Chapter 12

Waiting for the second part of the exam to be over with was difficult for team seven. There wasn't really much to do, since they were not allowed anywhere outside of their quarters. They either worked out or just watch TV. Their room wasn't big enough for them to do much training. It felt weird to them that they weren't training much. So when the fifth day came around they were really happy to being allowed out of their room.

A chuunin came to their door and then requested them to follow him. They did as they were told. The chuunin lead them what felt like the center of the tower. Then the man stopped in front of an opening to another room and pointed them to enter it. They told them to line up in a row to wait for the Hokage to speak to everyone who got to the tower on time. They did as the chuunin said and walked inside.

The room was by far the biggest room inside of the tower that they had seen. It was about two stores high and four times the room they had been staying in or two times the size of the room they had greeted Iruka in. The room had no windows. To the side of the entrance there was stairs that lead observing platforms on either side of the room. To the front of the room there was some sort of platform with a statue built into the walls and a TV in the wall on each side of it.

Walking inside of the room they realized that they were the second group to arrive in the room. Lining up one by one in front of the statue thingy they waited for the others to arrive. They didn't speak or say a word. Naruto took his chance to look over at the Sand shinobis. He wasn't surprised that they were here. The leader of their group was not one to mess with the way he could feel the killing intent coming off of him. Ever since he first ran into the team he could feel the killing intent coming of off him for days from wherever he was at. It wasn't hard for him to feel it.

Soon the room began to fell with more team. Naruto was happy that Hinata had made it along with Ino, Choji and Shikamaru. Even team Gai was their, however he wasn't too happy that Kabuto's team was here nor the sound ninjas. On the other hand for the time being Naruto was side tracked by when the Hokage stepped in to the room along with several other people. Including each teams personal senseis. They all went to stand in front of them with the Hokage in the middle.

Just before the Hokage could speak, Naruto's eyes darkened as he glared coldly at someone. He had caught the scent of the Sound village Sensei. Even if the guy wore a disguise, he would know that scent from anywhere. Without him knowing, he was letting out an even more killing intent than the Gaara kid. This in all caused several to wonder where it all was coming from, but a select few had already figured it out. The Gaara kid seemed to tense up.

"Naruto," Sarutobi had yelled getting his attention. "Control yourself." He had notice something was up as soon as he saw Naruto's eyes dark. At first he wondered why Naruto was getting pissed all of a sudden. He knew he was looking at one of the Sensei's that were behind him. And the killing intent coming from the boy wasn't good. He could already see a couple of the genin being affected by this. "You must stop this now before you make everyone here sick. Then I would like you explain to me later what had happen. Whoever this is for will surely regret making you mad suddenly. So for now control yourself."

Almost everyone in the room glazed at him shocked. Some were feeling a little fearful and praying that they wouldn't have to go up against him. The Hokage had mad it sound like Naruto wouldn't hesitate to kill or attack a person in the room. Others who were trying to act as normal as they could were trying not to let what had happen bother them but still had them feeling little on the edge.

The one who was feeling Naruto's glare didn't react, but he had a guess that the boy knew who he was. To him this was very interesting. He knew the boy wouldn't be foolish to do something like call him out here. He suspected, if the boy knew who he was that he knew who was allied to him. The boy was smart and a new thorn in his side. It was already proving difficult in getting what he wants most.

Once the Hokage knew that Naruto was under control, even though the boy didn't let up his glare, he continued on. He went into further explanations of why these test were and why they weren't just to decide who were to become chuunin or chuunins. Some were very shock to hear the information as they took it all in. Then when he was finished another proctor knelled in front of him and spoke. Since there were so many people who had passed the second part they were now going to hold a preliminary round.

The Hokage nodded, but before that could happen he asked for anyone would want to drop out. Kabuto turned out to be the only one to do so giving them a false reason. Only a select few had a clue why. And soon the floor was clear of everyone, so that they were looking down at the floor below from the second floor platform. The only person who wasn't joining them up there was their sickly looking Protor, who went into rules of what was to happen.

Not once did Naruto take his eyes off of the Sound Shinobi. He just continued do watch him. Every move the man made as they move to the platforms he would watch. Sakura and Sasuke were still trying to figure out why Naruto was acting the way he was. It wasn't until their sensei, Kakashi joined them had a striking assumption that he knew. He followed Naruto's glaze over to the other side of the room where all of the guest shinobies stood, while on their side held the entire Leaf village Shinobi. It wasn't hard for him to find two people staring over at their team's direction, but he suspected that it was Sound that Naruto was directing his glare at.

