Note: I don't own Naruto.

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Neji returned to the compound with Hanabi and her mother. They walked into the dojo where Hiashi was seen practicing the traditional Juuken kata. Hiashi turned to see his family.

" Ahh Neji, You're back, I can only assume you've advanced onto the tournament." Hiashi said.

" Hai Hiashi-sama" Neji replied.

After the last exam, Neji had forgiven Hiashi for the death of his father, and came to terms with the fact that his father made his own choice to die. Since then Neji and Hiashi had bonded and he now respects the Hyuuga leader.

" And Uzumaki ?" Hiashi asked.

" Hai." Neji said.

" Well, you are far better equipped for him this time." Hiashi said.

" and…." Neji started.

Hiashi looked at him puzzled.

" …..Hinata…has also advanced to the tournament." Neji said.

Hiashi was a bit surprised.

" Oh well,……good for her." Hiashi said.

" Neji, let us begin." Hiashi said.

" Hai." Neji responded.

The two began sparring, though Naruto was his target. Neji could not help but think about the bizarre style Hinata was using today.

Later that day….

Naruto and Kakashi were walking around town to see how it had changed. As per usual, most of the villagers who passed by gave him scowling stares or were quick to look away, some were even whispering. Naruto was used to this by now.

" When I'm Hokage, I'll have earned my respect." Naruto thought.

" Come on Kakashi-sensei! Training!" Naruto shouted.

"We'll get to that later, right now I want to get something to eat." Kakashi said.

"(grumble) Do it on your own time!" Naruto protested.

This followed with a bonk to Naruto's head.

" Remember Naruto, above all else, respect your sensei." Kakashi said.

Naruto sulked a bit while rubbing the lump on his head.

" I'll tell you what Naruto, if it will make you feel better, we'll go get ramen." Kakashi suggested.

Naruto snapped his head up, he realized that he had not been to Ichikaru's since he left for training. Naruto's attitude pulled a total 180 as he hugged his teacher for buying him ramen. Kakashi tried to pull him off before he messed up his jacket.

Later at Ichikaru's...

Naruto was slurping up ramen.

" So Naruto, tell me about your training this past year." Kakashi said.

Naruto opened one eye at him. But refused to put down his bowl.

" Oh...you know (slurp) It was pretty intense, but it totally paid off. You know that guy I beat today (slurp)..I was totally playin' around." Naruto said.

Kakashi was shocked."You were just toying with him?" Kakashi thought.

Naruto continued to eat his ramen.

" Matobe-sensei is less mature than me(slurp) but he knows his stuff when it comes to fighting." Naruto said.

" I see, well later I want to see just how far you've progressed." Kakashi said.

Naruto finally put down his bowl.

" Alright! Now you're talkin'!" He said.

Kakashi and Naruto are seen leaving the ramen shop.

" So, all we gotta do is go get Hinata-chan and..." Naruto started.

" Sorry Naruto but we can't involve miss Hinata in our training." Kakashi said.

" What? Why not!?" Naruto demanded.

" Naruto, the whole team concept is now out the window I've already discussed this with Kurenai-chan.She is going to train Hinata and I am going to train you. For all you know, it will be you two facing eachother in the very first round." Kakashi explained.

Naruto looked down at the ground, he knew his sensei had a point.

" Hey, dont be so glum Naruto, look on the bright side. Maybe you'll face someone else the first round and lose." Kakashi said teasingly.

Naruto's eyebrow twitched at his sensei trying to figure out exactly how that was a bright side.

Kurenai and Hinata were walking through the traing grounds. Kurenai had just finished giving the same explanation to Hinata as to why she and Naruto can't train together.

" Oh, I see..." Hinata said.

" Don't let that stop you from giving your all into your training Hinata." Kurenai said.

"Hai sensei." Hinata said.

Kurenai looked at Hinata and could tell she was still a little shaken up from the confrontation earlier with the Hyuuga woman. Luckily, she knew of only one other Hyuuga that could cheer Hinata up.

" Hinata..." Kurenai said.

Hinata looked up at her.

" What's say we visit Toba-sama before we begin our training.

A big smile came onto Hinata's face, she happily nodded.

Later...

Naruto and Kakashi are walking through a forrested area coming to a small waterfall. The closer they got to the waterfall Naruto started to notice a figure a top a small cliff. A smile came onto Naruto's face, for he saw that it was noneother than one of his old teachers Jiraiya. Naruto was about to yell to him until he saw a certain look on his face. It was a look Naruto had seen and been disgusted with many times. Jiraiya's mouth was hanging open and his eyes were focused in one area, which proved to Naruto that Jiraiya was no doubt peeping at women. A sly grin came onto Naruto's face. He decided he'd play a little joke on the hermit.

