Hi everyone! I'm new to this site and this is really my first time putting my work out there. It's a Naruto fan fiction that I've been working on for years and I believe I finally got the story strait. Please, rate, review, and comment!

I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. All Naruto characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto. Other characters mentioned in this story are mine. A list of all my own character will be posted at the end of each chapter they appear in first.

Enjoy!

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Chapter 1: The Next Generation!

"Can't catch me! Ahahahaa!"

"Big brother, wait!"

The sound of footsteps echoed through one of the many forests that made up Konoha – the village hidden in the leaves. The twin siblings raced each other to a big oak tree; a marker for one of their personal training areas carved high into the trunk.

The youngest jumped from the ground to a high branch on the tree with ease.

"Hey!" Called the older one, "No fair, we agreed to never use chakra to win!"

"I'm not using chakra," he said bluntly.

"Oh yeah? Byakugan!" The oldest activated his ocular jutsu and peered at his brother's feet. "You lair! There's chakra around your feet for sure!"

"Well if you're so upset about it, then why don't you come up here and push me off?"

The oldest twin frowned upon his brother's words and his doujutsu deactivated. "Hiroshi…you know my chakra control sucks."

"Who said you have to use chakra? You're a taijutsu genius Hiroki!" Hiroshi gave his older brother a shy smile and motioned for him to come up. "I know you can do it big brother c'mon."

"Oh alright alright already," Hiroki said with a smile. "And how many times do I have to tell you, stop calling me big brother!" With that, Hiroki summoned up his strength and ran up the trunk of the tree. Just before he felt that the running wasn't going to do enough, he jumped off the tree and to the trunk of another close by. He reached the top with speed by jumping between the two trees, and landed next to Hiroshi.

"See, you did it."

"Y-yeah…I sure…did…" Hiroki said between breaths. The two broke into a slow laughter that soon quickened. Before long they laughed so hard that they almost fell off the tree.

"Hiroki," Hiroshi said as their laughing subdued, "We promised, remember?"

"Yes, we promised," Hiroki said. "Now, let's get to the academy, we'll be late!"

"You two already late," a voice from the bushes called. The figure emerged and waved at the two.

"Uncle Shikamaru!" They both said with a smile.

"You troublesome brats are late. They had to send me to come get you," the lazy jounin sighed. "Now don't make this a drag."

Hiroki smirked. "You're going to have to catch us first!" He jumped off through the trees away from the academy. Hiroshi, close behind him, merely shook his head at his brother's antics.

"I don't know why I even follow your lead," Hiroshi sighed.

"Just like him, as always," Shikamaru thought as he chased after the troublemakers.

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"I'm sorry Shikamaru," Udon shook his head at the twins, who presently sat on the floor, bound together by a rope. "I expected this from Hiroki, but from you too Hiroshi? Maybe they don't deserve to graduate after all."

"Hey four-eyes you can't do that we're already Leaf ninja!"

"Oh yeah? Why don't you see me try?!" Udon's and Hiroki's faces were inches away from each other, both gritting their teeth in anger.

"Baka…" Hiroshi grumbled.

"I-it's okay Udon. You don't have to get that serious. I'll be seeing their father today anyway," Shikamaru threw the twins and Udon a nervous smile before waving to the class. "Have fun guys!" With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Udon untied the twins as he spoke to the class, "Now then, as you all know, today is the day you will be separated into teams. Your academy days are over. Life as a shinobi of the Leaf will be far more than you can dream to expect. While your time here has been challenging for both you and I," he shot Hiroki a glance, "It has also been a pleasure. And I can honestly say I'm proud of everyone this year. So, let us start."

The children had their eyes on Udon as he picked up a clipboard from his desk. "Team 5: Hiroki Hyūga, Hiroshi Hyūga, and Aiko Inuzuka."

Aiko's dog Madoka lay quietly on the floor as the young female Inuzuka smirked at the oldest Hyūga twin. He stuck his tongue out at her in response. They held a competitive rivalry between themselves since their first days at the academy.

"Team 8: Inoko Yamanaka, Shikamari Nara, and Chojaru Akamichi."

