I know it's a day late but I thought I'd give you a little thursday surprise.

Okay so I rewrote this chapter from scratch I left out some funny/cute moments which I might use later on but you never know. Hopefully this chapter flows right, there's Gaara and he's hard to write, worse than Sasuke and Lee, (I struggle writing these two).

Again it's different. 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 34

Ino was bored her head in her hand as she watered one of the flowers sat on the desk of the flower shop, when she spotted her father strolling past laughing along with Choji's and Shikamaru's dads, she dropped the watering can as she ran outside.

"Dad!" all three shinobi turned round as she skidded out of shop.

"Hey sweet heart, I wasn't going anywhere, tell your mother I'll be along in a minute." Inoichi panicked, becoming quickly flustered.

"What no – I wanted to ask you something? It's something Naruto mentioned." Ino looked away, not catching the way the three jounin shared a look.

"What was it honey?" Inoichi asked bending slightly to her height.

"After my fight with Sakura, when I came back round he asked if there was a deeper state of mind. He wondered if you could delve deeper into someone's mind. I told him you'd know better than I would, dad, when you come back can you help me practice delving into the mind?"

"Sure, sweetie, what's got you so interested suddenly?" Inoichi looked mildly surprised.

"Naruto. He – all this time he's been holding back, he knows exactly where he wants to be in life. He was handicapped sometime during the second part of the exam, and still wiped the floor with Kiba, I've never seen him look so scary before, like he could kill him if he wanted, but I mean this is Naruto, he's the best of us, he wouldn't kill a member of his village, he'd risk his life for us, he's really amazing Dad, I want to be someone he can look to in the future, I want to – I need to better myself, so that he'll notice me and know that I'm a worthwhile ninja. I want his respect and his trust."

"You're not my little girl anymore are you," Inoichi smiled.

"I'll always be your little girl daddy," she hugged her dad tightly before stepping back, "but I'm ready to grow up, I'm taking the next step in my career, that means casting aside childish dream and petty rivalries and finding something to aspire to." Ino had steel in her eye that shone brightly.

"Some rivalries are worth having, just remember that Ino. I know you'll make a great ninja, you're already on the right path." Shikaku nodded sagely.

"Your kids already did this, didn't they?" Inoichi asked.

"I don't avoid my wife as much as you two do, besides with Shikamaru being in the next stage Shikaku has his hands fall." Choza laughed, causing both fellow jounin to wince. "One drink and then he'll be right with you Ino promise."

"Thanks Uncle Choza and Uncle Shikaku, we'll make you proud yet." Ino turned heading back into the shop.

"You already do sweet heart, you already do." Inoichi whispered after her.

"What do you reckon Naruto did, that made all our kids determined?" Inoichi asked.

"He was himself." Choza laughed clapping two large hands on their shoulders.

Walking into the bar they found both Tsume and Shibi both propped at the bar, raising an eyebrow Shikaku walked over claiming that it was his round, while the other two Jounin took their usual seat at the booth in the corner. They watched as Shikaku exchanged pleasantries with their fellow parents and collected the drinks bringing the other two over with him to their booth.

"Their kids too, Naruto did a real number Kiba apparently." Shikaku shrugged slumping into his seat and making room for the two new comers.

"What happened with your kids?" Inoichi asked, moving over to make room as well.

"Not a clue. Akamaru isn't speaking to him, barely a growl comes from that pup, and Kiba turns from looking like a chastised puppy half the time before switching to a determined ninja the next." Tsume scowled.

"Shino has upped his training regime, seeing as he got into the final part of the exam, this was not surprising till he mentioned Naruto." Shibi explained.

"Wait, that's all that Akamaru mutters at Kiba which sends him off into kicked puppy mode," Tsume interrupted.

"Yes well Shino is determined to be a ninja worthy of Naruto's notice. But out of all this generation of ninja Naruto was the only one that always noticed Shino, he was never bothered by his insects, he would greet him softly and subtly, I don't really understand what it is that Shino means." Shibi sighed.

"They want to stand with Naruto not be left behind by him, they know now that he's been holding back for years, he's casting away his shell and is getting ready to fly. They want to be with him when he does." Takeru stated stopping at the table.

"What are you doing here?"

"I'd thought you'd be training Naruto."

