"You're seriously trying to dig your own grave, aren't you?" Naruto deadpanned.

The Ame ninja's eyes squinted up in amusement, "I was just unlucky last time. Unlucky." He chuckled, preparing to fight, as his hands flashed seals. "Doku Suigan no Jutsu! Poison Water Balls!"

Naruto cursed, as she along with her two teammates dodged the purple water balls. Looking back at the sound of sizzling, she widened her eyes at seeing where a part of the jutsu landed on the tree.

It was poison, without a doubt, if the burning of the bark is any indication.

The Rain ninja chuckled, "Have you honestly never seen anything like it? Well, it is something not many people could manage to do."

Naruto rolled her eyes, "Right, well I've seen something like it before," She smirked, "but I must say, yours sucks the worst. It's terribly easy to dodge, and the sizes of those Suigans aren't very big."

He seemed to scowl, but the team couldn't be sure because of the breathing mask that hid his face. Naruto sighed, "Fine, I guess we'll stick around and destroy you for good this time." Her lips curled to a smirk, "Don't say I didn't warn you."

The enemy ninja crouched, ready to pounce. "Now don't go getting so cocky."

The blonde clapped her hands together to get rid of the dust, before grinning to her teammates. Sasuke rolled his eyes, "You can get your foot off that guy's head, Naruto. I feel some pity for him already, and you showing off just makes it worse."

Naruto laughed, "Yeah right, as if I'll ever believe you would care about this wimp."

With those words, she seemed to dig the unconscious boy underneath her sandal further into the ground.

Sakura sighed, "We better get going. I want to us to get to the tower as fast as we can―or else we'll have to endure Kiba's constant boistering earlier than we have to."

Naruto grinned, "I second that."

Sasuke smirked, "Then what are we waiting for?" He didn't try to hide his grimace as Naruto pushed off the ground and the Ame nin's face.

It seems like the boy would have a lot of coughing up to do.

Judging by Anko's grave face, the jounins that had reassembled in the lounge grew solemn, as Kakashi spoke first.

"I'm guessing it didn't go as we would have liked?"

The dango lover scoffed, "Understatement of the century, much? Well, I'm sure Naruto did manage to pull a number on him, but I didn't stay long enough to hear the story. It seems like she was quite injured though."

Kakashi sighed, "I think Naruto will be fine as long as Sakura's there to patch her up. How about Sasuke?"

Anko seemed to smile at that, "Free from the Cursed Seal, one good thing that came out of it."

Jiraiya nodded, before all the occupants of the room turned to the door opening, "Iruka." He greeted, followed by some others.

The young man smiled slightly, "They were all alright. Sakura healed Naruto perfectly, and Sasuke is safe and sound as well." He grinned proudly, "Naruto had made Orochimaru lose an arm, and now that Kabuto's out of the picture, it seems like things have taken a turn for the better."

Jiraiya shook his head, "That might not be true." The ninjas turned to him, bewildered, while Kakashi had understood where Jiraiya was going with this.

The silver haired jounin sensei nodded, explaining further for his confused comrades, "What Jiraiya-sama means is that now that things have changed drastically, we can no longer predict what would happen next. It's highly possible that Orochimaru would continue with his plan."

The fellow jounins and chunin blanched at that, except for the jounin senseis of the Rookie Nine and Gai.

Kurenai furrowed her brows, before shifting her scarlet eyes to Jiraiya. "Then what do you propose we do?"

The man massaged his temples, "That's the thing. If we jump on this too quickly or hastily, everything could slip out of our hands. The advantage we have would be useless."

Kakashi's visible eye was drooping lazily, but it was obvious he was just as concerned as everyone else. "Hokage-sama believes that he should take matters at hand, and finish Orochimaru the moment he gets the chance. I doubt that Orochimaru would find a medic as good as Kabuto so quickly, and I also doubt that he would just drop everything. He spent too much time and effort into this plan, and Suna will also be on Oto's tail once they figure it out. Orochimaru's trapped."

Jiraiya nodded, "And if Sensei's successful, it would rid one major problem. We should try to help with what we can at all costs."

The ninjas gave a determined face at that, while Iruka frowned, "Another thing―Naruto has informed that the Sound team, I believe the three were called Zaku, Dosu and Kin, haven't attacked them. It seems like it was because Sasuke didn't receive the seal."

Kakashi spoke, voice deeper than usual, "I see. I'll be sure to tell my team to be on full alert, since there is no telling what Orochimaru plans to do. Now let's go. We have to be at the Chunin Exams now, remember?"

Naruto really tried to ignore Kiba's loud complaining―she honestly did―but this was really too much.

"―and I mean, what the heck? How come Naruto arrived here the same time I did? That doesn't make sense!" Akamaru barked in agreement. "And another thing―"

"Shut up, Dog-Breath!" Naruto snapped through her gritted teeth. "You don't know what we are capable of, so shut your mouth and keep quiet!"

"But you're Naruto. The dead last of the academy!" He whined and whined and whined.

