Sanashii: I KNOW! I haven't updated in soooooooo long! Maybe an year or so! But I needed to edit! O be merciful oh readers!
Alice Miharu and Yoshi chan: -backs away-
Alice: She is having down's syndrome people.
Sanashii: DON'T LIE!
Miharu: ADHD then?
Sanashii: NO!
Yoshi: I KNOW! OBSESSION OF ANIME!
Sanashii: DING! DING! We have a winner! ENJOY!
Yoshi: WAIT! DON'T TURN THAT CAMERA OFF!
Miharu: You are forgetting something.
Sanashii: Oh yeah! Readers please re-read the story because I made some changes, such as Sakura and Sasuke's newfound rivalry and all. The scene in the forest of death has been deleted because the romance is just going too far there...
Chiharu: And we ALL know how CARING Sasuke is.
Sasuke: I hate you all.
The final rounds of the chuunin exam were to be tomorrow. And people had come from far and near to watch it. Ranging form citizens to feudal lords.
Two chuunin, Izumo and Kotetsu were discussing about it.
"The fact that the Hyuga kid, Shikaku's son and the Uchiha passed was not a surprise. It was well expected by everyone." Izumo said.
"What's surprising is that Uzumaki Naruto is still running. And that Haruno girl as well." Kotetsu added.
They overheard a group of people betting on the genins.
"Hey, these two girls is the only one who passed the genin rounds. The rest are all male" One said.
"I can't believe that Uzumaki kid passed."
"The Hyuga has a high chance of winning."
"But Sasuke Uchiha is going up against a powerful opponent. Gaara of the sand."
"So our safe bet is on Uchiha Sasuke?"
Kotetsu sighed. "Cripes. These old geezers!"
"Old man! One more ramen please!" Naruto said as he gulped down another ramen bowl.
"Me too!" Choji said.
"Coming right up." The owner said and kept two more bowls on their table.
"ITADAKIMASU!" They yelled eating.
Teuchi eyed them worriedly. "Are you sure you both are okay?" He asked.
"Naruto made it to the final round. Pa is nice so he never says anything. But I know he's upset in the inside. So in the eating I can't lose! Old man seconds!" Choji said slurping down ramen all the while.
"Thanks for the food old man! I'll vouch for you Choji!" Naruto said running off.
"Naruto...Alright!" Choji cheered. "That means I win?" Suddenly he realized something. "HEY NARUTO? WHO'S GONNA PAY FOR THE RAMEN?" He yelled trying to run after him but Teuchi grabbed his collar.
"Here's the bill." He said darkly. Choji gulped.
"Alright! The final rounds are tomorrow so I have to be pumped up!" Naruto said as he walked through the streets. Suddenly Konohamaru came into his path.
"Naruto nii chan! I challenge you!" He said.
"Huh?" Naruto said. "Konohamaru I'm kinda busy right now!"
"I made a new jutsu!" He said confidently.
Naruto stared at the kid. 'Just hope its not better then me.' He thought. "Fine. Show me." He said.
Konohamaru took out a stick which surprised him. "A stick jutsu?" Naruto asked taking his stance.
"Sexy jutsu! Hot body pole dance!" He said transforming into a hot girl.
"Oh!" Naruto said his eyes bulging.
"What's the matter? Too hot for you?" Konohamaru asked hotly. Naruto answered him by hitting on his head.
"OWW! But I mastered my technique!" Konohamaru whined.
"Konohamaru." Naruto said solemnly. "The path to mastering the sexy jutsu is long and dangerous! I figured that variation a long time ago!"
"Aw man! And I was so confident too!" Konohamaru muttered.
"OKAY! I'LL SHOW YOU MY NEW VERSION OF THE SEXY JUTSU!" He yelled.
"Okay Naruto big brother!" Konohamaru saluted. Suddenly he realized Naruto got worried and was staring ahead. He turned and saw three genin.
"S-Sorry Konohamaru." Naruto said as he saw Gaara. "I'm very busy with the chuunin exams!"
"Eh? But didn't Jiraya sensei teach you a new jutsu?" Konohamaru asked.
"Ah that..." He remembered what the pervy sage had said about the fourth hokage's legacy. "OH YEAH! SEE YOU LATER!" He yelled running off.
"Huh?" Konohamaru stood there dumbfounded.
'I need to ask people if they know it!' He thought running to the hokage office. However he bumped and fell on top of someone.
"Oww..." the said person said.
Naruto blinked and looked. "YIKES! SAKURA CHAN! I'M SORRY!" he yelled jumping off. Suddenly he realized Sasuke was there too. The Uchiha cracked his knuckles while his face displayed before anger. It was extra scary with his now glowing red eyes and the sudden change in height...
WHACK!
"OWWW!" Naruto yelled as Sasuke hit him hard on the head.
"GO DIE YEAH!" Sasuke yelled continuing to punch him.
"WAIT! OW! SASUKE! I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS!" Naruto yelled.
Sasuke stopped and Sakura stood up from the ground, still rubbing her head.
"I found about the fourth hokage's legacy!" He said proudly.
The two genin gaped at him.
"You know about it too?" Sakura asked.
"We were just about searching you for to go to the hokage to ask about it." Sasuke muttered.
"Good idea! let's go!" He said dragging the two along.
