Second Chances

By: FlameXFullmetal

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not make money from this story. Trust me if I did it probably wouldn't be here on a website but instead published.

A/N: I apologize for the late update as I have said I was having a lot of trouble updating in the past but it seems to have fixed itself. I have also solved my internet problems. I will not promise an update schedule but I will try to have something out every month even if it is an apology for being late. Thanks for sticking with me this far. Please read the a/n at the bottom.

"hello" people (bijuu in human form) speaking

'hello' people (bijuu in human form) thinking/coded hand signals

"HELLO" bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity yelling

"hello" bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity talking

'hello' bijuu (full demon form)/summoning/deity thinking

hello jutsu

********************The academy exams pt. 1***********

"What hit me?" Naruto groaned as he sat up holding his head.

'That would be the jutsu that you used to bring yourself to the past, kit.' The kyuubi retorted. Shakily standing Naruto cursed as he saw the date. 'Lovely final exams. I have a pounding migraine, no idea of how well I am going to work in my younger, weaker body and no plan on how I should go about this now that I know what to expect.'

'Well that would be your fault for not planning ahead of time.'

"I couldn't plan ahead. I had no idea where the jutsu would send me. All I know is that it would be a time where I existed and that would be able to handle the memories and chakra coming back with me. I can still use your chakra right? Or am I going to have to work up to that again?"

'I will be able to tell you more when you are at full strength. By the way at this rate you are going to be late.'

"NO FAIR!" Naruto yelled as he ran (as best as he could) out of his apartment and towards the school. Mentally he prayed that Sasuke was having a much better time than he was.

Across the village another lone figure was sitting up rubbing at the back of his head groaning. 'It worked. Good. Where am I? Oh my training field. Judging by the positioning of the shuriken over there and the equipment I have on me, I am somewhere near the academy graduation.' Sasuke worked out while massaging his head. After a second he smiled at himself. He had managed to perfect his timing and the jutsu to pull it off. Wincing he glanced at the sun's position he cursed. He was going to be late. 'Well I suppose if I need to I can take advantage of my near god like status that they have given me. This is going to take some time to adjust to. I should get to the academy. I'll try and work some of the specifics out at lunch with the hokage.' Freezing in mid-step Sasuke cursed. 'I am going to have to make sure that I don't say that to him.'

Naruto and Sasuke actually met half way to the academy. They only needed to take one glance at each other before they knew that the other was suffering from the same migraine. Snickering they sped up and started to race to the academy. Their rivalry had been reignited somewhat. Bursting through the door they both gave sheepish looks at Iruka and Mizuki.

"Sorry Iruka-sensei. I was helping the dobe with his aim. I can't say if it has improved any though." Sasuke quickly explained knowing that Naruto would pick up on the excuse to keep him out of trouble.

"Hey watch it teme! I was doing pretty well until you startled me by yelling that we were going to be late! Besides who gets up at four in the morning to practice kunai and shuriken anyway?" Naruto huffed in a manner that was befitting of his younger days. Shaking his head Iruka groaned.

"Take your seats but do try to be more mindful of the time next time." He lectured getting a nod from both of the boys. "Alright now that everyone is here we can start the final exam. This exam will be held in several parts. The first will be a test of your academic knowledge. This will test if you have been paying attention to my lectures over the years, following that will be accuracy. You will be tested on your kunai and shuriken technique. Following that will be a test of your taijutsu. This will be a tournament style test in which you will spar with each other, your performance will be watched carefully and you will be graded based on your performance. Your parents have been invited to watch the tournament as well, so try not to goof around. We will break for lunch after that. Immediately after lunch has ended you will be tested on genjutsu and finally ninjutsu. Any questions?"

"Iruka-sensei, does the winner of the tournament get extra credit for winning or no?" one civilian born student asked.

"No the winner will not receive extra credit for winning the tournament."

"Dang."

"No more questions? Good we will begin then."

'Kyuubi is there any way that I can talk to Sasuke mentally? I need to ask him something and drawing a seal or using ANBU hand seals would be too noticeable.'

'I can try to establish a link between his sharingans and you.'

'Thanks.' Meanwhile Sasuke was breezing through the written exam. It had been easy the first time and even easier the second time.

'Sasuke?'

'Hokage-sama?'

'You know I don't like it when you call me that. Besides you are going to have to get used to not calling me that.'

