I'm back with another chapter, I hope you like. I was waiting on getting this chapter out until I was able to solidify my ideas for chapter 21. My original idea (Ino going into Naruto's mind and seeing various memories) dramatically changed, so I hope the new idea will be to your liking when I finally get it up. Enjoy.

YamiPimpster: welcome on board. I'm glad you're enjoying the story. You started reading this story when I was preparing for my third medical school interview and your reviews totally made my day, so thank you.

PropertyoftheMudbloodPrincess: I'm glad you like the story.

Nika: I could never forget about this story. I love it way too much. As proof, I've recently got a shit load of plot-heavy ideas for this story. Look forward to it.

MadaMag: I had it imagined that while the seal was present, Naruto was unable to enter his mindscape.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 20: Preliminaries

When Naruto left the Hokage's Office, Iruka was waiting for him with a certain fox at his side.

"Sakuya-chan!" the blonde exclaimed happily as the young kit leapt into his arms. She licked him affectionately. "I missed you too," he laughed.

"I told you I would bring her," Iruka responded with a soft smile, ruffling Naruto's hair fondly.

"I know, but I didn't expect you to bring her so soon," the boy replied, stroking Sakuya's fur.

"Well, what can I say? I wanted to bring the smile back to your face," Iruka declared, scratching the scar over his nose sheepishly.

"You're the best, Iruka-sensei." Naruto declared, beaming. Iruka beamed back. He grew weary as Naruto's face turned sly. "So how are things going between you and Kakashi-sensei?"

Iruka flushed faintly. "Everything's fine. He's a good friend," the Academy teacher replied.

"Just a friend?" the blonde Jinchuuriki pressed, grinning widely.

"O-of course, what else could he be?" Iruka stuttered in embarrassment.

"I was just teasing you, Iruka-sensei," Naruto told the brunette. "I'm just saying… if you ever thought of being something more than friends with Kakashi-sensei, it's fine with me. You two would be good for one another."

"Naruto…" Iruka murmured. "I don't know what to say…"

"Say, 'Thank you, Naruto, I'll follow your advice and ask Kakashi-sensei on a date,'" Naruto intoned, causing his former teacher to blush.

"You're such a brat, Naruto," Iruka replied with no real malice.

"Don't I know it," the blonde replied cheekily, earning an indignant swat from his former teacher.

'Nii-san better thank me for this,' Naruto thought to himself. He was playing matchmaker because he wanted to thank his Jounin-sensei and brother figure for helping to cover for him. He knew how much Kakashi was putting on the line for him.

Neither Iruka nor Naruto noticed that they were being watched by none other than Kougyoku Jin.

'So this Chuunin is important not only to the Namikaze brat but to Sharingan no Kakashi… I can take advantage of this,' the wicked Iwa nin thought to himself.

Shikamaru turned as he heard a loud bark and blinked owlishly as he got a lapful of Sakuya. Once he got over his surprise, he couldn't help but smirk.

"Missed me, have you?" he spoke to her fondly, petting her. He'd gotten used to her constant attention. He ignored the 'aww' he received from Ino and Sakura.

"What did the Hokage want to talk to you about, Naruto?" Sakura queried as said ninja joined her and the other passed Genin Teams in the Tower.

"He just wanted me to give a report on the 'incident' in the Forest," Naruto stated, referring to Orochimaru's attack. "It's not often that a rogue Sannin attacks a random Genin team, after all."

"You were attacked by a Sannin?" Shikamaru asked in alarm, having not known the culprit behind the previous attack.

"Did he do anything to you guys?" Chouji queried in concern.

"Well, you saw what happened to Sasuke back there, didn't you?" Naruto pointed out. "Courtesy of a certain snake-teme."

"So he was only after Sasuke-kun?" Ino inquired, worried for the Uchiha. "It's not surprising, though. I mean, Sasuke-kun is the Last Uchiha, after all."

Naruto couldn't help but roll his eyes. With opinions like that, it was no wonder why Sasuke was so arrogant.

"He didn't only attack Sasuke-kun," Sakura corrected Ino's thinking. "He seemed quite interested in destroying Naruto… something about hating his father. He really seemed to have a grudge."

"What is it with you and having people want to kill you for things beyond your control?" Shikamaru asked Naruto with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm cursed," Naruto said flatly. Such was the life of the son of the Yondaime Hokage and Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Not that he was ashamed of either of them.

"You guys were really lucky to have made it out of there alive," Chouji remarked, realizing the severity of the situation.

"Don't we know it," both Sakura and Naruto voiced together.

"Do you reckon Sasuke-kun is doing alright, wherever he is?" Ino inquired curiously.

