I still do not own Naruto or any of it's characters. I only own Zack and his mood swings.

Like I stated once before (which I am only typing again because I feel like it) the updates between chapters are few and far between seeing as I am working on other projects and my story In the Spider's Web, which definitely takes priority.

With that being said, this is rated M on account of language and the possibilities of future scenes whether they be gory or sexual or whatever. The M is strictly for precaution because I'm paranoid like that.

Oh! And no beta so don't be surprised if there are mistakes in this...I can only catch so many of the damn bastards. *Shudder* Zack is beginning to rub off on me. Sorry.

A/N: Mmeggy999 and Joanna Karen Rain, thank you for the reviews. They are greatly appreciated and loved. This chapter of crazy weirdness is for the both of you.

-Chapter 3-

I stared down at the blue fabric draped over the palm of my hands. The metal plate stitched in the middle bore the Leaf Village's symbol. I winced as the sun reflected off of the metal plate. The damn thing was shiny as hell. Was I supposed to do something about it? Wasn't this like dangerous? Having a reflective surface on your forehead was like Naruto's bull's-eye-on-my-back orange jumpsuit he wears.

'Am I supposed to dull the shine?' I thought nonchalantly, turning the forehead protector around in my hands.

I was currently on the Academy's rooftop on account of me not having anyone waiting down below to congratulate me on my extremely lucky accomplishment. I swear a Leprechaun had something to do with it. I mean…I did eat a bowl of Lucky Charms the last morning I was in my own body. That could have something to do with it right? Eh, probably not. Yeah…nope.

Leaning up against the edge of the rooftop, I caught sight of a sulking Naruto sitting on the tree swing out in the front of the Academy. The blonde was watching all of the other recent graduates smile and boast to their parents; some of which were sending the blonde dirty looks and whispering things under their breath. Things I knew to be against the law. If things continued on the way the plot is supposed to go with Naruto, then that white haired bastard Mizuki—DAMNIT! I FORGOT ABOUT THAT! STUPID! STUPID!

I clutched my dark locks, by pitch orbs wide as I stared at Naruto…who should have been talking to that traitor already. I fucked up! I fucked up so bad, that I should get the World's Greatest Fucker of Fuck Ups Award. Without Mizuki here to trick Naruto into stealing the scroll, he won't learn his signature jutsu nor will he be promoted to genin. I need to do something…but what? Shaking my head, I took a step off of the rooftop before actually thinking about what they hell I just did. The change to freak out had come and gone in a blink and I completely missed that opportunity as my feet hit the ground in a light thud.

Instead of clutching my chest in horror and to make sure my heart was not going to burst out of my body, I tucked my hands deep within my white shorts and ignored the cooing parents and awed newly made genin. Stepping over to the sulking blonde, I leaned up against the tree and waited for him to speak first. It was only when the parents decided to drag their children home and the sun was steadily going down that Naruto said something.

"Are you here to shove you forehead protector in my face, Teme?" Naruto whispered, his voice lacking any bite to it on account of him still sulking because he failed.

"You failed the clone jutsu again didn't you?" I asked just as quietly, leaning against the tree truck and staring up through the branches at the different colors of sunlight peeking through the leaves.

The sound of Naruto quickly getting off of the swing had me look at him only to have the front of my shirt grabbed by the blonde. He gave me a jerk, my back hitting the trunk as his azure eyes glared into my obsidian ones.

"WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!?" Naruto shouted.

Instead of answering, I let out a heavy sigh before prying the blonde's grip off of the front of my shirt.

"My father once spoke about a clan with insane levels of chakra, levels that prevented them from performing D-Rank jutsus like the clone jutsu. Maybe you can't do that stupid jutsu because your chakra levels are too high," I told the blonde with a huff, finally able to get his grip to let go.

Naruto blinked up at me. Wow…he is shorter than Sakura. Something flashed across the blonde's face and he quickly turned away, his hands forming fists at his sides.

"Why are you…helping me?" Naruto questioned, his words seemed to struggle to be said. "First my written test and now this?" The blonde whipped around to look at me. "Why are you suddenly so different from the bastard I went to the Academy with?"

My face remained blank, until my lips tilted downwards in the corners. Brushing a hand through my hair, I answered him.

"Because a veil has been lifted," I said vaguely.

Oh my god! It is so hard not to laugh right now, you have no idea. Playing the serious part has never been my forte. Hell, I could not even keep a straight face during poker games with my friends. I always ended up losing my bag of Doritos to those cheating bastards….speaking of bastards….did they take Mizuki to be interrogated or will he attempt to steal the scroll himself seeing as I am with Naruto right now? Looking back at the blonde, I motioned for him to follow me.

