Happy Easter!

I kinda forget about Kakashi. And he's one of my favourite characters. Poor Kakashi.

Salamandra15 – Naruto was scared of animals, that's why Akamaru makes such an effort with him, Nami well... and Tsubasa (the little bird) he saved it so it's loyalty is to Naruto. I think the bird was on a cover on the manga once and it stuck in my head.

HelloHockey27 – Naruto and Ume never crossed my mind actually so I never gave it much thought. I wonder many others thought that?

serialkeller – It will be close between them.

Bunnibutch – Sasuke is an ass! He will remain an ass, but he and Naruto realise they should have, could have been friends.

Spiritwolf35 – I love you. You keep asking me things and really make me go over them. Chuunin exams soon promise. On the Whirlpool country, I thought Kushina was sent for from there which is why I said that. It just says it was destroyed during the war, but not which war. You point is valid and had me checking everywhere and it probably is my mistake I forgot about the Rain orphans, I do think your right, sorry about that.

Also I struggle writing a big arc like this, but I'm almost at the preliminaries. My problem is Anko's fight, and Rock Lee. I don't want to write Lee's fight, that's what is holding me back. I feel I can't write it well enough so I should skip. Sorry.

I miss writing Cat =(

Please enjoy it, lol.

Thank you for the alerts, follows and reviews.

Naruto = flash back

'Naruto' is thoughts/thinking

"Naruto" signing/sign language

"Naruto" speaking.

"Naruto" Demon

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto just some DVDs and games.

Chapter 26

Naruto and Konohamaru were sat at the piano practicing the new composition their grandfather had taught them the other day. Well Konohamaru was practicing while Naruto helped him. Naruto had a natural talent with music so he easily picked it up. They were practicing before the academy started and Naruto had to partake in another mission with his actual team.

"Hey Naruto, do you think your team will be entered into the chunin exams?" Ko asked as he hit a duff note, scowling at the keys as though it was their fault they went wrong.

"I shouldn't think so, most teams get held back a year, and the way our teamwork's been lately," Naruto shrugged his fingers running across the keys beautifully as he played. "See where you went wrong?" Naruto asked. Ko nodded and played the same composition as Naruto but slower. He smiled glad that he had finally played it correctly.

"Now I can work on making it faster, Hey Naruto can you play ninja with us today?"

"Sure after my mission okay?" He ruffled Ko's hair. "Want me to walk with you to the academy?"

"Yes please. I'm not embarrassed by you Naruto, I love that you're my big brother." Ko chirped as he jumped off the stool. "Bye Nami." He called as Nami stalked into the office. "Bye Grandpa, see you at dinner." Ko said as he stopped to hug his grandfather.

"Naruto," The Hokage cleared his throat and held his arms out. Naruto laughed and hugged the old man tight. "See you at dinner Naruto, and try to behave both of you," he called out as both his grandchildren raised a hand above their head waving. He shook his head and smiled, if only Asuma would settle down and give him another grandchild. He sighed he walked into his office, "Morning Nami." He stroked the cat absently as he stared out his window.

(Line)

Naruto arrived at the team's meeting point to find both Sakura and Sasuke waiting, he sighed as he was blanked by both. 'Great hours of waiting with these two,' he sighed.

"Hey, why don't we go practice at the training ground? We're only going to be waiting around for sensei anyway…."

"Shut up Naruto!" Sakura screamed.

"Humph, who'd want to train with a loser like you?" Sasuke smirked, crossing his arms.

"Hey where are you going Naruto?" Sakura called out.

"To get a book, if I'm going to be stuck here waiting for hours I'd rather be doing something productive with my time," Naruto called over his shoulder.

Naruto returned to the rendezvous point carry a scroll and a book and munching on an apple. He joined his team and with his back to the fence slid down the apple still in his mouth and opened his book catching the apple as he bit down. Sasuke scowled at him as he watched him while Sakura shot glances at her love from under her lashes.

Three hours later Naruto looked up from making notes on the scroll as Kakashi arrived. He stood rolling the scroll up and pocketing the book away together in his back pouch much like Kakashi hid his Icha Icha books in his back pouch.

"Hey guys. I got lost." Kakashi waved.

"Liar!" Sakura screamed she looked round, when it was just her screaming. She always expected Naruto to be there right alongside her.

"So what are we doing today sensei?" Naruto cocked his head.