"I'm sure he's fine. Kakashi-sensei is taking care of him," Naruto declared, trusting the silver-haired Jounin to take care of the Cursed Seal. That seemed to assure both Sakura and Ino and they relaxed.

A little while later, Naruto made his way to greet Team Eight, who had been the first team to arrive at the Tower.

"You guys look like you're doing well," he stated with a smile.

Kiba scoffed derisively. "Of course we are. We're Team Eight after all," he declared.

"As cocky as ever," Naruto remarked with a shake of his head.

"I have every right to be," Kiba stated firmly.

"Keep thinking that," Naruto shot back, causing Kiba to look a little annoyed.

"Are you trying to imply something, dobe?" the dog nin growled, stepping into Naruto's personal space.

"Not at all," was Naruto's flat answer. His nonchalance only served to piss Kiba off further.

He was about to give the blonde a piece of his mind when Hinata spoke up.

"Please stop, Kiba. Naruto-kun doesn't want to cause any trouble," she squeaked, trying to calm him down. It worked, for the most part.

Kiba hmphed. "He's not making it easy to ignore him," he grumbled under his breath.

"I'm not even doing anything," Naruto replied with a raised eyebrow. To think that if he hadn't been under the constant calming influence of his father, Naruto could have turned out as hot-headed as the Inuzuka...

"Something's different about you, Uzumaki Naruto," Shino spoke up, startling everyone. They had almost forgotten that the Aburame was there.

Naruto looked at him skeptically. "Oh?"

"That presence that used to always be around you... it's gone," the taciturn nin reported.

Naruto stiffened. Trust the observant bug user to unintentionally bring up a sore point. "What presence?" he played dumb. It was bad enough that his own team and Team Ten knew about Minato's existence (for the most part). He didn't want anyone else to know about him if he could help it. Minato was his. Naruto didn't intend to share his father with anyone... except for Kyuubi and now, Kakashi.

Shino didn't seem entirely convinced by Naruto's innocent act. "You know what I'm talking about," he spoke up.

"No I don't," Naruto countered, beginning to withdraw. His irritation could be clearly seen on his face.

"Quit acting all innocent, dobe. You're well aware of that strange chakra entity that follows you like a lost puppy," Kiba spoke out hotly.

Naruto's eyebrow twitched. "Why don't you just shut your trap and mind your own business?" he asked, temper flaring.

"Did I hit a sore spot, Fox Boy?" Kiba jeered, glad that Naruto's odd cool had broken. That had been more frustrating than Naruto's normal hyperactivity.

"Please don't fight," Hinata tried to act as a mediator. Naruto and Kiba's arguments always tended to get in the way of the time she got to hang out with the blonde. Ever since they had graduated, she hadn't got to see him very much and the times that she did was mostly wasted through Naruto and Kiba's constant arguments. They just couldn't get along and it was beginning to wear away the patient Hyuuga heiress' generous patience. She just wished they could all get along!

That was when another voice burst through the air.

"Why do you hang around all of these losers, Hinata-sama?"

Kiba and Naruto stopped their arguing to focus on the newcomer, who was none other than Neji. He didn't look very impressed with Hinata's company.

"What's your problem, Neji?" Naruto scowled. The genius Hyuuga just refused to be civil. "Why are you always picking on Hinata-chan and who she hangs out with?"

"My problem is her," Neji stated vehemently, causing Hinata to recoil in hurt. He stared at her with pure disgust. "Just looking at the heir to the Hyuuga Clan and seeing just how pathetic she really is pisses me off. She's an insult to the entire Clan!"

The pain that Naruto saw in Hinata's eyes sent him over the edge. "You're wrong about her, teme. She's not an insult to the Clan. In fact, she's too good for the Clan. If all of you can't see just who she really is, then you don't deserve her. Just wait and see, Hinata's more than capable of kicking your ass!" he exclaimed.

Hinata looked grateful for Naruto's defense and even a little touched. To see how much faith he had in her was a definite confidence boost for her. It made her pity the entirety of Konoha for not being able to see just how special Naruto really was. He would change the world one way or another through his will alone. She had no doubt about that.

Neji, on the other hand, didn't look very phased over Naruto's exclamation. "Those are just empty words, Uzumaki. Hinata-sama doesn't stand a chance against me... and neither do you," he stated. "It's your destiny to remain losers forever."

Naruto's eyes turned as cold as ice. "I'll show you where you can stick all of that destiny crap of yours," he vowed. One way or another, he and Hinata would change Neji's belief systems, through words or through fists.