'I know that. I'm trying. Did you need something? I won't help you with the test if that's what you want.'

'Damn it teme! Do you think that I should fail like I did last time and have the same team or do I try and risk us being separated?'

'Good question. If you fail you will have to work harder to keep any improvements in your ability to a reasonable growth which may hinder our mission. At the same time not being on the same team would hinder it as well. I say follow your instincts they have never been wrong before.'

'Thanks teme.'

The written ended more quickly than Naruto remembered but maybe that was because he wasn't as nervous. As they headed outside and lined up for their accuracy test Naruto yawned.

'So we will go with the whole I was hiding my real ability to keep me safe ploy?'

'Yeah that sounds like a good idea. Besides I technically laid the ground work for that when I said that we had been training this morning.'

'Good point. Sasuke, thanks for coming with me.'

'It's the least that I can do for you dobe. After all of the problems that I caused, I am just trying to make up for my mistakes you know that right?'

'You already did teme. You almost died saving my children, you have dedicated every waking moment since your return to helping me and the village, and you agreed to come back to a time when your demons were still alive. There is nothing to repent for.'

'Maybe not in your eyes dobe, but there is plenty in mine.' As Naruto stepped up to the line he tested the weight of the kunai and shuriken noting that they felt much heavier than they should.

'Teme Mizuki is trying to rig the exams. I may need some help. If I even want a chance getting these to the target I'm going to have to use my chakra to enhance my throw.'

'I'll cover if needed, just try not to use too much.'

'I'll try but you know that I have control issues at this age.'

'Issues? Try none.' Naruto pouted and threw the kunai with as little chakra as he could. Luckily the kunai and shuriken just got imbedded deeper than normal. Everyone in the court yard gapped. The dead last had just gotten a perfect score when he was usually lucky to hit half.

"Huh, would you look at that? He did improve." Sasuke mocked playfully.

"I told you I did!" Naruto fired back in jest. The accuracy test ended much like it had the first time. Then it was the tournament. Glancing around Naruto and Sasuke noticed a few things that they hadn't the first time. Like the prospective jonins hiding in the back watching them. Smirking Naruto gave Sasuke a look that clearly said 'let's give them a good show'. Nodding Sasuke and Naruto took their places among the other students. Their exchange however, was missed by everyone but Kakashi and Hinata. 'Interesting they are already in sync with each other.' Kakashi mused.

'Naruto-kun, how close are you and Sasuke really?' Hinata questioned quietly.

"Alright the first match will be Hinata vs. Ami." Iruka announced as the girls took their places. Hinata was nervous. Her father was watching and she knew that she was going to mess up. Ami on the other hand was confident. She knew that she could win this with one little taunt.

"Aw, Iruka-sensei why do I have to fight the mouse? I might hurt her." She questioned. Hinata looked down in embarrassment. She usually did lose against Ami. While the girl was civilian born she did have a mean streak and she was a bully.

"Ami watch the comments. That is unnecessary." Iruka warned.

"Don't listen to her Hinata! She's just scared that you will beat her! So she's attacking with words. You can win the whole thing if you believe in yourself!" Naruto yelled smirking. The last time she had been encouraged by him she had done quite well. Hopefully this time she will as well. As Hinata's head snapped up she smiled towards Naruto and took her stance. 'Naruto-kun believes that I can do this. He has never hit the bulls-eye before and yet he did today. That is proof that people can change. That means that I can to!' Ami wasn't the only one surprised by the sudden change in behavior. Neji, Hanabi and Hiashi were as well. Though in Hiashi's case it was hard to tell. 'Interesting the jinchuuriki seems to inspire her. Perhaps I have been going about her training all wrong.' Hiashi mused to himself. The match itself didn't last very long and for the first time Hinata was able to defeat Ami. Her smile was as bright as the sun as she left the ring leaving a fuming bully behind.

"See I told you that you just needed to believe in yourself." Naruto commented with a huge smile. Up in his hiding place, Kakashi smiled under his mask. 'Perhaps I do have a specific team I want after all.'

"T-Thank you N-Naruto-kun."

