A little bit later after Team's 7 victory over the rain ninja and they were still there. With their opponents unconscious, they all grabbed the chance to catch their breath while Naruto was busy searching for their scroll.

Let us just hope that they have what we are looking for, Tsuki thought as she was standing and was watching Naruto.

Sakura and Sasuke were the only ones sitting down, while Kabuto had decided to keep standing next to her. She could feel his eyes falling on her form from time to time but she paid it no attention, focusing more on her surroundings. They couldn't risk another attack or trap since they were far from full recovery.

"That mark on your neck. What is it? A bruise?" Kabuto asked Sasuke as he was observing the curse mark.

"It's nothing" Sasuke replied and covered it with his hand.

"Hey, guys! Here it is! Just what we needed, a heaven scroll" Naruto shouted while waving it at the air, causing the wolf girl to leave a sigh of relief.

"Good for you," Kabuto told him.

Sasuke stood up but his eyes never left Kabuto's. He was observing him and even though he helped them, he still did not trust him completely. After Naruto placed the scroll in his weapon pouch and Tsuki gave him the earth to hold, they all started to walk towards the tower; all hoping that it was not too late.


Soon enough they were already there and saw around dozens of doors on different levels. Kabuto was the first who climbed the stairs with Naruto hot on his tracks. Sakura and Tsuki were behind as they were supporting Sasuke.

"There you are Kabuto. You are late" a voice said and from the bushes next to the door, two ninjas appeared.

They were both wearing similar clothes to Kabuto's and wore dark glasses, easily making everyone understand that they were his teammates. They paid no attention to the genin and kept their focus on the older person.

"Sorry about that. I was a little ... sidetracked"

"Yeah, and we are glad you did it. After all, it was only thanks to you that we got both the scrolls" Naruto said while giving him a foxy grin and placing his hands behind his head.

"Not really. You did most on your own. I am impressed" he said and Naruto kept the grin. "Well, this is the door we go through. So, good luck to both of us" he added as he opened the door and entered along with his comrades.

After Kabuto and his team entered the building, Team 7 decided that they should too. Once they found the proper one, they let Naruto open the two big doors and allow everyone to go inside. They were surprised to find it empty, with not a living soul in it. The only object in the room was a board with something written on it.

We can't be late, can we? Tsuki wondered as they walked towards the centre of the empty room. Her ears twitched left and right but the room was sound isolated and couldn't distinguish any sound which would indicate life.

"What's the deal? There is nobody here" he said

"It's okay Sakura, Tsuki. I can manage" Sasuke, said and the two kunoichis let him stand on himself even though they were uncertain of his decision.

"Oh sure," Sakura commented while Tsuki had decide to stay quiet.

"Huh? I do not get it. What happens now?" Naruto asked.

"Hold on a second. Just look at that" Sakura said and pointed at the board in front of them.

"Great. What is it?"

"It seems like some kind of a riddle" Tsuki stated.

"If qualities of heaven are what you desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. If earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. When heaven and earth are opened together, the pair less path will become righteous forever. This something is the secret way that guides us from this place today" Sakura, read aloud.

"Huh?" the wolf girl said while tilting her head to the side. Her brain tried to understand the meaning behind it while also trying to see how it would help them continue to the chunin exams. However, exhaustion and days of minimum food were not helping her function as properly as she wanted.

"This what? Or is that a secret too?" Naruto asked.

"It's like there is a word missing here. Anyway, it is about the scrolls. I think we are supposed to open and read the heaven and earth scroll now" Sakura explained and took the heaven scroll from Naruto's hand.

Naruto gulped from fear and Sakura was too afraid to do it too. Sasuke and Tsuki had both determined looks on their faces because they did not come this far only to chicken out now. Finally, after a few seconds of pure silence, Naruto decided to break it.

"Okay here goes nothing," he said and both along with Sakura opened the scrolls only for nothing to happen. They only saw some kanji or person drawing in a circle.

"What? What does this mean?" Naruto asked and tilted his head to the side.

"A man? A person?" Sakura asked and suddenly both of the scrolls started to release smoke.

"This is a summoning jutsu. Sakura, Naruto, Quick! Get rid of the scrolls!" Sasuke ordered them.

They were both frozen and staring at each other and at the scrolls who were now releasing more smoke.

"You heard him. Get rid of the!" Tsuki yelled hit them in the head.

They seemed to wake up from the sock and threw the scrolls.

Seconds later, there was an explosion and through the smoke, a figure was summoned. Tsuki recognized the smell and took a step forward while her teammates stayed frozen.

"Hey! Long-time no see huh?" Iruka asked, raised his head and smiled at them.

"Iruka sensei?" Sakura asked.

"Looks like you have gone through a lot in this test"

"Hey wait. What is the deal with the surprise entrance anyway? Why are you appearing with a summoning?" Naruto asked.

