AN:

Err- wow- I was expecting more- something… like- no one was shocked by- WTF? I can shock you with Icha Paradise Jutsu, but not something "wonderful" on the way??? Oh well

Thanks DarkRavie for Reviewing…

Serenity Maxwell: ah finally something about that! But anyway- the whole Chuunin sub-arc here wasn't supposed to be part of the story- but once I had Itachi say something about it- I was pretty much stuck doing it, overall I'm glad I did though, because it lets me introduce something through Matsuri that wasn't going to make it into the story until WAY later…

Dragonrider666: yes my new addict-YES! Heh…

Also, I know Sakura is supposed to be a Chuunin already in the Manga, I'm ignoring that primarily only so that I could make a simple to understand battle chart...

Also, I have recently acquired the first Naruto: Ultimate Ninja game, there are some things that are just hilarious to see- like Naruto doing Harem on Haku- Zabuza, and Oorachimaru- or Kakashi doing 1000 years on Zabuza and Oorachimaru- still need to unlock the other characters- can't wait to unlock Haku

PS- I hate FF's format eating monster...

End AN

Shikamaru came out next carrying a box with a hole in the top, "Heh, no surprise you're here," Shikamaru scoffed when he spotted Naruto. "The first two tests have been all about quick thinking, seat of your pants planning, but this last test is about long term strategy, you'll all come back here in one month to fight, the numbers you draw from this box will determine the order you fight. Don't worry, it's not about winning or losing the fight, the fights will be to demonstrate how well you can study your opponent and use that against them."

Shikamaru went to each of them and they drew a number, one thru six. When the numbers were drawn, Shikamaru flipped over a chart and filled in the names. With six people, two people sit out the first round, one in each tier, that person who sat out fights the winner of the other fight in that tier, then the final round from that.

1. Nora
2. Naruto

3. Celene - - Celene

4. Matsuri
5. Lyle

6. Sakura - - Sakura

Naruto looked at the chart, assuming he won each fight he was stuck in a tier fighting two of the Rain-nin guaranteed. After that, he'd be fighting the winner of the second tier. He sighed for a moment, both of his opponents he'd trapped and only gauged a fraction of their fighting styled before he saw what they wanted him to see. They were good at strategy, if he hadn't been stronger one-on-one, he might have had trouble. Added to the fact they were good enough to have beaten or outsmarted two if not all three of the remaining teams, not even counting teams that attacked without scrolls. Spiked chain- that had been Nora's weapon when she fought his clones. He had to work on that first, it was a melee weapon, but with better reach than a normal melee weapon. Celene or Nora had to be a medic-nin, because he hadn't seen any signs of wrap or bandage on Nora, and she'd broken her leg falling in the pit. Lyle was a real number, he realized quickly that it was more efficient to let Naruto win and take the scroll, so they would still have the strength to take someone else's scroll.

While Lyle looked over at Naruto, then Sakura and Matsuri, he knew nothing about Matsuri, but he recognized Sakura as a medic-nin from her pack, same as Celene's. But he'd have to get through Matsuri before he could worry about her. Matsuri was a sand-nin, in a leaf team. That brought up a whole score of questions. Observing more closely he spotted a jouhyou at her belt. That weapon actually had even more range than Nora's chain, but the spikes on Nora's chain were far more painful.

The two teams were slow to leave, but after they finally did, Temari came out and walked over to Shikamaru, "You still haven't answered my question."

"No I didn't, I wanted to see for myself, your right, I started to noticed when we took on Akatsuki that something was different, but I saw him checking out his opponents analytically, I never even knew Naruto's face could make those kinds of expressions."

"Gaara felt something different about him the last time they met, Matsuri's supposed to try and stick with him to see if she can figure it out."

"Do you Sand-nin never attend the Chuunin exams without ulterior motive?"

"Lately it doesn't seem so, but our first academy batch- Matsuri's class, a few of them should be sincerely ready next time- if their sensei's think they're ready."

Shikamaru sighed, "Always so troublesome."

"Always complaining," she sniped back, starting to turn and walk off.

"Thank you."

Temari stopped and turned back towards Shikamaru, "For what?"

"For helping, for being honest, for a lot of things. Right now for Naruto, even since my first Chuunin exams I've known he wasn't the total idiot he makes himself out to be, but since he came back, he hasn't been the same. I- ah… was wondering if I could thank you formally, say around 7 o'clock?"

Temari kept a straight face as she hid both shock and a number of jokes she could make at his expense. After a moment she simply smiled and nodded, "Seven o'clock."

itITitITit

"Naruto," Itachi called out as he made sure to run into the group soon after they left the exams. "Well, we've got a month before your fights; figure we can take a couple trips in that time?"

"Well, I was hoping to check up on the Rain-nin at some point."

"Well, our first trip won't do that, but the second one I had planned takes us through there, right under Akatsuki's thumb sits the three tail, but they can't seal it until after they get the first two."

"Why not?"

"To be honest, I don't know, The Leader is rather secretive about how his silly little statue thing works. He only told us the world conquest part of his plan to explain the need for money."

"But Rain country is Akatsuki's main base?"

"It's where it all started, and where The Leader usually is, but most of the rest of Akatsuki stay in the other bases- I think most of us were turned off by his little cult of worshipers he's got going there."

"So, Mist Country, I'll finally get to see his home."

Matsuri had only understood most of this because of the briefing Gaara has given her before she left, but finally she found her voice again, "Whose home?"

Sakura looked down for a moment, "You mean that boy's don't you."

"Yeah, Haku."

"Come on Matsuri, I'll fill you in."

"But- wait, can I come too?"

"To mist, I guess, but to rain, I kinda wanted it to be as few as possible, kinda hard to sneak in and out of these days."

"But- I wanted to learn about those ninja's we're fighting too?"

Itachi took a moment, then turned to Naruto who simply shrugged, "We'll see," Itachi said at last.

"So, to sand, pick up Gaara, then to mist." Matsuri was about to speak again, "And yes, you can come with us to mist, Sakura too if she wants."

Sakura took a moment, "I should get to know Matsuri better, and- I haven't been totally fair to you," she admitted. "It's just…"

"You only know Sasuke's side of things," Itachi finished. "His side is very tragic isn't it, but tragedy isn't an excuse for how far he's taken things." Itachi left it at that, Sakura probably couldn't take the whole story right now, but he walked over to Naruto while Sakura was still looking down and lightly bumped his elbow into Naruto's shoulder, 'Soon' he mouthed. Naruto lowered his shoulders and head in a slightly submissive fashion, 'I know.'