Morgri: I know I've been slacking off on this story, but I have a very good reason. Apart from working 30 hrs. per week, I have also begun what we call University. So it's been kind of tough for me actually write. However, I'm still very interested in my story, and will darn right continue. In fact, a new chapter should be up every other Saturday.

Note: For those who don't know where this story is going, I planned this to be a rather long fic. I won't be surprised if it reaches 30-35 or more chapters. You'll see the story line draw out in time. To make more sense, I will call them volumes. For instance, volume one might consist of chapters (or in this case episodes) 1-10. Then perhaps a smaller volume two will come out which will deal on things happening after the end of the "prologue" we had at volume one. After that – even though most likely the storyline will start drawing out – volume three will come out at be all about the real story line of this fic and will probably the longest of all the volumes. Finally, we will probably have volume four which will be a small maybe 3-4 chapter epilogue.

Also, I'm not sure I'm going to continue with first person unless it's Naruto who's being the first person. If a seen is without Naruto, I'll probably change it to third person, I'm not to sure. I can use this chapter as a test run, and you guys – in your comments – tell me what you think. Remember, you comments are helpful, so please comment

ON WITH THE STORY, DARNIT!

When Did You Change?
By Morgri
Episode 7: Challenges

The day was passing slow, too slow. Just yesterday most of the ninja's in the village were – by one way or another – informed about Naruto's upcoming battle to stay a genin. Cutting flowers with my best friend wasn't easy today.A couple of times I had poked myself with the sharp and rather large splinters that the roses had,drawing blood once or twice;but, it didn't bother me. Also, the moodthatSakura and I shared was rather grim, but okay nonetheless. At least it wasn't another one of those full-time eight hour schedules my parents had always given me. Luckily, they had let me off the hook today and given me only a four hour shift – from eight in the morning till noon.

Sakura had finally accepted that Naruto had forgiven her. It took countless hours of persuading her that he had, which annoyed me half to death and made me realize the reason she was called "forehead girl". That wasbecause you couldn't get anything in it! Nevertheless, I was happy that she and Naruto had made up; butI still wondered what she saw in Sasuke. That son of a bi – male dog's companion basically tore Naruto's dreams apart he didn't care much aboutSakura either. I'm not a Sasuke death hater or anything, but… he kind of deserved to almost be killed anyway. I didn't want to bring it up to Sakura, though.

Swallowing air, I let out a deep sigh. The sun was bright and shown threw the window, lighting the flowers. A few people entered the shop, others left. We are a pretty big business, being the one of the only ones in town and all. Most people were talking about Naruto; of course, not in the best way. I overheard manypeople say thatthey wanted Naruto to lose in shame. Shame on them, anyway! If I wasn't part of this shop I would have gone royal on their brains with my technique.

But alas, "I'm boooorrreeeeddd…!"

"Ino-chan!" Sakura whelped embarrassed because of the crowd now looking.

It didn't bother me. With the day as fresh as it was, and the extreme excitement that would soon begin, I wanted out. Of course, when we are in a situation like me, bad stuff seems to happen; bad stuff, really bad, like having to hear a baby cry all day, or parents bringing their bratty, crybaby kids into the mall, or dogs that don't give a crap so that's exactly what they do in your yard. Seriously though, waiting to get to Naruto's fight was bad enough, so, I mean, what could have gone worse other then waiting for this dreadful work shift to end?

"Two hours to go…"

"I'm really excited! Ino-chan!" Sakura muffled.

"About what, Naruto-kun?"

"Kun…?"

I looked toward the ground smiling, "He sorta deserves it…" I was referring to the honorary, of course, but my smile faded, "While I would love to see Naruto-kun win; don't you think it," I paused searching for words, "Might harm him more? Tsunade-sama did say that his heart was beyond repair, that doesn't sound to encouraging."

"Naruto can manage it, has he ever let himself down before?" Sakura seemed like she was encouraging herself and me at the same time. Her fading smile proved it. But I wondered, just how true was that statement?

"Well, there's no doubt about that. I mean she probably won't even attack him, but, what if he makes it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Then he'll enter the tournament, but no one will go soft of him there. They will kill him, Sakura-chan! Who knows what he'll be fighting, for all I know, it could be some crazed super genius like Gaara or something! What if Sasuke-kun joins the fight? Do you honestly think he could win?"

