Alright ladies and genitals, Are you ready for Flaming Leaves Marathon?! Cause I'm not ^_^;; but I'm writing these anyways. Let's get to it, eh smexies?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Naruto flew up in a heated sweat, it was dreams of the war again. He sighed smoothing his hair back, he half chuckled half sighed at his hair now. Fully red like an Uzumaki's, his eyes now completely Violet, he was a spitting image of his mother, with his fathers jaw. Naruto stood and he walked to the bathroom, today he had an important meeting with his sensei and his team. He needed a change of pace, he needed a new him so to speak. A small knock on his bathroom door alerted him someone was there.
"Naruto-kun, it's Mako, mind if I come in?" Naruto opened the door and smiled.
"I was actually going to ask for your help, I want to cut my hair but I don't know how to exactly do it and not mess it up. Would you mind?" Mako shook her head, she pulled a chair into the bathroom and sat him down. She grabbed some scissors from the grooming kit he had and started to cut snippits of his hair away.
"So what's on the agenda for today Naruto-kun?" Naruto smiled his eyes closed to keep the hair from coming into his eyes.
"Well we have a meeting with Kakashi-sensei in about two hours, and after that I was planning on not really doing anything today, kind of relax, maybe train some. How about you? Plans?" Mako giggled.
"Well, your Otou-chan is going to be taking me out on our first official date tonight. Besides that nothing really, just relaxing." Naruto nodded softly and Mako started to use a wash cloth to swat some of the remaining hair clippings off of Naruto's neck and shoulders. Naruto opened his eyes and looked into the mirror. His hair was now shorter and more trim than before, he kind of liked it.
"Thanks Mako-san, I like it." Mako smiled and nodded, she left Naruto to his business. After a quick shower Naruto got dressed, he decided that he wanted to wear something different for today. He threw on a long sleeved baggy sweatshirt, a set of long sleeve baggy pants and tied his headband to his arm. I mean what's the worse that could happen? It wasn't like he was going to be going to the Chunin exams, right?
Naruto came downstairs and grabbed some toast, he held the toast in his mouth and hurried to put his sandals on. Rushing out the door scarffing down the breakfast he took to the roof tops heading towards Raijin bridge.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"This is so unlike Naruto, where is he?" Kakashi shrugged and put his book in his left breast pocket and stood. He waved a hand and Naruto appeared infront of them, Naruto smiled and sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry, I figured I'd show up two hours later cause ani never shows up on time." Sakura giggles, Sasuke facepalms and Kakashi sighs deeply. Out of no where Itachi appears walking up to the four people assembled at the bridge.
"Hello there Team 7, I asked Kakashi to assemble you all today because I want to sponsor you three for the Chunin Exams." Naruto's eyes blew wide open.
"Woah, woah, Sensei, are you saying we're going to be in the Chunin Examinations this year?" Itachi nodded and smiled.
"That is correct Naruto-kun, yourself, Sasuke-kun and Sakura-chan will be entering the Chunin Exams this year. Kakashi-sempai and I have developed a look over course that we will be going over the next two hours before you are needed at the examination room to begin." Naruto's eyes widened.
"Ummm, Sensei, I thought it was just a meeting not practice so I left all my equipment at home, can I go and get my affections?" Itachi chuckled and handed Naruto a scroll, when Naruto unsealed it the scroll contained an ANBU chest plate, a small bow, a quiver with fifteen arrows, a kunai pouch and fifteen shuriken.
"I apologize Naruto-kun but there is no time, while you train a shadow clone of mine will go and fetch your bow and quiver, however immediately after training you need to head to the examination area, so I am afraid you will not be able to grab your uniform. I am sorry." Naruto groaned and was about to say something when he had to back flip over a large blue flame, he preformed a reverse leg sweep knocking the attacking girl on her ass.
"Damnit Naruto! That hurt you imbecile!" Naruto widened his eyes as he realized who he assaulted, he got on his knees and bowed deeply to the girl.
"I beg your forgivness your highness, I did not realize whom it was who attacked me." Azula stood and waved her hand lazily. Zuko walked up behind her and whacked her over the head, a girl with a weird hairdo that looked to have an eternal frown joined the two.
"It is fine Naruto, I should not have attacked a Shinobi from behind. MY father taught me better." Naruto nodded softly and she motioned for him to rise. Itachi smiled walking forward and extending his hand.
"I am sorry, I have not met you before, may I have the pleasure of knowing your names?" Azula smirked and slapped his hand away.
"I will tell you our names, but you may not touch me. I am Azula princes of fire, this is Zuko the crown prince of the fire nation, and this is our friend Mai." Itiachi's eyes widened and he gave her a small bow.
"I am Itachi Uchiha, heir of the Uchiha clan, I ask your forgivness for my blunt attitude your majesty." Azula nodded and waved at him, she motioned for Naruto to follow her but Naruto was stopped by Kakashi.
