Disclaimers: After ten chapters of repeating this, I suppose I don't need to say that I don't own Naruto.

Author's notes: Gee!!! You guys are so nice to me! I'm now updating and I hope that I would please you.

Inner jk: It's time to reply to the reviews.

Author: Right! And it's my turn now, inner me so don't complain.

Inner jk: Drats.

Author: Hehe... okay! Here goes!

xXxLiQuiD FaNtAsYxXx: Thanks for your review! Yeah! Haku's so cute! Though with a bit of feminine side. Either way, I like him too! He's so cool! I wish I could give him a role here but he's dead so... can't do anything about it.

laZy hyuuGa: Uhh... I think so. Well everyone except Hro. Hehehe!!! I'm glad you like it! Update your fic soon too, okay?

XP Shadow: Thanks! T-H-A-N-K-S! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! Thanks a lot for your review! And yes I'm updating! Updating! Updating! Updating! Updating! Heehee!!!

GreatMarta: Nah! I'm not really a fast updater. There are a lot of authors who update much faster than me. But then, thank you! Oh! About the name... hmm... okay! Sure! No problem! (Inner jk: But remember to give us credit.) Hey! Inner jk be quiet! Sorry 'bout that.

Arbil: Yeah! I really as in really don't like Hiashi! I dunno why, but I just don't like him! (Sorry Hiashi fans) Don't worry! Why would I kill Hinata? I can't do that to her. She's far too kind to be killed. I'm glad you like my fic!

Wormkaizer: Awe!!! I'm glad that you like it! And I really think that it isn't fair if the branch members would just follow the head members around like dogs everyday. Thanks for the review!

Astly-Hinata-Chan: Thanks for your praises! I really appreciate it! Arigato- gozaimasu!

Max Knight: Well... sorry if I offend you or anything, but I think I missed that part so I didn't really know about it. But then, I still don't like Hiashi! I'm sorry if you like him (as a character. Please don't get me wrong) but I just don't like him. Either way, thanks for your review!

NOTE TO ANAEL RAZUALLE: Akabane Ame would have a lot of changes for I really don't know who Dr. Jackal is for I'm not watching Getbackers. I haven't watched a single episode of it so please excuse the major changes.

Author: There! Let the chapter start!

Chapter 11:

Naruto smiled slightly and closed the door behind him. He clenched his fists in front on his face.

"I will save you Hinata. I promise."

The next day back at the Hyuuga Branch House (A/N: I'm sorry I just really like the Hyuuga family), Reika has woke up and started sparring with Hro.

"Reika, you're letting your guard down." Neji said as he continued to watch the two girls. He secretly smiled.

'I must admit. These girls never cease to impress me. Both of them have the potential to become stronger than me. Their skills exceed an average genin. Though I'm sure that they would have a hard time to defeat a chuunin and they still don't really have a chance to defeat a jounin. Either way, they have the potential.'

=Uchiha Household=

"Sharingan!" The twins activated their bloodline skill and started to attack each other. Jutsu after jutsu, the two attacked each other with accuracy and tactic. They both don't let their chakra and energy be wasted.

Their father was pleased.

"That's enough you two. You're going to meet your sensei within an hour so go on and get changed." Sasuke directed.

The boys nodded and went to their rooms to change clothes.

At the red bridge, Lan and Keiki were there first, followed shortly by Reika. Keiki was waving frantically at her, while Reika just smiled.

"Good morning, Reika-chan!" Keiki exclaimed.

Reika smiled back at him. "Ohayou Keiki. Ohayou Lan." She greeted. Lan nodded at her in response as the girl jumped up and sat down on a nearby tree branch.

Keiki started babbling about random things, raging from training, to slugs. The other two closed their eyes. Keiki's a funny guy, but can be really annoying sometimes.

"Naruto-sensei's late!!!" Keiki exclaimed as he raised a fist in the air. Lan mumbled something about a 'stupid twin' and Reika was asleep on the branch.

POOF!!!

"Sorry you three. I had a meeting with the old-hag." Naruto said. Lan stood up, Reika opened her eyes, and Keiki went 'oooh'. The three genins raised their eyebrows. Their sensei's excuse was believable.