Sakura attempted torefute me, but she knew she couldn't. The girl had turned her head towards the floor. She was thinking. Probably about how she wanted Naruto-kun to do his best, but who would she cheer for if he did end up fighting Sasuke? I knew that she was loyal to Sasuke, there was no denying that, but – like in the gennin exams – she showed a lot of enthusiasm towards Naruto when he fought. She had made a mistake earlier by 'one-siding' herself with Sasuke a week or two ago, but I knew that in the end she had a deep place in her heart for the boy who was her friend. "Maybe… so…" she agreed.

We both fell silent after that.

Something always told me that my family was killed for a purpose. Killing my brother was supposed to my job; that was why I was put on this earth. I was so close too! Then Naruto waltzes in, acting like an idiot as always, and does what? Beats me? That's unacceptable. If I wanted to leave, I would leave. Couldn't anyone in this stupid village understand that? Why should I succumb to all of their pathetic wishes anyway? Or was I being selfish?

The curtains in my room caused the light to dance making weird shadows all around me. The television across from the counter was off; however, the neighbor's was far from un-audible. The sink from a room across me was on, but nonetheless it was quiet, apart from the beep-beep-beep that came from the machine which watched my heartbeat. It was the perfect scenario for the mood I was in. Dark, quiet, and eerie, ah, that was exactly what I was feeling. I'm sure anyone could relate! If they were beaten by that failure they would be the sam as me. What was there to look forward to now?

"Naruto…" I sneered.

Maybe he was right.

Thinking about what he said earlier consumed my every breath, it seemed. I ended his dreams? Which? The ones that would never come true, those ones stuck in his stupid brain? I cursed. Tearing the needles off my arm hurt, but I did it anyway. Curiosity filled me. My Hyuuga attack nearly killed the blonde haired bo – rat, and now he was going to try to defeat the legendary Sannin. Hmph, I wasn't going to miss this, it was an opportunity to see how much damage I actually did. If he never became a ninja again, it was fine with me. Not very friend like, huh? Well I didn't care. What kind of friend would have done this to me? Only Naruto.

I lifted myself off the bed and trudged miserably across the room to the closed door. The tile was cold to my feet, and the cool air stung my flesh. This was probably because I was rapped up in hot blankets for the past week. A weak pain surged through my foot after every step I took, probably because Naruto injured it after dragging me back to Konoha. I steered myself out the door and through the hospital; something told me… it wasn't the last time I would bring myself to fight Naruto. He was still my rival after all.

So I walked to the training ground.

The time had come. Today, my status as a genin – a ninja, would be restored. I was ready to get this started. I was ready to act. The sun shown at its highest point in the sky it would reach today. I had woken up at eight just anticipating this moment. This was to prove to everybody that I was a ninja. If I wasn't… how else wasIto getrecognized? This was much more then that, though. It was to fulfill a promise. Not to someone else, but to me. It was my way of the ninja. How would I ever become Hokage if I couldn't fulfill my own promise to myself?

But…

Touching Tsunade-nee-chan was supposed to be easy. She was slower then me, even though she was a Sannin, and she was also going to take it easy on me – well, I hoped anyway. Perhaps that meant she would have moved as slow as a Gennin which was, I knew, far below my level. Looking around, it seemed like quite a crowd was interested in me. Ino and Sakura were cheering me on while Sasuke just scoffed when he saw me look toward him. The shy Hinata turned red – for some reason, why? – And a couple of other genin, chuunin, and even some village people, stood watch behind the others.

I wasn't respected that much, I knew. Some of the village people started barking at Tsunade-baba for even letting me try to become a genin again; however, not because of my well-being, but because they thought I was dangerous. Ino and the rest shunned them, however. I was surprised to see Sakura punch one – while hopes for her being mine dwindled, it still seemed I had a chance. I wasn't sure if I would take it though, for Sasuke was much more of what she wanted, well, at least that's how I saw it.

My blood boiled though. I was excited; ready for battle. Taking action, I charged toward Tsunade ready to get this over with. Sprinting as fast as I could I lunged my hand towards her robe, nearly missing – she was off guard! Taking my chance with my limited taijutsu, I swung toward her feet with a small spin kick, but missed as she jumped over it. Trying to kick her while doing a back flip, I felt a weird tension build within me. I was on ground, and it hurt, but that wouldn't stop me.

