RPG Konoha Chronicles - The Torn Earth [M - V, L]

[Adas]

[SIZE="4"][CENTER]Konoha Chronicles[/CENTER][/SIZE]
[SIZE="3"][I]The Torn Earth[/I][/SIZE]

The sound of the pounding rain on the rooftop greeted Matsuda as he awoke. His dreams, nightmares of late, focused once again on the dreaded gennin exam quickly approaching. Part of him knew that he would be fine, that what they were being asked of he could perform, that he would seen graduate from the academy. But he couldn?t help but feel nervous.

With a sigh, he dragged himself out of bed. Standing only his underwear, he shivered with the cold the morning brought, but knew that the chill was about to become worse. He yawned, and gingerly made his way to the bucket of fresh water in the corner of his room, where he proceeded to dunk his head. The water was ice cold, and the moment his head was submerged, he drew it out, and wrapped it with a towel.

After drying his hair, he threw on his usual clothes quickly ? a pair of blue pants, and navy blue shirt with the accompanying black jacket. He drew his jet-black hair into his typical, messy pony tail, slipped his feet into a pair of black sandals, and left his room.

The Yotoro clan was fairly small, and all lived within the confines of a single, spacious home. Matsuda?s room opened into the main garden, a square of grass, a stone pathway and a small pond with a miniature waterfall ? the serene setting was ruined by practice posts, already in use by his older brother Regara. Even in the pouring rain, Regara was an impressive site, wielding his katana with both skill and beauty, striking at the posts while flinging kunai at distant targets ? Matsuda grimaced sadly, and walked away.

Knowing he would regret it later, he left the household without any breakfast ? the sooner he was gone, the less of a chance he would have to endure questioning as to when he would become strong like Regara. Lost in thought, he was snapped back to reality by the sound of his own name.

?Yo! Matsuda!? Akoma ran to catch up, and caught up quickly. ?Did you not hear me calling your name?? he laughed. Matsuda laughed with him, and replied that he hadn?t. The two friends walked to the academy together, chatting furiously as the rain continued to flow from the heavens.

[Isabella-Black]

The rain poured heavily, soaking the few who dared venture outside within minutes and pounding on the rooftops. Hotaru sighed and looked out the window beside her seat. From inside the Academy Classroom, she could watch the hapless few civilians struggle to reach their destinations, and follow the lines of rain as they pelted against the pained glass. It was useless to study now; the rain drowned out her thoughts, and part of her childishly wished it would begin thundering making it difficult to concentrate on the hand signs needed for a proper summoning justu.

It didn't matter anyway. The Academy teachers would never test them on such an advanced technique and she had already memorized this jutsu months ago. She sighed again, bored in the silence of the room. It was so much quieter, and deceptively vacant looking at this time in the morning. Hotaru had arrived two hours before, too excited to sleep, and had been pouring over her textbooks ever since.

She rested her face against her fist, pausing to brush a lock of brown hair out of her face - even cut short it still gave her trouble - and away from her sharp green eyes, and took another bite of her muffin. Crumbs fell and landed in her lap. She brushed them off the navy sport shorts and the edges of her cream T-shit with an impatient hand, biting into the muffin again. A last minute breakfast as she had dashed out the door, though her appetite was suffering today; her stomach felt like it was housing a million butterflies. It was hard to believe that in a few short hours she would be a genin!

Assuming she passed the test of course, but Hotaru was confident enough in her abilities to warrent a little daydreaming in her opinion. Aiko-sensei, their genjutsu instructer, had shared her feelings wholeheartedly, but Hotaru suspected that she was more enthusiastic about seeing how her prized student's genjutsu skills compared to the other students. In that area, at least, Hotaru felt completely prepared.

The door swung open and Hotaru looked up to see two other girls venture into the room chattering animatedly. The other students would soon file in, and her refuge of peace and quiet would be totally lost. The two girls were squealing girlishly and blushing like crazy, laughing and whispering as though they had a great conspiracy to discuss. Hotaru couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about.

The girls felt her eyes on them and stopped chatting simultaneously and glared heatedly at her. Automatically, Hotaru snapped her head back to her text, skimming over the section on manipulating chakra into physical strength.

"Don't eavesdrop, Shijeru!" One of the girls yelled from their seat on the opposite side of the room.

Hotaru snorted, keeping her eyes on the text. "If you had been paying attention, you would have noticed me here sooner. And I don't eavesdrop," she turned a page, "you were speaking so loudly I don't doubt the rest of Konoha heard you."

The girl looked as though she was ready to attack at any moment, Hotaru noted out of the corner of her eye. A poor control over her emotions; she'd never get anywhere as a kunoichi.

"Calm down, Hikaru." The second girl comforted, placing an arm on her friend's arm to hold her back. "Don't waste your time on brats like Shijeru."

The enraged girl calmed somewhat, continuing to glare daggers at Hotaru. "Yeah." She said slowly and turned around in her seat. "Stupid stuck up brat. Thinks she's so good. Her family's just a bunch ofcivilians. She doesn't even have a bloodline limit."

Neither did she, Hotaru noted (she couldn't recall the girl's last name or the name of her friend, but she knew that much) but decided not to provoke the situation any further. She could hear their sensei's footsteps as he approached. Stealing one last glance out the window, Hotaru saw the Yotoro and his friend approaching before she buried her face behind the book.

[Adas]

?C?mon! We?re gonna be late!? Matsuda growled half-heartedly. The pelting rain had soaked both him and Akoma to the core, but he was enjoying the walk with his friend none the less. The academy was close, but at this rate, they would surely be late for class.

?Yeah, I guess you?re right?? Akoma muttered. Then, with a roguish wink, he broke into a dead run. ?Try to keep up Matsuda!?

[i]Damnit?[/i] Matsuda chased after his friend, but even sprinting as fast as he could, he was no match for Akoma. Akoma burst through the front door, with Matsuda trailing just behind him. The two raced up the stairs and along the corridors until they made it the classroom ? Akoma touched the door first. Panting, Matsuda looked his friend in the eye. ?Someday, I?m gonna beat you?? he managed to say between labored breaths.

?With that attitude, I?m sure you will? Akoma replied with a warm smile. Noticing their teacher rounding the far corner, the two ducked into class.

?Akoma!!? a girl screamed from the back. [i]Oh great?[/i] Matsuda sighed. A small group of girls had already gathered around Akoma ? one even nearly pushing Matsuda out of the way. Akoma made some lame joke about there being enough of him to go around, followed by a choir of laughter from nearly the entire female body of the class, and Matsuda, nursing a bruised ego, walked slowly towards his desk. But before he made it, he saw her.

Kimane Hatoma, with her long, red hair and big brown eyes, smiled and got out of her desk, and waved towards him. Matsuda blushed, and started to wave back at the girl running towards him, but was glad that he had only just raised his hand as she ran past him. ?Where have you been?? she playfully asked Akoma. ?Sensei will be here any second!?

As if on queue, Raiga-Sensi walked through the door, already complaining about the water and mud tracked into his classroom. Crestfallen, Matsuda flopped into his chair, finding it hard to focus on the lesson before it even began.

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru finally tore herself away from her book once again as the lesson was about to start. The classroom was crowded, the students still talking amongst themselves as Raiga-sensei prepared to begin. Everyone seemed to be discussing the upcoming exam that day in their particular groups, some sounding confident, and others completely disparing. Even the groups of boys on either side of her were chatting animatedly about how they hoped they'd get tested on taijutsu skills rather than genjutsu.

Raiga-sensei cleared his throat to gain the class's attention. And when that didn't work he roared at them to be quiet. At the resounding silence, he picked up the chalk and began to review their lesson from yesterday regarding chakra control. Hotaru groaned and sank in her seat. She'd learned this YESTERDAY. Couldn't they just get on with the exams already.

