" So, Sakura-chan." said Naruto, breaking the long silence. Kakashi, as always, was late, leaving the genin alone on the bridge. " How'd the date with Sasuke go?"
" It's was incredibly disappointing!" said Sakura, swooning while Sasuke rolled his eyes. " We went to a cheap restaurant, I had to pay for my own food, and he didn't talk!"
" But….you seem happy." said Naruto, confused.
" Because it was a date with Sasuke-kun!" said Sakura, throwing her hands into the air. " I don't care that he told me it was a one time thing and will never happen again, I can die happy now!"
Naruto looked to Sasuke, who just shrugged. Girls get more confusing every day. thought Naruto, sweat dropping. Maybe the Hokage was onto something when he suggested those dating sims.
" Yo." said Kakashi, poofing onto the bridge.
" Your late!" shouted Naruto and Sasuke, pointing at him accusingly.
" Sorry. There was a special meeting for jounin teachers." said Kakashi, taking out several pieces of paperwork. " I had to get the forms you need to fill out to enter the chunnin exam."
" Lia…r…..really?" said Naruto, blinking in surprise.
" Really." said Kakashi. " We have three days left until the exam, so you three need to get to work. Getting your equipment ready, making sure your in good health, making a will….."
" You better be joking." said Sakura, taking the form.
00000
He was not.
The next three days were difficult. Team Sevens entry was a last minute affair and they had to scramble t prepare. Sakura had to read up on some new traps and make more explosive tags, Naruto had to make a lot of paper seals, and Sasuke had to do his hair.
Kakashi, to their annoyance, wouldn't tell them what the exam entailed. The final, they knew, was a stadium fight, but before that there were several tests. He had them do tactical drills, read ninja theory books, make sure their estate was in order, relax at the local hot springs, and eat a high fiber diet.
Naruto would not admit the last item on that list had done him wonders.
Finally, the day of the exam came. They met up in front of the academy at eight o'clock, giving them plenty of time to find the room to turn in their forms.
" I hoped I wouldn't be back here for a while." said Naruto as they walked inside.
" It's not so bad." said Sakura, cinching up her pink backpack. " I hear some years they take you to this place called to forest of death."
" That sounds funner." said Naruto. " Were probably going to have to sit though another of Iruka-sensei's lectures."
As they turned around a corner, they found themselves at the back of a large crowd. Two older boys were blocking the door to a classroom. A strange looking boy in a green spandex suit tried to get past them, but was knocked back and caught by his pink shirted teammate.
" You wimps ought to go home." said one of the boys with a sneer. " You'll get killed in the exam."
" You are not allowed to stop us." said Spandex Lad, standing up.
" Release the genjutsu." said Sasuke gruffly as his team walked up.
" You figured it out?" said one of the boys with a smirk. Suddenly the sign changed, revealing it was the wrong room. " Well, you should…still…."
He trailed off as he turned to Naruto.
" You should still quit." said the boy, recovering. Every looked from Naruto to him in confusion.
" Like hell!" said Naruto loudly. " So scram!"
" You trying to pick a fight with me?" said the boy with the bandaged nose.
" If you want it." said Naruto. He flicked his wrist and the teleportation kunai emerged from his sleeve. Bandage Nose sneered and drew his weapon, leaping towards Naruto. A moment before the two collided, however, there was a blur of green and Spandex Lad was standing between them, holding their arms.
" The exam has not begun." said Spandex Lad, holding them apart. " We -"
" Lee, back off!" said Bunned Hair Girl. Spandex Lad looked confused, but he released Naruto and Bandage Nose and move away. " I saw the blonde kids weapon. We need to move."
" Wait, what?" said Naruto, confused.
" I'm a weapons expert. I know what that kunai is." said Bunned Hair Girl as she and her teammates walked off. " You keep your distance." The two older genin were now gone as well.
