Disclaimer- I don't own Naruto or its characters
Chapter 10: Big News, and the Exam
The night was perfect, a perfect full moon hung low in the nights sky. There were only a handful of clouds and seemingly every possible start was visible. All in all, the perfect night for a one, Asuma Sarutobi, and his date, Kurenai. Asuma had decided to ask the jounin on the said date, the day after she had gotten back from a mission with her team. Of course the team ending up getting back to the town late at night, and so the date was put off till the following night. Which would happen at the local bar-b-que place, which was one of Asuma's most favorite of place. Which was one odd thing about the dinner date, because normally Kurenai would demand that they go somewhere differently. Add in the fact, that she demanded on playing for dinner really made wonder if something was going on.
Now as the dinner went along, Asuma began to feel more and more at ease with how things were going. The dinner was the normal served in front of the customer on the table. Plus Kurenai seemed in a good manor, and had a smile on her face, which caused him to have a smile on his face as well.
"Well, are you looking forward to the Chunin Exams, I heard that you are allowing all three of your team members to enter," Asuma said with happy smile.
"Yeah, I think that they are going to each do really great," Kurenai replied with a nod, "I think that they have shot, and if nothing else this will be good experience. Plus Shikamaru is really something, his tactical skills have gotten my team out of some hard sports. That kid has as much talent as anyone around. I hear that Naruto is entering as well."
"Yeah, the kid has grown up so fast, he is good, actually, I have been working with him over the last month," Asuma sound proudly, "He had some problems with the trench knifes at the start of the training, but he has come along ways. He works harder then anyone I have ever known."
"Yeah, he really is something," Kurenai said, looking as if she had something knew on her mind.
Asuma looked at her, and realized she had shown the same look, a couple times during dinner, and had passed by as something random. He had a feeling that his first impression of the dinner was true, and something was very much up. He had a choice here, he could either beat around the bush, and figure it out from clues, or he could go with the direct method.
"Kurenai, it seems like something is up, if there is why not just tell me. I am sure I can handle it," Asuma said hoping the direct method would be the right on in this spot.
"Well, I guess so, it is the reason I agree to eating here and all," Kurenai said leaning over and whispering something to Asuma.
Asuma's mouth just fail completely open, this was not the news he was thinking he was going to get. This was news he was unsure if he would ever hear. He just starred at Kurenai for a second unsure of just how to react to the news she had just given him. It just was that life changing. "Um, not that I don't believe you, but you are 100 percent sure right?" he said in a meek tone.
"Yeah, of course, I would not tell you if I was not sure," Kurenai replied, "So what do you think of it, I want to know you honest opinion. If you hate the news tell me, I can take it."
"Well, it is great, I just did think of being a father again, or at least not like um this," Asuma said with a glup, "It is great news, and I am behind you all of the way, no matter what happens."
"Well, thanks a lot, I really needed to hear that," Kurenai said with a smile.
Across the town at training center 11, a tired young shinobi eyes began to widen as he searched for something. He looked right, and then left, and then up and down, he searched in a pattern that he though would be perfect, and odd even for him. A second later, he noticed a orange blur flying at him at high speeds. Naruto thought for a ten of a second what type of attack the shinobi would make and raised his right hand high. A second later, he blocked the trench blade of one of his shadow clones with his own. He quickly flinched a attack with his left hand which caused the shadow clone to pull back a fraction. Naruto used this to his advantage, and pushed his trench knife at the clone overpowering, and causing the clone to puff out of existence. A second later Naruto thought he heard something behind him, and start to turn but decided against the move. He made a quick hand seal, and a millisecond after two kunai where lodged in his back, or looked that way. When they hit, Naruto turned into a log, causing the shadow clone to look more then a little confused as to what had just happened. He did even get a chance to defend himself, when Naruto appeared to his right and attacked using his chakra enhanced trench blade. Naruto moved to the right after he took out this clone because another kunai was headed at him. Naruto just managed to dodge the kunai by a fraction of a second. He then threw a kunai at the location where he thought the clone was as he jumped up towards above him. The Kunai forced the clone in a hard spot, and he went with a jump to dodge, and throw a kunai at Naruto who was coming down at him now. The kunai just managed to miss, and a second later, this clone too was gone.
Naruto landed feeling very tired, he had been working on this match since 3 PM, and it was already 9. Naruto thought for a second about doing another match, but he knew that would just be stupid with the exam coming up the next day. He had to meet the team down at the bridge to head towards the testing center.