She allowed her eyes to wander over the student body, carefully tuning out Raiga-sensei's lecture. Her eyes fell on the dark haired boy a few rows down, who looked nearly as bored as she did. No wait, on second inspection, he looked more depressed than bored.

What was his name again? Matsuda, right. Yotoro Matsuda. His brother was getting ready to take the jonin exams soon if she had overheard correctly. Not surprising seeing as his family was a ninja clan. The only special exam anyone from Hotaru's little clan ever had to take was a matchmaker's exam, where she would be paraded about like a china doll so that some old bat could conclude whether or not she'd make a suitable wife for some rich bastard's lazy son. Her mother had been hinting about that goddamn ceremony for some time now. Hotaru shuddered to think of it.

It must be nice to come from a ninja clan, she mused, eyes still staring absently at Matsuda's back. No one would be telling HIM who he had to marry, or what he could or could not do with his life. He had that freedom over her at least.

"SHIJERU HOTARU!" Raiga-sensei's bellow cut her from her thoughts and Hotaru snapped up to attention. She was suddenly aware of the majority of the class was staring at her, a few of the girls surrounding the popular boy (Akira? Akoma?) were even snickering.

She stood at attention. "Yes, sensei."

"I've been calling on you for nearly five minutes now." Raiga continued, shaking his head. "If you're quite finished ogling your classmate, perhaps you can tell us why the Hyuuga's gentle fist technique is so effective."

Hotaru flushed. She had NOT be ogling Matsuda! Now he was just trying to make a fool of her for not paying attention.

Raiga-sensei tapped his foot impatiently, "Hotaru I-"

"The Gentle Fist technique is employed exclusively by the Hyuuga clan because of their unique ability to pin point the chakra points in the human body which are vital for this technique to be successfully employed. The user pushed his or her own chakra into the body of the opponent blocking the chakra pathways and eventually incapacitating the chakra system. This technique is even more dangerous because of the interconnection between the charka pathways and the internal organs, thus damaging the internal organs in addition to the chakra pathways." Hotaru remained standing for a moment before returning to her seat and looked bored again.

Ragia-sensei looked almost annoyed at her near textbook definition, but turned around and continued his lecture. Hotaru pretened not to notice the glares of the other girls in the room, and she was sure that more than one of them was discussing with Akoma that she was 'such a snobby show off' and all of that nonsense.

Really, Hotaru couldn't understand the instentanious and widespread attraction towards Akoma that had infected the majority of the female students. He was talented yes, and attractive, but Hotaru couldn't see much past that, and her inability to fall head over heels in love with the boy she barely knew had caused some suspicious gossip amongst the other wanna-be kunoichi. Hotaru let her eyes wander again, and found herself staring at Matsuda's back again. Talent wasn't everything after all.

[Drizzt Do'urden]

[I]"What a know-it-all"[/I] Okaru thought to himself after Hotaru's answer that was a word for word definition out of their text books. He wondered to himself if she'd have any idea how to defend against the [I]Gentle Fist[/I]? He'd drifted off before he realized he wasn't paying attention to a word Raiga-sensei was saying.

"Okaru" He was snapped out of his trance by his name being addressed. "Since you seemed so enthralled by Hotaru's citation of your text book. Why don't you tell me what it says about the [I]Shinning Eye[/I]?" Okaru was stunned, Raiga-sensei was calling him out. Insulting his bloodline in front of the entire class full of competition for the title of Gennin. Okaru stood up at attention to give his answer.

"I-I'm sorry I don't know Sensei, I apologize." He waited for Sensei to start blabbing about his bloodline, it was just like Raiga-Sensei. He always tried to get Okaru involved in the "group", but he didn't need the group. He was going to be the best, he didn't need help. "Sit down Okaru." Raiga-Sensei shook his head and looked to the class.

"I know you're all anticipating the exams today. But the knowledge you learn in here is vital to your success, rather, your survival. The gennin exams are no joke, there have been young ones like yourselves killed. Its not uncommon for at least one person to lose their life every year, and this is where you learn the tools that will keep you alive.

Okaru scanned the classroom, he couldn't count the number of times he'd done this. He was searching, searching for anyone who would give him competition this year. He looked to the guys first, Hagami Akoma and that damned Yotoro Matsuda. He'd watched the girls of the class ogle Akoma all year, he was the "pretty boy" of the class, but could back his talk up. Matsuda on the otherhand was different, he was going to be trouble.

He then moved to the girls, of course there was Shijeru, which if her genjitsu was as good as her brains made it seem then she would be trouble. Okaru sat there, hoping and praying he could face those three this year, and set himself once and for all at the top of their class. Then, he could proudly accept his familie's blade "Scar". The same blade that gave him his.

[Adas]

The class seemed to drag on for hours, with Raiga-sensei periodically asking questions of students, unconvinced (and with good reason) that his students were paying attention. With a quick scan of the room, Matsuda was able to place the majority of the student body into three groups: the students who were slacking, the students who were worrying, and the students who, like him, were taking it all in. Okaru, another boy in his class, was one of those. He had already been called out by Raiga-sensei, but he didn’t seem to care. Either way, it made no difference to Matsuda – the two of them rarely talked, and could hardly be considered friends.

Matsuda’s mind began to drift. What would the genin exams be like? It had been intimated over the past several weeks to be prepared, above all else, for anything. Anything could happen, and it was expected that if you weren’t prepared, you could die.

Regardless, Matsuda felt confident in his abilities. No, he was not as strong as others in his class – Akoma, Hotaru, Okaru, Kagoya… they were all stronger – but he was strong enough to pass the test. He had been spying on Regara secretly with his spare-time between training, and seen first hand the kind of abilities required to become a jonin. The genin exams wouldn’t be anywhere near as difficult – he would be just fine.

Matsuda was brought back to reality by the sound of Raiga-sensei’s voice, dismissing them for lunch. “Be confident – I am sure that every one of you will pass tonight’s exam” he told them, the sternness of his voice ruined by the soft smile on his lips. “It has been decided that today’s classes will end early, so as to give you all more time to prepare – use your time well”. He had to wait a moment to continue speaking, interrupted by the cheers of a handful of immature students, but for once, didn’t say anything. [i]Odd…[/i] Matsuda thought to himself. [i]Raiga-sensei hates being interrupted…[/i] Once the room was silent, he finished his farewell. “As of tomorrow… you won’t be my students anymore…. Good luck tonight – I have confidence that you will all pass”

With that, he stepped out of the classroom, leaving his students in stunned silence. One by one, they began to rise, got together with friends, and left the room. Akoma flashed Matsuda a warm smile, and then he too left, followed by a small swarm of girls. Matsuda rose to follow him, but accidentally stepped in front of Hotaru.

“Oh, sorry…” he muttered, and stepped out of her way, letting her go first.

[Tetra of sound]

[SPOILER]Tetra left for lunch alone, as she always did. She was the outcast, only part of the village because of adoption. Before she was taken in, all who saw her called her the "Demon of the Woods", for which she wasn't quite sure of. The guy everyone followed around - or at least the girls did, anyway - named Akoma was one guy she disliked. Tetra always wished she would not be partnered up with Akoma and she would be in the same team as Okaru. She thought of him as the only trustworthy person whose name she knew.

After she finished eating, she went immediately to the training grounds, in the midst of the rain, and began to practice what she knew.

Because nobody would talk to her, she always would train in her spare time. Such extensive and intense training made her very formidable.

Then, Tetra began to use the skill that earned her that nickname. She unleashed her half-wolf transformation. With this, she could run faster, attack stronger, and jump higher.

She beat the wooden dummies continuously to the point that one of them nearly broke.