" Hey Kakashi-sensei, mind if I play a little joke on Ero-sennin?" Naruto asked.

Kakashi chuckled, anxious to see what kind of prank Naruto had up his sleeve.Jiraiya, who was watching a few women play around by the lake just beyond began hearing the cries of a woman. As he turned around, he saw a young woman drowning in the lake below the waterfall. Jiraiya also happened to notice she had a sexy voice.

" Help! Help!" said the woman in distress.

" HaHa I'll save you!" Jiraiya said taking a superhero-like stance.

Jiraiya jumped down and landed atop the water. He then ran over and pulled the woman out. He then ran her over by the shore. The woman flung her arms around Jiraiya.

" Oh thankyou so much, how can I ever...repay you?" The woman asked not yet revealing her face.

" Oh, I'll think of something..." Jiraiya said with a perverted look on his face.

The girl snapped her face up to him to reveal that she had whiskers, shocking Jiraiya. She then pulled on one of his long bangs slamming his head to the ground.

" I knew it! You're still up to your perverted ways!" Naruto shouted, discarding his disguise.

" Ah! You brat that was a horrible joke to play on me!" Jiraiya said propping and putting Naruto in a head-lock.

" I'm sorry Jiraiya-sama, I decided to let Naruto have his fun with his prank." Kakashi said coming out from the woods.

Jiraiya grumbled as he finally let go of Naruto.

" Well you're gonna make it up to me brat, your punishment is you have to be in your "Center-fold jutsu" form around me all day." Jiraiya said.

" I'm not doin' that!" Naruto shouted.

Kakashi was chuckling to himself.

" Hey Ero-sennin, why don't you stop oogling women and help Kakashi-sensei train me. I'm in the finals of the Chuunin exams. " Naruto said.

" I got better things to do brat, one trainer is enough." Jiraiya said walking away.

" Actually Jiraiya-sama, your council would be appreciated." Kakashi said.

" I got my research to do for my next novel." Jiraiya said.

Suddenly a pair of feminine arms were shown wrapped around Jiraiya.

"Please help me with my training, I'll be soooooo grateful." said a female voice.

A drueling grin came onto Jiraiya's face. He turned to see Naruto in his "Center-fold jutsu" form.

" Well since you asked so nicely..."

Later...

Kurenai was being served tea from Hinata, Hinata then poured tea into the cup of another person.

" I am ecstatic to hear that you will be participating in the finals Hinata.You should do very well." Said Toba Hyuuga, Hinata's grandfather.

Hinata blushed "Arigatou, Ojiisan."

" Yes, but we have much to do, There will be very stiff competition." Kurenai said.

" Well then Kurenai, since I know Hiashi along with the rest of the clan is training Neji, I deem it only fair that I assist you with Hinata's training." Toba said.

" Oh, Toba-sama, we would not want to burden you." Kurenai said.

" Not at all, besides, I'm an old man, I've got nothing to do. So I would love to be useful."

" Ojiisan, you're not..." Hinata started.

" Hinata, I know I am, but I appreciate you trying to make me feel better." Toba said.

Hinata blushed and nodded to her grandfather.

" I trust my training facilities are to your standards Kurenai." Toba asked.

"Hai" Kurenai responded.

" Then please use my training grounds, they may as well get some use out of them." Toba said.

" Arigatou." said Kurenai.

Kurenai and Hinata spent the night training on the training grounds of Toba Hyuuga's private home.

The next morning Toba Hyuuga awoke to the groans and grunts of his grandaughter outside. He could hear the foot patterns of two people. He got up quickly, he was sure Kureani would not be here at this time in the morning. He started to grow concerned that perhaps somebody was attacking his granddaughter. As he jumped outside he saw a battle between Hinata and ...Hinata, as it would appear that Hinata and a shadow clone were fighting fiercely. Toba gave a sigh of relief. Hinata noticed that her grandfather was awake.

" I apologize Ojiisan, did I wake you?" Hinata and her clone said bowing.

" Oh, it's ok dear, I thought for a moment somebody was attacking you." Toba said.

" Nope, I was just training with myself." Hinata said.

" That's good, I'll be back out momentarily." Toba said as he walked in but suddenly stopped, he turned to his granddaughter.

