I do not own 'Naruto'

Chunin exams

Naruto was in a good mood. He was in an official relationship with Ino. His was getting stronger with his training. His unofficial 'students' were getting stronger as well under his watch-and fist.

But there was the bad as well.

"Baka!"

"Dobe."

His Sensei had called a team meeting with them and as usual, he was late. Naruto did his best to drown out the others, but training could only do so much.

"Hello team." Kakashi greeted.

"YOUR LATE!"

"I passed a black cat, so I had to back track around the village." He stated with an eye smile. "I have good knews, I recommended you three for the Chunin exams."

Sasuke and Sakura gained looks of excitement, the chance of promotion will do that to you.

"Are you insane?" Naruto asked.

"Something wrong?" Their Sensei asked.

"He's just scared."

"We'll get killed out there." Naruto stated. "Sure, Sasuke has a little skill but not enough to face the best of the other villages. And Sakura has no skill."

"I believe your teamwork will..."

"You want us to participate in these exams with our level of teamwork?" Naruto asked cutting Kakashi off. "Sakura would spend her time fawning over the Uchiha, thinking he will rescue her. In all honesty, he'd more than likely use us as a meat shield."

"Well I..." Kakashi had nothing to refute that logic.

Sasuke snatched the waivers from the Jounin's hand.

"I'll show you that I can beat these exams without you dobe." Sasuke stated. I can beat those weakling from those other villages, just watch.

"Yeah!" Sakura followed his example. If Sasuke's entering, then so am I!

There was only one waiver left, so Naruto took it.

"The choice is yours Naruto." Kakashi stated. "You don't have to enter."

Naruto was meditating in the training ground, trying to decide on whether or not he should enter the exams. On one hand, if they enter and fail, it could end up in a death sentence against one of the foreign enemies. On the other, if he managed to pass all the exams, he wouldn't have to deal with the Uchiha and his pet.

Decisions. Decisions.

"Ramen will help me think." He muttered.

"Boss, boss!" A panicked voice called.

Naruto turned to see Konahamaru and Udon running towards him.

"What's wrong?" Naruto asked.

"Moegi, some creep kidnapped her!" Udon answered.

Naruto thought this one over. He had trained the K. Corps to be at a decent level himself. Whoever had kidnapped Moegi obviously wasn't a civilian.

"Where are they?" Naruto asked.

"Right here." A voice called from behind.

Naruto and the remaining K. corps turned to see Moegi in the hands of some stranger, a kunai at her neck. He was wearing a tattered cloak, hiding both his identity and head-band, if he wore one.

Naruto tried to activate his bloodline to see who was under the cloak, but couldn't. His eyes told him that no one was there! It wasn't a Genjutsu, poison and drugs don't work on him, so he wasn't hallucinating. He just couldn't make heads or tails of it! Was it a bloodline?

"What do you want?" Naruto asked.

"To keep you weaklings out of the exams." He answered. "They're no place for someone like you."

So he knows me. Naruto thought. Either a villager who doesn't want me to enter, or someone paid to do this.

It didn't matter in the end, he was the enemy and Moegi was his hostage.

Earth Style: Earth Swim Jutsu

Naruto dived into the ground, before everyone's eyes. While the K. corps where impressed, the enemy became a little worried.

"Come out, or I kill this brat!" The enemy shouts.

Naruto did, he came out of the tree, literally, that the enemy was in. Smacking the kunai from his hand, he continued to reach out until his arms was around Moegi. With his free hand, he balanced off the enemy's foot, keeping his in place. While upside down, he delivered a mule-like kick into the enemy's chest causing a few ribs to break.

While the enemy fell, Naruto jumped to the ground with a safe Moegi.

"That was so cool boss!" The K. corps praised.

Naruto didn't acknowledge him, he kept his eyes on the enemy.

"This isn't over!" He shouts as he attempts to stand.

"Tell me who you are." Naruto ordered as he pointed a single finger at the enemy.

"What, do you have loaded fingers?" The enemy mocked.

Naruto didn't answer, he just lowered his finger and held it at the enemy's feet. The stranger followed his finger until he saw it, an explosive tag. He had no chance at removing it as it went off.

"You're safe now." Naruto told the K. corps.

He then heard it, clapping. It wasn't the mocking clap you always hear the bad guys make that signaled trouble. It was a congratulatory clap.

Naruto turned to see who it was, weapon ready and waiting.

From the smocked walked the enemy with his cloak in tatters. He pulled off the last piece to reveal...Iruka.

