I think this is some of my all time best stories, why I stopped working on it is beyond me...

It is the perfect Naruto reality check. Also there is a story called The God of Shinobi a friend showed me with almost the same premise... weird but cool.


Three months later

"Naruto... are you sure you want this? I do not doubt that in the four months since you've been training, the three months since you became a genin again, you are chunin level. You are easily chunin level, hell I think you could beat some chunin of the village but in part that is because there is not much of a difference between Genin and Chunin but intelligence and experience. This though is risky. There are several reasons we have three many genin teams, safety in numbers and all that. These tests, they are made for the entire purpose of making it in a group, they are made that way. If you take the Chunin exams alone, you might as well be taking it without your arm.:

Naruto sighed. "I can do this, Lady Tsunade. I am stronger, smarter... I have been studying and training as hard as Lee, harder even. I have mastered the Shushin, I can do it without even thinking and I can do it in tight quarters. I remastered the Rasengan entirely, I can even do it at full power now! My taijutsu is impeccable, I have mastered the first two stages of the Strong Fist. I use two hundred pound weights and I am half as fast as Lee is, and more than half as strong. My chakra levels have all but doubled since I recovered from my death, my control is incredible! I even started having Ino put me under the two genjutsu she knows so I can break them! I can do this,.. please do not steal from me the opportunity to shine."

Tsunade started laughing suddenly and Naruto was thrown by this. "Naruto, there won't be a chunin exam for another year... I wanted to see if you really thought this through. There are other ways to graduate as a ninja, to go from Genin to chunin, and technically... you qualify."

"Huh?"

"Field promotions make up ninety-eight percent of promotions Naruto, why do you think we have so few chunin exams but so many chunin? They make up the majority of our forces. No... there are three ways to become Chunin outside of the exams. A high enough record of C or B rank missions alongside recommendations from other Chunin and Jonin. A year of experience in a department like IT or Tactics. The last in time in ANBU, which your record in that can shift you to Jonin or Chunin depending on what you do. Before you left, you went on a mission to catch Sasuke, which yes failed but it was all but designed to fail but you still did it. You went on the mission to get me and fought Kabuto. You went on the Mission to Tea. Your time in Wave... you stopped Gaara! Not to mention you have been my Page for three months, in which you have shown intelligence, loyalty and obedience. You have enough missions on record to help you out, all you were missing was a recommendation, which has been provided by myself since I have been working with you on your mind.

However, to make this work, I have an idea so no one can question my choice. I will be sending you back to Wave for a mission, in which you will lead it. Prove yourself and you will become a Chunin. Do you accept this?"

Naruto gaped, then nodded. "I do."

"Perfect... You will have Ino and Hinata Hyuuga as your teammates. You will lead them... but Naruto, I have something I want to ask you... how do you feel about joining ANBU?"

"What? ANBU... why?"

Tsunade turned to face the window. "Naruto... Though the Akatsuki no longer will hurt you and thus you no longer need to worry about them on a personal level... you have lofty dreams, to save Sasuke sure but also to be Hokage. I do not have time to train you to the full level, on some level yes, but not to where you need to be. ANBU will teach you taijutsu, stealth, kenjutsu, ninjutsu, sealing, genjutsu, tactics and give you experience as a ninja in battle so you can save or kill Sasuke, wherever you feel the need.

Of course, since you wish to be Hokage, which requires a good reputation, I will be sending you on missions as a chunin every so often, when you are needed. The point, my boy, is to make you not only as strong as possible to but prepare you to be Hokage. My training, ANBU training and whatever you choose to do alongside your missions... you will become incredible.

Naruto, Jiriaya brought you back after a month of your trip and you have been in the village for four months. That means you have about two years and one month give or take until Orochimaru will take over Sasuke, when Jiraiya would have returned with you. In Four months you have reached Mid to high chunin level on your own. With two years of that training, you will easily reach Elite Jonin level minimum. Hell, with your insane potential I can see you reaching Low to Mid Kage level, no joke. This is the great opportunity you will have and the greatest mean you have to accomplish your dreams."

Naruto was silent for a long moment. "It will help me get used to making hard choices, killing and worse... things that I have never had to do... I accept."

She nodded. "When you return, you will immediately be placed in ANBU. There is a three month training session in which you are taught conduct, ANBU-specific combat and procedure. It is grueling training, but I think you can do it. It will be bone breaking, soul crushing work... but I think you can do it."

"I hope so, Lady Tsunade... I really, really do to..."

"It is settled then... prepare yourself for this, Naruto... and I wish you well... now about your mission. There have been reports of a growing gang of Old Thugs of Gato's in Wave. Also, with Mist recovering from the Civil war, having Zabuza's sword will only be a useful bargaining tool. We can make allies of them through it... or so I hope. Gather your genin, you start your mission in one hour."

Naruto bowed low, excited, terrified and utterly proud all at once. "Thank you for this chance, Lady Tsunade."


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was fun, exciting and interesting.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.