(At the hokage mansion)
"The fourth hokage's legacy?" Sarutobi asked.
"Could you please tell me? I figured you of all people should know dattebyo!" Naruto said scratching his head.
"Hmm...if there is such a thing, I'd like to see it." Sarutobi answered blowing out smoke from his pipe.
"Aw come on I know you must know SOMETHING! Say if you tell us, I'll show you my new sexy jutsu!" Naruto said.
At this, Sakura and Sasuke quickly ran out of the room while Sarutobi fumed.
"IF YOU HAVE TIME TO SHOW ME SUCH A THING THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PRACTICE FOR THE FINALS!" The old man yelled flinging him out the room. Naruto unfortunately hit the wall upside down and landed on his head.
"GEEZ WHAT A HELP YOU ARE YOU OLD GEEZER!" Naruto yelled but was then stopped when Sarutobi threw a kunai, barely missing him. Sweatdropping, Naruto tip toed away.
"Nice going orange fluffball. Now who do we ask?" Sakura asked.
"Hmm...how about Iruka sensei?" Sasuke asked.
"Hey duck butt! You have brains!" Sakura exclaimed.
"Shut...the hell up." Sasuke muttered.
(At Iruka's)
"the fourth hokage's legacy? Is that a new mystery game you kids are working at?" Iruka asked.
"Er...no." Naruto muttered.
"Not even close." Sakura added.
"Do you know anything about it?" Sasuke asked.
"Then it must be a puzzle! You solved those as a kid! I bet its Shikamaru's doing! If so then its useless asking me, you probably hold the key!" Iruka said.
"Forget it. We'll ask someone else." Naruto muttered.
Sakura grinned. "How about Anko san?" She asked.
"No." Sasuke said.
"Why not?"
"She's weird."
"AH! YOU INSULTED YOURSELF!"
"Shut...UP!"
(At Anko)
Anko sighed. "The glossy shine of the dango I simply can't resist it!" She said swallowing three all at once.
As she reached for the other one however, a hand grabbed it. A vein popped on her forehead as she realized it was Naruto.
"The dango here are too sweet. Hey Anko sensei? Do you happen to know about the fourth hokage's legacy?" Naruto asked.
Anko chuckled, the vein still there on her forehead. "You..took a stick of dango off my plate." She said menacingly.
"Hold on Anko sensei! He didn't mean it!" Sakura tried to say something but Anko's target was set on Naruto.
"YOU GIVE THAT BACK!" She yelled throwing sharp senbon at him.
"GAAAH! WAIT! ANKO SENSEI! I JUST WANNA KNOW ABOUT THE FOURTH HOKAGE'S LEGACY!" Naruto yelled dodging her.
"HOW THE HELL WOULD I KNOW?" Anko yelled back. Sasuke and Sakura grabbed him and the three ran out.
"GIVE MY BACK MY DANGO!" Anko screamed.
The three panted as they rested in the temple.
"All that trouble for dango." Naruto muttered shaking.
Sakura grabbed him by his collar. "IF YOU HADN'T EATEN THEM THEN MAYBE SHE WOULD'VE HAVE TRIED TO KILL US!" She yelled.
"Huh?"
They saw guy sensei walking up the stairs to the temple...on his hands?
"Guy sensei? What are...you doing?" Sakura asked.
"I am on a pilgrimage to 100 temples to pray for Lee's recovery!" Gai said jumping back on his feet again. Sasuke nudged Naruto.
"Maybe he might know." He said.
"I'll bet that you are wrong." Sakura chuckled.
"How much?"
"About..50 000 yen?"
"No. Loser will have to do whatever the winner says for a month." Sasuke said poking his tongue out.
"Hmm a duck in a maid dress...YOU ARE ON!" Sakura yelled grinning.
"Hey guy sensei.." Naruto said. "Do you know about the fourth hokage's legacy?"
Sakura expected Gai to say no but instead he gave a yell. "THE FOURTH HOKAGE'S LEGACY? YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY BE AIMING TO COMPLETE THAT ARE YOU!" He yelled.
"So you know about it?" Naruto asked excited.
"Of course!" Gai said flashing a thumbs up.
Sasuke smirked and looked at Sakura who slumped. "Fine. I lose." She said.
Choji walked up the stairs to the temple. "Hmm my stomach is full but my wallet is empty.." He said sadly.
Suddenly he stopped to hear Gai talk.
"The fourth hokage's legacy is a very detailed secret known only to the superiors of Konoha. No wonder the hokage refused to tell you!" He said.
"THAT OLD GEEZER!" Naruto yelled.
"Can you tell us Gai sensei?" Sakura asked.
Choji hid in the bushes to hear more. Sasuke noticed that Gai had a poster like thing hidden behind his back. The bushy brow sensei or as Naruto called him, let it fall to the ground.
"Unfortunately, it's a very detailed secret. As a member of the Konoha leaf shinobi I cannot possibly AAAAH!" He turned. "WHAT A COINCIDENCE! A TEMPLATE OF THE HOKAGE'S MISSION FINDS US! IN IT IS THE GREAT DETAILS OF THE MISSIONS OOOH!"
Sasuke sweatdropped. The acting was so...FAKE. However, they took it and opened it.
"I...can't..." Naruto sweatdropped.
"Read..." Sakura sweatdroppped.
