A/N: It's almost 2018! Happy Holidays!

Training for the chunin exams was actually going quite well. After managing to climb to the top of the tree and to learn how to walk on water, team 7 was making amazing progress…and they were confident that nothing could get in their way.

Hinata's confidence increased quite a bit. After constant phrasing from her sensei and her teammates she became more aggressive with her Juken (Gentle Fist) as she was always holding back before so she wouldn't hurt her teammates. Juken strikes really hurt but Naruto and Sasuke proved they could take anything.

Their mornings began with a breakfast at the local dango, sushi or other shops and their training sessions ended with a dinner at Ichiraku…or somewhere where Sasuke wanted to go. After dinner they would separate, Sasuke would go home and Naruto and Hinata would go back to the apartment and cuddle up in his bed for the night.

Those days went by as the day of the chunin exams finally came.

Naruto fixed his headband in the mirror. He glanced over to his roommate. "You ready?" She nodded placing her hair brush back in the drawer.

As the genin gathered in front of the academy building they all headed inside except for Sasuke who was waiting for a loud "Yo!" that he finally heard after some time. He glanced over to his two teammates. "Hey." He greeted them blandly. "Let's go in."

Getting into the building there was a ruckus in front of room 301. As they got closer to the large number of genin gathered in front of the door Naruto asked:

"Room 301? That's where we're supposed to go in, right?"

"No way… room 301 is supposed to be on the third floor…" Sasuke narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"That's right! We're on the second …floor..." Naruto trailed off in confusion.

"Byakugan!" Hinata smirked. "A genjutsu…"

"Hn…I thought so…"

Walking by the group of genin they saw that two of them were blocking the door not letting anyone in. As a genin in a tight green bodysuit and a weird haircut tried to get past them they insulted and punched him sending him on his rear.

"Please let us through, we're supposed to check in." His female teammate tried to get past them too only to get punched as well.

"He hit her for no reason…"

"Yeah, that's harsh…"

The mean genin's head snapped towards one of the genin. "Did you say harsh? Hah. You came here to become a chunin, a title that requires a lot of work and if you think this is harsh then cowards like you don't belong here."

The other bully spotted Sasuke, Naruto and Hinata walking around the crowd and going down the hallway. "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

Sasuke faced the guy. "Where do you think? The examination room is on the third floor."

"What is he saying we are on the third floor…" The other genin looked at them in confusion.

"Are you blind?" The bully pointed towards the number of the room.

"No. But if I was blind I would be arguing with you just like the rest because they didn't notice the genjutsu." Sasuke answered calmly as he continued to walk.

The bully smirked and the number 301 blurred and warped into 201.

"You must be really smart to notice the genjutsu and to turn your back on me like that!" The bully yelled out to Sasuke.

"Hn." Sasuke didn't even look back but he had to as another voice called out to him.

"Hey. You're a rookie, aren't you? How old are you anyway?"

Sasuke faced the guy with long hair. "I'm not obliged to answer."

"What?" Neji's eyebrow twitched.

TenTen giggled. "Cute."

"It's common courtesy to say your own name before asking someone else's." Sasuke added calmly.

Neji was about to snap back but his eyes focused on someone else. "Lady Hinata?" He almost smiled at her. "I'm surprised to see you here." He was even more surprised as Hinata looked at him with determination in her eyes.

"Lady?" Naruto scratched his cheek in confusion. His eyes widened as made the connection. "Hey." Neji turned to him. "Your eyes are the same as Hinata's, so you're a Hyuga too, huh?"

"And who might you be?"

Naruto put his hands in his pockets and calmed his expression mimicking Sasuke. "I'm not obliged to answer."

As the rest of the genin laughed, Neji glared at the blonde. Naruto slightly smiled at him.

"To have the audacity to make a comedy show out of a serious situation…you must be that Uzumaki clown Kakashi took under his wing."

"Well, looks like I'm well known among the leaf ninja…but that's how it is when you're the best of the best, right Sasuke?" Naruto smirked cockily.

"Hn." Sasuke nodded in approval. "Idiot…"

"Now, I still don't know your name but I think you won't tell me anyway. Although, Hinata could tell me cuz it looks like you know each other. "

Hinata gulped. Neji glared daggers at him. "Get your nose out of the Hyuga. It is none of your business."

Neji looked like he was ready to attack but Naruto still decided to push it. "Well I couldn't if I wanted to cuz I left my big red nose at home."

"Well, isn't he ballzy." The bullies whispered among the laughter in the hallway.

"Let's go Naruto, we've wasted enough time. " Sasuke started to walk away again. Naruto and Hinata followed.

Neji looked at the symbol on the back of Sasuke's shirt. "Hmmm…Sasuke Uchiha…"

When the three were far enough from the crowd Naruto laughed. "Oh, that was a good one."

"Just don't get too confident." Sasuke shook his head.

As they were about to walk up the stairs a voice stopped them in their tracks. "Hey you, with the attitude!"

