(Welcome to the latest installment.)

It was that night, Naruto returned home to find his mother, Splinter, and the turtles waiting for him, "Welcome back Naruto, how was today's meeting?" Kushina asked.

"Well have I got news for all of you." Naruto explained holding out a form for all of them to see.

"This is a Chunin Exam form." Kushina recognized it.

"Hai, Kakashi sensei recommended us for the Chunin Exams." Naruto explained.

"Awesome dude." Mikey cheered.

"Way to go there kid. I knew you had it in you." Raph smirked.

"Congratulations my son, this is truly an honor for you." Splinter bows his head.

"Arigato sensei, but do you think I am ready for this?" Naruto asked his sensei.

"I'm afraid it is not my decision to make, it is yours alone." Splinter answered.

"Splinter is right Naruto. Kakashi gave you that form to decide for yourself." Kushina added.

"You're right." Naruto nodded.

"Meditate on these events Naruto. The answer will come to you." Splinter suggested Naruto to do.

"Hai sensei." Naruto bowed his head and went to his room.

Hours later, Naruto was still meditating in his room until his eyes opened, "I've made my decision. I'll do it."

Meanwhile up on the surface in the village, Kushina was waiting by a tree until Kakashi appeared, "Good to see you again, Kakashi." Kushina said.

"It's good to see you're all right, Kushina." Kakashi added.

"Yes I'm all right, but Naruto…"

"I made a promise to sensei that I would be watching over him since then. Believe me I've kept him out of more dangerous situations than you know." Kakashi explained.

"I believe you Kakashi, you were Minato's closest student," Kushina nodded. "So you nominated your squad for the Chunin Exams?"

"Yes, I believe that they're ready." Kakashi answered knowing her concern.

"I should hope so. I just got my son back. I don't want to lose him again." Kushina replied.

"Just have faith in Naruto. He will pull through. I know he can." Kakashi comforted her and she nodded knowing that she must believe in her son.

A few days later, Naruto and his team made it to the ninja academy with Taichi at Himeko's side, "Well guys this is it." Naruto said.

"Yup." Sasuke nodded.

"Well let's go in." Sakura said as they entered.

They went inside and made their way reaching a floor and saw multiple Genin outside a room. They were trying to get in only for two others to block their path. Among the group included Lee, Tenten, and Neji, "What's going on over there?" Himeko asked.

"Trouble, no doubt." Naruto scowled.

"You weaklings really want to take the Chunin Exams? You can't even get past us." one of the shinobi said in front of the door that said Room 301 on it.

"Please, we have to take the exam!" Tenten yelled.

One of the men blocking the door reached out, and tried to punch her across the face hard. Naruto grabbed a sai from a hilt located on the side of his sandal and threw it nailing the one Genin's sleeve right into the wall. They turned to see that it came from Naruto standing with his team behind him, "Don't you know it's not nice to pick fights with others?" Naruto asked with a frown.

"And the conquering hero has arrived." Lee said as he got up.

"You two ok?" Naruto asked Lee and Tenten as he got his sai back.

"Better now Naruto." Lee nodded and Tenten smiled.

"You nailed the target with ease." Tenten complimented on how he got the one genin's sleeve with his sai.

"I learned from the best." Naruto complimented her.

Sasuke approached, "Now if you two don't mind, drop the genjutsu so we can get through."

"He's right." Sakura said using the release technique and the sign on the door revealed to be really 201 and not 301.

"This is still the second floor, you honestly expected us to fall for a low level trick like that?" Himeko asked.

They soon see Lee approach them and present himself in front of Sakura. "You are Sakura correct? I am Rock Lee, become my girlfriend. I swear to protect you with my life until the day I die!"

Sakura looked grossed out, but replied, "No thanks you're too weird."

Lee let his head down in defeat, "I… am weird?"

"Sakura, that was rude." Himeko lectured her but she didn't seem guilty.

"Forget about it let's go." Sasuke said as they walked off.

As Himeko passed a Hyuga boy known as Neji she frowned at him and he returned the gesture, 'Neji Hyuga, you think you know everything.' Himeko thought to herself.

Squad Seven made it to an open training area until they heard a voice call, "Hey you!"

They looked up, seeing Lee on the catwalk. He jumped down and landed perfectly at their level. "I am Rock Lee, you are Sasuke Uchiha am I right?"

"I am." Sasuke nodded.

"I wish to have a spar with you." Lee challenged.

"A challenge, we don't have the time." Sakura said fearing they'll be late for the start of the exams.

