Chapter 9 revised and edited. Review or PM me on what you think about this chapter now.

Disclaimer – I don't own anything from the Naruto anime/manga all I own are my original characters and plot twists.

'Talking'

"Thinking"

'Heavily demonic voice'

'Fox talking'

"Fox thinking"

*expression*

Jutsu

Flashback

Chapter 9 – Shukaku and The Chunin Exams

Haku adjusted to life in the village quickly. He passed his test of becoming a Leaf Genin by fighting a low level Chunin and winning and then did missions with Team Seven. They did about ten D rank missions while the Chunin exams were fast approaching. Kakashi got his team together and showed up on time for once probably to avoid pissing off Naruto. They were standing on a small bridge.

'Guys I'm really proud of all of you.' Said Kakashi eye smiling as he appeared on the rail of the bridge.

'You have all come a long way so I have recommended all of you for the Chunin exams. If you want to participate go tomorrow to room three hundred and one in the academy and submit these applications.' Said Kakashi throwing one to all four of them. 'Bye.' Said Kakashi before disappearing with Body Flicker.

Sasuke walked off and Sakura followed trying to get a date as she obviously didn't get the hint that Sasuke wasn't interested. Haku also walked off after a while and Naruto finally decided to get some ramen. As Naruto was heading to Ichiraku's he heard Konohamaru yelling 'Let me go!'

Naruto went to where he heard the commotion and saw a blonde girl with her hair in four pigtails with a battle fan she wore a single light purple-coloured, off-the-shoulders garment that extended halfway down her thighs, with a scarlet sash tied around her waist. In addition to incorporating fishnet worn over her shoulders and legs, specifically on her right calf and her left thigh, she also wore a headband around her neck which depicted an hourglass and a boy who wore a black, baggy, full body suit with a red and yellow circle on the front. He also wore a black hood with cat-like ears and his forehead protector which also depicted an hourglass on his forehead and was squeezing Konohamaru painfully by his scarf.

'Kankuro put him down you're going to get us in trouble.' Said the girl.

'Relax Temari, we've got a bit of time until he gets here we might as well have some fun.' Replied the boy Naruto now knew to be named Kankuro.

'I suggest you listen to the pretty girl as it is clear that she has a brain while you do not.' Said Naruto slightly mocking but still serious.

Temari was surprised that this kid had just insulted her brother and blushed at the compliment while Kankuro snarled at being called brainless.

'You know what kid, you've offended me so I'm going to teach this boy, your lesson, respect your betters.' Said Kankuro who pulled back a fist and was about to slug Konohamaru in the face. Naruto appeared in an instant with his sword pressed against Kankuro's neck.

'Like I said I suggest you listen and you are not my better.' Said Naruto with disdain clear in his voice.

Kankuro let Konohamaru down and let him move away and leave the area while Naruto backed off, he then pulled off what looked to be a mummy of his back.

'What are you doing Kankuro? Are you going to use the Crow for this?' Asked Temari slightly worried.

'Kankuro you are an embarrassment to our village.' Said a voice from nowhere which sounded bored. The owner of the voice appeared in a swirl of sand in front of his comrades.

'Oh hey Gaara.' Said Kankuro scared.

He turned and faced Naruto. He wore a black full body suit with t-shirt-like sleeves, three quarter length legs, and an open neck. With this, he wore a white cloth over his right shoulder and the left side of his hips, and a wide leather band system over the left shoulder and right side of his hips. With this leather band, he carried what appeared to be a gourd. His forehead protector was wrapped around the band. His eyes appeared a bluish green and had dark black circles around them.

'So this is the vessel of the one tailed Shukaku.' Said Kyuubi.

"Do you know this kid?" Thought Naruto.

'No but I know the demon inside him, he is just like you.' Replied Kyuubi.

"Hmm he smells like a racoon." Thought Naruto.

'That is most likely due to the fact that Shukaku is the one tailed racoon demon.' Said Kyuubi almost condescendingly.

"Keep pushing me Kyuubi." Warned Naruto at the subtle jab at his intelligence.

'I apologise for my brother.' Said Gaara bowing deeply.

'I accept your apology, but I would like to ask you something.' Said Naruto. 'Why has the racoon come to the Leaf?' He asked.

Temari and Kankuro's eyes widened but Gaara's almost popped out of his head before he clutched his head in pain.

