A/N: Got this chapter out faster than usual. It's almost twice the length as the others as well. Hope you all enjoy and I should have the next chapter up soon.
Disclaimer: I do not own.
Beta: Reenan Lefey
Chapter 6
Two weeks later found team seven along with Zabuza and Haku, fully healed and rested,standing at the now completed bridge, saying goodbye to Tazuna and his family.They said their goodbyes and Naruto reassured Inari that he would visit when he could. The six ninja left, four happy to be going home, two hoping to find a home.
The group chose an easy pace in deference to Zabuza's still healing injuries. Kakashi and Zabuza led the way, walking along leisurely, discussing jutsus and fighting styles. Naruto and Haku followed closely behind the two older ninja, the blonde's hands waving around madly as he described something, with Sasuke and Sakura behind them. Sakura would comment on whatever subject they were on at the time when Naruto paused for breath and Sasuke would watch the three in sullen silence.
Towards the end of the second day Haku finally worked up the courage to ask a question he'd been curious about since he fought Naruto. He would have asked sooner but since no one had spoken of it he wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a secret or if it might be a sore spot for anyone.
"Hey Naruto?" Haku spoke, he looked over to Naruto walking leisurely beside him with his hands resting behind his head.
Naruto looked over to his new friend. "Yeah?"
"Can I ask you a question?" He asked a bit shyly.
Naruto looked at him curiously. He hadn't seen Haku act like this since their meeting in the clearing. For someone who looked so feminine he was quite bold. He cocked his head quizzically and waited for Haku to continue.
"Well, I was wondering, what was that red chakra you used during our fight?" Haku watched the four leaf shinobi become unnaturally still even as they kept walking.
Sasuke glanced at his teammate sharply. No one had told him what had happened while he was unconscious. He had just assumed that Naruto had gotten lucky during the fight with Haku. What he knew he learned from Sakura but it seems like she didn't see much more than he did.
Naruto glanced up at his Sensei for some type of directions. Kakashi noticed the look when he peeked over his shoulder at the younger ninja. He stopped to turn and stand in front of his student. "That one is your secret to tell. No one else can, you understand? If you tell them, they must know the consequences of telling or discussing this with anyone else besides those of us standing here."
Naruto's gaze returned to Zabuza and Haku who had been watching the conversation with interest. Sakura stepped up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder while Sasuke stood closer than he normally would. The jinchuuriki smiled at his teammates, once again thankful that they had found out about the Kyuubi, and nodded up at Kakashi. He made his decision, if anyone would understand and not judge him it would be these two.
Haku and Zabuza followed behind Kakashi and the three young ninja. Naruto was more subdued now and Haku was almost sorry he asked and wiped that brilliant smile off the blonde's face.
"Well, we might as well make camp before we explain. No sense in standing around here where anyone might happen along and overhear." Kakashi stated and walked off toward a clearing they could see through a break in the trees.
Once they made camp and ate supper the five younger shinobi sat around the fire with Zabuza while Kakashi sat a little ways away leaning against a tree with his book propped in front of his face. Naruto sat in between Sasuke and Sakura nervously tugging on the hem of his pants while Haku and Zabuza sat facing them and waiting patiently for him to begin.
Naruto lowered his eyes to his hands folded together in his lap. "Uh, I don't know what they teach in the other hidden villages so I'll just start from the beginning. So almost 13 years ago the Kyuubi no Kitsune attacked Konoha. The Hokage at the time, Minato Namikaze, fought it that night. That same night shortly before the Kyuubi showed up a baby was born and when the Hokage figured out that it could not be killed, he sealed the Kyuubi in a baby, the same one born that night, me."
He finally raised his eyes to the two figures seated across from him. Haku looked back at him thoughtfully for a moment. "Did something happen with your seal?"
