Recap: After almost losing the Chūnin exams, Kabuto helps Team 7 with finishing phase two of the exams. Questions are raised with the sand siblings true power and that special juiciness Naruto's been hoping for, might come true.

Oh, and sorry for long update, my computer broke...and then my stuff got deleted so I'm like screw this.

Chapter 8: Strong and Strike

Team seven continued through the forest, the tower was just ahead. "And," Itachi added. "We have to watch out for the people who'll steal others scrolls, even when they have both of them."

"Collectors." Kabuto suggested.

"However, I highly doubt the collectors will be a problem, such arrogant fools who think they're better than everyone else never win."

The team stopped at a tree trunk, the tower was finally in full view.

*twitch*

Naruto threw his kunai knife at the sudden sound and it punctured a giant, hideous centipede.

"Ew! That's so gross!" Sakura spat out in disgust.

Itachi moved in closer to fully examine the centipede. '...I feel like there's something off.'

Kabuto turned to Naruto. "We have to make safe precautions, so be quiet and stop making such loud noises." He scolded.

"Yeah, whatever."

After what felt like hours passed Itachi stopped for a minute, he noticed they were never getting any closer to the tower. He looked back on the tree they were on. "Do you see that?" Itachi asked.

"See wha- GAHHHH!" Naruto yelled, catching sight of that same centipede. "It's the centipede again!"

Sakura's face scrunched up. "We went past it already, right?"

"...the enemy is trying to tire us out. I fear we've been placed under a genjutsu."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses. "That's what I've been thinking, we should release the genjutsu."

Everyone immediately released the genjutsu and waited for the enemy to attack. "Heh! I've been waiting for something like this!" Naruto ecstatically yelled.

Kagari slowly emerged from the tree limb they were on. "You're trapped rats, now!" He hissed.

"You're the trapped one!" Naruto pulled out his fist and ran up to the clones. Much to his surprise, Naruto's fist went straight through Kagari's body like it was water.

Kagari's body split in half and doubled.

'I see, they're mist clones, huh?' Itachi's eyes changed to level three sharigan, he rummaged through his weapon bag and got out several shruiken. He threw the shuriken at the clone, nonetheless, all it did was pass straight through his body and lodge into the tree behind him.

Kabuto analyzed Itachi's eyes. 'He already has the third level of sharigan?'

"Ha, ha!" Another rain-nin rose from the tree. "Give us your scroll!" Mubi demanded.

"NEVER!" Naruto shouted.

The shuriken lodged in the tree exploded, destroying all the clones near them. The team jumped down into an open area between the trees. Sakura looked back and forth, no sign of them anywhere. "What're we gonna do, Itachi-kun?!"

"We'll have to wait." Itachi weaved several hand signs. "Shadow clone technique!"

A clone of Itachi popped up beside him.

"What?! That's my jutsu!" Naruto yelled.

Completely ignoring what Naruto had said, Itachi nodded to the clone and it jumped away. Unfortunately, just as it left, an army of rain-nin rose from the ground.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball technique!"

"Multi-shadow clone technique!"

Rather easily, the clones and fire release destroyed every last one of them, although, no matter how many times they destroyed them, the mist clones kept on coming and coming back, throwing barrages after barrages of kunai.

"Oh, this is endless!" Sakura sighed after dodging another round of kunai knives.

Naruto created several shadow clones. "Let's do this again, Itachi!"

He didn't move.

"Itachi, I said lets do it again!" He repeated.

"It's pointless to keep on doing the tactic over and over again, I won't continue."

"SO WHAT?! It's pointless to give up! We can't win if we don't fight!"

'Finally, I can make a real attack.' "...then we'll just have to fight differently."

"What?"

Itachi ran straight past Naruto, he looked back. "I leave everything to you, Naruto!" With that, he departed, leaving his team to fend for themselves.

"Itachi-kun!" Sakura yelled. 'How could he just...leave us like that?!'

Kabuto clenched his fist. 'What're you doing?!'

"Dammit! You can't leave at-" (-"'I leave everything to you, Naruto!'") Naruto gritted his teeth. "Multi-Shadow clone technique!" Dozens of Naruto clones appeared before him. 'Hehe, looks like I get all the juicy parts after all !'

The Naruto clones ruthlessly clashed into the rain clones, soon, one after another, Naruto punched the clones making them disappear bit by bit. "Yeah go Naruto!" Sakura cheered.

