Chapter 14

Timeskip- 3 months later- Konoha

It has been three months since Naruto woke up in the hospital. Over this time, many changes had occurred. After the stunt pulled by Sasuke, he was reprimanded in front of the entire council by the hokage. Needless to say the civilian side attempted to interfere but they were forced into submission by a glare from the hokage and clan heads. He was sentenced to spend a month with Anko to ensure that he learns the important lesson of valuing his comrades. He was told by the hokage that if he is responsible for any further events that put the lives of his comrades in danger, he would have his chakra and sharingan sealed off. Even though he had become more arrogant after the events of the wave mission due to his awakening of the sharingan. Sakura did not change her behaviour. She stilled fawned over Sasuke, requested for an introduction to Izumi or was overly concerned of her looks.

Naruto had learnt from Izumi that Sakura visited him in the hospital while he was in a coma. However, she did so to berate him telling him that he had gotten in Sasuke's way and that would not wake up from the coma ever. Even going so far as to suggest to Izumi to come with her so that she could be in the company of someone who is closer to her status. In response, Izumi had released an enormous amount of killing intent and told her to leave before something happens to her that she would not regret. Sakura had run with her tail between her legs and never showed her face at the hospital again.

In terms of skill level, Naruto had finally managed to get to level seven of fuinjutsu and could now do seals with the use of hand seals. His restriction seals went up a level and his lightning manipulation also moved to where he could light up a bulb for about five minutes. He had learnt that his lightning affinity was as strong as the nidaime hokage's water affinity. His wind affinity had also progressed to the point where he was ready to cut a waterfall but due to the lack of waterfalls around Konoha, that was put on the shelves for the moment. He had finished all manipulation exercises for his fire affinity and had added two new fire type jutsu, three new wind jutsu and one lightning jutsu to his arsenal. Kakashi also taught him the 'shunshin' and Naruto combined it with his lightning element to create the lightning shunshin which was faster than the regular version but not quite at the level of shusui uchiha yet. Izumi had asked about the principles behind his creation and developed her own water variant of it. This was their personal technique and they did not wish to teach it to anyone and it couldn't be copied since it requires no hand seals.

Kakashi had checked what the affinity was for sasuke who had a primary affinity for earth. Thus Sasuke was taught 'earth style: earth wall' and 'earth style: earth dragon bullet'. One defensive and one offensive move. Sasuke had demanded more but Kakashi refused as his reserves were not high enough to use higher ranked jutsus yet. Sakura had too small reserves to utilize ninjutsu so she had been trained in genjutsu. Her lower reserves meant better control so Kakashi suggested that she be a medical nin but she refused stating she wanted to fight to impress sasuke-kun. So instead, he taught her a bit about poisons so she might have something to protect herself.

Currently, they were training in the usual grounds when a hawk flew overhead and Kakashi immediately left knowing what this meant. He gave the team instructions to continue with their routines and that he would be back soon.

In the hokage office

Hiruzen looked upon the various jounin senseis inside his office. This was time for the bi-annual chunin exams. He asked if any sensei wished to nominate their teams for participation. As soon as he finished his question, Kakashi stepped up and announced his nomination for his team before stepping back. His action was mimicked by the other senseis of the other rookie graduates as well as Maito Gai, jounin sensei of team nine.

Immediately grumblings were heard but was quickly shut down by the hokage who passed out the forms to the respective senseis.

Back at team seven's training grounds

Kakashi returned to the grounds to see that his team were still going through their routines. He called them over and explained that the chunin exams were almost here and that he had nominated them. He further explained that the exams were by choice and that if they wished to participate, they should sign these forms and be at room 301 at the academy in one weeks time. He then gave out the forms and left the clearing followed by the genin who dispersed towards their homes.

Naruto arrived at his apartment to think what he wished to do. He was certain he was ready for it but was unsure if he could trust his teammates after the wave mission. But then again, they have been working flawlessly together. He had no desire to remain constant just because of his teammates and after promotions he could work with the other teams. He was so deep into his thoughts that he did not notice that Izumi came in and sat next to him until she spoke up.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" she inquired. He took the slip from his hands and passed it to her for her to read it. She read it and asked if he was going to enter the exams. She knew that he possessed the qualities of a chunin and he was probably just thinking of his team. "Yes I am going to compete and take the next step of my career. I will not be held back jut because of my team." Replied Naruto.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, Izumi got up to answer it and Naruto followed behind her. She opened the door to find an ANBU agent who gave her a scroll and promptly disappeared. She opened it, read it using her sharingan before burning it. "Something wrong? What did it say?" asked Naruto as he caught her thoughtful gaze. She replied that it was nothing just that she had been assigned to the ANBU guard detail during the third round of the chunin exams. He nodded in response before asking if she wanted to go out to get food which she agreed to.

Naruto and Izumi were both going to their favourite sushi restaurant when they spotted a square rock with two eye holes on it. This led to Naruto sighing and Izumi giggling at the stealth attempt. "Konohamaru, rocks aren't square and definitely don't have eye holes y'know" said Naruto. As he finished his sentence, the rock flew off and the area covered in smoke as Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi got out.

