103The road to Kumogakure no Sato was long and tiring. Climbing mountains and navigating valleys filled with fog and the frequent lightning storms made a four day journey hell. Naruto wasn't the only one feeling the strain of traveling, teams Gai and Genma were also starting to lose energy…well save for Lee who was treating this as some sort of training exercise…the freak.
To make matters worse, the air was starting to thin as they climbed higher. The Jōnin told them that they were an hour out of Kumo and Naruto was counting the seconds. Sasuke next to him held his face firm trying not to let his exhaustion show and Sakura next to him was openly panting.
Kakashi smiled at his students. They were pushing themselves hard, it made him proud that they were still up. He and the other Jōnin decided to keep a fast pace and to steadily increase as time went on, as a sort of endurance test. So far all of them are proving excellent.
All of the Genin slowed as a large gate came into view, it held the symbol for Lighting and was barely open but still looked to be able to fit dozens at a time through. Naruto felt his pulse quicken and his palms start to sweat at the sight, this was it… the belly of the beast. Every step he took he felt his heart beat louder and louder, he could do this he kept saying to himself mentally. All of his training was leading to this moment, all of his work all these years, he wanted to become strong so that he could look at Kumo unafraid. However all he can feel is the need to back away.
As the group arrived at the gate they were greeted by a lone Kumo Jōnin, his white shaggy hair covered one of his eyes and he held himself in a lazy slouch. Over his right shoulder was a sword handle and he wore the standard Kumo attire. Naruto made note of Kakashi who was looking over the Jōnin seriously, seeing that made Naruto take him once again and it clicked, he's seen him in the bingo book.
The man was Darui, no known clan name. He was an S-Rank Jōnin known as Kumo's Laser Beam. He was the only known holder of the Ranton (Storm Release) Kekkei Genkai and trusted right hand to the Yondaime Raikage and a strong contender for the Godaime position. Darui made a name for himself during the Third Shinobi World War when he took on over two dozen Kiri shinobi alone and came out unscathed.
Naruto acknowledged this man as a very real threat. Once again Naruto thanked his past self for spending so much time in the library, otherwise he would have filled this guy as a random Jōnin that if push came to shove he could fight. Now he knows to avoid that outcome at all costs.
Darui waved his hand towards the Konoha Shinobi. "Right on time, Raikage-Sama wishes for the Jōnin to report to his office. The Genin can go but remember that the exams start tomorrow at eight in the academy." He said before starting to walk away, the Jōnin addressed their students before following.
"Find us a place to stay." Said Kakashi before following his comrades to the Raikage's office. Team Seven nodded and started looking for a hotel. Naruto decided to have a look around and take in the surroundings.
Throughout the village he could spot several groups of shinobi speeding through the village on assignments or on their way to missions. He could feel several chakra signatures stationed around the village at key vantage points to keep an eye out. Naruto was starting to calm down after his little panic attack at the gate and his pulse was slowing down and he could finally breath.
"Lets get something to eat." Suggested Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura nodded in agreement and the started looking for a restaurant.
xXx
(Raikage's Office)
Kakashi kept his outer appearance blank as he looked at the man in front of him. The Yondaime Raikage was a man that he would not want to get into a fight with. He was a hulking six foot seven at least two hundred and forty pounds.
Equally as large as his size was his reputation. A made a name for himself during the Third Shinobi world war at the battle of Shadow Valley. Three hundred Kumo and Konoha Shinobi faced off and only Minato Namikaze and A made it out alive, the battle was second only to the battle of Kanabi Bridge where Minato Namikaze got serious and slaughtered one thousand shinobi all by his lonesome.
There were few men in the world Kakashi didn't like his odds against- the Sannin, his sensei, the Sandaime, the Tsuchikage and A. Not a long list but Kakashi new for a fact he would be on the losing end of a fight with them and knew to mind his words against the less than friendly ones.
