I do not own 'Naruto'

Chunin Exams

I will be skipping over some of the canon parts, if you don't know what they are, you shouldn't call yourself a 'Naruto' fan.

Naruto and Hinata had actually enjoyed there time together. Naruto felt like he was hanging with an old friend, though he didn't know it was true. Hinata, if only for a moment, she felt as if her old Naruto was back.

Now he was going to the Chunin exams. Naruto was waiting for his team to arrive before he entered.

"So you showed up."

Naruto turned to the source of the voice to see Menma.

"Menma, listen I..."

"What's going on here?" Kushina asked, appearing from behind him.

"Nothing." Naruto answered as he walked inside the building.

He could wait for his team on the inside.

"Hey, let us through!" A bun haired girl spoke.

Naruto and his team were currently watching as other Shinobi tried to get through the door. He, however, knew that the real door was on the next floor. This was just a test to weed out the weak. His team just brushed away his voice before he could get a word out.

"So you all decided to come." Kakashi spoke. "Good."

"What are you doing here Sensei?" Sakura asked.

"I just wanted to make sure all my cute Genin decided to come." He stated. "If one of you decided to skip, none of you could participate."

With nothing more to say, he stepped to the side to allow the children inside.

The group from Konaha decided to conjoin together. Naruto saw that along with his team, the entire group was made up of the clan heirs. There were two teams that didn't join the huddle, a team from the previous year. And one with a silver haired ninja that smelled like snakes.

"So we're all here huh?" Kiba asked. "Even the dead last?"

'Stay calm.' The voice ordered. 'Repeat after me.'

"So Kiba, has your master decided to give you your flea bath yet?" Naruto asked causing Kiba to growl. "Akumaru, you really need to keep him on a tighter leash."

The entire group began laughing, as well as Akumaru.

"What you say dead last?!" Kiba shouted in outrage.

The Inuzuka heir would have lunged for Naruto, only to find himself restrained by a black chain.

They all turned to see Menma was the source of the chains.

"That tight enough for you?" He asked.

"Who the hell are you?" Kiba asked.

"Hello Menma." Naruto greeted.

"You all should keep it down, you're drawing unwanted attention." A new, silver haired nin spoke.

They turned to see that all eyes from every other village was indeed on them. All sending a small wave of killer intent towards them.

Naruto heard a gasp and saw Hinata shake in fear, this didn't sit well with him. He took a protective step in front of her and glared back. His eyes flashed red as his Killer Intent trumped the other participants.

"What the hell Naruto?!" He didn't hear who it came from.

'Stop.'

He did.

"You're getting there." Menma stated. "Just a bit more."

"Who are you?!" Sasuke snapped. "Where is he 'getting'?!"

"I believe I can shed a bit of light on that." The now named Kabuto state as he pulled out a card. "His name is Menma Uzumaki-Namikaze, son of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina, Whirlpool heiress known as the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero."

Many Shinobi took a step back, those were two of the strongest Shinobi produced by Konaha. The avenger decided to take a step forward.

"If you're so great, why don't you have a team?" Sasuke asked.

Kabuto answered. "He's here as an apprentice."

"What, you're related to that guy?" Sakura asked Naruto angrily. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"Naruto Uzumaki." Kabuto spoke. "Banished heir to the Namikaze name." He stated. "The only reason given is a quote by Kushina, 'He's not my son, he's a demon.'"

"Alright maggots, sit down!" The proctor spoke.

Naruto had barely made it through the last test before he realized it was a sham. Thanks to his knew method of thinking, he was able to figure out the truth to it.

He was still happy Hinata offered to let him cheat off of her. Why is she so nice to me?

"Hey, pay attention!" Sakura shouted, pulling him from his thoughts.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"We have to get a scroll from the other team, did you listen to anything the proctor said?"

"No." Naruto admitted.

"Useless." Sasuke stated.

"Alright, a word of advice." Anko spoke. "Don'r die!"

With that, the second part of the Chunin exams began.

