By: Uzukagegan

Rating: T

Genre: Action/Adventure/Romance

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Summary: Naruto's just been told that he is leaving for three years. But Wait! The Chuunin Exams have been rescheduled for a month from now. Looks like leaving will have to wait. But the rules have been changed, and Naruto gets a little surprise!

Ch 2 summary: Well Naruto and Hinata start training. Sorry if theres not much action, but consider this as a "filler until the exams start. I plan for the next chapter to be orientation and the beginning of the first exam.

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Pitted- Chapter 2: Partners?

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-----The Blizzard appeared of a sudden, calm one second, and then it was just… there… And out of the flurry of snow stepped a very evil-looking man. He had bright red eyes and his charka burned bright white. He looked at Hinata, and narrowed his gaze. He reached for his Kunai holster and pulled out 5 needles in each hand. He enveloped his divine charka around the needles, melting their outer metal surface to reveal a fiery orange knife-shaped weapon inside. He ferociously threw his blazing needles at the poor, defenseless girl, when suddenly- out of nowhere leaps a certain orange-clad ninja. "Naruto-kun!" shouts Hinata for joy. "I'm here, Hinata-chan." Naruto's soothing voice comforts her. Naruto then whips out Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, utterly surprising the creepy shinobi. "U-zu-ma-ki NARUTO COMBO!" The victim of Naruto combo is sent flying in the other direction, and just as Naruto runs to help Hinata up…------ BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEE…

"Ohhh… Naruto-kun… Oh well." I better get dressed. Naruto-kun has agreed to meet me out on the training grounds. It's going to be a very busy month, I presume…

Outside

"Hello, Neji-niisan."

"Hm, Hinata-sama... Oh, Wait! Are you, by chance, heading out to train, Hinata?"

"Why yes, Neji, after I train, I wish to meet Naruto and get acquainted. Then we'll eat lunch, then afterwards train a little bit, then head home. Why?"

"Well, if you meet Lee and Tenten, tell them I cannot train today, as I have many things to do. Tell him I will be available for some training."

"Yes, brother."

Streets of Konoha

-Hinata sits on a bench in front of Naruto's apartment, because she knows Naruto goes this way when he goes out for the day-

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"Ahh, time for a morning snack. What's for breakfast, Ramen, or Ramen? Heehee!"

Naruto gets his daily supplement of 5 bowls of Instant Ramen, and soon after dawns his usual worn, orange jacket and pants.

"YAHAHOO! Let's go train! I'm ready! And once I'm a Chuunin, I'll train even harder, become even stronger, and I'll be HOKAGE! YEAH!"

A light-speed Naruto blazed to his door and prepared to leap off the balcony and sprint all the way to the training field, but there happened to be a dark-haired shy girl standing at the door. (No, it didn't turn out well.)

Naruto flung his door open into a stuttering Hinata. "Uh… N-Naruto-kun? AHHH!" Hinata was propelled about three roofs over, much to an oblivious, hardheaded Naruto…

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-About 1 hour later, at the training field…-

"Ohhhhh..uhhh ohhuh Narutohhhhhh…. faint"

"Hinata? You look exhausted. And injured! What happened? Hinata? HinatA? HINata? HinATA?"

Naruto poked and prodded at Hinata, who was down and out from fatigue.

-A couple minutes later, in the shade of a tree. Still at the training field-

"…Uhhh Naruto-kun? Where am I?"

"Uhhh, the training field. So! Are you up for some training?"

"U-Umm sure, N-Naruto-kun. Just let me stretch… Did he care for me this entire time?

"ALRIGHT! Let me help you up! Let's go stretch!"

"Um, Um... O-Okay!"

"Shadow Clone Jutsu! Ok, Hinata! I presume your main focus is on Taijutsu. In order to strengthen that, we've got to cover your weaknesses first! So no Byakugan!"

"Um, Okay!"

"First, you have to learn more advanced Ninjutsu! For starters, let's try… um… Wait! What if I taught you the summoning technique?"

"Wow, N-Naruto-kun! Really? Sure!"

"Alright. This Jutsu, using a contract, Seal, and the your blood, binds an animal to you. The type of animal is determined by the contract and Seal you perform. The blood is used as a signature to make the contract, which can be written on a scroll or tattoo, complete. Once bound, the animal can be summoned to perform a task or help you in battle."

"Wow, Naruto-kun! Thanks! Whoa, when did he get so strong? Jiraiya-sama must be a really strong Sannin"

"Ok. The first part takes getting used to. You must bite your thumb with such force as to draw a little blood. Not much is needed. Then slam your hand on the ground and with enough willpower and focus, you can summon successfully. But first, let's go eat! I'm getting hungry! And once you master it, we can spar and maybe use summoning against each other!"

-Naruto does the One-handed neck scratch-

"U-Um, O-O-O-Okay"

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BACK AT THE TRAINING FIELD

"Ok. Bite my thumb like this, right?"

-Bites thumb-

"Ow!"

"Hinata? Are you okay? You don't have to bite so hard! Here, lemme see!

-Checks thumb-

"Well, it's a little much, but I think you'll be fine, Hinata!"

"T-Thanks, Naruto-kun!"

"So now, just slam your hand on the ground and maintain your focus. It helps me to focus on a dream or something I really care about. Maybe something that makes me REALLY mad! Why don't you try?

-Hinata slams her hand down. Summoning seal appears on the ground-

Something I care about. A dream. Something that makes me mad… My dream: TO be accepted as Hyuuga heir and to be seen as strong in my father's eye's. In Neji-s eyes. In… Naruto's eyes… Something that makes me mad: When people are mean to Naruto-kun. When I can't have confidence like Naruto-kun. WHEN PEOPLE UNDERESTIMATE MY NARUTO-KUN AND ME! Something… I… care about… Naruto-kun. I won't give up until you see me as strong in your eyes…

"SUMMONING JUTSU!"