"I will be when he's found, besides I'm here to place a bet." He smiled walking over to the bar.

"What do you mean Takeru's training Naruto?" Tsume asked, her eyes narrowing.

"Didn't you know? Naruto's becoming a part of Takeru's team after the exams are over." Inoichi chuckled.

"So why is he training him now we've got a month before the final show?" Tsume slammed her drink down.

"Are you sure you want to do that? Everyone knows Naruto's your kid why don't you bet on him?" the barkeep asked.

"Because I'm betting on whom Naruto thinks would become chunin. You know never to bet against Naruto or what he says, he said if he could bet he'd bet on Shikimaru for sure, he's never wrong."

"But twelve thousand yen?" the barkeep was astonished.

"I never said it was just my money," Takeru smiled, walking away from the bar, leaving the barkeep staring at the paper in his hand.

Takeru was stopped on his way to the door, he sighed turning his head to the table where his shadow stretched to meet Shikaku's.

"Don't really think you get to leave without telling us what happened in that tower, do you? You were there spill, besides you won't find Naruto if he doesn't want to be found, remember." The entire bar shuddered as they remembered the last time Naruto hadn't wanted to be found and their punishment because the Hokage was mad at him.

"Fine, move over." Takeru sighed, the entire bar smiled in glee, as the bar keep put down a combined bet on Shikamaru Nara, with Takeru, Hikaru two other names, listed.

(Line)

Hinata coughed trying to hide her wince Naruto had obviously stopped by judging by the flowers sat in the vase at her bedside, she turned her attention to Kurenai who she knew hadn't left her side since the end of the exam. She thought back to her fight with Neji;

Naruto walked over to Hinata he hugged her tightly whispering in her ear.

"You don't have to prove anything, give it you're all and try your best, but know that I always see your strength, don't let him get to you, find your centre, find strength you can beat him." he pulled back, "No matter what happens it doesn't change how I see you." Naruto smiled, his shy real smile just for her, she nodded squeezing his hand, Naruto wouldn't let it get too far; she knew he'd jump in if he had too.

She walked down the stairs to face Neji, she turned looking at Naruto, he believed in her and always had, she could do this she just had to block out what Neji said.

"Never thought I'd get you Hinata Sama."

"Brother Neji,"

"Are they siblings?" Sakura asked, unsure turning to look at Naruto

"No they're both from the Hyuuga clan, it's one of the oldest clan's up there with the Uchiha, they're cousins, with a bittersweet relationship."

"What do you mean bittersweet?" Ino asked.

"Neji despises Hinata while Hinata views him as part of her family, she loves him and treats him as she would any other person." Naruto shrugged.

"Then why,"

"Inner house politics," Naruto turned away gripping the railing tightly, as the examiner begun the fight.

"Before we begin, I would like to say something. Forfeit you are not worthy of being a shinobi. You are to kind and un-confrontational, as the chunin exam is a three man event you couldn't turn down your teammate's chances pitiful as they are."

"You're wrong Neji san, I wanted to show you that I'm not as weak as you believe me to be, my friendship with Naruto has helped shape me into who I am, you will see I am worthy of being a ninja."

"You are just a spoiled brat of the main house, if you are seen as weak you cannot change that, Naruto will always be a dead last loser, nothing can change that, that friendship you value so much is your greatest weakness."

"Don't let him get into your head Hinata! Focus! I believe in you!" Naruto shouted bringing Hinata back from the mire Neji was trying to create. She slid into her pose her byakugan activating.

"You really won't forfeit, so be it." Neji dropped into his own stance, activating his own byakugan.

"She can do this." Naruto nodded, his grip tightening on the rail.

Kurenai placed her hand on the rail next to Naruto, he turned to look at her a smile spreading on his face, as she smiled at him. 'You've really changed Hinata Naruto, I believe she can do this too, but Neji is cruel.' Kurenai's smile faltered as she watched the two below.

Hinata cocked her head to the right Neji frowned following her head a s she ducked down low attempting to hit his legs he followed the moves his eyes widening as he stepped back blocking her blows, she kept pushing forwards blocking his blows while reaching out for her own they continued to dance like this for several minutes before she saw an opening and pushed forwards catching him on his shoulder. He skidded back his shoulder stinging slightly as she pressed her attack, aiming between his torso or his arms catching him several times before he managed to block her, they danced around together till Hinata found another opening this time his chest.