'Hmm it appears that the seal on that vessel hasn't been done properly and Shukaku is tormenting his host. Tell the vessel that Shukaku better lay off tormenting his vessel or I'll come out.' Said Kyuubi.

'Gaara tell your tenant to listen and that if he doesn't stop tormenting you the fox will come out to play.' Said Naruto grinning.

Gaara immediately stopped screaming and raised his head panting slightly.
'Thank you for that.' Said Gaara bowing once again 'However even though you have helped me if we meet in battle I will kill you.' Said Gaara releasing his bloodlust and killer intent to try and intimidate Naruto.

Naruto smiled back and released twice as much while saying 'Looking forward to it.' As the siblings were leaving Naruto asked 'What are your names.'

The girl quickly replied and said 'I'm Temari, that's Kankuro and he is Gaara.' She said gesturing to each in turn.

Naruto nodded and said 'I'm Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara I empathise with your pain but and I wish to help you but, you better not hurt any of my friends. If you do, I will show you very little mercy.'

'We shall see.' Said Gaara before they all walked off with Naruto forgetting about ramen and heading home.

"It seems the Chunin exams well be interesting, huh Kyuubi?" Thought Naruto

'So it seems, but why did you say you wanted to help.' Inquired Kyuubi.

"Did you see it? His eyes, in his eyes I saw he has suffered a great deal and has most likely been shunned which has made him how he is today, which could have easily happened to me. If I help him, even though I am but one person, that may be enough to save him before he descends into madness and bloodlust from which he can't be saved." Thought Naruto.

'You really are something else Kit.' Said Kyuubi almost admiringly. With that Naruto headed home and got ready for the Chunin exams which were only around the corner.

-line break-

The Next Day

-line break-

Naruto met up with Haku, Sasuke and Sakura along his walk to the academy so they all went together. When they arrived on the second floor they saw a boy in green spandex being beaten up by two guards. Naruto recognised the boy as Lee and instantly knew he was faking being weak. While he wondered about this he saw Tenten. She was in her usual attire, a pink sleeveless blouse and dark green pants with her hair up in two buns with her forehead protector just under her fringe on her forehead and was next to Lee talking to the guards. As she walked over to them one guard was about to hit her. Naruto appeared in an instant and blocked the punch aimed at her.

'You know it's not nice to hit a lady.' Said Naruto. Most of those around were surprised at how fast Naruto moved. Sasuke walked up with Sakura close behind and said 'While you're at it drop the Genjutsu it's pathetic.'

Most were wondering what Sasuke was talking about until the guard spoke up 'So you saw through the Genjutsu huh?' the guard charged Sasuke while Sasuke begun to swing a kick. In an instant Lee appeared between both and stopped them with his hands.

"That's some chakra he's got." Thought Sasuke.

'What are you doing? Aren't you the one who said we should hide our true strength?' Said a boy who had piercing white eyes with a slight lavender tint to them while walking up to Lee. The boy had noticeably long, black hair which reached the middle of his back and was tied back a few inches above the end, while two straps attached to a smaller headband underneath his ninja forehead protector frame the sides of his face. He had very fair skin and he also wore a black headband that he wore snugly over his forehead. He wore a khaki shirt, dark brown shorts, and blue shinobi sandals. He also had bandages wrapped around his right arm, chest, and right leg.

'Sorry but I...' Lee broke off and looked at Sakura and then blushed.

Haku decided to make his presence known and asked Naruto 'Do you know these three?'

'Um well, I know Lee and Tenten but I don't know their other teammate.' Said Naruto sheepishly.

'Although if I remember I did hear about someone called Neji Hyuuga. I guess that could be him.' Naruto thought aloud.

'Yes that is correct my name is Neji Hyuuga and these two and my teammates. Who are you?' Asked Neji.

'Well my name is Naruto Uzumaki, this is Haku and those two are Sasuke and Sakura.'

After the formalities the Genin all headed to room three hundred and one, at some point however Sasuke, Lee and Sakura managed to get away from Neji, Naruto, Haku and Tenten. While they were walking Naruto gave Tenten the scroll containing Zabuza's blade. Haku was intrigued while Neji's activated byakugan eyes, which caused the veins and arteries around his eyes to protrude, widened.