Kakashi wanted to know the reason, so he was thankful when the first two people to be choose were picked. Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado. Yoroi Akado was a member of Kabuto's team. So when his name was picked he appeared on the floor. Sasuke just hope over the banister to the floor, so the two were facing each other. It helped Kakashi even more that Sakura and Ino would be loud enough that his talk with Naruto would be overheard.

"You know something Naruto. What's up?" asked Kakashi from behind his book.

Naruto turned around and punched the wall to look like he was trying to cool off. "Our number one enemy is here."

"Hiding under the disguise of a Sound?"

"Yeah," he mumbled out punching the wall again.

"You know you should have controlled yourself better."

"I know. How could I help it getting pissed of with they shit that man has caused. Besides maybe it will get him to back of from pissing me off." He then finished the conversation by knocking his head against the wall.

When he let his head rest for a second, he then went back to watch the match between Sasuke and the other guy. It was just finishing up. By the looks of it the other guy didn't have a chance of winning. Naruto had to smirk. It strengthened when he took a good look at the Sound Sensei. Even though the guy didn't show any emotion just by the look in the guy's eyes, he wasn't happy about something. Then the Sound man looked at him, so now they were glaring back and forth. Naruto just continued to look at him with a smirk, which was pissing the Sound man with how hard the man was glaring now.

With one more hit to the head from Sasuke's foot, his opponent was out cold. "Sasuke Uchiha advances to the next round," said the proctor. The medic-ninja then came and retrieved his opponent as he went back up to the stand with his teammates. Then the screens picked the next two opponents. The proctor then said their names. "Shino Aburame vs. Zaku Abumi, please come down."

Within seconds they were already at it. Zaku didn't know what was going to hit him when he had a bug master that had chakra sucking bugs running through his body as his oponent. Zaku had obviously underestimated Shino because he didn't look much like anything. When Zaku moved to ram his fist into Shino, Shino disappeared and reappeared behind Zaku. Everyone in the platforms couldn't even hear what they were saying since Shino was quiet. However Naruto could hear and he just wanted to laugh.

Since the match was already a disappointment from the beginning, it didn't take Shino very long to take out Zaku. With the help of his bugs he had stopped Zaku from doing his next move with his hands. Zaku tried to do everything he could to dislodge the bugs from him, but it was no use. More bug just started to appear covering Zaku from head to toe until he literally fell to the ground unconscious.

The match after that was just as quick. This time the opponents were Kankuro from the Sand village and another member of Kabuto's team, Misumi Tsurugi. Kankuro ended up winning by just using the basic jutsus. Then just like that Misumi was out cold within two minutes. However the fight gave everyone an in sight of what Kankuro had been carrying on his back. It turned out to be a puppet.

"Next opponent's are Sakura Haruno vs. Ino Yamanka," spoke up the Proctor.

When these two names were said Naruto's head perked up. Both girls were his friends and he didn't know which side to cheer on. And when situations like this came up, his only opinion was to just not cheer for either side, but just watch. The two girls seem to not want to fight and that told Naruto that they hadn't expected to go up against each other. Their match was drawn out and the longest of any match that anyone had seen or done that day. It was also a little bit of a disappointment since they were just using the basic of all abilities.

At first Naruto didn't really understand why they were doing it this way. Even Sasuke seemed to be on the same vote as him until Kakashi told them something. He told them that since they had grown up they had become each other enemies. Always trying to out do the other and that now that they were facing each other they would now see who was the stronger of the two. He then went on how even though he and Sasuke were friends, they would still try an up the other if they wanted too. It didn't mater if they knew Naruto was the better.

After that they just went back to watching the match. However this time the fight was improving and showing to be a good match to watch. Ino had just used her family jutsu and taken control of Sakura's mind, but it didn't last for long. Ino hadn't counted on Sakura being able to resist the jutsu or kick Ino out of her mind. As Ino tried to recover from her plan to finish the match, Sakura quickly did a jutsu that Kakashi had taught her.

The jutsu amped up Sakura's already strong punching ability to be twice as strong as she was now, but there was a down fall to using it that could cause a problem for her. Since she wasn't use to it and hadn't used it very much, it used up to much of her chakra. So as long as Ino avoided punches and kick for a little while she would be find. After two really strong punches she did.

