A/N Thanks for your reviews and support. Hope everyone has a good holiday.

Lilybud: Thanks for your review my friend. I'm glad you enjoy it.

Shadow Wolf 15846: Thanks for your review my friend. Personally I pity the Murim Alliance when they find out.

DarkRavie: Thanks for your review my friend.

.3: Thanks for your review my friend. We are about to find out.

WhiteElfElder: Thanks for your review my friend. As the Heavenly Ways Masters are the balance to the Guardians now. The Guardians were once the Balance to the Tailed Beasts. Manifestation can happen in two ways. One is a blood borne summoning. Another is through great mental pain unlike what holder has ever felt before.

Shioon's POV

It took a lot of convincing for Ha Ill to agree to teach Naruto a distribution technique. His retainer didn't want to interact with people more than they had to. So that when they had to leave there was no reluctance to leave.

In a way Shioon understood it. They could be forced back to their own world at any time. They didn't really belong in this world. Still it was impossible for them not to interact. To not make connections with people.

Shioon for the first time since the war ended felt alive. There was no longer a dark cloud over him. Slowly but surely he was finding a reason to live again.

The time leading up to the genin exams was spent training. In the mornings Ha Ill taught Naruto the Sunwoo clan's power distribution technique. It worked nearly as well as the Black Heaven and Earth technique.

In the afternoon they would train with Hayate. With the power distribution techniques both boys improved tremendously. By the time the genin exams came around both boys made it three fourths of the way up the tree. They both could produce two useable clones. The third one was still beyond either of them.

The day of the genin exams arrived. Ha Ill made him a light breakfast of eggs and toast. For the first time since the Tri Wizard Tournament he felt nervous.

As per their routine he and Naruto sat together at the back of the classroom. Since he befriended the blond the teachers had taken to ignoring him. His bond with Naruto had grown slightly in the short time they had beem friends. He spent most of his time with the blond. Due to adults disdain for them most of the children ignored Naruto and in turn him. Not that he cared. Better to have one true friend than many false ones.

His name was suddenly called drawing him from his thoughts, "Lee, Shioon."

On the table sits a bunch of leaf headbands. One of thkse headbands would be his before the day was out. He had to become a ninja otherwise the mission was a fail. Shioon walks up, gets into a stance.

The air begins to circulate around Shioon as he focused his chakra and made the handsign. He called out, "Clone Jutsu!"

The smoke disappears, revealing Shioon and two clones. A third was lying belly down on the floor, with its tongue out, is a Clone of Shioon. Even he had to admit it's a little... pathetic. Shioon laughs nervously. Iruka has one of those looks on his face. According to Naruto it was a look he get often.

Iruka said calmly, "You fail. You will be able to come back next year to try again."

Shioon opened hid mouth to argue but was cut off by Mizuki asking, "Iruka Sensei?"

Iruka looks at him curiosity in his eyes. The other continued, "He's off, but his moves weren't bad and he did hang in there and replicate. The other two clones were perfect. We could cut him a break. And pass him."

Shioon looks hopeful at the two men. He couldn't wait an entire year. There wasnt even a guarantee he would still be here after that time. He had to become a ninja now.

Iruka sighed, "Mizuki Sensei. The other students created at least three effective replications. But Naruto could only create two effective clones. And look at the last one. It's pitiful. I can't pass him."

Shioon left the room his entire body shaking with anger. He made two clones. Why wasn't it enough to be a ninja? Internally he winced. Naruto was going to fail just like him. It would crush the blond. All the other wanted was for the village to accept him.

Ha Ill was waiting outside with the other students that finished. He was proudly wearing a headband across his forehead. The gentle smile fell when he saw that Shioon had not passed.

As he passed to stand by his "brother" he heard a student say, "It's because he hangs out with the failure. If he had better friends he would have passed."

Anger that hadn't faded threatened to boil over. It was only Ha Ill's hand on his shoulder that kept him from attacking them. Naruto wasn't a failure. He had come so far in such a short amount of time. If he was in Murim, Naruto would have been picked up by a master. One that would have taught him everything he needed to survive. It was little wonder that they had left all that time ago.

Kids are bunched up, wearing their leaf headbands, happy. Ha Ill at his insistence went ahead to their apartment. Shioon didn't want to leave Naruto on his own.

"You see that? They called me first."

"I passed with flying colours."

Naruto and Shioon are sitting off to the side, on a swing in the shade of the tree. Naruto had a deep look of depression on his face. Shioon was sad and hurt.

"I'm proud of you son. We all are."

"Congratulations. I'm going to make you all of your favourites tonight. We'll have a feast!"

Ibara: There, you see him?

Tsubaki: It's that boy. I heard he's the only one who failed.

Ibara: Hmph! Well it serves him right.

Tsubaki: Just imagine what would happen if he became a Ninja. I mean, he's the boy who...

"Shh... We're not allowed to talk about that."

There's a noise beside the two, and they look over. There is Mizuki. Over by the students, Iruka is with the third Hokage, Hiruzen, and they are watching Naruto, Shioon, and Mizuki.

Mizuki indicated for them to follow. It's sunset, and they are sitting on the ledge with Mizuki.

Mizuki: Iruka Sensei is tough. But, he's not against you.

Naruto inquired, "Then why? Why only us?"

Mizuki answered looking ay the darkening sky, "He wants you to be strong. With all his heart. But that will never happen if he goes easy on you. He's like you, you know. No parents. No family."

Naruto said hurt amd glum, "But... This time I really wanted to graduate. Shioon didn't deserve Iruka sensei to be hard on him. He is the first person that's ever cared about me."

Naruto... Shioon didn't realize that Naruto cared that much. It seemed there was more to the blond than Shioon realized.

Mizuki chuckles quietly, "Then I guess I'll have to tell you.

Shioon was even interested. Anything to allow them to pass was worth it.

Mizuki said with a gentle grin, "It's a secret. But I'm gonna let you in on it."

Naruto eyes wide, :A secret.:

Mizuki gave them instructions on what to do. They had to take one of the scrolls from the library. Learning any of the techniques would allow them to pass. Mizuki would meet them out past the village. There was an old run down house that they could use to train.

Naruto was the one who took the scroll. Considering how new he was to the village, Shioon could get in a lot of trouble for doing it. It would also ruin his brothers chances as a ninja.

Shioon waited for his friend. Ha Ill was probably worried by this point. It was dark out and he didn't tell the other what was going on. His retainer would only try to stop him.

Naruto sitting down in the woods, near an old hut, reading the scroll.

Naruto said grinning at him, "Let's see... The first one is... Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu," they both groaned, frustrated, "Ah! Not this again. It's my worst Jutsu!"

The two boys shared a grin. Together maybe just maybe they could learn this technique.