Second Chances

By: FlameXFullmetal

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. You would know if I did.

A/N: Hello and welcome back. I want you to know that I sat down to type out this chapter on the first of September and when I did I realized that I couldn't find the notebook that I had the matches written in it. So I had to go through and rework the matches only to realize as I was reviewing everything that happened in the last chapter that I made Kabuto forfeit...then counted a preliminary match for him. An easy fix but an annoying one to make. Anyway you know the drill by now!

Marquis shax: I agree whole heartedly that none of the jonin should have been in charge of the genin. Luckily though some of them are more redeemable than the others.

Nightshadegirl: Thank you for pointing out that I misspelled Karin's name. I have gone back to fix that!

Lara5170: I, too, never understood why Suna placed all of the Kazekage's children on the same team. I would almost make it impossible to work with one another if a fight occurred between them. While twelve is to early in the real world, the children of the ninja world have to be far more mature to handle the duties placed on them when they become a ninja. As a result they tend to begin relationships early since they may die at anytime. As for watching for changes...mistakes were made that they will be forced to confront later.

"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 Preliminaries Begin*************

"The first match will be Akado Yoroi vs. Uchiha Sasuke." Hayate called out. Naruto nodded mentally as the match was the exact same. 'The only difference will be in how much damage Sasuke does this time around.' He thought to himself. As Hayate waited for the last of the competitors to make their way to the balcony he eyed the two fighters before him. The Hokage had instructed all of the proctors to pay close attention to team seven in particular. Why he had no idea but as he stared at the Uchiha survivor he realized that the boy wasn't even concerned by the older genin before him. Nor did he look cocky. It seemed as if he had already formulated a plan of attack and was just waiting for the moment to strike. 'Not at all like a genin. More like a seasoned jonin on the front lined of a war.' He mused.

"Begin." No sooner than the word left his mouth Hayate watched as Yoroi slammed into the wall behind him from a devastating punch to the face that he hadn't even seen. Sasuke stood where Yoroi had been fist still extended.

"Get up. There is no way that was enough to defeat you." Sasuke growled as Yoroi slowly pulled himself up. Glaring at his target from behind his glasses, Yoroi cursed. If Sasuke was that strong and fast he wasn't going to be able to hold back which would blow his cover. However, if he held back he wouldn't be able to test him like Orochimaru wanted him to do. Unfortunately, he didn't have much time to think as the genin was in front of him once more and this time he met another wall courtesy of a spin kick to the face. 'I can't even track him!' He practically screamed mentally. The third kick took him by surprise as Sasuke flawlessly performed the shadow dance and launched him into the air. As he did the first time, Sasuke began his Shishi Rendan. The difference this time was the addition of raiton chakra to every blow. 'He's not getting back up, or walking ever again.' Sasuke thought as he slammed his foot into the spy's midsection, the ribs giving way under his foot. Landing on his feet Sasuke turned and headed for the balcony.

"Winner Uchiha Sasuke." Hayate called out in mild shock. The match had displayed a surprising amount of brutality and no restraint despite fighting another leaf nin. Furthermore the Uchiha didn't look concerned at all by his opponent's condition. The speed he displayed was something that Hayate had never thought a genin could accomplish and to top it all off the match had been a mere thirty seconds! As Sasuke reached the balcony he received a high five from his friend and leaned on the railing to wait.

"Next match will be Tsuchi Kin vs. Nara Shikamaru." As the two took their positions Shikamaru sighed.

"Begin." Jumping away from his opponent, Shikamaru drew a handful of kunai and launched them around the ring. Ignoring Kin's mocking about his aim he quickly extended his shadows and caught the girl before she knew what had happened. Walking her towards one of his kunai he reached down and grabbed an imaginary weapon. Unfortunately for Kin, she grabbed a real one. Placing it to his throat he looked at Hayate.

"Call the match. Otherwise I will have no choice but to end her life." He drawled out. Kin's eyes widened as she realized the position she was in. All he had to do was thrust his imaginary kunai further and she would bury the sharp object in her throat ending her own life.

"Winner Nara Shikamaru." Hayate called in shock of having witnessed another half a minute match. Releasing the kunoichi, Shikamaru collected his kunai and headed for the balcony without a word. Looking back at the board Hayate nodded slightly.

"Next match Abumi Zaku vs. Aburame Shino." The fighters arrived quickly and with a quick nod he started the match. Once again the match was quick with Shino surrounding his opponent and forcing his hand...then promptly blowing them off as Zaku refused to quit and used plugged wind tunnels. Hayate sighed. The new genin were making the older shinobi question what they had been doing during their genin days while displaying next to nothing of their skills. Up in the balcony Naruto was nodding to himself. So far the matches had been the same...however, that was about to change and he knew it. Without Sakura or Kiba there was no way that the matches could remain the same. He was proved right when the next match was declared.

