Chereads / Solo Journey / Chapter 14 - Chapter 13

Chapter 14 - Chapter 13

After completing a lot of miscellaneous D-rank missions. Izuna finally had enough system points to buy the Eternal Mangekyo.

{System points:31,150SP}

He and team 7 had just come back from another D-rank mission. As they were about to disperse, Kakashi held them back before telling them to meet again tomorrow at 12pm.

As soon as he got back to his room in the Uchiha compound, he locked the door and bought the EMS.

'System, buy the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.'

{Initializing...Purchase successful.}

The moment he finished reading the screen, he felt unbearable pain in his eyes. Unlike the time he used the bloodline pill, this pain didn't instantly disappear.

It felt like an eternity had passed before the pain finally stopped. He felt liquid dripping from his eyes down his cheek. He rushed to the bathroom to look in the mirror.

Looking right back at him were his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan. The pattern remained the same the only difference was that the circle in the middle of the six edged star had turned into a three edged star, giving it a slightly triangle shape.

He saw that the liquid dripping down his cheeks were his own blood. Despite the blood, he could clearly feel this difference in power between the Mangekyo and the Eternal Mangekyo. It no longer had that slightly itch feeling.

He washed his face before deciding to rest. He could still feel his eyes in slight pain but he felt that it would soon vanish.

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I was waiting with team 7 at the training grounds for Kakashi. I thought of training my EMS but there was no way to train it. At least not in konoha.

It's abilities are destructive which limits what can practice. I need to find a way to leave the village. That's when it occurred to me. Orochimaru. Sasuke went with the sound four to Orochimaru.

Which means that if I want to escape with them, I'd have to trail them or at least wait at the valley of end till after Sasuke and Naruto's fight. But to do that I'd have to avoid getting called by the hokage to search for him.

Even if I'm called, I could just ignore it and follow Sasuke. Either way, it's a win for me.

After a long time of waiting, Kakashi finally arrived, holding three forms in his hand.

Sakura:"You're late!!!"

Kakashi: "Sorry I'm late guys, a black cat crossed my path so I had to go the long way."

They had all gotten somewhat used to his tardiness. I tune him out as he explains about the chunin exams to Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura.

I wasn't listening until I heard my name.

Naruto:"How come Izuna doesn't get a form."

Sakura looked to Kakashi for an answer, while Sasuke already knew that I was participating in the chunin exams. Before Kakashi could answer, Sasuke answered.

Sasuke:"Izuna's form has already been submitted. He's going solo for the exams."

Naruto and Sakura has a look of shock and awe as Kakashi confirmed what he said.

Kakashi:"Exactly. If you wish to participate, then go to the venue on the forms tomorrow."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The academy was bustling with ninja from all nations. We'd shown up early as a tactical decision to scout out the place and competition before the Exam began but it was already busy.

The Academy building was compact and sturdy and highly defensible. It might have been quicker and easier to chakra walk up the walls to the third floor and enter through a window instead of having to push through all the people in the hallways, but that was actually impossible. You couldn't get in through the upper level windows.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I get to the second floor to the second floor, I see Rock Lee challenging Sasuke.

The moment I got to the top of the stairs, the surrounding genin teams take a look at Sasuke, then at me, the back to Sasuke before furiously rubbing their eyes.

It was all quiet until the creature in green spandex and orange leg warmers broke the silence.

Lee:"YOUR JUTSU WILL NOT CONFUSE! I'LL DEFEAT YOU! YOUR CLONE JUTSU IS NO MATCH FOR THE POWER OF YOUTHHH!!!"

He dashed towards me at speed that the surrounding genin couldn't see. Before he moved, Neji tried to warn him.

Neji:"Lee,wait!"

He didn't listen. Appearing in front of me with his leg aimed at my head, I catch his feet effortlessly with my palm.

'FAST!!!'

That what went through everyone's mind. Lee's teammates eyes bulged out of their sockets seeing me catch lee with so little effort.

I look at him annoyed and activated my sharingan. Throwing him back to the ground, everyone present felt a heavy pressure pushing down on them. More especially, Team Gai.

I look towards them, before speaking.

Izuna:"Before you dream of touching me, you'll have to first defeat him."

I said that pointing at Sasuke who had his own Sharingan blazing. I look towards Team Gai as I made my way to the third floor.

Izuna:"Control your teammate...Or I'll kill him."

I was already in a bad mood because of how long I'd have to wait to leave the village. This just served to make me angrier. I made my way past the two chunin who didn't even try blocking my way.

I got to the classroom filled with shinobi. I could feel their gazes on me as I walk to an empty seat. I waited for about 30 minutes until the examiner came.

During that time, the meeting with kabuto still happened but no one dared to ask about me in fear of incurring my anger.

