AN: The armor designs for Naruto and Haku are going to be posted on the Facebook page for my stories. Or just google 'Jin Sakai Ghost armor' for Haku (specifically with the dark black dye) and Benimaru Ogre form from 'that time I reincarnated as a slime' for Naruto's. I want to give gear/design upgrades for the rest of Naruto's group as well but am still looking for good designs for Tenten, Sasuke, Kiba, and so on. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions I can look into.

Trickshot

Chapter 19

-Konohamaru-

Gritting his teeth, Konohamaru did his best to not look weak as the foreign Shinobi held him up in the air, fist reared back to punch.

"Come on Kankuro, let's just go already." A blonde girl groaned, sounding more bored than concerned about his captor smashing Konohamaru's face in.

"Not just yet Temari." The thug holding him up sneered, "This little twerp ran into me and didn't even apologize. I think I'll teach him some manners first. Let's see how long before you sque-!" the threat, and impending punch, were cut off when a spear slammed into the dirt, missing Konohamaru completely but dangerously close to impaling his captor's foot.

"Drop the kid, or the next one wrecks your little 'doll' in those bandages." A familiar feral voice snarled out as Konohamaru turned with relief, his friends cheering too. In the tree overlooking the alley he could see big Bro Naruto along with Kiba Inuzaka and Naruto's new teammate Haku Yuki. All three were decked out in their new gear and looked pissed.

Kiba, the one who'd spoken, held out his hand as the spear flew back into his palm. The Inuzaka heir was growling, claws extended and long combat trench coat billowing from the sheer pressure of his chakra.

Haku was in ominous black armor, his three blades placed on his hip and back while smaller knives lined a bandolier. The half mask on his face was ominous but nowhere close to how cold the Hyoton user's eyes were.

Then there was big bro Naruto. His new dark red armor stood out, along with the katana at his waist and the massive Zanbato sword resting on his shoulder.

He could tell all three were pouring out what his Grandpa had called 'killing intent' but he wasn't feeling any of it, the rage being directed at the two who'd been about to hurt him.

"Y-you'd better watch yourself." The thug, Kankuro, did his best to glare back, able to work through the Killing intent surprisingly well, "We're the children of the Kazekage. Attacking us is a diplomatic incident. So back o-!" his threat was cut off as before he could even finish that word, Big Bro Naruto shot from the tree. He didn't even have time to process before finding himself safely set on the ground with his friends while his big bro held Kankuro up against the wall by his throat.

"Oh really?" Naruto narrowed his eyes, unconcerned that his back was turned to the girl, "How interesting. I don't think that's a big concern though, not since you were about to assault the grandson of the Hokage. What do you think Sasuke?"

"Sounds like quite the pickle, yeah." A new voice spoke up from behind the blond as Konohamaru noted that another of his Bro's friends, Sasuke Uchiha, was there, his twin swords at the blonde girl's throat.

"So, is your third teammate gonna step out here or what?" Kiba scoffed, the Inuzaka still up in the tree, "No point in him hiding when I can smell all the blood on him from far off." At that question, Konohamaru could see Kankuro and Temari both suddenly look terrified, their fear only growing when a redhead appeared in a swirl of sand.

"You two are annoying." The redhead, who Konohamaru noted had the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his forehead, scowled at the other foreign shinobi, "I'm sorry for them bothering you."

"You'd best keep a closer eye on them from now on." Naruto scoffed, throwing Kankuro to the ground at the newcomer's feet, "If you're here for the Chuunin exams like I think then attacking the son of the Kage isn't just going to get you disqualified. It's a straight ticket to T&I. Assuming that the ANBU didn't just kill you first to send a message."

"Fair enough." The new redhead seemed to grow excited at the still leaking out killing intent and the threat of death, "I look forward to facing you in the exams. Demon of the Burning Leaves. Butcher of Wave."

"Gaara of the Sand." Naruto narrowed his eyes, "I've heard of you as well. Assuming I'm not too busy having to deal with would be assassins from Mist, then you'll get your fight."

"I'll make sure of it." The now named Gaara's expressionless mask was slipping, Konohamaru shuddering at the unhinged battle lust filled expression on the redhead's face, the redhead's teammates far too scared to speak up. "You're strong. All of you are strong. You'll help me prove my existence!"

"Then may the best man win." Naruto kept his cool as the trio walked off, only looking away when he was sure they were gone.

"You alright Ko?" instantly, the hardened shinobi was gone, and Naruto was his caring big bro again, "Sorry I haven't been around as much for a while. I've…I've been working through some things."

"T-teach me some new Jutsu, and it's fine." Konohamaru tried to keep his voice steady, still shaken up from the attack and fighting down emotion now that his Bro was hanging out with him again.

"You've got it." Naruto chuckled, reaching down to ruffle his hair, "I…I have been thinking on a lot of things lately. But I shouldn't have avoided you just because I was having a fight with your gramps."

"You and Grandpa were fighting?" Konohamaru blinked in surprise, having not known that was why he hadn't been able to spend as much time with Naruto lately.

"It's a long story." Naruto chuckled, ruffling his hair even more as Konohamaru tried, and failed, to swat his hand away "How about you tell your Grandpa to show up for dinner at the Inuzaka's tonight and I can tell you both all about what's been going on."

