Chapter 12:
The beginning of the end.
Author's Notes: Side story potential is great. But, I haven't really had it in me to do many of the evaluations, why I didn't write em. That, and its too much like filler.
Fic Begins now
-Academy-
"All right you brats, don't you dare disappoint us!" Anko grinned wickedly down her students, "I'm expecting a good showing from you three!"
"Not to mention," Kurenai spoke up, glancing at the trio as she smirked slightly, "We've got money riding on the three of you at least making it through the first two stages."
"Any hints on what they're gonna do?" Ino asked curiously, her eyes glittering mischievously.
"Fraid not kiddies," Anko grinned wickedly, "Don't let it mess with your heads though, you'll do just fine."
"Right," Naruto paused, and then rummaged inside of his coat, "Rubber chicken, check."
As the two girls stared at the boy in confusion, Anko burst into laughter, "Way to go brat, figured you'd get it!"
"Naruto-kun?" Hinata blinked at the bemused expression on the blonde boy's face, then stared openly where her instructor cackled.
"First exam has something to do with Ibiki," he grinned back, his eyes glittering with a wicked delight, "Knowing him, some kind of psychological warfare on us.
"Morino Ibiki?" Ino blinked, paling slightly, "Man, dad's told me some horror stories about him..."
"Oh, don't worry Ino-chan," Naruto was grinning now, his eyes alight with wicked delight, "Just leave Ibiki to me."
As the two girls and two women watched the boy rubbing his hands together, they couldn't help but take an unconscious step backwards. They knew that look well enough. Sharing a glance, all four couldn't suppress the shiver that ran down their spines.
"Poor Ibiki..." Anko noted, a slight giggle to her tone.
"Hmmm," Kurenai paused, lightly tapping her lips in though.
"What're you thinking Kurenai-sensei?" Hinata spoke up, eying the woman carefully.
"Oh, just wondering who we could sucker into making a bet about whether or not Naruto would crack Ibiki during the exam," she responded, a slightly amused little smile on her lips, "Unfortunately, I think our dear Naruto's performance reviews have greatly vaulted people's estimations of his abilities."
"Who, me?" Naruto offered up an almost angelic smile at the females in his life and casually crossed his hands behind his back, "Would I do something so... diabolical?"
"Yes," Hinata responded immediately
"Uh huh," Ino agreed.
"Definitely," Kurenai nodded.
"In a heart beat," Anko finished with a wicked grin plastered across her lips.
"Awww," the boy paused, before sniffling softly, "Damn, what'm I gonna do now that I'm found out?"
"Keep it up and let us enjoy the laughs?" Anko offered helpfully.
"Whip the ANBU into shape?" Kurenai countered with a smirk.
"Snuggle and cuddle your little puppy?" Hinata piped up hopefully.
"Do wicked and unmentionable things to your little kitten that leave her with a smile on her face that won't go away for weeks?" Ino finished, smiling sweetly as the other females blinked at her.
"Damn," Hinata immediately snapped her fingers, "Is it too late to for me to change my answer? I like Ino-chan's idea better."
Naruto gave a great, exaggerated sigh as he brought his hand up to his face, "Oh, the things I have to put up with... Being surrounded by the most beautiful ladies in Konoha, and having two of them wanting to do wicked and unmentionable things with me."
"To us," Ino corrected him with a grin, "Two of the most beautiful ladies in Konoha wanting you to do wicked and unmentionable things TO us."
"What Ino-chan said," Hinata nodded eagerly, a slightly lecherous grin blossoming hungrily across her face.
"You know," Kurenai spoke up, shifting her attention between her students and her partner, "I'm not sure if I should blame them for being a bad influence on us... Or you being a bad influence on all of us Anko-chan."
"Hey!" the woman in question immediately spoke up in protest, "That's all Naruto!"
"Eh," the solitary male in question shrugged a bit, "I'm pretty sure a good bit of it is from Hinata-chan and Ino-chan as well Anko-chan."
"Hey, that's right!" Anko immediately smiled triumphantly, "I mean, come on! They're both worse than I was at their age!"
"At their age," Kurenai spoke up, "You were apprenticed to You-Know-Who."
"Huh," Anko paused, stroking her chin a moment, "I guess that means I was even more fucked up in the head then?"
"No," Kurenai responded as she leaned over, pulling her partner into a loose hug, arms wrapped snug about her waist, "It means you got put through something out side of your control. You held together quite well after what you've been through."
