A/N: Thank you everyone who have reviewed.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Before the Beginning Chapter five

Hinata readied her bow as she watched her teammates battle with the two lower level Academy teacher. She wasn't as worried about Sakura battle as she was the boys. Sakura was by herself, and while Hinata did fire a few arrows stopping the teacher from landing a hit on the pink haired girl she was fine. Sasuke and Naruto on the other hands constantly butted heads and were missing one of the main skills that made a well oil team.

Teamwork.

They all were missing that skills as neither of them ever actually worked together before. That's why she stayed back. Naruto and Sasuke got in each other way as they both tried attacking the teacher, Hinata job was to make sure the enemy couldn't take advantage of their lack of team work.

SWOOSH

Another arrow left her bow flying through the air. The boy's opponent stopped his attack on them to dodge. Naruto quickly took advantage of the break in attack to make one of his own. He rushed the man, fist cocked and ready. The teacher barely dodged getting hit slightly on the chin. Sasuke came up behind him sweeping him off his legs. The man fell to the ground. Naruto came up from above with a kick. He met dirt. The man rolled out of the way before jumping to his feet.

SWOOSH

Hinata's arrow hit the leg of Sakura's opponent stopping his kick from landing on her. Sakura flashed her a smile that quickly turned feral as she faced her opponent. "I'm going to have so much fun with your blood," she whispered to him throwing him off his game.

Hinata focused back on the boys. The more they fought, she noted, the more in tune they got. Instead of attacking at the same time, Sasuke held back. He waited until Naruto made his attack, causing the teacher to dodge, before making his. The black hair boy took advantage small time frame it took the teacher to steady himself after dodging.

"Good work everyone," she said in her mind. It saddens her that she couldn't praise them with her actual voice. She hasn't said a word since she was kidnapped. Shaking her head, she got rid of her depressing thought. It wasn't the time for a pity party. She had to stay focus so she could help her team.

SWOOSH

Her arrow flew through the sky landing before Naruto. It was a warning shot. Naruto grabbed Sasuke out of the way as the ground before them exploded from an Earth styled Jutsu. Even though she couldn't speak she could still communicate with her team.

"Looks like we got to up are attack," Naruto spoke to the Uchiha, "What kind of Ninjutsu do you know?"

"Tch besides the academy one...just a few Fire style jutsu," the black haired boy answered back.

"Damn," Naruto thought angrily. It was an oversight on his part. He allowed them to spend so much time playing around that they never spoke of their skills. Now they were in the heat of battle not knowing their teammates strengths and weaknesses.

His mind was racing as he thought up attacks. From his observation throughout the academy, the blond only knew of two fire style jutsu Sasuke could use. The Fireball jutsu and the Great Fireball jutsu. Most of his plans centered around Sasuke Fireball jutsu. If he could get the teacher before them to stand still long enough for Sasuke to land a direct hit they might be able to take him out.

The blond turned to Sakura. She was fighting well against her opponent. Sticking to punches and kicks. So far her opponent hasn't made a jutsu yet. Hopefully he wouldn't.

"Hinata, Big E," Naruto shouted.

Hinata reached back into her quiver summoning an arrow with a red tip. Words too small to see with normal eyes written on it spelling, 'Explosive'. She readied it in her bow before letting it fly in Naruto's direction.

The teacher's eyes widen as he recognized the arrow coming towards him. "Oh Shi," he jumped out of the way as it exploded.

"Sasuke," Naruto called his attention, "When the time is right I want you to do a Great Fireball jutsu on him."

Sasuke nodded his head.

"Hinata," Naruto called out, "Plan little c."

Hinata nodded. At the moment, Plan Big E stood for explosive. Whenever Naruto called for that she would bring out the arrow with the red tip. For plan little c on the other hand...Hinata reached back into her quiver summoning a regular looking arrow. However, just like the red arrow this one had words written on it as well. Hinata focused slowly on the teacher as she readied her bow. She held it up waiting for the most opportune moment. Naruto was already in action building up his chakra for the jutsu he was about to make. Sasuke was doing the same.