They turned around to see the guy who got punched in the hallway. "I want to fight you, right here and right now."

"Sasuke, we do not have time for this, the exam starts in thirty minutes…" Hinata spoke in concern.

"Don't worry, all I need is five seconds."

"And I'm too confident?" Naruto crossed his arms.

"My name is Rock Lee. You said that it's common courtesy to give my name first…Sasuke Uchiha."

"So you know me…" Sasuke's eyes narrowed.

"Indeed." Lee took his stance. "And it will be an honor…to beat you."

Sasuke charged at Lee but just as he was about to punch him Lee disappeared and appeared below him and punched Sasuke in the face sending him flying. Sasuke barely landed properly. Rubbing his red cheek he glared at his opponent.

"What the hell was that? When did he get that fast?"

"Hn…I guess I underestimated you…but you're still going to lose." Sasuke got up on his feet activating his sharingan.

Hinata gasped in surprise. "The sharingan? Has he mastered it?" She smiled as her teammate. "Incredible…"

Lee smirked recognizing the sharingan.

Sasuke confidently charged him again only to get punched in the gut. Not managing to land he rolled onto his stomach as he tried to get up. "How?!"

"You see, I know that the sharingan enables you to copy ninjutsu and genjutsu…but I use pure taijutsu." Lee explained. "And now…I will finish you off."

The bandage on his arm unwrapped more and more as he approached Sasuke in lightning speed. After sending him flying with an uppercut he found himself bellow Sasuke. "Dancing Leaf Shadow…" But before managing to perform his technique he realized his bandage was stuck. Following the path of his bandage his eyes widened seeing the spinning fan stuck at the end of it. "This is bad…"

"What do you think you're doing, Lee?!" A deep rusty voice echoed through the hall.

Landing on the wooden floor both him and Sasuke looked at the giant turtle that appeared in front of them. Sasuke looked at it with confusion…and Lee with fear.

As Lee was getting a lesson from the turtle Sasuke stepped away from him. "What is this freak?!"

His teammates rushed next to him. "What was that, dude? You just got beat up!"

"Shut up, idiot. He's tougher that he looks."

Naruto pointed at Lee. "He's apologizing to a turtle."

But the turtle clearly wasn't going to forgive him. "This deserved a punishment! Come out…Gai-sensei!" The turtle yelled in anger.

In a large puff of smoke a man appeared in the same outfit that Lee was wearing plus a chunin west. "Hey, what's shaking everybody? How ya doin'? Life treating you good?" he yelled cheerfully.

Naruto and Hinata squealed in horror. "That haircut looks even worse on him! And his eyebrows are almost alive!" Of course that loud statement came from Naruto.

That ticked Lee off. "HEY! GAI-SENSEI IS THE GREATEST SENSEI IN THE ENTIRE WORLD!"

"WELL EXCUSE ME FOR NOT NOTICING HIS GREATNESS! I WAS TOO BUSY WATCHING HIM CRAWL OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE TURTLE!"

"HE DID NOT CRAWL OUT!"

"Calm down Lee, it's alright." Gai calmly put his hand on his students shoulder. "But now for your punishment!" And with that Lee was flying over to where his bandage was stuck in the wall.

Team 7's jaws dropped as the two started crying and hugging. After Gai wiped his tears off he looked towards them. "You must be Kakashi's team."

"Do you know him?" Sasuke asked.

"Do I know Kakashi?" Gai chuckled. "He and I are eternal rivals!"

"What?!" The three yelled in union.

He disappeared and showed up behind them shocking the three genin making Hinata latch onto Naruto's arm.

"I'm faster and stronger than Kakashi." Gai bragged.

"He's definitely faster than Kakashi…" Sasuke clenched his fists.

A drop of sweat ran down Hinata's jaw as she looked at the clock on the wall. "G-g-guys we'll be l-late!" She let go of Naruto before her face flushed.

Gai cleared his throat and gave Lee a thumbs up. "Go Lee, and make me proud!"

"Yes, sir!" Lee collected his bandages and ran off.

"We better go too." Naruto said and they started walking. As they walked up the stairs Naruto spoke. "Did you see his hands?"

"Huh?"Sasuke raised an eyebrow.

"They were bruised and stitched…I bet he trains every day until he drops. That's why he beat you."

Sasuke was quiet, but someone else broke the silence. "There you are… I almost got worried."

The three looked up to see Kakashi standing in front of the real room 301.

"I'm glad you all decided to come. You can now formally sign up for the exams."

"What do you mean?" Naruto tilted his head in confusion.

"The chunin exams only allow teams of three to participate."

Hinata started to shake. "So…if I d-did n-not come…then…"

Naruto gently intertwined his fingers with hers. "Don't worry, we're all here, we can go in."

"Yes." Kakashi confirmed. "I'm proud of all three of you. Good luck."

"We won't let you down, sensei. Believe it!"

