Chapter 20

Several people began to drop out, not being able to handle the pressure. One even tried to advise Karma to drop out to which Karma replied with. "I'm not some fodder. I already know I'll be a Chunin, so why would I drop out. You shouldn't ever try again though."

This inspired Naruto, who had been contemplating dropping out a little. 'If he can confidently do nothing, why can't I?' He thought. 'But I can't do nothing. I have to let everyone know I'm better.'

Naruto proceeded to raise his hand and slam it down on the table. "Don't joke with me! I don't run or hide! You guys aren't gonna scare-"

"Shut up! I'm trying to sleep here!" Karma cut him off.

"-me off! I don't-" Naruto tried to start again.

"Naruto. The moment's passed." Sasuke advised. Naruto looked around and saw everyone still in the room nodding at him with pitying looks. He decided it was indeed best to just sit down.

"Ahem." Ibiki cleared his throat, trying to get the solemn atmosphere back. "This decision could change your life. If for any reason you would rather quit, now's your last chance."

"I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way." Naruto said.

Nobody else stood to leave afterwards.

"Well, then, 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." Ibiki smiled.

"Such an easy test." Karma said while everyone was in shock.

"Such an easy test." Ailane mimicked.

"Yup. That was the easiest test of my life." Ibaraki said.

"Hey, did you know we were gonna pass?" Kushina asked.

"Of course. We started with a perfect score. So if we don't answer any questions, we can't get any wrong. We finished with a perfect score." Byakuya explained.

"Yeah! I knew that!!" Naruto laughed.

'I was going to fail.' Neji thought.

As Ibiki began to explain the test to everyone, Karma started sleeping again.

Eventually...

"All right!! We did it! That's one down!!" Naruto shouted, once again waking Karma. Naruto was busy cheering when suddenly a ball broke through the window, eventually revealing it was Anko Mitarashi wrapped in a banner, which she promptly held in place behind herself with kunai.

"All right, you guys! This is no time to be celebrating. I'll be your next proctor, Anko Mitarashi. You ready for the next test?!" She yelled. She continued before anyone had a chance to say anything, "Good! Then, let's go. Follow me!"

"You're early again." Ibiki informed her, while some people were laughing faintly in the background.

"How many are there?" Anko asked. "Ibiki, you let so many pass? Your test was too easy. You must be getting soft."

"Or it could be a stronger crop of candidates this year." He replied.

"Hmm. They don't look it." She said. "Trust me. Before I'm done with them, more than half will be eliminated. All right, you maggots have had it easy so far, but things are going to be different starting first thing in the morning. I'll let your squad leader know where you're to meet me. Dismissed."

After she left, Karma stood up and stretched. "Well, I'm gonna go to my bed. See you guys!" He said before leaving. Ailane and Ibaraki quickly followed.

"Neji, Shikamaru, how did you guys know?" Ino asked, grabbing everyone attention.

"Easy. They're the future leaders of the strongest clan in the village. If they're confident they can just sleep and pass, then why wouldn't I?" Shikamaru replied.

"If they couldn't sleep through it and pass, their Clan Head would still be a Genin. She's the strongest Jonin in this village. She was even asked to be Hokage, but she declined. I just didn't think their logic was so stupid." Neji added.

"But it's true when you think about it." Kiba remaked.

"It is, and it could be considered intelligence gathering as well. The proctor never said you lose points for leaving something blank." Shikamaru said.

"Did you know that too?" Kiba questioned.

"I thought there was something more to it." Shikamaru replied. "I never would have thought sleeping would be enough to pass, but I guess it is. Even if the proctor didn't like it, they actually performed perfectly."

"At least we passed!" Kushina exclaimed.

"You and your team were extremely lucky." Kiba remarked.

"Well, it's not like they care about actually passing. They're probably doing it for fun. Even they, sometimes, get bored of just sleeping and eating." Sakura said.

"What do you mean?" Shino spoke for the first time.

"They simply don't care, since it has nothing to do with their goals. It's just a title to them, and doesn't affect them in other ways. It's natural they don't care." Sakura explained.

"But this can at least be training when there's fighting involved..." Kushina sighed.

"Hopefully I don't have to fight Karma." Ino remarked.

"Well, he probably won't fight anyone if he doesn't have to either." Sasuke replied.

Meanwhile,

"Karma, what are we doing here?" Ailane asked. After the trio had left the exam hall, Karma headed to a weapon shop rather than home like he said. He could materialize weapons for himself all he wanted, but he still wanted some kind of revenge against Yoruichi. Spending her money was a good start.

"Everyone else has a weapon, so I figured that I should get one too. I've also been interested in having my own for awhile. Plus, you know I'm lacking in physical power. A weapon might be pretty good. Though, I have no idea what I could use." Karma responded.

"But don't you have your chakra claws?" Ailane asked.

"Their usage is more limited than I would like. Especially considering certain types of nature release don't match with them. They also can't block real weapons." Karma explained.

"You can use a sword like me and Himari!" Ibaraki exclaimed.

"Or you can learn music and use an instrument like me!" Ailane said.

"Nah. What was that Uchiha weapon that one Uchiha used? The one who fought the first Hokage? Was it a war fan?" Karma asked. "I might get one of those and a great sword." Karma knew, but he had to act as if he didn't. He was never awake during lectures in the Academy, so it would be strange if he didn't act clueless.

"I think it was Mama Uchiha, and she used a war fan." Ibaraki said.

"I actually know this. It was Madara Uchiha." Ailane clarified.

"Yeah, I'll get one of those and a great sword. I'm fast, but I don't have the brute force that you two and Naruto have." Karma said. 'I also plan to make my great sword my version of Samehada, since a fish shouldn't have something I don't.'

Soon, they came to a weapon shop, one previously recommended by Himari. Karma quickly explained to the man behind the counter that he was looking to have two weapons made. The trio was quickly directed to the weapon shop owner, who didn't even need an explanation since he could see the sheathed nodachi Ibaraki easily carried and the case Ailane carried. It was obvious to him that the one without a weapon was probably looking to have one made.

"So what are you looking to have made? Any requirements for the performance? Design?" The weapon shop owner asked.

"Yeah, I want a war fan, designed like the one Madara Uchiha used. It should have red as it's main color, with the secondary being black. If I remember correctly, Madara's had six red tomoe on either side. Mine should have 6 bright purple dashes on each side, in a sort of Y shape, but none of the dashes should connect. It should be capable of conducting chakra in a controlled manner and releasing it. Can that be done?" Karma explained his war fan.

"That is possible, but it'll be very expensive." The shop owner said.

"That fine. I also want a second weapon. This one should be a great sword similar to the Samehada sword. As before, primary color blood red, secondary color black, and it should have the same properties of being able to conduct and release chakra. Oh, and make it look intimidating and cat-like somehow!"

"A fan of legendary weapons I see!! Will that be all?"

"Yup. Just put it on Yoruichi Nekotsume's tab."