Yes, this is where the new chapter starts.

******

"That test was easy!" Naruto shouted, as the three genin waited in line for their scroll.

Sasuke's eyebrow twitched, "We passed on sheer luck, Naruto."

Hinata stood patiently, though thinking intently, 'Surviving in there for 5 days? Though I guess its less if we can finish quickly. We'll just have to be careful.' Hinata stared into the dark forest, its towering trees creating a dark aura around it. "N-Naruto, S-Sasuke, m-maybe w-we should make a p-plan," Hinata suggested.

Naruto looked confused, "A plan?"

"Actually, that's a good idea, Hinata. That way Naruto will be less likely to screw things up," Sasuke sneared.

Naruto, turning red with rage, "WHAT!? You bastard! I'm more worried about you trying to be cool and fail us with you!"

Hinata poked her fingers together, "G-Guys...we need to work together..."

Falling silent at Hinata's uncharacteristic behavior, they both calmed down.

Hinata continued, "W-Well, we have a H-Heaven scroll, so that mean's we n-need an Earth sc-scroll."

Sasuke looked at her, to Naruto, and then to Hinata again. 'What happened to her. It's like overnight she's gained some confidence. Did he do something?' Shaking his head and dismissing the thought, he listened as Hinata continued on.

"I s-suggest..."

"You guys planning some tactics?" a voice behind them asked.

Turning, they saw a young man not much older then them, with white hair and glasses.

"I'm impressed, you guys have a decent chance then. As long as you stay out of trouble."

Naruto scratched his head, "Who are you?"

"Kabuto, right?" Sasuke inferred. "I remember seeing you around the hospital when I was infirmed there after our mission to the Land of Waves. What do you mean by trouble."

"Well, I'll let you guys in on a secret. You guys may be good, but there are some people who are on a whole different level then you guys. Like those three," pointing to some sand ninja, "Everyone should stay away from them."

Naruto, confused again, "But why, that one guy looks like he might be tough. But the girl doesn't, and that one guy's really skinny, and he has...a gourd?"

Kabuto laughed, "Underestimations like that will get you killed quickly in the ninja world. The guy with the weird shape on his back and the girl are tough in their own right, but the guy with the gourd, he's on a whole different level then the others. Word form the Sand is that he's never even been touched during a mission."

The three genin grew wide-eyed. "What kind of ninja is he, never getting touched?" Sasuke asked.

Kabuto frowned, "I have no clue, but I know I'm keeping away from him. There not all though, you three are probably familiar with that group over there, correct?"

Hinata gulped loudly, earning a confused stare from Naruto.

Sasuke nodded, "Neji Hyuuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten. They're Leaf ninja, though there a year above us, so I've never seen them fight."

"Well, having a Hyuuga in your group, you must know about the Gentle Fist technique. Neji over there is supposedly a master of it, surpassing all but a few in his clan, and he's still a genin. i shouldn't have to tell you how dangerous he is."

Hinata nodded at this comment, earning her another stare from Naruto. 'That's weird, she usually only acts that way when she's alone with me. I REALLY don't understand girls...'

Sasuke, still intrigued, "Anyone else who would sport any competition?"

Kabuto laughed again, "I knew I liked you guys for a reason. The only group who may cause you trouble is the one group of sound ninja over there. No ones much about them, or even what kind of power they have, but I'm guessing we'll see sooner or later."

Naruto asked, "Wait!? What about your group?"

Kabuto smiled, "Why do you think I gave you all this information?"

"We'll agree to a truce with your group, though only for this challenge. I'm guessing that's what you want?" Sasuke asked.

"Good, good, I DID pick you guys for a reason. And yes, though you'll see it will only be needed for this challenge...you guys should get back to your planning. I have some of my own to do," He added with a glint in his eye, before walking away.

Naruto was the first to speak, "Well, that was weird, but it sure was nice to of him to help us. Weren't you gonna say something Hinata?"

Snapping back to reality, Hinata nodded, "I suggest w-we go for one o-of our f-fellow leaf g-genin t-teams."

Naruto perked up, "Shouldn't we be helping them, too, though? I mean they are from the leaf."

Hinata looked down sadly, "I kn-know, b-but we already know th-their j-jutsu's, and..."

Sasuke interrupter her, "Naruto, do you want to become a chunnin or not? We can't go feeling sorry for them."

Naruto nodded, "Which team though? We have a truce with Kabuto, and he told us about that other one..." Failing to notice a shudder from Hinata, "Well, either Shikamaru's team or Sakura's team."

Sasuke nodded, "We'll just find one, since there's a 50% chance they'll have the one we need. And if they don't have the scroll we need, the other group should."

