It had been a few days since the end of the war and all the Shinobi had gone back to their villages, Naruto was at the valley of end sitting looking of the scenery. He was so close to becoming Hokage but he didn't know it that was what he wanted, or even if he deserved it. With all the power he had he was still unable to save his friend. The one condition of him becoming Hokage was that his team had to advance to Chunnin, and the Chunnin exam was going to start in Konohagakure in a week.

He was positive that his team was skilled enough to become Chunnin. He would let them decide if they wanted to talk part he would talk to them the first thing tomorrow and if that is what they wanted he was going to make sure that they were ready for anything thrown at them. He vanished in a flash and reappeared back in Konoha as the sun was rising over the village. He made his way to the hospital to visit Hinata.

When he got there Hinata was sitting up looking out the window, "you are being a good girl aren't you Hinata following the Doctors orders," he said causing her to jump.

"Naruto-Kun…how long have you been there," she asked her face bright red.

"Not long," he said as he heard someone call out to him.

"I have been a bad girl are you gonna punish me," he turned to see Karin sitting up in her bed, "you can join us too."

Hinata turned a brighter shade of red at her words.

"Why would you want to be punished?" he asked titling his head slightly.

"You are so cute," she said smirking.

"Thanks…" he said rubbing the back of his head earning a glare from Hinata or as close to a glare that Hinata.

"You are too cute," Karin said looking at Hinata, "they say, three is a crowd, but I think we can make it a party."

"Naruto…I hope you aren't troubling my patients," he heard as a strong grip took hold of his shoulder and started squeezing.

"Sakura-Chan…that hurts…" he said wincing as her grip tightened.

"Oh…you don't like us flirting with Naruto-Kun…well, why don't you join our little party. From what I have seen he has amazing stamina so I don't see the problem of one more," and Sakura turned the same shade as Hinata.

"What about me am I invited to this party?" another voice asked Naruto turned to see someone with white hair and sharp teeth grinning. Then he heard a soft smack and little eep escape Sakura's lips. She released Naruto's shoulder. And without warning she turned and hit Suigetsu in the face causing him to explode.

"You are still suppose to be in the tub and if you wish to live you will not do that again," Sakura threatened.

"Hai…" he said terrified.

"Oh…Naruto I heard that your team is taking part in the Chunnin Exam next week," Sakura said her personality doing a complete one-eighty.

"Well…I haven't talk to them about it yet," Naruto said rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"I am a little surprised that they would hold one so soon after the war ended," Sakura said more to herself than Naruto.

"Well…the five Kages agreed it was for the best since…there are other things riding on the result of this exam," Naruto said.

"What is it you know?" Karin asked, "And don't dare lie because I will know."

"I know…look at the time I have to go so I can be late to where ever I may or may not have to be," Naruto said vanishing. He reappeared at the memorial stone, "well Kakashi-Sensei, it looks like my dream is so close, but is it still what I want…I wish you were still here so I could talk to you about it," he said examining the stone.

"But I am you brought me back," Kakashi said from behind him.

"I never thought I would miss you, and your corky behavior," Naruto continued, "your words of wisdom."

"Naruto, I am standing right here," Kakashi said again, "all I did was bump into him and cause him to spill his ramen."

"What should I do Kakashi-Sensei?" Naruto asked looking towards the sky, "I know you are in a better place but if you could help me it would be greatly appreciated."

"I really am not in a better place…if anything it is worse Anko has moved into my apartment and she is three months pregnant and is a living nightmare…but you don't care all you care about is that I made you spill your ramen. I guess since you can't hear me I guess I could say I will treat you to ramen," Kakashi started.

"Kakashi-Sensei, my preys have been answered," he said turning and hugging his sensei, Kakashi's eye started to twitch.

A few seconds later they were at Ichiraku, "so what was your problem?"

"I will be the new Hokage once my students become Chunnin or if they quiet. But I don't know if I am fit to be Hokage," Naruto said so only Kakashi could hear him.

"I think you are ready, you are no longer that kid that rushes into everything without thinking it thru. You have proven yourself quiet the Shinobi and a leader, because of you we lose only twenty percent of our forces, it could have been a lot worse. You figured out what the enemy was planning and you created appropriate counter measures, along with an alliance of the five great nations. You have the respect of all Shinobi and it is the best move to make you Hokage. Shinobi in other nations feel a sense of loyalty to you and that is not an easy thing to do. If you ask anyone who the next Hokage should be and they will all say you. Even without all your Chakra your Jutsu you have something very few have. You give people hope when people are around you they think anything is possible, you make those around you stronger and that is the job of a leader. To inspire and make those around you better," Kakashi said.

