One week until the Chunin Exams.

Naruto had got the summoning jutsu down for the most part. He could summon small to medium size toads. The larger one took more out him and were harder for him to summon. He more than likely wouldn't need the larger toads in the exams anyway. He had also finished the storage scrolls he wanted to make. His mother had bought him ninja gear for the exams. He needed new anyway, his were starting to ware.

Kakashi had called Team Seven together at their usual meeting spot on the bridge. Naruto and Haku met Sasuke and Sakura there, but they would have to wait a bit for Kakashi to show.

Sasuke looked at Naruto. "What happened to you. You lose a bet with your mom or something?"

Naruto was a little upset about what Sasuke had said. "No. And what is wrong with a change now and then." Naruto was wearing black cargo type pants, dark red t-shirt, black vest with orange Uzumaki swirl on the back, his nin-boots and black leather bracers with storage seals. Sakura seemed impressed that he owned clothes other than track pants and the jacket he always wore. Sasuke just laugh at his discomfort. Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Well I guess you don't want these then." He pulled out of his back pouch six scrolls. "I got tons of scrolls dope." Sasuke waved him off. "These aren't regular scrolls jerk these are storage scrolls. I made them to use during the exams. One for food, one for gear and one for emergency supplies." Naruto smiled at his accomplishment. He handed each of them three scrolls. Haku already had his. Sasuke looked at the scrolls. "You made these Naruto?" Naruto smiled. "Ya, been working them in my free time. Ero-Sennin has been training me in the sealing arts. Nothing too crazy, no explosive tags or anything like that." Sasuke smiled. "Impressive dope, thanks."

They awaited on the bridge for Kakashi-sensei to show up. An hour or two was not out of the ordinary. Haku was helping Sakura with use of sembon, she was improving. Naruto sat on the bridge, his feet dangling over the side. He didn't get a lot of down time recently, so he was taking it now. Sasuke was just leaning up against the railing, head down eyes closed. This is the part they hated when dealing with their sensei, his inability to be on time.

About the end of hour two, there was a puff of smoke and Kakashi appeared. "Sorry guys. I got lost on the path of life and…" "SHUT UP! YOU'RE LATE!" Screamed Naruto and Sakura. Kakashi sweat dropped and hopped down from where they were standing. "So glad to see you guys haven't changed much. You have been trained individually for the most part, but part of the exam will deal with you working as a team as well.' Kakashi started walking toward the practice field. "So I thought the four of you might want to try the bell test again." He held up two bells. He pointed at Naruto and worked his way toward Sakura at the other end. "You three already know how this works. This time the losing side buys lunch. Now remember you have until one o'clock to get these bells from me. I don't care how you do it, but come at me with the intent to kill otherwise you will not get near them." Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura understood. Haku was a little hesitant, but got the idea. "Ok let's get this going." He tied the bells to his belt. "And Start!" with that Kakashi disappeared into a puff of smoke.

Team 7 began to move as a group. "We have to find him. He won't be pulling any punches with us this time." Sasuke said as they moved. "If that is the case we need to split into two teams. That way we can cover more ground." Haku added. They all nodded in agreement. "Naruto you go with Haku. Sakura and I will team up. If one team finds him, move him toward the other team. Naruto send out some shadow clones to scout." They split and Naruto sent out his scouts. It didn't take long for the clones to find Kakashi. Haku noticed when Naruto became distant looking. "Found him! This way!" Naruto said, as he changed direction. He sent one of his clones to tell Sasuke and Sakura his location and hoped they had something laying in wait for him.

Kakashi sensed two targets heading in his direction, no make that five. Two could be real and the other three could be shadow clones, at this distance, and with Naruto ability with the Shadow Clone Jutsu there was no way to tell for sure. He decided to move away from them. "I had better move fast." He thought to himself. Of course they could be making him go that way, but he didn't sense anything in the direction he was heading in. He prepared just in case there was someone lying in wait for him. He sped through the trees. Until he realise he walked right into a trap. "Cherry Blossom Blizzard!" he heard Sakura yell out. His vision was clouded with cherry blossoms. "Genjutsu! When did she learn this?" Kakashi mind flashed back to a moment when he saw Sakura talking to Kurenai. "Release!" he quickly dispelled it, but it was too late. As Kakashi was airborne and distracted. Sasuke made his move. Coming in behind him, Kakashi felt two fingers against his back. Then the kicks and punch came. As the last one was delivered. "Lion's Barrage!" Sasuke called out sending Kakashi crashing to the ground. He slammed into the ground hard! "That got him!" Sasuke said. And then he puffed into a log. "Dammit! A Substitution!" Kakashi appeared behind Sasuke. "Almost got me there. but almost isn't good enough." They began their taijutsu battle.

