Chapter 27

Naruto got off the ground and looked up at Anko. He gave her a glare before focusing on his opponent. The boy gave him an angry look and took both of his hands out of the slings. Naruto just looked at him like he was bored.

"I would have liked to fight the Uchiha but you'll have to do. I don't care what that bitch told you to do. It isn't going to matter because I'm going to kill you." Zaku said. Naruto just raised an eyebrow at him but did not say anything. He looked at Hayate and raised one finger. He made his way to where Sakura and Shikamaru were standing.

"Hey Sakura, are you carrying that grooming razor?" Naruto asked. Sakura looked at Naruto in surprise.

"Yeah." She answered.

"Let me borrow it for a while." Naruto said. Sakura gave him a look.

"No way! I'm not giving you my razor! I need it!" Sakura said.

"Look, no one cares about your hairy legs. Just loan me the razor or I'm coming up there and taking it from you." Naruto said. Sakura looked ready to argue but she knew Naruto a little better. He was just as crazy as Anko and while he would not really hurt her, he would do something to devastate her. She sighed and pulled out her razor. She tossed it to Naruto who caught it.

"Thanks. After this is over, I'll get you a new one and those scrolls you wanted." Naruto said. He took off his coat and tossed it to the side. He gave Hayate a nod and the jōnin nodded back to him. He raised his hand and started the match. Naruto flipped out the blade while Zaku quickly held out his arm, palm facing him.

"Zankūha! (Decapitating Airwaves)" Zaku called out. Naruto vanished and the blast hit the wall. That's when Zaku felt a cut on his back. He threw his other arm back to fire another Zankūha but saw nothing. Another sting was felt as he was cut on his arm. He backed away, looking for Naruto. When he felt something touch his shoulder, he spun into an elbow. This was followed up with a knee, another elbow and finished with a side kick. Zaku was flying and hit the ground. He was quick to his feet and fired another Zankūha. It hit nothing.

"You're a one trick pony huh?" Naruto asked from behind. Zaku turned to fire but Naruto caught the wrist. He cut his forearm in three places and cut his calf. Zaku dropped to a knee but fired another Zankūha from his other arm. Naruto jumped away and landed a distance away. Zaku was holding his bleeding arm as Naruto twirled the razor in his hand.

"Is that all you can do? That's pretty boring. Why don't you give up and I won't have to cut you up." Naruto said with a bored tone.

"You son of a bitch, I'm going to wipe you off the face of planet!" he shouted. Naruto just sighed.

"Well, I tired. Since you're going to be a little girl about this, I want to test out this method Anko uses on her prisoners." Naruto said. For the next ten minutes, everyone was a witness to the most disturbing thing in the world. Everyone cringe at every cut Naruto made on Zaku. What was more disturbing to everybody was the fact that Naruto seem to be enjoying himself. He was even doing a little dance as if he was listening to music. Zaku was on his knees, bleeding from several wounds all over his body. The only one cheering throughout the thing was Anko. She called for more blood and cheered when she got it.

"Alright… alright… I… I give up. I FUCKING GIVE UP!" Zaku shouted. Naruto stopped his dance and nodded at Zaku. He wiped the blood off on his pants and made her way to get his coat. He flipped the razor into the handle and calmly accepted his win, walking back over to Anko. The woman smiled and congratulated Naruto, praising him. Everyone just watched in silence as the two crazy people just smiled at what just happened. Hiruzen just pinched the bridge of his nose. He now regretted allowing Anko to train him. It was just like what Gai did to Lee.

XXX

Naruto and Sakura made their way to the hospital. After getting Zaku off the floor and cleaning up the blood, everyone took lots to see who was fighting who in the finals a month from now. Naruto was glad for his drawing because he got that prick Neji. Sasuke got that Gaara guy and Sakura got a bye. Naruto didn't really care about that now. He need to go and check on Hinata and hoped that she was alright. Sakura came with him. When they got the room number, they made their way to Hinata's room. Their trip was stopped by Kakashi.

"You guys sure left in a hurry." Kakashi said.

"Well, I am going to check on Hinata with Naruto." Sakura said.

"Yeah, she also wants to check on Lee because she kind of interested in him. Didn't know she was into bowl cuts." Naruto added. It earned him a slap to the head.

"Anyway, I wanted to say that I'm proud of you two. You did well in these exams. However, I have a little dilemma. While I would love nothing more to train you all, I have to focus on only one of you. Sasuke's opponent is a serious threat and he will need my help to deal with it." Kakashi said. He watched both of his students and surprisingly, Naruto did not make a snide comment. Seeing his expression through his mask, Naruto spoke.

"What? This will probably be the only time I agree with you. Something is up with Gaara, something dangerous. Besides, isn't like you weren't planning on focusing on Sasuke, with or without Gaara." Kakashi held his tongue and gave the two an eye smile.

"I'm glad that you understand. However, I'm not going to leave you high and dry." Kakashi said. That's when someone made themselves known to the three. "Guys, this is Ebisu. He'll be doing me a favor and training the both of you."

"Seriously? The closet pervert is going to be training the both us. You mean to tell me that you couldn't find each of us a sensei? You do know that the both of us are in the finals? What reason do you have to have us train with the same sensei?" Naruto demanded.

"Look Naruto, can't you just accept my help just once? I'm trying to help you at least survive the finals." Kakashi explained.

