Later.
Exterior: Konoha, training ground 44, gate.
As Anko arrived moments after he did, Naruto grinned, "What took you so long, Anko-chan?
Did you have to wait in a long line at the Dango shop, only to find out your favourite type was sold out?"
Mitarashi threw a kunai at Naruto which he dodged with a slight tilt of the head.
Then she shunshinned in front of him, took another kunai, and cut his lip before licking off the blood, pulling him intimately close, and kissing him.
"Is that a kunai in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" teased Anko.
"Would you like to find out?" asked Naruto.
"You're very naughty, my Naru-kun," chuckled Anko who grinned as she traced a finger down his muscular abdomen.
"I learnt from the best, my sexy Anko-hime."
With sadistic glee in her eyes, Mitarashi turned towards the arriving hopefuls, "Alright, maggots, sign your consent forms so you can't blame me or the village for whatever happens to you in the forest."
One of the Iwa nins pointed to Tayuya's squad, "They have four members, the rest of us only have three."
"Some people are taking it alone.
What's your point?"
Arrogant, Sasuke teased, "What's wrong?
Are big bad Iwa's shinobi scared of facing odds not in their favour?"
"This coming from the bastard of a clan that was wiped out by only one of its own?" countered Kurotsuchi.
"How about you spread your legs for me to use you to restore my clan then, you Iwa wh-" began Sasuke before Naruto's chakra enhanced fist smashed into his face, knocking him into the air before an airborne kick to the ribs launched him into the dirt, landing on his back.
Having lost patience with the Uchiha brat, Naruto flared his chakra, and attracted most of the Chunin, Tokubetsu Jonin and Jonin presently in the village, locals and visitors alike, the Anbu, Jiraiya, and the Third and Fifth Hokage.
"Sasuke Uchiha, you are a dishonourable disgrace to Konoha, the Land of Fire, Shinobi, men everywhere, your name, and your already wretched and traitorous clan.
You will apologise to the Iwa representatives right now.
Or there will be consequences."
"Let me go! I am Uchiha elite!
You're just an orphan!"
Naruto directed such ki towards Sasuke that he was back on the ground, on his knees, trembling in utter terror, "Appearances and preconceptions aren't going to tell you anything.
For instance… you've made the mistake of thinking I'm a patient man.
The Uchiha clan, the Uchiha clan…
You overestimate your own abilities with no idea of the depth of my own."
Everyone was speechless at Naruto's words, especially Sasuke as he'd heard similar words before.
"And look at you now… grovelling in the dirt." taunted Naruto, "Obsessed with the organisation, obsessed with your clan.
Obsessed with your lineage.
A worthless compulsion that enslaves you and limits your capabilities, leading you to fear what you don't understand!"
A red aura surrounded Naruto's body as he growled, "I've had enough of this and you.
There was no hope left for your pathetic clan.
You're all the same… cursed with hatred.
You focused on the trivial, and lost sight of what's most important.
Change was impossible in your fog of ignorance.
You could never evolve because regulation is all you've ever known."
Dissipating the red aura, Naruto stared so intensely into Sasuke's eyes, he could've been staring into his very soul.
After Sasuke swallowed his pride and apologised, Naruto dissipated his ki, then turned to Kurotsuchi, "On behalf of the Hokage, Konoha, and the Land of Fire, I sincerely apologise for this incident, Ms…"
"Name's Kurotsuchi, but you can call me Kuro-chan, Naruto-kun,"
"You might not feel that way if you knew my full name,"
"I already know you're a Namikaze because I overheard that Kabuto guy.
And you making the Uchiha scum say sorry has just prevented a full-scale war between our two villages."
Naruto smiled, "We might be competing against each other, but I hope we can be friends, or perhaps more if you wish, Kuro-chan,"
Kurotsuchi blushed, kissed Naruto, held a kunai to his back, then felt something cold and cylindrical press against the bottom of one of her breasts.
"There's a shortage of perfect breasts in this world.
It would be a shame to damage your lovely D-cups," whispered Naruto, making her blush deeply.
Sheathing her kunai as he sheathed his inactive lightsaber, Kurotsuchi whispered, "Then the next thing of yours to touch my breasts can be your hands, Naru-kun."
