So, here we are again with another chapter of Naruto Nara. I was debating whether to add an arc before the Chunin Exams but I'm just way too excited to write about it to write a whole another arc before it. I'm sure we can all agree that the Chunin Exams is probably the best arc in Naruto. So many cool moments, strategies and a clever build-up to the Konoha Crush. And I've ready plenty of good fics that make this arc absolutely phenomenal. I won't compare to them but I'll try my best.
(Sasuke POV)
Sasuke had never felt so conflicted. For the first time ever, he didn't feel the hatred that raged within his heart dominating his thoughts and mind. Since they had got back from the Wave Mission, Kakashi had treated them easy. They met up as a team everyday and Sasuke couldn't help but feeling attached to the other two. Sakura had grown from an annoying fangirl to someone with incredible potential and grace. And Naruto…
He had proven himself to be the perfect rival. The one that would push him to achieve the levels of strength needed to defeat Itachi.
But as he thought about his goal, something felt different. He still wanted to kill Itachi but the normal sharp intensity of his anger seemed to have been blunted.
Still, he wanted to be stronger. He had started to spar against Naruto when the boy appeared available and in Taijutsu he found himself on the losing side. Even with the Sharingan.
That was why he had come here. Empty buildings loomed above him from all sides as he approached the Uchiha district. He rarely came back to this place anymore, choosing to live in the mansion that his family owned on the stark opposite side of the village.
But if he wanted to get stronger, he would have to steel himself. The wind picked up and howled around him while he tried to ignore the brief flashes of memory that each of the structures ignited within him.
After a lot of wandering blindly, he finally made it. The clan library. Where all of the biggest and most powerful clan techniques and Jutsu were kept.
Sasuke channeled chakra into his Sharingan as he approached the door, weaving hand signs. His father had brought him to this place once long ago. That was when he learned the Fire Style:Fire Stream. It was C-Rank but it cost little chakra for an elemental Jutsu.
His hand struck the base of the door as strange markings suddenly materialised, a whirl of black writing rippling through. The building was protected by some advanced Fuuinjutsu. It was one of the few abilities these eyes of his couldn't copy.
The door creaked open to reveal dozens of bookshelves, crammed full of books. There were books devoted to Fire techniques, elemental mastery, Taijutsu arts. Everything Sasuke could wish for. His mouth almost started to water before Sasuke realised how weird that would have been.
"I will catch up to you, Itachi." Sasuke whispered into the air, his words stolen by the gale that flew through the door.
His moment was abruptly ruined when Sasuke ran forward excitedly, to slip on a paper scroll and land flat on the floor.
"Damn it."
(Sakura POV)
Most of her life, Sakura had never thought herself as important. She wanted to be a ninja even though she was a civilian and that put her below the many clan kids out there. Of course, then she met Sasuke and fell hopelessly in love with him to join the hundreds of other rabid fangirls who wanted a piece of him. There, she felt even less valuable. She examined herself in the mirror every day before she left for the Academy trying to find every single thing wrong with her that could stop her from winning Sasuke's love. After years of failure, Sakura eventually thought herself to be ugly and only really continued to try vying for Sasuke's affections out of pure habit.
Now, she found herself waking up, feeling confident for the day ahead. Being part of a team hadn't changed her much at the beginning. She still admired Sasuke's every move while continuing to dismiss Naruto as useless despite him performing much better in the bell test.
That was when the trip to the Land of Waves brought perspective to Sakura's sheltered life. She had never really thought about why she wanted to be a ninja. But that was when she realised what she wanted her purpose to be. She wanted to help other people as a ninja. To use her skills to change the world for the better.
With better conviction, Sakura found the rest of the members of Team 7 warming to her. Kakashi saw her as more than a fangirl and congratulated her for getting out of that phase. Naruto smiled at her and cheered her on as if he truly believed in her. His enthusiasm was contagious and soon she found herself smiling along with him.
She had truly realised that the nine tailed fox was nothing but a creature within Naruto and was probably the complete opposite of the golden ball of sunshine that made her smile. And whenever he got serious, like that time in Wave, he would do anything for his friends.
