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I DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER OR THEIR SUCCESSORS IN ANY SHAPE OR CAPACITY. I ONLY OWN MY FICTITIOUS OC'S.

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Upload Schedule: Sundays and Thursdays

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Glossary: Scene breaks will be denoted by a line of X's

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Demonic or summons speech"

'Demonic or summons thoughts'

Jutsus shall be rendered in Japanese or English depending on which they are. For example, I will not be saying Almighty Push, I will be saying Shinra Tensei, or Rasengan instead of Spiraling Sphere. However instead of Raiton: Gian I will be saying Lightning Style: False Darkness

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"In tough times, everyone has to take their share of the pain." - Theresa May

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So it seems many people enjoyed the last chapter, my Favorite list went up by ten, but the Alerts went up by forty. This chapter will be the beginning of the Chunin Selection Exams, I will not be doing the second exams from the series due to the nature of my story. I told you all, these Shinobi are SHINOBI, they are soldiers, not children, and their senseis expect them to be such. The exams all have purpose, information gathering, strength tests, and at the end a show to lure in customers. My second exam will not be like the Forest of Death and will probably be shorter, but it will not be safer. I will cover the first and second exams this chapter, the next will cover the preliminaries and the month long of training. I apologize but you will begin to notice the majority if not all of my scenes written are of Team 7, their Master, or Minato. I very rarely will differ from this and write other scenes. I only write separate character scenes if they pertain to the plot of the story, such as Hiruzen. I figured that a warning was due for this arc as well, during the second arc there are going to be some stresing scenes that will be written and those who have had a loved one or know someone who has committed suicide, you are not alone. IF you know someone who is struggling with thoughts of self harm, or are harming, please Call 1-800-273-8255, you are not alone. Till this chapters Epilogue,

~Ardent Chronicler

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Naruto looked down on the small drawing board that Minato and Naruto have been practicing on for over a week. Naruto had taken to his studies like a fish to water, within three days he had corrected the problems with his writing, and his training with the Yu Yan clan made his perception to details outstanding. Minato has had him practicing the basic language to seals making, and teaching him how each seal interconnects and how they function. So far Narutos progress led him to be able to craft simple sealing scrolls. Though, Naruto was proud of his natural affinity, it was the last day of training before the first day of the Chunin exams that their training had taken a turn.

"Good Naruto, though you could have cut down half of the seals by interconnecting the containment seal and time delay seals earlier on with the chakra activation seal." Minatos hands had pointed around the seal and showed him where he was talking about. Minato placed his own version down next to Narutos. Minatos storage seal was only the size of a quarter, and Narutos had been the size of a dinner plate. Minato began to drone on about efficiency and how to reduce the number of seals needed by interconnecting parts.

"I see, though wouldn't it be possible, theoretically, that if you were to place the containment seal overlapping the activation seal that if the chakra flowed there would be simultaneous activation?" Naruto looked into Minatos eyes and it was almost like Minato had an epiphany. He watched Minato furiously mark with his brush and when he was done Minato had condensed the seal into the size of a dime. Minato placed a spare pencil on the seal and activated it, the pencil had vanished. Reactivating the seal the pencil appeared. Naruto saw the smile widen on Minatos face before he was enwrapped with a hug.

"I never thought to do that! Naruto, you really do take after your mother." Minatos smile was stunned before his face dropped, he looked back to Naruto and gave him a smile.

"Can I ask a question Minato?"

"You just did but yeah, go ahead."

"I only met mother recently in the seal, but, was she always such a strong woman?"

"What do you mean?"

"Would she have ever, I mean, do you ever think she had dark thoughts?"

Minato studied his sons face and could see the conflict written all over it.

"You mean was she depressed, or do you mean if she was ever suicidal?"

Naruto looked conflicted, his emotions had been bleeding through more and more as time went by here in this village, and it perturbed him.

"I mean, do you ever think she hated something so strongly that she would have done anything to kill them."

"Yes and no. Kushina, she was. She was an outstanding woman of character, she lived hard and loved harder. Her passion was what drew most to her, when she set her mind to something, nothing would stop her, absolutely nothing."

"Still, did she ever feel the darkness in herself?"

"She did."

"What'd she do?"

"She grabbed it by its nasty horns, and made it her bitch. She hated Kumogakure, absolutely despised them since they tried to kidnap her. If I hadn't intervened, you probably wouldn't exist right now. She hated them with such a passion that when the war started she immediately requested to go to the northern front and battle Kumo. Despite our insistence on her staying close to Konoha should anyone try to invade, she made her way there and slaughtered thousands of benders, warriors, and shinobi. People don't talk about her exploits due to my own being more flashy, but do not kid yourself here. She slayed more men in her first fight than I did over the entire campaign. When the war ended and she had almost literally bathed in their blood you know what she told me?"

"What?"

"She felt hollow, the anger, hate, it was all gone and whenever she thought about the Kumo shinobi, all she would feel is hollow. I have never seen her defeated and utterly helpless, til that night. You see, she wasn't like us Naruto. Me and you, we can hide our emotions easy enough. She, she was a creature of passion, driven by emotion, and filled with love. That is who your mother was."

"I see."

"If I can ask, why did you bring it up?"

"The Tsukuyomi."