Naruto leant forwards as did Shino and Kurenai, as they looked down at the two. Neji's palm was pushed squarely into Hinata's chest, blood forming at the corners of her mouth, Asuma looked anxiously over at Naruto, he'd been on the receiving end of that attack and knew how much it hurt. Hinata pulled away aiming for Neji's other side, he caught her arm in a hold and jabbed with two fingers.

"Pull back Hinata get space!" Naruto shouted practically jumping over the banister.

Neji moved Hinata's sleeve up revealing the tiny circular bruises forming on her arms, before smirking and throwing her away.

"See this is what marks the difference between the elite and losers like you. Forfeit." Neji stood his ground relaxed.

Hinata pulled herself up, looking up at Naruto, their eyes meet having a silent conversation, before Naruto nodded. Hinata pulled herself to her feet shakily she settled into her primary stance, Neji returned to his stance. She smirked running forwards dropping low and swiping Neji's feet out from under him staying low she rained blows down on him as he rolled to his feet, she dropped back coughing up blood.

"Training with Naruto this long you pick up on things." She smiled, wiping the blood away, and returning to her stance.

"That is not the way we fight."

"Then perhaps it is time for change!" Hinata shouted, dissolving into coughing. "Everybody can change Brother Neji, you will see." She smiled slipping into a most familiar stance. Everybody gasped as she swept her right leg back, rising her left palm forwards and her right fist sitting at her waist, the perfect mirror of Naruto's stance. She shot forwards not as fast as Naruto or as quick as she could have been but still quick enough to appear at Neji's elbow. She wasn't as graceful as Naruto and didn't have the strength in her legs to twist and turn like he did but it gave her the advantage of getting in close and ducking out of range, unfortunately the damage Neji had done was taking its toll. He began to dominate her stance getting out over reach and striking out when he did so. She jumped back stumbling slightly gaining her breath before running back in her gentle fist style mixing with Naruto's as she went in for her final attack. Neji's palm made contact with her chest again, he stepped back as she fell forwards, his eyes widened when he felt his right knee and left arm give way under him.

"Continuation of the match is impossible thus-"

"Wait!" Naruto shouted.

"She is knocked out, way beyond her limit!" Neji shouted at him

They all watched as Hinata pulled herself to her feet, slowly looking at Neji.

"Why do you stand? Not because of him, your childish affection for a cast away is disgusting. He fills you head with words of wonder helping you to hide your own weakness. You blindly follow a clown! You no longer need to suffer that fools words." Neji scowled as his knee shook, sheer will power keeping him in place half kneeled on the floor.

"You are wrong brother Neji, Naruto is no fool, he is kind and just and everything that is right in this world, he was given a bad hand but he pushed forwards he's making new roads and changing his path. I would follow Naruto anywhere and he knows that." She turned to look up at him. "You are wrong about the one suffering a fools words, you are the one suffering, brother I am sorry I didn't see it sooner, I understand now, why your hatred shows, you are angry at your destiny, you see no way out, and that makes you angry, you are the fool brother we can both change our destiny." Hinata coughed blood. That was the longest she had ever spoken to a member of her house without stuttering and with such conviction.

Neji snapped and shot forwards as Hinata watched him advance towards her. The leaf Jounin and the examiner moved to intercept him, each finding only air, Neji was pinned by Naruto a fierce growl running across his face as Neji found his back pressed tightly against the Cat masked ANBU. Kurenai moved to Hinata to find her leaning back against Naruto, as he whispered to her.

"You didn't have to push it so far, you know, I mean it you did brilliantly I don't think anyone expected you to change into my stance, I'm so proud to call you my friend." Naruto soothed as he slowly lowered her to the ground. The jounin turned to Neji, Gai walking over with Asuma slowly behind him.

"Neji you promised you wouldn't lose your head over this main house branch house family stuff." Gai spoke holding his hands out in a calming gesture.

"Why did all the jounin sensei come down is it more special treatment for the main house." Neji struggled in Hikaru's hold.

"It is nothing to do with what clan she belongs to and all about the person she is." Hikaru spoke.

