*Whimper....* Sorry if you all had to wait again... I died alittle inside when I saw that same thing again. Damn. Guess you's had to wait sometime.
I can only say that I hope you can now enjoy chapter 20. Please note that 21 wasn't done yet. I was trying a chapter ahead to see if it worked. Which it didn't.
Also, I have never been so amazed with everyones reprot to my chapter not coming and then coming up.... To be that good, I'll continue to do my best!
I want to thank all thoughs who pm or reviewed me to let me know of the problem. And I'm sorry for the fact when I put this chapter up to replace 'it worked.' That you had to wait even my. My bad.... Now before I leave you with my work. Please note for future reference. That if you get that same page problem again for my work. You can always go to my devient art account on my profile. It will take you to my main page and you can read the work there.
And to the reviewer know as jade. What is d&d. It made me interested with this sword styles... Let me know as soon as you read this.
Also, reviewers are asking about any improvments to Lee and Hinata? All I can say right now, is that I haven't planned anything. This story is based on Naruto at this point getting stronger. The only improvements that can be for Lee and Hinata are possible fighting style for the pair. And Hinata has speed increase. That is all I can really say. As my story takes a whole other style asoon as I get to my sequal point.
Thankyou for you long wait. And I hope your not disapointed.
Chapter 20
Naruto stood by the tree looking up at the academy. The round for the chunin exam started here. He had no idea what he would face. But hoped he was ready.
"Yosh Naruto-kun!" Lee spoke as he walked up. "You're on time it seems." Naruto nods.
"Thought it would be best to be here 30 minutes before it's meant to start. You seen Gai-sensei?" Lee shook his head.
"He's not been round for our normal training sessions. So I guess we'll see him at the end?" Naruto sighed and leaned on the tree.
"Now all we have to do is wait for Hinata and were set... Haven't seen her around since Gai took off."
"Hm..." Lee nods in agreement. "Hinata hasn't been from her home since. I wonder..."
"Naruto-kun! Lee-san!" Both glance to said Hyuuga running over. She panted as she stopped before the pair. "S-sorry I'm late..." The girl panted.
"Not at tall..." Lee started as Naruto was too busy to listen as he was noticing something. "Naruto-kun and I were in no hurry. So, you ready to go, Naruto-kun?" Naruto nods.
"Yeah, let's get going..." Naruto said as they walked off. As they walked Naruto was in thought.
'She looks exhausted... She tried to cover up the scrapes... What have you been up to Hinata?'
The team made their way up to what they assumed was the third floor. Hinata tapped Naruto on the shoulder and Lee stopped as well.
"Feel it?" Naruto and Lee looked about. They looked back to Hinata. She sighed.
"Genjutsu..." The pair nods to each other.
"We've got time... Let's keep this low profile and see how things go here before time runs out." Naruto nods.
"Let play along... This will be good acting for us in future." With that the team turned to the large group.
"Agh!" A genin was hit back and whimpered as her friends came to help her.
"Teme! Why aren't you letting us through?!" One yelled.
"This exam isn't for the weak... Turn around and go home." One stated.
"Unless you're stronger than us. You won't get through." The other said.
"It's not nice to pick on people you know..." Naruto stated walking up. One smirked.
"Care to make something of it?" Naruto smirked and rushed the lad.
"Naruto-kun!" Hinata yelled as Lee watched.
"Argh!" Naruto threw a punch and the kid deflected. The pair made eye contact and the kid smirked and kneed Naruto in the chest before kicking the stumbling blond back on his back.
"Ugh..." Naruto grunted as he scowled.
"I heard of you... Naruto Uzumaki... Don't seem impressive."
"Naruto-kun, are you ok?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah..."
"Tch, picking on losers won't do you any good... We're going to that exam. So drop the phone illsion." Sasuke spoke up.
'Baka...' Naruto grumbled.
People muttered amongst theme sleves. What illusion?
"You noticed it right Sakura? You were no doubt the first too notice it."
"Of course I noticed it. Were on the second floor."
The illusion on the number faded
"So you noticed it, but seeing isn't enough!" The kick with two bandaged weapons on his back roared before going for a kick. Sasuke swung with his own to counter
Instantly Lee was in between the pair and blocking the strikes with his hands.
Hinata blinked. "Lee said..." Naruto sighed and Hinata looked at him.
"He has other reasons for this... Damn that guy..." Naruto palmed his face as he stood.
Sasuke and the kick withdrew their kicks and Sasuke stared blankly at the guy. 'He blocked my kick. That guys got some weird chakra.'
"Lee... You baka..." Naruto grumbled as he walked up. "What did you say last week? Pretend about how strong we are?"