Then Tetra heard a rustling noise. "Who's there?!"[/SPOILER]

Some mod, please delete this screw-up I made. )I purposely blacked it out.)

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru looked up from her book - she'd buried her face in it again as soon as the class had started to file out - and blinked for a moment before responding, her voice monotone, "Forget it. It's fine." She turned back to the book, reviewing the notes on controlling genjutsu.

She might have continued on her way, quite content to read and train for the rest of the afternoon before the exams began, had another figure not emerged into her periferal vision. She sidestepped the foot in her path, intending to trip her, and tried to continue on her way ignoring the group of three girls who stood, gawking indigently behind her.

"Hey, Hotaru, don't you walk away from me!" She looked up from the pages, her expression bored as she stared at Hikaru and her two friends. They were standing shoulder to shoulder, arms folded across their chests with identical glares on their faces. Hikaru narrowed her blue eyes to a deadly slant and flipped her brown hair over her shoulder. "You don't spy on my conversations and get away with it, freak."

Hotaru sighed and closed her book. Matsuda was still standing slightly off to the side, not having moved since he'd stepped from her path. The girl arched an eyebrow. "I was not spying on you, Hikaru." She said simply and calmly, but stood her ground; this was not the end of it, not by a long shot.

"Yea, right." Hikaru snorted, and pointed an offending finger at Hotaru's chest. "You think just because the teachers think you're such a [I]good[/I] student, you can just walk all over everybody? You're not even at the top of the class!" The girls on either side of her nodded fierecly.

Hotaru shrugged. That was true, Akoma had beaten her to the top spot, but she was still by far one of the top students. "And what were you again, Hikaru? 8th from the bottom, wasn't it?"

"Th-that has nothing to do with it!" Hikaru sputtered, clearly offended. "You're just a civilian trying to pass herself off as a shinobi!" Hotaru glared and Hikaru smirked triumphantly at having hit a nerve. "You don't have any REAL talent, Hotaru! You're just this years charity case! It's laughable how you think you could ever compare to a kunoichi from an actual ninja clan, like me."

"Oh, really? If I recall correctly I beat you into the ground the last ten times you sparred with me. Quite easily." Hotaru deadpanned.

The trio gasped, horrified and Hikaru looked as though she was ready to either crawl into a hole or try and attack her. Hotaru gave a small giggle and turned her back to them with a dismissive air.

She barely felt the air shift before Hikaru launched herself at her backl and tried to slam her to the ground.

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru heard the commotion behind him, but didn't even bother to look. Most of the class had anticipated the squable between Hotaru and Hikaru to turn into a fight, but honestly he didn't care. He knew that Hikaru was weak, Hotaru strong it should've been short. He paused when he thought about where they were fighting, [I]"Hmm, it could be worth watching, Hotaru's the best in Genjitsu hands down, but could she take Hikaru in a close quarters fight?"[/I], Okaru decided to go ahead and continue to lunch. If raiga-sensei caught them fighting it could spell trouble, and Okaru didn't want anything to come in between him and his chance to pass the exams.

There was a place, outside of the academy that Okaru took his lunch every day. It was a garden that he honestly had no idea who it belonged to. It was beautiful, full of banzai trees, lotus', and a bunch of flowering trees he couldn't name. Today, however, there was someone else there, Hoto. Hoto was a waste of space in Okaru's eyes. The only reason he was there was his name, Hoto's clan was among the richest in the villiage, though they were probably full of the weakest shinobi. Okaru sat down in his normal spot, that thankfully was well away from Hoto.

Okaru grimmaced as he heard the boy get up and make his was towards Okaru. He stared at him, waiting to be offered a seat. "I guess go ahead and sit down" Okaru said, not trying to hide the snippiness in his tone. "I hope you don't mind me imposing on you, I've seen that you come out here. You probably didn't know this garden belongs to my family, don't worry they don't mind people sitting here. That's why they have it kept up so nicely. So are you excited about the exams today?"

It took everything in his power not to say something smart back to the boy, he had to keep telling himself that he was just looking for some affirmation that he could do it, Okaru wasn't going to give him that. "I've been training for this for years, looking forward isn't the way to put it. This is just another stepping stone."

"Yeah, I'm sure you'll be fine. Me on the other hand, I don't know. I'm not sure if I can do it. How did you become so strong Okaru, I train for hours everyday. Just yesterday I spent 10 hours training after school. I just can't seem to grow any stronger." The way he was talking, hit Okaru. He never realized the kid put so much effort into it, it always seemed as though he was just riding on the coat tails of his clain.

"Well, I guess it goes back to how you train. Maybe you should talk to your father about getting you a private sensei, something like a tutor." Lunch was coming to a close, so Okaru got up on his feet and began making his way back to class. He was excited about getting out a little early, some time for some meditation before the exams. Before he got very far, Hoto came running up beside him. "So how is it you train? There must be something you do that I don't." He'd finally gotten on Okaru's nerves.

Okaru stopped, faced Hoto and lifted his shirt revealing his scar. He'd never shown it to anyone before, sure some people had seen it, asked about it. But he always just changed the subject, Hoto was the first to ever know who gave it to him. "When this is the price for training, you have to ask is it worth it? Is it worth giving your life to try and be the best? When your own father would do this to you when you don't work as hard as he wants?" Okaru faught back a tear, he'd never spoken of his father's training before, he never thought he'd have too.

Okaru fixed his shirt and the two walked back to the academy together in silence. Okaru was excited to see how Hikaru faird against Hotaru.

[Adas]

Hotaru had no way of seeing the blow coming, and Hikaru, being slightly taller then her adversary, had no trouble knocking her to the floor. [i]No![/i] Matsuda wasn’t the type of person to normally get involve – if these two girls had a problem, then it would be best if they sorted out between themselves. But attacking an opponent from behind, completely unprepared to defend themselves, was a cowardly thing to do. Hotaru would have most likely been able to throw her rival off and pin her down, but without thinking, Matsuda didn’t give her the chance. Hikaru grabbed a handful of Hotaru’s hair and tried to force her head up, but that was all she had time for.

Matsuda ran towards her, kicking a stray chair out of his way, and reached the fighting girls in a matter of bounds. He wrapped both of his arms around Hikaru’s waist, and literally threw her off. She skidded with a bump as she landed on the floor, a look of pure surprise ruining a pretty face. She tried to look up at Matsuda, but he stared her down, daggers in his eyes.

“Hey!” the shout came from the doorway of the room. Kagoya (his clan escaped Matsuda’s memory) stood there, witnessing the scene before him with a look of disgust on his face. He had long, straight brown hair just past his shoulders, and emerald green eyes. His hand was balled into a tight fist. “That’s no way to treat a lady Matsu—“

“And that’s no way to treat an opponent” Matsuda cut him off. He turned and faced Hikaru, now picking herself up off the floor, face red with both embarrassment and indignation. His voice was deadly calm, just louder then a whisper. “If you wished to fight, you should have told her to face – you never [b]ever[/b] attack from behind.” He then turned back to Kagoya. “And if you disagree with me, this classroom is hardly the place to settle our differences – we’ll take it outside…”

Kagoya looked at him for a long time, sizing him up. They both knew Kagoya was the stronger ninja of the pair – one of the strongest in the class – but he must have sensed Matsuda’s fury, his inner rage that rarely showed itself behind a thick layer of shyness. He simply shook his head, frowned, and walked away, calling behind his back “If you want to fight someone, quit picking on girls.” He was gone before Matsuda could reply, with Hikaru and her friends following close behind.

