'Normal thought… '

"Kyuubi/Bijuu speech… "

"Normal speech… "

Jutsu name...

Chapter 21- Identify yourself: Powerful new Rivals

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise as he saw a boy with red hair, tale green eyes with dark circles around them, a kanji on his forehead and a big tank on his back, standing upside down on a branch beside him.

"You're an embarrassment to our village." The boy with red hair said emotionless.

Naruko's and Sakura's eyes widened in surprise and shock.

Kankuro began to sweat. "G-Gaara..."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. 'When did he get next to me? It's stealthy footsteps on the level of Kakashi…'

"Why do you think we came all the way here to Konoha?" Gaara looked at Kankuro emotionless.

"L-listen, Gaara…these guys started it." Kankuro stuttered out.

"Shut up." Gaara looked at him darkly.

Kankuro sweated heavily in fright.

Gaara narrowed his eyes. "I'll kill you."

"I-I was at fault. I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

Gaara looked at Naruko and the others. "Excuse them, you guys."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. 'He has unpleasant eyes.'

Gaara looked at Sasuke. 'He hit Kankuro's hand with a rock so easily. He's good.'

Sasuke stood up as Gaara vanished into a swirl of sand and appeared onto the ground besides Temari.

Naruko's eyes widened. Her heartbeat increased. "…Tanuki…" She heard a dark voice inside her head. 'W-what was that just now?!' She narrowed her eyes in thought. 'I heard that voice somewhere before….'

Gaara shot a short look of interest in her direction, before he turned around. "Let's go. We didn't come here to fool around." He began to walk away.

"I know." Kankuro looked one last time at Naruko and then turned around too.

"Wait up." Sakura shouted and ran towards them. The three stopped.

"What is it?" Temari asked a bit annoyed.

"Judging from your hitai-ate, you are ninjas from Sunagakure no Sato, right?" Sakura narrowed her eyes. "Hi no Kuni and Kaze no Kuni have an alliance, but a treaty prevents ninja from entering each other's countries without permission. State your purpose."

Temari huffed and turned around. "What you're looking for is closer than you think. You don't know anything?" Temari showed her a pass. "This is a traffic pass."

Sasuke's eyes widened.

"As you guessed, we're Genins of Sunagakure from Kaze no Kuni. We came to this village to take the Chunin selection exam." Temari smirked cheekily.

Naruko tilted her head cutely in confusion, still utterly confused from the voice inside her head and the meaning of it. "Chunin selection exam?"

Temari crossed her arms. "You all really must not know."

"Nee-chan, you can advance from a Genin to a Chunin if you pass the exam." Konohamaru stated.

Naruko's eyes lit up. "Ahhh…now I remember!" She giggled cheerfully. "I should take it, too." 'If Kashi lets me do it…'

Gaara's eyes widened at her cheerful smile and he blushed unnoticeable. He turned around and walked away, he had to sort away these new feelings. Temari and Kankuro followed him.

Sasuke landed on the ground. "Hey, you there. What's your name?"

Temari turned around and blushed. "M-me?"

"No, the one next to you with the guard."

Gaara turned around. "Sabaku no Gaara." He said monotone. "I'm also interested in you. What's your name?"

Sasuke smirked cheekily. "Uchiha Sasuke."

Naruko's heartbeat increased again. "…Ichi…careful…another…" 'W-what?! That voice again…What's it trying to say?' She shook her head and looked at Gaara. "What about me?" She pouted a bit.

Gaara looked at her and turned around. "I will find out your name soon…" And with that they vanished.

Naruko tilted her head in confusion. "What did he mean?"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. 'I don't like what he said about finding out Naruko's name soon…it sounds just like a stalker…'

With the Hokage and the Jounins…

"Now that we are going to start the Chunin selection exam, those who are in charge of new Genin's step forward." The Sandaime ordered. "Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma."

Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma stepped forward.

"Are there any Genin's you wish to enter into the exam among the ones you teach?" The Sandaime took a breath from his pipe. "You probably already know this, but any Genin who has completed more than eight missions is eligible to enter the exam through your recommendations. But normally, those who already have done twice that amount are more suited."

Iruka nodded. 'There's no point in asking. It's too early for them, above all others it's especially too early for Naru-chan. It's too dangerous to take it now.'

"Let's start with Kakashi." The Sandaime looked at him in interest.