They were waiting on her.

Spotting the moment, she let the arrow go. It flew towards the teacher. He dodged. Hinata smirked. Calling on her chakra in the arrow it exploded around him in chains.

Plan little c stood for, "Chains."

The chains wrapped around the enemy. As he was focus on trying to escape, Naruto came up calling out his jutsu. "Shadow Clone Jutsu." Four other Naruto appeared raining down on the teacher. They kept him in place so he couldn't move. "Now," Sasuke thought as he flashed through his hand seals. "Great Fireball Jutsu," he called out expelling the big ball of fire from his mouth.

It was a direct hit.

The teacher went down. No longer was he moving.

Seconds later, Sakura brought her opponent over throwing his bloody and bruised body down next to prone figure. Naruto walked up next to them. He checked their pulse. They were still alive. Relief flooded through his system. They got done with their first battle as a team with little injuries. The blond rummaged through the two bodies.

"What are you doing Naruto," Sakura called out.

Naruto stopped what he was doing. "Well they're down for the count," he said as he went back to what he was doing, "They won't be needing these anymore."

He lifted up their weapon pouch.

"So you're just going to steal from them," the pinky asked, shocked.

"Of course!" Naruto shouted, "Why should I allow them to keep something that could hinder us. They might even have something we could use."

"Remember Sakura this is a survival exam. If we use all of our resources without any ways to replenish them then we won't survive long," Sasuke explained to the girl.

"I know," the girl spoke dejectedly.

She, who grow up in a good life, never having to scavenge for things, could not phantom stealing. It was something she would have to work on.

"Tie those two up away from the base," Naruto ordered her and Sasuke, "Hinata and I will put together our resources and set up traps around the base. Signal us when your done so you don't set off a trap."

"How will we signal you guys," Sakura asked.

"Do you know what a Chakra flare is?" asked the blond.

Sasuke and Sakura shook their heads. Sighing Naruto spoke, "Never mind then. Just...stop and restart your chakra as if you were in a Genjutsu three times, Hinata will come and get you."

The black and pink duo nodded their heads. Sasuke picked up both teachers and they were off. Sakura was his look out. Naruto and Hinata turned and walked back to their base. The fire was still going and so was the Jutsu narrowed used to keep the smoke from showing.

"How are you feeling Hinata," Naruto asked.

*I am well Naruto-kun...it's not like I was really fighting. *

"Did you want to fight?" he asked.

*Yes I do...However I doubt I will be able to during this exam. *

Naruto called out ten Shadow Clones. Each was programed to set up a trap around the base. "Why do you say that?" He questioned while dumping the contents of the pouches he got from the teachers.

*We do not work well together. All of us are close range fighter and from observing yours and Sasuke's fight we will get in each other way as of now. While I am sure that Sasuke and you can do mid-range fighting and maybe a couple of long range attacks I am unsure of Sakura. She is different from what the rumors of The Academy say, * Hinata stopped signing, pausing to think, *I think...I think it is best for me to stay as the long range fighter for support. That way I can stop the enemy from taking advantage of our shortcoming. *

Naruto hummed as he sorted through the teacher's pouches. They had the standard Kunais, Shurikans, Senbons, and a two Solder pills.

"I was thinking of that as well," he admitted, "That and there are a lot of plans that we have come up with that involves you in the long range fighter pose. I believe we will need those plans throughout this exam."

DIIING...DIIING...DIIING...DIIING...

The bell signifying the first hour of the exam has passed. Naruto and Hinata looked up at the artificial sky. They had seven hours left until the end of the exam. The blond knew in his heart that his team would make it. Not just because they were the best of the best. Sasuke who has been rookie of the year all four years of The Academy. Sakura who had the top spot for the theory part of The Academy for all four years. Hinata, who skills stayed average all around, but was actually a force to be reckoned with. And finally himself, the dead last on purpose so he could hide his actual power.

