Chapter 14

AN: Hey guys, another update! I can't believe how busy college makes me! (last year it wasn't this bad, then again I'm going to a different school this year). Anyway, a few things:

Mascot readers, I haven't forgotten, it's just it's difficult to balance everything this second, but never fear! I will update soon, promise.

With Naruto…

Naruto chuckled at Kiba's cries and Akamaru's yelps. Kuranai gave him a look.

"I don't appreciate you laughing at my student, Naruto. They didn't get the full amount of time and is setting your beasts against them really fair?"
"Hey, first they're cat summons, and second we're ninjas. Since when is fair a part of our life style? I haven't had more than two days off since I became a shinobi? Every day I'm supposed to be off for medical or mission leave, Dragon-sama, Guy-sensei, or Sempai has something for me to do, be it training or a favor. Yesterday I got home and was told by Kakashi-sempai I needed to take over today. So please, just can it, Kuranai-sempai, I'm really just too tired to give a damn." And in a huff Naruto deftly stored his seals and stalked off to observe his former classmates be taken out by an undersized panther, a silent tiger, and lots of traps.

"Perhaps my youthful neighbor has dried up his youth from overwork" Gai said in an usually serious voice once Naruto's lithe form disappeared into the canopy, his chakra signature becoming almost non-existent to anyone below a jonin. Asuma sighed while Kuranai winced.

"I didn't know he was that busy. Then again, he's hardly in the village proper anymore. The civilians and lower chunin had begun to wonder if he was even around anymore, and none of them know he graduated."

"Yeah, pops and the higher ups are treating everything about the kid as some kind of top secret."

"Not even my youthful protégé knows he is a ninja! On the days Lee is with us Naruto is in his hip and cool off duty clothes! Oh, curse you Kakashi for taking away his most youthful orange!"

"Um, I heard that was the ANBU actually" Asuma pointed out, too which Guy ignored.

With the test takers…

The genin weren't even twenty feet in and already ten out of the twelve had experienced various traps or were caught under one of the cats. The exceptions were Sai who had narrowly missed an elaborate kunai and wire course and Shino, whose bugs were acting as his defense.

"Arg, who made Naruto pissed off?" Sakura moaned as she was caught in the third paint bomb. Naruto was never this vindictive unless someone hurt him first. Sasuke snorted and used his Sharingan to deflect some shuriken. Neji cried in frustration.

"My eyes can see destiny; why can't they pick up where these childish pranks are hiding?!" Hinata was quietly wondering why hers weren't helping either and Shikamaru dropped into his thinking pose.

"Hehehe" A heavy mist rolled through the forest laden with chakra and a disembodied voice rang out. "You all wonder why the 'dead last' is able to out smart you? News flash, I have always been able to out prank ANBU and the village- heck, I could out run most of them before I was eleven. Neji, I am friends with Hikaru, and his eyes are stronger than yours"

"Nonsense!" Neji claimed. His were the strongest since his father's. "That disgrace focuses on inferior techniques to the Byakugan, his eyes have already been surpassed by even Hanabi"

"Tsk, tsk, no. Yours and Hanabi's eyes have the 'potential' to surpass Hikaru's, but you are just a new genin and Hikaru is a jonin at fifteen. That, and he doesn't rely on his eyes to fight, they are just a tool like every other kunai or exploding tag." Naruto was slinking through the trees in a taunting manner as he ripped into his friend's little cousin's pride. Hikaru rarely discussed his clan but he had a special place in his heart for Neji- well, more of a desire to beat the fate out of him as the boy bought into the clan's whispers that his eyes were already at the pinnacle and that Hikaru was a failure for having an even skill set. Naruto set this part of the test just for him, and Akira joined him in sniggering at the genins' misfortune from her perch nearby. "Now start working together, I'll be watching." The mist pulled away slowly and Sakura cleared her throat.

"Alright everyone! We have about five hours left to make it through the forest of traps, grab Angel, and bring her back to the clearing, all while staying away from Akira and Hisoka. Naruto taught Sasuke basic traps and Sai the more advanced ones so they'll each be in charge of a sub group. Shikamaru, who should be on what team and what should our formations be?" Sakura asked, and the group stared in shock as some one willingly split up the leadership. As Shikamaru prepared to speak Neji spoke up.

"It is unwise for a civilian ninja like you to take charge, as you also have no real skills or experience, especially as my failure of a cousin taught you. I'll decide the teams and" Sasuke, who had stood next to him, backed off and Sakura's fist shot Neji back. She cracked her knuckles.

