A longer chapter for the long wait.

Thanks for those who stayed with me.

I have the next 3 chapters mapped out.

look forward to giving them to you!

xoxo

My heart sank when day light broke. I guess a good night's sleep was out of the question. My stomach was in knots, tossing and turning. No amount of meditation or soothing had prepared me for this anxiety. Not even the gentle snores of Pakkun could lull me into sleep. I had hoped that Naruto and Sasuke were alright. I clenched my sheets and rolled over. I had plenty of time before I actually had to get up so I just laid there trying to keep my mind empty so it could get some rest.

This was stupid. Get some rest, what a joke. Sitting up I rubbed my scalp and sighed, I had hoped that Kakashi-sensei would have come home during the night but I couldn't sense an ounce of his chakra anywhere. Of course those two idiots were going to wait till the last minute for everything. I just hoped Sasuke had the common sense to be on time unlike our tardy sensei. Getting out of bed I looked around my room and realized just how dusty it had gotten since I had been gone. I made a mental list to clean up in here once this was all over.

After some light yoga I took a long hot shower, my muscles expanded and loosened with the heat. One of the greatest things about being up so early was that I didn't have to rush. I could just take all the time I needed but at the same time having too much time sucked because then I was caught over analyzing all my training. Trying to figure out if I was really ready, or if I should have just listened to Sasuke back in the tower when he told me to stop there. I shook those thoughts from my head, I had a lot of people who thought I could do well and that's all I needed. Believe in yourself was what Gai-sensei had always told me.

Once I was dry I left the bathroom with my towel wrapped around me. "Good morning Pup!" I smiled walking to my closet pulling out some of the new things I had gotten yesterday. "Did you know you snore like a field mouse?" I laughed a bit at the look on his furry face. "I don't snore." I could help but snort, didn't snore my ass.

I changed into a bright violet halter sports bra and pulled the fishnet tank top over it. I put on some black shorts and wrapped my left thigh where I usually put my pouch all the way down to the spot above my knee. I grabbed the black opened tank top vest and put it on making sure to tie my head band tight around my waist. Once my right hand was wrapped up to my elbow I was ready to go. When I walked back into my room I noticed Pakkun staring outside my balcony window. "Is everything alright?" He looked back at me and nodded.

"What's a dog got to do to get fed around here?" I had to admit it was nice having him here, in some way it eased my stress. "Come on lets go eat." Grabbing my weapons pouch and leg weights off my desk I bounced down the stairs into the kitchen. "Top cabinet on the left." I glanced back over to the ninken before looking in there to see two bowls and a bag of dog food. Once I fed Pakkun I grabbed two peaches and a ration pack. I practically shoved the calories into my body. I took care to pack food pills and tuck a solider pill behind my teeth for battle. "You really think you are going to need that?" I shrugged my shoulders remembering how much of a help it was in the forest of death. Probably the only thing that had gotten me through it all.

"I'd rather be safe than sorry."

Once we were done I decided to go see Naruto. I figured we could walk to the stadium together, that is if I could find his damn apartment. After a nice walk I finally stopping at the door I was sure was it and knocked three times and listened. When I didn't hear anything I became a little worried but after a bang and some yelling I smiled. This was the place. "Suiren, Hi!" I chuckled at his night cap. "Are you still in bed? You need to start getting ready." Opening the door Pakkun and I walked in. Closing the door he squatted down and looked at the ninken, "I didn't know you had a dog." He reached out to pet him between the ears but Pakkun bit down on his hand lightly. "Hey what the heck!" I shook my head as Naruto waved his hand around trying to get the pooch off.

"Im a ninja boy not just some dog and I don't belong to her." Sitting on his butt with his nose in the air I plopped down on the couch still laughing at the two. "Pakkun is one of Kakashi-sensei's ninken Naruto." Cocking a brow he walked into his room and closed the door. "Well he's mean." I narrowed my eyes at the dog while he jumped on the couch next to me. "Ninja's aren't supposed to be cute kid." I tried to hide my smile because I didn't want Pakkun biting me next. I knew he liked a good scratch as much as the next dog.

