Minato walked up the Hokage tower, heading towards his office. He had been handed a letter by a ROOT agent. The letter was addressed to him by Danzo, in it was a mere sentence.

"We need to talk."

Minato opened the doors to his office, seeing Danzo waiting for him. Standing in the middle of the room. His face as stoic as usual. Minato took a breath, knowing the incoming conversation most likely would not be a pleasant one.

"What is it Danzo. I am very busy. The chunnin exams are under way as you know, and I need to-!?"

"The Akatsuki are in the village."

Minato stopped, narrowing his eyes at what he had just heard.

"How long have you known."

"Since my ROOT captured two of them about a week ago." Danzo quickly answered.

"And you are only telling me this now?" Minato asked, restraining his anger.

This had not been the first time Danzo had hidden things from him after all, and he was quite used to it.

"I felt that it was unnessary knowledge and you had more pressing things to-!?"

"Quit the bullshit Danzo, you and I both know what this is really about." Minato said, cutting Danzo off harshly.

Danzo's demeanor changed. His eyes narrowed as he let out a tired sigh.

"Minato...I will not let the Akatsuki interfere with these exams. And I need your help to see to it that they do not cause any disruptions." Danzo said.

"But why. You can't honestly expect me to believe that you care about these exams. You always talk about how a ninja must stay in the shadows and how the chunin exams are a complete mockery of the Ninja way of life. So why do you suddenly want my help. What has got you so invested in keeping these exams going that you would go as far as coming to me for help?" Minato asks, gauging Danzo with suspicion.

"...Naruko is growing up quite well Minato."

Minato tensed up.

"Sasuke as well..." Danzo continued

"What does that have to do with-!?"

"I know what you intend for them. I know that you're placing all your hopes in them. How you are molding them into becoming the saviors of the leaf. The symbol of light for the Land of Fire. Your successors. That is why you rigged the third exam to be one that ensures their success. Even a fool would notice that."

Minato remained quiet, allowing Danzo to continue.

"Minato...As you know...I grow old. More than likely, I will die within the next twenty, no, ten years. My twilight days are upon me. I too need a replacement. A successor. Someone to take my place when I die. The next Boogeyman of the Ninja World. The next shadow that takes out any danger to the light."

"...And that person?" Minato asked.

Danzo narrowed his eyes.

"Yuma Ito. He must pass these exams and become Chunnin. He shall be my successor." Danzo declared.

Minato kept his calm facade, but his now clenched fists betrayed his features.

"No. I will not let you ruin that boys life. I will not let him become you." Minato said, his voice authoritative as he denied Danzo.

"You and I both know the village needs people like me. People willing to do all the dirty work. People willing to be the monsters that the village needs to continue basking in the light. Yuma is that person. He has proved himself to me quite enough already." Danzo explained, trying to get Minato to understand.

"And why him huh? Couldn't you get one of your precious pawns to take your place." Minato said, his voice filled with disgust at what he proposed.

"None of the people I have in ROOT have even come close to showing as much promise as that boy has. That boy has a darkness inside him that I have seen seldom in others. He is perfect." Danzo explained, a faint glimmer of pride shining in his eyes.

"And that is exactly why I refuse to allow you to make it any worse. I refuse to have another Orochimaru be made, or another him. I swore to give that boy a life he could be content with and I will-!?"

"Then why let me train him?"

Minato froze, now at a loss for words.

"Why even let me train him? You know who his father is right?"

Minato's eyes widened.

"How do you know that?"

"You knew who his father was, and yet you still saw it fit to let me train the boy. Admit it, you saw the same promise I did." Danzo said, his voice raw and fierce, yet still carrying its raspy and calm aura.

Minato and Danzo stared each other down, neither seeming to be willing to reach an agreement. The room was now quiet, as the two legendary ninja looked into each others eyes. They seemed to be conversing without even speaking a single word. For awhile it seemed that neither were willing to come to an agreement, until...