"I guess," the other woman murmured softly, her eyes flickering towards the ground for a moment, "Anyway, come on, lets go with the brats and meet this Suna team they've been so interested in."
"Eh heh," Naruto shifted nervously for a moment, before giving his instructors a meaningful look, "Just so you two know... Gaara's... like me," he paused, stressing the last part meaningfully, "Only, he didn't get the chances I did."
Both instructors immediately stiffened as their eyes latched onto Naruto, a question boring into him as he carefully nodded his head back at to them. A nervousness shifted between the two, before they glanced into one another's eyes, then gave one more, meaningful glance to Naruto. When he nodded again, they immediately relaxed.
"Oh, I don't know," Ino spoke up, "He's no where near as cute as you, but, Sakura seems to like him," the girl paused a moment, before grinning lecherously, "Now his sister though... Rowr, kitty like."
"I'm starting to wonder if there's much kitty doesn't like," Hinata countered playfully her pale eyes twinkling brightly.
"Mmm... Gaara and Temari-chan's brother, the asshole?" Ino put forth thoughtfully, her finger tapping her lip.
"Ah," Hinata nodded sagely, "I'd forgotten about him. It took hours of work too. And now you just had to go and remind me."
"He is the kind of person one struggles to forget, isn't he?" Ino agreed, a wicked grin on her face, "Serves you right," she paused a moment before thinking, "Though, I'm starting to wonder if Kiba might be slightly worse."
"Oh? Why?" Hinata asked curiously as the group walked down the street, Naruto and the teachers listening to the two's conversation with looks of amusement on their faces.
"Well..." Ino paused a moment, shifting nervously as she continued to walk on, "This is just something I heard, but..."
"Well, it depends," Hinata suddenly cut her off, "Who'd you hear it from?"
"Shino," the blue eyed girl responded immediately, "And Hana..."
"Hana?" the Hyuga girl blinked in confusion.
"Kiba's sister," Kurenai supplied, "She's a Chunin."
"Ah..." Hinata nodded sagely, "She a reliable source?"
"She's a good kid, generally speaking," Anko shrugged a bit, grinning slightly, "She'd know the embarrassing details about her little brother though. Its what big sisters are for."
"Huh, I thought that was just oversexed instructors?" Naruto spoke up casually, his eyes dancing with mischief, "Or was that annoying blonde brats that have the dirt on said oversexed instructors? I can never remember."
"Unfortunately," Anko growled, "Its the annoying blonde brats one."
"Oh? Ah well," he grinned up at her magnanimously, "I get those confused so easily, being blonde and all."
"So, what was it you were saying about Kiba, Ino?" Hinata spoke up, breaking up the impending skirmish of the ongoing, friendly, war between Anko and Naruto.
"Welllll...." the blonde girl slowly drew out her response as she carefully looked around, "You know how the Inuzuka have really, really good noses?"
"So we've noticed," Anko drawled, "One of the reasons they're the Leaf's top trackers."
"Well, apparently he doesn't use it just for... Tracking," Ino whispered conspiratorially.
"Errr... what do you mean?" Hinata spoke up fearfully, her eyes, hoping that she wasn't right about what she thought.
"Ever noticed you were... missing panties?" Ino spoke up, nervously as she shifted slightly, "Especially at school?"
"... Please tell me you're joking, Ino-chan," Hinata spoke up, her eyes trembling.
"That would explain the looks that Hana gives her brother on occasion," Kurenai muttered slightly under her breath.
"Apparently, he really has a thing for you," Ino continued, before shuddering slightly, "And because of that... Now has a thing for me."
Naruto was caught in indecision. On one hand, a part of him was completely outraged at Kiba's rumored perversions involving his girls. On the other, if it hadn't been for that, he'd be laughing his ass off in the street.
"I... don't know how to react to this," Naruto finally admitted, "Its just... I can't decide if I want to kill him, or just... point and laugh at him."
Both his teammates stared back at him, anger beginning to flare in their eyes as he shrugged a bit before grinning at them, "Of course, doesn't mean he isn't going to pay for it of course."
"I was starting to worry there for a moment," Anko chuckled softly, "At least that you'd live to say that."
"Yeah yeah yeah," Naruto waved his hand dismissively before he would yawn a bit, smiling at the girls, "Forgive me?"
"Hmm, I don't know, what do you think Ino-chan?" Hinata spoke up speculatively.
"I'm not sure Hinata-chan," the blonde responded, "I think maybe he might have more in common with Kiba than we thought."