All eyes were now on Naruto. Sakura and Sasuke had never appreciated before quite how vicious the strange kunai looked, with the extra two prongs, polished golden edges, and the strange black seal. Coupled with the odd cloak, it made him look a lot more professional than most of the genin as he walked though the crowd, which parted for him.
" I was looking forward to beating that guy up too." said Naruto disapointedly, putting the kunai away as he got to his team. He hadn't noticed anyone's gaze, since he was Naruto, so he was quite calm. " What was with that girl?"
" Let's go, Naruto." said Sasuke, turning and walking. That weapon was the Yellow Flashes….so she probably knows it's abilities. thought Sasuke. She'll be warned about the teleportation jutsu and know that it's a chakra weapon that's sharper and stronger than a normal blade. If we get into a fight with her group, Naruto will be at a disadvantage from the start.
" Yo." said Kakashi, waving and surprising them. He was standing in front of the door to the real exam room.
" Sensei!" said Naruto, smiling. " What are you doing here?"
" Checking up on you." replied Kakashi. " I'll take your forms. I've got to reveal my first little bit of deception. Had one of you opted not to take the exam, the others couldn't either."
" That's stupid." said Naruto. " We're all gonna pass. Why wouldn't we take it?"
" Glad your confident. You three ready for anything?" asked Kakashi.
" I've got explosives, medical kits, pens, paper…"
" Sakura, we know that you have the supplies for anything." sighed Kakashi. " But are you mentally ready?"
" Will it be harder than fighting Zabuza?" asked Sasuke. Kakashi nodded no. " Then we're ready."
" Good luck." said Kakashi, opening the door.
Now, the genin had known they were going to have competition. They had expected a few groups. But as they walked into the room, they found themselves face to face with nearly a hundred people, most of which looked tougher and more experienced. Sakura found herself shaking nervously as they stared at her.
" What is this?" she asked her teammates. " Most of these people aren't from our village."
" Oh, forehead girl!"
Sakura turned to find Ino and her team walking over. " I hear Sasuke-kun took you on the worst date ever." said the blonde girl with a smirk.
" But he did take me on one." grumbled Sakura, causing a vein on Ino's forehead to bulge.
" Your team came too?" sighed Shikamaru. " That's troublesome."
" Looks like the gangs all here." said Kiba with a barking laugh, walking over. Shino was standing at his side, looming over them all as usual, and Hinata was hiding behind him. Akamaru, of course, was on his head. " I was hoping I'd get a chance to kick some ass, and looks like I'm going to get it. We've been training hard for this."
" We've been doing A rank missions." said Sasuke, countering.
" R-really?" asked Hinata, peeking out.
" Yeah!" said Naruto loudly. " We fought this dude with this giant sword and this transvestite with all these needles!"
Now, Naruto was infamously loud. And that was when he was talking quietly. As one would imagine, in a crowded room, his voice tended to dominate. No matter where they were, every genin in the room now knew that the blonde kid in the orange jacket had fought a 'transvestite with needles'.
They all began to laugh at him.
" What's with them?" said Naruto, looking up.
" You just made a baka of yourself again." said Ino with a fake sigh. " It's not like you can help it. What's the point of you being here, anyways? You were the worst student in our year, your just going to fail."
" Want a bowl of ramen?" asked Naruto with a smirk.
" Yes. Beef please." replied Choji. Naruto smirked. He'd made sure his favorite ramen stand had forty seals on it, just so he could teleport to it whenever he needed something to eat. He'd equipped his bathroom in a similar manner, due to his bowel troubles, but he didn't mention that one." Why do you…."
Choji never finished his sentence. Everyone was stunned as Naruto vanished in a flash of light. Sakura sighed and leaned against the wall, secretly taking out one of the paper seals that Naruto had given her and Sasuke. A few moments later Naruto reappeared with two bowls of ramen.
" One for you and one for me." said Naruto, handing one to Choji, who gave him a thankful nod.
" How'd….you…." said Kiba, stunned.