"Hyuga Hinata vs. Tsurugi Misumi." As the competitors made their way down Naruto had a raised eyebrow. 'Misumi won't be fighting Kankuro? Interesting. How will you deal with this hime?'

"Begin." Like before Misumi wasted no time wrapping around his opponent. However, unlike before his opponent didn't have a puppet to switch with.

"Give up or I'll break your neck."

"I see." Hinata replied her byakugans having activated as soon as Hayate had given the go ahead. "You send chakra through your limbs to disconnect your joints allowing you to move in any way you desire and use your whole body as a means of restraining your opponent. Unfortunately, you seem to forget what the Hyuga clan's taijutsu can do."

"I know what it does. However, you can't use your hands to shut off my tenketsu, admit it you can't win!"

"What kind of ninja do you take me for?" Misumi raised an eyebrow but before he could ask it felt as if his whole body had lit itself on fire. Releasing the kunoichi he fell to the ground as his technique failed to reverse itself. It was then that he noticed he was on fire.

"A Hyuga is considered an expert in chakra because they are not limited to the number of tenketsu that they can consciously release chakra from. The medics may be able to reconnect your joints but they will never be able to repair the tenketsu I destroyed." She whispered as she turned to leave. As soon as Hayate called the match the medics rushed forward and quickly doused the flames carrying Misumi off to be treated as fast as possible. Naruto smiled and nodded to Hinata who blushed faintly before leaning against her, unbeknown to her, future husband. Hiruzen eyed the heiress closely. He had never heard of a fire based Hyuga attack. In fact, the clan was so set on tradition that they refused to deviate from the chakra based taijutsu style at all. Innovative techniques and changes to the style were discouraged and sometimes even punished. Yet, Hinata had just used an elemental version of the juken which begged the question did the clan even know about it?

"Sabaku no Kankuro vs. Uzumaki Fu." Naruto snorted and shook his head at the match. Focusing on his friend he laughed.

'I guess Kankuro won't be in the finals this time.'

'I wonder how that will change things.'

'Good point. Maybe Shino will get his match this time.'

'Idiot.' Cutting the link the two refocused on the match before them. Kankuro on the other hand was mentally ranting at how unfair his match was going to be when Fu sprinted at him. Cockily he allowed the attack to make contact and then immediately regretted it as he was forced to leave his hiding place when the puppet practically exploded underneath her fist raining a shower of wood, poisoned weapons and fabric. Staring at the girl in shock he began to contemplate his options.

"Surprised?" Fu giggled and then launched at him. Barely escaping her blow he watched in horror as the ground, like his puppet, exploded from her attack. Completely ignoring the orders he had been given he looked at the proctor who, like himself, was staring in horror at he strength she had.

"I forfeit! I doubt there is anyone that can fight against that kind of strength!" Fu stopped mid-charge and outwardly pouted all the while she was laughing with Chomei over the expressions she was getting from everyone.

"Winner Uzumaki Fu!" Kankuro retreated quickly mournfully after gathering the remains of his puppet. The screen flashed one more drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

"Sabaku no Temari vs. Rock Lee." Naruto was beginning to worry. If Lee was fighting Temari then did that mean TenTen would fight Gaara? If not, then who? He was afraid that another of his friends would be injured and he wasn't sure if he could allow that.

"Begin." Temari was about to move when an attack that she couldn't even see slammed into her midsection and launched her across the room and into a wall. Unfortunately, for the sand kunoichi she lost consciousness immediately. Sweat dropping at the boy, Hayate cleared his throat.

"Winner Rock Lee." Naruto shook his head sadly. None of the Suna nins had anywhere near the amount of speed to challenge Lee. The only reason that Lee lost the first time was because of Gaara's sand armor, Shukaku and his own recklessness.

"TenTen vs. Karui." 'Karui? Did her team participate the first time?' Naruto asked himself in shock. Looking over the participants once more he cursed at not noticing the difference. How could he have missed their presence in the village?! Next to him Sasuke seemed to be having the same thoughts. How had he missed the Kumo kunoichi's presence?

"Begin." As Karui unsheathed her sword TenTen grinned and unsealed one of her own making the redhead glare.

"Do you really think that you can beat me in kenjutsu? You sure are cocky. Konoha isn't very well known for sword play you know."

"That may be so, but I will never know how I stand up to swordsmen from other countries if I don't try." TenTen replied and then raced forward her speed startling the Kumo nin. Barely managing to block she shook her shock off and began to try to end the fight quickly. However, she quickly found out the girl before her was no pushover. Despite being from a village that placed emphasis on their bloodlines and ninjutsu she seemed more than just proficient at using the blade she held. Karui clenched her teeth and met TenTen blow for blow.

