DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the Naruto universe.

Thinking (+ flashbacks, etc.)

Emphasis

Bijuu, etc. speaking

Bijuu, etc. thinking

Shikamaru was on the ground, but that was all that he could be certain of. The world was spinning, and he was pretty sure that he was moving like Dr. Who but outside of his tardis. How had he gotten here? Where was he? Why was it so hard to move? Wair, who am I? "I din-uh need my… telephone booth. Thing... Tartarus? Tardis." He coughed and wondered whether or not he'd just brought up blood or bile. "Spaceship."

"Ha! Ha! Ha! A 'space' ship indeed, Nara-kun! Very good! You are performing admirably!"

The Nara heir tried to sit up but was almost blinded by something white. Am I Lee or Shikamaru, he wondered. The more he blinked, the more he made out black and green. Green… He then remembered, groaned, and closed his eyes again. How was lying in the dirt "performing admirably?"

"Up, up. You will not reach the pinnacle of Youth by lying on the ground, passively waiting as the sands of time pass through the hourglass!"

Maito Gai. Right. The Jonin his father had hired as his temporary taijutsu master had once again been kicking his ass. "Nice phrasing," the boy deadpanned as he wondered if his jaw was dislocated. "Phrasing:" Shikamaru's mind suddenly conjured an animated Archer using that word whenever he could, usually about something sexual. "Isit really uhh... safe to cont-" Shikamaru stopped when it hurt to say that word and restated what he originally wanted to ask - or tried to. "Go on. Feh." Frustrated, he bit out what he was trying to ask - although it came out more as a statement. "Isit safeta go on witha… dizzy." He'd learned over the past month that Traumatic Brain Injury wasn't something shinobi knew (or possibly cared) about. He knew enough about it, though, and was determined not to suffer the devastating effects of repeat concussions. "I'm dizzy. That's not okay..."

Seeing the green-clad man jump up and spin in an absolutely impossible amount of circles, Shikamaru laid his head back down in the grass and stared up at the clouds. Maito Gai really should have been the world's strongest, most manly figure skater when his head wasn't modeling bowling balls. Alright, that last thing was a little mean and off the mark, but who could blame him? Getting your ass beaten by a grown strong man three times a week straight out sucked.

Which was why he'd dragged Choji along with him over the last two weeks. And a couple of his cousins. ...They were now all unconscious, pretending to be, or sleeping; he didn't know which. He'd also invited his upperclassmen, Rock Lee, to join them this time because Rock Lee was the one that was supposed to be Maito's Gai's apprentice or something close to it in canon, not him!

"Forgive me for my lack of Youth, sensei," the younger than canon Rock Lee said, his fists clenched in determination as he struggled to get up. "I WILL reach Springtime! I will flower under your tutelage if you allow me to accompany Shikamaru-kun to another lesson!" He bowed but Shikamaru could tell that the other boy was aching as he did it. "You have not seen the true essence of my willpower and Youth; this I swear!" Gai stopped doing push-ups to stare at the boy with amazement before breaking down in tears.

"Oh, God. What have I done?" Shikamaru asked himself, groaning.

"Shh. Don't let him know you're awake," his cousin, Shina, murmured from beside him.

Shikamaru turned his head toward the older boy and had to keep himself from laughing - although laughing would probably hurt right now. Shina had only pretended to be hit, from what he could remember of their "All Out Youthful Battle Royale," as Gai called it, before falling down supposedly unconscious.

As much as Maito Gai's punches and kicks hurt, Shikamaru thought he was an excellent teacher. Although he may not be a fashion influencer, Gai had proved to be patient, caring, and a stickler for technique. He was also unbelievably motivational, and not nearly as much of an oddball as Shikamaru had known him to be in Naruto. ...Although he was still really out there. So far the man in green had drawn up extensive ideas for him, his participating clansmen, and Choji to improve their taijutsu. Maybe he just didn't seem as weird as he'd expected because of how thoroughly devoted he was to his students' success. It was inspiring.

