A/N: Hello again everybody. Thanks for finding this interesting enough to actually get through the first chapter. Like I said, this is my first time writing a fic so it means a lot. Anyway, this chapter starts off about a week and a half before the Chuunin exams. The beginning is Naruto arriving in Konoha, then describing how Naruto and his two teammates look. Mostly a transition chapter. It also has a small fight scene and a little look into Naruto's skill set. Without further ado, Lets get this started!

"Talking"

'Thinking'

"Bijuu/Summons"

'Bijuu/Summon thoughts'

Written Report

Chapter 1: Return and Encounter

"Oh man, why is guard duty so BORING!" At the check in booth just inside Eastgate of Konohagakure one of the men sitting there was complaining. Kotetsu, a chuunin who always sort of blended into the background, was pretty average. He was a man of average build, with medium length spiky black hair, black eyes and a bandage around his nose. Next to him was a equally average man who was resting his head on his left hand and trying not to fall asleep. Izumo was Kotetsu's partner for life. He had on a standard chuunin outfit, and the cloth his hitai-ate was tied on like a bandana over his dark brown hair, some of which was sticking out and covering his right eye. Sitting upright to stretch his back and yawn, Izumo slowly drawls out "C'mon Kotetsu. It's the same thing every day. If you hate it so much, just take the Jounin exams." "Aw screw you Izumo, you know perfectly well that we both don't have what it takes. Chuunin for life remember?" Izumo just yawned again and shrugged. "And besides," Kotetsu continued "It's a week until the chuunin exams! There should at least be SOME genin teams coming this way!" Izumo sighed "Most teams go through either the North or South gate. It's not my fault that you suck at drawing lots." Kotetsu was angry at his partner and was bout to yell at him but just then he heard a strange noise that they could barely make out. Izumo perked up upon hearing it too. Both guards looked outside the gate to see two black specks on the horizon with a billowing cloud of dust behind either of them. Squinting to see what the hell was causing such a dust storm, the two chuunin could see that they were... people. Fast people. VERY fast people. Making their way directly to the gate. "Aw Yeah! Finally some excitement!" Kotetsu exclaimed while pulling out a kunai. Izumo followed suit and both just stood there listening to the battle cry of the two approaching figures as it got louder and louder.

"uuuuoooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHH HHHH! GOAL!" In the blink of an eye, the two figures that could just barely be made out were somehow right in front of the gate. One looking absolutely fine and the other looking like he could drop dead at any moment. Getting a good look at them they saw that the two figures were actually four, the first two one carrying someone on their back. One of them let his passenger off and immediately jumped on top of the nearest telephone pole. "IM THE GREATEST!" the one on the ground exclaimed through pants "I TOTALLY FUCKING WON THAT TIME!" he gloated as he gently set their 'passenger' on the ground. "You should know you could never beat me!" He went to sit down on the ground to catch his breath. Getting a good look at him, the guards noticed he was really tanned, almost Kumo tanned, had really dark purple hair, that was somehow spikey and wavy at the same time. He was wearing a purple scarf over a black cloak that only covered his right side and seemed to have been cut off so it wouldn't go below his waist. He was wearing a Nave blue shirt and black shorts that stopped at his mid-calves where his hitai-ate was tied around the left leg, and wooden Geta sandals. When he turned to look at the guards they could see that his right eye was covered by a crimson eyepatch and there was a scar running down under it. "OI! YOU TWO CHICKEN SHITS THAT GOT SCARED BECAUSE OF A LITTLE RACE! WHO WON?!"

"Now now Shinji, what did I tell you about calling other people names?" The guards looked at the person he set down. She had pale blue hair that was up in a bun and held up by an origami flower. She was wearing a standard Jounin flak jacket, and had a black shirt whose sleeves went down past her hands and was embroidered with a red cloud pattern and black shinobi pants that seemed to be... a bit too tight as they accentuated her hips and legs and led straight down into her dark grey high heeled sandals. Her amber eyes turned towards them and she gave them an apologetic look while slightly bowing her head. "Please excuse my student, he can get a bit... excitable at times" She lifted her head and flashed them a quick smile before going back to calm Shinji down. When she was done, she turned to Kotetsu and Izumo. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Konan, and I am a jounin from Otogakure. We are here to check our team in for the Chuunin Exams." Breaking out of their stupor, the duo went over to their booth and handed Shinji and Konan a form. "OI HAKU!" Shinji called to his other teammate "WHO DO YOU THINK WON?!" Kotetsu turned around to give the previously unnoticed girl a form.

