6. The Chunnin Exam begins

Naruto sighed as shethed her sword. That had been the seventh parasite demon this week. It seems Akio had been right about someone using the demons. The parasites had all infected rich men like Gatou who had powerful control over numerous companies . The parasites had all been residing within them for about a year, the same as Gatou. Naruto had been able to exorcise most of the demons but when she had tried to interrogate them, they blew up.

Naruto jumped down into a deserted alleyway where she preceded to change her hair and eyes to their original color. She maintained her Vixen height and her whisker marks were still missing. Her clothes turned into blue jeans, a long black shirt and a yellow coat over it.

The blond haired women emerged from the alleyway making her way through the partying town. She had been so stressed in Konoha lately. It would feel good to take a break. She bought some dangos from a stall and resumed her walk through the town enjoying the festival.

Naruto sighed wearily as she sensed a faint chakra signature following her. She jumped onto a deserted rooftop.

"You can come out , now. "Naruto called irritated taking a bite of her dango.

A man appeared wearing an Akatsuki cloak staring at Naruto emotionlessly.If Naruto had been anyone else she would have shivered at the black lifeless look this man possessed.

Naruto gazed at him blankly before taking in his appearance. Black hair, opal eyes, an effeminate face that resembled Uchiha Mikoto's. He also had a striking resemblance to Sasuke.

"Ma, Ma. That girly looking face and that terrible choice in nail polish color. You have got to be Uchiha Itachi."Naruto concluded in astonishment. Who knew a relative of Sasuke's could look so...dare she say hot?

"On the plus side that cloak goes great with your eyes."Naruto remarked taking another bite from her dango. She didn't seem to mind that she was currently in the presence of an S-class missing-nin. "Take my advice though, purple nail polish does not go with your eyes. You should change to red."

The jinchuuriki was disappointed when the Uchiha made no move to reply. Why were all the good looking dudes always walls?

Naruto turned her back to Itachi intending on leaving if he wasn't going to say anything. She saw his movement from the corner of her eye but did nothing to stop it.

Naruto found herself pinned against a wall with a hand clasped around her throat making it hard to breathe.

"You should never turn your back to your opponent, Naruto-kun."Itachi breathed into her ear .

Naruto's hand clasped around the arm that was enclosing her windpipe. A second later Itachi retracted his arm as if burned.

"You also should never underestimate your opponent, Uchiha."Naruto returned rubbing her throat and scowling at the slightly amused weasel. Her hand still cackled with sparks of lightning. "You should get movement in your left arm in a half hour or so, if you were wondering." She hated it when his eyes flickered to her as if saying' So?' He wasn't taking her seriously.

"What brings you to me?"the genin asked the former ANBU captain.

"You have been inteferring with us ,Naruto-kun."Itachi informed Naruto in his velvet baritone voice.

"Interfering, huh?"Naruto cocked her head to the side. "I see. Then you are the idiots that have been messing with the demons."

Itachi's black eyes narrowed at her. " You'll stop interfering with us if you wish to live longer, Naruto-kun."

"Hmm. The way I see it you guys are going to end up trying to kill me anyway."Naruto replied indifferently shrugging her shoulders.

In a flash the Uchiha had a kunai drawn and slashed through Naruto's throat. Naruto smirked and disappeared in a puff of smoke. A kage bunshin.

Itachi turned around and his kunai clashed with Naruto's. Itachi drew back and tried to sweep Naruto's legs from under her. Naruto saw it coming and jumped to avoid the kick. What she did next surprised the normally stoic Uchiha.

She shethed her kunai and walked up to Itachi until she was close enough to touch him. Naruto reached up with her hand to trace the lines under Itachi's eyes. The sharingan spun furiously as Naruto gazed at him through trance like eyes.

Finally having enough Itachi grabbed her hand stopping her ministrations. "What are you doing?"

"Foolish boy. You shouldn't use those eyes so recklessly. Those horrible eyes and their cursed ancestry. You'll go blind."Naruto replied softly her sky blue eyes staring into his sharingan.

"Why would you concern yourself with me?" Itachi didn't ask with anger or any visible emotion. He seemed to be asking just out of curiosity.

"Why indeed? I don't know. I hate Uchiha's. Normally, I would've just slit your throat and get over it but..."Naruto trailed off seeing something flicker in Itachi's eyes as he released her hand and turned around.

"If you insist on interfering, then you should at least not make your identity so easy to figure out , Naruto-kun." Itachi advised before disappearing.

Naruto sighed tiredly as she lifted her dango to eat. The blond's eye twitched as she looked at her clean stick. That bastard had eaten her last dango. She didn't care how good looking he was the next time she saw him he was a dead weasel.

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Naruto dragged herself to her new mansion. She had furnished it using magic and Haku was supposed to be living with her from now on. She didn't personally mind but she knew it was the Hokage's way of keeping her restrained in whatever activities she was participating in.

Naruto quickened her pace as she heard glass breaking and some familiar voices shouting. As she neared the house , the half witch was very tempted to tear someone to pieces. A certain red headed someone.

A window from her brand new house had been destroyed as someone was sent flying out of it. The former Hidden Mist ninja, Momochi Zabuza was currently standing on the demon king who was lying in a crater. Zabuza was threatening Kyuubi, telling him that if he touched Hak ever again he would be missing some limbs and an important part that made him male.