Exhaling is aggression in a long sigh, he leaned over and offered Hotaru a hand. “You ok?” he asked, already feeling himself begin to blush. [i]Damnit! Why do I have to do be so damned shy!?[/i] “I, uh.. I hope you don’t mind me getting involved like that…”

[Isabella-Black]

"You know, I could have handled that." Hotaru said from behind Matsuda. On the ground, her clone disappeared in a cloud of smoke, giving her 'rescuer' a wide grin before she disappeared completely. She'd traded places the second Hikaru had jumped her, and had been hidden behind a row of lockers, waiting for her chance when Matsuda had stepped in.

Hotaru folded her arms across her chest. She wasn't angry [I]per se[/I] but she was a little annoyed that someone else had interfered. Years of being treated like a delicate object in her clan's house had hardened her against most chivalric displays. She was a girl, not a china doll goddamn it! And she was about to become a genin; she didn't need to be looked after.

She sighed, recognizing good intentions when they hauled (surprisingly heavy) opponents off her and softened her tone. "I appreciate your concern Matsuda, but it wasn't necessary." She gave a sad sort of grin, "She's done that many times before and I pinned her every time. Her balance is pathetic."

Among other things, but she could sense Hikaru's chakra still within vocal range she'd had enough fighting for one day.

She straightened, "Thank you, anyway." She walked over to where her book had fallen open onto the floor. It was already covered with mud and dirt and one of the pages was ripped in half. Hotaru picked it up and, with an exhausted sigh, threw it over her shoulder where it landed neatly in the nearby waste bin. No sense in keeping it now either way, but it left her without something to do before the exams started.

She turned back to Matsuda, arms crossed and eyes lowered to the ground, "Do you... wanna go practice... with me?" She hated herself for sounding so uncertain.

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru had grown to like Hoto during their little walk. Though he was pathetically weak, it was nice to have someone to talk to. As the two entered the building, they came upon the scene. Hotaru had already left, apparently with Matsuda. Hikaru was sitting alone in class, apparently she couldn't take Hotaru, what a surprise there. Hoto started to approach Hikari, Okaru put hand on his shoulder. "She brought this on heself, come we need to work on your genjitsu. Classically the exam is a demonstration of your skills and your taijitsu" Otaku led Hoto out of the class and back to the garden.

Okaru crouched down into a ready stance when he first heard the noise. It was less of a ruslting and more of a crashing as somone launched themselves at the pair. Okaru put his foot on Hoto's chest, kicking him just enough to get out of the way, and allowing Okaru to jump off his chest, avoiding the fast moving person. As he settled himself Chozo was standing there, in a ready stance. Okaru thought long and hard, but could honestly not think of one thing about Chozo, he'd alway sat in the back of the class, he didn't even know if he was part of a clan or not.

"Why don't you back off Chozo. We're getting ready for the exams" Hoto walked over to Chozo. Suddenly Chozo struck out with a fist, Hoto caught it easily and sent Chozo over his head. Landing on his feet he faced Hoto wided eyed, "How, how did you do that?"

"That's enough chozo!" Okaru stepped in, he too was curious how weak little Hoto kept up with the speed of that attack. Chozo quickly composed himself and looked at Okaru with eyes that held a deep hatred. "Next time you won't be so lucky Okiori." He turned and lept away, that was strange. He dind't think he'd ever done anything to Chozo, but why would he just strike like that. Shaking it off he focused on Hoto again, "So all your skill is in Taijitsu?" It was an obvious question, but it explained a lot. The gennin exams were usually based on Genjitsu.

"I think you're going to be just fine this year Hoto." Okaru had already made a plan to help the boy pass, he just hoped that Hotaru would get on board. She had no reason to, she'd never even talked to Okaru, so would she really risk her status as gennin to help Hoto? (Of course she wasn't a gennin yet, but if the test was on Genjitsu there wouldn't be a problem at all for her) . "Damn him" Okaru crouched down and made the handsign of the rabbit, he threw one hand out and pushed Hoto out of the way. He saw the Kunai knife as he came at him, but he wasn't worried. He threw the other hand that had been storing chakra since he made the handsign, a blast of wind came fourth. It was concentrated in a ball, the ball threw the knife aside as it contacted it, and proceeded to blast into the person who threw it.

Okaru drew his knife and lept threw the bushes, pinning Chozo to the ground. "I thought I told you to beat it Chozo." If the boy had been surprised he didnt' show it, he stared at Okaru with that look of hatred from earlier. "You could've killed us with that knife idiot." Okaru let him up and put his knife away. "If that would've happened I can't say it would've bothrered me too much" Chozo lept away, this time Okaru focused on him until he didn't feel him at all. "I think we need to start heading back Hoto. You go ahead and go back to class, study up on your chakra markers for replacement Jutsus. I think that's what the exam is going to be over, if I had to guess.

Hoto didn't say a word, he was obviously surprised at the apparent strength of the "wind bullet" jutsu. Okaru wouldn't dare tell him that was the best he could do, and it wasn't even correct. The ball of wind is supposed to have a pointier tip, impalling the foe. Instead the best he could muster was a ball shape. After Hoto was out of site, Okaru turned the other way and started looking for Hotaru. He figured her and Matsuda went to practice somewhere, and he wanted to talk to her about his plan to get Hoto passed. It was simple, they just needed to fool Raiga-Sensei into thinking Hoto performed the Jutsu, with Hotaru's skills it wouldn't be that hard. Just a diversion on Okaru's part, and when Sensei was diverted Hotaru would perform the replacement Jutsu. It sounded easy enough....

[Adas]

?Uh yeah, sure.. that sounds like fun..? Matsuda replied. [i]Of course she used the replacement jutsu?[/i] Matsuda kicked himself. [i]Stupid? really stupid? [/i]

The two walked through the halls of the second floor of the academy. Even though he couldn?t wait to leave, to become a genin, Matsuda couldn?t help but see things differently ? the classrooms, emptied for lunch, the walls, nearly white-washed but with some wood paneling.. even the floor, in it?s ever-clean state. He couldn?t help but notice everything, feeling almost regretful of the time he had spent there, wishing that things had been different... [i]Well, not different[/i] he admitted to himself. [i]Just not the same.[/i]

Outside, it was still raining, albeit nowhere near as heavy as it had fallen earlier. The practice yard was being used by a couple of the other students in the class ? Kagoya was sparring with Akoma, a small gathering of girls watching them ? by Matsuda paid them no mind ? or at least tried not to. Hatoma was among the girls watching, her long red hair clinging wetly to her body. She cheered for Akoma and smiled, and most of the girls joined in, giggling. Kagoya managed to draw some cheers too.

?I?ve asked my brother a few times what we have to do for the genin exams, but he never really answers me? Matsuda admitted to Hotaru without being asked. ?I think it would probably be a good idea if we just practiced everything..? Unfortunately, Matsuda already knew he was going to lose. His fighting style revolved around the use of his katana ? without, he was at a disadvantage against someone who was already stronger then he.

?That?s fine by me.? Hotaru answered him, a glimmer in her eye. [i]Is she excited to fight me?[/i] Matsuda mused. He had known Hotaru for a few years, every since they both enrolled in the academy. For the most part, she had been a quiet, studious girl who lived in a realm of books and knowledge. However, when push came to shove, she was an excellent ninja, putting all of her heavily studied-upon techniques to proper use ? she was without a doubt one of the top-ranked ninja in their year. Ambitious wasn?t the right word to describe her ? determined was more like it.

?Just so you know, I won?t hold any punches because you?re ---? that was all Matsuda had time to get out before his jaw refused to withstand the punch thrown at him. He spiraled through the air, and landed on the slick, rain-swept grass. Thankful he didn?t land in the mud, he looked up into the eyes of his attacker ? Kagoya.

