As the exams neared closer, the Genin were training as hard as ever, no exceptions. So far so good, no one noticed the three extra guests who were in the village for these past weeks. They were getting their asses kicked, literally.
Naruto signed a summon contract, he summons toads now. Sasuke was still practising with A on lightning style techniques, he had mastered the Chidori, a creation of Kakashi. Sakura was progressing fast and she wasn't taking anyone's crap. She's mastered many healing techniques that are a few of the hardest techniques. She was trying her best with the physical part, keeping up with a Sage isn't easy at all but she's holding her ground well for a 12-year-old.
They haven't been spending much time with each other excluding the occasional 3 AM food run-ins at their kitchen. They were all progressing in a very quick-paced manner. One night after they all had passed out earlier that day, they woke up past midnight to grab something to eat and ran into each other. Sasuke was still cranky but he still had to eat: "Guys, I'm starving my ass off. This fridge is emptier than Ke's closet!" Sakura groaned, she was hangry: "That says a lot. Is it that empty?!" Naruto said his eyes wide. He looked around and saw them both staring at him with pleading eyes: "Please?" they both said. The blonde rolled his eyes: "Hai, hai, I'll cook." he huffed and opened the fridge and started to grab some meat and veggies. He opted to make some beef dumplings, udon noodles, onigiri and to top it off tomato soup: "Your parents were amazing cooks, your mother's ramen was a masterpiece." Kakashi's voice said from the doorway: "I thought I smelt something good in here." he added walking into the kitchen: "I knew you weren't asleep, no one can resist my cooking." Naruto puffed his chest out as everybody laughed.
With some help from the other three, the feast was ready. They all sat down and started to devour the meal Naruto had made them: "Dude, I'm so jealous of Hinata." Sasuke said as he ate his sixth bowl of tomato soup. Kakashi choked on his dumplings: "I don't know how you manage to sneak the food into your mouth without removing your mask." Sakura said chuckling a little bit as Kashi snuck another dumpling into his mouth: 'This is so good." He said grabbing a hefty sum piling, them onto his plate and dashing up to his room: " A man has to eat!" they all laughed and continued their food.
NEXT MORNING
After that feast last night, they woke up energized. Today was the day they'd be officially a part of the Chunin exams, which are a week from now. Not gonna lie, the nerves are kicking in. Ninja from all over the Land of Fire are coming along to compete in the ultimate test and get upgraded into their second stage of being a shinobi. Some of the strongest, and most feared people will be walking the streets of Konoha.
Sakura had a bad feeling about this but she wasn't gonna kill the mood, nor was she gonna back out. This huge sum of shinobi from different Hidden villages gathered in one place could mean many various things, good or bad. "Ra, spit it out instead of worrying yourself to pieces." Kakashi told his student:" I don't know, I don't want to kill the mood. I'm sure everything will be fine, I'm just paranoid." She said trying to wave him off:" Okay, now I need to know." Naruto chimed in:" I just have a weird feeling about this, that huge amount of ninjas from all over the Land of Fire could result in many different scenarios." She said, trying to word it neutrally. She said what they all were thinking:" You've got to keep your eyes open, no one can be trusted, especially now." Kakashi said as he stuck his hands in his pockets:" I handed your forms to the board earlier today. Talk to your people and make sure you're ready, you don't know how this can end." He added as he continued walking down the street with his students in tow.
Sakura felt relieved that she wasn't the only one thinking about that situation. They have to be on their toes so they don't get tricked and fall into the trap.
Today was the day that most of the visitors would start piling in. The Genin of Konoha were given a role, if they see someone who seems very out of place or someone who's oddly suspicious, they have the right to ask to see the participation badge that would indicate the reason for them being in Konoha.
Kakashi had left the trio to go run some errands for the Hokage while they met new people all around:" You know, Fu, the green-haired girl, she's cool." Sakura said:" Yeah, you guys seemed to have bonded." Sasuke said as he looked around.
They turned the corner and saw a kid being held up in the air by their throat. Naruto instantly recognized that scarf, Konohamaru! They ran towards him and got into formation:" Put the child down, you don't wanna get hurt." Sakura said through her teeth. " Oh really, show me what you got miss pinky." The guy said, he was older than them and had purple lines on his face:" She said put him down." Naruto said flipping his kunai in his hand:" Na-ruto ni-ni chan." Konohamaru said as he struggled for air:" Udon, Moegi, go somewhere safe. We'll return Konohamaru to you, trust us." Sasuke said guiding the two little kids away from the scene.
