"Kakashi-Sensei this is stupid...why does Sasuke get to train with you while Hinata and me have to go train with some old hermit ?"Naruto grumbled as he stared at Kakashi.

Hinata fiddled with her fingers as she looked between her boyfriend and her Sensei.

Sasuke just groaned before crossing his arms.

Kakashi sighed. "Naruto for the third time he's not a hermit he's a Sage and a very powerful one at that. Much like I think I can best prepare Sasuke within the next month and help him learn how to better use his Sharingan, I believe this Sage will be able to best prepare you two for the finals." he explained.

Naruto folded his arms across his chest still looking unconvinced while Hinata spoke up.

"Ano Sensei why do you think he'll be able to help us ?" Hinata asked.

"For one he knows a thing or two about Bijuu and secondly he was the one who trained the Fourth Hokage." he offered hoping that would change Naruto's demeanor.

Naruto's expression did a reversal as he jumped to his feet.

"Well what are we waiting for ? Where is this old guy?" he asked stars in his eyes.

Kakashi cleared his throat. "He was seen near the hot springs a short time ago and technically speaking he doesn't know you're coming. However he's an old friend and I'm fairly certain he'll help out." he said offering an eye smile.

Naruto face vaulted before he lifted his head up again. "Well me and Hinata-chan will convince him to train us and be ready to kick ass by the time we're done training." he said before pumping his fist into the air.

Hinata giggled before she spoke again. "Ano...why is the Sage at the Hot springs ?" she asked blinking as she noticed Kakashi seemed on the verge of giggling.

"Well he's quite eccentric...just ask around for Jiraiya the Toad Sage and you should be able to find him." he said.

"Oi Hinata I have a bad feeling about this." he exclaimed.

A short time later the duo would come across the Sage in question. Though at first glance neither of them thought much of him.

"Ano...Naruto-kun I-I think I found him." Hinata said quietly before pointing at an old man who could be seen crouched peeking through a hole in a wooden fence into the Hotsprings beyond.

Naruto's eye twitched as he folded his arms and stomped over towards the man. "Oi you old pervert are you the Toad Hermit?" Naruto yelled. Instantly the man was gone before reappearing in front of Naruto and throwing a hand over his mouth.

"Woah woah kid what are you trying to do? Blow my cover...I'm in the middle of research" he said before laughing perversely for a moment.

"Ano...it seemed like you were being a lecherous, perverted old man." Hinata said as she looked mildly irritated which rare for her.

"Me a pervert?" Jiraiya said looking offended as he released Naruto.

"I"m not a pervert...I'm a Super Pervert" he declared before offering a thumbs up, earning sweatdrops from the pair and a scream from behind them.

"Did you hear that? There's a pervert around here." a few women could be heard screaming from the hotsprings behind Jiraiya before his eye twitched as he dashed forward scooping up both Naruto and Hinata and disappeared quickly around a corner and into an adjacent alleyway before he dropped the pair down before looking at them with a rather annoyed look.

"So what's the big idea brats? you ruined my research." Jiraiya said glumly.

Naruto frowned. "So much for being this cool sage Kakashi-Sensei was talking about that could train us, this guy is just an old perv" he said.

"H-hai " Hinata said sadly.

"First off I am a Sage, the greatest in fact I am Jiraiya the Toad Sage" he said striking a strange pose, before he pointed at the duo.

"Secondly I have trained the greatest Ninja to ever live." he declared.

"Finally I might be convinced to train you two pipsqueaks, but first you have to help me with something." he said before grinning widely.

"Ano...I have a bad feeling about this" Hinata whispered.

"Oi it's going to be a long month..." Naruto groaned.

Tenten was panting as she stood across from Neji. "Neji we've been at this for hours now, maybe we should to a break or go train with Lee and Gai-Sensei." she suggested.

Neji frowned as broke from his stance. "Gai-Sensei has little he can offer in the ways of improving the Gentle-Fist and Lee is inferior to me in Hand to hand combat. I won't waste my time." he stated.