"Hmm... Seeing as how there was no true way to know for sure, I say we call this one a draw for now." The now identified Haku was wearing a light blue battle kimono with grey hakama and dark blue sandals. She had long, thin black hair that perfectly framed her porcelin face and her Oto Hitai-ate on her forehead. "TIE MY ASS!" Shinji yelled back. "YOU'RE ONLY SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT YOUR PRECIOUS NARUTO TO BE EMBARRASSED OVER HIS HUMILIATING DEFEAT!" Shinji then found himself getting hit over the head by a blushing Haku. 'Wait a minute...' Izumo though to himself. 'Did he say NARUTO?! No no no, that kid is supposed to be dead. There's no way it's the same person' Kotetsu, who was too busy oogling Konan to notice the name Shinji spurted out suddenly remembered something. "Wait a minute... uh... excuse me." All the Oto nin looked up at Kotetsu "Aren't you missing someone? Where's the other guy?" "Right here" said a voice from behind him that made him jump. "GEEZ KID!" Kotetsu yelled "DON'T DO THAT!" The kid just chuckled sheepishly and grabbed a form from him. Getting a good look at him for the first time, the two chuunin guards gasped 'N-no way! I was right, it really IS him'

In front of them stood a kid with sun-kissed bright blonde hair that was spiky up top then went down into a braid once it reached the bottom of his neck. The braid went down to the small of his back. He was wearing a red cloak that flowed behind him with a black flame pattern on the bottom and a black cloud pattern above that, and going from the top to the bottom down the middle of the back where his spine is a pattern that looked like the cloak was hastily stitched together. A rectangle was missing out of the cloak exposing his shoulder blades and the scar that was cut in the shape of the word 'DEMON'. He wasn't wearing a shirt underneath, exposing his lean ye muscled abdomen which was wrapped in bandages about halfway down his abs. On his biceps were three Hitai-ate, two on his left arm one that had the Oto symbol and one with the kanji for the number 'Nine' on it. His right arm had a Hitae-ate that had a stitch pattern similar to the one on his cloak, only more random and there were more stitches. The metal plate was also colored different shades of black and grey, making it look like it was hastily stitched together. Other than that he was wearing normal black shinobi pants and no shoes, instead opting to wrap everything but his heel and toes in bandages.

Before Kotetsu and Izumo could say anything though, they were already leaving towards the hotel the Exam participants were staying at, as their sensei made her way towards the hokage tower.

"Oi, Naruto." Shinji said after calming down "You sure you're going to okay for the exams? I mean, this is the village that used to kick the shit out of you nearly every day right?" Naruto just looked as Shinji and gave him a condescending grin. "What? You actually worried about me Shin-kun? Sorry man but I don't roll that way." Shinji growled a little bit and Hake blushed up a storm thinking of 'forbidden team mate love between two boys' she was broke out of her daydream by Naruto "Yo, earth to Haku. You done daydreaming yet sunshine?" Haku was about to answer when she was cut off by a loud yell directed towards her "HEY YOU!" A pink haired girl wearing a red quipao and dark green tights ran towards Haku, completely ignoring Naruto and Shinji. "YOU'RE THAT GIRL FROM THE BRIDGE BACK IN WAVE COUNTRY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! TRYING TO ATTACK US?" "GEEZ GIRLY COULD YOU SHUT THE HELL UP, YOU SOUND LIKE A FUCKING BANSHEE!" Shinji yelled making Naruto and Haku cover their ears. "Hey Shin-kun, think you could turn the volume down a bit?" Naruto said to his teammate. Sakura looked over at Naruto and was almost instantly blown back by how cool he looked. 'He.. He almost looks as cool as Sasuke-kun!' She exclaimed mentally. Naruto gave her a once-over in his mind and immediately had her figured out 'No muscle mass, small reserves, loud, wearing a ton of makeup. Yep, she's a fangirl alright.'

