(Welcome to the next chapter. Hope you're ready for part one of the Chunin Exams, and Naruto gets a little vision that'll lead to some dangerous events ready to unfold.)

After every participant in the room turned in their Chunin Exam forms, they were assigned and seat at a table with a piece of paper face down along with a writing utensil.

Naruto sat down at his assigned seat and looked around seeing everyone else sitting down. He thought to himself, 'Looks like they don't want us sitting next to our own teammates for this first part.

"Hi, Naruto." came a voice, as Naruto looked to his side seeing Hinata.

Naruto smiled, "Hi, Hinata. How lucky am I to be seated next to you, huh?"

Hinata had a faint blush from Naruto's words, and spoke, "Let's all do our best."

Naruto nodded in agreement, "Yeah."

Soon they all turned their attention towards the front where their proctor Ibiki spoke, "On your desk is your written exam. Don't turn it over until I say so. Now let me explain the rules."

'Rules?' just about every participant thought in confusion.

"This test is composed of ten questions, you will answer nine of them and when time runs out I will give you the tenth one. You will be graded as a whole squad, so if one of you fails worse than the others you and your team will be asked to leave. And if any of you are foolish enough to be caught cheating three times by any of the present sentinels you will be asked to leave along with your squad. You have exactly one hour to complete your test. If there are no questions,you may begin!"

With that, the participants turned their tests over and got right to work. Naruto took a deep breath and cleared his head. He thought, 'Ok, Naruto, this is it. Just relax and do the best you can,' he got ready to look at his exam only to look confused, 'This is odd. The questions listed on this exam look too complicated for an average genin fresh out of the academy. And how would one even be prepared for this if they didn't even tell us there was going to be a written portion? There has to be a deeper meaning behind this,' he suddenly remembered what Ibiki said about cheating, 'So that's his plan. He's trying to test our skills at cheating... Too bad I don't have any real methods of cheating... Hell, I don't even need to. With all the private tutors Asami-baasan hired to teach me for the last number of years this stuff is cakewalk.' and so Naruto just decided to answer the questions regardless of the true test.

And just like Naruto, just about everyone in the classroom had caught onto Ibiki's plan and were using their own techniques to gain answers from each other so they could answer their tests. Many were proving to be difficult to be caught cheating by the sentinels, others not so much. When one sentinel called out one who was caught three times, they were dismissed along with their whole squad.

An hour had passed, and Ibiki spoke up to the remaining participants, "All right listen up. I'm about to give the tenth question. But before I do I should tell you that this question is optional. But if you choose not to take it, you must leave with your squad."

"What?!" Kiba snapped, "If that's the result of passing up the last question, why make it optional?!"

Ibiki remained calm and answered, "Because if you decide to take the last question and end up failing it then you will never be permitted to take the Chunin Exams ever again," the participants froze in shock at this additional news, "Now the choice remains up to you. Remember if one of you decided to chicken out then the rest of your team goes."

Just about everyone was shaken up from Ibiki's words, and some had already started raising their hands to leave. The ones who raised their hands were permitted to leave and took their whole squad with them. Naruto watched seeing squad after squad leave, and didn't like this, 'He's scaring away all the competition! I can't have that happen!' he slammed his hand on his desk startling Ibiki and everyone else, "Screw your words, man!"

"What?" Ibiki asked in shock.

"If you think I'm gonna let you scare me away with your words, well, you've got another thing coming! This may be my first time taking this exam and if I fail then it may be my last. But that'll never stop me from being the best shinobi as I can be! So bring that tenth question on!" he exclaimed with high enthusiasm, and thought calmly to himself, 'And what kind of Avatar would I be if I walked away from something such as this?'

Many of the participants smiled with confidence after hearing Naruto's speech. While Hinata, Ino, and even Sakura felt flustered by such bold words. Ibiki looked around seeing no one else was getting up and looked to his sentinels who nodded in confirmation.

The proctor spoke up, "All right then. Everyone... You pass." he said bluntly and smiled.

Suddenly the hype died down as everyone in the room looked confused, "What'd you say?" Sakura asked.

"You passed." Ibiki repeated himself.

"But what about the tenth question?" Ino asked in confusion.

Ibiki chuckled, "There never was a tenth question. I was just trying to psyche you out to see if you'd stay or not."

Temari spoke up, "Then why did you put us through all these questions?"

Shikamaru sighed, "Figures it was all a waste of time."

Ibiki scowled at Shikamaru's words, "This was not a waste of time. This was essential to being a Chunin. I had these complicated problems given to you knowing you would try to find ways to cheat. But you needed someone to cheat on. I won't question the IQ's of anyone here, but for insurance I had some undercover Chunin shinobi sit amongst you to use as sources."