Tenten sighed. She knew under all the attitude and hate there were some redeeming qualities, however it was so hard to bring out that person at times. Especially as of late with the feud between him and his cousin and the incident that had happened within his clan which was being kept such a secret.

"Neji can I ask you a question...if you're set on everyone's fate why are you training so hard?" she asked as she placed a hand on her hip.

Neji stopped to glare at his teammate and prepared to retort but for the life of him he couldn't find the words to say.

Tenten crossed over and placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Neji we're teammates you can talk to me." she assured him.

The prodigy looked up for a moment his gaze unsure before his face grew more serious. "Tenten I have training to do, I don't have time to waste talking." he stated in an emotionless voice.

Tenten slumped her shoulders. She hoped one day someone would be able to get through to Neji.

Kankuro sat in the small apartment he was sharing with his siblings. He was currently fiddling with one of his puppets when he saw Temari making her towards the door, her large fan strapped to he back.

"Hey where you off to Sis?" he asked.

"I'm going to go do a little research on that Shikamaru guy I'm fighting, I'm not going to underestimate these leaf ninja anymore." she stated as he looked back over her shoulder at the puppet master.

"Yeah that was a lesson I learned the hard way from that pink haired brat" he grumbled.

"Be silent or I'll kill you both." Gaara stated from the corner of the room as he leaned against the far wall.

Both of the siblings cringed, Gaara had been even more bloodthirsty as of late, being denied a match in the prelims had done little to curb his sadistic tendencies.

Temari offered a silent wave before she backed out of the apartment leaving a nervous Kankuro behind.

"A-ano N-naruto-kun I don't think those were the kind of...fruits Jiraiya-Sensei was talking about" Hinata said before prodding her fingers together.

Naruto blinked as he looked over at his shy girlfriend as he balanced two giant melons in his hands as he tried his best to not drop them. "Eh what do you mean...these are the most ripe plump fruits we could find." he said clearly not making the connection.

Hinata's poor face grew redder as her head almost shrank into her jacket.

'Kit...you really are hopeless sometimes.' the Kyuubi groaned.

'Hey can it fluffy I'm sure that old pervert will be happy with these.' Naruto said nodding happily as he and Hinata finally arrived back to where Jiraiya sat with a perverted grin on his face.

As he soon as he saw the pair he frowned as he looked at Naruto.

"Kid please...tell me you're kidding..."Jiraiya said.

"Hey these were the biggest melons I could find." Naruto exclaimed as he glared at the Toad Sage.

Hinata eeped again before shaking her head.

"I wasn't talking about fruit you blockhead...I was talking about pretty girls. You were suppose to bring me a pretty girl..." he said before he sat up off of the stump he was on and dusted himself off. "Well I guess I'll be going then best of luck getting ready for those exams in time." he said.

"Oi wait " Naruto exclaimed.

Jiraiya turned lazily to look back at the blonde only to see a poof of smoke and a moment later from that smoke he saw a very nude curvy blonde perhaps in her late teens with pigtails and cerulean blue eyes looking at him.

Immediately blood shot out of the pervert's nose as he began to wiggle his fingers in the middle of the air.

"hehehe that's some technique..." He said lecherously.

"Jiraiya-Sensei won't you please train us?" the blonde begged before she blinked her eyes innocently at him.

"Hehehehe sure but you have to train like that." Jiraiya said.

"Pervy old sage" Naruto mumbled before he released the jutsu and looked back over his shoulder.

"Well we did it Hinata...training here we come!" he exclaimed as he turned to a collapsed on Hinata laying on the ground with blood trickling out of her nose.

"Eh Hinata?!" he yelled.

Jiraiya was still wiping his nose courtesy of Naruto's less then modest sexy Jutsu.

"She'll be fine kid, now come on grab your little girlfriend and let's go. I have research to do so let's get this over with." Jiraiya said as he turned and began to walk off.

Naruto groaned as he leaned down and picked up Hinata.

'I can't believe this is the guy that trained the fourth...'