His team was pretty strong. But that wasn't the only reason why he picked them. Three of the members knew hardship. Sasuke with his clan death. Hinata with her exile. And Naruto, growing up hated by majority of the village for something he couldn't control. In his earlier plans, it was only Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto. Their less than ideal life changed them. It made them think differently than others.

Like with the stealing. Sakura couldn't understand why Naruto was taking from the enemy. They were already down, was most likely her thought process. But Hinata knew and didn't question it. Sasuke knew and picked up on it quickly.

There would be more instances like that as they continue on as a team. However, a close confidant of Naruto's helped him see differently. While Sakura had no known hardship, living a better life than theirs, her thoughts on things were different. Having different viewpoint while out in a field can be dangerous, who wants people questioning their order, but at the same time it could be needed. She might be able to find different ways, maybe even better ways, of doing things because she wasn't clouded by the experiences they had.

Not to mention she had a brain filled with lots of knowledge.

"Now if only I could find out what's so strange about her," Naruto thought.

The blood thirst that was coming from her in the battle was different from how she usually fight. Maybe it was because this was a serious exam and not a mock battle. Whatever it was, Naruto vowed he'd get to the bottom of it.

Hinata stood quickly.

"Are they back?"

She nodded at his question before taking off. She avoided each trap that was set by the Shadow Clones. She reached the edge and motioned for Sasuke and Sakura to join her. They followed her back, taking the same way she came.

"Okay guys here's the layout of the base and where the traps are," Naruto spoke as he showed them, "I want you two," he pointed in Sakura and Sasuke direction, "to study this map, destroy it when you're done. You both will also be resting. We will be on rotating shifts starting with Hinata and I."

"Counting both mines and the ones we just got we have ten Soldier pills, however, taking them back to back is dangerous. Which is why we're rotating shifts. While one team is out the other will be resting, gaining back their strength and chakra."

The resting duo stared at Naruto in amazement. Naruto grinned. "I know I know I think of everything that's what happen when you're a fucking genius."

The amazement in their eyes quickly turned to annoyance. Sakura rolled her eyes before sitting down by the map. Sasuke followed her shortly after. Hinata pulled twice on the sleeve of Naruto jumpsuit. He turned to her. She was pointing to the left of them.

Someone was getting dangerously close to one of their traps.

"Well guys," Naruto spoke cheerfully, "It looks like it's time for us to take off."

Sakura nodded her head, never taking her eyes off the map.

Hinata took off into the trees. Naruto followed her. They slowly crept up upon the person that was getting close to their traps. It was a student by herself. She had cuts and bruises on her. Obviously she had already battled with people. Besides the standard pouch on her side was a backpack.

Naruto grinned. Hopefully she hasn't used everything in the pack up. He put a foot forward, ready to attack the girl but was stopped by a hand.

*Genjutsu* Hinata signed.

Naruto let out a quiet sigh before thanking Hinata with a smile.

*Is there really only one person? * the blond signed back.

Hinata shook her head. *She is the same bruised. However, there are three people with her, two hiding in the trees and one under Genjutsu beside her. *

It was a trap of their own. She was the easy target, the prize. Anyone without a brain would try and attack her to gain her backpack not knowing she had teammates waiting to attack back. Naruto appreciated the genius of it. He filed that plan away for a future what if scenario.

*What do you want to do? * Naruto asked.

It was Hinata plan. He was no good with Genjutsu and they both knew it. Hinata bit her cheek as she thought. Raising her hands, she signed *Bring out four Shadow Clones. Use as less Chakra as possible. I will give you the direction of the two waiting in the trees. The Shadow Clone will go after them first. Stealthy. After both have been capture we will make our attack on them. I will get the person under Genjutsu, closing their Chakra Points so they can't cast anything. You will distract the girl. *

Naruto nodded. It sounded like a good plan. He reached into his pouched and summoned a scroll. It was a big orange scroll with lots of words written on it. Placing a tiny bit of Chakra in it, four shadow clones came out.

The bruised girl looked up and around. She could sense Chakra being used but couldn't pinpoint where. It was too little. She was on edge as she continued to stay out in the open. Her partner was whispering in her ear. She shook her head with short motion. No one made any moves towards her and with all the Chakra around the area she dismissed the little burst she felt.