And Sasuke had the best reaction of them all. Instead of treating her coldly, he started to talk to her more often. He even started to smile when Sakura approached him. Sakura still felt the flutter in her heart when she looked at Sasuke, her crush wouldn't be gone that easily but she was able to let it go. At least, for now.
But it did look like there might be a chance that one day Sasuke would like her back.
Inner Sakura, the personification of her loneliness and obsession of being perfect, had started to fade back.
And of course, in her training, she was excelling. She had learned how to coat her hands in chakra and infuse them with power like Tsunade, the legendary Sannin. Genjutsu came to her more easily as she learned the water-walking technique.
Her mother, Mebuki, noticed this too.
"My daughter's growing up to be a fine shinobi." Mebuki smiled to herself.
All in all, being in a team was the best thing that had happened to her. She stopped dieting, started to develop muscles, and woke up each morning feeling refreshed.
That morning, she combed her shortened hair. It was an unconventional style but she felt like the haircut symbolised the changes within her in a way.
Today, Team 7 was meeting at Ichiraku's Ramen. Minus Kakashi, who claimed he had some mission to do involving crazy assassins and an old woman crossing the street.
Sakura looked at herself in the mirror and smiled.
Then she left her house and ran towards the shop. Naruto loved ramen so this better be good. Otherwise, she'll have to sadly inform the idiot that ramen was off the table.
For good.
(Naruto POV)
Naruto was feeling ecstatic. He was finally going to introduce his team to the heaven that was Ichiraku's Ramen. As he arrived at the familiar stand, Ayame nodded to him.
"One miso ramen please." Both of them said at the exact same time.
"That's what you always ask, Naruto. At least at the start." Ayame handed him a fresh bowl of ramen, smiling, "You should switch it up sometimes."
"Nah, it's just the starter. It's better to have the same thing before we get to the most exotic dishes." Naruto slurped it down while forcing the strand of noodles into his mouth.
"Oh, that new outfit looks amazing!" the girl picked up his new clothing for the first time, apprasing it.
Naruto had lost his previous orange and black clothes for something completely different. He now wore a red tunic that reached his knees with a gap revealing green underneath.
"Nice outfit, dobe."
Sasuke waved as he approached Naruto, one hand still in his pocket as he smirked at him.
"Yeah, I know, teme."
They exchanged an almost silent greeting as Sasuke sat next to him. Sakura soon followed running towards them hurriedly.
"Hey, guys!" Sakura said before taking a seat.
Naruto ordered for them before Sasuke spoke up.
"I've gotten a lot stronger, dobe, so don't think that you'll be beating me any time soon."
"I doubt that. You'd be blown away if you knew who my current sensei was."
"Who is it?" Sakura asked curiously.
"Jiraiya of the Sannin." Naruto stated proudly.
Both Sasuke and Sakura choked on their noodles.
"You're lying Naruto. There's no way you got such a legendary shinobi to train you. He's one of the strongest ninja in Konoha." Sakura vehemently denied it, "Are you pranking us?"
Naruto silently pointed to his stomach and both of them immediately understood.
"So, dobe, you're saying that you got a Kage-level ninja to be your sensei." Sasuke eagerly leaned forward, "I need to meet him."
"How's he like anyway?" Sakura questioned, "I've always wondered how such strong ninja be like."
Naruto deadpanned, "He's a pervert."
Both of them stood there, stunned.
"You know that book Kakashi-sensei's always reading, Icha Icha or whatever?"
"Yeah," Sakura looked revolted, "that book's a crime against women. You're telling me that he reads it as well?"
"No, even worse." Naruto's voice quietened and they were forced to lean in, "He's the one who wrote the whole series."
"Ew, gross!" Sakura squealed, letting a bit of her girlishness out.
Sasuke's face looked strangely blank, "You know if he could give me a copy?"
Sakura turned to him, and shadows clouded her expression, "What did you just say, Sasuke?"
Sasuke ignored the fact that she had omitted her usual -kun and a bead of sweat dropped down his eye.