"What you got lined up for us now sensei?" Sakura spoke at the same time as Naruto her loud voice drowning out Naruto's gravelly one.

Naruto shook his head and picked his apple core up he walked it over to a bin and got rid of it when he turned back Kakashi had already explained their missions to his two team mates. He huffed he was really starting to get annoyed with Kakashi. It was more that Kakashi didn't include him in well, anything really. He sighed again as he jogged to keep up.

They were walking back through the village a cat got the cream look on Sakura's face as she walked between her boys, closer to Sasuke than usual. She was starting to get worried about Naruto, he was becoming quiet, not that it wasn't a nice thing, but it unnerved her more than anything, he hadn't even reacted when Sasuke goaded him. She glanced at him out the corner of her eye which was quite hard to do since he was the same height as her now. He was writing on the scroll from this morning. She glanced to Sasuke he had his hands in his pockets and his usual scowl on his face, she looked back to Naruto, she hadn't seen him smile, for a while now. Perhaps that's what it was, she missed his smile.

"Teamwork seems to be a bit off today," Kakashi commented.

"Teamwork, what teamwork? The only time we had team work was when we fought Haku in the land of waves." Naruto commented looking up.

Kakashi was slightly unnerved by the intense look in Naruto's eyes. "That's it for today; I've got to hand in the mission report." Kakashi dismissed them.

Naruto's attention was pulled away to the eagle that flew over head. "If you're going to see the Hokage can you give him that please, means he gets it a little earlier?" Naruto threw his finished scroll to Kakashi who blinked, as he caught the scroll, nodding absently as he left.

"Well if that's it then I'm heading home." Sasuke declared as he eyed Naruto. Not once today had the idiot mucked up and it bugged him, he needed to prove that he was better than Naruto.

"Hey Sasuke wait," Sakura called hearts in her eyes, "Why don't we work on our teamwork just the two of us?"

"You do realize that's what Naruto suggested while we were waiting for Kakashi sensei right? I called him a loser, and you just screamed at him to shut up. What makes you think if I didn't want to do it then together that I'd want to do it now just the two of us. Why don't you go off and practice because as far as I'm concerned you're below Naruto in ability." He smirked watching as her face fell. He turned and walked away.

Sakura started to wallow in self loathing.

"Sakura I'd offer to train with you but I already made plans to play ninja with Konohamaru and his friends after we finished today." Naruto rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, as a square box made its way up the path behind them.

"Why would a ninja want to play pretend ninja with a bunch of brats?" Sakura remarked, snapping out of her funk.

"Because he's my brother, and I like spending time with my brother." Naruto stated. "You know rocks aren't square Ko." He shouted out as the box with peep holes moved closer. He turned round smiling.

The box lifted to reveal Konohamaru and his two friends Moegi and Udon all wearing familiar goggles on their heads.

"Sorry bro, but I couldn't figure out how to make it more rock like while hiding all three of us." Konohamaru rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"Are you still going to play ninja with us Naruto?" Moegi asked wringing her hands nervously. They had obviously heard the conversation between Naruto and Sakura.

Naruto knelt down so that he was level with Moegi, "of course I'm still going to play ninja with you." He smiled reassuringly. "I remember a story one time…"

"Yeah Naruto tells the best stories ever!" Konohamaru exclaimed to his friends as they all stepped closer.

"...thanks. Oh yes. 'A man bought a donkey at the market one day and took him home on approval. Now the man owned several donkeys already and he knew each one's character very well. One of the donkeys was very strong and brave. Another was eager to please but quickly exhausted. One was very lazy. He hated going to work in the morning and he did as little as he possibly could all day long. When the other animals were loaded up he always tried to be last so that he would get the lightest load.

The man led the new donkey into the stable yard. For a moment he stood sniffing at his new companions. Then, without hesitation, he trotted up to the lazy donkey and began feeding comfortably at his side.

Though it was late in the day, the man immediately led the new donkey out of the yard, straight back to market.

"You cannot have given him a fair trial yet," said the merchant. "It is only ten minutes since you bought him."

"I don't need to try him anymore," replied the man. "I know just what he is like from the friend he chose for himself. Take him away and give me my money back. I can do without donkeys like him. 'So what's the moral of this story?" he asked, looking at each child in turn. "You can tell what people are like from the friends they choose." He turned his head looking at Sakura as he spoke.

"That's a good story Naruto." Moegi smiled.

"Thanks, so what's with the goggles?" Naruto asked standing up to his full height.

