Chapter 19: Mixed feeling and the prelims

Begin of A/N

I guess most of you didn't like the last chapter. Sorry it came out so badly, I'll try to make this one a lot better. Another 5,000 word chapter WOOT! I implore you all to read the A/N.

I got a question about the fan. All answers will come in time.

And to warn you ahead of time I'm not sure if they do have cameras everywhere in the forest but for the sake of the story let's say they do.

"blah" talking

blah thinking

BLAH emphasis or yelling

Well on last thing to me this chapter seemed a little congested I had a lot to write about and though I felt I captured the action right I felt that I did not capture the characters perfectly specifically Naruto, Sasuke, and Heiri. If anyone would be willing to share their take on the chapter it would be most welcome.

Review please if you liked it. If you don't like it fair enough.

Also thank you very much to those who reviewed last chapter. A few of you gave me truly encouraging reviews and commented on the style of writing THANK YOU SO MUCH you know who you are . I'll say again I am writing just as much because I wish to get better as because I love Naruto so input on the writing is to me just as important as input on the Naruto aspects. Thanks to all. End of A/N

Naruto turned slowly in his linen sheets before rubbing his eyes. "He's waking up!" A voice said in the room around him.

Naruto tentatively opened his eyes. Would he see Orochimaru standing in front of him ready to kill? His eye lids pulled back further revealing friendly faces. Ino stood over him along with his father, Anko, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi. He saw from her face that she had been crying. "I'm so glad you're okay," Ino said hugging him.

She pulled away from Naruto after a few more seconds to see Anko casting him a curious look. He blushed and looked away. However, the awkward moment was interrupted by Jiraiya laying his hand on his shoulder, "You did admirably Naruto."

Naruto eye's shone for a second filling with happiness and then he remembered. His head dropped and he felt his eyes water. "I couldn't stop him and I let him… I let him…" He stopped they knew what he was trying to say. They all knew how he felt. Losing comrades to missions was something every ninja experienced at least once in his or her life.

"Naruto," Minato's voice was calm and the tone instantly implied what he was about to say. "Orochimaru is extremely powerful you couldn't have stopped him. You protected the rest of the group and that is more than anyone could have asked from a short, little, twelve year old."

Usually being called short and little would have angered Naruto, but right now it felt could like cool water rushing over his hot and sweaty body. He nodded slowly in understanding. The guilt he felt still hung around his neck like a noose slowly choking him when ever he tried to think of something to blame.

"Who saved me when I lost control of myself?" Naruto asked after a short silence.

Kakashi was sitting deeply troubled. "That would be me Naruto but it was the least I could do after you protected my students." He doesn't know what happened... interesting.

Naruto smiled he was thankful for Kakashi. It made him wonder if he should look at the jounin in a different light.

Jiraiya sat down in an empty chair across the room. "Naruto the reason the only ones who came to rescue you were Anko and Kakashi is that they were the only ones strong enough to fight Orochimaru and have a chance of surviving." He paused knowing what he said next would make Naruto extremely angry. "Ino, I must ask you to leave now."

The girl walked out of the room quickly she herself was about to cry again.

"Naruto we have cameras everywhere in the forest surveying the fights and to decide who will be placed where for the next exam. The chuunins here saw you were fighting Orochimaru and they all left to get people strong enough to fight Orochimaru. There was code set up years ago in the Leaf to report Orochimaru on sight and retreat the same one just like there is on Minato in the Rock."

Naruto wanted to get angry, but he was just thankful that no one else had to die.

"Now we have come to a general consensus that all groups participating in the battle will be allowed into the next part of the exam. Unfortunately for you since so many groups made it there will be a preliminary round which you must be ready for in three hours."

Naruto jumped up immediately only to be shoved back down just as fast. "Naruto," Minato said slowly, "I have something extremely important and completely classified to tell you."

Naruto waited calmly while his father began his story, "Three weeks ago I stopped receiving letters from the Kazekage. Before then we were keeping in contact sending letters every other day for preparation to the next kage child meeting in Tea country. It rattled me that he would not even explain why."

Naruto was sitting on the edge of the bed now extremely curious.

"Then a few days ago Gaara came to me and informed me that Sand country was collaborating with Sound to invade our village during the last stage of the chuunin exam."

Naruto shook his head in disbelief. "Gaara's dad wouldn't do that he's our friend."

Minato nodded his face contorted in frustration. "It dawned on me that the Kazekage would not stop sending letters if he really planned the invasion because that would arouse suspicion I've come to one possible conclusion. My theory is that the Kazekage was either kidnapped or killed and an imposter has taken his place and is manipulating the council into this war for some petty grandeur."

