Author Notes:

Dark and Alive Minato, Minato fans beware.

Alive Kushina.

Darker Naruto.

Original Characters x Established Characters

Not sure what everyone's big beef is with a background coupling but it's not going to change, might as well stop reading now. Same goes with the OC's, they are not going anywhere so if that is really such an issue for you then just stop reading here, it doesn't bother me.

Chapter 16: The Forest...

They all stood there waiting to know what the next test would be. Naruto was still very surprised that everyone from their graduating class had survived the testing. That was when the glass window suddenly imploded and a purple haired kunoichi was standing there. Most of them didn't know who she was but Naruto did as he let out a long sigh. She was one of his mothers friends, one of the ones that didn't abandon her at least. She was also someone that Naruto considered to be psychologically unstable.

Scanning the room looking at all of the remaining contestants then her eyes locked onto Naruto. She had a smile seeing that he had survived the first part of the testing. Anko looked over at Ibiki with a disapproving look, "What is with all of these contestants? This is far too many people for after this kind of a test. Are you getting soft on me old man?"

The scarred man gave Anko a clearly annoyed look, "Talk to the Yondaime about it, he is the one who changed the testing at the last minute for whatever reason."

Looking at him for a second she then scanned the room again, not missing the noticeable smirk on Naruto's face. She knew very well that he believed himself to be in a war with the Yondaime. She sighed then looked at the remaining genin, "So there are about sixteen teams left huh? Such a shame. I guess that my friends will have to deal with them then."

Shaking his head at the comment Ibiki motioned for his men to follow before they all left the room. Anko gained a possessed smile as she put her hands on her hips, "Meet me at Training Ground 44, you have 15 minutes. If you take longer then that your team will fail."

As the other teams looked around Naruto put a hand on both of his teammates shoulders and disappeared with them in a yellow flash. They reappeared at the entrance to Training Ground 44 moments before Anko appeared behind them with a confused look. Naruto looked over his shoulder at her with a smirk, "You're getting slow Anko, maybe you've been eating to much sweets later instead of training?"

The purple haired kunoichi glared at him then made a 'tsk' sound before turning away, walking towards the chunin she had assisting with this test all while muttering, "Cheeky little brat."

The blond haired teen smiled as he looked at Anko as she stomped away from them. The blond teen then noticed his half sister had intertwined their fingers again. He looked at her as she motioned with her eyes for him to follow her. He figured they had at least five minutes before any of the other teams would arrive. She led him to a small forest area then quickly hugged him. Naruto put his arm around her then she pulled back a little and kissed him hard.

Separating their lips Naruto looked into her eyes, "What's wrong?"

Staring at him she closed her eyes and pulled herself back into his chest, "That genjutsu... it.. it was so real. What they made me see, what happened to you..."

Focusing his eyes on the top of her head as she leaned her head on his chest she started to shake. He rubbed her shoulders slowly, "Naruko... it's okay. It wasn't real, I am clearly right here and fine."

Said girl looked up at him, "Why didn't it affect you, didn't they make you see our team die?"

Staring at her he twitched his lip at the question, "Genjutsu doesn't work on me. I got a more... personal and physical approach."

Knowing what that meant she softly rubbed his cheek, "I don't see any bruises though."

Giving her a soft smile he shook his head no at her, "I heal quickly thanks to my mothers clan. Now... you need to pull it together. The other teams will be showing up soon, if they sense you in a fragile state of mind they will exploit it."

Naruko nodded her head and quickly kissed him again, "Okay babe."

Stunned and confused he watched her as she walked away, 'Did she just call me babe?'

The young jinchuriki shook it off, knowing it wasn't the time to focus on that, then went back out of the forest as well to see that all of the teams made it there. Something that he was expecting. I mean if a jounin sent his team to the chunin exams and they couldn't even find the training ground, that would make them all look bad. Naruto looked around then went and stood by his team while Anko explained how the exam was going to work.

Staring at the genin the purple haired woman got a more sadistic smile on her face again, "Alright you little maggots! Here is how it is going to work! We are going to give all the teams a scroll. There are two different scrolls, one is called heaven and one is called earth. You need both of the scrolls to pass the test. The other teams are not the only thing that you have to worry about though. Inside this forest are many different creatures that will kill and eat you... probably not in that order either."

Naruto just had a small smile since he knew all about this forest. Since Anko had seen fit that he be trained here due to the challenge that it presented for him when he was younger. The forest did not phase him, nor did the other contestants phase him. Honestly, he just wanted to get this over with. Perhaps with the time off between this test and the tournament he could spend some time with Naruko. That made him freeze, 'I am getting to attached to her... this will be very problematic for me in the end.'