Lan took a step forward. "What's the meeting about, Naruto-sensei?" He asked. Naruto shifted his weight to his other foot to get comfortable.

Lan took a step forward. "What's the meeting about, Naruto-sensei?"

Naruto grinned as he placed his arms on his waist. "Tsunade-baba had organized a speciak training for both genins and chuunins."

Keiki eyes went wider (if that was still possible). "What kind?"

"Now don't get too excited. You might not like the idea. Since we only have 48 hours left to prepare for the upcoming war, all genins and chuunins would spend a day in the forest of death. There will be jounins and ANBUs waiting for you there. You have to be careful. They might attack you when you least expect it. The main instruction is to stay in the forest for 24 hours and survive the traps, animals, and ambushes that awaits you. Then you must go to the tower. That's it."

Reika raised an eyebrow. "But sensei, is that an individual training or a group training?" She asked.

"It could be in teams or individually. You get to choose."

Reika faced her two teammates. "What about it, guys?"

Lan stared at the two. "Let's participate in a team. It will be much safer." Keiki nodded. "I agree." Reika nodded.

Naruto nodded at his genins. "Alright then. Let's go to Tsunade-sama and register your names."

=Tsunade's Office=

"Hmm... I see. So now, team 7 of Uzumaki Naruto would participate in the training. I'm expecting that." Tsunade said as she smiled at the three rookies that had just played a big role in the war.

"You know you three, I believe that you three would easily pass for chuunins but I'm afraid we don't have the time for that." Tsunade said. She looked at Naruto.

"Uhh... Tsunade-sama, who would be the other genins to participate?" Keiki asked. Tsunade roamed on her papers.

"Hmm... let's see. Okay then. Here are the other genins participating. Inuzuka Ruchi would go on with Nara Ayumi. Rock Lee's student Ukino Tai wanted to go on alone. His other teammates Shou Hikari and Yakana Naoki would go together. Hmm... Haruno Shinji, together with Hyuuga Yamaru, and Kuchio Hiro would go in a team." Tsunade said as she closed her list.

"Yamaru-niichan's also going to participate? It's been a long time since I've actually seen him." Reika mumbled.

The two Uchiha boys looked at her. They had known her to have the greatest admiration on Hyuuga Yamaru, her cousin from the branch family.

Lan remembered Ukino Tai. He's the one he really considers as his ultimate rival. Tai's older than him for a year. Tai was the top rookie last year. It reminded him of his father and Neji.

Keiki was kind of sad as he heard the name Haruno Shinji. He's one of his cousins in his mother's side and even hearing his mother's former last name made him sad.

Naruto noticed the silence and decided to lighten the atmosphere a bit. "Okay then you three! Go now. We wouldn't want you to miss all the fun, right?"

Tsunade smiled at Naruto for lightening the atmosphere at least and his genins smiled in appreciation.

"Hai."

=Hidden Sand=

"Well done, Sabaku no Gaara. You are dismissed." Kazekage said coldly as he turned around in order not to face his son.

Gaara nodded and ushered the two genins outside. They stood in silence until they heard a female voice that says 'welcome back'.

Everyone automatically knew who it is especially Mika who smiled slightly as she saw who it is. "Temari-sensei. Konnichiwa."

Temari smiled at her. "Konnichiwa Mika-chan. Konnichiwa Ring-chan." She paused as she looked at Gaara. "Konnichiwa Gaara."

Gaara didn't even spare her a glace. He just mumbled something like 'Ring go and train' then disappeared with a swirl of sand. Mika stared at the area where Gaara once stood. Temari just smiled slightly as Ring laughed nervously.

"Ne, Gaara-sensei's always like that so sorry." She said as she scratched the back of her head. Temari giggled as Mika raised an eyebrow.

Ring looked at Mika. "Ne, Mika-san, where's Ame-chan?" She asked. Mika shrugged.

"Who knows? That girl doesn't really care what's happening to the world. She'll show up soon enough. She's needed in this battle. If not, we need to look for her ourselves." Mika said as she fiddled with her twin kodachis.

