Chapter 14: Reunited
"The location of the second exam is..."
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"...Wudan Peninsula? I've never heard of the place," Sakura commented as Team 7 slowly walked through the streets towards their hotel. After the third genin had been tricked into telling them the location, Sasuke knocked him out with a chop to the neck and tied all three genin up with ninja wire.
"It doesn't matter," the Uchiha replied. "We'll just go find a map and look it up then. What I want to know is what the kid meant by 'sensei told us'."
"I'm pretty sure it's extremely simple, Sasuke-kun," Sai spoke up brightly. "Their sensei told them the location!"
Sasuke growled, looking at the annoying Sai with a glare. "I know," he bit out. "What I meant was why their sensei told them in the first place."
"Oh! That's simple too! Their sensei told them because he wanted his team to succeed!"
Growling, the raven-haired Uchiha just stopped talking. He just wasn't in the mood to argue with Sai.
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"Let's celebrate! We got a clue already! Hah! I bet we're the first ones!" Kiba crowed triumphantly.
Shino pushed his dark glasses up his faces. "I do not think it is a moment worth celebrating. The message was just a big arrow pointing to the northeast. It could mean many things. For instance, it could mean northeast of Iwa, northeast of this location, or even literally, that way," Shino stated, pointing in the same direction as the arrow.
"A-ano, I agree with Shino-kun," Hinata stammered, having finally regained consciousness.
Kiba harumphed and crossed his arms over his chest, looking away. "Well, fine, then me and Akamaru will celebrate by ourselves, right boy?"
The dog barked excitedly.
Shino's arm suddenly snaked out and grabbed Kiba, preventing him from leaving. "Have you forgotten that we were just attacked by an Iwa team? If we separate, they, or another team, might attack us again. And no matter how good you are, you alone cannot take out three Iwa genin in their home territory."
Kiba jerked away, annoyed, and responded, "Alright! Yeesh!"
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"...So what do we do now?" Chouji wondered as he munched on a handful of delicious chips.
"We'll go back to the hotel to recuperate, and from there, we'll try to find the other teams to tell them about what's happening with Iwa."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Ino asked dubiously. "This is a competition, isn't it? We don't want to help the enemies..."
Shikamaru sighed. "Have you forgotten what the proctors said in the chuunin exams from three years ago? The whole thing is a show of power. If the Konoha teams look bad, Konoha looks bad. We're all Konoha genin here, so there's no need to be so competitive with Team 7, Team 8, and Naruto's team," he explained semi-patiently.
"Ugh, whatever," came Ino's reply.
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'Looking for clues? I thought this was the chuunin exams, not hide-and-go-seek.'
Patience, my dear...patience.
''Yeah, yeah, I know that.'
When Iwa is at its weakest, we will strike!
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By the end of the first day, two of the four Konoha teams knew the real location of the exam, while the other two only managed to find a simple clue. One Kumo and one Suna team also figured out the location. The remaining foreign teams had been subdued and captured by the Iwa teams. While this wasn't breaking any rules (as no one was harmed, they were just unconscious), it was an extreme display of dirty tactics. It was obvious that when this part of the exams were over, the captured genin would tell their teachers what had happened, who would then report to their respective Kage, which would then lead to Iwa losing any favor with the other villages.
Of course, the easiest solution for this problem would be to silence the genin...permanently.
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At their assigned hotel, the three members of Team 10 each went off to find the other Konoha teams to give them a message to meet up in their room in an hour.
When the hour was up, the twelve Konoha genin convened in Team 10's hotel room on the boys' side, as Ino chose to section off half of the room to call her own.
"What do you want?" Kiba groused.
Sighing, Shikamaru went to start, seeing as how it was his idea in the first place.
"Seeing as how we're all shinobi of Konoha, I thought it would be best to share information. As an act of good faith, we'll start off by telling you guys the location."
"It's in some place called Wudan Peninsula," Ino chipped in.
"And, we have even worse information. I'm guessing all of you were attacked by an Iwa team?" There were six heads nodding in response. Naruto's team did nothing, as they weren't attacked. "As you might know, Ino's family can use techniques that can read an opponent's mind. She used it on one of our attackers, and found out that the genin from Iwa are using a loophole to attack the other teams. Since the rules stated that there weren't any killing allowed, that meant that they could trap, kidnap, knock out, or just plain cripple the rest of the other teams. So, around fifteen Iwa teams were assigned to a team each, and some were assigned more than one, since there are more foreign teams than Iwa teams. I'm guessing that Naruto's team wasn't attacked because they were one of the second teams assigned, and the other genin team was defeated by their first target. That, or their first target just fought back harder."
Chouji and Ino, the two who knew him best, stared at the Nara for a good long minute.