"From Team Seven that I lead Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruko and Haruno Sakura I recommend those three to the Chunin selection exam under my name, Hatake Kakashi." He stated seriously.

Iruka gaped in surprise and shock.

"From Team Eight that I lead Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Aburame Shino I recommend those three to the Chunin selection exam under my name, Yuuhi Kurenai." She said seriously.

"From Team Ten that I lead Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji I recommend those three to the Chunin selection exam under my name, Sarutobi Asuma." He said with a grin.

"All three gave recommendations." One jounin said utterly surprised.

"It's been a couple of years since rookies have appeared in the Chunin exam." Another one said.

"Please wait!" Iruka shouted.

"What is it, Iruka?" Sandaime looked at him.

"Please let me speak Hokage-sama." Iruka said seriously.

Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma turned around.

"Excuse me for interfering, but the nine who had their names called were students of mine at the academy. Every one of them is talented, but it's too early!" Iruka looked at the Hokage, worried. "They need more experience before they enter the exam!"

Kakashi looked at him. "I became a Chunin when I was six years younger than Naruko."

Iruka narrowed his eyes. "Naruko is different from you!" He shouted at him. "Are you trying to ruin her?!"

Kakashi's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. 'I want what is best for Naru-chan…' "They always complain during important missions. Putting them into a dangerous situation might be interesting." He stated calmly, but insistently. "Ruining them is also interesting."

"What did you say….?" Iruka gritted his teeth.

"That was a joke." Kakashi deadpanned. "Iruka-sensei, I understand what you are saying. You must be upset as well, but…"

"Kakashi, stop." Kurenai scolded him.

"Don't interfere! They are no longer your students!" Kakashi looked at Iruka seriously. "They are my subordinates now."

Iruka gritted his teeth, again.

Asuma sighed. 'What a troublesome pair.'

Kurenai sighed too and closed her eyes.

Sandaime watched them seriously.

"But the Chunin exam is also known as the…" Iruka insisted.

"Iruka." Sandaime looked at him seriously. "I understand your argument. So, we will put the rookie Genin's through a special preliminary exam."

Iruka's eyes widened in surprise. "A preliminary exam?"

The next day, at the Team 7 meeting point…

Sakura sighed annoyed. "Hey, hey, hey! Why does that person make us wait when he's the one who called us up?!" She screeched.

Naruko looked at her and smiled. "Kashi-sensei was always like this."

Sakura's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "How is he going to compensate a girl who woke up and had to give up blow drying her hair?"

Naruko looked at her strangely. "I always let my hair dry without a blow drier…Isn't it really strange to do that with something like this?"

Sakura looked at her angrily and Sasuke had to cover his smirk.

Suddenly Kakashi appeared above them. "Hello gentleman and women, today I got lost in the path known as life…" He eyesmiled.

"A lie!" Sakura screeched.

Naruko just giggled cheerily.

Kakashi jumped down and now faced them. "I'll get to the point. I recommended all of you to the Chunin selection exam, so…Here, take these applications." He gave it to them.

"Chunin exam?" Sakura said surprised.

"However, the recommendation does not force you to take it. You can decide if you want to take it or not."

"Yatta! I love you Kashi-sensei!" And with that Naruko hugged Kakashi, and because he didn't expect that, they both fell to the ground. Naruko's breasts were pressed into Kakashi's face. He gulped and blushed. 'Naru-chan said she loves me….and she's so kawaii!' He coughed awkwardly to get rid of his blush. "Naru can you get off of me?"

"Oh, sorry Kashi-sensei!" Naruko got off of him and smiled happily.

"Anyway, only those who wish to take it are to sign the applications, and…Five days after that, get to school by 3 PM and go to room 301. That is all." Kakashi said seriously.

"The Chunin exam. The Chunin exam." Naruko sang cheerily.

A little while later…

"The Chunin exam, eh?" Naruko said cheerfully as she looked at her application for it. "There must be a lot of strong guys."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. 'I might be able to fight with him, Sabaku no Gaara.' He smirked cheekily.

Sakura was deep in thoughts. 'I don't want to…I can't even keep up with Sasuke-kun or even Naruko…I can't take the Chunin exam…'

The next day…

Naruko walked past the red bridge, Team Seven's usual meeting place. Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi played near the bridge.

"Naruko-nee! Let's play together!" Konohamaru shouted cheerily as he saw her.

Naruko giggled cheerfully. "Sure, I don't have any missions today so I will play with you."