And with that they opened the door and entered only to be met with glares of a hundred eyes. The room was full of ninja from other villages and they all looked like they were about to suck their souls out. But the cold and silent atmosphere was shut down by Ino who jumped onto Sasuke wrapping her hands around his neck.

"Sasuke, honey! Where have you been?!" She screeched happily.

Sasuke winced, not only because she had screamed in his ear but also because she was cutting off oxygen with her tight grip around his neck.

"You know, I missed your dark, good looks." Ino flirted.

"Get off." Sasuke roughly released himself out of her grip. And they another voice cut in.

"Hey, pig! Keep your dirty hands off of him, he's mine!"

Naruto looked behind Sasuke to see Choji, Shikamaru, Shino, Kiba and a fuming Sakura who was stomping towards them.

"Beat it, forehead! Can't you see I'm the one he's attracted to?"

Sakura growled at the blonde kunoichi. Stomping up to her she grabbed her arm. "In your dreams, pig!"

They were grabbing onto each other's hair until something caught Ino's eye and she stopped yelling as her expression became a mixture of confusion and surprise, like somebody turned off a switch in her.

Sakura raised an eyebrow at the sudden change on her rival's face.

"Look." Ino whispered pointing towards Naruto and Hinata who were still holding hands.

"Huh? Are those two…?" Sakura's eyes widened as she remember the time she saw them at the supermarket.

"That's why she always defends him…" Ino brought her back from her thoughts. Turning towards her she raised an eyebrow. "Huh?"

"She likes him. Who would have thought…the shy, quiet wallflower with the loudest moron in the village. They're not for each other at all…" Ino whispered.

"Well, opposites attract, I guess…" Sakura whispered back.

Their awkward fight to conversation was interrupted by a guy with gray hair and glasses walking up to them. "Hey, you're the rookies aren't you? I think you should keep it down."

"And who are you to tell us what to do?" Ino pointed at him in annoyance.

"I'm Kabuto Yakushi…but really, look around…"

The rookies turned their heads to meet the cold glares of other ninja in the room. Naruto gulped and released his grip on Hinata's hand as his started to sweat.

"You've caused quite a show." Kabuto fixed his glasses with his finger. "The candidates look tougher his year, I wouldn't get them angry if I were you."

"This year?" Sasuke spoke. "This is not your first time taking the exams?"

"No…uh…it's actually my seventh…" Kabuto scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"Seventh?…I knew this exam would be a drag…" Shikamaru whined.

"Since you have a lot of experience with the exams can you tell us about them?" Sakura asked Kabuto.

Kabuto smiled pulling out a large stack of orange cards."Sure, what do you want to know? You can ask me anything. On these cards I have something on just about everyone here…even you guys."

Sasuke walked up to him. "Everyone?"

"You name it I have it."

"Show me…Rock Lee."

"You even have a name, huh? Well then…" He pulled a card out of the deck and put the card on the floor and started spinning it with his finger.

"What are you doing?" Ino asked in confusion.

"I'm concentrating my chakra into the card to reveal the information stored in it." A bit of smoke puffed out of the card and Lee's data appeared on it.

"Here…Rock Lee…looks like he's a year older than you guys… he completed eleven c-rank and twenty d-rank missions. His taijutsu has improved recently but his other abilities are pretty wobbly. He was noticed as a strong genin last year but for some reason he decided not to compete in the exams, so this is his first year, just like yours."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "Not as impressive as I thought."

"The leader of his team is Gai."Kabuto continued. "His team consists of TenTen and Neji Hyuga…"

"Neji." Naruto crossed his arms. "That guy…"

"Some of these guys don't look intimidating and some are a mystery like the genin from the small Sound Village, but I wouldn't underestimate anyone." Kabuto put his cards away.

Somewhere in the middle of the crowd of ninjas three of them were the ones Kabuto was talking about . Sound is their specialty so of course they heard his insults even though they were far away from him.

"Did you hear that?" Kin said.

"Yeah, he called us small…and a mystery." Zaku's brow twitched.

"Let's clear some of the mystery for him." Dosu said as they all moved in the speed of sound towards their target.

Dosu was about to hit Kabuto but sensing him he ducked. Kabuto smirked but a second later the groaned as he fell to the ground along with the pieces of his glasses.

"Kabuto!" Naruto was about to jump in front of him but Sasuke stopped him. "Don't you idiot! You don't know what how they hit him, imagine what they could do to you."

Kabuto got back on his feet, but before Zaku could give him a punch himself a loud and deep voice interrupted their brawl.

"Alright you baby faced degenerates! Quit the playground fights! Who gave you permission to hurt each other anyway?!"

In a large smoke cloud a group of jounin appeared along with a tall, scary looking man dressed in black with scars on his face and a bandana wrapped around his head.

"Listen up! You will each be given a number which will determine where you will sit. Once you are seated the written portion of the chunin exams will begin!"

"Naruto squealed earning a confused look from the other rookies. "D-did he just say…"

"…A written exam?!"