I know I said I'd have it out yesterday but i was at work and it was my boyfriends birthday, and I'm sorry.

Yeah chapter 30 was bad, but do you see why i struggled with it, I'm actually stuck on how to write chapter 34 now gah that's annoying. This chapter is to give me a break from what's happening inside the chunin exam, it's different but what I needed. i hope you find it enjoyable, and let me know what you think.

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 31

Ume looked at Riku, both had picked out Naruto's chakra signature; which was a rare feat in itself, but it was weak. Ume bit her lip as Riku paced. Both wanted to help their teammate desperately. Their eyes travelled the perimeter, as they were supposed to.

"Why did you tap?" Riku asked, turning so that he was facing his teammate.

She blushed heavily, ducking her head so that her hair fell, shielding her face. "How did you know it was me?" she whispered.

"Because Naruto didn't know who it was, and every now and then you are the one who can pull the wool over his eyes so to speak. They're close." His head turned in the direction of Naruto's faint chakra signature.

"Because it's what he wanted, he just didn't know it then. We've all seen him, when the rookies were training together, you saw it. He was being himself, then those two blithering idiots, that are supposed to be his teammates, step in, and he slips back again. Why? Why does he do that? Why can't he just be himself?" she started to shout as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.

Riku stepped forwards slowly. Naruto was the one who knew how to comfort people, not him. When they'd watched Kenta die, that was the worst thing they had ever experienced, and Naruto had been the one to comfort them. He'd been the one to coax Riku into the hug and let them fall apart. He didn't know how to do this; tentatively, he reached a hand out to Ume.

"He doesn't think he should be himself. What's the point if everyone sees a monster? If he shows his true intelligence and strength, they'll just associate it with the Kyuubi, not him, or his dad. When some of the older ninjas look at him, that's all they see. That's why he gets annoyed, because no one is prepared to look past that and see him the real him, the one we've got to know and love. He wants to be acknowledged for whom he is, not the monster inside him or who his parents are, but he knows when someone can't see past that. Sasuke is blind to who Naruto is, and he won't push him for fear that he'll fall over the edge. Sakura is too infatuated with Sasuke and her fan girlish ways to see anything other than Sasuke. She might come around. She took her first step today, by trusting Naruto, in the first stage of the exams. She's got a long way to go and a lot to make up for, but they just might be friends." Riku shrugged.

"You are amazingly intelligent sometimes, you know that?" Ume laughed, rubbing the tears away. "You really nailed Naruto in one with that monologue."

"They heard you Ume, the other rookies, they'll be with Naruto, if they're not already there that is." He hugged her, tucking her head under his chin.

"Not a word," she sniffed into his shirt.

"Wouldn't dream of it." He smiled into her hair.

(Line)

The Hokage turned away from his crystal ball where he was watching Naruto's two chunin teammates. Perhaps, he should give Kakashi the answers, he wasn't exactly seeing underneath the underneath. He sighed, running a hand down his face. Pulling his pipe out of his robes, he started to pat around, searching for his tobacco. He pulled it out and began to fill his pipe. He lit it with a small fire jutsu. He glanced around, normally a small tut would emerge whenever he did this, but Turtle wasn't here, and his grandsons who loudly complain when he wasted chakra like that weren't here either. Konohamaru would be coming home from the Academy shortly, and Naruto, Naruto was supposed to be safe in the Chunin exam. Well, as safe as the chunin exam could be anyway.

He reached out to stroke Nami, but touched thin air. Glancing down at the desk where the cat normally slept, he found it empty. Turning he checked the windowsill, his robes billowing as he turned. He frowned, not finding Nami. He glanced around the room; his hands ran along his shoulders as his eyes searched around for the blonde fur. Feeling nothing on his shoulders, he tentatively raised his hands to his hat. He pulled it from his head when he didn't feel the feline there. Scowling at his hat, he placed it back on. Puffing agitatedly on his pipe, he stormed out of the room, his eyes glancing in every direction as he searched for the cat.

