Lotus Of The Leaf ~Book One~

Chapter 23! Special Report! Live From The Forest of Death!

~*****~

I gazed at the large expansion of trees ahead of us, raising an eyebrow in surprise. "W-Woah, nice place... What is it?" Naruto asks aloud.

"This is the location of the second phase of the exam. It's the forty-fourth battle training zone." Anko starts explaining. "But we call it... the Forest of Death."

"Forest of.... Death?" Naruto hums in confusion.

The slight shuffle of cardboard over the grass caught my attention. I looked over at the square box just as Naruto discovered it trailing on him. 'The Honorable Grandson sure doesn't give up, does he?'  I stood between Sasuke and Sakura as Naruto trailed away from the box. It started following after him, gaining speed to keep on his tail. "What's he doing?" I whisper to Sasuke, receiving that shrug. I crossed my arms over my chest and thought about pulling out Icha-Icha, Volume One. Ironically, even though all the smut in the book makes absolute no sense to me, it has given me a small insight on romance. Though, I don't think I want to know about this romance if it involves a man stripping down to his bare nude and tackling a woman. I flinch as Naruto stops in front of the box, pointing down at it.

"That's the worst disguise of all time!" He claims. "There's no such things as square rocks! It's completely obvious!"

"You saw through my camouflage again! You're slick boss, just what I'd expect from my greatest rival!" I hear Konohamaru shout, the box lighting up in a brilliant explosion. Blue, Pink, and yellow smoke burst out and upwards. Three academy students lay in a crawling position as they coughed. "I think we used too much gun powder, you guys!" Konohamaru admits to his friends. "Huh?" They all chime, looking up at Naruto as they're disguise is busted. They do their  introductions, and I still feel embarrassed to even know them.

"Yeah, I knew it was you guys the whole time. What do you losers want? I'm getting ready to take the second phase of the Chunin Exam, and you're interrupting me! I don't have any time to be playing around with you guys, now." Naruto was still trying to act cool in front of the kids. I smiled to myself and leaned to Sakura.

"He sure thinks he's cool, huh?" She nodded and started to giggle.

"We didn't come to play around, Boss!" Konohamaru snapped. "We're on official business!"

"Yeah! That's right! We came here for an exclusive interview!" Moegi adds.

"Uh-huh!" Udon hums.

"An interview, huh?" Naruto asks, looking down at them.

"We're here on an assignment; To write an article for the academy's newspaper!" He explained confidently. "It's a big time feature story! All about the Chunin Selection Exam!"

"So, that's why we want to do an exclusive interview with you!" Moegi explains. "Please tell us you're going to do it!"

"It would mean a lot..." Udon bows his head. I roll my eyes. 'They seriously worshiped this kid....'

"Yeah, but right now?" Naruto hums, annoyance thick in his tone.

"Hey!" Anko calls. "You over there!" We all look over at her. "What are you doing? You're holding up the exams."

"Uh... Sorry." Naruto apologizes. "But Konohamaru was telling me something about an interview for the academy newspaper."

Anko gasps in realization. "Oh! Yeah, I forgot all about it!" She admits, rubbing the back of her head with her cheeks tinting a slight pink. "Lord Hokage had mentioned something about them interviewing me!"

"You sure forget a lot, don't you Anko." I comment.

"Uh... Interviewing you?" Naruto hums.

"All right, we're taking a ten minute break. For those that are scheduled to be interviewed, please be courteous and respectful to the reports from the academy!" Anko calls out.

"I thought I was the only one being interviewed!" Naruto claims. The disappointment could be seen a mile away on him.

"No, Boss! But you are the most important!" Konohamaru states. All three academy students held up their journals.

"Oh! Well, in that case, I'll give you an interview that'll make it clear to your readers why I'm the greatest ninja ever!" Naruto declared, smiling brightly at the three students.

I giggled gently and sat on my butt, pulling out Icha-Icha that I had wrapped in a book cover to hide the title. Konohamaru announced he was going to interview Naruto first, then Sasuke, Sakura, than I. I finished two chapters before Konohamaru stepped up to me. "Say, Boss's girl! Care to give us an insight on Squad Seven?" He asks excitedly.

I smiled and stuffed my book back into my pouch before standing up. "Well, for one, whatever Naruto said about Sakura and I, is a complete lie." Moegi starts giggling as Naruto falls behind them, screaming in agony. "If anything, Squad Seven is actually a well oiled machine. With Sasuke and I being the cogs that Sakura's brains, and Naruto's determination oil to keep going." I smirk, propping my hand on my hip while Sasuke came to stand besides me.

"What're you telling them?" Sasuke mumbles.

"Just that you and I are probably the strongest on the squad." I state, earning a smirk.

"It's about time someone gives the right story."

"Are you guys dating?" Moegi asks after our small chit chat.

Sasuke goes red in the face while I cock my head. "I'm not sure what dating is."  I state simply. "Oh, hold on. Let me...." I pulled out my book again, feeling Sasuke look over my shoulder. "Dating is.... when you-" Sasuke grabs the book and stuffs it into my pouch. "Sasuke? Isn't that what it means?"

"No!" He shouts, shocking Sakura and Naruto.

"A-Anyway, tell us about you! My grandpa says you're related to the First Hokage!" Konohamaru asks excitedly.

"Hm? Oh, I guess. My dad was his grandson." I state plainly. "I'm Ren Yukimura! I came to the Leaf Village when I was six and I've lived here ever since! I love it here! It's so warm!" They all look at me with a smile. "I like Ramen and Takoyaki! And my friends! Especially if they buy me food!"

"You must really love food, huh." Konohamaru drones.

"You bet! Now go interview someone else! I'm not interesting!" I wave them off, giggling when they groan in distaste before leaving.

"Ren, your plenty interesting." Sakura chimes, standing besides me.

"Yeah, you're one of the few girls here I can stand." Sasuke hums. Sakura got a hopeful look on her face, inhaling happily. "Hm... Actually, you're the only girl I can stand."

I start to laugh and pat Sakura's shoulder in reassurance. "Sorry, Sakura. Maybe if you acted like I did." She sunk her head lower and sulked away.

"What were you reading that trash for anyway?" Sasuke asks as I pull the book back out.

"Hm? Oh, everyone keeps saying I'm so dense. Kakashi suggested I read this to at least grasp what the heck Shikamaru was talking about last night." I explain, smiling at him.

"He... said something last night?" He asked, raising his eyebrow. "What... did he say?"

"I can't tell you that, that's a private conversation between me and Shikamaru! I don't go around telling anyone about our conversations! Like this one!" I grin at his agitated look. "These talks with my friends are special to me. It makes me happy that I have lots of friends to talk with and keep secrets they disclose to me." I place my hands on my chest, sighing out in happiness.

Sasuke's cheeks turned pink as I reopened my book and walked towards the gate. I turn to look over my shoulder. "You coming? It's almost time to start." He smiles and follows after me.