"Zabuza, you say. Even for you Kakashi, that must have been difficult." The Hokage gave a puff on his pipe.

Kakashi sighed, "Too difficult in fact. Honestly, if our team hadn't been as good as it is, one or more of us would probably have died. Especially when we had his underling Haku to deal with in the first fight."

The Hokage's eyebrows raised a tad, "Naruto took out the ex-Mist ANBU on his own?"

Naruto grimaced. Kakashi, seeing this, "We can discuss the details later."

Naruto glanced over, giving him a half-smile in thanks, before looking at the ground.

The Hokage smiled at them, "Well, overall, I am very pleased. I can see Kakashi here has been training you well. You have all earned a break from missions for a while, so I suggest you go home and rest."

As the three genin left, Naruto waited for the other two to leave before turning around and heading back in.

"Naruto? Is something the matter?" the Hokage asked.

Naruto stood there, blankedly looking at the ground again.

Kakashi understood, "It's about...the fox."

"This stupid thing! I know I can use its chakra, but isn't their a way to use it without turning into a demon!? I'm basically the fox incarnate, aren't I?" Naruto demanded.

Kakashi sighed, "You do gain fox-like charateristics, but thats not-"

Naruto shot in, "SEE!? What if I-"

The Hokage tried reassuring him, "Naruto..."

Naruto continued, "-hurt someone. I hardly have any friends as it is, I don't want them to hate me-"

The Hokage tried again, "Naruto, its..."

Naruto kept on, "-because I turn into some stupid fox everytime I get mad. I need to get-"

"NARUTO!" Kakashi screamed at him, causing Naruto to jump into the air. Even the Hokage leaned back in his chair slightly. Staring at him with his Sharingan uncovered, "The Hokage is trying to speak to you." Smiling, "I think you should listen to what he has to say."

Nodding at Kakashi, the Hokage turned to Naruto, "Naruto, have you hurt anyone other then your intended target while in fox form?"

Naruto shook his head, "That doesn't mean..."

The Hokage cut him off, "Your right, it doesn't mean you won't. But it doesn't make sense that you would. You only seem to revert to fox form when you are protecting others, so it doesn't make sense that you would attack the one's you're trying to protect."

Naruto, puzzling, "I guess that makes sense."

The Hokage smiled, "And as for using the fox's chakra, you seem to be doing just fine without it. Though, the amount of chakra you have is large to start with, it's almost too large. I believe that some of the fox's chakra is leaking through the seal. This report says you created almost 100 clones? Very few people have ever accomplished such a feat."

Naruto, giving his trademark grin, "Well, I have to do stuff like that if I wanna get to Hokage."

The Hokage smiled, 'With that attitude, there's no doubt in my mind you can be.' "You should go rest too, Kakashi and I have a small matter to discuss..."

******

"That stupid sensei, he's always late!" Naruto yelled at the sky.

The other two genin stood silently, on poking her fingers together, the other leaning against the rail, crossing his arms together.

"Stupid, am I?" Kakashi chuckled as he jumped down from the ledge above them. He handed a slip of paper to each of them. "I won't be able to train you today, so I'll be leaving that up to yourselves. I have to file a report entering you three into the Chunnin Exams. That's what those are for." He nodded is head towards their papers.

"You take an exam? But I suck at exams..." Naruto whimpered.

"This isn't your normal exam. People die during these exams. You have to fight against your peers to be recognized as a chunnin." Kakashi, seeing the worried look on Naruto's face, added "Becoming a chunnin makes you one step closer to Hokage."

"Alright, I'm in!" Naruto said as he pumped his fist towards the Hokage monument in the distance.

Kakashi smiled, "Well, you all have until tomorrow at 4 to decide. Turn them in at the Acadmey at that time. Now, I best be off." He jumped off into the distance, leaving the three genin staring at their papers.

"Off to read his book, more like..." Naruto sneered as he walked off.

Hinata giggled. 'Naruto's right..wait Naruto don't go yet.' She was about to speak but stopped herself and made a gasping sound. Blushing, she turned around and started heading off the other way.

"Hinata, we should train together!" Naruto called after her.

Hinata blushed, but couldn't stop herself from smiling. "O-k-kay, N-Naruto."

Naruto gave her the usual grin, "Come on!"

******

"So...can you teach me that Gentle Fist attack thing you used?" Naruto asked her eagerly, as the two neared their old training spot.

Hinata looked down and frowned, "I w-would Naruto, but y-you have to h-have the B-B-Byakugan to see the chakra. Otherwise the b-burst of chakra is j-just w-wasted."

Naruto sighed, "Oh...well you should use it against me."

Hinata's eyes widened, "B-but, Naruto! It h-hurts. I tr-train in it all the t-time."

Naruto shrugged, "I've probably had worse, especially on that last mission."

Hinata's eyes glistened with a single tear as she remembered seeing Naruto lying on the ground, with a sword cut clean through him. 'Naruto, I won't let that happen again.'

"That's why we should train, so we won't get hurt again. Or at least, not as badly hurt..." Naruto trailed off as they arrived at the memorial grounds.

After dropping there stuff off at the three posts in the ground, Naruto reiterated his earlier statement. "You should spar against me and use that Gentle Fist. It'd be good practice for the exams."