Zabuza seized his rantings though as he felt a hand encircle his throat pulling him off of the Kyuubi. Zabuza's eyes met with with furious blue ones.

"The hell do you think you idiots are doing in my brand new house?"Naruto growled her tone clearly pissed off.

"That pedophile was trying to feel Haku up. I was just giving him what he deserved."Zabuza replied angrily, his stance still ready for a fight.

Naruto turned her head to the side to see the Kyuubi trying to sneak off.

"Sit, boy."SLAM. Someone met the hard pavement.

The genin sighed as she gazed at her idiot buji. She had let him stay in his human form because she liked having her mind to herself for once. Now she finds out he was trying to feel up Haku. Kyuubi was bisexual and because he didn't have a mate his desires sometimes got out of control. Something he said could easily be fixed if Naruto got a mate. Which would probably never happen.

Naruto slammed her foot into the red eyed male. She then proceeded to pick him up by his hair. "What the hell do you think you are doing molesting a house guest?"

"I was bored and you weren't home. " Kyuubi complained immaturely. "I had no one to cuddle with and I wanted to go to bed."

"Then you should have just waited, baka."Naruto released stalking back into the house pausing however as she saw Haku in the doorway looking at her as if she had just sprouted a tail. Muttering some stupid excuse Naruto made her way into her new bedroom.

Changing into silk blue pajama's she got into bed yawning. She didn't protest when she felt a pair of arms encircling her waist and pulling her against a hard chest . She mumbled incoherent curses as Kyuu-nii-chan removed her hat and let her golden locks cascade down spraying everywhere.

"You've been overworking yourself, kit." he murmured into her neck as he slide his clawed fingers through her tangled hair. "It's alright to miss your family you know."

Naruto turned her body so she could bury herself into the demon's chest. "I returned exactly at the same time I left. Nothing changed. It's been five years for me and I don't know how long its been over there."She broke off inhaling sharply and then continued in a small voice. " What if they send me back here to get rid of me? What if they don't want someone with dirty blood-"

"That's enough."Kyuubi snarled his body rigid and his eyes glowing with fury. He cupped Naruto's head and brought her frightened blue eyes to meet his eyes. " You listen to me brat. You can't control who your parents were anymore then you can control how much Obito talks a day. As for your family, you earned their respect and their love. Things like that don't disappear overnight. Whatever intentions your grandfather held by sending you back here, you have to believe he had your best interest in mind. You trust him, don't you?" At Naruto's immediate nod, the Kyuubi smiled.

"Alright then,shut up and go to bed. You still have to show Haku the way to the academy tomorrow."Kyuubi muttered his eyes dropping.

Naruto smiled gratefully at the demon king. Now she remebered why she kept him along for so long. "Thanks, Kyuu-kaa-chan."She giggled when she saw the glare that was directed at her.

"Don't call me that."

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"We go right from here."Naruto muttered turning right with Haku in tow. She knew she was going to have to tell this guy the truth now before she let him live with her any longer. He was probably also curious as to why people had been glaring at them since the had ben walking the streets.

"Hey Haku. Have you ever heard of jinchuuriki?"Naruto asked hopefully.

"Yes actually. The Hidden Mist Village had one. "Haku answered perplexed at why his new house mate was bringing it up?

"Good. Then have you ever heard of the Kyuubi no Youkai?"Naruto inquired, feeling a bit anxious.

"Yes. It attacked this village twelve years ago didn't it?"Naruto nodded. Haku blinked suddenly putting the pieces together. Demon attacks, village needs a way to stop it, needs jinchuuriki, who was hated by everyone in the village.

"Then you are the vessel for the Kyuubi?"Haku asked the young girl who only came up to him about midchest.

"That's right. Look , Haku I'll be honest with you. People here don't like me very much. You are starting a new life here, so living with the village pariah may not be a good idea. If you don't want to stay with me, then-"

"I don't mind."Haku broke in without a moments hesitation. He smiled at Naruto's shocked face . "When I lived back with my parents, people there were afraid of kekei genkai's. "

"Your family was killed because of it."Naruto finished quietly, recalling the scenes that had entered her mind when she had touched him on the bridge.

"Well, here is the academy."Naruto exclaimed stopping. "The adult dictatorship of poor innocent children, a.k.a. The hellhole of learning."

"Naruto-kun, you didn't like school much , did you?" Haku asked in bemusement at the hat clad ninja's exclamation.

"That's an understatement."A new voice informed him. "She hardly ever showed up and if she did, it was because she was tied and gagged."

"Iruka-sensei, your making me look like a bad student."Naruto pouted with a huff.

"You were a bad student."Iruka laughed as Naruto deflated.

"A real sensei doesn't tell their student that."

"The truth is the truth."

"What!? For that you are going to treat your best student to all you can eat ramen."

"I don't think Sasuke likes ramen."

"Iruka-sensei, you are not my favorite teacher anymore."

"Since when was I your favorite teacher?"

"Since this morning."

"Why since this morning?"

"Cause I woke up and was hungry and since I had to take Haku here to the academy I skipped breakfast. Then I immediately thought of you, the nicest teacher alive who would treat his dearest student to lunch but it looks like you woke up on the floor this morning."Naruto huffed turning around.