"You ready to go?" I jumped up and ran out of the door. If this had been any other regular day it would have been wonderful. The weather was perfect. Not too many clouds in the sky but the ones that were there were long and stretched out, like wisps of chakra. I sighed deeply. "You okay?" I nodded; there was no use in him worrying about me. I was already worried enough for the two of us. We fell into a silence, kicking a rock down the path that led to the stadium. Pakkun right beside me just enjoying the walk.

I could hear loud chatter coming from the arena as it came into view and my heart lurched down into my stomach. I could feel Naruto shaking beside me but I knew it was from excitement. "Make sure you win Suiren. I don't want to face anyone at the end of it all but you." Glancing over at him I couldn't help but crack a smile. "I'll do my best Naruto and you better do the same." We stopped for a moment before we got there and he gave me a hug. The Naruto kind that was just right and lifted me right off the ground. "Good luck." I mumbled giving him a little squeeze. "Luck? We don't need luck. Not with all of our training, Believe it!" Putting me down he gave me a thumbs up and some of my worry melted.

Suddenly his face dropped, "Oh man I forgot to wear my lucky underwear today. I have to go get them! I'll be right back!" My mouth hung open when he bolted, "Wait Naruto!" It was no use the kid was gone before I could even say his name. Why wasn't he this fast during missions? Sighing I blew a strand of hair out of my face. I guess this was why we left early. There was still time for him to go and come back. "Don't worry pup, im sure he will be back in no time."

Once I had finally got there I took a seat on the steps and looked up at the sun. He had a good hour and a half now and I wasn't ready to go in there alone so I figured it was just best to wait it out. How long could it be? To pass the time I started to braid and unbraid my hair over and over again. It was soothing. "I know what will make you feel better; you want to touch my paw?" I glanced down at the little ninken and smiled when he lifted it up. "Sure." I grabbed his foot and rubbed the pad, I figured it was more for him then me but I didn't mind. "See don't you feel better?" He let his head fall into my lap and I couldn't help but pet him between the ears. "I guess I would feel a lot better if Naruto was here already." Some more time past and soon two ninja came out to stand on either side of the door way. "Hey aren't you Suiren Uchiha? You need to go inside." I chewed the inside of my lip, was it time already? "I was just waiting for Naruto, he should be back any minute."

"Well in ten minutes we have to close these doors and if you're not inside you're disqualified. " I glanced down at Pakkun and back at the doors, the little pooch nudging me with his nose. I guess I could wait inside. Naruto would be right behind me. I sat up and dusted my butt off. My legs were starting to fall sleep. "Well, Damn." I mumbled looking around at all the people as I walked inside. The whole village and then some were here for the event. The Hokage wasn't kidding when he said this was a big affair and I wondered how the end of it all would play out. "Come on" I mumbled when I looked at the other six finalists. Where were Naruto and Sasuke?

"Good luck pup! I'll be rooting for you." I looked down and watched Pakkun disappear in a puff of smoke. Now I was truly alone. The six finalists were standing in a line facing the crowd. I couldn't help but sigh again as I walked up to them all and squeezed myself between Shikamaru and Neji. I glanced around looking at all the faces but I didn't see the one in the crowd I was hoping for, Kakashi. "You're not nervous are you?" I looked over at Shikamaru. His hands deep in his pockets, even with the status of Chunin hanging over his head he still had the same placid bored facial expression. "Nervous that my idiot teammates are going to late." I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the idea. We were supposed to start in five minutes and they were nowhere to be seen.

"There are a lot of people watching huh?" I still couldn't get over what a spectacle this event was. "Well Sasuke Uchiha was the last of his clan and top rookie so it brings out the crowds and well you, you're pretty much a mystery. Everyone loves a good mystery." I snorted a laugh at the boy, "You really know how to flatter a girl Shika." My sarcasm was high but I wasn't rude. I knew that word would get around quickly I just didn't like to think that too many people came for me. "Just facts." I blew a raspberry when a ninja who had his back to us spoke up. I wasn't quite listening to him and only caught his name, Genma Shiranui. My eyes were glued to the door behind us though and everything else went over my head.

