A/N: Sorry about the longer than unusual update, but I was feeling depressed this chapter was short but all preparations for the finals are set now and we can focus on that for the next chapter. Now to cover some concerns I noticed in the previous reviews for the last chapter.

First I have to admit I am shocked that so many people are against the Kallen and Naruto pairing, but it was only something I was CONSIDERING of doing depending on how events turn out (just bear in mind I will probably do Hinata and Naruto by default if nothing better comes along that benefits the story). Partly because since I am pairing Lelouch with a Naruto character I thought I should consider some other mixed series pairings like Kakashi and Sayoko for example just so I am not only doing it for one character pair. But I am not going to worry about that until more characters from the CG-side get introduced. Once they appear then you may suggest pairings for them if you wish, but I ask that you wait until they appear.

The most likely Code Geass character set to appear next is Milly will show up some time after the Chunin Exams and I got some surprises in store for her appearance.

But let me also assure you guys that I will not make anyone into a man-whore, which is probably the biggest reason I am very reluctant to even contemplate a harem for any character. Regardless I intend to do pairings naturally and with actual romance when appropriate of course and WITHIN character.

Lastly please do not flame one of my stories because you are growing impatient for me to post an update. I have other stories I intend to keep up on. I prefer to take my time with my chapters to ensure they are done as best as I can make them and I allow for more feedback to come in on the previous chapters before I proceed with the next one (so I can take care of mistakes, and contemplate any suggestions for the upcoming chapters, etc).

Chapter 10

Preparations for the Final Rounds

"OH COME ON," Naruto Uzumaki cried out in frustration as a small cloud of smoke cleared revealing a tadpole in the middle of becoming a frog as it has only developed its legs while its arms have to grow and its tail remains.

"Keep training or should I just give up on you?"

Naruto looked towards the man overseeing his training. It wasn't Ebisu, but someone else who ended up taking his place after an unexpected series of events that played out. He was much older being around fifty years old, although he didn't look it considering his height and how well-fit he kept himself. He had waist-length, spiky white hair usually tied back into a pony tail with a forehead protector with the kanji for Oil and two red lines that ran down from his eyes and a wart on the left side of his nose. The rest of his attire consisted of a green short shirt kimono complete with matching pants; under which he wore mesh armor. He had metal hand guards, a simple black belt, traditional Japanese geta, a red haori with two simple yellow circles on each side, and a scroll on his back he carried by means of rope attached to it which hung over his shoulders and carried out through the haori wide-sleeves passing under his arms.

"I'LL NEVER GIVE UP," Naruto declared fiercely as he persisted by continuing his unusual training regimen. "I promised someone I would win my fight during the Chunin Exams and I intend to do just that Pervy Sage."

The so-called Pervy Sage smiled at the young man, but in his thoughts he mused to himself.

He's definitely more like his mother. Minato you would have been laughing if you have seen just how hyperactive your son has turned out.

The Pervy Sage or rather known as Jiraiya the Toad Sage remembered back to a couple days ago when he happened upon the young man while conducting important research for a novel he was working on. He had gone to Konoha's Hot Spring Baths within the village to conduct his research in peace, but he was rudely interrupted.

"Are you peaking in the woman's bath old man," Ebisu asked while adjusting his sunglasses before charging at Jiraiya. "I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY SUCH BEHAVOR ON MY WATCH!"

"Oh please!" Jiraiya replied calmly before quickly performing Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) to summon a large orange frog with blue straps along its body. The creature was easily bigger than a full grown adult allowing the Toad Sage to remain easily able to sit on top of frog. The frog quickly opened its mouth grabbing the charging Ebisu with its tongue before lifting him into the air and slamming him onto the ground.