"As you wish, Kuro-hime."
Anko snickered, "Moving on from Naru-kun and Kuro-chan's flirting.
Haku-chan and Naruto-kun, you two will be a separate squad from the duck-faced emo."
Leading Naruto and Haku away as everyone else entered the forest, Anko said, "I have a special assignment for you two in the forest,"
"What kind of assignment?" asked Haku.
"A few of the competitors are actually missing-nins under false identities.
I want you two to take them out," answered Anko who provided Haku with a black Anbu uniform and her hunter-nin mask with its symbol removed.
"With pleasure." said Naruto, whose Anbu uniform appeared on him in place of his usual outfit.
"And Haku-chan, your temporary codename will be Ghost."
Later.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, north-northwest sector.
As they carefully navigated through the forest, after her partner dispatched a legion of wood clones for mischievous purposes and scouting ahead, Ghost stopped upon a hand signal from Yami Kitsune.
"What is it?" asked Ghost before a massive snake came at them with great speed.
Forming chakra in his outstretched hand, Yami Kitsune threw a Rasenshuriken, the size of a normal shuriken, that cut right through the serpent several times before fading.
Via special communication seals on the inside of their masks, next to their ears, Ghost asked, "What was that?"
"A compressed Rasenshuriken.
That snake was a summons, and it wasn't sent by Anko.
She doesn't use Manda's spawn.
We need to be extra careful now we know there's a hostile snake summoner here,"
"Careful in the Forest of Death?
I never would've guessed."
"Don't get snippy with me, Ghost-chan.
Focus on the mission." he shrugged before they masked their chakra, and turned invisible, scentless, shadowless, and inaudible using a special seal of Naruto's own creation.
Locating a target and their squad inside a cave, Yami Kitsune silently entered, activated his Phantom Mist Jutsu, then used the silent killing technique to cut them down before taking their scroll which he sealed away.
"With the seals we're using right now, Silent killing is far easier, but no less deadly." mused Ghost.
"Yes, but we wouldn't want silent killing users getting sloppy or losing their edge by relying on the seals to help them.
It'd insult masters of the technique like Zabuza-senpai,"
"Agreed."
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, southern sector.
What could've been mistaken for a human locomotive in red armour descended upon a giant bear, easily defeating them, and saving Karin who'd been separated from her squad.
"Are you alright?" asked Han.
"Yeah… thanks." answered Karin.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, south eastern sector.
Having stalked Sasuke inside, Sakura, who'd ditched her clothes since the terrain had ruined them, called, "Sasuke-kun, wait for me!"
Disposing of her, Sasuke activated a single tomoe Sharingan, charged at Sakura, and shoved his kunai through her heart, killing her instantly.
Sharingan on its second tomoe, Sasuke tossed aside Sakura's corpse, "Useless fangirl." before he was bitten by a snake-like figure.
Later.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, west sector.
Finding team Dosu lying defeated with only one survivor, whose scroll hadn't been taken, Yami Kitsune shunshinned to their side, "Kin Tsuchi, what happened here?
Who did this to you?"
"Orochimaru…" Kin answered before she passed out in his arms, then he healed her injuries with medical jutsu.
"Ghost, take her inside, and watch over her," ordered Yami Kitsune who used wood style to make a cabin, and the ice wielder obeyed whilst taking Kin's scroll.
Lifting Kin into her arms, Ghost stated, "When she's able to travel, we should take her to the tower, and report this."
"Kukuku, I wouldn't be in such a rush to leave." said a figure who stepped into the open.
It was a man with pale grey-white skin, slitted yellow eyes, a serpent's tongue, and long black hair.
Pissed, Yami Kitsune drew the Fox's fang, and ignited its crimson blade, "Orochimaru…"
"Well, well, Yami Kitsune himself has come to confront me?" asked Orochimaru as he drew two swords, "Are you going to fight me, Lord Orochimaru of the Sannin?"
Yami Kitsune activated Sage mode, "Fight you? I'll destroy you."
As Orochimaru engaged Yami Kitsune in a fierce duel, he found himself on the defensive, much to his horror.