"I see, if you don't mind, what did that ninja make you see?"

"The ANBU made me see mother, kill herself over, and over again and all she would say to me is that this was my fault."

Minato knew there were boundaries Naruto set between them, but in that moment he said fuck them. Minato wrapped his son in a tight embrace and pet the back of his head.

"I am so sorry you had to see that Naruto. Your mother would never do something like that, ever." Minato felt Naruto tense up, but when Narutos form slackened and he hugged Minato back he felt relief.

"Thank you."

Minato broke the hug and nodded, looking towards the clock he smiled and tossed Narutos hair.

"You better hurry home, Tenzin will be there in five hours, you may want to be rested for tonight."

Naruto nodded and after packing his supplies away he left the Namikaze home a small bit comforted, but still dwelling on his own darkness.

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Sakura was nervous, she had been training for this day, but it still wracked her nerves. She turned the corner and saw her teammates and Master standing together and talking, rushing over to them she smiled widely.

"Morning!"

Itachi smiled to her before tossing her hair gently.

"Morning Sakura, are you ready?"

Sakura nodded viciously, she was pumped, and she even had new training gear to go with her attitude. She now wore the standard Shinobi uniform, a dark navy long sleeved shirt, matching pants, wrapped at the ankles and her right thigh. Situated right above her rear were two gear backs that held all of her needed equipment, and then her pride and joy. Situated on her back from the top of her right shoulder to the bottom of her left side was a Katana. She had been practicing for weeks with her mom and dad to get it down, and they were satisfied enough with her progress to send her with the sword.

"I see you have been busy, you do know how to use that right?"

"That's what she said." Sakura bust a gut from the joke and the look of annoyance on Sasukes face said all she needed.

"Yeah, yeah I know how to use it. Mom and Dad have been teaching me for years, but I finally proved myself to them."

Naruto nodded to her before the three teammates said their farewells to their Master and got in line to enter the Academy. Though Naruto pulled his team from the entry way.

"What's wrong Naruto?"

"Something's wrong, the door frame, it shimmered."

Sasuke quietly activated his Sharingan and saw what Naruto was talking about.

"It's a Genjutsu, hidden, but there. They are leading us to the wrong classroom. We need to find the right room." Sasuke motioned for them to follow, he could see the residual chakra that matched the guards at the door and led around the building. Once on the other side he noticed the chakra leading over the railway to the roof.

"We have to go up." Sasuke began to climb the wall with Chakra.

Naruto scaled the wall just as quickly but using his climbing skills instead of chakra.

"Slow pokes." Sakura just leapt from the ground her legs filled with chakra and she landed on the rail. She stepped off and saw the door open and had the official seal of the Chunin exams on the open door.

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Itachi was being a tad bit impatient, his mind running over all of the possible outcomes of the exams. He was antsy, and it took a lot for him to become antsy, he started fiddling with performing hand signs for his Fireball Jutsu.

"Master!"

Itachi turned to look down the hallway and there they were, his students. He put on a smile and as soon as they joined him he began to lead them to the examination room.

"Master, do you know what form of trial we will be encountering?"

"Indeed I do however, rules and regulations keep me from being able to tell you Naruto." Itachi nodded to the door at the end of the hallway that had two men in white uniforms standing by the doors.

"I cannot follow you, but I can tell you some advice. Never stop trusting each other, always have a plan, and remember that if the worst case happens you can use chakra into your seal and I will be able to come and get you. Naruto, for the worst situation, if you come across someone you can't handle, then use Minatos seal. This test is not worth your lives, so I expect you to give your all, but make sure you do not give your life to this."

"Yes Master."

"I understand brother."

"M'kay master."

Itachi looked to the three with pride, they were his students, his pride, and his legacy. Itachi began to leave them and headed towards the Jonin Lounge that had been set up for the Masters to watch their students.

Sakura stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes, she took in several breathes and unleashed her hidden talent. No one except her parents and Master knew about it, she was a sensor. Sakura cast her net out and felt the pings of chakra, she could feel their emotions, their natures, even their health. She was told by her mother that her sensing ability was on par if not surpassing the legendary Uzumaki Kaguras bloodline. She felt three chakra pools that stood out to her and opening her eyes she could see them glowing. A golden chakra with a red center, an electric blue, almost like lightning incarnite, and then one that felt wrong, and dirty, it felt like the absence of light and life. She entered in the door with her teammates and smiled as she immediately saw her classmates.

"Sasuke!"

Sakura heard him physically groan in anguish as a certain blonde missile latched to his back. She stifled a laugh as she looked to the two boys following her old friend. One with a hightail hair pitch as night, and one with bright brown hair with swirls on his cheeks.

"Ino! Shika! Choji! How are you three doin'?"

"Oh, you're here Sakura?"

"What does that mean piggy."

"Oh you know what it means fivehead!"

Sasuke shrugged off Ino so the two girls could have their fight on their own time. He walked over to Naruto while watching Choji try to break the girls up.

"Hey, Sasuke."

Sasuke turned his head and saw Team 8 walking towards them.

"Hey Kiba."

Naruto saw the three and he scowled, he does not like Kiba one bit.

"Oh, hey matchstick."