"Count on it!"

-Naruto-

"So, talking to the old man again?" Sasuke asked the four of them continued on their way, seeing the three academy students off first.

"Yeah. I think I've tried avoiding the issue long enough." Naruto sighed, "Just running away from my problems isn't going to help anything."

"And if he says anything stupid your girlfriend can just beat him up for you." Kiba smirked teasingly as Naruto felt his face go red.

"Come on Kiba, at least Naruto has a girlfriend." Haku shot back as Kiba sulked, the Inuzaka heir still having not managed to get his feelings through to Hinata.

"You guys suck." Naruto grumbled even as his friends snickered.

"Still, the exams start tomorrow." Sasuke sighed, "Honestly, I'm somewhat worried. Sai is strong, so I don't have to worry about him on that front but…well to be honest he's still a moron."

"Asuma hasn't managed to hammer some thoughts into his skull yet?" Naruto raised an eyebrow as Sasuke shook his head glumly, "Shikamaru is the opposite. He's brilliant tactically but still dead weight in a fight."

"Still better than the fangirl queens." Kiba barked out a laugh, "I heard their sensei refused to even let them try the exams they're still so far behind."

"Yes, I've heard that rumor as well." Haku made a face, having run into Ino and Sakura who both accused him of 'trying to look pretty to seduce them away from Sasuke-Kun'. Naruto hadn't stopped laughing for days after that incident.

"ANBU up ahead." Naruto noted the mostly hidden Jonin, having gotten used to spotting them from all his time pranking as a kid. The others noted the Shinobi after he pointed them out, "If I had to guess, we've got a team from Mist, Stone, or Cloud up there." Those were the 'big three' for trouble around these parts.

"Geeze." Sasuke ran a tired hand down his face, "So, any Mist teams try causing trouble for you yet?" Sasuke asked even as Naruto steered them into a nearby Dango shop.

"Been avoiding them all day." Naruto shook his head, "Spotting their ANBU tails helps with that. But we've got teams from the Bloody Mist and the Mist Rebellion here at the exams. Heard it from Tsume sensei."

"Seriously?" Kiba gaped, "Why the hell would they both be let in? That sounds like it's asking for chaos!"

"My guess is that the Hokage wanted them to focus on each other rather than myself or Naruto." Haku gave his theory, "The two groups might hate each other more than they want to reclaim or eliminate my bloodline. Or to try and take the Kubikirihocho away from Naruto. That said, if one of the sides gets eliminated from the exams then it'll be open season. Best be ready lest you get caught in the crossfire."

"I'm not worried." Sasuke smirked, Sharingan bleeding read as the multiple tomoe in each eye spun smugly, "I doubt there's going to be anyone in these exams even as remotely dangerous as Zabuza, let alone the four of us."

"Ahem." Naruto gave Sasuke a look as the Uchiha heir groaned.

"Uuuuuuugh, fine. Four of us plus Naruto's girlfriend. Seriously, she has you whipped."

"Maybe he's into that." Kiba smirked as Naruto felt his cheeks turn crimson again, the others laughing at his torment too.

"Assholes, all of you." Naruto's head thunked on the table while Haku went to go order some Dango for the lot of them.

"Yet you put up with us anyway." Sasuke smirked. His dark-haired friend had been growing happier in equal speed to his strength as of late. Honestly it was a lot better than the stick up the ass attitude he'd had when they first met.

"Yeah, yeah." Naruto grumbled, taking his skewered of dango when Haku returned with the snacks, "Still. Here's to kicking ass and getting ranks!"

"Cheers!"

-Sarutobi-

Taking a deep pull from his pipe, Hiruzen looked out over the village of Konoha. He could spot the occasional flicker of ANBU moving about, keeping an eye on the 'guests' in attendance for the exams set to start the next day.

"This is going to be nothing but a giant headache." Hiruzen sighed in exhaustion. Along with teams from both Mist factions, there was groups from the other members of the five Major villages as well as several minor villages such as Grass and Rain. Even a new village, 'Sound' had entered a team. Overall, this was the most populated Chuunin exam in the last decade, possibly the last two.

"Gramps!" hearing his door slam open from Konohamaru letting himself in, again, Hiruzen let out a small smile. His grandson, no matter how precocious, always did put a smile on his face.

"Hello Konohamaru." He turned to the boy to see him smiling wider than he had since Naruto was told the truth.

"I ran into Big Bro Naruto earlier!" Konohamaru's wide smile turned into an annoyed pout for a moment "He said the reason he hasn't been around for so long was because you two were fighting."

"I…well…" Hiruzen gulped, not wanting to upset his grandson, but needn't have bothered as Konohamaru just kept on going.

"But he said he wants us to go to the Inuzaka's for dinner tonight! Both of us!" Konohamaru's wide smile warmed his heart, as did the news.

"Then it sounds like we'd best get ready, doesn't it?" He grinned at his grandson who cheered and rushed off home to do so.

"You're giving me another chance Naruto." Hiruzen tapped out his pipe, eyes resolute, "You won't regret it."

AN: Next chapter starts the Exams proper. Meaning cheating time!