The improvements that Gai neatly wrote out for Choji may have been Akimichi clan-based (or not: Shikamaru didn't know since all clan-specific techniques were secret to an individual's clan,) but Gai had done something even more important for the Akimichi heir. He had motivated Choji; had convinced him that by refusing to spar and thus hurt his friends when sparring, he was not only hurting himself but also potentially leaving his comrades open to be killed later since if he were stronger, he could protect them. Just this morning, Choji had won in a spar against Sasuke, who had been shocked but appreciative.

Thus far Shikamaru hadn't heard anything more negative than usual about the Uchiha clan, either from listening in on his father's conversations or simply around the village. The Nara couldn't be sure, but he thought that Uchiha Sasuke's brother had killed the entire lot of them, save Sasuke, before he was their age in canon. There was so much that was different in this, his real new world - not some anime - from the show that he'd watched in his last life. First, there was Uzumaki Naruto's status as an early graduate prodigy, her apprenticeship to Uchiha Shisui of all people, and the fact that she was a girl. Then there were more immediate concerns for him: his mother had just told him yesterday that she's pregnant.

Weirdly enough, but apparently, as per tradition, the Akimichi and Yamanaka matriarchs were, also. The heirs were keeping the news on the lowdown for now, but all three were very happy that their families were expanding.

Gai clapped his hands loudly. "Everyone up!" When none of Gai's students chose to move from the ground, other than the Lee boy who was blossoming with an attitude that he would make sure to encourage, Gai mentioned what he knew would motivate them! "Everyone up! Who wants to run the most laps around the village?" His face darkened. "Shall we see?"

Shikamaru groaned and rose, determined to dodge but appear hit as soon as possible, just like his cousin had earlier. He grabbed Shina's hand and pulled him up alongside him. "Ne, sensei, 'While it is all well and good enough to leave footprints on the sands of time, it's more important to ensure they point in a commendable direction,' isn't it?" Shikamaru tried to quote after popping his jaw and neck. He looked up at Gai and saw that he was staring at him with literal stars dancing in his eyes and around his head; it was some kind of genjutsu, Shikamaru was sure. And oh God, he'd done it again: Shikamaru never meant to inspire more Youth! He was going to be forced to run even more laps, wasn't he?

"Have you heard who we're getting?" Hana asked her teammate, Maruten. They were lounging in the trees at Training Ground 9, waiting for their normally prompt sensei who was late today.

"Nah," Maruten replied, picking his fingernails with a kunai as he leaned against the tree's trunk. "Sensei said he'd bring him today." He glanced up at the girl he'd had a crush on for years - she was tossing treats down to her ninken - knowing that he didn't stand a chance with her. Hana was the Inuzuka heiress, and he was just a Genin Akimichi branch member that had twice kept her (and her ninken) from getting promoted. This time, though, it was their other teammate, Saisu, that nearly held their entire team back from taking the Chunin exams.

They'd been on a mission and Saisu had gotten cocky. The three Genin had been working on support and combination techniques when they should have been sleeping after a successful mission. Maruten had gotten inspired from working combinations with his father and his Genin teammates the day before they left. Although Maruten didn't have a Yamanaka or Nara teammate like his father had, he still thought the Ino-Shika-Cho teams had it right. Strategize, use the teamwork that he and his team had in spades, and finally - differently what they'd been doing previously - ensure that everyone conserves chakra much more than his team had been up until that point.

Although their sensei was training them to be all-rounders, able to track, attack, or provide support - they still weren't good with infiltration - Maruten knew that what all three of the Genin enjoyed and thus focused on the most was frontline attacks. Hana and her ninken had flashy jutsus, Saisu was quickly becoming an expert with weapons, and as an Akimichi, he was big and badass. Not only could he grab and literally wipe the floor with his enemies, but his clan's expansion jutsu also caused many of them to simply run in fear.