"Here we go!" Naruto ran down to the last one. "Never, ever mess with my friends!" As hard as he could, he punched the final clone making it disperse.

OoO

Oboro and his team watched from behind the scenes. "We'll just make more cl-"

"No you won't."

The team turned around and much to their horror, Itachi was standing right behind him. "Oh wait, ha! You must be another clone!"

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not."

OoO

After they got pushed off their tree, Team Oboro landed hard on the site where the fight was going on. Oboro looked around, Kabuto, Naruto, and Sakura were all lying cold on the ground, it looked like they had lost.

The team proudly stood up. "Heh, looks look our clones beat the crap outta them." They got out kunai knives and approached them. "Let's just finish the job."

"All of you are going to p-"

*BAM*

A large explosion swept through the terrain, Team Oboro flew back and crashed into a group of trees. Much to their surprise, Kabuto and Sakura changed into Naruto clones, Naruto along with the clones got up and they charged towards the team. "AND HERE'S THE FINALE!"

As Naruto and his clones beat the team up, Itachi came from behind and wrapped a piece of sturdy rope around them, tying them to the tree.

Oboro grunted. "How did you...do that?"

Naruto stood back and wiped his hands as the clones released. "After Itachi found you guys, I turned my clones into my comrades and made it looked like we were beat up. Before hand, Kabuto and Sakura set up a trap, if you were to approach us, you would've fallen for the bait." Naruto pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck his tongue out. "And you did! Nyahhhh!"

Sakura and Kabuto jumped out of the bushes, she was amazed of the plan that Naruto came up with, even she hadn't come up with such a strategy. 'Naruto...just how far have you gotten...?'

"Basically, this was over before it even started! Dattebayo!"

"Oh wait," Naruto pointed to his leaf symbol. "You got the scroll, right Itachi?"

Itachi threw Naruto the heaven scroll.

"Hehehe!" He kissed the heaven scroll as soon as it fell into his hands. "This is our ticket outta here!"

Itachi smiled at Naruto. "That was excellent, Naruto, something I'd expect out of my rival."

"...!" Naruto's grin grew even wider. "You better believe it!"

XxxxxXxxx

Kabuto along with Team seven had finally made it to the tower with just enough time to spare. As Kabuto's other teammates arrived, he shifted his glasses. "Well then, it looks like this is where we part ways."

Sakura smiled at him. "You're the best, Kabuto!"

"Yeah! I hope I can't wait to fight ya in the third phase!" Naruto exclaimed.

"Hm, that would be interesting."

Naruto and Sakura went inside the tower to turn in their scrolls, just he went in, Itachi stopped at the doorway. "Hey, Kabuto..."

Kabuto's teammates eyed Itachi suspiciously.

"Yes, Itachi?"

"The information you're giving to Orochimaru won't be enough. What I've shown isn't even the peak of my powers." Without another word, Itachi walked inside.

'How did he figure that out?'

OoO

Orochimaru waited in another room of the tower, Kabuto along with his teammates finally came in.

"My card?"

Kabuto slightly adjusted his glasses and handed Orochimaru the card. "It's incomplete, however."

"Hm?"

"Itachi was on to me the entire time, so he refused to show any of his real power, this is as much information as I could get on him."

Orochimaru studied the card. "I see, how interesting."

OoO

Team seven looked around the tower entrance, it was empty except for a giant poster hanging on the front wall. The poster contained several characters, with one peculiarly missing. "What the hell? Without heaven?" Naruto asked.

Itachi glanced at the poster. "Seems there's a missing word up there. I think it's time to use our scrolls."

"Right!"

Itachi and Naruto got out their scrolls; heaven and earth. At the same time they both opened their respective scrolls. "Naruto, Itachi, let go of the scroll!" Quickly, they both their scrolls on the floor and right before everyone's eyes, Iruka was summoned.

"Heh," Iruka looked up. "Long time no see, right?"

"...! Bah! Iruka-sensei...why the...why are you here?" Naruto asked in a baffled tone.

"At the end of the second test it's set up so we chūnin get to see the exam takers, and I was chosen to get to greet you." Iruka explained, he got out a stopwatch.

"Greet?" Sakura asked.

Iruka paused his stopwatch. "And just in time too. Well then, I'm proud to admit that all three of you passed the second test."