'That's a thank you for helping me get the things I needed to be a strong ninja as well as being my friend and I know you will like it.' Said Naruto smiling when Tenten asked him what it was.

They entered room three hundred and one and split up. A couple minutes later Lee showed up with a mark on his face and ten minutes after that Sasuke showed up appearing quite flustered with Sakura close behind.
Naruto and Haku walked up to them at which point all the other rookie Genin approached them.

'So once again the rookies are together again huh Akamaru.' Said Kiba.

Ino hugged Sasuke from behind causing Sakura to begin yelling at her and this kept up for a while.

'So troublesome.' Said the familiar voice of Shikamaru with Choji close behind munching on chips.

'Well Shikamaru I didn't expect to see you here. Isn't this too much work for you?' Asked Naruto half joking half confused.

'Yeah but Asuma made us so here we are.' Replied Shikamaru sounding very bored.

'You guys might want to keep it down you're attracting a lot of attention.' Said a boy with black eyes with grey hair kept in a ponytail wearing circular glasses. He also wore a dark purple shirt with a white undershirt and a white sash around his waist worn at an angle, dark purple pants, blue sandals, and a shuriken holster on his right leg.

'Who are you? Asked Sasuke.

'Me? I'm Kabuto Yakushi. You must be the rookie Genin.' He stated.

'Yeah we are.' Replied Sasuke.

'Well maybe I can help you out then.' Said Kabuto who then proceeded to talk about who came to the exams and what generally happened as well as his seven in a row streak of failure and finally his Ninja info cards.

' Show me what you have on Gaara of the Desert, Rock Lee and Naruto Uzumaki.' Said Sasuke.

Naruto looked at him strangely but didn't say anything.

'Okay first up Garra of the Desert. His teammates are Temari and Kankuro of the Desert who are also his siblings and it says here he has completed eight C ranks and a B rank without getting a single scratch. In fact he has never been injured.' The Genin were stunned until Kabuto moved on.

'Rock Lee teammates Neji Hyuuga and Tenten, sensei Might Guy. His Taijutsu has increased dramatically over the past twelve months but the rest of his skills are virtually nonexistent. He has completed twenty D ranks and eleven C ranks. Lastly Naruto Uzumaki says here you've done twenty D ranks and an A rank, impressive. You have Kage level chakra capacity and mid Chunin to low Jounin skill level in Ninjutsu, your Genjutsu skills are basic at best while your Taijutsu and Kenjutsu are both mid Chunin level. Additionally you can do the Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique.' Said Kabuto.

As Kabuto finished the entire room was quite the rookies from fear and shock about Naruto's skill level while almost all the others were extremely curious how Naruto knew the Fourth's most famous technique.

'Well it seems you have the attention of all the villages even the little sound village seems interested.' Said Kabuto.

'Well it doesn't matter. My name is Naruto Uzumaki and I will beat every single one of you.' Proclaimed Naruto.

'Hey that guy called us little.' Said one of the sound Genin. He had spiky, dark hair and dark eyes. He wore a beige shirt with two black stripes and three prints which said death down the front. His forehead protector had a face guard. As with his team-mates, he wore a snake patterned scarf around his neck.

'Well let's teach him a lesson.' Said the other sound Genin. He had bandages covering most of his face, leaving only his left eye uncovered. He also wore a large poncho with long sleeves, a snake patterned scarf around his neck and a straw raincoat protruding from the back of his scarf. His back was hunched which made him look smaller than he actually was.

The sound team dashed around the room before the one who spoke first threw a kunai at Kabuto who jumped back to avoid them however, in an instant the Genin who looked like a mummy revealed a gauntlet with holes in it and swung his fist barely missing Kabuto. Kabuto stood up and then his glasses broke.

'Oh I see it was that kind of an attack.' He said taking off his glasses however something else was happening and he clutched his stomach in pain coughing up blood.

'Kabuto are you alright?' Asked Naruto and Sakura.

'Put this in your information. The Genin of the sound will all be Chunin when this exam is over.' Said the sound ninja who threw the kunai.

Suddenly a large cloud of smoke appeared and about sixteen leaf ninja were revealed as the smoke faded away. The big one in the middle had a sadistic grin and said 'I am Ibiki Morino, the first proctor of these Chunin exams and as of now, your worst nightmare.'