"Any of this..." Sasuke completed sweatdropping.
"GAAAH! THE HONEY HONEY GROUNDS! ITS THE HONEY HONEY GROUNDS!" Gai yelled.
"Bunny bunny grounds?' Sakura said thinking of a little cute rabbit. Sasuke took out a random pin and popped the bubble that was floating over her head. "Honey. Not bunny." He muttered.
"Hey Sasuke. Were you calling her HONEY just now?" Naruto asked looking up from the map.
Sasuke and Sakura turned red immediately.
"HEY YOU WANNA DIE NARUTO?" Sasuke yelled.
"AS IF HE'S CALL ME HONEY! YUCK! HOW CORNY!"
"Now there is something you can agree on." Naruto snickered. Sakura and Sasuke glared at each other and turned away.
"As if." Sasuke muttered.
"I'd rather behead myself." Sakura added.
"No you can't." Sasuke said.
"Why not?" Sakura asked.
"Because I won the bet." Sasuke reminded. "You have to work for me for a month."
A great rock fell on her head. "GGaaah...Working for...a...DUCK!" She groaned as the rock got heavier. Sasuke chuckled lightly at this.
'She cute when she is like this.' He thought smiling softly.
Choji grinned. "This is major news! TWO major news! One, bunny bunny grounds! And two, Sasuke called Sakura honey!" He snickered running way to the forest where he knew Ino and Shikamaru were.
"HEY! INO! SHIKAMARUU! I GOT BIG NEWS!" He yelled once he spotted them.
"What?" Shikamaru asked.
"One, there is a secret mission to the bunny bunny grounds and two, Sasuke called Sakura honey!" He said.
Ino fell down from the tree. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" She shrieked.
"Sasuke called Sakura honey? Wow thats...troublesome to think about..." Shikamaru muttered climbing down from the tree.
"That's not important! It's the honey honey grounds!" Choji said.
"Honey honey grounds or bunny bunny grounds?" Shikamaru asked.
"Let's go with both." Ino muttered.
"Okay let's see." Naruto muttered as he walked following the map directions.
"I sure hope Yukiko sensei, Gai sensei and Kakashi sensei are telling the truth. I'm missing important training here." Sakura muttered.
"Since when do dummy's like you train?" Sasuke asked. Sakura growled. "Shut up or die." She muttered.
"We are here!" Naruto cheered running to the iron fence.
"NO NARUTO!" Sakura and Sasuke both yelled but it was too late. Naruto got electrified by the fence.
"Idiot." Sakura sighed.
"I knew it was going to happen." Sasuke walked over to the fence.
"SASUKE KUUUUUUUUUUN!" Came that high pitched annoying shriek.
"Ino." Both Sakura and Sasuke said at the same time and both (amazingly) shuddered at once.
Ino put on a hurt expression. "You can't hate me THAT much!" She muttered.
"Actually I would if I want to." Sakura replied as she went through the large hole she saw in the barrier. Sasuke followed.
"I meant it for Sasuke kun!" Ino snapped.
Sasuke smirked. "I do hate pigs after all." He said thoughtfully.
Ino let down wriggly tears at this. "I see..." And then,, she went so happy, they swore they saw a pink background with stars, flowers and tiny hearts...
"YOU THINK ABOUT ME SOO MUCH!" She squealed glomping on him. Sakura snickered. "Wow lover boy. I didn't know you had a pig for a girlfriend."
"I DON'T! GET OFF!" Sasuke tried to escape from Ino's grasp. Naruto and Sakura just laughed, enjoying it all throughly.
Soon though, the fight began.
"Why are you guys here anyway! This is our mission!" Naruto said.
"No one said it was yours!" Choji snorted.
Sakura just sat next to Sasuke while Ino glared enviously. What Sakura couldn't see, she saw about Sasuke's feelings. For forehead of course...
"Let's just do this mission together alright?" Shikamaru muttered.
At that moment, a poof came and a figure stood there.
"WELCOME YOUNGSTERS TO THE BUNNY BUNNY GROUNDS!" He yelled.
'GAI SENSEI!' They all thought. Only Naruto didn't see through the old man disguise.
"WOW! A SAGE!" He gasped.
"The objective of this is to beat the 4th hokage's record! Unfortunately I can't give any details and-" He dropped a scroll then. It was done purposely and all but Naruto saw through it. Then screaming, he ran off.
Choji made a run to get it but was tackled by Naruto. Then when Ino tried, Sasuke pinned her AND Shikamaru down. Sakura grabbed it. "YES! LET'S GO!" She yelled.
"HEY!' Ino yelled running after the three. Choji puffed behind while Shikamaru did a handseal. The next minute, Sakura was frozen.
"H-Hey!" She choked out. Shikamaru smirked and Ino tried to do the jutsu to enter her mind but then...Sasuke glared at them.
"Let...her...GO!" He yelled. Shikamaru was a bit taken a back and Naruto threw a kunai at him. "Shit!" He said jumping. Sakura grinned and ran.
"Damn." Shikamaru sighed.
"Let's see." Sakura muttered as she reached a giant web.
"Cool! Read the hints!" Naruto said. Shikamaru stayed close to Sakura and this did not go unnoticed by Sasuke or Ino.
"Close the blade and calm the heart." She read.
"Eh heck!" Naruto ran across the web.