After a hushed explanation of his thoughts on changing what they'd been trying lately and a new formation idea, Maruten's teammates had agreed to try it out while their sensei was asleep. As time went on, the three became more excited, and the fact that an accompanying Chunin was on watch and allowing them to train while their sensei slept nearby only egged them on. As their chakra levels depleted, they were ready to rest, and - naturally - that was when the Chunin in a tree signaled that they had hostiles nearby.

Unfortunately, Saisu had put himself in place of the Nara they'd just been discussing and began barking out orders. As far as Maruten was concerned, if anyone was going to be team captain under their sensei, it should have been Hana. And not just because she was his crush! No, Hana was smart, thoughtful, and resourceful. Saisu on the other hand had always been their team's wildcard. Plus, their sensei was there! And so was that Chunin!

The three rogue nins attempted to attack the Chunin in the tree first, then turned to the kids. The battle had been horrible, and if it hadn't been for his food pills and sensei, Maruten wouldn't have survived it. The last thing he did was use a partial expansion jutsu to pull Saisu off the side of a cliff he'd fallen over. He began to also topple over the cliffside, unable to stop his fall because his chakra was depleted, when at the last possible second he was yanked up by Funeno-sensei.

His sensei's clones and the Chunin accompanying them, Yuhi Kurenai, managed to fight off the Iwa nins, and Funeno-sensei had saved every single member of their team, directly or with his (and Hana's) basic or better medical ninjutsu following the battle. Funeno-sensei used some of the last of his strength to call upon his summons to get word back to the village, and they were rescued and brought back to the hospital.

Saisu's leg had been badly broken in three places, however. Funeno-sensei received a promotion to full Jounin afterward, which Maruten wondered if his sensei really wanted. Funeno-sensei told his Genin that he hoped to eventually go back to being an Academy teacher, and there were very few non-retired Jonin senseis at the Academy. There weren't even very many Tokubetsu Jonin there.

Maruten nearly jumped when his teammate squawked and jumped down from the tree they were in.

"There you are, sensei! You're late," Hana chirped, her three ninken yipping in agreement all around her. She frowned when she saw the worried look that was so obvious on Funeno-sensei's face.

Maruten wanted to groan but held himself back. Don't tell me the one Genin that's not assigned to a team is unavailable! How was it possible that all of the Konoha Genin who had been out of the Academy for at least a year were already teamed up for the Chunin Exams?! There are so many of us, Maruten thought. He wouldn't even mind adding one of the kids who had just graduated to their team... It already sucked that he would be one of the oldest Akimichis ever to make Chunin, but to have to wait another year? Gods, I'm going to have to go to the Akimichi Library and see if I'll really be the oldest one, he pouted. Or the only Akimichi to never get promoted. That was a horrible thought. "Sensei, is everything alright?"

"Sure, sure," Funeno said. This morning he'd checked on Saisu who was recovering well. Not well enough to be ready for the exams this month, so he might have to keep his team out of it this time if he couldn't find anyone else. They'd been ready for years, his kids Chunin in all but name, but it was always something... Between Iwa's turns at hosting the exam - and no Konoha Genin team would travel to Iwa - and then Kumo's turn at it even after pulling that stunt with the Hyuuga heiress, plus the way his two boys managed to break their limbs at just the perfect times? Team 11 seemed doomed when it came to the Chunin Selection Exams.

What the Sandaime had just proposed, however? It was just... unthinkable.

"Sorry guys," Funeno said, putting on a somewhat artificial smile that he hoped would cover him. "It looks like this won't be our year." He felt bad at hearing their disbelief and sadness. It lingered in the air like a cloud over the team - even Hana's ninken were whining! He jumped when Shunshin no Fucking Shisui and the damn jinchuuriki suddenly appeared in front of him. He had hoped to grab a mission and leave before they showed up!

"Forgive us for being late," Shisui said cheekily, "oh wait, Naru-chan. We're not late, are we?"

"No, shishou," the demon container replied, sounding almost pained.

"And why is that?"

