(Here's my newest installment, readers.)

Naruto was at the lair looking over a Chunin Exams application form at a table, until Optimus walked over, "Naruto, I didn't think you'd still be up."

"Hard to sleep, Optimus," Naruto answered, "My gears are turning because of the Chunin Exams. Sensei gave my team and I theese forms to fill out that day after we met those Sand shinobi. And now it starts tomorrow. I mean to be recommended to partake in the Chunin Exams, that's big."

Optimus nodded, "Yes. Ninjas from all over the lands will be summoned in this location to pit their skills against one another to prove if they have what it takes to reach the next level."

"And after seeing what Zabuza and Haku are capable of, who knows what any of these other shinobi selected to compete would be capable of?"

"The possibilities are unlimited."

Naruto nodded, "I just hope my team and I are up to the challenge."

"Naruto, you spent years traveling the ninja world with one of the strongest shinobi in the village," Optimus reminded him, "Even my comrades and myself have watched you grow since the day you embarked with Jiraiya. And I can say in all honestly I know you are up to the challenge as are your teammates. Just remember none of you are in this alone."

Naruto nodded at Optimus knowing he was right. He and his teammates always had each others backs and knew as long as they worked together they could overcome anything. Especially when Naruto had his Transformer friends as backup.

"You're right, Optimus," he let out a yawn, "Oh, is it really that late? I better turn in. Night, Optimus." he walked away.

"Goodnight, Naruto." he replied, before heading off to power down.

The next day, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke went to the ninja academy to turn in their forms.

"I'm surprised you didn't bring any of the maximals or predacons with you, Naruto." Sakura noted the lack of bodyguards.

"I don't want any competition from any of the other villagers to know about my Transformer buddies just yet. I'll bring them out when it truly calls for them." Naruto explained, as they went inside the academy.

As they walked along the halls they looked up ahead seeing several genin teams standing outside a door that was being blocked by two shinobi refusing to let others pass by. Naruto noticed among those genin was Neji Hyuga, Hinata's cousin and the only source left of her past low confidence. With him was Taijutsu specialist Rock Lee and weapons mistress Tenten.

Naruto looked up seeing it was supposed to be on the third floor but knew the floor they were currently on was the second despite what the sign above the door said. Naruto whispered to his teammates, "Keep going and don't make eye contact or say anything." Sasuke and Sakura caught on, and followed along moving past the crowd. But Lee noticed this and gave his own team the hint and they slipped away.

As Squad Seven arrived at an open training area, they heard a voice call from above, "You there!" they looked up and saw Rock Lee who jumped down and landed perfectly before them.

"Greetings, I am Rock Lee, and you are Sasuke Uchiha, correct?" he asked the lone survivor.

"I am."

"I wish to have a spar with you." Lee challenged.

"But be don't have time for it." Sakura said.

"Don't worry I'll make this a quick one." Sasuke replied confidently.

"Sasuke, fair warning. This guy's no pushover. You know how it was when you sparred with me the first time? Well, it might have the same outcome." Naruto warned him.

Sasuke curiously on how Naruto knew, answered, "Then I won't let my guard down for a second."

And so Sasuke and Lee took off fighting in hand to hand combat, Sasuke activated his Sharingan to read Lee's movements, but even that wasn't stopping Lee from landing many blows against Sasuke.

When Lee performed the Konoha Kage Buyou (Leaf Shadow Dance), a pinwheel nailed Lee's arm tape to the wall before he could complete his move. They turned seeing a man who looked like an older version of Lee, "Lee, what have I told you about that move?"

"I am so sorry Guy-sensei; I guess I got a little carried away." Lee apologized.

Guy turns to Squad Seven, "So you are the squad of Kakashi right?"

"You know sensei?" Sakura asked.

Guy laughed, "Well you might say he and I are eternal rivals. In fact I'm stronger and faster than Kakashi."

"Seriously?" Sakura gasped.

"Do not underestimate Guy-sensei he is the best." Lee started as Guy turned to his student with tears, and they embraced.

"Puke city." Naruto said, as they looked away, before the student and sensei left.

"Sasuke, are you ok?" Sakura asked in concern.

"Yeah. In fact that felt good," Sasuke confessed, "You were right, Naruto. Fighting him was just like fighting you. Challenging."

"Of course."

"Naruto, how did you know Lee could be so strong?" Sakura asked.

"I met Lee at one of the training fields on one of our days off. We sparred ourselves, and we both surprised each other on how long we could last against one another. And I thought I had stamina." he joked.

"And if that's what he can do I can't wait to see what other types of challengers there are." Sasuke added.

"Well, let's keep going." Naruto said, as they pressed on.

The three soon approach a pair of doors, "Here we go." Naruto said as they entered.

As they went in they looked around seeing the room was loaded with dozens of ninja all there for the exams as well. Some of the other ninja had scowls and frowns, giving off negative and scary vibes.