He stormed up to the jounin lounge where the senseis of the teams currently taking part in the exam were still sat waiting. They glanced up at him as he stuck his head in, looking everywhere in the room, receiving worrying glances from all of its occupants.

"Grandpa!" he jumped, turning to see Konohamaru standing behind him. "What are you doing old man?" he asked, tilting his head to the side.

"Looking for Nami, have you seen him?"

"Her. Nami's a girl silly. Mum bought a girl kitten, not a boy." Konohamaru chuckled. "You have checked your hat and shoulders right?" he saw his grandfather frown. "Try the bedroom, Nami tends to like curling up in there." Konohamaru shrugged.

The Hokage nodded; about to move away when he saw Konohamaru's face, his smile was down turned he was biting his bottom lip and his feet were turned in. He bent down so that he was level with his grandson.

"What is it, Konohamaru?"

"Naruto's going to miss the family dinner, cause he's in the middle of the exam, can we have it when he gets out? I don't want him to miss it."

"I'm sure he won't mind missing one," the Hokage smiled.

"But his clones are gone, he always leaves one for me and I can't find it." Konohamaru whispered. "He's always at the family dinners; it won't be the same without him."

"We'll move it so that he doesn't miss out," Asuma stood, walking over to his nephew. "He knows how you feel about family dinners. Have you got homework from the academy?"

"Yeah, but Naruto normally helps me practice with kunai and things. He was going to show me his blade, let me use it, cause I hit him in practice the other day." Konohamaru smiled.

"How about we get Ebisu to help you with your homework and practice with kunai and things and I'll let you handle my blades, but you have to be good for Ebisu, no running off or hiding." Asuma smiled.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Just handling them though, we don't want you getting hurt now do we?" Asuma laughed.

"Aww uncle 'Suma." He whined. "Thanks, you're the best." He launched himself into Asuma's arms hearing Asuma chuckling. He turned round, about to head off.

"Don't sneak up on Ebisu, it's bad enough when Naruto sneaks up on people; let alone with you starting doing it too." Asuma chuckled as Konohamaru pouted at him.

Taking a breath Konohamaru shouted, "EBISU SENSEI!" leaving the room.

"You know how he feels about family dinner. Naruto hasn't missed one yet. He promised, he never goes back on his promises." Asuma turned, straightening up to tower above his father.

"Lord Hokage, the results from the first test are here, along with Ibiki." Nodding, the Hokage dismissed the ninja; he sighed and pinched his nose.

"We will discuss this later." He turned away from Asuma, heading back out into the corridor.

He grumbled as he puffed on his pipe, finding Ibiki waiting in his office, his hands clasped behind his back staring out the window. The sheets of paper from his part of the exam sat on the desk. He moved to take his seat behind the desk as Ibiki moved from the window to a position in front of the desk.

"Naruto's test was tampered with, and he found a fault in one of the questions."

"Still being tampered with, but who would be able to get to it in a room where everyone is being watched, and the head of Torture and Interrogation is in the room?"

"ANBU." Ibiki muttered. "There was also a tapping, and we never discovered who was doing that."

The Hokage chuckled, "That was Ume, one of the chunin instructors, and Naruto's chunin teammate," his eyes travelled over to the crystal ball still sitting on his desk.

"Ah, I see, why would she do that?"

"Because it is what Naruto needed but didn't know at the time." The Hokage chuckled, picking up Naruto's exam paper; he turned it over, reading the note, "Trust Naruto," he laughed.

"He is a rather unique character; although, I think your grandson might give him a run for his money."

"Was there anything odd? There was an incident in the second part. Orochimaru has appeared." The Hokage said as he steepled his hands together.

"No, the team from the newly established land of Sound caused a bit of commotion before the exam began, Naruto and the other rookies drew everyone's attention, and he was frowning when one of our young ninjas was speaking to them. But nothing odd as you would think with Orochimaru involved." Ibiki reported, a hand running across his chin.