Naruto took a breath and just turned away from the three and walked over to where Team 10 was having conflict with Sakura, he was about to interrupt them when a loud voice stopped them all dead.

"That's enough maggots! You each were given a number, find your fucking seat and for the love of god SHUT THE FUCK UP."

Sakura looked to the man, she felt it, the dark chakra like it was trying to absorb all the light and life in the room. She took her seat, to her immediate left was a boy who looked like a mummy, and a girl who had mint green hair. The girl with the mint green hair turned to Sakura and smiled, this was the person with the golden chakra! Sakura smiled, now that she was this close, she could put words to it. The girls chakra felt like standing at the edge of an abyss and looking out to the horizon, feeling the warm breeze and comforting sun on your skin. She saw the girl with the mint green hair smile widely to her.

"Alright deadbeats, my name is Ibiki Morino, my assistant Anko Mitarashi and I will be giving you the first examination. This will be a written exam testing your capabilities in thought process. All of the questions will be logic based and at the end of the exam I will be issuing a tenth question. Even if you pass the rest of the test, if you fail that last question you WILL be ejected from your respective villages Shinobi programs. There are only three rules to this examination, rule one is simple, I OWN you. If I say jump, you jump, if I say lick my boot, you will ask no questions. Now, I will let my assistant finish while I pass out the test documents."

Naruto watched as Ibiki grabbed a thick stack of papers and began to hand them out.

"Alright kiddos, these next two rules are of my own design. If you are caught cheating three times you will be asked to leave, though your teammates have a choice. They can sacrifice your own future for their own. BY letting you get ejected from the system they will continue with the examination. Rule three, and the most important, if you speak when not spoken to, you will fail your teammates, not just yourself. You all will be ejected from the system and will be barred from being able to train. Do you understand?"

Naruto barked a yes ma'am as per his training, but the rest of them were quiet.

"SHE SAID DO YOU UNDERSTAND MAGGOTS!"

"SIR YES SIR!" Naruto heard the collective call as Ibiki began to hand out the last test. Watching the woman in front of him scanning the crowd with efficiency he notd her uniform was different than Ibikis. Naruto had been drilled through all of the uniforms of Konohagakure in preparation for his arrival. Ibiki wore the standard grey two piece uniform, with a non standard trench coat. This woman's uniform was different. She wore a creak Yukata with a simple blue and white traditional wave painting with th shoulders removed showing her bare shoulders, and a set of long cream leggings with a dark grey battle skirt. She wore calf high shinobi sandals that rose over her leggings and her waist length hair was left free flowing down her back. Though her most prominent feature were her sturdy brown eyes, reminding Naruto of a strong oak tree. He saw her eyes meet his and she smirked sticking her tongue out at him.

"Get to work brat, or I'll fail you."

Naruto took the hint and began looking over the questions, he was confused. These questions were indeed logic based, but they all involved leaving your teammates or the mission for your teammates. Naruto began to fill out the questions using logic, but all of his answers answered in the same way, if it had been his teammates, mission be damned he wouldn't leave either of them behind. Naruto felt a tug on his chakra and noticed his shadow had been connected to another, he smirked. Shikamaru had linked the two together so that he could bum answers off of Naruto. Naruto decided to pull a Sakura and prank him and began writing in the Yu Yan standard, a simple code made of lines and dots and circles. Naruto wrote five answers in the code before Shikamaru withdrew his shadow. He watched team after team fall, until surprisingly it was down to fifteen teams. Ten Konoha, two Suna, one of the Sound, and one from Waterfall. It was nearing the last ten minutes when Naruto was on the last question, and this one shook him to the core.

Prompt # 34 Your female teammate was raped and left for dead, bleeding and bruised from capture. There were obvious signs of torture and she is missing three fingers. She begs you to kill her, to end her suffering, and you have no weapons. You are deep in enemy territory and have to return to the FOB with the intel you gathered. What will you do?

Naruto seemed deeply disturbed by this question, he would never leave Sakura behind, she was too important to him and his team. So he began to write in honesty.

Following the rules of Prompt #34 I would perform the following actions. I would stem the bleeding of the missing fingers, whether by using my own clothes as a tourniquet or by coagulating the blood with the dirt. I would then make sure her form would be covered and protected from the elements giving her my own clothes if necessary. I would take her to a water source to wash her and to make sure her wounds were not as bad as it seemed. I would then head to the FOB, time crunch or rules be damned. Sakuras life is worth more than intel.

Naruto was satisfied when he heard a bell ring.

"Alright maggots, your time has ended. I will not issue the final question. If you get this question wrong you will be sent home, banned from being a shinobi, and you will be kept from seeing your teammates ever again. Now, this is the final question, the answer period is only one minute so act quickly. Your answer will be one of two options, you will walk out the door to my left if you say no, or you will stay in place if you say yes. Now, pay attention because here is the question."

Naruto watched Ibiki write on the board one simple line.

The mission is the most important thing to the village, your teammates are not.

Naruto did not even have to think, he stood faster than any Genin and began to move out of the door, his teammates fell in behind them. Teams 8, 9, and 10, one of the Sand, the Waterfall, and the Sound team. They all filed out of the classroom and standing in the hallway were two squads of ANBU black ops covered head to toe in black garbs. The teams had not time to react before each of them fell unconscious.

