Other world chimera [Naruto fanfic]

182. Borring exam

The four groups talked for a moment and it just so happens that yes, Kakashi now goes by Kagami. She had been very busy accepting every one of Gai’s challenges to Team Kagami’s surprise. Tomoka could guess the reason, most probably, Kagami was running away from her former ANBU colleagues teasing. Not that it helped much, she could guess the rumors that must be going around about Gai and Kagami dating due to the amount of time they are spending together. 

A while later team Yamato decided to go back to their seats leaving the other teams to chat. This was Tomoka’s decision as she had sensed Kabuto’s aproache. She didn’t want any part in that little play. Kabuto of course noticed but didn’t bother to give their team more than a glance. After all, he was more interested in Sasuke thanks to Orochi’s orders. 

After that things went just like in canon, except for Kabuto’s tiny double take at seeing Team Kagami genderbend state. It just so happens that he hadn’t heard most of their conversation and to that Team Kagami being hidden behind the other teams from his sight and there you have it. 

A talk with Kabuto and his ninja cards later Naruko painted a target on her back as well as the backs of the others. Oto-nin attack, Kabuto coughs blood, villainous explanation monologue, just like in Cannon. 

Tomoka had long ago realized that destiny is a real thing in this world. It is through it that prophets like the toad’s could tell the future. It was also the reason why some events would happen unless external factors, like Tomoka, caused a strong enough impact on the weave of fate to change them. 

It was because of this that Tomoka worked alongside destiny instead of against it. Gaara was needed for destiny’s plan of what was to come. Tomoka could of course derail destiny’s plan massively by removing Gaara from the equation. At this point she had enough power to do so. However, there was no reason to do so. 

Tomoka’s current plans were counting on destiny’s correction force to keep things going how canon should until she was ready to crash the party. This chunin exam was the last event Tomoka wanted to go as canon. Then, she would start to make her move. 

The test was boring not only for herself but for her girls as well. We were given an hour to answer a bunch of “hard” questions. Ibiki had explained the rules but Tomoka didn’t really care much knowing what the catch was. She hadn’t told Hinata or Nozomi about it since they didn’t ask. 

The two girls for their part, just like Tomoka answered the whole thing in ten minutes. All of this was possible thanks to Tomoka’s teaching them about the “mental palace” technique. With it in place Tomoka could share her own memories and knowledge like data packages using her phantoms. 

Of course this wasn’t perfect. It would be like knowing a book from memory. You could memorize each word but that didn’t mean you understood it. Thankfully the two girls were smart enough to understand the contents of the info with some help from Tomoka. Of course they didn’t know anywhere near as much info as Tomoka. Both their library and comprehension had limits. 

With the minutes ticking by, the girls spent their time chatting with one another through the permanent phantoms Tomoka had stationed inside them. Then the tenth question came and people began to leave. 

“This is hilarious.” The silence was broken by Tomoka’s comment and giggling. The next moment everyone gave her the stink eye. 

“What? Is it not funny that a bunch of cowards left? Intimidation and fear our carriers are and will always be filled with it. Missions never go as planed. So what? Will the bunch of you abandon the goal then? That is why I find it hilarious. Improvise, adapt, overcome.” With that Tomoka continued to giggle to herself. 

With her harsh commentary the slow trickle of people leaving stopped for a few moments. However, soon enough another team left. That is when Naruko burst out into his Talk no jutsu speech about never giving up.  

With that Ibiki gave the room one last glance before announcing that everyone that stayed had passed… just like in canon. However, unlike in canon Tomoka’s own speech had helped a few other teams pass.