" Hinata..." He said.

She turned to him.

" I just noticed your stutter is gone." Toba said.

" Oh, yes..I have worked to stop that." Hinata said.

Toba smiled. "Well I am very happy for you." He then walked back inside.

Hinata smiled. Just then her clone almost caught her off-guard luckily she avoided her attack.

Later, at a restaraunt in town...

Ino-shika-cho and their sensei were enjoying lunch,except for Ino who seemed to be eating her bowl of rice in an angry fashion.

" You're not still mad about our match are you?" Chouji asked.

" No." Ino said still eating her rice angrily.

Actually Ino was still mad about the woman who talked down to Hinata the other day. Ino presumed her to be Hinata's mother.

" Ahh sensei, why can't we go to Ichikaru's?" Naruto asked coming in with Kakashi.

" Naruto, you can't eat there all the time, you need to have a little variety." Kakashi lectured.

"Yo Kakashi." Asuma called.

Kakashi and Naruto came and sat by the genin team.

" Yo guys what's up?" Naruto said.

The waiter came by to take their order. After that, Naruto noticed Ino was in a grouchy mood.

" Yo Ino-chan, what's up with you?" Naruto asked.

Ino looked over at Naruto.

" It's nothing it's just...this total bitch came and ripped into Hinata-chan after the prelims yesterday, what really makes me mad is that I think it was her mother because she was with Hinata-chan's little sister.To think, to be talked down to like that by your own mother." Ino said.

Naruto leaned back a little with his arms crossed.

" Her name's Motoko Hyuuga, and she's Hanabi's mother, not Hinata-chan's." Naruto said.

Everyone at the table was now curious.

" All I really know is that Hinata-chan's mother died when she was 4. She doesen't really like to talk about her mother so I guess it's a sensitive issue for her." Naruto continued.

" But still, even if it's her stepmother, how could she talk to her like that?" Ino said.

" I don't know, I can't understand half the things that psychotic clan does. I still can't believe that someone like Hinata-chan came from that family." Naruto said.

While everyone was listening to Naruto, Chouji took the liberty of snatching the last piece of meat off the grill.

Meanwhile at the Hyuuga compound. Neji jumped back with beads of sweat running down his forehead and breathing hard.

Hiashi was pushing him hard while Hanabi and her mother were watching off to the side.

"See what a strong husband you'll have, Hanabi?" Motoko said.

Hanabi nodded blushing a bit. It was no secret that Hanabi had a bit of a crush on her cousin, and she was ecstatic to hear that they were going to be wed someday even if her father arranged it just so they would produce a strong heir. Neji was also happy about the marriage because for one thing, he would have his caged bird seal removed, he would also realize his father's dream for him by ruling the Hyuuga clan, even if it was along Hanabi's side.Hiashi was just glad that the future of the Hyuuga clan was finally in good hands. Motoko was perhaps the happiest of all, because for starters, her daughter will become heir just as she had always dreamed of for her. Also that she had finally gotten rid of her meddlesome former stepdaughter Hinata, who as far as Motoko was concerned, was nothing but in the way of her dreams. Before Hinata's exile from the clan, Motoko tried to convince Hiashi to put the caged bird seal on her, convinced she would never survive on her own. Toba, Hiashi's father, however convinced him otherwise.

Back at the academy training grounds Sakura was perfecting her assassination wire jutsu by using it to cut through steel bars. She saw Lee practicing crescent kicks against a training dummy, no doubt preparing for the next exam.Meanwhile Jirobo was preparing by lifting mammoth weights while in his transformed state. Akane was practicing her scream attack while Koichi was charging his koto with his own chakra. Back at Naruto's training Jiraiya and Kakashi stood amazed when Naruto showed a transformed state. (Camera only shows back of Naruto's head while he is glowing with red chakra).

"To think... That he has gained that much control over the Kyuubi's chakra." Kakashi thought.

" The finals are gonna be quite a show." Jiraiya said.

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Next Time

Naruto: Hey Hinata-chan, let's take a break from training and go have some fun.

Toba: Brat, you think I let just anyone hang around my granddaughter.

Naruto: Chill out old man.I just...

Toba: Why you punk. Some one needs to teach you some manners.

Naruto: Next Time! A challenge from the Hyuuga elder!

Hinata: Ojiisan, Naruto-kun. wait!

More to come.

I could've done this chap. better

Person with the best review gets Naruto for the night, he'll do anything you want, aannyyyythiiiiing.

Naruto: Wait!What!!???