My heart started to race when they shut the doors, "Shit, shit, shit." I didn't know what to do. If I left now I would disqualified but what if there was something wrong and my teammates needed me. I stepped back, ignoring a look of disapproval from Neji. The exam proctor, Genma flipped the sebon in his mouth and locked eyes with me while I spoke, "Im sorry but I have to go." His mouth parted but before he could say anything there was a loud thump at the door. My heart thumping with it. We all turned as Naruto came flying through the doors.

"Oh thank Kami!" I ran over and put an arm around him, Shika helping me on the other side. When he was on his feet he jumped up and pointed to the door, "You guys aren't going to believe this but there's a bunch of bulls out there like a thousand of them." I looked back at the closed doors again; did he hit his head on the way back? "You're right I don't believe you." Shika mumbled getting back in line. "Hey where's Sasuke?" I frowned at him and shrugged my shoulders, now that was the million dollar question wasn't it. "Hey knock it off. Stop your fidgeting and stand up straight. Present yourself proudly to the spectators." Proctor Genma spoke and we got back in line. The crowed rawred, this was really it.

"You guys are the hero's in this final competition." He added. My skin tingled as I looked around, the Hokage's box all the way at the top. He stood up, "Welcome all and our deepest thanks for coming here to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for this year's Chunin selection. We have come to the final competition between the 9 candidates that made it through the preliminaries. We ask that no one leaves until all the matches are done and have been completed. Everyone Enjoy!" My heart was in my throat. Nine but there were only eight of us here.

"Oh there is one more thing before we get started." Genma pulled a paper from his vest, "Look it over one last time." We all looked over the paper until Naruto spoke up, "Wait I have a question. What happens to Sasuke if he doesn't show up?" Honestly I wondered the same thing but I was sure that I didn't want to hear the answer out loud. "If the candidate isn't here in the arena at the time his name is called, he forfeits the match." That little shit. Naruto looked back at the entrance before looking back at me for a moment. "Alright listen up. The terrain is different but the rules are the same as before. That is that there are no rules. Match continues until one candidate acknowledges defeat or dies. That being said if I determine that a match is over I can step in and stop it at any time and no arguments permitted. Understood?"

Ugh, I hated the till death rule. I started to chew the inside of my lips. "For the first match Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga. Those two stay, the rest of you can go to the waiting area." I clicked my tongue on the roof of my mouth as everyone started to walk away. Being next to Naruto I was able to give his hand a squeeze before I made my way to the stairs myself. I stopped for a moment letting everyone get up before me. I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths and tried to center my chakra. I pushed it out and pulled it back in. Pushed it out and tried to pull it back in but it was shaky. I pushed through and made my way up to everyone. Naruto and Neji were facing each other. I could see their lips moving and then he put out his hand into a fist.

I had remembered him telling me about Hinata's match. It was really brutal and it destroyed the kid to see how Neji treated her, broke her down and almost killed her. He took it personally and I knew this match was for her. I couldn't help but grab onto the rail. "I vow to win." My knuckles were white, I could hear it in his voice, he was ready. "Come on Naruto." I mumble to myself. "Alright, now let the first match, Begin!" I felt a small surge of chakra, one I could recognize anywhere. He was stronger than when I had last seen him, but his sunshine glow and determination pushed through.

It was slow starting, nail biting but when it did start they kick started. A frontal attack, was he really trying to test Neji out? He knew how his Byakugan worked. My eyes bounced around and part of my wanted to watch with my Sharingan but I knew that would be a waste of chakra so I watched like a peasant. Just don't let him get your chakra point directly kid, come on. I felt Shika beside me but I couldn't take my eyes off the fight. He left an opening, damn it Naruto! "That's not good. He can cut off all the chakra flow to his arm." Shika was right but I let out a sigh of relief, "He missed." I mumbled getting a look from Shikamaru before he looked back at the match.

