Its hard to say something to make the disclaimer even vaguely interesting each time. Naruto, and its related intellectual properties are the property of Kishimoto, not me.

The third stepped forward, and began to adress the 9 genin who stood in front of him. Sakura was still sleeping soundly, influenced by Sasuke's hypnosis. "We've now a month before the main tournament. You can use this time to train, or do whatever you like. You will all need to draw a number from this satchel." he said, nodding to Genma, who stepped forward, and allowed each of the genin to draw a number. He wrote down all of the genin's numbers, then scribbled something on a page, in a strangely feminine scrawl.

First Round

Match 1- Uzumaki Naruto vs Hyuga Neji

Match 2- Akodou Yoroi vs Aburame Shino

Match 3- Gaara vs Dosu Kinutu

Match 4- Haruno Sakura vs Uchiha Sasuke

Match 5- Temari vs Nara Shikamaru

Second round-

Match 6- Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 2

Match 7- Winner of Match 3 vs Winner of Match 4

Match 5- Seeded.

Third round-

Match 8- Winner of Match 5 vs Winner match 6

Match 9- Winner Match 7 vs one person, chosen by the Kage's, to be advanced from the first round.

Finals - Winner of Match 8 vs Winner of Match 9

Naruto glared at Neji with hate filled eyes. He was still enraged over what the arrogant Hyuga had done to his younger cousin. He would make that bastard pay.

Yoroi felt a chill run down his spine as he appraised Shino, the prodigy of the Aburame clan. This would be... unpleasant.

"Sasuke", Dosu whispered to himself, " this time no one will save you."

Shikamaru had a wry grin plastered across his face. Ino delivered a devastating slap across his cheek, she still hadn't forgiven him for her battered face. "What the HELL are you smirking at!" she yelled.

He rolled his eyes at him, but the deranged look in her eyes said that he'd have a lot more than a beating ahead of him if he just ignored her or called her troublsome. "I have the least matches." He said, barely containing his glee.

Sasuke said nothing.

Naruto and Sasuke entered the room the two of then shared with Sakura nearly together. Naruto immediately yelled out, "Sakura-chan!" seeing her lying on the bed, concern etched all over his whiskered face. He ran over to her, and shook her. She didn't wake up.

Seeing how panicked Naruto was Sasuke decided to end the hynosis. "Sakura." he said in a monotone. Almost instantly she snapped awake.

"Sasuke-kun?" she murmured a small smile crossing her lips. Naruto wrapped his arms around her in a big hug.

"Sakura-chan, you're ok. I was so worried!" Naruto laughed a bit. "That was amazing! Where did you learn-"

"Get off me Naruto," she yelled, realizing the akward clinch that the two of them were in. She peaked a glance over at Sasuke. Was he glaring at Naruto? She couldn't really tell. She pushed Naruto onto the floor, and rather playfully smacked her fist into his face, laughing as she did it.

Sasuke let out a rather explosive sigh. It had worked. "We need to go and talk to Kakashi. He said something about training for the next exam." Sasuke drawled, his voice nearly expressionless as usual.

"Sakura you'll never guess which bastard you got paired against," Naruto said, a sly grin filling his face. Sakura looked at him, waiting patiently for the answer. Naruto jabbed his finger towards Sasuke, "Him! Don't worry Sakura, he's a sissy."

Sasuke felt a vein bulging on his forhead. "Don't suppose, dead last, that your going to try and win your next match with gas too?" Sasuke voice dripped with sarcasm.

"BASTARD!!!"

Sakura watched the two of them traded insults back and forth, and tried to ignore the knot in her stomach. She had to fight Sasuke? It wasn't fair.

"Your'e gonna train me, huh sensei!?" Naruto exclaimed as they burst into the room where Kakashi was waiting. "Kakashi looked at Naruto, "umm, no."

"Your going to train Sasuke aren't you! You're not allowed to play favourites, Sensei!" Naruto yelled at his teacher.

"But Naruto," Kakashi said, his eyes twinkling. "I've the perfect teacher for your. He's waiting in the next room. Naruto was off like a shot, running into the adjacent chamber. He was more than a little dissapointed to find Ebisu waiting for him. "Now Sasuke. I'll be training you for the next month, if you'd like." Sasuke merely nodded in response. Kakashi then gave an akward chuckle. "Sakura I really don't umm have anyone lined up for you, yet." He looked at her, she looked crushed. He sighed, he would have been willing to bet anything she would've lost any match, and hadn't even bothered to look for someone. "I'll have someone for you soon Sakura. " he said, putting on his most reassuring smile. With that he strode out of the room. "Sasuke, meet me on top of the Fairmoor ridge, kay? Two days from now."

This left Sakura and Sasuke alone in the room. She looked close to tears. She mumbled to herself, "Why doesn't anyone ever expect anything from me" and started to walk away.

Sasuke looked at her, and couldn't help but remember all the times that his father had treated him the same way. He remembered how much it had hurt him. How only Itachi had treated him with anything but shock when he accomplished something. He found himself thinking, what would Itachi do here, ignoring the rage he felt at the mere thought of his traitorous brother. "Sakura. I expect that you'll be a good match."She spun around. Had Sasuke just complimented her?

He noted, absently that she wasn't crying anymore. "Sakura if you need help getting ready for the exam, I have the next two days off. We could train together."

"I'd love to, Sasuke!" she practically squealed. He sighed, she had been so normal recently. She immediately noticed that. She managed to keep herself more controlled next. "Do you want to meet at my house, say 7:30 tommorow?"

He grunted an affirmative, and started to walk away, waving casually over his shoulder as he went.

"See you tommorow Sasuke-k." She caught herself, just in time, before using the his hated nickname on him. She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug, and spun. Trainging with Sasuke tommorow. She couldn't be happier!

I'll have a new chapter real soon. I feel like writing right now.

Honestly though, does Naruto feel just a little off to anyone else. Without his inner perspective, and his fights, it seems like he's just a ADHD sidekick...