Ebisu was knocked out upon impact with Naruto who had been practicing Suimen Hokō no Gyō (Water Surface Walking Practice) in an effort to improve his charka control and efficiency. Similar to the Ki Nobori no Shugyō (Tree Climbing Practice) Naruto had learned during his mission in the Land of Waves, but instead of just providing a fixed amounted of charka in order to scale a solid surface like tree without damaging the tree or not applying enough to climb it the Suimen Hokō no Gyō demands that the user must change and adjust the amount of charka needed to walk on the water surface otherwise they'll fall in. The hot springs were chosen as a training spot because of the hot spring water that could serve as a means to motivate Naruto not to fall in should he fail to maintain the charka at his feet. So far Naruto hadn't obtained complete masterful use yet, but at the same time through he was picking up on it surprisingly quickly yet something was impeding his ability to master it.

Naruto quickly climbed out of the water before kneeling down near Ebisu's prone form where he began trying in vain to wake the downed shinobi.

He's totally out cold, so I guess he really was weak after all.

"Wh-what's up with that humongous frog? Just who the heck are you?" Naruto demanded prompting Jiraiya and his summoned frog companion to strike a flamboyant pose.

"Good Question! I am the most holy hermit sage of the Mount Myoboku Toads, otherwise known as Toad Sage nice to meet ya!"

"T-toad sage?"

"Yup," Jiraiya answered before his summon companion vanished in puff of smoke.

"Hey Pervy Sage what are you going to do about him? He was supposed to oversee my training but you knocked him out."

"He interfered with my research."

"Your research," Naruto said as he was clearly confused, but his confusion was from trying to comprehend how peeping on the women's bath could be called research.

"I am a writer of novels," Jiraiya began as he reached into his coat to pull out a book titled Icha Icha Paradise. "Like this one!"

"Huh!" Naruto said starting at the book for a moment before he recognized it as the same book his sensei Kakashi was into. "That's I have seen that book before!"

"Oh you have heard of it?" The toad sage said with a prideful smile. It has become quite famous.

"Yeah I heard of it, but it's a dirty and indecent book! Besides what kind of research was that? You were peeping on the woman's baths you perv! If you were my age it could be written off as mischief, but you are a middle-aged man so it's clean cut criminal behavior!"

"FOOL," Jiraiya snapped back. "I am no ordinary leech. The peeping provides me with inspiration to produce better work."

"LIAR…I don't want to hear your excuses. All I want to know is what are you going to do about my training?"

"Training, you mean the Suimen Hokō no Gyō you were doing just now?"

"You know that exercise?" Naruto said before pointing his right index finger at the sage before demanding. "Then do your duty and take over supervision of my training."

Jiraiya grinned before thinking. This is unexpected, but at least I don't have to go looking for him. I intended to train you; however I want to get more of a feel of what kind of kid you are.

"I CANNOT STAND RUDE JERKS!" Jiraiya snapped back before adding. "Besides I hate men."

Naruto mentally cursed himself realizing those insults he threw at the Toad Sage probably wasn't a good idea given that he needed the sage to train him.

"That Icha Icha Paradise, that book was the coolest really."

"Liar that novel is for ages eighteen and up. Flattery will get you nowhere," Jiraiya declared before continuing while Naruto was forming a ram hand-seal with a plan in mind to win over the Toad Sage. "I am a powerful sage, so I am no fool to be twirled on a string around the finger of a greenhorn like you despicable brat."

Suddenly Naruto transformed into a beautiful nude woman with her unmentionable areas covered by a light mist. She looked similar to Naruto except that she was older with a mature womanly figure with long blonde hair tied into a pair of pig tails while her figure rivaled that of most models.

"How do you like me now?" Naruto asked with a seductive female voice.

"I LIKE IT A LOT!" Jiraiya said with wide eyes giving Naruto the thumbs up gesture.

What an idiot. Naruto thought mentally sighing.

"What a gal, but what is your technique called?"

"Oh I call it Oiroke no Jutsu (Sexy Technique)," Naruto answered before thinking. I am certain now that adults are very vulnerable to this technique.

"What an imagination you are a genius kid!"