"The exam will begin at eight in the morning tomorrow. The second exam, should your Genin pass will begin immediately after. The duration of that will be two days, and then the survivors will be sent home with the finals being held one month from then. You are free to stay in the village during the month but most decide to go home to train, to stay away from paying eyes and such." Addressed A to the Konoha shinobi.
Kakashi stepped forward with a bow, "That is understood Raikage-sama. We'll take our leave then." He said before he and the others filed out of the office.
After the door to the office closed behind them the Jōnin let out a sigh of relief. It was a well known fact that the Yondaime was easily angered and they were glad that nothing they did offended him causing an incident. Last thing anyone wants is another pointless war.
"Well I'm going to catch up with my team." Kakashi said before leaving in a swirl of leaves.
xXx
(Next Day: Konohagakure no Sato)
Minato went over his paperwork with a steady pace but his mind was with Naruto and the others in Kumo. He was worried about how Naruto would be in Kumo and if they really were ready for the exams and their mission.
Minato briefed the Jōnin on what will be happening during the exams right before they left. Predictably, Gai had the worst response but agreed when Minato laid out the alternatives. Either have the Genin attending kill everyone they come across in the exams or go to war. Minato almost declared war on Kumo the second his son was kidnapped but decided against it for the sake of peace. Then when they learned of Kiri having a Byakugan he almost did again but after Hiashi suggested this course of action he knew he made the right choice in waiting.
The Jōnin will brief the Genin the night before the first exam and it will be up to the them from there. Unfortunately, Minato knew that his son will carry out this task without reservations, granted that was good for a shinobi, it was bad for a 10 year old.
Pushing the negatives aside Minato thought more on the fact that his son was progressing very rapidly on his own from what he's heard. Kakashi told him that Naruto never pushes himself in team training rather preferring to train on his own.
From what Minato can observe from the Chūnin Exams preliminary test, Naruto has been focusing heavily on Taijutsu, both speed and precession. His Ninjutsu was developing nicely from what the ANBU watching Naruto has reported, he has a few defensive and offensive Jutsu, more impressively is that he was developing a Suiton affinity quite rapidly. He has reports that Naruto can use two D-Rank Suiton Jutsu and has added a unranked Raiton jutsu that his ANBU don't know of, Minato is very interested in learning about that. Genjutsu, his son was about as far as a normal Genin could be in such an art, he can break low-level ones but can't cast them, granted he is trying to rectify that but without a teacher to help Genjutsu is nearly impossible to learn effectively.
Minato would put his son at a solid Chūnin level, on par with Kakashi at that age. The word proud wouldn't cover how Minato felt about his son right now. Maybe it was time to start Naruto in Fūinjutsu and the Rasengan, the month before the finals would be a good time. He doubts that Naruto will have enough time during the month to learn the Rasengan but he could get a solid footing in Fūinjutsu in that time.
Minato smiled to himself and continued doing his paperwork now having a plan for Naruto's training when he returns.
xXx
(Kumogakure no Sato: Academy)
Naruto knew that each ninja village would have similarities; Kage building, Hospital, Academy etc. But he wasn't prepared for the near copy the Academy in Kumo was to the one back in Konoha, it was like one was built after the other.
Using the similarities as a reference, Naruto leads his team to the second floor down the hall, makes a left and on the right just like he thought was the room they were looking for.
"You guys noticed that right?" Asked Naruto hoping that they were as observant as him.
"Yeah, it's weird right?" Muttered Sakura as she looked around, Sasuke silently agreed.
Naruto shrugged not wanting to think to much into it right before an exam. "Lets worry about it later. Remember what Kakashi-sensei said, you two ready?" He didn't get a verbal response but and unsure nod from Sakura and a steel one from Sasuke. With that Naruto entered the room with Sasuke and Sakura right behind him.
Inside Team Seven was hit with a wall of stares by the people already in the room. Shinobi from all over the Continent were in attendance, Kiri Genin were the majority surprisingly second only to Kumo who was hosting the exams. Iwa had two teams that he noticed not too surprising and lastly Suna sent four teams.
