Well ladies and gentlemen, I've reached a crossroads in my fanfiction writing. On the one had I can continue to go at it alone and hopefully continue to produce material that you all love, or I can request the assistance of a beta. I've decided that I will indeed request the aid of a beta or two. Often I find myself to have very intricate details planned out flawlessly, yet I stumble over the trivial things. SO! I need at least one beta, only requirements: A) you can spot any glaring grammatical mistakes I may make, B) A good imagination! C) You can keep up with me, I put out one, maybe two chapters a day as I am running two indepth stories. Anyway all that done! The action starts now!

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Chapter 5: Youki

Zaiaku cracked his bleary eyes open and stared at the ceiling, he hated this day with a unrivaled disgust, it was his birthday. He was the last of the three to turn fourteen, this also meant that Kyuubi, Shukaku, and Shiva would start feeding them waves of their chakra. Later they found out they would do this to forcefully stretch their chakra capacities and condition them to the harsh nature of non-human chakra. The goal was to have them at twenty-five percent of the demons chakra constantly mingling with their's at any given point in time, and to be able to handle bursts of at least thirty-five to forty percent if the situation were desperate.

Groaning the white haired teen rolled over and looked at the clock, "four o'clock a.m."

'Ah, it's our anniversary my little one' cooed Shiva

Zaiaku grunted, 'this is a horrible day Shiva-san. Please don't sound so happy.'

Shiva sighed, 'I suppose, though I am not disappointed with the company.'

'It starts today then?' questioned the teen as he made his way out doors. Resigning himself to a lack of sleep he began to focus on his iaijutsu training, he had long since toppled the small tree and was currently working on something with a bit more stature.

'It does little one,' she responded.

"You know, I'm wondering what that poor tree did to you?" questioned a voice behind him.

Zaiaku turned and spotted Naruto propped up against the doorframe, "It's standing," he responded flatly

"What the hell is eating you?" questioned the blonde

Turning his ice blue gaze at his companion he frowned, "What day do you hate more than anything?"

Naruto went wide-eyed, then scowled, "Why didn't you tell us? We could've gotten you something."

Despite everything Zaiaku smiled, "It's ok Naruto, let's just get to training. Today we start the hard stuff."

The blonde cocked an eyebrow, 'what?'

'We start feeding you chakra today, and he's right, this is going to be painful kit.' replied Kyuubi

"So today then?" questioned another voice, both teens eyed the new comer, "What do we tell Zabuza-sensei?"

"How about the truth," came a fourth and final voice, looking up they saw Zabuza sitting on the roof. Leaping down he narrowed his eyes, "You owe me that much."

All three teens gazed at each other, then Zaiaku and Naruto nodded to Gaara. "We'll explain over breakfast," stated the redhead.

Two hours and a very large breakfast later, The Demon of the Mist: Momochi Zabuza sat perplexed, a mixture of fear and confusion washing over him. "So you two," he gestured to Naruto and Gaara, "Have tailed demons inside you?" they both nodded. "Then you," he gestured to Zaiaku, "have some sort of elemental entity?"

"She's not a demon," the white haired teen took on a thoughtful expression, "but if you'd have to gauge her power it would be at about five tails, maybe six at most."

Shiva laughed, 'really little one, six tails? I'm flattered.'

Gaara decided to cut in, "The reason that we're telling you this is because today we are going to start taking in small amounts of our entities chakra for the next year. It will be dangerous to be near us till we reach where we need to be."

Zabuza leaned back in his chair, "Well I've taught you what you need to know, you just have to polish it." Then he stood and started re-wrapping his bandages, "I'll leave to gather information on the sound and sand, I'll return when I learn something."

Naruto frowned, "Be careful Zabuza-sensei."

The jounin nodded and set off to his room to begin packing. Ten minutes later he reemerged with Sangemaru strapped to his back along with a large duffle. "Don't slack because I'm not here," he said in a stern tone, 'and be safe' he added mentally. With another nod he was out the door.

"Think he'll be alright?" Questioned Zaiaku

"He's the Demon of the Mist," replied Naruto, "I feel bad for anyone that screws with him."

