Hey guys! I hope you enjoy this chapter and as always thank you all so much for the lovely reviews I appreciate all of them. There's some more Kurama content in this chapter-and a big brother is a big brother even if they are a giant chakra demon.
When the next morning came Naruto was woken by the feeling of something ice cold and very wet splashing onto her face, and she jerked awake, spluttering and flailing, wiping at her eyes to get the water out of them, her mouth dropping open in surprise when she saw Sasuke leaning over her smirking with a bucket in his hands.
She could hear giggling too and she turned her head to see that Sakura was already awake and had clearly been watching.
"You assholes." Naruto spluttered, leaping to her feet, "You total assholes."
"You'd have done it to me." Sasuke looked decidedly smug-too smug Naruto decided. She'd have to take him down a peg or two when the exams were over.
"Yes, but that's different."
"How Naruto-chan?" Sakura asked, smiling slightly.
"Because he deserves it." the blonde huffed, "I can't believe you did that."
"You needed to wake up soon. I was doing you a favor. Now go and get your ass showered and dressed ready to go. Rin-san is doing us some packed breakfasts."
"Did you seal the supplies already?" Sakura asked quickly, "Are we prepared."
"Yep." Naruto nodded "We're as ready as we'll ever be. You guys head downstairs I won't be long." Naruto aimed a glare at Sasuke, "And I will get you back for this-be prepared to be pink Uchiha."
"Bring it on Nohara." Sasuke shot back, smirking smugly before grabbing Sakura's arm and darting out of the room as Naruto got ready to leave-which honestly didn't take long at all.
Soon enough she was bounding downstairs where Sasuke and Sakura were already sat with Rin and Kakashi, fruit heaped up into a pile on the table.
"Did you sleep well Naru-chan?" Rin's smile was mischievous, and Kakashi-as usual with his nose in his precious orange book, snickered.
"I slept fine mom." Naruto gave Sasuke her most evil look, "I'm not the one who's gonna have to sleep with one eye open from here on out." she plucked a slice of apple off the table and popped it in her mouth, not once looking away from Sasuke, who paled slightly and shuddered.
"Sure." he managed, "As if I'd let you get me ever again-"
"How are you gonna stop me Sasuke? Wards?" She resisted the urge to give an evil cackle-that would be overkill. "I'm a fuinjutsu master in the making-the only reason I'm not a master officially is cause you can't usually be considered one until a fellow fuinjutsu master declares that you're skilled enough. And when Jiraiya-sama shows up here that'll be made official, so, what are you gonna do to defend yourself from me?"
"It's simple. I'm never going to sleep again." Sasuke said with a completely straight face-which made Sakura burst out laughing with Naruto not far behind her as the two adults shook their heads at the antics of the three twelve year olds.
There were definitely passing similarities to team Minato, but one thing was remarkably clear to both of the adults. Team seven were what team Minato could have been, what they should have been, if Obito hadn't died then this could have been what they became.
And both of them were grateful, as the three Genin filled up their stomachs and headed out of the house, that it hadn't taken a tragedy to get the trio to form those bonds-because no matter how Naruto and Sasuke bickered they still so very clearly cared about each other. Their rivalry wouldn't tear them apart, not like this. It would take something huge to tear it apart.
And so the three Genin made their way to the Forest of Death
They joined the crowd of teams when they arrived, weaving their way towards the front, and when everyone had arrived Anko, who was stood in front of the crowd, spoke up.
"This is the location of the second phase of the Chunin exams, Training ground 44. Also known as the Forest of Death."
Naruto grinned, leaning towards Sakura, "Sounds scary." she whispered, "Should be fun." and the girl giggled slightly.
"Naru-chan." she hissed, "Stop that. We should at least try and take this seriously-"
"Unlike the last test." Sasuke snorted softly.
"But that would be boring."
"Naruto." Sasuke hissed, elbowing her, and Naruto pouted and poked her tongue out before shrugging, "Only for you guys I guess." The blond draped an arm over her team mates shoulders, "But some scary name isn't gonna make me back down!"
"So we've got a tough girl." Anko had paused, her eyes on Naruto, and in the blink of an eye a kunai was flying through the air. Naruto twitched her head slightly, letting it just breeze past her cheek without touching, though it was close enough that she could feel the cold of the metal rushing past only just not touching. She felt the movement of the air as Anko arrived behind her, and she heard the woman's surprised noise when she saw that she hadn't broken skin, though it was faint beneath Sakura's startled cry and Sasuke's sharp intake of breath.
"Huh, I thought for sure that I got you."
"I think I'll be harder than that to cut." Naruto gave the woman a smirk, and Anko laughed.
