watashi (naruto)

juunana

[unedited / long chapter]

"Those that do not wish to take it, raise your hand. Once your number is confirmed, leave."

Ibiki stood in front of the classroom with his cold eyes, scanning the rows of desks. Silence remained in the air as he waited for someone to chicken out. Finally, someone did.

"I, won't take it!" Number 50 shouted and apologied to his team.

Everyone watched as people continued to raise their hands and quit, leaving the room. Sasuke intensely stared into Naruto's back, silently daring him to. Until, he actually did. Akurei calmly watched as the blond's quivering arm lifted straight into the air. Sasuke clicked his tongue and she huffed.

A loud bang scared everyone as Naruto slammed his hand down onto the table, a look of anger on his face.

"Don't underestimate me? I will not run!" Naruto shouted and Sasuke looked down, smirking.

"I'll take it! Even if I'm a genin forever! I'll will myself to becoming Hokage anyway, so I don't care! I'm not afraid!" He roared and sat back down, snorting like a bull.

"I'll ask you again. Your life is riding on this question. This is your last chance to quit." Ibiki warned and Naruto smirked, taunting the examiner.

"I follow my unbending words. That's my ninja way, dattebayo." He grinned.

"Hm. Good decisions. Now to everyone still remaining..." He scanned the room. They all sat on the edge of their chairs in anticipation.

"I congratulate you on passing your first exam!" Ibiki announced and confusion hit them like a truck.

"Wait... what do you mean? We already pass? What about the tenth question?" Sakura cautiously asked and Ibiki grinned happily.

"There never was such a thing. Or you could say that those two voices were the tenth question." He replied and Sasuke clicked his tongue, smiling.

"Hey then what were the first nine questions for?" Temari demanded and Ibiki chuckled.

"They were not pointless. They had already served their intended purpose. To test your individual information gathering ability. That purpose." He replied and Akurei glanced back to the blonde, slightly cursing at her for dragging this on.

"First, as the rules explained, success in this test is based on the whole team doing well. This put the pressure on each member not to mess things up for their teammates. But the questions on this test were not the types a mere genin could answer. Because of that, I'm sure most of the people came to the same conclusion."

"That to score points, you have to cheat. Basically, the premise of this test was to cheat. As cheating targets, we had two or more chunin who knew all the answers mixed into the crowd to help you guys out." Ibiki explained and many people muttered under their breaths.

"Man, it sure was rough finding that guy." A genin whistled and another agreed.

"Yeah, I know." They replied and Naruto sweat dropped.

"HAHAHAHA I SAW RIGHT THROUGH THAT! YOU'D HAVE TO BE A MORON TO NOT NOTICE THAT!" Naruto shouted and Akurei threw her pencil at his head.

"Sit down, moron." She teased lightly and he glared back at her, rubbing the sore spot.

"But those that cheat poorly, fail of course." Ibiki informed and started to untie his forehead protector.

"Because at times, information is more important than life. And on missions and battlefields, people risk their lives to get their hands on it." He muttered showing his head. The after effects of burns, screw holes and scars littered the top of his bald head, shocking those around Akurei. She quietly looked down and drew circles in her legs with her finger.