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Naruto opened his eyes, his vision was blurry but he was aware he was in a dark room. He saw a figure walking around but as his vision came back to him he saw a tall, pale man with long black hair, he was in a similar uniform as the woman from earlier but minus the battle skirt.

"Ah, so you finally join us Yu. Now that you have joined us, I will fill you in on the information. This is the second examination, this test is one of great importance due to the type of information you will be carrying. Your teammates have gone through their test already and so they are here for yours."

"What do you mean?"

Narutos eyes widened as he saw the pale man turn on a set of lights, showing a bloody and beaten Sakura and Sasuke. Naruto strained trying to stand but he found his body bound at the chest, wrists and ankles. He strained against the bonds trying to get to his teammates but the black haired mans laughter caught him.

"Try all you might, you will not escape."

Naruto watched the man punch Sakura in the face as she woke up, tears in her eyes.

"Sakura!" Naruto strained again, he watched the dark haired man punch Sasuke across the jaw but Sasuke did not wake.

"A pity, this one is still broken." Orochimaru drug the chair containing Sasuke away from the light and against the wall.

Narutos eyes widened as he saw something that shook him to the core. The tall black haired man pulled forward a large gurney stood upright, clung to the wall in bonds and a gag in her mouth was Ty Lee. Naruto strained against his bonds so roughly his skin began to tear and redden around where he had been held.

"You bastard, let her go!"

"Hm, you respond favorably to these two. I guess we will begin." Orochimaru grabbed a syringe and walked to NAruto plunging the needle into his chest, injecting him with a yellow chemical. The male walked over and grabbed a silver rectangle an pressed a button on the top.

"Interrogation of one Naruto Namikaze-Yu. The time is, four o'clock and fifty minutes. I am going to begin the information gathering process."

Naruto watched the man pick up a small needle and began to prod Sakuras arms and legs with no purpose, Sakuras muted screams tore into his spirit.

"STOP THIS!"

"Tell me all you know of Minato Namikazes son Kai. We need to know his patterns so we can kill him without it seeming to be on purpose."

"Fuck you!" Naruto watched Orochimaru grab Sakura by her hair, grabbing the needle between his middle and ring finger he began punching her in the face digging the needle into her flesh over and over again. Sakuras screams echoed in his mind, he bit his lip trying to ignore the sounds of her screaming.

"TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW!"

"FUCK YOU!" Orochimaru threw the needle to the ground and walked calmly over to the small desk in the corner and came back with several senbon. He began stabbing them into her joints, and one into her lower abdomen.

"These needles are in key points of her physiology, the final being in her uterus. You know on her form, she labeled she always wanted children when she got older. I am going to begin shocking her and using the senbons to pry her joints painfully apart. I will ask one time, and if you refuse I will shock and pry, and one by one we will work to her final senbon, in her uterus. If I emit the shock there, it will leave her barren."

Naruto grit his teeth as Orochimaru began the torture and as promised, one by one her joints were pried apart and scorched by the electricity. Naruto ground his teeth trying to ignore the screams as he was taught but it was vastly different than some other soldier, this was the girl he came to see as a sister. He saw Orochimaru grab the last senbon and his hand was about to glow blue and Sakuras dream of having a family, would be gone.

"WAIT, please, dont do this."

"Then answer my question. What are Kai Namikazes movements and how can we eliminate him without a problem."

"I can't!"

"Then she will be barren."

"NO!" NAruto watched the mans hand fill with electricity and Sakuras screams were renewed, but this had something more behind it, it was utter heartbreak. After her seizure had ended Naruto saw her sobbing and Orochimaru had finished with her. Orochimarus hand glew a bright blue and he drug it across her throat and her clothes began to become stained with a dark red, the smell of copper filled the air and NAruto let out a wail of pain as he watched her body shaking, he saw her eyes meet his, her gaze filled with sorrow, regrets, and a single accusation.

'Why did you not tell him, I'm going to die now, and it is YOUR FAULT.'

Naruto began to sob, he never had been trained for this, for family to become the target of his torture, he could withstand the physical, but this was breaking him. He watched Orochimaru walk over to Naruto and for the next half hour the Snake Sanin began using Electromagnetic Murder to shock Naruto trying to elicit a response but Naruto saw a chance and with all his strength he headbutted the Sanin and with a loud crack and curse he was aware, he broke the Sanins nose. Naruto smirked in victory at the Sanin before a vicious look took over Orochimaru.

"YOU BRAT!"

Naruto was beaten, his nose bled, his arm had been broken and the Electromagnetic Murder was once again used on his body, but this time it left scarring, lightning trails across his throat and down the left side of his chest. Naruto sagged physically spent, he could take more than this and be fine. He watched Orochimaru walk over to Ty Lee and his hand glew blue and he held it over her head her honey eyes opening and her fear filled as she was grabbed and wretched from the board. Orochimaru forced her to kneel and when she tried to fight he watched Orochimaru sever the tendons in her legs. Narutos struggle began a new, no he wouldn't hurt Ty Lee she was a civilian, not a ninja, he had no authority!

"You see, that is where you are wrong Naruto, I was given explicit authority to use whatever means necessary to get this information. If you dont act quickly, I might hurt her beyond repair."