Neji scoffed, deciding it was no longer worth his time to talk with the pathetic Genin in front of him. He simply walked away.

"Man, what an ass," Kiba remarked, for once being in complete agreement with Naruto. He really hated how Neji treated his teammate.

"You're telling me," Naruto responded before giving Hinata an apologetic look. "I'm sorry about this, Hinata. I had really hoped we could hang out without any tension in the air, but the teme ruined it."

"It's okay, Naruto-kun," the pale-eyed beauty assured him. "There's always next time."

"There's always that," the blonde agreed. "I'll try to behave better then, I promise."

With that, Naruto bid farewell to Team eight, deciding that it was time to get back to his own team.

'Eight teams have passed... no wonder they're having a Preliminary Round,' Naruto thought to himself as he stood amongst all of the Genin who had passed the second test of the Chuunin Exams.

Gekko Hayate had just finished explaining the nature of the next part of the test and not everyone was pleased... especially with how they all had to fight straight off the bat. Not everyone was fully recovered from their experience in the Forest of Death.

Naruto, in particular, hadn't fully been able to acquaint himself with his new limitations. It would be a difficult situation for him one way or another.

"Sasuke-kun... are you sure you can handle fighting right now? You don't look very good," Sakura stated, looking at her pale-skinned teammate in concern. He hadn't handled the Sealing well at all. His body was still reeling from it.

"I'll be fine," Sasuke assured her gruffly. He didn't need her concern.

"You should still get some rest," Sakura replied, not convinced by his bravado. "You should forfeit for your own good."

Sasuke faced her with a withering glare. "You're annoying, Sakura. I told you I was fine. There's no way that I will forfeit."

Sakura drew back, looking hurt. Naruto glowered at Sasuke.

"Damn it, Sasuke. You could be nicer. She's just worried about you!" Naruto scowled, defending his pink-haired friend.

"She's just wasting her time and energy," Sasuke grunted.

"At least she cares enough to worry about you. Some of us aren't that lucky," Naruto remarked, thinking back to the time before Minato had come into his life.

"Hn," Sasuke replied coldly, turning away from his teammates.

"You've still got a stick up your ass," Naruto muttered under his breath, shaking his head. Sasuke would never change. That Cursed Seal had made him even colder.

"I forfeit," a voice rang out and everyone turned to see Kabuto raising his hand.

'What's he up to?' Naruto thought in suspicion as Kabuto formulated a lame excuse for not sticking around. 'He looks perfectly fine.'

He'd have to keep an eye on the bastard.

As no one else forfeited and there were an odd number of contestants, Hayate had to make a new rule.

"These battles will be chosen at random. There will be 11 battles and the one participant who isn't called up will have a free pass into the final exam," the sick shinobi declared.

"That's not very fair," Sakura commented with a small frown.

"That leaves everything to chance. I hope I'm the freebie," Shikamaru mused. If he didn't have to fight, it was all the better.

"Don't be like that, Shika. Actually participating is half the fun," Naruto chirped. The Nara raised an eyebrow.

"'Shika'?" he repeated, causing Naruto to flush.

"Shikamaru's too long, so I shortened it... but if you don't like it..." Naruto began.

"No, you don't need to do that. I kind of like it," Shikamaru quickly said to please the lively blonde.

"Okay..." Naruto replied, almost shyly.

"Aww... they're so sweet," Ino cooed playfully, embarrassing the two in question.

"So sweet they're giving me cavities," Kiba stated sarcastically.

"Shut it, Kiba," Naruto huffed.

They were about to start arguing when they heard Sakura gasp.

"What is it?" Naruto questioned and she pointed to the board that would declare who would go up against who. The Jinchuuriki's expression turned sober.

The first match had been set up.

Uchiha Sasuke vs. Akado Yoroi

'I'll be able to beat him easily,' Sasuke thought confidently. No one could defeat an Uchiha.

Yoroi smiled grotesquely. "I'm going to beat your ass, Uchiha," he declared.

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, getting into his fighting stance.

"Begin," Hayate called out and Sasuke lunged for his opponent at a great speed.

"He's going straight for the kill," Naruto mused aloud with a raised eyebrow.

"He has to. With how his body is currently rebelling on him, he can't afford to have a long fight," Kakashi stated as he joined his students on the Observation Deck.

"Do you think he'll be able to pull off a victory in his condition?" Sakura questioned in worry.

"Of course he will! He's Sasuke-kun after all," Ino exclaimed excitedly.

"All of you in Konoha put too much credit onto the Last Uchiha. It's almost equivalent to the hype you once put up for your beloved Yondaime Hokage," a voice rang out.

