(And welcome to chapter ten.)

After the Chunin exams, Naruto returned to the village trying to figure out what to do, "I can go to Tommy-sensei for more training but will that be enough against someone like Neji or even Gaara for that matter?" Naruto asked himself, "Maybe Jiji would have some answers for me." He headed for the administration building.

When he arrived, he saw Sarutobi was at his desk looking up, "Ah Naruto. I was waiting for you to show up."

"You were?"

"Of course. I figured you'd be looking for someone to help you train for the finals."

"Yeah I figured Kakashi-sensei would be training Sasuke of course."

"Well I'm glad you came here, I have sent in word for someone to train you up for the finals." The Hokage explained.

"And who is that?"

"Jiraiya of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha."

"Jiraiya? Legendary Sannin of Konoha?" Naruto raised a brow.

"Yes Jiraiya was once my student along with two others who one day became recognized as the Legendary Sannin." Sarutobi explained.

"May I take a guess at one of the others?"

"You may."

"Orochimaru."

The elder froze surprised that he got it right but answered cautiously, "Where did you hear that name?"

"From the guy himself. My squad and I ran into him in the forest. He slapped something on Sasuke's neck causing him to go berserk."

"Just as I feared." Sarutobi feared.

"Jiji, who is Orochimaru and how did he become a nuke-nin?"

Sarutobi sighed, "Remember Naruto some ninja go rogue because of several reasons, one of course being ambitions."

"And…"

"Orochimaru was the same case as that, he was an orphan just like you, but like other gifted ninja he showed skill beyond that an ordinary genin…" Naruto got irritated by that, "I once had high hopes for him thinking he would be my successor, but all that changed. We discovered he began learning forbidden jutsu as well as experimenting on human lives to further his twisted research to fulfill his ambition."

"Ambition?"

"He wanted to learn all the worlds' jutsu."

"Every jutsu?" Naruto gasped.

"Yes he felt by mastering all jutsu he would become the ultimate shinobi." Sarutobi explained.

"Psycho much?"

"After we busted him he defected from Konoha and we've been trying to find him ever since." Sarutobi finished.

"Well he found my squad and like I said slapped a mark on Sasuke."

"That mark was originally placed on Anko but he abandoned her. Now he's put it on Sasuke because it will tempt him to join Orochimaru for Sasuke has the one thing that could help Orochimaru fulfill his ambition."

"His Sharingan." Naruto realized it.

"Precisely."

"So what's happened to this Orochimaru now?" Naruto asked.

"I'm afraid he's vanished from our sights." The elder sighed.

Naruto sighed at this but got back to the point, "And you say the one who would be teaching me Jiraiya was also your student?"

"Yes in fact in many ways he was a lot like you, or still is."

"Really?" the blonde raised a brow.

"Yes. I put out a word for him to return to the village and help you."

"Is he as good as sensei as you trained him?" Naruto was curious.

"Well he did train the Yondaime Hokage, does that answer your question?"

Naruto's eyes widened, "Wow he trained our previous Hokage?"

"That's right."

"Hmm, this could be perfect for me. Let me know when he arrives Jiji." Naruto headed off and upon exiting the building her teleported to the Command Center.

"Welcome back Naruto." Alpha said.

"Thanks Alpha, you two see the Chunin Exam prelims?"

"We did, and there were a lot of interesting fights, and some were just brutal." Tommy said.

"I know what ya mean," Naruto recalled Neji and Gaara's fights, "So has anyone left a good enough impression so far?"

"Me and Alpha are still observing the fights to reach our final conclusion, when we do we'll let you know." Tommy replied.

"Good because I'm also going to need some extra sparing to prepare me for the finals." Naruto said.

"And you shall." Tommy assured him.

"Well I just came to check in so I'll catch you all tomorrow after I meet up with my new sensei." Naruto teleported out.

