"Smooth princess."
"Ummm...any information on the Kumo teams?" He asked, desperately trying to change the subject.
"None. It seems that they were skilled enough to make it through the first portion of the exam but not much more than that. They're average at best."
"Don't underestimate your enemy." Kyofu muttered, remembering how many times Orochimaru had hammered those words into her. "They might still surprise you."
"Iwa will be heading straight for you." Haku said. "Kumo and Kiri are also bitter enemies, they'll most likely target us if they don't go after you. Hold out until Kimimaro and I defeat the Kumo teams, then we'll return to help you with the Iwa gennin."
"Hey!" Ryoko chuckled. "What makes you think you guys will be done first?" She spun the custom Fuma Shuriken in her grip once before bringing it to a stop. "The rock heads won't know what hit em."
"We're outnumbered three to one." Kyofu pointed out. "They'll most likely try to isolate us, one team for each one of us. The fourth team means at least one of us could be subject to fighting six. If that happens, try to evade and stall while one of us deals with a weaker team. They can't all be up to par here."
"Wouldn't it be better to regroup?" Naruto asked, frowning. That's what they always did in the wars. Isolated units got picked off, unified men and women, even outnumbered were a bigger beast to try and chew.
"It would normally, but earth techniques when they're not defensive can get pretty big. Just because one of us can dodge it doesn't necessarily mean we all can. Us bunching together in this case just increases the chances of us getting hit by one of the bigger attacks meant for someone else. Or worse that the gennin can pummel us with coordinated volleys."
"You think they know elemental manipulation?" Ryoko asked.
Kyofu shrugged. "We do." She answered simply.
"You think they have their own bat shit crazy sensei that teaches gennin high chuunin level chakra excersizes?"
"They might."
"...Point taken."
Kyofu nodded. "Isolation is best in this situation I think."
Naruto's frown deepened. "I don't know."
"Oi!"
The gennin looked, finding one of the Iwa Jounin staring at them. "Get out here. Its time to start."
Confused but obeying the gennin marched out of the front lines of the crowd, following the Jounin proctor as he led them to the center of the ring. Naruto and the others could now get a clear look at their competition.
-0-
"What are you doing here?"
Akatsuchi had never seen Kuro-chan stand so very stiff. A metal rod would have had more curve than her at the moment.
Or him for that matter.
Both children turned, eyes trailing up to find the stern face of Kitsuchi glaring down at them.
"Weren't you forbidden from leaving the estate for the duration of the exams young lady?"
"We just wanted to see." She defended. "I wasn't planning on doing anything! Honest!"
The Jounin's jaw twitched beneath his skin. Turning his eyes towards Akatsuchi, his daughter's partner in crime for half their stunts. "And you Aka?"
The boy opened his mouth to speak when Kuro jumped in again. "I went to go get him!" She barked.
More than likely he went to get you out of that house.'
His daughter had been absolutely miserable for the past month. But her misery of being locked indoors was only overshadowed by her self-loathing at having Onoki so angry with her.
The old man had been furious and rightfully so. Kurotsuchi had risked a flat out open war.
But more than that she risked her own life.
Even if she didn't fully comprehend the ramifications of her actions it wasn't something the old man could do anything but get angry at, child or no.
Still, a month of not leaving the house along with the other punishments leveled on her would drive anyone crazy.
He supposed an hour or two wouldn't exactly spoil the girl, or spark the fourth war.
"Stay here, don't move. Once this is done you're both going with me, back home."
They nodded.
He marched off to join the wall of jounin as his father's voice cut through the morning air.
-0-
"In the duties of a Shinobi." Onoki began, his voice easily carrying over the hum of the crowd far below with the chakra carrying his voice. "Our roles are not limited to espionage and silent assassinations. While darkness and shadows are our element often we are called upon to lend our might to the open battlefield against the enemies of our Daimyo, be they samurai or other ninja."
He paused, letting the words settle. "For this reason, this part of your chuunin examination shall be one of open combat. You have no allies in this battle. Only one team can be the victor. Your objective is to see yourself and your team safely through the chaotic rampage of the battlefield and be the ones to emerge victorious. Take your places, wait for the signal to be given and then fight well!"
He stepped back, taking his seat between the Rai and Mizu Kage. A seemed displeased, Mei was carefully neutral.
It was a thin pretense to tip the scales in favor of Iwa. But the same was always true no matter what village hosted the exams. It was his turn this year.
.
.
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