"Do you really believe no one can change? Do you?" Naruto growled. "Hinata isn't the scared little princess she was when we first started this journey together, she's more confident and brave every day. She knew she probably couldn't beat you; she's always admired that you could overcome your own obstacles Neji. She helped me become who I am today not the other way round I'd be lost without her, do you really think you are the only caged bird in this exam?" Neji's eyes narrowed, 'so he knew,' Neji gasped as Hikaru placed him so that more weight was on his damaged leg.

"She got you, her strength of will and determination wasn't enough this time, but I can guarantee, one day she will beat you, not just knock out your opposite arm and leg. If we meet in the final part of the exam I will make you see us for who we are, not what are destinies say we are." Naruto let go and started to walk away turning back "Also you're wrong about my destiny I'm not a dead last loser, I'm a monster. I'm the scary stories parents tell their children about. And once I break free of my restraints I'll be even more terrifying than my counterpart up there." Naruto nodded up at Gaara, his eyes flashing steel. "He's the only person who in this room that scares me, not because of what he is, but that I could become like him." Naruto popped, leaving the real Naruto trying to wake a dying Hinata.

"Medics!" Kurenai screamed as Naruto moved out of the way.

Hinata smiled seeing the ANBU with a sparrow mask hovering in the doorway; she pulled herself up slightly, making a racking cough erupt from her lungs.

"Don't push yourself Hinata; Naruto needs you to get better, he's so filled with worry and guilt that he didn't step in sooner."

"Don't let him feel that way, he's probably off thinking somewhere, he tends to do that," she sighed turning to look out the window.

"He came straight here after collecting your flowers, he stayed till I arrived then disappeared." Kurenai said sitting up from her seat and running a hand lovingly through Hinata's hair. They all looked at the bedside table to see the vase of sunflowers Naruto had picked from his garden.

(Line)

The Hokage sighed, his hand running absently through Nami's fur, his gaze drifted down to the feline in his lap, the blonde darker than normal closer to brown in fact.

"I thought we'd told you cats aren't supposed to play in the mud," he chuckled, before looking back at his paper work looking at the names of those going through into the final part of the exam.

The sand siblings had all got through, along with one member of the sound team, Neji from team Gai, and one member from each of the rookie teams, and Naruto, that boy had caused quite a stir, during the exams. The two rain teams that had qualified were another matter altogether the trio consisting of Kaito, Ryuu, and Yoshi had all won their matches much to the other rain team's disgust, but after Yoshi had forfeited his victory the other two had followed his example, which had caused uproar amongst the defeated rain team. Thank goodness Yoshi was Naruto minded, explaining, and easing their arguments, that boy would become a great leader if only he had more self confidence, it was bad luck that there was a civil war happening in the hidden rain village, those three had a lot of potential, he'd have to watch Yoshi around Naruto though it would appear the young boy had a crush on his grandson, especially if the rumours were true and he was Hanzo's grandson.

Konohamaru stuck his head into the room, "Hey Grandpa have you seen Naruto, no one's seen him since he left the Hospital earlier." Ebisu stood behind him both waiting for answer.

"No, I haven't, have you tried his usual spots?" the Hokage asked.

"Yeah, he's not at the monument and I've run out of places to look." Konohamaru huffed crossing his arms.

Konohamaru turned looking at the Hokage's desk where a small glass vase sat with a single red rose, he looked at the rose as the clogs in his mind turned slowly, he turned on the spot slipping under Ebisu's arm and took off down the corridor.

(Line)

Gaara held his head in his hand, his other hand rubbing absently at his seal, Naruto confused him, they were drawn together because they were both monsters, but Naruto didn't act like a monster, he was kind and willing to jump in to save someone's life, his head pounded suddenly.

Gaara's sand started to form near the Hokage Hikaru and the other jounin moving to intercept the sand.

"Stop! That's my mother's cat you're attempting to crush, that's the last thing I have left of her please don't kill it." Naruto's voice rang across the stage.

All eyes turned to the Hokage, who ran his hands over his shoulder's to find soft fur sitting there, he grabbed the cat by the scruff of its neck holding Nami in front of him, the sand followed the movement of the cat as Nami scratched out at the Hokage yowling away, the Hokage frowned, noticing that the usually blonde fur was a darker shade than normal, nearly brown.

