IV

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Arc IV Chapter 12

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The preliminaries had ended. The Hokage gathered in the middle of the arena accompanied by the proctors. They inspected the approaching genin, evaluating them.

Asami noticed the impatient stares directed at her. Anko looked in her direction, telling her clearly to hurry up. Conclude your business and come over here! Pronto! We don't have all day!

Asami offered a weak smile. Indeed, she was a bit late. They were already waiting for her.

"As much as I enjoy your presence, I still have some business to attend to." Asami rewarded Hisaaki, Katsusane, and Hatsu with a smile.

Asami formed a hand seal and vanished. She reappeared among the ranks of waiting genin. Their reactions were mixed, ranging from neutral to startled, from annoyed to borderline hostile. They gave her a few angry stares, but what could they do otherwise?

Anko didn't hide her irritation. "Great, so our little princess finally graces us with her presence. You know, we have little time for stragglers. Our time is precious, princess."

Princess? Asami fired back. "Anko, if there is one thing I have been taught over the course of my life, then it is that it isn’t so important the first to the party, but the best."

Anko grinned. "Ah, so our princess also knows how to talk back? Interesting. Didn't your parents teach you to respect your betters?"

Asami gritted her teeth. The woman had the nerve to talk about betters. This was an open declaration of war, a declaration she couldn't ignore.

Vindictive as she was, Asami struck back with a sardonic smile. "Respect you say?“

“Respect is important, but you seem to forget, Anko, that respect is earned, and not given. In this case, it is open for debate."

Anko fumed. Her eyes twitched. "You! Wait until I shove a kunai up your ass, then we will see what is open to debate."

Asami smirked, adding more fuel to the fire. "All bark and no bite. Bring it on, Anko, if you can! I am waiting."

Tension rose between the two bellicose kunoichi. One stubborner than the other.

Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, observing the events from a safe distance.

Hiruzen retained his calm. He had mediated often enough between bickering shinobi to know how things work. Animosities, clan rivalries, eternal grudges for petty reasons, Hiruzen had seen it all. This was business as usual.

They squabbled like children. Probably because most of them were indeed children, only barely adults.

Hiruzen sighed. Minato died too early. He was too old for this stuff, but he was prepared to suffer for the sake of the village.

Hiruzen intervened in the nick of time, preventing the outbreak of open hostilities. Considering their explosive personalities, such a scenario wasn't unlikely.

Anko’s hand crept towards her holster, searching for a kunai. Cheerful purple sparks danced across Asami’s palm, awaiting the incoming attack. This had to be stopped immediately.

Hiruzen stepped in with an amicable laugh. "Despite my old age, I am delighted to see that the Will of Fire burns so brightly in you two, Anko, Asami. I am glad the village has you, but I think there exist better places to solve your little dispute."

The message was clear, stop causing a scene! Both of you!

Asami clicked her tongue, slightly annoyed and not particularly keen on challenging the authority of the Hokage. Just when it was about to get interesting. How disappointing.

Asami patted her chakra. "Don’t worry, we will find you some nice targets in the future, promise."

A joyful spark of lightning agreed with her.

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Satisfied with having prevented worse, Hiruzen scrutinised the rest of the genin, every single one of them. Asami puffed her cheeks, still sulking due to before.

Hiruzen ignored her childish behaviour. He had long since grown accustomed to her antics. She was just playing with him as usual.

Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Listen, I will explain the final part of the chunin exams."

"The final exam will consist of an elimination-style tournament before a large audience. Many people will come, so I want you to demonstrate your abilities to the fullest as representatives of your respective villages. So don't disappoint us."

"The tournament will take place in one month as it takes time to organise such a major event. In the meanwhile, you are allowed to use the time to prepare yourself.“

"Many of you might have revealed most of their capabilities. In the spirit of fairness and equality, I will grant you this month to hone your skills."

“Increase your strength, increase your knowledge. Contrary to the previous exams, your opponent will be known. Use this information to your advantage and you will succeed."

Asami raised her eyebrow. Spirit of fairness and equality. Wasn’t that a bit rich coming from the person who sent her to the chunin exams?