Everyone looked to see Jin walking up to them.

"Minato-sensei is beyond comparison," Kakashi spoke up faithfully. "Not even Sasuke-kun can hold a candle to him." He knew he should perhaps feel bad for voicing a lack of faith in his student's abilities, but the truth was the truth.

He seemed almost offended that Jin had hinted that there was anything similar between the revenge-driven Uchiha and the just Hokage.

"Is he really?" Jin drawled before his cold eyes raked over Naruto, who stiffened in response. "Or are you just trying to hide the similarities he shares with a certain hidden jewel in your possession?"

Kakashi stepped in front of Naruto protectively. He wouldn't let Jin do anything to him, no matter what. Minato-sensei would never forgive him otherwise... especially with him being indisposed as of now. "What do you want, Kyougyoku?"

"Getting defensive, are we?" Jin smirked. "I just wanted to comment on one of your student's fights. He doesn't look like he's doing very well."

Everyone looked back to the fight and they were surprised to see that Jin was right.

Yoroi had overtaken Sasuke using his most surprising ability.

"He's stealing Sasuke's chakra," Hinata reported, using her Byakugan.

"What a stroke of bad luck," Shikamaru mused, although he was secretly pleased in the darker corners of his heart. It was better that Sasuke got a challenging fight, otherwise the bastard's ego would just get bigger.

Naruto, of course, wouldn't have it. "C'mon, Sasuke-teme. Are you really going to let this bastard get the better of you?"

"Shut up, dobe!" Sasuke yelled as he wrenched himself out of Yoroi's grasp.

"You can't keep away forever," Yoroi taunted the black-haired shinobi.

"Just watch me," Sasuke retorted hotly, Sharingan flaring to life. He started making rapid hand seals. "Katon: Goukyaku no Jutsu!"

"You'll have to do better than that!" Yoroi laughed as he dodged the giant fireball. His smile faded as he noticed he could no longer see where the Uchiha was. "Where'd you go?"

At that point, Sasuke phased in front of his opponent, kicking Yoroi up in one powerful move.

'That was Lee's move!' Naruto thought indignantly. He couldn't believe Sasuke had ripped off the budding Taijutsu Master's hard work so callously. He sent an apologetic look towards the troubled looking Genin.

"Shishi Rendan!" Sasuke called out the name of his new move as he finished Yoroi off with a sequence of well-timed kicks.

As Yoroi didn't get back up, Hayate called out his ruling. "Winner: Uchiha Sasuke!"

Sasuke smirked and looked up at Naruto smugly, only to frown in confusion at the look of anger on the blonde's face. What did he do to piss him off now? 'He must be jealous of my skills,' he concluded quickly.

"I apologize for my student, Gai. He still hasn't learned proper courtesy when using his Sharingan to copy an ally's abilities..." Kakashi stated, glowering at Sasuke. Sometimes, he really hated the fact that Sasuke had to be on his team. He was more trouble than he was worth.

"No need to apologize, my rival. Sasuke-kun is only expressing his Youth the only way he knows how," Gai responded, although the Uchiha's actions had bothered him.

"Are you okay, Lee-san?" Sakura queried in concern, seeing the distressed look on Lee's face.

Lee put on a brave face and smiled. "I'll be fine, Sakura-san. Sasuke-kun's Flames of Youth are large... I'll just have to make mine burn brighter!"

"You do that, Bushy Brows," Naruto spoke up supportively. He was surprised that Sakura was actually concerned for Lee when she'd been so put off by him before. It looked like Lee's sincere efforts in the Forest of Death had helped her warm up to him.

'They'd be good together,' he thought to himself. Lee would treat Sakura much better than Sasuke would. Now if only he could get his teammate to see that.

"You did brilliantly, Sasuke-kun!" Ino complimented her crush as he came up to the Observation Deck.

"Hn," was his simple reply.

"You need a bigger vocabulary," Naruto snarked.

"I have a larger vocabulary than you, dobe," Sasuke retorted. Naruto just rolled his eyes. What a poor comeback...

"You should go and get some rest," Kakashi suggested. Sasuke shook his head.

"I want to see the rest," he declared. He wanted to see what he could learn off everybody else...

"Stubborn brat..." the masked nin muttered under his breath.

"So, who goes next?" Shikamaru wondered.

"I hope it's me!" Lee exclaimed loudly, causing those around him to cringe at the volume.

"That's the spirit, Lee. Let your Flames of Youth burn brightly!" Gai cheered.

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Gai-sensei!"

"Lee!"