"For what? Reminding you that the only thing that can truly hold a person back is themselves? Silly Hinata you knew that the whole time." Naruto was beaming inside. He vowed that he would not be as oblivious to Hinata this time around. He would be there for her this time and he would not let anything happen to her. There weren't that many girls so the matches proceeded quickly. All too soon there was only four girls left. Sakura, Ino, Hinata, and another civilian girl. Each one had performed remarkably and each one had surprised the audience in some way or another although it wasn't all good. Many were questioning the education that the kunoichi were getting if that was the average skill level that they had. Sakura quickly lost her match to Hinata due to poor training and Ino won hers just as fast. The final match came down to two of the more sensible kunoichi. As they faced each other Ino's face split into a huge grin.

"So, you just needed a little more encouragement, ne?" she questioned. Hinata blushed and nodded but that was all. As Iruka called for the match to begin neither moved. Each waiting for the other to make the first move. Hinata was fine waiting. She had discovered during her fights that she fought better if she reacted to an attack and not instigated one. Ino however, was not so patient. When she realized that Hinata wasn't going to move she attacked, and quickly dodged a palm strike. Jumping back she noticed a faint smile on the heiress' face.

Smirking she attacked once again instigating a series of attacks that failed to make their mark. As the match progressed with each girl dodging the other it quickly became obvious who the winner was. The Yamanaka clan focused mainly on long distance abilities preferring to allow the Akimichi clan do the close range attacks. The Hyuga clan on the other hand specialized in close range combat. Something Hinata had been trained in since she was little. A little to late Ino noticed that she had left her side open and Hinata capitalized on it. One strike and she was down for the count. It took a few moments for it to sink in after Iruka called the match but Hinata's face broke into a huge grin when it hit her that she had just won the tournament. Well the girl's side anyway. She usually didn't last that long.

Turning she noticed the big sunny smile that Naruto was giving her and nearly bounced out of the ring to allow the boys to have their turn. In the stands Hiashi allowed himself to give a rare smile at Hinata's performance. 'Yes perhaps that will work after all.' He schemed. Next to him, Neji scowled. Hinata's sudden change in performance was in defiance of everything that he believed. 'It was a fluke' he thought to himself. Hanabi on the other hand was both baffled and proud of her sister. 'Nee-chan has never shown that kind of improvement before.' She thought.

The boy's half of the tournament became the talk of the town however. Naruto quickly progressed through the first round defeating another boy that always taunted him. The speed at which he accomplished the feat was surprising to everyone watching, even the Hokage. Sasuke progressed as expected if only faster than expected. True to form both Shikamaru and Choji forfeited at the same time once again refusing to fight one another. Kiba defeated his opponent quickly as well. Expected from a clan that focuses on taijutsu. Shino won his match only slightly slower than the rest of the group. Still it was more than anyone expected from a clan that preferred to fight using their kikai. The second round was somewhat different as Naruto faced off against Kiba.

"Ready to lose Naruto?" Kiba taunted. Of all the students Naruto had always had the most trouble fighting him and Sasuke. Naruto just slipped into his normal taijutsu stance, well the one of the styles he had learned after becoming Hokage when he realized that the taijutsu he had been taught by the toads was not as effective if he wasn't using his senjutsu.

"If the dobe is using that style the match is already over." Sasuke commented getting everyone's attention. Only Ino dared to ask.

"What style?"

"The dragon style. A very old style that relies on unpredictability to counter any and all opponents. The style wasn't well known until Madara Uchiha learned it and used it frequently. He preferred it to the interceptor fist of the Uchiha clan. While it was never documented as a clan style as the elders disapproved of a non-clan style, no one else ever tried to learn it." The people who could hear him were surprised.

"Why not? If it is that strong then why not try to learn it?" Shikamaru questioned.

"It is said that the style chooses who learns it and that it is impossible for most to learn let alone master. I don't believe that Madara ever mastered the style. I, myself, tried to learn it but it didn't make any sense and to me the forms didn't flow like they are supposed to. For the dobe however, it is as if he was born knowing the style." Sasuke replied.

"Well I still say that the baka has no chance." Sakura huffed. She had been shown up by both Naruto, the class clown and dead last, and Hinata, the wallflower and pushover, in the same day.

"Well despite what you erroneously believe, pinky, the dobe has already won this match." Sasuke snapped out of character. Sakura drew back as if she had been bitten. No one had ever heard Sasuke talk to anyone like that before. Let alone one of his fan girls. Kiba who had heard the entire exchange huffed as well.

