Hearts of Wind
Naruto/Tenten
"Speech and Jutsu!"
"Thoughts"
Bijuu
(Flashback)

"You sent them to WHOM!" Shrieked Temari at the returning Suna Chunin who was in charge of finding the Genin Teams and telling them where the retrieval squad stood pale and shaking. The only one who appeared to be unafraid of the enraged Temari was Umino Iruka.

Iruka watched carefully as Temari stripped her subordinate down. Her eyes locked onto the older man's, and for a moment narrowed as she saw him shift. She then realised what he was indicating for her to alter posture. As she did so, she found the ability to use the full range of her vocal chords, and added an extra inch to her height. "We sent them to Answer and Response, Temari-sama."

"Why?"

"Jonin Hayabushi, told us that all Chunin Exam Participants in relation to the rumours floating around, told us to send the participants there. He told us it was for the next stage of the examination."

Temari turned red with rage and her KI spiked "Dismissed…All of you. Someone bring Jonin Hayabushi to me…Umino-san, a moment if you will." Iruka nodded.

"Temari-san?"

"Thanks, for assisting me with them. I have to ask though…"

Iruka grinned slightly "You've never seen Godaime-Sama; lose her temper properly. I'm also the longest lasting duty Chunin and Aide de Kage. So, I know a few things. I also taught Uzumaki Naruto." What Iruka didn't say was that he was also a B-ranked Chunin in the Bingo Book, almost A-rank due to his sensory skills, skill with barrier jutsu and Long Kunai. He was also an ANBU candidate; but he just could not take the strain of abandoning everyone and working in the shadows with the fear of dying in an unmarked grave in the middle of no-where. ANBU was a place for the elite of the elite; where whole personal were broken and broken were monsters. Just look at Kakashi!

Temari nodded "How would she deal with a disobedient Jonin?"

Iruka grinned "Just fix him with gaze. No KI, No Chakra, nothing. Just look at him and wait for him to crack."

Temari nodded "What about losing temper?"

"That should never happen."

(Team 66)

Jiraiya stormed Suna's ANBU T&I department and returned minutes later with his Genin Team on his heels or over his shoulders. In fact, it was only Aburame Akira who was walking.

Naruto and Tenten were clearly suffering from the after effects of some of the Genjutsu, Fuuinjutsu that had been placed on the briefing room. "The three of you are alright?"

"Yup." The three Genin chimed together.

Jiraiya looked at them "There's still twenty-four hours before the end of the second test. Then over the month; I'll be training Tenten and Naruto, Akira-chan, I'll get a few of your clan to assist you with your training."

"That is most logical, Jiraiya-sensei…although I would like some guidance to further my Doton and Suiton training."

Jiraiya nodded "I can do that."

Eventually the seconds test came to an end and Gaara explained that the next event would take place in a month. Jiraiya trained all three of his Genin together but far enough away from each of them, so they wouldn't hopefully spy on one another. Spying on Teammates in Jiraiya's view was a no-go, colleagues…if he'd followed Orochimaru more, then Orochimaru might be six feet under.

A subtle presence called to Jiraiya and standing at a respectful distance was Aburame Shibi "I've come to collect my cousin…"

Jiraiya nodded, as a spy and spymaster, he knew that whilst the Aburame kept to themselves and were a family based, with their insect based kekkei genkai, all the cadet branches were second or third sons of the main branch. Each one of them had a slightly different way of carrying themselves. It were these subtleties that Jiraiya could use to tell friend from imposter.

"Akira-chan, Aburame Shibi has arrived." Akira nodded, bowed to Jiraiya and departed.

Jiraiya cancelled out his Shadow Clone and turned to his two remaining pupils. Tenten was honing her futon control by channeling it into her weapons for additional damage; normally a weapons mistress required lightning for the penetration but with wind; thrown weapons could act like a drill. Tenten was also trying to imbue some close-combat tools, so it had been only three days but Bojutsu: Diatoppa was coming along great; from the Toad Sage's point of view. Diatoppa was a brute force, bludgeoning and repelling technique, linking it with bojutsu; it could be applied with much greater effect.

Meanwhile the Shadow Clone with Naruto, dodged out of the way as Naruto unleashed a vermillion chain from under his hand "GET OVER HERE!"

"Not yet, Gaki…Hold up…When did you get the chains?"

Naruto looked at said chain "No idea, due to it not being too much of a bell-end these days and actually being something of co-operative my chakra control's improved."

Jiraiya nodded "I noticed. Just because I've not been around a lot as your Jonin sensei; doesn't mean I'm not keeping tabs on my cute little students. In your Three-Year Training trip; I was planning on having you try and control your tenant…What progress have you made?"

"In return for my senses, he's given me four tails of chakra. Four tails to him is where I become a miniature him but just about keep some of my jutsu. Anything more than that means I shelve more. That is…according to him…Haven't gone beyond initial chakra shroud."

Jiraiya nodded "Let's get you to work on your tenant's chakra; wind and water jutsu…Nothing to special, learning nothing new just hone what you have."

(Month Later)

The twenty-five candidates, yes it was more than what was expected but the council had decided to in good faith show more talent. The first five bouts would be five free-for-alls with the last two standing moving into the traditional one on one fights.

Suna's reasoning for this was to show that combat was not fair and to make matters worse; every single participant would be wearing no headband of their country of origin, nor would they all be able to see who they were fighting.

It was also to prevent anyone from ganging up on anyone. Team 66 stood together with the Konoha contingent, all of them wearing their Genin Outfits; with the most notable change of Naruto being all black trousers, blue shirt with bright neon orange stripes on the arms. "Tenten, I know this is a very bad time but better than any…When this is done, shall we get dinner together?" Naruto asked softly.

Tenten stared at her male teammate, eyes wide and her breathing hitched slightly. She had over the time she had known Naruto, begun to develop feelings for him. She had no idea that he had the same for her. "S…sure…Just, don't throw me off! We might have to fight each other after this."

Just then from above them, in the shade a rasping voice declared "All participants pay attention. The first wheel will allocate you a group, and the second will give your names." Announced Gaara as two ornate wheels, with that his sand outstretched forming into two larger hands.

Group 1
Hyuga Neji (Konoha)
Mijin (Suna)
Burami (Kusa)
Kegon (Taki)
Ajisai (Ame)

Group 2
Rock Lee (Konoha)
Shira (Suna)
Fuyo (Ame)
Yamanaka Ino (Konoha)
Masuri (Suna)

Group 3
Tenten (Konoha)
Suiren (Ame)
Ameno (Suna)
Hyuga Hinata (Konoha)
Yoro (Taki)

Group 4
Akimichi Choji (Konoha)
Fu (Taki)
Uzumaki Naruto (Konoha)
Kazami (Ame)
Muyami (Ame)

Group 5
Haruno Sakura (Konoha)
Sajin (Suna)
Shishio (Suna)
Kazami (Ame)
Mujin (Suna)

"Let the first bout…Begin!" Declared Gaara as everyone, who wasn't in the bout jumped out of the arena.