Well, the vote is in and we'll be seeing a new team member for a our little couple-in-the-making. Let's get this show on the road and away we go~!

9: Into the Forest


Naruto woke to someone shaking his shoulder, looking up to see Tayuya standing over him in a purple kimono top and her usual black shorts. "Wah?" He said sleepily.

Tayuya smirked, "Come on, you can't sleep here." She looped her arms under his left one and hauled him up. Naruto rose to his feet, swaying slightly as his leep fogged mind tried to catch up with the situation.

"Tayu-chan?"

Tayuya giggled, "Wow, you're really out of it, ne?" She helped him stumble down the hall as he tried to walk. Their room wasn't far from the study. "We need to get rested up for the Chunin exams, remember?"

"Yeah~," he yawned, "Ibiki's stupid test."

"That's right," Tayuya said, sliding the door to their room open, "We have to meet Tsunade-san tomorrow to talk about our new teammate."

"Sleeeepy," Naruto moaned. Tayuya rolled her eyes, dragging him over to his bed. He was already snoring by the time she made it to the edge. Being smaller than he was, his weight and size unbalanced her as she tried set him down. The result was her feet slipping, and getting tangled with his, and both of them tumbling to the bed, with Tayuya getting the wind knocked out of her as the blonde landed on top of her.

"Gah, Naruto, you're heavy!" Tayuya growled, prodding him, "Oi, wake up!" She tried to wriggle out from under him. "I know you can hear me! Get off me!" The only response she got was a soft snore from him.

"Fuckin' perfect."

xXx

Tsunade looked at the boy in front of her, then down at the file that she'd made of him. He was no the skinny, malnourished boy he'd been three years ago. His hair was long and shaggy, unkept like most Uchiha would keep their hair. He had the black eyes that all Uchiha had, but they were full of many things that she never saw in the eyes of Fugaku or his son Sasuke. No, this boy's eyes were filled with a strength she'd never seen in any Uchiha. Hope.

"You understand why I'm a little sketical about assigning you to their new team?" She asked, looking over the boy's figure, "You've grown well these past years, and filled out nicely, but you still need some time to recover."

"I know, Tsunade-sama, but I'd like this chance," Saiga said, smiling, "My body's stronger now, and I've still got my training under Orochimaru to use."

"That's what concerns me the most," she said, "His teaching methods are dangerous, sick, and downright disgusting!"

"He taught me Ninjutsu and Taijutsu skills." Saiga assured her, "When he found out that my Sharingan wouldn't activate, he stopped teaching me and lost interest in me."

"I can understand that," she said, "He's wanted the Sharingan for as long as he'd been researching it. Saiga, what I want to know is; can you fight with them?"

Saiga smiled, "You know what I've been through. The drugs are out of my system now, and my body may not be as strong as it should be, but I can fight."

"Saiga that's not what I mean," she said, "for the last three years, despite the female population's attempts," he grimaced at that, "You've barely spoken to anyone. Where are you're friends? The people you trust?"

"I have friends," he muttered, looking away from her.

"Saiga, one person does not count," Tsunade sighed, "Ushio-chan is a sweet girl, and I'm sure that she's helped you in some ways, but you need to come out of your shell more."

Saiga lookd down at his feet, a little worried that he wouldn't get the chance to help the two people that had rescued him. Tsunade saw his defeated look, and noticed that he actually resembled a young Madara Uchiha, smiling at the fact that the young man couldn't e any different than the long dead Uchiha. "This is one of the reasons I'm putting you with Naruto and Tayuya."

Saiga perked up on hearing this. "You mean I can try?"

"Yes, you will." She said, grimacing, "Besides, the civilian council, even though they know that the chances of activating your Doujutsu is a slim chance, think that the experience of the exams will be just the push you need."

Saiga ground his teeth, "I don't care about that! The Sharingan was the down fall of my clan!"

"No, Saiga, it was their pride and arrogance that destroyed them." Tsunade said, smiling at the boy, "Something that I don't see in you."