"Sakura what the hell are you doing talking to these no-name wannabes from some shit village?" came a voice that sounded completely bored. "SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura shouted as she turned around, seeing Sasuke sitting in a tree. He was wearing a navy blue shirt with an extended collar, white arm warmers, white shorts with bandages around his calves, and blue shinobi sandals. "Hurry up we're supposed to be meeting Kakashi at the training grounds soon." "COMING SASUKE-KUN!" As Sasuke turned around, he was face-to-face with a none too happy Naruto. "Hn. What does trash like you want?" Naruto looked Sasuke dead in the eyes and said "Take back what you said about my village." Naruto replied in a calm voice, although both Haku and Shinji took a step back. They both knew what happened when you insulted something or someone Naruto held dear. " Hn. And what if I don't? What are you gonna do about it loser? Run home to your shitty village in no-name country and cry?" Sasuke gave Naruto a cocky smirk while Naruto stayed indifferent. "You have wasted two strikes Konoha-san" Naruto said in an even voice. "This is your second warning. One more remark derrogatory remark towards me home and I will have to get physical." Sasuke's cocky smirk just grew. "Oh please. Do you know who I am? Uchiha Sasuke. I'm the top percentage of Konoha's elite. You try and fight me I'll send you packing back home to your backwater village crying for your whore mothe-"

He never got to finish as Naruto's fist connected directly to Sasuke's face, sending him flying back and crashing through a wooden fence. "SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura shouted in complete shock while running after her crush. She helped him out of the debris, and he just pushed her off while steadying himself on his shaky feet 'W-what the hell was that!' Sasuke thought in complete shock 'I couldn't even see him throw his punch! How the hell is he so strong?! I'm an elite while he's just some punk from some newbie village! He should be the one being slammed through the fence, NOT ME!' Sasuke, in his fury went through several handsigns before pointing his right palm down and condensing lightning chakra so much it became visible in his hand as the sound of chirping birds filled the air. "Oho~ That's something new! That lightning chakra he gathered is nothing to sneeze at. If you get hit by that I doubt even you'll make it without some type of injury O Fearless Leader" Shinji said to Naruto while playfully tapping on his shoulder. Haku's eyes widened "That jutsu is..." she muttered under her breath. "Huh? You say something Haku?" Shinki asked. "No... It was nothing..." Naruto looked away briefly to give a small frown to Haku, knowing what she was thinking.

Sasuke, also noticing Haku's expression, laughed at her. "Surprised bitch?! This is the same Jutsu that Kakashi used to kill that weakling Zabuza Momochi! And now I'LL use it to kill you and your little friends girlie!" Haku stiffened and was trembling with anger and Shinji just whistled and said "So that's the justu that killed your old man huh?" Haku was about to charge Sasuke herself before Naruto put his hand up blocking her path "No Haku" he said in a deathly calm voice "Step back. You too Shin-kun. I'll take this one." They both nodded and took a few steps back as Naruto lifted the the sleeves of his cloak and channels chakra into seals on his wrists. Out pop two clawed Gauntlets made out of black metal, with a red cloud on the back of each one and a red stitch design etched into each finger. "GET READY LOSERS!"Sasuke yelled while charging forward, his attack making a beeline for Naruto's heart. Naruto just moved his fingers in an intricate pattern before putting one of his hands in his pocket and keeping the other one outstretched in a fist pointed toward Sasuke.

"Oh boy" Shinji said. Sakura who had gotten up and joined Shinji to watch the fight looked at him quizzically. "What?" "Your little boyfriend over there is about to get roughed up pretty badly." "What do you mean? Your friend didnt even do anything and Sasuke-kun is about to use his strongest attack! Besides, Sasuke-kun is a genius! He's invincible!" "Yeah right." Shinji replied with his voice dripping of sarcasm "And my right eye still works perfectly fine" he replied pointing towards his eyepatch covered eye. "Just shut up and watch Girlie." Sakura huffed at him but turned back to the fight.

"CHIDORI (1000 Birds)!" Sasuke yelled at the top of his lungs. Naruto just sighed and released the fingers on his outstretched fist into a normal open palm position. Sasuke smirked 'That fool thinks he can block Chidori with a simple open palm? I'll blow this idiots entire arm off!' Just then Sasuke felt excrutiating pain all over his arms and upper back. "Sutetchi: Shinda Ame (Stitching Art: Dead Rain)" "AAUUUGH!" Sasuke screamed out as he saw dozens of sewing needles attatched to ninja wire sticking out of both his arms and felt even more in his back. The pain caused the Chidori to disperse and Sasuke to fall on his butt. "SASUKE-KUN!" Sakura called out yet again, much to the displeasure of Shinji who was standing right next to her. "Shut it Pinky, it isn't over yet" Naruto walked over to where Sasuke was sitting and crouched down to his level. "HOW? HOW DID A NO NAME LOSER LIKE YOU DO THIS TO ME?! AN UCHIHA! I'M THE ELITE!" Naruto sighed and looked Sasuke in the eye with indifference. "You made four mistakes today Uchiha-san. One, you repeatedly insulted my home after I gave you two separate warnings to stop. Two, you insilted my friend and disrespected someone who was and still is very precious to her. Three, you tried insulting my mother by calling her a derrogatory term, and say what you will about me, I don't enjoy it when someone insults my friends or family. And four..." Sasuke was seething now his arms were numb, his back was in pain, and he was forced to listen to someone talk down to him. "Four is..." Naruto continued "You charged me first, and made me your opponent." Naruto stood back up and walked to his team his team. A dumbfounded Sakura ran to Sasuke's side to try and help him.

