Chapter 23
No more Chunin Exams starting.
Day Of Chunin Exams.
Team 7, with Mimi on Naruto's head, were standing in front of the Academy doors, but before they enter, Naruto whispers to his team, "Listen you guys," Getting both their attention, as well as Mimi's, "Let's try and stay under the radar ok, this way we won't have to worry about weaklings spotting us and trying to make themselves look better than us."
Understanding what Naruto was saying, the trio, quartet if you include Mimi, continued on, but then Sakura stopped and asks, Wait Naruto, if we're starting the Chunin Exam where is your mother, Ryoko?"
Stiffening at that, Naruto turns around and rubs the back of his head in embarrassment.
Seeing this action his two teammates had a feeling something happened to cause this reaction.
Naruto begins to explain, "Well you see, last night Washu made some homemade sake, the only problem was it was far too strong, even for mom to handle, she only had one sip, luckily, I had a separate bottle that wasn't "Washu-made" and right now she's sleeping the hangover off." He finishes with Mimi sighing, her big sister, as well as her mother, can cause so much trouble.
Sasuke and Sakura sweatdropped at that, both silently agreeing with each other to keep Washu at arms-length and to be careful with what she gives them.
Moving on, the team entered the Academy, moving up the stairs, they see a group of people, trying to get past a duo stopping them from entering.
Naruto looks towards his teammates giving them a nod, getting nods in return, they sneaked past the group, knowing that this was a side-test to weed out weaklings, though a brown, long haired boy, noticed the 3, as well as a bowl-styled haired boy.
Once they made it to the third floor, they were about to walk towards they destination, when a voice from above got their attention, "Hey you, with the calm attitude, hold on!"
The group turned around and looked up, Sakura was shocked at the "style" the guy was wearing, Sasuke was calm on the outside, since it's best not to show weakness, though he'd let Sakura show it, since seeing the strange-r looking like that even Sasuke was disturbed on the inside.
Naruto was making a weirded out face, (A.N. Think of when in Tenchi in Tokyo when Katsuhito tried to "exorcise" the spirits of greed but failed with Tenchi pointing it out.) since it was worse than his orange jumpsuit he wore before.
The young teen was wearing a green jumpsuit with orange leg-warmers, using his forehead protector as a belt, with bandages wrapped around his hands. His face was roundish, with big round eyes, and caterpillar-like eyebrows above them. (A.N. For some reason whenever I look at Lee he reminds me of a Kappa without a shell or that "disc" on top of his head, well you guys get the idea. ^^)
Sasuke, apparently being the one the weirdo was addressing, simply asks, "Yeah what is it?" It would seem hanging out with Naruto, and secretly going on dates with Sakura, though he has a feeling Naruto and Ryoko knows, given their personality, have mellowed Sasuke out a bit, he still wants to get revenge for his clan, but thanks to Naruto, and some "training" from Ryoko to show that he shouldn't be so prideful. (Replace training with beating then you get the idea.)
The young teen replies, "I want to fight you, right here, right now!" Sasuke Raised an eyebrow, wondering what he did to have someone wanting to challenge him, "Why do you want to fight me here and now?" The young man jumps from the balcony and thumbs himself, "My name is Rock Lee, I believe it is common courtesy to give your own name first before getting your opponent's name, Sasuke Uchiha!" The now named Rock Lee points towards Sasuke at the end.
Sasuke was slightly surprised at Lee knowing his name, "So you know me." He says with suspicion, when someone you hardly know, knows your name, it's not necessarily a good thing.
Naruto was floating in the air, Indian-style, just enjoying the show, though he'll interfere if something happens.
Lee gets into a stance, "I challenge you, everyones always talking about the Uchiha clan and how great they are, I want to see if it's true, I figured you would be a good test for me, and also," Lee looks towards Sakura, sending uncomfortable shivers down her spine, Lee's cheek's became flushed, "Oh Sakura," getting raised eyebrows all around, and a twitching eyebrow from Sasuke, though Lee didn't notice, and Sakura was too uncomfortable with the look Lee was giving her, Naruto smirks a knowing smirk, "I love you, please be my girlfriend, I promise to protect you with my life."
Sakura was in a state of shock, Sasuke's eyes widened with the bottom eyelid twiching, Naruto on the other hand, was trying not to laugh, (A.N. Think of episode 4 of Tenchi Muyo where Mihoshi's watch picks up Ryo-Ohki's energy, with Ryoko trying not to laugh.)
Sakura then exploded, "NO WAY, BESIDES ME AND SASUKE ARE ALREADY BOYFRIEND AND GIRLFRIEND!" Realizing what she screamed out, she clapped her hands over her mouth and looks towards Sasuke, who had his head in the palm of his hands, with some pink dusting his cheeks, they both wanted to keep that a secret, but Sasuke felt something may happen to make Sakura yell it out, hell even Sakura knew, but both didn't think it would happen so soon.
Naruto on the other hand, couldn't contain it anymore and exploded with laughter. (A.N. I won't go into detail with this, because there is too much laughing. ^^)
Mimi was just wagging her tail, enjoying the show, it was always fun watching her big brother interact with his team, but sometimes it was entertaining to watch the two on their own as well.
Lee was depressed at not getting a chance with Sakura, but he moves on, though he didn't like the fact Naruto was laughing, Sakura started to argue with Naruto about not being so mean to someone by laughing at them.
Sasuke interrupts before anything else could happen, wanting to get pass the little episode his girlfriend made, "Why do you want to challenge me, when we have the Chunin Exam to do, don't get me wrong, I'm always up for a challenge, but I want to save my strength for the exams, after all, we don't know what the exams will throw at us."
Hearing Sasuke explain such a logical thought, Naruto was impressed, it seems his and Ryoko's training really helped Sasuke think things through more better, though maybe it was his mom beating some sense into Sasuke.
Lee thinks over what Sasuke said, and couldn't find a fault with it, it would definitely be unyouthful to fight before the Exams even get officially started, nodding, he agrees, "Very well, we will fight in the exams, if we're allowed to."
With that everyone moved on, Lee went to look for his team, team 7 carried on towards their door, though before they could enter, they met Kakashi, who explained that if one of them quit from the exam none of them could enter, and that, by not saying that, it stops the other two team members from pressuring the one who didn't feel they were ready.
Kakashi then finishes his speech and wishes them luck.
The team, feeling pumped for the beginning of the Chunin Exams.