Now first: I do not own Naruto. But two I know I said I was skipping some parts so... don't hate me...
Commentary would have gone in depth into the hyuga vs Uchiha fight. They would have given explicit detail of how Sasuke had yelled that he wasn't just an Uchiha he was Sasuke. They may have taken a point to side with Neji as he quote his father's infamous line,
"I'm not a failure, so i can change my destiny!"
It was wonderful and mind blowing and of course had ended in a tie. But no one was angry about it, in fact if the cheers were anything to go by this was the ideal outcome Hiashi and Fugaku's generation had chosen the road of tradition but the next one… with Sasuke and Neji surely it would be different though both would not become heirs everyone in the stadium knew that they would change the clans one way or another.
The only one who hadn't seen it really was….
"Should we wake him?"
"We're suppose to guard him not take care of him"
The anbu argued barely noting the person in question move and groan as they opened their eyes spotting the tabletop clock,
…..
….
…..
"HOLY RAMEN! I'M SO FREAKIN LATE!"
Naruto raced on the rooftops,
He was so late!
But it wasn't his fault, honest!
He had been trying to go to bed despite the excitement last night until that stupid cyclops appeared and molested him.
Naruto cheeks heated at the memory. They hadn't gone too far but still if Naruto took off his jacket whoever saw could play connect the dots with the amount of hickeys the man had left.
Really, that stupid cyclops had some sort of problem. He was worse than a dog with how needy he was.
Naruto jumped down a the gate; FINALLY!
He wasn't sure how much he had missed but he was here now and he couldn't wait to see what was going on!
"My my my if it isn't my most youthful rival"
Naruto flinched as he turned to see the one person he did NOT want to see right now,
"Uh...teacher Gai...what brings ya here?"
Damn his accent was coming out in his nervousness and Gai smiled like he knew,
"Well after seeing such a vigorous and youthful fight i felt the burning power of youth and desired a good run"
Naruto's eye twitched,
"Ah...well let me just leave ya ta dat and be on ma way, ya know"
He began to back up but Gai suddenly appeared in front of him in an instant,
"Now now my youthful rival now that we have met why not have a wonderfully youthful contest to compare superiority!"
Naruto almost cried but then he perked as his mouth dropped and he pointed straight ahead which just so happened to be behind Gai,
"AH! TEACHER KAKASHI!?"
And the moment Gai turned Naruto bolted for it because as stupid as the rouse was anything was better than nothing. He didn't even stop as he got up the stairs, he had no idea where he was running to but he knew he had to get as far as….
"AH MY YOUTHFUL RIVAL YOUR INGENUITY IS BEAUTIFUL AS ALWAYS!"
"GAHHH!"
Naruto yelled as gai had managed to come from above and without thinking much Naruto dove to the left down the seating stairs and flipped.
"What the?!"
"Who?"
Naruto balanced on the rail ignoring the stares and whispers from the crowd as he looked at the man of terror,
"MY YOUTHFUL RIVAL! YOUR AGILITY IS TO BE FEARED BUT IF THIS IS A GAME OF TAG I SHALL NOT LOSE EVEN TO YOUR YOUNGER YOUTH!"
Naruto's eyes twitch at the burning determination in the man's eye,
He was already late couldn't he have just one day without this…
"Naruto?"
The soft female voice made him look and sure enough there in the stands was his teammate. Her once long hair short but neat, her green eyes no longer innocently naive but darkened with truth. And Naruto thought in dreams he had sometimes that he could have loved her. That she surely was pretty enough to; but not in this time. Not with Kakashi filling the very air he breathed.
"Sakura…"
He was scared but at the same time he was happy; she was alive. Even though he had lost control she was…
"YOU NUMBNUT YOU MISSED SASUKE'S FIGHT!"
And the next thing he knew he was sent flying into the arena,
Did sakura just…
He slammed into the ground harshly unable to react fast enough to catch his fall. Naruto rubbed his head in pain and looked up to see Sakura stalking angrily at him her head down so he couldn't even see her eyes and he paled,
"Um sakura...wait i mean...i'm sorry i'm late...but…"
"That's right you're always late…"
Naruto internally screamed,
What had he done to deserve this!?