"I-I'm sorry Naruto-kun but..." Lee turned to Sakura. Naruto sighed.
"No..." Naruto said gripping Lee by the back of his spandex and pulling him away.
"But Naruto-kun! I must give her my request!" Lee yelled as he tried to break free. But all he could do was look stupid waving his arms.
"She's not worth your time... She'll only break your heart." Naruto growled as he walked off.
"Gomen..." Hinata bowed her head to Kakashi's team. She then followed Naruto and Lee.
"Heh. I'm going to enjoy this... He was just acting. His injury was all a joke." Kikan said with a smirk. "He's going to be the one to watch out."
"Please... He's nothing special..." Sasuke said as they walked on. Kikan followed only to blink when he noticed Sakura wasn't following.
"Geez... What's wrong now Sakura?" Sakura looked up and blinked.
"Oh er... Nothing Kikan..." Sakura stammered out. 'I can't help but feel bad about what happened to Naruto... I want to say sorry...' She sighed as she followed the two, a frown on her face. 'But the look he has on me... It's like I don't exist in his field of vision...'
Naruto sighed as he released Lee. "Naruto! That was most un-youthful! Just because she hurt your feelings..."
"Lee..." Naruto spoke seriously. "I don't want to hear her or see her if I can... And I don't want you to be hurt by her either."
"But Naruto..."
"Lee... Ask her next time when I'm nowhere near you... Now come on lets go..." Naruto growled as he walked off. Lee stood.
"Let's get to the right room. I want to be there on time to see who were up against... Right Lee... Lee?" Naruto spoke as he looked back to find Lee gone.
"Ugh... Baka!" Naruto growled as Hinata sighed. Knowing where Lee went. "Guess we'll wait for Lee at the room... Let's go Hinata." Naruto spoke walking off.
"Hai."
'Lee... Why do you have to be stubborn?' Naruto sighed as they walked off.
The pair waited 5 minutes before a bruised crying Lee followed a crying Gai. Naruto palmed his face with a sigh.
"It's the youthful moment with you two..." Naruto growled. "Can't you control yourselves."
"Sorry Naruto-kun, Lee here was breaking one of my rules... And I had to set him straight."
Naruto grumbled to himself. "And you Lee? Please tell you didn't go where I thought you did..."
"Gomen Naruto-kun... But I will not give up!" Lee roared with flames in his eyes.
"Great... Well anyway lover boy... Me and Hinata are ready. Any final advice before we go sensei?" Naruto asked Gai.
"Just do your best!" Gai said giving a thumbs up. "I believe in you three. And I want you to let your youth shine in the exam. I don't want you coming back having not learnt anything from this..." The genin nod to their sensei. "Then you best be off... I'll see you soon..."
With that they passed through the door. As they entered they saw a large group of ninja. All giving them the evil look.
Naruto and Lee moved to find a spot in the crowd and not be bothered as they studied the teams. Hinata closely followed them. As they sat in the middle of the teams. Sasuke's team strolled in.
"I see you gave Sasuke a beating... Guess it's not all bad then." Naruto said with a smile.
Slowly, one by one team Kurenai and team Asuma joined team Kakashi. Though Naruto didn't know whose was who yet.
"This is where a year makes a difference..." Naruto muttered. "We can sit here quietly and they make themselves targets... This way we have less people pointing at us. Lee nods and Hinata merely remains quiet. Her eyes scanning for her cousin.
An older male named Kabuto stepped before the team, and stated that they had made themselves targets. Naruto raised an eyebrow when he pulled out info cards on ninja. First was Lee... Then Garra. Finally. Himself. Sasuke seemed to be interested in the blond since Lee put Sasuke down.
"Lee... What did you say?"
"I said to Sasuke that you were stronger than me. Showing where his arrogance will end up putting him." Naruto turned to the card as Kabuto brought it up.
"Well let's keep whatever he's got in the dark. I don't trust him..." Naruto held his hand up and smirked as the card burst into ribbons. Even surprising Kabuto before sound ninja attacked him. Naruto got a good chance to study the sound team before a loud roar echoed from behind the class.
"All right you maggots! I will not have fighting in my exam... So unless you wish to be greeting my large boot. Sit down and shut up!" The genin went quiet. "My name is Ibiki... And welcome to the first exam. Now, everyone line up and take a number. This will assign your setting for your written test." With that genin got moving.
"Written test..." Naruto muttered. "Lee, Hinata. What you like at it?"
"Bad..." Lee replied.
"I... I think I can do it."
"Then we'll have to help each other to pass. We won't leave one behind if we can help it."
Slowly each one took a seat.
