Main Characters: Naruto, Gaara, Shikamaru, Kakashi, Tsunade, Jiriya
Pairings: Naruto/Hinata, Gaara/?, Shikamaru/Temari, Sakura/Lee (Later), Neji/TenTen
A/N: Please tell me who you think Gaara should be with.
Chapter 9
The Forty-fourth Training Ground - The Forest of Death
Naruto stood along with all of the other Genin who had passed the first part of the Chunin Exams. Anko stood in front of the main gate of the forty-forth training ground staring down all of the potential Chunin. She had her usual sinister smirk on her face. She was excited.
"Welcome to the forty-fourth training ground, also known as the forest of death." Anko began.
"The Forest of Death huh?" Kiba said. "I'm not scared."
Anko looked at the young people around her. She remembered a time when she was just like them… well maybe not just like them. After all her Sensei was a psychopathic snake. She really hated when children underestimated what they were facing in that training ground. Anko grabbed a kunai and threw it and scraped his cheek.
She then seemed to appear behind him and licked the blood off of his cheek. "You should never underestimate your opponents. Even if that opponent is only a forest." Anko said. She was about to say something else when a grass ninja stuck its tongue next to her face. In its tongue the grass ninja, held he kunai.
Anko looked surprised for a split second and than grabbed her kunai and thanked the grass ninja. She than went on to explain what the objective of the test was. While they were grabbing and signing permission slips Naruto snuck off to Garra.
"Remember, sound ninja are all yours." Garra didn't say anything, just nodded. "Oh, and can you keep an eye on Hinata, I don't want her hurt." Gaara again nodded.
Naruto went back and joined his team. He knew that this would be one of the most complicated parts of his plan. Naruto looked over to Hinata who looked a little pale. He knew that she could do this and even if she got scared Shino was there to back her up as Kiba was useless at this point in time.
A while later Naruto stood in front of one of the entrances to the forest. Naruto closed his eyes for a moment calculating the position of Gaara, Shikamaru, and Orochimaru. Naruto estimated that he had about an hour after they entered the forest.
Naruto knew that he needed to get a Heaven Scroll to go with his teams Earth Scroll. He also needed to keep Sasuke safe and out of that Snake Bastard's slimy hands. The gate slowly opened and Naruto and his team launched right in.
An hour into the test and Naruto hadn't sensed anyone. Suddenly Naruto stopped and turned to his team.
"Okay listen up. Hears what we're going to do. We're going to head to the tower and take advantage of the weaklings that come with a pair of scrolls. That way we are preventing more than just one team from finishing." Naruto said.
"Why should we listen to you?" Sakura shrieked.
Naruto sighed. "Do you ever shut-up?" Naruto asked in a calm voice so much like his fathers. He was so sick of Sakura's annoying voice. It seemed that the woman never shut her mouth.
Sakura stared at him with an open mouth. Sasuke just stood there thinking the idiot wasn't as much of an idiot as he used to be. He had changed since they had become Genin. It was weird and he hated that Naruto didn't seem to try and he managed to be good at everything. 'Is this how Naruto felt during the Academy?' he wondered.
Naruto stared at both Sasuke and Sakura. "Look we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way we are doing it my way." He glared at them; Naruto knew that they didn't have the time to waste debating. Neither said anything. Sakura stares with wide eyes. Sasuke on the other hand got into a fighting position.
Naruto sighed. "The hard way, then?" Naruto asked. Sasuke nodded and jumped at Naruto. Naruto was quicker and grabbed the back of Sasuke's neck knocking him out. Sakura stared before her inner temper got the better of her and she jumped at Naruto too. Naruto sighed at Sakura's obvious movements. How she ever got to where she was in the future was a mystery to him.
Naruto grabbed Sakura's arms as they reached to hit him and bent them behind her back. Sakura's eyes widened at the quick movement and winced in pain as her arms bent uncomfortably.
"This is for a better future." Naruto said before grabbing her neck and knocking her out. Naruto sighed; this would have been easier if they had just done things his way. Naruto release Sakura and she fell to the ground next to Sasuke. Naruto made five shadow clones and two of them picked up Sasuke and Sakura and threw them over their shoulders. The other three watched and then two of them transformed into Sakura and Sasuke before taking off into the forest.
Naruto watched them for a little bit before he and his two clones carrying his team mates ran off in the direction of the tower. They were nearing the tower when Naruto noticed that they were being followed. Naruto quickly made ten shadow clones. The clones eliminated the Genin teams following them and recovered their scroll. It just so happened to be the scroll that he needed.
With both scrolls on person Naruto and his two clones caring his team mates entered the tower. Naruto's clone lay down Sakura and Sasuke before disappearing in two puffs of smoke.
Naruto sat down on the floor and sighed. This was getting pretty annoying. He only hoped that Gaara or Shikamaru hadn't run into Orochimaru. Gaara would engage him when he should be looking out for Hinata. Naruto reached into his pocket and pulled out the scrolls, before setting them on the ground next to Sasuke.
Naruto stood up and left the tower. He closed his eyes before taking off to the west. Naruto sensed he was near his target. He quickly made two clones and they transformed into his team mates.
Naruto felt Orochimaru close by. Naruto told his clones that he had to pee and would be right back. That is the moment Orochimaru decided to attack. Orochimaru quickly disabled the Sakura clone and than advanced onto Sasuke.
"You, the last loyal Uchiha of the Leaf village, you're mine." Orochimaru said as he jumped onto the Sasuke clone.
Orochimaru quickly bit down on his neck and the clone fell to the ground. Orochimaru reached down to grab the Sasuke clone when Naruto kicked Orochimaru in the head. Orochimaru landed ten feet away. He snarled at Naruto, not recognizing him for who he was.