Naruto stretched his senses to try and find anything out of the ordinary but couldn't. Naruto tsk'd to himself, that was something he hadn't put time into either, granted Kakashi wasn't a sensor but he should have at least asked his Tou-san for a few tips.
Team Seven took their seats right behind Team Gai and Team Genma. Naruto noticed that some of them had unsure faces, Yakumo and Lee to be exact. It would seem that they didn't agree with their mission but were willing to do it. 'Good' Thought Naruto, the more they take out in the second round the better, less competition and Kumo ninja to worry about.
Naruto looked around the room and noticed that he was being stared at by a Iwa shinobi. He had black hair pulled back into a ponytail and a scar on his chin cut diagonally. He wore a sleeveless red shirt with the symbol for Unwavering Will on the front and white pants taped into his sandals. Most noticeable though was his hands, he had scars on his fingers that showed that he trained extensively in Taijutsu. But that was the same in any Taijutsu specialist himself included, but on his right index and middle finger he had more scars than on any other finger, that told Naruto something worrisome, he was a practitioner of Tenpen Kobushi (Striking Phenomenon of Heaven and Earth Fist) or a similar style.
Naruto knew that the Tenpen Kobushi (Striking Phenomenon of Heaven and Earth Fist) was created by an unknown master and had no country of origin so it was likely that someone other than him would use it. But he didn't think another Genin in his exam would, the odds were absurd.
He and the Iwa Genin shared a look with each other before turning away simultaneously. Before he could observe anyone else the doors opened up revealing the same Jōnin that met them at the gate, Darui.
"Okay listen up. This is the first task of the Chūnin exams, you will be scored as a team and should you miss or not answer three questions you all fail. You'll have ten minutes." Said Darui as Kumo Chūnin passed out the tests, in the back a Suna shinobi raised his hand.
"Three questions as a team or individually?" He asked.
Darui looked at him for a moment, "As a team. Begin!"
Several of the Genin started to panic, there were ten questions and they were very difficult, Naruto went through the questions steadily once again thanking his many hours in the library, Sakura was doing the same with Sasuke answering as many as he could before checking over his answers on Sakura's test.
Before Naruto knew it their was half of the class missing and the bell rung signaling the end of the test.
"Pencils down! Those remaining pass." Announced Darui. He was met with outcries and many questions, sighing to himself he tried to calm the room down so he could explain.
"Those questions were very difficult and there were ten of them, add to that the small amount of time and the few questions you were allowed to miss as a team made the test very stressful. The only option for most was to cheat and those who were caught more that once were eliminated. The point was to test information gathering and for the ones who knew the material already…well you got this one easy." Said Darui unenthusiastically.
Naruto blinked a few times, he's never seen anyone that could out lazy Kakashi but here someone was evidently. Shaking his head Naruto waited for the next part, where the real exams begin.
The door opened once again and in walked a blond man with the standard Kumo attire and a stern look on his face. "My name is Shee and I'll be the proctor for the second test. Follow me please."
xXx
(Valley of Trials)
Shee looked over the Genin that made it to the second test with well hidden empathy. This was going to be a blood bath, the tension rising in the Great Five made sure of it. He hoped that as many Kumo Genin as possible made it out in one piece but he hasn't been a shinobi for so long to actually believe that was possible.
The area they were in was called the Valley of Trials because it is where the second test was always held every Kumo exam. It was hundreds of Kilometers in diameter and goes from sea-level to several hundred meters above sea-level. There were many different types of animals lurking in the mountains and unstable ridges to make it even more difficult. The test by design… was a death trap.
"Welcome to what for some of you will be the last training ground you'll ever see. Your goal is simple, find one of these seven artifacts and proceed to the highest peak for instructions on the third exam, you have two days. Any questions?" Asked Shee while holding up a diamond shaped piece of glass it had the symbol for valor stained on the front.
The surrounding Genin were shocked that only seven teams were going to pass and that they would have two days in this enormous valley. One Kumo Genin raised his hand in the back, "What are the rules?"
