The winner is Dosu Kinuta."*cough* and with that match. The 3rd exam preliminaries are finished," he announced and the winners went and made a line. " I command all those who had advanced to finals for the 3rd level of the chunin exams. Well, there is one person missing but still, congratulations"

With that, all the genin who won their matches started to walk towards the arena before standing on a line going: Doshu, Naruto, Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, Shikamaru, Neji and last Tsuki.

"And now I will begin the explanation of the final round. In the final rounds, each of you will put your battle skills on display. You will demonstrate the power and the control that you have received in your perspective discipline. Accordingly, the final battle will commend one month from now" the Hokage said.

"Wait, we are not going to do it right here and now?" Naruto asked.

"This is to provide, a suitable period of preparation"

"What do you mean by that?" Shikamaru asked him.

"Simply this, in addition, to announce the conclusion of the preliminaries matches' to each county's leader. We must also have some time to prepare and distribute the summits for the final selection. Not to mention that you examiners will need some time to prepare for something that is this important"

"Look, I don't really get what you are trying to say. What's the point of this?" Kankuro was next.

"I mean that in order to prepare yourselves, you need time. Even though up to this point all the battles have been real battles, which I am sure, you can all attest. They were conducted on the premise that you are fighting an unknown enemy but that is no longer the case, now that you battled each other. So in order to make the finals fair and just, will giving you this month. Each of you must embrace the opportunity to learn some new tricks because by now, everyone here knows your techniques. Therefore, by using the same kind of tricks is a sure way of losing in the finals and in order to get some rest as well. Now with all of that behind us, I would like to begin wading things up. However, before we can end this, there is one more important matter to take care of for the final rounds"

"Let's get on with it. I mean, come on. How long do we have to wait will we start training dattebayo?"

"Be patient Naruto" Tsuki scolded him.

"In a calm and old fashioned way. All of you are going to sleep of paper from the box that Anko is holding"

She sweatdropped. For real?

"Everyone, just stay where you are and I will come to you. Just take one" the proctor said and went to Dosu who picked a piece of paper. Soon, the other genin followed, each of them holding a paper with a different number on it.

"Good, now everyone had one. Going from left to right, tell me your number that is written on the slip of paper" Ibiki explained.

"I have 8", Doshu said.

"Number 1 of course," Naruto said.

"7" was all Temari said.

"5," Kankuro said.

"3," Gaara said.

"9," Shikamaru said.

"2," Neji said.

"6"

"And that means Sasuke will be number 4" Ibiki concluded.

"Right. Very good. Now, I am going to tell you how the final selection tournament is going to work" the Hokage said.

"Eeehhh?" Naruto exclaimed.

"Is that what the numbers we draw were?" Shikamaru asked.

"Ibiki, you may reveal which ninja have been paired up"

"Yes sir," he said and showed the genin the paper he was holding. The matches were going like this: 1 vs. 2, 3 vs. 4, 5 vs. 6, 7 vs. 8 vs. 9.

So, that means that I am going to fight Kankuro huh? Tsuki thought and looked at the said genin who looked at her back. He then gave a wink and she found herself smiling faintly.

Kankuro wasn't exactly that bad, he was tolerable with a jackass side. However, she was excited about the battle since she never faced a puppet master before. Of course, it would take special training and perhaps new tactics but she would make sure to win her match.

"May I ask a question?" Shikamaru lifted his hand.

"You may"

"Aright, if this is a tournament. That means there is going to be one winner. I mean, only one of us is going to be able to become a chunin?"

"Actually, it is quite the opposite. There are going to be several judges for the final round. Including the shinobi leaders, the Kazekage and myself. The lords of various countries that ultimately will be assigned your missions. Through this tournament, these judgers will be able to take a picture of your abilities. They will then decide when ether any or all of you possess the qualities required of a chunin. Even if someone loses the first round, they could still become a chunin"

"So, there is actually a chance that all of us who compete in the final selection could become chunin?!" Temari said.

"Correct but there is also a chance that none of you will be chosen. The advantage in fighting all rounds in the tournament is in getting more chances to display your talents in front of the judges who will decide your fate. Does that answer your question Shikamaru?" he asked him but he didn't answer. He stayed sceptical. "I thank you all for your patience. Now, we will meet again in a month." he continued and then dismissed them.


Tsuki exited the tower with Shikamaru, none of them talking as both were deep in thoughts.

"What are you thinking?" Tsuki asked, breaking the silence.

"Oh, nothing in particular… Just what a drag the finals will be. What about you?"