"Don't insult Hikaru-sensei, and Naruto put me in charge. So shut up!" The genin were wide eyed and many could have sworn a camera click went off from above. Sakura turned a sweet smile back to Shikamaru. "Continue, please."

"Troublesome, woman. Fine, here's how we'll do this…"
As the genin planned and set off Naruto was enjoying the pictures he captured; Hikaru would garner no small amount of amusement from the snapshot of Neji being blown away by the pinkette's fist. "Good job, Sakura" he complimented quietly as she delegated each task perfectly, much like a true leader.

Fifteen minutes later after Akira had once again swept in for a visit to the genin, the feline appeared next to Naruto's new perch as he worked on the seal.

"Naruto, can I hang out with Angel? This is boring" She asked. Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Boring? You love this kind of thing. I saw how you turned Kiba's jacked into ribbons and clawed 'I love felines' into his front." The panther puffed out her cheeks.

"Yeah, but they're too easy. Hisoka is keeping them busy anyways, so please?" She turned the kitten eyes on him, and the blonde couldn't resist.

"…fine, but don't do anything stupid. And don't let the genin capture Angel; it'd be a blow to our pride." Akira grinned and left, Naruto deciding to do the same and headed off back to the clearing to at least keep some semblance of a working relationship with the jonin sensei.

Thirty minutes before sunset, with Angel and Akira…

"Just remember to always fill the mouth with chakra too and you'll be fine" Angel advised from her perch that Naruto left her on. The hell cat had spent the afternoon napping and working on the false surroundings genjutsu, when Akira appeared asking for a favor. The panther grinned wickedly before darting off through the shadows, and Angel idly wondered if Naruto would forgive her for this. "Eh, he'll probably find it hilarious." She decided and set back down for another nap.

Sakura and Ino were in the leading group, along with Shino and Neji, who could see the traps once the various layers of chakra and blocking seals were disabled by Sakura and Ino every few feet. They were almost at the spot where Naruto's cat would be and Sakura was ready to be done and go home, if only so she wouldn't have to listen to the constant in fighting. By now they had barely fifteen minutes- if that- before sunset. Akira dropped in front of the group, causing them to go into the defensive. The genin had managed to injure Hisoka with a grazing, making him him poof, but the panther hadn't shown herself.

"Hahaha! Taste this, humans" Akira's voice cackled and a stream of fire exploded from her mouth, hitting Ino's hair.

"EEP!" The blonde girl screamed as the ends of her hair went up in flames. Sakura, not wasting time, cut the burning tendrils off before it reached the scalp and pulled her friend away.

"Shikamaru's group: capture her before she burns down the whole forest!" Sakura ordered and Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Hinata move in, surrounding the feline. Shino sends a wave of bugs as well. Akira lets loose another round of flames, burning the bugs and singing Hinata's jacket. All around the group the forest burned. Sasuke fired off a fireball to counter Akira's and Sakura resisted to urge to rub her temples as she and Shikamaru attempted to come up with a plan. None of them knew much, if any, elemental ninjutsu, and no water ninjutsu at all. Kiba and Akamaru did a Getsuga into a tree, releasing a torrent of wire, entrapping them and Sai, who was near. Ino was still fussing over her locks and Choji used a human boulder into Shikamaru.

"Water style: Water wall" was heard and Naruto commanded a torrent of water from a scroll, soaking everything- and everyone- and effectively putting out the fire. He glared down at the group, though mainly Akira. "This test is over; meet me in the clearing." He used a shunshin and was gone, much to the genins' chagrin.

Naruto had all twelve in front of him, sitting soaked on the ground and looking between sheepish to enraged. He snorted as Kiba gave Akira on his shoulder death glares, and bopped the feline as she hissed back. The jonin were hidden nearby to listen in.

"I am very disappointed" he began. Protests began but an icy glare they had never seen before silenced them. "Again, disappointed. Academy students would do better than you guys! Yes, Akira should have had the foresight to not use fire ninjutsu in a forest, but so should you, Sasuke. Not only did you twelve fail, but your pace was slow, something that will get you killed in the field."

"Oh, yeah, loser? You didn't even graduate, what do you know?!" Naruto's eye twitched.

"Oh screw it. Sakura, Sasuke, Sai!" All three stood at attention as Hikaru and Kakashi to an extent taught them. "Tell me, what rank am I?"

"Chunin, sempai" The three answered immediately and Naruto had them sit down. Naruto nodded and took out his vest and headband.