"Haku?"Iruka blinked turning around to gaze at the female looking male who was gazing at them in amusement.

"Oh, gomen, gomen. I didn't see you there ojo-chan."Iruka said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head. He turned his head towards Naruto who was having a coughing fit.

"So, what can I do for you?" he asked politely ignoring Naruto's wheezing.

"Ano..I'm supposed to be here as a new chunnin instructor."Haku replied. Not seeming to be bothered that once again he had been thought of as a girl.

"Really?"the chunnin asked in puzlement. "The Hokage said there would be a new male instructor today-" Iruka cut himself off though as Naruto's coughing fit turned into giggles.

"Did I miss something?"Umino Iruka asked suspiciously his eyebrow twitching, his teacher senses triggered by Naruto's laugh.

"Yeah, you're missing Haku's boobs and the vagina."Naruto choaked out, her laughter increasing by the shade of red Iruka had turned.

"You should've said something earlier."Iruka growled at Naruto who was still laughing.

"Why would I?" Naruto wiped some tears from her eyes. "I was waiting until you asked Haku out then-"

WHAM

"Itai, I was only trying to help. Geez, you really need to get laid."

BONK

"Itai, child abuse here."

"Haku, lets me and you go and introduce you to the rest of the staff and students. Then we can decide what classes you'll be teaching."

"Hai, Iruka-senpai."

"Yeah guys, even if you guys can't get pregnant make sure to use protection. You don't want to contract any STD's."

SLAM

"Its rude to hit a girl you know. HEY, don't just leave me here."

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"Chunnin Exams?"Sakura repeated frowning up at Kakashi.

"That's right. I've recommended all three of you."Kakashi responded cheerfully, even though he had been late by three hours. Even Obito knew not to be late by more than half an hour.

"Scarecrow, is there hay stuck in your ears? If you haven't noticed we've been genins for nearly five months. We've completed the minimum amount of missions and some of us don't even have the necessary training."Naruto glared at Kakashi putting a big emphasis on some of us ,mainly indicating Sakura.

"Ma, Ma, I'm sure you guys will do well."Kakashi countered confidently.

"Do you? You may have been a chunnin at six but we all aren't prodigies here. I know how these exams work so don't think you can pull a fast one on me. The first parts are taken in squads of three but once you get to the third round you're on your own against foreign ninja. People die in these stupid exams for a stupid vest. The least you could of done was ask us what we thought about this?"Naruto wasn't angry. Oh no, she was pissed . Who the hell did they think they were deciding she was going to participate in some stupid tournament for a higher position ? And didn't the idiot Kakashi know that Sakura would die in an exam like that? Did he think that her and Sasuke were going to carry her on their backs for the rest of the girls ninja career?Did anyone seem to care that they were going to be forcing twelve year old children, twelve, to start killing others with the chance they could die as well? Did it bother anyone in this messed up society?

"Dobe, don't string me in with you. If you are too scared then you can sit out the third round."Sasuke apparently didn't care at all or he was delusional that everyone in battle was going to bow down to him because he was an Uchiha.

"Yeah, Naruto."Sasuke's ever persistent parrot agreed with him.

The shortest member of team seven turned her head up so that they could see her face under the cap. One look at her face would've send a kage home crying to their mommy. Naruto's jaw was set , her fist clenched and what was scariest of all were her eyes. They weren't the usual bored sky blue eyes, they were an icy blue with emerald flashing in like thunder.

Naruto stalked passed them not paying any heed but team seven did get to hear her last words. "Monsters."

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Naruto kicked a rock out of her way angrily. These were children that they were sending into battle. What sick society used its children to kill for money and political power?

Naruto smiled wryly. They were shinobi . They were tools to use for the good of the village. They weren't soldiers. They didn't have any honor. Then why had her mother betrayed her own people by marrying someone from this disgusting background? A man who had been an Anbu and who had had no problems with handing her over to the fourth.

"Ow, man, that rock pissed you off or something?"Obito appeared in her vision making Naruto stop in her tracks.

She glanced back to see the two Hokages and Zabuza ingaged in a conversation over something. "Hey, eyebrowless freak, why the hell are you haunting me?"

"If Haku is staying with you and you are the only person who can see us, who else do you think I would haunt?"Zabuza replied with a smirk that pissed her off.

"I don't know, your dead mother or something but not me."she answered not in the best of moods today.

"Naruto, be nice. Zabuza-san is only looking after his student."Shodaime said making Naruto turn her head in his direction and look at him as if he had just said told her to go kiss Itachi.

"Don't look at him like that."Nidaime told Naruto laying a hand on her shoulder. "Aniki is just in a good mood."

"Why?"Naruto asked.

"Because apparently the cow- skin -wearing- eyebrowless -skeleton- looking"Naruto coughed stopping the Nidaime's rant, as Zabuza's temper seemed to ready to snap. "He's aniki's new go fish partner. In over a century and he has never beaten me once and now-"

"Naruto-nee-chan!"Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon ran up to her with Haku behind them. Oh yeah, she had was supposed to pick Haku up at the end of the academy. Oops.

"Naruto-nee-chan, will you play ninja with us? Haku-sensei said he'd play too."Konohamaru asked with so much eagerness of a child his age that it nearly broke her heart.