Naruto growled as he saw the Sanin grab her by the throat. The Sanin hoisted her up and Naruto saw it, two meat hooks, he watched letting a yell out as Ty Lees screams tore through his soul. Orochimaru had strung her up, two meat hooks through her shoulders her wails of pain tearing through the room.

"Answer my questions Yu and she will be spared!"

Naruto growled as he yelled at Orochimaru cursing his existence, Naruto had to bit the inside of his cheek as he saw the snake sanins hands glow blue once again. Ty Lees screams began to grow as Orochimaru removed her clothing with a tear and began to skin her alive, from the feet upwards. Every two inches asking Naruto the same question, but what the Sanin had not counted on was Naruto to break. Narutos eyes dulled, his mind couldn't take it anymore and he shut down, the next two hours of Ty Lees torture he wasn't even fully aware. He felt a hand on the top of his head as his forehead was strapped to the back of his chair and he as forced to watch as Orochimaru began to torture her with senbon like Sakura, acids on her bare flesh, and digging her eyes from her skull.

Orochimaru looked back to NAruto about to ask him for the final time before passing him, when he cursed, he might have gone too far. Narutos eyes were fogged over, he had broken under the torture. Orochimaru hurried to the door and left the room to find the Hokage and Inoichi to see to the boy.

Naruto sat there and he tried to move, he felt his right wrist come undone and he unhooked his body from the chair. He stalked over to the hanging body and got Ty Lees body down, his body hollow, as h looked over her form a silent scream permanently marred on her face. He grabbed one of the many knives from the back table and sat down holding her form in his arms, he drug the blade over both wrists lengthways, not horizontal. He felt his veins split, he severed the tendons and his hands became useless. It hadn't even been a minute and he was about to blackout as the door slammed open and there was Minato. With a shout the room faded, he was strapped to a chair in the middle of the room and the room was white. He felt a hand on his cheek and he saw Minato standing there a worried expression, but he didnt care. Naruto looked around and he saw Sakura with her eyes closed, her body fine and her neck unmarred by a long slit. He hadn't even realized his fae had been leaking tears as he was forced to look to Minato. He saw the mans mouth moving, he felt the warmth on his cheeks, but he didnt care, he couldnt hear anything anyways. Another man filled his vision, a tall blonde man, but he didn't care. The blonde man placed a palm on his forehead and Narutos world went black. He had no idea how long he was going to be out, but he just didnt care.

Minato was furious, he turned from his spot and grabbed Orochimaru by the neck slamming him into the back wall between the two teens.

"WHAT DID I TELL YOU! NO GENJUTSU! HE HAS HAD NO TRAINING TO BREAK THEM!" Minato was furious, his son had been tortured for hours, HOURS with the same technique they used on targets for interrogation. He was going to skin a snake, Orochimarus laughter filled Minatos ears and he had heard enough, his right hand placed against the Sanins abdomen and the snake knew to shut his damned mouth!

"Quiet."

"I was fulfilling my duties, I admit I had gone too far, but he was holding out outstandingly well. He had made it almost all the way through the torture, before I noticed his eyes. HE is stronger than most of the other Genin. You should be proud Minato."

Minatos grip tightened as his face set into an emotionless form and that is when Orochimaru knew,that he had gone too far. Minato had gone into what many of his friends dubbed, Hokage mode. Like this h had no humor, no worry, his word was law, he was a dictator, not a friend, not a comrade, he was the leader and he will not be questioned.

"Orochimaru, you were placed personally in control of Team 7's test. You were instructed to make it real but make mistakes so the team could break out. You failed and may have psychologically damaged not only a Genin of this village, but the heir to the Yu Yan clan and my eldest son. You stepped out of line and you WILL be punished, gather you personal effects and report to the Academy's detention center and await your judgment. Is that understood."

"Lord Hokage. I-"

"Is that understood, my soldier." Minatos eyes cut into Orochimarus, and Orochimaru had been reminded of a hard truth, this man was the Hokage for a reason.

"Yes, my Lord." Orochimaru felt Minatos hand leave his throat and walked away nursing the bruising that as becoming apparent on his throat.

"Get out of my sight." Minato watched with sharp eyes as Orochimaru was escorted out. He turned to Inoichi who had still been kneeling in front of Naruto with a hand to Narutos forehead.

"Status Inoichi."

"It is not good, he broke Naruto. I am repairing the damage, but I am afraid that we won't know about his condition without him waking. I can not perform the mind walk with his tenant in his body. I ran damage control as best as I could and had been surprised as the Kyuubis energy had been assisting me, and I have locked away most of the memories from the Genjutsu. There are some memories that I can't reach and I will try to heal with further sessions, but this is all I can do for him. I suggest he begin his training tomorrow to allow him to rest and keep his mind preoccupied. I will visit with him during training to assist in the healing of the mind, but I warn you Lord Hokage, if he finds out that this was what you had planned, this will alienate him from you." Inoichi turned to the Hokage and nodded to him as he stood, he began to walk from the room but Minatos voice called out to him.

"Inoichi, thank you."

"Were friends Minato, you never need to thank me."

Minato watched his old friend leave the room, Minatos gaze fell to his son and he felt aged beyond his years. He heard the other two Genins wake up from their sleep, and with a groan he heard Naruto as well.