TenTen on the other hand was carefully watching the kunoichi and looking for weaknesses. It was then that she realized that the longer she matched the girl the more angry she became and the sloppier her attacks became. Nodding to herself as she formulated a plan, she began to take advantage of the openings being left by her opponent. As Karui slowly, but surely, began to lose the match she felt the irritation she was feeling grow. How? How could a Konoha nin match her in kenjutsu?! It was then that she felt the weight of her sword leave her hand and she cursed.

"Not bad for a Konoha nin." She growled. Having lost her sword the only option left available was taijutsu. She had never thought that she would be bested in kenjutsu and as a result put off learning any ninjutsu. Unfortunately, for her TenTen was trained by a taijutsu master. The taijutsu fight lasted only a few moments before she was bested and pinned.

"Winner TenTen." Standing TenTen held out her hand for the Kumo nin to help her up.

"That was a good fight the only problem was that you anger to quickly and focused solely on your kenjutsu." She said smiling.

"What would you know?"

"I used to be just like you. I focused so much on my bukijutsu that any futon user would have been able to beat me. Then I wound up in a joint training session with some other teams thanks to my idiot sensei, and I realized just how weak I was compared to them by only focusing on the one thing I had a natural talent for. So I started to work on the other aspects of the ninja life and have gotten so much stronger because of it." She replied as Karui stared in shock. Shaking her head she ignored TenTen's hand and picked up her sword. Silently she made her way back to her team contemplating the girl's words.

"Next match will be Hyuga Neji vs. Omoi." The match made almost everyone tense in nervousness. It was no secret that there was no love between Kumo and the Hyuga clan after the kidnapping debacle nine years prior. So no one had any clue as to what would happen now. Especially for those well aware of Neji's anger over his father's death. Omoi on the other hand seemed oblivious to his teammates.

"Oh man this is the worst matchup I could have gotten! If I hurt Neji then the Hyuga clan will be angry and may even go after Kumo which will make Raikage-sama angry despite the fact that he agreed to the fact that someone may get hurt in the exams and then he'll declare war on Konoha and that will start the fourth shinobi war and all of the countries will get involved which will end up getting Kumo destroyed and in the end it will be all my fault!" Neji sweat-dropped at the nin and cleared his throat.

"Are you done thinking of the worst case scenario for an expected outcome in a fight between ninja?" Neji said and activated his byakugans. "Besides this is a fight to determine who will continue in the exam, the clan has nothing to do with this." Shaking his head Omoi reached for his sword and waited for the start signal. As soon as they received the go ahead Neji shot forward once again catching a Kumo nin off guard with unexpected levels of speed and landed a palm strike to Omoi' s midsection launching him a few feet back. Not stopping his momentum, Neji quickly sealed all of the tenketsu in Omoi's arms and legs rendering him helpless and unable to continue the match.

"Winner Hyuga Neji."

"You only lost because you were to focused on the what-ifs and not your opponent and surroundings. If we all lived in fear of the what-ifs then nothing would ever get done and the world would never make advancements. The same thing will happen to you as a ninja if you don't change." Neji bit out coldly and headed back to his team making everyone release a sigh of relief they weren't aware that they were holding.

"Next match," Hayate called out as soon as Omoi was off of the floor. "will be Samui vs. Kinuta Dosu." Despite the performance given by the two members of her team Samui looked unperturbed as she made her way down. Eyeing the man closely she allowed her gaze to linger on the device attached to his arm. To her it didn't look natural nor as if it were a protective gauntlet. 'Most likely the source of his attacks. Futon or sound based most likely. Close combat fighter. I'll only have one chance to disable that device before I am caught in the jutsu.' She thought to herself.

"Begin." Watching her opponent closely she drew her tanto and waited for him to move. As he drew his sleeve up and then charged Samui felt that her analysis of his fighting style was correct and dropped under his attack quickly bringing her tanto up and severing his arm from his body the followed it up with a quick decapitation. As she stood she swayed but managed to regain her balance.

"Sound based attack generated by the gauntlets which targets the victims eardrums affecting their balance and perception. A ninjutsu-genjutsu hybrid if you ask me. Not cool." She said cleaning her blade and walking away from the corpse.

"Winner Samui. Next match Yamanaka Ino vs. Akimichi Choji." Ino and Choji felt their eyes widen at the matchup. They had never anticipated that they would be pitted against each other. Making their way to the floor they were blissfully unaware of Naruto's inward struggle.

'Gaara, Haku and myself are left...If I fight Gaara now then things may get out of hand and he may release Shukaku early. Or I may have to show more of my skills then I am ready to show. If Haku faces Gaara the same thing will happen. Could she defeat him? The only jinchuriki she ever faced was me and I couldn't release the nine-tails back then.' He thought his pulse picking up.

