Note: I don't own Naruto, Shonen Jump does.

Another note: I am a huge fan of rooting for the underdog, and Naruto &Hinata are clear cut cases of that.

One more note: I am open to suggestions as to what could make this fic better, let me know and I'll consider any you might have.

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Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi and Kurenai were walking through the woods. Kakashi couldn't help but notice something different about Naruto. He seemed much calmer and focused than he used to. Kakashi didn't know if that was due to the training or just natural maturity.

Naruto noticed Kakashi looking at him, then smiled and gave a peace sign.

"Oi, then again…." Kakashi thought to himself. The Konohan four reached the very same testing center as last years exam.

"Ok, now listen you two, a lot of people from last years exam are here, I realize that some of them won't be happy to see you, but remember, no fighting." Kurenai said.

Hinata nodded to her sensei. "Yea, I got it, no fighting." Naruto said. "Correct." Kakashi said.

"Unless they start it." Naruto added.

"No, not at all." Kakashi enforced.

"Right, right….unless they hit me first." Naruto added once again.

Kakashi then gave Naruto a deathful look.

"Aw, come on sensei, you know I won't fight." Naruto said rubbing the back of his head.

Kakashi sighed. As they entered inside and headed towards the doors of the testing room. They saw someone up in the dark balcony. It was a boy wearing all black clothing holding a giant gord on his back. His red hair had grown out some since last exam. But his browless shadowed eyes remained the same.

Kakashi and Kurenai knew right away who it was and thought it would be best to walk straight to the testing room. Naruto on the other hand saw who it was and sure enough….

"Yo Gaara ! Whats up?" Kakashi and Kurenai could just bop Naruto over the head for doing that. They were expecting something not so good to happen. Hinata deciding to greet the odd red-head, bowed to him.

" Hello Gaara-kun." Hinata said politely. Gaara looked down at the four, Kakashi and Kurenai did not expect what happened next. Gaara gave a smile and slight wave.

"Yo." He said.

"Hey Gaara what'yre ya doin' out here in the dark like this? Yer gonna creep people out." Naruto said.

Gaara maintaining his smile looked to the side.

"That's my thing." He defended. "Besides it's way too crowded in there, I came out here just to breathe."

"Too crowded?" Naruto asked.

"Yea, there's a lot more here than last time. Looks like this years gonna be a lot more……interesting. Gaara said.

A big smile came up on Naruto's face and surprising enough, on Hinata's as well.

"Can't wait." We'll see ya inside." Naruto said.

"Good luck." Gaara said.

"Good luck to you as well Gaara." Hinata said.

Kakashi was a bit surprised that Naruto not only knew the sand genin, but was actually on good terms with him. Kurenai was also a bit surprised that Hinata was bold enough to even talk to him.

As they entered through the doors They came face to face with all the original rookie 9, excluding Sasuke, who Naruto could not retrieve last time. And Shino, who had already become a chunin from the last exam. Sure enough they all rushed over to greet them.

"Wow, Naruto, you and Hinata-chan look great." Ino said, who was now wearing her hair in two buns, with her long bangs still hanging in her eyes.

" Thanks Ino, you look a lot stronger." Naruto complimented.

Then Akamaru jumped from Kibas shoulder into Hinata's arms, licking her face.

"Haha, I've missed you to Akamaru." Hinata said.

"So, I hear your trainer's some kind'a tai-jutsu badass. Is that true?" Kiba asked Hinata.

Hinata nodded. "Oh he's really incredible, I got to see him fight, he's amazing." Hinata said.

Naruto smiled. "Speakin' of amazing just wait til you guys see Hinata-chan fight!" Naruto said.

"Naruto-kun…" Hinata said with an embarrassed look on her face looking down but still smiling.

Everyone looked at her. " Are you serious? She's that good?" Chouji asked.

"Oh man totally! If there's gonna be preliminaries this year, I hope I don't have to fight her!" Naruto said.

Hinata then got a shocked look in her eyes as she was looking at the ground. "Oh no!…" she thought. "…I didn't think about that! What if I do have to fight Naruto-kun?"

Hinata's train of thought was subsided when a pink-haired genin came and jumped between two in the group to give her a hug.

"Oh, my god Hinata-chan, it's been forever!" Sakura said.

"Oh, Sakura-chan you look wonderful." said Hinata.

Sakura then broke her focus from Hinata and noticed Naruto. The air in the group was now totally silent. Sakura gave a mad look to Naruto. Not the usual mad look she would get when he did something silly or stupid. This was a much more serious look. It seemed like a "I don't give a damn if you live or die look". Everyone noticed that Naruto had a sorrowful but firm look in his eyes.

(((((Flashback))))))

Naruto and Sakura were standing in the rain. Sakura had tears in her eyes after Naruto told her he couldn't bring back Sasuke. Naruto was looking at the ground in shame. Sakura was ridiculously upset, she had to take her anger out on someone.

"Why couldn't it be you?" she shouted at Naruto.

Naruto stood shocked.