He honestly, truly hated that his feelings were getting mixed into all of this. He thought that he had disconnected himself from them a long time ago. This little blond minx had somehow reconnected the ones that he feared the most. Prior to recently, the only person who he believed had that power over him was his mother. Now she was able to do it, someone that he was going to hurt had power over him. He wondered how big of a problem this would be when he revealed everything. How she would react, what she would say or how deeply she would cut him.

Giving a quick glance over at her then back at Anko as she warned people about some of the things in the forest. Naruto sighed before they eventually went to go and get their scroll. He hated this waiting crap, he just wanted to be let in the forest to get some much needed release. He figured that ruining a few people's careers would be very helpful for this. They got a white scroll, a heaven scroll, meaning that they needed an earth scroll. Every team was lined up at a gate then the buzzer went off and everyone rushed inside of the Forest of Death.

With the Team...

As the three teammates landed on a branch Naruto looked at them before closing his eyes. It took him about a minute but he was able to locate three teams in the area. Two of which were already engaging in a battle. Naruto slowly opened his eyes as he looked forward then motioned for his two teammates to follow him, getting a nod from both of his teammates.

They quickly followed then saw that he led them to watch a battle. The Uzumaki heir was watching with analytical eyes as Team 7 from Konohagakure fought a Kirigakure team. Both Naruko and Shikamaru were wondering what this was about when suddenly Naruto jumped from the branch and landed behind the Kirigakure ninja silently. With three quick swift chops to the Kirigakure shinobi's necks. As they all slumped over Naruto quickly found the scroll and smiled as it was an earth scroll. He put it in his pouch then heard the sound of a kunai being drawn.

Looking up Naruto saw the young Uchiha staring at him with his sharingan flared and his kunai drawn. The Uzumaki stared at him before giving him a small smirk, "You better put that away before you get hurt Sasuke."

The raven haired boy had a confident smile, "I have the sharingan now, things are different than the last time we sparred in the academy."

The blond jinchuriki stood as he looked at him, "You have already lost this battle Sasuke, don't make me hurt you. When I hurt you then you usually go and cry to the council who get upset with my family. Now, if you weren't such a little bitch I would consider it but since that is not the case with you. Why don't you save yourself some pain and just get out of my way."

The insulting made Sasuke more angry than before and he went to walk towards Naruto until he figured out he couldn't. He looked at Naruto, "What the hell did you do?"

Naruto just smiled, "Me? I didn't do anything. The two people behind you on the other hand did do something."

What Sasuke hadn't noticed was that while he was staring at Naruto, Naruko had appeared behind Sakura and Kiba knocking them out. With those two out of the way Shikamaru had trapped the Uchiha with his shadow possession jutsu. Naruto walked up to Sasuke then reached into his pouch and pulled out another earth scroll. He smiled, "Thanks Sasuke, I appreciate you keeping this safe for me."

With a swift chop the Uchiha fell to the ground making Naruto smile. He looked up at his teammates, "Let's get to that tower. We don't want to be in this forest at night, that is when most of the predators come out to hunt."

They nodded their heads before taking off towards the tower. By Naruto's estimation they would be there within a few hours, also breaking the record a certain Yondaime set in this exact test. After two more hours of running the three landed in front of the tower. Shikamaru was worn out while Naruto and Naruko both seemed fine. Naruto pushed open the doors and walked into the room. Seing the incomplete mural on the wall and figuring out the clue they took out the scrolls and unrolled them. Suddenly a large puff of white smoke filled the air above the scrolls. As it cleared they saw the red hair of Naruto's mother.

She looked at the three and smiled, "Record time guys. I am very proud of all of you."

It meant more to Naruto and Naruko that Kushina was proud of them. Shikamaru more of just shrugged it off, claiming he was tired and was going to go find somewhere to sleep. Kushina watched him leave then yelled after him, "You have three days off Shikamaru! That is how many days are left for the second test!"

Waving his hand over his shoulder at them as he walked away he muttered, "Whatever... troublesome testing."

The red head looked back at the two of them then she kissed Naruto on the forehead, "You broke his record by 4 hours Naruto, great job. Now, please let me speak with Naruko for a moment just us two."

Naruto nodded his head at his mother before going to find a room to sleep in. Kushina looked at Naruko who smiled at her. Kushina was looking at her, "Naruko, you seem to be a bit rattled. Is something wrong?"

The blond girl looked at her mentor before she let out a small breath, "It was just the first test Kushina-sensei. What they made me see was... hard."