Naruto released some of the fox's chakra and went to attack. He couldn't have Orochimaru knowing how strong he really was. Naruto made ten clones using the fox's chakra. Orochimaru screamed.
"I know who you are! You're the damned fox. I will fix you once and for all. I will not have you messing with my plans." Orochimaru caught Naruto off guard and knocked him to the ground. Naruto was so shocked that he didn't have time to catch himself and before Naruto had any time up right himself, Orochimaru stood over him one hand behind his back.
Naruto's eyes widened. How could he have let himself been caught like this he was a Kage for gods sake. He shouldn't have let himself get caught like this.
"Five Pronged Seal!" Orochimaru said as he slammed his hand down on Naruto's stomach.
Naruto screamed out in pain for a moment before he fell to the ground unconscious.
About a mile away Gaara heard a scream. He realized whose scream it was right away, it was Naruto. Without waiting for his team mates Gaara took off to make sure Naruto was alright. He arrived there in a few minutes time with his siblings hot on his tail.
Gaara arrived in time to see Naruto being thrown up into the air by Orochimaru. Orochimaru was about to deliver the final blow when…
Shikamaru arrived.
"Shadow Paralysis Jutsu!" Shikamaru said and restrained Orochimaru. Gaara quickly sent out some sand to catch Naruto.
Orochimaru started to panic, this little Genin had caught him in is paralysis jutsu and he couldn't break free. Why, he was just a child to think that these little Genin had this much chakra.
"What should we do with him?" Shikamaru asked.
Gaara looked thoughtful for a moment before his and shot out to restrain Orochimaru. "Release him for now." Gaara said as the sand surround Orochimaru. Shikamaru released his jutsu and Gaara's sand advanced. However it wasn't quick enough, the sand slammed into itself. Orochimaru was gone.
Shikamaru and Gaara returned Naruto to his team mates at the tower. Gaara knew that the only person alive that could fix the damage that Orochimaru had caused besides Naruto himself was Jiriya. Fixing it would have to wait because the damage to the seal would keep Naruto out for a few days time.
Sasuke awoke with a start. Naruto had knocked him out. He couldn't help but wonder how the dobe could have done that.
Sasuke leapt to his feet and looked around. There was Sakura lying unconscious next to his feet with their scroll plus the other scroll that they had needed to recover in order to pass this part of the exam.
On the other side of the room Naruto was also lying unconscious on the floor. What had happened to him? How had they all gotten here? Did Naruto take him and Sakura here and then fall unconscious? What had happened?
Sasuke stood there for a few more minutes before Sakura began to stir. Sakura let out a soft sleepy moan as she woke up.
"What happened?" Sakura asked as she opened her eyes.
"I have no idea." Sasuke answered.
Sakura looked around the room. Over on the floor she saw Naruto unconscious, she looked over to Sasuke with a questioning look. Sasuke shrugged his shoulders, "How should I know, the dobe knocked me out and then I woke up here." He said.
"Well, he knocked me out too. I just want to know who knocked him out." Sakura said looking down at her fingers.
"At least we have both of the scrolls we needed. I don't care how we got here, but were done, let's open up the scrolls." Sasuke said knocking Sakura out of her thoughts. Sasuke held up one of the scrolls for Sakura, she reached out and grabbed it. "On the count of three. One. Two. Three." They opened the scrolls.
As they opened the scrolls, they started to smoke. Sasuke's eyes widened. "Throw the scroll Sakura!" He said as he threw the scroll from his hands. As soon as the scrolls hit the floor, Kakashi sensei appeared.
"Yo." Kakashi said giving his team an eye smile, "Congratulations team seven you pass the second exam."
Sakura and Sasuke looked at Kakashi in shock. Kakashi opened his eyes and looked at his team. "Guys, where's Naruto?" he asked and Sakura pointed to the floor off to the side. Kakashi looked over to the unconscious Naruto and his eyes widened. "What happen to him!" he exclaimed.
Sasuke and Sakura shrugged as Kakashi ran over to check Naruto over. After determining that Naruto was in fact okay, Kakashi turned back to his other students.
"Okay, since Naruto is sleeping, I will explain the riddle behind me."
If qualities of heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher.
If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack.
When heaven and earth are open together, the perils path will become rigorous forever.
This _ is the secret way that guides us from this place today.
Sasuke looked at the riddle not understanding a single thing and Sakura looked thoughtful.
"Do either of you know what this means?" Kakashi asked.
The shook their heads. Kakashi sighed and said. "If qualities of heaven are you desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. This means that if your intelligence is lacking you need to work harder in order to learn all you need to know."
Sakura nodded now understanding. "I get it! Since Naruto is so stupid he needs to work harder, so he can learn to be a ninja." She said.
"Not exactly, but let me finish explaining the rest. If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. That mean if your weakness lies in physical strength, you need to work everyday to improve it."
Sakura looked down in shame.
"When heaven and earth are open together, the perils path will become rigorous forever. This means that when your mind and body are working together as one, than even a dangerous mission can be an easy one."
Both of his students now had a look of understanding on their faces. "But what about the last part with the missing word?" Sakura asked.
Kakashi held up one of the scrolls and pointed to one of the characters. "That is you to fill in. See this symbol here; it's the character for person, a reference to Chunin. The second part of the exam was to see if you had the abilities for a Chunin. A Chunin is a leader, a guide. It's their responsibility to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of those serving under them. They also need to know what training and skills those ninja will need in order to succeed on a mission. Any questions."
Sasuke and Sakura looked at him and shook there heads.
"Good, since this part of the exam doesn't officially end for another four days, why don't you guys take this time to relax and recuperate." Kakashi said and than he disappeared.