Saiga smiled, "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

xXx

Naruto stretched himself awake, feeling better than he had in ages. He was warm and he was comfortable. Which made it hard for him to open his eyes against the rays of sunlight that were streaming through the window. As his eyes opened they were met with a blob of red that he didn't recognize right away, but his whole body went rigid as the body that belonged to said blob of red snuggled closer to him, burying her head in his chest.

Oh, shit, Naruto thought.

You said it, Kurama chuckled, Want to know the bad part? There's no way out of this, even if you don't wake her up, where you'll come out of this without a good beating!

What the hell are you talking about?! Naruto growled mentally. How was this his fault? She was the one that normally crawled into his bed at times, while he stayed in his bed...all...night... How did I get into bed?!

There you go, Kurama said, nodding his head sagely, You fell asleep at your desk last night after working on a seal, and Tayuya came to check on you. So she tried to get you to bed, but ended up tripping and you landed on top of her.

Oh no, Naruto moaned, gritting his teeth.

Ooooh, yes!His tenant cackled, And have you noticed that it's the back of her head she's pressing against her chest?

What the hell has that got to do with - ?

Have you noticed where your hand is, Kit?Kurama grinned widely as Naruto blushed tomato red as he realized his right hand was sandwiched between Tayuya's-

"Mm," she moaned when his hand clutched involuntarily, making the boy shake in fear.

Now's you chance, Kit! Claim your mate! The fox laughed loudly. Go for the neck! I've always heard that was a particularly sensitive area on females!

Could you shut up! In truth, Naruto was having a hard time control himself from leaping out of bed and making a run for it before Tayuya woke up and got her hands on him. But his inner pervert was enjoying every second of the situation.

Suddenly the girl shifted and rolled over to face him. Naruto took the chance to slide out of her grasp and out of bed. She moaned at the loss of warmth and reached for him, but he kept himself just out of her reach.

Well, Kurama huffed, That was a total waste of a perfect opportunity!

You do realize that she's like a sister to me, right? Naruto snapped as he slipped out of the room and down the hall to make breakfast. He felt Kurama sigh inside his seal. Kit, you've got so much to learn!

xXx

Tayuya's nose twitched when she smelled something that made her mouth water. She opened her eyes, blinking away the blurriness in them and sat up, letting the light blanket fall off of her. She looked ovr to the side, looking for Naruto and saw her own bed. She blinked a couple of times then her face turned beet red as she rememered what had happened.

"Oh, Kami...he saw me...when he...woke up!" Tayuya stammered, clutching at her face in embarrassment. "Shit!" She knew that he was never going to let her live this down!

"Tayuya-chan?" Naruto called from the door.

"Eep!" Tayuya brought the blanket up to her chin. Naruto stood there looking a little embarrassed himself, scratching the back of his head and looking away from her.

"Breakfast is ready," he said somberly, "I made your favorite, miso soup and grilled fish."

Tayuya looked at little surprised, it was a normal breakfast by anyone's standards, but he only made for her when he was trying to butter her up or...apologize?

"Um, thanks," she slid out of bed, not looking up, "A-about last night..."

"I'm sorry."

She looked up, "What?"

Naurto blushed a little, "Kurama told me what you tried to do, and what happened because I wouldn't wake up. I'm sorry for that."

"Well...I-I was the one that tried to put you to bed," she said, trying not to stutter, "Besides, you were working hard on something, right?"

"Yeah," he smirked, "Come on, we should eat before it gets cold."

"Great!" She smiled, "I had really fucked up dream, though."

"Bout what?" Naruto asked as they walked back down the hall.

Tayuya shivered, "Someone was massaging me." She blushed. "It felt so fucking good I thought it was real!"

The blonde turned pale. "Ah I...about that..."

Uh-oh. Kurama chuckled.

xXx

Tsunade was just about to send an ANBU out to retrieve Naruto and Tayuya when she heard a somewhat familiar scream that reminded her of Jiraiya when she'd first caught him peeping on her.

A vein popped up on her head, "That old pervert must be at the bathhouse again!"

xXx

To anyone whom expected a normal morning in the village, that idea was shattered when a certain blonde shinobi ran screaming from his home with an irate red-head right behind him, aiming a kunai right at his fleeing ass.

"I said I was sorry!" Naruto yelled as he ran.