"So you'll supervise my training," Naruto said with cute and sparking look in the woman's eyes as he hadn't undone the technique yet.

"Yep, but there is one condition…"

"Condition?" Naruto asked, but he had a bad feeling what it was as Jiraiya turned around to look away from him before nervously asking.

"You have to stay like that the entire time around me."

With that Naruto ended the technique returning to normal with an angry look on his face.

"Inspiration my butt! You are just a plain old pervert pervy sage!"

"No you are wrong because I am not an ordinary pervert."

"Don't mess around," Naruto snapped before Jiraiya finished his statement with imitating a monster before saying.

"I am a super pervert!"

Oh man this guy has no shame. Naruto thought while wondering what he did in life to get stuck with perverts as teachers, but if it meant becoming Hokage someday Naruto thought he should just bite the bullet and just put up with it.

"But all joking aside I'll supervise your training so try that exercise again." Jiraiya said at last, which were the words Naruto wanted to hear.

"YES SIR," Naruto said excitedly as he quickly returned to the hot spring to attempt the Suimen Hokō no Gyō, but as the blonde-haired shinobi channeled his charka in preparation the Toad Sage noticed something was off and continued his observation as Naruto channeled charka to his feet before stepping into the water.

Naruto like before was able to stand upon the water, but eventually he is unable to maintain the proper flow of charka causing to fall into the hot springs water. Jiraiya's expression remained unchanged even as Naruto climbed out of the water. Frustrated by his inability to master it Naruto began removing his clothes until he was in only his boxers and his shinobi forehead protector.

"There is no point in wearing these clothes if I am just going to get wet again anyway."

"Manipulate your charka for me one more time." Jiraiya asked, but Naruto didn't understand why. "Come on hurry it up."

"Ok," Naruto replied as he was not sure what was going on, but he did as the sage asked him. As he began channeling his charka a seal of shorts on his stomach appeared.

So this is the formula used to seal the Nine-Tail Fox. Two tetragram seals, a double seal and an eight-signed formula huh. I see so any of the fox's charka that leaks through the tetragram seal will be suppressed by and meshed with the boy's charka. This is quite the seal you made for your son Minato.

Jiraiya thought, but soon realized the source of the problem for Naruto's difficulty in manipulating his charka when he saw a five-prong seal appear around the current seal that kept the Nine-Tails sealed. It was easy to recognize due to the crude formula used when compared to the more complex seal that had been put on Naruto when he was a baby.

I see so that is the problem…just as I suspected. A five-prong seal has been put on him. An odd number seal placed on top of an even-number seal which is causing the boy's charka and the fox's charka to mix in an unstable explaining his difficulty in manipulating his charka. The formula is rather crude compared to Minato's seal, so I am willing to wager that Orochimaru did this.

Preparing his right hand as Jiraiya held it behind his back while gathering charka to all five fingers.

"Hey come over here for a second." Jiraiya called out as Naruto approached him. "I need you to raise your arms up like this." Jiraiya said raising his left arm while keeping his right hand hidden from Naruto's view.

"What for?"

Before Naruto had a chance to see it Jiraiya struck Naruto in the stomach with his right hand while using the Gogyō Kaiin (Five Elements Unseal) to remove the Gogyō Fūin (Five Elements Seal) Orochimaru had placed on the blonde-haired shinobi during their battle in the Forest of Death. Naruto dropped to his knees, but the seal Orochimaru had put on him faded away.

"Wh…why did you do that?"

"I stimulated some relaxation points for you. Just get back in there and try again one more time…I am certain you'll notice a difference now."

Sure enough when Naruto reentered the hot spring he instantly noticed that fact that he was able to walk on top of the water's surfaces seemingly effortlessly now like he had mastered it already.

"I don't know what is going on, but this is awesome."

After basking in the glory of his success Jiraiya smiled before making his decision.

Your son turned out to be more like Kushina than you Minato. I don't think it will be easy, but I think can whip this kid into shape and teach him how to control the Nine-Tail Fox's charka.