Shee's face became blank, "There are none. One of the Chūnin you see will escort you to the entry point." He said before the Chūnin started to lead teams away from the area to starting points.
An hour later all the teams were at their points and waited with baited breaths for the exams to start. Over the loud speaker they heard Shee, "In Five…Four…Three…Two…One…Begin!" A loud buzzer went off and all teams shot into the valley as fast as they could in search of the artifacts.
xXx
Team Kakashi moved through the mountain as fast as they could, the air was becoming thinner as they climbed. Naruto wiped sweat from his forehead and looked around for anything out of the ordinary.
The instructions for the test were simple, find one of the seven artifacts and proceed to the highest peak. But finding seven pieces of glass in a several hundred kilometer wide training ground was turning out to be nearly impossible.
"Guys, how are we gonna do this? I don't even know where to start, there are several mountains to check... Thats it!" Said Sakura getting the attention of Naruto and Sasuke. "I can see several mountains, not counting the biggest one seven are within sight. I'm willing to bet that at the top of each mountain is an artifact."
Naruto and Sasuke's eyes widened at their teammates revelation, that was so overt it was covert. Naruto smiled under his mask, "Great job Sakura! Lets get moving to the top of this mountain." Sasuke and Sakura nodded and they pushed forward at a faster pace.
Naruto thought about the test once again, the point was obviously made to eliminate as many teams as possible but why would the task be so simple? Why were they given two days to climb two mountains, for a shinobi that was possible in an hour, three tops. Granted they were going to get into conflicts with other teams but that was still too much time for such an easy task, something else was going on.
Naruto decided to voice some of his thoughts, "Be on guard guys, something is going on here, I'm betting that the test has many more layers to it." Warned Naruto, Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Naruto's caution but didn't disagree, his brother always told him that nothing was as it seemed in the world of Shinobi. Not to mention Kakashi constantly said the fraise, Look underneath the underneath. So maybe there was some merit in overlooking a situation like Naruto was doing.
"What do you think it is?" Asked Sakura not really seeing the other angles. Granted the test had a simple premise but from the rumors back home, Konoha had a same sort of test in the Forest of Death.
Naruto shook his head not having anything yet, "Not sure yet." He said before speeding up to take point while focusing on his sensory ability.
xXx
(Team Genma)
Takeo slowly ate his dinner by the small campfire that he and his team made, the day was uneventful with he and his team deciding to climb to the top of the mountain to get a better vantage point of the area.
Yakumo was panting slightly as she ate her dinner, despite being in better shape she was still the weakest physically of her team and running up a mountain at full speed all day took too much out of her. Takeo was, like usual, taking the lead during the mission and was trying his hardest to make sure that they weren't ambushed or lost. None of them were sensors nor do they have that much skill in tracking, Sokuro was more of a Taijutsu brawler with a few handy Ninjutsu. She was a Genjutsu specialists that could hold her own in Taijutsu for the most part. Takeo was a heavy combat fighter, even their sensei didn't have much expertise in tracking or sensing. Over all, Team Genma was at a disadvantage when it came to retrieval missions.
Takeo finished eating and got his sleeping bag ready, "We'll take two hour shifts, I'll take the first watch." He said before sitting atop a bolder next to them. Yakumo nodded and looked to Sokuro, he was staring at his food quite hard, raising her eyebrow she walked over to him and noticed that his eyes were glazed over slightly.
Yakumo placed her hand on his forehead and disrupted his chakra, Sokuro jolted as if he was just shocked awake. "What! What happened?" He asked frantically, Yakumo shook her head feeling guilty that she, the Genjutsu specialist, didn't notice that her teammate was under the influence of one.
Takeo jumped over to them with an on guard look, "We aren't alone." He warned as he started to mold his chakra in preparation for the incoming fight. He looked at his teammates both tensing in anticipation, they hears a twig snap and the fight was on.
Takeo lunged forward with his tantō at the ready, the Kumo Genin ducked under the slash and retaliated with a kick. Takeo deflected the kick with his leg and kicked the Genin in his thigh. The Kumo Genin grunted in pain and sent out a reckless jab.