"Not this fucking time!" Tayuya howled behind him, "You fucking perv! I'm gonna fucking castrate you, and shove your nuts right down your throat!"

"Nooo!" Wailed Naruto, and the blonde poured on the speed.

"Get back here, Shithead!" Tayuya screeched, and hurled her kunai, narrowly missing the fortunate Genin. Unfortunately, said kunai sailed past him, and sliced right through a stick of dango just as Anko was coming out of the shop. Anko went blue in the face when she found her favorite treat lying on the ground while she still clutched half of the stick. She saw the offending assailant embedded in the doorway by her head, then caught sight of the fleeing blonde as he raced past her at speeds that would make an ANBU jealous.

"Hi, Anko, bye Anko!" Naruto gasped as he ran by.

"Naruto, what the fuck - ?" Anko started angrily until a whilrwind of red and purple shot by her in pursuit of the young Genin.

"Come back her you fucking perv!" Tayuya yelled.

" - is going on?" Anko finished in a slight daze. Then she heard a snickering from above her, looking up to see a familiar masked ANBU gazing after the pair.

"You have to admit, Anko-chan," Inu said, "Things have been kinda dull without him around, ne?"

"Kakashi," Anko said sweetly, making the masked shinobi sweatdrop.

"Y-yeah?" He asked.

"YOU OWE ME AN ORDER OF DANGO!"

"Ah..." Kakashi had seen Anko in action when it came to dango. On her own ryo, she could go for ten sticks, but when someone else was paying... "I have a meeting with Tsunade-sama regarding the Chunin exams. Maybe later?" He shushined away.

Anko pouted, "Coward."

Fifteen minutes of chaos later...

"So that was you I heard this morning?" Tsunade growled under her breath as she took in the state of the two Genin and Jonin in front of her. Naruto, to his relief, was still a healthy male, despite Tayuya's threat, but she had taken a fair bit frustration out on him. His shinobi vest would need mending in places, and he now sported a puffed up right cheek, as well as a brilliant black eye on the left.

Tayuya, of course, was fine, though her clothes were slightly out of place thanks to a little scuffle she'd had with one dog-masked ANBU, who had lost half of his mask, revealing his silver hair and mask that obscured the lower half of his face.

The one-eyed Jonin looked more harassed than anything as he too sported a black eye, though his was covered by his hitai-ate.

"One day," the Hokage spoke, "Barley one full day back in the village, Naruto, and you've caused no end of trouble!"

"I accept full responsibility," he bowed low at the hips, "This mess was entirely my fault." This surprised her a little. Normally the young knucklehead would be rambling on and on aout how it wasn't his fault. Which made her wonder just what in hell's name had happened?

Tayuya looked shocked herself. But I attacked him, she thought guiltily, "Uh, it was partially my fault as well, Tsunade-san." Tsunade raised an eyebrow at her.

"Explain."

Both of them blushed, and neither one of them said anything.

"I take it this was a domestic dispute?" Kakashi asked, eye-smiling at them when they nodded. "Naruto, we're both happy to have you back in the village, but please keep the lover's quarrels at home."

"It wasn't a lover's quarrel!" Both teens shouted.

Tsunade and Kakashi both smiled. The two resembled Minato and Kushina so much it was frightening!

"Anyway," she said, "Down to business. The written exams start this afternoon, and you still need a third teammate."

"Yeah, but who?" Naruto asked, his black eye now gone thanks to Kurama, though the wily old fox was not about to let him forget the little beating he'd taken, "Sakura?"

"Naruto," Kakashi sighed, "No one except you is still a Genin from the rookie nine."

"Geh," Naruto blanched, "Even Bushy-brow?"

"He passed last year," Tsunade said, laughing as the blonde fell to the floor comically.

"Then who?" Tayuya asked, ignoring her friend's antics.

Tsunade smiled, "You can come in now."

Naruto looked up from where he was weeping and turned to the door. Tayuya turned as well, hoping for a decent partner. But the young man that walked in surprised them both.

"Morning you two!" Saiga smiled.

"Saiga!" Naruto grinned.

"You're the new team member?" Tayuya smirked, arching her eyebrow.

