[Words from the Author]

I was never planning on writing one of these for this particular Fan Fiction (though this is not the first), but I decided that now was a good time. I have decided to not update the first chapter with the newer theme songs, simply because, as it stands I have little time between writing, and my other personal duties to even edit the thing with the newer songs. I will endeavor to do so when I have a moment to do so. I may do it during the time-skip during which I plan to take a quick break. Nothing much longer than some of my longer times between chapters, I will note that this story is a modular pairing story. That part just hasn't come up yet (It's more of the post time-skip era.)

What I mean by this is that multiple characters may have more than one relationship, some may prove to be less loyal, some may prove to be too loyal, and some might just break up and get back together again. I wanted a story that mixes a bit more reality into the story. I will eventually ask everyone what they are interested in for a "final" pairing. That is some time off, so please don't start voting now. I want the experience of the relationships of each character to weigh a bit more heavily. I will admit I originally wanted to write this story from the post time-skip, and just explain everything, but I decided to do a full prologue arc (that's what this is like in my mind.) I like it better this way, and it allows me to build up a story of more values. The Post Time-Skip Era, or the real beginning of the story, will have some chapters that are dedicated to characters other than Naruto, but are integral to the story.

This Story is only in its infancy. If you think it's even a bit dark…well the post time-skip will show you what I mean. This is just the beginning.

I hope you enjoy the story.

Thank you for reading.

Please Review.

[Hokage's Office]

Today was the day.

In a few short hours, dozens of teams would be competing for the position of Chuunin within his exam, designed and approved by his lead proctors. He had sent out a team of his best trackers, with explicit orders to deliver the package immediately, he already knew the target was close by so it shouldn't have taken too long. Now today's meeting was special. It was of his top operatives, as well as a couple of his specialist that needed to be informed of some turns of events. Before him was Kakashi, Asuma, Kurienai, Ibiki, and the current head of the Anbu code named: Ryu. It was a tense moment before Sarutobi began to speak from behind his laced fingers.

"I was recently informed by Watcher of a second occurrence of the shrine's heart reacting. As the only members of my forces aware of its existence, I have found that I should inform you. Since the foundation of Konoha there had only been five such reactions from the Shrine. The first was on the foundation day of our village, the second was the battle of Madara and the Shodaime, the third was the attack of the Kyuubi on Konoha thirteen years ago. The last two happened within the past six months, I am sure that I don't need to spell out how strange this is." The elder shinobi could make out that they were all attempting to grasp at what he was trying to tell them, but he decided to merely allow them to think on it. He himself, had no idea what it all could mean, or even the exact source. He was going to be referencing dates and times. It was incredibly important, something was causing a reaction.

"Will this have any impact on the exams?" Ibiki asked with his usual cool tone.

"No, I will however, be increasing security. I don't like the implications that could be behind this. Ryu, I am expecting the best from you." The man merely nodded, silent as usual. A shadow among the shadows. The third was hoping that the man's child will be allowed more of a childhood when he grows up, than the man himself was allowed. "That is all, I expect you to complete all of your duties." The nods and sounds of rustling wind was all that accompanied their leaving. The aging Hokage sighed a bit as he opened a drawer and withdrew a bottle of pills and took one. A recent prescription, one that would extend his time as Hokage long enough, to hopefully find a successor. He knew his time was growing shorter the longer he stayed.

"My flame…is slowly going out…I need guidance now more than ever…" he whispered before a small blue and green toad appeared in a plume of smoke next to a large pile of paper work, and once again the professor took on his role.

[Uchiha District-Head House]

Sasuke awoke to the smell of breakfast, and groaned a bit as he checked the time. He had only a couple of hours before he would be taking the Chuunin Exams. He couldn't help but feel a bit disgusted, even as he stood and looked around. The room was pristine, but he could feel the blood in the walls, and the cries in the air. Beyond that he still couldn't stand the strange feelings that had been building up in his chest since their return to Konoha. Somehow he knew that Naruto had moved forwards again, and despite everything he couldn't push away his resentment. He glared as he looked out onto the grounds, his dark eyes replaying the images of his kinsmen lying in pools of their own blood. Sasuke's fists clenched as he thought of the fate that one of his most beloved people had to deal with was even worse. He couldn't have imagined it had happened, but as the years had shown. It had.

He was pulled from his thoughts by a pair of arms wrapping around him, and pulling him into a hug. He sniffed and smelled the familiar smell of his mother, or as she was now, his older sister. "Mikoto?" he asked his voice shaking a bit, as the bright, cheerful voice of his 'sister' whispered into his ear.

"It's okay. I am here Sasuke-chan. Don't worry. I am not going anywhere." She waited for a few moments before pulling back. "Get dressed, and come to breakfast. I have duties this morning so I need to hurry up." She smiled and softly closed the door behind her. Sasuke closed his eyes before turning to look at the door, and silently swearing his revenge under his breath.