"I apologize your highness but Naruto needs to stay here, he is being prepared for the Chunin Selections Examinations that start this afternoon." Azula nodded and waved her hand towards Kakashi, the rest of Team 7 turned and left, but Naruto and Itachi continued their low bow until the teens left.
"Naruto, why didn't you tell your father and me that the children of the Fire Lord were coming?" Naruto shook his head.
"I had no idea, they were supposed to be on Pearl Island currently, I have no idea why they came. Maybe to watch the Chunin Exams?" Itachi nodded and smiled to him.
"Well, go get your affections, training is off for the day, just be at the academy in less than two hours." Naruto nodded and kneeling down he jumped towards the roofs moving as fast as he could towards his home. When he arrived he came to a shock, he saw five sets of shoes at his door step. Naruto removed his sandals and walked into the house. HE was instantly assaulted by Ty Lee clinging to him and kissing his cheek.
"Naruto-kun! Mako-san didn't say you would be back so soon, what brought you back so soon?" Naruto smiled softly and placed his chin atop her head but then he saw the two royals and their friend sitting at the table.
"I came back because training was interrupted, I was also informed Im going to be in the Chunin selections examination this year. I came back to the house to get my gear and to prepare for the afternoon, but I ran into the people I used to guard." Naruto broke the hug and walked towards the table. Sitting across from Zuko Naruto nodded his head softly to the boy. The two might not like each other but they have a respect for each others strength. Naruto looked at the smirking Azula and the smiling Mai.
"Why is she smiling, that freaks me out every time." Azula nearly lost it right then and there.
"Well, we heard that 'Naruto-kun' was coming from Ty Lee, so we decided to wait here instead of going to see the Hokage. I didn't realize you two knew each other." Naruto nodded and under the table held Ty Lee's hand.
"Yeah, she is my girlfriend, I didn't realize you three knew her." Azula scoffed.
"She is fire nation pure blood, of course we would know her. We grew up together in the palace, remember the shy girl who would never come and say hello?" Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at Ty Lee, she had a bright pink blush spread across her face. Naruto chuckled lightly and nodded.
"I remember her fondly, it was you and her who decided to shove Zuko on top of Mai in the fountain. They both ended up getting a cold from it and I got hell duty for a week." Azula bust a gut out laughing remembering Naruto's face at that time.
"IT was good times before you had to leave for war, I think Zuzu was about to cry when you came to tell us you had to leave." Zuko shot his sister a dirty look before he sighed.
"It was sad to see you go, I lost a good rival when you had to leave. I ended up getting into some fights and I was punished with this burn on my face." Naruto nodded and smiled softly.
"So what's with the red hair, I thought Mai was the emo one?" Mai shot Azula a look.
"Oh, my bloodline awakened due to an outside intervention. When it happened the blue flecks in my eyes and the blonde in my hair were over taken by the violet and red." Zuko nods while Azula gets curious.
"Show us, it's been a while since you and Zuko went for a spar, I want to see your new abilities." Naruto was about to say no but Zuko launched himself from the table and with fire blasting out of his elbow the punch rocketed Naruto through the backdoor and into the garden. Zuko walked through the broken door and smirked seeing Naruto reach for the bow his sensei let him borrow but found it broken. Naruto scoffed and assumed a hand to hand fighting form. Zuko charged in with a jump he flipped himself above Naruto launching a kick that Naruto barely caught, however Zuko used the leg to block Naruto's view from the other foot that slammed into his head. Naruto flew back into the trees and Zuko launched his fist forward a large billow of orange flames poured out towards Naruto. Naruto jumped to the left in time to avoid burning, he ran towards the crown prince and failed to see the blue flame shooting at his back, by the time he realized it there was only one thing he could do. Four chains of gold erupted from his back making a shield around his body, he willed them and they snaked around Zuko, no matter what he tried he couldn't melt them or destroy them.
"I concede Naruto." Naruto retracted the chains and they withdrew into his back, he sighed and looked at Azula.
"That was cheap Azula." She smirked and poked the tip of her nose.
"I know but, that's what, three hundred to two hundred and seventy-six?" Naruto nodded, he looked at the clock and sighed.
"I've got an hour to get ready for the Chunin Exams and arrive at the designated location. So I am afraid I must go and prepare. Please make yourselves at home till my chichi arrives, Mako-san will cook if you are hungry. I am sorry." Naruto walks inside and the minute he walks to Ty Lee he pulls her into a deep kiss and gives her a little nibble on her neck teasing her. He ran up to his room and got prepared in his battle gear. Taking half an hour to meditate he stood and left the house saying his goodbye's and heading towards the academy with and fellow students.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Alrighty guys, let's head into the Chunin exams! Each chapter will cover a portion of the test and after the second exam everything will be very very new.