"Turtle went into the forest."

"He'll try to protect Naruto; he's just old enough to remember what Orochimaru was like, when he was a member of this village."

"You do remember who Turtle is, don't you?"

"I... yes, he's not what Orochimaru is looking for, he'll see him as a weakness, nothing to waste his time on. Hikaru has a lot left to learn and master before he will ever be considered viable to Orochimaru. Naruto, thankfully, had all his files sabotaged; therefore, he could never truly know Naruto's correct ability. When Turtle gets back, I think we might have to up his training, if he's going to keep up with Naruto. You've already allowed Naruto to move teams. After this exam, he'll no longer be holding back; unless, he wants to get his team killed."

"What makes you think Hikaru is alive?"

"You haven't felt the Kyuubi. Naruto would lose it if anything happened to Hikaru. He's alive, probably hurt. He knows he's no match for Orochimaru, but he'd do anything and everything to protect Naruto." Ibiki nodded.

"Yes, I suppose your right; we'll have to make extra measures for Naruto as well then. I don't want to be on the receiving end of his temper again." The Hokage shuddered as Ibiki's mouth quirked up into smile; which vanished when the Hokage looked over to him.

(Line)

Takeru's leg was bouncing, he couldn't help it. He was antsy, and nervous, and too full of energy to do anything about it. Kurenai, seeing this, drew him into conversation.

"Takeru, you, and I became jounin around the same time; I take it you became a jounin sensei too."

"Yes, my first team, they passed their chunin exam first time, the last one we entered."

"Do you still teach them?"

"Yeah, we're down a member at the moment, so we're still finding our bearings a bit." He saw she wanted to ask more. "Botched mission, Kenta, was killed in front of my other two students; I arrived too late to save him. I've never lost a teammate before, let alone a student; it was a pretty bad time for us. Naruto pulled them through it, helped us all out really."

"Is that why they care about Naruto so much?"

"No, he was in their academy class. He had a biased instructor and they were taught by Iruka, so he included Naruto."

"But, if Naruto had passed with them, he wouldn't have been on a team, too many students." Gai muttered, joining in the conversation.

"Naruto did pass with them." Asuma stated, blowing out a cloud of ash. "His entire academy experience was sabotaged. He graduated when he was seven, when he becomes a chunin, he'll be one of the youngest chunins in the village's history." Asuma shrugged.

"What do you mean Naruto graduated when he was seven?" Kakashi sat forwards.

"Ahh, I was supposed to let you figure it out, wasn't I? Naruto is going to hate me for this." Asuma sighed pinching the bridge of his nose. "After he was placed on your team, Iruka went to Ibiki and together they found out that all of Naruto's tests, paperwork, everything had been tampered with. His new file is still being complied." Asuma exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"Excuse me; I've got some reading I need to catch up on." Kakashi said, rising from his seat and leaving the room.

"You're kidding about Naruto, right?" Gai asked. "There's no way my rival could miss something like that."

"No, Naruto's record will state he graduated at seven. And Kakashi did miss it, he wasn't willing to look past what he'd already read and heard about Naruto." Asuma sighed.

(Line)

Kakashi headed towards the Hokage's assistant, hoping that she would be able to direct him to Naruto's correct file. He leaned against her desk, waiting for her to look up from her paperwork.

"Yes, how may I help you, Kakashi sensei?" she barely registered his presence.

"I was wondering if you could direct me to where all the records are kept."

"All records are kept in the hall of records; which can be found, up the stairs, second door on the right."

"Right, thank you." He went to move up the stairs.

"If you're after Uzumaki's file, you won't find it there." He turned back to her.

"And where would I find it, if I was looking for it say?" he ran a hand through the hair on the back of his head.