"Thank you Kakashi, Ayane-chan another bowl please," Naruto called out.

"What time did you have to meet your students?" Kakashi asked as Ayane placed another bowl down.

"An hour ago," he replied nonchalantly.

"So you are free for another few hours," Kakashi said.

"Hai…"

Two hours later Naruto made his way to the training ground that his students were waiting for him, "Kakashi-Sensei was right that place was awesome, I feel as good as new," he declared.

"Where have you been?" Ryu asked.

"I was getting a massage and I must say it felt so good," Naruto replied.

"You were late for a massage?" Hanabi asked.

"No…well yeah but I ate too so it was just that…and besides I was gonna be late anyway I just wasn't sure how late," he said shrugging, "but now that I am here it is time that you decide your own destinies."

He pulled out three bells, "these will be the keys to your future just as they were the day we meant, I want you to show me how much you have grown as a team and individually."

"Sensei, can we get something else if we manage to get the bells?" Rin asked.

"Hai…if all three of you manage to get your bells I will grant each of you one request," he answered and three of them smiled.

"Begin," and instead of hiding Hanabi charged right in.

"Coming at me head on will not work," Naruto said coolly, and then he noticed that the other two were running off in the opposite direction and he instantly knew what they were doing. But he decided to let this play out. He noticed how much faster Hanabi had become. Her fighting style favored Neji's more than Hinata's. Naruto jumped out of the way as Rin and Mayonaka, once he landed Ryu had begun his assault. But he was too slow the slowest of the three he was more suited for long range combat with. And at this point he knew he was missing something and it was then he noticed he was lured into a trap he threw one of his kunai as the spot that he had been standing on exploded.

"Did we get him?" Ryu asked.

"No," Hanabi replied frowning slightly.

"Don't sound so disappointed, that just means we get to have more fun," he reappeared standing between his students and landed a kick to Ryu's head and tripped Hanabi then struck Rin in the gut. Hanabi was the first up and back on the attack and soon followed by Ryu and Rin.

"I guess it is time for you to see the Ninjutsu I am famous for," Naruto said smiling, 'Taju Kage Bunshin no Jutsu,' and over a thousand clones appeared.

"No way…is this what a Jonin can really do?" Ryu asked with a look of horror.

"Do you give up?" the thousand clones asked in unison.

"We will never give up," Rin declared, "Hanabi can you see which one is the real one?"

"You will never find the real one that way, Naruto is so skilled with the Kage Bunshin each clone will have the same amount of chakra as he does and all have more chakra than the average Shinobi, so if you want to find the real one you will have to destroy them all," they all turned to see Kakashi, Neji and Shikamaru standing there.

"Shikamaru, why did you have to tell them that?" One of the Narutos asked.

"It would have been troublesome not to," Shikamaru replied.

"Then I guess there is no point in sitting here anymore," Rin said and they charged in and started destroying all the clones.

An hour later they were all exhausted and the endless tide of clones seemed to be dwindling slowly down until only a dozen or so remained but they were all tired, they had nothing left but they refused to give up. Rin reached out as she fell forward grabbing at the bells at her sensei's waist and she managed to pull off the bells and all the clones vanished as she looked at the bells, then up into the smiling face of her Sensei.

"We…did it?" she said happily.

"I am a man of my word what is it you guys want?" Naruto asked.

"I want a kiss," Rin said happily. He placed a hand on her head then kissed her forehead just like Tsunade had done to him all those years ago.

"I want you to show us your eye," Ryu said.

"Very well," he reached up and removed the eye patch.

"What the hell is that?" he asked in shock.

"It is the Rinnegan the most power Dojutsu," he explained.

"That is so cool," Rin declared.

"Hanabi what do you want?"

"I want to know what you really think of us," she said softly.

"I think I had the best students any Shinobi could have asked for, you all have grown so much, but Ramen is still my favorite," he said smiling.

"You had to ruin it didn't you Sensei?" Rin asked frowning.

"You said something about these being the keys to our future…what did you mean by that?" Ryu asked looking at the bell he had gotten from Rin.

"Next week is the start of the Chunnin exam and with this I am confident you can all pass but the choice to take it is yours I will not force anyone to take it who doesn't think they are ready for it…so think about and choose wisely. But be warned if you choice to take it…the training you had before will be paradise compared to what is to come."

"We will never back down Sensei you should know that…we are your students after all," Rin said the other nodded in agreement.

"Very well we start tomorrow at dawn."