'I don't think I'll ever get used to this,' Naruto thought to himself, averting his eyes from the nauseating sight. Then his eyes fell on the disgusted look on Jin's face. He grinned ferally. "Then again... it's got its good side.'

"Look, they're deciding on the next match." TenTen stated, quieting everyone down.

Aburame Shino vs. Abumi Zaku.

"Alright! Time to have some fun!" the brash Oto nin declared loudly. He leapt down into the arena to wait for his opponent.

Shino was much calmer as he headed for the stairs.

"Good luck, Shino," Naruto said as he passed by. Shino nodded in acknowledgement.

"Took you long enough, slowpoke," Zaku told Shino as he finally arrived in the arena.

"..." Shino didn't grace the other nin with a response.

"Shino's got this fight in the bag," Kiba said faithfully. The Aburame was too good to lose against his hot-headed opponent.

"We shall see," Kin responded, believing Zaku to be the superior shinobi.

In the end, Shino triumphed, defeating Zaku with a brilliant strategy.

'He'd be a formidable opponent. I should be glad he wasn't mine, given my current condition,' Naruto thought to himself.

Kiba let out a loud whoop before giving Kin a smug look. "I told you Shino would win!" he hooted.

"Something tells me you would be both a sore loser and a sore winner," Naruto commented, unimpressed by the dog nin's exuberance.

Kiba just glowered at Naruto. "You should just wait and see. I'll kick your ass and we'll see who's the sore loser!"

Naruto rolled his eyes, inciting Kiba's temper more.

Kiba growled and prepared to make good his threat when Hinata quickly moved to appease him.

After that, the Hyuuga heiress made her way to her blonde brother figure.

"Naruto-kun, I'm begging you, don't harass Kiba-kun so much. I know you're still hurt over how he shunned you so suddenly after you two were friends for so long, but Kiba-kun is as important to me as you are. I'd like you two to get along," the pale-eyed beauty pleaded with him.

Naruto looked very reluctant but quickly relented. "Fine..." he conceded. "Only for you."

Hinata smiled gratefully. "Thank you," she stated.

"But if he hurts you, I'll kill him," Naruto stated, understanding the true depth of Hinata's feelings for Kiba.

Hinata only shook her head at the blonde. He wouldn't change.

"We're moving onto the third match now," Kurenai reported as she finished congratulating Shino.

Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino.

"This can't be good," Chouji murmured as he observed the two rivals glare at one another.

"How troublesome," Shikamaru groaned.

"Prepare to lose, Forehead," Ino told Sakura firmly before looking at Sasuke lovingly. "Be sure to watch me, Sasuke-kun."

"Hn," Sasuke grunted, looking decidedly uninterested.

As Sakura passed by him, Sasuke gave her a whispered message. "Be sure to win." She was representing Team Seven... Sasuke wouldn't have her give them a bad name.

Sakura didn't know of his ulterior motives and took it as Sasuke believing in her. She brightened up instantly. She nodded enthusiastically before heading down into the arena.

Naruto stared at Sasuke in annoyance. He hated how Sasuke could so easily play with the girl's emotions. It wasn't fair for her.

As the fight commenced, no one was really impressed by it. The match was more of a cat fight than anything.

"Perhaps I should have actually cracked down on her training," Kakashi mused sheepishly. He had been waiting for her to get a clue about being serious about being a kunoichi but her realization had come a little late.

"You think?" Naruto retorted.

Sakura and Ino appeared evenly matched... up until Ino pulled off a surprising maneuver to trap Sakura using her hair.

"It's over, Forehead!" Ino exclaimed in triumph, feeling that she'd already won. All she had to do was use her jutsu and force Sakura to forfeit.

'It can't end like this!' Sakura thought to herself, seeing the horrified look on Naruto's face and the unimpressed look on Sasuke's. She didn't want to disappoint them.

"SHANNARO!" she yelled out at the top of her lungs as she channeled as much chakra as she could to get out of the line of fire. By doing so, she knocked Ino off balance just as she had cast her jutsu.

Ino's Shitenshin no Jutsu missed Sakura completely and hit someone else entirely... one Uzumaki Naruto.

A/N: For the spin off story, it may not come out for a while, but at least, I can get some ideas down for it during the time being. If there are any specific types of scenes you want to see, feel free to suggest. Here are some ideas I have at the moment:

The day after the prologue.

Minato and the Shinigami.

Minato and Kyuubi's first talk.

Naruto's first day in Iruka's class.

Minato and Kushina – you can suggest the type of scenario if you'd like

Sakuya's thoughts

Minato and Kyuubi's experience in Naruto's mind after Orochimaru sealed them

Minato and Orochimaru in past (Hokage nomination?)