*Sensory type? * Naruto asked

Hinata nodded her head

"That's why she wanted as little Chakra as possible. Good thing I had that scroll with me," Naruto thought.

That scroll was one of his invention. It was based off scrolls used to capture people with bounties. With a few tweaks in the seal on the scroll Naruto was able to seal Shadow Clones in them. While they could be used in battle that was not the place for them. They were mostly used for sensory type nin and missions that would take him away from his teammates. That way they could summon his clones for help or to dispel one so he could come to them.

And if any were captured, well he would know.

Naruto gave instructions to his clones. Hinata gave them the direction of both nin in the trees. They took off quietly. Wearing the orange jumpsuit all his life Naruto had to learn quickly how to hide in plain sight. And learn he did. Now, even in the brightest of clothes, the blond knew how to disappear in a crowd of people. His clones had that skill as well. In a forest with a lots of places to hide, it was child's play for them to sneak up on the two nin in the trees. They took them out quickly, still alive but were unable to move or speak. Now the clones were awaiting further instructions.

*They have completed their objective* Naruto signed but it was unneeded. Hinata had already seen what happened.

She nodded her head nonetheless at the information. Now she was thinking about the best way to take out the Genjutsu user so Naruto didn't get caught by it. She could use an explosive arrow but she was running low on those. Plus, using it like this might kill her opponents and destroy their material.

Hinata would be more upset at the loss of material than their deaths.

So she vetoed that idea. Another plan popped into her head. Hinata grinned. That would work. Getting out her bow she summoned a different kind of arrow. The tip on this arrow was blue, the same color as Chakra. Just like her other arrows it had words written on it.

Naruto grinned when he saw it.

*Be ready* Hinata signed to him. She put the arrow in place. She could feel the Chakra attached itself to her bow.

Hinata shot her arrow off. It flew towards the person under Genjutsu. The person jumped back. The Chakra on the arrow pulled the Chakra on the bow. Hinata propelled forward. She was by the Genjutsu user in a flash, shocking them. Hinata hands were quick in action. Blurry with pure Chakra covering them she tapped specific parts of the Genjutsu user's body.

The bruised teammate got over her shock at seeing someone appear seemingly out of nowhere. She thought about where their other teammates where until the realization that they were already caught took over. Pulling a Kunai out of her pouch she got in a stance ready to attack Hinata. Before she could move, four Shadow clones appeared. They rushed her, putting her on the defensive.

The Genjutsu user's Genjutsu was wavering. It fell completely. A girl, long black hair, and bright green eyes stared stunned at the face before here. Eyes closed and mouth set in a line was all she could see. It scared her. She knew exactly who was attacking her, shutting down her Chakra points.

Hinata Ex-Hyuuga.

The girl fell to the ground unable to move. Hinata nodded at her handiwork before taking the girl's pouch. Hinata turned to Naruto's battle just in time to see the real Naruto land a knockout blow on the girl. He quickly stripped her of her backpack and pouch Naruto order his clones to bring the other two nin down. He then took their pouches and tied them all together on a tree.

"You can't just leave us here!" The green eyed girl shouted as they walked away.

"Don't worry," Naruto spoke with a grin, "The proctors of this exams sees all. They will come for you shortly."

Naruto and Hinata disappeared in the trees. The girl was left spewing in anger. She had her team only made it passed one hour in the exam. There was no way she was becoming a full-fledged ninja now.

"Anyone else coming?" Naruto asked.

*No.*

"Alright then let's do a sweep around twice then we will go back to the base and have Sasuke and Sakura take over."

And that's what they did. Within those two sweep they only met one other person who was kneeling over from exhaustion. They made back to the base unscathed. Naruto created a few Shadow Clones to run to a sweep.

"I got some goodies," he shouted cheerfully. He dropped the backpack and five pouches.

Sasuke and Sakura surrounded the items on the ground waiting for Naruto to dumped them. Naruto reached for the backpack first as he was more curious as to what was in those. He released the contains of the backpack onto the ground.