"No way we'll let team seven win!" Choji ran after him. "Hey!" Ino yelled running.
Sasuke and Sakura stayed behind as Shikamaru saw a sign.
"Giant bridge?" Sakura muttered. Shikamaru rubbed his hand over the letters, erasing dust.
"Giant...SPIDER bridge!" Sasuke read.
"HEY NARUTO COME BACK!" Sakura screamed.. But then the rest were all stuck to the sticky spider web.
"I-I can't move!" Ino suddenly said. Choji frantically tried to move and Naruto was struggling. A spider came out of hole and started moving towards them.
Naruto took out a kunai as the spider went closer to him. "COME HERE SO THAT I CAN KILL YOU!" He yelled. Shikamaru stepped forward.
"NARUTO PUT THAT KUNAI AWAY!" He yelled.
"WHAT?"
"PUT IT AWAY!"
"I AIN'T GOT A DEATH WISH DATTEBYO!"
"JUST DO AS I SAY"
Naruto put it away.
"NOW DON'T MOVE!"
As they followed Shikamaru, the spider stopped as well and went back to its giant home.
"Whoa..." Ino said.
"It says here in the hint, close the blade and calm the heart." Shikamaru pointed out. "Spiders use the vibrations sent off from a distressed insect to sense its prey. Also it can see shiny things."
"So in remaining calm and putting away that kunai they are saved! You are a genius Shikamaru!" She hugged him. Sasuke twitched his eye.
"Well, unlike Ino, you are not troublesome much." He said smirking.
"YOU TAKE THAT BACK LAZY!" Ino screamed.
"NO YOU LISTEN GUYS! FOLLOW THAT PARTICULAR THREAD! SPIDERS USE TWO TYPES! ONE FOR MOVING AROUND AND ONE FOR CATCHING PREY!" Sakura yelled.
"So this one will be safe." Naruto said stepping on one. "WHOO! I CAN MOVE!
Ino and Choji followed suit and then, Shikamaru, Sakura and Sasuke crossed. Naruto however stayed behind.
"If I don't take care of that spider it'll attack more people!" He said.
"Naruto no!" Sakura said. But Naruto made a few shadow clones. "RASENGAN!" he said throwing it at the spider. It poofed away.
"A...A summoning..." Sakura muttered.
"No doubt about it...Gai sensei." Sasuke muttered.
"Let's go." Shikamaru muttered.
Soon, the team was off again.
"What's the next hint Shikamaru?" Sakura asked softly.
"Offer a wild chrysanthemum." Shikamaru answered. "It seems too simple. I can't figure out what it means."
"A wild chrysanthemum...to offer it huh? Umm...maybe if we get to the next challenge we can find out." Sakura said thoughtfully.
"Something about the grounds maybe?" Sasuke asked. Sakura shrugged.
Suddenly Shikamaru stopped.
"Shikamaru?" Choji said. Shikamaru just smiled. "Go ahead without me. I'll catch up." He murmured running uphill.
"H-HEY! SHIKAMARU WAI-" Sakura yelled trying to go after him but Sasuke grabbed her collar.
"Leave him be. Let's go."
Naruto grinned. "NO WAY I'M LEAVING LAZY! HE'LL GET INTO TROUBLE!" Naruto ran off before anyone could say a word.
"He's the one who's gonna get in trouble.." Sakura muttered.
"So true..." Sasuke agreed.
"Why's he go off like that anyway?" Ino asked, annoyed.
The two didn't answer. Then Sakura sighed. "He better not interfere with Shikamaru."
"If he does he's dead..like always, he's the one who yells and charges first." Sasuke shook his head.
"JUST WHAT'S GOING ON!" Ino yelled.
"HEY SHIKAMARU!" Naruto yelled as he ran after Shikamaru.
"Naruto! Fool! Go back!" Shikamaru ordered. But at that moment, rocks tumbled towards them.
"WHOA!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto don't get distracted! The enemy is hiding behind their shadow!" Shikamaru instructed.
"ENEMY?"
At that moment, a figure rushed out from behind the rock nearest to him and raised a kunai to stab the frozen Naruto.
But Shikamaru quickly stopped him with the shadow possession jutsu. The others appeared behind him and ran towards Shikamaru.
"HEY! GET BACK!" naruto yelled. "SHADOW CLONE JUTSU!"
"Shadow clones? Damn they're good! RETREAT!" Just as quickly they came, they vanished.
Shikamaru walked up to the captive rain ninja. "You are the rain ninja who didn't pass the chuunin exams. What do you want?" He demanded.
"Eh? DON'T TELL ME YOU GUYS ARE SEARCHING FOR THE FOURTH HOKAGE'S LEGACY TOO!" Naruto yelled.
"Hey! Are you stupid!" Shikamaru asked alarmed. "Jeez! Go away." He released the guy.
"Next time we won't let you off so easy!"
"Why'd ya let him go?" Naruto demanded once the rain ninja made his getaway.
"You sowed some troublesome seeds again. Jeez. Sakura won't like this at all.." Shikamaru face palmed himself.
"...Eh?"
"There you are!" Sakura waved once they got back.
"Sorry. We got delayed." Shikamaru muttered.
"What did he do?" Sakura asked.
"Gave away our mission."
Sakura twitched. "Oii...Narutoooo..." She growled. Naruto gulped. "I'M SORRY!" He yelled.
