Why hello there, dudes and dudettes. Sorry for not updating for so long, I'm not sure if you have this in your school or even your country, but I just had two "Test-weeks". If you don't have them, rejoice. Cuz lemme tell you, those things ain't fun. So, we're nearing the chuunin exams... heehehehee, so much action is going to happen during the chuunin exams... Just endure for this chapter, my dearies, I will put in some action later on!

Have a good read~

I was sitting at the dinner table, swinging my legs cutely back and forth, an amused smile on my face. Yesterday really was one adventurous day...

I looked towards Kakashi's door. It was already early afternoon, and according to the memories I implanted into my teammate's heads, we were supposed to meet at the bridge at ten. But, since Kakashi was gonna sleep in anyway, why should I come on time?

Exactly, there's absolutely no reason for me to be on time. Things like "moral support" and "friends suffer together" don't really matter, right? You're absolutely right, it definitely doesn't. I wanna be lazy.

In case no one figured it out, I wiped their memories. Yep, wiped them clean. The whole wave mission was wiped and I replaced it with the way things would have originally gone, plus adding myself next to Sakura. And with her being as useless as she is, I didn't have to alter the scenes that much. Their memories will be a bit fuzzy, because it's been a long time since I've seen the anime, plus, it's not like the anime showed every moment of their day. So there was absolutely no way for me to make perfect replacements, but I still trust that it'll take them a while to figure it out.

I sighed.

Well, it isn't like the memory tempering is permanent. It is, after all, just a genjutsu. It'll break when the right requirement has been met. But that requirement isn't that easy to meet, so they'll probably have to live with those incomplete memories for a while. Until they've figured out my real identity, they'll just have to deal with it.

I snapped my head up when I heard a door creaking. Whipping my head to the side, I have Kakashi a bright smile. He smiled back at me, his only visible eye closed in amusement.

"Well, I think it's time we get going Cei. Before the others are thrown into madness waiting..."

I let out a chuckle.

"Completely honestly, sensei, I think it's too late for that."

He lifted his arm, scratching his head in slight embarrassment.

"Yes, I think you might be right about that..."

I laughed and jumped off to where he was standing. He turned to smile at me and I stood beside him, my eyes twinkling with mischief. Our eyes met, then shifted to the window and met again. And then we grinned.

"...soo, last one there makes dinner?"

The last thing he saw of me was my hair billowing in the wind as I rushed out the window.

Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were standing on the bridge, their expressions like that of the dead. Flat facial expression, dead fish eyes, the whole package! One could almost see the depressed mushroom background.

Then suddenly, like a worm, their sensei came out of the river, his body swaying from side to side, like a true master worm. And beside him, another worm emerged. Kakashi and Ceiren were opposite the dead fish that were staring at them with wide eyes, their bodies flowing. Master worm and his disciple worm, moving as one.

In one word, the situation was ridiculous.

Kakashi and Ceiren continued swinging, like they didn't have any bones in their bodies, and Sasuke developed a tick mark. Then Naruto got one. And lastly when Sakura finally snapped out of it and realized what was going on, a MAJOR tick mark appeared on her head and she shouted with a voice that could shake the foundation of the Lead Village itself.

"CEI, SENSEI, WTF?!?!?!?!?!"

Immediately after she said it, the two worms became a blur before appearing on the bridge, standing feet wide apart and their expressions honorable and serious. Kakashi started talking down to Sakura, his expression very serious, and Ceiren nodded along, as if agreeing with his every word.

"Sakura, you are a well raised girl and an honorable kunoichi of the Hidden Leaf Village. Watch your language."

Sakura's tick mark grew even bigger, hell, even her head seemed to swell, her eyes narrowed to slits and her nostrils gushing smoke. She looked like she was about to eat them alive. Sasuke's eyebrow was twitching while Naruto had resumed his former look, looking at the two with narrowed fish eyes.

Then Ceiren stepped forward, flipped her hair and turned her nose into the air before speaking.