"I suppose he might just," Hinata agreed, a sad note in her voice.
"Please, if I wanted your panties, why would I need to steal them?" Naruto asked with a casual waggle of his eyebrows, "I mean, seriously, I just have to hold up my hand and you'll give them over."
"Well," Ino responded, pondering aloud, "He does have a point."
"True," Hinata agreed, "That doesn't mean he doesn't have to make it up to us though."
"Hm, we're at the hotel," Naruto observed, "So I'm gonna just end this here. Forgive me, or no massages for a month."
"Awwwww," the two girls chorused as one, "That's not fair!"
"I'm the one in charge here," Naruto grinned back, "I don't have to play fair."
"Ah, how quickly the young learn," Anko sniffed softly as she leaned against Kurenai, "It seems only yesterday, I was using that line on our helpless little genin."
"Helpless?" Naruto and Kurenai spoke up in an amused unison.
"Well, maybe not helpless," the brown eyed woman conceded, "But you get the point."
"Uh huh," Naruto paused a moment, before smirking a bit, "Maybe we should give Kiba some of YOUR panties then? Like, all of them?"
"You wouldn't dare!" Anko almost shrieked in outrage.
"Um, Anko-sensei?" Hinata spoke up, "This is NARUTO you're talking to."
"Really, Anko-chan, how could you be so careless?" Kurenai chided her partner mildly, "Though, I do look forward to the... easy access," a slightly lecherous leer made its way onto the woman's normally aloof features.
"Eh, I'll let it slide this time," Naruto shrugged slightly before smirking just a bit as he paused a moment, looking at the hotel, "Mmm... you two ready?"
With a smirk on their faces, the two instructors nodded, and with a quick jutsu, their regular outfits were replaced with their Kakashi imitations. Glancing to one another, they both extended a hand to the boy simultaneously. With a slight roll of his eyes, Naruto gave a soft chuckle as he deposited a small book in each of those hands.
"The things I'll do for a laugh," Naruto grumbled as he felt a sudden chill running down his spine.
"Are those... the NEW releases?" Hinata spoke up, with a sudden reverence in her voice.
"And, why don't we have a copy?!" Ino added, her eyes gleaming hungrily as she stared at Naruto.
"Errr..." Naruto blinked at them before shrugging slightly, "Because we don't need the two of you giggling and drooling in the middle of the Chunin Exams?"
"I suppose I'll buy that," Ino admitted grudgingly, "For now."
"But... but..." Hinata spoke up, her eyes trembling slightly, "New release!"
"After the exam, Hinata-chan, after the exam," Naruto said soothingly, even as the perverted giggles began to bubble up from their instructors.
"But..." Hinata gave a pathetic little whimper, her wide pale eyes staring up pleadingly into Naruto's own blue orbs.
"Not gonna work," Naruto said firmly before he turned his attention towards behind the girl, "Hey Gaara."
"Hello, Naruto," the red headed boy gave a slight bow to the spiky haired blonde, "Hinata. Ino."
"Hey Gaara," Ino responded with a smile before grinning lasciviously as she caught sight of the boy's sister, "Hello, Temari-chan."
"Erm," the dark eyed blonde immediately bushed next to Gaara, shifting slightly as she glanced away slightly, "H-hello Ino... Hinata."
"Now, what did we tell you, Temari-chan?" Hinata spoke up, coming out of her semi funk as she slipped over, wrapping her arm through the girl's arm on one side, while Ino did the same on the other.
Nervously, Temari threw a glance behind her, towards the stone faced man towering behind her and her brothers, his face half covered by a cloth. As the man thinned his lips and tightened his eyes, almost growling his displeasure at the girl, suddenly felt an icy chill running down his back. Slowly, he turned his head away from the girl, to find two pair of cold eyes, latching onto him with a frighteningly similar glare. One pair a familiar dull green, the other however, a brilliant blue, that some seemed to fill with the same cold warning as the first.
Watching as her jounin instructor began to sweat nervously, Temari slowly relaxed as she felt the girls pressing to either side of her, "Ino-chan, Hinata-chan."
"Ya know, if she wasn't my sister, this would be so hot," Kankuro grumbled as he watched the three girls.
"Shut up, Doll Boy," four voices snapped out simultaneously.
"No respect... I get no respect I tell ya!" the boy muttered under his breath as he kicked against the ground and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"I wonder why," Gaara deadpanned quietly, "Surely it wouldn't have anything to do with your doll fetish."