Minato sighed, his stance loosening as his guard lowered.

"Fine. I know I can't stop you. The boy trusts you, and admires you greatly. But he has to agree to it. I will not let you force this on him. And he has to pass the test. If not then the deal is off."

"Good." Danzo said, his eyes returning to their emotionless facade.

"I will gather a team of jonin in the meantime, use them to find the Akatsuki that have entered the village. Understood?"

Before Danzo could answer, a unseen individual chimed in.

"I would like to assist in this endeavor, if you would allow me to, Lord Hokage."

From the shadows of the rooms deepest corners, Itachi appeared.

"One of the Akatsuki that has entered the village has been massacring innocents for what I assume as a means to cover their trail. As a Jonin of the Leaf it would be my honor to help purge this evil out of the village." Itachi said, a glint in his eyes betraying his false calmness.

Not even bothering to ask how much he had heard or how long he had been in the room, Minato nodded his head.

"Right. Danzo, you and Itachi are to find the Akatsuki agents that have invaded our village and eliminate them. Two others will join you shortly as soon a I brief them. To make sure the Chunin Exams remain uninterrupted, you are not to allow anyone know of this mission. Secrecy is of the essence. Danzo shall be the team leader. Understood?"

"Yes Lord Hokage."

"Yes Minato."

"Good. Now go."

Itachi bowed, and left the room, leaving Danzo and Minato alone.

"Why aren't you leaving Danzo?" Minato asked, his voice tense.

"...One more thing...You should probably make sure none of your Anbu get lost. I found some poor souls who had gotten lost in the ROOT of the village."

Danzo reached into his pocket, and pulled out two severed fingers, dropping them onto the floor. He walked to the door, pulling it open.

"Would be a shame if any more Anbu got lost and tried gnawing at the ROOTS, wouldn't it."

And with that he walked out.

Leaving Minato to ponder how complicated things had swiftly became.

Naruko dashed from tree to tree. Spotting a ninja, she quickly dropped to his level with a grin, shooting him in the back before he even knew she was in there. With another puff of smoke left in her wake, she giggled.

"And that was number ten! Can't wait to rub how many people I took out in Sasuke's face!" Naruko said to herself, her cerulean eyes shining brightly with glee.

As she hopped from tree, she suddenly heard the stomping feet of what sounded like a whole squad forming behind her. Turning around, she was shocked to see around twenty people running after her. She winced, feeling their glares pierce her like hot iron through glass.

"Hey! Teaming up is forbidden!" She yelled.

"We don't give a damn! After all, we don't wanna pass! We just wanna make you pay!" One of them shouted back.

"Get her!"

"The daughter of the Yellow Flash has to pay!"

"If we can't get her dad then the least we can do is make sure his daughter suffers!"

Naruko felt an ugly emotion well up in her chest, not liking how they were talking about her dad.

'Why does everyone from the other villages hate my dad so much!?'

She stopped in her tracks, facing the horde of ninja head on. She leaped from her branch, the tree limb blasting off from the sheer force of her burst. She got to leader of the pack quickly, spinning past him while shooting him in the back. The water shooting out along with her twirl caused a whirlpool like shape of water to form, taking out two others, leaving behind three puffs of smoke.

Naruko gracefully landed on a lower tree branch as one of the enemy ninja jumped down at her.

"What the hell is you guys' problem!?" Naruko shouted, getting aggravated at what seemed to her like unjustified hate.

"Your father killed my older brother!" One of them shouted, surprising her by kicking up some dust in front of her, causing her to cover eyes.

The ninja then got behind her, attempting to take a shot. Naruko however, knew what he was up to, and spun around, slamming the enemy with a harsh kick that knocked him out and from off the tree. She jumped up quickly, narrowly avoiding another ninja who jumped at her form the side.

"You're father is a man who pretends to be a savior while he stands on a mountain of corpses!" One of them shouted.