By the time the jutsu wore off, both girls were spent and had only one good punch in them left. Everyone could see this and knew the match was really close to revealing who came out on top. With everything they had, both girls ran at each other. Right as they were about to collide, they each pulled a hand back and turned it into a fist. Then in a second they punched each other out cold. Both of them just fell away limp to the ground.

No one moved, not sure if the match would continue. The Proctor looked at them both for a few second. When he coughed and cleared his throat, everyone in the room looked at him. "Since both girls are out cold, the match is a tie. Seeing as these matches need a winner, neither will be allowed to advance." With that as the deciding vote. Kakashi and Asuma went in a retrieved their students before the next match began.

When the next match came along, no one was sure who would come out on top. This match was with Sand Shinobi Temari and Leaf Shinobi TenTen. As the match started it was easy to tell that TenTen had a weapon fetish with all the different weapons she was trying to use on her opponent. Temari on the other hand they didn't know what she could to, since she wasn't from their village. But it wasn't long before everyone saw that she was on a whole other level.

The only weapon Temari need was the one that she was carrying around on her back. At first nobody knew what it was until she drew it out to show a fan that had three levels. And with each level, it became too difficult for TenTen to stay in the match. In the first wave TenTen was blocked. So then TenTen decided to bring out her arsenal, but with the next wave from Temari's fan sent all her weapon's back at her. So she had to dodge them and then before she knew it with the last wave she was then thrown into the wall. From there the proctor claimed Temari the winner of the match.

When it became Shikamaru's turn, it was obviously that he didn't give a care in the world whether or not if he won. But once the match got started with the sound-ninja, Kin Tsuchi, he actually did something than watching things. From where he was, Naruto knew that the only time Shikamaru did something was if he was being set up in a trap. When something challenging as that was worthy of Shikamaru he would reverse the positions, so he was the one to have control.

So when Kin did her trick with a bells and string, at first he didn't know what had happen. From what the girl was saying Shikamaru was seeing more then one of her. Naruto just thought the girl was becoming cocky. Others on the other hand were already thinking that the match would be over with how things were looking.

However they were right that the match was going to be over with soon, but just not on who would be winning. Only five people knew who would truly win. Those people were Naruto, Hinata, Ino, Choji and Shikamaru's sensei, Asuma. They knew Shikamaru the longest and knew what that boy could do. He may look lazy, but he was like the saying don't chose a book by it's cover. That boy came from one of the best bloodline clans know in Konoha. They were known to have two really good points about them. Ones that they could think up strategies in a second and had a family jutsu that no one could really counter if caught.

So just as Kin was going to take out Shikamaru she was stopped. Her weapon in her hand dropped to the ground. She didn't even know what had just happen. She tried to move, but she couldn't. Then suddenly her left hand was waved in her face. Looking straight in front of her, her eyes widen in confusion and shock. Almost everyone in the room were just as confused as her, until Shikamaru explained that he uses her shadow to have control of her. He gave her and other just enough that would explain what he did. Never once did he stop in he plans that by the time he was finish they were now holding a kunai each in their hands ready to be thrown.

"You just got through explaining what that jutsu does. You'll just injure yourself as well." She sounded so cocky when she said that. However the smirk she held on her face was soon wiped away.

"I'm willing to see the out come," he said in his normal lazy and calm voice.

Then he throws his weapon and because the jutsu was still in effect, her weapon was thrown. It was obvious that the sound girl was starting to freak out. Shikamaru on the other hand was not. He was calm and collective. Then just before the weapons were to hit their targets, Shikamaru arched backwards causing Kin to do the same. However unlike him, his head didn't hit the wall behind him. With that the Sound girl was out cold and Shikamaru declared the winner.

The next match had been the one Naruto was waiting for the most, his. However he was a little disappointed on who his opponent was going to be. He had been hoping he would get a match with one of the stronger shinobi. Instead he got stuck with the one person who still had a huge problem with him. Kiba Inuzuka and his dog, Akamaru.

"Hope you have your body bag, Naruto," yelled Kiba as soon as he saw the screen.

"Kiba, I want you to stop yourself as soon as you realize how far..."

"Sensei ..."