"Congratulations! Now, I would love to celebrate this occasion with some ramen, my treat, of course, but you still-" Naruto ran up and tackle hugged Iruka.

"WE DID IT!"

"Hey Naruto wait-"

"WE DID IT! WE DID IT! THIS IS SO AWESOME!"

Itachi watched Naruto jump up and down like crazy. 'He has more energy than I ever will, but that is what I like the most about him.'

"SHUT-UP ALREADY!" Sakura yelled.

*sweat drops* "Looks like you haven't changed a bit, Naruto." Iruka sighed.

Iruka held out one of the scrolls used for the exam. "As you know, the rules are to test your ability to complete missions. If you were too weak and broke said rules, the exam takers would've been knocked out until the test was over." Iruka explained.

'So Kabuto was right, huh. I'm guessing he knows this from...experience.'

"Bah! You would've what?!" Naruto yelled. "Jeez! That was close!"

"I know! Good thing Kabuto was there!" Sakura agreed. "Oh yeah, hey Iruka-sensei,"

"Hm?"

"What is the meaning of that word up there? There's a character missing and we really want to figure it out."

"Who cares? We passed!" Naruto cut off.

*vein pops* "NARUTO!"

Iruka continued. "Actually, that's why I'm here. Just read it. It's the motto of Hokage-sama."

"Motto?"

"That's right. In this paragraph, heaven refers to the human mind and Earth refers to the human body. If you lack heaven, then gain knowledge; prepare. For example, Naruto's weakness is his brain."

Naruto crossed his arms and put on a pout face, Sakura slightly giggled. "Jeez. Always someone tellin' me how dumb I am."

"And if you lack earth."

"Then run and train more. So if Sakura's weakness is in the field, then you have to keep on trying harder." Sakura sheepishly grinned while Naruto smirked in triumph.

"And if you have both heaven and earth, you can succeed in even the most dire of situations."

Itachi nodded. "And tell us, what is this trying to represent?"i

"Right, so the missing word is supposed to represent a chūnin." Iruka unraveled the scroll revealing the summoning jutsu. "If you put that in the missing blank, the last sentence is: these rules will guide a person's extremes."

"These five days of survival were merely the basics of what you need to become a chūnin. Chūnin are at the rank of a military captain and have the responsibility of guiding a team. Knowledge and stamina are all needed for that step-up."

"Keep this chūnin motto in mind for the next challenge."

Naruto saluted to Iruka. "Yes sir!"

"..."

"And for this last test, don't push yourselves too hard, everyone." Iruka turned to Naruto. "Especially you Naruto, in fact, I think the safest would be to just quit the Chū-"

"That ain't happening." Naruto pointed to his leaf forehead protector. "Once I received this leaf forehead protector it meant I was no longer an academy student, so that means you can't keep on worrying about me!" Naruto adjusted the forehead protector. "'Cause I can fight too ya' know!"

"..."

"Doesn't that mean, I'm grown up now?! I'm not a kid anymore...I'm a ninja!"

Iruka sighed. "You're right, Naruto. I'm...sorry." 'He really is...grown up.'

XxxxxXxxx

Flashback...

-five days prior-

Iruka stood in Anko's office. He couldn't stand the thought of sending Naruto in for the Chūnin exams. "I'm telling you Anko, I know each and every one of their weaknesses and..." He placed his hands on her desk. "Their just not ready yet! I at least...I at least want to prepare them for the very worst!"

Anko sighed, she flung her dumpling stick into the trash. "...whatever. If you're so passionate about this, then go ahead. It's not an extremely popular job like it used to be."

Iruka bowed. "Thank you!"

"But, I hope you know, those are Kakashi's kids. They're not just weaklings, all of them can fend for themselves."

"..." ("'Stay out of this Iruka. They are no longer your students. They are shinobi.'")

'I guess maybe it's you, Kakashi-sensei, who knows what they're truly capable of.'

XxxxxXxxx

Tower...

-present time-

Anko squeezed the portion of her neck where the curse mark was. "...ugh..." 'Damn, it still hurts like hell.'

The Third Hokage blew out a puff of smoke. "It still hurts, doesn't it?"

"Nah, don't worry about it." Anko weakly reassured. "It's getting better."

Two chūnins; Hagane Kotetsu and his best friend Kamizuki Izumo stood beside Anko. "Now that you mention it, Orochimaru, isn't he one of the legendary leaf shinobi? And he's in the bingo book; one of the five shinobi ANBU can't even get close to." Kotetsu brought up.