"Yeah!" The three cheered.

Suddenly an unknown ninja from Kirigakure appeared behind them. He laughed darkly, snatched Moegi into his arms and jumped onto an arch.

"Leader! Konohamaru-chan!" Moegi shouted in panic.

"What are you trying to do to Moegi?!" Konohamaru shouted angrily.

Naruko narrowed her eyes and she walked calmly towards the arch. "Let go of Moegi!" She said seriously.

Unknown to the others, a shudder of fear went through the unknown ninja. He smirked and jumped away from them, Moegi still in his grip.

"We're going after them, Kono!" Naruko said utterly serious and began to follow them.

"Okay!" Konohamaru shouted and followed her.

"Wait!" Udon said and followed after them.

With Sakura….

Sakura said on her balcony and sighed as she looked into the sky. "The Chunin exam, eh?"

"Hey!" Sasuke said, on the street under her.

Sakura turned around in surprise and looked down. "Sasuke-kun, what's the matter?"

"Do you want to take a walk together?" Sasuke asked.

Sakura blushed. "No way! Is this for real?"

Back to Naruko…

Naruko still followed the unknown ninja.

"Oh? They can keep up with me at this speed?" The ninja from Kirigakure said surprised.

'Hang on tight, Moegi!' Naruko narrowed her eyes and concentrated on the enemy before her.

Konohamaru and Udon stopped and looked around in confusion. "Where did nee-chan go?" Konohamaru asked breathless.

"Maybe we got lost." Udon stated.

With Moegi…

"Let go!" Moegi shouted and wailed around.

The unknown ninja laughed darkly as he looked at Moegi, who was bound to a tree. "If I just sneak in during the Chunin Exam, the impregnable Konohagakure no Sato can easily be infiltrated."

Naruko appeared behind him.

"Oh? That was quick." The unknown ninja stated.

Naruko looked at him darkly. "What are you trying to do with Moegi? Are you a pedophile?!"

His eyebrow twitched slightly in annoyance. "What am I going to do?" The ninja laughed darkly and held a kunai at Moegi. "Do you really want to know?"

Naruko's eyes narrowed more.

"Don't move! If you move, this kid is dead." The Kirigakure nin said evilly.

"Why are you doing this?" Naruko asked him through gritted teeth.

"I'm looking for the Shodaime's Scroll of Sealing. If you bring it here, I'll let the kid go."

Naruko's eyes widened. "The Scroll of Sealing?"

With Sakura…

Sakura and Sasuke walked beside each other.

"Sasuke-kun what's with the offer all of the sudden?" Sakura stopped and looked at him confused.

"Sakura, give up on the Chunin Exam. It's too early for you."

"Really?" Sakura said sadly.

"The Chunin Exam is filled with many skilled people. If something goes wrong, you could die."

"Sasuke-kun, you're worried about me?" Sakura asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure." He smiled at her.

Suddenly behind Sasuke, appeared the same unknown ninja as by Naruko.

He laughed darkly. "Thanks for that performance!"

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Get lost, if you don't want to die."

The ninja jumped into the air. "Don't act so tough!" He threw shuriken at Sasuke, but Sasuke all dodged them with a kunai.

Sasuke stormed towards him. "Don't make me mad!"

"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura looked at him, worried.

The ninja threw an umbrella at Sasuke and so he threw a kunai to dodge it. As the kunai touched the umbrella, it burst into hundreds of kunai's.

Sasuke's eyes widened in surprise as all of the kunai rained onto him.

The unknown ninja landed onto the ground and smirked.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura shouted in concern.

As the dust cloud disappeared, Sasuke laid onto the ground, pierced everywhere and not moving.

"Sasuke-kun…Sasuke-kun!" Sakura ran crying towards Sasuke.

Back with Naruko…

"What are you doing? Bring the Scroll of Sealing!" The ninja shouted angrily.

Naruko crossed her arms above her breasts and pouted. "What if I say no?"

The ninja looked at her in surprise. "You don't care what happens to this kid?"

Naruko smiled. "I don't care what happens to that clump of straw."

The ninja turned around, utterly shocked as he saw in Moegi's place was a straw clump. "What? When did she…" He looked up, just to see a second Naruko standing on a tree branch with Moegi in her arms.

"I've taken Moegi back from you." She giggled cheerfully and protruded her tongue at him.