"You need to stay out of the mud, when running through the forest, you are a cat, and cats do not roll in the mud." The Hokage scolded, as Nami clawed at the sand hovering around them.

"Mother, your mother," Gaara's hand pushed against the mark on his head.

"Yes mother," Naruto pleaded.

Gaara shook his head his sand retreating as he descended into mutterings about mothers. The Hokage pulled the cat close sighing in relief, his eyes met Naruto's as Nami slowly crawled back onto the Hokage's shoulders.

Gaara just couldn't understand why that damn cat was so important; his father didn't care about anything like they did. It made his head hurt, a cat, and a ninja who shouldn't be a ninja. What was the point if you couldn't use chakra?

Gaara turned his head to see Gai had interrupted his attack. He sat up slowly seeing a hand in front of his face, he looked up eyes wide to see Naruto standing there holding his hand out.

"Why- did you save...?" Gaara looked past Naruto's hand to Gai.

"Because he is my beloved comrade." Gai said straight faced.

"I don't understand," he looked up at Naruto hand still outstretched.

"The winner is Gaara."

"Why?" Gaara asked still looking up at Naruto.

"Because you deserve to understand why someone would do what Gai has just done for Lee. Because someone reached out to me so that I wasn't consumed by the monster inside me. That's why my mother is so important to me, because she was the one who made me human, she gave me a family, you have one too," Naruto looked up at Kankuro and Temari. "They care about you Gaara; they just don't know how to show it." Gaara batted Naruto's hand away glaring at the world as his scar began to throb.

Gaara looked up at the sky, he wanted to understand what Naruto meant, but he also wanted to finish Lee off, his head ached. He still couldn't feel that tugging of his chakra whatever had happened in the forest had affected the connection he had to Naruto, and he wanted to know more, he disappeared in a cloud of sand, his siblings looking out to where their brother had been moments before.

(Line)

Konohamaru found Naruto meditating in their mothers rose garden, neither of them had been here in a long time, yet the garden wasn't overgrown. Konohamaru slowed his pace as he neared his brother.

"You don't normally come here," he spoke as he sat down facing Naruto, he tried to copy Naruto's form, but struggled with his legs, he huffed before keeping them crossed.

"I was reminded that we don't actually think about our parents much anymore."

"We're ninja. Life just moves on but we should always set aside a little time to remember the fallen."

Naruto cracked an eye open, looking at his brother. He smiled and shook his head, a gentle wind swept past them.

"Your clones disappeared." Konohamaru looked up.

"Yeah, I had a run in with Orochimaru."

"Grandpas student? The one who did the experiments?" Naruto nodded. "He messed with your seal didn't he?"

"Yeah." Naruto breathed.

"Are you going to tell me about the preliminaries?" Konohamaru coaxed.

"You just want to know why I'm here and not on the monument."

"Yeah, but your my big brother and I know something's wrong." Konohamaru moved so that he was sat beside Naruto his head resting on his shoulder.

"Kiba. I had to fight Kiba for my preliminary match; he tends to run his mouth off. He said something about mum, and,"

"You never say anything about someone's mum." Konohamaru finished.

"Yeah. I think I scared him. No one's ever seen me move so fast before, it was how did Sakura describe it, she blinked and there I was holding Kiba off the ground my hand cutting off his airway. My face that's what threw people, I looked like my dad when he was angry, even sounded like him too." Naruto looked down at Konohamaru.

"I don't see why you hate that you look like him. I'm proud that I'm a Sarutobi and I look like one."

"Grandpa changed my name on the board where we got matched up.

Naruto's eyes were cold blue his face in a snarl, his grip tightened around Kiba's throat, Akamaru whimpered off to the side. His master had over stepped his mark, Naruto wasn't going to hurt him now just scare him, the real fight Naruto would not be holding back.

Naruto leant in close pulling Kiba closer so that his breath ghosted across his ear.

"Ever say something about my mum again, I'll make you regret the fact you ever became a ninja. Look at that screen what does it say?" All eyes turned to the screen where both their names were displayed. Kiba Inuzuka and Naruto Uzumaki Sarutobi.

