Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-author and beta: Etheral-23

Chapter 19: Prelims Act 0 'The prelims roll in'

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"So the exam won't re-start till the after the following two days." Samui's words more of a statement than question as she stood by the open door of her team's room with Konoha ANBU standing at the threshold. Inside said room Yugito, Karui, and Omoi absently listened while cleaning their gear.

The ANBU wearing a raccoon mask nodded; "On account of the events in the forest your team was caught up in, we felt best to hold the exam until all variables were tended to." Make sure a certain snake was not around causing more trouble than he has already.

The buxom teenage blond nodded; "Understood Rakūn-san, thank you for keeping us in the loop."

Giving a small bow the ANBU vanished via shunshin. The sole chunin in the room sat down in a chair looking towards her fellow blond; "We have to inform the Raikage about… that." the late teen said obviously referring to Naruto Uzumaki's status as Jinchurriki and parentage.

How exactly their Raikage will take it is unknown, but at the very least they know it won't be like the Sandaime Tsuchikage's warpath if he ever learns of it.

"I know, I know," the Nibi Jinchuuriki sighed; "A-sama will likely shout so loud glass will shatter and break his desk… again. If anything he'll just want to keep tabs on Naruto. See how much of a threat he is or could possibly become."

Yugito really did not like speaking about someone she came to respect. But given her village's militaristic nature and colored past with Konoha, A-sama would want every detail on the son of the man he considered a rival.

'If worse comes to worse and Raikage-Sama orders to kill Naruto…' Yugito's thoughts strayed; 'I really don't want to fight a fellow jinchuuriki.' Especially one that's she was growing fond of, might even call friend…

But orders were orders.

Matatabi shook her head; "Let's hope it never comes to that kitten."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kushina's eyes were wide as she sat as still as a statue on the bed. At her side Kakashi and Yugao weren't faring much better as they felt a knot pull in their stomachs, shock was etched on their faces. Jiraiya said nothing as he glared out the window, Hiruzen exhaled a long breathe as he lowered his hat. There, he did it; he had just revealed the awful and horrifying truth of the Uchiha massacre.

The silence was so strong one could hear a pin drop from a mile away. And when it was finally broken, the next words felt like rumbling thunder in the quite room.

"Oh my gods" Yugao whispered. Horrified did not even began to explain how she felt.

Kakashi let out a strangled noise as his breathing became very loud. Images flashed across his mind in quick succession, that of a young and very promising shinobi who joined the ANBU at a very tender age for their line of work. Pieces felt into place, forming a clear picture where once there were only inconsistencies and little reason behind the terrible events of that night.

There was always something that didn't fit. Itachi's actions had been very out of place, and the situation at the time, the discomfort the Uchiha felt before the suspicions of the Kyuubi attack. The elements of the clan that were distancing more and more from the village.

A coup. Heavens have mercy; the Uchiha had been planning a coup.

And Itachi, who remained loyal to village, took on an impossible task and shouldered the sins of his clan behind a veil of lies and blood.

Kakashi turned to look at Kushina; he could barely see her eyes as her head was now bowed forward, shadowing them. Her body began trembling, teeth gnashed together as they held back a wail of despair she would not let out. Bitter tears streamed down her face as she violently shook.

Images flashed in mind; when she first met Mikoto in the academy, becoming friends and teammates in the same squad under Sakumo-sensei. Mikoto's smile when she became pregnant with her first son Itachi. Seeing him a day after he was born. The shy little boy that always called her aunt Kushina.

Blood dripped from the redhead's from biting her lip so hard before she let out a scream full of pain and sorrow. Her hand hands covered her face as she muffled the screaming. 'DAMN YOU FUGAKU! DAMN YOU AND THOSE FUCKING ELDERS TO THE FURTHEST DEPTHS OF HELL!' Her mind roared with pure hate and venom. Yugao kept close to her teacher, trying to provide as little comfort as she could

"Why wasn't I told at the time?" Kakashi felt a tinge of calm fury in his tone as he glared hard at the Hokage. After all the years as one of the village's most loyal and best operatives, his position in the ANBU back then, he felt he should have been informed. Now more than ever that Sasuke was his responsibility as part of his squad.