"That's the most I've ever heard him say in one go," Chouji murmured.
Ino agreed with a shocked nod.
Slapping his hand to his forehead, Shikamaru grumbled, "Troublesome. Is that the only thing you guys were paying attention to? How much I spoke?" His tone had hints of irritation in it, which was again, something new for him. "Anyway, it turns out that all of the Iwa teams are cheating anyway, as they knew about the location of the next exam before the this one even started. It doesn't look good when a village cheats to support its own genin. If this got out to the Kages of the other villages, Iwa would be in big trouble. And they know that. So, they're probably going to send ANBU or some other elite nin to try and make sure we don't talk. I'm sure of this. I gathered you guys here to warn you all. Be on your best guard. Do not let it slip for a moment."
As Shikamaru continued to explain the current situation, Naruto looked on in amazement. The boy before him was very talented. His skills in planning and looking ahead were extremely high for someone his age. Higher than other Nara at this age.
Recruiting him would be an excellent idea, but as a Nara, his loyalty to Konoha would be undoubtedly strong. The chances of getting the lazy Nara to join the blond would be close to zero, considering he also had ties of friendship and family in this place.
"Alright? Good. Remember, whatever happens, don't let your guard drop!"
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'That smell...no! It can't be! Madoka?!'
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Naruto and his team left the hotel to wander the streets, seeing as how the Iwa nin wouldn't try to assassinate the genin in a public place.
They were headed towards a restaurant when Naruto felt something...off.
'Jinchuuriki!' his mind shouted at him.
It's the Nibi...
Eyes darting around, he managed to focus his gaze onto a nearby rooftop where he sensed the Nibi was located, but as if knowing that someone was watching, the Nibi jinchuuriki disappeared.
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'It is! It's Madoka! I can tell, even with that disguise on! It can't be! She's supposed to be dead!'
You say that as if you didn't have control over the dead themselves, the Nibi giggled in Yugito's mind.
'Yes well, it's not possible to bring her back to life all the way!'
True, true....perhaps you should talk to her, find out what happened? Hm?
'Good idea. I can't believe it's really her!'
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Madoka continued to blather on, not noticing that Hanabi was only pretending to pay attention with an occasional nod and that Naruto was blatantly staring off into space.
Eyes snapping back into focus, he turned his gaze onto an approaching waiter, while his elbows rested on the table of the restaurant they were in.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" the waiter asked Madoka.
"Hm?"
"There's someone asking for you," he stated, pointing off towards the entrance of the restaurant, where a hooded figure stood.
"Who is it?" the girl questioned.
"The lady says that her name is Yugi...?"
Leaping up to her feet, Madoka turned towards her teammates. "I'm gonna go meet her. I'll be right back!"
"Wait," Naruto commanded as he grabbed her arm. "Who is it?" he demanded.
"It's...someone important to me...I think. Just let me go, I'll tell you about it when I get back!"
Acquiescing, the blond fifteen year old let her go, and watched her gallop up to the hooded figure.
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"Yug-"
"Not here," the figure whispered harshly.
Following the hooded figure, Madoka could feel the butterflies in her stomach. After all this time, she was finally meeting up with her sister again, something she had not expected to do when she had agreed to abandon Kumo.
When they made it to a dark alleyway, the figure suddenly stopped and spun around while pulling off the hood, revealing her face.
"Oh Madoka!" Yugito cried as she gathered her little sister into her arms and hugged her ferociously.
"Yugito-neechan!" Madoka hugged her sister back. "I never thought I'd see you again!"
"That's what I should be saying!" Yugito replied. "What happened? We received news of your death from your sensei after the chuunin exams in Konoha! And here I find you in the company of a bunch of Konoha nin?"
Toeing the ground, the younger sister told the older, "It just happened, I guess. This Konoha genin approached me and he just...convinced me to join him. I didn't want to stay in Kumo where Mother was just going to marry me off to preserve the 'noble' blood of the Nii clan! Please don't tell the Raikage!" she pleaded.
Stepping back, Yugito slipped her hand into her sleeve, pulling out her headband. Showing her younger sister the logo, she watched as Madoka gasped.
"You too?" Madoka asked upon seeing the slash that ran through the symbol of Kumo.
"I had to find out the truth about your 'death', and this was the only way I was allowed to..."
The sounds of voices was suddenly heard. It seemed like a drunk couple was making their way into the alley to spend some time together.
"I can't be seen, not even by a drunk couple. I'll try and get in contact with you in several days, ok, Matty?" Yugito asked, using her affectionate name for Madoka. Grabbing the younger girl's head, she placed a loving kiss on her forehead.