"Congratulations Team 7, you all have passed the second examination. The test was based upon two factors, the successful withholding of information, and breaking Genjutsu. You all passed with flying colors." Minato smiled to the three of them but none of the Genin talked as they were lead from the room. Minato noticed Narutos shaking arms and his vision darkened, the door closed and Minato was left in the room and with a lud shot he punched the wall to his right, the whole wall caved from his fist revealing another white detention room with no people in it.

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Ame sighed looking out the window of her room, the Hokage had given her more freedom, though he had sealed her chakra and she was given a seal that would slow her body so she could not escape. She sat cross legged on the bed staring out to the village, they had given her a pair of scrubs to wear, a dark blue color and a long sleeved turtleneck sweater to wear underneath. She had gotten bored and had been braiding her thigh length hair. She turned when she heard the door open and two men who haunted her dreams for their power both entered the room. Muy stood tall next to Minato, and she felt fear once again.

"Ame Uchiha, ex-Jonin, listed prodigy. You were given the rank of Jonin a month before your perceived death four years ago at the age of twelve. You are currently sixteen years of age, and are being held here as a prisoner for the rape and assault of one Naruto Yu, and the assault of one Ty Lee." Muy stared into her eyes and he saw the raw fear, he asserted his dominance of the situation by looking a Mangekyou user in the eye.

"I am here, Ame, to give you your options. You have three choices, and if you will not accept and abide by one, your choice will be taken from you." Minato saw her nod and he began.

"The first choice, is to abort the child, and execute you. The second would be to wait till you are full term, remove the child, and execute you. The third and final, is for you to stay here, sealed, watched for the rest of your life, you keep your child. The final choice comes with two restrictive rules, one you will not tell the father of his child, and vice versa. The second is you will have your clan name stripped from you, your eyes sealed, and you will live out you days in the civilian sector. You have only two minutes to choose, or I will choose for you."

Ame bit her lip, she cursed the experimental jutsu she had used. Nothing in the side effects told her about developing a connection to the child! Her only thoughts drifted to the child, what would be best for them, and she choked out a sob as she curled her body up her knees to her chest.

"I can't just not tell my baby about their father. Do you have any idea what it's like not knowing who your father is!"

"I actually do, I know who my mother is, but I never got to meet my dad, and she refuses to talk about him. So I do know."

"Then how can you ask me to deny my baby that chance! I don't care if I die, but my baby needs to know their father!"

"You should have thought about that before using experimental jutsu and raping my son." Muy glared to the woman.

Ame felt torn, her own mentality was always, I am the most important, everyone else can be damned, it was how she survived on her own. However, now her mind was all over the child, she cursed being female.

"I want the third option, but please, please you have to let them meet him, even if it is only one time. They don't deserve to be punished for my actions!" Ame eyes Minato wearily, completely aware that this man was her judge, jury, and if need be, executioner.

"I'll tell you what, if you concede to letting Tsunade finish the jutsu treatments so you would be finished with the pregnancy in six months, I will allow the child one concession. You however, cannot influence the child in any way. If they want to meet their father, it would be up to them, not you. You will not speak of him, you will not hint to the child about him, only that he is alive and in the village. Is that clear."

"Yes Lord Hokage, I choose option three with these concessions. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart thank you."

"For the rest of the pregnancy Lord Muy has been given the favor of being your bodyguard, and will watch you for his remaining time. Once his time has been reached, Kakashi Hatake will take his place. This is your only warning, if you break your rules, or sleight me in any way, I will terminate the child and eliminate you in a slow and painful death. You may be royalty here, but you are not important. After the child is born, your eyes will be sealed, and you will be given a caretaker and a home. A salary coming from the fathers paychecks will be flowing into our home for income, as well as a stipend for your previous status. Your child will not want for anything, nor will you. I leave you two now." Minato left the room and met Muys eyes, the two shard a nod and Minato left to take his place at the Academy yard in preparation for the Preliminary examinations.

Ame felt like her life was falling apart, she had been prepared for any eventuality, but not for her heart.

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Minato stood in the open training field, he looked around seeing Teachers fussing over their students on the Konoha side. He saw apathy from several of the contestants teachers and some of the teams were in no condition to continue. He looked over all the squads and nodded to the ones who raised their hands to excuse themselves. The sound team were all but unconscious, they couldn't continue, the Sand team were rough around the edges, but Gaara stood tall. The Waterfall team was now only down to Fuu who stood there with a far off look in her eye. The rookie teams were all prepared to fight, though some were worse off than others.

"Now that all of those too injured to continue are being removed from the Exams, I am afraid to inform you, that due to the remainders and the time crunch of the exams, we will be having a preliminary tournament. Matches have been randomly selected and will be acted out immediately. The first match is."

"Excuse me Lord Hokage, but may I?"

Minato looked over and he saw the sickly Jonin, Hayate Gekko. The Jonin took center stage and held up a short piece of paper.

"The first match of the preliminaries will be Sasuke Uchiha of Konohagakure versus Fuu of Takigakure."

Sasuke made his way to the middle of the field, he was drained mentally and he could tell the female across from his had been as well. He bowed to the girl and she bowed back to him.

"Let the first match, begin!"