Sasuke sighed. "Let's just go in there." He muttered looking at the cave.
"Offer a wild chrysanthemum.." Sakura muttered as they walked into the creepy cave.
"OKAY OUR NEXT HURDLE!" Naruto yelled as they came into a large hallway.
"What's this?" Choji asked eyeing the switch.
"Retire button?" Ino muttered.
"HEY!" Shikamaru yelled as Naruto went into the middle of the depressed ground like place.
"COME BACK!" Sakura yelled.
But at that moment, smoke escaped into the place and the doors banged shut.
Ino passed out immediately as she inhaled deeply. Shikamaru caught her.
"Sleeping gas! Sakura don't breathe!" Sasuke ordered covering his nose and mouth.
Sakura held her breath in and motioned Naruto to do the same.
"To the ceiling! Jump!" Shikamaru ordered and they leaped to the chains hanging.
"There must be some way to stop this smoke..some way..." Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto pouted. "It looks like a giant flower from up here." He muttered.
"A giant flower!" Shikamaru realized.
"Offer a wild chrysanthemum!" Sakura thought out loud. As she did so, she loosened her grip on the chain and fell.
"SAKURA!" Sasuke yelled as she landed on the ground, into the hole.
"Hey! Don't you jump!" Shikamaru muttered.
"Hey...there's a switch here..." Sakura muttered pressing it once she recovered. At that very moment, the gas was sucked back into the vents again.
Sasuke quickly jumped and ran to the hole just as Sakura climbed out. "Oww..." She muttered. "That fall was hard!"
"Just realized it?" Sasuke muttered a vein popping on his forehead. "DON'T DO THAT!"
"Eh?"
Sasuke sighed. "Jeez you are more hopeless than Naruto now!" he muttered.
"WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?" both Naruto and Sakura yelled. Sasuke cut Sakura off and kept a hand on her shoulder.
"You're okay...right?" He asked softly. Sakura smiled "Course! I've been training hard you know!"
"good. You can still be my maid." Sasuke chuckled and walked off.
"On the other hand I wish I injured a foot.." Sakura muttered sweatdropping, as she followed them out exit which just opened up.
"OKAY!" Naruto yelled once they went out. "WHOAAAA! A RIVER! COOOOOOL!"
Everyone sweat-dropped.
"OKAY! THE NEXT HURDLE! LETS GOOO!"
"Hold it!" Shikamaru grabbed his collar. "We can't afford anymore mistakes Naruto. Let's consult the tiger scroll first!"
"The tiger scroll gives a lot of help because it has hidden clues and hints we need to figure out to get through the next hurdle. If we don't read it first, we won't be able to do it." Sakura added.
Shikamaru chuckled. "At least you make a lot of sense Sakura." He murmured.
"Thank you." She said.
Ino twitched. "Hey cut it out Shikamaru. Just read the next hint will ya?"
Choji grinned and spoke for the first time. "I sense tension."
"SHUT UP!" Ino yelled.
"Let's see..." Shikamaru looked at the scroll. "Be extremely nimble, show determination."
"Nimble huh?" Naruto grinned and ran to a plank attached to the end of the stairs.
"HEY NARUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Shikamaru yelled.
"Nimbly showing determination!" Naruto answered. At that moment, the plank broke off and started to travel.
"NARUTO YOU IDIOT!" Sakura yelled.
"Jeez we have no choice! Everyone jump!" Sasuke ordered jumping onto the plank. The others followed.
Sakura took Naruto by the collar and shook him. "YOU IDIOT! WEREN'T YOU LISTENING?" She yelled.
"I was just following the scroll." Naruto muttered, a grin plastered on his face.
"YOU!" Sakura growled.
Ino gulped. "Hey...don't you feel the current picking up?" She asked quietly.
"Is it because of that?" Sasuke pointed to the waterfall which had an enormous boulder in the middle.
"WE DID IT!" They all yelled.
"SHIKAMARU DO SOMETHING!" Ino yelled.
"WE'LL HIT THOSE ROCKS!" Choji wailed.
Sakura squinted. "Heyyyy...I see something... on that boulder..."
Naruto grinned. "It looks like a mini version of the hokage monuments!" He said.
"Yeah..." Shikamaru muttered.
"I see a rainbow." Sakura grinned saying it randomly.
Sasuke sweat-dropped. "Are you an idiot?' He asked.
"I'M JUST TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING HAVING DETERMINATION!"
"WELL THAT AIN'T IT!"
Naruto stood up. "I have determination." he declared. "No matter what, I'll get the fourth hokage's legacy!"
He jumped to the side of the fourth hokage. Sakura gasped.
Shikamaru smiled as he saw the rainbow on the left. "HE'S RIGHT! JUMP TO THE RIGHT!" he yelled.
They did and soon, found themselves on hard ground. Not in water.
"It was set up like this under the waterfall." Shikamaru explained. "There was a platform here. Resulting in a rainbow forming on the left side and not the right."
"Owww..." Ino groaned. Shikamaru and Choji had landed on her in the fall and she was sure her backbone was broken. Her fall was thankfully broken by Naruto.
She glanced up at Sakura who was rescued by Sasuke...AGAIN!
Shikamaru too turned to her. "You have a good eye, Sakura. Had you not noticed that faint rainbow I wouldn't have been able to deduce it."