There was an explosion of chakra, a huge surge in the air, as the Exam Officials all body flickered in. There was nearly twenty of them, all dressed in the grey Intelligence Division uniform.

"Alright you baby-faced degenerates, pipe down and listen up!"

A voice bellowed.

"It's time to begin. I'm Ibiki Morino, your protector and from this moment … your worst enemy."

There was a sort of stillness in the room for a split moment. Not quite fear but the acknowledgement that there was someone in the room who was far, far more dangerous than you.

At least that's what it seemed to them. It didn't have an effect on me, which he noticed. After looking at me intently, he addressed the room.

Ibiki:"Now if we're ready, we'll proceed to the first stage of the Chunin Exam. Hand over your paper work. In return you'll be given a number. This number determines where you will sit. We'll start the written test once you're all seated."

He held up a pad of tear-off numbers to punctuate his statement.

"The what? Did he say… written?"

Naruto's eyes were wide with horror.

I ignore all the drama around me. After we were all registered and seated, he began speaking once again.

Ibiki: "Everyone, eyes front."

Writing on the blackboard, he proceeded to explain three rules.

Ibiki: "There are a few rules you need to be aware of. And I wont answer any questions so you better pay attention the first time around! Rule number one is this: The written part of the Exam is judged on a point reduction system. Contrary to what some of you may be used to, you all begin the Exam with a perfect score of ten points. One point will be deducted for each answer you get wrong. So if you miss three, your final score will be seven."

'I already know all this!!!'

Ibiki:"Rule number two. Teams will pass or fail on the total scores of all three members."

"Rule number three. The sentinels you see positioned around the room are there to watch you carefully for any signs of cheating. And for every incident they spot, they will subtract two points from the culprits score. Be warned, their eyes are extremely sharp. And if they catch you five times, you'll be dismissed before the tests are even scored. Anyone foolish enough to be caught cheating by the sentinels doesn't deserve to be here."

"One more thing. If any candidate should get a zero and fail the test… then the entire team fails. The final question wont be given out until fifteen minutes before the end of the testing period. You'll have one hour total. Begin!"

The test was filled with questions that only chunin could answer. As I scanned the paper, I didn't know whether to be happy or to curse Itachi and Shisui. These were questions that they gave me on a regular bases when the taught me.

According to Itachi, 'A strong shinobi is not as useful as a smart shinobi.'

'Damn you, Itachi.'

I easily answered the questions and lay my head on the desk, waiting for others to finish.

The clock ticked on.

Ibiki:"Listen up! Here's the tenth and final question. But first, there are some things you need to know. These rules are unique to question 10, so listen carefully and try not to let them frighten you."

I didn't bother to lift my head off the desk. Around me, the room was thrumming with tension already. Ibiki really did know how to lay it on thick.

"Rule number one,"

Ibiki spoke slowly, making sure he had everyone's attention.

"Each of you is free to chose not to be given the final question. It's your decision."

Temari:"Whoa, so what's the catch? What's say we decide we don't want to do it, what happens then?"

"If you chose not to take the tenth question, regardless of your answers to the other nine, you'll get a zero. In other words, you fail. And that means both your team mates fail as well. But… If you accept the question and get it wrong, not only will you fail, you will be bared from taking the Chunin Exam ever again!"

He smirked at the gasps of outrage. The genin began protesting. All this shouting was grating on my nerves.

After many teams bailed out, Naruto finally stood up with his motivational speech. It's like he can't go a month without spouting them.

Ibiki:"Well, I admire your determination, if nothing else. "

He had a strange smile on his face. I couldn't see it but I could feel it.

Ibiki:"For those of you remaining there's just one thing left to do. That's for me to tell you… you've passed the First Exam."

I tune him out as he explains all about the meaning of the tenth question. Suddenly, the window shattered. Canvas fluttered, then unfurled as kunai unerringly pinned the corners to the roof and floor.

Anko:"Head's up, boys and girls, this is no time to be celebrating! I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi. You ready for the next test? Good! Then lets go, follow me!"

Anko:"How many are there, Ibiki?"

Anko mocked with a slightly amused but serious tone

Anko:"You let all these guys pass? Your test was too easy; you must be getting soft. Before I'm done with them, more than half will be eliminated"

She spoke confidently before turning back to us.

"Alright, you maggots have had it easy, but things will be different starting first thing in the morning. Meet me at Training Ground 44. Dismissed!"

Before anyone could move, I felt a kunai aimed at my head at high speed. A Norma genin wouldn't even see the kunai move.

I catch it with my finger in the ring at the handle of the kunai before throwing it back to the owner at even greater speed. I heard a *thunk*.

I raise my head to see a stunned Anko with a small cut mark on her cheek, with the kunai embedded deep in the wall behind her.

I spoke in a low tone but my voice was clearly heard. It sent shivers down the back of everyone present, including Ibiki.

"What do you think you're doing?"