Disclaimer: Pokemon belongs to Nintendo and Shogakukan Comics. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Thank you. *Phantomness bows* Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto…

Chapter 8

Sakaki stroked his chin thoughtfully as he glanced at the latest intelligence report from the Hidden Leaf village. “Well, well… it seems that this year, Nakamura Red is entering the Chuunin Exams.”

It was the perfect time to abduct the boy, so he would have the power of the Trainer’s Eyes for himself. After all, Sakaki wanted power, and what better way to obtain it through knowledge of techniques? And with the Trainer’s Eyes, he could copy everything… Genji would be too dangerous to subdue, but Red was only a Genin. It would be little contest.

He began making preparations, even as others did the same within the village.

“Do you think you’re ready?”

Kasumi nodded confidently. She wasn’t an all-out offensive, but her abilities meshed well with Satoshi and Red’s styles of direct fighting, so it mattered little. They were going to enter the Chuunin Exams as a team, whether the two hardheaded boys decided to or not! Actually, aside from missions, they rarely trained together, since Satoshi was busy reading his scrolls and Red was off with Wataru.

Still, her new self-confidence after the private lessons from Natsume was helping keep her spirits afloat, and so, she was very happy when they arrived on the first day. There were so many teams she had to stifle a gasp, but Kasumi was sure that they would do well.

Satoshi eyed their opposition warily, while Red frowned.

It looked like there was a lot of competition to eliminate…

The first test turned out not to be physical at all, but a written exam. The rules were slightly confusing, but once Red thought them through, he smiled.

He knew the objective, but how was he to accomplish it? He lacked his Trainer’s Eyes, but perhaps…

His closed his eyes, trying to focus. What had he learned from Wataru that might be useful here? Hmm… perhaps if he brought up a Barrier, he would be able to see the reflection of another’s test. Aha! That boy over there looked suspicious, and his answers were all already filled in. Perfect!

He wrote quietly, and waited to see what the others would do.

Kasumi smiled. It was very lucky she had this technique… she visualized Hypnosis even as she made the seals under the desk, and was gratified to see the examiner in her direction drop off to sleep. Now she could copy without any interruptions…

Satoshi gulped and tried hard not to panic. The test questions were impossible, so his only recourse was to cheat, but if it were caught, he would fail, along with Red and Kasumi-chan, and he really did not want that to happen…

What to do? What to do?

What could he do?

He buried his face in his hands. He’d have to bet on the last question then…

As tension mounted in the room, team after team was dismissed because one of their members was caught cheating. By the time the forty-five minute mark was called, there were thirty-four teams left, out of the hundred that had come to take this exam.

Satoshi was feeling worse and worse as the clock ticked.

“Now then,” The examiner, Chitose smiled, though with her heavily scarred face it looked more like a grimace. “I will repeat the rules for this section of the exam. As you know, if you choose not to take this question, you automatically fail. However, if you get the answer wrong, your entire team will fail and you will have to wait another year before taking the Chuunin Exams again. Is that clear?”

There was a flurry of nods, and soon, several hands popped up. The genin were not brave enough to take the risk.

Satoshi was trembling, but all of a sudden, something inside of him snapped.

“I’ll take it!” He yelled.

“What?” Chitose asked.

“I’ll take the chance! Even if I fail this exam, I’ll find a way to become Hokage! Because I won’t back down! That’s my way of the ninja!”

Stunned, several other children around the room nodded.

“Are you sure?” Chitose asked. “Are you willing to fail?”

“I’m willing, old lady!” Satoshi yelled, grinning.

“Yes!” Another student piped up. “A year isn’t that long!”

“We’ll all take the last question!”

Chitose chuckled, shaking her head ruefully. Well, well… it looked like Hiroto Satoshi would be an interesting ninja indeed…

“Very well.” She said. “You all pass!”

There was dead silence.

Finally, Yellow raised her hand. “Ma’am… I thought…”

“That question was a blind.” Chitose explained. “It was to check to see if you all had the aptitude necessary to become ninja. You see, when you are given more difficult missions, ones that may involve death, are you going to back down? If yes, you are not worthy of being a ninja!”

That made sense.

For a few minutes, there was relieved laughter from all the students. Suddenly, a chill wind blew into the room, and before they knew what was going on, a red haired man was standing in front of the room.

Red felt rather relieved, recognizing Wataru.

“Now isn’t the time to rejoice, kids.” The Jounin smirked. “There’s still the second test to consider!”

His eyes widened as he glanced around the room. “What? Chitose, you left thirty-four teams? Why?”

“There were many excellent genin this year.” Chitose smiled.

Wataru shook his head. “Well, I’ll fix that problem. I promise to eliminate at least half of them in my section of the Exam! All of you, meet me outside the Forest of Death, Training Area #44, in two hours!”

With that, he vanished.

Satoshi blinked, not quite sure what to think. But at least they had passed the first leg of the exam, right?

End Chapter

Started 3/22/07

Completed 7/14/07

It took me forever to decide whom to cast as Orochimaru. I finally wound up with Giovanni… that’s why this chapter took so long to write! Also, I keep getting writer’s block because I’ve decided I don’t like this fic much. And you can’t force pairings… it just won’t come out right… I actually want to eliminate Ash, but whatever…