?We?re not finished from before? he said, a smirk on his face. Matsuda surveyed his surroundings ? Akoma had left, along with several others, but a couple of girls stood behind to watch Kagoya, nodding approvingly. ?First, you physically beat down a girl in the classroom. Next, you threaten her?? He nodded towards Hotaru. [i]This isn?t like him at all?[/i] Matsuda noticed. Akoma wasn?t around to help him, and Hotaru looked dumbfounded ? Kagoya had always been good friends with Hikaru, even though he didn?t normally act like a jerk.

Matsuda rose, one hand pressed over his aching jaw. [i]Where the hell did Akoma go?[/i] he thought, desperately. If there was one time he could have used his friend, this was it. Matsuda threw his fist at Kagoya, but was dodged easily ? a knee to the chest stopped his attack abruptly, and left him sputtering for air as he once again found himself on the ground.

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru was between Kagoya and Matsuda in a heartbeat, shoving at Kagoya with chakra induced strength and sending him flying backwards, nearly crashing into his fan club. She smirked a little and shifted her stance, prepared to receive an attack.

"Hikaru attacked ME if you'd care to remember." She said, voice calm and even. "Since when has helping out a fellow shinobi been considered a reason for cowardly attacks?"

She didn't show it, but Hotaru was furious. This was the second time that day that someone had presumed to defend her as if she couldn't do it herself. If Matsuda had threatened her, she would have throttled him herself; she certainly didn't need some ego driven jock to do it for her. More than that, she was itching to fight. After being spared that chance with Hikaru, Hotaru found herself looking for an excuse. She would have taken it out on Matsuda (gently of course) but now, all of her frustration was directed solely on Kagoya.

His fan girls shrieked at seeing their 'hero' pushed to the ground like that. If they had the skills to handle Hotaru they would have jumped to his defense. Hotaru stepped forward, menacingly and the group collectively took a step back. Kagoya ignored them and stood, shaking the dirt of his cloths.

"That's a fine way to show thanks. I was defending you!" Kagoya snapped.

Hotaru looked bored. "I don't need your protection. I can handle myself." She glared and pointed her finger at his chest. "Now back off. Or the only one who'll need protecting will be you."

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru came upon the practice field in search of Hotaru's aid. What he found was Hotaru squared away with Kagoya, and by the looks of it Hotaru had been winning. He also saw Matsuda rubbing his jaw, apparently Kagoya had gotten in the middle of their sparring, he just wasn't sure if it was Kagoya or Hotaru that had given him that shot.

Okaru had been watching Hotaru for sometime, she'd been an anomaly to him. No status, she shouldn't even have an urge to be a shinobi. By societies standards she should've accepted the planned marriage and life that would have been her destiny. Instead she choose to rise above it, and had proven herself to be one of the best. Okaru respected her...and that was all.

He approached the circled that had formed around them, pushing past the fan girls that were screaming for Kagoya, Okaru entered the "ring" and called for Hotaru. "Hotaru, I need to speak with you." He stood arms crossed, waiting on her. As he expected, in his rage Kagoya didn't want any interuptions, he charged Okaru. When he got within striking distance, Hotaru met him with a kick to the face. Kagoya went sprawling, those same fan girls that were cheering him on seperated quickly as he tumbled past.

Hotaru turned towards Okaru, a look of pure rage on her face. "You and Matsuda need to quit this protecting me thing. I'm perfectally..." Okaru interupted her, furthering her anger. "Im not here to protect you, I interupted your fight because I need your help." Hotaru wasn't interested, she threw a fist that Okaru couldn't have blocked if he tried.

As the wind clone, burst into a gentle gust of wind, Okaru put his Kunai knife to Hotaru's thoat from behind. "We all know how strong you are, I can't speak for Matsuda but he'd be stupid to think you couldn't have killed that coward Hikaru. I need your help though, can we go speak in private?" He released her, he gave her a little push to show he wasn't biased. In reality it was because he felt that if she wanted to push him off and drop him she probably could have in her state of rage.

"Finish your spar with Matsuda if he still has it in him, then come talk to me. I'll be at the garden in front of the academy. Bring Matsuda as well, he could be of some help." Okaru turned and started walking away the crowd had since dispersed, most of the girls checking on their fallen hero. Others staying to see if Hotaru and Matsuda would continue their spar. Okaru hoped she would show up, honestly he hoped they both would. His plan was perfect, he hoped. He and Matsuda would start having words as Hoto tried whatever genjitsu technique Raiga-Sensei thought up, most likely it would be a replacement jutsu. As sensei was distracted Hotaru would use her superior skills to make it appear that Hoto had performed the jutsu while Sensei was none-the-wiser. He just hoped the two would help, Hoto worked so hard, and was the first person to ever approach Okaru. He wasn't sure why, he was content with just going through the motions and training with his father after hours.

He reached the garden and sat down on a rock, waiting for at least one of the two to show up.

[Adas]

“Finish your spar with Matsuda if he still has it in him…” Okaru’s words stung worse then any punch from Kagoya. “Bring Matsuda as well, he could be of some help”. He wasn’t wanted – Hotaru, one of the top ninjas in their class was needed, but not him. That’s just the way things were – Matsuda had come to terms with that over the years, but it was still a tough pill to swallow. He wasn’t a bad ninja at all – in fact, of a class of thirty, he was ranked number seven. The problem was, no one cared about seven – seven was six away from the best. [i]Akoma…[/i] Matsuda growled. The two were best friends, but it was hard being friends with someone who everyone else loved. Sometimes it really bothered him.

Matsuda got up, prepared to yell at Okaru that he didn’t want to be part of some stupid plot, but he had already turned his back on the scene and was walking away. Matsuda nearly snarled, his anger rising, but instead exhaled in a long, sigh. He released the clenched fist at his side and stretched his fingers, sore after being balled up into such a tight fist.

Hotaru was panting slightly from her fight with Kagoya, but she wore a satisfied smile. “Thanks for that, I guess…” Matsuda said, blushing slightly. To say that he was embarrassed would merely have been stating the obvious – he had been beaten up, and defended a girl. Not that there was anything wrong with the way she fought – it was just humiliating having to once again rely on others.

“Don’t mention it” she replied. She too visibly began to relax, sensing that the danger was over. “Next time, don’t help me – I can take care of myself.” Determination ringing strong in her voice. Matsuda merely nodded. “So, what do you think? Wanna see what Okaru has to tell us?” she asked.

“Not really” he replied directly. “Practicing is one thing, but I don’t think we really have time to spend goofing off today. If you want to go talk to him then that’s cool, but I think I’m going to head home – there’s some more techniques I’d like to practice before tonight.” Tonight… the genin exam – they were told to return to the academy at six’ o’clock sharp in order for the exam to begin. Matsuda would have been lying if he said he wasn’t nervous at all. “I’ll see you tonight Hotaru” he smiled, and began to walk away.

The sun had finally broken through the dark clouds, and the day was instantly warmer. Slightly humid from all the rain, it was far from uncomfortable walking temperature. [i]What will we have to do tonight to prove we’re ready to leave?[/i] Matsuda wondered. [i]No matter what anyone says, it can’t be too hard, or else no one would become ninjas. If our lives were actually at stake like everyone keeps telling us, then our parents wouldn’t even let us become shinobi… would they?[/i]

Turning around a corner, he was met with a sight he wasn’t prepared to see. Nearing his home, he found Akoma and Hatoma in a ramen shop, eating together, laughing. Matsuda just stood there, and watched, his heart breaking. Unable to watch anymore, his head hung low, he kept walking, not seeing anyone or anything until he got home. He muttered a quick hello to his parents before entering his room, but he stayed only a moment – just long enough to fetch the katana and its sheath, propped up in one of the corners of his room. He strapped the sheath onto his back, the hilt of the blade poking out above his right shoulder, and left for the practice yard in the center of the manor.