All three from the Ino-Shika-Cho trio were at no surprise when they heard their names called together. Shikamari merely slipped back into the light slumber he was in before Udon started calling the first cell.

"Team 9: Akane Haruno, Amaya Haruno, and Takumi Yamanaka."

"Takumi?" Amaya whispered to her red headed brother. "Why him, he's so quiet…" Akane smiled at his pouting younger sister and ruffled her pale-pink hair. Like the Yamanaka siblings, they weren't twins. They had simply been admitted into the academy in the same year; Akane had a year on his sister and Inoko a year on her brother.

"And lastly, Team 12: Kazue Hyūga, Kazuo Hyūga, and Hiari Aburame."

The fraternal Hyūga twins, cousins of Hiroki and Hiroshi, smirked slightly at their teammate, who paid them no mind. Inoko, who was sitting next to him, shivered in her place as she saw tiny fire ants crawl across the bug master's face.

Udon placed the clipboard back on his desk and faced the class again. "You can find the meeting place on this clipboard for where you will meet your sensei. Be there in about fifteen minutes. Good luck all!" With that, he left the room to go file some reports.

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Meanwhile…

"Why place them on the same team Hokage-sama?" Shikamaru asked as he stood in front of the sixth Hokage. "Actually, aren't both pairs of twins on the same team too?"

"Yes they are, but Hiroki's and Hiroshi's skills balance each others. And Aiko is just as excellent as her father when it comes to tracking. Same with their cousins. Besides…Hiroki and Hiroshi share something…special and beneficial to them. They can't afford to be separated." The Hokage fiddled with his hat. "As for them…the seal should keep it from ever happening, at least anytime soon. They're still too young to know. However, I trust you to them Shikamaru. They will be great in your hands."

Shikamaru nodded silently and watched the Hokage fiddle more with his hat. "It's him isn't it…that's on your mind."

"Of course…the graduation of these genin marks the upcoming chunin selection exams. And it's being held here this time around. You…remember last time, don't you? There's a possibility he's fully recovered."

"I know. I remember," Shikamaru trailed off. "The ANBU and all of the proctors will protect everyone with their life though, even I swear to –"

"But he's strong!" The Hokage interrupted the lazy jounin with a slam on his desk.

"I get it!" Shikamaru shot back sternly. "But we are strong too and we know him and his weaknesses. Hokage-sama there is only so much we can do. I know… we couldn't save Tsunade or any of the other women the first time, including my wife, but we should be grateful that the fifth gave her life to halt him from killing anyone else. She's why my wife is still alive and I'm beyond grateful for that. For that I will protect my family and Konoha from him I swear." Shikamaru looked down in anger as he tried to collect himself.

"Thank you, Shikamaru. You are dismissed…"

He looked up and after a pause he nodded at the Hokage's thanks.

"One more thing," the Hokage said as Shikamaru reached the door, "Stop calling me Hokage-sama, you know I hate that. We're still peers!" He gave Shikamaru a toothy grin.

Shikamaru smiled back, "Alright Naru-dork, take care." He managed to close the door behind him before the inkwell Naruto threw hit him.

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Well, that's the first chapter. Again, please rate, review and comment!

Here's a promised list of my characters in order of appearance (and name meanings!):

Hiroki Hyūga: Male, 12, "abundant joy/ strength"

Hiroshi Hyūga: Male, 12, "generous, tolerant, prosperous"

Aiko Inuzuka: Female, 12, "love child"

Madoka: Male, Aiko's dog, "Circle, circle flower"

Inoko Yamanaka: Female, 13, "Ino = pig"

Shikamari Nara: Male, 13, "Shika = deer"

Chojaru Akamichi: Female, 12, "Cho = butterfly"

Akane Haruno: Male, 13, "brilliant red"

Amaya Haruno: Female, 12, "night rain"

Takumi Yamanaka: Male, 12, "adroit, artisan, skilful"

Kazue Hyūga: Female, 12, "branch, first blessing, harmonious"

Kazuo Hyūga: Male, 12, "harmonious man, first male"

Hiari Aburame: Male, 12, "fire ant"

Each person's name has a meaning to either their look, personality, or the personality of their parents.