"Sorry we're late, you see, we got lost on the path of life..."

Sakura's already swollen head turned completely red in her utter rage, and even Naruto showed a typical anime over-the-top angry expression.

"LIKE HELL YOU DID!!!!"

Kakashi grabben Ceiren's shoulder and whispered softly into her ear.

"I think we have to tone it down a bit, before poor Sakura vomits blood."

Cei was a bit reluctant, but agreed and to show that she was truly done with today's workload, she staggered towards her cushion before falling into his arms. Sasuke's arms quickly shot out and caught her, the action becoming a reflex after doing it so many times. When he had the petite little girl securely in his embrace, his tick mark faded and a satisfied smirk spread on his face. Naruto's eyes looked at Sasuke with inner fire, his desire to surpass Sasuke and become the hero to save the day becoming a visible aura of fire behind him. Sakura just humphed and turned back to Kakashi, her eyebrow raised in question and eyes shooting lava, daring Kakashi to waste their time again.

Kakashi sweatdropped.

Sakura's suspicious eyes bored into him.

"...so, what did you call us here for sensei? I assume it was something important?"

Her voice sounded dangerously calm and the sweat drops on Kakashi doubled in size. His eyes started darting around, avoiding her gaze and his obviously strained careless and cheerful voice sounded half an octave too high.

"Well you see, Sakura..."

Then he looked right into her eyes, no shame visible anywhere in his eyes or in his voice as he smiled a closed-eye smile at his students.

"I was going to tell you, good job on the wave mission, and....see you soon?"

It was silent. A lone leaf tragically flew by.

Sakura slowly raised a fist, her eyebrow twitching constantly and a tick mark growing to an extreme size on her forehead. Gradually, her whole body started shaking.

Ceiren opened her droopy eyes, turning slightly in Sasuke's arms to see the show.

"...that was it?"

Sakura's voice was frighteningly quiet.

"That was what...you made us wait three hours for... "

Suddenly her head snapped up, eyes spitting flame and animalistic roars leaving her mouth.

"SENSEI YOU BASTARD!!!!"

She went for a full frontal assault, charging at Kakashi with her fist of fury, fire spilling from her eyes.

She was like an asura from hell.

Cei slowly shook her head before turning back and burying her head into Sasuke's chest.

So, Sakura is finally showing her true face... Kakashi-sensei, you broke her.

Kakashi smoothly dodged Sakura, perched up one of the bridge's posts, and gave his team a small wave before saying in a completely casual happy voice;

"Well, I gotta go now, so, nice talk!"

And he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Sakura was like a wild animal, going around the bridge looking for him, her nose in the air, sniffing. Cei was busy napping, and Sasuke was just plain happy and couldn't be bothered with his weird teammates. Only Naruto had the courage to slowly approach the firebreathing Sakura.

"Umm, Sakura-chan, wanna go eat something?"

Sakura instantly turned on him, eyes blazing and soon pitiful screams sounded far across the village.

----In the Hokage's office----

The Hokage was sitting on his elevated chair, looking down at the crowd of jounin and a few chuunin assembled below. His eyes flashed, observing everyone. The jounin slowly started quieting down and turning towards where the Hokage was seated. When it was silent and everyone had their heads turned his way, the Hokage slowly let out a sigh and cleared his throat.

"I have summoned you for a very important purpose. Seeing your fellow jounin here, I'm sure you realize what this is about."

Kakashi quietly expressed his doubts.

"So soon? I thought we'd have a little more time..."

Asuma stepped in, removing his cigarette before speaking.

"So I take it all the other lands have been informed about the event...I noticed some of their genin have already arrived in the village."

Kurenai rolled her eyes.

"And? When do we start?"

The Hokage looked at Kurenai for a moment before turning to address all the ninja present.

"We will begin in a week."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"That's pretty short notice..."