"Because Itachi had requested it to me as such. He made the choice the bear the hate of the village to hide the treachery of his clan. So his brother would be spared from being outcast. Had I told you would things had been any different?" Hiruzen responded in a steely tone glaring back.

"Mikoto-sama would never have been a part of that," Yugao countered with resolution in her voice.

Jiraiya let out a sigh; "She put on a better front than I thought." The old Sannin glanced to the ANBU woman; "Mikoto was suffering from strong bouts of depression, due to a certain event that fucked up the lives of the people within this room. She put on a brave face in front of her kids, and Naruto when visiting him or outside the Uchiha compound. But I and sensei could tell she was in pain."

Mikoto had been one of the strongest shinobi they knew, but she had always been subservient to her clan. Educated from a young age to remain loyal. After that tragic night, there was little that tied her to the village. She must have just gone along with it, seeing no other choice for her because that was the will of the clan.

Kushina held her hand close to her chest, trying to hold pack the tidal wave of pain coming from it. Mikoto always deserved better than what she got, but in the end the chains of her clan bound her throughout her entire life.

"I tried to resolve things peacefully but they escalated too fast. I've fought alongside many Uchiha" Hiruzen said mournfully. "I know for a fact they were people of courage and determination, valuable members of this village. But... they are not the most stable people mentally when faced with trauma. They awakening of their Sharingan and its stages only makes it worse; it releases chemicals on the brain that affect their behavior and thought process. They are prone to paranoia and in worst cases psychosis"

Jiraiya put his hands on Kushina's shaking shoulders, trying to comfort her. "I'm sorry Kushina, we should have tried harder. What happened to the Uchiha, to Mikoto, Itachi and Sasuke, that's our failure"

Kushina raised her head; "The only failure is Fugaku and those elders," she seethed with absolute rage in her voice. She never like Fugaku or the Uchiha clan elders as long as she could remember. The only good things that rat-bastard husband of Mi-Chan ever did was give her friend two sons. Those were the only things she would ever acknowledge as a positive.

The redhead slowly attempted to calm herself as she barely steadied her breathing. Her rage turning into numbness as she gazed at nowhere in particular. "Where is Itachi?"

"Working as a double agent for me, he infiltrated an organization that's been on the rise for some time now," Hiruzen blew out some smoke from his newly lit pipe. He needed the smoke to calm his nerves.

"...And Sasuke?"

"He doesn't know the truth, as far as he knows Itachi went crazy and killed everyone in the Uchiha," Jiraiya bluntly stated.

The rage returned in full. "That's bullshit!" Kushina screamed at the Gama Sannin.

"Should we tell him that his entire clan wanted to take over the village and would have caused the lives of innocent people?!" Jiraiya yelled back.

"So making his entire life a lie is better?!"

"Enough!" Having had enough, the Hokage ordered them to calm down. "Both of you, this is not helping. Kushina" He turned his gaze to the Uzumaki. "I need you to keep this secret"

"Like hell I will!" Protocol, orders, long years of ANBU training and experience with cover ups left her mind. She couldn't tolerate this atrocity.

Hiruzen rubbed his eyes, fighting back the growing headache. "Kushina, Sasuke is not... well" It was a dirty tactic, but he knew Kushina would relent if he brought up Mikoto's son. "I've seen it in his eyes for a long time now, the boy is broken. He needs help, help he refuses to accept. We've tried to do a damage control so he won't go down the road many of his kin took... But his thoughts are filled with hatred and vengeance for the brother who sacrificed everything and did horrible things to him just to protect him. If he finds out the truth, that all his life has been a lie, the real reason as to why his clan died, then you will shatter any semblance of sanity left in him"

The Uzumaki woman froze as her sudden anger ebbed away in an instant. Mikoto's youngest was in pain. Her best friend's son needed help, as much as it was a bitter pill to swallow to hide the truth. Kushina wiped away the tears from her eyes and blood from her mouth; "guess I have two sons to worry about," she whispered. "I won't say a word. I love you old man but you're a real bastard some times."

