A Little More Than This (Discontinued)

Chapter 21

Mei looked up at the ceiling as the people milled into the seats around her. She spotted Naruto up near the front with Hinata by his side. She watched as Shikamaru dropped into the seat and sighed.

"This is such a drag" Shikamaru sighed, looking around at the settling group of people. Mei nodded, spotting her teammates across the room. Mei also looked curiously at the Chūnin and/or Jounin lining the room. Several of whom she was quiet acquainted with. Many smirked evilly at her while others nodded in her direction.

'Man I'm glad Kakashi isn't here'

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Itachi walked down the corridor, stopping when he came across a familiar door. He was surprised that the old thing was still standing, and that it was even there. He slowly made his way over to the room and flinched slightly at the loud creak it let off.

He looked around the room and noticed it hadn't changed one bit. It was still exactly the same as it had been when Mei had inhabited it. It had the same sky blue walls with the same childish drawings of clouds and the same messy grass-green carpet and even the same toys and paper scrawled across the room, only the paper had no scribbles on them, there was also one small difference in the room.

Someone, and Itachi had a very good idea who, had wrapped and/or placed presents on the bed each labeled a number from 7 through to 13. Itachi inspected each of the gifts and stopped as an extra one stood in the edge of the rest. It had a neat scrawl written over a small note and was wrapped in a soft blue paper.

"Yo... I didn't expect you to find this" Kakuzu stated, making Itachi whip around. "A-ah~ yes I was curious to why it was here" Itachi replied. "I built it myself, reused her old door and everything" the stitched man replied, his green and red eyes wondering to the last present.

"Found it on her grave. Someone left it there, I doubt it's food though. Would've gone off by now" Kakuzu continued. "Remember what Zetsu said a while back? Think he found something?" Itachi asked, blurting out a worry that had hunted him for a while. "I wish kid... c'mon dinner's just about ready" Kakuzu sighed, gesturing for the late teen to follow him.

Itachi looked over the room one last time before pulling out a wrapped gift from his over-coat, placing it next to the mystery gift.

'I swear if you're out there, I'll find you'

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Mei sighed lightly, finishing the ninth question easily. She stretched slightly and looked at Shikamaru, who had long since fell asleep. Mei smiled to herself as she moved a stray black hair from his face before turning to face the rest of the room.

She spotted Ibiki sending a hard stare at Naruto and knew that he was working his 'magic' on the poor boy. She turned to inspect the rest of the grey-clad proctors and caught Kotetsu making a heart shape at her and Shikamaru. She flipped him the bird and turned away from him, watching as Sasuke finally figured out that the test was testing their cheating skills.

Mei was already bored out of her mind and was thinking about taking a nap when something interesting happened. Kankurō raised his hand.

"What!?" Ibiki barked. "Sorry but I gotta drain the can" Kankurō replied sheepishly. Ibiki allowed him to go under the supervision of one of the proctors.

Soon whatever excitement that had risen when Kankurō left had settled down and Shikamaru had woken up at the sudden disturbance. He blinked and looked around for a second before shrugging and placing his head on the desk again. Mei smiled at his confusion and turned to face Ibiki, building up mental resistance as he tried to drill into her mind.

He gave up after twenty minutes and turned his attention back to Naruto. Mei smirked to herself, before turning to face the clock and sighing as there was still twenty minutes left.

~

With only 12 minutes to go Mei was going through her answers when she saw the dust flood over her page. She looked over to see Gaara performing a Jutsu. Mei rolled her eyes and pretended not to notice as she turned to face her Team.

Both looked stuck on a question and we're looking around for answers. Mei sighed and placed her hand in the sheet, causing two sets of the answers to appear and make their way over to the two.

Both looked up in surprise then stared at Mei, who only bowed her head.

"Alright! Listen up!! There are exactly 10 minutes to the end of the quiz!! And now I will give you the tenth question!" Ibiki suddenly barked, causing everyone to jump in surprise. "But before I ask the question I will ask you this: does anybody feel as though they cannot answer the tenth question?" Ibiki asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Temari piped up. "I mean if you feel as though you can't answer you can forfeit and retake this Exam next time" Ibiki replied, a deadly smile sneaking onto his lips. "What's the catch?" Mei asked, now slightly suspicious herself.

"If you fail this question you'll never be able to take the Chūnin Exams again" Ibiki replied. "What!! That's not fair!!" A random Genin cried. "It's simple really Either trust in your smarts or abandon the mission. Choose now" he stated, crossing his arms.

Several hands were raised and the entire teams left. Mei, on the other hand, was watching Naruto struggle with his own decision and was mentally telling him to give in. 'C'mon Naruto! There's always next year!' Mei tried to communicate.

Naruto suddenly banged his fist on the table, startling nearly everyone in the room. "Don't count me out!! I will get through this!!" Naruto bellowed. Mei smiled, and sent Ibiki and cheeky look.

"Are you sure?" Ibiki asked, just adding to the suspense. Naruto nodded defiantly and Ibiki smiled. "Well then you all pass" He replied, smiling slightly wider at all the confused looks. "What!?!" Many of the students asked.

Ibiki opened his mouth to explain but was cut off by a shadow-y thing bursting through the window. It threw several Kunai, pinning up a large banner. Mei rolled her eyes as Anko straightened up and started yelling.

"You're early. Again" Ibiki informed from behind the banner.