Naruko awoke, sitting up quickly. 'W-Where am I?' She looked around, recognizing the room by the picture in the corner. It was a picture of Tazuna's family. 'They brought me back…' Naruko said and she threw her legs over the side of the bed, standing up slowly. Her legs were asleep, signifying that she had been asleep for awhile. She made her way down the stairs with pins and needles in her feet.

She stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked at the dinner table which was full of her team and the clients family. "S-Sasuke?" Naruko asked and he turned to her before smirking at her. Naruko ran and hugged him tightly. "You idiot." She muttered before pulling back and punching him on the top of the head. "YOU IDIOT!" She said with force this time and Kakashi could be heard chuckling. Sakura remained silent and didn't dare to speak against Naruko after watching her mercilessly tear apart those thugs.

Inari seemed to cower away from Naruko who looked at him with a confused look. "Are you ok Inari?" The little boy didn't respond. Tsunami pulled him a bit closer as Naruko looked at her. Tazuna didn't say anything but he gave her a sorrowful look. Tsunami and Inari were scared of her, there was no changing that. Naruko nodded slightly to Tazuna and sat down. "Although…" She sighed. "Although there was quite a bit of uh… death…" She said and Inari flinched.

"We completed the mission and when we leave, everyone here will be given their money back and be able to pay for the A-Rank mission." Naruko said with a kind smile directed at Tazuna who nodded back with a smile of his own. "I'm sorry for the hassle, we will be out of your hair soon Tsunami, Inari." She said and she served herself, eating slowly and quietly. Sasuke talked to Kakashi about training and Sakura just listened in. Tazuna conversed with Tsunami and occasionally Inari.

Team Seven left the next day after packing their things, Naruko remained silent the entire time and left without saying a word to Sakura, Tsunami, Inari, or Tazuna.


Naruko flopped down on her bed with a sigh. Even ramen from Ichiraku hadn't cheered her up, that always cheered her up. Seeing the scared faces of Inari and Tsunami just tore her up inside, it hurt worse that taking lives. But then again, after killing literally hundreds of people, she had grown kind of dull to killing people. It still remained on her mind but not as bad. She was learning to shut off her emotions now.

She sat up. Maybe it was time for more training. She did the hand seals, bit her thumb, and slammed her hand down.

"Summoning Jutsu." Naruko said and the small form of Amarath appeared.

"You are back it seems. My lord Naruko, what happened to your clothing?" Amarath asked and Naruko gave her a sad look.

"They got drenched in blood…" Naruko said and Amarath nodded. She formed into the human version of herself again and pulled Naruko into her chest. "The way they looked at me Amarath…" She felt a tear fall down onto the fox's chest who hugged her tighter. "I saved them and their village but they looked at me with fear in their eyes… they were scared of me…" Naruko said and Amarath sighed.

"It truly isn't fair Naruko, but being a ninja isn't about being a loved hero or savior, or not being feared. Being a ninja is about completing the mission, risking your life to complete the mission, whether they see you as a hero or not doesn't matter. You are you they don't have to give you the recognition. You know you are a hero so why should it matter." Naruko nodded into her chest and pulled back, wiping her tears.

"I have new clothing for you anyway." Amarath said and Naruko gave her a confused look. "I thought about it and I decided that I would get you a new look altogether, maybe to match your sword. Here." She opened her hands and a small poof of smoke was seen. Naruko's eyes widened when it cleared. "Wear these Naruko. Let's not train today, let's just relax." Naruko nodded and stripped off her clothes, leaving her in her sports bra and panties.

She put on the pants first which was a pair of dark blue ninja pants with a black trim. After that she put on black socks with black and blue tabi. On her upper body she put on a dark blue long sleeve shirt that went all the way to her wrists but didn't impair her movement. On the back of the long sleeve was the kanji for 'fox' in white. On her hands were plated gloves similar to Kakashi's. She tied her hair back in a ponytail.

She looked so much more like a ninja.

"Why isn't there a jacket though?" Naruko asked and the fox woman smiled.

"Because that wouldn't leave room for your chunin vest would it?" Naruko grinned and hugged the woman tightly. "Now, are you hungry?" The fox asked and Naruko nodded. "Then let's go to that Ramen place you enjoy so much." Naruko began to shake with excitement, practically dragging the woman toward Ichiraku.


Naruko woke up with a smile on her face. She was cheered up greatly the say before, she had ramen before and after meeting up with Amarath. She rolled out of bed and slid on her new gear, walking toward the front door. Naruko opened it and she turned around on her way out to close it.

