Naruto sat on the railing of the bridge as he waited for his teammates. He heard someone coming up to him and shifted his eyes to see Sasuke. "Finally ditched the orange huh?"

"Yeah, even through I wanted to, I didn't have a choice as it was ruined. I overdid it in training yesterday."

"Still trying to catch up to me?"

Naruto shrugged. "It could help. So what do you think this mission is?"

"Hopefully not that damn cat again."

"I'm kind of hoping it is." Sasuke looked at him like he was crazy. "I think I found an easier way to catch the damn thing, without being ripped apart by it."

"Really, show me."

"Couldn't hurt, but I need a target." He started to look around and his smile widened. "Well speak of the devil." He pointed and Sasuke turned to see the cat by the creek that ran under the bridge.

Sasuke smirked. 'This should be interesting.' He turned back to Naruto, whose cloak was moving slightly. Naruto brought out his arm with a henge on the inside to look like he was wearing a black T-shirt. In his hand was a red rope with large knots at each end. 'What the hell is that?' Naruto started swinging it above his head and it became little more than a blur.

Suddenly it was gone and there was the sound of something flying through the air. Sasuke quickly turned back to look at the cat and a red blur hit both of its left legs and wraps around all four, dropping the cat on its side. Naruto chuckles, while heading towards the cat. "It worked perfectly, no more running, no more scratching, just caught." He picks it up by the back of its neck. "If this is are mission, we can head home after Kakashi shows up, if not, maybe we can pick up the payment for it too."

"Naruto, what did you do?"

He turned to see Sakura standing not far from the bridge. "I caught the damn cat."

"What was that thing you used?"

"A bola, it's not normally used in battle, but it works pretty well to catch living things. I have to be sure to gather them up, because I only have a few."

There was a pop and Kakashi was on the bridge. "Yo."

"Let me guess, lost on the road of life. No, a black cat crossed your path, or you helped a old lady cross the street."

"Actually, I was in a meeting with the Hokage about you three. After we finish the mission I'll tell you."

"What are we doing this time Kakashi?"

"Trying to catch the Dynamo's wife's cat."

"Done." He looked at Naruto, who had the cat in his hand, its legs wrapped up.

"Good job. Now, I'm supposed to give you these." He handed each a piece of paper.

"What are they for?"

"I signed you up for the Chunin Exams, you don't have to take it, but those who do need to be in room 301 at the academy at nine tomorrow morning. I'll take the cat and you guys can have the rest of the day off to think about it."

Naruto handed the cat to him. "Kakashi-sensei, I want my bola back, so don't cut it off the cat, just unwrap it."

"I get it back to you later, okay?" Naruto nodded and Kakashi vanished in smoke with the cat.

"Are you guys going to take it?"

"Yes." 'I be able to test my skills against strong opponents and become strong for it.'

"I'll see you there then, there's no way I'll turn down this opportunity. What about you Sakura?"

"I'm not sure."

"You heard Kakashi-sensei, you don't have to, but if you do, I want you to know that we won't let anything happen to you." Sasuke just grunted and walked away. "Trust me, he may act like an ass, but he won't stand back and watch you get hurt." He placed a hand on her shoulder before walking in the opposite direction of Sasuke while waving.

While walking through the streets, Naruto noticed he was being followed by a square rock, again. "What do you want Konohamaru?"

The kids popped out of the 'rock'. "You said you would play ninja with us today."

"I don't remember that, did I really?" They all nodded and he sighed. "Fine, but only one game, I have stuff to do today. They all dash off in the same direction and Naruto smiled, pulling out another two bolas, he caught Moegi and Undo. "Two down and one to go." He helped them out of the restraints, and took off after Konohamaru.

He saw Konohamaru run around the corner and heard him run into someone. "Hey brat, watch where you're going."

"I'm sorry."

"You will be." Naruto turned the corner to find a blonde kunoichi with a large fan and a shinobi in black with purple make-up on his face and a mummy looking thing on his back.

"Kankuro, leave him alone, we have to met him soon."

"Shut up Temari, I'm just going to teach this brat a lesson first."

"Whatever, I don't want any part of it."

"Yo make-up wearing guy, put the kid down."

"Why should I?"

"Three reasons, first is he's the Hokage's grandson." Temari looked scared, Kankuro looked unimpressed. "Second is that if you don't I'll kick your ass."

Kankuro growled and reached with his free hand to the wrapped thing on his back and Naruto's hand went to his sword. "Well, what the third reason?"

"Your teammate doesn't look pleased."