Naruto was seated to the front. Lee and Hinata in the middle rows. Then Ibiki began. Explaining the 10 lives rule. Keep one with a right answer. Lose one with no or wrong answer.
Cheating for 2 and lose five times and you fail.
A team total will get the genin to the next round. The tenth question would be given at the end.
So the exam began and Naruto was in luck, he was able to answer some questions... But then it hit him, they got harder and if it wasn't to training with Gai and Goku. He wouldn't have figured even the basic.
He crossed his hands and rested his face about nose to hand level. 'Right... Let's think. These are beyond many here. Even some of the stuff here I find hard. So even Sasuke and Shino maybe having trouble. Shikamaru's all right with this... So let's think. Naruto merely glanced to the chunin shinobi along the sides. They were there to catch cheaters. One marked on the board.
'Someone's been caught... So why would a test have a 5 live set up? Wouldn't cheating normally get you kicked right out?' Naruto glanced along the rows before looking back at Ibiki. Ibiki glanced about before both eyed each other and he looked on. 'What's your game?'
Naruto tensed as he felt a presence on his back. But he knew it quiet well. 'Hinata... Hm?' Naruto took his pencil.
Hinata blinked as Naruto wrote down something at the base of his sheet. Before cutting it away with chakra. It read.
'Cheat? I see you've got as much trouble as I do. I don't know if you get caught like that but check Lee... I need to know how he's doing. If he's not doing well. Look back to me. I'll think of something.'
Naruto remained calm as he glanced to the window. 'Maybe I do have an idea... But.' Naruto put his hand on his vest gently. 'I need time; I need to focus for it to work.' Hinata's presence appeared.
'Guess Lee's in trouble?' Naruto wrote down. 'Ok I have an idea. Find the answers. If anything, Sakura will have them. That is one thing she is good at this. Once you have your answers remove your name at the top of the sheet. I have a plan but it's going to take some fancy foot work. Look at me again and I'll get to work.'
Naruto sighed and closed his eyes. 'If this doesn't work. My training isn't enough...'
10 minutes passed with half an hour to go. Naruto had his plan. It was both cruel and needed to be done. But as shinobi. You can't always be nice.
The second Hinata looked back at him Naruto locked eyes with the window.
In that moment it burst to life with wind rushing in. Both chunin and genin were distracted by the sudden wind.
In that moment. Naruto left an after image. He appeared an instant later with his paper full answered. Naruto smirked.
'Lee's got Hinata's. Hinata has Lee's. And I will have to thank you for this Sakura... You really are someone who can be useful...' Naruto lightly chuckled as he rubbed out Sakura's name.
Meanwhile said girl was panicking. Her paper was blank. She was sure she wrote everything down.
Hinata frowned at Naruto. Maybe he was holding this grudge with the pink haired girl to personal?
She'd have to see if she can sort something out. She didn't like how he acted to her.
Lee was just blinking. He had a sheet full of answers... Where had they come from?
Naruto rested with a smile. A job well done.
Time rolled by and then the final question came. 'Naruto knew he may not get a second chance at this. He even wondered if he'd answer the next question? Or stay a genin the rest of his shinobi life?
"Bull shit!" Naruto blinked and looked round to see Kikan standing. He was breath heavily and then glared at Ibiki. "I won't back down no matter the threat! I will become a great shinobi even if I stay a genin for 100 years!"
Ibiki merely stared at the boy. "I'll ask you again... Do you give up?"
"Like hell I'll back down from you..." Kikan stated with a smirk. "You don't scare me! I vowed I would fight someone in the chunin exam and I'm not going back on my word. So bring on this final answer!" Kikan yelled sitting.
'You've got guts... You remind me of my younger self. Heh. If you're staying through this with your grades. I'm not backing down.'
Ibiki looked over the room. Not many had left. This wasn't what he wanted at all. But the brat's words have stuck them here now. No one was scared to face him. 'Pity... I was hoping to scare more off.'
He then called out if anyone still wished to leave. With a final glance to his chunin, he knocked Naruto off his seat with his next words.
"You all pass."
This of course, didn't leave the blond down too long. He was back up in time to stare blankly at the loud purple haired and very revealing Anko! Who barraged in before the end of the test.
And with her word. Everyone followed Anko from the room. As they got out of course, Hinata dragged Naruto aside. Lee followed.
"What's up Hinata?" Naruto asked. Hinata sighed. She then looked at Naruto in the eyes.
"Please, stop doing this to Sakura-san." Naruto blinked. He then frowned.
"Why should I? She deserves it for how she treated me that day... I sat in the rain for hours waiting for her."