When Naruto returned to his apartment he was deep in thought, 'More rangers, and me as their leader. I wonder who sensei would chose, just hope Neji's not one of them, after what he did to Hinata he could never be trusted with this kind of power. Perhaps I can shake him up at the finals when I beat him.'

'Let's hope so because even if you do get past him in the finals what will you do if you have to face Gaara?' Kurama thought.

'I've been thinking about that. You said Gaara's a Jinchuriki like me right, meaning he has a demon as well. Shukaku was his name?'

'Yes and though he's only one tail he's still a dangerous piece of work. With my chakra it would make you evenly matched but it's a long shot.'

'Well guess I got to train hard as I said I would.' Naruto thought back with a chuckle.

Elsewhere somewhere in the village Orochimaru was hiding out in an old shack as a ninja wearing a cloak and an Anbu mask appeared behind him, "What news do you have?" Orochimaru asked.

"Only this, Sasuke's disappeared from the hospital." The masked ninja answered.

"Hmm, you don't say?" Orochimaru asked with a sick smirk, "They can try as hard as they can but they'll never be able to keep Sasuke hidden from me forever."

"What else do you intend on doing now my lord? After all the Chunin exam finals are still a month away."

"Not to worry. I already have Suna tightly wrapped around my finger, all we have to do until then is make sure no one else knows of our connections otherwise our cause will be lost!"

"I understand my lord." The ninja bowed his head.

"Good and I trust you can handle things here without blowing your cover?"

"You can count on me, Orochimaru-sama."

"Good. Out of all my subordinates only you I can really rely on… Kabuto." Orochimaru said as the ninja removed his Anbu mask revealing it was Kabuto Yakushi.

"I live to serve you, Orochimaru-sama," Orochimaru snickered at his subordinate's reply before his thoughts trailed off, "Is something wrong?" Kabuto asked.

"I could just be over thinking this, but that green warrior I fought in the forest… I have this feeling I haven't seen the last of him."

"Do you think there are more just like him?" Kabuto questioned.

"If it's the case I will have to double my army." Orochimaru answered.

The very next day, Naruto woke up, got cleaned up, and dressed before he noticed an Anbu by his window, "Yeah?"

"Naruto Uzumaki the Sandaime requests your presence immediately."

"I'll be there," Naruto answered as the Anbu vanished, "My sensei must've finally arrived." After a bite to eat he went off to the administration building and upon entering he saw the Hokage at his desk as always and off to the side was another old man with white hair and decked out in sage robes.

"Morning." He greeted the two.

"Right on time Naruto." Sarutobi said as the second old man looked at him.

"So this is Naruto?"

"Yes Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki." Sarutobi assured him.

Jiraiya smiled, "Well kid nice to finally meet ya, I'm Jiraiya the Gama Sennin, and the old man here's told me so much about you." He extended his hand.

"Has he, well he's told me about you as well," Naruto shook his hand. He then turned to Sarutobi, "So he'll be training me for the finals?"

"Yes Naruto. Jiraiya I leave him under your care."

"You can count on me sensei," Jiraiya answered, "Well kid, what say we go somewhere and talk?"

"Sounds good." Naruto started walking out as Jiraiya turned to his sensei.

"I go away for thirteen years and this is what my godson has grown into?"

"Yes Jiraiya. I trust you can handle your student's son?"

"I think I can manage." Jiraiya replied as he went off to follow Naruto.

Later the two were sitting by a waterfall in Konoha's forest relaxing, "The old man told me about what's been happening Naruto, including how well you've become in the field of Taijutsu."

"Well I practice it a lot." Naruto admitted.

"Well I'd like to see how well it goes in terms against a ninja such as myself." Jiraiya stood up.

"All right then." Naruto got up as they took a stance.

"Hajime!" Jiraiya called as Naruto took off and the two engaged in a simple spar of hand to hand skills.

As Jiraiya was blocking blows from Naruto he smirked, 'Well I'll be. I've never seen such fine hand to hand skills since that Guy squirt.' He thought.

