When the Third exam hits, we will see just where Kagami lands in terms of power... and skill. He is not a showboater, but you have to show off during the third exam so...

For the next five days, Kagami spent as much time as safely possible training, keeping his skills sharp. He meditated a lot, working on sensing the various people in the forest. His range was the full five kilometers but his accuracy was not the most potent, Yugao said it was his raw chakra levels, being second only to Naruto's in amount, that allowed him such a vast range so early. Most started with a fifth of that.

After the others finally returned, with Team Seven being dead last, they finally were all called to the Main Hall of the Tower. They were being spoonfed patriotism and all that by the Hokage, and so Kagami tuned them out since he loathed the Leaf overall. After a while, when there was a pause in the conversation, he turned his attention back outward. Looking back at the Hokage, Kagami listened in to what they would be doing. They were going to break down the number of people to pass the test, preliminary exams to make sure that not too many of them reached the finals. He was down for that...

Turning upward, he watched as the board's calculations which, after it was activated, selected Sasuke and Yoroi for the first Fight.

Everyone else went up to the stands, readying themselves for the fights to come. Kagami nodded to Yoroi. "Good luck, you'll need it."

Kagami was quite pleased with the opportunity he was being presented. He got a wonderful chance to not only scope out his competition further! Hopefully finally see what Sasuke and Neji, the two prodigies, were capable of... he could not wait to see what they could do.

Sasuke Vs Yoroi

The entire fight was actually pretty sad. Instead of thinking ahead the Uchiha folded and just assaulted Yoroi upright. He just attacked, assuming he had the advantage. A very Rookie mistake made worse by Sasuke's arrogance and pride. It really was only due to Naruto's comments that allowed Sasuke to do anything.

Yoroi's taijutsu wasn't that good, he was far too reliant on his chakra sucking... which, while deadly, was not all-powerful. Yoroi got his ass soundly handed to him when Sasuke some fancy, new taijutsu called the Lion's barrage. It looked... oddly familiar, like something Lee would do...

Which Lee's expression confirmed, making him sigh.

'Must be good to have a potent jutsu copying bloodline... bastard. Can I beat him... I think so. I am faster by far, and stronger especially now. With my blade he would be unable to use handsigns, so there is that. I can only hope it is enough. I need to blind him if we fight. Wonder why his sensei is taking him away now... his chakra does feel very odd...'

Zaku vs Shino

How no one noticed Shino's bugs were... well it disgusted Kagami. There was a whole ass swarm the size of three people just behind him, how was that so easily missed...

Dumbasses the lot of them...

Still, he was happy Shino passed... even if it was a very bloody affair.

"Kagami Uzumaki and Kabuto Yakushi." Their proctor said, and Kagami turned his attention to the floor. Kabuto was smirking, pleased. Both boys calmly walked down the stairs.

As soon as they were in front of each other, they bowed. "Do your best, Kagami." Kabuto said.

"You too, my friend."

"BEGIN!" The proctor said and the battle was joined.

''''

Naruto was excited to see his brother's fight. They may not be on speaking terms, but that did not mean he was not deeply looking forward to the badassery to come. Kagami had always been a badass, but no one else got to see it but Naruto. His brother tried hardest of all, studying and reading and training... this was going to be fun.

Stretching his legs for a moment, Kagami vanished, appearing in front of Kabuto and kicking him so hard he slammed into the wall, cracks from the impact. Naruto could feel the vibrations through his feet.

"So fast!" Ino said, amazed.

Naruto sighed. " You've seen nothing yet."

Lee nodded. "You are most right, I have seen him fight, he is far, far faster than that. I train with him regularly, he is a very good ninja."

Cringing, Naruto turned back to his brother and watched him utterly destroy Kabuto in taijutsu. Kabuto dodged and weaved and moved, but no matter how much he did so he was hit by Kagami's kicks, punches and elbows. The boy's body purpled and bled from the hard strikes, before his brother landed a hard kick onto Kabuto's head that sent him flying where the boy shakily stood and called out.

"His taijutsu is far, far too good... I forfeit." The boy's hands started to glow a soft green and he moved his hands over his face, healing his wounds.

Naruto felt smug that his brother kicked so much ass, but he could not bring himself to say anything when his brother came up to the stands. Too ashamed of himself to say damn word.

""""

"That was easy." Ino said, making Kagami sneer.

He hated Ino. "It was alright, his evasion was great as expected for a medic. I am just faster... he did quite well for someone that does not specialize in taijutsu. It's your turn for a fight, enjoy Ino." The fight that came on next was basically a slap fight, it was embarrassingly fast and he wanted to sleep through the entire damn fight. " Pathetic, now we all know how to have a slap fight..." He didn't even cringe when Ino's sensei and her teammates all glared at him. "What it was, that was an academy level slap fight, not a real fight between kunoichi. You ought to be ashamed, are there any decent senseis other than Guy, You and Kakashi both drastically failed your students." Turning to the board, he saw the next fight and smiled. " This one ought to be interesting at least."