She heard footsteps behind her and she turned around to see a kneeling Anbu with brown hair. "Lord Hokage has summoned you Naruko, allow me to take you through shunshin." The Anbu grabbed her arm and they disappeared in a plume of smoke, reappearing outside of the hokage tower. "He's waiting." The Anbu said and Naruko nodded.

Naruko entered his office soon after and smiled at the Hokage. She frowned at the sight of Kiba and smirked at the sight of Shikamaru. The door opened behind her and a woman with purple hair and tan trenchcoat walked in. "I bet all three of you genin brats are wondering why I've brought you here." Naruko nodded and the other two mimicked her. "You three have been selected by your jonin teachers to take a mission with me to determine whether or not you are chunin material already."

"I understand the Nara but I don't understand the blonde brat or Inuzuka." Anko said and Naruko frowned. Kiba growled before Naruko's frown turned into a knowing look.

"It's because I have more to offer and have already taken lives." Anko nodded and she looked at Kiba who shrugged and she chuckled a bit. Both Shikamaru and Kiba realized what Naruko said and turned to her with wide eyes.

"Taken lives? You killed people already!?" Kiba asked and Shikamaru sighed deeply.

"It is in the line of work… although you are quite young to have killed somebody." Naruko shook her head.

"I didn't kill a person I killed hundreds of monsters threatening to destroy the land of wave. Though the people there are scared of me now." Naruko said and the Hokage beckoned her over. Naruko looked at the book he had in his hands and her eyes widened.

Pg. 47

Naruko Uzumaki

Gender: Female

Age: Unknown

Village: Konohagakure

Abilities: Swordsmanship

Most Known For: Drenching the ground in the wave with blood

Rank: B/A Rank (Undetermined)

Description: Blonde hair and red eyes, usually soaked in the blood of her opponents. A long white ninjato on her back.

Nickname: None Given

After reading that Naruko was almost in tears. It made her out to be a monster. "Drenching the ground in the wave with blood!?" Naruko shouted with malice in her voice and the hokage nodded. "Whatever, anyway… what are we going to be doing?" Naruko asked and the snake mistress grinned widely.

"The hokage said he had a mission for us." Anko said and Hiruzen nodded.

"She is correct, I have a B-Rank mission that Anko could complete by herself but she will be leaving most of the work to you three, I expect you to be swift and represent the leaf well." They all nodded and Hiruzen pulled out a scroll. "It seems that a prisoner from our T&I department has escaped. I need you four to track him down and bring him back." Hiruzen opened the scroll revealing a picture, description, and last sighting.

"Azuki Nado." Naruko said. She hadn't heard the name before but it didn't matter.

"Last known sighting… Village in the Rain… He has long black hair, no facial hair, and green eyes." Naruko said out loud to everyone.

After getting all of the information Naruko and the others went to get ready for the mission packing for a three week outing.


Naruko, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Anko were hopping tree to tree at high speed, headed toward the hidden rain village. Naruko was silent as Shikamaru explained a plan he had come up with, including talking to anyone that could be a witness to him being there, and if they encounter him.


Team Anko (Temp) arrived at the gate to the rain village and went in, going to search and ask around for the person they were looking for. They were all equipped with radios in their ears for communication.


Team Anko was back to jumping tree to tree, on their way to a village away from the rain where the man had said he was going to a local bartender.

Naruko landed on a rooftop, discreetly looking for the man with squinted eyes. Her eyes widened as she spotted a man with the description. She whispered into the mic on her ear.

"Snake, Hound, Deer, I found the target." She received the accepting answers from her team and went to engage, unknown to her, she was being observed by Anko who was assessing her skills.

Naruko made sure nobody was around and she held her ninjato up to his back, right behind his heart, one swift move and it would mean the end of the man's life.

"Azuki Nado, you are under arrest, you will be escorted back to the land of fire and put back into the cell that you escaped from or I will be forced to take your life right now." Naruko said and the man remained silent for a moment. Naruko took note of her surrounding, making sure that there was nobody to get in the middle.

"I won't be coming with you." He said and Naruko frowned. She swiftly went to deliver the killing blow but the man jumped forward, already weaving through hand seals. "Earth Release: Great Wall of Rock!" The man yelled and a large wall made of rock sprung from the earth, making it impossible for Naruko to keep track of the man.

"C'mon Akamaru!" Naruko's eyes widened.

"Kiba no!" Naruko yelled but it was too late.