"Come on, Dobe, we have a Hokage to talk to about your genin promotion," I said, turning away from the blonde and walking towards the Academy gate.

The Hokage tower was right next to the Academy, so getting there was no problem. The problem lied with getting Naruto passed the glaring secretary that stood between us and the stairway leading up to Heaven….nah, I'm just shitting ya. The stairway lead up to the old man Hokage. It'll be like 'Knock, knock on Heaven's Door'….OH MY GOD GET OUT OF MY HEAD you blasted song!

"Look lady, we're here to see gramps," Naruto told the secretary.

Her lips twisted into a sneer that made her face look ugly. Were lips supposed to do that?

"The Hokage is busy, brat," She snarled down at the blonde, before turning to me with a smile. "Uchiha-kun, if you wait one moment, I'll get him for you."

Naruto's shoulders sagged, apparently use to the treatment from the woman. Before the blonde could leave or the woman could turn away, I grabbed hold of the back of Naruto's filthy jumpsuit and yanked him close to me while sending the secretary my most disgusted look I could muster using Sasuke's face. It must to have been a good look, because the woman flinched back from me.

"The Dobe is with me, now either show us up to the Hokage's office or get out the way," I ordered, hiding my own shiver at the sound of how hostile Sasuke's voice was…and I was the one talking.

Naruto openly gapped at me as the secretary stuttered out an apology before rushing up the stairs towards the Hokage's office. These people are fucking ridiculous. Naruto is twelve for pete's sake. I mean…given that this is a different universe and it is a village operated by ninjas, but still. These people are pissing me off. Dragging the stunned blonde behind me up the stairs, I pushed past the pale woman and entered Sarutobi Hiruzen's office. I have to fix this problem I created. Before we leave this office, Naruto will be a damn genin…or I'll probably do something stupid, if this wasn't already idiotic.

"Sasuke-kun? Naruto-kun?" Hiruzen questioned, looking at us from between two tall stacks of paper.

Hot damn that's a lot of paperwork. Why doesn't the old man use shadow clones to help him out? Is he a masochist or something?

"He—Hey gramps," Naruto stuttered, causing me to glance sideways at the blonde.

What? He stuttered. This was like…once in a lifetime.

"Hokage-sama, you have to give the Dobe another shot at becoming a genin," I said, getting straight to the point.

Hiruzan stared down at me, his elbows resting on his desk with his chin on his laced fingers. One of his brows lifted and I could feel wide blue eyes openly looking at me as well.

"Hn, the dobe failed the clone jutsu again…isn't there something you can do?" I asked, starting to feel the uncomfortable pressure of Hiruzen's stare.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke-kun, but if Naruto failed then he will have to wait until the next Genin test," Hiruzen spoke slowly, eyeing me.

He was eyeing me, just like my mother would we I was up to something and she knew it. That woman could be scary and WHY IN THE HELL AM I COMPARING MY FAMILY members to this old man? Damn my thoughts have mood swings.

"But Hokage-sama…" I started, realizing I still had a hold of Naruto's jumpsuit and let it go. "If the dobe can't focus a small amount of his chakra into a D-Rank illusion clone, couldn't you…teach him a different clone technique that will work with his insane chakra levels?"

I think my soul is floating out of my mouth. Is it? I chance a glance. Nope, but it sure felt like it was after I said that. Before Hiruzen could make Naruto leave the office or say anything at all, the blonde finally spoke up and stepped up beside me.

"That's right, gramps! Teme said that his dad told him about a clan with high chakra levels and they couldn't do the clone jutsu. So why do I have to learn that stupid jutsu?" Naruto asked, his voice naturally loud.

I reacted before thinking, hitting my knuckles against the blonde's head in a knuckle sandwich, twisting his hair a little.

"Don't be so loud, Naruto, I'm standing right beside you!" I shouted just as loudly.

Naruto rubbed his head, scowling at me.

"Damn it, Teme, that hurt!"

"It wasn't supposed to tickle, Dobe!"

A single clap stopped us from saying anything more to one another. We turned to see an amused Hiruzen.

"Alright, I'll allow Naruto-kun a second chance of taking the Genin test. You have until team placements next week to pass, Naruto-kun. And Sasuke-kun," Hiruzen said, making me swallow the lump rising in my throat at the way he spoke to me. "You're going to help him."

What?

"Huh?"

Smooth. Real smooth, Zack. Now you've done it.