Chapter 4: Enter the Past

This is a pretty hefty chapter. You will soon see Naruto slipping further and further into the darkness. Naruto Uzumaki is now...

One week later

His journey to the Hidden Cloud village was a success, although infiltration would not be easy. His chakra capability with Kurama's help was no problem, chakra control became a strong element in his arsenal.

He Shunshin closer, masking his vast chakra reserves would be essential when entering the village. He had a plan in place. It could not fail.

Approaching the village's front gates, he was not met with hostels due to his chakra signature matching the chakra output of the village barrier put into place. Kurama's sensory abilities were better than average sensory ninja, 10 fold in both power and sustainability. Unless the seal was to be loosened once more, his range was limited to 500 feet.

He walked calmly through the gates unbothered and his head under a hood. A red cloud hitai-ate wrapped around his blonde locks. His hair over the years had grown the famous Minato sideburns. 'A spinning image of Minato' Kurama would say to him.

He had outgrown his clothes tremendously. He had abandoned the foolish orange clothing for ANBU style black gear with black and red laced arm guards. Black ninja footwear still kind of battered, was all he could afford with scraping his froggy clean. Red weapon pouches on both pant sides embodied his special made kunai, as well as his typical shinobi gear.

Looking like his Father was all a part of the plan though. It was actually almost a key factor in the success of his endeavor.

A blonde woman walked towards the gate followed by three Chunin. She wore a black shirt covered by a steel plate fitting her body curves. Also, black pants with a red cloth wrapped around her waist. Naruto something oddly familiar to him, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

Kurama chuckled lowly, 'I haven't felt that chakra in a long while.'

'What are you talking about,' Naruto angrily asked Kurama

'Naruto meet the two tails Jinchuriki,' Kurama flared his nostrils and sighed,' Reveal your chakra for half a second to the Nibi. Watch the pathetic woman squirm.'

Naruto released his chakra for a split second, he knew it would spike some sudden fear but it was enough to see the woman's eyes grow wide and then pause. She put her hand behind her to stop the Chunin walking behind her. They all froze at the sight of her searching frantically for the source but never discovering where it came from.

Kurama laughed, 'She will end up where we are going. Do not worry about this woman, we will find her later on.'

'Hn' Naruto Shunshin away in search of his target.

Kurama's sensory ability searched for a particular signature. 'Ah kit, who would have known the biggest and most central building would be what we are looking for.'

The front of the building read, 'Raikage.' Naruto Shunshin in front of the Building. Looking up at where he thought the Raikage's office would be his next move. With a deep breath and a Shunshin he entered the building exactly where he looked at.

The room he was in was bright surrounded by many windows. No one was presently in the room. Littered with scrolls and shelves of books labeled with 'Mission Assignment.'

'I feel Four chakra signatures 10 meters east. Flutter to the One most central in the room. It has the largest Chakra, a very powerful one indeed. There is no mistake.' Kurama exclaimed almost excited.

Naruto Shunshin into the room unannounced and stood before a man sitting down in a chair with a white robe. His hair tainted gold, and two massive gold gauntlets on his wrist. His face perked up at the figure in front of him. 'This must be the Raikage.'

The two guards and the woman next to the Raikage taken by surprise took a step back before the guards pulled out kunai and pointed it towards the uninvited guest.

"Who are you to come into my office unannounced, who do you think you are?" Bellowed the Raikage. As he raised from his chair, Naruto noticed how massive this guy was. His stature was something otherworldly. Judging by his appearance the man seemed very impatient, but testing his patience was something Naruto was not trying to test.

"I have come to offer you something I don't think you will be able to deny," smirked Naruto with his hood still up covering his identity.

"What is it you seek, speak or be prone to punishment by my hand."

"I wish to be put onto a 3 man squad that will participate in the Chunin Exams, in return you will have a massive asset to your village." Naruto pulled his hood back revealing his face.

The Raikage looked at this boy. A ghost of the past, someone he thought was dead...no wait. "Who are you?"

"I am Naruto Uzumaki, son of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, declared dead ninja of the Hidden Leaf."