"FANG OVER FANG!" Kiba yelled as he and Akamaru drilled into the wall. The wall crumbled but from behind the wall came a massive fireball toward Kiba and Akamaru. They were unable to avoid the massive fireball and as they were about to be consumed by it Naruko pushed them out of the way.

Kiba and Akamaru flew to the side and Naruko dashed at Azuki, ducking under a kick that he threw and elbowing at his gut. The man's gut hardened and the elbow connected with a loud crack. The man laughed and kicked her in the gut. She flew back and burst into smoke. His eyes widened and it was too late to do anything but his body wouldn't move anyway. He was trapped with a shadow.

Shikamaru was revealed through the smoke and the man looked down with his eyes, a sword protruded through the left side of his chest. Naruko was standing behind him with red burn marks up her left arm and her face. She had an intense glare set on him and Kiba simultaneously. Half of her sleeve was burned and parts of her hair were black.

Anko jumped down from the rooftop and nodded to Shikamaru who dropped the shadow possession. Naruko unsheathed the blade from his chest and he dropped to the floor, dead.

"Good job Naruko, Shikamaru. Kiba, you were reckless and even though I like your enthusiasm, you got your teammate injured. If it wasn't for her, one or both of you would be dead." She said, referring to Naruko.

"H-Hey, don't worry about it Kiba, I'll heal." Naruko said and Kiba frowned and looked down in shame.

"Mission complete. We should go to a nearby hospital to get those burns checked out." Naruko shook her head and did the hand seals for the summoning jutsu.

"That wont be necessary, I have it covered." Naruko said, summoning Amarath. "Could you heal me Amarath?" Naruko and and Amarath observed the burns.

"I can repair your long sleeve but I think you should go to a hospital to get those burns checked out, I have never been good at healing them." Naruko nodded. Amarath repaired the shirt with chakra threading and after saying goodbye, she disappeared in smoke.

"Kiba, I want you to think about your mistakes. It may have turned out relatively ok this time but next time, it could spell the death of not only you, but the entire team." Anko said as she sealed the body in a scroll. She summoned a snake. "Kodachi, Go alert the hokage that the assailant is dead but we are going to take around a week to recuperate." The snake agreed and left hastily in a poof of smoke.


Naruko laid in her hospital bed with a bored look on her face. Kiba was in the room, next to the bed but he was being silent. He had barely said anything since the incident and it had been two hours, that was a long time for Kiba to be quiet. Anko and Shikamaru were out, getting them something to eat.

"Y'kn-" Kiba interrupted her.

"I'm sorry…" He said and Naruko frowned at him.

"It's ok to feel bad Kiba but I'm not sorry, I'm glad that I saved your life today and I would do it again a million times over. You are my comrade and I will give my life to protect every one of my comrades, including the womanizing perverts." She said and Kiba blished a bit at her last words.

"What do you mean womanizing perverts!?" Kiba yelled and Naruko grinned. "I remember all those times you hit on me in the academy Kiba." Kiba frowned.

"I only hit on you because you were better than anyone else in the class." It was Naruko's turn to blush a bit and Kiba snickered. "Anyway, I never expected it to go anywhere… it was more of… me letting you know that you were beautiful, even if you already knew." He said and Naruko couldn't help the grin that came onto her face.

"Why thank you, Mr. Inuzuka." Naruko said and she watched his coat move a bit before Akamaru's head peeked out of Kiba's collar. "There you are cutie, I was wondering when you'd come out." Naruko said, petting the dog's head. Kiba smiled at the sight and she grinned back.

"Anyway yeah, I should be good to go in another hour, I have naturally good healing." Kiba frowned but nodded. "I'm pretty sure that if anyone is going to get selected for chunin it's going to be Shikamaru." Naruko said with a small laugh that Kiba replicated.

"How about you let me take you out when we get back Naruko?" Kiba asked with a smirk and Naruko looked at him for a moment before smiling back a bit.

"Actually, I think I might take you up on that." Kiba's eyes slowly widened. Akamaru barked happily and Naruko giggled a bit at Kiba's shocked face.

"ALRIGHT!" Kiba yelled and Anko came in with Shikamaru.

"What happened!?" She yelled with a kunai drawn and Naruko started to laugh loudly. Shikamaru just face palmed and Anko glared at her. "Shut up brat!"


Team Anko made their way back to Konoha after a long mission. Naruko had recieved a message along the way from their teams that they were all signed up for the chunin exams that were beginning in a week after they got back to the village.

Along the way they met some of the teams from other villages that would be participating in the exams. There were teams from every part of the world. One in particular had a glare off with Naruko. It was a team from the cloud. They seemed to be out for Naruko if that made any sense but it really did, with her being in the bingo book.