"Looks like an open house." Naruto humored his teammates.

"So many ninja." Sakura gasped.

"Sasuke!" They turned to see Ino cling to Sasuke, "I've been wondering when you'd show up."

"Get your hands off him, you pig!" Sakura shouted.

"Oh let you here too, billboard brow?" Ino asked making Sakura angrier.

Naruto frowned, "Will you both knock it off!" the two looked at him, "We just got here and already you're ready to go at each others throats? Save it for the exams."

"Naruto's got a point." came Shikamaru as he approached with Chouji who was eating from a bag of chips.

"Hey, Shikamaru. Chouji." Naruto greeted them.

"Hey, Naruto." Chouji greeted.

"If you and Sasuke are here things are definitely gonna be troublesome." Shikamaru sighed.

"Well, looks like the gang's all here." came another voice, as everyone looked to see Kiba, Hinata, and Shino approach.

"Hi, Hinata." Naruto greeted.

"Hi, Naruto." Hinata smiled.

"Hope you're ready to get your butts handed to you, because I'm in it to win it." Kiba said smugly.

"We'll see, Kiba." Naruto smirked.

"Hey, you guys!" came a new voice.

They looked over seeing a white haired bespectacled young man a few years older than them, and wore the Konoha headband.

He looked to the Konoha shinobi, "I take it you're all rookie Genin fresh out of the academy."

"How did you know?" Hinata asked.

"Because those who go making a spectacle of themselves clearly don't know the first thing about these exams."

"Oh, yeah, says who?" Kiba asked, while crossing his arms.

"Me. My name's Kabuto Yakushi, and I've taken these exams long enough to know how to survive and not get on anyone's bad side this early."

Everyone looked around seeing the shinobi gathered looked aggravated by the spectacle put on by Ino and Sakura along with Kiba's brash declaration.

"So, Kabuto, was it? You've taken the Chunin Exams before?" Sakura asked.

"That's right."

"For how long?" Naruto inquired.

"Seven now to be precise."

"If you've taken them that much, then they must be harder then everyone made them out to be." Chouji said in concern.

"That's just great." Shikamaru sighed.

"Listen, you seem like a nice bunch of kids. So how about I give you some inside information with my ninja info cards?" he said before pulling out a deck of cards.

"What're those?" Ino asked.

"Ninja cards I record information on containing data I've gathered these last few years," he pulled out one card and made data appear on it, "This one here shows how many shinobi are entered in this years exams and which nation they're from."

Naruto looked seeing the list, "So we got shinobi from here in Konoha, Suna, Iwa, Kumo, Kiri, Kusa, Ame, and Taki."

Sasuke spoke up, "Do your cards have information on individual applicants?"

Kabuto's eyes shifted to Sasuke, "Oh, have you got someone in mind?"

"I might." he answered.

"Well, I can't guarantee their flawless but I do have info on just about every applicant. Including you guys. Just tell me anything and I'll see what I can pull up." Kabuto told Sasuke.

"Give me info on Rock Lee from Konoha and Gaara of the Desert." the Uchiha answered.

"With their names it makes it too easy," Kabuto drew a card, "Here's Rock Lee," he dispelled the information on the card for the group to see.

"A year older than you guys, with a mission experience of 11 C-ranks, and 20 D-ranks. Squad Leader Might Guy, teammates are Tenten and Neji Hyuga. Mostly known for impressive Taijutsu skills, but despite the attention he got from it last year chose not to participate in the Chunin Exams."

"Which means this is his first time joining like us." Naruto noted.

Kabuto nodded, and pulled out another card before revealing the info, "Now for Gaara of the Desert. A Suna shinobi with a mission experience of 8 C-ranks and 1 B-rank. The only other information I got on him is that on every mission he's ever been on, he hasn't been injured or scratched at all."

This piece of news got the rookies shaken, as Shikamaru spoke in disbelief, "He's done a B-rank as a genin, and has never even been injured?"

"Is that really possible?" Chouji asked.

"It's in the cards." Shino replied.

"These exams really do attract the unusual types of shinobi." Naruto said.

"It sure does," Kabuto confirmed, "So if you wanna survive the Chunin Exams, you're gonna need to be at the top of your game."

Naruto thought, 'Well, that won't be a problem.'

Suddenly in a poof of smoke stood a tall intimidating man, "Alright, shut up and listen!" he announced grabbing the ninjas attention, "I'm Ibiki Morino and I will be your first proctor for the Chunin Exams. Everyone line up and turn in your applications. We'll then give you one of these seating assignment cards. When everyone is seated, we will hand out the written tests."

Naruto suddenly gasped and thought, 'Written tests?! What the hell?'

(And there you go. Since there's no evil Orochimaru, there's no Sound Village. As for Kabuto, just wait and see.)