"Ya know.. I'm half afraid he might have a..." Naruto paused a moment, swallowing carefully as he looked at Gaara, "Temari doll hidden somewhere."
"Wh-wha-what?!" Kankuro immediately began to sweat, his eyes wild as they darted between Temari and Gaara, "Where did you... I mean of course I don't! I told you, that's just wrong!"
Temari stared at her brother, her lips pursing a moment, "Ya know... I wonder if Kankuro got more than just his looks from our father."
Blinking a moment, Gaara turned his back to the man standing behind them, "Is there something we should be aware of about our father, Baki? Other than his trying to kill me of course."
The tall man shifted nervously as he looked down at the penetrating gaze of the red-haired demon container and shifted slightly, "I, um... That's not the sort of thing I'd ever want to find out," he paused a moment, before casting his eye towards Kankuro for a moment, "Kankuro is worrisome enough as it is... I would prefer to NOT know its something from our Kazekage."
"No respect at all," Kankuro muttered beneath his breath, kicking his foot at the ground sullenly.
"So, I take it this is your jounin instructor?" Naruto offered casually as he looked up at the stony faced man.
"Yes, this is Baki," Gaara nodded simply, "One of our father's lackeys."
Baki himself twitched slightly at being described as such, though made no attempt at responding as he shifted his gaze up slightly, then blinked as he noticed the two women slouching behind the three Leaf genin. Both of them held up a book in their hands, reading lazily from one eye, their other covered by a slanted headband. Exempting the face masks pulled up to their noses, the pair were dressed like any other leaf jounin.
"Ah, well, everyone has to make ends meet someway," Naruto responded with a slight shrug, "Though, I don't imagine lackey is a very... rewarding one."
"Its not," Baki grumbled slightly before he realized what he'd said, "I mean, I'm not a lackey!"
"If you say so," Naruto shrugged a bit, smiling innocently at the man as he then gestured back towards his own instructors, "Those are Kurenai and Anko, our instructors."
"Yo," both raised their free hands, waving in unison without looking up from their books, before suddenly breaking into a simultaneous, perverted giggle.
"Don't mind them, they just got the new releases of the 'Sweet Silky Nights' series," Naruto grinned a bit, ignoring the sudden, burning glare Hinata gave him.
"Its out, already?" Temari, Kankuro, and surprisingly Baki all asked at once, before all eyes turned towards the stony faced man.
"What?" a slight blush broke across the man's face, "They're very well written!"
"You got that right," Temari muttered appreciatively.
"Technically they've got pre-releases," Naruto admitted with a slight grin, "But, it is always..." he paused a moment, glancing over at Kankuro, "Well, almost always, nice to meet people who appreciate my books."
"Wait," Baki froze his eye immediately latching onto the blonde boy, "You're telling me YOU'RE the author?!"
"What, how else do you think I ended up with the two prettiest genin in Konoha?" Naruto smirked a bit, his eyes waggling, "Not to mention, the being lucky enough to be instructed by the two hottest kunoichi?"
"Eh, its a good series but I prefer Ich-" Kankuro started before suddenly finding himself caught in a full body tackle by Ino as Hinata moved swiftly, disabling the boy's vocal cords and jaw.
"Do Not mention that series in front of Naruto-kun!" Ino hissed, "Are you trying to get killed?!"
"Figures," Naruto grumbled as he eyed Kankuro balefully, "You actually show something redeeming about yourself, then you go and pull that."
Baki considered for a moment. Inside, he was caught between his loyalty to his village, to his Kazekage, and his inner fan boy. A shinobi's life was dedicated to duty and his missions, but this was the author of his absolute favorite series! And if the invasion succeeded...
The man immediately paled, his eyes widening in realization. If the invasion was successful, and Konoha was wiped out, it would mean the end of Sweet Silky Nights! He couldn't let that happen, Kazekage be damned!
"Just when I think this village can't get any crazier..." Kankuro muttered under his breath, "I can't wait until we get back to Suna, right guys?"
The rest of the sand nin, merely gave the puppeteer a Look. From Gaara, it was to be expected, he'd made the Look almost into a technique on its own. From Temari, well it wasn't too terribly surprising, considering who her new 'friends' were. But, from Baki? That was a shocker.
"I do apologize for my student's foolishness, Naruto-sama," Baki spoke up respectfully as he gave them a bow, "I'm afraid... He's simply not quite right in the head. We've tried to get him some help, but he's the Kazekage's favorite. As such, he... overlooks some of the boy's more... glaring flaws."