Naruko, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Anko arrived at the hokage tower. "Lord Hokage, I analyzed their skill and I will go over it with you after we brief you on the mission." Hiruzen nodded at Anko's words and sighed as they explained that the man had been killed in action. The three genin were released after that and Anko was left to explain her analysis to the hokage.

"So what did you think?" The hokage asked Anko who frowned.

"I think you're testing me for some reason old man. The Nara and Inuzuka were normal and genin level… well when it came to skill… that Nara has the mind of a Kage. But Uzumaki… she is more fit to be in the ANBU… she was analytical, stealthy, powerful, cold, and she took the man's life without a second's hesitation, I got the vibe she was already being trained in the ANBU." Hiruzen frowned and Anko frowned back.

"I'll see what I can gather but are you sure?" Anko nodded.

"She is at least chunin level lord hokage." Hiruzen nodded and released Anko. He had a lot to think about. If she was truly that strong it would explain why they went out of their way to put a fresh genin in the bingo book. Even if she was Anbu or Chunin material right now, she could make Kage level in no time if she kept up whatever she was doing.


Naruko coughed up blood as a fist slammed into her gut and she was sent flying back across the grass. "Again! Faster and Harder!" The humanoid fox woman said. Naruko stood and the fox rushed at her. Naruko pushed her fist up as it came close to her face and twirled around an uppercut aimed at her gut before throwing a sharp kick at the fox's side.

The fox blocked it with her forearms before grabbed the leg that had kicked at her and throwing Naruko over her shoulder. Amarath continued and spun, kicking her in the back, throwing her forward. "Must be more precise Naruko. You aren't getting enough power behind your blows and that means you lack in speed." Amarath said, grabbing Naruko's forearm softly, already healing it. "Listen, I want you to go and get some weights. They don't have to be too heavy but I need you to be so heavy that you can barely stand."

Naruko nodded and the fox sat by a tree.

"Go, hurry it up we have a lot of work to do before you enter the chunin exams." Naruko ran toward a weapon shop.


Naruko had a difficult time getting the weights but it didn't matter. She had quite a bit from doing both an A-Rank and a B-Rank mission. She had no trouble paying for it but the man was almost unwilling to sell it so she had to throw in a little extra… the perks of housing the fox.

She got back to the training field and started to train with Amarath who altered the chakra of the weights, making them so heavy Naruko could barely move her legs and walk.


Before long, a week had passed and Naruko had to meet up with her team at the academy. Naruko arrived and smiled at her team who was already waiting. Sasuke looked a little different, he had taken his signature bangs and pulled them back a bit, revealing more of his face as he smiled bac- 'Smiled back?' Naruko asked herself in her mind. To her revelation, he was actually smiling and talking to Sakura who seemed pleased to talk to him but upset for some reason.

"You guys ready?" Naruko asked and she recieved a nod from Sasuke. Sakura hung her head and sighed.

"Yeah… let's just get this over with." Sakura said and Naruko nodded.

They walked into the academy together and were immediately met with a group of kids they had never seen before. Well they had seen some of them around the village but not really. Sasuke went to stop the people guarding the door with a genjutsu on it but Naruko placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head at him. "Don't do it. It's better if they don't come." Sasuke nodded and the three of them discreetly made their way up the stairs.

They walked all the way through the gym and into a hallway with Kakashi standing by the door.

"Glad to see you showed up Naruko, I haven't seen you for a month." Kakashi said with an eye smile and Naruko nodded with a determined look on her face. "I just wanted to wish you guys good luck and say that, in case this is my last time as your sensei I talk to you, that I am proud of all three of you." Naruko nodded with watery eyes and Sakura grinned. Sasuke just gave his usual smirk. "Now. Team Seven, you are hereby granted passage into the chunin exams." He stepped away from the door and they entered the room.

The room was big and full of people but all the teams of their graduation… from the leaf… were at the front with them, like they had just arrived as well.

"Yo Naruko!" Kiba yelled with a wave and Naruko grinned at him.

"Hey." Shikamaru said in a bored tone. Naruko nodded to him.

"I see that you two showed up, be careful though… some of these guys look pretty strong." Naruko said, referring to the cloud team and the sand team.

(Naruko hasn't met Gaara yet in this story.)

