A/N: I'm back! Hope you all like the chapter!

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Naruto yawned as he woke up, stretching his arms. Hinata mumbled something before wrapping her arms around him, still half-asleep. Naruto chuckled and said, "Hina-hime, we have to wake up. We have to take the Chunin Exams today, remember?"

Hinata sat straight up, her eyes wide. "We didn't oversleep, didn't we?" she asked before looking at the clock on her nightstand. She sighed in relief when she saw that they had five hours until the appointed time. "Oh, thank goodness. I don't want to be late."

"Neither do I, hime," Naruto added, kissing her forehead. "Let's get ready, shall we?"

They got out of bed and were about to head out the front door one hour later to gather their respective teammates. Hinata decided to get rid of her grey jacket that hid her body, and instead wore a dark blue long-sleeve shirt with a mess shirt under it and beige pants that went halfway between her knees and ankles.

'Think you're prepared for this, Naruto?' Althea asked him.

'Truthfully? I'm not sure,' Naruto replied. 'For some reason, I have this really strange uneasy feeling. I can't explain it.'

'It's probably just your instincts telling you to be careful,' Takeshi said, though he had the same feeling as well.

'Maybe,' Naruto agreed, but couldn't help but think he was forgetting something.

Hinata noticed her fiance's troubled expression and asked, "Is something wrong?"

"Yeah, I just need to check something. Go on without me," Naruto said, turning around and heading to the library. Hinata looked confused, but decided to trust her fiance and left.

Naruto entered the library and walked to the hidden blood seal that hid the stairway to the magicite and wiped a bit of blood on it. He slid down the stairway, deciding to not waste time. Once at the storage room, he searched through the military magicite, thinking 'Where are they?' as he went.

'What are you looking for?' Amidatelion asked.

'Either a Raise or an Arise magicite,' Naruto responded. 'I'm not taking any chances if this bad feeling turns out to be real.'

'Raise and Arise?' Amidatelion asked, confused. 'Naruto, you must understand that those two spells have requirements in order to work, correct?'

'Yes,' Naruto said, still searching. 'Raise has to be cast on a dead person's body within an hour of the person's death, and it only heals the killing wound or removes whatever poison or venom killed him or her. Arise's time limit is thirty minutes, but it heals all the wounds instead of just the killing blow. And each person can only be revived with either spell only once. You can't cast Raise on a person that had Arise cast on him or her, or vice versa either.' He stopped as he saw two orange magicite and smiled briefly. 'There they are.' He picked them up and looked at them, then placed the one with one star, Raise, back in its place.

Naruto turned around and walked out of his house, sealing everything back up, and ran off to find his team.

0o0o0o0o0

Outside the academy...

Sasuke, who still had his black hair in his signature duck-butt shape, winced as he rubbed the cheek that some bowl-haired weirdo wearing a green jumpsuit named Rock Lee punched after challenging him to a match. He checked his watch and asked, "What is Naruto doing? He's almost late. And what the hell was up with that bowl-haired freak?"

Sakura, who decided to shorten her bubble-gum pink hair so that it only reached her shoulders, shrugged and said, "We still have three hours until the deadline. Maybe he had to do something. And that Rock Lee is a freak. Seriously, I will never go out with him, no matter how many times he'll ask."

"Maybe who had to do something?" asked the very blond they were talking about as he ran up. "Sorry about being late. I had to check something."

"It's okay," Sakura said, confused about the expression on her teammate's face, but decided not to ask.

"Where's Hinata?" Naruto asked, looking around.

"She and her team went on up," Sasuke said. "Now let's go."

The three Genin walked into the academy and started climbing the stairs to the third floor. On the second floor, they stopped when they saw a large crowd around a pair of doors being blocked by two Konoha Genin.

"Wait, we're on the second floor, right?" Naruto asked his team quietly, and they nodded. "So why are they crowding around the door?" It was then he noticed the sign above the door said '301' instead of '201.' 'Must be a way to weed out the weak teams,' Naruto realized, but before he could say anything, Sasuke spoke up.