Naruto had expected a question along that line and thankfully he had an answer after Kakashi had spoken to him the night of the battle after everyone fell asleep. He shook his head. "Kakashi Sensei checked my seal and said it looked like it was still intact. He's not as good with seals as the Fourth was but he said that since my seal was undisturbed it sounded like, the high emotional situation and my own lowered chakra reserves caused me to tap into the Kyuubi's chakra."
Haku inclined his head in understanding. "Can I ask another question?"
Naruto nodded his assent and waited.
"Are those because you have the fox sealed in you?" Haku asked curiously, poking at his own cheeks, then giggled at the dumbfounded look on Naruto's face.
That was not a question Naruto expected and he had no idea how to answer. The marks on his cheeks had always been there, he didn't notice them and no one had ever asked about them. He shrugged and looked over to his Sensei. If anyone would know it would be him.
Kakashi, who had been listening to the conversation, lowered his book, marking his place with a finger. "I believe I may be able to answer that, but it's only a theory." He spoke directly to Naruto while everyone else listened. "You know the story of your birth and who you were born to." Naruto nodded and Kakashi continued. "Well, I didn't get to see you right away but from what the Third told me when I asked, you had those marks when you were born however they were lighter until the Kyuubi was sealed in you."
Naruto looked a little surprised at the information then Haku spoke up again. "When you use the Kyuubi's chakra you gain more of its features than just the whisker marks you already have. That's why asked."
This time it was Kakashi who asked the questions. "What do you mean? What kind of features?" Naruto looked between Haku and Kakashi apprehensively not sure if he really wanted to know how much like the fox he looked like.
"Don't worry Naruto," Haku reassured him. "It wasn't bad or a lot, just minor things that when combined made you look intimidating. You gained these black marks around your mouth and eyes, your canines grew larger and sharper, your nails grew into claws and your whisker marks darkened. Also all of the injuries you sustained from my attacks seemed to heal instantly." Haku never took his eyes off Naruto who was listening as intently as everyone else.
Kakashi perked up at the new information. "Do not put any of this in your reports, you three. We will discuss this with the Third after we hand them in. Zabuza and Haku you will not mention any of what you heard or saw here, with anyone beside those of us here and the Hokage. There is a law in place to protect Naruto." It wasn't the entire truth but it would work for now to keep them from talking to anyone else about the Kyuubi.
The five ninja nodded at the orders from Kakashi when Zabuza finally decided to make a comment. "When you learn to use that chakra productively we need to spar." He said seriously eyeing Naruto.
The comment startled a laugh out of the blonde. Once he got started, it was difficult to stop. The relief seemed to just open the floodgates and laughter came pouring out. It was such an innocent statement after such a big reveal and neither of them were looking at him any differently, except maybe Zabuza who believed he would become stronger. The thought made him happy.
When Naruto finally stopped laughing, he promised Zabuza his spar and Kakashi made them all turn in early in preparation for the long day ahead of them.
The group reached the village shortly after lunch the next day. At the gates they signed in and sent two ANBU ahead to inform the Hokage about Haku and Zabuza.
Naruto stormed into the Hokage's office excitedly, with everyone else following behind at a more sedate pace. The Sandaime watched as his self-proclaimed grandson paced his office, ranting and raving about the mission before he stopped and excitedly told him that they (he pointed at Haku and Zabuza) were joining the village.
The Hokage watched Naruto with fond amusement until he was finished speaking and took a good look at the two new comers. "You two are?" He asked after taking a puff of his pipe and blowing the smoke above his head slowly.
The two ninja moved to the front of the desk and bowed respectfully. "Momochi Zabuza and Haku." Zabuza introduced the both of them.
"And what is it you are here for?"
"We would like to become shinobi for Konoha if you will allow it."
"I see. Well seeing as you are a missing nin at the moment there will be a few things we will have to go through in order to make you a ninja of Konoha. Your young friend, Haku, on the other hand will be a bit easier since he is not classified as anything." The Sandaime stated as he puffed on his pipe.