As Naruto got home he noticed, Asuma was sitting in front of the front door waiting for him.
"Hey pops, whats up?" Naruto said in a causal tone.
"Well actually something rather big as come up, and I needed to tell you," Asuma said looking concerned.
"What, did you get fired from the academy or something, it can't be that bad," Naruto said hoping that it was not anything bad.
"Well, Naruto, seems that you are going to have an sibling arrive, there will be another Sarutobi," Asuma said quietly.
Naruto looked at Asuma thinking about what he had just said. He was going to have a brother or sister, wow this is big news. Still this was great news too, he had always though having a little sister, or brother would be interesting, though he also worried, that they would be as annoying as Konohamaru was to him. Still it would make things more interesting in the house.
"So, have you asked Kurenai to marry you yet?" Naruto asked with a curious look on his face.
"Well, no," Asuma replied thinking for a second, "Though, it would seem that I really need to now."
"Yep, it would," Naruto added, "Well congrats, I better head off to bed."
"Yeah, you should," Asuma said with a smile, "Naruto remember that no mater what happens, you will always be my son, and I will always be proud of you."
The next morning at the hill Naruto noticed Ino and Kiba waiting for him. The two had become his good friends over the last bit, and especially over the last month of training. He would spend time with either Ino, or Kiba on a daily basis and knew each well. Then again, he had been friends with Kiba for a long time, and there rivalry stood at 30-29 in favor of himself, but Kiba had won the last 4 matches. Ino on the other had changed a lot since they got back from the last mission. She was not a Sasuke fan girl any more, and seemed to become a lot kinder to himself, and Kiba. It was a nice change, she was a interesting and great teammate to have on you team. Even though she could still very much be loud, and demanding sometimes.
"Well seems your late agatin," Kiba said with a smirk.
"Oh well, things happen," Naruto said with a smile back, "You two ready to show these shinobi how much better we are then them."
"You better believe it, I didn't endure all that work with Yamato, and my dad just to lose to someone like these guys," Ino said in a confident tone.
"Yeah, these guys won't know what hit them," Kiba added, "We better not keep them waiting."
As the group walked towards testing area, they noticed the large number of shinobi that had come to the village from surrounding areas. They came in all shapes and sizes, and well as differing ages, though they were some of the youngest there.
"Hey Sarutobi, good to see you hear," A voice said coming from a group by the enterence to the testing area.
Naruto turned to noticed that the person who said the statement was none other then Saizo of the mist, who he had ran into in his first real mission. "Well, yeah, we can find out who is stronger huh?"
"Yeah, the prize clan of Konoha, and of Kirigakure, it should be good, just make it to the finals," Saizo said in calm tone.
"You too," Naruto replied before walking into the building.
As he entered he noticed that Sasuke, and one of the other genin were about to fight. Naruto just shock his head, of course the Uchiha would get into a fight before the real tournament had began. Then as soon as the two where about to attack each other he noticed a green blur get in the way and spot the two from attacking each other.
"I am sure that you will find another time to fight, however this is nor the right time," the boy said firmly.
Naruto kept his eye on the him, to do what he just did was not a easy task. He had to be really good, and he was also from Konoha, but he had never meet him. He smiled to himself watching him walk up to Sakura and give her a thumbs up, only to be rejected by her. Ino next to him was almost laughing at the sight of Sakura having to teal with a fan boy, and how she dealt with him. This Rock Lee was a heck of a character.
Naruto looked up to see the other male on rock lee's team walked up to them.
"So you're the Sarutobi who entered this year, interesting," he said as he looked closely at Naruto, "I am Neji Hyuga, of the Hyuga clan, with both us, and the Uchiha, this exam will be the best chance to find out who is the finest clan in Konoha."
Neji then walked away just as quickly, as he walked away, the girl on the team walked up and smiled, "Well nice to meet you guys, I am Tenten, good luck on the exam, and please don't mind my teammates, they are a bit off."
Ino shock her head, "Man with teams like that, this is going to be a very interesting exam."
A/N- Well, I am still working on ideas in my head for pairing, starting with the next chapter, the chunin exam will have a lot more interaction with teams other then Naruto's. Oh, A/N stand for author's note, where I put info to help my readers. Also I have not been a kid for a while, I write to improve my bad writing skills. If you have something you want to say about ideas of parings, or the story, or the exam, just review, I read all of the reviews I get, and think about the ideas expressed in them.