I'm moving house this friday! my first exam is this friday! stressed out!
The Magical Wizard of Ninjas – loved the 'goldilocks zone' did make me laugh thanks.
hinata-chan123 – I'm not sure if I'll make Naruto and Hinata a couple, I won't rule out a kiss though.
SilentMist121 – I don't kill anyone off for a while. (Mind you I said that last time and look what happened.)
Engineer4Ever – Naruto and Kakashi during that month training will be intense (I can see it in my plan lol. Sakura might start to come around she's pretty blinkered right now). Kakashi does know he's losing Naruto he just doesn't know how to stop it.
Ichigo1508 – thanks.
Nany-chan04 – I'm back to updating once a month I'm afraid. Still stuck on chapter 30 I'm afraid. Will have some free time soon to get past it. Once I'm past it should be fine. Sorry the updates aren't quick enough.
RiaChan – thanks.
Guest – you want a chapter where Naruto does something with the sand siblings? I'll try but I cant promise anything.
GunnerRyuu – thank you.
Guest – 15th of the month till the 29th chapter. Check my profile after that.
Sasukitsu – glad you found it interesting.
LilyVampire – yeah shows not everybody is into Sasuke.
Serialkeller – yup I agree.
Onepiecefannumber1 – here you go.
Yuuki – I don't know what that is. Let me know so I can look it please thank you.
Trident14 – I never thought of having Sakura and Sasuke do that, that's something I never thought of before. yeah I need to bump Naruto's arsenal up a bit I agree.
DarkRavie – thank you. My chapter keep getting longer though.
Kent Hillbery – Nope not going to happen there's a big uproar coming though.
Erydanes – to behonest I forget about Kakashi a lot at the moment so it's mainly my fault that he's a brainless idiot. But he really can't see what's in front of him. not so much the council's stooge but willing to play along, for now.
Starcrossedmoon – glad you found it interesting.
Guest – Naruto would never decline something like that *looks away hurriedly*.
Morgan03 – Iruka's fun to rant with, Naruto's better. I love Nami, gets used a lot in later chapters.
Master DK – thank you.
Fanficreader71 – thank you.
Xdevil-childx – you're back yay.
Kurokazeryuu – yeah he's jerk, but with little social skills or class. Also again that's my bad on writing Kakashi. I will have to rectify it in later chapters. He's not nonchalant (like that word).
Chibichibi98 – yup, he's coming out of his shell. Iruka will always defend Naruto. Always!
War sage – thank you.
The HokageNaruto – nice Simpsons reference lol. Yeah I get the feel everybody is going to finding this more and more interesting.
Please enjoy it, lol.
Thank you for the alerts 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 27
Konohamaru looked at Naruto over their dinner as their grandfather puffed on his pipe. It wasn't often that they had dinner together like this but something was bugging Konohamaru after the run in with the sand ninja, but he couldn't place it. He glanced at Naruto again.
"Ko, what's wrong? You've been glancing at me funny all through dinner." Naruto said, calling him out on his strange behaviour.
"Well it's just that…" Nami walked in his lap causing him to start stroking the cat absently. "Since we ran into those sand ninja something's been bugging me but I can't place what it is?" he sighed.
"You ran into sand ninja?" the Hokage paused, the food on his chopsticks slipping back into the bowl.
"Yeah, they're here for the chunin exam." Naruto turned back to Konohamaru. "It's probably because of Gaara; I was just drawn to him somehow. Like my chakra pulled towards him, only I'm not so sure it was mine."
"He was different than his teammates though, his eyes. The markings round his eyes remind me of your whiskers." Konohamaru continued stroking Nami.
"Then he's probably like me." Naruto shrugged.
"But he seemed so harsh and devoid of emotion even when he spoke to his teammates. He said he'd kill them."
"Maybe unlike me he didn't have someone like mum to take him in and show him the world, I always wondered what I'd be like if I didn't have my family. But I think that's just the tip of the iceberg, which we witnessed."
"Do you think you've been entered into the chunin exam?"
"Yeah I do, now. I hope we all have, be incredible if a bunch of rookies got through don't you think?" Naruto laughed. "Besides it's just a test, as long as we behave everything should be fine." Naruto shrugged. "And if I do pass that's just another thing you have to overcome." He smiled ruffling Konohamaru's hair.