Takeo leaned away from the jab and slashed out with his tantō missing again. Grunting at the lack of progress in the fight he turned to Ninjutsu, flowing through seals at a safe distance, molding chakra in his throat he executed the Suiton: Mizurappa (Water Release: Wild Water Wave). A pressurized stream of water shot forward and the Kumo Genin dived to the side to avoid the jutsu, turning his head he was met with a cold sensation at his throat.
"I'm sorry." Muttered Takeo before slicing the surprised Genin's throat. Closing his eyes Takeo hardened his resolve and went to check on his teammates.
Yakumo was avoiding a flurry of punches and kicks as best she could, with the panting and dirt on her clothes showed that she wasn't doing too well. Takeo was about to interfere when the Kumo Genin fell to one knee, Yakumo frowned before stabbing the Kumo Genin in his throat killing him instantly.
Moving on Takeo looked around for their third teammate, he heard a grunt and someone hitting the ground from the other side of the bolder in the opening. Takeo rushed to the other side to see that Sokuro was about to be taken out, pushing chakra into his legs, he lunged forward as fast as he could and pierced the Kumo Genin in the back causing him to tumble over.
Sokuro breathed out a sigh of relief, one second he was in a Genjutsu the other he saw the Kumo Genin towering over him about to finish him off. He thanked the stars that Takeo managed to show up when he did less he be a corpse right now.
"Thanks man, I owe you one." Muttered Sokuro while rubbing the back of his head embarrassed. Takeo nodded and turned to his female teammate that was just arriving to the area, she had a downcast look but was otherwise fine.
"We need to move, someone close will have heard this." Said Takeo before sheathing his tantō, his teammates let out a sigh but nodded and got their supplies ready to move again. As Sokuro was rolling up his sleeping bag Takeo pulled Yakumo aside.
"If you don't want to, I won't make you do any of the killing." Said Takeo worriedly, he saw it in her eyes that she didn't like it.
Yakumo smiled at the gesture but shook her head. "My family prepared me for this and I can do it, I just don't like it." Takeo nodded at that he didn't like killing but his father made sure that he would be able to do it and not freeze up in the moment.
"Good, lets go."
xXx
(Next Day: Team Seven)
Naruto woke up from the prodding to his side, looking around he saw that Sakura was poking him awake. Naruto sat up and nodded to his teammates before rolling up his supplies so they could get a move on.
"I think we can reach the peak today, hopefully it'll give up more info into what this exam is really about." Said Naruto as he got ready, something about this place didn't seem right to him. Sasuke and Sakura shared a look but nodded along with Naruto, they both knew that Naruto had a few issues with Kumo and was likely seeing things that weren't there. He suspected that the exam was more than it appeared when in reality it was turning out to be quite straight forward.
They moved out taking the most direct route to the top of the mountain. Naruto was constantly surveying the area for anything out of the ordinary.
Arriving to the top Naruto narrowed his eyes at the diamond shaped glass artifact that they were supposed to retrieve, to easy.
"Sasuke are their any Genjutsu surrounding it?" Asked Naruto and Sasuke activated his Sharingan and had a look. There were no illusions around it but there were several traps linked to it to activate once it moved, they would have to be quick.
"We have to be quick there are several traps." Said Sasuke before he held up a medium sized rock and replaced it with the artifact and smiled, now all they had to do…
Before he could finish that thought the area that was holding the artifact exploded sending small rocks in every direction, Naruto was quick to use Fūton: Daitoppa (Wind Release: Great
Breakthrough). The powerful gust of wind managed to push back the high speed shrapnel, Naruto sighed in relief that they weren't killed.
That wasn't the end of it as the mountain top started to shake, the three Genin looked at one another before they sped off as fast as possible to get away before something killed them. Naruto turned back to see that the mountain top exploded in a plum of steam, Naruto grimaced, that was a painful death if they were caught in it. Now they needed to get this piece of glass to the tallest peek with it in one piece…this was going to be a pain.