"Don't worry Sakura we got time to kill." Sasuke assured her.

"Sasuke watch out, there's more to Lee than you know." Naruto warned him.

"Is there?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes," Naruto whispered "He doesn't use ninjutsu or genjutsu he uses taijutsu, so watch out for anything."

"I will." Sasuke nodded and approached Lee.

"They say the Uchiha's were born gifted with talent, well I shall prove to you hard work beats born talent." Lee declared.

"Let the match begin." Naruto pretended to act as a referee.

Sasuke and Lee took off fighting in hand to hand combat, Sasuke activated his Sharingan that had two tomoe signs in them, "When did he get to the second level?" Sakura asked.

"Since we awoke our Sharingans back at Wave we've continued training to level them up." Himeko explained.

They continued watching, as Sasuke and Lee fought though Lee was proving to be superior to Sasuke. It got more dangerous when Lee performed a move known as the Leaf Shadow Dance, and Naruto could tell what was coming next, "Lee don't!" Naruto shouted as he was ready to use a sai to nail Lee's arm tape to the wall but a pinwheel beat him to it.

They turned to see an adult that looked like Lee only much older, "Lee what have I told you about that move?"

"I am sorry Guy-sensei. I guess I got a little carried away." Lee apologized.

Guy turns to Squad Seven, "So you are the squad of Kakashi right?"

"You know sensei?" Himeko asked.

"Do I know Kakashi?" Guy laughed, "You might say he and I are eternal rivals. In fact I'm stronger and faster than Kakashi."

"Seriously?" Himeko gasped.

"Do not underestimate Guy-sensei he is the best." Lee started as Guy turned to his student with tears.

"Everyone look away!" Naruto ordered making his teammates turn around not to look at them. "Whatever you do don't turn around." Naruto warned them.

"What, why do you want us to?" Sakura started as she turned to see a horrid sight of the sensei and student hugging with the disturbing scenery. She gawked at the sight of it all.

Naruto sighed, "I told you not to look."

"That's scary! He's got caterpillars on his eyes!" Himeko cried looking at Guy's bushy brows.

Taichi covered his face with his paws to avoid looking at it. Soon Guy left and Lee went to catch up with his teammates, "Sasuke-kun you ok?" Sakura asked.

"Never better, in fact that felt good." Sasuke smirked.

"What?" Sakura asked.

"If that guy can give me this much of a fight. I can only imagine who else can give me a challenge." Sasuke answered.

"Come on let's get going." Himeko said as they walked on.

The four soon approach a pair of doors, "Well guys this is it." Naruto said as they entered. As they went in they looked around seeing the room was loaded with dozens of ninja all there for the exams as well. Some of the other ninja had scowls and frowns, giving off negative and scary vibes.

Naruto nudged Sasuke's shoulder to get his teams attention, "Suck in the guts you guys, this is the Chunin Exams." He ordered and they all sucked in their guts.

"Sasuke-kun!' a female voice called as they turned to see Ino Yamanaka cling to Sasuke, "I've been wondering when you'd show up."

Sakura wanted to rip Ino to pieces but Himeko shoved Ino off her cousin, "Hands off the cousin, blondie."

"You guys are here to just great." Shikamaru sighed as he approached with Chouji who was eating from a bag of chips.

"Nice to see you guys to." Naruto answered.

"Well lookey here." Kiba said as he and his team approached, "Looks like the whole crew is back together again."

"It's nice to see you all." Hinata blushed while taking glances at Naruto.

Kiba noticed Taichi next to Himeko, "Hey Himeko you got a dog to huh?"

"Hai this is Taichi. I found him on the way to the Wave country." Himeko explained.

Kiba got down and pat Taichi, "Hey there boy." He said and set Akamaru down. The two dogs met and Taichi was licking Akamaru's head, while Akamaru nuzzled against Taichi's leg.

"They like each other." Himeko noticed.

"How about that?" Kiba asked.

"Hey guys." A voice called.

All ten kids turned around and saw a Konoha Genin approach. He was wearing a pair of glasses, with a grey shirt underneath a purple no sleeved shirt, and purple pants. He also wore grey fingerless gloves and shinobi sandals. He ran a hand through his silver hair as he smiled at them, "I'm guessing you're all rookies fresh out of the academy?"

"Yeah, so?" Naruto asked.

"Take it from a guy who has taken this test a few times. You don't wanna draw too much attention to yourself." Genin said.

"And just who are you to give us advice?" Ino asked.

"My name's Kabuto Yakushi," He introduced himself, "Take a look around."