A blonde girl showed up:" KANKURO! PUT THE KID DOWN! NOW!" She yelled at him. Kankuro dropped Konohamaru to the floor and the blonde girl instantly rushed to him:" I'm sorry about him, are you, okay buddy?" She smiled at him as she helped him up and walked him to Naruto:" As Genin of Konoha, we require you to show us your participation badges." Sasuke said blandly:" Oh ye-" the girl was cut off:" Who do you think you are kid?" Naruto and Sasuke heard enough of this jerk, Sasuke threw a marked Kunai onto a tree that was close to them and teleported there while Naruto prepared to launch. Sasuke had a mid-sized pebble in his hand, he infused it with some chakra and flicked it towards that boy, it landed right between his eyes, making him stumble back. In barely a second, Naruto was right in front of Kankuro and quickly swept him off of his feet, as he landed roughly on his back.
"I'm not even going to bother, you deserved that. We come here for the Chunin exams and you're picking fights with 6-year-olds?! What's gotten into your brain! You hurt that kid!" The girl kicked him in the side as she pulled both of their participation badges out:" Before he rudely cut me off, I was going to say yeah sure." She handed both of them over to Sakura:" Okay yeah, you guys are legal. I'm Sakura, by the way." She smiled at her and handed her back the badges:" I'm Temari from Sunagakure." She shook her hand and kicked Kankuro on her way to help him up.
They sensed another person near the tree:" What are your names?" A voice said from behind them. A red-headed boy with a jug on his back said as he stood upside down on the tree:" Haruno Sakura." Ra said first:" Uchiha Sasuke." Ke said standing next to her:" Uzumaki Naruto." Finally, they were complete:" I'm Gaara of Suna." He then moved his attention to the boy: "Kankuro, that was stupid and embarrassing. We didn't come here to attack the Hokage's grandson. We came here to become chunin, grow up." He seemed pissed as he walked towards him and Kankuro seemed terrified. Even though Gaara looked to be about their age, which means Temari and Kankuro were older, the older bunch looked scared of him:" I like you guys, want to have lunch together?" Gaara offered out of nowhere.
Team seven exchanged looks and simultaneously agreed:" Yeah, couldn't hurt. There's this really good place, we'll take you. " To spoke for them. Temari and Sakura were chatting, they had a lot in common. Gaara, Naruto and Sasuke walked upfront just casually speaking to one another, while Kankuro walked in the back, all by himself. To and Ke were exchanging looks, they knew something was different about Gaara, they could sense this chakra that was stuck with him, more precisely, inside him. Was he like To? If so which one was he? "You're like me, aren't you?" Gaara suddenly asked the question, obviously directed at To:" Excuse me?" Naruto said confused:" You have a plus one with you at all times, you're like me." Gaara said smiling a bit:" Yeah, I have the nine tails Kurama, you have?" Naruto just casually asked:" oh I have the one tail, his name is Shukaku." They were having a normal convo when two voices boomed inside their heads: "Yo Shukaku, long time no see." Ma said:" Missed me Kurama?" Shukaku replied: "Good night." Ma said not wanting to continue:" Good night you nasty fox." Shukaku said and the voices died out:" Well that's cool, they can talk to each other?" Sasuke asked noticing how the two other boys were laughing after they both jumped slightly:" Yeah they do." 'To replied to his friend.
"We're here!" Naruto said:" Old man Teuchi makes the best ramen ever!" He took a seat with his friends. They all were chatting lightly while eating, though it was awkward because Kankuro ate and left without saying a thing. They finished and went their separate ways for the time being.
Team seven each has gone to the respective meeting spot they had with their mentors and started to train. They worked their butts off and went home to sleep and refuel for the day to come. No one said it'd be easy, so buckle up!
A/N
I'm sorry!! I travelled to visit my family, studied for midterms, did projects and then proceeded to get covid. Wow that's a lot, I wrote some of this chapter in December but I couldn't finish it due to every writer's bsf, writer's block. Although here we are, I finished this chapter four days ago, but I wasn't sure if it was free of mistakes because I wrote while laying in bed almost asleep at 5 AM. I hope you like this chapter, it's one of my longest.
I hope you have/had a good day. Stay safe my lovelies <333