Naruto pushed himself out of bed. He was in a bit of pain but it was pain he was used to. Tsunade was looking at him closely now. "Are you feeling any pain Naruto?"

"Not as much as I expected. Um… Where are my clothes?" He was dressed in a hospital gown and he was ready to eat something he couldn't do presently.

"I'll have Shizune bring them down for you. In the mean time I recommend stretching so I can see if you have any muscle tears or anything else I need to fix."

Naruto did as he was told and after a few more minutes of getting healed he was in his clothes and heading for some ramen. He left in a hurry he did not want to worry his father with the concern he was feeling for the village and Gaara. He let the thoughts ease away with the steam coming from the bowl placed before him.

He was between bites when arms wrapped around his waist. He turned his head to look at the pink haired girl, noodles still hanging out of his mouth. Sakura laughed through tears and wiped her eyes with her arm. Naruto in response quickly slurped up the noodles and waited for the girl to say something.

She opened her mouth and left it open for a few seconds trying to figure out what to say, "I never treated Negara the way I should have. I always told him I disliked him and I… I never gave him a chance and the moment I realized I really liked him a lot was the moment he told us he would die and I never got to tell him that I was sorry." Naruto listened to the jumbled words patiently.

"He and Sasuke th-they were alright together they respected each others skills but… Anyway I'm sorry I just came to thank you for protecting us and doing your best to protect Negara." She began to walk down the road before turning around and walking halfway back. "He had a small funeral yesterday only his mom, other family, and his teammates went. I'm going now to leave some flowers by the memorial. Would you mind coming with me?"

Naruto for the first and most likely last time in his life left a ramen bowl half full. He jumped up and jogged over to Sakura. He realized as soon as she reached her that the reason she was dressed in all black was for Negara not because it was useful as a ninja. She reached for her hand and he let her take it.

She was a wreck and Naruto could see she was deeply disturbed by the incident from the previous day. They walked in silence to the memorial and as Sakura put the flowers down she turned to Naruto contemplating what to say. "It's not like it was before when we were younger…" Her voice trailed off as her mind wandered through the precious memories. Memories of children who had endless hours to have fun and laugh and whose biggest concern was who would be it for tag.

Naruto smiled. "We're not kids anymore. The only ones who still might think we are, are our parents and our selves. Ninjas are not people but warriors and killers to most people."

Sakura could see it in his eyes just as she had seen it in Negara's eyes. Naruto's wanted this for a while. To be viewed as someone not to be taken lightly someone who was a worthy opponent and someone who was fighting for someone, for something. It was the same in Negara except he couldn't have been as cold as Naruto when fighting or as experienced.

Sakura felt tears reforming she had dismissed Negara when he was more worthy of her attention than most other people.

Naruto seeing her state of mind intervened and pulled her towards him enveloping her in a signature Naruto hug that was clumsy, and overwhelming yet more than she could have ever wished for.

"No one blames you Sakura and Negara doesn't either." He said the words knowing them to be true and yet he felt like he wasn't speaking honestly. Maybe it's because I can't accept them yet. "Negara would want you to be happy and live for your nindo just as he did."

Finally he let go, grinning at her he ran off, she was not the only person he had to see. And within two second Sakura could no longer see him racing away. "But I don't know what my nindo is yet." She said in despair. Naruto had a nindo before he was even a ninja he wanted to protect what was important to him and he would do anything it took to do it. Becoming a ninja just helped him with that goal. Negara, Sasuke, Kakashi they all have something they're willing to fight for. What am I fighting for? How can I be a ninja if my only reason is to prove something to my self?

Naruto met Sasuke in the training ground close to the Uchiha mansion. The area though smaller than other areas was perfect to accommodate two people. The area created an almost arena like plain surrounded by a wall of thick vegetation.

Naruto had known he would find Sasuke here training by himself. If there was one difference between the two boys in their passion for training it was where they liked to do it. Naruto enjoyed a sunny open area where he would occasionally see others including friends, Sasuke on the other hand tended to train in the dark away from the world able to lose himself in his training.

Sasuke acknowledged Naruto's presence nodding to the blue eyed ninja. Sasuke sometimes felt angry that Naruto was so much stronger than himself as if it was Naruto going after Itachi and he would have to wait behind. Still he was glad his brother was strong, strong enough to help him get better and strong enough that he would not have to worry about him.

Naruto began to spar with Sasuke without words being exchanged between the two friends they had become closer over the past few years. Their relationship had changed in a way in which only they would realize the growth.

They could tell what the other was thinking now, they could tell by each others movements what the other was feeling like. The growth Naruto had guessed had come when he started going away to tea country for months each year.