"Calm down, it was just a joke!" he raised his hands.
Luckily, Sakura regained her senses.
"Enough about that. Did you hear the news in Kiri?"
Both of the boys looked at her blankly.
"You need to read the news more often."
"Why would I read the news instead of focusing on training and getting stronger?" Sasuke talked about training as if it was a fact of life.
Naruto nodded, agreeing with him completely.
"Man, you guys are such training maniacs. Anyway, the third Mizukage, you know the one that Haku and Zabuza were talking about?"
"Yes?" Naruto said, his acute memory pulling out the time where Haku revealed her tragic backstory to him.
"Well, he was finally defeated. And according to the paper I was reading, the battle involved the new Mizukage, two swordsmen of the mist and an Shoton user."
She looked at them expectantly.
Sasuke smirked while Naruto laughed out loud.
"So Haku helped fight and defeat a Kage. Now I really want a rematch."
In response to his statement, Naruto noticed three bushes start to rustle opposite them.
"Ok, you guys, you can come out now." Naruto sighed.
Three kids sheepishly came out of the bushes.
"Who are these brats, dobe? Fans of yours."
"Boss is our sensei. He's going to teach us some powerful Jutsu!"
"Is that so?" Sakura looked at him, amused.
"Ey, boss. Is that your girlfriend?"
She suddenly appeared horrified, "Of course not, we're teammates!"
"Good, she's way too ugly for you. Especially with that big forehead."
Sakura's face once again darkened as Konohamaru felt killing intent ooze out of her.
"Uh oh. You angered the wrong person today, Konohamaru. Run for your life!" Naruto gave him a life-saving piece of advice.
The small boy ran forward as an irate Sakura began to chase him down at high speed.
"I'd better make sure he doesn't die. You coming with me, Sasuke?"
"You go on, dobe. I'll catch up."
"One day you'll call me by my real name."
"You wish." Sasuke said the last word loud and clear, "Dobe."
He knew that behind that silly exterior, a level-headed genius hid. But it was funny to get some reaction from Naruto, even if it was somewhat fake.
Meanwhile, a group of three walked through the streets of Konoha, wearing Suna headbands displayed for the world to see.
Konohamaru without looking ran straight into a strange boy wearing a black hood and make-up.
"Uh, sorry?" Konahamaru got back up and froze.
"Well, well, well. Look who we have here. A little boy bumping into foreign ninja with no fear."
Kankuro's voice sounded eerie as he decided to give the boy a scare. Using one hand, chakra strings burst out from each finger and attached itself to one of the smaller puppets on his back.
Konohamaru stepped back, "I'm really sorry but I need to go back and…"
"Move and you're dead."
The blonde girl next to him didn't say anything as a brown thing leapt from Kankuro's back towards the boy.
Only for it to be sent hurtling back into the sandy floor behind him as a blonde blur materialised himself in front of Kankuro, leaves hovering in the air as Naruto used the wind to make his heroic entrance more impressive.
Holding a kunai to his throat, Naruto spoke slowly and carefully, "That was the grandson of the Hokage. If you hurt him in any way, shape or form, you would have caused a diplomatic disaster."
Kankuro tensed as Temari raised her fan, thinking about how she didn't even see him appear.
"If you move, you're dead too."
Sasuke appeared by the tree, tossing a kunai that intentionally missed Temari's neck by millimetres and impaled itself onto the ground right next to Gaara.
"Stop it right now, Kankuro. We are not here to cause trouble. At least, not yet."
Kankuro raised his hands, trembling as Naruto stepped back.
"I assume you're here for the Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked, putting the kunai back into his pocket.
"Yes, and you seem very interesting."
Suddenly, intense killing intent leaked from Gaara as a manic face took over while he looked at Naruto and turned to glance at Sasuke.
"What is your name?"
"Uh, Naruto Uzumaki. And who are you?"
"Gaara of Sunagakure. What about you?" he looked at Sasuke who had turned on his Sharingan.
"Sasuke Uchiha."
