Shinobi

Chapter 3

The Third Hokage left her a stack of books on different types of ninjutsu.Half of them were to help her understand how to do healing as a medic and the other on different elemental chakras.Ai read as much as she could in hours she was away before getting ready for the day in general.She wondered what training with the Hokage or even Rock Lee would be like.

Ai retrieved her mask from Yamato’s apartment in the morning before leaving to join all the examiners at the Forest of Death.She had a few too many serious memories of training in the fenced in woods only just a couple years ago.She made her way through the crowds of teams that stood waiting for Anko to appear.Ai felt something wet press into the palm of her hand.

When she looked down a familiar white cuddly pup stared up at her whining.It was Akamaru.He was a bit bigger now and clearly hungry.Ai touched the bridge of his nose between his eyes.He calmed down for a second catching the scent of someone particular.Kiba laughed,

“Akamaru there you are-Huh uh sorry-Come here boy!”

The puppy ran up Kiba whining.Ai said in a low voice,

"I do not recommend starting this test without a proper meal.”

Kiba’s eyebrows rose,

"He ran off before I could feed him.I guess he's kinda on edge.We will be ready for this part of the test for sure.”

Ai hummed leaving the boy and his pup alone.She made her way to the front of the huge group.26 teams made it to this point.That number was likely to change for this part of the exam.Gaara looked at her every so often but kept his focus on everyone around him.It looked like he was sizing up everyone.She subtly hoped that Naruto would keep his distance from him.

Another individual that stood out more to her seemed more suspicious.They stared at everyone like they were prey.Ai grabbed the team roster list with descriptions of every individual.Nothing was out of the normal from what she could tell but something was off.She read through the file of the feminine looking man that stared at Sasuke Uchiha like he was prey.Something didn't sit right with her either about Kabuto,a ninja who gave information way to freely.

Naruto was stretching glaring at Sasuke,Gaara and Rock Lee.The Chunin exams were good way to see how everyone fell on the power scale.It didn't matter if there were a few from different villages or not.Each person taking part in the exam were representing more than just their village.Ai flipped through the other pages hoping up on top of the fence looking out at everyone.

She finished reading every profile right as Anko showed up.The woman stared at all of the teams.That spark of ambition and discipline in her eyes just like always.Anko smirked at Ai noticing she had the team roster.The woman asked,

“You remember the good times in these woods Hiru?"

Ai squatted down on the metal bar at the top of the fence shaking her head.Anko nodded looking back at everyone else,

“That's right..There isn't anything good that happens in this forest.”

A loud screech sounded from the woods behind the fence.The sound didn't make Ai or Anko or any of the examiners flinch.Ai couldn't help looking at Gaara who didn't react at all.His eyes were fixed on her now making her feel strange.Anko huffed,

“Oh well..Welcome to the second part of the Chunin exam..Also known as the Forest of Death.You will all soon figure out why it's called that.”

Most of the teams started talking amongst themselves.Naruto grumbled mocking the woman.He pointed at her,

“You think that scares me?!This forest is nothing!I'm not afraid!"

Ai tsked knowing she should have expected him to do that.Anko hummed sweetly at him saying,