She couldn't stand the thought of one day, that smile becoming just a childhood memory. The eyes haunted with memories of countless battles. And the hands drenched in blood.

"Why would a ninja pretend to play ninja?"Sakura's question broke Naruto out of her horrible musings.

"Oh, Naruto-nee-chan, is she your friend?"Konohamru asked pointing at Sakura.

"As if. We're teammates that's all."Sakura answered seeing as Naruto was too busy gagging.

"Huh. Poor, Naruto-nee-chan, you got stuck with a real witch for a teammate."Konohamru said noticing the disgusted stare Sakura kept giving Naruto.

Naruto twitched at the witch comment but otherwise decided it was time to get out of there since Sakura was cracking her knuckles.

The Konohamaru Corps seemed notice it too because they took after Naruto with Sakura at their heels. Haku just following at a leisure pace watching in amusement.

"ITAI!"the Hokage's grandson cried as he ran into something.

The thing he had run into was a Sand shinobi with a major attitude problem and a gender disorder. He lifted Konohamru with one hand snarling "Who do you think you are brat, running into me like that?"

"Please. It was my fault. We were playing around."Sakura piped up appearing to be concerned for once.

"Kankurou , stop it before we get in trouble."a blond haired girl with a fan strapped to her back warned what could only be guessed to be her teammate.

"This little brat deserves a beating for running into me."Kankurou barked back his gripon Konohamru's scarf tightening.

"Naruto-nee-chan, help."the boy cried out .

The jinchuriki heard him but didn't move. Haku looked like he was about to move but stopped when he gazed at Naruto's tense posture.

Naruto tried to stop the pounding in her ears and the swirling in her stomach but was unsuccessful. She remembered all the time about bullies like this. People who had used her as a scapegoat for their anger and hatred. She had been helpless, unable to lift a finger back then. When she had cried out for help , no one that she could recall had bothered to come.

The make-up wearing puppet user raised his fist and sent it flying not holding back in the least. A cry of pain was heard in the next second.

Sakura's eyes widened at the scene. Naruto was holding onto the sand ninja's fist and Konohamaru was behind her clutching her pant leg. She hadn't even saw Naruto move from her spot.

"Why you little-"Kankurou swore wrenching his fist away from Naruto's grasp. He reached up to unlatch the things on his back but was stopped as a hand grasped his throat and lifted him into the air.

"So this is what they teach in other villages, is it?"an eeirily calm but frightening voice asked. It was hard to believe that this was the same Naruto who was always complaining about everything. It looked like she was always angry but they had never heard her use that voice.

"Picking on children who are helpless against you. Not only are you guests in this village but the boy who you were about pound is the Hokage's grandson. Not that it really matters to me." Naruto increased the pressure on the puppet users neck, that he gasped blood trickling down his chin. His arm desperately trying to free himself of the kunoichi's demon like grip.

"Where I come from harming a defenseless child would mean your immediate execution." Naruto's eye's hidden by her cap flickered in the direction of the blond girl with the interesting hairstyle. She was reaching to her back readying to unfurl what looked like a gigantic fan.

Naruto inwardly smirked. Her primary element was the wind, she could control it with her mind alone. Like some fan generated wind's mixed with chakra could actually match up to her attacks.

"Naruto!"Obito yelled grasping the arm that was holding Kankurou up in the air. "If you hold on any longer you are going to kill him."

Naruto lifted an eyebrow at Obito as if saying 'So?'. Obito scowled at her and replied to her uncaring gaze "This guy maybe a freaky-making-up-wearing-doll-playing-gothic-bullying-clown but you are scaring everyone like this."

Obito was right. Sakura was trembling slightly at the killing intent Naruto was giving off. All three kids had hidden themselves behind Haku. Even Sasuke who was hiding in the tree above seemed petrubed by her behavior. With an annoyed sigh she tossed the Sand ninja away from her and watched impassively as he took in mouthfuls of air trying to reguvenate his deprived lungs of oxygen.

"I'm going to beat the stuffing out of this shrimp."Kankurou declared rising and beginning to undo the bandages around his puppets.

"Shrimp?"Naruto whispered her eyes narrowing.

Obito winced and groaned. The Nidaime slapped his forehead. The Shodaime just shook his head at the stupidity of some people.

"What the hell is with that group response?"Zabuza asked.

"Your new so I'll fill you in. Three things you can never talk about in Konoha. Religion, Politics and Naruto's height." the Nidaime ticked them off with his fingers

"Don't you mean lack of height." Zabuza chortled only to hide behind the second hokage when Naruto's eyes flickered in his direction.

Goddammit. That kid had eyes that belonged to the devil. It was like staring into a bottomless chasm that was ripping your soul from your body . The former Mist ninja was counting his blessings that he was dead.

"Kankurou, enough." a quiet voice ordered from the tree besides them. When they turned around they saw a boy hanging upside down on a tree branch. Sasuke was sitting adjacent from him looking surprised that someone had been able to sneak up on him.

"You are a disgrace to our village."the red headed boy continued while the make up wearing boys eyes widened in fear. The fan weilding girl was also aprehensive.

"W-Wait a minute , Gaara." Kankurou stammered in fear , trying to find a way to save his ass.

"Shut up or I'll kill you."the guy named Gaara said his threat as dark as the rims around his eyes.