"So, it was nice meeting you, and your sister is kinda hot-"
"What?" Temari shouted, blushing slightly, "You can't just randomly stay stuff like that."
Naruto had a foxy grin on his face.
"But what if it's true?"
"Gaara, we should really get a move on." Both Kankuro and Temari urged him forward
He nodded to himself eerily.
"Yes, mother, I will do it. But not now."
Suddenly, a voice called out to them from behind.
"Have you lot already gotten yourself into trouble?"
A woman with green hair and orange lashes that reached down to her chin on either side walked up to them casually.
Sakura's eyes bulged.
"Is that who I think it is?"
Naruto and Sasuke also recognised the woman. How could they not? She was Pakura of the Scorch Release, one of Suna's S-Rank ninja. Nearly as renowned as the Sannin.
"That's your sensei? You are really lucky." Naruto said to Gaara who looked at him silently.
From the other pathway, another team emerged to see the confrontation. They were lead by a dark-skinned man wearing sunglasses and a white forehead protector, with eight swords on his back.
"What's going on here, ya fools, ya fools? I'll make you shed a tear with my cool."
Disclaimer: I cannot write rap very well.
"Nothing's going on here." Naruto had no idea what to say.
He stepped aside and let Gaara and his team continue on their path while Killer Bee followed.
"Hey wait, number nine, I'm eight and that's no crime." He winked as Naruto felt something shift in his stomach.
He winced as Sasuke dropped from the tree.
"That's two really impressive teams that are entering the Chunin Exams. I really want to test my skills against them." Sasuke informed him, "What was he talking to you about?"
"Apparently, that guy is the jinchuriki of the eight-tails."
"Wow."
"Thank goodness that we don't have to take part in that exam." Sakura shuddered only for both of the boys to look at her, "What? What is it?"
"You're improving, Sakura. But you haven't reached there yet." Naruto said.
"I'm sure she'll reach there eventually."
"What? What are you talking about?"
The Hokage stood in a room with all the top Jonin and academy Chunin for nomination for the Chunin Exams.
"As we all know, this will be the biggest Chunin Exams ever recorded. It's time we choose which teams from Konoha will be joining these exams. Alright, first up are the senseis of the rookie genin. Would you please step forward?"
Kakashi spoke up first, "I recommend Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha for the Chunin exams."
"All three of them!" Iruka tried to intervene.
"What is it, Iruka? Do you have an objection? It is no longer your decision anymore."
"With all due respect, as the biggest Chunin exams, there will be some powerful opponents. Are you sure that these rookie genin can take them on."
"They're on my squad now, Iruka. And well, we completed an A-Rank mission without too much difficulty, so that argument is pointless."
Iruka was shocked to silence while the other Jonin continued.
"I, Kurenai of Team 8, nominate Hinata Hyuga, Shino Aburame and Kiba Inuzuka for the upcoming Chunin Exams."
Asuma pulled the cigar out of his mouth and puffed out a trail of smoke, "As the sensei of Team 10, I nominate Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi for the Chunin Exams."
"So all three rookie Genin teams have nominated all three of their genin. Good." The Hokage looked pleased, as if he had wanted this to happen.
As the rest of them filtered out Kakashi talked to Iruka about his worries.
"I have no doubts that Sasuke and Naruto will make it far, if not the end of the Chunin Exams."
"What about Sakura? She's not ready yet."
Kakashi paused, "Sakura has made a remarkable change to the academy student you once knew. She has stopped obsessing over Sasuke for the most part and now has actually started chakra strength training while I teach her some decently strong Genjutsu. She might not be at the same level at the others but this should give her an insight on how strong ninjas really are. And remember, if she doesn't want to, she can refuse."
Iruka appeared satisfied enough with that explanation and Kakashi left in a swirl of leaves.
"Why does he always have to have a dramatic exit?" Iruka shouted to himself.
The next day, Kakashi called each member of Team 7 and gave them the Chunin Exam application.
"It's up to you guys. But I think with what I've seen of your skills in the Land of Wave, that you can do it."
Sasuke looked down at the piece of paper and immediately circled Yes.
