The moment of change

Chapter 4: Preparations and Promotions

Authors Note: Hey guys thanks for the reviews lately :D also in the next chapter its going to be the start of new pairings. Anyways I hope you enjoy this chapter. Its not too long but still. This is sort of like a filler chapter you could say. So yeah anyway, enjoy this new chapter. :D

Disclaimer:

I do not own Naruto nor do I gain any profit from writing these horribly written fanfics :D

Naruto smiled at his opponent. He was really looking forward to this match out of all of the rest because this one held more...sentimental value to him. The two shinobi stared at each other. Then Kakashi called out "BEGIN!" and the two took a stance. The pinkette got into a sort of boxing stance which kind of suited her seeing as she was black leather gloves. Naruto however got into a regular fighting stance and waited.

"Well Naruto, let's see if you can beat me and no holding back got it," Sakura started off sweet but then finishing it off quiet sternly. Naruto smirked.

"I wasn't intending to," he replied. Sakura smiled then jumped into the air, corked her fist back, and sent a ground breaking punch straight at Naruto. Naruto jumped back and landed on the wall of the arena and using chakra he stuck to the wall. Naruto stared at the stadium. The whole stadium floor was pretty much broken rock. Naruto was shocked at just how much strength his childhood crush held.

'Man...I really gotta stop acting like such an idiot in front of her. Otherwise I'm going to have my skull pounded in,' he thought to himself.

"Well Naruto?" Sakura started "How am I doing so far?" she asked in her most sweetest and innocent voice.

Naruto sweat dropped.

'Ugh...That tone of voice I hope she hasn't been hanging around Anko-san'

"Not bad Sakura-chan. I'm impressed but i'm afraid this battle is mine," Naruto said as he charged up some chakra to his feet. Then with amazing speed he appeared behind Sakura who was stunned.

"How did he..." Sakura said. Naruto heard this and had a smile of triumph on his face.

Naruto went for a simple knife hand strike at her neck knocking her out but suddenly everything started to go weird. The whole place was upside down and Naruto was the only one upright. Then giant bat like creatures started swarming him.

'Crap,' Naruto thought to himself as he attempted to protect his face from a whole bunch of weird animals 'She got me in a genjutsu,'

Naruto focused and made a ram seal then shouted "release!" and everything went back to normal. Just as he came back to the real Sakura came charging at him with another one of her insanely strong, chakra filled punch. Naruto just had enough time to dodge and send a jab to her gut.

Sakura coughed but quickly recovered. Naruto jumped back and opened his palm and said "blow away," sending a giant gust to blow Sakura onto her back. As soon as she did Naruto pounced on her, drawing a kunai to her neck. The two looked into each other's eyes for what seemed like an eternity.

Sakura knew she had lost as soon as Naruto was on top of her. The whole crowd went silent when it happened. Then after a few moments of silence Kakashi called out.

"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki"

Another few seconds of silence, then the crowd went wild. Everyone was applauding and shouting.

"Looks like I win," Naruto said never changing his sight.

"Yeah...I guess you do," Sakura replied with a sigh.

The two got up and faced the crowd. Tsunade then raised her hand and everything went quiet again.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Tsunade started "because you have successfully defeated all your opponents and all of the examiners and judges who watched the matches all agree with me about your skill, and intelligence. I hear by promote you to the rank of Chuunin," She said in a very Hokage like way.

The whole crowd erupted in more applause as Kakashi handed Naruto his brand new Chuunin vest. Naruto put it on and smiled happily. Sakura took a step back from Naruto and she started clapping as well. Naruto stood in the centre of the now damaged stadium and wore his new Chuunin vest with pride.

'Wow...you're really growing up...Naruto,' Sakura thought to herself.

Later that day the Konoha 11 were all in the Hokage office.

"Due to all of you obtaining ranks higher than Genin," The lady Hokage began behind her desk "I have decided that all of you will get the day off tomorrow."

Everyone looked at her with glee.

'A day off from long hard missions and intense training, finally some R&R,' they all thought.

The Hokage sighed then waved her hand. "All of you are dismissed."

The Konoha 11 all left the Hokages office with giant smiles on their faces.

"I think we should all go out and celebrate Naruto's return and all of our promotions," Ino said. Everyone nodded their heads.

"Thing is though," Neji started "Where are we going to celebrate?"

"We'll have a party," Sakura piped up "On top of the Hokage faces."

Everyone started getting really excited, the girls more than the boys.

"Alright then," Naruto said clapping his hands together "We all meet on top of the Hokage Mountain at 9 tonight,"

"Oh and it's going to be a bit formal so dress well," Ino said.

"That means no jumpsuits Naruto," Sakura said sternly.

"Ok then," Naruto said. "Oh and don't worry about the setting up of the party the guys and I can do that right?" Naruto asked and looked at all of the other guys who smiled, nodded or gave thumbs up.

"Ok then," Tenten spoke up "We'll leave the setup to you and we'll bring the food and music and invite some other people as well, but only people we trust."

Everyone nodded.

"Well I'll see all you at 9 then," Naruto said.

As everyone started going their different ways Naruto started walking away but turned around to see all the guys.

"I got some things to do first, but after that I'll come and get you guys then we can set the place up," and with that Naruto jumped onto the roof tops and set for his house.

When he got there he changed into something more casual. He took off the clothes he was currently wearing and put on a simple black top with an orange spiral flame on it, some black pants and then tied his head band on his right arm. He put his weapons pouch on just in case and then walked out his front door with Gama his toad wallet in his pocket and then locked his door and made his way to Shikamarus house.

When he arrived at set destination he knocked on the door and Shikamaru came out and greeted him. He was wearing his usual attire and saying Naruto should do the same just in case. Naruto took no notice then the duo went and gathered the rest of the guys.

After about half an hour of getting everyone they all arrived on the Hokage Mountain Shikamaru stood in front of the talking group and in doing so it got them all to quieten down.

"Ok," Shikamaru began "We need to set up tables and lights and things for tonight. We'll break up into groups purchasing things like tables and chairs and such for tonight. Is everyone ok with that?"

Everyone nodded. Then Naruto did a fist pump and shouted out "ALRIGHT EVERYONE! LETS GET TO IT!" and everyone did the same thing and shouted "YEAH!"

Even Neji, Shikamaru and Shino did.

"Sigh...I guess there's no turning back now," Neji said.

"This is way too troublesome," Shikamaru agreed. And Shino well...he was...you know...Shino.

Naruto smiled looking down at the village.

"First group to get back with all the things win and if I'm not in that group I'll give up ramen for a week!" Naruto shouted then jumped down.

Everyone was shocked (except for Lee who was shouting out things about youth) then all smiled and jumped down as well shouting out

"HELL YEAH!"