Sakura stared at the exam Proctor.

He looks scary.

One by one, people she's never seen before handed them a piece of paper face down. The pencils they were given came with one spare eraser.

In front of her she saw Naruto start to panic and she sighed.

"There are several rules for this first test. I will take no questions, so listen accordingly. You are given ten points each from the start. This test has ten questions. Each question is worth one point. And, this test is a point deduction system. In simple words, for every question you get wrong, you lose a point. Every team will have combine score from this test. But if one person in a team completely fails, so will the whole team. Two points will be deducted each time you get caught cheating. Begin!"

She flipped over her test and read over the first problem. It was easy for her. Probably even for Sasuke, if he took his time on it. But Naruto, she was worried about him. Right now his stance looked defeated.

Come on Naruto, ignore the bland words and think like you're in a battle!

The words really were a tricky thing.

It was worded to be confusing but when you took out the junk it was rather simple.

"The parabola B in the diagram illustrates the greatest possible distance that Enemy Ninja A could throw his Shuriken from a tree seven meters high. Predict and answer the Enemy Ninja's character inferred from the ellipse this Shuriken forms, also answer the longest firing range in battle on flat ground and explain your basis."

All ten questions were like this.

She sighed and looked at the person next to her. Their left hand was on the table, and for a second she saw a flicker of a ring on his finger. Blinking, she realized it wasn't there.

That's when she knew.

There are people placed throughout us who aren't actually taking the exam.

But he's as far as I am.

So that's it.

Sakura smiled.

We're supposed to cheat.

Those who get caught, can't be chunin yet.

I just hope Naruto figures it out in time.

With that she finished over half of her exam before she felt a chill.

That bastard.

She smirked and continued on.

Sasuke, you couldn't do it hm?

Sakura could almost hear his scowl.

Looking over, she saw Naruto's stance had changed to that of confidence. The light was reflecting near him, but it was only a glance.

He's cheating off of Hinata.

The things you do for love.

Finishing her test, she sat back and not long after she heard Sasuke's sigh.

Well, that's two out of three.

One by one through out the exam teams were called out for one of their members cheating too many times.

Only ten out of these fifty one teams will probably go on to the next exam.

Hinata, Shikamaru and I are probably the three that would probably be able to answer this without cheating. That being said, I'm probably the weakest one in the room.

Another cold chill went through her body and she felt like she couldn't breath. Her vision darkened and she felt her body slump over.

But maybe it wasn't her body.

A minute passed and she was jolted back to reality. Her head fell in her hands and her body began to shake.

What was that just now?

Mind transfer jutsu?

That pig.

It was Ino's specialty.

She glared and looked around.

There were seventy eight people left, including her. Twenty six teams are moving on to the next exam, if they all pass.

"For those who are still here, the first exam, you all pass."

Silence filled the void and Sakura's breath hitched. Suddenly she turned in her seat and looked at Sasuke. He was staring straight ahead however, eyes untrusting at their Proctor.

"I have an honest question however. By now, all of you have realized that the only way to pass would be to cheat. We strategically placed chunin within the exam that knew the right answers. They have been dismissed already after the first half of this exam. Who actually did not cheat?"

Sakura raised her hand as did Shikamaru and Hinata.

"Congratulations to you three, who's knowledge go above a genin level. And now, I introduce the second exam Proctor."

Smoke filled the room along with confetti poppers and horns blazing. When the dust cleared, a female proctor with purple hair and a large grin.

"I am your second exam Proctor, Mitarashi Anko!"

xxXXxx

Sakura launched herself at both Sasuke and Naruto, bringing them into a squeezing hug. Only Naruto returned it naturally. Tomorrow they would start their second exam. But for now, it was time for BBQ!

The Uchiha's had invited the team and their families to an out door BBQ. Her parents would be there, as would Kakashi. Naruto, who didn't have parents didn't seem frazzled.

She peered out the kitchen window as she helped her mother and Mikoto-san with getting the sides ready. Fugaku-san had already started cooking the meat.

The boys were talking to each other with such pent up energy about the exam.