Naruko's eyes flashed crimson as her whisker marks grew more fierce.

"Shut up!" She shouted as she ducked beneath a tree limb that flew overhead, having had been thrown by one of the ninja.

Turning around, she punched the enemy in the stomach, and then while he fell, shot his target. She then jumped up, and spun behind another enemy, shooting his as well, taking two more out. She jumped off the branch, again causing enough force for it to smash. and got to another of the now remaining fourteen opponents.

"That's not true! My father isn't a faker!" Naruko shouted as she slammed her feet down on the branch, causing the ninja to lose his footing and slip. allowing Naruko to shoot him out of the exam.

"You're right! Your father is worse than that! He's a filthy murderer who acts like he does the ninja world a favor!"

Naruto's face grew more red and furious by the second. She became filled with rage, hating all the ninja who seemed to have a vendetta against her dad. But deep inside, a new feeling began to take root.

Doubt.

She was starting to doubt the image of her dad she had built for herself. The image of him being a kind and loving father who was a hero to all and could never do any wrong. Slowly and surely, she was now starting to feel that image...

Crumble.

Her rage intensified, as a hue of orange began to envelope her. Her nails extended and her iris became slits. Her teeth grew canines as she roared.

"YOU'RE WRONG!"

And with a mighty leap...

A gust of wind blew behind her, as the surrounding trees tumbled to the forest floor with heavy force.

She appeared behind two of the ninja, taking them out before they could make a sound. Leaping once more, she took out two more, then a third, then a fourth and fifth, and finally a sixth. Only five ninja remained now, all of who which now took to the forest floor, frightened and trying to make a run for it.

They didn't get far however, as Naruko jumped down to them, sending a tree tumbling into another and causing that tree to fall as well, blocking their escape as it dropped in front of their path. She jumped to the forest floor, dust being kicked up by her landing. The five ninja, now shaking in fear, dashed forward, attempting to gang up on her.

She punched the first one in the face, sending him flying into a tree, blood spilling from his scalp as he was knocked out. One of the ninja swung his foot down where she was standing. She dodged, moving behind him and kicked him in the back while he was falling down to the forest floor, making the mans world turn white as he flew into a rock, his back slamming into it with a heavy thud.

Another tried stabbing at her side with a kunai, only for her to turn and punch his face in, blood flying out from his nose as he was laid out on the floor. The second to last ninja was now shivering in fear, but filled with too much pride to try and run. He ran at her with a animal like scream, swinging his sword down...

Only for the blade to shatter into itty bitty pieces.

He stared dumbfounded at the broken blade, a look of manic fear in his trembling eyes as his pupils dilated. In the reflection of his fellow ninja's blood, he saw her appear behind him. Desperate, he swung the handle behind him, trying to slam it into her head. He landed the hit...

And was promptly punched in the gut, the sound of cracked ribs ringing through the air as his body was flung past the tree line as if he were a mere doll.

The Last remaining ninja fell to his ass, his entire body shaking as he began hyperventilating. Naruko turned around, her expression deadly and lacking any compassion as the Kyuubi Chakra continued to make her only see red. She began to walk toward the man.

"S-S-Stay b-back you monster!" He yelled, throwing a rock at her, it slamming into her face.

But it did nothing.

Naruko now stood in front of him, and raised her clawed hand.

The man closed his eyes and guarded his face, releasing one last final plea.

"DON'T KILL ME! PLEASE!"

Naruko's hand stopped mere inches from his head.

She stared at the person below her.

Now drenched in urine, having pissed himself in fear as he trembled.

The orange aura around her dissipated as she slowly started to regain control.

And when she did...

She felt overwhelming guilt, as the man looked at her as if she was monster.

Noticing she was no longer going to attack, he quickly scrambled up onto his feet, and ran.

Leaving Naruko to come to terms with what she had done.

She looked at the unconscious bodies surrounding her in disbelief and shock.