"I don't care what style you are using, this match is mine!" he boasted. Naruto just shrugged.

"Believe what you will. We will never know the victor if the match doesn't start." He replied calmly. Up in the stands Gai's jaw had dropped.

"The dragon style! I never believed that I would live to see this most youthful style revived!" He exclaimed in awe. Before anyone could ask what he was talking about Iruka started the match. Kiba charged in as he had in all of his previous fights with Naruto, a strategy that has always worked, only to be grabbed and thrown across the arena landing on his ass.

"I don't care what Sasuke says, that was jujitsu." One boy exclaimed.

"It was. The dragon style contains elements of any and all taijutsu styles. Jujitsu is no exception." Sasuke educated the listeners. Kiba stood gingerly and glared at Naruto who had already slipped into another stance. This time however, it was Naruto that attacked and it was the last attack of the fight. As Naruto's open palm connected with Kiba's nose he was not only sent flying backwards out of the ring but everyone heard the distinct sound of bones breaking. Relaxing Naruto looked over at Kiba and shook his head.

"You have been using that same strategy against me for four years now kibbles, did you really think that I would fall for it?" laughter erupted in the room as everyone took in Kiba's new nickname. As Kiba was fuming Iruka started the next match proud of his surrogate brother. 'He truly has improved. However, I have never heard of anyone improving that much so quickly. Has he been hiding his true strength? His movements flowed together perfectly instead of the choppy almost forced and exaggerated movements he usually displayed.' Sasuke ended his match against Shino. He had managed to force the bug user to display more of his skill than he had intended. The other fights were somewhat mediocre until the last two standing were Sasuke and Naruto. Smirking at each other they slipped into their usual sparring stances. Sasuke in his lion style and Naruto in his self-made kitsune style.

"Well then let the best man win, dobe." Naruto just smirked in response.

"I intend to." As soon as Iruka called for the match to start they met in the middle of the arena trading blows that were, for the most part, invisible to almost everyone watching. Each blow being countered or redirected. None of the attacks were making contact. Iruka could hardly believe his eyes. Naruto had never lasted thirty seconds against Sasuke and now he was going blow for blow against him. The adults couldn't stop their jaws from hitting the floor and even the stone façade Hiashi usually used in public fell to show his shock. For those that knew what they were watching, and could see it, the two academy students before them were fighting well above genin level and closer to jonin level. 'How is this possible?' they all thought.

For almost twenty minutes Sasuke and Naruto traded blows neither giving an inch until Sasuke felt the exhaustion from his study sessions kick in. While he was physically rested he had brought the mental exhaustion with him. This caused him to overextend on a punch that Naruto capitalized on. A punch to the stomach and a kick to the chin later he was laying on his back outside of the boundaries cursing at himself for letting himself get so tired. Not a sound was made as the crowd took in what they had just seen. The dead-last of the academy had just defeated the shoe in for rookie of the year. Naruto gave a knowing smile and helped Sasuke to his feet.

"I'm tired to Sasuke we studied far too hard. I just deal with it better as I'm used to it. Don't beat yourself up over it ok?" Iruka didn't think that he could take many more surprises. They had done that while exhausted? How many times had Naruto come to school exhausted? Nodding Sasuke grinned at Naruto.

"We have to try that again later. That's the longest we have gone while remaining in the same place." Laughing Naruto nodded enthusiastically. Then he looked around and giggled sheepishly.

"I think we broke them." Sasuke nodded and then laughed.

"Oh well." As soon as he got his bearings straight Iruka called the match and then dismissed everyone for lunch. In the back of the room Kakashi couldn't help but feel that the two were hiding something big. Hinata also knew that something was up as Naruto and Sasuke had never fought on a level like that and she knew that Naruto never sparred with Sasuke so there could have been no way for them to know each other's moves that well. 'If someone is impersonating Naruto-kun they will regret it.' She vowed.

**************************T.B.C.*************************

A/N: I would have continued but this seemed like a good place to stop. I hope that everyone enjoyed the update and hope that there are no rotten tomatoes being thrown for being away so long. I absolutely refuse to place Sakura with Sasuke as a pairing. The way that I see it Sakura is abusive and well not even fit to be a kunoichi. Unfortunately as I do not own Naruto I can't change that. However, I will also not put Sasuke with Ino either. She is already spoken for. Until next time! Ja ne!