"And of all times, now?" Izumo asked. "What the hell could he want with us?"

Anko remembered what Orochimaru said to her earlier. ("'there's a child I want who carries the Uchiha blood...'") 'Yet Orochimaru said he never got Itachi...I wonder what stopped him...?'

"It must be because of Itachi." The Third suddenly said.

"Wha-"

*bleep* *bleep*

Anko looked at the TV screen as the proctor flickered on. "The second test is ultimately complete. We have confirmed that a total of 21 have passed, and for the first time in five years, we'll start the preliminaries before the third test."

The hokage sighed. "Let's proceed as planned. Just keep an eye on his movements."

XxxxxXxxx

-Prelims hall-

"Well everyone, congratulations on passing your second test!" Anko announced.

The Rookie nine along with the remaining shinobi all stood there waiting for their next challenge. Shikamaru's eyes darted between the competition. 'There's still so much left...how troublesome...'

Anko was thinking the same thing. 'I did tell everyone I would get it down by half, but I expected single digits. 21 out of 78 still remain. Seven teams made it in.'

All the proctors and jounin stood by one another, directly across from them were the genin pigs.

Ino breathed a sigh of relief once she Itachi standing with his team. 'Yes! Itachi-kun made it, though I bet he had to carry everyone to get here.'

Guy was next to his rival; Kakashi. "Your team Kakashi might have passed, but so did mine and this is as far as they go."

Kakashi looked back to Guy whom he hadn't heard a word from him. "Huh, did you say something?"

'BAH! Kakashi's just trying to get on not nerves. Expected out of my rival.'

Zaku glared at Itachi. 'You'll fucking pay for this you sneaky weasel, you.' He was alive, somewhat. Although, his arms were broken, his rib cage was cracked, and the internal bleeding from inside his organs never stopped. 'I bet you kept me alive, just so I would have to suffer through this hell. I could've been better off if you killed me, but noooooo!'

Neji smirked, he could sense Itachi's chakra anywhere. 'He made it? It would be fun to battle him with such powers he possesses.'

Hinata gave a light smile. 'I'm glad Naruto-kun made it at least.'

Naruto's hands were lazily behind his head, he stared at the arena in awe. "Wow! It's like the whole leaf village is here!"

"That isn't necessarily a good thing Naruto, it more opponents." Itachi said.

"Hehe! That just makes it all the more fun! You gotta look at the bright side for once!"

'Honestly...he barely listens to anything I say.'

"Alright everyone shut up!" Anko yelled. "Hokage-sama will now explain the third phase!"

Third Hokage walked up, he cleared up his throat. "Before the third phase can begin, there is something I want to tell you all."

"Why do we have all the allianced countries taking these exams together?" The hokage asked.

"..."

"It's to promote friendship among the counties and to raise the level of understanding between shinobi." Itachi explained.

"Very good, Itachi. Essentially, that what the exams stand for, but the true reason we have these exams is simply to act as a replacement of war among the allies. Go back in history, our allies were once our enemies, so we have these exams in order to prevent fighting...that is the true meaning of the Chūnin exams."

All this got Naruto really confused. "Why the hell are you making this confusing?! I thought this was a test to decide whether or not we'll become chūnin!"

"That is true, but to different countries the exams have another meaning. Each country's shinobi risk their own lives for the prestige of their land."

"Wha- prestige?"

"It's basically respect and honor." Itachi explained.

"Ah, I see!"

"So watching these exams," Third Hokage continued. "Will be leaders and higher-ups who make use of the shinobi."

"If the strength of a country is clear, that country receives more clients and vice-versa. It can also be a warning signal to enemy countries, like saying our country is this strong."

Kiba clenched his fist. "But why do we have to risk our lives?!"

"The strength of the country is its village. The strength of a village is its shinobi who stand there. And a shinobi's true strength is born through risking one's life. These exams are set up so you risk your life and show everyone your true power, what truly lies inside of you."

"By losing life and establishing those very situations achieves balance and creates friendship. Now, before we begin this test, I'm telling you all right now, this is a battle. Your lives, dreams, everything is at stake."

"...I don't care. Just hurry up and explain it already." Gaara ushered.

*cough*

A shinobi appeared in the room. "Excuse me Hokage-sama, but as referee would you allow me to explain the third phase?"