Kushina rose her eyebrow, "Something that you saw? The first test is always a written test."

The young blond girl shook her head, "It wasn't for us. They subjected everyone to genjutsu to try and break them. All except Naruto since apparently genjutsu doesn't work on him, he said that he was given a more physical examination."

The red headed woman narrowed her eyes, "They beat on my son?"

Her pupil now had a nervous look on her face as she could sense that Kushina was now more then a little upset, "Maybe?"

The red haired Uzumaki just looked at Naruko then took a deep calming breath to bring her anger back under control. She looked at her student then gave a soft and kind smile. When Kushina appeared to calm down Naruko did something a little bold on her own, "Kushina-sensei... can I ask you a question?"

The woman nodded her head then Naruko started to play with her hair, "Um... what would you think if... if I were to date Naruto?"

Kushina had wide eyes from the question. She just stared at the blond girl as she blushed from the question she had asked, "What..?"

Her pupil looked at her slowly, a bit fearful that she wouldn't approve of it. Kushina was well aware of the crush the girl had on her son. Kushina stared at her, "Sweetie... I don't think Naruto would be interested in a relationship with you."

The blond haired girl almost blurted out that they had a secret one but didn't. She stood there then looked at her sensei with more determination, "If he said yes... would you approve?"

Kushina stared at her some more, "If he wanted it then I wouldn't stop it."

Naruko smiled at this then hugged the woman, "Thank you Kushina-sensei!"

With that the blond girl ran off to go and find her lover. She needed some comfort after what she had been forced to see during that first test. When she found his room she claimed the one next to him then slipped into his room. He was laying on the bed asleep as she came over to him and laid down next to him, "Naruto-kun... are you awake?"

He grunted to give her the yes that she was looking for. She cuddled into him, "I had a talk with your mother."

Again her answer was a grunt making her smirk, "She said if it was what you wanted we could have a relationship. I was thinking that... maybe if you wanted... when we pass the exams, we could go public."

That made it so he opened his eyes and looked at her. She looked at him as he stared at her silently as if he was looking for something. She just gave him a small smile then kissed him quickly. After they broke from the kiss he spoke, "Naruko... after the tournament you won't feel the same about me. I am sure of that."

Naruko sat up in the bed with an irritated and upset look on her face, "Why do you keep thinking this!?"

He just stared at her then he leaned up a bit, "There is something that will be brought to light, something that will change everything. I don't think you will want me around anymore after this happens."

Straddling his waist she gave him a determined look, "And I also told you already that there is nothing that can change how I feel. Now, I need some comfort after that first test. I couldn't demand it earlier as we didn't have nearly enough time but now we do."

Naruto just stared up at her, 'You say that now... but when it all happens, you will see that I was right.' The blond male teen smiled then pulled her down into kiss before proceeding to give her what she was asking for.

A Couple Days Later...

All of the teams that passed the second test stood there in a large room. From the marks all over the walls Naruto assumed it was used for battles. That was when his attention was drawn to the Yondaime as he stepped forward, "This room is where we would usually have a preliminary round. Seeing as there are only four teams remaining there really isn't a need for this. That being said we are going to draw lots for who will compete in what spot in the final tournament."

Naruto looked at the other teams to see that it was his team, a Sunagakure team, and two other Konohagakure teams passed. The one team that was completely surprising to him was Team 7. Sasuke must have gotten them the scrolls. What Naruto didn't know was that it was actually Kiba who took control and tracked teams at night to ambush and take scrolls. The other team was the team of Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga and TenTen.

They all got into a line as a man walked around with a bag that they all drew lots from. Everyone read off the numbers on the strips of paper they had drawn.

Kiba spoke up first, "One."

Next was Sasuke, "Two."

Followed by Rock Lee, "Three."

Then it was Shikamaru, "Four."

Naruto spoke next, "Five."

Kankuro spoke after him, "Six."

Next was TenTen, "Seven."

After that was the Sunagakure kunoichi Temari, "Eight."

That was when Neji spoke, "Nine."

A red head was the next one to speak, "Ten."

Then it was Naruko, "Eleven."

Lastly was the pink haired nuisance, "Twelve."

As they all had their placement Minato smiled with a nod, "You are all dismissed for a month until the tournament begins."

With that they all started to go their separate ways. Naruto knew that he was going to have to train hard. If this was how little people actually made it through the test they must have some sort of skill. He sighed then disappeared and reappeared in his clans estate to see all the people there to congratulate him. This made him sigh then speak, "There are too many damn people in this house..."