"Now that hurts," the young Uchiha said, feigning injury, "I thought you'd be happy to have me on the team!"

"We are," Naruto said happily, "She's just being a - "

"A what?" Tayuya asked, crossing her arms and giving the blonde a look.

"Eh...nothing." He said, not wanting another black eye, or worse.

"That's what I thought." She smirked.

Hehe, you two never cease to amuse me.Kurama chuckled, making Naruto groan.

"Well," Tsunade smiled happily, "I already have the documents for the new team written up, so you three need to get over to the academy so you can take the test this afternoon, but it won't hurt to get there early."

"Agreed," Kakashi said, "It'll give you three time to get to know each other better before the second exam."

"Sure, Kakshi-sensei," Naruto smiled, "Maybe we can catch up later over a bowl of ramen?"

"Sounds good," said the one-eyed Jonin, looking over the three Genin, "I'd like to here about your training trip when you have the time."

"Why?" Tayuya asked, "It was mainly Shithead-kun being a moron."

"Oi!" Naruto growled, much to Kakashi's amusement. He'd walked right into it, as always.

xXx

"That was unexpected," Saiga muttered hours later as they walked toward their next destination, "Does Anko-san always make an entrance like that?"

"No, the single on the banner was new," Naruto said, "But it could have been worse. At least she didn't cut me again."

"Again?" Saiga's eye widened.

"Fuck yeah," Tayuya shivered, "When I first met that crazy bitch, she threw a tooth pick at him and sliced his cheek, then she grabbed hold of him so she could lick the blood off!"

"Blech," Saiga shivered, "And I thought Kabuto was weird."

"He is," Naruto and Tayuya chorused.

xXx

Naruto found it a little nostalgic to be standing in front of the gates again. The forest seemed to be thicker than it had been all those years ago, but then it had been three years. Tayuya looked a little uneasy. To her, the forest seemed more dangerous than any predator she had come across.

Saiga's attention, however, was not on the looming forest. It was on three other teams that were giving his blonde companion far too much attention. "Naruto, I think we're going to have trouble when we get in there."

"You mean those three Iwa squads?" Naruto whispered, catching Tayuya's attention. Saiga nodded. "Don't worry about them for now. We'll need to get ahead of them and keep watch in case they decide to take a shot at us."

"Oi, Shithead-kun, don't even fucking think about it." Tayuya growled, "You're not pulling that stunt again!"

Naruto looked down at her, "It may be the only chance we have for you to cast a Genjutsu over them, or for any of us to take them down."

Saiga was lost, "What are you two talking about?"

Tayuya kept her glare on the blonde, "He's fucking planning to use himself as bait!"

"What?!" Saiga hissed, "No way, Naruto, I don't care how strong you are, there nine of them!"

"So?" Naruto gave a foxy grin, "With my Kage Bushins, I'm a one man army if I need it."

"They are Iwa nins!" Tayuya scowled, "You're at a huge disadvantage!"

Saiga narrowed his eyes, "He's a Futon user?"

Naruto grinned sheepishly, "Yup, it's my best Jutsu besides my Bushins."

Saiga thought for a moment, "I can't handle them if it comes to a fight. During my rehabilitation, Kakshi-sensei helped me learn a few Raiton jutsu. That should help us if they come after you."

"That's something," Tayuya said, "If I can get them with my Genjutsu, they're all dead for sure."

"Alright, gakis," Anko yelled, "Behind the screen and get your scrolls!"

Naruto and his new team stepped up. When their turn came, they were given a Heaven scroll, which he gave to Tayuya to keep.

"Why the fuck do I have to hold it?" She snapped.

"Because," Naruto said in a low voice, "If Iwa does come after me, I'd rather not be the one holding the scroll!"

"I'm not gonna let those Rockheads get anywhere near you!" She yelled, getting right up in his face, "Tell me, how is it right to hate someone for what their dad did?"

Saiga growled, "The same reason that people can blame someone for what they carry inside them." Naruto sighed, knowing that he was referring to all Jinchuriki.

"You'll be going to gate six," said the Chunin that had passed them the scroll. "Wait there for Anko-san's signal." Naruto nodded.