"I know she hurt your feelings... But you can't hold against her... I mean... A-are you going to be this.. W-with every girl who hurts your feelings?"
"N-no..."
"Then why are you doing this to her? I can see she's sorry. But you don't even spare her a word so she can say something. I... It's not the Naruto I used to know!" Naruto blinked at Hinata.
"The Naruto I knew... He didn't hold truly hate people. He would always treat them the same..."
"Hinata..." Naruto muttered.
"You were different to everyone because you never gave up and when you fell you would always stand. You would smile and keep going... It's why I admired you for so long... I... Don't want to lose what I remember as the true Naruto Uzumaki...!" Hinata stated.
Naruto could only look on sadly. He never knew he had such... To think Hinata of all people... Lee put a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"Hinata-san is right... She knows you best it seems... So maybe, you should hear her request...?" Naruto sighed. But before he could reply.
"You three! Unless it's something I want to be a part of, get you buts with everyone else!" The three quickly scarpered at her yell. Genin snickering at the three.
Hinata remained quiet as they walked. Naruto glanced to her.
'....' Naruto sighed to himself. 'I'll try Hinata... I'll try my best.'
The teams all now stood before a tall mesh fence cutting off a large forest round it. Naruto and Lee glanced to each other. What were they going to be doing here?
"Ok you maggots!" Anko yelled as she stood before the group. "As the second proctor for your next exam. This is where come to called area 44. Or as I love to call it, the forest of death." This sort of sent shivered down peoples back.
"Now, this is what you will do. You will spend five days out in this forest. And work your way to the centre. But, you will each have one of these!" She held up and white and brown scroll. "Either a chi or ten scroll. You will have to fight other teams to get these scrolls. Now this where things get more interesting." She said with a smile.
"There are no rules but three. You can't leave the area till five days are up. You can't look in your scrolls at all while you're out there. You can't pass unless you have all three members of your team." She then glanced to the chunin at her right with paper. She nods and he walked forward.
"Each one takes a sheet. These forms you will need to sign in order for you to participate..."
"Why?" One genin asked as he took a sheet and passed the rest on.
"Because we'll be he reliable to your deaths should something happen. Now you don't have to take this test if you wish. You put your life in your own hands if you do. You have 30 minutes before I call you all in."
Naruto sat in a tree reading his sheet over. Nothing really he should care about. His team will handle this with ease. He glanced down to Lee and Hinata. He then looked to the sky.
True, he had changed a bit... Maybe more with Sakura's little stunt. Hinata was right, he wasn't really himself around that girl. He's just matured in different ways in the past year.
Yes there are things that maybe he should change. But allot has come from seeing the ninja world. Hinata should understand this. Not everyone can stay the same forever... Right?
"You ready?" Naruto glanced to Lee and Hinata. "We're ready to go."
"Right..." Naruto jumped down. "Let's go." He said with a smile.
The team entered the cloaked booth. Naruto was handed the scroll, and slipped away into his haroi.
"Once teams have gathered their scroll. Please follow a chunin to your gate." Anko spoke over everyone through a speaker. As the team stood before their gate, they looked to each other.
"We got a plan?" Lee asked.
"Yeah, but we'll have to wait till were in the forest..." Naruto said as he looked to the gate. "Hinata..." Naruto spoke looking to the hyuuga. He smiled. "Thanks."
"Begin!" The gate opened and the teams took off.
The team moved in silence at an above average speed. Naruto flipped off a top branch and landed on a large one. Hinata and Lee followed.
"So..." Lee spoke. "What's the plan?"
"Elimination." Hinata and Lee blinked.
"What?"
"There are a large number of teams. Some not worth a challenge. We make it harder for us by having the strongest foes."
"That's a good idea..." Lee muttered. "I've been eager for strong foes since this exam began. Yosh! Let's do it!" Hinata nods slowly. Though she didn't really like the idea.
"So... Let's make a noted list. I want these teams through. Garra's. Kiba's. Shikamaru's. Sasuke's." Hinata blinked at Naruto. Then smiled a bit. Naruto smiled back.
"Ok... I want Neji's team... I want to fight last year's top rookie. And you Hinata-san?"
"I have no trouble with who we have. So... What now?" Hinata asked Naruto.
"We start by going from team to team. Dodging those if we can we want in the finals. We get our set. Then move on. We gather a set each time and spread the scroll about. Always have two complete set of scrolls with us."
"Why two sets? And why are we just scattering the rest?" Lee asked.
"Simple, I hate to say this. But we don't know if one of us will be caught and we have to bargain a scroll. And who said they would be easy to get? I'm setting small practical traps."
"Practical?"
