The ninja was shocked but actually proud of the kids for knowing that they couldn't deal the finishing blow to win. Not to kill him but if they knocked him out or drained his chakra they would have won.

Again Iruka made it sound like their success was all down to Sasuke and Sakura.

"I disagree." Jiraiya cut in he'd finally noted Naruto's depression when Iruka had started praising the other two and not him. "I was sitting right here when Naruto figured out that the ninja was using Earth Style. He figured it out before either of his teammates. He was quick to alert them to it and though he wasn't able to come up with a strategy beforehand he did eventually come up with one in the field."

"That's sort of Naruto's style." Sakura informed the panel. "He thinks better under stress like that."

Naruto felt himself blush she'd noticed.

"It's a good trait for a Ninja to have." Jiraiya nodded.

"I agree with Jiraiya." Tsunade replied. "I would also like to add that even though it was clear that both Naruto and Sasuke wanted to strike the final blow and actually win Naruto thought of the team first. A good quality in a leader and though Sasuke seemed about to disobey he did listen keep up the work trying to take orders, Sasuke. Sakura, you did a fine job healing the boys when they were hurt but you let your guard down everytime you did. You need to correct this or it could cost you your life."

"Yes, Tsunade-Dono."

Hiruzen and the other two unnamed ninja praised the team as well. Danzo made a few small comments mostly on how he thought each of them could improve. He also snapped at Sakura to stop dieting that she didn't need to because she'd work it off. To this Tsunade quickly agreed.

Iruka happily dismissed the class.

"They noticed me!" Naruto cheered to himself. "They actually noticed!"

When they got to base Naruto made an executive decision it was clear his team was worn out including Sasuke.

"Tonight we hit the books." Naruto declared, making Sakura cheer. "I'm not doing this for you, Sakura, I'm doing it because I can hardly stand right now."

Sakura didn't really seem to care she was in her element. Naruto found out quickly that he preferred Sasuke as a teacher than Sakura in her eyes he was just too stupid.

"Hey, I'll have you know I've gotten a lot smarter!" Naruto snapped. "Stats!"

Naruto Uzumaki

Rank: Academy Student

Title: Dobe/Team Leader

HP: 500/500

CP: 8,000/8,000

Level: 2

STR: 30

Dex: 60

VIT: 30

INT: 11

WIS: 10

LUK: 30

You have 5 stat points to spend!

He'd gotten the LUK boost while fighting Sasuke apparently he'd avoided a few hits he shouldn't have been able to avoid he probably got some of the LUK today as well.

"See, Sakura? INT: 11 and WIS: 10. " Naruto pointed out. "I may not be on your level but at least I am trying. "

"Whoa." Sakura was leaning over him arms on his head staring at his screen. "Check out those stats. STR: 30, DEX: 60, VIT: 30, LUK: 30. Not bad, Naruto. You have been training. How is your DEX so high?"

"It's nothing." Naruto told her. "I bet Sasuke's stats are at least double mine if not more."

This proved true and Naruto cried a river of tears he had a long way to go. Then again so did Sakura who was put in her place just by checking her status page. Naruto noted they were all level 2. Sakura noticed how much CP. He had.

"8,000!" She cried, "No wonder you have no CC."

"I have CC-3!" Naruto defended himself. "Almost 4. That means I can control 240 CP. " He thought for a moment. "Right?"

His teammates nodded.

"I'm doomed." Naruto moaned his head hitting the table.

Sakura's cell began ringing she answered and looked at her watch.

"I'm sorry, mama, yeah, I'm on my way home now." She was packing up as she talked, "No, Naruto decided it was study night...yes, okay."

Sakura waved goodbye and took off.

Sasuke stuck around to help Naruto some more then left.

Naruto packed up and ate, did dishes and showered. Then fell on to his mattress. He began rubbing his shoulder. Even with his healing Factor he hurt all over. He was shocked when he got.

Massage-1

He read it and grinned. If he did this he probably wouldn't need to sleep and he could try Chakra Training and Leaf Sticking. After a half hour his fatigue was gone and he began leaf sticking he wanted to get some more CC because only being able to control 240 of his CP was going to hold them back he knew it. While he did Leaf Sticking he continued to study. He was actually getting what the system called Study Skills and slowly leveling them up. He did this until he got

Leaf Sticking-47

CC-4

That was all he could do because he wanted a shot at Chakra Training. He'd never been any good at it and he now understood why. He took up Meditation position, something else he'd never been good at because he couldn't sit still, and closed his eyes focusing on his chakra network when that didn't work he got out his map of the Chakra Network and stared at it until he'd memorized it then tried again. This time it worked he could see his Chakra Network and his chakra. One place was lit up faintly. Naruto struggled to force all his now 320 CP that he could control into that place and sure enough

Chakra Training-1

Meditation-1

Wind Release-1

Naruto kept this up for two hours before he finally couldn't take anymore. He moaned and stretched out. Then got to his feet and stretched out properly. He looked out the window. Dawn was pushing the horizon he hadn't thought he'd trained either skill that long. He shrugged it off and got dressed. He went outside and some distance from base and began training Rasengan. Two sets of 99 balloons later he couldn't think of his problem. He still hadn't leveled the skill up. Then his own advice echoed in his head and he began practicing the proper amount of chakra he would need to burst the balloons over and over again getting it perfect after awhile, while bursting balloons, yes this would work maybe he should go to the TG and practice too. He could always use some money.

