Hi everyone ... i know that the last chaper was way too short ... so I went back and made it longer ... anyways ... I'm still gonna make this chapter a lot longer ... but before we get into the story, I'd like to make a special thanks to two specific members. These two have reviewed for almost every single one of my chapters. Thanks! I really appreciate your reviews (and everyone else's). They are:

Mysteryyoungster and

Taitaha

Once again thanks for the reviews ... Now with the story ... This chapter will focus on everyone else's fights ... I know that we didn't really get into the fights with everyone else, but the second round matches will make up for it ... Currently, we only have 4 of the 6 Konoha ninja still in the Jounin Exams ... Lee and Chouji were knocked out ... That leaves Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Sai.

You Don't Know Anything

Last Time on The Path to Hokage:

And the fight was over in thirty seconds... less... Lee was sent to the medics and Chouji realized that he didn't have a chance and quietly forfeited. Poor Lee didn't even get that chance. Rock Lee's body was limp but alive, on the stretcher, and Naruto gazed, in unbelief, at Lee's beat up body.

How could anyone do this to him? I've never even seen him knocked out like that since his fight with Gaara... I don't know kid... but those two are obviously very powerful... I'm betting that the one who did nothing is FAR stronger then the one who fought... DAMN IT! What could he do!

Naruto clenched his fists. Sakura put her hand on his shoulder. She understood what he was feeling. She knew all too well what it felt like to be useless. It reminded her a lot of three years ago, when...

xxx

Sakura stood with tears flowing down her cheeks. "Please bring Sasuke-kun back!" She was crying desperately now.

Naruto just stood there and smiled. "I will. Promise of a lifetime." (Sorry that its not exact...sorry)

Sakura just stood there with tears in her eyes as Naruto walked out the village gate to find Sasuke.

xxx

"Naruto," Sasuke whispered in his ear, "Relax. Take a few deep breaths. You'll beat him to pulp tomorrow."

Naruto looked at her, and Sakura froze in fear. What she saw in Naruto's eyes was enough to put fear in ANYONE'S eyes: fear. Naruto was completely at loss.

His voice trembled as he said, "Sakura, I don't know if I can. Kyubi said that I could probably match up with him, but..." His voice trailed off and he dropped his head again.

Sakura was confused. "But what?"

Naruto looked at her again. "Kyubi said that the other one is probably around 4 times stronger then Zatek over there." He continued to look straight at Sakura until...

Zatek walked up to the row where Naruto and Sakura were sitting. He took a look at Naruto, and he walked away. Naruto kept watching until he saw the shadow. The shadow walked up to Naruto.

His eerie voice, but somewhat recongnizable voice, chilled Naruto. "Hello. My name is too tedious for you to know, but you may call me Sean." He extended his hand. Naruto took it, and he tried to go away, but it seemed that Sean was trying to crush his hand.

When he finally let go, Naruto replied, "You seem to be very powerful." He's hiding his fear pretty well.

"I've heard a lot about you, Uzumaki Naruto," Sean replied. "I look forward to fighting you." He began to walk away, but he stopped a few steps away. "If you are still afraid when we face each other," Sean said, with an evil glow in his eyes, "I WILL kill you..." He walked away leaving Naruto speechless.

That night at the Ichiraku:

Naruto was quietly eating his Ramen, while everyone was enjoying themselves. Not fully. They were talking about how strong Zatek was. He had completely demolished one of the greatest Taijutsu experts in the Village and possibly the world. Noone but Sasuke and Sakura noticed when Naruto quietly slipped away.

Sakura had been about to follow him, when Sasuke had grabbed her.

"What?" Sakura aked urgently. "Naruto needs our support."

"No, Sakura," Sasuke replied, "Naruto needs sometime on his own. He's seen a lot today. After doing so well against Tsunade, he's just seen someone who could possibly be stronger then the Fifth."

Sakura huffed, but she had to agree. This was Naruto's fight.

Naruto was walking through the streets of Konoha. He was surprised to see so many of the people who had once spurned him asking him if he'd like to have dinner with them. Naruto was happy to see himself honestly smiling as he'd say each time, "Thanks so much, but I can't. I've got to think a few thing out for the Jounin Exams."

No one objected. They knew how important it was for a ninja to train, and they respected Naruto's wishes. But all the same, there were still many people who huffed at him, and a couple called him a monster.

Yo Kyubi ... Yeah ... It's kind of wierd ... What ... Having everyone acknowledge me ... I mean ... this is what I always wanted ... so many of them are ... but it's still wierd ... in a good way ... Well ... I guess that's good for you ... but moving on ... kid ... your losing it ...

Naruto stopped moving. Leave me alone in that, Kyubi ... NO WAY,KID! This is BIG! The famous Uzumaki Naruto, who never backed down, is afraid ... This is history ... infamous ... but still ... Shut up ... As far as I can remember, you've never lost your mojo ... You don't know anything about me ...