"Hey! What are you doing with that pathetic excuse of a Genjutsu? We have business on the third floor. This is only the second floor."

Most of the Genin around the door looked confused as the ones blocking it frowned. "How did you know?" the one with a bandage across his nose asked.

Naruto facepalmed as he and everyone in his mind thought, 'Idiot.' "Like my teammate said, it was a weak Genjutsu. Also," he added as he raised a fist and bashed Sasuke on his head, "you moron! If you didn't say anything, there would have been less competition!" He pointed at the Genin blocking the door. "Those guys are here to weed out the weak teams!"

Sasuke 'hmph'ed but wasn't able to deny what Naruto said, and started walking away like most of the other Genin. Sakura and Naruto sighed but started to follow him.

One of the Genin that had been crowded in front of the doors called, "Hold up!" Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto turned around to see a pale-eyed Konoha Genin with long brown hair walk up to them. He was wearing a beige jacket with dark blue shorts and had his headband on his forehead. His right arm was wrapped in combat wrappings. "What are your names? You two with the black and blond hair."

Naruto responded, "Naruto Uzumaki."

Sasuke smirked and said, "Sasuke Uchiha. But isn't it common courtesy to give your name first?"

The boy frowned at Naruto and said, "Neji Hyuga."

Naruto raised an eyebrow as he thought, 'So this guy is Hina-hime's cousin.'

Neji glanced at Naruto as he thought, 'So this is the weakling that Lord Hiashi wisely decided to have Hinata marry.'

Naruto spoke up. "Sasuke, Sakura, we should go." His teammates nodded and they walked away from the Hyuga. Neji glared at Naruto's back before he gestured to his teammates and started walking to room 301 as well.

Outside room 301, Naruto grinned when he saw Hinata and her team. "Hey, Hinata," he said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

Hinata blushed before saying, "Hello, Naruto-kun." She laid her head on his shoulder as the two teams greeted each other and started to walk in the room. But Kakashi and Kurenai appeared in poofs of smoke in front of the doors.

Kakashi eye-smiled as he said, "Yo! I see all of you are here. That makes things easier."

"What do you mean?" Kiba asked.

"If either of your teams had a member missing," Kurenai explained, "we could not let you pass. But you don't have to worry, since all of you are here."

"Oh, before I forget, Naruto, Hinata, how are you two coming along with the third stage of that jutsu?" Kakashi asked, getting a confused look from everyone but the two Genin.

Naruto smiled. "We mastered it yesterday," he said, making Kakashi facevault.

Kakashi grumbled as he got up. "Dammit, Naruto, you and Hinata are making me look bad. It took me a month to master that, and it took you two a week."

Naruto scratched the back of his head as Hinata blushed in embarrassment. "Heh, sorry, sensei," Naruto said.

Kakashi sighed. "Well, anyway, you all are cleared to enter. Show them what you're made of!" With that, he vanished in a puff of smoke, Kurenai following him shortly after.

"What jutsu was Kakashi-sensei talking about?" Kiba asked Naruto and Hinata.

"Sorry, Kiba, but you'll have to find out," Naruto said before opening the doors and walking in with the others following.

Inside, they saw over a hundred Genin either sitting on or standing near desks, glaring at them. Naruto looked at their headbands, and noticed that Genin from all kinds of villages were entering.

"Why are they glaring at us?" Sasuke asked quietly.

"They are most likely upset that rookies are participating," Shino said, fixing his sunglasses. "You would be too if you worked hard to get here, and discovered that some rookies are also participating."

"True, but they shouldn't glare at us," Naruto said.

"I-I'm getting a little worried," Hinata whispered to her boyfriend.

"Don't be," Naruto said, comforting her.

"Hey, Sasuke!" a familiar voice practically shouted, and Sasuke frowned as he was glomped from behind. He looked behind him to see Ino.

"Ino, get off me," Sasuke deadpanned, his face showing that he did not want her hugging him.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru said as he and Choji walked up.

