"Yep, cousin," said Naruto, smiling as friendly a smile as he could muster for her.
"How . . . I mean . . . how? How do you know?"
"Your name is Uzumaki Karin, you have the Uzumaki red hair."
"That's it, just my hair?"
"Well, I have another method but . . . it's a bit unusual and you probably won't believe me. But I swear it's true. We can even get tests done or whatever," said Naruto quickly.
"Naruto, who's your new friend?" asked Kakashi, his book oddly absent.
"This is Uzumaki Karin," he replied.
"I'm not sure I'm an Uzumaki or whatever," Karin commented. It was clear on her face that she wanted to believe but was afraid to.
Kakashi studied her. "You definitely have the look of an Uzumaki. You can get tested if you want to know for sure. Somehow, I don't think your teammates appreciate you being all chummy with us right now."
Karin, looked back to her teammates. One of them had finally passed out and the other was sitting at an open table, glaring at her.
"Um, if it's true, and I'm not saying it is, but if it is then . . . I need to know . . . but you have to know that Kusa will not like it."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," said Kakashi.
"For now, you should take a seat, rest, this stage is about to end," suggested Naruto. "This is my team, the broody one is Sasuke, and this is Sakura."
"Nice to meet you," said Sakura first.
Sasuke didn't even turn to look.
"Nice to meet you too," replied Karin. "Um, is he crazy? Does he do this kind of thing often?"
"He's definitely crazy but most shinobi are. As for this, I'm certain he's telling the truth. I've known Naruto long enough to know he wouldn't lie about something like this."
"I'm so not lying," protested Naruto.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to get confirmation," said Karin, studying Naruto a bit more closely now. "So, you said Uzumaki are known for their red hair, why isn't yours red?"
"Don't know, guess my dad was blond," said Naruto with a shrug. "But I know for certain my mom was an Uzumaki."
"You don't know?" asked Karin.
"Orphan," he replied shortly.
"Me too," she replied, looking down sadly.
"Everyone, the Hokage will be addressing you all shortly. Please follow me now." Anko announced loudly to the room, cutting off any conversation.
"Karin, you stupid bitch, help me carry Takashi," called Karin's only conscious teammate.
Karin glared at him.
"Go help him, we'll have more time to talk later," Naruto suggested.
Karin frowned but nodded her acceptance anyway.
The eight teams moved slowly through the tower to the large assembly room, the same room that Naruto and the other rookies used for training the past week.
Once inside, they were all lined up facing the throne. It was only a few minute wait before the old man strolled into the room and took his seat.
"Welcome everyone and congratulations for making it this far, it's very impressive that you have done so given the scope and size of this competition. This trial is set to test you both physically and mentally, to push you to the brink and beyond if you are capable of doing so. In this . . . substitute for war you represent the strength of your villages and that strength will be put on display for daimo's and wealthy clients alike in a month's time. But before you can show your stuff there, we need to further narrow the field a little more." The old man's speech was interesting and it definitely captured the attention of his audience.
"If I may, Hokage-sama," interrupted one of the jounin standing behind the throne. He man paused to cough a few times, he did not look well at all.
"Of course, by all means," said the old man, motioning the man to go ahead.
"My name is Gekko Hayate, I am the proctor for the third phase of the Chuunin Selection Exam. However, as Hokage-sama has said, there are too many competitors, as such we will have a preliminary now. Anyone unable to continue is free to withdraw now."
"I'm afraid the forest just took too much out of me," said Kabuto, raising his hand first.
Naruto looked at him could see that he was actually completely unharmed and completely full on chakra. So why was the man leaving, and worse, why was he unable to see anything when he used observe on the man. As the hidden quest still sitting in his quest log states, Kabuto is full of mystery.
The one thing, he didn't miss was the look from Ibiki, Anko, and even the Hokage as Kabuto quit.
"Yakushi Kabuto has withdrawn," Hayate added.
"Obugo Takashi is unable to continue and is disqualified," announced Hayate, seeing the unconscious boy slowly bleeding out.
The other Kusa shinobi frowned and slowly raised his one good arm. "I'm also unable to continue."
"Sugara Fukimo has withdrawn," Hayate announced.
Karin looked indecisive for a moment before she steeled herself to stay with it.
No one else there even flinched, not one person was willing to quit the exam now.
"If no one else wishes to withdraw, please head up to the balcony. The electronic board will display two names, those two are to fight until only one of you still stands."
"Is killing permitted?" asked Neji, glaring at Hinata.
"It is permitted but highly frowned upon," answered Hayate, not reacting to the question at all, just coughing again.
There were no other questions so everyone else moved slowly up to either balcony in teams, Karin even went with her team despite clearly not liking them very much.
It wasn't until Naruto was standing on balcony that his next quest popped up.
Quest Alert: Chuunin Selection Exam Stage 2.5
Successfully complete the preliminary stage of the Chuunin Selection Exam.
Objectives:
Defeat your opponent.
Bonus Objectives:
?
?
Completion Award: 100000 Exp
50000 Exp per Bonus Objective
Completion Failure: 10000 Exp
End of Chuunin Selection Exam
Naruto accepted the quest and as soon as he did, the electric board came to life, providing two names.
Higurashi Tenten vs. Inuzuka Kiba
"Alright, we're up first Akamaru," cheered Kiba, leaping off the balcony and landing in a crouch.
Naruto took a moment to [Observe] Tenten, it had been a while since they last fought.
Name: Higurashi Tenten
Title: Genin (+10 increase to experience gain)
Level: LV27 Next Level: 21.17%
Affiliation: Konoha
HP: 1880/1880
CP: 450/450
STR: 40
VIT: 80
DEX: 203
INT: 45
WIS: 40
LUK: 10
DEF: 350
SPD: 60
Status: Intermediate Weapon's Mistress (+4 DEX & +40 HP per Level, +40% Damage to all Bukijutsu Skills), Smithy (15% effectiveness to [Blacksmithing] Skill, +25% experience gain to [Blacksmithing] Skill), Real Kunoichi (+5 to all stats).
Higurashi Tenten is a Real Kunoichi and takes it very seriously. As seriously as she takes being a kunoichi, she takes being a blacksmith just as much so. She was trained from young age in both skills by her father after her mother failed to return from a mission. She has vowed to be just as strong and capable as any other shinobi
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