Everyone looked around and sees all the applicants giving them weird looks. "I used to get looks like this back then, but none were like this that's for sure." Naruto replied.

"Kabuto… You said you've taken this test a few times? Like, how many times?" Sakura asked.

"This will be my seventh. As you can see I've been taking this for a few years now." Kabuto explained.

"You must know quite a lot." Chouji said feeling impressed.

"Yup you could say that." Kabuto replied.

"This is great can you give us some inside tips?" Himeko asked.

"You think we could get much help from a guy who hasn't even passed." Shikamaru replied not buying it.

"Jeez you talk that way to everybody?" Naruto asked.

"So the rumors about this exam being tough were true?" Sakura asked.

"Unfortunately," Kabuto sighed as the rookies felt their morale climb down, "But you know, maybe I can help you guys with some information I've been storing on these." He held up a deck of cards that were blank.

"What're they?" Kiba asked.

"My ninja info cards. Each one contains information about the Chunin exams I've been collecting since I started. Though they appear blank to confuse prying eyes, I can reveal their data by channeling my chakra into them." Kabuto explained as he placed the deck face down.

"Do your cards have info on this years applicants? I'm kinda interested in certain participants." Sasuke explained.

"Really? Well I can't guarantee the info is flawless but I do have basic info on just about everybody here, even you guys. Just give me some data on your designated applicant and I'll see what I can fish up."

"Rock Lee from Konoha and Sabaku no Gaara." Sasuke answered.

"You know their names and villages? You're making this too easy for me," Kabuto began as he drew two cards and put some chakra into them, "First up is Rock Lee. Squad leader is Might Guy, along side of his teammates Neji Hyuga and Tenten. He has completed 20 D-Ranked missions and 11 C-Ranked. His Taijutsu skills are amazing, however his other methods are very shaky."

Naruto nodded knowing all about Lee from his teammate Tenten during their spars in the forest. Kabuto laid down the second card, "Next is Sabaku no Gaara," when the data was visible he read off the info, "Mission Experience 8 C-Ranks and 1 B-Rank. Though there's not much information on this guy except this. He survived every mission without getting a single scratch on him."

The Genin gasp and Chouji dropped his bag of chips. "He's done a B-Rank as a Genin without even getting hurt?" Shikamaru gasped.

Naruto closed his eyes and talked to Kyubi, 'Hey Kyubi any of that has to do with Shukaku?'

'Yes. With Shukaku inside him, sand from around him will act on it's own and come to his aid to shied him as if it has a mind of it's own.' Kyubi replied.

'So I guess Gaara carries sand inside that gourd of his.' Naruto noted.

'That's right, so be careful. I got the feeling Shukaku knows I am lurking about, but rather wouldn't tell Gaara about me.' Kyubi explained.

Naruto came out of his thoughts and saw Kabuto put the map card down again, "Konoha, Suna, Ame, Kusa, Taki, and Oto are the villages that have sent genin to partake in this years exam. Each of them sent the best genin of this year. Unfortunately I can't say much about Otogakure because it was recently developed."

"So you really believe this years going to be tough?" Hinata asked nervously.

"Oh yeah. And to tell you the truth, out of all the times I've taken this exam this year has the best crop of candidates I've ever seen." Kabuto replied.

Everyone took another glance to all the candidates seeing their expressions hadn't change. Naruto looked nervous at first but soon it curled into a smirk and he started softly snickering which caught the attention of those surrounding them, "Naruto?" Sasuke and Himeko asked.

Naruto finally shot his head up laughing and turned to everyone in the room, "Listen up everyone! I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I look forward to facing any of you in the exams, count on it!" Naruto declared to the other ninja.

The Genin mainly the guys looked incredibly freaked out, while Sakura and Ino fumed at that outburst thinking it was a sign of stupidity, while Sasuke and Himeko smirked expecting no less from him. While in the crowds, the candidates looked like they went from tensed to freak out. The Sand Genin Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari looked to him, "He's the one we met days ago." Kankuro recalled.

"Well now we know he's not all bark." Temari added.

While over at Might Guy's squad Tenten watched on, "Naruto sure has a way with words, doesn't he."

"Yes he hasn't lost any nerve whatsoever." Neji added.

"Such passion and confidence." Lee added in admiration.

