Note: I don't own Naruto.

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A couple weeks had passed and most of the finalists were finding out what they could about eachother. Naruto has been training hard with Kakashi and Jiraiya. While Hinata trained relentlessly with Kurenai and her grandfather Toba Hyuuga. Gaara spent most nights on the rooftop looking up at the moon. The rest of the genin were all frantically improving their skills.

One day Naruto was waiting outside the Hokage's office for Kakashi. As Kakashi came out Naruto ran over to him.

" Business is over now it's time to train." Naruto said.

" Naruto, I've just been given a mission that takes top priority. I am going to have to leave," Kakashi said.

" A top ranked mission? That's great! When do we leave?" Naruto asked.

" "We" don't leave at all "I" am going on this mission A.S.A.P." Kakashi said.

" Nani!? But a top ranked mission could help me with my training! Come on sensei!" Naruto protested.

" Naruto! The answer is NO and that is final!" Kakashi said uncharacteristicly stern.

Naruto took a step back.

"Man, he's serious." Naruto thought.

" Jiraiya-sama will train you here on out for the finals." Kakashi said.

" Well when will you be back?" Naruto asked.

" I don't know, Naruto, I will return when the mission is completed." Kakashi said.

"...OK..." Naruto said with his head down.

"Good luck in the finals." Kakashi said. Kakashi then walked off.

" Arigatou." Naruto said.

Kakashi walked away. He did not want to tell Naruto that the mission involved him.

Later Naruto was training with Jiraiya. Naruto managed to deflect Jiraiya's Rasengan attack while using the Kyuubi's chakra. Jiraiya had also been impressed by Naruto's new Tai-jutsu form.He knew it was no coincindence that Matobe just happened to teach him this form. As Jiraiya and Naruto continued their trianing, Jiraiya was continually checking the time. Finally after a few hours.

" Alright brat, that's enough for today." Jiraiya said.

" Nani?" Naruto said.

" I got other work to do, I can't spend all my time training you. I do have a life you know." Jiraiya said.

" Work? You mean that perverted novel of yours? That's not work." Naruto said in a hissy fit.

" Hey relax brat, we still got some time before the finals. I promise I 'll make it up to you." Jiraiya said leaving.

" You're just gonna go peep at women aren't you?" Naruto said accusingly.

" No, I swear I am not gonna "peep" at women." Jiraiya said in defense.

Truth was Jiraiya's "work" involved attending the Land of Fire swim suit competition which he always gets a front row seat to.

Naruto couldn't believe it, within one day, both his trainers were gone. Naruto decided to go to town and get some ramen to cheer himself up. On his way into town, he ran into Kurenai.

" Yo Kurenai-sensei what's up?" Naruto asked.

" Naruto, shouldnt' you be training?" Kurenai asked.

"(grumble) Kakashi-sensei is off on some mission he won't tell me about, and Ero-sennin is out doing "work" today from what he says." Naruto said.

"Oh, I see." Kurenai said.

"So how is Hinata-chan doing in her training?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Oh, just fine, actually, she's been doing so well I gave her the night off for all her hard work." Kurenai said."Actually, the night off is more for me than her, training with her has been wearing me out lately." she thought to herself.

"Oh." Naruto said.

Kurenai saw an opportunity for her student here. She decided she would help Hinata in her relationship with Naruto.

" You know Naruto, I bet she would like to hang out with friends right now." Kurenai said.

Naruto got what she was implying. Naruto wasn't as oblivious as he was before he left for training.

" That's cool, I could hang out with her tonight, where is she?" Naruto asked.

Kurenai wrote down the address.

" Here, she's at this address." Kurenai said.

Naruto took the address and was on his way.

"Arigatou Kurenai-sensei! See ya!" Naruto said.

Kurenai smiled hoping this would be good for Hinata.

Later...

Hinata was now sparring against two clones of herself.

"Oi ! Hinata-chan!" Naruto said walking up to what he believed to be the right address.

Hinata's face fell flush when she heard Naruto's voice. Naruto walked up by the private manner and saw Hinata along with her clones.

((((((Naruto's Flashback)))))))

" By training and sparring with your clones you can attain what you learned and what they learned after they disipate. It is also a great way to work on your offense and defense at the same time." Matobe said to both Naruto and Hinata.

((((((End Naruto's Flashback)))))))

"Oh sorry, I didn't know you were training." Naruto said.

"Oh, it's um... fine." Hinata said.

"Kurenai-sensei said you had the night off, and Ero-sennin and Kakashi-sensei can't train me right now. So I thought maybe you might wanna take a break and go into town tonight." Naruto asked.

Blush filling her cheeks, Hinata was about to give her answer, until...

" Ahem!" Toba said standing outside his doorway.

Hinata and Naruto looked over at Toba. Because of his eyes, Naruto knew right away it was a Hyuuga.

"Excuse me young man, but my grandaughter is trying to train right now. You're interrupting!" Toba said.

" Jeeze, what's your problem?" Naruto asked.

"Oh Ojiisan, I don't think you've met Naruto-kun." Hinata said trying to get the two on good terms.

" Oh yes,... Naruto." Toba said.