Regara was still there, practicing with blade and kunai, but his eyes had taken on a royal-blue colouring – the Yoroto bloodline, the Naridamo, was strong in Regara, but he had only activated the first stage. Regara paid no mind to Matsuda, and neither did he to his older brother – he simply drew his blade in one fluid motion, and began practicing on the posts that had been set up. He was so focused on the posts, his wooden enemies, that he failed to notice his father, standing back and watching his two sons with a proud smile spliting his rock-hard face.

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru sat in the garden alone meditating. He knew his father would disapprove of him just sitting there, he should be training. That's how his father has always been, training, training, and some more training. He never took the time out to sit down and smell the roses. A memory, a distant memory crept in, Okaru traced the line of his scar through his shirt as he thought of it....

[I]"Father, I'm trying I just can't seem to get it." Okaru was in tears, he was younger then, only 8.
"We will stay out here until you get it." Okaru's father Okiori Morato was trying to teach him the wind clone Jutsu. A relatively simple Jutsu...for someone who was already a gennin. It involved creating a clone of oneself out of the air itself. The clone would move, talk, and be controled by the attacker though it could inflict any damage. Instead it would allow itself to be attacked, bursting into a whirlwind knocking the opponent off balance.

So far all Okaru could do was create the clone, his just burst into a gentle gust. As it was supposed to at his age, but it wasn't good enough for his father. Before this day, Okaru had always marveled at his father's use of this jutsu. If he wanted to, his father could concentrate enough wind chakra into one clone it could literaly take a tree down. This meant however, that Okaru was expected to be able to do the same.

"I told you, we will stay out here all night unless you make one acceptable clone Okaru." His father sneared, this had been the scenario every night for the past week. Everyday for 8 hours a day he would exhaust Okaru with Taijitsu lessons, and then try and make him perform Jutsus that were way to advanced. Everytime Okaru failed, and as always was punished.

Finally, this time, Okaru's body gave out from a whole weeks worth of punishment. His last clone, didn't even look like a clone. "This is the work you give me? You are an Okiori, and you give me this?" Morato walked to the clone, that did resemble Okaru, except that it was half his height and twice his weight. Morato slashed the clone to bits, the gust of wind did not even muss his hair. Usually a swift kick to the ribs, or a slap that was almost enough to break Okaru's jaw followed. This time, however, Morato turned on Okaru with Scar, the family blade.

"Go pick up your blade Okaru, we're going to practice swordplay now." His tone lacked all passion. There was nothing, but emptiness in his words, it scarred the hell out of Okaru, but what was he to do? As soon as Okaru returned with his blade, Morato struck. Moving at speeds the younger Okaru couldn't even keep up, it took everything he had even to hold the heavy scimitar.

A particular backhanded slash would mark the end of the session, Okaru marveled how slow it came in. Even in his tired state, he managed to defend. He never thought in a million years his father would actually [B]use[/B] Scar on him. As the blade contacted Okaru's, another blade appeared attached to it. Then followed by another, and another until the links of the chakra created blades, snaked themselves around Okaru and dug into his chest. Morato jerked the sword, digging it into Okaru's flesh, all he could feel was searing hot pain accompanied by a scream so blood curtling you would have thought it was a death cry.

In fact it would have been if not for Okaru's mother. She entered the practice field in a fashion he didn't know she possessed. She flew in with a kick, knocking Morato to the ground, releasing Okaru from the grip of the snake like blade. Collapsing to the ground, Okaru lossed consciousness right then already having lost too much blood. Somehow he pulled through, you would've thought he would have received a reprieve from his father. Instead he was back on the practice field again, his father pushing just as hard. Okaru couldn't figure out why he was never allowed to heal from his wounds, the constant opening of the wound for weeks at a time, left the scar he revealed to Hoto earlier that day. [/I]

Okaru snapped out of his meditated state. He used to sob whenever he thought of that day. The day his father tried to kill him, about a year afterwards though. He stopped...just stopped. He'd become what his father wanted him to, he became a machine. Perhaps that's why he wanted to help Hoto, because he brought some of the human out in him. Instead of meditating again, Okaru choose to examine the scenary. The beautiful trees of the garden Hoto's family owned. It would keep him occupied until Hotaru arrived, he knew she would. Even if she didn't want to help, she would want to rip into him for getting involved in her fight ealier and sparing Kagoya the embarassment of being beaten by her. Instead she had to settle for one kick, no matter how good it was, failed in comparison to beating the hell out of him. She was still probably hot and wanted to fight, hopefully he could avoid that. If she specialized in Taijitsu or Ninjitsu Okaru would not be wary at all, but Genjitsu that was a different story. It was all about misdirection and illusion, and Okaru hated having his mind messed with.

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru watched Matsuda walk off and let out a sigh. This day was turning out to be anything but the exciting, anxiety ridden day she had expected it to be in light of the exams. If anything, she was beginning to wish she had stayed in bed.

She looked over at Kagoya and his fans. It didn't look like he'd be attacking her anytime soon - she'd probably bruised his ego along with the rest his person. The girls were all glaring horrible deaths with their eyes. Hotaru merely shrugged and continued on her way towards the far off training grounds.

It was a medium sized field with the standard targets and occasional obstacle. Nothing special, unless you counted the fact that she could see the Forest of Death from here. It was immense and foreboding, and the horror stories that the academy drilled into their heads to keep them from entering meant that few, if any students ever used this field.

Hotaru loved it. Rather than seeing the Forest as an object of terror, she preferred to see it as an obstacle - just one more thing for her to overcome on her way to being a respected kunoichi. She'd come here to train, by herself or occasionally with others, and relished the small degree of privacy. Fear, she'd discovered, was a powerful motivator and she used it to her benefit.

Walking towards the centre of the field, she drew a kunai from her pouch and twirled in on her finger for a moment before she sent it flying towards the target. It hit the bulls-eye with deadly accuracy. Hotaru smiled a little. She'd overcome that obstacle too. Hours of weapons training had given her near pinpoint accuracy. It hadn't come naturally (she'd sent her first few kunai flying into the woods and had yet to recover them) but she'd worked hard and earned this skill.

Almost in an attempt to reassure herself of that, Hotaru leapt into the air with the grace of a cat and spun mid-air, shooting three more kunai at the targets, watching with satisfaction as they all hit the center mark.

Perhaps that was why she hadn't become infatuated with Akoma as the other girls had. Akoma was a prodigy, and everything seemed to come naturally to him while Hotaru had to work hard to develop those same inherent skills. Perhaps it was prejudicial of her, but she respected someone who had to work hard to succeed and earn their skills more than someone who succeeded by nature.

She was pulled from her revere by the sound of clapping off to the right. Sitting up in her favourite tree was a young woman, a kunoichi, with bright red hair and smiling brown eyes. She wore her headband like a bandanna over the top of her head and bandages covered her hands and knees.

Hotaru smiled brightly for the first time that day. "Hello Aiko-sensei."

"I won't be that for long now, will I?" Aiko-sensei grinned, almost childishly at her favorite student and hopped down from her purchase on the tree. She landed neatly in front of Hotaru and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Soon you'll be a genin, and forget all about me!" She swooned dramatically.

Hotaru laughed softly. "I still need to pass, Aiko-sensei."

The red head sobered and arched an eyebrow at the targets beside them. "I would think that is mote point, Hotaru." She smilled happily again. "You'll pass, no problem. I have no doubt about that. MY genjutsu prodigy wouldn't fail me."

Hotaru grinned. "I'll do my best."