"Oh, and one more thing Uchiha-san" Naruto said "You might want to look up." As he said that, he flicked his finger and lo and behold, a kunai suspended by ninja wire started falling directly down, targeting the crown of the Uchiha's skull. Sakura screamed and Sasuke eyes went wide when suddenly someone came out of nowhere and grabbed the kunai out of the air at the same time a shield made of hardened paper appeared above Sasuke's headand stopped it's descent. "K-kakashi-sensei" Sakura breathed out, relieved her crush was going to live another day. "Kaa-san" Naruto looked over his shoulder to see Konan recall her paper and form it back into her hand. "Yari, Yari." Kakashi said in a bored tone. "It seems our students got a little hot blooded. I must apologize, it seems Sasuke-kun here attacked first." "Please, there is no need to apologize Hatake Kakashi-san, my son should have known better then to fall for such taunts." She bowed her head and Kakashi did the same. "Do not worry Miss...?" "Konan" "Do not worry Konan-san, as long as he removes the needles I will not press charges." Naruto nodded and with a quick clench of his fist, all the needles were pulled out at the same time, then retracted into several holes in his gauntlets, disappearing like they were never there. "Excuse me Hatake-san" Naruto said "How fast do you think you could get to the nearest hospital" Kakashi thought for a moment and replied "About two minutes. Why do you ask?" "Well, in about three seconds-" Naruto was cut off by Sasuke screaming like a madman, a small fountain of blood spraying from every needle hole on his body." Kakashi and Sakura looked wide eyed while Shinji just started laughing like a crazed person exclaiming his love for the faces that always go across peoples faces during that part of the attack, and Haku just looked on indifferently. "You should probably hurry and get him to a hospital. He'll bleed out in about seven minutes."

Kakashi nodded and jumped off towards the hospital, with Sakura following after him. After they left, Konan turned to Naruto and gave him a glare that could make the toughest of men wet their pants "Why did you engage him in a battle! We could be kicked out of the exams before they even start! I understand he was insulting Oto but that was not reason to-" "He insulted Zabuza-san and called you a whore." Naruto interrupted. "I'm sorry Kaa-san, but I wasn't going to sit back and let him insult you and and disrespect Haku's father." Haku blushed and gave Naruto a grateful look, and he gave her a smile in return. Konan just looked at them both and sighed "Fine. Just do NOT let it happen again or else I'll report it to your father okay?" "Yes Kaa-san" Konan nodded then turned to both Shinji and Haku. "I want both of you to promise me to stay under control until the exams start alright?" "Yes, Konan-sama" they both replied and waited for her to Shunshin away.

As the trio prepared to continue their walk back to the hotel, Haku grabbed Naruto's hand, then leaned up on her tip-toes to give Naruto a quick kiss on the cheek Before taking a few steps forward and facing him, her face as red as a tomato "Thank you for defending Zabuza Naruto-kun" and with that she disappeared in an ice Shunshin. Shinji just started laughing "BAHAHAHAHAHA! YOUR FACE! IT'S AS RED AS AN APPLE RIGHT NOW! AHAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto just scowled at his friends antics "Be quiet Shinji" "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! NARUTO AND HAKU SITTING IN A TREE, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" his laughter redoubled when he finished and Naruto just rubbed his temples and kept walking.

A/N: As a thank you to everyone who is showing my story so much attention already, I decided to upload this chapter early. How did you like the small scuffle between Naruto and Sasuke? Or the brief look into Naruto's skill set? There's a lot mroe where that came from so don't start thinking it's just going to be some waving of the hand and stuff happens. And yeah, I know it's a bit early for Sasuke to know Chidori right now, but still, it makes things easier later on.

Anyways, thanks for reading, reviews are appreciated!