Toba then walked over and circled around Naruto, inspecting him in a way. Toba then stopped.

" Hm, I see no talent whatsoever." Toba said.

" NANI!!?" Naruto said enraged.

A smirk came on Toba's face.

" Listen old man! I'm in the finals of the chuunin exams! Can a person with no talent do that!? Well can he!?" Naruto shouted.

Toba was amused by the boy's anger.

" Ojiisan, Naruto-kun had the night off and wanted to see if I wanted to do anything tonight." Hinata said blushing a bit.

Toba was a bit surprised. The way Hinata put it, it sounded like a date to him. Considering Toba's overprotective nature of his granddaughter, He was not about let this happen without first testing the boy. Such Hyuuga customs are usually left up to the father, but since Hinata was no longer Hiashi's concern, Toba would take it upon himself to do it.

" Listen punk, I don't like when talentless hacks waste my granddaughter's time when she could be spending it training. So I'll tell you what. We'll have a friendly little match. If you win, you can go with my grandaughter tonight. If you lose, you don't bug her until the day of the tournament." Toba said.

" Are you kidding? One punch from me and you'll turn into dust." Naruto boasted.

" Think so? Why not find out?" Toba said gesturing his hand to invite Naruto over to the sparring arena.

Naruto complied running onto the battleground. Hinata was at an impass. Here, her crush and her grandfather were about to fight over her going out.

" So young yet so eager to die." Toba said mockingly.

" Naah, I just wanna beat ya quick so me and Hinata-chan can leave." Naruto said getting into his stance.

" Have it your way. Byakugan!" Toba said getting into traditional Hyuuga kata stance.

Hinata just stood to the side praying nobody gets hurt.

" Ready?" Naruto asked.

" Begin." Toba said.

Naruto then ran at Toba to deliver a kick to his side. Toba however managed to block it. Naruto spun around to catch him with an elbow. But Toba bent back and avoided the strike.

" Damn. This old guy's not too bad." Naruto thought.

While Naruto was distracted Toba regained his balance and performed 3 palm strikes on Naurto's chest. Naruto jumped back to avoid getting struck again.

" So, you managed to make it to the finals yet you can't dodge such simple attacks. What happened, did your opponent have a heart attack or something?" Toba said.

" Laugh while you can, no way I'm gonna lose here. I meet each challenege with only succeding in mind . Cuz one day...I'm gonna be Hokage." Naruto said.

Toba seemed surprised to hear this from some one so young.

Naruto picked up his head to reveal his crimson eyes. He then ran at Toba at such a speed that even with his Byakugan, Toba could not follow it. Naruto then grabbed Toba by with one hand and flipped him. Toba however landed on his feet, Toba then attempted the 64 palm strikes on Naruto.

"2 Palms!" Toba shouted but Naruto parried his strikes.

"4 Palms!" again they were parried.

"8 Palms!" Parried again.

"16 Palms!" again parried.

Hinata had her hands over her face not daring to look.

"32 Palms!" once again parried.

" 64 Palms!" Parried once more.

Naruto then grabbed Toba by his collar and threw him at least 20 feet. Luckily Toba landed on his feet. As Toba looked up, he saw Naruto was gone. Even with his 359 degree Byakugan, Toba could not spot Naruto.

" Where are you?" Toba said loudly.

" I'm right here." Naruto said in a cool manner as he was back to back against Toba.

Toba was quite impressed. Toba lowered his arms and smiled.

" You managed to get me right in my blind spot. Not bad kid." Toba said.

" You're pretty good to." Naruto said.

Toba turned around to face Naruto. He then looked over to Hinata.

" Very well, Hinata you may go with him, have fun but don't be gone too late." Toba said with a smile.

Hinata was happy nobody got hurt. She happily walked over to Naruto and Toba. Hinata bowed to to her grandfather then started walking toward the open gate. She turned back to wave to her grandfather.

" Arigatou Ojiisan. I'll be back soon." Hinata said.

Toba waved goodbye to her.

" Sorry about that Naruto-kun, but my grandfather is protective of me." Hinata said.

" It's cool Hinata-chan, man he's really somethin'." Naruto said.

Hinata smiled.

" So I take it...He's a Hyuuga?" Naruto asked.

Hinata slowly nodded. " Yes he is the former leader of the Hyuuga clan before he passed the responsibility down to Hiashi-sama." She said.

" So...but..." Naruto started.

" Yes, though it's true I was exiled from the clan, he still views me as his granddaughter." Hinata said.

" Ohhh, I see." Naruto said putting his hands behind his head. " Well he seems pretty nice."

" Arigatou. He is." Hinata said.

" So, wanna go get ramen?" Naruto asked.

Hinata smiled timidly and nodded.

The two went over to Ichikaru's and talked a while about who to look out for at the finals. Naruto talked about the list of the people he hopes he gets to fight (besides Neji). One of them was that Jirobo guy. Hinata took the liberty of telling Naruto about some of the things the Higashi clan was capable of from what she had been told. After Ichikaru's, the two genin walked around the village commenting on some of the things that changed while they had been away. Until Naruto saw a new feature near one of the shops. He gasped.