Sarutobi only nodded in agreement. As he saw the begrudging nods from Kakashi and Yugao in keeping quiet as well. There were days he really hated his job.

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After the boys got their showers and fresh clothes, per their female teammate's request/order. Naruto was excited, FAR too excited in Sasuke's and Sakura's opinion. The blonde's attitude had been turned up to eleven as he proceeded to guide them through the corridors of the forest tower with the largest smile on his face. The fact he still did not tell them what was so important was beginning to wear thin on their patience.

"Naruto, who is this person you want us to meet?" Sakura tried asking him again.

"I'll tell you when we get there~"

The pinkette sighed. "Give it a rest Sakura" Sasuke advised. "You won't change his mind"

'Well as least he's in a good mood if nothing else,' the rosette mentally mused. On that she was quite happy to see.

Hoofing up through the corridor, the trio reaches reach the medical wing which got Sasuke attention upon seeing ANBU openly standing guard. The blond gave a quick salute to masked Shinobi who gave a slight nod in return. They were silently glad the kids did not get here earlier with all the screaming.

They were greeted with the sight of their village leader standing a few feet away from a pair of doors. "Ah, here you kids are" He said, clearly expecting them.

"Hokage-sama?" Sakura voiced in confusion. "What's going on? Naruto wouldn't tell us much"

The Hokage let out a soft laugh; "Yes, I imagine so" He approached the blonde and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Listen, right now she's in a... delicate state at the moment. We had to inform her about friends of her who passed away"

The other two members of team 7 shared a look. Who was this 'she'?

"Ah" Naruto's gaze became downcast for a moment.

"You should go in. Seeing you will do her good"

Nodding the blond opens the doors now seeing Ero-Sennin in the room, seeing the redheaded woman was rubbing her face with her hands; "Mom?" Both Sakura and Sasuke looked wide eyed at each other than to the Hokage.

The elderly Shinobi grunted; "It's been a strange few days."

Kushina sniffed, lifting her head showing how puffy her eyes were from crying; "Hey sochi," her voice horse, cracked. She tried to smile, which did not reach her eyes.

Walking over to the bed the blond looked over to Yugao and Kakashi who sat back in their chairs giving a nod to him. He was picked up by a chain and brought onto the bed where his mom gave him a hug. He hugged back; "You okay mom?"

Kushina was quiet for a minute; "I'll be in a while."

Letting go, the blond looked over to Jiraiya; "Why are you here Ero-Sennin?"

The Toad sage deadpanned while getting light snort/giggle from the Uzu woman; "I told you not to call that brat."

"I'll stop calling you that when you stop peeking on the girls at the hot-springs." Naruto snarked back.

"Um, excuse me" Sakura politely called for their attention, and it was then that the others remembered that they had two new guests in the room. "I don't mean to be rude, but could you kindly tell us WHAT THE HELL IS GOING?!" She screeched.

Mom? Mom?! Did Naruto actually call this woman 'mom'?! What new spore of madness was this?!

Sasuke, while far more composed, could not stop the incredulity from becoming obvious on his expressions. "Yeah, I'm with her on that one. A little clarification would be nice"

Naruto pretty much hopped in place with a beaming smile; "This is my mom!"

"...A bit MORE clarification please"

The redhead for her part could not stop staring at the Uchiha, something the boy noticed and was becoming increasingly unnerving for him. The way he looked at him with such... nostalgia and disbelief.

"Wow" The woman muttered. "S-Sorry, it's just that... last time I saw you, you were barely a few months old"

Blinking the Uchiha looked at Naruto again; "Explain please..." He stressed through nearly gritting teeth.

"Short version;" Kakashi lifted a finger in a chipper tone; "Kushina-Sama survived via a powerful scroll made by the legendary goddess of Fūinjutsu Tsukiko Uzumaki. She was in a sort of healing stasis frozen in time for twelve years. She was finally unsealed the other day."

What followed was the most uncomfortable silence the two young genin ever experience, which lasted for a good two minutes before Sakura looked right to Naruto; "Are we in wonderland?" The rosette meekly asked.