'We should begin,' said Shukaku

WIthout a word Gaara stood and made to the door, immediately his companions followed. "I will go first," he stated simply

"Why not all at once?" questioned Naruto

"We don't want to draw unwanted attention," replied the redheaded teen. Quietly he made his was to the center of the large field, going into his meditative position he entered his mind. Looking up at the large cage he narrowed his eyes and steeled his resolve, 'Let's begin'

'Hai,' replied Shukaku, slowly a large mass of sand began to make it's way to Gaara's feet. 'Are you ready?' recieving a nod Shukaku commanded the sand to engulf the teens body.

Looking at the surrounding sand Gaara felt confused, nothing was happening he didn't feel a rush of power, he felt nothing at all. Suddenly the sand flew away from his body and began swirling violently in front of him. Without warning the seal on his stomach began to burn intensely, it took all of his will not to cry out in agony. As the pain subsided Gaara let out a sharp breath, as he was exhaling the sand slammed into his stomach as it began to grind into the seal. Immediately the teen realized that it only looked like sand, it was infact Shukaku's chakra. This time however the pain was too much to bear and he cried out. Immediatly Naruto and Zaiaku sprinted towards him, only to be blown flat by a small tidal wave of sand. Gaara blinked his eyes as the pain subsided to see his companions peering at him with concerned expressions, "It's started."

"Are you alright?" questioned Naruto

Gaara nodded, "I will be, yes." After a consorted effort he stood.

"My turn then," stated Zaiaku as he stepped onto the field, mimicing Gaara's stance he entered his mindscape. Reaching the huge frozen prison he saw an elegant looking woman, her skin was a light hue of blue, while her hair was as deep as midnight. 'I suppose we should begin?' he questioned.

'We should,' replied the ice queen, as her container approached she stroked his cheek, 'I apologize for this my little one.'

'I know,' he replied as she held out her hand. Slowly a cold wind began to swirl around his body becoming stronger and progressively colder. As soon as the wind stopped he looked to see the elemental with tears beginning to form, 'Shiva-sa-?" He was cut off by a pain that could only be described as biblical, it was like someone had injected crushed glass into his veins. Doubling over he cried out in pain as Gaara had done.

Outside his body a fridged air had begun to swirl, causing the ground to frost over. "Should've brought a jacket," commented Naruto as he shivered involuntarily.

Gaara smirked, "We'll see if you're so quick witted when it's your turn."

Inside Zaiaku's mind he was leaning agaist the frozen cage, rubbing his arms trying to stop the freezing pain. Shiva was doing her best to comfort him by wrapping her arms around him through the bars and repeatedly muttering apologies. Finally the pain ebbed away and the teen began to stand on shaky legs as he offered his entity a weak smile, 'I-I-I-I'm f-f-f-f-fine' he chattered, though she wasn't convinced at all. Slowly he exited his mind still shaking slightly as he made his way to his companions and sat next to Gaara, "c-c-c-c-c-cold," he stated.

"You had time to get used to it in the other world. In this world, however, you took in fourteen years worth all at once." replied Gaara as he coiled his sand around his friend in an attempt to warm him. "Your turn Uzumaki."

Naruto gave a nervous grin as he stepped out to the clearing in the same spot as his two friends before.

As the blonde began to go into his meditative state Gaara shouted to him, "A bit farther!"

Naruto grunted and complied. As he entered his mind he was still grumbling, 'don't know what they're so worried about'

'Because you're going to release more raw energy than either of them,' replied Kyuubi, then an evil grin came across the fox demon's face, 'You know Shukaku said I couldn't make you scream, I disagreed.'

Before Naruto could really comprehend the look or this implications of the foxes words a huge claw was jammed into his gut at the precise point of his seal. His eyes immdiately filled with tears of pain yet he refused to cry out, instead he smiled, 'You'll have to do better than that Kyuu.'

'I knew I would kit' replied Kyuubi as he began forcing his chakra into the blonde's body. The fox watched as his containers head jerked back violently and his eyes went red, then hazed over as the boy went unconcious. Realizing he was pushing a bit too hard Kyuubi removed his claw, as Naruto was falling the fox stretched out one of his tails and slowly lowered him to the ground. 'Now begins the second leg of your journey.'