Nodding again, in agreement, "And if worse comes to worst, we could just go against one of the other village's teams. They don't look very strong."

Sasuke laughed, "Your right Naruto, I think even you could take them out."

Naruto, not understanding the insult, "Yeah, I probably could!" Pounding his fist into his hand.

Hinata smiled, 'If they keep working together like this, I know we'll pass this test.'

******

Sasuke walked with a smile on his face, "Those rain ninja were pathetic..."

Naruto growled angrily, "Yeah, because you took the weakest of them. My guy had that stupid umbrella jutsu. He had more senbons in there then-"

-Boom-

As a ripple in the ground rushed unnoticed towards them, it had exploded underground, causing the three to fly back in the air.

Sasuke, who managed to land on his feet, quickly ascertained the direction of the attack and sped off.

Naruto, who had landed on his back, slowly got to his feet. 'Euhhh, I'm gonna feel that in the morning...'

Looking around, he saw Hinata a few feet over. "Dammit! Hinata, Sasuke's run away without us. Seriously, we need to fight-" Noticing Hinata wasn't moving, he ran over to her.

"Uh, Hinata...Hinata!" Naruto yelled as he looked at her.

Hinata, who had been directly under the explosion, had taken the brunt of the attack. There was a long red stain seeping through the right side of her now-tattered jacket.

Naruto acted quickly, ripping off her the remains of her jacket. Examining the cut, he saw how that it was rather deep. 'Dammit, I know she can't lose any more blood...UEHHH! Why didn't I pay attention when we covered medical ninjutsu?' Ripping one of the sleeves off her jacket, he hastily tied it around her, knotting it tightly so as to prevent more loss of blood. Hinata was already turning pale.

'I need to get her to help...' Naruto thought as he looked up. In the distance, he could see the watchtower they were heading too. 'Dammit, things never go right...'

******

Sasuke had found the source of the explosion. "No one attacks me and gets away with it!" he yelled, jumping at the shadowy figure in front of him.

Snakes shot out from the arms of the person, binding him tightly. A sinister laugh emerged from the figure, "I have no desire to kill you , Sasuke Uchiha. In face, quite the opposite," he said coldly.

For a moment, Sasuke was held transfixed as he stared into the dark, piercing eyes of the ninja, before the ninja sank his teeth deep into Sasuke's neck.

"EUUUUHHHHHhhhhh..." Sasuke let out, as he slowly became stiff.

The figure laughed again, "Don't worry, you'll be fine in a few moments. I suggest you get to the tower soon. Don't dissapoint me, Sasuke..." he chided as he slid into the ground.

******

Naruto, sprinting at top speed through the tree tops, was oblivious to everything except the tower ahead. As he neared the tower, he failed to notice the traps that had been set ahead of him. As he landed on a tree branch, he failed to notice the paper bomb stuck to it. Realizing too late what he had set off, he ran even faster, barely getting out of the range of the blast.

Now paying more attention, he saw another paper bomb on the next branch, causing him to dodge it and lose his balance. Stumbling to the forest floor, he managed to land on his feet and not drop Hinata. However, he didn't realize that this was the point of the trap, as he tripped a wire that sent three kunai flying at him.

Turning his body to shield Hinata, he jumped out of the way. -Thhhhunk- was all Naruto heard as the kunai's flew and stopped, before he felt a searing pain in his left calf and lower back. Wincing from the pain, he nevertheless held onto Hinata, and continued on his way to the tower, leaving a trail of blood in his wake as he sprinted the last few hundred yards to the tower.

Lurking in the shadows, two lone eyes glinted. A smirk came across the man's face, 'Naruto...I'm impressed, your resolve is unfathomable...'

******

Upon reaching the entrance hall, Naruto looked around frantically, but saw no one. "Is ANYONE here? This isn't funny...Ahead, he could see a large scroll on the wall, 'Dammit, I don't have time for riddles. To hell with it! Screw the rules, I'm opening the damn scrolls! If they disqualify us at least she'll get help.'

Propping the still unconscious Hinata against a pillar, Naruto snatched both the scrolls from his bag and flung them loose. A poof of smoke appeared, revealing a smiling Iruka. "Congr-"

"Iruka-sensei, Hinata needs help!" Naruto shouted, pointing at her.

Iruka, smile quickly draining from his face, "Naruto, stay here, I'm taking Hinata to get help immediately, she's lost too much blood already."

As Iruka poofed out of the tower, Naruto felt only slightly relieved, 'At least she's in good-' but Naruto's thoughts were lost as he fell face first on the cold stone of the tower.

******

Yup, this is the chapter. It's almost twice the last length of the last one Expect the next chapter soon, I have more to write. I don't know how long the next will be, but I thought this would be a good way to end a chapter. Don't forget to review! :)