"Ouch."

Everything hurt!

He had been jumping through the trees with his team, when out of nowhere, a wind blows him a mile back! Something told him that it wasn't an everyday, freak of nature moment.

'Get up!'

Something about the urgency in the voice urged him to quickly move.

It was just in time, a snake the size of a tree had just lunged for the spot he had been in.

"What the hell, why are you trying to eat me?" Naruto asked.

The snake didn't answer. It just kept it's hungry gaze on him, preparing for another strike.

"Whoa snake!"

Naruto watched as a single black chain wrapped itself around the snakes neck, halting it mid strike. With a powerful tug, the snake was sent into a large boulder, hard enough to dispel it.

As the chain retracted itself, Naruto's vision followed.

Menma.

"Hello, brother."

Hinata and her team were jumping through the trees at full speed.

They already had their needed scrolls, thanks to Shino's plan.

"Man, these exams are too easy." Kiba stated. "We'll be Chunin before we know it."

"You shouldn't brag until the ask is completed." Shino stated.

"No sweat Shino." Kiba stated. "I mean, the dead last made it this far, it's in the bag."

"I wonder how Naruto-kun is doing." Hinata mumbled, not stuttering.

"Who cares." Kiba stated. "If we're lucky, so team finished him off for good."

"Don't say that!" Hinata stated in uncharacteristic anger. "He wouldn't leave me like that!"

"Why do you care about him so much?" Kiba asked. "He's a nobody."

"He's the son of a Hokage." Shino stated.

"He's more than that." Hinata stated. "He's my..."

"Quite." Shino stated. "We're being watched."

Team 8 came to a halt.

Hinata activated her bloodline, the Byakugan. With it, she could see the hidden enemy.

Kiba began sniffing, trying to find any source of smell from the enemy.

Shino sent his bugs to find the enemies while being inconspicuous, who would notice a bug?

"Menma I-"

Whatever Naruto was going to say was cut off by a kick to the gut. The blow forced him to kneel over, where he was greeted with an uppercut.

"Come one!" Menma shouted. "Fight me demon!"

He threw another punch that Naruto barely dodged.

"I'm not a demon!" Naruto shouted. "And I'm not going to fight you!"

Menma stopped in his assault and gave a deep scowl. He had come to kill a demon and free his brother's soul, not fight a fool. He would not be denied.

"No choice." He mumbled.

He pulled out a seal and placed it on blonds head.

"What are you doing?" Naruto asked as he struggled in vain against is brother.

"I was raised to kill a demon." Menma stated. "I won't be denied my purpose!"

Naruto froze up as he felt the seal activate. His head began to hurt, as if it were being filled with something. The perception was close.

In truth, a veil had been lifted from his mind, and memories were returning.

"At last!" Kyuubi shouted.

The seal that took him away from him was breaking. Naruto, her Naruto was free, his memories were returning! She was so over-joyed that she couldn't contain herself.

She sung.

"Hush little kitling, Don't say a word.

Kyuubi's earthquake will shake the world."

Now Naruto understood why he wasn't in his right mind, he remembered.

"But if Konaha doesn't fall,

Fire comes at Kyuubi's call."

He remembered everything the village did.

"If Konaha doesn't burn,

Kyuubi will make the ocean churn."

Naruto remembered the first person from the village to show him kindness.

"I have a child of my own." Hina spoke. "Maybe you two can be friends."

"Why would you want that?" Naruto asked.

"Not everyone hates you Naruto." She spoke, using his name.

"Yeah well, not everyone wants to help either." He spoke as he turned to leave. "Good night."

He was stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He would have tried to break free, but then he felt her pull him into a hug.

"I want to help you." She whispered. "If you let me."

Naruto had barely heard the words come out of her mouth. He was more focused at how nice the hug had felt, how warm it was.

So this is how a hug feels. He thought peacefully.

"But if Konaha doesn't drown,

Kyuubi's tornado will blow it down."