"So how did it go Sakura? Was it hard?"

"Well, the object was to cheat all along, but I answered the questions correctly."

"That's my girl!"

Her mother kissed her cheek.

"How did Sasuke and Naruto do?"

"I think Sasuke figured it out right away, and he copied me with his Sharingan."

She thought about Ino's jutsu and frowned.

"Sakura! Are you done with the vegetable tray?"

"Almost!"

Together they sat side by side. Kakashi, Fugaku and Itachi were talking about their chunin exams as well as how the team was progressing. Her mother and Mikoto were talking about her parent's latest mission and about Sakura's dream of being head of the hospital. Sakura kept Naruto talking, hoping he wouldn't feel lonely. Sasuke probably caught on, because he invited Naruto to spend the night.

"Sakura-chan, you too right?"

"N-Naruto! fifteen year old girls don't spend the night with fifteen year old boys!"

"Why?"

Sasuke's eye twitched.

"Idiot!"

"Hey, don't call me an idiot! I want to know!"

"No, Sakura-chan, stay."

All three heads looked towards Mikoto who just smiled.

"Ah, Uchiha-san-"

"I insist. You can stay in a guest room right next to Sasuke's room."

"Okay. I'll grab a bag for pajamas and clothes for tomorrow."

They finished eating and Sakura helped Mikoto with the dished before leaving with her parents and grabbing an overnight bag. She made sure to grab her ninja pack and health kit for the next exam.

"Sakura, good luck tomorrow. I know you're father and I haven't been around lately but-"

Sakura hugged her mother tightly.

"Mama, it's okay. I'm taking on the life too. I'll be sure to make it out a Chunin!"

Her mother brushed away her tears and her father hugged her next before placing a hand on her hair.

"You're strong, and you're smart. I don't doubt you're abilities to pass, but stay safe. Watch over those two boys and don't over think a situation. You're trained for years to be in this position. Although you're mother and I don't agree with Kakashi pushing you to the next level so fast, there is something that he sees that we haven't gotten the chance to."

"I love you guys."

Her mother hugged her again.

"We love you too sweetie. Good luck tomorrow."

The sun had set by the time she had made her way back to the Uchiha compound. The door was opened before she could knock and Naruto stood in a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt grinning at her before pulling her into a hug.

"Sakura-chan! This is going to be so cool!"

"Sakura-chan! Welcome in!"

Mikoto ushered her in more and asked Naruto to show her the room she would be sleeping in.

"I made sure to change the sheets so they're nice and fresh!"

The hallway was long but she got to the last room with no problem. It had an attached full bathroom complete with a shower.

"Hurry and change! I want to play!"

She smiled at him and shut the door in his face, going through her bag and let out a sound of frustration.

I forgot pajama bottoms!

Opening the door and knocking at the door across from hers she waited before an irritated Sasuke opened the door.

She blushed at his intense stare and saw Naruto going through Sasuke's books.

"Ah, sorry but I forgot bottoms. Do you have a pair of shorts or something I can borrow?"

He left the door, leaving it cracked so Naruto hadn't noticed her presence and came back with a pair of folded black sweat pants.

"Thanks. I'll be right back."

With Sasuke's pants she had to roll them at the waist a lot to get them off the bottoms of her feet. Her light blue tank top was a little tight but she didn't care. Her long pink hair was brushed to the side with a pony tail that rested on her right shoulder. Once again knocking on Sasuke's door, she heard Naruto tell her to come in.

"This isn't your room you idiot!"

"Yeah but it's just Sakura-chan!"

Sakura smiled and sat on the floor next to Naruto.

"This is the first time we've been alone, just the three of us."

"Hn."

"Oh don't act like you hate us!"

Naruto pouted and Sakura giggled. Sasuke just rolled his eyes and leaned back.

"What do you think the second exam is?"

"I don't know. I think it's going to be more physical. I packed all of my gear just in case. You did too, right Naruto?"

"Yeah, yeah, I didn't forget! I even packed some ramen in a cup for us!"

Sakura almost faltered but gave him a smile anyways.