Three genin from Otogakure were watching the Konoha genin talk. The first one was a girl who had long, black hair. She wore a yellow sleeveless shirt, grey camouflage pants and a scarf, and black shinobi sandals and armbands. Next was a guy with most of his face wrapped completely in bandages, except for his eyes. He wore a long grey jacket that had sleeves, which covered his arms, along with a large, fuzzy cape on his back, and was hunched over. The final member had spiky black hair. He wore a grey camouflage scarf and pants like the girl's, and a yellow shirt with the kanji for death written on it three times, "Shall we go?" the spiky haired boy asked.

"Let's." the bandaged one said.

The three Oto Genin dashed forward and launched an attack at Kabuto. The one with spiky hair jumped and threw some kunai. Kabuto gasped until Naruto jumped in and deflected the kunai with his sais. The spiked one gasped until the hunched one attacked Kabuto head on throwing a punch only for Kabuto to jump back avoiding the blow. He smirked until suddenly his glasses broke surprising the rookies.

"Hey I saw him dodge!" Kiba gasped.

"It came closer than it looked." Himeko deduced.

Naruto frowned at the Oto Genin and yelled, "What the hell is the wrong with you three attacking someone before the exams even began?!"

"We were only checking out the competition." The spike head boy answered.

"What are your names?" Naruto demanded.

"My names Zaku, this is Kin, and Dosu." The spike head boy motioned to the girl and the bandaged guy.

"Well I got I got a warning for you three," Naruto began as he twirled his sais, "You mess with us, and you'll get hurt."

Suddenly, a large cloud of smoke erupted in the front of the room. As it cleared, a large man appeared in front of a group of Chunin. He was wearing a large black trench coat, a pair of black gloves and black boots. He wore a grey button up shirt, grey slacks, and a headband combined with a bandana tied on his head. His most standout feature, were the large scars on his face, "All of you knock it off and shut up!" he ordered the Oto genin and Naruto who backed down.

When he saw them stand down he continued, "Very good. Ok listen up. My name's Ibiki Morino and I will be your first proctor. We'll now begin the first examination. Everyone line up here at the desk and turn in your application, then you'll received an assigned seat. You will report to that seat and we will hand out the written test."

Meanwhile back at the turtles home, they were training as always while Splinter monitored them, "I wonder how Naruto and the others are doing?" Donny asked.

"By now the exams should have already started." Leo mentioned.

"I sure hope Naruto's ok." Raph said.

"Yeah. I mean who knows what our buddy will go up against." Mikey added.

"Whatever challenges may be thrown at Naruto he will face them head on like a true ninja." Splinter explained.

"You're right sensei. Naruto should be just fine. Let's hope." Leo muttered the last part to himself.

Back at the academy inside the room, every applicant was seated. Naruto ended up being close to the middle, Sasuke was in the back, while Sakura and Himeko were seated next to each other close to the back of the first row, 'Why'd I have to be spread out from my team?' Naruto thought with a sigh.

"Naruto?" a voice asked.

Naruto turned to see Hinata, "Oh, hi Hinata," He greeted, "Nice to be next to someone I know." Hinata could only blush.

Soon Ibiki explained the rules of the written exam about each of them starting with ten points for ten questions. Every wrong answer would result in one point loss each. And because the exam was a team event if one lost all points all three members of that team would be thrown out. What was worse was that multiple sentinels were stationed around to watch them in case anyone decided to cheat. If they were caught then they'd lose two points.

"You all have one hour," Ibiki said. "You may begin!"

Immediately, they all went to work. Naruto sighed in disgust as he flipped his paper over and looked it over. If there was one thing he hated in class it was a written exam. Like Raph he was a guy who liked to learn actively and not mentally like Donny did, 'All right, I just need to relax. I just need to remember the lessons I learned with Donny…' he thought to himself. Naruto paused and his widened in surprise as he read the first question. 'Whoa! No Genin in this room should be capable of answering questions like these! They look like they were questions made for Jonin. I don't get this al all!'

He sighed realizing he was losing his cool and calmed himself again before thinking, 'All right I gotta relax and try to figure this out.' He thought until he thought of what Ibiki said prior to the beginning of the exams, 'If your actions leads a sentinel into thinking that you're cheating and you get caught it will cost you. Cheating and getting caught? Hmm, maybe let me see.' He thought peering around the room to see the other students and noticed what they were doing. Most of the genin from his class were using their own tricks to gain answers from others. Whether they were using bloodlines like Sharingan or Byakugan, or even their own clan abilities, every participant was doing something to get answers from others.

'So then they want us to cheat without getting caught?' Naruto thought, 'Too bad I don't have any real methods of cheating out in the open.' he thought knowing he's trained mostly how to fight and act in the shadows, 'Well I'll have to wing it.' He started writing down random answers.