"We're copying you're old look." Udon explained, "Besides it gets us used to having something on our head." Udon nodded.

"Hey bro, who's the girl? Is she your team mate? Sakura I think?" Konohamaru pondered.

"Yeah this is Sakura Haruno and you just missed Sasuke Uchiha and Kakashi sensei." Naruto shrugged.

"What do you mean this is Sakura Haruno, you can't just dismiss me like that." Sakura started to get angry.

"Well you're my team mate, an acquaintance from the academy." Naruto shrugged. "How was I supposed to introduce you?"

Sakura shook with anger as she threw a punch at Naruto that should have sent him flying into the nearby fence, but didn't make contact as Naruto stepped out of the way.

"She's kinda loud," Moegi whispered to Udon, who nodded.

"And violent, I'm glad you're not like that Moegi, you're sweet and kind and pretty…" Moegi blushed.

"Am I not pretty?!" Sakura turned a menacing glare towards Konohamaru who hadn't quite realized what he said.

"I'd run if I was you Ko," Naruto stated edging away from his brother with Udon and a blushing Moegi as Sakura advanced on Konohamaru.

(Line)

Kakashi handed his mission report into Iruka, who smiled brightly back.

"Thanks for the reports," He filed them away, "How's Naruto doing? We've both been really busy lately that we haven't had a chance to catch up." Iruka asked.

"He's fine, he's paired with Sasuke Uchiha, they're a bit tense with each other, but coming along nicely, they may even be able to surpass you soon." Kakashi shrugged.

"That's not really what I meant." Iruka sighed. "That's nice to know but Naruto could have surpassed me ages ago if he wanted to, he probably already has." Iruka smiled as Kakashi cocked his head, in puzzlement, what did Iruka mean that wasn't what he meant, and why, did he think Naruto could have surpassed him ages ago?

Kakashi walked out of the mission office and was accosted by the elders he sighed as he pulled out his book. Moving into a side room they were very much alone.

"Kakashi if you haven't noticed the chunin selection exams are approaching." Koharu got straight to the point.

"We want you to nominate Uchiha Sasuke." Danzo ordered.

Kakashi eyed them all warily before nodding his head turning to join the meeting the Hokage had originally summoned him for.

"You do realize that the demon brat will be entered as well?" Homura stated.

"It's a team effort till the final part, besides he can never progress up through the ranks anyway." Danzo's eye gleamed out from the darkness. He would not allow the demon brat to progress; it was his duty to the village.

(Line)

Konohamaru ran followed by a fuming Sakura as Naruto, Udon, and Moegi followed after. Ko ran with a yell straight into something hard, he fell back with an "ouch", looking up to see two sand ninja stood in front of him. A girl with green eyes and blonde hair split into four ponytails was wearing a light coloured purple off the shoulder garment that stopped halfway down her thighs, with a scarlet sash tied around her waist. She wore fishnet over her shoulders and legs, (her right calf and left thigh). Her forehead protector was around her neck and she glared down at Konohamaru. While the boy who Konohamaru had run into was wearing a black full body suit with a red and yellow circle on the front, he had a black hood with cat like ears attached to the outfit and his forehead protector on the hood covering his forehead. And a mummified object sat on his back. He had purple triangle face paint on his face. He glared down at Konohamaru reaching down with his gloved hands to pick him up by front of his shirt.

"That hurts." The hoodie boy said.

(Line)

The eagle flew through the sky catching the attention of Kurenai and Asuma who were both with their teams at the moment. Wondering what they were being summoned for, they dismissed their teams and headed towards the Hokage tower.

(Line)

"Konohamaru!" Moegi called as he was picked up.

"That hurt you little piece of shit." The hoodie boy spoke angrily.

"Don't, we'll get into trouble." The blonde girl spoke.

"I'm sorry I was messing around…" Sakura started to apologies, 'who are these guys' she thought.

"I'd put him down if I were you," Naruto scowled at the older ninja.

"Why's that?" he spat.

"Because that's the Hokage's grandson you're holding in your hands and you wouldn't want to cause a diplomatic incident now would you." Naruto stepped forwards, his hands out in the open showing he meant no harm. He felt a tug to his chakra; he ignored it concentrating on his little brother.

The two ninja shared a look, before Konohamaru was dropped unceremoniously onto the ground where he scuttled back to Naruto. Naruto looked down at Konohamaru.