Yami Kitsune became a yellow flash that cut the snake Sannin to sushi sized pieces before lifting Orochimaru's pieces into the air with an invisible force before engulfing his remains in the black flames of Amaterasu which finished him off.
Extinguishing his blade, Yami Kitsune claimed the Kusanagi swords as a trophy, and sealed them away.
As four wood clones appeared, Yami Kitsune ordered, "Take Kin to the tower's infirmary while we continue our assignment,"
"Yes, Sir." obeyed the lead clone whilst he carried Kin bridal style.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, northern sector.
Having difficulty defeating an enemy squad, the exhausted Ino-Shika-Cho Genin trio suddenly found their opponents floating away in bubbles.
Stepping into view, a young man, with fair skin, pale golden eyes, and long brown hair in a part on the left side of his face, asked, "Are you alright?"
He wore a loose-fitting light blue kimono adorned with bubbles, exposing part of his chest, grey pants, and sandals.
The only equipment he carried was a bamboo jug, a bubble pipe, and a med-kit.
"Thanks, that was so troublesome," said Shikamaru, "what's your name?"
"Utakata," replied the newcomer who tossed them the enemy squad's scroll.
"Shikamaru Nara," self-identified the lazy genius, "and don't you need that scroll?"
Utakata shrugged, "It's not the one I need, and I'm in no rush."
Later.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, tower.
Arriving after eliminating the others on their mission's hit list, Naruto and Haku, back in their regular gear, made it at the same time as the Sand siblings, and Yugito and Fuu's squads.
"Naruto Uzumaki, I am glad to see you've made it here safely," mused Gaara, "Now we will have more time to get to know each other before the finals."
"I'm glad to see you've made it too."
Tapping Naruto's shoulder before he turned towards her, Haku suddenly brought him into a close embrace whilst kissing him, "Do the others know we're together?"
"They do by now, and I'm sorry if I've been neglecting you, Yuki-Tenshi," apologised Naruto.
"I forgive you, my love."
"Naru-kun, how did you get here so fast?" asked Yugito.
"I've spent a lot of time in this forest over the years so I know the layout and terrain, and all of the shortcuts.
Some of which I unintentionally made myself while developing new jutsu."
"Cheeky Foxy-kun."
Opening the heaven and earth scrolls, Naruto threw them onto the ground before Hiruzen appeared.
"Congratulations on passing the second stage," proudly said Hiruzen.
"Hey, Gramps," greeted Naruto, "by the way, I've killed Orochimaru."
"You did what?"
Naruto held out the kusanagi blades, "Orochimaru is dead."
"Then you've succeeded where I failed."
"I didn't kill him for you or the village.
I killed him because I wanted revenge for all the pain, suffering and abuse he's caused Anko-chan.
Because of how similar we are, and how much I love her, I'm very protective of her."
"You had every right to avenge her given your close relationship with her.
Although I must say I was surprised to learn you two had slept with each other," said Hiruzen, earning a raised eyebrow from Haku.
"You old pervert!" exclaimed Naruto, "Were you watching us through your crystal ball?" before Hiruzen vanished in a puff of smoke.
"Shall we take that as a yes?" asked Haku.
"I think I now have a reason to teach Konohamaru the Sexy Jutsu, like he's been pestering me about for the last few years,"
Lowering the room temperature with ice chakra, Haku tilted her head, "You are not teaching a jutsu with a name like that to a child." before the room temperature returned to normal.
As Gaara approached Naruto, she gazed into his eyes whilst her sand armour retreated into her gourd, "Will you hold me, and prove my existence?"
Naruto gently placed a hand on and caressed Gaara's right cheek, smiled so warmly her heart melted, kissed her forehead, and closely embraced her, "As you wish, Gaara-hime."
"As you wish…" thought Gaara, "I wish to love him, but would he let me?
Would he love me too if I asked it of him?"
Noticing the Suna Jinchuriki had zoned out, Naruto softly tickled her sensitive sides, earning beautiful laughter that terrified her siblings.
Interior: Konoha, forest of death, tower, infirmary.
As Kin slowly awoke to find herself wearing a medical robe, her vision came into focus.
Naruto smiled, "Hey, sleeping beauty."
"What happened?" wondered Kin.
"Naruto saved your life, and brought you here." answered Shizune.
