Naruto and the rest of his team entered the gathering room for the exams. He smirked when he noticed that Sakura's team wasn't here yet as well as Lee. Could he help it if he just happened to let it "slip" that Lee had some major competition for Sakura's heart. Or that the fact that his big sister was completely head over heels with the Uchiha. Ino noticed Naruto's smirk and the fact he was looking at Team Gai. And the fact that Gai's star pupil was not there. She frowned, "Naruto. Where's that spandex wearing freak?"

Naruto chuckled, "Gai? You know that none of the senseis were allowed in this room."

Ino grabbed Naruto by his shirt and forced him to face her, "The other spandex wearing freak."

Naruto gulped. That was the bad part of his plan. Not only was throwing Sasuke to the wolves going to piss off Sakura but Naruto's blonde haired teammate as well. "Um…Lee…well-?"

Ino's grip tightened, "What did you do?" She looked around, "Where's Sasuke-kun!"

Naruto gulped. He saw his opening when he saw a flash of green to his side, "There's Lee right now. Why don't you go ask him?"

Ino gave Naruto one more death glare before storming off towards Lee. Shikamaru glanced at Naruto, "You pitted them against each other?"

Naruto smirked, "The bastard needed to be taken down a few pegs."

Shikamaru sighed, "How troublesome."

Just then, Sakura burst through the door and headed straight for Naruto. He gulped. He then noticed Ino also making her way back towards him.

Shikamaru noticed as well, "Great, we're going to lose a team member before the exams even begin."

Naruto chuckled as the two girls stopped in front of him, "Hey girls, what's up?"

BAM!

Naruto fell to the ground holding the two new knots forming on his head as he whimpered in pain.

Then came the stereo, "WHAT DID WE TELL YOU ABOUT ENCOURAGING LEE!"

Naruto saw his opening, "Actually Ino, you said it was a great idea if I saved Sasuke for you."

Sakura turned to Ino, "YOU WHAT!"

Ino smirked, "What can I say? I think you two would be a perfect couple."

Sakura growled, "And if you by happen ended up with Sasuke-kun in the process-"

Ino faked shock, "Why Sakura? If I didn't know any better I would say you think I was planning this just for my own benefit."

"Since when did you ever think of anyone else," came a voice almost as loud as Naruto's as Kiba and his team walked up.

Ino once again caught Hinata trying her best to watch Naruto while not making direct eye contact.

"Uh…um…h-hello Naruto-kun," came a small voice.

Naruto put his arm around Hinata as if she was an old friend, "Hey Hinata. How have you been doing?"

N-N-N-N-Naruto-kun. He's t-t-t-touching me. She quickly turned red before passing out.

Ino smirked, I hope I'm never that obsessed over a guy. She then spotted the object of her own obsession, "Sasuke-kun!" She quickly latched herself to Sasuke.

Sasuke grunted in annoyance, "Please let me go Yamanaka."

Ino released her hold slightly hurt by his reaction, "But Sasuke-kun, I-"

Sasuke frowned, "I don't care. Just leave me alone."

Naruto was about to say something to Ino's defense when two very familiar scents hit his nose. First, the smell of sand and blood mixed. He looked to his left to see Gaara starring at nothing in particular. The second however worried him. The smell of snakes. He head looked around and met the gaze of a young Konoha shinobi making his way towards the group. As he started to reprimand the group for being so loud and obvious, Naruto nudged Shikamaru with his elbow. When Shikamaru discreetly looked over, Naruto sniffed his nose as if having a slight cold. Shikamaru looked at him waiting for the continuance. Naruto quickly motioned at the new shinobi, who identified himself as Kabuto. Shikamaru nodded slightly. No one picked up except for a pair of proctors standing at the other end of the room.

One smiled, "Isn't that the kid?"

The other nodded, "He's already scouted out on of the other participants. I guess something about the way he smells…" the proctor looked through his sheets to see who it was that interested Naruto, "Kabuto Yakushi. Failed 7 times already. But every time it's because he gave up and always in the last part of the exam."

"His 'one-on-one' skills must be lacking."

"Yeah. That or he lacks faith in them. He's better known as a medic than a fighter."

The group of rookies split and Shikamaru motioned for his group to move to an isolated corner, "What is it about our new friend that worries you Naruto?"

Naruto kept his glaze on Kabuto who was now showing some kind of cards to Sasuke. "He smells like snakes."

Ino scoffed, "So? He probably has a pet snake at home or something."

Naruto shook his head, "No, like that other guy in Suna. Not as strong though."

Shikamaru sighed, "How troublesome. For now, we'll just keep our eye out. Now here's the plan on this exam-"

---30 minutes later---

Naruto smirked as their plan had reached its final stage. Ino used her Mind Transfer Jutsu to get the answers from Sakura's paper. She would them use the same jutsu on Shikamaru who would then use the shadows caused by the desks to take control of Naruto's arm and make him write the correct answers. As the test went on people started to drop like flies. When he had originally not written anything Hinata, who was next to him, offered to let him copy her paper, but Naruto said not to worry about him. He finished the last question when the 45 minute went up and the proctor started to once again try to intimidate the examinees to quit. Naruto stayed firm and in turn passed the first test with flying colors. His ears twitched as he heard a whistling. He looked away as the glass window was broken through as a ball landed in front of Ibiki Morino. Several kunai shot out of the ball as a banner appeared as well as a female who , according to the banner and latter on her loud self, was Anko Mitarashi. Naruto frowned as once again a sent hit his nose. He frowned. As his team continued towards the area appointed by Mitarashi He looked at his teammates, "She has the smell too."

Ino looked at him, "Who?"

"The Loud Mouth Proctor." He suddenly paled when a kunai barely missed him. In fact, he realized it grazed him as his cheek started to trickle blood. He shivered when he felt the creepy presence behind him.

"You really shouldn't say those kinds of things," murmured Anko as she licked the blood.

Naruto tried not to act too freaked out, "Sorry you just seem to have a very popular scent."

Anko stood up straight and looked at him curiously, "Popular scent?"

Naruto nodded, "Snakes. You're the third person I have ever met that smelled like that."

Anko nervously touched the back of her neck. Shikamaru took noticed of some kind of seal there. She stopped though when she felt a presence behind her, "It's rude to interrupt."

A grass nin apologized, "Sorry. I simply wished to return your weapon Miss Proctor."

Anko took it slowly and started walking off.

Naruto frowned, "Make that four."