"S-Sensei?" Naruto asked in shock.

"My my Naruto, you have grown strong." He smiled.

Naruto's eyes snapped open in...what where the words. Shock? Excitement? Whatever it was, it was heavy. But not enough to keep a smile off of his face.

That's Iruka-Sensei for you. Naruto thought. Always teaching, even in death.

Five minuted later and six bowls fuller, Naruto was still undecided.

"Rocks aren't square!" Naruto shouted as he turned to see the K. Corps hiding. "Get out of there!"

"We knew you'd see through our disguise!" Konahamaru stated with a smile.

That was a poor disguise. He thought. "What do you three want?"

"You promised you'd play ninja with us today!"

"A ninja playing ninja, you really are pathetic." Naruto didn't even acknowledge Sakura.

He was about to blow them off when a thought hit him. "You know what, I will."

"Really?"

"Yeah, your hiding skills were so poor it's embarrassing." He stated, making them feel bad. "So let's fix that."

The idea of training brought them back. "How?"

"With pinkie here." Naruto answered pointing to Sakura. "Her skills are so poor that you should be able to hide from her, but she's not dumb enough to fall for square boxes."

"What?!" She asked in outrage. "What makes you think I'll help these brats?!"

"Hey Naruto, is this your...?" Konahamaru ended the question by extending his pinkie.

"As if I'd go out with that idiot?" She answered before he could. "I only want Sasuke-Kun."

"Thank goodness, you can do much better." He answered. "Maybe a girl with a normal sized forehead."

And there it is. Naruto thought.

"You little-!" She screamed as she chased after the K-corps.

Put Sakura with a few smart-mouthed kids and she blows her lid. He thought. Better go make sure they don't kill each other.

Though Sakura was an actual ninja, she was weak, but angry. While the K-corps weren't ninja, they had been training under him. If he had to guess, they were about on even level. Actually, the K. corps had a slight edge, Naruto drilled true team work and skills in them.

He kept at a slight distance as he watched the chase, it was slightly comedic. Until they bumped into a Sand Shinobi.

"That hurt you little brat!" The bandaged one spoke.

"Sorry!" Sakura apologized.

"Kankuro, we have to go." His partner stated.

"Not until I teach this brat a lesson Temari." He stated as his grabbed the kid and held him up.

Then his mental alarms went off, trained from being a Shinobi.

"K-Kankuro!" His sister called.

"Boss!" The cried in joy.

Kankuro turned at the sound of his sister's nervous voice. There stood Naruto behind her with a kunai at her throat. A second Naruto stood beside him, relaxed but with his hand on the W.C.B.

"That kid you're holding is the grandson of the Hokage." Naruto informed calmly. "You're not trying to start a political incident, are you?"

"N-No." Kankuro growled.

A rock came from the trees and slammed into the sand ninja's hand, forcing him to drop the kid.

All eyes turned to Sasuke.

"How long do you plan on staying up there?" Naruto asked.

"Dobe, I-"

"Not you Teme." Naruto stated. "Him."

That was when they realised Sasuke wasn't alone in the tree, a red head was there as well. Naruto noticed how the two Sand nin tensed in fear at his presence.

The red head disappeared via Sand Body flicker and reappeared beside his team.

"Gaara, I-!"

"Shut up Kankuro, or I'll kill you." Gaara stated. "I apologize for my brother."

"No problem, Gaara was it?"

"Yes, I am curios of your name as well."

Naruto just smiled at the redhead, not a kind nor unkind one, it was a secretive one. It told the Sand ninja that he wasn't going to be revealing that information.

His team mate stepped in. "I'm Sasuke Uchiha."

Gaara didn't spare him a second glance as he turned to leave. Naruto turned to do the same.

"Wait!" Sakura shouted. "What are Sand ninja doing here?"

"You must be green." Temari taunted as she pulled out her pass.

"They're here for the Chunin exams." Naruto informed.

Grabbing the K. Corpse under his arms, he left in a body flicker.

"So you came?" Sasuke asked.

"Of course." Naruto answered. "I want to get off this team and move up in rank as much as you do."

"Hn."

The trio made there way inside of the building to start their trials.

As they made their way up a few flight of stairs, they noticed something. There was a gathering of Genin from all around gathered at a door. Naruto even saw a few that he either met or studied.

Hm, what's going on? Naruto asked himself. Genjutsu...I see.

It was obviously a trick to weed out the weaker of the Genin.

Naruto saw Sasuke had a familiar look in his eyes. One that he usually had when he was going to ridicule someone and proclaim his superior over them.