Later.
Interior: Konoha, forest of death, tower, Naruto and Haku's quarters, bedroom, evening.
Snuggled up to each other upon the bed, in their underwear, Naruto and Haku peacefully enjoyed each other's warmth.
"Naruto-kun… may I join you?" asked Gaara as she appeared in a small whirlwind of sand, wearing exotic red and gold lingerie.
After a nod from Haku, Naruto invitingly gestured, "C'mere,"
Resting her gourd against the wall, with all of her sand inside it leaving her unprotected, Gaara lay between them as they closely cuddled and drifted off to sleep.
Interior: Naruto & Gaara's Mindscape.
Kurama reprimanded Shukaku, "Your Jinchuriki is cute, but you've been misbehaving.
Let Gaara sleep, and stop trying to take control of her.
Become her friend like the rest of us do with our Jinchuriki.
Also, stop messing with her head.
Her mother loved her, and the last thing she'd want is for her child to become a monster."
Shukaku looked down in shame, "I'm sorry, Kurama."
"Tomorrow, you'll apologise using your real voice, and drop the bloodthirsty mother act.
Also, we're getting that seal fixed so you two can have a more stable relationship.
Compared to the seal used to keep me inside Naruto, yours is just offensive to the eyes of a real seal master."
"Okay."
Later.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of death, tower, Naruto and Haku's quarters, bedroom, late morning.
Awakening to find herself safely snuggled up to Naruto and Haku, Gaara felt truly rested for the first time in a long time.
"Good morning, Gaara-chan," greeted Haku, "Did you rest well?"
"I did, thank you, Haku-chan.
Sleep has evaded me for so long because of Shukaku, but he's letting me rest now."
"I'm glad,"
"Me too." added Naruto.
"I feel at ease around you, Naruto Uzumaki." stated Gaara, "I find your aura soothing."
"Thanks."
"When I zoned out yesterday, you made me laugh by tickling me.
I've never experienced being tickled before, and it felt relaxing.
Could you do it again?" requested Gaara before bursting into innocent giggles and happy smiles as they obliged.
"You're so cute, Gaara." mused Haku and Naruto whose tactics complemented each other's,
20 mins later.
As they let her catch her breath, Gaara smiled, "Thank you," before giving both of them a kiss on the lips, to Haku's surprise.
"I heard they've placed you under a clan restoration act, Naruto-kun," informed Gaara, getting to the point, "I'd like to marry you if this is true.
Sharing you won't be a problem, as I hear sharing is caring,"
"I'd be honoured to have such a relationship with you.
Yet I feel it would be wise to take our time to connect and bond more before taking such a step.
If we rush into a marriage only to realise we don't love each other in that way, it could hurt us.
And I'd never intentionally do anything to hurt my precious people."
Gaara placed a hand on his cheek, "You're precious to me too,"
"Speaking of precious people, we may want to get up and dressed before your siblings come looking for you,"
"They fear me,"
"Their love for you outweighs their fear of Shukaku.
Some of my most precious people overcame their fear of Kurama because they care about me.
Temari and Kankuro will overcome their fear of Shukaku for you."
"I'm scared that they won't,"
"We'll come with you," chimed Haku.
"Thank you."
Naruto mentioned, "Before we do, I'm going to fix your seal."
Interior: Konoha, Forest of death, tower, lounge, morning.
As he, Haku and Gaara, fully dressed, approached some of the couches, Naruto asked, "May we join you?"
"I don't see why not," answered Temari as the trio sat across from her and Kankuro, "Has Gaara been with you this whole time?
We were worried about her,"
"She has, and she was able to get a good night's sleep." replied Naruto, startling the blonde sand Princess and the puppeteer.
"Gaara was able to sleep without anything unusual happening?"
"Shukaku didn't try anything," assured Gaara, "and there's something I need to tell you,"
Temari held out a hand which Gaara gently took, "You can tell us anything, sister."
As a tear trickled down her cheek, Gaara softly apologised, "I love you… both of you.
We're a family, and I lost sight of that.
I'm so sorry, Temari, Kankuro.
Can you forgive me?" before her siblings brought her into a hug.
"Of course we can, sis."