"...," The room was silent, no one spoke a word at just came out of this boy's mouth.

"Dead huh. You don't look dead to me son."

"I am known dead to Leaf Shinobi, and I intend to keep it that way." Naruto continued to embrace the dark power of the Fox. It gave him unimaginable power and resolve.

The Raikage was struggling to find the words. The son of his friend, the 'Yellow Flash' of the leaf, it can't be. "You expect me to believe tha-," before he could say anything Naruto appeared behind one of his guards. Naruto chopped the back of his neck, knocking him out, at the same time pulling a kunai resembling Minato's kunai out of the wall behind him. The other guard charged Naruto, in return Naruto flashed behind a delivered the same result.

'His speed is incredibly similar to Minato, how is that Possible?' The Raikage now flaring his nostrils astonished by the technique that defeated him 17 years ago. "That is impressive...Naruto Uzumaki, although, I don't take very kindly to you using my guards as training dummies."

"That is not all my Lord." Naruto mentally signaled Kurama and his cloak surfaced with the might of Kurama's will.

The Raikage felt the sheer power of the boy in front of him. Jinchuriki power. Nearly the level of power his brother possesses. "I see, there can be no mistake, Minato's son. I thought I would never see the day. Nor did I know you would seek me out as I assumed his son was dead. So you have control of your bijuu?"

"No merely my friend and I are mutual partners. Unfortunately for the Leaf I am not dead, my offer still stands, knowing what I bring to the table. If you accept my terms that is."

"List your terms. I will then give you my choice."

"As I said before, I would like to be placed on a three man squad preferably a skilled one. When the Chunin Exam comes around that team will accompany me to the Hidden Leaf. In return I will offer my knowledge of current Leaf endeavors as well as the current ANBU agents under the Hokage."

"You're willing to betray your home Naruto Uzumaki?"

"A home is where you are wanted. That place is no such thing."

A long pause between the two individuals sunk in. "Give me a day to Uzumaki. Return to this very spot tomorrow at noon. I will assign two ANBU operatives to acquaintance you.

Naruto nodded and disappeared leaving the Raikage with his secretary. "Lord Raikage, are you going to agree to this, this child is not the man you knew. Please reconsider is all I ask. That look in his eyes is not natural, a great darkness proceeds over his mind. I can't help but believe he has ulterior motives"

"Hn. I will consider your input." The Raikage stood and pondered his decision before turning around to look out into the sunset. His hands behind his back he closed his eyes, 'I am sorry your son turned out this way my friend.'

Naruto followed by two ANBU was escorted to a hotel room about two miles from the central Raikage Tower. After discovering the blonde woman earlier he thought once he shook these ANBU he would visit this said 'Nibi Jinchuriki'.

After arriving at his hotel, he went into the bathroom before dispelling a shadow clone. He told the shadow clone to leave the hotel and not return for a couple hours. "Buy me enough time to get me where I am going."

The clone nodded his head and strolled out of the hotel without a care in the world. He got to spend the rest of his boss's money. He chuckled mischievously with his hand over his mouth before rushing away to find the nearest ramen stand.

Naruto on the other hand took to the streets, hiding under the cover of night.

Using Kurama's sensing abilities, he discovered the ominous chakra lying still in the middle of a training field. He decided he would have a little chat with her and see what this Nibi was all about. Observing the Nibi's power level, in case the Raikage disagreed to his simple terms.

Naruto quickly Shunshin next to her idle body, startling her where she was lying. She quickly rose to her feet drawing a kunai with her right hand.

"Who are you? State your business."

"I mean you no harm. I am simply curious is all."

She stood there confused, but with her guard still up.

"Curious?"

"Yes you see, I felt a disturbing presence earlier. Perhaps you felt the same."

"How could you know something like that? Again, who are you?"

"My name does not matter as of right now. In due time you will know my name, I am sure of it. The suspense makes it more enjoyable" Naruto maniacally grinned and slowly laid down on the ground. He flared his chakra the same way he did when he first saw her walking alongside him.

"That chakra...it was you!"