"You know what that sound like to me? That sounds like that you don't believe that I will succeed in beating Neji. It sounds like you don't think that Sakura can go far. No insult to Ebisu because I see some improvement in Konohamaru, but your meaning is hidden under those words. Because of that, you can take you help and keep it." Naruto said. He faced Ebisu and gave him a serious look. "Sakura has the potential to be very good. She's hard working and smart as hell. You do everything in your bag of tricks to make sure that she goes into the finals and kick as much ass as possible. Can you do it or are you all talk?"

Ebisu looked at Naruto and fixed his glasses.

"Who do you think you are talking to boy? I am training our future Hokage." Ebisu said with a smirk. With a nod, Naruto moves on to Hinata's room. Kakashi called out to him but the blond ignored him. He continued on his trek and arrived to Hinata's room. He entered the room and saw her. Her chest was heavily taped due to the damage caused by Neji. This made him angrier. She was asleep and looked to be breathing a little better. He walked up to the side of her bed and looked at her.

"You did really good Hinata. You showed that bastard Neji just how strong you are. You did it on your own, without the help of your dick dad. Man, I can only image the look on his face when he hears that the daughter he deemed a failure was actually beating the so-called prodigy. Even Neji's sensei was impressed with what you did. You're on your way Hinata to changing the clan for the better." Naruto told the sleeping girl with a smile. He then got serious.

"I'm going get him back Hinata. I'm going to mess Neji up so bad that you probably won't recognize him. I know that you might be upset with me for it but I'll take that. No one hurts my precious people and gets away with it. No one." Naruto said. He took Hinata's hand and gave it a squeeze. He then ran out of the room, not seeing the two adults that were listening in. Kurenai had a small smile on her face while Hiashi had a neutral look on his. He decided to head back to the compound. He would send someone to keep an eye on his daughter. He had much to think about.

XXX

Kakashi made his way to see the Hokage. He needed permission to take Sasuke with him out of the village to train. However, that was the furthest thing from his mind. He was angry with Naruto again. His refusal of his help again just finally set him off. He didn't like how a child just kept questioning every decision that he made. He was the sensei, he was the student. He was supposed to do everything he said and accept the fact that he knew what was best. This challenging him thing was something he didn't like and it needed to stop.

As he entered the office, he saw another one of his problem. To him, it was the cause of his current problem. Anko and Hiruzen turned to see Kakashi. Anko saw the angry look on his face and that his anger was directed to her. Anko frowned and wondered what he was going to complain about now.

"You got a problem Kakashi?" Anko asked.

"Yeah I have a problem. I have a problem with you and Naruto." Kakashi stated with an edge.

"Really? Why don't you tell me what we did this time?" Anko asked.

"Naruto is a genin and he should start acting like it. You might find it amusing to challenge authority but I don't like it. What I do with my team is not to be questioned or to be challenged. What I do is for his benefit." Kakashi said hotly.

"Oh, so he's just supposed to follow your lead like a damn robot? He's just supposed to ignore when he is being treated unfairly? Any ninja worth their salt would have called you out on your bullshit and you know it! You've been playing favorites and Naruto told you so. Respect is earned, not given and you haven't earned any of his or mine!" Anko shouted.

"Your involvement in Naruto's life has turned him as crazy as you! We already have a copy of Gai! We don't need a copy of you!" Kakashi spat.

"Well a copy of me and Gai are a lot better than a copy of you! What's your copy going to do? Is he going to leave behind his friend's body just to save his ass?!" Anko shouted. Kakashi was livid and looked ready to attack. That's when an oppressive killing intent flooded the room. Both jōnin turned to see the narrowed eyes of the Sandaime Hokage. Both adults quickly shut up and stood up straight. Sweat rolled off their heads and waited for their leader to talk. The feeling went away and the old man gave the two a stern look.

"This discussion about Naruto has gone on long enough. I am tired of hearing the both of argue about the boy. Kakashi, Naruto has always been a free thinker and maybe he has become even more of a free thinker thanks to Anko but that does not excuse your lack of training of your team. I have kept my eye on your team since that little information about your team's discord was brought to light. Sakura has such potential but you don't nature it. Naruto is a ninja that is ready for knowledge but you ignore it."

"Sir," Kakashi began but he cut off by a stern look.

"No more excuses Kakashi! You will own up to your mistakes. You have not been the jōnin I believe you to be and I am very disappointed in your actions. After the exams are over, a complete review will be held on your performance. We will determine if you are fit to continue on as jōnin sensei of your team. Do you understand?" Hiruzen said.

"Yes sir." Kakashi said seriously.

"Anko, you are dismissed. I will get you that information as soon as I get it." Hiruzen said.

"Thank you sir." Anko said and made her way out of the office. Hiruzen turned his attention to Kakashi.

"Now, did you have something to ask me?" Hiruzen asked.

"I would like permission to take Sasuke out of the village to train." He answered.

"You have it. Now go." Hiruzen said. Kakashi bowed and made his way out of the office. Hiruzen sighed and looked out the window. It always gave him peace of mind. He would need it for the coming storm that would hit the village.

XXXXX

Authors' Notes: That part with Naruto and Zaku, I saw the torture scene from Reservoir Dogs and can I just say that Michael Madsen is awesome. Anyway, I like how this chapter turned out. A lot was different in this chapter due to the changes in the prelims. Enjoy the new chapter.