"Because Shisui the Teleporter's always... right on time."

Shisui groaned and slumped. "That's not… I told you to say something else that's cool and you know it," the Uchiha scolded.

"I guess I forgot," the blonde lied then directed the Uchiha's attention toward the team they'd just come to see with a nod.

"Funeno-san! Good to see you again! I suppose you were telling your Genin about Naru-chan's substitution for your injured Genin. Kamano Saisu, yes?"

There was a pause of silence before the team's sensei broke it. "Now hold on just a minute," Funeno began.

Hana moved forward immediately. She didn't know and didn't care what her sensei's problem was with this little girl, whom he was looking at like she was going to rip his skull off or something. "It's nice to meet you, Naru-chan."

"Oh!" Naru was shocked that someone was being so nice to her. She figured that Shisui made an especially sudden appearance in front of a Konoha shinobi because those they were meeting didn't want her there, although they hadn't talked about it. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto," she bowed, "please take care of me."

"Kawaii! Are you really a Genin, Naruto-chan?"

"Hai!"

"You're... wait. You were in my brother Kiba's class, weren't you?" Hana remembered her mother almost sobbing and angered after she'd gotten home from dropping Kiba off at the Academy on his first day. She had never seen her mother cry, not even when her father had left! Her mother had never told her why she reacted the way that she did, other than to say that she was reminded of some old friends who had passed, but later she heard her drunkenly complain about the "lyin' Sandaime." Hana didn't always get to accompany her mom to the Academy after she had graduated, but when she did, she saw her trying to get a glimpse of a small blonde girl. Then the girl just seemed to disappear.

Plus, Kiba had gotten into BIG trouble for some things he'd said to her. ...And then my cousins nearly got thrown out of the clan for bullying someone with "whiskers."

Her ninken crowded around and thought that Naru-chan was okay, so that meant that Naru-chan was okay. Plus, Hana wanted to find out what the mystery was.

"Hai," the blonde said less enthusiastically. Kiba seemed like a nice enough boy but hadn't really been nice to her, even after she'd befriended Hinata. He was also a little... wild, even for a normal six or seven-year-old boy. "I believe so. I was apprenticed to Uchiha Shisui some time ago."

"That's... great," Hana smiled prettily. "It's... nice to see you again, Shisui-senpai."

Naruto looked up at her shishou and was surprised that his cheeks were red. Usually, he was the one embarrassing people, especially girls! She looked back at Hana who had just greeted him, then poked him to get him to return her greeting.

"Hana-chan! You look well. All grown up."

"Tsk. Pedo-Lolicon," Naruto whispered under her breath, feeling a little disgusted. Hana wasn't "all grown up" at all, and neither was he! Shisui pulled her hair really hard in retaliation.

Maruten had taken a step back, surprised by Sunshin no Shisui's entrance into their training grounds. He knew who the chibi was: he thought everyone did. He wasn't sure what the deal was with her and the Kyuubi, but they were somehow related. Aren't they? He watched as Hana's ninken sniffed the Uzumaki, then began wagging their tails. It had taken him and Saisu longer to get that reaction! Then Hana: sweet smart Hana, began greeting her warmly.

Well, if Hana liked her, he would at least give her a chance. And anyway, what could a little girl have to do with the demon fox? Wait! How's a little girl going to help us win?!

He'd make sure not to mention his temporary teammate to Uncle Chouza - or anyone else for that matter. The Akimichi Clan Head didn't like the girl. It is better to keep things under wraps. Then he saw the way his Hana was looking at Sunshin no Shisui, and for a moment, he disliked Uzumaki Naruto almost as much as he disliked her master. It was her fault that he was here!

That awful feeling only lasted a few minutes, though. He might complain to Saisu, pretend a training post at home was this Uchiha Jonin; heck, he might even put up a silencing seal in his room later to have a good cry, but then it would be alright.

He knew Hana wasn't for him in the end, after all. He'd just have to find someone nearly as good!