"Do any of you have a storage scroll to put this into?" Asked Naruto to which Sakura nodded happily and sealed that artifact.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at her chipper attitude but shrugged it off and nodded. "We need to get out of here, people will have no doubt saw that." Naruto said with some urgency and the other two nodded and the sped down the mountain.
xXx
"…did you two here that?" Asked a Kiri-nin looking to the top of the mountain. His teammates nodded and stood from where they were resting.
Without a word the three left to find who was responsible for the explosion, they would most likely have an artifact.
xXx
As Team Seven was running down the mountain Sasuke kept checking behind them for anything out of the ordinary, he could tell that they were being followed but just couldn't pin-point where they were. He signaled to Naruto and Sakura that someone was behind them and Naruto tried to locate them but couldn't tell exactly where they were, it was like their signatures were spread throughout the mountain behind them, it was obviously a cloaking Genjutsu but Naruto wasn't skilled enough with his sensory ability to see through it.
"I know their general direction but I can't pin-point where they are." Said Naruto slightly annoyed that his neglect in training his sensory ability was coming up to bite him again.
Sasuke stopped moving making the other two follow suit, "We should trap the area, we might get lucky and all of them will get caught and taken care of or at least they'll get delayed." He suggested and the others didn't have a better plan so they agreed and got to work on trapping the area around them.
Sasuke was glad that he always carried an abundance of ninja wire with him and that Naruto's large weapon pouch was filled to the brim with supplies. Sasuke felt particularly sadistic as he was setting up his traps with two to three layers, it would be difficult for even him to see the traps with his Sharingan, he doubts that all three of their pursuers will make it out alive.
Naruto was the watch dog as Sasuke and Sakura set the traps, this was another rhino I art that he neglected to push forward, he didn't practice or read up on different trapping techniques. He would need to keep these things in mind later on down the road or he will be caught with his pants down during a mission one day.
Sasuke wiped his hands on his pants and nodded, "Lets get out of here."
xXx
(With Team Gai)
Neji wouldn't say that he was carrying his team out loud since he liked them and that would offend them, but if he wasn't here he doubted they would have gotten this far. With his Byakugan he was able to make sure that no one was tailing them and when someone was they would be dealt with swiftly. Then after a few hours he saw one of the artifacts on the mountain peak, after a few hour climb they were on their way to the tallest peak to finish the test.
He wouldn't say that he was carrying them...but he was carrying them. Barely a day and they were moving up on the finishing point, he had to give credit to Gai-sensei, if it weren't for his ridiculous training this wouldn't have been possible in such a quick time. But he wouldn't tell the eccentric man that, he really didn't need his ego and confidence swelled even more.
Rock Lee to his right was nearly bursting with excitement, he was hopping to fight strong opponents but so far only one team has been close enough and they were barely a challenge. Hopefully the third round will be more exciting. "Yosh Neji! Are there any youthful competition close to us?" Asked Lee hoping that there was someone around the corner to challenge them.
Neji sighed and shook his head, "No Lee, in the five minutes since you last asked no one has gotten near us."
Lee let out a breath before a fire grew in his eyes, if he doesn't fight someone in this test them he'll do two thousand squats with a bolder on his back. Lee could have sworn he heard a Yosh on the wind.
xXx
(With Team Seven)
"So I left a Kage Bunshin (Shadow Clone) back with the traps and I have to say Sasuke...you're a dick." Said Naruto out of the blue. The clone witnessed the mayhem caused by the traps and wouldn't have wished it on his worst enemy.
After the first Kiri-nin triggered a trap his head was severed by a fast moving and razor thin wire. When his teammates came to see what happened and they triggered the explosive notes that were attached to the dead Genin's head killing them in the explosion sending body parts everywhere. All in all it was effective and horrifying.