'Oh man! For an old guy he really does live up to his reputation as Jiji's student.' Naruto continued striking and blocking attacks from the old man.

Soon the two wore themselves out and were resting by the stream again, "So what'd ya think?" Naruto asked.

Jiraiya turned to Naruto, "Well kid, you surprised me there. I haven't fought that hard since well last week."

"Really, and what did you have to fight against so hard to compare our fight to?" Naruto asked interested.

Jiraiya actually looked sheepish, "Well it was against a mob of angry women."

" And what could you have done to piss off an entire mob of women?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"You really wouldn't want to know." Jiraiya didn't really want to explain why.

"Hey I insist."

Jiraiya sweated but reluctantly explained, "Well you see I'm an author and I require a source of inspiration and material to make them. That's where women come in."

Naruto squinted his eyes at the old man curious as to where it was going until he realized something he should've asked him, "Just what kind of books do you write?" Jiraiya pulled out an familiar orange book Naruto recognized as the same book Kakashi would always be seen reading, "What, you write that repulsive work that my sensei reads!"

"Repulsive?! I'll have you know this is a work of art, but what would you know you're still just a kid!" Jiraiya shot back.

"Touché." Naruto admitted, "So then tomorrow we meet here for more training?"

"Hai."

"Well then I'll catch you later." Naruto hurried off.

The rest of the day, Naruto went to the Command Center and continued training in ninja abilities with Tommy, "That's enough for now Naruto. Head home and rest, you still got a lot ahead of you for the month."

"Hai sensei." Naruto teleported out, and when he was gone Tommy and Alpha were left alone.

"Well Tommy shall we get started?"

"Yes Alpha." Tommy acknowledged as Alpha pressed some buttons on the control consul. Then throughout the village nine white lights were being teleported to the Command Center.

When morning came Naruto got up, "Oh what a night," He groaned, "Oh man I gotta get ready and meet Jiraiya." He got ready and headed off. But when he reached the waterfall Jiraiya was nowhere to be found, "Oh don't tell me he stood me up! What a rip!" he kicked some dirt until his communicator beeped, "Yeah sensei?"

"Naruto, I need you at the command center immediately."

Naruto seeing Jiraiya hadn't even shown up thought he had nothing to lose, "I'm on my way." He teleports himself and appeared at the Command Center.

"Right on time Naruto." Alpha greeted.

"So what's going on?" Naruto asked.

"Well first Naruto I'd like to first reintroduce you to our new allies who would aid us in future battles." Tommy said as Naruto saw approaching were the Sandaime Hokage, Jiraiya, Asuma, and Kurenai.

"Senseis?" Naruto asked.

"Hey Naruto, you didn't tell us you had such a cool hangout." Asuma looked around.

"And it's been right here in the monument this whole time." Kurenai added.

"Sensei why did you?" Naruto turned to Tommy.

"Well Naruto, one reason is now you have at least some people who you can trust your secret too aside from Kakashi, but I called them here to bare witness the inauguration of the next ranger team." Tommy said as he turned and Naruto saw stepping out from another room was none other than Sakura, Chouji, Shikamaru, Ino, and Kiba with Akamaru.

"Guys?" Naruto gasped.

"Hey Naruto." Kiba said.

"Tommy filled us in on everything, what a history lesson." Ino said.

"Hurt my head having to listen to it all." Shikamaru grumbled.

"So you guys…" Naruto stammered.

"Yeah we're gonna be like you now." Chouji said.

Naruto turned to Tommy, "So you chose these five based on what grounds?"

"Alpha," Tommy motioned to his helper to project fights on the viewing globe and first up was Shikamaru's fight against the Sound genin in the forest that Naruto had not seen as well as the Nara's fight against Kin in the preliminaries. "Shikamaru showed superb tactical planning when in combat analyzing the situation without jumping into conclusions. Capabilities fitting for a ranger."

"Oh jeez." Shikamaru groaned from the praise.