As if you could get stronger in a mere month. Strength was a matter of years of training, hard work, experience, and intellect. One month was nothing. One month was a joke.

Hiruzen allowed his words to sink in. "You can take your leave now, but we need to take care of something else first.“

“I want you to draw lots. Take a slip of paper from the box Anko is holding and tell us the number. We need them to determine the match-ups.“

Asami was the last in line. She faced Anko’s icy stare. Not that she cared.

So who had the honour to serve as her next victim?

Asami drew, and she got the number 10.

Hiruzen spoke up, "Ibiki, can you please show us the arranged matches."

Ibiki nodded and presented the results.

"As you can see, we got four matches in total for the first round.“

“The first match is Uzumaki Naruto against Hyuaga Neji.“

“The second match, Uchiha Sasuke against Gaara.“

“The third match, Kankuro against Aburame Shino.“

“And the fourth match, Temari against unknown. Her opponent will be determined by two additional preliminary matches between Nara Shikamaru and the winner of Dosu Kinuta against Minami Asami.“

Asami's lips curled into a grin. Apparently, she got not only one, but two bonus rounds. How lucky.

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Everyone dispersed, and Asami was about to enjoy her one month of holidays. She deserved some rest after all this chunin exams nonsense.

Asami was a little battle maniac with every fibre of her being, possibly due to her Uchiha heritage.

She embraced fighting. She indulged in it. The euphoria she experienced was priceless.

An insatiable yearning gripped her heart. Her body trembled in anticipation, driven by her most savage instincts.

All of her senses sharpened as the surrounding world grew small, fading into the shadows. It was only her and the enemy. Everything could be lost, everything gained within a single moment.

Her heart craved this glorious fleeting moment. The moment when destiny culminated, the moment when fate manifested.

But compared to her, all these genin were just little children. Too weak to provide her with a serious challenge.

Asami sighed, disappointed. But she got one month worth of free time now, and she already had a worthwhile idea on how to use her time.

Asami loved to experiment with chakra. Her Susanoo didn’t offer the protection she wished for.

The Susanoo was a powerful weapon without a doubt, but considering its massive chakra consumption, she expected more.

Ultimately, she considered the Susanoo defective, an imperfect product. A product with so much wasted potential that required improvement.

She would modify her Susanoo to strengthen its armour, to increase its defensive capabilities substantially ...

A hand grabbed her shoulder with force. Didn't she know that some people might consider this kind of behaviour rude?

Asami turned around. "How can I help you, Anko?"

Anko ignored her question.

"You come with me, girl. The Hokage wants to see you. Immediately."

She ordered in an imperative voice leaving no doubt that she expected to be obeyed.

She misheard, didn't she? Asami gave Anko a disapproving look. Few people dared to speak to her with such audacity.

Asami answered with a long stretched, " Oh, really?"

"Yes." Anko didn't look happy. The dislike was reciprocal.

"Any other stupid questions? No? Good, then we ...“

"Oh my, why me? Why does the magnanimous Hokage wish to see a humble genin like me?" Asami teased Anko with a suitable degree of haughtiness in her voice.

Anko didn’t react. She didn't fall for her obvious bait. Contrary to rumours, Anko had better control over her infamous short temper than expected.

"I don’t know, and to be honest, I don’t care. Ask the Hokage. But more important, get your damn ass moving. We don’t have all day." Anko maintained her professional calm.

"And for fucks sake, stop trying me already, girl. Even my patience is limited. If you continue to provoke me, you will regret it!"

Asami rolled her eyes, amused. As if Anko’s threats effected her in the slightest.

Despite her negative first impression, Asami started to develop genuine respect for Anko. Ignoring obvious differences, she and Anko complemented each other well. Anko had character, Anko had backbone. Asami approved of both. Not that she would ever admit such openly.

Asami giggled. "Sure, lead the way, Anko."

Anko grumbled something about her being a pompous asshole, but she took the lead as requested. Asami didn’t have the intention to get lost again. The tower was evil and its endless corridors treacherous. Getting lost once sufficed for today.

Anko guided her to the designated room.

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