Sasuke had become more distant to everyone besides Naruto since Itachi had gone. He did not want to lose anyone like that and Naruto was one person he felt would never betray him.

Naruto bent his head back to avoid a slash to the face from a kunai. He remembered the first day he had convinced Sasuke of a way to even out their fights. The rules had been set and never changed; No ninjutsu or genjutsu, and only Sasuke could use weapons.

Naruto still one the majority of the fights, but the fights took longer as he had to be more careful of the sharp tools Sasuke had become extremely skilled at using.

He ducked under the second slash and hit Sasuke in the stomach, holding back his punch only so much that Sasuke wouldn't notice. Sasuke stumbled back but gained composure quickly he had learned to take hits something he did not need to do before he befriended the blond haired boy.

Naruto let Sasuke charge him again but this time an alarm went off in the back of his mind and it was all he could do to hold back the kick which he landed to Sasuke's side.

The black haired ninja saw the slightest of changes in Naruto's expression which would have gone unnoticed by anyone except Minato and realized what it meant.

"Naruto I did like him and I do feel bad that I wasn't so nice to him but I can't do anything for him now."

Naruto shifted uneasily not sure how to continue without causing Sasuke to fall back on a wall of silence. "I walked Sakura to the memorial today. She's been crying the whole time. Do you feel sorry that he died? Not bad. Do you feel guilty?"

The question surprised even Naruto, he wasn't sure how he felt, but, the questioned that lingered over Sasuke's head seemed to summarize part of what he wanted to know.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to visit you in the hospital but I was training. You can understand that right?" The question was asking for understanding, pity, even sympathy.

"I understand perfectly Heiri and Gaara both are doing the same thing. They never want to be so helpless against someone again. But answer the question. Do you feel guilty?"

Sasuke nodded slowly. "Then why are you so hesitant to answer the question?" Naruto asked almost angrily knowing what was to come.

"I feel as though it was a sign of what was to come. I don't think I can classify what I feel as guilty it's something else."

Naruto looked intently at Sasuke's eyes searching for something that would answer what he felt. After a few moments of silence Naruto spoke again, "Does it hurt?"

Sasuke wondered what he was talking about for a moment before realizing he was rubbing the mark that Orochimaru had given him. "Not much Kakashi saw to it."

"I feel so confused." The blue eyed boy admitted after thinking about what he had said. "Not understanding Orochimaru, the reasons everyone had, even the event seems hazy when I think about it."

Sasuke understood exactly what Naruto felt. He walked over and put his arm over his friends shoulder he smiled a self satisfied smile realizing he was still a few inches taller. "Let's just deal with one step at a time. We're loosened up now let's go become chuunins."

Naruto sighed away the frustration and tried to clear his mind. Sasuke is right, one thing at a time. Still he's become more distant to everyone besides me. Itachi's leaving has changed Sasuke and for all the focus and determination he's gained the change hasn't been for the better.

It did not take long for them to meet in the exam building since it was not far from the training ground.

Naruto and Sasuke stood next to Gaara and Heiri aside from a sound ninja they were the only ones there. After only a few minutes of waiting the room though silent was filled.

"Hello, chuunin hopefuls, congratulations on getting this far. However, since so many of you made it to what would have been the final stage we've created a preliminary round to cut the group in half." The jounin coughed forcefully before continuing with the informative speech.

"Before we begin with the preliminary round we ask that anyone who does not wish to continue or does not wish to keep fighting, as the stakes will be higher and deaths will be commonplace, leave now." Naruto shuddered as he saw Kabuto smiling at the Jounin referee.

No one stepped forward. Kabuto who in other exams would have forfeited at this point had been ordered to observe the fighters as this was the most amazing group that had fought in a long time.

"Now," Hayate continued for a third and final time. "There are twenty seven of you the board up on the wall there will randomly pick who is pitted against who. One of you will get a bye. Let's get the show one the road." Everyone hurriedly walk up the stairs on either side of the arena to await the first fight.

Everyone looked intently as the board began randomly shuffling through the contestants. Finally the names stopped and Hayate named the fighters for the first round. Coughing again Hayate nearly lost the toothpick that he held between his teeth. "First round: Inuzuku, Kiba vs. Nara, Shikamaru."

Kiba couldn't help shouting in joy who is opponent was. "This will be so easy." An arrogant expression lit up on his face and he jumped into the arena, Akamura planted firmly on his shoulders.

Shikamaru let out a sigh of relief. This was the best possible match for him. Even though Kiba would be troublesome he would be much less troublesome than some of the other competitors and Kiba's abilities were already known to the brilliant Shikamaru.