"Kiba, Naruto is not at your level. He hasn't been at your level or other genin's levels for years. You will see when the match begins. And when that happens, you have to decide whether you want to see the end the preliminary rounds or the hospital. Naruto has been underestimated by many who are much stronger than Jounin."

At hearing this Kiba was a little uneasy about what might happen. He wasn't sure if he should believe his sensei. Looking over at Naruto, he felt sure of himself that he would win the next match. Hoping over the banister with his dog on his head and crossing the floor to the other side, he was starting to feel the uneasiness.

Naruto who had Momo at his side just stared at Kiba, who had his own pet right next to him. He felt good about this match for several reasons now. He would finally get to show Kiba what he was really made up. Plus he felt the need to play around with Kiba along with knowing how skilled Kiba had become. It would be fun.

Once the proctor gave them the go a head, Kiba took his chance and went straight for Naruto. Some thought it was the stupidest move a person could make, but once Kiba landed a punch to Naruto's face, they were second guessing themselves. They were starting to believe Naruto wasn't as powerful as they thought he was. It even made Kiba feel reassured. Yet it wasn't long live.

Once Naruto picked himself up off of the ground he put a hand to his jaw. Kiba had a good punch, but it only stung him a little. If that was all Kiba had the match wasn't going to be much of a fight. Naruto looked at Kiba while the on lookers just watch. Just as Naruto was about to play his game on Kiba, Kiba did something that pissed Naruto off.

"You're a joke Naruto. Everyone believes that you are this powerful kid, who completed 50 missions already. But in realty, your just one big fraud. I have a better chance a becoming Hokage than you. You're nothing. Unlike you I come from a good bloodline..." That were Kiba went wrong. Those that knew Naruto, knew that the boy would explode and beat the crap out of Kiba. Even Kurenai, Kiba's sensei thought her student was foolish and had gone too far.

"Don't you ever say you come from a better blood lineage. Don't you ever tell me that I will never reach my goal. I will become Hokage no matter what."

Surprisingly Naruto kept his cool. However Naruto was too pissed to playing his game on Kiba and just wanted to end the match as quick as possible. He needed to cool off. So in an instant Naruto was behind Kiba with a kunai to the throat. Kiba was about to get his pet to help him out, but one look at his dog and he realized that he couldn't win.

"Give up Kiba, I've had enough of your bull crap. Playing my game's on you would just be wasted. Akamaru can't even get out of Momo, jaw grip. Even if you tried getting out of this, I could always block you and stop you."

The way Naruto said it, finally made Kiba realize that Naruto was not a person to mess with. And now he was regretting egging Naruto on earlier. Standing behind him was a totally different Naruto he had never seen or noticed. He was now starting to believe everything everyone were saying about him. So he did the only logical thing.

"Proctor, I give up."

It was at that moment that when the proctor announced Naruto the winner that they realized to never piss him off. No matter if he acts like prankster or not. Naruto was like facing a storm that no one wanted to disturb. Even those that didn't know Naruto were getting the sense that they should never cross Naruto unless they wanted to die. Those who knew him understood knew how far they could get away with him, but only to a point.

Anko had to smirk at watching the match. Her nephew was proving to be the best there was to becoming a shinobi. He knew when to put his emotions or jokes aside, even if they aren't that bad. Some times it made things better for future things. She should know. She had seen enough times of what happens around and to Naruto.

There were several things almost everyone knew about him. One he would do everything he can to complete a mission. Two it was known to never underestimate him. Three, never piss him off and if you do, you will soon regret it later. The only time he would become piss was if someone threatened or hurts his friends, family, or anyone he's close to. Another thing was to never threaten his goals or dreams in life. So it shows that he didn't care if they threaten him.

Finally the over all point everyone who knew him knew that he has a big heart. He cares about everyone around him and was willing to give others a second chance if they deserve it. It didn't matter if they were the enemy or people who despised him since the day he was born. He was kind, helpful, calm and easy to get along if you wanted to know him.

So when Kiba had threatened his goal she wasn't all that surprised that he was pissed at what Kiba had said. She knew Naruto would want to teach the other boy a short little lesson. But when that didn't happen, she knew that her nephew would want to finish the match as quick as possible, so he could calm down. Another thing was that if he did the later, there was always something else on his mind.

Watching his movements from the floor, Anko finally notice it. She should have realized it early her, especial when he let loose some of his killing intent. She just thought her nephew was pissed about what happen a few days ago or just wanted to scare some of the kiddies off. However, when she noticed him glaring over at the Sound ninja she understood. She wasn't going to let that bastard get away, but before she could do anything she was stop.