"Easiest decision of my life, why would I not want to enter the Chunin exams? I get to fight strong people and get closer to my dream of becoming Hokage." Naruto said out loud.
Sakura was a bit more uncertain. She had seen how strong the competitors would be and wondered if she would be able to match up to those powerhouses.
"Come on, Sakura, don't give up already." Naruto's cheerful voice butted in, "Me and Sasuke know that you can do it. All three of us can destroy the other teams if we work together. Right, Sasuke?"
"Hn. Of course."
"Alright, guys. If you're sure."
As they turned in their applications, Naruto made his way home. He had stopped his training with Lee and Guy the last few weeks to focus on training with Jiraiya. And now he was finally level 5 in Fuuinjutsu.
Jiraiya also taught him a variety of ninjutsu that weren't just powerful but versatile that Naruto could use to come up with some incredible strategies.
"So, brat, you're signing up for the Chunin Exams, aren't you?"
"Yeah." Naruto responded.
"Good choice. I'm pretty sure at least one team from every major village is coming. It'll show you that you aren't as strong as you think you are."
"Sure, Ero-Sennin."
Jiraiya seemed intent on teaching him humility as if he didn't have enough of that already.
But he had started to enjoy the man's company, minus all the times he went off peeping in the middle of training.
Naruto sighed as he relaxed on his bed.
Tomorrow, the Chunin Exams would begin.
And he would finally see how much of all of his training paid off.
Suddenly, he found himself face-flat in a gutter.
"What the hell is going on? How the fuck am I here?" Naruto swore, completely confused.
He had landed in what appeared to be an incredibly dirty sewer. A strange grey substance clang to the walls while a brown stream trickled through two large stones.
And on the other end of the sewer, there were some bars.
"Hello. Anybody here?"
"So the brat has finally decided to pay me a visit."
A massive orange fox slammed the bars and Naruto flinched.
"Wait a minute, you're the Kyuubi. And you're locked up. Does that mean we're inside my seal?"
The Kyuubi didn't respond.
"Ey, I'm talking to you." Naruto approached the bars.
"Why would I talk to a filthy human container who's only goal is to use my power? You are nothing to me!"
An orange claw tried to fit in through the bars but failed.
"You must have been lonely cooped up in here." Naruto looked around before sitting down in the least dirty part of the room, "Let's talk, then. I'm Naruto, what's your name? It can't be the Kyuubi."
"Why would I ever tell a brat like you my name?" the Kyuubi's voice thundered.
"So you do have a name. Anyway, this seal must be powerful if it can hold someone like you."
The fox growled, "It is one of the most powerful Fuuinjutsu techniques in the world. Your previous Hokage died using it to seal me in and now I'm stuck in such a weak, pathetic human. Without my power, you are nothing."
"Listen here, fox, I don't want to use your power without permission. And I'm sorry that you're stuck inside of me. But if you were let go, you would destroy the entirety of Konoha wouldn't you?"
"Obviously, why would I spare this village after everything it did to me."
"See? Until you change this attitude, you won't ever be free. Anyway, you seem quite nice. I guess I'll see you again."
"What do you mean, you insolent fool?"
"Since I'm stuck with you, we might as well be friends."
Naruto looked around.
"Now how to get out of here?"
"I will never befriend the likes of you!" the Kyuubi roared, "And this is your mind, you fool, so all you have to do is think and you'll be free."
"See, you're helping me out already. I'm sure we'll be the best of friends."
Naruto grinned before fading away, leaving the Kyuubi to mumble about insolent humans.
It took me a while to write this chapter. Which is weird since it didn't have any fight scenes unless you count that minor skirmish between Naruto and Kankuro but this is meant to introduce some of the many teams that will be taking part in the Chunin Exams. And Naruto meets the Kyuubi for the first time, yay! Of course, it'll take a while before he's able to befriend it. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed the way I characterised Sakura. I really hated her character in the original and I have a big plan for her in the exams.
Question: Which of the Konoha nine do you think is least appreciated and deserves more screen time?