[Chuunin Exam Building One]

Naruto arrived early, much earlier than he needed to, and made a couple of simple seals next to the doors, before leaving to observe from a distance. He was scouting out the competition. The seals he'd made were receptive to strong chakras, and would send a signal to a third seal he had with him. Using this he would know who best to be wary of, and who was easier to deal with. Rule number fourteen. A shinobi uses every advantage he can, when dealing with enemies and the unknown. He was a bit bothered by the reads he got off of the Suna team, it was really huge. He would mark them down, then there was a Konoha team formed of older students. Two of them were nothing special but the third…his reserves were considerable, and if Naruto didn't know better…he thought that the man might have noticed his seals.

It was sometime, and he'd been taking quite a list before Sakura, and then Sasuke showed up. Naruto simply signaled to them, and lead them up through a window that was near his perch. Why go through an entrance that was so obviously monitored by others? Rule number twenty-two. A shinobi should always remain unpredictable. So they walked on, into the halls of the third floor, ignoring the commotion. Once they'd left the empty class room, a nigh invisible form shifted from the shadows, pressing fingers to a communicator.

"Mesu reporting. Uzumaki, Uchiha, and Haruno used alternate entrance fourteen. Add three points. Uzumaki preceded this with impressive recon, and use of strategy. Add two points. Also, watch team 157. Strange readings appeared around them." Then without another word, the Anbu returned to the shadows.

Not too far off a lean figure listened in and smiled viciously. 'All According to plan…'

[Chuunin Examination Room]

Naruto frowned as he walked in and leaned against the back wall. Several older teams were giving them the evil eye, and he scoffed. He wasn't going to let some children scare him. One of them had impressive control over their killing intent, enough to make Naruto's eyes narrow, and they locked eyes. The genin was from Iwa. With a spike of his own killing intent the boy backed down, without the entire room feeling it. Naruto's outer façade of cold indifference was reinforced by knowing he needed to be strong. He needed to prove her convictions. Naruto crossed his arms, and sneered at those still facing him.

Sasuke for his part was just as unmoved as Naruto, and while he never had any direct killing intent thrown at him, he had little trouble in making others look away. He was a Uchiha genius after all. No one with half a brain would make eye contact with him, out of sheer fear of being attacked. Sasuke only wished that his fan girls felt the same.

"Hello, Sakura-san, Sasuke-kun…Naruto." The smooth, if cold voice of one Ino Yamanaka, her eyes locked on Sasuke, and then moving to the others slowly. She didn't leap and jump him, but she was happy to see her crush. She'd just been forced to grow up, she couldn't hold onto that childishness as a true Shinobi, or as a Kunoichi. Especially as a Kunoichi. When her eyes met Sakura's she could see that her longtime rival held some of the same notions, but not enough. Naruto…he was another problem all together. She didn't know whether to attack him, run away, give him a hug, or hope he never looks to her again. Something in his eyes told her that the first one however, would be the last thing she could do.

"Stop being so troublesome, and running off Ino. Asuma-sensei said to stick together…" Shikamaru finished his statement with a quietly grumbled "…not that I enjoy it." Chouji waved to the other rookies happily munching. It was shortly after that team eight showed up. Kiba laughing at all the annoying glares, with Shino and Hinata in tow. Though Hinata looked unwilling to be there, or it could just be the glares getting to her.

"Naruto! Man, it's been a while, give me paw!" Kiba laughed at his own inside joke, and Naruto let out a sigh, and smiled a bit. He and Kiba, peas in a pod. He lightly slapped the boys hand, and looked over the group of other genin.

"I am surprised Kiba. You aren't letting Akamaru play with all these chew toys." He said nodding towards the crowd of even more annoyed Genin.

"Naw, these ones might be bad for his teeth, and probably taste horrible." The canine-like shinobi smirked as he smelled something coming closer, and turned to see a silver haired teen with glasses walking towards them.

"You kids…you're really stirring up a hornet's nest." The boy said with a smile, "I am Kabuto Yakushi. I am a veteran of these exams. I figure that since we are all leaf, I might as well help you out." His smile widened and somehow seemed friendlier "Just to clear up, the next couple questions."

The group eyes Kabuto a bit warily, before the grey haired Genin pulled out a deck of cards. "Look, as a sign of peace, I'll share some information from my Ninja Info Cards." He smiled a bit before saying "Anyone you want to know about in the exams?"

Naruto remained passive, and Sasuke shrugged. Ino however stepped forward, "Team Seven from Konoha, and…" she paused as if thinking about it, but it was Naruto who calmly finished the statement. "Gaara of the desert."

Kabuto seemed disheartened at their already impressive knowledge of the targets and revealed the first card.