Healing salves, Kunais, Shurikens, Chains, Rope, Senbons, Tags, and Smoke Bombs fell out of the backpack. Naruto gave it one last shake. An elemental lollipop fell out. Eyes widen as face grew closer to the ground.

"Sasuke," Naruto spoke seriously, "You lucky bastard."

The wrapper covering the lollipop was red. It was one that helped replenish Fire Chakra. Naruto cried tears, face still serious. "I'm giving this to you...enjoy it for the rest of us."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted with a smirk on his face, "Don't worry I will."

Sasuke picked up the Elemental Lollipop and placed it in his pouch. He was saving it for when he really needed it.

"Since there are five healing salve we each will get one and the last one will stay here, if something were to happen to us it will be between you three on who can use it," Naruto said.

The others nodded their head. Naruto continued, "With the Soldier pills, we still only have ten. So you guys will get three each, the last one being mines since I do not really need any.

There was no explanation needed. Everyone knew Naruto had the most Chakra. "I do not want you guys waiting till the last second to come and replenish your stack of Kunais, Shurikens etcetera okay," he spoke not waiting for a response, "The moment you thing you're getting low go and get some more from the stash. An unprepared shinobi is a worthless shinobi."

Again they nodded their head.

Naruto grinned, "Okay. Gather your things, Sasuke Sakura it's time for y'all shifts."

Sakura and Sasuke reached for their items. They both picked up one healing salve and three soldier pills. After making sure they had everything they set off. Naruto turned to his female companion.

"Hinata check your arrow stash," Naruto ordered her, "I won't be able to create any more here," "Too many eyes," he thought to himself, "I need to know how many of each you have so I can plan our attack correctly."

Hinata did as she was told. She took her quiver off her back. Turning it upside down, she applied Chakra to the seal that was at the bottom. Every arrow inside the seal fell out of her quiver. Four Explosive type arrow were left, five Chakra chain arrows, three Chakra colored arrows, six dark blue arrows, five white colored arrows. And two hundred regular arrows.

The blond let out a whistle, "Not bad," he said as he helped Hinata round up her arrows, "Not bad at all."

It was quiet.

"Gah!" Naruto exclaimed, "It's so boring sitting around doing nothing."

*But we're not doing nothing, we're rest to gather our strength so we can fight at our best, * Hinata signed.

"Who was the dummy that came up with that idea!"

*You came up with it Naruto-kun…* Hinata hands stood suspended in the air. She didn't know if she wanted to say something else or just leave it at that.

"And I'm sure the genius was right when he came up with it and seeing as that genius was me then…" Naruto laughed sheepishly scratching the back of his head.

DING DING DING DING

The had just reached the second hour mark and was now entering their third. Naruto and Hinata grinned at each other. "Go rest Hinata, I'll have some Shadow Clone trailing after Sasuke and Sakura."

*You sure? *

Naruto nodded her head. Hinata smiled. She raised her hand canceling her jutsu that was active. She laid down on a bed roll that was next to Naruto.

Sasuke and Sakura traveled around the outskirt of the camp. They made sure to stay away from any of the traps that Naruto set. Back during The Academy, Naruto excelled in the trap making class. The duo was a little scared to see what traps he had set for anyone who tried to attack them.

They came to a stop. Before them were a team of two wondering dangerously close to a trap. Looking around, they spotted a third teammate that got caught in the trap. Sakura looked at Sasuke. Sasuke looked at Sakura. They nodded.

Chakra made its way to Sakura feet at an insane speed. She grinned manically as the Chakra exploded propelling towards the enemy team. She landed next to one of the teammates, fist already set. Her punch landed. The poor soul was sent flying back into a tree. He was knocked unconscious. Sakura ducked from a punch by his teammate. She stepped out of the way as a giant fireball was heading towards them. The other teammate was taken down.

"Giant Fireball Jutsu complete," Sasuke said as he made his presence known.

"You bastards," the teammate caught by the trap shouted as he bounced back and forth in the rope.