"Alright kid out of the pool I need to talk to you about something."

"So what's up?" Naruto asked walking out of the water.

"Before we go any further there is something you have to understand. Did you know you have two different sets of charka within you?"

"Two sets of charka?"

"Have you ever noticed a special charka inside of you that was different from what you normally used?"

Naruto took a moment to think about it, but soon he did begin to remember a few instances where he did notice something like that.

"Now that you mention it there were a few times when I felt a flood of charka and all of a sudden I had incredible strength. I can't say that I remember much about it whenever it happened."

"I see…"

"But I do remember that is felt different from the usual charka I used. I don't know how to best describe it, but if I had to define my charka by colors I would have to say that my normal charka is blue then the other one I felt that was different was red."

"Good," Jiraiya said as he was pleased that Naruto had realized that much yet he didn't seem to catch on to the red charka's source. "Alright it's getting late, so we'll continue tomorrow. As for this guy I'll take him to the place I am staying at until he wakes up. But I want you to meet me back here tomorrow, because I intend to teach you a cool new move."

"REALLY YOU WILL," Naruto said as he was excited as a kid expecting to go to the carnival tomorrow.

"Trust me you won't be disappointed."

Returning to the present Jiraiya continued to observe the boy as he began his training regimen he laid out to the young man the following day. The plan would be to have Naruto exhaust all of his usual charka as a means to help easily invoke the charka of the Nine-Tails fox. To accomplish this Jiraiya had Naruto wear weights on his arms and legs and then had him perform exercises or had him spar against his own clones in an effort to help improve his taijutsu.

Then once that was finished Jiraiya was using his exhausted state to draw out the Nine-Tails' charka by having him practice and work to summon a toad by performing Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Technique) after Naruto filled out his name and left his right hand print on the summoning contract of the toads. Although Naruto's taijutsu and ability to manipulate and channel his charka had improved so far he has failed to call on the charka of the Nine-Tail Fox.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but I was hoping he could tap into it. Based on what Naruto has said it seems life-threatening stimuli and rolling emotions trigger it. I suppose there is another way, but I would rather not have to resort to that if I can help it.

Jiraiya said as he was in deep thought while contemplating other options.

Elsewhere in a rocky part of the Land of Fire a distance away from Konoha a certain black-haired Uchiha was standing on top of a tall rock formation tirelessly working to get stronger by working on his taijutsu using weights he brought with him when he fled the hospital once he was well enough. Sasuke Uchiha had been training around the clock using the weights on his arms and legs to improve his strength and reflexes taking the lesson Rock Lee drove home to heart.

Even if you can read them, you cannot stop them. You are too slow. Your eyes may be quick enough to stay one step ahead of me, but if body cannot keep up, what good does it do you?

The loss was a bitter pill to swallow, but Lee was right.

Ever since he had arrived at this place where no one would disturb him Sasuke has been training with the weights on his limbs, but he hasn't bothered removing them except when he goes to sleep intending to use every moment possible to strengthen himself. Sasuke's training was interrupted however as he heard something just over the edge of the rock platform he was standing on. The Uchiha made his way over to the ledge and looked down where he spotted Kakashi climbing up the side of the rock formation with one hand tied behind his back.

"Yo," Sasuke greeted looking down at the Konoha shinobi.

"So you came after all." Kakashi replied.

"Shall we get started?"

Weeks later with four days remaining before the Chunin Exams final round Lelouch returned to Konoha with C.C. and Guren in tow. Lelouch would use his last remaining few days to rest and prepare himself for his battle against Sasuke, but there was another reason he had wanted to return early. Meanwhile as the sun was setting in the distance leaving for a beautiful sunset to witness Kankurō was sitting in a chair on the balcony of the hotel room that was being occupied by him and their teacher Baki. However he had Temari visiting him as Kankurō was making some adjustments and modifications to his puppet.