The lazy boy walked down the steps already planning out the fight.

"Are you both ready?" Hayate asked looking to each contestant. Both nodded and he stepped away. "Then you may begin."

Kiba wasted no time charging the lazy boy. Shikamaru's shadow possession is useless right now. He needs to win not to tie or wait for reinforcements.

Shikamaru pulled out a kunai and jumped over Kiba. Kiba turned and grinned. "So you want to run? Alright let's do this Akamaru!" His dog hopped off his shoulder to the ground and moved to corner Shikamaru against the corner.

Both Kiba and Akamaru charged and to their astonishment Shikamaru actually chuckled. Kiba was only a few feet in front of Shikamaru when the shadow possession jutsu caught him. Then Shikamaru turned and slammed his leg upward as if he was kicking a soccer ball. The effect was instantaneous Kiba's foot jerked up and hit Akamaru sending the little dog into the wall knocked out cold.

Kiba's face paled considerably. "You bastard!"

Shikamaru shrugged and walked to where the dog had fainted. He picked up the fainted Akamaru and released the shadow bind.

Everyone in the room was silent except for Naruto who broke out laughing along with Kankuro. Gaara managed to suppress his smile.

Shikamaru holding Akamaru in his left hand pulled out a kunai in his right. "Surrender of Akamaru dies."

Everyone froze even Naruto. The threat was one which did not amount to much but who knew what would happen in the chuunin exam. Friends were turned enemies.

"You wouldn't kill him. He's your friend." Kiba shouted half certain, half questioning. He couldn't mean it could he?

"Surrender!" Shikamaru demanded again, more force in his voice.

Kiba looked to the audience for some help. He received none. He growled in frustration pounding the wall to the side of him with his fist. "I resign."

Genma nodded. "The winner is Nara, Shikamaru."

Shikamaru breathed a sigh of relief it wasn't the classiest way to win but it did the job. And Kiba followed him up the stairs. "You wouldn't have killed him, right Shikamaru?"

"Of course not, but your enemies out in the real world will so you have to take the threat seriously. Even if you were positive that I would not have hurt him you should still resign for letting that happen." Shikamaru walked over and leaned against the wall next to Chouji.

How ironic that the most dangerous person here would have the most friends. Around Naruto were Ino, Shikamaru, Chouji, Sasuke, Heiri, Gaara, Hinata and Sakura.

The challenge board awoke again from it's short slumber and chose two more names.

Hayate coughed, "Namikaze, Naruto vs. Codo, Harmuro."

They both jumped into the arena. It was in mid-jump that Naruto saw Sado standing on the other balcony. He had seen the boy before in the exam but he had not made the recognition until now. Naruto had not seen Sado in over a year since he skipped the last visit in tea country. The boy was extremely muscled now. He still wore the gauntlets except now there were wholes where the fingers sprouted from.

As they made eye contact Sado felt the need to tell his teammate what he was up against. "Harmuro you will lose. IF you want to fight go ahead, just realize you have no chance."

Harmuro grimaced Sado did not say you would lose unless he meant it. However he did not come this far to lose.

"Are you both ready?" Hayate asked. Both boys nodded and Naruto gave the proctor a nice guy stance his thumbs out but his face was hidden under his mask. Everyone knows it's me. Word has gotten out still I might as well keep my disguise on.

Naruto got into a fighting position and his pulse began to rise as he got more and more excited. In his deep genjutsu induced voice he yelled, "LET'S DO THIS!"

Before he had a chance to take another breath Harmuro felt the fist of Naruto in his gut. Naruto began to pulverize the rock ninja until he felt that the ninja would fall and he backed away.

Anko grinned in approval. She had asked to be allowed to witness the fight. Jiraiya was there as well. Naruto still doesn't know that the Kyuubi is inside of him. I thought someone would have told him when he unleashed so much power in the chuunin exam. Why is Minato waiting?

To everyone's surprise except the Rock team's. Harmuro was still standing and he took the time that everyone was astonished to unleash a jutsu. After completing the seals the boy called forth stone from the arena floor to cover his body.

Naruto immediately curse his underestimate. Now this will be annoying. Naruto quickly performed a backflip as the new Harmuro shot towards him with extreme speed.

Naruto formed seals and sent a ball of fire into the stone armor. Naruto was more than dismayed as the boy burst through the fire and slammed him into the wall. The boy grinned until Naruto turned into a splintered log.

He has to be using chakra to control the armor making himself move faster. Naruto concluded, but if he is he must be using up a ton of chakra.

To test his theory Naruto decided to ware his opponent out. He dropped from his hiding place on the ceiling onto the rock armor.

