I'll Show You Insanity

Chapter 42

In a large room full of children and adults, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of pencils against paper. The sharp eyes surrounding the inner perimeter of the room observed the young shinobi with care, determining who was more deserving of the title they were all there to achieve: chunnin.

Many of the children were frantically trying to finish their tests, just as many had already given up hope, and had their heads laid upon the very paper that had defeated them. Very few sat confidently in their seats, filling out their tests with ease thanks to the unintentional assistance of the eggheads scattered about them. Stress and anguish hung in the air like the plague, physically making the children weaker the longer they sat before the paper that had everyone so worked up.

A large man, clad in back, with menacing scars carved into his face, stood at the front of it all, watching with hawk like eyes as few of the children before him skillfully cheated their way through the test. The others were acting as helpless as infants without their mothers. What a pathetic bunch he's been presented with.

A sudden commotion from the hall seized the attention of all in the room. Angry, disbelieving shouts drifted into the examination room, paired with rapid footsteps, and loud, bell-like laughter.

"Oi! You can't go in there!"

"Get back here, you brat!"

"Stop! Now!"

Closer and closer the racket drew. Student and proctor alike watched the door with their curiosity peaked. Ibiki quickly grew tired of the unknown disruption, but before he could throw the door open and shout at the sorry bastards to keep their yaps shut, an outside force slid open the barrier, and a charcoal grey blur bolted inside with a childish giggle, heading straight for the Head of Interrogation before anyone could react.

Thin arms wound around the threatening man as an angelic voice rang out. "Ibi-chan!"

As realization struck Ibiki, he was unable to keep a rare smile from his lips as he looked down to his little prodigy.

All but natives of the Leaf were left to stare in confusion and shock as a doll like girl clung to the menacing bulk of man with a smile.

"Hey there," Ibiki responded with a chuckle, moving the girl from her dangling position from his neck, to his shoulders, where she towered over all. "What are you doing here, Yuma? You know this is an important test," he scolded lightly.

Yuma laughed, setting her chin upon folded arms atop his covered cranium. "I wanted to say hi!" She chirped. "I haven't seen you since my funeral!"

Since her funeral.

Said so naturally by her, yet it sent nearly all children in the room into shock and confusion.

Since her funeral?

Befuddled murmurs drifted into the air, soon being silenced by Ibiki.

"Quiet!" He barked, startling the children. "You all have a test to continue!" Then he took Yuma off his shoulders, and set her on the floor before him. "Yuma, do you intend to stick around for the remainder of the test?" He asked, voice considerably less brutal, bringing the testees who were ignorant of the young girl to wonder:

Who, exactly, was she?

She hummed with a smile, rocking on her feet adorably. "Um, no thanks, Ibi-chan, I can't handle the quiet for very long unless I'm sleeping! Too boring! But you have to visit me more, Kay?" She added, pointing up at him with a cute little pout.

He chuckled,patting her head. "Alright, squirt. Alright."

Satisfied, she nodded, and turned to the curious group of testers, her eyes locking on five in particular.

"Naru-chan, Sakura, Sasuke, Choji! Good luck!" She chirped, saluting them. Then she skipped past a few desk, to where Shikamaru was slowly awakening from a nap, test completed.

His bleary eyes locked onto her, and an instant smile lit up his face. "Hey, Yuma, what're you doin here?" He asked sleepily, rubbing his eyes.

She smiled, and leaned down to kiss the top of his head, causing pink to spring up on the boy's cheeks. "Just saying hi!" She giggled, hugging him. "See ya, Shika!"

He grinned, hugging her back. "Heh, see ya."

Pulling back she zipped back to the front of the room in the blink of an eye, hugging Ibiki one last time before skipping out of the room, leaving stunned silence in her wake.

Ibiki chuckled. That kid...

He turned to the students, still staring at the door. "Back to work, you bunch of degenerates!" He barked viciously, smirking as they all jumped back to attention, save for one.

The pineapple haired boy stared at the door, a small, sleepy grin on his lips as he rested his head on his palm.

Ibiki pushed down his amusement as he walked to the door, shutting it and speaking with a cool voice. "You, either look over your answers or go back to sleep. Enough with the goo-goo eyes."

The boys face flooded with red at being caught and he quickly rested his head on his arms, trying to ignore the snickers of proctors and students alike.

Ibiki fought off a smile.

She's quite the young girl, despite what she's been through...