Sakura walked up to him, cracking her knuckles. Her smile still on her face. She spared the boy one last look before chopping him on the neck. He fell unconscious. Sasuke whistled. "Don't forget to get their pouches," he told her.

Sakura shoulders hunched up. She was still uncomfortable with taking their supplies. "But Sasuke is right, if we have no way to replenish our stash then we're as good as dead," she thought as she took the pouch from the unconscious body before her.

Sasuke already gathered the materials from the other two teammates. Sakura took the boy down from the trap. She stared at it and the surrounding area, working out how Naruto's trap worked. It clicked in her mind. As Sasuke was gathering the three team members together Sakura was putting Naruto's trap back into place.

"How did you know how the trap was set?" Sasuke asked as he finished.

"It was a simple reverse engineering," Sakura said, she pointed to the dirt, "That was the last footprint the idiot caught in the trap made. So the trap had to be set from around there," Sakura explained, "As I was looking I noticed a pressure sensor pad."

"And? What does that have to do with rope?"

"Naruto trap had more than one part, there was rope underground situated around the pressure pad. That pad was connected to another device that gathered the rope around the pad. So once someone step on the pad they have about one point three seconds before device sucks in the rope lifting them off the ground."

"What's stopping the deceive from gathering all of the rope?"

Sakura pointed to the branch in the tree towards there right, "That rope is tied to a knot right here. As the rope is going back into the device the knot would get stuck on the branch stopping the rest from coming back. It's only takes enough to bring someone some good feet off the ground."

"That's smart."

"That's not even the best part," Sakura said with a gin, "It seems that there is more than just one pressure pad tied to a rope device. If we didn't interrupt the teammates, then they two would have eventually landed on a pressure pad and ended up just like the other one. I'm not sure but I want to guess that the whole field right here is littered with pressure pads and rope."

They left the area, going back to their sweep. Sasuke couldn't help but stare at the pink haired girl next to him. She was so different that how she was at The Academy. It was almost surreal. Sakura noticed the look she was getting from her onyx haired teammate. It was kind of off putting.

"If you have something to say Sasuke…then by all means say it," Sakura spoke trying and failing to keep the anger out her voice.

"Who are you and what happened to the real Sakura?"

They stopped moving. A tick mark appeared on Sakura's head. "I am the real Sakura!" She shouted angrily.

"Then who you were in The Academy was a fake?"

Sakura stared at Sasuke. The anger in her body disappeared. She sighed. "Look…I'll tell you and the others about it after we passed this exam and not a moment before."

Sasuke opened his mouth.

"Please," she begged, "Just wait until the exam is over with. "

"How do I know you'll tell us after the exam?"

Sakura looked at him as if he had two heads. "I mean I'd have to tell my teammates my skills would I not?"

"How are so sure we'd be teammates?"

Sakura gave him a look. "Oh Kami-sama…you really don't know how teams are put together" Sakura shook her head, a smirk playing on her lips, "Look I'd tell you but I want what we agreed upon in the contracts so no…you'll just got to wait."

She took off ahead of Sasuke. Sasuke sighed and followed after her.

"Principal!" An academy teacher shouted as she ran up to him, "It seems most students have gathered into teams and set up camps."

The principal nodded his head, "As they should," he said seriously, "Send the other teacher into the forest, point them in the directions of the camps. After the fifth hour mark we will up the scale on them."

"Roger!" The teacher shouted. She ran back to tell the others what to do.

The principal was once again alone. He grinned gleefully as he pulled a manga out from underneath his desk. Giggling to himself, he went back to reading.

So far they have made it two hours in the exams. Currently everyone is getting into teams and setting up a camp. More teachers are entering the forest to mess up the camp system. How will Naruto's team survive being hit by more Academy teachers. And what did the principal mean by up the scale on them after the start of the fifth hour?

Sakura has secrets whatever could they be?

Sasuke still doesn't know how the teams are made? What are your speculations on how teams are made?

Just what Jutsu did Hinata have on that Naruto had to tell her to deactivate so she could rest?"