The next morning Naruto opened eyes slowly, turning his head he saw Zaiaku sleeping on top of his covers, apparently his oddly low body temperature returning. Turning his head one hundred and eighty degrees he saw Gaara lying in his back, his stoic expression still chisled on his face. As the teen tried to get up his body went ridged, 'what the hell?'

'Rest kit,' replied a groggy Kyuubi

"We're completely spent," said Zaiaku as he noticed his friend's frustration, "Apparently the pain was them burning out our chakra and then forcing theirs in. Now we just have to recover, Shiva said we should be fine by tomorrow. Now shut up and go back to sleep."

"I didn't say anything!" replied Naruto

"No, but you're grunting like a hog in heat," came the droning voice of a half awake Gaara.

Naruto only huffed and closed his eyes, drifting back into his dreams.

-Naruto's Dream-

"Will you ask me to stay again, Naruto-kun," said a soft voice

"Temari-chan?"

"I'm right here Naruto-kun, you just have to ask me," said the voice again, fadding slowly

"TEMAR-CHAN!"

"Ask me Naru-" the voice became in audible

-Gaara's Dream-

A voice almost a whisper echoed through the teens mind, "I'm always beside you Gaara-kun, always"

Gaara went wide-eyed, "Hinata? Is that you?"

"Always" whispered the voice

"HINATA! PLEASE!" he cried frantically

-Zaiaku's Dream-

his ice blue eyes scanned the darkness, slowly a hand caressed his cheek, "Will you save me?"

"Hime? Where are you?"

"I'm waiting to be saved" replied the voice quietly, "will you save me?"

reaching out he felt nothing but air and crumpled to the ground, "I will...I will save you."

-Real world-

All three boys awoke with a jolt, covered in sweat. "W-wha?" stammered Zaiaku, sweat sticking his hair to his forehead

Naruto looked at him then Gaara, "We don't have time to recover," he stated resolutely as he stood on quivering legs.

'Resilient as ever I see, kit.' chuckled Kyuubi

Zaiaku nodded and stood in protest to his bodies demands that he sleep, 'I have to save her.'

Shiva smiled, 'You are amazing little one.'

'I will stand by your side as well, Hinata.' thought Gaara as he too rose from his bed.

Shukaku snorted, 'Psychopathic death machine or not, you're a determined little bastard.'

Ten months passed after that night of tormenting dreams, all three teens with a steeled resolve to become more than what they had ever been. One day as they were training they spotted a fast approaching blur, "Ah, sensei is home," stated Gaara.

True enough a slightly winded Zabuza appeared before them, "Well I hope you guys haven't been slacking," he stated giving them the once over.

"We've learned a lot." stated Zaiaku

Zabuza cocked an eyebrow, "Show me."

The first was Zaiaku, he stepped up to a vertcal log at least four feet in diameter. Stepping back into his iaijutsu stance he prepared to draw, in one motion he split the log perfectly. As the top half began to fall the teen griped his scabbard and followed the exact arc of his sword's path, slamming it into the log, spintering it.

Zabuza clapped, "Perfect," once he stopped he eyed Shimotsuki, "Have you figured it out yet?"

"I have," replied the teen.

The jounin only shrugged, "good."

'He's impressed,' stated Shiva

Zaiaku frowned, 'he should be.'

Next was Naruto, reaching behind his back he gripped Kubikiri's handle with one hand. Closing his eyes a pulse of chakra came from him as the black blade began to glow a dull red. Drawing the sword and simultainiously bringing it down in a wide arc he released the collected chakra causing a wave of energy to release along the ground, cutting down everything in it's path for a short distance.

Zabuza let out a low whistle, "I see you've figured out Kubikiri's ability to channel chakra." then he cocked an eyebrow at Zaiaku, "and I thought you were the better swordsman here?" his comment only caused said teen to glare. "Now what have you learned Gaara?"

Both Naruto and Zaiaku composed themselves and stepped to each side of the redheaded teen. He, in response, only closed his eyes and waited for their attacks. In an instant both boys set upon him simultainiously, instead of a bloodbath Zabuza watched in bewilderment as the sand rose to block both of them pefectly. After a minute the jounin called a halt to the exercise. "We should go inside."