"Way to go, Leader, I look up to you now." Moegi said in awe.

The ninja looked at her angrily. "Damn it! The Bunshin no Jutsu, eh?" He just wanted to jump as the second Naruko stormed towards him with a net in her hands.

"Just accept your defeat." She threw the net onto the ninja and three of her clones stormed towards the ninja, who was caught inside the net. Naruko sat onto the ninja, so he couldn't escape.

"Naruko-neechan!" Konohamaru shouted as he and Udon ran towards her.

"You're late Kono."

"Konohamaru-chan, I was scared." Moegi stormed towards Konohamaru and hugged him.

"Leader did you catch him?" Udon asked.

Naruko stood up and giggled cheerily. "Yeah, he's right here…" She looked onto the ground, just to see a rock in the place, the ninja was before.

"It's Kawarimi no Jutsu." Konohamaru stated.

Naruko sighed. "Damn it…We should tell Jiji what happened…An unknown ninja in Konoha, who wants Shodaime's Scroll of Sealing isn't good."

Behind a tree, the unknown ninja watched them. "I see."

Back to Sakura…

Sakura sat crying next to Sasuke.

The unknown ninja smirked. "If you don't want to become like that, give up on the Chunin Exam."

"Sasuke-kun, don't die…" Sakura whispered crying. Then she looked at the unknown ninja and deadpanned. "You're making a big mistake if you think I was going to say something like that. I already noticed your Genjutsu from the start."

"What?" He said in surprise.

"The real Sasuke-kun wouldn't invite me for a walk." Sakura stood up and looked at him seriously. "Don't make me say something vexing like that. That kind of beginner Genjutsu won't work against me."

"Beginner, you say?"

"In addition to that, I already know you are an illusion and the real one isn't here."

The ninja laughed. "We will see about that!" He took out shuriken and threw them at Sakura.

Sakura looked at him unfaced, walked towards them and she passed right through them. "See?"

The ninja laughed. "You are Kakashi's subordinate all right. But in the Chunin Exam this will become reality. Will you be able to bear it?" And with that, the ninja vanished into thin mist.

"Bring it on! I will accept the challenge any time, Shannaro!" Sakura said determined. "The Chunin Exam is… The Chunin Exam is…! But I'm not that confident." She slumped over.

With Sasuke…

Sasuke kicked the unknown ninja into the face. The ninja fell to the ground.

"What a stupid thing to do." Sasuke said annoyed.

In that night…

Kakashi said on a roof and waited. Behind him appeared the unknown Kirigakure ninja from Naruko's, Sakura's and Sasuke's fights.

"How were they?" Kakashi asked lazily.

"Although we went through the trouble of setting up a special preliminary exam…All nine rookies passed." With a puff of smoke, the unknown ninja transformed back into Iruka. "It seems that their skills are growing, just like the three of you have said."

"But the real Chunin Exam isn't going to be that easy." Kakashi said easily.

With Team Guy…

"Hey have you heard? This upcoming Chunin Exam will have rookies for the first time in five years." Lee said.

"No way. The Jounins must be trying to look good." Tenten said with a sign.

"I heard three of them are from Kakashi's unit." Lee said seriously.

"That's interesting." Neji said cheekily.

"Either way…" Tenten threw a kunai at a straw dummy.

"It's pitiful for them." Neji smirked cheekily.

Four days later…

Naruko and Sasuke waited in front of the academy. Sakura slowly walked towards them.

"Sakura! You're late…" Naruko said cheerily.

Sakura blushed in embarrassment. "Gomen…" She looked at Sasuke and remembered her encounter with the unknown ninja. "Ohayo, Sasuke-kun." She said unenthusiastically.

Sasuke shot a short look at her. "Morning." He narrowed his eyes. 'Sakura's acting weird…'

Inside the academy…

A crowd of people surrounded a fight. Lee was kicked back.

"You're trying to take the Chunin Exam with that kind of level?" One Konoha shinobi said.

"Maybe you should quit, kids." His partner said.

"You're still kids."

"Please let us through." Tenten said, as she kneeled next to Lee.

She walked towards them but was punched into the face.

"How cruel." One of the genins in the crowd said.

"What did you say? Listen up, we're being kind to you." The Konoha shinobi, who kicked Lee, said seriously. "The Chunin exam is extremely difficult. What's wrong with sifting out those who aren't going to pass."

Naruko, Sasuke and Sakura walked towards them.