Ino meanwhile, was waiting until Sakura finished all of her questions. She formed a hand sign and aimed for Sakura using her mind transfer jutsu but she ended up shifting and entered the mind of Himeko. She saw in her mind walking around, "Oh man I wanted to get into forehead's mind, not Sasuke-kun's cousin. Oh well not so bad at least she has all the answers to."

"Hey what're you doing here?!" a voice called.

Ino yipped, as she turned around and saw Himeko standing there with her hair over the side of her face signaling it had to be her split personality self, "Himeko?" Ino asked.

"Sort of, and this mind's full enough as it is, so get lost!" The split personality Himeko ordered forcing Ino out of the mind and back into her body.

'Whoa,' Ino thought, 'What was that all about?'

Outside of the academy, inside a Jonin lounge, Kakashi, Kurenai, Guy, and Asuma were all relaxing, enjoying the time off they had during the during the Chunin Exams. Suddenly entering was Master Splinter and his sons, "Greetings Konoha Jonin."

"Master Splinter, welcome." Kakashi greeted him.

"Who're these?" Kurenai asked a little curious about the five mutants.

"I am Splinter and these four are my sons, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo." Splinter introduced himself and his boys.

"We've heard Konoha's had some incredibly talented Jonin." Leo said.

"Ah you've heard correctly young turtle," Guy said. "I am Might Guy, and I'm the beautiful green Beast of Konoha!" he smiled and posed with his teeth giving off a ping.

The turtles looked repulsed by Guy's rant and pose while Mikey smiled, "Cool I gotta learn some moves like that."

Raph pulled Mikey into a head lock, "Try something like that and I'll crack your shell!"

"Anyway these are some of my other colleagues Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi." Kakashi introduces the other two Jonin present.

"Sarutobi?" Donny wondered and looked to Asuma, "Are you in relation to the Hokage?"

"Yup, he's my dad." Asuma answered.

"Wow looks like Naruto isn't the only one related to a Kage is he?" Mikey whispered to Leo who could only nod.

"You know it's been a whole half an hour since the exams begun, wonder how our students are doing?" Kakashi asked his fellow Jonin.

"The Chunin exams are definitely no walk in the park." Asuma said speaking from experience.

"True Asuma, but we must each have faith in our students just as I always have had in my own." Splinter motioned to his sons.

"I agree Splinter-san however you don't know who the proctor of the first exam is this year." Guy replied.

"Who is?" Mikey asked.

"His name is Ibiki Morino." Asuma answered.

"Who is this Ibiki?" Donny asked.

"Ibiki Morino is part of the interrogation squad in the village." Kurenai answered.

"He's earned himself the nickname of 'Sadist' from what he's been capable of." Kakashi added.

"He always knows how to get into somebodies head and make them lose their cool." Guy mentioned.

"You can be sure by now he's already eliminated half the competition by now." Kurenai said.

"Good thing so far none of our students have been eliminated, otherwise we would've heard by now." Asuma added.

"I wonder what he'll do for his big finale." Kakashi pondered.

"Big finale?" the turtles asked.

Back in the class, Ibiki stood up and walked to the front of the room seeing a vast majority of the participants had been eliminated from the exam for getting caught cheating. He cleared his throat, causing everyone to tense up for a moment, "Ok listen up. It's time for the final question, "But there is one last rule I need to give."

'How many rules does this guy have?' Himeko thought feeling she heard enough rules for the written exam already.

"The last question is optional meaning you are free to choose whether to take it or not," Ibiki began, "But know this, if you decide to not answer it you and your squad automatically fail." This got outbursts from the remaining students until Ibiki's glare shut them up signaling he wasn't finished.

"But if you decide to answer the final question, and get it wrong, then you and your team will still fail the test. What's more you will be banned from ever taking the Chunin Exams again!"

As if the temperature in the room dropped below zero, Naruto shouted, "That can't be! Many here have taken this exam before!"

"Well I guess this isn't your best year, because I'm making the rules now!" he smirked sinisterly. Everyone in the room started losing their confidence and were questioning themselves, "So those who want to walk away now just raise your hand and you and your squad can leave."

Almost immediately after saying that, several Genin began to raise their hands and left. Naruto couldn't believe that the man had shaken them up so bad. Even he was starting to have doubts along with his teammates, 'Oh Kami what am I gonna do? If I leave I take my team with me, but if I take it and get it wrong than I'll never make it to the rank of Chunin! Oh what would Master Splinter do in a time like this?' he thought to himself, but suddenly flashbacked to a time during his childhood days where he was talking with Master Splinter.