Not this time. Naruto thought as he grabbed the Uchiha.

"It's a trick to weed out the weak." Naruto stated to his team. "Let's go."

"They're not worth my time." Sasuke stated as he moved passed them.

Always gotta state you're the best. Naruto thought with a roll of his eyes.

They made it into a large room that led to the entrance of their exams.

"Hey you, Sasuke Uchiha."

Naruto didn't look back as his teammate met Rock Lee. He was familiar with the Taijutsu beast and his power, it would be over in five minutes.

Naruto came up to a door that would started the trials. In front of it was their Sensei, Kakashi.

"Hello Sensei."

"Naruto." Kakashi greeted. "Where are the other two?"

"Meeting Lee." Naruto answered. "They should be here in a few minutes with some new bruises."

"Have some faith in...never mind." Kakashi mumbled as he saw his remaining students.

"Sensei." Sakura spoke. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see if you all would be participating." He answered. "Unless all three agree to it, none of you can enter."

"So you hoped we would all agree to this, knowing we can't agree on anything else?" Naruto asked.

"...Just get in there."

The members of Team 7 were greeted with a wave of killer intent the moment they walked into the room. Naruto brushed it off, too use to it. Sasuke, while not as adjusted to it, pushed through as well so as not to be shown up. Sakura...

"Naruto-Kun!" Ino cheered as she jumped onto his back.

"Hello Ino-Chan." He greeted back.

"So all of the Rookie Nine are here?" Kiba asked.

"Actually, you have a few more." A voice spoke.

All heads turned to see Haku. Beside her was Sai and another nameless Genin. Together they made up another cell group of Genin, even though their skills are far above that.

"Haku." Ino growled.

"Ino right, sorry about the whole incident." Haku spoke. "I just wanted to hurt your boyfriend...and kill him."

"...Wow." Kiba spoke.

Everyone else was too shocked to form a decent word.

"You all may want to keep it down." A voice advised.

"Why is that?"

"You're drawing unwanted attention."

The Rookie nine turned their attention towards the other Genin, just as their guest had advised. Nearly all of the non-Konoha Genin where focused on them and releasing a stream of killer intent.

"Who are you?" Kiba asked.

"I'm Kabuto..."

As they began talking, Naruto began tuning them out. He decided to do a little...information gathering.

Using his 'eyes', he looked at the competition, deciphering them.

Nearly all them where...disablement, but he had learned not to be arrogant. That would lead to his death, or the death of one of his comrades. There where several that stood out above the rest.

Gaara of the Sand. He had given off some bad vibes from their first meeting, and his sand smelled of blood. There was something else, something deep inside of him. A part of him...yet...separate.

The Kunoichi from Grass. She gave off even worse vibes than Gaara and held an air of death.

Kabuto of the Leaf. Something about him through the blond off, he was a fake. A liar. That much was obvious, he even had enough chakra and control to match Kakashi!

Naruto's attention came back on the Rookie nine at the call of his name. He had paid a bit of attention towards the conversation and knew that Kabuto was giving out information on the contestants.

"Let's see." Kabuto began, only for the card to fall from his hand with a hole in it.

"What's the big idea dobe?" Sasuke growled. "Scared we may learn you're not so great?"

"Words are silver, but silence is gold." Naruto answered. "Why would I want my potential enemies knowing anything about me?"

"Naruto Uzumaki, The loaded finger-The Killer." A voice began. "Rumored to have the fabled bloodline called the 'Killer's Glare." It was the Grass Kunoichi.

Naruto had froze at the words that the Kunoichi had spoke. He had made sure to keep the information under wraps. Only two people actually knew about his bloodline, Danzo and the Hokage. For this Kunoichi to know...

"The Dobe has a bloodline?" Sasuke asked only to be ignored. "I never heard of it, must be as pathetic as he is."

"How does a Grass kunoichi know so much about a Konaha Genin?" Naruto asked coldly.

She only smiled. "Words are silver, but silence is gold."

Naruto's finger tensed.

Naruto had vaguely heard Kabuto insult the Sound village and saw them spring into action. He was tempted to interfere and aid him, he was still Konaha after all, but decided not to. He thought it would be a good idea to gauge them, both Sound and Kabuto.

"Alright maggots!" Someone shouted. "Take your seats so we can begin the exams."

Review.

Sorry for the wait and shortness, there just wasn't much I could do with this chapter. Next will be longer and full of action-You all know how the Forest of Death is.