"Huh. I like you kid." she stepped back. "You have guts and you're fast."
Naruto's hand lashed out as Anko moved, Kunai suddenly in hand as Naruto grabbed the long tongue that had just shot past them, kunai wrapped up in it. Naruto tightened her grip, glaring at the woman, "Pull something like that and I'll rip your freaky tongue out of your damn mouth." she snarled before releasing the tongue, fully aware of the glare that the girl gave her.
She had to resist the urge to shudder-there was something about that tongue that was just creepy.
"Sorry. I was just returning it. I just became a little excited when your kunai sliced through my hair." she gave back the Kunai and backed away.
"It seems that everyone here is a bit quick tempered." Anko waked forward so that she was stood in front of the group, facing them once again.
"Now I'm going to need you to sign these." she pulled out a handful of papers, "They're just standard consent forms. You'll have to read them and sign it. I need your consent since some of you may not come back from this test, otherwise it'll be my responsibility."
She started handing out the forms and Naruto took hers, flicking through it very quickly, nodding as she listened, "Now I'll explain what you'll be doing on this test while they're passed out. First thing you need to know is that this test will force you to use all your survival skills. First I'll give you a description of the terrain on the practice field. The training zone has forty four locked entrance gates. There are rivers and a forest inside. In the center there's a large tower located ten kilometers from each gate. It's from within this area that you'll undergo the survival test. The test consists of an anything goes battle, to get your hands on these scrolls." she pulled some scrolls out of her pocket, holding them up so that the teams could see. There are Heaven and Earth scrolls. You need one of each to pass. There are twenty seven teams left, half of those teams will have Heaven, and half will have Earth. As there's an odd number only thirteen of the twenty seven teams that get the scrolls will be able to pass. To pass you need to bring both of the scrolls to the Tower. The test must be finished within five days." there were exclamations of horror at that and Anko let out an amused noise, "You'll be in a forest, there's plenty to hunt and scavenge out there. As long as you avoid the poisonous plants and man eating beasts."
"Sounds like fun." Naruto smirked, "We'll have to be constantly on our guard."
"Of course. This test is designed to simulate being behind enemy lines." Anko explained, "As well as that there are ways you can get disqualified. If you don't make it back with all three team mates, you'll be out, if you don't make it back within five days, you'll be out. And most important, none of you may open the scrolls and read them until after you've reached the tower. There will be times when you're tasked with carrying important documents that you won't be able to look at! This rule is to test your integrity. Now if you're ready go and collect a scroll from the desk and head to the gate you're given. Oh and I have one more word of advice. Don't die."
Naruto glanced at Sasuke and Sakura, who sent her determined looks, and together the trio signed their forms and headed to the desk, Naruto taking point and accepting a scroll from the chunin at the desk, tucking it away to make sure no one could see it before being sent to one of the gates-number twenty.
Once they were there Naruto lifted the scroll for her teammates to see, "We have a heaven scroll."
"We'll need to find an Earth one then." Sakura nodded to herself.
"And to take out anyone else we can to limit the competition." Sasuke added.
"Which one of us should carry the scroll?" Naruto glanced between her teammates, and Sasuke and Sakura exchanged glances before Sasuke spoke.
"You're our heavy hitter." the dark haired boy admitted, "You're the strongest on the team so you should carry it." the words no longer held the bitterness that they had at first-oh he didn't like the fact that between the two of them Naruto was the stronger, but he'd accepted it-after all she gave him something to work towards, a measuring stick so to speak.
"Okay." Naruto nodded, "I'll seal it into my left arm." she did as she said, biting her thumb and swiping it to open the storage seal, tucking it inside carefully before resealing it. "We need a plan too."
"Sakura, what do you think?" Sasuke's gaze focused on the pink haired girl, "You're the smartest out of the three of us. You're probably the one best suited to come up with our strategy."
"Right..." Sakura frowned thoughtfully, "We should take advantage of Naruto's shadow clones." she decided after a moment, "Naruto, if you could create... nine." she nodded to herself, "And henge six of them into me and Sasuke you can send them off to pose as us, three clone team sevens and the real one."
"They should each have something henged into a scroll." Naruto decided, "That way we might trick other teams into thinking they have both scrolls-then when they get to the tower-"
"That's a good idea." Sakura nodded before lifting her head when a claxon rang out and the gates in front of the trio opened.
They exchanged determined looks before walking through the gates together, into the thick trees and shadowed area.
Once the gates shut behind them Naruto swiftly made the three teams, giving the clone Naruto each a Hirashin kunai transfigured to look like a heaven-that would be useful as after the teams had left once they'd given over the fake scroll the three clones could dispel and Naruto would have a way to get to the enemy team and take them out.