"Good, yes. I am a chunin, it was a field promotion. Now, onto other matters"

"How did you get promoted"

"Village secret" Naruto cut Ino off immediately. "You have to learn when to use jutsu, and how to move silently. I watched you all for hours in between bugging your sensei, and you all talked too much, moved too loudly, and misused jutsu throughout the entire test. A cramped space is not the place to try a human boulder or Getsuga. Your sensei will have their own reports now. Oh, and if any of you talk about my status you'll be charged with insubordination and receive a black mark" Naruto added as he left, pointedly looking at Ino. She gulped but nodded and the off duty ANBU left the genin to speculate amongst themselves.

"Well I didn't expect him to tell them his status" Asuma whispered from his perch. Guy looked thoughtful while Kuranai looked a bit miffed.

"Still, Naruto didn't have to be so rough on them, they aren't trained to the degree he was"

"And that's not my fault" Naruto's amused voice added as he walked up with Angel, Akira having left for home already. "It's better for them to learn here in the village than die in the field. That's what I was taught. Besides, they did okay, just their ego needs work. Though I'm surprised- you have ANBU helping your team Kuranai-sempai. See you three at the poker game tomorrow" Naruto waved as he walked off, no doubt to get some rest, leaving a now thoughtful group of jonin in his wake.

"Hey, Naruto?"

"Yes, Angel?" Naruto answered while buying some take out ramen for Yakumo and him. He didn't have a mission tomorrow, just training at ten with the Hokage, so Naruto planned to visit his new friend.

"Why were you so mean sounding back there? Akira even said you told them to be harsher and those traps were higher than they'd see in the chunin exams."
"…Sigh. It's just…I was bullied by most of the genin back in the academy, and the rest ignored me. It was a form of payback. As for the jonin…well, I don't think they'll underestimate me now" he smirked. Angel purred.

"Yeah, I don't think so either. Are you mad though? About me showing Akira a fire jutsu?" He snorted.

"Hell no, that was hilarious, especially when it hit Ino's hair. Ha! Though I will need to talk to her about restraint. My water ninjutsu is coming along" Naruto added and began telling his partner about his success the two jutsu that were beginning to not drain him completely.

Yakumo stared down at her bowl curiously as Naruto and Angel consumed theirs with gusto. She tried to take a peak while Naruto ate but the ANBU was sly and she never managed.

"Huh? Not hungry?" Naruto asked with a hint of worry as Yakumo was already too skinny. "Go on, it's good." He reassured her. Yakumo hesitated before taking a small bite, unable to hide how much she liked it as she grinned. She sensed Naruto being smug and huffed.

"It's alright" she gave in. "Thanks, Mouse."
"No problem" he responded and got another bowl as they watched the stars start to rise.

With Kakashi's group…

Kakashi's earth wall was shattered by a now version two Han. Tenzo's vines ensnared the jinchuuriki twice now but the amount of chakra to hold down that many tails was frightening. Kakashi prepared his Sharingan as Tenzo again prepared his jutsu. However, Han refused to meet Kakashi's gaze for the genjutsu to set in. This assassination would have been easy, if not for the fact Han was being accompianed by a jonin, one Dragon was currently facing.

Dragon stared at his opponent, a jonin Kunoichi who licked her lips menacingly.

"Earth style: Earth and stone dragon!" She called and the ground rose to resemble a massive dragon. Dragon repressed an eye roll at her power display.

'I can't mess around, Kakashi and Tenzo are having trouble- Han is better than we thought. I'll have to use it. For both of them.' The commander, mind made up, used three successive shunshins to first dodge the dragon and then get into her defense. The Iwa jonin blocked his sword with her own, and she looked into the ANBU's eyes.

Big mistake.

"Sharingan!" the Iwa nin gasped. In one eye, a glowing red and spinning orb met her gaze, spinning.

"Night, night" He said, as she fell into trance. A slice later and she was dead. Turning his head towards the exploding demonic chakra, Dragon grimaced. "I hope Hiruzen forgives me" he muttered and left to save his comrades, both of whom were wearing down.

End! So, I was going to add the detailed part of the fight, but decided to wait till next time! I wanted Naruto's meeting with the Konoha 12 out of the way because I really don't like many of them, at least in part one. They treat Naruto like crap, and while he's annoying, so is Kiba, the girls, and really everyone. I figured this way he got his payback, the jonin remember his abilities, and they now know he's a ninja, even if they can't talk about it. This way perhaps Naruto can start leading some other group missions where the other rookies get a chance to grow. How do you like Akira's new move? I was going to have it catch both Ino's hair and Sakura's, but decided against it. Plus, really the idea to burn Ino's hair off (making her perhaps see that ninja life isn't super easy…probably not but I can hope) was an accident.

Anyways, Dragon has basically revealed himself, I hope those who didn't guess before are surprised in a good way, and have a great week!