"Apologies to you guys."He disappeared and reappeared in front of the group.

Her eyes roamed the boys appearance. From the cold, teal , black rimmed eyes to the love tatto on his forehead. 'This kid's chakra isn't normal. His chakra resembles mine when I go Kyuubi. So then he's a jinchuuriki like me.'Naruto's eyes widened from the realization. She had never met anyone like her before.

"Wow. I've never met anyone like me before. This is so cool. I've always wanted to meet my little brother."she proclaimed her voice sweeter than it had ever been with anyone from Konoha before that it scared everyone in the vicinity except Gaara who was staring at her as if to ask 'What crack have you been smoking?'

"PANDA-CHAN!"Naruto burst out a moment later after a few seconds thoughtfulness. "That's what I'll call you."

The two eldest sand ninja's stepped away from what was about to become someone's grave. The Konoha ninja were starting to wonder if their dear comrade suffered from a multipersonality disorder. How could anyone go from a murderous rage to bubbly and happy in the blink of an eye?

"What's your name?"Gaara wasn't going to bother killing her right now. Judging by the killing intent she had sent out before, she was strong. She would be a challenge later and good blood for his mother later.

"Me? Uzumaki, Naruto."the blond answered oblivious to the insanity that crept in the gourd wielding shinobi's eyes.

Gaara turned and strode off , his siblings following after him.

"Is this kid sane?"Zabuza asked no one in particular.

"She's only considered sane after she's had ten bowls of ramen."Obito nodded sagely at Zabuza's incredulous expression. "I know . It's amazing she isn't the size of a mountain yet with everything she eats."

Naruto , with a smile plastered on her face stretched her arm and accidentally came in contact with Obito's face.

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"So you want me to enter this exam as a spy?"she asked the Hokage .

"The chunnin exams are a grand event but it also leaves the village open for attack. Anyone can slip in easily and move about the village with relative ease. That's why I want to you to expand your information network and find out if any of the villages are planning anything for the chunnin exams."the Sandaime explained blowing out some smoke.

"I still don't get why I have to participate in this stupid thing."Naruto groaned.

"Two reasons. One, if you are a participant in the exams it gives you a greater chance to gather more information on any potential threats. Two, these exams are held in squads of three. Sasuke and Sakura can't take the exams without you."the Sandaime glanced at Naruto's disgruntled face and examined what was wrong.

"You don't think they are ready?"he asked his prodeccor's daughter.

Those sky blue eyes that seemed to be able to digest you in instant flashed his way. It still amazed him how much Naruto resembled her father. Same hair, same eyes, same skin color. Naruto inherited little from her mother in the physical department which was a shame. Her mother was a beauty.

"They still think this is a game. I don't know what Kakashi was thinking recommending us."

"You are worried that you won't be able to watch out for them the entire time, right?"the old man concluded not missing the protest that popped up in her eyes.

"Like I'd care."

"You do care. From what I've heard from Kakashi you are especially hard on Sakura. She reminds you a lot of yourself, doesn't she?"

"Please, she is just spoiled villager kid who became a ninja to chase after a boy."

"I wonder. She craves to be acknowleged. She wants to be accepted by Sasuke because he is someone everyone recognizes. In her mind if she can win Sasuke over then that will serve as being acknowleged by everyone ."

"So Sasuke's just a trophy for her. I can't believe you are comparing us. We have nothing in common."

"If you minus the Sasuke issue-"

"That issue is what is on her mind day and night. I have never seen anything so pathetic ."

"You were both outcasts as children. You don't come from prestigious ninja clans. You both are kunoichi. Why don't you help her?"

"I've tried to motivate her but the moment she saw Sasuke got upset because she was doing better than him she stopped. That's the problem if she can't get her head away from Sasuke she'll never be able to be any use."

"Why don't you motivate her by thinking of what she wants to achieve?"

"You want me to think like a fan girl?"Naruto did not bother to hide the disgust in her voice.

"Teammates are there to help each other."the Sandaime smiled up at Naruto. "You've protected them for now but they also need to grow and walk on their own. Sakura especially." Sarutobi sighed heavily, folding his hands in front of him and gazing at Naruto intently. " I hate to admit to this but as Sakura is the most average ninja on your team, she will most likely be Kakashi's last priority to teach.
She doesn't have the same equal chance as the both you and Sasuke, who possess unusual strengths."

"Look, I'll try my best with her but if she can't help herself then there is nothing I can do."she replied , Sakura was annoying but Naruto would try her best because the Sandaime was right.

Sakura was like Naruto. Not the fangirl Sasuke crazed Sakura but the Sakura who was constantly being protected by everyone.

Naruto remembered painfully how her brothers had protected her from danger. How useless she felt when she needed her brothers for everything? Then there was the enormous guilt she felt when her brother was injured because of her. She wanted to never see someone hurt protecting her again. She had wanted power to protect herself and everyone she cared about.

She didn't want someone to go through what she went . Naruto hoped, Sakura would get stronger without getting that mental experience because it wasn't a pleasant one.

"See, you are a nice person you just don't like to show it much."the Sandaime said brightly.

"No, you are just going senile."Naruto snorted, a slight pink blush on her cheeks.

"You are a nice person."the old man pressed.