Letting his elbows lean against the railing we watched Naruto get back up and I couldn't help but crack smile. I knew that hand sign, good idea Naruto. It wasn't long before Neji took them all out and they started to talk. I could see Naruto's fist shaking. He was getting angry. "Come on you dumb idiot. Don't listen to him." I was mostly mumbling to myself and in some way it helped control my emotions. I concentrated on the flow of chakra to my ears for better hearing; I wanted anything at this point.

"Open your eyes. Of all the shinobi in all the world think about how few become Hokage. They were born destined to become Hokage. It's not something you become merely by trying. They were chosen by destiny. Each person is given his own path to follow and he must follow it obediently. To the end. There is only one destiny we all share equally. Death." It was my turn to shake in anger. Did he really believe that? There was so much hate in his pupiless eyes I was sure he didn't believe his own words "Yea so what? You can think that way if you want. People always tell me I just don't know when to give up. Shadow clone Justu!" The hundred Narutos that stood in the arena calmed me. If there was anything I had learned was that destiny was what you made of it.

Neji was holding off the Narutos well it was almost a standstill from where I was watching till he darted and weaved through the clones to hit one of the farthest. The clones started to pop and my mouth curved up when the one he hit popped too. The real Naruto tried a surprised attack until Neji let off a burst of chakra; he circled around his body repelling Naruto back. Did Neji really have 360 degrees of vision? Naruto creates more clones but Neji just reflected him with that burst of chakra. My ears twitches, "This is the end for you. You're in range and you can't escape my 8 trigrams." Oh no no no. I remember sparing with Neji, I remember his eight trigrams on a much simpler level and before all that extra training, and this was going to be impossible to dodge.

"Gentle Fist art: 8 Trigrams 64 palms." I leaned over the rail "Move Naruto. Move!" It was more then too late. "8 trigram 2 palm. 4 palm. 8 palm. 16 palm. 32 palm. 64 palm!" Air caught in my throat. It took everything in me not to go down there. "Suiren are you alright?" I let go of the railing, Shika's voice pulling me out of my thoughts. "He'll get up. He has to get up." I clenched my fist and banged them on the rail. "Come on get up. You have to get up." My voice soft and coarse. He could do this, we believe in you Naruto.

Neji asked Naruto to stop his foolishness and to the outside world it might have seemed foolish but to the few of us who knew Naruto we knew he was far from foolish. I let my chin rest on the railing while Neji told a story about his clan, about a mark on his forehead. When he removed his headband there was an x in the center of it. For a moment I had forgotten about the match and about Neji almost killing Hinata. I forgot about all the horrible things he said to Naruto and I felt bad. I have on occasion felt like a bird in a cage but nothing could compare to actually living the way he has to. Scared to step out of line for fear of death itself, by your own family.

I blew an unsteady rush of air from my mouth. It was heavy, the way the Hyuga clan did their business and treated their family members but Naruto was right. It was all a load of shit. Destiny and things being preordain. We have choices and free will to be who we are meant to be but more importantly who we want to be. I winced when he hit Naruto again and called him a failure. I wasn't surprised to see him get back up. "I don't give up and I don't go back on my word. That's my ninja way." I chanted a mantra in my head. He could do it, he could keep going. Never give up and never give in. My heart was uneasy when Naruto spoke. I sometimes forgot that he was treated horrible by this village. I remembered Kakashi-sensei telling me he was picked on and shunned for being different.

We all watched. I couldn't imagine what Naruto was going to pull out of his sleeve now but I had to admit I was nervous. He looked deep in thought almost meditating and that's when I felt I, a spike of chakra and my eyes flickered red. I had to see it; thick wisps of chakra that wasn't Naruto's circled his body. It was large and menacing and felt like rage and fire.

This wasn't Naruto's charka but in some weird way I felt I knew it from somewhere before. The longer I stared at it the more it burned. It seemed the chakra itself growling in eagerness.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto© . Only my oc