Chapter 18, Registration

Tsukune instantly signed his paper "Well that's great! We'll all go to Suna and show the strength of konoha!" Hikaru quickly shut him up "Don't jump to conclusions Tsukune. I think we should all be allowed to make this decision on our own."

He looked around at everyone individually. "Think about if you're ready for it and if you believe you can make it. You have to believe in yourself for it to be worth the trip at all!" They all had to think this through. "I think we should all go home and make up our minds."

"We meet up tomorrow morning and tell each other what we decided. No one will judge anyone for their decision" Hikaru gave Tsukune an extra glare during that last statement. The group agreed and soon they all went their separate ways home.

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Mibuna was glad Hikaru had given her time to think on her own but she was afraid it wasn't enough. How could she make sure she was ready for this? Their team had barely left Konoha and she wasn't exactly the powerhouse of that team either.

She was mainly just acting as support and how was she supposed to make it in an exam filled with bloodthirsty teenagers with a bit of healing? Although she felt confident in her progress in the medical arts, she had very little to contribute in a fight.

She thought back to the fighting her team had done in their last C-rank mission. Natsuhi used her clan's special jutsu to make chakra solid and tripped the burglars with some chakra rope while Sansho went in full power with some of Rock Lee's taijutsu.

All she could do was help in the recovery and give the burglars some sleeping pills to make sure they were easy to handle until they were behind bars. It had now been hours since she got home and as she still hadn't made up her mind, she decided to talk to Rock Lee-sensei.

She was soon at his door and when she knocked, he instantly came to open "Hello Mibuna! Excited about the exam or why are you here?"

Mibuna looked down at her feet, feeling slightly ashamed at what she was about to ask "I came to ask why you'd recommend someone like me to a dangerous exam. Why you'd recommend me as a representative of Konoha.."

"Ahh, sorry for jumping to conclusions! I just thought it was so obvious that you're ready!" Mibuna looked up to see Rock Lee looking at her with a massive smile. She now noticed that even though it was almost night-time, he still hadn't taken off the green outfit. 'Does he wear it to sleep?'

"What do you mean? I'm not exactly powerful." Rock Lee laughed a little and responded "The exam isn't about raw strength. What makes a good leader isn't strength. It's what's inside their head and the PASSION of their hearts. Both of yours seem to be of excellent quality. You're always calm and collected and always prepared, and I know you have passion from the FIRE in your eyes!"

Mibuna looked shocked at her sensei and she felt that tears started running down her cheeks. A smile formed on her face and she bowed and yelled back at her Sensei as he usually does at them "Thank you for believing in me! I won't let you down Sensei!"

With those words said, she ran back home happy and proud. 'He's right! Just because I'm not very powerful doesn't mean that I can't rise through the ranks! The exam probably isn't just a long tournament either. I'll be there, I'll see for myself!' she thought as she got back to her bed and fell asleep instantly.

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The next day all six of them met up in one of the parks outside the academy building. Hikaru had told Sai-sensei that they would have all made up their minds by then and that he should show up in 15 minutes to accept the papers of those who wished to enter.

Team 2 and team 1 stood in a circle looking at each other. It seemed obvious to Hikaru that they all had thought this through as he could see a very determined group of genin around him.

"On the count of three we pull out our papers" They all nodded "One...Two..Three!" all six papers were revealed and Hikaru saw that they were all signed. "I guess we should all start packing them!" he laughed a little and soon the tension was broken as they all smiled and hugged each other.

They never really celebrated that they got picked yesterday as they all had some thinking to do but now there was nothing stopping them. At that moment Sai-sensei showed up.

"I'm glad you all took your time and considered the consequences, but I want you all to know one thing. We wouldn't have recommended you if WE didn't believe in you. Remember that!" Sai gave them a forced smile as he collected the papers.

Team 2 realized that Sai had gotten a lot better at faking a smile. The true joy he had trouble getting out, was now showing a lot clearer in his eyes as well. All six bowed at him proudly but as soon as Sai left, they ran to get some ramen! Ichiraku of course.

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One week later and the day of the travel to Suna had arrived. All teams was going to travel together so the village could arrive looking like one big family.

Hikaru looked at the teams around him. A lot fewer than he thought there'd be. The three groups from his year was here. Only one from the year above and then two older teams which seemed to consist of stragglers from old groups. (People whose teams had been promoted without them)

Sai, as if mind reading, came up to him and said "There was a couple of more teams originally but you remember those contracts we asked you to sign right?" Hikaru nodded "Yes well if all three genin don't sign it, no one from the team may go"

This shocked Hikaru for a second. 'Why didn't they say that before?' but then it dawned on him. If Sansho had known, he would have pressured Mibuna to go even if she didn't want to. Now we all go out of free will!

Suddenly he heard the voice of the one everyone was to follow on the way to Suna. It was the hero, the one rumoured to become the 7th Hokage soon, the one who had inspired so many. Uzumaki Naruto was yelling at the top if his lungs "Let's go people! We have a long way to go and I'd like to get there on time this time!"

Hikaru looked at the man he had heard many stories about from Sai. He looked a lot more mature than the stories made him out to be. But that might be because of those standing next to him. It appears the Uzumaki family is coming along.

A second after, people responded "Yes!" and so the journey began.