"I don't think that would be necessary, Mika-san." A voice said coolly. The three girls looked around and saw a girl with shoulder-length blond hair and toxic purple eyes.

Mika narrowed her eyes. "Ame-san."

Ring sweatdropped as another glaring contest started once again. 'Ehh... first it's Reika-chan vs. Mika-san. Then it's Ame-san vs. Mika-san. What's next? Gaara-sensei vs. Mika-san? Gee...' She thought. She waved her arms frantically in the air.

"Oi! Oi! Guys! Don't fight! Remember that you're teammates! Don't... huh? Temari-sensei?" Ring looked at her friends' sensei in confusion.

"Don't mind them. They're always like that." Temari said as she smiled at her. Ring scratched the back of her head.

"Oh. Is that it?"

"You know, I'm wondering on why Gaara hasn't rubbed a single thing on you. You're still the same. I'm wondering on why you're not freaked out by my younger brother." Temari said as she looked at her two genins' glaring contest.

Ring almost fell down. "Ehh??? Why is everybody asking me that? Gaara- sensei isn't doing anything wrong. He's an awesome sensei and I'm happy he's my teacher." She said as she placed a hand near her heart.

Temari smiled. "You know, Gaara would be happy to know someone else who think of him that way."

Ring smiled back. "Yeah."

=Konoha Forest of Death=

"Well... here we are you three." Naruto said as he stood infront one of the gates of Konoha with his three genins.

The three genins stared at the place with awe.

"See you then. Good luck you three."

His genins faced him and smiled. "Arigato Naruto-sensei."

Naruto smiled at his genins and waved goodbye before he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Lan looked at Reika and Keiki before nodding. They entered the forest in time to hear Anko's voice speak up.

"LISTEN ALL GENINS AND CHUUNINS! YOU WILL ALL STAY IN THIS FOREST FOR 24 HOURS! THERE WILL BE TRAPS, WILD AND POISONOUS ANIMALS, POISONOUS PLANTS, AND OTHER SHINOBIS TO AMBUSH YOU! ALL OF YOU MUST GO TO THE TOWER AFTER 24 HOURS! GOOD LUCK!"

Reika sighed as she crossed her arms. "Hn. How her voice is heard up to here remains unknown." She said.

Lan and Keiki nodded in agreement.

"NOW! BEGIN!"

The three genins instantly jumped up on a tree and dashed in a very fast pace. It was no wonder their team has the title of the fastest genin team.

"Lan, any plan?" Reika asked. Lan was in the lead, followed by her then Keiki.

Lan nodded. "First we'll stop at a tree in the middle of the area. Well... any area in where there aren't so many enemies. Reika, check it out."

Reika nodded. "Sure."

They stopped for a moment as Reika made the proper hand seals. "Byakugan!"

Keiki leaned over to her. "Well??? What do you see, Reika-chan?" He asked. Reika pointed over at the direction they were going.

"Nine shinobis over there with the distance of one kilometer from each other. I suspect they are different teams." She said.

Lan nodded. "Very well. We'll stop here." He took out a kunai and plucked it on the ground below the large tree they were standing at.

"We would all go look for food, water, and shelter. Reika, you're in charge with the food. I'll get the water. Keiki, you go find shelter." Lan commanded.

Reika shrugged. "Fine."

Keiki pouted. "Mou! Why do I always get the easy part?!"

"Because whether you like it or not, you are the weakest member of our group." Lan said, making Keiki pout more.

Reika sighed. "Boys, boys, now is not the time. Let's just go on okay?"

With that, the three separated ways.

=Reika's Place=

Reika swiftly jumped from tree to tree in a fast speed as she searched for trees that bear edible fruits. She stopped as she felt a familiar presence.

"Byakugan."

Looking everywhere, she found where she felt the familiar chakra. She swiftly changed directions and stopped as she saw the people who caught her attention.

Standing near her current position was Hyuuga Yamaru, her cousin that she had admired for years. She wondered on why his teammates aren't with him.

"Reika, it's no use to hide."

