Desert Flower

New Beginning

  "To everyone who has advanced to the Final Round of the third test of the Chunin Exams, there's one person who's missing, but, congratulations." I was happy to have passed, however....I had lost nearly everything while participating in these exams. All I had before were my friends and Megumi-sensei, but now....

  "Well, I will begin the explanation of the Final Round." The Hokage spoke up. "The Final Round is where each one of you will show off your battle skills in front of everyone. I want you to satisfactorily demonstrate and show off your ability as representative battle forces of your respective lands. Accordingly, the Final Round will commence one month from now."

  "W-We're not going to do it here, right now?" Naruto asked.

  "This is so that there's a suitable period of preparation."

  "What do you mean?"

  "That is to say....along with the announcement of the conclusion of the preliminary match to each country's Daimyo and Shinobi leaders, readying the summons for the Final Round requires preparation time- Not to mention the time it takes for you examinees to prepare."

  "I don't quite get what you're trying to say. What do you mean?"

  "In other words, in order to know your adversary, in order to prepare yourself, time is necessary." The Hokage replied while holding his pipe. "Time to analyze what you learned about the adversaries in the preliminaries....time to take stock of your successes. The battles until now were like actual battles- it presupposed situations in which you can't know your adversary. However, this is not the case in the Final Round. Some of you might have already revealed everything in front of your rivals.... In the spirit of fairness and equality, you will have a month to train yourself to further your skills."

  Looking down at my hands, I clenched my jaw. Within a month, I'd have to regain control over Kami-sama and learn how to use this new power. Kami-sama could feed off other people's chakra and turn it into energy that I could use. I had proof that I didn't need to kill to sate Kami-sama, Gaara had just given some of his chakra, and they went quiet. If I could somehow use that to my advantage....

  "Now that that's done....I'd like to let you take your leave.... But first, for the Final Round, there is one more important matter to take care of."

  "Let's get on with it, so we can get to training!" Naruto shouted.

  "Now, now. I want you all to calmly take one slip of paper from the box that Anko is holding." The Hokage smiled.

  "I'm going to go around in order....take only one." The woman brought the box around, and I pulled out a piece of folded paper when she stood in front of me.

  "Good, everyone has taken a number." The scarred shinobi from the first exam raised his voice. "Then, from left to right, tell me the number on your slip of paper." The last Sound ninja was first.

  "I'm nine."

  "I'm one." Naruto said flatly.

  "Seven." Temari stated.

  "Five." Kankuro followed up.

  "Three." Gaara uttered.

  "Eight." Shikamaru declared.

  "Two." Hyuga announced.

  "Six." Shino affirmed.

  "Ten." I mumbled.

  "Very well, I will tell you about how the Final Round tournament will work." The Hokage glanced at us. "Ibiki, bring forth the pairings." The scarred ninja turned around the clipboard he held and showed a tournament chart.

  "Can I ask a question?"

  "Go ahead."

  "Does this mean that there will only be one winner of the tournament? That only one of us will be able to become a Chunin?"

  "No, on the contrary. The judges of the Final Round, of which I am one, will be made up of the Kazekage, the Daimyo from various countries who will assign you your missions, and the Shinobi leaders. Through this tournament, These judges will be able to make a thorough evaluation and come to a decision as to whether each one of you possesses the qualities incumbent of a Chunin. Even if someone loses the first round, they can still become a Chunin."

  "So there's a chance that all of us will become Chunin?"

  "Correct, but conversely, there's also a chance that none of you will. To 'advance' in the tournament, means maximizing chances to appeal yourselves to the judges." The Hokage explained. "Understood, Shikamaru? Thank you for your patience. We will adjourn until next month."

  Looking at the Sound ninja, he was my first opponent.

~

  "Sayuri, was it?" I looked up, seeing the silver-haired shinobi that had made me go after the bell.

  "....Yes." I stopped walking as the man stood there in front of me.

  "I dislike being the one to break the news to you....but your team and Jonin have decided to transfer you."

  "Transfer...." My shoulders slumped as I registered his words.

  "I will not lie, they expressed with urgency that they no longer wanted you on their team. The other Jonins are unwilling to take you on, seeing as no one will tell them why they're leaving you, so you are-"

  "Join us!" The blue-eyed blond slid into view, wearing a big grin while pointing at himself with his thumb. The Jonin grabbed the boy by his head and pulled him back to stand by his side.

  "I was going to say, you are free to join our team. However, you will have joint training with this idiot. I would properly assign someone to assist in your training, but seeing as I don't know the full extent of your abilities, I'm putting you with Naruto. He's....the most inexperienced of our group, so he will have the most rigorous teacher. Will you be okay with that?" I looked between the man and the grinning boy.

  "....Didn't you hear what they called me? Do you really want that?" I rubbed my arm, feeling nervous and uncertain.

  "Oh, it's fine!" Naruto waved his hand. "I get treated like that all the time, so don't worry!" He was smiling, and his words were meant to encourage, but it only made me look at him differently. Why would people possibly treat him that way? "So, will you?" The boy gave me an excited look, and on an impulse, I agreed.