"The academy; Iruka sensei has it, seeing as he was the one who realised something was wrong, he's been placed in charge of the records for all academy students and the graduates going back over five years." She smiled at him.

"You're all going to make this incredibly hard for me, aren't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about Kakashi sensei, but you're the one who can't see what's right in front of you, till it's too late. Naruto's a nice boy, I'm used to him running round the tower. I've watched him grow up until I got this job, I would always give him the time of day. Now he smiles and greets me, and brings me lunch when I forget it. I don't see how the assistants before me could ever fault the boy." She added her own opinion of Naruto.

Kakashi nodded, turning and heading out of the tower, he stopped when he spotted Konohamaru and Ebisu and decided to watch them for a while.

(Line)

Konohamaru had finished the homework easily enough; he knew practically all the written theory by heart anyway, having an older brother helped greatly with that aspect. He sighed as Ebisu went over his school work, that wasn't his problem, he was a genius on paper. He understood everything academically, but his practical is what let him down. He wanted to be like Naruto, amazing at everything, but not hiding his talent.

"You know honourable- I mean Konohamaru, Naruto had to work at his aim just like everyone else, but he had to do it twice."

"What do you mean he had to do it twice?"

"Well, Naruto's naturally a left hander. He signs all important documents with his left hand, but he can throw with both his left and right hands. So, what came naturally to him was to use his left, but the instructor's at the academy, when they sabotaged him, made sure that he would only throw with his right hand; which put him level with the civilian students. So after hours he would practice first with his left hand then with his right hand, till they were at the same level. If we practice enough, by the time Naruto finishes this part of the exam, we should have made progress on your less dominant hand as well as improving your dominant hand." Ebisu spoke coolly as they walked to the Hokage's private training grounds.

"Naruto's a left hander, like Uncle 'Suma then, is grandpa a left hander too? Do you think that's why I'm so bad at the practical side of things because I'm using the wrong hand first?" Konohamaru asked.

"Perhaps, we shall see, which hand do you currently throw with? And which one do you write with?" Ebisu asked.

Konohamaru held his right hand up; he wrote with his right hand and threw with it as well. "I'm like grandpa, aren't I? I'm not going to be big like Uncle 'Suma, or have his cool element am I?" Konohamaru moaned.

'What would Naruto say?' Ebisu mused. "Your father was like Asuma, he had a big frame, and I believe he was of a similar nature to the Hokage, Fire, and earth I think he was. But, he was very much the older version of Asuma. You probably can't remember him much as he died when you were very young."

"You could tell they were brothers?"

"Yes, you could. Now, how about we practice your kunai and shuriken skill, then I'll see about finding out some information about your father."

"Okay Ebisu sensei, let's see if I'm better right handed or left?" Konohamaru agreed, throwing his kunai towards the target with his right hand.

(Line)

Kakashi listened to their conversation gaining a more rounded picture of the Naruto he knew. Okay, he'd have to split what he knew into two; Naruto, and this new Naruto that had suddenly come to light. This Naruto was left handed naturally, but was ambidextrous. Old Naruto was listed as right handed with very little control of anything. He had an obsession with ramen, and wanted to become hokage one day. He didn't get along with Sasuke and Sakura, but new Naruto had chunin teammates. He was going to have to give one of the Narutos a different name so he didn't get confused. He shook his head as he moved away from the two, his hands in his pockets as he absently headed out into the village.

His feet travelled along a familiar route; one which, as he looked up, he realised he hadn't visited as much as he should have. He was standing outside Naruto's apartment block. It had changed a lot since he had last visited. It looked like it had been revamped with a new coat of paint, all the broken windows and doors had been repaired, there was a new generator sat on the roof along with a water storage tank, and there was even new railing running round the perimeter of the third floor.

He stepped into the building seeing a young child, a bit older thank Naruto, talking to a little old lady. They both stopped and turned when Kakashi entered.

"Naruto's not here." The boy spoke, moving so he was standing in front of the old lady.