Once indoors all four gathered around the table, "Chunnin exams are in two months," he stated, "like you thought, the sound is mobilizing."

Gaara cocked an eyebrow, "And the sand?"

"Not even a peep. No mass shinobi gatherings, no back ally treaties, nothing," replied Zabuza, "That place is so clean it squeaks." The three teens eyed each other in confusion. Zabuza didn't notice and continued, "but SOMEONE has to be helping sound, they are just a bug waiting to be crushed without help."

"Another village?" questioned Zaiaku, Zabuza nodded, "Who?"

"No clue, everytime I would get close someone would get curious so they would have to..." he paused, "disappear."

Naruto snorted at his choice of terminology, "Well, we should make for Konoha tomorrow, we still have other things we need to accomplish." He recieved unanimous nods.

Three weeks later the four found the gates of the hidden leaf village coming into view. Sighing audibly Naruto pulled up his deep red cloth mask, "ready?"

Zaiaku pulled up his ice blue mask, "Not really, but not much of a choice."

Gaara pulled up his black mask and only nodded.

As they approached with Zabuza in the lead the two chunnin at the gates stopped them, "Halt! Name and purpose." barked the larger of the two guards.

"Momochi Zabuza, formerly of the mist, seeking asylum. Hokage-sama is expecting us." replied Zabuza without missing a beat

"And these are?" questioned the smaller guard

"My students, here for the chunnin exam," then he glared, "As I said, Sandaime-sama is expecting us." Producing a letter from his pocket he presented it to the guard who eyed it then nodded.

"You will be escorted to the tower immediately," the chunnin signaled and two ANBU appeared, "Please follow them."

As the four made their way through town they drew more than their fair share of stares. "Some things never change," stated Naruto

"Four masked shinobi walk into your village, what would you do? Offer them tea?" questioned Zabuza with a raised brow.

Team seven and nine were walking towards their training grounds, not so much together as they left at the same time, "Oi! who's that?" cried Kiba. Immediately both teams stopped and eyed the strange nin's.

The first was at least six-feet tall and carried a large nodachi on his back. Black and grey camoflaged covers ran down from his elbow to his wrists, and he wore simple black pants taped down to black combat boots.

The second was a blonde, his hair was messy, going everywhere and came almost to his shoulders. His face was covered by a blood red mask and he wore a simple black and dark red sleeveless ribbed turtle-neck sweater. He also wore black pants, but instead of taping them they simply hung down, covering the majority of his boots. completing the outfit were fingerless gloves that came up to his fore-arm. His distinguishing feature was the sword he was carrying, it was monstrous at best.

The third had snow white hair that flowed down to his mid back. He wore an ice blue trenchcoat trimmed in black, which was held together at the waist by a simple black cloth sash. His face covered by a mask that matched the hue of blue on his long coat. His hands were covered by fingerless gloves, while his arms were sporting black forearm guards. Like his blonde companion he let his pants flair out over his boots, not opting to tape them down. Attached to the sash at his waist was a simple yet elegant katana, it's handle wrapped in a white bleached leather and tipped with a dull bronze pommel that matched the handguard.

The fourth and last member was a redheaded boy. He seemed to like black: his coat, his pants, his mask, and his shirt all of it as dark as midnight. He had a brown sash slung across his body strapped to the sash was, what seemed to be, a large gourde. Like the tallest ninja his pants were taped down to his boots.

One thing was clear, all three radiated an aura that equivicated to problems if you crossed them. "A-ano...do you th-think they're here for the e-exams?" questioned a slightly scared Hinata.

"I hope not," replied Sasuke. 'I really do' he added mentally.

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End Chapter 5

I hope I was vivd enough with the outfits without going over board. The only thing I changed about Gaara's outfit from his current Kazakage outfit in the manga was the boots and the mask, I am a firm believer in the "If it's not broke, don't fix it" mentality and Kishimoto was dead on with Gaara's clothing. I hope you enjoyed! DOO DOO IS ABOUT TO HIT THE FAN!

Preview Chapter 6: Team who?