Sasuke twitched again. "Hey, you are going overload with the compliments genius." He muttered as a vein popped on his forehead.
Shikamaru raised an eyebrow. "Why shouldn't I? I can clearly say she has an IQ of 167. That's pretty high you know."
Sakura giggled which Sasuke glared at him. "I know that! But flattering isn't going to get you anywhere!"
"Why won't it?" Shikamaru asked with a grin.
'"JUST STOP IT DAMMIT!" He yelled.
"I can tell her that she is beautiful. Which she is." Shikamaru said.
"HEY CUT IT OUT!" Sasuke yelled again.
"He's right." Ino muttered. "Stop it. Its...getting irritating." Shikamaru got off her and grinning, didn't say anything.
He just walked down the steps. Choji and Ino followed. Naruto wiped the dust off him,
"What was that all about?" He muttered.
"I don't care. He was getting too cocky." Sasuke muttered, still glaring behind his head.
Sakura was clueless. "Why not? He is pretty nice." He shrugged following them.
Naruto grinned. "Uchiha Sasuke is jealous!" He grinned.
"Who say says am idiot?" Sasuke muttered quickly going after her.
Naruto just grinned. "Because you didn't stop staring at her all this-"
Sasuke cut him off abruptly by throwing a handful of kunai. "THOSE COMMENTS ARE WHY YOUR HEAD ALWAYS ALMOST GETS SKEWERED IDIOT!" He yelled.
"Yes, yes." Naruto chuckled.
The two teams finally reached the spot labeled 'The final hurdle'
"We're here! The final one!" Sakura grinned.
"I'm sort of getting excited." Sasuke commented.
"Because we are beating the fourth hokage's legacy?" Sakura asked, stars popping in her eyes.
"No. Just thinking about how much chores I can get you to do after this makes me want to go to the beach and relax. Ahhhh...the warm sun and the cool beach..." Sasuke grinned.
"HEY YOU CUT IT OUT DAMMIT!" Sakura yelled. "Ah-" Suddenly she was cut off when Ino placed a kunai to her throat.
"Hey-" Sasuke protested but Choji held him down with large arms. And he repeated this to Naruto.
"Sorry. We'll be going alone from here. We'll win the fourth hokage's legacy." Ino said darkly.
"Sorry Naruto, Sasuke. But we really want Shikamaru to win." Choji apologized.
"This is really unfair." Sakura muttered. "Shikamaru! Are you sure?" She called.
Shikamaru held the tiger scroll open in his hands.
"Go beyond hatred, for the one who approaches the path will not open. That's what the next clue says."
He smiled and looked at them. "Ino, Choji, let them go. We have to work together." He said.
"Cripes." Ino let Sakura go. Choji let Sasuke and Naruto go as well.
"Let's go." Shikamaru said walking to the final hurdle.
"Unfortunately you guys won't be so lucky..." A dark voice muttered. It was the rain ninja who Shikamaru had captured earlier.
He laughed as he looked at them. Along with him were all the rain ninja who accompanied him.
"WHOAA..." Naruto said as he came into the big room. There were shelves after shelves, stacked with scrolls.
"One of them has the final scroll huh?" Sasuke muttered.
"Do we have to check to through all of them? If so then there is no way we'll win..." Sakura sighed.
"Win or not you'll have to be my maid."
"HEY STOP IT ALREADY YOU PERVERT!"
Naruto ran forward. "LET'S SEARCH THEM ALL!" He yelled.
"Idiot." Shikamaru muttered. "Looking at this big room, haven't it crossed your mind that there maybe traps?"
"Besides, like Sakura said, it'll take days to check the volume of these scrolls."
Ino huffed. "USE YOUR HEAD!" She yelled.
Sakura sighed. "Stupid Naruto..." She murmured.
Naruto bowed his head "Sakura chan don't say such a thing..."
"Stuuuupid! Stupid Naruto! Stupid Naruto! Stuuupid! Stupid Naruto!" It kept on repeating.
"Gimme a break already." Naruto couched down.
"That wasn't me!" Sakura said.
"EH!" Naruto looked up to see a parrot flying overhead.
"STUUUPID! STUPID NARUTO! STUPID NARUTO!" It screeched.
"HEY! YOU STUPID BIRD STOP IT!" Naruto yelled.
"STUUUUUUUUUUUUUPID! STUPID NARUTO! STUPID NARUTO!"
"Why you..STOP SAYING STUPID, STUPID BIRD!"
Outside, the rain ninja had a handseal ready, all outside the entrance of the hall.
Rain began pouring down heavily.
"Ninja art, grudge rain!" The rain ninja chuckled. "One on one we can't take them on. But gathering our grudges together we can!"
Sasuke twitched his ear as he heard water trickling down somewhere. He was surprised when the room began to fill up.
"W-WATER?" Shikamaru yelled.
"Watch out!" Choji yelled as a huge waved ran over them all.
Sakura gasped as he reached for a pillar. She couldn't feel the ground beneath her. Was the water level that high?
"M-My chakra!" She felt her energy drain* as she dropped back into the water.
"Sakura!" Sasuke dived under for us and bought her up.
"Sakura! Can you breathe?" He asked. She wasn't acting normal.
"My energy...I feel faint!" She choked out.