Kushina blinks looking at Sakura long enough to make the rosette uncomfortable; "Sweetie is your father named Kizashi Haruno?"

"U-um. Yes ma'am?"

The redhead beams; "Which makes your mother Mebuki-chan! So that shop of theirs paid off after quitting being ninjas! How are they?!"

"Um" Sakura stammered as she awkwardly stared at the rather excitable woman whose smile was uncomfortably similar to Naruto's. "It-It's going well... I'm sorry this is all so very strange"

"Yeah, I guess it is isn't it?" Kushina asked rhetorically as she scratched her neck (again, in a manner that was just so similar to Naruto) "Let's start over shall we?" She cleared her throat. "Nice to meet you. My name's Kushina Uzumaki, born in Uzushio and all around badass"

Now with a proper introduction, Sakura could feel that some semblance of sense was stablished. "I'm Sakura Haruno" She greeted back with a short bow.

Reigning in her emotions as she shifted her gazed back to Sasuke. 'Gods he looks so much like Mi-Chan.' but mostly she focused on his eyes; "You really have Mi-Chan's eyes."

Stiffening for second, but keeping his cool, the Uchiha spoke; "So you did know my mother?"

Kushina nods; "She was my best friend since the academy. Hell she was my teammate in our genin squad." The redhead smirked (in a VERY Naruto-like fashion); "She was total badass, being creative with her Fire element and kenjutsu."

That caught more of Sasuke's; his mother had never really spoken much about her Shinobi days. "Oh, always thinking about other people. Too much on them and never enough on herself I always said" Her smile grew dim, slowly vanishing from her lips. "I uh... I heard what happened to her" Her voice was barely above a whisper, thick emotion, melancholy and sadness. "Gods, I loved her... I am so sorry" She put remarkable resolve at holding back the tears from spilling once more.

The air in the room grew weary. Nobody said a word for a moment.

"...She sometimes would mention you" Sasuke finally spoke, his eyes wouldn't meet hers. "Sounds like you two were close friends"

"...If you want, I could tell you about your mom during her shinobi days?"

Finally Sasuke looked up to her, not saying a word before nodding; "I'd... I'd like that."

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"-so I took the servants' clothing so Mikoto and me could disguise ourselves. When I gave her the clothes she just gave me this weird look and told me; 'Why don't we just us henge?' Annnnnd she made me feel like a complete moron for having forgotten that. Boy was she the smart one in the team"

The genin and the other two adults in the room expressed their enjoyment of the tale each in their own way. Kakashi and Yugao had heard it before, but Kushina being present to tell it once more was a very refreshing feeling. Naruto for his part laughed with a toothy grin, Sakura for her part giggled behind her hand. Sasuke only let out a soft snort, which for the Uchiha was already a great expression of his feelings.

Hearing this woman remembers his mother so fondly was... nice, he would admit. To have someone else remember his mother, someone who could share their memories of her in such an away. It was comforting, made him feel relieved in a way. That there were people who still remembered her.

"I'm serious! Mi-chan always knew the right thing to say and do! She saw things that went right over my head"

Kakashi chuckled with his typical eye smile; "Only because you don't apply common sense to your plans, Kushina-sama"

"Oh screw you..."

Hard to believe two days had come and gone as the Uzumaki woman had been sharing all kinds of stories with her son and his team who told a few of their own. Kushina just gawked; "That stupid cat is STILL alive?!" Her head shifted to her student and late husband's student. "I told Jiji that thing was a Nekomata. Buuuut no it's the Daimyo's wife's favorite little kitty, we can't kill it..."

Kakashi chuckled weakly; "I'm just glad my team finally figured out how to capture him."

"Guess someone got the scratching?" Sakura pointed to both Naruto and Sasuke who both glared at the rosette upon Kushina's question. "Sounds like Obito and Kakashi," The silver haired jounin slumped his head earning a giggle from Yugao.

"Everyone having fun I see," Jiraiya walked into the room with some breakfast for everybody. He sweatdropped seeing both Naruto and Kushina drooling at the sight of their respected bowls of ramen. 'Yeah we know who the brat took after.' "Well you kids eat up and get ready for the prelims since it starts in a bit"

Thankfully before leaving, Hiruzen explained what was going to happen when the exams finally restarted, for which Kushina filled some details.