Third Hokage moved away. "Of course."

He stood up. "Hello everyone my name is Gekkou Hayate..."

*cough* *cough*

"...before we start the main event, you have one more thing you have to do."

*cough* "It's called the preliminaries. It's to decide who moves onto the third test."

"What?! Preliminary?!" Shikamaru yelled. 'How many of these damn trials! Man this sucks!'

"Well the first and second test have apparently been too easy this year. There's just one too many people remaining and according to the rules, we must have a preliminary, people will be coming from long distances and we don't want the test to run on too long." Hayate explained.

"...those who feel they are unsuitable for fighting, come forth now because we'll be starting the prelims immediately."

"NOW?! After hell in that forest?!" Kiba argued.

"Yes, now."

Kabuto raised his hand and risked a glance at Itachi. "I quit."

Hayate checked him off. "Anyone else, also, these'll be individual battles. Just a heads up."

'Bah! I can't stand this!' Naruto turned his attention to Kabuto. "But you've come this far! Why are you quitting now after all those times you've quit before?!"

"Sorry, but my body is just too beat up and I can't even hear out of my left ear."

"Fine..."

"Anyone else?" Hayate asked.

Itachi watched as Kabuto started leaving the building. 'What're you planning this time, Kabuto?'

Anko got out some files. "Hokage-sama, he's the one from the battle of bell-flower pass, right?"

"A jounin from the medical team brought him back from the enemy's child who survived."

"I see..."

Kabuto walked past his partners and mentioned something to him, after that, he was out of the building. 'A spy's work is never done. Itachi already knows that I work for Orochimaru...I can't risk revealing my full identity.'

Itachi turned to Sakura, he spoke in a hushed voice. "Sakura, please do not speak of the Mangeykō sharigan."

Scarring memories came flooding back. "Itachi-kun...you were in so much pain I..."

"It will only get worse if people knew about my special sharigan. There are dangerous figures out there and I just can't risk getting anyone getting killed."

XxxxxXxxx

Sasuke...

-Land of Rain-

Sasuke entered a dimly lit room, the only lighting was a large hole where you could see the entire village. He approached Madara who was sitting in a corner. "Why did you call me?" He asked.

"I wanted to tell you," Madara lifted his head, through the small hole you could see his bright red sharigan. "I've delivered the gift of yours."

"Is that all?"

"No. For the longest time I've been watching that boy's every move ever since I gave him the eyes and I feel it was mistake you made to give him such power."

"And why is that?"

"Because he has no desire whatsoever to become a true Uchiha."

Sasuke sighed. "My brother isn't a clay piece you can mold to your desire by sweet talking or empty threatening him. Change can only happen with action and I promise you, I will motivate that action."

XxxxxXxxx

"And especially, don't tell Naruto."

"Ok...I'll do it for...you."

OoO

Anko began having ill feelings about the Orochimaru situation. "We should have Itachi removed and watched over." She suddenly said. "Orochimaru really wants him...we can't let him get Itachi."

"In fact, I bet if we ask nicely, he'll likely comply. I mean, you've seen Itachi, right? He acts nothing like the other Uchiha did."

"While although that's correct, I want a chance for all my shinobi to partake in the exams." The Third stated "Let's just keep an eye on Itachi and make sure Orochimaru doesn't try anything suspicious."

OoO

"-Now, the preliminaries consist of one on one matches. There are twenty entrants therefore ten matches. The winners will advance to the third and final test."

"Basically, there are no rules. You fight until one of you dies or acknowledges your defeat. However, If I see someone has clearly won, I will step in." Hayate gestured to the electronic board that recently opened up. "This is where your fate lies, while I admit sudden, but here we go anyways."

"Let the preliminaries begin."

The electronic board blinked a few times, Hayate looked at the board until the match showed. "Alright then, our first fight; Uchiha Itachi versus Akado Yoroi."

The two entrants stayed in the arena area while everyone else went into the stands. Hayate walked in between them. "Now," He announced. "Let the match commence!"

A/N: Day 8 of my re-edits, you know the drill, if you happen to be reading this on July 19th, 2015 then wait a day or two before reading. And as always, thank-you;)

-Also, when I say everyone was surprised/shocked I mean that's everyone but Itachi, he'll always have that emotionless face XD

Old news: So I'm taking down the poll...but, I'll put up a new poll, just a popularity poll:)