Sasuke surged forward, the girls eyes were widened and before she could even throw up her guard Sasuke was in her face. She obviously had to be a long range fighter, but he kept in her space. He threw a hard elbow catching her jaw, bringing his hand from the side of her face he gripped her throat sideways digging his thumb into her trachea. He pulled her down into his knee that lifted her form from the ground and he let her go as she fell to the ground. Sasuke placed his foot on her neck and held her down as she tried to rise, obviously something was wrong with the female, but he didn't care. What he saw, he would never let happen, ever. Sasuke however was not prepared for a pollen dusting that nearly blinded him, he felt her form escape from under his feet. A strong punch, it rattled his ribcage, a kick to his sternum sent him flying through the air, over two hundred feet into a solid oak tree. Sasukes eyes widened as she began to sue a set of hand signs he was familiar with and before she could finish exhaling the ash, Sasukes own hands performed a single sign and the ash ignited.

"Fox Fire!" Sasukes fireball dashed through the ash setting it ablaze and sending the poor girl flying through the air. She was caught by Hayate before her head could impact the tree she was heading for.

"Winner, Sasuke Uchiha of Konohagakure, via knockout!"

Sasuke limped towards his team but collapsed as he began puking blood, and hearing a muffled yell he passed out.

Itachi had caught his brother before handing him over to the Medical staff to be taken care off. The strength the girl had showed, it was burst strength but it was a crippling blow. His attention was drawn front and center as he heard Sakuras name being called.

"Sakura Haruno of Konohagakure, versus, Ino of the Yamanaka from Konohagakure!"

Sakura had been woozy ever since that stupid Genjutsu, she hated whoever put her through that. She walked to the center of the field and was met by her old friend, and now enemy.

"Ino Yamanaka, Sakura Haruno, begin!"

Sakura was about to bow but she saw Ino rush towards her with a kunai. Sakura saw her body, her skinny torso, her non-existent muscles on her exposed arms. This wouldn't even take her a minute. Sakura met Inos Kunai with a simple wrist catch, she brought her knee up breaking the bones in her arm. She twisted the appendage and wretched Ino backwards with a vicious side kick sending her old friends form sliding back. She looked Ino in the eye and before the girl could do anything she fell unconscious via Sakuras experimental Genjutsu.

"Winner by knockout, Sakura Haruno of Konohagakure!"

Sakura walked back towards her Master who gave her a knowing look, she could have ended it without the broken arm, but Sakura shrugged The bitch deserved it after what she said about Sakuras birth parents. Her attention was drawn when she heard the next match.

"Shikamaru of the Nara clan from Konohagakure, versus, Gaara of Sunagakure!"

"I forfeit my match, I am in no position to fight someone on his level."

"Winner by submission, Gaara of Sunagakure!"

"Next match will be Naruto of the Yu Yan Clan vs Kankuro of Sunagakure!"

Naruto stood across from the boy in the black jumpsuit.

"I have been wanting payback for interrupting me last time."

"So be it." Naruto watched the boy in the outfit rush at him, but Naruto was not stupid. Quickly making hand seals he cast his jutsu.

"Water Style: Water bullet Jutsu!" Though Naruto was not done, he wordlessly made more hand signs as his hand came in contact with the water stream, the water electrified.

"Oh, fuck."

Naruto watched the electrified water wash over the boy his form seizing over and over. Once the water ended and Kankuros form had been on the ground Naruto was about to leave when the small bundle of Kankuros back opened u and Kankuro flew from it. He was nursing a bad burn on his hand, but he growled moving his fingers as the puppet stood at attention the sand falling from it to reveal the puppet.

"You god damned asshole! I could have died!"

"So?"

Itachis eyes widened, he had never heard Naruto speak like that. He truly did not care about what would happen to the puppet user. He looked to Minato and saw the same reaction.

Naruto pulled his bow from his shoulder as he began to knock arrows, letting them fly, the puppet managed to dodge the majority, but KAnkuro had not been counting on Naruto not aiming for the puppet. Naruto heard the shout of pain as an arrow stood out at attention from Kankuros gut, he knew the match was over.

"Kankuro, are you willing to continue battle with that injury?"

"No."

"Naruto of the Yu Yan Clan is the winner, by submission!"

Naruto slowly walked back to his teacher, but the look in Itachis eye told him they would have words later.

The next two battles went as expected, Temari fought Tenten and similar to canon, it ended with Tenten being knocked around and left unconscious. Choji fought Shino, but it wasn't even a fair match, the Aburame was simply too strong with his insects. Neji fought Hinata, and the two fought furiously, but in the end Hinata fell. Lee fought against Kiba and trounced both the boy and his dog, the boys Taijutsu skills vastly being more developed than Kibas own.

Minato divvies out the matches for the Finals in one month they are : Neji vs Gaara, Naruto vs Shino, Lee vs Sakura, Sasuke vs Temari

The victors stood solemnly in the middle of the field lined up, Minato bagan to speak about the truth of the Chunin exams, of it being a substitute to war. Minato motioned for Hayate to bring a small basket around, all of the participants reaching in for a piece of paper.

"Now, announce your numbers, one by one."

"One." Neji held up.

"Two." Gaara looked to the Hyuuga with a grin.

"Three." Naruto held his own up.

"Four." Shino held his up.