"No respect at all," Kankuro muttered again, sulking as he crossed his arms about his chest.
"I'd offer you the boy's sister to make up for it, but..." the man gestured helplessly towards where Naruto's teammates has resumed their hushed talk with the dark eyed blonde, "It would seem she's already been... Caught."
"It happens," Naruto chuckled in response, "Those two, well, they like to play."
"My sister does not seem that adverse to their idea of play I've noticed," Gaara spoke up carefully, eying the trio of girls.
"Would you be adverse to Sakura doing that with you?" Naruto countered, a slight smirk on his lips.
"No, I can't say that I would," Gaara responed simply, nodding his head carefully before turning his attention back towards the girls, "Though, my sister is certainly far more... enthusiastic."
"Eh, not too surprising," Naruto shrugged a bit, grinning back at Gaara, "She's more expressive than you are."
"True," the red headed boy responded evenly, "I have noticed most are."
"All right you brats," Anko spoke up, a chuckle in her voice even though she never turned her eye away from her book, "Enough socializing, the Chunin Exams await."
"Yeah yeah," Naruto grinned back at his teacher, "Whatever you say, Anko-chan."
A smirk on his lips, the boy would lead the strange procession down the streets of Konoha, his blue eyes dancing merrily as he plotted just what he might do during the exam.
-The Academy-
"Hey, don't those two look like the chunin that're usually on duty at the gates?" Ino spoke up as they wandered down the steps, on their way to room 301.
"Yeah, probably," Naruto shrugged a bit, "Early eliminations or some such I'd guess..."
"If they can't see through such a ruse, then they're obviously not properly prepared," Gaara agreed with a nod, "Even Kankuro can see through such a ploy."
"No respect," the puppeteer grumbled again and sighed as he glared at Naruto, "This is all your fault."
"Its my fault you're a make up wearing, smut loving asshole who plays with dolls?" Naruto asked with an arched brow.
"No, its your fault that now everyone knows it," he grumbled back.
"Look at it this way," the blonde boy spoke up cheerfully, "The first step to recovery is being humiliated into changing by a complete and utter stranger who befriends your brother and who's teammates seduce your sister!"
"I thought it was admitting you have a problem?"
"Bah, that's the ones that don't have someone to drag them kicking and screaming into being a better person!" Naruto responded casually, "Don't you feel privileged?"
"Have I mentioned how much I utterly loathe you today?" the sand nin growled.
"Not yet, but, I'm sure you'll get around to it soon enough," Naruto grinned back at the boy, before speaking to the rest of the group, "Come on, lets get up to the third floor."
"I have noticed," Gaara spoke up as they walked, his arms crossed about his chest as was his custom, "You seem... quite eager for this exam."
"Why wouldn't I be?" Naruto shot back, grinning softly.
"Um, its the Chunin exam?" Kankuro spoke up.
"Ah, yes, but you see..." Naruto was rubbing his hands together, his eyes dancing wickedly, "I know who's in charge of the first part. And, ooooh will I be having fun."
As the blonde boy began to let loose a dark chuckle that to the Suna trio, was frighteningly familiar. Well, frightening to the elder two siblings. Gaara simply nodded to himself, taking it as another obvious similarity between the two of them.
"Man, I thought the rumors about you were just that," Kankuro stared at the blonde, a gleam of fearful respect beginning to shine in his eyes.
"Ooooh? Rumors?" Naruto smiled innocently, the light in his eyes a feral playfulness, "What rumors?"
"Various warnings about the blonde mad man and his..." Kankuro paused a moment, coughing into his hand, "Erm, girls..."
"I'll be taking a fully detailed list of any and all persons that referenced to My girls as anything less than flattering," Naruto spoke up, his voice suddenly flat as his eyes did a fair imitation of Gaara's own.
"And you will be giving them to him, brother," Gaara added, his voice a chilling match to the other demon container.
"Awwww," Ino spoke up, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "Isn't it nice when he gets all protective? Makes me feel all... Tingly inside."
"Mmm, very tingly," Hinata agreed with a wicked grin on his face, "Makes me want to start spreading them around."
"Focus girls," Naruto chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling, as they stepped into the waiting room, "Its game time remember?"
Around the room, various genin teams turned their attentions for a moment to the new arrivals. Cold hard glares were sent out, meant to cow and intimidate. The result, was less than what they expected.