Naruto spoke up, "Then then tenth question?"

"Like I said before was a way to see if you'd stay or not. Being a chunin means risking your life more than you would at your current rank. You will be forced to partake in more life threatening missions down the line. In this exam, staying meant you'd be willing to face the odds even if they're stacked against you. While those who left would have another chance to take it, but in real life there won't be a second chance especially on missions where you have to lay down your life. That is what it takes to be a Chunin. And seeing you all here proves you do have the guts."

Ibiki's eyes suddenly shifted to the nearby window. Something crashed into it and took the form of a banner reading 'Anko Mitarashi' Appering before the banner was a woman dressed in a fishnet suit and a trench coat.

"What's up, maggots?! I'm Anko Mitarashi, and I'm your second proctor for the Chunin Exams!" she declared.

Ibiki spoke flatly, "Anko, you're early again."

The woman named Anko face faulted. She suddenly scanned the room at all the participants and turned to Ibiki, "You let all these teams pass? You're losing your touch, Ibiki."

"Or we have better applicants this year." Ibiki countered.

Anko scowled, before smirking, "I'll fix that soon enough," she addressed all the shinobi, "All right, listen up. Tomorrow you will be briefed on where the second portion will be held. For now return home and rest up. Because tomorrow may very well be your last day alive." she smirked, before vanishing.

Some of the shinobi were slightly shaken by Anko's words, but took off. Naruto and his squad left as well feeling relieved that part one of the Chunin Exams was over.

Before they headed home, the three stopped at Ichiraku for some lunch. As they sat down and enjoyed their ramen, Naruto spoke, "Boy, that was sure intense back there wasn't it?"

Sakura answered, "I know. And I thought Iruka-sensei was strict and intimidating with exams."

"So how did you guys cheat?" Naruto asked, before looking to Sasuke, "I assume you used your Sharingan, Sasuke?"

"You assumed correct. I used it to copy the hand movements of one guy." the Uchiha explained.

"And you, Sakura?" Naruto asked.

"Well, I mostly just answered them casually. I am book smart, you know?"

"True." Naruto confirmed.

"What about you?" Sasuke asked, "Did you use some special Avatar cheating method?"

"Actually, like Sakura, I guessed them normally."

Sakura and Sasuke did a double take, as the girl asked, "You did?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem?"

"Well, not to doubt you, Naruto, but those were some tough questions ever for me." Sakura explained.

Naruto spoke, "Well, while I was away undergoing Avatar training, my waterbending instructor had also hired multiple professors and such to give me a proper education."

"Really?" Sasuke asked.

"Yeah. You wouldn't believe how much they crammed in my head," Naruto groaned from the memory, "But after today all those lessons paid off."

"Obviously." Sakura replied, before looking nervous, which didn't go unnoticed by her teammates.

"Everything ok, Sakura?" Naruto inquired.

"Yeah, just wondering about tomorrow. The second proctor looked so sure about cutting down the competition."

Sasuke spoke, "Remember, Sakura. It's their job to intimidate us. They're trying to mold us into becoming Chunin by throwing their worse at us."

"Sasuke's right. Tomorrow we have to be stronger than we were today. Because things are only going to be getting worse." Naruto added.

Sakura nodded, "Yeah."

"Well, come on, guys. Eat up." Naruto said, as they finished their ramen. When Naruto paid for lunch, the three went home to rest and relax so they'd be ready for tomorrow.

When Naruto entered his home, he was pounced by Soreth who pinned him to the floor and slobbered all over his face. Naruto laughed, "Soreth, please! That tickles!" he finally got his dragon off and cleaned his face, "Well, boy, I passed the first part of the Chunin Exams. And tomorrow is the second part. I got to tell everyone in the spirit world." he said as he got into his meditating position and concentrated.

However instead of going into the spirit world, Naruto had started seeing visions flash before him. What he saw was Hiruzen and a squad of shinobi storming some compound. They barged into a room where they saw another man standing before a human construction table. The man had a mop of black hair, pale white skin, and yellow snake eyes. Though Naruto could not hear the conversation between the Sandaime and the other guy, he could tell that the Hokage was furious at the man who just kept smiling like a mad man.

Naruto woke up from his trance and gasped in shock. Soreth who was concerned for him nudged him in comfort. Naruto spoke, "Oh, Soreth. I just saw something bizarre. I saw Jiji, and another guy. I don't know who he was, but he had the look of trouble written all over his face. But why did I see that vision?" he gasped, "Jiji might have the answers for me. Soreth, I'll be right back." Naruto bolted out the door and headed for the administration building.