Naruto and Haku arrived. Naruto quickly acted. Having his shadow clones backup Sasuke. "Be ready to break away!" a Naruto clone said to Sasuke. The real Naruto pulled out a shuriken. "NOW SASUKE!" Naruto yelled throwing the shuriken, then flipping through hand signs. Sasuke and Sakura cleared out and the clones pressed the attack. "Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!" Naruto called out. Soon his one shuriken became fifty. "Damn! this is going to hurt!" Kakashi thought. He pulled out a kunai and deflected as many as he could. A few made it through. He was hurt but not too bad, but it slowed him down. "Your team work is still pretty good, but you are not getting these bells, and I am going to enjoy the free lunch." Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Oh, Ya!" Naruto yelled. He bit his thumb and flipped through some more hand signs. "Summoning Jutsu!" He called out. A toad the size of Naruto appeared in a cloud of smoke. It was armored and armed with a sword. "Your orders Lord Naruto." The toad spoke. "Gamatatsu. Attack Kakashi-sensei. Distract him so we can get those bells." Naruto ordered the toad. It jumped to attack Kakashi. "Damn! When did you learn that?" Sasuke and Sakura said, surprised. Naruto smiled. "So Lord Jiraiya has taught you more on that jutsu?" Haku said waiting for an opening. Kakashi was doing everything in his power to keep the toad at bay. "This is tougher than I thought." Kakashi's brain was going a mile a minute. "Ice Style! Ice Stocks!" Haku Shouted. Ice gathered around Kakashi's wrists and feet to hold him in place. Gamatatsu stopped a blow that was headed for Kakashi's face. Sasuke and Sakura grabbed the bells. Kakashi's head sank. " You got me." He said. Haku dispelled the ice stocks and Naruto thanked and dismissed his toad.

As they were headed away from the restaurant they had lunch at. They were talking about the upcoming exams and what they thought they could expect. Naruto told them what he had heard from Shizune. There was three parts: Some sort of test, (most likely written), a survival challenge, and then (If they made it through all of that) a one on one tournament. This was not completely unexpected. The way the exams were set up would eliminate any weaker teams, leaving only the best. The last part would eliminate weaker individuals. Naruto and Sasuke wanted to face each other in the last round, neither wanted to face Haku after the first time they had fought him. Haku looked at it as a way to test his abilities more, Sakura hoped she would make it to the last round. After that she would have to see. Sasuke seemed to sense her concern. "You will do fine." He told her. Naruto smiled at her. "Mom and Shizune's training will get you through, and you have us to help you as well. We are a team after all." She smiled at her teammates.

"Hey! What the hell!" They heard someone yell. Sakura looked around. "That sounds like Ino!" Naruto opened up his senses. "This way!" He pointed down the road a ways toward a wooded area. When they arrived, Ino was on the ground,standing over her was a guy dressed all in black, with a cat eared hat and mummy on his back, and a blond girl leaning against a tree with a giant fan on her back. "You should watch where you're going girl." The cat eared mummy guy said. "What do you mean?!" Ino yelled. "You bumped into me!" The blond girl with the fan looked bored. "Kankuro. Why don't you just drop it? We are not here to pick a fight." He looked over at the blond. "I hate not getting treated with respect Temari." "If you want respect. You should treat others with it as well!" Naruto was standing in between Kankuro and Ino. "Well. This village must be full of blond wimps." Kankuro went to throw a punch at Naruto. Naruto blocked it and grabbed his arm sent him to the ground hard. Holding him there in an arm lock. Temari went to move to help Kankuro, but Haku appeared out of nowhere. "I would stay out of this if I were you." She stared at him, but made no movement. Sakura was at Ino side helping her up. From up in a tree. "Your headbands are different. You are not from this village. State your name, village and what you are doing here?" Sasuke said looking down on them from his vantage point. "We are Sand Ninja from Suna. We are here for the Chunin Exams." Came a calm voice from above Sasuke. He looked up to a redheaded boy with a giant gourd on his back. "Temari, Kankuro what are you doing?" Kankuro started to sweat. "Just talking in the sites Gaara. Nothing more." "Let go of my brother. He will take no further action." Gaara said to Naruto. Naruto let him up."I am sorry for their actions." Garra added. Kankuro stood up and looked at Naruto, rubbing his arm. "See you around blondie." Naruto stared at him saying nothing. As the Sand Ninja left. Sakura looked at Ino, checking her over. "You ok?" she said. "Ya, I'm fine. Thanks guys." Naruto's eyes never moved from where the Sand ninja had left. "I would stay as far from that red head as you can Kit." Kurama told him in his mindscape. "Why is that?" Naruto answered back. "I am pretty sure that he holds One Tail Shukaku Kit." Naruto looked surprised by this. "Just stay as far away from him as you can. He maybe calm now but that can change."Naruto made a note of what he was told. "Oi Dope! You take a blow to the head or something?" Naruto focused back into reality to see Sasuke staring at him. All but Huka were staring as well. "I'm fine. Just thinking is all." Sasuke, Sakura, and Ino didn't know about Kurama. They just figured when he withdrew into his mind like this, he was just spacing off. "So that is just some of what is in store for us huh?" Naruto said to the others. "Ya. Can't wait." Sasuke replied. "Well we had better get Ino home." Sakura said. "Me and Sasuke will take her." Sakura added. Ino nodded still shocked that Naruto of all people stepped in harm's way to help her. Sakura pulled her toward her house and Sasuke followed. Haku and Naruto headed toward their home as well.