Naruto remembered meeting the first person going through similar torment for being different.

"Freak!"

Naruto heard some kid cry, that was nothing strange. What was strange was that the insult wasn't directed towards him.

He turned his attention to the group kids picking on a single one, a little girl. They had to be at least a year or two older than he was. She had to be the same age as Naruto.

That person that would become his friend.

"Would you like to play?" Naruto asked.

The girl nodded shyly.

"Wh-at w-would you l-like t-to play?"

Naruto was about to answer before he stopped dead in his tracks. He had no idea, no one ever wanted to play with him.

"What do kids usually play?" He asked, more than a little embarrassed.

"I'm sorry!" She cried apologetically, thinking he was being sarcastic. "I don't have many friends, so I don't know many games."

"...You didn't stutter."

The comment caused the girl to lower her head in shame. Naruto noticed a sad look cross her eyes before she did.

"Hey don't worry." Naruto spoke. "I don't have any friends, so this is all new to me too."

They shy girl raised her head and met Naruto's eyes.

They're so blue. She thought. She turned tomato red.

'Here.' Kyuubi spoke.

Naruto's stomach began feeling very weird before the oddest thing happened. A small orb appeared from thin air. It was like a marble with a nine pointed star in the middle.

Naruto grabbed it and it expanded to the size of a kick-ball.

Kyuubi?

'You're welcome.'

"...Want to play catch?" He asked.

She nodded enthusiastically.

"And if Konaha stays as it's been,"

Naruto's neck hurt at the memory of one being who he really was.

"Well...then I wish I wasn't a human." Naruto mumbled, low enough for her to hear. "I wish I was more like you."

He felt her stiffen under his hands at the comment.

"Do...do you really mean that?" She asked.

"...Yeah." He answered.

"I could make you like me." She offered. "A Kitsune."

"Really!"

"Yes."

"Will there be any side-affects?" Naruto asked cautiously.

"Two." She admitted. "You will instinctively be bound to our ways."

"And the second?"

"You'll be a bit of..."She trailed off before speaking up

"What?"

"You'll be a bit of a pervert." She stated. "Kitsune are experts in the arts off seduction, I'll tell you why when you're older."

"Do it." It was a small price to pay.

"Done."

Of earning it!

"Why is a snot nosed kid risking his life for a spoiled brat!?" The nin asked incredulously. "Do you intend to die for her?"

Naruto looked at the nin with hate, but his eyes began drifting over to Hinata. His gaze softened he saw the heiress crying her eyes out. His mind wondered to his last memory of Lady Hina.

"Yes." Naruto whispered.

"What?"

"Yes, I'd die for her!" Naruto shouted. "I promised Lady Hina that I'd protect Hinata!" He began to pick himself up. "I would die before I broke a promise to the first person that ever showed me kindness! I'd die before I let her debt go unpaid!" The blond gave another glare of determination. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki, I never go back on my word!"

Naruto charged, he really was willing to die for this.

'Like a true Kitsune.'

"Kyuubi will start all over again..."

He remembered the betrayal.

The roots from the ground had burst up and restrained his feet. They were quickly crawling up his entire body, holding him in place.

"Naruto, I can't have you talking to the Kyuubi." Hiruzen spoke. "I'm going to have to...separate you two."

"Why?" Naruto asked the village leader.

"I can't have you using the power of Kyuubi in hate." Hiruzen explained. "You are a...liability, and as Hokage, I can't risk it."

Kyuubi, help! He begged.

'There's nothing I can do.' She replied. 'The Wood is binding both of us.'

"What're you going to do?" Naruto asked.

"I'm going to have Inoichi erase your memories." Sarutobi answered sadly. "Then I will seal the fox away."

I don't want to be separated from you!

'Don't worry Kit, I will never leave you.' She promised. 'And Kitsune never break their word.'

Naruto opened his eyes as was greeted to a giant fox.

"Kyuubi he spoke." He spoke in awe.

"I told you kit, that I would never leave you." She finished.