"Who cares if she is?!"

"I meant him." Naruto nods at the tree in the yard next to them and Kankuro turns slowly to see a red headed boy with a gourd on his back, standing upside down on a branch.

"Kankuro, you are a disgrace to our village."

"But they were the ones…"

"Shut up or I will kill you."

"Sorry." He let go of Konohamaru, who ran behind Naruto.

Sand swirled around the boy and he appeared near his teammates. "Since your sand ninja, I guess you're here for the Chunin Exam."

"Yes. Who are you?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, and you?"

"Gaara Sabaku. I hope to see you at the exam."

"I'll be there." He released his grip on his sword as they walked away. "Strange people, huh Sasuke?" He looked back at the tree to see Sasuke sitting on the same branch.

"Should be fun."

"You do know that Kakashi lied right, we need all of us to enter."

"Sakura will, she does whatever she thinks will get my attention. That and your little speech will give her that final push."

"I guess, but you better not prove me wrong and let her get the shit kicked out of her." Sasuke dropped out of the tree and walked away. Naruto turned to Konohamaru. "Game over, I gotta get going. Say goodbye to Udon and Moegi for me."

"Okay Boss." Konohamaru ran off and Naruto started to look for a man that scared everyone he met, a supposed Taijutsu master. He wandered around the Training Grounds for an hour before he heard a loud crash. Naruto picked up his pace and found a boy with black hair in a bowl cut, two large eyebrows and wearing green spandex, crawling out of a large crater.

Naruto ran over to him. "Hey are you okay?"

The boy smiled. "Yes, thank you for you concern."

"What happened?"

"I was trying to perfect the new Taijutsu technique that Gai-sensei was teaching me. It's called the Primary Lotus."

"Sorry, I forgot to ask your name."

"It is common courtesy to give your name first."

"Really? I've never heard that before." Naruto shrugged. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki." He extended his hand, which the boy shook.

"I am Rock Lee. It's a pleasure to met you Naruto."

"The pleasure's mine Lee. I was actually looking for Gai, do you know where he is?"

"I believe he is with my teammates, come I will take you."

Naruto followed Lee through some dense trees. His ear picked up something moving through the trees. "Lee stop!" He ran in front of Lee and pulled his still covered sword. He grabbed the rope and started spinning the whole sword in front of them at a fast rate. The sound of metal hitting metal rang out through the forest as the projectiles fell to the ground. Naruto didn't let up until the only sound was his sword whirling in the air.

He slowed the spin and grabbed the handle. He looked at the weapons, there were kunai, shuriken, and senbon needles. Lee stepped forward smiling. "Ah Tenten, your aim is perfect as always."

A girl with buns in her hair and a Chinese like dress come out of the bushes in front of them. "Lee? Who's this with you?"

"This is Naruto, he's looking for Gai-sensei." Tenten looked at Naruto with a look that clearly said 'Are you insane?' before looking back at Lee.

"Lee, you know better than to come through here, Neji saw you and we figured someone was trying to spy on our training. You remember what happened last time?"

"Yes, and I was most fortunate that you weren't trying to horribly injure." She shook her head and took in Naruto's appearance, he still had his sword in hand.

"I'm impressed you can handle a sword like that, you weren't hit once."

"To tell the truth, I was really sure if I would stop them all. It was the first time I've tried something like that."

"It was pretty good." He got down on a knee and picked up the weapons. He handed them to her. "Thank you."

"No problem." He strapped Ittou Kabau on his back again with the rope. "You must really enjoy using weapons, I couldn't see very far through these trees, but your aim was incredible."

Tenten smiled. "Come on, Gai-sensei is just up ahead." She lead them out into an opening where a boy with long brown hair, white pupil less eyes, and white clothes, and a older version of Lee with a jonin vest, were waiting.

"Ah Lee, who is your youthful friend?"

"This is Naruto, he was looking for you Gai-sensei."

"Naruto, have you come to learn about the Power of Youth?"

"Actually, I think Kakashi-sensei said something about that."

"So you are on my rival's team."

"Unfortunately, he's always late, while making lame excuses about why, and reading that perverted book of his."

"I see, so why have you searched me out Naruto?"

"I was wondering if you knew where I could get some training weights."

"You are in luck, I have two sets as neither Tenten or Neji wanted them."

"Could I get them both?" All four of them looked at him in shock, though you couldn't really tell with Neji.

"You have such youthfulness, it rivals that of my own and Lee's! With both sets, you will have half of what Lee's wearing now!"