"Bwahahaha," Naruto practically burst out laughing, leaning unconsciously against Gaara as he raised his hand and pointed to the room, "Aren't they so cute? Trying to look all intimidating and stuff."
"Indeed," the red head nodded back to his fellow demon container, "Most... impressive."
"Are you two trying to get us killed?" Kankuro hissed out, his eyes widening in a show of panic.
"What, they're just a bunch of genin," Naruto shrugged slightly, "I mean, hell, Gaara could probably take em all out on his own in a few seconds."
"If I was desiring to be... messy," Gaara agreed with a nod, "Though, the rumors about you, suggest that they'd wish I'd been the one to deal with them."
"Oh stop, you're making me blush!" Naruto laughed back, ignoring the growing irritation on the faces of the assembled genin.
"Meh," a new voice spoke up, "Do you have to be so troublesome Naruto?"
"Yes Shika, I do," Naruto grinned back at the lazy boy striding up with his teammates.
"Damned troublesome," the boy sighed, slouching over with a grunt.
"What can I say? Its a gift," Naruto smirked back, his eyes twinkling wickedly.
"Hey Gaara," a slightly blushing Sakura spoke up as she lightly broke away from her teammates and settled up against green eyed boy.
"Sakura," Gaara's own cheeks flushed slightly as he nodded to her, his lips twisting up slightly in a slight smile.
"Tsk, and apparently you spread your troublesomeness," Shikamaru grumbled again, eying the blonde boy then his female teammate.
"What can I say? I'm infectious," Naruto grinned back, "Just think, you're almost at the proper saturation point, soon you and Chouji will start acting troublesome just like us! Working hard, playing hard, settling up with cute girls..."
"Tsk, waaaaaay too troublesome," Shikamaru grunted slightly.
"Everyone's getting girls, Temari, even Gaara! Why can't I get a girl?" Kankuro grumbled slightly and shook his head.
"Eh, you should be thankful," Shikamaru countered as he lazily looked at the puppeteer, "They're too damned troublesome."
"But, you can DO things with them!" Kankuro countered, "Things that don't involve your own hands, lotion, tissues, magazines and toys."
"He's got a .... Wait," Chouji started to respond, before looking at Kankuro oddly, "Toys...?"
"He's a pervert," Gaara said simply as he hesitantly wrapped an arm about Sakura's waist, "You don't want to know."
"Mmm," Sakura nodded as she found herself resting her head against Gaara's shoulder, "But then again, Naruto's whole team are perverts. They're just... not as bad."
"Guilty as charged," Naruto admitted with a smirk as he lightly cast his eyes over to where his girls were giggling and teasing Temari in soft, whispered little voices that had the dark eyed blonde getting redder and redder with each passing moment.
"I think that my sister certainly isn't complaining about it," Gaara commented, as he slowly managed to relax against the contact of Sakura's body against his own.
"Yeah, but if they keep this up, I might be the one complaining," Naruto grumbling a bit as he gave a mock accusatory glare at Gaara, "Your sister's stealing my girls from me!"
"Hardly my fault if they have superior taste in blondes," Gaara countered in a straight, flat tone.
"Are you guys trying to get killed?" a new voice spoke up, as a somewhat angry looking leaf nin, wearing silver hair and glasses strode up to them, "Its bad enough all you rookies are involved this year, are you going out of your way to try and piss the rest of us off?"
"Hmmm," Naruto paused a moment, before glancing at Gaara, "I was, how about you Gaara?"
"The thought had occurred to me," the neutral voice responded, "I haven't had a chance to... relieve any stress lately. A killing some of the competition would be... enjoyable."
"Tsk tsk," Naruto chided lightly, "Remember, we talked about this Gaara. No slaughtering the sheep, at least not until we're at a stage where its perfectly reasonable to do so."
"They can hardly blame me for defending myself if someone else attacks me first," Gaara countered as Sakura could help but shake her head, giving him a slight elbow in the side.
"But then they might throw you out of the exam," the pink haired girl countered, "And that would mean all the less time we'd get to spend with one another."
The silver haired Leaf nin stared at the group incredulously as the three girls giggled and moaned softly to the side. Off to the side, Kankuro and Shikamaru were grumbling together about troublesome genin and a lack of respect, while Chouji munched on his chips, listening avidly. Naruto smirked back at Sakura, before nodding at Gaara.
"You know, she does have a point," Naruto agreed.
"Yes, I find myself..." Gaara paused a moment, considering, "Reluctant to take such a risk now."
