Note: I have a few things to say before this chapter begins. Some of you don't really seem to understand that this is a fan fiction story. A recent reviewer said Neji wasn't dead since his seal didn't disappear and the Byakkuken is still around. First of all, they have yet to confirm if Neji is dead or not in the manga but either way, for this fic he is dead. This reviewer seeming to be acting as if I was a dumbass for even thinking Neji was dead.

Anyway, few things I want to talk about - I want to thank everyone who has reviewed for reading the story, but the few that have and you know who you are, if you don't like the fact that at times someone will be a bit OOC, if I misspell someone's name, or don't use the Japanese name of a technique then just don't read the fic. I am going to continue calling the Hyuuga fighting style the Gentle Fist, and I am going to continue calling the Katisen(or whatever) the Whirlwind Defense. Most of the time even those most won't like it, it is easy just to use these names. Though now Byakkuken will be Byakugan.

Again, I thank you all for reviewing up at times it seems all you read the story for is to scan each chapter for any mistakes and send me a list of them - no offense but if I wanted to be told all my mistakes I'll go take with my grandmother. Anyway, sorry to be bitching so much, just a few times I wanted to get off my chest... on with the chapter.

Chapter Three

Shikamaru and Temari - Training For the Chuunin Exams Begin

Kankurou sighed lightly as he sat on the stiff hotel bed; Karasuga stood before him limply. His fingers pulled back slowly, bringing Karasuga to lift. Fingers and wrists twisting and turning, Karasuga danced, offensive and defensive maneuvers were played out.

"Nii-san... haven't you learned from your battle with Shino... it will take more then just your puppets to complete this year's exams. Even with Karasuga there is go guaranteed win, you said yourself at times you struggled against Orochimaru's Jounin," Gaara laid his gourd against the wall, sitting down upon his own bed across from Kankurou's.

"No worries, Gaara-kun... I have been taking it upon myself to work on my own taijutsu. What about you? You sands are powerful, but you could have met death against Kimimaru. We have two weeks, I suggest you learn to fight for yourself. The sands may not always have time to save you..."

"I already know that Nii-san. But as my chakra grows, as does the power of the sands. I have mastered my own technique to turn all I see to sand... as will as my ultimate shield,"

"Have you seen Temari at all today?" Kankurou pulled his hands, placing Karasuga into a fighting stance.

"Not since this morning..."

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Moving down the stairs slowly, Shikamaru sighed lightly, turning into the kitchen. His father sat at the table with Yamanaka-san, enjoying a bottle of spring sake together. Moving to the fridge Shikamaru pulled it open, retrieving a fruit drink.

"Ah, Shika-kun.. So who was that lovely lady who was over here to visit?" Nara-san smiled as Shikamaru approached the table, Nara-san's hand mussing Shikamaru's hair as he looked to Yamanaka-san. "Shikamaru finally got a girl into his room today,"

"Father...." He shook his head and knocked his father's hand away. "She's not a lovely lady, she is a nuisance and she never left. She fell asleep a few hours ago,"

Nara-san chuckled loudly. "My boy is a man!"

"She fell asleep from boredom, Father... I'm guessing she came here expecting activity but alone found my life. Can someone come up and get her off my bed?"

"Let the girl sleep, Shika-kun," Yamanaka-san piped in with his own chuckle. "Trust me, you wake up Ino-chan and you're a dead man. That one is probably more dangerous though from what Akimichi-san told me about her battles with you and Ten-Ten-chan.

"If I do that I won't have anywhere to sleep though," opening his drink to took a slow sip.

"Shove her to the side, and wrap a blanket totally around you body. If you want I can bind the blanket to you then, that will guarantee she won't wake up and find you lying on her or touching her. This is a dangerous situation Shika-kun. Don't want to do anything to make her mad," Nara-san rolled his head back in laughed as Yamanaka-san laughed though a sip of sake.

Shikamaru sighed heavily once more..."Just tell me where mother keeps the guest bedding and mats. I'll just sleep on one of those,"

Nara-san chuckled once more as he poured himself a new cup. "Your mother through those out months ago, they were old and torn - looks like you have no choice Shika-kun, your sleeping with a woman tonight,"

"Why is this day becoming more troublesome by the minute?"

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Naruto yawned loudly as he pulled off his t-shirt, he slipped into bed. Sighing in content as he crawled deeper into the blankets he placed his hands behind his head.