"Uh, thank you." Gai placed a box in front of him and he took out the bands of weight, one at a time and put them on, one on each leg and arm. He had a hard time moving at first, but slowly got use to the new weight.

Gai and Lee were ranting on about the Power of Youth, and Tenten was glaring holes through Naruto, since he was the one that had started them at it. "So Lee, how has your progress of the Primary Lotus gone."

"I have finished it Gai-sensei."

"Very good Lee. I now forbid it from being used."

"But Gai-sensei…"

"Lee!" It stopped Lee from saying another word. "The only time you are allowed to use it is if someone precious to you is in danger."

"I understand Gai-sensei."

"Good."

Naruto stood near them, by the edge of the clearing. "Someone precious."

Gai turned to him and saw the saddened expression. "Is something wrong Naruto?"

"In our mission to the Land of Waves, I met a boy named Haku who said that when you fight to protect someone precious to you, you will become as strong as you need to be. The next day, I found out that he was one of our enemies and he died to protect his partner, Zabuza, who didn't even seem to care about Haku. Zabuza killed his employer from insulting Haku. Since that battle, I have trying to figure out what makes a person precious. I carry Zabuza's sword, though it's not the same anymore, it changed when I cut my hand on the blade and made a promise to them."

Lee and Gai were in tears, Neji looked bored and Tenten was shocked. "Such a sad story of the loss of youthfulness."

"Naruto, could I see the blade?"

"Sure." He pulled his sword again and flicked the clasp. The leather strip fell to the ground and the cloth went with it.

She smiled. "It's an impressive blade Naruto, what its name?"

"Ittou Kabau. Please don't ask me why, it's complicated." She nodded. He rewraps the blade and puts it on his back again.

"Naruto, I will tell you what I believe makes a precious person if you like." Naruto looked at Gai with a smile and nods. "A precious person is someone who you would do anything to protect them, even give your own life."

"Thanks Gai, for everything."

"Your welcome, even if you are my rival's student, I will do everything in my power to fan the Flames of Youth."

"GAI-SENSEI."

"LEE."

"GAI-SENSEI."

"LEE." They hug and the back round changes to a cliff overlooking the sea with waves crashing against the side. Naruto tries to dispel it thinking it's a genjutsu.

"Don't waste your time, it won't work, we've tried."

"Are you guys entering the Chunin Exam?"

"Yeah, Gai-sensei had us skip a year to prepare. Kakashi probably signed you guys up because of the Uchiha right?"

"Most likely, but I don't care. I'll get my chance to show the bastard up this time."

"Good luck."

"You guys too, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then, provided my third teammate shows."

"I'm pretty sure that Lee would be devastated if he didn't get a chance to fight you."

"Well if she doesn't show, I'll see if he wants to spar some other time."

"I wouldn't say that to loud, or he'll challenge you."

"Good point. See ya later you guys." He waved to them and walked off down a dirt path. He trained at Training Ground Seven until dark and headed home. He flopped down on his bed when he got there, after removing his sword and cloak. 'Kyuubi, does time pass differently in Hell like when I visit you in there?'

'I'm not sure Kit, time doesn't really apply to me, I'm immortal after all.'

'Well, I really hope so, or I'm going to have to set aside a week or so for my test.'

'You still might have to, I won't go down easily.'

'Trust me, I know, but neither will I. Besides, you never said I had to win, just to show them my power.'

'Seems I misjudged you Kit, you shouldn't hide who you really are.'

'Have you sensed anything from the girl?'

'No I haven't Kit. She must be used to surpressing her chakra.'

'Thanks Kyuubi, good night.'

'Good night Kit.' Naruto fell asleep soon after.

--

When Naruto woke up the next morning, he went through his normal routine and started to get ready, but he couldn't find his weights. He tore apart his bedroom trying to find, he looked at his clock and saw that it was just after eight. 'Damn it, where are they?'

'I believe you're still wearing them Kit.'

Naruto looked down and saw it was true. 'How can I be moving so easily, I've only been wearing them for half a day.'

'You tear your muscles and when those tears heal, you become stronger. Since I increase your healing rate, the tears heal faster and you keep ripping your muscles so you get stronger faster.'

'So I get stronger faster with less work? Then what's the point of working for anything? It's too much like Sasuke for comfort.'

'I agree Kit, but it's a perk of being my vessel. Work as hard as you want and you'll get twice the normal results. You should get ready Kit, you don't have much time before the exam.'

He looked at the clock again and it was almost eight thirty. "Shit!" He put on his cloak and attached his sword as he ran out the door.