"You kids can draw lots of good info on potential opponents by watching them fight" The redhead advised. "Only good thing you can get whenever there's the need to have prelims. Otherwise they just make the exam longer than they're supposed to be"

"And this year, it's gotten even more complicated" Jiraiya grumbled in reply.

"Ugh, yeah. I heard" Kushina said in disgust, her eyes gaining an edge to them. "Orochimaru, that snake... He's planning something you know? He has to be"

"We're not dumb, girl. He must have something up his sleeve" The Toad Sage agreed. "He wouldn't have taken the risk of infiltrating just to kidnap ninja; it'd be easier for him to ambush them when they're away on missions. He has something in mind, something that requires his personal presence... I don't like this one bit"

Kushina deadpans; "He's after my son and Mi-Chan's son. Bad enough he put that cursed thing on Sasuke but wants to do it to Naruto if he gets the chance. That bastard tries getting near my son or Sasuke I'll skin him alive and make a purse out of him 'ttebane!"

"Not while you're recovering. Till then I'll keep an eye on the boys," Jiraiya said leaving no room to retort. "And until its then business as usual."

The redhead groans before devouring her salted ramen. Literally, she emptied it in what had to be one gulp, leaving Sakura and Sasuke to gawk, 'SHE'S WORSE THAN NARUTO!'

Kakashi sighed as he stood up from his chair; "Well I guess we better get ready." He looked to his Genin who finished their breakfast. "Let's get to it shall we?"

"Hmmmmm" Kushina grumbled from her place on the bed. "Hmmmmm!" She grumbled louder, trying to make as much a scandal as possible.

Yugao sighed; "Is something wrong sensei?"

"I don' wanna stay here, I wanna watch the matches!"

Kakashi drawled. "Doctor's orders Kushina-sama, don't act like a child"

"You're a child!" She threw an accusing finger at him.

"I'll get a TV linked to a camera on the arena for you" The ANBU quickly assured her. "Will you stay here then?"

Kushina beamed at her. "And that's way you're my favorite student!"

"I'm your only student" The unlucky one who got roped with the woman-child, she sometimes thought.

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Naruto gazed around the arena built at the base of the tower. It was HUGE, with large hands forming a seal carved out of stone at the front. Two balconies on the second floor for people to watch the fights one either side connected by stairs to the first floor. The blond grinned seeing his fellow Konoha graduated class all present, if not a bit worse for wear.

The blond gave a small quick wave over to Kumo and Kiri with Yugito giving the thumbs up and Haku smiling back. Looking forward he saw jiji with the Jounin sensei of the genin teams, the proctors of the first and second exams, along with Jiraiya standing on a stone platform in front of the carved hands.

"I bid you all welcome," Hiruzen spoke in authoritative tone. "I am glad to see a fair number of you endured the hardships of the forest and made it to the tower."

"So is this the third exam Hokage-Sama?" Kiba spoke up bluntly with Akamaru barking on his head. Kurenai breathed out a light sigh beside a chuckling Asuma.

"I'm afraid that's not the case" Hiruzen tried not to smile too much when he heard the hushed and groans whispers of disappointment and exhaustion. "You see, the number of applicants who made it out is larger than we anticipated, so we will need thin the herd so to say"

The examinees liked less and less where this was going.

"So for that, we shall be hosting a prelim exam. Those who win shall pass unto the third and final stage of the exam a month from now. Those who lose shall be disqualified and will need to apply for the next exams in two years"

Most of the genin grimaced, yet obstacle to overcome in order to reach their goal. Some welcomed the chance of further testing their skills, yet others looked like they were eager at the chance of fighting for its own sake.

"The fights shall me arranged the same way we arrange them for the third exam. One on one chosen at random"

One of the large blue segments behind the hand statue lifted revealing a monitor; "The names will be brought up on here."

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"OH is that Tsume's boy?!" Kushina gushed watching a large screen television brought in by the ANBU and linked to the arena. Yugao sighed watching her sensei trying to see the kids of her old friends in the arena.