"My friend is not too fond of you. It gives him great pleasure to see such unrest on your face. Calm yourself, you will not be harmed unless you give me a reason too."

"...," The blonde woman was now trying to mask her displeasure.

"Being a Jinchuriki is a hard way of life. Only the truly strong rise from the despicable ashes blazed upon them. Pain and suffering is all we have known, wouldn't you say so?" Naruto remained emotionless looking up at her standing behind him. She didn't utter a word as he continued on. " This accursed world, the shinobi world, only breeds hate and distrust in the places where love and companionship should be. We are overdue in our damnation...Until next time Nibi."

Naruto vanished without a trace leaving the woman perplexed at his choice of words. 'Accursed world...damnation...I must inform the Raikage as soon as tomorrow.'

The next day

One of his clones had been guarding him all night long. Today could be the first step towards the rest of his life. All these years, his plan...could finally become a reality. His hatred overtook the place where love used to be. A hole in his heart never filled, even with all this time to heal on his own. The empty void, he could never seem to shake.

At noon the Raikage sat at his desk, arms crossed, waiting for the Jinchuriki to show up.

His mind had been made up. The Nibi standing at his side, left uneasy at the Raikage silence. She had relayed here conversation with the boy to the Raikage, yet he did waver by the words he spoke.

'I must keep this boy under wraps. But this intel, it could not be something I pass up. I will have to take the risk, for the reward far outweighs the unknown' The Raikage sat with his chin on his knuckles awaiting the Uzumaki.

Naruto appeared out of thin air, startling the secretary just like the day before. The Nibi eyes widened, 'This is the man she had to meet, why?'

"Lord Raikage, this is the man that confronted me last night, you cannot tread lightly with him. I told you he is a Jinchuriki"

"Yugito, please be patient...Naruto Uzumaki I have come to a decision. I will accept your offer on one condition. My trusted subordinate, Yugito Nii here will accompany you to the leaf along with your teammates and your Jounin sensei."

"As you wish Lord Raikage. Yugito Nii huh, nice to meet you again Nibi."

"Hn," Yugito snarled nearly charging the kid.

Naruto took off his hood much to Yugito's surprise. "This child looks like the...the...-."

"Yes Yugito, this is Minato Namikaze's son." The Raikage stood up, "Send them in."

Three people walked through the door. The one on the left Naruto presumed would be his Jounin sensei. She had blonde hair cut short to her shoulders. She wore a grey shirt with a fishnet top, as well as a grey skirt held up by a thick white waistband. She had massive...assets, even Naruto had trouble in averting his eyes. One both of her wrists were red wrist bands up to her elbows.

The next two he assumed were his teammates, one of them, a girl with red hair and golden eyes. She wore golden earrings and a sleeveless grey top. Strapped over her chest was a white chestplate accompanying her long grey skirt and red katana. This girl looked extremely mean by her exterior and her initial glare at Naruto.

The other was a boy with white hair and a simple genin uniform. He had a sucker in his mouth and rubbed the back of his neck like he was scared of the girl's reaction. His katana also red and placed in the same position as the girl. He looked like he overthought the situation, signs of anxiety.

"I presume these are the people I will be teamed up with Lord Raikage." The three noticed Naruto's cold posterior and how he held no reaction to the way the girl stared at him.

"Your Jounin instructor Samui is the one on your left, the two to her right are your teammates as of now, Karui and Omoi. These are our most experienced and skilled genin, it just so happens they don't have their fourth squad cell."

"Nice to meet all of you," Naruto bowed while continuing his emotionless expression.

Karui didn't like how this guy wasn't stunned by her glare towards him. "What's this guy's problem, and why is he so tall and buff, you said this MAN was a KID."

"I assure you that he is 15 Karui." The Raikage now facepalming at this response, 'I should've known she would react this way.'

"You never know Raikage sir, he could be a grown man for all we know, looks like he spent time in the pen when he was 5 years old," Omoi shook his head overthinking.

