A/N: Edit 6/5/16 I am ashamed of myself for my previous antics. Anyway, not a lot to say here, I'm changing the teams and how some of the plot will play out. Therefore any unedited chapters are no longer compliant to how I am re-writing them. I'm leaving them up if you want to refresh yourself and gain some idea as to what I might do.

This chapter remains largely unchanged, I did remix the teams from what I had. I have a much clearer focus and end goal in mind with dynamics and growth. So you can re-read the latter half for that. Otherwise, till my next edit update.

Whoohoo! 4 alerts, I guess I'm doing something right, eh, if not, uhm…I don't know. Oooh, oooh, I'll keep writing it…unless that was your plan along! Where's that buzzing coming from? Where's my aluminum hat!? SANCTURARY!

...It's ok, I took my medication, and you can come back now.

In This Chapter: We're jumping right into the time skip, cause who really needs the details on those boring years, ne? I mean come on nothing exciting happened, except for that one mission, and there was the attack and…are you still here? Read the fic already, I promise I'll give you a flashback of any good stuff that happened in the past (pssst, let me give you a hint: there is none ).

I know you all want some more blood thirsty tanuki action, but alas, this story is also about Naruto so…IT'S TIME TO MEET KYUUBI! LET'S HEAR IT FOR EVERYONE'S FAVEORITE RABID FOX! "Whooo, its Kyuubi!" "Kyuubi! Kyuubi! Let me bear your children!" "Kyuubi! Bite my arm!" "Sign my cast on the broken limb you gave me!" "WE LOVE YOU KYUUBI!"

I still don't own Naruto, it's plot, or it's characters…but if I did, hehehe.

"Spoken word"

'Thoughts'

"Jutsus"

"Demon speech/speech between host and demon"

'Demon thoughts'

(Konoha)

"Alright, listen up! You will be taking your Academy Graduation tests now. You have all trained hard for this day for years, and I know you will all give your best and score well, you will be going in alphabetical order; first up: Nytaru Agisa, please go to the room across the hall, the rest of you should use this time to study."

Satisfied with his little speech/pep talk, Iruka Umino sat behind his desk and surveyed his class. He could already see potential teams grouped in his mind; keeping one eye on his charges, he began to grade the last papers he would receive from most of them.

Naruto on the other hand, was having a heated glaring/staring contest, with the Uchiha heir. Sasuke was making sure to do his part and was leaking a small amount of killing intent. Needless to say the boys had a significant amount of space surrounding them. Although that could have something to do with the huge snake draped around Naruto's shoulders, clearly glaring at Sasuke as well.

"Give it up teme, I'm gonna be top of the class, so you might as well start picking your apron out, and remember I like my steak medium-rare."

"Tch, you wish dobe, I've been waiting for this all year, just make sure you're in your finest when we get to the square."

The two had made a bet at the beginning of their last academy year to see who would be the top of the class; Sasuke would have to cook for Naruto for two months if he lost, Naruto would have to kneel beside Sasuke in the village square proclaiming Sasuke's genius and all around superiority to the entire town. Neither was particularly keen on losing; however, Naruto was confident in his assured success. Although they could no longer meet as often as they once could with Naruto now under the eye of both Anko and the Sandaime Hokage, Orochimaru continued to train his protégé hard. In fact, the one-on-one training Naruto did get from his Maru-sensei was harder than ever, the time between their sparse and intense training sessions were filled with weekly scrolls transported by Rapharsha containing everything from hand signs and jutsus, to charka exercises and ninja history and strategy. At every training session Naruto was grilled hard on any and all information covered by those scrolls. In short, Naruto had grown leaps and bounds since that fateful night and more than ready to be a genin.

"Next!"

Iruka's voice shattered Sasuke's concentration and he blinked. With a muttered 'dobe', he turned and promptly ignored Naruto. This was fine with the blond, it gave him time to think up and review anything he might need for the upcoming exam.

'Chakra control will be my biggest weakness. I can cover for that using stronger techniques, the Maru-sensei luckily finally caved and taught me the shadow clone technique, that will cover me for the basic clone jutsu but I there is no way I can do a transformation, it's too low level, I need an idea….'

A quick glance around the room gave Naruto a quick read on the situation so far. His classmates were in various states of nervousness, with low charka signatures, and the number of them coming back relieved confirming much.

'Definitely the basics, if I'm careful, I might be able to pull that one technique off and I'll ace for sure.'

This last thought held a hint of sadness. After this, his Maru-sama wouldn't be able to train him directly, only random scrolls detailing where he's lacking or what he should be working on. 'At least he promised me a really cool jutsu as a graduation present.' Naruto was expressly forbidden from failing, he shuddered to think of what his punishment could even possibly entail.

"Uchiha, you're up!"

This was it, after Sasuke came back, it would be his turn. Rapharsha slowly unwound herself in preparation to be moved, which unnerved half of the class, and slithered around his arm and neck.

"Thanks, but I've got this in the bag, girl. This is what I've been training for."

Sasuke swaggered back into the room, a smug smile on his faceas he resumed his place near Naruto.

"Good luck dobe, you'll need it."

"Screw you teme!"

Iruka watched the Uzumaki boy walk out of the room, his snake comfortably wrapped around him. 'If he wasn't living with Anko, what would have happened? Thanks to his rivalry/friendship with the Uchiha, he has a few acquaintances, but if he were alone…I don't want to think about it.'

Naruto quickly walked into the examination room, facing his examiners: Mizuki and …

"Anko! What the hell are you doing here!?"