"My mum was the late Lady Sarutobi, it's not just me you insulted, my little brother Konohamaru, my Uncle Asuma and my Grandfather, and he's right over there watching this. She was a beloved person to more than just us; she helped people she cared about everyone, if I can be anything I'd want to care about people just like her. That's what life is all about. When I release you get ready to bring your all, if you don't," he leant in closer, "I'll kill you." Naruto stared at Kiba before abruptly letting him fall to the ground as he stepped back.

Akamaru crawled over to Kiba slowly, as Kiba coughed and spluttered on the ground he took in heaving breathes as he glared up at Naruto.

Naruto took a breath, as he calmed himself down, Kiba had a bad habit of running his mouth off, normally when he was embarrassed or jealous. Naruto exhaled, he had to take Kiba out while showing he had the abilities of a chunin, also taking into account he was technically handicapped, well at least he knew what someone with a normal amount of chakra felt like. Right so Kiba relied on his senses in order to win he'd have to take them out, then Akamaru, everybody would recognise that Kiba was a member of the Inuzuka clan.

Naruto slipped his hand into his back pouch, searching around; he was always surprised by what he'd packed in there since he'd packed for the exam. His lips twitched as he felt a tag in between his fingers.

"Okay both fighters ready? Begin!"

Naruto shot forwards the tags slipping into his hand easily, he was naturally quicker than Kiba being able to place the tags around the arena as well as slipping the final few onto both Kiba and Akamaru who had darted forwards when Naruto did.

Naruto smirked, as Kiba jumped backwards throwing Akamaru a pill. He watched as Akamaru's fur changed colour from white to reddish brown, it would appear Kiba was serious about, defeating Naruto. Naruto twisted out the way of Akamaru as he spun past, when had they started using fang over fang? Narutos hand went to his scarf looking for Tsubasa not finding his little ball of fluff he turned looking up at the stands hoping to find him on the railing up there.

He flipped up over the twin spinning pair as they took advantage of his lack of attention, his eyes darted all around the hall searching for the bird, absently dodging the attacks coming towards him. His eye swung over to where Hikaru was; hoping the bird was there, to no avail. He frowned he'd have to rework his plan slightly, but should be able to still do it.

He jumped up again landing on the twisting turn of Kiba's attack rolling with the attack as he searched around in his pouch for what he was looking for, he rolled off of whoever he was attached to currently, as his fingers felt the symbol of the tag he wanted he reached down to his kunai pouch bring it out as he rolled under and quickly flipped over the two spiralling boys. He flung the kunai up with the tag attached and created a clone when he landed transforming it into Kiba as the seal on the tag released causing a blinding white light to envelope the hall.

When the light dimmed there were four versions of Kiba stood in a square all staring at each other.

"You really think taking away our ability to see will help you?" Kiba growled.

"No but taking out your senses is a good strategy," one of the opposite Kiba's growled back.

Then the tags Naruto had planted exploded in a mixed cloud of colour paint flying everywhere, the four Kiba's all got dosed in the paint most of it landing on their faces.

"See I haven't figured out how to adapt sound just yet, but seeing as you rely so heavily on your nose I figured I should take that out." A second Kiba spoke, throwing down a smoke capsule, and switching places with the Kibas hoping to disorient him.

The smoke cleared to see the four Kiba's still staring at each other.

"Can't tell which one's which can you?" A Kiba yipped, making the other three tilt their heads, you never would have thought Naruto was good at impersonating people.

The real Kiba attacked punching the one next to him only for his doppelganger to disappear leaving behind no trace it was there. The hokage and Hikaru frowned, normally Narutos clones gave away a little bit of smoke, they looked closer at the three remaining Kiba's as he once again struck out this time the doppelganger released smoke and Akamaru appeared down on the ground.

Kiba attacked the final doppelganger smirk plastered across his face only to turn into shock as that one too turned into Akamaru.

"You should never rely on your senses too heavily, after all looks can be deceiving." Naruto's voice ghosted past Kiba's cheek.

Kiba frowned as he felt the kunai digging into the back of his neck and a second resting across his throat. Akamaru shook his head as he came to seeing Naruto with Kiba pinned he growled and lunged only for a second Naruto to grab him around the throat mid leap.

"Give in. We wouldn't want Akamaru to get hurt now would we?" Naruto spoke from behind Kiba.

"You wouldn't dare!" Kiba gritted out.