"We're progressing so quickly as a team, I didn't think we'd take the chunin exams for another year."

"Well I for one am glad we are! This is one step closer to becoming Hokage!"

Sakura smiled at Naruto's determination, and it appeared Sasuke agreed with him.

"Sakura-chan, why did you become a ninja? You don't need to be one to be the head of a hospital."

She flushed and looked down.

"I guess it kind of started as a bet. Ino and I, we don't get along anymore and to prove her wrong I joined the academy."

"Sakura-chan, that's kind of dumb."

Sakura put her head down at Naruto's words and faked a yawn.

"I'm tired, it's time for sleep. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow."

xxXXxx

Sakura stared at what everyone else stared at behind the chain link fence.

"This place is called the Forest of Death. Soon, you'll understand why."

The proctor actually grinned, sort of like Naruto's.

"But first you must fill out and this consent form! After all, we don't want to be responsible for any deaths."

Sakura paled.

Deaths?

"Don't worry Sakura-chan, I'll protect you!"

Naruto grinned at her and she gave a weak smile.

"Training ground number 44 is a fenced in circular area with large trees, a river, and a tower in the middle. This is a survival exercise. You will be given either a heaven or an earth scroll."

She held out a white and blue scroll in her hands for them to see.

"Your goal is attain both, and get to the tower safely in three days. The forest is your kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. But be careful with what you pick. There are poisonous insects and plants inside these limits."

Thirteen teams will definitely fail. Not including those that could die.

"Now, there are some rules for discrimination. You will fail if not all three team members get inside the tower with both scrolls. If you lose your team mate, you're out. And lastly, do not under any circumstances open the scrolls until you are told to do so. Opening one will result in certain death."

Sakura gulped and her hands reached out for her team mates, grabbing them both by the wrists.

"Well then, once you fill out your forms exchange them for a scroll and find a gate. All of which will open simultaneously."

They did as they were told and picked the thirty eighth gate.

"This is so exciting!"

Sakura looked at Naruto and a smirking Sasuke, whom were both eager to stat their three days in the forest.

She was the one carrying the medic gear, and Naruto volunteered to carry the bag of their clothes.

"We stay away from high trees. Take the ground route."

"Do we hunt for other teams?"

"No. We attack anyone along our way. Most teams will stake out along the tower."

For now, she had the scroll. But in twelve hour intervals they will exchange it between the three of them. Naruto, who had received a cut from this morning's spar session was punching the air in routine, building up his energy. Sasuke looked analytical at the land in front of them. The gates would be opening any minute.

"Sakura, do not worry."

She nodded at him and Naruto hugged her with one arm.

"Sakura-chan, we'll be fine! After this is all over we'll be chunin! That means better missions, better pay, a cool vest-"

The gate opened suddenly and a whistle blew.

"Let's go!"

Unlike the other teams they didn't rush in. They took to the ground like Sasuke said, but soon it was time for a break.

"I just need to pee!"

Sakura sighed and pointed him to a pair of bushes.

"That was a lot!"

She was getting ready to yell at him but Sasuke landed his foot in Naruto's cheek.

"Sasuke-kun!"

Naruto's back hit a tree hard.

But Sasuke wasn't going to let up. He chased him around tree limbs, with Naruto barely fighting back."Sasuke-kun, stop it!"

"Look at him!"

So she did. Everything looked fine except for two things. One, his scratch was missing, even if he healed the bandage would still be there. As well as the fact that Naruto wasn't left handed.

"Talk! Where's the real Naruto!"

In a poof of smoke someone else was standing in the place of 'Naruto'.

He had a breathing mask on like he was from a country with a lot of water.

"Hand over the scroll nicely, and I'll spare your lives."

"Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu!"

She screamed as large fireballs landed around her.

Searching for Naruto's chakra, she quickly found him and released him, just in time to see Sasuke impale the guy in the chest with a chakra infused kunai.

Sasuke landed on the ground as they guy sped away, most likely back to his team mates. She walked up to him right away and smudged off the blood on his cheeks.