Taking a break to take a slip of his drink Kankurō looked down at the street below looking for something interesting to occupy his time with watching as he enjoyed his drink, but he spotted Lelouch and his group walking through the street below.

"Hey Temari guess who is back in town...it's your boyfriend."

"WHAT WAS THAT?" Temari snapped with Kankurō enjoying a light chuckle.

"What I meant to say was Lelouch and his teammates are back in town."

A short time later Temari was hiding in an alleyway across the street from the hotel Lelouch and his group have checked in at after tailing them every since the trio had passed by the hotel where the sand siblings occupied. The blonde-haired kunoichi was being very careful to avoid drawing attention as she knew from her observation of Lelouch during the preliminary matches and the shogi games she had played proved that Lelouch was observant and intelligent so if she was careless he would notice her.

Now that he was back in town the Sunagakure shinobi was contemplating how should she proceed, but before she could spend much time in contemplation she saw Lelouch leaving the hotel. Cautiously, but making sure to keep a safe distance to avoid detection while at the same time keeping him in her sights Temari followed the young man.

Where could he be going at this time as the sun has gone down already?

The Sunagakure kunoichi kept a careful observant eye on the young man as she followed him until he arrived at a shrine sitting on top of a hill in the Uchiha district of town. Temari had read a book on Konoha's popular landmarks and tourist hotspots and recognized the shrine that Lelouch had entered was the Naka Shrine.

What is he doing in a place like that? He doesn't strike me as the religious type.

Temari thought while she had picked a good vantage point in the trees outside of the shrine while looking for any sign of Lelouch. For the next forty minutes she saw no sign of Lelouch or any sign of anyone else going in and out of the shrine. In fact when she arrived the place looked abandoned and it hardly has seen any visitors. She considered going in herself to find out what Lelouch was doing, but Temari didn't want to risk running into Lelouch.

Finally Lelouch exited the shrine, but then Temari saw someone else approach the young man which caused the kunoichi to worry.

Gaara, what is he doing here?

Making his way up the steps Gaara was walking towards Lelouch with his usual expressionless face yet he seemed focus on Lelouch.

"Is there something I can help you with Gaara?" Lelouch asked calmly, but he was alert as he could see the bloodlust in his eyes.

"Tell me what your true purpose is? Why do you seek power?"

"What?" Lelouch asked as he was caught off guard by that question.

"You have eyes just like mine…eyes full and spilling over with hatred and intent to kill. You, me and Sasuke Uchiha we're similar. However when you face Sasuke in your match the winner shall be my prey."

With those words Gaara turned around and left at the same time Temari managed to come around and appear at the base of the stairs to make it appear she had been looking for Gaara. The red-head shinobi was silently and calmly walked passed Temari without even looking at her. Temari breathed a sigh of relief as Lelouch descended the stairs approaching the blonde haired kunoichi. Neither of them said a word for a full ten minutes which they believed was more than enough time for the two to have a conversation regarding Gaara without the shinobi in question being within earshot.

"Does he normally do that?" Lelouch asked breaking the silence.

"No not normally, but I was worried when Gaara approached you like that. I know there is a chance you two could face one another in the exam in a couple days, but I think we both agree competitors killing one another before the matches won't be overlooked."

"I see so you were sent to look for him to ensure he didn't do anything."

"Yeah you could say that," Temari said using it as a convenient lie to cover her earlier actions of spying on him.

"I imagine that must be been a worrisome task…I know Gaara is supposed to be bloodthirsty from what I have heard about him but I assume it's more than that."

"Yeah he enjoys killing and he'll kill automatically at the slight provocation."

"Then I guess I am his favorite pick for opponents then."

"I am not entirely sure of the reason he is interested in you, but I don't think I should tell you to be careful of Gaara since merely loosing the match should be the least of your concerns."

"I know, but I appreciate the concern." Lelouch replied with a smirk.

"Oh please I did it only because you're one of the few people in this village I can enjoy a decent conversation with." Temari replied dismissively.