Temari sighed as she lowered her fan before strapping it on her back. She had looked into Shikamaru for the last several hours and found little, as far as she could discern he was nothing more then a lazy underachiever. Nothing that would give her much pause during the finals, as far as she was concerned her next move was to analyze and prepare for anyone else she could end paired against. She turned to look at the setting sun and prepared to leave the small training ground she was on, however before she could she heard footsteps behind her. As she turned she saw Baki and Kankuro walked towards her each of them with a very serious expression on their faces.

"Temari have you seen Gaara?" Baki asked before quirking an eyebrow.

Temari shook her head. "No Kankuro weren't you with him the entire evening?" she asked before looking over at her brother.

Kankuro shrugged his shoulders before sighing. "I stepped out for just a couple of minutes and when I came back he was gone." he explained.

Baki frowned. "If Gaara loses control and does something reckless the entire plan could be in jeopardy." he said pausing for a moment.

"Come we have to find him." he added before he turned and darted out of the clearing before leaping into the adjacent trees with Kankuro and Temari right behind him.

Despite their efforts the trio would search in vain for the missing Gaara for a couple of hours, before eventually returning to their apartment.

-Miles outside of Konoha in the midst of the forest-

"Where exactly do I figure into this plan Kabuto?" Misumi asked his tone bordering on annoyed.

Kabuto smirked as he pushed his glasses up for a moment before speaking. "Lord Orochimaru has altered the plans slightly" he said softly.

"How so?" Misumi asked as he studied Kabuto intently. It never ceased to amaze him how hard it was to read Kabuto's true intent.

"We will not attack in the midst of the chunin exams, rather we will wait for the following award ceremony for the newly minted Chunins. It will take place later in the evening as the the sun is beginning to set." Kabuto offered.

"Why change everything now?" Misumi asked his impatience showing in his voice.

"Because our Master wishes it...but if you wish to know the reason, he has entertained every possibility. Should the Leaf actually manage to repel our attack our goals are to shift to obtaining his new future vessel." he explained.

"And what precisely am I to do? What is it our Master has planned for me?" Misumi asked.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses once more.

"Oh you have a very important role to play Misumi...You see Gaara, our secret weapon is growing quite agitated. He needs to be able to remain calm until at least the finals arrive, but hasn't been able to really quench that thirst...Oh not since you forfeited to him in the prelims." Kabuto said impassively.

A shiver went down Misumi's spine as he felt a lump form in his throat. "B-but you said it was Lord Orochimaru's will for me to forfeit so that Gaara would remain an enigma until the Finals." he said his nerves showing in his voice.

"Ah well you see things change Misumi...I hope you understand this is nothing personal." Kabuto said offering a fake smile before he vanished into thin air.

Misumi felt his heart began to race as he looked around all over as paranoia began to set in.

"Damn you Kabuto I won't be some sacrifice to some demon." he yelled turning as he heard movement coming from the underbrush behind him.

He reached for a Kunai and stopped seeing only a raccoon emerge from the bushes.

He relaxed for a moment as he turned back around only to find a scream catch in his throat as he found himself staring into the icy blue-green eyes of Gaara.

"Mother has waited long enough." he said his cold voice the last words Misumi would heard before his screams would fill the night air for the next few minutes before all would fall silent again.

Gaara would return later that night without a word to his team or Sensei. However his mood had seemed to improve marginally from before, which only served to concern the trio who can only fathom how Gaara had spent his evening.

Jiraiya leaned back against a rock as he watched the two genin exchange blows.

"Naruto tighten up your form it's still sloppy and Hinata you need to follow through with your strikes..." he offered as he crossed his legs.

Naruto grumbled as he shifted his feet and lowered his arms slightly.

Hinata gazed at Naruto with uncertainty.

"I can't do it...Naruto is better then me.."

Jiraiya sighed as he folded his arms behind his head.

"Look squirt...you both have potential as my students, but you have to start believing in yourself. Your uncertainties are holding you back..."

Hinata look at the ground a moment with a defeated expression.