"Calm down brat, your other examiner couldn't make it so I'm filling in. Tell us about The Great Ninja War, and Konoha's role in it, after that perform a clone jutsu and a transformation jutsu. Then you can leave."

"Right, The Great Ninja War was important because…"

Twenty minutes later found Naruto sitting quietly in a tree just outside of the academy. Iruka said the results would be announced in an hour after all the scores could be reviewed and Naruto thought this would be a good time to relax before facing his future. A few minutes before the proclaimed time limit Naruto made his way back to his seat, ignoring the smirking Uchiha.

"Alright everyone, Anko and Mizuki have reviewed your exam results with the Hokage and potential jonin mentors. Listen for your squad members and corresponding teacher. I'll only say them once. Also to note, a previous genin team has been broken up due to some special circumstances that has arisen, those of you that are not called did not pass and are asked to please stay behind for your next steps. Otherwise once your team has been called come get your hitai-ate and area to meet your jonin instructor. Now then, Team 7: Hinata Hyuuga, Sasuke Uchiha. Your jonin instructor is Kakashi Hatake; your third member is formerly of Team Guy, Tenten. You will meet in the classroom down the hall."

Sasuke and Hinata got up and retrieved their forehead protectors. Sasuke looked confused.

'Why wasn't I put on a team with that dobe? Did they think we wouldn't work well as a team with our rivalry…but he and I work so well together and I…hmm, I'll have to ask Anko about this.'

Hinata looked extremely disappointed. 'I won't be on a team with Naruto-kun after all…I'll just have to become strong, then he'll acknowledge me.' Determined with this resolution, Hinata vowed she would become a great ninja, for Naruto.

Team 7 walked down the hall to the classroom where they were to meet Kakashi, and found Tenten, who had graduated the year before. Sasuke quckly took a seat away from the two kunoichi and proceeded to ignore them. Tenten shot a glare to her new male teammate and Hinata fidgeted uncomfortably. Eventually the two were able to strike a small conversation while Sasuke continued to brood.

"Next, Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Naruto Uzumaki, Shikamaru Nara. Your instructor is Kurenai Yuuhi; Meet her at the Hokage Monument. "

Naruto and Kiba eyed each other as the both stood up and raced to the desk, each reaching for the same protector at the same time.

"I was here first dog-breath!"

"In your dreams whiskers! Even you know I'm the fastest in the class!"

What looked to be a major headache in the making was consequently defused when Shikamaru walked by to pick up his own protector and tripped over Rapharsha, cause him to bump into Naruto just as Kiba gave a hard yank, pulling both he and Naruto to the floor. The result had Naruto kneeling between Kiba's splayed legs,lips pressed against each other. The entire class began laughing hysterically as Naruto and Kiba spluttered and began blaming each other.

Shikamaru just muttered a quiet troublesome and dragged both boys out by their ears after grabbing a third protector for the other loud mouth, bemoaning his fate.

"Team Ten will consist of Ino Yamanaka, and Shino Aburame. You will be under the tutelage of Asuma Sarutobi, your third teammate Neji Hyuuga will meet you on the roof."

Shino silently collected his headband and walked out. Ino could be heard demanding why she wasn't put on a team with Sasuke.

"Finally we have Team Guy; Choji Akimichi, Sakura Haruno. You are to meet your instructor Guy, and your last team mate, Rock Lee, at the training grounds."

Sakura, too disappointed about not being on the same team as Sasuke, just nodded and left. Choji quickly followed not wanting to be left behind and wondering what his other teammate was like.

Naruto, Kiba, and Shikamaru finally reached the stone monument to find no one there.

"What do you mean…..you're right, no one has been here in a long time. Why would sensei have us meet her here? "

Kiba's quiet confirmation to Akamaru's whine put Naruto on edge. Rapharsha quickly unwound herself and swiftly hid in the shadows, while Kiba and Akamaru worked to find a hidden scent trail. Shikamaru collapsed on his back and stared up at the clouds.

"Why did I want to do this again? We're in the middle of friendly territory, why are you so wound up?"

As Kiba and Akamaru were pacing the perimeter, Naruto felt the question was aimed at him.

"C'mon Shika, even you have to admit this is a little strange. We could be in the middle of a big S-Rank secret or some enemies have infiltrated the village or-"

"Or sensei is being troublesome and testing our skills and you getting ahead of yourself is just playing right into her hands. Did you find it yet Kiba?"

Akamaru gave a bark and circled back around to lay next to Shikamaru, with Kiba close behind. The two shared a look before Kiba pulled out a pack of cards and began to shuffle and deal them.

"We're definitely under the effects of a genjutsu, looks like you were right Shika, you call first hand."

"Tch, Naruto, stop stomping around and get over here, we need to plan."

"Plan for what? And what's a genjutsu?"

"Why is it that even with your precious Maru-sama's teachings, you're still an idiot of unbelievable proportions?"

"Oh now you want to wake up from your nap? Where were you before?"

"Hush and pay attention, the smart one is talking."

"Since only the very basics of genjutsu were covered we can only hope to draw her out as we don't have the tools to take this fight to her."

"But why would she be testing us like this? We already passed the exam!"

"My mom warned me and Akamaru something like this would happen. 'In the shinobi world, nothing is as it seems so be prepared for anything.'

"We need to assume she can hear and everything we're doing, is there any way you can create some cover for us?"

"One Uzumaki Distraction Special, coming up!"

"My my, let's not get ahead of ourselves, shall we?"

The sudden voice had everyone on edge before a swarm of cherry blossoms obscured their view and each of the newly minted genin found themselves alone and separated from their teammates.

'A natural inclination to work together and to share information, good, now let's see their individual talents.'

A/N: Edited 6/5/16