"Hey guys," Naruto greeted, then jerked his thumb at Ino. "I think you lost something."

Shikamaru chuckled. "At least she's getting better. What about the one on your team?"

"She's not much of a fangirl anymore," Naruto said.

To illustrate his point, Sakura walked over and twisted Ino's arms off Sasuke. "Ino-pig, stop being a fangirl and start acting like a kunoichi!" Sakura said, shaking her head.

"Maybe you should follow your own advice!" Ino retorted.

Before Sakura could explain that she did, a voice said, "Hey, you guys. Do us all a favor, and shut up" The rookies turned to see a Konoha Genin with silver hair tied in a small ponytail at the base of his neck wearing a white short-sleeved shirt with a purple sleeveless bodysuit over it and combat wraps around his waist. "You're all rookies, right? Fresh out of the academy? This isn't a game, you know! And here you are acting like brats!"

"Who asked you?" Ino asked, glaring at the Genin. "And who are you?"

"Name's Yakushi, Kabuto Yakushi," the Genin said. "Can't you sense the mood?" He jerked his thumb to the other Genin, who had intensified their glares.

Kiba, being the protective person he is, shouted, "What? You want some, come and get it!" He gulped as the Genin focused their killing intent at him.

Naruto shook his head and thought, 'Fool.' He stepped forward and said, "Alright, cool your jets. You should be ashamed you let a rookie get to you so easily."

The Genin, after a few seconds of consideration, lowered their KI. Some of them even hung their heads in shame.

Kabuto looked at Naruto. "Impressive. You even got the foreign ninja to back off." He then continued, "The rest of you remind me of what I was like during my first time here."

"So this isn't your first time?" Sakura asked.

"It's my seventh actually," Kabuto responded, making Naruto suspicious.

'Seventh? The exams can't be that hard,' he thought.

'I agree,' Layle said. 'Something about this guy seems off.'

Naruto nodded mentally as Kabuto said, "You can consider yourselves lucky I'm in a giving mood. I have quite a bit of information about the exams in general."

"What about individuals?" Sasuke asked.

"That depends," Kabuto said, pulling out a deck of cards. One of the Genin in the crowd perked up at hearing that. "All of my information is here, hidden to all eyes but my own unless I channel chakra into them. Mind if I give you a rundown of the exams before you ask about anyone?"

"Fine," Sasuke said.

Naruto had no interest in hearing what Kabuto had to say, and instead whispered to Kiba, "Hey, could you check this guy's scent?" He knew Kiba's nose was 5,000 times more sensitive than other humans, and wanted him to check in case this guy was a traitor.

Confused, Kiba nodded and took a whiff, then wrinkled his nose. He exchanged glances with his dog Akamaru, who softly barked, signifying he got the same scent. "He smells of snake and blood, lots of it. Medicine, too."

Naruto and Hinata's eyes widened slightly as they remembered Takeshi's words. "A man smelling of snakes and a Crystal Bearer with a red right arm attacked my mate and kit, and killed them."

Naruto's eyes narrowed at Kabuto as the Genin in question said, "Shinobi villages from all over are participating in the exams, even a new village called Sound sent a team."

"Just one? They must really be weak," Ino said.

"No, they're new. I wouldn't underestimate the team they sent, though," Kabuto said.

"Can I get information on individuals now?" Sasuke asked.

"Sure, who do you want?" Kabuto asked, squatting.

"Gaara from the Hidden Sand and Rock Lee from Konoha," Sasuke said.

"And Naruto Uzumaki," Neji said, walking up with a brown-haired, brown-eyed kunoichi with her hair in Chinese buns wearing a pink battle shirt and dark blue jeans.

"Neji, why are you getting information on someone from our village?" the girl asked.

"Same reason this guy is getting info on Lee," Neji said, pointing to Sasuke.