"I know he's not here."

"So why are you here then?" he asked.

"I wanted to learn more about Naruto."

"You must be Kakashi sensei?" the old woman spoke up, "Naruto mentions you quite a lot, it's alright Menma, I can handle it here."

"Are you sure you'll be alright, Mrs. Yamamoto?"

"Yes, I'll be fine, run along now, can't have you being late."

"Yes ma'am." The boy narrowed his gaze at Kakashi as he left.

"Now then, he won't appreciate you snooping around, why don't you come in for some tea."

"I- umm okay." He rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.

Kakashi followed her into her apartment where she instructed him to sit as she busied herself with preparing tea. She set a steaming mug of tea in front of him. Sitting back in her chair, she sipped from her cup.

"It's just normal tea. I'm afraid I don't know what tea you prefer, so plain will do. Each resident here has a favourite tea. Naruto hasn't told me what yours is." She sipped from her tea. "Now, why don't you tell me exactly what it is you are doing here, Kakashi sensei?"

He stared at her, flicking his gaze between her and his tea.

"I won't look at you if that helps, Naruto mentioned you don't like people staring at you, I have some sewing in need of doing," she placed her tea down and moved over to where an arm chair was positioned in the corner piled with items of clothing. She grabbed a few and moved back to her seat opposite from Kakashi at the table. She began stitching the seam on a ripped jacket.

"Naruto speaks about me?"

"Oh yes, very often. He mentioned you might start to come around." She continued to sew, not looking up at him at all.

He pushed his mask down carefully and sipped from his tea slowly, "What can you tell me about Naruto?" he asked.

Mrs. Yamamoto's eye twinkled. "What would you like to know?"

"Whatever you can tell me."

(Line)

Iruka sighed, he had released his students earlier today, and now he was staring out a window wondering how Naruto was doing. Naruto was right, he did worry too much. He was glad that Naruto had left a clone to reassure him, and the entire class. They had really taken a liking to him; he'd love to have him as his classroom assistant.

Iruka jumped up, that's something he could do; he ran out of his classroom up to the staff room. They had important paperwork in the files here. He hurried over to the cabinet full of files and began rummaging around. He was being given queer looks from his colleagues, but he didn't care much as he riffled through the paper work. He pulled back with several sheets in hand. He turned back, ignoring all calls from his fellow instructors as he darted out the room.

He hurried back to his class room to fill out the paperwork. They had been discussing the idea before Naruto went into the exams, but now seemed a fitting time, to set the ball in motion. He hoped Naruto wouldn't prank him for this. He sighed as he looked down at the sheets in his hands; an application to undertake the chunin academy instructor exam.

(Line)

Konohamaru grinned. He had finally hit the target with every kunai thrown from both hands. He turned to Ebisu to see Asuma leaning against the wall; he launched himself into his uncle's arms.

"Did you see that? I hit it with my left hand every time." He practically bounced. "Are you going to show me your knives now?" he asked, seeing his uncle chuckling.

"Yeah, I said I would." He smiled, putting Konohamaru down as Ebisu walked over after collecting the kunai.

"Remember, be careful." Ebisu called as he went to put the kunai away.

Asuma pulled his knives out and held one out to Konohamaru who took it tentatively. He held it flat across his palms, looking at it. He'd turn it slightly to view it from a different angle; he looked up when he felt his uncle push chakra through his remaining blade. His eyes widen as he watched the chakra taper out into a point extending out from the end of the blade.

"These are my trench knives that your dad, my big brother, gave me. They are my primary weapons. Since, like you know, I have a natural affinity for wind these are a suitable weapon for me to use, because most people would dodge the blade but not realise that I push my chakra into them to elongate their reach."

"So, like you're doing now, but smaller so it's not seen? And they're made from a special metal that allows for your chakra to flow smoothly through them, like Naruto's blade."

"Yeah." He puffed out a cloud of ash.