"I'm leaving."she grumbled stomping out of the room with the grace of a five year old.

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"Drop this genjutsu and let me through."Sasuke demanded stepping up to the disguised chunnins.

"You noticed?"one of them asked.

Naruto cracked open a lazy eye still sipping from her mocha caramel frappucino. She probably looked ridiculous showing up to a killer exam where you could die, drinking coffee and looking half dead. She didn't care , however, because she was a nocturnal person . Slept during the day and walked around during the night. It was way too early for all this ninja crap.

"Of course."The Uchiha smirked glancing toward Sakura. "Sakura , you probably noticed it first since your analatyic abilties and genjutsu know how is the best on the team. Right?"

"Sasuke-kun..thank you."Sakura's seemed to have risen with the encouragement from her teammate. Naruto allowed a lazy grin to spread across her face. Their teamwork wasn't that bad, after all. " That's right. This is the second floor."

"Alright, you were able to see it but that won't be enough."the chunnin raised his leg for a kick while Sasuke quickly raised his own leg for a kick.

A green blur swept pass them keeping their legs from coliiding. Sasuke retracted his leg looking surprised.

"Hey, what about your idea to keep our abiltities a secret?" a pupiless black haired boy asked the boy wearing green spandex.

The guy with the bowl cut turned his head in Sakura's direction as a another girl with buns on both sides of her head shook her head muttering " Oh no."

"Hi. My name is Rock Lee."he introduced himself stepping up to Sakura and flashing a pearly white smile. "I'll protect you forever. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Sakura shivered taking in the bowl cut, the lower eyelashes , the fuzzy eyebrows. " No way. Your lame."

"This isn't time to be playing around you brats."One of the chunnins lectured turning towards Naruto. "And you, what do you think you are doing coming to an important exam drinking coffee and looking asleep on your feet?"

Wordlessly Naruto pushed herself of the window, held out her coffee for Sakura to hold and strode to the window pushing it open. Sasuke moved out of her way , remembering yesterday, as she grabbed the chunnin and threw him out the window.

"Does anyone else have a problem with a girl getting her daily dose of caffeine?" As everyone in the vicinty backed away slowly and shook their heads, Naruto took back her coffee and sipped some more of the caramel goodness. Sasuke and Sakura just shook their heads at their teammates behavior. They had learned not to bother her when she was on a caffeine frenzy.

"So, would you please drop this crappy genjutsu and let us pass?"Even though she said it politely with a smile, her eyes flashed towards the chunnin who trembled and moved out of the way , dropping the genjutsu.

"Hey, you, What are your names?"the black-haired asked holding himself with an arrogance that could only be seen in nobility.

"You are supposed to introduce yourselves before asking someone else's name."Sasuke returned as Sakura pulled his and Naruto's arm to the third floor.

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"Hey, you the dark haired one., hold on."the bowl cut guy requested as team seven made its way to the third floor.

"What?"Sasuke asked turning his head in the direction of Rock Lee.

"Would you fight me here and now?"Lee asked.

"A fight here, right now?"Sasuke repeated.

"Yes." He leaped down from the top of the stairs. " I want to test myself against a prodigy of the genius Uchiha clan. Plus.."He turned his gaze to Sakura who shivered.

"Sakura-san"He said blushing. "Love."

"Ewwwwwww."Sakura screeched. "Those lower eyelashes are ew. Hairstyle is lame...and those thick eyebrows..It's all too thick."the pink haired kunoichi trembled.

"You are an angel."Lee went on blowing Sakura a kiss which she dodged as Naruto choked on her coffee.

"Impressive. Then, how about this?"the green spandex genin blew more random kisses.

"Hey, don't throw weird things! I barely escaped with my life."Sakura screamed after dodging more kisses. Naruto was currently laughing her ass off.

"You don't have to be so negative."Lee protested. "Come, Sasuke-kun."

"Challenging me knowing the Uchiha name, frankly you are fool. You are about to learn what that name means , thick-brows."Sasuke announced charging at Lee only to find he had disappeared.

Naruto leaned back against a pillar not bothering to pay attention to the fight. It was obvious who would win. True , to her prediction Sakura was catching a falling Sasuke and Lee was getting lectured by a talking turtle .

"Are you prepared to pay?"the turtle was currently saying. At Lee's small nod the turtle continued " Then here comes Gai-sensei."

"Geez, you guys are the epitome of youth."announced a man striking the most revolting pose ever known . He looked like an older version of Lee except even scarier.

Suddenly he punched Lee in the face sending him flying. Lee's sensei approached his fallen student and kneeled.

"Lee, you are..you are"the man trailed off as tears strolled down his face.

"Sensei..I..I."Lee exclaimed tears also rolling down his cheeks. Cheesy music began playing and a sunset could be seen in the back as the two hugged.

Naruto was currently wondering if she was still actually asleep and if she was she prayed she would wake up from this nightmare of spandex wearing freaks soon. Theses guys put her families weirdness to shame.

"You guys are Kakashi's students, right?"Gai appeared behind team seven surprising Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto was praying that she would wake up sometime now.

"You know Kakashi?"Sasuke asked his eyes narrowing in frustration at all the strong guys appearing.

