A/N: Hello everyone. This is my first fanfic, so please be nice. I would like to note, most jutsu are going to written in the Japanese form, and letters, thoughts, and jutsu are going to be written in italics. Just so we're all on the same page (I have uploaded the first two chapters for now, I will upload as often as I can)

Chapter One

It was a dreary day, with rain pouring from the grey clouds above, as Naruto, Kakashi and Yamato walked back from the summit of the five Kage. Naruto was in tears because, once again, he had failed in his attempt to bring Sasuke back to Konoha, though it was hard to tell from the rain.

"I... I can't understand him anymore...." Naruto sobbed.

"Neither do I," said Kakashi, "He has developed so many new techniques from the Chidori I taught him all those years ago, though I never thought he'd be one to use them against his closest friend, and indeed, against the entire Shinobi world."

"Kakashi-sensei..." Naruto asked, looking up "why did you teach him Chidori?"

"I intended for him to use it to protect the bonds he shared with his friends. As it turns out, he transformed it into one that would sever them instead." Kakashi replied, and then added: "And don't call me sensei anymore. You are stronger than I am."

Naruto looked up at Kakashi in awe.

"... Thank you, Kakashi-sen... Kakashi-san."

Kakashi smiled. Or that's what Naruto thought anyway, though he couldn't quite tell because of the mask.

Yamato spotted a crow circling above them. He whistled and it came down. It had a note attached to its foot. It was a letter and it read:

Yamato and Hatake Kakashi

You are needed in Konoha; the town is getting closer and closer to being rebuilt, though we need your help to finish it off.

Tsunade-sama has woken up. After the recent disaster at the Summit, she has been reinstated as Godaime Hokage. She wants to see Naruto.

Utatane Koharu.

"Naruto-kun. Kakashi-senpai." Yamato said, "Sorry to interrupt the touching conversation, but we are needed in Konoha. Tsunade has woken up and she wants to see Naruto. She has been reinstated as Godaime Hokage. You and I, Kakashi, are to help finish rebuilding the village. We'd better get going."

Naruto's eyes widened.

"Granny has woken up and is once again in her rightful palce as Hokage? Awesome! Let's get moving, Dattebayo!"

With that, the group started moving at full speed and soon left the borders of the Land of Iron.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A couple of days later, back in Konoha, Shikamaru was lying in bed thinking about the upcoming Chuunin exam. Just like earlier that year, when Naruto returned from his 2½ year trip with Jirayia, he was going to be the proctor for the third test and was to aid the Hokage in organising the whole thing.

"It's going to be so troublesome..." Shikamaru said to himself, "Proctoring the Chuunin exam. Shish, I can't think of anything I'd want to do less. Maybe I should just take the Jounin exam and start doing missions instead. At least that gets rid of the paperwork."

He got up and went outside. He had decided he should probably go through his training. He got on his hands and toes and started doing push-ups.

1, 2, 3, 4... he thought. Man, this is such a drag but I got to do it. Less stamina equals less chakra equals less shadow control.

10, 11, 12

About 2 minutes passed and he was up to 77, he was so tired that his arms felt like some kind of goo. He had no idea how the hell he was able to keep going.

Man, I am SO out of shape... I should really do this more if I'm going to be of any use as a Chuunin.

78, 79, 80...Come on Shikamaru...

91 ... 92... 93...

"Shikamaru!" called a voice. "Wow. I've never seen you this enthusiastic about your training!"

It was his father, Shikaku.

"Ninety-six... ninety-seeeven... ninety-eeeight... ninety-niiine... ooone-hundreeeed..." uttered Shikamaru as he flopped on to his stomach.

"Dad, you nearly made me fall on ninety-five."

"Sorry Shikamaru. I was just wondering whether you wanted to play Shougi."

Finally! Something fun to do. Shikamaru thought to himself

"Sure, dad. Though I'm pretty tired, so you'll probably annihilate me."

"Well Shikamaru, sometimes you need to think up strategies on the fly during a long drawn-out battle. Consider it practise." Shikaku replied.

Great... Shikamaru thought, just what I needed. More training.

Meanwhile at the main gate, Temari arrived; with her was Kankuro, who acted as deputy team leader when Temari wasn't available. She was to be the ambassador from the Sand Village, as well as the supervising Jounin for her team of Genin: Sasuke, Kare and Mai.

Sasuke was a loud, bossy 12 year-old boy, with brown spiky hair, much like Uchiha Obito (in hair style, not personality). He was quite skilled in the art of Taijutsu as well as a fine Ninjutsu user.

Kare was a boy with red, medium length hair, who was a long range weapon user, with some fairly good Taijutsu to help in close-combat situations. He was more on the quiet side, usually trying to stop arguments between Sasuke and Mai.

Mai was a girl with long, black hair, blue eyes and fair skin, who was an excellent Genjutsu user. She preferred to stay back and place illusions on people while Sasuke and Kare did the fighting. She constantly got in to arguments and fights with Sasuke, which often led to Sasuke getting trapped in a Genjutsu that Temari would then have to remove. Mai idolized Temari, and her fights with Sasuke were usually about her.

"Sasuke, Kare, Mai, I need to speak to a certain person, so go with Kankuro-san and get registered for the Chuunin exam." Temari ordered.

"Is this that Nara guy? The guy who killed Hidan?" asked Mai curiously, obviously building up to something.

Temari sighed. "Yes, it's Nara Shikamaru."

"Oooohhhh... I think something's going on between them!" teased Sasuke, while nudging Kare.

"Shut up! Now follow Kankuro-san!"

"Aww... but Temari-sensei..." the three said together.

"No arguing!"

"Right! Team Temari, come with me." ordered Kankuro.

"This is ALL your fault Sasuke!" Mai snapped at Sasuke as they walked towards the newly rebuilt exam hall, "If you hadn't been so annoying on our trip here, perhaps we could have gone with Temari-sensei."

"Come off it Mai-chan," Sasuke replied, "I only..."

Temari couldn't hear any more as they had gotten out of earshot.

I can't wait 'till Gaara gets here, he'll get them to shut up. I just hope Kankuro can deal with them for now. She thought.

She arrived at Shikamaru's house and knocked on the door. When she got no answer, she called out:
"Come on Shikamaru-san, wake up you lazy bum!"

Shikamaru had just lost to Shikaku in their Shougi game at that moment when he heard Temari's voice.

"Damn it!" he exclaimed. "Oh! Looks like Temari has arrived. I suppose I'd better go get the door. How troublesome."

He went through the glass sliding door in to the house and over to the front door and opened it.

"'Morning Temari-san." He said, while slouching up against the frame of the door.

"Finally, Nara." Temari exclaimed, rolling her eyes, "Did you only just get up or something? You look quite tired."

"As a matter of fact, I was just playing Shougi after having trained." He replied, irritated.

"You, train? Since when?" Temari said, feigning surprise, "Anyway, you've got to come to the Chuunin exam office. Teams are being registered as we speak; I just sent mine over there with Kankuro."

"Oh, fine then," said Shikamaru, "I'll just get my flak jacket."

He disappeared for a few seconds, and when he returned he was wearing his flak jacket over his usual black shirt.

"Bye dad!" he yelled to Shikaku, "As troublesome as it is, I have to go to the Chuunin exam office for team registration."

"Bye Shikamaru." Shikaku replied.

"Are you always so fussy about actually doing anything?" Temari asked, incredulously.

"Yes. You should know by now, that I'm the laziest Shinobi in all of the Shinobi countries." Shikamaru replied casually.

Temari sighed again.

This is going to be a looong day...