"Begin." Unlike the other matches neither combatant moved when the signal was given. Instead, they stared each other down trying to figure how to go about the fight without displaying to much of their abilities. Gritting her teeth, Ino drew a handful of senbon and raced forward. As Choji made to punch her she jumped back and launched the senbon quickly while his arm was still obscuring his vision. Landing on the ground she began weaving hand seals quickly. She knew her clan's techniques were of no use to her against Choji. So she resorted to some of the other techniques she had learned.

Meanwhile Choji was having an internal struggle of his own. Pulling the last of the senbon out he glanced at Ino and cursed as the last of her seals was made. Quickly activating both the Baika no Jutsu and the Nikudan Sensha he began spinning and heading towards Ino. He could only hope that she moved out of the way. Unfortunately, Ino had other plans. Waiting until Choji was almost on top of her she slammed her hands against the ground and released her jutsu.

"Doton: Renga no Jutsu!" A wall of earth rose from the ground quickly right underneath the Akimichi who was unable to see it and launched him high in the air. While Choji was in the air Ino released a hail of kunai with ninja wire attached to form a net.

"That won't work, he's moving to fast and is to heavy for the wire to hold." Karui snorted. As Choji fell and hit the net several of the Kunai were pulled from the ground weakening the net. Despite this it still held and bounced the Akimichi into the air once more. Despite this he came back down onto the arena floor and continued on his path. Only this time he struck the crater formed during Fu's fight and he lost control of his momentum slamming into a wall. As he pulled himself away he looked over at Ino who looked rather proud of herself.

"Nice dodge Ino." He complimented making her smile wider.

"Thanks but this is still my win Choji."

"What do you me..." The Akimichi trailed off as his eyes rolled and he slammed into the ground unconscious. Ino shook her head.

"You would think that after years of being friends he would remember that I live in a flower shop." Omoi felt his eyes widen as the confusion cleared.

"Poison. She had a tranquilizer on those senbon. She was merely biding her time until it kicked in." He whispered in awe. Even Karui had to admit that it was a rather genius way to combat the Akimichi clan.

"Winner Yamanaka Ino. The final match will be between Momochi-Yuki Haku and Uzumaki Naruto. Due to the uneven number of combatants Sabaku no Gaara will receive a pass to the next round." Almost immediately the gathered ninja heard Haku yell out.

"I have no hope at the moment of defeating Naruto so I forfeit." Even the Sandaime felt his eyes widen in shock. The girl had forfeited against the one genin that everyone wanted to see fight. Furthermore, it was no secret that she had been trained by Zabuza himself and was considered by the former Kiri-nin to be stronger than him. That was implying that Naruto, the village prankster, was stronger than an A-rank nuke nin.

"Very well. Winner by forfeit Uzumaki Naruto. If I could have all of the finalists make their way down to the arena we will complete this faze of the exams."

"We want everyone to select a number from this box and inform us of what it is." Hayate said as Anko came around with a box that had small slips of paper in it. One by one the genin read off their numbers. One by one the numbers were read out and by the time the last number was selected the Hokage turned and looked at the genin.

"The match-ups for the final round of the chunin exams that will take place in one month's time will be as follows:

Match one: Sasuke vs. Rock Lee

Match two: Shikamaru vs. Shino

Match three: Ino vs. Fu

Match four: Neji vs. Hinata

Match five: Naruto vs. Samui

Match six: Gaara vs. TenTen." He read out making some eyes widen in shock.

"From there the winner of match one and two will face each other as will the winners of match three and four and matches five and six. This will continue until there is only one fight left. Questions?" Naruto found himself ignoring the old man once more as he thought about the matches. He found many of them to be fine but he was deeply concerned about TenTen's match. He could only hope that she forfeit this time around unlike the last time when she sustained unnecessary injuries. He was also concerned about his match with Gaara in the second round. Would that be when the invasion starts? Or will Orochimaru wait until Sasuke is presented with a challenge? Will Shukaku be released during the match? There were so many questions and not enough answers to be of any help. Sighing he followed his team out of the room and then the forest as he continued to ponder. Before long he found himself in front of his apartment building.

"I can't let things get out of hand. I will just have to prepare for everything and that means finding a secluded place to train in my family's jutsu. I wonder if the old man will let me train in Uzu for the next month?" He wondered aloud and then disappeared into the empty apartment. All around Konoha many genin had similar thoughts as they wondered what would happen next month.

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

A/N: Well that does it for this chapter and the preliminaries. As I have said previously I am not very good at fight scenes so I hope that they weren't terribly disappointing. I already have the next chapter planned as well I just have to find the time to type it out. Anyway until next time! Ja ne!