"Yeah, I know Kakashi. Some actually call us eternal rivals."he flashed them another blinding smile. The youngest member of team seven could honestly say she had never felt so sorry for a person as she had Kakashi at the moment. "My record is of 50 wins and 49 losses."

"Okay!"Naruto interupted before she was mentally scarred for life."We have to go." she grabbed Sakura and Sasuke and ran for it.

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"Sasuke-kun!" A blond haired girl bounced on Sasuke wrapping her arms around his neck, pressing her body into his back, much to the Uchiha's extreme annoyance. "I haven't seen you in a while, so I've been waiting in excitement."

Ino's voice seemed to snap Sakura out of her fearful survey of the room. " Let go of Sasuke, Ino-pig."

"Sasuke-kun is mine."Ino smirked sticking out her tongue at her rival.

"What ? You guys are taking this stupid exam too?" a lazy voice drawled to the right.

"Yo, Shikamaru, Chouji. Long time no see."Naruto greeted energetically the caffeine starting to kick in.

"Yahoo! Found you."a loud voice boomed. Kiba walked up with Akamaru on his head. Aburame , Shino and Hyuuga ,Hinata were with him. Naruto glanced at Hinata for a moment but the girl quickly looked away.

Naruto sighed. She had no idea what was wrong with the girl. Ever since the academy the girl turned red every time Naruto talked to her. She just figured it was because her parents told her to stay away from the demon child but she could never sense any ill intentions from the girl.

"Well, well, everyone's together. Now, I see. All of this year's 9 rookie genin are taking the exam. I wonder how far we will get,eh Sasuke-kun?"Kiba asked fixing Sasuke with a confident stare.

"You seem confident Kiba."Sasuke replied equally confident.

The half-witch snorted as all the children sucked up to the top rookie. She sat against a wall preparing to take another nap when another troublesome person made their appearance.

"Hey, you guys."another genin with silver hair and glasses called approaching the rookie nine. "You should be more quiet."he advised. "You guys are the rookie nine just out of the academy, right? Screaming like school girls. Geez,this isn't a picnic."

A certain blond twitched at the school girl comment as her eyes narrowed at the newcomer . Her gut was already telling her she wouldn't like this guy and damn was her gut always on the bullseye.

"Who do you think you are?"Ino demanded not to nicely.

"I'm Yakushi, Kabuto."he answered not bothered by the rude tone ,Yamanak had possessed. "But instead of that, look around you." Eight of the rookie nine glanced around them to find various galres being planted on them. "Those guys behind you are from Hidden Village in the Rain. They have short tempers. Everyone is nervous about the exam. I thought I'd quiet you down before you made a scene. "

"Well, I can't blame you. You are clueless rookies. You remind me of how I used to be"Kabuto continued his voice grating the vixen's ears. This guy felt like a snake. No , wait that was his smell. This guy smelled like snakes. Her nose wrinkled , foxes hated snakes from their skin to their smell.

"Kabuto-san, right?"Sakura inquired at his nod she continued. "So this is your second time?"

"Nope. Its my seventh."the four eyed genin answered.

"So you know a lot about this exam?"Sakura asked hopefully.

"Well, how about I share some information with you cute rookies with these nin-info-cards."he offered holding out a stack of cards. "Is there any information on anyone in particular you would like?"

"There is."Sasuke responded immediately.

"Well, my information on everyone isn't complete but say something about who you're interested in and I'll take a look."Kabuto replied, looking interested.

"Sabaku no Gaara, Rock, Lee from Leaf and ..Uzumaki, Naruto from Leaf.."Sasuke requested startling everyone including Naruto.

"Naruto's your teammate , why would you need info on her?"the Inuzuka asked while Naruto silently agreed . Why would Sasuke want info on her?

"Here it is."Kabuto hold out three cards.

"Show me."the top rookie ordered.

"First, Rock Lee. He's a year older than you. 20 D rank missions completed and 12 C rank missions completed. His sensei is Gai. His taijutsu have greatly improved in this year: the rest is nothing impressive. Next, is Gaara of the Desert. 8 C rank missions completed and 1 B rank mission completed. Since, hes a newcomer from a different village so I don't have much info on him but it seems he returned from all of his missions without a scratch."Kabuto explained pushing his glasses up his nose.

"And Naruto?"Sasuke pressed.

"I'm right here, bastard. You don't need to ask some weirdo with a card for info on me."Naruto broke in lifting herself from her sitting position.

"Aa, here it is."Kabuto's eyes widened as he looked at Naruto's card. Naruto winced as the rookies seemed even more curious.

"Whats wrong?"Sakura asked watching Kabuto's shocked face.

Kabuto flipped Naruto's card to reveal a card full of question marks . There wasn't even a picture. The card was blank.

"I've never seen anything like this."Kabuto explained. "It's like Uzumaki,Naruto doesn't exist but you are standing right in front of me."

Naruto cursed inwardly she should have burned those cards as soon as she saw them. Of course, this guy wouldn't have any information on her. She had specifically requested to be an unregistered ninja, just in case, anything ever happened to the Sandaime she wouldn't be listed as missing-nin. Being unregistered meant that she was a ninja who belonged to no village . They were usually hired on during wars as assassins if they were very skilled. Otherwise their secrets and info was kept to themselves and not divulged to anyone.