Sasuke felt his chakra vanishing as well but he didn't feel much of his energy draining away. Could it be that her energy relied on her chakra?
"Hang on!" he ordered. "Just a little longer!"
'Dammit! It must be those rain ninja who had been tracking us all this while! I should've taken them out!' He realized.
He knew they were following but paid no heed. They were weak. But now they were helpless. Especially Sakura...
"This rain sucks your chakra out. Soon you'll be dead." the rain ninja laughed.
A voice interrupted them. "You genins are playing dirty now are you?"
They turned and saw two masked people.
"Hatake Kakashi!" They realized. "And some woman..!"
"I'm flattered you recognize a lazy man like me. But I'm afraid..." he glared at them. "You will have to LEAVE."
The woman took out a katana and it glowed dangerously with chakra. "Or do you want to die?" She asked.
The rain ninja reluctantly stopped their jutsu and fled. Kakashi sighed. Nothing like a little fear to take the edge of those kids...
The water began to disappear and the group sighed in relief.
"I thought I was a goner!' Naruto groaned.
"Sakura..are you okay?" Sasuke asked.
Sakura nodded. "My chakra is going back in. I guess...I'm not used to controlling this new type of chakra..." She grinned.
Sasuke sighed. "Thank goodness." he muttered.
Suddenly Sakura twitched. "I MEAN! I DON'T FEEL GOOD AT ALL!" She coughed.
Sasuke glanced at her. "H-hey!"
She once more, louder this time. "I feel weeeeaaaak..." She moaned.
Sasuke stared at her as if she had grown two heads and then smiled. "Pretending to be sick isn't going to stop you from being my maid for a month."
Sakura glared at him. "I SAID I'M SICK! *cough cough* !"
Sasuke laughed. "Oh man! Your acting really sucks!" He burst out.
"Hey! Not funny!" Sakura whined and then pouted.
Sasuke just smiled. "You're still okay right? Can you breathe?"
Sakura shrugged, still pouting.
"That's so cute." He said out loud and then immediately regretted it turning red.
"What was that?" Sakura asked. She thought he muttered something. Sasuke shook his head.
"Let's go." he helped her up. At that moment, they heard a yell.
"GIMME BACK MY CHOCO BAR!" Choji yelled.
"Gimme! Gimme!" the bird screeched. "Thank you!" It perched itself on the perch.
Shikamaru, noticed the perch tilt a bit.
"Naruto! Get close to that bird!" He ordered.
Naruto who had been staring at Sakura and Sasuke grinned, his attention having sifted immediately. "I get it! This is my chance to catch that revolting parrot!" He declared.
"No!" Shikamaru barked. "Smile when you go! Approach real friendly!"
Naruto forced a smile...more like a grimace.
"Yeeeeccchhh!" Ino shuddered.
"Be more natural!" Choji grinned.
"EEEEHEHEHEHEHEEE!" Naruto forced himself to laugh.
"STUPID NARUTO!" The parrot screeched.
"WHY I OUGHTA!" Naruto yelled.
"Naruto!" Sakura called. "Think happy thoughts!"
"Happy thoughts?" Naruto muttered. Then his eyes went wide. "Ahhhh! EHEHEHHEHEHEEEE!" He forced a grin.
"Yes! Just like that!" Sasuke said.
"Ehehe...eheheheee...ehahahhaaaa!" Naruto kept on grinning.
'I'll become a chuunin after this...and then do matchmaking with Sakura and Sasuke...and then become and ANBU...'
He kept on laughing and marching forward.
"Eeeee...YUCK." Ino muttered as Naruto kept on marching.
Then, Naruto stepped on a tile and it depressed a bit. At this, the door opened.
"Go beyond hatred, for the one who approaches the path will not open." Shikamaru announced standing up.
"So that meant the door wouldn't open as long as Naruto kept on chasing the parrot!" Sakura grinned running to the door.
"H-Hey!" Sasuke went after her. Naruto had already disappeared before them, running to the top of the building.
They saw a scroll. "there it is!"
Shikamaru looked at the scroll. "The final...The location of infinity to the one anointed. " he read.
Naruto gulped. "So that means this scroll has everything?"
"Yeah probably." Shikamaru said. "Though it may have some trap."
At this, Naruto looked at Shikamaru. "I believe in that scroll!" He declared. "That old sage gave it to us!"
'That's why is is suspect...' Shikamaru thought.
Naruto reached for the scroll and the team stared expectantly, waiting for something to happen. But nothing happened as he picked it up.
Slowly, Naruto opened the scroll to see a seal. There was a loud POOF and guy sensei stood there, all robes and fake beard.
"GUY SENSEI!" Shikamaru yelled.
"Why are you-" Ino asked.. "Here?' Choji completed.
Naruto stared dumbfounded. "Shikamaru? What you, Ino and Choji talking about? Where is bushy brow sensei?" He began looking around.
"EHHH?" Everyone yelled.
"He still believes guy sensei in disguise is really a sage..." Sakura muttered.
"Jeez. That idiot." Sasuke muttered.
Naruto looked at the badly disguised Guy Sensei. "Say old man. What about it? Did we break the 4ths record?" He asked, worry etched all over his face. "Did we make it?"
"AHEM!" The old sage said and looked at Naruto's face with one eye. He had a kitty face on. All big sparkling eyes and tiny mouth.