"Sasuke! Sakura-chan!"

"Idiot, you have to keep your guard up."

"I was peeing!"

She listened to them both bicker before deciding enough was enough.

"Stop it! We need a plan if that ever happens again! Next time it could be someone better at copying!"

"Sakura-chan, you're right."

"So what do you suggest?"

"A password. It's from a novel we read our first year in the academy."

"But that was so long ago!"

"Then listen once because I won't repeat it!"

"Fine!"

"It is the chance to sneak up where a large number of enemies is making a scene. The quiet place has no secret hideout. It is important for a shinobi to know the right time. The time when an enemy is tired and drops his guard."

Silence filled the air before Sasuke nodded.

"Ah, could you repeat that again?"

"No!"

Naruto whined for a minute or two before sighing.

Suddenly something struck her cheek and she caught a drop of blood on her finger.

"Sakura-chan?"

Apparently it was a warning. A large gust of wind hit them, forcing them to hide.

When it cleared she found Sasuke first.

"Password."

She sighed before repeating it softly for no one else to hear. He nodded at her and lowered his guard slightly.

"Are you guys okay?"

Naruto ran up with a typical foxy grin but she still asked for the password.

But what was shocking was that he knew it word from word.

She threw her kunai on instinct and watched the fake Naruto dodge it clumsily.

"What gives?"

"He didn't call you Sakura-chan."

They exchanged a nod and watched as the fake Naruto revealed himself.

It was the woman who caused the Proctor a problem earlier.

She pulled out an Earth scroll and she felt Sasuke stiffen.

But before they could do anything, a long pink tongue wrapped around it and swallowed it.

Bile rose to her throat but she fought it back and brought out another kunai.

"Let's begin the battle for our scrolls."

They both made the mistake of looking the woman in the eyes.

Brief images of her death flashed before her eyes as time slowed down. A scream escaped her throat and suddenly they weren't in that void of death anymore. Subconsciously she heard Sasuke throw up and felt her tears running down her face.

Her body shook as well, and for a second a warm body was pressed to hers. She snapped out of it in time to see Sasuke was carrying her bridal style. He stopped deeper into the trees and sat back.

She pulled away to look at the kunai in his thigh.

Looking up into his eyes she saw his sharingan briefly which meant he had to of activated it.

She opened up her medic pouch and pulled out an antibiotic salve and removed the kunai from his leg, hearing him hiss.

"Sorry."

Pushing up his shorts a little, she put the salve on the wound and wound it quickly with clothe.

"Sorry, but we don't have time. We have to move."

She heard something in the distance and grabbed his shirt in time, moving them up a few branches to dodge a giant snake. Her ninja stars sunk into the neck of the snake, killing it, but to their surprise, the skin burst open, revealing the woman they just escaped from.

"Damn."

Sasuke cursed and grabbed for a new kunai.

But three planted in the tree by the head of the woman.

"Sorry Sakura-chan! I forgot your password!"

She looked up in relief.

"Naruto!"

"Idiot! This fight is on a whole different level! Quit showing off!"

"You can have it!"

Sakura looked at the woman.

"Sakura-chan!"

"I'll give you our scroll if you leave us alone!"

"Nice try little one, but I'll just take it when I kill you three!"

She saw the woman pull up her sleeve, bite her thumb and smear blood on the black mark.

"Summoning jutsu!"

A large snake appeared right where the woman was standing, causing the branch Sakura was on to snap, but Sasuke quickly pulled her back on his branch.

"Now, Sasuke-kun, meet your death."

The snake moved fast, but she couldn't get Sasuke to move. He was paralyzed with fear again.

"Sasuke-kun!"

She looked back and she stared at red eyes.

"Hey, Sasuke."

Sasuke's head turned as well.

Naruto was holding the snake back with his arms, but in his hands were two kunai knives, sunk into the snake's skin.

"Are you hurt scaredy cat?"

Sasuke's head snapped back up to attention, but Sakura wasn't paying much attention.

What's wrong with Naruto?

Last time his chakra was like this, he was fighting Haku!

End!