When they were far enough away from anyone. "So what did Kurama have to say?" Haku asked. Naruto looked over at him. "He is not sure. but he thinks that that guy Gaara is like me."

This came as a bit of a shock to Haku. "You mean he is a jinchuriki host?" Naruto nodded yes. "He warned me to steer clear of him. He is not stable I guess." Haku took note of this. "I guess the danger level of these exams just went up." Naruto agreed. Naruto and Haku walked the rest of the way home in silence. When they reached the gate to the house. "When are you going to tell the others about what you are Naruto?" Naruto stopped, head hanging low. "I know I am going to have to sometime. I am just worried they will look at me different or be scared of me like most people are." Haku put his hand on his shoulder. "I think if you are honest with them they will accept you as I have." Naruto looked at him. His eyes filled with worry and sadness. "I know. It means a lot that you do accept me, even though you have seen what the power can do first hand." Haku just smiled. "Come on. Lady Tsunade and Shizune will be wondering where we are."

Most of the rest of the week was filled with meeting Lords and Ladies that came to the village to see the exams. Naruto and Haku hated this part, but because Tsunade and Jiraiya were two of the legendary three ninja of Konoha and Tsunade being the granddaughter of the First Hokage, it was to be accepted. The one saving grace of this was that Hinata was at the dinner as well. She was the daughter of Lord and Lady Hyuga. She was escorted by Naruto to the dinner. Most of the Rookie Nine were there as well. Kiba, Shino, Choji, Ino, Shikamaru and even Sasuke who had brought Sakura with him and his Mother beings they were the last surviving Uchihas. Most of the rich civilians that were at the event just stared hate and whispered upon seeing Naruto with the Hyuga heir. It bothered Naruto, not because they hated him, he could live with that. But their hate of him and what he was affected Hinata that was another matter. She laid a hand on Naruto's arm drawing his attention toward her. She smiled, telling him she didn't care what others thought of her with him. She was happy and that is all that mattered. They talked, were introduced to some Lords, ate dinner. Most of the younger guests got bored of the politics, all but Shikamaru who had been challenged by some of the lords to a game of shogi before they left. This is also when they had their second run in with the two of the three Sand Ninja they had run into earlier. "Well I never would have guessed that you would be the son and student of two of the legendary three ninja of Konoha blondie." Naruto heard the voice of Kankuro. Naruto turned around to see him with his sister Temari. "I figured the eldest son of the Kazekage would know how to conduct himself in allied village." Kankuro looked over at Hinata. "Hey there. Whats a pretty thing like you doing with this loser?" Hinata moved behind Naruto. "Leave her alone! Your beef is with me. Or have you forgotten the taste of dirt after I put you down for what you did to Ino?" Kankuro looked around as some of the other younger Leaf Ninja were moving towards them. "Look, Naruto is it? I am just trying to be friendly is all. We can settle this during the exams." Naruto looked over at Sasuke and Haku who had gotten closer incase something happened. "Sure. Just make sure you make it to the main event, and pray your luck holds out to let me and you get paired against each other." Kankuro smiled. "Well your friends are starting to look a little unfriendly. Come on Temari." With that they left. Naruto turned to Hinata. "Sorry for that Hina." She looked at him. "It is fine Naruto. I take it you had trouble with him before." Naruto sighed. "Ya, he was pushing around Ino a couple of days ago. My team and I were on our way home from lunch after training. We stopped him and his brother and sister." Hinata smiled. "I am glad you were there to help her Naruto." Naruto smiled his hand moving to the back of his neck. "Ya. I would do the same for you or anyone." The rest of the evening was uneventful. Naruto said goodbye to Hinata and his friends and headed home with his mom, Jiraiya and Haku. On the way Jiraiya decided to ask Naruto something. "So I see you had a little problem with the Kazekage's eldest son?" Tsunade looked at Naruto. "So what happened?" Naruto sighed and retold what had happened the time before and at the dinner. Tsunade smiled. "Jumping to the rescue of pretty girls at your age. I think you have been hanging around the Pervert too long. Getting romantic ideas in your head." Naruto blushed. "Mom! You know I don't like seeing people pick on others. Besides he is a jerk."

Jiraiya and Tsunade smiled. "I know. Just be careful, we can't have you and the Kazekage's son beating the crap out of each other. Besides you might get your shot in the exams." Tsunade said. Naruto hoped so.