"Lots of stuff. Mostly, who is going to train me and how on earth I am going to win Kankuro. I mean, I have never fought a puppeteer before"

"I think you are overreacting. With good training and a good plan, can't be that hard but it will a drag"

"I guess you are right. Well then, better go find Kakashi. See you later Shika" Tsuki said and pecked him on the cheek before dashing towards the hospital, not noticing the blush on the boy's cheeks.


It didn't take Tsuki long to reach the hospital. The moment she entered, she quickly spotted silver-grey gravity defined hair followed by the high-pitched shouts of her best friend.

"Hey?! Aha! You are going to train Sasuke! Aren't you Kakashi sensei!" Naruto accused as Tsuki closed her sensitive wolf ears.

"For Kami's sake Naruto. Will you blow up if you spent 5 minutes without shouting to someone" she said as she walked and stopped right next to him.

"Oh sorry Tsuki. But I have my reasons" he said while rubbing the back of his neck.

"So I have heard. You know he is right"

"Why are you saying this?"

"Well, Sasuke has the Sharingan and since all the Uchihas are dead, Kakashi is the only one who can help him train. In addition, he is against Gaara. Forgive me, but I believe that Gaara is more dangerous than Neji"

"Okay but-"

"Now, now Naruto. Do not complain. She is right you know" Kakashi told him and Naruto turned to look at him. "Listen, I have found you and even a better teacher than me"

"Well, who is it?"

"It is I," a voice said.

"Hm?!" Naruto exclaimed and the duo quickly turned to look at Naruto's new sensei. He was tall, quite pale with dark, round glasses and he was wearing his headband like a bandana on his head. "You! You pervert! *turns to Kakashi* You are kidding me. Off all the people you could have picked, you picked this guy to train me. What a joke, he is weaker than I am" he said and caused Tsuki to sweatdrop. "I am serious. You should have seen him, he saw my harem jutsu once and he fell to pieces"

"Harem jutsu?" Kakashi asked him while Naruto's mouth was blocked by his other sensei.

"Oh, it's nothing, just a little joke we shared. Yes, we go way back" he told him and started to pat him on the head. Tsuki lifted an eyebrow, being familiar with the said Jutsu but not familiar with the relationship those two had. She didn't say anything though and kept watching.

"I still do not get it why it has to be him. I mean, anybody else"

"Look, you brat, if it hasn't been for Kakashi to ask me this favour, I would never consider train you"

"Okay, then do not"

"Hey, hey, come on you two. Let's calm down" Kakashi said while walking towards them. "Listen Naruto, you all wrong about Ebisu sensei. He is a special jounin, a private tutor who only trains the elite. Frankly is a better teacher than I am. Anyway Naruto, I have got to say that from the 4 genins in squad seven, you are the one whose basic skills need the most work. That is what I want you to focus on, this time around"

"Wait and hold on a second. Are you honestly saying that I am not as good as Sasuke or Sakura or Tsuki?" he yelled, causing Kakashi to left out a sigh and place his hand on his shoulder.

"Naruto, no matter how many skills you master, the fundamentals are... well fundamental. Moreover, yours could be improved. So, if you really want to become strong, then just be quiet and pay attention. *looks at the jounin* All right, Ebisu sensei, I leave him in your capable hands" The man gave a nod."Come on Tsuki"

They both started to put their distance with the duo, enough shouting and humiliation for one day.

"I will do what I can", Ebisu said and they heard him before the man pulled Naruto out of the building.

Kakashi stopped and turned to look at Tsuki who did the same. "Let me guess Tsuki, you came here to find me because you want me to train you right?"

"Yeah but since you train Sasuke, I guess I will have to find another one"

"Actually you don't have to because I already have arranged you a sensei"

"For real?" Tsuki asked, her tail wagging left and right.

He chuckled. "Yeah, she will meet you at the training ground in *looks at the clock in the wall* 5 minutes"

"What?! You couldn't have told me that earlier?!"

"Well, I could but… I forgot", he said while rubbing the back of his neck.

"You are unbelievable Kakashi sensei but thank you," she said and gave him a tight hug, which caught Kakashi off guard. "Have to go. Later!" she added she left him go and started running as fast as her four short limbs could.


Tsuki ran and ran until she reached the training grounds in record time. Slightly panting, she came to a halt in the middle of the grounds and with her hands on her knees; she tried to calm down her heartbeat as long as catching her breath.

Suddenly, her ears twitched as she heard footsteps coming closer and closer to where she was standing.