"Kiba Inuzuka," Yugao clarified as the Hokage was speaking to the Genin. "He graduated with Naruto."

"Hmm, he definitely takes after his mom. Hana-chan got the better looks out of the two I'd say" Not that she'd say that to Tsume's face. "So how's their father?"

"...He ran out on them..." Yugao lightly shifted recalling an angry Tsume storming through village looking for the good for nothing.

Kushina deadpans; "Well he's a lousy motherfucker." In seconds the redhead's mood shifted seeing Kiba's team; "I know a Hyuuga from a mile away. Hisashi's?"

"Indeed" Yugao nodded.

"Knew it, girl has Hitomi's hair color" Another friend who passed away in her absence, she tried not to think about it right now, so she ignored the pang of pain in her chest. "Goodness, look at her squirm. She looks shy as a mouse"

"Hinata-san has some... confidence issues from what Kurenai-san says. She's trying to help her with that"

"A shy Hyuuga" She mused. "Well, guess there is all kinds" One look at the last member of the team. "Who's the mini-Shibi?"

The ANBU chuckled in response. "Shibi-dono's son actually, Shino"

"Man, these Aburame. Can never tell them apart with them always hiding their faces..."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

As Hiruzen finished explaining the reason behind the exams and man in a standard Konoha uniform with his Hitai-ate wrapped on his head like a bandanna appeared via shunshin. He was bowing to the village leader as he lightly coughed; "Hokage-sama, may I take over from here?"

Sarutobi gave a nod as the man stood turning to face the Genin; "My name is (cough) Hayate Gekkō. I shall be the proctor of the preliminaries (Cough)."

'Should he be even out of bed?' Naruto and Sakura thought in unison seeing the dark circles under the proctor's eyes, never mind light paleness of his skin. Not to mention the constant coughing he was doing every few minutes.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Kushina squinted very much like her son; "Is that guy gonna make it through the preliminaries? He should be in bed, not me." She soon noticed the awkward silence and looks from Yugao; "What?"

"...That's my boyfriend..."

The Uzumaki stared at her, then at the man on the screen, then at her again. All the while Yugao squirmed under her gaze.

"Nooooooo" Kushina slowly said, shaking her head incredulously.

"Yes..."

"Nooooooo" She retorted stronger than before. "Ugh, really Yugao? Really? He looks as lively as a corpse!"

"He is very sweet" The ANBU defended him.

"He is very sick, that's what he is. I'm not gonna question your taste in men... No fuck it, I'm gonna question your taste in men. I know this sounds hypocritical from the woman who married a Nancy boy, but at least he became handsome and less girlie as he grew older. This guy's looks like a soft wind could knock him over"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

"Before we (cough) begin the preliminaries is there anyone who wishes to back out? If you wish stop from going further in the exam you may do so now."

By the looks from the young Shinobi none showed they wanted go anywhere till one hand rose up; "Actually I like to drop out if that's okay?" Kabuto spoke up looking rather disheveled from his time in the forest.

Anko pulled out a clipboard and pencil; "Kabuto Yakushi."

Being close to the elder team, Sakura looked over Kabuto; "Are you okay?"

The glasses wearing teen gave a weak smile; "Not really. That forest wore me out more than I liked. Even with the extra day I'm not feeling up for fighting." As he heard the Jounin telling him to leave he gave a small bow and turned.

After few steps his wrist was grabbed by one of his teammates. a teen wearing a high-collared, sleeveless, a purple shirt short-sleeved, with one white one underneath, an obi around his waist, purple pants, blue sandals and purple fingerless gloves. A mask cloth covered his mouth while his Hite-Ate covered his head; "What are you up to Kabuto?" Yoroi Akadō whispered.

"Nothing at all," Kabuto whispered back, "Have fun." Freeing his wrist he walked away; 'No need to let the real me out on a bunch Genin. Have fun Sasuke and Naruto...'

Crossing his arms Jiraiya titled his head some; "Yakushi... I've heard that name before."