"Still fun to get them pissed though," Naruto grinned back.
"Indeed," Gaara nodded back.
"Boys," Sakura sighed with a roll of her eyes.
"Are you all insane?" the unnamed ninja asked, his eyes widening behind his glasses.
"Its been mentioned to me before," Gaara admitted with a shrug.
"Been told that many a time," Naruto seconded.
"I hang out with these two," Sakura admitted, "What do you think?"
"Doesn't help that you like his lap either," Naruto snarked.
"True," Sakura blushed brightly as she glanced at Gaara, "He does have a very nice lap."
"Thank you," Gaara responded quietly, offering a slight smile to the girl.
A dawning realization suddenly crossed the silver haired boys' face, "You guys... aren't even from the same villages! You're a sand nin!"
"And Sakura and I aren't even on the same team," Naruto countered, "Who're you anyway?"
"Ah, Kabuto," the older boy responded, blinking again at the group, "This is... ninja from different villages aren't supposed to be so... friendly."
"Eh, we're allies, remember?" Naruto shrugged, almost missing the slight flicker in both Kabuto and Gaara's eyes, "No big."
"Ah, still, you shouldn't be drawing all this attention to yourselves, its not good," Kabuto countered.
"Uh... huh," Naruto looked at Kabuto oddly, "Are you really that ignorant?"
"Wh-what?!" Kabuto blinked, his eyes suddenly narrowing before he growled at the boy, "What did you just call me?"
"I didn't call you anything," Naruto countered, "I asked you a question, on if you were really that ignorant that you have no clue who I am."
"A really loud mouthed brat?" Kabuto offered up.
"Please," the blonde boy scoffed before flaring his coat dramatically as he posed, "I am Naruto Uzumaki! I am THE loud mouthed brat in Konoha. I've been pissing off Jounin and ANBU since I was a little kid, why would I be worried about pissing off a bunch of genin?"
"Eh, your delivery needs work, Naruto," Sakura critiqued lazily, "What do you think Gaara...-kun?"
"Indeed," the sand nin agreed, "Less than impressive compared to your usual flare."
"Hey!" Naruto grumbled slightly, "You think I'm use the good stuff for someone like him?"
"Oooookay," Kabuto spoke up, "I'm just going to go over that way, talk to some genin that have the brains to listen."
As he watched Kabuto walking away, Naruto frowned slightly, "There's something... not right about that guy."
"It is... troublesome how he didn't seem to recognize you," Shikamaru admitted, as he reentered the conversation, "I've seen him around, so I know he's been a genin for a while... But for him to not really have any clue about you, he'd have to be completely focused on something else. Yet, he doesn't seem the type, does he?"
"Look for the underneath, underneath," Naruto quoted as he would frown again, before shrugging once more, "So, Gaara... Anything I should know?"
"Yes," Gaara admitted, his face looking thoughtful.
"Wanna tell me what that would be?" the blonde boy continued.
"Indeed," Gaara answered.
"Are you going to tell me what it is?"
"Most likely."
"Do you know when you're going to tell me this?"
"Soon?" the red head offered with a shrug.
"How soon is soon?" Naruto pressed.
"Soon," Gaara shrugged back.
"Gaara, just tell me when you're going to tell me."
"Before the third stage of the exams?"
"That's a bit broad."
"Best I can offer right now."
"I suppose that'll do," Naruto admitted, "For now."
Gaara nodded back, before Sakura looked from one of them to the other, "You're both weird."
"True," the pair chorused.
"Tsk, too damned troublesome," Shikamaru sighed before looking around, "Anyone wanna play some shogi while we wait?"
"I'd say we don't really have time," Naruto responded dryly, "But, I know how fast you'd beat most of us here."
"I'd say he should try playing my sister," Gaara offered, "But..."
"Trust me, you don't want to pull the girls away from their fun," Naruto shivered slightly, "The pouting... dear lord, the pouting..."
"The pouting?" Gaara blinked slightly, "Not the pain?"
"Oh no," Naruto shook his head, "You'll only wish that you were in pain, that technique... the puppy dog eyes... its horrible I tell you, horrible."
"Hmm... It would seem Kabuto is finding himself in a bit of trouble," Gaara nodded his head towards where the silver haired genin was being assaulted by a trio of ninja wearing Sound headbands.
"Huh, interesting," Naruto responded back, watching the fight carefully, "That punch missed, but still did damage?"