"Jokes... They'll get the scroll. But the one who does will be laughed at for some time to come. That's all I'm aiming from that. A good laugh." Lee nods with a grin.
"Jokes it is. So... Where from here?"
"Let's walk."
"Pardon?" Lee asked in surprise.
"Yeah. We won't go looking for them. We'll have them find us. We'll just walk about like were lost, but were just looking for teams. Plus, who often do we as a team just walk about as friends, half our time is consisted of training of missions. We could all do with a nice stroll."
"In a forest where even the plants could kill us?" Lee asked dumbfounded.
"What could be better?"
Lee sighed with a smile as he shrugged. "What have we got to lose... But if we don't find anyone in the first day. We split up." Naruto ponders a minute.
"We'll see how that goes... Right, come on then!" Naruto yelled as he jumped to the ground below. He looked up to his teammates. "Let's enjoy the rest of the day with a quiet walk."
Lee sighed again. "He has a funny way of enjoying a walk in a deadly forest." Lee muttered before jumping. Hinata smiled lightly.
'This could be fun...'
Team walked slowly to the centre. Not really going anywhere or really knowing. No one really seemed to pop out to them, then...
"Argh!!!" The group blink and turn to their right.
"What was that?" Lee asked as he walked forward.
"Help me argh!" Lee didn't even get a chance as a force crashed into him chest first. The face of the runner knocked to face Naruto. The runners arms and legs knocked forward before the pair tumbled over and the kid slid on his face and knees.
"Kikan?!" Naruto blinked in surprise as Kikan quickly turned round. The genin stood over him as he pointed to the forest, his face was pale and his eyes widen.
His words jumbled and stammered as he tried to get what he saw that so terrified the boy. Slowly his eyes began to move up as a shadow hung over the four. A loud his echoed out.
"Snake!" Kikan finally yelled out. The snake attacked and the genin moved. Hinata grasped Kikan and jumped as Naruto flipped aside.
"Agh!" Lee roared as he ducked under the strike and spun on to his hands. A mighty roar echoed as he did a double kick, knocking the snakes head upwards.
"Nice...!" Naruto yelled as he summoned a large shuriken as he skidded back. The blond jumped.
"Demon wind shuriken... Windmill of shadows... Hyargh!" Naruto flipped and threw the shuriken at the snake. It passed by and vanished in a puff of smoke.
The hissing snake merely dropped beside Lee in two parts. Greenish gunk resting on the floor.
The pair returned to the still panicked Kikan. "C-calm down Kikan-san... You'll hyper ventilate or pass out at this rate."
"Man... I never knew snakes could give you such a panic attack." Naruto stated in surprise. Kikan looked to the blond.
"I... I didn't know snakes got so b-big... They were bad when they were only small things... Now..." He took the small container of liquid Hinata had fixed up for him to have. He finished it in one. "I'm... just worried about Sasuke and Sakura now."
"What do you mean?" Lee asked.
"It seemed too planned." Kikan seemed more focused again. "First I'm hit by a wind attack. Then I'm put in front of that. I'm sure they're in trouble." Naruto nods.
"Give me a second..." Naruto then took a great leap to the tops of the trees. He flipped and landed on the very tip, his arms crossed and eyes closed. The wind being the only thing to make any noise.
Slowly time passed and Naruto's eyes open.
He landed beside them team. "Let's go... I sense something strong in the air. We have to get moving fast."
"Right... Can you stand Kikan-san?" Hinata asked.
"Yeah. I was just shaken is all." Kikan said standing. Lee glanced to Naruto.
"Were we going...?"
"The one thing I can best describe after everything..." Naruto said as he turned to the forest. "The snakes grounds..."
XXXXXXXXXX
Hmmmm... Loved much and wasn't sure for most.
I'm sure I got my ways about it. It was just making sure I made it sound right with Hinata... Did I really catch her true points of how she sees the blond?
I will say sorry to anyone if it did sound back. But two people broke into the imagination for a few hours.
One being a lover of a sexy pervy anko. And the other being the head of the naruhina fan club.
Thankfully security got their in time to stop anymore trouble... Which I guess sort of set out the area with Naruto and hinata back then.
Also... It would seem the head of imagination department... The man being the self proclaimed number one sasuke hater. Is going behind my back and plotting with a reviewer... Damn him...
And I can just kick him out... He's got all the good ideas right now. And what's worse is the second in command is eager to cause more trouble. Seeing as he seems to hate all things uchiha. Even Itachi... (And I like him... T/_\T)
I'll have to try sort something out... Before they get out of hand...
And I hope people enjoyed Kikan's reaction... This came to me this morning. And I had to do it. Sorry diimortal...