"Haruno Sakura. Strengths: Chakra Control, and Genjutsu. Weaknesses: Taijutsu, and Ninjutsu. Completed Team Missions: 42 D-Rank, 1 C-Rank, and 1 A-Rank." He said looking up to the rather shocked pink haired kunoichi. The next card he flipped was Sasuke's.

"Uchiha Sasuke. Strengths: Ninjutsu, and Taijutsu. Weaknesses: Chakra Control, and Genjutsu. Special Abilties: Possess the Sharingan. Completed Missions: same as Sakura." He simply filled that card away and moved on. This one was Gaara's.

"Gaara of the Desert. Not much information here…hmm seems that he's completed several high ranking missions with a special note in his file…he's never been so much as scratched on a single mission he'd undertaken." Kabuto looked at the other's faces and then said "Last but not least…Uzumaki Naruto."

"Strengths: Ninjutsu, Sealing Techniques, and Taijutsu. Weaknesses: Chakra Control, and Genjutsu. Special Notes: High rated skill with seals, rated to take the Seal Mastery Course upon making Chuunin. Missions: Obviously the same as…" then Kabuto paused, and blinked "…his…teams. Plus a Solo S-rank mission…" the assembled Genin and even Kabuto looked to the uninterested face of the blond with insatiable curiousity.

"Oi! Grey top!" the Iwa genin that Naruto had intimidated early stepped up. "Could you show me a card?" Kabuto shrugged a bit. "I want to know about Konoha's Lightning God."

Kabuto flipped another card, but this one came up blank. "This is the newest addition to the Bingo book, a Konoha shinobi who recently was seen in Wave, capable of decimating dozens of mercenaries, and a Jonin unscathed, with a single attack. He was reported to the Bingo book office by several mercenaries and even a few missing nin. His true name, and appearance are unknown at this time, however." The genin frowned a bit before nodding his thanks, and walking away. 'So much for that.'

"Well, then…"

Kabuto was interrupted by a sound similar to lightning crashing into the ground, as dozens of people appeared in the room. All of which were older, and unpleasantly, displeased looking. As if they were attempting to burn a hole through the Genin.

"Shut up, and sit down! I want you all to be sitting in a pattern. Boy, girl, boy, girl, ectra. The people to either side of you must be from another village. Hurry up!" the apparent leader barked. Naruto found himself siting between two foreign Kunoichi, one from Kumo, and the other from Iwa. He sighed internally. This was going to be a long test.

"I will now hand it over to this exam's lead proctor." The grumbling man said, as in a cloud of smoke, a lovely dark haired girl appeared at the front of the class, sitting happily on the edge of the table, wearing just enough to be considered barely decent. For a moment, almost all of the strong, and tightly bundled tension disappeared, leaving a few too many aroused males.

"Thank you, Ibiki-san. I am the proctor of the first exam. Mikoto Uchiha." She paused to give a rather vicious smile, which made every previously excited man's blood run cold. "I am pleased to meet you." Sasuke on the other hand, was sweating a bit. He wasn't scared persay, but she was a bit unhinged at times…and letting her be in charge of this…

"So, I am certain that each of you is curious as to what you-"

"Could you stop stalling!" an angry kunoichi hissed at the rather loose seeming proctor. Several girls began to smirk only to stop when the scandalously clad woman disappeared, pressing a rather well shined kunai into the girl's throat, her red sharingan eyes staring into the girl's. Her entire body shivering.

"Kusagakure? Hmm." She sneered and pressed the blade a bit harder into the girl's neck making her yelp. "You. Your team. Fail. Get out before I decide to do something…more interesting." She commanded withdrawing to the front of the room in same nearly instant movement. Only a couple of the most aware never let their eyes move from the front of the room, staring directly where she had stood previously.

"Right. So, now the rules. No talking. No Questions. Each of you will be given a single piece of paper. You must write a personal secret, and a village secret on this paper. If you attempt to lie, the paper will burn, and you will fail. In case you think of writing something simple down, and hiding it…the person to your left will be reading it aloud, when they are told to."

"You have exactly five minutes." She smiled again, a moment later dozens of slips of paper were passed out to the prospective Chuunin. The first part of the exam begins.

[Hokage's Office]

The Sandaime was calmly doing his daily paperwork, when a soft knocking reached his ears and he signaled for the door to be opened. One of his receptionists rushed in, and whispered into his ear. The Hokage nodded a bit. "Surprisingly quick, send them in." the woman ran off.

"The Hokage welcomes you."

The larger figure easily stepped through the doorway, and scoffed a bit "You called? I was surprised to hear from you of all people…"

"Well, it seemed to me that we needed to talk." The aging kage stated as the smaller, and lither shinobi entered. "Demon of the Mists, Zabuza Momochi."