Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, this is pure speculation on my part-- and I am not making any money from it.

One-Shot,

551 words

Rated G

Konohamaru Vss. Naruto, Chunin Exam

Would this not be awesome? Set anytime post time-skip.

The sand stung his eyes. Well, not really sand, more like dust and ashes from the torn up field around him, caught up in the air by an unexpected gust of wind in the painfully hot day. He'd been sweating all morning like mad. No he wasn't nervous. He was hot. A nice cool bit of water would be freakin' glorious at this point, but he'd not thought to bring any money to the tournament ring while waiting his turn to fight. Who would? Well, other than Moegi, but she hadn't been willing to share. Apparently boys had cooties too.

"Hiya, Boss," faking a smile, Konohamaru loosened his scarf a little, conscious of the bated breath of the watching crowd. He could feel their impatiance as he dropped into a battle crouch and dug his shoes into the dirt for firmer footing. Somewhere up there, Moegi and Udon were watching too, and Ebisu-- so were Sakura, Kakashi, and Jiraiya, the Legendary Sannin. Not to mention the Fifth Hokage Lady Tsunade and the spirits of his family.

"Hey, Kono-brat."

Konohamaru couldn't help but grin for real as Naruto gave him a sloppy little salute, the kind between friends and equals. Despite the assurance of Naruto's happy-go-lucky carefree attitude, Konohamaru was still worried. This wasn't the Naruto who had taught him Centerfold Henge he was facing-- this was the Naruto trained by Jiraiya, the Naruto who had surpassed Kakashi-sensei (a jounin!), the Naruto who had had three years hard training so that he could rescue his best friend from Orochimaru and who had been able to fend off Akatsuki.

There was no way he could fight the older boy on the same level right now, not by strength or chakra . . . and he had not expected or really even prepared for this fight as one of the other Genin Ninja had freaked out because of his opponent and not shown up to the stadium. The order of the matches had consequently been rearanged, leaving Konohamaru with Naruto.

"--You still wanting to be 'Kage, Konohamaru?"

Belatedly Konohamaru realized Naruto was talking to him and he focused on the noisy blond. "Yeah," he said a moment too late, wondering what he'd missed.

"You're going to have to defeat me, then!" Naruto proclaimed, baring his teeth in challenge.

"I remember," Konohamaru said. He took a deep breath and concentrated on his chakra. He was a ninja of Konoaha. His grandfather had been Hokage, and there was no way he was going to let Naruto beat him in the race for that position. Naruto may have had good teachers in the last three years, but then so had Konohamaru. "You'd better give it all you've got Boss, or I'll never forgive you-- I've grown a lot while you were gone."

Naruto grew unexpectedly serious. "I know. Konohamaru . . . If you win . . ." The older boy hesitated. "If you win, I'll give you this necklace."

A flash of blue sparkled in the palm of his hand as Naruto revealed a rectangular gemstone. "It was worn by the First. Tsunade gave it to me, after I first met her, when I told her I was going to be the 'Kage someday."

"Are you sure you want to part with that?" Konohamaru asked quietly.

Naruto grinned. "Who said that was my plan, brat? So . . . you ready to get started?"

"Was I ever not ready?"

"Two minutes ago, Konohamaru."