Sasuke smirked at what he perceived as a complement. "If you think those are bad imagine the ones that I wasn't taught because they were too much for a Genin to need to know." Sasuke said while using air quotes towards the end. Sasuke often wondered to himself about that, Shisui was pretty free with his teachings but when Sasuke asked for higher level and more intricate traps he was denied on the grounds that they were too violent for a growing mind like his. Sasuke would usually respond with a snort and Shisui would slap him on the head saying that he would learn all that in the ANBU should he ever join.
Naruto shook his head at that, he was only familiar with basic traps for subduing shinobi and catching animals but it seemed that the art of trapping went much deeper than that. It seems that there was yet another thing that he has neglected for Taijutsu techniques and furthering his Ninjutsu library. Maybe he should talk to him about training advise.
Naruto's train of thought was interrupted when they came across a rickety bridge that connected the mountain that they were on to the largest one in the valley. Naruto had the feeling that the second that he stepped on it the bridge would break and they would fall to their deaths, it was just how his luck went.
Sasuke bent down and felt the ropes and wood and nodded, "If we go slowly and one at a time it should be fine." Naruto didn't look convinced and Sakura was still unsure herself, she wasn't afraid of heights but she did have a solid grasp at what the passage of time did to rope and wood and it wasn't reassuring.
Seeing that both weren't likely going to cross without someone going first Sasuke started to walk across at a steady pace without looking back. Sakura felt her pulse quicken at the sight of her crush walking on an unstable bridge that would most likely fall apart.
Sasuke walked steadily to the other side and smiled, just like he thought. Turning around he waved for one of his teammates to go next.
Sakura looked at Naruto who gestured for her to go having no problem letting her go next. Sakura rolled her eyes but proceeded to cross the bridge. Naruto watch with a worried expression for his teammate to get to the other side.
Once she was across Naruto took several breaths and hyped himself up before taking the first step. Smiling that the bridge was holding his weight he took another one and another one, 'Not so bad-' he thought right before the rope to his left snapped causing the bridge to move around uncontrollably. Naruto gripped the other side for dear life as he tried to come up with a thought on what to do.
Sasuke and Sakura were trying to gather as much ninja wire as they could from what was left after making the traps to have a way to pull him up. Sasuke cursed to himself that he used all of his to make the traps earlier and that he only had three feet left which was nearly enough.
Naruto managed to take out two kunai, holding one with his teeth and the other in his right hand and he swung himself towards the cliff face. Once he got within range he jumped and while mid-air took the other kunai out from his mouth with his left hand and stabbed them into the wall. Naruto let out a breath that the plan actually worked and proceeded to climb to the top, once there he rolled to his back panting, part from the strain and the other from the adrenaline from almost dying.
Seeing that Naruto was fine Sasuke started laughing, he got a glare from both teammates but he didn't care. He found it funny that Naruto was so worried about falling, then he and Sakura get across fine only for it to break apart when Naruto tries to cross maybe it was mean but Sasuke usually got a kick out of Naruto's misfortune.
Naruto stood up from the ground and dusted himself off. "Well, let's get to it." He said before speeding off leaving his teammates behind for a second before they followed behind him.
xXx
Surprisingly, Team Seven managed to get to the peak in two hours without any more trouble. Naruto chalked it up to the fact that he almost died at that bridge and the world gave them a break or it could be luck...probably luck.
They were met by the same blond Jonin, Shee, who regaurded them with a level stare for a moment. "The artifact?"
Naruto reached into his pouch and pulled out a scroll and unsealed the glass artifact and handed it to the Kumo-nin who nodded and checked the box next to their teams name. "The Jōnin behind me will show you to your rooms, wait until the conclusion of the test there." Ordered Shee before walking off. Naruto smiled to himself, they made it through the second test without much trouble!
The Jōnin in front of them gestured for the Genin to follow.
Author's Notes
Here you have it, the next chapter of amazingness that is my story...lol not really but here it is. Naruto was strong sure, but he neglegted other areas to get as far as he did, some people were saying that he was too strong and I never intended for Naruto to be crazy strong really fast.
I have a new story out, go give it some love if you like. If you liked the chapter leave a review, follow and favorite to help these come out faster.
Peace out!