Within less than ten minutes the fake team sevens were taking off, and Naruto tossed Sakura and Sasuke each a kunai.
"I don't plan on us getting split up during this but there is a risk of it and it's one we don't want to have to take." Naruto said firmly, "And so-" she gestured to the Hirashin tagged kunai.
"So you can Hirashin to us-don't look at me like that." Sasuke snorted, "It's not hard to figure out dumbass. Everyone knows about the Yondaime's Hirashin Kunai, and I'm not dumb, I've been watching. You're his daughter, and you have the Kyubi locked inside of you right? I looked up Jinchuriki after you first mentioned it."
"I-" Naruto blinked, "You don't care?"
"Why should I?" Sasuke shrugged, "I've spent every day for over two months around you, I think I'd have noticed if you were evil-" he paused,
"Well, you are evil but you're not 'killing people' evil."
And Naruto felt a surge of relief as she gave Sasuke a wry smile, "Bet you understand why the Wave mission was S-rank now."
"Yeah, it's obvious." Sasuke shrugged. "Doesn't change anything."
"So we all know now." Sakura grinned, "We just have to keep it a secret from literally everyone else for as long as we can-"
"Now that sounds like a challenge." Sasuke gave a small smirk, and Naruto laughed.
"We can do this." she rubbed her hands together, "Now, we need to go find some teams to beat the crap into and steal their scrolls."
"You look far too gleeful right now." Sakura laughed, shaking her head fondly, "Any idea's who you want to target first?"
"Well..." Naruto paused, a sudden idea occurring to her, "Actually... not necessarily to steal their scroll but I do want to find the Suna team-"
"You're gonna give Rin-san and Kakashi-sensei heart attacks you know that?" Sakura shook her head, "Kakashi's probably sat with Rin-san right now and he's just had a shiver go down his spine and he'll be there like 'Oh no. They're causing a diplomatic nightmare I just know it."
"It's only a diplomatic nightmare if we fail right?" Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "So, how do we find the Suna team then dumbass?"
Naruto's return smirk was lethal, "Well, I just so happen to have a demon who wants me to help fix up his brothers seal."
"Perfect." "Brat, do you have to call me that?" "It's what you are, Fuzzball. So. Care to help me track down Gaara and Shukaku?" "With pleasure kit."
"Oi. Fuzzball-"
"Kurama's said he'll give us directions." Naruto declared quickly, "Let's head off." and with that they were taking off, Naruto taking point, Sakura in the centre and Sasuke just behind them, the two fighters guarding the rear with the medic between them-she was the one who'd need more protection, even if she was kick ass, they'd need her if they got injured.
And Naruto followed Kurama's orders, racing through the trees, making sure her teammates could keep up as she occasionally swerved and changed direction, and then they burst through some trees into a clearing, and there were Gaara and his siblings.
Naruto moved lightning fast, biting her thumb, sliding it across a seal and pulling out one of her paralysis seals.
Naruto took off instantly, lunging at the boy-and the sand siblings didn't even have time to react, she was slipping past them, and pushing her chakra into the seal paper as she slapped it onto Gaara's cheek, and as expected he hit the ground, his sand smashing its way out of his gourd and surrounding them. "Calm down!" She yelled over the sudden roaring of the sand, and Temari and Kankuro's shocked yells. "Calm down I'm helping you!" Gaara's eyes were terrified, his sand scraping against her skin and clothes. "Just-ugh you won't listen! Sasuke, Sakura, keep his siblings back." she could see her teammates leaping to her defence, blocking Temari and Kankuro from rushing her, and then she mentally cried. "On it brat."
"Kurama! Little help here!"
Kurama took control of her hand, slamming it against the boys forehead and almost pulling, and then she felt her body slumping on top of Gaara's as they were forcefully dragged to a strange white place-and it was just white all around.
Naruto let out a breath when she saw Kurama, his tail flicking out and wrapping around her legs, and there, not too far in front of them, were Gaara and Shukaku, the Tanuki huge and menacing looking behind Gaara-though not so menacing as Kurama, who growled lowly.
"Stop your sand from attacking my brat Shukaku or kami help me I will beat you so thoroughly that you never recover."
"It's not my power." Shukaku glared at Kurama, pacing behind Gaara, who had span around when he realized something was behind him, and he stumbled backwards, his eyes wide with shock and fear.
Naruto didn't hesitate, leaping over the tail curled around her legs and rushing to Gaara's side, stopping Gaara from falling, "Calm down!" her voice was sharp, "Gaara-san it's okay-"
"M-mother?"