"For now keep watch. We want to know what he is up to," mumbled Sarutobi.

He knew what Anko was going to do. He even knew instantly where the killing intent earlier was directed at. And he wasn't all that shock that he was here. He already had an idea on who he wanted to see and he had seen the displeasure his former student had at seeing something gone from his target. However, he didn't want a commotion happening when the exams were going on, so he had to calm Anko down. He was glad to know that she did listen to him.

Soon they were brought back to the next match by the proctor as everyone else had to. This too was another match no one had been prepared to see at all or this soon. A main branch member vs. a branch member. It had been a long time since one Hyuuga went up against another from their clan in these exams. It was obvious that Naruto didn't like the situation at all either as the two glazed over at the boy.

"Hinata," said Naruto coming straight over to her. She looked at him slightly shock about what was to come. "You know you don't have to do this. We both know what Neji is capable of. And if you go along with it, you know I can't interfere."

"I know Naruto...," she said as she looked over at her cousin. "But I think I need to do this. I have to do my best."

"Better to try then never try at all, right?" She nodded. "Well know this I'll support you no matter what." He had said taking her hand and squeezing it. "And never give up."

Hinata smiled and walked down to the floor to stand opposite of her cousin. She still remembered how they use to be close, but that all change right after she had been almost kidnapped and the lost of her uncle. Now he just hated the Main branch with a passion, which meant that he hated her because she was the reason his father was gone.

"You know you can't defeat me. So just back out, Hinata," he said in a cold voice.

She shook her had no. "I can't Neji. I've come too far."

"To prove that you're weak..."

"You're wrong I'm not weak. I'm strong in my own way just as you are strong in you way. I've even grown stronger since the last time we practice together. Naruto has be..."

"That weak..."

"Naruto is not weak."

"Hn."

"Are you two done and ready to start the match?" asked the Proctor. They nodded. "Hinata Hyuuga vs. Neji Hyuuga, begin."

They both began to fight. The skills of their fighting was something else. They were skills that were past through generations and generations never really changing. It even gave you a sense what clan practices this type of fighting style. Just watching it left you in a somewhat awe feeling. However it showed you that even though you're amazed with it, you never want to be an enemy to one who uses it.

One false move and Hinata knew her cousin would have the upper hand. As she blocked her cousin, she felt proud that she could last this long with him. It didn't matter that it had already been ten minutes into the match. Every time she was put to practice with her cousins by the elders in her clan she couldn't last more than a couple minutes. She knew now that she was truly strong. It didn't matter if she lost the match. She just wanted to prove that she could last longer than she normally would. She wanted to prove to her cousin that she wasn't weak like he though her to be.

Another move was blocked by her as her cousin tried going after her chakra point. She retaliated by trying to hit one of his chakra points. But she knew all too soon that Neji would block it. Still she kept on going never giving up, hoping she would at least get the upper hand on her cousin. If she knew that he was getting to close she would block him which left her farther from how she wanted to get at him.

As the fight continued Naruto watched praying that Neji wouldn't go to far in this match with Hinata. He was silently cheering on Hinata for lasting this long. Hinata was much stronger than the last time he remembered her being as long as she put herself to it. But he had always known that she'd been strong even if it wasn't with fighting. He had always known that. So that's why he knew that she would actually get her respect from not only others, but also her own clan.

Then suddenly it happened, what he had feared Neji would do. It was like slow motion was happening to Naruto. Even before anyone noticed they seem to hear him say no in a worried voice first before knowing what had happen. Some were surprised that he knew what would come. Just as him they watched Neji strike Hinata in the chest causing her to fall to the ground on her hands and knees. They all watched as she coughed up some blood. It was then that everyone realized why Naruto became worried. Looking at Naruto most were wondering how he truly knew, but looking at him now they could see him trying to contain himself from jumping down there and going to Hinata. Some who were closes to him could see the banister crack a little with how tight he was holding it.

Hinata was hurting a lot, but she tried all she could to stand up. She didn't come this far for nothing. She wasn't going to give up just yet. Her cousin maybe strong, but so was she. When she was ready she would let her cousin have it, but until then she would try to at least give him a challenge. So doing her best she slowly got up while trying not to wobbling. Through the pain of getting up she never took her eyes off of Neji.