"You always boast about how you'd never let your comrades down, why now? Why of all the promises you could have broken did you have to break this one?" We could have used Sasuke-kun! He was at least useful to the village! He was the genius! But no we had to get stuck with you, the village idiot! Why couldn't you be the one who went away?"

Naruto stood there completely speechless. Sakura calmed down a little and turned around.

"Naruto….I will NEVER forgive you for this." She said.

(((((End Flashback))))))

Sakura and Naruto were still in their stare.

"Naruto." Sakura said bluntly.

"Sakura." Naruto said just as bluntly.

Sakura then turned around and walked away. Everyone knew why these two were acting like this. Kakashi looked at Sakura walk away as he recalls an incident a while back.

((((((Flashback)))))))

"Yes, Hokage-sama I would like to be transferred to another team please." Sakura said.

Kakashi and Sarutobi were in the room.

"Sakura, are sure this is what you want, I'm sure we can find a replacement for Sasuke." Kakashi said.

"No Kakashi-sensei, please, I just…..I just don't feel I can work with Naruto anymore." Sakura said.

"Now Sakura, I don't think that's fair. Naruto did everything he could to get Sasuke back." Sarutobi said.

Sakura began to get emotional.

"Then why didn't he?" she yelled with tears running down her eyes. " He let me down! I now no longer feel I can trust him! How can I work with someone I can't trust? Please Hokage-sama, I have to transfer to another team!" Sakura begged.

Sarutobi sat there , rubbing his forehead, ready to make a difficult decision.

((((((End Flashback)))))))))

"So, what team is she on now?" Naruto asked Kakashi.

"Well, since TenTen has gone home to tend to her ill mother. Sakura has joined team Gai." Kakashi said.

"Hmph, fine with me." Naruto said.

Ino took Hinata aside. "Sooo, a year of training with Naruto, anything "happen?" Ino said quietly to Hinata, nudging her arm with her elbow.

Hinata's face turned bright red. "What…do you mean?" Hinata asked.

"Well, you're totally head over heals for him right?" Ino responded.

"You know about that?" Hinata said.

"Hinata-chan…pretty much everyone knows about that." Ino said.

Hinata now knew a whole new level of embarrassment.

"Um, nothing really happened, but we know each other a lot more than ever now." Hinata said.

"Well that should definitely lead somewhere." Ino said encouragingly.

Hinata smiled and nodded. The kids then walked through the sea of students.

"Gaara wasn't kidding, there's totally way more competition this year." Naruto thought.

As Naruto and Hinata along with the others were walking, a figure appeared right in front of them in a cloud of smoke while in a kneeling position, he then rose to his feet to face Naruto. His hair was brown and even longer than last time. He wore pure black shorts and a pure white, silk, short sleeved shirt. Both his right arm and leg were bandaged, though merely for a fashion statement not because of any injury. The one thing that could not be forgotten were his lavender opaque eyes. It was none other than Neji Hyuuga. Neji looked down at Naruto and Hinata in a very cocky manner. Neji had shot up a few inches within the past year.

"Neji.." Naruto said. "You hit yer growth spurt huh?"

Neji didn't respond, he just stood there sizing up both his cousin and his rival. "Ya smell that?" Neji said looking to the side.

Naruto looked puzzled. " Hey! It wasn't me!" Naruto said angrily pointing at Neji.

A sweat drop appeared at the back of Neji's head he was intending to say something like it's the stench of fear. Naruto however ruined a perfectly good opportunity for trash talk. During a stare down with Naruto, Neji took a step forward. However, as soon as he did a female ninja appeared between them her arms extending out attempting to hold the two genin at bay.

" Now boys I believe any fighting should be done on the battlefield. Not in a classroom." The mysterious ninja said.

She had long green hair in a thick braid, a whit tank-top and brown forearm guards. Another distinctive feature she had was that she sported a headband of the sound village.

"This has nothing to do with you, stay out of this Sound nin." Neji said.

"I asked nicely." she said. Her eyes then narrowed. "Do I have to raise my voice?"

"Ah forget it. I shouldn't even bother with you." Neji said disgruntled. "I will say this though. My fighting style has improved greatly, I look forward to seeing both of you on the battlefield and getting my revenge." Neji said walking away.

The female Sound nin then walked away.

"And getting my revenge, grr.. the ego on that guy." Naruto said.

"Naruto-kun, careful , Kakashi-sensei said no fighting. Hinata said

Naruto smiled as he put his hand on Hinata's shoulder, making her blush.

"Don't worry Hinata-chan, I knew Neji was just trying to get into some macho banter. I'm totally under control." Naruto said.

"Alright maggots listen up!" said Ibiki . "Chat, time's over! Take your seats now!"

"Jeez, this guy again? He should consider retirement." Naruto thought to himself.

The students all took their seats. "The first part of the Chunin exam begins now!"

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Next Time

Naruto: Hah, this test is pretty much the same as last time, we'll blow through this! I cant wait til we reach the forest of death! It's gonna be awesome.

Kiba: Hey Naruto! Hinata-chan! Wait for me would ya?

Naruto: Next time! The Forest of Death! Again!