"You shouldn't be so relaxed about it Naruto." The Hokage stated, his eyebrow raised.
"I know what it's all about, I'm your grandson. I've seen your pulling your hair out sorting all the preparations, I understand what it is you expect of me." Naruto stated, catching his falling food in his chopsticks.
"I expect you to pass." The Hokage smiled pulling Naruto into a hug. Konohamaru jumped into the hug as well causing a giggling fit to erupt from the three of them. Nami rolled it's eye and stole the Hokage's tuna.
(Line)
A dummy was strung up on a tree, weapons protruding out of each target painted on it.
"Hey did you hear? For the first time in five years rookies are going to be at the chunin exam." Lee walked into his team's training ground.
"No way, probably jounins with a bet on, or something." Tenten brushed it away.
"No, the story is that three of them are the students of Kakashi." Lee walked over to the training dummy.
"Wait, if that's true then this is going to be…" Tenten realised.
"Interesting, but you still have to feel sorry for them." Neji spoke from his sitting position on the floor underneath Tenten's training dummy.
(Line)
Team seven were waiting on the bridge for Kakashi to turn up, Naruto had his head buried in a book again. Sasuke kept scowling at him annoyed that Gaara was more interested in Naruto than him.
"How can this be allowed. Why can a person leave us waiting so long? If someone asked us to meet at a certain time then surely they should be here by that time. What about the feelings of a girl who overslept and didn't have time to blow dry her hair?"
"Yes, I agree Sakura, but Kakashi is notorious for being late. You can probably moan at him for years and I doubt it will make any difference." Naruto spoke from behind his book, a white one this time. Sasuke scowled even harder.
"Yo! Morning guys, sorry, I got lost on the road of life."
"Liar. Apologize!" Sakura screamed as Sasuke and Naruto leaned away from her screeching.
"Anyway, this is a little bit sudden, but I've nominated you guys for the chunin selection exam." He held out three passes, "Here are your applications."
"What?" Sakura was scared but happy.
"Naruto, I thought you said that we had to be nominated?" Sakura asked.
"You do, he's just nominated us. But it's up to us if we take the exam." Naruto shut his book taking his exam application from Kakashi.
"Exactly, those that wish to take the exam should take those papers with them to room 301 tomorrow by 4pm. That's all. Naruto, can I have a word." Kakashi motioned Naruto over.
"Naruto, why did Takeru and Iruka sensei want to nominate you if I didn't?"
"Perhaps you should ask them. Look underneath the underneath, sensei." Naruto smiled and caught up to his teammates. Kakashi stared after his blond student and frowned as he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"You know there's going to be lots of strong ninja there." Sasuke spoke aloud.
Sakura dropped back 'but I can't even keep up with Sasuke and Naruto, how can he enter us in the chunin exam?' she looked on as her teammates walked ahead. Naruto stopped and turned round.
"You coming Sakura?" he smiled kindly, Sasuke too turned round.
"Yeah, coming." She ran and caught up to them.
Kakashi watched this as he followed after them. Perhaps he should just ask them outright what they meant, it's not like he expected Naruto to have that much support. But it bugged him that he did.
He tracked down Takeru who was in a bar just off from the main square. He stepped into the bar searching for Takeru's familiar sandy blond hair which was sat at the bar. He took the seat next to him.
"Bit early in the day isn't it?" he casually glanced at Takeru.
Takeru tipped back his drink and wiped his mouth carefully signalling the bartender for water. He turned so he was facing Kakashi. He was younger than him and nowhere near as powerful so he didn't particularly want to pick a fight with him.
"What do you want, Kakashi? Shouldn't you be off training your team, or did you give them their applications and run?" he chuckled.
"Why are you so interested in Naruto?" Takeru's water arrived.
"Because you're not," he downed the glass and stood paying his tab. "We've all hinted at you. That scroll Naruto gave you to hand to the Hokage was him requesting that after the chunin exams he be allowed to leave your team. And you know something; my team isn't the only one asking to have him. You can't see what it is that we can. Look underneath the underneath." He rose from his seat and when Kakashi went to follow he found half the bar had stood to defend Takeru. He frowned and ordered a drink.