Aiko nodded and ruffled her hair again. Hotaru groaned and tried to swipe it back into place. "You'll do fine," Aiko knelt down to be eye level with her student, suddenly serious, "you've proven yourself capable without a doubt. You'll become a great kunoichi, Hotaru." She stood again, seriousness forgotten. "And when you pass, I'll take you out for sushi. My treat." She mussed up her hair again and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Hotaru stood there for a moment, looking at the place where her sensei had once stood and over to the three targets.

[I]You'll pass, no problem.[/I]

She considered for a moment before collecting her kunai and raced off to meet Okaru.

She landed neatly in the garden in front of Okaru and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Her face was blank. "What do you want, Okaru?"


(A/N: Sorry I took so long to reply :animeswea)

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Damn she was fast, Okaru didn't even sense Hotaru approaching. "What do you want Hotaru?" She obviously wasn't too happy about him bothering her.

"Would you risk yourself for someone who deserved it?" Okaru sat spinning his kunai knife.

"What is this about Okaru? Don't waste my time, I could be practicing." He had to be smart about this.

"I think we both know that the gennin exams are typically genjitsu techniques. You'll be fine, Hoto on the other hand will not." Okaru smiled as she lifted a brow, she was curious, it wasn't a total lost cause.

"Hoto has no genjitsu, or ninjitsu at all. But his taijitsu is better than anyone at our age leve. Just ask Chozo about that one, Hoto embarassed him awhile ago without breaking a sweat. You're the only one who is going to be able to help. The only problem is we need a third, and I was hoping Matsuda would have come as well." He stood up and continued without giving her the chance to dismiss him.

"The plan is simple, when Hoto's turn comes. I'll provoke Matsuda into a fight, when sensei's attention is diverted, and you probably won't be able to see when it is. You make a move, and whatever genjitsu is required you make it appear that Hoto performed it." Okaru's hopes dwindled a little as he looked at her face, Hotaru had always been a cool customer. She wouldn't reveal how she was feeling unless she wanted him to know. All he could do was wait.....

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru kept her face a careful neutral as she considered his offer.

Her first instinct was to go along with his idea- after all he had a point. The exam was typically genjustu based, which was the reason why most students failed their first time. Manipulating stamina into chakra and then manipulating that chakra into the desired effect was no easy feat, and most of the students barely scraped by on a good clone jutsu or transformation. Hotaru was one of the exceptions; her ability to manipulate chakra almost guaranteed her a shinobi headband.

She remembered seeing Hoto struggled with the basic skills in class and let out a small, sympathetic sigh. They'd send him back to the academy in a heartbeat, and it would crush him. Hoto was a polite boy, a bit prudish, but polite and he had always smiled at her in class. The jutsu she'd need to help him was advanced, but not terribly complex, and she was sure she'd have enough chakra.

The problem of course, was if they got caught. The rules against cheating were strict and absolute. They'd get their asses handed to them on a silver platter before they were shipped back to the academy. Her mother would just [I]love[/I] that; just more proof that women shouldn't be shinobi. Or more specifically, why Hotaru shouldn't be a shinobi.

"What happens if we get found out?" She inquired, attempting to keep her tone aloof. "And why are you so desperate to help Hoto anyway?"

"Does it matter?" Okaru countered, a slight edge to his voice.

Hotaru shook her head once. "Not really." She was silent for a moment before looking Okaru dead in the eye with a small grin.

"I'm in." Being a shinobi was all about taking risks, wasn't it?

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru couldn't help but smile, she'd held him in suspense just enough. It was going to happen, Hoto was going to pass. He looked at her, deep into the eyes "Thank you Hotaru. I'll distract sensei, you take care of the rest." Okaru jumped to his feet, "I have something else I need to do before the test." he smiled a bit as he looked at her.

He threw a fist straight at her, not holding anything back. She easily parried, grabbed his fist twisted and tossed him.

Okaru landed on his feet, turning himself back towards her but she was already on him. She lunged at him, he allowed her to crash into him pulling her down. Using her momentum he rolled, planted his feet in her stomach and kicked up sending her sailing.

She landed on her feet, just as he knew she would. She was every bit as good as taijitsu as she was at genjitsu, but how would she handle being faced with Ninjitsu? Okaru made the same handsign he made when chozo attacked him earlier, the swirling wind filled his hand. Forming into an almost solid ball, Okaru rushed her trying his best to hide the attack in his palm.

When he neared he pulled up, her eyes grew huge as he loosed the attack. She didn't even try to move, and exploded in a puff of smoke. "Damn it." Okaru didn't move as he felt the kunai on his throat, "You aren't the only one who can do this trick." Okaru still didn't tense up. "You're right, but what kind've fool falls for it a second time?" Okaru felt her loose her hold ever so much, she was distracted for a second. He dropped straight down, grabbing her knife hand and heaving her.

She landed on her feet facing him. They both stood facing each other, equals. No that was the wrong way to look at it, in a real battle Okaru would have had his throat slit, she was the victor. He just wouldn't let her know it.

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru struggled to keep her breathing even. To inhale any faster was a sign of weakness and she wouldn't allow that now - it was rather something to be considered an equal, especially by one of the top students and considering who she was.

Later she would realize her victory; that in real life Okaru would have been dead the moment her kunai touched his neck and he would have never been able to retaliate. But in the moment, she could only replay how easily he had escaped and how she had only just managed to land on her feet. She would have to train harder to correct that. Next time she might not be so lucky.

The sound of a bell drew her attention towards the academy doors. They were rounding up the students - it was finally time. She straightened but kept her eyes on Okaru in case he decided to try and catch her off guard. He didn't seem like that kind of opponent: he was every bit as ruthless and determined as she was, but Hotaru knew he wasn't like Hikaru - he wouldn't attack her without reason. And besides, he was probably just as eager to pass the exams as she was - all the same, she kept her periferal vision trained on him.

"Tell Hoto to be ready." She said softly. "I'll be waiting for your distraction and he had better be ready to move or else we'll all be done for." She did [B]not [/B]want to be sent back to the academy thanks to Okaru and his make-shift plans.

[Adas]

“It’s time to go…” The stern voice startled Matusda – lost in the movement, the flow of his blade, he had become disconnected from the world. His father stood before him, his face seemingly made of stone, no emotion leaking from the hardened cracks that lined his aging face. A long scar ran down the right side of his face, beginning from the temple, passing nearly through his eye, and ending at the center of his cheek.

“Father?” Matsuda asked, hoping for even a glimmer of recognition, praying silently that his father had been watching.

“Don’t forget your sword.” His father turned away. [i]When I pass today, he will have to acknowledge me…[/i] Matsuda tried to convince himself, already knowing it wasn’t true. As if he could sense his son’s thoughts, Matusda’s father halted, and offered one last piece of advice. “Don’t fail today.”

Despite being a rainy morning, the afternoon weather was beautiful. The sun was shining, and the temperature was warm without being humid. A warm breeze ruffled his messy hair, and he couldn’t help but smile. Birds were singing, and children dotted the hard-packed streets, playing imaginary games. Matsuda chuckled, observing the over-all cliché feeling, but shrugged it off, enjoying it.

Being so far away, Matsuda was one of the last to reach the academy. Already the members of his class were lined up outside. Akoma was near the front, his eyes shut, but strained. Everyone was quiet, Matsuda remarked. Even the girls who usually fussed over Akoma were quiet – a heavy feeling had descended upon the group, and anxiety and broken nerves ran rampant. Matsuda filed in between Hotaru and Hoto, and gave them both a nervous smile and nod of the head, to which he received back. Hoto was a mess, nearly on the verge of shaking. Matsuda tried to give him a comforting smile, but he couldn’t muster the courage. Instead, he leaned against the wall and stared at his feet, trying to avoid contact with the rest of the group. He didn’t have long though.

“So what do you think we’ll be tested on?” Hoto whispered to Matsuda. Before he had a chance to answer, Hotaru replied, whispering to Hoto over his head.

