Beforehand: I'm happy to see I have reviewers out there. I probably could pull a few more if I waited but I want to get on with the story. Some characters will be a bit OOC but please bear with me as it helps the story go on without killing the mood. With that said, let's get started!

Chapter 2: Comrades

A loud alarm awoke Naruto from his rest. It was the dinner siren. His stomach growled. Or perhaps it was the demon. Either way, he felt hungry. Without a word, he rose from his sleep, put back on his white t-shirt, then immediately threw it back off. The shirt still reeked of death. The bottom of it was stained with the blood of the innocent.

Naruto went to his small closet. Inside he found a black shirt to wear. Slipping it on, he thought about his schedule for the next day. In a little while, his final test was to take place. It was kept secret, so nobody knew a thing about it. All that was said is that it would determine whether you're fit to serve the country or deserve to die. Of course this was said by senior students. The teachers spoke little about the matter. Naruto had tried once to collect information. He asked ninjas who had completed the test a year prior. They turned from their current mood to a solemn, grave mood. They would look upon him with sad eyes and turn away. This in no way helped him.

Naruto exited his room stretching out his limbs. He walked down a lonely corridor that would lead from his section of the school to the main area. He suddenly stopped walking. The air was stiff here. There was a certain smell in the air. Anticipation. Naruto stared straight forward and quietly spread out his chakra. The chakra leaked from his body and filled the hallway. He closed his eyes and finally found his stalker.

'Duck, spin kick, then reach out and grab. Bring his arm around to his back then grab the other arm. Beware of tricks,' Kyuubi muttered to his host.

Naruto waited for the person to make his move. He finally did, and quicker than Naruto expected. The person ran up to his back with a kunai in his left hand. Once he reached Naruto, he brought the weapon forward, but missed.

"Grrrrr!" the person said as a spin kick from below threw him off balance. His right hand struggled to grasp at something in front of him, but wound up being captured by his intended target. His legs were still wobbly as his arm was brought behind him. He attempted to use his free elbow to smash his target in the gut, but Naruto saw it coming. He locked his arm through the attackers. The person was rendered helpless. His legs couldn't regain balance because his target made sure of it. His arms were locked behind him. Naruto slowly leaned his head forwards to the person's ear.

"Nice try Sasuke."

Naruto released the boy's arms. Sasuke stumbled forwards, regained his balance and turned around quickly to punch Naruto in the face. Naruto took the full force of the hit and staggered backwards.

"Who said it's over?" Sasuke said as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Did he just?" Naruto said to himself. Suddenly, he found himself in the same position Sasuke was just in. Sasuke had kicked his legs from behind to weaken them, and then locked up his arms. Sasuke breathed heavily behind him.

"A Shadow Clone?" Naruto asked. Sasuke smiled behind him.

"No, just a normal substitution technique with a little extra illusionary technique added on." Naruto smiled. He leaned his head forwards.

"You would have beaten me, had you seen this coming!" Naruto slammed the back of his head into Sasuke's forehead Sasuke fell onto his back. Naruto unsheathed a kunai and lunged for the boy on the ground. Sasuke stuck his arms out, caught Naruto and flipped him over. Naruto managed to land on his feet. He turned towards Sasuke, who had gotten up and looked at him from across the hallway. Suddenly, a blur whooshed past them both. It seemed to circle them several times. Naruto wondered if this was one of Sasuke's tricks. Sasuke looked just as confused as Naruto. Finally, the blur ceased moving. Both of the boys looked over to the area it had stopped in. Naruto cringed. Sasuke grasped. Someone smiled and licked her lips. She pulled both of her hands back. Naruto and Sasuke lost their footing and flew towards each other. They landed on the floor back to back, tied in thin string nearly invisible without looking. The person responsible for this walked up to them and gave them a playful smile.

"Don't you two ever get tired of fighting each other?"

"Sakura-chan!" both of the bewildered boys said in unison. The pink haired female stood above the fallen boys smiling triumphantly. Naruto sighed. Sasuke let go of his breath.

"I let my guard down for a split second," Naruto said quietly. Sasuke remained quiet. Sakura giggled.