"Alright, I'll do your request, just let me get done with his first," Kabuto said, pulling out three cards and pouring chakra into them. "Alright it looks like Gaara's first. He's from the Hidden Sand, is a year younger than you guys, and is on a team with his older siblings Kankuro and Temari with his sensei being a Jonin named Baki. He's combleted eight C-Rank missions and...whoa, a B-Rank! I don't have much else, but I do know that he's completed all his missions without even a scratch. Weird..."

Naruto frowned. He had an idea why, but didn't say anything.

"Next is Rock Lee," Kabuto said, putting Gaara's card back. He's a year older than you guys, and is from Konoha. His teammates are Neji Hyuga and Tenten, and his sensei is Maito Gai. He has no Ninjutsu or Genjutsu due to a strange mutation that prevents him from molding chakra for them, but can still use chakra to climb trees and walk on water. His Taijutsu skills are through the roof, however, so don't understimate him. He's completed 20 D-Ranks and 11 C-Ranks."

Sasuke glared at Lee, who smiled at the information.

"Okay, now it's Neji's request," Kabuto said, putting Lee's card back. "Let's see. Naruto Uzumaki is one of the rookies from Konoha. His teammates are Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha and his sensei is Kakashi Hatake. His Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and Ninjutsu are pretty good for a Genin, despite him being dead last in the academy. He's completed 14 D-Ranks, a joint B-Rank with another team, and an A-Rank! Known jutsus are Shadow Clones, Ras-" Kabuto didn't finish as Naruto swiped the card and deck away.

"I don't like your cards. They're too nosy," Naruto said, burning them with a minor Fire jutsu that Takeshi taught him.

Before Kabuto could say anything, a Jonin and several Chunin appeared in poofs of smoke at the front of the room. The Jonin wore a black cost that went to his knees, a grey shirt with many pockets, black gloves, and grey pants. He had scars across his face and wore his Konoha headband like a bandana. The Chunin were wearing the same thing minus the jacket and gloves. The Jonin spoke up. "Alright, you maggots! My name is Ibiki Morino, and I'll be your first proctor for the exams. Now, turn in your applications, take a seating assignment card, and report to the seat indicated on the card. We'll then pass out the written part of the test. Now move!"

Within minutes, everyone was seated. Naruto and Hinata sat next to each other in the third row near the middle, with the rest of their teams scattered around the room. Once everyone was quiet, Ibiki said, "Alright, I'm only going to say this once, so pay attention! There are a few rules about the exam that you must know, and don't ask any questions. First rule, everyone starts with ten points. The test has ten questions, each worth one point. You lose a point for each question you miss. Second rule, this is also a team test. Passing or failing is determined by the sum of the points held by all three members of each cell. The object is for each team to have the fewest points deducted as possible." As he said the rules he wrote them on the blackboard.

Sakura spoke up at that point. "I don't understand. Why is this a team test?"

"I said no questions," Ibiki answered. "Shut up and listen. These next two are the most important rules. Third rule, if a candidate does anything out of the ordinary and the proctors determine that the candidate is cheating, two points will be deducted from each member of the cheater's team. The last rule, if any individual loses all of his or her points, that person's squad is disqualified, regardless of how well the others do."

Several Genin shouted "What!"

"You heard me!" Ibiki replied. "Also, the final question will be given after forty-five minutes. You may begin."

Naruto turned over his paper and frowned. 'What the heck? You have to be a genius to answer these. Why would they... Oh!'

'Exactly, Naruto,' Takeshi responded. 'This isn't an intelligence test. It's a test to see how good your information-gathering skills are and how stealthy you are.'

'Well, I don't know any jutsu to help besides Shadow Clones,' Naruto considered.

'I can help. Give me control for a minute,' Takeshi offered.

Naruto slumped slightly before Takeshi, who was now in control of his host's body, straightened him. He looked over the exam sheet and started answering the questions as Hinata started with her answers. Eventually, the Genin realized what the goal of the exam was, and started to try to cheat without getting caught. As time passed, about a fourth of the teams were disqualified for cheating. Takeshi finished answering Naruto's sheet and gave control back to him after ten minutes.