Flashback

A younger Naruto was kneeling before Splinter, "Sensei I have a question for you?"

"Speak then my son."

"Well say you were put in a situation where you're given a choice between facing something difficult, but are given an option to run away and try some other time or face this situation even when the odds are against you." Naruto explained it to Splinter.

Splinter pondered over this question, "Well Naruto most ninja make the smart choice and flee to regroup, however sometimes running away shows signs that one is afraid to face a challenge head on. There are many answers to your question Naruto all different ones. You must find your own answer to your question and follow it."

Naruto nods, "Hai sensei."

End flashback

Naruto remembers those words Splinter told him and realized he had to find the answer for himself. He thought hard enough until he looked up facing Ibiki dead in the eye, "Forget it!"

"What was that?" Ibiki questioned.

"Forget it! I'm not going anywhere!" Naruto shouted, "If I walk away from this then I'm ashamed to call myself a ninja! I don't care if the odds aren't in my favor, I'll face them head on even if it does kill me! So bring the tenth question on, because I'm ready!"

Everyone in the room was looking at Naruto in surprise and some were actually smirking and smiling at that, feeling if he can take it then so can the rest of them. While in the back row Sakura, Himeko, and Sasuke smiled, 'Good job Naruto.' Sakura thought.

'You practically pulled a Raph there.' Sasuke thought.

'I won't give up wither Naruto, I'll stay and support our team all the way!' Himeko thought. Hinata who had been next to him smiled and lightly giggled to herself.

'No one else is leaving…' Ibiki thought until a smile curled his face and started laughing much to everyone's confusion, "Congratulations to those of you who are left. You've just completed the first part of the Chunin Exams!"

"What? We're done, just like that?" Sakura asked in shock.

"What about the last question?" Himeko asked in equal confusion.

"Heh… There was no tenth question, it was actually an 'accept or reject deal'!" Ibiki chuckled.

"So why did we have to suffer through those other nine questions?" Shikamaru asked in a lazy tone.

"The questions were very important," Ibiki began, "The point of those questions was to test your abilities of spying and gathering information, and that is something all Chunin need to know how to do. The higher rank you go in the ninja world the harder the missions you will receive, some life threatening. This was to teach you about the choices you would make such as leaving or staying. One wrong move and it could cost you or your comrades their lives. So if you really want to become Chunin, then you'll need to really consider the best actions to take in a situation."

Suddenly Ibiki was cut off by a large black shadow making its way to the window. The glass shattered to pieces as a woman jumped through the window. A banner launched from behind her, which had her name and shinobi rank painted on it, "All right runts, listen up!" the woman announced. "It's time for the second test of the Chunin Exams! I am the chief proctor Anko Mitarashi!"

Ibiki sighed, "Anko you're early again." Anko looked incredibly awkward after pulling such a stunt until she looked at the groups before her and scowled at the first proctor.

"You passed twenty six teams this year? Ibiki you're losing it!"

"Or perhaps we just have an interesting collection of candidates this time around." he countered.

"Well we'll see about that," Anko smirked, "Ok then listen up. You all go and rest up. I'll have your instructors give you the location for the second part of the exams for tomorrow. See ya then!" she vanished in a poof of smoke with her banner.

So everyone was exiting the building and was heading home. Naruto met up with his squad, "Hey guys you all ok?" Naruto asked them.

"Better now that this part's over." Himeko said.

"That's for sure." Sakura agreed feeling like she was going to have a heart attack.

"Let's not celebrate too soon, after all the Chunin exams have just begun." Sasuke reminded them.

"I know, so tomorrow let's give it all we got. Right?" Naruto asked his team.

"Hai!" they all agreed.

"Good now come on, the pizza's on me!" Naruto called as they raced off.

As they passed a bush, a snake was watching them run off, it hissed a bit before slithering off. Meanwhile back at the lair, Splinter and the turtles were in a meditating position until Splinter's eyes flung open and he gasped, "Sensei what's wrong?" Leo asked.

"You feeling ok?" Raph asked.

"Forgive me sons, but I feel as though a great evil has entered the village." Splinter responded.

"Evil sensei?" Donny asked.

"You mean evil like the Shredder?" Mikey asked.

"No my son..." Splinter began as he stood up, "An evil far greater than the Shredder." The turtles gasped thinking if it was worse than the Shredder, then they might have their work cut out for them if they ever came across this evil.

(And that's the chapter.)