"You insulted my mother, and underestimated me, it's all fair game." Naruto smiled, kunai pressing in as he held another one up to Akamaru.

"No don't! Fine I give!" Kiba shouted, Naruto waited till Gekkō Hayate had called the win, before releasing both Kiba and hugging Akamaru close whispering in his ear soothingly.

"You know I wonder how Nami got to the tower, I mean it's a dangerous journey for shinobi yet alone a cat?" Naruto eyed Konohamaru, who was still leaning against him.

"Nami's amazing. The cleverest cat I've ever met." Konohamaru smiled.

"Creep." Naruto sighed shaking his head.

"You finished hiding here?" Konohamaru asked, standing up at stretching.

"Yeah. What do you want to do today?" Naruto stood up stretching out his limbs.

Konohamaru smirked, darting forwards and tagging Naruto before running off laughing in glee. Naruto stood shocked as he shook his head running after his fleeing brother. Gaara sat on the Hokage's head using his third eye technique to watch Naruto and Konohamaru interacting, he didn't understand what they were doing, put something in his memory shifted remembering being little and witnessing children with a ball one time. His head started to ache, dropping into his hand, his other rising to his stomach he didn't know how to explain this strange sensation he was feeling, but he wanted their strange connection back, hopefully that would help him make sense of this whatever it was.

(Line)

Kakashi shoved his hands in his pockets. He was sat in Sasuke's hospital room; he twirled the scalpel in one hand while gazing at the tiny scarecrow in his other. He wasn't sure how to reach out to Naruto, everything he thought he knew about him was wrong, speaking to him directly was out, Naruto just didn't want to talk to him, so how did he grab his attention.

"Naruto we need to talk." Kakashi said leaning against the wall.

"Hey sensei can you find someone to train me for the next part of the exam?" Naruto asked cutting Kakashi off. Everybody turned to watch the two the higher ranking ninja from the leaf waiting for the inevitable talk to begin.

"Why would you want someone else to train you?" Kakashi asked revealing his disbelief.

"Because I don't need you. Sasuke needs you more than I do, he's fighting Gaara, he's going to need the training. Besides you were going to train him anyway, rather than passing me off to someone who has no idea what to do with me like Ebisu sensei, he's still admiring me for change Konohamaru's work ethic, I need someone who can help me balance both my strengths and weaknesses. Also you and I aren't exactly compatible; I don't have the same chakra natures as you, so your techniques would be counterproductive to my training, as much as I would enjoy learning them. Oh and I need some to fix my seal, whatever Orochimaru did to it in the forest really handicapped me. I can't make shadow clones, just normal ones." Naruto explained as simply as he could how he knew something was wrong with his seal. "Now I have friends to visit in the hospital, when you want to talk, next time don't send a clone." Naruto turned away waving over his shoulder in a familiar manner.

"Really you sent a clone?" Asuma frowned, "And I thought I was lazy."

"I'll train him," Takeru volunteered, "You need to figure out how to get through to him." He patted Kakashi on the shoulder gently.

"What would you suggest?" Kakashi turned asking those around him.

Iruka sighed and looked at Hikaru before taking the much needed step forwards. "Don't tell him Asuma let it slip, that's how you figured it out for one, he'll make Asuma's life hell for that."

"Show him you care," Hikaru said pulling the mask off his face, and holding it gently. "Everybody understood his gesture when he gave me this mask, do something for him. Something you wouldn't do for anyone else." He smiled putting the mask back on and following after Naruto's retreating form.

"But..."

"Use everything you've learned about him, everything you know about him, you'll get there eventually." Iruka smiled.

Kakashi nodded and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Kakashi released a sigh glancing back at Sasuke; he created a clone, leaving it behind as he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

He appeared in front of the memorial stone, staring down at the names listed there, he found the names he so often visited, kneeling down tracing their names, leaning his head against the stone.

"What should I do? I've got myself into a mess and can't figure my way out of it."

Up in the branches overlooking the stone sat a little bird watching as the ninja that was so important to his master came looking for answers. Tsubasa tilted his head and ruffled his feathers, spreading his wings and flying off to his Naruto.

Kind of presented this in a different way not sure if it works but it was fun to write, but let me know if you like the way this chapter was presented.

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