"And we Kitsune never break our promises." Naruto stated with a smile.

"Naruto." Menma called.

"I remember." His brother spoke.

"What do you remember?" He asked. "Do you remember who and what you are?"

"Yes." The blond answered before standing. "I am Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze!" His eyes met Menma's. "The Kitsune child of Kyuubi!"

"Good!" Menma shouted.

He threw several kunai with explosive tags attached. The landed around the blond, cutting off his escape.

They went off on a tower of flames. But in the flames stood the un-moving figure of Naruto.

"Sorry, but that won't work on me." Naruto stated as he walked from the flames. "Apparently I'm a fire Kitsune, not a water one."

Menma was taken back by what he saw.

There stood his brother in the way he hadn't expected. This Naruto had fox ears and a tail!

"I know what you want Menma, I know that Kushina filled your head full of lies." Naruto stated. "We'll have to settle it another time."

"What makes you think I'm just going to let you leave that easily?" Menma asked, drawing another kunai.

"I left the minute the bombs went off." The blond stated. "Covered by the explosive flames."

To prove his point, Naruto went up in a puff of smoke. He had been nothing but a clone.

Menma stared at the spot his brother had been. He felt a since of...pride that his brother was that good.

So this is what brotherly love feels like. He thought.

He continued on his way, he had an exam to finish.

The thought of the competition made him reach for his own...scroll? Where the hell is-he stole my scroll!

"That foxy bastard." Menma mumbled.

Hinata was terrified.

She and her team mates were fighting as hard as they could, but the battle wasn't going in their favor.

"Is this it?" One of the enemies asked.

They were going against a team of Kumo nin, Hinata had always had a fear of them since 'that night'. The night she lost both her mother and her Naruto.

The worse was the leader.

"Is this all you have?" He asked. "Show me how you beat my father!"

The leader of the group was the son of the Jounin that attempted to abduct her that night.

Is this it? She thought. Is this how I die?

Her one regret was Naruto. She had not confessed to him. She hadn't been strong enough to be by his side.

Naruto.

"N-Naruto." She mumbled.

"What was that?" He asked. "Speak up bitch."

"You promised." She spoke.

"I promised what?" The Kumo nin spoke. "You're not making sense, has fear made you go crazy?"

"Naruto!" She cried out. "You promised that you would protect me!"

The two other combatants paused in their own battle at the girl's cry.

"What the hell?" Another Kumo nin spoke.

"Enough of this." The leader spoke as he raised a kunai. "I'm ending this!"

He would have killed Hinata then and there hadn't he noticed a flash of light moving towards him.

He jumped back in time to see it consume Hinata.

Fire.

"Hinata!" Her team cried.

The flames had burned everything in their path. Trees had severe burn marks and chunks missing from the damage done.

"Looks like someone did the work for you." One of the Kumo nin spoke.

"Yeah, but I wanted to kill her." The leader mumbled.

"Kill?" A voice spoke. "Are you trying to say that I can't keep my promise?"

All nin, leaf and kumo turned to the fire.

In it stood Naruto, holding Hinata bridle style as she clung to him. He walked from the flames as it dissipated, both of them were unharmed.

"The hell?"

"Hinata, you think that I would break my promise to protect you?" Naruto stated. "I would die first."

"N-Naruto." She spoke, hope growing. "Do y-you remember?"

"Yes."

"Hey!" Both Kiba and the Kumo leader shouted.

"Who the hell is this blond fool?" One of the Kumo nin asked.

"Dead." The third answered.

"Let's get this over with." Naruto stated.

He raised a single hand, extending only his finger. On it was a small flame that danced around. Naruto began waving his flaming hand for added affect.

The nin, Leaf and Cloud alike, kept their eyes on it. That was their mistake, being distracted.

Each of the Kumo nin fell to a kunai in the back, a Naruto clone behind them.

The clones began rummaging through the dead Shinobi's items. Taking their weapons and scroll.

"What the hell?" kiba asked in anger. "How did you beat them so easily?"