"Two weeks.... I only have two weeks before the Chuunin Exams arrive. I hope I'm strong enough.... No, that's no way to talk Naruto... you are strong enough. You're the Sixth Hokage... none of them stand a chance..." Smiling to himself in satisfaction of his own pep talk, his eyes slowly closed.

"Naruto... you are weak...."

Burning eyes slid open in the darkness... the fire of a life long hatred. Unrivaled power...

"Hokage, huh? Don't have stupid dreams Naruto..."

As the black beads of the Sharingan pierced through the bright blood red eye it span slowly.

"I will have this power, and neither you nor anyone else will ever stop me... Uzumaki Naruto! DIE!"

"Naruto?"

Naruto sat up with a start as he panted heavily... sweat rolled down his face as he held his blankets tightly. A slight shiver rang through his body as the power of Kyubii responded to reflex to his fear... and the calm came as a gentle hand held his shoulder.
"Naruto.. Are you all right?"

"Sakura-chan?" A lone drop of sweat fell from his chin as Sakura sat beside his bed; her head lightly wiped his forehead.

"Is everything all right?" Her eyes looked over his face, filled with her own fear and worry. Their eyes met as Naruto's lips quivered to speak.

"Yeah... I'm fine... why are you here?"

"I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach... I could have sworn you were in trouble. I had to check," Her hand left his head and came to her other to fold in her lap.

"How'd you get in? What time is it?" Rubbing his eyes lightly, he saw the moon still high in the sky.

"It's about one right now... and it's easy to get in when you don't lock the door," She smiled weakly. "Naruto... do you really think we will make it through the exams this time?"

"Why wouldn't we?"

"It's just that, Hanabi.... She doesn't really seem like a team player if you know what I mean. And, we only have two weeks to work with her. We had nearly a year to spend with Sasuke before the spring exams took place. Without Sasuke-kun, who knows how far we can get this time? Can we really make it without him?" She sighed softly as her head lowered slowly, her hands forming into tight balled fists.

"If you mention him again, you have to leave.... You shouldn't even think about him Sakura-chan. He left us for Orochimaru... he turned his back of us, all of Konoha and everyone else. He isn't coming back, and he doesn't love you. Forget about him," Naruto's eyes fell to his own hands resting on his lap.

"How do I just forget? He is part of all of us, Naruto. After all we went through with him, training, Zabuza, Haku, the Exams, Gaara's demon...."

"That was all me, Sakura-chan!" A growl rose in his throat as his eyes squeezed back burning tears. "It was all me! You act like Sasuke was the big hero all the time, and it was me! I saved Sasuke from Haku; I rescued you guys from Orochimaru in the survival exam. I fought and defeated Gaara! Why does he get all the credit? I even brought Tsunade-sama back to the leaf for you all and I get nothing..."

Biting his lip softly he quickly wiped his eyes roughly with his forearm. Quickly, gentle lips met Naruto's as his arm fell. Leaning from the chair, she now sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry Naruto..."

His eyes rose with shock as Sakura sat beside him, his hands shook softly. "You kissed me...."

"I'm sorry Naruto... your right... I gave Sasuke all the credit when it was you," Her hand rose slowly, fingers gently lacing through his hair. "You've done more for us then he ever did... but I just glorified him for love. How can I repay you? For all the times I made fun of you, for never thanking you..." A slow tear fell from her cheek as she lowered her head, as if in shame for all she had done. She needed to hear those words, she knew those words, yet they never registered till now... Sasuke didn't love her - Sasuke wasn't a hero - Sasuke was nothing more then an exiled ninja now...

"Ramen... at Ichiruka?" He smiled lightly as he slowly yawned.

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Sighing lightly Shikamaru closed his bedroom door, looking to his bed once again to see the sleeping blonde hugging his pillow tightly. Lying down on the floor slowly he pulled his spare blanket from beneath his bed. Pulling off his jacket quickly he balled it up beneath his head, mumbling quietly. "Troublesome girl... taking my bed, coming over uninvited.... Making herself at home without even considering what trouble it may cause..."

Yawning lightly, he laid on his side, his back facing Temari as his shut his eyes tightly, looking to get to sleep as quickly as possible and end this troublesome day...

"Your first mission as a Chuunin, and because of him, it was a failure," Troublesome girl...

"You lost two members of your team, including my son" Akimichi-san... please...