"ENOUGH!...As of right now you will go by Narui, you will have to use a transformation jutsu to mask your facial features. I will provide a half mask that will cover the lower half of your face. That is all of right now. Leave and report in later Samui." The Raikage obviously displeased with his brother's students, "Yugito follow and acquaint with your new student."

On the training field a couple miles away from the Raikage's Mansion

"Naruto we need to know your current level of ability, so you will spar with these two as I assess where you fit as far as roles wise." Samui took out her report.

Naruto simply nodded, this was the first time in a while he would be sparing with people other than his clones. "As you wish Samui-sensei."

Naruto took his stance as the two unsheathed their katanas and held them vertically in the same position. Naruto had never battled kenjutsu before and he wasn't sure of their battle skills having just met them. Naruto pulled out a three pronged kunai and launched it in-between them.

"What was that throw? Samui-sensei is this guy one of Lord Killer Bee's pranks?" Karui was disappointed with this guy's stature thinking he was strong and he can't even hit a target 5 m in front of him.

Omoi chuckled at Karui's frustration and they both looked back at Naruto. 'He's gone what the? HOW?' Naruto appeared behind his teammates and double axe kicked both from behind leaving them groveling in the dirt. "Am I being underestimated?"

Samui was surprised by this kid's speed, 'How can he do that? I didn't even see him move.'

Omoi and Karui struggled to get back up, "Cheap trick, we looked away for one second."

Omoi knew this kid wasn't that fast to close that gap in one second; it wasn't possible. He looked to his left at the kunai between them. 'That kunai he did that on purpose, was it a substitution, no there was no way.' Both now relieved from the heavy kicks to their heads, charged Naruto.

Karui swung vertically and Omoi swung horizontally. Naruto sidestepped the first blade and backflipped over the other leaving both stunned at his sheer speed. He backfist Karui, sending her forward into Omoi.

Samui was stunned at how strong a shinobi this boy was. He was not genin level, this speed was high Jounin, A-Rank Ninja speed and she knew he was still holding back.

Karui and Omoi now quickly rose to their feet again. Naruto charged at them, "Shadow Clone Jutsu," he yelled followed by, "Wind Style: Gale Palm." The Narutos ducked under thrust of the blades before giving heavy wind blows into both of their chest sending them flying ten feet back onto their backs. They weren't getting back up from a direct attack like that.

Samui called the fight and watched Naruto walk and pick up his Kunai. 'Those techniques are high level techniques, and he used them to perfection...Incredible."

"Impressive Narui. The Raikage must really respect you talents. High-Level techniques are not required of genin, yet you have great control over them. You handled yourself well. May I ask what the technique with the kunai was?"

"A shinobi does not reveal their abilities to others. You should know that Samui-sensei."

Samui was taking aback by his sudden tenacity, "Of course Narui. I apologize."

Naruto silently nodded, and bowed to his teammates rolling on the ground in pain.

Naruto knew showing his power early on would be detrimental to his plan. The Flying Raijin was nothing compared to what he had in his arsenal. Gale Palm and Shadow Clone Jutsu would not take out high level fighters, but it was very useful in successful results.

From a distance Yugito stood and watched the scene unfold. 'His technique, his speed and strength, there was no mistaking it, this kid was truly frightening and he didn't even break a sweat. Our best genin didn't even scratch him."

She felt it was best if she had a talk with him to clear the air.

Naruto, was wrapped in a towel about to turn in for the night. He realized his team had strengths that exceeded the genin level, but their weaknesses were immeasurable. He expected as much from genin arriving her in the Cloud village. Nonetheless, their role as his pawns in his plan, were sufficient in the long run strong or not.

He pulled out the drawer he kept his two outfits in. Buried by his gear was some remaining scrolls in which he had yet to suffice to their levels of expertise. Some medical ninjutsu scrolls, as well as, smaller scrolls involving Uzumaki bloodline traits that said he could eventually develop. If he was to develop the chakra weaving ability of his clan, his three elemental affinities would give him a Kekkei Tota trait. His Fire, Lightning, and Wind could combine forces to multiply it's power and overpower the other affiliations.