He closed his eyes and ducked his head preparing for death.
But a soft karate chop landed on his head and his blinked in shock as he looked up. His eyes widened at the sight of Sakura's eyes filled with tears pouring down her face with no reserve,
"You're always late...but... at least you're here…."
Arms wrapped around him and Sakura collapsed sobbing into him.
Naruto could have descended to darkness.
There were so many opportunities and life was sure to present more but it was reasons like these that he hadn't...he couldn't. Because there was still people who weren't scared and cared and that would cry if he ever did,
"Oi dobe, why are you always late? You missed the best match"
Naruto looked up to see Sasuke standing there, his hair had grown a bit but he had a relaxed and smug look on his face and Naruto reflected it,
"Seeing as i wasn't there, i doubt it"
Sure, Naruto messed up but definity these moments were what made life worth living.
"Maa sakura you do know that stealing a lover is a crime punishable by death, right?"
Sakura let Naruto go quickly as they looked at their teacher, Naruto frowned,
"What the heck are you talking about ya perv? i never heard of that"
"Cause it's a lie"
Sasuke said coolly, Kakashi shrugged
"I'm sure their are many laws you haven't heard of naruto"
Kakashi smiled,
"But of course i'll be happy to teach you tonight, while you lie in my bed…"
A look of disgust crossed all the genins faces as a dark one passed Kakashi's,
"One thrust. At. A. Time"
….
…
"I think i'm gonna be sick…"
"DAMMIT YOU SICK PEDOPHILE KEEP THOSE THINGS TO YOURSELF!"
"WAIT DON'T BELIEVE HIM! THAT SICK PERV'S LYING!"
"Um...I'd like to continue the exam…"
Team 7 turned to see Genma with a slight blush on his cheek and feeling very uncomfortable. And they suddenly remembered where they were, in the arena, in the middle of the stadium.
"Uh...right…"
Naruto said fully embarrassed cause Kakashi didn't care honestly who heard even if if made Obito face palm in humiliation.
"Naruto…"
Naruto turned to see Gaara walking toward him,
"Oh yea!"
Sakura edged closer to Naruto,
"That sand guy acted like he knows you, do you?"
Naruto smiled,
"Yea that's Gaara of the sand a friend of mine when i was younger"
Sasuke stored the info away, naruto had traveled to the sand village.
"I see you are well"
Naruto nodded. Gaara had been a big help when Naruto felt like he was drowning that night.
"It's your match?"
Gaara nodded,
"I am the last"
Naruto smiled well at least he hadn't missed everything!
"Great! Then i came just in time, who's your opponent?"
"I am"
Sasuke and Sakura were in front of Naruto before he could blink and even Kakashi was surprised. Kakashi had still been injured as the prelims were going so he hadn't seen what had taken place but whoever this white haired guy was it was clear they didn't like him….
Still the fact they were protecting Naruto disturbed him even more, who was this guy?
"Kabuto, Kabuto Yakushi"
The name was eerily familiar but for some reason Kakashi couldn't place it. Naruto obviously couldn't care less that his comrades were protecting him as he sent the ninja a smile,
"Name's Naruto."
Kabuto smiled,
"My, it seems you don't remember me"
That set Kakashi on edge and he too stepped in front of the genin,
" Oh and should my PRECIOUS student remember you?"
Kabuto smiled in the same way a snake would and Kakashi had half a mind to slit the boy's throat,
"Perhaps it would be better to forget right Sasuke, Sakura?"
Naruto saw the way they trembled and he hated it,
"Oi! I don't know who you are or what i forgot but i'll tell ya something right now."
Everyone looked at Naruto as he smiled confidently,
"The person yer about to fight is hella strong and he's gonna beat ya face in, ya know"
They all turned to look at the redhead they had managed to forget and in an instant they saw the phantom of a small smirk before it disappeared,
"As he said, i plan to defeat you; shall we begin?"