"You okay?" He knelt down checking him over to see if he was hurt. "Not hurt are you? Don't think grandpa would be pleased if we turned up to dinner and you were hurt." He stood ruffling Ko's hair as he moved him behind him. "I don't think my teammate would have let you get far." Naruto said his lips formed in a line.

(Line)

The Hokage sat in an adjoining room where many of his jounin ninja where gathered. He watched as Asuma and Kurenai walked in together, his eyebrow rose slightly at that, then, when Kakashi lazily made his way into the room, followed by an anxious Iruka, he began.

"There's only one reason why you're all here, it should be obvious." He glanced round the room allowing the ninja's to chat amongst themselves.

"It's that time already…"

"It's already been reported to the other countries, I've seen them in the village. So when is it?" said a ninja wearing a bandana backwards and chewing on a senbon needle, which he rolled as he spoke.

"In a week."

"Wow, that soon?"

"I'll announce it properly seven days from now." Nami stretched around the Hokage's shoulder's causing him to stop and eye the cat warily. "The chunin selection exam will commence!"

(Line)

Sasuke was shocked that Naruto realized he was there; he smoothed his facial features as he flipped the rock in his hand up into the air.

"What are you bastards, doing in our village?" he smirked as the two sand ninja's spun round to face him.

"Sasuke!" Sakura exclaimed in joy.

'Hmm, he's quite handsome that one,' the blonde female ninja thought, as her team-mate scowled. 'Both of them actually.' Her eyes flicked back over to Naruto.

"Get lost!" Sasuke spoke coolly, causing both Sakura and Moegi to gush.

"That's Sasuke my other team mate." Naruto explained to Udon and Konohamaru. Naruto's chakra pulled again, as he gazed up into the tree Sasuke was in.

(Line)

The Hokage summoned the three new jounin sensei's forward. "Now we'll hear from those who are watching over our new genin." He noticed that Kurenai was stood in between both Kakashi and Asuma. "Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma would you like to nominate any genins to enter into the chunin selection exam?" His eyes raked over them all "I don't have to tell you that a genin who has properly completed eight missions is eligible to take the exam if nominated by their sensei." Takeru rested his hand on Iruka's shoulder as the Hokage looked over to both of them. "Of course completing more missions than that is the norm."

'He shouldn't really be asking this of them they're not ready yet, I bet Naruto could convince me otherwise though,' Iruka worried.

"Now starting with Kakashi…"

Kakashi stepped forward, "The Kakashi led team seven, Uchiha Sasuke, Haruno Sakura and Uzumaki Naruto," several people edged forward as Naruto's name was mentioned. "Under the name of Hatake Kakashi I nominate them for the chunin selection exam."

"Yes!" Iruka breathed.

Kurenai stepped forward, "the Kurenai led team eight, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba and Abrurame Shino, under the name of Yuuhi Kurenai, the same as to my left."

Asuma stepped forward, "the Asuma led team ten, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru and Akimichi Choji, under the name of Sarutobi Asuma, the same as to my left."

"Hmm, how rare that all of them have been nominated," the Hokage watched as Takeru and Iruka exchanged glances. "What is it Iruka?" the Hokage pressed.

"It's nothing lord Hokage,"

"Were you going to complain that they need more experience, because I was six years younger than Naruto when I became a chunin?" Kakashi shrugged turning to face Iruka, as his eyes met Takeru's.

"Naruto's different from you and if he hadn't been so stubborn he probably would have passed your record years ago…" Iruka snapped at Kakashi.

"I was going to nominate Naruto if you didn't anyway," Takeru shrugged.

"And I've seen the way the teams all interact together when you trained together remember; I know they can handle it, deep down I know, I'm just worried, it's in my nature. But one conversation with Naruto and I'll be convinced that they can do it just as much as my instinct is telling me they can. I know they won't be crushed because I have faith in them, even if they fail this time they'll have gained experience and learned for next time. So no I wasn't going to complain because I have more faith in them than you!" Iruka snapped. Causing Kurenai to raise her eyebrow in alarm at the fact a chunin would stand up to Kakashi. Asuma chuckled as did the Hokage and Takeru as Kakashi glared down at Iruka.

"At least we know where Naruto gets that from now." Asuma chuckled.

"Calm down Iruka, I don't think poor Takeru could help you if you picked a fight with Kakashi." The Hokage tried to keep the peace. Nami's head turned towards the window causing the Hokage to look down.