Naruto ignored the stares and sat back down ignoring her comrades. Kabuto continued on to explain about the exam and talking about the villages. Sky blue eyes flashed as she caught movement in the room.

Two kunai's sliced through the air aiming for where Kabuto had been. A sound ninja with the face of a mummy moved to punch Kabuto but he dodged at the last second.

Kabuto looked smug for a moment before his glasses cracked.

"What's going on? He dodged that attack so why did his glasses break?"Sasuke asked in surprise.

"It probably bounced off his nose."Shikamaru muttered.

"Bounced off my ass."Naruto mumbled rubbing her sensitive ears as Kabuto kneeled and started hacking up his lunch.

A smoke boom went off in the room as a loud and familiar voice exploded "Quiet down, you worthless bastards."

'Please don't tell me the first examiner is him.'Naruto thought desperately. The smoke cleared to reveal Ibiki, ANBU interrogation specialist. As he told the Sound ninjas to calm down, Naruto saw him smirk in her direction. She glared back at her old friend. ' When I finish this exam I'll kill the old bastard for this.'

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Naruto cursed. She cursed in english, japanese, spanish, french and in latin which wasn't easy. Why? Out of all the stupid exams they could give it had to be an actual civilized normal exam. What kind of ninjas were theses people? If she wanted to stress over tests then she could have just gone to high school.

Of course, as a average senior about to graduate from high school she knew math and the stupid circumference of a damn circle. What no one had ever taught however was to write in japanese. Yup, that was right . She didn't know how to read or write anything in japanese beside her name. No one had bothered to teach her when she was a kid. When she was older, she didn't think she ever would need to read in the shinobi language. The Shodaime had said it would come to bite her in the ass someday and as always he was right.

'What to do?What to do?'she thought despairingly before she brightened up pulling a bag from her pocket.

The examiners as well as some of the genins attention shifted their attention to the girl pulling out a bagel , a brownie and apple juice. Ibiki's eyebrow twitched . Sakura and Sasuke were currently trying to burn a hole through Naruto.

The hungry genin stopped sipping n her juice as she noticed people were staring at her. Naruto glanced to the side and saw a chunnin glaring at her grumpily. She also noticed he had a bump on his head. Why was he glaring at her? 'Hold on. Chunnin, bump. That must be the guy I accidentally threw out the window.' She waved happily to the guy who sent a glare back.

Naruto turned her head towards Ibiki who was sending her glare that would have melted her in her spot , if she wasn't already used to it.

Ibiki made some hand signs in ANBU code language. ' What the hell are you doing?'

'Eating.' Naruto answered.

'I can see. Why are you eating during my exam?'

' I didn't get to eat breakfast .'

'Naruto.'

' Okay, I am supposed to be a spy for a Third. So better let me pass.'

'If I don't?'

'I'll tell Anko you were the one that stole her favorite miniskirt for interrogation use.' Ibiki glared at Naruto, since he had done no such thing before grinning at her in a way that made her nightmares have nightmares.

'If you are a spy, shouldn't you draw less attention to yourself by completing the exam. Instead of standing out like a sore thumb.'

'I would but I can't read or write in this gibberish.'

'I shouldn't fail you, I should send you back to the academy.'

'If you do, I won't share my brownie with you.'

'You think I want that sugary crap.'

'Better than the nails you shove down your throat every morning.'

' I am going to announce the tenth question, now. You keep your mouth shut. Don't you dare ruin my fun with these maggots.'

'Wouldn't dream of it.'

"Alright, I will now give the tenth question."Ibiki announced. "But before that there is one condition to this question . This rule is a hopeless rule. First, you all are going to decide whether you want to take this tenth problem or not."he paused to let it sink in before continuing. "If you choose not to take it your points will be reduced to zero." The sadist smirked at the genins expression. "In other words you and your team fail. And here's the other rule if you choose to take it and you get it wrong, you will lose the privilege of ever taking the Chunnin Exam ever again."

Naruto smirked. Ibiki wasn't the top specialist for torture and interrogation for nothing. Rank ment everything for ninjas these days. People based your strength solely on your rank. They didn't take their principle of looking underneath the underneath very well. Just because you were a genin doesn't mean you couldn't kick a jounin's ass. She yawned as some people started quitting.

"Alright then, for the First Exam everyone here passes."Ibiki proclaimed as he then proceeded to explain the exam.

Something came crashing in through the window suddenly. It unwound to reveal the second examiner , Mitarashi , Anko aka Naruto's worst nightmare.

Naruto sank as deep as she could in her seat, hoping, praying for once for the fates to have mercy on her pitiful soul.

"You let 26 teams pass, Ibiki?"Anko asked . " The exam was too easy."

"No, it was just that we had a lot of good students this time."Ibiki flashed a grin in Naruto's direction. The blond haired midget swore right then and now she would personally see to it that the Sandaime shared the same death bed.

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AN: Sorry, this was so late but i did say it was going to be late. Hopefully I'll be able to update sooner this time but no promises . I have some projects I have to due and spring break is over. One of my reviewers said I should make this a harem. Frankly, when I look at it, it will be kinda like a harem. Naruto will be surrounded by lots of hot looking guys who mean different things to her but she will only have one lover. Actually by the votes, I can already guess who is going to win. Anyway this is the last chapter to vote, so hurry up if you haven't already.