"Yes Hokage. What exactly would be required of me?" Zabuza asked curiously. It wasn't like he'd refuse, not when it came to a place they could finally call home. Somewhere Haku wouldn't have to worry about being killed because of his bloodline.
"First I would need you to meet with the head of T&I, Ibiki Moreno, to gauge your intentions, then we would need to test your skills, however hearing your exploits I'm sure you're at least Jounin in level, and then there's the paperwork required to instate you as a citizen of Konoha. If everything checks out and you will be on probation for about one year. Any offences during that time and you will lose your right to be a ninja and citizen of Konoha as well as be forced to leave the village and I assure you, you will be watched for the duration of your probation. Haku will have his skills tested at the same time as you and will be required to do the same paperwork. For now though I will summon Ibiki and you will go with him while I hear the report from team 7. I'm sure I will receive a good report from Ibiki so when I am finished with team 7's report I will arrange suitable living arrangements for you two." He finally concluded and waited for a response from the two shinobi.
"Just one thing Hokage, if I may make a request?" Haku asked the older man who nodded. "When you arrange where we are to live, will you make sure it's big enough for me and Zabuza?"
"Certainly, now if there is nothing else?"
"Just one more thing Hokage, once we are established as citizens of Konoha I would like to officially adopt Haku as my younger brother. He needs a suitable family name to go along with his fresh start here." Zabuza stated calmly.
"Is this an agreeable arrangement young man?" The Sandaime asked looking back at the younger ninja.
Haku nodded at the Hokage and looked up at Zabuza, happy tears shining in his chocolate brown eyes, and smiled brightly. Today could probably be counted as the best day he's had in such a long time. He was gaining a home, family, and friends, one among them who understood him better than anyone. He looked back at said new friend who was practically vibrating with excitement. His teacher had a hand on the blonde's shoulder keeping him in place but it couldn't stop the wide grin stretching across the blonde's face. Haku beamed back, basking in their shared euphoria.
At some point during the exchange the Hokage must have signaled to one of the ANBU situated around the room, because a knock sounded at the door and a tall intimidating scarred man walked in when prompted to do so. The Hokage gave a few instructions and introduced Zabuza and Ibiki to each other before the two left the room.
After the two older ninja had left the room, Haku moved back to Naruto side where he stood quietly while Kakashi gave a much more detailed report than what Naruto had when he first entered the office and informed him of the incident with the Kyuubi's chakra as well as what Haku observed. The Hokage took notes on the matter to discuss with Jiraiya when he saw him next.
By the end of the report the Hokage sat in his chair with a frown on his face not liking how easily they had been fooled. He pulled out a few sheets of paper and began implementing a new rule that stated any C or B rank mission, from that moment on, would be investigated for any discrepancies from the job the ninja of the village were originally hired to do. If any discrepancies were found the person or place who hired them would be fined as well as the rank changed and the charges adjusted accordingly.
He set the paperwork aside for the counsel and Daimyo to take a look at and informed Kakashi of the changes. By the time the Hokage had finished speaking Ibiki was back followed by Zabuza who was looking pleased. Ibiki set a piece of paper down on the desk in front of the Hokage and was dismissed. The Sandaime looked over the paper quickly and set it down with a smile.
He pulled out three more pieces of paper, two for Zabuza and one for Haku and set them down motioning for the two to come forward. The members of team 7 watched as the two ninja filled out the papers quickly and hand them back to the Hokage.
The Hokage stood from his chair. "I am Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage, and on behalf of myself, the counsel and the village, we welcome you as citizens of Konohagakure, Momochi Zabuza and Momochi Haku." He set two more sheets of paper in front of them, this time their living arrangements, before sitting back in his chair and resuming puffing on his pipe. He dismissed the group and watched fondly as Naruto grabbed Haku by the wrist and dragged him out of the office, speaking as fast as he could and promising to treat Haku to the best ramen he'd ever have.