" I can get anywhere instantly." lied Naruto, exaggerating his ability. " Don't matter where or how far. That's just how my jutsu works." Sasuke and Sakura resisted the urge to roll their eyes. At least people don't really know how it works. thought Sakura.
" So, its some sort of speed boost?" asked Kiba. " Right?"
A short distance away, Team Guy was having a hushed conversation.
" I knew it when I saw the kunai." whispered Tenten. " It's one of Kohona's most famous weapons. I think that kid is the son of the Yellow Flash."
" Why would they allow him to stay in the village?" asked Lee, looking troubled. " His father-"
" The Hokage is very lenient." said Neji, inspecting the genin around the blonde. He had his eye on the Uchiha, who he had heard was quite strong. " No matter what his father did, he would not banished the boy."
" I also recognize the cloak." said Tenten. " The symbol on the back is for a clan called the Uzamaki. They were a Whirlpool country clan which fought against the others during the war. They don't have any special bloodline, but they were renowned for their unusual chakra supplies."
" He will be a worthy opponent!" said Lee excitedly.
" Don't get hit by the kunai." said Tenten with a nod. " It'll cut though you like you weren't even there."
Meanwhile, Naruto and Kiba were yelling at each other. Both were hotheads and braggarts, so it often happened. It would have gone on for a while had Hinata not interrupted.
" N-n-Naruto?" she said quietly.
" What? Oh, hi Hinata-chan! I didn't see you!" said Naruto, his attention shifting to her.
" I-I…I…." Hinata was struggling. She had to say it! She had to tell him! If she couldn't do this, she'd never be able to tell him she loved him! " I w-would like s-some ramen too."
" Okay!" said Naruto, smiling widely. " I'll be…"
" Naruto, don't overuse your jutsu." warned Sakura.
" But…Hinata-chan…." said Naruto, looking crestfallen. He turned back to Hinata. " Sorry. You can have the rest of my bowl if you want." he offered.
" Naruto!" said Sakura, slapping him. " Don't-"
" T-thank you." stammered Hinata, taking the bowl and blushing.
" To your seats!" said a tall man in a black uniform, striding in with a number of grey clothed examiners. The genin raced to their seats. Hinata was glad for this distraction, since she would have been embarrassed had anyone noticed how deep she was blushing as she at the ramen.
Why was she blushing? Well, the chopsticks had been on Naruto's lips…..and they were now on hers….so it was, to her mind, like a indirect kiss.
She nearly fainted at the thought.
" Hi, Hinata-chan!"
She turned to her left, eyes wide. Naruto was sitting besides her. She did what any responsible fan girl would. She fainted into the ramen.
" Hinata-chan!" said Naruto in concern, helping her out of the broth.
00000000
" What was the point of the test then?" shouted the girl from the sand village..
" The point of the test was to weed out those unworthy to answer the final question!" said Ibiki with a belly laugh.
" So….what now?" asked Naruto. As if on cue the window broke and a woman flew in, landing gracefully.
" I am Anko, the examiner for the next exam!" said the scantily clad woman, pointing upwards. " At nine o' clock tomorrow, you are to report to the forest of death!"
" Yes!" said Naruto, jumping up onto the desk. " We get to go to the forest of death! Awesome! Whoooo! Whoooo!"
" Damn right!" said Anko, high fiveing the enthusiastic boy. Everyone watched in as the spectacle unfolded. " But you do know that it's the little boys that die first." she said, licking her lips. " I wonder how sweet your blood tastes."
" Like you'll ever find out." said Naruto with a smirk, vanishing.
" Woah." said Anko, blinking. " Hey, Ibiki, that was…."
" Yes." said the torture specialist, nodding.
" Geez. He's in this group?" said Anko, looking out. " Good luck, everyone." said Anko, shaking her head as she walked towards the door. " Your seriously going to need it."
0000000
Save for Guy's team, Sakura, and Sasuke, the genin all left very confused.