Jiraiya put his hands to his head as Naruto left the perfect chance to take out his enemy in one blow and simply dance around avoiding the rock armor.

Naruto regretted his decision a few minutes later when he stepped back to avoid a punch and a rock spike shot out of the armor into his side.

Naruto staggered back and was hit again ripping his black ninja shirt off and sending him to the ground. "Stop playing around!" Heiri yelled in annoyance.

"Naruto!" Ino cried as her friend lay on the ground blood running down his six pack and staining his black pants. He pushed himself to his feet and decided he had to stop fooling around if he didn't want to get hit by a new technique. He formed five clones to stall Harmuro as he formed a rasengan.

"Look at that will of fire." Lee exclaimed loudly, he had been quiet up until now. "It's truly youthful."

Gai nodded vigorously. "I concur Lee, I concur." He beamed at Lee who beamed back, "LEE!"

"GAI-SENSEI!" However all the commotion was ignored by the two fighters

Harmuro felt good he was defeating a clearly powerful ninja. However, he realized to late he was fighting Naruto. He fell back as each clone through themselves into him dispersing after the contact. When the smoke cleared he saw a shirtless Naruto wielding a blue orb making straight for him. He never got a chance to block the attack and the rasengan slammed into his rock armor tearing it apart and crushing apart his skin.

Naruto looked on in horror at the effects of his attack. The rock had been forced into the boy pushed inward by Naruto and ripping off skin. "Sorry." Naruto said in a shocked tone as medics rushed to help Harmuro.

Hayate lifted up his arm Codo, Harmuro is unable to battle. Namikaze, Naruto wins!"

Naruto walked up the stairs after refusing the help offered by the medics as if nothing was wrong. "Piece of cake!" His remark earned him three blows to the head as Anko, Jiraiya, and Ino punched him sending him to the ground. "You scared me!" Ino shouted, while both Anko and Jiraiya started kicked the fallen blonde. "When you see an opening take it don't play with people who will kill you."

Hinata and Tenten looked horrified as Anko and Jiraiya continued to kick Naruto while Ino encouraged them even as the fighters for the next round were summoned. Interesting, Jiraiya thought, Naruto's wound is already healing, yet he has no idea why. He's bound to figure it out sooner or later I only hope Minato decides to tell him first.

Finally after the two adults stopped to watch the fight Hinata approached Naruto slowly and checked to see if he was okay. Her diagnosis was summed up with one word, "Medic!"

Naruto came back after his short stay in the infirmary to hear he had missed three fights. Heiri's teammates had both fought and won defeating the other rock ninja and Chouji. He had also missed Temari annihilate Kin. But even his frustration to having missed three fights paled to what he felt as he saw the board and the people to fight.

Hayate looked up and called the next fighters down. "Haruno, Sakura vs. son of the Raikage Jirtoya, Heiri."

Naruto wasn't exactly thrilled. Heiri would embarrass Sakura to no end. He disliked fighting girls and especially disliked fighting friends even if they weren't good friends.

Heiri turned to Sakura. "I know it may make you feel insulted but would you please resign? I have no intention of hurting you but if we go down there I assure you, you have no chance of winning."

Naruto and Gaara both nodded at her vigorously. "Fine!" Sakura said, feeling belittled, "I resign."

Naruto felt his worry fade away until the new opponents were picked. He froze and by the time he had unfroze Ino was standing facing Sado.

Sado grinned he realized that she was special to his arch rival. This will be fun. I'll scare him a bit.

"Ino be careful!" Naruto yelled.

As the battle was started Ino had her moves planned out she would let him hit her once or twice until he was at a distance at which she could be positive she could take over his mind.

He rushed forward and formed seals. Ino back hand-springed to dodge the incoming rock missiles, then she looked for Sado who was no where to be seen. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes went wide, not good. Naruto clenched the railing. "INO!"

She didn't have time to react as she was shoved to the ground her arms held behind her as far up as they could be pulled while keeping her to the floor while Sado's foot pushed her fragile frame against the floor. Ino winced in pain as he slowly bent her arms further over her head.

Naruto felt his blood lust rise as he watched this fearing the worst. Shikamaru observed his hands leave an indent in the metal railing.

"I surrender." Ino cried out finally knowing she didn't have a chance. Sado relented and shrugged and walked back up to the balcony. Naruto felt himself calm considerably as if a great weight was lifted from his shoulders. He had been worried she would be hurt but Sado wanted him not Ino.

Naruto and the other opponents looked around the room only strong fighters were left. As if to acknowledge everyone's thoughts the board picked out a fight everyone would watch intently.

"Uchiha, Sasuke vs. son of the Kazekage Gaara."