"That's Nonō Yakushi's adopted son I believe," Hiruzen tipped his hat, "that was the orphan boy she found in that destroy village years ago."

"Wait, wasn't she the one-?"

"The boy doesn't follow in her footsteps" The Hokage sternly said. "Danzo tried to have him act as a plant in the other villages, but was given to the village corps eventually. Since then he's been an active shinobi of our forces"

"Ah, I see" Jiraiya muttered. "Hmm, I worry about his future considering his history"

"Psychological evaluations don't hint at anything wrong, in a way he continues working as intelligence gathering. The info he gathers for the exams can be valuable"

"Let's hope he doesn't end up like his mother..."

"I feel sympathy for the boy, but I'm not in liberty of discarding assets to the village. Not in these times"

Jiraiya ruefully snorted; "'These times' have been going on for decades"

Lightly coughing, Hayate spoke up; "If no one else wants to back out, let's begin."

All eyes when to the wall monitor as two names appear. Sasuke Uchiha vs Yoroi Akadō. The Uchiha narrowed his eyes while Yoroi grunted, "Will everyone else please go to the second floor balconies except the named Genin?"

"You'd better win teme," Naruto smirked.

"Count on it Naruto," Sasuke smirked competitively right back; "Cause I'll be facing you in the 3rd exam."

Sakura just rolled her eyes before dragging her blond friend/teammate away. Arriving on the balcony their respected Jounin appeared beside their genin teams. Kakashi brightly waved at Zabuza whose Kiri team was close to his; "Yo!"

The swordsman rolled his eyes; "Kakashi..."

"Sup guys!" Naruto grinned to Haku and her team and waved to Yugito as her team came over.

Karui gave the blond a long look; "You look... different." She couldn't quite place it, but the blond seemed brighter.

"Just a few good days," Naruto said cryptically as he grinned. He soon blushed a storm as a young blond curvaceous woman at least four or five years older than him with a lighter shade of blue eyes than his walk over. Wearing a very low-cut outfit which displays her impressive bust, with mesh armor underneath, a short skirt and red hand guards, high boots. Her Kumo flak jacket being worn like griddle, Naruto blushes a bit more as she stands in front him; "Samui, you're Naruto Uzumaki I presume."

The young Uzumaki's mouth moves a bit before being lightly smacked on-top of the head by Yugito; "Uh yeah..."

"I'm the chunin substitute for my team from Kumo. Please to meet you."

'Don't look at her breasts' Naruto chanted to himself. 'Whatever you do, don't look at her breasts. Be better than Ero-sennin' on the arena, Jiraiya sneezed. Naruto coughed and focused on her very unimpressed eyes. "N-Nice to meet you, this is my teammate Sakura Haruno and Kakashi-"

"Hatake" Samui finished for him, surprising him. "Yeah, Kumo is familiar with him. We have standing orders regarding you, you know?"

"Oh" Team 7's sensei eye smiled cheerfully. "Is that right?"

"'If able, kill him and take his eye'" She coolly quoted, making the Kumo genin wince and Kakashi's students look at her with wide eyes.

'She has NO chill!' Sakura thought exasperated. Which was a rather ironic statement considering her frosty demeanor. A sentiment shared by her blonde teammate.

Kakashi, much to their surprise, chuckled. "Yep. Sounds about right"

Apparently he was far too used to people wanting him dead. This was more disturbing for Naruto and Sakura.

"Relax, obviously those orders aren't held during times for the exams. Keep the peace and all that" Samui shrugged. "But after the exams are over, who knows?"

Kakashi nodded casually, now reading his favorite book; "I understand Samui-san."

The red-haired Kumo Kunoichi dryly looks over to Naruto and Sakura; "Samui threatened him and he just reads one of those stupid smut books like it was nothing?"

"Yup," the two Konoha genin drawl.

Without even looking up, Kakashi casually informed them. "Sasuke's fight is about to start" That brought his students' attentions to the arena.

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Coughing into his hand, Hayate turned his tired eyes to the genin that stood a good foot away from each other. "Are you two ready?"

"I am" Sasuke nodded.