Ten-Ten VS Temari

And it was, Tenten showed off some interesting sealing jutsu, which did peak his thoughts. 'Being a jinchuurki I should look into seals... if only to make sure no one can use my seal against me... I can't trust the village to not try that in the future.'

Tenten was definitely chunin material but she had a very, very poor match up in Temari who's skills were just a perfect match for her. Her wind jutsu was advanced for her age, her fan creating powerful winds that disarmed all of Tenten's weapons and carved the girl up badly. It was a match made in hell...

"Poor Tenten, that was a terrible match up... she needs to expand her repertoire to do more close up, she was too focused on long range. Guy, maybe get her to focus on one weapon for close up, she is pretty physically strong, maybe a bo staff or a chain sickle?"

Guy nodded, sighing. "That would be wise."

'Temari is good, fast and agile with great control over her fan... I need to be faster and get her fan from her if I aim to win. I think I can do that.'

Shikamaru vs Kin

This fight was annoyingly good to watch, the lazy ass Shikamaru did very well using his head and Kin's jutsu was interesting but still... not long enough though. He wished Shikamaru lost, if only to show that being lazy had consequences.

'I can overspeed him, and I am no showboater, so there is that... he is too slow and too lazy to be a threat.'

Naruto vs Kiba.

"Of course, you win through a fart, Naruto." He told his brother when he walked, smug, up the stairs. " Have you ever won through skill or just luck?"

Naruto recoiled, hurt. "I hit him with the Uzumaki combo..."

"You won because you were allowed to win, they didn't call when you were put down for like a minute... you should have lost, Naruto."

Naruto just looked sad...

Hinata Hyuuga vs Neji Hyuuga

This fight just pissed off Kagami, watching Neji torture and abuse Hinata, one of the few nice girls in the Leaf... one of the few non bullies around... it was painful to see. The boy was a giant cockwad and he agreed with Naruto.

Turning to Neji as he got up the stairs, he glared. " I cannot wait until someone puts you in your place, Neji."

His words choice seemed to inflame something very, very hateful in Neji's eyes, he oozed killer intent stunning Kagami. "We will see where you stand if you know the full truth, Kagami."

"We will see indeed."

Lee vs Gaara

"WOW!" Seemed to describe the entire fight, it was amazing to see what Lee could do with his year and a half of training. It made Kagami envious as hell, he could not wait to reach that level. With chakra he could do something close to weightless Lee, but nowhere near as fast as Inner Gates Lee. "We all need to up our training, all of us if this is what a loser can do."

Guy's smug smile was very deserved up until the moment he had to save Lee's life from Gaara...

'I will be visiting Lee, he deserves it. I am not sure I can beat Lee or Gaara. My wind chakra might penetrate his armor though, if I can get it wet or turn it into sand. Water and Fire jutsu are a must to learn. Anything to penetrate his shield and armor... my speed might be just too slow, but with chakra I should be fine... it would be an insanely hard fight.'

Choji vs Dosu

Embarrassingly fast, this fight made him laugh just a little, getting a nasty look from Choji's sensei. He tried to stifle it, but damn was it really fast.

:

Kankuro got a bi and so the rest of them were sent to the arena where they pulled cards to determine who they would fight next month...

He got Sasuke,.. and he knew it would be a tough fight. "Great taijutsu, Naruto said he had fire jutsu like most Uchiha and he is a beast with his throwing weapons... I need serious training but I think I can do this. Gaara and Neji are the real power houses here... I need to be very, very careful but I think I can win this damn thing. Water jutsu are a must since I am fighting Sasuke... Naruto mentioned the Hidden Mist Jutsu as a way to beat Kakashi and his Sharingan, so maybe I can do that too for Sasuke... yeah, but we don't have that jutsu here. There is no way Kakashi would give it to me,... have to improvise... smoke bomb maybe?

Naruto will get crushed by Neji, so I can fight Neji... then there is Gaara, who is fighting his brother Dosu... I think I can beat Gaara, it will be hard though. I will need to pull out all the shots. Master my genjutsu, increase my speed, work on my kenjutsu and chakra flow... I need more jutsu, water for Sasuke and Gaara and fire just for Gaara. Gods, this is going to be an exhausting month but damn it I can do this! Yugao is going to help, I hope... I got this.'

If only he knew that nothing would go as he planned... that he would have to train on his own as tragedy, terrible tragedy would strike reshaping his entire month and making him learn things he never thought possible.

"""

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joy to write. I really enjoyed his thoughts.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.