"CONGRATULATIONS! YOU PASSED THE FOURTH'S RECORD!" he yelled.
"YAY!" Naruto cheered.
"And now, I shall present the fourth hokage's legacy! The ultimate secret!"
"Yes! Yes!" Naruto cheered, unable to contain his excitement.
"Read the first characters of each verse across the page!' he turned and as he did so, his wig tilted a bit. He quickly adjusted it.
"I wish you luck!" With this, he jumped, only to reveal the green suit he always wore.
"It was so obvious." Shikamaru stated.
"Lets see..." naruto looked at the scroll. Sakura and Sasuke went up to him.
"There is no shortcut to what is essential in a ninja." They read.
"HUH?" Everyone yelled.
"Good work." Kakashi said as he walked up to Gai sensei and Yukiko.
"It was a perfect training for the chuunin exams." Yukiko nodded. "We were able to assess their jutsu mastery."
"EVERYTHING WENT WELL!" Gai held his thumb up.
"Except for your disguise Gai...it was too obvious..." Yukiko muttered.
"NO IT WASN'T!"
"It was." Kakashi agreed.
Gai sat down depressed. "Is that so?"
Yukiko and Kakashi sweat-dropped.
"I'm sure everyone except Naruto figured it out at the first glance." Yukiko sighed. Kakashi chuckled.
"Knowing Naruto...he's believe what a duck tells him."
"...Hey Kakashi?"
"Hm?"
"..When you said 'duck'...were you referring to Sasuke?"
"...EH?"
"Cripes!" Ino growled as they walked out of the place. "Gai sensei had been playing this trick on us!"
"I'm just as disappointed as you are." Choji muttered.
"That was mean laying those traps too!" Sakura added. Sasuke looked at her.
"I thought you trained?"
"I DID!" She looked at him.
"Don't be so quick to judge him." Shikamaru said. "Did you notice. When we started, we were only thinking of ourselves. In the end we all worked out together."
"Yeah.." Ino smiled. "And now we just want someone from our village to win." She looked at Sakura.
"It's either team seven or Shikamaru." she said.
Sakura grinned ''I'll win this! I'll definitely become Chuunin!" She declared. Sasuke looked at her.
"A second ago you were complaining about the traps." He muttered.
"I WAS JUST A BIT MAD!" Sakura yelled.
"Well win or not, you will still have to be-" Sasuke started with a grin but Sakura cut him off.
"I KNOW! I KNOW!" She yelled.
"JEEZ! YOU PERVERT! I WON'T WEAR A MAID DRESS!"
Sasuke looked at her blankly. "Maid dress?"
Sakura suddenly realized the horrible mistake she did. "NO! DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!" She yelled.
"Too late." Sasuke smirked. "I wonder which color I should choose. Pink? Red? Purple? It could be really short..."
"NOO!" Sakura jumped on him. "Stop thinking! Stop it you pervert!" She kpet on grabbing his hair while Sasuke began to laugh.
Ino sighed. "He just won't stop teasing her." She smiled.
Shikamaru smirked. "Well she is cute." he said.
"Hey!" Ino whined. Shikamaru chuckled. "Lighten up! I was teasing you. It was troublesome though."
"Teasing..me?" Ino asked.
"You got irritated whenever I complimented Sakura. What is that supposed to mean?" he leaned to her face. "Ino chan?"
Ino turned red. "Y-You!" She spluttered but then stopped when she heard Sakura scream.
"YOU JERK! DON'T YOU DARE!" She yelled trying to reach a small book in Sasuke's hands. He had a smirk on his face.
"I wonder what secrets are in these!" He teased. "Something about your future maybe?"
"SASUKEEEE! GIMME BACK MY DIARY! HOW THE HELL DID YOU GET THAT ANYWAY?" She yelled.
"Makoto gave it to me." Sasuke stuck his tongue out.
'GRRRAAH! I'LL KILL HER!" She yelled.
"Let's see, page one. 'I was walking along the street today when I saw a little kitty. It was so cute and it reminded me off-" He started opening the book but then Sakura jumped on him and they both tumbled down the stairs to the ground.
"DON'T READ IT! GIMME!" Sakura yelled.
"As if pinky!" Sasuke tried to keep the book out of her reach.
"I'll wear the stupid maid dress okay?"
"Deal." Sasuke gave it back. Sakura hugged it to her chest.
"Don't make it short pervert." She muttered.
Sasuke rubbed his nose. "It's my choice." He teased again as he stood up.
"HEYY!" Sakura whined.
Shikamaru sighed. "Cripes." She chuckled. Suddenly Naruto appeared out of nowhere.
"GUYS! I KNOW WHAT THAT SAGE MEANT! THERE IS NO SHORTCUT IN THE NINJA WAY!" He yelled.
"Sakura chan! Sasuke! Shikamaru! Ino! Choji!" He ran down the stairs. "WE'RE DOING THIS ALL OVER AGAIN!"
"WHAAAT?" Everyone yelled.
Shikamaru sighed. "Cripes! He is a pain in the neck after all!"
Well readers! In return for my long absence , I made this chapter long! EXTRA long on having 7, 662 words as total! The longest I wrote yet! Oh and..
* Sakura is unused to her chakra properly yet so her chakra loses out quickly, making her feel as if her energy was running out as well.