Taking the role as the team leader, Naruto led them toward the gate. He noticed that the three Iwa teams kept their eyes trained on him, giving him death glares all the while. Naruto did the only thing that came to mind; he smiled and waved at them cheerfully. Each team was a standard set, composing of two male and one female. The effect he had on the boys in the team was less than desired. All six of them growled around their teeth. The girls were a different story as each one of them blushed and refused to look at him.

Saiga snickered, "You little devil." He elbowed him in the ribs lightly. "Trying to find yourself a girl to rock your world?" Tayuya felt her eye twitch.

"No flirting with the enemy!" She hissed at them.

"I'm not flirting," Saiga smirked, "Naruto is."

"Am not!" Naruto snapped, blushing.

Oh, I don't know, Kit.Kurama laughed, I can smell that one of them definitely had a thing for you.

Not helping! They reached their gate and waited.

Tayuya listened to the sounds coming from behind the gate nervously. "What can we expect in there?"

Naruto looked down at her, giving her a bump with his shoulder, "Anything and everything, Tayuya-chan. There are snakes in there almost as big as summons. And a lot more."

Saiga gulped, "Not sure I like the sound of that."

A horn blared and the gates opened wide.

"Let's go!" Naruto shouted, and ran inside the gate with his two friends close behind him. "Tayuya-chan, you take middle, Saiga, take the rear guard!"

"Right!" Both said.

They took to the trees, leaping from one huge brach to the next. Naruto kept his eyes and ears open as the wind whipped by them. He could already here screams coming from all around him. The Chunin exams had really started now.

"What's the plan?" Tayuya asked, coming up beside him.

"For now?" Naruto said, "First we need to find a place and hunker down so we can think things through. We have not only Iwa, Suna and Kumo to worry about, now. Some Konoha nins wouldn't think twice about taking us on to get a scroll."

"He's right," Saiga said from the rear, "The last three years have been brutal for the Chunin exams. Iwa in particular. Ever since we came to the village and Danzo-sama announced the rebirth of your clan, Iwa has been either baying for blood, or trying to force a political marriage with your clan!"

"What!" Naruto unfortunately was so shocked at this bit of news that he failed to watch where he was going, and slammed headlong into a large branch. He went tumbling to the ground as Saiga and Tayuya dropped after him.

"Was that so surprising?" Saiga asked, looking down at his fallen friend.

"I think I wanna go back to being an Uzumaki," groaned Naruto, his eyes spinning dizzily.

Tayuya didn't think it was funny either, remembering how two of the Iwa girls had looked at her friend, making her a little sick to her stomach. She cracked her knuckles loudly, "Looks like I get to let loose on some Iwa bitches!" The two boys shrunk away from her in slight fear.

Naruto hopped to his feet, then knelt back down to send some of his Chakra into the soil. Immediately his senses were flooded with Chakra signatures. Many were already far ahead of them, already clustered together in battle. What caught his attention was three small individual signatures that had broken off from the fray, and were circling back around...behind them!

Naruto snapped his eyes open and looked up at his teammates. "We've got trouble!" He said, looking at them both, "It looks like a team's heading this way."

"So what will we do?" Saiga asked, "Fight them and search for the scroll we need?"

"Moron," Tayuya growled, "That'll attract too much fucking attention. We need to ambush them!"

Naruto thought for a moment, "Alright, Tayuya-chan we'll go with your plan. When the get close enough, place them under a sleeping Genjutsu. I don't want any death's on our hands with Onoki coming around for the exams."

He turned to Saiga, "I'd like you to be my back up. If it comes to a fight, I want you right there with me. Tayuya, if you get another chance don't hesitate to hit them with a more powerful Jutsu, just try not to catch us in it."

"Just plug your ears when you hear me start up," she smiled, "or you'll be under the impression of getting ass-fucked by Orochimaru."

Saiga paled along with Naruto, "You wouldn't really - ?"

"That's the worst thing I can think of for a low-lever Genjutsu." She smiled sweetly, "Now let's get this party started!"


And cut! With a little craziness in the mix, the Chunin exams are off to a rocky start with Naruto and his team expecting an attack from an unknown team!