Noting that it only seemed to be around six he made himself some breakfast and ate. Then made himself a bento. He washed his dishes then set out for TG1. He needed to get stronger and this was the way to do it. Naruto went as far as he could and was shocked when he got almost to the halfway point before deciding he was done. If he kept coming back here to train then he'd soon be able to reach the half way point then he could try and win and get some money. He returned to base racing along as fast as he could. Once there he noted that he still had some time so he stretched out again. He decided to explore around his base. When that didn't prove worth anything he just raced around the area as fast as he could. When got close to meeting time he showered, put on clean clothes and started a load of laundry.

He then raced off. He met up with Sasuke and this time they both noticed Sakura behind them but neither slowed to wait for her. Sasuke won again naturally. Sakura bringing up the rear.

"Stupid stats." She hissed holding her side.

"Guess what?" Naruto told her. "Last night I couldn't sleep." she gave him a dead look. "So I made the best of it. I got Leaf Sticking to level 47 which got me CC-4 meaning now I can control 320 CP altogether." Sakura nodded. "Then I did some Chakra Training. I forgot how hard it is. I only got 1 level in CHakra Training, Meditation, and Wind Release for two hours worth of work but I suppose it'll be worth it in the long run. Then I practiced my secret Jutsu and found out what I was doing wrong with it. Then I trained my Chakra Paw Jutsu and got it up to 9. I also worked on Shuriken Jutsu and Kunai Jutsu they are only at 9 too though."

It was clear what Naruto wanted so she patted his head.

"Good boy." She said, now rubbing the stitch in her side.

Naruto gave a genuine grin this time.

"But unlike you I passed out almost as soon as I got home." She sighed. "Oh, Iruka-Sensei." She waved him over. "Here's my essay on how our team is shaped and what problems we might face because of it."

Naruto and Sasuke quickly handed theirs in as well.

Iruka nodded and shocked Naruto by starting to read his first.

"Today is Chakra Training." Iruka said, off handedly.

The three sat down and assumed Meditation.

Naruto found it easier to call up his Chakra Network this time. He once again focused on getting his chakra to the glowing Wind Release space. He was curious what Chakra Training was going to help and decided he'd look later.

Iruka frowned at Naruto's essay and forced himself to hold off grading it a fact which the judges and Mizuki noticed.

"Kakashi, Team 7 is yours correct?" Iruka asked.

"So I'm told." Kakashi replied. "From what I've seen they're going to be the first team to pass my test."

"Good, read Naruto's essay and tell me how accurate you think it is."

Kakashi was shocked but took the essay.

Iruka pursued Sasuke's a lot of the points were the same just better explained. Sakura's gave him a headache hers was full of self pity and declarations to try harder. He had Kakashi read all three.

"I believe all of them are accurate." Kakashi replied. "Though I do believe Sakura got off topic and should be counted down on her grade."

"Agreed." Iruka nodded. "I just wanted fresh perspective on the team. I thought Naruto's showed a clear understanding of the team dynamics and I'm going to figure out how."

Hiruzen sighed in defeat he'd tried to get Iruka to understand the boy but it was hopeless.

Naruto finally couldn't take it anymore and needed to move he startled both Sasuke and Sakura out of Meditation.

"You're worse than Kiba!" Sakura scolded.

"I can't help it." Naruto whined. "I need to move."

Sasuke just shook his head at Sakura as she went to lecture.

"Oh, good Naruto brought you all back." Iruka said, walking up. "I want to ask how you got you assessments of each other's strengths."

"Well, that was actually because of something Naruto did." Sakura admitted as the three stood in front of the judge booth. "I was putting him down for his study habits because he wanted to study last night and I didn't think he was doing it properly. He wanted to show me he'd gotten smarter so he showed me his status page. He has gotten smarter and a lot stronger I acknowledged that in my essay." Iruka nodded. "Naruto made a off hand comment about how Sasuke's stats were probably double his so we checked and he was right of course." Naruto looked annoyed and Sasuke smug. "Then I checked my own and..."

"Yes, you'll be counted down for going off topic because of that." Iruka said, and quickly marked the essays. "That was good thinking to use the information in your essays not many if any others would have done that."

Naruto looked at his paper and was shocked.

50% in red at the top.

"Sakura! Sakura ! Look! LOOK!"