With one hand on my chest, I lifted myself off the ground groaning. "C-crap, what happened?"

'Did she hit me? That can't be right, I didn't feel anything. Could it be…?' I looked toward my hand. It was an automatic reaction that it was holding my chest. Sure enough, I looked toward Tsunade in disgust. She looked worried, but didn't move. I was huffing; what was I to do? I could barely hold my breath. I heard Ino shout in concern along with Sakura. Other people where cheering; this discouraged me as well.

I was in no situation to complain. Shrugging off the pain, I threw a kunai towards Tsunade hoping she would move. The crowd cheered loud as she dodged, but I heard none of it – I charged her again. Being in a position to strike I threw a punch; first left then right. She dodged. Another punch; another dodge. A kick; a dodge. I was at a loss for words. Was my heart holding me back? Punch. Dodge. Spin kick. Dodge.

"Come on!" I shouted growing tired. I could feel my heart beat. Harder, harder, faster, slower. I heard shouts telling me to stop, that it wasn't worth it. What did they understand! This was my life; without being a ninja, what was I! A complete, worthless, 'dead last. I can't have that! Come Naruto. Snap out of it! Calm down, Calm down.' They were laughing at me, every last one of them. My chest wanted to explode; it burned and choked me like a house caught on fire. There was still a chance!

Chakra. Lot's of chakra… it was my only opportunity.

Spin! I looked at my hand. Rotating chakra burned the palm of my flesh; there was no need for a bunshin, it would just waste chakra. Spin! Faster! Faster! Rotate! Like Ero-Sennin taught me. Concentrate! Blue! I saw blue, swirling like a hurricane, full of power, full of strength, full of my hopes and dreams! Chakra leaking through my system – what little I had – for earlier I had learned that chakra had its limits, especially when one had a bad heart. They never told me this at the academy. The Chakra concentrates on the heart when it's week, therefore less is able to be used. Why? I had the Kyuubi in me! Chakra shouldn't have been a problem. Until they told me that the chakra's strength is directly related to my well-being. So, according to them, bad heart no Chakra.

I had managed however, to make the ball spin. My most powerful attack burned the palm of my hand, screeching, ready to ravage its path like a tornado. So was I! Taking my opportunity with the power that had been created and contained, I charged. Booming at a speed which tore the ground under me, I made contact with her.

No! I didn't connect! Wasted effort, rather, I felt myself leave the ground. The ground was rotating, and Sakura and Ino were fading in and out. Tsunada-nee-chan was approaching me, saying something at the same time. It was impossible to make up. The ground shook and cracked under my feet. Like an earthquake, the earth split. Unable to hold myself up, my body collapsed to its knees and soon my hands were the only of my possessions keeping my face off the ground. This wouldn't stop me! Struggling up from the ground I punched again. Dodge.

She had used her super human strength to break the ground under me. Something I knew she could do, but never had seen. She had lied, though. She attacked. That's why I fell… because there would have been no other way for me to fall if I wasn't attacked. This ticked me off a little.

"Tsunade!" I looked suprised, "You said you wouldn't attack!"

"I said I wouldn't attack you, I didn't say I wouldn't stop you from touching me."

"What?" I'll try again! Spin! Again! Rasengan, an F4 Tornado – a category five Hurricane ready to destroy all in its path skillfully played back and forth in my hand. I burned. My body burned, but I took it. I didn't care! My pupils became smaller, power rushed threw me. The kyuubi charged me up with energy, with intent to kill. I had lost myself. He took control, and I didn't want it to stop! My dreams! Hokage! I wouldn't lose, so I charged again. I created a bunshin which, in turn, created a fake rasengan. People backed away, they were truly scared. I had become what they feared and I didn't care!

Both of us charged in different directions. She couldn't dodge, there was no way! I would win! I could smell it!

BOOM! I connected… to a wall. She created a wall with chakra to shield herself?