"W...What did I...Oh god..."

Tears began to well up in her eyes.

"S-S-Stay b-back you monster!"

The man's words played over and over in her head as she began to cry silently.

'...What did I...How did I...'

She stared at the boy with the bleeding scalp.

She dropped to her knees and began to sob.

And as she sobbed...

The doubt that had taken root on that day began to grow.

"I bet three hundred yen on that Gaara kid."

"Fine, I bet Two hundred yen on the Lee kid"

"Oh yeah, those two will pass for sure."

"Yeah, totally."

Kakashi sighed as the jonin lounge was in a buzz as people watched the monitor screen. The screen showed off several different camera's showing who was where in the forest, and a number count tallying how many people had already been eliminated.

"What about you Kakashi, wanna make a bet?" Asuma asked, a cigarette in hand as he approached the quiet Kakashi with a grin.

"Nah, not really." Kakashi answered, flipping through the pages of his orange book.

"He just doesn't wanna bet on anyone because he already has two sure fire winners in his team! Ain't that right Kakashi?" A random jonin suggested with a wink, making Kakashi roll his eyes.

"Its not just two! You forgot the youthful Yuma!" Gai exclaimed, charging into the room, flashing everyone with his ever present shiny smile and thumbs up.

"Yuma? Who's that?" One Jonin asked.

"Oh yeah, that kid with the freakish arms?" Another Jonin remarked.

"Not just arms, legs now too." A Jonin interjected.

"Yeah...I don't know about that kid Kakashi. I mean Naruko and Sasuke are sure to pass, but the third one is...well..." A jonin said, trailing off awkwardly.

Gai looked at Kakashi worriedly, seeing as he hadn't responded at all. Standing quietly as the other Jonin doubted Yuma's chances at passing the exams.

"Now come on all of you, stop that! We should be supportive of all the Genin, stop bad mouthing Kakashi's-!?" Gai started, but was suddenly cut off.

"They're right." Kakashi said with a defeated tone, still staring at the screen.

Gai turned to Kakashi with shock.

"Kakashi, how could you say that when Yuma is giving it his all! Your own student!" Gai asked, dissappointed.

"See for yourself..." Kakashi said with a sad sigh, pointing at one of the camera zones.

Gai followed Kakashi's finger to where he had pointed, and immediately realized what Kakashi meant.

"Ah..."

Yuma was on the forest floor, staring up at one Neji Hyuga, noticeable despair clear as day taking form on his face.

Gai got quiet.

'Yuma against one of my own students huh...And of all people, Neji...Even I can admit that he is a tough adversary for Yuma to be up against. Having trained him means I know how strong he is more than anyone else...Even so...'

Gai recovered his zeal and infectious grin, slapping Kakashi on the back while flashing the man a thumbs.

"Come now, you're not telling me you're giving up on a competition this easily Kakashi! As your rival, I am shocked!"

Kakashi looked at Gai in surprise as the man continued to speak.

"The results of the battle has yet to be seen, and yet you admit defeat eh? Ah well! I graciously accept your youthful surrender!" Gai exclaimed.

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi asked, confused as to what Gai was on about.

"Well seeing as you admit you lost the bet on who would win, my student or yours, I guess I'll be getting free food and drinks later at the bar!"

Kakashi smiled beneath his face mask, realizing what Gai was doing.

"Surrender? Those are fighting words. Fine, but when Yuma wins, drinks are on you." Kakashi said with an air of confidence.

"All right! Its on! Hope your wallet can handle my iron belly Kakashi, because Neji has got this!" Gai shouted.

Kakashi laughed mockingly.

'Thanks Gai.'

Yuma stared up at Neji, remembering some advice Danzo had given him before the exams.

"The People you should worry about most are your teammates, Gaara of the sand, Lee, and Neji."

'Neji Hyuga...Prodigy of the Hyuga Clan...Damn it. This sucks. I really do have terrible luck.'