"Must be a trick to it of some kind," Sakura spoke up, watching the fight carefully, "Kabuto looked... thrown off balance for a second there... and his glasses were destroyed. Might be some kind of sound attack?"
"Well, that is their village name..." Naruto admitted.
"I suppose this is true," Gaara nodded, "It will be... interesting to see what happens if they make it to the finals."
"They won't be," Naruto responded cheerfully.
"Oh?" Gaara arched a brow at Naruto, "What makes you so certain of that?"
"Put this into your little cards," they could hear one of the sound nin in the distance, "The three Hidden Sound Ninja, definate future chunins!"
"Because, I'm going to make certain that they're eliminated from the exams first chance I get," Naruto smiled ferally, "Its just bad manners to assault a Konoha nin, in Konoha, before the exams have even started. Someone just has to remind them, that proper manners are essential to a ninja. Of course, who better than me to do it?"
"I'm really, really glad you're on our side, Naruto," Sakura spoke up with a shiver, "Considering what I've seen you do to out own ninja, I don't even wanna think about what you'll do to them."
"ALL RIGHT, QUIET DOWN YOU WORTHLESS BASTARDS!" a sudden explosion of smoke and noise filled the room as the voice barked out a shouting growl.
As the smoke cleared, it revealed a tall, broad shouldered, scarred man, dressed in a proctor's uniform, black trench coat, gloves and a thick black bandanna underneath his forehead protector. Flanking him on either said, were a large group of Leaf nin, dressed in similar grey proctor uniforms. Smirking, coldly at the rest of the room, the scarred man began to speak.
"Thanks for waiting... I'm Morino Ibiki, the examiner for this test," pausing in his speech for a moment, the man lazily raised a gloved and pointed to the sound nins, "You three, from Hidden Sound, stop acting however you please. Do you want to be failed out of the exam already?"
"Sorry," the bandaged nin responded in a bored voice without an ounce of regret, "First time at a Chunin exam, I guess we got a little carried away, neh?"
"Bah," Ibiki snorted loudly as he glared back at the three, "Let me take this opportunity to say this: No fighting without the examiner's permission. And any fights I do let happen, killing your opponents will NOT be tolerated. The stupid shits that disobey me... You can drag your asses back to your villages and explain how you failed out because you couldn't do something like following simple directions. Am I clear?"
"Whatever you say Ibiki-san!" Naruto spoke up cheerfully, his bright blue eyes locking onto the jonin's own, and staring deep.
A slight tightening of the eyes was the man's only response, fighting down the sudden urge to pale and go running for the hills. Dammit, he'd withstood, days of some of the most painful tortures imaginable! He would not let himself be cowed by this little brat!
"Dammit, I should've known Anko would put him in this year," Ibiki grumbled softly under his breath, before growling out where everyone could hear, "All right you brats, get up here and pick up a number, then go and sit in the matching seat. I don't have all day!"
"I take it that you're... familiar with the examiner?" Gaara asked as the group made their way over towards the group of proctors.
"Oh yeah, why do you think I've been so eager to get to this?" Naruto rubbed his hands together viciously, "I'm gonna have FUN!"
At the table, Morino Ibiki suppressed the shiver running down his back. Suddenly, he wasn't quite as certain that this was gonna be the easy gig he thought it would.
-Elsewhere in the Academy-
"How did we get talked into this Hiashi?" Inoichi grumbled slightly as he carefully pulled the broad brimmed hat atop his head.
"Because we want to keep enjoying getting laid regularly by some of the more... desirable kunoichi there are?" the Hyuga responded as he lightly twirled a cane in his hand, before pulling on a deep purple silk robe.
"Ah yes," Inoichi responded with a slow nod, as he could hear the ripple of feminine giggles around them, "I suppose that is true."
"Plus, it gives us a chance to embarrass our girls," the pale eyed man responded with a completely straight face.
"That is true," Inoichi agreed, lightly tapping his lip, "Though, I think Naruto's going to get a laugh out of this."
"Just one?" Hiashi responded with a humorous smirk on his lips.
"Is the banner ready girls?" Inoichi continued with a chuckle.
"Oh yes, Inoichi-sama!" came the chorus of replies.
"Well then, I suppose all that's left, is for us to... enjoy ourselves until its time for our entrance, hm?" the blonde man asked his friend.
"Indeed... however will we pass the time?"
"Oh, I think we could find... something."
End notes: Heh, took long enough I know... ah well, finally making progress again into the chunin exams.