"As expected from my rival boss. Hey boss, Izumi nee-chan lets play ninja!" shouted konohamaru as izumi poked his forehead while Naruto said another time. They were interrupted by Sakura who made her presence known by screeching out "Naruto-baka what kind of a ninja plays ninja? And quit wasting Izumi-sama's time!" This earned her an annoyed look from Izumi and caused Naruto to sigh.

"Hey boss! Is this your this?" questioned udon while raising his pinky finger. This action caused Naruto to turn green with disgust as Izumi giggled at the sight of his reaction. "Are you wack udon? If anyone is to be boss' girlfriend it is going to be Izumi nee-chan," said konohamaru as Naruto flushed while konohamaru grinned at the sight before he continued, "see they look good together unlike that flat chested bubblegum haired girl with that huge forehead that I could paint the hokage monument on and still have space remaining. How dare you confuse her as boss' girlfriend or even compare her to Izumi nee-chan." Naruto had gone red like a tomato after that explanation while Izumi turned pink while caressing her skirt.

A sinister aura then enveloped the clearing as Konohamaru turned to see that it was Sakura emitting the aura while cracking her knuckles and eye twitching. "What did you say you little shit?" questioned the pink haired thing causing konohamaru to dart away in fright of her. Naruto and izumi chased after them and they soon came upon the sight of the hokage's grandson being held by a foreign nin in a cat suit with make-up on. He was accompanied by a blond girl with her hair in four pig tails with a giant fan on her back. Sakura was telling them to stop it and that it was an accident.

"Oi clown, let the kid go," shouted Naruto as Izumi giggled at his side while the blonde snickered.

"I am not a clown, you idiot," yelled the boy and turned to glare.

"I'm sorry miss can you let him down please," responded Naruto as Izumi laughed louder while the blonde was holding her sides.

"I am a boy you stupid idiot!" ranted the individual.

"Then why are you wearing makeup?" asked Naruto as innocently as he could which caused Izumi to hold her sides as tears came out with her laughter and the blonde was on her knees pounding the ground to get her laughter under control.

The male in the cat suit yelled out that it was war paint and dropped konohamaru who immediately seeked safety behind Naruto and Izumi before moving his hands behind him only to feel steel on his neck. "Take your hands off the bundle" intoned Naruto from behind the now confirmed puppeteer surprising those in the street by his speed.

"And tell your teammate in the trees to come down too" said Naruto in a louder voice so that those on the trees could hear him. Sasuke, who was on the trees watching the proceedings, was startled as he heard a voice behind him.

"Kankuro you are an embarrassment to our village," was the words of a red haired boy with bags under his eyes and a gourd strapped to his back. He then shunshinned to the ground while Naruto moved back to Izumi's side and sasuke seethed that the 'dobe' was able to do that.

The red haired boy apologized for his teammates actions which Naruto nodded to before turning around to leave with konohamaru and izumi following him. Sasuke jumped down and demanded to know the suna nins name to which the red haired boy replied that he was gaara of the desert before inquiring as to the identity of you.

Sasuke replied that he was Uchiha Sasuke, heir to the uchiha clan. "No you do not interest me. I would like to know your names," said gaara as he looked to izumi and Naruto as sasuke fumed at being disregarded.

Naruto and izumi gave their names as gaara nodded before saying that mother will have their blood before ordering his teammates to leave. Naruto just left the clearing towards the sushi restaurant not noticing the looks temari was giving him nor the looks izumi was giving temari.

Timeskip-1 week later

Naruto had spent the last week just doing light training, reading and spending time with izumi in order to be fully rested for the exams. We can find him at the academy entrance where he saw sasuke brooding as usual and sakura pestering him for a date. He passed by them and entered the academy. They arrived at the second floor where Naruto noticed the genjutsu but said nothing as he knew the purpose of it. Unfortunately, sasuke decided to give away the secret by announcing the genjutsu to all those present with sakura gushing at how cool sasuke-kun was.

That idiot, he only increased the amount of competition now by doing that thought Naruto as he sighed. The two guards attacked with a kick while sasuke mimicked them but their strikes were blocked by a young boy wearing a green leotard and bushy eyebrows known as Rock Lee. Naruto observed the newcomer and saw the rest of his team: a hyuuga with an arrogant look on his face and a girl whose hairstyle reminded him of a panda. He watched then quarrel and the boy asking out sakura but was rejected. He left with his team towards the door but was stopped once again by Lee who challenged the uchiha to a fight and soundly defeated him.

Naruto noticed with his sharingan that his chakra network was danaged and that under his bandages were numerous scratches and marks on his hands indicating that not only is he a pure taijutsu user but also he is an extremely hard worker. The fight was broken up by a man who looked like he could be Lee in the future or his father. They were then subjected to the 'Sunset of Youth' genjutsu by teacher and student. After getting out of that horrid display, Naruto and the others arrived at the door where they saw Kakashi waiting for them. Naruto asked Kakashi if he knew what an eternal rival was as his sensei's eye widened as he asked if it was a person wearing a green leotard with an orange leg warmers. At Naruto's nod, Kakashi asked if he agreed to which Naruto shook his head negatively causing the one eyed jounin to sigh as his student had dodged a bullet there.

Naruto sweat dropped at his teacher's expression as he and his team pushed the door open and entered the room with one thought in mind

Let the chunin exams commence

To be continued