"He distracted them with the fire and had a clone attack them from behind." Shino explained. "Simple but effective."

"Well, I'm as sneaky as a fox." Naruto chuckled.

Naruto turned and began walking away, Hinata still in his arms.

"Hey, where are you going with my girl?" Kiba asked, still angry.

"Your girl, are you two dating?" Naruto asked with an edge in his tone.

"No!" Hinata answered quickly.

"Then she's not 'yours' as you so stated." Naruto countered.

"I too would like to know where you're taking my teammate." Shino stated.

"I'm going to find the others of Team 7 and finish this exam." Naruto explained. "I'm taking Hinata to make sure she stays safe." He turned an eye to Team 8. "You're welcome to come."

Shino nodded, while Kiba grumbled as he followed.

"Hinata, can you tell me what direction they're in?"

Not once had Naruto sat Hinata down since the rescue, much to Kiba's ire.

Damn you dead last! He couldn't stand to see his claim in another's arms.

He would have said something, but decided to keep his mouth shut. Naruto would screw it up, all he had to do was wait.

They had found Team 7, well Sakura, being attacked by a Sound nin. It seemed that Rock lee had appeared to give her a hand, but wasn't fairing to well.

"Let's go." Naruto spoke.

"No way." Kiba stated. "This is your problem, you deal with it."

Let Hinata see how weak you are. Kiba thought.

"What I'm sure my team mate is trying to say is, we can't help." Shino explained. "That fight took too much out of us."

"...I understand." Naruto calmly spoke.

'Don't worry, Kitsune always get what their owed.' kyuubi assured. He saved them, they owed him big time.

Naruto placed Hinata onto a branch and dropped down.

"Well, looks like we'll have to kill you all with Sasuke." Dosu stated.

"Sorry, but I can't have you killing my teammate." Naruto stated. "I need him to help me pass."

"More leaf nin." Dosu stated. "They're appearing like roaches!"

Naruto walked into the middle of the field, between the Sound nin and his team. He eyes his surroundings, allies and enemies, taking everything into account.

Okay, I'm ready.

'Do me proud.'

Naruto charged and delivered a punch to Zaku, hitting him on the side of the head. This put him of balance, but not out of the fight.

Naruto was still close after delivering the punch, too close to actually dodge.

Slicing Air Waves

He fired at full power, hitting Naruto point blank.

He thought.

In truth, what he hit was just an illusion. The real Naruto was behind him, hidden under a small Genjutsu.

The air waves actually hit Dosu, who had been charging at the fake Naruto from behind. This sent him into a tree, knocking him unconscious.

"Shit, Dosu I-" He fell silent, thanks to a chop to the neck from Naruto.

Before he fell to the ground, Naruto reached into the Sound nins pouch and pulled out a a kunai.

He sent it sailing to a tree, beside Kin's head.

"Take your team and leave." Naruto ordered.

She gave a terrified nod before grabbing them and leaving.

As soon as they were gone, Naruto turned to his team.

Only to see Sasuke covered in tattoos and foul Chakra.

That's new.

'Check your pocket.' Kyuubi ordered. "You have a gift from Menma.'

Naruto did, he pulled out a seal.

And a letter.

If you some how get past me, your team is in a bit of trouble. Our mother and I have been keeping an eye on a certain snake and thought this would be useful.

Until I kill you, Menma.

P.S. Dodge!

Naruto did, just in time to avoid a kunai to the head.

Damn...my brother's good. Naruto thought with a bit of pride.

Before Sasuke could do anything, Naruto placed the seal onto his head.

"Okay Kiba and Shino!" Naruto called to the trees. "I'm cashing in on your debt for saving your hides." He pointed to his downed comrades. "Before you whine, I will collect my debts, one way or another."

"And pay back those who wronged us!"Kyuubi spoke to him.

Review

I know I skipped over some of the canon parts, if you don't know what they are, you shouldn't call yourself a 'Naruto' fan.