"Because of him, Chouji is dead," Temari...

"You could have tarnished our name! Coming home after a failure like that!" Father...

"It's alright Shikamaru, they are gone but you did your best," Tsunade-sama...

"We'll bring Sasuke back alive, that's all that matters... he's not my friend but he is a comrade," I was so foolish...

"Instead of bringing Sasuke back, you left two behind. They died because you couldn't lead them Shikamaru - maybe should have never been promoted, you should still be a Genin then this wouldn't have happened" Ino-chan... It wasn't my fault...

"You never take anything seriously Shika-kun... how could they ever trust you with an A-Ranked mission like that?" I don't know Father..... I don't know...

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"Hanabi-chan, let's go to bed, it's late," Hyuuga-sama panted lightly as he took a cramped step onto the porch. Inside a single candle burned, allowing the two some light as they came in from their late night training. "Come, Hanabi-chan,"

Growling lightly with a fling of her wrist, a shuriken jammed the door shut. Not a drop of sweat on her face she stared to her father. "No... Let's train some more..."

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The sun rose and along with it came the heat of day. Shifting slightly under his blankets, Naruto through them from his body as he yawned widely. Rubbing his eyes lightly as sat up slowly... today, training began.

Slipping off the foot of his bed, he moved to his calendar, marking off the day as he pulled his shirt and undershorts off, moving to the bathroom. He scratched the back of his head roughly as another yawn approached.

"Naruto!"

A scream came from the bathroom as Naruto tumbled out, tripping over his own feet he fell against the table, grabbing his shorts quickly to cover himself. His face became a beet red as he closed his eyes tightly.

Sakura stepped out from the bathroom, towel wrapped tightly around her as she held it at her shoulder, eyes burning with fury. "Naruto! Don't you ever check to see if the bathroom is empty or not?!"

"It's my bathroom, why would I check?!" Kitsune eyes came into play with his argument as he stared directly at her face.

"Oh... yeah," This time it was Sakura's turn for cheeks to burn in embarrassment.

"Why are you still even here?"

"I fell asleep I guess... I was tired from studying and when I came to check on you I must have fallen asleep,"

"Okay, Okay - that explains that. But why are you naked in my bathroom?"

"I was washing up, why else would I be in here?! I probably smelled like you from being here all night," She smirked lightly as she turned back into the bathroom, closing the door.

"I don't smell!" Pulling on his undershorts, he stood, pounding on the door. "Sakura-chan! Get out of there, I have to go train!"

"With who? Are you leaving again to go with Jiraiya-sama? Or are you going to stay here with Kakashi-sensei, Hanabi-chan and I?" Running a brush quickly through her hair as she asked, she set it on the counter as she began to redress.

"I'm going with Ero-sennin,"

"Why? You say nothing but back things about him, why always go with him?"

"He's powerful... he always teaches me great techniques..."

"Kakashi-sensei knows powerful techniques also,"

"But all his techniques require the Sharingan... Sakura-chan. Kakashi-sensei is strong, but I think you should also find a new teacher... Kakashi-sensei hasn't taught us anything except how to wait for hours on end and not become bored,"

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"Ero-sennin!" Naruto grinned widely as he approached Jiraiya. Standing at the edge of town, near the falls Jiraiya awaited Naruto. "Ero-sennin! You need to teach me a new technique for the Chuunin Exams!"

He smirked lightly as he his hands slipped into his pockets, watching as the young boy skidded to a stop before him. "Naruto, I have already given you the power to summon and the Rasengan. Don't you think they will be enough to get you through the Exams?"

"No, no! Tsunade-sama told me that usage of A-ranked attacks are frowned upon in the Exams, it is overkill," His eyes sank suddenly as all energy left his body. "Please don't tell me you no longer have any techniques! Please Ero-sennin, I need more jutsu! Bushin no Jutsu can only take me so far!"

"Hehe... calm down Naruto! There is still plenty I can teach you. Here take this..." Smiling lightly Jiraiya reached into his pack, pulling from it a small fur paint brush, tossing it to Naruto.

"What's this for?" Holding the brush, kitsune eyes peered up at Jiraiya.

"That Naruto is the key to your training for the Exams,"

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Note: Well, it took three times as long as I thought it would to take to write this chapter, but it's finally done. Sorry to all of those who I made wait.

Next Chapter: Naruto's New Art! Kakashi-sensei Attacked?!