Naruko and the others continued to converse for a while before they were interrupted. "You guys are really loud, you should probably quiet down. You don't need to draw attention to yourselves." A silver haired Konoha genin said. "My name's Kabuto Yakushi. It's a pleasure." He said with an outstretched hand toward Naruko. Naruko gingerly took his hand and shook it. "If you want I can give you info?" Naruko giggled cutely at him and Kabuto blushed a bit.

"Oi! Go to hell!" Kiba yelled and Kabuto frowned at him. Kiba was jealous, that much was obvious. Naruko started to laugh and Kiba felt his entire face go red. "Sh-Shut up!" He yelled.

"Aaaanyway. Here." Kabuto said and he pulled out some cards with orange on the back. "Give me a name." Naruko frowned for a moment and shrugged.

"Kabuto Yakushi." Kabuto's eyes widened before a smirk came onto his face.

"I can't give you that, you could use it to your advantage. Maybe I should do yours?" Naruko smirked.

"Do it, and yell as you do it." Naruko said, taking a different, cacky demeanor, knowing that hers was probably trash, saying she wasn't worth crap. Kabuto frowned but nevertheless he pulled out a card and showed it to her.

"Naruko Uzumaki. Says here you've done thirty seven D-Rank, a B-Rank, and an A-Rank impressive. It says that you are the worst out of the three teams that successfully made genin and you are outshined by the Uchiha on your team. One the A-Rank to the wave… oh my…" He began and Naruko smirked. "You earned a bingo book entry, the blonde reaper…" He said and he began to read her entry aloud, before looking at her, she seemed to be completely calm, collected, and intimidating. "What the hell…" He muttered and Naruko remained straight faced.

"Kiba Inuzuka." Naruko said out of the blue and Kiba grinned at her curiosity.

"Kiba Inuzuka? Easy… Fourteen D-Rank, Four C-Rank, and a B-Rank. Is the heir to the Inuzuka and is said to be the prodigy of his clan, albeit slow when it comes to academics and smarts… he is powerful and so is his canine partner." Kabuto said and Naruko nodded.

"Kabuto Yakushi." She said for the second time and he began to chuckle.

"Fine but-" His eyes widened and he leaned back, avoiding a punch from a sound ninja with a gauntlet. His glasses shattered and he fell to his knees, throwing up. Naruko sprung into action, palming the guys chest and sending him flying back toward his two accomplices but before it could escalate the front of the classroom was covered in smoke.

"GODDAMMIT MAGGOTS! SIT THE HELL DOWN!"


Naruko grimaced as she read the quiz they were given. She could figure out the battle questions but there wasn't anything she could do about the normal everyday ones having to do with history and the such.

'So they said no cheating or you're disqualified after five times caught cheating… why would… oh.' She figured it out. 'They want me to cheat and not get caught, it's an information receiving test… they must have chunin around here answering these questions then.' Naruko looked around discreetly. Taking notes of who was writing quickly, it was Sakura. She raised her hand. Ibiki frowned at her.

"What?" Naruko grinned at him.

"You said we have five chances right?" Ibiki nodded and Naruko nodded back, standing up.

She walked over to Sakura and began to write the answers to the shock of everybody in the room. Naruko then sat back down and ignored the glare from Ibiki. "That will not fly with anybody else! The next person to stand up is immediately disqualified." Ibiki said.


"If you fail the tenth question you are to give up being a chunin forever. You will be unable to take the chunin exams ever again. If you want to give up, do it right now." People began to stand and leave, intimidated by Ibiki. Naruko shook her head at Sakura and she put her hand down. Sasuke smirked as student after student left. Eventually they stopped and Ibiki grinned at the remaining participants.

"You all pass." Naruko grinned and just as somebody was about to ask about the tenth question, the window was smashed and in came Anko Mitarashi.

"Follow me to training ground forty four!"


Naruko grinned at the proctor for the second part of the exams which would take place in the forest of death. Naruko was trying to come up with a plan to make it there before the end of the first day. Naruko waited for Sasuke come back out with the scroll and when he did, he explained that they got a heaven scroll.

"So here's what we do Sasuke, Sakura." Naruko whispered her plan to them and they listened intently.

The plan was simple and risky. Sasuke and Sakura were going to make their way toward the tower with a clone of Naruko and since she's confident that she can get a scroll, she is going to go on the offensive and take any scrolls that she can get her hands on, as well as keeping their own scroll.


After explaining the plan and readying themselves, Naruko made a clone and Anko began the countdown. Naruko waited with no emotion shown on her face and in an instant they all rushed into the forest, except Naruko made her way to the left, fully intending to attack the sound team. "Sasuke, Sakura… be careful." She said but they were out of range of her voice.