Reika sighed as her superior cousin had detected her again. She jumped down from the tree gracefully and stared at her cousin.

"Yamaru-niichan, you are always so quiet and mysterious. I have known from Tsunade-sama that you're taking this training with your teammates. Where are they?" She asked.

Yamaru just looked at her. "We separated ways to look for food and shelter."

"Okay. I'm doing the same thing. So... see you later." She swiftly jumped up to a tree and disappeared in the shadows, leaving Yamaru alone.

"Yamaru, you're having that look again. Don't tell me you want to fight her team?" A voice asked. Yamaru turned around to see his teammate, Haruno Shinji. He stared at him and smiled.

"Maybe. Where's Hiro?"

"Still not here."

"Thanks for stating the obvious, Shinji."

=Lan's Place=

Lan landed on a clearing where there was a stream of water nearby. He took out his water pack and filled it with water.

His role was simple enough. Yet he really wants some action to go on. Especially now that he knows that his greatest rival was also currently taking this training.

He jumped back towards the forest. Lan actually does not appreciate the peacefulness going on since he know that there are a lot of shinobis here that would be a worthy opponent to fight. He wanted to fight.

No.

He needed to fight.

He can't stand the silence longer than he had expected. He growled inwardly. When has the great Uchiha Lan ever been impatient?

Just then, as if his wish was granted, a huge snake appeared out of nowhere and attacked him. He smirked as he took out a kunai.

"Hn. You're an animal but still a wild and fierce one. I hope that you would at least entertain a bored shinobi like myself." Lan said to no one as the snake attacked him again.

Lan groaned as he realized that this snake wouldn't even live up to the challenge that he wanted.

"Katon! Goukyaku no Jutsu!"

Lan made roasted snake after.

He stared at the roasted snake expressionlessly. That was a really easy win. No challenge at all.

Nope.

Uchiha Lan is definitely not a peace-loving person. He yearns for action and a good fight. He's the exact opposite of his twin brother, Keiki, who loves peace and hates fights.

"Augh! This is boring." Lan mumbled to himself.

"Bored too huh? I'm at the same situation."

Lan narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Just come out and show yourself to me."

A guy, about a year older than Lan, jumped out from a tree. He has long green-ish hair and dark eyes.

"Hn. Long time no see... Ukino Tai."

=Keiki's Place=

"Aha! Found one!"

Keiki at last found a cave formed at one of the large boulders of the forest. He had a few scratched caused by the branches, insect, and some wild animals that tried to kill him for a meal.

He quietly entered the cave only to hear a growling sound. He sighed deeply.

'Please... not another one...'

Just as he expected, three wild bears emerged from the shadows with their claws raised, ready to slash through Keiki any time.

'Great. Thanks. Instead of just one, I got three. Just great.'

Keiki faced the three bears and sighed sympathetically. "Sorry big bears. But we need this cave for this training so... buh-bye."

I'll let you imagine what happened next.

"Sorry big bears but we really need your cave. Sorry."

=At another place=

"Ayumi, are you okay?" Ruchi asked with concern as his female partner stumbled across the path.

The Nara girl forced out a smile at the young Inuzuka. "I'm alright, Ruchi. Don't mind me. Father was just too lazy to train me for survival so I don't have that much stamina." She said.

Ruchi walked near to her and extended his hand. Ayumi gladly took the hand and stood up. She smiled. "Arigato."

Ruchi automatically blushed. "It's nothing Nara-san."

"It's Ayumi from now on, Ruchi-kun."

=Somewhere in the forest=

"So Neji, where do you think the kids are?" Sasuke asked as he leaned on a tree with Neji and Naruto near him.

Neji shrugged. "Who knows."

Naruto opened his eyes to look at his friends. "Do you think we'll have to fight the kids?" He asked, for once without his childish accent.

The other two noticed this. Neji decided to stay quiet but it seems that Sasuke had other plans. "Still worried about Hinata?" He asked.

Naruto nodded. "Of course I am. All I've been thinking about is she. I wonder where she is, what happened to her, and..."