"Heh" Yoroi snorted cockily. "This will be easy"

The Uchiha did not deign that with a response, he merely cracked his neck, showing his opponent that he didn't even think much of him. It got the intended result, Sasuke could feel the angry brewing inside Yoroi by the small amount of killing intent leaking out.

"First match of the prelims" Hayate called by raising his hand, managing to get his coughing under check for the moment. "Sasuke Uchiha vs Yoroi Akadō" And brought down his arm in a sweeping motion. "Begin!"

He withdrew from the arena, leaving the two combatants to face off.

Sasuke immediately began to calculate his odds, his thoughts nearly driven by instinct at this point. He knew nothing of Yoroi's capabilities, and if he dragged out the fight he risked showing some of his own skills to people who did not yet know how he fought, which would bring further complications for the final part of the exams.

He needed to end this fight quickly. For that, brutal and coldly calculated efficiency were necessary.

His Sharingan activated, he barely felt the sting of Cursed Mark on his neck. The Hokage had done a great job, if he hadn't had the damn thing warded off he wouldn't have been able to fight at full power for this match otherwise. Sasuke charged at his opponent, who charged towards him as well.

He could see Yoroi's movements clearly, he dodged a right punch while delivering a sweeping kick to his stomach. Yoroi reacted by holding his leg back with his left hand. Sasuke followed up with right fist, only to be caught by Yoroi as well.

Yoroi's hands were coated in chakra. And Sasuke felt his limbs grow weaker by the second. He could feel it and see it plain as day, Yoroi was using a technique to drain his chakra, physically exhausting his body.

"What's wrong Uchiha?" His opponent called mockingly. "Feeling tired?"

Sasuke immediately tried to get some distance between them. But Yoroi anticipated this and struck his remaining leg with a swift kick, throwing him off balance, and allowing Yoroi to drive him to the ground where he pinned him with a hold. Sasuke struggled under his opponent's weight, but his weakening strength made that very difficult.

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"Come on kid, what'cha you doing?" Kushina muttered as she bit on a nail, watching the fight through the TV

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"Get up Sasuke" Naruto grunted as he and Sakura watched on helplessly.

Kakashi took his gaze away from his book and to watch the fight. There was little worry in his gaze, he was certain Sasuke could overcome this. His students had been through worse after all.

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"UGH!" Sasuke cried out as his head was slammed against the ground.

"Soon I'll dry all the chakra from your body until you're nothing but a husk" Yoroi boasted with a throaty sound as he kept his voice low.

The Uchiha focused his gaze on his opponent's eyes, but much to his shock they failed to penetrate passes the lenses.

"Awww, can't use your genjutsu?" The masked shinobi mockingly laughed. "Got news for you, these glasses are layered with seals. Ocular genjutsu can't penetrate the chakra barrier between them and my eyes"

Tch... What an idiot. Why would he tell him that?

Yoroi just told him what he needed to do.

Mustering all his strength, Sasuke slammed his head forward, his forehead protector clashing against the lenses. Yoroi recoiled immediately on the impact, the breaking glass did not pierce his eyes but it left them quite vulnerable.

Sasuke's Sharingan bore right into them.

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"Goodnight!" Kushina cheered loudly as she laughed seeing Sasuke's opponent punched himself out and hit the ground unconscious. "Mi-chan was way more fun with her genjutsu."

Yugao rolled her eyes as her boyfriend declared Sasuke the winner.

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"Way to go Sasuke-Kun!" Ino cheered beside Chouji and Shikamaru.

Haku glanced over to Sakura; "So his little problem was fixed?" she asked covertly in case if any team was listening.

Naruto simply gave her the thumbs up.

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Looking at his down opponent Sasuke shook his head; "You never reveal a weakness to the enemy. That's basic 101." Shifting his feet, the Uchiha turned and went to his team; "I see why the Kabuto guy said you lot have been doing this seven times."

Leaning his back against the wall, the Oto Jounin smirked; 'So no reaction from my gift. They sealed it well.' His eyes gaze to Naruto; 'I will find the opportunity to give you my gift as well Naruto-Kun,' the man lightly chuckled

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Till next time!