Naruto growled as he stepped forward. "She's trying her best...so back off."

Jiraiya flipped to his feet, before he disappeared only to reappear as he rested the bottom of one of his sandals atop Naruto's head.

"No she's not...and neither are you for that matter." he paused.

"Look I didn't take you as students, because you completed some silly task...I did so because I saw a lot of myself in both of you, neither of you were born prodigies...but you both have the potential to surpass any of your peers...but you have to work hard and overcome many obstacles."

"Naruto you need to learn to rely on more then just your shadow clones...and beating your opponents into submission, you need more versatility as a Ninja ." he said as he pushed the blonde backwards, before taking a few steps closer to Hinata.

Naruto huffed but said nothing in return as he realized Jiraiya was right.

"And Hinata for you...we're going to work on building up your confidence...and beyond that in order to beat your cousin you'll need to learn more then the Gentlefist...I can show you a few tricks."

Hinata bowed her head slightly. "H-hai Jiraiya-S-sensei.."

"I'm sorry what was that?" Jiraiya asked as he cupped his ear.

"Hai Jiraiya-S-sensei..." she managed a bit louder this time though with a slight stutter.

"Must be going deaf I can't hear you..."

"Hai Jiraiya-Sensei!" she finally yelled, before flushing at her outburst.

Jiraiya chuckled. "That's more like it...now come on you two...we have a lot of work to do.."

Jiraiya's lack of enthusiasm was meant to mask his true impressions. He was already impressed, but as the days began to pass they began to exceed his expectations.

After having informed Naruto how shadow clones could be used in training, he watched as the boy used them to expedite almost every aspect of his training.

While Naruto's chakra control still required work he had made great progress, beyond that he had managed to become quite adept with a new Taijutsu style and learn a number of new Ninjutsu's.

Hinata was no less impressive. She'd manage to learn a variety of movements and techniques that weren't related to the gentle fist. But perhaps her biggest improvement was her level of confidence.

The top it all off, both of the Genin had signed and earned the right to summon the Boss Toad and were able to access more of their Demon Chakra.

The Days of training for the chunin hopefuls turned into weeks until only a handful of days remained. With these last few days each of the Genin began to make their last minute preparations all in the hopes that their efforts would pay off during the finals.

-Miles outside of Konoha deep within the forest-

"Hey listen you two, you've done all you can in a month. I'm proud to call you both my students now, I'll be rooting you both on from the stands." he said before offering two thumbs up to his new apprentices.

"Thanks Pervy Sage" Naruto exclaimed as he looked over at Jiraiya with a wild grin.

"Ano thank you Jiraiya-Sensei!" Hinata said before bowing her head in a polite manner.

"You really should follow your girlfriend's example" Jiraiya said growling before he bonked Naruto upside the head.

"Stop calling me that.." he said his eyes still twitching.

"Owww I'll stop calling you that when you stop being a lecherous old man." Naruto retorted before sticking his tongue out.

The pair began another starring match with poor Hinata being left to separate them.

Despite the strange unorthodox regiment Jiraiya had put them through, both had grown leaps and bounds in the short period of time.

"Keep in mind Sasuke...three times is your limit at the moment, beyond that you will have no more chakra and you risk hurting yourself or worse."Kakashi warned as he studied his student who was currently bent over panting.

"*Pants*...Alright I understand... I won't use it lightly." Sasuke promised as he slowly worked his way to his feet.

"Remember...that technique was originally meant for assassinations, if you must use in the Exams please be careful." Kakashi said a sense of regret touching his voice earning a quirked eyebrow from Sasuke.

"Is there something wrong Sensei?" Sasuke asked.

Kakashi shook his head. "It's nothing...come on we should go, I think this is one time we shouldn't be late" he said as he turned and began walking away from his student.

Sasuke wiped the sweat from his brow as he simply nodded before following behind the Cyclops Ninja.