"Shut it, Naruto. Worrying about her won't get you anywhere. You should wait until this training is over. Then you could worry out your guts the next day. You wouldn't want yourself to be defeated by a genin because of your carelessness, right?" Sasuke said as he cut his friend off.

Naruto grinned. "Hey Sasuke, that's one of the longest lines that I've heard from you."

"Hn. Shut up you dobe."

Hinata was bounded up and thrown on the cell. She hadn't eaten anything for more than a day now. She hadn't even had a single drop of water. She felt useless. Everyone must be worried about her now. Especially Naruto. She was careless and this is all her fault. If only she had been more careful and alert, none of this would have happened.

She was also wondering on why they weren't extracting the secrets of the byakugan from her yet. If her haunches were right, then she was just a bait. She was sure that the enemy in planning something not good.

"Naruto-kun... be careful..."

Back at the forest, Lan, Reika, and Keiki went back to the exact spot where they splitted up.

"Well? What have you got?" Lan asked.

Reika held up a bundle of fruits that are enough to last a day.

Keiki pointed his thumb over the direction where he found the cave.

Lan nodded as he raised his water pack for them to see.

"Hmm... okay then. Keiki, lead the way."

"Sure Lan."

The trio dashed towards the clearing only to meet Ukiyo Tai and his teammates, and Hyuuga Yamaru's team.

The three teams were shocked.

"Yamaru-niichan..."

"Reika..."

"Tai..."

"Lan..."

"Shinji???"

"Hi Keiki."

Neji, Sasuke, and Naruto were near the clearing where they were standing so they decided to listen to their conversation. Who knows? Maybe this will be interesting.

"Neji, Sasuke, Naruto, hi there."

The three shinobis turned around to see Rock Lee behind them wearing the usual jounin vest but he never replaced the green uniform that he had always worn ever since he was a genin.

"Hey. Naruto, those are your students, right?" Lee asked as he took a step towards them to watch the teams more clearly.

Naruto nodded. "Yep. Hey. Ukiyo Tai is your student, right? So that means he's skilled with Taijutsu too."

Lee nodded. "Yes. That kid interests me. I'm like your former sensei, Kakashi, and Tai is like Sasuke. That kid intrigues me."

"Hn. Stop talking about my past rookie years."

"Sure." It was then when Lee noticed the other team over there. "Hmm? Hey Neji, who's the instructor of the other team? The one with the Hyuuga."

"That team belongs to Inuzuka-san." Neji said without even looking up at him. Lee nodded in understanding.

"Hey look. It's seems that a fight is about to start soon." Lee said.

Back at the three teams...

"So Lan, want to fight? I'm bored." Tai said as he took his hands out of his pockets. Lan smirked and nodded.

"Sure. I've always wanted a good fight."

At Reika's area, she was facing Yamaru with a cold glare in which he returned with a glare equally cold as hers. It was pretty obvious that the two are the other pair to fight.

"Shinji, I never knew that I would actually fight you here." Keiki said as he faced his cousin. Shinji smiled at him.

"Me neither. But I've always wanted to know what you're made off, Keiki. So it seems that this is now my chance."

"Agree."

"Hmm... this will be interesting. First is my genin leader vs. Neji's genin leader. Next is Neji's daughter vs. her cousin, and the other one is cousin vs. cousin. Huh? Hey... it seems that there are so many cousins here." Lee said.

Silence replied.

"Sigh... fine. Don't reply. I'm just interested."

Naruto couldn't take his excitement at bay any longer. He decided to cheer for his team.

"GO LAN! REIKA! KEIKI!"

Neji and Sasuke slapped their foreheads. Naruto had just caught the genins attention in which their role was not to let themselves be shown.

The genins sweatdropped as they saw the four shinobis watching them not far over. They decided to let that pass and continue the fight.

The fights that are going to occur would be a good one for sure.

Author's notes: Sigh... I couldn't help it. I just want to add more characters so sorry if I offend anyone. I was trying to make this quick so this chapter is a little random. Don't worry! Hinata would come soon! The rescue team might start to take action at the next chapter. Please review and if there are flames, make them constructive please. How do you like this chapter then? Reviews please!