When Naruto was closing in on the building, he pulled to a halt, "Wait a minute, if I try to go in there and request a meeting with Jiji they'll just send me away. So I'll take my way." he used airbending to propel himself up to the building's roof. He looked through the window of Hiruzen's office and saw the old man was doing paperwork. When he saw no one else was present in the office, Naruto decided to act.

He tapped on the window grabbing the Sandaime's attention. He saw Naruto standing outside the window, and looked shocked, "Naruto?!" he got up and opened the window.

"Thanks, Jiji." Naruto said, as he climbed inside the office.

"Naruto, the Chunin Exams second portion starts tomorrow. I really don't have time for any of your games." the Hokage scolded Naruto.

"Jiji, there's no games here. I've come here because I saw something while meditating. A vision from the past involving you."

Hiruzen grew a sudden look of curiosity, before asking, "Involving me?"

"Yes. I was planning to meditate into the spirit world and talked to Iroh-jiji, and I ended up seeing a vision involving you and this one other man."

Hiruzen continued to look curious, "What can you tell me about this other man?"

"He had long black hair, pale skin, and his eyes looked like they belonged to a serpent," the Avatar explained. After finishing his description, Naruto saw the Sandaime looked horrified, "Jiji?"

Hiruzen thought to himself in disbelief, 'It can't be.'

"Jiji? Hey!" Naruto shouted.

Hiruzen snapped out of his thoughts, "Oh, forgive me. I was deep in thought."

"Jiji, that man I saw in my vision. You know who he is don't you?"

The Hokage spoke up, "Before I answer you, Naruto. I must take precautions." he closed the blinds of his windows and put a sealing tag on the door to keep anyone from entering or overhearing anything from outside the office, "Ok, I'm free to talk. Naruto, that man in your vision was once a Konoha shinobi."

"He was?"

"Yes. His name is Orochimaru."

"Orochimaru?" Hiruzen nodded, and Naruto asked, "You said he was once a Konoha shinobi? So then is he dead?"

"Hardly. He's a nukenin."

"A rogue?"

"Yes. And he was once my student." Hiruzen added with guilt.

"Your student?" Naruto asked in shock.

Hiruzen nodded, "This was many years ago, Naruto. During my more younger years I was also a sense of a three ninja squad. One of my three proteges was Orochimaru. Much like many prodigies over the years he too was smarter than the average shinobi at a young age. But that's not to say his other teammates also had their fields of expertise," he imagined one of them grinning while running away from a bathhouse, "As they moved on from student to shinobi they ended up earning the title of The Three Legendary Sannin."

"I see." Naruto replied, as the Hokage continued.

"However, as time went on, Orochimaru started developing a twisted perspective on the world and started devoting his time to experimenting. We found out he was using innocent lives from our village for his experiments."

"What kind of experiments?"

"One of them was a way to live forever beyond the boundaries of aging, but the other was a way to learn all the jutsu of the world."

"All the world's jutsu?" Naruto was wide eyed.

"Yes. He'd experiment on innocent lives to further his research. When me and several other shinobi found out about his illegal experimenting we attempted to stop him and bring him in. But we failed in capturing him... I failed."

"Jiji?"

"I had my chance to take him down, but I hesitated. How could I bring myself to put down a man who was once my student since he was a child? I let my emotions cloud my mind that day. Since then I've never been able to get over that mistake." he said sadly.

Naruto gave the Hokage a moment, before asking, "Jiji, why would I have a vision about Orochimaru?"

Hiruzen answered, "I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to bet your past Avatar life is trying to warn you."

"Warn me? You mean like a danger involving him?"

"It's a possibility, Naruto."

"You think he's going to get involved with the Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked in worry.

Hiruzen pondered before giving Naruto an answer, "I will look into this matter, Naruto. But for now you better go on home and rest up. You have a big day tomorrow."

Naruto seeing he was right answered, "Yes, sir."

"And try not to let this vision distract you, Naruto. Remember you'll need to be at the peak of your strength for the obstacles ahead tomorrow."

"I understand. Goodnight, Jiji." Naruto said, as he went out through the window and headed on home.

Hiruzen watched Naruto leave, and thought to himself, 'Orochimaru, so you've finally come back after all this time. And if you're after who I think you're after then it's safe to say you have learned nothing.'

(And there's the chapter. I hope you enjoyed it. Don't miss next time where the Avatar comes face to face with a menace worse than Karok. See you then.)