Forty-five minutes into the exam, Ibiki said, "Pencils down. I'm about to give you the tenth question. But first, let me tell you a special rule."

'More rules?' most of the Genin thought.

Kankuro, who had gone to the bathroom during the test with his puppet disguised as a procter escorting him, returned at that point. "Heh, it seems the time you've spent playing with dolls hasn't been wasted," Ibiki said to him, putting Kankuro on guard. "Sit down."

Kankuro walked to his seat, discreetly giving Temari his answers as he passed her.

"This last rule is absolute," Ibiki said after Kankuro sat down. "First you must choose whether or not to take the tenth question."

"Choose?" Temari asked. "What happens if we don't accept the question?"

"You will lose all your points and your team fails," Ibiki explained as Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"Then why would we choose not to answer it?" a random Genin shouted.

"Because of the next part of the rule," Ibiki said. Some Genin thought, 'What more can he add?' Ibiki then said, "If you do choose to take it and get it wrong... You will be barred from entering the Chunin Exams ever again!"

"That's bullcrap!" Kiba shouted. "There are dozens of people here who've done this exam more than once!"

Ibiki chuckled sadisticly. "I guess you're just unlucky. I wasn't making the rules before, but I am now. You can still back out now and take it in another six months. And then six months after that one. Heheheheh..." The Genin shivered. "Ready? Let's begin. Those who choose not to take the question should raise their hands. Once their number has been confirmed, they will leave with their team."

After a few seconds, a Genin next to Naruto raised his hand. "I-I'm out." That opened the floodgates. More people dropped out and soon, only half of the original number of teams remained.

"Anyone else?" Ibiki asked.

Naruto glanced to his right and saw that Hinata was starting to raise her hand. 'No way I'm letting her give up!' he thought before he raised his hand and slammed it on the desk.

"Is there a problem, number 23?" Ibiki asked.

"Yeah, I think you're full of crap!" Naruto said. "We're always going to face uncertainty on a mission, but does that mean we can choose not to take it? Hell no! Being a ninja means having to take risks!"

"Are you sure about this? If you answer incorrectly you will remain a Genin forever."

"So what? My team will still get high-rank missions and I'll still become Hokage if we work on our skills, dammit! Rank means nothing when it comes to skill!"

"This is something that will affect the rest of your life. Are you sure you want that?"

"Do your worst!"

Ibiki looked around and noticed that the Genin who were about to quit lower their hands with a determined look on their faces. 'Damn kid, ruining my fun.' "Alright, since no one else is quitting, I have one thing to say... You all pass."

After a few seconds of silence, a collective "WHAT?" rang through the room.

Ibiki opened his mouth to explain, but before he could, something crashed through the window and opened to reveal a buxom woman standing in front of a banner that said 'Your second proctor, the sexy mistress, Anko Mitarashi.' The woman, who had to be Anko, had purple hair tied in a pony tail that spiked in every direction, brown eyes with no pupils, and wore an open light brown trench coat over a mesh shirt, a light brown skirt that went halfway to her knees, and mesh shorts. "None of you are in a position to celebrate!" she shouted. "I'm your second proctor, Anko Mitarashi. Follow me to the next part of the exam!"

Ibiki stepped out from behind the banner and said, "You're early, Anko...again."

Anko blushed a bit in embarrassment, then counted the number of Genin. "Seventy-eight Genin? Ibiki! You must be slipping if you let twenty-six teams pass!"

"Or we could have exceptional applicants this year. Especially the blonde sitting in the fifth seat of the third row," Ibiki said, whispering the last part.

Anko looked to see Naruto sitting in the seat Ibiki indicated. "Yeah, right. I'll cut down the number by half before the next test is over."

'By half?' several Genin thought.

"Alright, follow me! I'll explain the details when we get there!" Anko shouted before leading the Genin to the next part of the exam.

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A/N: Stage two will be next chapter, as I have plans that I need to flesh out. Please review!