"Alright! ALRIGHT!" She shoved him off of her. "What?" She took the paper. "Whoa! 50%!"

Sasuke snatched the essay and began reading. Sakura chose to read over his shoulder and by the end was crying rivers of tears with a gloomy genjutsu backdrop behind her.

"Hn." Sasuke told her handing the essay back. Naruto put it in his inventory.

"I KNOW HE'S NOT WRONG!" Sakura bawled, "BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I HAVE TO LIKE IT!"

Naruto rubbed the back of his head he was kind of feeling sorry for Sakura. He sighed, he was such an idiot and glutton for punishment.

"Come on, Sakura I'll teach you the Academy Three." He sighed, "Sasuke and I should get in some more practice. "

"You both reached 25?" Iruka asked checking his tablet. "Then proceed to two clones and keep the rest the same."

"I don't know if I can do that." Naruto admitted scratching his cheek. "Never managed that before."

"Last week you couldn't even do one clone but you can do it perfectly now." Sakura pointed out. "If you have trouble Sasuke's been able to do two clones since the start of Academy and can help you."

Sasuke nodded his consent on that. He did just that and after ten tries Naruto had two perfect clones just like Sasuke Sakura had one. Naruto explained how to split her Chakra for the Transform Jutsu. He made one Clone Sasuke, the other Sakura and himself into the Hokage. Sasuke managed Transformation on himself and both clones as well. Sakura took four times before she finally managed herself and the one clone. Naruto then explained Sub Jutsu. He subbed with one clone then subbed with it again so he was back in his original spot then repeated with his other clone and released. Sasuke took six turns and the rest of his chakra but managed before sliding to the ground to rest and Chakra Train. Sakura ran out of Chakra before managing at all. Naruto had been demonstrating and had actually worked up a sweat. He decided he should Chakra train as well so he joined his teammates.

"I can't believe what I just saw." Ino said, she was standing with Shikamaru, Choji, Hinata, Shino, Kiba and Akamaru they'd arrived somewhere in the middle of Naruto's lesson. "But the way he explains it kind of makes since."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru sighed. "So Troublesome. I already hit 25 in all three. My mom's been forcing me train."

"I hit it too." Choji nodded. "Dad says it's a good way to learn CC."

"I've got one level." Ino huffed. "I meant to get the last one last night but passed out do to exhaustion. We were training Clan Technique last night. Do to that stupid reset I had to start all over and now I'm getting pushed twice as hard."

" I hear ya." Shikamaru groused.

Hinata moved over to her team number created two clones with ease and transformed one into Akamaru, the other into Kiba and herself into Shino then subbed the way Naruto had. She succeeded she gave a quiet cheer. Shino, Kiba and Akamaru praised her.

Iruka decided to rotate the class between The Academy Three and Chakra Training when class started.

Naruto had shocked the entire class with his Academy Three and he liked that though when Jiraiya had asked him what his CC was he had to admit that it was only 4 which got most of the class laughing at him.

"I wouldn't be laughing Hibachi." Iruka said, "According to your scores you have CC-0."

This shocked Naruto how was that possible? Hibachi was an average student in both class and ninja studies. Naruto had thought that there couldn't be anyone in his class with less CC than him so this was beyond comprehension for him. But it actually made him happy as well. To him it meant he had clear proof that he was improving and becoming a better ninja.

Today they didn't go into the ring it was back to the TG for which they were all thankful. The truth of the matter was the ninja they'd fought needed to rest after the assault of Naruto's team. The man had said they would make for a good combat team if they could just train the girl. Those were his exact words too. So here they were at TG1 again going in by themselves and getting reviewed by the judges.

Naruto noticed that everyone seemed to do a little better and handled the situation a little easier this time. Sakura got farther for sure. He got to the same spot as he had this morning and quit. The judges gave mixed reviews. Danzo's was full of ways to improve. He seemed bored. The class started going in as teams.

"I got a new plan for the Halfway boss." Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura as he sat down.

"oh, yeah?" Sakura wondered. "Tell us."

Naruto laid it out for them.

"Basically just adding one step to what we did last time." Sakura replied.

"No, it's not." Sasuke disagreed. "Last time we were running around with our heads cut off until Naruto came up with a plan. This time we have a solid plan going in. It's a step up."

Naruto smiled at him brightly.

"I'm not saying it's not." Sakura sighed, "Sorry if it came out like that. I'm trying to say it's basically the same thing..."

"I'm building on what we did last time." Naruto cut in. "Learning from what we did wrong and trying to correct it. That's what Iruka-Sensei tries to teach us isn't it."

"Well when you put it that way..." Sakura said, then smiled. She rubbed her hand into Naruto's head. "Good boy, we'll do our best."

Naruto smiled again he liked it when she praised him. Of course it wasn't just her he liked it when anyone praised him and he sure as hell wasn't going to get flat out praise from Sasuke though what Sasuke said was more or less praising Naruto's leadership ability as well.