As the embrace ended, Kankuro looked at Naruto, "What exactly did you do to put my sister in such a good mood?"
"We gave her a great big hug, and talked to her."
"What'd you talk about?"
"Opening up to you," answered Gaara, "I was afraid, and he assured me that you loved me.
He also fixed my seal."
Temari turned to Naruto, then kissed him, "Thank you,"
"You're welcome."
"Hey, everyone." greeted Tenten as her squad arrived, exhausted.
"Ten-hime, how are you?" asked Naruto as he rose to his feet, and approached her.
"Good, and you?"
"Even better now that I know you're here, safe and sound," admitted Naruto.
The weapons specialist blushed, "I can take care of myself, lover,"
"I know you're more than capable of doing so, Tenten.
However I couldn't help worrying about you since I encountered and killed Orochimaru in the forest."
"You did what?" gasped Tenten before Naruto held out both Kusanagi blades, "Are those what I think they are?"
"Yeah, the Kusanagi blades.
Forged by the same Uzumaki Weapons Master who forged the seven swords used by the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of Kiri."
"What do you want for them?" asked the panda bunned brunette.
"I have an idea about that,"
"Oh?"
"I might give you one for your birthday, or as a gift for when you get promoted."
"I love you, Naru." dreamily said Tenten as her weapon fetish gave her fantasies of using the legendary swords, bringing a small smile to her face whilst her nipples hardened.
"Love you too," replied Naruto who kissed Tenten's cheek whilst sealing away the swords, then whispered, "And I know that look.
Someone's excited in all the fun ways," making her blush deeply.
"And it's all your fault." Tenten whispered back.
Haku made eye contact with Tenten, "Do you love him enough to accept sharing him?
To ensure his bloodlines don't go extinct, the village council has recently placed him under the CRA,"
The panda bunned Kunoichi beamed, "I love and accept him a hundred percent, and I'm happy to share him.
Pretty much been sharing for a few years,"
"Good."
Joining them, Hinata asked, "Naruto, can I be with you too?"
"Hinata-chan, I'd like you to take some time to sort out whether or not it's really romantic love you feel for me before we try dating." he answered, "Agreed?"
"Agreed."
As she approached, Kin asked, "Naruto-kun, can I borrow you for a moment?"
Rising to his feet, Naruto nodded as they went to another part of the room.
"I'm not used to being rescued or shown kindness and compassion, so thank you," said Kin, "I'm in your debt, and I don't want to return to the sound village,"
"Konoha may be willing to take you in.
I'll speak to the Hokage," replied Naruto.
"I have information about plans Orochimaru had for the leaf and the exams.
With him dead, I don't have to worry about him killing me for giving the Hokage a heads up,"
"Lord Third and Pervy Sage should attend too, since they knew him better than anyone."
"And if the village won't take me in?"
"It will."
Later.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, tower, bathing room, early afternoon.
Relaxing in the water, Naruto said, "I know you're there, so you might as well reveal yourself.
Don't be shy, Kuro-hime."
"I'm not shy." replied Kurotsuchi, who cancelled a camouflage jutsu, revealing she was standing on the water across from him, in all her naked glory.
"Shy? No. Sexy? Yes."
"Like what you see, Naru-kun?" asked Kurotsuchi who did a slow twirl before looking down, and blushing with a smirk, "I'll take that as a yes."
"Likewise."
She slowly descended into the water, closing the distance, "Damn it, I haven't been able to stop sexually fantasising about you since our moment outside the forest."
"Oh? What were you daydreaming about me doing with you?"
"Naughty things… very naughty things." she said as she brushed up against him.
"Is that so?"
"Yes, and it's driving me crazy."
The next day.
Interior: Konoha, Forest of Death, Tower, mess hall, morning.
"What's up, Hina-chan?" asked Naruto as he met Hinata's gaze.
"I've determined that while I do love you, it's not a romantic love like I initially believed.
You're one of my best friends, and have always looked out for me, taken care of me, protected me." explained Hinata, "And thank you for encouraging me to sort out my feelings for you instead of rushing into a relationship."
"You're welcome, Hinata-chan," assured Naruto, "and I'll always be there for you when you need me, no matter what."
"Thank you, Naruto-kun."