A knock was heard at his door. 'With Kurama's sensory, I could already feel her getting closer, it was just a matter of time.' Naruto still wrapped in a towel walked to the door.

He opened the door to Yugito, she was flustered at the boy in just his towel. Her face shaded a small grade of red before she said, "Naruto, put show close on and meet me on the roof when your finished."

'What could she possibly have to say to me at this hour.' Naruto shut the door an quickly put on a brisk amount of clothes before he Shunshin to the roof.

Yugito sat on the roof with her hands at her side. She had always loved the calming effect of the night sky. The stillness always put her at peace.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the blonde walking towards her. Her blonde hair was caressed by the wind as a small breeze blew her hair back revealing her blue eyes to Naruto.

"What is it you wish to talk about Yugito-sensei." Naruto had shown a minor annoyance for the first time since he had been to the village.

"What you said yesterday about pain and suffering being the only things the shinobi world has known. Do you actually believe that?" Yugito looked over at Naruto sitting two arms length away from her.

"Yes. Why do you ask?" Naruto turned to her momentarily before returning his gaze to the stars.

"I can't help but feel sorry for you. Coming to that conclusion, it only shows that you have given up somewhere along your path." Naruto looked unmoved by her accusation.

"No. I haven't given up. I know my purpose, and I will never stray from achieving it."

"What is your purpose, Naruto?"

"I will bring peace to the world. My sacrifices will only be as strong as my will."

"How will you bring peace Naruto? I'm curious to here."

"My answer would only be a hindrance to that plan. Unfortunately I cannot say."

'He's hiding something, and it is not good.' Yugito glared over at Naruto who had yet to show emotion.

"Goodnight Yugito-sensei. I will have to train everyday in order to prepare for the Chunin Exams." Naruto Shunshin from the position he was in.

'I'm afraid the answers I got out of him, are not conclusive. He will slip eventually.' Yugito was determined to find out what he was up to. Deep down it also hurt to see someone that young be consumed in darkness already.

Naruto laid in his bed staring up at the ceiling. 'She will soon she what I mean by bringing peace to the shinobi world. My darkness will shoulder the burden so that the rest of the world won't have to suffer anymore.'

The Day of the Arriving for the Chunin Exams

Naruto spent most of his time by himself, training. Karui and Omoi weren't at his level but they had average Chunin skills. They were definitely skeptical of him. He noticed the way they looked at him, they were horrified now when he asked to spar. This didn't bother him though because he wasn't here to make friends.

Samui had tried to talk to him many times but the best she could get out of him were 'Yes Sensei' and 'No Sensei'. Yugito watched from afar everyday and she'd seen how he never wavered in the slightest at anything said or done to him. His unruliness was terrifying.

They had been making there journey to the leap village for a few days now.

The closer and closer they got to the Leaf Village the more his blood boiled, the more his bloodlust mindset had entered the void. Yugito noticed the distaste in his eyes but decided not to confront him. In the past seeing him tense like this, she could feel the bloodlust and animosity. Just briefly before he became that emotionless demon again with emptiness in his blue pearls.

Samui looked over to Naruto as they were about a mile away. "Narui, the transformation."

Naruto nodded and his features altered slightly. His hair had become black, and his eyebrows brown but closer to black. His eyes were always difficult to change and maintain so he kept his blue iris. The visible whiskers now subsided into his cheeks.

The gate to the village, he loved so dearly at a point in time, was now open and he watched as kids would run out and give the genin from other villages a gift basket for each passing team.

A little brown haired girl no older than six ran up to Omoi and handed him the basket. He took it and bowed with thanks.

"Remember why you three are here, the Raikage craves results from you." All three nodded their heads in unison.

Passing the village gates and people had lined up on both sides of the arriving guests. They cheered and clapped for the foreigners coming to their village. Narui's smirked slightly knowing how naïve these people are.

'The dead demon was right in front of their faces and they didn't even know.' Kurama silently laughed at Naruto's realization.