" That loud blonde kid must be dangerous." said Temari. She was rather uncomfortable due to the prescence of her younger brother, Gaara, but tried not to show it.
" How bad could he be?" said Kankuro, hefting the puppet on his shoulder. Temari knew that that movement was a sign he was nervous.
" Well, he's got some sort of teleportation jutsu." said Temari, talking it out. " It's probably just high speed movement, but who knows? And the girl on the Byakugan user's team was talking about some kunai that that guy had."
" Who?"
Kankuro and Temari looked up. The small boy in the orange jacket was standing in front of them, eating a bowl of ramen.
" Hey, sorry." he said with a grin. " You guy's are in the exam, right? I thought I'd introduce myself! I'm Naruto Uzamaki!"
" Temari of the Desert." said Temari, taking the lead. Gaara, being Gaara, was very poor at diplomatic relations and Kankuro was very impatient with kids. That left her to talk with the strange genin. " You sure you want to be talking to people from another village?"
" Well, as clan leader of the Uzamaki, I need to establish diplomatic ties." said Naruto, taking a bite of ramen. Temari and Kankuro looked to each other, thinking the same thing. Clan leader? " I'm not really sure who you guys are, but I figure it's worth a shot. Plus, you were here."
" Where else would we be?" said Gaara. Not good! thought Kankuro.
" Umm….over there…..or over there…." said Naruto, pointing down other streets. " The ramen stand….uh….the hospital….did I say the ramen stand?"
" Yes." said Gaara stoically. " You are the leader of your clan?"
" Yep!" said Naruto, taking a pose.
" Then you must be very strong. I shall enjoy defeating you in the exams." said Gaara, walking onwards.
" Hey!" said Naruto, watching him leave. " Where's he going?" he asked the two relieved sand genin.
" Not sure.' said Temari with a forced smile. " Our brother tends to do what he wants to."
" You three are all related?" said Naruto, looking surprised. " That's really weird! And why do you have a cat hat? And what's with the giant fan? Why did that guy have a gourd on his back? Do you two like ramen?"
" Shut it." said Kankuro becoming aggravated. " I don't care if your some spoiled brat who's got his own clan-"
" Oh no." said Naruto, taking a bite of ramen. " I'm the last Uzamaki left."
Temari and Kankuro faceplanted on the ground.
" Then how can you say you're the clan leader?" said Temari, standing up.
" 'Cause my mom was." said Naruto.
" Not your dad?" said Kankuro, sounding a little surprised.
" Nah." said Naruto, frowning.
" That bother you?" said Temari as Angry Woman Mode turned on. " Don't you think a woman can do as good a job as a man?"
" Well duh." said Naruto, not intimidated. He'd grown up with Sakura, after all. " I just don't like my dad."
" He a loser?" said Kankuro, trying to insult the boy a little.
" Nah. Just a bastard traitor who ruined a lot of peoples lives." said Naruto, looking down at the ramen. " Hey, I don't want this anymore. Either of you want it?"
" No." said Temari. This kid is a freak. she thought.
" Hey, Hinata-chan, do you want it?" he called out towards a tree. There was a squeak and the other Byakugan user the Sand Siblings had seen earlir fell out. " Hinata-chan!" he said, running over. The girl seemed to have fainted.
Never mind, all the Leaf ninja are freaks. thought Temari, shaking her head as she walked away.
0000000
" There he is, Orochimaru-sama." said Kabuto, adjusting his glassed. He and the disguised Sannin were watching Naruto from a distance.
" Minato-kun's little boy." said Orochimaru with a evil chuckle. " The sole inheritor of his genetics."
" And a Uzamaki." said Kabuto with a smirk. " Naturally huge chakra reserves coupled with an advanced time/space jutsu that requires a bloodline. He'll make a fine body for you." he said.
" He will indeed." said Orochimaru, licking his lips. " Let's hope he lives though the seal. If he doesn't, we've lost something that will be hard to replace."