Kakashi pulled the scroll Naruto had given him out and placed it on the desk in front of the hokage. He turned and walked out as the other ninja stood back.

(Line)

The hooded boy started to pull his mummified package from his back. "Stupid punk, think you're so cool, sitting up there in that tree, come down here and I'll show you cool."

"Kankuro, stop it." Temari scowled crossing her arms, "Wait you're going to use Karasu." She was shocked as he began unravelling his mummified object.

"I wouldn't do that if I was you, your teammate doesn't look very happy." Naruto stated.

"Kankuro stop it." Sasuke was taken by surprise as everyone turned to see where the whispered voice had come from. "You're an embarrassment to our village."

Stood on the underside of a branch with his arms crossed was a red headed boy with pale skin, green eyes which had a permanent unkindness to them. There were no evidence of eyebrows but his eyes were surrounded by black rings like tanuki (raccoon) and the kanji for love carved into his forehead. His spiky hair was parted on the left making the kanji more distinctive. He was wearing a black full body suit with short sleeves and quarter length trouser, with an open neck. He had a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips and a wide leather strap hang over his left side reappearing at his right hip. A gourd was attached to this strap and his black forehead protector was wrapped around it to.

"Ga…Gaara." the one called Kankuro stuttered.

Sasuke tried to figure out when that boy had snuck up on him, and slightly annoyed that Naruto knew he was there.

"Losing yourself in a fight, how pathetic." Even though he spoke in a whisper you could hear every word. "Why do you think we come to the leaf village?"

"But Gaara they started it." Kankuro whined.

"Stay behind me," Naruto motioned the Konohamaru corps behind him as his chakra pulled towards the very dangerous red head.

"Shut up or I'll kill you."

"Okay I'm sorry Gaara."

"I'm sorry too Gaara, really sorry."

"Sorry to you guys," Gaara turned to Sasuke before his eyes travelled to Naruto as he felt his chakra pull towards him.

'So he's there leader, but he's small like Naruto was and what strange eyes he's got. Like Naruto's whisker marks.' Sasuke thought.

Gaara appeared in a whirl of sand between Kankuro and the girl, his eyes meeting with Naruto.

"Temari, Kankuro it's seems we're too early, but that doesn't mean you can play about." He straightened up "Let's go."

'What's with that blond kid why do he and Gaara keep staring at each other?' Temari noticed.

"Wait!" Sakura called. "Judging from your head bands you're ninja from the hidden sand village right? You may be allies with the leaf but you can't just walk into our village without permission. State your purpose and depending on your answer depends if we can let you go." Sakura put up a brave front; she was always braver when she stated something she had learned.

"Sakura, they're here for the chunin selection exams. We'll be seeing a lot of foreign ninja around the village soon. They have passes." Naruto sighed.

"How do you know that?" Sasuke landed in between his team mates.

"What's the chunin selection exam?" Sakura turned.

"The chunin selection exam is where the best genin from each ninja village are nominated to take the chunin exam. It's our turn to host the exam grandpa's been making preparations for ages now." Konohamaru stated.

"Why do we take it all together?"

"It's diplomatic. Technically the main purpose is to improve relations between the nations and to raise shinobi levels." Naruto shrugged.

"Technically?" Sakura asked.

"It's a power struggle. Ways for nations to see how far, above or below, other nation's shinobi are, compared to their own." Naruto shrugged again.

"It's a delicate balance between powers." Temari finished.

"Oh, so, they can be here then?" Sakura became embarrassed, as Sasuke huffed.

"What's your name?" Sasuke stepped forward.

"Who me?" Temari started to blush.

"No the guy with the gourd."

"I am Gaara of the desert, who's you teammate?"

"What do you want to know about him for?" Sasuke started to get defensive, annoyed that he'd been passed over for the idiot.

"These are my teammates Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. I'm Naruto Uzumaki nice to meet you." Naruto held his hand out to Gaara. He called feel the fusion of chakra between them, like a spark meeting. Gaara stared at the hand unsure what to do. "Anyway have a nice time in the village, see you later Gaara, Kankuro and Temari, come on Konohamaru, Udon, Moegi let's go." Naruto turned to walk away.

The sand ninja's nodded and turned away as well. Sasuke turned his angry eyes on Naruto. Naruto glanced into the tree behind them but carried on walking.

There were three figures in the tree all wearing a cow print item of clothing and staring intently at Sasuke.

And so it begins...

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Thank you very much.