After stopping briefly, Yugito and Samui wish them good luck and to not disappoint the Raikage or else they would hear about it. Karui responded with, " No need to worry Yugito and Samui-Sensei, I'll lead these two runts." Omoi just shook his head and Naruto looked emotionless as ever. All three turned to walk away when Yugito grabbed Naruto's shoulder.

"I will be watching you. Don't do anything brash, brat. I'm on to you. If you do something to hinder the Raikage's reputation, he'll have your head." Yugito had Naruto gripped by the wrist, his emotions still intact.

"No worries Yugito-sensei. The Raikage knows what's in store for him." He turned and walked away.

Naruto saw the other two walking ahead of him and he didn't want to catch up to them just yet. He had to gather his thoughts. These Chunin exams were just too important to getting one step closer to power. 'Itachi, I'm slowly getting there, soon enough I will be able to face you.'

Naruto was getting closer to the two in front of him when he noticed to his right was two people holding a kid upside down. Naruto strolled up to the boy on the left who held the kid. He slowly grabbed the kid's ankle and launched him back to the two children cowering in fear. The genin in the black jumpsuit, held a giant bandaged object on his back and a sand hitai-ate across his forehead.

"Hey what do you think you're doing. You ruined my fun." The kid with the purple face paint chuckled and then returned to a serious face. The other girl stared at Naruto. She had on a purple dress with a silver top, and a giant fan on her side. She noticed his terrifying, yet striking handsome face, and side stepped letting him through.

'Watch out for the third in the tree boy.' Kurama laid his head back down, knowing Naruto had everything under control.

Naruto walked past both and continued towards the academy where the first exam would take place. "You in the tree, is that the best you can hide." The one in the tree showed himself now, with his arms crossed. His red hair didn't cover his green eyes gleaming with killing intent.

Naruto continued past the three children, one was picking up the boy he'd thrown and the other cowering behind the boy on the ground.

"Hey I could have handled myself Cloud ninja, not cool." Naruto turned lightly peering over his shoulder. All the kids huddled together in anticipation of him attacking them. Naruto shrugged it off and kept walking.

"Hey you! Cloud ninja, what's your name?" The jumpsuit Sand ninja asked with a curious tone.

"You'll find out soon enough." Naruto's pause now continued with an attempt to join his team.

The Sand ninja with the red hair turned to his siblings where they stood scared of someone as intimidating as their brother. "Temari, Kankuro, if you see that ninja in the exam run."

Kankuro and Temari looked at each other before Temari said, "Gaara but why?"

Gaara looked towards the direction Naruto left and said, "His soul is more damaged then my own."

Temari and Kankuro gulped before they followed Gaara with his gourd on his back.

Karui and Omoi sat outside the academy, Naruto approaching from a distance.

"Omoi, is it just me or has he ever told you a single thing about himself? We don't even know where he even came from. Lord Raikage just threw him into our lives," Karui stared at Naruto getting closer.

"A man has a right to his secrets I guess. Lord Raikage took a liking to Narui and we just have to live with the fact we might never get anything out of him ever."

Karui looked back at Omoi now, " You may be right. He's extremely strong. Judging by his chakra nature of Wind, Lightning, and Fire he has to be nearly unbeatable. I mean do you remember even landing a hit on him during sparring?"

Omoi put his foot up against the doorframe they stood in, "Never. He doesn't gloat about it either. He's a tad arrogant, but in a respective way I guess."

"...," Both watched as Naruto now stood in front of them.

"I got held up for a moment, shall we enter."

Karui and Omoi nodded and sighed following his lead. 'These genin have no idea what they are in for with Narui,' Karui conceded.

Team Samui was about to enter the third floor when they heard a ruckus coming from the hallway. Several squads were standing outside a door with the number 301 on it obviously faltered by Genjutsu. Omoi and Karui followed Naruto towards the crowd knowing full well he was about to make a scene and embarrass these genin.

"Hey let us in, this is room 301, we are supposed to enter for the first exam." A random genin blurted out.

The crowd was obviously displeased with two Chunin guards standing in front of the non existent testing room.