The Hokage couldn't help but to huff a laugh at that. No matter what happened Naruto would never change. He looked down at his desk and sighed. He had a lot of paper work before, and now he had more to deal with.
By the end of the next day Zabuza had been made a Jounin and would be in training for ANBU. Haku was made a Genin and would have to prove himself in the upcoming Chuunin Exams if he wanted to advance. He would be put on a temporary team for the exams and a permanent one after no matter if he made Chuunin or not. Haku would also be working in the hospital when not on missions after the exams were concluded.
Haku, with too much free time on his hands until the start of the exams, set up a training schedule with Naruto. He needed a way to keep his own skills sharp and he wanted to help Naruto with his own training. He knew the younger ninja had an absurd amount of stamina but not a lot of speed, while Haku himself had an abundance of speed but not stamina. He couldn't do much about his Ninjutsu since most of what he used was bloodline ability and elemental affinity and Naruto was getting plenty of training with Kakashi and Sasuke on his Taijutsu.
For three weeks Naruto and Haku spent every day that he wasn't with his team, together. From dawn to dusk they trained relentlessly. Some days Kakashi would sit off to the side offering a little advice if it was needed but that wasn't often. Every time he sat in on their training he became more and more impressed with how fast Naruto was improving.
Sakura would occasionally take time to sit and watch the two boys train and every day she grew more amazed when she could see the change brought about in her teammate in such a short time. She was proud of him and happy they had become much closer now.
Sasuke though, was there nearly every day just watching, not offering any advice and he didn't seem to be using his sharingan so it didn't seem like he was gaining anything by just sitting there and doing nothing. But he sat in the same spot day after day with a scowl on his face and just watched the two spar.
Sasuke bit back a growl as Haku once again praised Naruto's growing skill. Before Haku, Sasuke'd gotten used to seeing Naruto every day. Normally, he bumped into the blonde regularly on his days off and was either dragged along to something social and frivolous or allowed himself to be challenged to a spar. Now, that girly nin was plastered to the Dobe's side in all of their downtime. If that wasn't bad enough, Haku had somehow displaced him as Naruto's favorite sparring partner. He hated to admit it but without Naruto, he'd had to triple his stamina training. Not that it was doing him any good. Every time he sparred with the Dobe anymore, he could feel the distance between their abilities shrinking. Naruto had almost knocked him on his ass with a surprise kick last time. His own intensified training regime seemed to be having no effect at all.
Sasuke had taken to watching Naruto's training in order to figure out their secrets but so far all he'd seen was that cross-dressing, doe-eyed, pretty boy throwing himself at Naruto at every opportunity. It was always 'Let's eat together Naruto-kun', 'You're improving so fast Naruto-kun', or 'You're too kind Naruto-kun, I'd love to see more of the village with you'. Naruto was his, damn it. Now he had to keep watching them just to make sure the pretty teen didn't try anything.
By the end of the three weeks Naruto's speed had increased exponentially and he was able to dodge most anything Haku would throw his way. In the beginning it had been tough but between Haku's medic skills and Naruto accelerated healing, Naruto was able to stay away from the hospital. Haku on the other hand wasn't nearly as exhausted at the end of the day as when they had started.
One morning after Haku and Naruto's training sessions ended the blonde hurried to meet with Sakura and Sasuke for their team meeting. Upon arriving he greeted Sakura happily and turned to Sasuke to greet him but found the other boy staring away from him with a scowl on his face. All Naruto could do was look away in disappointment. They hadn't spoken more than a few sentences to each other since they had come back from Wave Country.
Before that things had been going so well but now he had no idea what had happened for his teammate to revert to the way things were before. He wanted to ask but refrained for fear of pushing him away more.
Sakura could only look on worried as Naruto and Sasuke spoke less and less. She had no clue what was going on and when she had tried to bring it up to Sasuke he told her to mind her own business. And so they sat there in silence waiting for their always tardy Sensei to show up.