"Give up Hinata, you know your no match. You just too weak. Your always weak!" he said.

Those words hit the core of her heart. Naruto and any who ever knew Hinata knew it. Knowing Hinata well Naruto knew she would continue to get back up just as he would if someone said that to him. However, if Hinata continued she was sure to suffer later on with the way she was still coughing up blood. He knew he had to do something.

"Hinata," he yelled. Everyone looked at him. Those down on the floor would just have to listen. "We know your strong. Your strong in your own way just as the rest of us are strong in ours. You know your not weak and I'm glad that you won't let his words get to you. You prove that to yourself today that your not..." He was almost afraid to tell her. "So you need to stop now. You need to get healed."

It was at that second that Hinata took a quick glance at Naruto and could see all his worry for her through his eyes. She didn't want to worry him anymore, so she stopped. She turned to the proctor. "I resign." With that the proctor announced Neji the winner. Then suddenly Hinata couldn't old out any longer. She began to go into a fit of coughs.

Just as she was about to fall, Naruto was there before anyone realized it. He helped Hinata to the ground and moved away as two medic-ninja took over. When they check her, Naruto notice their worried looks as they began to hurry her up on a stretcher. He could hear them mumble to one another that they needed to get her to the hospital before it was too late. He was about to go, but was stopped by a hand to the shoulder.

"She'll be fine Naruto," said Kakashi. He didn't say anything.

"I don't see what the good in her returning..."

"Shut the hell up Neji. You know shit. You knew you only had to knock her out once you had the upper hand."

"You know nothing."

"I know more than you think I know. I've heard things and I've seen things, so assume I don't know what goes on. I'll teach you a lesson you will never forget."

"I would like to see."

Before anything more could happen, Kakashi decided to drag Naruto off the floor to watch the next match to begin. Naruto was still pissed. More than anything he wanted to beat the crap out of Neji for what he had done to Hinata. He so badly wanted to teach that stuck up cousin of Hinata's a lesson. Maybe then once Neji had been taught, things my be different.

However when the next match had been decide his pissed off state with Neji had to be put to the back of his mind. He was a little thankful that he knew one of his closest friends wasn't going to be put up against some he was sure wasn't going to be easy to fight against. But he felt sorry for this Lee guy because now he was going up against another just like him. Gaara, he already knew had suffered enough to the point that Gaara wanted blood.

Right off the bat it was already proving who was going to be the possible winner. Lee only had one style and in a match like this was nothing. Sure Lee had some good skills, but with how Gaara was always protecting himself with his sand none of hit would do any damage. Gaara my not be doing much, but as soon as a hit came the sand was there to block any move.

Even at high speed things never change. Gaara was still able to block everything. Seeing this if it was any other person they would have given up, but seeing as this was Lee, the guy never gave up. That was something Naruto liked about him as the match continued. Lee just came at the other boy with all he had. He began to amp up his abilities to something that was considered forbidden.

Lee knew how to opened the the Nine Gates. From just watching him, Naruto knew it. He had only heard light rumors about it because it was considered forbidden knowledge to know. He had been intrigued at one point to know all about it with out anyone knowing he was snooping around, but all he found was very little. He had even snooped around the old man's office through his things that belong to him for info. All he got was what all the gates were called and that was all.

With no other leads Naruto had come of with the possible reasons why he couldn't find anything about the gates. One was that it was so far forbidden that it could possible kill the user. Two, it could cause so much destruction that it would be deadly in the enemies hands. Or three after just using it once your life as a shinobi would be over with because it screwed up your charka system so much.

So seeing it here now Naruto thought this was a real treat to know what the Gates were really like what they could do. However when he heard his sensei question Gai about it, he knew the knowledge of it wasn't going to be good and just confirmed his thoughts on why it had become. Kakashi seemed lightly shocked and not happy about. And this was a sign that told him a long with the others listening to worry.

But still the match continued. Now one dared to top it as the gates were being opened. Even though it was a cause to be worried, they were all deeply shocked at what they were seeing. It was like all the charka and more that Lee should have had was now being shown to them in bumping up his already good Tai-jutsu skill to their max.

It was just all something no one could really explain without seeing it. It was even at this time that some thought that Lee would actually win, but there were a select few that knew the truth to the outcome. Naruto knew that any moment Lee extra boost was going to be gone any second. He even got the feeling that Gaara was getting ready to make his move.