Through the crowd Naruto saw a relict of his past. 'Sasuke Uchiha is still arrogant as always.' Sasuke walked with Sakura following close by, and another kid he had never seen before. He was decently tall and had black hair that contrasted his pale skin. He held a short blade behind his back in a red holster.

"Move out of the way, don't make me ask you again," Sasuke arrogantly directed the guards in front of the door.

"Oh yeah tough guy, make us move bud." The two exchanged a laugh before they returned their eyes to a quick tempered raven haired Uchiha.

Sasuke raised his leg in a kick attempt at the guard. The guard matched instantly before the both felt a resistance between them holding them by their shins, stopping their momentum. Naruto had darted in between them in a blink of an eye and held both of them to a standstill.

'So fast! How could he do that? That kick should have landed' Sasuke was at a loss for words.

"The sign, you're on the wrong level. A low level genjutsu was used to change the number of the classroom." Naruto let both kicks go and turned back the way they came.

"That guy stopped both their kicks and released us from a genjutsu at the same time." Everyone around the door was shocked to see the sign turn to 201 and Naruto walk away like nothing transpired.

Sasuke returned to Sakura and his other teammate, "Sasuke, who is that guy? He does not look like a genin to me."

"...," Sasuke stood clenching his fists pissed off that someone was trying to best him in front of all these people. "Let's go, Kakashi-sensei is probably waiting for us."

"Got embarrassed dickless. How ironic," chuckled the pale genin.

Both teammates followed Sasuke as he stormed off.

The guards peered over the crowd, "That Cloud ninja, he's insanely strong. I couldn't move my body when he grabbed my leg." They looked at each other before releasing the transformation technique on themselves.

"Some serious competition this year Izumo. Can't wait for the finals." The Chunin guard slapped his friend on the back leaving through the double doors.

Kakashi greeted his team before they entered, he wished them good luck and told them to stick to their teammate training regiments. He added there would be some difficult competition this year considering how they postponed the exams for a couple years.

'No one can beat an elite Uchiha like me.' Sasuke crossed his arms and motioned for the two to follow him in.

"Sakura, Sasuke, and Sai, you guys made it!" Ino ran over to Sasuke hugging from behind.

"What a drag. Can you not bring attention to us Ino?" Shikamaru ran a hand over his mouth after yawning. Choji stood next to Shikamaru stuffing his face with food as always.

"Everyone is looking at us, can you keep it down you crazy loon." Kiba leaned up against the wall with Shino and Hinata at his side. Akamaru barked in agreement with his master's words.

"Hey you guys should probably keep your voices down, I agree with your lazy friend and dog boy over her." An older genin with white hair pulled back in a ponytail came up to the rookie nine. He pushed his glasses up on his nose before explaining to them that he was a seventh time chump. Although he stated he had information about everyone in the room on Jutsu cards.

These jutsu cards held mission rankings and quantity. As well as physical features, strengths, and minor descriptions.

"I'm Kabuto by the way, would you like to test one out?" Sasuke leaned down over the cards and said, "You got anything on the Cloud ninja?"

"Oh sure," He flipped one of the cards, " Looks like the Cloud only sent one team this year. That Raikage must be confident in their abilities." Kabuto asked for a name of the person he was interested in gathering intel on.

"I'm not sure of his name but he's the bigger of the three and has black hair and blue eyes."

"Sure, I have it right here," Kabuto infused his chakra into the card before revealing a blank picture and minimal information. "Looks like I don't have quite a lot on him. He's 5'11, 170, mission quantity: unknown, abilities: unknown. Current rank: 145 out of 150

Sasuke's team looked at the card stunned, 'They really have nothing on this guy. How can this get anymore infuriating. And to top it off, he's ranked bottom five of the recruits.

Before he could thank Kabuto, Ten men dressed in Jounin and Chunin uniforms strolled to the front of the room.

"Everyone take a seat, the first exam is about to begin." The large scar faced man pulled out a stack of test sheets. "I'm Ibiki Morino, I will be your proctor. This is going to be fun." Ibiki pulled off a sly smile.

10k word milestone.

Hopefully you like the story so far. Let me know if you want anything specific to be added in following chapters.

Peace.