"At the end of the second exam, we chunin are supposed to welcome the test taker back. Moreover, it was just good luck that I have to be the one given the important task of being the messenger of your people. Whew, and you made it just in time" he said while looking at his watch.

"Well, thank Kami we arrived in time," Tsuki said and left out a sigh of relief.

"And now, congratulations! You passed the second stage of the exams" he added and they all looked at him surprised. "To celebrate your passing, I would love to treat you all some Ichiraku ramen. But I-" Iruka tried to continue but he had to stop when Naruto squashed him in a tight hug.

"Ramen!? Seriously!? That's so cool!"

"I am not done yet," he told him but Naruto ignored him.

"Oh yeah! Ramen should be awesome! Especially from having to eat all those bugs and plants for the last 2 days" he continued and finally let him go.

Then the 4 comrades sat on the ground in an attempt to slightly rest.

"Alright, well I can see you are still as hyperactive as ever Naruto," Iruka said as he was observing Naruto who was showing no signs of exhaustion.

"You have no idea," Tsuki said and fell on her back.

"Hm, now I see" Sasuke, said and they all turned to look at him.

"Me too! I see where you going it. Therefore, Iruka, if-"Tsuki was ready to say but Sasuke got her.

"If we had looked on the scrolls in the middle of the exam" she glared at him but stayed quiet, allowing him to continue with his question. "What would you have done to us Iruka sensei?"

Teme, she thought.

"As usual Sasuke, sharp as ever. You too Tsuki. *she smiled faintly* Part of this exam was to test how well you could see a difficult mission all the way through. Simply put, you knew that opening the scrolls was against the rules of your mission and if you had tried to open one" he explained but he was interrupted by Sakura.

"What? What would have happened?"

"Geez Sakura, Let him finish first and you will know," Tsuki told her.

"You are right. Sorry sensei" she apologized and caused Sasuke, Naruto and Tsuki to raise an eyebrow at her.

"If a scroll was opened, we were ordered to knock out whoever opened it. Some ninja found out the hard way"

"Hm, it's a good thing you didn't open ours, huh Naruto?" Sasuke asked full with irony.

"I owe you one, thanks to a million Kabuto" the blond yelled.

"Oh yeah, sensei? What does the writing on the board mean? The parchment, the letters that are written one, is kind eaten. Therefore, it is difficult to read. We can't understand it" Sakura said.

"Oh please. We passed, didn't we? That stuff doesn't matter now" Naruto said as he was in front of her face.

"She is right, Naruto. There is a reason why is written there and it's not for just telling us that we needed to open the scrolls"

"Well, Tsuki is right. There is a reason why is written and it was one of my duties to take care of. Give it a good read, they are the instructions Lord Hokage recorded as principles that chunin should follow. Heaven stands for your mind and Earth stands for your body. If qualities of heaven are you desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. You get it?"

"Nuh-uh", Naruto said and Tsuki left out a sigh.

"Look Naruto, it says that if your weakness lies in your mind. Then you have to make sure to retrieve all the skill that is necessary for the mission. Now you got it?"

"Alright, I get your point" he grumbled while Sakura giggled.

"And you Sakura, if it's earthly qualities you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. Therefore, if your weakness lies in your physical skills, then you have to make sure to work on your physical every single day. So, it's improved all the time"

"So let me see if I got this right. When heaven and earth are opened together, pair less path will become righteous forever. That means that if we have all the necessary skills in our minds and our bodies then we can make it on every single mission, right?"

"Very well Tsuki. If your body and soul are working together, then even the hardest mission can become an easy one"

"So, what about the spot with the missing letter?" Sakura asked.

"Well, that part is meant for all of you to fill in. Do you see that symbol on the scroll? It is the character for a person. A reference to you chunin. You see, these 5 days of survival were to test your abilities as chunin and see if you would be any good at it. However, I have to say, you did it magnificently. A chunin is a leader, a guide. It is cumin's responsibility to be aware of the strengths and weaknesses of those serving under him. Moreover, to know what skills and training, those ninjas are going to need to succeed on the mission. You did an excellent job on your mission and I want you to remember these instructions on your next one. Well, that is it. That was everything I was supposed to say to you"

"Got it" Naruto said and saluted him.

"And one more thing. For the third exam, do not push it too far. Especially you Naruto-" Iruka tried to say but he cut him off.

"Iruka sensei. When I got his headband, I stopped being a student. Therefore, you do not need to worry about me at all. Not anymore. I mean, this headband proves that I am a fully-fledged ninja right? You gave it to me. I may still be hyperactive but I am not a kid. As you said, I got through the second exam and you watch because I am going to pass the third one for sure. Right now, I am a ninja too"

"You are right Naruto. I am sorry about that" he said and disappeared in a poof sound and smoke.