Next showed Chouji who was also helping combat the sound genin in the forest, "Chouji though lost his battle in the preliminaries did manage to help hold out with his team in the battle in the forest. Plus he's shown to have a kind heart and would be willing to protect his team no matter what the odds."

"Awe shucks." Chouji smiled.

Naruto then saw Sakura tending to Sasuke along with her fight against Ino, "Sakura's proven to have a loving heart and true kindness. When she defended Sasuke and Lee while they were unconscious she greatly risked her own safety for theirs. And her battle with Ino proved that she could step up and become stronger." Naruto looked to Sakura who blushed.

Naruto then saw Ino working together with her team against the Sound genin in the forest along with her fight against Sakura, "Ino proved to be a loyal friend when assisting her teammates against those from Sound, even to help one she considered a rival. And like Sakura she proved she could also get stronger when the two faced off."

Ino smiled, "Arigato, Tommy."

"And Kiba," Tommy said as Naruto watched Kiba help defend Sakura from the Sound genin as well as his fight with Naruto, "Though brash, arrogant, and cocky proved to have what it takes to make it as a ranger, and though he lost to you in the prelims Naruto, it's only a push for him to plan for future fights so he would not lose."

"Oh yeah." Kiba smirked while Naruto frowned still feeling he was acting cocky.

"I think you should give him some obedience tests." The blonde requested.

"Hey!" Kiba growled, "I admit I was bummed that you beat me, and I am still a little bitter, but even I won't hold out a petty grudge like that."

"Well if you say so," Naruto replied, "So only they impressed you enough?"

Tommy sighed, "I had hoped to also enlist the aid of Hinata and Lee but from their fights they could be indisposed of for a while. Neji however shows to have pride and superiority issues, and giving him power would only increase his ego and look down upon others even more."

"That's for sure." Naruto replied.

"As for Tenten and Shino, I've yet to determine what powers would be best for them so for now they remain on standby as do Hinata and Lee. That is if Lee ever manages too…" Tommy sighed knowing what happened to him.

"Yeah," Naruto agreed, "And Sasuke?"

"Kakashi talked to me and told me he'll take care of Sasuke personally."

"I see."

"But anyway Naruto, these five shall be your ranger teammates when they're not on missions." Tommy instructed.

"Tommy has filled us in on the events that have happened with him and you, and we're willing to help you by any means." Sarutobi added.

"Awesome." Naruto admitted.

Tommy smiled and turned to the five, "Now then rangers, it's time for you to awaken the power deep within you and become the new Power Rangers."

"Well guys guess this is it," Shikamaru said in his regular bored nature as the five reached in back holding their morphers, "It's morphing time!"

And with the same morphing affects the five genin became one with their ranger powers.

"Mastodon!" Chouji called.

"Pterodactyl!" Sakura called.

"Triceratops!" Kiba called.

"Saber-Tooth Tiger!" Ino called.

"Tyrannosaurus!" Shikamaru called as a line appeared going down the center of his face that split to both sides showing his red ranger helmet.

Suddenly the five stood before their sensei's and mentors in their new ranger suits striking a pose. "Oh wow!" Kiba gasped seeing his outfit.

"This is incredible." Ino said marveling her costume.

"Hey I slimmed down!" Chouji said noticing he looked thinner.

"Do we look taller?" Shikamaru asked.

"Look like it." Sakura noticed.

Akamaru barked having also morphed with Kiba, he was wearing a blue dog body suit while also wearing a little triceratops shaped helmet, "Good look for you Akamaru." Kiba said.

Tommy smiled seeing the original suits of the first generation of Power Rangers being worn again and turned to Naruto, "Join them Naruto make the team complete."

"Hai." Naruto took his morpher and morphed, "Dragonzord!"

Naruto stood as Green Ranger and took a position with the other five, "Now that all six of you are together let's see how well you fight as a team." Tommy said.

"Ok how?" Ino asked.