(Line)
Naruto stood before the Hokage; he could see his scroll that he'd given Kakashi laying open on the desk with Nami purring contentedly next to it.
"Are you sure about this Naruto? If I agree to this you can't go back."
"I know it wasn't my place to ask in the first place, but yes, I do. I don't mind waiting till after the exam. Who knows what's going to happen." Naruto shrugged.
"I think that's best. You know lots of people have been asking after you." He changed the tone of the conversation. "Did you need any help with your application?"
Naruto shook his head, "No, its fine. I'm okay at writing paper work out. And, no favouritism." Naruto chuckled standing from his chair. "See you later." And he disappeared out of the room without his hug. The Hokage pouted when he realised that his hug had been forgotten. He'd have to get him at an embarrassing moment.
(Line)
Naruto met up with his team outside the building where they were taking the chunin selection exam. He waved, glad that Sakura was there. He'd noticed she was sad yesterday after receiving their application forms. He wondered if she was worried. He smiled and greeted her as he walked up the steps with his team.
There were a lot of people here; he could see from the amount of people gathered in front of him and the chakra presence on the floor above them. He went to continue up the stairs when he recognised the people by the door. It didn't help that Sasuke had started making his way over there with Sakura trailing behind him. He sighed and stepped back down and followed after his teammates.
He watched as the bowl haired ninja was knocked back, by two seemingly younger versions of his favourite gate guards. He cocked his head and placed his hands in his pockets watching the scene unfold. The younger version of Kotetsu with his giant kunai spoke first.
"You're just a bunch of kids." He smirked
"Yeah." The younger Izumo agreed.
"Please just let us through," the girl with two buns on her head, what was she called… oh yes, Tenten, pleaded.
Kotetsu struck out knocking Tenten to the ground. "Listen. This is our kindness, to you. The chunin exam isn't easy. I mean we've failed it how many times?"
"Three times," Izumo supplied.
"And those that take this exam either end up quitting or dead."
"We've seen it all." He nodded.
"And chunins often become military captains."
"The failure of a mission, the death of a comrade, that's all the captain's responsibility." Izumo pushed.
"And yet you kids think you can pass? Don't make me laugh." Kotetsu began to chuckle.
"Besides, we're just thinning out the pack, picking out those that will fail, what's so wrong with that?" Izumo continued where his partner left off.
"Because you're denying people a right to try, to learn and grow as people as well as ninja, and that's not for you to decide." Naruto spoke up from the crowd. His eyes showing anger with a mixture of mirth, which they recognised instantly.
"I agree," Sasuke nodded stepping forwards. "But, you will let me pass, and remove the surroundings you've created with Genjutsu. I'm going to the third floor." Sasuke smirked.
"What's he talking about?" a ninja called out from the crowd.
"Oh, you noticed huh?" Izumo asked a sneer still on his face.
Sasuke smirked, "Of course I noticed. Sakura you noticed first right?" Sasuke glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. "With your analytical mind and knowledge of Genjutsu, which has improved more than us right?"
Naruto smiled as Sakura gained confidence.
"Yeah, yeah, of course I noticed a while ago. We're actually on the second floor." She smiled, as the room returned to its normal surroundings.
"Hmm not bad but all you did was see through it."
Kotetsu moved to attack Sasuke who in turn moved to block and both were taken by surprise as the bowl haired boy caught both of their kicks holding them back. Everyone was astounded at his speed. He let go and walked back to his team, where Neji, Naruto always remembered Neji, called him out.
"What happened to the plan? You were the one who suggested we not draw attention to ourselves." He spoke giving nothing away as all three's injuries disappeared.
"Well…" bowl haired boy blushed as he looked over his shoulder at Sakura.
"Really?" Tenten gasped; astonished at the fact Lee was interested in the pink haired girl.
Lee walked over and, still blushing, introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Rock Lee."
'That's his name'. Naruto recalled.
"And yours is Sakura." He winked and flashed a thumbs up "Let's go out together!" His teeth gleamed "I'll protect you till I die!"
Sakura shrank back behind Naruto, "Eww. No Way. You're lame."
Lee visibly deflated; Naruto feeling sorry for him patted him on his shoulder. "Hey, its okay, she's just not interested in anyone that's not Sasuke." He comforted as Neji with his hawk like features turned to Sasuke he disliked Naruto strongly and didn't want to associate with him.