Kyubi paused. He seemed to have flinched. I do kid ... and I have to admit that I'm kind of scared ... more for me then you ... Naruto laughed quietly ... You won't be able to fight like this tomorrow ... So what?... What about ---

A kunai barely missed Naruto as he suddenly jumped backwards on pure instinct.

"So you still have some fight in you," Zatek said as he revealed himself from a tree branch.

Naruto growled at him, "What do you want? A fight?"

"Yes," He jumped down from the tree. "My master is only interested in you. I want to know why. You are not strong enough to be a challenge to me. I'd like to prove that to my master." He jumped towards Naruto, a kunai in his hands.

Naruto quickly took out his kunai and blocked the attack and jumped back. But he wasn' fast enough. Zatek quickly twisted and stabbed Naruto's left hand.

He tried to acess some of Kyubi's chakra ... nothing ... he tried again ... nothing. "What..."

"Trying to acess the fox's chakra?" Naruto gazed in horror. Zatek knew? "Don't even try. I sealed him off for the next hour. Your completely defenseless, wealkling."

Fear filled Naruto's brain. Zatek laughed at him. A memory flashed through his head. Two ninja attacking him. He froze. Sasuke had to save him. He turned to run away when a drop of blood fell from his left hand. Naruto's head fell as he stopped. "I won't run away ..."

xxx

Kakashi held the two water-nin in his hands. He looked at Naruto. "Naruto. I'm sorry, I didn't save you immediately. I got you injured ... I didn't think you would freeze like that." That hurt.

"Anyway, nice job Sasuke, Sakura too." Naruto just stood there. I couldn't do anything. He looked at Sasuke. Yet he ... It was his first real battle. Was he not scared at all?

Naruto couldn't believe it. He looks as if nothing happened. And he doesn't even have a speck of dust on him.

He saved me ...

Sasuke spoke up. "Hey ..."

Naruto turned. Sasuke continued, "You allright ... scaredy-cat?" Naruto stared at Sasuke in anger. Kakashi said a few things about the mission, and how it was really a B mission. Now, they were considering heading back because of his injury. DAMN IT!1

Naruto stabbed his left hand with the kunai. Everyone stared, including Tazuna, at what Naruto did.

"Why is there so much of a difference?" Naruto said, quietly. Everyone watched him. "Why am I always... DAMN IT!"

Sakura yelled, " NARUTO! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Images flashed through Naruto's head. "I should be becoming stronger ... "Sit-ups under a Kakashi doll, taped to the bed.

Sitting on the floor, surrounded with scrolls, books on his head, trying to balance it. "I've completed so many missions and even practice jutsu EVERYDAY by myself ...

The blood dripped onto the ground. "I'm not going to need saving EVER again ..."

Everyone was watching him. They stared at his back. "I'm not going to be afraid and try to run ... I WON'T lose to Sasuke ..."

His hand. "I swear it on this pain in my left hand ..." Sasuke stared at him. Tazuna watched him, impressed. Kakashi watched his pupil. Naruto began to turn. "With this kunai ..."

His face was in full view now. "I'll protect the old man. We're continuing this mission." His signature grin stood on his face.

Kakashi continued to stare at his pupil. )He's different ... He'll be a great ninja one day ...(

Kakashi walked over to Naruto. "Naruto... It's good that your releasing the poison but..." Naruto stared at his sensei.

"Anymore and..." Kakashi put on his happy go lucky face. ".. You'll die from the lack of blood."

Naruto yelled, "NOO! THAT'S BAD! I CAN'T DIE FROM SOMETHING LIKE THIS!"

xxx

Naruto was still standing with his head down. The blood continued to drip from his hand. Naruto chuckled as he remembered.

Zatek was watching Naruto. "What's wrong with you? Too afraid to run, little baby?"

Naruto laughed. His toned changed as he muttered, "You ... "

Zatek growled. "SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT JINCHUURIKI!" He charged at Naruto, kunai raised for the kill. Zatek brought it down.

Sakura had been eating some ramen, when she sensed a surge in chakra. And it wasn't Naruto's. She looked at Sasuke to find his head also lifted. They silently nodded to each other and got up.

"What do you think is wrong with Naruto?" Sakura asked, as they ran out of the door.

"I don't know," Sasuke said. "But whatever it is, he needs our help... NOW!" They continued to jump across the village. They had to find Naruto. He was in danger.

A huge 'cling' noise echoed through out the whole village. Zatek stared in shock at Naruto, fist raised, blocking the kunai. No blood. Zatek jumped back in horror. "... don't ..." Naruto continued.

Naruto lifted his head. Chakra soared through his body. "TAJU KAGE BUUSHIN NO JUTSU!" A huge puff of smoke appeared, and thousands of Naruto clones appeared.

Zatek stared in horror at the number of clones. How was he supposed to beat them all.

Naruto looked Zatek in the eye. Zatek flinched. Naruto's eyes seemed to glow as he yelled, "YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!

Notes: i hope you guys really like the chapter ... I hope its long enough for you guys ... once again ... thanks for the reviews...