Konohamaru weighed the knife in one hand then spun, releasing it into the target, and watched as it quivered where it sat in the bull's eye.

"That's a lot heavier than I thought, but perfectly streamlined to give exact performance." Konohamaru turned back to his uncle, who was gaping at him.

"I thought you were practicing your aim because you couldn't throw?" Asuma stated gobsmacked.

"I can throw perfectly well, but it's always off centre, however with your heavier blade I realised that I jolt my wrist that's why it's quivering rather than just sitting there. Besides I helped Udon and Moegi to throw their projectiles."

"You two are freaking geniuses, you know that, right?" Asuma sighed.

"Yeah, but when you're a genius, you get treated differently. Look at Sasuke and Neji, both are called geniuses. And what about Itachi and Kakashi?" Konohamaru shrugged.

"Had that conversation with Naruto have you?" Asuma chuckled, retrieving his knife from the target.

"Yeah, he doesn't want to be seen as a prodigy, rookie of the year, genius, any of it. He just wants to be himself; no labels, no titles, just him."

"Did you ever think about using a weapon like we do?" Asuma asked glancing down at his knife.

"I'm considering it; do you think Naruto is okay? His clones are gone."

"I'm sure he'll be fine, it's Naruto. Something's just knocked him for one I'm sure. Come on, let's get you some dinner." He rested his hand on his shoulder and guided him into the tower.

(Line)

Kakashi stood, looking around Naruto's apartment. Mrs. Yamamoto had taken him up to see it. The walls were a calm pale green, there was island that separated the kitchen from the main room, and there were enough stools to seat four around the island. The appliances appeared well used, but clean and in working order when he tested the oven hob. He opened the fridge to see it was half empty, but there was a balance of vegetables, fruit, meat, and milk left in there. He turned, seeing a sofa up against the wall and a book case that was filled. He walked over, reading the titles as he crouched down. He stood, dodging the coffee table and TV, and spotted a plant on the windowsill. He walked down the hall and entered into a bedroom. The bed was under the window, and there were two doors which lead out onto the balcony and a closet. There was a shelf at the back of the room. A pair of goggles was sat there next to a white bear, and an ANBU Cat mask. He spotted a small book shelf where an abundance of sketch pads were placed. He walked over to them, planning to look through them, when a cough drew his attention; he turned to see Mrs. Yamamoto.

"He doesn't like people going through his sketch pads, he'll show you if he wants to, much like your mask." She chuckled, seeing his understanding look.

"Thank you for allowing me in."

"It was about time you took notice," She smiled, gesturing him out.

She closed the door behind them as they travelled down the stairs deep in thought; she turned to him as she reached her door.

"Good luck, Kakashi sensei, you're going to need it." He turned and walked away throwing a hand above his head as he walked away. 'Those two are more alike than they think.' She shook her head, closing the door.

(Line)

Kakashi sighed, hands in his pocket as he walked down the corridor of the academy. He stopped as he came across the door to classroom 1c, Iruka's classroom. Sliding the door open, he found Iruka bent over his desk marking papers; he looked up when he heard the door slide.

"Kakashi Sensei? What are you doing here? I thought you'd be waiting to see how your team is doing?" Iruka asked in confusion.

"I thought - would you like to be the one who greets them?"

"I... of course, but do you not want to?"

"I've got something I need to do, if you wouldn't mind taking my place."

"Are you alright, Sensei? This isn't because of Naruto is it?"

"No."

"He knows all about you, you know. When he heard you were going to be his Sensei, he did everything to find out about you. You're his hero's son, did you know that?" Kakashi shook his head.

"He's the son of mine." Kakashi whispered, walking out the door.

'Oh Naruto, what a fickle world we live in.' Iruka thought, staring after the man who should have been Naruto's brother in all but blood.

Thanks for reading, see you all soon. Remember I'll post on my profile in advance when I'm posting the next chapter.

Review if you like or don't like.