They listened to Kakashi's usual excuses for being late, even though he wasn't as late as he used to be, and did their usual D rank missions, going their own ways after.
Naruto strolled around the village for a short time. He noticed the box looking rock following him sometime back but didn't do anything about it since it was just following him and he wasn't doing anything except walking aimlessly. But now it was getting a bit…unnerving being followed by an odd looking object, so he finally turned around and confronted it. Turns out it was Konohamaru and two of his teammates.
Naruto was flattered when he found out the three of them were emulating him and he had forgotten he had agreed to train with him under the guise of playing ninja. About that time Sakura had found them and started questioning why ninja would want to play ninja. He had to quietly inform her of the trick behind getting Konohamaru to train in the form of games. She seemed to be satisfied with that explanation.
Then Konohamaru just had to go and say something stupid, pissing Sakura off, and causing her to knock him in the head. It hadn't happened in a while and honestly he kind of didn't blame her for getting mad over the insult. If Konohamaru didn't learn the first time he insulted her, he now knew not to since they were both running from her.
In the meantime Kakashi was turning in the mission report for the day. Iruka, who was manning the mission desk, was happy to see him. He took the chance to check up on Naruto since he'd been so busy lately he hadn't been able to spare any time to look in on him.
He was extremely happy to hear how well Naruto was doing and how hard he had been working in his extra training with one of the new ninja who had been accepted into the village. Iruka had read the mission report from the land of waves and knew of Haku and his involvement in the mission so he was a little hesitant about Naruto training with the older boy, but Kakashi seemed to be supervising and didn't look at all worried so he set aside his misgiving for the moment.
Konohamaru had gotten ahead of Naruto and when he finally caught up he found the young boy being held in the air by an oddly dressed foreign ninja.
"Konohamaru!" Naruto yelled out.
"You little piece of shit." The ninja in black growled out at a struggling Konohamaru.
"Don't yell, you'll get us in trouble." A blonde girl told the other ninja.
"Naruto I'm sorry I was messing around. You have to help me."
Naruto wanted to yell at the other ninja, call him names for picking on a little boy, but he had been trying to not just go shooting his mouth off without thinking things through. He really had been trying to be better but he just couldn't let this be so he planned on just rushing the other ninja and trying to grab Konohamaru from him.
As soon as he made a move forward though, his arm was grabbed by Sakura. "Wait, Naruto you just can't attack him. He's from another village and from the look of their Hitai-Ate, they are from Sunagakure. We are allies with them and if we attack first it could cause an incident that could lead to a war."
He paused at her words and kept his eyes trained on Konohamaru. It took a moment but then something occurred to him. "You do know that kid you have right now is the grandson of the Hokage right?"
The boy holding Konohamaru looked at Naruto skeptically trying to gauge how truthful he was being, but before he could say or do anything a rock came flying out of nowhere causing him to drop the young boy. He grabbed his wrist as they all looked in the direction the rock came from.
Sasuke was sitting on the lowest branch of a tree nearby tossing another rock in his hand. "What are you bastards doing in our village? You should just get lost."
"Hey punk, get down here." The Suna ninja yelled up to Sasuke while he pulled something that was strapped to his back, off and held at his side with a hand. The blonde ninja that was with him, was trying to talk him out of whatever it was he wanted to do.
"You're a disgrace to our village." A gravelly voice stated.
Sasuke's head whipped around to find another Suna ninja hanging upside down on the next branch just a little further up than the one he was on. He hadn't sensed the newcomer at all. He didn't know when the red haired ninja had shown up or how long he'd been there.
Loosing yourself in a fight, how pathetic…Why do you think we came to the leaf village?" He asked the other two ninja.