Hinata looked down. "I d-don't think I'm g-going to t-take them, Naruto..."

Naruto lauged, "Don't be silly, Hinata. It's like Kakashi-sensei said, we owe you our lives."

Hinata blushed, but kept on, "I o-owe you m-mine on m-more th-than one o-c-casion..."

"I told you not to be silly. I wouldn't let anything happen to you Hinata," Naruto grinned.

Hinata blushed even more, and poked her fingers together, 'He really does care about me...oh, I wish I could just say it...'

"Hinata, what're you waiting for, it's too hot to wear that jacket..." Naruto shouted as he stripped off his jacket and threw it aside, revealing a tight black undershirt.

Hinata couldn't tell what was worse, Naruto telling her to take off her jacket, or him taking off his jacket. Staring at Naruto for a moment, she quickly shook her head. Fighting the urge to faint, she slid off her jacket to reveal a similar tight black undershirt. Throwing her jacket aside, she turned and faced Naruto.

Now it was Naruto's turn to stare. 'Hinata looks so different without that coat on. Wait, why am I staring at her? She's just plain old Hinata. Well, definitely not plain. Wait, what? I'm so confused.' Continuing to stare at her, he started scrating his head.

Hinata, thoroughly confused, yet deep inside slightly thrilled that Naruto was staring at her, turned a deep crimson. "N-Naruto..." she let out in a small voice.

Jumping out of it, Naruto got into stance. "Alright, whenever you're ready Hinata."

Hinata, focusing, 'I've got to do well. I want to show Naruto that I can hold my own.' Nodding, Hinata got into the Gently Fist stance.

Naruto, nodding back, charge at her, aiming a punch at her stomach.

Flowing out of the way, Hinata gave a sharp rap to Naruto's shoulder.

"YEOOWWW!" Naruto yelped in pain, jumping away. "Dam that hurts!"

Hinata looked down, almost crying, "S-sorry Nar-"

"You're awesome Hinata! I still wish I could do that..." Naruto smiled back, massaging his shoulder. "Guess I learned my lesson..."

Charging again, Naruto aimed a kick at her side. Blocking it, Hinata went for a hit to the stomach. Moving slightly, Naruto tried to make her miss the point, only to realize she had reangled her palm at the last second to hit it perfectly. Wincing from the hit, Naruto spun around and aimed a kick at her legs.

Connecting, Hinata let out a -yelp- as she fell over onto the grass. "Umph," she grunted in her gentle voice as she got back up.

Naruto, clutching his stomach, "Man, Hinata, that's a powerful jutsu. I gotta learn to watch myself..."

******

Several hours later, the two slumped against a tree, gasping for breath.

"I can tell I'm gonna be sore in the morning. I don't think I can even use my chakra right now. But I guess that's the point, isn't it?" Naruto smiled at her.

Already red from exhaustion, Hinata nodded. As the two sat in silence, Hinata stared out at the lake. 'Why can't I tell him...I'm just too nervous. Maybe less then I was at the academy a few months ago, but still...Would he even know what I meant? He's so wonderful...but I don't think he understands some things...' As they both rested, Hinata slowly gathered up her courage, "N-Naruto, c-can I sit n-next to y-you?" she started blushing before she could get all the words out.

Naruto raised his eyebrow at her, "Of course! You don't have to ask" He smiled reassuringly.

Taking his reaction to be good, Hinata slowly, but surely, inched closer to Naruto, until they're shoulders were brushing together.

While Naruto was busy watching some ducks on the lake, Hinata blushed at the contact, but kept her resolve. 'I can't stop now...just...' She slowly laid her head on Naruto's shoulder. Closing her eyes, she let out a sigh, 'I can't believe I'm actually...'

Naruto, hearing her sigh, looked down at the raven-haired head on his shoulder. Confused, he thought back to what Sasuke had said, 'She only acts this way around me? Why though?' Naruto continued to think, 'Wait...I've been acting weird around her too. I don't understand though...Well, it's nice of her to act this way, Dammit! I need to do something nice back, that's only fair. What though...?' His thoughts again trailed back to what Sasuke had said. 'Making out? Dam, he never explained to me what that was. Wait, Hinata hugged me when I gave her that apple. She must like hugs then, right?' Looking down at Hinata, she seemed to be breathing softly, 'Is she...sleeping?'

'This is so peaceful...' Hinata thought. As she started to doze off, she suddenly felt two outstretched arms envelop her. 'Is he...'

Hinata didn't even have time to blush, as she fainted right into Naruto's lap. Naruto, thinking she had fallen asleep of her own accord, gazed down at her face. 'Oh well, I guess I owe her one.' Naruto was suddenly lost in thought again, 'She seems so...peaceful. And...I like looking at her. That's weird...why do I like looking at her? I wish I understood what I'm feeling. Whatever...I shouldn't worry about it, I have the exams tomorrow...' was his last thought as he slipped into sleep, his arms still around Hinata, who was still laying in his lap.

Neither had noticed the shadowy figure peering at them through the forest.

******

Chapter 10! I feel like I'm on a roll, so I'm going to try and keep updating as much as i can, until collegework forces me too slow down. Don't forget to review!