"Hey you, what's your name?" Neji demanded.
Sasuke smirked at getting recognition over Naruto. "When you want to learn someone's name, you should give yours first."
"You're a rookie right, how old are you?" Neji tried again.
"I don't have to answer you?" He turned dismissing Neji.
Neji turned his gaze onto Naruto, staring him down.
"He's Sasuke Uchiha, he's twelve." He sighed as Tenten started to admire Sasuke.
Nodding, Neji turned and joined his teammates. Shaking his head, Naruto placed his hands in his pockets and followed after Sasuke and Sakura.
Kotetsu and Izumo retreated into the room they had previously been blocking and observed the genin. "So that's Gai and Kakashi's teams."
"And their prized pupils."
"Guess they passed this unofficial test."
"This exam is going to be fun, not just for them, but us too."
"Yeah, I bet Naruto surprises them all. Can't wait to see his face…."
"Naruto, Sasuke let's go." Sakura grabbed their hands and pulled them along. As team Gai looked on.
"So, you two got roped into helping out then did you?" Naruto's cool voice asked from behind them.
"Aren't you..."
"How'd you get there?" Izumo pointed back to team seven to see Naruto still with them and turned back to see Naruto standing in front of them.
Naruto shrugged "I just wanted to say hi."
"Naruto, we can't wait to see what you can do." Izumo nodded.
"No holding back, this is your chance to shine." Kotetsu agreed.
Naruto smiled and blushed; he wasn't used to such open praise. "Thanks." he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, and then disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"Shadow clone!" Kotetsu exclaimed.
"This is definitely going to be interesting." Izumo nodded.
(Line)
"Come on Lee, let's get going." Tenten called.
"You go on ahead, there's something I want to do." Tenten shrugged and walked with Neji up to the next floor.
Lee stood on the balcony above team seven. "Hey, Sasuke is it?"
They all turned, 'Not him again,' Sakura thought, 'What's he up to?' Naruto thought.
"What is it?" Sasuke spoke with detachment.
"Will you fight me right here?" Lee asked.
"A fight right now?" Sasuke replied.
"Yes."
Sasuke smirked, "Sure, why not."
"Sasuke, we shouldn't be fighting right now." Naruto turned in front of Sasuke.
"Shut up, Naruto. I want to see what this guy's made of." Sasuke snapped, pushing past Naruto.
Lee landed in front of them. "My name is Rock Lee; I have to introduce myself seeing as I already know who you are." Sasuke glared at Naruto who shrugged. "I want to fight you. I want to test my techniques against the offspring of the genius ninja clan. And I want to prove myself to you Sakura." Lee stopped and blew a kiss in her direction.
"Eww, no, why me, that haircut is lame and that outfit, it's worse than Naruto's!"
"You are an angel." Lee winked as she dodged his air kiss.
"Hey!" Naruto exclaimed, "What's wrong with my clothes?" he looked down at his blue outfit, he'd forgotten his hoodie.
"Nothing, nothing, but those eyebrows…" she shuddered.
"You don't have to be so mean." Lee bemoaned.
"Well, you shouldn't throw weird things. I barely escaped with my life." She screeched.
"You're a fool, knowing the famous Uchiha name and still challenging me. You're about to learn what this name means bushy brows." Sasuke stated full of pride.
'At least I'm not the only one calling him bushy brows,' both Sakura and Naruto thought.
"Seriously, you two shouldn't be fighting now." Naruto began.
"I can handle it, Naruto." Sasuke bit back.
"What would sensei say if he heard you were fighting before we'd even got into the exam?"
"Yes, you are right Naruto, my sensei wouldn't be best pleased, but I need to prove myself."
"Lee!"
They all turned to see a turtle (swear it's a tortoise) with a headband wrapped around his neck.
Wait, if that's a turtle and that's Lee who's part of Gai's team... Isn't Gai the man with the one piece spandex suit and leg warmers and same bowl hair cut as Lee? Naruto glanced at Lee as he conversed with the turtle. Lee's a replica of Gai! Gai's scary. Even uncle 'Suma finds him rather… …odd. Naruto looked up as Gai sensei appeared and stood on the turtle's shell in a rather odd pose. He was standing in a Saturday night fever pose with his hand pointed up in the air and his other in an okay sign over his eye.