The black-haired young man laughed before noting. "Yeah I guess finding someone to have a decent conversation with is a pain."

The two began walking and as they went Temari thought to use this as an opportunity to gather some intelligence on him, but she was mindful to be careful not to reveal anything that might hint at her true intentions. Lelouch on the other hand was suspicious of Temari as he wasn't convinced that her showing up was to keep Gaara in check, but he has had a suspicious feeling of being followed but he couldn't tell who. Even he had been careful when he went to the Naka Shrine he almost certain no one from Konoha had spotted him.

It was risky going to that place, but there was something I had to see for myself. Lelouch thought recalling the purpose behind why he had gone there the first moment he returned to Konoha knowing the risk of being seen but at the same time understood that this could be his only chance to do so.

"I take it you are already ready for the matches coming up in four days?"

"I am," Lelouch answered before asking. "I assume you and the rest of your siblings have also prepared accordingly for the upcoming matches?"

"Of course we have." Temari replied with a smirk.

Lelouch felt a little stiffness in his shoulder as he recalled those three weeks of intense training with Kisame. Unlike Itachi who was strict but moderate when it came to training while Kisame is very a harsh in his methods. Lelouch needed a couple days of rest and heal from the beating Kisame gave him, but he was still recovering from the ordeal and he should be fully healed and ready for the final rounds of the Chunin Exams.

"In that case I'll be expecting an excellent display during the Chunin Exams."

"I wouldn't keep your hopes up since my opponent isn't so tough." Temari said dismissively regarding her foe, although Lelouch wasn't certain if it would be such an easy victory given Shikamaru's performance during the preliminary rounds. For some reason Lelouch felt that Shikamaru and Temari's fight might not go as expected. "I am not sure about Kankurō and that guy with all of the bugs inside of him."

"I suppose if the battle ground had a lot more of cover and hiding places to offer then Shino would probably have more of an advantage, but in an open field like an arena…as long as Kankurō can remain aware of his surroundings and keep Shino at a distance he should win." Lelouch said as he figured Shino would have a bigger advantage if they fought in the forest or some place with more cover. Not only for Shino to hide and attack from, but also ambush points for his bugs or ways for them to sneak around unnoticed.

That is provided of course if that is all Shino has in his arsenal. Lelouch thought while Temari, although confident in her younger brother's abilities to win, came to the same conclusion as Lelouch.

"So enough about the exams," Temari said deciding to change the subject. "What are you aiming for exactly for your future?"

"Oh why are you asking such a question?"

"I doubt there is much we cannot talk about given that we are both from different villages and once this is over we might not see each other again or at least not in a possible friendly way."

"I see your point. Are you expecting me to say that I intend to become leader of my home village like so many shinobi usually strive for?"

"Well are you?"

"No, my goals for the future are something quite different. I am sure being leader of a shinobi village is worthy goal for some, but that is not the path I intend to follow."

"What kind of path are you interested in?"

"I guess I want to do something about the world…try to make it better somehow, but I am still contemplating a proper way to do it." Lelouch admitted, although that technically wasn't true as he had some ideas in mind. He just didn't want to reveal too many details to the blonde haired kunoichi just to avoid complicating matters for him in the future.

"That seems like an impossible task."

"I know, but I guess it's the challenge of it that I like." Lelouch replied with a smirk, but suddenly the ground beneath their feet shook almost causing the two to stumble onto the ground. However Temari and Lelouch regained their balance just in time, yet the two were wondering what caused that. "What the heck was that?"

"An Earthquake?"

A distance away at the Konoha Hospital Gaara who had been on his way back to the place he and his siblings were staying at was stopped suddenly by something you would never had expected to see. Although he barely showed it he was caught off guard for a moment, but how would one react when a gigantic toad that was easily bigger than a three-story building landing in front of you just as you are about to pass the hospital. The giant toad in question had dull, rusty-red, skin but around his eyes and on his lips and chest are brighter red markings. Over his left eye, the toad had a vertical scar while on his tongue, possessed a series of stud-like piercings on both the upper and lower side. Completing his attire the toad wore a large blue happi vest that has the kanji ebi on the back with a massive dosu blade at his hip. Lastly he also had a large kiseru pipe in his mouth.