"Wait, I want you to meet my-"
Yugito had disappeared before Madoka could finish her sentence.
"-teammate..."
The source of the raucous laughter came into view. Ignoring the giggles from the obviously inebriated couple, Nii Madoka returned to the restaurant.
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You finally found your sister...
'That I did, Nibi-sama.'
So what are you going to do now?
'...I don't know. I never imagined that my little sister would still be alive!'
Why don't you join her as a kunoichi of whatever village she has joined now? the great feline demon asked.
'You mean Konoha? I don't think that's a good idea. Remember the incident with the Hyuuga? Their clan is a major part of the village, so I don't think they'd take too kindly to one of the commanding officers of that little mission joining their village,' she retorted.
So don't tell them that you were one of the ones in charge of that mission then, the Nibi responded, not quite understanding her container's reluctance.
'You don't understand, Nibi-sama. Konoha is known for their extremely impressive information network.'
It must not have been that good if you were able to kidnap one of those white-eyed humans, the demon scoffed.
'The fact remains, thought, that I may be denied entrance, even executed immediately, if I show myself to the nin from Konoha.'
The two fell into a brief lapse of silence.
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When Madoka came back, her normally pale face was a bit flushed, and she seemed to be in a really good mood.
Naruto took one look at her and raised his eyebrow.
"I'll tell you later," she whispered to her two teammates.
Nodding in acceptance, the blond boy quickly waved for the check. Money was exchanged, and the trio retired to their hotel.
When they made it into the room that they shared, Madoka explained her meeting with her sister. After she finished, Naruto began to think.
'Could it be? Has fate really given me such luck by creating this coincidence?'
"Naruto?" Madoka prodded softly.
"Hm?"
"Do...you think my sister could...well, ya know...join us?"
"Join us?" he repeated.
"Yeah! My sister's a missing nin now, and well, she doesn't have many places to stay, since there's now a bounty on her head and all."
Mentally, he thought, 'If what I'm thinking is correct, I'd love to have her join us.'
Outloud, Naruto replied, "We'll see when the time comes."
Sighing, Madoka nodded glumly.
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Several days later, the week was over, and the remaining teams gathered at their destination: Wudan Peninsula. It was, as its name suggested, a giant peninsula jutting out into the ocean.
Looking about, Naruto counted all four Konoha teams present, as well as five Iwa teams, two teams from Suna, and one team from both Kusa and Taki.
He knew for a fact that Ame and Kiri never sent any teams, due to their own civil wars. However, for Oto and Kumo, he had no idea about their situation. Perhaps they had either failed the first exam, or they never sent teams either. Probably the former in Oto's case and the latter in Kumo's case.
A different chuunin stood at the front this time, preparing her speech for the new genin. When Naruto caught a look at her, his eyebrows rose in surprise. What were the chances that she would be the proctor for this exam?
"Alright, for the second exam, you have one objective. To be one of the last ones conscious."
There was an immediate uproar of questions.
Waiting until they silenced, the chuunin continued. "The second exam is a battle royale. You guys will fight until only twenty of you still remain conscious. Therefore, killing other genin is not necessary for you to pass. To keep you guys from escaping during the fighting, this entire area will have a massive circular wall placed around it. Once only twenty remain, just call out or knock on the wall, and we'll bring it down. The exam will take place immediately, so you have no time to stock up on supplies nor talk to your senseis for advice. For those of you who believe you are not ready, you may forfeit this exam. Before we get started, I'm going to need you to sign a waiver so that we are not held responsible if you die. If you have questions, now is the time. If you want to forfeit, just raise your hand and tell me when I call on you."
A number of hands shot up.
"Are there any other rules to this exam?" someone asked.
"No, no rules except to be among the twenty conscious genin. You do not need all three members of your team to be conscious or alive to pass this exam yourself."
A bloodthirsty Kusa genin asked, "Once we get to twenty genin left, someone is going to knock on the wall or shout out. Can we still try and take out several genin before it comes down, so that there is less than twenty?"
"Yes. However, if you get caught doing so when the wall is completely down, you will be immediately disqualified."
Following her speech, the Iwa chuunin pointed at the team closest to her, a trio of Suna nin, and beckoned them over. She led them away from the now restless and cautious genin, handed them a waiver to sign, and then shooed them off.
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"Next."
Naruto, Hanabi, and Madoka approached, following the female proctor behind the wall.
"Sign this waiver please. Now, go wait somewhere in the area," she droned in a bored fashion.
After having signed the waiver, Naruto formed a seal with his hands.
"Kai," he intoned.
The chuunin's back arched, and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Suddenly, she collapsed to her knees.
"Long time no see, Yuki."
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A/N: Sorry about that giant delay. Problems with the computer and internet…