Forest that wasn’t supposed to happen. Sasuke, I know you’re going to refuse, but it would definitely be better for you to drop out and perhaps not die. But like I said, I know you’re going to just shake your head and tell me you can do it, so we’re just going to assume that nobody else is going to raise their hand.”