"I can explain everything-"
"Where are we?"
"Uh-Kurama?"
"You gave your jailer your name?" Shukaku demanded, "Have you been ta-"
"I could take you out with less than a tail." Kurama snarled, "Sit down little brother-"
"We're the same age-"
"I was made first!"
"KURAMA!" Naruto yelled the name this time, "Where the hell are we? I know for a fact that this isn't my mind and I highly doubt it's Gaaras."
"It's a shared mindscape that the Bijuu can access." Kurama said after a moment, giving her a dirty look, "No need to yell."
"You weren't answering my question and Gaara-san here was freaking out."
"We're... in a mindscape?" Gaara looked around, "What is this? Are you going to kill me." he gave Kurama a frightened look.
"No, I'm gonna help you." Naruto said firmly, reaching out and laying a hand on Gaara's shoulder, "I dunno if your sand is still attacking me out there but if you can can you make it stop?"
"I..." Gaara hesitated before nodding, "It will stop-and I will make it form a barrier around us."
"That's useful." Naruto nodded, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"What do you mean you'll help me-you're like me you have a demon... why are they not scared of you?"
"Most people don't know and those that do know I'm not a monster." Naruto sighed, "Listen Gaara-san. I know you have no control-it's not your fault it's because of a fault seal. If you let me help you you won't be afraid of sleeping anymore and you." she swung her gaze to Shukaku, "And the seal won't be painful for you anymore-"
"How did you know-"
"Oh come on I'm good with seals I could see that the seal would cause you pain."
"I should kill you for your impuden-"
"If you so much as look at her wrong I will wring your neck." Kurama roared the words, "And Isobu would too!"
"You know where Isobu is?"
"His Jinchuriki raised mine." the fox said firmly, "And we're both fond of our Jinchuriki's."
"You know someone else like us?" Gaara spoke up, his eyes wide.
"My mom-she adopted me when I was a baby." Naruto gave him a gentle smile, "Listen I dunno how you were raised, but clearly it wasn't right and you had a faulty seal. Let me fix it, please Gaara. I guarantee you'll have better control-"
"If I have better control I would be stronger."
"You would." Naruto nodded, "Gaara... this world... it's not all bad-"
"It's kill or be killed." Gaara said coldly, "I will not be killed-"
"If it was kill or be killed you would be dead." Naruto's voice was sharp and blunt, "I could have killed you. But I won't because you deserve a chance and you haven't been given one until now."
"I.." Gaara shook his head, "Why?"
"I just said, you deserve a chance Gaara-san. A chance to control your power, to not be feared."
"How are you so strong?"
"Love." Naruto shrugged, "Ever since I was a child I trained to protect rather than kill, I trained because of love, I fight because of love. Love for my friends and family. For my home, for the people around me. Maybe they're not all good but most of them are. I hope. So I have to try right?"
"I.." Gaara stared at her with wide shocked eyes, "You..." he looked down slowly, "I... I think I would like to try not to be feared." he said after a long moment, glancing towards Shukaku and Kurama, who were almost wrestling and-
"Is the Kyubi sat on Shukaku?"
"Yes." Naruto sighed, "He's being a big brother I think."
"My brother fears me."
"I know. But you can change that." Naruto glanced at him, biting her lip, holding out a hand to him, "Will you let me help you?"
"I.." Gaara hesitated, "You're friends with the fox?"
"Yeah." Naruto nodded, "I am, he's probably one of my best friends-not that it was easy. He threatened to eat me a lot."
"I.. do you believe I could be friends with Shukaku?"
"Maybe?" Naruto's gaze focused on the two Bijuu, Kurama was still sat on top of the Tanuki, looking very smug, and he looked like he was in lecture mode. Naruto forced herself not to giggle "If I can befriend Kurama then you could probably defend Shukaku."
"Will fixing the seal hurt?"
"Yes."
"I've... I am not used to physical pain, my sand protects me."
"You need to learn. There will be attacks that can get through it." Naruto said softly, "Will you try?"
"I will try." Gaara nodded, and with that he reached out, taking Naruto's hand, and then they were back in the forest in the clearing, Naruto pushing herself up off Gaara quickly, his eyes no longer filled with terror.
"I'll remove the paralysis seal after." she promised quickly, "If I leave it on it means your moving won't mess up the seal." she saw understanding in the boys shadowed eyes and she moved quickly, looking up, glad to see that the sand was still forming a barrier around them-though she did notice lots of holes in her clothes and blood on them from the sand scraping at her flesh.
She would have to check her injuries later.
It was time to work.