“I’ve heard it’s not that hard,” she said warmly, or as warmly as she could – despite being one of the more confident-looking members of the line, she too looked nervous. Kagoya, further ahead in the line, looked back and sighed, at which Hotaru shot him a dirty look. “Either way, it’s nothing to be worried about – very rarely do they ever hold anyone back.” This time, she did manage to make the smile sincere, more confident.

As soon as she finished speaking, Raiga-Sensei appeared before them amidst a bang and smoke. “Form ranks!” he barked, and everyone in the line jumped. “Alphabetical order, lets go!” The group hopped to it, reforming themselves into an alphabetical line by clan-name. Matsuda, of the Yamato clan, was dead last. “When we call your name, you will enter the academy, and be tested. Upon completion of the test, you will become official genin of Konoha. First name –“

Matsuda stopped paying attention. One by one they entered the academy, almost always at ten minute intervals. One in at a time, the large group moved through slowly. When he had arrived, the group had been subjected to nervous whispers, questions with no answers. Now, a dead silence reigned among the students. Nervousness began to mix with determination, and strong drew the line against the weak.

Matsuda felt something strike him and was sent tumbling back. Sprawled on the ground, Okaru was on top of him, a clenched, red-knuckled fist matching the indent of the bruise already forming on his forehead. Confusion only lasted for a moment – long enough to be punched in the side of the head once more – and was quickly replaced by rage. With a roar, Matsuda threw Okaru off of him and leapt to his feet. He chased after his opponent, and tackled him as he tried to rise from the ground. Matusda punched his enemy square in the nose, and heard the sound of bone break. [i]How did I…?[/i] Okaru was the stronger ninja by far, but somehow Matsuda had managed to get in a good hit. He didn’t have time to dwell on it, as the two began rolling in the dirt, exchanging punches. What was left of the line stared at them in shock, jaws literally dropped – no one had seen what had provoked the fight, but all were amazed at the intensity of it.

The fight ended nearly as quickly as it had started. A pair of examiners appeared, and held the two students away from each other. Matsuda fought desperately to escape the chuunin who held him, wanting so desperately to hit Okaru again – the bastard had jumped him when he wasn’t looking!

[b]“What the hell were you two doing!?[/b] Raiga-sensei stood before them, his face red with rage. Matsuda tried to sputter out an answer, to tell sensei that he hadn’t been at fault, anything to avoid failing the test before it even began. “[b]I don’t want to hear it![/b] Raiga-sensei roared. “If you two can’t behave like proper genin, then perhaps we’ll just have to make you wait until next year. Until we decide what to do with them, put them in separate classrooms.” He said the last to the chuunin who held the two boys away from each other. More angry then he had ever been in his life, Matusda let himself be lead away by the chuunin.

During the fight, no one had noticed Hotaru disappear.

[center]~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~[/center]

“Did you see those two fight?” a voice asked, fairly casually.

“What started it?” another replied.

“Dunno… but it was interesting while it lasted…”

The room in the academy overlooking the practice yard where the students were lined up was circular, with long couches and tinted windows. Several jounins stood there, looking out at their potential new recruits, preparing themselves to lead three of the large group gathered below.

“What do you think, Ryokotsu?” A man stepped forward from out of the shadows, watching not only where the girl had been a moment before, but at the two boys now being dragged away. Like always, his blank face never changed. He pulled the lit cigarette away from his mouth, and exhaled slowly, methodically.

“I think I see my team forming…”

[Drizzt Do'urden]

Okaru flinched as he touched his nose as he thought about how perfectally the plan went. Everybody, even the examiners had fallen for the diversion, mostly because it wasn't really a diversion it was a fight. Okaru smiled as the blood still poured from his nose, Matsuda had gotten a great shot on him. "Strange, he's always come across as such a weakling." Okaru prodded over their fight in his head, it wasn't an honorable thing he did, but it had to be believeable.

His smile grew bigger when Hoto walked in, the chuunin assigned to watch over Okaru stood up and shook his head indicating that nobody was allowed to see Okaru. "Sorry sir, I just wanted to let Okaru know that I passed." He looked to Okaru "Thank you for everything Okaru, if it weren't for you I would never have passed" Okaru simply nodded and stared out the window. The fight had grown a little more intense then he intended it too. He'd assumed Raiga-sensei would have chewed their assess and that would've been it, unfortunetly now he had to worry if he didn't ruin Matsuda's chances. "I'll apologize to him," He flinched again as he touched his obviously broken nose, "or maybe I'll skip the apology and just fill him in. This thing hurts."

[Isabella-Black]

Hotaru waited from her hiding spot near the bathrooms for Hoto to show up, his headband clenched firmly in her hands. He'd gone off, presumably to thank Okaru for his help, shortly after she'd emerged with his promised headband and coveted gennin status.

She had to hand it to Okaru, everything had gone perfectly. She'd been slightly surprised at his 'distraction' - it was far more violent than she'd imagined, but then, Okau had never been the quiet and subtle type - but she'd been grateful. No one had noticed her leave.

She was a little upset - though she couldn't pin point the exact reason - that he'd brought Matsuda into their plot without his knowledge beforehand. He'd endangered both their chances at passing, although it had been pleasantly surprising to see shy, little Matsuda turn right around and break Okaru's nose. She had no doubts that he would pass now... if they still let him take the exam anyway.

The instructors hadn't noticed anything, which was exactly how the jutsu was supposed to work. They would have noticed a henge, so she'd placed the illusion throughout the entire examination room, seamlessly connecting the illusion to reality. They saw 'Hoto' standing nervously in front of them, and 'Hoto' shakily perform the necessary genjutsu to pass (she'd even let a bit of her control slip, because she knew 'Hoto' was no genjutsu expert), and they'd kindly smiled at 'Hoto' when they passed him his headband.

She carefully fingered the material in her palm and wondered if it would feel the same way to hold one in her hands when she passed the test.

"Hotaru!" Hoto called as he rounded the corner at last. "Hotaru, where are you?"

Hotaru shushed him angrily, "Do you want to get caught?" She waved him over into the shadows and placed the headband into his shaky hands.

He looked up at her with such an expression of gratitude that Hotaru almost felt bad for yelling at him before and gave him a quick smile.

"Thank you so much!" Hoto whispered, smiling brightly. "I promise I'll make this up to you all."

Hotaru shuffled on her feet, uncomfortable. "Forget it." She mumbled, then looked him dead in the eye, her glare making her next words into a half-hearted threat. "Just don't make me regret helping you get that, okay?"

She'd never forgive herself (or Okaru) if Hoto was killed on a mission because of their interference.

Hoto seemed to understand and shook his head emphatically. "I promise, you won't regret this!" He shouted a quick 'good luck' over his shoulder as he sprinted off for home to tell his family the good news.

Hotaru smiled at his retreating back then turned and walked back to the remaining line up of students. She hadn't missed her place in line. Good, that might cause suspicion.

Her heart leapt into her throat when one of the examiners called her over, but she didn't show it.

"Shijeru," He looked down at her, "why weren't you in line?"

"I was," Hotaru replied, her voice perfectly meek, "I had to go to the bathroom." When the examiner didn't look convinced she leaned forward and whispered, "It was for [U]girl[/U] stuff."

The examiner stuttered for a moment before ushering her back in line, still five back from the front. Hotaru giggled quietly to herself - thank goodness for the uncomfortable subject of feminine issues.

She peered over to where Okaru and Matsuda had disappeared, dragged away for punishment and sighed sympathetically. She hoped they were allowed to take the exam - her gennin years wouldn't be all that fun without those two to kick around.

[A/N: Sorry if I made anyone uncomfortable. :animesmil]