"Listen Gaara, they started it." Naruto's eyes bounced between the two male ninja. He examined the one, he now knew as Gaara, closely. He had red hair and pale skin. The dark circles around his eyes made the green of his pupils stand out and the kanji on his forehead was blood red against his pale skin. Naruto was fascinated with the Suna nin but he was also weary. There was something about him that made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
When Gaara told the black clad boy to shut up or he'd kill him, Naruto understood what it was about him that set his teeth on edge. He was dangerous, extremely so. It wasn't only in the look in his eyes, it was the fact both the blonde and the black clad ninja were both terrified of him.
"Sorry to you guys." Graara said turning to Sasuke who hadn't moved from his branch. He disappeared from the branch and reappeared in between, what must have been his teammates, in a swirl of sand. "We didn't come here to play around." He told the other two before turning to walk away.
"Hey wait," Sakura called out to the three Suna ninja. "You guys are ninja from the Sand Village and it's forbidden for ninja from another village enter without permission. So what are you guys doing here?"
The blonde spoke this time. "You're right, we are from Suna and we are here for the Chuunin Selection Exam."
Naruto grew excited. He remembered Haku telling him about the exam, he had just forgotten when it was supposed to happen. When the sand ninja started to walk away and Sasuke asked for Gaara's name, for once Naruto didn't feel like the idiot Sasuke claimed him to be.
"Gaara of the Desert and I am interested to know your name as well."
"Sasuke Uchiha."
Naruto stood back and kept his mouth shut. He didn't want to draw attention to himself from these ninja just yet.
The next morning when Kakashi appeared in a puff of smoke, it wasn't missions he was informing them of. "This is sudden but…I've nominated you guys for the Chuunin Selection Exams."
His students looked at him a little stunned before he snapped them out of their stupor. "Here are your applications," He told them holding out three pieces of paper for them to take.
In his excitement, Naruto jumped on Kakashi, squeezing the older ninja around the neck. "Kakashi Sensei, I love you." Kakashi could only chuckle at his student's enthusiasm before trying to pry him off.
"This is just a nomination. Those who wish to take it should sign those papers and turn them in at room 301 by 4pm tomorrow. It is up to each of you whether or not you take the exam. That is all." He told them before disappearing.
They walked along together, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Excitement (Naruto), anxiousness (Sasuke) and trepidation (Sakura). That night they filled out their forms, Sakura with more than a little hesitation.
Yes, all three of them had been training and made improvements but she wasn't sure she was even close to Sasuke and Naruto's level yet. Then after meeting those ninja from the Sand Village she was scared. However, she decided she wasn't going to get any better if she didn't go through with this and she was determined that she would not hold back her teammates.
They met outside the building at the required time. Naruto was practically vibrating with excitement when he greeted them. Sakura was trying not to let her nerves get to her but was afraid she didn't do a very good job when both Sasuke and Naruto looked at her funny.
The three of them entered the building to catch a speech from two ninja standing in front of a door and a girl on the floor in front of them. "Listen, this is our kindness. The Chuunin Exam isn't easy…Even we have failed it three times in a row. Those that take the exam and end up quitting as shinobi, those that die during the exam, we've seen it all. And those Chuunin who pass often become captains of military teams. The failure of a mission, the death of a comrade, that is all the captain's responsibility. Yet, you kids think you can pass." The ninja ended his speech with a scoff.
Naruto and Sakura followed behind Sasuke when he moved to the front of the crowd. He stopped in front of them with a smirk adorning his face. "You will let us pass through. We are going to the third floor." He paused for a moment hearing the confused murmuring coming from the crowd behind them and his smirk deepened. "And also, remove the Genjutsu."
The ninja who had been quiet the whole time spoke up then. "Ah, so you noticed."
Sasuke turned and addressed Sakura instead of answering the ninja who spoke. "You must have noticed it right Sakura? Your analytical ability and Genjutsu know-how is the most improved on our team."
Sakura flushed slightly at the compliment. Her nerves eased a little with Sasuke's faith in her. "Of course I noticed a while ago because this is the second floor." Naruto nodded in agreement with Sakura but internally berated himself for not paying attention.