(Line)
The Hokage walked into the bedroom that Konohamaru and Naruto slept in the night before. He wanted Naruto to do well in the exams, he knew he should do, he already had several reports stating that Naruto had shown the adequate knowledge and skills of a chunin; which he was hoping to back up with his display in the exams. He sighed then noticed Naruto had forgotten his hoodie that he had given him. It was white with green stripes. He'd gotten it because it reminded him of how much Naruto looked like the fourth; it was a subtle reminder to those who remembered him so young. Nami walked into the room, blue eyes shining.
"You know, I think we should give this to Naruto, don't you?" He held the hoodie out to Nami who mewed and jumped onto his shoulders.
(Line)
Naruto shuddered as did Sakura and Sasuke. How could Sakura say his dress sense was worse than that? He had an uncanny compulsion towards orange, yes, but he'd never wear something like that. He was lost in his head as he felt his chakra tugging again.
"You're Kakashi students right?"
"Sorry, did you say something?" Naruto answered as he realised he was being spoken to.
"You have taken on Kakashi's hip attitude like Lee has taken after me." Gai lunged forward squeezing Naruto tightly in his weird man hug.
'What did I miss? I really need to start paying attention.' Naruto sighed. He looked to his teammates for help only to get none.
"Err sensei, you're crushing me, please put me down." Naruto asked nicely.
He was answered by Lee joining in the hug. His eye twitched in annoyance. He performed a substitute jutsu and replaced himself with a log.
"Kakashi and I are called eternal rivals. 50 wins and 49 loses." Gai stated letting go of the log.
"So, you're stronger than Kakashi sensei?" Sakura enquired.
Gai moved from standing next to Lee and the turtle to behind them in a blink of the eye.
"At the moment I am until we meet again. I'm sorry about Lee. He's an incredible ninja only able to use taijutsu and he's my protégé. But this won't happen again, I'll make sure of it." Gai smiled with a thumbs up.
They edged away slightly. "We've got to go now sensei, nice to meet you." Sakura called as they walked away.
When they were far enough away Naruto turned glaring at his teammates as he walked in front of them. "Thanks for helping me out there." sarcasm dripping from his tongue.
"I assumed you could handle it, dobe."
"Baka Teme!" Naruto answered in kind and walked off, Sakura glanced at Sasuke to see him smirking, and she shrugged and walked after Naruto.
They walked up to where the entrance to room 301 was and spotted Kakashi waiting outside. Naruto noticed a hint of alcohol clung to him along with smoke; he wrinkled his mouth as he walked towards him. The others hadn't noticed as they greeted him happily and with a little bit of shock.
"So, you're all here. Even Sakura. That's good." he pushed off from the wall he was leaning against. "I didn't tell you yesterday but you can only enter these exams as a team of three. If one of you had decided not to turn up the others would have been forced to forfeit."
"So, why did you tell us it was our choice?" Sakura asked.
"Because if Sasuke or Naruto had asked you to come you would have, especially if it had been Sasuke, even if you didn't really want to or feel ready for it. This way you're not pressured by your teammates and feel that you can handle this exam."
"You better go in now. Naruto, can I have a word?" Kakashi stated. Sasuke and Sakura turned round as Naruto and Kakashi walked away a bit.
Naruto crossed his arms as he waited for Kakashi to start. Kakashi rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"I ran into Takeru yesterday." Kakashi began.
"Sensei, I don't mean to be rude, but I really need to go. Can we not talk about this now?" Naruto sighed.
"Naruto." Kakashi hesitated.
"I promise we'll talk later." Naruto said turning his back on Kakashi, and walking through the doors into the exam.
Kakashi stood there looking after his students. He felt proud that they had gotten this far, but he knew he was losing Naruto, and he didn't want that. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little scarecrow figure which he had found on his birthday one year, it had taken a while but he'd finally figured out that it was Naruto that left it all those years ago. He glanced up at the doors as they swung closed; he was risking a lot to please the council and he hadn't decided if it really was worth it yet.
Review if you like, tell me your favourite parts if you like.
Thank you very much.
See you next month.