It was proven not a moment later. Lee manage to kick Gaara into the air and then with his final moved behind Gaara ready to do a body slam to the ground. The after affect was creating a crater in the floor with Gaara laying there. Lee was feet away looking tired and proud of his skills. Thinking he won the match, he didn't seem to see that Gaara had replaced himself with Sand.

A second later that Lee realized the situation he was now in. It was also then that Naruto really started to worry. He had caught it. Gaara wanted blood and the toying around he had given Lee was over. There was no way Lee would survive what might come from the look he was picking up from Sand shinobi.

Naruto looked around him at everyone, who could stop this. They seem to pick this up what was going to happen, but they did nothing. What the hell are they just standing there doing nothing. Kakashi seemed to sense something wrong with him as he looked at him then Gai, and then moving to all the other older shinobis. When there eyes met up, he knew the only way this was going to end was if Lee resigned from the match. Naruto wouldn't stand for this, so he looked over at Gai.

"You need to stop him now," he said getting his teammates and the rest of Gai team to look at him.

"Naruto..." said Kakashi before he was cut off.

Naruto looked back and forth at Kakashi and Gai. "If you don't stop this match, Lee's going to die. Gaara wants blood." Then Naruto kept his eyes on Kakashi for understanding of the next part. "Its thirst won't end unless it has it." Kakashi's eyes just widen.

"Gai, do it. Get your student out of there now. I know that you won't understand, but you will find out once the match is over."

Gai seemed to determining on what to do. Naruto kept looking back and forth at him and the match that was going on. The longer it took, it would be too late to stop. And it was. Within seconds there was no time for anything. It was like in slow motion that they all watch Lee suffer as his left leg and left arm being surrounded and crushed by sand. Lee couldn't do anything as he was too weak from opening the gates.

Gai seemed to wake up and worry at seeing what was happening to his apprentice. Then he took action and intervened in the match. He somehow stopped Gaara from using the rest of his sand to swallow Lee. Gaara seemed a little shocked by what had just happened. He didn't hesitate to ask the question either.

"Why?" was all he could say.

"Because he is a precious person to me."

Gaara stood quiet trying to understand. In that second the Proctor announced Gaara the winner. Still in his thoughts the sand shinobi disappeared only to reappear next to his team. For some reason he was feeling something he had never felt before. It felt familiar. But the voice in his mind just laughed it off as nothing, even though he was still trying to figure it out by ignoring the voice.

Then for some reason, he was compiled to look at someone in the room. Someone who could possible cure his thirst. Looking a cross the room he looked at the blond boy who had threatened him before the exams had started. That boy had known what he held inside on him. He was positive. For some reason he had the feeling that boy was just like him. But that was impossible. However the other voice in his mind seemed to be shaking in fear as if it was afraid of the boy.

He wasn't slow to know that the possibility of what the boy held inside of him. The more time he bumped into the boy or saw him he began to get the feeling that the boy was a container like him. Even the voice inside of him seemed to confirm it. If that were so why wasn't he being hated by the people around him. Could it be they didn't know or if they did why weren't they scared of him? It was a question he wanted to know.

As he continued to stare at the other boy, he was lost in all his thoughts when that boy suddenly stared at him. Just that stare gave him a warning. No words were needed to be said to know what he was meaning. Do something to piss him off and your dead was all that stare gave him. Still even though the threat was clear he continued to watch. He wanted to know why someone would go so far to keep those close to them safe.

Once Naruto knew Gaara had gotten his message he turned his head away to look to his right at Choji. Choji was up next. This would be the last match held here that day. He would be going up against the last member from the sound team. The guy, Naruto deemed as a mummy in his head. He didn't know who would win, but he hoped Choji was the one.

However that never happened. Within two minutes of the match beginning, Choji was thrown into a wall. But it was better than giving up and not trying at all. Naruto did get to see him try a new jutsu and if he hadn't been up against a sound shinobi, Choji would have probably had lasted a little bit longer match and won. And even though Choji didn't win he seemed very much proud of himself and Naruto was happy about that.

After that all those that had won their matches gathered on the floor to be informed of what was to happen next. They were told a little more of why these Exams were being taken along with being told that the third and final part of the Chuunin Exams was going to be happening a month from now. So now there was five Leaf shinobi, three sand shinobi, and one sound shinobi still left in the Exams with the Hokage wishing them luck.