"That's a sound argument. But I will pass." Sasuke said cheekily and took a step forward. "And undo this field you've created using an Genjutsu. I want to go to the third floor."

"What's that guy talking about?" A genin from the crowd asked confused.

"I don't know…" His partner said.

"Oh?" The Konoha shinobi, who guarded the door, said surprised.

"You noticed?" His partner asked.

"Sakura, how about you? You should've noticed it first." Sasuke looked at her.

"What?" Sakura looked at him surprised.

"Your analyzation skills and Genjutsu know how is the best in our squad"

"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura said surprised and closed her eyes. "Arigato. Of course, I noticed it already. Because this is the 2nd floor."

Naruko nodded her head in agreement. The Genjutsu dispelled.

"You're pretty good. But just being able to detect it isn't enough…" The Konoha shinobi, guarding the door said cheekily. He narrowed his eyes and began to attack. Sasuke's eyes widened and he began to counterattack, but both of their attacks were stopped from Lee.

Sakura's eyes widened. 'He's fast…He's different from the person who was just being hit.'

Lee exhaled as the Konoha shinobi and Sasuke took a step back.

Sasuke looked at Lee shocked and surprised. 'He stopped my kick? What's that Chakra in his arm?'

Neji walked towards Lee. "Oi, you broke the promise. You're the one who didn't want to gather attention by doing something that stands out."

"But…" Lee said and looked at Sakura with a blush.

Tenten shook her head. "She must be why…"

Sasuke tsked. 'The bruise he had is gone…It must have been fake.'

Lee walked towards Sakura. "My name is Rock Lee. You're Sakura-san, right?"

Sakura blinked confused. "What?"

Naruko tilted her head in confusion.

Lee looked at her with a blush on his face and did a nice-guy pose. "Let's go out together! I will protect you until I die!"

Depressed lines hang over Sakura's head. "No way…"

"What?" Lee looked at her utterly depressed.

"You're too unique for my taste…" Sakura said hardly.

Lee slumped over in depression.

Naruko giggled cheerily. "You're funny!" She smiled brightly at Lee.

Lee looked at her and blushed again. "Oh…what angel came from the sky to save me." He ran towards her and took her hand and kissed it.

"Eh?" Naruko tilted her head in confusion.

Lee blushed more. "Your flames of youth shine brightly! Will you go out with me?"

Naruko blinked in confusion.

Sasuke stood protectively before her. "No way!" He narrowed his eyes at Lee. 'What's with all the guys liking Naruko?!' "You will not date both of them."

"Hey, you there." Neji looked at him. "Identify yourself."

Naruko looked at Sasuke and pouted. 'Why only him…It's always just him…'

"You're supposed to identify yourself before you ask." Sasuke said cheekily.

Neji narrowed his eyes. "You're a rookie, aren't you? How old are you?"

"I'm not obligated to answer that."

"What?" Neji looked at him angrily.

Tenten giggled amused. 'He's cute.'

Sakura shook her head. "Sasuke-kun, Naruko, let's go!"

Naruko, Sasuke and Sakura walked towards room 301.

Sasuke smirked. 'Well, well, looks like this Chunin Exam is full of monsters.'

Hey guys! That was this week's chapter. I hope you like it! Looks like Gaara, Kankuro and Lee are all interested in Naruko. They just have to hope Kakashi will never find out about that… :D . And Sasuke's getting annoyed from all the guys attention towards Naruko :) . Anyway, I'm really glad about any of your reviews. How do you liked that Kyuubi/Kurama tried to warn Naruko? I found that really cute :3. See you next week!

Bunshin no Jutsu = Clone Technique

Kawarimi no Jutsu = Body Replacement Technique

Genjutsu = Illusionary Techniques

Reviews

'bookdragonslayer': I can't wait to see Kashi's reaction to Lee asking Naruko for a date sure Gainis one of his Best Friends and Lee is G**'s favorite student.

I can't wait to write that too! *insert evil laugh here* I really look forward to how this story will envelope. :D

'Guest' from 2.02.2018: :maybe kyuubi can be a protective father to naruko...kyaaa

That would be so cute! Maybe I will write it...Kyuubi will definitely be protective of Naruko, but at first, he will try to take her over, when something dangerous is happening so he can assure she will be save. Later, maybe he will force himself to trust and interact more with her and then, their bond will be more like father and daughter. :)