Neji stared down at him, as if he were waiting for Yuma's response.

'In this kind of environment, he reigns supreme. With the Byakugan, he has no blind spots, which is very useful for a exam where someone has to land a shot on your back. He is "Eyes on the back of your head" personified. That makes him practically untouchable, and his Taijutsu prowess makes it hard to get in close.'

"Well? Why are you just standing there?" Neji remarked confidently.

Yuma feigned a smile, trying to not let his panicked state of mind show.

"I could ask you the same! Afraid to get close?" He remarked.

"Oh..." Neji said.

He took a charging stance...

"Good point."

And flew at Yuma.

Yuma immediately rolled away before he could slam his feet where Yuma was standing. He skidded to a stop as Neji rushed him, and attempted to jab at his chakra points, only for Yuma to quickly drop into the shadow. Yuma then shot out of it, uppercutting Neji, as he flew up, and grabbed onto a branch, throwing himself back down, preparing to stomp Neji.

Neji, regaining his bearings, grabbed Yuma's claw like shadow feet as he came down. Not wanting to be taken out, he slammed his other foot into Neji's face, sending him sliding across the forest floor.

Neji stopped himself and quickly dodged a kunai thrown by Yuma. Grabbing it by its handle while it was in mid-air, he threw it back at Yuma, it fading through his shadow arm, and coming out the other side.

"Pretty impressive ability. But that will only help you for so long." Neji declared confidently.

"We'll just see about that." Yuma retorted.

'In order to win I have to...'

'For him to win he'll...'

'ATTACK!' They both shouted inwardly, one preparing to defend and the other dashing forward.

Yuma's burst of speed momentarily surprised Neji, but he was prepared.

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!" Neji shouted

Yuma, caught off guard, was sent flying into a tree.

"Your speed is impressive. But its nothing compared to Lee." Neji remarked.

Yuma's back slumped against the tree's branch, coughing as his head rung.

"Lets end this." Neji said, lunging at Yuma.

Only for him to descend into shadow.

Neji's fist flew into the tree, causing him to curse in pain.

He immediately used Palm Rotation, thinking Yuma was going to pop out from behind only to be surprised when no one appeared. Thinking quickly, he activated his Byakugan.

And saw nothing.

He turned...

Just in time to narrowly dodge a kunai flying to his neck.

He ducked, avoiding the bladed weapon. Suddenly, a tree branch above him broke off when another kunai ripped it off from the rest of the tree, forcing him to cover his head with his hands.

Which is exactly what Yuma wanted.

The branch exploded above his head, riddling him with splinters and cuts, as Yuma dashed at him from behind a bush that just barely laid beyond the Byakugan's range. With a dash so quick it would make Lee jealous, Yuma slammed his feet into Neji's chest with so much momentum, that it sent him flying.

He fell onto his back a couple yards away, and rolled out of the way as Yuma slammed his foot down where Neji was.

"Don't underestimate me. Mister Danzo taught me your people's weakness. At a very small point at the back of your neck, there is a small ray of range in which you can't see."

Neji stood to his feet shakily, still shocked that who he percieved as a "Weakling" had somehow completely duped him.

"I may not be as strong as you..." Yuma began taking a step forward.

"And I may not be as defensive as you..." He continued as he took another step closer.

"But don't you ever believe for a second that I am anyone to take lightly!" Yuma finished loudly, clenching his dark fists in a determined manner, his eyes shining gold briefly as the wind blew past him and the sun shined down upon him, extending his shadow behind him.

Neji, now glaring dagger into Yuma took up a stance.

"I underestimated you, Yuma Ito. I promise you I won't make that mistake twice. Don't think you have any chance at winning this just because you got a few hits in. Its by fates will that you fall here." Neji declared.

"Oh yeah? Well fate can suck a big one you cocky dick!"

And with that...

The fight between the "All Seeing eye" And the "Clever Shade" truly began.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed!