I was seated at the back of the room, at the end of a row, right by a chunin sentinel. I listened carefully to the rules. "Everyone, eyes front," Ibiki says harshly. I flinch and his eyes are drawn right to me. He smirks slightly. 

Hm, she's that outsider I interrogated years ago. Seems like Ieft an impression on her. I'm surprised the Hokage is allowing her to become a ninja. An outsider, becoming one of our own... I don't agree. Ibiki thought.

'Before we start, there are a few rules that you need to be aware of. And I won't be answering questions! So you better pay attention the first time around! Alright, rule number one is this: The written part of the exam is based on a point reduction system. Contrary to what you may be used to, all of you start the test with a perfect score of ten. One point will be deducted for each point you get wrong,"

I nod slowly. "Rule number two. Teams will be scored together," Well, we're screwed. "Rule number three. Every time you are caught cheating, two points will be taken away from your score." 

So... If you're caught cheating, all they do is mark you down two points? That's it? And if you're caught five times, your kicked out... hmmm.... I can work with this...

Ibiki started the timer, and I began to read over these questions. Am I seriously supposed to know these? I could work through some of these, but it would take the entire alloted time to finish three, much less ten!

Oh. Duh. I read minds to cheat. From reading peoples minds, I already knew the point of this test was cheating. I thought over the rules carefully, wanting to beat Ibiki. I didn't want to just read minds to cet answers, though I woulld if I had to. I wanted to beat Ibiki, show him that I'm stronger now. I'll wait till someody has all ten answers written down, then cheat.

I see someone who's finished and stand. "Do you need something, number... 278?" I shook my head, trying not to show my fear. I then walk up behind a hidden chunin and memorize all ten answers they've already written down. 

"Hey!" THe chunin protests, hiding their answers. But it's to late. I have all the answers in my head."Number 278! You cheated!" Ibiki yelled.

I turn around boredly. "Your point?" I ask. He raises his hand and I flinch back, remembering the pain of him breaking my arm. He raises his eyebrow at my flinching, and simply underlines rule two.

"I'm going to have to kick you and your team out for cheating," he smirks. Oh, that is such a challenge.

Challenge accepted.

"No. We do not fail. You said every time we're caught cheating, two points are deducted. So I have a total of two points deducted, and ten points up here in my head," I say pointing. "That leaves me at eight points, a passing grade." I place my hands on the desk and lean over it, "Just admit it, Ibiki. I found a loophole."

He opens and closes his mouth several times. "Sit down," He mutters, "Anyone else who cheats so blatantly is to be kicked out." He declares. I write down my answers quickly. That was intense.  I just faced my childhood terror. I mean, the guy broke my arm! Worse may have happenned to me before, but I still was oddly terrified of him. I turned over my paper, finished.

An eye made of sand hovered above my turned over and finished paper. I glared at it. Gaara. But all the same I turned over the paper and let him read it. If I wanted to kill him, he needed to pass this test.

The eye scans the paper quickly, then zooms around my head once in thanks. I find myself smiling, and I lean forward to catch Gaara's eye. He looks at me then nods once, going back to writing the answers down.

I realize I was smiling and wiped it off my face, replacing it with a frown. That was weird. Not even Naruto can make me smile so readily. And I hate Gaara, even though I don't know why... So how is it he made me so happy for a moment?

"Number 278, Fail!" I look up at Ibiki in shock.

"Hm?" I question.

"You cheated five times. You fail." Ibiiki smirks at me. I can sense that it's a test. If I can get out of this, he'll respect me.

"No." I state calmly. Ibiki storms over to my desk, grabbing my arm. 

"What did you say?" He snarled.

"I said no. You haven't done any of these kids the honor of telling them they failed yourself. You always allowed the sentinels to do it. What gives?" He tightens his grip on my arm, "Going to break my arm again, Ibiki? Seems as though you can't control your own power," I taunt.

"Get your teamates and get out," Ibiki says, plcing his other hand on my shoulder. In a flash he's on the ground, my foot on his chest.

"I highly recomend you don't touch me," I sneer, an obvious threat in my voice. "Now," I walk over to the sentinel right by me, grabbing his clipboard from him. "That's strange... I don't see my name on here, other then the one and only time I cheated to get my answers. Why would I cheat after I had all the questions answered? Hm?"

Ibiki has already stood, walking over to me. "I'm only letting you get away with this because you're right," He places a hand on my shoulder, smiling at me. "You've got gut kid, I'll give you that. Sit down, time's almost up," He says. I smile back.

What just happened? Almost everybody in the room thought. 

"Alright. Time for the tenth question," Ibiki announced. "But before I give you the question, there are some more rules that you need to be aware of. These rules are unique to question ten. Listen carefully, and try not to let them frighten you,"

I sit up straighter. Here we go. "Alright, rule number one. You guys can choose to drop out. Because if you get this question wrong... you cannot take the test again. You will remain a genin forever,"

Like hell. And even if I fail it, which I won't, I can always pack up and head for another village, become a chunin there if I wish. I've always wanted to visit the Cloud again... People begin to drop out right and left. Sakura is putting her hand up. 

Kuso! I concentrate, then enter her mind. I can do it fairly easily, because I know her mind so well. Sakura! No! I think.

Huh? Keira-chan? She thought in shock. Why can't I put my hand up? 

Don't freak! I think, Yes, yes, I'm in your mind. C'mon, Ino can do this too! Well... not exactly this, but, Just don't put your hand up!

You owe me an explanation after this! She thinks. I release my hold on her mind. 

Naruto gives a speech, making everyone renew their resolve. That kid is gifted. After his speech, I clap slowly. Everyone turns to me. "Nice speech, Naruto," I smirk, "You gave everyone here a confidance boost. After that, Ibiki, I don't think anyone's going to fail,"

Ibiki nods slightly. "Well, I admire your determination, if nothing else. For those of you remaining, there's only one thing left to do. And that's for me to tell you... That you've all passed the first exam!" This is Kakashi-sensei's pass or fail survival test all over again!

Everyone is angry at Ibiki, shocked and confused. Ibiki explains the test. I just sit there, smiling slightly. I didn't fully expect this. It was a possibility in my mind, but I didn't actually think it would turn out this way.

I didn't flinch when I saw Ibiki's scars. But it showed everything that huhng on decisions. and the consequences for making the wrong ones. 

I looked up to the window, sensing a chakra coming towards it. The window shatters and a woman bursts in, hanging a banner behind her. "This is no time to be celebrating! I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi! Ready for the next test? That's good! C'mon, follow me!"

So much... energy. How does she do that? Silence rings throughout the room. Ibiki steps calmly away from the banner. "You're early... again."

Seriously?

_____________________________________________________

Chapter Twenty Nine!

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