"Go through that room and you will face your test." Tommy motioned to another room and the six rangers walked on going inside.

"Come on let's get the ringside seats." Jiraiya said as the adults went to watch from a viewing window.

They watched as the six rangers suddenly found themselves in some desert area, "What is this place?" Shikamaru asked.

"A virtual battlefield, I come in here to train against holographic programs Tommy-sensei installed." Naruto answered.

"So what're we here to face?" Chouji asked.

"I'll give ya one guess, that!" Ino motioned upward as they saw swooping down from the sky were multiple black bird creatures.

"What are those things?" Kiba asked.

"Tenga Warriors." Naruto answered.

"Tenga Warriors?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yeah according to Tommy they're described as the most ferocious creatures this side of the universe." Naruto explained.

"Ferocious and ugly." Ino said as the birds descended.

Naruto turned to his team, "Come on team we have to work together to defeat these things, that's what Tommy sensei wants us to do."

"I agree with Naruto, come on guys." Sakura encouraged.

"All right then, let's do it!" Shikamaru called as they got ready and went into battle with the birds.

Naruto and Kiba started facing two delivering punches and kicks while also avoiding strikes from their enemies. Two more Tengas come up from behind them but they grabbed the birds from behind and flipped them over their shoulders and they landed on the ground.

Chouji and Shikamaru were also dealing with four Tengas, with Chouji grabbing a Tenga by the wing and swung it around into a second, "Definitely nothing we've ever faced before huh Shikamaru?" Chouji asked.

"What have I gotten myself into?" Shikamaru groaned as he tripped up one Tenga.

Even the girls were holding their own against the Tengas, "Ino give me a boost!" Sakura called as Ino held out her hands as the Pink Ranger jumped into her palms and the Yellow Ranger boosted her into the air where she delivered a flying kick to one Tenga sending it crashing into three more.

"Good one Sakura!" Ino cheered.

"Oh yeah!" Sakura cheered as she and Ino locked fists but had to get back into the fight.

Naruto and Shikamaru started getting cornered by some Tengas, "Shikamaru hold on."

"What?" Shikamaru asked as Naruto grabbed his arms and swung him around with his legs knocking out the Tengas surrounding them. When Naruto released him Shikamaru panted, "Warn me when you're going to do something like that!"

Naruto and his fellow rangers got together and started fighting the Tengas together knocking out one after another.

Soon the rangers had knocked all of the Tengas to the ground and they vanished as well as the scenery leaving them in the powered down simulation room.

"Wow we did it!" Sakura cheered.

"We actually did!" Kiba was ecstatic.

"That was intense!" Ino was overjoyed.

"You all weren't so bad." Naruto admitted.

The door opened as Tommy walked in clapping along with the other adults and Alpha, "You all performed excellently. True displays of teamwork."

"A splendid job indeed." The Sandaime said.

"Yeah and we haven't seen such teamwork in years." Asuma admitted.

"All right guys power down." Naruto instructed as they un-morph.

Tommy approached, "You all have shown you have what it takes to be Power Rangers, but now the rest is up to you."

Naruto turned to them holding his hand out, "What do ya say guys?"

Sakura smiled, "Count me in Naruto." She put her hand on his.

"I'm game as well." Chouji added putting in his hand.

"You know it." Kiba placed in his.

"Certainly." Ino placed in hers and they turned to Shikamaru.

"Shikamaru?" Naruto asked.

"I say this whole thing is a real pain and troublesome. I never asked for this responsibility and I know I'm not cut out for it," Shikamaru began while the others waited for his final answer, "But I'm not about to fink out on my own fellow ninja, and you guys are my closest friends despite how annoying you all can be. So count me in." he put his hand on top of the others.

"Then allow me to officially declare you all as the new legacy of the Power Rangers, may the power protect you all." Tommy said as the new team smiled before throwing their hands up into the air, "POWER RANGERS!"

(And now the team is formed.)