Luckily, the dog boy was saved from being torn apart by the Hokage's voice, "Now that you are all here and rested, we shall begin the next part of the exams. Get into rows!"

The genins did as told, going to their assigned positions. Once they were all properly stood, he smiled slightly and continued, "Due to there being much more participants left over than expected, we will be having a preliminary tournament. You will be called down by the register against another genin." Here, he pointedly turned his head to the digital register. "The examiner for this round is Gekkou Hayate." Sarutobi nodded to said man, who stepped up.

He coughed. "As Hokage-sama has said, I am the examiner for the preliminary―" Cough. "―tournament. And since the amount of participants is an odd number, one will be left out and immediately allowed into the final round of the exams." Cough, cough.

Naruto blinked, before remembering who he was. Hayate, the examiner who had been a coughing fit, was killed during information gathering. Well, she thought with a concealed smirk, that is no longer a problem.

Once Hayate had regained control, he spoke sternly, "If the match gets out of hand, the proctors including me would personally put a stop to it." Naruto knew who this was directed to, even if Hayate didn't glance at Gaara.

They all went up the stairs, leaving the arena empty. Naruto whooped, cheered, and booed during the whole time watching other people's fights. She watched, clenching the bars tightly, as Sakura was being taken over by Ino.

"I, Haruno Sakura, wish to for―"

Naruto shouted without thinking, "Sakura! Get Ino the hell out of your head!"

Ino, inside Sakura's body, scoffed. "What a loudmouth." Her lips twisted in a smirk, "Oh well, I'll just end this. Sorry, Sakura, looks like you'll have to―"

"Naruto… stop being so loud all the time… Well, she does have a point." Ino froze, before whipping back to see Inner Sakura, many sizes larger than herself.

"W-What? How can that be―"

Sakura's inner self snarled, "Get the fuck out of my mind Ino-pig!" She continued to grasp Ino in her hands, strangling and shaking the blonde.

So Ino had no choice but to wake in her own body, dispelling the jutsu. Shikamaru and Chouji leaned forwards in surprise, hands against the fence. This was not possible!

Kakashi sighed, "Geez. Oh well, it seems like Ino will have to give up on this one."

Naruto cheered, "Go Sakura!"

The pinkette smiled, but didn't turn to her teammate. Instead, she focused her gaze on Ino. "Had I stayed the same as I have in the academy, then I might have lost to you before the match even lasted five minutes, Ino. But I have improved greatly, and I don't intend to lose."

Ino ignored her, before running forwards with her fist raised. Sakura followed, but her hand was enhanced with chakra.

Sakura skidded across the floor a few meters, while Ino had flown ten folds. They both fell, unconscious.

Kakashi and Asuma sighed, retrieving their students. Hayate called the match to an end, "Since both participants are unconscious, there is no winner. The fourth match is a tie!"

Naruto gaped, "But Sakura obviously was better!" Sasuke rolled his eyes at her antics. "Ino was punched further than she was!"

The next match was between Temari and Tenten, and, if Naruto's blurry memories were correct, there had been no changes. Tenten lay balanced on Temari's fan, unconscious.

"Winner, Temari!"

Naruto frowned as Temari threw Tenten away, only for Lee to catch his teammate. Gai avoided a fight from breaking out, before turning to the other two Sabaku siblings. "To the Sand team…" All three stood upright, staring him down. "… Don't underestimate this kid." Gai patted Lee's shoulder, his grin slightly smaller than usual, "He's strong."
Kiba spoke, drawing the Rookie Nine's attention, "I'd never want to mess with them."

Naruto scoffed, before turning to Gaara, noticing the redhead's gaze. "Well, as people would say, fight fire with fire. Or…" She smirked, spiking her chakra, gaze filled with Killing Intent. "…fight bloodlust with bloodlust. Am I right, Gaara?"

All the boy merely said in reply, "Mother would love to taste it. Your blood."

"Well, aren't you a mamma's boy? If that's the case," Naruto's lips curled, "then I'm daddy's little girl."

Kiba stepped back slightly, "What's wrong with you, Naruto?" Akamaru whimpered, hiding in his jacket.

Temari frowned, and thought the same as Kankurou. Just who was this girl? Reflecting on her words, she widened her eyes in realization.

"You… it can't be. You're also―"

She was cut off, and the tense air dissipated when the next match was called, "Shikamaru versus Kin!"

Shikamaru groaned, before jumping down. He grouched, but got prepared, nonetheless.

"Begin!"

Naruto smirked, as she spoke more to herself than anyone else, "I'd never want to fight Shika. That deceptively lazy guy would definitely outsmart me."

Sasuke raised a brow, "Rare, that you would praise someone willingly."
Naruto flushed slightly, before they turned to a groan behind them. Naruto grinned brightly.

"Sakura-chan!"

The pink haired girl smiled weakly, before rubbing the back of her head. "Ouch. Ino sure did a number on me. Was it a tie?"