"Hmm. Not bad. But all you did was see through it." The one who made the speech said then moved to charge Sasuke who saw the attack coming and made to defend himself when someone interrupted them.
Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke watched as two boys and a girl started discussing keeping a low profile. The one wearing green spandex, black hair and thick eye brows walk up to Sakura. He was the one who intercepted the attack between Sasuke and the other ninja.
He introduced himself as Rock Lee and then proclaimed his love to Sakura. Naruto wanted to giggle at the scene and Sakura's dejected look, but held back. They may get along better now that she knew more about him and he gave up on his 'pursuit' but that didn't mean she wouldn't knock him on the head if she felt he was laughing at her.
Not too far away from Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee, was the other boy. He was just as pale as Sasuke with long black hair and pupil-less eyes. Unlike his weird looking companion in spandex, the second boy was attractive, in a vaguely creepy kind of way, Naruto noted, maybe even on par with Sasuke. He had nothing on Haku though, but then Haku wasn't exactly a fair reference point. Naruto was starting to think he had a bit of a fetish for boys who looked like they'd never spent a day in the sun.
"Hey you," Bushy Brows called out to Sasuke. "What's your name?"
"When you want to know some ones name, you should give yours first." Sasuke replied.
"You're a rookie right? How old are you?"
"I don't have to answer that." Sasuke replied once more, this time with a growl behind his words.
Sakura chose that moment to interrupt whatever the other boy was going to say. "Sasuke, Naruto. Let's go." She grabbed them each by the wrist and dragged them along the hallway that was once a door.
They hadn't gotten too far when a voice called out. "Hey, guy with the dark eyes." The three of them stopped and turned looking up to where the voice had come from and found Rock Lee looking down on them.
"What is it?" Sasuke asked now getting annoyed with the delay.
"Will you fight me right here?"
"A fight right now?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes." Rock Lee replied and jumped down to land in front of the three teammates. "My name is Rock Lee. When you want to learn a person's name you introduce yourself first right? Uchiha Sasuke."
"So you knew?"
Rock Lee ignored the question and continued. "I want to fight you. I want to test my skills against the child of the genius ninja clan."
Sasuke scowled at the mention of his clan. "Challenging me knowing the Uchiha name…Frankly I think you're a fool. You're about to learn what my name means." He told Rock Lee arrogantly.
Rock Lee smiled a grim smile and took his stance. He stood straight, feet together, one arm behind his back and the other held out in front of him, palm facing up. "Please."
Naruto stood back watching, his hands clenched into fists. He was so tired of being underestimated but he had been slowly realizing that some times that was a good thing and no matter how much he would like to not be ignored, right now, during the exams, being underestimated was for the best. So he gritted his teeth and stayed out of the fight.
When Sasuke made no move toward Rock Lee he spoke again. "I'll say this. You guys cannot defeat me because right now, I am the strongest Leaf Genin."
Sasuke decided to take the challenge. There was no better time than now to test his skills against someone who had stopped one of his attacks as well as the person who had been attacking him. "Sounds fun. I'll do it."
"Sasuke we don't have time for this. We only have 30 minutes to get to the meeting." Sakura yelled at her teammate.
"I'll be done in five minutes." He said arrogantly and charged toward the other Genin who had just stood by patiently.
When Sasuke got close enough Rock Lee spun and aimed a high kick at his head. When Sasuke dodged the kick Rock Lee dropped low to the floor out of his line of sight and spun again aiming for Sasuke's head once more.
Sasuke saw the attack but knew he wouldn't be able to block it so he tried to guard against it. He thought that might have worked until he found himself flying back and sliding across the wood floor.
Sakura and Naruto watched in shock. It had look like he blocked the kick from their point of view and didn't understand how Rock Lee had gotten through.