Gamabunta the Chief Toad loomed over the hospital before using his tongue to carefully deposit an unconscious Naruto in front of the hospital's entrance.

Gaara quietly observed the whole scene, although he didn't quite understand how and why a Toad of such size appeared as the blonde-haired boy didn't seem capable of summoning such a creature. Yet for a brief moment as Naruto tried to stir and attempt to get up to his feet…the blonde turned his head towards him and for one instant before Naruto Uzumaki passed out again that Gaara saw that in place of his blue eyes he saw red eyes with silts in them.

Three days later Naruto Uzumaki finally awoke after having exhausted himself completely during his training with the Toad Sage where he was finally able to tap into the charka of the Nine-Tail Fox, but it led to a rather unexpected encounter with the tailed-beast itself. It then that Naruto had realized that the second set of charka that Jiraiya was telling him about was in fact the fox's charka. The blonde-haired shinobi took a moment to recognize the environment he was in leading him to realize he was in a room at the hospital.

"So you're finally awake," Shikamaru said sitting at his bedside prompting the blonde to look over to find Shikamaru sitting in a chair who had been reading a paperback book.

"Where am I," Naruto said feeling a little confused while a little light-headed still.

"You're in the hospital. You have been out cold for three days straight." Shikamaru explained before placing a bookmark inside his book.

"Why am I here with you? Where is Pervy Sage?"

"Huh…how should I know," The black-haired shinobi replied before putting away his book. "I mean I am here because I came to visit Chōji, even through it's a total drag. When I heard you got laid low too I decided to poke my head in."

"What did Chōji get hurt that badly?" Naruto asked.

"Nah nothing like that, but what really happened was that after his match he ate too much barbecue and got a severe case of indigestion."

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at that. "That is just like Chōji."

"You two aren't the type to get female visitors so," Shikamaru began before his sentence trailed off when he realized he almost forgot something. He reached for something sitting on the ground by Naruto's bedside before pulling it up revealing a brown basket filled with an assortment of fruits like grapes, bandanas, a pineapple and more. "Oh it's a huge pain, but I brought this fruit basket for Chōji. Sadly the doctors said that he can't have it so let's eat it ourselves."

"Cool…are you sure?" Naruto inquired eager to eat something as he was feeling his stomach growl from three days of no eating. "Man you are a cool guy."

"Oh shut up…I am just saying it would be a shame to let it go to waste."

The blonde-haired twelve-year-old shinobi began grinning prompting Shikamaru to ask.

"What is it?"

"Just for fun why don't we eat it in front of Chōji?"

"You're such a freak." Shikamaru commented rolling his eyes.

Meanwhile in his own room inside the hospital Chōji was sitting on his bed when following a knock coming from the open doorway the young shinobi saw an identical fruit basket being dangled from the doorway.

"Sheesh Shikamaru you are so mean." Chōji commented, but then Ino entered the room holding the fruit basket.

"Oh it's you Ino?"

"Hey Chōji so are you feeling any better?"

Chōji smiled pleased with the idea that he was getting a visit from a girl.

Tomorrow the final stage of the Chunin Exams begins.

A/N: Ok the chapter is done and I'll likely be very busy working on the next chapter so it might be a bit before I put it out consider we'll have a lot going on as Naruto and Neji duke it out before we have everyone else with the fight between Sasuke and Lelouch to be the second to last match (Gaara vs C.C.) before all hell breaks loose…mind you guys a certain Kaguya Clan member won't be sick this time too lol.

I still have that poll to help with my indecisive decision for the pairing with Lelouch through that can be found on my profile page.

I look forward to your reviews and feedback.