I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.

Pairings: Naruto x Sakura and others

Info: This story follows after Sasuke left leaf to join Orochimaru. Naruto and gang manage to get him back and I'm taking it from there.

English is not my first language; please inform me if there are any mistakes I'll correct them.

NOTE: in this fic I made it as Shikamaru never passed the chunnin test.

~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@~@

Naruto eyed the approaching insects with a careful eye. He knew these were not normal bugs that Shino had called upon. These bugs were chakra-eating bugs. Although he knew it would have little effect on him. He did not want to take the risk of losing focus and giving Shino even a second of opportunity.

"Kage Bunshin no jutsu" yelled Naruto

in a puff of smoke 3 other Naruto's appeared around him and began keeping the bugs at bay, while the real Naruto charged up to Shino. Naruto did not want to end the fight too quickly as he wasted to prove to everyone that he was a loser. But little did he know, no one except for a few, thought of him that way anymore.

Naruto punched Shino square in the face, but to his horror a layer of bugs covered his face before the punch could take its full effect on Shino. Naruto felt like he was fighting Gaara, the only difference was, this was no sand protecting him, this was bugs, and he had just squashed a bunch of them against Shino's face. Naruto pulled back his hand trying to shake of some of the disgusting gunk that was still covering his fist while Shino's face was already cleared up. Some of the girls from other villages who were not used to Shino's unique ability felt sick and wanted to throw up.

"Eww, don't you have anything better to protect your face with?" asked Naruto

"My bugs have never failed protecting me before, why would I want to use any other method of protection." Said Shino calmly

"Hmph. I'll see if you can say that when you find a girl you like and decide to take her back to your room. I'll see then if your bugs can give you sufficient protection." Said a laughing Naruto.

At his statement, Tsunade just slapped her head thinking she should have a talk with Jiraiya and Itachi as to what they have been teaching Naruto. But inside she knew this was very much the pervert Jiraiya's fault as she knew Itachi would never have taught Naruto something like that. Hell she wasn't even sure if Itachi knew what to do with a girl if he ever had one in his room.

Shino however was stunned that Naruto would say something like that in public. He tried his very best not to blush and keep his cool composure. However at the top, everyone was having different reactions to Naruto's statement.

Chouji did not know what Naruto meant, Shikamaru and Kiba was laughing their asses off, Ino was dumbstruck, Hinata and Sakura were blushing, Temari was trying to hold her laughter while Kankuro and Gaara were sighing and finally Lee with fire in his eyes, "That's Naruto kun for you, the boy who defeated Neji san can now make perverted jokes at the face of danger. Now that's what you call a rival. Naruto kun I will beat you yet.".

Sasuke was thinking that Naruto did not change much attitude wise, while all the jounins were looking at Kakashi because they felt that Naruto got that crude sense of humor form him.

After everyone had cooled off the jounin ref cleared his throat and asked Naruto and Shino to resume the match. Naruto now jumped back and unsummon his clones, who had by now pushed all the bugs to edge of the arena. Shino was now getting impatient as Naruto had stopped his attacks dead in its tracks.

Shino now put his hands together and began performing some hand seals calling forth the bugs that resides in his body and all the bugs that were scattered all over. He also summoned some flying insects to attack Naruto.

"I'm giving you a warning, if you don't call back you bugs and give up now, you're going to lose all your bugs and be carried out in a stretcher with some broken bones." Said Naruto

"Do not underestimate my bugs and its you who will be carried out in a stretcher with the broken bones." Replied Shino.

" Very well, if that's your choice...Summoning jutsu!." Yelled Naruto while biting his fingers and performing a few hand seals.

In a huge cloud of smoke, a huge toad the size of a adult man stood in front of Naruto. It was Gama Suma, the warrior toad.

"Hey toad, eat up it's a feast of bugs for you today." Said Naruto while pointing at all the bugs around them.

Everyone was shocked to see Naruto perform a summoning jutsu, let alone a powerful one capable of bringing forth a huge toad. Everyone had the same thought going through his or her minds 'Naruto is strong'

Immediately the toad set out to work by either using its tongue or the sword to dispose of all the bugs that were threatening its master. Within a matter of seconds the arena was cleared of any and all form of insects.

Naruto then praised the toad for its good job before unsummoning him and looking straight at Shino.

"I warned you. Now its time to end this." Said Naruto in a low voice

"Fire orb skill!!" yelled Naruto while doing his hand seals

before Shino could react he was trapped in a huge orb of fire that consumed all the oxygen within its belly thus making its occupant pass out.

Naruto then undid his jutsu while standing there waiting for the ref to call his victory.

The ref took a few moments to re gather himself from the shock of witnessing a genin perform a high level jutsu in front of him.

"Winner Uzumaki Naruto." He said while pointing towards Naruto

The crowd started to whispered as to how Naruto had become so strong while his friends cheered for him. Only Kurenai was in utter shock as she had now witnessed 2 of her students beaten by the same opponent. She was slowly beginning to acknowledge that Naruto was indeed a good shinobi.

Sasuke was in utter shock he witnessed what Naruto had done. Sakura herself was in awe as to how Naruto had defeated Shino. Before she or the rest of his friends could go and congratulate him Naruto was grabbed by the collar of his jacket by Sasuke.

"Tell me how did you become this strong! I want to know." Growled Sasuke

Naruto just smirked and before he or anyone could react Sasuke was flung against the wall by Gaara.

"Before you can hurt Naruto you'll have to go through me first." Said Gaara while his sand was taking the form of a wave. Kakashi immediately intervened and told Gaara to stop while he warned Sasuke that this was not way to treat a teammate.

Everyone was disappointed at Sasuke as they thought he knew better than to attack his own teammates, but what interested them more was how Gaara had stepped into help Naruto. (Not that he needed it). This action further pushed everyone to find out what had happened with Naruto these last 6 months.