I felt myself hit the floor. I was huffing hard. I could barely breath. "WHY! WHY! WHY!" I banged my fist against the floor. I clasped my heart. Had it stopped? MY huffs became gasps, and my vision blurred. I pushed myself to my knees with one hand, and turned my head toward the crowd. Ino and Sakura were being held back by Kakashi. I turned back. I had to lift myself. I had to go forward. My dreams! My promise! I never back away from my promise. I pushed myself up, I couldn't see anything ahead of me; the force that I hit the ground must have temporarily disrupted my vision. I put my hands in front of me. I felt something soft. What was it?

I collapsed…

"He's finally, waking!"

It sounded like Ino. My eyes blinked in and out adjusting to the well illuminated room. I saw two, three, no, four people starring at me. My breathing was steady, and I heard the continuous beeping of a machine next to me. Needles pierced various parts of my body, and my head hurt a little. I tried my hardest to lift myself, but was only pushed down by a mountain of four hands. The bed I was in had white sheets, and there was a television set that sat directly above and across me. The curtains were opened, apparently a bluish color. I felt a warm object fiddling with and holding my left hand. The other, I felt, was covered in bandages; probably because of the burns that the rasengan left on me.

I felt cold despite the despite sheets and covers that were designed to keep the warmth in. People were chatting in the hall, I could hear. Probably some registered nurses or doctors taking some poor soul to operate. It really didn't concern me, though. I was tired and wanted sleep, but the people surrounding me kept me awake, and I didn't like that.

"How are you doing, Naruto? For a while there, I thought your heart wouldn't start up again. You had us all scared." That was Shizuna-chan speaking, the voice was easily recognizable.

I was depressed however, in the end I had lost. Was there anything else to live for? Nothing mattered; not the needles in my arm, or the beeping of the machine, nor the bandages in my right hand. Not the patch on my heart, or the cold blue garments that clothed my person. Everything I yearned for seemed out of reach. It fled from me like it wanted to go. It was carried away the by the long arm of a river. 'Does it matter anymore' I thought about her words carefully. What was the point of waking anymore?

It was at this moment that I wondered if I could ever forgive Sasuke. What had he done to me? And who did I do it for! Sakura-chan? While I still cared for her deeply, I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it. Ever since I was I a young four year old, I had given up my happiness for the sake of others. How could the great God above have done this? Wasn't I ever to be rewarded? I guess in the end, and outcast is an outcast in everyone's eyes. Cause I sure was.

"Congratulations, Naruto," spoke Tsunade.

"What?" I wondered…

"Naruto, you idiot!" said Sakura, "Don't ever scare me like that again." She smiled sweetly. Her anger towards me had left. I guess… I was glad about that. However, like I said, what did really mattered anymore? She continued and I listened: "After that second Rasengan, Tsunade was scared that your heart had given up. When she saw you get up again after that, she froze. That's when you reached out your arm and touched her, Naruto. So, congrats! That doesn't' mean I'm still mad at you for doing something foolish!"

"I don't… understand…"

"Don't you get it, Naruto?" Sakura chanted

"You won!"

I lay stunned. I was speechless. Did she just say I won? Tears formed in my eyes. Impossible! There was no way I defeated her. She blocked every technique as if they were snowballs thrown from a five year old. I felt them, the tears. They rolled down my cheeks and fell on the sheets, and they wouldn't stop. I was sniffling. I was crying like a baby. I couldn't help myself, even though I realized… guys aren't supposed to cry. They all fell anyway, like rain they fell. I felt an embrace. It was the pink haired girl, I soaked her shirt instantly, but something else touched my forehead. Ino's lips. She kissed me… even if it was just on the forehead. Except for Tsunade-dono, no one had ever kissed me before, especially not a young girl…

Perhaps, the God above did care about even people like me. So the tears fell, and I was at a loss for words, but the funny thing was; it was okay.

Notes: I'm keeping the pairing idea way open, but that because this is a long story. However, I have a good idea of which it will, but you won't know the final couple until around chapters 20+;however, that does mean that Naruto might get to have fun with a lot of girls… if I decide that happens.

Also, guys, the storyline will get a lot more serious during the following chapters, and you'll see why. I think this chapter has turned out to be one of my best, though; but guys, it will keep getting better and better. So please read and review. By review – while it's okay to send a helpful "Great story" once in a while – I mean tell me what you think can help me write this story better and make it more fun for the audience to read.

Well, till two weeks, Ta ta!