Kakashi nodded, "But you were close."

Ino woke up then, clutching her head as well, "God, I feel like I've been trampled by a herd of buffaloes."

Naruto nodded, before adding cheekily, "And you look like you've been trampled by elephants over and over."
Before Ino could make a retort, Sakura laughed, "But that's what being a ninja's about, right?"

"Yup!" Naruto chirped. She turned just in time to see Shikamaru thrusting his body back, and Kin getting herself knocked out by the wall. "Go, Shikamaru!"

The boy merely sighed at her direction, "Thanks Naruto."

Naruto grinned, before seeing it was her turn. "Kiba, eh? Brings back old memories."

The Inuzuka smirked, "This ain't the same as those races we had before, dobe."

The blonde glared, "That's not what I was talking about―Hey! If there's one person who gets to call me that, it's Sasuke! And even still I would pulverize him for it!"

Said boy sighed, while Kakashi smirked under his mask knowingly. The silver haired jounin turned to the Uchiha, "Well isn't that just cute? Almost like a confession, I'll say."

Sasuke glared, but it backfired because of his obvious blush, so he muttered an insult to his sensei, looking down to the match. Kakashi rolled his eye before doing the same.

"Begin!"

Naruto grinned, "Let's work hard, Akamaru!"

The puppy barked, while Kiba growled, "What the―You're forgetting someone here!"

Naruto blinked innocently, "I am? I wonder who?" Akamaru seemed to snicker, but one can never know except an Inuzuka.

"Oi, Akamaru! Which side are you on anyways?"

Naruto charged, her speed surprising Kiba. Since when was she so fast? As if reading his thoughts, she replied, "I've changed in many ways, Kiba. I'm not the same girl from before at the academy." She gave a small smile, "I guess my way of thinking also changed a little as well."

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Four clones appeared, before going side by side with the original, and in sync they dashed towards Kiba and Akamaru. "Futon: Kamikaze no Jutsu! Wind style: Divine Wind!"

Kiba cursed, jumping high using chakra. Akamaru hopped up to his head, as both avoided being sliced by the wind.

Naruto jumped to meet them in the air, kicking the two down to the ground where her clones were. Kiba choked as her foot dug deep into his stomach, Dammit, at this rate we'll―

He was sent back up from the kicks on his back by the Naruto clones. What? Solid clones!

Naruto landed, before repeating her wind jutsu again, "Futon: Kamikaze no Jutsu!"

Kiba blocked the sharp blades of wind with his arm from Akamaru and also tried to cover his face. Blood spilled from the deep scratches he received on his cheek, as the wind cut through his clothes and left lines across his arms, legs and body in general. He ignored his hair that had been cut off as well, glaring at the girl when he was back on the ground.

"Gijuu Ninpou: Shikyaku no Jutsu! Imitation Beast Ninja Art: Four Legs Technique!"

Naruto dodged his many attacks. The boy's body was covered in his chakra, his moves quicker than before. She smirked, "Should I do the same?"

Without waiting for an answer, she brought her hands together, concentrating her chakra to the seal on her stomach. "It's been a while since I have done this before…"

Show off.

I don't take that so badly, you know? 'Cause that's just what I am. She grinned, as her form was draped in red chakra, her whiskers deepened and eyes blood red. Her pupils narrowed to slits, unnerving the genins in the room.

Kiba muttered out loud, "What the hell?"

The girl shot forwards, faster than Kiba, "Let's get wild, shall we?" Naruto flashed behind the boy, kicking him forwards. The Inuzuka was sent crashing to the wall, Akamaru jumping out in the way.

Kiba groaned as he slowly got up, Naruto waiting for him patiently as the chakra coat resided, and she returned to normal. That made him growl in rage.

Kakashi spoke his thoughts out loud, drawing the attentions of the rookie genins. "That idiot. Did my orders really go in one ear, then out the other?"

Sakura giggled, "You only told her to not use those modes. You never told her that she couldn't use the different tails, did you?" She kept the last part quieter, but made it vague as a precaution. Her tone was still light, though.

Sasuke frowned, "Even so, this is the first time she's ever used it here. It's still not perfected, either."

Kakashi brought his gaze back to his blonde student, "Well, they are on good terms, so what does it matter?"

The rest glanced at each other in question. What the three were saying did not make any sense. They turned to their teachers, who ignored the attention. Sighing, they turned back to the match.

Shikamaru frowned.

Since when was she strong?

Kiba took deep breaths, composing himself. He had no other option. Akamaru sensed his thoughts and jumped out. The dog boy got out two pills. "Akamaru!"

In unison, the two gulped it down.

Naruto groaned, this was going to get troublesome.

Was it rushed? Reading it over, I feel it was, but I tend to be too paranoid... And no I haven't still updated the first chapter! Sorry! I'm ripping the hair out of my head trying to rewrite it. The ideas always don't seem to work :(

Thanks a ton for the reviews! I'm currently doing the happy dance while sitting on my wheely chair :D