"Five, yosh!" Lee held his up with vigor.

"Six." Sakura sighed, she was stuck against the taijutsu genius.

"Seven." Temari smiled cockily.

"Eight." Sasuke held his out.

Minato came by each Genin and one by one attached each sheet to a name on his document.

"Very good, now, you all may be excused. Take all the time you need to train. The exams start in one month."

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Naruto was exhausted, mentally, physically, emotionally. He was about to break. Opening the door to his home he made his way past the living room and ignored every person there much to the ire of his friends and family. Naruto pushed his door open and his eyes widened, he gripped his forehead in pain as visions flashed through his mind, of Ty Lee being strung up, and skinned alive. He looked her over and saw she was fine, he walked over to th bed and sat down waking her up.

"Naru? What's wrong, you're crying?" Ty Lee was hugged, tighter than she could bear and she patted his back and he let her go. He laid down beside her and began to cry, he didn't sob or make noise, but he was crying. Ty Lee was very concerned, she had only seen him cry a few times. She held him close his face on her shoulder as she gently rubbed his back.

"It's going to be ok Naru, it's ok."

"I thought you were dead."

"What?"

Naruto began to tell her what little he could remember, he told her about Orochimaru stringing her up on meat hooks, skinning her, using acids, and every cut on her body. Naruto told her of him escaping and holding her dead body in his arms.

"In a moment of weakness, I grabbed a knife, and I slit my wrists. I wanted to die, I wouldn't betray my country or village, but, I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't go on like that, the worst part is, there was more that happened but it was sealed by a Yamanaka. Ty, I don't know, I don't know if I am strong enough to make it through if I see those memories."

Ty began to run her hands through Narutos hair rubbing his scalp letting the warrior who stood through almost anything, break down on her shoulder. She sat up when he had stopped crying and helped him out of his uniform and to the bathroom. She caught Zarehyas gaze as she walked into the bathroom with Naruto and closed the door.

Zarehya was in shock, was Ty Lee joining her baby in the bathroom? Is that the sound of running water? What the FUCK!? She tried to open the door but it was locked, she had been about to burst the door open but Ty Lee opened it and walked out.

"What do you think you are doing Miss Lee?"

"Please, Lady Zarehya, I'll tell you everything, but for now Naruto needs me." Ty Lee hugged the woman tightly and went back into the bathroom. She saw Narutos naked form sitting in the bathtub of water. She went over to the tub and sat there talking to him about nothing, just random items that popped into her head as he washed. She might have only been fourteen, but she was mature enough to realize there was no place for embarrassment in this situation. She gently washed Narutos back and she saw the brown and red hue in the water as she helped him wash. She wiped her hands off as Naruto stood from the water and drained the tub, he sat down and began to shower while Ty Lee ran him another bath, but this one was for soaking. While the water ran she went to his room getting a fresh turtleneck and a pair of his sweatpants from his drawers. She shook her embarrassment away and got him a set of underwear. She walked into the hallway and saw Zarehya once again next to the bathroom door looking at Ty with a piercing gaze.

"After he is done, join me in the kitchen to cook dinner, we will speak."

"Of course Lady Zarehya." Ty quickly entered into the bathroom and shut the door, not locking it this time. She turned the water off as Naruto finished his cleaning shower, she sat next to him as he relaxed her head on her arms as she looked at him sideways. The two talked for a good half hour before Naruto decided to get out. She gave him his clothes and he dressed, but before she could leave to join Zarehya in the kitchen Naruto pulled her to him and crashed his lips on hers. This kiss wasn't like all of the others the two had shared, this was filled with happiness and regret. She broke the kiss and smiled to him.

"Go rest, I'm going to help Lady Zarehya with dinner. Don't worry, I'm alright, you are alright. You are home,and if you want I can get baby Yin for you to snuggle with."

"No, than you though, I'll take a quick nap. I'm still tired from the overnighter at the Academy." Naruto kissed her one last time and left the bathroom to go lay down in his own.

Ty sighed as she let Narutos water drain and she opened the window near the roof of the room to let the steam escape. She tidied up the bathroom and left to go to the kitchen, she saw Zarehya standing there arms crossed and eyes narrowed.

"Tell me everything." Zarehya turned as she listened to Ty tell her everything Naruto had told the girl. She was so angry with Minato and the village, she was so worried for her baby boy, but she was thankful for Ty Lee. She now understood why Ty Lee had stayed by his side even though it was inappropriate.

"Thank you for being with him Ty, even if it was very inappropriate and immoral for a young girl like yourself to be alone in a room with a naked boy. I thank you as his mother for easing him in at home." Zarehya shocked Ty by leaning over and kissing her on the forehead.

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I do apologize if some of you viewers get triggered by the suicide scene. Naruto was indeed trying to kill himself, but him blacking out from blood loss was his bodies way of shutting down from the Genjutsu, he wouldn't have died. The Torture scene took me two days to write, studying old forms of torture, new forms of torture, medical documents. It took a good few hours of research before I could write the scene correctly. Remember to Review to leave me a comment on anything you like and disliked. Your viewer feedback funnels into my ability to make any corrections that may be warranted, such as leaving out a subject, or something being wrong with information given earlier in the story. Till next time,

~Ardent Chronicler