Sasuke pushed himself up on his hands and knees looking back at the other boy. He tried to puzzle out how he had gotten through his guard but just didn't understand. He climbed to his feet and smirked, turning to face Rock Lee again. He had been working with Kakashi a little on his Sharingan, he now had it in both eyes, and up until this point he hadn't used it. This would be the perfect opportunity to practice in a real fight and if he was using some type of Genjutsu or Ninjutsu he would be able to see it this time.
Rock Lee noticed the change. This was his first time seeing the renowned Sharingan. He watched Sasuke charge him once more. Rock Lee moved as fast as he could and this time dropped to the floor aiming a kick up under the Uchiha's chin and landing the attack.
Sasuke was stunned. The other ninja was using neither Ninjutsu nor Genjutsu. It took a split second for him to come to this conclusion before Rock Lee was just there behind him as he was still flying through the air.
"My techniques are simple Taijutsu, Sasuke. Your eyes may be able to read my moves but your body isn't fast enough to react to them. I am not able to do Ninjutsu or Genjutsu so my sole focus has only ever been Taijutsu. You may be a genius, Sasuke, but I have worked my whole life too get where I am now and I will prove to you that hard work will triumph over genius."
Sasuke wondered what he was planning when Rock Lee's next move was interrupted. "That's enough Lee." Everyone looked shocked at a giant turtle that appeared to be talking.
Rock Lee aborted his attack in mid-move. A piece of the bandage from his arm was pinned to the wall and he used that to pull himself away from Sasuke. Sasuke at the same time continued to fly backwards until he hit the floor, Sakura running to intercept his fall.
Naruto was stunned. Rock Lee was fast, he didn't know who might be faster Haku or Rock Lee but he wanted to find out. Someone who could only use Taijutsu and was skilled enough to bring down Sasuke, Naruto defiantly wanted to fight him.
The three of team 7 watched Rock Lee get down on one knee. "So you were watching…"
"Lee that technique is forbidden!"
"I'm sorry. I just…" Lee replied, his voice small compared to how loud it was earlier. Rock Lee shrank back from the look the turtle had given him. It left the others confused and trying to figure out what was going on.
"I wasn't planning on using the other one." He explained to the turtle.
They watched the turtle scold Roc Lee more before there was a puff of smoke that appeared on the back of the turtle. When the smoke cleared the three of them were dumbstruck. On the back of the turtle stood a man in the goofiest pose and was an identical copy of Rock Lee, just older and taller. They watched in shock as the older ninja punched Rock Lee in the face.
The scene that followed was so overly dramatic there was no way to describe it and it left the three Genin speechless. All Sasuke could think was, he couldn't believe he lost to someone like that.
They found out the man's name was Gai and he considered Kakashi his rival. "I am stronger than Kakashi. 50 wins to his 49 losses." They looked up at him in disbelief. What they didn't know was what those challenges consisted of.
"You guys and Lee should head over to the class room." He threw a kunai at the pinwheel, knocking it from the wall and releasing the bandage that was pinned to the wall.
Naruto watched Rock Lee rewrap his hands with the now freed bandage and silently noted the intense scarring along the knuckles of his hand. As Lee took off for the classroom after admitting to lying about being the strongest Genin, the three teammates followed behind slowly. Without thinking about what he was saying, he spoke low enough for the other two to hear him. "That guy must have trained really hard every day. More than you. That's all it is."
Sasuke clenched his hands into tight fists at the words and scoffed. He shouldn't have lost to that idiot. He should have been strong enough to beat anyone here, but that guy made it seem so easy to beat him. He would just have to work harder, be better. It was a challenge he was up for. He forced his hands to relax and put a smirk back on his face. "These exams are getting fun."
Naruto and Sakura smiled at his change in attitude and words but agreed with him and when he asked if they were ready to go they matched his enthusiasm and continued on. When they finally reached room 301, Kakashi was there waiting for them. He explained what would have happened if only two of them had shown up and wished them luck before disappearing and allowing them to enter the room. And so the Chuunin Exams begin.