As the last day arrived many of the genin made their finishing touches on their training, while others simply elected to rest and conserve their energy for the battles ahead. No matter what strategy was elected each and everyone of the Genin realized that tomorrow would be the most significant moment in their lives as Ninja thus far, and that only the best would make it and go on to become Chunin...

The long awaited day had finally arrived for each and everyone of the Genin. The roar of the crowd would surround them as each everyone of the Genin would make their way into the center of the Arena.

Naruto took a deep breath as he looked through the doorway at the arena where the contestants were already gathering before glancing over at his shy girlfriend.

The arena looked relatively simple with a wide open space to fight with a tree off to the side. It seemed that they were aiming to make the arena fair to all parties. If any water-using shinobi had entered the exams, then they would have been out of luck in the finals.

What surprised Naruto the most was the fact that he and Hinata were the last ones to show up. Everyone else, was already there, even Sasuke who had been with Kakashi all month long.

Deciding to get it over with, both of them walked into the light, revealing the most noticeable changes about them. That morning, Jiraiya had awoke both of them with a gift. That gift was a new set of clothes.

Everyone's eyes turned to gauge the final arrivals as they entered, first looking at Naruto who surprisingly wore very little orange at all that day.

He was wearing black sandals, black pants with a shuriken holster at each side and orange strips running up each leg, a black ninja mesh shirt, a long sleeve black jacket with three slender orange stripes running down each arm, and a black banded forehead protector. On his jacket he had the Uzumaki swirl on one sleeve and symbol on his opposite side that marked him as an apprentice to the Toad Sage.

Hinata's change of attire was equally shocking if not more so then Naruto's. She was now wearing a black formfitting coat which was a far cry from the bulky atrocity she had been wearing before. With the change of her jacket it clearly showed what she'd been trying to hide before, for a girl her age she was already developing very nicely, much to envy of her peers. Underneath the new jacket she wore a lavender tank top and underneath that a fishnet shirt could be seen. Like Naruto she now wore a pair of of black sandals, and black pants with a shuriken holster at each side. Unlike the blonde however there were no stripes on her pants. On her neck rested a lavender banded forehead protector. Like the blonde she had the logo for her clan on one shoulder and the symbol marking her as a Toad Sage apprentice on the opposite side.

"You two look different..." Sasuke said with a smile as he looked at the pair wondering what else had changed in the last month beyond their clothes.

"Where'd you get the new clothes?" He asked after a moment as he folded his arms across his chest.

"Our new sensei gave them to us...and it looks we're not the only ones with a new set of clothes" Naruto said with a grin as he looked at the Uchiha who now wore an entirely black outfit as well.

"Hai Jiraiya-Sensei gave us these new clothes before we set off this morning."Hinata said her even voice reflected a level of confidence Sasuke had not yet seen in her.

"Hnnn I'm looking forward to seeing what the two of you learned."Sasuke said as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"Quiet you three." the special jonin that stood before them said. Unlike the proctor of the preliminaries, the one before them had his bandana style forehead protector backwards and had a senbon in his mouth. "Stand up straight and present yourself proudly to the spectators. Their here to see you all"

Looking up and around, Naruto saw the stands where all the spectators were. They were quite a bit higher than the contestants, likely to prevent stray jutsu or ninja tools from harming them.

"Welcome all and I offer our deepest thanks for coming to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for the Chunin Selection Exams. We have come to the final competition between the eleven hopefuls that made it through the preliminaries. We ask that you offer your support to these talented men and women and that no one leaves until all of the matches have been completed. Now that being said, everyone enjoy." the Third Hokage said before he took seat next to the Kazekage.

After a pregnant pause Genma spoke as he looked between the genin.

"The setting is different, but the rules are the same as in the preliminaries. The match ends when one of you admits defeat or dies. That being said, I can stop any match that I believe has a clean and determined winner. No arguments are permitted. Understood?" Genma, asked. When everyone nodded, he spoke once more.

"These are the two opponents for the first match: Naruto Uzumaki and Dosu Kinata. Those two stay. The rest of you can go to the waiting area." he stated and with that the finals had finally begun...