Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way, shape, or form. I don't own the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy ether. So get your lawyers off my lawn.

Hidden by the Fox

Chapter 12: The Application and Exam

The Guide has this to say on Shukaku: Shukaku is the one-tailed tankui and the weakest of the Biju. Shukaku has the ability to manipulate sand and air and bestows the former on his Jinchuuriki. Shukaku is the most bloodthirsty of the Biju and will try to drive his containers insane, by preventing them from sleeping and whispering in their mind.

Shukaku was defeated when he attacked the Hidden Sand, and was sealed into a baby at the cost of the 2nd Kazekage. His current vessel, Gaara of the Desert, lives in the Hidden Fox.

Twitch twitch

"…"

Twitch

"Naruto…"

"I AM GOING CRAZY FROM CHASING THAT #$ CAT!" Naruto roared. "ENOUGE WITH THE $$#$ D-RANKED MISSIONS!"

Kakashi chucked to himself, as he handed as sheet of paper to the six Gennin. "These are application sheets for the upcoming Chunin Exams in Ocean Country. Fill these out, and then meet at the Namikage tower tomorrow, to begin the journey to Ocean Country."

"Yes! Finally a chance to prove our skill!" Naruto cheered.

"We will be ready," Haku replied.

The six gennin took off to pack.

"You think they're ready?" Rin asked. "The Chunin exams are brutal."

"I think they are," Kakashi replied. "But, that may not be enough."

Next Day… on the Great Naruto Bridge

Arashi headed the large group of ninja as they set off to ocean country. Out of all the Genin in the village, only 34 were going to the Chunin exams. Only 1 or 2 might become chunin.

"Sensei," Haku asked. "Why do we compete against other villages in the Chunin exam? Wouldn't it be better to preserve the village's secrets if we tested just our Genin?"

"Yes it would be," Rin answered. "However, that is not the sole reason for the Chunin exams. A few years ago it was agreed that a different, country would host the Chunin and Jounin exams every year. Nearly all villages attend the exams, and a pact of non-aggression is signed by the leaders to prevent violence. People looking to hire shinobi often attend the finals of these exams, to see which village has the best shinobi."

"And the better we do in the exams; the stronger our village will look," Haku finished.

"Exactly, the last Hidden World War was 14 years ago. Now we fight in tournaments to prove who is the better."

"What was the 3rd Hidden World War like?" Sasuke asked.

"Horrible," Obito answered, before Rin could respond. "That was back when we were Leaf-nins; Chunin even. It was a practical free-for-all; alliances were being broken as fast as they were made. During that war we were attacked by the Stone and the Cloud. We nearly died on a mission to Earth country. It was mere luck we got out alive. Of course it was barley a year after the war, before the Kyuubi attacked. It was at least 2 years after the war before we became Fox-nin."

A silence greeted the end of Obito's story.

"Let's hope we do not see another Hidden World War," Gaara said.

Two days later… Outside the Capital of Ocean Country

The large group of ninja worked their way through the large influx of traffic entering Ocean Country's capital. All over you could see the metal headbands of various ninja, from various villages. The entire city was built in the middle of a bay, held up by concrete stilts; a testament to the country's wealth.

"Okay, tomorrow all Genin will head due north from the main gates. Their will be a camouflaged trail that will lead to the first test. The Village Hidden in the Coral Reef wishes to keep its location secret." Arashi instructed the Genin. "I wish all of you the best of luck."

Later

Team 5 set themselves up in one of the hotels that were reserved for ninja.

"Gaara," Naruto said, tapping his friend on the shoulder. "I need to tell you all something."

Gaara nodded and raised his dome of sand around the room.

"What do you need to tell us, Naruto?" Haku asked.

"I made a breakthrough in my research on wood jutsus," Naruto told the group.

"Really, what?" Kimimaro asked excitedly.

"Well, I've figured out how to make trees grow into specific shapes. But, I've found out something interesting about elemental jutsus. I've found out that fire, water, air, and earth jutsus are just what I call basic elements. Lightning, Ice, Wood, and Magma Jutsus are a combination of two basic elements. Ice is water and air, lighting is air and fire, magma is fire and earth, and wood is water and earth." Naruto explained.

"So, if my affinity is fire, I could learn lightning and magma jutsus easier," Sasuke said to himself.

"Yes, I have been working on these elemental hybrid jutsus as a side project from my wood jutsus."

"So we can expect more new jutsus from you," Gaara added.

"Oh, yes… lots of jutsus. Well, Gaara, I believe we are done," Naruto finished.

Gaara lowered the sand and the Genin finished unpacking.

Next Day…

The Genin ventured from the city to the thick jungle that surrounded the bay. They handed their application forms to the Coral Chunin sitting at a folding table. "So, you're one of the Fox's six man teams? Okay we will just count you as two teams, okay."

The Gennin nodded in response and entered the path. As they walked down Naruto saw a trip wire lying across the path. "Sasuke look ou…!" But it was too late. Sasuke tripped on the wire.

Shurikin shot out from the thick foliage lining the path. Gaara raised two walls of sand as the group began running down the path.

"Naruto! I think we should turn back!" Haku suggested. "We are unprepared for this amount of traps!"

"No way in Hell," Naruto growled. "We came here to take the Chunin exam and that's exactly what we will do."

After a mile of traps they skidded to a halt outside a large tent. Another Reef Chunin was sitting at a folding table.

"Congratulations for getting past the first Chunin exam test." The Chunin said.

"What the hell!" The six Genin yelled in unison.

"That test was to see two things," the Chunin continued. "Whether you would be prepared for unexpected surprises, those shurikin only had a mild sedative on them, and whether you had the determination necessary to push forward, even when the situation appeared deadly, and you never prepared for it. Just go into the tent and wait for the next exam."

"This place is crazy!" Naruto commented as they walked into the tent.

Authors Note: Err... Sorry for the delay, as you probley know school started so my life was a little hectic

The next chapter will be the second stage of the exam... And where new forces make their presence known