"You guys, we're in the same unit. We don't need to fight each other. Now come on. Dinner is about ready." Sakura turned her back and left the boys tried together. Naruto reached into his pocket and revealed another kunai, with which he sliced the rope, freeing himself and Sasuke.

"Not bad for a dipstick," Sasuke said as he lightly dusted himself off.

"You're improving, but a few more seconds and I'd have you on the run," Naruto said. They looked at each other in the eyes. Naruto could see his rival's desire to win a fight with him. Sasuke saw the same intent. Neither one of them would quit until the other had been bested for sure.

"I suppose we should get to the cafe," Naruto said. Sasuke nodded his head and together they walked slowly down the hallway.

Cafe

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke sat together at the same table every day. They were joined by Lion Unit every day. Lion unit consisted of Ino, Shikamaru, and Kiba. A while ago Choji had been on their unit, but he had foolishly died on a mission. There was no funeral. There was no sadness. It happened. That was all. His body had been left where he had died. Dead ninja were useless in the Leaf Village.

"Greeting comrades," Shikamaru said to his comrades. Naruto and Sasuke nodded their heads slightly to acknowledge their comrades. They sat down across from their allies. Sakura and Ino began light conversation on the "Life-Altering Final Exam."

"I heard that it has been called the legalized mass murdering," Ino said. "However, many of my sources were reluctant to answer any questions."

"I heard that once you leave, you leave all remaining emotions inside. Many ninja graduate right after taking the exam and join the war effort. Those that don't continue academic works here. Some say the dishonor of staying in the academy has caused defections to the Sound Village and in rare cases, suicide," Sakura pulled out every bit of information she had on the test.

"Have you asked our elders the nature of the test?" Naruto asked casually. Sakura nodded.

"Although we were able to extract a wealth of knowledge from senior students and students that didn't join the war, when questioned about the nature of the exam, they remained quiet."

"I suppose we'll find out in a while," Kiba said. The children nodded their heads in agreement. The final exams were two days away. Everyone at their grade level talked about it constantly. Rumors spread. It was up to individuals to determine the truth. Some people, like Shikamaru weren't worried at all.

"When it comes, it comes," he had said. He was one of the few people that was totally unworried. Naruto worried a little bit. But not enough so that it affected his mental training. He was sure the test would be gruesome. Almost certain actually.

"Naruto-kun, you haven't touched your grilled cheese," Sakura said, snapping the blond out of his thoughts. He looked at his food. He wasn't feeling very hungry suddenly. But he knew he needed to keep his strength up or else. He took a large bite of his sandwich and put it down. Sakura looked at him with a mildly worried look on her face.

"I'm fine," he said quietly. Sakura knew something was on his mind, but decided not to pursue it.

"Naruto-kun, Sasuke-kun," Ino suddenly said. Both boys looked up slowly with an uninterested look on their faces.

"If you haven't noticed, things have been grim around here since information has been leaked about the exams. Soooo, me and Sakura were thinking tomorrow we could spend the day together before this so-called exam of exams comes about."

"We'd really like you to join us," Sakura said. "Sasuke-kun, Naruto, won't you?" Sasuke went back to his food. Naruto leaned back in his chair. The two girls looked at them.

"It won't be just us!" Ino pressed on. "Shikamaru will be there, and so will Kiba and the Hyuuga cousins."

"And Lee-san, Tenten,-," Sakura was cut off.

"I'll go," Naruto said. Sasuke still looked reluctant. He picked at his food.

"Fine, I'll attend. Naruto, could I talk to you in private before you retire?" Sasuke didn't wait for a response. He just got up and walked towards the empty hallway. Naruto followed him, leaving the other members of the table to wonder what was going on.

Afterward: I wasn't sure of how to proceed, but this seems a decent way to go. The mood of the story will lighten a bit in the next chapter, but just a bit. What did Sasuke want? You'll have to find out in the next chapter! Preview?

Sasuke: Naruto, I just wanted you to know, whatever happens, I'm your comrade. The exam will put both of us into difficult situations. But whatever happens, don't let it stop you from completing the mission. Promise me?

Naruto: But now that I know the nature of the exam, what if we end up...

Sasuke: Promise you'll do your best?

Naruto:...Don't worry. I promise.