The Hokage took a deep breath, slowly blowing out the smoke from his smoking pipe. He then looked back at the ninja, his gaze raking over them before his eyes turned steely, determined.

"Yes, seven days from today, on the first day of july, the genin will be gathered and tested. Only the very best will be selected as chuunin."

He slowly put his pipe away before continuing.

"And it's about time for us to choose the candidates for the chuunin examination. To begin, will those in charge of the rookie genin step forward."

Kakashi, Asuma and Kurenai stepped out from the crowd, standing before the Hokage in a neat line.

"Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma. What do you say? Are there any in your squads you'd recommend? Who are ready for the exams, despite their inexperience? As you know, the only requirement is for a genin to have completed at least eight missions, and beyond that, it's your call. So, Kakashi. You first."

Kakashi took a step forward, put one of his hands up in a sign and performed a respectful incline of his head.

"I lead squad seven; Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Ceiren Yami. I, Kakashi Hatake, recommend all four of these genin for the chuunin selection exam."

Kurenai stepped forward, imitating Kakashi.

"My squad is number eight; Hinata Hyuuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame. And now I, Kurenai Yuhi, recommend all three."

Asuma lazily stepped forward, copying the other two jounin with a casual smirk on his face.

"And my squad is number ten; Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi. And I, Asuma Sarutobi, recommend all three."

As soon as the three jounin were done, whispers broke out through the room. People were finding it absurd that all the rookies were recommended, and a lot of people were giving the three jounin skeptic looks. In the end, one of them couldn't contain himself.

"Hold on just a minute!"

Iruka stepped forward, his face twisted in anger.

"With all due respect, Lord Hokage, the ten names just listed were all my students! I know what they're capable of, and even though they all have a lot of potential, they aren't ready for this! If they take the exams now, they'll surely fail!"

Kakashi sighed, thinking about how Iruka seemed to have forgotten the most relevant point.

Like, if Sasuke or Ceiren, or God forbid Naruto heard you say that, don't you think they'd pummel you on the spot?

Kakashi slowly grabbed his chin, feeling proud for a moment of how well he knew his students. It might be an obvious thing of how Naruto and Sasuke would be strongly against it, but after living with Cei for so long, he actually got to know her beyond the constant smiles and naps. He was certain, that she would be right there when Naruto and Sasuke threw a tantrum at anyone who dared say anything like that, cutting into them with her eyes.

Kakashi shivered just thinking about it, but something in him told him that that was the best possible outcome. And things could actually get much, much worse.

Kakashi frowned, not understanding where that feeling came from. Then he shook his head slightly and turned to face Iruka.

"Firstly, I became a chuunin when I was six years younger than Naruto is now. Secondly..."

"NARUTO IS NOT YOU!"

Kakashi ignored Iruka's outburst and just continued talking.

"...they're always complaining about not being challenged enough, maybe wiping out in the exams will teach them a lesson. A little pain is good."

Iruka's eyes widened incredulously.

"...what did you say?"

Kakashi rolled his eyes before casually continuing.

"Nothing fatal of course, but seriously Iruka, RELAX. I understand how you feel, it's very personal for you, and it upsets you but-"

"Enough Kakashi! You've said enough!"

Kurenai cut in, her tone sharp. But Kakashi just cast her a glance before looking back at Iruka.

"On the contrary, Kurenai, Iruka needs to hear this. He needs to realize that they're not his students anymore, they're mine."

It was silent for a moment as Iruka gathered himself, and then he burst out with a near panicking voice.

"But, these exams can destroy them, you know that!"

"Iruka."

The Hokage's voice made everyone quiet down and turn to look at the person in charge of the Village Hidden in the Leaves.

"Iruka, you've made your point, I understand. But Kakashi has a point as well. It's been a while since they've been your students, and they may have improved leaps and bounds. So why not believe in them, just this once?"

The Hokage's old face melted into a smile as he thought of the little brats. A light chuckle escaped his lips.

I have a feeling, those brats are going to give us some real surprises.