"Hinata-chan! Check it out!" Naruto said pointing in it's direction.

Hinata looked over and saw a Dance Dance Revolution machine.Naruto was ecstatic, he had heard alot about this game but never even seen it. Hinata had also been a bit anxious to play this game. They both went over and read the directions on how to play and were happy to see that two could play at once. Naruto popped in the coins and started the game.

Machine: Select Music!

They picked a fast paced Japanese song.

Machine: Are ya ready to play?

Naruto and Hinata got into their positions. The music started palying. Naruto and Hinata were doing their best to step with the beat. While Hinata seemed to be doing fine, Naruto seemd to be having a bit of difficulty. Soon Hinata was getting perfects on nearly every step while Naruto was lucky to get a few goods and an occasional perfect. At the end the machine tallied the scores.

First was Hinata's grade (A)

Machine: Congratulations! You Nailed It!

Hinata smiled while blushing.

" Awesome Hinata-chan! Hey what about my grade?" Naruto asked.

Naruto's Grade (D)

Machine: Noooooo! Did you do your best?

Naruto grumbled, Hinata laughed a bit and rubbed his shoulder to comfort him, which worked because his trademark grin flipped on like a light switch. Hinata just then noticed something.

" Am...I...putting my hands...on Naruto-kun!?" Hinata screamed in her mind.

" Yo Hinata-chan you wanna keep playing or go do something else?" Naruto asked.

Hinata got a hold of her senses.

" Oh um , I wouldnt' mind doing soemthing else." Hinata said.

" OK, good , 'cuz I don't need this machine giving me attitude all night." Naruto said jokingly.

Naruto and Hinata continued to walk through Konohakugare. They eventually found their way at the top of the Hokage mountain, gazing down upon the lit up village.

"Looks really nice doesen't it?" Naruto said.

"It's beautiful..." Hinata said ahving never seen the village this way before.

Naruto smiled as he looked over at Hinata. He liked how the lights of the village gleemed in Hinata's pearl-escent eyes. They sat there for a while taking in the scene and enjoying eachother's company. Suddnely Hinata found out what time it was.

" Oh Naruto-kun, I'm sorry but it's getting late, I wouldn't want to make Ojiisan worry." Hinata said.

Naruto smiled.

" Yea you're right, I wouldn't want him to fight me again." He chuckled.

Hinata smiled as they were walking atop the Hokage monument.

" I had alot of fun tonight." Naruto said.

" Me to, I am happy that you asked to go with you tonight Naruto-kun." Hinata said.

" Of course Hinata-chan, it just wouldn't be fun without you." Naruto said.

Hinata blushed.

" Just like it would be no fun without me, right?" Naruto asked.

"Eh, I'd manage." Hinata said surprisingly joking with the blond genin.

" Oh thats it!" Naruto said as he started tickling Hinata on her sides.

"no no no no no! Haha! Don't! I'm ticklish!" Hinata pleaded with a beet red face.

" That's right! This is my "funny-bone jutsu"! opponents stand no chance against it!" Naruto said.

"Haha! I give! I give!" Hinata said.

Naruto released his "new jutsu".

" But seriously Naruto-kun. I would not have had such a good time without you." Hinata said with the effects of Naruto's tickle attack still on her.

Later the two returned to Toba Hyuuga's manner.

"Goodnight." Hinata said softly.

" Goodnight." Naruto said in return.

Naruto watched Hinata go inside. He then turned to go home when suddenly Toba Hyuuga appeared in front of him. Naruto didn't even sense him.

"Oh, sorry, did we wake you up?" Naruto said.

" No, I was just about to go to bed in fact." Toba said.

" Sorry if I brought her back too late." Naruto said.

"That's fine, I'm just glad you brought her back before midnight. I just wanted to tell you sorry about earlier, I just wanted to test your character." Toba said.

Naruto looked at him puzzled.

" And the only way to do that was to fight me?" Naruto asked

" Oh yes, from my experience the best way to test an individual's character is in combat. Be sure to remember that." Toba said.

Naruto smiled. There were now 2 people of the Hyuuga clan that he liked.Naruto looked back, then looked back to Toba.

" You got an amazing granddaughter." Naruto said.

"She works very hard, it was not easy for her growing up in the Hyuuga clan." Toba said.

" You know, don't take this the wrong way, but the overall demeanor of the clan seems dominant and a little confrontational. Soooo how exactly does someone with Hinata-chan's personality come from a family like that?" Naruto asked.

Toba took a seat on a bench near a tree.

" Well, I would have to say she takes after her mother." Toba expalined.

Naruto was now curious.

" You see, Though Hinata had only a year ago been exiled from the Hyuuga clan, the fact is...her merit as heir was called into question before she was even born." Toba started.

Naruto looked at him surprised.

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Next Time.

Naruto: Why would Hinata-chan's eligibility as heir be in question before she's even born?

Toba: There is a history behind it.

Naruto: Next Time. Her name is Emi. The truth about Hinata's past.

More coming...

Again, I could have writen this chapter better. Bear with me.

I'm goin' trick or treatin' and I don't want no damn candy, I want reviews!