Ray of Sunshine

Exam Anxiety - Round 1

Mayuri finishes adjusting the straps on her gauntlet and turns to her mirror.  She's suited up and ready to go to the first round of the exams.  If she said she wasn't nervous it'd be a flat out lie, but she's also excited.  This is a great opportunity for her and she's determined not to screw it up.  Not with her dad having so much faith in her.  She looks back in the mirror and smiles at her reflection, determination shining in her eyes.  "I can totally do this.  You are a Hatake, you can handle anything they throw at you."

        She grabs her ribbon off her desk and heads out, running as fast as she can towards the venue of the first round.  When she does arrive, she finds out she's pretty much late.  Everyone is already inside and seated together.  She stands outside the classroom and takes a deep breath, tying her ribbon into her hair.  So she's one of the youngest genin in the exams, and her training is pretty....well...lacking.  So what?  No matter what happens as long as she does her best she's sure everything will be fine.  She ties the final knot in her bow and walks into the classroom, head held high.

        And immediately regrets that decision.  The moment she walks into the classroom everyone stops talking and turns to stare at her.  It takes all of her willpower not to shrink under their eyes.  She releases a breath she didn't know she was holding before walking towards Ari on the far side of the classroom.  As she walks, she hears the other kids whispering about her.

        "Is that who I think it is?"

        "Has to be, how many other people do you know with snow white hair?  It's the daughter of the Copy Ninja Kakashi Hatake."

        "No way, she looks so young!  She's got to be like twelve right?"

        "She must be really talented to be in the exams at her age.  Well at least we know one person to look out for."

        "Hey!" Arianna waves from her seat two rows up and Mayuri sits between her and Lee.  "Don't worry about them Mayu, they're just jealous.  So, are you excited for this or what?"

        "Y-yeah."  Mayuri smiles at her friend, even though she's even more nervous than she originally was.  "Totally excited."

        "Don't let them psyche you out Mayu," Lee says, putting a hand on her shoulder.

        "Yeah, you have a better chance than most of those losers anyway."  Naruto appears over her shoulder, arm wrapped around her and squeezing her slightly.  "You're the best friend of the future Hokage remember?"

        Mayuri giggles lightly, not noticing her heartbeat skip once with Naruto being so near, before the proctor enters the room.  Naruto returns to his seat directly behind her and flashes her a thumbs up before the proctor begins speaking.  Mayuri knows she should be listening to him but she just can't shake the feeling that someone is staring at her.  She glances around the classroom, as much as she can without letting the proctor know she's not listening, to finally meet black rimmed eyes and a menacing gaze.  She meets his eyes for a second before whipping back around to the front, where she's being handed a piece of paper.

        "Alright, you may begin the test."

        Mayuri flips her paper over and begins reading the test.  What the....? Most of this stuff is way past the genin level!  They expect us to be able to pass a test this hard?!  No, I can't freak out.  She takes her pencil and skims the test until she finds a question she knows.  She begins writing, answering each question, working from the easiest to the hardest.  After twenty minutes, Mayuri sits back and looks at her paper. She hasn't been able to answer two of the questions, but the rest of her answers are solid, she only hopes that it will be enough to pass her.  From what she heard from the proctor, when she wasn't being distracted by cold, black rimmed eyes, the whole team has to pass or no one passes at all.  And since she's an extension of Team Seven, Mayuri has to do her best so everyone passes. No pressure or anything.  She rubs her temples, trying to dull the throb there that's reverberating through her entire skull.  She opens her eyes to stare at the test in front of her, racking her brain for answers to the last two questions.  Oh god, what if she's the reason the team doesn't pass?

        "Is everyone ready for the final question?" The proctor, who Mayuri recognizes as Ibiki Morino, speaks.  Everyone freezes and looks up, staring at him.  Once he's sure he has everyone attention, he speaks again.  "Here's how the final question works: you can elect to answer the question, or you can back out now.  If even one person on your team backs out, the whole team fails and you can try again next year."

        The room erupts into murmurs, mostly affirmative that everyone is going to try and answer the question, when Ibiki continues.

        "However, if you elect to take the question and answer incorrectly, you will remain genin forever."

        Mayuri stares forward shocked, and she feels Ari move her arm against hers, almost like an anchor.  Mayu glances over to see Ari's shaking, Akiro whining quietly on her other side.  At that point, a few of the teams get up and leave.  The whole room is quiet, that is until someone jumps up behind her, causing their chair to skid against the floor.

        "I'm not afraid of your stupid question!"  Mayu whips around to see Naruto with one foot on his desk and fist clenched in front of him.  "Even if I answer it wrong and stay a genin forever I'm still gonna become Hokage!  So bring on your question I'm not scared! Believe it!"

        The determination on his face and in his eyes is so encouraging that soon, Mayuri finds herself standing up too, having snapped out of her self pity.  "I'm with Naruto!  I'll answer your question!"

        "Me too!" Ari stands up beside her and the girls exchange smiles.  Soon, everyone in the classroom is standing up and mimicking the first three's courage and determination.  Ibiki looks around the room and waits for the noise to die down before saying...

        "Congratulations, you've all passed the first round."